Search Results (329)

This study uses multidimensional indicators of macroeconomics, supply and demand, cost, and market microstructure to construct an intelligent framework integrated with optimized Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) denoising for price forecasting and black early warning for egg futures in China from 2014 to 2023. Black early warning serves as a non-parametric early warning method that identifies abnormal price increases and falls based on historical fluctuation thresholds. As the first livestock future contract listed in China, accurate egg price forecasting is crucial for risk prevention and market control and regulation. First, LASSO regression was used to screen the core driving factors of egg futures prices. Nine key indicators were identified and input into the hybrid Temporal Convolutional Network–Gated Recurrent Unit (TCN-GRU) prediction model. To address the high-frequency noise in the original price series, two-dimensional optimization was performed on traditional EWMA denoising to achieve more adaptive noise filtering. By applying the black early warning method, the obtained future egg price fluctuations were more consistent with the actual situation. In addition, empirical analysis of multi-horizon forecasting and early warning for t + 1, t + 5, and t + 10 was carried out to further verify the model’s prediction accuracy. The results show that compared with the single TCN model, the single GRU model, and the TCN-GRU model without denoising, the TCN-GRU model integrated with optimized EWMA denoising achieves better prediction performance on the test set. In terms of the early warning matching rate, it reaches 83.33% for the t + 1 horizon, and the prediction accuracy for the t + 5 and t + 10 horizons decreases regularly but remains stable above 60%. In contrast, the highest early warning matching rate of the model without denoising is only 22.22% across all horizons, which has no practical early warning value. The early warning signals generated by the optimized EWMA denoising-based TCN-GRU model can effectively identify abnormal sharp rises and falls in egg futures prices, providing effective support for hedging and risk management for market participants. The study’s limitations are discussed, as well as future research directions. The findings provide a basis for decision making for agricultural producers and future investors and support the development of China’s agricultural product market. Full article

Existing robot end-effectors design methods lack structured domain prior knowledge support and have insufficient interaction with the environment, making it difficult to guarantee the accuracy of the design results. An adaptive design method is proposed that deeply embeds domain knowledge of end effectors into the design process, treats key design parameters as environmental variables, and optimizes them adaptively through reinforcement learning algorithms in perception and feedback. In a simulation environment constructed by combining a knowledge graph, a two-finger translational gripper is used as an example robot end-effector to acquire target data via sensors, and reinforcement learning is used to adaptively optimize the gripper’s key parameters. Experiments are conducted on a simulation platform with three typical tasks, yielding the optimal parameter range. Compared to the proximal policy optimization (PPO) algorithm, which has no prior knowledge input, the knowledge graph embedding proximal policy optimization (KGPPO) algorithm improves the average reward for gripper length and gripper force by 63.96% and 43.09%, respectively, for grasping eggs. The KGPPO algorithm achieves the highest average reward and the best stability compared with other algorithms. Experiments show that this method can significantly improve the efficiency, stability, and accuracy of design parameter optimization. Full article

Parasitism affects nearly half of all animal species and strongly influences ecosystem dynamics. Despite their sentinel value, parasitic infections in cetaceans remain understudied. This study assessed the diversity, prevalence, and burden of gastrointestinal and pulmonary parasites in seventy-five stranded cetaceans from six species along the central and northern Portuguese coastline. Coprological methods included Mini-FLOTAC^®, Willis-flotation, natural sedimentation, modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining, direct immunofluorescence, and adapted spontaneous sedimentation. Overall, 61.3% of samples tested positive for at least one parasitic taxon, with 22.7% showing coinfections. Anisakidae and Ascaridida were the most prevalent (36%), followed by Pseudaliidae larvae (5.3%), unidentified trematode eggs (8.0%), Odhneriella spp. (5.3%), Nasitrema spp. (2.7%), Zalophotrema spp. (2.7%), and Synthesium spp. (1.3%). Nematode eggs exhibited the highest mean burden, with anisakids reaching 4862 eggs per gram of feces (EPG), whereas trematodes showed a markedly lower burden, exemplified by Zalophotrema spp. with 90 EPG. All samples assessed were negative for Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. Unidentified ovoid structures were present in 76% of samples. Macroscopic sedimentation revealed anisakid larvae, one cestode, over fifty Ogmogaster antarctica specimens, and six marine arthropods. These findings provide baseline data for cetacean parasitology and support future integrative research for conservation and ecosystem health. Full article

Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is a globally invasive pest that inflicts significant damage on economically important vegetable crops such as cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). To elucidate the interactions between host plants and F. occidentalis and to support the development of sustainable management strategies, this study evaluated the host selectivity and life history parameters of F. occidentalis living on these plant species to assess its adaptability. Transcriptome–metabolome profiles and associated metabolites were analyzed in healthy plants and in those infested by F. occidentalis for 48 h to characterize the defense responses of both host species. The results showed that both plant species are attractive to F. occidentalis, with a stronger preference observed for cowpeas. However, the reproductive output of F. occidentalis was significantly higher on cucumbers (16.99 ± 0.43 eggs/female) than on cowpeas (12.00 ± 0.38 eggs/female) plants, indicating a mismatch between host preference and performance. Feeding by F. occidentalis strongly induced the brassinolide and jasmonic acid signaling pathways, activated the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway, increased the accumulation of the lignin precursor sinapyl alcohol, and promoted lignin biosynthesis, thereby enhancing cell wall rigidity as a physical defense barrier. These findings demonstrate that cucumbers and cowpeas coordinately regulate lignin synthesis through hormone–metabolism crosstalk as a defensive strategy against thrips attack. In response, F. occidentalis adjusts its host selection and reproductive investment to overcome plant defenses, reflecting an adaptive counter-strategy in host–herbivore interactions. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying plant–thrips interactions and supports the development of environmentally friendly pest control approaches. Full article

Understanding a species’ life history is essential for assessing its adaptability and resource trade-offs under environmental stress. Given their diversity and ecological significance, Lepidoptera represent an ideal model system for studying such adaptive responses. Under controlled laboratory conditions, we quantified the life history traits of Telchinia issoria and examined their associations with key abiotic factors—temperature, humidity, and light intensity—across all developmental stages. The results showed that: (1) the complete developmental duration from egg to adult was first quantified, establishing a crucial baseline for understanding its life history strategy; (2) the egg stage exhibited the highest survival rate, whereas the eighth-instar larval stage showed the lowest; and (3) correlations with abiotic factors differed markedly across stages, indicating stage-specific environmental sensitivity. Faster larval development may be associated with higher temperature, humidity, and light intensity; pupal development with high humidity and low light; and adult lifespan with low temperature, high humidity, and dim light. These findings advance our understanding of insect developmental plasticity, supporting more accurate population models and informing insect management and biodiversity conservation under climate change. Full article

As the demand for poultry meat and eggs is increasing in the world, and the use of antibiotics is forbidden in Europe (since 2006), with countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh and China having imposed restriction or prohibitions, researchers and producers have sought for effective non-antibiotic alternatives. Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and phytobiotics are frequently used as alternatives in the field of poultry production. Phytobiotics, plant-derived substances, also referred to as botanicals or phytogenics, are used as animal diets supplements due to their wide range of bioactive compounds (menthol, curcumin, eugenol, allicin and others) and many advantages. They are classified as herbs, spices, plant extracts and essential oils. Some of the benefits offered by the dietary phytobiotics are antimicrobial, antioxidant, digestion stimulant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, carminative, antiseptic and appetite stimulant, the modulation of gut microbiota and improvement in the intestinal histology. Some representatives of phytobiotics are turmeric, oregano, sage, thyme, black pepper, ginger, garlic, echinacea, rosemary and others. Despite the significant potential of phytobiotics, their widespread adaptation is currently inhibited by challenges regarding cost-effectiveness (high price for raw materials), scarce regulatory frameworks, and inconsistent biological efficacy. The lack of standardization reflects a dual challenge, enclosing both the inherent chemical variability of raw botanical materials and the technical inconsistencies present throughout the industrial manufacturing, and extraction processes as producers use different machinery for extracting and producing the animal feed. To address these systemic impediments, a joint effort across the entire value chain—from primary producers to regulatory authorities—is essential for the development of unified testing protocols and standardization dosage guidelines that ensure the pharmacological safety and reliability of phytobiotic products. Full article

The efficacy of swarm intelligence algorithms in navigating high-dimensional, non-convex landscapes depends on the dynamic balance between global exploration and local exploitation. Drawing inspiration from the intricate social dynamics of Pyrrhura molinae, this study proposes a novel bio-inspired metaheuristic, the Comprehensive Learning Parrot Optimizer (CL-PO). While the original Parrot Optimizer (PO) simulates collective foraging and communication, it often suffers from population homogenization and entrapment in local optima due to its reliance on single-source social learning. To address these limitations, CL-PO incorporates a dimension-wise multi-exemplar social learning mechanism analogous to the cross-individual knowledge transfer observed in avian colonies. This strategy enables stagnant individuals to reconstruct their search trajectories by learning from multiple superior peers, thereby sustaining population diversity and facilitating adaptive exploration. Rigorous benchmarking on 29 test functions from the CEC 2017 suite reveals that CL-PO achieves statistically superior performance compared to nine state-of-the-art algorithms, securing a top-tier average Friedman rank of 1.28. Furthermore, the practical utility of CL-PO is substantiated through a complex reservoir production optimization task using the Egg benchmark model, where it consistently maximizes the net present value (NPV), reaching $9.625\times {10}^8$ USD. These findings demonstrate that CL-PO is a powerful and reliable solver for addressing large-scale engineering optimization problems under complex constraints. Full article

Coreius guichenoti, an endemic fish of the upper Yangtze River, has experienced severe population decline due to overfishing and habitat fragmentation. To inform its conservation, this study compared life-history traits between artificially bred and historical wild populations, revealing pronounced plasticity in response to environmental conditions. The cultured population, dominated by age 0–4 individuals but retaining a notable proportion of age 5–6 fish, exhibited faster growth and higher fecundity (mean absolute fecundity 32,724 ± 24,132 eggs; relative fecundity 37.5 ± 18.5 eggs/g) than the wild population. In contrast, the wild group consisted of >90% age 0–4 individuals, showed virtually no fish aged 5–7, reproduced seasonally with high total egg output, and tended toward a periodic life-history strategy, whereas the cultured group tended toward an opportunistic strategy that still retained some periodic traits. These results demonstrate that C. guichenoti can adjust its life history on a within-generation scale. Accordingly, we recommend pre-release conditioning with moderate flow and temperature variations to enhance field adaptability. This study provides evidence-based guidance for broodstock selection and preconditioning in restocking programs, aimed at improving post-release survival and reproductive success in the wild. Full article

Spodoptera eridania (Cramer, 1792) is increasingly reported from potato (Solanum tuberosum L., Solanaceae) in the Brazilian Cerrado, where infestations can cause substantial yield losses. Insecticides may alter the behavioral ecology of agricultural pests. The adaptability of S. eridania mediated by insecticides, especially regarding oviposition behavior, remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution and oviposition traits of S. eridania on potato plants under chlorfenapyr spraying. Egg masses were collected weekly, day after planting (DAP), totaling 322 collections up to the 91st DAP. Evaluations included the vertical plant strata (upper, middle and lower thirds), leaf surface (adaxial vs. abaxial), and density of scales covering egg masses (high, low, or absent). Results showed that nearly 90% of egg masses were deposited in the upper and middle thirds of the plants. Insecticide spraying modulated oviposition behavior because females preferred the middle third in treated plants, whereas oviposition predominated in the upper third of untreated plants. Moreover, under chlorfenapyr, 93.0 ± 1.2% of egg masses were placed on the abaxial surface. These findings highlight the role of insecticide-mediated behavioral shifts in shaping host-pest interactions and provide relevant insights for integrated pest management of S. eridania in potato field systems. Full article

The Sichuan taimen (Hucho bleekeri) is a flagship species for the Yangtze River and is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. Successful artificial breeding and conservation efforts are therefore essential for maintaining population stability. The early embryonic stage is the foundation of the entire life cycle and is critical for subsequent survival and growth. Here, we aimed to investigate gene-expression profiles across eight developmental stages through RNA-seq sequencing: fertilized egg, embryonic shield elevation, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, neurula, brain differentiation, and hatching. Time-series analysis revealed remarkable gene-expression changes between the cleavage and embryonic shield elevation, gastrula and blastula, and brain differentiation and hatching stages. The expression levels of cell cycle-related genes—including ccn2d, ccna2, cdk11, cdk17, cdka2, cdkl3, plk1, and others—decreased during embryonic development. Genes associated with muscle development, such as myl9, mylk, and tnnc2, were present in all stages and significantly enriched at hatching, while others were nearly absent during early development. In metabolic pathways, genes related to lipid metabolism and glycolysis were significantly expressed in the hatching stage. Regarding immune-related genes, complement genes were notably enriched at hatching, whereas cfh and cfb were expressed throughout development. Genes involved in adaptive immunity, such as mhc I, mhc II, tcr, and T-cell marker genes, were either not expressed or only weakly expressed in all stages. The results can provide insights into regulatory mechanisms underlying early embryonic development in fishes and provide general knowledge about salmonid development. Full article

Zanthoxylum bungeanum leaves (ZBL) are a phytogenic feed resource, but their energy value and functional effects in laying hens are not well defined. Two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, 96 healthy 38-week-old Roman Pink laying hens were allotted to either a control diet or a diet containing 5% ZBL (eight replicates, six hens per replicate) to determine apparent metabolizable energy (AME) using an indicator method (7 d adaptation, 3 d collection). The AME and nitrogen-corrected AME of ZBL were 5.46 and 5.33 MJ/kg, respectively. In Exp. 2, 832 healthy 41-week-old hens were randomly assigned to diets supplemented with 0, 1%, 2%, or 3% ZBL (8 replicates, 26 hens per replicate) for 8 weeks after 1 week adaptation. Dietary ZBL at 1% to 3% did not affect production performance (p > 0.05), but increased albumen height linearly (p < 0.05) and improved yolk color at 2% and 3% (p < 0.05). ZBL increased serum albumin (p < 0.05) with a linear tendency (p = 0.065), and elevated serum IgA and IgM linearly (p < 0.05). Serum total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase were increased (p < 0.05) with significant linear and quadratic responses (p < 0.05), while serum malondialdehyde was reduced (p < 0.05). In the liver, 3% ZBL increased total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05), hepatic catalase activity was decreased in all ZBL groups (p < 0.05), and hepatic malondialdehyde was reduced (p < 0.05). Cecal acetate increased linearly (p < 0.05), and propionate and butyrate increased with both linear and quadratic dose responses (p < 0.05). ZBL improved small intestinal morphology, especially duodenal villus height (p < 0.05). Gut microbiota was remodeled, with a marked reduction in norank_o__WCHB1-41 and increases in Ruminococcus, Pseudoflavonifractor, and several Coriobacteriales and Erysipelatoclostridiaceae taxa. Overall, ZBL provides usable energy and, at 2–3% inclusion, enhances egg quality, antioxidant status, humoral immunity, short-chain-fatty-acid production, and intestinal health without compromising laying performance. Full article

Monitoring epibiotic communities on the invasive red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) in the Barents Sea is crucial for understanding the co-adaptation between this species and the local benthic fauna. Red king crabs were collected during regular diving surveys conducted in the coastal Barents Sea in 2015, 2021, and 2022. A detailed examination revealed the presence of two amphipod species, Metopa pusilla and Crassicorophium bonellii, which were not previously documented as epibionts on this host. With these additions, the total number of epibiotic amphipods on Barents Sea red king crabs rises to nine species (versus two in the native Sea of Okhotsk). Amphipod colonization was skewed toward large males, likely reflecting their greater migratory behavior. The prevalence of Metopa pusilla ranged from 1.9% to 4.3%, with a mean intensity of one individual per infested crab; Crassicorophium bonellii exhibited prevalence of 4.7–14.3% and mean intensity of 1.3–3.3 individuals. The primary colonization sites were the carapace and limbs. Given the low infestation parameters and the epibionts’ localization away from critical structures like the gills and egg clutches, it is concluded that these amphipods pose a negligible risk to host health. Full article

Laboratory maintenance of mosquitoes is important for studying vector biology and transmission of diseases, and for testing vector control tools. Standard operating procedures require feeding larvae with commercial fish meal. However, for many insectaries in sub-Saharan Africa, the commonly used feeds are imported and accompanied by procurement challenges. Changing the larval feed abruptly without allowing the larvae to adapt to new brands of feed also leads to a decrease in mosquito colonies in the laboratory. We investigated locally acquired beans, maize, and dried herrings as alternate feeds for mosquito larvae reared under laboratory conditions. Four replicates for each treatment were prepared, each containing 100 first instar larvae of Anopheles gambiae Tiassalé mosquitoes. The larvae were introduced into 500 mL of dechlorinated tap water and maintained under standard environmental insectary conditions. The larvae were provided with 40 mg of the designated powdered feed—beans, maize, and herring fish—in single and combined treatments. Tetra^® goldfish meal was included as a control. The larval mortality, developmental time, and number of pupae were recorded to evaluate the effectiveness of the feeds. Adult mosquitoes were weighed and measured to assess fitness, and females from each treatment were blood-fed and allowed to lay eggs to evaluate fertility. Larval survival differed significantly across diets (Kruskal–Wallis, p = 0.01), with maize-fed larvae showing the highest mortality (41.3%) and those with herring-based diets the lowest. Pupation and adult emergence were poorest in the maize and maize–bean groups, while the maize–herring combination achieved the highest emergence (92.6%, p = 0.03). Although overall differences were detected among the groups, conservative pairwise tests did not pinpoint specific group contrasts, but effect size estimates suggested biologically meaningful patterns. Generally, adult body weight and wing length did not differ by treatment except in maize-fed males (β = 0.371 mm, p = 0.022). Herring fish-based diets consistently supported larval survival, timely development, and robust fecundity, whereas maize-based diets were nutritionally inadequate. These findings highlight herring fish-based diets as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to commercial feeds for maintaining Anopheles mosquito colonies, with potential to strengthen vector research capacity in resource-limited laboratories. Full article

Fecal retention is a distinctive reproductive strategy in certain leaf beetles, which enables females to use accumulated fecal material to protect their eggs and enhance offspring survival. The adult flea beetle Asiophrida xanthospilota (Baly, 1881) is a specialist herbivore that feeds on the leaves of Cotinus coggygria Scop. (Anacardiaceae). Using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and micro-computed tomography, we described and illustrated the hindgut anatomy of adult female A. xanthospilota during the pre-mated and post-mated reproductive phases. We further examined the physiological changes in the hindgut associated with fecal retention, and assessed hindgut muscle activity across these two reproductive stages. The hindgut of adult A. xanthospilota consists of three regions: ileum, colon, and rectum. The ileum is a thin, straight or coiled, tube enclosed by malpighian tubules and supported by circular and longitudinal muscles. The colon lies between the ileum and rectum, possesses a chitinized cuticle, and is externally covered with tracheae and tracheoles. A rectal valve separates the colon from the rectum, which forms the posterior end of the alimentary canal and is characterized by intimal spines and robust circular muscles. During the post-mated phase, fecal retention causes pronounced dilation of the hindgut, substantially increasing the volume occupied by food remnants. Electromyographic recordings revealed high hindgut muscle activity in pre-mated females, characterized by short and variable bursts, whereas post-mated females exhibited reduced activity with longer and more sustained bursts. The functional implications of these specialized structural features are discussed. Overall, these morphological and physiological adaptations enhance the fecal retention strategy by increasing fecal capacity, regulating hindgut motility, and enabling the formation of a protective fecal case around the egg mass. Full article

The reproductive behavior and nest-building activity of the sand-dwelling goby Hazeus ammophilus were investigated to examine its nesting characteristics and to determine how and why this species builds radial structures around its nests. Field observations revealed that males spawned with multiple females in open muddy-sand bottoms, using bivalve shells or fallen leaves as spawning substrates. Males cared for eggs after spawning and repeatedly mated with multiple females, suggesting a male-territory-visiting polygamous mating system. A distinctive feature of this species was the presence of radial ditches extending from the nest. These ditches developed through repeated male behaviors of digging from the nest toward the surrounding area and sweeping accumulated sand out of the nest, resulting in a crater-like structure around the nest. These behaviors may contribute to cleaning and stabilizing the spawning substrate, and the resulting structures themselves may also be involved in female mate choice. Taken together, these findings indicate that H. ammophilus has evolved a flexible reproductive strategy, and nest-building behavior possibly adapted to unstable open sandy environments, highlighting the behavioral diversity and ecological plasticity within gobiid fishes. Full article