Search Results (702)

Regarding the current issues in Xinjiang, China, during the harvesting of cotton stalks, the lack of specialized, efficient, and durable cutting blades for cotton stalks causes uneven cutting, high power consumption, and short blade life. In this study, a biomimetic serrated blade was designed based on the Trictenotomidae mandible for efficient, low-power-consumption cutting. The biomimetic design, FEM-SPH coupled simulation, bench test, combined with response surface methodology, and field test were used. The simulation results showed that under the same working conditions, the maximum shear stress was 34.81% lower than that for the ordinary blade and 22.05% lower than that for the ordinary serrated blade. And the bench test results showed that cutting power consumption was reduced by about 20.12% and 15.69% compared to the ordinary cutting blade and serrated cutting blade, respectively. When cutting velocity was 1.3 m/s, cutting inclination angle was 11°, and ratio of cutting velocity and feeding velocity was 1.1, the biomimetic serrated cutting blade could achieve effective cutting of cotton stalks and obtain better quality of cutting—the cutting power per unit area and the cutting-edge angle after cutting cotton stalks were 52.08 kJ/m² and 6°, respectively. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and support for the utilization of cotton stalks out of the field, as well as the cutting of other similar crop stalks. Full article

Worster-Drought syndrome (WDS), also known as congenital suprabulbar paresis, is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by feeding, swallowing, drooling, and speech disturbances. Currently, it is classified as a subtype of cerebral palsy. However, the limited number of studies and the clinical and radiological overlap with related entities such as congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome (CBPS) and Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome (FCMS) have contributed to persistent uncertainty regarding its proper classification. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the WDS based on data from published case series. Special emphasis is placed on proposed etiological mechanisms, including recent genetic findings potentially contributing to WDS, as well as on the diagnostic process, ongoing classification dilemmas, and spectrum-based perspective. We point out the need to establish standardized diagnostic criteria and conduct large-scale genetic and neurodevelopmental research. Addressing these gaps may help clarify the underlying pathophysiology, reappraise the classification framework, and ultimately minimize misdiagnosis and time to proper diagnosis to improve outcomes for individuals affected by WDS. Full article

Lake Balkhash is a large endorheic lake experiencing ongoing hydrological and climatic variability. This study aimed to evaluate the species composition and structure of the forage base across three trophic levels—phytoplankton, zooplankton, and zoobenthos—and to analyze trophic interactions of fish communities, including non-native species, in order to assess the functioning of the food web in the western and eastern basins of the lake. A 2025 assessment revealed a structurally reorganized yet relatively stable ecosystem. Phytoplankton showed an increase in taxonomic richness, while zooplankton and zoobenthos demonstrated compositional restructuring with a greater representation of ecologically tolerant taxa. The presence of certain invertebrate taxa in both Lake Balkhash basins indicates persistent spatial heterogeneity of the ecosystem. Despite moderate ecological resilience, biodiversity has not yet returned to historically recorded peak levels. Trophic analysis of fish communities showed generally moderate niche overlap among benthivorous species with localized differentiation of resource use. Predatory fishes also exhibited moderate overlap: pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) maintained stable dietary patterns with partial overlap with Volga pikeperch (Sander volgensis), whereas snakehead (Channa argus) and asp (Aspius aspius) demonstrated clearer trophic segregation. Non-native species displayed relatively narrow trophic niches (Bi < 0.30), indicating summer feeding specialization. Full article

The soybean pod borer, Leguminivora glycinivorella, is a monophagous pest that threatens soybean production. Its larvae feed concealed within pods, which limits the efficacy of conventional insecticides. Elucidating its chemosensory system is therefore essential for developing green, behavior-based management strategies. Reference-based transcriptomics across multiple tissues of L. glycinivorella identified a comprehensive repertoire of chemosensory genes, including 76 odorant receptors (ORs), 15 gustatory receptors (GRs), 18 ionotropic receptors (IRs), 52 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), 18 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), and 4 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). Sequence and phylogenetic analyses characterized these candidates within the context of known insect chemosensory families. Notably, canonical bitter GRs and specific IR lineages (e.g., IR100/IR85a) were not detected in our dataset, potentially reflecting adaptation to the specialized soybean-feeding habit of this pest. Expression profiling further revealed pronounced sexual and tissue dimorphism: male antennae showed significant enrichment of putative pheromone receptors (PRs) and LglySNMP1, whereas several OBPs and ORs exhibited female-biased expression, suggesting roles in host location and oviposition. Additionally, the high expression of GR43a homologs points to fructose sensing, while the lack of detectable CO₂ receptor components (except LglyGR2) suggests atypical carbon dioxide perception mechanisms. Collectively, this study provides a valuable expression atlas of chemosensory genes in L. glycinivorella and identifies sex-specific candidate genes for future functional validation and behavior-based pest management. Full article

Background: Encouraging fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption early in childhood is important for long-term healthy eating. Though parents play an important role in shaping children’s FV-related taste preferences and consumption, validated instruments assessing the range of parenting practices that specifically support young children’s FV intake are scarce. Furthermore, little attention has been given to low-income families, cultural inclusivity, and FV practices across different settings. The current study sought to conduct an initial examination and explore the measurement equivalency of a new FV parenting practices questionnaire (FVPPQ) across racially/ethnically diverse groups that address these gaps. Methods: Data for this paper came from a large project focused on parents’ FV parenting practices with young children enrolled in Head Start programs in the southern part of the U.S. Inclusion criteria were (a) parent/legal guardian being eighteen or older, (b) being the primary person responsible for child feeding, and (c) the child not requiring a special diet (e.g., diabetic). Using a multi-phases project approach, we (1) developed a preliminary conceptual map of parenting practice domains by reviewing existing measures on FV parenting practices; (2) completed and content-analyzed data from 18 focus groups (n = 62) to identify and further revise the preliminary conceptual map of domains, (3) administered a questionnaire with 11 domains of FV parenting practices, and then (4) empirically explored and reduced the measure while evaluating its content, construct, and criterion validity, and cultural equivalency across Non-Hispanic White, Hispanic White, and Black parents (n = 281). Results: Findings from Phases 1 and 2 generated a 107-item questionnaire that was reduced during phase 3 through a series of principal component and confirmatory factor analyses to the final FVPPQ with 21 items in four unique domains, showing good variability and inter-item consistency reliability: (1) Availability (5 items); (2) modeling (5 items); child-focused (5 items); and pressure (6 items). Three of the four domains evidenced cultural equivalency. Conclusions: The FVPPQ with four unique subscales demonstrated good content, construct validity, and partial measurement equivalency across racially/ethnically diverse groups of parents. Further confirmatory validation is warranted in larger samples, but the FVPPQ might be a promising and easily administered measure for research and applied interventions in nutrition, health behavior, and parenting contexts. Full article

Diet is a key modulator of the gut microbiota, thereby influencing host physiology. Microbial colonization begins early in life, influenced by maternal sources, mode of birth, diet, and environmental exposures, and stabilizes into an adult-like microbiome during early childhood. This maturation yields a microbial ecosystem dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes that contributes to host physiological homeostasis. Gut microorganisms function as an integrated metabolic system that transforms dietary substrates into bioactive metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), amino acid-derived compounds, and microbial lipids. These metabolites regulate glucose and lipid metabolism, intestinal barrier integrity, and immune modulation. Although many metabolic functions are conserved, their activity is shaped by diet, microbial cross-feeding, and local intestinal conditions, enabling functional specialization within the gut. Disruption of this system, known as dysbiosis, is associated with alterations in microbial diversity and metabolic output that have been linked to metabolic diseases, including obesity and related disorders. Evidence from experimental models and observational studies suggests that these associations may involve interconnected inflammatory and metabolic mechanisms, such as impaired intestinal barrier function, low-grade inflammation, and altered dietary energy harvest; however, causal relationships in humans remain incompletely understood. Beyond peripheral effects, the gut microbiome influences host metabolism via the gut–brain axis, a bidirectional network that integrates neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic signaling. Microbiota-derived metabolites and gut hormone modulation contribute to appetite regulation, energy balance, and glucose homeostasis, while central neuroendocrine signaling can reciprocally shape the intestinal microbial niche. Collectively, these findings highlight the gut microbiome as a central regulator of host metabolism, whose disruption may contribute to the development of metabolic disease. Full article

Efficient UAV logistics in complex urban airspaces requires a synergistic approach to task allocation and path planning. However, traditional methods often decouple these two phases, leading to physically infeasible or sub-optimal delivery schedules. This paper proposes a Dual-Layer Optimization Framework (D-LOF) to address the Multi-UAV delivery problem in 3D urban environments. The upper layer utilizes an improved Genetic Algorithm (GA) with a specialized constraint repair operator to optimize task sequences for a heterogeneous UAV fleet. The lower layer employs an altitude-aware A* algorithm that dynamically balances vertical energy costs and horizontal cruise efficiency across multiple altitude layers. Unlike conventional models, our framework iteratively feeds precise 3D flight costs from the lower layer back to the upper layer to guide evolutionary search. Simulation results demonstrate that the D-LOF consistently achieves global convergence within 20 generations. Compared to single-altitude planning and rule-based strategies, the proposed method can reduce total operational costs and maintains zero time-window violations in high-density obstacle scenarios. This study provides a robust decision-making tool for “last-mile” urban logistics by navigating the trade-offs between 3D spatial constraints and delivery punctuality. Full article

This editorial consists of a synopsis of the research in the Special Issue on “Superconductors and Magnetic Materials”, specifying the studies and highlighting main results and conclusions. This collection of research (1) demonstrates the possibility of notably decreasing AC losses by replacing the copper encapsulation of rare Earth barium copper oxide tapes with strong magnetic encapsulation; (2) predicts typical gains expected from soft-magnet and superconductor flux concentrators for low magnetic field sensing; (3) reveals that the n-value surfaces of high-Tc tapes can be estimated with a high accuracy using feed-forward deep neural network learning; (4) predicts the detection of a monopole plasma phase in high-Tc iron-based superconductors with a Tc above 70 K; and (5) proposes an analytical model to accurately predict the gap-to-Tc ratio for yttrium hydrides at high pressures. Full article

Cenchrus fungigraminus is a high-yielding forage material, but due to its relatively high lignin content and low carbohydrate content, its current feed utilization primarily relies on silage methods. However, current research on C. fungigraminus silage faces challenges such as unclear fermentation strains and low fiber degradation efficiency of traditional commercial starters, which prevent them from meeting the requirements for C. fungigraminus silage production. So, this study aimed to evaluate the fiber degradation effects of Bacillus velezensis JC2 (isolated from C. fungigraminus), the commercial cellulose-degrading bacterium Bacillus velezensis (CBV), and Trichoderma longibrachiatum (CTL) on C. fungigraminus. The degradation performance of JC2 was assessed based on the lignocellulose content of silage samples, scanning electron microscopy observations, crystallinity, and changes in chemical bonds and functional groups. Furthermore, the three strains exhibiting the highest activities of CMCase, FPase, and β-glucosidase during the screening process were combined with enzyme preparations to develop a specialized silage additive suitable for C. fungigraminus. The results indicate that: (1) Compared to commercial cellulose-degrading strains, after 14 days of fermentation with JC2 treatment, the lignin in C. fungigraminus was effectively degraded. (2) The silage feed of C. fungigraminus treated with a mixture of JC2, JC3, and JC28 showed significant improvements in sensory evaluation, lactic acid content, and cellulose degradation rate. The pH value decreased rapidly (<4.2), while the LA content and the LA/AA ratio increased, and the NDF content decreased by 4.2% DM, effectively enhancing the quality of the silage feed. In summary, the Bacillus velezensis JC2 selected in this experiment effectively degraded the fiber structure of C. fungigraminus, improved the quality of the silage, and enhanced its nutritional value, demonstrating significant potential as a specialized silage additive for C. fungigraminus. Full article

The application of Genome-Scale Metabolic Network Models (GSMM) in fermentation optimization is hampered by challenges in differentiating viable from dead cells and parameter distortion induced by conventional detection methods. Using E. coli BL21(DE3) as the model organism, this study developed a flux analysis strategy that couples cell kinetics with GSMM. Key parameters were estimated using the gradient descent algorithm, thereby enabling precise prediction of viable cell concentration and glucose consumption dynamics. Integrating this with the Quadratic Programming-based parsimonious Flux Balance Analysis (QP-pFBA) algorithm, intracellular metabolic reaction fluxes were quantified. Results demonstrated that the model can effectively differentiate viable from dead cells; Batch D, adopting the gradient-increasing feeding strategy, achieved the maximum specific growth rate (μ_max) of 0.6457, the highest among the four batches. Moreover, key metabolic reaction fluxes were highly correlated with the feeding strategy. This framework forgoes specialized, high-cost equipment and offers robust cross-strain/process adaptability, thereby greatly advancing GSMM utility. It provides a powerful tool for precise fermentation control and accelerates the shift toward data-driven biomanufacturing. Full article

This study examines the histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical features of the lip skin of the goldfish (Carassius auratus, Linnaeus, 1758), a sensory-rich region that plays an essential role in feeding and environmental perception. Our findings highlight the coexistence and close association of immune, epithelial, and sensory cells within the epidermis and dermis. For the first time in goldfish, intraepidermal macrophages, eosinophilic granular cells, rodlet cells, Merkel cells, and several specialized sensory structures—neuromasts, taste buds, and tuberous-like sensory units—were simultaneously identified within the same integumentary field. Quantitative morphometry demonstrated a high density of eosinophilic granular cells, rodlet cells, and neuromasts per unit epithelial area, reinforcing the functional specialization of the goldfish lip as a sensory–immune interface. Immunohistochemical markers (CK20, S100, CD68, CD64, CD117, and E-cadherin) were applied as complementary tools to describe phenotypic labeling patterns. These findings are interpreted cautiously as supportive evidence consistent with epithelial, neural-associated, stromal, and immune cell distributions observed morphologically. Transmission electron microscopy further uncovered fine structural details such as synapse-like contacts in taste buds and Merkel cells, dense-core granules in eosinophilic granular cells, and telocyte–nerve fiber associations in the dermis. By integrating cellular, structural, and immunohistochemical perspectives, this study provides a novel descriptive reference for the goldfish lip skin as a region characterized by the close spatial association of sensory and immune-related elements, underscoring its value as a model for vertebrate cutaneous biology and neuroimmunology. Full article

Riboflavin (RF; vitamin B₂) is an essential micronutrient with broad applications in the food, feed, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries and is increasingly relevant in bioelectrochemical systems and environmental biotechnology. Microbial fermentation has replaced chemical synthesis as the dominant industrial production route due to its superior sustainability and scalability. However, despite substantial progress, RF biosynthesis remains constrained by imbalances in precursor supply, complex redox regulation, and regulatory feedback mechanisms that limit metabolic flux toward guanosine triphosphate and ribulose-5-phosphate. This review provides an updated, integrative analysis of RF biotechnology, encompassing biosynthetic pathways, transcriptional and redox-regulation, strain improvement strategies, and fermentation process optimization. Representative industrial producers—including Bacillus subtilis, Ashbya gossypii, and Candida famata—are critically evaluated for productivity, yield, and metabolic robustness, with reported titers reaching up to 29 g L⁻¹ in engineered systems. Emerging microbial platforms, including lactic acid bacteria, thermotolerant and methylotrophic microorganisms, and electroactive bacteria, are discussed in the context of niche applications such as food biofortification and microbial fuel cells. Special emphasis is placed on oxidative stress as a regulatory signal influencing RF overproduction, metabolic rewiring strategies to alleviate precursor bottlenecks, and the biosynthesis of RF derivatives (FMN, FAD, roseoflavin, and 8-aminoriboflavin). In addition, biosafety, regulatory constraints, concerns about genome stability, and antibiotic-free engineering approaches are examined as critical determinants of future industrial competitiveness. By integrating molecular regulation, metabolic engineering, fermentation design, emerging applications, and regulatory perspectives within a unified framework, this review outlines current bottlenecks and future directions for developing safer, more robust, and economically competitive RF-producing microbial platforms. Full article

Invasive freshwater fishes often display high trophic plasticity, facilitating their establishment and persistence in novel environments. This study examined the feeding ecology, growth patterns, and trophic role of the invasive black bullhead Ameiurus melas in the eutrophic Gruža Reservoir (Central Serbia), with emphasis on ontogenetic dietary shifts and potential ecological impact. Diet composition was analyzed in 103 individuals representing three age classes using traditional diet indices, Costello graphical analysis, self-organizing maps (SOMs), and the Indicator Value (IndVal). Chironomidae, Protozoa, and fish eggs were the dominant dietary components across age classes, although their relative importance varied ontogenetically. Younger individuals exhibited a more generalized feeding strategy, whereas older fish showed increased specialization on benthic prey. SOM-IndVal analyses revealed prey taxa associated with specific feeding patterns at the individual level, identifying Diptera as an indicator prey not detected by population-level indices. Length–weight relationships indicated negative allometric growth (b < 3) across all age classes, consistent with a diet dominated by low-energy prey. These feeding patterns may contribute to altered benthic processes, reduced native fish recruitment, and reinforcement of eutrophic conditions. Overall, the results highlight the pronounced trophic flexibility and ecological plasticity of A. melas, supporting its invasive success in degraded freshwater ecosystems. Full article

This paper presents the design, construction, and calibration of a modular low-cost 3D printer based on open-source technologies, developed as part of an academic research project. The printer utilises fused filament fabrication (FFF) and is built using locally available materials and components, including a T-slot aluminium frame, NEMA 23 stepper motors, and an Arduino Mega 2560 with RAMPS 1.4 control board. The system integrates Marlin firmware and CURA slicing software, enabling autonomous operation via an LCD panel and encoder interface. A detailed methodology is provided for mechanical assembly, electronic integration, firmware configuration, and calibration procedures. Special attention is given to the challenges encountered during the initial testing phase, including filament feeding issues, thermal inconsistencies, and mechanical misalignments. Solutions such as replacing inadequate components (e.g., fibreglass bushings with PTFE), adjusting spring tension, and refining firmware parameters are discussed. The results demonstrate successful printing of complex geometries after iterative calibration, validating the printer’s performance and replicability. This work contributes to the democratisation of additive manufacturing by offering a replicable, open-source solution for educational and prototyping purposes. The findings are relevant to machine design, automation, and robotics communities seeking practical insights into low-cost fabrication systems. Full article