Search Results (380)

The grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the most important horticultural crops, with thousands of varieties cultivated worldwide. In this study, we analyzed chloroplast SNV markers using a whole-genome shotgun sequencing approach to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogeny of 409 cultivated V. vinifera accessions originating from nine countries across Southeast and Central Europe, as well as a heterogeneous set of additional accessions maintained by INRAE. Shotgun sequencing allowed high coverage, enabling the detection of 93 SNVs across 24 chloroplast genes, including 11 non-synonymous variants. The ycf1 gene showed the highest variability, consistent with its role in species differentiation. Haplotype analysis revealed 102 distinct haplotypes, with clear geographic structuring: ATT predominated in the eastern Mediterranean, ATA in western Europe, and GTA mainly in a heterogeneous group of varieties from a French collection. To validate the shotgun approach, seven SNV markers were analyzed using target capture sequencing, confirming the accuracy of detected variants with only minimal discrepancies, which is mostly attributable to homopolymeric regions and low-frequency alleles. Phylogenetic analyses using both trees and networks delineated three major haplotype clusters, reflecting human-mediated dispersal of grapevine cultivars through historical viticultural practices. This study represents the largest chloroplast genome analysis of cultivated V. vinifera to date, providing a large cpDNA resource for assessing chloroplast diversity and maternal haplotype structure in cultivated grapevine. The results highlight the power of combining high-throughput sequencing and chloroplast genomics for population-level studies in perennial crops. Full article

The present study investigates the generalized dispersion of a solute in an incompressible MHD flow via a rectangular channel with injectable or suctioned walls. The mathematical model of dispersion suggests a distinct type of mass flux expressed as a fractional partial differential equation based on the time-fractional Caputo derivative. The mass flow in the model under investigation is determined by both the concentration gradient and its historical evolution. A constant external magnetic field is provided transverse to the flow direction. The analysis and discussion of the analytical solution for the advection velocity are performed in relation to the Hartmann number and the suction/injection Reynolds number. To determine the solute concentration in space and time, the unstable fractional convection–diffusion equation is analytically solved. The polynomial in the geographic variable y that has coefficients that depend on the spatial variable x and the time t is the analytical solution of the concentration. The effects of the fractional order of the Caputo derivative, Reynolds number, Hartmann number, and Peclet number on the advection–diffusion process are examined using numerical simulations of the analytical solution of the solute concentration. Full article

The Church of San Juan del Hospital in Valencia (Spain) is a Gothic church whose main architectural feature—the western façade—remained unresolved, posing structural and compositional challenges. The intervention addressed this issue while preserving the historical integrity of the building and its heritage context. A systematic methodology was applied, following principles of reversibility, sustainability, and compatibility with medieval ribbed-vault construction. The project resolved five key aspects: completion of the nave’s façade, coverage of the former atrium remains, access from the north courtyard, compositional coherence of the west courtyard front, and integration of the church and museum entrances. Contemporary materials and techniques, including aluminum, recycled wood, and handmade ceramic brick, were selected to harmonize with historic stonework, ensure durability, and minimize environmental impact. Design strategies guided visual perception, emphasizing the lower façade and resolving dispersive compositional elements, while creating functional spaces for ventilation, climate control, and circulation. This intervention demonstrates how a methodical, heritage-sensitive approach can solve complex architectural problems, combining innovation with historical authenticity, and enhancing both the functionality and aesthetic experience of the Church of San Juan del Hospital. Full article

Maintaining color constancy in polymer extrusion processes is a key difficulty in manufacturing applications, as fluctuations in processing parameters greatly influence pigment dispersion and the quality of the finished product. Preliminary historical data mining analysis was conducted in 2009. This work concentrates on Opaque PC Grade 5, which constituted 2.43% of the pigment; it contained 10 PPH of resin2 with a Melt Flow Index (MFI) of 6.5 g/10 min and 90 PPH of resin1. It also employs a fixed resin composition with an MFI of 25 g/10 min. This research identified the significant processing parameters (PPs) contributing to the lowest color deviation. Interactions between processing parameters, for the same color formulation, were analyzed using statistical methods under various processing conditions. A principle-driven General Trends (GT) diagnostic procedure was applied, wherein each parameter was individually varied across five levels while holding others constant. Particle size distribution (PSD) and colorimetric data (CIE Lab*) were systematically measured and analyzed. To complete this, correlations for the impact of temperature (Temp) on viscosity, particle characteristics, and color quality were studied by characterizing viscosity, Digital Optical Microscopy (DOM), and particle size distribution at various speeds. The samples were characterized for viscosity at three temperatures (230, 255, 280 °C) and particle size distribution at three speeds: 700, 750, 800 rpm. This study investigates particle processing features, such as screw speed and pigment size distribution. The average pigment diameter and the fraction of small particles were influenced by the speed of 700–775 rpm. At 700 rpm, the mean particle size was 2.4 µm, with 61.3% constituting particle numbers. The mean particle size diminished to 2 µm at 775 rpm; however, the particle count proportion escalated to 66% at 800 rpm. This research ultimately quantifies the relative influence of particle size on the reaction, resulting in a color value of 1.36. The mean particle size and particle counts are positively correlated; thus, reduced pigment size at increased speed influences color response and quality. The weighted contributions of the particles, 51.4% at 700 rpm and 48.6% at 800 rpm, substantiate the hypothesis. Further studies will broaden the GT analysis to encompass multi-parameter interactions through design experiments and will test the diagnostic assessment procedure across various polymer grades and colorants to create robust models of prediction for industrial growth. The global quality of mixing polycarbonate compounding constituents ensured consistent and smooth pigment dispersion, minimizing color streaks and resulting in a significant improvement in color matching for opaque grades. Full article

Traditional villages, protected as cultural heritage in our country, are rich in historical information, cultural landscapes, and traditional domestic architecture. This article explores the spatial distribution of traditional villages and proposes a new paradigm for the sustainable development of traditional dwellings. It addresses the challenges these villages face, such as natural, social, and inherent issues, arising from rapid socioeconomic development and urbanization. This study analyzes the spatial distribution and architectural features of traditional villages and dwellings in Northern Shaanxi based on 179 national and provincial villages. Using ArcGIS 10.1, the geographic concentration index, kernel density analysis, and the analytic hierarchy process, this study applied both macro and micro level perspectives. The research shows that: (1) The traditional villages in northern Shaanxi exhibit a spatial distribution pattern of “overall aggregation, local dispersion, and uneven distribution.” This pattern is influenced by interactions between natural and human factors. (2) Traditional dwellings in these villages are primarily cave dwellings and courtyard buildings, each reflecting unique architectural features in terms of floor plan layout, facade form, structure, materials, and decoration. (3) Traditional village dwellings in northern Shaanxi face practical challenges related to protection, development, and governance. The top three challenges, based on weighted indicators, are issues related to inheritance, an imperfect protection mechanism, and inherent shortcomings of the buildings. Based on these findings, this study proposes three practical suggestions for the sustainable development of traditional village dwellings in Northern Shaanxi. These suggestions aim to enhance the comprehensive and multi-dimensional sustainable development of traditional village dwellings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chemical and metabolic kinetics have historically been derived from mass balance differential equations expressed in terms of amounts, and this framework was later extended to pharmacokinetics by converting amount-based equations to concentration-based clearance relationships. That conversion is valid for fixed-volume in vitro experiments, but may be unreliable in vivo, where input, distribution, and elimination can occur in different volumes of distribution. The objective of this study is to present an alternate, mechanistically agnostic framework for deriving pharmacokinetic relationships by adapting Kirchhoff’s Laws to treat pharmacokinetic systems as networks of parallel and in-series rate-defining processes, and to identify where differential equation approaches fail in vivo. Methods: Clearance and rate constant equations were derived using the adapted Kirchhoff’s Laws by summing parallel rate-defining processes and summing inverses for in-series processes, explicitly incorporating organ blood flow, net transporter, and delivery site effects. The resulting expressions were compared with differential equation hepatic disposition elimination models (well-stirred, parallel tube, dispersion) and the Extended Clearance Concept (ECC). Mean residence time concepts were used to extend the framework to oral input, and the full approach was applied to a case study of a hypothetical drug (KL25A). Results: The adapted Kirchhoff-based approach reproduced standard pharmacokinetic analyses without mechanistic organ assumptions and yielded model-independent hepatic and renal clearance equations that include blood flow, net transport, and delivery kinetics. Inconsistencies with the traditional differential-based derivations were highlighted, including the interpretation of pharmacokinetics associated with slow absorption site clearance, as illustrated by KL25A. Conclusions: For linear drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, clearance and rate constant relationships can be derived by summing parallel and in-series rate-defining processes, without differential equations. Differential equation methods may misestimate in vivo clearance and bioavailability when drug input is slow or when volumes of distribution differ across processes. The adapted Kirchhoff framework offers a simpler, model-independent basis for interpreting clinical data. Full article

The study systematizes the current state of knowledge on the morphological diversity of dispersed-phase particles in the most widely used lubricating greases, encompassing their shape, size, surface structure, and overall geometry. The extensive discussion of the diversity of grease thickener particles is supplemented with their microscopic images. Particular emphasis is placed on the influence of thickener particle morphology, the degree of their aggregation, and interparticle interactions on the rheological, mechanical, and tribological properties of grease formulations. The paper reviews recent advances in investigations of grease microstructure, with special emphasis on imaging techniques—ranging from dark-field imaging, through scanning electron microscopy, to atomic force microscopy—together with a discussion of their advantages and limitations in the assessment of particle morphology. A significant part of the work is devoted to rheological studies, which enable an indirect evaluation of the structural state of grease by analyzing its response to shear and deformation, thereby allowing inferences to be drawn about the micro- and mesostructure of lubricating greases. The historical development of rheological research on lubricating greases is also presented—from simple flow models, through the introduction of the concepts of viscoelasticity and structural rheology, to modern experimental and modeling approaches—highlighting the close relationships between rheological properties and thickener structure, manufacturing processes, composition, and in-service behavior of lubricating greases, particularly in tribological applications. It is indicated that contemporary studies confirm the feasibility of tailoring the microstructure of grease thickeners to specific lubrication conditions, as their characteristics fundamentally determine the rheological and tribological properties of the entire system. Full article

Horse flies (Tabanidae) negatively affect livestock by reducing productivity, compromising animal welfare, and serving as mechanical vectors of pathogens. However, the spatial processes shaping their community organization in southern Brazil’s Coastal Plain of Rio Grande do Sul (CPRS) remain poorly understood. To address this, we conducted standardized Malaise-trap surveys and combined them with historical–contemporary comparisons to examine distance–decay patterns in community composition. We evaluated both abundance-based (Bray–Curtis) and presence–absence (Jaccard) dissimilarities using candidate models. Across sites, Tabanus triangulum emerged as the dominant species. Dissimilarity in community structure increased monotonically with geographic distance, with no evidence of abrupt thresholds. The square-root model provided the best fit for abundance-based data, whereas a linear model best described presence–absence patterns, reflecting dispersal limitation and environmental filtering across a heterogeneous coastal landscape. Sites within riparian forests and conservation units displayed higher diversity, emphasizing the ecological role of protected habitats and the importance of maintaining connected corridors. Collectively, these findings establish a process-based framework for surveillance and landscape management strategies to mitigate vector, host contact. Future directions include integrating remote sensing and host distribution, applying predictive validation across temporal scales. Full article

The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) was a transformative era for Baojuan (寶卷, “precious scrolls”), a traditional genre of Chinese folk religious literature, which evolved from its Yuan origins to achieve widespread prominence. Luo Qing’s Wubu liuce (五部六冊, “Five Books in Six Volumes”) during the Zhengde reign (1506–1521) marked a pivotal moment, enabling the systematic dissemination of his teachings among diverse social strata and profoundly shaping popular religious beliefs. The Ming Baojuan texts, bridging the developments between the Yuan and Qing periods, offer rich and dispersed data suitable for digital visualization. Employing digital humanities tools such as 3D radar charts and GIS visualization, this study maps the spatial distribution and influence of Baojuan in Ming China. The findings reveal that transportation networks and regional economic prosperity played a crucial role in driving its dissemination, with southern regions–particularly the Wu-Yue region (referring to the historical cultural area encompassing southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang, core parts of Ming Jiangnan)–showing high density, reflecting the economic and cultural vitality of Ming Jiangnan. The research further demonstrates that the flourishing of Baojuan publication and dissemination during the Ming period was sustained not only by economic and cultural forces but also by the ruling elite’s patronage, a form of discursive strategies that functioned as a mechanism of sectarian legitimation, thereby underscoring the interdependence of regional prosperity, elite patronage, and religious transmission. Full article

This study investigated the composition and temporal dynamics of wood-inhabiting fungal communities in four aging tree species in Lednice Castle Park (Czech Republic), located within the Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Forty wood cores were collected from 20 trees at two time points (2023 and 2024). The hosts included horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.), copper beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropunicea’ L.), oak (Quercus robur L.), and poplar (Populus alba L.), each exhibiting visual signs of decline. Fungal assemblages were profiled using ITS2 high-throughput amplicon sequencing. Ascomycota dominated across all hosts (72–89% of reads), while Basidiomycota contributed 8–24%, largely represented by Agaricomycetes in F. sylvatica. Alpha diversity varied significantly among hosts (Shannon: F_3,36 = 10.61, p = 0.001 in 2023; F_3,36 = 10.00, p = 0.001 in 2024). Temporal shifts were host-dependent: F. sylvatica exhibited the strongest year-to-year decline in richness (Chao1: −83%, p = 0.007) and increased beta dispersion, while A. hippocastanum and P. alba showed significant increases in diversity (+65% and +42%, respectively). Community composition was shaped by host species (PERMANOVA Bray–Curtis: p = 0.001) and shifted over time (Jaccard: p = 0.001), with F. sylvatica showing the highest temporal turnover. Functional guild analysis revealed consistent dominance of saprotrophs (29–41%) and mixed pathotroph–saprotroph guilds (23–36%) across hosts, indicating active degradation processes inside functional xylem. These results indicate that, within the studied system, the wood mycobiome of aging trees is host-dependent and temporally dynamic rather than static or functionally neutral. Short-term temporal turnover observed between sampling years may contribute to shifts in fungal community composition and succession within wood, with potential implications for tree decline processes in managed historical park landscapes. Full article

This study presents the first metallurgical analysis of twenty-five votive statuettes of Hercules from the National Archaeological Museum of Campobasso, Molise, Italy. These artifacts, which have previously been unexamined from a metallurgical perspective, were analyzed to understand their composition, manufacturing techniques, and current state of preservation. All the samples were first analyzed in situ using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and then were sampled to conduct microstructural analyses on polished cross-sections by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The statuettes revealed a ternary Cu-Sn-Pb alloy, consistent with historical alloying practices and manufacturing techniques typical of the period. The study highlights a homogeneous biphasic microstructure with dispersed lead nodules within the bronze matrix. The corrosion products on the surface have peculiar colors and textures due to both the finishing process and the alteration accord over centuries of abandonment, aiding the understanding of the material’s behavior over time. The compositional results confirm the usage of materials and techniques in line with other coeval artifacts. Full article

Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1854), the sole European belostomatid, is an apex invertebrate predator in Mediterranean freshwater systems and a species known for its strong flight capacity and growing range expansion record. While its continental distribution in Greece is increasingly well documented, its presence across the Aegean islands has remained poorly characterized, with historical records scattered and often unpublished or fragmentary. Here, we present new, photographically verified records that substantially refine the species’ insular distribution and provide the first coordinated synthesis of its emerging archipelagic footprint. These include the first confirmed live individual from Samothraki and a newly documented specimen from Naxos, recovered beside a nearly desiccated summer stream indicating a very recent arrival. When integrated with additional verified observations from Sifnos, Ikaria, Chios, Euboea, Tilos, and Crete, as well as earlier published records, a coherent spatial pattern emerges. Rather than isolated vagrants, the records align along three longitudinal dispersal axes spanning the northern, central, and southern Aegean. These axes reflect plausible biological and anthropogenic pathways influenced by regional winds, maritime transport, and the distribution of natural and artificial freshwater habitats. Collectively, the evidence indicates that L. patruelis is undergoing a sustained, multi-vector archipelagic expansion, underscoring the importance of integrating citizen-science observations with targeted field documentation to monitor freshwater biodiversity across Mediterranean islands. Full article

Against the background of rapid global urbanization, the renewal and renovation of historic districts have become an increasingly important concern. As a city with a long and rich history, Beijing contains numerous historic districts that are in urgent need of systematic renewal and renovation. This study proposes a functional enhancement and renovation design methodology for urban historic districts based on space syntax theory and analytical methods, applying it to the Qianmen Historic District in Beijing. Through traffic flow and business format analysis, the research examines traffic patterns and business format distribution characteristics in the Qianmen area and ultimately guides the design based on these findings. Research indicates that restrooms and attractions in Beijing’s Qianmen historic district exhibit dispersed space distribution, broad service coverage, high metric step depth (447 m and 436 m, respectively), and low topological connectivity. In contrast, hotels and restaurants feature smaller service areas, lower metric step depth (395 m and 297 m, respectively), and higher topological connectivity. Based on these findings, this study proposes targeted design recommendations for Qianmen’s street renovations based on traffic flow analysis results. Considering the need for vehicle parking and pedestrian rest demands in urban functional renewal, rest seats and shared charging piles are set up on the streets with big pedestrian flow to meet the needs of pedestrians. Moreover, cycling routes are designed to connect big-traffic-flow streets with small-traffic-flow ones. These renewal measures aim to enhance the overall vitality of the Qianmen district. The renovation approach and methodology proposed in this study can serve as a reference for future updates and renovations of historic districts. Full article

(1) Background: Rubus geoides Sm., a native species of southern Patagonia, faces increasing threats due to climate change and anthropogenic land-use changes. Historically widespread, its distribution has become restricted by overgrazing, urban expansion, extractive industries, and direct harvesting from natural populations driven by interest in its nutraceutical potential since the first European settlements. (2) Methods: To assess its resilience and conservation prospects, we analyzed the morphological variability, genetic diversity, and population structure, complemented by species distribution modeling under past and future climate scenarios. (3) Results: Our findings reveal moderate genetic differentiation and private alleles in specific populations, alongside significant variation in flowering phenology. Paternity analysis indicates a tendency toward self-pollination, although this conclusion is constrained by the limited number of microsatellite markers employed. These results suggest post-glacial dispersal patterns and highlight the species’ potential for expansion under certain climate scenarios. (4) Conclusions: This study provides critical insights for biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management, directly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG 15 (Life on Land). Indirectly, this study contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by highlighting the importance of threatened species that hold value for human consumption and food security. Land-use changes, particularly mining and green hydrogen industry settlements, may represent stronger limitations to species expansion than climate change itself. Full article

The manuscript concerns modern methods of preserving historical papers and presents research focusing on the effectiveness of paper strengthening with gelatin, Klucel G, and Tylose solutions in combination with deacidification using magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles. The aim of these procedures is to extend the durability of historical records on papers, which are an important part of humanity’s cultural heritage. Gelatin and Klucel G dissolved in propyl alcohol were used simultaneously with the dispersion of Mg(OH)₂ nanoparticles, and Tylose dissolved in water was applied after deacidification in a separate step. The experiments were conducted on Whatman model papers, artificially acidified or covered with iron gall ink. The evaluation of the effectiveness was based on tests of breaking length, changes in the DP_visc of cellulose, and pH of the aqueous extracts. Additional information was provided by microscopic examinations (SEM-EDX-SE) and measurements of the optical properties of the tested papers before and after the application of strengthening agents. All the strengthening agents tested increased paper strength—Tylose to the greatest extent, followed by Gelatin, and Klucel G to the least extent. Model papers covered with Klucel G showed good dimensional stability. Gelatin-covered papers showed the greatest changes in optical properties. Full article