Search Results (12,011)

Based on survey data from 579 farmer households in major non-timber forest product (NTFP) regions of Zhejiang Province, this study comprehensively employs binary logit/ordered probit and machine learning methods for cross-validation. It systematically examines the effects of multiple factors, including perceived property rights security, technical training, village rules and regulations, ecological awareness, and economic incentives, on forest farmers’ adoption of green production technologies. The cross-validation between econometric and machine learning approaches enhances the reliability of the findings. Results show that perceived property rights security is robustly and positively associated with green production behavior, while village rules and regulations and ecological awareness emerge as the two most critical driving factors. These associations exhibit significant NTFP-type heterogeneity: the impacts of technical training and forestry subsidies vary in direction depending on the crop cultivated, rendering traditional one-size-fits-all policies ineffective. This study highlights the crucial role of informal institutions and environmental awareness in the green transition, offering empirical evidence for designing differentiated training programs, optimizing penalty gradients, and implementing targeted subsidy policies. Full article

Although electric vehicles have been widely adopted in recent years, insufficient charging infrastructure in remote areas may still compromise the continuity of emergency operations involving field medical electric vehicles (EVs). Motivated by the need for temporary DC energy support from a donor vehicle to a field medical EV, this paper investigates an isolated DC–DC energy-sharing converter based on a series-resonant dual-active-bridge (SRDAB) topology and its associated control method. First, the SRDAB converter is employed to satisfy the requirements of low-voltage input, galvanic isolation, voltage step-up, and DC power transfer. Based on the fundamental harmonic approximation (FHA), a steady-state power relationship and a control-oriented dynamic model are derived to characterize the coupling between the phase-shift angle, transferred power, and output voltage. Subsequently, a fractional-order model predictive control strategy tuned offline using the grey wolf optimizer (GWO-FOMPC) is developed to address donor-side input-voltage variations, recipient-side equivalent-load disturbances, and the nonlinear power-transfer characteristics of the SRDAB converter. In this strategy, a fractional-order proportional–integral outer loop generates the reference transferred power, while a fractional-order predictive inner loop analytically determines the phase-shift command online. Finally, simulations and converter-level experiments validate the dynamic regulation performance of the proposed control strategy under emulated energy-sharing conditions for field medical EVs. Full article

Rumen-derived probiotics may help regulate fermentation and microbial activity in lambs, but the dose-related effects remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of rumen-derived Ligilactobacillus salivarius KS1018 on rumen function in Hu lambs using integrated assessments of growth performance, serum hormones, rumen fermentation, rumen microbiota and metabolomics profiling. Thirty-two male Hu lambs were allocated to four groups (n = 8/group): control (C) or KS1018 at 0.5 × 10⁹ (L), 1.0 × 10⁹ (M), or 1.5 × 10⁹ CFU/lamb/day (H) for 56 days. Growth performance, including final BW and ADG, did not differ significantly among groups (p > 0.05). Serum T3 and T4 were significantly higher in M and H than in C (p < 0.01). Group H exhibited significantly lower NH₃-N and higher total VFA concentration of rumen fluid compared with group C (p < 0.05). Significant increases in isobutyric acid concentration were observed in groups M and H (p < 0.05). Genus-level shifts and dose-related metabolite changes were detected; oxidative phosphorylation was enriched in group H and amino acid biosynthesis in group M. Procrustes analysis indicated significant concordance between the rumen microbiome and metabolome datasets (M² = 0.56, p < 0.001). These results indicate that KS1018 supplementation was associated with dose-related changes in rumen fermentation and selected microbiome–metabolome associations in Hu lambs, although the optimal dose requires further validation. Full article

Understanding the coordinated regulation of growth and metabolism during fruit development is essential for improving crop quality and harvest management. This study investigated changes in morphological traits, endogenous phytohormones, soluble sugars, anthocyanins, and water-soluble vitamins in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) fruit from 3 to 15 days after anthesis (DAA). Fruit length, diameter, and fresh weight increased significantly, with fresh weight increasing 16.6-fold. Cellular analysis showed that fruit enlargement was driven predominantly by cell expansion. Total soluble sugars increased 2.8-fold, with glucose and fructose as the predominant sugars. Delphinidin-based anthocyanins increased sharply during mid-development (9–12 DAA) and then declined slightly, whereas water-soluble vitamins decreased progressively. Based on integrated data, fruit development was classified into three phases: early (3 DAA, initiation and defense), mid (6–9 DAA, rapid growth and pigmentation), and late (12–15 DAA, functional maturation). Notably, 15 DAA was identified as a critical candidate stage with maximum sugar content, high anthocyanin levels, and completed seed development, suggesting its utility as a potential indicator of optimal harvest timing under the present conditions. These results provide an integrated understanding of developmental and metabolic processes in eggplant fruit and offer practical insights for optimizing harvest strategies. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of different LED spectral irradiance ratios on the growth, secondary metabolites, and essential oil characteristics of Ocimum × africanum Lour. cultivated for four weeks under controlled conditions. Four LED lighting treatments with different red, blue, green, ultraviolet-A, and far-red light ratios, and a treatment in greenhouse as low-light control were used. The constant 16 h photoperiod and light intensity of 220 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ were maintained. The F2 treatment (UV-A:B:R:Fr = 6.60:45.15:29.23:19.02) promoted the greatest plant height (76.62 cm), and chlorophyll a (7.41 mg/100 g, FW), chlorophyll b (4.73 mg/100 g, FW), and total phenolic (25.78 mg/g, FW) concentrations. F1 treatment (B:G:R:Fr = 17.14:29.8:47.4:5.66) produced significantly higher (p < 0.01) biomass (8.3 ton/ha, FW), oil yield (10.89 L/ha), and carotenoid (3.74 mg/100 g, FW) than the others. Essential oils contained 12–15 compounds, dominated by neral (27.5–37.3%), geranial (41.1–49.9%), and (E)-β-caryophyllene (2.4–9.9%), while the highest contents of oil (0.83%, DW), anthocyanin (16.50 mg/100 g, FW), and total flavonoid (14.17 mg/g, FW) were obtained under F4 (B:G:R:Fr = 13.85:43.50:39.30:3.35). These findings demonstrate that optimized LED spectra can effectively improve both productivity and phytochemical quality in O. africanum through regulating both primary and secondary metabolism. Full article

Against the backdrop of China’s “dual carbon” strategy and green transformation, this study examines the impact of green investment on corporate financial performance and the moderating role of state-owned shareholding ratio. Using a sample of Chinese A-share listed manufacturing firms from 2014 to 2023 and adopting a dynamic panel data model, the empirical results show that green investment significantly improves corporate financial performance. Moreover, state-owned shareholding plays a negative moderating role, and high state ownership weakens the positive effect of green investment on financial performance. The results indicate that green investment can enhance profitability by improving operational efficiency, reducing compliance risks and enhancing corporate reputation. However, due to policy burdens, multiple agency problems and insufficient profit incentives, state-owned enterprises tend to deviate from efficiency-oriented goals in green investment, which reduces the economic returns of such investment. This study enriches the understanding of the economic consequences of green investment under heterogeneous ownership, and provides empirical support for enterprises to optimize green investment decisions and regulators to improve governance mechanisms. Full article

To address the issues of low degradation efficiency in anaerobic bacteria targeting microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and the limitations of traditional genetic modification methods, this study applied ARTP mutagenesis technology for the first time to genetically engineer anaerobic MC-LR-degrading bacteria using the Citrobacter sp. D03 isolated from Lake Taihu sediments as the parental strain. Through three rounds of ARTP-induced mutagenesis and directed screening, a highly efficient mutant, C29, was obtained. The results indicate that the optimal mutagenesis conditions are 60 s, with a lethality rate of 90.15%; the anaerobic degradation efficiency of MC-LR by mutant strain C29 was 14% higher than that of the wild-type strain, and the genetic efficiency remained stable after consecutive passages. Whole-genome resequencing of the new strain C29 revealed 10 mutation sites, involving key genes such as toxD, cheA, murI, and mobB. qRT-PCR validation showed that the expression of genes related to sulfur metabolism, cell wall synthesis, molybdenum cofactor synthesis, and environmental adaptation was significantly upregulated. The study confirms that ARTP mutagenesis can effectively enhance the degradation capacity of anaerobic degrading bacteria toward MC-LR through polygenic synergistic regulation, providing both microbial resources and a theoretical basis for in situ anaerobic bioremediation of MC-LR pollution in eutrophic water bodies. Full article

Both temperature and solar radiation cause variations in photovoltaic output power. Nevertheless, each variation has a maximum power point, which represents the photovoltaic output’s maximum efficiency. Photovoltaic power must be managed at the highest point in order to achieve optimal efficiency. This can be accomplished by employing a converter to regulate the photovoltaic output voltage at the maximum power. This study proposes a quadratic boost converter (QBC) to control photovoltaic output power by using the Deep Recurrent Neural Network (DRNN) algorithm. The goal of the DRNN is to decrease ripple at the maximum point and speed up the time to reach the maximum power point. The QBC is designed to obtain a higher DC output voltage than a regular boost converter, so it can eliminate the use of a step-up transformer if the photovoltaic is connected to an inverter. The proposed method is applied to a 50 Wp solar panel with an Arduino microcontroller as the controller device. The experimental results demonstrate that the DRNN algorithm-based QBC effectively controls the solar panel output power at the maximum point with a smoother ripple and a faster response. The QBC is also able to produce higher-voltage output according to its characteristics. Full article

Biogenic volatile organic compounds released from soil (SBVOCs) are an important component of the material exchange and information transmission between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. Soil ecosystems act as both critical sources and frequently overlooked sinks of BVOCs. SBVOC emissions are mainly regulated by the temperature, moisture, and pH of the soil. Climate warming may enhance volatilization and microbial production in the short term. However, its long-term effects depend on drought, vegetation composition, substrate availability, permafrost thaw, and microbial acclimation. SBVOCs also influence microbial activity, nutrient cycling, plant–microbe interactions, plant defence, and below ground trophic interactions, although the strength of evidence differs among these functions. Ecologically, SBVOCs promote carbon cycling, modulate plant-microbe interactions, and influence atmospheric chemistry. This review further synthesizes SBVOC emission and uptake patterns across different climatic zones. Several challenges remain, particularly the scarcity of long-term quantitative measurements and difficulties in distinguishing multiple emission sources. Our understanding of rhizosphere interactions and climate-change feedback is also limited. It is essential to enhance long-term observational studies and optimize models to deepen our understanding of the role of SBVOCs in the global carbon cycle and air quality. Full article

Urtica dioica L. (stinging nettle) is a perennial herb with a long ethnomedicinal history and diverse pharmacological potential. This comprehensive review consolidates current knowledge on its phytochemistry, extraction technologies, bioactivities, and molecular mechanisms. However, recent reviews have generally addressed these aspects separately, and an integrated assessment linking green extraction technologies and phytochemical profiles to molecular mechanisms and gene expression modulation is still lacking. U. dioica contains abundant polyphenols (rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and chlorogenic acid), sterols (β-sitosterol and stigmasterol), vitamins, carotenoids, and the antiviral lectin Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA). Advances in green extraction technologies, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pressurized liquid extraction, and natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES)-based systems, have significantly improved yield, purity, and environmental sustainability compared to conventional maceration and Soxhlet methods. Comprehensive chromatographic and spectroscopic profiling (HPLC, GC–MS, FTIR, NMR, and LC–MS/MS) has established detailed chemical fingerprints linking bioactive constituents to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. Mechanistic studies reveal that U. dioica exerts its therapeutic effects through modulation of oxidative stress, inhibition of the NF-κB and COX-2 pathways, enhancement of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, and regulation of apoptotic gene expression. Moreover, NADES–MAE extracts demonstrate potential as sustainable, high-efficacy formulations for nutraceutical and cosmetic applications. Despite extensive preclinical evidence, clinical standardization and dosage optimization remain major challenges. This review underscores U. dioica as a multifunctional medicinal plant with significant promise for next-generation phytotherapeutics and molecular nutrition. Full article

In this paper, the concept of symmetry is applied to design active trajectory tracking control of autonomous distributed drive electric vehicles considering energy efficiency—that is, the construction and solution of active trajectory tracking controllers are symmetrical. This paper proposes a hierarchical control strategy consisting of upper-level control and lower-level control to improve trajectory tracking accuracy of DDEVs considering energy-efficiency characteristics. In the upper-layer control, a sliding mode active disturbance rejection (ADRC) controller is developed to control the front wheel steering angle and active yaw moment to achieve tracking of the desired trajectory, in which an extended state observer (ESO) is synthesized to estimate and compensate for internal model uncertainties and external environmental disturbances. In the lower-layer control, a multi-objective optimization algorithm based on Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions is designed to realize the torque distribution control for improving energy efficiency and vehicle stability of the distributed drive electric vehicle. Finally, a joint simulation platform based on Matlab/Simulink-CarSim (version 2019) is established for simulation verification. The performances of ADRC, linear quadratic regulator controller (LQR), and model predictive controller (MPC) are compared in snake-like and double-lane-change maneuvers. Simulation results show that the proposed controller can effectively reduce motor energy consumption while maintaining trajectory tracking accuracy and handling stability. This work provides a certain engineering design solution for motion control of intelligent electric vehicles. Full article

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are small oxidoreductases involved in redox regulation, but the biochemical properties of plant-specific CC-type GRXs remain poorly understood, particularly in legumes. In a previous transcriptomic analysis, two CC-type glutaredoxins from Lotus japonicus, LjGRX460 and LjGRX569, were identified as differentially expressed during symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. Here, both proteins were produced recombinantly and characterized by sequence analysis, structural modelling and in vitro biochemical assays. Phylogenetic and sequence studies confirmed that both proteins belong to the plant-specific CC-type GRX class but differ in active site composition and overall sequence organization. Homology modelling and molecular dynamics simulations revealed distinct conformational properties, including differences in active site accessibility, electrostatic surface distribution and putative oxidation-dependent structural rearrangements. Comparative analyses with representative class I and II GRXs supported substantial structural divergence, suggesting functional specialization. Optimized expression and purification protocols yielded soluble recombinant proteins. Both LjGRX460 and LjGRX569 displayed a strong tendency to form soluble high molecular weight aggregates, similar to the class I control GRX. Enzymatic assays showed low oxidoreductase activity towards classical disulfide substrates compared with class I GRXs, while molecular docking suggested reduced affinity for bis(2-hydroxyethyl) disulfide (HEDS) and preferential interaction with L-cystine. These results indicate that LjGRX460 and LjGRX569 are unlikely to function as classical oxidoreductases and may instead perform specialized regulatory functions. Full article

Background/Objectives: PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS) is a rare inherited disorder caused by germline PTEN mutations, presenting with cancer predisposition and neurodevelopmental abnormalities, including macrocephaly. PTEN functions as a tumour suppressor by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and contributes to cellular adhesion, migration, and genomic stability. As no curative therapy exists, gene therapy represents a promising avenue to correct the underlying genetic defect. Methods: In this study we evaluated the therapeutic potential of AAV9-mediated PTEN gene delivery in a Pten^Δ5/+ mouse model, which is predominantly characterized by progressive lymphoid hyperplasia leading to lymph node tumour development, as well as hepatic focal lesions and macrocephaly. Results: Systemic vector delivery did not improve lymph node enlargement which represents the predominant disease phenotype in the Pten^Δ5/+ mice at the doses tested, due to restricted vector biodistribution, but it did effectively rescue the hepatic lesions, including steatosis and steatohepatitis-like changes. Mechanistically, AAV-mediated PTEN expression significantly reduced elevated p-AKT levels, indicating attenuated hyperactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Additionally, intracranial delivery of the same vector in Pten^Δ5/+ mouse neonates ameliorated macrocephaly without apparent adverse effects. Conclusions: These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of AAV9-mediated PTEN gene therapy in PHTS, particularly for hepatic and neuroanatomical manifestations. Optimization of vector biodistribution and transduction efficiency will be critical for clinical translation. Full article

Climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme temperatures pose severe threats to global agricultural productivity, making the breeding of water-efficient crops a critical imperative. Originating from arid regions, foxtail millet serves as an ideal C4 model crop for elucidating plant adaptations to water deficits. Unlike previous reviews that often isolate genomic features from physiological responses, this review constructs an explicit conceptual framework integrating cross-scale defense mechanisms—mechanistically linking molecular signal transduction and post-transcriptional regulation to cellular homeostasis and field-scale yield stability. We first detail the developmental stage-specific physiological penalties of water stress and dissect proactive water-conservation strategies, including stomatal anatomical optimization, root-carbon reallocation, and dynamic rhizosphere remodeling. At the genetic level, we highlight the application of dynamic quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, which transcends the static limitations of conventional QTLs by capturing the spatiotemporal evolution of drought-tolerance traits across distinct developmental nodes. To bridge the gap between intrinsic genetic potential and field application, we spotlight the emerging integration of machine learning-assisted breeding and genomic prediction for the efficient evaluation of superior germplasms. Across this framework, several persistent gaps emerge: most drought-responsive genes identified in foxtail millet remain at the level of expression association without functional validation; dynamic QTL analysis remains underutilized relative to its capacity to resolve reproductive-stage drought tolerance; and ML-based genomic prediction, though demonstrated in this species, has not been integrated into operational breeding. Closing these gaps will require connecting high-throughput field phenotyping to genomic selection and deploying functionally validated editing targets in genetic backgrounds relevant to dryland production. Full article

Torsional vibrations represent a significant dynamic phenomenon in rotating mechanical systems and are often associated with increased dynamic loading, fatigue damage, noise generation, and reduced operational reliability. Conventional vibration mitigation techniques are generally effective only within a limited frequency range, which restricts their applicability in modern drivetrains operating under variable loading conditions. Consequently, increasing attention has been devoted to nonlinear vibration control concepts based on the principle of targeted energy transfer. This paper presents the development and experimental investigation of a novel TET system with variable torsional stiffness intended for torsional vibration mitigation in rotating mechanical systems. The proposed concept combines the vibration energy redistribution capability of a nonlinear absorber with adaptive stiffness tuning achieved through pneumatic elements. The torsional stiffness of the secondary subsystem can be continuously adjusted by regulating the pressure within air bellows, enabling adaptation of the system dynamics to varying operating conditions. A dedicated experimental test rig with kinematic excitation was developed to investigate the dynamic response of the coupled mechanical system and evaluate the influence of variable stiffness on the TET mechanism. The study focuses on the analysis of vibration energy redistribution, the identification of optimal operating conditions, and the assessment of the potential of variable-stiffness TET systems for wide range torsional vibration control in rotating machinery. Full article