Search Results (31)

Various platforms, such as Google Maps, provide information about the services of public transport companies worldwide. Operators publish the planned (static) timetable using the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) format, while the GTFS Realtime (GTFS-RT) specification provides live (dynamic) information about the services. In this paper, we present our dataset that was built by retrieving and pre-processing the data sources of the open data platform of BKK Futár, hosted by the Centre for Budapest Transport Company (BKK). The paper contains a well-detailed description of our methods for retrieving and pre-processing the data among statistical features. The dataset covers a one-year period in which the data collection mechanism used for realtime data was continuously improved from collecting only live vehicle positions to covering all the available feeds and increasing the query frequency. We merged the static data with the vehicle positions to filter them, yielding a clean set of tracked trips. As a result, more than 90% of the daily planned trips could be reconstructed from the responses. We provide an interactive web-based visualization for the analysis of the GTFS schedule’s, and the GTFS-RT Vehicle Positions feed’s, geospatial features. The dataset and also our methodology can serve as input for various research studies to investigate the common characteristics of delays and disruptions or predict real departure times based on the current vehicle positions and historical data. Full article

Recently, rice yield has been severely affected by both brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens) infestation and high-temperature stress. Numerous previous studies have identified genes conferring resistance to BPH and high-temperature tolerance in rice, respectively. However, it remains unclear how rice synergistically responds to these two stress factors. In the present study, we found that pre-treatment with high temperature can enhance rice seeding resistance to BPH, while BPH feeding did not alter the high-temperature tolerance of rice. This result can be elucidated by the subsequent transcriptome analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) following high-temperature treatment were enriched in metabolic processes and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways, thereby enhancing rice resistance to BPH. Further weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) indicated that genes in the magenta and black modules were predominantly associated with the protein folding and transmembrane transport biological processes. And several candidate genes, including Loc_Os01g02170 and Loc_Os01g59870, were identified that may play crucial roles in simultaneously regulating rice resistance to BPH and high-temperature stress. This research will provide new gene resources for cultivating rice with compound traits and provide ideas for the mechanism analysis of rice response to multiple stresses. Full article

This study evaluates the feasibility of repurposing produced water—an abundant byproduct of hydrocarbon extraction—for green hydrogen production in Wyoming, USA. Analysis of geospatial distribution and production volumes reveals that there are over 1 billion barrels of produced water annually from key basins, with a general total of dissolved solids (TDS) ranging from 35,000 to 150,000 ppm, though Wyoming’s sources are often at the lower end of this spectrum. Optimal locations for hydrogen production hubs have been identified, particularly in high-yield areas like the Powder River Basin, where the top 2% of fields contribute over 80% of the state’s produced water. Detailed water-quality analysis indicates that virtually all of the examined sources exceed direct electrolyzer feed requirements (e.g., <2000 ppm TDS, <0.1 ppm Fe/Mn for target PEM systems), necessitating pre-treatment. A review of advanced treatment technologies highlights viable solutions, with estimated desalination and purification costs ranging from USD 0.11 to USD 1.01 per barrel, potentially constituting 2–6% of the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). Furthermore, Wyoming’s substantial renewable-energy potential (3000–4000 GWh/year from wind and solar) could sustainably power electrolysis, theoretically yielding approximately 0.055–0.073 million metric tons (MMT) of green hydrogen annually (assuming 55 kWh/kg H₂), a volume constrained more by energy availability than water supply. A preliminary economic analysis underscores that, while water treatment (2–6% LCOH) and transportation (potentially > 10% LCOH) are notable, electricity pricing (50–70% LCOH) and electrolyzer CAPEX (20–40% LCOH) are dominant cost factors. While leveraging produced water could reduce freshwater consumption and enhance hydrogen production sustainability, further research is required to optimize treatment processes and assess economic viability under real-world conditions. This study emphasizes the need for integrated approaches combining water treatment, renewable energy, and policy incentives to advance a circular economy model for hydrogen production. Full article

Research on the effects of organic and inorganic Cu sources on metabolic processes and mechanisms in pigs is lacking. This study investigated the effects of different copper (Cu) sources and levels on hepatic Cu metabolism and transporter factors in growing pigs. Sixty healthy piglets (initial body weight 14.00 ± 0.30 kg) were randomly divided into four groups with five replicates of three pigs each. Four diets (AM, AH, BM, and BH) had different Cu sources [Cu sulphate (CuSO₄): A and Cu amino acids (Cu-AA): B] and levels [supplemented (120 mg/kg DM): M, supplemented (240 mg/kg DM): H]. The pre-feeding period was 7 days, followed by a 45-day feeding period. Slaughter and sample collection were carried out on the 46th day of the formal feeding period. Significant differences were considered at p < 0.05. The final weight and average daily gain (ADG) of growing pigs in the Cu-AA groups were significantly higher than those in the CuSO₄ groups. Serum Cu increased with increasing Cu supplementation on days 20 and 40. Cu concentrations in muscle, liver, and liver subcellular organelles were higher in Cu-AA groups. In the CuSO₄ groups, Cu concentrations were higher in kidneys and faeces. In Cu-AA groups, both the Cu concentrations in lysosomes and cytosol were higher, and the activities of cathepsin D (CTSD), β-glucosidase (BGL), and acid phosphatase (ACP) in lysosomes and cytoplasm were higher. Comparisons between groups showed that liver mRNA of copper transporter protein 1 (CTR1), ATPase copper-transporting beta (ATP7B), ceruloplasmin (CP), antioxidant protein 1 (ATOX1), and metallothionein (MT) was lower in the CuSO₄ group than in the Cu-AA group, with the best performance at 120 mg/kg Cu. mRNAs for ATPase copper-transporting alpha (ATP7A), cytochrome c oxidase copper chaperone 17 (COX17), and copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS) showed a decreasing trend in the Cu-AA groups. Cu-AA is better for Cu deposition, enhances the utilisation of Cu, reduces Cu excretion, and promotes the expression of relevant enzymes and transporters in the liver. Full article

Maize productivity has remained low and has worsened in the wake of a changing climate, resulting in new invasive pests, with pests that were earlier designated as minor becoming major and with pathogens being transported by pests and/or entering their feeding sites. A study was conducted in 2021 in the Kisumu and Makueni counties, Kenya, to determine how different maize cropping systems affect insect diversity, insect damage to maize, and insects’ ability to spread mycotoxigenic fungi in pre-harvest maize. The field experiments used a randomized complete block design, with the four treatments being maize monocrop, maize intercropped with beans, maize–bean intercrop with the addition of Trichoderma harzianum at planting, and push–pull technology. The FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), was the most damaging pest in the two regions. The push–pull and the maize–bean intercropping technologies significantly reduced the maize foliage and ear damage caused by the FAW. Beetles passively spread mycotoxigenic Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium verticillioides on pre-harvest maize. Maize weevils, namely, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Carpophilus dimidiatus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), earwigs, namely, Forficula spp. L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), and carpenter ants, namely, Camponotus spp. L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) carried the highest number of spores on their exoskeletons. This study stresses the role of insects in the spread of fungi on pre-harvest maize and their possible control by intercropping and other cropping technologies. Full article

The pre-transport phase induces stress, fear, and injury in poultry, but management choices greatly influence this. Pre-transport practices for spent hens and broilers in Flanders (Belgium) were studied. Poultry farmers (31 of 156 layers and 48 of 203 broiler farmers completed the survey) were surveyed on the selection of unfit chickens, catching and crating, and farmer opinion. A minority of farmers made a specific selection of chickens unfit for transport prior to catching (layers 25%: 5.1 ± 5.9 h, broilers 39%: 6.8 ± 7.0 h). More layer (69%) than broiler farmers (19%) withdrew feed too early (EU regulations stipulate max. 12 h before expected slaughter time). Layer farmers withdrew water earlier than broiler farmers (47.9 ± 51.1 min vs. 20.6 ± 23.3 min). More broiler than layer farmers believed that the container type affects the birds’ welfare (48% vs. 27%; p < 0.05). On broiler farms, mechanical catching was preferred for catchers’ well-being, while upright catching was considered better for animal welfare than catching more than three chickens by one/two legs, wings, or mechanically. Poultry farmers should be sensitized about the need for additional selection before catching, including clear guidelines about judging which birds are fit for transport. Full article

In recent years, there has been a surge in interest concerning emerging contaminants, also known as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), due to their presence in environmental matrices. Despite lacking regulation, these chemicals pose potential health and environmental safety risks. Disodium EDTA, a widely utilized chelating agent, has raised concerns regarding its environmental impact. The present work aimed to verify the presence of Disodium EDTA at the exit of eight wastewater treatment plants discharging into some losing streams flowing within a large alluvial aquifer. Conducted in the Province of Parma (Northern Italy), the research employs a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating geological, hydrogeological, chemical, and microbial community analyses. Following a territorial analysis to assess industries in the region, through the use of ATECO codes (a classification system for economic activities), the study investigated the concentration of Disodium EDTA in effluents from eight diverse wastewater treatment plants, noting that all discharges originate from an activated sludge treatment plant, released into surface water courses feeding the alluvial aquifer. Results revealed detectable levels of Disodium EDTA in all samples, indicating its persistence post-treatment. Concentrations ranged from 80 to 980 µg/L, highlighting the need for further research on its environmental fate and potential mitigation strategies. Additionally, the microbial communities naturally occurring in shallow groundwater were analyzed from a hydrogeological perspective. The widespread presence of a bacterial community predominantly composed of aerobic bacteria further confirmed that the studied aquifer is diffusely unconfined or semi-confined and/or diffusely fed by surface water sources. Furthermore, the presence of fecal bacteria served as a marker of diffuse leakage from sewage networks, which contain pre-treated wastewater. Although concentrations of Disodium EDTA above the instrumental quantification limit have not been found in groundwater to date, this research highlights the significant vulnerability of aquifers to Disodium EDTA. It reveals the critical link between surface waters, which receive treated wastewaters impacted by Disodium EDTA, and groundwater, emphasizing how this connection can expose aquifers to potential contamination. At this stage of the research, dilution of wastewaters in surface- and groundwater, as well as hydrodynamic dispersion within the alluvial aquifer, seem to be the main factors influencing the decrease in Disodium EDTA concentration in the subsurface below the actual quantification limit. Consequently, there is a pressing need to enhance methodologies to lower the instrumental quantification limit within aqueous matrices. In a broader context, urgent measures are needed to address the risk of diffuse transport of CECs contaminants like Disodium EDTA and safeguard the integrity of surface and groundwater resources, which are essential for sustaining ecosystems and human health. Full article

Iron is an important trace element that affects the growth and development of animals and regulates oxygen transport, hematopoiesis, and hypoxia adaptations. Wujin pig has unique hypoxic adaptability and iron homeostasis; however, the specific regulatory mechanisms have rarely been reported. This study randomly divided 18 healthy Wujin piglets into three groups: the control group, supplemented with 100 mg/kg iron (as iron glycinate); the low-iron group, no iron supplementation; and the high-iron group, supplemented with 200 mg/kg iron (as iron glycinate). The pre-feeding period was 5 days, and the formal period was 30 days. Serum was collected from empty stomachs before slaughter and at slaughter to detect changes in the serum iron metabolism parameters. Gene expression in the liver was analyzed via transcriptome analysis to determine the effects of low- and high-iron diets on transcriptome levels. Correlation analysis was performed for apparent serum parameters, and transcriptome sequencing was performed using weighted gene co-expression network analysis to reveal the key pathways underlying hypoxia regulation and iron metabolism. The main results are as follows. (1) Except for the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) content (between the low- and high-iron groups), significant differences were not observed among the serum iron metabolic parameters. The serum HIF-1 content of the low-iron group was significantly higher than that of the high-iron group (p < 0.05). (2) Sequencing analysis of the liver transcriptome revealed 155 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the low-iron and control groups, 229 DEGs between the high-iron and control groups, and 279 DEGs between the low- and high-iron groups. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the HIF-1 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathways were the key pathways for hypoxia regulation and iron metabolism. Four genes were selected for qPCR validation, and the results were consistent with the transcriptome sequencing data. In summary, the serum iron metabolism parameter results showed that under the influence of low- and high-iron diets, Wujin piglets maintain a steady state of physiological and biochemical indices via complex metabolic regulation of the body, which reflects their stress resistance and adaptability. The transcriptome results revealed the effects of low-iron and high-iron diets on the gene expression level in the liver and showed that the HIF-1 and TGF-β signaling pathways were key for regulating hypoxia adaptability and iron metabolism homeostasis under low-iron and high-iron diets. Moreover, HIF-1α and HEPC were the key genes. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for exploring the regulatory pathways and characteristics of iron metabolism in Wujin pigs. Full article

How alien pests invade new areas has always been a hot topic in invasion biology. The spread of the Bactrocera dorsalis from southern to northern China involved changes in food sources. In this paper, in controlled conditions, we take Bactrocera dorsalis as an example to study how plant host transformation affects gut bacteria by feeding it its favorite host oranges in the south, its favorite host peaches and apples in the north, and feeding it cucumbers as a non-favorite host plant, thereby further affecting their fitness during invasion. The result showed that, after three generations of feeding on cucumbers, Bactrocera dorsalis took longer to develop as a larva while its longevity and fecundity decreased and pre-adult mortality increased. Feeding it cucumbers significantly reduced the overall diversity of gut microbiota of Bactrocera dorsalis. The relative abundance of Enterobacter necessary for survival decreased, while the Empedobacter and Enterococcus increased, resulting in decreased carbohydrate transport and metabolism and increased lipid transport and metabolism. Feeding Bactrocera dorsalis Empedobacter brevis and Enterococcus faecalis resulted in a 26% increase in pre-adult mortality and a 2–3 d increase in adult preoviposition period (APOP). Additionally, Enterococcus faecalis decreased the longevity of female and male adults by 17 and 12 d, respectively, and decreased fecundity by 11%. We inferred that the shifted plant hosts played an important role in posing serious harm to Bactrocera dorsalis invading from the south to the north. Therefore, after an invasion of Bactrocera dorsalis into northern China, it is difficult to colonize cucumbers for a long time, but there is still a risk of short-term harm. The findings of this study have established that the interactions between an insect’s food source and gut bacteria may have an important effect on insect invasions. Full article

Agricultural workers exposed to organic dust from swine concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) have increased chances of contracting chronic lung disease. Mucociliary clearance represents a first line of defense against inhaled dusts, but organic dust extracts (ODEs) from swine barns cause cilia slowing, leading to decreased bacterial clearance and increased lung inflammation. Because nutritional zinc deficiency is associated with chronic lung disease, we examined the role of zinc supplementation in ODE-mediated cilia slowing. Ciliated mouse tracheal epithelial cells were pretreated with 0–10 µg/mL ZinPro^TM for 1 h, followed by treatment with 5% ODE for 24 h. Cilia beat frequency (CBF) and protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) activity were assayed. ODE treatment resulted in cilia slowing after 24 h, which was reversed with 0.5 and 1.0 µg/mL ZinPro pre-treatment. No zinc protection was observed at 50 ng/mL, and ciliated cells detached at high concentrations (100 µg/mL). ZinPro alone produced no changes in the baseline CBF and showed no toxicity to the cells at concentrations of up to 10 µg/mL. Pre-treatment with ZinPro inhibited ODE-stimulated PKCε activation in a dose-dependent manner. Based on ZinPro’s superior cell permeability compared to zinc salts, it may be therapeutically more effective at reversing ODE-mediated cilia slowing through a PKCε pathway. These data demonstrate that zinc supplementation may support the mucociliary transport apparatus in the protection of CAFO workers against dust-mediated chronic lung disease. Full article

A stratigraphic complex composed of mass transport deposits (MTDs), where the gas occurrence allows for the formation of a gas chimney and pipe structure, is identified based on seismic interpretation in the QiongDongNan area of the northern South China Sea. During the Fifth Gas Hydrate Drilling Expedition of the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, this type of complex morphology that has close interaction with local gas hydrate (GH) distribution was eventually confirmed. A flow-reaction model is built to explore the spatial–temporal matching evolution process of massive GH reservoirs since 30 kyr before the present (BP). Five time snapshots, including 30, 20, 10, and 5 kyr BP, as well as the present, have been selected to exhibit key strata-evolving information. The results of in situ tensile estimation imply fracturing emergence occurs mostly at 5 kyr BP. Six other environmental scenarios and three cases of paleo-hydrate existence have been compared. The results almost coincide with field GH distribution below the bottom MTD from drilling reports, and state layer fracturing behaviors always feed and probably propagate in shallow sediments. It can be concluded that this complex system with 10% pre-existing hydrates results in the exact distribution and occurrence in local fine-grained silty clay layers adjacent to upper MTDs. Full article

Transport is a high-risk time for sheep, especially if the distances are long and sheep are fasted for a long time beforehand. Two experiments were conducted to compare transport durations of 1 hour (1 h) and 3 hours (3 h) and the effects of feeding before transport using Dorper × Mongolian sheep, which are typical of the region and may be tolerant of the high temperatures in the Inner Mongolian summer. Thirty 4-month-old male sheep were randomly divided into two treatment groups, with 15 sheep/treatment in each experiment, to evaluate the effects on blood biochemical indicators, stress hormone levels, rectal temperatures, and antioxidant status of lambs in summer. In Experiment 1, the levels of triglycerides and free fatty acids after 3 h transport were significantly lower than after 1 h transport (p < 0.05). The levels of thyroxine and malondialdehyde in blood were greater after 3 h transport than 1 h transport (p < 0.05). Creatine kinase levels after 3 h transport tended to be lower than after 1 h transport (p = 0.051). In Experiment 2, the levels of urea and superoxide dismutase in the group fasted pre-transport was significantly lower than those of the group fed pre-transport (p < 0.05). The serum cortisol level in the pre-transport fed group was higher compared to the group fed pre-transport (p = 0.04). Total antioxidant capacity in the pre-transport fasted group tended to be lower compared to that in the pre-transport fed group (p < 0.0001). We conclude that the reduction in nutritional status of sheep transported for longer and without feed pre-transport suggests that transporting sheep in hot conditions in northern China after fasting for a long period should be restricted. However, a decrease in the stress induced by transport following fasting is worthy of further study. Full article

Previous studies conducted in our lab revealed microbial assemblages to vary significantly between high (ARS-FY-H) and low fillet yield (ARS-FY-L) genetic lines in adult rainbow trout. We hypothesized that a high ARS-FY-H donor microbiome can accelerate somatic growth in microbiome-depleted rainbow trout larvae of the ARS-FY-L line. Germ-depleted larvae of low ARS-FY-L line trout reared in sterile environments were exposed to high- or low-fillet yield-derived microbiomes starting at first feeding for 27 weeks. Despite weight-normalized diets, somatic mass was significantly increased in larvae receiving high fillet yield microbiome cocktails at 27 weeks post-hatch. RNA-seq from fish tails reveals enrichment in NADH dehydrogenase activity, oxygen carrier, hemoglobin complex, gas transport, and respiratory pathways in high fillet yield recolonized larvae. Transcriptome interrogation suggests a relationship between electron transport chain inputs and body weight assimilation, mediated by the gut microbiome. These findings suggest that microbiome payload originating from high fillet yield adult donors primarily accelerates juvenile somatic mass assimilation through respiratory and mitochondrial input modulation. Further microbiome studies are warranted to assess how increasing beneficial microbial taxa could be a basis for formulating appropriate pre-, pro-, or post-biotics in the form of feed additives and lead to fecal transplantation protocols for accelerated feed conversion and fillet yield in aquaculture. Full article

Diameters for drainage stacks and vent lines within high-rise building drainage systems are determined by consulting building standard agencies’ design codes. While these are critical design decisions, codes are based upon dated research (1940s to 1970s), which has numerous inherent limitations, and the methodologies employed within the codes are unclear. Thus, a new methodology is presented which is based upon an analogy with other forms of multiphase flow transport systems. This methodology assumes, as a pre-condition, that flows of air and the flow of water within the stack are reasonably steady over time. Component diameters must then be chosen which ensure an acceptably large air supply or air–water flow ratio, and an acceptably small pressure excursion within the stack. Two ways to implement this methodology are presented: an ‘explicit approach’, in which component diameters are directly calculated using empirical correlations, and an ‘implicit approach’, in which component diameters are determined by iteration, using a hydraulic model. The methodology pre-conditions of the approach are then discussed. The physical geometry of the stack and branches tends to promote steady water flow but to render air flow very susceptible to temporary interruptions. A need to maintain the air pathway within high-rise drainage systems using components to supplement the air feed drawn in through the roof vent as required is highlighted. Full article

The objective was to study the effects of weaning in week 5 (W5) vs. week 4 (W4), as well as liquid (LF) vs. dry feed (DF), on growth performance, disaccharidase activity and nutrient transporter expression after weaning. The experiment included 12,923 pigs fed LF or DF in the pre-weaning period and a subpopulation of 15 pigs from each group, W4DF, W4LF, W5DF and W5LF, which were weighed and euthanized five days after weaning. The proximal part of the small intestine was analyzed for maltase, lactase and sucrase activity and the expression of SGLT-1, GLUT-2 and PepT-1. Pigs fed LF displayed less maltase activity (2100 vs. 2729 U/mg protein, p < 0.05) but an increased expression of SGLT-1 (∆Ct: 5.22 vs. 6.21, p = 0.01). Pigs weaned in W5 were heavier than those weaned in W4 (9.35 vs. 7.11 kg BW, p ≤ 0.05), and pigs fed LF were heavier than those fed DF (8.55 vs. 7.91 kg BW, p ≤ 0.05) five days after weaning in the subpopulation. LF pigs (21.8 kg) were heavier than DF pigs (20.6 kg) (SE 0.108, p < 0.0001), and W4 pigs (21.0 kg) were lighter than W5 pigs (21.5 kg) (SE 0.108, p = 0.01) at nine weeks. LF increased weight gain in the early post-weaning period and at nine weeks, although this was apparently not explained by accelerated gut maturation. Full article