Search Results (297)

The ability of common carp to withstand both short-term and long-term oxygen deprivation has been well documented; however, the potential genetic mechanisms behind common carp’s hypoxia response remain unclear. Therefore, to understand the possible genetic foundation of their response to hypoxia, comparative genomic analyses were conducted among six common carp varieties: Color, Songpu, European, Yellow, Mirror, and Hebao common carps. We identified 118 single-copy orthologous positively selected genes (PSGs) (dN/dS > 1) in all common carps under study, with GO functions directly related to the cellular responses to hypoxia in Color and European common carp PSGs, such as oxygen transport activity, oxygen binding activity, respiratory burst activity, and superoxide anion production. The Bayes Empirical Bayes (BEB) technique identified possible amino acid substitutions in mitochondrial and hypoxic genes under positive selection. Exonic and intronic structural variations (SVs) were discovered in the CYGB2 hypoxia-related gene of Color and European common carps, as well as in several mitochondrial genes, including MRPL20, MRPL32, NSUN3, GUF1, TMEM17B, PDE12, ACAD6, and COX10 of Color, European, Songpu, Yellow, and Hebao common carps. Moreover, Color common carp and Songpu common carp were found to share the greatest percentage of collinear genes (49.8%), with seven Songpu common carp chromosomes (chr A2, chr A9, chr A13, chr B13, chr B15, chr B2, and chr B12) showing distinct translocation events with the corresponding chromosomes of Color common carp. Additionally, we found 570 translocation sites that contained 3572 translocation-related genes in Color common carp, some of which are directly relevant to mitochondrial and hypoxic GO functions and KEGG pathways. Our results offer strong genome-wide evidence of the possible evolutionary response of Cyprinus carpio to hypoxia, providing important insights into the potential molecular mechanisms that explain their survival in hypoxic environments and guiding future research into carp hypoxia tolerance. Full article

The sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) is a commercially important marine species. However, its survival is increasingly threatened by frequent outbreaks of Skin Ulceration Syndrome caused by Vibrio splendidus. This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) at two concentrations (0.5% and 1%) over short-term (21 days) and long-term (56 days) feeding periods on immune defense, antioxidant capacity, and resistance to V. splendidus infection. Key parameters measured included survival rate, cellular immune activity, antioxidant enzyme levels, and expression of immune-related genes. Long-term (56 days) supplementation with 1% FeSO₄ significantly improved survival after infection (90 ± 4.7%). Phagocytic activity and respiratory burst were enhanced by approximately ~1.9-fold and ~1.8-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). The expression of sod, ferritin, and hsp70 genes was upregulated by ~2.1-fold, ~2.0-fold, and ~1.6-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). These results indicate strengthened cellular immunity and antioxidant capacity. Long-term (56 days) supplementation with 0.5% FeSO₄ increased lysozyme activity (~1.3-fold) and c3 expression (~4-fold) (p < 0.05), thereby enhancing humoral immunity. In contrast, short-term (21 days) supplementation increased ACP and AKP activities by approximately ~2-fold each, and LZM activity by ~1.2-fold (p < 0.05). However, it did not significantly improve survival, indicating limited protective effects. Overall, 56-day dietary supplementation with FeSO₄, particularly at 1%, effectively enhances immune and antioxidant responses in A. japonicus. This supplementation represents a promising strategy for preventing V. splendidus-induced skin ulceration in aquaculture. Full article

In the paper we consider the pulsed disturbances caused in the ionosphere by an extreme G5-level geomagnetic superstorm on 10 May 2024, and by the X1.0 and M-class solar flares on 8 May 2024, which preceded the storm. Particular attention is paid to the short-term delays and the sequence of disturbance appearance in the ionosphere and geomagnetic field during these extreme events. The results of a continuous Doppler sounding of the ionosphere on an inclined radio path with a sampling frequency of 25 Hz were used, as well as the data of a ground-based mid-latitude fluxgate magnetometer LEMI-008, and an induction magnetometer IMS-008, which operated with a sampling frequency of 66.6 Hz. Ionization of the ionosphere by the intense X-ray and extreme ultraviolet radiation of solar flares was accompanied by the equally sudden and similarly timed disturbances in the Doppler frequency shift (DFS) of the ionospheric signal, which had an amplitude of 2.0–5.8 Hz. The largest pulsed burst in DFS was registered 68 s after an X1.0 flare on 8 May 2024 at the time when the change of the X-ray flux was at its maximum. Following onto the effect in the ionosphere, a disturbance in the geomagnetic field appeared with a time delay of 35 s. This disturbance is a secondary one that arose as a consequence of the ionosphere response to the solar flare. It was likely driven by the contribution of ionospheric currents and electric fields, which modified the Earth’s magnetic field. On 10 May 2024, a G5-level geomagnetic superstorm with a sudden commencement triggered an impulsive reaction in the ionosphere. A response in DFS at the calculated reflection altitude of the sounding radio wave of 267.5 km was detected 58 s after the commencement of the storm. The sudden impulsive changes in Doppler frequencies showed a bipolar character, reflecting complex dynamic transformations in the ionosphere at the geomagnetic storm. Consequently, the DFS amplitude initially rose to 5.5 Hz over 86 s, and then its sharp drop to $-3.2$ Hz followed. Using the instruments that operated in a mode with a high temporal resolution allowed us to identify for the first time the impulsive nature of the ionospheric reaction, the time delays, and the sequence of disturbance appearances in the ionosphere and geomagnetic field in response to the X1.0 solar flare on 8 May 2024 as well as to the sudden commencement of the extreme G5-level geomagnetic storm on 10 May 2024. Full article

The first detection of gravitational waves from the binary black merger GW150914 started the era of gravitational astronomy. The observation of the binary neutron star merger GW170817 and of its associated electromagnetic counterpart GRB 170817A started multi-messenger gravitational astronomy. This short review discusses the discovery of GW170817 and the follow-up of the electromagnetic counterpart, together with the broad range of results in astrophysics and fundamental physics, including the Gamma-Ray Burst field. The GW170817/GRB 170817A observation showed that binary neutron star mergers can explain at least a fraction of short Gamma-Ray Bursts. The optical and infrared evolution of the associated AT 2017gfo transient showed that binary neutron star mergers are sites of r-process nucleo-synthesis. The combination of gravitational and electromagnetic observations has been used to estimate the Hubble parameter, the speed of gravitational waves, and the equation of state of nuclear matter. The increasing sensitivity of interferometric detectors and the forthcoming operation of third generation detectors will lead to an improved statistics of binary neutron star mergers. Full article

We investigated the CO₂ emissions in a mofette gas pool located in Covasna, Romania. Using a custom-built remote multi-sensor device, we monitored the gas concentrations, temperature, and pressure for seven months. The measurements showed both diurnal cycles and short-term bursts of CO₂ emissions along with instances of erratic yield anomalies. We employed the convection–diffusion equation to estimate gas flow rates without altering the natural state of the mofette. Additionally, we developed a model that uses the measured pressure and temperature to predict the CO₂ outflow yield. The model’s overall predictions approximate well the observed CO₂ flux. However, the subtle mismatches between these two suggest that subsurface geological processes, which require further investigation, may also influence the gas flow. This research provides insights into the dynamics of focused CO₂ emissions, with potential applications in environmental monitoring and therapeutic practices. Full article

The World Meteorological Organization/Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO/GAW) observation site of Lamezia Terme (code: LMT) in Calabria, Italy, has been measuring nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) (together referred to as NO_x) for a decade; however, only a limited number of studies have evaluated their variability at the site, accounting for short measurement periods. In this work, nine continuous years (2015–2023) of measurements are analyzed to assess daily, weekly, seasonal, and multi-year tendencies, also accounting for local wind circulation, which is known to have a relevant impact on LMT’s measurements. For the first time, a multi-year evaluation of LMT data also considers the local wind lidar record to integrate conventional measurements with additional information on the transport of NO_x at low altitudes. The study also considers data on local tourism and vehicular traffic to assess correlations with LMT’s measurements, thus providing new insights on NO_x variability at the site. The analysis showed peaks in early morning NO_x concentrations attributable to rush hour traffic, while in the evening NO₂ peaks are present with minor NO counterparts. Weekly cycles have yielded the most statistically significant results of any other similar evaluation at the sites, with all combinations of parameters, seasons, and wind corridors indicating tangible differences between weekday (WD, Monday to Friday) and weekend (WE, Saturday and Sunday) concentrations. The analysis of multi-year variability has shown a slightly declining tendency; however, sporadic bursts in concentrations limit the statistical significance of downward trends. Full article

This study investigates the short-run and long-run dynamics of the financial cycle in South Africa, focusing on its macroeconomic drivers and their asymmetric effects across different phases. It addresses the persistent challenge in emerging market economies of balancing financial development and stability amidst volatile conditions. Using monthly data from 2000 to 2024, the research employs a quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) model to capture the heterogeneity and persistence of macro-financial linkages across the financial cycle’s distribution. The use of the QARDL model in this study allows for capturing asymmetric and quantile-specific relationships that traditional linear models might overlook. Findings reveal that monetary policy, and the housing sector are key drivers of long-term financial development in South Africa, showing positive effects. Conversely, exchange rate movements, inflation, money supply, and macroprudential policy dampen financial development. Short-term financial booms are associated with GDP growth, credit, share, and housing prices. Money supply and inflation are more closely linked to burst phases. These results underscore the importance of policy coordination, particularly between monetary and macroprudential authorities, to balance promoting financial development and ensuring stability in emerging markets. This study contributes to the empirical literature and offers practical insights for policymakers. Full article

Our previous research has demonstrated the role of optimal temperatures and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in maintaining symptomless nonhost resistance (NHR) of barley to powdery mildews. However, the exact functions of temperature and ROS in NHR of plants, including barley, to viral infections are not known. Although barley is a nonhost for Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), this virus can replicate in barley leaves at temperatures of ca. 30 °C. Here we elucidated the influence of short-term heat stress pre-treatments (30 °C, 3 h; heat shock at 49 °C, 20 s) on the symptomless NHR of barley to TMV and the role of the ROS superoxide (O₂^.−) in maintaining NHR. Heat stress and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase and catalase, SOD + CAT) treatments resulted in 50–100% higher TMV levels, while combined heat shock and SOD + CAT application caused further increases in TMV and appearance of cell and tissue death resembling a hypersensitive response (HR). An early (from 2 h after inoculation) burst of O₂^.− was essentially absent in TMV-infected barley exposed to short-term heat stress pre-treatments. Expression of barley genes regulating ROS (O₂^.−) metabolism (HvRBOHF2, HvSOD1) and cell death (HvBI-1) displayed an inverse correlation with TMV levels even at later time points (1–4 days after inoculation), implying a role in symptomless NHR, while increased levels of the antioxidant glutathione marked heat stress-induced suppression of NHR. We demonstrated that short-term heat stress and antioxidant treatments result in compromised NHR of barley to TMV, pointing to the role of optimal temperatures and ROS (O₂^.−) in symptomless NHR to virus infections. Full article

GHz-burst laser polishing is as a promising technique for improving the surface quality of metallic materials, offering key advantages over conventional methods. In this study, two distinct approaches are investigated: a single-step polishing process, and a double-step process consisting of an initial laser milling step followed by a finishing/polishing pass. This distinction is critical in evaluating the performance of GHz-burst regimes under different surface conditions and roughness levels. Initial proof-of-concept trials confirm that GHz-burst irradiation can significantly reduce the surface roughness with minimal thermal damage, provided that process parameters are carefully optimized. Further analysis of spot-to-spot overlap reveals that the deposited energy density plays a crucial role in achieving uniform surface quality without inducing surface defects. The number of passes is also studied, showing that while multiple passes can improve surface finish, the benefit strongly depends on the initial roughness state of the substrate. Scalability is demonstrated by increasing both the repetition rate and scan speed proportionally while maintaining processing quality across larger areas. These results support the viability of GHz-burst laser polishing for high-throughput manufacturing. Applications in aerospace, biomedical implants, and precision optics highlight the technique’s potential for industrial adoption in demanding surface finishing contexts. Full article

Timely, objective pain recognition in dairy cattle is essential for welfare assurance, productivity, and ethical husbandry yet remains elusive because evolutionary pressure renders bovine distress signals brief and inconspicuous. Without verbal self-reporting, cows suppress overt cues, so automated vision is indispensable for on-farm triage. Although earlier systems tracked whole-body posture or static grimace scales, frame-level detection of facial micro-expressions has not been explored fully in livestock. We translate micro-expression analytics from automotive driver monitoring to the barn, linking modern computer vision with veterinary ethology. Our two-stage pipeline first detects faces and 30 landmarks using a custom You Only Look Once (YOLO) version 8-Pose network, achieving a 96.9% mean average precision ($mAP$) at an Intersection over the Union (IoU) threshold of 0.50 for detection and 83.8% Object Keypoint Similarity (OKS) for keypoint placement. Cropped eye, ear, and muzzle patches are encoded using a pretrained MobileNetV2, generating 3840-dimensional descriptors that capture millisecond muscle twitches. Sequences of five consecutive frames are fed into a 128-unit Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) classifier that outputs pain probabilities. On a held-out validation set of 1700 frames, the system records 99.65% accuracy and an F1-score of 0.997, with only three false positives and three false negatives. Tested on 14 unseen barn videos, it attains 64.3% clip-level accuracy (i.e., overall accuracy for the whole video clip) and 83% precision for the pain class, using a hybrid aggregation rule that combines a 30% mean probability threshold with micro-burst counting to temper false alarms. As an early exploration from our proof-of-concept study on a subset of our custom dairy farm datasets, these results show that micro-expression mining can deliver scalable, non-invasive pain surveillance across variations in illumination, camera angle, background, and individual morphology. Future work will explore attention-based temporal pooling, curriculum learning for variable window lengths, domain-adaptive fine-tuning, and multimodal fusion with accelerometry on the complete datasets to elevate the performance toward clinical deployment. Full article

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a sensitive area of global climate change and an “Asian water tower” and lakes in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau changes are of great significance to the regional hydrological cycle and ecological balance. However, the existing research mostly focuses on a single lake or short-term monitoring, and lacks a systematic review of the evolution of knowledge structure and interdisciplinary dynamics. Based on 354 literatures from CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and Web of Science, this study used CiteSpace 6.3.R1 software to construct a scientific knowledge map of lake changes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau under the background of climate change for the first time. By analyzing the number of publications, research hotspots, institutional cooperation networks and keyword emergence rules, the core triangle structure of ”climate change–Qinghai-Tibet Plateau–lake” was revealed, and the three stages of sedimentary reconstruction (2002–2008), glacier–lake coupling (2005–2014) and human–land system comprehensive research (2015–2025) were divided. The study found that the scientific literature written in Chinese and the scientific literature written in English focused on empirical cases and model simulations, respectively, The research frontiers focused on hot karst lakes (burst intensity 3.71), lake water level (2.97) and carbon cycle (2.13). The research force is centered on the Chinese Academy of Sciences, forming a cluster of institutions in the northwest region, but international cooperation only accounts for 12.3%. Future research needs to deepen multi-source data fusion, strengthen cross-regional comparison, and build an international cooperation network to cope with the complex challenges of plateau lake systems under climate change. This study provides a scientific basis for the paradigm shift and future direction of plateau lake research. Full article

With the deep integration of Internet of Vehicles (IoV) and edge computing technologies, the spatiotemporal dynamics, burstiness, and load fluctuations of user requests pose severe challenges to microservices auto-scaling. Existing static or periodic resource adjustment strategies struggle to adapt to IoV edge environments and often neglect service dependencies and multi-objective optimization synergy, failing to fully utilize implicit regularities like the symmetry in spatiotemporal patterns. This paper proposes a dual-phase dynamic scaling mechanism: for long-term scaling, the Spatio-Temporal Graph Transformer (STGT) is employed to predict traffic flow by capturing correlations in spatial–temporal distributions of vehicle movements, and the improved Multi-objective Graph-based Proximal Policy Optimization (MGPPO) algorithm is applied for proactive resource optimization, balancing trade-offs among conflicting objectives. For short-term bursts, the Fast Load-Aware Auto-Scaling algorithm (FLA) enables rapid instance adjustment based on the M/M/S queuing model, maintaining balanced load distribution across edge nodes—a feature that aligns with the principle of symmetry in system design. The model comprehensively considers request latency, resource consumption, and load balancing, using a multi-objective reward function to guide optimal strategies. Experiments show that STGT significantly improves prediction accuracy, while the combination of MGPPO and FLA reduces request latency and enhances resource utilization stability, validating its effectiveness in dynamic IoV environments. Full article

Purpose: Thoracolumbar burst fractures represent a significant proportion of spinal injuries, with management strategies remaining a subject of debate. While four-screw (4S) short-segment posterior fixation is commonly used, recent biomechanical studies suggest that adding pedicle screws at the fractured level (six-screw, 6S, construct) may improve stability and clinical outcomes. However, the clinical relevance of these findings remains uncertain. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Three databases (Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library) were searched for studies comparing 4S and 6S constructs in thoracolumbar fractures. Inclusion criteria encompassed comparative clinical studies reporting perioperative, functional, and radiological outcomes. Data were extracted and analyzed using Review Manager 5.4.1, applying fixed- or random-effects models based on heterogeneity. Results: Twenty-two studies involving 1595 patients were included. The 6S group showed significantly improved postoperative pain scores (VAS), better short- and long-term sagittal alignment, and a lower implant failure rate. However, this technique was associated with longer operative times, increased intraoperative blood loss, and extended hospital stays. No significant differences in long-term functional disability (ODI) or infection rates were found. Conclusions: The addition of intermediate screws improves radiological outcomes and reduces implant failure but increases surgical burden. Further high-quality studies focusing on patient-reported outcomes and specific fracture subtypes are needed to refine clinical indications. Full article

Background: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol incorporating intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) and low-frequency TMS in adults diagnosed with first-episode and recurrent depressive disorders. Methods: A prospective, double-blind, parallel-group trial was conducted involving 42 participants (21 with first-episode depressive disorder and 21 with recurrent depressive disorder) recruited from Chengdu, China. All subjects received 10 sessions of TMS over two weeks. The primary outcome measure was suicidal ideation, assessed using the Beck scale for suicide ideation. Secondary outcomes included sleep quality, depressive symptoms, anhedonia, and cognitive function. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were also recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS V.21.0, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05. Results: Both patient groups exhibited significant reductions in suicidal ideation following the composite TMS intervention. Secondary outcomes showed significant improvements in sleep quality, overall depressive symptoms, anhedonia, and cognitive function. Notably, a significant association was found between improvements in sleep quality and depressive symptoms in the first-episode group, suggesting differential underlying mechanisms compared to recurrent depression. Limitations: The relatively short intervention and follow-up period limits the ability to assess the long-term sustainability of the observed benefits. Future studies with extended follow-up periods are warranted to evaluate the persistence of TMS effects and the potential need for maintenance sessions. Conclusions: The combined protocol of iTBS and low-frequency TMS effectively reduces suicidal ideation and improves various clinical outcomes in both first-episode and recurrent depressive disorders, indicating the effectiveness of the physical intervention, especially for the first-episode patients. These findings underscore the importance of personalized treatment strategies based on the clinical history of depressive episodes. Further research with longer follow-up periods is warranted to assess the long-term sustainability of TMS effects. Full article

Wounds are undeniably important gateways for pathogens to enter the body. In addition to their detrimental local effects, they can also cause adverse systemic effects. For this reason, developing methods for eradicating pathogens from wounds is a challenging medical issue. Polymers, particularly hydrogels, are one of the more essential materials for designing novel drug-delivery systems, thanks to the ease of tuning their structures. This work exploits this property by utilizing copolymerization, microwave modification, and drug-loading processes to obtain antibacterial gels. Synthesized xylitol-modified glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethyl methacrylate ([P(EMA)-co-(GMA)]-Xyl]) matrices were loaded with bacitracin, gentian violet, furazidine, and brilliant green, used as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The hydrophilic properties, API release mechanism, and antibacterial properties of the obtained hydrogels against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis containing [P(EMA)-co-(GMA)]-Xyl] were studied. The hydrogels with the APIs efficiently inhibit bacteria growth with low doses of drugs, and our findings are statistically significant, confirmed with ANOVA analysis at p = 0.05. The results confirmed that the proposed system is hydrophilic and has extended the drug-release capabilities of APIs with a controlled burst effect based on [P(EMA)-co-(GMA)]-Xyl] content in the hydrogel. Hydrogels are characterized by the prolonged release of APIs in a very short time (a few minutes). Although the amount of released APIs is about 10%, it still exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentrations of drugs. Several kinetic models (first-order, second-order, Baker–Lonsdale, and Korsmeyer–Peppas) were applied to fit the API release data from the [P(EMA)-co-(GMA)]-Xyl-based hydrogel. The best fit of the Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic model to the experimental data was determined, and it was confirmed that a diffusion-controlled release mechanism of the APIs from the studied hydrogels is dominant, which is desirable for applications requiring a consistent, controlled release of therapeutic agents. A statistical analysis of API release using Linear Mixed Model was performed, examining the relationship between % mass of API, sample (hydrogels and control), time, sample–time interaction, and variability between individuals. The model fits the data well, as evidenced by the determination coefficients close to 1. The analyzed interactions in the data are reliable and statistically significant (p < 0.001). The outcome of this study suggests that the presented acrylate-based gel is a promising candidate for developing wound dressings. Full article