Search Results (4,423)

Capsicum annuum is a Solanaceae crop that is sensitive to cold, which affects its growth and development upon prolonged exposure and ultimately reduces yield. In response, a complex regulatory network of cold-responsive genes is activated. Earlier studies have shown that SnRKs play a positive role in enhancing cold tolerance in different crops, including peppers; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms and downstream targets have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, yeast hybrid screening using CaSnRK2.4 identified a potential interacting partner CaPDX1. The interaction between CaPDX1 and CaSnRK2.4 was further confirmed through Y2H, luciferase complementation, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. Subcellular localization showed that CaPDX1 and CaSnRK2.4 are localized in the nucleus as well as in the cell membrane. Silencing of CaPDX1 through VIGS showed increased susceptibility of peppers to cold stress, negatively influenced antioxidant enzymatic activities, and increased relative electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde levels. Conversely, transient overexpression of CaPDX1 in peppers enhanced cold tolerance by reducing the accumulation of REL and MDA. Ectopic expression of CaPDX1 in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly improved its cold tolerance, accompanied by enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes and increased chlorophyll content. In summary, these results indicate that CaPDX1 is a positive regulator of cold tolerance in pepper, and its mechanism of action involves interaction with CaSnRK2.4 and the regulation of physiological and molecular responses in pepper under cold stress. Full article

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest malignancies, characterized by early metastasis, dense desmoplastic stroma and a profoundly immunosuppressive, lymphocyte-depleted tumor microenvironment that severely limits the efficacy of current systemic and immunotherapeutic approaches. Oncolytic viruses (OVs), which selectively replicate in and lyse malignant cells while activating antitumor immunity, have emerged as attractive candidates to convert this “cold” tumor into a more inflamed and therapeutically responsive disease. In this review, we summarize clinical evidence on the main OV platforms evaluated in PDAC, including adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, vaccinia virus, parvovirus and reovirus, with a focus on clinical trials. Across these classes of viruses, intratumoral administration has consistently proven feasible and generally well tolerated, with frequent evidence of viral replication, microenvironmental remodeling and immune activation, but only modest and often transient antitumor responses in small, early-phase cohorts. We then discuss key biological and translational challenges that currently limit OV impact in PDAC, such as systemic delivery in the context of pre-existing antiviral immunity and rapid clearance, penetration through the fibrotic stroma, and rational selection of encoded transgenes to reshape myeloid cell-driven, pro-tumoral inflammation and enhance T-cell recruitment. Finally, we outline future directions for the field, including carrier-cell–based systemic delivery, stroma-targeting or cytokine-armed constructs, and combinatorial strategies with chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade, arguing that design refinement, innovative combinations and mechanism-driven trial designs will be essential to unlock the full therapeutic potential of oncolytic virotherapy in PDAC. Full article

To explicitly illustrate the relationship between heliostat field optimization and power generation, a coupled model was established in Simulink. By optimizing the geometric layout of the heliostat field, the solar heat collection efficiency can be significantly improved, thereby increasing the thermal input to the system. The optimized heliostat field design can convert solar energy into thermal energy more efficiently and transfer it to the steam generator through the molten salt loop, thereby driving power generation in the Rankine cycle. In this process, the Rankine cycle is responsible for converting the thermal energy supplied by the molten salt loop into mechanical work and ultimately into electrical power output. At the same time, real meteorological data from a commercial heliostat field were introduced, and annual power generation simulations demonstrated that the integrated modeling of the heliostat field, thermal storage, and power block based on actual meteorological boundary conditions and system parameters can effectively reflect the power generation performance of a commercial tower solar thermal power plant. Meanwhile, research on heliostat field optimization should further evolve from identifying general patterns toward parameter design and overall system performance improvement. For molten-salt tower solar thermal power plants, key design variables such as receiver tower height, receiver dimensions, heliostat dimensions, and heliostat field spacing parameters affect not only the annual average optical efficiency of the heliostat field and the thermal power output of the receiver, but also the annual power generation of the entire plant. By integrating SOLARPILOT 1.5.2 and SAM 2025.4.16, the design variables were systematically analyzed to investigate their effects on the annual average optical efficiency of the heliostat field, the number of heliostats, the receiver output power, and the annual power generation, and the reasonable value ranges of the heliostat field parameters were determined accordingly. The established Rankine cycle power block model was then coupled with the parameter optimization results to carry out a secondary optimization of the initial heliostat field. Through the above study, the aim is to realize a shift from single-objective geometric optimization of the heliostat field to comprehensive optimization oriented toward annual plant power generation performance and scenario adaptability, thereby providing a basis for scheme design and parameter selection of molten-salt tower solar thermal power plants. For external validation, the annual generation predicted for the Delingha 50 MW commercial plant was 142.15 GWh, corresponding to a relative deviation of 2.64% from the published design value of 146 GWh. This indicates that the coupled framework can reasonably capture the integrated response of the heliostat field, thermal storage system, and power block at the plant level. The model is therefore suitable for generation-oriented parameter screening and preliminary design of tower molten-salt CSP plants, while detailed component-level transient design still requires higher-fidelity engineering models. Full article

A climatic transition from arid to humid conditions occurred during the deposition of the Permian Pingdiquan Formation in the Shishugou Sag, Junggar Basin, Northwest China. This study reconstructs the paleoenvironmental evolution and organic matter (OM) enrichment mechanisms recorded in six stratigraphic intervals, with emphasis on the two oil shale units formed during the transgressive system tracts (TST1 and TST2). Geochemical, elemental, and biomarker data reveal that climate, salinity, and redox conditions fluctuated significantly and jointly governed OM enrichment, with paleoclimate acting as the primary background control by regulating lake hydrology, salinity, and preservation. During the early stage (SQ1), an arid climate prevailed, the TST1 oil shale formed during a transient freshening event in a deep stratified lake. Dominant algal productivity and minimal terrigenous input favored excellent preservation, yielding the highest TOC and superior hydrocarbon potential. In contrast, during the humid stage (SQ2), the TST2 oil shale was deposited in a moderately deep, weakly reducing, and slightly saline lake. Although preservation was less efficient, enhanced primary productivity under humid conditions compensated for OM loss, producing abundant but slightly lower quality OM. These results establish two depositional models, an arid freshening model (TST1) and a humid salinization model (TST2). Both transient freshening under arid conditions and salinization during humid periods facilitated the accumulation of organic-rich source rocks through different balances between productivity and preservation. This highlights the complex response of lacustrine source rock development to climatic variability. The occurrence of similar organic-rich source rocks can be anticipated under comparable paleoenvironmental transitions, particularly in saline lakes characterized by frequent fluctuations in water salinity and paleoclimate. Full article

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stressor that constrains plant growth and development, yet the coordinated regulatory mechanisms underlying salt stress impacts on plant cell mechanical properties and the cytoskeleton remain elusive. In this study, tobacco suspension cells were employed as a model system. Combining mechanical measurements, fluorescence microscopy imaging, and bright-field morphological observation, we systematically characterized the dynamic response patterns of cell-generated surface stress (ΔS), cell viscoelastic index (CVI), microfilament cytoskeleton structure, as well as cell morphology and plasmolysis under NaCl stress ranging from 50 to 150 mmol/L. The results revealed three distinct response thresholds: 50 mmol/L NaCl treatment induced only transient ΔS fluctuations and mild plasmolysis, with no significant changes in CVI or microfilament fluorescence intensity, suggesting a safe tolerance threshold. The 75–100 mmol/L NaCl treatments triggered reversible “rise–recovery” mechanical responses in ΔS and CVI. The microfilament cytoskeleton showed minor structural adjustments, and plasmolysis increased gradually but remained reversible, defining this range as a reversible acclimation phase. The 125–150 mmol/L NaCl treatment caused an irreversible decline in ΔS (with a sharp instantaneous drop at 150 mmol/L). CVI variations diminished and stabilized after 6 h. The microfilament cytoskeleton suffered progressive disruption, as fluorescence intensity dropped to 1% of the control group at 150 mmol/L, accompanied by severe plasmolysis and protoplast shrinkage, indicating irreversible cellular damage. These findings demonstrate a concentration-dependent gradient effect of NaCl stress, highlighting tight coordination between mechanical properties, cytoskeletal integrity, and morphological adaptation. This work provides critical cytological insights into the molecular regulation of plant salt stress responses. Full article

Honey bees rely on a specialized gut microbiota for nutrition, detoxification, and immune function, yet the effects of emerging insecticides on this symbiotic system remain poorly understood. We compared the acute toxicity and short-term gut microbiota responses of Apis mellifera ligustica workers exposed to two insecticides with contrasting toxicity classes: the highly toxic emamectin benzoate-lufenuron (EB-LFR) and the low-toxicity ecdysone agonist RH-5849. EB-LFR was associated with observed reductions in core gut symbionts (Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, Lactobacillus), a transient increase in Bifidobacterium, and the detection of opportunistic taxa such as Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter hormaechei. In contrast, RH-5849 was associated with broad reductions in beneficial bacteria without detectable pathogen emergence, suggesting a more moderate alteration of microbiota composition. Because microbiota analyses were based on single pooled samples per treatment, these results represent exploratory, qualitative insights into early microbial responses. Together with acute toxicity data, the findings suggest that insecticides with contrasting toxicity classes may differentially affect gut microbiota composition in honey bees and highlight the value of incorporating gut microbiota endpoints into pesticide risk-assessment frameworks to better anticipate sublethal effects on pollinator health. Full article

Ischemic stroke promotes monocyte recruitment to the injured brain and their differentiation into monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). These cells contribute to debris clearance but may also exacerbate neuroinflammation. However, the heterogeneity of MDM subsets and the phenotypic transitions that shape MDM functional states during the subacute phase of stroke remain incompletely characterized. To address this, we first performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to define the transcriptional landscape of the mouse brain 48 h after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion compared with sham controls. Reclustering of macrophage-lineage cells identified multiple MDM subsets, including a distinct Cd68^hi/Ctsd^hi MDM subset enriched for lysosomal and lipid-processing gene expression programs. Cell trajectory inference supported a transition from early recruited MDMs toward the Cd68^hi/Ctsd^hi state, accompanied by induction of transcriptomic networks that drive MDM function to favor a clearance-competent phenotype in response to ischemic stroke. Complementary single-cell ATAC sequencing (scATAC-seq) demonstrated cell type-specific chromatin remodeling after stroke and revealed MDM subclusters with accessibility at key loci regulating lysosomal function and lipid metabolism. Together, our findings define a cellular and regulatory framework of the subacute post-stroke brain and identify a lysosome-enriched Cd68^hi/Ctsd^hi MDM trajectory, highlighting endolysosomal and lipid-processing programs during early stroke recovery. Full article

To elucidate the influence of water on terahertz (THz) spectral responses, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was employed to monitor the thermal decomposition of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate in this study. Continuous dehydration of the hydrate induces pronounced variations in the THz signal. At the initial stage of thermal decomposition, these changes primarily originate from the evolving state and amount of water confined within the CuSO₄·5H₂O lattice. After detaching from the crystalline framework, the released water molecules do not evaporate immediately; instead, they transiently reside near the copper sulfate as free water. When the temperature reaches approximately 60 °C, a dynamic equilibrium is established between crystalline water and free water. The THz spectral data reveal that the sample exhibits its strongest THz absorption at this temperature. Consequently, the THz signal during decomposition displays a characteristic trend: an initial decrease followed by an enhancement. These findings demonstrate that THz-TDS represents a promising approach for probing the state and content of water, thereby contributing to the development of a powerful analytical tool for fundamental studies in mineralogy. Full article

Physical coupling, nonlinearity and uncertainty degrade the dynamic performance of electro-hydraulic servo systems, particularly under conditions involving input delays, leading to reduced trajectory tracking accuracy or even system instability. These factors often fail to meet the high-precision requirements of engineering applications. To effectively address these difficulties, this paper proposes a novel adaptive control protocol for networked electro-hydraulic servo systems. For the minimal communication delay problem of networked electro-hydraulic servo systems, Laplace transform algorithm together with Padé approximation is adopted in this study to remove the delay term from the mathematical system model. Moreover, the matched modeling parametric uncertainty of systems is estimated and compensated by the neural network adaptive method to improve the dynamical performance of the system during the steady state. The controller is designed on the basis of recursive backstepping strategy and the finite-time stability theorem, which can handle system nonlinearity and guarantee transient response. The validity of the proposed theoretical results is proved by Lyapunov stability and the feasibility and superiority are verified via physical simulation. Full article

Podocyte injury is a characteristic feature of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) that leads to the development of nephrosis as its loss causes proteinuria and progressive glomerulosclerosis. The physiological function of podocytes is critically dependent on proper intracellular calcium levels; an excess or shortage of calcium influx in these cells may result in foot process effacement, apoptosis, and nephron degeneration. A key protein responsible for the regulation of calcium flux is the canonical transient receptor potential 6 (TRPC6) expressed in podocytes. Several mutations in the TRPC6 gene have been associated with FSGS. Here we present a systematically optimized inducible FSGS model system in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). We generated and phenotypically characterized three transgenic hiPSC lines with regulatable overexpression of TRPC6 wild-type and FSGS-associated gain-of-function (GoF, P112Q) and loss-of-function (LoF, G757D) mutations. Moreover, these cell lines were differentiated into induced podocytes (ipodocytes). We assessed the impact of TRPC6 GoF and LoF mutants on calcium influx in combination with TRPC6 agonists and antagonists. Our data showed relative calcium responses consistent with the GoF and LoF phenotypes. Transgenic iPSC-based models, like the one presented here, are instrumental to studying disease mechanisms in vitro and investigating the outcomes of, and possible therapeutic interventions for, this complex disease. Full article

To address the instability risk of grid-forming inverters under large power dispatch in low-inertia and low-damping power grids caused by renewable energy integration, based on the grid-forming inverter connected to an infinite bus system model, transient stability under power dispatch is conducted. The power dispatch boundaries constrained by transient stability are analyzed by the inverter’s output power-angle characteristics and the equal area criterion. To enable on-demand power dispatch for the grid-forming inverter, a power ramp scheduling strategy constrained by transient stability is proposed. Furthermore, to overcome the limitations of variable-step ramp scheduling, such as a prolonged transient duration, significant output waveform overshoot, and the need for real-time computation, an improved scheme employing virtual inertia emulation is presented, along with its parameter design methodology for the inertia emulation block. The response time and overshoot can be effectively reduced. Finally, simulations and experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed equivalent-inertia ramp control scheme in improving system transient stability under power dispatch. Full article

This paper investigates the dynamic behavior of synchronous machines subjected to sudden short circuits. Initially, the case of a single-phase synchronous machine under open-circuit conditions is studied. Analytical derivations of short circuit current expressions are carried out and evaluated using numerical integration methods on a digital computer. The transient responses of both armature and field currents are analyzed, showing their dependence on rotor position and machine parameters. A SIMULINK model is developed to simulate and visualize these responses. Subsequently, the study extends to the case of a line-to-line short circuit in a three-phase synchronous machine with damper windings. The general voltage equations of the three-phase machine are derived and applied to the problem, with numerical integration and SIMULINK simulations confirming analytical insights. Results highlight the key influence of rotor angle, leakage inductance, and damper windings on the dynamics of short circuit currents. Full article

The Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP) pulse response technique provides valuable insights into catalytic function and reaction kinetics. However, complex fragmentation patterns in the TAP mass spectrometry signals can complicate precise quantification, particularly when analyzing transient gas flux data typical of TAP experiments. This work demonstrates a standard defragmentation method that deconvolves transient TAP signals while maintaining the temporal resolution of the experiment. First, the integrals of calibration gas fluxes are used to determine the fingerprint fragmentation pattern and construct a fragmentation matrix. This matrix is then used to defragment experimental flux data at each recorded time point via a non-negative least squares regression. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated using virtual data and control experiments with a TAP reactor system. The defragmentation is then applied to the more complex propane dehydrogenation reaction on a chromia/alumina catalyst, which can contain up to ten significant gas species in the reactor outlet. Initial propane pulsing reveals an induction period during which propane is fully oxidized to CO_2, followed by partial reduction to CO. Afterwards, there is a transition in chemistries towards coking and propylene production. Our example illustrates a practical method for the accurate determination of the time-dependent reactant/product concentrations and rates for a thorough analysis of the propane dehydrogenation kinetics. This approach can be broadly applied to any transient mass spectrometry experiment for a better understanding of catalyst-reaction dynamics. Full article

IoT-based smart greenhouse sensing, real-time signal conditioning and abnormality detection are still predominantly executed at gateway or cloud levels, limiting responsiveness and increasing vulnerability to noise-induced false alarms. This study proposes and experimentally validates a mobile-edge signal processing and abnormality detection framework executed entirely within an Android-based smartphone application, eliminating dependence on continuous cloud-side analytics. Environmental data from 27 wireless sensor nodes measuring temperature, relative humidity, CO₂ concentration, and light intensity were processed in real time using a sliding-window moving-average filter (N = 6) implemented with O(1) computational complexity. Abnormal conditions were determined via thresholding combined with temporal majority voting validation to suppress transient violations. Performance was also evaluated with direct threshold-based detection on raw signals to assess the effect of mobile-side filtering and temporal majority validation on abnormal sample counts, event fragmentation, and detection consistency. Mobile application side signal conditioning reduced short-term variance by 35–55% while maintaining an effective delay below two sampling intervals. Event-level analysis demonstrated substantial consolidation of noise-induced detections, reducing abnormal event frequency by up to 69% and increasing median event duration from 5 to 38 min for temperature, with negligible detection bias (±1.1%). End-to-end processing latency remained bounded under sustained multi-node streaming, with median delays of 1.0–1.6 s and 95th-percentile delays below 4.0 s. These results demonstrate that lightweight mobile-edge signal conditioning can significantly enhance detection robust-ness, reduce false alarms, and achieve low-latency environmental monitoring in green-houses. The proposed framework provides scalable and computationally efficient architecture for real-time abnormality detection in precision agriculture systems. Full article

Drought stress profoundly affects plant growth and survival, but comparisons of integrated adaptive strategies across multiple tree species remain unclear. In this study, seedlings of Elaeagnus angustifolia (E. angustifolia), Populus euphratica (P. euphratica) and Xanthoceras sorbifolium (X. sorbifolium) were subjected to well-watered (CK), mild (T1), moderate (T2), and severe (T3) drought treatments. Leaf microanatomical traits, non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), stoichiometric elements, biomass allocation, and key stress indicators were measured. The results showed that P. euphratica seedlings thickened leaves and vascular tissues and accumulated soluble sugars (SSs) and starch (ST) under T1–T2, but under T3, they prioritized root investment (root biomass +26.0%); their antioxidant enzymes were activated only under mild-to-moderate stress and declined under severe stress. E. angustifolia seedlings exhibited moderate leaf structural thickening, sharply increased root biomass (+97.2% under T3) while maintaining stem biomass, continuously elevated activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) as well as osmoregulatory substances (soluble protein SP, proline Pro), and showed the lowest malondialdehyde (MDA) content; their leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents decreased the least, and their stoichiometric ratios remained stable. In contrast, X. sorbifolium seedlings progressively reduced leaf thickness and vascular area, depleted NSC reserves, exhibited unstable antioxidant responses, showed a significant decrease in Pro under severe drought, accumulated the highest MDA, and had the lowest N/P ratio, indicating the strongest nitrogen limitation. These results demonstrate that E. angustifolia combines structural plasticity, efficient nutrient use, robust osmotic adjustment, and sustained antioxidant capacity, conferring the strongest drought tolerance; P. euphratica* shows moderate tolerance through transient structural and carbon investment but suffers under extreme drought; X. sorbifolium has the weakest drought tolerance. Full article