Search Results (14,673)

This study investigates the essential role of the heme cavity in the peroxidase and antibacterial activities of homodimeric hemoglobin (Tg-HbI) from the blood clam Tegillarca granosa. After treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), the peroxidase and antibacterial activities of the Tg-HbI were significantly inhibited, with the degree of inhibition correlating positively with the SDS concentration. Fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and molecular docking analysis further revealed that SDS interacts with key amino acid residues (e.g., His70 and His102) in the heme cavity of Tg-HbI, causing conformational changes that disrupt the internal hydrophobic interactions, thus inhibiting its function. This study confirms that the antibacterial effect of Tg-HbI is mediated through its peroxidase activity and that the heme cavity plays a critical role in maintaining this activity. These findings lay a foundation for further research on the immune defense functions of hemoglobin and provide new insights into the mechanisms of environmental adaptation in T. granosa. Full article

Pimpled eggs have defective shells, which severely impacts hatching rates and transportation safety. In this study, we constructed single-cell resolution transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility maps from uterine tissues of chickens using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell ATAC sequencing (scATAC-seq). We identified 11 major cell types and characterized their marker genes, along with specific transcription factors (TFs) that determine cell fate. CellChat analysis showed that fibroblasts had the most extensive intercellular communication network and that the chickens laying pimpled eggs had amplified immune-related signaling pathways. Differential expression and enrichment analyses indicated that inflammation in pimpled egg-laying chickens may lead to disruptions in their circadian rhythm and changes in the expression of ion transport-related genes, which negatively impacts eggshell quality. We then integrated TF analysis to construct a regulatory network involving TF–target gene–Gene Ontology associations related to pimpled eggs. We found that the transcription factors ATF3, ATF4, JUN, and FOS regulate uterine activities upstream, while the downregulation of ion pumps and genes associated with metal ion binding directly promotes the formation of pimpled eggs. Finally, by integrating the results of scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq, we identified a rare cell type—ionocytes. Our study constructed single-cell resolution transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility maps of chicken uterine tissue and explored the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying pimpled egg formation. Our findings provide deeper insights into the structure and function of the chicken uterus, as well as the molecular mechanisms of eggshell formation. Full article

This comprehensive overview of the historical milestones in cell culture underscores key breakthroughs that have shaped the field over time. It begins with Wilhelm Roux’s seminal experiments in the 1880s, followed by the pioneering efforts of Ross Granville Harrison, who initiated groundbreaking experiments that fundamentally shaped the landscape of cell culture in the early 20th century. Carrel’s influential contributions, notably the immortalization of chicken heart cells, have marked a significant advancement in cell culture techniques. Subsequently, Johannes Holtfreter, Aron Moscona, and Joseph Leighton introduced methodological innovations in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, initiated by Alexis Carrel, laying the groundwork for future consolidation and expansion of the use of 3D cell culture in different areas of biomedical sciences. The advent of induced pluripotent stem cells by Takahashi and Yamanaka in 2006 was revolutionary, enabling the reprogramming of differentiated cells into a pluripotent state. Since then, recent innovations have included spheroids, organoids, and organ-on-a-chip technologies, aiming to mimic the structure and function of tissues and organs in vitro, pushing the boundaries of biological modeling and disease understanding. In this review, we overview the history of cell culture shedding light on the main discoveries, pitfalls and hurdles that were overcome during the transition from 2D to 3D cell culture techniques. Finally, we discussed the future directions for cell culture research that may accelerate the development of more effective and personalized treatments. Full article

With the aim to characterise the situation of the subsector, 25 poultry farms of the endangered native Utrerana chicken egg-laying-oriented breed (Gallus gallus Linnaeus, 1758) were surveyed in Andalusia (southern Spain) from 2021 to 2023 to investigate the structure of the farms, number of birds, health status, feeding management, and marketing of their products. It was found that the pace of foundation of Utrerana chicken farms accelerated from 2009, and most of the farms were concentrated in the province of Seville. Only 40% of the farms were legally registered. This breed is raised on small farms mainly dedicated to self-supply and raising birds for conformation and their aesthetic values, with limited marketing of eggs and meat, with facilities consisting often of one poultry house and one outdoor enclosure, and with a low number of laying hens per farm (53.5 on average). Current productivity is low, with an average of 139 eggs per hen per year, but hens have a long reproductive lifespan, averaging 4 years. The Partridge variety of the breed was the most common, followed by the Black-barred and Black varieties, while the White variety was very scarce, with only 31 specimens in total. Two-thirds of the farmers also raised other breeds of chickens, in addition to the Utrerana. The management and production system was free-range or backyard, with a certain proximity to the requirements of European Union-certified organic production with regard to stocking densities and generally with a good sanitary status, respect for welfare, and implementation of biosecurity measures on the farms. The feeding of the chickens was based on grazing in outdoor enclosures and on the provision of grains and compound feed, with 40.0% of farmers using commercial compound feed and half preparing feed themselves. Two-thirds of the farmers were affiliated with the National Association of Utrerana Chicken Breeders (“Asociación Nacional de Criadores de Gallinas Utreranas”, ANCGU, in Spanish); almost half of them took part with their birds in fairs and conformation shows, such as the Utrerana Chicken Fair held in Utrera (province of Seville) and more than a quarter of them have sold live birds of the breed at these fairs. The farmers carry out few promotional and advertising activities for their farms and products, predominantly by using social networks, and the market area reached is mainly local. In conclusion, this research has shown that the current alternative production system for Utrerana chicken is similar to that of the hens that originated the breed and consists of a few amateur farms, with a small number of birds, distributed mainly throughout the Andalusian countryside. It has been highlighted that there is a need for the livestock authorities to implement programmes for supporting farmers and promoting the breeding of this endangered avian breed, native to the Spanish zoogenetic heritage. Full article

This study explores agroecological practices designed to improve soil quality and crop yield in small-scale agriculture, focusing on soil inoculation with beneficial bacteria over conventional fertilizers. Conducted at the SZIA Agroecological Garden MATE in Gödöllő, Hungary, the research utilizes 12 plots to evaluate different conservation tillage methods, including minimum and no-tillage, with and without microbial inoculation. Commenced in 2022, this study centers on potato cultivation (Solanum tuberosum L.) and includes comprehensive chemical and physical analyses of soil and harvested potatoes, alongside continuous monitoring of growth. Statistical analysis using One-way Anova in R revealed p-values predominantly above 0.05, indicating no significant differences across most parameters, though variations in soil plasticity and pH (KCl) were noted. Results suggest that substantial treatmeent differences may require a longer observation period. Notably, plots with microbial inoculation exhibited higher harvest weights and tuber sizes compared to control plots. Additionally, trends and interactions were found between weed abundance, total harvest, and plant height. The findings indicate that the benefits of integrated agroecological practices, including conservation tillage, may take time to materialize, emphasizing the necessity for extended observation. This research lays the groundwork for future studies, underscoring the importance of patience in achieving improvements in soil health and crop quality through sustainable agricultural methods. Full article

Intelligent corrosion diagnosis plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency of operation and maintenance for steel structures. Presently, corrosion detection primarily depends on manual visual inspections and non-destructive testing methods, which are inefficient, costly, and subject to human bias. While machine vision has demonstrated significant potential in controlled laboratory settings, most studies have focused on environments with limited background interference, restricting their practical applicability. To tackle the challenges posed by complex backgrounds and multiple interference factors in field-collected images of steel components, this study introduces an intelligent corrosion grading method designed specifically for images containing background elements. By integrating an attention mechanism into the traditional U-Net network, we achieve precise segmentation of component pixels from background pixels in engineering images, attaining an accuracy of up to 94.1%. The proposed framework is validated using images collected from actual engineering sites. A sliding window sampling technique divides on-site images into several rectangular windows, which are filtered based on U-Net Attention segmentation results. Leveraging a dataset of steel plate corrosion images with known grades, we train an Inception v3 corrosion classification model. Transfer learning techniques are then applied to determine the corrosion grade of each filtered window, culminating in a weighted average to estimate the overall corrosion grade of the target component. This study provides a quantitative index for assessing large-scale steel structure corrosion, significantly impacting the improvement of construction and maintenance quality while laying a solid foundation for further research and development in related fields. Full article

This paper proposes a modified bidirectional isolated DC/DC converter with hybrid control, which can be applied to bidirectional power transfer between energy storage systems and DC microgrids. Batteries are usually applied to energy storage systems. The battery lifespan may be shortened if the converter has large current ripple during the battery charging process. The proposed topology consists of a CLLC converter and an interleaved buck converter. The first stage is an isolated full bridge CLLC converter, and the second stage is an interleaved buck converter with hybrid control of pulse width modulation (PWM) and pulse frequency modulation (PFM). Additionally, the proposed topology achieves zero voltage switching (ZVS) for all switches and reduces the output current ripple. The operational principles of bidirectional power flow in both directions are described in detail. Finally, a 1.5 kW experimental prototype, rated with a high side voltage of 380 V and low side voltage range of 40–58 V, was constructed and tested to investigate the system performance. The measured highest efficiency for the proposed converter is 90% in charging mode, and 94% in discharging mode. Full article

China’s significant carbon emissions have attracted global attention, and the country has committed to reaching a peak in carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. It is crucial to achieve this goal by effectively controlling the combustion of primary fuels and developing alternative energy technologies. The existing literature has studied the effects of primary energy consumption on CO₂ emissions, alternative energy technology on CO₂ emissions, and energy patents on CO₂ emissions. However, there are few studies on the effects of the relationship between primary energy consumption and alternative energy technology patents. This study analyzes the effects of primary energy consumption and alternative energy patents on CO₂ emission intensity and CO₂ emissions per capita, and their relationship using canonical correlation analysis. Our results are as follows. First, CO₂ emissions from natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas have positive effects (correlation coefficients of 0.102 and 0.275, respectively), while CO₂ emissions from gasoline, fuel oil, diesel, and kerosene have negative effects on CO₂ emission intensity (correlation coefficients of −0.767, −0.420, −0.138, and −0.035, respectively). Second, patents for devices for producing mechanical power from muscle energy have large positive effects on total CO₂ emissions (correlation coefficient of 0.533). Finally, the more the patents utilize waste heat, geothermal energy, hydro energy, and wind energy, the higher the CO₂ emissions from liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, and crude oil, and the lower the CO₂ emissions from diesel, which are conducive to controlling CO₂ emissions. Therefore, energy policies will be more effective, improve the living environment, and promote sustainable development based on the CO₂ emissions level from primary energy consumption and the control degree of CO₂ emissions by alternative energy. Full article

Background: Lymphadenectomy in the operative management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial, with no recommendation for routine practice. Our study aimed to assess the effects of lymphadenectomy in addition to hepatic resection (HR) compared to HR alone for adults with HCC. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines until March 2023, searching and selecting the relevant literature comparing lymph node dissection or sampling, combined with HR, and with no lymph node removal. Critical appraisal of the included studies was performed using the ROBINS-I tool. Fixed- or random-effect meta-analysis models were carried out, and inter-studies were assessed for heterogeneity. Results: Fourteen studies were selected during the screening process. Data from eight studies containing 32,041 HCC patients were included in the quantitative synthesis. In total, 12,694 patients underwent lymph node dissection (LND), either selectively for preoperatively diagnosed or intraoperatively suspected lymph node metastasis (LNM) or unselectively (i.e., regardless of suspected LNM). According to LN status, 1-, 3- and 5-year mortality rates were higher in the LNM group with respect to both clinically negative LN (OR 3.25, 95% CI 2.52–4.21; p < 0.001; OR 3.79, 95% CI 2.74–5.24; p< 0.001; OR 3.92, 95% CI 2.61–5.88; p < 0.001) and proven LN0 (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.0–3.04; p = 0.05; OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.79–4.63; p < 0.001; OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.33–4.84; p < 0.001). Moreover, the summary estimates of two controlled trials showed no significant difference in overall survival between LND groups and those without LND for negative LN patients. Conclusions: Lymph node dissection does not appear to improve overall survival, according to the available literature; thus, this does not support its routine adoption as part of standard liver resection for HCC. A case-by-case decision remains advisable. Full article

Aiming at the problems of the complex in situ stress measurement process, difficult measurement and long-term monitoring, it is particularly important to design a three-dimensional borehole full stress monitoring method based on the principle of rock mass rheological stress recovery, which lays a foundation for underground construction, such as roadway engineering and tunnel engineering. Through theoretical calculation and mechanical analysis, the magnitude, direction and inclination of the stress at any point in the borehole of the geological body are analyzed. Based on this, a three-dimensional borehole full stress monitor is constructed. At the same time, the rheological stress change process of rock mass around the borehole is analyzed by numerical simulation, the rationality of the three-dimensional borehole full stress monitor is determined, and a new method of borehole surrounding rock stress monitoring is proposed. The results show that: (1) the stress monitoring of the surrounding rock can be realized by the stress recovery principle of a rock mass rheological borehole, and it can be monitored for a long time; (2) the three-dimensional borehole total stress monitor can reflect the size and direction of the six principal stresses of the surrounding rock stress through eight measuring points; (3) the design structure and mechanical properties of the three-dimensional borehole full stress monitor are reasonable, and the linearity and sensitivity of the hydraulic membrane material are reasonable, which can meet the standards of long-term monitoring. Full article

To more precisely monitor drought, a new remote sensing-based drought index, the Vapor Pressure Deficit–Soil Moisture–Sun-Induced Chlorophyll fluorescence Dryness Index (VMFDI), with a spatial resolution of 1 km based on vapor pressure deficit (VPD), soil moisture (SM), and sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) data was constructed via a three-dimensional spatial distance model, and it was used to monitor dryness in the Yellow River Basin during 2003–2020. The spatiotemporal variations in and main factors of the VMFDI and agroecosystem responses were analyzed via the Theil–Sen median and Mann–Kendall tests and Liang–Kleeman information flow. The results revealed the following: (1) The VMFDI effectively monitors regional drought and is more sensitive than other indices like the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and GRACE drought severity index and single variables. (2) VMFDI values fluctuated seasonally in the Yellow River Basin, peaking in August and reaching their lowest in March. The basin becomes drier in winter but wetter in spring, summer, and autumn, with the middle and lower reaches, particularly Shaanxi and Gansu, being drought-prone. The VMFDI values in the agroecosystem were lower. (3) SM and VPD dominated drought at the watershed and agroecosystem scales, respectively. Key agroecosystem indicators, including greenness (NDVI), gross primary productivity (GPP), water use efficiency (WUE), and leaf area index (LAI), were negatively correlated with drought (p < 0.05). When VPD exceeded a threshold range of 7.11–7.17 ha, the relationships between these indicators and VPD shifted from positive to negative. The specific VPD thresholds in maize and wheat systems were 8.03–8.57 ha and 7.15 ha, respectively. Suggestions for drought risk management were also provided. This study provides a new method and high-resolution data for accurately monitoring drought, which can aid in mitigating agricultural drought risks and promoting high-quality agricultural development. Full article

Molten carbonate salts are a promising candidate for next-generation concentrated solar power technology owing to their excellent heat storage and heat transfer properties. This represents overcoming several problems that structural materials exhibit, including severe corrosion and high-temperature creep. Alloys with an aluminum element are alternatives in this regard as they are highly resistant to corrosive environments. In this paper, the corrosion behavior in molten carbonates (Li₂CO₃-Na₂CO₃-K₂CO₃) and creep properties of TP347H with different aluminum contents at 650 °C were studied. The results demonstrated that the alloy corrosion rate was reduced via Al addition. The alloy with 2.5 wt.% Al exhibited the lowest corrosion rate: ~25% lower than that without Al after 1000 h of corrosion. With increasing Al content, the inner corrosion layer of the alloys transformed from a Cr-containing oxide layer to a Cr–Al-containing composite oxide layer. The addition of Al promoted the formation of a layer of continuous and dense LiFeO₂ product on the alloy surface during early corrosion stages, which prevented the carbonate from coming into direct contact with the substrate. After 1000 h of corrosion, the surface of the alloy is mainly composed of LiFeO₂ and LiCrO₂. Compared to TP347H, the added Al element enhanced the strength and elongation of TP347H at 650 °C. The TP347H containing 2 wt.% Al exhibited the best high-temperature tensile properties. When the stress was 110 MPa, the lowest steady-state creep rate of the alloy containing 2 wt.% Al was 3.61 × 10⁻⁶, and the true stress index was 5.791. This indicates that the creep mechanism was a dislocation climb assisted by lattice diffusion. Full article

This study addresses the issues of the limited data storage capacity of Argo buoys and satellite communication charges on the basis of data volume by proposing a block lossless data compression method that combines bidirectional long short-term memory networks and multi-head self-attention with a multilayer perceptron (BiLSTM-MHSA-MLP). We constructed an Argo buoy data compression system using the main buoy control board, Jetson nano development board, and the BeiDou-3 satellite transparent transmission module. By processing input sequences bidirectionally, BiLSTM enhances the understanding of the temporal relationships within profile data, whereas the MHSA processes the outputs of the BiLSTM layer in parallel to obtain richer representations. Building on this preliminary probability prediction model, a multilayer perceptron (MLP) and a block length parameter (block_len) are introduced to achieve block compression during training, dynamically updating the model and optimizing symbol probability distributions for more accurate predictions. Experiments conducted on multiple 4000 m single-batch profile datasets from both the PC and Jetson nano platforms demonstrate that this method achieves a lower compression ratio, shorter compression time, and greater specificity. This approach significantly reduces the communication time between Argo buoys and satellites, laying a foundation for the future integration of Jetson Nano into Argo buoys for real-time data compression. Full article

Retinal degenerative diseases lead to irreversible vision loss due to photoreceptor cell death, driven by complex genetic and environmental factors. Ceramide, a sphingolipid metabolite, emerges as a critical mediator in the apoptotic cascade associated with retinal degeneration. Our previous work demonstrated L-Cycloserine’s ability to protect photoreceptor-derived cells from oxidative stress by inhibiting the de novo ceramide pathway and thus prompting further investigation on its effect in the in vivo retina. This study investigates the potential of L-Cycloserine to protect albino BALB/c mice against light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD). L-Cycloserine, in an optimal dose, administered systemically 30 min before LIRD, was found to prevent photoreceptor cell death significantly from light-induced degeneration. We further determined the retinal bioavailability and pharmacokinetic behavior of L-Cycloserine, its effect on sphingolipid profile, expression of sphingolipid biosynthetic, and cell death-promoting genes and proteins from the retina to understand the underlying mechanisms. This study lays the groundwork for further preclinical and clinical investigations into L-Cycloserine’s potential as a novel therapeutic in treating retinal degenerative diseases. Full article

Background/Objectives: High-intensity training (HIT) has been shown to enhance physical fitness and reduce functional impairments in persons with moderately disabling chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). However, sustaining these improvements post-rehabilitation remains a challenge. To address this, a home-based, technology-supported HIT program utilizing telerehabilitation can be implemented at home. This study assesses the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of a telerehabilitation HIT program for persons with CNSLBP. Methods: The pilot clinical trial (NCT05234008) recruited 15 persons with CNSLBP. Participants completed a 6-week multimodal HIT intervention with 12 bi-weekly sessions. The first four sessions were organized at REVAL Research Center, followed by eight home-based sessions using the Physitrack^® platform. Assessments were conducted at baseline (PRE), two weeks into the intervention (MID), and immediately post-intervention (POST). Outcome measures included maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) testing, disease-related outcomes, feasibility, motivation assessed via questionnaires, and system usability and adherence tracked through Physitrack^® technology. Results: Fourteen participants (seven females; age: 45.9 years) successfully completed the program without adverse events. Based on PRE–POST comparisons, motivation levels remained high (Motivation Visual Analog Scale: −1.2 ± 0.9, p = 0.043) despite reduced motivation at POST. Improvements were also observed in pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale: −1.8 ± 0.2, p = 0.026), disability (Modified Oswestry Disability Index: −12.1 ± 10.2, p = 0.002), fear-avoidance (Fear-Avoidance Components Scale: −10.1 ± 5.8, p = 0.005), and exercise capacity (VO2max: 4.4 ± 1.6, p = 0.048). Conclusions: The HITHOME study is the first to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of a telerehabilitation HIT program for persons with CNSLBP. The results underscore the feasibility of implementing a home-based HIT program to support adherence to vigorous exercise programs and improve clinical outcomes in this population. Additionally, the findings emphasize technology’s potential importance in enhancing home-based exercise therapy and lay the groundwork for future studies on blended care and telerehabilitation using HIT in CNSLBP. Full article