Three-Dimensional Non-Stationary MIMO Channel Modeling for UAV-Based Terahertz Wireless Communication Systems.

Terahertz (THz) wireless communications can support ultra-high data rates and secure wireless links with miniaturized devices for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communications. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) non-stationary geometry-based stochastic channel model (GSCM) is proposed for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication links between the UAVs in the THz band. The proposed channel model considers not only the 3D scattering and reflection scenarios (i.

Engineering Gradient D-d Orbital Occupancy to Boost Substrate Adsorption for Efficient Electrocatalytic Biomass Valorization.

Electrocatalysis provides a green and sustainable approach for the upgrading of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to the polymer monomer 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Precisely tuning the electronic structure, specifically the electron gradient orbitals and spin state of key active sites, is crucial for achieving high catalytic performance, as it directly influences the adsorption strength of the reactive substrate. Herein, by introducing Mn with low 3d filling, the e-e repulsion between bridging O and Ni is weakened due to π-donation function.

Unraveling the combined impacts of pristine and aged polyethylene microplastics and the ciprofloxacin antibiotic on sediment microbial communities and ecological functions.

Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics are pervasive pollutants in aquatic environments. However, the combined effects of aged MPs and antibiotics on ecological systems remain unclear. Through 16S rRNA sequencing, we confirmed that polyethylene microplastics (PE) and the ciprofloxacin antibiotic (CIP) significantly altered sediment microbial community structure and ecological function.

Niche Adaptation of Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria in Partial Nitrification System: Keystone Species and Unique Survival Strategies.

Partial nitrification (PN) is of practical significance for achieving autotrophic nitrogen removal with impressive economic and environmental benefits. While most studies focused on the selective suppression of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, maintaining stable ammonia oxidation as the primary source of nitrite remains equally critical but largely underexplored. Herein, we identified as the keystone species dominating ammonia oxidation in free ammonia treatment-based PN systems, comprising over 40% of the nitrifier community.

Synthesis of Silicon-Modified Pseudoboehmite with High Specific Surface Area by the Nitric Acid Method.

As a significant source of catalyst support for FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracking), pseudoboehmite is widely applied in the petrochemical industry. In FCC processes, the performance of catalyst supports is often limited by insufficient pore volume and surface area, which hinders the dispersion of active components and reduces accessibility for large hydrocarbon molecules. Therefore, developing pseudoboehmite with improved textural properties is essential for high-performance FCC units.

Research Progress of Epigenetic Modifications in Myopia.

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, refers to a refractive error of the eye that causes parallel rays of light to focus in front of the retina, affecting distance vision. High myopia significantly increases the risk of pathological myopia, leading to severe complications and an increased likelihood of myopia-related eye diseases. In recent decades, the incidence of myopia has continued to rise, posing significant social and human health issues.

Acupuncture blocks the STAT3-MMP-2 pathway in a guinea pig model of lens-induced myopia.

Objective: To investigate the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) on the signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT)3 - matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 pathway in a guinea pig model of lens-induced myopia (LIM).

Methods: A total of 36 male pigmented guinea pigs (aged 2 weeks) were randomly assigned to the normal control (NC) (n = 12), LIM (n = 12) and LIM + MA (n = 12) groups. The NC group received no intervention.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals anterograde trans-synaptic degeneration and exacerbated synaptic remodeling in myopia.

Myopia is a serious public health issue worldwide. Damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the retina induces degeneration of the visual cortex, which is known as anterograde trans-synaptic degeneration (TSD). However, the role of TSD in myopia is still unknown.

Production of live monkeys and their genetically matched embryonic stem cells from single embryos.

Immune rejection poses a challenge in stem cell therapy, especially with allogeneic embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Non-human primates offer a promising avenue for developing genetically matched ESCs for regenerative medicine. Here, we successfully derive three live monkeys and their genetically matched autologous ESCs (aESCs) using embryo splitting.

Identification and Expression Profiles of Chemosensory Genes in the Antennal Transcriptome of (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

Chemosensory systems play a pivotal role in insect survival and reproduction by mediating the detection of volatile organic compounds in the environment. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), a phytophagous pest widely distributed across East Asia, poses a significant threat to agro-horticultural systems through crop damage. We conducted antennal transcriptome sequencing of adult beetles and identified 117 chemosensory-related genes, including 66 odorant receptors (ORs), 20 ionotropic receptors, 10 gustatory receptors, 13 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), four chemosensory proteins, and four sensory neuron membrane proteins.

Differential Privacy Enabled Robust Asynchronous Federated Multitask Learning: A Multigradient Descent Approach.

The federated learning (FL) technique can provide a promising solution for the timely training of a deep learning model with the critical requirement of privacy protection. However, the existing FL frameworks still confront challenging issues including heterogeneous data sources, edge device heterogeneity, sensitive information leakage, nonconvex loss, and communication resource constraints which place obstacles in terms of practicality. In this article, first, a federated multitask learning (FedMTL) approach is introduced to reformulate the FL model as a multiobjective optimization problem which results in federated multigradient descent algorithm (FedMGDA) with a better model personalization against data heterogeneity and Byzantine attack.

Anaerobic digestion under perfluorooctane sulfonate stress: Mechanistic insights into methane production inhibition, microbial responses, and functional adaptations.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a highly persistent and cytotoxic emerging pollutant that accumulates in sludge. Clarifying its effects on anaerobic digestion and its cytotoxicity on functional microbial metabolism is essential for evaluating the ecological risks it may pose during sludge disposal. This study investigated the effects of PFOS on methane production, microbial community responses and functional adaptations during anaerobic digestion.

Neutral protease enhances sludge foaming and drying by tuning the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance of proteins.

Sludge foaming can promote sludge drying efficiency. In the foaming process, sludge protein plays a critical role due to its amphiphilic properties. However, the existing alkaline hydrolysis can generate sufficient solubilized proteins but unable to adjust their properties suitable for subsequent foaming.

Ship emissions and reduction potential under domestic policies and international cooperation: A case study in Hainan, China.

Ship emissions contribute considerably to air pollution and are expected to decline under domestic policies and international cooperation such as green shipping corridors (GSCs). However, evaluation of the emission reduction potential by the Domestic Emission Control Area (DECA) policy and GSC cooperation is still lacking. Here, a series of multi-year high spatiotemporal ship emission inventories around Hainan, a representative island province of China, were developed with the state-of-the-art Shipping Emission Inventory Model.

[Analysis of Spatial-temporal Variation and Driving Forces of Carbon Storage in Suzhou City Based on the PLUS-InVEST-Geodetector Model].

The changes in urban land use and land cover have profound impacts on carbon storage, directly affecting urban carbon balance and climate adaptation capacity. Taking Suzhou City as the study area, this study first conducts a transition matrix analysis of land use data from 2000 to 2020. Then, based on the modified carbon density coefficient coupled with the PLUS and InVEST models, predictions are made for the land use pattern of Suzhou City in 2030 under four scenarios （business-as-usual development, urban sprawl prevention, farmland protection, and ecological conservation）.

Unraveling the dual role in enhancing methane production and mitigating antibiotic resistance gene spread in anaerobic co-digestion of microalgae and waste activated sludge.

Waste activated sludge (WAS) is a double-edged sword - a recognized repository for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) but also a renewable substrate for methane production. Developing effective WAS treatment strategies is therefore of both ecological and practical importance. In this study, we proposed an anaerobic co-digestion approach of WAS and microalgae Chlorella sp.

Effects of dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation on growth performance, blood vitamin D and antioxidant status in nursery pigs.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3) supplementation on growth performance, blood 25-OHD3 level, and antioxidant parameters in nursery pigs.

Methods: A total of 48 newly weaned piglets (5.27 ± 1.

Elevated thiamine level is associated with activating interaction between HIF-1α and SLC19A3 in experimental myopic guinea pigs.

Background: The SLC19 gene family of solute carriers is a family of three transporter proteins with similar structures, of which SLC19A2 and SLC19A3 mediate thiamin transport; HIF is a transcriptionally active nuclear protein that is a key factor activated in hypoxic environments. Myopia is the most common eye disease that damages the visual health of adolescents, and currently, choroidal hypoxia is one of the prevailing doctrines of myopia, as well as the choroid as an ocular nutrient-supporting tissue, in which thiamine may play a role. This study aimed to investigate the process of thiamine changes in choroidal tissue of guinea pigs with negative lens-induced myopia (LIM).

Ultrastiff Bioinspired Protein-Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Sponge with Shape Memory Effects.

Natural protein-based biomaterials with complex hierarchical structures often have incredible and even counterintuitive mechanical properties. Understanding and utilizing the conformational transition mechanisms of natural proteins will further guide the design of natural-inspired biomaterials. In this study, a small static-force-induced spatiotemporal "freezing" phenomenon of silk fibroins confined in porous carbon nanotube sponges has been investigated.

A new method for Phytophthora cactorum culturing using host plant materials to prepare agar medium.

Phytophthora cactorum (Oomycota: Peronosporaceae), the agent of apple phytophthora rot, is known to infect over 200 plant species. Traditionally, P. cactorum is cultured in the laboratory on V8 juice agar medium.

Biogas production enhancement from anaerobic digestion with magnetic biochar: Insights into the functional microbes and DIET.

The application of magnetic biochar in anaerobic digestion (AD) has gained increasing attention. However, the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study systematically investigated the effects of magnetic biochar on functional microbial communities involved in methanogenesis and elucidated its role in promoting direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) within AD systems.

Covariation of scleral remodeling and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in experimental myopia.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in scleral remodeling in the development of negative lens-induced myopia (LIM). The change of scleral morphology in experimental myopic guinea pigs was observed by transmission electron microscopy, Masson staining, and TUNEL assay, respectively. Meanwhile, the levels of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway- and scleral remodeling-related molecules in scleral tissues were determined by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical staining, and western blot, respectively.

Dual-mode temperature monitoring using high-performance flexible thermocouple sensors based on PEDOT:PSS/CNTs and MXene/BiSe.

Due to the limited thermoelectric (TE) performance of polymer materials and the inherent rigidity of inorganic materials, developing low-cost, highly flexible, and high-performance materials for flexible thermocouple sensors (FTCSs) remains challenging. Additionally, dual-mode (contact/non-contact) temperature monitoring in FTCSs is underexplored. This study addresses these issues by using p-type (PEDOT:PSS/CNTs, 2:1) and n-type (MXene/BiSe, 2:1) TE materials applied via screen printing and compression onto a PPSN substrate (paper/PDMS/SiN₄).

Genetic diversity and dietary adaptations of the Central Plains Han Chinese population in East Asia.

The Central Plains Han Chinese (CPHC) is the typical agricultural population of East Asia. Investigating the genome of the CPHC is crucial to understanding the genetic structure and adaptation of the modern humans in East Asia. Here, we perform whole genome sequencing of 492 CPHC individuals and obtained 22.

Safety and effectiveness of inhaled sedation in critically ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sedation is a landmark treatment in the intensive care unit; however, the disadvantages of intravenous sedative drugs are increasingly prominent. Volatile sedation is becoming increasingly popular in ICUs due to fewer technical issues with the development of anaesthesia reflectors.

Objective: To explore the safety and effectiveness of inhaled sedation in critically ill patients.