Determination of Cenozoic Sedimentary Structures Using Integrated Geophysical Surveys: A Case Study in the Hebei Plain, China.

The strong multi-stage tectonic movement caused the northwest of the North China Plain to rise and the southeast to fall. The covering layer in the plain area was several kilometers thick. In addition to expensive drilling, it is difficult to obtain deep geological information through traditional geological exploration.

Effects of Spinal Cord Stimulation in Patients with Small Fiber and Associated Comorbidities from Neuropathy After Multiple Etiologies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on pain, neuropathic symptoms, and other health-related metrics in patients with chronic painful peripheral neuropathy (PN) from multiple etiologies. A prospective single center observational longitudinal cohort study assessed SCS efficacy from April 2023 to May 2024, with follow-ups at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months in 19 patients suffering from the painful polyneuropathy of diverse etiologies: diabetic (DPN), idiopathic (CIAP), chemotherapy-induced (CIPN), and others. Patients were implanted with a neurostimulator (WaveWriter Alpha, Boston Scientific Corporation, Valencia, CA, USA) and percutaneous leads targeting the lower limbs (T10-T11) and, if necessary, the upper limbs (C4-C7).

Self-Assembly Strategy for Synthesis of WO@TCN Heterojunction: Efficient for Photocatalytic Degradation and Hydrogen Production via Water Splitting.

Herein, a WO@TCN photocatalyst was successfully synthesized using a self-assembly method, which demonstrated effectiveness in degrading organic dyestuffs and photocatalytic evolution of H. The synergistic effect between WO and TCN, along with the porous structure of TCN, facilitated the formation of a heterojunction that promoted the absorption of visible light, accelerated the interfacial charge transfer, and inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This led to excellent photocatalytic performance of 3%WO@TCN in degrading TC and catalyzing H evolution from water splitting under visible-light irradiation.

Unraveling TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR Transcription Factors in Safflower: A Blueprint for Stress Resilience and Metabolic Regulation.

Safflower ( L.), a versatile medicinal and economic crop, harbors untapped genetic resources essential for stress resilience and metabolic regulation. The TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) transcription factors, exclusive to plants, are pivotal in orchestrating growth, development, and stress responses, yet their roles in safflower remain unexplored.

Comparison of In Situ and Postsynthetic Formation of MOF-Carbon Composites as Electrocatalysts for the Alkaline Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER).

Mixed-metal nickel-iron, NiFe materials draw attention as affordable earth-abundant electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, nickel and mixed-metal nickel-iron metal-organic framework (MOF) composites with the carbon materials ketjenblack (KB) or carbon nanotubes (CNT) were synthesized in situ in a one-pot solvothermal reaction. As a direct comparison to these in situ synthesized composites, the neat MOFs were postsynthetically mixed by grinding with KB or CNT, to generate physical mixture composites.

Ultrasound-Guided Analgesia in Cardiac and Breast Surgeries: A Cadaveric Comparison of SPIP Block with Single and Double Injections vs. DPIP Block.

The evolution of regional anesthesia techniques has markedly influenced the management of postoperative pain, particularly in thoracic surgery. As part of a multimodal analgesic approach, fascial plane blocks have gained prominence due to their efficacy in providing targeted analgesia with minimal systemic side effects. Among these, the superficial intercostal plane (SPIP) block and deep parasternal intercostal plane (DPIP) block are of notable interest.

Macro-Micro Mechanics of Granular Soils Under Shear Considering Coupled Effects of Particle Size Distribution and Particle Morphology.

This paper investigates the effects of particle morphology (PM) and particle size distribution (PSD) on the micro-macro mechanical behaviours of granular soils through a novel X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT)-based discrete element method (DEM) technique. This technique contains the grain-scale property extraction by the X-ray μCT, DEM parameter calibration by the one-to-one mapping technique, and the massive derivative DEM simulations. In total, 25 DEM samples were generated with a consideration of six PSDs and four PMs.

Angle-Dependent Adhesive Mechanics in Hard-Soft Cylindrical Material Interfaces.

In this research, the adhesive contact between a hard steel and a soft elastomer cylinder was experimentally studied. In the experiment, the hard cylinder was indented into the soft one, after which the two cylinders were separated. The contact area between the cylinders was elliptical in shape, and the eccentricity of this increased as the angle between the axes of the contacting cylinders decreased.

Synthesis of Nanocrystal-Embedded Bulk Metallic Glass Composites by a Combination of Mechanical Alloying and Vacuum Hot Pressing.

Bulk metallic glasses (i.e., BMGs) have attracted a lot of research and development interest due to their unique properties.

Effect of Tool Shoulder Profile on Grain and Texture Development in the Weld Interface Zone of Friction-Stir-Welded Dissimilar AA2024/AA7075 Joints.

Friction-stir-welded dissimilar AA2024/AA7075 joints have an apparent influence on grain and texture development at the weld interface due to differences in physical and chemical properties between the two aluminum alloys. In this work, the effect of tool shoulder profile on grain structure and texture evolution in the center interface zone (CIZ) and bottom interface zone (BIZ) of dissimilar AA2024/AA7075 joints were quantitatively studied by electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD). The results indicate that abundant fine and coarse equiaxial grains are produced in the CIZ and BIZ of the joints produced with a concentric circle shoulder (CCS) and three-helix shoulder (THS), and the average grain size of the BIZ is lower than that of the CIZ for the same CCS or THS joint.

Effect of Temperature on Magnetoimpedance Effect and Magnetic Properties of Fe- and Co-Rich Glass-Coated Microwires.

We provide new experimental studies of the temperature dependence of the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect and hysteresis loops of Fe-rich and Co-rich amorphous microwires with rather different room temperature magnetic properties and GMI effect features. We observed a remarkable modification of hysteresis loops and magnetic field dependence of the GMI ratio upon heating in both of the studied samples. We observed a noticeable improvement in the GMI ratio and a change in hysteresis loops from rectangular to inclined upon heating in Fe-rich microwire.

The Thermal Tolerance of Springtails in a Tropical Cave, with the Description of a New Species (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from Thailand.

A new species of Collembola in the genus , , is described from a cave environment in Saraburi province, central Thailand. The new species is the second described species of the -group found in the country. It is most similar to Nilsai, Lima & Jantarit, 2022, which is also described from a Thai cave.

Lethal Male Combat of (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), an Egg Parasitoid of Lepidopterous and Hemipterous Pests.

Aggressive interactions between males are common when victors gain increased mating success but can result in severe injury or death for the defeated. (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) is a solitary egg parasitoid of hemipteran and lepidopteran species. Here, we investigated lethal interactions between males and analyzed aggression behavior scaled with the male condition, number of competitors, number of presented females, and female mating status.

Divergence in the Morphology and Energy Metabolism of Adult Polyphenism in the Cowpea Beetle .

Adult polyphenism is a prevalent form of adaptive evolution that enables insects to generate discrete phenotypes based on environmental factors. However, the morphology and molecular mechanisms underlying adult dimorphism in (a global storage pest) remain elusive. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for predicting the dispersal and population dynamics of .

The Effects of Disturbance on Plant-Pollinator Interactions in the Native Forests of an Oceanic Island (Terceira, Azores).

The native biodiversity of oceanic islands is threatened by human-driven disturbance and by the growing number of species introductions which often interfere with natural ecological processes. Here, we aim to evaluate the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on plant-pollinator interactions in the native forest communities of an oceanic island (Terceira, Azores, Portugal). We found that native species predominated in preserved sites compared to disturbed ones and that the extant plant-pollinator interactions were mostly dominated by generalist species.

Comparative Mitogenomics in the Genus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Its Phylogenetic Implications.

Chevrolat, 1863, one of the most species-rich genera of Clytini, comprises 36 subgenera and 302 species/subspecies, with some species being of significant economic importance. To assess the monophyly and subgeneric system of this genus, we newly obtained mitochondrial genomic data from 21 species of via high-throughput sequencing and reconstructed the phylogeny of this genus using ML and BI methods. The mitochondrial genomes of all sequenced species were found to comprise 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and one non-coding region (control region, CR), reflecting a highly conserved gene arrangement.

Identification of Gene Family and Expression Analysis of Salt Tolerance in .

is one of the typical ecological grass species, characterized by its strong salt tolerance. Hexokinase (HXK) plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and resistance to abiotic stresses. To understand the function of in the salt tolerance of , this study identified and analyzed the gene family members using the whole-genome data of .

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profile of () Gene Family in L.

The biosynthesis of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), which are essential for sesquiterpenes and triterpenes, respectively, is primarily governed by the mevalonate pathway, wherein () plays a pivotal role. This study identified eight members of the FPS gene family in , designated -, through bioinformatics analysis, revealing their distribution across several chromosomes and a notable tandem gene cluster. The genes exhibited strong hydrophilic properties and key functional motifs crucial for enzyme activity.

Genome-Wide Identification of - () Gene Family and the Potential Function of Under Salt Stress in .

is an important medicinal herb known as a "natural antibiotic", which has been used in Southeast Asia for thousands of years. The () gene is an important regulatory factor for plant photoperiod flowering and stress response. However, there is currently no detailed research on the genes of .

Vanadium-Dependent Haloperoxidase Gene Evolution in Brown Algae: Evidence for Horizontal Gene Transfer.

Compared with green plants, brown algae are characterized by their ability to accumulate iodine, contributing to their ecological adaptability in high-iodide coastal environments. Vanadium-dependent haloperoxidase (V-HPO) is the key enzyme for iodine synthesis. Despite its significance, the evolutionary origin of V-HPO genes remains underexplored.

Optimization of SARS-CoV-2 M Inhibitors by a Structure-Based Multilevel Virtual Screening Method.

With the aim of developing novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs to address the ongoing evolution and emergence of drug-resistant strains, the reported SARS-CoV-2 M inhibitor was selected as a lead to find novel, highly potent, and broad-spectrum inhibitors. Using a fragment-based multilevel virtual screening strategy, 15 hit compounds were identified and subsequently synthesized. Among them, (IC = 1.

Integrated Genetic Diversity and Multi-Omics Analysis of Colour Formation in Safflower.

Safflower ( L.) is a medicinal and edible cash crop that is widely cultivated worldwide. However, the genetic diversity of safflower germplasm resources and the reasons for the variations in safflower flower colour remain unclear.

Re-Examination Characterization and Screening of Stripe Rust Resistance Gene of Wheat Gene Family Based on the Transcriptome in Xinchun 32.

Pathogenesis-related protein-1 (PR1) encodes a water-soluble protein produced in plants after pathogen infection or abiotic stimulation. It plays a crucial role in plant-induced resistance by attacking pathogens, degrading cell wall macromolecules and pathogen toxins, and inhibiting the binding of viral coat proteins to plant receptor molecules. Compared to model plants, the mechanism of action of PR1 in wheat remains underexplored.

Evidence for the Worldwide Distribution of a Bile Salt Hydrolase Gene in Through Horizontal Gene Transfer.

Bile salt hydrolase (BSH), a probiotic-related enzyme with cholesterol-assimilating and anti-hypercholesterolemic abilities, has been isolated from intestinal bacteria; however, BSH activity of bacteria in bile-salt-free (non-intestinal) environments is largely unknown. Here, we aimed to identify BSH from non-intestinal and characterize its enzymatic function. We successfully isolated a plasmid-encoded () from , and the recombinant EfpBSH showed BSH activity that preferentially hydrolyzed taurine-conjugated bile salts, unlike the activity of known BSHs.

Orogeny and High Pollen Flow as Driving Forces for High Genetic Diversity of Endangered (Franch.) Pax Endemic to China.

(Franch.) Pax is an endangered species endemic to China, mainly scattered in the Qinling-Daba Mountains. The genetic diversity of 17 natural populations were analyzed by nuclear DNA (nDNA) and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) to explore the driving forces for its microevolution.