The successful colonization of invasive plants (IPs) may be facilitated by their nutrient release during decomposition, which alters soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, microbial metabolic processes and the diversity of soil microorganisms. This study aimed to examine the effects of co-decomposition of four Asteraceae IPs (Conyza canadensis, Conyza sumatrensis, Erigeron annuus and Solidago canadensis) along a gradient of invasion and a native plant (Pterocypsela laciniata) on decomposition rate, soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities and the diversity of soil bacterial communities (SBCs). Leaves of C. canadensis with heavy invasion and S. canadensis with light and heavy invasion decomposed more slowly than P. laciniata. Leaves of C. canadensis with full invasion decomposed more rapidly than P. laciniata. Pterocypsela laciniata and C. sumatrensis had synergistic effects on each other’s decomposition, whereas P. laciniata and S. canadensis displayed an antagonistic effect. Decomposition of the four IPs increased soil microbial carbon content but reduced soil fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolase activity compared to P. laciniata. Thus, invasion degree and species identity of IPs modulate the effects of the four IPs on the decomposition rate, mixed-effect intensity of co-decomposition, soil microbial carbon content, soil FDA hydrolase activity and SBC structure.

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the impingement of a vortex ring onto a porous wall by laser-induced fluorescence and particle image velocimetry. The effects of different Reynolds numbers (${{Re}}_{\it\Gamma } = 700$ and $1800$) and hole diameters ($d_{h}^{*} = 0.067$, $0.10$, $0.133$ and $0.20$) on the flow characteristics were examined at a constant porosity ($\phi = 0.75$). To characterise fluid transport through a porous wall, we recall the model proposed by Naaktgeboren, Krueger & Lage (2012, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 707, 260–286), which shows rough agreement with the experimental results due to the absence of vortex ring characteristics. This highlights the need for a more accurate model to correlate the losses in kinetic energy ($\Delta E^{*}$) and impulse ($\Delta I^{*}$) resulting from the vortex ring–porous wall interaction. Starting from Lamb’s vortex ring model and considering the flow transition from the upstream laminar state to the downstream turbulent state caused by the porous wall disturbance, a new model is derived theoretically: $\Delta E^{*} = 1 - k(1 - \Delta I^{*})^2$, where $k$ is a parameter dependent on the dimensionless core radius $\varepsilon$, with $k = 1$ when no flow state change occurs. This new model effectively correlates $\Delta E^{*}$ and $\Delta I^{*}$ across more than 70 cases from current and previous experiments, capturing the dominant flow physics of the vortex ring–porous wall interaction.

Large-scale field investigation in the Eastern Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang identified 108 Palaeolithic/microlithic surface findspots. Pulei Cave reveals the first well-preserved spelean sediment record containing Upper Palaeolithic cultural remains in eastern Xinjiang, dating from c. 45–43 ka BP.

The interaction of helminth infections with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been a major area of research in the past few years. This paper, therefore, focuses on the systematic review of the effects of helminthic infections on metabolism and immune regulation related to T2D, with mechanisms through which both direct and indirect effects are mediated. Specifically, the possible therapeutic role of helminths in T2D management, probably mediated through the modulation of host metabolic pathways and immune responses, is of special interest. This paper discusses the current possibilities for translating helminth therapy from basic laboratory research to clinical application, as well as existing and future challenges. Although preliminary studies suggest the potential for helminth therapy for T2D patients, their safety and efficacy still need to be confirmed by larger-scale clinical studies.

This research employs an enhanced Polar Operation Limit Assessment Risk Indexing System (POLARIS) and multi-scale empirical analysis methods to quantitatively evaluate the risks in icy region navigation. It emphasises the significant influence of spatial effects and external environmental factors on maritime accidents. Findings reveal that geographical location, environmental and ice conditions are crucial contributors to accidents. The models indicate that an increase in ports, traffic volume and sea ice density directly correlates with higher accident rates. Additionally, a novel risk estimation model is introduced, offering a more accurate and conservative assessment than current standards. This research enriches the understanding of maritime accidents in icy regions, and provides a robust framework for different navigation stages and conditions. The proposed strategies and model can effectively assist shipping companies in route planning and risk management to enhance maritime safety in icy regions.

This study was designed to explore changes in soil bulk density (BD), soil organic carbon (SOC) content, SOC stocks, and soil labile organic carbon (C) fractions after 5 years of soil tillage management under the double-cropping rice system in southern of China. The experiment included four soil tillage treatments: rotary tillage with all crop residues removed as a control (RTO); conventional tillage with crop residues incorporation (CT); rotary tillage with crop residues incorporation (RT); and no-tillage with crop residues retention. Our results revealed that soil tillage combined with crop residue incorporation (CT and RT) significantly decreased BD at 0–20 cm soil layer compared to RTO treatment. SOC content and stocks were increased with the application of crop residues. Compared with RTO treatment, SOC content and stocks were increased by 16.8% and 9.8% in CT treatment, respectively. Soil non-labile C content and proportion of labile C were increased due to crop residue incorporation. Compared with RTO treatment, soil proportion of C mineralisation (Cmin), permanganate oxidisable C (KMnO4), particulate organic C (POC), and microbial biomass C (MBC) was increased by 196.1%, 41.4%, 31.4%, and 17.1% under CT treatment, respectively. These results were confirmed by the carbon management index, which was significantly increased under soil tillage with crop residue incorporation. Here, we demonstrated that soil tillage and crop residue incorporation can increase the pool of stable C at surface soil layer while increasing labile C content and proportion. In conclusion, conventional or rotary tillage combined with crop residue incorporation is a soil management able to improve nutrient cycling and soil quality in paddy fields in southern China.

Germplasm resources are the foundation for improving crop varieties and a strategic asset for global food security. They also advance plant breeding, agricultural biotechnology and the production of essential agricultural goods. To assess the distribution, diversity and conservation status of food crop germplasm in the Hainan Province, China, we conducted a detailed survey of the Hainan Island. Between 2017 and 2022, we collected 330 food crop germplasm resources, encompassing 16 cereal crops, including rice, maize, sweet potato. The collected germplasm resources exhibited traits of high resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses, including common diseases and drought stress, as well as superior quality and adaptability to poor soil conditions such as sandy land. However, challenges such as low productivity and hybrid degradation were identified. These resources were primarily found in Haikou City, Baisha County, Danzhou City, Wuzhishan City and Sanya City. Additionally, we collected several ancient local varieties and endangered germplasm resources such as ‘Jiezi rice’ and ‘Wuzhishan maize’. This study serves as a reference for the conservation, development and utilization of local food crop germplasm resources in Hainan Province and lays the foundation for breeding and developing new varieties.

We propose a two-sided market entry game and present experiments studying coordination behavior in the game. The two-sided market in the game is operated by an intermediary monopoly platform, serving two sides (i.e., customers and service providers) and featuring asymmetric agents, cross-side network effects, and endogenous market capacity. The game has multiple pure-strategy Nash equilibria if at least one side has a high willingness to enter the market and the other side’s willingness is not very low. We conduct a laboratory experiment involving three treatments corresponding to different combinations of willingness to enter the market among customers and service providers. The experimental results indicate that willingness to enter the market and cross-side network effects significantly influence coordination behavior in two-sided markets. When the multiple pure-strategy Nash equilibria are Pareto ranked on both sides, customers and service providers can coordinate their behavior to the payoff-dominant equilibrium via tacit coordination under strategic uncertainty. However, when the multiple pure-strategy Nash equilibria are Pareto ranked on one side but Pareto equivalent on the other side, coordination failure and disequilibrium occurred, and the equilibria cannot predict the aggregate behavior well. Our experimental results indicate that a thriving two-sided market should coordinate both sides on board.

An actively controllable cascaded proton acceleration driven by a separate 0.8 picosecond (ps) laser is demonstrated in proof-of-principle experiments. MeV protons, initially driven by a femtosecond laser, are further accelerated and focused into a dot structure by an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) on the solenoid, which can be tuned into a ring structure by increasing the ps laser energy. An electrodynamics model is carried out to explain the experimental results and show that the dot-structured proton beam is formed when the outer part of the incident proton beam is optimally focused by the EMP force on the solenoid; otherwise, it is overfocused into a ring structure by a larger EMP. Such a separately controlled mechanism allows precise tuning of the proton beam structures for various applications, such as edge-enhanced proton radiography, proton therapy and pre-injection in traditional accelerators.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane, leading to cartilage destruction and bone erosion. Due to the complex pathogenesis of RA and the limitations of current therapies, increasing research attention has been directed towards novel strategies targeting fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), which are key cellular components of the hyperplastic pannus. Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of FLS in the initiation and progression of RA, driven by their tumour-like transformation and the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases. The aggressive phenotype of RA-FLS is marked by excessive proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, and enhanced migratory and invasive capacities. Consequently, FLS-targeted therapies represent a promising avenue for the development of next-generation RA treatments. The efficacy of such strategies – particularly those aimed at modulating FLS signalling pathways – has been demonstrated in both preclinical and clinical settings, underscoring their therapeutic potential. This review provides an updated overview of the pathogenic mechanisms and functional roles of FLS in RA, with a focus on critical signalling pathways under investigation, including Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), Notch and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4). In addition, we discuss the emerging understanding of FLS-subset-specific contributions to immunometabolism and explore how computational biology is shaping novel targeted therapeutic strategies. A deeper understanding of the molecular and functional heterogeneity of FLS may pave the way for more effective and precise therapeutic interventions in RA.

As a novel type of catalytic Janus micromotor (JM), a double-bubble-powered Janus micromotor has a distinct propulsion mechanism that is closely associated with the bubble coalescence in viscous liquids and corresponding flow physics. Based on high-speed camera and microscopic observation, we provide the first experimental results of the coalescence of two microbubbles near a JM. By performing experiments with a wide range of Ohnesorge numbers, we identify a universal scaling law of bubble coalescence, which shows a cross-over at dimensionless time $\tilde{t}$ = 1 from an inertially limited viscous regime with linear scaling to an inertial regime with 1/2 scaling. Due to the confinement from the nearby solid JM, we observe asymmetric neck growth and find the combined effect of the surface tension and viscosity. The bubble coalescence and detachment can result in a high propulsion speed of ∼0.25 m s−1 for the JM. We further characterise two contributions to the JM’s displacement propelled by the coalescing bubble: the counteraction from the liquid due to bubble deformation and the momentum transfer during bubble detachment. Our findings provide a better understanding of the flow dynamics and transport mechanism in micro- and nano-scale devices like the swimming microrobot and bubble-powered microrocket.

This study presents an automatic differentiation (AD)-based optimisation framework for flow control in compressible turbulent channel flows. Using a differentiable solver, JAX-Fluids, we designed fully differentiable boundary conditions that allow for the precise calculation of gradients with respect to boundary control variables. This facilitates the efficient optimisation of flow control methods. The framework’s adaptability and effectiveness are demonstrated using two boundary conditions: opposition control and tunable permeable walls. Various optimisation targets are evaluated, including wall friction and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), across different time horizons. In each optimisation, there were around $4\times 10^4$ control variables and $3\times 10^{9}$ state variables in a single episode. Results indicate that TKE targeted opposition control achieves a more stable and significant reduction in drag, with effective suppression of turbulence throughout the channel. In contrast, strategies that focus directly on minimising wall friction were found to be less effective, exhibiting instability and increased turbulence in the outer region. The tunable permeable walls also show potential to achieve stable drag reduction through a ‘flux-inducing’ mechanism. This study demonstrates the advantages of AD-based optimisation in complex flow control scenarios and provides physical insight into the choice of the quantity of interest for improved optimisation performance.

Carbon storage in saline aquifers is a prominent geological method for reducing CO2 emissions. However, salt precipitation within these aquifers can significantly impede CO2 injection efficiency. This study examines the mechanisms of salt precipitation during CO2 injection into fractured matrices using pore-scale numerical simulations informed by microfluidic experiments. The analysis of varying initial salt concentrations and injection rates revealed three distinct precipitation patterns, namely displacement, breakthrough and sealing, which were systematically mapped onto regime diagrams. These patterns arise from the interplay between dewetting and precipitation rates. An increase in reservoir porosity caused a shift in the precipitation pattern from sealing to displacement. By incorporating pore structure geometry parameters, the regime diagrams were adapted to account for varying reservoir porosities. In hydrophobic reservoirs, the precipitation pattern tended to favour displacement, as salt accumulation occurred more in larger pores than in pore throats, thereby reducing the risk of clogging. The numerical results demonstrated that increasing the gas injection rate or reducing the initial salt concentration significantly enhanced CO2 injection performance. Furthermore, identifying reservoirs with high hydrophobicity or large porosity is essential for optimising CO2 injection processes.