Low-protein (LP) diets are increasingly adopted in poultry production to improve nitrogen efficiency. While their effects on the utilization of trace minerals have been demonstrated, the optimal supplementation strategies for these minerals remain insufficiently explored. This study investigated the interactive effects of dietary iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) supplementation in laying hens fed a 15% crude protein LP diet using a uniform design approach. A total of 1,008 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (49–60 weeks of age) were randomly allocated to 12 dietary treatments with graded combinations of the four trace elements. Production performance, egg quality, apparent nutrient digestibility, fecal mineral excretion, and duodenal metal ion transporters were assessed. Trace minerals supplementation did not affect laying performance (P > 0.05). However, significant interactions among minerals influenced egg quality, ash digestibility, and fecal mineral excretion (P < 0.05). Antagonistic interactions were observed for Cu × Zn and Fe × Zn, while Mn × Zn showed synergism (P < 0.05). Regression analyses demonstrated that optimal trace minerals combinations varied depending on the specific response variables. Given that production performance remained stable across minerals treatments, minimizing total mineral excretion was prioritized as the optimization objective. The optimization results indicate that no additional supplementation of Cu, Mn, and Zn is required, whereas 33 mg/kg of Fe represents the optimal level for minimizing total mineral excretion. These findings suggest that basal diet Cu, Mn, and Zn concentrations may largely meet the requirements of laying hens from 49 to 60 weeks of age in terms of production performance and mineral utilization. Overall, this study provides an effective approach for identifying key influencing factors and developing precision trace minerals supplementation strategies that maintain production performance while substantially reducing mineral excretion, thereby supporting environmentally sustainable poultry production.

Droplet impingement is one of the most common phenomena in nature. However, the impact dynamics of droplets on structured heterogeneous wettability surfaces remain little explored. In this work, an investigation is conducted into the droplet impact on heterogeneous wettability surfaces composed of superhydrophobic micropillars on a hydrophilic substrate, by using an improved phase-field lattice Boltzmann model. In particular, the effects of surface geometry and impact conditions on droplet bouncing and wetting behaviours are scrutinised. Four distinct impact outcomes are identified: complete bouncing, pancake bouncing, partial wetting and complete wetting. Based on the competition among capillary, inertial and viscous forces, an analytical model is proposed to predict the maximum droplet penetration depth within the pillar gaps. A transition diagram is constructed to distinguish these different impact outcomes, with regime boundaries derived from the proposed analytical model. Finally, from the perspective of energy analysis, both the evolution of the energy budget and the surface energy distribution during the droplet impact process are revealed. These findings provide guidance for the design of heterogeneous wettability surfaces, enabling predictable control over droplet bouncing and wetting behaviours.

This paper presents a novel UHF RFID tag antenna with metal-mount capability, broadband characteristics, and frequency controllability. To achieve anti-metal performance, we explore a vertical loop structure as the main radiator, with slots for frequency adjustment and layout flexibility. The antenna operates based on a hybrid magnetic–electric mode interaction mechanism, in which the vertical loop provides a magnetic-dipole-dominated radiation mode. Furthermore, asymmetric resonant dipole patches are loaded on both sides of the center feed line to introduce an auxiliary electric mode and broaden the operating bandwidth. This structural-level mode and coupling engineering enables independent control of the center frequency while maintaining wideband impedance matching. The proposed antenna has a compact size of $0.1951\lambda \times0.128\lambda \times0.0051 \lambda$, with the main radiation lobe concentrated within 60$^{\circ}$ from the zenith. By mounting on a $100\times100\times2\,\mathrm{mm}^{3}$ copper plate, it achieves a maximum read range of 7.32 m, which demonstrates the good adaptability for UHF RFID tagging on metal surfaces.

Objectives/Goals: To develop and validate a Random Survival Forest model predicting individualized tactile sensory recovery after DIEP flap breast reconstruction, enabling personalized postoperative counseling and future clinical decision-support integration. Methods/Study Population: Neurotized DIEP flap reconstructions (2019-2025) with pressure-specified sensory device testing were analyzed for time to ≥ 50% tactile sensory recovery. A five-variable Random Survival Forest (RSF) (dual vs. single coaptation, BMI, age, operative time, mastectomy weight) was trained on an imputed dataset. Discrimination (C-index; 1 = perfect discrimination, 0.5 = random chance), 12-month accuracy (Brier score; 0 = perfect forecast, 1 = completely inaccurate forecast), and calibration (predicted vs observed recovery quartiles) were assessed. Representative cases illustrate patient-specific recovery curves. Results/Anticipated Results: Of 110 breasts, 60 achieved ≥ 50% recovery. Mean follow-up was 17.1 ± 1.7 months (median 12.8, 95% CI 9.7-19.7). The RSF achieved C-index 0.69. The mean predicted recovery increased from 32.3% at 6.13 months to 49.5% at 11.8 months, 56.2% at 17.7 months, and 60.8% at 24.1 months. Calibration at 12 months by quartiles of predicted recovery showed observed recovery 0% (Q1), 48.8% (Q2), 80.8% (Q3), and 100% (Q4). The corresponding mean predicted probabilities were 17.2%, 43.1%, 62.3%, and 77.0%, respectively. The RSF model demonstrated superior predictive accuracy (Brier = 0.099) compared with a Kaplan-Meier baseline (Brier = 0.247). The low-recovery case had predicted recovery 6.2% at 12 months. The median case tracked the cohort mean: 52.4%. The high-recovery case achieved 81.8% at 12 months. Discussion/Significance of Impact: A five-variable RSF provides individualized recovery trajectories with moderate discrimination and good internal calibration. The tool quantifies time-dependent probabilities and supports the development of a perioperative counseling tool to predict expected tactile recovery after neurotized DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

Continuous-wave diamond Raman lasers (DRLs) operated at high pump power commonly suffer from power roll-off and output instability, even when high-thermal-conductivity gain media are employed. These degradations originate from thermally induced cavity-mode mismatch and cavity-length drift, which limit further power scaling. In this work, we establish a thermo–optical chain-linked model that quantitatively describes the coupled evolution of thermal deposition, equivalent thermal lensing, intracavity-mode matching and output power in high-power DRLs, providing a direct physical link between pump power and cavity-length compensation. Based on this model, a peak–valley co-location criterion is proposed to determine the optimal cavity-length compensation point. Both theoretical and experimental results show that the output power exhibits a single-peak dependence on cavity-length offset, while the power stability follows a U-shaped distribution, and their extrema coincide at an optimal compensation value ΔL*. By operating at ΔL*, the maximum Stokes output power increases from 27 to 32 W, and the root mean square power fluctuation decreases from 4.8% to 3.2%. These results demonstrate that thermal-lens-induced performance degradation can be effectively mitigated by cavity-length compensation using a single control parameter, providing a practical design rule for simultaneous enhancement of output power and stability in high-power Raman laser systems.

Carbonatite is one of the major archives of rare earth elements (REEs), and in some cases, its formation is linked to the deep subduction of carbonated ocean crust and REE-rich sediments. The formation conditions of hydroxyl REE carbonate, [Sm(CO3)OH] or ‘hydroxylbastnäsite-(Sm)’ (it is not presently an IMA-approved mineral), in a subduction zone were simulated at 3 GPa and 1073 K. The crystal structure of Sm(CO3)OH was determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), which shows the crystal to be hexagonal with cell parameters a = b = 12.2143 (7) Å, c = 9.8393 (6) Å, V = 1271.26 (17) Å3, and space group $P\bar 6$. The high-pressure properties of synthesized Sm(CO3)OH were investigated using in-situ synchrotron powder XRD and Raman spectroscopy at pressures up to 20.9 and 20.6 GPa at ambient temperature, respectively. Additionally, the structural stability of Sm(CO3)OH under pressure and temperature conditions up to 5.9 GPa and 473 K was also investigated using Raman spectroscopy. A third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state fitted to the ambient temperature and high-pressure data points yielded K0 = 76 (11) GPa with K0ʹ = 13 (2), and K0 = 127 (2) GPa if K0ʹ is constrained to a value of 4. Analysis of axial compressible moduli shows an apparent compression anisotropy of Sm(CO3)OH: Ka = 215 (5) GPa and Kc = 265 (5) GPa. Raman spectra of the synthesized quenchable crystal of Sm(CO3)OH displayed no detectable phase transition at the pressure range from ambient to 20.6 GPa, and no noticeable phase transition when the temperature and pressure were increased from ambient conditions to 473 K and 5.9 GPa, respectively. These results suggest that the [Sm(CO3)OH] phase may play a potential role as a conveyor for the migration of rare earth elements (REE), carbon (C) and water (-OH) to the deep Earth during plate subduction.

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a common metabolic disorder in ruminants fed high-concentrate diets. This study hypothesized that the abundance of lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldh) in the rumen could predict the individual animal’s susceptibility to SARA. A total of 121 Hu lambs were used in the study, and ldh gene abundance was inferred by PICRUST based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. From this population, two extreme cohorts were screened, including six lambs with the highest ldh gene abundance (HLDH group) and six lambs with the lowest ldh gene abundance (LLDH group). Subsequently, the selected lambs were challenged with a SARA-risk diet, and metagenomic sequencing technology was conducted for comparative analysis of microbial functions between the two groups. Key findings revealed that HLDH lambs exhibited the following characteristics: (1) significantly higher ldh abundance as verified by metagenomic method (P < 0.001); (2) lower rumen pH with significantly prolonged duration below the 5.8 threshold (P < 0.001); (3) a tendency to reduced total bacterial abundance (P = 0.055); (4) significantly increased molar proportion of acetate (P = 0.02); and (5) suppressed carbohydrate metabolic pathways, with tendency of decreased abundance of glycoside hydrolase family (P ≤ 0.07). Notably, the rumen microbiome of the HLDH group showed significantly higher abundance of genes encoding pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (porA-D) (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the relative abundance of the ldh gene in the rumen can serve as a biomarker for predicting the susceptibility of lambs to SARA when fed highly fermentable diets, providing theoretical basis and technical support for the early warning and precise prevention of SARA.

Proton–boron (${\mathrm{p}}^{11}\mathrm{B}$) fusion provides a unique pathway for generating energetic $\alpha$ particles with a low associated neutron background. In this work, we investigate, through particle-in-cell Monte Carlo (PIC-MC) simulations, an enhanced ${\mathrm{p}}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ fusion and $\alpha$ particle production in laser-irradiated nanowire arrays (NWAs). A Monte Carlo ${\mathrm{p}}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ fusion module is first implemented within the EPOCH framework, which helps to reliably simulate the ${\mathrm{p}}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ fusion plasma dynamics. Benchmark tests on the $\alpha$ particle generation in ${\mathrm{p}}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ fusion reactions are performed. The results agree well with both the available experimental and theoretical data, thus validating the implemented ${\mathrm{p}}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ fusion module. This development is then used to study the ${\mathrm{p}}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ fusion plasma dynamics and the resulting production of $\alpha$ particles in the NWA targets composed of octadecaborane, in which Bayesian optimization is performed to search for an optimal laser intensity and NWA configuration. Two-dimensional PIC-MC simulations demonstrate that the NWA targets can produce a flux of energetic $\alpha$ particles approximately two orders of magnitude greater than that of a planar target. This enhancement is mainly attributed to an efficient ion acceleration by sheath fields. It is demonstrated that the proposed optimization framework represents a reliable and efficient tool for studying laser-driven ${\mathrm{p}}^{11}\mathrm{B}$ fusion plasma physics, while providing valuable insights and practical guidance for optimizing NWA targets toward higher reaction yields.

Maternal Hb and fetal growth change dynamically throughout pregnancy. We examined the associations of time-specific Hb levels and Hb trajectories with fetal biometrics and adverse birth outcomes. This prospective study included 6844 pregnant women (mean age 26·6 (sd 3·7) years) from the Tongji-Huaxi-Shuangliu Birth Cohort. Hb levels were measured at four periods: early (6–12 gestational weeks), middle (13–27), middle-late (28–32) and late pregnancy (33–37). Fetal biometrics were assessed by ultrasound from middle to late pregnancy. Birth outcomes were obtained from medical records, including small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth. Three Hb trajectories were identified: consistent decline (Trajectory 1), consistently low (Trajectory 2) and increase from middle-late pregnancy (Trajectory 3). Compared with Trajectory 1, Trajectory 3 was associated with lower estimated fetal weight (β, −0·54; 95 % CI −0·99, −0·09) and abdominal circumference (β, −0·21; 95 % CI −0·40, −0·01) in late pregnancy and higher umbilical artery resistance index across pregnancy (β, 0·65; 95 % CI 0·31, 1·00). Trajectory 3 was also associated with higher risk of LBW (OR, 1·57; 95 % CI 1·09, 2·26). In middle-late pregnancy, higher Hb (≥ 130 g/l) was associated with higher risks of LBW (OR, 2·26; 95 % CI 1·08, 4·25) and preterm birth (OR, 2·03; 95 % CI 1·12, 3·44) compared with the reference (110–129 g/l). Elevated maternal Hb from middle-late pregnancy onwards may be associated with lower fetal weight and increased risk of LBW. Dynamic monitoring of maternal Hb may facilitate targeted nutritional management in pregnant women.

We developed a two-phase lattice Boltzmann model by coupling the entropic multiple-relaxation-time (EMRT or KBC) collision operator enabling low fluid viscosity, with a source term (Wang et al. 2022, Phys. Rev. E vol. 105, no 4) to independently adjust surface tension. The coupling is implemented via the exact difference method (EDM), which allows full consideration of external-force effects on the entropic stabiliser in KBC, in contrast to the recent work of Wang et al. (2022 Phys. Rev. E vol. 105) and Xu et al. (2024 Comput. Math. Appl. vol. 159, 92–101). More importantly, we address a major drawback of the EDM by explicitly demonstrating how its high-order error terms influence the pressure tensor and surface tension. Using the developed model, we investigated droplet impact and splashing on a thin liquid film at a remarkably high Weber number of ${\textit{We}} = 5000$ and Reynolds number of ${\textit{Re}} = 5000$. Droplet impact and splashing on flat surfaces and mesh structures at very high ${\textit{Re}}$ (15 200) and ${\textit{We}}$ (1020) are also studied after validating four representative cases against experiments. For droplet impact on flat surfaces, hydrophobicity promotes the growth of peripheral instabilities, leading to fingering splashing. Corona splashing transitions to fingering splashing as the liquid–gas viscosity ratio increases. For droplet impact on mesh structures, large openings promote liquid penetration, whereas small openings enhance spreading. As the solid ratio increases, the maximum spreading ratio increases monotonically but nonlinearly, whereas the maximum penetrated liquid pillar length first rises and then drops. These simulations demonstrate the proposed model offers significant advantages for accurately capturing and elucidating complex droplet impact and splashing dynamics at high ${\textit{Re}}$ and ${\textit{We}}$.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in newborn animals is linked to impaired intestinal health, yet the characteristics of their gut microbiota and circulating exosomal miRNAs remain incompletely understood. This study compared the cecal microbiota composition and serum exosomal miRNA profiles to characterize differences between IUGR and normal birth weight (NBW) piglets. Compared to NBW piglets, IUGR piglets displayed significant reductions in body and organ weights (heart, liver, kidney) as well as shorter jejunal and ileal lengths (p < 0.05). Microbial diversity, reflected by the Chao1 and Shannon index, was significantly reduced in IUGR piglets (p < 0.001). Taxonomic analysis revealed decreased abundances of Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Fusobacterium (p < 0.05), alongside increased abundances of potential pathogenic taxa, including Proteobacteria, Escherichia-Shigella, and Sutterella (p < 0.05). Moreover, three serum exosomal miRNAs (ssc-miR-16, ssc-miR-19b, and ssc-let-7c) emerged from the analysis as potential key regulators of IUGR. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that ssc-miR-16 and ssc-miR-19b were significantly increased in IUGR piglets, mainly targeting genes involved in cellular signaling, metabolism, and immune regulation, including the mTOR and infection-related pathways. In contrast, ssc-let-7c was significantly downregulated and linked to metabolic processes such as protein digestion and absorption. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that IUGR disrupts intestinal barrier development and microbial homeostasis, while identifying three serum exosomal miRNAs as potential biomarkers and mechanistic contributors to the pathological processes underlying IUGR.

The diversity and stability of the gut microbiota, along with various microbial and host–microbe interactions, are crucial factors in maintaining a healthy state. In this study, a total of 12 healthy 1–2 years old cats of similar weight were recruited and divided into two groups according to the experimental design and breed: the British shorthair (BS) group and the nulla luctus felis (NLF) group. After 21 days of the same diet, we analyzed and compared the gut microbiota of BS and NLF. Our results showed that the values of the serum biochemical indicators of the BS and NLF selected for this experiment were within the normal range. The Venn diagram showed that the two groups had 310 common operational taxonomic units. Significant differences in beta diversity (P < 0.05), but not in alpha diversity (P > 0.05), distinguished the two groups. Comparative analysis revealed the NLF group was enriched in Lactobacillus and Bacillus, but depleted in Enterococcus at the genus level (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 59 taxa were established as biomarkers based on a linear discriminant analysis score greater than 3.5. According to PICRUSt2 function analyses, the BS group and NLF group had a ratio of 77.11% and 76.55% for metabolism at level 1, respectively. At level 3, the NLF group significantly increased 15 metabolism pathways, while decreasing 13 metabolism pathways (P < 0.05). Finally, NLF-P1, which was screened from the feces of NLF, exhibited a good antibacterial effect on three strains of pet-associated pathogens, and the evolutionary tree was constructed to show that it may be Lactobacillus paracasei or Lactobacillus casei. In conclusion, there were significant differences in intestinal microbiota composition between BS and NLF, and NLF-P1 has research and application potential.

This study explores how humanitarian organizations (HOs) link donors and recipients in a disaster relief coordination mechanism. Based on an analysis of real data collected from the financial tracking service, our results show that disaster assistance through the HO channel greatly exceeds the funding delivered by the non-HO channel. The severity of the disaster is positively correlated with the involvement of HOs. Disaster-stricken countries that belong to the Non-Aligned Movement receive more assistance through the HO channel. The recipients with less international trade may attract more HO-channel funding, but higher international tourism expenditures also may result in more HO-channel funding. We also found that the determinants of the disaster relief coordination path vary greatly in terms of trade openness, political regime, and geographic factors. Based on the analysis of the primary humanitarian relief supply chain, the results show that some countries prefer to donate through large international HOs (e.g., Japan and Canada), and other countries favor national level organizations (e.g., the UK and the USA). Finally, to improve the efficiency of international disaster relief, the paper suggests a coordination platform that involves the main donors, frequent recipients, HOs, and a Global Information Network that can assist in coordinating disaster relief activities.

Magnetite-enriched mining tailings are a cost-effective and abundant catalytic material with inherent magnetic recyclability. Yet their practical application in catalysis is often constrained by their limited surface area and sluggish reaction kinetics. To address these issues, we developed a facile one-step co-precipitation method to synthesize a magnetic nano-Fe3O4 (MNP) catalyst that exhibits enhanced surface reactivity for efficient activation of H2O2 towards tetracycline (TC) degradation. The system achieved complete (100%) removal of TC at an initial concentration of 20 mg L–1 within 90 min and demonstrated robust catalytic performance across weakly acidic to neutral pH conditions. Mechanistic investigations confirmed that ⋅OH is the primary reactive oxygen species involved, with ⋅O2⁻ and 1O2 providing supplementary contributions to the degradation. Remarkably, the intrinsic magnetic properties ensured efficient MNP catalyst recovery. This work provides a sustainable and scalable wastewater treatment strategy, leveraging mining tailings as a cost-effective resource to treat wastewater while also providing economic and environmental benefits.

This paper introduces the Chinese Learner English Corpus (CLEC), comprising argumentative texts written by Chinese lower and upper secondary school students. CLEC expands learner corpus research by including texts from intermediate-level learners and rich metadata on their backgrounds, including engagement with self-initiated, so-called Extramural English (EE) activities outside the classroom. To illustrate potential uses, two case studies are presented. The first uses a keyword analysis to reveal thematic and stylistic differences between CLEC and its Swedish counterpart, SLEC, highlighting linguistic priorities related to distinct learning contexts. The second investigates lexical bundles associated with gaming, demonstrating how EE engagement might influence learners’ use of multiword units. Freely available online, CLEC facilitates contrastive interlanguage analysis and supports further research into L2 learning and use, particularly regarding the role of language exposure. The corpus is also a valuable resource for teacher trainees aiming to deepen their understanding of SLA processes.