This study evaluated the effects of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) potential activator, on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, glucose metabolism, and inflammation in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) (initial body weight: 5.45 ± 0.02 g) fed a high-carbohydrate diet. Experimental diets included a positive control (5 % α-starch), a negative control (10 % α-starch), and two diets containing 10 % α-starch supplemented with either 0.05 % or 0.10 % CDCA. After 8 weeks, the high-carbohydrate diet reduced growth performance and increased hepatosomatic and viscerosomatic indexes, which were mitigated by 0.10 % CDCA supplementation. The high-carbohydrate diet also increased hepatic glycogen and crude lipid content, both of which were reduced by 0.10 % CDCA. Furthermore, the high-carbohydrate diet induced oxidative stress, histopathological changes, and reduced liver lysozyme activity, which were ameliorated by CDCA supplementation. Molecular analysis showed that the high-carbohydrate diet suppressed FXR and phosphorylated AKT1 (p-AKT1) protein expression in the liver, downregulated insulin signaling (ira, irs, pi3kr1 and akt1), gluconeogenesis (pepck and g6pc), and glycolysis genes (gk, pk and pfkl). CDCA supplementation upregulated fxr expression, activated shp, enhanced the expression of insulin signaling and glycolytic genes (gk, pk and pfkl), and inhibited gluconeogenesis. Additionally, CDCA reduced inflammatory markers (nf-κb and il-1β) and restored anti-inflammatory mediators (il-10, iκb, and tgf-β). In conclusion, 0.10 % CDCA improved carbohydrate metabolism and alleviated liver inflammation in largemouth bass fed a high dietary carbohydrate, partially through FXR activation.

Many particles, whether passive or active, possess elongated shapes. When these particles settle or swim in shear flows, they often form regions of accumulation and depletion. Additionally, the density contrast between the particles and the fluid can further alter the flow by increasing the local suspension density, resulting in a two-way buoyancy–flow coupling mechanism. This study investigates the buoyancy–flow coupled dispersion of active spheroids, examining the effects of elongation, orientation-dependent settling and gyrotaxis in a vertical pipe subjected to either downwards or upwards discharge. While the concentration and velocity profiles of passive settling spheroids and spherical gyrotactic swimmers can be analysed similarly to a recent study, notable differences in dispersion characteristics emerge due to different streamline-crossing mechanisms. For suspensions of elongated swimmers, the interplay between orientation-dependent settling, gyrotaxis-induced accumulation and shear-induced trapping results in distinct concentration and velocity distributions compared to those of neutrally buoyant particles and extremely dilute suspensions with negligible coupling effect. These differences further impact drift velocity, dispersivity, and the time elapsed to steady dispersion under varying flow rates. Interestingly, low-shear trapping of non-settling elongated swimmers around the centreline, commonly observed in planar Poiseuille flow, is absent in the vertical pipe due to the change of confinement from reflectional to rotational symmetry. However, elongated settling swimmers show a non-trivial concentration response to strong downwelling discharge. This phenomenon, linked to the centreline accumulation of passive settling spheroids, bears similarities to low-shear trapping observed in planar Poiseuille flow.

Double-zero-event studies (DZS) pose a challenge for accurately estimating the overall treatment effect in meta-analysis (MA). Current approaches, such as continuity correction or omission of DZS, are commonly employed, yet these ad hoc methods can yield biased conclusions. Although the standard bivariate generalized linear mixed model (BGLMM) can accommodate DZS, it fails to address the potential systemic differences between DZS and other studies. In this article, we propose a zero-inflated bivariate generalized linear mixed model (ZIBGLMM) to tackle this issue. This two-component finite mixture model includes zero inflation for a subpopulation with negligible or extremely low risk. We develop both frequentist and Bayesian versions of ZIBGLMM and examine its performance in estimating risk ratios against the BGLMM and conventional two-stage MA that excludes DZS. Through extensive simulation studies and real-world MA case studies, we demonstrate that ZIBGLMM outperforms the BGLMM and conventional two-stage MA that excludes DZS in estimating the true effect size with substantially less bias and comparable coverage probability.

The study aims were to present in vitro susceptibilities of clinical isolates from Gram-negative bacteria bloodstream infections (GNBSI) collected in China. GNBSI isolates were collected from 18 tertiary hospitals in 7 regions of China from 2018 to 2020. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were assessed using a Trek Diagnostic System. Susceptibility was determined using CLSI broth microdilution, and breakpoints were interpreted using CLSI M100 (2021). A total of 1,815 GNBSI strains were collected, with E. coli (42.4%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (28.6%) being the most prevalent species, followed by P. aeruginosa (6.7%). Susceptibility analyses revealed low susceptibilities (<40%) of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumonia to third-/fourth-generation cephalosporins, monobactamases, and fluoroquinolones. High susceptibilities to colistin (95.0%) and amikacin (81.3%) were found for K. pneumoniae, while Acinetobacter baumannii exhibited a high susceptibility (99.2%) to colistin but a low susceptibility to other antimicrobials (<27.5%). Isolates from ICUs displayed lower drug susceptibility rates of K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii than isolates from non-ICUs (all P < 0.05). Carbapenem-resistant and ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae detection was different across regions (both P < 0.05). E. coli and K. pneumoniae were major contributors to GNBSI, while A. baumannii exhibited severe drug resistance in isolates obtained from ICU departments.

This study proposes two novel time-varying model-averaging methods for time-varying parameter regression models. When the number of predictors is small, we propose a novel time-varying complete subset-averaging (TVCSA) procedure, where the optimal time-varying subset size is obtained by minimizing the local leave-h-out cross-validation criterion. The TVCSA method is asymptotically optimal for achieving the lowest possible local mean squared error. When the number of predictors is relatively large, we propose a factor TVCSA method to reduce the computational burden by first reducing the dimension of predictors by extracting a few factors using principal component analysis and then obtaining the TVCSA forecasts from time-varying models with the generated factors. We show that the TVCSA estimator remains asymptotically optimal in the presence of generated factors. Monte Carlo simulation studies have provided favorable evidence for the TVCSA methods relative to the popular model-averaging methods in the literature. Empirical applications to equity premiums and inflation forecasting highlight the practical merits of the proposed methods.

This paper provides an overview of the current status of ultrafast and ultra-intense lasers with peak powers exceeding 100 TW and examines the research activities in high-energy-density physics within China. Currently, 10 high-intensity lasers with powers over 100 TW are operational, and about 10 additional lasers are being constructed at various institutes and universities. These facilities operate either independently or are combined with one another, thereby offering substantial support for both Chinese and international research and development efforts in high-energy-density physics.

C-type lectins (CTLs), a diverse family of pattern recognition receptors, are essential for immune recognition and pathogen clearance in invertebrates. TcCTL17 contains one carbohydrate recognition domain and three scavenger receptor Cys-rich domains. Spatial and temporal expression analysis revealed that TcCTL17 is highly expressed in early pupa, early adult stages, and the larval gut at 20 days. The recombinant TcCTL17 exhibited dose-dependent binding to lipopolysaccharides and peptidoglycans, Ca2+-dependent binding and agglutination of bacteria in vitro. Knocking down TcCTL17 before bacterial exposure reduced survival rates and increased bacterial loads in T. castaneum larvae, accompanied by decreased antimicrobial peptide expression and haemolymph phenoloxidase activity. Additionally, TcCTL17 RNA interference caused developmental abnormalities, affecting metamorphosis and fecundity, possibly by influencing the 20E, JH, and vitellogenin pathways. These findings underscore dual functions of TcCTL17 in immunity and development, making it a potential target for pest management.

The dependence of the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) on post-shock Atwood number ($A_1$) is experimentally investigated for a heavy–light single-mode interface. We create initial interfaces with density ratios of heavy to light gases ranging from 1.73 to 34.07, and achieve the highest $|A_1|$ value reported to date for gaseous-interface experiments (0.95). For the first time, spike acceleration is observed in experiments with a heavy–light configuration. The models for the start-up, linear and weakly nonlinear evolution stages are evaluated over a wide range of $A_1$ conditions. Specifically, the models proposed by Li et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 36, 2024, 056104) and Wouchuk & Nishihara (Phys. Plasmas, vol. 4, 1997, 1028–1038) effectively describe the start-up and linear stages, respectively, across all cases. None of the considered nonlinear models is valid under all $A_1$ conditions. Based on the dependence of spike and bubble evolutions on $A_1$ provided by the present work and previous study (Chen et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 975, 2023, A29), the SEA model (Sadot et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 80, 1998, pp. 1654–1657), whose expression has clear physical meanings, is modified by revising the coefficient that governs its prediction for early-time evolution. The modified model applies to prediction of the weakly nonlinear evolution of RMI with $A_1$ ranging from −0.95 to −0.35 and from 0.30 to 0.86. Based on this model, an approximation of the critical $A_1$ for the occurrence of spike acceleration is obtained.

We demonstrate how the standard usage of the random incentive system in ambiguity experiments eliciting certainty and probability equivalents might not be incentive compatible if the decision-maker is ambiguity averse. We propose a slight modification of the procedure in which the randomization takes place before decisions are made and the state is realized, and prove that if subjects evaluate the experimental environment in that way (first-risk, second-uncertainty), incentive compatibility may be restored.

Decisions to trust in strategic situations involve ambiguity (unknown probabilities). Despite many theoretical studies on ambiguity in game theory, empirical studies have lagged behind due to a lack of measurement methods, where separating ambiguity attitudes from beliefs is crucial. Baillon et al. (Econometrica, 2018b) introduced a method that allows for such a separation for individual choice. We extend this method to strategic situations and apply it to the trust game, providing new insights. People’s ambiguity attitudes and beliefs both matter for their trust decisions. People who are more ambiguity averse decide to trust less, and people with more optimistic beliefs about others’ trustworthiness decide to trust more. However, people who are more a-insensitive (insufficient discrimination between different likelihood levels) are less likely to act upon their beliefs. Our measurement of beliefs, free from contamination by ambiguity attitudes, shows that traditional introspective trust survey measures capture trust in the commonly accepted sense of belief in trustworthiness of others. Further, trustworthy people also decide to trust more due to their beliefs that others are similar to themselves. This paper shows that applications of ambiguity theories to game theory can bring useful new empirical insights.

River terraces serve as excellent indicators of the landform evolution of the Guizhou Plateau. This paper presents the results of terrace investigation and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating focused on five sections along the Liujiang River of the southeastern Guizhou Plateau. The OSL ages of the terraces range from 0.21 ± 0.02 to 16.0 ± 1.4 ka for the first terraces (T1) and from 3.5 ± 0.3 to 26.5 ± 3.3 ka for the second terraces (T2), which are much younger than those of other basins on the Guizhou Plateau. These ages, considered in tandem with the results of previous investigations, enhance our understanding of the fluvial landform evolution of the Guizhou Plateau since the Late Pleistocene. On the Guizhou Plateau platform, terraces are considered to be the response of river evolution to tectonic uplift, indicating a relatively slow geomorphic process. In the slope zone, climate change has had a significant impact on the fluvial landform processes, driving the formation of the younger terraces along the Liujiang River. In the platform–slope transition zone, the evolution of terraces was driven by both tectonic uplift and climate change, where the landform processes were dominated by strong headward erosion.

The knowledge of the critical periods of crop-weed competition is crucial for designing weed management strategies in cropping systems. In the Lower Yangtze Valley, China, field experiments were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to study the effect of interference from mixed natural weed populations on cotton growth and yield and determine the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in direct-seeded cotton. Two treatments were applied: allowing weeds to infest the crop or keeping plots weed-free for increasing periods (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 20 weeks) after crop emergence. The results showed that mixed natural weed infestations led to 35 to 55 cm shorter cotton plants with stem diameters 10 to 13 mm smaller throughout the season, fitting well with modified Gompertz and logistic models, respectively. Season-long competition with weeds reduced the number of fruit branches per plant by 65% to 82%, decreasing boll number per plant by 86% to 96% and single boll weight by approximately 24%. Weed-free seed cotton yields ranged from 2,900 to 3,130 kg ha-1, while yield loss increased with the duration of weed infestation, reaching up to 83% to 96% compared with permanent weed-free plots. Modified Gompertz and logistic models were used to analyze the impact of increasing weed control duration and weed interference on relative seed cotton yield (percentage of season-long weed-free cotton), respectively. Based on a 5% yield-loss threshold, the CPWC was found to be from 145 growing degree days (GDD) to 994 GDD, corresponding to 14 days after emergence (DAE) to 85 DAE. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing effective weed control measures from 14 DAE to 85 DAE in the Lower Yangtze Valley, China, to prevent crop losses exceeding a 5% yield-loss threshold.

Based on a 4f system, a 0° reflector and a single laser diode side-pump amplifier, a new amplifier is designed to compensate the spherical aberration of the amplified laser generated by a single laser diode side-pump amplifier and enhance the power of the amplified laser. Furthermore, the role of the 4f system in the passive spherical aberration compensation and its effect on the amplified laser are discussed in detail. The results indicate that the amplification efficiency is enhanced by incorporating a 4f system in a double-pass amplifier and placing a 0° reflector only at the focal point of the single-pass amplified laser. This method also effectively uses the heat from the gain medium (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet) of the amplifier to compensate the spherical aberration of the amplified laser.

Eotetranychus kankitus is an important pest on several agricultural crops, and its resistance to pesticides has promoted the exploration of biological control strategies. Beauveria bassiana and Neoseiulus barkeri have been identified as potential agents for suppressing spider mites. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenicity of B. bassiana on E. kankitus and its compatibility with N. barkeri. Results showed that among the five tested strains of B. bassiana, Bb025 exhibited the highest level of pathogenicity on E. kankitus. Higher application rates (1 × 108 conidia/mL) of Bb025 led to a higher mortality rate of E. kankitus (90.402%), but also resulted in a 15.036% mortality of N. barkeri. Furthermore, preference response tests indicated that both E. kankitus and N. barkeri actively avoided plants sprayed with Bb025 compared to the control group that was sprayed with Tween-80. In a no-choice test, we observed that N. barkeri actively attacked Bb025-treated E. kankitus with no adverse effect on its predatory capacities. Furthermore, N. barkeri laid more eggs when fed on Bb025-treated E. kankitus compared to Tween-80-treated E. kankitus, but the subsequent generation of surviving individuals fed on Bb025-treated E. kankitus was reduced. These findings demonstrate that the Bb025 strain of B. bassiana is highly virulent against E. kankitus while causing less harm to N. barkeri. Consequently, a promising strategy for controlling E. kankitus could involve the sequential utilisation of Bb025 and N. barkeri at appropriate intervals.