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.

The challenge of addressing contentious and repressive histories in authoritarian regimes that have undergone post-totalitarian transitions presents precious opportunities for historical justice, as the representation of history and the production of historiography are decentralized from the central state. Using the production of Chinese local gazetteers in post-Mao China as a case and drawing upon a combination of historiographical, archival, and field methods, we investigate three critical negotiation fields where gazetteer compilers, who also held government ranks, interacted with central leaders and other local bureaucracies to exert discretionary control over local historical production within their jurisdictions. This decentralized negotiation over historiography illuminates the intricate interplay between ideology, agency, and tradition in the production process of the Chinese county gazetteers, offering nuanced insights into modern Chinese history and the complexities of historiographical writing under authoritarian governance. Overall, our article shows that knowledge production under authoritarian rule is more interactive and horizontal than thought, and that historiographical writing can adapt to and challenge authority in pursuit of historical justice.

Despite the recognized importance of older adults ageing in their own homes, the role of public financing in mitigating unmet and under-met home care needs remains under-explored. This study addresses this gap by examining the impact of public financing on home care adequacy among English adults aged over 50, utilizing data from waves 6–9 (2013–2019) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Longitudinal fixed effects and pooled cross-sectional modelling are used to explore the impact of public financing of home care on the unmet and under-met needs of older people. Findings show that individuals with greater limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), as well as those experiencing cognitive decline, are more likely to receive home care. Importantly, while receipt of publicly financed care is associated with a reduction in unmet needs, it does not necessarily translate to fully met needs, resulting in under-met need and highlighting a crucial distinction between access to and adequacy of care. Comparatively, transitioning from use of publicly financed home care to exclusively informal care is linked with lower odds of reporting under-met needs, suggesting variance in the quality of care provided across funding types. This study not only enriches the existing literature by describing the specific impact of different home care financing mechanisms (publicly financed care versus other types of care) on the unmet and under-met needs of older adults but also underscores the need for policies that ensure care adequacy, not just accessibility.

The Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla is categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, but the development of effective conservation strategies is hindered by a lack of data on its distribution range and population dynamics. In addition, standardized survey and analysis methods are required to facilitate the sharing of results and maximize conservation effectiveness. To fill these knowledge and methodological gaps, we investigated the occurrence of pangolin burrows in the subtropical forest ecosystem of Fujian, China. We surveyed a total of 70 transects across five land-cover types within the Fujian Junzifeng National Nature Reserve and detected 87 burrows. The majority of burrows (87%) were located in mixed conifer and broadleaf forests. We used six environmental variables in a generalized linear model to examine the relationship between the occurrence of burrows and environmental factors. The average model results from the best model set showed that the distribution of burrows was significantly influenced by forest type. For effective pangolin conservation, we recommend that local conservation authorities prioritize the protection of mixed conifer and broadleaf forests. Our findings support the local conservation of the Chinese pangolin and the standardization of surveys and conservation efforts across the species’ range.

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 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.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a key monoamine neurotransmitter in insects, which regulates neural functions and influences various developmental and physiological processes by binding to its receptors. In this study, we investigate the molecular characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, and expression patterns of the 5-HT7 receptor (Cf5-HT7) in Chrysopa formosa, with a focus on its potential involvement in developmental and diapause regulation. The Cf5-HT7 gene was identified and cloned from the C. formosa transcriptome, revealing an open reading frame of 1788 bp encoding a 596 amino acid protein. Sequence analysis confirmed that Cf5-HT7 is a typical class A G protein-coupled receptor, characterised by seven transmembrane domains and several post-translational modifications, including palmitoylation and N-glycosylation sites. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Cf5-HT7 is most closely related to the 5-HT7 receptor from Chrysoperla carnea, with high conservation of key motifs involved in ligand binding and receptor activation. Expression analysis across different developmental stages of C. formosa showed that Cf5-HT7 is highly expressed in the first instar larvae, with significant upregulation observed during the prepupal stage. Under diapause-inducing conditions, Cf5-HT7 expression is modulated in a stage-specific manner, showing a marked decrease at the onset of diapause, followed by a significant increase during the mid-to-late diapause maintenance phase. These findings suggest that it plays a pivotal role in regulating development and diapause processes in C. formosa, offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms governing insect life cycle transitions. This study lays the groundwork for future research into the functional roles of 5-HT7 receptors in insect physiology and their potential applications in manipulating diapause.

This work focuses on the intensity variation mechanisms in the mean inner and outer shear layers of a premixed swirling flame. In order to close the gap between the Lagrangian vorticity transport and the Eulerian shear layer intensity ($\gamma$), we propose a combined Reynolds-vorticity transport approach to obtain the streamwise variation of $\gamma$ as the integrals of vorticity generation terms, including tilting, baroclinic torque, diffusion and dilatation. However, different from the classical vorticity (transport) equation, the vortex stretching vanishes, and the original dilatation is replaced by a shear-layer dilatation in the new model. It enables the quantitative evaluation of how the different vorticity transport terms affect the shear layer intensity; in particular, we have identified vortex tilting and baroclinic torque as the main cause of the inner shear layer enhancement in the swirling flame’s near field. Although this model is initially developed to study the flame-attached shear layers, the broader significance lies in its applicability to general axisymmetric shear flows.

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.

With the green, circular, and low-carbon concept, eco-industrial parks are regarded as key drivers for maximizing environmental and economic benefits. Based on the panel data of 276 cities in China from 2007 to 2018, this paper regards the establishment of eco-industrial parks as a quasi-natural experiment, and employs the difference-in-differences method to test the impact of eco-industrial parks on urban haze pollution. We find that eco-industrial parks significantly reduce urban haze pollution and the conclusion holds with robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of eco-industrial parks on haze pollution is more pronounced in eastern and resource-based cities. Finally, mechanism analysis indicates that eco-industrial parks reduce urban haze pollution mainly by promoting technological innovation, upgrading industrial structure, and strengthening urban environmental regulations.

The condition assessment of underground infrastructure (UI) is critical for maintaining the safety, functionality, and longevity of subsurface assets like tunnels and pipelines. This article reviews various data acquisition techniques, comparing their strengths and limitations in UI condition assessment. In collecting structured data, traditional methods like strain gauge can only obtain relatively low volumes of data due to low sampling frequency, manual data collection, and transmission, whereas more advanced and automatic methods like distributed fiber optic sensing can gather relatively larger volumes of data due to automatic data collection, continuous sampling, or comprehensive monitoring. Upon comparison, unstructured data acquisition methods can provide more detailed visual information that complements structured data. Methods like closed-circuit television and unmanned aerial vehicle produce large volumes of data due to their continuous video recording and high-resolution imaging, posing great challenges to data storage, transmission, and processing, while ground penetration radar and infrared thermography produce smaller volumes of image data that are more manageable. The acquisition of large volumes of UI data is the first step in its condition assessment. To enable more efficient, accurate, and reliable assessment, it is recommended to (1) integrate data analytics like artificial intelligence to automate the analysis and interpretation of collected data, (2) to develop robust big data management platforms capable of handling large volumes of data storage, processing and analysis, (3) to couple different data acquisition technologies to leverage the strengths of each technique, and (4) to continuously improve data acquisition methods to ensure efficient and reliable data acquisition.