To determine values for the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS), it is recommended that ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility values obtained in growing pigs are used to characterise protein quality in different foods. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to determine the standardised ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in eight energy ingredients (barley, sorghum, wheat, brown rice, rice bran, wheat bran, cassava and paddy rice) fed to pigs, where SID values in pigs can be used to calculate approximate DIAAS values in humans. Among the data obtained for all energy ingredients, significant variations (P < 0·01) in CP and AA composition were observed. Rice bran and wheat bran had the highest CP (16·43 % and 18·16 %, respectively) and DIAAS scores of 81–88 for adult, qualifying as ‘good’ protein sources (> 75). Cassava, with the lowest CP (2·74 %), was limited by sulphur amino acid (54). Lysine (Lys) was the first-limiting AA in barley (74), sorghum (51) and wheat (49), with SID values lowest in wheat (71·04 %). Brown rice and paddy rice showed higher SIDLys (87·51 % and 78·13 %, respectively). These findings highlight the potential of bran-based ingredients and Lys fortification to improve protein quality in grain-dependent diets, providing the scientific basis to combat protein malnutrition.

Aerothermal issues in hypersonic transitional swept shock wave/boundary-layer interactions (SBLIs) are critical for the structural safety of high-speed vehicles but remain poorly understood. In this work, previously scarce, high-resolution heat transfer distributions of the hypersonic transitional swept SBLIs, are obtained from fast-responding temperature-sensitive paint (fast TSP) measurements. A series of $34^\circ$ compression ramps with sweep angles ranging from $0^\circ$ to $45^\circ$ are tested in a Mach 12.1 shock tunnel, with a unit Reynolds number of 3.0 $\times$ 10$^{6}$ m$^{-1}$. The fast TSP provides a global view of the three-dimensional aerothermal effects on the ramps, allowing in-depth analysis on the sweep effects and the symmetry of heat transfer. The time-averaged results reveal that the heat flux peak near reattachment shifts upstream with decreasing amplitude as the sweep angle increases, and a second peak emerges in the $45^\circ$ swept ramp due to a type V shock–shock interaction. Downstream of reattachment, the heat flux streaks induced by Görtler-like vortices weaken with increasing sweep angle, whereas their dominant projected wavelengths show little dependence on sweep angle or spanwise location. Away from the ramp’s leading side, the transition onset of the reattached boundary layer gradually approaches the reattachment point. Finally, a general quasi-conical aerothermal symmetry is identified upstream of reattachment, although spanwise variations in transition onset, shock–shock interaction and heat flux streaks are found to disrupt this symmetry downstream of reattachment with varying degrees.

Entrepreneurial reentry after business failure is an important area of research in the field of entrepreneurship. However, previous studies have largely overlooked the crucial role of time factors – both objective and subjective – in the context of failure and subsequent entrepreneurial endeavors. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the impact of firm lifespan on entrepreneurial reentry and the moderating effect of entrepreneurs’ temporal focus. Through manual matching across multiple databases, we obtain a sample of 368 entrepreneurs. The results show that a longer firm lifespan negatively influences entrepreneurial reentry and that a past focus further amplifies this negative relationship. This study contributes to research on the determinants of entrepreneurial reentry and provides theoretical insights into the role of time in entrepreneurial reentry.

As international exploration of the Meso-Neoproterozoic continues, these layers have become a key target for deep oil and gas field exploration. The Ordos Basin exhibits considerable sedimentary thicknesses within the Meso-Neoproterozoic. However, significant hydrocarbon discoveries have not been forthcoming, primarily due to the complex tectonic evolution. This paper focuses on the southern Ordos Basin, utilizing logging-seismic calibration to interpret seismic data and elucidate Meso-Neoproterozoic tectonic features. By comparing ancient and modern tectonic patterns, based on palaeotectonic maps retrieved through the impression method and combining these with tectonic evolution profiles, the study clarifies the history of tectonic modification. Under the control of two fracture systems – basin-controlling fractures at the margin and trough-controlling fractures – the Changchengian exhibits two categories (single-fault and double-fault) and five sub-categories of fault depression combinations. The study highlights significant differences between ancient and modern tectonics in the Meso-Neoproterozoic, which are attributed to various tectonic stages, including the trough-uplift depositional differentiation stage during the early rift-late depression of the Changchengian, the basin-margin subsidence stage of the southwestern depression of the Jixianian, the uplift and denudation stage of the Sinian basin’s main body and the four-stage tectonic remodelling stage of differential uplift-subsidence in the Palaeoproterozoic. This study employs the ancient-present tectonic pattern as a point of departure, thereby enhancing the theoretical understanding of deep-seated tectonics in the Ordos Basin. It offers novel insights into the exploration of Meso-Neoproterozoic gas reservoirs from a tectonic remodelling perspective.

The impact of long-term nocturnal warming on soil aggregate stability and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sequestration was examined in agricultural fields. Employing a passive warming system, the nighttime warming experiment involved two treatments: a control check (CK) and a nighttime warming treatment (WT), spanning the entire growth seasons of wheat from 2013 to 2021. The annual average temperature increase ranged from 0.3 to 1.3°C, with an average increment of 0.71°C over the eight years. Both dry and wet sieving methods showed that nighttime warming reduced the proportion of macroaggregates and increased microaggregates compared to CK, thereby diminishing soil aggregate (SA) stability. While nighttime warming had the potential to elevate the concentrations and contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN), significant effects were only observed in the concentrations and contribution rates of SOC and TN. The C/N ratios across different particle sizes within SA were not significantly affected by nighttime warming. Additionally, no significant correlation was found between the SOC/TN contents and contribution rates and the stability of SA. These results suggest that eight years of nighttime warming could undermine the stability of SA, yet it did not impact the pools of N and C in the agricultural lands of central China.

Integrons are important genetic elements that allow easy acquisition and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Studies reporting occurrence of integrons in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolated from bovine mastitis in large dairy farms across China are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of class 1 integrons (intI1), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and associated genes in S. aureus isolated from bovine mastitis and their associations. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined to evaluate the AMR phenotypes, whereas PCR was carried out to assess the occurrence of AMR genes and intI1. In addition, index cluster analysis was used to estimate associations between AMR phenotype, genotype and intI1 in 103 isolates. Overall, 83% of S. aureus were intI1-positive and 5 types of gene cassettes were detected. Susceptibility against single antimicrobial agents ranged from 0% (erythromycin), 12% (ampicillin) and 16% (penicillin G) to 96% (gentamicin). Most isolates (64%) were intermediate-resistant against erythromycin, whereas resistance against ceftriaxone (22%), clindamycin (4%), cefotaxime (2%), tetracycline (1%) and ciprofloxacin (1%) were relatively uncommon. The predominant resistant gene was blaZ gene (n = 88, 85%) followed by tetD gene (n = 85, 83%). With an estimated prevalence of 12% of the mecA gene, methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates had higher MIC50 and MIC90 for majority of antimicrobials than methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates. Presence of the ermC gene was associated with erythromycin resistance. Ampicillin, erythromycin and penicillin G resistance were associated with intI1. The data presented in our study indicated that class 1 integron-mediated resistance possibly plays an important role in dissemination of AMR in S. aureus isolated from bovine mastitis.

Collaborative robots are becoming intelligent assistants of human in industrial settings and daily lives. Dynamic model identification is an active topic for collaborative robots because it can provide effective ways to achieve precise control, fast collision detection and smooth lead-through programming. In this research, an improved iterative approach with a comprehensive friction model for dynamic model identification is proposed for collaborative robots when the joint velocity, temperature and load torque effects are considered. Experiments are conducted on the AUBO I5 collaborative robots. Two other existing identification algorithms are adopted to make comparison with the proposed approach. It is verified that the average error of the proposed I-IRLS algorithm is reduced by over 14% than that of the classical IRLS algorithm. The proposed I-IRLS method can be widely used in various application scenarios of collaborative robots.

Various magmatisms during the subduction-collision process are crucial to reveal the long-term tectonic evolution of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. In this paper, we present major and trace elements of whole-rock, zircon U-Pb dating and Hf isotope of the Shanmen pluton. Results imply that the Shanmen pluton consists of quartz diorite and mylonitic granite, with zircon U-Pb ages of 263.7–259.6 Ma. The studied quartz diorite contains high Sr/Y (51.19–90.87) and (La/Yb)N (7.82–13.62) ratios, and belongs to adakitic rocks. Coupled with the positive εHf(t) values of +5.71 to +12.8 with no obvious Eu anomaly, we propose that quartz diorite is the product of the interaction between different degrees of slab melt and the overlying mantle wedge. In contrast, the mylonitic granite has lower MgO (0.28 wt% – 0.47 wt%) contents and positive εHf(t) values of +7.79 to +10.15, indicating an affinity with I-type granite originated by partial melting of the intermediate-basic lower crust. The geochemical characteristics and lithological assemblages, along with the Permian magmatic rocks in the Changchun-Kaiyuan area displaying arc rocks affinity, propose their formation is related to the southward subduction of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO). Based on this study and previous evidence, we lean towards adopting a middle-late Permian slab break-off model, wherein the PAO did not close until the late Permian.

Melting and calving of glaciers and ice caps in Antarctica and Greenland could potentially contribute significantly to global sea level rise. Updates to existing outlines that provide critical glacier baseline information in both regions could help in the analysis of particular changes in glacier parameters such as area and volume from time-series inventories. Here we synthesize previously established techniques and apply new multi-source datasets to update glacier outlines in selected test areas of Antarctica and Greenland, as well as to reduce uncertainties and errors during the mapping process. The workflow includes mapping glacier boundaries, subdividing glaciers by watersheds and assigning glacier attributes. Complicated glacier scenarios and updating challenges in polar regions are discussed and demonstrated by representative case studies. For the first time in Antarctica, we analyze the effect of terminus types on mapped glacier areas, and in Greenland we compare the differences with glacier mapping results using Landsat OLI and ETM+. With new data sources, the methods described in this study might help to create glacier outlines on a larger scale in Antarctica and Greenland. Although data sources can be substituted, the enormous amount of manual labor required to update glacier inventories remains a significant challenge.

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) have attracted much attention as delivery carriers for various drugs, but the loading of one such drug, quercetin, on HNTs has been investigated only rarely and usually involved cyclic vacuum pumping. The main objective of the present study was to develop a novel carrier system based on HNTs for quercetin delivery without a vacuum process and to investigate the effect of chemical modification of HNTs on the loading and release of quercetin. For this purpose, comparative studies of five chemical modification reagents (sodium lauroamphoacetate, cocoamidopropyl betaine, 1-hydroxyethyl 2-nonyl imidazoline betaine, triethanolamine, and dipicolinic acid) functionalized on HNTs were investigated for quercetin loading and in vitro release. Characterization of raw halloysite, modified halloysite, and quercetin-loaded halloysite were done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated that chemical modification could improve the interactions between HNTs and quercetin. After chemical modification, quercetin was anchored to both the inner and outer surfaces of HNTs by electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces. Sodium lauroamphoacetate-modified HNTs were given the highest loading of 1.96 wt.% among the five reagents. Cocamidopropyl betaine-modified HNTs exhibited the best sustained-release profile with only 29.07% for initial burst release and 480 h of consecutive release. Carboxyl groups of the modification reagent improved the loading capacity of quercetin. Amide groups prolonged drug release due to the strong affinity between amine and phenolic hydroxyl groups of quercetin. The release of quercetin from the cocamidopropyl betaine-modified HNTs fitted a first-order kinetics model well. The present study suggested that cocamidopropyl betaine-modified HNTs offer promise as vehicles for delivery of quercetin and for extending the application of quercetin.

We measure the enclosed Milky Way (MW) mass profile to Galactocentric distances of ∼70 and ∼50 kpc using the smooth, diffuse stellar halo samples of Bird et al. The samples are Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration (SDSS/SEGUE) K giants (KG) and SDSS/SEGUE blue horizontal branch (BHB) stars with accurate metallicities. The 3D kinematics are available through LAMOST and SDSS/SEGUE distances and radial velocities and Gaia DR2 proper motions. Two methods are used to estimate the enclosed mass: 3D spherical Jeans equation and Evans et al. tracer mass estimator (TME). We remove substructure via the Xue et al. method based on integrals of motion. We evaluate the uncertainties on our estimates due to random sampling noise, systematic distance errors, the adopted density profile, and non-virialization and non-spherical effects of the halo. The tracer density profile remains a limiting systematic in our mass estimates, although within these limits we find reasonable agreement across the different samples and the methods applied. Out to ∼70 and ∼50 kpc, the Jeans method yields total enclosed masses of 4.3±0.95 (random) ±0.6 (systematic) ×1011 M⊙ and 4.1±1.2 (random) ±0.6 (systematic) ×1011 M⊙ for the KG and BHB stars, respectively. For the KG and BHB samples we find a dark matter virial mass of (random) ±0.083 (systematic) ×1012 M⊙ and (random) ±0.15 (systematic) ×1012 M⊙, respectively.

REAP-2 is an interactive dose-response curve estimation tool for Robust and Efficient Assessment of drug Potency. It provides user-friendly dose-response curve estimation for in vitro studies and conducts statistical testing for model comparisons with a redesigned user interface. We also make a major update of the underlying estimation method with penalized beta regression, which demonstrates great reliability and accuracy in dose estimation and uncertainty quantification. In this note, we describe the method and implementation of REAP-2 with a highlight on potency estimation and drug comparison.

Zn is an important trace element involved in various biochemical processes in aquatic species. An 8-week rearing trial was thus conducted to investigate the effects of Zn on juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) by feeding seven diets, respectively, supplemented with no Zn (Con), 60 and 120 mg/kg inorganic Zn (Sul60 and Sul120), and 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg organic Zn (Bio30, Bio60, Bio90 and Bio120). Sul120 and Bio120 groups showed significantly higher weight gain and specific growth rate than Con group, with Bio60 group obtaining the lowest viscerosomatic index and hepatosomatic index. 60 or 90 mg/kg organic Zn significantly facilitated whole body Zn retention. Up-regulation of hepatic superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities and decline of malondialdehyde contents indicated augmented antioxidant capacities by organic Zn. Zn treatment also lowered plasma aminotransferase levels while promoting acid phosphatase activity and hepatic transcription levels of alp1, acp1 and lyz-c than deprivation of Zn. The alterations in whole body and liver crude lipid and plasma TAG contents illustrated the regulatory effect of Zn on lipid metabolism, which could be possibly attributed to the changes in hepatic expressions of acc1, pparγ, atgl and cpt1. These findings demonstrated the capabilities of Zn in potentiating growth and morphological performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity as well as regulating lipid metabolism in M. salmoides. Organic Zn could perform comparable effects at same or lower supplementation levels than inorganic Zn, suggesting its higher efficiency. 60 mg/kg supplementation of organic Zn could effectively cover the requirements of M. salmoides.

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is one of the rate-determining enzymes in the hydrolysis of TAG, playing a crucial role in lipid metabolism. However, the role of HSL-mediated lipolysis in systemic nutrient homoeostasis has not been intensively understood. Therefore, we used CRISPR/Cas9 technique and Hsl inhibitor (HSL-IN-1) to establish hsla-deficient (hsla-/-) and Hsl-inhibited zebrafish models, respectively. As a result, the hsla-/- zebrafish showed retarded growth and reduced oxygen consumption rate, accompanied with higher mRNA expression of the genes related to inflammation and apoptosis in liver and muscle. Furthermore, hsla-/- and HSL-IN-1-treated zebrafish both exhibited severe fat deposition, whereas their expressions of the genes related to lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation were markedly reduced. The TLC results also showed that the dysfunction of Hsl changed the whole-body lipid profile, including increasing the content of TG and decreasing the proportion of phospholipids. In addition, the systemic metabolic pattern was remodelled in hsla-/- and HSL-IN-1-treated zebrafish. The dysfunction of Hsl lowered the glycogen content in liver and muscle and enhanced the utilisation of glucose plus the expressions of glucose transporter and glycolysis genes. Besides, the whole-body protein content had significantly decreased in the hsla-/- and HSL-IN-1-treated zebrafish, accompanied with the lower activation of the mTOR pathway and enhanced protein and amino acid catabolism. Taken together, Hsl plays an essential role in energy homoeostasis, and its dysfunction would cause the disturbance of lipid catabolism but enhanced breakdown of glycogen and protein for energy compensation.

The 4.2 ka event is widely presumed to be a globally widespread aridity event and has been linked to several episodes of societal changes across the globe. Whether this climate event impacted the cultural development in south-central China remains uncertain due to a lack of regional paleorainfall records. We present here stalagmite stable carbon isotope and trace element–based reconstruction of hydroclimatic conditions from south-central China. Our data reveal a sub–millennial scale (~5.6 to 4.3 ka) drying trend in the region followed by a gradual transition to wetter conditions during the 4.2 ka event (4.3–3.9 ka). Together with the existing archaeological evidence, our data suggest that the drier climate before 4.3 ka may have promoted the Shijiahe culture, while the pluvial conditions during the 4.2 ka event may have adversely affected its settlements in low-lying areas. While military conflicts with the Wangwan III culture may have accelerated the collapse of Shijiahe culture, we suggest that the joint effects of climate and the region's topography also played important causal roles in its demise.