We present an experimental study of proton acceleration driven by femtosecond multi-PW lasers of three different prepulse parameters with the peak laser intensity of 1.2 × 1021 W/cm2 irradiating micrometre-thick metal foils. For 4-μm-thick copper foils, the highest-energy proton beam of 58.9 MeV is generated with the moderate-contrast laser, while the low-contrast or high-contrast lasers result in the lower proton cutoff energies. The one-dimensional hydrodynamic and two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations indicate that the front preplasma of foils induced by the laser prepulse can enhance electron acceleration and in turn improve proton acceleration, while the rear preplasma will weaken the sheath field and be unfavourable for accelerating ions. For the case of the moderate contrast, the scale length of the front preplasma is long enough to generate high-temperature electrons compared to the high-contrast case, and the scale length of the rear preplasma is so short that the sheath field still remains strong compared with the low-contrast case, which is advantageous for generating high-energy protons. Meanwhile, a concrete map is theoretically given for accelerating higher-energy protons. This work extends the concept of the prepulse effect on target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) to a wider range of laser parameters (multi-PW, 1021 W/cm2), representing an important step towards potential applications of TNSA-driven proton sources, especially considering that PW and even 10 PW laser facilities exist all around the world.

To advance the understanding of how e-government resources drive e-participation, the current research conducts a meta-analysis on the relationship above from the perspective of citizen experience. This meta-analysis synthesizes 517 effect sizes from 126 empirical studies to examine how e-government resources influence citizens’ e-participation intention. The findings highlight several key variables that moderate this effect. Specifically: (1) From the perspective of the experience channel, e-government resources are more effective in facilitating citizen e-participation intention when delivered through social (vs. official) channels. (2) From the perspective of the experience affair, e-government resources exert a stronger impact on citizen e-participation intention when targeting specific (vs. general) public affairs and when focusing on regional (vs. national) government affairs. (3) From the perspective of the experience environment, the effect of e-government resources on e-participation intention is stronger in developing (vs. developed) countries. Based on these findings, this study offers implications for governments and researchers and suggests directions for future research.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious animal disease caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). It is listed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) as an animal disease subject to statutory reporting. ASFV, a large, enveloped double-stranded DNA virus with high genomic complexity, exhibits a case fatality rate of up to 100%, posing a significant threat to the global pig industry and food safety. To date, the absence of a safe commercial ASFV vaccine primarily stems from challenges in identifying immunogenic viral antigens, insufficient characterization of ASFV pathogenesis, and limited understanding of the virus’s immune evasion mechanisms. Here, we review the pathogenic characteristics (morphological structure, clinical symptoms, and epidemiological characteristics), molecular biological characteristics, and infection mechanism of ASFV, as well as the immune response mechanism, vaccine research, and the latest information on ASFV in other areas. This review will be in favour of understanding the current state of knowledge of ASF and developing effective vaccines to control this disease.

Using high-fidelity numerical simulations based on a lattice Boltzmann framework, the advection-enhanced transport of a passive scalar from a prolate spheroid in simple shear flow has been thoroughly investigated across various parameters, including the spheroid’s aspect ratio, particle-to-fluid density ratio, Reynolds number (defined as ${\textit{Re}}=\textit{GR}^{2}/\nu$, where $G$ is the flow shear rate, $R$ is the radius of a sphere of the same volume as the spheroid and $\nu$ is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid) and Schmidt number (defined as $\textit{Sc}=\nu /D$, where $D$ is the diffusivity of passive scalar transport). The Reynolds number is constrained to the range of 0 ≤ Re ≤ 1, where the prolate spheroid tumbles around its minor axis, aligned with the vorticity axis, in an equilibrium state. Several key findings have emerged: (i) particle inertia significantly influences the uniformity of the spheroid’s tumbling, affecting flow patterns around the spheroid and, consequently, the modes of scalar transport; (ii) both uniform and non-uniform tumbling generate a scalar line in the fluid with elevated scalar concentration, which sweeps through the wake region and merges with clusters of previously formed scalar lines; (iii) fluid passing over the spheroid carries the passive scalar downstream along these scalar lines; (iv) variations in the uniformity of spheroid tumbling result in distinct flow patterns and scalar transport modes, leading to different transport rates; (v) within the studied parameter ranges, increased particle inertia enhances the scalar transport rate; (vi) when particle inertia is minimal, the dimensionless scalar transport rate for different aspect ratios converges to a common dependence on the Péclet number. These phenomena are analysed in detail.

Arabinoxylans (AX), the primary hemicellulose found in cereals and grasses, play a crucial role in regulating immunity, metabolism and various physiological processes, underscoring their value as essential components in dietary nutrition. Considering the extensive research on AX in piglet nutrition, this paper systematically reviews their impacts on gut health and microbiota in piglets, as well as the underlying mechanisms of action. AX have been shown to mediate gut barrier fortification through tight junction protein upregulation and orchestrate mucosal immunity homeostasis, consequently ameliorating early-weaning-associated diarrheal pathogenesis in piglets. Additionally, AX function as microbial ecological modulators through selective enrichment of beneficial commensal microbiota (e.g. Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp.), while simultaneously stimulating microbial biosynthesis of SCFA and ferulic acid exhibiting potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, thereby maintaining the intestinal health of piglets. This review offers valuable insights into their potential as a dietary intervention to support gut health and immune function in early-weaned piglets. However, most studies focus on single-source AX such as wheat or maize, with limited exploration of novel sources or comparative effects of source combinations. Future research should systematically investigate the molecular mechanisms of AX action, provide data-driven guidance for selecting AX sources in feed formulations and establish optimal inclusion levels in practical feeding regimens. Such efforts will further solidify the precision nutrition potential of AX in promoting sustainable and healthy growth in piglets.

With the eastward expansion of the Western Zhou c. 1050 BC, the Jiaodong Peninsula on the north-east coast of modern-day China became part of a large polity. Excavations at Qianzhongzitou, located on this peninsula, are revealing how political control over local populations took place. Here, the authors focus on a sequence of Zhou-period, non-residential platforms, the construction of which signifies new forms of ritual spaces. These types of spaces, also found elsewhere in the region, arguably aided in the state assimilation of local deities, illustrating the critical role that ritual played in political unification of early Chinese states and dynasties.

Human–machine compatibility and collaborative control for stroke patients utilizing lower limb rehabilitation robots have attracted considerable research attention. As a highly human–machine-coupled system, ensuring adequate compliance and safety is fundamental to efficient and comfortable rehabilitation. Therefore, this paper first quantifies human–machine contact interactions, proposes a human–machine coupling dynamics modeling method, and identifies the robot’s dynamic inertia parameters and human lower limb parameters. Second, a dual closed-loop controller for the rehabilitation robot is designed. Based on the bottom position control, an adaptive admittance control algorithm is proposed that employs the root-mean-square propagation (RMSprop) algorithm to tune the adaptive gain. In rehabilitation training, the controller can adaptively adjust the admittance parameters according to the human–machine interaction force to achieve responsiveness to the dynamic changes of the human–machine system. The experimental results of the control system show that the human–machine cooperative control performance is significantly improved, the maximum joint angle error is reduced by more than 40.9%, and the maximum human–machine interaction force is reduced by more than 19.4%.

When a drop impinges onto a deep liquid pool, it can yield various splashing behaviours, leading to a crown-like structure along the free surface. Under high-speed impact conditions, the upper portion of the thin-walled crown may undergo necking and encapsulate a large bubble, which remains fascinating and is rarely discussed in the literature. In this work, we numerically study this physical process based on the volume-of-fluid and adaptive mesh refinement framework. Our meticulous observations have allowed us to unveil a spectrum of repeatable early-time jet behaviours, vorticity structures and crater evolution, underscoring the rich and complex nature of drop-impact phenomenon. We show that the interplay between aerodynamic pressure and surface tension on the liquid crown could play a significant role in its bending and surface closure. A regime map, incorporating both early-stage jet dynamics and overall bubble-canopy formation, is established across a wide parameter space. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the diverse splashing regimes, offering insights into the fundamental characteristics of drop-impact phenomenon.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern in China. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021, we analyzed trends in age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), prevalence rate (ASPR), mortality rate (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for TB from 1990 to 2021. Over this period, HIV-negative TB showed a marked decline in ASIR (AAPC = −2.34%, 95% CI: −2.39, −2.28) and ASMR (AAPC = −0.56%, 95% CI: −0.62, −0.59). Specifically, drug-susceptible TB (DS-TB) showed reductions in both ASIR and ASMR, while multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) showed slight decreases. Conversely, extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) exhibited upward trends in both ASIR and ASMR. TB co-infected with HIV (HIV-DS-TB, HIV-MDR-TB, HIV-XDR-TB) showed increasing trends in recent years. The analysis also found an inverse correlation between ASIRs and ASMRs for HIV-negative TB and the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI). Projections from 2022 to 2035 suggest continued increases in ASIR and ASMR for XDR-TB, HIV-DS-TB, HIV-MDR-TB, and HIV-XDR-TB. The rising burden of XDR-TB and HIV-TB co-infections presents ongoing challenges for TB control in China. Targeted prevention and control strategies are urgently needed to mitigate this burden and further reduce TB-related morbidity and mortality.

Food insecurity (FIS) is a critical public health issue, particularly among older adults. This study investigates the association between FIS with diet quality and anthropometric indices in the US older adults. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using NHANES data from 2017 to 2020, involving 2592 participants aged ≥ 60 years. FIS was assessed using the USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2020 and adherence to Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) score. Anthropometric measures were calculated following standardised protocols. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic, socio-economic and behavioural factors examined the association between FIS and the higher quartile and tertile of anthropometric and diet quality indices, respectively. Of the participants, 27·4 % experienced FIS. FIS participants were younger and had lower education and income levels compared with FS individuals (P < 0·05). In the adjusted model, FIS was associated with lower adherence to both the Mediterranean Diet (OR: 0·48, 95 % CI: 0·31, 0·67) and HEI-2020 (OR: 0·61, 95 % CI: 0·37, 0·84), indicating poorer diet quality in older adults. In adjusted analyses, FIS was significantly associated with higher A Body Shape Index quartiles (Q3: OR: 1·44, 95 % CI: 1·06, 1·95; Q4: OR: 1·46, 95 % CI: 1·07, 2·01), the waist-to-hip ratio (Q4: OR: 1·44, 95 % CI: 1·01, 2·06) and the Conicity index (Q4: OR: 1·36, 95 % CI: 1·02, 1·81). FIS in older adults is associated with unfavourable diet quality and body composition patterns, particularly central obesity measures. Addressing FIS may mitigate health risks related to obesity and its complications.

Turbulent mixing driven by the reshocked Richtmyer–Meshkov (RM) instability plays a critical role in numerous natural phenomena and engineering applications. As the most fundamental physical quantity characterizing the mixing process, the mixing width transitions from linear to power-law growth following the initial shock. However, there is a notable absence of quantitative models for predicting the pronounced compression of initial interface perturbations or mixing regions at the moment of shock impact. This gap has restricted the development of integrated algebraic models to only the pre- and post-shock evolution stages. To address this limitation, the present study develops a predictive model for the compression of the mixing width induced by shocks. Based on the general principle of growth rate decomposition proposed by Li et al. (Phy. Rev. E, vol. 103, issue 5, 2021, 053109), two distinct types of shock-induced compression processes are identified, differentiated by the dominant mechanism governing their evolution: light–heavy and heavy–light shock-induced compression. For light–heavy interactions, both stretching (compression) and penetration mechanisms are influential, whereas heavy–light interactions are governed predominantly by the stretching (compression) mechanism. To characterize these mechanisms, the average velocity difference between the extremities of the mixing zone is quantified, and a physical model of RM mixing is utilized. A quantitative theoretical model is subsequently formulated through the independent algebraic modelling of these two mechanisms. The proposed model demonstrates excellent agreement with numerical simulations of reshocked RM mixing, offering valuable insights for the development of integrated algebraic models for mixing width evolution.

Following the recent trends of globalization and regionalization, the idea of Asia has been revived in political, economic, and cultural fields. This essay examines some of the multiple uses of the idea of Asia in modern East Asian and especially Chinese history. It consists of four parts. Part One discusses how the idea of Asia developed from modern European history, especially the nineteenth century European narrative of “World History,” and points out how the early modern Japanese “theory of shedding Asia” derived from this narrative. Part Two studies the relationship between the idea of Asia and two forms of Narodism against the background of the Chinese and Russian revolutions. One, exemplified by Russian Narodism, attempted to use Asian particularity to challenge modern capitalism; the other, represented by Sun Yat-sen, attempted to construct a nation-state on the basis of a socialist revolutionary program, and to develop agricultural capitalism under the particular social conditions of Asia. Part Three considers the differences and tensions between the “Great Asianism” of Chinese revolutionaries such as Sun and the Japanese idea of Toyo (East Asia), and discusses the need to overcome the categories of nation-state and international relations in order to understand the question of Asia. Part Four discusses the need to go beyond early modern maritime-centered accounts, nationalist frameworks, and Eurocentrism in reexamining the question of Asia through historical research by focusing on the particular legacies of Asia (such as the tributary system) and the problems of “early modernity.”

Many Asians are now debating the idea of Asia. Some want to create a regional system in opposition to neo-liberal imperialism. Others want to transcend nationalism, which they regard as outmoded, and to create a fresh sense of Asian identity that does not depend on the old, and western-invented, dichotomy of East and West.

Determining whether cryptic remnant animal populations survive within specific landscapes is a conservation challenge and may require multiple types of information. Hainan Island, China, has lost most of its large mammal fauna, with no recent evidence for persistence of large carnivores. We conducted a survey of local ecological knowledge in communities around seven protected areas in 2015, collecting sighting reports of the Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus. Respondents living near Wuzhishan National Nature Reserve reported the highest number of dated sightings as well as the most recent sightings. In follow-up interviews, wildlife rangers at Wuzhishan reported recent signs of bears and local hunting, and a possible bear photograph was taken inside the Reserve in 2017. Characteristic bear signs, including fresh diagnostic claw marks on trees, were detected at Wuzhishan in 2021, confirming bear presence. Wuzhishan is the last area in Hainan where large herbivores and carnivores survive, and where local conservation efforts still have the potential to maintain functional forest ecosystems that support megafaunal assemblages.

The sulphur microbial diet (SMD), a dietary pattern associated with forty-three sulphur-metabolising bacteria, may influence gut microbiota composition and contribute to ageing process through gut-produced hydrogen sulfide (H2S). We aimed to explore the association between SMD and biological age (BA) acceleration, using the cross-sectional study that included 71 579 individuals from the UK Biobank. The SMD score was calculated by multiplying β-coefficients by corresponding serving sizes and summing them, based on dietary data collected using the Oxford WebQ, a 24-hour dietary assessment tool. BA was assessed using Klemerae–Doubal (KDM) and PhenoAge methods. The difference between BA and chronological age refers to the age acceleration (AgeAccel), termed ‘KDMAccel’ and ‘PhenoAgeAccel’. Generalised linear regression was performed. Mediation analyses were used to investigate underlying mediators including BMI and serum aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio. Following adjustment for multiple variables, a positive association was observed between consuming a dietary pattern with a higher SMD score and both KDMAccel (βQ4 v. Q1 = 0·35, 95 % CI = 0·27, 0·44, P < 0·001) and PhenoAgeAccel (βQ4 v. Q1 = 0·32, 95 % CI = 0·23, 0·41, P < 0·001). Each 1-SD increase in SMD score was positively associated with the acceleration of BA by 7·90 % for KDMAccel (P < 0·001) and 7·80 % for PhenoAgeAccel (P < 0·001). BMI and AST/ALT mediated the association. The stratified analysis revealed stronger accelerated ageing impacts in males and smokers. Our study indicated a higher SMD score is associated with elevated markers of biological ageing, supporting the potential utility of gut microbiota-targeted dietary interventions in attenuating the ageing process.