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.

Understanding the flow behaviour of wet granular materials is essential for comprehending the dynamics of numerous geological and physical phenomena, but remains a significant challenge, especially the transition of these flow regimes. In this study, we perform a series of rotating drum experiments to systematically investigate the dynamic observables and flow regimes of wet mono-dispersed particles. Two typical continuous flows including rolling and cascading regimes are identified and analysed, concentrating on the impact of fluid density and rotation speed. The probability density functions of surface angles, $\theta _{\textit{top}}$ and $\theta _{\textit{lo}w\textit{er}}$, reveal distinct patterns for these two flow regimes. A morphological parameter thus proposed, termed angle divergence, is used to characterise the rolling–cascading regime transition quantitatively. By integrating quantitative observables, we construct the flow phase diagram and flow curve to delineate the transition rules governing these regimes. Notably, the resulting nonlinear phase boundary demonstrates that higher fluid densities significantly enhance the likelihood of the system transitioning into the cascading regime. This finding is further supported by corresponding variations in flow fluctuations. Our results provide new insights into the fundamental dynamics of wet granular matter, offering valuable implications for understanding the complex rheology of underwater landslides and related phenomena.

This study reports potassium (K) isotope compositions of diamondiferous kimberlites. Altered kimberlite samples exhibit δ41K values ranging from −1.293 ± 0.052 (2SD) to −0.114 ± 0.029 ‰, showing covariations with chemical indicators of alteration. This is consistent with the geochemical dynamics of K isotopes in hydrothermal fluid-related processes. In contrast, pristine kimberlite samples display restricted K isotope compositions, with δ41K values between −0.494 ± 0.057 and −0.270 ± 0.048 ‰. Notably, the δ41K values of these pristine kimberlite samples correlate well with K2O and Rb contents, suggesting that approximately ∼0.2 ‰ of K isotope fractionation is induced by phlogopite crystallization, as indicated by quantitative modelling. The estimated δ41K values of −0.458 ‰ for the primary kimberlite melt and of −0.414 ‰ for the kimberlite source imply a potential link to the bulk silicate Earth. These new measurements, along with literature data from various rocks, indicate that the K isotope composition in the deep mantle (>150 km) is more homogenous than in shallow regions, likely reflecting the efficiency of convection flow and K behaviour during subduction. In addition, the K isotope data reveal temporal variations in mantle-derived magmas from the Palaeozoic to the Cenozoic, highlighting the geological history and lithospheric destruction of the North China Craton. This study underscores the significance of K isotopes in enhancing our understanding of mantle dynamics, crustal recycling and the geochemical evolution of the Earth’s interior.

Objectives: Data on primary care antibiotic prescription practices for children in Southeast Asia, which are essential for policy, quality improvement and patient safety, are lacking. We aimed to describe this gap and to benchmark prescription practices against international standards. Methods: Antibiotic prescriptions for children (age <18 years) who visited six public primary care clinics in Singapore between 2018 and 2021 were extracted and categorized according to the World Health Organization Access, Watch, Reserve (WHO AWaRe) classification. Quality indicators from the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network (ESAC- Net) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines were used as a measure of appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing. Descriptive statistics and T-test was used to compare prescription rates pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 19,325 and 20,692 oral and topical antibiotics were prescribed for 831,669 visits, with a prescription rate of 2.3% and 2.5% respectively. Mean antibiotic prescriptions fell significantly post-pandemic (2020–2021), compared to pre-pandemic numbers (1062.8 to 604.5 prescriptions per month) (p <0.001). The majority (95.8%) of prescriptions belonged to the Access group. Watch group antibiotics constituted 6.1% of the total antibiotics prescribed for respiratory conditions (n = 562). While prescriptions were low (4.1%) and well within EASC-Net quality indicator limits of 0-20% for respiratory infections, prescriptions for otitis media were significantly high (56.6%). Approximately 1 in 2 children received antibiotics as recommended by NICE guidelines for both respiratory infections (n=4,622, 51.5%) and otitis media (n=204, 51.8%). Conclusions: Primary care antibiotic prescriptions for children in Singapore decreased post- COVID-19. However, high rates of otitis media prescriptions and only 50% appropriateness for respiratory infections and otitis media emphasize the need for targeted improvements in these areas.