Shanlan upland rice, as a unique local rice germplasm resource in Hainan comprises abundant genetic diversity. One hundred and sixty two Shanlan upland rice accessions collected from diverse ecological regions in Hainan were systematically characterized based on 11 agronomic traits. The rich genetic diversity was confirmed by phenotypic data from two consecutive years (2023 and 2024). Coefficient of variation ranged from 14.11% to 46.04% in 2023 and from 11.45% to 44.82% in 2024, with panicle-related traits (number of primary branches, grain number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, grain number of secondary branches and grain number per main panicle) exhibiting particularly high variation. Correlation analysis revealed highly significant synergistic effects among yield-related traits. Cluster analysis of the 162 accessions consistently classified them into five major groups across both growing seasons. Through grain number per main panicle and seed setting rate investigation, three excellent resources were selected that demonstrated stable and superior performance in both seasons. Notably, Line 69 exhibited outstanding “large panicles with high seed-setting rate,” producing 261.4 and 305 grains per main panicle in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with seed-setting rates reaching 93.79% and 90.07%. This study presents phenotypic data for Shanlan upland rice, offers high-quality breeding materials for subsequent research, and lays a theoretical groundwork for conserving and exploiting Hainan’s rice resources.

Design Science is the discipline that studies the creation of artifacts – products, services, and systems and their embedding in our physical, virtual, psychological, economic, and social environments. This editorial is a collective effort of the Design Science Journal’s editorial board members, past and present. The journal’s inaugural 2015 editorial, “Design Science: Why, What and How,” reflected the thoughts and vision of that first editorial board for the new journal and the discipline it represented. The present contribution offers the reflections of editors who served the journal in the past 10 years. The individual contributions were not primed and are presented here unedited for conformity or consistency. Differently from the 2015 editorial, there is no effort to synthesize the individual contributions, leaving the task to our readers, who can draw their own conclusions about the Design Science Journal and community accomplishments to date, and the challenges ahead.

Gas-phase turbulence in a bubbling gas–solid fluidised bed is modelled using the data from particle-resolved direct numerical simulations. The subgrid particle-induced turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) is modelled as a function of filter width, filtered solid volume fraction, particle Reynolds number and filtered gas-phase strain rate tensor. Within the volume-filtered framework, we demonstrate that the fluid Reynolds stress models originally developed for a homogeneous system remain applicable to the inhomogeneous fluidised bed, provided that the inhomogeneous drag and particle-induced TKE models are used for the dissipation rate interfacial term. An algebraic model for the anisotropy of gas-phase velocity variance is developed by simplifying the proposed Reynolds stress equation model, which incorporates the effects from both filtered slip velocity and filtered fluid strain rate. The new models are shown to agree well with the direct numerical simulation data of clustered particle settling systems, indicating good applicability of our models for various clustered particle-laden flows.

The locomotion of microorganisms in complex fluids at low Reynolds numbers has been widely studied by ignoring fluid inertia. Here, we combine the asymptotic analysis and numerical simulations to explore the effect of fluid inertia on the dynamic mechanism of microorganisms swimming through viscoelastic fluids using Taylor’s swimming sheet model, undergoing small-amplitude undulations. Surprisingly, fluid inertia can enhance the speed and efficiency of the infinite-length sheet in viscoelastic fluids at finite Reynolds numbers, in stark contrast to the previous results found in Newtonian fluids. Moreover, speed and efficiency slightly exceed those Newtonian values at the small Weissenberg number due to a passive inertial response of the sheet. We associate this with the magnitude of the hydrodynamic force increasing at finite Reynolds numbers. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the inertial effect on the locomotion of microorganisms through complex fluids.

Previous studies highlighted the health benefits of coffee and tea, but they only focused on the comparisons between different consumptions. Consequently, the association estimate lacked a clear interpretation, as the substitution of beverages and distribution of doses were not explicitly prescribed. We focused on the ‘relative association’ to ascertain the optimal consumption strategy (including total intake and optimal allocation strategy) for coffee, tea and plain water associated with decreased mortality. Self-reported coffee, tea and plain water intake were used from the UK Biobank. Within a compositional data analysis framework, a multivariate Cox model was used to assess the relative associations after adjusting for a range of potential confounders. The lower mortality risk was observed with at least approximately 7–8 drinks/d of total consumption. When the total intake > 4 drinks/d, substituting plain water with coffee or tea was linked to reduced mortality; nevertheless, the benefit was not seen for ≤ 4 drinks/d. Besides, a balanced consumption of coffee and tea (roughly a ratio of 2:3) associated with the lowest hazard ratios of 0·55 (95 % CI 0·47, 0·64) for all-cause mortality, 0·59 (95 % CI 0·48, 0·72) for cancer mortality, 0·69 (95 % CI 0·49, 0·99) for CVD mortality, 0·28 (95 % CI 0·15, 0·52) for respiratory disease mortality and 0·35 (95 % CI 0·15, 0·82) for digestive disease mortality than other combinations. These results highlight the importance of the rational combination of coffee, tea and plain water, with particular emphasis on ensuring adequate total intake, offering more comprehensive and explicit guidance for individuals.

Viscoplastic fluids exhibit yield stress, beyond which they flow viscously, while at lower stress levels they behave as solids. Despite their fundamental biological and medical importance, the hydrodynamics of swimming in viscoplastic environments is still evolving. In this study, we investigate the swimming of an ellipsoidal squirmer and the associated tracer diffusion in a Bingham viscoplastic fluid. The results illustrate that neutral squirmers in viscoplastic fluids experience a reduction in swimming speed and an increase in power dissipation as the Bingham number increases, with swimming efficiency peaking at moderate Bingham numbers. As the aspect ratio of a squirmer increases, ellipsoidal squirmers exhibit significantly higher swimming speeds in viscoplastic fluids. The polar and swirling modes can either enhance or reduce swimming speed, depending on the specific scenarios. These outcomes are closely related to the confinement effects induced by the yield surface surrounding the swimmer, highlighting how both swimmer shape and swimming mode can significantly alter the yield surface and, in turn, modify the swimming hydrodynamics. In addition, this study investigates the influence of viscoplasticity on swimmer-induced diffusion in a dilute suspension. The plasticity enforces the velocity far from the swimmer to be zero, thus breaking the assumptions used in Newtonian fluids. The diffusivity reaches its maximum at intermediate aspect ratios and Bingham numbers, and increases with the magnitude of the squirmer’s dipolarity. These findings are important to understand microscale swimming in viscoplastic environments and the suspension properties.

Germplasm resources are the foundation for improving crop varieties and a strategic asset for global food security. They also advance plant breeding, agricultural biotechnology and the production of essential agricultural goods. To assess the distribution, diversity and conservation status of food crop germplasm in the Hainan Province, China, we conducted a detailed survey of the Hainan Island. Between 2017 and 2022, we collected 330 food crop germplasm resources, encompassing 16 cereal crops, including rice, maize, sweet potato. The collected germplasm resources exhibited traits of high resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses, including common diseases and drought stress, as well as superior quality and adaptability to poor soil conditions such as sandy land. However, challenges such as low productivity and hybrid degradation were identified. These resources were primarily found in Haikou City, Baisha County, Danzhou City, Wuzhishan City and Sanya City. Additionally, we collected several ancient local varieties and endangered germplasm resources such as ‘Jiezi rice’ and ‘Wuzhishan maize’. This study serves as a reference for the conservation, development and utilization of local food crop germplasm resources in Hainan Province and lays the foundation for breeding and developing new varieties.

Aims: The WHO estimated that 1 in 5 people living in conflict areas have some form of mental disorder. On top of this, limited access to mental health care in these areas continues to amplify the issue. However, hope can be found through the increased use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has opened the opportunity to apply the platform in conflict zones.

The pre-existing need of mental health services in Myanmar was aggravated by the 2021 coup and the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. The Ministry of Health (MOH) of the National Unity Government (a chosen government formed with democratically elected MPs) developed a system of free telehealth care. The Tele Health Clinic was initially composed of healthcare workers from the liberated borders of Myanmar and later joined by local/international clinicians. The Tele Mental Health (MH) Clinic was then opened in August 2021 to address the devastating mental health burden superimposed by the combination of coup and pandemic.

Objective of the Study: To describe the development of a telepsychiatry clinic amidst the current political turmoil in Myanmar.

Methods: Review of the historical data of Myanmar civil war, military coup in 2021 and Civil Disobedience Movement.

Review of UNHCR data on the impact of current conflict.

Literature review of mental health in conflict zones and role of telepsychiatry in conflict settings.

Review of the process of development of the Tele Mental Health Clinic in Myanmar.

Descriptive analysis of one year data of the clinic.

Results: The Tele-Mental Health clinic was developed following the collapse of the healthcare system after the 2021 military coup in Myanmar. The clinic uses innovative ways to recruit clinicians and to provide psychiatric services. While there is ongoing risk of military junta’s persecution, arrest and torture, the clinic continues to thrive and expand.

Conclusion: Telepsychiatry can be used as a safe and effective way to bridge the barriers to mental health care throughout the current political turmoil in Myanmar. The evidence on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, process of implementation and long-term measures to overcome challenges are areas of future research interests.

A dual-beam platform is developed for all-optical Thomson/Compton scattering, with versatile parameter tuning capabilities including electron energy, radiation energy, radiation polarization, etc. By integrating this platform with a 200 TW Ti:sapphire laser system, we demonstrate the generation of inverse Compton scattering X-/gamma-rays with tunable energies ranging from tens of keV to MeV. The polarization of X-/gamma-rays is manipulated by adjusting the polarization of the scattering laser. In the near future, by combining this platform with multi-PW laser facilities, our goal is to explore the transition from nonlinear Thomson scattering to nonlinear Compton scattering, ultimately verifying theories related to strong-field quantum electrodynamics effects induced by extreme scattering.

Cargo carrying by a spring connected chiral micro-swimmer in a square channel is numerical studied by the three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method and a chiral squirmer model. The effects of the driving type (β), swimming Reynolds number (Rep), spin coefficient (ξ) and diameter ratio (S) on the changes of the cargo-carrying velocity, spring length and motion modes are investigated, respectively. Four kinds of interesting motion modes are observed. When the chirality is not considered, the optimal combination for maximising swimming velocity are the pusher–cargo and cargo–puller configurations when Rep = 0.1 ∼ 1. When Rep is enhanced, the swimming velocities of the pusher–cargo, puller–cargo and cargo–pusher are increased, while the velocity of the cargo–puller is gradually decreased. When considering the chirality, only the swimming velocity of cargo–pusher and cargo–puller keep an interesting increment, and the reverse motion mode for the pusher-cargo and puller-cargo is firstly found in the present work when ξ exceeds a certain value. The impact of S on the cargo-carrying behaviour is complex, three kinds of oscillatory trajectories will appear under different ξ and S. The swimming velocity is reduced and even zero velocity will be observed when S is large. This work reveals key factors on the movement of microorganisms, offering guidance for improving cargo-carrying capabilities.

This paper develops a theoretical framework to examine the technology adoption decisions of insurers and their impact on market share, considering heterogeneous customers and two representative insurers. Intuitively, when technology accessibility is observable, an insurer’s access to a new technology increases its market share, no matter whether it adopts the technology or not. However, when technology accessibility is unobservable, the insurer’s access to the new technology has additional side effects on its market share. First, the insurer may apply the available technology even if it increases costs and premiums, thereby decreasing market share. Second, the unobservable technology accessibility leads customers to expect that all insurers might have access to the new technology and underestimate the premium of those without access. This also decreases the market share of an insurer with access to the new technology. Our findings help explain the unclear relationship between technology adoption and the market share of insurance companies in practice.

The construct of second language (L2) utterance fluency is typically operationalized through various individual temporal features. However, in natural speech, fluency (or disfluency) is often characterized by the clustering of multiple temporal features, collectively revealing the speaker’s effort in speech production or disfluency recovery. In this study, we explore the co-occurrence patterns of disfluency features in L2 speech and their associations with speakers’ L2 oral proficiency. We initially segmented all speech samples into analysis of speech (AS)-units. Within each AS-unit, six individual fluency features were manually coded, standardized, and subsequently subjected to a hierarchical-based k-means cluster analysis to examine their co-occurrence patterns. The results revealed four distinct disfluency clusters. A subsequent qualitative analysis of disfluencies in each cluster revealed distinct distributional patterns, disfluency makeup, and communicative functions. Additionally, the proportions of different disfluency clusters were significantly influenced by speakers’ proficiency level, first language background, and their interaction. These findings carry implications for L2 speaking research in general, shedding light on the intricate nature of speech fluency and presenting an alternative approach to the operationalization of this multidimensional construct.

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.

In scientific collaborations, technologies have broadened access to scarce scientific and engineering resources. While broader access is often applauded, little attention has been focused on the problem of efficient and equitable resource allocation. This paper presents laboratory experiments designed to compare different allocation mechanisms for access to joint research facilities. Specifically, we study the Vickrey-Clarke-Groves (VCG) auction, a simultaneous ascending auction (the Resource Allocation Design, RAD), and a mechanism based on submitted rankings (Knapsack). Experimental results show that RAD and VCG are both more efficient than Knapsack, while Knapsack achieves a more equal distribution of resources than RAD or VCG. The findings highlight the need for systematic exploration of allocation mechanisms within collaboratories.

Machine learning has already shown promising potential in tiled-aperture coherent beam combining (CBC) to achieve versatile advanced applications. By sampling the spatially separated laser array before the combiner and detuning the optical path delays, deep learning techniques are incorporated into filled-aperture CBC to achieve single-step phase control. The neural network is trained with far-field diffractive patterns at the defocus plane to establish one-to-one phase-intensity mapping, and the phase prediction accuracy is significantly enhanced thanks to the strategies of sin-cos loss function and two-layer output of the phase vector that are adopted to resolve the phase discontinuity issue. The results indicate that the trained network can predict phases with improved accuracy, and phase-locking of nine-channel filled-aperture CBC has been numerically demonstrated in a single step with a residual phase of λ/70. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that machine learning has been made feasible in filled-aperture CBC laser systems.