Explore the vast range of titles available.

Breeding biology of the poorly known Biet's Laughingthrush (Ianthocincla bieti) was studied in the mixed coniferous and broad‐leaved forests at Laojun mountain in southwest China. We discovered two active nests in 2021 and 2024; both were located on bamboo stands, 3.7 and 4.5 m above the ground respectively. The nest is open, bowl‐ or cup‐shaped, and mainly composed of dry grass stems, bamboo branches and leaves. We made direct observations on parent birds, used infrared camera to monitor the breeding events in the nest, and also made video recordings of the incubation and brooding behavior. Both parent birds incubated the eggs and provisioned the nestlings. The incubation period lasted for 15 days. As incubation progressed, incubation‐bout duration had no significant difference through the early, middle and late stages. However, during the 15‐day nestling period, feeding frequency of parents showed a significant difference among stages, with the highest feeding frequency at the late stage. The length of brooding bouts decreased as the nestlings' age increased. Our observations provide detailed records on the nest, nestlings, and breeding behavior of this endangered laughingthrush for the first time. Based on the known information, we emphasized the importance of alpine bamboo forests for the conservation of this laughingthrush. Moreover, we recommend minimizing anthropogenic disturbance in its breeding ground, and prioritizing a comprehensive survey to assess the current population status in its distribution. Breeding biology of the poorly known Biet's Laughingthrush (Ianthocincla bieti) was studied for the first time ever. Two active nests were located, described and monitored. The breeding traits of Biet's Laughingthrush meet the life‐history theory predictions, exhibiting high nest attentiveness, incubating and nestling period extended, and high nesting success.

Breeding biology lies at the core of life history research on birds, and it provides important information for avian conservation. We discovered one nest of the Indian Blue Robin (Larvivora brunnea) on 28 May 2021, at the Laojun mountains in Lijiang, northwestern Yunnan, China. Field observation was combined with the use of a GoPro camera for video shooting to quantitatively study the incubation and brooding behavior. We also conducted measurements of the eggs and nestlings on site and inspected the nesting materials used. A bowl-shaped nest with four eggs was located at 2830 m in the evergreen deciduous broad-leaved forest. All eggs were successfully incubated and two nestlings fledged on 22 June 2021, resulting in a total breeding success of 50%. Only the female bird incubated the eggs and brooded the nestlings. The incubation period was at least 13 days and the nestling period was 13 days. As incubation progressed, the incubation bout duration decreased. During the incubation period, the nesting time of the female bird shows a declining trend as incubation progresses. Both parents participated in feeding the nestling, and the frequency of parental supply increased with the maturity of the nestling.

The Spectacled Fulvetta (Fulvetta ruficapilla sordidior) is an endemic bird species to the southwest mountains of China, distributing from 1250 to 2500 m in the widespread broadleaved evergreen forest and occasionally in secondary scrubs. The present study describes its breeding biology for the first time. Fieldwork was conducted in the springs of 2017 and 2018 on Humashan Mountain, a hill mainly covered by secondary forest located at the eastern marginal of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. This bird was found to initiate egg-laying mainly in March, and most nestlings fledged in late April and May. There were 16 nests found in total, which were located mainly in the dense shrubs at a height of 0.99 ± 0.40 m (n = 15). Of the 11 active nests, clutch size averaged 2.73 ± 0.45 (n = 11). Focal observations were made on nests; the incubation lasted for 13.67 ± 0.47 days (n = 3) with a notably high nest attendance, i.e., eggs were incubated 84.23% of the observation time. Nestlings fledged at 13.00 ± 0.71 days (n = 4), and parents feeding frequency increased as the nestlings grew. Overall, the cumulative hatching and fledgling rates were 71.43% and 35.71%, resulting in a nesting success rate of 45.45%.

Monitoring vegetation growth and exploring the driving force behind it is very important for the study of global climate change and ecological environmental protection. Based on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), meteorological and nighttime lights data from 2001 to 2020, this study uses the Theil–Sen slope test, Mann–Kendall significance test, Rescaled Range Analysis and partial correlation analysis to investigate the evolution of NDVI in the Minjiang River Basin, China, from three aspects: the spatial-temporal variation characteristics and future trend prediction of NDVI, the variation of climate and human activities in the basin, and the influences of different driving forces on NDVI. The results show that the average NDVI in the growing season was 0.60 in the Minjiang River Basin in the past twenty years, with a growth rate of 0.002/a. The area with high NDVI growth accounts for 66.02%, mainly distributed in the southeast, the central and the northern low-altitude areas of the basin. Combined with the Hurst index, the NDVI in the Minjiang River Basin exhibits an anti-sustainable tendency, with 63.22% of the area changing from improvement to degradation in the future. Meanwhile, the spatial differentiation of NDVI in the Minjiang River Basin is mainly affected by topography and climate factors, followed by human activities. This study not only provides scientific guidelines for the vegetation restoration, soil and water conservation and sustainable development of the Minjiang River Basin, but also provides a scientific basis for making informed decisions on ecological protection under the impacts of climate change and human activities.

Arhopalus rusticus is a significant forestry pest known for its destructive impact on various host plants. This species, commonly found in coniferous forests across the Northern Hemisphere, has successfully spread to regions like New Zealand, Australia, and South America. This research is based on the known distribution sites of A. rusticus. Projections are made for the potential global distribution of A. rusticus under historical climatic conditions (1970–2000) and future climatic conditions (2081–2100) for the four forcing scenarios of the Coupled Model International Comparison Program 6 (CMIP6). The aim was to analyze the effects of climate change on the distribution range of this pest and its invasion trend in the southern hemisphere, and to support relevant departments in enhancing the effectiveness of forestry pest control strategies. The study utilized the Biomod2 software package in R to compare six models: generalized linear models (GLMs), generalized additive models (GAMs), multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARSs), artificial neural networks (ANNs), classification and regression trees (CTAs), and random forests (RFs) for modeling species distributions. The optimal model was selected based on evaluation indexes such as AUC and TSS. Projections of A. rusticus distribution under historical and future climate scenarios were created. The prediction results were visualized using ArcGIS software (version 10.2) to classify fitness levels and calculate distribution areas. Based on evaluation metrics, random forests (RFs) demonstrated the highest average assessment index scores, indicating high prediction accuracy (AUC = 0.99, TSS = 0.91, Kappa = 0.93). Model predictions revealed that, under historical climatic conditions, A. rusticus was predominantly found in northern Europe, eastern Asia, eastern and southwestern coastal regions of North America, and there were also highly suitable regions in parts of the southern hemisphere, including central and southwestern Argentina, southern Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Among these models, each of the CMIP6’s different climate prediction scenarios had a significant impact on the predicted distribution of A. rusticus. The SSP126 scenario depicted the broadest range of suitability, while the SSP585 scenario presented the narrowest and, overall, the extent of highly suitable regions was contracting. Multi-model predictions suggested that the potential distribution area of A. rusticus during the period of 2081–2100 would likely expand compared to that of 1970–2000, ranging from an increase of 1.13% (SSP126) up to 6.61% (SSP585), positively correlating with the level of radiative forcing. Notably, the most substantial growth was observed in potentially low-suitability region, escalating from 1.17% (SSP126) to 5.55% (SSP585). The distribution of A. rusticus shows decreasing trends from coastal areas to inland areas and from high to low level suitability of regions, and further expansion into the southern hemisphere under future climate conditions. Therefore, quarantine efforts at ports of entry should be strengthened in areas that are not currently infested but are at risk of invasion, and precise preventive measures should be strengthened in areas that are at risk of further expansion under future climatic conditions to prevent its spread to inland areas.

It is unknown whether Ferronickel slag (FNS)-ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based pervious concrete (FOPC) is feasible. To this end, a feasibility study was conducted on FOPC. Firstly, a detailed microscopic examination of the FNS powder was conducted, encompassing analyses of its particle size distribution, SEM, EDS, and chemical composition. These analyses aimed to establish the suitability of a composite of FNS and OPC as a composite cementitious material. Subsequent experimentation focused on evaluating the compressive strength of the composite paste material with varying mixed proportions, revealing a slight reduction in strength as the FNS substitution rate increased. Furthermore, the study designed eighteen different mix proportions of FOPC to investigate the key physical properties, including porosity, density, compressive strength, and the coefficient of permeability. Findings indicated that increases in the cementitious material proportion correlate with enhanced concrete strength, where the ratio of cementitious to aggregate increased by 6.7% and 16.5%, and the strength of FOPC increased by 10–13% and 30–50%, respectively. Conversely, a rise in the FNS substitution rate led to a reduction in compressive strength across different mix ratios. Additionally, the ratio of paste material to aggregate was found to significantly influence the permeability coefficient. These comprehensive performance evaluations suggest that incorporating FNS into OPC for pervious concrete applications is a feasible approach, offering valuable insights for the promotion of waste reuse and the advancement of energy conservation and emissions reduction efforts.

In the exploration of sustainable construction materials, the application of ferronickel slag (FNS) in creating pervious concrete has been investigated, considering its potential to meet the dual requirements of mechanical strength and fluid permeability. To elucidate the statistical properties and models for predicting the performance of FNS-composited pervious concrete with different sizes of aggregates and mixtures, a series of experiments, including 54 kinds of mixtures and three kinds of aggregate, were conducted. The focus was on measuring the compressive strength and the permeability coefficient. The results indicate that the compressive strength of pervious concrete decreases with the increase in aggregate size, while the permeability coefficient increases with the increase in aggregate size. Through normalization, the variability of these properties was quantitatively analyzed, revealing coefficients of variation for the concrete’s overall compressive strength and the permeability coefficient at 0.166, 0.132, and 0.150, respectively. Predictive models were developed using machine learning techniques, such as Linear Regression, Support Vector Machines, Regression Trees, and Gaussian Process Regression. These models demonstrated proficiency in forecasting the concrete’s compressive strength and permeability coefficient.

Laser shock peening (LSP) represents an advanced manufacturing method for surface strain strengthening and anti-fatigue production. In this study, laser shock peening (LSP) was employed to treat fillet structures made from 7050 aluminium alloy. Residual stress distribution and high cycle fatigue performance were investigated by numerical simulation and experiment, respectively. Further, fatigue life extension was verified with mathematical statistics methods. Results show that by utilizing the following LSP parameters: pulse energy of 25 J, spot size of Φ 4.5 mm, overlapping rate of 50%, and peening twice, the average compressive residual stress on the fillet structure surface reached 218.3 MPa, the maximum residual stress in the depth direction located at a depth of 0.9 mm, and the thickness of residual stress affecting layer was 1.6 mm. Besides, the high cycle fatigue life significantly improved after LSP. The mean high-cycle fatigue life of the LSP-treated side was 160,626 cycles, in comparison to 58,606 cycles for the BM side. Furthermore, the t-test method of paired comparative experiments demonstrated that the high-cycle fatigue life of the LSP-treated side was 2.18 to 3.36 times higher than that of the BM side at the 95% confidence level.

Establishing a suitable classification and evaluation scheme is crucial for sweet spot prediction and efficient development of shale oil in the Chang 71-2 sub-member of the Longdong area. In this paper, a series of experiments, such as casting thin sections (CTS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA), high-pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry (HMIP), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), were integrated to classify the pore throats and shale oil reservoirs in the study area. Moreover, the pore structure characteristics of different types of reservoirs and their contributions to productivity were revealed. The results show that the pore-throat system can be divided into four parts: large pore throats (>0.2 μm), medium pore throats (0.08~0.2 μm), small pore throats (0.03~0.08 μm), and micropore throats (<0.03 μm). Based on the development degree of various pore throats, the reservoir is divided into four types: type I (Φ ≥ 10%, K > 0.1 mD), type II (Φ ≥ 8%, 0.05 mD < K < 0.1 mD), type III (Φ ≥ 5%, 0.02 mD < K < 0.05 mD) and type IV (Φ < 5% or K < 0.02 mD). From type I to IV reservoirs, the proportion of dissolved pores and intergranular pores gradually decreases, and the proportion of intercrystalline pores increases. The proportion of large pore throats gradually decreases, and the proportions of medium pore throats and small pore throats increase initially and then decrease, while the proportion of micropore throats increases successively. The NMR pore size distribution changes from the right peak to the left peak. The developed section of the type I reservoir corresponds to the oil layer, and the developed section of the type I and II reservoirs corresponds to the poor oil layer. In contrast, the developed section of the type III and IV reservoirs corresponds to the dry layer. The daily production from single wells is primarily attributable to type I and II reservoirs.

In this study, we aimed to get a better understanding of which genes are involved in cartilage damage in KOA and the pathological mechanisms. RNA‐seq for cartilage tissues obtained from Normal rats and KOA rats, for IL‐1β‐stimulated chondrocytes and IL‐1β‐stimulated chondrocytes treated with TNN recombinant protein, was conducted respectively. The degree of cartilage injury was evaluated by HE and Safranin O‐fast green staining, and the expression abundance of TNN and p‐AMPK in cartilage tissue or chondrocytes was observed by immunofluorescence. TNN was inhibited in vivo and in vitro by lentivirus and siRNA, respectively. The gene and protein levels of protease MMP3, MMP13, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5 and AMPK/PPAR‐γ pathway‐related factors ‐AMPK, AMPK, PPAR‐γ, PGC‐1α, mTOR were detected by PCR and WB, respectively. The mitochondrial membrane potential of chondrocytes was evaluated by JC1 probe, and the oxygen level of chondrocytes was evaluated by ROS immunofluorescence. RNA‐seq revealed TNN was significantly up‐regulated in the KOA group, and DEGs were mainly enriched in ‘extracellular matrix’. Subsequently, TNN inhibition could reduce the expression of MMPs, ADAMTSs were demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. Further on, RNA‐seq on IL‐1β‐stimulated chondrocytes and chondrocytes treated with TNN recombinant protein after IL‐1β stimulation confirmed that AMPK‐PPARγ signalling might be the downstream pathway of TNN, and the negative regulation of TNN on AMPK‐PPARγ signalling was observed in vivo and in vitro. This study innovatively unveils the increased TNN in KOA accelerates cartilage damage, and this damage‐promoting effect is achieved by negative regulation of AMPK‐PPARγ signalling.