Explore the vast range of titles available.

In the current age of enhanced environmental awareness, transformation to sustainable management in the construction sector is needed. China currently produces the largest amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste around the world, but the average recovery rate of the waste was only about 5% in 2017. In order to investigate problems in current C&D waste management in China, a cross-national comparative analysis is conducted among China and seven selected countries (Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom), to compare legal texts of national policies and laws which relate to C&D waste management and are currently being used. Through the comparison, problems in management of C&D waste in China are investigated. The problems could be concluded to: (a) inadequate guidance on recycling, (b) lack of market incentives in utilising recycled materials, (c) incomplete knowledge of stakeholders’ responsibilities, (d) lack of penalty for other stakeholders, and (e) inefficient supervision system. By understanding these problems, this paper further provides recommendations to enhance the performance of C&D waste management in China.

Background Dengue is an acute infectious tropical disease that poses a significant public health burden in the Philippines; however, studies employing spatial distribution modeling and ecological approaches to analyze dengue occurrence data remain limited. This study aims to determine the high-risk areas suitable for dengue occurrence and its determinants in the Philippines. Methods Dengue case data from 2017 to 2024 were analyzed using kernel density estimation (KDE) and inverse distance weighting (IDW) spatial interpolation to characterize spatial intensity and estimate incidence in unsampled areas. An ecological niche model was developed using maximum entropy modeling, implemented through the MaxEnt software, with climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic predictors. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), and predictor importance was assessed using jackknife testing. Results Results show highest intensity in 2019 and consistent high case density in the National Capital Region (NCR). Meanwhile, high predicted incidence rates were consistently exhibited in northern Luzon. The maximum entropy model had a strong performance in predicting the suitable areas for dengue with a mean area under curve (AUC) of 0.847. Nighttime lights (32.3%), land cover (31.1%), and population density (9.4%) significantly contributed to the model. The NCR was found to be a high-risk suitable area for dengue occurrence along with some parts of other provinces. Conclusions This study represents the first application of ecological niche modeling to dengue in the Philippines. The integration of KDE, IDW, and maximum entropy model provides a robust framework for identifying high-risk areas and key determinants, emphasizing the role of urbanization in dengue distribution. These findings are valuable to authorities for an informed risk-based surveillance, genotype-specific monitoring, and decision-making for geospatially targeted disease risk management. Graphical Abstract

Developed buds of pears ( Pyrus pyrifolia ) remain in a dormant state and do not break dormancy until the following spring. However, climatic factors and leaf diseases trigger defoliation in late summer and early autumn, which typically results in the bud paradormancy release and subsequent sprouting. This not only depletes tree nutrients but also diminishes the quantity of flowers and the yield of fruit in the following summer. In this study, metabolic changes in ‘Cuiguan’ pear buds were investigated following premature leaf fall. A total of 1,533 metabolites were annotated, with the majority being downregulated. Sugar levels decreased during the release of paradormancy, likely to provide energy for subsequent growth. Concurrently, most amino acids were consumed post-defoliation, with only a few showing increased trends. Furthermore, the observed low levels of phenylpropanoid-related metabolites in flower buds may contribute to premature senescence. This metabolic profile contributes to our understanding of the biological mechanism of paradormancy release from defoliation, and clarifies the metabolic changes during this process.

Recycling mine tailings in concrete production offers transformative potential for the resource-intensive construction sector. This review critically examines studies on utilizing tailings in cementitious and alkali-activated concrete, covering physicochemical properties, mineralogy, activation, performance, toxicity, and sustainability. It starts from fundamental characteristics and multiple utilization channels to the engineering performance and latest industrialization advancements. Our aim is to provide valuable insights and help shape a roadmap for future interdisciplinary research efforts.

Background Bovine Kobuvirus (BKV) is an emerging pathogen associated with diarrhea in cattle. Limited reports on its prevalence and genetic characteristics are available. To determine the epidemiology and genetic evolution of BKV strains circulating in Yunnan Province, China, 204 diarrheal samples were collected from cattle farms across five regions for screening for BKV infection. Results RT-PCR analysis identified 40 BKV-positive samples, yielding an infection rate of 19.6%. Positive samples were inoculated into Vero cells for continuous passage, followed by molecular biology, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy identification. Two BKV strains, BKV YN-1 2023 and YN-2 2023, were isolated. Whole-genome sequencing revealed genome lengths of 8289 bp and 8291 bp (GenBank No. PV410179 and PV410180), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that both strains belong to genotype B, the dominant genotype circulating in China, and are closely related to the previously reported Chinese strain BKV 13/2021. The genetic similarity of two BKV isolates was analyzed. Genome-wide nucleotide identities ranged from 39.9 to 93.9%, with the highest similarity to BKV13 2021 CHN. ORF analysis showed nucleotide and amino acid similarities of 48.7–93.9% and 29.3–98.5%, respectively. Compared to the BKV13 2021 CHN, both isolates exhibited high conservation in VP0, VP3, and nonstructural proteins (97.8–100%), while the L protein had the lowest similarity (94.7–95.2%). The 5′ UTR showed lower conservation than the 3′ UTR, suggesting regulatory variations. Conclusions These findings reveal that the circulating BKV strains in Yunnan belong to the globally prevalent genotype B and are widely distributed. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular epidemiology, genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of BKV, offering an important reference for developing diagnostics, vaccines and further studies on its pathogenesis.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a globally prevalent swine pathogen that induces immunosuppression, predisposing pigs to subclinical infections. In intensive farming systems, PCV2 persistently impairs growth performance and vaccine efficacy, leading to substantial economic losses in the swine industry. Emerging evidence suggests that certain viruses exploit Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3), a key immune checkpoint protein, to subvert host innate immunity by suppressing cytokine signaling. While SOCS3 has been implicated in various viral infections, its regulatory role in PCV2 replication remains undefined. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the interplay between SOCS3 and PCV2 during viral pathogenesis. Porcine SOCS3 was amplified using RT-PCR and stably overexpressed in PK-15 cells through lentiviral delivery. Bioinformatics analysis facilitated the design of three siRNA candidates targeting SOCS3. We systematically investigated the effects of SOCS3 overexpression and knockdown on PCV2 replication kinetics and host antiviral responses by quantifying the viral DNA load and the mRNA levels of cytokines. PCV2 infection upregulated SOCS3 expression at both transcriptional and translational levels in PK-15 cells. Functional studies revealed that SOCS3 overexpression markedly enhanced viral replication, whereas its knockdown suppressed viral proliferation. Intriguingly, SOCS3-mediated immune modulation exhibited a divergent regulation of antiviral cytokines: PCV2-infected SOCS3-overexpressing cells showed elevated IFN-β but suppressed TNF-α expressions, whereas SOCS3 silencing conversely downregulated IFN-β while amplifying TNF-α responses. This study unveils a dual role of SOCS3 during subclinical porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection: it functions as a host-derived pro-viral factor that facilitates viral replication while simultaneously reshaping the cytokine milieu to suppress overt inflammatory responses. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying PCV2 immune evasion and persistence and establish a theoretical framework for the development of host-targeted control strategies. Although our results identify SOCS3 as a key host determinant of PCV2 persistence, the precise molecular pathways involved require rigorous experimental validation.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) has caused economic losses in cattle, and Thailand experienced a nationwide outbreak in 2021. Spatial epidemiology plays a crucial role in identifying transmission patterns and high-risk areas for targeted disease control. This study examines the spatial epidemiology of LSD by analyzing clustering patterns, disease hotspots, and the directional spread of outbreaks in dairy farm networks with short interfarm proximities. LSD outbreak data from a large dairy farming area in northern Thailand were analyzed via multiple spatial analytical techniques. The standard deviation ellipse (SDE) approach, implemented with the Yuill and CrimeStat methods, was employed to determine the spatial-directional spread of outbreaks. Global and local Moran’s I statistics were used to assess spatial autocorrelation, whereas kernel density estimation (KDE) was used to identify the density areas of the LSD outbreaks. Ordinary kriging was applied to interpolate high-intensity surfaces. The results from the SDE indicate that the LSD outbreaks predominantly followed a northeast-to-southwest trend. Global Moran’s I revealed no statistical significance, whereas local Moran’s I indicated significant local spatial autocorrelation. KDE revealed a high density of outbreaks in the upper northern part of the farming region. Additionally, ordinary kriging was used to quantify the likelihood of outbreaks across different areas, highlighting potential high-intensity surfaces. These results enhance the understanding of LSD spatial epidemiology, providing valuable insights into disease dynamics and transmission. Additionally, these findings support policymakers in making informed decisions on targeted prevention, control strategies, and resource allocation at the local and regional levels.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming concrete research. This review explores various AI techniques that drive cutting-edge solutions across all stages of concrete lifecycle, from material, mixture, and process optimization to quality control and performance prediction. Meta-analysis shows that XGBoost model excels in predicting workability ( R 2 = 0.98), while ensemble models provide the best strength predictions ( R 2 = 0.93). The study highlights trends, gaps, and future AI opportunities in concrete technology.

Background Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the causative agent of porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD). Its prevalence in swine herds was first reported in China in 2000. PCV2 infection causes immunosuppression that leads to multiple diseases, causing serious economic problems for the swine industry in China. Since information on the genetic variation of PCV2 in Yunnan province is limited, this study aims to investigate the molecular epidemiological and evolutionary characteristics of PCV2 from 2016 to 2019. Methods A total of 279 clinical samples were collected from different regions of Yunnan between 2016 to 2019, and PCV2 was detected by PCR. We then amplified full genomes from the positive samples, and the sequences were analysed for homology and genetic evolution. Results Overall, 60.93% (170/279) of the screened swine herd samples were positive for PCV2. We sequenced 15 Yunnan province PCV2 strains from positive samples. Analyses of the complete genomes and Cap genes led to the classification of the 15 Yunnan PCV2 strains into PCV2a (2 of 15), PCV2b (1of 15) and PCV2d (12 of 15). All strains shared 94.3–99.9% of their identities with the nucleotide sequences of complete genomes in this study and shared 94.2–99.9% identity with the reference sequences. All strains share 89.4–100% and 86.8–100% of their identities with the nucleotide and amino acid (aa) sequences of Cap, respectively. Conclusions The results of this study provide evidence that PCV2a, PCV2b and PCV2d genotypes coexisted in Yunnan Province from 2016 to 2019, and the priority prevalence genotype was PCV2d. The data provide evidence for the increased genetic diversity and insights into the molecular epidemiology of PCV2. This study also provides basic data for the Yunnan province PCV2 molecular epidemiological survey and accumulates effective materials for the development of PCV2 vaccines.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an important method of breeding quality varieties, expanding groups, and preserving endangered species. However, the viability of SCNT embryos is poor, and the cloned rate of animal production is low in pig. This study aims to investigate the gene function and establish a disease model of Banna miniature inbred pig. SCNT with donor cells derived from fetal, newborn, and adult fibroblasts was performed, and the cloning efficiencies among the donor cells were compared. The results showed that the cleavage and blastocyst formation rates did not significantly differ between the reconstructed embryos derived from the fetal (74.3% and 27.4%) and newborn (76.4% and 21.8%) fibroblasts of the Banna miniature inbred pig (P>0.05). However, both fetal and newborn fibroblast groups showed significantly higher rates than the adult fibroblast group (61.9% and 13.0%; P<0.05). The pregnancy rates of the recipients in the fetal and newborn fibroblast groups (60% and 80%, respectively) were higher than those in the adult fibroblast group. Eight, three, and one cloned piglet were obtained from reconstructed embryos of the fetal, newborn, and adult fibroblasts, respectively. Microsatellite analyses results indicated that the genotypes of all cloning piglets were identical to their donor cells and that the genetic homozygosity of the Banna miniature inbred pig was higher than those of the recipients. Therefore, the offspring was successfully cloned using the fetal, newborn, and adult fibroblasts of Banna miniature inbred pig as donor cells.