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Traditional villages hold significant historical and cultural value as the precious heritage of China’s agricultural civilization. Currently, against the backdrop of increasing urbanization and rapid expansion of urban construction land, the spatial patterns of traditional villages across various regions in China are being encroached upon and damaged, with protection pressures growing daily. As one of the important cradles of Chinese civilization, the Lower Yangtze River Basin (LYRB) has traditional villages closely linked with its water systems, forming a unique human-land relationship and spatial distribution pattern. However, influenced by the rapid urbanization process, the spatial patterns of traditional villages in this region also face a crisis, and the contradiction between protection and development is becoming increasingly prominent. How to balance this contradiction and ensure the reasonable protection and sustainable development of traditional villages has become an urgent issue to address. Therefore, this study focuses on the LYRB. Using ArcGIS tools and combined with mathematical analysis methods, the spatial distribution characteristics and essential influencing factors of traditional villages in this area were screened and analyzed. The objective was to examine the spatial structural relationship between traditional villages, four water system types, and nine sub-basin units, intending to reveal the unique interdependence between the water system and traditional villages in this area. This would provide scientific support for the formulation of scientific conservation strategies. The research results show that: (1) Traditional villages in The LYRB form two core clusters spatially and exhibit substantial spatial accumulation; (2) Water system characteristics are the main factors affecting the distribution of traditional villages; (3) In the LYRB, the spatial distribution of the nine sub-basins is closely related to the spatial distribution of traditional villages, resulting in typical regional spatial differentiation of traditional villages in this area. This study is based on a watershed perspective, and the results highlight the importance of the water system network in the development of traditional villages, revealing a unique spatial dependency relationship between traditional villages and the water network in the LYRB. In order to ensure the comprehensive protection of the traditional village system in this region, it is essential to adhere to the fundamental principles that govern its spatial configuration. A tripartite collaborative protection system based on the watershed should be formulated from the perspective of the overall distribution relationship between the water network and the traditional villages. This system would serve to protect the overall landscape, the water network pattern, and the traditional villages. Establishing an overall pattern view of integrating the water system network and the traditional villages is essential.

As quintessential representatives of advanced production tools in new-quality productive forces, industrial robots not only empower the intelligent transformation of industries but also align with the development philosophy of green and low-carbon growth. This paper, from the perspective of the manufacturing industry’s embeddedness in the global value chain, utilizes world input-output tables and data related to the application of industrial robots to conduct an empirical analysis of the impact and mechanisms by which industrial robot application affects carbon emissions in the global manufacturing sector. The results indicate that the application of industrial robots in manufacturing has a significant carbon emission reduction effect, which remains robust after causal identification using instrumental variables and multiple robustness tests; mechanism analysis reveals that the application of industrial robots can not only optimize the allocation of labor factors through substitution effects but also enhance international competitive advantages, improve the division of labor status, and form a global value chain climbing effect, thereby further increasing the level of carbon emission reduction. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the carbon emission reduction effect of industrial robot application is stronger in developed countries, capital-intensive industries, and industries with a higher degree of digitalization. Finally, from the perspective of supply-side technology spillover transmission embedded in the manufacturing industry’s global value chain, this paper further clarifies the spatial emission reduction characteristics affected by the application of industrial robots. This paper provides certain policy implications for the global industry’s “intelligent manufacturing” and decarbonization development.

The adhesion phenomenon of polymers occurs in nature and in human activity. In the present paper, an adhesion system of steamed bread and eggshell was observed in formation when steamed bread and eggshells were placed in close contact and cooled slightly in the ambient air. The adhesion phenomena and mechanism of the adhesion interface between the steamed bread and eggshell were investigated and systematically discussed. Strong-bond interfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The formation process and mechanism of the strong-bond adhesion were also analyzed molecular dynamics simulation technology, and the results are discussed. The simulation analyses showed that the starch molecules at the calcite (104) crystal face were diffused in a water vapor environment, and the formation and solidification of multiple hydrogen bonds in the starch chain and oxygen atoms in the calcium carbonate were observed in detail during cooling. The diffusion rate of hydrogen atoms in hydroxyl groups on the calcite surface decreased gradually with the decrease of the cooling temperature of the steamed bread’s upper surface. The strong adhesion of the steamed bread and eggshell is attributed to the synthetic effect of the absorption, diffusion, surface chemistry, and the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds between the starch from the steamed bread and the calcium carbonate crystals in eggshell. The interesting findings are helpful for the design of strong bonds, and provide an idea for new environmentally friendly adhesive materials.

Currently, studies on Xinjiang desert water conveyance channels primarily focus on the selection of construction technologies, with the effects of bank slope reinforcement and the impact of internal and external factors on slope stability remaining unclear. This study utilizes finite element method to analyze the safety coefficient, overall displacement, and equivalent plastic zone of aeolian soil bank slopes before and after reinforcement during three distinct phases: the completion phase, the water transfer phase, and the water level plunge phase. Orthogonal tests were used to assess the trend and weighting of the influence of factors on bank slopes inside and outside the channel using the introduction of corrected range and Spearman correlation analysis. The findings indicate that the safety coefficient for the bank slopes of the desert channel both before and after reinforcement exceeds 1.30 during all phases. Post-reinforcement, the overall displacement and equivalent plastic zone are controlled compared to the pre-reinforced state. Both sensitivity analyses yielded that the factors affecting the weighting of bank slopes were, in descending order, aeolian soil cohesion > slope angle > angle of internal friction > slope height > unit-weight > thickness of concrete lining > height of the water level in the channel > rate of water level plunge; where aeolian soil cohesion, slope angle, angle of internal friction and thickness of concrete lining favoured the stability of the bank slopes, while others were unfavourable to the stability of the bank slopes. This study aims to provide a reference for the construction of desert water supply projects.

The bank slope structure of the open channel in the Xinjiang desert is affected by seasonal climate changes and water erosion, leading to lining cracking. This study identified the optimal culture conditions and mineralization factors for Sporosarcina pasteurii through strain cultivation and precipitation assays. Subsequently, 0.1~5.0 mm wide penetrating concrete cracks were prefabricated, and microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) repair tests were conducted over 16 cycles. These experiments included macroscopic performance evaluations, such as area repair rate, penetration resistance, and capillary water absorption tests, alongside microscopic analyses using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that MICP technology effectively repairs narrow cracks, preserving crack surface integrity, significantly reducing permeability and water absorption, and enhancing the durability of the concrete. However, for cracks exceeding 1.0 mm in width, the repair efficiency declines progressively. Based on the experimental data, it is concluded that a crack width of 1.0 mm is the optimal threshold for effective MICP-based repair within 16 cycles, ensuring both structural integrity and optimal waterproofing. These results offer valuable insights into the potential application of MICP technology for the remediation of lining cracks in the bank slopes of water conveyance channels in Xinjiang Desert.

Technological progress, especially green innovation, is a key factor in achieving sustainable development and promoting economic growth. In this study, based on innovation value chain theory, we employ the location entropy, super-efficiency SBM-DEA model, and the improved entropy TOPSIS method to measure the technological industry agglomeration, two-stage green innovation efficiency, and development quality index in Yangtze River Delta city cluster, respectively. We then build a spatial panel simultaneous cubic equation model, focusing on the interaction effects among the three factors. The findings indicate: (1) There are significant spatial links between the technological industry agglomeration, green innovation efficiency, and development quality in city cluster. (2) The development quality and technological industry agglomeration are mutually beneficial. In the R&D stage, green innovation efficiency, development quality, and technological industry agglomeration compete with each other, while there is a mutual promotion in the transformation stage. (3) The spatial interaction among the three factors reveals the heterogeneity of two innovation stages. The positive geographical spillover effects of technological industry agglomeration, green innovation efficiency, and development quality are all related to each other. This paper can provide a reference for the direction and path of improving the development quality of city clusters worldwide.

Respiratory viral infections are a major global public health concern, and current antiviral therapies still have limitations. In recent years, research has revealed significant similarities between the immune systems of the gut and lungs, which interact through the complex physiological network known as the “gut-lung axis.” As one of the largest immune organs, the gut, along with the lungs, forms an inter-organ immune network, with strong parallels in innate immune mechanisms, such as the activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Furthermore, the gut microbiota influences antiviral immune responses in the lungs through mechanisms such as systemic transport of gut microbiota-derived metabolites, immune cell migration, and cytokine regulation. Studies have shown that gut dysbiosis can exacerbate the severity of respiratory infections and may impact the efficacy of antiviral therapies. This review discusses the synergistic role of the gut-lung axis in antiviral immunity against respiratory viruses and explores potential strategies for modulating the gut microbiota to mitigate respiratory viral infections. Future research should focus on the immune mechanisms of the gut-lung axis to drive the development of novel clinical treatment strategies.

Azole drug resistance in the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus continues to emerge, potentially leading to untreatable aspergillosis in immunosuppressed hosts. Two dominant, environmentally associated resistance mechanisms, which are thought to have evolved through selection by the agricultural application of azole fungicides, are now distributed globally. Understanding the effect that azole resistance is having on the genetic diversity and global population of A. fumigatus will help mitigate drug-resistant aspergillosis and maintain the azole class of fungicides for future use in both medicine and crop protection. The emergence of azole resistance in the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus has continued to increase, with the dominant resistance mechanisms, consisting of a 34-nucleotide tandem repeat (TR 34 )/L98H and TR 46 /Y121F/T289A, now showing a structured global distribution. Using hierarchical clustering and multivariate analysis of 4,049 A. fumigatus isolates collected worldwide and genotyped at nine microsatellite loci using analysis of short tandem repeats of A. fumigatus (STR Af ), we show that A. fumigatus can be subdivided into two broad clades and that cyp51A alleles TR 34 /L98H and TR 46 /Y121F/T289A are unevenly distributed across these two populations. Diversity indices show that azole-resistant isolates are genetically depauperate compared to their wild-type counterparts, compatible with selective sweeps accompanying the selection of beneficial mutations. Strikingly, we found that azole-resistant clones with identical microsatellite profiles were globally distributed and sourced from both clinical and environmental locations, confirming that azole resistance is an international public health concern. Our work provides a framework for the analysis of A. fumigatus isolates based on their microsatellite profile, which we have incorporated into a freely available, user-friendly R Shiny application (AfumID) that provides clinicians and researchers with a method for the fast, automated characterization of A. fumigatus genetic relatedness. Our study highlights the effect that azole drug resistance is having on the genetic diversity of A. fumigatus and emphasizes its global importance upon this medically important pathogenic fungus. IMPORTANCE Azole drug resistance in the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus continues to emerge, potentially leading to untreatable aspergillosis in immunosuppressed hosts. Two dominant, environmentally associated resistance mechanisms, which are thought to have evolved through selection by the agricultural application of azole fungicides, are now distributed globally. Understanding the effect that azole resistance is having on the genetic diversity and global population of A. fumigatus will help mitigate drug-resistant aspergillosis and maintain the azole class of fungicides for future use in both medicine and crop protection.

Worldwide, mental well-being is a critical issue for public health, especially among medical staff; it affects professionalism, efficiency, quality of care delivery, and overall quality of life. Nevertheless, assessing mental well-being is a complex problem. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese-language version of the 14-item Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) in medical staff recruited mainly from 6 hospitals in China and provide a reliable measurement of positive mental well-being. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted of medical staff from 15 provinces in China from May 15 to July 15, 2020. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the structure of the Chinese WEMWBS. The Spearman correlations of the Chinese WEMWBS with the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) were used to evaluate convergent validity. The Cronbach α and split-half reliability (λ) represented internal consistency. A graded response model was adopted for an item response theory (IRT) analysis. We report discrimination, difficulty, item characteristic curves (ICCs), and item information curves (IICs). ICCs and IICs were used to estimate reliability and validity based on the IRT analysis. A total of 572 participants from 15 provinces in China finished the Chinese WEMWBS. The CFA showed that the 1D model was satisfactory and internal consistency reliability was excellent, with α=.965 and λ=0.947, while the item-scale correlation coefficients ranged from r=0.727 to r=0.900. The correlation coefficient between the Chinese WEMWBS and the WHO-5 was significant, at r=0.746. The average variance extraction value was 0.656, and the composite reliability value was 0.964, with good aggregation validity. The discrimination of the Chinese WEMWBS items ranged from 2.026 to 5.098. The ICCs illustrated that the orders of the category thresholds for the 14 items were satisfactory. The Chinese WEMWBS showed good psychometric properties and can measure well-being in medical staff.

Background Early assessment of acute kidney injury (AKI) is critical to the prognosis of patients. Kidney microcirculation hemodynamic changes are pivotal to AKI pathogenesis. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound resolution microvascular (URM) imaging in evaluating kidney microvascular alterations in ischemia–reperfusion induced AKI using a clinical ultrasound scanner, with qualitative and quantitative microvascular analysis. Methods Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI), sham and control groups. Kidney microvascular characteristics were captured using URM. URM images were compared with color Doppler and superb microvascular imaging (SMI). In addition, URM was capable of providing quantitative information on blood density and velocities. After ultrasound examination, kidney tissues were fixed for pathological sectioning and examination. Results Compared to color Doppler and SMI techniques, interlobar, arcuate, cortical radial vessels, and part of the medullary organization were more visible on URM density maps. URM identified vessels 4–7 times thinner compared with color Doppler and SMI. The average URM smallest analyzable vessel was 0.11 ± 0.01 mm. Furthermore, quantitative findings demonstrated significant differences in kidney cortical mean vessel ratio, mean density and perfusion index between the IRI group and both control and sham groups ( p  < 0.0001, = 0.0237, = 0.0028). These parameters correlated significantly with CD31 immunohistochemistry ( r  = 0.62–0.68). Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility of URM in AKI using a conventional clinical ultrasound scanner, with simple examination procedure and post-processing tools. Hence, this technique could be a promising diagnostic tool for qualitative and quantitative kidney microvascular assessment.