Search Results (1,809)

The genus Listeria comprises diverse bacteria with significant public health relevance, particularly Listeria monocytogenes. A comparative genomic analysis of ten representative Listeria species was conducted using 33 high-quality genome assemblies to investigate core and accessory genome dynamics and identify candidate diagnostic loci. Pangenome reconstruction was performed using the Roary Integer Linear Programming Bacterial Annotation Pipeline (RIBAP) to classify core, soft-core, and accessory genes, while average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis assessed genomic relatedness across thresholds of 60–95%. Functional annotation of core and species-specific genes was conducted using Genome Annotation and Information Analysis (GAIA). Core genes were highly conserved and associated with essential cellular functions, whereas the accessory genome contributed to species-level diversification and ecological adaptation. Candidate molecular markers were derived from accessory genes and evaluated based on presence/absence across genomes, retaining loci present in ≥80% of target strains and absent in non-target strains. Experimental validation of selected primers was performed using two L. monocytogenes reference strains (ATCC 19117 and ATCC BAA-679) with conventional PCR and gel electrophoresis to confirm expected amplicon sizes and specificity. These findings establish a genome-informed, specificity-driven framework for marker development and highlight the accessory genome as a valuable source of diagnostic loci, supporting accurate detection, epidemiological surveillance, and food safety monitoring. Full article

The expansion and ongoing refinement of control solutions for three-phase microgrids are key enablers in the transition from conventional distribution networks to smart microgrids. By integrating distributed generation, a microgrid can operate in either grid-connected or island mode. One of the major technical challenges in microgrid operation is mitigating or eliminating phase power unbalances. Unbalanced single-phase loads, combined with unbalanced and intermittent single-phase generation, can produce adverse effects on both energy efficiency and power quality. Unlike conventional distribution networks, microgrids may exhibit bidirectional power flows, which can occur simultaneously on all phases or differ from phase to phase. This paper introduces new analytical expressions for sizing a balancing capacitive compensator (BCC) for three-phase four-wire systems and derives a simplified sizing algorithm. The approach is validated through a numerical study using a Matlab/Simulink model of a low-voltage three-phase microgrid with high penetration of single-phase loads and single-phase distributed sources. The BCC is installed at the point of common coupling (PCC) between the microgrid and the main grid. Three operating regimes (cases) of the microgrid were analyzed, considering three compensation scenarios (sub-cases) for each: 1—without compensation, 2—with balanced capacitive compensation (classical), and 3—with unbalanced capacitive compensation (with BCC). For each of the three regimes (cases), the use of the BCC determines, at the PCC, in addition to the cancellation of the reactive component of the positive sequence current, the cancellation of the negative- and zero-sequence currents. In other words, the BCC–microgrid assembly is seen from the main grid either as a perfectly balanced active power load or as a perfectly balanced active power source. Thus, the BCC prevents the propagation of the unbalance disturbance in the main grid; in the considered case study, this also results from the cancellation of the negative- and zero-sequence components of the phase voltages measured at the PCC. The results show that the load-balancing capability of the BCC can be extended to power-flow balancing in any network section, including cases where the phase power directions differ. Implemented as a BCC-type SVC or as an automatically adjustable variant (ABCC), the proposed unbalanced shunt capacitive compensation method is effective for mitigating or eliminating bidirectional phase power-flow unbalances. Full article

In this study, we compared the bacterial diversity of two independent snow and ice sampling campaigns conducted in 2015–2016 and 2018–2019 at Dome C, Concordia Station, Antarctica. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we analysed 81 samples and, after quality filtering and rarefaction, obtained approximately 3.8 million high-quality reads. Alpha diversity analyses revealed comparable richness between the two sampling periods, while community evenness was higher in 2018–2019. In contrast, all beta diversity metrics consistently showed significant differences in community composition between years, while beta dispersion analyses indicated distinct levels of heterogeneity within the year. The results of the Raup-Crick null model (R0) analyses showed that the observed differences did not deviate from random expectations under the applied null hypothesis. Overall, these results indicate pronounced interannual variability in bacterial assemblages at Concordia Station and suggest that temporal changes in community composition are consistent with assembly processes dominated by episodic inputs and limited persistence under extreme environmental conditions. This study implements previous investigations by providing a comparative temporal perspective and contributes to a better understanding of microbial dynamics in one of the most isolated and low-biomass environments on Earth. Full article

Daqu functions as a core saccharifying and fermenting starter in Baijiu production and acts as a complex microecological reactor in open solid-state fermentation. The formation of Baijiu flavor is closely associated with microbial community assembly, enzymatic activities, and metabolic interactions occurring within Daqu. However, the open production environment also exposes the Daqu system to multiple external disturbances that may influence its microecological stability and fermentation performance. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the microecology of Daqu, focusing on microbial succession, metabolic pathways related to flavor formation, and environmental factors affecting Daqu quality. Particular attention is given to how external disturbances during production and storage may influence microbial communities, enzymatic functions, and aroma compound formation. Based on current knowledge, a conceptual framework linking environmental factors, microbial community dynamics, metabolic activity, and flavor outcomes is proposed. In addition, strategies for maintaining microecological stability and ensuring flavor consistency are discussed, including environmental management, process optimization, physical control technologies, and integrated quality monitoring systems. Emphasis is placed on combining process control with modern analytical approaches such as multi-omics technologies and process analytical technologies (PAT) to improve traceability and precision management during Daqu production. Overall, this review provides a systematic perspective on the relationships among Daqu microecology, process conditions, and flavor formation and highlights future research directions for achieving stable and controllable Baijiu fermentation systems. Full article

The rapid electrification of road vehicles has fundamentally reshaped the priorities of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) engineering. In the absence of combustion-related broadband masking, tonal and order-related phenomena originating from the electric machine, inverter switching, and high-speed reduction gearing have become clearly perceptible and, in many cases, acoustically dominant. Consequently, drivetrain noise in electric vehicles can no longer be assessed at component level alone; it must be understood as a coupled system response shaped by excitation mechanisms, structural dynamics, transfer paths, radiation efficiency, and ultimately human perception. This review adopts a source-to-perception perspective and consolidates the principal physical mechanisms governing vibro-acoustic behavior in integrated electric drive units. Electromagnetic force harmonics and torque ripple are discussed alongside transmission-error-driven gear mesh excitation, while bearing and shaft nonlinearities are examined in the context of high-speed operation. In addition, ancillary thermoacoustic and aerodynamic contributions are considered, reflecting the increasingly integrated packaging of modern e-axle architectures. On this mechanism-oriented basis, dominant excitation types are linked to frequency-appropriate modeling strategies, spanning electromagnetic force extraction, multibody drivetrain simulation, structural finite element analysis, transfer path analysis, and acoustic radiation prediction. Particular attention is given to workflow integration across domains. Finally, the paper identifies research challenges that predominantly arise at system level, including multi-source interaction effects, installation-dependent transfer-path variability, emergent resonances in assembled structures, manufacturing-induced tonal artifacts, and the still limited correlation between predicted vibration fields and perceived sound quality. Full article

The bean bug Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is a major soybean pest in Asia, increasingly threatened by rising temperatures. It is crucial to clarify the high-temperature lethal thresholds of R. pedestris for predicting population dynamics under climate warming. Previous physiological data showed that female adults have significantly higher heat tolerance than males, with HLT₅₀ values of 39.76 °C versus 38.45 °C and HLT₉₀ values of 42.99 °C versus 42.44 °C. This sex-specific difference suggests distinct molecular responses to thermal stress. To test this hypothesis, we performed transcriptome sequencing of adults exposed to 24 °C (control), 40 °C (sublethal), and 44 °C (lethal), with males and females treated separately. A high-quality assembly yielded 270,199 unigenes, with 71 heat shock protein (HSP) genes identified across six subfamilies (sHSP, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, HSFs). HSPs exhibited a dual strategy: constitutive expression for basal proteostasis and strong induction—especially at 44 °C—for stress defense. Notably, responses were sexually dimorphic: females upregulated multiple stress-responsive HSPs (e.g., RpedHsp15.5-3, RpedHsp30.8) to protect reproduction, while males specifically induced RpedHsp83.6, possibly for signaling regulation. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed conservation within Hemiptera. These findings reveal the molecular basis of thermal adaptation in R. pedestris and identify key HSPs as potential targets for RNAi, HSP inhibitors, or precision thermal control. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antibodies are a rapidly expanding field in drug discovery, but their monospecificity limits therapeutic applications, particularly in complex inflammatory diseases. Multispecific therapeutics, which combine variable regions targeting two or more antigens, offer potential advantages such as enhanced efficacy, broader target modulation, and reduced side effects. This study aimed to identify and characterize bispecific, VHH-based antibodies simultaneously targeting IL-6 and IL-17A—two key cytokines involved in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions. Methods: A phage display screening was conducted using llama-derived VHH libraries to select binders against human IL-6 and IL-17A. Binding affinities of individual VHHs and assembled bispecific constructs were assessed using Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI). Functional activity was evaluated using reporter cell lines responsive to IL-6 and IL-17A signaling. Biophysical and quality assessments of selected VHHs and bispecific antibodies were performed using the Uncle screening platform and LabChip capillary electrophoresis. Results: Several high-affinity VHH binders were identified for both IL-6 and IL-17A, and incorporated into bispecific antibody formats. The bispecific candidates exhibited simultaneous inhibition of both cytokine pathways in functional reporter assays. Biophysical characterization confirmed good stability and purity profiles for selected molecules. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of generating stable, functional bispecific VHH-based antibodies targeting IL-6 and IL-17A. These constructs show potential as therapeutic agents for treating autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases by modulating multiple signaling pathways simultaneously. Full article

A key technological challenge for automotive manufacturers is producing multiple vehicle variants on a single production line. At the body-in-white shop of Magna’s complete vehicle plant in Graz, this is addressed through transportable positioning devices that serve as part carriers and adapters between different products, while ensuring consistent geometric alignment throughout the process. Geometrical deviations in these devices can adversely impact product quality along the entire vehicle assembly chain. This paper presents the development and implementation of two patented use cases: a cyber-physical inspection system, fully operational in serial production, and a cyber-physical assembly system, tested successfully in the prototype phase. The first actively mitigates the effects of device deviations in real time, while the second enables the on-demand configuration of flexible, advanced positioning devices via precision part matching, effectively preventing systematic deviations. Challenges and insights from both systems are discussed. Four previously introduced building blocks for automating quality control processes are validated and generalized for broad applicability across manufacturing processes and project phases via cross-system comparative analysis: the integrated capture of process and product data, automated data analytics, automated decision-making, and autonomous process intervention. This work proposes a validated, scalable framework integrating the design and implementation of cyber-physical systems to support zero-defect manufacturing. Full article

Queen bees form the core of honeybee colonies for reproduction, and their quality is the most critical factor affecting their reproductive and productive performance. In apicultural production, queen rearing requires beekeepers to perform manual larval grafting. This is strongly limited by the beekeepers’ eyesight and technical proficiency and has become a bottleneck restricting the development of modern apiculture. To overcome this long-standing technical challenge, we designed beeswax-based tools for queen rearing without grafting larvae for Apis mellifera. The tools consist of three core components: a single-sided hollow beeswax comb foundation, beeswax larval holders and beeswax queen cells with a hole at the bottom. The holders are paired with the hollows of the beeswax comb foundation and the hole of the beeswax queen cells. Following the construction of the comb by honeybees on the hollow foundation, the queen was confined to lay eggs on the single-sided comb. Subsequently, larval holders containing eggs or larvae were pulled out, assembled with beeswax queen cells, embedded in the buckles of queen-rearing frames, and placed into colonies for queen rearing. In order to verify the feasibility of the tools, a paired comparative experiment was conducted using Apis mellifera, with the tools as the treatment group and manual larval grafting as the control group. We evaluated multiple key indicators, including acceptance rate of queen cells, queen cell length at emergence, emergence rate, weight of newly emerged queen, morphological indices (thorax length/width, forewing width, hindwing length, head width), ovariole number and the relative mRNA expression of four queen development-related genes (Vg, Hex110, Hex70b, Jhamt). No significant differences were observed in queen cell acceptance rate and emergence rate between the two groups. However, compared with the control group, queens reared using the tools exhibited significantly greater queen cell length at emergence, higher emergence weight, superior morphological traits, more ovarioles and significantly upregulated expression of all four assayed genes. In conclusion, the tools can be used to rear high-quality Apis mellifera queens effectively with superior phenotypic and molecular traits compared to conventional grafting, which provides efficient and convenient queen-rearing tools for beekeepers. Full article

Spontaneous fermentation processes can promote uncontrolled microbial growth and increase the risk of foodborne contamination, making the characterization of artisanal beverages essential for consumer safety. This study investigated the microbial composition of quinoa-based rejuvelac, a homemade fermented drink often perceived as a functional food, with the objective of identifying potential microbiological hazards associated with its preparation. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V3–V4 region was combined with shotgun metagenomics to profile bacterial communities and recover metagenome-assembled genomes. The analysis revealed a strong dominance of Pseudomonadales, mainly Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter and Burkholderiales, while lactic acid bacteria typically responsible for stable and safe fermentations were not detected. Shotgun metagenomics recovered medium- to high-quality genomes from Burkholderiaceae and Clostridiales, supporting the overrepresentation of non-beneficial taxa and indicating deviations from expected fermentation microbiota. These results show that the spontaneous preparation of rejuvelac may favor bacterial groups associated with environmental contamination rather than fermentative pathways, underscoring the importance of hygiene practices, controlled starter cultures and monitoring strategies to mitigate microbiological risk. The study highlights the need for improved safety standards in artisanal fermented foods to prevent unintended microbial contamination and protect consumers. Full article

The shift toward lightweight powertrain architectures necessitates a detailed characterization of polymer gears to verify their efficiency and durability. This study investigated the effectiveness of non-contact structured-light 3D scanning for evaluating the surface topography and dimensional tolerance quality of polymer gears produced via distinct manufacturing technologies. A structured-light 3D scanner was used to capture dense point clouds (exceeding 6 million points) of gears produced by three methods: conventional hobbing (POM-C), Material Extrusion (MEX) with carbon fiber reinforcement, and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). The manufactured parts were compared against the nominal Computer Aided Design (CAD) models to evaluate their geometrical deviations in accordance with DIN 3961 and surface roughness parameters per ISO 25178. The experimental results revealed a consistent ranking of manufacturing quality. The conventionally hobbed POM-C gear exhibited superior precision, achieving DIN quality grades of Q9–Q10 and the smoothest surface finish (S_a = 5.0 µm). Among additive manufacturing techniques, SLS-printed PA 12 showed intermediate quality (Q11, S_a = 12 µm), whereas MEX-printed PPS-CF exhibited significant deviations (exceeding Q12) and the highest surface irregularity (S_a = 25 µm) due to stair-stepping effects. These findings indicate that while additive manufacturing offers geometric flexibility, conventional hobbing retains a decisive advantage in dimensional precision. The optical scanning methodology demonstrated here constitutes an efficient metrological framework for gear quality control, with potential applications extending to the quality assurance of additively manufactured adaptive fixtures and assembly tooling, including automotive assembly operations. Full article

Sustainable nanotechnologies derived from renewable resources are increasingly being positioned at the interface of green chemistry, advanced drug delivery, and translational pharmaceutics. Over the past decade, lignocellulosic nanomaterials, chitin/chitosan platforms, polysaccharide-based nanogels and nano-enabled hydrogels, lignin- and polyphenol-derived nanostructures, and bio-based lipid nanocarriers have been engineered through progressively eco-efficient routes, including solvent-minimized self-assembly, nanoprecipitation, spray drying, hot-melt extrusion, and microfluidic-assisted fabrication. This work provides a structured evidence map of nano-enabled drug delivery and therapeutic platforms derived from renewable biological resources. Specifically, we aim to (i) identify and classify nanoplatform classes and renewable feedstocks; (ii) summarize reported pharmaceutical critical quality attributes (CQAs) and performance and safety endpoints; and (iii) appraise how “renewability” and “green” claims are evidenced (feedstock origin vs. process sustainability) and how frequently translational readiness factors (scalability, quality control, regulatory alignment) are addressed. We critically compare renewable and conventional nanomaterial platforms across key translational dimensions, including carbon footprint, batch consistency, biodegradability, functional tunability, safety/persistence, and scale-up maturity. Finally, we delineate a practical translational pathway—from biomass sourcing and fractionation to nanoformulation, characterization/stability, and GMP scale-up—highlighting cross-cutting enablers such as lifecycle assessment, EHS/toxicology risk assessment, quality-by-design, and regulatory alignment. Collectively, the evidence supports renewable nanomaterials as viable, scalable candidates for next-generation therapeutics, provided that variability control, standardized characterization, and safety-by-design principles are embedded early in development. Full article

Detecting transient “click” sounds during connector insertion is pivotal for automotive assembly quality but remains intractable due to high-intensity, non-stationary industrial noise. This paper introduces a physics-aware generative demasking framework that integrates acoustic spatial priors with conditional diffusion modeling. We propose the spatially conditioned diffusion probabilistic model (SC-DPM), where an ambient reference signal acts as a physical constraint to steer the reverse diffusion process. By exploiting the spatial decay of insertion sounds, this mechanism effectively disentangles the target transient from the background noise manifold, reconstructing high-fidelity spectro-temporal features. Discriminative temporal patterns are extracted using causal random convolutional kernels with causal dilations and local proportion of positive values (LPPV) pooling. Experiments on real-world datasets demonstrate 93.3% accuracy. The proposed “restore-then-classify” paradigm significantly enhances robustness against acoustic variability, establishing a scalable methodology for precise industrial monitoring under extreme noise conditions. Full article

The Jordan Valley, a critical agro-ecosystem in Jordan, faces escalating challenges from chronic water scarcity compounded by environmental and socio-economic pressures, necessitating a systems perspective to understand cross-sector interactions beyond isolated sectoral issues. This study interprets socio-ecological interactions influencing sustainability outcomes in the region and identifies key feedback loops and adaptive responses under water scarcity through an integrated Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) and Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) framework. Employing a qualitative document analysis (QDA) design, a purposive collection of peer-reviewed studies and institutional publications (n = 50) published between 2002 and 2025 was assembled and systematically coded using a structured deductive–inductive strategy grounded in SES components and WEFE domain interactions. Results reveal seven interconnected themes: water scarcity as a structural constraint, agricultural intensification and resource pressures, climate change as a stress multiplier, ecosystem degradation and service loss, pollution and environmental quality challenges, socio-economic vulnerability and livelihood constraints, and fragmented governance with coordination gaps. These themes highlight reinforcing loops where scarcity promotes groundwater reliance and non-conventional water use, intensification heightens salinity and contamination risks, climate variability escalates irrigation demands, and ecological degradation diminishes buffering capacity, while socio-economic limitations hinder adaptation and governance fragmentation impairs integrated planning and enforcement. While prior studies have examined water scarcity, agricultural intensification, or climate impacts in isolation, this study advances the literature by synthesizing these dynamics through an integrated SES–WEFE analytical lens, revealing reinforcing system feedbacks and governance constraints that are not visible within single-sector or descriptive syntheses. Full article

Lycium ruthenicum is a typical desert halophyte with strong stress resistance and high medicinal value in the Tarim Basin. Root endophytic microbes play critical roles in host adaptation, nutrient cycling, and secondary metabolite accumulation. To clarify the diversity patterns of root endophytic bacteria and fungi and their relationships with environmental factors and fruit quality, high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze microbial community characteristics of Lycium ruthenicum collected from different habitats in the Tarim Basin. The results showed that rarefaction curves of alpha diversity indices (Chao1, Shannon, Pielou_e) tended to be saturated, indicating sufficient sequencing depth. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed significant habitat-driven differentiation in both bacterial and fungal community structures. Community composition analysis showed that the relative abundance of dominant taxa at the phylum and genus levels differed significantly among sampling sites. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that bacterial and fungal networks exhibited high modularity and were dominated by positive synergistic interactions, with Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Sphingomonas, Alternaria, and Fusarium as key hub genera. Moreover, root endophytic communities were significantly correlated with climatic variables, soil physicochemical properties, and fruit quality traits, including anthocyanin (AC), proanthocyanidin (PA), total flavonoids (TF), and total polyphenols (TP). Several keystone microbial genera were closely associated with the accumulation of functional metabolites in fruits. This study reveals the biogeographic distribution and co-occurrence characteristics of root endophytes in Lycium ruthenicum and provides a theoretical basis for understanding microbe–host–environment interactions and the quality improvement of desert medicinal plants. Full article