Control Strategy Research Articles

Prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis and tsetse fly density in Loka Abaya and Derara districts in Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia.

Animal trypanosomosis is a significant livestock disease with economic and social repercussions, reducing the supply of animal products and restricting the utilization of animals for traction and transportation. In Ethiopia, it is prevalent and poses a major hindrance to the advancement of animal production. This repeated cross-sectional study was aimed at assessing seasonal variation in bovine trypanosomosis prevalence and tsetse fly density and identifying the potential risk factors in the Loka Abaya and Derara districts of the Sidama National Regional State. Blood samples were collected from 964 cattle, 484 samples during the dry season, and 480 during the wet season. The buffy coat method was employed to analyze these samples. Furthermore, 78 standard NGU traps were set up at various locations in the two districts during both seasons for entomological investigation. The overall apparent prevalence of trypanosomosis was 9% (95% CI 7.3-11.0), without a significant difference (p > 0.05) between the dry season (7.4%) and wet season (10.6%). The apparent prevalence was significantly higher in Loka Abaya (11.8%) than in Derara (6.3%) district (OR = 2.04; p = 0.003) and in cattle with black coat color (29%) than in mixed color (6.8%) (OR = 5.3; p < 0.001). The majority of infections were caused by Trypanosoma congolense (70%), followed by T. vivax (29%), and mixed infections (1%) with the two species. The average packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly (p < 0.0001) lower in infected animals (20.7 ± 4%) compared to uninfected ones (25.5 ± 5.4%), in cattle examined during the dry season (24.1 ± 6%) versus the wet season (26.1 ± 4.7%), in cattle sampled from the Loka Abaya district (24.2 ± 5.5%) versus Derara district (26 ± 5.3%), and in cattle with poor body condition (23.6 ± 5.7%) compared to those with good body condition (26.5 ± 5.3%). A total of 5282 flies were captured during the study, with 4437 (84%) being tsetse flies (Glossina pallidipes), 439 (8.3%) Tabanids, 190 (3.6%) Stomoxys spp., and 216 (4.1%) Musca spp. The apparent density (AD) of G. pallidipes was 28.4 flies/trap/day, showing no statistically significant difference between wet (32.1) and dry (24.6) seasons (p > 0.05). The AD of G. pallidipes was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the Loka Abaya district (57.3) than in the Derara district (0.9). The study highlights a moderate trypanosomosis apparent prevalence and high AD of G. pallidipes, showing significant variation between the study districts but no seasonal difference. The observed apparent prevalence of trypanosomosis and tsetse fly density notably affects animal health and productivity. As a result, strategies for vector control like insecticide-treated targets, trypanocidal medications for infected animals, and community-based initiatives such as education and participation in control programs are recommended.

Acyl hydrazone derivatives with trifluoromethylpyridine as potential agrochemical for controlling plant diseases.

Crops are consistently under siege by a multitude of pathogens. These pathogenic microorganisms, including viruses and bacteria, result in substantial reductions in quality and yield globally by inducing detrimental crop diseases, thus posing a significant challenge to global food security. However, the biological activity sepectrumof commercially available pesticides is limitedand the pesticide efficacy is poor, necessitating the urgent development of broad-spectrum and efficient strategies for crop disease prevention and control. The bioassay results revealed that certain target compounds demonstrated outstanding in vivo antiviral efficacy against cucumber mosaic virus and tobacco mosaic virus. In particular, compound D6 showed remarkable antiviral activity against CMV, significantly higher than that of the control agent ningnanmycin. Mechanism of action studies have shown that compound D6 could enhance the activity of defense enzymes and upregulate the expression of genes related to disease resistance, thereby enhancing the antiviral effects in plants. In addition, these compounds displayed superior inhibitory activity against plant bacterial diseases. For Xoo, compound D10 showed an excellent inhibitory effect that was better than that of the control agent bismerthiazol. Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence double-staining experiments revealed that compound D10 effectively inhibited bacterial growth by disrupting the cell membrane. A series of trifluoromethyl hydrazone derivatives were designed and synthesized, and it was found that they have control effects on plant viruses and bacterial diseases. In addition, this study revealed the mechanism of action of the active compounds and demonstrated their potential as multifunctional crop protectants. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of host plants on aphid feeding behavior, fitness, and Buchnera aphidicola titer.

Aphids are sap-feeding plant pests that depend on their symbiotic relationships with the primary endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola to adapt to impoverished diets. However, how the host plant affects the aphid primary symbiont and aphid adaptation to host plant transfer are poorly known. In this study, aphid symbiont screening and genotype identification were used to establish 2 aphid strains (Rhopalosiphum maidis [Rm] and Rhopalosiphum padi [Rp] strains) containing only Buchnera without any secondary symbionts for both wheat aphid species (R. maidis and R. padi). Aphid fitness and Buchnera titers were unstable on some of these host plants after transferring to novel host plants (G1-G5), which were influenced by host plant species and generations; however, they stabilized after prolonged feeding on the same plants for 10 generations. The electropenetrography (EPG) records showed that the allocation of aphid feeding time was significantly distinct in the 6 host plants; aphids had more intracellular punctures and spent more nonprobing time on green bristlegrass which was not conducive to its growth compared with other plants. The content of soluble sugar, soluble protein, and amino acid in the leaves of the 6 host plants were also clearly separated. The correlation coefficient analysis showed that the nutrient contents of host plants had significant correlations with aphid feeding behaviors, fitness, and Buchnera titers. In the meantime, aphid fitness, and Buchnera titers were also affected by aphid feeding behaviors. Also, Buchnera titers of aphid natural populations on 6 host plants showed a visible difference. Our study deepened our understanding of the interaction among aphids, endosymbionts, and host plants, indicating that the host plant nutrient content is a predominant factor affecting aphid adaptation to their diet, initially affecting aphid feeding behaviors, and further affecting aphid fitness and Buchnera titers, which would further contribute to exploiting new available strategies for aphid control.

Immune evasion mechanisms of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus: A comprehensive review

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a highly contagious coronavirus that causes significant economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. Understanding the host immune response to PEDV is crucial for developing effective control strategies. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the host innate immune response against PEDV, with a focus on the modulation of interferon responses, regulation of apoptosis, and induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Several PEDV proteins have been identified as potent interferon antagonists that inhibit key components of the signaling pathway and suppress the production of type I and type III interferons. PEDV also induces apoptotic cell death through the activation of caspases, notably caspase-3 and caspase-8. Finally, PEDV infection induces ER stress, leading to activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Understanding these mechanisms provides valuable insights into PEDV pathogenesis and offers potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Future research should aim to address the remaining knowledge gaps to develop more effective strategies for controlling PEDV and other related coronaviruses.

Exploring healthcare professionals' perspectives on neglected tropical diseases in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study with a focus on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and schistosomiasis, continue to impose a heavy burden, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Uganda, despite being preventable. Integration of NTD management into primary healthcare has been inadequate. While researchers have explored community perspectives, there is a notable gap in understanding the viewpoints of healthcare workers (HCW), which is crucial for effective NTD control strategies. This study explores HCW' perspectives in Eastern Uganda, highlighting challenges in schistosomiasis and STH prevention and management. In this qualitative descriptive study, we conducted semistructured interviews with 10 key informants who were HCW in Eastern Uganda with experience in managing STHs and schistosomiasis. Participants were selected purposively and interviewed through Zoom guided by a comprehensive interview guide. The data were transcribed, coded and analyzed thematically. We identified five key themes regarding the impact and management of NTDs: (i) the burden of NTDs, where schistosomiasis and STHs were notably prevalent among children and communities adjacent to water bodies; (ii) transmission of NTDs, emphasizing water bodies and poor sanitation as primary routes of disease spread; (iii) clinical manifestations of NTDs, detailing the symptomatic presentations that complicate diagnosis and management; (iv) challenges in managing and diagnosing NTDs, highlighting the shortages of essential medications and diagnostic tools, along with the under-prioritization of NTDs within healthcare systems; and (v) fatalities and complications arising from NTDs, reporting on the severe outcomes and under-reporting of deaths associated with NTDs due to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment and traditional healing preferences. The interviewed Ugandan HCW demonstrated sufficient knowledge of schistosomiasis and STHs, but faced challenges due to inadequate diagnostic tools and medication shortages. The study underscores the need for NTD prioritization with direct funding and government involvement, alongside strategies that integrate continuous medical training, effective community outreach and an enhanced healthcare system response to reduce the burden of NTDs.

Cell factories for biosynthesis of D-glucaric acid: a fusion of static and dynamic strategies.

D-glucaric acid is an important organic acid with numerous applications in therapy, food, and materials, contributing significantly to its substantial market value. The biosynthesis of D-glucaric acid (GA) from renewable sources such as glucose has garnered significant attention due to its potential for sustainable and cost-effective production. This review summarizes the current understanding of the cell factories for GA production in different chassis strains, from static to dynamic control strategies for regulating their metabolic networks. We highlight recent advances in the optimization of D-glucaric acid biosynthesis, including metabolic dynamic control, alternative feedstocks, metabolic compartments, and so on. Additionally, we compare the differences between different chassis strains and discuss the challenges that each chassis strain must overcome to achieve highly efficient GA productions. In this review, the processes of engineering a desirable cell factory for highly efficient GA production are just like an epitome of metabolic engineering of strains for chemical biosynthesis, inferring general trends for industrial chassis strain developments.

The power control and efficiency optimization strategy of dynamic wireless charging system for multiple electric vehicles

Purpose This study aims to solve the problem that both the speed and the required driving power of electric vehicles (EVs) will change during the dynamic wireless charging (DWC) process, making it difficult to charge EVs with a constant power considering the overall efficiency of DWC system, the numbers of EVs and the power supply capacity. Therefore, this paper proposes the power control and efficiency optimization strategies for multiple EVs. Design/methodology/approach The wireless power charging system for multiple loads with a structure of double-sided LCC compensation topology is established. The expressions of optimal transmission efficiency and optimal equivalent impedance are derived. Taking the Tesla Model 3 as an example, a method to determine the number of EVs allowed by one transmitter coil and the overall charging power is proposed considering EV speed, power supply capacity, safe braking distance and overall efficiency. Then, the power control strategy, which can adapt to the changes of EV speed and the efficiency optimization strategy under different numbers of EVs are proposed. Findings In this paper, a method to determine the numbers of EVs allowed by one transmitter coil and the overall charging power is proposed considering EVs speed, power supply capacity, safe braking distance and overall efficiency. The accuracy of the charging power is good enough and the overall efficiency reaches a maximum of 91.79% when the load resistance changes from 5Ω to 20Ω. Originality/value In this paper, the power control and efficiency optimization strategy of DWC system for multiple EVs are proposed. Specifically, a method of designing the number of EVs and charging power allowed by one transmitter coil considering the factors of EV speed, power supply capacity, safe braking distance and overall efficiency is designed. The overall efficiency of the experiment reaches a maximum of 91.79% after adopting the optimization strategy.

Advancing Electrically Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic Energy Conversion.

ConspectusPhotocatalytic energy conversion is a pivotal process for harnessing solar energy to produce chemicals and presents a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Key strategies to enhance photocatalytic efficiency include facilitating mass transport and reactant adsorption, improving light absorption, and promoting electron and hole separation to suppress electron-hole recombination. This Account delves into the potential advantages of electrically conductive metal-organic frameworks (EC-MOFs) in photocatalytic energy conversion and examines how manipulating electronic structures and controlling morphology and defects affect their unique properties, potentially impacting photocatalytic efficiency and selectivity. Moreover, with a proof-of-concept study of photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production by manipulating the EC-MOF's electronic structure, we highlight the potential of the strategies outlined in this Account.EC-MOFs not only possess porosity and surface areas like conventional MOFs, but exhibit electronic conductivity through d-p conjugation between ligands and metal nodes, enabling effective charge transport. Their narrow band gaps also allow for visible light absorption, making them promising candidates for efficient photocatalysts. In EC-MOFs, the modular design of metal nodes and ligands allows fine-tuning of both the electronic structure and physical properties, including controlling the particle morphology, which is essential for optimizing band positions and improving charge transport to achieve efficient and selective photocatalytic energy conversion.Despite their potential as photocatalysts, modulating the electronic structure or controlling the morphology of EC-MOFs is nontrivial, as their fast growth kinetics make them prone to defect formation, impacting mass and charge transport. To fully leverage the photocatalytic potential of EC-MOFs, we discuss our group's efforts to manipulate their electronic structures and develop effective synthetic strategies for morphology control and defect healing. For tuning electronic structures, diversifying the combinations of metals and linkers available for EC-MOF synthesis has been explored. Next, we suggest that synthesizing ligand-based solid solutions will enable continuous tuning of the band positions, demonstrating the potential to distinguish between photocatalytic reactions with similar redox potentials. Lastly, we present incorporating a donor-acceptor system in an EC-MOF to spatially separate photogenerated carriers, which could suppress electron-hole recombination. As a synthetic strategy for morphology control, we demonstrated that electrosynthesis can modify particle morphology, enhancing electrochemical surface area, which will be beneficial for reactant adsorption. Finally, we suggest a defect healing strategy that will enhance charge transport by reducing charge traps on defects, potentially improving the photocatalytic efficiency.Our vision in this Account is to introduce EC-MOFs as an efficient platform for photocatalytic energy conversion. Although EC-MOFs are a new class of semiconductor materials and have not been extensively studied for photocatalytic energy conversion, their inherent light absorption and electron transport properties indicate significant photocatalytic potential. We envision that employing modular molecular design to control electronic structures and applying effective synthetic strategies to customize morphology and defect repair can promote charge separation, electron transfer to potential reactants, and mass transport to realize high selectivity and efficiency in EC-MOF-based photocatalysts. This effort not only lays the foundation for the rational design and synthesis of EC-MOFs, but has the potential to advance their use in photocatalytic energy conversion.

Temperature Dependent Growth Kinetics of Pd Nanocrystals: Insights from Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Quantifying the role of experimental parameters on the growth of metal nanocrystals is crucial when designing synthesis protocols that yield specific structures. Here, the effect of temperature on the growth kinetics of radiolytically-formed branched palladium (Pd) nanocrystals is investigated by tracking their evolution using liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and applying a temperature-dependent radiolysis model. At early times, kinetics consistent with growth limited is measured by the surface reaction rate, and it is found that the growth rate increases with temperature. After a transition time, kinetics consistent with growth limited by Pd atom supply is measured, which depends on the diffusion rate of Pd ions and atoms and the formation rate of Pd atoms by reduction of Pd ions by hydrated electrons. Growth in this regime is not strongly temperature-dependent, which is attributed to a balance between changes in the reducing agent concentration and the Pd ion diffusion rate. The observations suggest that branched rough surfaces, generally attributed to diffusion-limited growth, can form under surface reaction-limited kinetics. It is further shown that the combination of liquid cell TEM and radiolysis calculations can help identify the processes that determine crystal growth, with prospects for strategies for control during the synthesis of complex nanocrystals.

Mindfulness and romantic relationship quality: mediating effects on different facets of anger

ABSTRACT This study investigated the role of anger expression and control in the relationships between mindfulness and romantic relationship quality. 237 emerging adults (167 females and 70 males) who had been in a relationship for at least three weeks (range = 3 weeks − 84 months) completed a set of questionnaires that assessed mindfulness, anger expression and control, and romantic relationship quality. Mediation analysis demonstrated that anger control strategies, which involve attempts to remain calm and reduce angry feelings mediated the relationship between mindfulness and romantic relationship quality. Bootstrap analyses also revealed that anger expression did not play a mediating role in the association between mindfulness and romantic relationship quality. A higher level of mindfulness may contribute to romantic relationship quality via increased anger control, but not via expressing anger externally or internally. The importance of examining different facets of anger and mindfulness and the implications for intervention programmes are discussed.

Calcium leakage involved in nematotoxic effects of the Conidiobolus obscurus CytCo protein on the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

The pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a severe invasive species, is responsible for causing widespread pine wilt disease. The CytCo protein, a pore-forming toxin derived from Conidiobolus obscurus, exhibits nematotoxicity towards B. xylophilus. Our present study reveals the expression variation of a range of gene products in B. xylophilus that respond to the effects of CytCo using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification proteomics technology. Functional enrichment analysis indicates that many differentially expressed proteins are linked to calcium signaling system, proteasome, energy production and conversion, and the determination of adult lifespan. It suggests that the dysregulation of calcium homeostasis, energy metabolism, and apoptosis contribute to the CytCo nematotoxicity. Using the calcium ion (Ca2+)-indicator calcein, we detected changes in Ca2+ levels in B. xylophilus, with a significantly increase in fluorescence in the nematode's intestine and pseudocoelom following CytCo treatments. Meanwhile, the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays showed an enhancement of fluorescence in B. xylophilus cells, with increased CytCo concentrations. The protein toxin CytCo triggers Ca2+ leakage, disrupts Ca2+ balance in B. xylophilus, and induces apoptosis and ROS outburst, thereby intensifying its nematotoxic effects. This finding facilitates our understanding of the modes of action of nematotoxic proteins, and contributes to the development of innovative nematode control strategies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Factors influencing long-term care facility performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Some LTCFs performed better than others at slowing COVID-19 transmission. Emerging literature has mostly described infection prevention and control strategies implemented by LTCFs during the pandemic. However, there is a need for a comprehensive review of factors that influenced the performance of LTCFs in containing COVID-19 spread to inform public health policy.ObjectiveTo build on the existing literature, we conducted a scoping review of factors that influenced LTCF performance during the COVID-19 pandemic using a multidimensional conceptual framework of performance.MethodsWe followed the Joanna Briggs Institute’s methodology for scoping reviews. We queried CINAHL, MEDLINE (Ovid), CAIRN, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed literature in English or French published between January 1st, 2020 and December 31st, 2021. Retrieved records were screened for context (COVID-19 pandemic), population (LTCFs), interest (internal and external factors that influenced LTCF performance), and outcomes (dimensions of performance: equity, accessibility, reactivity, safety, continuity, efficacy, viability, efficiency). Descriptive characteristics of included articles were summarized. Dimensions of performance as well as internal (e.g., facility characteristics) and external (e.g., visitors) factors identified to have influenced LTCF performance were presented.ResultsWe retained 140 articles of which 68% were classified as research articles, 47% originated in North America, and most covered a period between March and July 2020. The most frequent dimensions of performance were “efficacy” (75.7%) and “safety” (75.7%). The most common internal factors were “organizational context” (72.9%) and “human resources” (62.1%), and the most common external factors were “visitors” (27.1%) and “public health guidelines” (25.7%).ConclusionsOur review contributes to a global interest in understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations residing and working in LTCFs. Though a myriad of factors were reported, a lack of randomized controlled trials makes it impossible to establish causality between the identified factors and LTCF performance. The use of a multidimensional framework can be recommended to evaluate healthcare system performance not merely in terms of efficacy and safety, but alongside other critical dimensions such as efficiency and equity.Trial registrationResearch Registry ID: researchregistry7026

Effects of varying photoperiodic regimens on oviposition behavior of Anopheles subpictus and Culex quinquefasciatus

BackgroundEnvironmental factors influence the mosquito behavior, particularly the oviposition behavior. Therefore, understanding the response of mosquitoes to their environmental conditions like photoperiod, humidity, rainfall, etc., can lead to more precise predictions of transmission cycles which help in the development of more effective vector control strategies. To understand the importance of photoperiod in determining the oviposition cycle of Anopheles subpictus and Culex quinquefasciatus, experiments were conducted under different conditions of normal light (LD 12: 12), reversed photoperiod (DL 12: 12) and continuous light (24 LL) for three consecutive days.ResultsIt was noticed that ovipositional activity was exclusively restricted to the scotophase. When both the mosquito species were exposed to reverse photoperiod, the oviposition activity also reversed but they showed an erratic oviposition behavior when exposed to 24 h light condition.ConclusionsUnderstanding the oviposition behavior of mosquito species may favor to design and develop new vector control strategies.

Detection of the epidemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa AUST-03 (ST242) strain in people with cystic fibrosis in South Africa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa AUST-03 (ST242) has been reported to cause epidemics in people with CF (pwCF) from Australia and has been associated with multidrug resistance and increased morbidity and mortality. Here, we report an epidemic P. aeruginosa (AUST-03) strain in South African pwCF detected at a public hospital and characterize the genomic antibiotic resistance determinants. The P. aeruginosa AUST-03 (ST242) study isolates were analysed with whole genome sequencing using the Illumina NextSeq2000 platform. Raw sequencing reads were processed using the Jekesa pipeline and multilocus sequence typing and genomic antibiotic resistance characterization was performed using public databases. Genetic relatedness between the study isolates and global P. aeruginosa ST242 from public databases was determined using a maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion and broth microdilution techniques. A total of 11 P. aeruginosa AUST-03 isolates were isolated from two children with CF. The majority (8/11) of these isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug resistant; and the multidrug efflux pumps MexAB-OprM, MexCD-OprJ, MexEF-OprN, and MexXY-OprM were the most clinically relevant antibiotic resistance determinants and were detected in all of the isolates. The study isolates were the most closely related to a 2020 P. aeruginosa AUST-03 (ST242) CF isolate from Russia. Epidemic MDR P. aeruginosa strains are present at South African public CF clinics and need to be considered when implementing segregation and infection control strategies to prevent possible spread and outbreaks.

A Fast State-of-Charge (SOC) Balancing and Current Sharing Control Strategy for Distributed Energy Storage Units in a DC Microgrid

In isolated operation, DC microgrids require multiple distributed energy storage units (DESUs) to accommodate the variability of distributed generation (DG). The traditional control strategy has the problem of uneven allocation of load current when the line impedance is not matched. As the state-of-charge (SOC) balancing proceeds, the SOC difference gradually decreases, leading to a gradual decrease in the balancing rate. Thus, an improved SOC droop control strategy is introduced in this paper, which uses a combination of power and exponential functions to improve the virtual impedance responsiveness to SOC changes and introduces an adaptive acceleration factor to improve the slow SOC balancing problem. We construct a sparse communication network to achieve information exchange between DESU neighboring units. A global optimization controller employing the consistency algorithm is designed to mitigate the impact of line impedance mismatch on SOC balancing and current allocation. This approach uses a single controller to restore DC bus voltage, effectively reducing control connections and alleviating the communication burden on the system. Lastly, a simulation model of the DC microgrid is developed using MATLAB/Simulink R2021b. The results confirm that the proposed control strategy achieves rapid SOC balancing and the precise allocation of load currents in various complex operational scenarios.

Bayesian multistate models for measuring invasive carp movement and evaluating telemetry array performance

Understanding the movement patterns of an invasive species can be a powerful tool in designing effective management and control strategies. Here, we used a Bayesian multistate model to investigate the movement of two invasive carp species, silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (H. nobilis), using acoustic telemetry. The invaded portions of the Illinois and Des Plaines Rivers, USA, are a high priority management zone in the broader efforts to combat the spread of invasive carps from reaching the Laurentian Great Lakes. Our main objective was to characterize the rates of upstream and downstream movements by carps between river pools that are maintained by navigation lock and dam structures. However, we also aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the available telemetry infrastructure to monitor carp movements through this system. We found that, on a monthly basis, most individuals of both species remained within their current river pools: averaging 76.2% of silver carp and 75.5% of bighead carp. Conversely, a smaller proportion of silver carp, averaging 14.2%, and bighead carp, averaging 13.9%, moved to downstream river pools. Movements towards upstream pools were the least likely for both species, with silver carp at an average of 6.7% and bighead carp at 7.9%. The highest probabilities for upstream movements were for fish originating from the three most downstream river pools, where most of the population recruitment occurs. However, our evaluation of the telemetry array’s effectiveness indicated low probability to detect fish in this portion of the river. We provide insights to enhance the placement and use of these monitoring tools, aiming to deepen our comprehension of these species’ movement patterns in the system.

Unearthing the history with A‐RHex: Leveraging articulated hexapod robots for archeological pre‐exploration

AbstractThis paper aims to develop a miniature mobile robot suitable to assist archeologists in their first exploration of unknown underground tombs. Due to the rather complex and irregular terrains in the tombs and inspired by the classic RHex design, we have developed a two‐segment articulated robot (A‐RHex) with two RHex design units. The robot is compact and lightweight, with dimensions of 25 cm long, 6.5 cm wide, 7 cm high, and weighs 283 g. To assist the robot in entering the tomb, we have also designed a deployment platform that can take the robots underground through a 10‐cm exploration hole. We introduce the overall design, control, and communication methods of A‐RHex, and theoretically analyze how the articulated design can improve the stability of the robot on slopes. Laboratory experiments and field testings at two real archeological excavation sites in China have validated A‐RHex's mechanical design, control strategies, communications, and capabilities for pre‐exploration of open and closed tombs. We believe that this kind of robot with high terrain adaptability and a small profile may become an important tool for field archeology in the future.

Design of Universal Control Structure for Regulation of Voltage and Frequency in Hybrid Microgrid

Hybrid microgrid (HMG) control strategies reveal several critical research gaps that must be addressed. Current approaches often fall short in efficiency and reliability due to the inherent complexities of transitioning between grid-connected mode (GCM) and islanded mode (IM), resulting in increased losses and operational difficulties. Additionally, managing overloads, especially in IM, poses significant challenges for maintaining stable voltage and frequency regulation. This paper seeks to address these issues by introducing a novel universal control structure (UCS) for HMGs, which includes a frequency compensation unit (FCU) and a three-stage bidirectional AC/DC droop. It presents a streamlined yet robust solution for handling overloads, maintaining power balance, and ensuring precise voltage and frequency regulation while promising smooth maneuver in both GCM and IM. The proposed UCS provides flexible and reliable operation, allowing for the versatile placement of DC and AC sources and loads. This will reduce power transformation stages thereby lowering cost and increasing efficiency of system. Through experimental validation, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed control in addressing these critical research gaps and advancing the field of HMG control strategies.

Investigation into PV Inverter Topologies from the Standards Compliance Viewpoint

Numerous reviews are available in the literature on PV inverter topologies. These reviews have intensively investigated the available PV inverter topologies from their modulation techniques, control strategies, cost, and performance aspects. However, their compliance with industrial standards has not been investigated in detail so far in the literature. There are various standards such as North American standards (UL1741, IEEE1547, and CSA 22.2) and Australian and European safety standards and grid codes, which include IEC 62109 and VDE. These standards provide detailed guidelines and expectations to be fulfilled by a PV inverter topology. Adherence to these standards is essential and crucial for the successful operation of PV inverters, be it a standalone or grid-tied mode of operation. This paper investigates different PV inverter topologies from the aspect of their adherence to different standards. Both standalone and grid-tied mode of operation-linked conditions have been checked for different topologies. This investigation will help power engineers in selecting suitable PV inverter topology for their specific applications.

Changing Epidemiology of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Causative Agents and Contributing Factors.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral infection primarily affecting children. It causes vesicles on the skin and inside the mouth. Although most cases get better on their own, severe cases can lead to complications such as brain stem encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, and pulmonary edema. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by various enteroviruses, with enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and coxsackievirus A16 being the most common. However, recent studies have shown a shift in the molecular epidemiology of HFMD-causing pathogens, with coxsackievirus A6 and coxsackievirus A10 causing more infections. In addition, extensive recombination events have been identified among enterovirus strains, which may have a role in faster evolution and extinction of dominant enterovirus serotypes. Other strains of enterovirus can also cause severe complications, and there has been an increase in mortality associated with brain stem encephalitis in children under 3 years of age and teenagers. Currently, there are no effective antiviral therapies available to treat enterovirus infections. Vaccines against EV-A71 have been approved and are now used in mainland China. Studying the changing epidemiology of HFMD pathogens and the evolution patterns of its causative agents is crucial in developing effective prevention and control strategies. Increased interest in the molecular epidemiology of HFMD causative agents has led to a better understanding of the critical drivers of HFMD outbreaks, which can inform efforts to prevent and control the disease.