With growing recognition and acknowledgement of the genuine complexity of proteomes, we are finally entering the post-proteogenomic era. Routine assessment of proteomes as inferred correlates of gene sequences (i.e., canonical ‘proteins’) cannot provide the necessary critical analysis of systems-level biology that is needed to understand underlying molecular mechanisms and pathways or identify the most selective biomarkers and therapeutic targets. These critical requirements demand the analysis of proteomes at the level of proteoforms/protein species, the actual active molecular players. Currently, only highly refined integrated or integrative top-down proteomics (iTDP) enables the analytical depth necessary to provide routine, comprehensive, and quantitative proteome assessments across the widest range of proteoforms inherent to native systems. Here we provide a broad perspective of the field, taking in historical and current realities, to establish a more balanced understanding of where the field has come from (in particular during the ten years since Proteomes was launched), current issues, and how things likely need to proceed if necessary deep proteome analyses are to succeed. We base this in our firm belief that the best proteomic analyses reflect, as closely as possible, the native sample at the moment of sampling. We also seek to emphasise that this and future analytical approaches are likely best based on the broad recognition and exploitation of the complementarity of currently successful approaches. This also emphasises the need to continuously evaluate and further optimize established approaches, to avoid complacency in thinking and expectations but also to promote the critical and careful development and introduction of new approaches, most notably those that address proteoforms. Above all, we wish to emphasise that a rigorous focus on analytical quality must override current thinking that largely values analytical speed; the latter would certainly be nice, if only proteoforms could thus be effectively, routinely, and quantitatively assessed. Alas, proteomes are composed of proteoforms, not molecular species that can be amplified or that directly mirror genes (i.e., ‘canonical’). The problem is hard, and we must accept and address it as such, but the payoff in playing this longer game of rigorous deep proteome analyses is the promise of far more selective biomarkers, drug targets, and truly personalised or even individualised medicine. Full article

The aim of this work is to investigate osculating type ruled surfaces with a type 2-Bishop frame in $E^3$. We accomplish this by employing the symmetry of osculating curves. We examine osculating type ruled surfaces by taking into account the curvatures of the base curve. We investigate the geometric properties of these surfaces, focusing on their cylindrical and developable characteristics. Moreover, we calculate the Gaussian and mean curvatures and provide the requirements for the surface to be flat and minimal. We determine the requirements for the curves lying on this surface to be geodesic, asymptotic curves, or lines of curvature. Furthermore, relations between osculating type ruled surfaces with central tangent and central normal vectors are given. Finally, some examples of these surfaces are presented. Full article

Plexiform lesions are a hallmark of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in humans and are proposed to stem from dysfunctional angioblasts. Broiler chickens (Gallus gallus) are highly susceptible to PAH, with plexiform-like lesions observed in newly hatched individuals. Here, we reported the emergence of plexiform-like lesions in the embryonic lungs of broiler chickens. Lung samples were collected from broiler chickens at embryonic day 20 (E20), hatch, and one-day-old, with PAH-resistant layer chickens as controls. Plexiform lesions consisting of CD133+/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type-2 (VEGFR-2)+ angioblasts were exclusively observed in broiler embryos and sporadically in layer embryos. Distinct gene profiles of angiogenic factors were observed between the two strains, with impaired VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling correlating with lesion development and reduced arteriogenesis. Pharmaceutical inhibition of VEGFR-2 resulted in enhanced lesion development in layer embryos. Moreover, broiler embryonic lungs displayed increased activation of HIF-1α and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), indicating a hypoxic state. Remarkably, we found a negative correlation between lung Nrf2 activation and VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 expression. In vitro studies indicated that Nrf2 overactivation restricted VEGF signaling in endothelial progenitor cells. The findings from broiler embryos suggest an association between plexiform lesion development and impaired VEGF system due to aberrant activation of Nrf2. Full article

In this research, a method was developed for fabricating Au–Au nanorod array substrates through the deposition of large-area Au nanostructures on an Au nanorod array using a galvanic cell reaction. The incorporation of a granular structure enhanced both the number and intensity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) hot spots on the substrate, thereby elevating the SERS performance beyond that of substrates composed solely of an Au nanorod. Calculations using the finite difference time domain method confirmed the generation of a strong electromagnetic field around the nanoparticles. Motivated by the electromotive force, Au ions in the chloroauric acid solution were reduced to form nanostructures on the nanorod array. The size and distribution density of these granular nanostructures could be modulated by varying the reaction time and the concentration of chloroauric acid. The resulting Au–Au nanorod array substrate exhibited an active, uniform, and reproducible SERS effect. With 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene as the probe molecule, the detection sensitivity of the Au–Au nanorod array substrate was enhanced to 10⁻¹¹ M, improving by five orders of magnitude over the substrate consisting only of an Au nanorod array. For a practical application, this substrate was utilized for the detection of pesticides, including thiram, thiabendazole, carbendazim, and phosmet, within the concentration range of 10⁻⁴ to 5 × 10⁻⁷ M. An analytical model combining a random forest and a one-dimensional convolutional neural network, referring to the important variable-one-dimensional convolutional neural network model, was developed for the precise identification of thiram. This approach demonstrated significant potential for biochemical sensing and rapid on-site identification. Full article

Cardiovascular disease remains the main cause of mortality in the 21st century. Hypertension, vessel atherosclerosis, and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) are responsible for increased mortality and morbidity in patients. Therapies for cardiovascular disease are based on drug treatment options, but in the era of precision medicine, personalized treatments are being developed. Studies have shown that these conditions have a strong genetic background, creating an opportunity for the implementation of gene therapy for these diseases. Currently, gene therapy is not widely used in clinical practice. Recent advances in this research field are making gene therapy a very promising preventive and therapeutic tool for cardiovascular disease. Essential hypertension’s (EH) pathophysiology is mostly based on the activation of both the sympathetic nervous system and the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), natriuretic peptide production, and endothelial dysfunction. Plasmid DNA and viral vectors can be used, targeting the main mechanisms in the pathogenesis of EH. Many preclinical studies have been developed across the years, presenting a significant decrease in blood pressure. Nevertheless, no clinical studies have been developed studying the implementation of gene therapy in EH. Atherosclerotic damage is caused by monogenic diseases or is deteriorated by the activation of inflammation in the vessel wall. Gene therapy studies have been developed in the pre- and clinical phases targeting the lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolism and the inflammation of the vessels. FH is a common inherited metabolic disease associated with high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Clinical trials of gene therapy have been developed and presented optimistic results. In this review, the challenges of gene therapy for cardiovascular disease are outlined. Nevertheless, more clinical trials are needed to be performed for the development of convenient and safe drug schemes for our patients. Full article

High-resolution land cover mapping is crucial in various disciplines but is often hindered by the lack of accurately matched labels. Our study introduces an innovative deep learning methodology for effective land cover mapping, independent of matched labels. The approach comprises three main components: (1) An advanced fully convolutional neural network, augmented with super-resolution features, to refine labels; (2) The application of an instance-batch normalization network (IBN), leveraging these enhanced labels from the source domain, to generate 2-m resolution land cover maps for test sites in the target domain; (3) Noise assessment tests to evaluate the impact of varying noise levels on the model’s mapping accuracy using external labels. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 83.40% in the target domain using endogenous super-resolution labels. In contrast, employing exogenous, high-precision labels from the National Land Cover Database in the source domain led to a notable accuracy increase of 2.55%, reaching 85.48%. This improvement highlights the model’s enhanced generalizability and performance during domain shifts, attributed significantly to the IBN layer. Our findings reveal that, despite the absence of native high-precision labels, the utilization of high-quality external labels can substantially benefit the development of precise land cover mapping, underscoring their potential in scenarios with unmatched labels. Full article

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents an important factor that increases the risk of myocardial infarction, and more severe complications. Glucagon Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) exhibit cardioprotective potential, but their efficacy in MetS-related myocardial dysfunction has not been fully explored. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of exenatide and dulaglutide on heart function and redox balance in MetS-induced rats. Twenty-four Wistar albino rats with induced MetS were divided into three groups: MetS, exenatide-treated (5 µg/kg), dulaglutide-treated (0.6 mg/kg). After 6 weeks of treatment, in vivo heart function was assessed via echocardiography, while ex vivo function was evaluated using a Langendorff apparatus to simulate ischemia-reperfusion injury. Heart tissue samples were analyzed histologically, and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured spectrophotometrically from the coronary venous effluent. Both exenatide and dulaglutide significantly improved the ejection fraction by 3% and 7%, respectively, compared to the MetS group. Histological analyses corroborated these findings, revealing a reduction in the cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes by 11% in the exenatide and 18% in the dulaglutide group, indicating reduced myocardial damage in GLP-1RA-treated rats. Our findings suggest strong cardioprotective potential of GLP-1RAs in MetS, with dulaglutide showing a slight advantage. Thus, both exenatide and dulaglutide are potentially promising targets for cardioprotection and reducing mortality in MetS patients. Full article

The use of assistive technology (AT) devices enhances older adults’ function in daily activities. However, the lack of awareness of AT among potential AT users has been identified as a major barrier to its adoption. This study aimed to assess the quality of the Mi Guía de Asistencia Tecnológica (MGAT) web app, which provides information on AT, from the perspective of older Latinos with physical disabilities, and to explore their experience using the MGAT. We employed a convergent parallel mixed-method design involving 12 older Latinos living in Puerto Rico. In Phase I, the researchers trained the participants in the use of the MGAT. In Phase II, participants were encouraged to use it for 30 days. In Phase III, the participants completed the User Mobile Application Rating Scale and individual interviews, analyzed with descriptive statistics and a directed thematic content analysis. The quality of the MGAT was rated high in both the objective (mean = 3.99; SD = 0.7) and subjective (mean = 4.13; SD = 1.1) domains. Qualitative data revealed the MGAT was accessible, usable, desirable, credible, useful, and valuable to increasing older Latinos’ AT knowledge, function, and autonomy. The MGAT has the potential to increase AT awareness and adoption among older adults. Full article

This study evaluated effects of high starch (20%) on hematological variations, glucose and lipid metabolism, antioxidant ability, inflammatory responses, and histopathological lesions in largemouth bass. Results showed hepatic crude lipid and triacylglycerol (TAG) contents were notably increased in fish fed high starch. High starch could increase counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils and serum contents of TAG, TBA, BUN, and LEP (p < 0.05). There were increasing trends in levels of GLUT2, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and LDH in fish fed high starch through the AKT/PI3K signal pathway. Meanwhile, high starch not only triggered TAG and cholesterol synthesis, but mediated cholesterol accumulation by reducing ABCG5, ABCG8, and NPC1L1. Significant increases in lipid droplets and vacuolization were also shown in hepatocytes of D3–D7 groups fed high starch. In addition, high starch could decrease levels of mitochondrial Trx2, TrxR2, and Prx3, while increasing ROS contents. Moreover, high starch could notably increase amounts of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, TNF-α, etc.) by activating NLRP3 inflammasome key molecules (GSDME, caspase 1, etc.). In conclusion, high starch could not only induce metabolic disorders via gluconeogenesis and accumulation of glycogen, TAG, and cholesterol, but could disturb redox homeostasis and cause inflammatory responses by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome in largemouth bass. Full article

This article proposes an algorithm that allows the selection of prognostic variables from a set of 21 variables describing the health statuses of male and female students. The set of variables could be divided into two groups—body condition indicators and body activity indicators. For this purpose, we propose applying the multiple criteria decision methods WEBIRA, entropy-ARAS, and SAW in modelling the general health index, a latent variable describing health status, which is used to rank the alternatives. In the next stage, applying multiple regression analysis, the most informative indicators influencing health status are selected by reducing the indicator’s number to 9–11, and predictor indicators by reducing their number to 5. A methodology for grouping students into three groups is proposed, using selected influencing indicators and predictor indicators in regression equations with the dependent variable of group number. Our study revealed that two body condition indicators and three body activity indicators have the greatest influence on men’s general health index. It was established that two body condition indicators have the greatest influence on women’s general health index. The determination of the most informative indicators is important for predicting health status and optimizing the health monitoring process. Full article

In the accelerated phase of urbanization, intelligent surveillance systems play an increasingly pivotal role in enhancing urban management efficiency, particularly in the realm of parking lot administration. The precise identification of small and overlapping targets within parking areas is of paramount importance for augmenting parking efficiency and ensuring the safety of vehicles and pedestrians. To address this challenge, this paper delves into and amalgamates cross-attention and multi-spectral channel attention mechanisms, innovatively designing the Criss-cross and Multi-spectral Channel Attention (CMCA) module and subsequently refining the CMCA-YOLO model, specifically optimized for parking lot surveillance scenarios. Through meticulous analysis of pixel-level contextual information and frequency characteristics, the CMCA-YOLO model achieves significant advancements in accuracy and speed for detecting small and overlapping targets, exhibiting exceptional performance in complex environments. Furthermore, the study validates the research on a proprietary dataset of parking lot scenes comprising 4502 images, where the CMCA-YOLO model achieves an [email protected] score of 0.895, with a pedestrian detection accuracy that surpasses the baseline model by 5%. Comparative experiments and ablation studies with existing technologies thoroughly demonstrate the CMCA-YOLO model’s superiority and advantages in handling complex surveillance scenarios. Full article

Rotor system of aviation engines is often made of multiple rotors connected by the clutch. Due to manufacturing and assembly errors, there is a clutch misalignment, including the parallel misalignment and the angle misalignment. This misalignment produces additional torque in the operation of the system, leading to an abnormal increase in its oscillation, which causes the rubbing between the stator and the rotor. The rub-collision poses great harm to the safety and stability of the aero-engine. The analytical model of the rotor system with misalignment and rubbing faults is established, and the influence of the rotational speed, the misalignment, and the rubbing on the nonlinear characteristics of the rotor is investigated. Considering the nonlinear Hertz contact force and bearing gap, the model of the inter-shaft bearing is built; the parallel and angle misalignments of clutch are taken into account to analyze the characteristic frequency of the faults. For raising the thrust-to-weight ratio of aviation engines, the hollow shaft is often adopted, and the effect of the wall thickness for the shaft on the nonlinear vibration of the system is also investigated. It is innovative to study the transfer mechanism from wall thickness to the nonlinear vibrational responses of the overall structure. The result indicates that, with the increase in the wall thickness of the shaft, the second critical rotating speed increases, while the first critical rotating speed is almost unchanged. The characteristic frequencies for the three-rotor system with coupling faults are obtained. Despite intuition, the parallel misalignment can inhibit rub-collision vibration to a certain extent. The research has important reference values for the fault recognition and structural optimization of the three-rotor system. Full article

Background: Non-surgical rhinoplasty is one of the best choices in mild cases of the saddle nose, and it represents a solution for the aesthetical amelioration of facial deformity; nevertheless, in most critical cases, surgical intervention is still required. This study reports the experience and results of a single facial plastic surgeon (M.G.) using a non-surgical technique for the correction of saddle noses in a large cohort of patients. Methods: This retrospective study assesses all patients injected from January 2017 through October 2023 in private clinics in Milan (Italy), London (UK), and Dubai (UAE). All patients were followed up for 12 months. The harvested adipose tissues were processed with different systems and with or without acoustic wave therapy (AWT). The extracted products have been characterized in terms of cellular yield and cell growth. Ninety-seven patients were injected with adipose-derived products or hyaluronic acid (HA). Patients were followed up for 12 months, and satisfaction data were analyzed. Results: The stem cells obtained from the patients who previously received AWT displayed a statistically higher cell growth ability in comparison with those of the cells derived from patients who did not receive AWT. The evolution of patient satisfaction during the time for each group of treatment was investigated, and cellular treatments show the best maintenance of patient satisfaction over time. Conclusions: Dermgraft and AWT approaches resulted in the highest patient satisfaction for the non-surgical correction of the saddle nose deformity. Full article

In this paper, a trajectory tracking control strategy for low-speed car-like mobile robots (CLMRs) based on an extended state observer (ESO) and backstepping control is proposed to address the issue of trajectory tracking accuracy degradation caused by modeling errors and external disturbances. First, modeling errors and external disturbances are introduced into an ideal kinematic model of a CLMR, and a set of output equations is utilized to split the coupled, underdriven disturbance kinematic model into two mutually independent subsystems. Next, disturbances in the subsystems are estimated based on a linear ESO, and the convergence of the proposed observer is proved by the Lyapunov method. Finally, a controller with disturbance compensation is designed using backstepping control to complete the trajectory tracking task of CLMRs. Simulation and experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. Full article

In the circular economy framework, hydrosols, by-products of the essential oil industry, are gaining attention for their potential in waste reduction and resource reuse. This study analyzed hydrosols from six edible flowers, investigating their chemical composition (VOC-Hyd) and antibacterial properties alongside volatile organic compounds of fresh flowers (VOC-Fs) and essential oils (EOs). Antirrhinum majus exhibited ketones as major VOC-Fs (62.6%) and VOC-Hyd (41.4%), while apocarotenoids dominated its EOs (68.0%). Begonia cucullata showed alkanes (33.7%) and aldehydes (25.7%) as primary VOC-Fs, while alkanes were prevalent in both extracts (65.6% and 91.7% in VOC-Hyd and in EOs, respectively). Calandula officinalis had monoterpenoids in VOC-Fs and VOC-Hyd (89.3% and 49.7%, respectively), while its EOs were rich in sesquiterpenoids (59.7%). Dahlia hortensis displayed monoterpenoid richness in both VOC-Fs and extracts. Monocots species’ VOC-Fs (Polianthes tuberosa, Tulbaghia cominsii) were esters-rich, replaced by monoterpenoids in VOC-Hyd. P. tuberosa EO maintained ester richness, while T. cominsii EOs contained a significant percentage of sulfur compounds (38.1%). Antibacterial assays indicated comparable minimum inhibitory concentration profiles across VOC-Hyd: B. calcullata and P. tuberosa against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica ser. typhimurium, T. cominsii against Escherichia coli and S. enterica, A. majus and C. officinalis against S. aureus, and D. hortensis against S. enterica. Full article

Background: Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) can cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), often needing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Second-look endoscopies verify resolution, but cost concerns prompt research on metoclopramide’s efficacy compared to erythromycin. Methods: We analyzed the Diamond Network of TriNetX Research database, dividing UGIB patients with PUD undergoing EGD into three groups: metoclopramide, erythromycin, and no medication. Using 1:1 propensity score matching, we compared repeat EGD, post-EGD transfusion, and mortality within one month in two study arms. Results: Out of 97,040 patients, 11.5% received metoclopramide, 3.9% received erythromycin, and 84.6% received no medication. Comparing metoclopramide to no medication showed no significant difference in repeat EGD (10.1% vs. 9.7%, p = 0.34), transfusion (0.78% vs. 0.86%, p = 0.5), or mortality (1.08% vs. 1.08%, p = 0.95). However, metoclopramide had a higher repeat EGD rate compared to erythromycin (9.4% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.003), with no significant difference in transfusion or mortality. Conclusions: The need to repeat EGD was not decreased with pre-EGD use of metoclopramide. If a prokinetic agent is to be used prior to EGD, erythromycin shows superior reduction in the need of repeat EGD as compared to metoclopramide. Full article

The wine sector contributes significantly to economic, environmental and social development. In Portugal, the Setúbal Peninsula is one of the fourteen wine regions. Operated by numerous local businesses in a rural area, the wine industry generates enhanced value and provides jobs in the region. The main purpose of this research is to study the wine sector in the Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and propose a roadmap, which includes strategic mitigation options regarding the impacts of the crisis. This study is based on qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews and focus group interviews. The results show that the wine sector presents a tendency toward concentration with the emergence of producers with scale and notoriety at a national level who, due to the greater dynamism of their activity, have sought international markets of great dimension and with a purchasing power, which values quality products. Finally, a business model is proposed, where companies are advised to offer competitive value propositions, which capitalize on the uniqueness of national grape varieties and traditional production processes in order to offer high-quality products at competitive prices on the global market. Full article

The purpose of the article is to elucidate the conditions and mechanism of crystallization of W-Fe oxide minerals with a pyrochlore-type structure (formerly ferritungstite, now elsmoreite group minerals) based on (1) a study of representative samples of secondary tungsten minerals from the oxidation zone of the Grantcharitsa tungsten deposit (Bulgaria) and (2) laboratory experiments under conditions suggested by the study of natural samples. It has been shown that crystallization of W-Fe pyrochlores occurs easily and effectively when treating WO₃·xFe₂O₃·nH₂O compounds (meymacite and tungstite) with W-Fe-containing solutions with pH 2.5–6.5 (70 °C); at the same time, direct crystallization (direct low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis) of these phases from aqueous solutions is unlikely. The crystallization of W-Fe pyrochlores under natural and laboratory conditions occurs through the oriented attachment of their nanocrystals to the {111} faces of growing crystals. The nucleation of such nanocrystals occurs in the bulk of the solution as a result of the interaction of the W-Fe solution with the W-(Fe) oxide hydrate precursor. The Fe/W ratio in the resulting W-Fe pyrochlore phase depends on the Fe/W ratio in the solution and precursor, as well as on the pH of the solution. Full article

In this study, we investigate multiscale auto- and cross-correlation structural characteristics of sea surface temperature (SST) variability using our new methodology, called the multifractal asymmetric cross-correlation analysis (MF-ACCA), incorporating signs of a segment’s detrended covariance and linear trend. SST is greatly affected by air–sea interactions and the advection of water masses with a wide range of spatiotemporal scales. Since these force factors are imprinted on SST variability, their features can be revealed in terms of long-range auto- and cross-correlation structures of SST variability via a multifractal analysis. By applying the MF-ACCA methodology to SST variability in the East/Japan Sea, we have found the following features: (1) the auto- and cross-correlation multifractal features are dependent on several parameters, such as the location, linear trends (rising or falling), level of fluctuations, and temporal scales; (2) there are crossover behaviors that are discrete for small scales (less than 1000 days) but continuous for large scales (more than 1000 days); (3) long-range persistence of auto- and cross-correlations is random for large scales during the falling phase; (4) long-range persistence is stronger during the rising phase than during the falling phase; (5) the degree of asymmetry is greater for large scales than for small scales. Full article

The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus, which is native to the western Atlantic coast and listed among the 100 most invasive alien species in the Mediterranean Sea, is attracting a great deal of interest because of its rapid colonisation of new areas, the significant increase in its population, and the impacts it may have on ecosystems and ecosystem services. Outside its natural distribution range, the species was first found on European Atlantic coasts in the early 1900s and was introduced into the Mediterranean Sea a few decades later, probably through ballast water. Currently, it is found in almost the entire Mediterranean Basin and is also expanding into the Black Sea and along the north African and Iberian Atlantic coasts. Based on a systematic review of C. sapidus occurrences, this study describes its distribution, aggregation patterns, and spatial structure in Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and adjacent waters through a series of ecological indicators elaborated using GIS spatial–temporal statistics. The main results highlight that the species is expanding in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, while in northern Europe, the population remains confined in some areas. Furthermore, the main species detection methods are analysed, finding that traps and nets are the most frequently used methods, and management suggestions are provided. Full article

For wild animals, being in captivity in wildlife centers can cause considerable stress. Therefore, it is necessary to establish and validate non-invasive tools to measure chronic stress during rehabilitation. Eight Common Buzzards which lived in permanent husbandry were placed individually into prepared aviaries and their feces were collected before, during and after a stress event for biological validation over a period of seven days. The extracted fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) were analyzed with three different enzyme immune assays (EIA) to find the most suitable one. Additionally, we aimed to investigate the stability of fGCM levels after defecation because further metabolization by bacterial enzymes can lead to changed results. The Cortisone-EIA performed best in males and females and showed that the stress event led to an fGCM increase of 629% (557% in females and 702% in males) in relation to basal values. We found no significant differences between the sexes, but observed significant differences between different times of day. FGCM concentration significantly changed after eight hours at room temperature. Our study successfully validated the non-invasive measurement of fGCM as a stress indicator in Common Buzzards and could therefore lay the foundation for future studies providing new insights for animal welfare research in Buzzards. Full article

Helium is a scarce strategic resource. Currently, all economically valuable helium resources are found in natural gas reservoirs. Owing to helium’s different formation and migration processes compared to natural gas’s, the traditional method of collecting wellhead gas to detect helium concentration may miss helium-rich layers in the vertical direction, which will not only cause the waste of helium resources, but also restrict the study of helium migration and accumulation mechanisms. To solve this problem, we designed a helium detector based on a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Through the combination of different inlet valves, we avoided gas mixing between different vertical layers during the inlet process and realized high-spatial-resolution helium concentration detection. We applied the helium detector to the Dongsheng gas field in the northern Ordos Basin, and the instrumental detection results were consistent with the laboratory analysis results of the wellhead gas, which demonstrated the stability of the helium detector in the field environment and the reliability of the data. Meanwhile, the results showed that the distribution of helium in the plane is highly heterogeneous, and the natural gas dessert layers and the helium dessert layers do not coincide in the vertical direction. In addition, we found a good correlation between helium and hydrogen concentrations. Combining our results with previous data, we propose a hydrogen–helium migration and accumulation model, which enriches the understanding of helium accumulation mechanisms and provides a basis for future helium resource exploration. Full article