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In order to solve the poor heat dissipation in the outdoor mobile communication base station, especially in summer, high temperature alarm phenomenon occurs frequently, affecting the normal operation of building base band unite, this paper designs an energy-saving and efficient integrated thermal management system, which has achieved good results by applying the combined operation of heat pipe cooling and air conditioning system using the outdoor temperature switching mode. A mobile communication base station in Zhengzhou City was chosen for a pilot application. The measured results showed that the system ran stably, the temperature inside the cabinet was controlled between 12 °C and 39 °C with no high temperature alarm, the compressor running time was significantly reduced, the power consumption of the air conditioner was significantly reduced, and the annual power saving rate was as high as 58.63%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bootleg innovation is a common phenomenon in Chinese universities. However, little is known about its influencing factors and mechanisms. Based on the trait activation theory, the current study proposes and tests a moderated mediation model by conducting an online survey of 1,038 university teachers at four undergraduate universities using convenient sampling. The findings suggest that the influence of individualistic orientation on bootleg innovation is greater than that of collectivism. Individualism has less influence on informal organizational norms than collectivism. Such norms play a partial mediating role between individualism/collectivism orientation and bootleg innovation behavior. Environmental uncertainty positively moderates the entire mediation model of individualistic orientation but not the first half of the path of the collectivist model. This study enriches the research on antecedent variables of bootleg innovation behavior and highlights the important role of situational factors in the entire mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A cube-shaped MOF-COF composite (IRMOF3-TzDa) was prepared by microwave assisted solvothermal methods. • IRMOF3-TzDa exhibited high adsorption selectivity to copper, with a adsorption capacity of 86 mg g−1. • Favorable fluorescence performance made IRMOF3-TzDa realize the copper sensing. A novel metal organic framework-covalent organic framework (IRMOF3-TzDa) composite was prepared by microwave-assisted solvothermal methods. The designed IRMOF3-TzDa was integrated with dual function of copper ion detection and removal, and characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS et al. The adsorption capacity of Cu2+ by IRMOF3-TzDa was 86 mg g−1 by Langmuir isotherm model fitting. In a mixed metal ions solution, IRMOF3-TzDa demonstrated high adsorption selectivity to Cu2+. The strong affinity between IRMOF3-TzDa and Cu2+ and the rapid transfer of the π electrons of the material to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of Cu2+ provided the chance for Cu2+ fluorescence sensing by IRMOF3-TzDa. A linear range of 10–500 μM was obtained, with a limit of detection of 2.2 μM (n = 11) and a precision of 3.3% (50 μM, n = 9), respectively. Water samples were analyzed by the detection platform, with satisfactory recoveries of 94% to 107%. Benefiting from the high density of adsorption groups and excellent fluorescence properties, the facile synthetic MOF-COF composite provided an alternative material for copper ion removal and detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining density structure of the Tibetan Plateau is helpful in better understanding of tectonic structure and development. Seismic method, as traditional approach obtaining a large number of achievements of density structure in the Tibetan Plateau except in the centre and west, is primarily inhibited by the poor seismic station coverage. As the implementation of satellite gravity missions, gravity method is more competitive because of global homogeneous gravity coverage. In this paper, a novel wavelet-based gravity method with high computation efficiency and excellent local identification capability is developed to determine multilayer densities beneath the Tibetan Plateau. The inverted six-layer densities from 0 to 150 km depth can reveal rich tectonic structure and development of study area: (1) The densities present a clockwise pattern, nearly east-west high-low alternating pattern in the west and nearly south-north high-low alternating pattern in the east, which is almost perpendicular to surface movement direction relative to the stable Eurasia from the Global Positioning System velocity field; (2) Apparent fold structure approximately from 10 to 110 km depth can be inferred from the multilayer densities, the deformational direction of which is nearly south-north in the west and east-west in the east; (3) Possible channel flows approximately from 30 to 110 km depth can also be observed clearly during the multilayer densities. Moreover, the inverted multilayer densities are in agreement with previous studies, which verify the correctness and effectiveness of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty liver disease is a common liver disease in humans and animals alike, and macrofauna are considered an ideal model of fatty liver disease for ultrasonography (US)-based diagnostic research. Here, a model of fatty liver disease in lactating thin-tail sheep induced by negative energy balance was developed by restricted feeding. Ultrasonographic images were divided into the following fat classes according to liver triglyceride concentrations (ratio of triglyceride weight to wet liver weight): healthy liver, <2%; mild hepatic steatosis (HS), ≥2% to 5%; moderate HS, ≥5% to 10%; and severe HS, ≥10%. Characteristics of Ultrasonographic images according to HS severity were evaluated. As the results, mild to severe HS was detected by restricted feeding. The sensitivity of 5 MHz for diagnostic differentiation of healthy liver, and mild, moderate, and severe HS were 66.7%, 60.0%, 66.7%, and 82.5%, respectively, with a moderate κ statistic ranging from 0.667 to 0.735 among observers. The sensitivity of 3.5 MHz for diagnosis of healthy liver, and mild, moderate, and severe HS were 69.7%, 60.5%, 81.5%, and 75.4%, respectively, with moderate κ statistics ranging from 0.575 to 0.684 among observers. The sensitivities of 3.5 and 5 MHz for moderate to severe HS reached 97.4% and 98.2%, respectively. In summary, visualization at 3.5 and 5 MHz was ideal for diagnosis of HS except mild cases with established US diagnostic standards. Furthermore, with the established model, newer methods, such as image digitizing analysis, can be used for US-based diagnosis of fatty liver in further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction of in-situ generated benzylic iodides and styrenes has been achieved. The reaction proceeds in a one-pot manner through 1) addition perfluoroalkyl iodides to styrenes to give benzylic iodides, 2) followed by a palladium-catalyzed Heck coupling of the resulting benzylic iodides with the same alkenes in high regio- and stereoselectivity. A variety of perfluoroalkylated alkenes were obtained in moderate to excellent yields . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Negative energy balance (NEB) is a common pathological foundation of ketosis and fatty liver. Liver and fat tissue are the major organs of lipid metabolism and take part in modulating lipid oxidative capacity and energy demands, which is also a key metabolic pathway that regulates NEB develop during perinatal period. Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) is a recently discovered protein hormone that plays an important and specific regulating role in adipose lipid metabolism and liver gluconeogenesis for human and mouse. Our aim is to investigate the variation and relationship between serum FGF-21 concentration and characteristic parameters related to negative energy balance in different energy metabolism state. Methods: In this research, five non-pregnant, non-lactating Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were randomly allocated into two groups. The interventions were a controlled-energy diet (30 % of maintenance energy requirements) and a moderate-energy diet (120 % of predicted energy requirements) that lasted for the duration of the experiment. We measured biochemical parameters, serum FGF-21, leptin and insulin levels by commercial ELISA kits. Results: The results showed that serum FGF-21 levels were significantly higher in both groups treated with a controlled-energy diet, while FGF-21 levels in both groups treated with moderate-energy diet were low. FGF-21 levels exhibited a significant positive correlation with serum leptin levels, while an inverse relationship was found between FGF-21 and blood glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate acid (BHBA) levels. Conclusion: An increase in FGF-21 levels after a controlled-energy diet treatment may contribute to a positive metabolic effect which could result in a new theoretical and practical basis for the preventive strategy of dairy cows with NEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interesting multicomponent reaction for the synthesis of perfluoroalkyl substituted amidines has been developed. By using perfluoroalkyl iodides, tert -butyl isocyanides and amines as the substrates, the reactions proceed via somophilic isocyanide insertion. In this catalytic system, no transition-metal catalyst, additional ligands and additives were required. The reaction proceed smoothly and a variety of desired amidines were obtained in moderate to excellent yields . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur speciation under the influence of sample pretreatment and sewage sludge (SS) application in a continuously SS-amended soil was assessed by wet-chemical fractionation and S K-edge XANES spectroscopy. Distinct differences in S speciation among the following pretreatments including fresh, air-drying, anoxic freeze-drying, oven-drying, and conditioning (incubation at room temperature and 75% of water holding capacity for 2 wk) were detected in both topsoils and subsoils. Air-drying significantly increased available S content but decreased C-bonded S content in the soils compared with anoxic freeze-drying. Oven-drying and conditioning pretreatments showed a similar effect on S fractions to air-drying in the soils but to a lesser extent. X-ray adsorption near-edge structure analysis showed that both reduced and intermediate organic S tended to decrease while oxidized S obviously increased in the air-dried samples. In contrast, the conditioning pretreatment facilitated the transformation of intermediate S into reduced organic S. Continuous application of SS significantly increased total soil S, C-bonded S, and residual S contents but decreased available S content in the topsoil. Meanwhile, XANES analysis indicated that reduced organic S was markedly increased (over 50% of total S) in the SS-amended topsoil. No obvious effect of the application of SS on S speciation in the subsoil was observed except for the facilitated transportation of S into lower depth. Overall, our results suggest that anoxic atmospheres during the entire pretreatment process from sampling to drying, grinding, and analysis is crucial for the accurate speciation analysis of S in soils, and the anoxic freeze-drying is, therefore, highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Keggin-type polyoxometalate (POM)-based complex, [Ag5(L)3(HSiwy(JwV10O4)(H20)2]-6H20 (1) (L=N,N'-bis(3-pyridinecarboxamide)-l,2-ethane), has been hydrothermally synthesized. Compound 1 shows a 3D + 3D interpenetrating network with a (3,4,4,4)-connected (4 × 62)2(42 × 6 × 82) (65 × 8)2 topology, and it represents the first example of interpenetrating POM-based complex based on flexible bis-pyridyl-bis-amide ligands. Moreover, the electrochemical behavior and luminescence of 1 have been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to detect the effect of propionate, pyruvate and β-hydroxybutyric acid on pyruvate carboxylase mRNA expression in in vitro culture bovine hepatocytes through a quantity reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. Pyruvate carboxylase is a key enzyme in the liver gluconeogenesis of ruminants and plays an important role in the negative energy balance of peri-parturient dairy cows. The effect of propionate, pyruvate and β-hydroxybutyric acid on pyruvate carboxylase mRNA expression at cell level is presented in this article. In experiment 1, the various concentrations of propionate from 0 mmol/L to 11.5 mmol/L, were added to the hepatocytes media. The results indicate that the level of pyruvate carboxylase mRNA was significantly enhanced accompanying increased propionate concentrations in the media ( P < 0.01) and high concentrations of propionate did not inhibit the levels of pyruvate carboxylase mRNA. In experiment 2, pyruvate in concentrations from 0 mmol/L to 12 mmol/L was added to the media. The results indicate that the levels of pyruvate carboxylase mRNA were significantly enhanced when concentrations of pyruvate increased from 0 mmol/M to 4 mmol/M and decreased when concentrations of pyruvate increased from 8 mmol/M to 12 mmol/M ( P < 0.01). In experiment 3, β-hydroxybutyric acid of various concentrations from 0 mmol/L to 3.0 mmol/L was added to the media. The results indicate that pyruvate carboxylase mRNA levels increased slightly when concentrations of β-hydroxybutyric acid were less than 1 mmol/L, and pyruvate carboxylase mRNA levels decreased significantly when they exceeded 2 mmol/L or 3 mmol/L ( P < 0.01). There results suggest that β-hydroxybutyric acid inhibits PC mRNA expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High energy consumption is an increasingly serious problem for air conditioners in mobile communication base stations, and a composite system of the air conditioning and the heat pipe is proposed to solve the problem. The experimental data obtained in Zhengzhou City elucidated the high efficiency in energy saving. The system offers a new opportunity for wide applications in outdoor communication cabinets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the prominent and intractable problems of frequent high temperature alarms of the communication equipment and high energy consumption of air conditioners in Zhengzhou communication outdoor cabinets, a temperature control system with heat pipe as the main part and air conditioner as the auxiliary part is proposed in this paper. A prototype is developed and its applications are discussed. The annual field test shows the system works well, and it has a remarkable energy saving efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to characterise the effects of ketosis on milk yield and composition and digestive capacity in transition dairy cows. Material and Methods: Seven ketotic and seven healthy cows were housed in individual stalls for six days. Samples of plasma, milk, refused total mixed ration, and faeces were collected, and the blood biochemical parameters, milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, and faecal dry matter (FDM) production were determined. Results: Compared with healthy cows, the ketotic cows had significantly higher concentrations of milk fat and citrate, but lower levels of milk protein and lactose. The cows exhibited a need for acid detergent fibre in forage and better digestion of neutral detergent fibre, starch, crude protein, and phosphorus than healthy cows, but more fat and gross energy were excreted in their faeces. Ketotic cows had higher energy-corrected milk yields and lower FDM than healthy cows. Conclusion: Lower feed intake coinciding with the requirement to maintain high milk production is considered to be the cause of ketosis in dairy cows. Ketotic cows exhibited lower dry matter fat digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As is known to all, the electron scattering in classical electromagnetic potential is one of the most widespread applications of quantum theory. Nevertheless, many discussions about electron scattering are based upon single-particle Schrodinger equation or Dirac equation in quantum mechanics rather than the method of quantum field theory. In this paper, by using the path integral approach of quantum field theory, we perturbatively evaluate the scattering amplitude up to the second order for the electron scattering by the classical electromagnetic potential. The results we derive are convenient to apply to all sorts of potential forms. Furthermore, by means of the obtained results, we give explicit calculations for the one-dimensional electric potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A convenient procedure for the synthesis of aromatic primary amides through palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of aryl iodides has been developed. With ammonium hydrogen carbonate as the solid nitrogen source and formic acid as the liquid CO source, a variety of primary amides were obtained in moderate to excellent yields under gas-free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the thermal performance of a high temperature heat pump system, to realize the efficient heat recovery of industrial waste heat, and to make the combined utilization of low and medium temperature heat sources, a high temperature heat pump system with a double heat source cascade is proposed, which can absorb heat from industrial waste heat and the system is capable of heating water up to the required high temperature. The performance of the system is tested and analyzed. It is found that the inlet temperature of the medium temperature heat source has a significant impact on the performance of the heat pump system under working mode of the medium and low temperature heat sources. When the inlet temperature of the intermediate temperature heat source rises from 42 to 53, the heating capacity of the cascade heat pump increases by 18.6%, and its performance coefficient increases by 8.9%. This paper provides a reference for the high efficiency of the cascade high temperature heat pump technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interesting palladium-catalyzed procedure for the synthesis of perfluoroalkylated enynes from perfluoroalkyl iodides and alkynes was developed. The reaction proceeds through the addition of iodoperfluoroalkanes to terminal alkynes and subsequent Sonogashira coupling with the same alkynes. This transformation could be conducted under mild reaction conditions with high efficiency and selectivity. Good functional group compatibility was observed, and a variety of perfluoroalkylated enynes products were isolated in good to excellent yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative to obtain information on the binding sites and distribution of organic contaminants in soils in order to understand their reactions and fates in soils. Here we propose a novel strategy that enables in situ observation at the micrometer scale of the spatial distribution of organobromine compounds and characterization of their associations with organic carbon (OC) forms (i.e., C-functional groups) in soils. According to the strategy, two complementary synchrotron radiation-based spectroscopic techniques (i.e., Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) and micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) spectromicroscopies) were applied to characterize the binding sites and distribution of Br (as a conservative tracer for organobromine compounds), OC forms, clay minerals, and other mineral elements within soil particles, respectively, at a 6-10 μm-scale spatial resolution. This study is the first in situ investigation on the microscale locations of organobromine compounds at environmental levels and their associations with OC forms and clay mineral/elements in natural soils. The strategy paves the way toward in situ characterization of the distribution, speciation, and binding sites of some organic contaminants, which is critical in understanding their associated environmental processes in soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ketosis is an important problem for dairy cows' production performance. However, it is still little known about plasma metabolomics details of dairy ketosis. Results: A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique was used to investigate plasma metabolic differences in cows that had clinical ketosis (CK, n=22), subclinical ketosis (SK, n=32), or were clinically normal controls (NC, n=22). The endogenous plasma metabolome was measured by chemical derivatization followed by GC/MS, which led to the detection of 267 variables. A two-sample t-test of 30, 32, and 13 metabolites showed statistically significant differences between SK and NC, CK and NC, and CK and SK, respectively. Orthogonal signal correction-partial least-square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed that the metabolic patterns of both CK and SK were mostly similar, with the exception of a few differences. The development of CK and SK involved disturbances in many metabolic pathways, mainly including fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway. A diagnostic model arbitrary two groups was constructed using OPLS-DA and receiver-operator characteristic curves (ROC). Multivariate statistical diagnostics yielded the 19 potential biomarkers for SK and NC, 31 for CK and NC, and 8 for CK and SK with area under the curve (AUC) values. Our results showed the potential biomarkers from CK, SK, and NC, including carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids, even sitosterol and vitamin E isomers, etc. 2-piperidinecarboxylic acid and cis-9-hexadecenoic acid were closely associated with metabolic perturbations in ketosis as Glc, BHBA and NEFA for dealing with metabolic disturbances of ketosis in clinical practice. However, further research is needed to explain changes of 2,3,4-trihydroxybutyric acid, 3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid, α-aminobutyric acid, methylmalonic acid, sitosterol and α-tocopherol in CK and SK, and to reveal differences between CK and SK. Conclusion: Our study shows that some new biomarkers of ketosis from plasma may find new metabolic changes to have clinically new utility and significance in diagnosis, prognosis, and prevention of ketosis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Front Cover shows sweet cherries, which contain amides. In this picture, the two cherries represent formic acid and ammonium bicarbonate, which are sources of CO and NH3, respectively. In the presence of palladium and the phosphine ligand, aryl iodides were transformed into the corresponding primary amides under gas‐free conditions. More information can be found in the Communication by X.‐F. Wu et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) is a novel metabolic regulator involved in lipid utilization, and it can involve in the regulation of lipid metabolism. To determine the physiological function of FGF21 in relation to a high-fat diet (HFD) and high cholesterol, the effect of FGF21 on immune response indicators and hematological parameters was investigated. In the experiment, a total of 24 female mice were selected, 12 of which were fed with HFDs (group 1) and the other were fed with normal diet (group 2). After 30 days, the mice of two groups were respectively divided into two groups on average: 1. HFDs mice were used as model group; 2 normal diet mice were used as control group; 3. HFDs mice injection were used as model + FGF21 group; 4. normal diet injection were used as control + FGF21 group. Mice were sacrificed at 3-day intervals and the livers were isolated and analyzed. Blood was collected and analyzed for CD3 and CD19 by flow cytometry and IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-a by ELISA. Serum TG, TC, NEFA, LDL-c, and HDL-c levels were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. Although CD3 and CD19 varied, the difference was not significant, and the levels of IL-4, IL-6, TNF-a, TC, TG LDL-c, and NEFA in the model exogenous injection FGF21 group were lower than in the model group (P<0.05). The present results indicate that exogenous FGF21 regulates IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-a and protects the liver from inflammation damage induced by high dietary fat and cholesterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a frequent subclinical disease, fatty liver disease (FLD) is associated with a severe negative energy balance (NEB) during the early lactation period, and usually cause of economic loss to dairy farmers. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for the assessment of FLD. However, as an invasive procedure, liver biopsy has several limitations and such procedures are not readily available to dairy farmers. To further evaluate FLD in dairy cows, a FLD model of lactating sheep was developed by simulation of the state of negative energy balance (NEB). Materials, Methods & Results: Fourteen pregnancy thin-tail ewes were divided into control group (CG, n = 4), non-lamb restrained feeding group (NRG, n = 4) and single birth restrained feeding group (SRG, n = 6). After lambing, NRG and SRG ewe were received a feed restrained diet for 16 days. Liver biopsies and blood was collected on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16, and biochemical parameters were analyzed. With restricted feeding and lactation administration, ewes in SRG showed increased liver fat concentrations (LFC) from days 4 post-administration and severe LFC was detected at day 13. Compared with CG, SRG sheep showed significant lower concentration of serum glucose (Glu) from days 7-13 and higher non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) from days 4-16, ƒÀ-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) from days 4-16, triglyceride from days 4-16, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol from days 4-16, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from days 13-16, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) at days 16. While, ewes in NRG showed normal LFC levels, and high concentration of serum Glu and insulin from days 4-16 were detected than CG and SRG ewes. With restricted feeding, ewes in NRG and SRG showed significant low level of revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index from days 4-16 and high level of liver total cholesterol (TC) at day 16. Liver pathological characteristics showed LFC of NEB sheep was first detected around the liver portal area. Discussion: In this study, a model of FLD in lactating thin-tail sheep was developed by restricted feeding. Serum glucose concentrations were sharply decreased in SRG sheep Cthat was due to the large energy requirements for lactation and low energy provided by a restricted diet. While non-lactating NRG sheep demonstrated lower fat mobilization, which was considered to contribute to the high concentrations of serum glucose, as compared to SRG sheep. Meanwhile, in a state of NEB, oxaloacetic acid, which is generated by glycolysis and glycogenic amino acids, tends to be used for gluconeogenesis, that a generous amount of NEFA is incompletely oxidized to generate ketone body in SRG sheep, which is a major component of BHBA. Liver TC concentrations were significantly higher in NRG sheep than those in the SRG sheep, while liver triglyceride was significantly lower. The high level of liver TC in NRG sheep was considered to induce removal of triglyceride from the liver in the form of VLDL. Compared with CG sheep, although higher levels of liver TC were detected in SRG sheep on postpartum day 16, these levels were considered too low to induce significant depletion of triglycerides from the liver. In this study, the increase in serum AST and LDH was considered to cause by oxidative stress in mitochondria, and LDH concentrations was considered more sensitively than AST for LFC caused by NEB. Liver pathological characteristics showed that FLD caused by NEB had a major impact on reduced LFC, although no significant liver fibrosis was detected. While different from FLD caused by high-fat diet, TG was first accumulates around the hepatic lobules and LFC of NEB sheep was first detected around the liver portal area. It was considered that high concentrations of NEFA are prioritized for oxygenation in the liver portal area, which results in triglyceride accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multilayer approach is set up for local gravity field modeling based on the idea of multi-resolution representation merging heterogeneous gravity data. Different layers of Poisson wavelets' grids are formed to recover the signals at various levels, where the shallow and deep layers mainly capture the short- and long-wavelength signals, respectively. The depths of these layers beneath the topography are linked to the locations that the anomaly sources locate, estimated by the wavelet decomposition and power spectrum analysis. For testing the performance of this approach, a gravimetric quasi-geoid over the North Sea in Europe called QGNSea V1.0 is computed and compared with other existing models. The results show that the multilayer approach outperforms the traditionally used single-layer one in high-frequency bands, and the former fit the gravity data better, especially in regions with a tendency toward topographical variation. The evaluation with GPS/leveling data show the accuracies of QGNSea V1.0 modeled from the multilayer approach are improved by 0.3cm, 0.6cm and 0.8cm in the Netherlands, Belgium and parts of Germany, respectively, compared to the original solution computed from the single-layer approach. Further validation with existing models show QGNSea V1.0 has the best quality, which may be beneficial for studying the ocean circulation between the North Sea and neighbouring waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate terrestrial water storage (TWS) estimation is important to evaluate the situation of the water resources over the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). This study exploits the TWS observation from the new temporal gravity field model, HUST-Grace2016 (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), which is developed by a new low-frequency noise processing strategy. A novel GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) post-processing approach is proposed to enhance the quality of the TWS estimate, and the improved TWS is used to characterize the drought and flood events over the YRB. The HUST-Grace2016-derived TWS presents good agreement with the CSR (Center for Space Research) mascon solution as well as the PCR-GLOBWB (PCRaster Global Water Balance) hydrological model. Particularly, our solution provides remarkable performance in identifying the extreme climate events e.g., flood and drought over the YRB and its sub-basins. The comparison between GRACE-derived TWS variations and the MODIS-derived (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) inundated area variations is then conducted. The analysis demonstrates that the terrestrial reflectance data can provide an alternative way of cross-comparing and validating TWS information in Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake, with a correlation coefficient of 0.77 and 0.70, respectively. In contrast, the correlation is only 0.10 for Tai Lake, indicating the limitation of cross-comparison between MODIS and GRACE data. In addition, for the first time, the NCEP/NCAR (National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research) vertical velocity data is incorporated with GRACE TWS in the exploration of the climate-induced hydrological activities. The good agreement between non-seasonal NCEP/NCAR vertical velocities and non-seasonal GRACE TWSs is found in flood years (2005, 2010, 2012 and 2016) and drought years (2006, 2011 and 2013). The evidence shown in this study may contribute to the analysis of the mechanism of climate impacts on the YRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this investigation was to determine the relationship between postpartum anoestrus and negative energy balance in an intensive dairy farm from the Heilongjiang Province, China. At 14 to 21 d after parturition, 100 cows were randomly selected and their plasma indices, including ß-hydroxybutyric acid, non-esterified fatty acid, and glucose were measured. Cows were assigned to a positive energy balance group (n = 37) and a negative energy balance group (n = 36) based on their ß-hydroxybutyric acid concentrations (> 1.20 mmol/l). The two groups of cows were examined by B-mode ultrasonography and rectal examination from 60 to 90 d after parturition to identify the ovarian status of oestrous and anoestrous animals. The incidences of negative energy balance and positive energy balance were 49 and 57%, respectively, from14 to 21 d after parturition. From 60 to 90 d after parturition, 94.4% of the negative energy balance group were in anoestrus and 5.6% were in oestrus, while 62.2% of the positive energy balance group were in anoestrus and 37.8% were in oestrus. Furthermore, the proportion of inactive ovaries in the negative energy balance group was 61.8%. In conclusion, the negative energy balance is an important factor causing inactive ovaries in high-yielding dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to investigate relationship of retained fetal membranes (RFM) to expression of NOS and NOS mRNA and to analyze pathohistological changes and the distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in foetal placentas of cows with RFM. Twenty cows were assigned to two groups, a control group (no retained fetal membranes, NRFM, n =10) and a diseased group (RFM, n =10). The endpoint method was used to detect the nitric oxide (NO) content and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in foetal placental tissue fluid and the fluorescent quantitation PCR was used to measure the expression of NOS mRNA. Immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin–eosin staining were used to observe pathohistological changes. Tissue from RFM cows showed fibronecrosis of the chorionic villi, and a decreased number of trophoblastic cells. The majority of trophoblastic cells displayed vacuolar degeneration. Interstitium vessels were distended and congested. Expression of induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein and iNOS mRNA was significantly higher (P <0.05) in the cytoplasm of placental villus trophoblastic cells in the RFM group. But expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein and eNOS mRNA was significantly lower (P <0.05) in the RFM group. The NO content and NOS activity of cows with RFM were significantly higher (P <0.05). A high expression of iNOS protein and iNOS mRNA in the cow foetal placenta could produce high content of NO, which might inhibit uterine contraction. So over expression of iNOS protein and iNOS mRNA might be an important agent of retained fetal membranes in cows, and it may be a potential diagnosis biomarker. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]