Search

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is an important C4model crop; however, due to its high-density planting and high stature, lodging at the filling stage resulted in a serious reduction in yield and quality. Therefore, it is imperative to identify and deploy the genes controlling foxtail millet plant height. In this study, we used a semi-dwarf line 263A and an elite high-stalk breeding variety, Chuang 29 to construct an F2population to identify dwarf genes. We performed transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq) using internode tissues sampled at three jointing stages of 263A and Chuang 29, as well as bulk segregant analysis (BSA) on their F2population. A total of 8918 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from RNA-seq analysis, and GO analysis showed that DEGs were enriched in functions such as “gibberellin metabolic process” and “oxidoreductase activity”, which have previously been shown to be associated with plant height. A total 593 mutated genes were screened by BSA-seq method. One hundred and seventy-six out of the 593 mutated genes showed differential expression levels between the two parental lines, and seven genes not only showed differential expression in two or three internode tissues but also showed high genomic variation in coding regions, which indicated they play a crucial role in plant height determination. Among them, we found a gibberellin biosynthesis related GA20 oxidase gene (Seita.5G404900), which had a single-base deletion at the third exon, leading to the frameshift mutation at 263A. Cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence assay and association analysis proved the single-base deletion in Seita.5G404900 co-segregated with dwarf phenotype in two independent F2populations planted in entirely different environments. Taken together, the candidate genes identified in this study will help to elucidate the genetic basis of foxtail millet plant height, and the molecular marker will be useful for marker-assisted dwarf breeding.

Using laser cooling technology, we demonstrate an ultranarrow-bandwidth Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter (FADOF) which operates on the $5^{2}\text{S}_{1/2}$ ( $F = 2$ ) to $6^{2}\text{P}_{3/2}$ ( $F' = 3$ ) transition at 420 nm based on cold 87Rb atoms. The filter achieves a single 2.7(2) MHz passband at a peak transmission of 3.2%. It is the narrowest bandwidth FADOF known at present, as the influence of Doppler broadening on the bandwidth narrowing of FADOF is effectively overcome by cold atoms. This ultranarrow-bandwidth FADOF has a figure of merit (FOM) value of 11.85 GHz−1, which is seven times larger than the largest FOM achieved by thermal vapor atomic optical filter published to date. Furthermore, the scheme can be extended to almost all kinds of atomic optical filters and may find applications in active Faraday optical frequency standard and self-stabilizing laser.

Lightweight metamaterials for broadband electromagnetic wave absorption have become a significant requirement for electromagnetic interference and stealth technologies. In this study, a novel lightweight metamaterial absorber with three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) conductive-coated arrays is designed and fabricated through 3D printing and dipping process, which realized less than −10 dB reflection loss in the frequency range of 7.0–40 GHz. The effect of the sheet resistance of CNTs conductive coatings and geometric parameters of meta-structure on the frequency-dependent absorption properties is investigated, and the improved absorbing efficiency is discussed based on the synergy effect of multiscale structures of 3D conductive-coated arrays. Moreover, the volume of the proposed ultra broadband absorber is reduced by approximately 60.5% compared with that of the dense plate structure, indicating a significant lightening with efficient absorbing capacities. Additionally, the absorption bandwidth and intensity of the proposed absorber have insensitive changes with the variation of incident angle. Therefore, an ultra broadband electromagnetic absorption is designed and realized, indicating a promising lightweight ultra broadband electromagnetic absorbing candidate for lightweight metamaterial absorbers.

This work presents a novel strategy for engineering a GC stationary phase with high selectivity, inertness and thermal stability by introducing the 3D TP moieties to the terminals of the polar chain polymer.

The atomic clocks, whether operating at optical or microwave region, can be divided into two categories according to their working mode, namely the passive clocks and active clocks. The passive clocks, whose standard frequency is locked to an ultra-narrow atomic spectral line, such as laser cooled Cs beam or lattice trapped Sr atoms, depend on the spontaneous emission line. On the contrary, the active clocks, in which the atoms are used as the gain medium, are based on the stimulated emission radiation, their spectrum can be directly used as the frequency standard. Up to now, the active hydrogen maser has been the most stable microwave atomic clocks. Also, the Sr superradiant active atomic clock is prospects for a millihertz-linewidth laser. Moreover, the optical clocks are expected to surpass the performance of microwave clocks both in stability and uncertainty, since their higher working frequency. The active optical clock has the potential to improve the stability of the best clocks by 2 orders of magnitude. In this work, we introduce the development of active optical clocks, and their types is classified according to the energy-level structure of atoms for stimulated radiation.

In this paper, the dynamical properties of multiple van der Pol-Duffing oscillators with time delays are studied. The amplitude death and bifurcation curves in the parameter plane are determined by using the space decomposition method. Different patterns of bifurcated solutions are given on the basis of the symmetric bifurcation theory. The properties of bifurcated solutions are shown by using the norm forms on the center manifold. The interactions of bifurcations are discussed and their dynamical behaviors are shown. An electronic circuit platform is implemented by means of nonlinear circuit and time delay circuit. The revealed behaviors of the circuit reach an agreement with the obtained results. It is shown that the nonlinearity and time delays have great effects on the system performance and can induce interesting and abundant dynamic features.

Introduction/hypothesis:Ultrasound-accelerated catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy (UA-CDT) improves right ventricular stress more quickly as compared to standard therapy in patients with submassive or massive pulmonary embolism (PE). However, little data is available regarding comparative outcomes to intravenous thrombolysis (IT). We evaluated the safety and efficacy of UA-CDT as compared to IT in ?real-world? patients with pulmonary embolism.Methods:The ICD-10 code system was used to identify patients who were admitted with the principle diagnosis of PE in 2016 and received treatment with either UA-CDT or IT in a validated database of discharges from a representative sampling of U.S. hospitals. We used multivariate logistic regression and linear regression to explore the impact of the types of treatment on primary efficacy and safety outcomes, adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, Charlson comorbid index, presence of altered mental status, shock, acute col pulmonale and cancer and other socio-economic features. All estimates were weighted to account for the complex design of NIS using Stata 14.1.Results:We identified 35,526 adult patients admitted for PE of whom 228 patients underwent UA-CDT and 768 patients received IT. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for shock which was more common in IT (21.7 vs 9.2%; p<0.001). UA-CDT patients had lower in-patient mortality rate (12.8 vs 1.8%; adjusted odds ratio=0.17, p value=0.001), but a longer adjusted length of stay (LOS) by 1.28 days, p=0.04. UA-CDT patients were more likely to be discharged home (68.9 vs 58.2%) and had fewer hemorrhagic strokes (0.44 vs 1.43%) and gastrointestinal bleeds (1.3 vs 2.1%), but none of these differences were statistically significant. Total costs were significantly higher with UA-CDT ($119,595 vs $104,345; p < 0.001).Conclusions:In conclusion, UA-CDT was associated with lower inpatient mortality even after adjusting for a lower incidence of shock as compared with IT, but was associated with higher adjusted costs and LOS.

Background:Cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the two leading causes of death in the US. Non-elderly, early-stage cancer(NEESC) patients have the most promising prognosis with appropriate treatments but are at more risk of passing away from CVDs. Studies have shown the uninsured elderly patients on Medicaid receive less guideline-concordant therapy and thus with higher mortality. However, it remains unknown how insurance status influences CVD mortality in NEESC patients, and whether disparity of care is improved in this cohort after the Affordable Care Act.Methods:Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program from 2007-2016 was used to identify patients with in situ tumors including colorectal, lung, cervical, breast, ovary, bladder cancer, and Hodgkin/Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Elderly patients (> 65 years) were excluded. CVDs were defined as diseases of the heart, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, aortic aneurysm/dissection, and atherosclerosis. Competing risk analysis was conducted using SAS9.4.Results:A total of 347,138 patients were included. After adjusting for socio-demographic factors, tumor stage and treatment, Medicaid and non-insured were associated with higher all-cause mortality (HR: Medicaid 1.92 (1.87-1.98); non-insured 1.50 (1.43-1.58)) and cancer-specific mortality (HR: Medicaid 1.84 (1.77-1.92); non-insured 1.60 (1.49-1.72)). Patients with any Medicaid sustain the highest mortality for CVDs across different insurance status (CVD HR: Medicaid 2.05 (1.87-2.25); non-insured 1.15 (0.96-1.37). Diagnosis after ACA was associated with lower all-cause specific mortality as well as CVD mortality (HR: All-cause mortality 0.91 (0.89-0.94); CVD 0.80 (0.74-0.87)). The year of diagnosis did not modify the association between Medicaid insurance and CVD mortality (p=0.10).Conclusions:Despite ACA and Medicaid expansion in 2010, NEESC patients with medicaid or no insurance still have higher all-cause, CVD and cancer-specific mortalities compared with those with private insurance. Noticeably, insurance disparity in CVD mortality was more prominent than other causes of death, which may reflect the gap in health literacy, primary care, and cancer survivorship care access.

Coupled neuronal networks have received considerable attention due to their important and extensive applications in science and engineering. This paper focuses on the nonlinear dynamics of delay-coupled bidirectional FitzHugh–Nagumo (FHN) neuronal networks through theoretical analysis, numerical computations, and circuit simulations. A variety of interesting dynamical behaviors of the network are explored, such as the coexistence of nontrivial equilibria and periodic solutions, different patterns of coexisting attractors, and even chaotic motions. An electronic circuit is designed and performed to validate the facticity of the complicated behaviors, such as multistability and chaotic attractors. It is shown that the circuit simulations reach an agreement with the obtained results.

We experimentally demonstrate a Faraday laser at Rb 1529 nm transition by using a performance-improved Rb electrodeless-discharge-lamp-based excited-state Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter as the frequency-selective element. Neither the electrical locking scheme nor the additional frequency-stabilized pump laser are used. The frequency of the external-cavity diode laser is stabilized to the Rb 1529 nm transition, and the Allan deviation of the Faraday laser is measured by converting the optical intensity into frequency. The Faraday laser can be used as a frequency standard in the telecom C band for further research on metrology, microwave photonics, and optical communication systems.