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Fast construction of the 3-D scattering centers of ship targets on the sea surface is important for many radar applications, including the fast signature prediction, feature extraction, and automatic recognition of targets. Combining the “four-path” model for target-surface coupling scattering with modified Fresnel reflection coefficient model in the stochastic sea surface and ray tube integration method, we propose a 3-D image formation method for ship-surface compound targets. Using the CLEAN technique on 3-D image, we develop a fast algorithm for establishing 3-D scattering center model for ship targets on the sea surface. Because this algorithm realizes 3D imaging of targets at a single frequency and single aspect angle, and adopts simplified surface model to avoid the need to construct a large number of surface elements, the computational efficiency of the proposed alogrithm is greatly increased to meet the needs of practical engineering applications. Simulation experiments of a typical ship target show that the proposed algorithm can increase the speed by four orders of magnitude under typical conditions, as compared with the traditional FFT-based 3D imaging method. We validate the accuracy of this algorithm by comparing reconstructed 1-D range profiles and ISAR images obtain by the scattering center model with the ones that are directly simulated.

Abstract Background Lignocellulosic biomass is one of the most abundant materials for biochemicals production. However, efficient co-utilization of glucose and xylose from the lignocellulosic biomass is a challenge due to the glucose repression in microorganisms. Kluyveromyces marxianus is a thermotolerant and efficient xylose-utilizing yeast. To realize the glucose–xylose co-utilization, analyzing the glucose repression of xylose utilization in K. marxianus is necessary. In addition, a glucose–xylose co-utilization platform strain will facilitate the construction of lignocellulosic biomass-utilizing strains. Results Through gene disruption, hexokinase 1 (KmHXK1) and sucrose non-fermenting 1 (KmSNF1) were proved to be involved in the glucose repression of xylose utilization while disruption of the downstream genes of cyclic AMP-protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) signaling pathway or sucrose non-fermenting 3 (SNF3) glucose-sensing pathway did not alleviate the repression. Furthermore, disruption of the gene of multicopy inhibitor of GAL gene expression (KmMIG1) alleviated the glucose repression on some nonglucose sugars (galactose, sucrose, and raffinose) but still kept glucose repression of xylose utilization. Real-time PCR analysis of the xylose utilization related genes transcription confirmed these results, and besides, revealed that xylitol dehydrogenase gene (KmXYL2) was the critical gene for xylose utilization and stringently regulated by glucose repression. Many other genes of candidate targets interacting with SNF1 were also evaluated by disruption, but none proved to be the key regulator in the pathway of the glucose repression on xylose utilization. Therefore, there may exist other signaling pathway(s) for glucose repression on xylose consumption. Based on these results, a thermotolerant xylose–glucose co-consumption platform strain of K. marxianus was constructed. Then, exogenous xylose reductase and xylose-specific transporter genes were overexpressed in the platform strain to obtain YHY013. The YHY013 could efficiently co-utilized the glucose and xylose from corncob hydrolysate or xylose mother liquor for xylitol production (> 100 g/L) even with inexpensive organic nitrogen sources. Conclusions The analysis of the glucose repression in K. marxianus laid the foundation for construction of the glucose–xylose co-utilizing platform strain. The efficient xylitol production strain further verified the potential of the platform strain in exploitation of lignocellulosic biomass.

The production index of gold cyanidation leaching process has an important influence on the economic benefits of the plant-wide hydrometallurgical process. In the actual leaching production process, due to the fluctuations of the previous procedure, the leaching process is often affected by the uncertainty and process disturbance. And hence, the prediction accuracy of the traditional point prediction models (such as ANN: Artificial Neural Network) decreases seriously and cannot provide any quantified information about the uncertainty or process disturbance. To solve the above problem, the interval prediction technique based on Radial Basis Function (RBF) ANN is proposed and used to model a gold cyanidation leaching plant encountering uncertainty and process disturbances in this paper. The objective function trained in the interval prediction model is not based on the prediction error, but the comprehensive measure index, namely, the coverage width criteria, which consists of the prediction interval coverage probability and the prediction interval normalized averaged width. Compared to the traditional point prediction, when the process uncertainty and disturbances are present, the interval prediction model will provide more helpful process information to the operators or process designers for determining further optimization and control strategies. The simulation and practical application results show that most of the real values of gold recovery can be covered between the upper and lower bounds with a predefined probability, which indicates the effectiveness and reliability of the interval prediction model, thus laying an important foundation for plant-wide optimization and control.

Global warming is deeply influencing various ecological processes, especially regarding the phenological synchronization pattern between species, but more cases around the world are needed to reveal it. We report how the forest leaf phenology and ungulate molting respond differently to climate change, and investigate whether it will result in a potential phenology mismatch. Here, we explored how climate change might alter phenological synchronization between forest leaf phenology and Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) molting in northeast China based on a camera-trapping dataset of seven consecutive years, analyzing forest leaf phenology in combination with records of Siberian roe deer molting over the same period by means of wavelet analysis. We found that the start of the growing season of forest leaf phenology was advanced, while the end of the growing season was delayed, so that the length of the growing season was prolonged. Meanwhile, the start and the end of the molting of Siberian roe deer were both advanced in spring, but in autumn, the start of molting was delayed while the end of molting was advanced. The results of wavelet analysis also suggested the time lag of synchronization fluctuated slightly from year to year between forest leaf phenology and Siberian roe deer molting, with a potential phenology mismatch in spring, indicating the effect of global warming on SRD to forest leaf phenology. Overall, our study provides new insight into the synchronization between forest leaf phenology and ungulate molting, and demonstrates feasible approaches to data collection and analysis using camera-trapping data to explore global warming issues.

Resistance to first-line chemotherapy drugs has become an obstacle to improving the clinical prognosis of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Exosomal microRNAs have been shown to play pro- and anti-chemoresistant roles in various cancers, but their role in SCLC chemoresistance has never been explored. In this study, we observed that the expression of exosomal miR-92b-3p was significantly increased in patients who developed chemoresistance. Luciferase reporter analysis confirmed that PTEN was a target gene of miR-92b-3p. The PTEN/AKT regulatory network was related to miR-92b-3p-mediated cell migration and chemoresistance in vitro and in vivo in SCLC. Importantly, exosomes isolated from the conditioned medium of SBC-3 cells overexpressing miR-92b-3p could promote SCLC chemoresistance and cell migration. Furthermore, we found that plasma miR-92b-3p levels were significantly higher in patients with chemoresistant SCLC than in those with chemosensitive SCLC, but the levels were down-regulated in patients who achieved remission. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that SCLC patients with high miR-92b-3p expression were associated with shorter progression-free survival. Overall, our results suggested that exosomal miR-92b-3p is a potential dynamic biomarker to monitor chemoresistance in SCLC and represents a promising therapeutic target for chemoresistant SCLC.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has significantly affected international public health safety. It has been reported that the pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, could originate from bats and utilize the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) as an intermediate host. To gain further insights into the coronaviruses carried by pangolins, we investigated the occurrence of Betacoronavirus (β-CoV) infections in captive Malayan pangolins in the Guangdong province of China. We detected three β-CoV-positive M. javanica individuals with a positive rate of 6.98% and also detected β-CoV in two dead pangolins sampled in August 2019. The CoV carried by pangolins is a new β-CoV, which is genetically related to SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was detected in eight organs of pangolins, with the highest ACE2 mRNA levels in the kidney, suggesting that these organs could be at a risk of β-CoV infection. These results enable us to better understand the status of β-CoV carried by Malayan pangolins, while providing a theoretical basis for better pangolin protection and viral control.

Anxious major depressive disorder is a common subtype of major depressive disorder; however, its unique neural mechanism is not well-understood currently. Using multimodal MRI data, this study examined common and specific alterations of amygdala subregions between patients with and without anxiety. No alterations were observed in the gray matter volume or intra-region functional integration in either patient group. Compared with the controls, both patient groups showed decreased functional connectivity between the left superficial amygdala and the left putamen, and between the right superficial amygdala and the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex and medial orbitofrontal cortex, while only patients with anxiety exhibited decreased activity in the bilateral laterobasal and superficial amygdala. Moreover, the decreased activity correlated negatively with the Hamilton depression scale scores in the patients with anxiety. These findings provided insights into the pathophysiologic processes of anxious major depressive disorder and may help to develop new and effective treatment programs.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a neuroimaging tool which has been applied extensively to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms of neurological disorders. Spatial neglect is considered to be the failure to attend or respond to stimuli on the side of the space or body opposite a cerebral lesion. In this review, we summarize and analyze fMRI studies focused specifically on spatial neglect. Evidence from fMRI studies have highlighted the role of dorsal and ventral attention networks in the pathophysiological mechanisms of spatial neglect, and also support the concept of interhemispheric rivalry as an explanatory model. fMRI studies have shown that several rehabilitation methods can induce activity changes in brain regions implicated in the control of spatial attention. Future investigations with large study cohorts and appropriate subgroup analyses should be conducted to confirm the possibility that fMRI might offer an objective standard for predicting spatial neglect and tracking the response of brain activity to clinical treatment, as well as provide biomarkers to guide rehabilitation for patients with SN.

Objective To investigate the association between the solute carrier family 6 member 4 ( SLC6A4 ) gene L/S polymorphism and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods The relevant literature was retrieved from the PubMed® database and the data were extracted. STATA® version 12.0 software was used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Eight case–control studies qualified for inclusion in the meta-analysis. These studies included 1215 cases and 936 control subjects. There was no significant association between the SLC6A4 gene L/S polymorphism and PAH risk in the total population (LL versus SS: OR 1.83, 95% CI 0.95, 3.51; LS versus SS: OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.93, 2.02; dominant model: OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.97, 1.97; recessive model: OR 1.54, 95% CI 0.84, 2.83). Subgroup analysis based on study quality scores and Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium also showed no significant association. Conclusion The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that the SLC6A4 gene L/S polymorphism is unlikely to be related to PAH risk. Well-designed studies with more participants will be required to validate these results.

Background and Purpose: Patients' self-perceived burden (SPB) is associated with distress, which has a potentially negative influence on disease rehabilitation and quality of life. Stroke represents a significant health and social burden. The aim of the study was to assess, compare, and identify predictors of SPB in stroke survivors during the first 3 months post-stroke.Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was used. Consecutive stroke inpatients were recruited from the neurology department of three general hospitals in Xi'an, China. Patients were surveyed using the Self-perceived Burden Scale (SPBS) on the fourth day of admission (Acute phase, Time 1, T1) and 1 month (Time 2, T2) and 3 months (Time 3, T3) post-stroke.Results: Considerable burden was experienced by 84.15–91.50% of patients in the first 3 months post-stroke. The mean score of physical burden was the highest. Over time, physical, emotional, and economic burden all declined. The following characteristics had significant association with increased patient SPB at T1, T2, and T3: age, self-evaluated economic pressure, comorbidity, and functional status (P < 0.01). Patients' knowledge about stroke was only significantly associated with SPB at T3 (P < 0.01).Conclusions: Patients experienced a high degree of SPB in the early stage after stroke. Addressing the characteristics and predicting factors as well as the development of a targeted intervention for SPB may improve survival and post-stroke disability.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert critical effects in the process of malignant cancers and lncRNA LOXL1 Antisense RNA 1 (LOXL1-AS1) has been demonstrated to be a pro-oncogene in multiple tumor types. In the current study, we illuminated the precise roles of LOXL1-AS1 in the development of ovarian cancer. LOXL1-AS1 is significantly overexpressed in ovarian carcinoma tissue compared with adjacent non‐cancerous sample. The luciferase reporter gene assay reveals the relationship between LOXL1-AS1 and miR‐18b‐5p, miR‐18b‐5p and its target gene, Vacuolar ATPase Assembly Factor VMA21 (VMA21). Transfection of LOXL1-AS1 siRNA or miR‐18b‐5p mimics inhibits the growth and aggressive phenotypes of SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cell. Furthermore, miR-18b-5p suppresses ovarian carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis by targeting VMA21 and LOXL1-AS1 regulates ovarian carcinoma cell growth and metastasis through sponging miR‐18b‐5p. These findings suggest that lncRNA LOXL1-AS1 promotes ovarian cancer cell growth, migratory and invasiveness via modulating miR‐18b‐5p/VMA21 axis.

The outbreak of a novel corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the city of Wuhan, China has resulted in more than 1.7 million laboratory confirmed cases all over the world. Recent studies showed that SARS-CoV-2 was likely originated from bats, but its intermediate hosts are still largely unknown. In this study, we assembled the complete genome of a coronavirus identified in 3 sick Malayan pangolins. The molecular and phylogenetic analyses showed that this pangolin coronavirus (pangolin-CoV-2020) is genetically related to the SARS-CoV-2 as well as a group of bat coronaviruses but do not support the SARS-CoV-2 emerged directly from the pangolin-CoV-2020. Our study suggests that pangolins are natural hosts of Betacoronaviruses. Large surveillance of coronaviruses in pangolins could improve our understanding of the spectrum of coronaviruses in pangolins. In addition to conservation of wildlife, minimizing the exposures of humans to wildlife will be important to reduce the spillover risks of coronaviruses from wild animals to humans.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between food patterns and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among Chinese elderly to provide evidence for risk prevention and control of MCI among elderly population.MethodsBetween February 2017 to October 2018, a stratified multistage cluster sampling method was used to select participants from 760 communities of six districts in Xi'an, China, for 49-item food frequency questionnaire survey. A total of 2311 participants aged 60 to 88 years were included in the study with 444 (19.2%) participants of MCI among Chinese community-dwelling elderly adults. Food patterns associated with risk of dementia were assessed by using a reduced rank regression (RRR) analysis, and the multivariate linear regression was used to test trends of risk factors across scores for the food pattern.ResultsFour dietary patterns were extracted which explained 88.65% of the total variation in food intakes. Furthermore, the food pattern 1 (FP1) accounted for 60.25% of the total variation of all responsible variables and as a target dietary pattern in the study, which was related with high intake of legumes, vegetables, fruits, milk and dairy products, nuts and a low intake of noodles and cereals (pConclusionThe FP1 of Chinese dietary patterns was significantly correlated with higher cognitive function which can reduce the risk of MCI among Chinese elderly.

By means of calculating stacking fault energy(SFE), measuring creep properties and contrast analysis of dislocation configuration, the influence of the temperature on the stacking fault energy and the creep mechanism of a single crystal nickel-based superalloy was investigated. Results show that there is a lower stacking fault energy(SFE) of the alloy at 760℃, and the deformed mechanism of the alloy during creep is the cubical γ' phase sheared by 〈110〉 super-dislocation which may be decomposed to form the configuration of (1/3)〈112〉 super-Shockley partials dislocation plus the super-lattice intrinsic stacking fault(SISF). But the stacking fault energy of the alloy increases with temperature, so the deformed mechanism of the alloy during creep at 1070℃ is the screw or edge super-dislocation shearing into the rafted γ' phase. The SFE of the alloy at 980℃ is in the middle value of the SFEs between 760℃ and 1070℃, the main deformed mechanism of the alloy during creep is the screw or edge super-dislocation shearing into the rafted γ' phase. And some super-dislocation shearing into γ' phase may cross-slip from {111} to {100} planes to form the K-W locks configuration of (1/2)〈110〉 partials plus the anti-phase boundary(APB). The K-W locks with non plane core structure may restrain the slipping and cross-slipping of dislocations to improve the creep resistance of alloy. Wherein, the lower strain rate during creep releases too less deformed heat to activate the dislocation in the K-W locks for re-slipping on {111} plane, which is thought to be the main reason of the K-W locks kept in the alloy during creep at 980℃.

The radioprotective effect of amitriptyline, an inhibitor of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), on radiation-induced impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis, loss of interneuron, and animal weight changes was investigated in BALB/c mice by immunostaining of biomarkers for cell division (Ki67), immature neurons (doublecortin or DCX), and interneurons (parvalbumin or PV) in the dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus. The results indicated that preirradiation (with 10 mg/kg, 2 times per day, for 7 consecutive days) or postirradiation (with 10 mg/kg, 2 times per day, for 14 consecutive days) treatment (pretreatment or posttreatment) with intraperitoneal injection of amitriptyline prevented the loss of newly generated neurons, proliferating cells, and interneurons in the subgranular zone of the DG. At the molecular level, pretreatment or posttreatment inhibited the expression of sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 ( SMPD1 ) gene which codes for ASMase. The pretreatment for 7 days also prevented radiation-induced weight loss from 2 to 3 weeks, but not within 1 week after irradiation. On the other hand, the posttreatment with amitriptyline for 14 days could improve animal weight gain from 4 to 6 weeks after irradiation. The present study suggests that amitriptyline may be a promising candidate radio-neuroprotective drug to improve radiation-induced impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis and relevant neurological and neuropsychological disorders.

The artificial accelerated aging test of low density polyethylene (LDPE) was carried out for different time periods up to 64 days under UV environment to study the photo-oxidative degradation behavior and the rule. The influence on mechanical properties, chemical structure, thermal stability and melting property evolution of LDPE after photo-oxidation aging was studied by mechanics experiments, attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Analytic hierarchy procedure (AHP) was used to determine the weighing values for assessment index of LDPE, and the photo-oxidative degradation comprehensive evaluation model of LDPE was established on the base of improving traditional principal components analysis (PCA). The results show with increasing aging time, the tensile strength, bending strength and impact strength of LDPE are declined by 39.7%, 32.3% and 96.4%, respectively. The concentration of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups are increased, the rupture of molecular chain is intensified. The initial thermal decomposition temperature and melting temperature peak value are declined and the LDPE surface microstructure is seriously damaged and the aging is severe. The comprehensive evaluation parameters exhibit changing trend in three stages. The evaluation results of improved PCA are more reasonable and all the above-mentioned shows that improved PCA is appropriate for the comprehensive evaluation of photo-oxidative degradation behavior of LDPE.

Abstract Background Infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive mothers are at a higher risk for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Host genetic background plays an important role in determining the strength of immune response to vaccination. We conducted this study to investigate the association between Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and Mitogen-activated protein kinase eight (MAPK8) polymorphisms and low response to hepatitis B vaccines. Methods A total of 753 infants of HBsAg positive and hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) negative mothers from the prevention of mother-to-infant transmission of HBV cohort were included. Five tag single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) (rs1799964, rs1800629, rs3093671, rs769177 and rs769178) in TNF and two tag SNPs (rs17780725 and rs3827680) in MAPK8 were genotyped using the MassARRAY platform. Results A higher percentage of breastfeeding (P = 0.013) and a higher level of Ab titers were observed in high responders (P

Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) is one of the most difficult problems in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data interpretation. In recent years, the model-based SAR target recognition method has attracted much attention because of its good performance in the extended operation condition. Based on the research of a few domestic research institutes, this paper briefly introduces the preliminary research results and gives some thoughts about SAR ATR problem. First of all, the development of parametric scattering model are discussed from three aspects. Next, two ways to model the parametric electromagnetic scattering for complex target are put forward. Finally, we propose a new framework for a Three-Dimensional (3D) parametric scattering model based SAR ATR. In the end, the future research direction of model-based SAR target recognition is prospected.

Background: Renal function is associated with mortality and functional disabilities in stroke patients, and impaired autonomic function is common in stroke, but little is known regarding its effects on stroke patients with renal dysfunction. This study sought to evaluate the association between autonomic function and stroke in patients with renal dysfunction. Methods: This study comprised 232 patients with acute ischemic stroke consecutively enrolled from February 2013 to November 2014 at Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine in China. All patients recruited underwent laboratory evaluation and 24 h Holter electrocardiography (ECG). Autonomic function was measured based on the heart rate variability (HRV) using 24 h Holter ECG. Renal damage was assessed through the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and stroke severity was rated according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The Barthel index and modified Rankin score were also determined following admission. All the clinical covariates that could potentially affect autonomic outcome variables were adjusted with linear regression. Results: In the patients with a mild or moderate decreased eGFR, the values for the standard deviation of the averaged normal-to-normal RR interval (SDANN) index (P = 0.022), very low frequency (VLF) (P = 0.043), low frequency (LF) (P = 0.023), and ratio of low-to-high frequency power (LF/HF) (P = 0.001) were significantly lower than those in the patients with a normal eGFR. A multinomial linear regression indicated that eGFR (t = 2.47, P = 0.014), gender (t = −3.60, P < 0.001), and a history of hypertension (t = −2.65, P = 0.008) were the risk factors of LF/HF; the NIHSS score (SDANN index: t = −3.83, P < 0.001; VLF: t = −3.07, P = 0.002; LF: t = −2.79, P = 0.006) and a history of diabetes (SDANN index: t = −3.58, P < 0.001; VLF: t = −2.54, P = 0.012; LF: t = −2.87, P = 0.004) were independent factors for the SDANN index, VLF, and LF; the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (t = −2.38, P = 0.018) was related to the SDANN index. Conclusions: Autonomic dysfunction is aggravated with the progression of eGFR stage in patients with acute ischemic stroke; the eGFR is an independent factor of LF/HF in the adjusted models. Stroke severity and a history of diabetes are more significantly associated with HRV in patients with acute ischemic stroke at different stages of renal dysfunction.

The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is an extremely endangered species, it has been banned from international trade due to a sharp decline of the population number in China. It is difficult to distinguish among subspecies, thus making it entangled in law enforement. In order to clarify this chaos, we determined and annotated the whole mtDNA genome of the Chinese pangolin. The complete mitogenome is 16 573 bp in length, includeing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and one control region. We built the phylogenetic tree of Chinese pangolinand other 7 most related Manis species.

The roe deer (Capreolus capreolus mantschurivus) is the main prey of the Amur tigers and leopards in the northeast of China. The population genetics of roe deer is closely related to the conservation and management of the endangered species. We first determined and annotated the whole mtDNA genome of the C. capreolus mantschurivus to better understand the evolutionary relationship of these subspecies. The complete mitogenome is 16 355 bp in length, includes 37 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 control region. We built the phylogenetic tree of C. capreolus mantschurivus and other 11 most closely related Cervidae species.

The muskrat Ondatra zibethicus is native to North America, However it has successfully dispersed into most areas of northeast China in the past decades, which may lead to potential impact on endemic eco-system. We determined and annotated the whole mtDNA genome of the muskrat O. zibethicus to better understand the evolutionary relationship of this invasive species with other Rodentia distributed in China. The complete mitogenome is 16,351 bp in length, includes 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region. We built the phylogenetic tree of muskrat and other 11 most closely related Rodentia species.

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs), especially the all-inorganic perovskite NCs, have drawn substantial attention for both fundamental research and device applications in recent years due to their unique optoelectronic properties. To build high-performance nanophotonic devices based on perovskite NCs, it is highly desirable to couple the NCs to photonic nanostructures for enhancing the radiative emission rate and improving the emission directionality of the NCs. In this work, we synthesized high-quality CsPbI3 NCs and further coupled them to dielectric circular Bragg gratings (CBGs). The efficient couplings between the perovskite NCs and the CBGs resulted in a 45.9-fold enhancement of the photoluminescence (PL) intensity and 3.2-fold acceleration of the radiative emission rate. Our work serves as an important step for building high-performance nanophotonic light emitting devices by integrating perovskite NCs with photonic nanostructures.

Genetic characteristics play an important role in alien species for achieving high adaptation and rapid evolution in a new environment. The American mink (Neovison vison) is one of the best-known and most widespread invasive species that has successfully invaded the Eurasian mainland over quite a short period, including most parts of northeastern China. However, genetic information on farmed and feral American mink populations introduced in China is completely lacking. In this study, we combined mitochondrial DNA sequences and polymorphic microsatellites to examine the genetic divergence and genetic diversity of farmed and feral American mink populations. Our results suggest that there is admixture of individuals of different genetic characteristics between farmed and feral populations of mink. Furthermore, the genetic diversity of both farmed and feral American mink populations was high, and no bottleneck or population expansion was detected in most of the populations. These findings not only highlight the genetic characteristics of American mink in northeastern China but also contribute to the general understanding of the invasiveness of farmed species.

The paper investigates the effect of introducing a course in Web Development for Chinese students on their academic achievements and the basic competencies, using traditional and online approaches. For the experimental learning purposes, 300 students were selected from three universities located in China's largest cities: Shanghai, Beijing, and Tianjin. A course in Web Development was designed and implemented to achieve the research objectives. The study results showed that the difference in the learning outcomes of the two groups was insignificant and did not depend on the training format. Online learners had more feedback and were able to take lectures and practical training more quickly. Further research requires quantifying and comparing the effects of online learning in programming instruction using the instrumental variable method and structural equation modeling to reveal the causal relationship between the two. The study can be useful to developers of training programs to create both traditional and online courses because the data obtained during this research can improve the effectiveness of the new course.

Two new flavonol glycosides, named polygalin H (1) and polygalin I (2), as well as the known compound polygalin D (3), were isolated from the whole plant of Polygala sibirica L. var megalopha Fr. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis. These flavonol glycosides exhibited strong inhibitory activities against xanthine oxidase in vitro. Their half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were calculated, which were 9.48, 8.31, 16.00 μM, respectively.

Wildlife populations are spatially controlled and undergo frequent fluctuations in abundance and site occupation. A comprehensive understanding of dynamic species processes is essential for making appropriate wildlife management plans. Here, we used a multi-season model to describe the dynamics of occupancy estimates of the carnivores: North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis, Gray, 1862), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis, Kerr, 1792), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes, Linnaeus, 1758) in the Tieqiaoshan Nature Reserve, Shanxi Province, China, over a three-year study period using camera traps data. The occupancy probability of the North Chinese leopard did not markedly change with time as the occupancy equilibrium was constant or slightly enhanced. The occupancy of the leopard cat decreased with time. The occupancy equilibrium of the red fox alternately increased and decreased. However, all species presented a slight level of occupancy stability due to their small values of the rate of change in occupancy. Environmental factor and anthropogenic disturbances slightly influenced the occupancy of all species and the colonization and extirpation probability of the red fox. The colonization and extirpation for all species were relatively more strongly affected by the distances to villages and roads. Moreover, elevation increased the colonization and decreased the extirpation for the leopard cat. Species interaction factors increased with time for all species. The North Chinese leopard and the leopard cat avoided each other. The leopard cat and the red fox independently co-occurred. There was true coexistence between the North Chinese leopard and the red fox. This research confirmed that environmental factors and human perturbations are vital factors to consider in wild carnivores’ conservation and management.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowders were used to prepare PTFE-oil organogel. Carbonyl iron particles were dispersed in this organogel to fabricate magnetorheological fluids. The main aim of this paper is to investigate the influences on field-induced chains by non-magnetic microstructures inside these organogel-based MRFs. The field-induced anisotropy of MRFs between first normal stress differences to shear stresses and dynamic modulus reveal that organogel widen the non-Newtonian elastic range of MRFs as long as the non-magnetic particles content is appropriate. Both theoretical and experimental results of static and dynamic normal forces indicate that normal forces are influenced by magnetic and non-magnetic microstructures comprehensively. The dynamic normal forces are lower than static ones under low magnetic field strength while the phenomenon becomes opposite in the presence of high strength magnetic field. Moreover, a 3ITT test of normal forces exhibits a significant time-dependent behavior of the normal forces. The investigations of recovery ratio demonstrate that the non-magnetic microstructures help field-induced chains to recover at relatively low magnetic field strength but hinder this structural recovery at high magnetic field strength. Finally, a new investigation method on amplitude-dependent normal forces is introduced showing a four-region behavior as a function of strain amplitude, which reflects the internal microscopic evolution of MRFs and could be a proper way to study the influences on field-induced chains by non-magnetic particles.

Genetic differentiation, genetic exchange, and influence of natural geographic barrier on the genetic structure of 20 geo-populations of Odontotermes formosanus sampled from different regions in Anhui province, China were detected using ISSR. Seventy-nine polymorphic loci were detected with nine ISSR primers, and the percentage of polymorphic bands was 87.78%. The average number of alleles per locus was 1.8778 ± 0.3294, and the effective number of alleles was 1.4741 ± 0.3438. The Nei′s gene diversity and Shannon information index were 0.2832 ± 0.1696 and 0.4307 ± 0.2274, respectively. All the populations were divided into two groups through UPGMA clustering analysis based on Nei’s genetic distance. One group comprised geo-populations A, C, and J, and the other group consisted of the remaining clusters. Mantel test results revealed no significant correlation between genetic similarity and geographical distance, as well as between elevation. High levels of genetic diversity, genetic mutation, and genetic differentiation were also detected among the geo-populations of O. formosanus. This study revealed the gene flow and possible migration paths of O. formosanus, which are necessary for continuous monitoring and prevention of this species.