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Drought stress can severely affect seed characteristics and seed metabolism during development, resulting in a grain yield reduction. Here, we examined the effect of drought on seed characteristics and central metabolism of seven different plant species, i.e., tomato, pepper, and eggplant from the Solanaceae family; melon and watermelon from the Cucurbitaceae family; maize from the Poaceae family; and sunflowers from the Asteraceae family. Synchronized changes of seed weight and seed size in response to drought were observed, showing smaller seed size and lower 1000 seeds weight for tomato and melon while larger seed size and higher 1000 seeds weight for pepper, eggplant, maize, and sunflower. Except for watermelon, number of seeds per plant declined in drought condition for all the species. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering highlighted differences of seed relative metabolite content due to phylogenetic differences and different regimes of water deficit. Correlation network analysis revealed interspecies differences in the metabolites associated with seed traits and stress-specific metabolite coordinated behavior in each species. The results suggest that the maintenance of seed dimensions in droughty environments may depend on the rewiring of amino acids and sugar metabolic network. The detected metabolic interactions that are conserved across species shed light on phylogenetic relationships. This comparative study expands our understanding of the interspecific diversity of seed metabolism in response to drought and may assist us for future breeding programs in light of climate change.

Using resume data from a large Chinese online job board, we explore how daily fluctuations in air pollution affect workers’ mobility intentions in China. Users can update their resumes daily to attract employers’ attention, reflecting their intentions to relocate from the city of residence to the desired destination city for work. We find that daily differences in the air quality index (AQI) between the city of residence and destination city significantly affect workers’ mobility intentions. A one-unit decrease in the daily relative AQI (destination AQI—residence AQI) leads to a 0.018% increase in the number of workers willing to relocate on that day, indicating that air pollution has a “push–pull” effect on labor mobility intentions. This effect is stronger when air pollution is more severe locally than in the destination city and for workers aged 25–40, with higher educational levels, and from more developed cities. These results suggest that workers may be influenced by temporary air pollution conditions when deciding whether to relocate for work; this influence is potentially explained by the psychological mechanisms of salience and projection bias.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of dexmedetomidine (DEX) plus either isoflurane or sevoflurane, in elderly gallbladder cancer patients given radical resection. Methods: A total of 278 elderly patients assessed for eligibility and scheduled for radical gallbladder cancer resection in Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China were recruited. They were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to receive either DEX plus isoflurane or DEX plus sevoflurane. These two groups were compared with respect to immune functions (CD3+, CD 4+, CD 8+, and CD4+/CD8+ T cells); inflammatory factors, and cognitive function scores.Results: The sevoflurane cohort had higher immune function indices, lower levels of inflammatorycytokines, and better oxidative stress indices, than the isoflurane cohort (p < 0.05). Postoperatively,cognitive function scores in both cohorts were reduced. At postoperative 12 and 24 h, sevofluranecohort had higher scores than the isoflurane group. Sevoflurane was more effective in stabilizinghemodynamic indices than isoflurane.Conclusion: DEX plus sevoflurane produces more significant improvements in the cognitive function ofelderly patients undergoing radical resection for gallbladder cancer, with milder immune functionimpairment, milder inflammatory response, and lower degree of oxidative stress, than isoflurane

Pseudomonas phages PaGz-1 and PaZq-1, two new phages infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were isolated from fresh water in Guangdong province, China. The genomes of these two phages consist of 93,975 bp and 94,315 bp and contain 175 and 172 open reading frames (ORFs), respectively. The genome sequences of PaGz-1 and PaZq-1 share 95.8% identity with a query coverage of 94%, suggesting that these two phages belong to two different species. Based on results of nucleotide sequence alignment, gene annotation, and phylogenetic analysis, we propose PaGz-1 and PaZq-1 as representative isolates of two species in the genus Pakpunavirus within the family Myoviridae.

A new simple strategy based on TiO2@reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites for QDSSCs is demonstrated in this study. We prepare TiO2@rGO-2 photoanodes in which graphene was obtained through hydrothermal and high-temperature reduction. This task is conducted to make TiO2@rGO composite be uniformly mixed together. The SILAR method is applied to the QDs adsorption of TiO2@rGO composites. Compared with that of TiO2@rGO-1 photoanodes, the complete reduction properties of TiO2@rGO-2 photoanodes result in a remarkable increase in the photovoltaic characteristics of solar cells. The relevant performance characteristics of QDSSCs are observed, and the current–voltage curve results show CdS/TiO2@rGO-2 and Mn2+–CdS/TiO2@rGO-2 photoelectric conversion efficiencies of 1.51% and 2.54%, respectively. These measured values are almost 10% higher than those of cells with TiO2@rGO-1 as photoanode, in fact. Electrochemical impedance testing results show that the effective secondary reduction of graphene leads to this meaningful enhancement.

In this paper, we developed a simple and convenient method for incorporating graphene with anatase-rutile TiO2 composite and applied it as photoanode to improve the photovoltaic performance of CdS QDSSCs. Our research indicated in a CdS QDSSC system, the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of anatase-rutile TiO2 (TGr0) composite photoanode was 86% higher than that rutile TiO2 NRs. We also found that the PCE increased first and then decreased with the change of graphene content after the graphene was introduced into the anatase-rutile TiO2 photoanode. When the ratio of optimized graphene/anatase TiO2 particles composite that spin-coated on rutile TiO2 NRs photoanode was 5%, we attained a maximum PCE of 2.20%, which was 178% and 50% higher than that pure TiO2 NRs (0.79%) and TGr0 (1.47%), respectively.

Phototropism and photomorphogenesis play important roles in plant growth. In this work, a series of novel Ba2LaNbO6 (BLN):Mn4+,Yb3+ phosphors for plant-cultivation light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were successfully synthesized through a high-temperature solid-state reaction. The emission peak of Mn4+ centered at 677 nm matched the red light emission required for phototropism well, while that of Yb3+ centered at 998 nm matched the far-red light emission required for photomorphogenesis. SEM images of the BLN:Mn4+,Yb3+ phosphors developed in this study showed that the samples were composed of micron-sized particles that can be coated onto LED chips. The photoluminescence excitation spectra of the phosphors showed broad bands from 250 nm to 550 nm, matching those of LED chips well. The activation energy of Mn4+ in the BLN:Mn4+ phosphor was calculated to be approximately 0.462 eV, thus confirming the good thermal stability of the material. The CCT, CRI, and luminous efficiency of a developed LED were 4021 K, 76.8, and 38 Im/W, respectively. Analysis of fluorescence lifetimes proved the occurrence of energy transfer between Mn4+ and Yb3+, and the intensity ratio of far-red and near-infrared emissions could be controlled by adjusting the doping ratio of Mn4+ and Yb3+ to meet the requirements of different plants. Taken together, the results showed that BLN:Mn4+,Yb3+ is a phosphor that can potentially be applied to plant-cultivation LEDs.

To explore the effect of midazolam in the treatment of senile acute cerebral infarction is the main objective. the patients were divided into observation group (n=55) and control group (n=55) by envelope method, the control group was given routine treatment, the observation group was given midazolam on the basis of the control group, the time required for sedation, mean arterial pressure, heart rate and so on were observed. There was no significant difference in sedation time between the observation group and the control group (p>0.05). The awakening time of the observation group was (8.10±1.54) min, which was significantly shorter than that of the control group (p

A deep-red-emitting Ca2LaNbO6:Mn4+ (CLN:Mn4+) phosphor was synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reaction method. A broad absorption band between 250 and 600 nm was observed in UV absorption spectra. Excitation spectra showed two broad excitation peaks (358 and 518 nm), which can be attributed to the near-UV emitting InGaN chip. Luminescence spectra showed a broad emission band from 600 nm to 700 nm centered at 685 nm. The major mechanism for fluorescence quenching was multipolar interaction. Fluorescence lifetime decreased from 0.570 ms to 0.400 ms, which was greater than that of rare earth-doped phosphors. CLN:Mn4+ phosphor showed temperature quenching from 298 K to 498 K, and Ea calculation (0.315 eV) revealed that the thermal stability of CLN:Mn4+ phosphor was greater than that of commercial CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ (∼0.2 eV) phosphors. The CIE of CLN:Mn4+ phosphor (0.696, 0.304) was close to the standard values of the National TV Standards Committee. All these results proved that CLN:Mn4+ phosphor can be applied in white-light-emitting diodes.

A series of pure Mn4+-doped red Sr2YNbO6 (SYN) phosphors were synthesized through the solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure, composition, luminescence properties, and thermal stability of the phosphors were determined through X-ray powder diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectrometry. The photoluminescence decay curve and temperature-dependent photoluminscence spectra of the phosphors were also obtained. A broad absorption band at 200–550 nm is present in the UV–Vis spectra of the phosphors. Moreover, the PLE spectra of the phosphors present two broad excitation bands at 255–420 and 460–540 nm. These results illustrate that the SYN:Mn4+ phosphors are suitable for application in UV chips. The phosphor emits red light (675 nm) under excitation with 310 nm light. Crystal field analysis indicates that only the Mn4+ luminescent center is present in the phosphors. The calculated activation energy of the phosphors is 0.381 eV. This result proves that the phosphors possess good thermal stability. The chromaticity coordinates of the phosphors (0.699, 0.302) are close to the standard values set by the National TV Standards Committee (0.666, 0.333). All analytical results show that SYN:Mn4+ phosphors have considerable potential applications in white-light-emitting diodes.

A novel Mn4+-doped Ca2GdNbO6 (CGN) phosphor was prepared by high-temperature solid-state reaction. The crystal structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction patterns and unit cell structure. Mn4+ replaced the location of Nb5+ in the CGN lattice, and the value of energy gap (Egap) decreased from 2.16 eV to 1.13 eV, indicating that Mn4+ ions play a great influence on the absorption of CGN hosts. The broad excitation band from 250 nm to 550 nm matches well with commercial near-UV light emitting diodes, and the emission peak centered at 680 nm is due to 2E→4A2g transition in Mn4+ ions. The CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.698, 0.303) of CGN:Mn4+ phosphor was close to standard red color coordinates (0.666, 0.333). These investigations demonstrate CGN:Mn4+ phosphor as an efficient red phosphor for potential applications.

CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPI) with a smooth morphology was prepared via solvent evaporation with the a PbI2:CH3NH3I ratio of 1:1.2. The absorption range of MAPI/TiO2 nanotubes (TNTAs) was expanded to the visible region. The maximum incident photo-to-current conversion efficiency of MAPI/TNTAs was 10.56% with a sensitization amount of 0.3 mL, a sensitization temperature of 150 °C, and a sensitization time of 20 min. The maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency of MAPI/TNTAs was 2.02%, which was 16.8 times that of bare TNTAs. This study provided a strategy for fabricating low-cost, high-efficiency solar cells with an aqueous electrolyte.

This study investigates the internality of managerial responses (MRs) to online reviews on the responded customers' (i.e., customers who have posted an initial review and then being responded by the company through an MR) satisfaction. By utilizing the data of additional reviews (ARs), an innovative social media module for customers to express follow-up opinions that complement their initial reviews, we examine the impact of MR treatment on the customers' AR valence. We leverage the insight that the observability of MR at the time of the responded customer posts an AR is a crucial condition to the impact of the MR, and thus regard the observability of MR as an exogenous treatment for model identification. Fixed effects models with extensive control variables are proposed to estimate the MR treatment effects. The results show that MRs have significant positive impacts on customers' satisfaction in ARs. Further explorations show that the positive impacts are mainly due to the positive effects of MRs on nonpositive initial reviews (MR-Ns), suggesting that MR-Ns are an effective management tool for customer complaints. Moreover, this study identifies MR delay as a boundary condition for the internality of MRs because MR delay negatively moderates the positive impacts of MRs. Therefore, companies should promptly respond to customers' negative opinions in their reviews. This study is among the very first to clearly identify the internality of MRs on the responded customers’ satisfaction. We show that the existing results on the externality of MRs are not directly applicable to the internality of MRs, highlighting the novelty of this study. The obtained new insights provide practical guidelines for companies to adjust their intervention strategies on e-commerce platforms.

An efficient and newly-built strategy is demonstrated in this page to produce counter electrode, which contains two mixtures (Cu1.8S and CuS), for QDSSCs. Compared with those of Cu2S CE, the higher electrochemical activity and lower charge transfer resistance of solar cells equipped with Cu1.8S@CuS CE result in a prominent development in photovoltaic characteristics. All the η, Voc and FF exhibit remarkable improvements whether in CdS or Mn2+–CdS QD sensitization system. In CdS QD sensitization system, current–voltage curve results indicate that the η and Voc of cells with Cu1.8S@CuS-120 CE are 1.49 and 1.17 times higher than those with Cu2S CE, respectively. FF is increased from 0.32 to 0.40. Besides, in Mn2+–CdS QD sensitization system, the η and Voc of cells with Cu1.8S@CuS-120 CE are 1.52 and 1.15 times higher than those with Cu2S CE, respectively. Furthermore, FF is increased from 0.33 to 0.42. Electrochemical impedance testing results reveal that the QDSSCs prepared with composite Cu1.8S@CuS-120 CE have lower resistance qualities.

A novel ferrierite type zeolite named as IEZ-Al-PLS-3(S4R) with pore sizes of 14 × 12-ring (R) was post synthesized by simply interlayer silylation of lamellar precursor Al-PLS-3 taking 1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclosilone (TMCS) as silane. Its catalytic properties were tested by isomerization/disproportionation of m-xylene, alkylation/acylation of anisole with benzyl alcohol/acetic anhydride. The catalytic performance of IEZ-Al-PLS-3(S4R) was compared with Al-PLS-3 (10 × 8-R) and IEZ-Al-PLS-3(1Si) (12 × 10-R) which were prepared by calcination or silylation using dimethoxydimethylsilane (DEDMS) as silane of as made Al-PLS-3 respectively. Since these materials have the same laminates composition, the differences of catalytic performance can be considered as the result of different pore sizes. We also prepared conventional 10-R zeolite ZSM-5 and 12-R zeolite Beta for control experiments. IEZ-Al-PLS-3(S4R) showed even higher catalytic activities than Beta as a result of its enlarged 14-R pore size.

Ilex asprella, a plant widely used as a folk herbal drug in southern China, produces and stores a large amount of triterpenoid saponins, most of which are of the α-amyrin type. In this study, two oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) cDNAs, IaAS1 and IaAS2, were cloned from the I. asprella root. Functional characterisation was performed by heterologous expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Analysis of the resulting products by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that both genes encode a mixed amyrin synthase, producing α-amyrin and β-amyrin at different ratios. IaAS1, which mainly produces α-amyrin, is the second triterpene synthase so far identified in which the level of α-amyrin produced is ≥80% of total amyrin production. By contrast, IaAS2 mainly synthesises β-amyrin, with a yield of 95%. Gene expression patterns of these two amyrin synthases in roots and leaves of I. asprella were found to be consistent with the content patterns of total saponins. Finally, phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment of the two amyrin synthases against several known OSCs from other plants were conducted to further elucidate their evolutionary relationship.

Native to Southern China, Ilex pubescens and Ilex asprella are frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. Both of them produce a large variety of ursane-type triterpenoid saponins, which have been demonstrated to have different pharmacological effects. However, little is known about their biosynthesis. In this study, transcriptomic analysis of I. pubescens and comparison with its closely related specie I. asprella were carried out to identify potential genes involved in triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis. Through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and de novo transcriptome assembly of I. pubescens, a total of 68,688 UniGene clusters are obtained, of which 32,184 (46.86%) are successfully annotated by comparison with the sequences in major public databases (NCBI, Swiss-Prot, and KEGG). It includes 128 UniGenes related to triterpenoid backbone biosynthesis, 11 OSCs (oxidosqualene cyclases), 233 CYPs (cytochrome P450), and 269 UGTs (UDP-glycosyltransferases). By homology-based blast and phylogenetic analysis with well-characterized genes involved in triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis, 5 OSCs, 14 CYPs, and 1 UGT are further proposed as the most promising candidate genes. Transcriptomic comparison between two Ilex species using blastp and OrthoMCL method reveals high sequence similarity. All OSCs and UGTs as well as most CYPs are classified as orthologous genes, while only 5 CYPs in I. pubescens and 3 CYPs in I. asprella are species-specific. One of OSC candidates, named as IpAS1, was successfully cloned and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae INVSc1. Analysis of the yeast extract by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) shows IpAS1 is a mixed amyrin synthase, producing α-amyrin and β-amyrin at ratio of 5:1, which is similar to its ortholog IaAS1 from I. asprella. This study is the first exploration to profile the transcriptome of I. pubescens, the generated data and gene models will facilitate further molecular studies on the physiology and metabolism in this plant. By comparative transcriptomic analysis, a series of candidate genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of triterpenoid saponins are identified, providing new insight into their biosynthesis at transcriptome level.

PbS colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) were used as sensitizers to modify the mesoporous TiO2 (m-TiO2) layer/CsPbBr3 perovskite interface in solar cells by controlling the various spin-coating cycles on the surface of m-TiO2. The visible light absorption of m-TiO2 was enhanced because of the PbS CQDs. The prominent power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.04% for the core/shell-structured TiO2/PbS photoanode was higher than that of the pristine device (2.45%). This investigation provides a basis for the effect of CQD sensitization of the functional interfaces on the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) under ambient conditions.

Graphene is known as an electro-chemical material and widely used in electro-chemical devices, especially in solar cell. Decreasing the thickness of the layer is a critical way to improve the electrochemical property of solar cells as far as possible. Among the various oxidation approaches, presented herein is a facile approach, which is easier, less cost and more effective, environmental benign with the greener processing and without any requirement for post purification, towards the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) with different oxidation degrees by potassium ferrate (K2FeO4). A modified method using less amount of oxidizing agent is reported herein. It is the pretreatment of the synthesis of graphite, which maintains the thermal cycle of the system. This novel reports to compound GO with controlled oxidation degrees can not only increase the quantity of oxygen-containing functional groups on GO surface, increase space between graphene oxide layer and facilitate the dispersion of graphene in aqueous solution. Thus, the modified method shows prospect for large-scale production of graphene oxide and its novel application, in addition to its derivative and market potential for solar cells.

In support of proposed experiments which might be carried out by the MINERνA Collaboration and eventually elsewhere, we study the strangeness changing charged current reactions ν ¯ L + p → Λ + L + where L stands for an electron, muon, or tau lepton. We calculate the total and differential cross sections for these reactions from near threshold to several GeV. We also obtain the contributions of the various form factors and interference terms to the total and differential cross sections. The calculation is phenomenologically based and makes use of SU(3) relations to obtain the standard vector current form factors and data from Λ beta decay to obtain the axial current form factor. We also make estimates for the contributions of the pseudoscalar form factor and for the F E and F S form factors to the total and differential cross sections. The latter two are second class current form factors for the corresponding p ↔ n transition and forbidden by G-parity but are not forbidden here. We discuss our results and consider under what circumstances we might extract the various form factors. In particular we wish to test the SU(3) obtained form factors and to test the assumptions made in determining the others over a range of q 2 values.

We obtain total and differential cross-sections for the strangeness changing charged current reactions \( \bar v_L \) +p → Λ+L + and \( \bar v_L \)+p → Σ 0+L +, where L is a charged lepton, either an electron, muon or tau. We do this by making use of the standard dipole form factors normally used and of the new form factors recently obtained from recoil proton measurements in electron-proton electromagnetic scattering. We also obtain the contributions of the individual form factors to the total and differential cross-sections for both sets of form factors. We find that the differential and total cross-sections for Λ production change only slightly between the two sets of form factors but that the differential and total cross-sections change substantially for Σ 0 production. We discuss the possibility of distinguishing between the two cases for the experiments planned by the MINERvA Collaboration.

To explore whether perioperative intravenous flurbiprofen axetil can reduce the incidence and intensity of chronic pain for breast cancer after surgical treatment.This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial enrolled 60 patients undergoing mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection under general anesthesia. All patients accepted Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) tests the day before the surgery to evaluate depression and anxiety. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 50 mg flurbiprofen axetil intravenously 15 minutes before the surgical incision and 6 hours later (group F) or intravenous 5 mL intralipid as a control (group C). All patients received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with fentanyl postoperatively. Peripheral venous blood samples were drawn before the surgery, at 4 and 24 h after the surgery to detect the plasma level of PGE2 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Postoperative fentanyl consumption, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores and adverse effects were recorded at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after the surgery. The duration and intensity of pain were followed up by telephone at the 2nd-12th month after the surgery.The incidence of pain at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months after the breast surgery was 33%, 20%, 15%, and 10%, respectively, and the average pain score was 0.77, 0.57, 0.28, and 0.18, respectively. Compared with group C, the scores of pain in group F were significantly lower at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months postoperatively (F=7.758, P=0.007). The incidence of pain in group F was significantly lower at 2, 4 and 6 months postoperatively (P0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of pain between the groups at 12 months postoperatively (P0.05). Preoperatively and at 4 and 24 h after the surgery, there was no significant difference in the level of TNF-α between the two groups (F=0.530, P=0.470); but plasma concentration of PGE2 in group F was significantly lower than that in group C (F=5.646, P=0.021). No patients developed abnormal bleeding, peptic ulcer, impaired liver or renal function and respiratory depression.Perioperative intravenous infusion of 100 mg flurbiprofen axetil can decrease the intensity and incidence of chronic pain for breast cancer after surgical treatment.

We obtain total and differential cross sections for the strangeness changing charged current reactions, νL + p → Λ + L+ and νL + p → Σ0 + L+ where L stands for an electron, muon, or tau lepton. We calculate these cross sections from near threshold to several GeV. We also obtain the the contributions of the various form factors to the total and differential cross sections. We do this in support of possible experiments which have been proposed by the MINERνA Collaboration. The calculation is phenomenologically based and makes use of SU(3) relations to obtain the standard vector form factors. The axial current form factor for the Λ reaction is obtained via Λ beta decay data but for the Σ0 process is obtained via SU(2) relations from Σ− beta decay data since Σ0 does not undergo beta decay. We also make use of theoretical estimates for the contribution of the pseudoscalar form factor and for the FE and FS form factors to the processes described here. We note that the latter two form factors are second class ...

We show that in a four-level atomic system with electromagnetically induced transparency, a coherent pump field can induce light amplification without or with population inversion. As the pump field intensity increases, the atomic system evolves from normal dispersion and amplification without population inversion into anomalous dispersion and amplification with population inversion. We report an experiment on light amplification in cold rubidium atoms and present experimental measurements that agree with theoretical calculations based on the four-level model system.

We propose and analyze a hyper-Raman scheme for generation of coherent light in a five-level atomic system based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). We show that EIT suppresses linear and nonlinear photon absorption and enables the hyper-Raman process to proceed through real, near-resonant intermediate states. The scheme greatly enhances hyper-Raman efficiency and may be used for generating short-wavelength radiation at low pump intensities.

We show that electromagnetically induced transparency suppresses nonlinear absorption of all orders in a multilevel atomic system and leads to selective, multiphoton excitation of resonantly coupled atomic states. Under appropriate conditions, higher-order nonlinear absorption becomes dominant and selective steady-state population inversion is created among the resonantly coupled states.