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Pselliophora is widely distributed in Eurasia and China. To explore the characteristics of the mitogenome of Pselliophora and reveal phylogenetic relationships, the mitogenome of Pselliophora bifascipennis Brunetti, 1911 was sequenced and annotated. This is the first complete mitochondrial genome in this genus. Its mitogenome is 15821 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA and 2 rRNA genes. Nucleotide compositions of its whole mitogenome are 39.09% for A, 38.49% for T, 13.42% for C, and 9.01% for G. Consistent with previous observations of Tipulidae species, the mitogenome of Pselliophora bifascipennis is highly conserved in gene size, organization and codon usage, and secondary structures of tRNAs. Most tRNAs have the typical clover-leaf structure. The control region is 1006 bp long with an A + T content of 92.7%. Phylogenetic tree analysis using the sequences of the mitochondrial genomes of Pselliophora bifascipennis and other Tipulidae species showed that Pselliophora bifascipennis is closely related to Tanyptera hebeiensis. These two species are grouped on the same branch, which is in accordance with the traditional morphological classification. The results of this study lay a foundation for screening molecular markers of mitochondrion for molecular identification and genetic structure research in Tipulidae species.

Abstract Oreomecon nudicaulis, commonly known as mountain poppy, is a significant perennial herb. In 2022, the species O. nudicaulis, which was previously classified under the genus Papaver, was reclassified within the genus Oreomecon. Nevertheless, the phylogenetic status and chloroplast genome within the genus Oreomecon have not yet been reported. This study elucidates the chloroplast genome sequence and structural features of O. nudicaulis and explores its evolutionary relationships within Papaveraceae. Using Illumina sequencing technology, the chloroplast genome of O. nudicaulis was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The results indicate that the chloroplast genome of O. nudicaulis exhibits a typical circular quadripartite structure. The chloroplast genome is 153,903 bp in length, with a GC content of 38.87%, containing 84 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, 38 tRNA genes, and 2 pseudogenes. The genome encodes 25,815 codons, with leucine (Leu) being the most abundant codon, and the most frequently used codon is AUU. Additionally, 129 microsatellite markers were identified, with mononucleotide repeats being the most abundant (53.49%). Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that O. nudicaulis has a relatively close relationship with the genus Meconopsis within the Papaveraceae family. The phylogenetic analysis supported the taxonomic status of O. nudicaulis, as it did not form a clade with other Papaver species, consistent with the revised taxonomy of Papaveraceae. This is the first report of a phylogenomic study of the complete chloroplast genome in the genus Oreomecon, which is a significant genus worldwide. This analysis of the O. nudicaulis chloroplast genome provides a theoretical basis for research on genetic diversity, molecular marker development, and species identification, enriching genetic information and supporting the evolutionary relationships among Papaveraceae.

AbstractLibelloides sibiricus (Eversmann, 1850) is widely distributed in China, Korea and eastern Russia. To date, few studies have been conducted on this species, with the exception of morphological taxonomy studies. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Libelloides sibiricus, which is 15,811 bp in length, with an overall A + T content of 74.8%, encoding 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and a control region. The gene arrangement and components of L. sibiricus are identical to those of most other Neuropteran species. TAA is utilized as the termination codon for most PCGs and TAG for nd1, however, nd6 and atp6 used the incomplete termination codon TA- and cox1, cox2, nd5, cytb had termination codons consisting of only T–. In addition, we selected all known 59 species of Neuroptera from NCBI, and used Sialis hamata, Sialis melania, Sialis longidens and Sialis jiyuni (Megaloptera: Sialidae) as the outgroup. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the mitogenome of L. sibiricus was the most closely related to L. macaronius and all the owlflies formed the monophyletic group within the superfamily Myrmeleontoidea.

Micromus angulatus (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) is a widely distributed and highly effective predator that shows promise as a biological control agent against agricultural pests, particularly Aphis craccivora, the cowpea aphid, which threatens leguminous crops globally. This study aimed to evaluate the predation behaviour, search efficiency, and intraspecific interference of M. angulatus at different developmental stages, including first- to third-instar larvae and adults, in controlling adult A. craccivora populations. The results demonstrated that all developmental stages of M. angulatus exhibited predatory behaviour towards adult aphids, with the functional response fitting the Holling Type II model. The instantaneous attack rates for first-, second-, and third-instar larvae and adults were 1.0017, 1.0448, 0.9581, and 0.9508, respectively; the handling times were 0.0158, 0.0051, 0.0016, and 0.0011 days, respectively; and the theoretical maximum daily predation rates were 63.2911, 196.0784, 625, and 909.0909 aphids, respectively. The pest control efficacies were 63.3989, 204.8672, 598.8311, and 864.3192, respectively. The search efficiency at each developmental stage was negatively correlated with aphid density, which decreased as the prey density increased, with second-instar larvae showing the greatest decrease and adults the least. When the aphid density was fixed, the daily predation rate of individual M. angulatus decreased with increasing conspecific density, indicating that predation was affected by its own density, with the interference effect equation being E = 0.6194P−0.87. These findings indicate that M. angulatus, especially in the third-instar larval and adult stages, has considerable potential as a biological control agent for managing A. craccivora populations in agricultural settings. This study contributes valuable insights for developing sustainable agricultural practices by decreasing reliance on chemical pesticides.

Orthaga achatina Butler is an important pest of camphor trees in Asia. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. achatina was sequenced in this study, which was 15,150 bp in size and comprised of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. Besides, we used a phylogenomic approach to infer evolutionary relationships of O. achatina and 23 Lepidoptera species based on 13 conserved protein sequences of the mitochondrial genome. Our results underline the potential importance of mitochondrial genomes in comparative genomic analyses of Lepidoptera species and provide a robust evolutionary insight across the tree of Lepidoptera insects.

The complete mitochondrial of genome Melanophila acuminata (DeGeer 1774) is a typical double-stranded circular molecule of 15,853 bp (GenBank accession number: MW287594). All tRNA genes, ranging from 62 to 72 bp, can be folded into typical clover-leaf secondary structure except for tRNASer(AGN). The control region is 1,080 bp long with an A+T content of 87.5%. The phylogeny tree is monophyletic among 19 related species. The Melanophila acuminata cluster was more closely related to Chrysochroa fulgidissima. This mitochondrial genome can be used for further analyses of Buprestidae mitochondrial comparative genomics to improve the understanding of diverse coleopteran species.

The pig body was put in the wild area in summer for collecting sarcosaphagous insects. After 31-day (9 June 2015 to 9 July 2015), the pig body was to be mummification. Ptecticus aurifer (Walker 1854) was found as sarcosaphagous insect for the first time. The complete mitochondrial genome of P. aurifer (Walker 1854) was sequenced in this study. The complete mitochondrial genome is a typical double-stranded circular molecule of 15,775 bp (GenBank accession number: MN604259) containing 37 typical animal mitochondrial gene and an A + T-rich region. 11 of the 22 tRNAs, ranging from 63 to 72 bp, can be folded into classic clover-leaf secondary structure except for tRNASer(AGN), in which the dihydrouridine (DHU) arm did not form a stable stem-loop structure. The control region is 954 bp long with an A + T content of 90.7%.

A new species of Bankisus Navás, 1912, (Bankisus sparsus sp. n.) is described and illustrated with the genus newly recorded from China. A key to species of Bankisus is provided.

Abstract Apoptotic vesicles (apoVs) play a vital role in various physiological and pathological conditions. However, we have yet to fully understand their precise biological effects in rescuing impaired mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Here, we proved that systemic infusion of MSCs derived from wild-type (WT) mice rather than from ovariectomized (OVX) mice effectively improved the osteopenia phenotype and rescued the impaired recipient MSCs in osteoporotic mice. Meanwhile, apoVs derived from WT MSCs (WT apoVs) instead of OVX apoVs efficiently restored the impaired biological function of OVX MSCs and their ability to improve osteoporosis. Mechanistically, the reduced miR-145a-5p expression hindered the osteogenic differentiation and immunomodulatory capacity of OVX MSCs by affecting the TGF-β/Smad 2/3-Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis, resulting in the development of osteoporosis. WT apoVs directly transferred miR-145a-5p to OVX MSCs, which were then reused to restore their impaired biological functions. The differential expression of miR-145a-5p is responsible for the distinct efficacy between the two types of apoVs. Overall, our findings unveil the remarkable potential of apoVs, as a novel nongenetic engineering approach, in rescuing the biological function and therapeutic capability of MSCs derived from patients. This discovery offers a new avenue for exploring apoVs-based stem cell engineering and expands the application scope of stem cell therapy, contributing to the maintenance of bone homeostasis through a previously unrecognized mechanism.

Abstract Background Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare neuro-mucocutaneous disorder characterized by recurrent edema, facial palsies, and nerve dysfunctions often associated with the plicata tongue. Although the etiology of MRS is not well understood, there is growing evidence suggesting an autoimmune involvement. Case presentation This paper presents a case report of a 25-year-old male with MRS as the initial symptom, followed by temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA). A comprehensive diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment approach including surgery, local injections, and oral medication were implemented, resulting in a favorable prognosis. Conclusions These findings support the hypothesis that MRS is a systemic granulomatous disease caused by autoimmunity, which may also influence the occurrence and development of TMJ-OA through immune-related mechanisms. This study emphasizes the significance of systemic immune regulation in the treatment of patients with MRS and TMJ-OA comorbid conditions.

Abstract Background The relationship between joint effusion and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation among joint effusion, clinical features and MRI imaging features of TMD. Methods A total of 1532 temporomandibular joints (TMJs) from 766 patients (605 females and 161 males) with the mean age of 31.68 ± 13.71 years from January 2022 to June 2023 were included in the study. Clinical and MRI features were collected and analyzed. Chi-Square test, Spearman correlation coefficient and binary logistic regression analysis were performed. Results Patients with joint effusion were significantly older and had smaller value of MIO (p

Abstract An ultrafast fiber laser system comprising two coherently combined amplifier channels is reported. Within this system, each channel incorporates a rod-type fiber power amplifier, with individual operations reaching approximately 233 W. The active-locking of these coherently combined channels, followed by compression using gratings, yields an output with a pulse energy of 504 μJ and an average power of 403 W. Exceptional stability is maintained, with a 0.3% root mean square (RMS) deviation and a beam quality factor M 2

Plastin-3 (PLS3) encodes T-plastin, an actin-bundling protein mediating the formation of actin filaments by which numerous cellular processes are regulated. Loss-of-function genetic defects in PLS3 are reported to cause X-linked osteoporosis and childhood-onset fractures. However, the molecular etiology of PLS3 remains elusive. Functional compensation by actin-bundling proteins ACTN1, ACTN4, and FSCN1 was investigated in zebrafish following morpholino-mediated pls3 knockdown. Primary dermal fibroblasts from six patients with a PLS3 variant were also used to examine expression of these proteins during osteogenic differentiation. In addition, Pls3 knockdown in the murine MLO-Y4 cell line was employed to provide insights in global gene expression. Our results showed that ACTN1 and ACTN4 can rescue the skeletal deformities in zebrafish after pls3 knockdown, but this was inadequate for FSCN1. Patients’ fibroblasts showed the same osteogenic transdifferentiation ability as healthy donors. RNA-seq results showed differential expression in Wnt1, Nos1ap, and Myh3 after Pls3 knockdown in MLO-Y4 cells, which were also associated with the Wnt and Th17 cell differentiation pathways. Moreover, WNT2 was significantly increased in patient osteoblast-like cells compared to healthy donors. Altogether, our findings in different bone cell types indicate that the mechanism of PLS3-related pathology extends beyond actin-bundling proteins, implicating broader pathways of bone metabolism.

The development and morphology of branches, a crucial step in producing high-quality large-diameter lumber, may be influenced by fertilization. The response of branch attributes to different fertilization regimes, however, is still poorly understood. The Catalpa bungei plantations, which had been growing for 6 years in northern China, were chosen to study how various fertilization measures affected branch attributes. The two fertilization techniques used were hole fertilization (HF) and water and fertilizer integration (WF), with no fertilization (CK) as a control. The quantity, density, morphology (e.g., diameter, length, and angle), and position (e.g., height and orientation) of branches, and organ biomass of 18 standard trees (total of 516 branches) were investigated. The results demonstrated a considerable increase in tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), canopy ratio, branch quantity, and organ biomass following the addition of fertilizer. Both the maximum branch diameter and the number of branches rose with fertilization. Following fertilization, the number of branches rose by 16% (HF) and 28% (WF) compared to non-fertilized trees, while the maximum branch diameter increased by 3.5% (HF) and 17.3% (WF), respectively. WF led to an increase in the number of branches and largest branch diameter in comparison to CK and HF. The length, angle, and diameter of branches, however, were not affected significantly by different fertilization treatments. There were roughly equal amounts of branches in four orientations. The mixed-model analysis revealed that the number of branches was positively correlated with branch density and tree height. The branch diameter increased with the increase of branch length and angle. The branch length was negatively correlated with branch height and angle. The branch angle showed a larger angle at the bottom of the canopy. Tree height plus diameter at breast height combined, or just the diameter at breast height indicator alone, can both reliably predict the total biomass of trees. The branch models created in this research may offer some theoretical backing for understanding the crown dynamics of valuable tree species in northern China.

A spherical weathering body, also called a boulder, is an element of complex geological strata and presents a significant challenge to tunnelling by a tunnel-boring machine (TBM). In this study, ground-based drilling and blasting were used to precondition boulders. To determine the specific charge needed for preconditioning blasting, model blasts were conducted, and the relationships among the specific charge, fragment size, and overburden depth in the model blasts were investigated. The determined specific charge from the model blasts was then modified by considering the overburden depth and used to precondition the boulders for practical TBM tunnelling. The results indicate the following: (1) model blasts were effective in determining the correct specific charge and predicting boulder fragment sizes resulting from blasting; (2) the boulders met in practical TBM tunnelling were successfully preconditioned by using the determined specific charge; (3) the determined specific charge was 3.26 kg/m3, corresponding to an average fragment size 4.5 cm with an overburden of zero and increased with increasing overburden; (4) fragment sizes were dependent on both the specific charge and overburden depth. Our conclusions can be used to accurately determine the specific charge instead of empirical formulas.

In the field of aerospace, solving the boundary problem associated with the parachute-capsule system remains a big challenge. The conventional Monte Carlo method proves inadequate for acquiring comprehensive boundary information. To address this issue, this paper introduces a novel tube prediction scheme by leveraging the natural geometric characteristics of the reachable tube and employing a multiobjective optimization strategy. Initially, a multibody dynamic model with nine degrees of freedom was established and verified by the airdrop test data to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the model. Subsequently, the Sobol sensitivity analysis method was employed to assess uncertain factors that affect the deceleration phase of the reentry capsule. These factors are then utilized to determine the optimization parameters for the multiobjective optimization model. Ultimately, the multiobjective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition was employed to solve the multiobjective optimization model, and the geometric boundary of the tube corresponds to the Pareto front of the multiobjective optimization. The proposed methodology was validated through a simulation experiment utilizing the Chang’e-5 reentry capsule as an engineering case. The experimental results unequivocally demonstrate the superior accuracy of our approach in predicting the boundary of the reachable tube compared to the Monte Carlo method. This research serves as a valuable reference for calculating reachable tubes in practical engineering scenarios and can be effectively applied to spacecraft search and rescue operations during the reentry phase.

Abstract Background The correlation between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and imaging features remains unclear. This study compared the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) with and without TMD symptoms. Methods The participants were recruited from the TMJ Diagnosis and Treatment Center from March 2022 to September 2022. Condylar morphology and condylar position were evaluated by CBCT. Disc morphology, disc position, and joint effusion were evaluated by T2-weighted image of MRI. The Chi-Square test and binary logistic regression analysis were carried out. Results Eighty-two patients with bilateral symptoms, 196 patients with unilateral symptoms, and 79 asymptomatic participants received MRI and CBCT examination. There were significant differences in the distribution of sex, age, condylar morphology, condylar position, disc morphology, disc position, and joint effusion in symptomatic and asymptomatic TMJs (P 30-year-age group, abnormal condylar morphology, posterior condylar position, disc displacement with reduction (DDWR), and disc displacement without reduction (DDWoR) were found to be statistically significant (P 30-year-age group when compared to those aged ≤ 18-year-age group. The odds of having symptomatic TMJ were 2.360 higher in persons with abnormal condylar morphology when compared to those with normal condylar morphology. The odds of having symptomatic TMJ were 2.591 higher in persons with posterior condylar position when compared to those with the normal condylar position. The odds of having symptomatic TMJ were 2.764 higher in persons with DDWR and 4.189 higher in persons with DDWoR when compared to those with normal disc position. The area under the curve of the model was 0.736 ± 0.019 (95% CI 0.700–0.773, P = 0.000), which indicated that the model has a good fitting effect. Conclusions The imaging findings of TMJs were significantly different between symptomatic and asymptomatic TMJs. TMD is affected by multiple factors including > 19-year-age, abnormal condylar morphology, posterior condylar position, DDWR, and DDWoR, which could be risk factors for the development of TMD symptoms. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered on 28/03/2022 and endorsed by the Ethics Committee of Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (LCYJ2022014).

Abstract Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients of different ages are still unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the characteristics of MRI features of TMJs in different age groups. Methods A total of 1760 TMJs from 880 patients were included in the study and divided into three groups: ≤ 18Y (n = 195, 14.89 ± 2.35Y); 19-30Y (n = 475, 24.09 ± 3.23Y); and > 30Y (n = 210, 41.73 ± 10.45Y). T2-weighted image (T2WI) of MRI was obtained to evaluate the relationship between age and disc morphology, the degree of disc displacement, joint effusion, joint movement and changes of condylar bone morphology. Data were analyzed by Pearson Chi square test and Spearman correlation coefficient. Results There was no statistical difference between left and right sides in all age groups. Except condylar morphology (χ2 = 0.943, P = 0.624), there were significant differences in the distribution of disc morphology, disc position, joint effusion and joint motion among different age groups (χ2 = 24.450, χ2 = 24.829, χ2 = 19.855, χ2 = 39.259, respectively). There were significant differences in the distribution of the degree of anterior disc displacement, condyle morphology and joint effusion in different types of disc morphology among the different age groups (except for joint effusion in > 30Y), among which the first two were significantly correlated with the disc morphology. Conclusions The morphology and position of the articular disc changed significantly with age, but the proportion of abnormal condylar bone remained about 50%. The greater the degree of disc folding, the more prone to bone abnormalities. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered on 28/03/2022 and endorsed by the Ethics committee (LCYJ2022014).

A novel attosecond-scale streaking method was proposed and demonstrated to determine the tunneling time of an electron with a precision of a few attoseconds.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling disease with significant morbidity worldwide. OA attacks the large synovial joint, including the peripheral joints and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). As a representative of peripheral joint OA, knee OA shares similar symptoms with TMJ OA. However, these two joints also display differences based on their distinct development, anatomy, and physiology. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are phospholipid bilayer nanoparticles, including exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies. EVs contain proteins, lipids, DNA, micro-RNA, and mRNA that regulate tissue homeostasis and cell-to-cell communication, which play an essential role in the progression and treatment of OA. They are likely to partake in mechanical response, extracellular matrix degradation, and inflammatory regulation during OA. More evidence has shown that synovial fluid and synovium-derived EVs may serve as OA biomarkers. More importantly, mesenchymal stem cell-derived EV shows a therapeutic effect on OA. However, the different function of EVs in these two joints is largely unknown based on their distinct biological characteristic. Here, we reviewed the effects of EVs in OA progression and compared the difference between the knee joint and TMJ, and summarized their potential therapeutic role in the treatment of OA.

The repair of articular cartilage defects is still challenging in the fields of orthopedics and maxillofacial surgery due to the avascular structure of articular cartilage and the limited regenerative capacity of mature chondrocytes. To provide viable treatment options, tremendous efforts have been made to develop various chondrogenically-functionalized biomaterials for cartilage tissue engineering. Peptides that are derived from and mimic the functions of chondroconductive cartilage extracellular matrix and chondroinductive growth factors, represent a unique group of bioactive agents for chondrogenic functionalization. Since they can be chemically synthesized, peptides bear better reproducibility, more stable efficacy, higher modifiability and yielding efficiency in comparison with naturally derived biomaterials and recombinant growth factors. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge in the designs of the chondroinductive/chondroconductive peptides, the underlying molecular mechanisms and their-functionalized biomaterials for cartilage tissue engineering. We also systematically compare their in-vitro and in-vivo efficacies in inducing chondrogenesis. Our vision is to stimulate the development of novel peptides and their-functionalized biomaterials for cartilage tissue engineering.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammation-driven degenerative joint disease. Human salivary peptide histatin-1 (Hst1) shows pro-healing and immunomodulatory properties. but its role in OA treatment is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of Hst1 in the inflammation modulation-mediated attenuation of bone and cartilage damage in OA. Hst1 was intra-articularly injected into a rat knee joint in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA model. Micro-CT, histological, and immunohistochemical analyses showed that Hst1 significantly attenuates cartilage and bone deconstruction as well as macrophage infiltration. In the lipopolysaccharide-induced air pouch model, Hst1 significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry (FCM), metabolic energy analysis, and high-throughput gene sequencing showed that Hst1 significantly triggers M1-to-M2 macrophage phenotype switching, during which it significantly downregulated nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathways. Furthermore, cell migration assay, Alcian blue, Safranin O staining, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and FCM showed that Hst1 not only attenuates M1-macrophage-CM-induced apoptosis and matrix metalloproteinase expression in chondrogenic cells, but it also restores their metabolic activity, migration, and chondrogenic differentiation. These findings show the promising potential of Hst1 in treating OA.

We theoretically investigated frustrated tunneling ionization (FTI) driven by spatially inhomogeneous strong laser fields induced by surface plasmon resonance within a bow-tie metal nanostructure. The results show that the FTI probability and the principal quantum number distribution exhibit similar oscillatory behavior as a function of the pulse duration. Our analysis reveals that the periodic defocusing and refocusing of the electron spatial distribution due to the inhomogeneous laser field is responsible for the oscillatory structures. In addition, the initial tunneling coordinates and the angular momentum distributions of the FTI events and theirs pulse duration dependence are also explored. Moreover, our results show that the frequency of the oscillatory structures depends sensitively on the electron quiver amplitude and the inhomogeneity strength. Thus, the electron quiver amplitude and the size of the gap between bow-tie nanostructure are useful and efficient knobs for controlling the yield and properties of exited Rydberg states.

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) can cause signifi cant economic losses in different crops in China. In the present study, we evaluated wing shape and size variation among biotypes from tobacco, Nicotiana spp. (Solanaceae), cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicaceae), and peach, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch (Rosaceae), and tested whether specimens could be distinguished at the population level. Fifteen landmarks were measured on the wings and used to generate geometric morphometric size and shape data from 137 specimens of M. persicae from three host plants: tobacco, cabbage and peach. Analysis of wing size showed that the peach biotype had the smallest wing centroid size. A one-way ANOVA of centroid size showed signifi cant inter- and intra-populational differences. A Tukey post-hoc test revealed that the wing centroid size of the peach population was signifi cantly smaller than that of either the tobacco or cabbage population. DFA cross-validation test showed that all tobacco biotype specimens were correctly classifi ed, while 83% and 84.1% of peach and cabbage biotype specimens, respectively, were correctly classifi ed. These results suggest that geometric morphometrics based on wing shape has potential for distinguishing M. persicae biotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at improving the range of wing-body combination aircraft at hypersonic flow conditions and exploring the application of morphing technology in hypersonic aircraft, morphing aircrafts with different morphing modes have been proposed. The aerodynamic characteristics and wing efficiency of morphing aircraft with different morphing modes have been studied for a further application. In order to verify the significance of morphing technology on the trajectory, the trajectory of the glide phase has been optimized through multiobjective optimization method. Through a 3 degree-of-freedom dynamic model and a heat flux model, the range of glide trajectory and the total heat of the leading edge of the wing are calculated and selected as optimization objectives in the multiobjective optimization problem. The optimization variables include the Mach numbers when the aircraft is morphing (morphing timing) and the angle of attack of different phases. Based on the multiobjective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition, the multiobjective trajectory optimization problem is solved and a uniform Pareto Front is obtained, and through the analysis of typical solutions, it can be seen that a compromise is made to balance the two objectives. Through the comparison of morphing and non-morphing aircraft, morphing aircraft can fly further with a smaller total heat of the leading edge of the wing. Also, it seems that the variable sweep wing morphing mode has a better overall performance. The result in this paper is a verification of the application prospects of the morphing technology under hypersonic environment, which will provide a reference for further application of morphing technology in hypersonic aircraft.

The space tethered-net is an important tool for space debris capture. But its rebound movement limits its effective working distance. To solve this issue, a passive control method using “Energy dissipation band (EDB)” is proposed in this paper. A semi-spring damper model of the EDB is first built and verified by the tests, and then the strengths of the bands are optimized with Radial Basis Function assisted optimization method with Batch infill Sampling criterion (RBFBS). Simulation results show that this passive control method can significantly increase the effective work distance of the space tethered-net, and RBFBS algorithm is able to optimize the strengths of the EDBs effectively and efficiently. This paper provides a new idea for the optimal design of the space tethered-net, which can be applied to the future flexible capture tasks.

A mesh adaptation method is proposed for solving optimal control problems with non-smooth control. The original optimal control problem (OCP) is transcribed into a nonlinear programming (NLP) problem by using the Runge-Kutta discretization method, in which the NLP can be solved by using standard nonlinear programming codes. The method employs collocations from the dyadic background points, which used for the second-generation wavelet (SGW) translation simultaneously. The SGW is used to approximate the control variables and get the wavelet coefficients once they are obtained. In regions contain discontinuities, the magnitude of the relevant wavelet coefficients is large than other regions. The corresponding dyadic background points are reserved as the collocation points. Furthermore, the approximation error of the control and/or state variables can be predicted by a given threshold. Thus, the accuracy and efficiency can be balanced in a simple way. Finally, the method is demonstrated by three numerical examples from the open literature.

Previous studies on high harmonic generation from molecules have been used to identify the spectral properties and orbital contributions. Here the authors measure the isotopic effects in the energy shift of the HHG spectra caused by the nuclear motion of the molecules.

Abstract Although long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been emerging as critical regulators in various tissues and biological processes, little is known about their expression and regulation during the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) in inflammatory microenvironment. In this study, we have identified 63 lncRNAs that are not annotated in previous database. These novel lncRNAs were not randomly located in the genome but preferentially located near protein-coding genes related to particular functions and diseases, such as stem cell maintenance and differentiation, development disorders and inflammatory diseases. Moreover, we have identified 650 differentially expressed lncRNAs among different subsets of PDLSCs. Pathway enrichment analysis for neighboring protein-coding genes of these differentially expressed lncRNAs revealed stem cell differentiation related functions. Many of these differentially expressed lncRNAs function as competing endogenous RNAs that regulate protein-coding transcripts through competing shared miRNAs.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Over the last decade, an enormous amount of well-annotated gene and drug data has accumulated for HNC. However, a comprehensive repository is not yet available. Here, we constructed the Head and Neck Cancer Database (HNCDB: http://hncdb.cancerbio.info) using text mining followed by manual curation of the literature to collect reliable information on the HNC-related genes and drugs. The high-throughput gene expression data for HNC were also integrated into HNCDB. HNCDB includes the following three separate but closely related components: “HNC GENE,” “Connectivity Map,” and “ANALYSIS.” The “HNC GENE” component contains comprehensive information for the 1,173 HNC-related genes manually curated from 2,564 publications. The “Connectivity Map” includes information on the potential connections between the 176 drugs manually curated from 2,032 publications and the 1,173 HNC-related genes. The “ANALYSIS” component allows users to conduct correlation, differential expression, and survival analyses in the 2,403 samples from 78 HNC gene expression datasets. Taken together, we believe that HNCDB will be of significant benefit for the HNC community and promote further advances for precision medicine research on HNC.

Background/Aims: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is a major component of hyperlipidemia and contributes to atherosclerosis. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in preventing atherosclerosis and notably decreased in hyperlipidemia. Ox-LDL and ox-LDL-related reactive oxygen species (ROS) have deleterious effects on EPCs. Probucol as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug reduces ROS production. The present study was to determine if probucol could protect EPCs from ox-LDL in vivo and to investigate the potential mechanisms. Methods: ox-LDL was injected into male C57BL/6 mice for 3 days with or without probucol treatment with PBS as control. Bone marrow (BM) fluid, serum, circulating mononuclear cells (MNCs) and EPCs were collected for analysis. Results: the increased extracellular ROS in BM, serum and blood intracellular ROS production in the mice with ox-LDL treatment in association with a significant reduction of circulating MNCs and EPCs were restored with Probucol treatment. A significant increase in the serum ox-LDL and C-reactive protein and decrease in superoxide dismutase and circulating MNCs and EPCs were observed in hyperlipidemic patients that were effectively reversed with probucol treatment. Conclusion: these data suggested that probucol could protect EPCs from ox-LDL through inhibition of ROS production in vivo.

A new sequential method based on multi-resolution approximation is proposed for solving computationally expensive multi-objective optimization problems. A traditional strategy is to decompose a multi-objective optimization problem into a number of single-objective optimization problems, whereby the PF can be regarded as a function of weights. Therefore, it is very natural to use wavelet multi-resolution approximation techniques for setting weight vectors. In our framework, the sequential approach starts with sampling aggressive functions on the initial coarsest grid with a few collocation points; once a rough PF is obtained, new points are automatically added on the basis of an adaptive wavelet collocation method. Therefore, the PF can be approximated with a relatively small number of weights. The efficiency of our method is demonstrated on two examples: a typical multi-objective optimization problem and an expensive multi-objective control optimal problem.

Proinflammatory responses are important aspects of the immune response to biomaterials, which may cause peri-implantitis and implant shedding. The purpose of this study was to test the cytotoxicity and proinflammatory effects of dicalcium silicate particles on RAW 264.7 macrophages and to investigate the proinflammatory response mechanism induced by C2S and tricalcium phosphate (TCP). C2S and TCP particles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy spectrum analysis (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays with C2S and TCP in the murine RAW 264.7 cell line were tested using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry (FCM). The detection results showed that C2S and TCP particles had no obvious toxicity in RAW 264.7 cells and did not cause obvious apoptosis, although they both caused an oxidative stress response by producing ROS when the concentrations were at 100 μg/mL. C2S particles are likely to induce a proinflammatory response by inducing high TLR2, TNF-α mRNA, TNF-α proinflammatory cytokine, p-IκB, and p-JNK1 + JNK2 + JNK3 expression levels. When we added siRNA-TLR2-1, a significant reduction was observed. These findings support the theory that C2S particles induce proinflammatory responses through the TLR2-mediated NF-κB and JNK pathways in the murine RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line.

Sounding rockets are the only direct detection method for near-space and are utilized for different kinds of scientific research. Dynamic models are the foundation of research on sounding rockets. However, no dynamic models have included all the working processes of a sounding rocket. A high-precision dynamic model of a sounding rocket is proposed in this article; the model includes motion on the launch rail, the free flight phase, parachute deployment, the inflation process, and steady descent. Through the model, the entirety of the dynamic process can be understood in detail to help improve performance. A combination wind compensation method was investigated to rapidly and accurately obtain launch parameters; the method was derived from a wind weighting and pattern search method. Based on the simulation results, the proposed approaches are proven to be effective.

With the continuous progress in active debris-removal technology, scientists are increasingly concerned about the concept of space-net capturing system. The space-net capturing system is a long-range-launch flexible capture system, which has great potential to capture non-cooperative targets such as inactive satellites and upper stages. In this work, the launch scheme is studied by experiment and simulation, including two-step ejection and multi-point-traction analyses. The numerical model of the tether/net is based on finite element method and is verified by full-scale ground experiment. The results of the ground experiment and numerical simulation show that the two-step ejection and six-point traction scheme of the space-net system is superior to the traditional one-step ejection and four-point traction launch scheme.

Parachute inflation is coupled with sophisticated fluid-structure interaction (FSI) and flight mechanic behaviors in a finite mass situation. During opening, the canopy often experiences the largest deformation and loading. To predict the opening phase of a parachute, a computational FSI model for the inflation of a parachute, with slots on its canopy fabric, is developed using the arbitrary Lagrangian-Euler coupling penalty method. In a finite mass situation, the fluid around the parachute typically has an unsteady flow; therefore, a more complex opening phase and FSI dynamics of a parachute are investigated. Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations for uncompressible flow are solved using an explicit central difference method. The three-dimensional visualization of canopy deformation as well as the evolution of dropping velocity and overload is obtained and compared with the experimental results. This technique could be further applied in the airdrop test of a parachute for true prediction of the inflation characteristics.

Over the past decades, optical parametric amplification (OPA) has become one of the most promising sources of ultrafast Mid-IR laser, owing to its outstanding properties including ultrabroad bandwidth, superior tunability, good beam quality, and scalable energy. In this paper, we review the recent progress in ultrashort laser pulse generation via chirp manipulated OPA, which improves the energy scalability and gain bandwidth by strategically chirping both pump and seed pulses. The gain mechanism is theoretically analyzed and the OPA processes are numerically simulated. In addition, the concept is verified experimentally. Femtosecond pulses with hundreds of mJ are generated in a high energy dual-chirped-OPA (DC-OPA), and ultrabroadband μJ-level spectra supporting sub-2-cycle pulse durations are achieved in BBP-OPA. Furthermore, the obtained pulses show excellent tunability through the NIR to Mid-IR regions, which makes them a suitable seeding source for further amplification as well as powerful tools in various applications such as strong field physics, attosecond science, and ultrafast spectroscopy.