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IntroductionClassical Muscovy duck reovirus (C-MDRV) and goose-origin Muscovy duck reovirus (Go-MDRV) infections cause “Liver white-spots disease” in Muscovy duckling and gosling. It is difficult to differentiate the infections caused by C-MDRV and Go-MDRV using conventional serological methods.MethodsSpecific primers were designed and synthesized according to σNS and λA nucleotide sequences of C-MDRV and Go-MDRV, respectively. The PCR amplified products were cloned into the pMD-18-T vector. The recombinant plasmid DNA was used to establish an SYBR Green І based duplex real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of C-MDRV and Go-MDRV using high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. The specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability of the methodology were examined based on the optimization of the reaction system and amplification conditions.ResultsC-MDRV and Go-MDRV were identified by their distinctive melting temperatures with 84.50 ± 0.25°C for C-MDRV and 87.50 ± 0.20°C for Go-MDRV, respectively. The amplifications were specific, and other non-targeted waterfowl viruses employed in this study did not show normalized melting peaks. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variations were between 0.05 and 1.83%, demonstrating good repeatability. The detection limits of this assay were 51.4 copies·μl−1 for C-MDRV and 61.8 copies·μl−1 for Go-MDRV, respectively. A total of 45 clinical samples were tested by RT-qPCR, with positive rates of 15.56% for C-MDRV and 22.22% for Go-MDRV, without co-infections.DiscussionThese results suggest that this duplex RT-qPCR method is highly sensitive, specific, and reproducible. The HRM assay established in this study provides a powerful tool for the differential detection and epidemiological investigation of C-MDRV and Go-MDRV.

This paper proposes a longitudinal protection scheme utilizing empirical wavelet transform (EWT) for a through- type cophase traction direct power supply system, where both sides of a traction network line exhibit a distinctive boundary structure. This approach capitalizes on the boundary’s capacity to attenuate the high-frequency component of fault signals, resulting in a variation in the high-frequency transient energy ratio when faults occur inside or outside the line. During internal line faults, the high-frequency transient energy at the checkpoints located at both ends surpasses that of its neighboring lines. Conversely, for faults external to the line, the energy is lower compared to adjacent lines. EWT is employed to decompose the collected fault current signals, allowing access to the high-frequency transient energy. The longitudinal protection for the traction network line is established based on disparities between both ends of the traction network line and the high-frequency transient energy on either side of the boundary. Moreover, simulation verification through experimental results demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed protection scheme across various initial fault angles, distances to faults, and fault transition resistances.

Incipient faults (IFs) are abnormal states before the permanent failure of power equipment. IFs are typically transient and generally do not trigger the operation of relay protection devices. This leads the difficulty in capturing IF data from waveform monitoring or recording devices. However, traditional detection methods cannot achieve satisfactory performance when faced with limited data. Besides, some signal analysis methods based on waveform conversion to images cannot obtain understandable image data and cannot analyze both current and voltage signals simultaneously. To resolve these problems, a few-shot meta-learning framework for incipient fault detection (FSMLF-IFD) is proposed in this paper. For better data processing, a waveform image conversion strategy is proposed to convert waveforms into understandable images from the time domain perspective. Then, an adaptive image fusion strategy is developed to concurrently analyze voltage and current images. Next, at the meta-training stage, an adaptability-enhancing weighting initialization strategy is constructed to address the data differences between the meta-training stage and IF detection stage. Finally, an IF detection model based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is obtained through the fine-tuning process. In the numerical results, the IF detection and classification accuracy of FSMLF-IFD reached 0.9720 and 0.9840 based on simulation and field IF data, which validates the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Abstract Ammonia is a storage molecule for hydrogen, which can be released by catalytic decomposition. Inexpensive iron catalysts suffer from a low activity due to a too strong iron-nitrogen binding energy compared to more active metals such as ruthenium. Here, we show that this limitation can be overcome by combining iron with cobalt resulting in a Fe-Co bimetallic catalyst. Theoretical calculations confirm a lower metal-nitrogen binding energy for the bimetallic catalyst resulting in higher activity. Operando spectroscopy reveals that the role of cobalt in the bimetallic catalyst is to suppress the bulk-nitridation of iron and to stabilize this active state. Such catalysts are obtained from Mg(Fe,Co)2O4 spinel pre-catalysts with variable Fe:Co ratios by facile co-precipitation, calcination and reduction. The resulting Fe-Co/MgO catalysts, characterized by an extraordinary high metal loading reaching 74 wt.%, combine the advantages of a ruthenium-like electronic structure with a bulk catalyst-like microstructure typical for base metal catalysts.

A flexible manipulator is a versatile automated device with a wide range of applications, capable of performing various tasks. However, these manipulators are often vulnerable to external disturbances and face limitations in their ability to control actuators. These factors significantly impact the precision of tracking control in such systems. This study delves into the problem of attitude tracking control for a flexible manipulator under the constraints of control input limitations and the influence of external disturbances. To address these challenges effectively, we first introduce the backstepping method, aiming to achieve precise state tracking and tackle the issue of external disturbances. Additionally, recognizing the constraints posed by control input limitations in the flexible manipulator's actuator control system, we employ a design approach based on the Nussbaum function. This method is designed to overcome these limitations, allowing for more robust control. To validate the effectiveness and disturbance rejection capabilities of the proposed control strategy, we conduct comparative numerical simulations using MATLAB/Simulink. These simulations provide further evidence of the robustness and reliability of the control strategy, even in the presence of external disturbances and control input limitations.

Abstract Background Ajania Poljakov, an Asteraceae family member, grows mostly in Asia’s arid and semi-desert areas and is a significant commercial and decorative plant. Nevertheless, the genus’ classification has been disputed, and the evolutionary connections within the genus have not been thoroughly defined. Hence, we sequenced and analyzed Ajania’s plastid genomes and combined them with ETS data to assess their phylogenetic relationships. Results We obtained a total of six new Ajania plastid genomes and nine ETS sequences. The whole plastome lengths of the six species sampled ranged from 151,002 bp to 151,115 bp, showing conserved structures. Combined with publicly available data from GenBank, we constructed six datasets to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships, detecting nucleoplasmic clashes. Our results reveal the affinities of Artemisia, Chrysanthemum and Stilpnolepis to Ajania and validate the early taxonomy reclassification. Some of the plastid genes with low phylogenetic information and gene trees with topological differences may have contributed to the ambiguous phylogenetic results of Ajania. There is extensive evolutionary rate heterogeneity in plastid genes. The psbH and ycf2 genes, which are involved in photosynthesis and ATP transport, are under selective pressure. Plastomes from Ajania species diverged, and structural aspects of plastomes may indicate some of the real evolutionary connections. We suggest the ycf1 gene as a viable plastid DNA barcode because it has significant nucleotide diversity and better reflects evolutionary connections. Conclusion Our findings validate the early Ajania taxonomy reclassification and show evolutionary rate heterogeneity, genetic variety, and phylogenetic heterogeneity of plastid genes. This research might provide new insights into the taxonomy and evolution of Ajania, as well as provide useful information for germplasm innovation and genetic enhancement in horticultural species.

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) inter-pulse parameter agility technology involves dynamically adjusting parameters such as the pulse width, chirp rate, carrier frequency, and pulse repetition interval within a certain range; this effectively increases the complexity and uncertainty of radar waveforms, thereby countering active deceptive interference signals from multiple dimensions. With the development of active deceptive interference technology, single-parameter agility can no longer meet the requirements, making multi-parameter joint agility one of the main research directions. However, inter-pulse carrier frequency agility can cause azimuth Doppler chirp rate variation, making azimuth compression difficult and compensation computationally intensive, thus hindering imaging. Additionally, pulse repetition interval (PRI) agility leads to non-uniform azimuth sampling, severely deteriorating image quality. To address these issues, this paper proposes a multi-parameter agile SAR imaging scheme based on traditional frequency domain imaging algorithms. This scheme can handle joint agility of pulse width, chirp rate polarity, carrier frequency, and PRI, with relatively low computational complexity, making it feasible for engineering implementation. By inverting SAR images, the echoes with multi-parameter joint agility are obtained, and active deceptive interference signals are added for processing. The interference-suppressed imaging results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Furthermore, simulation results of point targets with multiple parameters under the proposed processing algorithm show that the peak sidelobe ratio (PSLR) and integrated sidelobe ratio (ISLR) are improved by 12 dB and 10 dB, respectively, compared to the traditional fixed waveform scheme.

IntroductionMacrofungi, such as edible mushrooms, have been used as a valuable medical resource for millennia as a result of their antibacterial and immuno-modulatory components. Mushrooms contain dietary fibers known as β-glucans, a class of polysaccharides previously linked to the induction of Trained Immunity. However, little is known about the ability of mushroom-derived β-glucans to induce Trained Immunity.Methods & resultsUsing various powdered forms of the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), we found that mouse macrophages pre-treated with whole mushroom powder (WMP) displayed enhanced responses to restimulation with TLR ligands, being particularly sensitive to Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 stimulation using synthetic lipopeptides. This trained response was modest compared to training observed with yeast-derived β-glucans and correlated with the amount of available β-glucans in the WMP. Enriching for β-glucans content using either a simulated in-vitro digestion or chemical fractionation retained and boosted the trained response with WMP, respectively. Importantly, both WMP and digested-WMP preparations retained β-glucans as identified by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and both displayed the capacity to train human monocytes and enhanced responses to restimulation. To determine if dietary incorporation of mushroom products can lead to Trained Immunity in myeloid cells in vivo, mice were given a regimen of WMP by oral gavage prior to sacrifice. Flow cytometric analysis of bone-marrow progenitors indicated alterations in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells population dynamics, with shift toward myeloid-committed multi-potent progenitor cells. Mature bone marrow-derived macrophages derived from these mice displayed enhanced responses to restimulation, again particularly sensitive to TLR2.DiscussionTaken together, these data demonstrate that β-glucans from common macrofungi can train innate immune cells and could point to novel ways of delivering bio-available β-glucans for education of the innate immune system.

Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is a global biodiversity hotspot due to the unique geographical environment. However, there are few reports on the list of national key protected plants and the distribution pattern of their diversity in this area. Based on the flora and online database, this paper summarised the species diversity and distribution patterns of national key protected wild plants on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The results showed that there were 350 species of national key protected wild plants on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, belonging to 72 families and 130 genera. Amongst them, 22 species were under class I protection, 328 species were under class II protection and 168 species were endemic to China. Its endangered status involves EW 1 species, CR 17 species, EN 90 species, VU 90 species, NT 30 species, LC 60 species and DD 62 species. Species diversity declined gradually from the southeast to the northwest with hotspots located within Sanjiang Valley subregion (ⅢE14a). The list of national key protected wild plants and their diversity and distribution patterns in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau can provide basic data for the conservation of regional biodiversity and the formulation of conservation strategies.

Abstract Subsect. Hirculoideae Engl. & Irmsch., belonging to Saxifraga sect. Ciliatae Haw., has high species richness. It can be divided into S. diversifolia, S. pseudohirculus, and S. sinomontana complexes based on morphological characteristics. The species with prominent leaf veins on the posterior leaf edge were placed in the S. diversifolia complex, which is mainly distributed on the eastern and southern margins of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. In this study, 53 samples, representing 15 of the 33 described species in the S. diversifolia complex, were sequenced using the Restriction‐site Associated DNA Sequence (RAD‐seq) technique. A total of 111,938 high‐quality SNP loci were screened to investigate the phylogenetic relationships within the S. diversifolia complex. The result of the neighbor‐joining (NJ) tree shows that the S. diversifolia complex is a paraphyletic group. Despite of some inconsistencies as revealed by genetic structural analysis, clustering results of representative species reconstructed by both NJ and principal component analysis analyses support previous biogeographic and morphological evidences. In addition, long‐distance gene flow events for 11 taxa were detected in the S. diversifolia complex, respectively from S. implicans 1 to S. implicans 2, S. diversifolia and S. maxionggouensis, and from S. maxionggouensis to S. nigroglandulifera. These findings may improve our comprehension of the phylogeny, classification, and evolution of the S. diversifolia complex.

[Introduction] The paper proposes an energy consumption calculation method for prefabricated cabin type lithium iron phosphate battery energy storage power station based on the energy loss sources and the detailed classification of equipment attributes in the station. [Method] From the perspective of an energy storage power station, this paper discussed the main factors to be considered in the energy consumption calculation of prefabricated cabin type lithium iron phosphate battery energy storage power station, and then divided the energy consumption of the energy storage power station into two parts, namely, the energy consumption of the energy storage system and the energy consumption of the auxiliary equipment operation. Besides, it also provided the calculation method for the energy consumption of each part and the selection method of efficiency value respectively. [Result] Through a practical calculation example, the whole-day energy consumption of a 2 MW/2 MWh energy storage battery prefabrication cabin in a certain operation mode is analyzed and compared with the field test results. The difference between the field test results and the theoretical analysis results is analyzed from the perspective of the heat produced by the energy storage battery and the heat transmitted by the air conditioner, and suggestions are put forward for the energy consumption statistics of the energy storage power station. [Conclusion] The energy consumption calculation method proposed in the study comprehensively discusses the main factors affecting the energy consumption index of the prefabricated cabin type lithium iron phosphate battery energy storage power station and gives the energy consumption calculation method for the main equipment according to the detailed classification of equipment attributes, which has a good engineering reference value.

Wuwei Shexiang Pill (WSP) is a Tibetan traditional medicine, which has been demonstrated to exhibit potent anti-inflammatory and anti-gout effects. However, the specific pharmacological mechanism is not elucidated clearly. In the present study, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics was applied to investigate the alteration of serum metabolites induced by WSP treatment in MSU-induced gouty rats. Subsequently, bioinformatics was utilized to analyze the potential metabolic pathway of the anti-gout effect of WSP. The pharmacodynamic data discovered that WSP could ameliorate ankle swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration, as well as downregulate the protein expression of IL-1β, p-NF-κB p65, and NLRP3 in the synovial membrane and surrounding tissues of gouty ankles. LC-MS-based metabolomics revealed that there were 30 differential metabolites in the serum between sham-operated rats and gouty ones, which were mainly involved in the metabolism of fructose and mannose, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and cholesterol metabolism. However, compared to the model group, WSP treatment upregulated 11 metabolic biomarkers and downregulated 31 biomarkers in the serum. KEGG enrichment analysis found that 27 metabolic pathways contributed to the therapeutic action of WSP, including linoleic acid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. The comprehensive analysis-combined network pharmacology and metabolomics further revealed that the regulatory network of WSP against gout might be attributed to 11 metabolites, 7 metabolic pathways, 39 targets, and 49 active ingredients of WSP. In conclusion, WSP could ameliorate the inflammation of the ankle in MSU-induced gouty rats, and its anti-gout mechanism might be relevant to the modulation of multiple metabolic pathways, such as linoleic acid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. This study provided data support for the secondary development of Chinese traditional patent medicine.

For the challenges of high-precision mapping in complex terrain, a novel airborne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) system is designed. This system, named ASMIS (Airborne Short-Baseline Millimeter-Wave InSAR System), adopts the coplanar antenna and a pod-type structure. This design makes the system lightweight and highly integrated. It can be compatible with small general aviation flight platforms. The baseline is millimeters in size, which greatly simplifies the unwrapping process. The coplanar antennas have two advantages: they maximize the baseline utilization and minimize the Doppler decorrelation and the motion error inconsistency. Acquisition campaigns of the system have been carried out in Boao, Bayannur, and Chengde, China. In the Chengde experimental area, we designed an antiparallel flight experiment to account for the topographic relief. High-precision Digital Orthophoto Maps (DOMs) and Digital Surface Models (DSMs) at a scale of 1:5000 were obtained. The coordinate Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the checkpoints within the obtained DSM is less than 0.82 m in altitude and 3 m horizontally. The RMSE of the Sparse Ground Control Points (GCPs) within the obtained DSM is less than 0.3 m in altitude. Experimental results from different areas, including plains, mountains, and coastlines, demonstrate the system’s performance.

Abstract Gastric cancer, or stomach cancer, that originates in the inner lining of the stomach, was the fifth most common cancer and the fourth mortality globally, with over one million new cases in 2020 and an estimated 769,000 deaths. The molecular characteristics of gastric cancer has been complicated by histological and intratumor heterogeneity. The incidence of gastric cancer shows wide geographical variation. As the largest and highest region in China, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is one of the important global biodiversity hotspots. Here, we collect tumour and paired normal bio-samples from 31 primary gastric cancer patients from Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, and discuss the molecular characteristics for gastric cancer patients living in plateau. They have more single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) located in chromosome 7 with C → T and G → A as the most common alteration types, barely share the cancer driver genes with western patients, and have no significant differences in various Chinese nation. These characteristics offers a great opportunity to further understanding the divergent mechanism of gastric cancer, increase the efficacy for diagnosis and prognosis, finally lead the optimal targeted therapeutics.

Abstract Background The genus Swertia is of great medicinal importance and one of the most taxonomically challenging taxa within Gentianaceae, largely due to the morphological similarities of species within this genus and with its closely related genera. Previous molecular studies confirmed its polyphyly but suffered from low phylogenetic resolutions because only limited sequence loci were used. Thus, we conducted the structural, gene evolutionary, and phylogenetic analyses of 11 newly obtained plastomes of Swertia. Our result greatly improved the phylogenetic resolutions in Swertia, shed new light on the plastome evolution and phylogenetic relationships of this genus. Results The 11 Swertia plastomes together with the published seven species proved highly similar in overall size, structure, gene order, and content, but revealed some structural variations caused by the expansion and contraction of the IRb region into the LSC region, due to the heterogeneous length of the ψycf1. The gene rps16 was found to be in a state flux with pseudogenes or completely lost. Similar situation was also documented in other genera of Gentianaceae. This might imply loss of the gene in the common ancestor of Gentianaceae. The distribution plot of ENC vs. GC3 showed all these plastomes arranging very close in the Wright line with an expected ENC value (49–52%), suggesting the codon usage of Swertia was mainly constrained by a GC mutation bias. Most of the genes remained under the purifying selection, however, the cemA was identified under positive selection, possibly reflecting an adaptive response to low CO2 atmospheric conditions during the Late Miocene. Our phylogenomic analyses, based on 74 protein-coding genes (CDS), supported the polyphyly of Swertia with its close allies in the subtribe Swertiinae, presumably due to recent rapid radiation. The topology inferred from our phylogenetic analyses partly supported the current taxonomic treatment. Finally, several highly variable loci were identified, which can be used in future phylogenetic studies and accurate identification of medicinal genuineness of Swertia. Conclusions Our study confirmed the polyphyly of Swertia and demonstrated the power of plastome phylogenomics in improvement of phylogenetic resolution, thus contributing to a better understanding of the evolutionary history of Swertia.

Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase (cGAS) is a pivotal adaptor of the signaling pathways involving the pattern recognition receptors and plays an important role in apoptosis and immune regulation. The cGAS function in mammals has been investigated extensively; however, the function of duck cGAS (du-cGAS) in response to viral infections is still unclear. This study aimed to clone the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) cGAS homolog to investigate the function of duck cGAS (du-cGAS) in host antiviral innate immunity. The results showed that the open reading frame (ORF) region of the du-cGAS gene was 1296 bp, encoding 432 amino acids (aa) and exhibiting similar functional domains with its chicken counterpart. Knockdown of the endogenous du-cGAS by specific sgRNA strongly increased the replication of DNA viruses, including duck adenovirus B2 (DAdV B2) and duck short beak and dwarfism syndrome virus (SBDSV). However, the knockout did not impair the replication of novel duck reovirus (NDRV), an RNA virus. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of type I interferon (IFNs) and vital interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) were remarkably reduced in the du-cGAS knockout DEF cell line. Inversely, du-cGAS overexpression greatly activated the transcription of IFN-α, IFN-β, and vital ISGs, and impaired the replication of DAdV B2, SBDSV, and NDRV in the DEF cell line. Importantly, we found that a deletion of 68 aa in the N terminus didn’t impair the antiviral function of du-cGAS. Overexpressing NTase Core, C-Domain (Mab21), or Zinc-Ribbon domain independently had no antiviral effects. Generally, these results reveal that du-cGAS is a vital component of the innate immune system of ducks, with a universal antiviral activity, and provides a useful strategy for the control of waterfowl viral diseases.

Abstract Genus Comastoma (subt. Swertiinae, Gentianaceae) contains species, such as “Zangyinchen,” that are important herbs in Tibetan medicine. The phylogenetic relationship of this within Gentianaceae and the circumscriptions of its species have long been controversial with conflicting morphological and molecular data reported. Here, we used whole chloroplast genome sequences for Comastoma species and related taxa to reconstruct their phylogeny and clarify their taxonomic relationships. The results revealed that the length of all plastome sequenced varied from 149 to 151 kb and have high similarity in structure and gene content. Phylogenomic analysis showed that Comastoma is a monophyletic group, closely related to the genus Lomatogonium. The divergence time estimation showed that Gentianaceae diverged at about 21.81 Ma, while the split of Comastoma occurred at 7.70 Ma. However, the results suggested the crown age of species formation in this genus is after 4.19 Ma. Our results suggest that QTP uplift, the alternation of Quaternary glaciation and interglaciation, and monsoon changes might have acted as drivers of speciation in Comastoma.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the alterations in the gut microbiota (GM) of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) mice induced by bleomycin (BLM) with its underlying mechanisms. BLM was docked with the targets of TGF-β/SMAD and caspase-3 pathways using the molecular docking technique. HE staining and Masson staining were applied to observe the histopathological changes in the pulmonary tissues. Detection of the apoptotic signals was conducted by flow cytometry and TUNEL staining. The mRNA expression of targets involved in the TGF-β/SMAD and caspase-3 signaling pathways in lungs was determined by qPCR. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was used to detect the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and BAX proteins in mice lung tissues. 16S rDNA sequencing analysis was used to investigate the changes of GM in the fecal samples of mice in each group. The results showed that the apoptosis rate of pulmonary cells in the BLM group distinctly increased, with the expression levels of crucial target pro-apoptotic gene caspase-3, BAX with the corresponding protein, cleaved caspase-3, BAX were apparently elevated. This was accompanied by a significant increase in pro-fibrotic targets level such as TGF-β, fibronectin, collagen I, and collagen III. The mechanisms of PF induced by BLM were related to apoptosis of lung tissue cells such as alveolar epithelial cells and destroyed alveolar structure and excessive production of extracellular matrix (ECM), which may be bound up with activating TGF-β/SMAD and caspase-3 pathways. As for the GM, it was found that, after BLM induced PF in mice, the micro ecological balance of the GM was destroyed; the distance of PCo1 and Pco2 was significantly elongated, and the relative abundance of some intestinal probiotics like Catenibacterium and Lactobacillus (L. johnsonii and L. gasseri) dramatically lowered while the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobiales and Enterobacteriales substantially increased. Therefore, GM changes associated with PF in mouse models induced by BLM and the concept of “gut-lung axis” might provide an optional therapeutic strategy for PF.

H146-like goose-origin calicivirus (H146-like GCV) is a novel Caliciviridae family member in the Sanovirus genus that was recently discovered and proposed to cause runting-stunting syndrome and urate deposition in geese. At present, however, there is a lack of epidemiological information pertaining to the dynamics and distribution of H146-like GCV. The development of novel molecular diagnostic approaches capable of rapidly and accurately detecting this virus would support the strengthening, the prevention, and control of H146-like GCV infection. In the present study, we therefore used a TaqMan probe and primers specific for the viral nonstructural (NS) gene to develop a highly sensitive and specific PCR assay capable of detecting this H146-like GCV. The assay reproducibly detected 5.07 × 102 copies of a recombinant DNA plasmid containing the NS gene, with a dynamic range of 8 orders of magnitude (102–109 copies). Importantly, no cross-reactivity was observed with common viruses that affected waterfowl, and when we used this assay to evaluate clinical samples, we found it to be more sensitive and faster than traditional PCR. In summary, herein, we developed a novel TaqMan-based real-time PCR approach that could reliably detect and diagnose H146-like GCV. This tool will allow for the real-time diagnosis of H146-like GCV infections, enabling researchers to better understand the epidemiology and clinical presentation of this disease.

When traditional STATCOM (Static Synchronous Compensator) performs large-capacity reactive power compensation, the control accuracy of the DC side voltage will be affected and the DC side voltage will fluctuate greatly. Therefore, this study proposes to use battery energy storage STATCOM (STATCOM/BESS) and gives the main circuit topology of STATCOM/BESS. By analyzing the working principle of STATCOM/BESS, the mathematical model and control method are derived and modeled, in which the Shepherd model is used as the energy storage battery in STATCOM/BESS. Aiming at the possible imbalance of the battery state of charge (SOC) in STATCOM/BESS, the phase-to-phase SOC balance control and phase control are proposed. At last, in PSCAD/EMTDC simulation software, STATCOM/BESS is tested for dynamic response and steady-state response performance of active power control, reactive power control, and transformation failure suppression test, which verifies the effectiveness and superiority of STATCOM/BESS commutation failure.

The difficulty of effectively monitoring and managing the environment to conserve biodiversity is as yet an unsolved conundrum. A project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has concluded that progress can be made through the use of flagship species selected using criteria drawn from conservation biology, ecosystem function, socio-economics, and cultural importance. Inclusion of the latter three criteria will help attract and maintain the commitment of the public to play full parts in carrying out any conservation measures needed. A system is proposed for scoring species to select those that are most suitable as flagships. This method can be used regardless of the size of the area chosen for attention, whether it is a region, a country, or a particular protected area.

In view of the UHV multiterminal hybrid DC transmission system, the DC line protection with universal applicability, fast response speed, stability, and reliability is particularly important for its safe and economic operation. In this article, the boundary frequency characteristics of the UHV multiterminal hybrid DC transmission system are analyzed by considering the DC boundary of the rectifier side and inverter side, line frequency variation, and other factors. According to the fact that the boundary of the fault line has a strong attenuation effect on the high-frequency component of the transient current, a protection method based on the intrinsic mode energy entropy is proposed to distinguish the faults inside and outside. The criterion to initiate the protection is constructed by using the amplitude of the transient power; the fault direction criterion is constructed by using the positive and negative characteristics of the transient energy of the fault power detected by power direction elements on both sides of the T-zone; the fault pole selection criterion is constructed by using the ratio of low-frequency transient power changes of positive and negative poles. Finally, the Kun–Liu–Long line UHV three-terminal hybrid DC transmission system model is built on the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation platform, and a large number of simulation examples verify that the protection can operate reliably under different fault poles, fault positions, and transition resistances.

This study researches on the Wudongde hybrid multi-terminal Ultra High-Voltage Direct Current Transmission (UHVDC) project (referred to as Wudongde transmission project in short) from the electromagnetic transient model and simulation and establishes an accurate simulation model of the hybrid multi-terminal UHVDC transmission system with the Power Systems Computer-Aided Design (PSCAD). The hybrid multi-terminal UHVDC transmission system consists of the primary system and the control system. The simulation model of the primary system adopts the parameters of the Wudongde transmission project, and the simulation model of the control system refers to the control system benchmark model of HVDC transmission and 9-terminal DC grid in the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE). According to the characteristics of the hybrid multi-terminal UHVDC control system, the benchmark model of HVDC transmission and 9-terminal DC grid control system in the CIGRE is modified accordingly, and a simulation model of the control system applicable to the hybrid multi-terminal UHVDC transmission system is established. The accuracy and credibility of the model are verified through the comparison of the recording waveform and the simulating waveform of the steady-state and transient operation. The simulating and field recording waveforms show that the model can accurately simulate the Wudongde transmission project and be used as an effective tool for further studying the electromagnetic transient characteristics of the hybrid multi-terminal UHVDC transmission system.

In this paper, a protection scheme for the traction network of the penetrating co-phase traction direct power supply system based on the waveform similarity at both ends of line is proposed. Besides, research on the transmission characteristics of fault current is also carried out. This article, from the perspectives of the reflection and refraction process, attenuation degree, and polarity of fault current, analyzes the correlation and difference of current waveforms at both ends when interior line faults and adjacent line faults emerge. The correlation of waveforms can be proved by cosine similarity after the process of synchronous squeezes wavelet transformation of fault current. The conclusions are as follows: when the interior line faults occur, the sequence, reflection and refraction process, and attenuation degree reaching both ends are roughly the same, the polarity change direction is the same, and the waveform similarity is high; when the adjacent line faults occur, the sequence, reflection and refraction process, and attenuation degree reaching at both ends are greatly different, the polarity change direction is opposite, and the waveform similarity is low. When a protection scheme is based on using cosine similarity, it can quickly and accurately identify internal or external current faults. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can meet the requirements of rapidity, selectivity, and reliability and is not affected by transition resistance and fault inception angles, so it has an application prospect to a certain degree.

Due to the poor performance of traditional STATCOM in DC engineering, a compensation method using battery energy storage STATCOM (STATCOM/BESS) to suppress commutation failure of the weak receiving-end high voltage direct current transmission system is proposed, and its effect is better than traditional STATCOM. First, the mechanism and influencing factors of commutation failure are analyzed; the extinction angle of the converter valve is taken as the decision index of commutation failure; the relationship between various electrical parameters and extinction angle is studied under the condition of the single-phase grounding fault on the inverter side. Second, according to the differences between the positive and negative sequence reactive current output by STATCOM/BESS when a fault occurs in single-phase grounding, a compensation method is proposed to suppress commutation failure by STATCOM/BESS, which increases the proportion of positive sequence reactive current output by STATCOM/BESS under the condition of constant output so as to reduce the probability of commutation failure. At last, STATCOM/BESS is added into the standard model of LCC-HVDC for the simulation experiment and compared with conventional running characteristics of STATCOM in order to verify the effect of STATCOM/BESS in suppressing commutation failure.

Triosteum pinnatifidum Maxim., an alpine plant, is traditionally used for several medicinal purposes. Here, both chloroplast DNA sequences and nuclear low copy sequence markers were used to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of T. pinnatifidum. Materials were collected from thirteen localities in the northeast Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) and adjacent highlands and advanced analytical toolkits were used to access their origin and range shifts. The results revealed a higher level of population differentiation based on chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) concatenated sequences compared with the nuclear DNA sequences (FST = 0.654 for cpDNA, FST = 0.398 for AT103), indicating that pollen flow was still extensive in T. pinnatifidum. A decline in haplotype variation was observed from the plateau edge and adjoining highlands toward the platform of the QTP. The hypothesis “dispersal into the QTP,” proposing that T. pinnatifidum experienced migration from the plateau edge and adjacent highlands to the platform, was supported. These results were in line with the hypothesis that multiple refugia exist on the plateau edge and adjacent highlands rather than on the plateau platform. Our unimodal mismatch distribution, star-like network supported a recent expansion in T. pinnatifidum.

In the research, a protection scheme for hybrid multiterminal UHVDC lines based on the CEEMDAN and Teager energy operator is proposed. The fault direction criterion is proposed according to the polarity difference of the sudden variable of the mode component of the current line on both sides of the T-zone after the fault of the EHV multiterminal hybrid DC system. When the fault is located on the left or right side of the T-zone, CEEMDAN is used to decompose the mode component of the fault transient current and obtain the intrinsic mode function (IMF component) at different local characteristic time scales. Then, the Teager energy operator is used to calculate the instantaneous energy of the current high-frequency IMF1 component. Finally, the faults inside and outside the line are judged by comparing the maximum value of current high-frequency IMF1 instantaneous energy with the setting value. When the fault is located in the T-zone, it is determined as a fault outside the line zone. The protection scheme of hybrid multiterminal UHVDC lines is given. The simulation model of the Kunliulong hybrid multiterminal UHVDC line system is built in a PSCAD/EMTDC simulation platform, and the proposed protection method is verified. A large number of simulation results show that the protection scheme has certain anti-transition resistance ability and high reliability.

Bulbus fritillariae cirrhosae (BFC) is one of the most used Chinese medicines for lung disease, and exerts antitussive, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, and antioxidant effects, which is an ideal therapeutic drug for respiratory diseases such as ARDS, COPD, asthma, lung cancer, and pulmonary tuberculosis. Through this review, it is found that the therapeutic mechanism of BFC on respiratory diseases exhibits the characteristics of multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-signaling pathways. In particular, the therapeutic potential of BFC in terms of intervention of “cytokine storm”, STAT, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that ACE is involved in. In the “cytokine storm” of SARS-CoV-2 infection there is an intense inflammatory response. ACE2 regulates the RAS by degradation of Ang II produced by ACE, which is associated with SARS-CoV-2. For COVID-19, may it be a potential drug? This review summarized the research progress of BFC in the respiratory diseases, discussed the development potentiality of BFC for the treatment of COVID-19, explained the chemical diversity and biological significance of the alkaloids in BFC, and clarified the material basis, molecular targets, and signaling pathways of BFC for the respiratory diseases. We hope this review can provide insights on the drug discovery of anti-COVID-19.

Solanum japonense Nakai. (Solanaceae) is a traditional Chinese medicine and animal fodder in Asian continent. Here, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of S. japonense was determined by the Illumina Hiseq technology. The complete chloroplast genome of S. japonense was 155,415 bp and the GC content was 37.81%. The typical circular quadripartite structure was composed with two inverted repeat (IR) regions with 25,588 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region (85,931 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,344 bp). The chloroplast genome of S. japonense contained 132 unigenes, which contained 86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA and 8 rRNA genes and one pseudo-gene. Moreover, 183 SSRs were identified and 65% (119)of them located at LSC region. A Maximum-Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genomes indicated that S. japonense was closely related to S.dulcamara, S.nigrum. Our results would provide a valuable resource for resource utilization and the phylogenetic studies of species of Dulcamara sect. in Solanaceae.

Abstract Background Waterfowl parvoviruses, including goose parvovirus (GPV) and Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV), can cause seriously diseases in geese and ducks. Developing a fast and precise diagnosis assay for these two parvoviruses is particularly important. Results A duplex SYBR Green I-based quantitative real-time PCR assay was developed for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of GPV and MDPV. The assay yielded melting curves with specific single peak (Tm = 87.3 ± 0.26 °C or Tm = 85.4 ± 0.23 °C) when GPV or MDPV was evaluated, respectively. When both parvoviruses were assessed in one reaction, melting curves with specific double peaks were yielded. Conclusion This duplex quantitative RT-PCR can be used to rapid identify of GPV and MDPV in field cases and artificial trials, which make it a powerful tool for diagnosing, preventing and controlling waterfowl parvovirus infections.

Ceramic hybrid particulate reinforced magnesium matrix composites have attracted much attention in recent years, owing to their light weight, high specific strength and stiffness, excellent wear and damping properties, and have very wide popularization and application prospects in the automotive and aerospace fields. A simple and novel technique, in situ reactive infiltration technique, was utilized to prepare (B4C+Ti) hybrid reinforced Mg and AZ91D composites. The microstructure, produced phases, wear, compression and bending performance were characterized and analyzed in depth. The results showed that extending the holding time for preparing the composites and magnesium alloy as the matrix were both beneficial for the generation of interpenetrating networks within the composites, which means more sufficient and complete in situ reactions between B4C and Ti particles. More sufficient and complete reactions facilitate stronger interfacial bonding, leading to an improvement of the wear, compression and bending performance of the composites. The wear mechanisms for both kinds of composites were abrasive and delamination wear. (B4C+Ti)/AZ91D composites exhibit better compression performance and this can be attributed to the microstructure of the composites and work-hardening and softening during compression.

Accurately predicting the response of a cancer patient to a therapeutic agent remains an important challenge in precision medicine. With the rise of data science, researchers have applied computational models to study the drug inhibition effects on cancers based on cancer genomics and transcriptomics. Moreover, a common epigenetic modification, DNA methylation, has been related to the occurrence and development of cancer, as well as drug effectiveness. Therefore, it is helpful for improvement of drug response prediction through exploring the relationship between DNA methylation and drug effectiveness. Here, we proposed a computational model to predict drug responses in cancers through integration of cancer genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and compound chemical properties. Meanwhile, we applied a regularized regression model (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator, lasso) to detect the methylation sites that were closely related to drug effectiveness. The prediction models were trained on a well-known pharmacogenomics data resource, Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC). The cross-validation indicates that the performance of the prediction model using DNA methylation is comparable to that of using other cancer omics, including oncogene mutation and gene expression data. It indicates the important role of DNA methylation in prediction of drug responses. Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) and Transcriptional Regulatory Relationships Unraveled by Sentence-based Text mining (TRRUST2) database analyses suggest that the methylation sites associated with drug effectiveness are mainly located in the transcription factor (TF) binding region. Therefore, we hypothesized that the sensitivity of cancer cells to drugs could be regulated by changing the methylation modification of TF binding region. In conclusion, we confirmed the important role of DNA methylation in prediction of drug responses, and provided some methylation sites that closely related to the drug effectiveness, which may be a great regulatory target for improvement of drug treatment effects on cancer patients.

Gastric cancer was the fifth most common malignancy and the third deadliest cancer (738,000 deaths in 2018) in the world. The analysis of its molecular characteristics has been complicated by histological and intratumor heterogeneity. Furthermore, the previous studies indicate that the incidence of gastric cancer shows wide geographical variation. As the largest and highest region in China, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is one of the important global biodiversity hotspots. Here, to better understand the mechanism of gastric cancer and offer the targeted therapeutic strategies specially designed for patients in QTP, we collect tumor and blood samples from 30 primary gastric adenocarcinoma cancer patients at Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital. We discuss the clinical and molecular characteristics for these patients that have been ascribed to the unique features in this place, including high altitude (the average height above sea level is around 4,000 m), multi-ethnic groups, and the specific ways of life or habits (such as eating too much beef and mutton, have alcohol and cigarette problem, et al.). By comparing with the western gastric cancer patients collected from TCGA data portal, some unique characteristics for patients in QTP are suggested. They include high incidence in younger people, most of tumor are located in body, most of SNP are detected in chromosome 7, and the very different molecular atlas in minor ethnic groups and Han Chinese. These characteristics will provide the unprecedented opportunity to increase the efficacy for diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer in QTP. Furthermore, to suggest the targeted therapeutics specially designed for these 30 patients, an adapted kernel-based learning model and a compilation of pharmacogenomics data of 462 patient-derived tumor cells (PDCs) that illustrate the diverse genetic and molecular backgrounds of cancer patients, were introduced. In conclusion, our study offers a big opportunity to better understand the mechanism of gastric cancer in QTP and guide the optimal patient-tailored therapy for them.

Gentianaceae is a large plant family and is distributed worldwide. As the largest tribe in Gentianaceae, Gentianeae contains 939–968 species, and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and adjacent areas are the main centers of diversity for Gentianeae. Species from the Gentianeae are widely used in traditional Tibetan medicine. In this review, a systematic and constructive overview of the information on botany, ethnomedicinal usage, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of Gentianeae in Tibetan medicine is provided. The results of this study are based on a literature search, including electronic databases, books, websites, papers, and conference proceedings. Botanical studies showed that Gentianeae includes the subtribe Gentianeae and Swertiinae, and several new genera and taxa have been identified. Approximately 83 species from Gentianeae were used in Tibetan medicine, among which Gentiana and Swertia constituted the largest number of species with 42 and 24 species, respectively. The species from Gentianeae are mainly used as Bangjian (སྤང་རྒྱན།), Jieji (ཀྱི་ལྕེ།), Dida (ཏིག་ཏ།), and Ganggaqiong (གང་གྰཆུང་།) in Tibetan medicine with different clinical applications. More than 240 formulas were found containing Gentianeae species with different attending functions. Phytochemical studies showed that the main active components of Gentianeae species are iridoids, xanthones, flavonoids, and triterpenoids. The bioactivities of plants from Gentianeae include hepatic protection, upper respiratory tract protection, joint and bone protection, glucose regulation, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral effects. This review will provide a reference for future research on natural resource protection, plant-based drug development, and further clinical investigation.

The emergence of drug resistance is one of the main obstacles to the treatment of lung cancer patients with EGFR inhibitors. Here, to further understand the mechanism of EGFR inhibitors in lung cancer and offer novel therapeutic targets for anti-EGFR-inhibitor resistance via the deep mining of pharmacogenomics data, we associated DNA methylation with drug sensitivities for uncovering the methylation sites related to EGFR inhibitor sensitivity genes. Specifically, we first introduced a grouped regularized regression model (Group Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator, group lasso) to detect the genes that were closely related to EGFR inhibitor effectiveness. Then, we applied the classical regression model (lasso) to identify the methylation sites associated with the above drug sensitivity genes. The new model was validated on the well-known cancer genomics resource: CTRP. GeneHancer and Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) database searches indicated that the predicted methylation sites related to EGFR inhibitor sensitivity genes were related to regulatory elements. Moreover, the correlation analysis on sensitivity genes and predicted methylation sites suggested that the methylation sites located in the promoter region were more correlated with the expression of EGFR inhibitor sensitivity genes than those located in the enhancer region and the TFBS. Meanwhile, we performed differential expression analysis of genes and predicted methylation sites and found that changes in the methylation level of some sites may affect the expression of the corresponding EGFR inhibitor-responsive genes. Therefore, we supposed that the effectiveness of EGFR inhibitors in lung cancer may be improved by methylation modification in their sensitivity genes.

Linnaea borealis L. is a creeping shrub which grows about 5–10 cm high and is a rare clonal plant. Linnaea is a monotypic genus. Here, we release and detail the complete chloroplast genome sequences of L. borealis, whose size is 161,576 bp, containing a large single copy region (LSC) of 85,609 bp and a single copy region (SSC) of 46,694 bp which typically separates by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 29,210 bp. The amount of the overall genes is 136, which includes 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes, and 91 protein-coding genes. The content of the G/C in whole plastome is 61.74% while the G/C content of the LSC, SSC, and IR region are 36.58%, 38.86%, and 42.25%, respectively. The complete cp genome sequences of L. borealis will be a useful resource to the phylogenetics study in family Caprifoliaceae.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts have emerging impacts in cancer studies, which suggests their potential as novel therapeutic agents. However, the molecular mechanism behind their treatment effects is still unclear. Here, we designed a computational model to Associate LncRNAs with Anti-Cancer Drugs (ALACD) based on a bilevel optimization model, which optimized the gene signature overlap in the upper level and imputed the missing lncRNA-gene association in the lower level. ALACD predicts genes coexpressed with lncRNAs mean while matching drug's gene signatures. This model allows us to borrow the target gene information of small molecules to understand the mechanisms of action of lncRNAs and their roles in cancer. The ALACD model was systematically applied to the 10 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) that had matched lncRNA and mRNA expression data. Cancer type-specific lncRNAs and associated drugs were identified. These lncRNAs show significantly different expression levels in cancer patients. Follow-up functional and molecular pathway analysis suggest the gene signatures bridging drugs and lncRNAs are closely related to cancer development. Importantly, patient survival information and evidence from the literature suggest that the lncRNAs and drug-lncRNA associations identified by the ALACD model can provide an alternative choice for cancer targeting treatment and potential cancer pognostic biomarkers. The ALACD model is freely available at https://github.com/wangyc82/ALACD-v1.

Biebersteiniaceae and Nitrariaceae, two small families, were classified in Sapindales recently. Taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships within Sapindales are still poorly resolved and controversial. In current study, we compared the chloroplast genomes of five species (Biebersteinia heterostemon, Peganum harmala, Nitraria roborowskii, Nitraria sibirica, and Nitraria tangutorum) from Biebersteiniaceae and Nitrariaceae. High similarity was detected in the gene order, content and orientation of the five chloroplast genomes; 13 highly variable regions were identified among the five species. An accelerated substitution rate was found in the protein-coding genes, especially clpP. The effective number of codons (ENC), parity rule 2 (PR2), and neutrality plots together revealed that the codon usage bias is affected by mutation and selection. The phylogenetic analysis strongly supported (Nitrariaceae (Biebersteiniaceae + The Rest)) relationships in Sapindales. Our findings can provide useful information for analyzing phylogeny and molecular evolution within Biebersteiniaceae and Nitrariaceae.

Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is an important biodiversity hub, which is very sensitive to climate change. Here in this study, we investigated genetic diversity and past population dynamics of Lancea tibetica (Mazaceae), an endemic herb to QTP and adjacent highlands. We sequenced chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal DNA fragments for 429 individuals, collected from 29 localities, covering their major distribution range at the QTP. A total of 19 chloroplast haplotypes and 13 nuclear genotypes in two well-differentiated lineages, corresponding to populations into two groups isolated by Tanggula and Bayangela Mountains. Meanwhile, significant phylogeographical structure was detected among sampling range of L. tibetica, and 61.50% of genetic variations was partitioned between groups. Gene flow across the whole region appears to be restricted by high mountains, suggesting a significant role of geography in the genetic differences between the two groups. Divergence time between the two lineages dated to 8.63 million years ago, which corresponded to the uplifting of QTP during the late Miocene and Pliocene. Ecological differences were found between both the lineages represent species-specific characteristics, sufficient to keep the lineages separated to a high degree. The simulated distribution from the last interglacial period to the current period showed that the distribution of L. tibetica experienced shrinkage and expansion. Climate changes during the Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles had a dramatic effect on L. tibetica distribution ranges. Multiple refugia of L. tibetica might have remained during the species history, to south of the Tanggula and north of Bayangela Mountains, both appeared as topological barrier and contributed to restricting gene flow between the two lineages. Together, geographic isolation and climatic factors have played a fundamental role in promoting diversification and evolution of L. tibetica.

Myricaria prostrata is a critically endangered plant mainly distributed in Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas. In the current research, we report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of M. prostrata. The total length of the genome was 155,230 bp with the GC content of 36.39%. 129 genes including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes were annotated. Maximum-likelihood (ML) analysis revealed that Myricaria forms a clade with Tamarix which showed close relationship with the clade of Hololachna and Reaumuria.

Triosteum himalayanum is a perennial herb which is distributed in the eastern Himalayas, Hengduan Mountains, and central China. The complete chloroplast genome of T. himalayanum is studied for the first time, which is 154,579 bp in length and is divided into four regions: two inverted repeat (IRA and IRB) regions of 23,370 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,682 bp and a large single copy (LSC) region of 89,157 bp. The plastid genome contains 133 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 39 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall CG content in the chloroplast genome of T. himalayanum is 38.38%. The phylogenetic analysis on the complete plastome sequence of T. himalayanum will help to show the intergeneric diversity of Caprifoliaceae.

Here in this work, we have sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of Comastoma falcatum. The complete chloroplast genome size of C. falcatum is 151,423 bp with 81721 bp of LSC, 25727 bp of IRa/IRb and 18248 bp of SSC. The GC contents of its chloroplast genomes are 38.26%. Their chloroplast has a total of 133 unique genes, including 88 of protein-coding genes, 8 of rRNA genes, and 37 of tRNA genes. In the maximum parsimony phylogenetic tree, C. falcatum clustered with Swertia mussotii. This sequenced chloroplast genome of C. falcatum will help to further study the phylogenetic position of Comastoma.

Avian Tembusu virus (ATMUV) is a highly pathogenic flavivirus that causes significant economic losses to the Chinese poultry industry. Our previous experiments demonstrated that ATMUV infection effectively triggered host innate immune response through MDA5 and TLR3-dependent signaling pathways. However, little information is available on the role of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in defending against ATMUV infection. In this study, we found that ATMUV infection induced robust expression of type I and type III interferon (IFNs) in duck tissues. Furthermore, we observed that expression of interferon-inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) was significantly upregulated in DEF and DF-1 cells after infection with ATMUV. Similar results were obtained from in vivo studies using ATMUV-infected ducklings. Importantly, we showed that knockdown of endogenous IFITM1 or IFITM3 by specific shRNA markedly enhanced ATMUV replication in DF-1 cells. However, disruption of IFITM2 expression had no obvious effect on the ATMUV replication. In addition, overexpression of chicken or duck IFITM1 and IFITM3 in DF-1 cells impaired the replication of ATMUV. Taken together, these results reveal that induced expression of avian IFITM1 and IFITM3 in response to ATMUV infection can effectively restrict the virus replication, and suggest that increasing IFITM proteins in host may be a useful strategy for control of ATMUV infection.

The taxonomic status of Parnassia has been widely discussed, which has been placed in more than five families, Parnassiaceae, Droseraceae, Saxifragaceae, and Celastraceae. Due to the lack of reliable genetic data, we sequenced and analyzed P. brevistyla chloroplast genome for future genetic study. The complete chloroplast genomes of Parnassia brevistyla was sequenced with NovaSeq 6000. The full length of P. brevistyla chloroplast genomes is 151,728 bp. A total of 114 unique genes, including 30 tRNA genes, four rRNA genes, and 80 protein-coding genes were found in the chloroplast genome. Using the whole chloroplast genome sequences alignment of 10 species from Celastraceae and Saxifragaceae, the phylogenetic relationship was built. The phylogenetic position of P. brevistyla was closely clustered with Celastraceae. The complete chloroplast genome of P. brevistyla provides utility information for further research of phylogenetic relationship and taxonomic status of Parnassia.

Mazus pumilus (N. L. Burman) Steenis is the representative species of Mazus mainly distributed in China. Here, we report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of M. pumilus. The genome was 153,149 bp in length with 106 genes comprising 79 protein-coding genes, 23 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of M. pumilus chloroplast genome was is 37.8%. ML phylogenomic analysis suggested that M. pumilus forms a monophyletic group with Lancea which shows a close relationship with the clade of Phrymaceae, Paulowniaceae, and Orobanchaceae.

An efficient multi-mode energy equalizer for lithium-ion battery packs is proposed and energy balance strategies are studied in this paper. The energy balance strategies include the selection of the controlled object in the battery’s different working states and the current form of the controlled object. During the energy balancing process, the strongest single cell or the weakest single cell is selected as the controlled object according to the different working states of the battery, and the balanced current of the controlled object is continuous. Therefore, the energy equalizer proposed in this paper has a fast balancing speed, an improved balancing effect, and an excellent balancing reliability. According to the energy equalizer, the relevant experimental platform was built, and balance experiments in the battery’s different working states using a battery pack composed of four serially-connected lithium iron phosphate batteries were completed. Finally, the experimental results proved the effectiveness of the energy equalizer.

Existing on-board planning systems do not apply to small satellites with limited onboard computer capacity and on-board resources. This study aims to investigate the problem of autonomous task planning for small satellites. Based on the analysis of the problem and its constraints, a model of task autonomous planning was implemented. According to the long-cycle task planning requirements, a framework of rolling planning was proposed, including a rolling window and planning unit in the solution, and we proposed an improved genetic algorithm (IGA) for rolling planning. This algorithm categorized each individual based on the compliance of individuals with a time partial order constraint and resource constraint, and designed an appropriate crossover operator and mutation operator for each type of individual. The experimental result showed that the framework and algorithm can not only respond quickly to observation tasks, but can produce effective planning programs to ensure the successful completion of observation tasks.

The essential oils and lipid fraction extracted from the aerial parts of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium were determined by a GC-MS method. In total, up to 67 components were identified. cis-β-Ocimene, trans-β-ocimene, limonene, α-pinene, α-copaene, β-elemene, and caryophyllene oxide were recognized as consistent components of the essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of B. scorzonerifolium, regardless of the habitat. The content of these components varied from traces to a significant amount. The volume of the lipid fraction varied from 2.73 to 9.38%. In total, 23 components were identified, including 20 fatty acids, two sterols, and one ketone. The major fatty acid components identified were 16:0, 18:2n9, and 18:1n9. The total content of these fatty acids reached up to 76.19%. The lipid fraction of the aerial parts of B. scorzonerifolium predominantly contained MUFA and PUFA, which confirmed the pharmacological value of the species. The main factors affecting the composition of essential oils and lipid fractions of B. scorzonerifolium are environmental ones that determine the moisture supply to the plants in semiarid and arid areas.

The genus Lancea is native to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and consists of two species, Lancea tibetica Hook. f. et Thoms. and Lancea hirsuta Bonati. Here, we report the complete sequences of the chloroplast genomes of L. tibetica and L. hirsuta, which were 153,665 and 154,045 bp in length, respectively, and each included a pair of inverted repeated regions (25,624 and 25,838 bp in length, respectively) that were separated by a large single copy region (84,401 and 84,588 bp in length, respectively) and a smaller single copy region (18,016 and 17,781 bp in length, respectively). A total of 106 genes in L. tibetica and 105 in L. hirsuta comprised 79 protein-coding genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, as well as 23 and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes in L. tibetica and L. hirsuta, respectively. The gene order, content, and orientation of the two Lancea chloroplast genomes exhibited high similarity. A large number of informative repetitive sequences, including SSRs, were observed in both genomes. Comparisons of the genomes with those of three other Lamiales species revealed 12 highly divergent regions in the intergenic spacers and in the matK, rpoA, rps19, ndhF, ccsA, ndhD, and ycf1 coding regions. A phylogenomic analysis suggested that Lancea forms a monophyletic group that is closely related to the clade composed of the families Phrymaceae, Paulowniaceae, and Rehmanniaceae.