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Abstract Rural livelihood transition towards non-agriculturalization, non-grainization and even anti-urbanization has become a thorny social problem that undermines farmland resources and worldwide food security. Based on a simulation survey, this study explored the risk preferences and the livelihood transition mechanisms of typical farmers in the hilly and mountainous region. The results indicated that: (1) 76.86% of rural households exhibited risk aversion tendencies, with 60.67% being highly risk-averse. The ranking of risk aversion among the three typical farmers is consistent with asset abundance, with non-agriculture oriented households > semi-farmer and semi-labour households > vocational farmer households. (2) The non-grainization of vocational farmer households is significantly and positively correlated with the family labour force, land management area, and housing assets, yet negatively correlated with risk preferences. Compared to traditional grain cultivation, non-grainization in the hilly and mountainous region possesses lower risks and higher profitability for vocational farmer households. (3) The total non-agriculturalization of semi-farmer and semi-labour households correlates negatively with land management area but positively with family income. (4) Anti-urbanization and returning hometowns for farming are still regarded as a livelihood fallback by the non-agriculture oriented households, but excessive gift expenditure has become a heavy burden in rural society. Therefore, practical and systematical countermeasures are proposed in this research to guide sustainable livelihood transition.

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant disease worldwide. Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) plays a role in pathophysiological processes, including metabolic reprogramming, angiogenesis, proliferation, and metastasis. Current evidence shows conflicting findings regarding the role of ANGPTL4 in the progression of GC. ANGPTL4 in GC was confirmed through bioinformatic analysis and immunofluorescence staining. The impact of ANGPTL4 was subsequently validated in GC cell lines using various assays, including 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU), 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), Flow Cytometry (FCM), wound healing, transwell, tube formation, chorioallantoic membrane model, and nude mouse model assays. RNA-seq analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting (WB), immunofluorescence (IF) and coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) were conducted to determine the potential downstream mechanism of ANGPTL4. In SNU5 and MKN7 cells, ANGPTL4 was found to augment proliferation, migration, invasion, evasion of apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Conversely, in the AGS cell line, ANGPTL4 was observed to suppress these processes. Notably, the overexpression of ANGPTL4 in AGS cells led to the upregulation of LGALS7, which has emerged as a pivotal factor contributing to the manifestation of an anticancer phenotype induced by ANGPTL4. LGALS7, which is involved in the regulation of the hedgehog pathway and subsequent promotion of GC progression through various processes, such as proliferation, migration, apoptosis evasion, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis, was found to contribute to the contradictory effects of ANGPTL4.

Abstract Insecticide resistance has been a problem in both the agricultural pests and vectors. Revealing the detoxification mechanisms may help to better manage insect pests. Here, we showed that arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (AANAT1) regulates intestinal detoxification process through modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-activated transcription factors cap“n”collar isoform-C (CncC): muscle aponeurosis fibromatosis (Maf) pathway in both the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, and the arbovirus vector, Aedes aegypti. Knockout/knockdown of AANAT1 led to accumulation of biogenic amines, which induced a decreased in the gut ROS level. The reduced midgut ROS levels resulted in decreased expression of CncC and Maf, leading to lower expression level of detoxification genes. AANAT1 knockout/knockdown insects were more susceptible to insecticide treatments. Our study reveals that normal functionality of AANAT1 is important for the regulation of gut detoxification pathways, providing insights into the mechanism underlying the gut defense against xenobiotics in metazoans.

Abstract Background The hypoxic tumor microenvironment is a key factor that promotes metabolic reprogramming and vascular mimicry (VM) in ovarian cancer (OC) patients. ESM1, a secreted protein, plays an important role in promoting proliferation and angiogenesis in OC. However, the role of ESM1 in metabolic reprogramming and VM in the hypoxic microenvironment in OC patients has not been determined. Methods Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem MS was used to analyze CAOV3 and OV90 cells. Interactions between ESM1, PKM2, UBA2, and SUMO1 were detected by GST pull-down, Co-IP, and molecular docking. The effects of the ESM1-PKM2 axis on cell glucose metabolism were analyzed based on an ECAR experiment. The biological effects of the signaling axis on OC cells were detected by tubule formation, transwell assay, RT‒PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and in vivo xenograft tumor experiments. Results Our findings demonstrated that hypoxia induces the upregulation of ESM1 expression through the transcription of HIF-1α. ESM1 serves as a crucial mediator of the interaction between PKM2 and UBA2, facilitating the SUMOylation of PKM2 and the subsequent formation of PKM2 dimers. This process promotes the Warburg effect and facilitates the nuclear translocation of PKM2, ultimately leading to the phosphorylation of STAT3. These molecular events contribute to the promotion of ovarian cancer glycolysis and vasculogenic mimicry. Furthermore, our study revealed that Shikonin effectively inhibits the molecular interaction between ESM1 and PKM2, consequently preventing the formation of PKM2 dimers and thereby inhibiting ovarian cancer glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis and vasculogenic mimicry. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that hypoxia increases ESM1 expression through the transcriptional regulation of HIF-1α to induce dimerization via PKM2 SUMOylation, which promotes the OC Warburg effect and VM.

Abstract Background Ovarian cancer (OC) is a malignant neoplasm that displays increased vascularization. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a secreted glycoprotein that functions as a regulator of cell metabolism and angiogenesis and plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. However, the precise role of ANGPTL4 in the OC microenvironment, particularly its involvement in angiogenesis, has not been fully elucidated. Methods The expression of ANGPTL4 was confirmed by bioinformatics and IHC in OC. The potential molecular mechanism of ANGPTL4 was measured by RNA-sequence. We used a series of molecular biological experiments to measure the ANGPTL4-JAK2-STAT3 and ANGPTL4-ESM1 axis in OC progression, including MTT, EdU, wound healing, transwell, xenograft model, oil red O staining, chick chorioallantoic membrane assay and zebrafish model. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms were confirmed by Western blot, Co-IP and molecular docking. Results Our study demonstrates a significant upregulation of ANGPTL4 in OC specimens and its strong association with unfavorable prognosis. RNA-seq analysis affirms that ANGPTL4 facilitates OC development by driving JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway activation. The interaction between ANGPTL4 and ESM1 promotes ANGPTL4 binding to lipoprotein lipase (LPL), thereby resulting in reprogrammed lipid metabolism and the promotion of OC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In the OC microenvironment, ESM1 may interfere with the binding of ANGPTL4 to integrin and vascular-endothelial cadherin (VE-Cad), which leads to stabilization of vascular integrity and ultimately promotes angiogenesis. Conclusion Our findings underscore that ANGPTL4 promotes OC development via JAK signaling and induces angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment through its interaction with ESM1.

In the present study, the stability of kidney bean-derived DWYDIK (Asp-Trp-Tyr-Asp-Ile-Lys) after acid and alkali treatment and in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion were determined. Next, the uric acid-lowering activity and mechanisms of kidney bean peptides (KBPs) and DWYDIK were studied in vivo. We found that DWYDIK had certain tolerance to digestive enzymes. KBPs and DWYDIK significantly inhibited the activity of xanthine oxidase, reduced creatinine content, improved the changes of glomerular morphological, cellular vacuolar degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration in kidney, and recovered intestinal tissue damages in hyperuricemia rats (p

Durante el califato de Córdoba, la introducción de cerámica con esmalte de estaño presenció una influencia tecnológica procedente de la porcelana china, lo que llevó a la diversificación de la producción cerámica local. Los subsiguientes desarrollos complejos durante la dinastía almorávide introdujeron técnicas desafiantes como la cerámica dorada, hasta que en el reino nazarí de Granada surgió la cúspide de la cerámica azul y dorada, exhibiendo una fusión de estilos islámicos, chinos y locales españoles. La influencia de la cerámica azul y blanca de la dinastía Yuan en el periodo posterior se hizo cada vez más evidente, con la introducción generalizada de óxido de cobalto en la cerámica mudéjar y la incorporación de más elementos chinos en la decoración. En el siglo XV, la célebre cerámica de reflejo metálico de Manises y Paterna también exhibió claramente la inspiración decorativa derivada de los intrincados patrones de enredadera de la porcelana Ming. La evolución en el arte de la cerámica no solo reflejó cambios en la apreciación estética, sino que también insinuó un intercambio cultural más profundo entre China y España en las primeras etapas de su encuentro.

Abstract Background DNA replication alteration is a hallmark of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and is frequently observed in LUAD progression. Origin recognition complex (ORC) 1, ORC2, ORC3, ORC4, ORC5, and ORC6 form a replication–initiator complex to mediate DNA replication, which plays a key role in carcinogenesis, while their roles in LUAD remain poorly understood. Methods The mRNA and protein expression of ORCs was confirmed by the GEPIA, HPA, CPTAC, and TCGA databases. The protein–protein interaction network was analyzed by the GeneMANIA database. Functional enrichment was confirmed by the Metascape database. The effects of ORCs on immune infiltration were validated by the TIMER database. The prognostic significance of ORCs in LUAD was confirmed by the KM‐plot and GENT2 databases. DNA alteration and protein structure were determined in the cBioProtal and PDB databases. Moreover, the protein expression and prognostic value of ORCs were confirmed in our LUAD data sets by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Results ORC mRNA and protein were significantly increased in patients with LUAD compared with corresponding normal tissue samples. The results of IHC staining analysis were similar result to those of the above bioinformatics analysis. Furthermore, ORC1 and ORC6 had significant prognostic values for LUAD patients. Furthermore, the ORC cooperatively promoted LUAD development by driving DNA replication, cellular senescence, and metabolic processes. Conclusion The ORC, especially ORC1/6, has important prognostic and expression significance for LUAD patients.

In order to explore the effects of different drying methods on the functional characteristics and the internal mechanism of egg white protein (EWP), egg white protein powder was prepared by spray drying or vacuum freeze drying, respectively. The protein structure, physicochemical properties and functional properties of spray dried egg white powder (EWP-P) and freeze dried egg white powder (EWP-D) were studied. The results showed that compared with the liquid egg white (EWP-C), spray drying could greatly decrease the endogenous fluorescence intensity of EWP, while improve the surface hydrophobicity and free sulfhydryl group content. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the α-helix, β-fold and β-turn of EWP-P were 16.30%, 25.72% and 40.23%, respectively, and EWP-D were 20.43%, 24.32% and 35.69%, respectively. Under different pH, the solubility of EWP-D was higher than EWP-P, and the surface tension was lower than EWP-P. In addition, the contact angle of EWP-P was 99.62°, which was higher than EWP-D (65.97°), indicating that spray drying could significantly improve the hydrophobicity of EWP. The emulsifying ability index, emulsifying stability index and foaming characteristic of EWP-D were higher than EWP-P at different pH values, but the foaming stability of EWP-D was lower. The results of fluorescence inverted microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope showed that the liquid droplets of EWP-D emulsion were smaller and more uniform, and the emulsion stability was higher than EWP-P. In conclusion, EWP-P had higher contents of β-fold structures and free sulfhydryl groups on the surface, and higher surface hydrophobicity, which resulted in the better gel properties. EWP-D had lower surface hydrophobicity, smaller surface tension and greater solubility, thus possessed the better emulsifying capacity and foaming characteristic.

Abstract Background Metazoan guts are in permanent contact with microbial communities. However, the host mechanisms that have developed to manage the dynamic changes of these microorganisms and maintain homeostasis remain largely unknown. Results Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) was found to modulate gut microbiome homeostasis via regulation of a dual oxidase (Duox) gene expression in both Bactrocera dorsalis and Aedes aegypti. The knockdown of the peripheral 5-HT biosynthetic gene phenylalanine hydroxylase (TPH) increased the expression of Duox and the activity of reactive oxygen species, leading to a decrease in the gut microbiome load. Moreover, the TPH knockdown reduced the relative abundance of the bacterial genera Serratia and Providencia, including the opportunistic pathogens, S. marcescens and P. alcalifaciens in B. dorsalis. Treatment with 5-hydroxytryptophan, a precursor of 5-HT synthesis, fully rescued the TPH knockdown-induced phenotype. Conclusions The findings reveal the important contribution of 5-HT in regulating gut homeostasis, providing new insights into gut–microbe interactions in metazoans.

Magnesium silicate hydrate (MSH) cement has the advantages of low energy consumption, minimal environmental pollution, carbon negativity, and reduced alkalinity, but excessive drying shrinkage inhibits its application. This paper analyzed the influence of steel slag (SS) dosage, carbon dioxide partial pressure, and carbonation curing time on the compressive strength, shrinkage rate, and phase composition of MSH cement. Various analysis methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), were used to study the hydration products and microstructure. The results showed that under normal curing conditions, MSH cement mixed with different steel slag contents experienced a decline in strength at all ages. However, the greater the amount of SS incorporated, the lesser the degree of drying shrinkage. The compressive strength of all groups was improved, and the drying shrinkage was reduced by carbonation treatment. The samples with 5%, 10%, and 15% SS content exhibited shrinkage rates of 2.19%, 1.74%, and 1.60%, respectively, after 28 days of curing. The reason was that after carbonation treatment, hydrated magnesium carbonates (HMCs) were generated in the SS–MSH cement, and a Ca–Mg–C amorphous substance formed by hydration and carbonation of C2S in steel slag filled in the pores, which enhanced the density of the matrix, improved the compressive strength of the specimen, and reduced the shrinkage rate.

Abstract Purpose We aimed to investigate the role of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in cognitive decline in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total number of 261 T2DM patients were enrolled in this study. The T2DM patients were divided into two groups according to the median of PLR (PLR < 96.5, n = 130; PLR ≥ 96.5, n = 131). Cognitive impairment was defined as Mini-mental State Examination score ≤ 26. Student’s t test and Chi-square test were used to test the difference between the groups, and logistics regression analysis were performed to verify whether high PLR was an independent factor for cognitive impairment. Results T2DM patients with cognitive impairment had significantly higher PLR level when compared with the simple diabetes group (p = 0.003). Incidence of cognitive impairment was higher in the high PLR group, compared to low PLR group (p = 0.040). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that PLR was a risk biomarker of cognitive decline in T2DM patients (odds ratio [OR] = 1.010, 95% CI: 1.001–1.018, p = 0.013). Conclusions We demonstrated that a higher PLR was associated with cognitive decline in T2DM patients. The PLR may help to identify high-risk patients in time and provide clues for further prevention of cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients.

ObjectiveSevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with high mortality rate, especially SFTS combined with central neurological complications. The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors of central neurological complications in SFTS patients.MethodsIn this retrospective study, SFTS patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2017 and December 2021 were enrolled. Based on the presence or absence of central neurological complications, SFTS patients were divided into case group and control group. The patients’ laboratory parameters and clinical data were collected for statistical analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of independent risk factors in identifying SFTS patients with central neurological complications.ResultsIn total, 198 hospitalized SFTS patients with complete medical records, clear etiological diagnosis and clinical outcomes were enrolled in this study. Of these, 74 (37.4%) cases were diagnosed with SFTS with central neurological complications, 29 (39.2%) cases died, and no death occurred in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed pulmonary rales, atrial fibrillation, and high serum SFTSV RNA, lactate dehydrogenase level during the fever stage as independent risk factors for the development of central neurological complications in SFTS patients. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of serum SFTSV RNA and lactate dehydrogenase levels were 0.748 (95%CI: 0.673–0.823, p

Background and PurposeWhite blood cell count to mean platelet volume ratio (WMR) is increasingly recognized as a promising biomarker. However, its predictive capability for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients is relatively less researched. The primary aim of this study is to explore its prognostic value in AIS patients after reperfusion regarding 3-month poor functional outcome.MethodsA total of 549 AIS patients who had undergone vascular reperfusion procedure with complete 3-month follow-up were retrospectively recruited in this study. White blood cell count, mean platelet volume at 24 h of admission were recorded. Stroke severity had been estimated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and poor outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3–6 at 3 months.ResultsAIS patients with poor functional outcome at 3 months displayed higher WMR. A positive correlation between WMR and NIHSS score was found (r = 0.334, p < 0.001). After adjusting potential confounders, WMR was still an independent risk factor for poor prognosis at 3 months (OR = 2.257, 95% CI [1.117-4.564], p = 0.023) in multivariate logistic regression model. Subgroup analyses further suggested a significant association between WMR and poor outcome in high baseline NIHSS (per 0.1-point increase: OR = 1.153, 95% CI [1.014-1.312], p = 0.030) group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis was utilized to assess the predictive ability of WMR, indicating a cut-off value of 0.86. A nomogram that includes age, sex, NIHSS on admission, high WMR for predicting 1-year all-cause survival was also developed (C-index = 0.628).ConclusionsWMR is significantly correlated with stroke severity on admission and is proved to be an important prognostic indicator for AIS outcomes, especially in high NIHSS on admission group. Additionally, the developed nomogram that includes high WMR for predicting 1-year survival provides us with an effective visualization tool.

BackgroundOvarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common types of gynecologic tumor over the world. The Glutathione S-transferase Mu (GSTM) has five members, including GSTM1-5. These GSTMs is involved in cell metabolism and detoxification, but their role in OC remains unknown.MethodsData from multiple public databases associated with OC and GSTMs were collected. Expression, prognosis, function enrichment, immune infiltration, stemness index, and drug sensitivity analysis was utilized to identify the roles of GSTMs in OC progression. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed the effect of AICAR, AT-7519, PHA-793887 and PI-103 on the mRNA levels of GSTM3/4.ResultsGSTM1-5 were decreased in OC samples compared to normal ovary samples. GSTM1/5 were positively correlated with OC prognosis, but GSTM3 was negatively correlated with OC prognosis. Function enrichment analysis indicated GSTMs were involved in glutathione metabolism, drug metabolism, and drug resistance. Immune infiltration analysis indicated GSTM2/3/4 promoted immune escape in OC. GSTM5 was significantly correlated with OC stemness index. GSTM3/4 were remarkedly associated with OC chemoresistance, especially in AICAR, AT-7519, PHA-793887 and PI-103.ConclusionGSTM3 was negatively correlated with OC prognosis, and associated with OC chemoresistance and immune escape. This gene may serve as potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic target for OC patients.

CRISPR/Cas9 is a preferred genome editing tool and has been widely adapted to ranges of disciplines, from molecular biology to gene therapy. A key prerequisite for the success of CRISPR/Cas9 is its capacity to distinguish between single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) on target and homologous off-target sites. Thus, optimized design of sgRNAs by maximizing their on-target activity and minimizing their potential off-target mutations are crucial concerns for this system. Several deep learning models have been developed for comprehensive understanding of sgRNA cleavage efficacy and specificity. Although the proposed methods yield the performance results by automatically learning a suitable representation from the input data, there is still room for the improvement of accuracy and interpretability. Here, we propose novel interpretable attention-based convolutional neural networks, namely CRISPR-ONT and CRISPR-OFFT, for the prediction of CRISPR/Cas9 sgRNA on- and off-target activities, respectively. Experimental tests on public datasets demonstrate that our models significantly yield satisfactory results in terms of accuracy and interpretability. Our findings contribute to the understanding of how RNA-guide Cas9 nucleases scan the mammalian genome. Data and source codes are available at https://github.com/Peppags/CRISPRont-CRISPRofft.

Abstract There is increasing concern about the uncombined (UC) observation model in the field of global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Based on the global positioning system (GPS) and the third-generation BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS-3), this study processed the UC precision orbit determination (POD) for single and dual systems. First, a UC observation model suitable for multi-GNSS POD was derived, and the ionospheric-free (IF) combination observation model was presented. Although the ambiguity parameters of UC and IF strategies were different after reparameterization, the difference could be removed when processing ambiguity resolution, and the equivalence was proved theoretically. To demonstrate the accuracy of BDS-3 orbits fully, the observation data of approximately 1 month were selected for determining the precise orbit for global positioning system (GPS) only, BDS-3 only, and GPS/BDS-3 systems based on the UC and IF models. The orbit precision of BDS-3 satellites was validated by using metrics, including comparison with precision products released by Wuhan University, orbit boundary discontinuity, and satellite laser ranging (SLR) residuals. The results show that the orbit accuracies of the IF and UC models are almost the same, the difference in orbits is approximately several millimeters, and the clock difference is within 0.01 ns. The GPS/BDS-3 combined solution shows better accuracy compared to other solutions. The average accuracies in the R and 3D directions are approximately 4 and 15 cm, and the clock standard deviation is approximately 0.2 ns compared to external orbit product. The root mean square of SLR residuals is approximately 4 cm.

BackgroundStress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR), calculated as glucose/glycated hemoglobin, has recently been developed for assessing stress hyperglycemia and could provide prognostic information for various diseases. However, calculating SHR using random blood glucose (RBG) drawn on admission or fasting blood glucose (FBG) could lead to different results. This study intends to evaluate the association between SHR and functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) intravenous thrombolysis.MethodsData from 230 patients with AIS following thrombolytic therapy with r-tPA in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from April 2016 to April 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. SHR1 was defined as [RBG (mmol/L)]/[HbA1c (%)] and SHR2 was defined as [FBG (mmol/L)]/[HbA1c (%)]. The outcomes included early neurological improvement (ENI), poor function defined as a modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) of 3–6, and all-cause death in 3 months. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate the association between SHR and adverse outcomes.ResultsAfter adjustment for possible confounders, though patients with AIS with higher SHR1 tend to have a higher risk of poor outcome and death and unlikely to develop ENI, these did not reach the statistical significance. In contrast, SHR2 was independently associated with poor functional outcome (per 0.1-point increases: odds ratios (OR) = 1.383 95% CI [1.147–1.668]). Further adjusted for body mass index (BMI), triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), and diabetes slightly strengthen the association between SHR (both 1 and 2) and adverse outcomes. In subgroup analysis, elevated SHR1 is associated with poor functional outcomes (per 0.1-point increases: OR = 1.246 95% CI [1.041–1.492]) in non-diabetic individuals and the association between SHR2 and the poor outcomes was attenuated in non-cardioembolic AIS.ConclusionSHR is expected to replace random or fasting glucose concentration as a novel generation of prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target.

Abstract Stem cells derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) conceive cues essential for tissue repair. Mammalian cartilaginous extracellular matrix (cECM) may not be optimally inductive for tracheal regeneration because of the granulomatous, instead of regenerative, responses in injured adult mammalian tracheas. Given the high regenerative capacity of gingiva, it is hypothesized human gingival mesenchymal stem cells derived EVs (gEVs) can induce mammalian tracheal epithelia regeneration. Coculturing chondrocytes with GMSCs produce abundant “matrix bound gEVs (gMVs)” in forming cartilaginous ECM, which are further preserved in acellular cECM (cACM) following mild, short‐period decellularization. The results show that gMVs‐cACM could be well anchored on polyglycerol sebacate microporous patch thus enforce the surgical suturability and mechanical strength. In rabbit tracheal defect, the gMVs‐cACM patch induces rapid regeneration of vascularized ciliated columnar epithelium, which supports long‐term survival of animals. gMVs‐cACM treated groups exhibit proliferation of tracheal progenitors‐basal epithelial cells, as well as, activation of JAK2/STAT1 pathway in reparative cells. This study departs from conventional focuses on tissue derived ECM and introduces a new approach for tracheal tissue regeneration.

Aims The present study was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) treatments in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods The potential articles were searched from Pubmed and Embase. The end points included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and adverse events. p

Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is ideal for bridge reinforcement due to its high strength, light weight, and corrosion resistance. Studies on the friction loss of CFRP tendons in a bending state form an important part of advancing the application of CFRP materials to external prestressing strengthening technology. To understand the magnitude and variation of interfacial friction loss of prestressed CFRP tendons under bending conditions, 12 single-bending prestressing tension tests and 4 three-consecutive-bending prestressing tension tests were conducted in this study. Two bending radii of 1.5 m and 2 m, two bending angles of 20° and 30°, and three contact surfaces with different friction coefficients were selected for the steering block condition to measure the friction loss under each stage of tensioning prestress. On this basis, a model for calculating the friction loss rate on the surface of prestressed CFRP tendons was derived for the change of contact stress between CFRP tendons and deflectors during the installation and tensioning stages. The results show that the friction loss of external prestressed CFRP tendons is mainly related to four external factors: bending radius, steering angle, friction coefficient, and the magnitude of tensioning prestress; with the increase of prestress, the friction loss rate goes through three stages, the rising stage, the falling stage, and the stable stage; in the process of friction loss rate change, the main influencing factor controlling the magnitude of friction loss rate changes from bending radius to steering angle. In the theoretical calculation model of friction loss rate, the calculation model of the prestressed CFRP tendons under multiple successive bends can be simplified to a combination of several calculation models for a single bend. This study provides a reference for the engineering field of strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) beams using external prestressed CFRP tendons.

Over a long period of evolution, insects have developed unique intestinal defenses against invasion by foreign microorganisms, including physical defenses and immune responses. The physical defenses of the insect gut consist mainly of the peritrophic matrix (PM) and mucus layer, which are the first barriers to pathogens. Gut microbes also prevent the colonization of pathogens. Importantly, the immune-deficiency (Imd) pathways produce antimicrobial peptides to eliminate pathogens; mechanisms related to reactive oxygen species are another important pathway for insect intestinal immunity. The janus kinase/STAT signaling pathway is involved in intestinal immunity by producing bactericidal substances and regulating tissue repair. Melanization can produce many bactericidal active substances into the intestine; meanwhile, there are multiple responses in the intestine to fight against viral and parasitic infections. Furthermore, intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are also indispensable in intestinal immunity. Only the coordinated combination of the intestinal immune defense system and intestinal tissue renewal can effectively defend against pathogenic microorganisms.

Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) is widely believed to be a biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as pembrolizumab in solid tumors. However, due to the low prevalence of MSI-H in most cancers, it tends to be insufficient to identify whether patients should receive ICIs according to this biomarker alone. Here, we report a Chinese esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patient with unusual divergent MSI status between the primary lesion (MSS) and metastatic lesion (MSI-H) which developed after platinum-based therapy and radiotherapy. Both his primary and metastatic tumors responded well to pembrolizumab-containing therapies or pembrolizumab monotherapy and maintained a complete response for over 24 months. Whole-exome sequencing and multiplex immunohistochemistry were used to examine his tissue specimens. Notably, there were multiple high-frequency mutations of DDR (DNA damage repair) genes shared in the primary lesion and metastatic lesion, especially in the latter. Besides, we observed considerable degrees of infiltrating CD3+/CD8+ lymphocytes in both of his primary tumor and metastatic tumor without obvious difference, suggesting that the conversion of microsatellite status had little effect on the infiltration of lymphocytes. Collectively, given the predictive role of DDR alterations for ICIs in other malignancies, the alterations of DDR genes might also be promising biomarkers in ESCC individuals receiving ICIs.

Background and PurposeMounting researches have illuminated that the neutrophil-related ratios were related to the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, few have compared their predictive value and accuracy. To make such comparison and identify the best indicator on the 90-day outcome, we investigated biomarkers including neutrophil ratio (Nr), neutrophil count (Nc), lymphocyte (L), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet (P or PLT), platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (PNR), NLR-to-platelet ratio (NLR/PLT), eosinophil (E), neutrophil-to-eosinophil ratio (NER), monocyte (M), and monocyte-to-neutrophil ratio (MNR).MethodsThis retrospective study recruited 283 AIS and 872 healthy controls (HCs) receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Blood samples were collected after 24 h of admission before IVT. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to explore whether these ratios differentiated AIS and HCs. We applied univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate the prediction effect of these ratios separately or added in the model and figured out a clinical prediction model. To estimate the discrimination and calibration of the new models, the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, DeLong method, and likelihood ratio test (LR test) were utilized.ResultsPSM showed that Nr, Nc, NLR, P, PNR, NLR/PLT, NER, and MNR facilitates the differentiation of the HCs and AIS. Among the eight biomarkers, PNR and MNR could differentiate the 90-day outcome, and it was found out that PNR performed better. Univariate regression analysis demonstrated that PNR was the only independent predictor which needs no adjustment. Besides, the multivariate regression analysis, Delong method, and LR test indicated that among the neutrophil-related ratios, NLR, PNR, NLR/PLT, NER, and MNR exerted little influence on the discrimination but could enhance the calibration of the base model, and NER proved to work best.ConclusionLow PNR was the best indicator among the neutrophil-related ratios tin predicting a poor 90-day outcome of AIS patients. Moreover, high NER performed best when predicting the 90-day outcome to improve the calibration of the base model.

Background and PurposeBlood eosinophil counts are thought to be associated with atherosclerosis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and AIS severity. We aimed to investigate 1): the temporal profile of eosinophil in AIS patients treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA); 2): The association between dynamic eosinophil and 3-month outcomes in different AIS etiologies; 3): incremental predictive ability of dynamic eosinophil adding to conventional model; and 4): the longitudinal change of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and compared its prognostic value with eosinophils.MethodsA total of 623 AIS patients with intravenous thrombolysis in two hospitals were included. Blood samples were obtained on admission, within 24 h after an intravenous thrombolysis and on the seventh day. A multivariate logistic regression model with restricted cubic spline was performed to explore the association between dynamic eosinophil and a 3-month poor outcome. C-statistic, net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were adopted to explore the incremental predictive ability.ResultsPercent change in eosinophil counts after intravenous thrombolysis was median −25.00% (IQR −68.25%–+14.29%). Decrease in eosinophil >75% after intravenous thrombolysis was associated with 2.585 times risk for poor outcome and 13.836 times risk for death. However, the association were weak for patients outside of cardioembolic stroke. Adding eosinophil changes to a conventional model improved the discriminatory ability of poor outcome (NRI = 53.3%; IDI = 2.2%) and death (NRI = 101.0%; IDI = 6.9%).ConclusionsDynamic decrease in eosinophil after intravenous thrombolysis predicts a 3-month poor outcome and death in AIS patients with r-tPA treatment and improved the predictive ability of conventional model. However, this result needs to be interpreted carefully in non-cardioembolic AIS patients.

Background and Purpose: The eosinophil-to-neutrophil ratio (ENR) was recently reported as a novel inflammatory marker in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, few studies reported the predictive value of ENR in AIS patients, especially for those with intravenous thrombolysis.Methods: Two hundred sixty-six AIS patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis were retrospectively recruited in this study and followed up for 3 months and 1 year. The Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the time of death were recorded. Poor outcome was defined as mRS 3–6. After excluding patients who were lost to follow-up, the remaining 250 patients were included in the 3-month prognosis analysis and the remaining 223 patients were included in the 1-year prognosis analysis.Results: ENR levels in the patients were lower than those in the healthy controls. The optimal cutoff values for the ability of ENR × 102 to predict 3-month poor outcome were 0.74 with 67.8% sensitivity and 77.3% specificity. Patients with ENR × 102 ≥ 0.74 have a lower baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (median: 7 vs. 11, p < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, patients with ENR × 102 ≥ 0.74 were more likely to come to a better 3-month outcome (OR = 0.163; 95% CI, 0.076–0.348, p < 0.001). At the 1-year follow-up, the patients with ENR × 102 ≥ 0.74 showed a lower risk of mortality (HR = 0.314; 95% CI, 0.135–0.731; p = 0.007).Conclusions: A lower ENR is independently associated with a 3-month poor outcome and a 3-month and 1-year mortality in AIS patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

Abstract Background The red cell index (RCI) was described as a biomarker for evaluating respiratory function in previous studies, but the relationship between RCI and stroke, remained a mystery. The present study aimed to probe the association between RCI at 24‐hr and 3‐month mortality and functional outcomes among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r‐tPA). Methods A total of 217 AIS patients between January 2016 and January 2019 were recruited in this retrospective study. AIS patients were grouped in terms of RCI tertiles. Predictive factors were confirmed via multivariate logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to assess the ability of RCI in predicting mortality. In addition, the risk of 3‐month all‐cause mortality was evaluated by Cox proportional hazard model. Results We grouped AIS patients into tertiles with the purpose of comparing clinical factors and RCI levels. Multivariate logistic regression analysis presented that RCI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.443, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.167–1.786], p = 0.001) was an independent biomarker for 3‐month all‐cause mortality. The best cutoff value of RCI was 2.41 (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.639, 95% CI [0.501–0.778], p = .032), with a sensitivity of 40.9% and a specificity of 89.7%. Cox survival analysis demonstrated a positive significant correlation between RCI (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.332, 95% CI [1.148–1.545], p

Reseña de la obra de Fang, Lili, Historia de la cerámica china. 2 vols., Buenos Aires, Ediciones Continente, 2020, 1.922 págs. ISBN: 9789507546358

Global navigation satellite system occultation sounder (GNOS) Fengyun-3C was launched successfully on September 23, 2013, which carried GPS/BDS receiver for the first time. This provides the convenience to study the enhancement results of low earth orbiter satellite (LEO) to BDS precise orbit determination (POD). First the data characteristic and code observation noise of GNOS are analyzed. Then the enhancement experiments in the case of global and regional ground observation stations layout are processed with four POD schemes: BDS single system, GPS/BDS double system, BDS single system with GNOS observations, GPS/BDS double system with GNOS observations. The precision of BDS orbits and clocks are compared via overlapping arcs. Results show that in the case of global station layout the along directional precision of GEO satellite has the biggest improvement, with the improvement percentage 60%. Then the precision of cross direction and the along direction of remaining satellites shows the second biggest improvement. The orbit precision of BDS-only POD in part of observation arcs some satellite even suffers a slight decline. The root mean square (RMS) of overlapping clock difference of visible arcs in GPS/BDS POD experiments improves by 0.1ns level. As to the experiments of regional station layout with 7 ground stations, the orbit and clock overlapping precision and orbit predicting precision are analyzed. Results show that the predicting precision of BDS GEO satellites in the along direction improves by 85%. The remaining also has a substantial improvement, with the average percentage 21.7%. RMS of overlapping clock difference of visible arcs improves by 0.5ns level.

The cap ‘n’ collar isoform C (CncC) transcription factor is thought to be a regulator associated with antioxidant and detoxification genes that can enhance pest resistance by regulating the expression of detoxification enzyme genes. However, this transcription factor has not been well studied in the important agricultural pest Bactrocera dorsalis. In this study, the cDNA sequence of CncC in B. dorsalis was cloned, and the complete ORF sequence was obtained; it had a sequence length of 3378 bp, encoding a total of 1125 amino acids. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that B. dorsalis CncC belonged to the CNC family and that its amino acid sequence showed the closest relationship with B. tryoni. The conserved structural region of BdCncC was analyzed and was found to include a conserved bZIP superfamily structural domain. Spatiotemporal expression analysis revealed that BdCncC was most highly expressed in the adult Malpighian tubules, followed by the antennae, foregut, and midgut, and then the brain, hemolymph, hindgut, and fat body. BdCncC was expressed at every developmental stage, and the highest expression was found in mature males. This study provides a theoretical basis for an in-depth investigation of the function of BdCncC in regulating pesticide resistance in B. dorsalis.

In order to solve the problem of vehicle scheduling to feed parts at automobile assembly line, this study proposes a just-in-time delivery method combined with the mode of material supermarket. A mixed integer linear programming model with the primary objective of using the least number of tow trains is constructed by considering capacity of vehicle and inventory levels of line. On the basis of the minimum number of tow trains, the schedule of each tour is reasonably planned to minimize inventory of assembly line, which is the secondary objective of the part supply problem. Additionally, a heuristic algorithm which can obtain a satisfactory solution in a short time is designed to solve large-scale problems after considering continuity and complexity of modern automobile production. Furthermore, some cases are analyzed and compared with the widely used periodic delivery strategy, and the feasibility of just-in-time model and algorithm is verified. The results reveal that just-in-time delivery strategy has more advantages in reducing inventory level than periodic delivery strategy.

Social networks are one of the main carriers of information diffusion. Changes in social ties will affect the quality of Device-to-Device (D2D) communications especially the video transmission. For further improving the communication utility of users, it is of great significance to effectively integrate D2D communications and social networks. To this end, this paper utilizes a stochastic approach to modeling and analysis of dynamic social ties in D2D collaborative video transmission. Specifically, a stochastic mathematical model is established and analyzed, in which the combined effect of many factors such as interest, geographical position, career, social class, value system, and interaction is considered. Based on the Brownian motion theory, the strength of social ties among social individuals with time is studied. Next, the reliability function and adaptive parameter estimation are performed. Finally, some examples are conducted to illustrate the main results of this paper, from which one can see that the proposed model has a good predictive ability of the changing trend of social ties.

Abstract Background Members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily are proteins that are critical for insects to detect changes in environmental stimuli and also play key roles in their sensory physiology. Moreover, this family provides potential targets for the design of insecticides. In contrast to a large number of studies conducted on Drosophila melanogaster, molecular studies to characterize TRP channels in agricultural pests are lacking. Results In this study, we identified 15 TRP channel genes in the genome of a notorious agricultural pest, the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis). Comparative analysis of the TRP channels (TRPs) in B. dorsalis with those in D. melanogaster, Glossina morsitans, Musca domestica and the closely related Ceratitis capitata, and TRPs from mosquitoes, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hemiptera reveals that members of TRPA and TRPP subfamily are most diverse among insects. The results also suggest that Tephritidae family have two TRP-Polycystin 2 members even though most insects either possess just one or none. The highest expression levels of these two genes are in the testes of B. dorsalis, implying a role in regulating sperm function. We analyzed the expression profiles of the TRP channels identified in this study at different life stages using quantitative real time PCR. The results of this study demonstrate that all TRP channels are mainly expressed in adults, especially at mature stages. The one exception to this trend is BdTRPM, which is more highly expressed in the eggs of B. dorsalis, implying an important role in early development. We also detected the spatial expression of TRP channels in mature adult fruit flies by investigating expression levels within various tissues including those involved in sensory function, such as antennae, compound eyes, mouthparts, legs, and wings, as well as tissues critical for homeostasis and physiology (i.e., Malpighian tubules, the brain and gut as well as fat bodies, ovaries, and testes). Conclusion The results of this study establish a solid foundation for future functional characterization of B. dorsalis TRP channels as well as those of other insects and will help future insecticide design targeting these channels.

Background/Aims: Relevant markers of cancer stem cells (CSCs) may serve as commonly used biomarkers of ovarian cancer (OC). However, their actual clinicopathological and prognostic significance remains inconclusive. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to quantitatively evaluate the association between the expression of CSC-relevant markers (ALDH1, CD117, CD133, and CD44) and OC. Methods: We used an odds ratio (OR) and a hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) to estimate the effects by analyzing 52 studies from a literature search. Heterogeneity and sensitivity were evaluated, as well. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger tests. Results: ALDH1 expression was statistically associated with FIGO stage (OR=1.872, 95%CI=1.14-3.076, P=0.013) and lymph invasion (OR=2.78, 95%CI=1.08-7.152, P=0.034). CD117 expression was significantly associated with FIGO stage (OR=2.01, 95%CI=1.35-2.98, P=0.001). CD133 expression was correlated with FIGO stage (OR=3.410, 95%CI=2.196-5.294, P< 0.001) and differentiation grade (OR=2.672, 95%CI=1.354-5.272, P=0.005). CD44s was related to chemotherapy resistance (OR=3.218, 95%CI=1.148-9.016, P=0.026). Furthermore, overexpression of ALDH1 (HR=1.494, 95%CI=1.207-1.849, P< 0.001), CD117 (HR=1.395, 95%CI=1.025-1.898, P=0.034) or CD44s (HR=1.725, 95%CI=1.135-2.623, P=0.011) was associated with poor OS. Further, overexpression of both ALDH1 (HR=1.524, 95%CI=1.158-2.007, P=0.003) and CD44s (HR=2.12, 95%CI=1.692-2.657, P< 0.001) was correlated with worse DFS. Conclusion: CSC markers are useful predictive or prognostic biomarkers for OC in clinical assessments. Combined detection of CSC marker expression may be a powerful tool for prognostic predictions in clinical practice for patients with OC.

To further improve the performance of UKF (Unscented Kalman Filter) algorithm used in BDS/SINS (BeiDou Navigation Satellite System/Strap down Inertial Navigation System), an improved GM-UKF (Gaussian Mixture Unscented Kalman Filter) considering non-Gaussian distribution is discussed in this paper. This new algorithm using SVD (Singular Value Decomposition) is proposed to alternative covariance square root calculation in UKF sigma point production. And to end the rapidly increasing number of Gaussian distributions, PDF (Probability Density Function) re-approximation is conducted. In principle this efficiency algorithm proposed here can achieve higher computational speed compared with traditional GM-UKF. And simulation experiment result show that, compared with UKF and GM-UKF algorithm, new algorithm implemented in BDS/SINS tightly integrated navigation system is suitable for handling nonlinear/non-Gaussian integrated navigation position calculation, for its lower computational complexity with high accuracy. Keywords: Gaussian mixture, UKF, Singular Value Decomposition, Integrated navigation, Time complexity

Abstract Biomass disks based on fine powder produced from disposed wool fibers were prepared for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The wool powders (WPs) were modified by silver nanoprisms via an assembly method and then pressed into disks using a hydraulic laboratory pellet press. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the WPs and disks before and after treatment with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The WPs retained porous structures after treatment with AgNPs. The silver nanoprisms on WPs were observed clearly and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties of silver nanoprisms led to blue color of wool powder (WP). The obtained WP disks with AgNPs were confirmed to enhance greatly the Raman signal of thiram. The SERS disks are low-cost and convenient to use, with high sensitivity. The characteristic SERS bands of 10−8 M thiram can be identified from WP disks containing silver nanoparticles.

The purpose of this study was to improve the cellular compatibility and corrosion resistance of AZ31 magnesium alloy and to prepare a biodegradable medical material. An aminated hydroxyethyl cellulose (AHEC) coating was successfully prepared on the surface of a micro-arc oxide +AZ31 magnesium alloy by sol–gel spinning. The pores of the micro-arc oxide coating were sealed. A polarization potential test analysis showed that compared to the single micro-arc oxidation coating, the coating after sealing with AHEC significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the AZ31 magnesium alloy and reduced its degradation rate in simulated body fluid (SBF). The CCK-8 method and cell morphology experiments showed that the AHEC + MAO coating prepared on the AZ31 magnesium alloy had good cytocompatibility and bioactivity.

Magnesium and its alloys have become potential implant materials in the future because of light weight, mechanical properties similar to natural bone, good biocompatibility, and degradability in physiological environment. However, due to the rapid corrosion and degradation of magnesium alloys in vivo, especially in the environment containing chloride ions, the application of magnesium alloys as implant materials has been limited. Therefore, improving the corrosion resistance of magnesium alloy and ensuring good biocompatibility is the main focus of the current research. In this study, hydroxyapatite coating was prepared on magnesium alloy surface using carboxymethyl cellulose-dopamine hydrogel as inducer to improve corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. Surface characterization techniques (scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy- and X-ray diffraction) confirmed the formation of hydroxyapatite on the surface of AZ31 alloy. Corrosion resistance tests have proved the protective effect of Carboxymethyl cellulose-Dopamine/hydroxyapatite (CMC-DA/HA) coating on the surface of AZ31 alloy. According to MC3T3-E1 cell viability and Live/Dead staining, the coating also showed good biocompatibility. The results will provide new ideas for the biological application of magnesium alloys.

Collecting in situ observations from remote, high mountain rivers presents major challenges, yet real-time, high temporal resolution (e.g., daily) discharge data are critical for flood hazard mitigation and river management. In this study, we propose a method for estimating daily river discharge (RD) based on free, operational remote sensing precipitation data (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), since 2001). In this method, an exponential filter was implemented to produce a new precipitation time series from daily basin-averaged precipitation data to model the time lag of precipitation in supplying RD, and a linear-regression relationship was constructed between the filtered precipitation time series and observed discharge records. Because of different time lags in the wet season (rainfall-dominant) and dry season (snowfall-dominant), the precipitation data were processed in a segmented way (from June to October and from November to May). The method was evaluated at two hydrological gauging stations in the Upper Brahmaputra (UB) river basin, where Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) coefficients for Nuxia (>0.85) and Yangcun (>0.80) indicate good performance. By using the degree-day method to estimate the snowmelt and acquire the time series of new active precipitation (rainfall plus snowmelt) in the target basins, the discharge estimations were improved (NSE > 0.9 for Nuxia) compared to the original data. This makes the method applicable for most rivers on the Tibetan Plateau, which are fed mainly by precipitation (including snowfall) and are subject to limited human interference. The method also performs well for reanalysis precipitation data (Chinese Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD), 1980–2000). The real-time or historical discharges can be derived from satellite precipitation data (or reanalysis data for earlier historical years) by using our method.

Reliable information about river discharge plays a key role in sustainably managing water resources and better understanding of hydrological systems. Therefore, river discharge estimation using remote sensing techniques is an ongoing research goal, especially in small, headwater catchments which are mostly ungauged due to environmental or financial limitations. Here, a novel method for river discharge estimation based entirely on remote sensing-derived parameters is presented. The model inputs include average river width, estimated from Landsat imagery by using the modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) approach; average depth and velocity, based on empirical equations with inputs from remote sensing; channel slope from a high resolution shuttle radar topography mission digital elevation model (SRTM DEM); and channel roughness coefficient via further analysis and classification of Landsat images with support of previously published values. The discharge of the Lhasa River was then estimated based on these derived parameters and by using either the Manning equation (Model 1) or Bjerklie equation (Model 2). In general, both of the two models tend to overestimate discharge at moderate and high flows, and underestimate discharge at low flows. The overall performances of both models at the Lhasa gauge were satisfactory: comparisons with the observations yielded Nash−Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) and R2 values ≥ 0.886. Both models also performed well at the upper gauge (Tanggya) of the Lhasa River (NSE ≥ 0.950) indicating the transferability of the methodology to river cross-sections with different morphologies, thus demonstrating the potential to quantify streamflow entirely from remote sensing data in poorly-gauged or ungauged rivers on the Tibetan Plateau.

This paper deals with stochastic dynamic facility layout problem under demand uncertainty in terms of material flow between facilities. A robust approach suggests a robust layout in each period as the most frequent one falling within a prespecified percentage of the optimal solution for multiple scenarios. Mont Carlo simulation method is used to randomly generate different scenarios. A mathematical model is established to describe the dynamic facility layout problem with the consideration of transport device assignment. As a solution procedure for the proposed model, an improved adaptive genetic algorithm with population initialization strategy is developed to reduce the search space and improve the solving efficiency. Different sized instances are compared with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm to verify the effectiveness of the proposed genetic algorithm. The experiments calculating the cost deviation ratio under different fluctuation level show the good performance of the robust layout compared to the expected layout.

Although the MODIS Collection 5.1 Land Cover Type (MODIS v5.1 LCT) product is one of the most recent global land cover datasets and has the shortest updating cycle, evaluations regarding this collection have not been reported. Given the importance of evaluating global land cover data for producers and potential users, the 2010 MODIS v5.1 LCT product IGBP (International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme) layer was evaluated based on two grid maps at scales of 100-m and 500-m,which were derived by rasterizing the 2010 data from the national land use/cover database of China (NLUD-C). This comparison was conducted based on a new legend consisting of nine classes constructed based on the definitions of classes in the IGBP and NLUD-C legends. The overall accuracies of the aggregated classification data were 64.62% and 66.42% at the sub-pixel and pixel scales, respectively. These accuracies differed significantly in different regions. Specifically, high-quality data were obtained more easily for regions with a single land cover type, such as Xinjiang province and the northeast plain of China. The lowest accuracies were obtained for the middle of China, including Ningxia, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Yunnan and Guizhou. At the sub-pixel scale, relatively high producer and user accuracies were obtained for cropland, grass and barren regions; the highest producer accuracy was obtained for forests, and the highest user accuracy was obtained for water bodies. Shrublands and wetlands were associated with low producer and user accuracies at the sub-pixel and pixel scales, of less than 10%. Based on dominant-type reference data, the errors were classified as mixed-pixel errors and labeling errors. Labeling errors primarily originated from misclassification between grassland and barren lands. Mixed pixel errors increased as the pixel diversity increased and as the percentage of dominant-type sub-pixels decreased. Overall, mixed pixels were sources of error for most land cover types other than grassland and barren lands; whereas labeling errors were more prevalent than mixed pixel errors when considering all of the land cover data over China, due to the large amount of misclassification between the pure pixels of grassland and barren lands. Next, the accuracy of cropland/natural vegetation mosaics was assessed based on the qualitative (a mosaic of croplands, forests, shrublands, and grasslands) and quantitative (no single component composes more than 60% of the landscape) parts in the definition, which resulted in accuracies of 91.43% and less than 19.26%, respectively. These results are summarized with their implications for the development of the next generation of MCD12Q1 data and with suggestions for potential users of MCD12Q1 v5.1.

In land cover mapping, an area with complex topography or heterogeneous land covers is usually poorly classified and therefore defined as a low-accuracy area. The low-accuracy areas are important because they restrict the overall accuracy (OA) of global land cover classification (LCC) data generated. In this paper, low-accuracy areas in China (extracted from the MODIS global LCC maps) were taken as examples, identified as the regions having lower accuracy than the average OA of China. An integrated land cover mapping method targeting low-accuracy regions was developed and tested in eight representative low-accuracy regions of China. The method optimized procedures of image choosing and sample selection based on an existent visually-interpreted regional LCC dataset with high accuracies. Five algorithms and 16 groups of classification features were compared to achieve the highest OA. The support vector machine (SVM) achieved the highest mean OA (81.5%) when only spectral bands were classified. Aspect tended to attenuate OA as a classification feature. The optimal classification features for different regions largely depends on the topographic feature of vegetation. The mean OA for eight low-accuracy regions was 84.4% by the proposed method in this study, which exceeded the mean OA of most precedent global land cover datasets. The new method can be applied worldwide to improve land cover mapping of low-accuracy areas in global land cover maps.

According to the diffculity of mobile station loction for third party,the location algorithm was designed for single LMU（location measurement unit）.The algorithm of fractal interpolation and signal strength different of three an-tenna was adopted to advance the location parameter precision.The Strobe correlator algorithm was introduced to miti-gate the multipath effect.The simulation result indicates the location algorithm can provide the high accuracy position.