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PurposeTo evaluate the visual and refractive outcomes of astigmatic cataract patients following opposite clear corneal incision (OCCI) combined with rotationally asymmetric multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.SettingDepartment of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, People’s Republic of China.DesignRetrospective cohort study.MethodsThis study comprised 58 cataract eyes of 54 patients with corneal astigmatism who underwent phacoemulsification and rotationally asymmetric multifocal IOL implantation which received either OCCI (OCCI group) or a single clear corneal incision (SCCI group). The follow-up period was 3 months after surgery. Distance, intermediate and near visual acuity, refractive outcomes, and corneal anterior keratometry were compared between the two groups. Vector analysis was used to evaluate astigmatism correction.ResultsThree months after surgery, the distance, intermediate and near visual acuity, and sphere remained comparable between the two groups, but a significant difference was detected in residual astigmatism and anterior corneal keratometric astigmatism. In the OCCI group, the residual astigmatism and keratometric astigmatism were −0.60 ± 0.29 D and 0.59 ± 0.28 D, respectively, which were lower than those in SCCI groups (−1.18 ± 0.47 D and 1.15 ± 0.45 D, both p < 0.05). In vector analysis, the difference vector (DV), angle of error (AoE), absolute AoE, index of success (IoS) and correction index (CI) were statistically significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05).ConclusionOCCI combined with rotationally asymmetric multifocal intraocular lens implantation showed predictable and desirable efficacy in treating cataract patients with astigmatism.

Terahertz (THz) radar is well-suited for dynamic mobile target surveillance due to its high frame rates, minimal delay, and superior resolution. However, the defocusing problem caused by the motion of targets in the scene and the nonideal motion of the airborne platform severely affect synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, particularly in the THz wave band. To address this issue, this article proposes a high-resolution imaging algorithm for THz-SAR ground-moving targets using the equalized alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). First, the range-Doppler algorithm is employed to generate a coarse image and extract the moving target region as the region of interest. Then, the range profile can be obtained by applying the inverse, which serves as input for the ADMM solving algorithm. Finally, the 2-D image of the target is reconstructed iteratively. The algorithm fully exploits the low-rank and sparse characteristics of moving targets in the SAR image to separate them from the background. It updates the azimuthal matched filter iteratively by minimizing image entropy and designs the equalization factor to retain target details while maintaining image sparsity. This approach significantly improves focusing accuracy compared with conventional algorithms while maintaining high imaging speed without estimating Doppler parameters.

Abstract Many agricultural regions in China are likely to become appreciably wetter or drier as the global climate warming increases. However, the impact of these climate change patterns on the intensity of soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (GHGI, GHG emissions per unit of crop yield) has not yet been rigorously assessed. By integrating an improved agricultural ecosystem model and a meta‐analysis of multiple field studies, we found that climate change is expected to cause a 20.0% crop yield loss, while stimulating soil GHG emissions by 12.2% between 2061 and 2090 in China's agricultural regions. A wetter‐warmer (WW) climate would adversely impact crop yield on an equal basis and lead to a 1.8‐fold‐ increase in GHG emissions relative to those in a drier‐warmer (DW) climate. Without water limitation/excess, extreme heat (an increase of more than 1.5°C in average temperature) during the growing season would amplify 15.7% more yield while simultaneously elevating GHG emissions by 42.5% compared to an increase of below 1.5°C. However, when coupled with extreme drought, it would aggravate crop yield loss by 61.8% without reducing the corresponding GHG emissions. Furthermore, the emission intensity in an extreme WW climate would increase by 22.6% compared to an extreme DW climate. Under this intense WW climate, the use of nitrogen fertilizer would lead to a 37.9% increase in soil GHG emissions without necessarily gaining a corresponding yield advantage compared to a DW climate. These findings suggest that the threat of a wetter‐warmer world to efforts to reduce GHG emissions intensity may be as great as or even greater than that of a drier‐warmer world.

Abstract Projections of future carbon sinks and stocks are important because they show how the world's ecosystems will respond to elevated CO2 and changes in climate. Moreover, they are crucial to inform policy decisions around emissions reductions to stay within the global warming levels identified by the Paris Agreement. However, Earth System Models from the 6th Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) show substantial spread in future projections—especially of the terrestrial carbon cycle, leading to a large uncertainty in our knowledge of any remaining carbon budget (RCB). Here we evaluate the global terrestrial carbon cycle projections on a region‐by‐region basis and compare the global models with regional assessments made by the REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes, Phase 2 activity. Results show that for each region, the CMIP6 multi‐model mean is generally consistent with the regional assessment, but substantial cross‐model spread exists. Nonetheless, all models perform well in some regions and no region is without some well performing models. This gives confidence that the CMIP6 models can be used to look at future changes in carbon stocks on a regional basis with appropriate model assessment and benchmarking. We find that most regions of the world remain cumulative net sources of CO2 between now and 2100 when considering the balance of fossil‐fuels and natural sinks, even under aggressive mitigation scenarios. This paper identifies strengths and weaknesses for each model in terms of its performance over a particular region including how process representation might impact those results and sets the agenda for applying stricter constraints at regional scales to reduce the uncertainty in global projections.

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between genes with alternative splicing (AS) events and breed-specific differences in muscle development in two breeds of sheep. RNA-seq was utilized to identify genes with AS between Small-tailed Han sheep and Dorset sheep. The gene lists of differentially spliced genes were identified, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were conducted on these genes. In this study, 299 genes with 356 AS indicated significant differences between two diffrerent breeds. There are differences in 31 genes with 35 AS. Cassette, alt5′ and alt3’ exhibited the highest levels of enrichment across various significant levels. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between Wnt, TGF-beta, Notch and MAPK signaling pathways and the development of muscle in sheep. These findings indicate that genes with AS are linked to variations in muscle development in sheep. These results offer significant scientific and practical implications for improving the quality of sheep meat.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to establish a new process for brewing red raspberry wine with immobilized yeast and improve the value of red raspberry. Using the spore filaments of P. chrysogenum as a carrier to co-culture with yeast to obtain immobilized yeast. And the preparation method of immobilized yeast was optimized by single-factor experiment and orthogonal experiments. And the red raspberry wine was brewed in these conditions. The result shows that the optimal preparation conditions for the immobilized yeast of P. chrysogenum were 5 g/L gluconic acid, 5 g/L yeast extract, and the addition amount of P. chrysogenum spores 1 × 105 cfu/ml. Compared with free yeast, the immobilized yeast of P. chrysogenum has better fermenting ability, can better keep the anthocyanins and polyphenols and other active ingredients of red raspberry. The quality of the wine was improved due to increase in aroma components such as alcohols and esters. The immobilized yeast of P. chrysogenum maintained good fermentation performance after three consecutive fermentations.

The study was conducted to evaluate effects of short-term or long-term administration of 25- hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)VD3] on growth performance, bone characteristics, meat quality in growing pigs. A total of 144 pigs were allocated into three groups and fed diet contained 2000 IU vitamin D3 (VD3) or 25(OH)VD3 for a short-term and long-term administration. The results showed that long-term 25(OH)VD3 administration increased BW on d 56 and average daily gain in d 28–56. Furthermore, long-term feeding increased bone calcium content and mRNA expressions of calcium ion channel protein and anti-oxidases genes in the liver. In short, adding 25(OH)VD3 to the diet improved weight gain, bone characteristics, deposition of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant capacity compared with the VD3, while the long-term feeding of 25(OH)VD3 was particularly effective focusing on calcium deposition and mRNA expression of GPx1, Cu/Zn SOD and CaBP-D9K.

Objective To evaluate the surgical effect and complication of laser in situ fenestration with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in the patients with aortic dissection involving arch branches. Methods From December 2018 to December 2020, 181 patients with aortic dissection involving arch branches admitted to our hospital were analyzed retrospectively among whom 172 patients had laser in situ fenestration with TEVAR. The inclusion criteria were dissection involved aortic arch and the process of TEVAR required reconstruction of the branched vessels in arch. Patients both with aortic dissection lesions less than 15 mm from the coronary ostium and the diameter of ascending aorta more than 45 mm were excluded. Results All cases underwent laser in situ fenestration with TEVAR including 37 cases (21.51%) in acute stage and 135 cases (78.49%) in subacute stage and 165 cases (95.93%) with success of reconstruction of branch vessels. In-hospital death occurred in 6 cases (3.49%), stroke in 2 cases (1.16%), paraplegia in 4 cases (2.33%), proximal stent-graft induced new entry (SINE) in 2 cases (1.16%), and without distal SINE. A total of 168 cases (97.67%) were followed-up. There were 311 branch vessels reconstructed. Follow-up CT angiography was done(10.6±5.4) months which showed that 295 branch vessels were patency with patency rate 94.86%. The partial or complete false lumen thrombosis of thoracic aorta was found in 152 cases (88.37%). Conclusions Laser in situ fenestration with TEVAR was performed with high success rate and low complication rate for the patients with aortic dissection involving arch branches. Long-term follow-up and large sample studies are needed for long-term clinical effects.

Background There is no safe and effective antidote for cardiotoxicity induced by bupivacaine, an extensively used anaesthetic. Our previous research shows that acupoint treatment may partially improve bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity, but the mechanism of action needs to be further studied. Objective To observe the effect of acupoint injection of puerarin on mitochondrial energy metabolism in myocardia in bupivacaine-poisoned rats, and to explore its mechanism of action. Methods This experiment was conducted from January to December 2019. Forty 6-month-old male SPF Wistar rats were selected and equally randomized into a blank group (group C) , a model group (group B) , a treatment group (group T) , and a prevention group (group P) . Interventions were given to the groups as follows: Group P received: 0.1 ml puerarin injection injected into bilateral Neiguan acupoints. Then 5 minutes later, bupivacaine-poisoned model was established for three groups (except for group C) using intravenous infusion of 0.5% bupivacaine (10 mg/kg) via femoral vein within 2 minutes. Group C received 0.1 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution injected into bilateral Neiguan acpoints. : Immediately after successful modeling, 0.1 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution was injected into bilateral Neiguan acupoints for group B, and: 0.1 ml puerarin injection was injected into bilateral Neiguan points for C. The rats in group C were sacrificed at the 8th minute of intravenous infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride solution, and those in groups B, T, and P were sacrificed at the 8th minute of intravenous infusion of bupivacaine, then the left ventricular myocardium of all rats were taken out and cardiomyocyte mitochondria were isolated, the structure of which was observed under the transmission electron microscope. The semi-quantitative analysis of mitochondrial structure was evaluated by Flameng classification system. The activity of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase (ATPase) was measured by ELISA. The content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was measured by colorimetric assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by JC-1 fluorescence staining and colorimetry. The protein levels of myocardial mitochondrial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) , nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) , and mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) were measured by Western blotting. Results Group C had lower Flameng score than did other three groups (P

Introduction Painless gastrointestinal endoscopy is being increasingly practised in the clinical field. The management and choice of sedation are important during the endoscopy procedure to reduce patient discomfort and facilitate high disease detection rates. Ciprofol is principally an agonist of the γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor; it comprises the active ingredient HSK3486, which is similar to the currently used intravenous anaesthetic propofol in clinical practice. A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing ciprofol and propofol will be conducted to assess their efficacy and safety during endoscopy. Before starting the study, we describe the specific protocol of this systematic review.Methods and analysis This protocol was prepared in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols 2015. The following databases will be searched: Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database and a clinical trial registry. The database search strategy will adopt a combination of subject words and free words. Randomised controlled trials related to ciprofol use for sedation during gastrointestinal endoscopy will also be included. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two researchers will independently screen the articles and extracted data. Following the qualitative evaluation of each study, analysis will be conducted using Review Manager software.Ethics and dissemination The protocol for this systematic review and meta-analysis involves no individual patient data; thus, ethical approval is not required. This will be the first meta-analysis to assess the sedation efficacy of ciprofol and provide evidence to clinicians for decision-making. The results will be disseminated through conference presentations and publications in peer-review journals related to this field.PROSPERO registration number CRD42022370047.

Background: During the alternative splicing (AS), the exons of primary transcripts are spliced in various arrangements, resulting in structurally and functionally distinct mRNAs and proteins. This study aimed to examine genes with AS events from Small Tail Han sheep and Dorset sheep to explore the mechanism of adipose developments. Methods: This study identified the genes with AS events in adipose tissues of two different sheep with next-generation sequencing. In this paper, genes with significantly different AS events were performed gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Results: 364 genes with 411 A S events showed significant differences in adipose tissues between the two breeds; 108 genes with 120 A S events were extremely significant differences between the two breeds. We identified several novel genes that are related with adipose growth and development. The results of KEGG and GO analysis indicated that oocyte meiosis, mitogen-activated protein kinase (Wnt), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, etc. Were closely related to the adipose tissue developments. Conclusions: This paper revealed that the genes with AS events are important for adipose tissues in sheep, exploring the mechanisms of AS events associated with adipose tissue developments in sheep of different breeds.

ABSTRACT Throughout the course of evolution, bacteria have developed signal transduction tools such as two-component systems (TCSs) to meet their demands to thrive even under the most challenging environmental conditions. One TCS called MtrAB is commonly found in Actinobacteria and is implicated in cell wall metabolism, osmoprotection, cell proliferation, antigen secretion, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. However, precisely how the MtrAB TCS regulates the bacterial responses to external environments remains unclear. Here, we report that the MtrAB TCS regulates the cell envelope response of alkali-tolerant bacterium Dietzia sp. strain DQ12-45-1b to extreme alkaline stimuli. We found that under alkaline conditions, an mtrAB mutant exhibited both reduced growth and abnormal morphology compared to the wild-type strain. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analysis showed that MtrA binds the promoter of the mraZ gene critical for cell wall homeostasis, suggesting that MtrA directly controls transcription of this regulator. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that MtrAB TCS is involved in controlling the bacterial response to alkaline stimuli by regulating the expression of the cell wall homeostasis regulator MraZ in Dietzia sp. DQ12-45-1b, providing novel details critical for a mechanistic understanding of how cell wall homeostasis is controlled. IMPORTANCE Microorganisms can be found in most extreme environments, and they have to adapt to a wide range of environmental stresses. The two-component systems (TCSs) found in bacteria detect environmental stimuli and regulate physiological pathways for survival. The MtrAB TCS conserved in Corynebacterineae is critical for maintaining the metabolism of the cell wall components that protects bacteria from diverse environmental stresses. However, how the MtrAB TCS regulates cell wall homeostasis and adaptation under stress conditions is unclear. Here, we report that the MtrAB TCS in Dietzia sp. DQ12-45-1b plays a critical role in alkaline resistance by modulating the cell wall homeostasis through the MtrAB-MraZ pathway. Thus, our work provides a novel regulatory pathway used by bacteria for adaptation and survival under extreme alkaline stresses.

Stability analysis and bifurcation of the nutrient-microorganism model are presented in this paper. It is found that the model could experience the changes of the equilibrium points and the saddle-node, the Hopf and the codimension-2 Bogdanov-Takens bifurcations. The induced complex dynamics are also illustrated, by virtue of theory like the Sotomayor's theorem, the normal form and the universal unfolding. From the obtained results, some insights into interaction between the nutrient and the microorganism can be given. Further, numerical simulation is carried out to verify the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background/aims Sheep are important livestock with variant ovulation rate and fertility. Dorset sheep is a typical breed with low prolificacy, whereas Small Tail Han sheep with FecB mutation (HanBB) have hyperprolificacy. Our previous studies have revealed the gene expression difference between the ovaries from Dorset and HanBB sheep contributes to the difference of fecundity, however, what leads to these gene expression difference remains unclear. DNA methylation, an important epigenetic process, plays a crucial role in gene expression regulation. Methods In the present study, we constructed a methylated DNA immunoprecipitation combined with high throughput sequencing (MeDIP-seq) strategy to investigate the differentially methylated genes between the Dorset and HanBB ovaries. Results Our findings suggest the genes involved in immune response, branched-chain amino acid metabolism, cell growth and cell junction were differentially methylated in or around the gene body regions. Conclusions These findings provide prospective insights on the epigenetic basis of sheep fecundity.

Compressive strength of alkali-activated slag (AAS) concrete is influenced by multi-factors in a nonlinear way. Both artificial neural network (ANN) and alternating conditional expectation (ACE) models of 3-day (3 d) and 28-day (28 d) compressive strength of AAS were established in this study by using the data reported in related literature, where alkali concentration of activator (Na2O%), modulus of activator (Ms), water/binder ratio (W/B), surface area of slag (SA), and basicity index of slag (Kb) were taken as input parameters. The models were employed later to predict 3 d and 28 d compressive strength of AAS concretes, respectively, and the results were validated by experimental work. The results show that both the ANN and the ACE models had adequate accuracy, no matter 3 d or 28 d compressive strength was considered. Compared to the 3 d compressive strength, due to data scattering that increased with the increase of data size, both the models did not yield a higher accuracy in the case of 28 d strength. However, also due to the increase in data size, both the models were more feasible to implement 28 d strength prediction as a result of sufficient learning and training during modeling. In addition, based on ACE analysis, the weight-influencing compressive strength of AAS decreased in a sequence of Na2O% > Ms > W/B > Kb > SA. If data size was sufficiently large, it was more suitable to establish an ANN model for compressive strength prediction of AAS concretes. Otherwise, ACE could be considered as an alternative to yield an acceptable result.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of 25(OH)VD3 with different inclusion levels of 0, 25, 50 and 75 μg/kg in the diet on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, bone properties and pork quality in growing-finishing pigs. The results showed that the average daily gain (p < 0.05) and body weight (p < 0.10) of pigs showed a trend of increasing quadratically as inclusion levels of 25(OH)VD3 increased. Dietary supplementation of 50 μg/kg 25(OH)VD3 increased calcium digestibility compared with the 0 μg/kg group (p < 0.05), and calcium and phosphorus digestibility increased quadratically as inclusion levels of 25(OH)VD3 increased (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of 50 μg/kg 25(OH)VD3 increased concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and decreased contents of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in the longissimus dorsi of pigs (p < 0.05). The addition of 25, 50 and 75 μg/kg 25(OH)VD3 to the diet increased breaking strength and bone stiffness in the tibia compared with the 0 μg/kg group (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of 50 μg/kg 25(OH)VD3 improved the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of Cu/Zn SOD in the longissimus dorsi compared with the 0 μg/kg group (p < 0.05). Supplementing 50 μg/kg 25(OH)VD3 improved the mRNA expression of calcium-binding protein D9k (CaBP-D9k) and D28k (CaBP-D28K) in the liver compared with the 0 μg/kg 25(OH)D3 group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a diet with an added dose of 50 μg/kg 25(OH)VD3 showed a greatest growth performance of growing-finishing pigs, and 25(OH)VD3 enhanced calcium deposition and antioxidant capacity in the longissimus dorsi, which may be associated with improved expression of calcium ion channel proteins.

In recent years, there has been an increasing number of fires in buildings. The methods for detecting residual properties of buildings after fires are commonly destructive and subjective. In this context, property prediction based on mathematical modeling has exhibited its potential. Backpropagation (BP), particle swarm algorithms optimized-BP (PSO-BP) and random forest (RF) models were established in this paper using 1803 sets of data from the literature. Material and relevant heating parameters, as well as compressive strength loss percentage, were used as input and output parameters, respectively. Experimental work was also carried out to evaluate the feasibility of the models for prediction. The accuracy of all the models was sufficiently high, and they were also much more feasible for prediction. Moreover, based on the RF model, the importance of the inputting parameters was ranked as well. Such prediction has provided a new perspective to non-destructively and objectively assess the post-fire properties of concrete. Additionally, this model could be used to guide performance-based design for fire-resistant concrete.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)VD3) and Vitamin D3 (VD3) supplemented in the diet of weaned piglets on their growth performance, bone quality, intestinal integrity, immune function and antioxidant capacity. A total of 192 weaned piglets were allocated into four groups and they were fed a control diet containing 2000 IU VD3 (negative control, NC), NC + 100 ppm colistin sulfate (positive control, PC), NC + 2000 IU VD3 (VD3) and NC + 2000 IU 25(OH)VD3 (25(OH)VD3). The results showed that 25(OH)VD3 improved the growth performance, bone quality and antioxidase activity of piglets compared with the other groups. Meanwhile, 25(OH)VD3 up-regulated ileal mRNA expressions of tight junction proteins and host defense peptides. The VD3 group had an increased intestinal sIgA content and mRNA expression of pBD-1 compared with the NC group. Both groups of VD3 and 25(OH)VD3 altered the microbial β-diversity compared with the NC group, and 25(OH)VD3 increased ileal concentrations of acetate and butyrate. In conclusion, our findings indicated that a regular dosage of 2000 IU VD3 in the weaned piglets’ diet did not achieve optimal antioxidant capacity and immune function. 25(OH)VD3 had better growth performance than VD3 at the same inclusion level, which is associated with the improved intestinal integrity and antioxidant capacity.

Summary: This protocol describes the use of the deterministic barcoding in tissue for spatial omics sequencing platform to construct a multi-omics atlas on fixed frozen tissue samples. This approach uses a microfluidic-based method to introduce combinatorial DNA oligo barcodes directly to the cells in a tissue section fixed on a glass slide. This technique does not directly resolve single cells but can achieve a near-single-cell resolution for spatial transcriptomics and spatial analysis of a targeted panel of proteins.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Liu et al. (2020).

Abstract Background Celastrus angulatus Maxim is a kind of crucial and traditional insecticidal plant widely distributed in the mountains of southwest China. Celangulin V is the efficient insecticidal sesquiterpenoid of C. angulatus and widely used in pest control in China, but the low yield and discontinuous supply impeded its further popularization and application. Fortunately, the development of synthetic biology provided an opportunity for sustainable supply of Celangulin V, for which understanding its biosynthetic pathway is indispensable. Results In this study, six cDNA libraries were prepared from leaf and root of C. angulatus before global transcriptome analyses using the BGISEQ-500 platform. A total of 104,950 unigenes were finally obtained with an average length of 1200 bp in six transcriptome databases of C. angulatus, in which 51,817 unigenes classified into 25 KOG classifications, 39,866 unigenes categorized into 55 GO functional groups, and 48,810 unigenes assigned to 135 KEGG pathways, 145 of which were putative biosynthetic genes of sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid. 16 unigenes were speculated to be related to Celangulin V biosynthesis. De novo assembled sequences were verified by Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Conclusions This study is the first report on transcriptome analysis of C. angulatus, and 16 unigenes probably involved in the biosynthesis of Celangulin V were finally collected. The transcriptome data will make great contributions to research for this specific insecticidal plant and the further gene mining for biosynthesis of Celangulin V and other sesquiterpene polyol esters.

The micro-Doppler features formed by the micro-motion of rotating blades of rotors and turbines are of great significance for aircraft target detection and recognition. Mastering the micro-motion features is the premise of radar target identification. The blades’ length and rotation rate are vital parameters for classifying aircraft targets. One can instantly judge the type and state of the targets by extracting micro-Doppler features. To extract the micro-Doppler features of rotating blades of the turbine target, we utilized microwave-band and terahertz-band radar to simulate the target and extract the Doppler frequency-shift information. For a turbine model with an obvious blade tip structure, we propose an algorithm based on wavelet coefficient enhancement and inverse Radon transform, integrating the time–frequency analysis with image processing. Under low SNR, this method allows for a high-accuracy parameter estimate. For a two-bladed rotor model without an obvious blade tip structure, we conducted an actual measurement experiment on the model utilizing a 120 GHz radar, and we propose a parameter estimation algorithm based on the fitting of the time–frequency distribution. By fitting the data of the time–frequency diagram, the micro-motion characteristic parameters of the rotor target were obtained. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate the benefits of terahertz radar in target detection, and indicate that the proposed algorithms have the characteristics of high extraction precision and insensitivity to noise.

East Asia is a crucial region in the global methane (CH4) budget, with significant contributions from the livestock sector. However, the long-term trend and spatial pattern of CH4 emissions from livestock in this region have not been fully assessed. Here, we estimate CH4 emissions from 10 categories of livestock in East Asia during 1961−2019 following the Tier 2 approaches suggested by IPCC (2019). Our results show that livestock-sourced CH4 emission in 2019 was 13.22 [11.42−15.01] (mean [minimum−maximum of 95% confidence interval] Tg CH4 yr-1, accounting for an increase of 231% since 1961. From 1961 to 2019, the emissions increased first and then stabilized after 2000. The contribution of slaughtered livestock to total emissions increased from 3% in 1961 to 24% in 2019 as a result of a significant increase in the slaughtered population. Spatially, the emission hotspots were mostly distributed in eastern China, South Korea, and parts of Japan, but they tend to shift northward after 2000. This latest long-term inventory can help to understand CH4 budget and to assess CH4 mitigation potential at national and regional levels.

Chemical biology, a frontier scientific discipline that emerged in the late 20th century, delves into the chemical underpinnings of life phenomena at the molecular level, aiming to study and regulate biological processes. The course "Chemical Biology" encompasses diverse disciplines such as biology, chemistry, medicine, and pharmacy, highlighting its distinct characteristics as an emerging interdisciplinary field. The teaching team is closely aligned with a series of national education and academic excellence strategies such as deepening education and teaching reform, building world-class universities and world-class disciplines, etc., and puts forward the reform goal of "nurturing versatile and innovative talents and exploring the path of constructing interdisciplinary fundamentals courses". In practice, the team adheres to the reform concept of "multi-dimensional cross-fusion", implements the reform ideas of "one orientation, one guidance, and three guarantees", and practices ideological and political education with the core of "exploring the unknown and serving the country with science and technology". This provides a replicable path for the construction of cutting-edge interdisciplinary fundamentals courses and the cultivation of compound innovative talents for the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented work investigates structural and functional fatigue behaviors of Ni49.8Ti50.2 (at. %) SMA wires under various maximum heating temperatures. Firstly, a thermo-mechanical fatigue experimental setup is established to test 24 SMA wires under various maximum heating temperatures (Tmax) of 92 °C, 115 °C, 147 °C, 165 °C, 211 °C, 291 °C. Then, the influence of Tmax on the fatigue life, strain evolution and failure type is discussed and a model is developed to simulate the plastic evolution behavior. Several experimental results are summarized. 1) The fatigue life decreases significantly from 26,559 to 35 cycles as Tmax increases from 92 °C to 291 °C. 2) The final plastic strain increases with Tmax rising and the fracture characteristic transfers from brittle mode to ductile mode. 3) Plastic strain in martensite phase becomes saturated in stage I of plastic strain curves and plastic strain in austenite phase contributes most of plasticity after that. 4) A higher Tmax increases the stable recovery strain and the degradation rate of recovery strain. Finally, based on experimental results, the plastic strain evolution behavior in stage I and stage II is simulated through a Tmax based model. This model shows a good quality of simplicity and precision. Keywords: SMA wire, Thermo-mechanical cycling, Structural fatigue, Functional fatigue, Plastic strain evolution

The p38 MAP kinase is a promising cancer drug target but its therapeutic effect is not fully understood. Here we report that the response of colorectal cancer (CRC) to p38 inhibitors (p38i) is highly variable: while p38i induces regression of one subgroup of CRCs, it stimulates growth of another subgroup. We further show that PP2AC is differentially expressed in the two different CRC subgroups, which determines the programing of p38-TSC-mTORC1 signaling through differential TSC2 phosphorylation at S664, 1254 and 1798, and the antitumor activity by p38i. Remarkably, modulation of PP2AC level is sufficient to reprogram p38-to-mTORC1 signaling and antitumor response. PP2AC expression accurately predicts therapeutic response to p38i in several CRC models, including a large cohort of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Moreover, we demonstrate that combination of p38 and mTOR kinase inhibitors effectively overcomes resistance to either inhibitor in single agent therapy. These results demonstrate that alternative routing of signal transduction underlies differential response to p38 and mTOR targeted therapies. The biomarker-guided therapeutic strategies described herein provide a compelling reason for testing in metastatic CRC patients who suffer very poor prognosis due to lack of efficacious drug therapies.

In our previous study, we investigated the regulatory relationship between lncRNAs, miRNA, and mRNAs in an effort to shed light onto the regulatory mechanisms involved in sheep fecundity. As an extension of this study, here, we aimed to identify potential regulators of sheep fecundity using a genome-wide analysis of miRNAs and the methylated genes encoding mRNAs and lncRNAs in the ovaries of Dorset sheep (low fecundity) and Small Tail Han ewes (high fecundity) with the genotype BB (Han BB) and the genotype ++ (Han ++) by performing RNA-Seq and MeDIP-Seq analyses. Methylated coding-non-coding gene co-expression networks for Han and Dorset sheep were constructed using the methylated genes encoding the differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs identified in this study. In the Han BB vs. Dorset comparison, the lncRNAs TTC26 and MYH15 had the largest degree. Similarly, the lncRNA NYAP1 had the largest degree in the Han ++ vs. Dorset comparison. None of the methylated genes encoding lncRNAs were co-expressed with the methylated genes encoding mRNAs in the Han BB vs. Han ++ comparison. The methylated genes encoding lncRNAs identified here may play a vital regulatory role in sheep breeding. Our results suggest that miRNAs might play a key role in sheep prolificacy by regulating target genes related to thyroid hormone synthesis, and methylated genes encoding lncRNAs associated with tight junctions might contribute to the high breeding rate in Han sheep. These findings may contribute to a deeper understanding of sheep prolificacy.