Search

As a novel X-ray focusing technology, lobster eye micro-pore optics (MPO) feature both a wide observing field of view and true imaging capability, promising sky monitoring with significantly improved sensitivity and spatial resolution in soft X-rays. Since first proposed by Angel (1979), the optics have been extensively studied, developed and trialed over the past decades. In this Letter, we report on the first-light results from a flight experiment of the Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy ($LEIA$), a pathfinder of the wide-field X-ray telescope of the Einstein Probe mission. The piggyback imager, launched in July 2022, has a mostly un-vignetted field of view of $18.6^\circ \times 18.6^\circ $. Its spatial resolution is in the range of 4$-$7 arcmin in FWHM and the focal spot effective area is 2$-$3 cm$^2$, both showing only mild fluctuations across the field of view. We present images of the Galactic center region, Sco X-1 and the diffuse Cygnus Loop nebular taken in snapshot observations over 0.5$-$4 keV. These are truly wide-field X-ray images of celestial bodies observed, for the first time, by a focusing imaging telescope. Initial analyses of the in-flight data show excellent agreement between the observed images and the on-ground calibration and simulations. The instrument and its characterization are briefly described, as well as the flight experiment. The results provide a solid basis for the development of the present and proposed wide-field X-ray missions using lobster eye MPO., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letter

The general data, blood routine, liver and kidney function, glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism of 11 922 participants who underwent physical examination at the Health Management Center of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2019 to December 2019 were collected. Clinical characteristics and independent factors of patients with discordance between HbA1c and FPG were evaluated and analyzed. The prevalence of HbA1c-defined diabetes and prediabetes (respectively 8.13%, 34.79%) were significantly higher than that in FPG-defined diabetes and prediabetes (respectively 4.70%, 8.97%) (χ²=2 635.940;本研究为横断面研究，收集2019年1至12月在中南大学湘雅二医院健康管理中心进行健康体检的11 922名体检者的一般资料、血常规、肝肾功能、糖代谢和脂代谢等指标。根据HbA1c和FPG两种指标，对其血糖状态进行分类，通过多因素logistic回归模型分析影响筛查结果不一致的主要因素。采用HbA1c筛查糖尿病和糖尿病前期的人群比例（分别为8.13%，34.79%）均明显高于FPG（分别为4.70%，8.97%）（χ²值=2 635.940，

We analyzed the project results of preventive medicine from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) finished in 2017 based on the project-ending reports and data on science fund sharing service network. A total of 406 projects in this field were completed in 2017. A total of 3 122 published articles supported by these projects, including 1 789 articles in science citation index (SCI) journals and 525 articles in Chinese core journals. In addition, there were 224 patent application/software copyright and 589 trained postgraduates. The top three sub-disciplines of project were non-communicable disease epidemiology, human nutrition and hygienic toxicology, accounting for 45.32% of the total number of completed projects. There were 12 institutions which had more than 10 finished projects, accounting for 41.87%. During the recent 5 years, the number of SCI articles and patents/software copyrights per project showed a general uptrend. It should be noted that the number of articles in Chinese core journals and postgraduates decreased in recent two years. Our analyses demonstrated that the project results should be guided by the new era policy of science fund to promote sustainable development of scientific research.以国家自然科学基金委员会预防医学相关领域2017年度项目结题报告作为研究对象，并从科学基金共享服务网检索结题项目相关数据，分析该年度的结题项目成果。2017年度结题项目数为406项，发表期刊论文3 122篇，其中SCI期刊论文1 789篇，中文核心期刊论文525篇，申请专利/软件著作权224项，培养研究生589名。结题项目数前3位的分支学科是非传染病流行病学、人类营养和卫生毒理，占结题项目总数的45.32%。12家依托单位的结题项目多于10项，占总数的41.87%，是主要的科研项目承担单位。比较近5年结题项目成果，项均SCI论文数、专利/软件著作权呈上升趋势。但近两年来发表中文核心期刊论文以及培养研究生数量降低，需要引起重视。建议以新时代科学基金的资助导向为方针做好项目结题工作，促进科学研究的可持续发展。.

Pterocypsela indica L. Shih (synonym Lactuca indica L.) is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae that has a worldwide distribution. In China, it is often used as a component for traditional Chinese medicine or as a leafy edible foraged from the wild. In September 2018 in Qianxi county (27.24 N, 106.01 E) of China, where a 2-ha field of P. indica was being planted, severe powdery mildew was observed on the leaves of P. indica. Approximately 35% of leaves on a plant were symptomatic, and about 40% of the plants were infected. Colonies were circular or irregular. White patches on the adaxial surface of the leaves appeared from June to September, and necrotic symptoms were observed in the autumn. To identify the pathogen, a voucher specimen (isolate CG) was examined for morphological characters using a microscope under 40× magnification. Each unbranched conidiophore was composed of a cylindrical foot cell followed by one to three short cells, ranging in size from 90 to 270 × 8 to 14 μm (n = 40). Conidia of the pathogen were ellipsoid-ovoid to barrel-shaped and measured 25 to 34 × 17 to 22 μm (n = 40). Fibrosin bodies were absent. Fungal hyphae were septate, branched, flexuous to straight, and up to 7 μm wide. These structures were identical with those of the anamorph of Podosphaera xanthii U. Braun & N. Shishkoff (Braun and Cook 2012), previously known as Podosphaera fusca (Cho et al. 2013). The pathogen was identified as P. xanthii on the basis of morphology and the sequence of ITS1-5.8s-ITS2 region of rDNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction with universal primers ITS-1 (5′-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGGaaawf-3′) and ITS-4 (5′-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3′) (White et al. 1990). The sequence submitted on December 6, 2017 (GenBank accession MG647826.1) of the ITS region exactly matched the sequences of P. xanthii accessions (e.g., GenBank accession nos. KX369541.1 and MG754404.1). Pathogenicity of the fungus was confirmed by performing Koch’s postulate as follows. Six healthy P. indica plants at the eight-leaf stage were selected for the test in the greenhouse. They were inoculated with conidia from an infected plant. Another six plants not inoculated were regarded as controls. After the inoculation, all plants were incubated in the greenhouse for symptom development. They were kept at room temperature, >70% relative humidity, 80 Lux, and 8 h light/day. The experiments were conducted twice. Fourteen days after incubation, powdery mildew symptoms appeared on the leaves of inoculated plants, and the pathogen morphology was similar to that of the original voucher, whereas control plants were still asymptomatic. Powdery mildew caused by P. xanthii has been reported on cucurbits, composites, and solanaceous crops in China (Fan et al. 2019) and on papaya in Korea (Joa et al. 2013). However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. xanthii causing powdery mildew on P. indica in China. Owing to abundant dissemination of conidia of P. xanthii, the disease could be a threat to P. indica in Qianxi county of China, and this geography is right for P. xanthii to possibly spread to Lactuca sativa.

To investigate the effect of occupational toluene diisocyanate(TDI) exposure on matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1), and analysis of the correlation of MMP-9,TIMP-1,MMP-9/TIMP-1 and lung function.In October 2014, based on cluster sampling, we conducted a cross-sectional study in a TDI production factory located in China's western region. 61 exposed workers were recruited from workers engaged in packing, operating and checking. Based on different levels of the external exposure, the packers were classified as high exposed group, while operators and checkers as low exposed group. 58 factory managers, matching age and agent, were selected as controls, having same work intense and not contacting the TDI or other allergens. The questionnaire surveys were used to obtain the agent, age, work age, smoking and drinking, personal and family allergic history, occupational history, and the recent health conditions. The levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in serum of subjects were determind by ELISA. The time weighted average concentrations (8h-TWA) were used to describe the levels of TDI air exposure in working environment. Spearman correlation assay was used to investigate the correlation of MMP-9, TIMP-1, MMP-9/TIMP-1 and lung function, exposure time.8-hour TWA means of TDI air levels in exposed group, packers, operators and checkers were 0.39, 0.76, 0.25 mg/m(3), respectively . According to the external exposure concentration, the packers were classified as high exposed group, and the operators and checkers were classified as low exposed group. In controls, low exposed group and high exposed group, the levels of MMP-9, respectively, were (807.21±347.70),(586.91±317.50),(388.94±312.01) ng/ml (χ(2)=16.69, P0.001), respectively, and the P50(P25-P75) of MMP-9/TIMP-1 were 4.67(2.87-6.68), 2.3(1.44-3.48), 1.11(0.59-1.48) (χ(2)=39.42, P0.001), respectively, and the concentrations of TIMP-1, were (173.44±72.67), (236.12±51.98), (302.81±44.39) ng/ml (F=20.09, P0.001), respectively. The levels P50(P25-P75) of FVC, FEV1.0 and FEV1.0/FVC in exposed group were, 92.8% (86.0%-101.8%), 85.5%(76.7%-92.8%), 112.5(108.2-118.5), respectively, which were lower than that in control group (124.3%(107.9%-144.2%), 142.7%(119.1%-155.7%), 129.2(123.5-134))(Z values were 7.70, 8.97, 8.62, and all P0.001). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that levels of MMP-9 were positively associated with FEV1.0, and FEV1.0/FVC (r values were 0.27, 0.25, respectively, all P0.05), and The levels of TIMP-1 were negatively associated with FVC, FEV1.0, and FEV1.0/FVC (r valuse were -0.33, -0.39, -0.39, all P0.05).The levels of MMP-9 were negatively correlated with exposure time(r=-0.26, P=0.040). The positive correlations of MMP-9/TIMP-1 with FVC, FEV1.0, and FEV1.0/FVC were also found (r valuse were 0.34, 0.44, 0.40, all P0.05).TDI exposure could induce the downs of MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 associated with lung functions. The MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1,in a way, could reflect the respiratory inflammatory injury caused by TDI exposure.

Superconductivity arises from pairing of mobile electrons. The symmetry of the electron-pair wave function contains important clues about the mechanism underlying the pairing. A Chinese-Korean experimental collaboration carries out element-selective substitutional doping of BaFe${}_{2}$As${}_{2}$ and searches for the pairing symmetry of the resulting iron-based superconductors.

occurring at the upper critical field Hc2, is demonstrated from the �(T) � T near Hc2 and �(T) � T 2 when further increasing field. Large residual linear term �0/T at zero field and the rapid increase of �(H)/T at low field indicate that the superconducting gap in Ce2PdIn8 has nodes, likely d-wave symmetry. The sharp jump of �(H)/T near Hc2 gives evidence for a first-order phase transition at low temperature. These results suggest the existence of a low-temperature-high-field Q phase in Ce2PdIn8, where magnetic order is directly coupled to d-wave superconductivity, as in CeCoIn5.

Geometric precisions are incorporated into a relational database from the perspective of geometric parameter precision design of the new generation of GPS and using the database technology. The processes can be simulated of their reasoning and decision-making in solving mechanical problems combining the theoretical knowledge, factual data and heuristic knowledge from the experience of specialists. An algorithm is designed and developed a system which provides query service on dimensional precision, form and position precision and surface roughness. This system can deduce a series of fit both automatically according to the form-position tolerance grades and the existing processing conditions, which can deduce the microscopic feature of surface and economic processing method. An application platform is also provided for the digitized realization of the new generation of GPS standards, the establishment of a traceability system and for the global integration.

Operation and operator technologies used in new generation Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) provide the necessary knowledge basis for digitization and standardization in verification process of geometrical products. This paper presents a framework of predicate-based operations which obtain features or values of characteristics, their nominal values and their limits. The knowledge about operations, constraints, objective and result is represented using predicate calculus, and it forms the basis of formalizing operator. Conditions give an equality or inequality to be respected by the specified characteristic. With a simple example, the geometrical expression specifications for the functions, design, manufacture and verification of a product are illustrated. The case of perpendicularity tolerance indicates that the proposed method is efficient and feasible.

The in-plane resistivity rho and thermal conductivity kappa of the FeAs-based superconductor KFe2As2 single crystal were measured down to 50 mK. We observe non-Fermi-liquid behavior rho(T) approximately T{1.5} at H{c{2}}=5 T, and the development of a Fermi liquid state with rho(T) approximately T{2} when further increasing the field. This suggests a field-induced quantum critical point, occurring at the superconducting upper critical field H{c{2}}. In zero field, there is a large residual linear term kappa{0}/T, and the field dependence of kappa_{0}/T mimics that in d-wave cuprate superconductors. This indicates that the superconducting gaps in KFe2As2 have nodes, likely d-wave symmetry. Such a nodal superconductivity is attributed to the antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations near the quantum critical point.

The in-plane resistivity rho and thermal conductivity kappa of the FeAs-based superconductor KFe2As2 single crystal were measured down to 50 mK. We observe non-Fermi-liquid behavior rho(T) approximately T{1.5} at H{c{2}}=5 T, and the development of a Fermi liquid state with rho(T) approximately T{2} when further increasing the field. This suggests a field-induced quantum critical point, occurring at the superconducting upper critical field H{c{2}}. In zero field, there is a large residual linear term kappa{0}/T, and the field dependence of kappa_{0}/T mimics that in d-wave cuprate superconductors. This indicates that the superconducting gaps in KFe2As2 have nodes, likely d-wave symmetry. Such a nodal superconductivity is attributed to the antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations near the quantum critical point.

The interplay between magnetism and superconductivity has been a central issue in unconventional superconductors. While the dynamic magnetism could be the source of electron pairing, the static magnetism is generally believed to compete with superconductivity. In this sense, the observation of Q phase, the coupled spin-density wave order and superconductivity, in the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 is very puzzling. Whether this Q phase origins from the novel Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state is under hot debate. Here we report the resistivity and thermal conductivity study of a newly discovered heavy-fermion superconductor Ce2PdIn8 down to 50 mK. We find an unusual field-induced quantum critical point at the upper critical field Hc2 and unconventional nodal superconductivity in Ce2PdIn8. The jump of thermal conductivity k(H)/T near Hc2 suggests a first-order-like phase transition at low temperatures. These results mimic the features of the Q phase in CeCoIn5, implying that Ce2PdIn8 is another promising compound to investigate the exotic Q phase and FFLO state. The comparison between CeCoIn5 and Ce2PdIn8 may help to clarify the origin of the Q phase., Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures

We demonstrate a Cr:ZnSe single crystal laser pumped by a continuous-wave (CW) Tm:YAP laser into the zero phonon line at 2000 nm for the first time. In the case of the transmission of the output mirror T = 10%, compared to the results obtained for the pump with a Tm:YLF laser at 1918 nm, the optical-to-optical slope efficiency was approximately doubled and the maximum output power was increased by 29%.

A high-efficiency broadly tunable Cr:ZnSe single crystal laser longitudinally pumped by a continuous-wave (CW) Tm:YLF laser at 1918 nm is demonstrated. To our best knowledge, a laser based on a Cr:ZnSe single crystal grown by the temperature gradient technique (TGT) method is investigated here for the first time. Under an incident pump power of 3.5 W, a maximum 383 mW CW output power was obtained at 2391 nm, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 10.6%. Furthermore, the working wavelength can be continuously tuned from 2179 to 2720 nm by means of an intracavity Brewster-cut CaF2 prism.

Double-copy retroviral vector containing human factor IX cDNA driven by human cytomegalovirus enhancer-promoter was constructed. The vector was introduced into the amphotropic packaging cell line PA317. The recombinant virus produced in PA317 was used to transduce skin fibroblasts from a hemophilia B patient. The infected cells produced high levels of biologically active human factor IX at a rate of 3420 ng/10(6) cells/24 h. These cells were embedded in a collagen matrix and implanted into the peritoneal cavity or subcutaneous space of mice. It was demonstrated that human factor IX was produced by the implants for at least 12 days in vivo, reaching a peak of 105 ng/ml plasma. Over 90% of the protein was functionally active. This technique has the potential to be developed into a new approach for gene therapy for hemophilia B.

A construct consisting of ovine metallothionein promoter fused to porcine growth hormone gene has integrated into rabbits and pigs following microinjection into pronuclei of 228 fertilized ova of rabbit and 137 ova of pig. Six of 20 live young rabbits and four of 10 live young pigs were transgenic. One transgenic rabbit and three transgenic pigs expressed the introduced gene, contained an elevated level of serum pGH and grew at an increased rate compared to both transgenic and non–transgenic littermates.

To study the possibility of somatic gene therapy for hemophilia B via gene transfer to primary factor IX-deficient skin fibroblasts, we constructed four retroviral vectors containing factor IX cDNA driven by retroviral LTR promoter, SV40 early promoter and mouse MT-I promoter, respectively. These retroviral vectors were transfected into an amphotropic packaging cell line, PA317 cells, by electroporation, and a human fibrosarcoma cell line, HT1080 cells, was used to assay the factor IX-virus titers of these four virus-producing PA317 cells, which ranged from 2 x 10(4) to 5 x 10(5) cfu/ml. The factor IX proteins produced by bulk population of four virus-producing PA317 cells were determined by ELISA. Results showed that LTR promoter directed the highest production of factor IX at the rate of 584 ng/10(6) cells/24 h, while SV40 early promoter and MT promoter directed about 10 and 20 times less production of factor IX than LTR promoter. The highest expressed retroviral vector XL-IX was used to infect a line of factor IX-deficient human primary skin fibroblasts, FDIX cells. The factor IX secretion rate of the infected FDIX cells was about 549 ng/10(6) cells/24 h and over 75% of secreted factor IX was biologically active. We are convinced that this factor IX-deficient human primary skin fibroblast had been cured, or genetically corrected, by retroviral-mediated gene therapy in vitro.

The cell cycle dependent fluctuation of adenosine diphosphoribosyl transferase (ADPRT) activity was demonstrated by both nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (3H-NAD+) incorporation into the acid insoluble fraction of permeabilized cells and changes in the cellular content of NAD, the only substrate of ADPRT, in intact FL cells. The ADPRT activity was lowest in the G1 phase and highest in the S/G2-G2 phase. Aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase a, abolished the fluctuation of ADPRT activity. Meanwhile, in 5-fluorodeoxy-uridine (FUdR) exposed cells whose DNA synthesis was interfered with by the inhibition of thymidylate synthetase and the rate of ligation of short replicative intermediates, the ADPRT activity remained at a higher level than in controls. However, 3-aminobenzamide (3AB), a potent ADPRT inhibitor, showed down DNA synthesis in the S phase and also extended the S phase. These results indicate that ADP-ribosylation may be involved in DNA replication and cell cycle progression, and suggest that ADPRT activity may be stimulated by transient short fragments of newly replicated DNA, exerting its effects at the later stages of DNA replication, most probably at the ligation step of DNA synthesis.