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Due to shallow root systems, potato is a particularly drought-sensitive crop. To counteract these limitations, the application of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) is discussed as a strategy to improve nutrient acquisition and biotic and abiotic stress resilience. However, initial root colonization by PGPMs, in particular, can be affected by stress factors that negatively impact root growth and activity or the survival of PGPMs in the rhizosphere. In this study, perspectives for the use of commercial silicate-based soil conditioners (SCs) supposed to improve soil water retention were investigated. The SC products were based on combinations with lignocellulose polysaccharides (Sanoplant® = SP) or polyacrylate (Geohumus® = GH). It was hypothesized that SC applications would support beneficial plant–inoculant interactions (arbuscular mycorrhiza, AM: Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL41833, and Pseudomonas brassicacearum 3Re2-7) on a silty loam soil–sand mixture under water-deficit conditions (6–12 weeks at 15–20% substrate water-holding capacity, WHC). Although no significant SC effects on WHC and total plant biomass were detectable, the SC-inoculant combinations increased the proportion of leaf biomass not affected by drought stress symptoms (chlorosis, necrosis) by 66% (SP) and 91% (GH). Accordingly, osmotic adjustment (proline, glycine betaine accumulation) and ROS detoxification (ascorbate peroxidase, total antioxidants) were increased. This was associated with elevated levels of phytohormones involved in stress adaptations (abscisic, jasmonic, salicylic acids, IAA) and reduced ROS (H2O2) accumulation in the leaf tissue. In contrast to GH, the SP treatments additionally stimulated AM root colonization. Finally, the SP-inoculant combination significantly increased tuber biomass (82%) under well-watered conditions, and a similar trend was observed under drought stress, reaching 81% of the well-watered control. The P status was sufficient for all treatments, and no treatment differences were observed for stress-protective nutrients, such as Zn, Mn, or Si. By contrast, GH treatments had negative effects on tuber biomass, associated with excess accumulation of Mn and Fe in the leaf tissue close to toxicity levels. The findings suggest that inoculation with the PGPMs in combination with SC products (SP) can promote physiological stress adaptations and AM colonization to improve potato tuber yield, independent of effects on soil water retention. However, this does not apply to SC products in general.

Abstract The time-domain inverse technique based on the time-domain rotating equivalent source method has been proposed to localize and quantify rotating sound sources. However, this technique encounters two problems to be addressed: one is the time-consuming process of solving the transcendental equation at each time step, and the other is the difficulty of controlling the instability problem due to the time-varying transfer matrix. In view of that, an improved technique is proposed in this paper to resolve these two problems. In the improved technique, a de-Dopplerization method in the time-domain rotating reference frame is first applied to eliminate the Doppler effect caused by the source rotation in the measured pressure signals, and then the restored pressure signals without the Doppler effect are used as the inputs of the time-domain stationary equivalent source method to locate and quantify sound sources. Compared with the original technique, the improved technique can avoid solving the transcendental equation at each time step, and facilitate the treatment of the instability problem because the transfer matrix does not change with time. Numerical simulation and experimental results show that the improved technique can eliminate the Doppler effect effectively, and then localize and quantify the rotating nonstationary or broadband sources accurately. The results also demonstrate that the improved technique can guarantee a more stable reconstruction and compute more efficiently than the original one.

ObjectiveTo analyze the genomic characteristics and variation of severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains prevalent in a local epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Tianshui city of Gansu province. MethodsPharyngeal swab samples were collected from 136 severe COVID-19 cases in Tianshui city during December 2022. Nucleic acid detection was performed on the isolated SARS-CoV-2 strains with mutant nucleic acid detection kits; whole genome sequencing of the isolated strains was performed using second generation sequencing technology; virus lineage and type were determined with Pangolin and Nextclade platforms and MAFFT software was used for multiple sequences comparison; a phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA software with neighbor-joining method. ResultsWhole genome sequences of 32 isolated SARS-CoV-2 strains were obtained. Pangolin typing analysis showed that of the 32 isolated strains, 31 belonged to Omicron variant BA.5.2 evolutionary branch and only one belonged to Omicron variant BF.7 evolutionary branch. Totally 68 nucleotide mutation sites and 32 amino acid mutation sites were identified. The S494P and A522S variants exist in the key sites of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the S protein. ConclusionThere were multiple coding region mutations for the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus variants isolated from local COVID-19 patients in Tianshui city and the mutations could affect the pathogenicity, infectivity and immune escape of the prevalent viral stains.

Abstract A paradigm shift is occurring in clinical oncology exploiting the recent discovery that short pulses of ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) radiation—FLASH radiotherapy—can significantly spare healthy tissues whilst still being at least as effective in curing cancer as radiotherapy at conventional dose rates. These properties promise reduced post-treatment complications, whilst improving patient access to proton beam radiotherapy and reducing costs. However, accurate dosimetry at UHDR is extremely complicated. This work presents measurements performed with a primary-standard proton calorimeter and derivation of the required correction factors needed to determine absolute dose for FLASH proton beam radiotherapy with an uncertainty of 0.9% (1 $$\sigma$$ σ ), in line with that of conventional treatments. The establishment of a primary standard for FLASH proton radiotherapy improves accuracy and consistency of the dose delivered and is crucial for the safe implementation of clinical trials, and beyond, for this new treatment modality.

Background: It remains unclear whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT) can predict the response of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) to anti-tumour necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) therapy. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether VAT predicts the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) for different sites of CD and its relationship with serum TNF-α levels and IFX serum trough concentration. Design: This is a multicentre retrospective study. Methods: Patients with CD treated with IFX from January 2014 to January 2021 were included. The perimeter of the visceral adipose area was obtained by a Computed Tomography (CT) scan. Participants were classified according to the lesion site (L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 ) and visceral fat area. The participants were divided into colon-uninvolved non-visceral obesity (L 1 -VAT L ), colon-uninvolved visceral obesity (L 1 -VAT H ), colon-involved non-visceral obesity (L 2 + L 3 -VAT L ), and colon involved visceral obesity (L 2 + L 3 -VAT H ) groups. The end points of this study were set as disease remission status at 6 and 12 months. Results: The final cohort included 140 patients. Regarding efficacy at 6 and 12 months, there was a significant difference between L 1 -VAT L (73.8% versus 36.8%, p = 0.006) and L 1 -VAT H (81.0% versus 47.4%, p = 0.008) groups. In the analysis of serum TNF-α levels and IFX serum trough concentrations, there was a significant difference between L 1 -VAT L and L 1 -VAT H (59.5 pg/mL versus 236.0 pg/mL, p TNF-α = 0.006), (10.0 μg/mL versus 0.4 μg/mL, p IFX = 0.000), and L 1 -VAT H and L 2 + L 3 -VAT H (78.7 pg/mL versus 118.6 pg/mL, p TNF-α = 0.031), (0.4 μg/mL versus 6.40 μg/mL, p IFX = 0.017). Conclusion: In L 1 patients, the VAT level predicted the efficacy of IFX, with high VAT values indicating poor efficacy. The VAT level may be a useful radiological marker to predict the efficacy of IFX in patients with various types of CD.

Abstract Mathematically formulating nanochannel flows is challenging. Here, the values of the characteristic parameters were extracted from molecular dynamics simulation (MDS), and directly input to the closed-form explicit flow factor approach model (FFAM) for nanochannel flows. By this way, the physical nature of the simulated system in FFAM is the same with that in MDS. Two nano slit channel heights respectively with two different liquid-channel wall interactions were addressed. The flow velocity profiles across the channel height respectively calculated from MDS and FFAM were compared. By introducing the equivalent value $${{\Delta_{im} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Delta_{im} } D}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} D}$$ Δ im / D , FFAM fairly agrees with MDS for all the cases. The study values FFAM in simulating nanochannel flows.

Weak optical signal processing based on nonlinear effects offers new approaches for imaging through scattering media. A novel incoherent optical signal amplification method based on spatial modulation instability is proposed for imaging through fog. We experimentally demonstrated the amplification and recovery of degraded weak incoherent optical image signals after passing through dense fog in a photorefractive crystal. Our experimental results indicate that the intensity profiles of the output images can be redistributed from disordered to ordered when the nonlinear strength exceeds the threshold of incoherent modulation instability, which shows that the partially disordered incoherent probe light intensities are orderly transferred to enhance the signal intensity profiles and the residuals become a uniform background. The restored nonlinear output images with high visibility were observed for a proper optical thickness of fog, and weak optical imaging from undetectable to detectable with relatively poor visibility for a larger optical thickness was also realized in the experiment. This incoherent optical signal amplification method based on modulation instability has a potential application for image recovery in atmospheric scattering imagings.

The hydrodynamic thrust slider and journal bearings as well as hydrodynamic lubricated gears with the merit of energy conservation by the wall slippage are reviewed. The principle for designing these hydrodynamic contacts is to artificially set the wall slippage on the stationary surface in the hydrodynamic inlet zone. To design the wall slippage on the moving surface in the hydrodynamic outlet zone can also give additional benefits. The technical merits of these mechanical components are the improved load-carrying capacity and the lowed friction coefficient, i.e., the energy conservation due to the wall slippage. Owing to the designed wall slippage, the carried load of the hydrodynamic step bearing can be increased by 200%~400% while its friction coefficient can be reduced by 50%~85%, and the load-carrying capacity of the hydrodynamic journal bearing can be increased by nearly 100% while at the same time, its friction coefficient can be reduced by more than 60%. For hydrodynamic lubricated gear contacts, by covering ultrahydrophobic or oilphobic coatings on the slower moving surface, the friction coefficient can be approaching to vanishing and the contact load-carrying capacity can be increased very significantly for large slide-roll ratios under medium or heavy loads.

The leaf area index (LAI) is an essential biophysical parameter for describing the vegetation canopy structure and predicting its growth and productivity. Using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) hyperspectral imagery to accurately estimate the LAI is of great significance for Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) growth status monitoring. In this study, UAV hyperspectral imagery and the LAI of S. alterniflora during the flourishing growth period were acquired. The hyperspectral data were preprocessed with Savitzky–Golay (SG) smoothing, and the first derivative (FD) and the second derivative (SD) spectral transformations of the data were then carried out. Then, using the band combination index (BCI) method, the characteristic bands related to the LAI were extracted from the hyperspectral image data obtained with the UAV, and spectral indices (SIs) were constructed through the characteristic bands. Finally, three machine learning (ML) regression methods—optimized support vector regression (OSVR), optimized random forest regression (ORFR), and optimized extreme gradient boosting regression (OXGBoostR)—were used to establish LAI estimation models. The results showed the following: (1) the three ML methods accurately predicted the LAI, and the optimal model was provided by the ORFR method, with an R2 of 0.85, an RMSE of 0.19, and an RPD of 4.33; (2) the combination of FD SIs improved the model accuracy, with the R2 value improving by 41.7%; (3) the band combinations screened using the BCI method were mainly concentrated in the red and near-infrared bands; (4) the higher LAI was distributed on the seaward side of the study area, while the lower LAI was located at the junction between the S. alterniflora and the tidal flat. This study serves as both theoretical and technological support for research on the LAI of S. alterniflora and as a solid foundation for the use of UAV remote sensing technologies in the supervisory control of S. alterniflora.

Coastal wetland soil organic carbon (CW-SOC) is crucial for wetland ecosystem conservation and carbon cycling. The accurate prediction of CW-SOC content is significant for soil carbon sequestration. This study, which employed three machine learning (ML) methods, including random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), aimed to estimate CW-SOC content using 98 soil samples, SAR images, optical images, and climate and topographic data. Three statistical metrics and leave-one-out cross-validation were used to evaluate model performance. Optimal models using different ML methods were applied to predict the spatial distribution of CW-SOC content. The results showed the following: (1) The models built using optical images had higher predictive accuracy than models built using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The model that combined SAR images, optical images, and climate data demonstrated the highest prediction accuracy. Compared to the model using only optical images and SAR images, the prediction accuracy was improved by 0.063 and 0.115, respectively. (2) Regardless of the combination of predictive variables, the XGBoost method achieved higher prediction accuracy than the RF and GBM methods. (3) Optical images were the main explanatory variables for predicting CW-SOC content, explaining more than 65% of the variability. (4) The CW-SOC content predicted by the three ML methods showed similar spatial distribution characteristics. The central part of the study area had higher CW-SOC content, while the southern and northern regions had lower levels. This study accurately predicted the spatial distribution of CW-SOC content, providing data support for ecological environmental protection and carbon neutrality of coastal wetlands.

The Jiangcang Basin is a Cenozoic faulted basin, where many low-temperature warm springs are exposed, with the highest temperature being 36.6°C. The study of the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the geothermal fluids of these warm springs can effectively clarify the genetic mechanisms of the geothermal resources in the Jiangcang Basin and thus is of great significance for the development and utilization of geothermal resources in the Qinghai Province. Using the geothermal and geological conditions of the Jiangcang Basin, this study analyzed the hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of water samples collected from cold water and from four warm springs in the Jiangcang Basin, obtaining the following results. The four warm springs have the hydrochemical types of HCO3-Ca·Mg, HCO3-Ca·Na·Mg, and HCO3·SO4-Na·Ca and total dissolved solids (TDSs) of 720.4–1,663 mg/L. Moreover, no significant positive correlation is found between Cl− and other ions in the warm springs. The results of isotopic analysis show that the warm springs are mainly recharged by atmospheric precipitation and meltwater from ice and snow, with a recharge elevation of 4,401–4,501 m. Furthermore, the geothermal reservoirs in the Jiangcang Basin have temperatures of 51–83°C and circulation depths of 1,848–2,610 m. Atmospheric precipitation and the meltwater from ice and snow infiltrate downward in high mountain areas and form runoffs along the tectonic channels in the basin. After being heated through deep circulation, they migrate upward along fault fracture zones under the influence of faults and the water blocking of mudstones, during which they cool by thermal conduction and mixing with shallow cold groundwater. Finally, the mixed water is exposed in the form of low-temperature tectonic warm springs. The results of this study can provide data for the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources in the Qinghai Province.

Abstract When the channel height is reduced to a small value such as on the scales of 10 nm or 100 nm, the physical adsorbed layers on the channel walls will participate in the flow, although intermediate between them is a continuum fluid flow. The multiscale simulation results are presented for this multiscale mass transfer in a narrow slit pore based on the derived flow equations. The results are respectively compared with those calculated from conventional continuum flow theory and from the theory based on the solid layer assumption, when the fluid-wall interaction is respectively weak, medium and strong. The total mass flow rate of the two adsorbed layers is also compared with the mass flow rate of the intermediate continuum fluid. The obtained results show the importance of the incorporation of the adsorbed layer flow by the multiscale scheme when calculating the transferred mass in a microchannel.

Soil total nitrogen (STN) is a crucial component of the ecosystem’s nitrogen pool, and accurate prediction of STN content is essential for understanding global nitrogen cycling processes. This study utilized the measured STN content of 126 sample points and 40 extracted remote sensing variables to predict the STN content and map its spatial distribution in the northeastern coastal region of Hebei Province, China, employing the random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) methods. The purpose was to compare the ability of remote sensing images (Landsat-8, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2) with different machine learning methods for predicting STN content. The research results show the following: (1) The three machine learning methods accurately predicted the STN content and the optimal model provided by the XGBoost method, with an R2 of 0.627, RMSE of 0.127 g·kg−1, and MAE of 0.092 g·kg−1. (2) The combination of optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images improved prediction accuracy, with the R2 improving by 45.5%. (3) The importance of optical images is higher than that of SAR images in the RF, GBM, and XGBoost methods, with optical images accounting for 87%, 76%, and 77% importance, respectively. (4) The spatial distribution of STN content predicted by the three methods is similar. Higher STN contents are distributed in the northern part of the study area, while lower STN contents are distributed in coastal areas. The results of this study can be very useful for inventories of soil nitrogen and provide data support and method references for revealing nitrogen cycling.

Optical image computing, such as spatial differentiation, logical transform, and addition-subtraction operation, is of great importance to signal enhancement, transform, and extraction, but such nonlinear methods are restrained in incoherent or scattering imaging. Here, the logical white-light image reconstruction, as an optical image computing method for incoherent and scattered images, is proposed by monitoring a seeded potential in variable detection planes. The weak white-light signals collectively seed a potential at the expense of scattering noise based on seeded modulation instability in a photorefractive crystal. Then the logical image operation is achieved by sensitively probing the seeded potential and recording the intensity distribution of the probe beam in different detection planes. The proposed method has a strong ability of ballistic signal recording, reproduction, and reversal. The numerical and experimental results show a new physical phenomena in which the indirect interaction between light waves through a seeded potential is presented in different forms. The nonlinear method is proved to effectively operate pure images, the images scattered by a rotating diffuser, and the images scattered by fogs whether under back lighting or under front lighting. Our work suggests an alternative method for all-optical image processing, recovery, and computing.

For the case of ultralow surface separation, in a hydrodynamic wedge-platform thrust slider bearing, the outlet zone and a portion of the inlet zone are in boundary lubrication, while most of the inlet zone is in the multiscale lubrication contributed by both the adsorbed boundary layer and the intermediate continuum fluid film. The present paper first presents the mathematical derivations for the generated pressure and carried load of this bearing based on the governing equation for boundary lubrication and the multiscale flow equation. Then, the full numerical calculation is carried out to verify the analytical derivations. It was found that the mathematical derivations normally have considerable errors when calculating the hydrodynamic pressure distribution in the bearing, owing to introducing the equivalent parameter λbf,e which is constant in the inlet zone; however they can be used to calculate the carried load of the bearing when the surface separation in the outlet zone is sufficiently high. The study suggests the necessity of the numerical calculation of the hydrodynamic pressure and even the carried load of this bearing. It is also shown that owing to the fluid-bearing surface interaction, the pressure and carried load of this bearing are significantly greater than those calculated from the classical hydrodynamic theory.

Complex heterogeneity is an important characteristic in the development of prostate cancer (PCa), which further leads to the failure of known therapeutic options. PCa research has been hampered by the current in vitro model systems that cannot fully reflect the biological characteristics and clinical diversity of PCa. The tumor organoid model in three-dimensional culture retains the heterogeneity of primary tumor tissues in vitro well and enables high-throughput screening and genome editing. Therefore, the establishment of a PCa organoid model that recapitulates the diverse heterogeneity observed in clinical settings is of great significance for the study of PCa. In this review, we summarize the culture conditions, establishments, and limitations of PCa organoids and further review their application for the study of pathogenesis, drug screening, mechanism of drug resistance, and individualized treatment for PCa. Additionally, we look forward to other potential developmental directions of PCa organoids, such as the interaction between prostate cancer tumor cells and their microenvironment, clinical individualized treatments, heterogeneous transformation model, tumor immunotherapy, and organoid models combined with liquid biopsy. Through this, we provide more effective preclinical experimental schemes using the PCa organoid model.

Coastal wetland soil organic carbon (CW-SOC) is crucial for both “blue carbon” and carbon sequestration. It is of great significance to understand the content of soil organic carbon (SOC) in soil resource management. A total of 133 soil samples were evaluated using an indoor spectral curve and were categorized into silty soil and sandy soil. The prediction model of CW-SOC was established using optimized support vector machine regression (OSVR) and optimized random forest regression (ORFR). The Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation (LOO-CV) method was used to verify the model, and the performance of the two prediction models, as well as the models’ stability and uncertainty, was examined. The results show that (1) The SOC content of different coastal wetlands is significantly different, and the SOC content of silty soils is about 1.8 times that of sandy soils. Moreover, the characteristic wavelengths associated with SOC in silty soils are mainly concentrated in the spectral range of 500–1000 nm and 1900–2400 nm, while the spectral range of sandy soils is concentrated in the spectral range of 600–1400 nm and 1700–2400 nm. (2) The organic carbon prediction model of silty soil based on the OSVR method under the first-order differential of reflectance (R′) is the best, with the Adjusted-R2 value as high as 0.78, the RPD value is much greater than 2.0 and 5.07, and the RMSE value as low as 0.07. (3) The performance of the OSVR model is about 15~30% higher than that of the support vector machine regression (SVR) model, and the performance of the ORFR model is about 3~5% higher than that of the random forest regression (RFR) model. OSVR and ORFR are better methods of accurately predicting the CW-SOC content and provide data support for the carbon cycle, soil conservation, plant growth, and environmental protection of coastal wetlands.

Abstract Toads have high medicinal value and have been used for medicinal purposes since the Tang Dynasty period (7th‐10th Century AD). Bufarenogin, an active anti‐tumor constituent of toad venom, shows anti‐tumor activity. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of bufarenogin on the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly its effects on mediating intrinsic signaling pathways that initiate apoptosis. An orthotopic CRC model was established in nude mice via surgical orthotopic implantation to investigate tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting assays were performed to evaluate protein expression. The in vitro results revealed the anti‐proliferative effect of bufarenogin against CRC cells. Bufarenogin caused cell death via apoptosis, as revealed by Annexin V/7‐amino‐actinomycin D double staining, which was verified using a pan‐caspase inhibitor. Bufarenogin induced B‐cell lymphoma 2‐associated X protein (Bax)‐dependent intrinsic apoptosis, as demonstrated by mitochondrial translocation of Bax and cytoplasm release of HCT116 wild‐type cells and cytochrome C (soluble pro‐apoptotic factors). Additionally, we showed that adenine‐nucleotide translocator interacted with Bax. Bufarenogin induced intrinsic apoptosis through the cooperation of Bax and adenine‐nucleotide translocator and inhibited the metastasis and growth of orthotopical CRC cells.

As the technical and theoretical research of floating breakwaters is becoming increasingly mature, the floating breakwaters are now being utilized, especially in offshore reefs. Therefore, it is of practical significance to study the hydrodynamic performance of a multi-module floating breakwater system under the influence of reefs. In this study, a 3D model experiment was carried out on a system consisting of eight three-cylinder floating breakwater modules under the influence of reefs. A wave attenuation mesh cage was incorporated at the bottom of the model. The floating breakwater system was slack-moored in its equilibrium position, and each module was connected by elastic connectors. The reefs were modeled on a bathymetric map of existing reefs in the East China Sea. In this experiment, the wave transmission coefficients, motion responses, and mooring forces of the floating breakwater system were measured. The results showed that the three-cylinder floating breakwater in the beam waves (β = 90°) has excellent wave attenuating performance under the influence of reefs, especially for short-period waves. However, under the influence of the reef reflection wave and the shallow water effect, the motion responses in the three main stress directions of the floating breakwater were large, and there was some surge and pitch motion. Under the influence of the aggregation and superposition of reflected waves on both sides of the reefs, the peak mooring forces in the middle position of the floating breakwater system were the largest at large wave height. The three-cylinder floating breakwater exhibited satisfactory hydrodynamic performance under the influence of reefs. It has broad application prospects in offshore reefs.

The symbiosis and beneficial effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) on plants have been widely reported; however, the effects might be unascertained in tomato industry production with coconut coir due to the nutrition solution supply, or alternatively with isolate-specific. Five isolates of AM fungi were collected from soils of differing geographical origins, identified as Funneliformis mosseae and evidenced closing evolutionary distances with the covering of the small subunit (SSU) rDNA regions and Pi transporter gene (PT1) sequences. The effects of these isolates on the colonization rates, plant growth, yield, and nutrition uptake were analyzed in tomato nutrition solution production with growing seasons of spring–summer and autumn–winter. Our result indicated that with isolate-specific effects, irrespective of geographical or the SSU rDNA and PT1 sequences evolution distance, two isolates (A2 and NYN1) had the most yield benefits for plants of both growing seasons, one (E2) had weaker effects and the remaining two (A2 and T6) had varied seasonal-specific effects. Inoculation with effective isolates induced significant increases of 29.0–38.0% (isolate X5, T6) and 34.6–36.5% (isolate NYN1, T6) in the plant tissues respective nitrogen and phosphorus content; the plant biomass increased by 18.4–25.4% (isolate T6, NYN1), and yields increased by 8.8–12.0% (isolate NYN1, A2) compared with uninoculated plants. The maximum root biomass increased by 28.3% (isolate T6) and 55.1% (isolate E2) in the autumn–winter and spring–summer growing seasons, respectively. This strong effect on root biomass was even more significant in an industry culture with a small volume of substrate per plant. Our results reveal the potential benefits of using selected effective isolates as a renewable resource that can overcome the suppressing effects of sufficient nutrient availability on colonization rates, while increasing the yields of industrially produced tomatoes in nutrition solution with coconut coir.

Abstract Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), which is a Gram positive bacterium, causes the bacterial canker of tomato disease. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Polygonum orientale extracts against Cmm. In this study, firstly, effects of three extracting parameters (extractive time, extractive temperature, and solid to liquid ratio) of orthogonal experiment design L27 (313) were conducted. Secondly, survival rate was determined and inhibition zone of Cmm rescued post-stress was monitored. Finally, extracellular OD260nm value, extracellular protein content, conformational structure of membrane protein, extracellular alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, and ATPase activity were measured to investigate the antibacterial mechanism. Results of orthogonal experiment revealed that extractive time and extractive temperature had highly significant (P

Over the past several decades, natural products with poly-pharmacological profiles have demonstrated promise as novel therapeutics for various complex diseases, including cancer. Berberine (PubChem CID: 2353), a soliloquies quaternary alkaloid, has been validated to exert powerful effects in many cancers. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is not yet fully elucidated. In this study, we summarized the molecular effects of berberine against multiple cancers based on current available literatures. Furthermore, a systems pharmacology infrastructure was developed to discover new cancer indications of berberine and explore their molecular mechanisms. Specifically, we incorporated 289 high-quality protein targets of berberine by integrating experimental drug–target interactions (DTIs) extracted from literatures and computationally predicted DTIs inferred by network-based inference approach. Statistical network models were developed for identification of new cancer indications of berberine through integration of DTIs and curated cancer significantly mutated genes (SMGs). High accuracy was yielded for our statistical models. We further discussed three typical cancer indications (hepatocarcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and bladder carcinoma) of berberine with new mechanisms of actions (MOAs) based on our systems pharmacology framework. In summary, this study systematically provides a powerful strategy to identify potential anti-cancer effects of berberine with novel mechanisms from a systems pharmacology perspective.

In micro-electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM) milling, the cross-section of the microgroove machine is frequently not an ideal rectangle. For instance, there are arc shapes on the bottom and corners, and the sidewall is not steep. The theoretical explanation for this phenomenon is still lacking. In addition to the tip discharge effect, the essential reason is that there is an accumulative difference in time and space during the shape change process of a tool electrode and the microstructure formation on a workpiece. The process parameters are critical influencing factors that determine this accumulative difference. Therefore, the accumulative difference mechanism in time and space is investigated in this paper, and then a theoretical model is developed to simulate the micro-EDM milling process with a straight-line single path. The simulation results for a cylindrical electrode at the two rotational speeds of 0 (nonrotating) and 300 rpm are compared, while the results for a cylindrical electrode and a square electrode at a rotation speed of 0 are also compared to verify that different process parameters generate accumulative differences in the time and space of material removal. Finally, micro-EDM milling experiments are carried out to verify the simulation model. The maximum mean relative deviation between the microgroove profiles of simulation results and those of experiments is 11.09%, and the profile shapes of simulations and experiments have a good consistency. A comparative experiment between a cylindrical electrode and a hollow electrode is also performed, which further verifies the mechanism revealed in the study. Furthermore, the cross-section profile of a microgroove can be effectively controlled by adjusting the process parameters when utilising these accumulative differences through fabricating a microgroove with a V-shaped cross-section by a square electrode and a microgroove with a semi-circular cross-section by a cylindrical electrode. This research provides theoretical guidance for solving the problems of the machining accuracy of detail features in micro-EDM milling, for instance, to machine a microgroove with an ideal rectangular cross-section.

In view of the multi-user interference problem in 60 GHz pulse wireless communication system，the performance of the system based on TH-PAM multiple modulation scheme was studied. Under the IEEE 802.15.3.c channel model，relationship analysis model between system BER performance，communication distance and number of user was put forward，multi-user interference characteristics of the system with TH-PAM multiple access modulation was studied. It was compared with TH-PPM multiple access system. Simulation results show that the BER of TH-PAM multiple access system can keep below 10-5 within the scope of the communication distance is less than 30 meters，and the BER of TH-PPM multiple access system is always greater than 10-4 in range of 100 meters. As a result，TH-PAM was more suitable for 60 GHz short-range wireless communication than TH-PPM and provided technical reference for hot high capacity scenario of 5G high-frequency new hollow.

According to the special scene of intra/inter chip wireless interconnection system on PCB in WCAN，an efficient networking scheme based on cellular Ad Hoc was proposed，the network model of WCAN-PCB，multiple access，wireless nodes design，routing，and flow control strategy were analyzed. Finally，the network performance comparison with the wireless Mesh scheme was also given. The simulation and computation results show that the proposed scheme could keep a lower network delay and jitter，a higher throughput of network，also maintain a relatively low packet loss rate in the high speed data transmission，primarily serves as a reference value to the future research of WCAN networking architecture and 5G technology.

In this study, a 3D multicomponent multiphase simulator with a new fracture characterization technique is developed to simulate the enhanced recovery of coalbed methane. In this new model, the diffusion source from the matrix is calculated using the traditional dual-continuum approach, while in the Darcy flow scale, the Discrete Fracture Model (DFM) is introduced to explicitly represent the flow interaction between cleats and large-scale fractures. For this purpose, a general formulation is proposed to model the multicomponent multiphase flow through the fractured coal media. The S&D model and a revised P&M model are incorporated to represent the geomechanical effects. Then a finite volume based discretization and solution strategies are constructed to solve the general ECBM equations. The prismatic meshing algorism is used to construct the grids for 3D reservoirs with complex fracture geometry. The simulator is validated with a benchmark case in which the results show close agreement with GEM. Finally, simulation of a synthetic heterogeneous 3D coal reservoir modified from a published literature is performed to evaluate the production performance and the effects of injected gas composition, well pattern and gas buoyancy.

There are two molecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C23H33NO, in which the dihedral angles between the aromatic rings are 72.1 (3) and 89.0 (2)°. One of the molecules features a tert-butyl group disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.545 (13):0.455 (13) ratio. Both molecules feature an intramolecular O—H...N hydrogen bond, which closes an S(6) ring. Neither of the N—H groups participates in hydrogen bonds, perhaps due to steric crowding.

We used a next-generation high-throughput sequencing platform to resequence the Xinguowei and Shouxing melon cultivars, the parents of Fengwei melon. We found 84% of the reads (under a coverage rate of "13×") placed on the reference genome DHL92. There were 2,550,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 140,000 structural variations in the two genomes. We also identified 1,290 polymorphic genes between Xinguowei and Shouxing. We combined specific length amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) and bulked-segregant analysis (super-BSA) to analyze the two parents and the F2 extreme phenotypes. This combined method yielded 12,438,270 reads, 46,087 SLAF tags, and 4,480 polymorphic markers (average depth of 161.81×). There were six sweet trait-related regions containing 13 differential SLAF markers, and 23 sour trait-related regions containing 48 differential SLAF markers. We further fine-mapped the sweet trait to the genomic regions on chromosomes 6, 10, 11, and 12. Correspondingly, we mapped the sour trait-related genomic regions to chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 12. Finally, we positioned nine of the 61 differential markers in the sweet and sour trait candidate regions on the parental genome. These markers corresponded to one sweet and eight sour trait-related genes. Our study provides a basis for marker-assisted breeding of desirable sweet and sour traits in Fengwei melons.

Unconventional shale gas production is often characterized by a short period of high production followed by a rapid decline in the production rate. Given the high costs of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, it is critical to identify the mechanisms behind the production loss. The existing shale gas production models often assume constant matrix permeability. However, laboratory observations show that matrix permeability can decrease significantly with increasing effective stress, which highlights the necessity of considering the stress-dependent properties of shale matrix in production analysis. Moreover, the compaction of pore space will also increase the matrix permeability by enhancing the gas-slippage effect. In this paper, a matrix permeability model which couples the effect of pore volume compaction and non-Darcy slip flow is derived. Numerical simulations are conducted to understand the role of matrix permeability evolution during production. Changes of fractures’ permeability and contact area during depletion process are also taken into account. The results indicate that the loss of fracture permeability has a greater impact at the early stage of the depletion process, while matrix permeability evolution is more important for the long-term production.

The right bank high slope of the Dagangshan Hydroelectric Power Station is located in complicated geological conditions with deep fractures and unloading cracks. How to obtain the mechanical parameters and then evaluate the safety of the slope are the key problems. This paper presented a displacement back analysis for the slope using an artificial neural network model (ANN) and particle swarm optimization model (PSO). A numerical model was established to simulate the displacement increment results, acquiring training data for the artificial neural network model. The backpropagation ANN model was used to establish a mapping function between the mechanical parameters and the monitoring displacements. The PSO model was applied to initialize the weights and thresholds of the backpropagation (BP) network model and determine suitable values of the mechanical parameters. Then the elastic moduli of the rock masses were obtained according to the monitoring displacement data at different excavation stages, and the BP neural network model was proved to be valid by comparing the measured displacements, the displacements predicted by the BP neural network model, and the numerical simulation using the back-analyzed parameters. The proposed model is useful for rock mechanical parameters determination and instability investigation of rock slopes.

The film pressures, surface separation profiles and carried loads of the hydrodynamic inclined fixed pad thrust bearing with the sandwich films were calculated by the multiscale approach when the bearing clearance was low and the combined effects of the adsorbed layer, the surface roughness and the surface elastic deformation were incorporated; The sandwich film consists of two physically adsorbed layers respectively on the coupled bearing surfaces and the intermediate continuum fluid film. The results show that the surface roughness intrinsically generates the film pressure ripples, but the rough surface is somewhat flattened and the film pressure ripples are a bit reduced by the surface elastic deformation. For a given sliding speed and a given original bearing clearance, the surface elastic deformation results in the significant reductions of both the maximum film pressure and the carried load of the bearing especially for a strong fluid-bearing surface interaction. In spite of this, the slope of the increase of the bearing load with the magnitude ( Rz ) of the surface roughness is nearly the same for the elastic surfaces with that for the rigid surfaces. The presence of the surface roughness does not qualitatively alter the influence of the surface elastic deformation on the performance of the bearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the performance of elasto-hydrodynamic inclined fixed pad thrust bearing with ultralow clearance. The analysis was conducted using a multiscale approach by considering the surface elastic deformation, the physical adsorption layer and the fluid piezo-viscous effect. Numerical calculations reveal that in this bearing the magnitude of the surface elastic deformation is comparable to both the surface separation and the adsorption layer thickness. Compared to the case of rigid bearing surfaces, the surface elastic deformation results in a significant reduction of the maximum hydrodynamic pressure in the bearing. For a given speed and load, when the fluid-bearing surface interaction is stronger, the influence of the surface elastic deformation on the bearing pressure is more significant. For different surface materials with quite different Young’s modulus of elasticity, when the load and speed are given, the distributions of the film pressure and the surface separation in the bearing are obviously different. For a given load, the surface elastic deformation results in the reduction of the minimum surface separation. For a given minimum surface separation, the increase of the load with the sliding speed is more rapid for rigid bearing surfaces than for elastic bearing surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem of low accuracy of existing target detection algorithms in complex environments in a printing workshop, we propose a new target recognition algorithm based on YOLOv5 algorithm. First, the new algorithm uses an efficient channel attention mechanism (ECA) to enhance the extraction of workers' facial features. Second, it introduces a weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN), which enhances the ability to extract features at different scales of images and effectively improving the accuracy of target recognition. Subsequently, it replaces the original loss function with the efficient intersection over union (EIoU) loss function, which makes the prediction box closer to the real world situation and improves the algorithm recognition accuracy. Finally, an enhanced dataset is created to address the low confidence of the model due to low number of samples wearing masks and side face samples in the original dataset. Based on the experimental results, the average accuracy of the improved algorithm model reached 91.1%, an increase of 2.2% over the original model, and the average accuracy of the data-enhanced algorithm model reached 93.8%, an improvement of 4.9% over the original model. The model's F1 score of 94.1 was the highest of all models tested, meeting the detection needs of printing shop workers wearing masks. The improved YOLOv5 algorithm proposed in this paper achieves real-time detection of mask-wearing workers in the printing shop, which can replace manual detection and reduce personnel costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the surface elastic deformation is investigated by the multiscale approach in the hydrodynamic wedge-platform thrust bearing with the ultra low clearance on the 1nm scale, by incorporating both the non-continuum pure adsorbed layer flow and the multiscale "sandwich" film flow. The pure adsorbed layer flow in ultra small surface separations is described by the non-continuum nanoscale flow equation; The "sandwich" film flow is described by the multiscale flow equations respectively for the adsorbed layer flow and the intermediate continuum fluid flow. The numerical calculation results show that in the studied bearing, the effect of the surface elastic deformation is normally significant, it pronouncedly reduces the maximum film pressure, greatly changes both the film pressure profile and the surface separation profile, and considerably increases the minimum surface separation, which occurs on the exit of the bearing. The effect of the surface elastic deformation is shown to be obviously dependent on the fluid-bearing surface interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the hydrodynamic step bearing, when the lubricating film thickness is as low as the adsorbed layer thickness on the surface, the adsorbed layer effect on the bearing pressure should be evident. Different interactions can be formed between the fluid and the static surface, in the bearing inlet and outlet zones, respectively. In this paper, the multiscale calculation was made for the pressures generated in this type of step bearing when the continuum film exists between the adsorbed layers. The calculation outcomes show that the hydrodynamic pressures and loads of the bearing for the S(strong)-M(medium)-S(strong) and S(strong)-W(weak)-S(strong) fluid-bearing surface interaction types exceed significantly those for the S(strong)-S(strong)-S(strong) fluid-bearing surface interaction type if the bearing clearance in the outlet zone is smaller than 100nm (and over 20nm). The results indicate that for higher hydrodynamic pressures in the bearing, the interaction between the fluid and the static surface in the outlet zone is stronger than that in the inlet zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]