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Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit size variation is abundant. Studying the size of the persimmon fruit is helpful in improving its economic value. At present, the regulatory mechanism of persimmon fruit size formation is still unclear. In this study, the mechanism of fruit size formation was investigated through morphological, cytological and transcriptomic analyses, as well as exogenous ethrel and aminoethoxyinylglycine (AVG: ethylene inhibitor) experiments using the large fruit and small fruit of 'Yaoxianwuhua'. The results showed that stages 3–4 (June 11–June 25) are the crucial morphological period for differentiation of large fruit and small fruit in persimmon. At this crucial morphological period, the cell number in large fruit was significantly more than that in small fruit, indicating that the difference in cell number is the main reason for the differentiation of persimmon fruit size. The difference in cell number was caused by cell division. CNR1, ANT, LAC17 and EB1C, associated with cell division, may be involved in regulating persimmon fruit size. Exogenous ethrel resulted in a decrease in fruit weight, and AVG treatment had the opposite effect. In addition, LAC17 and ERF114 were upregulated after ethrel treatment. These results indicated that high ethylene levels can reduce persimmon fruit size, possibly by inhibiting cell division. This study provides valuable information for understanding the regulation mechanism of persimmon fruit size and lays a foundation for subsequent breeding and artificial regulation of fruit size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit shape is an important external feature when consumers choose their preferred fruit varieties. Studying persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit shape is beneficial to increasing its commodity value. However, research on persimmon fruit shape is still in the initial stage. In this study, the mechanism of fruit shape formation was studied by cytological observations, phytohormone assays, and transcriptome analysis using the long fruit and flat fruit produced by 'Yaoxianwuhua' hermaphroditic flowers. The results showed that stage 2–3 (June 11–June 25) was the critical period for persimmon fruit shape formation. Persimmon fruit shape is determined by cell number in the transverse direction and cell length in the longitudinal direction. High IAA, GA4, ZT, and BR levels may promote long fruit formation by promoting cell elongation in the longitudinal direction, and high GA3 and ABA levels may be more conducive to flat fruit formation by increasing the cell number in the transverse direction and inhibiting cell elongation in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Thirty-two DEGs related to phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways and nine DEGs related to cell division and cell expansion may be involved in the persimmon fruit shape formation process. These results provide valuable information for regulatory mechanism research on persimmon fruit formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of traditional CT image segmentation algorithms is hindered by issues such as low contrast and high noise in the images. While numerous scholars have introduced deep learning-based CT image segmentation algorithms, they still face challenges, particularly in achieving high edge accuracy and addressing pixel classification errors. To tackle these issues, this study proposes the MIS-Net (Medical Images Segment Net) model, a deep learning-based approach. The MIS-Net model incorporates multi-scale atrous convolution into the encoding and decoding structure with symmetry, enabling the comprehensive extraction of multi-scale features from CT images. This enhancement aims to improve the accuracy of lung and liver edge segmentation. In the evaluation using the COVID-19 CT Lung and Infection Segmentation dataset, the left and right lung segmentation results demonstrate that MIS-Net achieves a Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 97.61. Similarly, in the Liver Tumor Segmentation Challenge 2017 public dataset, the DSC of MIS-Net reaches 98.78. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous removal of cadmium [Cd(II)] and arsenic [As(III)] from aqueous systems is still a great challenge. Through mechanical ball milling and thermal activation, pyrite-modified biochar (PMB) was successfully prepared and used to evaluate its synchronous removal effect and mechanism of Cd(II) and As(III) from aqueous solutions. PMB exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 51.0 mg·g−1 for Cd(II) (pH=6) and 65.9 mg·g−1 for As(III) (pH=4) at 25 °C, surpassing that of biochar by 1.5 and 5.7 times, respectively. Interestingly, in the mixed Cd-As system, the presence of Cd(II) hindered the adsorption of As(III) onto PMB, while the presence of As(III) enhanced the adsorption of Cd(II). Additionally, the removal of Cd(II) and As(III) by PMB remained in the range of 70%− 80% under the competition of cations (K+, Mg2+) and anions (NO 3 -, SO 4 2-), except for the severe inhibition of Cd(II) and As(III) removal by Ca2+ and PO 4 3- due to their specific physicochemical properties. The adsorption of Cd(II) by PMB followed the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models, involving ion exchange (formation of CdS) and complexation as the main removal mechanisms. And the adsorption of As(III) followed the Freundlich and pseudo-second-order models, involving oxidation of As(III) to arsenic(V) and further complexation as the primary removal mechanisms. After four adsorption-desorption cycles, the adsorption performance of PMB for Cd(II) and As(III) could still reach 78% and 68% of the initial performance. Overall, the results demonstrated that PMB was the preferred eco-friendly material for efficiently removing Cd(II) and As(III) from co-pollution aqueous solutions. [Display omitted] • PMB was prepared by utilizing abundant pyrite and bagasse biochar as resources. • PMB was an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Cd(Ⅱ) and As(Ⅲ). • Cd(Ⅱ) and As(Ⅲ) mainly adsorb onto PMB through ion exchange, oxidation, and complexation. • The presence of Cd(Ⅱ) enhances the adsorption of As(Ⅲ), while As(Ⅲ) reduces Cd(Ⅱ) adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell tracking is currently a powerful tool in a variety of biomedical research topics. Most cell tracking algorithms follow the tracking by detection paradigm. Detection is critical for subsequent tracking. Unfortunately, very accurate detection is not easy due to many factors like densely populated, low contrast, and possible impurities included. Keeping tracking multiple cells across frames suffers many difficulties, as cells may have similar appearance, they may change their shapes, and nearby cells may interact each other. In this paper, we propose a unified tracking-by-detection framework, where a powerful detector AttentionUnet++, a multimodal extension of the Efficient Convolution Operators algorithm, and an effective data association algorithm are included. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm can outperform many existing cell tracking algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Research on the NSP7 protein is of great significance in the diagnosis, prevention, and control of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). We summarize its genetic variation, recombination hotspots and breakpoints, replication, virulence, immune mechanisms, and interaction with viral proteins and host proteins, which provide theoretical support for its application in PRRS diagnosis, novel vaccine design, and therapeutic drug development. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a highly contagious and severe infectious disease caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV). PRRS is characterized by reproductive disorders in sows and respiratory dysfunction in pigs. Non-structural protein 7 (NSP7) is one of the most conserved functional proteins in PRRSV, and it plays an important role in viral replication and humoral immune responses in infected hosts. This review discusses the biological characteristics of NSP7 to provide theoretical support for its application in PRRS diagnosis, novel vaccine design, and therapeutic drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the growth performance and blood metabolites, as well as metabolic profiles in the urine of lambs fed on dietary rumen-protected choline (RPC). Thirty-six Dorper × Hu lambs weighing approximately 20 kg were equally assigned to three groups, and fed on three diets supplemented with different RPC concentrations (0, 0.25% and 0.75%) for 45 days. Supplementation of RPC significantly increased average daily gain (ADG) and decreased feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) of lambs (p < 0.05). Dietary RPC was significantly associated with elevated plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and suppressed low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, concentrations of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) exhibited an increasing trend (p = 0.065), whereas β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) levels decreased (p = 0.086) in plasma. Analysis of urine metabolome revealed that RPC supplementation significantly suppressed urinary concentrations of pyruvate (p < 0.05), while increased urinary concentrations of trimethylamine oxide, p-cresol, phenylacetylglycine and hippurate (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that RPC supplementation can promote weight gain, alter plasma lipid metabolism and modify urinary metabolome which is correlated with energy metabolism, lipid metabolism and intestinal microbial metabolism in lambs. In conclusion, based on our findings, we recommend 0.25% RPC as a supplement for growing lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is the main cause of cancer-related mortality. Some studies demonstrate that m6a and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) are vital in the pathogenesis of LUSC. In this study, we aimed to further understand the prognostic value of m6a-related lncRNAs in LUSC and their role in the immune microenvironment. For this, we obtained LUSC transcriptome and clinical data from the TCGA database. Further, the identified m6a-related and prognostically relevant lncRNAs were clustered into groups based on prognostic lncRNA expression. Further analysis of the differences between clusters was performed. Five m6A-related lncRNAs were used for model construction using the LASSO regression. The receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC curves) and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the model accuracy. Finally, the model was validated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We identified 12 m6a-related lncRNAs that were associated with prognosis and were lowly expressed in tumors. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) highly correlated with prognostic genes, and differential analysis indicated that it was highly expressed in the tumor group and cluster 1. In cluster 2 TIME, tumor cells were less pure and more immune, and stromal-associated cells were present. A prognostic model was constructed based on five m6a-lncRNAs. The area under the curve (AUC) was >0.5 in test group and train group. The PCR results showed that the genes in the prognostic model were lowly expressed in the tumor and were statistically significant (p < 0.05). We noted that m6a-lncRNAs were strongly associated with LUSC prognosis and the immune microenvironment. Thus, PRC1-AS1, AL132780.2, AC013731.1, SNHG30, and AL358472.2 can be considered as new targets for the treatment of patients with LUSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the role of intestinal microbiota on the occurrence of depression‐like behavior. Twenty male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. Depression‐like behavior of the rats was validated using sucrose preference test (SPT) and forced swimming test (FST) after chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 3 weeks. Fecal microbiota was analyzed through 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The levels of 5‐HT and inflammatory factors in the colon, brain and sera were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative PCR (qPCR) and western blotting analyses. The percentage of different types of immune cells in the peripheral blood was determined through flow cytometry. CUMS caused depression‐like symptoms, including anhedonia and desperate behavior. Significant differences were found in the structure and abundance of intestinal microbiota. CUMS intervention significantly increased the levels of 5‐HT and Tph1 in the colon and decreased the level of Scl6a4. The concentrations of 5‐HT and Tph2 in the prefrontal and hippocampal tissues were lower, while IDO1 was higher. Certain cytokines, such as IL‐6, IL‐1 and TNF‐ɑ, were significantly elevated in peripheral blood, while the percentage of CD3+ CD4+ double‐positive cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were downregulated in the CUMS group. Pearson correlation analysis showed that intestinal microbiota was significantly associated with not only the metabolism of 5‐HT in intestinal and brain tissues, but also with the proportion of immune cells and certain cytokines. Stress can lead to disturbances in the intestinal microbial structure, which may contribute to depression by interfering with 5‐HT metabolism and immune inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforced concrete (RC) slabs might experience severe damage from multiple hazards such as fire, explosion, and impact during their service life. RC slabs under independent or sequential hazard such as fire or blast loading have been intensively investigated. In reality, fire and explosion often occur simultaneously instead of occurring one after the other as assumed in some previous studies. Simultaneous actions of thermal loading and blast loading on structures are likely to generate different responses or even different response modes and failure mechanisms of structures as compared to independent or sequential actions of the two loads on structures. However, very limited study has been conducted to investigate the performance of RC slabs under simultaneous fire and blast loads. This study investigates the dynamic performance of RC slabs subjected to concurrent fire and blast loads, considering the simultaneous actions of thermal-induced stress, deformation, material deterioration and blast loading. The numerical model is first calibrated with the test results of RC slab under fire or blast loading. With the calibrated numerical model, the effect of thermal stress induced by fire loading on the blast performance is investigated. The influences of fire duration before the occurrence of explosion, as well as the blast loading scenarios and RC slab parameters on the structural responses are investigated. The dynamic responses induced by blast loading after the fire action as usually assumed in the literature are also calculated and compared with those obtained from simultaneous fire and blast loads. Their implications on representing the effects of coupled concurrent fire and blast loads on structural performances are discussed. • It is the first study on RC slab under simultaneous fire and blast loading. • Effect of fire-induced thermal stress on blast resistance of RC slab is revealed. • Effect of thermal stress and deformation on dynamic response of RC slab is studied. • The response of RC slab subjected to sequential fire and blast loading is compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Electrical Power Systems Research. • This paper proposes a joint planning scheme for soft open points and energy storage to address the issue of unbalanced supply and demand in distribution networks, aiming to enhance the system's economic efficiency and stability. • This paper evaluates the proposed scheme in comparison with other literature under different electricity price conditions. The results indicate that as the electricity price increases, the economic growth rate of the proposed scheme in this paper is lower than that of the schemes in other literature, further confirming the advantages of this scheme. • This paper takes full account of the uncertainty of distributed power sources, adopts a two-stage robust model, and provides reasonable values for robust control parameters based on the planning results. With the increasing penetration rate of renewable energy, the uncertainty of its output has exacerbated power imbalances among different distribution networks. In this paper, we propose collaborative planning of soft open points and energy storage systems to balance a distribution network with source-load imbalance, aiming to improve the economy and reliability of the distribution network. Firstly, considering that distributed generation has uncertainty, the K-means is used to construct a typical day scenario, on the basis of which a collaborative planning model is established with the objective function of minimizing the annual integrated cost. Then, the original nonlinear nonconvex model is transformed into a mixed-integer second-order conical planning model by Big-M and second-order conical relaxation, and a two-stage robust optimization is used to seek the planning solution with the lowest operational cost under the worst-case scenarios, aiming to enhance the robustness of the planning model. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed planning model is verified on two source-load unbalanced IEEE 33-node active distribution network arithmetic cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective and efficient electrochemical analytical methods for the characterization of the corrosion behavior of beryllium bronze alloys are significant and necessary. These electrochemical methods are based on open-circuit chronopotentiometry curves, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. From the electrochemical analysis, the results show that the corrosion reaction of the untreated samples became more severe as the NaCl concentration was increased. However, the corrosion reaction was not obvious when the alloy was treated by commercial latex paint and laboratory-produced latex paint. Furthermore, the corrosion potential has the same variation tendencies and the value of the corrosion potential was more positive when the alloy surface was treated by the laboratory-produced latex paint. The maximum and minimum of the corrosion potential were found for conditions using the untreated samples and samples treated with the laboratory-produced latex paint. The corrosion current, the charge transfer resistance, and the radius of capacitive resistance all decreased with increasing NaCl concentration. The above results suggest that the corrosion rate increased as the NaCl concentration was increased. Better anti-corrosion technology was found through various experimental analyses. The innovative electrochemical methods applied in the electrochemical corrosion behavior of beryllium bronze alloy are accurate, efficient, and reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent drought events under climate change are endangering food security and sustainable agricultural development. Quantitative assessment of crop yield anomalies under drought conditions is essential for effective water resources management and adaptative drought risk mitigation strategies. In this study, a copula‐based bivariate probabilistic framework model is developed to assess the impacts of drought events on crop yield, where the correlation of crop yield anomalies and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) at multi‐month lags are quantified. This model has advantages in quantifying the impacts of drought scales on crop yield through the joint probability of the corresponding series. Then, the model is applied to Xinjiang Province in Northwestern China, an arid region with extensive agricultural activities. SPEI and yield anomalies of wheat, maize and cotton during 1984–2015 are firstly identified, and then copula‐based framework is constructed to quantify probabilistic crop yield losses caused by drought events. Finally, crop water amounts and irrigation requirements under different drought severity conditions are compared and analysed. Our findings are: (a) wheat and maize yield anomalies are vulnerable to long drought time‐scales, with exceedance probabilities of required yield anomalies returning to normal are 19.3% for wheat and 21.1% for maize, while cotton is susceptible to short drought time‐scales, with exceedance probability of 42.3% for drought recovery; (b) response of wheat crop yield anomalies to the SPEI at 1‐, 3‐, 6‐ and 12‐month scales is the most sensitive, followed by maize, and cotton is the least; (c) under extreme drought conditions, the probability of cotton yield reduction is lower than that of wheat and maize. Results may enhance our understanding of the impacts of drought scales on crops during the growing season, thus providing general guidance for rational irrigation management of crops and incentives for irrigation to mitigate drought risk, ultimately promoting sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in seawater–sea sand concrete (SSSC) enhances the concrete performance as well as helps in reducing the excessive consumption of natural resources—this aspect is very important for promoting green and sustainable development in the construction industry. This research involved a comparison and analysis of the performances of SCM-containing and ordinary SSSCs as well as a review of the mix proportions and related parameters of SCM-containing SSSCs. The effects of SCMs on SSSC characteristics, such as workability, mechanical properties, hydration, microstructure, and durability, were also investigated. In addition, some special SCM-containing SSSCs were introduced, and their engineering application status and limitations were evaluated. The available evidence indicates that the substitution rate, type, and characteristics of SCMs affect the mix-proportion design of SSSCs, in turn substantially influencing their workability and mechanical properties. The use of SCMs reduces the exothermic peak of hydration of SSSCs, thereby widening their engineering applications. Furthermore, SCMs can work in conjunction with SSSCs to promote the formation of hydration products, resulting in a more refined microstructure. The incorporation of SCMs considerably improves the resistance of SSSCs against chloride and sulfate corrosions, ultimately reducing the risk of traditional steel corrosion. Moreover, based on the conclusions drawn from existing studies, this study proposes relevant future research directions to promote further application of SCMs in SSSCs. The aim of this review is to improve our understanding of the mechanism through which SCMs influence SSSC performance and to establish a solid foundation for expanding the applications of SCMs toward achieving sustainable high-performance SSSCs. • The comprehensive utilization of SCMs in SSSCs was reviewed. • The performances of SCM-containing and ordinary SSSCs were compared. • The effects of SCMs on SSSC characteristics were reviewed. • Some special SSSCs containing SCMs were introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the reuse of industrial solid wastes, this study investigates alkali-activated material (AAM) consisting of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) activated by carbide slag (CS). A separation treatment process was introduced to obtain reactive ultrafine GGBS and FA (RUGGBS and RUFA). The compressive strength is used to differentiate between representative specimens for exploring the hydration mechanism in terms of hydration process, hydrate types, and pore-structure characteristics. Finally, the environmental and economic benefits of these materials are calculated and analyzed based on the material sustainability indicators (MSIs). The results show that the separation of GGBS and FA reduces their particle size and enhances their hydration activity. Although using RUGGBS and RUFA delays the setting time of AAM, it results in lower hydration heat release and increases compressive strength after aging for 3 days. RUGGBS and RUFA synergistically promote polymerization reactions in CS-activated GGBS-FA systems, which results in more hydrates, including C–S–H gel, C–A–S–H gel, and hydrotalcite-like hydrates, helping to optimize the pore structure and strengthen the material. These findings suggest that separating industrial solid wastes can promote the use of AAMs in construction engineering by significantly reducing their environmental impact. • A low-carbon AAM containing GGBS and FA is prepared. • Separation process significant enhance the hydration activity of GGBS and FA. • The strength of GGBS/FA composites is significantly affected by the CS activator. • The RUGGBS/RUFA composites can exhibit lower hydration heat release in the early hydration stage • The RUGGBS/RUFA composites obtain strong strength due to its compact hydrates and dense microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary plant extracts are being increasingly studied as a viable method for improving meat quality. Ellagic acid (EA) is a polyphenolic compound found in various fruits. This study investigated the impact of ellagic acid on meat quality in growing-finishing pigs. In our study, eighteen healthy Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) pigs were randomly divided into three groups and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 75, or 150 mg/kg EA for a 12-week period. The results showed that EA improved meat quality by increasing the pH 24 h, redness, intramuscular fat content, and flavour amino acid content and decreasing drip loss and shear force in longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle. Subsequent investigation aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect of EA on meat redness. Firstly, EA enhanced the antioxidant capacity in the LT muscle. Additionally, EA increased myoglobin expression and improved the redox state of myoglobin. Finally, EA activated the nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) and proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α) signalling pathway which involved in myoglobin expression. Together, the study suggests that EA improves meat quality in growing-finishing pigs, and that the improvement in redness may be due to an increase in myoglobin content mediated by the PGC-1α and NFATc1 signalling pathways, and an improvement in antioxidant capacity. • Ellagic acid improved the quality of pork. • Ellagic acid improved muscle antioxidant capacity in growing-finishing pigs. • Ellagic acid increased myoglobin expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand column tests were conducted to investigate the seepage transport of silicon powders (SPs) with two wide particle size ranges (30-2000 nm and 2-70 μm), including the cotransport of SPs and copper ions. The results show that the graded large-scale SP has an obvious inhibiting influence on the transport of copper ions. In contrast, in the presence of the graded small-scale SP, the concentration of copper ions in the effluent tends to increase; i.e., there appears to be a promoting effect. However, after a long transport distance, the presence of SPs, regardless of particle size, has an overall retarding effect on heavy metal pollutants (e.g., copper ions). The promoting effect of the increase in seepage velocity on the concentration of copper ions in the effluent is greater with the graded large-scale SPs than with the graded small-scale SPs. In terms of the microstructural characteristics by metallographic microscopy, the average particle size of the deposited graded small-scale SPs is almost constant at different transport distances, while that of the deposited graded large-scale SPs tend to decrease significantly with increasing transport distance; i.e., notable bed filtration is exhibited in the latter case. This physical mechanism also determines the sequence and rate of the retarding effect of SPs on heavy metal ions under seepage flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) has various labile sex types, and studying its sex differentiation can improve breeding efficiency. However, studies on sexual regulation patterns in persimmon have focused mainly on monoecy and dioecy, whereas little research has been published on andromonoecy. In order to reveal the sex differentiation regulation mechanism of andromonoecious persimmon, we performed histological and cytological observations, evaluated OGI and MeGI expression and conducted phytohormones assays and mRNA and small RNA transcriptome analyses of the male and hermaphroditic floral buds of the andromonoecious persimmon 'Longyanyeshi 1'. Results: Stages 2 and 4 were identified as the critical morphological periods for sex differentiation of 'Longyanyeshi 1' by histological and cytological observation. At both stages, OGI was differentially expressed in male and hermaphroditic buds, but MeGI was not. This was different from their expressions in dioecious and monoecious persimmons. Meantime, the results of phytohormones assays showed that high IAA, ABA, GA3, and JA levels at stage 2 may have promoted male floral bud differentiation. However, high JA levels at stage 4 and high ZT levels at stages 2 and 4 may have promoted hermaphroditic floral bud differentiation. In these phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways, 52 and 54 differential expression genes (including Aux/IAA, ARFs, DELLA, AHP, A-ARR, B-ARR, CYP735A, CRE1, PP2C, JAZ, MYC2, COI1, CTR1, SIMKK, ACO, and MPK6) were identified, respectively. During the development of male floral buds, five metacaspases genes may have been involved in pistil abortion. In addition, MYB, FAR1, bHLH, WRKY, and MADS transcription factors might play important roles in persimmon floral bud sex differentiation. Noteworthy, miR169v_1, miR169e_3, miR319_1, and miR319 were predicted to contribute to phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways and floral organogenesis and may also regulate floral bud sex differentiation. Conclusion: The present study revealed the differences in morphology and phytohormones content between male and hermaphroditic floral buds of 'Longyanyeshi 1' during the process of sex differentiation, and identified a subset of candidate genes and miRNAs putatively associated with its sex differentiation. These findings can provide a foundation for molecular regulatory mechanism researching on andromonoecious persimmon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial wilt of sweet potato is caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, which is distributed in southern China and causes significant economic losses each year. The pathogen is soil- and rhizome-borne, and thus its rapid detection may prevent the occurrence and spread of the disease. R. solanacearum has been listed as a quarantine disease in China. With the advent of molecular biology, many novel tools have been explored for the rapid identification of plant pathogens. In this study, a strain-specific detection method was developed for this specific pathogen that infects sweet potato using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). A set of new LAMP-specific primers was designed from the orf428 gene, which can specifically detect the R. solanacearum bacterium that infect sweet potato. The LAMP reaction consisted of 8.0 mmol·L−1Mg2+, 1.4 mmol·L−1 dNTPs, and 0.32U μL−1 Bst 2.0 DNA polymerase and was performed at 65 °C for 1 h. The amplification products were detected by visualizing a mixture of color changes using SYBR Green I dye and assessing ladder-like bands by electrophoresis. Our method has specificity, i.e., it only detected R. solanacearum in sweet potato, and it has high sensitivity, with a detection limit of 100 fg·μL−1 genomic DNA and 103 CFU·mL−1 of bacterial fluid. In addition, R. solanacearum could be directly detected in infected sweet potato tissues without the need for DNA extraction. The LAMP method established in this study is a highly specific, sensitive, and rapid tool for the detection of bacterial wilt in sweet potato caused by R. solanacearum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AMF4, a recently synthetic ABA-mimicking ligand, has been reported to have long-lasting effects in inducing the expression of stress-responsive genes, hence conferring abiotic tolerance in plants. To test the effect of AMF4 on cold tolerance induction, the wheat plants were firstly foliar sprayed with AMF4 (10 μM), then the AMF4 treated and the control plants were exposed to a 24-h low temperature treatment (2/0 °C). Under low temperature stress, the AMF plants possessed significantly higher relative water content, membrane stability index and ATP concentration in leaf, while lower leaf H 2 O 2 concentration, compared with the control plants. The AMF4 treatment significantly increased the activities of APX, Ca2+-ATPase in the chloroplasts, while decreased SOD activity under low temperature, in relation to the control plants. In addition, the AMF plants showed significantly higher activities of key carbohydrate metabolism enzymes, such as UDP-glucose pyrophorylase, hexokinase, fructokinase, ADP-Glucose pyrophosphorylase, phosphoglucomutase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucoisomerase, in relation to the control plants under low temperature. These results demonstrate that AMF4 could be used to induce cold tolerance in wheat, and provide novel insights into the potential ways to enhance abiotic stress tolerance using the synthetic ABA-mimicking ligands. • AMF4 is a recently synthetic ABA-mimicking ligand, conferring low temperature tolerance in plants. • A global profile of key carbohydrate metabolism enzyme activities showed AMF4 induced low temperature tolerance. • Exogenous AMF4 affected the water status, ROS metabolism, ATP biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in wheat plants. • This study provides novel insights into the potential ways to enhance abiotic stress tolerance using AMF4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently powerful convolutional neural network (CNN) accelerators are emerging as energy-efficient solutions for real-time vision/speech processing, recognition and a wide spectrum of approximate computing applications. In addition to the broad applicability scope of such deep learning (DL) accelerators, we found that the fascinating feature of deterministic performance makes them ideal candidates as application-processors in embedded SoCs concerned with real-time processing. However, unlike traditional accelerator designs, DL accelerators introduce the new aspect of design tradeoff between real-time processing [quality of service (QoS)] and computation approximation [quality of result (QoR)] into embedded systems. This paper proposes an elastic CNN acceleration architecture that automatically adapts to the user-specified QoS constraint by exploiting the error-resilience in typical approximate computing workloads. For the first time, the proposed design, including the network tuning-and-mapping software and reconfigurable accelerator hardware, aims to reconcile the design constraint of QoS and QoR, which are respectively, the critical concerns in real-time and approximate computing. It is shown in experiments the proposed architecture enables the embedded system to work flexibly in an expanded operating space, significantly enhances its real-time ability, and maximizes the system energy-efficiency within the user-specified QoS-QoR constraint through self-reconfiguration. Also, we showcase the application of the proposed design approach to lower power image recognition challenge (LPIRC) and how it is employed to forge an energy-efficient solution to the LPIRC contest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influence of drop weight geometry on impact behavior. • The effect of interlayer on impact behavior. • The effect of initial inclination angle on impact behavior. • Effective contact area affects contact stiffness. • The impact response characteristics are derived. A number of drop weight tests on reinforced concrete (RC) beams have been reported in literature. These tests conducted by different researchers used drop weight of different geometries. Some researchers also placed an interlayer between the drop weight and RC beam in the tests, while others directly dropped the weight on the beam. These different testing configurations surely affect the testing results. However, only very limited studies have been conducted to investigate their effects on the impact behavior of RC beams. In this study, the influence of drop weight geometry and interlayer on the impact behavior of RC beams is numerically investigated by using explicit finite element code LS-DYNA. The numerical models of RC beams subjected to drop weigh impact are verified by available testing data. With the calibrated model, the responses of RC beams impacted by five commonly used drop weights are analyzed and discussed. The effect of steel plate or rubber pad interlayer between drop weight and RC beam is also investigated. It is found that both the drop weight geometry and interlayer property significantly affect the impact loading profile and the failure mode of RC beams. Furthermore, although most drop-weight tests assume vertical impact, small inclination angles of drop weight impacting on beams might occur. The influence of this small testing error on testing results is also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) such as tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are of ecological concern due to their ubiquitous presence and adverse effects. There is a paucity of data on environmental fate of such compounds in mangrove wetlands, which are unique ecosystems in coastal intertidal areas and act as natural sinks for many pollutants. In this study, mangrove plants and sediments were collected from an urban nature reserve in South China to investigate bioaccumulation and translocation of TBBPA and HBCDs. The mean (range) concentrations of TBBPA and ΣHBCD in roots, stems and leaves were 67 (

• Very limited study on the PC beam under impact is available. • Numerical model of PC beam under impact is verified by testing data. • Effect of slight inclination angle of drop weight on structural response of PC beam is disclosed. • Effects of interface and grout sleeve on the impact resistance performance are studied. • Failure mode, impact force and structural response of PC and RC beams subjected to impact loads are compared. Precast concrete (PC) structures are increasingly employed in recent years due to their advantages in better construction quality control and saving construction time. Most of the existing researches have been carried out to study the seismic performance of PC structures. The investigation of PC beams with wet connection under impact loads is, however, very limited in open literature. In this paper, numerical studies are conducted to investigate the dynamic behavior of PC beams with wet connections subjected to impact loads by LS-DYNA. The numerical models are calibrated with the experimental results from other researchers. With the calibrated numerical model, the dynamic performance of PC beams is compared with that of monolithic RC beams. It is found that the impact forces on PC and RC beams are similar due to the identical contact stiffness at the impact location. However, the interfaces between PC components and cast-in-place concrete (CIPC) components as well as grout sleeves used to connect longitudinal rebars cause uneven stiffness distributions of PC beams, hence resulting in different failure modes of PC and RC beams. Parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effects of three parameters, i.e., impact energy with respect to impact mass and velocity, inclination angle of the drop weight, and concrete strength on the dynamic response of PC beams subjected to impact loads. The results obtained in this research shine some lights on the impact performances of PC beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trace signal selection is of great importance for post-silicon debug. Debuggers traditionally use state restoration to improve the observability of the trace data, and state restoration ratio (SRR) is computed after state restoration. In this paper, we exploit the combination of snapshot states and trace states to improve the observability. First, we propose a novel state restoration method, called cluster restoration. It uses both the snapshot states of flip-flop clusters at the beginning of tracing, and the tracing states of the clusters’ inputs during the tracing window to deterministically restore all states of these clusters during the tracing window. We also present a cluster restoration-based trace signal selection method to select clusters instead of trace signals directly, which includes two stages: 1) cluster generation and 2) cluster evaluation. For cluster generation, feedback loop-based cluster generation and backward tracing-based cluster generation techniques are proposed. For cluster evaluation, a new metric, called the global state restoration improvement is proposed to evaluate the candidate clusters. The experimental results show that in comparison to prior trace signal selection methods, our method can improve the SRR and reduce the runtime of trace signal selection as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preoperative chest computed tomography examination of the right breast in a 52‐year‐old woman with breast cancer revealed multiple nodules in both lungs. The nodule in the apical segment of the upper lobe of the right lung was larger, at a diameter of approximately 2.1 cm. The patient underwent resection of the right breast, followed by thoracoscopic wedge resection of four pulmonary nodules. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry showed that the nodules in the apical and anterior segments of the upper lobe and the paravertebral nodule in the lower lobe of the right lung were primary adenocarcinoma, and the subpleural nodule in the lower lobe of the right lung was infiltrated with inflammatory cells. Exon sequencing was conducted in the resected tissue samples and blood specimens. According to the characteristics of the somatic mutations, the nodule in the apical segment of the upper lobe of the right lung was primary lung adenocarcinoma, the nodule in the anterior segment of the upper lobe and the paravertebral nodule in the lower lobe of the right lung were intrapulmonary metastatic cancer, and the subpleural nodule in the lower lobe of the right lung indicated early stage tumor progression. This case provides new evidence that conducting gene detection in multiple tissue samples from patients who have undergone resection may assist to determine the relationship among multiple nodules in the lung to exclude lung metastasis of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lack of male flowers strongly restricts controlled pollination in persimmons. To address this problem, we collected and conserved male persimmon resources from various provinces in China in 5 successive years, from 2012 to 2017. Approximately 120 wild androecious persimmons and 10 monoecious persimmons were collected in Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Hunan, Shaanxi, and Henan Provinces as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China. To determine the genetic diversity and relationships among these androecious persimmons, as well as the relationship among Chinese persimmons, Japanese persimmons and closely related species, 47 wild androecious, 2 wild andromonoecious, 10 monoecious, and 1 female persimmons from China, 12 Japanese persimmons and 15 closely related species, were analyzed based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 179 alleles and 456 genotypes were obtained from 15 loci, with a mean of 11.93 alleles and 30.40 genotypes per locus. The 87 persimmon resources investigated in this study were divided into XIII clusters using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean average (UPGMA) and the androecious persimmons were distinguished completely from their closely related species. The androecious persimmons originating from the same provinces displayed a close genetic relationship and most Japanese resources could be classified into a same cluster exclusively. A C-PCNA type called ‘Baohuatianshi’ was genetically closely related to three Chinese androecious persimmons (“Macheng Yeshi-1″, “Zhanfanghou-male” and “Qinghua-male”) and two monoecious pollination-constant astringent (PCA) type (‘Xiangyang Niuxinshi’ and “Laojianshan-5″). These results provide useful information for the effective conservation and utilization of androecious persimmons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The meta-analysis aims to explore the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in the perinatal period. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessed the effects of CBT-I in perinatal women with insomnia, published in English, were eligible. Electronic searches were performed using PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), PsycINFO (Ebsco), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics). Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) as the primary outcome was used to estimate the pooled effects and durable efficacy of CBT-I. The secondary outcome measures were Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Of 46 studies reviewed, seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis indicated significant improvement in insomnia as measured with the ISI (standardized mean difference (SMD) = − 0.62, 95% confidence intervals (CI) − 0.77, − 0.47, I2 = 28%). At the follow-up time point, the meta-analysis indicated the durable efficacy of CBT-I (SMD = − 0.47, 95% CI − 0.90, − 0.03, I2 = 73%). Definite improvement of CBT-I on EPDS (SMD = -0.31, 95% CI − 0.55, − 0.06, I2 = 33%) and PSQI (SMD = − 0.82, 95% CI − 1.27, − 0.38, I2 = 68%) score change post-intervention were found. In sub-analyses, CBT-I had similar effect sizes, independent of possible modifiers (study population, comparison group, delivery format, etc.). This meta-analysis demonstrates that CBT-I is effective in alleviating insomnia, depression, and sleep quality among perinatal women. It is equally important to find that CBT-I has a durable efficacy on insomnia in the perinatal period. However, it is necessary to include larger samples and conduct rigorous RCTs to further explore this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of machine learning is enabling a plenty of novel applications, such as image and speech recognition for embedded and mobile devices. However, state-of-the-art deep learning models like convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are demanding so much on-chip storage and compute resources that they cannot be smoothly handled by low-power mobile or embedded systems. In order to fit large CNN models into mobile or more cutting-edge devices for IoT or cyberphysics applications, we proposed an efficient on-chip memory architecture for CNN inference acceleration, and showed its application to in-house single-instruction multiple-data structure machine learning processor. The redesigned on-chip memory subsystem, Memsqueezer, includes an active weight buffer and data buffer set that embraces specialized compression methods to reduce the footprint of CNN parameters (weights) and activation data, respectively. Memsqueezer buffer can compress the data and weight set according to the dataflow in computation, and it also includes a built-in redundancy detection mechanism that actively scans through the working-set of CNNs to boost their inference performance by eliminating the computation redundancy in CNN models. In our experiments, it is shown that the CNN processors with Memsqueezer buffers achieve more than $2{\times }$ performance improvement and reduces 85% energy consumption on average over the conventional buffer design with the same area budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trigger circuitry is critical for trace-based post-silicon debug, which detects specified events or event sequences to initiate or stop the tracing. In this paper, we propose a resource efficient trigger design for the post-silicon debug which integrates several different detection schemes to improve the detect ability. The design reuses the trace buffer to store the trigger set for event detection or store the transitions of the generated finite state machine for event sequence detection, which converts the trigger detection into simple read operations to the trace buffer and equality matching operations. Simulation and emulation are both used to validate the usability of the design. In comparison with the prior trigger circuits with the same trigger width, the proposed method provides much more powerful detect ability and configurability for complicated trigger conditions, and needs lower area overhead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data compression has been intensively studied to increase the utility of cache, network-on-chip (NoC), and main memory in energy-efficient processors. However, prior solutions to data compression often add remarkable compression and decompression delay to the critical path of memory access, which is thought as the major factor limiting its application to commodity processors. Unlike prior work that deals with memory compression or network compression separately, this paper proposes a unified on-chip distributed data compressor (DISCO), to enable near-zero-latency cache and memory block compression for chip multiprocessors adopting nonuniform cache access. DISCO integrates a multimode cache compressor into the NoC routers and overlaps the de/compression latency with the queuing delay in the network. In addition, cache block evicted to or fetched from the main memory can also be compressed or decompressed during the network queuing time in this unified DISCO compressor. With the support of congestion-awareness, it is shown in the evaluation that DISCO, which unifies the compression solution of the memory hierarchy, dramatically decreases the compression overhead of isolated techniques, and significantly boosts the efficiency of data moving and store. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Dioecy, a sexual system of single-sexual (gynoecious/androecious) individuals, is rare in flowering plants. This rarity may be a result of the frequent transition from dioecy into systems with co-sexual individuals. Results: In this study, co-sexual expression (monoecy and hermaphroditic development), previously thought to be polyploid-specific in Diospyros species, was identified in the diploid D. oleifeara historically. We characterized potential genetic mechanisms that underlie the dissolution of dioecy to monoecy and andro(gyno)monoecy, based on multiscale genome-wide investigations of 150 accessions of Diospyros oleifera. We found all co-sexual plants, including monoecious and andro(gyno)monoecious individuals, possessed the male determinant gene OGI, implying the presence of genetic factors controlling gynoecia development in genetically male D. oleifera. Importantly, discrepancies in the OGI/MeGI module were found in diploid monoecious D. oleifera compared with polyploid monoecious D. kaki, including no Kali insertion on the promoter of OGI, no different abundance of smRNAs targeting MeGI (a counterpart of OGI), and no different expression of MeGI between female and male floral buds. On the contrary, in both single- and co-sexual plants, female function was expressed in the presence of a genome-wide decrease in methylation levels, along with sexually distinct regulatory networks of smRNAs and their targets. Furthermore, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified a genomic region and a DUF247 gene cluster strongly associated with the monoecious phenotype and several regions that may contribute to andromonoecy. Conclusions: Collectively, our findings demonstrate stable breakdown of the dioecious system in D. oleifera, presumably also a result of genomic features of the Y-linked region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BN was modified by ball milling using CMC and PVP and combined with epoxy resin to form composites with high thermal conductivity (1.64 W/m K−1), high hydrophilic properties and dispersion stability in water. [Display omitted] • CMC and PVP functionalized boron nitride were prepared by ball milling method, which is simple and effective. • CMC and PVP interact, where PVP provides the attachment site for the boron nitride and CMC provides the site for binding the substrate. • Functionalized boron nitride shows good hydrophilic and water dispersion stability. • Functionalized boron nitride has high thermal conductivity when compounded with polymers. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has been widely investigated in the field of thermal interface materials (TIMs) due to its unique physicochemical properties, including high thermal conductivity and electrical insulation. However, poor dispersion of BN in polymers makes it difficult to form promising thermal conductive pathways, resulting in low thermal conductivity when blended with polymers. Therefore, surface modification of BN is usually required to increase its dispersibility and interfacial affinity in polymers. In our work, BN was first hydrothermally treated in alkaline solution to obtain hydroxylated BN, followed by the modification with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) by ball milling to further improve the water dispersibility and stability of BN. The prepared hydrophilic BN-OH-CMC-PVP (BOCP) was stably dispersed in water for one month at a concentration of 20 mg mL−1. In addition, the multiple surface modifications effectively improved the dispersion and compatibility of BN in the epoxy, leading to a significant improvement of the thermal conductivity of BOCP/Epoxy composite. The thermal conductivity of BOCP/Epoxy reached 1.64 W m−1 K−1 at 30 wt% loading. The preparation of functionalized BN presents a facile and effective strategy to construct BN-based TIMs with improved dispersion and enhanced thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection causes severe interstitial pneumonia and inflammatory response in piglets and growing pigs. IL-1β is implicated in PRRSV-mediated inflammatory response and the pathogenesis of PRRSV infection. Mitochondria are critical intracellular organelles which is served as signaling platform for antiviral immunity response to participate in immune response of virus infection. The role of mitochondria in PRRSV-mediated inflammatory response and the pathogenesis of PRRSV infection has not been elucidated. Here, our data suggested that PRRSV infection facilitates mitochondrial dysfunction, which induces cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) stress and ROS accumulation, severally activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB signaling pathway, and consequently stimulates IL-1β production in PAMs. Furthermore, mtDNA degradation by DNase I abrogates the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β secretion during PRRSV infection. Scavenging ROS significantly inhibits NF-κB signaling activation and the subsequently transcription and secretion of IL-1β. In conclusion, our results indicate that cytosolic mtDNA stress and ROS accumulation after PRRSV infection-induced mitochondrial dysfunction activate NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB signaling pathway to promote IL-1β production, revealing a new strategy for vaccine and drug development to PRRSV. • PRRSV infection facilitates mitochondrial dysfunction and induces cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) stress and ROS accumulation. • Cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) stress promotes IL-1β secretion by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome. • The activation of NF-κB signaling by ROS is required for transcription and secretion of IL-1β. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A double-layer cement-based EMW absorbing material containing IOT is designed. • IOT and composite absorber can enhance the conductivity of cement-based materials. • Composite absorber can achieve effective EMW absorbing properties with thin thickness. • Double-layer structure realizes the efficient EMW absorption in low-frequency range. Double-layer iron ore tailings (IOTs) cement-based electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials with carbon black (CB) and steel fiber (SF) were designed, fabricated, and used as composite absorbers, including matching and absorbing layers. The effects of IOTs, CB, and SF on the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of cement mortar are studied. The EMW absorbing properties and mechanism allowing IOTs cement mortar to cooperate with CB and SF are also examined in terms of loss attenuation and impedance-matching characteristics. Based on the design of a single-layer structure, the optimal mix proportion and layer thickness for the double-layer structure are determined by following the principle of gradual impedance design. The results showed that the EMW absorbing properties were significantly influenced by loss attenuation and impedance matching. When the thickness of the single-layer structure was 10 mm, the minimum reflection loss (RL) reached −25.73 dB with an effective bandwidth of 0.39 GHz. In contrast, the double-layer structure exhibited excellent broadband. When the thickness of the matching layer was 5 mm and those of the absorption layer was 5 mm and 10 mm, the minimum RL of the double-layer structure reached −38.38 dB and −26.51 dB, with ultra-high effective bandwidths of 2.15 GHz and 2.29 GHz, respectively. Thus, double-layer EMW absorbing materials have excellent absorbing properties and exhibit considerable design flexibility and diversity, and may be considered suitable candidates for preparing promising EMW cement-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel abstraction-guided simulation approach for functional verification. The results of Markov analysis of the abstract model of the design under verification are used as the guidance of simulation on the concrete design. The results of the Markov analysis can offer the information about how hard it is to reach each abstract state from the initial state, and how hard it is to reach certain target states from each abstract state. Such information is able to guide the simulation in two aspects: 1) in exploring abstract state space and 2) in exercising target state. Assuming a good abstract model, experimental results show that the simulation using Markov analysis as guidance is highly efficient in both aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As one of the main trends of communication technology for 3D integrated circuits, the 3D networks-on-chip (NoCs) have drawn high concern from the academia. The links are main components of the NoCs. For the permanent link faults, the fault-tolerant routing scheme has been regarded as an effective mechanism to ensure the performance of the 2D NoCs. In this paper, we propose a low-overhead fault-tolerant routing scheme called LOFT for 3D Mesh NoCs without requiring any virtual channels (VCs). LOFT is a deadlock-free scheme by adopting a logic-based routing named LBDRe 2 guided by a turn model Complete-OE. The experimental results show that LOFT possesses better performance, improved reliability and lower overhead compared with the state-of-the-art reliable routing schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persimmon fruit has a high nutritional value and significantly varies between pollination-constant astringent (PCA) and pollination-constant non-astringent (PCNA) persimmons. The astringency type affects sugar, flavonoids, and tannin accumulation and is well known in persimmon fruit. However, the impact of the fruit astringency type on ascorbic acid (AsA) accumulation is limited. In this study, typical PCA varieties ('Huojing' and 'Zhongshi5') and PCNA varieties ('Yohou' and 'Jiro') of persimmon fruit were sampled at four developing stages (S1–S4) to provide valuable information on AsA content variation in PCA and PCNA persimmon. Persimmon fruit is rich in ascorbic acid; the AsA content of the four varieties 'Zhongshi5', 'Huojing', 'Jiro', and 'Youhou' mature fruit reached 104.49, 48.69, 69.69, and 47.48 mg/100 g. Fruit of the same astringency type persimmon showed a similar AsA accumulation pattern. AsA content was significantly higher in PCA than PCNA fruit at S1–S3. The initial KEGG analysis of metabolites showed that galactose metabolism is the major biosynthetic pathway of AsA in persimmon fruit. There were significant differences in galactose pathway-related metabolite content in developing PCA and PCNA fruit, such as Lactose, D-Tagatose, and D-Sorbitol content in PCA being higher than that of PCNA. Combined gene expression and WGCNA analyses showed that the expression of the GME (evm.TU.contig4144.37) gene was higher in PCA-type than in PCNA-type fruit in S1–S3 and exhibited the highest correlation with AsA content (r = 690 **, p < 0.01). Four hub genes, including the DNA methylation gene, methyltransferase gene, F-box, and Actin-like Protein, were identified as potential regulators of the GME gene. These results provide basic information on how astringency types affect AsA accumulation and will provide valuable information for further investigation on AsA content variation in persimmon fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nature, the hydroxyl radical (•OH) is produced during the anaerobic-aerobic transition when groundwater level fluctuates. In addition, the •OH is also detected in iron-bearing clay minerals and iron oxides during the redox process. Goethite is one of the most stable iron oxides involved in biogeochemical cycles. In this study, the coexisting humic acid (HA) enhanced the generation of Fe(II) during the iron reduction process and accelerated the generation of •OH in the redox process of goethite. The organic contaminants in black and odorous water were decomposed by constructing an iron-reducing bacteria-HA-Fe(II)/Fe(III) reaction system under anaerobic-aerobic alternation. The results demonstrated that in the anaerobic stage, HA could promote the reduction and dissolution of goethite through the complexation effect and electron shuttle mechanism, as well as significantly strengthening the iron reduction process in water. Under aerobic conditions, Fe(II) in the reaction system would activate O 2 to generate •O 2 −. The •OH, formed by Fe (II) and •O 2 − via Fenton reaction and Haber-Weiss mechanism, oxidized dissolved organic matter (DOM) in water. The characterization of DOM by three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (3DEEM) indicated that after four redox fluctuations, the organic contaminants in water samples were effectively degraded. Generally, this study provides new approaches and insights into the biogeochemical cycling of Fe and C elements and water pollution remediation at the anoxic-anoxic interface. • He humic substance enhanced the generation of Fe(II) in the iron reduction. • He humic acid accelerated the generation of.•OH in the redox process of goethite. • The.•OH was formed by Fenton reaction and Haber-Weiss mechanism. • DOM in black and odorous water could be effectively degraded by.•OH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dynamic performance of beam-column joints under various impact scenarios. • Effect of impact contact conditions on dynamic response of joint. • Effect of impact locations on dynamic response of joint. • Effect of impact loading patterns on impact behavior of joint. This study investigated dynamic performances of concrete beam-column joints under various impact loading scenarios including impact contact condition (i.e., impact directly or via an interlayer), impact location, and impact loading pattern (i.e., concentrated or distributed loads). The influence of impact contact conditions was experimentally studied by a pendulum impact testing system. The test results showed that the softer contact by using a rubber pad led to an impact force profile with a less prominent force peak but resulted in more flexural concrete cracks on the beam. Furthermore, the finite element models of beam-column joints under impact were developed and verified by the test results. Based on the calibrated numerical models, the effects of impact location and impact loading pattern on the dynamic performances of joints were investigated. It was found that the specimens exhibited more flexural-governed cracks as the impact location moved away from the joint area. In addition, the distributed impact loading pattern resulting from an impactor with a wider contact area caused higher impact force, larger displacement response of beam, and severer damage at joint area than those generated by the concentrated impact loading pattern of the same kinetic energy, indicating the distributed impact loading is a more dangerous impact scenario to the safety of beam-column joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined the effects of rumen-protected choline (RPC) on growth performance, blood lipids, meat quality and expression of genes involved in fatty-acid metabolism in young lambs. A total of 24 Dorper × Hu lambs (about 20 kg body weight) were kept in individual pens and fed diets with 0%, 0.25%, 0.50% and 0.75% RPC for 60 d. Supplementation of 0.25% RPC increased average daily gain of lambs, whereas treatments had no significant effect on feed intake. The pH values of meat were increased at 0.25% RPC and both, dripping loss and shear force of meat, were significantly decreased in RPC-supplemented lambs. No significant changes were observed for dressing percentage and intramuscular fat. RPC supplementations had no significant effect on the concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterols in serum, but the concentration of high-density lipoprotein was decreased at 0.50% RPC and that of low-density lipoprotein was increased at 0.75% RPC. Inm. longissimus dorsi, the expressions of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty-acid synthase (FASN) genes were increased at 0.25% RPC. Supplementation of 0.75% RPC increased the expressions of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and FASN genes, decreased the expression of ACC gene and had no effect on CD36 gene. The results of this study showed that supplementation of 0.25% RPC could promote growth performance of lambs and improve meat quality. This may be mediated by effects on blood lipid profiles and the metabolism of fatty acids in skeleton muscles. However, the beneficial effects of 0.25% RPC supplementation need to be validated with a larger number of animals. Higher doses, particularly 0.75% RPC, showed adverse effects on live weight gain and ACC expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general solutions for contaminant transport in a saturated semi-infinite porous media are derived by using the Laplace transform and Fourier transform, along with their transform inversions, under the conditions of one-dimensional seepage flow and the three-dimensional dispersive effect. The analytical expression of contaminant concentration in a porous medium, subjected to a local contaminant source with arbitrary geometry, and intensity that varies with time and coordinates is derived by the source function method based on the elementary solution of an instantaneous point contaminant source. The results show that an exponentially degenerated contaminant source injected into the porous medium migrates gradually toward the depth and width of the porous medium due to the convective water flow and diffusion induced by molecular and mechanical movement, along with deposition of the contaminant on the solid matrix surface. The contaminant concentration in a porous medium subjected to a cyclic contaminant source exhibits cyclic fluctuations due to the fluctuation of the contaminant source applied on the porous surface; concentrations reach a quasi-steady state, with the same fluctuation phase as the contaminant source. The hydrodynamic dispersion effect accelerates the migration processes of the contaminant in the vertical direction as well as the diffusion in the horizontal direction, resulting in a dramatic rise in the contaminant concentration in a short period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small delay defects are posing a serious challenge to the quality and reliability of modern fabricated chips. A promising way for screening the timing-related defects in nanometer technology designs is faster-than-at-speed delay testing. However, the use of external automatic test equipment for faster-than-at-speed delay testing could be costly. In this paper, we present an on-chip frequency-programmable test clock generation method which facilitates faster-than-at-speed delay testing for both launch on capture and launch on shift test frameworks. With a reconfigurable launch-and-capture clock generator (LCCG) embedded on-chip, the required test clock, with a reconfigurable frequency and a high resolution, can be achieved by specifying the control information in the test patterns, which is then used to configure the LCCG. Similarly, the control information regarding test framework and clock signal selection can also be embedded in the test patterns. Experimental results are presented to validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a novel method to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-pillars using a CO laser-machined poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) mold with through-holes. This method eliminates the requirements of expensive and complicated facilities to fabricate a 3D mold. The micro-pillars were formed by the capillary force that draws PDMS into the through-holes of the PMMA mold. The tilt angles of the micro-pillars depend on the tilt angles of the through-holes in the mold, and the concave and convex micro-lens tip shapes of the PDMS micro-pillars can be modified by changing the surface wettability of the PMMA through-holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a new technique of fabricating polystyrene microlenses with both convex and concave profiles that are integrated in polymer-based microfluidic system. The polystyrene microlenses, or microlens array, are fabricated using the free-surface thermal compression molding method. The laser fabricated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) sheet is used as the mold for the thermal compression molding process. With different surface treatment methods of the PMMA mold, microlenses with either convex or concave profiles could be achieved during the thermal molding process. By integrating the microlenses in the microfluidic systems, observing the flow inside the microchannels is easier. This new technique is rapid, low cost, and it does not require cleanroom facilities. Microlenses with both convex and concave profiles can be easily fabricated and integrated in microfluidic system with this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermal bonding technique for Poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) to Polystyrene (PS) is presented in this paper. The PMMA to PS bonding was achieved using a thermocompression method, and the bonding strength was carefully characterized. The bonding temperature ranged from 110 to 125 °C with a varying compression force, from 700 to 1,000 N (0.36-0.51 MPa). After the bonding process, two kinds of adhesion quantification methods were used to measure the bonding strength: the double cantilever beam method and the tensile stress method. The results show that the bonding strength increases with a rising bonding temperature and bonding force. The results also indicate that the bonding strength is independent of bonding time. A deep-UV surface treatment method was also provided in this paper to lower the bonding temperature and compression force. Finally, a PMMA to PS bonded microfluidic device was fabricated successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) fruit have significant variation between pollination-constant non-astringent (PCNA) and pollination-constant astringent (PCA) persimmons. The astringency type affects not only the soluble tannin concentration but also the accumulation of individual sugars. Thus, we comprehensively investigate the gene expression and metabolite profiles of individual sugars to resolve the formation of flavor differences in PCNA and PCA persimmon fruit. The results showed that soluble sugar, starch content, sucrose synthase, and sucrose invertase were significantly different between PCNA and PCA persimmon fruit. The sucrose and starch metabolism pathway was considerably enriched, and six sugar metabolites involving this pathway were significantly differentially accumulated. In addition, the expression patterns of diferentially expressed genes (such as bglX, eglC, Cel, TPS, SUS, and TREH genes) were significantly correlated with the content of deferentially accumulated metabolites (such as starch, sucrose, and trehalose) in the sucrose and starch metabolism pathway. These results indicated that the sucrose and starch metabolism pathway maintained a central position of sugar metabolism between PCNA and PCA persimmon fruit. Our results provide a theoretical basis for exploring functional genes related to sugar metabolism and provide useful resources for future studies on the flavor differences between PCNA and PCA persimmon fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The national obesity epidemic and trend of obesity prevalence have been characterized by a series of cross‐sectional surveys in the United States, however, less is known about obesity prevalence trajectory by birth cohort. This study aimed to investigate whether trends in obesity and severe obesity prevalence varied by birth cohorts among 1940s–1990s in the United States. Methods: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2018. The trends of obesity and severe obesity prevalence were conducted with synthetic birth cohort. Results: There were 60 981 participants (weighted mean age, 38.1 years; female, 50.1%) assigned in 6 birth cohorts (1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, and 1940s) over 1999–2018. The prevalence of obesity and severe obesity increased significantly with age during all birth cohorts except for the 1940s (Ptrend <0.001). For obesity, a significant positive quadratic trend was observed among 1990s birth cohort (Pnon‐linearity = 0.037), while a significant positive linear trend (Plinearity <0.001) among 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, and 1950s birth cohorts. Corresponding to same weighted mean age, the prevalence of both obesity and severe obesity in younger birth cohorts were much higher than the older birth generations. Conclusions: The continued upward trend in obesity and severe obesity prevalence by birth cohort highlighted the need for continuing focus on surveillance of body mass index and identification, implementation, and evaluation of evidence‐based interventions to address this major health problem in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]