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A splicing system is one of the early theoretical proposals of the DNA-based computation device. The splicing operation starts when two DNA molecules are cut at specific subsequences with the presence of restriction enzymes: the first part is then connected to the second part of the other molecule, or vice versa, to produce splicing languages. Fuzzy with bounded-addition operation has been introduced as a restriction in splicing systems to increase the generative power of the languages generated. In this research, a graphical user interface is developed to generate all the splicing languages generated by bounded-addition fuzzy splicing systems and their variants. An algorithm is developed using JAVA and Visual Studio Code software in order to replace the time-consuming manual computation of the languages generated by bounded-addition fuzzy DNA splicing systems and their variants.

Abstract Timely and accurate identification of track foreign body intrusion is of great significance for maintaining the safety of railway running. Object detection technology based on deep learning can be used to judge the foreign body in the track running area. However, the general target detection technology cannot recognise the foreign object information in complex environment, which has a certain hysteresis. In this study, adaptive adjustment is made to the algorithm according to the limited area in the railway special scene. A new Recurrent Attention Convolutional Neural Network and adaptive particle swarm fusion network is proposed. Produced in the process of image classification and regional sampling information loss, by introducing attention study under the multi‐scale recursive fusion, each scale is a network of target recognition and attention network, starting from the full image, continuously put forward attention area, and as input to realise detection to the next dimension positioning; With the help of adaptive particle swarm optimisation algorithm, the feature information at different levels is fused, and the high‐attention region is generated by continuous recursive clipping from rough to fine, The mutual enhancement of target area detection and fine‐grained features is realised. Experiments conducted by the author in Railway data set showed that its target detection accuracy reached 84.2%. Compared with other existing models, the relative accuracy gain was 10.6% and 8.1%, respectively, and the maximum gain was 6.2% compared with the self‐ablation experiment.

The impact of the intercropping system on the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum (SPAC), encompassing soil evaporation, soil moisture dynamics, and crop transpiration, remains an area of uncertainty. Field experiments were conducted for two years in conjunction with the SIMDualKc (Simulation Dual Crop Coefficient) model to simulate two planting configurations: sole-cropped wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) (D) and wolfberry intercropped with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) (J). These configurations were subjected to different irrigation levels: full irrigation (W1, 75–85% θfc), mild deficit irrigation (W2, 65–75% θfc), moderate deficit irrigation (W3, 55–65% θfc), and severe deficit irrigation (W4, 45–55% θfc). The findings revealed that the JW1 treatment reduced the annual average soil evaporation by 32% compared with that of DW1. Additionally, mild, moderate, and severe deficit irrigation reduced soil evaporation by 17, 24, and 36%, respectively, compared with full irrigation. The intercropping system exhibited a more efficient canopy structure, resulting in reduced soil evaporation and alleviation of water stress to a certain extent. In terms of temporal dynamics, monocropping resulted in soil moisture levels from 1% to 15% higher than intercropping, with the most significant differences manifesting in the mid to late stages, whereas differences in the early stages were not statistically significant. Spatially, the intercropping system exhibited 7–19% lower soil water contents (SWCs) than sole cropping, primarily within the root water uptake zone within the 0–60 cm soil layer. The intercropping system showed an enhanced water absorption capacity for plant transpiration, resulting in a 29% increase in transpiration compared with sole cropping, thereby achieving water-saving benefits. These findings contribute to our understanding of the agronomic and environmental implications of intercropping wolfberry and alfalfa in arid regions and provide insights into optimizing water and soil resource management for sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric elevated CO2 concentration (e[CO2]) decreases plant nitrogen (N) concentration while increasing water use efficiency (WUE), fertigation increases crop nutrition and WUE in crop; yet the interactive effects of e[CO2] coupled with two N-fertigation levels during deficit irrigation on plant gas exchange, root morphology and WUE remain largely elusive. The objective of this study was to explore the physiological and growth responses of ambient [CO2] (a[CO2], 400 ppm) and e[CO2] (800 ppm) tomato plant exposed to two N-fertigation regimes: (1) full irrigation during N-fertigation (FIN); (2) deficit irrigation during N-fertigation (DIN) under two N fertilizer levels (reduced N (N1, 0.5 g pot−1) and adequate N (N2, 1.0 g pot−1). The results indicated that e[CO2] associated with DIN regime induced the lower N2 plant water use (7.28 L plant−1), maintained leaf water potential (−5.07 MPa) and hydraulic conductivity (0.49 mol m−2 s−1 MPa−1), greater tomato growth in terms of leaf area (7152.75 cm2), specific leaf area (223.61 cm2 g−1), stem and total dry matter (19.54 g and 55.48 g). Specific root length and specific root surface area were increased under N1 fertilization, and root tissue density was promoted in both e[CO2] and DIN environments. Moreover, a smaller and denser leaf stomata (4.96 µm2 and 5.37 mm−2) of N1 plant was obtained at e[CO2] integrated with DIN strategy. Meanwhile, this combination would simultaneously reduce stomatal conductance (0.13 mol m−2 s−1) and transpiration rate (1.91 mmol m−2 s−1), enhance leaf ABA concentration (133.05 ng g−1 FW), contributing to an improvement in WUE from stomatal to whole-plant scale under each N level, especially for applying N1 fertilization (125.95 µmol mol−1, 8.41 µmol mmol−1 and 7.15 g L−1). These findings provide valuable information to optimize water and nitrogen fertilizer management and improve plant water use efficiency, responding to the potential resource-limited and CO2-enriched scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In molecular biology, constructing a genome based on substantially many reads from multitudes of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strings has become an insurmountable task; one which has been continuously addressed by the introduction of various assembly algorithms based on three steps called the overlap-layout-consensus strategy. In the overlap step, the De Bruijn graph is one of many graphs that illustrate the data of all the assembly algorithms. In this article, by using definitions and methods of mathematical induction, some properties of the De Bruijn graph of one time and two times non-sequential repetition of patterns in a DNA string are presented. Examples of these De Bruijn graphs are also given. From there, a generalisation of said properties for m times non-sequential pattern repetition in a DNA string is acquired by means of mathematical induction, as well. The theoretical work in this research is invaluable to develop algorithms that increase the computational efficiency of assembly algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Testosterone deficiency is reportedly correlated with an elevation of cholesterol in plasma, but the mechanism remains unclear. Our objective was to investigate the effects of testosterone deficiency on cholesterol metabolism and the corresponding molecular changes in vivo and in vitro. Methods. SD rats were randomized into three groups: sham-operated (SHAM), subtotal orchiectomized (SO), and orchiectomized (ORX) and fed for 8 weeks. HepG2 cells were cultured with medium containing testosterone with the final concentrations of 0, 10, 30, and 300 nM. Method of isotope tracing and fluorescence labelling was adopted to investigate cholesterol metabolism. Several key molecules of cholesterol metabolism were also analyzed. Results. SO and ORX rats displayed dysfunctional liver uptake of cholesterol. HepG2 cells incubated with testosterone of lower and excessive level exhibited reduced capacity of cholesterol uptake. Further investigation revealed that lack of testosterone induced increased proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and decreased low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the androgen receptor (AR) antagonist flutamide mimicked the effects of testosterone deficiency on PCSK9 and LDLR indicating the role of AR as a mediator in triggering attenuating liver cholesterol uptake in which testosterone instead of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the major functional form of androgen. Conclusion. Testosterone deficiency attenuated cholesterol liver uptake mediated by the PCSK9-LDLR pathway, in which AR and testosterone without transforming to DHT play important roles.

Background: In extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with left-to-right shunt and an increase in systemic artery resistance may cause increasing preload and afterload of the left ventricle. The immature myocardium in ELBW infants has a limited ability to respond to the change, which leads to hemorrhagic complications. In this study, we detected the hemodynamic change of cardiac performance and applied a clinical strategy to prevent PDA-associated hemorrhagic complications in ELBW infants.Methods: We enrolled ELBW infants at a single medical center in Taiwan. The customized circulatory management was performed by echocardiography after birth until the PDA closed. Inotropic agents were administrated according to the requirements of hemodynamic parameters or clinical conditions. The primary outcomes were hemorrhagic complications including pulmonary hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) greater than grade II. The secondary outcomes were the rate of surgical ligation of PDA, mortality, necrotizing enterocolitis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.Results: A total of 20 ELBW infants were evaluated by customized circulatory management from 2019 to 2020. We reviewed 35 ELBW infants born between 2017 and 2018 in our hospital, who served as the non-management group. The management group had a significantly lower incidence rate of IVH greater than grade 2 (p = 0.02). Other outcomes showed no significant differences. Dobutamine was prescribed in 8 cases in the management group, and end-systolic wall stress (ESWS) was significantly decreased after Dobutamine administration (p = 0.017).Conclusion: The incidence rate of IVH greater than grade II in ELBW infants decreased after use of customized circulatory management in our study. The strategy of customized circulatory management might be an effective “early target therapy” for hemodynamically significant PDA in high-risk ELBW infants. Inotropic therapy with Dobutamine could be a useful medical choice for improving cardiac function to prevent hemorrhagic complications.

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (e[CO2]) and varied nitrogen (N) fertilization levels may mediate the different responses of C4 crops to progressive soil drought. In this study, the effects of reduced N (N1, 0.8 g pot−1) and adequate N (N2, 1.6 g pot−1) supply on leaf physiology, plant growth and water use efficiency (WUE) of maize (C4 crop) exposed to progressive soil drought grown at ambient CO2 (a[CO2], 400 ppm) and elevated CO2 (e[CO2], 800 ppm) concentration were investigated. The results indicated that compared with a[CO2], net photosynthetic rate (An) and leaf water potential (Ψl) at e[CO2] were maintained in maize leaves, while stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate and leaf hydraulic conductance were decreased, leading to enhanced WUE from stomatal to leaf scale. Despite An and Ψl of e[CO2] plants were more sensitive to progressive soil drought under both N fertilization levels, e[CO2] would increase leaf ABA concentration ([ABA]leaf) but decline the gs response to [ABA]leaf under N1 supply. e[CO2] coupled with N1 fertilization was conducive to enlarging leaf area, promoting specific leaf area, root and total dry mass, whereas reduced stomatal aperture and plant water use under progressive drought stress, contributing to an improvement in plant WUE, implying a better modulation of maize leaf stomata and water status under reduced N supply combined with e[CO2] responding to progressive soil drought. These findings in the current study would provide valuable advice for N management on maize (C4) crop efficient water use in a drier and CO2‐enriched environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The incidence and mortality of cancer metastasis is high worldwide. Despite of the chemotherapeutic agents, many cancer patients still take traditional Chinese herbal prescriptions as adjuvant treatments. However, most of these herbal formulae/products lack of evidence-based efficacy. Based on our previous investigations on anti-tumor, anti-angiogenic, anti-metastatic, bone protective and immunomodulating activities of various Chinese herbal medicines, four constituent herbs, namely Andrographis paniculata, Acanthopanax senticosus, Camellia sinensis, and Hedyotis diffusa were eventually selected to form an innovative herbal formula. Methods The anti-tumor efficacies of the formula were evaluated in metastatic breast cancer mice model. The bone protective and immunomodulatory effects were also assessed after formula treatment. Results Our results showed that the breast tumor weight as well as lung and liver metastasis in mice could be reduced after herbal formula treatment for 4 weeks. The breast tumor-induced osteolysis in mice was restored by herbal formula treatment, in which the bone volume in treated mice tibia was comparable to that in the non-tumor bearing normal mice. The IL-12 level was augmented and the survival of mice with metastatic breast tumors was prolonged after treatment. Furthermore, combination of herbal formula with chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin resulted in better anti-tumor efficacy and increased life span in tumor-bearing mice, when compared with doxorubicin alone treatment. Conclusions In summary, our innovative Chinese herbal formula was demonstrated to possess anti-tumor, anti-metastatic and bone-protective activities in metastatic breast tumor-bearing mice. The preclinical data generated in this study would lead to the development of evidence-based supplement as adjuvant therapy for metastatic breast cancer.