Search

This paper uses the theory of system dynamics and takes the policy measures of "dual carbon" target transformation as the impact variable, establishes a prediction model of coal production demand and fluctuation under "dual carbon" target based on system dynamics, and determines the relationship between the intensity of "dual carbon" target transformation into policy and coal production demand and fluctuation amplitude. The results show that policy intensity has significant influence on coal production demand and fluctuation range in different directions.1) With the increase of policy intensity, the coal production demand in the same year will decrease by 0.5–610 million tce, the peak coal production demand will decrease by 0.8–130 million tce, and the peak coal production demand will appear about 2 years earlier. 2) Under different policy intensification, the difference of coal production and demand fluctuation and the difference of peak coal production and demand fluctuation in the same year are within 20 million tce.3) With the increase of policy intensity, the fluctuation range of coal production and demand in the same year increased by 0.3–38.6 percentage points, showing a rapid amplification trend.

ABSTRACTHigh-pressure (2–4 GPa) solidified AZ91D alloy was prepared and the microstructure was investigated by X-ray energy diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy. The room-temperature compression deformation behaviour was also studied. The results showed that the high-pressure solidified AZ91D alloy was composed of nanometre β-Mg17Al12and equiaxed α-Mg dendrites. The average size of α-Mg grains decreased from 395 ± 5 µm (atmosphere pressure) to 12 ± 3 µm (4 GPa) and the solubility of Al in α-Mg increased to 6.25 wt-% at 4 GPa. The compression strength of 402 MPa and the relative compression ratio of 27% (4 GPa) were 50% and 93% higher than the original AZ91D. Meanwhile, high pressure can also decreased the corrosion rate from 0.0675 mA/cm2(atmosphere pressure) to 0.0122 mA/cm2(4 GPa).

It has been confirmed that apoptosis, autophagy and necrosis are the three major modes of cell death. For a long time, necrosis is regarded as a deranged or accidental cell demise. In recent years, there is evidence showing that necrotic cell death can be a well regulated and orchestrated event, which is also known as programmed cell death or "necroptosis”. Necroptosis can be triggered by a variety of external stimuli and regulated by a caspase-independent pathway. It plays a key role in the pathogenesis of some diseases including neurological diseases. In the past two decades, a variety of studies have revealed that the necroptosis related pathway is activated in stroke, and plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of stroke. Moreover, necroptosis may serve as a potential target in the therapy of stroke because genetic or pharmacological inhibition of necroptosis has been shown to be neuroprotective in stroke in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we briefly summarize recent advances in necroptosis, introduce the mechanism and strategies targeting necroptosis in stroke, and finally propose some issues in the treatment of stroke by targeting necroptosis.

Precise, species-level identification of plants in foods and dietary supplements is difficult. While the use of DNA barcoding regions (short regions of DNA with diagnostic utility) has been effective for many inquiries, it is not always a robust approach for closely related species, especially in highly processed products. The use of fully sequenced chloroplast genomes, as an alternative to short diagnostic barcoding regions, has demonstrated utility for closely related species. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also developed species-specific DNA-based assays targeting plant species of interest by utilizing chloroplast genome sequences. Here, we introduce a repository of complete chloroplast genome sequences called GenomeTrakrCP, which will be publicly available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Target species for inclusion are plants found in foods and dietary supplements, toxin producers, common contaminants and adulterants, and their close relatives. Publicly available data will include annotated assemblies, raw sequencing data, and voucher information with each NCBI accession associated with an authenticated reference herbarium specimen. To date, 40 complete chloroplast genomes have been deposited in GenomeTrakrCP (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA325670/), and this will be expanded in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of rhubarb-based Chinese herbal formulae (RCHF), which are widely used to treat hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in China.

To compare the causes, clinical symptoms, laboratory test results, and prognosis in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) induced by traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and by Western Medicines (WM).

Background: In civil aviation information monitoring system, optimization of image recognition is applied to promote monitoring of and control over passenger mobility. The traditional image recognition by video surveillance cannot effectively detect abnormal behaviors or explosives, as described in various patents. Method: In this paper, the author proposes a method for the optimization of surveillance image recognition in civil aviation airport based on contourlet domain edge detection. Firstly, an overall model of surveillance image recognition is established and statistically significant probability analysis and other data integration methods are employed to realize comprehensive treatment of visual images. In order to enhance the light-and-shade contrast of moving regions in the images and make images smoother, we must evaluate edge position information of surveillance images, extract the lowfrequency parts and signals to enhance contrast and promote image recognition capability. Results: Simulation experiment proved that this method produced better image recognition results and could effectively detect abnormal behaviors and violent terrorists. Conclusion: It is a superior algorithm, which is of great importance to ensure the safety of airports.

IoV (Internet of Vehicles) is a promising paradigm to the future of automobiles, which will undoubtedly boost the automobile market as well as accelerate innovation in Internet services and applications. The concept of SD-IoV (Software Defined IoV) is presented, which is capable of improving resource utilization, service quality, and network optimization in the harsh vehicular network environments. First, A generalized SD-IoV architecture as an intuitive big picture is presented. Then, the major functions realized by SD-IoV are elabrated on to illustrate how the current challenges are resolved. As the key enablers of SD-IoV, three possible implementation methods of the wireless control path are described and compared. Finally, the challenges and existing solutions of SD-IoV are disuessed and open issues are pointed out so as to shed light on future research.

The accumulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylate (ACC), which is a precursor for ethylene production, in plant roots exposed to salinity stress can be detrimental to plant growth. The objectives of this study were to determine whether inoculating roots with bacteria containing deaminase enzymes that break down ACC (ACC-deaminase) could improve plant tolerance to salinity in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and to examine growth and physiological factors, as well as nutrition status of plants affected by the ACC-deaminase bacteria inoculation under salinity stress. Plants of perennial ryegrass (cv. Pangea) were inoculated with either Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN or Burkholderia gladioli RU1 and irrigated with either fresh water (control) or a 250 mM NaCI solution to induce salinity stress. The bacterium-inoculated plants had less ACC content in shoots and roots under both nonstressed and salinity conditions. Salinity stress inhibited root and shoot growth, but the bacterium-inoculated plants exhibited higher visual turf quality (TQ), tiller number, root biomass, shoot biomass, leaf water content, and photochemical efficiency, as well as lower cellular electrolyte leakage (EL) under salinity stress. Plants inoculated with bacteria had lower sodium content and higher potassium to sodium ratios in shoots under salinity stress. Shoot and root nitrogen content and shoot potassium content increased, whereas shoot and root calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum content all decreased due to bacterial inoculation under salinity treatment. ACC-deaminase bacteria inoculation of roots was effective in improving salinity tolerance of perennial ryegrass and could be incorporated into turfgrass maintenance programs in salt-affected soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the clinical effect and safety of direct current (DC) pulse produced by Han's Acupoint Nerve Stimulator in reduction (HANS) of labor pain.

Shape-from-shading (SFS) is one of the important approaches of 3-D surface reconstruction in computer vision. Since reflectance map equation in SFS is a nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE) with two unknown variables, SFS with one image is ill-posed in mathematical sense. A linear perspective SFS method with two images is proposed to deal with the problem. We assume that two images with different light source directions are captured firstly. Orthogonal projection is not as accurate as perspective one to simulate imaging processes. Two reflectance map equations are established based on the Lambertian model under perspective projection, and the equations are further transformed into one linear PDE. Then the iterative semi-Lagrangian algorithm is used to approximate the solution. Finally, 3-D height values of pixel points in imaging planes are solved by the numerical interpolation method. Experimental results of both hemisphere and complex surfaces show that the proposed method can reconstruct surfaces accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of clean and renewable energy such as hydropower in energy saving and emission reduction has become more and more prominent as the breakthrough of related technologies. As a kind of hydraulic machinery, energy losses in pump as turbine (PAT) always exist. In this study, entropy generation theory is introduced to analyze the distribution of hydraulic losses of PAT owing to limitations of the traditional approach based on the pressure drop method. The results of numerical simulation are in good agreement with the results of experiment on hydraulic performances. The energy losses mainly focus on guide vane, volute and runner under different flow rates, accounting for 49.73%–58.07%, 20.13%–22.45% and 16.81%–23.23% respectively. And the wall effect and velocity fluctuation are primary factors of entropy production, together accounting for more than 98%. Results of comparison between wall entropy generation rate and wall shear indicate that wall shear stress has a great contribution to the losses on the blade of guide vane and runner. Shock phenomenon, backflow and vortices are considered to be primary hydraulic factors to irreversible energy losses in PAT. This research also reveals that the asymmetric vortex rope in volute is the dominant source of entropy generation. The results of distribution of entropy generation in different components of PAT can provide certain help for optimizing corresponding structures.

In this epistolary exchange between eminent Chinese literary critics Zhang Ning and Sun Yu, they follow up on a disagreement voiced in an earlier symposium regarding writer and painter Mu Xin, a member of the Chinese diaspora. Sun Yu argues that Mu Xin's work deserves to be read more widely in mainland China, citing his important contributions to Chinese literary form and rhetoric. Zhang Ning, however, does not back down from his earlier resistance to what he argues amounts to overpraise for Mu Xin's work, citing it as an interesting and worthy example of literary memoir but not as the best representation of literary history.

In this striking conversation between Ge Fei and literary critic Zhang Ning, they explore the challenges faced by contemporary Chinese writers, readers, and critics. As their discussions ranges across classical, modern, and contemporary literature, they ask some of the most important questions of our time. Their answers may surprise many.

In this research, SrTiO3 powder is prepared by hydrothermal synthesis method. In the process of reaction, SrCl2 and Ti (OC4H9) 4 with NaOH can obtain the precursor as reactants and mineralizer respectively. Then take the precursor into autoclave without any pretreatment, to make it react under the temperature of 150 °C and the stirring speed 360 r/min in 8 hours. After the reaction finishing, the prepared SrTiO3 powder were charactered by X-ray diffraction and SEM. the results of experiment showed that we succeed in making nanostrontium titanate powder under above condition and the grain size is almost 60 nm.

The varistor-dielectric characteristics of SrTiO3 ceramics with various amounts of MnCO3 and SiO2 additives was studied. The experimental results show that , with the increase of added amounts of MnCO3, the resistivity (ρ), nonlinear coefficient (α) and varistor voltage (V10mA) increase firstly and then decrease while the dielectric constant (ε) and dielectric loss (tgδ) decrease firstly and then increase. The best added amount of SiO2 is 0.4wt% because the electrical properties of SrTiO3 ceramics drop when x(SiO2)>0.4wt%.The SrTiO3 based ceramic, with the doping of 0.5mol%Nb2O5+0.5mol%MnCO3+0.4wt%SiO2, the better microstructure and electrical properties can be obtained.

A serious of alkyl polyoxypropylene sulfonate surfactant was synthesized. The O/W interfacial activity of alkyl polyoxypropylene sulfonate surfactant was investigated. The results showed that the interfacial tension of Indonesia crude oil/formation water could reach ultralow level (10-3mN/m order of the magnitude) under weak alkali (Na2CO3) concentration from 0.4wt% to 1.0wt% with C16PO8S, C16PO10S, C18PO8S and C18PO10S alkyl polyoxypropylene sulfonate respectively. These surfactants showed good interface activity and salt and divalent cation tolerance ability. Combinations of alkyl polyoxypropylene sulfanate homologies with different carbon chain length could significantly improve the interface activity. The IFT of Indonesia oil/formation water could reach ultralow interfacial tension under alkali free conditions. The combination of alkyl polyoxypropylene sulfonate surfactant with petroleum sulfonate could improve the salt tolerance ability of formula.

CuO and MnCO3 doped SrTiO3-based multifunction ceramics were prepared respectively with solid state reaction method under vacuum condition. The electrical properties’ change with the oxidation temperature and microstructure were investigated. The results show that acceptor dopants behaves differently with the same sintering conditions. CuO-doped ceramic possess relative higher dielectric loss, dielectric constant and relative lower nonlinear coefficient, varistor voltage in contrast with MnCO3 doped ceramic with the same contents under the same sintering conditions. The grain size of CuO-doped sample is significantly larger than the sample doped with MnCO3. The grain distributions of CuO-doped sample is more homogeneous. The electrical properties of the ceramics are different due to the different behaviors of CuO and MnCO3 accepter dopants during the sintering process.

Aiming at the problem of the isolated coal pillar occurring the rock burst easily and having no the occurrence and damage theory of the rock burst according with actual, it discusses the generation mechanism of tension rock burst of the isolated coal pillar, uses finite element software of the tension fracture to simulate the fracture and evolution process on the function of the triangle load of the isolated coal pillar. The result shows that the coal pillar generates tension fracture on its both sides, the fracture direction is horizontal. After the coal pillar cracks, the stress is released, forms new stress concentration and the loose region. The coal pillar generate to slide on the horizontal direction on the interaction of the coal pillar and the top and bottom roof and on the function of the geological. This can provided the theory basis for the prediction and forecast of the rock burst of the isolated coal pillar.

Since its inception in 1995, the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) has become an increasingly important tool for regulation of drug product development worldwide. The regulations with respect to biowaivers for immediate-release solid oral dosage forms in the United States, the EU, and from the World Health Organization are summarized and compared in this article. On this basis, technical requirements for BCS-based biowaiver in China are proposed, and biowaiver eligibility of immediate-release oral products in the China Pharmacopoeia 2005, and the top 200 best sale list in 2008 are evaluated, which shows a similar trend to those found in the top 200 lists from the United States and Great Britain.

Serrated gondolellid conodonts (Jinogondolella) are used to define the Cisuralian-Guadalupian (C-G) or Kungurian-Roadian (K-R) boundary in the stratotype sections of West Texas and in some sections of South China, but in other sections Jinogondolella is absent. This absence has been interpreted to be the result of strong provincialism during this interval and geographic clines have been demonstrated between an Equatorial Warm Water Province (EWWP) and a North Cool Water Province (NCWP). Results from a succession of deep-water limestones in the Pingxiang section, southwestern Guangxi, China, suggest that the distribution of warm-water and cool-water lineages may not in all cases be separated over large geographic scales, but may be segregated in some areas by local changes of water-mass temperature or depth and, in some cases, fossil assemblages from these lineages may be mixed. Two contemporaneous gondolellid evolutionary lineages are represented within warm-water and cool-water conodont assemblages from limestones spanning the Cisuralian-Guadalupian (C-G) boundary in the Pingxiang section, southwestern Guangxi, China. The warm-water conodont lineage begins with the first occurrence (FO) of Mesogondolella saraciniensis, followed by Mesogondolella siciliensis, then M. idahoensis lamberti and finally Mesogondolella pingxiangensis sp. nov. The latter new species lacks serration, but has a platform outline and lateral profile similar to J. nankingensis nankingensis found elsewhere in South China and they may be closely related. Although less common in the samples, a coeval cool-water lineage begins with M. idahoensis idahoensis and develops successively with the evolution of J. nankingensis gracilis; serration is also lacking in the latter species. The lack of serration on these forms is ascribed to some form of environmental control. The contemporaneous appearance of Mesogondolella pingxiangensis and Jinogondolella nankingensis gracilis is correlated with the C-G boundary. This correlation is supported by the co-occurrence of the zonal indices of the cool-water lineage with important zonal radiolarians in a C-G boundary section at Dachongling, southeastern Guangxi. Here the radiolarian assemblages are assigned to the Albaillella foremanae Zone, Pseudoalbaillella globosa Zone and P. fusiformis Zone in ascending order. The first appearance of J. nankingensis gracilis within this succession defines the base of the Guadalupian to be at the base of the P. globosa Zone. Conodont correlation between carbonate ramps of platform margins and radiolarian-bearing pelagic environments has determined that the first appearance of J. nankingensis gracilis precisely defines the base-Guadalupian boundary in the cool-water settings.

In the paper, we introduce the new signal processing method HHT into the option price. HHT method is used to simulation and computing the volatility of price. And the result can work with BS-models or H-W model. In practice, the result is very good, especially for the option price in the rising market like China. The paper also gives the results based on the traditional methods including GARCH, EGARCH, GJR and so on. The comparison is obvious and HHT is new good choice. The data is from China stock market up to 10/12/2009.

MnCO3, CuO, NiO and Fe2O3 doped SrTiO3 multifunction ceramics were fabricated firstly. The microstructure and electrical properties were investigated. The results show that MnCO3 doped ceramic and CuO doped ceramic possess relative higher resistivity (ρ),nonlinear coefficient (α), varistor voltage (V1mA) and relative lower dielectric constant (ε),dielectric loss (tgδ) in contrast with NiO doped ceramic and Fe2O3 doped ceramic with the same contents under the same sintering conditions. The electrical properties among the ceramics doped are different due to the different behaviors of Mn,Cu,Ni and Fe acceptor dopants during the sintering course.

In this paper, we use electromagnetic simulation software HFSS to investigate the distribution of electromagnetic field of microwave sintering cavity, and establish a simulation model for the TE103 single mode cavity. We then obtain the optimal condition for the distribution of electromagnetic field by capturing the contour of distribution of electrical field of cavity through simulation. Our research shows that electromagnetic simulation software HFSS can use color to effectively demonstrate the intensity distribution of electromagnetic field of internal space and various cross-sections within the microwave sintering cavity, which provides a novel method for improving and applying new ways to compute and predict the key features of field distribution. The simulation results by HFSS can guide the practical microwave sintering techniques as well as the design and improvement of the sintering cavity.

Effects of silicon concentrations in Ni-Cr-based alloys on the formation of oxide scales were examined in reduced atmosphere. The morphology and oxide scale were compared based on the Si content. The formation and growth kinetics of the oxide scale are rather sensitive to the alloy microstructures and their corresponding Si contents. Oxide ridges formed on the eutectic structure preferentially, while a thinner and homogeneous oxide scale grew from the austenite matrix. The thicknesses of the oxide ridges and the oxide layer on the austenite matrix are dependent of their corresponding Si contents. The ridge-like feature indicates that the austenite/carbide phase boundaries offer fast diffusion paths for metal atom outward diffusion. The formation of SiO2 sub-layer at the oxide scale/metal interface can act as an effective diffusion barrier for atom outward diffusion.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text

Neuronal degeneration and astrogliosis are hallmarks of prion disease. Synthetic prion protein (PrP) peptide 106–126 (PrP106–126) can induce death of neurons and proliferation of astrocytes in vitroand this neurotoxic effect depends on the expression of cellular PrP (PrPC) and is hence believed to be PrPC-mediated. To further elucidate the involvement of PrPCin PrP106–126-induced neurotoxicity, we determined the expression of PrP mRNA in primary culture of rat cortical neuron cells, cerebellar granule cells, and astrocytes following treatment with 50μM of PrP106–126 scrambled PrP106–126 by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. As shown by MTT test, PrP106–126 induced significant death of neuron cells and marked proliferation of astrocytes after 10 days of treatment. Under the same treatment regimens, the level of PrP gene expression was significantly down-regulated in cortical neuron cell cultures and cerebellar granule cell cultures and was up-regulated in astrocyte cultures. The altered PrP gene expression occurred as early as 3 days after the treatment. After 10 days of treatment, while the cultured cortical neurons underwent further apoptosis, their expression of PrP gene started to recover gradually. These findings indicate that PrP 106–126 regulates transcription of the PrP gene and this activity is associated with its neurotoxicity in primary rat neuronal cultures.

Abstract The open reading frame of peacock and parakeet prion protein (PrP) genes was cloned and sequenced. The peacock and parakeet PrP genes consisted of 833 and 866 nucleotides encoding 266 and 277 amino acids, respectively (GenBank Accession numbers AY365065 and AY365066). Sequence analysis showed that the peacock and parakeet PrP genes had 93.67% homology to each other, 94.04% and 99.64% homology to the chicken PrP gene and 46.0% and 42.1% similarity to the mammalian PrP genes, respectively. The structural features of all known mammalian and avian PrPs, including N-terminal signal peptides, tandem repeats, conserved hydrophobic region, disulfide bridges and glycoinositol phospholipid anchor, were also found in peacock and parakeet PrPs. The parakeet and peacock PrPs, however, differed in the hexarepeat region, with the peacock having six and the parakeet having seven hexarepeats. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the PrP genes in 52 species were clustered into 2 distinct lineages, the avian and the mammalian. The peacock and parakeet PrP genes belonged to the same lineage but the peacock PrP was sub-classed with the pigeon PrP and the parakeet PrP was sub-classed with the duck and chicken PrPs. The present work added two more species data to the collection of the PrP genes and supported the previous findings that the PrP genes are highly conserved across species.

The effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on the expression of heat stress protein 70 (Hsp70) in human bronchi smooth muscle cells were investigatedin vitro, and the changes in Hsp70 mRNA in the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their significance were explored. Human bronchi smooth muscle cells were cultured with CSE at the different concentrations. The expression of Hsp70 mRNA and Hsp70 was detected by reverse translation-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting respectively. Levels of Hsp70 mRNA and Hsp70 in lymphocytes from 20 patients with COPD and 20 healthy smoking control subjects were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed the expression of both Hsp70 mRNA and Hsp70 was decreased conformably in human bronchi smooth muscle cells treated with CSE at certain concentrationin vitro. The A values of the Hsp70 mRNA expression were 0.24±0.11 and 0. 42±0.13 respectively in COPD patients and healthy smoking controls with the difference being significant (P<0.01). There was also significant difference in theAvalues of the Hsp70 expression between COPD patients and healthy smoking controls (20.9±9.9 vs 44.8±15.3,P<0.01). The levels of Hsp70 mRNA had strongly positive correlation with Hsp70 protein (r=0.85,P<0.01). It was suggested that the expression of Hsp70 mRNA was in concordance with the expression of Hsp70, which could provide a basis on the study of Hsp70 gene regulation and Hsp70 gene in the development of COPD.

Abstract The behavioral responses of Microplitis mediatorwere measured in a four‐armed olfactometer. Leaves extract of the suitable host plant of its insect host, cotton, elicited higher olfactory responses; while leaves extract of the less suitable host plant of its insect host, tomato or tobacco, elicited moderate responses. Volatiles from the least suitable host plant of its insect host, hot pepper, elicited the lowest responses. The different preferences to four plant leaves extracts suggested that M. mediatorcould discriminate between suitable and less suitable host plants of its insect host by semiochemicals. Green leaf volatiles (GLVs), cis‐3‐hexen‐1‐yl acetate, hexanal, and nonan‐1‐ol, are the most attractive compound among the 7 tested compounds. The parasitoids preferred host‐damaged plant to undamaged plant, suggesting that they were able to distinguish between host and non‐host of their insect host through varying chemical blends. Experience with cotton leaves extract prior to experiment enhanced their responses to the same odor.

AbstractThe success of foraging behavior of Microplitiswasps is governed by many factors including semiochemicals, experience and learning, as well as physiological state, rearing method etc. This paper summarizes the progress in the study on foraging behavior of Microplitiswasps. Its application in biological control is also discussed.

AbstractA bioassay system to evaluate adult cotton bollworm (CBW), Helicoverpa armigera, behavioral responses to plant volatiles was described. The system was comprised of a no‐choice olfactometer, a wind tunnel, and a wind tunnel room. The olfactometer was designed to provide for the testing and evaluation of volatiles from a variety of natural and synthetic sources. The behavioral responses in this system demonstrated that the volatiles of wilted leaves of Pterocarya stenoptera, Toona sinensisand Populus canadensis, the main materials of which poplar bundles were made, only could attract virgin females but not mated females and males. The volatiles emitted from fresh carrot and celery flowers did not exhibit significant attractiveness to both sexes of CBW. 0.1% phenylacetaldehyde showed significant attraction for virgin females and males. The biological significance of attraction of volatiles from these plants for CBW was discussed.

Abstract Outdoor trials were made to test the responses of male aphids to pheromone lures in fields with different host‐plants, in order to know whether host‐plants would affect catches of males to pheromone lures. In peach orchard, males of three aphid species, i.e. Myzus persicae, Hyalopterus amygdaliand Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae, were found in traps baited with aphid sex pheromone nepetalactone and nepetalactol. The most numerous numbers was M, persicaeand it was also attracted by plant‐derived nepetalactone alone in peach orchard and cabbage garden. Schizaphis graminummales were caught in water traps in wheat field. In apple orchard, males of two aphid species, Aphis cifricolaand Sappaphis sinipiricolawere caught in significantly larger numbers in the pheromone traps than in the control traps. Field study indicated that the sex pheromone of H. amygdulicomprises either one or both of nepetalactone and nepetalactol, and nepetalactone may be one component of sex pheromones of A cifricolaand S sinipiricolaAnother field trial had shown that catches were increased if volatiles from a steam‐distilled extract of peach leaves were released simultaneously with nepetalactone. Elec‐troantennograms (EAGs) were recorded from males of M. persicaeto volatiles of peach leaves and buds.

Recently, the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations reported the latest experimental upper limits on the branching ratios of the lepton flavor violating (LFV) 125 GeV Higgs boson decays, h→eμ, h→eτ, and h→μτ. In this paper, we mainly investigate the LFV Higgs boson decays h→eμ, h→eτ, and h→μτ in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model with local B-L gauge symmetry. At the same time, the corresponding constraints from the LFV rare decays μ→eγ, τ→eγ, τ→μγ, and muon (g-2) are considered to analyze the numerical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In order to measure the plasma levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4). cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and observe the effects of oral theophylline on them, we divided 28 COPD patients into COPD experimental group and COPD control group. Plasma levels of IL-4, cAMP and cGMP as well as parameters of pulmonary function tests were measured in these 2 groups before and after 2 weeks of treatment with oral theophylline (Protheo, 400 mg, qd) or placebo. Plasma levels of IL-4 and cGMP were significantly elevated in patients with COPD as compared with normal controls (P< 0. 05), while cAMP and cAMP/cGMP were significantly lower than those in controls (P < 0. 01). Plasma level of IL-4 was inversely correlated with forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1) and with maximum expiratory flow rate at 50 % of forced vital capacity (V50) (bothr= −0.46,P< 0.05) while it was directly correlated with the scores of the clinical manifestations (r=0.57,P< 0.05) in COPD patients. Two weeks after treatment with theophylline, IL-4 and cGMP in COPD experimental group were decreased significantly while cAMP and cAMP/ cGMP increased significantly (P< 0. 05). The change of IL-4 was inversely correlated with the changes of FEV1, and V50(r=−0.53 and -0.54, respectively,P< 0. 05). Two weeks after placebo treatment, the COPD control group did not show such changes. We are led to conclude that IL-4 might play a role in the pathogenesis of the airway inflammation and air flow limitation in COPD patients and the mechanisms of theophylline’s therapeutic efrects of attenuating air-flow limitation may partially depend on its anti-inflammatory effects on the airways which, in turn, is dependent on its inhibitory effects on some inflammatory mediators such as IL-4.

Diversity in the ruminal bacterial speciesSelenomonas ruminantium has been investigated by DNA fingerprinting, DNA-DNA hybridization, plasmid analysis, bacteriophage sensitivity, and monoclonal antibody-based immunoassay. Twenty different isolates from the sheep rumen were initially classified morphologically and by carbon source utilization. DNA fingerprint analyses and quantitative genomic DNA hybridizations showed that limited grouping of these isolates was possible, with the largest group comprising four isolates, and two other groups comprising two isolates each. The remaining isolates were unique. Plasmids in four different size classes, 2.5, 3.7, 6.5 and 12.0 kbp, were identified, but these did not appear in all isolates. There was no apparent relationship between DNA fingerprint pattern and plasmid content. Only three isolates were sensitive to theS. ruminantium-specific temperate bacteriophage S-1. These data indicate that substantial genetic diversity exists within the ruminal speciesS. ruminantium, but that at least one strain may represent up to 20% of isolates.

A series of natural drimanes and related synthetic compounds was tested for antifeedant activity against aphids. Polygodial and warburganal were the most active. The synthetic compounds methyl 9a-hydroxydrimenoate and 9a-hydroxydrimenal, although active against lepidopteran larvae, were inactive against aphids. Natural (-)-polygodial and the synthetic (+) isomer showed similar levels of activity as aphid antifeedants and in phytotoxicity, fish toxicity, and human taste tests, but reacted at different rates with enantiomers of 1-phenylethylamine.

Following the work of Wilczek and Zee, we analysed the various representatives of the elements in CP (1) chiral model and obtained the gauge potential A?naturally and geometrically. Furthermore, by using the Hopf bundle and its decomposition, the meaning and the origin of the Hopf integral can be obtained obviously and geometrically. Finally, some concrete results of the integral are also calculated.

The super extended eigenvalue problem is considered. We deduce a class of completely integrable equations. Its reduced forms are given and their infinite conserved currents have been discussed.

Discrete and continuous dual symmetry is analysed and explained in its geometrical origin. Linear eigenvalue equations of the dual transforming operators are deduced in different forms in a suitable gauge, under the gauge transformation. Different dual parameters are compared too.