Search

The rapid development of new digital technologies, such as those of virtual reality (VR), human–computer interaction, and artificial intelligence, has provided new opportunities for intelligent cityscape management and perception. This paper provides a new set of intelligent methods for integrating, refining, and managing architectural cityscape elements with VR-based visual perception technologies. We firstly analyze multidimensional subjective perception ratings as well as objective visual data obtained via synchronous human experience tracking in panoramic VR environments. Based on this analysis, we reveal the functions and weights of various cityscape elements, examine the deep cityscape formation mechanism, and hence put forward refined strategies for cityscape development. This work represents a novel approach for cityscape perception and deep understanding, and significantly promotes the application of cutting-edge digital technologies in smart city planning and governance.

This paper presents micro-Pirani vacuum gauges using low-resistivity monocrystal silicon for the heaters and the heat sinks. We designed a new Pirani gauge with an embedded Wheatstone bridge made by thick-silicon resistors that allows an improvement in resolution and sensitivity. With the optimized Wheatstone bridge structure, the temperature coefficient of the gauges pressure measure decreases from 2.5%/°C to 0.74%/°C, and the resolution was optimized from 0.071 to 0.008 Torr at 1 Torr. In addition, the gauges were packaged into non-hermetic cavities by wafer-level AlGe eutectic bonding to undergo the wafer-dicing process, with sensitivity improved from 1.65 to 17.1 V/Torr at 1 Torr.

Heat shock factor-DNA interaction is critical for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of stress-induced gene expression in eukaryotes. In this study, we analyzed the in vivo binding of yeast heat shock factor (HSF) to the promoters of target genes ScSSA1, ScSSA4, HSP30 and HSP104, using chromatin immunoprecipitation. Previous work suggested that yeast HSF is constitutively bound to DNA at all temperatures. Expression of HSF target genes is regulated at the post-transcriptional level. However, our results indicated that HSF does not bind to the promoters of ScSSA4 and HSP30 at normal temperature (23 degrees C). Binding to these promoters is rapidly induced by heat stress at 39 degrees C. HSF binds to ScSSA1 and HSP104 promoters under non-stress conditions, but at a low level. Heat stress rapidly leads to a notable increase in the binding of HSF to these two genes. The kinetics of the level of HSF-promoter binding correlate well with the expression of target genes, suggesting that the expression of HSF target genes is at least partially the result of HSF-promoter binding stability and subsequent transcription stimulation.

To study the molecular regulation of nectary development, we cloned NEC1, a gene predominantly expressed in the nectaries of Petunia hybrida, by using the differential display RT-PCR technique. The secondary structure of the putative NEC1 protein is reminiscent of a transmembrane protein, indicating that the protein is incorporated into the cell membrane or the cytoplast membrane. Immunolocalization revealed that NEC1 protein is present in the nectaries. Northern blot analyses showed that NEC1 is highly expressed in nectary tissue and weakly in the stamen. GUS expression driven by the NEC1 promoter revealed GUS activity in the outer nectary parenchyma cells, the upper part of the filament and the anther stomium. The same expression pattern was observed in Brassica napus. GUS expression was observed as blue spots on the surface of very young nectaries that do not secrete nectar and do accumulate starch. GUS expression was highest in open flowers in which active secretion of nectar and starch hydrolysis had taken place. Ectopic expression of NEC1 resulted in transgenic plants that displayed a phenotype with leaves having 3-4 times more phloem bundles in mid-veins than the wild-type Petunia. The possible role of NEC1 gene in sugar metabolism and nectar secretion is discussed.