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The plant tryptophan (Trp) biosynthetic pathway produces many secondary metabolites with diverse functions. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), proposed as a derivative from Trp or its precursors, plays an essential role in plant growth and development. Although the Trp-dependant and Trp-independent IAA biosynthetic pathways have been proposed, the enzymes, reactions and regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown. In Arabidopsis, indole-3-glycerol phosphate (IGP) is suggested to serve as a branchpoint component in the Trp-independent IAA biosynthesis. To address whether other enzymes in addition to Trp synthase α (TSA1) catalyze IGP cleavage, we identified and characterized an indole synthase ( INS) gene, a homolog of TSA1 in Arabidopsis. INS exhibits different subcellular localization from TSA1 owing to the lack of chloroplast transit peptide (cTP). In silico data show that the expression levels of INS and TSA1 in all examined organs are quite different. Histochemical staining of INS promoter- GUS transgenic lines indicates that INS is expressed in vascular tissue of cotyledons, hypocotyls, roots and rosette leaves as well as in flowers and siliques. INS is capable of complementing the Trp auxotrophy of Escherichia coliΔ trpA strain, which is defective in Trp synthesis due to the deletion of TSA. This implies that INS catalyzes the conversion of IGP to indole and may be involved in the biosynthesis of Trp-independent IAA or other secondary metabolites in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To improve cathode–electrolyte interfaces of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), dense YSZ electrolyte membranes with indented surfaces were fabricated on tubular NiO/YSZ anode supports by two comparable methods. Electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and current–voltage tests of the cells were carried out to characterize the cathode–electrolyte interfaces. Results showed that the electrode polarization resistances of the modified cells were reduced by 52% and 35% at 700°C, and the maximum power densities of cells were remarkably increased, even by 146.6% and 117.8% at lower temperature (700°C), respectively. The indented surfaces extended the active zone of cathode and enhanced interfacial adhesion, which led to the major improvement in the cell performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Based on previous work, a new temperature measuring system for gas–liquid flow, composed of shielded and unshielded thermocouples, on-line laser detection device for liquid droplets, vacuum pump and wavelet analysis data processor, is developed in this work. The necessity of vacuum pump and the criterion of mesh size selection are also described. Through an application of measuring temperature in saturator, it shows that the system can evaluate the separation of gas–liquid two-phase flow and measure the liquid droplet temperature and the gas temperature effectively in counter-current spraying field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The numerical simulations of simultaneous heat and mass transfer process in the counter-flow spray saturator and humid air turbine cycle are carried out in this work, according to the experimental conditions and actual size of a prototype saturator. This humidifying process involves two-phase flow of air and water droplets, also including interaction, breakup and collision of water droplets. Eulerian approach is used for gas phase flow, Lagrangian approach is used for liquid phase flow, and the two-way coupling is used between two phases. The simulations agree well with the experimental measurements. The simulations show the flow is with high turbulence intensity, the relative humidity and temperature of humid air increase along with the height of saturator, some water droplets carried by air escape from the saturator, and the humid air is mainly humidified at the lower part of saturator and is simultaneously humidified and heated at the upper part. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Radioisotope analysis and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) method were combined to examine sedimentation rates and associated sedimentary processes in the Yangtze River Estuary. The major depocenter is validated at the delta front sedimentary facies above the normal wave base (NWB), where accumulation exceeds erosion. This alternated sedimentation does not accommodate Pb-210 and Cs-137 measurement, although sedimentation rates of less than 0.2–5.0cmyr−1 were recorded in the fine-grained (silty) sediments, which were interbedded with coarse-grained (sandy) sediments. However, historical DEM data provide more detailed information on sedimentation in the delta front facies, where accumulation is dominant in the sandy shoals (1.73–8.30cmyr−1) and delta front slope (5.22cmyr−1) facies. The DEM data also show that erosion (1.61–7.32cmyr−1) dominates in the northern estuarine distributaries, and accumulation (3.01–4.97cmyr−1) prevails in the southern ones, primarily owing to the superimposed runoff and ebb tidal currents. Pb-210 and Cs-137 measurements reveal sedimentation rate from 2.0cmyr−1 to 6.3–6.6cmyr−1 in the delta front slope facies, which progressively decreases to <0.8cmyr−1 in the prodelta facies and is unmeasurable in the delta-shelf transition zone. DEM analysis detects minor erosion in the delta front slope and prodelta facies, although accumulation predominates there. The present sedimentological database will be useful for estuarine environmental assessment after the Three-Gorges Dam is completed in 2009. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tillering in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important agronomic trait for grain production, and also a model system for the study of branching in monocotyledonous plants. Rice tiller is a specialized grain-bearing branch that is formed on the unelongated basal internode and grows independently of the mother stem (culm) by means of its own adventitious roots. Rice tillering occurs in a two-stage process: the formation of an axillary bud at each leaf axil and its subsequent outgrowth. Although the morphology and histology and some mutants of rice tillering have been well described, the molecular mechanism of rice tillering remains to be elucidated. Here we report the isolation and characterization of MONOCULM 1 (MOC1), a gene that is important in the control of rice tillering. The moc1 mutant plants have only a main culm without any tillers owing to a defect in the formation of tiller buds. MOC1 encodes a putative GRAS family nuclear protein that is expressed mainly in the axillary buds and functions to initiate axillary buds and to promote their outgrowth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated rice varieties are all diploid, and polyploidization of rice has long been desired because of its advantages in genome buffering, vigorousness, and environmental robustness. However, a workable route remains elusive. Here, we describe a practical strategy, namely de novo domestication of wild allotetraploid rice. By screening allotetraploid wild rice inventory, we identified one genotype of Oryza alta (CCDD), polyploid rice 1 (PPR1), and established two important resources for its de novo domestication: (1) an efficient tissue culture, transformation, and genome editing system and (2) a high-quality genome assembly discriminated into two subgenomes of 12 chromosomes apiece. With these resources, we show that six agronomically important traits could be rapidly improved by editing O. alta homologs of the genes controlling these traits in diploid rice. Our results demonstrate the possibility that de novo domesticated allotetraploid rice can be developed into a new staple cereal to strengthen world food security. • Establishing efficient transformation and genome editing system in allotetraploid rice • The high-quality assembly of the genome of allotetraploid rice • Identification of O. alta homologs of agronomically important genes from diploid rice • Achieved targeted improvement of various traits in O. alta through genome editing Li and colleagues developed a breeding route to de novo domestication of wild allotetraploid rice that provides a rational strategy for creating novel crops and generated a series of allotetraploid rice lines edited in domestication-related and agronomically important genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new multiplexed system based on double imaging Mach–Zehnder interferometry is proposed in this study for the simultaneous measurement of out-of-plane deformation and its first derivative. A modified Mach–Zehnder interferometer is used in the proposed system as shearing device, which has two pairs of imaging lenses and apertures placed on its arms. Therefore, carrier frequency and shearing amount can be independently adjusted using different components. An optical fiber is used to introduce reference beam, which has orthogonal states of polarization with one of the object beams. Shearogram and hologram without cross interference can be obtained by interference with the unpolarized object beam. Experimental results are presented for two pressure-loaded circular plates. • A new multiplexed system for the simultaneous measurement is proposed. • The carrier frequency and the shearing amount can be independently adjusted. • The spectrum distribution is simple. • The system structure is compact and suitable for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary aerosol formation in the aging process of primary emission is the main reason for haze pollution in eastern China. Pollution evolution with photochemical age was studied for the first time at a comprehensive field observation station during winter in Beijing. The photochemical age was used as an estimate of the timescale attributed to the aging process and was estimated from the ratio of toluene to benzene in this study. A low photochemical age indicates a fresh emission. The photochemical age of air masses during new particle formation (NPF) days was lower than that on haze days. In general, the strongest NPF events, along with a peak of the formation rate of 1.5 nm (J 1.5) and 3 nm particles (J 3), were observed when the photochemical age was between 12 and 24 h while rarely took place with photochemical ages less than 12 h. When photochemical age was larger than 48 h, haze occurred and NPF was suppressed. The sources and sinks of nanoparticles had distinct relation with the photochemical age. Our results show that the condensation sink (CS) showed a valley with photochemical ages ranging from 12 to 24 h, while H 2 SO 4 concentration showed no obvious trend with the photochemical age. The high concentrations of precursor vapours within an air mass lead to persistent nucleation with photochemical age ranging from 12 to 48 h in winter. Coincidentally, the fast increase of PM 2.5 mass was also observed during this range of photochemical age. Noteworthy, CS increased with the photochemical age on NPF days only, which is the likely reason for the observation that the PM 2.5 mass increased faster with photochemical age on NPF days compared with other days. The evolution of particles with the photochemical age provides new insights into understanding how particles originating from NPF transform to haze pollution. Unlabelled Image • The evolution of pollution episodes as a function of photochemical age was studied. • Persistent nucleation with photochemical age ranging from 12 to 48 h was observed. • CS and PM 2.5 increased faster with photochemical age on NPF days than other days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mariana Trench in the western North Pacific (NP) contains the deepest (11,000 m) point in the ocean and thus remains the least explored environment. Carbon cycling in the deep Mariana Trench is largely unknown and remains a curious mystery. Here, we report radiocarbon (Δ14C) and stable carbon isotope (δ13C) compositions of dissolved inorganic and organic carbon (DIC and DOC) and sinking particulate organic carbon (POC) for samples collected at 2000 m, 4000 m and 6000 m from the Mariana Trench in the western NP. DOC had much lower Δ14C values (−189‰ to −538‰) than DIC (38‰ to −236‰) and POC (11‰–38‰) at the same depths, indicating the different cycling processes and time scales of different carbon pools. The 14C ages of DOC were approximately 1700 years and 4400 years older than those of DIC in the surface (2 m) and deep (10,000 m) waters of the Mariana Trench. Both DOC and DIC Δ14C values at hadal depths (>6000 m) in the trench are comparable to values at other sites in the deep NP, suggesting that water movement and mixing at hadal depths in the Mariana Trench are active and follow the deep-water circulation patterns of the NP. POC fluxes at the three deep depths showed large variations, but their modern Δ14C values indicate that the effective biological pump that drives fresh surface-produced particles to sink rapidly to deep depths in the trench could provide essential food sources for microbial and benthic communities living in an extremely harsh environment of the Mariana Trench. • Carbon isotope (14C and 13C) compositions of DIC, DOC and POC were first time reported for samples from the Mariana Trench in the western NP. • The 14C ages of DOC and DIC in the Mariana Trench indicate water movement and mixing at hadal depths are active. • POC could sink rapidly to the deep trench and provide essential foodsources for microbial communities living in an extremely harsh environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Maize is the most widespread crop under various solar radiation conditions. • Lodging adversely affects maize yields, especially under low solar radiation conditions. • Quantitative relationships exist between solar radiation and indexes of maize stalk lodging mechanical resistance. • Different maize genotypes exhibit different lodging risks in response to different solar radiation levels. Lodging adversely affects maize (Zea mays L.) yields and quality, especially under low sunlight conditions. Here, we investigated the effects of different levels of solar radiation on maize lodging. To study the quantitative effects of different solar radiation on the lodging resistant mechanism of maize stalks, we chose two maize cultivars, Xianyu 335 (XY335) and Zhengdan 958 (ZD958), and grew them in two regions that receive the most abundant solar radiation in Xinjiang and Ningxia China in 2018 and 2019. Maize plants were exposed to different shade levels (15 % (S1), 30 % (S2), 50 % (S3), and natural light as the control (CK)) and different planting densities (4.5 × 104 (D1), 7.5 × 104 (D2), 9 × 104 (D3), 10.5 × 104 (D4), and 12 × 104 (D5) plants ha− 1) to create different solar radiation conditions. The results showed that lodging percentage was significantly negatively correlated with the stalk bending strength (SBS), rind penetration strength (RPS), vertical root pulling resistance (VRPR), dry weight per unit length (DWUL), the cellulose and lignin content and grain yield which significantly decreased with decreasing total intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (TIPAR). Quantitative analysis showed that for every 1 MJ m- 2 reduction in TIPAR, the SBS and RPS decreased by 0.0667 N and 0.075 N, DWUL and the content of cellulose and lignin of maize stalk significantly decreased with decreasing TIPAR, by 0.88 mg cm− 1, 0.3 mg g- 1 and 0.06 mg g− 1, respectively. Lodging percentage was significantly negatively correlated with TIPAR, the lodging percentage increased by 0.17 % with a decrease in TIPAR of 1 MJ m- 2. Comparison of cultivars revealed that the rate of decrease in SBS, RPS, VRPR, DWUL and the cellulose and lignin content were greater for XY335 than for ZD958, indicating that the stalk strength of XY335 was more sensitive than ZD958 to decreasing levels of TIPAR. However, SBS, RPS, DWUL and the cellulose and lignin content of XY335 were higher than ZD938 and the lodging percentage of XY335 was lower than ZD958 which meant that XY335 had a stronger stalk strength to resistance to lodging. This is important for understanding lodging resistance and developing cultivars suited to different solar radiation conditions in different regions, as well as to changing solar radiation conditions induced by global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The shear amount and spatial carrier frequency are controlled independently. • The adjustment of shear amount is accurate. • The spatial phase technology improves the detection efficiency. Digital shearography has a wide application in defect detection. Phase-shift-technique-based shearography has a higher phase measurement sensitivity than the real-time shearography. This phase shift technique can be divided into temporal phase shift shearography and spatial phase shift shearography. The latter has the advantage of fast detection and can be used in dynamic detection. In a traditional spatial carrier frequency shearography system, shear amount adjustments and spatial carrier frequency are not completely independent. In some shearography systems, shear amount and spatial carrier frequency are adjusted by rotating mirrors. The amounts of rotation required to obtain the appropriate shear amount and spatial carrier frequency are different, thereby reducing the accuracy of detection results. In other shearography systems, although the two adjustments are divided into two parts, using a rotating mirror to obtain the appropriate shear amount will also introduce additional spatial carrier frequency which will also have some influence on the result. This paper introduces a detection method with independently adjusting shear amount and spatial carrier frequency. Shear amount adjustment is achieved by changing the written image of a spatial light modulator (SLM). No additional spatial carrier frequency is introduced. Spatial carrier frequency is only controlled by the relative position between the dual apertures. Experimental results of undamaged and damaged specimens indicate that this system is suitable for detecting the phase distribution of the deformation and internal defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the regional transport and formation mechanisms of submicron aerosols in the North China Plan (NCP), for the first time, we conducted simultaneous combined observations of the non-refractory submicron aerosols (NR-PM 1) chemical compositions using aerosol mass spectrometer at urban Beijing (BJ) and at regional background area of the NCP (XL), from November 2018 to January 2019. During the observation period, average mass concentrations of PM 1 in BJ and XL were 26.6 ± 31.7 and 16.0 ± 18.7 μg m−3 respectively. The aerosol composition in XL showed a lower contribution of organic aerosol (33% vs. 43%) and higher fractions of nitrate (35% vs. 30%), ammonium (16% vs. 13%), and chlorine (2% vs. 1%) than in BJ. Additionally, a higher contribution of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was also observed in XL, suggesting low primary emissions and highly oxidized OA in the background area. Nitrate displayed a significantly enhanced contribution with the aggravation of aerosol pollution in both BJ and XL, which was completely neutralized by excess ammonium at both sites, suggesting that the abundant ammonia emissions in the NCP favor nitrate formation on a regional scale. In addition, a higher proportion of nitrate in XL can be attributed to the more neutral and higher oxidation capacity of the background atmosphere. Heterogeneous aqueous reaction plays an important role in sulfate and SOA formation, and is more efficient in BJ which can be attributed to the higher aerosol surface areas at urban site. Regional transport from the southwestern regions of NCP showed a significant impact on the formation of haze episodes. Beside the invasion of transported pollutants, the abundant water vapor associated with the air mass to the downwind background area further enhanced local secondary transformation and expanded the regional scope of the haze pollution in the NCP. Unlabelled Image • First simultaneous observations of PM 1 at urban/background sites in the NCP • Higher fractions of SOA and SIA in PM 1 were observed in the background area. • Abundant ammonia emissions in the NCP favor nitrate formation on a regional scale • Heterogeneous formation of SOA and sulfate is more efficient in the urban area. • Water vapor transport enhances secondary transformation during regional haze episode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite much effort made in studying human health associated with fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), our knowledge about PM 2.5 and human health from a long-term perspective is still limited by inadequately long data. Here, we presented a novel method to retrieve surface PM 2.5 mass concentrations using surface visibility measurements and GEOS-Chem model simulations. First, we used visibility measurements and the ratio of PM 2.5 and aerosol extinction coefficient (AEC) in GEOS-Chem to calculate visibility-inferred PM 2.5 at individual stations (SC-PM 2.5). Then we merged SC-PM 2.5 with the spatial pattern of GEOS-Chem modeled PM 2.5 to obtain a gridded PM 2.5 dataset (GC-PM 2.5). We validated the GC-PM 2.5 data over the North China Plain on a 0.3125° longitude x 0.25° latitude grid in January, April, July and October 2014, using ground-based PM 2.5 measurements. The spatial patterns of temporally averaged PM 2.5 mass concentrations are consistent between GC-PM 2.5 and measured data with a correlation coefficient of 0.79 and a linear regression slope of 0.8. The spatial average GC-PM 2.5 data reproduce the day-to-day variation of observed PM 2.5 concentrations with a correlation coefficient of 0.96 and a slope of 1.0. The mean bias is less than 12 μg/m3 (<14%). Future research will validate the proposed method using multi-year data, for purpose of studying long-term PM 2.5 variations and their health impacts since 1980. • We integrate visibility data and GEOS-Chem simulations to estimate PM 2.5 concentrations in 2014 over North China. • Visibility converted PM 2.5 are spatiotemporally consistent with PM 2.5 measurements. • Our method provides a novel, plausible way to retrieve long-term variation of PM 2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the measurement of the 3-D shape of a large curved object using traditional 3-D-digital image correlation (DIC), the left and right camera images are relatively rotated or deformed too much, which will cause the matching to fail. We propose a 3D-DIC matching method. Compared with traditional methods having fixed-size templates, this method is robust to relative rotation and deformation between dual cameras and is suitable for 3D-DIC measurement of nonplanar objects. In the proposed method, we use polar coordinates to define the matching template as a variable circle, which is convenient for interpolation calculation and changing the template size. The zero-mean normalized cross-correlation method is used to determine the position of an entire pixel on the distorted image. This step can provide an initial value close to the true value for subsequent iterations of the inverse compositional Gauss–Newton algorithm. The performance of the proposed method is verified by experiments. Compared with the traditional matching method, the proposed method is suitable for matching large curved surfaces between 3D-DIC dual cameras and extends the application of DIC technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The domain-averaged PM 2.5 in North China decreased significantly from 2013 to 2017. • Firstly established two automatic algorithms to identify regional pollution types and events. • The relationships of synoptic circulations and regional PM 2.5 levels were quantified. • Starting areas, synoptic and local meteorological mechanisms were analyzed based on persistent regional pollution events. • Quantifying the effects of weather changes on the interannual PM 2.5 variations. In the last decade, North China (NC) has been one of the most populated and polluted regions in the world. The regional air pollution has had a serious impact on people's health; thus, all levels of government have implemented various pollution prevention measures since 2013. Based on multi-city in situ environmental and meteorological data, as well as the meteorological reanalysis dataset from 2013 to 2017, regional pollution characteristics and meteorological formation mechanisms were analyzed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the evolution of PM 2.5 in NC. The domain-averaged PM 2.5 was 79 ± 17 µg m−3 from 2013 to 2017, with a decreasing rate of 10 μg m−3 yr−1. Two automatic computer algorithms were established to identify 6 daily regional pollution types (DRPTs) and 48 persistent regional pollution events (PRPEs) over NC during 2014–2017. The average PM 2.5 concentration for the Large-Region-Pollution type (including the Large-Moderate-Region-Pollution and Large-Severe-Region-Pollution types) was 113 ± 40 µg m−3, and more than half of Large-Region-Pollution days and PRPEs occurred in winter. The PRPEs in NC mainly developed from the area south of Hebei. The number of Large-Region-Pollution days decreased notably from 2014 to 2017, the annual number of days varying between 194 and 97 days, whereas a slight decline was observed in winter. In addition, the averaged PM 2.5 concentrations and the numbers and durations of the PRPEs decreased. Lamb-Jenkinson weather typing was used to reveal the impact of synoptic circulations on PM 2.5 across NC. Generally, the contributions of the variations in circulation to the reduction in PM 2.5 levels over NC between 2013 and 2017 were 64% and 45% in summer and winter, respectively. The three most highly polluted weather types were types C, S and E, with an average PM 2.5 concentration of 137 ± 40 µg m−3 in winter. Furthermore, three typical circulation dynamics were categorized in the peak stage of the PRPEs, namely, the southerly airflow pattern, the northerly airflow pattern and anticyclone pattern; the averaged relative humidity, recirculation index, wind speed and boundary layer height were 63%, 0.33, 2.0 m s−1 and 493 m, respectively. Our results imply that additional emission reduction measures should be implemented under unfavorable meteorological situations to attain ambient air quality standards in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have vital implications for secondary pollutants, atmospheric oxidation and human health. Ambient VOCs were investigated using an online system, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/flame ionization detector (GC–MS/FID), at a suburban site in Xianghe in the North China Plain from 6 November 2017 to 29 January 2018. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor model was applied to identify the major VOC contributing sources. Four-step health risk assessment method was used to estimate risks of all risk-posing VOC species. A total of 101 VOCs were quantified, and the mean concentration of total VOCs was 61.04 ± 65.18 ppbv. The VOCs were dominated by alkanes (38.76%), followed by alkenes, aromatics, halocarbons, OVOCs, acetylene and acetonitrile. The results of PMF revealed that vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, liquefied petroleum gas & natural gas, solvent utilization and secondary and long-lived species contributed 31.0%, 26.4%, 18.6%, 13.6% and 10.4%, respectively, to the total VOCs. Pollutant-specific and source-specific noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risk estimates were conducted, which showed that acrolein and vehicle exhaust had evident noncarcinogenic risks of 4.9 and 0.9, respectively. The carcinogenic risks of specific species (1,3-butadiene, acetaldehyde, benzene, chloroform and 1,2-dichloroethane) and identified sources were above the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) acceptable level (1.0 × 10−6) but below the tolerable risk level (1.0 × 10−4). Vehicle exhaust was the largest contributor (56.2%) to noncarcinogenic risk, but solvent utilization (32.6%) to carcinogenic risk. Moreover, with the evolution of pollution levels, almost all VOC species, contributions of alkenes, aromatics, solvent utilization and vehicle exhaust, and pollutant-specific and source-specific risks increased continuously and noticeably. Collectively, our findings unraveled the importance of alkenes, aromatics, solvent utilization and vehicle exhaust in the evolution of pollution levels. Future studies should consider targeting these VOC groups and sources when focusing on effective reduction strategies and assessing public health risks. Unlabelled Image • Ambient VOCs were measured using an online GC-FID/MS for the first time in Xianghe. • Concentrations, sources and health risks of VOCs were investigated at different pollution levels. • High levels of VOCs were spotted and vehicle exhaust was the main source of VOCs. • Alkenes, aromatics, vehicle exhaust and solvent usage were of great significances during the evolution of air pollution. • Vehicle exhaust and solvent utilization contributed most to noncarcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risk, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is one of the most common pathogens causing respiratory tract infection, especially for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in school-age children. There was considerable amount of studies on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for MP detection. However, the result interpretation of these developed LAMP assays was sophisticated and subjective. Therefore, we developed and evaluated a LAMP coupled with nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor (LFB) assay (LAMP-LFB) for simple, reliable, and objective identification of MP (MP-LAMP-LFB). Six primers specific to P1 gene of MP were designed, and the preferred temperature for this assay was confirmed to be 65 °C. The amplification products could be visually interpreted by LFB within 2 min. The MP-LAMP-LFB assay specifically identified DNA templates of MP, and no cross-reactivity with other pathogens was obtained. The limit of the detection for this assay was 600 fg of DNA templates in pure cultures, which was in complete accordance with colorimetric indicator detection and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis. This assay was applied to 209 oropharyngeal swab specimens collected from children with acute respiratory tract infection for clinical evaluation, and compared to real-time PCR detection. Using the LAMP-LFB and real-time PCR assay, the positive rates of MP were 47.8% and 31.6%, respectively. Results suggested that the LAMP-LFB assay displayed high sensitivity compared to real-time PCR method. In summary, LAMP-LFB assay established here was a simple, objective, and sensitive assay for MP detection, which can be widely applied in clinical settings, especially in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shearography has been widely used in non-destructive testing due to its advantages in providing full-field, high precision, real-time measurement. The study presents a pixelated carrier phase-shifting shearography using a pixelated micropolarizer array. Based on the shearography, a series of shearograms are captured and phase maps corresponding to deformation are measured dynamically and continuously. Using the proposed spatiotemporal filtering algorithm in the complex domain, the set of phase maps are simultaneously low-pass filtered in the spatial and temporal domains, resulting in better phase quality than spatial low-pass filtering. By accumulating the temporally adjacent phase, the phase corresponding to large deformation can be evaluated; thus, large deformations can be accurately measured and protected from speckle noise, allowing internal defects to be easily identified. The capability of the proposed shearography is described by theoretical discussions and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matching of maize growth with solar radiation is of great importance for achieving high yield. We conducted experiments using different maize cultivars and planting densities under different solar radiations during grain filling to quantitatively analyze the relationships among these factors. We found that a decrease in solar radiation after silking caused a drop in maize grain yield and biomass, with lower solar radiation intensities leading to worse grain yields and biomass. Cultivar ZD958 was more sensitive to solar radiation changes than cultivar XY335; slight decreases in solar radiation (i.e., 15% shading) caused significant declines in ZD958 grain yield. When total solar radiation during grain filling was less than 486.9 MJ m−2 for XY335 and less than 510.9 MJ m−2 for ZD958, the two cultivars demonstrated high yields at lower planting density of 7.5 × 104 plants ha−1; average yields were 13.36 and 11.09 Mg ha−1, respectively. When radiation intensities were higher than 549.5 MJ m−2 for XY335 and higher than 605.8 MJ m−2 for ZD958, yields were higher at a higher planting density of 12 × 104 plants ha−1, with average yields of 20.58 Mg ha−1 for XY335 and 19.65 Mg ha−1 for ZD958. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in Chinese population. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the gender difference in the association of SUA and CAVI in a southwestern Chinese population. Methods: Data were obtained from subjects via routine physical examinations in the Public Health Center of our hospital between 2011 and 2014 in Chongqing. The data included completed anthropometry and blood biochemical indicators. The CAVI were recorded using an automatically VaseraVS-1000 vascular screening system. Results: We found females with hyperuricemia (HUA) had significantly higher CAVI than women with normal SUA (8.45 ± 1.40 vs 7.67 ± 1.15, P<0.05). Then we defined high CAVI as CAVI≥9 m/s, and compared the percentage of high CAVI, we found women with HUA had higher percentage of high CAVI than women with normal SUA (26.83% vs 9.38%, P<0.05). Those differences were not significant in males. Also, the logistic regression analysis found age and hypertension were major independent risk factors associated with high CAVI in both genders. HUA and hyperglycemia were independently associated with high CAVI in females with an OR of 3.65, 95%CI (1.37-9.73) and 3.02, 95%CI (1.38-6.63) respectively. However, these significant associations were not be found in males. Conclusions: Our data showed positive associations between elevated SUA levels and higher CAVI risk in the inland Chinese females, but not in males. The reason for the gender differences were still unclear, sex hormones may play a role. Further prospective studies including detailed personal information and multicenter were required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "DWARF 53 acts as a repressor of strigolactone signalling in rice" that was published in the 2013 issue is presented.