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Abstract The color of red-skinned pear (Pyrus spp.) is primarily attributed to accumulation of anthocyanins, which provide nutritional benefits for human health and are closely associated with the commercial value of fruits. Here, we reported the functional characterization of a R2R3-MYB repressor PyMYB107, which forms an ‘activator-repressor’ loop to control anthocyanin accumulation in the red-skinned pear. PyMYB107 overexpression inhibited anthocyanin biosynthesis in both pear calli and fruits, while virus-induced gene silencing of PyMYB107 increased anthocyanin accumulation in pear fruits. Furthermore, ectopic expression of PyMYB107 decreased anthocyanin accumulation in tomato, strawberry and tobacco. PyMYB107 can competitively bind to PybHLH3 with PyMYB10/MYB114, thereby suppressing the transcriptional activation of key anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, PyANS and PyUFGT. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that mutations within the R3 domain and EAR motif of PyMYB107 eliminated its repressive activity. Additionally, PyMYB107 exhibited a comparable expression pattern to PyMYB10/MYB114 and was transcriptionally activated by them. Our finding advanced comprehension of the repression mechanism underlying anthocyanin accumulation, providing valuable molecular insights into improving quality of pear fruits.

This study investigates the impact of local antigambling interventions (AGIs) on corporate financialization. From the perspective of formal institutions’ influence on culture, our findings suggest that firms located in regions with more effective AGIs exhibit lower levels of financialization. Mechanism tests show that AGIs reduce local risk preferences, subsequently influencing corporate financialization. Heterogeneity tests reveal that the main results are more pronounced when government trust is stronger, cultural transmission efficiency is higher, local firm interactions are more extensive, and community attention to antigambling initiatives is greater. This study enhances the understanding of the influence of the institutional environment on corporate investment decisions.

Abstract In autonomous alternating current microgrids, the grid‐forming virtual synchronous generators can cooperate with the conventional synchronous generators to improve system inertia and frequency regulation capability. However, undesired active power oscillations between the synchronous generators and grid‐forming virtual synchronous generators may trigger their overcurrent protection and even result in a blackout. To explicitly reveal the oscillatory modes over all frequency bands, a high‐fidelity full‐order state‐space model is first developed. A potentially destabilising sub‐synchronous oscillation mode resulting from the interaction between grid‐forming virtual synchronous generators voltage controller and synchronous generators q‐axis damper winding is identified. Other modes reflecting the low‐frequency oscillation and frequency restoration dynamics are also assessed. Subsequently, to make a reasonable trade‐off between the accuracy and simplicity of system modelling, an enhanced quasi‐stationary model dedicated to low‐frequency oscillation evaluation is simplified from the full‐order type. The enhanced quasi‐stationary model features simplicity and low‐order benefits, which makes it more practical for multi‐generator system analysis. Moreover, by considering the dynamics of synchronous generators field winding and excitation system, the enhanced quasi‐stationary model significantly improves the low‐frequency oscillation characterisation accuracy compared with the existing quasi‐stationary model. The two developed models are comprehensively compared with the existing small‐signal models. Real‐time simulations based on RT‐LAB are conducted to verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis and the accuracy of the proposed small‐signal models.

Pembrolizumab and other immunotherapies have become central in treating metastatic colon cancer, particularly effective in patients with mismatch repair deficiencies. We report a case involving a man who initially underwent radical surgery for sigmoid colon cancer on April 27, 2011, followed by hepatic tumor resection on September 21, 2017. Post-surgery, he received eight cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with the CAPEOX regimen and was regularly monitored through CT and MRI scans. On August 24, 2022, liver metastases were detected, and he was diagnosed with Lynch syndrome (LS) due to germline mutation in the MSH2 and EPCAM genes. He commenced treatment with 200mg of pembrolizumab intravenously every three weeks on September 2, 2022, and demonstrated a sustained response. However, after 17 cycles, he developed a treatment related adverse event (TRAE) of pancreatic endocrine dysfunction, leading to type 1 diabetes, managed with subcutaneous insulin injections. After 30 cycles of treatment, no evidence of disease was observed. This case underscores the significant clinical benefits of first-line pembrolizumab in managing hepatic metastasis in colonic carcinoma associated with LS, despite the occurrence of TRAEs. It raises critical questions regarding the optimal duration of immunotherapy following a complete or partial response and whether treatment should be discontinued upon the emergency of TRAEs. Continued research and forthcoming clinical trials with checkpoint inhibitors are expected to refine treatment protocols for LS-associated carcinoma.

Temperature stability is a critical factor affecting the performance of the most subsystems in the lithography system, due to the high precision and sensitivity of system components to temperature variations. The temperature control system of the lithography machine is characterized by its large inertial constant, time delay characteristics, as well as susceptibility to multiple disturbances. The temperature control system of the lithography machine chiefly requires response speed, high accuracy, and stable and constant temperature control. The contribution of this study is not only avoiding complex precision modeling processes based on real-time parameter estimation and neural network self-tuning but also improving the performance of temperature control in real time under external disturbances. A novel adaptive algorithm with a cascade structure based on generalized predictive control (GPC) and backpropagation (BP) neural network proportional-integral (PI) control is successfully proposed for high accuracy temperature control of lithography machine with a large inertial constant, time delay, and multiple disturbances. In this study, firstly, the liquid circulating temperature control system is developed based on heat exchanger and heater. Secondly, an adaptive controller composed of GPC and BP neural network PI control is successfully proposed. A BP neural network is employed to enable the parameters of the PI controller to adjust in real time, and the mathematical model parameters of the control system are identified in real time by the least square method. Also, the performance of the proposed controller is evaluated comparing with conventional PI controller and GPC controller in terms of robustness and quantitative study of error analysis. Finally, the temperature stability and robustness of the temperature control system controlled with the proposed adaptive GPC-PI algorithm has been investigated by the simulation results carried out in different working scenarios. The simulation results show that the steady-state error from the proposed algorithm is less than 0.01°C under the action of disturbance input. It can effectively counteract the influence of environmental interference and time-varying system parameters. The results of the simulation experiment indicate that the proposed adaptive GPC and PI control algorithm exhibits significant advantages in terms of control accuracy, anti-interference ability, and robustness compared to the conventional control method.

Introduction: It has been reported that rapamycin inhibited inflammation in renal interstitial diseases. We therefore hypothesized that rapamycin could attenuate inflammation in polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Methods: Han:SPRD rats were treated with rapamycin by daily gavage from 4 weeks to 12 weeks of age at the dosage of 0.5 mg/kg/day (low dose) or 1 mg/kg/day (high dose). WT9-12 human PKD cells were treated with various concentrations of rapamycin. Results: Two-kidney/total body weight ratio and cystic index in Cy/+ kidneys were significantly reduced with the treatment of low-dose rapamycin and further reduced by the treatment with high-dose rapamycin. However, the renal function of Cy/+ rats was equally improved by the treatment with either low-dose or high-dose rapamycin. The renal cell proliferation was significantly decreased in Cy/+ kidneys with the treatment of low-dose rapamycin and was further decreased with the treatment of high-dose rapamycin as examined by Ki67 staining. The phosphorylation of S6K in cystic kidneys was decreased by low-dose rapamycin and further decreased by high-dose rapamycin. Both low-dose and high-dose rapamycin treatment decreased macrophage infiltration and the expression of complement factor B (CFB), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) to a similar level. The expression of CFB, MCP-1, and TNF-α and phosphorylation of S6K were inhibited in WT9-12 cells treated with 10 nm rapamycin at 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Moreover, the phosphorylation of Akt was not increased by 1 nm and 10 nm of rapamycin and enhanced by 1 μm rapamycin treatment. Interestingly, WT9-12 cell proliferation could be inhibited by 1 μm rapamycin. Conclusion: Low dose of rapamycin could inhibit inflammation and protect renal function in PKD. Inflammation is more sensitive than cell proliferation in response to rapamycin treatment in PKD.

Radix Rehmanniae (RR) has three processing forms in clinical practice, including fresh Radix Rehmanniae (FRR), raw Radix Rehmanniae (RRR), and processed Radix Rehmanniae (PRR). However, the sensory criterion, “black as lacquer and sweetness as candy”, which was traditionally used to evaluate the quality of PRR, have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the mechanism of chemical transformation based on oligosaccharide hydrolysis, crosslinking coloring, and Maillard reactions was explored to clarify the observed changes in appearance and flavor. The physicochemical properties of different processed RR products were characterized. Besides, “sweetness as candy” was explained by oligosaccharides hydrolysis, and “black as lacquer” can attribute to crosslinking coloring and Maillard reactions. Importantly, this study provided the first evidence for the existence of crosslinking coloring reaction during the processing of RR. In conclusion, our results unveiled the scientific basis of the sensory attributes “black as lacquer and sweetness as candy” in PRR, offering valuable insights for enhancing quality control of PRR.

BackgroundTislelizumab, a humanized IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody has been approved in China and Europe. According to the published clinical research, tislelizumab shows satisfactory safety profile. No severe hepatotoxicity or acute kidney injury were reported.Case presentationWe presented a case study of a 74-year-old man who developed acute kidney injury (grade 3) and acute liver injury (grade 4) after being administered tislelizumab for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We reviewed the patient’s history, physical examination, and laboratory findings and provided comprehensive differentials of the possible causes of the toxicities. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were confirmed clinically. We also discussed the management of toxicities associated with ICIs and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to care.ConclusionsThe case highlights the importance of close monitoring and prompt management of toxicities associated with ICIs and the need for further research to better understand the risk factors for these toxicities and to identify effective treatments for them.

Abstract Conventional breeding in pears is inefficient due to a long juvenile phase and self-incompatibility. Genetic transformation offers a promise to expedite the breeding process. However, the frequencies of regeneration and genetic transformation in most Pyrus spp. are relatively low. This study investigated various factors influencing regeneration and genetic transformation using leaves from Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim “Shanli” and P. communis L. “Conference” as explants. The optimum regeneration medium for “Shanli” and “Conference” was NN69 containing 3.0 mg L−1 thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.3 mg L−1 indolybutyric acid (IBA) for the former or 1.0 mg L−1 TDZ and 0.5 mg L−1 naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for the latter. Sectioning the leaves from 30-day-old plantlets transversely and placing them with their abaxial side facing downward could significantly improve the regeneration ratio in both accessions. Moreover, a two- or four-week culture under the dark was beneficial for the regeneration of “Shanli” and “Conference” respectively. The optimal infection time was 12 and 8 min, while the time of the delayed screening test was two and one day for “Shanli” and “Conference” respectively. Moreover, a coculture of two days was recommended for both accessions. Post-transformation, the optimal concentrations of antibiotics were 16 mg L−1 kanamycin (Kan), 150 mg L−1 timentin (Tim), and 300 mg L−1 cefotaxime (Cef). The optimized regeneration and transformation system can be an effective alternative for either gene function analysis or genetic improvement in pear.

Abstract Rituximab (RTX) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) based treatments are both recommended as first-line therapies in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) by KDIGO 2021 guideline. However, the efficacy of RTX vs. CYC-based treatments in IMN is still controversial. We performed this systemic review and meta-analysis registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42,022,355,717) by pooling data from randomized controlled trials or cohort studies in IMN patients using the EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane libraries (till Orc 1, 2022). The primary outcomes were the complete remission (CR) rate + partial remission (PR) rate. CR rate, immunologic response rate, relapse rate, and the risk of serious adverse events (SAE) were secondary outcomes. Eight studies involving 600 adult patients with IMN were included with a median follow-up duration of 12 to 60 months. RTX induced a similar overall remission rate compared with CYC (RR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.71, 1.09, P = 0.23). At the follow-up time of 6 months, RTX was associated with a lower CR + PR rate compared with CYC (RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.88, P = 0.003). Moreover, RTX might be less effective in inducing CR + PR than CYC treatment in IMN patients with high antiPLA2R antibody levels (RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.94, P = 0.02). The occurrences of CRs, relapse rates, immunologic response rates, and SAE were not significantly different between RTX and CYC, respectively. In conclusion, although the long-term efficacy and safety of CYC compared to RTX were comparable, CYC might respond faster and be more advantageous in IMN patients with high antiPLA2R antibody titers.

Abstract Background Pears are among the most important temperate fruit trees in the world, with significant research efforts increasing over the last years. However, available omics data for pear cannot be easily and quickly retrieved to enable further studies using these biological data. Description Here, we present a publicly accessible multi-omics pear resource platform, the Pear Genomics Database (PGDB). We collected and collated data on genomic sequences, genome structure, functional annotation, transcription factor predictions, comparative genomics, and transcriptomics. We provide user-friendly functional modules to facilitate querying, browsing and usage of these data. The platform also includes basic and useful tools, including JBrowse, BLAST, phylogenetic tree building, and additional resources providing the possibility for bulk data download and quick usage guide services. Conclusions The Pear Genomics Database (PGDB, http://pyrusgdb.sdau.edu.cn ) is an online data analysis and query resource that integrates comprehensive multi-omics data for pear. This database is equipped with user-friendly interactive functional modules and data visualization tools, and constitutes a convenient platform for integrated research on pear.

Background: Bilateral deep thalamic nucleus brain stimulation (STN-DBS) surgery is often used to treat the motor symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease. The change of neurocognitive symptoms in patients is, however, still unclear. Objective: We aimed at analyzing the deterioration of neurocognitive symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease after deep brain stimulation surgery under different follow-up times. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to screen eligible study records, the meta-analysis was performed using an inverse variance method and a random-effects model. Additionally, the areas of analysis include five: cognition, executive function, memory capacity, and verbal fluency (phonetic fluency and semantic fluency). They were analyzed for changes at six and twelve months postoperatively compared to baseline. The Meta-analysis has been registered with PROSPERO under the registration number: CRD42022308786. Results: In terms of overall cognitive performance, executive function, and memory capacity, the original studies show a trend of improvement in these areas at 12 months postoperatively compared with 6 months, at variance, patients did not improve or deteriorated in phonetic fluency(d = −0.42 at both 6-month and 12-month follow-up) and semantic fluency from 6 to 12 months postoperatively. Conclusion: In terms of most neurocognitive symptoms, including cognitive ability, executive function, and learning memory capacity, bilateral STN-DBS surgery appears to be safe at relatively long follow-up times. However, postoperative phonetic and semantic fluency changes should still not be underestimated, and clinicians should pay more attention to patients' changes in both.

In this paper, a novel cutter section is designed, which adds a linear transition section between the fillet and the major cutting edge for the three-faced cutter plate. By deriving the relative motion coupling relationship with the cutter plate, machine and gear blank, the tooth surface point set is solved by using the meshing equation and the mapping relationship with the discretized point set of the blank section. The mathematical model and the meshing model of hypoid gear are established with different cutter parameters. The influences of the multi-segment cutter section on the meshing characteristics of the hypoid gear are researched. The results show that the effect of contact pattern is not obvious of with linear segment. Besides, the peak to peak value of transmission error and meshing stiffness are reduced compared with the traditional cutter section. With the increase of the length of the linear segment, the tooth root bending stress increases and the transmission error and meshing stiffness decrease. The tooth root bending stress decreases and the transmission error and the meshing stiffness are not obvious with the increased of the radius of fillet. Therefore, the proper length of the linear segment and the radius of fillet can reduce the vibration by decreasing the transmission error with guaranteed strength.

AbstractBackground The association between vascular calcification (VC) and kidney stone is still inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the risk of kidney stone disease in subjects with VC.Methods To identify publications from related clinical studies, we performed a search on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from their inceptions until 1 September 2022. According to obvious heterogeneity, a random-effects model was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analysis was conducted trying to dissect the effects of VC in different segments and population regions in predicting kidney stone risk.Results Seven articles were included with a total number of 69,135 patients, of which 10,052 have vascular calcifications and 4728 have kidney stones. There was a significantly higher risk of kidney stone disease in participants with VC versus control (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.13–2.10). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of the results. VC can be separated into abdominal, coronary, carotid, and splenic aortic calcification while pooled analysis of abdominal aorta calcification did not indicate a significant higher kidney stone risk. An obvious higher risk of kidney stone was observed in Asian VC patients (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.07–2.61).Conclusion Combined evidence of observational studies suggested patients with VC may be associated with an increased risk of kidney stone disease. Despite the predictive value was relatively low, it is still worth noting that patients with VC are under the threat of kidney stone disease.

Emergency start-stop in front of signal lights is one of the main reasons for additional energy consumption and ride discomfort of Electric Vehicle (EV). Existing research on this issue rarely takes into account both energy consumption and ride comfort. Therefore, the layered energy-saving speed planning and control method is proposed. The upper is the layer of energy-saving speed planning. This layer reduces energy consumption of EV by reducing the number of stops on continuous signal lights road and minimizing the range of speed change. On this basis, the sinusoidal variable speed curve is used to smooth the acceleration process to improve ride comfort. Finally, the energy-saving speed considering ride comfort is obtained. This layer makes up for the issue that existing research rarely takes into account both energy consumption and ride comfort of EV, and is an extension and innovation of existing research. The lower is the layer of Model Predictive Controller (MPC)-based speed control. Based on the longitudinal dynamics model of EV, the MPC-based speed controller is established to control EV to track the energy-saving speed. The controller is easy to understand and implement, and it is also suitable for other research on EV, which has certain application value. The simulation results show that under various working conditions, the maximum energy consumption of EV passing through continuous signal lights road without stopping is 604.29 kJ/km, and the minimum is 244.76 kJ/km. The energy consumption is lower than that of actual road test, and it can be saved by 23.18 % compared with the method in the same field. The maximum Root Mean Square of accelerations (RMSa) is 0.25 m/s2, and the minimum is 0.10 m/s2. The values of RMSa above are lower than 0.315 m/s2, which indicates that the ride comfort is good. The utilized method can reduce energy consumption of EV, improve its range and ride comfort, which has important reference significance for promoting the development of EV.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanical stress of sandwich vertebrae (SVs) and common adjacent vertebrae in different degrees of spinal mobility in daily life.Materials and methodsA finite element model of the spinal segment of T10-L2 was developed and validated. Simultaneously, T11 and L1 fractures were simulated, and a 6-ml bone cement was constructed in their center. Under the condition of applying a 500-N axial load to the upper surface of T10 and immobilizing the lower surface of L2, moments were applied to the upper surface of T10, T11, T12, L1, and L2 and divided into five groups: M-T10, M-T11, M-T12, M-L1, and M-L2. The maximum von Mises stress of T10, T12, and L2 in different groups was calculated and analyzed.ResultsThe maximum von Mises stress of T10 in the M-T10 group was 30.68 MPa, 36.13 MPa, 34.27 MPa, 33.43 MPa, 26.86 MPa, and 27.70 MPa greater than the maximum stress value of T10 in the other groups in six directions of load flexion, extension, left and right lateral bending, and left and right rotation, respectively. The T12 stress value in the M-T12 group was 29.62 MPa, 32.63 MPa, 30.03 MPa, 31.25 MPa, 26.38 MPa, and 26.25 MPa greater than the T12 stress value in the other groups in six directions. The maximum stress of L2 in M-T12 in the M-L2 group was 25.48 MPa, 36.38 MPa, 31.99 MPa, 31.07 MPa, 30.36 MPa, and 32.07 MPa, which was greater than the stress value of L2 in the other groups. When the load is on which vertebral body, it is subjected to the greatest stress.ConclusionWe found that SVs did not always experience the highest stress. The most stressed vertebrae vary with the degree of curvature of the spine. Patients should be encouraged to avoid the same spinal curvature posture for a long time in life and work or to wear a spinal brace for protection after surgery, which can avoid long-term overload on a specific spine and disrupt its blood supply, resulting in more severe loss of spinal quality and increasing the possibility of fractures.

Graph theory within power electronics, developed over a 50-year span, is continually evolving, necessitating ongoing research endeavors. Facing with the never-been-seen explosion of graph-structured data, the state-of-the-art deep learning technique-Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), becomes the leading trend in machine learning within just recent five years and demonstrated surprisingly broad and prominent benefits covering from new drug discovery to better IC design. However, its promising applications in Power Electronics are still rarely discussed and its full potential remains unexplored. Addressing this gap, this review paper is the first to outline GNNs’ general workflow in power electronics, laying the groundwork and examining current GNN methodologies within the field. To bridge the gap in the sparse GNN literature within this domain, we also provide extended discussions on leveraging insights from GNN-aided circuit design to enrich power electronics research. Our work includes in-depth GNN-based case studies that demonstrate promising applications from converters to system-level power electronics, showcasing GNNs’ unique benefits and untapped possibilities (e.g., accurate component design, voltage predictions on IEEE-13 bus and 118 bus systems). Additionally, we provide a comprehensive survey of GNNs’ latest and successful applications, emphasizing their impact on energy-centric sectors, such as transportation electrification, smart grids. Considering the interdisciplinary nature of power electronics in modern energy systems, our review highlights the potential of GNNs emerge as a promising tool to decode the intricate behavior and dynamics of power electronics systems, and we hope such synergies between advanced AI methodologies like GNNs with the ever-evolving graph theory can lead to more powerful tools, novel methodologies, and advancements in the power electronics community.

Polycystic kidney disease (Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, ADPKD) is the most common genetic disease of the kidney, and the measurement of Total Kidney Volume (TKV) in clinical research of this disease is essential to study the progression of ADPKD. At present, the volume segmentation of polycystic kidneys mainly relies on doctors to manually outline the kidney boundary on the radiological image. This process is time-consuming, labor-intensive, inefficient, subjective, and difficult to guarantee consistency. In the research of this paper, A multi-module hybrid U-shape segmentation method is proposed (HUNet), which introduces wavelet pooling, cascade residual, and efficient multi-head self-attention into the U-shape structure. We use wavelet pooling instead of traditional down-sampling to reduce the loss of detailed features, the use of cascaded residual modules can improve the ability of model feature reuse, and the use of efficient multi-head self-attention modules can effectively capture global multi-scale information. In the decoding process of the U-shape, the corresponding loss value of each decoder will be calculated, and finally, the total loss value of the model will be obtained by weighted average. The method was trained and tested on the polycystic kidney dataset provided by Shanghai Changzheng Hospital. We automatically segmented the ADPKD in MRI images using the proposed method with a remarkably high Dice similarity coefficient relative to the manual segmentation (mean=0.915). The percentage difference between the total kidney volume values using manual and HUNet methods was only 0.4%. The proposed approach enables fast and accurate TKV measurement.

Background The impact of p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) and indoxyl sulfate (IS) on the prognosis of patients with uremia remains controversial. We performed a prospective study on peritoneal dialysis (PD) to investigate the relationship between PCS or IS levels with clinical outcomes.Methods This prospective cohort study investigated the association of serum PCS and IS with clinical outcomes in patients undertaking PD. We performed a correlations analysis to explore the influencing factors of PCS an IS. Meta-analysis was conducted to objectively evaluate the prognostic effects of PCS and IS on different stages of CKD patients.Results A total of 127 patients were enrolled consecutively and followed with an average period of 51.3 months. Multivariate Cox regression showed that serum total PCS not only contributed to the occurrence of PD failure event (HR: 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.07, p

Aiming at the difficult problem of extracting fault characteristics and the low accuracy of fault diagnosis throughout the full life cycle of rolling bearings, a fault diagnosis method for rolling bearings based on grey relation degree is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the subtraction-average-based optimizer is used to optimize the parameters of the variational mode decomposition algorithm. Secondly, the vibration signals of bearings are decomposed by using the optimized results, and the feature vector of the intrinsic mode function component corresponding to the minimum envelope entropy is extracted. Finally, the grey proximity and similarity relation degree based on standard distance entropy are weighted to calculate the grey comprehensive relation degree between the feature vector of vibration signals and each standard state. By comparing the results, the diagnosis of different fault states and degrees of rolling bearings is realized. The XJTU-SY dataset was used for experimentation, and the results show that the proposed method achieves a diagnostic accuracy of 95.24% and has better diagnosis performance compared to various algorithms. It provides a reference for the fault diagnosis of rolling bearings throughout the full life cycle.

Independent component analysis (ICA) is a fundamental data processing technique to decompose the captured signals into as independent as possible components. Computing the contrast function, which serves as a measure of the independence of signals, is vital and costs major computing resources in ICA. This paper presents a quantum algorithm that focuses on computing a specified contrast function on a quantum computer. Using the quantum acceleration in matrix operations, we efficiently deal with Gram matrices and estimate the contrast function with the complexity of $O(\epsilon_1^{-2}\mbox{poly}\log(N/\epsilon_1))$ . This estimation subprogram, combined with the classical optimization framework, builds up our ICA algorithm, which exponentially reduces the complexity dependence on the data scale compared with algorithms using only classical computers. The outperformance is further supported by numerical experiments, while our algorithm is then applied for the separation of a transcriptomic dataset and for financial time series forecasting, to predict the Nikkei 225 opening index to show its potential application prospect.

In recent years, more and more prominent urban flooding problems on campus drainage system planning and design put forward higher requirements. Sudden rainfall can have multiple negative impacts on campuses, but it is also an excellent opportunity to utilize rainwater resources. At present, the peak flow rate of urban drainage system in China is still mainly calculated by the inference formula method, and the design return period of municipal drainage system is also low, which may lead to campus flooding in case of large rainstorms. In this paper, using the Stormwater Flood Management Model (SWMM) as a platform, the Central China Normal University (CCNU) was selected to simulate the summer stormwater runoff process, and three different combinations of low-impact development (LID) facilities were applied to the campus stormwater runoff control, and the control effects of the different combinations on the flood peak flow abatement were compared. The results show that the selected LID deployment scheme is better than the single facility control effect. Finally, based on the results of the study, a technical solution for rainwater collection and reuse based on sponge campus was proposed to renovate and design the campus landscape of Central China Normal University. The economic, social and environmental benefits are significant and can provide a reference for rainwater collection on other campuses.

Castleman disease is a rare heterogeneous lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. Unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) is more common. UCD can occur at any site where lymphatic tissue exists, most commonly in the mediastinum, neck, and abdominal cavity, etc. in the current study, we reported a 46-year-old woman, who has left low back pain and discomfort. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the kidneys showed the left renal pelvis was occupied, left hydronephrosis, and the left renal hilum and retroperitoneal lymph nodes were enlarged. Enhanced kidney CT showed that the “pelvic tumor” was moderately enhanced in the bottom part in corticomedullary phase, while in nephrogenic phase, it was unevenly enhanced with a highly enhanced bottom part and weakly enhanced upper part. In excretory phase, reinforcement was decreased. “left renal pelvis tumor” was diagnosed and she underwent surgical treatment with left nephrectomy. However, histopathological examination indicated the UCD. We suggest that for renal pelvic tumors having imaging characteristics of homogeneous soft tissue density and heterogeneous CT enhancement, the hyaline vascular type of UCD could be taken into consideration for differential diagnosis.

Late stage nitrogen (N) applications following basic fertilization are commonly used to ensure grain yield and increase grain protein content in wheat. Split N applications at the late growth stage of wheat are an effective measure to improve N absorption and transport and thus increase grain protein content. However, whether split N applications can alleviate the decrease in grain protein content induced by elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (e[CO2]) remains unclear. In the present study, a free-air CO2 enrichment system was used to investigate the effects of split N applications (at booting or anthesis) on grain yield, N utilization, protein content, and the composition of wheat under atmospheric (ACO2; 400 ± 15 ppm) and elevated CO2 concentrations (ECO2; 600 ± 15 ppm). The results showed that wheat grain yield and grain N uptake increased by 5.0% (being grains per ear by 3.0%, 1000-grain weight by 2.0%, and harvest index by 1.6%) and 4.3%, respectively, whereas grain protein content decreased by 2.3% under ECO2 conditions. Although the negative effect of e[CO2] on grain protein content was not alleviated by split N applications, gluten protein content was enhanced due to the alteration of N distribution in different protein fractions (albumins, globulins, gliadins, and glutenins). Compared to that without split N applications, the gluten content of wheat grains increased by 4.2% and 4.5% when late stage N was applied at the booting stage under ACO2 and anthesis under ECO2 conditions, respectively. The results indicate that rational handling of N fertilizers may be a promising approach to coordinating grain yield and quality under the effects of future climate change. However, compared to ACO2 conditions, the key timing for improving grain quality by split N applications should be postponed from the booting stage to anthesis under e[CO2] conditions.

Background: The peptide hormone relaxin has potent anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties in various organs, including the kidneys. However, the protective effects of relaxin in the context of diabetic kidney complications remain controversial. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of relaxin treatment on key markers of kidney fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation and their subsequent impact on bile acid metabolism in the streptozotocin-induced diabetes mouse model. Methods and results: Male mice were randomly allocated to placebo-treated control, placebo-treated diabetes or relaxin-treated diabetes groups (0.5 mg/kg/d, final 2 weeks of diabetes). After 12 weeks of diabetes or sham, the kidney cortex was harvested for metabolomic and gene expression analyses. Diabetic mice exhibited significant hyperglycaemia and increased circulating levels of creatine, hypoxanthine and trimethylamine N-oxide in the plasma. This was accompanied by increased expression of key markers of oxidative stress (Txnip), inflammation (Ccl2 and Il6) and fibrosis (Col1a1, Mmp2 and Fn1) in the diabetic kidney cortex. Relaxin treatment for the final 2 weeks of diabetes significantly reduced these key markers of renal fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in diabetic mice. Furthermore, relaxin treatment significantly increased the levels of bile acid metabolites, deoxycholic acid and sodium glycodeoxycholic acid, which may in part contribute to the renoprotective action of relaxin in diabetes. Conclusion: In summary, this study shows the therapeutic potential of relaxin and that it may be used as an adjunctive treatment for diabetic kidney complications.

Strengthening scientific research, technological capacity and sustainable use of oceans in developing countries are the goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Marine science and education as the key foundation for achieving these goals has been seldom evaluated quantitatively and collectively. This paper adopted the DEA modelling from economics for analyzing the long-term input and output performance of marine science and education at a national scale in China both by region and discipline. It is found that China’s marine science and education level has been improving annually in the last decade. The input/output efficiency of science and education in 11 coastal provinces however has slightly declined except Guangdong. The input/output performance among 14 research disciplines was further evaluated and was found the similar improving trends. The input/output efficiency of 70% research disciplines showed an increasing trend while 30% of which showed a slightly declining trend. The results could provide important references for prioritizing the science and education resources allocation both in different coastal regions and marine research disciplines to save the investment and achieve more progress.

Wetlands are globally critical for human survival and Earth's sustainable development. However, wetlands are experiencing rapid degradation and loss due to pollution, reclamation, climate change, invasions, etc. Ramsar sites are globally recognized as wetland hotspots that have been designated Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. However, the long-term trends of change that affect these sites remain unclear. This study explored the ecological changes and characteristics of Ramsar sites using 7 ecological indicators from three aspects: vegetation status, hydrological dynamics and anthropogenic disturbance, with the support of 36-year dense Landsat imagery and the trend and mutation analysis algorithms of Theil-Sen and BreakoutDetection. The results showed that (1) for the long-term trend, the ecological status of 55% of China's Ramsar sites experienced a trend of degradation, and the remaining Ramsar sites showed a trend of restoration in the past 36 years. (2) After the mutation was analysed, 47% of the Ramsar sites showed an environmental and ecological improvement trend in the recent period. (3) More than 50% of Ramsar sites were found to have ecological reversals in vegetation status and hydrological dynamics in the past 36 years.

Self-supporting run-flat tires (SSRFTs) achieve good zero-pressure driving ability by reinforcing the sidewalls, and the structural shape of sidewall insert rubber (SIR) is critical in influencing the mechanical characteristics of SSRFTs. In this paper, an SSRFT contour model is established by combining the radial tire contour theory and the design elements of SIR. The influence of two design parameters (maximum width L and maximum thickness H) of SIR on the tire stiffness characteristics and the contact characteristics is analyzed in depth, and the accuracy of the model is verified by the tire mechanics bench test. The results show that the radial stiffness of SSRFTs is positively correlated with two design parameters; an increase in L affects the stress concentration at the end of SIR, while a change in H has a more drastic effect on the stress distribution of SIR, leading to a large change in both the location of the deformation of SIR and the maximum equivalent stress; under rated pressure conditions, when L is less than 100 mm, the overlap between SIR and the tread decreases, which in turn makes the contact characteristics of SSRFTs closer to that of a normal tire, and obtains better comfort and abrasion resistance; under zero-pressure conditions, the maximum contact stress of the tread is the smallest when the H is 8 mm, but when H is less than 6 mm, the contact characteristics appear to deteriorate uniformly, and the maximum contact stress continues to rise. The results of the research provide a reference value for the selection of the design parameters for SIR and the optimization of the dynamic performance of SSRFTs.

Modeling stochastic phenomena in continuous time is an essential yet challenging problem. Analytic solutions are often unavailable, and numerical methods can be prohibitively time-consuming and computationally expensive. To address this issue, we propose an algorithmic framework tailored for quantum continuous time stochastic processes. This framework consists of two key procedures: data preparation and information extraction. The data preparation procedure is specifically designed to encode and compress information, resulting in a significant reduction in both space and time complexities. This reduction is exponential with respect to a crucial feature parameter of the stochastic process. Additionally, it can serve as a submodule for other quantum algorithms, mitigating the common data input bottleneck. The information extraction procedure is designed to decode and process compressed information with quadratic acceleration, extending the quantum-enhanced Monte Carlo method. The framework demonstrates versatility and flexibility, finding applications in statistics, physics, time series analysis and finance. Illustrative examples include option pricing in the Merton Jump Diffusion Model and ruin probability computing in the Collective Risk Model, showcasing the framework’s ability to capture extreme market events and incorporate history-dependent information. Overall, this quantum algorithmic framework provides a powerful tool for accurate analysis and enhanced understanding of stochastic phenomena.

Abstract Background A fundamental feature of parasitism is the nutritional exploitation of host organisms by their parasites. Parasitoid wasps lay eggs on arthropod hosts, exploiting them for nutrition to support larval development by using diverse effectors aimed at regulating host metabolism. However, the genetic components and molecular mechanisms at the basis of such exploitation, especially the utilization of host amino acid resources, remain largely unknown. To address this question, here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of the parasitoid wasp Cotesia chilonis and reconstruct its amino acid biosynthetic pathway. Results Analyses of the amino acid synthetic pathway indicate that C. chilonis lost the ability to synthesize ten amino acids, which was confirmed by feeding experiments with amino acid-depleted media. Of the ten pathways, nine are known to have been lost in the common ancestor of animals. We find that the ability to synthesize arginine was also lost in C. chilonis because of the absence of two key genes in the arginine synthesis pathway. Further analyses of the genomes of 72 arthropods species show that the loss of arginine synthesis is common in arthropods. Metabolomic analyses by UPLC-MS/MS reveal that the temporal concentrations of arginine, serine, tyrosine, and alanine are significantly higher in host (Chilo suppressalis) hemolymph at 3 days after parasitism, whereas the temporal levels of 5-hydroxylysine, glutamic acid, methionine, and lysine are significantly lower. We sequence the transcriptomes of a parasitized host and non-parasitized control. Differential gene expression analyses using these transcriptomes indicate that parasitoid wasps inhibit amino acid utilization and activate protein degradation in the host, likely resulting in the increase of amino acid content in host hemolymph. Conclusions We sequenced the genome of a parasitoid wasp, C. chilonis, and revealed the features of trait loss in amino acid biosynthesis. Our work provides new insights into amino acid exploitation by parasitoid wasps, and this knowledge can specifically be used to design parasitoid artificial diets that potentially benefit mass rearing of parasitoids for pest control.

Spurs have played an important role in the radiation of the genus Aquilegia, but little is known about how the spurless state arose in A. ecalcarata. Here we aim to characterize the genetic divergence within A. ecalcarata and gain insights into the origin of this species. A total of 19 populations from A. ecalcarata and 23 populations from three of its closest relatives (Aquilegia kansuensis, Aquilegia rockii and Aquilegia yabeana) were sampled in this study. We sequenced fifteen nuclear gene fragments across the genome and three chloroplast loci to conduct phylogenetic, PCoA and STRUCTURE analyses.Our analyses indicate that A. ecalcarata may not be monophyletic and can be divided into two distinct lineages (A. ecalcarata I and A. ecalcarata II). A. ecalcarata I is genetically close to A. kansuensis, whereas A. ecalcarata II is close to A. rockii. Isolation-with-migration analysis suggested that historical gene flow was low between A. ecalcarata I and A. rockii, as well as between A. ecalcarata II and A. kansuensis. The two distinct lineages of A. ecalcarata show significant divergence in 13 floral traits and also have distinct distributions. In addition, both A. ecalcarata I and II are adapted to a stony environment that differs from that of their closest relatives, indicating a habitat shift may have driven new adaptations. Our findings enrich the understanding of how floral evolution contributes to species diversification.

Abstract Objective Attractin (ATRN) is a widely expressed member of the cell adhesion and guidance protein family in humans that is closely related to cellular immunity and neurodevelopment. However, while previous studies in our laboratory have confirmed the effect of ATRN mutations on long‐term memory, its specific role and the molecular mechanism by which it influences spatial cognition are poorly understood. Methods This study aimed to examine the effect of ATRN mutations on working memory in water maze with a novel ATRN‐mutant rat generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 system; the mutation involved the substitution of the 505th amino acid, glycine (G), with cysteine (C), namely, a mutation from GGC to TGC. The changes in myelin basic protein (MBP) expression in rats were also analyzed with the western blot. Results The ATRN‐G505C(KI/KI) rats exhibited significant increases in the required latency and distance traveled to locate the escape platform in a Morris water maze test of working memory. In addition, the expression of MBP was reduced in ATRN‐mutant rats, as shown in the western blot analysis. Conclusion Our results indicate that ATRN gene mutations may directly lead to the impairment of working memory in the water maze; this impairment may be due to the inhibition of MBP expression, which in turn affects the spatial cognition.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), the most common monogenic hereditary kidney disease, is the fourth leading cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide. In recent years, significant progress has been made in delaying ADPKD progression with different kinds of chemical drugs, such as tolvaptan, rapamycin, and somatostatin. Meanwhile, numerous plant-derived compounds have been investigated for their beneficial effects on slowing ADPKD progression. Among them, saikosaponin-d, Ganoderma triterpenes, curcumin, ginkgolide B, steviol, resveratrol, Sparganum stoloniferum Buch.-Ham, Cordyceps sinensis, triptolide, quercitrin, naringin, cardamonin, gambogic acid, and olive leaf extract have been found to retard renal cyst development by inhibiting cell proliferation or promoting cell apoptosis in renal cyst-lining epithelial cells. Metformin, a synthesized compound derived from French lilac or goat’s rue (Galega officinalis), has been proven to retard the progression of ADPKD. This review focuses on the roles and mechanisms of plant-derived compounds in treating ADPKD, which may constitute promising new therapeutics in the future.

The dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) algorithm is a widely used factorization and dimensionality reduction technique in time series analysis. When analyzing high-dimensional time series, the DMD algorithm requires extremely large amounts of computational power. To accelerate the DMD algorithm, we propose a quantum-classical hybrid algorithm that we call the quantum dynamic mode decomposition (QDMD) algorithm. Given a time series X ∈ Rn × (m + 1) with n ≫ m, the QDMD algorithm first executes quantum singular value decomposition on a matrix related to X and obtains a quantum state containing the main singular values and singular vectors of the decomposed matrix, then performs a low-sampling-frequency process on the obtained quantum state and computes the low-dimensional projection of the DMD operator through the sampling results. Finally, the algorithm computes the DMD eigenvalues and prepares the amplitude-encoding states of the DMD modes using the obtained classical information and X. Considering the main variables, the complexity of the QDMD algorithm is [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] denotes the number of samples. Compared with the classical DMD algorithm, which has complexity [Formula: see text], the QDMD algorithm provides an exponential acceleration of n, at the cost of greater dependence on M and ϵ. We test the effects of M on the QDMD algorithm in the specific application scenarios of data denoising, scene background extraction, and fluid dynamics analysis. We determined that the QDMD algorithm requires only a small number of samples M in specific applications, further demonstrating the quantum advantage of the QDMD algorithm in high-dimensional data analysis.

Microjets arranged on the wing surfaces of civil transport aircraft have been shown to have great potential in suppressing high-frequency gust loads. This paper presents a study of aerodynamic load reduction on a supercritical airfoil using tilted microjets by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. The numerical method was first validated against the experimental and previous numerical data. Afterward, the subsonic and transonic flowfields around the supercritical airfoil were simulated with various angled microjets. The results show that both the lift reduction and the power efficiencies significantly increase as the blowing direction shifts downstream to upstream. The movement and weakening of the shock due to the jet are observed at α>2∘ in transonic flow, resulting in a drag reduction compared to the baseline airfoil. However, the transient subsonic results revealed that the upstream jet induces a strong vortex shedding, which is suppressed in transonic flows. During jet deployment, there are three distinct phases: time lag, vortex rolling-up, and rebalancing, in that order. Once it reaches the trailing edge in subsonic flows, the starting vortex rapidly modifies the load and induced a strong roll-up vortex from the pressure surface. Nevertheless, in transonic flow, the rebalancing stage contributes to a greater reduction in lift due to the additional shock movement and weakening effect.

Abstract Background Stone cells in fruits of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) negatively influence fruit quality because their lignified cell walls impart a coarse and granular texture to the fruit flesh. Results We generate RNA-seq data from the developing fruits of 206 pear cultivars with a wide range of stone cell contents and use a systems genetics approach to integrate co-expression networks and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) to characterize the regulatory mechanisms controlling lignocellulose formation in the stone cells of pear fruits. Our data with a total of 35,897 expressed genes and 974,404 SNPs support the identification of seven stone cell formation modules and the detection of 139,515 eQTLs for 3229 genes in these modules. Focusing on regulatory factors and using a co-expression network comprising 39 structural genes, we identify PbrNSC as a candidate regulator of stone cell formation. We then verify the function of PbrNSC in regulating lignocellulose formation using both pear fruit and Arabidopsis plants and further show that PbrNSC can transcriptionally activate multiple target genes involved in secondary cell wall formation. Conclusions This study generates a large resource for studying stone cell formation and provides insights into gene regulatory networks controlling the formation of stone cell and lignocellulose.

Abstract Background We have previously found that β-elemene could inhibit the viability of airway granulation fibroblasts and prevent airway hyperplastic stenosis. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanism and protective efficacy of β-elemene in vitro and in vivo. Methods Microarray and bioinformatic analysis were used to identify altered pathways related to cell viability in a β-elemene-treated primary cell model and to construct a β-elemene-altered ceRNA network modulating the target pathway. Loss of function and gain of function approaches were performed to examine the role of the ceRNA axis in β-elemene's regulation of the target pathway and cell viability. Additionally, in a β-elemene-treated rabbit model of airway stenosis, endoscopic and histological examinations were used to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy and further verify its mechanism of action. Results The hyperactive ILK/Akt pathway and dysregulated LncRNA-MIR143HG, which acted as a miR-1275 ceRNA to modulate ILK expression, were suppressed in β-elemene-treated airway granulation fibroblasts; β-elemene suppressed the ILK/Akt pathway via the MIR143HG/miR-1275/ILK axis. Additionally, the cell cycle and apoptotic phenotypes of granulation fibroblasts were altered, consistent with ILK/Akt pathway activity. In vivo application of β-elemene attenuated airway granulation hyperplasia and alleviated scar stricture, and histological detections suggested that β-elemene's effects on the MIR143HG/miR-1275/ILK axis and ILK/Akt pathway were in line with in vitro findings. Conclusions MIR143HG and ILK may act as ceRNA to sponge miR-1275. The MIR143HG/miR-1275/ILK axis mediates β-elemene-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of airway granulation fibroblasts by modulating the ILK/Akt pathway, thereby inhibiting airway granulation proliferation and ultimately alleviating airway stenosis.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease worldwide and is one of the major causes of end-stage renal disease. PKD1 and PKD2 are two genes that mainly contribute to the development and progression of ADPKD. The precise mechanism is not fully understood. In recent years, epigenetic modification has drawn increasing attention. Chromatin methylation is a very important category of PKD epigenetic changes and mostly involves DNA, histone, and RNA methylation. Genome hypomethylation and regional gene hypermethylation coexist in ADPKD. We found that the genomic DNA of ADPKD kidney tissues showed extensive demethylation by whole-genome bisulphite sequencing, while some regional DNA methylation from body fluids, such as blood and urine, can be used as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers to predict PKD progression. Histone modifications construct the histone code mediated by histone methyltransferases and contribute to aberrant methylation changes in PKD. Considering the complexity of methylation abnormalities occurring in different regions and genes on the PKD epigenome, more specific therapy aiming to restore to the normal genome should lead to the development of epigenetic treatment.

Fibroblast growth factor 23(FGF23) is the most important biomarker and pathogenic factor in Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD–MBD). In the moderate and severe stages of chronic renal failure, abnormally elevated circulating FGF23 can lead to some complications, including myocardial hypertrophy, which is positively correlated with all-cause mortality. However, the circulating FGF23 level of different hemodialysis modalities, the underlying essential regulatory factors, and potential clinical benefits remain to be elucidated. In this retrospective cohort study, 90 in-center nocturnal hemodialysis (INHD) and 90 matched conventional hemodialysis (CHD) patients were enrolled. The complete blood count, intact FGF23(iFGF23), calcium, phosphorus, PTH, and other biochemical and echocardiographic parameters of INHD and CHD patients were collected and analyzed at 1-year follow-up. The all-cause mortality was recorded during the 7-year follow-up. Furthermore, the regulatory factors of iFGF23 and its association with echocardiographic parameters and mortality were investigated by multivariate regression. The levels of iFGF23 and serum phosphate in patients undergoing INHD were significantly lower than those in patients undergoing CHD. The left ventricular volume index (LVMI) in patients with INHD was significantly attenuated and positively correlated with the drop of serum iFGF23. The INHD group had reduced all-cause mortality compared to the CHD group. Multivariate analysis showed that iFGF23 was positively correlated with serum calcium, serum phosphorus, and calcium-phosphate product. The calcium-phosphate product is an independent determining factor of serum iFGF23. Compared with the CHD group, the INHD group presented with a significantly reduced circulating iFGF23 level, which was closely associated with attenuation of left ventricular hypertrophy, but INHD reduced all-cause mortality in an FGF23 independent manner.

The wafer pre-aligner is a crucial component in the lithography process to correct the wafer center and notch orientation. To improve the precision and the efficiency of pre-alignment, a new method to calibrate the center and the orientation of a wafer based on the weighted Fourier series fitting of circles (WFC) method and the least squares fitting of circles (LSC) method, respectively, is proposed. The WFC method effectively suppressed the influence of the outliers and had high stability compared with the LSC method when fitted to the center of the circle. While the weight matrix degenerated to the identity matrix, the WFC method degenerated into the Fourier series fitting of circles (FC) method. The fitting efficiency of the FC method is 28% higher than that of the LSC method, and the fitting accuracy of the center of the FC method is the same as that of the LSC method. In addition, the WFC method and the FC method perform better than the LSC method in radius fitting. The pre-alignment simulation results showed that the absolute position accuracy of the wafer was ±2 µm, the absolute direction accuracy was 0.01°, and the total calculation time was less than 3.3 s in our platform.

Stone cells have been described to substantially influence pear fruit quality, as lignin and cellulose are the main components of stone cells. However, there are limited studies on the relationship between the variation and molecular basis of stone cells, lignin and cellulose content among different pear varieties. Here, to reveal the variation of stone cell content within different cultivated species, we collected 236 germplasms of sand pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) at 50 days after flower blooming (DAFB), the key stage of stone cell formation. In our results, we measured the content of stone cells, lignin and cellulose and found that these contents ranged from 2.82% to 29.00%, 8.84% to 55.30% and 11.52% to 30.55%, respectively. Further analysis showed that the variation coefficient of stone cell, lignin and cellulose content was 39.10%, 28.03% and 16.71%, respectively. Additionally, a significant correlation between stone cell, lignin and cellulose content were detected, and the correlation coefficient between the contents of stone cell and lignin (0.912) was higher than between the contents of stone cell and cellulose (0.796). Moreover, the average lignin content (29.73%) was higher than the average cellulose content (18.03%) in stone cells in pear fruits, indicating that lignin is the main component of stone cell in pears. Finally, on the basic of the transcriptome data, we identified 10 transcription factors belonging to bHLH, ERF, MYB, and NAC transcript families, which might be involved in lignin formation in stone cells. qRT-PCR experiments verified coincident trends between expression of candidate genes and stone cell content. This research laid foundation for future studies on genetic variation of stone cells in pear fruits and provided important gene resources for stone cell regulation.

Macrobrachium nipponense is an economically important prawn species and common in Chinese inland capture fisheries. During aquaculture, M. nipponense can survive under freshwater and low salinity conditions. The molecular mechanism underlying the response to salinity acclimation remains unclear in this species; thus, in this study, we used the Illumina RNA sequencing platform for transcriptome analyses of the gill and hepatopancreas tissues of M. nipponense exposed to salinity stress [0.4‰ (S0, control group), 6‰ (S6, low salinity group), and 12‰ (S12, high salinity group)]. Differentially expressed genes were identified, and several important salinity adaptation-related terms and signaling pathways were found to be enriched, such as “ion transport,” “oxidative phosphorylation,” and “glycometabolism.” Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated the participation of 12 key genes in osmotic pressure regulation in M. nipponense under acute salinity stress. Further, the role of carbonic anhydrase in response to salinity acclimation was investigated by subjecting the gill tissues of M. nipponense to in situ hybridization. Collectively, the results reported herein enhance our understanding of the mechanisms via which M. nipponense adapts to changes in salinity.

Central venous catheterization is a necessary and common method of building the circulation pathways of patients with end-stage kidney disease. Venous rupture is a severe and fatal complication of central venous catheterization. We herein present a case of slowly occurring venous rupture after reinsertion of a left internal jugular vein (IJV) catheter. A man in his early 70s was hospitalized with end-stage kidney disease. We inserted a hemodialysis catheter through the left IJV. A short section of the patient’s catheter slipped out 1 month later. The original catheter was reinserted at its primary position without a guidewire. The patient reported chest pain and developed hypotension during dialysis the next day. He underwent femoral venous catheter insertion and heparin-free dialysis. The patient finally recovered and underwent regular hemodialysis using an arteriovenous fistula in the left forearm. This is the first reported case of venous laceration after repeated left IJV catheterization. Left IJV catheterization is associated with high rates of complications and should be closely monitored with the help of radiography during and after the operation. Central venous catheters should be carefully placed with clear knowledge of their direction and location to prevent serious complications.

Studies of fruit quality traits in pears are lagging behind the other major fruit trees. Here, the authors conduct GWAS of fruit quality and phenological traits in a panel of 312 sand pear accessions using SNPs called from resequencing data, and reveal the involvement of a lignin formation-related protein in regulating stone cell development.

Abstract The appropriate nitrogen (N) fertilizer regulator could increase N utilization of crops and reduce N losses in the North China Plain. We investigated the effects of reduced inorganic-N rate combined with an organic fertilizer on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in winter wheat and summer maize rotation system. Simultaneously studied the effect of different treatments on N use efficiency (NUE), N balance and net income. After reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer in the wheat-corn rotation system, the results showed that the cumulative emission of soil N2O from the RN40% + HOM [40% of RN (recommended inorganic-N rate) with homemade organic matter] treatment was 41.0% lower than that of the RN treatment. In addition, the N production efficiency, agronomic efficiency, and apparent utilization were significantly increased by 50.2%, 72.4% and 19.5% than RN, respectively. The use of RN40% + HOM resulted in 22.0 and 30.1% lower soil N residual and N losses as compared with RN. After adding organic substances, soil N2O cumulative emission of RN40% + HOM treatment decreased by 20.9% than that of the HAN (zinc and humic acid urea at the same inorganic-N rate of RN) treatment. The N production efficiency, N agronomic efficiency and NUE of RN40% + HOM treatment were 36.6%, 40.9% and 15.3% higher than HAN’s. Moreover, soil residual and apparent loss N were 23.3% and 18.0% less than HAN’s. The RN40% + HOM treatment appears to be the most effective as a fertilizer control method where it reduced N fertilizer input and its loss to the environment and provided the highest grain yield.

The transverse settlement induced by the construction of a parallel shield tunnel alongside the building has raised considerable attention, whereas few studies focus on the longitudinal settlement. Therefore, the spatial deformation of ground developed from this tunneling form is investigated. In this study, some field measurements from the shield tunnel section of Tianjin Metro Line 6 parallel to four similar masonry buildings in vicinity are analyzed first, and the deformation pattern is established. Then, a hardening soil model calibrated against field measurement, considering small strain stiffness, is implemented in a three-dimension finite element simulation to evaluate the longitudinal deflection of the buildings, the ground deformation, and the soil stress distribution. Additionally, the effect of building aspect ratio is discussed. The simulation results show that tunneling-induced sagging deformation develops along the longitudinal direction of the building, and the settlement at the middle of a longitudinal wall is twice of that at the corners. Therefore, the study of tunneling parallel to buildings cannot be simplified to a plane strain problem. The building construction and tunneling activity result in the soil above the tunnel crown experiencing a complicated stress history, which can be divided into six stages. In longitudinal direction, compared with the part below the building foundation corners, the soil in the middle initially behaves larger compressive deformation due to building construction, followed by greater unloading deformation caused by tunnel excavation. In addition, the longitudinal sagging is significantly reduced for the buildings with aspect ratio less than 2.