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The radiance of sky brightness differs principally with wavelength passband. Atmospheric scattering of sunlight causes the radiation in the near-infrared band. The Antarctic is a singular area of the planet, marked by an unparalleled climate and geographical conditions, including the coldest temperatures and driest climate on Earth, which leads it to be the best candidate site for observing in infrared bands. At present, there are still no measurements of night-sky brightness at DOME A. We have developed the Near-Infrared Sky Brightness Monitor (NISBM) in the J, H, and Ks bands for measurements at DOME A. The instruments were installed at DOME A in 2019 and early results of NIR sky brightness from 2019 January–April have been obtained. The variation of sky background brightness with solar elevation and scanning angle is analysed. The zenith sky flux intensity for the early night at DOME A in the J band is in the 600–1100 μJy arcsec−2 range, that in the H band is between 1100 and 2600 μJy arcsec−2, and that in the Ks band is in the range ∼200–900 μJy arcsec−2. This result shows that the sky brightness in J and H bands is close to that of Ali in China and Mauna Kea in the USA. The sky brightness in the Ks band is much better than that in Ali, China and Mauna Kea, USA. This shows that, from our early results, DOME A is a good site for astronomical observation in the Ks band.

With the increasing demand for astronomical observations, telescope systems are becoming increasingly complex. Thus, the observatory control software needs to be more intelligent. It has to control each instrument inside the observatory, finish the observational tasks autonomously, and report the information to users if needed. We developed a distributed autonomous observatory control framework named the Remote Autonomous Control System 2nd (RACS2) to meet these requirements. Rich features are integrated into the RACS2 framework. The RACS2 is a modular framework, in which each device control software and system services are implemented as different components. Furthermore, the RACS2 framework assimilates new techniques, such as a lightweight message and serialization mechanism. RACS2 also has good compatibility with other frameworks or ecosystems such as Python and the EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System). The RACS2 framework can communicate with EPICS-based and Python-based software. With the help of these features, key system components like executor, scheduler are developed. The executor component can support sophisticated tasks. Autonomous observation can be achieved by the scheduler component. A set of web-based graphical user interface (GUI) is designed to help control and manage the framework remotely. Based on the RACS2 framework, we have implemented the Dome A Twins (DATs) telescope’s observation system and the space object observation system. The systems have been operated for more than 1 year. The RACS2 framework also has been used in our other projects like camera control system of Wide Field Survey Telescope (WFST) and its observatory control system, and the design can be a useful reference for the development of other frameworks.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) reduces postprandial hyperglycaemia, but its short half-life inhibits clinical application. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the treatment efforts of an engineered strain, Lactobacillus plantarum-pMG36e-GLP-1 (L. plantarum-pMG36e-GLP-1), that continuously expresses GLP-1 in spontaneous type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) monkeys. After 7 weeks of oral supplementation with L. plantarum-pMG36e-GLP-1, the fasting blood glucose (FPG) of monkeys was significantly (p

Co-feeding plastic waste has been considered to be an attractive method to enhance aromatic production and mitigate coke formation during catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of lignocellulosic biomass w...

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been extensively used in phylogenetics and species-level evolutionary investigations. The lepidopteran family Tortricidae (leaf-roller moths), including the genus Grapholita, contains numerous species of economic importance, but for the majority of Grapholita species, their mitogenomes remain poorly studied. Here, we sequence and annotate the full mitogenome of Grapholita delineana, an important pest of hemp worldwide and compare it with the mitogenomes of two congeneric species available from GenBank. The G. delineana mitogenome is 15,599 bp long, including 37 typical mitochondrial genes and an A + T-rich region. Gene content, order and orientation are identical to other reported tortricid mitogenomes. Analyses of nucleotide diversity, Ka/Ks, genetic distance and number of variable sites together suggest that nad6 is the fastest-evolving gene among the mitochondrial PCGs of Grapholita. Our analyses indicate that Grapholita, as presently defined, is not monophyletic, confirming previous morphological and multiple-gene studies, using mitogenomic evidence. Our study provides information on comparative mitogenomics of Tortricidae especially Grapholita.

Multinucleon transfer reactions are currently a powerful way to synthesize neutron-rich nuclei. To explore the effect of nucleus deformation and mirror nucleus shell correction energy in the nucleus mass model on the calculation of multinucleon transfer reaction cross sections in the dinuclear system (DNS) model, three macroscopic microscopic mass models are selected and the transfer reaction cross sections are calculated for 136Xe+208Pb and 64Ni+238U by improved DNS model+GEMINI++, respectively. The mirror nucleus shell correction energy does not improve the accuracy of the cross section of the transfer reaction. The introduction of a different dependence of the Coulomb and surface energy on the deformation can improve the calculation of the transfer reaction cross section when the projectile and target nuclei are deformed nuclei.

Background. Intestinal microorganisms play an important role in regulating the neurodevelopment and the brain functions of the host through the gut-brain axis. Lactobacillus, one of the most representative intestinal probiotics, produces important effects on human physiological functions. Our previous studies reveal that the Lactobacillus plantarum WLPL04 has a series of beneficial actions, such as antiadhesion of pathogens, protection from the harmful effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate, and anti-inflammatory stress on Caco2 cells. However, its effects on brain functions remain unknown. The present study aims to evaluate the potential effect of L. plantarum WLPL04 on anxiety/depressive-like behaviors in chronically restrained mice. Methods. Newly weaned mice were exposed to chronic restraint stress for four weeks and raised daily with or without L. plantarum WLPL04 water supplement. Animals were behaviorally assessed for anxiety/depression and cognitive functions. The 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to analyze the intestinal microbiota structure. The levels of the medial prefrontal cortical (mPFC) brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) and serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were examined using Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. The chronic stress-induced anxiety/depressive-like behaviors and cognitive deficits were significantly alleviated by the L. plantarum WLPL04 treatment. The 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that the chronic stress reduced the diversity and the richness of intestinal microbiota, which were rescued by the L. plantarum WLPL04 treatment. The levels of BDNF and TrkB in the mPFC and the concentration of 5-HT in the serum remained unchanged in chronically restrained mice treated with the L. plantarum WLPL04. Conclusions. The L. plantarum WLPL04 can rescue anxiety/depressive-like behaviors and cognitive dysfunctions, reverse the abnormal change in intestinal microbiota, and alleviate the reduced levels of 5-HT, BDNF, and TrkB induced by chronic stress in mice, providing an experimental basis for the therapeutic application of L. plantarum on anxiety/depression.

Motivated to explore the dynamical mechanism of multi-fragmentation phase transition and expand our knowledge on the deterministic chaos in nonlinear dynamic process, we study systematically the nonlinear dynamical behaviors of heavy ion collisions at intermediate energy. In order to highlight the general characteristics of the collision dynamics, in the present paper, we simulate a simple collision system, $Ca+Ca$, and obverse the performances of the typical nonlinear characteristic quantities such as the production of generalized entropy and the fractal structure of the semiclassical phase space during the reaction process. The multifragmentation entropy, information dimension and the dynamical fluctuations of fragment mass distribution in the final state of the reaction are also evaluated. Our results about the intermediate processes and the final products of the reaction are verified mutually so that confirm strongly the existence of nonlinear chaos in the heavy ion collisions at intermediate energy. Meanwhile, we find that the typical characteristics of the critical phase transition obtained in the analysis of the final production of the reaction are relatively more clear in the vicinity of the incident energies $E=100 MeV$., Nuclear Physics A

The transition of the geochemical signature in mafic rocks along the eastern Bangong–Nujiang suture in Tibet contains important information about geodynamic processes in the upper mantle. This study recognized two episodes of Early Jurassic gabbros from the Kaqiong terrane, a microblock within the Bangong–Nujiang suture zone. Early gabbros (ca. 197–191 Ma) appear as lenses in the basement complex and were overprinted by amphibolite/granulite-facies metamorphism at ca. 180 Ma. Later undeformed hornblende gabbros (ca. 177–175 Ma) occur as dikes intruding into the basement complex. The early metagabbros are characterized by arc-like geochemical features and enriched Nd-Hf isotopic compositions (whole rock ∑Nd(t) = –0.7 to +0.3; zircon ∑Hf(t) = –5.7 to –2.2), which suggests formation by partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle source. In contrast, the later hornblende gabbros have depleted Nd-Hf isotopic compositions (whole rock ∑Nd(t) = +6.1 to +7.1; zircon ∑Hf(t) = +10.7 to +16.8) and normal mid–oceanic–ridge basalt (N–MORB)-type rare earth element (REE) features. They also show variable enrichments of fluid mobile elements (e.g., Rb, U, Pb), indicative of the input of slab-derived fluids in their mantle source. Thus, the hornblende gabbros were most likely originated from the asthenospheric mantle metasomatized by subducted oceanic slab-derived fluids. The transition in geochemical and isotopic compositions of these mantle-derived magmas reveals a long-lasting lithosphere extension and thinning along the southern margin of the Qiangtang terrane in the Early Jurassic. Combined with geological observations, we propose that this transition has resulted from the southward rollback of the subducting Bangong–Nujiang Tethyan oceanic slab. The slab rollback could have initiated the overriding plate extension and the asthenosphere upwelling. Wider implications of this study are that an onset of slab rollback could be an important trigger for the transition of magmatic geochemistry in subduction zones.

The coronavirus disease 2019, named COVID-19 officially by the World Health Organization (Geneva, Switzerland) on February 12, 2020, has spread at unprecedented speed. After the first outbreak in Wuhan, China, Chinese anesthesiologists encountered increasing numbers of infected patients since December 2019. Because the main route of transmission is via respiratory droplets and close contact, anesthesia providers are at a high risk when responding to the devastating mass emergency. So far, actions have been taken including but not limited to nationwide actions and online education regarding special procedures of airway management, oxygen therapy, ventilation support, hemodynamic management, sedation, and analgesia. As the epidemic situation has lasted for months (thus far), special platforms have also been set up to provide free mental health care to all anesthesia providers participating in acute and critical caring for COVID-19 patients. The current article documents the actions taken, lesson learned, and future work needed., During the COVID-19 outbreak, international and Chinese anesthesiologists have been making efforts and taking speedy actions, which are gathering lessons and inspirations in response to devastating contagious diseases nationwide.

A combination of U-Pb zircon ages and geochemical and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic data are presented for the Early Paleozoic granodiorites from the Haoquangou and Baimawa plutons in order to probe the crustal thickness variation of the eastern North Qilian and the diachronous evolution of the North Qilian orogen. The granodiorites formed at 436–435 Ma and have high Sr/Y ratios (63–117). Elemental and isotopic data combined with geochemical modeling and comparisons with experimental data suggest that they were produced from the melting of relatively juvenile mafic rocks in the thickened lower crust. Together with other petrological and geochemical data and the calculation of variation in crustal thickness, this indicates that the eastern North Qilian experienced clear crustal thickening and thinning from the Late Ordovician to Late Silurian. Based on available data, we suggest that diachronous collision from east to west, which probably resulted in the distinct intensity of orogenesis between eastern and western North Qilian, can well account for the differential distribution of Early Paleozoic high Sr/Y magmatism and other geological differences between the eastern and western parts of the North Qilian. Our study also implies that diachronous collision may lead to, apart from distinct metamorphic, structural and sedimentary responses, the large differences in magmatism and deep crustal processes along the orogenic strike.

Ischaemic stroke is a severe disease worldwide. Restoration of blood flow after ischaemic stroke leads to cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI). Various operations, such as cardiac surgery with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, predictably cause cerebral ischaemia. Diabetes is related to the occurrence of perioperative stroke and exacerbates neurological impairment after stroke. Therefore, the choice of anaesthetic drugs has certain clinical significance for patients with diabetes. Isoflurane (ISO) exerts neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects in patients without diabetes. However, the role of ISO in cerebral ischaemia in the context of diabetes is still unknown. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation play important roles in microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory injury. In this study, we treated a diabetic middle cerebral artery occlusion mouse model with ISO. We found that diabetes exacerbated cerebral ischaemia damage and that ISO exerted neuroprotective effects in diabetic mice. Then, we found that ISO decreased TLR4-NLRP3 inflammasome activation in microglia and the excessive autophagy induced by CIRI in diabetic mice. The TLR4-specific agonist CRX-527 reversed the neuroprotective effects of ISO. In summary, our study indicated that ISO exerts neuroprotective effects against the neuroinflammation and autophagy observed during diabetic stroke via the TLR4-NLRP3 signalling pathway.

Background Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) have greatly improved our understanding of the backbone phylogeny of Lepidoptera, but few studies on comparative mitogenomics below the family level have been conducted. Here, we generated 13 mitogenomes of eight tortricid species, reannotated 27 previously reported mitogenomes, and systematically performed a comparative analysis of nucleotide composition, gene variation and phylogenetic performance. Results The lengths of completely sequenced mitogenomes ranged from 15,440 bp to 15,778 bp, and the gene content and organization were conserved in Tortricidae and typical for Lepidoptera. Analyses of AT-skew and GC-skew, the effective number of codons and the codon bias index all show a base bias in Tortricidae, with little heterogeneity among the major tortricid groups. Variations in the divergence rates among 13 protein-coding genes of the same tortricid subgroup and of the same PCG among tortricid subgroups were detected. The secondary structures of 22 transfer RNA genes and two ribosomal RNA genes were predicted and comparatively illustrated, showing evolutionary heterogeneity among different RNAs or different regions of the same RNA. The phylogenetic uncertainty of Enarmoniini in Tortricidae was confirmed. The synonymy of Bactrini and Olethreutini was confirmed for the first time, with the representative Bactrini consistently nesting in the Olethreutini clade. Nad6 exhibits the highest phylogenetic informativeness from the root to the tip of the resulting tree, and the combination of the third coding positions of 13 protein-coding genes shows extremely high phylogenetic informativeness. Conclusions This study presents 13 mitogenomes of eight tortricid species and represents the first detailed comparative mitogenomics study of Tortricidae. The results further our understanding of the evolutionary architectures of tortricid mitogenomes and provide a basis for future studies of population genetics and phylogenetic investigations in this group.

Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables secure key exchanges between two remote users. The ultimate goal of secure communication is to establish a global quantum network. The existing field tests suggest that quantum networks are feasible. To achieve a practical quantum network, we need to overcome several challenges, including realising versatile topologies for large scales, simple network maintenance, extendable configuration, and robustness to node failures. To this end, we present a field operation of a quantum metropolitan-area network with 46 nodes and show that all these challenges can be overcome with cutting-edge quantum technologies. In particular, we realise different topological structures and continuously run the network for 31 months, by employing standard equipment for network maintenance with an extendable configuration. We realise QKD pairing and key management with a sophisticated key control center. In this implementation, the final keys have been used for secure communication such as real-time voice telephone, text messaging, and file transmission with one-time pad encryption, which can support 11 pairs of users to make audio calls simultaneously. Combined with inter-city quantum backbone and ground-satellite links, our metropolitan implementation paves the way toward a global quantum network., Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures

The α decay and cluster radioactivity half-life of nuclei are calculated uniformly. The universal decay law (UDL) (Qi et al 2009 Phys. Rev. Lett. 103 072501) is refitted to include minimum angular momentum effect and unpaired nucleon effect. The UDL formula and neural network approach to describe α decay and cluster radioactivity half-life calculations were improved. We used the UDL formulas and neural network approach to predict the cluster radioactivity half-life of actinide nuclei and α decay half-life of superheavy nuclei Z = 117–120. We hope to contribute to the discovery of new atomic nucleus cluster radioactivity phenomena and theoretical studies of α decay of superheavy nuclei.