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Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is a widely used medicinal plant of the Caprifoliaceae family that produces chlorogenic acid. Research on this plant mainly focuses on its ornamental value and medicinal compounds, but a reference genome sequence and molecular resources for accelerated breeding are currently lacking. Herein, Nanopore sequencing and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) allowed a chromosome-level genome assembly of Lonicera maackii (2n = 18). A global view of the gene regulatory network involved in the biosynthesis of chlorogenic acid and the dynamics of fruit coloration in L. maackii was established through metabolite profiling and transcriptome analyses. Moreover, we identified the genes encoding hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA quinate transferase (LmHQT) and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimic/quinate transferase (LmHCT), which localized to the cytosol and nucleus. Heterologous overexpression of these genes in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves resulted in elevated chlorogenic acid contents. Importantly, HPLC analyses revealed that LmHCT and LmHQTs recombinant proteins modulate the accumulation of chlorogenic acid (CGA) using quinic acid and caffeoyl CoA as substrates, highlighting the importance of LmHQT and LmHCT in chlorogenic acid biosynthesis. These results confirmed that LmHQTs and LmHCT catalyze the biosynthesis of CGA in vitro. The genomic data presented in this study will offer a valuable resource for the elucidation of CGA biosynthesis and facilitating selective molecular breeding.

We enrolled 264 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We performed immunohistochemical detection of p16 and determined the degree of interstitial fibrosis (IF). The expression of p16 was associated with pathological tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) stage and age (p0.05). The cancer-specific survival (CSS) was longer in p16-negative patients (195.73 vs. 181.78 months, p = 0.007). p16 was significantly related to the degree of IF (r = 0.130, p = 0.035). PTC patients with no or mild fibrosis tended to have a larger tumor (p = 0.045). The degree of fibrosis was related to the proportion of papillary structure components (p = 0.025). Univariate and multivariate survival analyses showed that relapse-free survival (RFS) was longer in patients with moderate/severe IF (p0.05). In summary, p16 was correlated with prognosis and IF of PTC. Patients with moderate/severe IF tend to have better prognosis in RFS.

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) may cause pulmonary diseases, and periostin plays an important role on the development of pulmonary diseases. In addition, periostin and pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α can regulate each other in vivo. This study aimed to observe the changes of serum periostin and TNF-α levels in patients with OSAHS compared with healthy volunteers and to investigate their correlation. A convenience sample of 67 patients with OSAHS in our hospital from December 2018 to December 2019 was selected and categorized into mild, moderate, and severe groups according to apnea-hypopnea index by polysomnography. In addition, 21 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. Serum levels of periostin and TNF-α were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were analyzed using the SPSS software. Both serum periostin and TNF-α levels in all the three OSAHS groups were higher than those of the control group and increased with severity of OSAHS. The severe group had significantly higher serum periostin and TNF-α levels than the mild and moderate groups (p

Background Systemic inflammation has a critical role in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Interleukin (IL)‐35 and IL‐37 have been identified as novel immune‐modulating cytokines with anti‐inflammatory activities in numerous types of inflammatory disease. The present study aimed to examine the serum levels of IL‐35 and IL‐37 in patients with OSA, and to investigate their associations with the severity of OSA. Methods A total of 97 patients, including 67 cases of OSA and 30 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy control subjects, were enrolled in the present study. All subjects were evaluated by overnight polysomnography. Serum IL‐35, IL‐37, and pro‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐1β levels were examined by ELISA. Results Compared with those in the control subjects, serum IL‐35, IL‐37, and IL‐1β levels were significantly elevated in patients with mild, moderate, or severe OSA. Furthermore, a severity‐dependent increase in serum IL‐35 and IL‐37 levels was observed in patients with OSA. IL‐35 and IL‐37 levels were positively correlated with the apnea‐hypopnea index (r = 0.742 and 0.578, respectively; both p, Recently, Interleukin (IL)‐35 and IL‐37 have recently been identified as novel immune‐modulating cytokines with anti‐inflammatory activities in numerous types of inflammatory diseases. However, the potential role of IL‐35 and IL‐37 in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains unknown. We report that serum IL‐35 and IL‐37 levels were significantly increased in patients with OSA and associated with the severity of OSA, implying that IL‐35 and IL‐37 may have a protective role in OSA by counteracting inflammatory responses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the changes in serum IL‐35 and IL‐37 level and its correlation with the severity of OSA. ​

Background Tetracentron sinense is an endemic and endangered deciduous tree. It belongs to the Trochodendrales, one of four early diverging lineages of eudicots known for having vesselless secondary wood. Sequencing and resequencing of the T. sinense genome will help us understand eudicot evolution, the genetic basis of tracheary element development, and the genetic diversity of this relict species. Results Here, we report a chromosome-scale assembly of the T. sinense genome. We assemble the 1.07 Gb genome sequence into 24 chromosomes and annotate 32,690 protein-coding genes. Phylogenomic analyses verify that the Trochodendrales and core eudicots are sister lineages and showed that two whole-genome duplications occurred in the Trochodendrales approximately 82 and 59 million years ago. Synteny analyses suggest that the γ event, resulting in paleohexaploidy, may have only happened in core eudicots. Interestingly, we find that vessel elements are present in T. sinense, which has two orthologs of AtVND7, the master regulator of vessel formation. T. sinense also has several key genes regulated by or regulating TsVND7.2 and their regulatory relationship resembles that in Arabidopsis thaliana. Resequencing and population genomics reveals high levels of genetic diversity of T. sinense and identifies four refugia in China. Conclusions The T. sinense genome provides a unique reference for inferring the early evolution of eudicots and the mechanisms underlying vessel element formation. Population genomics analysis of T. sinense reveals its genetic diversity and geographic structure with implications for conservation.

This paper presented empirical models of describing reaction rate vs. hydrochloric acid temperature and concentration by regressing experimental data. And this paper also introduced the dependent reaction heat model into the thermal non-equilibrium models and coupled with two-scale continuum model to obtain governing equations for describing wormholing under non-isothermal conditions. The governing equations were discretized by implicit difference method and solved by programing. The effects of temperature on wormholing have been investigated based on the simulation results on 2-D vision. A significant difference of the effluent temperature between the dependent reaction heat model in present work and the constant reaction heat model in available literatures was observed, especially in high injection rate and strong acid concentration. In addition, the tendencies of optimum injection capacity vs. injection temperature under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions were almost different. Finally, an optimum injection temperature was found by changing the injection temperature under non-isothermal conditions.

Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs) play important roles in plant development and stress responses. Although genome-wide studies of LecRLKs have been performed in several species, a comprehensive analysis including evolutionary, structural and functional analysis has not been carried out in soybean (Glycine max). In this study, we identified 185 putative LecRLK genes in the soybean genome, including 123 G-type, 60 L-type and 2 C-type LecRLK genes. Tandem duplication and segmental duplication appear to be the main mechanisms of gene expansion in the soybean LecRLK (GmLecRLK) gene family. According to our phylogenetic analysis, G-type and L-type GmLecRLK genes can be organized into fourteen and eight subfamilies, respectively. The subfamilies within the G-type GmLecRLKs differ from each other in gene structure and/or protein domains and motifs, which indicates that the subfamilies have diverged. The evolution of L-type GmLecRLKs has been more conservative: most genes retain the same gene structures and nearly the same protein domain and motif architectures. Furthermore, the expression profiles of G-type and L-type GmLecRLK genes show evidence of functional redundancy and divergence within each group. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the evolution and function of soybean LecRLKs and provide a framework for further functional investigation of them.

The temperature is one of the potential factor to affect acidizing performance, especially for some temperature dependent diverting acids. In order to achieve a precise temperature profile in acid-rock reaction process, the dependent reaction heat model was introduced into the thermal non-equilibrium models and coupled with two-scale continuum model to obtain governing equations for describing wormholing under non-isothermal conditions. From the simulation results, a significant effluent temperature difference between the dependent reaction heat model in present work and the constant reaction heat model in available literatures was observed, especially in high injection rate and strong acid concentration, which may definitely affect wormhole patterns. During the reaction, the highest reaction temperatures are observed at the wormhole tips, which is 10 K higher than the inlet position. Finally, the simulated wormhole patterns based on our models are highly agree with the experimental results, which indicates that this models can be introduced to optimize the matrix acidizing in the carbonate reservoir.

Ecological speciation is a common mechanism by which new species arise. Despite great efforts, the role of gene expression in ecological divergence and speciation is poorly understood. Here, we conducted a genome-wide gene expression investigation of two Oryza species that are evolutionarily young and distinct in ecology and morphology. Using digital gene expression technology and the paired-end RNA sequencing method, we obtained 21,415 expressed genes across three reproduction-related tissues. Of them, approximately 8% (1,717) differed significantly in expression levels between the two species and these differentially expressed genes are randomly distributed across the genome. Moreover, 62% (1,064) of the differentially expressed genes exhibited a signature of directional selection in at least one species. Importantly, the genes with differential expression between species evolved more rapidly at the 5' flanking sequences than the genes without differential expression relative to coding sequences, suggesting that cis-regulatory changes are likely adaptive and play an important role in the ecological divergence of the two species. Finally, we showed evidence of significant differentiation between species in phenotype traits and observed that genes with differential expression were overrepresented with functional terms involving phenotypic and ecological differentiation between the two species, including reproduction- and stress-related characteristics. Our findings demonstrate that ecological speciation is associated with widespread and adaptive alterations in genome-wide gene expression and provide new insights into the importance of regulatory evolution in ecological speciation in plants.

We use stochastic modeling, the permeability tensor principle, and the finite-element method to construct a discrete complex model of a fracture network, an equivalent continuum model, and a continuum model for anisotropic seepage in a complex fracture network described using the permeability tensor. Solution of these models lets us describe the process of gas production from reservoirs after hydraulic fracturing. In these models, we fully take into account the geological structural features of hydraulically fractured tight reservoirs and the morphology of three-dimensional fracture networks. We obtain a new model for predicting production from tight gas reservoirs after hydraulic fracturing.

To develop super-high strength Al–Li alloy, the microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg, Ag and Zn micro-alloyed Al–(3.2–3.8)Cu–(1.0–1.4)Li alloys (mass fraction) with T8 temper were studied. The results showed that 1% of lower Li content restricted the strengthening effect of increasing Cu content, while simultaneous increase in Cu and Li contents contributed effectively to the enhancement of strength. The alloys were mainly strengthened by plenty of fine and well dispersed T1(Al2CuLi) precipitates. There were also some minor precipitates of θ ′(Al2Cu) and δ′(Al3Li), which became less in number density, even disappeared during the aging process. Meanwhile, higher Li content favored the formation θ ′ and δ ′ and a small amount of S′(Al2CuMg) phases. In addition, strengthening effect and microstructure variation were analyzed through total non-solution mole fraction of Cu and Li and their mole ratio. To obtain Al–Li alloy with super-high strength, the total mole fractions of Cu and Li should be increased, and their mole ratios should also be kept at a certain high level.

An integrated technology combining water plugging and acidizing in the same flooded oil well is studied with the goal of controlling the water content of the oil and attaining a comprehensive synergy. For this, a micro- and macro-fracture porosity model and four models with other kinds of fractures are built. The feasibility of application of gel water plugging system in this integrated technology is evaluated. The experimental results show that the gel system is effective in high-permeability interlayer plugging (plugging degree >99%), but not very effective in low-permeability interlayers. Multi-slug injection reduces the impact of subsequent acidizing on the effectiveness of the pugging material. At the same time, the degree of oil recovery by displacement with water for the fracture porosity model is not high, but after polymer plugging system injection, recovery increases, reaching more than 60%. The proposed integrated technology was applied in two wells in the Chongqing oilfield. Oil production of each well increased on an average by 1 ton/day for more than one year.

Carbonate reservoirs are generally highly heterogeneous and fractured. Acid leak-off (infiltration) in acid hydrofracking is particularly serious because it reduces the acid efficiency and limits the fracture length from acid etching. As a result, a favorable reservoir away from the wellbore may fail to be connected, leading to poor results after acid hydrofracking. In this work, a new three-phase (oil—gas—acid) model of acid leak-off (infiltration) in acid hydrofracking of a reservoir that considers dissolution of rock by acid, changes in the width of natural fractures, and the effect of CO 2 was developed and a numerical calculation method was also given. The model allows precise description of the characteristics of acid leak-off in acid-fractured carbonate reservoirs. The results show that the mechanism of acid infiltration into fractured and porous (permeable) reservoirs differs widely. The acid penetrates deep into the reservoir mainly via wide natural fractures and only thereafter through microfissures and the matrix. The acid reacts most vigorously with the rock in wide fractures, leading to further widening of the natural fractures and increased infiltration of the acid into the fractures, which causes deeper penetration of the acid into the fractures. CO 2 reduces the acid leak-off rate, which is less at higher CO 2 concentrations.

Based on the characteristics of coalbed methane formations and the parallel-connection pipeline principle, we have formulated a model for calculating the pressure drop and the production of a horizontal multi-branch coalbed methane well. We have analyzed the effect of the number of side branches, the length and angle of intersection of the side branches with the main branch on the well productivity. The results show that with an increase in branch spacing, the productivity first decreases and then increases; with an increase in the angle of intersection and the length of the side branches, the productivity increases.

Background Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinases (LRR-RLKs) are the largest group of receptor-like kinases in plants and play crucial roles in development and stress responses. The evolutionary relationships among LRR-RLK genes have been investigated in flowering plants; however, no comprehensive studies have been performed for these genes in more ancestral groups. The subfamily classification of LRR-RLK genes in plants, the evolutionary history and driving force for the evolution of each LRR-RLK subfamily remain to be understood. Results We identified 119 LRR-RLK genes in the Physcomitrella patens moss genome, 67 LRR-RLK genes in the Selaginella moellendorffii lycophyte genome, and no LRR-RLK genes in five green algae genomes. Furthermore, these LRR-RLK sequences, along with previously reported LRR-RLK sequences from Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, were subjected to evolutionary analyses. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that plant LRR-RLKs belong to 19 subfamilies, eighteen of which were established in early land plants, and one of which evolved in flowering plants. More importantly, we found that the basic structures of LRR-RLK genes for most subfamilies are established in early land plants and conserved within subfamilies and across different plant lineages, but divergent among subfamilies. In addition, most members of the same subfamily had common protein motif compositions, whereas members of different subfamilies showed variations in protein motif compositions. The unique gene structure and protein motif compositions of each subfamily differentiate the subfamily classifications and, more importantly, provide evidence for functional divergence among LRR-RLK subfamilies. Maximum likelihood analyses showed that some sites within four subfamilies were under positive selection. Conclusions Much of the diversity of plant LRR-RLK genes was established in early land plants. Positive selection contributed to the evolution of a few LRR-RLK subfamilies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0891-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinases (LRR-RLKs) are the largest group of receptor-like kinases, which are one of the largest protein superfamilies in plants, and play crucial roles in development and stress responses. Although the evolution of LRR-RLK families has been investigated in some eudicot and monocot plants, no comprehensive evolutionary studies have been performed for these genes in basal angiosperms like Amborella trichopoda. In this study, we identified 94 LRR-RLK genes in the genome of A. trichopoda. The number of LRR-RLK genes in the genome of A. trichopoda is only 17–50% of that of several eudicot and monocot species. Tandem duplication and whole-genome duplication have made limited contributions to the expansion of LRR-RLK genes in A. trichopoda. According to the phylogenetic analysis, all A. trichopoda LRR-RLK genes can be organized into 18 subfamilies, which roughly correspond to the LRR-RLK subfamilies defined in Arabidopsis thaliana. Most LRR-RLK subfamilies are characterized by highly conserved protein structures, motif compositions, and gene structures. The unique gene structure, protein structures, and protein motif compositions of each subfamily provide evidence for functional divergence among LRR-RLK subfamilies. Moreover, the expression data of LRR-RLK genes provided further evidence for the functional diversification of them. In addition, selection analyses showed that most LRR-RLK protein sites are subject to purifying selection. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of LRR-RLK gene family in angiosperm and provide a framework for further functional investigation on A. trichopoda LRR-RLKs.

Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinases (LRR-RLKs) are the largest group of receptor-like kinases, which are one of the largest protein superfamilies in plants, and play crucial roles in development and stress responses. Although the evolution of LRR-RLK families has been investigated in some eudicot and monocot plants, no comprehensive evolutionary studies have been performed for these genes in basal angiosperms like Amborella trichopoda. In this study, we identified 94 LRR-RLK genes in the genome of A. trichopoda. The number of LRR-RLK genes in the genome of A. trichopoda is only 17–50% of that of several eudicot and monocot species. Tandem duplication and whole-genome duplication have made limited contributions to the expansion of LRR-RLK genes in A. trichopoda. According to the phylogenetic analysis, all A. trichopoda LRR-RLK genes can be organized into 18 subfamilies, which roughly correspond to the LRR-RLK subfamilies defined in Arabidopsis thaliana. Most LRR-RLK subfamilies are characterized by highly conserved protein structures, motif compositions, and gene structures. The unique gene structure, protein structures, and protein motif compositions of each subfamily provide evidence for functional divergence among LRR-RLK subfamilies. Moreover, the expression data of LRR-RLK genes provided further evidence for the functional diversification of them. In addition, selection analyses showed that most LRR-RLK protein sites are subject to purifying selection. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of LRR-RLK gene family in angiosperm and provide a framework for further functional investigation on A. trichopoda LRR-RLKs.

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) utilize the products of primary metabolism to synthesize a wide array of secondary metabolites in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. PKSs can be grouped into three distinct classes, type I, II, and III, based on enzyme structure, substrate specificity, and catalytic mechanisms. The type III PKS enzymes function as homodimers, and are the only class of PKS that do not require acyl carrier protein. Plant type III PKS enzymes, also known as chalcone synthase (CHS)-like enzymes, are of particular interest due to their functional diversity. In this study, we mined type III PKS gene sequences from the genomes of six aquatic algae and twenty-five land plants (one bryophyte, one lycophyte, two basal angiosperms, sixteen core eudicots, and five monocots). PKS III sequences were found relatively conserved in all embryophytes, but not exist in algae. We also examined gene expression patterns by analyzing available transcriptome data, and identified potential cis regulatory elements in upstream sequences. Phylogenetic trees of dicots angiosperms showed that plant type III PKS proteins fall into three clades. Clade A contains CHS/STS-type enzymes coding genes with diverse transcriptional expression patterns and enzymatic functions, while clade B is further divided into subclades b1 and b2, which consist of anther-specific CHS-like enzymes. Differentiation regions, such as amino acids 196-207 between clades A and B, and predicted positive selected sites within α-helixes in late appeared branches of clade A, account for the major diversification in substrate choice and catalytic reaction. The integrity and location of conserved cis-elements containing MYB and bHLH binding sites can affect transcription levels. Potential binding sites for transcription factors such as WRKY, SPL or AP2/EREBP may contribute to tissue- or taxon-specific differences in gene expression. Our data shows that gene duplications and functional diversification of plant type III PKS enzymes played a critical role in the ancient conquest of the land by early plants and angiosperm diversification. Keywords PKS III multigene family, CHS, STS, phylogenetic reconstruction, functional diversification, gene expression, cis-elements

Fracturing flowback rate is one of the most important parameters to evaluate fracturing effects. While calculation of fracturing flowback rate is always lack of theoretical model to predict, it is always been solved by accumulation of filed fluid after fracturing finished in oil filed. In order to tackle this problem, a great deal of work has been done to establish a model for solving fracturing flowback rate, in which procedures like fracture closing, fluid loss, formation fluid flows and well bore flow are entirely considered. Based on comprehensive procedures, a few functions are established in this model. The average fracture pressure was calculated by adjusting time that might affect fracture closure degrees. According to wellhead pressure, bottom hole flowing pressure and average fracture pressure which was used to calculate flowback quantity leaded by fracture closure were achieved. Besides, total time that fracture was entirely closed was also achieved after fracture being fully closed, flowback quantity consisted of two parts, fracture and formation. In addition, the model was solved through finite difference method and simulated by Matlab. In comparison with the target result, fracturing flowback rate, the modeling results, are almost identical with that of conventional methods. Therefore, this model can be taken as a reliable theoretical guidance to predict fracturing flowback rate in oil flied.

The technique of acidizing stimulation is one of the most critical measures in petroleum industry to enhance production. As acidizing technique being an integrated course which combines science, practice and experience in one, it cannot be explained by mathematical technique precisely. For conventional acidizing, the workload is extremely huge and complicated, since it has built an extensive database with the help of a huge amount of the application samples. The Neural Network has the generalization ability, which not only has the most consistency with training samples, but also is a dependable network for predication of test samples, whose data distribution is similar to the previous ones. Expert system for acidizing based on the BP Neural Networks can predict a favorable acidizing fluids system and suitable dosage reasonably, effectively and accurately with a large pool of initial input parameters. Thereby this expert system can assist field application and realize the systematization and intelligence in oil field.

Acid stimulation of carbonate formations using hydrochloric (HCl) acid-based systems to improve hydrocarbon production or water injection has been a common practice. The challenge of achieving full zonal coverage with the stimulation fluid still persists. This task is even more difficult in highly slanted layered, naturally fractured reservoirs exhibiting high permeability and porosity contrast. During acid stimulation treatments, the fluid has a natural tendency to take the path of least resistance, penetrating layers with the highest porosity and permeability while little or no acid is injected into lower-quality zones. Excessive fluid loss to these high-quality thief zones results in a nonhomogenous distribution of stimulation fluids across the targeted interval. This leaves neighboring lower-quality zones unstimulated, preventing them from reaching their maximum potential. In this paper, a gel acid system composing hydrophobically modified PAM and viscoelastic surfactant (SA-16) as a novel self-diverting acidizing system was introduced, which can lower acid loss. This novel system was evaluated on temperature stability, viscosity test, gel breaken and acid-rock kinetics test supported by laboratory study. Its favorably high viscosity, ideal gel breaken, upstanding temperature resistance and other prior properties can be applied to acid stimulation.

The process of 180° domain switching in PbTiO3 single crystal under an antiparallel electric field was investigated by the three-dimensional phase field simulation, especially the effect of electric field on the type and duration of domain switching. It is found that the polarization reversal of domains takes place under an antiparallel electric field in PbTiO3 single crystal. The results of the phase field simulation indicate that there is only 90° domain switching under a weak electric field. With the rise of the electric field, 180° domain switching appears. If the electric field is strengthened further, 90° domain switching disappears and the duration of domain switching is shortened.

A novel CAD variation geometry approach and a virtual serial mechanism approach are proposed for analyzing the kinematics and dynamics of a parallel manipulator with three SPS-type active legs and one PU-type constrained passive leg. First, a simulation mechanism of this parallel manipulator is created, and some kinematic characteristics are analyzed. Second, the inverse formulae for solving pose and Jocabian matrix are derived, and workspace and singularity are determined. Third, a virtual serial mechanism is created, and the analytic formulae for solving active forces and constrained wrench of these parallel manipulators are derived. The analytic results are verified by using its simulation mechanism.

Petroleum industry is focusing on HPHT reservoir. In high-temperature conditions, fracturing fluids especially need to be stable and induce minimum damage, and have good proppant transport capabilities. In order to overcome these problems, a novel high density fracturing fluid system has been developed whose density can reach up to 1.21 g/cm3. This paper summarizes a study on formulating weighted agent, and extensive studies were also conducted to determine temperature stability and anti-shear properties and compatibility with additives.

This paper proposes a numerical model for the fluid flow in fractured porous media with the extended finite element method. The governing equations account for the fluid flow in the porous medium and the discrete natural fractures, as well as the fluid exchange between the fracture and the porous medium surrounding the fracture. The pore fluid pressure is continuous, while its derivatives are discontinuous on both sides of these high conductivity fractures. The pressure field is enriched by the absolute signed distance and appropriate asymptotic functions to capture the discontinuities in derivatives. The most important advantage of this method is that the domain can be partitioned as nonmatching grid without considering the presence of fractures. Arbitrarily multiple, kinking, branching, and intersecting fractures can be treated with the new approach. In particular, for propagating fractures, such as hydraulic fracturing or network volume fracturing in fissured reservoirs, this method can process the complex fluid leak-off behavior without remeshing. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the capability of the proposed method in saturated fractured porous media.

Taking a rice-wheat rotation system in the suburb of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of East China as test object, this paper studied the fluxes of CH4 and N2O and their annual dynamics under different farming managements in 2010-2011, and the field observation data were applied to validate the process-based model, denitrification-decomposition (DNDC) model, aimed to approach the applicability of the model to this rotation system, and to use this model to simulate the effects of different environmental factors and farming managements on the global warming potentials (GWPs) of CH4 and N2O. The results showed that except in the treatment control and during wheat growth season, the simulated cumulative emissions of CH4 and N2O from the rotation system in all treatments were basically in coincide with the observed data, the relative deviations being from 7. 1% to 26.3%, and thus, the DNDC model could be applied to simulate the GWPs of cumulative emissions of CH4 and N2O as affected by various environmental factors or management practices. The sensitivity test showed that the GWPs of CH4 and N2O varied significantly with the changes of environmental factors such as the mean annual air temperature, soil bulk density, soil organic carbon, soil texture, and soil pH. Farming managements such as N fertilization, straw returning, and duration of mid-season drainage also had significant effects on the GWPs of CH4 and NO20. Therefore, the above-mentioned environmental factors and farming managements should be taken into account to estimate the greenhouse gases emission from the rice-wheat cropping system on site-specific or regional scale.

Chrysanthemum L. (Asteraceae-Anthemideae) is a genus with rapid speciation. It comprises about 40 species, most of which are distributed in East Asia. Many of these are narrowly distributed and habitat-specific. Considerable variations in morphology and ploidy are found in this genus. Some species have been the subjects of many studies, but the relationships between Chrysanthemum and its allies and the phylogeny of this genus remain poorly understood. In the present study, 32 species/varieties from Chrysanthemum and 11 from the allied genera were analyzed using DNA sequences of the single-copy nuclear CDS gene and seven cpDNA loci (psbA-trnH, trnC-ycf6, ycf6-psbM, trnY-rpoB, rpS4-trnT, trnL-F, and rpL16). The cpDNA and nuclear CDS gene trees both suggest that 1) Chrysanthemum is not a monophyletic taxon, and the affinity between Chrysanthemum and Ajania is so close that these two genera should be incorporated taxonomically; 2) Phaeostigma is more closely related to the Chrysanthemum+Ajania than other generic allies. According to pollen morphology and to the present cpDNA and CDS data, Ajania purpurea is a member of Phaeostigma. Species differentiation in Chrysanthemum appears to be correlated with geographic and environmental conditions. The Chinese Chrysanthemum species can be divided into two groups, the C. zawadskii group and the C. indicum group. The former is distributed in northern China and the latter in southern China. Many polyploid species, such as C. argyrophyllum, may have originated from allopolyploidization involving divergent progenitors. Considering all the evidence from present and previous studies, we conclude that geographic and ecological factors as well as hybridization and polyploidy play important roles in the divergence and speciation of the genus Chrysanthemum.

To investigate the dynamic distribution patterns of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the soil profiles in paddy fields with different rice-upland crop rotation systems, a special soil gas collection device was adopted to monitor the dynamics of N2O at the soil depths 7, 15, 30, and 50 cm in the paddy fields under both flooding and drainage conditions. Two rotation systems were installed, i.e., wheat-single rice and oilseed rape-double rice, each with or without nitrogen (N) application. Comparing with the control, N application promoted the N2O production in the soil profiles significantly (P0.01), and there existed significant correlations in the N2O concentration among the four soil depths during the whole observation period (P0.01). In the growth seasons of winter wheat and oilseed rape under drainage condition and with or without N application, the N2O concentrations at the soil depths 30 cm and 50 cm were significantly higher than those at the soil depths 7 cm and 15 cm; whereas in the early rice growth season under flooding condition and without N application, the N2O concentrations at the soil depth 7 cm and 15 cm were significantly higher than those at the soil depths 30 cm and 50 cm (P0.05). No significant differences were observed in the N2O concentrations at the test soil depths among the other rice cropping treatments. The soil N2O concentrations in the treatments without N application peaked in the transitional period from the upland crops cropping to rice planting, while those in the treatments with N application peaked right after the second topdressing N of upland crops. Relatively high soil N2O concentrations were observed at the transitional period from the upland crops cropping to rice planting.

A facile method for the synthesis of 1-thioglycosides using 1-α-O-trimethylsilyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-gluco-or manno-pyranoside by the promotion of BF3Et2O was reported. The reaction conditions were very mild, and 1-thioglycosides were obtained in high yield and high stereoselectivity. α-anomers were the sole product or predominated.

Phase field simulations were conducted to investigate the effects of unequally biaxial misfit strains on domain stability diagrams and equilibrium domain structures in an epitaxial ferroelectric PbTiO3 thin layer, which is sandwiched in a nonferroelectric medium. The simulations reveal a multidomain structure in the layer and allow constructing “misfit strain-misfit strain” and “temperature-misfit strain” phase diagrams. It is found that unequally biaxial misfit strains may lead to the presence of a single tetragonal variant, either a-domains or b-domains, which do not exist if the misfit strains are equally biaxial.

How to effectively develop tight-gas carbonate reservoir and achieve high recovery is always a problem for the oil and gas industry. To solve this problem, domestic petroleum engineers use the combination of the successful experiences of North American shale gas pools development by stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) fracturing with the research achievements of Chinese tight gas development by acid fracturing to propose volume acid fracturing technology for fractured tight-gas carbonate reservoir, which has achieved a good stimulation effect in the pilot tests. To determine what reservoir conditions are suitable to carry out volume acid fracturing, this paper firstly introduces volume acid fracturing technology by giving the stimulation mechanism and technical ideas, and initially analyzes the feasibility by the comparison of reservoir characteristics of shale gas with tight-gas carbonate. Then, this paper analyzes the validity and limitation of the volume acid fracturing technology via the analyses of control conditions for volume acid fracturing in reservoir fracturing performance, natural fracture, horizontal principal stress difference, orientation of in-situ stress and natural fracture, and gives the solution for the limitation. The study results show that the volume acid fracturing process can be used to greatly improve the flow environment of tight-gas carbonate reservoir and increase production; the incremental or stimulation response is closely related with reservoir fracturing performance, the degree of development of natural fracture, the small intersection angle between hydraulic fracture and natural fracture, the large horizontal principal stress difference is easy to form a narrow fracture zone, and it is disadvantageous to create fracture network, but the degradable fiber diversion technology may largely weaken the disadvantage. The practices indicate that the application of volume acid fracturing process to the tight-gas carbonate reservoir development is feasible in the Ordovician Majiagou Formation of lower Paleozoic, which is of great significance and practical value for domestic tight-gas carbonate reservoir development and studies in the future.