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Lightweight soil is a novel technological material that boasts characteristics such as low density, high strength, thermal insulation, vibration isolation, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. These features make it highly suitable for a wide range of applications in geotechnical engineering, including roadbed backfill, soft foundation treatment, and tunnel load reduction. The influence of vibration loads resulting from transportation, earthquakes, waves, and other factors on the mechanical properties of lightweight soil has garnered considerable attention in recent research. This paper expounds on the influence of factors on the dynamic deformation characteristics and dynamic strength properties of lightweight soil. These factors include the mix ratio (such as the content of lightweight materials, dosage of curing agent, and moisture content), stress state, vibration frequency, dry–wet alternation effect, and freeze–thaw cycle. Additionally, we summarise the calculation model for the dynamic shear modulus and damping ratio of lightweight soil. The findings reveal that the incorporation of curing agents, such as cement and fly ash, substantially improves the resistance of lightweight soil to dynamic loads. Additionally, the distinctive pore structure of lightweight soil markedly enhances its vibration isolation effect. As dynamic strain increases, there is a nonlinear decrease in the dynamic modulus of lightweight soil while the damping ratio increases nonlinearly. Adjusting the content of lightweight materials and the dosage of curing agents can markedly improve the seismic reduction effect of lightweight soil, thus granting it greater dynamic stability. The coupling effects of dry–wet cycles, freeze–thaw cycles, and dynamic loads may lead to a degradation in the dynamic performance of lightweight soil. To extend its service life in practical engineering applications, the implementation of a waterproof layer is recommended. Model tests and numerical simulations substantiated the commendable dynamic stability and durability of lightweight soil in real-world engineering scenarios. Finally, following a comprehensive literature review, this paper identifies potential research directions. The study of dynamic characteristics in lightweight soil is still in its infancy, with the dynamic properties of novel solid waste lightweight soil remaining largely unexplored. Further exploration is required to fully understand the response mechanisms, mechanical properties, and constitutive models of lightweight soil under the combined effects of complex environmental factors and dynamic loads. Additionally, there is a need for continued research into the design and construction methods of lightweight soil across various engineering settings. In conclusion, this paper serves as a valuable reference for investigating the dynamics of lightweight soil and its extensive application in geotechnical engineering.

The confined aquifer dewatering for long-deep excavations usually encounters challenges due to complicated geotechnical conditions, large excavation sizes, and high hydraulic pressures. To propose the most efficient scheme of confined aquifer dewatering for long-deep excavations, dewatering optimizations were performed using the simulation–optimization method. An open cut tunnel of the Jiangyin-Jingjiang Yangtze River Tunnel Project was taken as an example. The methods of finite element and linear programming (LP) were combined to optimize the dewatering process. A three-dimensional finite element model was developed. After simulating the pumping tests, hydraulic conductivity was inverted. Then, necessary parameters in the LP method were determined by simulating dewatering with each pumping well, and various LP models were developed based on some important influence factors such as dewatering sequence, considered pumping wells, and pumping rate limitation. Finally, the optimal pumping rates were solved and applied to the numerical model, with induced drawdown and ground settlement computed for comparison. The results indicate that the optimization can significantly reduce the required wells in the original design. Dewatering in the deepest zone exhibits the highest efficiency for long-deep excavations with gradually varying depths. For the dewatering sequence from the shallowest to the deepest zone, more pumping wells are required but less energy is consumed. Higher quantity and more advantageous locations of pumping wells in the LP model usually result in lower total pumping rate, drawdown, and ground settlement. If more pumping wells are considered in the deepest zone, pumping rate limitation of single well will only slightly increase the total pumping rate, number of required pumping wells, drawdown, and ground settlement.

Soil-rock mixtures (SRM) are abundant worldwide and often used as foundations. However, their heterogeneity, inherent weakness, and collapsibility present significant challenges in stabilization. This study introduces a novel approach to foundation treatment, combining ''shallow drainage'' and ''deep sealing'' techniques. Comprehensive on-site vibratory reinforcement trials were conducted using a gas-vibration coupling method called jet-vibratory probe compaction (JVPC). The method successfully created an oriented particle distribution and a dual-layer system within the depth. The effectiveness of this reinforcement and its mechanisms were thoroughly assessed through various in-situ tests, including triaxial vibration testing (TVT), multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW), dynamic penetration test (DPT), sand cone method (SCM), and plate doad test (PLT). The findings reveal that JVPC eliminated the collapsibility of the SRM and significantly enhanced the bearing capacity of foundations. A notable outcome was the formation of a distinct stratification within the foundation, characterized by a coarser upper section, a finer lower section, and a watertight boundary at the base. This innovative approach demonstrates a promising advancement in foundation engineering, particularly for challenging SRM-based constructions.

This study focused on analyzing the aroma formation mechanism of retronasal muscat flavor in table grapes. The sensory characteristics and fragrance components of table grape juice with different intensities of Muscat were investigated using GC-Quadrupole-MS, quantitative descriptive analysis and three-alternate forced choice. Free monoterpenoids were the main contributors to the retronasal Muscat flavor. The contribution of Muscat compounds to this flavor was quantified by Stevens coefficient, the most and the least sensitive compounds to concentration changes were citronellol and linalool, respectively. To predict the Muscat flavor intensity by mathematical modeling, established a model between Muscat flavor intensity and monoterpenoids concentration, and an optimal partial least squares regression model with a linear relationship between natural logarithms was obtained. These findings provide reference for understanding the formation mechanism of specific aromas in fruits and provide a basis for the development and quality control of processed products such as Muscat flavor grape juice.

The overall carbonation of MgO-admixed soil provides not only an efficient and environmentally friendly technique for improving soft ground but also a permanently safe solution for CO2 sequestration. To evaluate the carbon sequestration potential and promote the carbonation application in soil improvement, a laboratory-scale model investigation is designed under pressurized carbonation considering the influences of MgO dosage and CO2 ventilation mode (way). The temperature, dynamic resilience modulus, and dynamic cone penetration (DCP) were tested to assess the carbonation treatment effect. The physical, strength, and microscopic tests were also undertaken to reveal the evolution mechanisms of CO2 migration in the MgO-carbonated foundation. The results indicate that the temperature peaks of MgO-treated foundation emerge at ∼20 h during hydration, but occur at a distance of 0–25 cm from the gas source within 6 h during carbonation. The dynamic resilience moduli of the model foundation increase by more than two times after carbonation and the DCP indices reduce dramatically. As the distance from the gas inlet increases, the bearing capacity, strength, and carbon sequestration decrease, whereas the moisture content increases. Compared to the end ventilation, the middle ventilation produces a higher carbonation degree and a wider carbonation area. The cementation and filling of nesquehonite and dypingite/hydromagnesite are verified to be critical factors for carbonation evolution and enhancing mechanical performances. Finally, the overall carbonation model is described schematically in three stages of CO2 migration. The outcomes would help to facilitate the practical application of CO2 sequestration in soil treatment.

Anthocyanins are ubiquitous pigments derived from the phenylpropanoid compound conferring red, purple and blue pigmentations to various organs of horticultural crops. The metabolism of flavonoids in the cytoplasm leads to the biosynthesis of anthocyanin, which is then conveyed to the vacuoles for storage by plant glutathione S-transferases (GST). Although GST is important for transporting anthocyanin in plants, its identification and characterization in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) remains obscure. In this study, a total of 40 GST genes were obtained in the eggplant genome and classified into seven distinct chief groups based on the evolutionary relationship with Arabidopsis thaliana GST genes. The seven subgroups of eggplant GST genes (SmGST) comprise: dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), elongation factor 1Bγ (EF1Bγ), Zeta (Z), Theta(T), Phi(F), Tau(U) and tetra-chlorohydroquinone dehalogenase TCHQD. The 40 GST genes were unevenly distributed throughout the 10 eggplant chromosomes and were predominantly located in the cytoplasm. Structural gene analysis showed similarity in exons and introns within a GST subgroup. Six pairs of both tandem and segmental duplications have been identified, making them the primary factors contributing to the evolution of the SmGST. Light-related cis-regulatory elements were dominant, followed by stress-related and hormone-responsive elements. The syntenic analysis of orthologous genes indicated that eggplant, Arabidopsis and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) counterpart genes seemed to be derived from a common ancestry. RNA-seq data analyses showed high expression of 13 SmGST genes with SmGSTF1 being glaringly upregulated on the peel of purple eggplant but showed no or low expression on eggplant varieties with green or white peel. Subsequently, SmGSTF1 had a strong positive correlation with anthocyanin content and with anthocyanin structural genes like SmUFGT (r = 0.9), SmANS (r = 0.85), SmF3H (r = 0.82) and SmCHI2 (r = 0.7). The suppression of SmGSTF1 through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGs) resulted in a decrease in anthocyanin on the infiltrated fruit surface. In a nutshell, results from this study established that SmGSTF1 has the potential of anthocyanin accumulation in eggplant peel and offers viable candidate genes for the improvement of purple eggplant. The comprehensive studies of the SmGST family genes provide the foundation for deciphering molecular investigations into the functional analysis of SmGST genes in eggplant.

Pit-in-pit (PIP) excavations in an aquifer–aquitard system likely undergo catastrophic failures under the hydraulic uplift, the associated undrained stability problem, however, has not been well analyzed in the past. To this end, a hypothetical model of PIP braced excavation in typical soil layers of Shanghai, China is developed using the finite element limit analysis (FELA) tool. The FELA solutions of safety factors (FSs) against hydraulic uplift are verified with the results from the finite element analysis with strength reduction technique (SRFEA) and existing design approaches. Subsequently, FELA is employed to identify the triggering and failure mechanisms of PIP braced excavations subjected to hydraulic uplift. A series of parametric studies considering the various geometric configurations of the PIP excavation, undrained shear strengths of aquitard, and artesian pressures are carried out. The sensitivities of relevant design parameters are further assessed using a multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) model that is capable of accurately capturing the nonlinear relationships between a set of input variables and output variables in multi-dimensions. A MARS-based design equation used for predicting FS is finally presented using the artificial dataset from FELA for practical design uses.

Real-time monitoring of microbial dynamics during fermentation is essential for wine quality control. This study developed a method that combines the fluorescent dye propidium monoazide (PMA) with CELL-qPCR, which can distinguish between dead and live microbes for Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. This method could detect the quantity of microbes efficiently and rapidly without DNA extraction during wine fermentation. The results showed that (1) the PMA-CELL-qPCR enumeration method developed for L. plantarum was optimized for PMA treatment concentration, PMA detection sensitivity and multiple conditions of sample pretreatment in wine environment, and the optimized method can accurately quantify 104–108 CFU/mL of the target strain (L. plantarum) in multiple matrices; (2) when the concentration of dead bacteria in the system is 104 times higher than the concentration of live bacteria, there is an error of 0.5–1 lg CFU/mL in the detection results. The optimized sample pretreatment method in wine can effectively reduce the inhibitory components in the qPCR reaction system; (3) the optimized PMA-CELL-qPCR method was used to monitor the dynamic changes of L. plantarum during the fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon wine, and the results were consistent with the plate counting method. In conclusion, the live bacteria quantification method developed in this study for PMA-CELL-qPCR in L. plantarum wines is accurate in quantification and simple in operation, and can be used as a means to accurately monitor microbial dynamics in wine and other fruit wines.

The performance of the cement-based stabilized clay (CBSC), a kind of typical composite, is controlled by the homogeneity and interactions among the hydration products of the cementitious agents, clay minerals and water. For the shallow lowland ground by hydraulic filling or natural deposition with very high-water content, more cementitious agent was required to realize the designed strength when block solidification, where a higher water content should improve the feasibility and homogeneity but decrease its strength. To overcome this contradiction, a vacuum-assisted filtration technique used in sludge and concrete treatment was extended to remove excessive water within the CBSC for strength enhancement. Experiments including the laboratory and pilot project were conducted to study the efficiency of the filtration method by investigating tailing water volume, strength and microstructure of the CBSC. Results reveal that applying the filtration method can effectively discharge the free water from the CBSC within the initial 12 hrs’ hydration of the cementitious additives, with a reduction in water content by 5.8–24.7 %, accompanied by an increase in the 28-day’s strength by more than 1.7 and 1.6 times in the laboratory and field respectively. Microstructural and chemical analyses also reveal that the strength improvement originates from the enhanced mixing homogeneity facilitated by higher water content and subsequent filtration for cementation development. After the auxiliary filtration process, both the total porosity and water content decrease, and the large pores are transformed into smaller ones.

Eggplant is one of the most important vegetable crops worldwide and has been considered to have great antioxidant activity. However, little information is available about the primary metabolic composition of the nutritional values of eggplant. Using a widely targeted metabolome approach, the current study investigated primary metabolic variation in 13 eggplant varieties with different morphologies. A total of 503 primary metabolites (amino acids, lipids, nucleotides, organic acids, vitamin, saccharides, and alcohols) and 170 phenolic acids were detected, among which 211 metabolites were differently accumulated. Metabolic pathway analysis of the differential metabolites revealed the significant enrichment of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism. The higher levels of amino acids and lipids were related to the umami, soft, and waxy taste of eggplant fruit. The present work substantially contributes to the knowledge of primary metabolite compositions regarding fruit-eating quality and provides useful information for the future breeding of eggplant.

Sensory analysis methods are widely used in the food industry. Due to the limitations of traditional sensory analysis methods such as long training time and high investment, various rapid analysis methods have been developed, one of which is the sorting method. Sorting method requires assessors to categorize products according to the similarity of their sensory characteristics and use multivariate statistical analysis methods to quickly obtain the sensory distribution of products. This paper mainly introduces the experimental design, data analysis, development, application in food research, and advantages and limitations of Sorting. The development trend of sorting is also prospected, aiming to provide a reference for further research and application of the method in the food industry.

Open-ended questions can be used in food sensory analysis. Generally, evaluators are required to describe the sensory features of a set of products in their own words, in order to understand how consumers’ perception of the main features of products. It can also be combined with preference surveys to explore the factors that drive product preferences and purchase decisions of consumers. This article introduces the definition of open-ended questions, implementation, data pre-processing, data analysis, application in food research, advantages and limitations of this method and its comparison with other rapid descriptive analysis methods, and looking ahead to the development prospect of this method with a view to providing reference for companies or scientific researchers in related fields who need product sensory analysis.

Baicalin (BA) is widely used in the treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). The key to treating encephalopathy is to increase the amounts of drugs entering the brain. Borneol-baicalin liposome (BO-BA-LP) was prepared in previous research based on the characteristics of borneol (BO) in promoting drug brain entry. In this study, the effect of BO-BA-LP on improving blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity was researched. Results showed BO-BA-LP may increase ability of BA to penetrate the cell membrane in vitro. Pharmacokinetic results showed the BO-BA-LP could increase concentrations of BA in plasma and brain tissues of normal and CIRI mice. Pharmacological results revealed BO-BA-LP could improve the neurological function, brain edema, and histopathology of CIRI mice. Besides, BO-BA-LP could protect BBB by regulating hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway. The research showed that BO in BO-BA-LP could increase the absorption of BA by increasing BBB permeability, leading to a better therapeutic effect of BO-BA-LP on CIRI mice.

Investigation of dynamic properties of carbonate/calcareous soils is important in earthquake and offshore engineering as these soils are commonly encountered in large-scale projects related with energy geomechanics and land reclamation. In this study, the stiffness and stiffness anisotropy of two types of calcareous sands (CS) from the Western Australia and the Philippines were examined using bender elements configured in different directions in stress path setups. Stiffness measurements were taken on specimens subjected to constant p′ compression/extension and biaxial stress paths and additional tests were performed on three types of silica sands with different geological origins and particle shapes, which were used as benchmark materials in the study. Compared with the three brands of silica sands, the stiffness of the CS was found to be more significantly influenced by anisotropic loading; an important observation of the experimental results was that stress anisotropy had different weighted influences on the stiffness in different directions, thus influencing stiffness anisotropy. Comparisons were made between the specimens subjected to complex loading paths, and respected model parameters as suggested from published expressions in the literature. These comparisons further highlighted that calcareous soils have different responses in terms of stiffness, stiffness anisotropy and loading history, compared with that of silica-based sands.

As the composite pile, the precast concrete piles reinforced with cement-treated soil (PCCS) is formed by driving the precast cement (PC) pile into the deep mixing (DM) column, which has been successfully and widely utilized to support buildings and embankments over soft soil. To increase the pile spacing and give full play to the economic merits of the PCCS, a reinforcement scheme, which involves the combined use of rigid piles and flexible columns, employing penetrated PCCSs and floating DM columns is proposed and utilized for soft soil ground treatment. However, there is a lack of feasible method for consolidation behaviors of this combined composite foundation (CCF) reinforced with penetrated PCCSs and floating DM columns under flexible loads. This paper developed an analytical solution to predict the average consolidation degree of this CCF based on a cylinder consolidation model and double-layer ground consolidation theory. The excess pore pressure and average consolidation degree were calculated by considering the composite pile penetration into the cushion. The analytical method agrees well with results obtained by numerical analysis. Additionally, a parametric study was conducted systematically to analyze the effect of key influence factors on the average consolidation degree of this CCF. The results indicate that the consolidation rate of this CCF can be much faster than that of the natural ground. The consolidation rate strongly depends on the compressive modulus and area replacement ratio of PCCSs. The increasing inner core-outer core modulus ratio and the inner core-subsoil modulus ratio increase the consolidation rate of this CCF. In addition, the consolidation rate increases with the gravel cushion-subsoil modulus ratio, while it decreases with the loading period.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in plant development and stress responses. So far, identification of lncRNA in eggplant response to stresses has been limited and the role in mediating response to cold stress is yet to be characterized in eggplant. In this study, there is reported the first dataset of lncRNAs responsive to cold stress in the cold tolerant and sensitive eggplants using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). 227 and 225 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs were obtained in two genotypes with differential cold-tolerance. Functional characterization through gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that target genes were particularly related to acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity and pseudouridine synthase activity, which could result in the tolerant phenotypes. Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) showed that target genes in both sensitive and tolerant eggplants were mainly involved in cold responsive pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation, peroxisome, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, ubiquitin mediated proteolysis and so on. However, the enriched pathways obtained by enrichment analysis in cold-tolerant eggplant were different from those in cold-sensitive eggplant, which further indicated the reason for different tolerances. Our findings highlight the potential contributions of lncRNAs in regulating eggplant response to cold stress and difference in cold tolerance.

Neurological and psychiatric disorders are a category of chronic diseases that are widespread and pose serious mental and physical health problems for patients. The substrates, products, and enzymes of Tryptophan metabolism all contribute to the development of neurological and psychiatric disorders. This paper deals with three metabolic pathways of tryptophan that produce a series of metabolites called tryptophan Catabolics (TRYCATs). These metabolites are involved in pathological processes such as excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial damage and are closely associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Here, we review the elements that affect how tryptophan metabolism is regulated, including inflammation and stress, exercise, vitamins, minerals, diet and gut microbes, glucocorticoids, and aging, as well as the downstream regulatory effects of tryptophan metabolism, including the regulation of glutamate (Glu), immunity, G-protein coupled receptor 35 (Gpr35), nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and dopamine (DA). In order to advance the general understanding of tryptophan metabolism in neurological and psychiatric disorders, this paper also summarizes the current situation and effective drugs of tryptophan metabolism in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and considers its future research prospects.

The characteristics of reactive magnesia (MgO)-carbonated silt in respect to long-term stability have not been well understood in severely cold climate despite the usage of reactive MgO in enhancing the engineering performances. Under the binder content of 15% and initial water content of 25%, MgO-admixed silt specimens were carbonized for 3 h and 6 h and then subjected to different numbers of freezing-thawing (F-T) cycles. After different F-T cycles, the physico-mechanical properties of MgO- carbonated silt were analyzed in comparison with Portland cement (PC)-stabilized silt through physical and unconfined compression tests. Besides, a series of micro tests on MgO-carbonated specimens was performed including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests. The results demonstrate that both mass change ratio and moisture content of carbonated/stabilized silt decrease, and these values of MgO-carbonated silt are significantly lower while the density is higher compared to PC-stabilized silt. The strengths and moduli of MgO-carbonated silt are still two times higher than those of PC-stabilized specimens and the strength change ratio of keeps above 0.8 after F-T cycles. There is no visible transformation between nesquehonite and dypingite/hydromagnesite, although the XRD peaks of nesquehonite decrease and the bonding and filling effects weaken slightly. After 6 and 10 F-T cycles, the pore-size characteristics changed from a unimodal distribution to a three-peak and bimodal distribution, respectively. The total, macro and large pore volumes increase obviously while the medium and small pore volumes decrease except for intra-aggregate pore. The findings show better F-T durability of MgO-carbonated silt, which would be helpful for facilitating the application of MgO carbonation in the soil treatment.

With the development of urban underground space and increased infrastructure functions, both the scale of engineering construction and engineering difficulties have increased globally. In the construction of structures in soft strata, especially in coastal areas, the limited bearing capacity of the foundations poses a significant challenge. The composite pile technologies employing an organic combination of the rigid pile andthe flexible column can enable efficient soft ground treatment. In light of prominent global environmental issues, low-carbon energy-saving curing technologies have been rapidly developed for application in geotechnical engineering. This paper discusses progress in research on the mechanical properties of the efficient and low-carbon pile technologies, including the stiffened deep mixing (SDM) column, squeezed branch pile, pre-bored grouting plated nodular (PGPN) pile, precast cement pile reinforced by cemented soil with a variable section (PCCV), and carbonized composite pile (CCP). In addition, it reviews the technical characteristics and recent progress of feasible low-carbon energy-efficient curing technologies. The paper also proposes future directions for theoretical research and technological development of low-carbon pile technologies. The key contribution of this review is to provide insights into efficient and low-carbon pile technologies. In addition, the findings from the study of the pile technologies used in extra-thick soft strata also provide industry practitioners with a comprehensive guide regarding the specific applications and mechanical performance of the pile technologies, which can serve as a stepping stone to facilitate the technological development of the underground space industry.

This study presented a framework for uncertainty analysis of the ultimate axial bearing capacity of piles evaluated by the UniCone method in layered soils. The UniCone method by Eslami and Fellenius (1997) is a direct piezocone penetration test (CPTU) method for evaluating the ultimate axial capacity of piles in the reliability design. The spatial variability of CPTU data is modeled as a random field for each soil unit in the soil strata. The empirical correlation coefficients of the UniCone method are assumed to follow lognormal distributions. On the basis of uncertainties of CPTU data and empirical correlation coefficients, the first-order reliability method (FORM) is then applied to the reliability analysis of ultimate axial bearing capacity of piles. The effects of spatial variability of CPTU data and variations of empirical correlation coefficients on the ultimate axial bearing capacity of piles are evaluated by an Excel spreadsheet-based framework. Seven case studies show that the proper identification of different soil units from soil profiles is crucial for estimating the failure probability of pile capacity in the reliability analysis. Uncertainties of CPTU data and empirical correlation coefficients would be over-estimated unless different soil units in soil profiles are identified properly from each other. The over-estimated geotechnical parameters contribute to a higher failure probability of pile capacity. The proposed framework can evaluate the uncertainty of the ultimate axial bearing capacity of pile foundations more rationally.

This work provides a three-dimensional discrete element simulation (DEM) model to study the air sparging technology. The simulations have taken into account the multi-phases of bubble (gas) - fluid (water) - soil (solid) particles. Bubbles are treated as discrete individual particles, with buoyancy and drag forces applied to bubbles and soil particles. The trajectory of each discrete bubble particle can be tracked using the discrete element model. It is found that the diffusion of the whole bubble is inverted conical though the motion behavior of a single bubble particle is random. Furthermore, the distribution of the radius of influence (ROI) is not uniform. The bubbles become more concentrated as in the center of the inverted cone. The number of bubbles dissipated from the water surface is normally distributed. The DEM simulation is a novel approach to studying air sparging technology that can provide us a deeper insight into bubble migration at the microscopic level.

Cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) are a serious threat to human health and account for 31% of global mortality. Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (CX) is derived from umbellifer plants. Its rhizome, leaves, and fibrous roots are similar in composition but have different contents. It has been used in Japanese, Korean, and other traditional medicine for over 2000 years. Currently, it is mostly cultivated and has high safety and low side effects. Due to the lack of a systematic summary of the efficacy of CX in the treatment of CVDs, this article describes the material basis, molecular mechanism, and clinical efficacy of CX, as well as its combined application in the treatment of CVDs, and has been summarized from the perspective of safety. In particular, the pharmacological effect of CX in the treatment of CVDs is highlighted from the point of view of its mechanism, and the complex mechanism network has been determined to improve the understanding of CX’s multi-link and multi-target therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and endothelial cells. This article offers a new and modern perspective on the impact of CX on CVDs.

Fruit skin colour intensity is one of the most important economic traits of purple eggplant. A wide diversity for fruit skin colour intensity exists in purple eggplant and the accumulation of anthocyanins and chlorophylls of fruit skin mainly affected colour intensity. However, limited information is available contributing to the molecular mechanisms underlying fruit skin colour intensity variation in purple eggplant. In the present study, variation of two purple eggplant advanced lines EP26 and EP28, with different fruit skin colour intensity was investigated. Higher anthocyanin contents and lower chlorophyll contents were observed in EP26 with deeper fruit skin colour intensity at two developmental stages. Comparative transcriptome analysis of EP26 and EP28 identified a total of 2218 differential expressed genes (DEGs) at two developmental stages. Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and photosynthesis. In addition, a total of 131 transcription factors including MYB, bHLH, WRKY, and NAC exhibited dynamic changes, which might be responsible for the variation of fruit pigments accumulation between EP26 and EP28. Taken together, these results expand our knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying fruit skin colour intensity variation in eggplant, which allowing for improvement of fruit coloration in eggplant breeding.

The color of fruit peel is an economically important character of eggplant, and black-purple eggplant has received much attention for being rich in anthocyanin. However, the reason why different fruit peel colors form in eggplant is not well understood. In the present study, an integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome profiles was performed in five eggplant varieties with different fruit colors. A total of 260 flavonoids were identified, and most of them showed significantly higher abundance in black-purple varieties than in other varieties. The transcriptome analysis indicated the activation of early phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes (SmPAL, SmC4H, and Sm4CL) was more responsible for anthocyanin accumulation, while SmF3′5′H was the key factor for the formation of a purple color. Furthermore, two transcription factors, SmGL2 and SmGATA26, were identified as new hub genes associated with anthocyanin accumulation. The silencing of SmGL2 and SmGATA26 reduced anthocyanin accumulation in eggplant fruit peels, suggesting the possible involvement of SmGL2 and SmGATA26 in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. In addition, the pathway of plant hormone signal transduction was significantly enriched, indicating that phytohormones may cooperatively interact to modulate flavonoid biosynthesis. This study provides comprehensive information of flavonoid metabolites and new insights into the regulatory network of fruit coloration, which might be useful for the molecular breeding of eggplant.

This paper aims to study the shear behavior of binary particles with irregular shapes by discrete element method simulations of the biaxial test in the membrane boundary condition. Binary particle samples are generated according to different volume fractions of coarse and fine particles. The deviatoric stress and volumetric strain curves are plotted to describe the contracting-dilatancy relationship of binary samples under shearing conditions. The anisotropy of the normal and tangential contact forces are explored by visualization of the orientation of contact forces to describe the evolution of micro structures of samples during the shearing process. Besides, the formations of the shear band are observed by the visualization of the newly generated contact force chains between particles. The research shows that the volume fraction of coarse particles and particle size ratio have significant influences on the shear behavior of binary particles both in macroscopic and microscopic points of view. Moreover, the increased volume fraction of coarse particles leads to a more difficult formation of a shear band.

This research investigated the evolution of both monoterpenoids and expression profiles of related biosynthesis genes in the MEP pathway in seven different table grape varieties from veraison to maturity stage in two seasons, and the correlation was further evaluated between monoterpenoid accumulation and expression of these genes studied in these varieties. Results showed that linalool, trans-furan linalool oxide, geraniol, and cis-furan linalool oxide were the main compounds in the five Muscat varieties two seasons. ‘Zaomeiguixiang’ had the highest contents of geraniol and β-Citronellol. ‘Xiangfei’ had the most abundant of linalool and cis-furan linalool oxide, whereas the neutral varieties of ‘Moldova’ and ‘Christmas Rose’ had the least amount. Monoterpenoid volatiles have been grouped in three evolutionary patterns in the berry development of these varieties. ‘Zaomeiguixiang’ and ‘Xiangfei’ had distinct different pattern of terpenoids evolution profiles. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that in the MEP pathway, the first biosynthesis gene VvDXS3 was significantly correlated to the accumulation of monoterpenoids, and appeared to be an important candidate gene for synthesis of the monoterpenoids.

With the development of urbanization, numerous excavations are carried out to facilitate the development of underground space. As a support for tunnel structures, uplift piles are often installed prior to tunnel excavation. The excavation inevitably causes disturbance to the soil below the excavation surface, changing the soil’s mechanical behavior and stress state significantly. However, there is still a lack of a method to evaluate the change in pile capacity due to excavation. This paper proposes a semi-analytical approach for estimating the change in load-settlement behavior of an uplift pile considering the effects of excavation. A hyperbolic model was adopted to simulate the nonlinear interaction of the pile–soil interface. The nonlinear shear-induced soil displacement outside the pile–soil interface is introduced to obtain a more realistic load-displacement behavior of the uplift pile. An effective iterative program was implemented based on the proposed semi-analytical approach. The comparisons between the results from the proposed methods, well-documented field tests, centrifuge tests, and other analytical methods showed that the proposed approach is suitable for analyzing an uplift pile considering excavation effects. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the effects of main soil properties on the pile capacity loss caused by excavation. The results showed that the soil friction angle and the ratio of the excavation depth to the pile effective length have a great influence on the loss in pile uplift capacity caused by excavation. However, the loss of pile uplift capacity caused by excavation is not affected by the soil’s shear modulus or Poisson’s ratio.

Soil-bentonite cutoff walls, consisting of excavated in situ soil and bentonite as backfills, are used extensively as vertical barriers for groundwater pollution control. Sand mixed with high-quality natural sodium bentonite (NaB) is commonly used as a research object to investigate the hydraulic and compression properties of soil-bentonite backfills. However, pure sand could rarely be found in real conditions, and natural NaB may not be available readily in some countries such as China, India, and Turkey. This paper presents a comprehensive laboratory investigation on the compressibility and hydraulic conductivity (k) of soil-bentonite backfills created by simulated in situ soil and low-quality sodium activated calcium bentonite (SACaB). The simulated in situ soils are prepared using sand-natural clay mixtures with sand to natural clay mass ratios ranging from 0.5 to 6.0, and the bentonite content (BC) in the base mixture ranges from 0 to 15%. The result indicates that BC dominates the compression index (Cc) of the backfill, and a unique relationship between void ratio at effective vertical compression stress of 1 kPa and compression index is proposed for various types of soil-bentonite backfills. An increase in either BC or clay size fraction (CF) in simulated in situ contributes to reducing k, but the impact of CF in simulated in situ soil on k tends to be insignificant for backfill with BC higher than 6%. A new characteristic parameter based on the concept of void ratio of bentonite (eb), named apparent void ratio of clay size fraction (eC), is developed for predicting soil-bentonite backfills created by in situ soils and bentonites with various contents.

Background WRKY proteins play a vital role in the plants response to different stresses, growth and development. Studies of WRKY proteins have been mainly focused on model plant Arabidopsis and a few other vegetable plants. However, the systematical study of eggplant WRKY transcription factor superfamily is scarce. Methods Bioinformatics has been used to identify and characterize the eggplant WRKY gene family. For the exploration of the differentially expressed WRKY genes, two cultivars with different cold-tolerance were used. Finally, we performed a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) experiment to verify the functions of SmWRKY26 and SmWRKY32. Results Fifty eight (58) genes encoding eggplant WRKY proteins were identified through searching the eggplant genome. Eggplant WRKY proteins could be classified into three groups or seven subgroups in accordance with other plants. WRKY variants were identified from the eggplant. Gene structure analysis showed that the number of intron in eggplant WRKY family was from 0 to 11, with an average of 4.4. Conserved motif analysis suggested that WRKY DNA-binding domain was conserved in eggplant WRKY proteins. Furthermore, RNA-seq data showed that WRKY genes were differentially expressed in eggplant response to cold stress. By using VIGS, the two differentially expressed genes-SmWRKY26 and SmWRKY32 were verified in response to cold stress. Discussions This study provides a foundation for further exploring the functions of WRKY proteins in eggplant response to stresses and eggplant genetic improvement in stresses.

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are challenging diseases with the high mortality in a clinical setting. Baicalin (BA) is the main effective constituent isolated from the Chinese medical herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, and studies have proved that it has a protective effect on ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) due to the anti-inflammatory efficacy. However, BA has low solubility which may limit its clinical application. Hence, we prepared a novel drug delivery system—Baicalin liposome (BA-LP) in previous research—which can improve some physical properties of BA. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effect of BA-LP on ALI mice induced by LPS. In pharmacokinetics study, the values of t1/2 and AUC0-t in the BA-LP group were significantly higher than that of the BA group in normal mice, indicating that BA-LP could prolong the duration time in vivo of BA. The BA-LP group also showed a higher concentration in lung tissues than the BA group. Pharmacodynamics studies showed that BA-LP had a better effect than the BA group at the same dosage on reducing the W/D ratio, alleviating the lung injury score, and decreasing the proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β) and total proteins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF). In addition, the therapeutic effects of BA-LP showed a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis indicated that the anti-inflammatory action of BA could be attributed to the inhibition of the TLR4-NFκBp65 and JNK-ERK signaling pathways. These results suggest that BA-LP could be a valuable therapeutic candidate in the treatment of ALI.

Short sequences provide pathogen protection A protein that processes gene-regulating RNA molecules helps defend tomato plants against viral infections. The various DCL proteins play a prominent role in processing tiny RNAs known as microRNA and short interfering RNA, which in turn modulate gene activity. Researchers led by Hongliang Zhu at China Agricultural University set out to study a DCL protein produced by tomatoes that remains poorly defined from a functional perspective. The researchers did not notice any prominent abnormalities when they genetically manipulated plants to eliminate expression of the DCL2b gene. However, these DLC2b-deficient plants proved disproportionately vulnerable to tomato mosaic virus, with infection producing striking developmental defects. Zhu and colleagues determined that loss of this gene disrupts processing of a subset of regulatory RNAs that may help mediate the plant antiviral response.

Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the prediction accuracy of postoperative refractions using partial coherence interferometry (IOL-Master) and applanation ultrasound (AL-3000) assisted with corneal topography (TMS-4) in eyes that had undergone myopic laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Methods Haigis-L formula, Koch–Maloney method using Haigis formula, Shammas clinically derived K-value (simulated keratometric value) correction (Shammas c.d.) using Haigis formula, and Shammas post-LASIK (Shammas-PL) formula were used in eyes with myopic LASIK. Constants were derived from the optimized constants in 133 virgin eyes. Refractive outcomes were determined by streak retinoscopy and subjective manifest refraction. Methods and formulas were evaluated by mean error (ME), standard deviation (SD), range of error, mean absolute error (MAE), median absolute error, 95% confidence interval of MAE, and percentage of eyes within ±0.5 diopter (D), ±1.0 D, and ±1.5 D of prediction. Results SDs of the Haigis-L, Koch-Maloney method using the Haigis formula, Shammas c.d. using the Haigis formula, and the Shammas-PL formula using IOL-Master were 0.721, 0.695, 0.695, and 0.698; and those using AL-3000 assisted with TMS-4 were 0.782, 0.741, 0.743, and 0.778, respectively. Conclusions No-history methods that corrected corneal power with measurements using IOL-Master were promising in myopic post-LASIK eyes, but still a gap in prediction accuracy exists between virgin eyes and post-LASIK eyes.

Taking the project of the Su-xin highway treated by using the resonant compaction method as the reference, a new method for the evaluation of liquefaction potential is proposed based on the piezocone penetration test (CPTU) and the standard penetration test (SPT). The soil behavior type index (Ic) obtained from CPTUs and the standard penetration test index (N63.5), obtained from SPTs, are analyzed for saturated silty sand and silt. The analysis result reveals a linear relationship between N63.5 and Ic, given by N63.5=−18.8Ic+52.0. The larger the value of Ic is, the greater the viscosity of soil is, and the smaller the value of N63.5 is. According to the method, liquefaction assessment of saturated silty sand and silt foundation can be conducted by using N63.5 based on the Code of Seismic Design of Building. N63.5 is expressed by a single Ic, which is calculated from the CPTU data. Compared with existing evaluation methods, this method can provide continuous standard penetration test values, moreover, this method involves a simple calculation, and the results obtained using the method are reliable.

Powdery mildew is a widespread plant disease caused by obligate biotrophic fungal pathogens involving species-specific interactions between host and parasite. To gain genomic insights into the underlying obligate biotrophic mechanisms, we analyzed 15 microbial genomes covering powdery and downy mildews and rusts. We observed a genome-wide, massive contraction of multiple gene families in powdery mildews, such as enzymes in the carbohydrate metabolism pathway, when compared with ascomycete phytopathogens, while the fatty acid metabolism pathway maintained its integrity. We also observed significant differences in candidate secreted effector protein (CSEP) families between monocot and dicot powdery mildews, perhaps due to different selection forces. While CSEPs in monocot mildews are likely subject to positive selection causing rapid expansion, CSEP families in dicot mildews are shrinking under strong purifying selection. Our results not only illustrate obligate biotrophic mechanisms of powdery mildews driven by gene family evolution in nutrient metabolism, but also demonstrate how the divergence of CSEPs between monocot and dicot lineages might contribute to species-specific adaption.

RNA viruses encode various RNA binding proteins that function in many steps of viral infection cycles. These proteins function as RNA helicases, methyltransferases, RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, RNA silencing suppressors, RNA chaperones, movement proteins, and so on. Although many of the proteins bind the viral RNA genome during different stages of infection, our knowledge about the coordination of their functions is limited. In this study, we describe a novel role for the Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) γb as an enhancer of αa RNA helicase activity, and we show that the γb protein is recruited by the αa viral replication protein to chloroplast membrane sites of BSMV replication. Mutagenesis or deletion of γb from BSMV resulted in reduced positive strand (+) RNAα accumulation, but γb mutations abolishing viral suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR) activity did not completely eliminate genomic RNA replication. In addition, cis- or trans-expression of the Tomato bushy stunt virus p19 VSR protein failed to complement the γb replication functions, indicating that the direct involvement of γb in BSMV RNA replication is independent of VSR functions. These data support a model whereby two BSMV-encoded RNA-binding proteins act coordinately to regulate viral genome replication and provide new insights into strategies whereby double-stranded viral RNA unwinding is regulated, as well as formation of viral replication complexes.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades have important functions in plant growth, development, and response to various stresses. The MAPKK and MAPKKK gene families in tomato have never been systematically analyzed. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the MAPKK and MAPKKK gene families in tomato and identified 5 MAPKK genes and 89 MAPKKK genes. Phylogenetic analyses of the MAPKK and MAPKKK gene families showed that all the MAPKK genes formed four groups (groups A, B, C, and D), whereas all the MAPKKK genes were classified into three subfamilies, namely, MEKK, RAF, and ZIK. Evolutionary analysis showed that whole genome or chromosomal segment duplications were the main factors responsible for the expansion of the MAPKK and MAPKKK gene families in tomato. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that the majority of MAPKK and MAPKKK genes were expressed in all tested organs with considerable differences in transcript levels indicating that they might be constitutively expressed. However, the expression level of most of these genes changed significantly under heat, cold, drought, salt, and Pseudomonas syringae treatment. Furthermore, their expression levels exhibited significant changes in response to salicylic acid and indole-3-acetic acid treatment, implying that these genes might have important roles in the plant hormone network. Our comparative analysis of the MAPKK and MAPKKK families would improve our understanding of the evolution and functional characterization of MAPK cascades in tomato.