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Abstract Due to the increase in emission requirements for non-road vehicles in many countries and the reduction of agricultural personnel, tractors are developing towards high horsepower and electrification. According to the working conditions of high-horsepower tractors, a hydromechanical continuously variable transmission (HMCVT) is designed for hybrid tractors. Taking a tractor equipped with this transmission as the research object, an equivalent factor global optimization model was established and a genetic algorithm was used to optimize the equivalent factor S offline to obtain the optimal equivalent factor of the tractor under different operating mileage and the initial state of charge (SOC) of battery. By using the optimized equivalent factor, the tractor can be in the charge depleting (CD) mode for a longer time on the premise of making full use of the energy in the battery, so as to improve the auxiliary ability of the motor in the whole operation cycle to reduce the fuel consumption of the tractor. The effectiveness of the control strategy is verified by MATLAB/Simulink and hardware in the loop (HIL) tests, and the fuel economy of tractors is improved by 2.939% and 3.909% respectively in the two tests.

Objectives: Colistin is known as the last resort antibiotic to treat the infections caused by multidrug resistant foodborne pathogens. The emergence and widespread dissemination of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-1 in the Escherichia coli (E. coli) incurs potential threat to public health. Here, we investigated the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and genetic characterization of mcr-1 harbouring E. coli isolates from poultry originated in Hebei Province, China. Methods: A total of 297 faecal samples were collected from the two large poultry farms in Hebei Province, China. The samples were processed for E. coli identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and 16S rDNA sequencing. Then, the mcr-1 gene harbouring E. coli strains were identified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by broth microdilution assay. The genomic characterization of the isolates was done by whole genome sequencing using the various bioinformatics tools, and multi-locus sequence typing was done by sequence analysis of the seven housekeeping genes. The conjugation experiment was done to check the transferability of mcr-1 along with the plasmid stability testing. Results: A total of six mcr-1 E. coli isolates with minimum inhibitory concentration of 4 μg/mL were identified from 297 samples (2.02%). The mcr-1 harbouring E. coli were identified as multidrug resistant and belonged to ST101 (n = 4) and ST410 (n = 2). The genetic environment of mcr-1 presented its position on IncHI2 plasmid in 4 isolates and p0111 in 2 isolates, which is a rarely reported plasmid type for mcr-1. Moreover, both type of plasmids was transferable to recipient J53, and mcr-1 was flanked by 3 mobile elements ISApl1, Tn3, and IS26 forming a novel backbone Tn3–IS26-mcr-1– pap2-ISApl1 on the p0111 plasmid. The phylogenetic analysis shared a common lineage with mcr-1 harbouring isolates from the environment, humans, and animals, which indicate its horizontal spread among the diverse sources, species, and hosts. Conclusion: This study recommends the one health approach for future surveillance across multiple sources and bacterial species to adopt relevant measures and reduce global resistance crises.

This paper investigated the improvement behaviors on dispersivity, water stability and mechanical properties of dispersive soil by calcined coal gangue (CCG) at 700 °C, and analyzed the modification mechanism. Dispersive soil specimens with different content of CCG (varying from 1 % to 10 %) were prepared and cured for 0–28 days. The dispersivity of the soil was determined by three different dispersivity determination tests. The tensile strength and compressive strength of the dispersive soil were determined by mechanical property tests. SEM, EDS, TG and XRD analytical methods were employed to reveal microstructure and mineral changes during modification. The results of the study show that the admixture of CCG and the prolongation of curing time contributed favorably to suppressing the dispersivity of the soil and enhancing the water stability, the compressive strength and tensile strength of the dispersive soil. With the increasing of CCG content and the prolongation of curing time, the dispersive soil gradually transforms into non-dispersive soil. Microstructural and mineral analysis indicate that CCG has pozzolanic activity, and the production of pozzolanic reaction products significantly increase the friction and cohesion among soil particles. The results show that the utilization of CCG as an admixture to improve the dispersive soil not only solves the disposal problem of waste gangue, but also optimizes the undesirable characteristics of the dispersive soil. And the modification effect of CCG on dispersive soil in practical engineering is confirmed by validation test.

The stability of grid-connected wind power system (GCWPS) is prone to deteriorate due to the impedance interaction between wind turbines and the weak grid. For purpose of finding out the cause of power oscillation and effectively improving the stability of GCWPS under weak grid, firstly of all, a frequency coupling impedance model (FCIM) for GCWPS is established. Through analyzing the impedance characteristic of GCWPS, a significant coupling effect between GCWPS impedance and grid impedance in the middle-low frequency region under weak grid is observed, which is easy to cause power oscillation. For purpose of restraining the power oscillation of GCWPS under weak grid, this paper proposes an oscillation suppression strategy based on composite feedforward damping. Virtual damping is incorporated into the feedforward loop to rectify the impedance characteristic curve of GCWPS. Then, a FCIM of GCWPS that adopts the proposed oscillation suppression strategy is established, and the stability analysis demonstrates that the proposed strategy effectively enhances the GCWPS stability under weak grid. Additionally, compared with conventional control strategy, GCWPS exhibits enhanced adaptability to the increased output power and phase-locked loop (PLL) bandwidth under weak grid. Finally, experiments are undertaken to evidence the feasibility of the proposed oscillation suppression strategy.

IntroductionCoronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), canine coronavirus (CCoV), and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), have the potential for interspecies transmission. These viruses can be present in complex environments where humans, dogs, and cats coexist, posing a significant threat to both human and animal safety.Methods and resultsIn this study, we developed a novel multiplex TaqMan-probe-based real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2, CCoV, and FIPV. Specific primers and TaqMan fluorescent probes were designed based on the N region of SARS-CoV-2 and FIPV, as well as the S region of CCoV, which demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity and specificity toward the targeted viruses, as few as 21.83, 17.25 and 9.25 copies/μL for SARS-CoV-2, CCoV and FIPV, respectively. The standard curve constructed by the optimized method in our present study showed a high amplification efficiency within or near the optimal range of 91% to 116% and R(2) values were at least 0.95 for the abovementioned coronaviruses. A total of 91 samples, including six plasmid mixed mock samples, four virus fluid mixing simulated samples, and 81 clinical samples, were analyzed using this method. Results demonstrated strong agreement with conventional approaches.DiscussionBy enabling the simultaneous detection of three viruses, this method enhances testing efficiency while decreasing costs. Importantly, it provides a valuable tool for the prevalence and geographical distribution of suspected and co-infected animals, ultimately contributing to the advancement of both animal and public health.

Bamboo, widely known as ''poor man's timber'' or ''green gold,'' is a key forest resource distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. It is vital for its social, economic, cultural, and ecological benefits, demanding in-depth research for sustainable development. Despite its potential contribution to sustainable development, previous studies on bamboo have been geographically and methodically limited, lacking a comprehensive analysis of its contribution to sustainable livelihoods. This study, employing the PRISMA method for systematic reviews of 127 articles, investigates (1) the distribution and trends of livelihood-based bamboo research and identifies knowledge gaps, (2) bamboo's role in livelihood enhancement, (3) challenges and opportunities in its livelihood values, and (4) strategies to optimize bamboo's livelihood potential. Through this review, we identified most of the research limited to Asia, with limited studies in Africa and Latin America. Out of 1600 species, most of the studies focus on only 83 bamboo species, noting their multifaceted contributions across all livelihood capital types: natural, human, physical, social, and financial. Despite administrative and technical challenges that limit its value, bamboo provides diverse tangible benefits, economic opportunities, environmental improvements, international appeal, and strong sociocultural ties. We advocate for resilient bamboo-based livelihoods through cooperative, participatory, and sustainable management approaches that integrate research and indigenous knowledge to navigate challenges and leverage bamboo's extensive benefits.

Abstract Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a prevalent form of non-small cell lung cancer with a rising incidence in recent years. Understanding the mutation characteristics of LUAD is crucial for effective treatment and prediction of this disease. Among the various mutations observed in LUAD, KRAS mutations are particularly common. Different subtypes of KRAS mutations can activate the Ras signaling pathway to varying degrees, potentially influencing the pathogenesis and prognosis of LUAD. This study aims to investigate the relationship between different KRAS mutation subtypes and the pathogenesis and prognosis of LUAD. A total of 63 clinical samples of LUAD were collected for this study. The samples were analyzed using targeted gene sequencing panels to obtain sequencing data. To complement the dataset, additional clinical and sequencing data were obtained from TCGA and MSK. The analysis revealed significantly higher Ki67 immunohistochemical scores in patients with missense mutations compared to controls. Moreover, the expression level of KRAS was found to be significantly correlated with Ki67 expression. Enrichment analysis indicated that KRAS missense mutations activated the SWEET_LUNG_CANCER_KRAS_DN and CREIGHTON_ENDOCRINE_THERAPY_RESISTANCE_2 pathways. Additionally, patients with KRAS missense mutations and high Ki67 IHC scores exhibited significantly higher tumor mutational burden levels compared to other groups, which suggests they are more likely to be responsive to ICIs. Based on the data from MSK and TCGA, it was observed that patients with KRAS missense mutations had shorter survival compared to controls, and Ki67 expression level could more accurately predict patient prognosis. In conclusion, when utilizing KRAS mutations as biomarkers for the treatment and prediction of LUAD, it is important to consider the specific KRAS mutant subtypes and Ki67 expression levels. These findings contribute to a better understanding of LUAD and have implications for personalized therapeutic approaches in the management of this disease.

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive cancer with distant metastasis. Accumulated evidence has demonstrated that exosomes are involved in TNBC metastasis. Elucidating the mechanism underlying TNBC metastasis has important clinical significance. In the present study, exosomes were isolated from clinical specimens and TNBC cell lines. Colony formation, EdU incorporation, wound healing, and transwell assays were performed to examine TNBC cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis. Macrophage polarization was evaluated by flow cytometry and RT-qPCR analysis of polarization markers. A mouse model of subcutaneous tumor was established for assessment of tumor growth and metastasis. RNA pull-down, RIP and Co-IP assays were used for analyzing molecular interactions. Here, we proved that high abundance of circRHCG was observed in exosomes derived from TNBC patients, and increased exosomal circRHCG indicated poor prognosis. Silencing of circRHCG suppressed TNBC cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis. TNBC cell-derived exosomes promoted M2 polarization via delivering circRHCG. Exosomal circRHCG stabilized BTRC mRNA via binding FUS and naturally enhanced BTRC expression, thus promoting the ubiquitination and degradation of TFEB in THP-1 cells. In addition, knockdown of BTRC or overexpression of TFEB counteracted exosomal circRHCG-mediated facilitation of M2 polarization. Furthermore, exosomal circRHCG promoted TNBC cell proliferation and metastasis by facilitating M2 polarization. Knockdown of circRHCG reduced tumor growth, metastasis, and M2 polarization through the BTRC/TFEB axis in vivo. In summary, exosomal circRHCG promotes M2 polarization by stabilizing BTRC and promoting TFEB degradation, thereby accelerating TNBC metastasis and growth. Our study provides promising therapeutic strategies against TNBC.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the level of horizontal transmission of the bla CTX-M-65 gene and the role of its associated mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the bovine-derived Escherichia coli. After PCR identification, two plasmids carrying bla CTX-M-65 were successfully transferred to the recipient E. coli J53 Azr through conjugation assays and subsequently selected for Whole-Genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. The resistance profiles of these two positive strains and their transconjugants were also determined through antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Whole genome data were acquired using both the PacBio sequencing platform and the Illumina data platform. The annotated results were then submitted to the Genbank database for accession number recording. For comparison, the genetic environment of plasmids carrying the resistance gene bla CTX-M-65 was mapped using the Easyfig software. WGS analysis revealed Tn3-like composite transposons bearing bla CTX-M-65 , bla TEM-1 , and bla OXA-10 in the IncHI2-type plasmids of these two E. coli ST1508 strains. A phylogenetic tree was generated from all 48 assembled E. coli isolates bla CTX-M-65 , bla TEM-1 , and bla OXA-10 from the NCBI Pathogen Detection database with our two isolates, showing the relationships and the contribution of SNPs to the diversity between genetic samples. This study suggests that the transmissibility of bla CTX-M-65 on Tn3-like composite transposons contributes to an increased risk of its transmission in E. coli derived from dairy cattle.

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) Cr(1+δ)Te2 materials exhibit strong magnetic ordering and high Curie temperatures, making them attractive for various applications. It is crucial to achieve controllable synthesis for their successful integration into device technologies. In this study, we present the synthesis of phase-controllable 2D Cr(1+δ)Te2 films on the Si (111) substrate via molecular beam epitaxy. The composition and phase transition of the as-grown Cr(1+δ)Te2 films are characterized by using in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and theoretical calculations. At low growth temperatures, by carefully adjusting the film thickness from 2 to more than 3 layers, we achieve precise control over the phase of Cr(1+δ)Te2, from CrTe2 to Cr intercalated Cr2Te3. At a relatively elevated growth temperature, it is demonstrated that the Cr(1+δ)Te2 phase is independent of the film thickness, only Cr2Te3 forms and its growth mode is thickness-dependent. These phase transitions at low growth temperatures and growth mode changes at elevated growth temperatures are attributed to interfacial effects and the phase stability of Cr(1+δ)Te2 compounds. Additionally, we utilize scanning tunneling spectroscopy and computations to gain insights into the electronic properties of Cr2Te3. The magnetic measurements reveal that the 30-nm Cr2Te3 film exhibits ferromagnetic behavior with a Curie temperature of about 180 K. Our work offers a robust method for the controllable growth of high-quality 2D Cr(1+δ)Te2 films on Si substrates, providing an ideal platform for investigating their intrinsic properties and advancing the development of 2D magnet-based spintronics devices.

During the mode-switching process of a hybrid tractor equipped with a hydraulic-mechanical continuously variable transmission (HMCVT) device, the separation and combination of the clutch will cause transient shocks, affecting the smoothness and driving comfort of the entire vehicle. This article conducts simulation and experimental research on the impact problem when switching from pure electric drive mode to hybrid-power speed coupling mode. Firstly, establish a system dynamics model in SimulationX 3.5 software and build a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experimental platform. Secondly, a strategy of “clutch oil pressure fuzzy control + motor torque compensation” is proposed to solve the problem of the slow dynamic response of the engine. Finally, the orthogonal experiment range analysis method and variance analysis method are used to optimize the quality of mode switching, with six clutch-switching time sequences as experimental factors. The simulation results show that adopting the strategy of “clutch oil pressure fuzzy control + motor torque compensation” and optimizing the clutch-switching timing can effectively reduce the amplitude of output shaft speed reduction, dynamic load coefficient, and impact, and shorten the switching time. The comparison between the HIL test results and the simulation results shows that there is a certain difference between the two, but the overall trend is consistent, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy and method.

The working environment of tractors is harsh and the working conditions are very complicated. To cope with this complex and changeable working environment, this paper presents a hybrid tractor powertrain loaded with hydraulic mechanical combined transmission (HMCVT). The powertrain can switch modes according to different operating environments. During mode switching, impact loads can cause wear and even damage to the transmission components. Interrupting the power transmission will reduce the tractor’s operational efficiency. In this paper, the orthogonal experimental range analysis method was proposed to optimize the quality of mode switching. Mode switching involves interactions between clutches. Orthogonal table L16 (215) was selected to design the orthogonal table head. SimulationX was used for simulation. Employing MINITAB range analysis yielded the optimal results. The simulations indicated a reduction in the output shaft’s velocity drop amplitude from 17.647% to 6.591%. The dynamic load coefficient decreased from 2.743 to 1.857. The impact strength was reduced from 14.125 to 5.67 m/s3. The switching time was reduced from 2.13 to 1.71 s. We built a model-in-the-loop (MIL) test platform to validate the results. The MIL test results were compared with the simulation results. Our findings indicate a degree of discrepancy between the simulated and the experimental results, yet the overall trends remain largely consistent. The correctness of the optimal scheme obtained from the orthogonal experiment is verified. This study provides a theoretical basis for the optimization of powertrain mode switching in hybrid tractors equipped with HMCVT.

Lung cancer is a chronic wasting disease with insidious onset and long treatment cycle. Exosomes are specialized extracellular vesicles, at first exosomes were considered as a transporter of cellular metabolic wastes, but recently many studies have identified exosomes which contain a variety of biologically active substances that play a role in the regulation of cellular communication and physiological functions. Exosomes play an important role in the development of lung cancer and can promote metastasis through a variety of mechanisms. However, at the same time, researchers have also discovered that immune cells can also inhibit lung cancer through exosomes. In addition, researchers have discovered that some specific miRNAs in exosomes can be used as markers for early diagnosis of lung cancer. Engineering exosomes may be one of the strategies to enhance the clinical translational application of exosomes in the future, for example, strategies such as modifying exosomes to enhance targeting or utilizing exosomes as carriers for drug delivery have been explored. but more studies are needed to verify the safety and efficacy. This article reviews the latest research on exosomes in the field of lung cancer, from the mechanism of lung cancer development, the functions of immune cell-derived exosomes and tumor-derived exosomes, to the early diagnosis of lung cancer.

Abstract Cervical cancer (CC) is the most common gynecological malignant tumor. Immunotherapy has become a new model for the treatment of CC, especially advanced and recurrent cancer. At present, many studies are exploring the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy for advanced or recurrent CC. In this study, CIBERSORT was used to analyze the immune cell infiltration in CC patients, to evaluate the proportion of immune cell types in CC samples, to quantify the cell composition of the immune response, and to analyze its prognostic value. The expression profile datasets of CC were downloaded from the GEO. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CC and normal cervical tissues were identified via R software (version 4.1.1), and their functions and pathways were enriched and analyzed. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed to screen the hub gene. Immune cell infiltration in CC was analyzed via scientific reverse convolution algorithm (CIBERSORT), and the hub gene was analyzed via survival analysis to screen the diagnostic biomarkers of CC. A total of 144 DEGs and 12 hub genes were identified. DEGs are mainly involved in molecular functions such as serine-peptidase activity, serine-hydrolase activity, and chemokine activity. The enrichment pathway is closely related to the interaction between viral proteins and cytokines and cytokine receptors, the interleukin 17 signaling pathway, and chemokine signaling pathway. The immune cell infiltration analysis showed that T cells were the main infiltrating immune cells in CC, especially T cells CD8+ and CD4+ . The survival analysis of the hub gene showed that CEP55, MCM2, RFC4, and RRM2 had high diagnostic value. CEP55, MCM2, RFC4, and RRM2 can be used as diagnostic markers for CC. CD8+ and CD4+ T cells are closely related to the occurrence and development of CC.

The response of dryland vegetation to climate change is particularly sensitive in the context of global climate change. This paper analyzes the characteristics of spatial and temporal dynamics of vegetation cover in the Tarim River Basin, China, and its driving factors in order to investigate the response of vegetation growth to water storage changes in the basin. The Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), the GRACE gravity satellite, and meteorological data from 2002 to 2022 are used to decipher the characteristics of the response of water storage changes to vegetation changes, which is of great significance to the realization of regional ecological development and sustainable development. The results of the study show the following: (1) The vegetation in the Tarim River Basin has an overall increasing trend, which is mainly distributed in the Aksu Basin and the Weigangkuche River Basin and is spatially distributed in the form of a ring. (2) Vegetation distribution greatly improved during the 20-year study period, dominated by high-cover vegetation, with a change rate of 200.36%. Additionally, vegetation changes are centered on the watersheds and expand to the surrounding area, with a clear increase in vegetation in the Kumukuri Basin. Areas with a vegetation Hurst index of

Abstract Background Whether endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) applies to undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer (UEGC) remains controversial. We aimed to analyze the risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in UEGC and evaluate the feasibility of ESD. Methods This study included 346 patients with UEGC who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2014 and December 2021. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the correlation between clinicopathological features and LNM were conducted, and the risk factors for exceeding the expanded ESD indications were evaluated. Results The overall LNM rate in UEGC was 19.94%. Among the preoperatively assessable factors, submucosal invasion (odds ratio [OR] = 4.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.14–10.66) and > 2 cm(OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.20–5.15) were independent risk factors for LNM, while postoperative independent risk factors were > 2 cm (OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.02–5.40) and lymphovascular invasion(OR = 13.21, 95% CI: 5.18–33.70). Patients who met the expanded indications had a low LNM risk (4.1%). Additionally, tumors located in the cardia (P = 0.03), non-elevated type (P

Background: Tumor antigenicity and efficiency of antigen presentation jointly influence tumor immunogenicity, which largely determines the effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, the role of altered antigen processing and presentation machinery (APM) in breast cancer (BRCA) has not been fully elucidated. Methods: A series of bioinformatic analyses and machine learning strategies were performed to construct APM-related gene signatures to guide personalized treatment for BRCA patients. A single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were combined to screen for BRCA-specific APM-related genes. The non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm was used to divide the cohort into different clusters and the fgsea algorithm was applied to investigate the altered signaling pathways. Random survival forest (RSF) and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) Cox regression analysis were combined to construct an APM-related risk score (APMrs) signature to predict overall survival. Furthermore, a nomogram and decision tree were generated to improve predictive accuracy and risk stratification for individual patients. Based on Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) method, random forest (RF) and Lasso logistic regression model were combined to establish an APM-related immunotherapeutic response score (APMis). Finally, immune infiltration, immunomodulators, mutational patterns, and potentially applicable drugs were comprehensively analyzed in different APM-related risk groups. IHC staining was used to assess the expression of APM-related genes in clinical samples. Results: In this study, APMrs and APMis showed favorable performances in risk stratification and therapeutic prediction for BRCA patients. APMrs exhibited more powerful prognostic capacity and accurate survival prediction compared to conventional clinicopathological features. APMrs was closely associated with distinct mutational patterns, immune cell infiltration and immunomodulators expression. Furthermore, the two APM-related gene signatures were independently validated in external cohorts with prognosis or immunotherapeutic responses. Potential applicable drugs and targets were mined in the APMrs-high group. APM-related genes were further validated in our in-house samples. Conclusion: The APM-related gene signatures established in our study could improve the personalized assessment of survival risk and guide ICB decision-making for BRCA patients.

Northern Xinjiang is the center of gravity for Xinjiang's economic development, and "production-living-ecological space" (PLES) is of great significance to the optimization of regional territorial spatial structure. Taking northern Xinjiang as our study area, we analyze the spatial and temporal variations of the ecological and environmental effects of PLES evolution from 2000 to 2020. To do so, we apply the grid cell method, the ecological and environmental quality index, the global autocorrelation model, and the kernel density estimation. Additionally, we use a geographic detector model to reveal the drivers of spatial variation in ecological and environmental quality. Results show that from 2000 to 2020, PLES in the study area is mainly ecological accommodation land. However, there is an obvious trend showing a decrease in ecological accommodation land area and an increase in other land types. Production land and living land increased the most, among which agricultural land and industrial land were mainly converted from grassland ecological land and water ecological land, respectively. The quality of the ecological environment is basically stable during the study period, with an overall slight declining trend, which indicates the quality of ecological environment has decreased slightly. The spatial distribution of the eco-environmental effect shows a significant spatial autocorrelation pattern of "dense in the west and sparse in the east", along with a spatial clustering phenomenon. The main factor of spatial variation in ecological quality is elevation, and the interactions between the factors are mainly non-linearly and double-factor enhanced. The spatial differentiation of ecological environmental quality in the study area is the result of multiple factors. Exploring the ecological and environmental effects of PLES evolution and its driving factors can provide a scientific basis for the implementation of territorial spatial planning and ecological environmental protection in northern Xinjiang.

Abstract Previous studies in Arabidopsis reported that the PPR protein SOAR1 plays critical roles in plant response to salt stress. In this study, we reported that expression of the Arabidopsis SOAR1 (AtSOAR1) in rice significantly enhanced salt tolerance at seedling growth stage and promoted grain productivity under salt stress without affecting plant productivity under non-stressful conditions. The transgenic rice lines expressing AtSOAR1 exhibited increased ABA sensitivity in ABA-induced inhibition of seedling growth, and showed altered transcription and splicing of numerous genes associated with salt stress, which may explain salt tolerance of the transgenic plants. Further, we overexpressed the homologous gene of SOAR1 in rice, OsSOAR1, and showed that transgenic plants overexpressing OsSOAR1 enhanced salt tolerance at seedling growth stage. Five salt- and other abiotic stress-induced SOAR1-like PPRs were also identified. These data showed that the SOAR1-like PPR proteins are positively involved in plant response to salt stress and may be used for crop improvement in rice under salinity conditions through transgenic manipulation.

The enteroinvasive bacterium Shigella flexneri is known as a highly host-adapted human pathogen. There had been no known other reservoirs reported until recently. Here 34 isolates obtained from animals (yaks, dairy cows and beef cattle) from 2016 to 2017 and 268 human S. flexneri isolates from China were sequenced to determine the relationships between animal and human isolates and infer the evolutionary history of animal-associated S. flexneri. The 18 animal isolates (15 yak and 3 beef cattle isolates) in PG1 were separated into 4 lineages, and the 16 animal isolates (1 yak, 5 beef cattle and 10 dairy cow isolates) in PG3 were clustered in 8 lineages. The most recent human isolates from China belonged to PG3 whereas Chinese isolates from the 1950s–1960s belonged to PG1. PG1 S. flexneri may has been transmitted to the yaks during PG1 circulation in the human population in China and has remained in the yak population since, while PG3 S. flexneri in animals were likely recent transmissions from the human population. Increased stability of the large virulence plasmid and acquisition of abundant antimicrobial resistance determinants may have enabled PG3 to expand globally and replaced PG1 in China. Our study confirms that animals may act as a reservoir for S. flexneri. Genomic analysis revealed the evolutionary history of multiple S. flexneri lineages in animals and humans in China. However, further studies are required to determine the public health threat of S. flexneri from animals.

In recent years, stricter environmental rules have affected the entire bamboo industry in China. The increased costs for managing environmental issues hinder the growth of the bamboo forest harvesting and transportation sector in the upstream part of the industry chain. Analyzing how environmental changes affect the entire bamboo industry can give a deeper understanding of the regional transfer within the bamboo industry in China, and it can give more experience to the bamboo industry in developing countries. This study, based on the Pollution Haven Hypothesis and the theory of externalities, collected panel data from 16 provinces in China from 2000 to 2020 and examined the discrepancies in bamboo industry development and the varying intensities of market-oriented environmental regulation (MER). By constructing a fixed effects model and employing econometric methods, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal impact of MER on the output value of the bamboo harvesting and transportation industry (BHTI) and explored whether MER is a crucial factor causing the transfer of the bamboo industry across regions. The findings indicate that there is a noticeable shift of BHTI from the eastern to the central and western regions. Additionally, there is a substantial adverse effect of MER on the BHTI output value, especially in the eastern region. This confirms the transfer of industries between regions, which is a novel contribution of this article. Based on the findings of this study, some recommendations have been given for the response to the environmental regulation for bamboo industries in the future.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has emerged as a promising candidate for the dielectric layer in implantable sensors due to its exceptional biocompatibility, stability, and flexibility. This study introduces an innovative approach to produce graphene-reinforced PDMS (Gr-PDMS), where graphite powders are exfoliated into mono- and few-layer graphene sheets within the polymer solution, concurrently forming cross-linkages with PDMS. This method yields a uniformly distributed graphene within the polymer matrix with improved interfaces between graphene and PDMS, significantly reducing the percolation threshold of graphene dispersed in PDMS from 10% to 5%. As-synthesized Gr-PDMS exhibits improved mechanical and electrical properties, tested for potential use in capacitive pressure sensors. The results demonstrate an impressive pressure sensitivity up to 0.0273 kpa−1, 45 times higher than that of pristine PDMS and 2.5 times higher than the reported literature value. The Gr-PDMS showcases excellent pressure sensing ability and stability, fulfilling the requirements for implantable intracranial pressure (ICP) sensors.

This study examined how silicon and zinc fertilizers affect the quality and aroma of Nanjing 46. We applied nine different fertilizer treatments, one involving soil topdressing at the top fourth leaf-age stage and one involving foliar spraying during the booting stage of the silicon and zinc fertilizers. We tested the effects of the nine treatments on grain quality and aroma. Silicon and zinc fertilizers significantly affected the brown rice rate, milled rice rate, head rice rate, amylose content, gel consistency, RVA characteristic value, taste value, and aroma but did not affect the chalky grain rate, chalkiness, protein content, rice appearance, hardness, stickiness, balance, peak time, or pasting temperature. Silicon fertilizer decreased the rate of brown rice and milled rice, whereas zinc fertilizer increased the rate of brown rice and milled rice. Silicon and zinc fertilizers improved the head rice rate. Compared to silicon fertilizer, the impact of zinc fertilizer on increasing the head rice rate was more pronounced. Although the effects of silicon and zinc fertilizers on the amylose content and RVA characteristic value varied depending on the treatment, their application could lower the amylose content, increase gel consistency, improve breakdown viscosity, decrease setback viscosity, increase aroma, and improve the taste value of rice.

Grain size in rice (Oryza sativa L.) shapes yield and quality, but the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. We functionally characterized GRAIN NUMBER AND LARGE GRAIN SIZE 44 (GNL44), encoding a RING-type protein that localizes to the cytoplasm. The gnl44 mutant has fewer but enlarged grains compared to the wild type. GNL44 is mainly expressed in panicles and developing grains. Grain chalkiness was higher in the gnl44 mutant than in the wild type, short-chain amylopectin content was lower, middle-chain amylopectin content was higher, and appearance quality was worse. The amylose content and gel consistency of gnl44 were lower, and protein content was higher compared to the wild type. Rapid Visco Analyzer results showed that the texture of cooked gnl44 rice changed, and that the taste value of gnl44 was lower, making the eating and cooking quality of gnl44 worse than that of the wild type. We used gnl44, qgl3, and gs3 monogenic and two-gene near-isogenic lines to study the effects of different combinations of genes affecting grain size on rice quality-related traits. Our results revealed additive effects for these three genes on grain quality. These findings enrich the genetic resources available for rice breeders.

Based on the research status of phase-change material (PCM) energy piles, this paper proposes a new type of PCM energy pile-spiral tube-encapsulated PCM energy pile. In order to study the related properties of the energy pile, this study designed and processed the relevant test equipment and built an indoor scale model experimental system. The thermodynamic performance of the spiral tube-encapsulated phase-change energy pile under summer conditions was studied by the test system. Through the indoor scale model test, it is found that compared with the traditional energy pile, the spiral tube-encapsulated PCM energy pile improves the heat exchange capacity of the unit pile body in the early and middle stages of operation, and reduces the surface temperature of the pile body and the heating rate of the surface temperature of the pile body. The upward displacement of the energy pile top is reduced. The heat exchange capacity of the unit pile depth is increased by 6.52 W/m, the maximum pile surface temperature difference is 0.62 °C, and the maximum pile top displacement difference is 0.005 mm. In addition, the total heat transfer of the spiral tube-encapsulated PCM energy pile during the whole operation period is 3.38% higher than that of the traditional energy pile. However, during the whole operation period, the surface stress value of the spiral tube encapsulated PCM energy pile is higher than that of the traditional energy pile. The maximum difference between the two is 9.84 kPa and the maximum difference is 10.8%. The difference between the two is finally stabilized at 1.4 kPa with an increase in time, and the final difference is only 8.8%.

A total of 81,868 All-Unigenes were sequenced and assembled by the transcriptome in the dorsal skin, the lateral skin, and the peritoneal wall layer of Triplophysa stenura with a total assembly length of 123,827,585 bp, and 68,750 unigenes were annotated to seven functional databases. A total of 588 DEGs were screened between the dorsal and lateral skin, 17,097 DEGs were screened between the dorsal skin and the peritoneal wall layer, and 16,598 DEGs were screened between the lateral skin and the peritoneal wall layer. Most of DEGs in three tissues were annotated to GO terms related to cellular structures, binding, cellular processes, and catalytic activity. They were also annotated to KEGG pathways such as the MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, melanogenesis, tyrosine metabolism, and cell cycle. A total of twenty-three DEGs were found to be enriched in the melanin synthesis pathway by a local Blast comparison, of which nine DEGs were significantly upregulated in the peritoneal wall layer and six DEGs were significantly upregulated in the dorsal and lateral skin. The results suggest that these genes may be associated with the molecular mechanism of melanin synthesis in T. stenura, and the differential regulation of genes may be related to the differences in UVR intensity and tissue sites of melanin synthesis. Further investigation is needed on how these genes specifically regulate melanin synthesis.

ABSTRACT Human adenovirus (HAdV) is the primary cause of acute conjunctivitis. To improve our understanding of the etiology of adenoviral conjunctivitis, ocular samples were collected from 160 conjunctivitis cases in the Shanxi province of northern China between 2016 and 2019. Through preliminary identification, virus isolation, and type identification, a total of 63 HAdV isolates were obtained from the samples. Three species and seven types (HAdV-3, HAdV-4, HAdV-8, HAdV-37, HAdV-53, HAdV-64, and HAdV-85) were detected, with HAdV-64, HAdV-3, and HAdV-8 being the predominant types in 2016, 2018, and 2019, respectively. Further phylogenetic analysis indicated the relative genomic stability of seven HAdV-type strains, except for 4 HAdV-3 strains in 2018 with a novel amino acid insertion site (Pro) between P19 and S20 in the penton base gene. It is worth noting that the genomes of two Shanxi HAdV-85 strains from 2016 were almost identical to those of previously reported HAdV-85 strains that circulated in Japan in 2014 to 2018. China was the second country to sample and isolate HAdV-85, suggesting that HAdV-85 might be underreported as an ocular pathogen. Data obtained in this study provide valuable information on the prevalence of acute conjunctivitis caused by HAdV. IMPORTANCE HAdV types in cases of conjunctivitis in Shanxi province, China, in 2016 to 2019 showed evident diversity, with seven types (HAdV-3, HAdV-4, HAdV-8, HAdV-37, HAdV-53, HAdV-64, and HAdV-85) being identified, and relative genome stability of these viruses was observed. In addition, China was the second country to sample and isolate HAdV-85, which suggests that HAdV-85 might be underreported as an important pathogen associated with ocular infections. These results enhance the understanding of the etiology of adenoviral conjunctivitis and may aid in the development of prevention and control strategies for HAdV-related ocular infections in China.

ABSTRACT To understand the molecular evolution of human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV2), 21 Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase (HN) gene sequences covering seven Chinese provinces in 2011 and 2017 to 2021 were combined with 90 published HN sequences worldwide for phylogenetic analysis. The result showed that global HPIV2 could be classified into two distinct clusters (I and II), five lineages (IA to IIE), and four sublineages (IB1 and 2, and IIE1 and 2). The minimum genetic distances between different clusters and lineages were 0.049 and 0.014, respectively. In the last decade, one lineage (IID) and three sublineages (IB1, IB2, and IIE1) have been cocirculating in China, with the sublineages IB2 and IIE1 dominating, while sublineages IB1 and IIE1 are dominant globally. In addition, the spread of HPIV2 had relative spatial clustering, and sublineage IB2 has only been detected in China thus far. The overall evolution rate of HPIV2 was relatively low, on the order of 10−4 substitutions/site/year, except for sublineage IB2 at 10−3 substitutions/site/year. Furthermore, human–animal transmission was observed, suggesting that the HPIV2 might have jumped out of animal reservoirs in approximately 1922, the predicted time of a common ancestor. The entire HN protein was under purifying/negative selection, and the specific amino acid changes and two novel N-glycosylation sites (N316 and N517) in sublineages IB1, IB2, and IIE1 were mostly located in the globular head region of the HN protein. In this study, preliminary evolutionary characteristics of HPIV2 based on the HN gene were obtained, increasing the recognition of the evolution and adaptation of HPIV2. IMPORTANCE The phylogenetic analysis showed that global HPIV2 could be classified into two distinct clusters (I and II) and five lineages (IA to IIE) with at least 0.049 and 0.014 genetic distances between clusters and lineages, respectively. Furthermore, lineages IB and IIE could be further divided into two sublineages (IB1-2 and IIE1-2). All China sequences belong to one lineage and three sublineages (IB1, IB2, IID, and IIE1), among which sublineages IB2 and IIE1 are predominant and cocirculating in China, while sublineages IB1 and IIE1 are dominant globally. The overall evolution rate of HPIV2 is on the order of 10−4 substitutions/site/year, with the highest rate of 2.18 × 10−3 for sublineage IB2. The entire HN protein is under purifying/negative selection, and the specific amino acid substitutions and two novel N-glycosylation sites (N316 and N517) in sublineages IB1, IB2, and IIE1 are mostly located in the globular head region of the HN protein.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has once again brought the significance of biopharmaceutical and medical technology sectors to the spotlight. Seeing that some of the most critical medical breakthroughs such as the speedy mRNA vaccine development were results of cross-border patenting collaboration, we have proposed in a previous work a new method to identify the cross-border collaborative regional centres in the patent networks, using a clustering comparison approach based on adjusted mutual information (AMI). In this paper, we focus on the UK industrial landscape. We use the UK bioscience and health technology sector statistics from 2015 to 2020 and look into the regional growth of each postcode area. We compare the top growth regions with the cross-border collaborative centres identified using AMI comparison at the postcode area level, and find that both long-term and short-term AMI gains show an increase in the correlation with regional annual growth rates of firm numbers in the studied sectors from 2016 to 2020, and the increase is more consistent with the short-term AMI gain. We also found that areas more central in the long-term cross-regional R&D collaboration demonstrate a stronger association with more developed industrial settings indicated by more firms and, potentially more employment and turnover in the field. However, AMI gains are found to have negative correlations with the industrial growths as a sign of possible trade-offs of being central.

The ecological environment in the mountainous areas of southern Xinjiang is very sensitive and fragile, and identifying the ecological asset retention within the mountainous areas is a top priority at the current stage in the context of comprehensive environmental management in arid zones. This study examines the conversion and ecosystem service values between different land types within the mountainous areas based on a time series of land-use data from 1990 to 2020, and the results show that: (1) The value of ecosystem services on the northern slopes of the Kunlun Mountains shows an overall increasing trend. It increased from CNY 308.645 billion in 1990 to CNY 326.550 billion in 2020. Among them, the value of ecosystem services increased significantly between 2000 and 2010, with an increase of CNY 39.857 billion. Regulatory services accounted for more than 66% of the value of each ecosystem service. (2) Land use on the northern slopes of the Kunlun Mountains has changed significantly since 1990. The areas of cropland, forest land, grassland, watershed, and construction land have all shown an upward trend, with the greatest increase in construction land. The area of unutilized land, on the other hand, has slightly decreased. (3) The value of ecosystem services within the northern slopes of the Kunlun Mountains was spatially high in the south, low in the north, and higher in the west than in the east. The study also found a significant positive spatial correlation between ecosystem service values. In the spatial distribution, the increasing areas were mainly distributed in the southeast, and the decreasing areas were in the north. Changes in land types are expected to include an increase in the area of grassland and woodland, a decrease in unutilized land and cropland, and an overall improvement in the ecological environment of the northern slopes of the Kunlun Mountains in the next decade. This study also provides lessons and references for sustainable development and ecological protection in ecologically fragile regions.

To determine the epidemiological status of influenza and understand the distribution of common respiratory viruses in adult patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) cases in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, China, epidemiological data between 2018 and 2019 were retrieved from the China Influenza Surveillance Information System, and two sentinel ILI surveillance hospitals were selected for sample collection. All specimens were screened for influenza virus (IFV) and the other 14 common respiratory viruses using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results of the 2-year ILI surveillance showed that 26,205 (1.37%) of the 1,907,869 outpatients and emergency patients presented with ILI, with an average annual incidence of 297.75 per 100,000 individuals, and ILI cases were predominant in children

Particularly crucial throughout the mode transition procedure is the transmission properties of hydro–mechanical composite transmission devices. This paper describes a multipurpose power transmission device that integrates hydrostatic, hydro-mechanical, and mechanical transmission and mainly discusses the transmission characteristic optimization problem from the perspective of speed regulation characteristics, shift strategy, and efficiency characteristics. The kinematic and dynamic analysis of the transmission system, the assembly scheme, and relevant parameters of the power transmission device are analyzed, and the speed regulation characteristic curve is obtained. The shift strategy of power transmission devices involving clutches and brakes during the whole speed regulation process and the best switch time of each component are found. The efficiency expression of the static pressure system is obtained from the efficiency model of the pump-control-motor system, and the efficiency of the multi-purpose power transmission device is obtained using the efficiency definition method. The fitting curves of hydrostatic system efficiency are determined using experimental data, and the efficiency of the hydro–mechanical composite power transmission system is obtained using the conversion mechanism method. The results show that the shift quality of power transmission devices can be improved greatly by controlling the switch sequence of clutches and brakes reasonably.

Xinjiang is located in arid northwest China, which is a key area for promoting the high-quality development of the regional ecological environment. In recent years, against a background of increasing human activities and rapid natural changes, Xinjiang has faced enormous ecological challenges. This paper utilizes land-use data from 2000 to 2020 to verify the region’s current state of the ecosystem. Additionally, it uses the value equivalent factor per unit area, ecosystem service value (ESV) loss and gain matrix, and double-factor spatial autocorrelation analysis to study the spatial and temporal variabilities of ESV in Xinjiang and its attribution to spatial correlation. The results show that (1) the ESV in Xinjiang exhibits an overall increasing trend during 2000–2020, with a total increase of about CNY 18.202 billion. Regulation-service ESV takes the main position in the single-service function, accounting for about 67.18% of the total ESV. In northern Xinjiang, the ESV demonstrates a decreasing trend, dropping by about CNY 16.885 billion, while in southern Xinjiang, the ESV shows an increasing trend, rising by CNY 35.086 billion. (2) For the study period, the main loss of ESV in Xinjiang is the conversion of ecological land with a high ESV into cropland or barren land with a low ESV. The conversion of bare land to grassland led to the largest increase in ESV (about CNY 209.308 billion), whereas the conversion of grassland to barren land led to the largest loss (about CNY 183.046 billion). (3) There are positive correlations among ESV, net primary productivity (NPP), and human activity intensity (HAI). However, all of the relationships weaken year by year. The spatial agglomeration of ESV ∩ NPP is significantly greater than that of ESV ∩ HAI, so NPP is the dominant factor in the spatial correlation of ESV in Xinjiang. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for promoting high-quality regional ecological development in China’s arid northwest.

Abstract Background Budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been extensively favored as a model organism in aging and age-related studies, thanks to versatile microfluidic chips for cell dynamics assay and replicative lifespan (RLS) determination at single-cell resolution. However, previous microfluidic structures aiming to immobilize haploid yeast may impose excessive spatial constraint and mechanical stress on cells, especially for larger diploid cells that sprout in a bipolar pattern. Results We developed a high-throughput microfluidic chip for diploid yeast long-term culturing (DYLC), optical inspection and cell-aging analysis. The DYLC chip features 1100 “leaky bowl”-shaped traps formatted in an array to dock single cells under laminar-perfused medium and effectively remove daughter cells by hydraulic shear forces. The delicate microstructures of cell traps enable hydrodynamic rotation of newborn buds, so as to ensure bud reorientation towards downstream and concerted daughter dissection thereafter. The traps provide sufficient space for cell-volume enlargement during aging, and thus properly alleviate structural compression and external stress on budding yeast. Trapping efficiency and long-term maintenance of single cells were optimized according to computational fluid dynamics simulations and experimental characterization in terms of critical parameters of the trap and array geometries. Owing to the self-filling of daughter cells dissected from traps upstream, an initial trapping efficiency of about 70% can rapidly reach a high value of over 92% after 4-hour cell culturing. During yeast proliferation and aging, cellular processes of growth, budding and daughter dissection were continuously tracked for over 60 h by time-lapse imaging. Yeast RLS and budding time interval (BTI) were directly calculated by the sequential two-digit codes indicating the budding status in images. With the employed diploid yeast strain, we obtained an RLS of 24.29 ± 3.65 generations, and verified the extension of BTI in the first couple of generations after birth and the last several generations approaching death, as well as cell de-synchronization along diploid yeast aging. Conclusions The DYLC chip offers a promising platform for reliable capture and culturing of diploid yeast cells and for life-long tracking of cell dynamics and replicative aging processes so that grasping comprehensive insights of aging mechanism in complex eukaryotic cells. Graphical Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to systematically determine the benefits of Kangaroo-Mother Care (KMC) on the clinical outcomes of low birthweight (LBW) and preterm infants.MethodsFor this study, the following databases were retrieved for articles published until November 2021: PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and the Cochrane library. The primary clinical outcome was mortality between enrollment and 28 days. The secondary clinical outcomes were the mean duration of hospital stay, hypothermia, sepsis, exclusive breastfeeding at the end of the neonatal period, and exclusive breastfeeding at discharge.ResultsWe conducted a meta-analysis, which included 17 RCTs, involving overall 17,668 participants. The results of this meta-analysis showed that KMC could reduce the primary clinical outcome of mortality between enrollment and 28 days (RR: 0.80, 95% Cl: 0.71–0.91, p

Introduction: The pathogenesis of keloids remains unclear.Methods: In this study, we analyzed RNA-Seq data (GSE113619) of the local skin tissue of 8 keloid-prone individuals (KPI) and 6 healthy controls (HC) before and 42 days after trauma from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. The differential alternative splicing (AS) events associated with trauma healing between KPIs and HCs were identifified, and their functional differences were analyzed by gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways. The co-expression relationship of differentially alternative splicing genes and differentially expressed RNA binding proteins (RBPs) was established subsequently.Results: A total of 674 differential AS events between the KD42 and the KD0 and 378 differential AS events between the HD42 and the HD0 were discovered. Notably, most of the differential genes related to keloids are enriched in actin, microtubule cells, and cortical actin cytoskeletal tissue pathway. We observed a signifificant association between AS genes (EPB41, TPM1, NF2, PARD3) and trauma healing in KPIs and HCs. We also found that the differential expression of healthy controls-specifific trauma healing-related RBPs (TKT, FDPS, SAMHD1) may affect the response of HCs to trauma healing by regulating the AS of downstream trauma healing-related genes such as DCN and DST. In contrast, KPIs also has specifific differential expression of trauma healing related RBPs (S100A9, HspB1, LIMA1, FBL), which may affect the healing response of KPIs to trauma by regulating the AS of downstream trauma healing-related genes such as FN1 and TPM1.Discussion: Our results were innovative in revealing early wound healing-related genes (EPB41, TPM1, NF2, PARD3) in KPI from the perspective of AS regulated by RBPs.

Abstract Background As the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, hemicellulose can be degraded to xylose as the feedstock for bioconversion to fuels and chemicals. To enhance xylose conversion, the engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae with xylose metabolic pathway is usually adapted with xylose as the carbon source in the laboratory. However, the mechanism under the adaptation phenomena of the engineered strain is still unclear. Results In this study, xylose-utilizing S. cerevisiae was constructed and used for the adaptation study. It was found that xylose consumption rate increased 1.24-fold in the second incubation of the yYST12 strain in synthetic complete-xylose medium compared with the first incubation. The study figured out that it was observed at the single-cell level that the stagnation time for xylose utilization was reduced after adaptation with xylose medium in the microfluidic device. Such transient memory of xylose metabolism after adaptation with xylose medium, named “xylose consumption memory”, was observed in the strains with both xylose isomerase pathway and xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase pathways. In further, the proteomic acetylation of the strains before and after adaptation was investigated, and it was revealed that H4K5 was one of the most differential acetylation sites related to xylose consumption memory of engineered S. cerevisiae. We tested 8 genes encoding acetylase or deacetylase, and it was found that the knockout of the GCN5 and HPA2 encoding acetylases enhanced the xylose consumption memory. Conclusions The behavior of xylose consumption memory in engineered S. cerevisiae can be successfully induced with xylose in the adaptation. H4K5Ac and two genes of GCN5 and HPA2 are related to xylose consumption memory of engineered S. cerevisiae during adaptation. This study provides valuable insights into the xylose adaptation of engineered S. cerevisiae.

The Ethylene Response Factor (ERF) transcription factors form a subfamily of the AP2/ERF family that is instrumental in mediating plant responses to diverse abiotic stressors. Herein, we present the isolation and characterization of the GmERF105 gene from Williams 82 (W82), which is rapidly induced by salt, drought, and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments in soybean. The GmERF105 protein contains an AP2 domain and localizes to the nucleus. GmERF105 was selectively bound to GCC-box by gel migration experiments. Under salt stress, overexpression of GmERF105 in Arabidopsis significantly reduced seed germination rate, fresh weight, and antioxidant enzyme activity; meanwhile, sodium ion content, malonic dialdehyde (MDA) content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were markedly elevated compared to the wild type. It was further found that the transcription levels of CSD1 and CDS2 of two SOD genes were reduced in OE lines. Furthermore, the GmERF105 transgenic plants displayed suppressed expression of stress response marker genes, including KIN1, LEA14, NCED3, RD29A, and COR15A/B, under salt treatment. Our findings suggest that GmERF105 can act as a negative regulator in plant salt tolerance pathways by affecting ROS scavenging systems and the transcription of stress response marker genes.

In this study, Ti-48Al-3Nb-1.5Ta powders were manufactured from cast bars by the supreme-speed plasma rotating electrode process (SS-PREP) and used to prepare hot isostatically pressed (HIPed) material at 1050–1260 °C with 150 MPa for 4 h. The phase, microstructure and mechanical performance were analyzed by XRD, SEM, electrical universal material testing machine and other methods. The results revealed that the phase constitution changed from γ phase to α2 phase and then to γ phase with the material changing from as-cast to powders and then to as-HIPed. Compared with the as-cast material, the grain size and element segregation were significantly reduced for both powders and as-HIPed. When the hot isostatic pressing (HIP) temperature was low, the genetic characteristics of the powder microstructure were evident. With the HIP temperature increasing, the homogeneity of the composition and microstructure increased, and the prior particle boundaries (PPBs) gradually disappeared. The elastic moduli of powder and as-HIPed were superior to those of as-cast, which increased with the HIP temperature increasing. The hardness of as-HIPed was lower than that of the powder. The compressive strength, compressive strain, bending strength, and tensile strength of as-HIPed were higher than those of as-cast. With an increase in the HIP temperature, the compressive strength decreased gradually, and the compressive strain first decreased and then increased.

To provide service of all-weather, full automation and high precision deformation monitoring and to furthest reduce the effects of space environment factors on the high precision real-time positioning, on the digital CDRadio edge of RTK GNSS core analytic computing technology fusion algorithm is used, and “the Beidou high-precision geological disaster monitoring system with edge calculation based on broadcasting RTK”is developed, which is characterized by the independent intellectual property rights and structure open. The system can run stably for a long time, and can satisfy the functional requirements and non-functional requirements of all users. Taking the unstable slope of block 8 in the Gemstone Garden in Changzhou District of Wuzhou as an example, the monitoring results from May to November 2020 are analyzed. The monitoring data show that the whole slope body is in the stage of slow development, and the front edge of the slope top has a tendency of peristatically moving and sinking. The whole slope body tends to develop towards the southeast direction. Through the establishment of a good system information interaction platform, the statistical analysis information formed by the system is transmitted to users in a high speed and convenient way, which effectively improves the users' system management, decision-making and application ability. It can fully mine the data resources of the system, provide real-time forecasting services, effectively improve the accuracy and reliability of information collection, transmission, processing, analysis and forecast, comprehensively improve the ability of geological disaster monitoring, early warning and forecast management, and better provide scientific basis for the decision-making and command of management departments at all levels in emergency rescue and disaster relief.

This work investigated the relationship between the morphology of AlFeSi intermetallics compounds (IMCs) and grains, and its influence on the corrosion behavior of the surface of Al–Mg–Si alloy laser welds. Due to the segregation of solute elements on the grain boundary, coarse AlFeSi IMCs were more likely to precipitate along the grain boundary. As a result, the “linear-like” AlFeSi IMCs was only found along the straight grain boundary of columnar grains, leading to the deterioration of corrosion resistance, but for the equiaxed grains, only small rod-like AlFeSi IMCs was along the grain boundary. Compared to the small rod-like AlFeSi IMCs at GBs of equiaxed grains, the “linear-like” AlFeSi IMCs at the straight GBs of columnar grains increased the interface area between α-Al, leading to a more evident intergranular corrosion at columnar boundary.

Breast cancer patients’ outcomes have improved dramatically in recent years, but relapses and poor prognosis remain common due to its aggressiveness and heterogeneity. The development of reliable biomarkers is still needed for predicting prognosis and treatment effectiveness. Recently, a growing body of research suggests that pseudouridine synthases contribute to the development of many cancers, but their contribution to breast cancer remains largely unknown. Using an integrative analysis, we selected pseudouridine synthase1(PUS1) as the candidate biomarker. A tissue microarray of 131 breast cancer patients was then utilized to determine the clinical significance and prognostic value of PUS1. RNA sequencing analysis was conducted to identify downstream genes that differ between control and PUS1 knockdown cells. The effect of PUS1 on phenotypes of cells was assessed using cell proliferation, colony formation, and transwell invasion assays. We found that breast tumors overexpressed PUS1 compared with paired normal tissues. PUS1 expression was positively correlated with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) status (P= 0.020) and tumor grade (P

BackgroundAmelioration of depression in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD) remains challenging.ObjectiveThe primary vision was to explore the effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in combination with citalopram on patients with PSD.MethodsOne hundred eligible patients who were diagnosed with PSD were recruited and randomly assigned to the control group (n = 50) or the TMS group (n = 50). The controls were given citalopram (10 mg/d for consecutive 8 weeks), while, in addition to citalopram, patients in the TMS group were also given TMS at 5 Hz once a workday for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was patient depression status as reflected by 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) score, and the secondary outcome was patient neuropsychological score determined by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST).ResultsPatients treated with TMS in combination with citalopram had a drastic decrease in HAMD-17 score during treatment. Bigger changes in HAMD-17 score between baseline and 2 weeks as well as between baseline and 8 weeks in the TMS group were observed (P < 0.01). Patients in both groups had increased MMSE scores after treatment. Data of WCST revealed patients with TMS treatment completed more categories (P < 0.01) and had a lower RPP in comparison to patients in the control group (P < 0.0001). Additionally, TMS in combination with citalopram strikingly improved patients' MMSE scores when compared with those taking citalopram alone. Last, there was no striking difference in side effects between the two groups (P > 0.05).ConclusionOur study found TMS in combination with citalopram is conducive to improving depression status and neuropsychological function, which holds great promise for treating PSD.

Contagious ecthyma is a highly contagious viral disease with zoonotic significance caused by orf virus (ORFV) that affects domestic, ruminants and humans. Live attenuated virus and attenuated tissue culture vaccines are widely used in the fight against ORFV, however, the conventional attenuated vaccine strains have many drawbacks. The aim of this project was to construct a promising contagious ecthyma vaccine strain with safety, high protection efficacy and accessibility by genetic manipulation to against the disease. Using a natural ORFV-GS14 strain as the parental virus, recombinant virus, rGS14-ΔCBP-ΔGIF, with double deletions in the genes encoding the chemokine binding protein (CBP) and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor inhibitory factor (GIF) was generated and characterized in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that the growth kinetics curve of rGS14-ΔCBP-ΔGIF and parental virus was consistent, both reaching plateau phase at 48 h post infection, which indicated that the double deletion of cbp and gif genes had little impact on the replication properties of the recombinant virus in primary goat testis (PGT) cell cultures compared with the parental virus. The safety of the double gene-deleted virus was evaluated in lambs. The lambs were monitored for 21 days post infection of the recombinant virus and no ORFV associated symptoms were observed in 21 days post-infection except for slight fever and anorexia in 5 days post-infection, and all lambs inoculated with either recombinant virus or PBS exhibited no clinical signs. To assess the protection efficacy of the rGS14-ΔCBP-ΔGIF, groups of four lambs each were inoculated with rGS14-ΔCBP-ΔGIF, rGS14-ΔCBP, rGS14-ΔGIF or PBS and challenged by a wild type virulent ORFV strain that was isolated from proliferative scabby lesions tissues of infected goat at 21-day post-inoculation. During 14 days post-challenging, lambs inoculated with rGS14-ΔCBP-ΔGIF all remained healthy with unimmunized group all infected, while the single gene-deleted viruses only protected 40% to 50% animals. These results indicated that the double gene-deleted recombinant virus could provide complete protection against virulent ORFV challenging. In conclusion, the double gene-deleted recombinant virus strain, rGS14-ΔCBP-ΔGIF, would be a promising candidate vaccine strains with safety, high protection efficacy and availability.

Abstract Background The eating and cooking qualities (ECQs) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) are key characteristics affecting variety adoption and market value. Starch viscosity profiles tested by a rapid visco analyzer (RVA) offer a direct measure of ECQs and represent the changes in viscosity associated with starch gelatinization. RVA profiles of rice are controlled by a complex genetic system and are also affected by the environment. Although Waxy (Wx) is the major gene controlling amylose content (AC) and ECQs, there are still other unknown genetic factors that affect ECQs. Results Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for starch paste viscosity in rice were analyzed using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) developed from the two cultivars 9311 and Nipponbare, which have same Wx-b allele. Thus, the effect of the major locus Wx was eliminated and the other locus associated with the RVA profile could be identified. QTLs for seven parameters of the starch RVA profile were tested over four years in Nanjing, China. A total of 310 QTLs were identified (from 1 to 55 QTLs per trait) and 136 QTLs were identified in more than one year. Among them, 6 QTLs were stalely detected in four years and 26 QTLs were detected in at least three years including 13 pleiotropic loci, controlling 2 to 6 RVA properties simultaneously. These stable QTL hotspots were co-located with several known starch synthesis-related genes (SSRGs). Sequence alignments showed that nucleotide and amino acid sequences of most SSRGs were different between the two parents. Finally, we detected stable QTLs associated with multiple starch viscosity traits near Wx itself, supporting the notion that additional QTLs near Wx control multiple characteristic values of starch viscosity. Conclusions By eliminating the contribution from the major locus Wx, multiple QTLs associated with the RVA profile of rice were identified, several of which were stably detected over four years. The complexity of the genetic basis of rice starch viscosity traits might be due to their pleiotropic effects and the multiple QTL hot spots. Minor QTLs controlling starch viscosity traits were identified by using the chromosome segment substitution strategy. Allele polymorphism might be the reason that QTLs controlling RVA profile characteristics were detected in some known SSRG regions.

Abstract Background The natural hosts of Shigella are typically humans and other primates, but it has been shown that the host range of Shigella has expanded to many animals. Although Shigella is becoming a major threat to animals, there is limited information on the genetic background of local strains. The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of virulence factors and the molecular characteristics of S. flexneri isolated from calves with diarrhea. Results Fifty-four S. flexneri isolates from Gansun, Shanxi, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Tibet obtained during 2014 to 2016 possessed four typical biochemical characteristics of Shigella. The prevalences of ipaH, virA, ipaBCD, ial, sen, set1A, set1B and stx were 100 %, 100 %, 77.78 %, 79.63 %, 48.15 %, 48.15 and 0 %, respectively. Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) based on 8 variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci discriminated the isolates into 39 different MLVA types (MTs), pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) based on NotI digestion divided the 54 isolates into 31 PFGE types (PTs), and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) based on 15 housekeeping genes differentiated the isolates into 7 MLST sequence types (STs). Conclusions The findings from this study enrich our knowledge of the molecular characteristics of S. flexneri collected from calves with diarrhea, which will be important for addressing clinical and epidemiological issues regarding shigellosis.

Energy load forecasting is a critical component of energy system scheduling and optimization. This method, which is classified as a time-series forecasting method, uses prior features as inputs to forecast future energy loads. Unlike a traditional single-target scenario, an integrated energy system has a hierarchy of many correlated energy consumption entities as prediction targets. Existing data-driven approaches typically interpret entity indexes as suggestive features, which fail to adequately represent interrelationships among entities. This paper, therefore, proposes a neural network model named Cross-entity Temporal Fusion Transformer (CETFT) that leverages a cross-entity attention mechanism to model inter-entity correlations. The enhanced attention module is capable of mapping the relationships among entities within a time window and informing the decoder about which entity in the encoder to concentrate on. In order to reduce the computational complexity, shared variable selection networks are adapted to extract features from different entities. A data set obtained from 13 buildings on a university campus is used as a case study to verify the performance of the proposed approach. Compared to the comparative methods, the proposed model achieves the smallest error on most horizons and buildings. Furthermore, variable importance, temporal correlations, building relationships, and time-series patterns in data are analyzed with the attention mechanism and variable selection networks, therefore the rich interpretability of the model is verified.

Objectives: In this study, we propose a deep learning-based approach to predict Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) gamma passing rates using delivery fluence informed by log files. Methods: A total of 112 IMRT plans for chest cancers were planned and measured by portal dosimetry equipped on TrueBeam linac. The convolutional neural network (CNN) based learning model was trained using delivery fluence as inputs and gamma passing rates (GPRs) of 4 different criteria (3%/3 mm, 2%/3 mm, 3%/2 mm, and 2%/2 mm) as outputs. Model performance for both validation and test sets was assessed using mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), root MSE (RMSE), Spearman rank correlation coefficients (Sr), and Determination coefficient ( R 2 ) between the measured and predicted GPR values. Results: In the test set, the MAE of the prediction model were 0.402, 0.511, 1.724, and 2.530, the MSE were 0.640, 0.986, 6.654, and 9.508, the RMSE were 0.800, 0.993, 2.580, and 3.083, the Sr were 0.643, 0.684, 0.821, and 0.824 ( P