Comparative transcriptome analysis on candidate genes involved in lipid biosynthesis of developing kernels for three walnut cultivars in Xinjiang

Walnut(Juglans regia L.)is a good source of lipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFAs).In order to explore the biosynthesis molecular mechanism of oil accumulation and fatty acid(FA)synthesis in walnut,the samples at different development periods of three walnut cultivars,’Zhipi’(ZP),’Xinwu 417’(W417)and’Xinwen 81’(W81)were collected for transcriptomic analysis.The analysis of oil accumulation and FA profiles showed that the oil content in mature walnut kernel was nearly 70%,and over 90%of FAs were PUFAs.We identified 126 candidate genes including 64 genes for FA de novo synthesis,45 genes for triacylglycerol assembly,and 17 genes for oil bodies involved in lipid biosynthesis by RNA-sequencing.Ten key enzymes including ACCase,LACS6,LACS8,SAD,FAD2,FAD3,LPAAT1,DGAT2,PDAT2,and PLC encoded by 19 genes were highly associated with lipid biosynthesis.Quantitative PCR analysis further validated 9 important genes,and the results were well consistent with our transcriptomic data.Finally,5 important transcription factors including WRI1,ABI3,FUS3,PKL and VAL1 were identified,and their main regulatory genes might contain ACCase,KASII,LACS,FAD3 and LPAAT which were determined through correlation analysis of expression levels for 27 walnut samples.These findings will provide a comprehensive understanding and valuable information on the genetic engineering and molecular breeding in walnut.

Insight Into the Separation-of-Variable Methods for the Closed-Form Solutions of Free Vibration of Rectangular Thin Plates

The separation-of-variable(SOV)methods,such as the improved SOV method,the variational SOV method,and the extended SOV method,have been proposed by the present authors and coworkers to obtain the closed-form analytical solutions for free vibration and eigenbuckling of rectangular plates and circular cylindrical shells.By taking the free vibration of rectangular thin plates as an example,this work presents the theoretical framework of the SOV methods in an instructive way,and the bisection–based solution procedures for a group of nonlinear eigenvalue equations.Besides,the explicit equations of nodal lines of the SOV methods are presented,and the relations of nodal line patterns and frequency orders are investigated.It is concluded that the highly accurate SOV methods have the same accuracy for all frequencies,the mode shapes about repeated frequencies can also be precisely captured,and the SOV methods do not have the problem of missing roots as well.

TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator alleviates hypoxia/ischemia-induced microglial pyroptosis and ischemic brain damage

Our previous studies have demonstrated that TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator(TIGAR)can protect neurons after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.However,the role of TIGAR in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD)remains unknown.In the present study,7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat models of HIBD were established by permanent occlusion of the left common carotid artery followed by 2-hour hypoxia.At 6 days before induction of HIBD,a lentiviral vector containing short hairpin RNA of either TIGAR or gasdermin D(LV-sh_TIGAR or LV-sh_GSDMD)was injected into the left lateral ventricle and striatum.Highly aggressively proliferating immortalized(HAPI)microglial cell models of in vitro HIBD were established by 2-hour oxygen/glucose deprivation followed by 24-hour reoxygenation.Three days before in vitro HIBD induction,HAPI microglial cells were transfected with LV-sh_TIGAR or LV-sh_GSDMD.Our results showed that TIGAR expression was increased in the neonatal rat cortex after HIBD and in HAPI microglial cells after oxygen/glucose deprivation/reoxygenation.Lentivirusmediated TIGAR knockdown in rats markedly worsened pyroptosis and brain damage after hypoxia/ischemia in vivo and in vitro.Application of exogenous nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)increased the NADPH level and the glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio and decreased reactive oxygen species levels in HAPI microglial cells after oxygen/glucose deprivation/reoxygenation.Additionally,exogenous NADPH blocked the effects of TIGAR knockdown in neonatal HIBD in vivo and in vitro.These findings show that TIGAR can inhibit microglial pyroptosis and play a protective role in neonatal HIBD.The study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Soochow University of China(approval No.2017LW003)in 2017.

Microstructural evolution in Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Sc–Zr alloys during short-time homogenization

Abstract： Microstructural evolution in a new kind of aluminum （A1） alloy with the chemical composition of AI-8.82Zn-2.08Mg- 0.80Cu-3.31Sc-0.3Zr was investigated. It is found that the secondary phase MgZn2 is completely dissolved into the matrix during a short homogenization treatment （470℃, 1 h）, while the primary phase A13（Sc,Zr） remains stable. This is due to Sc and Zr additions into the A1 al- loy, high Zn/Mg mass ratio, and low Cu content. The experimental findings fit well with the results calculated by the homogenization diffusion kinetics equation. The alloy shows an excellent mechanical performance after the short homogenization process followed by hot-extrusion and T6 treatment. Consequently, a good combination of low energy consumotion and favorable mechanical properties is obtained.

Experimental investigation of erosion rate for gas-solid two-phase flow in 304 stainless/L245 carbon steel

Erosion is one of the most concerning issues in pipeline flow assurance for the Oil&Gas pipeline industries,which can easily lead to wall thinning,perforation leakage,and other crucial safety risks to the steady operation of pipelines.In this research,a novel experimental device is designed to investigate the erosion characteristics of 304 stainless and L245 carbon steel in the gas-solid two-phase flow.Regarding the impacts on erosion rate,the typical factors such as gas velocity,impact angle,erosion time,particle material and target material are individually observed and comprehensive analyzed with the assistance of apparent morphology characterized via Scanning Electron Microscope.Experimental results show that the severest erosion occurs when the angle reaches approximate 30°whether eroded by type I or type II particles,which is observed in both two types of steel.Concretely,304 stainless steel and L245 carbon steel appear to be cut at low angles,and impacted at high angles to form erosion pits.In the steady operational state,the erosion rate is insensitive to the short erosion time and free from the influences caused by the“erosion latent period”.Based on the comparison between experimental data and numerical results generated by existing erosion models,a modified model with low tolerance(<3%),high feasibility and strong consistency is proposed to make an accurate prediction of the erosion in terms of two types of steel under various industrial conditions.

Different Configurations of Interannual Variability of the Western North Pacific Subtropical High and East Asian Westerly Jet in Summer

This study investigates the circulation and precipitation anomalies associated with different configurations of the western North Pacific subtropical high(WNPSH)and the East Asian westerly jet(EAJ)in summer on interannual timescales.The in-phase configuration of the WNPSH and EAJ is characterized by the westward(eastward)extension of the WNPSH and the southward(northward)shift of the EAJ,which is consistent with the general correspondence between their variations.The out-of-phase configuration includes the residual cases.We find that the in-phase configuration manifests itself as a typical meridional teleconnection.For instance,there is an anticyclonic(cyclonic)anomaly over the tropical western North Pacific and a cyclonic(anticyclonic)anomaly over the mid-latitudes of East Asia in the lower troposphere.These circulation anomalies are more conducive to rainfall anomalies over the Yangtze River basin and south Japan than are the individual WNPSH or EAJ.By contrast,for the out-of-phase configuration,the mid-latitude cyclonic(anticyclonic)anomaly is absent,and the lower-tropospheric circulation anomalies feature an anticyclonic(cyclonic)anomaly with a large meridional extension.Correspondingly,significant rainfall anomalies move northward to North China and the northern Korean Peninsula.Further results indicate that the out-of-phase configuration is associated with the developing phase of ENSO,with strong and significant sea surface temperature(SST)anomalies in the tropical central and eastern Pacific which occur simultaneously during summer and persist into the following winter.This is sharply different from the in-phase configuration,for which the tropical SSTs are not a necessity.

Long noncoding RNA Pvt1 promotes the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells by sponging microRNA-214 and targeting c-Jun following peripheral nerve injury

Research has shown that long-chain noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs) are involved in the regulation of a variety of biological processes, including peripheral nerve regeneration, in part by acting as competing endogenous RNAs. c-Jun plays a key role in the repair of peripheral nerve injury. However, the precise underlying mechanism of c-Jun remains unclear. In this study, we performed microarray and bioinformatics analysis of mouse crush-injured sciatic nerves and found that the lncRNA Pvt1 was overexpressed in Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury. Mechanistic studies revealed that Pvt1 increased c-Jun expression through sponging miRNA-214. We overexpressed Pvt1 in Schwann cells cultured in vitro and found that the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells were enhanced, and overexpression of miRNA-214 counteracted the effects of Pvt1 overexpression on Schwann cell proliferation and migration. We conducted in vivo analyses and injected Schwann cells overexpressing Pvt1 into injured sciatic nerves of mice. Schwann cells overexpressing Pvt1 enhanced the regeneration of injured sciatic nerves following peripheral nerve injury and the locomotor function of mice was improved. Our findings reveal the role of lncRNAs in the repair of peripheral nerve injury and highlight lncRNA Pvt1 as a novel potential treatment target for peripheral nerve injury.

Enhanced Seasonal Predictability of Spring Soil Moisture over the Indo-China Peninsula for Eastern China Summer Precipitation under Non-ENSO Conditions

Seasonal prediction of summer precipitation over eastern China is closely linked to the East Asian monsoon circulation,which is largely affected by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation(ENSO).In this study,results show that spring soil moisture(SM)over the Indo-China peninsula(ICP)could be a reliable seasonal predictor for eastern China summer precipitation under non-ENSO conditions.When springtime SM anomalies are present over the ICP,they trigger a structured response in summertime precipitation over most of eastern China.The resultant south-to-north,tri-polar configuration of precipitation anomalies has a tendency to yield increased(decreased)precipitation in the Yangtze River basin and decreased(increased)in South and North China with a drier(wetter)spring soil condition in the ICP.The analyses show that ENSO exerts a powerful control on the East Asian circulation system in the ENSO-decaying summer.In the case of ENSO forcing,the seasonal predictability of the ICP spring SM for eastern China summer precipitation is suppressed.However,in the absence of the influence of ENSO sea surface temperature anomalies from the preceding winter,the SM anomalies over the ICP induce abnormal local heating and a consequent geopotential height response owing to its sustained control on local temperature,which could,in turn,lead to abnormal eastern China summer precipitation by affecting the East Asian summer monsoon circulation.The present findings provide a better understanding of the complexity of summer climate predictability over eastern China,which is of potential significance for improving the livelihood of the people.

A magnetic field strategy to porous Pt-Ni nanoparticles with predominant (111) facets for enhanced electrocatalytic oxygen reduction

For the first time, we developed porous Pt-Ni alloying nanoparticles with predominant(111) facets under intense magnetic fields. Electrochemical analysis revealed that the Pt-Ni alloying nanoparticles obtained at 2 Tesla exhibited a superior catalytic activity and durability for oxygen reduction reaction. This work demonstrated that the imposition of intense magnetic field could be considered as a new approach for developing efficient alloying electrocatalysts with preferential facets.

Mass production of Li Fe PO_4/C energy materials using Fe–P waste slag

To effectively solve the agglomeration problems in the solid state reaction process,pre-adding glucose is adopted to the synthesis of Li Fe PO4/C energy materials using Fe–P waste slag. The average particle grain size of Li FeP O4/C decreases,and the impurities in Li Fe PO4/C composites reduce to a great extent. It makes great sense to the mass industrial production. The optimum synthesis conditions determined in this work are based on the orthogonal experiments. The samples synthesized in a scale of 500 g exhibit high purity,excellent electrochemical performance,high reaction activity,good reversibility,and low polarization level.The discharge capacities are 145,134,117,and 102 m Ah/g at the current densities of 0.1 C,0.2 C,0.5 C and1 C,respectively. This work puts forward a practical suggestion for mass producing environmental benign and low cost Li FeP O4/C as cathode materials of lithium ion batteries.

The Southwest Indian Ocean Thermocline Dome in CMIP5 Models:Historical Simulation and Future Projection

Using 20 models of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 （CMIP5）, the simulation of the Southwest Indian Ocean （SWIO） thermocline dome is evaluated and its role in shaping the Indian Ocean Basin （IOB） mode following E1 Nifio investigated. In most of the CMIP5 models, due to an easterly wind bias along the equator, the simulated SWIO thermocline is too deep, which could further influence the amplitude of the interannual IOB mode. A model with a shallow （deep） thermocline dome tends to simulate a strong （weak） IOB mode, including key attributes such as the SWIO SST warming, antisymmetric pattern during boreal spring, and second North Indian Ocean warming during boreal summer. Under global warming, the thermocline dome deepens with the easterly wind trend along the equator in most of the models. However, the IOB amplitude does not follow such a change of the SWIO thermocline among the models; rather, it follows future changes in both ENSO forcing and local convection feedback, suggesting a decreasing effect of the deepening SWIO thermocline dome on the change in the IOB mode in the future.

CeO_(x)-supported monodispersed MoO_(3) clusters for high-efficiency electrochemical nitrogen reduction under ambient condition

Developing efficient and low-cost electrocatalysts is essential for the electroreduction of N_(2) to NH_(3).Here,highly monodispersed MoO_(3) clusters loaded on a coral-like CeO_(x)compound with abundant oxygen vacancies are successfully prepared by an impregnation-reduction method.The MoO_(3) clusters with small sizes of 2.6±0.5 nm are induced and anchored by the oxygen vacancies of CeO_(x),resulting in excellent nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)performance.Additionally,the synergistic effects between MoO_(3) and CeO_(x)lead to a further improvement of the electrochemical performance.The as-prepared MoO_(3)-CeO_(x)catalyst shows an NH_(3) yield rate of 32.2 μg h^(-1) mg^(-1) cat and a faradaic efficiency of 7.04%at-0.75 V(vs.reversible hydrogen electrode)in 0.01 M Dulbecco’s Phosphate Buffered Saline.Moreover,it displays decent electrochemical stability over 30,000 s.Besides,the electrochemical NRR mechanism for MoO_(3)-CeO_(x)is investigated by in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.N-H stretching,H-N-H bending,and N-N stretching are detected during the reaction,suggesting that an associative pathway is followed.This work provides an approach to designing and synthesizing potential electrocatalysts for NRR.

Assessment of the trauma degree and bone metabolism after external fixation combined with vacuum sealing drainage treatment of open tibiofibula fracture

Objective: To evaluate the effect of external fixation combined with vacuum sealing drainage on the trauma degree and bone metabolism in patients with open tibiofibula fracture. Methods:A total of 116 patients with open tibiofibula fracture who received surgical treatment in Luzhou People's Hospital between February 2015 and January 2017 were divided into control group (n=58) and study group (n=58) by random number table. Control group received debridement + external fixation, and study group received debridement + external fixation +vacuum sealing drainage. The differences in the levels of trauma indexes and bone metabolism indexes were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results: Before surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in serum levels of trauma indexes and bone metabolism indexes between the two groups. 1 week after surgery, serum acute phase protein Tf level of study group was higher than that of control group whereas CER, Hp and CRP levels were lower than those of control group;stress indexes NE and Cor levels were lower than those of control group;bone metabolism indexes P1NP, BGP and BALP levels were higher than those of control group whereas β-CTX level was lower than that of control group. Conclusion: External fixation combined with vacuum sealing drainage can effectively reduce fracture trauma and promote fracture end healing in patients with open tibiofibula fracture.

Effects of Different Sterilization Conditions on Active Components and Flavor of Apple Vinegar

[Objectives]To explore the effects of different sterilization conditions on nutrition and flavor of apple vinegar.[Methods]Five kinds of high temperature short time(HTST)sterilization conditions were selected to treat apple vinegar,and the volatile aroma components and the content of active components in apple vinegar before and after sterilization were analyzed.[Results]Compared with the control,the contents of total acid and malic acid in the samples after sterilization changed little,but the contents of citric acid increased significantly(P<0.01),and the contents of total phenols,ascorbic acid and total flavonoids decreased.Ethyl acetate,isopentyl acetate,ethyl caprylate,phenethyl acetate,1-pentanol,phenylethyl alcohol,acetic acid,and sec-butyl ether were the characteristic aroma components which contributed to the flavor of apple vinegar.As sterilization temperature increased,the content of esters decreased,while the content of acids,alcohols and aldehydes increased.The contents of nutrition,active components and volatile aroma components in apple vinegar under 100℃and 30 s sterilization conditions had little change compared with other sterilization conditions,so 100℃and 30 s were the optimal sterilization conditions.[Conclusions]Under different sterilization conditions,the content of flavor components in apple vinegar will change greatly,which will affect the quality of apple vinegar.

Capability of TCSC on SSR Mitigation

TCSC (Thyristor-Controlled Series Compensator) has been used in modern power systems to increase power transfer and system stability. Besides, due to its controllable feature, TCSC has been used to work as a solution to sub-synchronous resonance (SSR) problems. However, it is not clear so far whether TCSC’s inherent characteristic can avoid SSR and its effectiveness for SSR damping. In this paper, an equivalent circuit of TCSC is used to better understand how TCSC performs at sub-synchronous frequency ranges. Therefore, interactions of TCSC behaviors and SSR components can be viewed individually. The effects of TCSC operation interfered by sub-synchronous components are discussed. Results show that TCSC has the capability to damp SSR, but this capability can be deteriorated if TCSC firing logic cannot be effectively maintained.

Exploiting Loop-Carried Stream Reuse for Scientific Computing Applications on the Stream Processor

Compared with other stream applications, scientific stream programs are usually bound by memory accesses. Reusing streams across different iterations, i.e. loop-carried stream reuse, can effectively improve the SRF locality, thus reducing memory accesses greatly. In the paper, we first present the algorism identifying loop-carried stream reuse and that exploiting the reuse after analyzing scientific computing applications. We then perform several representative microbenchmarks and scientific stream programs with and without our optimization on Isim, a cycle-accurate stream processor simulator. Experimental results show that our algorithms can effectively exploit loop-carried stream reuse for scientific stream programs and thus greatly improve the performance of memory-bound scientific stream programs.

Effect of Magnetic Field Technology on Preservation Quality of Fresh-cut Apple

[Objectives]The paper was to study the effect of magnetic field technology on physicochemical properties of fresh-cut apple during storage.[Methods]Using fresh-cut apples as materials,magnetic field assisted refrigeration and conventional refrigeration control groups were set up,and the preservation effects of magnetic field assisted refrigeration on fresh-cut apples were tested by measuring the changes of microorganisms and physicochemical indicators.In this experiment,the conditions of magnetic field assisted refrigeration group was set as follows:temperature 4℃,magnetic field intensity 5 mT,static magnetic field,and storage for 6 d.[Results]At 6 d post storage,the weight loss rate,total number of colonies and total number of fungi of fresh-cut apples increased;the L value and hardness showed a downward trend;the soluble solid content first increased and then decreased;and the total acid decreased first and then increased.The above indicators in magnetic field assisted refrigeration group changed more gently than that in conventional refrigeration group.Compared with conventional assisted refrigeration,the weight loss rate of fresh-cut apples treated by magnetic field combined with 4℃refrigeration was reduced by 68.00%;the hardness was increased by 12.23%;the total number of colonies and total number of fungi were reduced by 64.15%and 37.50%;and the L value did not change much.High content of soluble solids and total acid was maintained.[Conclusions]Magnetic field assisted refrigeration delays quality deterioration of fresh-cut apples during storage,prolongs shelf life,and further improves their edible quality and commodity value.

以微信为媒介的延续护理在慢性心力衰竭患者中的应用效果

目的探讨以微信为媒介的延续护理在慢性心力衰竭患者中的应用效果。方法选取200例慢性心力衰竭出院患者为研究对象,随机分成对照组和观察组,每组100例。对照组采取常规形式进行延续性护理,观察组则采用以微信为媒介的形式进行延续性护理。比较两组患者出院前、出院后3个月的服药依从性、遵医行为依从性、疾病自我管理能力及满意度。结果出院前,两组患者的服药依从性、遵医行为依从性、疾病自我管理能力、满意度差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05);出院后3个月,观察组患者的服药依从性、遵医行为依从性、疾病自我管理能力、满意度均较出院前提高,且高于对照组(均P<0.05)。结论以微信平台为媒介的延续护理可提高慢性心力衰竭患者的治疗依从性、疾病自我管理能力及其对护理工作的满意度。

海水电解面临的挑战与机遇:含氯电化学中先进材料研究进展

氢气是一种清洁高效的能源载体,通过海水电解规模化制备氢气能够为应对全球能源挑战提供新的机遇。然而,缺乏高活性、高选择性和高稳定性的理想电极材料是在腐蚀性海水中连续电解过程的一个巨大挑战。为了缓解这一困境,需要从基础理论和实际应用两方面对材料进行深入研究。近年来,人们围绕电极材料的催化活性、选择性和耐腐蚀性进行了大量的探索。本文重点总结了高选择性和强耐腐蚀性材料的设计合成与作用机制。其中详细介绍了多种电极材料(如多金属氧化物、Ni/Fe/Co基复合材料、氧化锰包覆异质结构等)对氧气生成选择性的研究进展;系统论述了各种材料的抗腐蚀工程研究成果,主要讨论了本征抗腐蚀材料、外防护涂层和原位产生抗腐蚀物种三种情况。此外,提出了海水电解过程中存在的挑战和潜在的机遇。先进纳米材料的设计有望为解决海水电解中的氯化学问题提供新思路。

高度近视患者硅油取出联合白内障手术前后眼轴及角膜曲率的临床观察

目的:探讨高度近视患者行硅油取出联合白内障手术前后眼轴长度(AL)、角膜曲率(K)变化及关系。方法:回顾性研究。纳入2020-08/11南昌大学附属眼科医院收治的硅油眼并发性白内障患者45例48眼,其中高度近视组(屈光度≥-6.00D且AL≥26mm)20例20眼和非高度近视组(屈光度<-6.00D或AL<26mm)25例28眼。比较两组患者硅油取出联合白内障手术前后AL、K值。结果:两组患者手术前后角膜K值比较无差异(均P>0.05)。高度近视组术前AL 28.35±1.68mm与术后2wk28.08±1.53mm有差异(P<0.001),非高度近视组无差异(P>0.05)。高度近视组ΔAL[-0.28(-0.44,-0.08)]与非高度近视组[-0.06(-0.20,0.15)]比较有差异(P=0.001),而两组间ΔK无差异(P>0.05)。两组患者|ΔAL|与|ΔK|、术前K值无相关(均P>0.05);高度近视组|ΔAL|与术前AL呈中度正相关(r=0.702,P=0.001),非高度近视组无相关(P>0.05)。结论:高度近视硅油眼并发性白内障患者行硅油取出联合白内障手术前后K值没有明显变化,但AL可能变短,且AL越长,AL变化可能更大。