Seasonal Variation of Hearing Sensitivity in the Red-eared Slider(Trachemys scripta elegans)

Seasonal variation of hearing sensitivity has been observed in many vertebrate groups with obvious vocal behaviors.Circulating hormones,conspecific calling signals,and temperature are potential factors that drive these plasticity patterns.Turtles have a hearing range that appears to be limited to under 1.5 kHz and are often thought to be non-vocal;thus,they are commonly neglected in vocal communication research.In this study,we aimed to determine whether the auditory phenotype exhibits seasonal variation in sensitivity and to analyze the potential factors driving such variation patterns in turtles.We measured hearing sensitivity and sex hormone levels in female(estradiol)and male(testosterone and dihydrotestosterone)Red-eared sliders(Trachemys scripta elegans)during spring and winter.The results showed that auditory brainstem response(ABR)thresholds were significantly lower in spring than in winter at a frequency range of 0.5-0.9 kHz.The hearing-sensitivity bandwidth was wider,and the ABR latency was significantly shorter in spring than in winter.No significant differences were found in estradiol,testosterone,and dihydrotestosterone levels in T.scripta elegans between spring and winter.This study is the first to reveal the seasonal variation of peripheral hearing sensitivity in turtles,a special animal group with limited hearing range and less vocalization.Temperature variations may be used to explain these seasonal effects,but further research is required to confirm our findings.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the GSK3 Gene Family in Sunflower under Various Abiotic Stresses

Genes in the glycogen synthase kinase 3(GSK3)family are essential in regulating plant response to stressful conditions.This study employed bioinformatics to uncover the GSK3 gene family from the sunflower genome database.The expressions of GSK3 genes in different tissues and stress treatments,such as salt,drought,and cold,were assessed using transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR).The study results revealed that the 12 GSK3 genes of sunflower,belonging to four classes(Classes I–IV),contained the GSK3 kinase domain and 11–13 exons.The majority of GSK3 genes were highly expressed in the leaf axil and flower,while their expression levels were relatively lower in the leaf.As a result of salt stress,six of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK22,HaSK23,HaSK32,HaSK33,and HaSK41)displayed a notable increase in expression,while HaSK14 and HaSK21 experienced a significant decrease.With regard to drought stress,five of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK13,HaSK21,HaSK22,and HaSK33)experienced a remarkable rise in expression.When exposed to cold stress,seven of the GSK3 genes(HaSK11,HaSK12,HaSK13,HaSK32,HaSK33,HaSK41,and HaSK42)showed a substantial increase,whereas HaSK21 and HaSK23 had a sharp decline.This research is of great importance in understanding the abiotic resistance mechanism of sunflowers and developing new varieties with improved stress resistance.

Effects of Body Size and Environmental Factors on the Acoustic Structure and Temporal Rhythm of Calls in Rhacophorus dennysi

In anurans, the outcomes of male-male contests and female choice are often associated with body size. In some species, males evaluate an opponent’s fighting ability and females evaluate male quality on the basis of male communication signals, which are thought to reflect information concerning male body size. Nevertheless, previous studies reveal that male call structure is not always correlated with body size. In the present study we investigated the relationships between body size and call structure in the large treefrog, Rhacophorus dennysi, as well as the relationship of its calling behavior with air temperature and humidity. The results show that both the dominant and fundamental frequencies are negatively correlated with body size, while inter-note intervals are positively correlated with body size, indicating that call characters could reflect body size in this species.Additionally, calling in this tropical species exhibits a circadian rhythm insofar as relatively high temperature and low humidity during the day is associated with less vocal behavior. Thus, individual variations in call structure are mainly dependent on body size while the temporal rhythm of calling activity is affected by environmental conditions in large treefrogs.

Progress on design and related R&D activities for the water-cooled breeder blanket for CFETR

The water-cooled ceramic breeder (WCCB) blanket is one of the blanket candidates for Chinese fusion engineering testing reactor (CFETR) and is being developed at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP). This paper reviews design and evolution of the WCCB blanket for CFETR, and presents a new WCCB blanket design according to the latest CFETR core parameters (major and minor radii are R = 7.2 m and a = 2.2 m, respectively) and missions. This new design is expected to satisfy multiple CFETR operation modes of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 GW fusion power and achieve tritium self-sufficiency. The feasibility of the updated blanket design is evaluated from the aspects of neutronics and thermo-hydraulics. Furthermore, the research and development (R&D) activities supporting to the WCCB blanket for CFETR are reported, including the design code, the water loop experiments, the pebble bed modeling and experiments, and the components fabrication technology.

Call Characteristics of Two Sympatric and Morphologically Similar Tree Frogs Species, Polypedates megacephalus and Polypedates mutus(Anura: Rhacophoridae), from Hainan, China

Anuran calls are usually species-specific and therefore valued as a tool for species identification. Call characteristics are a potential honest signal in sexual selection because they often reflect male body size. Polypedates megacephalus and P. mutus are two sympatric and morphologically similar tree frogs, but it remains unknown whether their calls are associated with body size. In this study, we compared call characteristics of these two species and investigated any potential relationships with body size. We found that P. megacephalus, males produced six call types which consisting of three distinct notes, while P. mutus males produced five types consisting of two types of notes. Dominant frequency, note duration, pulse duration, and call duration exhibited significant interspecific differences. In P. megacephalus, one note exhibited a dominant frequency that was negatively correlated with body mass, snout-vent length, head length, and head width. In P. mutus, the duration of one note type was positively correlated with body mass and head width. These differences in call characteristics may play an important role in interspecific recognition. Additionally, because interspecific acoustic variation reflects body size, calls may be relevant for sexual selection. Taken together, our results confirmed that calls are a valid tool for distinguishing between the two tree-frog species in the field.

Coevolution of Male and Female Response Preferences to Sexual Signals in Music Frogs

Male signaling influences both female choice and male-male competition. Although male signaling characteristics and female preferences have been shown to coevolve in many species, few studies have examined whether male signal characteristics and male receiver responses related to male-male competition also coevolve. The present study tested the hypothesis that male and female signal receiver preferences may coevolve in parallel for flogs in the genus Babina by comparing the acoustic structure of male advertisement calls of four closely related and geographically isolated Babina species. Then we assessed the behavioral responses of both male and female B. daunchina （Emei music frog） to male call playbacks from each of the four species. The results support the hypothesis that male and female signal receiver preferences have coevolved in this species. Specifically, both male and female B. daunchina respond strongly to the heterospecific calls of B. hainanensis, suggesting that preexisting biases exist in both females and males. Both male and female individuals showed a slight response to the calls of B. adenopleura while no response was evoked by the calls ofB. lini. The manifestation of similar response profiles in male and female B. daunchina to the calls of the four species support the idea that male and female signal receiver preferences evolved in parallel and that the origin of these receiver biases reflects adaptations dependent on the same neural and cognitive systems in both sexes.

The Relationship between Shell Morphology and Crevice Size Affecting Retreat Selection of the Keeled Box Turtle(Cuora mouhotii)

Rock crevices are important retreat sites for many reptiles.Unlike lizards and snakes,crevicedwelling turtles have rigid shells which severely limit the size and shape of crevices they are able to use.Few studies have addressed the relationship between turtle's shell morphology,behavior,and crevice size.Here,we investigate the relationship between morphology and crevice size selection in the Keeled box turtle(Cuora mouhotii).We radio tracked turtles in the field to document crevice dimensions and turtle behavior associated with crevices,and we conducted a controlled experiment in the lab to understand how a turtle's morphology influences its decision to select crevices with different dimensions.Both laboratory and field experiments demonstrate that turtles select deep and moderately wide crevices that are low enough to barely accommodate the carapace.Crevices used by turtles tend to be about 2 times as wide,1.2 times as high,and 3 times longer than the turtle's shell.Moreover,turtles tended to prefer crevices with horizontal openings in the field and position themselves head first in the crevice.We conclude that morphology,especially carapace height,influences the Keeled box turtles' decision to select specific sizes of crevice.We argue that the tendency for turtles to select crevices that come into contact with their carapace contributes to successful defense against predators,as it would be more difficult for a predator to remove a turtle when the crevice is nearly touching the turtles shell.

Long-term trend analysis of wave characteristics in the Bohai Sea based on interpolated ERA5 wave reanalysis from 1950 to 2020

Reasonably understanding of the long-term wave characteristics is very crucial for the ocean engineering.A feedforward neural network is operated for interpolating ERA5 wave reanalysis in this study,which embodies a detailed record from 1950 onwards.The spatiotemporal variability of wave parameters in the Bohai Sea,especially the significant wave height(SWH),is presented in terms of combined wave,wind wave and swell by employing the 71 years(1950–2020)of interpolated ERA5 reanalysis.Annual mean SWH decreases at−0.12 cm/a estimated by Theil-Sen estimator and 95th percentile SWH reflecting serve sea states decreases at−0.20 cm/a.Inter-seasonal analysis shows SWH of wind wave has steeper decreasing trend with higher slopes than that of swell,especially in summer and winter,showing the major decrease may attribute to the weakening of monsoon.The inner Bohai Sea reveals a general decreasing trend while the intersection connecting with the Yellow Sea has the lower significance derived by Mann-Kendall test.Meanwhile,95th percentile SWH decreases at a higher rate while with a lower significance in comparison with the mean state.The frequencies of mean wave directions in sub-sector are statistically calculated to find the seasonal prevailing directions.Generally,the dominant directions in summer and winter are south and north.A similar variation concerning to SWH,the trend of the mean wave period is provided,which also shows a decrease for decades.

Partial Masquerading and Background Matching in Two Asian Box Turtle Species(Cuora spp.)

Animals living in heterogeneous natural environments adopt different camouflage strategies against different backgrounds,and behavioral adaptation is crucial for their survival.However,studies of camouflage strategies have not always quantified the effect of multiple strategies used together.In the present study,we used a human visual model to quantify similarities in color and shape between the carapace patterns of two Cuora species and their preferred habitats.Our results showed that the color of the middle stripe on the carapace of Cuora galbinifrons(Indochinese box turtle)was significantly similar to the color of their preferred substrates.Meanwhile,the middle stripe on the carapace of C.mouhotii(keeled box turtle)contrasted more with their preferred substrates,and the side stripe matched most closely with the environment.Furthermore,the carapace side stripe of C.galbinifrons and the carapace middle stripe of C.mouhotii highly contrasted with their preferred substrates.We quantified the similarity in shape between the highcontrast stripes of both Cuora species and leaves from their habitats.The carapace middle stripe of C.mouhotii was most similar in shape to leaves from the broadleaves substrate,and the carapace side stripe of C.galbinifrons was the most similar in shape to leaves from the bamboo-leaves substrate.We determined that these species adopt partial masquerading when their entire carapace is exposed and partially match their background when they semi-cover themselves in leaf litter.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first study to demonstrate that partial masquerading and background matching improve the camouflage effect of Asian box turtles in their preferred habitats.This is a novel study focusing on the influence of the shape and color of individual carapace segments on reducing detectability and recognition.

Behavioral and Neurogenomic Responses to Acoustic and Visual Sexual Cues are Correlated in Female Torrent Frogs

Diverse a nimal species use multimodal communica tion signals to coordina te reproductive behavior.Despite active research in this field,the brain mechanisms underlying multimodal communication remain poorly understood.Similar to humans and many mammalian species,anurans often produce auditory signals accompanied by conspicuous visual cues(e.g.,vocal sac inflation).In this study,we used video playbacks to determine the role of vocal-sac inflation in little torrent frogs(Amolops torrentis).Then we exposed females to blank,visual,auditory,and audiovisual stimuli and analyzed whole brain tissue gene expression changes using RNAseq.The results showed that both auditory cues(i.e.,male advertisement calls)and visual cues were attractive to female frogs,although auditory cues were more attractive than visual cues.Females preferred simultaneous bimodal cues to unimodal cues.The hierarchical clustering of differentially expressed genes showed a close relationship between neurogenomic states and momentarily expressed sexual signals.We also found that the Gene Ontology terms and KEGG pathways involved in energy metabolism were mostly increased in blank contrast versus visual,acoustic,or audiovisual stimuli,indicating that brain energy use may play an important role in response to these stimuli.In sum,behavioral and neurogenomic responses to acoustic and visual cues are correlated in female little torrent frogs.

PEA3和EPHA2在脑胶质母细胞瘤中的表达及在Wnt/β-catenin通路的作用

目的探讨多瘤病毒增强活化子3(PEA3)及红细胞生成素产生肝细胞受体2(EPHA2)在脑胶质母细胞瘤中的表达及在Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的作用。方法构建脑胶质瘤U87细胞基因转染模型,将细胞系分为5组:空白组、PEA3干扰组、PEA3干扰空载组、EPHA2干扰组、EPHA2干扰空载组,Western blotting实验检测细胞中EPHA2、PEA3的蛋白表达水平,细胞活力检测(CCK-8)实验检测PEA3、EPHA2对细胞增殖能力的影响,定量反转录聚合酶连锁反应(qRT-PCR)实验检测Wnt/β-catenin通路下游基因转录因子4(TCF-4)、淋巴细胞增强结合因子1(LEF1)表达水平。结果Western blotting实验结果显示:与空白组相比,EPHA2在EPHA2干扰组中表达量降低,PEA3在PEA3干扰组和EPHA2干扰组中表达量降低,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05);5组细胞Wnt1、β-catenin蛋白表达量比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。CCK-8实验结果显示,与空白组相比,PEA3干扰组和EPHA2干扰组的细胞增殖率明显下降,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。qRT-PCR结果显示,TCF-4、LEF1基因在PEA3干扰组、EPHA2干扰组中表达量下降,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论通过干扰PEA3和EPHA2基因可降低胶质母细胞瘤的增殖能力,但PEA3和EPHA2是否通过Wnt/β-catenin通路促进胶质母细胞瘤的增殖能力值得进一步研究证实。

Antifertility effects of EP-1 (quinestrol and levonorgestrel) on Pacific rats (Rattus exulans)

Pest rodents pose a serious threat to island biodiversity.Fertility control could be an alternative approach to control the impact of rodents on these islands.In this study,we examined the antifertility effects of EP-1 baits containing quinestrol(E)and levonorgestrel(P)using a dose of 50 ppm E and P at three different ratios(E:P ratio=1:2,1:1,and 2:1)on Pacific rats(Rattus exulans)in the Xisha Islands,Hainan,China.Compared to the control group,all animals in EP-1 treatment groups showed significantly decreased food intake and body weight.In treated males,there were obvious abnormalities in testis structure and a significant decrease of relative seminal vesicle weight,but no significant effect on relative uterine and ovarian weights(g kg-1 body weight),or ovarian structure in females.Adding 8%sucrose to the original 50-ppm baits(E:P ratio=1:1)significantly increased bait palatability for males and females.This dose induced uterine edema and abnormalities of ovarian structure in females but had no significant negative effect on the relative testis,epididymis,and seminal vesicle weights(g kg-1 body weight)or sperm density in males.In summary,50-ppm EP-1(1:1)baits have the potential to disrupt the fertility of females,and 8%sucrose addition to the EP-1 baits(E:P ratio=1:1)could improve bait palatability.This dose disrupted the testis structure in males.Future studies are needed to improve bait acceptance and assess the antifertility effects of EP-1(1:1)on Pacific rats in captive breeding trials and underfield conditions.

Single-cell transcriptomic landscape of peripheral blood cells provides insights into adaptation of red-eared sliders(Trachemys scripta elegans)

Red-eared sliders(Trachemys scripta elegans),as one of the 100 most threatening aliens,have stronger immunity than the native species in response to environmental stress.Blood cells are an important component of immunity in the body.However,the blood cell researches of turtle are still in the traditional blood cell classification and morphological structure observation.Furthermore,turtle granulocytes cannot be accurately identified using traditional methods.Single-cell RNA sequencing techniques have been successfully implemented to study cells based on the mRNA expression patterns of each cell.The present study profiled the transcriptomes of peripheral blood cells in red-eared sliders to construct a single-cell transcriptional landscape of the different cell types and explored environmental adaptation mechanism from the perspective of hematology.All 14 transcriptionally distinct clusters(platelets,erythrocytes1,erythrocytes2,CSF1R monocytes,POF1B monocytes,neutrophils,GATA2high basophils,GATA2low basophils,CD4 T cells,CD7 T cells,B cells,ACKR4 cells,serotriflin cells,and ficolin cells)were identified in the peripheral blood cells of the red-eared sliders.In particular,a subtype of erythrocytes(erythrocytes1)that expressed immune signals was identified.Peripheral blood cells were grouped into three lineages:platelet,erythroid/lymphoid,and myeloid cell lineages.Furthermore,based on differentiation trajectory and up-regulated gene expression,ACKR4 cells were newly identified as lymphocytes,and serotriflin and ficolin cells as granulocytes.The single-cell transcriptional atlas of the peripheral blood cells in red-eared sliders provided in the present study will offer a comprehensive transcriptome reference for the exploration of physiological and pathological hematology in this species.

Constructing a stable cobalt-nitrogen-carbon air cathode from coordinatively unsaturated zeolitic-imidazole frameworks for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

Zeolitic-imidazole frameworks(ZIFs)derivations have widely emerged as an efficient air cathode of zinc-air batteries(ZABs)due to excellent bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis performance.However,they are not stable enough for long-term operation of rechargeable ZABs because of weak association with current collector,especially under bending conditions for flexible ZAB devices.Here,we show that by purposely designing coordinatively unsaturated ZIFs via a facile morphology regulation,which can be chemically linked on acid-treated carbon cloth,a stable Co-N-C air cathode is therefore derived where Co nanoparticles(NPs)are uniformly confined within the Co-N-C matrix on carbon cloth(Co/Co-N-C/CC).Specifically,when without being stabilized from carbon cloth,the pyrolysis of ZIFs with different unsaturated coordination levels has a negligible impact on the bifunctional oxygen-catalyzed performance.The optimal Co/Co-N-C/CC catalyst assembled ZAB possesses a large open circuit voltage of 1.415 V and a high peak power density of 163 mW·cm^(−2) as well as excellent cycling durability upon 630 discharge–charge cycles with 61%voltage efficiency remained,largely exceeding those of a benchmark Pt/C-IrO_(2) catalyst assembled ZAB.The synergy between Co NPs and active Co-N-C sites via electronic interaction induces the outstanding bifunctional oxygen-catalyzed activity and cathode performance.The present work highlights the importance of unsaturated coordination structures in ZIFs precursors for the performance of derived nanostructures in integrated electrodes.

A facile and controllable one-pot synthesis approach to amino-functionalized hollow silica nanoparticles with accessible ordered mesoporous shells

The development of a practical synthetic method to functionalize hollow mesoporous silica with organic groups is of current intere st for selective adsorption and ene rgy storage applications.Herein,a facile and controllable one-pot approach for the synthesis of monodisperse amino-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles is presented.A novel solid-to-hollow structural transformation procedure of the silica nanoparticles is presented.The structural transformation is easily designed,as obse rved through transmission electro n microscopy,by tailo ring the HCl and N-lauroylsarcosine sodium molar ratio and the water content in the sol-gel.Ordered and radially oriented in situ aminofunctionalized mesochannels were successfully introduced into the shells of the hollow silica nanoparticles.A formation mechanism for the hollow mesoporous silica materials is discussed.

Geographical variation of the acoustic signals in the spot-legged treefrog (Polypedates megacephalus) of Hainan Island

Geographical divergence in acoustic signals is often affected by multiple selective pressures.Environmental factors are expected to shape signals by adjusting for greater propagation efficiency.Nevertheless,such habitat-driven hypotheses have not been well-examined with multi-signal and multi-habitat types included simultaneously.In this study,we evaluated call similarity of the spot-legged treefrog(Polypedates megacephalus),characterized by multiple call types,from 11 geographic populations across Hainan Island.We also examined multiple factors(i.e.body mass,temperature,altitude,and vegetation)among different acoustical geographic clusters,and tested whether the variation in acoustic length and frequency among different habitats was in accordance with the predic-tion derived from the acoustic adaptation hypothesis.We showed that P.megacephalus from Hainan Island included 3 acoustic geographic clusters:the northeasternflatlands,the southwest mountains,and the hills around the moun-tains.We also showed that environmental factors(i.e.altitude and vegetation)varied across these 3 acoustically distinct areas.Moreover,the duration of the different call types supported the hypothesis that they should have opti-mal transmission in their own habitats.Thus,our results reveal the roles of ecological selection in the geographical divergence of anuran acoustic signals.