Comparative evaluation of commercial Douchi by different molds:biogenic amines,non-volatile and volatile compounds

To provide new insights into the development and utilization of Douchi artificial starters,three common strains(Aspergillus oryzae,Mucor racemosus,and Rhizopus oligosporus)were used to study their influence on the fermentation of Douchi.The results showed that the biogenic amine contents of the three types of Douchi were all within the safe range and far lower than those of traditional fermented Douchi.Aspergillus-type Douchi produced more free amino acids than the other two types of Douchi,and its umami taste was more prominent in sensory evaluation(P<0.01),while Mucor-type and Rhizopus-type Douchi produced more esters and pyrazines,making the aroma,sauce,and Douchi flavor more abundant.According to the Pearson and PLS analyses results,sweetness was significantly negatively correlated with phenylalanine,cysteine,and acetic acid(P<0.05),bitterness was significantly negatively correlated with malic acid(P<0.05),the sour taste was significantly positively correlated with citric acid and most free amino acids(P<0.05),while astringency was significantly negatively correlated with glucose(P<0.001).Thirteen volatile compounds such as furfuryl alcohol,phenethyl alcohol,and benzaldehyde caused the flavor difference of three types of Douchi.This study provides theoretical basis for the selection of starting strains for commercial Douchi production.

Clinical application of oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound in evaluating the preoperative T staging of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound(OCEUS)is widely used in the noninvasive diagnosis and screening of gastric cancer(GC)in China.AIM To investigate the clinical application of OCEUS in evaluating the preoperative T staging of gastric cancer.METHODS OCEUS was performed before the operation,and standard ultrasound images were retained.The depth of infiltration of GC(T-stage)was evaluated according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition of the tumor-nodemetastasis staging criteria.Finally,with postoperative pathological staging as the gold standard reference,the sensitivity,specificity,negative predictive value,positive predictive value,and diagnostic value of OCEUS T staging were evaluated.RESULTS OCEUS achieved diagnostic accuracy rates of 76.6%(T1a),69.6%(T1b),62.7%(T2),60.8%(T3),88.0%(T4a),and 88.7%(T4b),with an average of 75.5%.Ultrasonic T staging sensitivity exceeded 62%,aside from T1b at 40.3%,while specificity was over 91%,except for T3 with 83.5%.The Youden index was above 60%,with T1b and T2 being exceptions.OCEUS T staging corresponded closely with pathology in T4b(kappa>0.75)and moderately in T1a,T1b,T2,T3,and T4a(kappa 0.40-0.75),registering a concordance rate exceeding 84%.CONCLUSION OCEUS was effective,reliable,and accurate in diagnosing the preoperative T staging of GC.As a noninvasive diagnostic technique,OCEUS merits clinical popularization.

Correlation between cerebral neurotransmitters levels by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND Cognitive dysfunction is the main manifestation of central neuropathy.Although cognitive impairments tend to be overlooked in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM),there is a growing body of evidence linking DM to cognitive dysfunction.Hyperglycemia is closely related to neurological abnormalities,while often disregarded in clinical practice.Changes in cerebral neurotransmitter levels are associated with a variety of neurological abnormalities and may be closely related to blood glucose control in patients with type 2 DM(T2DM).AIM To evaluate the concentrations of cerebral neurotransmitters in T2DM patients exhibiting different hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)levels.METHODS A total of 130 T2DM patients were enrolled at the Department of Endocrinology of Shanghai East Hospital.The participants were divided into four groups according to their HbA1c levels using the interquartile method,namely Q1(<7.875%),Q2(7.875%-9.050%),Q3(9.050%-11.200%)and Q4(≥11.200%).Clinical data were collected and measured,including age,height,weight,neck/waist/hip circumferences,blood pressure,comorbidities,duration of DM,and biochemical indicators.Meanwhile,neurotransmitters in the left hippocampus and left brainstem area were detected by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.RESULTS The HbA1c level was significantly associated with urinary microalbumin(mALB),triglyceride,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR),and beta cell function(HOMA-β),N-acetylaspartate/creatine(NAA/Cr),and NAA/choline(NAA/Cho).Spearman correlation analysis showed that mALB,LDL-C,HOMA-IR and NAA/Cr in the left brainstem area were positively correlated with the level of HbA1c(P<0.05),whereas HOMA-βwas negatively correlated with the HbA1c level(P<0.05).Ordered multiple logistic regression analysis showed that NAA/Cho[Odds ratio(OR):1.608,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.004-2.578,P<0.05],LDL-C(OR:1.627,95%CI:1.119-2.370,P<0.05),and HOMA-IR(OR:1.107,95%CI:1.031-1.188,P<0.01)were independent predictors of poor glycemic control.CONCLUSION The cerebral neurotransmitter concentrations in the left brainstem area in patients with T2DM are closely related to glycemic control,which may be the basis for the changes in cognitive function in diabetic patients.

2D/2D S-scheme heterojunction with a covalent organic framework and g-C_(3)N_(4) nanosheets for highly efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution

The fabrication of S-scheme heterojunctions with fast charge transfer and good interface contacts,such as intermolecularπ–πinteractions,is a promising approach to improve photocatalytic performance.A unique two-dimensional/two-dimensional(2D/2D)S-scheme heterojunction containing TpPa-1-COF/g-C_(3)N_(4) nanosheets(denoted as TPCNNS)was developed.The established maximum interfacial interaction between TpPa-1-COF NS and g-C_(3)N_(4) NS may result in aπ–πconjugated heterointerface.Furthermore,the difference in the work functions of TpPa-1-COF and g-C_(3)N_(4) results in a large Fermi level gap,leading to upward/downward band edge bending.The spontaneous interfacial charge transfer from g-C_(3)N_(4) to TpPa-1-COF at theπ–πconjugated interface area results in the presence of a built-in electric field,according to the charge density difference analysis based on density functional theory calculations.Such an enhanced built-in electric field can efficiently drive directional charge migration via the S-scheme mechanism,which enhances charge separation and utilization.Thus,an approximately 2.8 and 5.6 times increase in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate was recorded in TPCNNS-2(1153μmol g^(-1) h^(-1))compared to pristine TpPa-1-COF and g-C_(3)N_(4) NS,respectively,under visible light irradiation.Overall,this work opens new avenues in the fabrication of 2D/2Dπ–πconjugated S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with highly efficient hydrogen evolution performance.

Anxiety and depression in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and their effect on quality of life

AIM: To explore the role of psychological factors in gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) and their effect on quality of life(Qo L) of GERD patients.METHODS: A total of 279 consecutive patients with typical symptoms and 100 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.All of the participants wereevaluated with the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(ZSAS), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale(ZSDS) and the SF-36 questionnaire.The scores for anxiety, depression and Qo L of the two groups were analyzed.The correlation between psychological factors and Qo L was also analyzed.RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls(34.70 ± 8.00), the scores of ZSAS in the non-erosive reflux disease( N E R D) group(48.27±10.34) and the reflux esophagitis(RE) group(45.38 ± 10.27) were significantly higher(P < 0.001).The mean ZSAS score of the NERD group was significantly higher than that of the RE group(P = 0.01).Compared with healthy controls(37.61 ± 8.44), the mean ZSDS scores were significantly higher in the NERD group(49.65 ± 11.09, P < 0.001) and the RE group(46.76 ± 11.83, P < 0.001).All dimensions of the SF-36 form were negatively correlated with the SAS and SDS scores in patients with NERD and RE(P < 0.05).According to the S F- 3 6 form, vitality, mentalhealth and social functioning were significantly correlated with symptoms of depression in patients with NERD and RE.General health was obviously affected by symptoms of depression in patients with NERD(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Anxiety and depression may play an important role in the occurrence of GERD and especially that of NERD.The Qo L of patients with GERD is reduced by anxiety and depression.

Health-related quality of life in gastroesophageal reflux patients with noncardiac chest pain: Emphasis on the role of psychological distress

AIM To investigate the effects of depression and anxiety on health-related quality of life(QoL)in gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)patients and those suffering from cardiac(CCP)and noncardiac(NCCP)chest pain in Wuhan,China.METHODS In this cross-sectional study,a total of 358 consecutive patients with GERD were enrolled in Wuhan,China,of which 176 subjects had complaints of chest pain.Those with chest pain underwent coronary angiography and were divided into a CCP group(52 cases)and NCCP group(124 cases).Validated GERD questionnaires were completed,and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey and Hospital Anxiety/Depression Scale were used for evaluation of Qo L and psychological symptoms,respectively.RESULTS There were similar ratios and levels of depression and anxiety in GERD with NCCP and CCP.However,the QoL was obviously lower in GERD with CCP than NCCP(48.34±17.68 vs 60.21±20.27,P<0.01).In the GERD-NCCP group,rather than the GERD-CCP group,the physical and mental QoL were much poorer in subjects with depression and/or anxiety than those without anxiety or depression.Anxiety and depression had strong negative correlations with both physical and mental health in GERD-NCCP(all P<0.01),but only a weak relationship with mental components of QoL in GERD-CCP.CONCLUSION High levels of anxiety and depression may be more related to the poorer QoL in GERD patients with NCCP than those with CCP.This highlights the importance of evaluation and management of psychological impact for improving QoL in GERD-NCCP patients.

CSN6 promotes tumorigenesis of gastric cancer by ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of p16INK4a

Objective: CSN6 is a vital subunit of the constitutive photomorphogenesis 9(COP9) signalosome(CSN), which is responsible for development disorders and promotes ubiquitin-26 S proteasome-dependent degradation in vitro and vivo.Its role in the tumor development of gastric cancer remains unclear.In this study, we investigated the role of CSN6 in gastric cancer progression.Methods: Human gastric cancer samples were collected and immunohistochemistry was performed to identify the role of CSN6 in gastric cancer.The cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 and the EdU incorporation method.Immunofluorescence localization and a co-immunoprecipitation study were used to show the interaction between the protein CSN6 and p16.Ubiquitination assay was performed to validate whether ubiquitination is involved in CSN6-mediated p16 degradation.BALB/c nude mice were used to produce a tumor model in order to test the effect of CSN6 on cancer growth in vivo.Results: CSN6 expression was dramatically increased in gastric cancer tissues compared with paired adjacent non-tumor tissues and CSN6 was correlated with worse overall and disease-specific survival.Additionally, we also found that CSN6 downregulated p16 protein expression, thereby promoting gastric cancer cell growth and proliferation.Moreover, CSN6 interacted with p16 and a proteasome activator REGγ(PA28γ), thereby facilitating ubiquitin-independent degradation of p16.Conclusions: CSN6 promoted the loss of p16-mediated tumor progression and played an important role in regulating ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation of p16.

Finite-time Sliding Mode Control Design for a Class of Uncertain Conic Nonlinear Systems

This paper studies the sliding mode controller design problems for a class of nonlinear system. The nonlinear function is considered to satisfy conic-type constraint condition. A novel finite-time boundedness(FTB) based sliding mode controller design theory is proposed. And then a sufficient condition is obtained in terms of linear matrix inequalities(LMIs), which guarantees the resulted sliding mode dynamics to be FTB wrt some predefined scalars. Thereafter, a FTB-based sliding mode control(SMC) law is synthesized to ensure the state of the controlled system is driven into a novel desired switching surface s(t) = c(c is a constant) in a finite time. Simulation results illustrate the validity of the proposed FTB-based SMC design theory.

Massive gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic rubber band ligation of internal hemorrhoids:A case report

BACKGROUND Rubber band ligation(RBL) using rigid anoscope is a commonly recommended therapy for grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ symptomatic internal hemorrhoids. Severe complications of RBL include pain, hemorrhage and sepsis. Flexible endoscopic RBL(ERBL) is now more commonly used in RBL therapy but few severe complications have been reported. Here we report on a case of massive bleeding after ERBL.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old female was admitted to the department of gastroenterology with a chief complaint of discontinuous hematochezia for 2 years. No previous history, accompanying diseases or drug use was reported. Physical examination and colonoscopy showed grade Ⅱ internal hemorrhoids. The patient received ERBL therapy. Five days after ligation, the patient presented with mild hematochezia. On days 7 and 9 after ligation, she presented with a large amount of rectal bleeding, dizziness and weakness. Emergency colonoscopy revealed active bleeding and an ulcer in the anal wound. The patient received two sessions of hemoclipping on days 7 and 9 to treat the bleeding. No further bleeding was reported up to day 15 and she was discharged home. Although the hemorrhoid prolapse disappeared after ERBL, she was dissatisfied with the subsequent complications.CONCLUSION ERBL therapy is an effective treatment for symptomatic internal hemorrhoids with satisfactory short and long-term recovery. Pain and anal bleeding are the most frequently reported postoperative complications. Coagulation disorders complicate the increased risk of bleeding. Although rarely reported, our case reminds us that those patients without coagulation disorders are also at risk of massive life-threatening bleeding and need strict follow-up after ligation.

Genome-wide association studies in apple reveal loci of large effect controlling apple polyphenols

Apples are a nutritious food source with significant amounts of polyphenols that contribute to human health and wellbeing,primarily as dietary antioxidants.Although numerous pre-and post-harvest factors can affect the composition of polyphenols in apples,genetics is presumed to play a major role because polyphenol concentration varies dramatically among apple cultivars.Here we investigated the genetic architecture of apple polyphenols by combining high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)data with~100,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from two diverse apple populations.We found that polyphenols can vary in concentration by up to two orders of magnitude across cultivars,and that this dramatic variation was often predictable using genetic markers and frequently controlled by a small number of large effect genetic loci.Using GWAS,we identified candidate genes for the production of quercitrin,epicatechin,catechin,chlorogenic acid,4-O-caffeoylquinic acid and procyanidins B1,B2,and C1.Our observation that a relatively simple genetic architecture underlies the dramatic variation of key polyphenols in apples suggests that breeders may be able to improve the nutritional value of apples through markerassisted breeding or gene editing.

Proteome changes in banana fruit peel tissue in response to ethylene and high-temperature treatments

Banana(Musa AAA group)is one of the most consumed fruits in the world due to its flavor and nutritional value.As a typical climacteric fruit,banana responds to ethylene treatment,which induces rapid changes of color,flavor(aroma and taste),sweetness and nutritional composition.It has also been reported that ripening bananas at temperatures above 24℃ inhibits chlorophyll breakdown and color formation but increases the rate of senescence.To gain fundamental knowledge about the effects of high temperature and ethylene on banana ripening,a quantitative proteomic study employing multiplex peptide stable isotope dimethyl labeling was conducted.In this study,green(immature)untreated banana fruit were subjected to treatment with 10μL L^(−1) of ethylene for 24 h.After ethylene treatment,treated and untreated fruit were stored at 20 or 30℃ for 24 h.Fruit peel tissues were then sampled after 0 and 1 day of storage,and peel color and chlorophyll fluorescence were evaluated.Quantitative proteomic analysis was conducted on the fruit peels after 1 day of storage.In total,413 common proteins were identified and quantified from two biological replicates.Among these proteins,91 changed significantly in response to ethylene and high-temperature treatments.Cluster analysis on these 91 proteins identified 7 groups of changed proteins.Ethylene treatment and storage at 20℃ induced 40 proteins that are correlated with pathogen resistance,cell wall metabolism,ethylene biosynthesis,allergens and ribosomal proteins,and it repressed 36 proteins that are associated with fatty acid and lipid metabolism,redox–oxidative responses,and protein biosynthesis and modification.Ethylene treatment and storage at 30℃ induced 32 proteins,which were mainly similar to those in group 1 but also included 8 proteins in group 3(identified as chitinase,cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase 1,cysteine synthase,villin-2,leucine-transfer RNA ligase,CP47 protein and calmodulin)and repressed 43 proteins in 4 groups(groups 4–7),of which 6 were associated with photosynthesis II oxygen-evolving protein,the photosynthesis I reaction center,sugar metabolism,the redox–oxidative system and fatty acid metabolism.Differences in the response to ethylene and holding temperature at 30℃ were also revealed and have been discussed.The identities and quantities of the proteins found were linked with quality changes.This study demonstrates that ethylene and high temperature influence banana fruit ripening and senescence at the proteomic level and reveals the mechanisms by which high temperature accelerates banana fruit ripening.

Plexiform angiomyxoid myofibroblastic tumor treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Plexiform angiomyxoid myofibroblastic tumor(PAMT)is a rare mesenchymal tumor characterized by multiple nodular plexiform growth patterns and an immunophenotype with myofibroblasts.The pathological characteristics,immunohistochemistry,diagnostic criteria,differential diagnosis,and gene-level changes of PAMT have been reported in many studies.At present,the main treatment for PAMT in the reported cases is surgery;only eight cases were treated via endoscopy(excluding 1 thoracoscopic resection),and the lesions were all smaller than 5 cm.There are no reports on the prognosis and follow-up of young patients with lesion sizes reaching 5 cm who undergo endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD).Herein,we present the first case of a young patient with a lesion size reaching 5 cm who was diagnosed with PAMT via endoscopic submucosal dissection.CASE SUMMARY A 15-year-old young man with upper abdominal pain for 2 years presented to the Gastroenterology Department of our hospital.Painless gastroscopy showed a semicircular bulge approximately 5 cm in size in the lesser curvature near the cardia of the fundus;the surface was eroded,and shallow ulcers had formed.The pathological manifestations of the biopsy were spindle cell proliferative lesions with interstitial mucinous changes,and the surface mucosa showed chronic inflammatory changes with active lesions;immunohistochemistry showed smooth muscle actin(SMA)(+),CD117(-),CD34(-),DOG-1(-),S-100(-),and Ki67(LI:<1%).We performed ESD on the patient.The lesion that we removed was 5 cm×4 cm×2 cm in size.Pathologically,the resected tissue displayed typical manifestations,such as fat spindle-shaped fibroblasts and myofibroblast-like cells showing irregular nodular hyperplasia.Immunohistochemistry staining of the tumor cells revealed the following:CD34(partially+),SMA(weakly+),CD117(-),DOG-1(-),S-100(-),SDHB(+),PCK(-),and Ki67(labelling index:2%).There was no recurrence or metastasis during the 3-mo follow-up after the operation,and the treatment effect was good.We also performed a review of the literature on the clinical manifestations,pathological features,immunohistochemistry,and differential diagnosis of PAMT.CONCLUSION At present,the diagnostic criteria for PAMT are relatively clear,but the pathogenesis and genetic changes require further study.PAMT is benign in nature,and these patients are less likely to experience local or metastatic recurrence.The main treatment is still surgery if the lesion is in the stomach.Partial gastrectomy and distal gastrectomy are the most frequently performed surgical treatments for PAMT,followed by local resection,subtotal gastrectomy,and wedge resection.But for comprehensive evaluation of the disease,ESD can be considered a suitable method to avoid excessive treatment.

Hope During the COVID-19 Epidemic Decreased Anxiety and Depression Symptoms Mediated by Perceived Stress:Coping Style Differences Among Patients with COVID-19

Objective:This study aimed to investigate whether perceived stress mediated the relationship between hope and anxiety/depression symptoms among patients with COVID-19 during the epidemic.In addition,the potential moderating effect of coping styles was examined.Methods:From February 26 to March 10,2020,patients with COVID-19 were asked to complete a questionnaire online,which included demographic characteristics,as well as the SCL-90-Anxiety,SCL-90-Depression,Chinese Perceived Stress Scale(CPSS),Herth Hope Index(HHI),and Trait Coping Style Questionnaire(TCSQ).Hierarchical linear regression was performed to explore independent factors of anxiety/depression.A multi-group structural equation modeling with the collected data from patients in the Negative Coping style(NC)group and Positive Coping style(PC)group was used to test the hypothesized mechanism.Results:In total,382 valid questionnaires of patients were obtained,including 96 from NC patients and 286 from PC patients.In the hierarchical linear regression,hope and perceived stress were independent risk factors for both anxiety and depression in the total sample and PC group.However,hope was not independently related to anxiety/depression in the NC group.As hypothesized,the hope of patients had significant and negative indirect effects on both anxiety and depression that were mediated by perceived stress,However,the direct effect from stress on anxiety and depression was stronger for NC patients than for PC patients.Besides,hope had significant direct effects on anxiety/depression in PC patients,but not in NC patients.Conclusion:During the COVID-19 epidemic,perceived stress could mediate the relationship between hope and anxiety/depression symptoms among COVID-19 patients,with coping style moderating this cultivation process.

Circular RNAs:new biomarkers of chemoresistance in cancer

Chemotherapeutics are validated conventional treatments for patients with advanced cancer.However,with continual application of chemotherapeutics,chemoresistance,which is often predictive of poor prognosis,has gradually become a concern in recent years.Circular RNAs(circ RNAs),a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs(nc RNAs)with a closed-loop structure,have been reported to be notable targets and markers for the prognosis,diagnosis,and treatment of many diseases,particularly cancer.Although dozens of studies have shown that circ RNAs play major roles in drug-resistance activity in tumors,the mechanisms by which circ RNAs affect chemoresistance have yet to be explored.In this review,we describe the detailed mechanisms of circ RNAs and chemotherapeutics in various cancers and summarize potential therapeutic targets for drug-resistant tumors.

Efficient photoelectrochemical conversion of CO_(2)to syngas by photocathode engineering

The synthesis of renewable chemical fuels from CO_(2) and H_(2)O via photoelectrochemical(PEC)route reprensents a promising room-temperature approach for transforming greenhouse gas into value-added chemicals(e.g.,syngas),but to date it has been hampered by the lack of efficient photocathode for CO_(2) reduction.Herein,we report efficient PEC CO_(2) reduction into syngas by photocathode engineering.The photocathode is consisting of a planar p-n Si junction for strong light harvesting,GaN nanowires for efficient electron extraction and transfer,and Au/TiO_(2)for rapid electrocatalytic syngas production.The photocathode yields a record-high solar energy conversion efficiency of 2.3%.Furthermore,desirable syngas compositions with CO/H_(2)ratios such as 1:2 and 1:1 can be produced by simply varying the size of Au nanoparticle.Theoretical calculations reveal that the active sites for CO and H_(2)generation are the facet and undercoordinated sites of Au particles,respectively.

Genome engineering technologies in rabbits

The rabbit has been recognized as a valuable model in various biomedical and biological research fields because of its intermediate size and phylogenetic proximity to primates.However,the technology for precise genome manipulations in rabbit has been stalled for decades,severely limiting its applications in biomedical research.Novel genome editing technologies,especially CRISPR/Cas9,have remarkably enhanced precise genome manipulation in rabbits,and shown their superiority and promise for generating rabbit models of human genetic diseases.In this review,we summarize the brief history of transgenic rabbit technology and the development of novel genome editing technologies in rabbits.

Acoustic multipath structure in direct zone of deep water and bearing estimation of tow ship noise of towed line array

In the towed line array sonar system,the tow ship noise is the main factor that affects the sonar performance.Conventional noise cancelling methods assume that the noise is towards the endfire direction of the array.An acoustic experiment employing a towed line array is conducted in the western Pacific Ocean,and a strange bearing-splitting phenomenon of the tow ship noise is observed in the array.The tow ship noise is split into multiple noise signals whose bearings are distributed between 10°and 90°deviating from the endfire direction.The multiple interferences increase the difficulty in recognizing the target for the sonar operator and noise cancellation.Therefore,making the mechanism clear and putting forward the tow ship noise splitting bearing estimation method are imperative.In this paper,the acoustic multi-path structure of the tow ship in deep water is analyzed.Then it is pointed out that the bearing-splitting phenomenon is caused by the main lobe of direct rays and bottom-reflected rays,as well as several side lobes of direct rays.Meanwhile,the indistinguishability between the elevation angle and the bearing angle due to the axial symmetry of a strict horizontal line array causes the bearing to deviate from the endfire direction.Based on the theory above,a method of estimating bearing of the tow ship noise in deep water is proposed.The theoretical analysis results accord with the experimental results,which helps to identify the target and provide correct initial bearing guidance for noise cancelation methods.

Fluorescence life-time imaging microscopy(FLIM)monitors tumor cell death triggered by photothermal therapy with MoS_(2) nanosheets

Recently,photothermal therapy(PTT)has been proved to have great potential in tumor therapy.In the last several years,MoS_(2),as one novel member of nanomaterials,has been applied into PTT due to its excellent photothermal conversion efficacy.In this work,we applied fuorescence lifetime imaging microscopy(FLIM)techniques into monitoring the PPT-triggered cell death under MoS_(2) nanosheet treatment.Two types of MoS_(2) nanosheets(single layer nanosheets and few layer nanosheets)were obtained,both of which exhibited presentable photothermal conversion fficacy,leading to high cell death rates of 4T1 cells(mouse breast cancer cells)under PTT.Next,live cell images of 4T1 cells were obtained via directly labeling the mitochondria with Rodamine123,which were then continuously observed with FLIM technique.FLIM data showed that the fuorescence lifetimes of mitochondria targeting dye in cells treated with each type of MoS_(2) nanosheets significantly increased during PTT treatment.By contrast,the fuorescence lifetime of the same dye in control cells(without nanomaterials)remained constant after laser irradiation.These findings suggest that FLIM can be of great value in monitoring cell death process during PTT of cancer cells,which could provide dynamic data of the cellular microenvironment at single cell level in multiple biomedical applications.

QTL analysis of soft scald in two apple populations

The apple(Malus×domestica Borkh.)is one of the world’s most widely grown and valuable fruit crops.With demand for apples year round,storability has emerged as an important consideration for apple breeding programs.Soft scald is a cold storage-related disorder that results in sunken,darkened tissue on the fruit surface.Apple breeders are keen to generate new cultivars that do not suffer from soft scald and can thus be marketed year round.Traditional breeding approaches are protracted and labor intensive,and therefore marker-assisted selection(MAS)is a valuable tool for breeders.To advance MAS for storage disorders in apple,we used genotyping-by-sequencing(GBS)to generate high-density genetic maps in two F1 apple populations,which were then used for quantitative trait locus(QTL)mapping of soft scald.In total,900 million DNA sequence reads were generated,but after several data filtering steps,only 2%of reads were ultimately used to create two genetic maps that included 1918 and 2818 single-nucleotide polymorphisms.Two QTL associated with soft scald were identified in one of the bi-parental populations originating from parent 11W-12-11,an advanced breeding line.This study demonstrates the utility of next-generation DNA sequencing technologies for QTL mapping in F1 populations,and provides a basis for the advancement of MAS to improve storability of apples.

Mitochondrial genome of Chthamalus challengeri(Crustacea:Sessilia): gene order comparison within Chthamalidae and phylogenetic consideration within Balanomorpha

Acorn barnacles are important model species in researches on intertidal ecology, larval development and biofouling. At present, with the development of mitochondrial genomics, it is helpful to understand the phylogenetic relationship from the mitogenomic level. The complete mitochondrial genome of Chthamalus challengeri was presented. The genome is a circular molecule of 15 358 bp. Compared with other species in Balanomorpha, the non-coding region is longer, while the length of the genes is similar to the other species. The overall A+T content of the mitochondrial genome of C. challengeri is 70.5%. There are variations of initiation and stop codons in the known Balanomorpha mitochondrial genomes. The C. challengeri and C. antennatus within the same genus share the identical gene arrangement. However, the gene arrangement of different genera in Chthamalidae is different, as there is a translocation between two tRNA genes and an inversion involving a large gene block. In particular, both srRNA and lrRNA of the two species in Chthamalus are encoded in the heavy strand, differing from the former Balanomorpha species. The topology and gene arrangement in Chthamalidae support each other. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the Chthamalidae is monophyletic, while the Balanidae and Archaeobalanidae are polyphyletic.