Application of the body of revolution finite-element method in a re-entrant cavity for fast and accurate dielectric parameter measurements

In dielectrometry,traditional analytical and numerical algorithms are difficultly employed in complex resonant cavities.For a special kind of structure(a rotating resonant cavity),the body of revolution finite-element method(BOR-FEM)is employed to calculate the resonant parameters and dielectric parameters.In this paper,several typical resonant structures are selected for analysis and verification.Compared with the resonance parameter values in the literature and the simulation results of commercial software,the error of the BOR-FEM calculation is less than 0.9%and a single solution time is less than 1 s.Reentrant coaxial resonant cavities loaded with dielectric materials are analyzed using this method and compared with simulation results,showing good agreement.Finally,in this paper,the established BOR-FEM method is successfully applied with a machined cavity for the accurate measurement of the complex dielectric constant of dielectric materials.The test specimens were machined from polytetrafluoroethylene,fused silica and Al_(2)O_(3),and the test results showed good agreement with the literature reference values.

Hsa_circ_0036740 in familial adenomatous polyposis:Immune regulation and neutrophil effects in CRC based on highthroughput assay

Familial adenomatous polyposis(FAP)is an autosomal dominant disease with a high probability of becoming cancerous.Many RNAs potentially associated with FAP have not been identified.In this study,a circRNA(circular RNA)expression profile of FAP was established using a circRNA microarray,and differentially expressed circRNAs were verified by RT-qPCR.The effects of hsa_circ_0036740 on the malignant behavior of tumor cells(proliferation,apoptosis,and epithelial mesenchymal transition)and the levels of C3A complement protein expression were evaluated.Moreover,neutrophils were isolated and co-cultured with colorectal cancer cells(CRCs),followed by measurements of MPO-DNA,citrullinated histone H3,interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,and IL-8 levels.Nuclear translocation of arginine deiminase 4(PAD4)was observed using immunofluorescence assays.Based on the high-throughput assay,238 downregulated circRNAs,and 38 upregulated circRNAs were identified.A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis suggested that immune regulation might be involved in FAP.A total of 10 DECs(differentially expressed circular RNAs)were identified by RT-qPCR,and among them,hsa_circ_0036740 showed the highest fold-change in upregulation.Results of gain-of-and loss-of-function studies revealed that hsa_circ_0036740 enhanced the malignant behavior of tumor cells,such as metastasis,proliferation,and apoptosis,with an increasing level of C3A complement.Moreover,hsa_circ_0036740 also significantly increased neutrophil extracellular trap formation and inflammation in neutrophils,as shown by an increased expression of PAD4.In conclusion,this study revealed the expression profiles of circRNAs in FAP and confirmed the possible involvement of hsa_circ_0036740 in the immune regulation mediated by neutrophils.Finally,hsa_circ_0036740 was suggested as a new therapeutic target for CRC.

Influence of tonifying kidney recipe on advanced glycation endproducts and lipid peroxidation in ovariectomized rats

BACKGROUND： Previous studies have demonstrated that reduced estrogen levels may accelerate the formation of advanced glycation endproducts （AGE） in brain tissue, raise the concentration of lipid peroxidation products in vivo, and speed up deterioration of learning and memory. A tonifying kidney recipe is hypothesized to improve the ability of learning and memory in ovariectomized rats by downregulating AGE and lipid peroxidation products. OBJECTIVE： To simulate a postmenopausal state, bilateral ovariectomy （OVX） was performed in rats, and the effects of tonifying kidney recipe （TKR） on AGE and lipid peroxidation in the rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and blood serum levels was measured. In addition, the effects on learning and memory were evaluated, and the effect of AGE -specific inhibitor aminoguanidine （AG） was compared with TKR. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, in vivo, control experiment was performed at the scientific research center （Provincial Key Laboratory） in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University （Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China） from May 2005 to January 2007. MATERIALS： Forty healthy, adult, female, Sprague Dawley rats were used for this study. TKR was composed of prepared rehmannia rhizome, epimedium herb, desert-living cistanche, and Szechwan lovage rhizome, which were provided by Shijiazhuang Medical Materials Company （China）. A TKR extraction was prepared for further use. AG was provided by Sigma （USA）. Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups： sham, OVX, AG, and TKR, with 10 rats in each group. METHODS： The rat ovaries were resected in the OVX, AG, and TKR groups, whereas the same volume of fat was resected in the sham group. At four weeks after OVX, the AG group received 1% AG water solution by lavage; the TKR group was administrated by lavage once per day at a dose of 6.3 g （crude drug）/kg; OVX and sham groups received equal volumes of tap water. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Learning and memory behavior of rats was tested in a Y-electric maze 16 weeks after the OVX procedure. The contents of advanced glycation endproducts in the rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus, serum, and urine were detected by competitive ELISA and spectrofluorophotometer. The contents of lipid peroxidation in rat serum, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus were assayed using a biochemical method. RESULTS： Compared with the sham group, serum content of advanced glycation endproducts in the OVX group was significantly increased, and lipid peroxidation content increased in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and serum （t = 3.04-4.22, P 〈 0.05 0.01）. Both AG and TKR decreased the amount of AGE in cerebral cortex and serum （t = 2.53, 3.64, P 〈 0.05, 0.01）, increased AGE urine content （t = 3.25 4.87, P 〈 0.01）, and decreased lipid peroxidation content in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and serum （t = 2.80 3.70, P 〈 0.05 0.01）. In comparison to the OVX and sham groups, the correct escape rate in the Y-electric maze was significantly increased （t = 3.46, 3.28, P 〈 0.01）, and escape latency was significantly decreased （t=3.12, 2.48 P 〈 0.05） in the AG and TKR groups, which indicated that both AG and TKR improved learning and memory The OVX group had a significantly lower correct escape compared with the sham group （t = 4.21, P 〈 0.01 ）.CONCLUSION： The tonifying kidney recipe decreased deposition of advanced glycation endproducts and lipid peroxidation in ovariectomized rats, and concomitantly improved learning and memory. The effect of TKR was equal to that of AG.

Habitat Suitability and Distribution Pattern Response to Global Climate Change in a Widespread Species,the Asiatic Toad(Bufo gargarizans)

The distribution and diversity of the species are closely related to the global climate.As the most widely distributed species of Bufonidae in China,the study of the distribution pattern and habitat suitability of the Asiatic toad under climate change can help us understand the reply pattern of Bufonidae habitat to climate change.Here,combined with the Maxent model and GIS technology,the effects of climate change on the distribution pattern and habitat suitability of the Asiatic toad were comprehensively analyzed.The results show that the rainfall during the wettest season(Bio16)and the mean temperature of the driest season(Bio9)have a considerable impact on the distribution of the Asiatic toad.In the next 30 to 50 years,across the overall spacial scale of the Chinese mainland,the habitat of the Asiatic toad will be primarily in the eastern part of China and less in south part,while its distribution area will expand to the midwest and northwest parts of China.Overall,the area in which it can be distributed will be reduced and suitable habitat will shift to some regions of higher latitude and elevation.In a word,we systematically analyzed the changes of the distribution pattern and habitat suitability of the Asiatic toad with climate change,and we aim to provide data on how climatic variation may impact amphibians.

Formation of Two-Dimensional AgTe Monolayer Atomic Crystal on Ag(111) Substrate

We report on the formation of two-dimensional monolayer AgTe crystal on Ag(111) substrates. The samples are prepared in ultrahigh vacuum by deposition of Te on Ag(111) followed by annealing. Using a scanning tunneling microscope(STM) and low electron energy diffraction(LEED), we investigate the atomic structure of the samples.The STM images and the LEED pattern show that monolayer AgTe crystal is formed on Ag(111). Four kinds of atomic structures of AgTe and Ag(111) are observed:(i) flat honeycomb structure,(ii) bulked honeycomb,(iii)stripe structure,(iv) hexagonal structure. The structural analysis indicates that the formation of the different atomic structures is due to the lattice mismatch and relief of the intrinsic strain in the AgTe layer. Our results provide a simple and convenient method to produce monolayer AgTe atomic crystal on Ag(111) and a template for study of novel physical properties and for future quantum devices.

High quality PdTe_2 thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy

PdTe2, a member of layered transition metal dichalcogenides （TMDs）, has aroused significant research interest due to the coexistence of superconductivity and type-II Dirac fermions. It provides a promising platform to explore the inter- play between superconducting quasiparticles and Dirac fermions. Moreover, PdTe2 has also been used as a substrate for monolayer antimonene growth. Here in this paper, we report the epitaxial growth of high quality PdTe2 films on bilayer graphene/SiC（0001） by molecular beam epitaxy （MBE）. Atomically thin films are characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy （STM）, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy （XPS）, low-energy electron diffraction （LEED）, and Raman spec- troscopy. The band structure of 6-layer PdTe2 film is measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy （ARPES）. Moreover, our air exposure experiments show excellent chemical stability of epitaxial PdTe2 film. High-quality PdTe2 films provide opportunities to build antimonene/PdTe2 heterostructure in ultrahigh vacuum for future applications in electronic and optoelectronic nanodevices.

Determining the level of extra-pair paternity in yellow-bellied prinias,a socially monogamous passerine

DEAR EDITOR,Previous work based on molecular evidence has shown that most socially monogamous birds follow a genetic polyandrous mating system.However,our knowledge about avian mating systems is heavily biased toward the north temperate zone,with data on tropical birds remaining relatively scarce.This uneven distribution of both phylogenetic and spatial sampling has hampered our understanding and interpretation of results.In this study,we investigated the frequency of extra-pair paternity(EPP)in a tropical population of yellow-bellied prinias(Prinia flaviventris)in Guangxi,southern China.A total of 129 individuals belonging to 24 nests were sampled,among which 12 out of 83 chicks(14.46%)in seven nests were found to be EPP offspring.In nests in which all nestlings were sampled,only five out of 56 chicks were EPP offspring,accounting for an unbiased EPP rate of 8.93%.This rate is below the average rate of EPP in the family Sylviidae.The possible causes of EPP in prinias and the occurrence of EPP in birds with high resource investment and intensive parental care are discussed.This study highlights the value of genome-wide markers in determining relatedness in a wild bird species without a reference genome.

The 50 nm-thick yttrium iron garnet films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Yttrium iron garnet(YIG) films possessing both perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) and low damping would serve as ideal candidates for high-speed energy-efficient spintronic and magnonic devices.However,it is still challenging to achieve PMA in YIG films thicker than 20 nm,which is a major bottleneck for their development.In this work,we demonstrate that this problem can be solved by using substrates with moderate lattice mismatch with YIG so as to suppress the excessive strain-induced stress release as increasing the YIG thickness.After carefully optimizing the growth and annealing conditions,we have achieved out-of-plane spontaneous magnetization in YIG films grown on sGGG substrates,even when they are as thick as 50 nm.Furthermore,ferromagnetic resonance and spin pumping induced inverse spin Hall effect measurements further verify the good spin transparency at the surface of our YIG films.

Edge-and strain-induced band bending in bilayer-monolayer Pb_(2)Se_(3) heterostructures

By using scanning tunneling microscope/microscopy(STM/STS), we reveal the detailed electronic structures around the sharp edges and strained terraces of lateral monolayer-bilayer Pd_(2)Se_(3) heterostructures. We find that the edges of such heterostructures are well-defined zigzag type. Band bending and alignment are observed across the zigzag edge, forming a monolayer-bilayer heterojunction. In addition, an n-type band bending is induced by strain on a confined bilayer Pd_(2)Se_(3) terrace. These results provide effective toolsets to tune the band structures in Pd_(2)Se_(3)-based heterostructures and devices.

Thermoacoustic assessment of hematocrit changes in human forearms

Abnormal hematocrit(Hct)is associated with an increased risk of pre-hypertension and all-cause death in general population,and people with a high Hct value are susceptible to arterial cardiovascular disease and venous thromboembolism.In this study,we report for the first time on the ability of thermoacoustic imaging(TAI)for in vivo evaluating Hct changes in human forearms.In vitro blood samples with different Hct values from healthy volunteers(n=3)were prepared after centrifugation.TAI was performed using these samples in comparison with the direct measurements of conductivity.In vivo TAI was conducted in the forearm of healthy volunteers(n=7)where Hct changes were produced through a vascular occlusion stimulation over a period of time.The results of in vitro blood samples obtained from the 3 healthy subjects show that the thermoacoustic(TA)signals changes due to the variation of blood conductivity are closely related to the changes in Hct.In addition,the in vivo TA signals obtained from the 7 healthy subjects consistently increase in the artery/muscle and decrease in the vein during venous or arterial occlusion because of the changed Hct value in their forearms.These findings suggest that TAI has the potential to become a new tool for monitoring Hct changes for a variety of pre-clinical and clinical applications.

Out-of-Plane Magnetic Anisotropy and Microwave Permeability of Magnetoelastic FeCoSiB Amorphous Thin Films

Theamorphous magnetoelastic Fe66Co17Si1B6 thin films have been deposited by dc magnetron sputtering. A lot of ＂nano-trenches＂ have been observed on the fdm surfaces by AFM. The permeability of amorphous Fe66COlTSilB6 thin films was measured within the frequency range of 0.6GHz-10.2 GHz. The ferromagnetic resonance frequency was found to be 1.2 GHz. MFM shows that the domain of thin film is a maze-type pattern, which indicates that an out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy exists. The out-of-plane anisotropy is believed due to the stress-induced magnetic anisotropy. It can be inferred that the internal stress is tensile stress and normal to the film plane. Index Terms

Evaluation of early liquid drinking after radical gastrectomy in gastric cancer:a Chinese multicenter propensity score matching analysis

Background:Enhanced recovery after surgery is used in gastrointestinal surgery.This study aimed to access the effects of early liquid drinking(ELD)on gastrointestinal function recovery in patients with gastric cancer(GC)who underwent radical gastrectomy,as high-quality evidence on the outcomes of ELD after gastrectomy is currently lacking.Methods:Clinicopathological data of patients with GC from 11 centers were retrospectively analysed.Clinical outcomes were investigated in 555 patients,including 225 who started drinking liquid within 48 h(ELD group)of surgery and 330 who started drinking liquid after flatus resumption(traditional liquid drinking[TLD]group).Propensity score matching(PSM)analysis was performed using a match ratio of 1:1 and 201 patients were selected from each group for the analysis.Primary outcome was time to first passage of flatus.Secondary outcomes included time to first defecation,post-operative hospitalization days,occurrence of short-term post-operative complications,and hospitalization costs.Results:After PSM,baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups.The time to first flatus(2.7261.08 vs 3.3661.39 days),first defecation(4.3461.85 vs 4.7761.61 days),and post-operative hospital stay(8.2764.02 vs 12.9464.43 days)were shorter in the ELD group than in the TLD group(all P<0.05).The ELD group had lower hospitalization costs than the TLD group([7.8362.44 vs 8.7863.41]104 RMB,P=0.041).No significant differences were observed in the incidence of post-operative complications.Conclusions:Compared with TLD,post-operative ELD could promote rapid recovery of gastrointestinal function and reduce hospitalization costs;moreover,ELD does not increase the risk of post-operative complications.

Epitaxial synthesis and electronic properties of monolayer Pd2Se3

Two-dimensional(2D)materials received large amount of studies because of the enormous potential in basic science and industrial applications.Monolayer Pd2Se3 is a fascinating 2D material that was predicted to possess excellent thermoelectric,electronic,transport,and optical properties.However,the fabrication of large-scale and high-quality monolayer Pd2Se3 is still challenging.Here,we report the synthesis of large-scale and high-quality monolayer Pd2Se3 on graphene-SiC(0001)by a two-step epitaxial growth.The atomic structure of Pd2Se3 was investigated by scanning tunneling microscope(STM)and confirmed by non-contact atomic force microscope(nc-AFM).Two subgroups of Se atoms have been identified by nc-AFM image in agreement with the theoretically predicted atomic structure.Scanning tunneling spectroscopy(STS)reveals a bandgap of 1.2 eV,suggesting that monolayer Pd2Se3 can be a candidate for photoelectronic applications.The atomic structure and defect levels of a single Se vacancy were also investigated.The spatial distribution of STS near the Se vacancy reveals a highly anisotropic electronic behavior.The two-step epitaxial synthesis and characterization of Pd2Se3 provide a promising platform for future investigations and applications.

Signaling network controlling ROP-mediated tip growth in Arabidopsis and beyond

Cell polarity operates across a broad range of spatial and temporal scales and is essential for specific biological functions of polarized cells.Tip growth is a special type of polarization in which a single and unique polarization site is established and maintained,as for the growth of root hairs and pollen tubes in plants.Extensive studies in past decades have demonstrated that the spatiotemporal localization and activity of Rho of Plants(ROPs),the only class of Rho GTPases in plants,are critical for tip growth.ROPs are switched on or off by different factors to initiate dynamic intracellular activities,leading to tip growth.Recent studies have also uncovered several feedback modules for ROP signaling.In this review,we summarize recent progress on ROP signaling in tip growth,focusing on molecular mechanisms that underlie the dynamic distribution and activity of ROPs in Arabidopsis.We also highlight feedback modules that control ROPmediated tip growth and provide a perspective for building a complex ROP signaling network.Finally,we provide an evolutionary perspective for ROP-mediated tip growth in Physcomitrella patens and during plant–rhizobia interaction.

AGC1.5 Kinase Phosphorylates RopGEFs to Control Pollen Tube Growth

Double fertilization in angiosperms requires the targeted delivery of immotile sperm to the eggs through pollen tubes. The polarity of tip-growing pollen tubes is maintained through dynamic association of active Rho GTPases of plants （ROP-GTP） with the apical plasma membrane. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors for ROPs （RopGEFs） catalyze the activation of ROPs and thereby affect spatiotemporal ROP signaling. Whereas RopGEFs have been found to be phosphorylated proteins, the kinases responsible for their phos- phorylation in v/vo and biological consequences of RopGEF phosphorylation in pollen tube growth remain unclear. We report here that the Arabidopsis AGC1.5 subfamily of cytoplasmic kinases is critical for the restricted localization of ROP-GTP during pollen tube growth. Loss of AGCI.5 and AGC1.7 functions resulted in the mistargeting of active ROPs and defective events downstream of ROP signaling in pollen tubes. AGCI.5 interacts with RopGEFs via their catalytic PRONE domain and phosphorylates RopGEFs at a conserved Ser residue of PRONE domain. Loss of AGC1.5 and AGC1.7 functions resulted in the mistargeting of RopGEFs in pollen tubes, similar to the phenotype caused by the mutation that renders RopGEFs non-phosphorylatable by AGC1.5. Collectively, our results provide mechanistic insights into the spatiotem- poral activation of ROPs during the polar growth of pollen tubes.

The Arabidopsis R-SNARE protein YKT61 is essential for gametophyte development

Gametophyte development is a pre-requisite for plant reproduction and seed yield;therefore,studies of gametophyte development help us understand fundamental biological questions and have potential applications in agriculture.The biogenesis and dynamics of endomembrane compartments are critical for cell survival,and their regulatory mechanisms are just beginning to be revealed.Here,we report that the Arabidopsis thaliana SNARE(soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor)protein YKT61 is essential for both male and female gametogenesis.By using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9(Cas9)-based genome editing,we demonstrated that male and female gametophytes carrying YKT61 loss-offunction alleles do not survive.Specifically,loss of YKT61 function resulted in the arrest of male gametophytic development at pollen mitosis I and the degeneration of female gametophytes.A three-base-pair deletion in YKT61 in the ykt61-3 mutant resulted in a single-amino acid deletion in the longin domain of YKT61;the resulting mutant protein does not interact with multiple SNAREs and showed substantially reduced membrane association,suggesting that the N-terminal longin domain of YKT61 plays multiple roles in its function.This study demonstrates that Arabidopsis YKT61 is essential for male and female gametogenesis and sets an example for functional characterization of essential genes with the combination of Cas9-mediated editing and expression from a Cas9-resistant transgene.

Genome-wide Nucleosome Occupancy and Organization Modulates the Plasticity of Gene Transcriptional Status in Maize

Nucleosomes are fundamental units of chromatin that play critical roles in gene regulation by modulating DNA accessibility. However, their roles in regulating tissue-specific gene transcription are poorly understood. Here, we present genome-wide nucleosome maps of maize shoot and endosperm generated by sequencing the micrococcal nuclease digested nucleosomal DNA. The changes of gene transcriptional status between shoot and endosperm were accompanied by preferential nucleosome loss from the promoters and shifts in the first nucleosome downstream of the transcriptional start sites （＋1 nucleosome） and upstream of transcriptional termination sites （-1 nucleosome）. Intrinsically DNA-encoded nucleosome orga- nization was largely associated with the capacity of a gene to alter its transcriptional status among different tissues. Compared with tissue-specific genes, constitutively expressed genes showed more pronounced 5＇ and 3＇ nucleosome-depleted regions as well as further ＋1 nucleosome to transcriptional start sites and -1 nucleosome to transcriptional termination sites. Moreover, nucleosome organization was more highly correlated with the plasticity of gene transcriptional status than with its expression level when examined using in vivo and predicted nucleosome data. In addition, the translational efficiencies of tissue-specific genes appeared to be greater than those of constitutively expressed genes. Taken together, our results indicate that intrinsically DNA-encoded nucleosome organization is important, beyond its role in regulating gene expression levels, in determining the plasticity of gene transcriptional status.

棕背伯劳羽色多态与MC1R基因的相关性

黑素皮质素受体1(melanocortin-1receptor,MC1R)基因是控制动物黑色素合成的重要基因,鸟类羽色的变异与MC1R基因的变异有密切关系。棕背伯劳(Lanius schach)在我国东部沿海多地存在羽色多态现象,有棕色型、黑色型和黑色白边型的分化。为了探究MC1R基因与棕背伯劳色型分化的关系,本研究对分布于广东省的3种色型共计11只棕背伯劳的MC1R基因编码区进行单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)分析和氨基酸多态性分析。结果表明:(1)11个实验个体的MC1R基因序列共有4种单倍型,其中黑色型和黑色白边型共享单倍型H3。(2)3种色型棕背伯劳MC1R基因编码区的第34–931位的899个碱基中共有47个碱基变异位点,相对应的氨基酸序列共有18个变异位点,这些变异位点与黑色表型无对应关系。(3)黑色型与黑色白边型个体基因型在第268–303位编码区出现了36个碱基的缺失,对应着12个氨基酸的缺失,该缺失与黑色表型相对应。因此推测棕背伯劳的黑化与MC1R基因碱基片段的缺失密切相关。

A positive feedback circuit for ROP-mediated polar growth

Tip growth is a special type of polarized growth in which a single and unique polarization site is established and maintained.Rho of Plants(ROP)proteins,which represent the only class of Rho GTPases in plants,regulate tip growth.The dynamic and asymmetric distribution of ROPs is critical for the establishment and maintenance of tip growth,and requires at least one positive feedback loop,which is still elusive.Here,we report a positive feedback circuit essential for tip growth of root hairs,in which ROPs,ROP activators and effectors,and AGC1.5 subfamily kinases are interconnected by sequential oligomerization and phosphorylation.AGC1.5 subfamily kinases interact with and phosphorylate two guanine nucleotide exchange factors(GEFs)of ROPs,RopGEF4 and RopGEF10.They also interact with two ROP effectors,ICR2/RIP3 and MIDD1/RIP4,which bridge active ROPs with AGC1.5.Functional loss of the AGC1.5 subfamily kinases or ICR2 and MIDD1 compromised root hair growth due to reduced ROP signaling.We found that asymmetric targeting of RopGEF4 and RopGEF10 is controlled by AGC1.5-dependent phosphorylation.Interestingly,we discovered that the ROP effectors recruit AGC1.5 to active ROP domains at the plasma membrane during root hair growth and are critical for AGC1.5-dependent phosphorylation of RopGEFs.Given the large number of AGC kinases in plants,this positive feedback circuit may be a universal theme for plant cell polar growth.