基于密度泛函理论研究聚醚类破乳剂的构效关系

油田采出液处理工艺中化学破乳剂的使用能够大大提升工作效率并且节约成本,其中聚醚类破乳剂的应用最为广泛,研究聚醚类破乳剂的构效关系对于新型破乳剂的研发及应用至关重要。本文首先对几种聚醚类破乳剂和反相破乳剂的破乳效果进行了评价和比较,然后根据沥青质分子的结构特点及现有聚醚类破乳剂和反相破乳剂的类型,选取了相应的模型分子,通过密度泛函理论(DFT)中B3LYP/6-31G基组得到其最优分子几何构型和静电势分布图,并利用泛函M062X/6-31G基组计算了聚醚类破乳剂模型分子分别与沥青质模型分子和水分子之间的相互作用能。结合聚醚类破乳剂和反相破乳剂的破乳性能评价结果,进而分析了聚醚类破乳剂的构效关系。结果表明,由理论化学计算结果所推测的破乳剂的破乳性能差异与其实际破乳效果相一致:具有支状结构、聚合度较高的聚醚类破乳剂的效果优于线型结构、聚合度较低的聚醚类破乳剂;酚醛树脂聚醚的破乳效果优于酚胺树脂聚醚,而反相破乳剂中则是多元醇聚醚类反相破乳剂的效果较优。该工作的开展表明采用密度泛函理论进行破乳剂的构效关系研究是可行的,能够为未来新型破乳剂的制备及选用奠定重要的理论基础和提供参考依据。

Computational Experiments for Complex Social Systems:Experiment Design and Generative Explanation

Powered by advanced information technology,more and more complex systems are exhibiting characteristics of the cyber-physical-social systems(CPSS).In this context,computational experiments method has emerged as a novel approach for the design,analysis,management,control,and integration of CPSS,which can realize the causal analysis of complex systems by means of“algorithmization”of“counterfactuals”.However,because CPSS involve human and social factors(e.g.,autonomy,initiative,and sociality),it is difficult for traditional design of experiment(DOE)methods to achieve the generative explanation of system emergence.To address this challenge,this paper proposes an integrated approach to the design of computational experiments,incorporating three key modules:1)Descriptive module:Determining the influencing factors and response variables of the system by means of the modeling of an artificial society;2)Interpretative module:Selecting factorial experimental design solution to identify the relationship between influencing factors and macro phenomena;3)Predictive module:Building a meta-model that is equivalent to artificial society to explore its operating laws.Finally,a case study of crowd-sourcing platforms is presented to illustrate the application process and effectiveness of the proposed approach,which can reveal the social impact of algorithmic behavior on“rider race”.

Lithium-Ion Charged Polymer Channels Flattening Lithium Metal Anode

The concentration difference in the near-surface region of lithium metal is the main cause of lithium dendrite growth.Resolving this issue will be key to achieving high-performance lithium metal batteries(LMBs).Herein,we construct a lithium nitrate(LiNO_(3))-implanted electroactiveβphase polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene(PVDF-HFP)crystalline polymorph layer(PHL).The electronegatively charged polymer chains attain lithium ions on the surface to form lithium-ion charged channels.These channels act as reservoirs to sustainably release Li ions to recompense the ionic flux of electrolytes,decreasing the growth of lithium dendrites.The stretched molecular channels can also accelerate the transport of Li ions.The combined effects enable a high Coulombic efficiency of 97.0%for 250 cycles in lithium(Li)||copper(Cu)cell and a stable symmetric plating/stripping behavior over 2000 h at 3 mA cm^(-2)with ultrahigh Li utilization of 50%.Furthermore,the full cell coupled with PHL-Cu@Li anode and Li Fe PO_(4) cathode exhibits long-term cycle stability with high-capacity retention of 95.9%after 900 cycles.Impressively,the full cell paired with LiNi_(0.87)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.03)O_(2)maintains a discharge capacity of 170.0 mAh g^(-1)with a capacity retention of 84.3%after 100 cycles even under harsh condition of ultralow N/P ratio of 0.83.This facile strategy will widen the potential application of LiNO_(3)in ester-based electrolyte for practical high-voltage LMBs.

Vitamin D,selenium,and antidiabetic drugs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with Hashimoto's thyroiditis

BACKGROUND Diabetes and thyroiditis are closely related.They occur in combination and cause significant damage to the body.There is no clear treatment for type-2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT).While single symptomatic drug treatment of the two diseases is less effective,combined drug treatment may improve efficacy.AIM To investigate the effect of a combination of vitamin D,selenium,and hypoglycemic agents in T2DM with HT.METHODS This retrospective study included 150 patients with T2DM and HT treated at The Central Hospital of Shaoyang from March 2020 to February 2023.Fifty patients were assigned to the control group,test group A,and test group B according to different treatment methods.The control group received low-iodine diet guidance and hypoglycemic drug treatment.Test group A received the control treatment plus vitamin D treatment.Test group B received the group A treatment plus selenium.Blood levels of markers of thyroid function[free T3(FT3),thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH),free T4(FT4)],autoantibodies[thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAB)and thyroid globulin antibody(TGAB)],blood lipid index[low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),total cholesterol(TC),triacylglycerol(TG)],blood glucose index[fasting blood glucose(FBG),and hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)]were measured pre-treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment.The relationships between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3[25(OH)D3]level and each of these indices were analyzed.RESULTS The levels of 25(OH)D3,FT3,FT4,and LDL-C increased in the order of the control group,test group A,and test group B(all P<0.05).The TPOAB,TGAB,TC,TG,FBG,HbA1c,and TSH levels increased in the order of test groups B,A,and the control group(all P<0.05).All the above indices were compared after 3 and 6 months of treatment.Pre-treatment,there was no divergence in serum 25(OH)D3 level,thyroid function-related indexes,autoantibodies level,blood glucose,and blood lipid index between the control group,test groups A and B(all P>0.05).The 25(OH)D3 levels in test groups A and B were negatively correlated with FT4 and TGAB(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION The combination drug treatment for T2DM with HT significantly improved thyroid function,autoantibody,and blood glucose and lipid levels.

Impact of mica on geotechnical behavior of weathered granitic soil using macro and micro investigations

The micaceous weathered granitic soil(WGS)is frequently encountered in civil engineering worldwide,unfortunately little information is available regarding how mica affects the physico-mechanical behaviors of WGS.This study prepares reconstituted WGS with different mica contents by removing natural mica in theWGS,and then mixes it with commercial mica powders.The geotechnical behavior as well as the microstructures of the mixtures are characterized.The addition of mica enables the physical indices of WGS to be specific combinations of coarser gradation and high permeability but high Atterberg limits.However,high mica content in WGS was found to be associated with undesirable mechanical properties,including increased compressibility,disintegration,and swelling potential,as well as poor compactability and low effective frictional angle.Microstructural analysis indicates that the influence of mica on the responses of mixtures originates from the intrinsic nature of mica as well as the particle packing being formed withinWGS.Mica exists in the mixture as stacks of plates that form a spongy structure with high compressibility and swelling potential.Pores among the plates give the soil high water retention and high Atterberg limits.Large pores are also generated by soil particles with bridging packing,which enhances the permeability and water-soil interactions upon immersion.This study provides a microlevel understanding of how mica dominates the behavior of WGS and provides new insights into the effective stabilization and improvement of micaceous soils.

中国阿尔茨海默病早期预防指南(2024)

阿尔茨海默病是一种病因复杂的严重智力致残疾病,目前尚无有效的治疗方法。我国是世界上老年人口最多、增长最快的国家之一,也是阿尔茨海默病发病率较高的国家。因此,如何早期预防阿尔茨海默病的发生,是现今健康领域最重要的课题之一。我们在国内外相关研究的基础上,通过文献循证、干预研究实践、案例分析、经验总结和专家咨询,结合中国老年健康和社会文化特点,体现中国传统医学、武术、养生以及社区组织优势,制订出具有中国特色的阿尔茨海默病早期预防指南,涵盖了个人、家庭和社会三个层面的预防策略,从积极生活态度、社会活动参与、认知训练、体育锻炼、戒烟限酒、营养、睡眠,血压、血糖、血脂管理,体重和其他慢病管理以及中医开展针对阿尔茨海默病的一级预防。本指南仅供个人、家庭和社会开展阿尔茨海默病预防时参考。

印度正理派哲学中的“推断”概念

“推断”概念是印度早期正理派哲学和逻辑思想中的核心概念。通过对该概念的分析可知,印度早期正理派逻辑具有多面性特质。首先,早期正理派逻辑与亚里士多德的三段论存在相似之处,因此该逻辑具有演绎推理的某些特质。其次,早期正理派逻辑涉及对类比推理的使用,因此该逻辑兼具类比推理的某些特质。第三,早期正理派逻辑可以按照溯因推理的形式结构进行重构,因此该逻辑亦具有溯因推理的某些特质。上述多面性特质所引发的启示在于,一方面,印度逻辑具有现代价值,即能够为当代人工智能逻辑的发展提供有益的启示;另一方面,对东方逻辑的研究亦应当立足于东方文化视角,通过东西方互鉴从而得到全面的阐释。

Aspartoacylase suppresses prostate cancer progression by blocking LYN activation

Background:Globally,despite prostate cancer(PCa)representing second most prevalent malignancy in male,the precise molecular mechanisms implicated in its pathogenesis remain unclear.Consequently,elucidating the key molecular regulators that govern disease progression could substantially contribute to the establishment of novel therapeutic strategies,ultimately advancing the management of PCa.Methods:A total of 49 PCa tissues and 43 adjacent normal tissues were collected from January 2017 to December 2021 at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University.The advanced transcriptomic methodologies were employed to identify differentially expressed mRNAs in PCa.The expression of aspartoacylase(ASPA)in PCa was thoroughly evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting techniques.To elucidate the inhibitory role of ASPA in PCa cell proliferation and metastasis,a comprehensive set of in vitro and in vivo assays were conducted,including orthotopic and tumor-bearing mouse models(n=8 for each group).A combination of experimental approaches,such as Western blotting,luciferase assays,immunoprecipitation assays,mass spectrometry,glutathione S-transferase pulldown experiments,and rescue studies,were employed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of ASPA's action in PCa.The Student‘s t-test was employed to assess the statistical significance between two distinct groups,while one-way analysis of variance was utilized for comparisons involving more than two groups.A two-sided P<0.05 was deemed to indicate statistical significance.Results:ASPA was identified as a novel inhibitor of PCa progression.The expression of ASPA was found to be significantly down-regulated in PCa tissue samples,and its decreased expression was independently associated with patients’prognosis(HR=0.60,95%CI 0.40–0.92,P=0.018).Our experiments demonstrated that modulation of ASPA activity,either through gain-or loss-of-function,led to the suppression or enhancement of PCa cell proliferation,migration,and invasion,respectively.The inhibitory role of ASPA in PCa was further confirmed using orthotopic and tumor-bearing mouse models.Mechanistically,ASPA was shown to directly interact with the LYN and inhibit the phosphorylation of LYN as well as its downstream targets,JNK1/2 and C-Jun,in both PCa cells and mouse models,in an enzyme-independent manner.Importantly,the inhibition of LYN activation by bafetinib abrogated the promoting effect of ASPA knockdown on PCa progression in both in vitro and in vivo models.Moreover,we observed an inverse relationship between ASPA expression and LYN activity in clinical PCa samples,suggesting a potential regulatory role of ASPA in modulating LYN signaling.Conclusions:Our findings provide novel insights into the tumor-suppressive function of ASPA in PCa and highlight its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the management of this malignancy.

Influences of clean fracturing fluid viscosity and horizontal in-situ stress difference on hydraulic fracture propagation and morphology in coal seam

The viscosity of fracturing fluid and in-situ stress difference are the two important factors that affect the hydraulic fracturing pressure and propagation morphology. In this study, raw coal was used to prepare coal samples for experiments, and clean fracturing fluid samples were prepared using CTAB surfactant. A series of hydraulic fracturing tests were conducted with an in-house developed triaxial hydraulic fracturing simulator and the fracturing process was monitored with an acoustic emission instrument to analyze the influences of fracturing fluid viscosity and horizontal in-situ stress difference on coal fracture propagation. The results show that the number of branched fractures decreased, the fracture pattern became simpler, the fractures width increased obviously, and the distribution of AE event points was concentrated with the increase of the fracturing fluid viscosity or the horizontal in-situ stress difference. The acoustic emission energy decreases with the increase of fracturing fluid viscosity and increases with the increase of horizontal in situ stress difference. The low viscosity clean fracturing fluid has strong elasticity and is easy to be compressed into the tip of fractures, resulting in complex fractures. The high viscosity clean fracturing fluids are the opposite. Our experimental results provide a reference and scientific basis for the design and optimization of field hydraulic fracturing parameters.

Modeling analysis of cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles

The influences of particle size,shape,and catalyst distribution on the reactivity and hydrocarbon product selectivity of a cobalt-based catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis were investigated in the present work.A self-consistent kinetic model for Fischer-Tropsch reaction proposed here was found to correlate experimental data well and hence was used to describe the consumption rates of reactants and formation rates of hydrocarbon products.The perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory equation of state was used to describe vapor-liquid equilibrium behavior associated with Fischer-Tropsch reaction.Local interaction between intraparticle diffusion and Fischer-Tropsch reaction was investigated in detail.Results showed that in order to avoid the adverse influence of intraparticle diffusional limitations on catalyst reactivity and product selectivity,the use of small particles is necessary.Large eggshell spherical particles are shown to keep the original catalyst reactivity and enhance the selectivity of heavy hydrocarbon products.The suitable layer thickness for a spherical particle with a diameter of 2 mm is nearly 0.15 mm.With the same outer diameter of 2 mm,the catalyst reactivity and heavy product selectivity of hollow cylindrical particles with a layer thickness of 0.25 mm are found to be larger than eggshell spherical particles.From the viewpoint of catalytic performance,hollow cylindrical particles are a better choice for industrial applications.

Facile molybdenum and aluminum recovery from spent hydrogenation catalyst

Industrial catalyst waste has emerged as a hazardous pollutant that requires safe and proper disposal after the unloading process.Finding a valuable and sustainable strategy for its treatment is a significant challenge compared to traditional methods.In this study,we present a facile method for the recovery of molybdenum and aluminum contents from spent Mo-Ni/Al_(2)O_(3) hydrogenation catalysts through crystallization separation and coprecipitation.Furthermore,the recovered molybdenum and aluminum are utilized as active metals and carriers for the preparation of new catalysts.Their properties were thoroughly analyzed and investigated using various characterization techniques.The hydrogenation activity of these newly prepared catalysts was evaluated on a fixed-bed small-scale device and compared with a reference catalyst synthesized from commercial raw reagents.Finally,the hydrogenation activity of the catalysts was further assessed by using the entire distillate oil of coal liquefaction as the raw oil,specifically focusing on denitrogenation and aromatic saturation.This work not only offers an effective solution for recycling catalysts but also promotes sustainable development.

Optimizing profile line interval for enhanced accuracy in rock joint morphology and shear strength assessments

2D profile lines play a critical role in cost-effectively evaluating rock joint properties and shear strength.However, the interval(ΔI_(L)) between these lines significantly impacts roughness and shear strength assessments. A detailed study of 45 joint samples using four statistical measures across 500 different ΔI_(L)values identified a clear line interval effect with two stages: stable and fluctuation-discrete.Further statistical analysis showed a linear relationship between the error bounds of four parameters,shear strength evaluation, and their corresponding maximum ΔI_(L)values, where the gradient k of this linear relationship was influenced by the basic friction angle and normal stress. Accounting for these factors,lower-limit linear models were employed to determine the optimal ΔI_(L)values that met error tolerances(1%–10%) for all metrics and shear strength. The study also explored the consistent size effect on joints regardless of ΔI_(L)changes, revealing three types of size effects based on morphological heterogeneity.Notably, larger joints required generally higher ΔI_(L)to maintain the predefined error limits, suggesting an increased interval for large joint analyses. Consequently, this research provides a basis for determining the optimal ΔI_(L), improving accuracy in 2D profile line assessments of joint characteristics.

A new deformable cable for rock support in high stress tunnel:Steel pipe shrinkable energy-absorbing cable

High stress in surrounding rock will lead to serious problems,e.g.,rock burst in hard rock and large deformation in soft rock.The applied support system under high in-situ stress conditions should be able to carry high load and also accommodate large deformation without experiencing severe damage.In this paper,a specially designed energy-absorbing component for rock bolt and cable that can solve the above problems was proposed.The energy-absorbing component can provide support resistance by plastic deformation of the metal including constraint annulus and compression pipe.For practical engineering,two forms were proposed.One was installed in the surrounding rock by reaming,and the other was installed directly outside the surrounding rock.During the dilation of the surrounding rock,the relative displacement of constraint annulus and compression pipe occurs,resulting in deformation resistance.Deformation resistance is transmitted to the rock bolt or cable,providing support resistance.The lab test and numerical simulation showed that the energy-absorbing component can perfectly achieve the large deformation effect,the deformation amount is as high as 694 mm,and the bearing capacity is stable at 367 kN.The field application tests were carried out in the mining roadway of Xinjulong coal mine,and the results showed that the new type of cable can ensure itself not to break under the condition of large deformation of the surrounding rock.The energy-absorbing component has the superiorities of performing large constant resistance and controllable deformation to effectively control the unpredictable disasters such as large deformation in soft rock and rock burst in hard rock encountered in deep strata.

Cancer-educated neutrophils promote lung cancer progression via PARP-1-ALOX5-mediated MMP-9 expression

Objective:Neutrophils are one of the most predominant infiltrating leukocytes in lung cancer tissues and are associated with lung cancer progression.How neutrophils promote lung cancer progression,however,has not been established.Methods:Kaplan–Meier plotter online analysis and tissue immunohistochemistry were used to determine the relationship between neutrophils and overall survival in lung cancer patients.The effect of neutrophils on lung cancer was determined using the Transwell migration assay,a proliferation assay,and a murine tumor model.Gene knockdown was used to determine poly ADPribose polymerase(PARP)-1 function in lung cancer-educated neutrophils.Western blot analysis and gelatin zymography were used to demonstrate the correlation between PARP-1 and matrix metallopeptidase 9(MMP-9).Immunoprecipitation coupled to mass spectrometry(IP/MS)was used to identify the proteins interacting with PARP-1.Co-immunoprecipitation(Co-IP)was used to confirm that PARP-1 interacts with arachidonate 5-lipooxygenase(ALOX5).Neutrophil PARP-1 blockage by AG14361 rescued neutrophil-promoted lung cancer progression.Results:An increased number of infiltrating neutrophils was negatively associated with overall survival in lung cancer patients(P<0.001).Neutrophil activation promoted lung cancer cell invasion,migration,and proliferation in vitro,and murine lung cancer growth in vivo.Mechanistically,PARP-1 was shown to be involved in lung cancer cell-induced neutrophil activation to increase MMP-9 expression through interacting and stabilizing ALOX5 by post-translational protein modification(PARylation).Blocking PARP-1 by gene knockdown or AG14361 significantly decreased ALOX5 expression and MMP-9 production,and eliminated neutrophil-mediated lung cancer cell invasion and in vivo tumor growth.Conclusion:We identified a novel mechanism by which PARP-1 mediates lung cancer cell-induced neutrophil activation and PARylates ALOX5 to regulate MMP-9 expression,which exacerbates lung cancer progression.

Vacancy defect MoSeTe embedded in N and F co-doped carbon skeleton for high performance sodium ion batteries and hybrid capacitors

Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) and hybrid capacitors(SIHCs) have garnered significant attention in energy storage due to their inherent advantages,including high energy density,cost-effectiveness,and enhanced safety.However,developing high-performance anode materials to improve sodium storage performa nce still remains a major challenge.Here,a facile one-pot method has been developed to fabricate a hybrid of MoSeTe nanosheets implanted within the N,F co-doped honeycomb carbon skeleton(MoSeTe/N,F@C).Experimental results demonstrate that the incorporation of large-sized Te atoms into MoSeTe nanosheets enlarges the layer spacing and creates abundant anion vacancies,which effectively facilitate the insertion/extraction of Na^(+) and provide numerous ion adsorption sites for rapid surface capacitive behavior.Additionally,the heteroatoms N,F co-doped honeycomb carbon skeleton with a highly conductive network can restrain the volume expansion and boost reaction kinetics within the electrode.As anticipated,the MoSeTe/N,F@C anode exhibits high reversible capacities along with exceptional cycle stability.When coupled with Na_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)@C(NVPF@C) to form SIB full cells,the anode delivers a reversible specific capacity of 126 mA h g^(-1) after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g^(-1).Furthermore,when combined with AC to form SIHC full cells,the anode demonstrates excellent cycling stability with a reversible specific capacity of50 mA h g^(-1) keeping over 3700 cycles at 1.0 A g^(-1).In situ XRD,ex situ TEM characterization,and theoretical calculations(DFT) further confirm the reversibility of sodium storage in MoSeTe/N,F@C anode materials during electrochemical reactions,highlighting their potential for widespread practical application.This work provides new insights into the promising utilization of advanced transition metal dichalcogenides as anode materials for Na^(+)-based energy storage devices.

Amelioration of dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis in mice by treatment with Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri:intraspecific and interspecific patterns

Lactobacillus rhamnosus(Rh)and Lactobacillus reuteri(Re)are well-known probiotic species in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)research.The variations between these species’efficacy against colitis,and their model of action in this regard,are intriguing and enable treatment to be individually tailored to patients.In this study,four strains each of Rh and Re were isolated from fecal samples and their draft genomes were sequenced.The anti-colitis activities of both strains involved various aspects of intestinal immune,physical,chemical,and biological barrier function.Strikingly,the tested strains exhibited considerable interspecies and intraspecies specificity in colitis amelioration.Rh strains significantly outperformed Re strains in terms of short-chain fatty acid synthesis.Nevertheless,Re strains were more effective than Rh strains in inhibiting production of inflammatory factors;promoting production of intestinal mucus,antimicrobial peptides,and tight junction proteins;and supporting the stem cell compartment.This accounts for the anti-colitis outcomes of Re strains being superior to those of Rh strains.In addition,the effective Rh and Re strains were found to express high concentrations of specific carbohydrate metabolism-and prophage-related genes,respectively.Taken together,the results of this study could assist researchers in developing effective therapies for IBD.

A theoretical study of the signal enhancement mechanism of coaxial DP-LIBS

In the field of dual-pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy(DP-LIBS)research,the pursuit of methods for determining pulse intervals and other parameters quickly and conveniently in order to achieve optimal spectral signal enhancement is paramount.To aid researchers in identification of optimal signal enhancement conditions and more accurate interpretation of the underlying signal enhancement mechanisms,theoretical simulations of the spatiotemporal processes of coaxial DP-LIBS-induced plasma have been established in this work.Using a model based on laser ablation and two-dimensional axisymmetric fluid dynamics,plasma evolutions during aluminum–magnesium alloy laser ablation under single-pulse and coaxial dualpulse excitations have been simulated.The influences of factors,such as delay time,laser fluence,plasma temperature,and particle number density,on the DP-LIBS spectral signals are investigated.Under pulse intervals ranging from 50 to 1500 ns,the time evolutions of spectral line intensity,dual-pulse emission enhancement relative to the single-pulse results,laser irradiance,spatial distribution of plasma temperature and species number density,as well as laser irradiance shielded by plasma have been obtained.The study indicates that the main reason behind the radiation signal enhancement in coaxial DP-LIBS-induced plasma is attributed to the increased species number density and plasma temperature caused by the second laser,and it is inferred that the shielding effect of the plasma mainly occurs in the boundary layer of the stagnation point flow over the target surface.This research provides a theoretical basis for experimental research,parameter optimization,and signal enhancement tracing in DP-LIBS.

Probiotics administration alleviates cognitive impairment and circadian rhythm disturbance induced by sleep deprivation

Gut microbiome is indispensable for maintaining normal brain function.Specifically,gut microbiota plays a causal role in sleep deprivation(SD)-induced cognitive impairment.In this study,neurobehavioral effects of the Bifidobacterium breve strain(CCFM1025)were assessed in sleep-deprived mice.CCFM1025 improved the body weight and food and water intake of the mice.It also alleviated SD-induced cognitive behavioural abnormalities(in the novel object recognition test),but did not show beneficial effects on mood-and spatial memory-related behaviours.CCFM1025 significantly altered the gut microbial composition and genome function.Key microbial metabolites that may regulate sleep function were also identified,such as isovaleric acid andγ-aminobutyric acid in the gut and purine metabolites in the serum.Those metabolites may participate in gutbrain communication by acting on the striatal melatonin system,for example to increase melatonin levels,and by regulating the expression of circadian clock genes such as those encoding the adenosine A2A receptor and period circadian regulator 1.Collectively,administration of probiotics alleviated cognitive impairment and circadian rhythm disturbance induced by SD via modulation of gut microbiome and its metabolites.These findings may help guide the treatment of insomnia or other sleep disorders via dietary strategies.

MADDPG-D2: An Intelligent Dynamic Task Allocation Algorithm Based on Multi-Agent Architecture Driven by Prior Knowledge

Aiming at the problems of low solution accuracy and high decision pressure when facing large-scale dynamic task allocation(DTA)and high-dimensional decision space with single agent,this paper combines the deep reinforce-ment learning(DRL)theory and an improved Multi-Agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(MADDPG-D2)algorithm with a dual experience replay pool and a dual noise based on multi-agent architecture is proposed to improve the efficiency of DTA.The algorithm is based on the traditional Multi-Agent Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(MADDPG)algorithm,and considers the introduction of a double noise mechanism to increase the action exploration space in the early stage of the algorithm,and the introduction of a double experience pool to improve the data utilization rate;at the same time,in order to accelerate the training speed and efficiency of the agents,and to solve the cold-start problem of the training,the a priori knowledge technology is applied to the training of the algorithm.Finally,the MADDPG-D2 algorithm is compared and analyzed based on the digital battlefield of ground and air confrontation.The experimental results show that the agents trained by the MADDPG-D2 algorithm have higher win rates and average rewards,can utilize the resources more reasonably,and better solve the problem of the traditional single agent algorithms facing the difficulty of solving the problem in the high-dimensional decision space.The MADDPG-D2 algorithm based on multi-agent architecture proposed in this paper has certain superiority and rationality in DTA.

Contemporary Asymmetric Genetic Introgression Between Two Pelophylax Species in Shanghai

Human disturbances are considered to break reproduction barriers among species.Significant increases in hybridization events have been reported among a large number of taxonomic groups in anthropogenic environments,providing novel insights into species evolution mechanisms and conservation management in the Anthropocene.The Eastern Golden Frog(Pelophylax plancyi)and BlackSpotted Frog(P.nigromaculatus)are two sympatric anuran species with a long history of mitochondrial genome introgression in highly urbanized continental East Asia.However,there is only limited understanding of the pattern of their contemporary hybridization and factors influencing their interspecific relationship under anthropogenic disturbances.Here,interspecific hybridization between P.plancyi and P.nigromaculatus at the population level was investigated in Shanghai.All except two haplotypes obtained from both species in Shanghai were mixed together,and located in the introgression clade,implying multiple ancient mitochondrial introgression events occurred in the populations of our study area.Asymmetric genetic introgression was detected by microsatellite markers,with 0.7%of P.plancyi and 14.6%of P.nigromaculatus identified as contemporary admixed individuals.Consistent with the trend of population density,higher genetic diversity of neutral microsatellite loci was found in the more abundant P.plancyi;however,variation in mitochondrial(Cyt-b)and nuclear(POMC)genes was higher in relatively rare P.nigromaculatus.The population density of P.plancyi and number of water patches within local habitats were significantly positively correlated with both occurrences and proportions of admixed individuals in the populations of P.plancyi and P.nigromaculatus.Considering the prevalent transformation of habitats in urbanized areas,these results imply that a high population density in isolated artificially altered habitats is likely to increase interspecific hybridization.Thus,population monitoring and improvement of landscape connectivity between habitats would be needed to control the intensity of interspecific hybridization between P.plancyi and P.nigromaculatus in anthropogenic-disturbed environments.