A novel nano-grade organosilicon polymer:Improving airtightness of compressed air energy storage in hard rock formations

Enhancing cavern sealing is crucial for improving the efficiency of compressed air energy storage(CAES)in hard rock formations.This study introduced a novel approach using a nano-grade organosilicon polymer(NOSP)as a sealant,coupled with an air seepage evaluation model that incorporates Knudsen diffusion.Moreover,the initial coating application methods were outlined,and the advantages of using NOSP compared to other sealing materials,particularly regarding cost and construction techniques,were also examined and discussed.Experimental results indicated a significant reduction in permeability of rock specimens coated with a 7–10μm thick NOSP layer.Specifically,under a 0.5 MPa pulse pressure,the permeability decreased to less than 1 n D,and under a 4 MPa pulse pressure,it ranged between4.5×10^(-6)–5.5×10^(-6)m D,marking a 75%–80%decrease in granite permeability.The sealing efficacy of NOSP surpasses concrete and is comparable to rubber materials.The optimal viscosity for application lies between 95 and 105 KU,and the coating thickness should ideally range from 7 to 10μm,applied to substrates with less than 3%porosity.This study provides new insights into air transport and sealing mechanisms at the pore level,proposing NOSP as a cost-effective and simplified solution for CAES applications.

Albizzia chinensis(Osbeck)Merr extract YS ameliorates ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer injury in rats by regulating NRF2 signaling pathway

Background:Around the world,there is a high incidence of gastric ulcers.YS,an extract from the Chinese herb Albizzia chinensis(Osbeck)Merr,has potential therapeutic applications for gastrointestinal diseases.Here we elucidated the protective effect and underlying mechanism of action of YS on gastric ulcer in rats injured by ethanol.Methods:The ethanol-i nduced gastric ulcer rat model was used to assess the protective effect of YS.A pathological examination of gastric tissue was performed by H&E staining.GES-1 cells damaged by hydrogen peroxide were used to simulate oxidative damage in gastric mucosal epithelial cells.Endogenous NRF2 was knocked down using small interfering RNA.Immunoprecipitation was used to detect ubiquitination of NRF2.Co-i mmunoprecipitation was used to detect the NRF2-Keap1 interaction.Results:YS(10 and 30 mg/kg,i.g.)significantly reduced the ulcer index,decreased MDA level,and increased SOD and GSH levels in gastric tissues damaged by ethanol.YS promoted NRF2 translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus and enhanced the NQO1 and HO-1 expression levels in injured rat gastric tissue.In addition,YS regulated NQO1 and HO-1 via NRF2 in H_(2)O_(2)-i nduced oxidative injured GES-1 cells.Further studies on the underlying mechanism indicated that YS reduced the interaction between NRF2 and Keap1 and decreased ubiquitylation of NRF2,thereby increasing its stability and expression of downstream factors.NRF2 knockdown abolished the effect of YS on MDA and SOD in GES-1 cells treated with H_(2)O_(2).Conclusion:YS reduced the NRF2-Keap1 interaction,promoting NRF2 translocation into the nucleus,which increasing the transcription and translation of NQO1 and HO-1 and improved the antioxidant capacity of rat stomach.

Flower development and sexual dimorphism in Vernicia montana

The mu oil tree(Vernicia montana Lour.) is a dioecious species, but the genetic mechanisms underlying its phenotypic sexual dimorphism are unclear. In this study, we determined two pivotal phases of sex differentiation of mu oil tree via morphological and histological analyses of unisexual flowers:(Ⅰ) differentiation of male or female primordia to produce staminate flowers(SFs) or transient hermaphrodite flowers(HFs),and(Ⅱ) complete abortion of stamens in transient HFs to generate pistillate flowers(PFs). A total of 1621 sex-biased genes were identified by comparative transcriptome analysis which exhibited elevated rates of protein evolution than unbiased genes. The female-biased genes were enriched in the production of defense compounds while male-biased genes were focused on the production of viable pollens. Transcriptomebased analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes(DEGs) between PFs and SFs in phase Ⅰ involved in abscisic acid(ABA), auxin(AUX), cytokinin(CK), ethylene(ET), and gibberellin(GA) biosynthesis and signaling showed higher expression levels in males than in females in general, whereas the DEGs involved in jasmonic acid(JA) and salicylic acid(SA) pathways displayed opposite expression patterns. Moreover,differentially expressed endogenous ABA, AUX, GAs, JA, and SA exhibited consistent biased expression patterns with the DEGs by UPLC-MSbased analysis. Exogenous application of an anti-ethylene plant growth regulator could promote the development of stamens in PFs and generated HFs. Comparative transcriptomic and hormonal analyses of PFs and SFs in phase Ⅱ indicated an increase in ET concentration when abortion of stamens in PFs occurred. This study suggested that phytohormones play key roles in sex dimorphism and ET may determine the development of stamens in PFs of mu oil tree, which provides an insight into plant sex differentiation mechanisms.

Comparative histology,transcriptome,and metabolite profi ling unravel the browning mechanisms of calli derived from ginkgo(Ginkgo biloba L.)

Gingko biloba accumulates high levels of secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical value.Ginkgo calli develop a typical browning that reduces its regenerative capacity and thus its usefulness.To elucidate the browning mechanism,histological,transcriptomic,and metabolic alterations were compared between green and browning calli derived from immature ginkgo embryos.Histological observations revealed that browning calli had a more loosely arranged cell structure and accumulated more tannins than in green calli.Integrated metabolic and transcriptomic analyses showed that phenylpropanoid metabolism was specifi-cally activated in the browning calli,and 428 diff erentially expressed genes and 63 diff erentially abundant metabolites,including 12 fl avonoid compounds,were identifi ed in the browning calli compared to the green calli.Moreover,the expression of fl avonol synthase(FLS)and UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase(UGT)genes involved in the fl avonoid pathway was more than tenfold higher in browning calli than in green calli,thus promoting biosynthesis of fl avonol,which serves as a substrate to form glycosylated fl avonoids.Flavonoid glycosides constituted the major coloring component of the browning calli and may act in response to multiple stress conditions to delay cell death caused by browning.Our results revealed the cellular and biochemical changes in browning callus cells that accompanied changes in expression of browning-related genes,providing a scientifi c basis for improving ginkgo tissue culturability.

Climate change impacts and forest adaptation in the Asia–Pacific region: from regional experts' perspectives

Expert opinions have been used in a variety of fields to identify relevant issues and courses of action. This study surveys experts in forestry and climate change from the Asia–Pacific region to gauge their perspectives on the impacts of climate change and on the challenges faced by forest adaptation in the region, and explores recommendations and initiatives for adapting forests to climate change. There was consensus regarding the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems and on economic sectors such as agriculture and forestry. Respondents also indicated a lack of public awareness and policy and legislation as challenges to addressing climate change. However, the results indicate differences in opinion between regions on the negative impacts of climate change and in satisfaction with actions taken to address climate change,highlighting the need for locally specific policies and research. The study presents specific recommendations to address issues of most concern, based on subregion and professional affiliation throughout the Asia–Pacific region.The results can be used to improve policy and forest management throughout the region. This research will also provide valuable suggestions on how to apply research findings and management recommendations outside of the AP region. The conclusions should be communicated relative to the level of the research and the target audience,ensuring that scientific findings and management recommendations are effectively communicated to ensure successful implementation of forest adaptation strategies.

The role of γ-aminobutyric acid in aluminum stress tolerance in a woody plant, Liriodendron chinense×tulipifera

The aluminum(Al)cation Al^(3+)in acidic soil shows severe rhizotoxicity that inhibits plant growth and development.Most woody plants adapted to acidic soils have evolved specific strategies against Al^(3+)toxicity,but the underlying mechanism remains elusive.The four-carbon amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)has been well studied in mammals as an inhibitory neurotransmitter;GABA also controls many physiological responses during environmental or biotic stress.The woody plant hybrid Liriodendron(L.chinense×tulipifera)is widely cultivated in China as a horticultural tree and provides high-quality timber;studying its adaptation to high Al stress is important for harnessing its ecological and economic potential.Here,we performed quantitative iTRAQ(isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification)to study how protein expression is altered in hybrid Liriodendron leaves subjected to Al stress.Hybrid Liriodendron shows differential accumulation of several proteins related to cell wall biosynthesis,sugar and proline metabolism,antioxidant activity,cell autophagy,protein ubiquitination degradation,and anion transport in response to Al damage.We observed that Al stress upregulated glutamate decarboxylase(GAD)and its activity,leading to increased GABA biosynthesis.Additional GABA synergistically increased Al-induced antioxidant enzyme activity to efficiently scavenge ROS,enhanced proline biosynthesis,and upregulated the expression of MATE1/2,which subsequently promoted the efflux of citrate for chelation of Al^(3+).We also showed similar effects of GABA on enhanced Al^(3+)tolerance in Arabidopsis.Thus,our findings suggest a function of GABA signaling in enhancing hybrid Liriodendron tolerance to Al stress through promoting organic acid transport and sustaining the cellular redox and osmotic balance.

Structural characterization and comparative analysis of the chloroplast genome of Ginkgo biloba and other gymnosperms

Ginkgo biloba is a famous living“fossil”and has played an important role in the evolution of the Plant Kingdom.Here,the complete chloroplast genome of G.biloba was sequenced and analysed.The chloroplast genome was 156,990 bp long and predicted to encode 134 genes including 85 protein-coding genes,41 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes.The chloroplast genome has a typical quadripartite structure with a pair of inverted repeat regions(IRa and IRb,17,732 bp),a large(LSC,99,259 bp)and small single(SSC,22,267 bp)copy region.After an extensive comparison to previously published gymnosperm plastomes,the gene content and organisation of G.biloba showed high divergence,although part was relatively conserved.The two typical IR regions in the G.biloba chloroplast genome were relatively shorter because it the ycf2 gene.In addition,it was obvious that the IR regions and gene loss were responsible for changes in chloroplast genome size and structure stability,which influenced plastome evolution in different gymnosperms.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that G.biloba is sister to cycads rather than to gnetophytes,cupressophytes,and Pinaceae.Overall,the study showed that the genomic characteristics of G.biloba would be of great help in the further research on the taxonomy,species identification and evolutionary history of gymnosperms,especially for their position in plant systematics and evolution.

Leaf litter and crop residue decomposition in ginkgo agroforestry systems in eastern China: Soil fauna diversity and abundance,microbial biomass and nutrient release

The response of soil fauna to the litter decomposition process has received considerable attention,but this effect has not been fully examined in agroforestry systems.A 1-year in situ decomposition experiment was carried out in a pure ginkgo plantation and two ginkgo agroforestry systems using a litterbag method(11 different treatments were tested in three systems).We found that the application of different organic materials(crop residues)produced positive effects on the number of soil fauna in the ginkgo planting systems;the mixture of ginkgo leaves and corn leaves was the best performing treatment.Collembola and Acarina were the predominant groups in the litter bags and were mainly responsible for the differences among the treatments.Litter mixing promoted the abundance,richness,and diversity of soil fauna,and significant differences regarding the Shannon–Wiener index of the soil fauna were observed among the 11 treatments in July.Significantly higher soil MBC(microbial biomass carbon)and MBN(microbial biomass nitrogen)were observed in agroforestry systems than in pure ginkgo plantations.These results suggest that the practice of intercrop residue application plays an important role in enhancing soil ecosystem function in ginkgo agroforestry systems and may ultimately contribute to sustainable intercrop production,soil fertility,and local economic diversity.

Strategic Thinking and Measures for Plant Quarantine and Food Safety

This paper describes the importance of plant quarantine to the food safety in China through cases where plant quarantine helps to effectively intercept harmful organisms for food safety and promote export and import trading.It also presents the existing problems in plant quarantine work and appropriate measures.

CRL2^(APPBP2)-mediated TSPYL2 degradation counteracts human mesenchymal stem cell senescence

Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases(CRLs),the largest family of multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligases in eukaryotic cells,represent core cellular machinery for executing protein degradation and maintaining proteostasis.Here,we asked what roles Cullin proteins play in human mesenchymal stem cell(hMSC)homeostasis and senescence.To this end,we conducted a comparative aging phenotype analysis by individually knocking down Cullin members in three senescence models:replicative senescent hMSCs,Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome hMSCs,and Werner syndrome hMSCs.Among all family members,we found that CUL2 deficiency rendered hMSCs the most susceptible to senescence.To investigate CUL2-specific underlying mechanisms,we then applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology to generate CUL2-deficient human embryonic stem cells(hESCs).When we differentiated these into h MSCs,we found that CUL2 deletion markedly accelerates hMSC senescence.Importantly,we identified that CUL2 targets and promotes ubiquitin proteasome-mediated degradation of TSPYL2(a known negative regulator of proliferation)through the substrate receptor protein APPBP2,which in turn downregulates one of the canonical aging marker-P21^(waf1/cip1),and thereby delays senescence.Our work provides important insights into how CRL2^(APPBP2)-mediated TSPYL2 degradation counteracts hMSC senescence,providing a molecular basis for directing intervention strategies against aging and aging-related diseases.

The Metasequoia genome and evolutionary relationships among redwoods

Redwood trees(Sequoioideae),including Metasequoia glyptostroboides(dawn redwood),Sequoiadendron giganteum(giant sequoia),and Sequoia sempervirens(coast redwood),are threatened and widely recognized iconic tree species.Genomic resources for redwood trees could provide clues to their evolutionary relationships.Here,we report the 8-Gb reference genome of M.glyptostroboides and a comparative analysis with two related species.More than 62%of the M.glyptostroboides genome is composed of repetitive sequences.Clade-specific bursts of long terminal repeat retrotransposons may have contributed to genomic differentiation in the three species.The chromosomal synteny between M.glyptostroboides and S.giganteum is extremely high,whereas there has been significant chromosome reorganization in S.sempervirens.Phylogenetic analysis of marker genes indicates that S.sempervirens is an autopolyploid,and more than 48%of the gene trees are incongruent with the species tree.Results of multiple analyses suggest that incomplete lineage sorting(ILS)rather than hybridization explains the inconsistent phylogeny,indicating that genetic variation among redwoods may be due to random retention of polymorphisms in ancestral populations.Functional analysis of ortholog groups indicates that gene families of ion channels,tannin biosynthesis enzymes,and transcription factors for meristem maintenance have expanded in S.giganteum and S.sempervirens,which is consistent with their extreme height.As a wetland-tolerant species,M.glyptostroboides shows a transcriptional response to flooding stress that is conserved with that of analyzed angiosperm species.Our study offers insights into redwood evolution and adaptation and provides genomic resources to aid in their conservation and management.

Linking soil organic carbon mineralization to soil physicochemical properties and bacterial alpha diversity at different depths following land use changes

Background Anthropogenic land use changes(LUCs)impart intensifying impacts on soil organic carbon(SOC)turnover,leading to uncertainty concerning SOC mineralization patterns and determining whether soils act as“source”or“sink”in the global carbon budget.Therefore,understanding the SOC mineralization characteristics of different LUC patterns and their potential influencing factors is crucial.An indoor incubation experiment was conducted to study the SOC mineralization patterns and their relevance to soil physicochemical properties,soil enzyme activity,SOC fractions,and bacterial alpha diversity.The soils were collected from two layers of five typical LUC patterns in Yellow Sea Forest Park,including four that were converted from wheat-corn rotation systems[a gingko plantation(G),a metasequoia plantation(M),a gingko-wheat-corn agroforestry system(GW),and a gingko-metasequoia system(GM)]and a traditional wheat-corn system(W).Results LUCs had significant and diverse impacts on the SOC content and SOC fraction contents and on soil enzyme activity.The cumulative SOC mineralization was significantly higher in the M systen than in the W and GW systems at 0-20 cm depth and higher in the G system than in the GW system at 20-40 cm depth after 60-day incubation.The mineralization ratio was highest in the W system and lowest in the GW system.The soil pH and bulk density had a significant negative correlation with the cumulative SOC mineralization,while the soil bacterial Shannon index had a significant positive correlation with cumulative SOC mineralization.Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the SOC mineralization potential was dominantly explained by the bacterial Shannon index and operational taxonomic units(OTUs).The GW system had lower potentially mineralizable SOC and higher SOC stability.Additionally,the incubation time and cumulative SOC mineralization were well fitted by the first-order kinetic equation.Conclusions LUCs significantly changed SOC mineralization characteristics and the results highlighted the important roles of the bacterial community in soil carbon cycling,which contributes to the fundamental understanding of SOC turnover regulation.

Modeling of contact temperatures and their influence on the tribological performance of PEEK and PTFE in a dual-pin-ondisk tribometer

The direct blending of polyether ether ketone(PEEK)with a solid lubricant such as polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)improves its tribological performance,but compromises its outstanding mechanical properties and processability.While these negative effects might be circumvented via the hybrid wear method,the influence of the contact temperature between multiple sliding components acting together is not fully understood.Herein,an analytical temperature model considering the influence of both micro-and macro-thermal behavior is extended to predict the contact temperature of a dual-pin-on-disk hybrid wear system.The interactions between several heat sources are investigated and experimentally verified.The analytical results show that the nominal temperature rise of the shared wear track is determined by the combined effect of the heat generated by both pin components,while the rise in flash temperature at the region in contact with each pin component is dependent upon its individual characteristics and working conditions.Hence,while different temperature peaks can coexist in the shared wear track,the maximum value dominates the performance of the system.For the experimentally investigated PEEK–PTFE–steel hybrid wear system,the formation of tribofilms is blocked,and the hybrid wear system fails,when the peak temperature exceeds the glass transition temperature of both pins due to an increase in applied load.

Rock strength weakening subject to principal stress rotation:Experimental and numerical investigations

During the construction and operation of gas storage reservoirs,changes in the principal stress direction can induce fracture propagation under conditions of lower differential stress,potentially leading to failure in the surrounding rock.However,the weakening of strength due to pure stress rotation has not yet been investigated.Based on fracture mechanics,an enhanced Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion considering stress rotation is proposed and verified with experimental and numerical simulations.The micro-damage state and the evolution of the rock under the pure stress-rotation condition are analyzed.The findings indicate that differential stress exceeding the crack initiation stress is a prerequisite for stress rotation to promote the development of rock damage.As the differential stress increases,stress rotation is more likely to induce rock damage,leading to a transition from brittle to plastic failure,characterized by wider fractures and a more complex fracture network.Overall,a negative exponential relationship exists between the stress rotation angle required for rock failure and the differential stress.The feasibility of applying the enhanced criterion to practical engineering is discussed using monitoring data obtained from a mine-by tunnel.This study introduces new concepts for understanding the damage evolution of the surrounding rock under complex stress paths and offers a new theoretical basis for predicting the damage of gas storage reservoirs.

嗜水气单胞菌hfq2基因对生物被膜形成的影响

Hfq蛋白是一种进化上保守的sRNA分子伴侣蛋白,在转录后水平调控RNA翻译,涉及细菌重要生理功能的调节.嗜水气单胞菌ATCC 7966基因组中含有两个hfq基因拷贝(AHA_0924与AHA_3797),目前对AHA_3797(简称hfq2)基因功能的研究比较少.本研究首先利用同源重组技术敲除该基因,发现hfq2缺失后形成生物膜的能力显著降低(P<0.001),进一步通过SWATH(sequential window acquisition of all theoretical spectra)定量蛋白质组学技术比较野生型与Δhfq2在生物膜状态下的蛋白表达差异,共鉴定出1538个蛋白,其中131个蛋白表达上调, 140个蛋白表达下调.生物信息学分析表明,生物被膜状态下Δhfq2导致细菌铁离子转运相关蛋白表达上调,趋化作用相关蛋白则大幅度下调.进一步利用Western Blotting对部分差异蛋白的表达进行了验证.最后通过铁离子螯合剂添加试验证实, Hfq2蛋白可以通过影响铁离子动态平衡过程来影响细菌生物被膜的形成.了解Hfq2蛋白在细菌生物被膜形成过程的调控机理,对病原菌的防治以及新型抑菌策略的研发具有重要的科学意义.

The TH Express high performance interconnect networks

Interconnection network plays an important role in scalable high performance computer （HPC） systems. The TH Express-2 interconnect has been used in MilkyWay-2 system to provide high-bandwidth and low-latency interprocessot communications, and continuous efforts are devoted to the development of our proprietary interconnect. This paper describes the state-of-the-art of our proprietary interconnect, especially emphasizing on the design of network interface. Several key features are introduced, such as user-level communication, remote direct memory access, offload collective operation, and hardware reliable end-to-end communication, etc. The design of a low level message passing infrastructures and an upper message passing services are also proposed. The preliminary performance results demonstrate the efficiency of the TH interconnect interface.

Polymeric Complex Nanoparticles Enable the Fabrication of Mechanically Superstrong and Recyclable Poly(aryl ether sulfone)-based Polymer Composites

It is a long-term pursuit,and also,a challenge to significantly improve the mechanical strength of thermoplastic polymers using readily dispersed polymers as nanofillers.In this study,we demonstrated that in situ formed carboxylic acid-functionalized poly(aryl ether sulfone)(PAES-COOH)/polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVPON)complex nanoparticles can significantly enhance the mechanical strength of PAES-COOH by mixing PAES-COOH with a small fraction of PVPON.The PAES-COOH/PVPON10%composite,which contained∼10 wt%PVPON,exhibited a tensile strength of∼104.8 MPa and Young’s modulus of∼932.2 MPa,which were∼2.0 and∼1.7 times higher than those of the PAES-COOH,respectively.The PAES-COOH/PVPON nanoparticles which were uniformly dispersed in PAES-COOH matrices and had strong hydrogen-bonding interactions with PAES-COOH,served as nanofillers to reinforce the mechanical strength of the PAES-COOH.The PAES-COOH/PVPON_(10%)composites possessed excellent solvent-assisted healability,and the fractured composites could be healed to restore their original mechanical strength.Meanwhile,the PAES-COOH/PVPON_(10%)composites could be recycled multiple times,and yet retained their shape integration and their original mechanical strength.

Bidding Strategy for Coordinated Operation of Wind Power Plants and NGG-P2G Units in Electricity Market

The synergies between electricity and other energy resources could promote energy utilization efficiency in electricity market.Within this context,this paper proposes a bi-level stochastic optimization model for the joint operation of a coordinated wind power plant(WPP)and natural gas generating(NGG)-power to gas(P2G)suppliers participating in the day-ahead(DA)market and real-time(RT)market as well as providing real-time auxiliary services.The coordinated supplier’s payoff is maximized in the upper level with consideration of the uncertainties of WPP output capacity and RT electricity price,while the social welfare of the grid is maximized in the lower level.Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed bidding model of the coordinated WPPs and NGG-P2G suppliers by examining its bidding behaviors and benefits with comparisons of four other bidding models.

Extraction and biodegradation of ginkgolic acids from Ginkgo biloba sarcotestae

Ginkgolic acids are unwanted constituents in standard Ginkgo biloba leaves extracts. Thus, for the quality control of ginkgo extracts, it is important to establish an effective degradation method, with high catalytic efficiency and safety, to remove ginkgolic acids.Laccases are oxidases with potential for application in elimination of hazardous phenolic compounds. In this study, single-factor and orthogonal experiments were used to optimize extraction of ginkgolic acid from G. biloba sarcotestae. The results showed that ethanol was the best solvent, with the highest extraction rate for ginkgolic acid at 85% ethanol. On this basis, we measured ethanol volume fraction, extraction time, temperature and solidliquid ratio using an orthogonal experiment. By using absorbance of 310 nm as standard, the optimal extraction conditions were 85% ethanol with, solid-liquid ratio of1:14 at 40°C for 12 h. These conditions gave a ginkgolic acid yield of 73.1 mg·g^(–1). Subsequently, recombinant laccase was used to degrade the ginkgolic acid in several laccase/mediator systems, of which Lac C was the best. At50°C, p H 4.5, enzyme concentration of 0.01 U·m L^(–1),0.5 mmol·L^(–1) mediator ABTS and reaction time of 3 h, the degradation rate of ginkgolic acid reached 100%. These results lay the foundation for research on and application of biological enzymes for detoxification of G. biloba extracts.