Preparation of Tartary Buckwheat Seed Coating Agent and Its Effect on Germination

To mitigate the wastage of seed resources and reduce the usage of pesticides and fertilizers, seed coating agentshave gained popularity. This study employs single-factor and multi-index orthogonal experimental design methodsto investigate the seed coating formula and physical properties of Tartary buckwheat. The specific effects ofeach component on Tartary buckwheat seed germination are analyzed. The findings reveal that the seed coatingagent formulated with 1.5% polyvinyl alcohol, 0.15% sodium alginate, 0.2% op-10, 0.1% polyacrylamide, 8% colorant,3% ammonium sulfate, 1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and 0.15% carbendazim exhibits the mosteffective coating. It demonstrates optimal physical properties and promotes seed germination efficiently. The suspensionrate of this seed coating agent reaches 91.12%, with a mere 2.13% coating shedding rate and 2.5% coatingseed rot rate. Furthermore, it achieves a germination percentage of 99.17%, which is 20.84% higher than the lowestgroup. The germination potential and index are also significantly higher than the lowest group, with anincrease of 20.84% and 26.56%, respectively. Additionally, the vitality index is 553.08, a 15.75% increase comparedto the lowest group. The application of seed coating agents helps reduce seed resource loss, increase plant numbers,and ultimately enhance agricultural yields. This finding holds practical significance in agriculturalproduction.

金属衬底在石墨烯化学气相沉积生长中的作用

以过渡金属为催化衬底的化学气相沉积法(Chemical Vapor Deposition,CVD)已经可以制备与机械剥离样品相媲美的石墨烯,是实现石墨烯工业应用的关键技术之一。原子尺度理论研究能够帮助我们深刻理解石墨烯生长机理,为实验现象提供合理的解释,并有可能成为将来实验设计的理论指导。本文从理论计算的角度,总结了各种金属衬底在石墨烯CVD生长过程中的各种作用与相应的机理,包括在催化碳源裂解、降低石墨烯成核密度等,催化加快石墨烯快速生长,修复石墨烯生长过程中产生的缺陷,控制外延生长石墨烯的晶格取向,以及在降温过程中石墨烯褶皱与金属表面台阶束的形成过程等。在本文最后,我们对当前石墨烯生长领域中亟需解决的理论问题进行了深入探讨与展望。

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.

MIMO radar dwell scheduling based on novel pulse interleaving technique

According to the signal processing characteristic of MIMO radars,an adaptive dwell scheduling algorithm is proposed.It is based on a novel pulse interleaving technique,which makes full use of transmitting,waiting and receiving durations of radar dwells.The utilization of transmitting duration is unique for MIMO radars and is realized through transmitting duration overlapping.Simulation results show that,compared with the conventional scheduling algorithm,the scheduling performance of MIMO radars can be improved effectively by the proposed algorithm,and the scheduling rule can be chosen arbitrarily when using the proposed algorithm.

Access block and prolonged length of stay in the emergency department are associated with a higher patient mortality rate

Access block,known as exit block or boarding,is defined as a situation in which patients who are admitted or planned for admission remain in the emergency department(ED)as they are unable to be transferred to an inpatient unit within a reasonable time frame(no longer than 8 hours).[1,2]Access block often occurs due to insufficient hospital capacity and is a major issue in emergency medicine.[3]

Genetic evidence suggesting the predicted causality between osteoarthritis and cardiovascular diseases

Background:Epidemiological studies have shown a close association between osteoarthritis(OA)and cardiovascular disease(CVD),but reliable evidence needs to be provided.We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)study to examine the potential causal effect between OA and CVD.Methods:Exposures were self-reported OA,knee osteoarthritis(KOA),and hip osteoarthritis(HOA).The outcomes were 12 CVDs,including heart failure,atrial fibrillation,coronary artery disease,pulmonary embolism,stroke and its subtypes,myocardial infarction,coronary heart disease,and primary hypertension.All outcomes were obtained from published genomewide association studies.The inverse-variance weighted method was used as the primary MR analysis.Heterogeneity tests and sensitivity analyses were conducted to validate the accuracy of the MR results.Results:Self-reported OA increased the incidence of small vessel stroke(odds ratio[OR]=1.25,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.02–1.52,p=0.03)and primary hypertension(1.01[1.00–1.02],p<0.01).HOA increased the incidence of stroke(1.06[1.01–1.11],p=0.02)and two subtypes(cardioembolic stroke:1.12[1.02–1.23],p=0.02;ischemic stroke:1.06[1.01–1.11],p=0.03).Patients with KOA had an increased risk of heart failure(1.10[1.04–1.16],p<0.01),atrial fibrillation(1.08[1.02–1.13],p<0.01),small vessel stroke(1.21[1.06–1.39],p=0.01),and primary hypertension(1.01[1.01–1.02],p<0.01).Conclusions:Patients with OA have an increased risk of several CVDs.The causality of this relationship may have clinical implications for improving the quality of prevention and treatment.

Rapamycin suppresses rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast synovial cell proliferation and induces apoptosis via the AKT/mTORC1 pathway

Background::Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is an autoimmune disease characterized by the overproliferation of synovial fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLSs)in the lining,leading to chronic inflammation and progressive joint damage.RA pathogenesis involves lymphocyte infiltration,increased synovial cell proliferation,and impaired cell death.This study investigated the effects of rapamycin on RA-FLSs and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms.Methods::The optimal drug concentration and time for rapamycin administration were determined using a cell counting kit-8 assay.The concentration of rapamycin varied from 1 to 25 nmol/L.The mRNA expression levels of protein kinase B(AKT),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),B cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2),and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction.Protein expression(p-AKT,AKT,p-mTOR,mTOR,pS6 kinase[S6K],S6K,p-4E-binding protein 1[4EBP1],4EBP1,Bcl-2,Bax,caspase 3,caspase 9,cyclin-dependent kinase 2[CDK2],and CD1)were detected by Western blotting analysis.Results::Rapamycin suppresses RA-FLS proliferation and induces apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.Rapamycin significantly elevated the protein expression of Bax(p<0.01),caspase 3(p<0.05),and caspase 9(p<0.001),and downregulated Bcl-2 expression(p<0.01).Rapamycin increased Bax mRNA expression(p<0.01)and decreased Bcl-2(p<0.05),AKT(p<0.05),and mTOR(p<0.05)expression.Additionally,there was a marked reduction in the expression levels of p-AKT(Ser473)(p<0.01),p-mTOR(Ser2448)(p<0.01),p-S6K1(p<0.01),and p-4EBP1,CDK2,and CD1(p<0.01).Conclusions::Rapamycin effectively inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of RA-FLSs by targeting the AKT/mTORC1 pathway.These findings underscore the potential of rapamycin as a therapeutic candidate for addressing the dysregulated proliferation and inflammatory characteristics of RA.Further clinical investigations are required to validate its application in the management of RA.

Numerical Simulation of Jet Behavior and Impingement Characteristics of Preheating Shrouded Supersonic Jets

As a novel supersonic jet technology,preheating shrouded supersonic jet was developed to deliver oxygen into molten bath efficiently and affordably.However,there has been limited research on the jet behavior and impingement characteristics of preheating shrouded supersonic jets.Computational fluid dynamics（CFD）models were established to investigate the effects of main and shrouding gas temperatures on the characteristics of flow field and impingement of shrouded supersonic jet.The preheating shrouded supersonic jet behavior was simulated and measured by numerical simulation and jet measurement experiment respectively.The influence of preheating shrouded supersonic jet on gas jet penetration and fluid flow in liquid bath was calculated by the CFD model which was validated against water model experiments.The results show that the uptrend of the potential core length of shrouded supersonic jet would be accelerated with increasing the main and shrouding gas temperatures.Also,preheating supersonic jets demonstrated significant advantages in penetrating and stirring the liquid bath.

On four epibiotic peritrichous ciliates(Protozoa,Ciliophora)found in Lake Weishan Wetland:morphological and molecular data support the establishment of a new genus,Parapiosoma gen.nov.,and two new species

During a study on the diversity of ciliated protists in Lake Weishan Wetland,the largest wetland in northern China,four epibiotic sessilid peritrichs were isolated from aquatic host animals.Two of them,i.e.,Epistylis cambari Kellicott,1885 and Epistylis lwof Fauré-Fremiet,1943,were known species whereas the other two,i.e.,Parapiosoma typicum gen.nov.,sp.nov.and Orborhabdostyla gracilis sp.nov.,are new to science.The new genus Parapiosoma gen.nov.is characterized by its branched non-contractile stalk,everted peristomial lip,obconical macronucleus and transverse silverlines.Two species are assigned to the new genus,namely Parapiosoma typicum sp.nov.and Parapiosoma gasterostei(Fauré-Fremiet,1905)comb.nov.Morphologically,P.typicum sp.nov.is recognized by its goblet-shaped zooids,single-layered peristomial lip,dichotomously branched stalk,and infundibular polykinety 3(P3)containing three equal-length rows.Orborhabdostyla gracilis sp.nov.is characterized by its slender zooid,curved macronucleus,and three equal-length rows in infundibular P3.Improved diagnoses and redescriptions of E.cambari and E.lwof are provided including,for the frst time,data on the ciliature of E.cambari.Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA,ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2,and LSU rDNA sequence data strongly support the assertion that the family Epistylididae comprises morphospecies with diferent evolutionary lineages and indicate that Parapiosoma gen.nov.may represent a new taxon at family level.

青藏高原史前人类活动研究新进展

青藏高原史前人类活动历史是近年多学科研究的热点科学问题.近年,对该问题的研究取得多项突破性进展,主要体现在青藏高原早期人类活动和现代藏族人群起源两个方面.最新两项考古学研究将青藏高原最早人类活动的时间分别推早至距今4万年和距今16万年,显示在现代人之前丹尼索瓦古老型智人(丹尼索瓦人)已经于中更新世开始了适应高原环境的征程.而最新两项独立的语言学和遗传学研究,均证明现代藏族人群主体来自距今5000年前后向青藏高原大规模扩散的仰韶文化和马家窑文化粟作农业人群.以上新成果,为深入理解史前人类向青藏高原的扩散和对高海拔环境的适应等问题提供了关键材料,同时也引发了更多关于青藏高原史前人类活动和东亚中晚更新世人类演化等问题的新思考,为将来开展更深入、更全面的研究提供了新线索.

低铀碳酸盐矿物的LA-MC-ICPMS微区原位U-Pb定年方法

碳酸盐矿物的同位素年代学研究具有广阔的应用前景,但理想样品少、定年难度大(尤其是低铀样品)等因素限制了该方法的发展.本研究利用激光剥蚀多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱技术(LA-MC-ICPMS),建立了针对低铀碳酸盐矿物的微区原位U-Pb同位素定年方法.通过LA-ICPMS预扫描,可以快速筛选出适合定年的样品和最佳剥蚀点,再借助为实现低铀含量的精确测量而对接收器配置优化设计的Nu Plasma Ⅱ MC-ICPMS进行碳酸盐矿物的U-Pb年龄测定.此外,通过两种已报道的碳酸盐矿物标样ASH15和WC-1,标定出一种更加均一且适用对象更广的实验室内部标样AHX-1a,其与国际标样长期对比测量获得的年龄加权平均值为209.8±1.3Ma(2S总,n=21,MSWD=2.7).此年龄结果是在半年内不同时期对样品靶不同部位21次独立标定的年龄结果的加权平均值,每一次对测约有50~150组数据点,总共2000多组数据点.与此同时,为了继续寻找其他理想碳酸盐矿物标样,更进一步的同位素稀释法标定工作还有待开展.

Subsistence strategies of prehistoric hunter-gatherers on the Tibetan Plateau during the Last Deglaciation

The study of prehistoric hunter-gatherer subsistence strategies on the Tibetan Plateau is important for understanding the mechanisms and processes of human adaption to high altitude environments.But to date,only a few Paleolithic sites have been found on the Tibetan Plateau with clear stratigraphy and reliable dating.These sites are mainly distributed in the Qinghai Lake Basin on the northeastern part of the plateau,and the sporadic fauna and flora remains excavated provide limited information about the subsistence strategies of hunter-gatherers.In 2014,relatively abundant animal remains were unearthed in the Lower Cultural Layer (LCL,15400-13100 cal yr BP) of the"151 site"located in the Qinghai Lake Basin,providing important information about human subsistence strategies on the Tibetan Plateau during the Last Deglaciation.Zooarchaeological analysis of these faunal remains indicates that hunter-gatherers at the"151 site"mainly targeted large ungulates of Bos and wild horse/ass,and only brought back the most nutritious parts of animal carcasses including upper and intermediate limb bones,heads,and trunks (ribs and vertebrae).People then processed and consumed the carcasses around single hearths.Our comprehensive analyses of contemporaneous sites in the Qinghai Lake Basin show that a subsistence strategy involving opportunistic hunting of ungulates,high mobility,and short occupation of campsites was used by terminal Pleistocene huntergatherers to adapt to the high-altitude environment on the Tibetan Plateau.This subsistence strategy may have been a first step of gradual hunter-gatherer adaptation to the extreme conditions on the Tibetan Plateau after the Last Glacial Maximum,and laid the foundation for the widespread distribution of hunter-gatherers on the plateau during the Holocene.

Discovery of [1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine derivatives as highly potent, selective, and cellularly active USP28 inhibitors

Ubiquitin specific peptidase 28(USP28) is closely associated to the occurrence and development of various malignancies, and thus has been validated as a promising therapeutic target for cancer therapy. To date,only few USP28 inhibitors with moderate inhibitory activity have been reported, highly potent and selective USP28 inhibitors with new chemotypes remain to be discovered for pathologically investigating the roles of deubiquitinase. In this current study, we reported the synthesis and biological evaluation of new [1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine derivatives as potent USP28 inhibitors. Especially, compound 19 potently inhibited USP28(IC50=1.10 ± 0.02 μmol/L, Kd=40 nmol/L), showing selectivity over USP7 and LSD1(IC50> 100 μmol/L). Compound 19 was cellularly engaged to USP28 in gastric cancer cells. Compound 19 reversibly bound to USP28 and directly affected its protein levels, thus inhibiting the proliferation, cell cycle at S phase, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) progression in gastric cancer cell lines. Docking studies were performed to rationalize the potency of compound 19. Collectively, compound 19 could serve as a new tool compound for the development of new USP28 inhibitors for exploring the roles of deubiquitinase in cancers.

The completed macronuclear genome of a model ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila and its application in genome scrambling and copy number analyses

The ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila has been a powerful model system for molecular and cellular biology.However,some investigations have been limited due to the incomplete closure and sequencing of the macronuclear genome assembly,which for many years has been stalled at 1,158 scaffolds,with large sections of unknown sequences(available in Tetrahymena Genome Database,TGD,http://ciliate.org/).Here we completed the first chromosome-level Tetrahymena macronuclear genome assembly,with approximately 300×long Single Molecule,Real-Time reads of the wild-type SB210 cells—the reference strain for the initial macronuclear genome sequencing project.All 181 chromosomes were capped with two telomeres and gaps were entirely closed.The completed genome shows significant improvements over the current assembly(TGD 2014)in both chromosome structure and sequence integrity.The majority of previously identified gene models shown in TGD were retained,with the addition of 36 new genes and 883 genes with modified gene models.The new genome and annotation were incorporated into TGD.This new genome allows for pursuit in some underexplored areas that were far more challenging previously;two of them,genome scrambling and chromosomal copy number,were investigated in this study.We expect that the completed macronuclear genome will facilitate many studies in Tetrahymena biology,as well as multiple lines of research in other eukaryotes.

Effect of methane-hydrogen mixtures on flow and combustion of coherent jets

Coherent jets are widely used in electric are furnace （EAF） steelmaking to increase the oxygen utilization and chemical reaction rates. However, the influence of fuel gas combustion on jet behavior is not fully understood yet. The flow and combustion characteristics of a coherent jet were thus investigated at steelmaking temperature using Fluent software, and a detailed chemical kinetic reaction mecha- nism was used in the combustion reaction model. The axial velocity and total temperature of the supersonic jet were measured via hot state experiments. The simulation results were compared with the experimental data and the empirical jet model proposed by Ito and Muchi and good consistency was obtained. The research results indicated that the potential core length of the coherent jet can be prolonged by optimizing the combustion effect of the fuel gas. Besides, the behavior of the supersonic jet in the subsonic section was also investigated, as it is an important factor for controlling the position of the oxygen lance. The investigation indicated that the attenuation of the coherent jet is more notable than that of the conventional jet in the subsonic section.

Our recent progress in epigenetic research using the model ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila

Epigenetic research focuses on heritable changes beyond the DNA sequence, which has led to a revolution in biologicalstudies and benefits in many other fields. The well-known model ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila offers a unique system forepigenetic studies due to its nuclear dimorphism and special mode of sexual reproduction (conjugation), as well as abundantgenomic resources and genetic tools. In this paper, we summarize recent progress made by our research team and collaboratorsin understanding epigenetic mechanisms using Tetrahymena. This includes: (1) providing the first genome-wide basepair-resolution map of DNA N6-methyladenine (6mA) and revealed it as an integral part of the chromatin landscape;(2)dissecting the relative contribution of cis・ and trans- elements to nucleosome distribution by exploring the unique nucleardimorphism of Tetrahymena, (3) demonstrating the epigenetic controls of RNAi-dependent Polycomb repression pathwayson transposable elements, and (4) identifying a new histone monomethyltransferase, TXR1 (Tetrahymena Trithorax 1), thatfacilitates replication elongation through 让s substrate histone H3 lysine 27 monomethylation (H3K27mel).

Reconsideration of the taxonomy of the marine ciliate Neobakuella aenigmatica Moon et al.,2019(Protozoa,Ciliophora,Hypotrichia)

The morphology and divisional morphogenesis in a Chinese population of Neobakuella aenigmatica Moon et al.,2019 are reinvestigated.The body size,number and arrangement of parabuccal cirri and development of nuclear nodules in this population are discussed in comparison with closely related genera.The 18S rRNA gene sequence of the Chinese population is identical to that of a Korean population,supporting a distant relationship between N.aenigmatica and the cluster of N.flava and Apobakuella fuse a.We deduce that this may be caused by the differences in the pattern of the parabuccal cirri and the number of parabuccal rows which are important for the phylogeny of Bakuella-like,species.

New portraits of the Denisovans

Denisovans,well known for their high-coverage genetic sequences,are considered to be a new human species genetically distinct from Neanderthals and modern humans[1].As a close sister group of Neanderthals,Denisovans not only interbred w让h Neanderthals[2],but they also contributed genetically to extant humans,including modern populations in parts of Oceania and Asia,aboriginal Americans and high-alt让ude modern Tibetans[3-5].