Promoting grain production through high-standard farmland construction:Evidence in China

Food security is a strategic priority for a country’s economic development.In China,high-standard farmland construction(HSFC)is an important initiative to stabilize grain production and increase grain production capacity.Based on panel data from 31 sample provinces,autonomous regions,and municipalities in China from 2005–2017,this study explored the impact of HSFC on grain yield using the difference-in-differences(DID)method.The results showed that HSFC significantly increased total grain production,which is robust to various checks.HSFC increased grain yield through three potential mechanisms.First,it could increase the grain replanting index.Second,it could effectively reduce yield loss due to droughts and floods.Last,HSFC could strengthen the cultivated land by renovating the low-and medium-yielding fields.Heterogeneity analysis found that the HSFC farmland showed a significant increase in grain yield only in the main grain-producing areas and balanced areas.In addition,HSFC significantly increased the yields of rice,wheat,and maize while leading to a reduction in soybean yields.The findings suggest the government should continue to promote HSFC,improve construction standards,and strictly control the“non-agriculturalization”and“non-coordination”of farmland to increase grain production further.At the same time,market mechanisms should be used to incentivize soybean farming,improve returns and stabilize soybean yields.

Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) is expressed in myocardial ischemia injury in vivo and in vitro

Introduction:Chemokine-like factor 1(CKLF1)is a chemokine that is overexpressed in several diseases.Our previousfindings revealed a significant increase in CKLF1 expression in the ischemic brain,suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.Methods:In this study,we examined the expression dynamics of CKLF1 in both in vivo and in vitro models of ischemic cardiac injury.Myocardial infarction(MI)was induced in vivo by ligation of the left anterior descending artery(LAD)of the rat heart.The levels of CKLF1,Creatine Kinase MB Isoenzyme(CK-MB),and Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)in the serum were detected using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The expression of CKLF1 in the infarcted area was detected by immunohistochemistry,immunofluorescence,quantitative PCR(qPCR),and Western blotting(WB).H9C2 and AC16 cardiomyocytes cultured in vitro were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation(OGD).LDH was used to detect cell damage,and CKLF1 expression was detected by qPCR and WB.Results:CKLF1 mRNA and protein expression were significantly increased in h9c2 cells at 1.5 h and in AC16 cells at 4 h after OGD.The serum CK-MB in rats increased significantly on thefirst day after infarction,while the LDH concentration increased significantly on the third day after infarction.CKLF1 blood levels significantly increased on thefirst day following MI in rats.CKLF1 expression notably increased in the infarct area on days 1,3,and 7 post-MI.In MI tissue,CKLF1 colocalizes with cardiomyocytes,macrophages,and neutrophils.Conclusion:CKLF1 was substantially expressed during myocardial ischemia injury both in vivo and in vitro and was colocalized with macrophages and neutrophils,indicating that CKLF1 is expected to be a biomarker and a drug target for the treatment of myocardial infarction.

Neural network as a function approximator and its application in solving differential equations

A neural network(NN) is a powerful tool for approximating bounded continuous functions in machine learning. The NN provides a framework for numerically solving ordinary differential equations(ODEs) and partial differential equations(PDEs)combined with the automatic differentiation(AD) technique. In this work, we explore the use of NN for the function approximation and propose a universal solver for ODEs and PDEs. The solver is tested for initial value problems and boundary value problems of ODEs, and the results exhibit high accuracy for not only the unknown functions but also their derivatives. The same strategy can be used to construct a PDE solver based on collocation points instead of a mesh, which is tested with the Burgers equation and the heat equation(i.e., the Laplace equation).

Recent progress in compressible turbulence

In this paper, we review some recent studies on compressible turbulence conducted by the authors＇ group, which include fundamental studies on compressible isotropic turbulence （CIT） and applied studies on developing a con- strained large eddy simulation （CLES） for wall-bounded turbulence. In the first part, we begin with a newly pro- posed hybrid compact-weighted essentially nonoscillatory （WENO） scheme for a CIT simulation that has been used to construct a systematic database of CIT. Using this database various fundamental properties of compressible turbulence have been examined, including the statistics and scaling of compressible modes, the shocklet-turbulence interac- tion, the effect of local compressibility on small scales, the kinetic energy cascade, and some preliminary results from a Lagrangian point of view. In the second part, the idea and for- mulas of the CLES are reviewed, followed by the validations of CLES and some applications in compressible engineering problems.

Effects of nozzle and fluid properties on the drop formation dynamics in a drop-on-demand inkjet printing

The droplet formation dynamics of a Newtonian liquid in a drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet process is numerically investigated by using a volume-of-fluid (VOF) method. We focus on the nozzle geometry, wettability of the interior surface, and the fluid properties to achieve the stable droplet formation with higher velocity. It is found that a nozzle with contracting angle of 45° generates the most stable and fastest single droplet, which is beneficial for the enhanced printing quality and high-throughput printing rate. For this nozzle with the optimal geometry, we systematically change the wettability of the interior surface, i.e., different contact angles. As the contact angle increases, pinch-off time increases and the droplet speed reduces. Finally, fluids with different properties are investigated to identify the printability range.

Macroscopic damping model for structural dynamics with random polycrystalline configurations

In this paper the macroscopic damping model for dynamical behavior of the structures with random polycrystalline configurations at micro-nano scales is established. First, the global motion equation of a crystal is decomposed into a set of motion equations with independent single degree of freedom （SDOF） along normal discrete modes, and then damping behavior is introduced into each SDOF motion. Through the interpolation of discrete modes, the continuous representation of damping effects for the crystal is obtained. Second, from energy conservation law the expression of the damping coefficient is derived, and the approximate formula of damping coefficient is given. Next, the continuous damping coefficient for polycrystalline cluster is expressed, the continuous dynamical equation with damping term is obtained, and then the concrete damping coefficients for a polycrystalline Cu sample are shown. Finally, by using statistical two-scale homogenization method, the macroscopic homogenized dynamical equation containing damping term for the structures with random polycrystalline configurations at micro-nano scales is set up.

Droplet impact on wetted structured surfaces

In this study,we numerically investigate the droplet impact onto a thin liquid film deposited on a structured surface with square pillars and cavities.The time evolution of crown geometry is strongly affected by the surface structure.When the thickness of the liquid film is larger than the structure height,the expanding speed of the crown base radius is independent of the structure width.However,if the liquid film thickness is equal to the structure height,the crown base expands slower as the structure width increases.Surface structures have strong effects on the crown height and radius,and can prevent ejected filament from breaking into satellite droplets for certain cases.For the liquid film with the thickness equal to the pillar height,both the crown height and the radius exhibit non-monotonic behaviors as the pillar width increases.There exists one pillar width which produces the smallest crown height and the largest crown radius.

Effects of the actuation waveform on the drop size reduction in drop-on-demand inkjet printing

In this study the effects of the actuation waveforms on the droplet generation in a drop-on-demand inkjet printing are studied systematically by numerical simulations.Two different types of waveforms,namely the unipolar and bipolar actuations,are investigated for three fluids with different physical properties.We focus on two key parameters,which are the dwell time and the velocity amplitude.For the unipolar driving,the ejection velocity and the ejected liquid volume are both increased as the velocity amplitude becomes larger.The dwell time only has minor effects on both the ejection velocity and the ejected liquid volume.The ejection velocity decreases significantly for large liquid viscosity,while the influences of viscosity on the ejected liquid volume are much weaker.Four different droplet morphologies and the corresponding parameter ranges are identified.The droplet radius can be successfully reduced to about 40%e of the nozzle exit radius.For the bipolar waveforms,same droplet morphologies are observed but with shifted boundaries in the phase space.The minimal radius of stable droplet produced by the bipolar waveforms is even smaller compared to the unipolar ones.

Double diffusive convection in the finger regime for different Prandtl and Schmidt numbers

In this work fingering double diffusive convection,i.e.the buoyancy-driven flow with fluid density being affected by two different scalar components,is investigated numerically with special efforts on the influences of the physical properties of two scalar components.We show that different scalar properties can affect the global transport behaviors.The concentration flux exhibits different exponents in their power-law scalings for different combinations of scalar components.The scaling exponents of heat flux,however,depend mainly on the ratio of the diffusivities of two scalars.If one uses the local parameters of the finger layer in the bulk,the behaviors are very similar to those found in the fully periodic simulations.The horizontal width of the fingers is consistent with the wavelength of the fast growing mode.For one case we observe evidences of the thermohaline staircase,namely,the typical width of the flow structures changes significantly in different layers within the flow domain.

Cavity dynamics of water drop impact onto immiscible oil pool with different viscosity

In this work,we numerically study the impact of a water droplet onto a deep oil pool.Two fluids are immiscible and the viscosity of the pool liquid is changed systematically.We focus on the cavity dynamics during the impact and especially the effects of the pool liquid viscosity and the impacting velocity.For the parameter range explored,we identify the regime where splashing occurs with corolla breaking into droplets,and the regime where no splashing is observed.Similarity is found for the time evolution of cavity depth for fixed impact velocity and different viscosity,if the cavity depth and time are nondimensionalized by the maximal depth and the time when the maximal depth is reached.Effective power-law scalings are also proposed to describe the dependence of the maximal cavity depth and the corresponding time on the impact velocity and pool liquid viscosity,in the term of Froude and Reynolds numbers.

H3‑T6SS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 contributes to environmental adaptation via secretion of a biofilm‑promoting effector

Microbial species often occur in complex communities and exhibit intricate synergistic and antagonistic interactions.To avoid predation and compete for favorable niches,bacteria have evolved specialized protein secretion systems.The type VI secretion system(T6SS)is a versatile secretion system widely distributed among Gram-negative bacteria that translocates effectors into target cells or the extracellular milieu via various physiological processes.Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for many diseases,and it has three independent T6SSs(H1-,H2-,and H3-T6SS).In this study,we found that the H3-T6SS of highly virulent P.aeruginosa PA14 is negatively regulated by OxyR and OmpR,which are global regulatory proteins of bacterial oxidative and acid stress.In addition,we identified a H3-T6SS effector PA14_33970,which is located upstream of VgrG3.PA14_33970 interacted directly with VgrG3 and translocated into host cells.Moreover,we found that H3-T6SS and PA14_33970 play crucial roles in oxidative,acid,and osmotic stress resistance,as well as in motility and biofilm formation.PA14_33970 was identified as a new T6SS effec-tor promoting biofilm formation and thus named TepB.Furthermore,we found that TepB contributes to the virulence of P.aeruginosa PA14 toward Caenorhabditis elegans.Overall,our study indicates that H3-T6SS and its biofilm-promot-ing effector TepB are regulated by OxyR and OmpR,both of which are important for adaptation of P.aeruginosa PA14 to multiple stressors,providing insights into the regulatory mechanisms and roles of T6SSs in P.aeruginosa.

Reynolds stress constrained large eddy simulation of separation flows in a U-duct

This paper presents Reynolds stress constrained large eddy simulation(RSC-LES)method applied to a U-duct flow.Different from traditional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes/detached eddy simulation(RANS/DES)hybrid method(including DES method),the RSC-LES method solves the LES equations in the whole computation domain with the near-wall regions being constrained by a prescribed Reynolds stress.By doing so it is possible to overcome the log-law mismatch(LLM)problem in hybrid method.The RSC-LES results show better agreement with experiment result.Compared with RANS and DES,RSC-LES gives more accurate pressure coefficients and friction coefficients on the wall,because the RSC-LES method captures the separation point and reattachment point on the inner wall.The computation results show that the RSC-LES method has the potential to solve the log-law mismatch problem of RANS/DES hybrid method and predict complex phenomena of internal flow field.

A Fur-regulated type Ⅵ secretion system contributes to oxidative stress resistance and virulence in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

The type Ⅵ secretion system(T6SS)is a widespread protein secretion apparatus deployed by many Gram-negative bacterial species to interact with competitor bacteria,host organisms,and the environment.Yersinia pseudotuber-culosis T6SS4 was recently reported to be involved in manganese acquisition;however,the underlying regulatory mechanism still remains unclear.In this study,we discovered that T6SS4 is regulated by ferric uptake regulator(Fur)in response to manganese ions(Mn^(2+)),and this negative regulation of Fur was proceeded by specifically recogniz-ing the promoter region of T6SS4 in Y.pseudotuberculosis.Furthermore,T6SS4 is induced by low Mn^(2+)and oxidative stress conditions via Fur,acting as a Mn^(2+)-responsive transcriptional regulator to maintain intracellular manganese homeostasis,which plays important role in the transport of Mn^(2+)for survival under oxidative stress.Our results pro-vide evidence that T6SS4 can enhance the oxidative stress resistance and virulence for Y.pseudotuberculosis.This study provides new insights into the regulation of T6SS4 via the Mn^(2+)-dependent transcriptional regulator Fur,and expands our knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms and functions of T6SS from Y.pseudotuberculosis.