Effect of Butternut Squash (Cucurbita moschata) Seed Powder on the Chemical and Rheological Properties of Stirred Cultured Camel Milk and Yoghurt

Research shows that producing fermented camel milk is hard because of the milk’s inability to form a firm coagulum, attributed to low levels of κ-casein and ꞵ-lactoglobulin and the large casein micelle size, leading to a weak network of casein formation. In an effort to address this issue, researchers turned to corn starch as a thickening agent, discovering that a concentration of 2.0% effectively improved the viscosity and significantly reduced syneresis in stirred camel milk yoghurt and cultured camel milk. This study explores alternatives to corn starch, focusing on butternut squash seeds as a promising substitute due to their hydrocolloid composition. By incorporating butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) seed powder (BSSP) as a thickening agent, this study aimed at enhancing the chemical and rheological properties of stirred camel milk yoghurt and cultured camel milk. Fermented camel milk was prepared using 4 litres of camel milk, 2% starter cultures (thermophilic culture for yoghurt and mesophilic aromatic culture for stirred cultured camel milk) and BSSP 0.0% (negative control), 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, 2.0% mixed with 0.4% gelatin. 2.0% corn starch mixed with 0.4% gelatin was used as a standard for comparison. Results showed that increasing the BSSP level significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the moisture content while increasing the total solid content of stirred fermented camel milk products. There was an increase in ash content with an increase in BSSP levels. There was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the pH, with an increase in BSSP levels in stirred fermented camel milk samples. Increasing the concentration of BSSP from 0.4% to 2.0% resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in viscosity and a reduction in syneresis of stirred camel milk yoghurt and stirred cultured camel milk samples. This study demonstrated that BSSP effectively enhances the viscosity, reduces syneresis and increases acidity in stirred fermented camel milk products during storage.

Observation of Mitosis and Meiosis in Rice Cells by Simple Squash Method

[Objective] The aim of this study was to establish a feasible squashing technique for chromosome and obtain data of rice chromosome. [Method] With the materials of rice root tips and anther, the specimen was prepared by the modified squash method, and microscopic observation of mitosis and meiosis in rice cells was also carried out. [ Result] Mitosis in rice cells included interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Chromosome in metaphase shortened to the minmum, which was a good time for observing and investigating chromosome. However, meiosis in rice cells included meiosis Ⅰ and meiosis Ⅱ. Chromosome replication appeared in meiosis Ⅰ, while cell division only appeared in meiosis Ⅱ. [ Conclusion] The modified squashing technique for rice chromosome can obtain accurate data of rice chromosome, which provides evidence for genetic breeding.

A note on overshoot estimation in pole placements

In this note we show that for a given controllable pair (A, B) and any λ > 0, a gain matrix K can be chosen so that the transition matrix e {(A+BK)t} of the system x = (A + BK) x decays at the exponential rate e ?λt and the overshoot of the transition matrix can be bounded by Mλ L for some constants M and L that are independent of λ. As a consequence, for any h > 0, a gain matrix K can be chosen so that the magnitude of the transition matrix e (A+BK)t can be reduced by 1/2 (or by any given portion) over [0, h]. An interesting application of the result is in the stabilization of switched linear systems with any given switching rate.

Analysis of Fruit Length Using Mixed Major Gene and Polygene Inheritance Model in Summer Squash

[Objective]The aim was to provide scientific basis for breeding on the fruit length of summer squash.[Method]Inheritance of the fruit length of summer squash in P1,P2,F1,B1,B2 and F2 from two crosses q-1 ×23-4G（cross 1） and q-1 ×A-7（cross 2） was investigated by the mixed major gene and polygene inheritance model of quantitative traits.[Result]The results showed that the fruit length was controlled by D2 model;Genetic effect of fruit length of cross 1 was mainly additive effect,but genetic effect of fruit length of cross 2 was mainly dominant effect.Heritability values of the genes of F2 were relatively high and the environmental effect was relatively low.[Conclusion]The fruit length breeding of summer squash should be selected in early generation selection.

Analysis of Flesh Thickness of Summer Squash by Using Mixed Major Genes and Polygene Inheritance Model

[Objective]The aim was to study the inheritance of flesh thickness,so as to provide a theoretical basis for breeding of thicker-flesh summer squash variety.[Method]Using mixed major genes and polygene inheritance model,a joint analysis of six generations from two crosses q-1×23-4G（Cross 1）and q-1×A-7（Cross 2）was conducted to investigate the inheritance of the flesh thickness of summer squash.[Result]The results showed that the flesh thickness was controlled by D-2 model（a pair of additive major genes plus additive-dominant polygene）;genetic effect of flesh thickness in the two crosses was mainly the dominant effect of polygene.Heritability values of the genes of F2 generation were relatively low,while the environmental effect was great.[Conclusion]To flesh thickness,the method of individual selection on high separated generations was effective in the breeding of summer squash with thick flesh.

Analysis of Fruit Width Using Mixed Major Gene and Polygene Inheritance Model in Summer Squash

[Objective] The aim was to provide scientific basis for breeding on the fruit width of summer squash.[Method] Inheritance of the fruit width traits of summer squash in P1,P2,F1,BC1,BC2 and F2 from two crosses q-1×23-4G（cross 1）and q-1×A-7（cross 2）was investigated by the mixed major gene and polygene inheritance model of quantitative traits.[Result] The fruit width was controlled by B-1 model.Heritability values of the major genes of F2 were relatively high and the environmental effect was relatively low.[Conclusion] The fruit width breeding of summer squash should be selected in early generation selection.

面向海量机械故障数据的胶囊网络算法研究

针对卷积神经网络算法在大规模故障数据集检测中出现的故障敏感度低、部分特征丢失等问题,提出一种基于优化胶囊网络算法的机械故障检测方案。胶囊网络算法采用多神经元封装的胶囊体结构设计,且包含多个胶囊层,具有更强的故障数据处理能力和泛化能力;经过squash函数挤压后的胶囊矢量可以更准确地提取和描述故障特征;升维胶囊矢量,基于特征编码和归一化的处理方式,可得到更准确的故障分类结果。实验结果显示:优化胶囊网络算法具有更强的故障特征聚类性能和迭代运算性能,故障集检测精度值高于经典卷积神经网络算法。

An acorn squash (Cucurbita pepo ssp. ovifera) fruit and seed transcriptome as a resource for the study of fruit traits in Cucurbita

Acorn squash(Cucurbita pepo)is an iconic fall vegetable in the United States,known for its unique fruit shape and also prized for its culinary properties.Little is known about the metabolism that underlies the development of fruit quality attributes such as color,sweetness,texture and nutritional qualities in acorn squash,or any other winter squash grown worldwide.To provide insight into winter squash fruit and seed development and add to the genomic resources in the Cucurbita genus,RNA sequencing was used to generate an acorn squash fruit and seed transcriptome from the cultivar Sweet REBA at critical points throughout fruit development.141838600 high-quality paired-end Illumina reads were assembled into 55949 unigenes.85%of unigenes with predicted open reading frames had homology with previously identified genes and over 62%could be functionally annotated.Comparison with the watermelon and cucumber genomes provided confirmation that the unigenes are full-length and comprehensive,covering an average of 90%of the coding sequence of their homologs and 72%of the cucumber and watermelon exomes.Key candidate genes associated with carotenoid and carbohydrate metabolism were identified toward a resource for winter squash fruit quality trait dissection.This transcriptome represents a major advance in C.pepo genomics,providing significant new sequence information and revealing the repertoire of genes expressed throughout winter squash fruit and seed development.Future studies on the genetic basis of fruit quality and future breeding efforts will be enhanced by tools and insights developed from this resource.

Comparative analysis of Cucurbita pepo metabolism throughout fruit development in acorn squash and oilseed pumpkin

Both the fruit mesocarp and the seeds of winter squash can be used for consumption,although the focus of breeding efforts varies by cultivar.Cultivars bred for fruit consumption are selected for fruit mesocarp quality traits such as carotenoid content,percent dry matter,and percent soluble solids,while these traits are essentially ignored in oilseed pumpkins.To compare fruit development in these two types of squash,we sequenced the fruit transcriptome of two cultivars bred for different purposes:an acorn squash,‘Sweet REBA’,and an oilseed pumpkin,‘Lady Godiva’.Putative metabolic pathways were developed for carotenoid,starch,and sucrose synthesis in winter squash fruit and squash homologs were identified for each of the structural genes in the pathways.Gene expression,especially of known rate-limiting and branch point genes,corresponded with metabolite accumulation both across development and between the two cultivars.Thus,developmental regulation of metabolite genes is an important factor in winter squash fruit quality.

Molecular and biological characterization of melon-infecting squash leaf curl China virus in China

It has been reported that squash leaf curl China virus(SLCCNV)infects some Cucurbitaceae crops except for melon(Cucumis melo L.).A new disease of melon exhibiting severe leaf curl and dwarfing was observed in Hainan Province of China.In this study,the pathogen was identified as SLCCNV through biological and molecular characterization.The isolate(SLCCNV-HN)possess a bipartite genome,DNA-A(HM566112.1)with the highest nucleotide identity(99%)to SLCCNV-Hn(MF062251.1)pumpkin and SLCCNV-Hn61(AM260205.1)squash isolates from China,whereas DNA-B(HM566113.1)with the highest nucleotide identity(99%)to SLCCNV-Hn(MF062252.1).Phylogenetic analyses based on the full-length SLCCNV-HN DNA-A and-B sequences indicated that SLCCNV-HN melon isolate is clustered with SLCCNV-Hn pumpkin,SLCCNV-Hn61 and SLCCNV-SY squash isolates from southern China,forming an independent cluster.Infectious clone of SLCCNV-HN was constructed and the melon plants were inoculated and the infection rate is 100%,the systemic symptoms in melon showed identical to those of melon plants infected in fields.Additionally,melon plants transmission of this virus by Bemisia tabaci with a transmission rate of 95%(19/20)showed leaf curl and dwarf symptoms 15 days post transmission,thereby fulfilling Koch’s postulates.Analysis of genomic organization and phylogenetic trees indicated that SLCCNV-HN melon isolate belongs to the Begomovirus genus.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first characterization of meloninfecting SLCCNV through its genome,infectious clone and transmission.

Fruit Yield and Quality, and Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Summer Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities in a Semi-Arid Agricultural Area

Fruit yield, yield components, fruit mineral content, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and irrigation water use efifciency （IWUE） of summer squash responses to different irrigation quantities were evaluated with a ifeld study. Irrigations were done when the total evaporated water from a Class A pan was about 30 mm. Different irrigation quantities were adjusted using three different plant-pan coefifcients （Kcp, 100% （Kcp1）, 85% （Kcp2） and 70% （Kcp3））. Results indicated that lower irrigation quantities provided statistically lower yield and yield components. The highest seasonal fruit yield （80.0 t ha-1） was determined in the Kcp1 treatment, which applied the highest volume of irrigation water （452.9 mm）. The highest early fruit yield, average fruit weight and fruit diameter, length and number per plant were also determined in the Kcp1 treatment, with values of 7.25 t ha-1, 264.1 g, 5.49 cm, 19.95 cm and 10.92, respectively. Although the IWUE value was the highest in the Kcp1 treatment （176.6 kg ha-1 mm-1）, it was statistically similar to the value for Kcp3 treatment （157.1 kg ha-1 mm-1）. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of fruits was higher in the Kcp1 （44.27 μg gallic acid equivalents （GAE） mg-1 fresh sample） and in the Kcp2 （84.75%） treatments, respectively. Major （Na, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S） and trace （Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B） mineral contents of squash fruits were the highest in the Kcp2 treatment, with the exception of P, Ca and Cu. Mineral contents and total phenolic content were signiifcantly affected by irrigation quantities, but antioxidant activity was not affected. It can be concluded that the Kcp1 treatment was the most suitable for achieving higher yield and IWUE. However, the Kcp2 treatment will be the most suitable due to the high fruit quality and relatively high yield in water shortage conditions.

Dirac Particles' Tunneling Radiation from Dilaton Space-time with Squashed Horizons

The aim of this paper is to investigate Hawking radiation of Dirac particles from the Dilaton space-time with squashed horizons by improving the method of Kerner and Man’s tunneling analysis.We construct appropriate matrices for general covariant Dirac equation,and derive the tunneling probability and Hawking temperature.The results show that both Dirac particles and scalar particles radiate at the same Hawking temperature.

Effects of butternut squash extract on dentate gyrus cell proliferation and spatial learning in male adult rats

Previous studies reported that some plants, including butternut squash, exert positive effects on the brain. However, few studies have examined the effects of butternut squash on learning, memory, and neurogenesis. This study studied the effects of butternut squash extract on spatial learning and cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of healthy male rats. Thirty-five male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg butternut squash extract once daily for 2 months. After the last administration, rat＇s spatial memory was studied using the Morris water maze. Finally, rats were sacrificed and hippocampal sections were prepared for light microscopy and bromodeoxyuridine immunohistochemistry studies. The results revealed that escape latency and swim distance decreased in all treatment groups compared with the control rats, and that the number of bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells in the dentate gyrus was significantly increased in the treatment groups compared with the controls. These findings suggest that butternut squash extract improves the learning and memory abilities of male rats, and increases the proliferation of dentate gyrus cells.

Isolation and Identification of Squash Leaf Curl China Virus in Zucchini

[Objectives]In 2019,virus diseases occurred widely on zucchini planted in Shandong Province.The disease symptom was different from previous reports.This study aimed to identify the pathogen causing the zucchini virus disease.[Methods]Ten diseased zucchini leaves were collected in the field and used as materials for PCR and sequencing.[Results]PCR detection and sequencing showed that the nucleotide sequence of the amplified fragment had the highest identity with the squash isolate of squash leaf curl China virus(SLCCNV)(MW389919.1)in Guangdong Province.Primers were further designed for amplifying the full-length SLCCNV.The full-length DNA-A was 2730 bp(OM692270.1),and the full-length DNA-B was 2711 bp(OM692269.1).Through sequence alignment,it was found that the DNA-A sequence shared identity of 89.65%-99.42%with registered SLCCNV,and the identity with the SLCCNV-GDHY pumpkin isolate(MW389919.1)in Guangdong was the highest,at 99.42%.The DNA-B sequence was identical with registered SLCCNV in the range of 81.82%-97.29%,and the identity with the SLCCNV-GDHY pumpkin isolate(MW389918.1)in Guangdong,was the highest,at 97.29%.Therefore,it was speculated that SLCCNV is the pathogen of zucchini virus disease.Since the virus was first found on zucchini in Shandong,it was named SLCCNV-SD.[Conclusions]This study provides materials for the research on the spread of SLCCNV in China and the analysis of population genetic characteristics,as well as a reference for the prevention and control of the virus in zucchini.

Abbott-Deser-Tekin Charge of Dilaton Black Holes with Squashed Horizons

We consider the conserved charge of static black holes with squashed horizons in the Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton theory via both the Abbott-Deser-Tekin （ADT） method and its off-shell generalization. We first make use of the original ADT method to compute the mass of the dilaton squashed black holes in terms of three different reference spacetimes, which are the asymptotic geometry, the flat background and the spacetime of the Kaluza- Klein monopole with boundary matched to the original metric, respectively. Each mass satisfies the first law of black hole thermodynamics, although the mass computed on the basis of the boundary matching the Kaluza- Klein monopole is different from that of the other two reference spacetimes. Then the mass of the black holes is evaluated through the off-shell generalized ADT method.

有关相互非补的Sperner族的结论

利用数学归纳研究1个以上Sperner集族的最大界问题。首先,对于t=2的情况进行详细证明;然后,对于t个pairwise uncomplemented Sperner集族进行分情况讨论。在此证明过程中,主要运用Kruskal-Katona定理。设Ai(i=1,…,2))是由[n]形成的一列Sperner集族,如果对于任意的A∈Ai和不属于Aj,则称Ai和Aj非补。得到如下结论:若A1,…,At是t个相互非补的、由[n]生成的Sperner集族,则|A1|+…+|At|≤{t{n[n/2]}(n为奇数){nn/2}+(t-1){nn/2+1}(n为偶数)

Fermion tunneling from squashed black holes in the Gdel universe and charged Kaluza Klein space time

This paper is devoted to the investigation the fermion tunneling radiation of squashed black holes in the G6del universe and charged Kaluza-Klein space-time. For black holes with different dimensions, establishing a set of appropriate matrices γμ for the general covariant Dirac equation plays an important role in the semi-classical tunneling method. By constructing two sets of γμ matrices, we have successfully derived the tunneling probability and Hawking temperature of the black holes.

A Study of Oxalate-Induced Systemic Resistance of Muskmelon to Squash Mosaic Virus

By treatment with oxalate muskmelon cultivar “Wangwenxiang”, which is sensitive to squash mosaic virus (SqMV), develops systemic resistance to SqMV significantly. The challenge inoculation experiments indicate that the symptom of oxalate treated plants gets much slighter, the virus content is only 4% reduced to. The peroxidase activity increases by five times, three new isoperoxidases are induced, and lignin content increases by 82.9%. These results indicate that oxalate induces systemic resistance of muskmelon to SqMV while it induces increase of peroxidase activity, new isoperoxidases and content of lignin in the plants treated with oxalate.

Squash Hall Indoor Temperature Monitoring System Based on LabVIEW Design

By Using ADAM4000 series data acquisition module, squash hall monitoring system was developed based on the LabVIEW platform. The system consists of master control, signal channel, file operations, digital filtering, spectral analysis, statistic analysis, system monitoring and other modules. The system will alarm at the real time when the result of the average temperature of the squash hall divided by ten is no less than the monitor threshold of 4.3 while athletes are playing squash, by which the temperature and pressure data acquisition, processing and monitoring could be achieved. Application shows that the changes of human exposure temperature between 20°C and 43°C can achieve the comfort level of athletes’ movement, proving that the monitoring system effectively improves the security of squash hall indoor temperature environment.

Technique for Using Spent Mushroom Substrate of Flammulina velutipes to Cultivate Volvariella volvacea in Idle Period of Greenhouse Summer Squash

Greenhouse summer squash is a major type of greenhouse vegetable in Shandong Province.In summer,there is a three-month idle period of greenhouse summer squash.Volvariella volvacea is a high temperature resistant high-quality edible fungus.In practice,it is able to use the spent mushroom substrate of Flammulina velutipes to cultivate V.volvacea.In the idle period of greenhouse summer squash,cultivating V.volvacea using the spent mushroom substrate of F.velutipes has high economic and environmental benefits.The cultivation techniques mainly include the preparation of cultivation materials,preliminary preparation for the greenhouse,planting management of V.volvacea,and returning the spent mushroom substrate to the field.By comparison with the conventional summer squash planting,this technique has higher economic benefits and its application prospects will be broad.