Small-scale farming accounts for 78% of total agricultural production in Kenya and contributes to 23.5% of the country’s GDP. Their crop production activities are mostly rainfed subsistence with any surplus being sol...Small-scale farming accounts for 78% of total agricultural production in Kenya and contributes to 23.5% of the country’s GDP. Their crop production activities are mostly rainfed subsistence with any surplus being sold to bring in some income. Timely decisions on farm practices such as farm preparation and planting are critical determinants of the seasonal outcomes. In Kenya, most small-scale farmers have no reliable source of information that would help them make timely and accurate decisions. County governments have extension officers who are mandated with giving farmers advisory services to farmers but they are not able to reach most farmers due to facilitation constraints. The mode and format of sharing information is also critical since it’s important to ensure that it’s timely, well-understood and usable. This study sought to assess access to geospatial derived and other crop production information by farmers in four selected counties of Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine the profile of small-scale farmers in terms of age, education and farm size;to determine the type of information that is made available to them by County and Sub-County extension officers including the format and mode of provision;and to determine if the information provided was useful in terms of accuracy, timeliness and adequacy. The results indicated that over 80% of the farmers were over 35 years of age and over 56% were male. Majority had attained primary education (34%) or secondary education (29%) and most farmers in all the counties grew maize (71%). Notably, fellow farmers were a source of information (71%) with the frequency of sharing information being mostly seasonal (37%) and when information was available (43%). Over 66% of interviewed farmers indicating that they faced challenges while using provided information. The results from the study are insightful and helpful in determining effective ways of providing farmers with useful information to ensure maximum benefits.展开更多
Underground hydrogen storage(UHS)and compressed air energy storage(CAES)are two viable largescale energy storage technologies for mitigating the intermittency of wind and solar power.Therefore,it is meaningful to comp...Underground hydrogen storage(UHS)and compressed air energy storage(CAES)are two viable largescale energy storage technologies for mitigating the intermittency of wind and solar power.Therefore,it is meaningful to compare the properties of hydrogen and air with typical thermodynamic storage processes.This study employs a multi-physical coupling model to compare the operations of CAES and UHS,integrating gas thermodynamics within caverns,thermal conduction,and mechanical deformation around rock caverns.Gas thermodynamic responses are validated using additional simulations and the field test data.Temperature and pressure variations of air and hydrogen within rock caverns exhibit similarities under both adiabatic and diabatic simulation modes.Hydrogen reaches higher temperature and pressure following gas charging stage compared to air,and the ideal gas assumption may lead to overestimation of gas temperature and pressure.Unlike steel lining of CAES,the sealing layer(fibre-reinforced plastic FRP)in UHS is prone to deformation but can effectively mitigates stress in the sealing layer.In CAES,the first principal stress on the surface of the sealing layer and concrete lining is tensile stress,whereas UHS exhibits compressive stress in the same areas.Our present research can provide references for the selection of energy storage methods.展开更多
Introduction: Pesticides are currently an essential component of agricultural production techniques for controlling pests and weeds. In Burkina Faso, non-compliance with good practice in the use of pesticides poses a ...Introduction: Pesticides are currently an essential component of agricultural production techniques for controlling pests and weeds. In Burkina Faso, non-compliance with good practice in the use of pesticides poses a real health problem for the population. This study examines the health risks associated with pesticide management in rice-growing areas. Material and Methods: A field survey was conducted in Bama, involving farmers, focusing on their socio-demographic characteristics, pesticide usage, and health effects. Cholinesterase levels were measured in subsample of farmers using a portable device. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel, calculating means and percentages for various practices. Health consultations, protection methods, and pesticide management were studied. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity was compared before and after treatment. Data were categorised into classes based on inhibition levels, and correlation analyses determined relationships between variables such as age, years of experience, and cholinesterase activity. Results: The results indicate that rice cultivation is mainly carried out by a fairly young population, with nearly 63% being under the age of 50. Common poor practices in pesticide use include improper storage and reuse of leftover pesticides. Seven types of pesticides were identified, including organophosphates such as glyphosate, which was used in 26.7% of cases. This organophosphate has resulted in class B poisoning, causing a 30% - 50% reduction in erythrocyte cholinesterase activity. The health effects of pesticide use are felt by agricultural farmers through various symptoms of poisoning. Conclusion: To reduce the occurrence of pesticide poisoning, it is essential to launch information and awareness campaigns among the population and farmers to promote safe practices in pesticide use in Bama, Burkina Faso.展开更多
When contributing to participatory research, farmers usually appreciate the performance of cowpea varieties using qualitative scores. The score they attribute to each variety are based on local knowledge. The specific...When contributing to participatory research, farmers usually appreciate the performance of cowpea varieties using qualitative scores. The score they attribute to each variety are based on local knowledge. The specific criteria they individually use to attribute a score are not well described. The objectives of this work were to: 1) identify and describe exhaustively the local criteria used by farmers to measure the agronomic performance of cowpea;2) assess the variability and statistical structure of these farmer criteria across local contexts;3) and analyze the association between these farmer criteria and the classical agronomic measurement. To achieve these objectives, an augmented block design was implemented across fifteen locations in the regions of Maradi, Dosso and Tillabéri, representing a diversity of local contexts. From a set of 36 cowpea varieties, fifteen varieties were sown per location, including five varieties (controls) common to all locations. In each location, two replicates were sown in randomized Fisher’s blocks. After agronomic measurement and participatory evaluation (scoring of varieties by farmers), a group survey (focus group) was conducted in each location to identify the criteria considered by farmers to found their discretional scoring of varieties during the participatory evaluation. The analysis of the data identified, across locations, thirteen criteria defined by farmers to characterize the agronomic performance of cowpea. Some of these criteria were different according to location. Farmers ranked the three varieties with the best performance for each agronomical trait (Top 3 varieties). A comparison of the farmer ranking with the ranking based on agronomic measurements revealed similarity and complementary between both methods. This study highlighted the importance of considering both local and scientific knowledge in local varietal evaluations.展开更多
Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)function as key modulators in mammalian immunity,particularly due to their involvement in lncRNA-mediated competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA)crosstalk.Despite their recognized significance i...Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)function as key modulators in mammalian immunity,particularly due to their involvement in lncRNA-mediated competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA)crosstalk.Despite their recognized significance in mammals,research on lncRNAs in lower vertebrates remains limited.In the present study,we characterized the first immune-related lncRNA(pol-lnc78)in the teleost Japanese flounder(Paralichthys olivaceus).Results indicated that pol-lnc78 acted as a ceRNA for pol-miR-n199-3p to target the sterile alpha and armadillo motif-containing protein(SARM),the fifth discovered member of the Toll/interleukin 1(IL-1)receptor(TIR)adaptor family.This ceRNA network regulated the antibacterial responses of flounder via the Toll-like receptor(TLR)signaling pathway.Specifically,SARM acted as a negative regulator and exacerbated bacterial infection by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1βand tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).Pol-miR-n199-3p reduced SARM expression by specifically interacting with the 3’untranslated region(UTR),thereby promoting SARM-dependent inflammatory cytokine expression and protecting the host against bacterial dissemination.Furthermore,pol-lnc78 sponged pol-miR-n199-3p to ameliorate the inhibition of SARM expression.During infection,the negative regulators pol-lnc78 and SARM were significantly down-regulated,while pol-miR-n199-3p was significantly up-regulated,thus favoring host antibacterial defense.These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying fish immunity and open new horizons to better understand ceRNA crosstalk in lower vertebrates.展开更多
Thermal transistor,the thermal analog of an electronic transistor,is one of the most important thermal devices for microscopic-scale heat manipulating.It is a three-terminal device,and the heat current flowing through...Thermal transistor,the thermal analog of an electronic transistor,is one of the most important thermal devices for microscopic-scale heat manipulating.It is a three-terminal device,and the heat current flowing through two terminals can be largely controlled by the temperature of the third one.Dynamic response plays an important role in the application of electric devices and also thermal devices,which represents the devices’ability to treat fast varying inputs.In this paper,we systematically study two typical dynamic responses of a thermal transistor,i.e.,the response to a step-function input(a switching process)and the response to a square-wave input.The role of the length L of the control segment is carefully studied.It is revealed that when L is increased,the performance of the thermal transistor worsens badly.Both the relaxation time for the former process and the cutoff frequency for the latter one follow the power-law dependence on L quite well,which agrees with our analytical expectation.However,the detailed power exponents deviate from the expected values noticeably.This implies the violation of the conventional assumptions that we adopt.展开更多
This research delves into the hurdles and strategies aimed at augmenting the market involvement of smallholder carrot farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. Employing a Multinomial Logit (MNL) model, it scrutinizes the fact...This research delves into the hurdles and strategies aimed at augmenting the market involvement of smallholder carrot farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. Employing a Multinomial Logit (MNL) model, it scrutinizes the factors influencing the selection of marketing outlets among carrot farmers. The findings unveil that a significant majority (81%) of surveyed farmers actively participate in diverse market outlets, encompassing the farm gate, cleaning point, local market, external market, and export market. Notably, pivotal buyers include aggregators, brokers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers, with transactions predominantly occurring at the farm level. Additionally, the analysis discerns substantial influences of socio-economic characteristics, experiential factors, and geographical proximity on farmers’ choices of market outlets. Specifically, gender, age, land size, farming experience, and distance to markets emerge as critical determinants. Moreover, the study delves into the examination of market margins along the carrot value chain, shedding light on the potential profitability of carrot farming in the region. Remarkably, higher average gross margins are identified in export and external markets, signaling lucrative prospects for farmers targeting these segments. However, disparities in profit distribution between farmers and traders underscore the necessity for interventions to ensure equitable value distribution throughout the value chain. These findings underscore the imperative for tailored interventions to tackle challenges and foster inclusive agricultural development. Strategies such as farmer organizations, contracting, and vertical integration are advocated to enhance market access and profitability for smallholder carrot farmers. Thus, this study enriches our comprehension of the dynamics within carrot value chains and provides valuable insights for policymakers and development practitioners aiming to uplift rural livelihoods and bolster food security.展开更多
The unfolded protein response(UPR)is a cellular stress response pathway activated when the endoplasmic reticulum,a crucial organelle for protein folding and modification,encounters an accumulation of unfolded or misfo...The unfolded protein response(UPR)is a cellular stress response pathway activated when the endoplasmic reticulum,a crucial organelle for protein folding and modification,encounters an accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins.The UPR aims to restore endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis by enhancing protein folding capacity,reducing protein biosynthesis,and promoting protein degradation.It also plays a pivotal role in coordinating signaling cascades to determine cell fate and function in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress.Recent research has highlighted the significance of the UPR not only in maintaining endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis but also in influencing various physiological processes in the nervous system.Here,we provide an overview of recent findings that underscore the UPR’s involvement in preserving the function and viability of neuronal and myelinating cells under physiological conditions,and highlight the critical role of the UPR in brain development,memory storage,retinal cone development,myelination,and maintenance of myelin thickness.展开更多
Avalanche photodetectors(APDs) featuring an avalanche multiplication region are vital for reaching high sensitivity and responsivity in optical transceivers. Waveguide-coupled Ge-on-Si separate absorption, charge, and...Avalanche photodetectors(APDs) featuring an avalanche multiplication region are vital for reaching high sensitivity and responsivity in optical transceivers. Waveguide-coupled Ge-on-Si separate absorption, charge, and multiplication(SACM)APDs are popular due to their straightforward fabrication process, low optical propagation loss, and high detection sensitivity in optical communications. This paper introduces a lateral SACM Ge-on-Si APD on a silicon-on-insulator(SOI) wafer, featuring a 10 μm-long, 0.5 μm-wide Ge layer at 1310 nm on a standard 8-inch silicon photonics platform. The dark current measures approximately 38.6 μA at-21 V, indicating a breakdown voltage greater than-21 V for the device. The APDs exhibit a unitgain responsivity of 0.5 A/W at-10 V. At-15 V, their responsivity reaches 2.98 and 2.91 A/W with input powers of-10 and-25 dBm, respectively. The device's 3-dB bandwidth is 15 GHz with an input power of-15 dBm and a gain is 11.68. Experimental results show a peak in impedance at high bias voltages, attributed to inductor and capacitor(LC) circuit resonance, enhancing frequency response. Furthermore, 20 Gbps eye diagrams at-21 V and-9 dBm input power reveal signal to noise ratio(SNRs) of 5.30. This lateral SACM APD, compatible with the stand complementary metal oxide semiconductor(CMOS) process,shows that utilizing the peaking effect at low optical power increases bandwidth.展开更多
Background:According to clinical practice guidelines,transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the standard treatment modality for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Early prediction of treat...Background:According to clinical practice guidelines,transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the standard treatment modality for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Early prediction of treatment response can help patients choose a reasonable treatment plan.This study aimed to investigate the value of the radiomic-clinical model in predicting the efficacy of the first TACE treatment for HCC to prolong patient survival.Methods:A total of 164 patients with HCC who underwent the first TACE from January 2017 to September 2021 were analyzed.The tumor response was assessed by modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors(mRECIST),and the response of the first TACE to each session and its correlation with overall survival were evaluated.The radiomic signatures associated with the treatment response were identified by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO),and four machine learning models were built with different types of regions of interest(ROIs)(tumor and corresponding tissues)and the model with the best performance was selected.The predictive performance was assessed with receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and calibration curves.Results:Of all the models,the random forest(RF)model with peritumor(+10 mm)radiomic signatures had the best performance[area under ROC curve(AUC)=0.964 in the training cohort,AUC=0.949 in the validation cohort].The RF model was used to calculate the radiomic score(Rad-score),and the optimal cutoff value(0.34)was calculated according to the Youden’s index.Patients were then divided into a high-risk group(Rad-score>0.34)and a low-risk group(Rad-score≤0.34),and a nomogram model was successfully established to predict treatment response.The predicted treatment response also allowed for significant discrimination of Kaplan-Meier curves.Multivariate Cox regression identified six independent prognostic factors for overall survival,including male[hazard ratio(HR)=0.500,95%confidence interval(CI):0.260–0.962,P=0.038],alpha-fetoprotein(HR=1.003,95%CI:1.002–1.004,P<0.001),alanine aminotransferase(HR=1.003,95%CI:1.001–1.005,P=0.025),performance status(HR=2.400,95%CI:1.200–4.800,P=0.013),the number of TACE sessions(HR=0.870,95%CI:0.780–0.970,P=0.012)and Rad-score(HR=3.480,95%CI:1.416–8.552,P=0.007).Conclusions:The radiomic signatures and clinical factors can be well-used to predict the response of HCC patients to the first TACE and may help identify the patients most likely to benefit from TACE.展开更多
Background:Choosing the appropriate antipsychotic drug(APD)treatment for patients with schizophrenia(SCZ)can be challenging,as the treatment response to APD is highly variable and difficult to predict due to the lack ...Background:Choosing the appropriate antipsychotic drug(APD)treatment for patients with schizophrenia(SCZ)can be challenging,as the treatment response to APD is highly variable and difficult to predict due to the lack of effective biomarkers.Previous studies have indicated the association between treatment response and genetic and epigenetic factors,but no effective biomarkers have been identified.Hence,further research is imperative to enhance precision medicine in SCZ treatment.Methods:Participants with SCZ were recruited from two randomized trials.The discovery cohort was recruited from the CAPOC trial(n=2307)involved 6 weeks of treatment and equally randomized the participants to the Olanzapine,Risperidone,Quetiapine,Aripiprazole,Ziprasidone,and Haloperidol/Perphenazine(subsequently equally assigned to one or the other)groups.The external validation cohort was recruited from the CAPEC trial(n=1379),which involved 8 weeks of treatment and equally randomized the participants to the Olanzapine,Risperidone,and Aripiprazole groups.Additionally,healthy controls(n=275)from the local community were utilized as a genetic/epigenetic reference.The genetic and epigenetic(DNA methylation)risks of SCZ were assessed using the polygenic risk score(PRS)and polymethylation score,respectively.The study also examined the genetic-epigenetic interactions with treatment response through differential methylation analysis,methylation quantitative trait loci,colocalization,and promoteranchored chromatin interaction.Machine learning was used to develop a prediction model for treatment response,which was evaluated for accuracy and clinical benefit using the area under curve(AUC)for classification,R^(2) for regression,and decision curve analysis.Results:Six risk genes for SCZ(LINC01795,DDHD2,SBNO1,KCNG2,SEMA7A,and RUFY1)involved in cortical morphology were identified as having a genetic-epigenetic interaction associated with treatment response.The developed and externally validated prediction model,which incorporated clinical information,PRS,genetic risk score(GRS),and proxy methylation level(proxyDNAm),demonstrated positive benefits for a wide range of patients receiving different APDs,regardless of sex[discovery cohort:AUC=0.874(95%CI 0.867-0.881),R^(2)=0.478;external validation cohort:AUC=0.851(95%CI 0.841-0.861),R^(2)=0.507].Conclusions:This study presents a promising precision medicine approach to evaluate treatment response,which has the potential to aid clinicians in making informed decisions about APD treatment for patients with SCZ.Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(https://www.chictr.org.cn/),18 Aug 2009 retrospectively registered:CAPOC-ChiCTR-RNC-09000521(https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=9014),CAPEC-ChiCTRRNC-09000522(https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=9013).展开更多
The goal of village governance is to improve the well-being of farmers,so this study aims to measure the impact the quality of village governance on the well-being of farmers.It also examines the heterogeneity of this...The goal of village governance is to improve the well-being of farmers,so this study aims to measure the impact the quality of village governance on the well-being of farmers.It also examines the heterogeneity of this impact across different farmer groups from the perspectives of income levels and occupational differentiation.To this end,this study developed an indicator system based on survey data collected from 1,442 farmers in the Sichuan,Shaanxi,and Gansu provinces,as well as the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.Multiple linear regression models were then used to analyze this data,and the findings revealed that improvements in the quality of village governance significantly increased the well-being of farmers.Specifically,primary-level empowerment and capacity building were shown to contribute the most to the enhancement of the farmers’well-being,followed by social inclusion,and social cohesion was found to have only a minimal effect.In terms of income levels,improving the quality of village governance benefited middle-income farmers the most,followed by low-income farmers,and it had the least effect on high-income farmers.In terms of occupations,full-time farmers gained the most from improvements in the quality of village governance,followed by off-farm farmers,with part-time farmers benefiting the least.Based on these findings,this study suggests that policymakers should improve the quality of village governance to enhance the well-being of farmers,focusing on the impact that level of income and occupational differentiation have on village governance.展开更多
To address the issues of limited demand response data,low generalization of demand response potential evaluation,and poor demand response effect,the article proposes a demand response potential feature extraction and ...To address the issues of limited demand response data,low generalization of demand response potential evaluation,and poor demand response effect,the article proposes a demand response potential feature extraction and prediction model based on data mining and a demand response potential assessment model for adjustable loads in demand response scenarios based on subjective and objective weight analysis.Firstly,based on the demand response process and demand response behavior,obtain demand response characteristics that characterize the process and behavior.Secondly,establish a feature extraction and prediction model based on data mining,including similar day clustering,time series decomposition,redundancy processing,and data prediction.The predicted values of each demand response feature on the response day are obtained.Thirdly,the predicted data of various characteristics on the response day are used as demand response potential evaluation indicators to represent different demand response scenarios and adjustable loads,and a demand response potential evaluation model based on subjective and objective weight allocation is established to calculate the demand response potential of different adjustable loads in different demand response scenarios.Finally,the effectiveness of the method proposed in the article is verified through examples,providing a reference for load aggregators to formulate demand response schemes.展开更多
White Hypsizygus marmoreus is a popular edible mushroom.Its mycelium is easy to be contaminated by Penicillium,which leads to a decrease in its quality and yield.Penicillium could compete for limited space and nutrien...White Hypsizygus marmoreus is a popular edible mushroom.Its mycelium is easy to be contaminated by Penicillium,which leads to a decrease in its quality and yield.Penicillium could compete for limited space and nutrients through rapid growth and produce a variety of harmful gases,such as benzene,aldehydes,phenols,etc.,to inhibit the growth of H.marmoreus mycelium.A series of changes occurred in H.marmoreus proteome after contamination when detected by the label-free tandem mass spectrometry(MS/MS)technique.Some proteins with up-regulated expression worked together to participate in some processes,such as the non-toxic transformation of harmful gases,glutathione metabolism,histone modification,nucleotide excision repair,clearing misfolded proteins,and synthesizing glutamine,which were mainly used in response to biological stress.The proteins with down-regulated expression are mainly related to the processes of ribosome function,protein processing,spliceosome,carbon metabolism,glycolysis,and gluconeogenesis.The reduction in the function of these proteins affected the production of the cell components,which might be an adjustment to adapt to growth retardation.This study further enhanced the understanding of the biological stress response and the growth restriction adaptation mechanisms in edible fungi.It also provided a theoretical basis for protein function exploration and edible mushroom food safety research.展开更多
The main goal of this study is to use higher-order isogeometric analysis(IGA)to study the dynamic response of sandwich shells with an auxetic honeycomb core and two different functionally graded materials(FGM)skin lay...The main goal of this study is to use higher-order isogeometric analysis(IGA)to study the dynamic response of sandwich shells with an auxetic honeycomb core and two different functionally graded materials(FGM)skin layers(namely honeycomb-FGS shells)subjected to dynamic loading.Touratier's non-polynomial higher-order shear deformation theory(HSDT)is used due to its simplicity and performance.The governing equation is derived from Hamilton's principle.After verifying the present approach,the effect of input parameters on the dynamic response of honeycomb-FGS shells is carried out in detail.展开更多
Phaeocystis globosa is an important unicellular eukaryotic alga that can also form colonies.P.globosa can cause massive harmful algal blooms and plays an important role in the global carbon or sulfur cycling.Thus far,...Phaeocystis globosa is an important unicellular eukaryotic alga that can also form colonies.P.globosa can cause massive harmful algal blooms and plays an important role in the global carbon or sulfur cycling.Thus far,the ecophysiology of P.globosa has been investigated by numerous studies.However,the proteomic response of P.globosa to nitrogen depletion remains largely unknown.We compared four protein preparation methods of P.globosa for two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE)(Urea/Triton X-100 with trichloroacetic acid(TCA)/acetone precipitation;TCA/acetone precipitation;Radio Immuno Precipitation Assay(RIPA)with TCA/acetone precipitation;and Tris buffer).Results show that the combination of RIPA with TCA/acetone precipitation had a clear gel background and showed the best protein spot separation effect,based on which the proteomic response to nitrogen depletion was studied using 2-DE.In addition,we identified six differentially expressed proteins whose relative abundance increased or decreased more than 1.5-fold(P<0.05).Most proteins could not be identified,which might be attributed to the lack of genomic sequences of P.globosa.Under nitrogen limitation,replication protein-like,RNA ligase,and sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were reduced,which may decrease the DNA replication level and ATP production in P.globosa cells.The increase of endonucleaseⅢand transcriptional regulator enzyme may affect the metabolic and antioxidant function of P.globosa cells and induce cell apoptosis.These findings provide a basis for further proteomic study of P.globosa and the optimization of protein preparation methods of marine microalgae.展开更多
Probiotics are live microorganisms exerting beneficial effects on the host’s health when administered in adequate amounts.Among the most popular and adequately studied probiotics are bacteria from the families Lactob...Probiotics are live microorganisms exerting beneficial effects on the host’s health when administered in adequate amounts.Among the most popular and adequately studied probiotics are bacteria from the families Lactobacillaceae,Bifidobacteriaceae and yeasts.Most of them have been shown,both in vitro and in vivo studies of intestinal inflammation models,to provide favorable results by means of improving the gut microbiota composition,promoting the wound healing process and shaping the immunological responses.Chronic intestinal conditions,such as inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD),are characterized by an imbalance in microbiota composition,with decreased diversity,and by relapsing and persisting inflammation,which may lead to mucosal damage.Although the results of the clinical studies investigating the effect of probiotics on patients with IBD are still controversial,it is without doubt that these microorganisms and their metabolites,now named postbiotics,have a positive influence on both the host’s microbiota and the immune system,and ultimately alter the topical tissue microenvironment.This influence is achieved through three axes:(1)By dis-placement of potential pathogens via competitive exclusion;(2)by offering protection to the host through the secretion of various defensive mediators;and(3)by supplying the host with essential nutrients.We will analyze and discuss almost all the in vitro and in vivo studies of the past 2 years dealing with the possible favorable effects of certain probiotic genus on gut immunological responses,highlighting which species are the most beneficial against intestinal inflammation.展开更多
The Tongbai Mountains is an ecologically sensi-tive region and the northern boundary of Pinus massoniana Lamb.To analyze the effect of different microenvironments on tree growth response to climate factors,we develope...The Tongbai Mountains is an ecologically sensi-tive region and the northern boundary of Pinus massoniana Lamb.To analyze the effect of different microenvironments on tree growth response to climate factors,we developed standard chronologies for earlywood width(EWW),late-wood width(LWW),and total ring width(TRW)of P.massoniana at two sampling sites on slopes with different orientations,then analyzed characteristics of the chronolo-gies and their correlations with climate variables from five stations in the region and with a regional normalized differ-ence vegetation index(NDVI).Statistical results showed that the TRW/EWW/LWW chronology consistency and charac-teristics(mean sensitivity,signal to noise ratio,expressed population signal)for trees growing on the southeastern slope were much higher than for trees on the northeastern slope.Correlations indicated that temperature in current March and August has a significant positive effect on TRW/EWW/LWW formation,and the effect on the northeastern slope was weaker than on the southeastern slope.Compared to temperature,precipitation has more complicated effects on tree growth,but the effect on the northeastern slope was also generally weaker than on the southeastern slope.Step-wise linear regression analyses showed that temperature in August was the main limiting factor at the two sampling sites.Similarly,the response of tree growth on the southeast-ern slope as determined by the NDVI is better than on the northeastern slope,and the TRW/EWW/LWW chronologies for the southeastern slope explained over 50%of the total NDVI variances in June.Overall,the results indicate that the difference in the climate response of P.massoniana at two sampling sites is clearly caused by differences in the microenvironment,and such differences should be properly considered in future studies of forest dynamics and climate reconstructions.展开更多
To predict the wave loads of a flexible trimaran in different wave fields,a one-way interaction numerical simulation method is proposed by integrating the fluid solver(Star-CCM+)and structural solver(Abaqus).Differing...To predict the wave loads of a flexible trimaran in different wave fields,a one-way interaction numerical simulation method is proposed by integrating the fluid solver(Star-CCM+)and structural solver(Abaqus).Differing from the existing coupled CFD-FEA method for monohull ships in head waves,the presented method equates the mass and stiffness of the whole ship to the hull shell so that any transverse and longitudinal section stress of the hull in oblique waves can be obtained.Firstly,verification study and sensitivity analysis are carried out by comparing the trimaran motions using different mesh sizes and time step schemes.Discussion on the wave elevation of uni-and bi-directional waves is also carried out.Then a comprehensive analysis on the structural responses of the trimaran in different uni-directional regular wave and bi-directional cross sea conditions is carried out,respectively.Finally,the differences in structural response characteristics of trimaran in different wave fields are studied.The results show that the present method can reduce the computational burden of the two-way fluid-structure interaction simulations.展开更多
Inflammation is a multifaceted cellular and molecular response triggered by injury,infection,or various pathological conditions.Serving as a protective defense mechanism,the inflammatory response involves clinical sig...Inflammation is a multifaceted cellular and molecular response triggered by injury,infection,or various pathological conditions.Serving as a protective defense mechanism,the inflammatory response involves clinical signs like redness,swelling,pain,and increased body temperature.Immune cells,notably neutrophils and macrophages,play key roles in orchestrating this response.The delicate balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators,including cytokines and chemokines,regulates the inflammatory cascade.While acute inflammation is crucial for tissue repair,chronic inflammation may indicate an imbalance,contributing to conditions like autoimmune diseases.Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing therapeutic strategies and managing chronic diseases.展开更多
文摘Small-scale farming accounts for 78% of total agricultural production in Kenya and contributes to 23.5% of the country’s GDP. Their crop production activities are mostly rainfed subsistence with any surplus being sold to bring in some income. Timely decisions on farm practices such as farm preparation and planting are critical determinants of the seasonal outcomes. In Kenya, most small-scale farmers have no reliable source of information that would help them make timely and accurate decisions. County governments have extension officers who are mandated with giving farmers advisory services to farmers but they are not able to reach most farmers due to facilitation constraints. The mode and format of sharing information is also critical since it’s important to ensure that it’s timely, well-understood and usable. This study sought to assess access to geospatial derived and other crop production information by farmers in four selected counties of Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine the profile of small-scale farmers in terms of age, education and farm size;to determine the type of information that is made available to them by County and Sub-County extension officers including the format and mode of provision;and to determine if the information provided was useful in terms of accuracy, timeliness and adequacy. The results indicated that over 80% of the farmers were over 35 years of age and over 56% were male. Majority had attained primary education (34%) or secondary education (29%) and most farmers in all the counties grew maize (71%). Notably, fellow farmers were a source of information (71%) with the frequency of sharing information being mostly seasonal (37%) and when information was available (43%). Over 66% of interviewed farmers indicating that they faced challenges while using provided information. The results from the study are insightful and helpful in determining effective ways of providing farmers with useful information to ensure maximum benefits.
基金the financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.52179118,52209151 and 42307238)the Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology-Carbon Emissions Peak and Carbon Neutrality Science and Technology Innovation Specia Fund Project (No.BK20220025)+3 种基金the Excellent Postdoctoral Program of Jiangsu Province (No.2023ZB602)the China Postdoctora Science Foundation (Nos.2023M733773 and 2023M733772)Xuzhou City Science and Technology Innovation Special Basic Research Plan (KC23045)State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering,China University of Mining&Technology (No SKLGDUEK1916)。
文摘Underground hydrogen storage(UHS)and compressed air energy storage(CAES)are two viable largescale energy storage technologies for mitigating the intermittency of wind and solar power.Therefore,it is meaningful to compare the properties of hydrogen and air with typical thermodynamic storage processes.This study employs a multi-physical coupling model to compare the operations of CAES and UHS,integrating gas thermodynamics within caverns,thermal conduction,and mechanical deformation around rock caverns.Gas thermodynamic responses are validated using additional simulations and the field test data.Temperature and pressure variations of air and hydrogen within rock caverns exhibit similarities under both adiabatic and diabatic simulation modes.Hydrogen reaches higher temperature and pressure following gas charging stage compared to air,and the ideal gas assumption may lead to overestimation of gas temperature and pressure.Unlike steel lining of CAES,the sealing layer(fibre-reinforced plastic FRP)in UHS is prone to deformation but can effectively mitigates stress in the sealing layer.In CAES,the first principal stress on the surface of the sealing layer and concrete lining is tensile stress,whereas UHS exhibits compressive stress in the same areas.Our present research can provide references for the selection of energy storage methods.
文摘Introduction: Pesticides are currently an essential component of agricultural production techniques for controlling pests and weeds. In Burkina Faso, non-compliance with good practice in the use of pesticides poses a real health problem for the population. This study examines the health risks associated with pesticide management in rice-growing areas. Material and Methods: A field survey was conducted in Bama, involving farmers, focusing on their socio-demographic characteristics, pesticide usage, and health effects. Cholinesterase levels were measured in subsample of farmers using a portable device. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel, calculating means and percentages for various practices. Health consultations, protection methods, and pesticide management were studied. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity was compared before and after treatment. Data were categorised into classes based on inhibition levels, and correlation analyses determined relationships between variables such as age, years of experience, and cholinesterase activity. Results: The results indicate that rice cultivation is mainly carried out by a fairly young population, with nearly 63% being under the age of 50. Common poor practices in pesticide use include improper storage and reuse of leftover pesticides. Seven types of pesticides were identified, including organophosphates such as glyphosate, which was used in 26.7% of cases. This organophosphate has resulted in class B poisoning, causing a 30% - 50% reduction in erythrocyte cholinesterase activity. The health effects of pesticide use are felt by agricultural farmers through various symptoms of poisoning. Conclusion: To reduce the occurrence of pesticide poisoning, it is essential to launch information and awareness campaigns among the population and farmers to promote safe practices in pesticide use in Bama, Burkina Faso.
文摘When contributing to participatory research, farmers usually appreciate the performance of cowpea varieties using qualitative scores. The score they attribute to each variety are based on local knowledge. The specific criteria they individually use to attribute a score are not well described. The objectives of this work were to: 1) identify and describe exhaustively the local criteria used by farmers to measure the agronomic performance of cowpea;2) assess the variability and statistical structure of these farmer criteria across local contexts;3) and analyze the association between these farmer criteria and the classical agronomic measurement. To achieve these objectives, an augmented block design was implemented across fifteen locations in the regions of Maradi, Dosso and Tillabéri, representing a diversity of local contexts. From a set of 36 cowpea varieties, fifteen varieties were sown per location, including five varieties (controls) common to all locations. In each location, two replicates were sown in randomized Fisher’s blocks. After agronomic measurement and participatory evaluation (scoring of varieties by farmers), a group survey (focus group) was conducted in each location to identify the criteria considered by farmers to found their discretional scoring of varieties during the participatory evaluation. The analysis of the data identified, across locations, thirteen criteria defined by farmers to characterize the agronomic performance of cowpea. Some of these criteria were different according to location. Farmers ranked the three varieties with the best performance for each agronomical trait (Top 3 varieties). A comparison of the farmer ranking with the ranking based on agronomic measurements revealed similarity and complementary between both methods. This study highlighted the importance of considering both local and scientific knowledge in local varietal evaluations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42006082)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China(BK20221323)+1 种基金“JBGS”Project of Seed Industry Revitalization in Jiangsu Province(JBGS[2021]034)State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish(2021KF009)。
文摘Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)function as key modulators in mammalian immunity,particularly due to their involvement in lncRNA-mediated competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA)crosstalk.Despite their recognized significance in mammals,research on lncRNAs in lower vertebrates remains limited.In the present study,we characterized the first immune-related lncRNA(pol-lnc78)in the teleost Japanese flounder(Paralichthys olivaceus).Results indicated that pol-lnc78 acted as a ceRNA for pol-miR-n199-3p to target the sterile alpha and armadillo motif-containing protein(SARM),the fifth discovered member of the Toll/interleukin 1(IL-1)receptor(TIR)adaptor family.This ceRNA network regulated the antibacterial responses of flounder via the Toll-like receptor(TLR)signaling pathway.Specifically,SARM acted as a negative regulator and exacerbated bacterial infection by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1βand tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).Pol-miR-n199-3p reduced SARM expression by specifically interacting with the 3’untranslated region(UTR),thereby promoting SARM-dependent inflammatory cytokine expression and protecting the host against bacterial dissemination.Furthermore,pol-lnc78 sponged pol-miR-n199-3p to ameliorate the inhibition of SARM expression.During infection,the negative regulators pol-lnc78 and SARM were significantly down-regulated,while pol-miR-n199-3p was significantly up-regulated,thus favoring host antibacterial defense.These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying fish immunity and open new horizons to better understand ceRNA crosstalk in lower vertebrates.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12075316)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universitiesthe Research Funds of Renmin University of China(Grant No.21XNH091)(Q.R.)。
文摘Thermal transistor,the thermal analog of an electronic transistor,is one of the most important thermal devices for microscopic-scale heat manipulating.It is a three-terminal device,and the heat current flowing through two terminals can be largely controlled by the temperature of the third one.Dynamic response plays an important role in the application of electric devices and also thermal devices,which represents the devices’ability to treat fast varying inputs.In this paper,we systematically study two typical dynamic responses of a thermal transistor,i.e.,the response to a step-function input(a switching process)and the response to a square-wave input.The role of the length L of the control segment is carefully studied.It is revealed that when L is increased,the performance of the thermal transistor worsens badly.Both the relaxation time for the former process and the cutoff frequency for the latter one follow the power-law dependence on L quite well,which agrees with our analytical expectation.However,the detailed power exponents deviate from the expected values noticeably.This implies the violation of the conventional assumptions that we adopt.
文摘This research delves into the hurdles and strategies aimed at augmenting the market involvement of smallholder carrot farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. Employing a Multinomial Logit (MNL) model, it scrutinizes the factors influencing the selection of marketing outlets among carrot farmers. The findings unveil that a significant majority (81%) of surveyed farmers actively participate in diverse market outlets, encompassing the farm gate, cleaning point, local market, external market, and export market. Notably, pivotal buyers include aggregators, brokers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers, with transactions predominantly occurring at the farm level. Additionally, the analysis discerns substantial influences of socio-economic characteristics, experiential factors, and geographical proximity on farmers’ choices of market outlets. Specifically, gender, age, land size, farming experience, and distance to markets emerge as critical determinants. Moreover, the study delves into the examination of market margins along the carrot value chain, shedding light on the potential profitability of carrot farming in the region. Remarkably, higher average gross margins are identified in export and external markets, signaling lucrative prospects for farmers targeting these segments. However, disparities in profit distribution between farmers and traders underscore the necessity for interventions to ensure equitable value distribution throughout the value chain. These findings underscore the imperative for tailored interventions to tackle challenges and foster inclusive agricultural development. Strategies such as farmer organizations, contracting, and vertical integration are advocated to enhance market access and profitability for smallholder carrot farmers. Thus, this study enriches our comprehension of the dynamics within carrot value chains and provides valuable insights for policymakers and development practitioners aiming to uplift rural livelihoods and bolster food security.
基金supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health,No.NS105689(to WL)the Department of Defense through the Multiple Sclerosis Research Program,No.W81XWH-22-1-0757(to WL).
文摘The unfolded protein response(UPR)is a cellular stress response pathway activated when the endoplasmic reticulum,a crucial organelle for protein folding and modification,encounters an accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins.The UPR aims to restore endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis by enhancing protein folding capacity,reducing protein biosynthesis,and promoting protein degradation.It also plays a pivotal role in coordinating signaling cascades to determine cell fate and function in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress.Recent research has highlighted the significance of the UPR not only in maintaining endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis but also in influencing various physiological processes in the nervous system.Here,we provide an overview of recent findings that underscore the UPR’s involvement in preserving the function and viability of neuronal and myelinating cells under physiological conditions,and highlight the critical role of the UPR in brain development,memory storage,retinal cone development,myelination,and maintenance of myelin thickness.
文摘Avalanche photodetectors(APDs) featuring an avalanche multiplication region are vital for reaching high sensitivity and responsivity in optical transceivers. Waveguide-coupled Ge-on-Si separate absorption, charge, and multiplication(SACM)APDs are popular due to their straightforward fabrication process, low optical propagation loss, and high detection sensitivity in optical communications. This paper introduces a lateral SACM Ge-on-Si APD on a silicon-on-insulator(SOI) wafer, featuring a 10 μm-long, 0.5 μm-wide Ge layer at 1310 nm on a standard 8-inch silicon photonics platform. The dark current measures approximately 38.6 μA at-21 V, indicating a breakdown voltage greater than-21 V for the device. The APDs exhibit a unitgain responsivity of 0.5 A/W at-10 V. At-15 V, their responsivity reaches 2.98 and 2.91 A/W with input powers of-10 and-25 dBm, respectively. The device's 3-dB bandwidth is 15 GHz with an input power of-15 dBm and a gain is 11.68. Experimental results show a peak in impedance at high bias voltages, attributed to inductor and capacitor(LC) circuit resonance, enhancing frequency response. Furthermore, 20 Gbps eye diagrams at-21 V and-9 dBm input power reveal signal to noise ratio(SNRs) of 5.30. This lateral SACM APD, compatible with the stand complementary metal oxide semiconductor(CMOS) process,shows that utilizing the peaking effect at low optical power increases bandwidth.
文摘Background:According to clinical practice guidelines,transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the standard treatment modality for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Early prediction of treatment response can help patients choose a reasonable treatment plan.This study aimed to investigate the value of the radiomic-clinical model in predicting the efficacy of the first TACE treatment for HCC to prolong patient survival.Methods:A total of 164 patients with HCC who underwent the first TACE from January 2017 to September 2021 were analyzed.The tumor response was assessed by modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors(mRECIST),and the response of the first TACE to each session and its correlation with overall survival were evaluated.The radiomic signatures associated with the treatment response were identified by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO),and four machine learning models were built with different types of regions of interest(ROIs)(tumor and corresponding tissues)and the model with the best performance was selected.The predictive performance was assessed with receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and calibration curves.Results:Of all the models,the random forest(RF)model with peritumor(+10 mm)radiomic signatures had the best performance[area under ROC curve(AUC)=0.964 in the training cohort,AUC=0.949 in the validation cohort].The RF model was used to calculate the radiomic score(Rad-score),and the optimal cutoff value(0.34)was calculated according to the Youden’s index.Patients were then divided into a high-risk group(Rad-score>0.34)and a low-risk group(Rad-score≤0.34),and a nomogram model was successfully established to predict treatment response.The predicted treatment response also allowed for significant discrimination of Kaplan-Meier curves.Multivariate Cox regression identified six independent prognostic factors for overall survival,including male[hazard ratio(HR)=0.500,95%confidence interval(CI):0.260–0.962,P=0.038],alpha-fetoprotein(HR=1.003,95%CI:1.002–1.004,P<0.001),alanine aminotransferase(HR=1.003,95%CI:1.001–1.005,P=0.025),performance status(HR=2.400,95%CI:1.200–4.800,P=0.013),the number of TACE sessions(HR=0.870,95%CI:0.780–0.970,P=0.012)and Rad-score(HR=3.480,95%CI:1.416–8.552,P=0.007).Conclusions:The radiomic signatures and clinical factors can be well-used to predict the response of HCC patients to the first TACE and may help identify the patients most likely to benefit from TACE.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81825009,82071505,81901358)the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2021-I2MC&T-B-099,2019-I2M-5–006)+2 种基金the Program of Chinese Institute for Brain Research Beijing(2020-NKX-XM-12)the King’s College London-Peking University Health Science Center Joint Institute for Medical Research(BMU2020KCL001,BMU2019LCKXJ012)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFF1201103,2016YFC1307000).
文摘Background:Choosing the appropriate antipsychotic drug(APD)treatment for patients with schizophrenia(SCZ)can be challenging,as the treatment response to APD is highly variable and difficult to predict due to the lack of effective biomarkers.Previous studies have indicated the association between treatment response and genetic and epigenetic factors,but no effective biomarkers have been identified.Hence,further research is imperative to enhance precision medicine in SCZ treatment.Methods:Participants with SCZ were recruited from two randomized trials.The discovery cohort was recruited from the CAPOC trial(n=2307)involved 6 weeks of treatment and equally randomized the participants to the Olanzapine,Risperidone,Quetiapine,Aripiprazole,Ziprasidone,and Haloperidol/Perphenazine(subsequently equally assigned to one or the other)groups.The external validation cohort was recruited from the CAPEC trial(n=1379),which involved 8 weeks of treatment and equally randomized the participants to the Olanzapine,Risperidone,and Aripiprazole groups.Additionally,healthy controls(n=275)from the local community were utilized as a genetic/epigenetic reference.The genetic and epigenetic(DNA methylation)risks of SCZ were assessed using the polygenic risk score(PRS)and polymethylation score,respectively.The study also examined the genetic-epigenetic interactions with treatment response through differential methylation analysis,methylation quantitative trait loci,colocalization,and promoteranchored chromatin interaction.Machine learning was used to develop a prediction model for treatment response,which was evaluated for accuracy and clinical benefit using the area under curve(AUC)for classification,R^(2) for regression,and decision curve analysis.Results:Six risk genes for SCZ(LINC01795,DDHD2,SBNO1,KCNG2,SEMA7A,and RUFY1)involved in cortical morphology were identified as having a genetic-epigenetic interaction associated with treatment response.The developed and externally validated prediction model,which incorporated clinical information,PRS,genetic risk score(GRS),and proxy methylation level(proxyDNAm),demonstrated positive benefits for a wide range of patients receiving different APDs,regardless of sex[discovery cohort:AUC=0.874(95%CI 0.867-0.881),R^(2)=0.478;external validation cohort:AUC=0.851(95%CI 0.841-0.861),R^(2)=0.507].Conclusions:This study presents a promising precision medicine approach to evaluate treatment response,which has the potential to aid clinicians in making informed decisions about APD treatment for patients with SCZ.Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(https://www.chictr.org.cn/),18 Aug 2009 retrospectively registered:CAPOC-ChiCTR-RNC-09000521(https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=9014),CAPEC-ChiCTRRNC-09000522(https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=9013).
基金funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities“Research on the Impact of Social Quality and Political Trust on Farmers’Well-Being in the Post-Poverty Alleviation Era”(21lzujbkydx012)the Project of Gansu Province for Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning“Research on the Strategies to Improve Farmers’Well-Being in Gansu Province From the Perspective of Social Quality”(2021YB012).
文摘The goal of village governance is to improve the well-being of farmers,so this study aims to measure the impact the quality of village governance on the well-being of farmers.It also examines the heterogeneity of this impact across different farmer groups from the perspectives of income levels and occupational differentiation.To this end,this study developed an indicator system based on survey data collected from 1,442 farmers in the Sichuan,Shaanxi,and Gansu provinces,as well as the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.Multiple linear regression models were then used to analyze this data,and the findings revealed that improvements in the quality of village governance significantly increased the well-being of farmers.Specifically,primary-level empowerment and capacity building were shown to contribute the most to the enhancement of the farmers’well-being,followed by social inclusion,and social cohesion was found to have only a minimal effect.In terms of income levels,improving the quality of village governance benefited middle-income farmers the most,followed by low-income farmers,and it had the least effect on high-income farmers.In terms of occupations,full-time farmers gained the most from improvements in the quality of village governance,followed by off-farm farmers,with part-time farmers benefiting the least.Based on these findings,this study suggests that policymakers should improve the quality of village governance to enhance the well-being of farmers,focusing on the impact that level of income and occupational differentiation have on village governance.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Fund,Research on Security Low Carbon Collaborative Situation Awareness of Comprehensive Energy System from the Perspective of Dynamic Security Domain(52307130).
文摘To address the issues of limited demand response data,low generalization of demand response potential evaluation,and poor demand response effect,the article proposes a demand response potential feature extraction and prediction model based on data mining and a demand response potential assessment model for adjustable loads in demand response scenarios based on subjective and objective weight analysis.Firstly,based on the demand response process and demand response behavior,obtain demand response characteristics that characterize the process and behavior.Secondly,establish a feature extraction and prediction model based on data mining,including similar day clustering,time series decomposition,redundancy processing,and data prediction.The predicted values of each demand response feature on the response day are obtained.Thirdly,the predicted data of various characteristics on the response day are used as demand response potential evaluation indicators to represent different demand response scenarios and adjustable loads,and a demand response potential evaluation model based on subjective and objective weight allocation is established to calculate the demand response potential of different adjustable loads in different demand response scenarios.Finally,the effectiveness of the method proposed in the article is verified through examples,providing a reference for load aggregators to formulate demand response schemes.
基金funded by the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China (ZR2020QC005)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32272789)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32000041)the Shandong Edible Fungus Agricultural Technology System (SDAIT-07-02)the Shandong Provincial Key Research and Development Plan (2021ZDSYS28)the Qingdao Agricultural University Scientific Research Foundation (6631120076)。
文摘White Hypsizygus marmoreus is a popular edible mushroom.Its mycelium is easy to be contaminated by Penicillium,which leads to a decrease in its quality and yield.Penicillium could compete for limited space and nutrients through rapid growth and produce a variety of harmful gases,such as benzene,aldehydes,phenols,etc.,to inhibit the growth of H.marmoreus mycelium.A series of changes occurred in H.marmoreus proteome after contamination when detected by the label-free tandem mass spectrometry(MS/MS)technique.Some proteins with up-regulated expression worked together to participate in some processes,such as the non-toxic transformation of harmful gases,glutathione metabolism,histone modification,nucleotide excision repair,clearing misfolded proteins,and synthesizing glutamine,which were mainly used in response to biological stress.The proteins with down-regulated expression are mainly related to the processes of ribosome function,protein processing,spliceosome,carbon metabolism,glycolysis,and gluconeogenesis.The reduction in the function of these proteins affected the production of the cell components,which might be an adjustment to adapt to growth retardation.This study further enhanced the understanding of the biological stress response and the growth restriction adaptation mechanisms in edible fungi.It also provided a theoretical basis for protein function exploration and edible mushroom food safety research.
基金funded by Le Quy Don Technical University Research Found (Grant No.2023QHT.03)。
文摘The main goal of this study is to use higher-order isogeometric analysis(IGA)to study the dynamic response of sandwich shells with an auxetic honeycomb core and two different functionally graded materials(FGM)skin layers(namely honeycomb-FGS shells)subjected to dynamic loading.Touratier's non-polynomial higher-order shear deformation theory(HSDT)is used due to its simplicity and performance.The governing equation is derived from Hamilton's principle.After verifying the present approach,the effect of input parameters on the dynamic response of honeycomb-FGS shells is carried out in detail.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42176142,41906111,41806127)the Marine Economic Development Project of Guangdong Province(No.2023B1111050011)+1 种基金the Basic and Applied Basic Research Project of Guangzhou(Nos.2023A04J1548,2023A04J1549)the Outstanding Innovative Talents Cultivation Funded Programs for Doctoral Students of Jinan University(No.2021CXB010)。
文摘Phaeocystis globosa is an important unicellular eukaryotic alga that can also form colonies.P.globosa can cause massive harmful algal blooms and plays an important role in the global carbon or sulfur cycling.Thus far,the ecophysiology of P.globosa has been investigated by numerous studies.However,the proteomic response of P.globosa to nitrogen depletion remains largely unknown.We compared four protein preparation methods of P.globosa for two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE)(Urea/Triton X-100 with trichloroacetic acid(TCA)/acetone precipitation;TCA/acetone precipitation;Radio Immuno Precipitation Assay(RIPA)with TCA/acetone precipitation;and Tris buffer).Results show that the combination of RIPA with TCA/acetone precipitation had a clear gel background and showed the best protein spot separation effect,based on which the proteomic response to nitrogen depletion was studied using 2-DE.In addition,we identified six differentially expressed proteins whose relative abundance increased or decreased more than 1.5-fold(P<0.05).Most proteins could not be identified,which might be attributed to the lack of genomic sequences of P.globosa.Under nitrogen limitation,replication protein-like,RNA ligase,and sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were reduced,which may decrease the DNA replication level and ATP production in P.globosa cells.The increase of endonucleaseⅢand transcriptional regulator enzyme may affect the metabolic and antioxidant function of P.globosa cells and induce cell apoptosis.These findings provide a basis for further proteomic study of P.globosa and the optimization of protein preparation methods of marine microalgae.
文摘Probiotics are live microorganisms exerting beneficial effects on the host’s health when administered in adequate amounts.Among the most popular and adequately studied probiotics are bacteria from the families Lactobacillaceae,Bifidobacteriaceae and yeasts.Most of them have been shown,both in vitro and in vivo studies of intestinal inflammation models,to provide favorable results by means of improving the gut microbiota composition,promoting the wound healing process and shaping the immunological responses.Chronic intestinal conditions,such as inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD),are characterized by an imbalance in microbiota composition,with decreased diversity,and by relapsing and persisting inflammation,which may lead to mucosal damage.Although the results of the clinical studies investigating the effect of probiotics on patients with IBD are still controversial,it is without doubt that these microorganisms and their metabolites,now named postbiotics,have a positive influence on both the host’s microbiota and the immune system,and ultimately alter the topical tissue microenvironment.This influence is achieved through three axes:(1)By dis-placement of potential pathogens via competitive exclusion;(2)by offering protection to the host through the secretion of various defensive mediators;and(3)by supplying the host with essential nutrients.We will analyze and discuss almost all the in vitro and in vivo studies of the past 2 years dealing with the possible favorable effects of certain probiotic genus on gut immunological responses,highlighting which species are the most beneficial against intestinal inflammation.
基金This study was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2018YFA0605601)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42077417 and41671042).
文摘The Tongbai Mountains is an ecologically sensi-tive region and the northern boundary of Pinus massoniana Lamb.To analyze the effect of different microenvironments on tree growth response to climate factors,we developed standard chronologies for earlywood width(EWW),late-wood width(LWW),and total ring width(TRW)of P.massoniana at two sampling sites on slopes with different orientations,then analyzed characteristics of the chronolo-gies and their correlations with climate variables from five stations in the region and with a regional normalized differ-ence vegetation index(NDVI).Statistical results showed that the TRW/EWW/LWW chronology consistency and charac-teristics(mean sensitivity,signal to noise ratio,expressed population signal)for trees growing on the southeastern slope were much higher than for trees on the northeastern slope.Correlations indicated that temperature in current March and August has a significant positive effect on TRW/EWW/LWW formation,and the effect on the northeastern slope was weaker than on the southeastern slope.Compared to temperature,precipitation has more complicated effects on tree growth,but the effect on the northeastern slope was also generally weaker than on the southeastern slope.Step-wise linear regression analyses showed that temperature in August was the main limiting factor at the two sampling sites.Similarly,the response of tree growth on the southeast-ern slope as determined by the NDVI is better than on the northeastern slope,and the TRW/EWW/LWW chronologies for the southeastern slope explained over 50%of the total NDVI variances in June.Overall,the results indicate that the difference in the climate response of P.massoniana at two sampling sites is clearly caused by differences in the microenvironment,and such differences should be properly considered in future studies of forest dynamics and climate reconstructions.
基金financially supported by the State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis,Optimization and CAE Software for Industrial Equipment,Dalian University of Technology(Grant No.GZ23112)the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation,China(Grant No.ZR2021ME146).
文摘To predict the wave loads of a flexible trimaran in different wave fields,a one-way interaction numerical simulation method is proposed by integrating the fluid solver(Star-CCM+)and structural solver(Abaqus).Differing from the existing coupled CFD-FEA method for monohull ships in head waves,the presented method equates the mass and stiffness of the whole ship to the hull shell so that any transverse and longitudinal section stress of the hull in oblique waves can be obtained.Firstly,verification study and sensitivity analysis are carried out by comparing the trimaran motions using different mesh sizes and time step schemes.Discussion on the wave elevation of uni-and bi-directional waves is also carried out.Then a comprehensive analysis on the structural responses of the trimaran in different uni-directional regular wave and bi-directional cross sea conditions is carried out,respectively.Finally,the differences in structural response characteristics of trimaran in different wave fields are studied.The results show that the present method can reduce the computational burden of the two-way fluid-structure interaction simulations.
文摘Inflammation is a multifaceted cellular and molecular response triggered by injury,infection,or various pathological conditions.Serving as a protective defense mechanism,the inflammatory response involves clinical signs like redness,swelling,pain,and increased body temperature.Immune cells,notably neutrophils and macrophages,play key roles in orchestrating this response.The delicate balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators,including cytokines and chemokines,regulates the inflammatory cascade.While acute inflammation is crucial for tissue repair,chronic inflammation may indicate an imbalance,contributing to conditions like autoimmune diseases.Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing therapeutic strategies and managing chronic diseases.