Transcriptomic analysis of Andrias davidianus meat and experimental validation for exploring its bioactive components as functional foods

Andrias davidianus(Chinese giant salamander,CGS)is the largest and oldest extant amphibian species in the world and is a source of prospective functional food in China.However,the progress of functional peptides mining was slow due to lack of reference genome and protein sequence data.In this study,we illustrated full-length transcriptome sequencing to interpret the proteome of CGS meat and obtain 10703 coding DNA sequences.By functional annotation and amino acid composition analysis,we have discovered various genes related to signal transduction,and 16 genes related to longevity.We have also found vast variety of functional peptides through protein coding sequence(CDS)analysis by comparing the data obtained with the functional peptide database.Val-Pro-Ile predicted by the CDS analysis was released from the CGS meat through enzymatic hydrolysis,suggesting that our approach is reliable.This study suggested that transcriptomic analysis can be used as a reference to guide polypeptide mining in CGS meat,thereby providing a powerful mining strategy for the bioresources with unknown genomic and proteomic sequences.

Atomic-level quantitative analysis of electronic functional materials by aberration-corrected STEM

The stable sub-angstrom resolution of the aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope(ACSTEM)makes it an advanced and practical characterization technique for all materials.Owing to the prosperous advancement in computational technology,specialized software and programs have emerged as potent facilitators across the entirety of electron microscopy characterization process.Utilizing advanced image processing algorithms promotes the rectification of image distortions,concurrently elevating the overall image quality to superior standards.Extracting high-resolution,pixel-level discrete information and converting it into atomic-scale,followed by performing statistical calculations on the physical matters of interest through quantitative analysis,represent an effective strategy to maximize the value of electron microscope images.The efficacious utilization of quantitative analysis of electron microscope images has become a progressively prominent consideration for materials scientists and electron microscopy researchers.This article offers a concise overview of the pivotal procedures in quantitative analysis and summarizes the computational methodologies involved from three perspectives:contrast,lattice and strain,as well as atomic displacements and polarization.It further elaborates on practical applications of these methods in electronic functional materials,notably in piezoelectrics/ferroelectrics and thermoelectrics.It emphasizes the indispensable role of quantitative analysis in fundamental theoretical research,elucidating the structure–property correlations in high-performance systems,and guiding synthesis strategies.

Free vibration and buckling analysis of polymeric composite beams reinforced by functionally graded bamboo fbers

Natural fibers have been extensively researched as reinforcement materials in polymers on account of their environmental and economic advantages in comparison with synthetic fibers in the recent years.Bamboo fibers are renowned for their good mechanical properties,abundance,and short cycle growth.As beams are one of the fundamental structural components and are susceptible to mechanical loads in engineering applications,this paper performs a study on the free vibration and buckling responses of bamboo fiber reinforced composite(BFRC)beams on the elastic foundation.Three different functionally graded(FG)layouts and a uniform one are the considered distributions for unidirectional long bamboo fibers across the thickness.The elastic properties of the composite are determined with the law of mixture.Employing Hamilton’s principle,the governing equations of motion are obtained.The generalized differential quadrature method(GDQM)is then applied to the equations to obtain the results.The achieved outcomes exhibit that the natural frequency and buckling load values vary as the fiber volume fractions and distributions,elastic foundation stiffness values,and boundary conditions(BCs)and slenderness ratio of the beam change.Furthermore,a comparative study is conducted between the derived analysis outcomes for BFRC and homogenous polymer beams to examine the effectiveness of bamboo fibers as reinforcement materials,demonstrating the significant enhancements in both vibration and buckling responses,with the exception of natural frequencies for cantilever beams on the Pasternak foundation with the FG-◇fiber distribution.Eventually,the obtained analysis results of BFRC beams are also compared with those for carbon nanotube reinforced composite(CNTRC)beams found in the literature,indicating that the buckling loads and natural frequencies of BFRC beams are lower than those of CNTRC beams.

Sound Transmission Loss Analysis of a Double Plate-Acoustic Cavity Coupling System with In-Plane Functionally Graded Materials

In this paper, the isogeometric analysis (IGA) is employed to develop an acoustic radiation model for a double plate-acoustic cavity coupling system, with a focus on analyzing the sound transmission loss (STL). The functionally graded (FG) plate exhibits a different material properties in-plane, and the power-law rule is adopted as the governing principle for material mixing. To validate the harmonic response and demonstrate the accuracy and convergence of the isogeometric modeling, ANASYS is utilized to compare with numerical examples. A plane wave serves as the acoustic excitation, and the Rayleigh integral is applied to discretize the radiated plate. The STL results are compared with the literature, confirming the reliability of the coupling system. Finally, the investigation is conducted to study impact of cavity depth and power-law parameter on the STL.

Resting-state brain network remodeling after different nerve reconstruction surgeries:a functional magnetic resonance imaging study in brachial plexus injury rats

Distinct brain remodeling has been found after different nerve reconstruction strategies,including motor representation of the affected limb.However,differences among reconstruction strategies at the brain network level have not been elucidated.This study aimed to explore intranetwork changes related to altered peripheral neural pathways after different nerve reconstruction surgeries,including nerve repair,endto-end nerve transfer,and end-to-side nerve transfer.Sprague–Dawley rats underwent complete left brachial plexus transection and were divided into four equal groups of eight:no nerve repair,grafted nerve repair,phrenic nerve end-to-end transfer,and end-to-side transfer with a graft sutured to the anterior upper trunk.Resting-state brain functional magnetic resonance imaging was obtained 7 months after surgery.The independent component analysis algorithm was utilized to identify group-level network components of interest and extract resting-state functional connectivity values of each voxel within the component.Alterations in intra-network resting-state functional connectivity were compared among the groups.Target muscle reinnervation was assessed by behavioral observation(elbow flexion)and electromyography.The results showed that alterations in the sensorimotor and interoception networks were mostly related to changes in the peripheral neural pathway.Nerve repair was related to enhanced connectivity within the sensorimotor network,while end-to-side nerve transfer might be more beneficial for restoring control over the affected limb by the original motor representation.The thalamic-cortical pathway was enhanced within the interoception network after nerve repair and end-to-end nerve transfer.Brain areas related to cognition and emotion were enhanced after end-to-side nerve transfer.Our study revealed important brain networks related to different nerve reconstructions.These networks may be potential targets for enhancing motor recovery.

Translation Analysis from Functional Linguistics Perspective

As a branch of linguistics,Functional Grammar plays an important role in translation analysis.From the perspective of patterns of progression and cohesion,a text and its translation from TEM8 examination is studied as an example to get some general rules,and thus,a new approach of translation analysis is offered.

Four-function model analysis of nonsuicidal self-injury-related posts on Sina Weibo

To the editor:Non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)is defined as direct,repetitive self-injury to bodily tissues without suicidal intent. The estimated prevalence of NsSI among adolescents is 17.2%worldwide with a comparable rate observed in China. As a behavioural addiction, NSSI poses a significant suicide risk,and is emerging as a major mental health problem among adolescents.To unravel this puzzle,the four-function model(FFM)distinguishes between interpersonal and intrapersonal functions,as well as positive and negative reinforcement functions,proving relatively comprehensive among various theoretical models.

VARIATIONAL ANALYSIS FOR THE MAXIMAL TIME FUNCTION IN NORMED SPACES

For a general normed vector space,a special optimal value function called a maximal time function is considered.This covers the farthest distance function as a special case,and has a close relationship with the smallest enclosing ball problem.Some properties of the maximal time function are proven,including the convexity,the lower semicontinuity,and the exact characterizations of its subdifferential formulas.

Structural failure analysis with CMS-based ground motion selection using innovative cost function and weight factors

The selection and scaling of ground motion records is considered a primary and essential task in performing structural analysis and design.Conventional methods involve using ground motion models and a conditional spectrum to select ground motion records based on the target spectrum.This research demonstrates the influence of adopting different weighted factors for various period ranges during matching selected ground motions with the target hazard spectrum.The event data from the Next Generation Attenuation West 2(NGA-West 2)database is used as the basis for ground motion selection,and hazard de-aggregation is conducted to estimate the event parameters of interest,which are then used to construct the target intensity measure(IM).The target IMs are then used to select ground motion records with different weighted vector-valued objective functions.The weights are altered to account for the relative importance of IM in accordance with the structural analysis application of steel moment resisting frame(SMRF)buildings.Instead of an ordinary objective function for the matching spectrum,a novel model is introduced and compared with the conventional cost function.The results indicate that when applying the new cost function for ground motion selection,it places higher demands on structures compared to the conventional cost function.Moreover,submitting more weights to the first-mode period of structures increases engineering demand parameters.Findings demonstrate that weight factors allocated to different period ranges can successfully account for period elongation and higher mode effects.

Trajectory of Walking Function in Late-Stage Older Individuals Managed with a Regular Exercise Program: A 5-Year Longitudinal Tracking with an IoT Gait Analysis System Using Accelerometers

Purpose: This study focused on maintaining and improving the walking function of late-stage older individuals while longitudinally tracking the effects of regular exercise programs in a day-care service specialized for preventive care over 5 years, using detailed gait function measurements with an accelerometer-based system. Methods: Seventy individuals (17 male and 53 female) of a daycare service in Tokyo participated in a weekly exercise program, meeting 1 - 2 times. The average age of the participants at the start of the program was 81.4 years. Gait function, including gait speed, stride length, root mean square (RMS) of acceleration, gait cycle time and its standard deviation, and left-right difference in stance time, was evaluated every 6 months. Results: Gait speed and stride length improved considerably within six months of starting the exercise program, confirming an initial improvement in gait function. This suggests that regular exercise programs can maintain or improve gait function even age groups that predictably have a gradual decline in gait ability due to enhanced age. In the long term, many indicators tended to approach baseline values. However, the exercise program seemingly counteracts age-related changes in gait function and maintains a certain level of function. Conclusions: While a decline in gait ability with aging is inevitable, establishing appropriate exercise habits in late-stage older individuals may contribute to long-term maintenance of gait function.

Free vibration analysis of functionally graded laminated sandwich cylindrical shells integrated with piezoelectric layer

An analytical method for the three-dimensional vibration analysis of a functionally graded cylindrical shell integrated by two thin functionally graded piezoelectric （FGP） layers is presented. The first-order shear deformation theory is used to model the electromechanical system. Nonlinear equations of motion are derived by considering the von Karman nonlinear strain-displacement relations using Hamilton＇s principle. The piezoelectric layers on the inner and outer surfaces of the core can be considered as a sensor and an actuator for controlling characteristic vibration of the system. The equations of motion are derived as partial differential equations and then discretized by the Navier method. Numerical simulation is performed to investigate the effect of different para- meters of material and geometry on characteristic vibration of the cylinder. The results of this study show that the natural frequency of the system decreases by increasing the non-homogeneous index of FGP layers and decreases by increasing the non-homogeneous index of the functionally graded core. Furthermore, it is concluded that by increasing the ratio of core thickness to cylinder length, the natural frequencies of the cylinder increase considerably.

GOMA:functional enrichment analysis tool based on GO modules

Analyzing the function of gene sets is a critical step in interpreting the results of high-throughput experiments in systems biology. A variety of enrichment analysis tools have been developed in recent years, but most output a long list of significantly enriched terms that are often redundant, making it difficult to extract the most meaningful functions. In this paper, we present GOMA, a novel enrichment analysis method based on the new concept of enriched functional Gene Ontology (GO) modules. With this method, we systematically revealed functional GO modules, i.e., groups of functionally similar GO terms, via an optimization model and then ranked them by enrichment scores. Our new method simplifies enrichment analysis results by reducing redundancy, thereby preventing inconsistent enrichment results among functionally similar terms and providing more biologically meaningful results.

Cloning and Functional Analysis of Lycopene ε-Cyclase (IbLCYe) Gene from Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

This paper reported firstly successful cloning of lycopene ε-cyclase （lbLCYe） gene from sweetpotato, lpomoea batatas （L.） Lam. Using rapid amplification of cDNA ends （RACE）, lbLCYe gene was cloned from sweetpotato cv. Nongdafu 14 with high carotenoid content. The 1 805 bp cDNA sequence oflbLCYe gene contained a 1236 bp open reading frame （ORF） encoding a 411 amino acids polypeptide with a molecular weight of 47 kDa and an isoelectric point （pI） of 6.95. IbLCYe protein contained one potential lycopene ε-cyclase domain and one potential FAD （flavinadenine dinucleotide）/NAD（P） （nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate）-binding domain, indicating that this protein shares the typical characteristics of LCYe proteins. The gDNA oflbLCYe gene was 4 029 bp and deduced to contain 5 introns and 6 exons. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of IbLCYe gene was significantly higher in the storage roots of Nongdafu 14 than those in the leaves and stems. Transgenic tobacco （cv. Wisconsin 38） expressing [bLCYe gene accumulated significantly more ^-carotene compared to the untransformed control plants. These results showed that lbLCYe gene has an important function for the accumulation of carotenoids of sweetpotato.

Stress analysis of functionally graded rotating discs: analytical and numerical solutions

This study deals with stress analysis of annular rotating discs made of functionally graded materials（FGMs）.Elasticity modulus and density of the discs are assumed to vary radially according to a power law function,but the material is of constant Poisson＇s ratio.A gradient parameter n is chosen between 0 and 1.0.When n = 0,the disc becomes a homogeneous isotropic material.Tangential and radial stress distributions and displacements on the disc are investigated for various gradient parameters n by means of the diverse elasticity modulus and density by using analytical and numerical solutions.Finally,a homogenous tangential stress distribution and the lowest radial stresses along the radius of a rotating disc are approximately obtained for the gradient parameter n = 1.0 compared with the homogeneous,isotropic case n = 0.This means that a disc made of FGMs has the capability of higher angular rotations compared with the homogeneous isotropic disc.

The Application of Systemic-Functional Linguistics in Discourse Analysis

Systemic-functional linguistics considers function and semantics as the basis of human language and communicative activity. In recent years, Systemic-functional linguistics has been applied in such areas as natural language processing, early language learning, language education, stylistics, foreign language teaching, translation and stylistics. It sheds new light on the further application of this linguistic theory in other fields.

Chebyshev collocation approach for vibration analysis of functionally graded porous beams based on third-order shear deformation theory

In this paper,vibration analysis of functionally graded porous beams is carried out using the third-order shear deformation theory.The beams have uniform and non-uniform porosity distributions across their thickness and both ends are supported by rotational and translational springs.The material properties of the beams such as elastic moduli and mass density can be related to the porosity and mass coefficient utilizing the typical mechanical features of open-cell metal foams.The Chebyshev collocation method is applied to solve the governing equations derived from Hamilton's principle,which is used in order to obtain the accurate natural frequencies for the vibration problem of beams with various general and elastic boundary conditions.Based on the numerical experiments,it is revealed that the natural frequencies of the beams with asymmetric and non-uniform porosity distributions are higher than those of other beams with uniform and symmetric porosity distributions.

Protein profile of human hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721:Identification and functional analysis

AIM： TO investigate the protein profile of human hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721, to analyze the specific functions of abundant expressed proteins in the processes of hepatocarcinoma genesis, growth and metastasis, to identify the hepatocarcinoma-specific biomarkers for the early prediction in diagnosis, and to explore the new drug targets for liver cancer therapy. METHODS： Total proteins from human hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis （2DE）. The silver-stained gel was analyzed by 2DE software Image Master 2D Elite. Interesting protein spots were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS） and database searching. RESULTS： We obtained protein profile of human hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721. Among the twenty-one successfully identified proteins, mitofilin, endoplasmic reticulum protein ERp29, ubiquinol-cytochrome C reductase complex core protein I, peroxisomal enoyl CoA hydratase, peroxiredoxin-4 and probable 3-oxoacid CoA transferase 1 precursor were the six novel proteins identified in human hepatocarcinoma cells or tissues. Specific functions of the identified heat-shock proteins were analyzed in detail, and the results suggested that these proteins might promote tumorigenesis via inhibiting cell death induced by several cancer-related stresses or via inhibiting apoptosis at multiple points in the apoptotic signal pathway. Other identified chaperones and cancer-related proteins were also analyzed.CONCLUSION： Based on the protein profile of SMMC-7721 cells, functional analysis suggests that the identified chaperones and cancer-related proteins have their own pathways to contribute to the tumorigenesis, tumor growth and metastasis of liver cancer. Furthermore, proteomic analysis is indicated to be feasible in the cancer study.

Large deformation analysis of a cantilever beam made of axially functionally graded material by homotopy analysis method

Large deformation of a cantilever axially functionally graded (AFG) beam subject to a tip load is analytically studied using the homotopy analysis method (HAM). It is assumed that its Young’s modulus varies along the longitudinal direction according to a power law. Taking the solution of the corresponding homogeneous beam as the initial guess and obtaining a convergence region by adjusting an auxiliary parameter, the analytical expressions for large deformation of the AFG beam are provided. Results obtained by the HAM are compared with those obtained by the finite element method and those in the previous works to verify its validity. Good agreement is observed. A detailed parametric study is carried out. The results show that the axial material variation can greatly change the deformed configuration, which provides an approach to control and manage the deformation of beams. By tailoring the axial material distribution, a desired deformed configuration can be obtained for a specific load. The analytical solution presented herein can be a helpful tool for this procedure.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONALLY GRADED PLATE BASED ON THE HAAR WAVELET METHOD

A three-dimensional analysis of a simply-supported functionally graded rectangular plate with an arbitrary distribution of material properties is made using a simple and effective method based on the Haar wavelet. With good features in treating singularities, Haar series solution converges rapidly for arbitrary distributions, especially for the case where the material properties change rapidly in some regions. Through numerical examples the influences of the ratio of material constants on the top and bottom surfaces and different material gradient distributions on the structural response of the plate to mechanical stimuli are studied.

Buckling analysis of functionally graded material(FGM) sandwich truncated conical shells reinforced by FGM stiffeners filled inside by elastic foundations

An analytical solution for buckling of an eccentrically stiffened sandwich truncated conical shell is investigated. The shell consists of two functionally graded material （FGM） coating layers and a core layer which are metal or ceramic subjected to an axial compressive load and an external uniform pressure. Shells are reinforced by stringers and rings, in which the material properties of shells and stiffeners are graded in the thickness direction following a general sigmoid law distribution. Two models of coated shell-stiffener arrangements are investigated. The change of the spacing between stringers in the meridional direction is taken into account. A couple set of three-variable- coefficient partial differential equations in terms of displacement components are solved by the Galerkin method. A closed-form expression for determining the buckling load is obtained. The numerical examples are presented and compared with previous works.