Expansion Mode Research Articles

Comparative analysis of plastid genomes reveals rearrangements, repetitive sequence features, and phylogeny in the Annonaceae.

The Annonaceae stands as the most species rich family in the Magnoliales, a basal group of angiosperms. Widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, it holds significant ecological and economic value. The plastid genome (plastome) is often employed in studies related to plant phylogenetics, comparative genomics, evolutionary biology, and genetic engineering. Nonetheless, research progress on plastid genomics in the Annonaceae has been relatively slow. In this study, we analyzed the structure and repetitive sequence features of plastomes from 28 Annonaceae species. Among them, Mitrephora tomentosa and Desmos chinensis were newly sequenced, with sizes of 160,157 bp and 192,167 bp, and GC contents of 38.3% and 38.4%, respectively. The plastome size in the Annonaceae ranged from 158,837 bp to 202,703 bp, with inverted repeat (IR) region sizes ranging from 64,621 bp to 25,861 bp. Species exhibiting expansion in the IR region showed an increase in plastome size and gene number, frequent boundary changes, different expansion modes (bidirectional or unidirectional), and an increase in repetitive sequences. Specifically, a large number of dispersed repetitive sequences lead to an increase in the size of the LSC region in Goniothalamus tamirensis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed Annonoideae and Malmeoideae as monophyletic groups and sister clades, with Cananga odorata outside of them, followed by Anaxagorea javanica. This research uncovers the structural variation characteristics of plastomes in the Annonaceae, providing valuable information for understanding the phylogeny and plastome evolution of Annonaceae.

Conflict-free coordination planning for multiple automated guided vehicles in an intelligent warehousing system

With the rapid development of intelligent manufacturing, the application of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in intelligent warehousing systems has become increasingly common. Efficiently planning the conflict-free paths of multiple AGVs while minimizing the total task completion time is crucial for evaluating the performance of the system. Distinguishing itself from recent approaches where conflict avoidance strategy and path planning algorithm are executed independently or separately, this paper proposes an improved conflict-free A* algorithm by integrating the conflict avoidance strategy into the initial path planning process. Based on the heuristic A* algorithm, we use the instruction time consumption as the key evaluation indicator of the cost function and add the turning consumption in the future path cost evaluation. Moreover, the expansion mode of child nodes is optimized where a five-element search set containing the “zero movement” is proposed to implement a proactive pause-wait strategy. Then the prediction rules are designed to add constraints to three types of instructions based on the timeline map, guiding the heuristic planning to search for conflict-free child nodes. Extensive simulations show that the coordination planning based on the improved conflict-free A* algorithm not only effectively achieves advanced conflict avoidance at the algorithmic level, but also exhibits lower computational complexity and higher task completion efficiency compared to other coordination planning methods.

Somatic and intergenerational G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat instability in a human C9orf72 knock-in mouse model.

Expansion of a G4C2 repeat in the C9orf72 gene is associated with familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). To investigate the underlying mechanisms of repeat instability, which occurs both somatically and intergenerationally, we created a novel mouse model of familial ALS/FTD that harbors 96 copies of G4C2 repeats at a humanized C9orf72 locus. In mouse embryonic stem cells, we observed two modes of repeat expansion. First, we noted minor increases in repeat length per expansion event, which was dependent on a mismatch repair pathway protein Msh2. Second, we found major increases in repeat length per event when a DNA double- or single-strand break (DSB/SSB) was artificially introduced proximal to the repeats, and which was dependent on the homology-directed repair (HDR) pathway. In mice, the first mode primarily drove somatic repeat expansion. Major changes in repeat length, including expansion, were observed when SSB was introduced in one-cell embryos, or intergenerationally without DSB/SSB introduction if G4C2 repeats exceeded 400 copies, although spontaneous HDR-mediated expansion has yet to be identified. These findings provide a novel strategy to model repeat expansion in a non-human genome and offer insights into the mechanism behind C9orf72 G4C2 repeat instability.

Large-scale analysis of the ARF and Aux/IAA gene families in 406 horticultural and other plants

The auxin response factor (ARF) and auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) family of genes are central components of the auxin signaling pathway and play essential roles in plant growth and development. Their large-scale analysis and evolutionary trajectory of origin are currently not known. Here, we identified the corresponding ARF and Aux/IAA family members and performed a large-scale analysis by scanning 406 plant genomes. The results showed that the ARF and Aux/IAA gene families originated from charophytes. The ARF family sequences were more conserved than the Aux/IAA family sequences. Dispersed duplications were the common expansion mode of ARF and Aux/IAA families in bryophytes, ferns, and gymnosperms; however, whole-genome duplication was the common expansion mode of the ARF and Aux/IAA families in basal angiosperms, magnoliids, monocots, and dicots. Expression and regulatory network analyses revealed that the Arabidopsis thaliana ARF and Aux/IAA families responded to multiple hormone, biotic, and abiotic stresses. The APETALA2 and serum response factor-transcription factor gene families were commonly enriched in the upstream and downstream genes of the ARF and Aux/IAA gene families. Our study provides a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary trajectories, structural functions, expansion mechanisms, expression patterns, and regulatory networks of these two gene families.

Efficient Resource Management and Expansion Scheme for Collaborative Edge-Cloud Computing

Integrating the advantages of both the edge and the cloud, the edge-cloud computing system emerges to provide high-quality computing services for mobile users. To improve system efficiency, we investigate a hybrid mode of resource collaboration and expansion for the edge-cloud computing system, in which edge servers not only can collaborate with the cloud by purchasing high-priority computation resources temporarily but also can expand their local computation resources permanently. In such a way, the edge server can maximize its long-term profit by making a trade-off between the purchasing cost and the expanding cost. By formulating the resource management problem as a long-term profit maximization one, we first analyze the relationships among the expected minimal purchasing cost, the computation delay, and the available computation resources. Then, we design an efficient resource reserving and expanding scheme to determine the optimal expected amounts of reserving resources and expansion resources. Next, we propose an efficient real-time resource purchasing scheme to obtain the optimal amount of real-time purchasing resources dynamically. Finally, simulation results show that the proposed efficient resource collaboration and expanding scheme can maximize the long-term profit while guaranteeing the computation delay.

Understanding urban expansion and shrinkage via green plastic cover mapping based on GEE cloud platform: A case study of Shandong, China

Green Plastic Cover (GPC) has been widely used in construction sites of China as the main measure for dust suppression. As a unique land cover in China, GPC could be viewed as a sign for evaluating the intensity of urban construction. Therefore, time series GPC maps could provide a new perspective to understand the pattern of urban development, including both urban expansion and urban shrinkage. The objective of this study is to present a novel framework for detection of urban development patterns based on high resolution GPC maps generated from Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform. Specifically, we first generated the GPC maps of 137 districts and counties in Shandong Province of China from 2018 to 2022 by combining time series spectral features and textural features derived from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images provided by GEE cloud platform. Afterwards, we designed a GPC-based urban development vigor index (GPC-UDVI) to evaluate the vitality of each city, which offers a novel perspective to identify shrinking cities. Experimental results demonstrated that the average overall accuracy of GPC maps is 89.696 %, which is accurate enough for the following analysis. Besides, the proposed GPC-UDVI exhibits a consistent trend with statistical data and could reveal urban development patterns with a high performance. Above all, dynamic monitoring of urban GPC through remote sensing is significant for understanding urban expansion modes and aiding in urban reconstruction management.

The Spanish railway network, 1848–2023

AbstractGIS data on the evolution of railway networks facilitate the study of the role played by the expansion of transport infrastructure since the industrial revolution. The arrival of the railway transformed economic and social activity and the distribution of population within the territory. Given their importance, we have reconstructed and digitised the layout of the railway lines and the location of the stations and halts that existed from the opening of Spain's first railway line, in 1848, until 2023. We have also added indicators of the quality of the network, more specifically, the dates of its electrification and when the track was doubled to allow two-way traffic. The potential of this database lies in its capacity to analyse the interrelationship between the railway infrastructure and a wide range of elements located in the territory, amongst which it is necessary to highlight other modes of transport, urban expansion and socio-economic development.

Comprehensive analysis of the aldehyde dehydrogenase gene family in Phaseolus vulgaris L. and their response to saline-alkali stress.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) scavenges toxic aldehyde molecules by catalyzing the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids. Although ALDH gene family members in various plants have been extensively studied and were found to regulate plant response to abiotic stress, reports on ALDH genes in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of neutral (NS) and basic alkaline (AS) stresses on growth, physiological and biochemical indices, and ALDH activity, ALDH gene expression of common bean. In addition, We used bioinformatics techniques to analyze the physical and chemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, gene replication, collinearity, cis-acting elements, gene structure, motifs, and protein structural characteristics of PvALDH family members. We found that both NS and AS stresses weakened the photosynthetic performance of the leaves, induced oxidative stress, inhibited common bean growth, and enhanced the antioxidative system to scavenge reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, we our findings revealed that ALDH in the common bean actively responds to NS or AS stress by inducing the expression of PvALDH genes. In addition, using the established classification criteria and phylogenetic analysis, 27 PvALDHs were identified in the common bean genome, belonging to 10 ALDH families. The primary expansion mode of PvALDH genes was segmental duplication. Cis-acting elemental analysis showed that PvALDHs were associated with abiotic stress and phytohormonal responses. Gene expression analysis revealed that the PvALDH gene expression was tissue-specific. For instance, PvALDH3F1 and PvALDH3H1 were highly expressed in flower buds and flowers, respectively, whereas PvALDH3H2 and PvALDH2B4 were highly expressed in green mature pods and young pods, respectively. PvALDH22A1 and PvALDH11A2 were highly expressed in leaves and young trifoliates, respectively; PvALDH18B2 and PvALDH18B3 were highly expressed in stems and nodules, respectively; and PvALDH2C2 and PvALDH2C3 were highly expressed in the roots. PvALDHs expression in the roots responded positively to NS-AS stress, and PvALDH2C3, PvALDH5F1, and PvALDH10A1 were significantly (P < 0.05) upregulated in the roots. These results indicate that AS stress causes higher levels of oxidative damage than NS stress, resulting in weaker photosynthetic performance and more significant inhibition of common bean growth. The influence of PvALDHs potentially modulates abiotic stress response, particularly in the context of saline-alkali stress. These findings establish a basis for future research into the potential roles of ALDHs in the common bean.

A Study on the Dynamic Relationship between Embodied Carbon Productivity and Embodied Value Added in China’s Industrial Sectors: An Empirical Analysis Based on the Decoupling Model and the Panel Multinomial Logit Model

Based on the decoupling theory, this paper analyzes the relationship between the embodied carbon productivity and the embodied value added in China’s industrial sectors, evaluates the development mode of the sectors, and explores a reasonable path to promote the green and low-carbon transformation of the sectors based on the panel multinomial logit model. The empirical conclusions are as follows: (i) Except for the decrease in 2002–2005, the embodied carbon productivity achieved rapid growth in other time periods; during the period of 2002–2020, the embodied value added increased by 339.59 percentage points, with an average annual growth rate of 8.57%, and the embodied carbon productivity increased by 70.59 percentage points, with an average annual growth rate of 3.01%. (ii) As the embodied value added of the 28 industrial subsectors expanded, the changes in their embodied carbon productivity were different. This process can be roughly classified into three main phases: The first phase is the extensive growth period of 2002–2005, in which the embodied carbon productivity of most industrial subsectors declined while the embodied value added expanded; the second phase is the low-carbon transformation and development period of 2005–2012, during which the recessive positive-efficiency emission reduction became the dominant mode; and the third phase is the low-carbon development period of 2012–2020, in which the high-efficiency emission reduction became the dominant mode. (iii) When the industrial sectors are in an expansive state, increasing the substitution of capital for energy factors will make the transformation of industrial sectors more inclined to expansive high-efficiency emission reduction mode, and when the industrial sectors fall into recession, optimizing the energy structure will produce the same effect.

UClean scaling up dilemma: towards building a laundromat mosaic in India

Learning outcomes This case study outlines the strategic and organisational issues faced by an entrepreneurial firm operating in an emerging economy. This case study has been written to equip students with how entrepreneurs can overcome certain barriers and use technology to achieve product–market fit, taking the Indian laundry sector as an example. The following are the key learnings for the case: start-ups need to continuously assess the product–market fit to organise a highly unorganised sector; market entry and expansion modes require proper evaluation of available entry and expansion modes before pursual; franchising decisions require firm-specific and location-specific considerations; and careful consideration given to celebrity endorsement will result in increased sales. Case overview/synopsis The Indian laundry market was a highly unorganised market and presented an untapped opportunity. While the market opportunity was enormous, the existing solutions comprised local vendors that may not provide end-to-end services (washing, ironing, etc.). The case study described how a young entrepreneur, Arunabh Sinha, overcame certain challenges to achieve a product–market fit for metro cities and later expanded to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India as well. However, the challenges remained, as the firm expanded by using a franchise model, and other modes of business were required to be evaluated as well. Complexity academic level The case study is suitable for students pursuing MBA courses in marketing, service marketing and entrepreneurship development. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS3: Entrepreneurship.

Impact of Fracture–Seepage–Stress Coupling on the Sustainability and Durability of Concrete: A Triaxial Seepage and Mechanical Strength Analysis

As an indispensable material in construction and engineering, concrete’s mechanical properties and permeability are crucial for structures’ stability and durability. In order to reasonably assess and improve the durability of fracture-containing concrete structures and to enhance the sustainable working life of concrete structures, this research investigated the seepage characteristics of fracture-containing concrete and its mechanical property deterioration under fracture–seepage coupling by testing the permeability and strength of concrete samples before and after water penetration using triaxial seepage test and mechanical strength test. The results show that the fracture–seepage coupling action significantly affects the permeability characteristics and mechanical strength of fracture-containing concrete. In particular, the strength of concrete samples containing a single fracture decreased with increased fracture angle, with a maximum decrease of 32.8%. The fracture–seepage–stress coupling significantly reduced the strength of the fracture-containing concrete samples, which was about twice as much as the strength of the no-fracture concrete samples. Different fracture angles affect the mode of fracture expansion and damage (The fracture angle varies from small to large, and the damage form of concrete changes from tensile damage to tensile–shear composite damage). Moreover, the coupling effect of fracture–seepage–stress will further increase fracture-containing concrete’s fragmentation in the damage process. Therefore, improving the seepage and fracture resistance of concrete plays a vital role in improving the sustainable working life of concrete structures.

An Analysis of the Linkage between the Genoese “Compera” and Municipal Decision-Making in the Twelfth Century

In recent years, domestic academics have paid more and more attention to the origins of the Western state, and the Republic of Genoa, as one of the medieval maritime overlords in North Italy, deserves to be studied in depth for its mode of statehood and expansion. In the twelfth century, the Republic of Genoa used for the first time in its financial system an instrument similar to the public debt of modern times in order to solve the problem of municipal funding in the military and financial aspects. This financial instrument, called “compera”, was closely linked to municipal taxation, and often developed along with the implementation of municipal military and financial policies, eventually forming a lasting linkage with municipal decision-making. In essence, the underlying logic of this linkage is expressed through the interaction between the expanding taxing power of municipalities and their frequent fiscal indebtedness. More importantly, the linkage mechanism also stimulates the further monopolisation of public power by the urban elite aristocracy in the process of its operation.

Elastic distributed dataset RDD (Resilient Distributed Datasets)

In recent years, the amount of data to be processed has become larger and larger, and it is difficult for a single processor to handle data, so we need to work hard to develop the expansion mode of cluster mode. Mapreduce, Storm, etc. are a solution for clusters to process data. However, we still have parallel processing, user resource sharing and other issues to be addressed. RDD data model is the key to solve these problems. In this paper, RDD is applied to Spark for detailed expansion, and project experiments are carried out to study the RDD data model. The programming language used in this article is python. The advantage of studying distributed iterative computing is that during the calculation process, the task calculation fails and can be recovered. The default is to allow four failures recoverable. If the stage fails, one can recover, and if the partition fails, one can also recover. Multiple partitions can improve parallelism and efficiency. After a shuffle, a partition failed because the many-to-one relationship needs to be recalculated.

A robust dynamic hydrogenation network layout model considering station capacity expansion and flexible transportation modes

The development of the hydrogen-fueled vehicle industry needs a mature hydrogenation network to provide a guaranteed source of hydrogen in the future. We propose a dynamic hydrogen supply network optimization model under demand uncertainty. The model incorporates the dynamic characteristics of the network, takes into account the linkages of units within the network as well as the hydrogenation network between cycles. Hydrogenation networks can be planned over multiple cycles and allow for capacity expansion of hydrogen production and refueling stations, and shifts in the way hydrogen is transported between sites. Robust optimization is used to deal with demand uncertainty. In the results of the case study obtained, resources within the network were fully utilized, costs within the network show economies of scale; the average resource utilization rate at each site reached 85.6 %; and the rate of meeting user demand reached more than 98.5 %. A hydrogenation network with sustainable operations was formed.

MHO or MUO? White adipose tissue remodeling.

In this review, we delve into the intricate relationship between white adipose tissue (WAT) remodeling and metabolic aspects in obesity, with a specific focus on individuals with metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). WAT is a highly heterogeneous, plastic, and dynamically secreting endocrine and immune organ. WAT remodeling plays a crucial role in metabolic health, involving expansion mode, microenvironment, phenotype, and distribution. In individuals with MHO, WAT remodeling is beneficial, reducing ectopic fat deposition and insulin resistance (IR) through mechanisms like increased adipocyte hyperplasia, anti-inflammatory microenvironment, appropriate extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, appropriate vascularization, enhanced WAT browning, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SWAT) deposition. Conversely, for those with MUO, WAT remodeling leads to ectopic fat deposition and IR, causing metabolic dysregulation. This process involves adipocyte hypertrophy, disrupted vascularization, heightened pro-inflammatory microenvironment, enhanced brown adipose tissue (BAT) whitening, and accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VWAT) deposition. The review underscores the pivotal importance of intervening in WAT remodeling to hinder the transition from MHO to MUO. This insight is valuable for tailoring personalized and effective management strategies for patients with obesity in clinical practice.

Innovative Development of Enterprise New Media Communication Path in Mobile Internet Environment

Abstract In the Internet context, traditional media have gone online, and corporate new media urgently need to find a new communication direction. Establishing an innovative media communication path for enterprises in the mobile internet environment through innovative development. The decision-making optimization of corporate new media communication is based on the core objectives of minimizing the promotion cost of implanted online ads and maximizing the communication efficiency of implanted online ads. The multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to construct the optimal decision-making model of media selection for corporate implantable online advertising, obtain the optimal solution of the model according to the objective function, and analyze the example of a corporate new media communication path. The results show that: guidance support (X4), basic positioning (X5), future layout (X6), and driving force (X1) have a significant positive influence on media functionality (Y2), and their explanatory power for implantable advertising functionality is 13.1%, 4.2%, 3.7% and 2.9% respectively, and implantable advertising functionality will become the key path of enterprise business expansion and operation mode, and functional differentiation also will become one of their competitiveness. The goal of this study is to combine new media marketing and traditional marketing to achieve complementary advantages and maximize the communication effectiveness of enterprises.

Control of CO2 evaporation in an integrated photovoltaic module: experiments and modelling

The use of environmentally friendly refrigerants and the improvement of the system performance are two main topics in the research on heat pump technology. Given the recent limitations imposed on the usage of high global warming potential refrigerants, there is a growing demand in the market for the adoption of natural refrigerants, like CO2. Nevertheless, CO2 heat pumps operate under transcritical conditions, which can adversely affect its efficiency. Therefore, incorporating a solar heat source into a CO2 heat pump can offer a solution to mitigate low system performance issues. In the present study, a photovoltaic module integrated with the evaporator of a CO2 heat pump is experimentally studied. The PV-T evaporator exploits solar radiation to both generate electricity in the PV cells and ensure the evaporation of CO2 in the collector’s tubes. Simultaneously, the PV conversion efficiency is improved by the cooling effect of the evaporation. The present evaporator works in dry expansion mode, thus the refrigerant flow after the expansion device is sent to the solar collectors, where it evaporates before returning to the compressor. When using a PV-T evaporator, it is necessary to prevent superheating in the evaporator to keep a uniform and efficient cooling of the PV cells. The current heat pump design prevents the occurrence of superheated vapor at the PV-T evaporator’s outlet. Beside the experimental activity a dynamic numerical model of the system has been developed and validated.

Research on the Marketing and Business Operation Model of Chinese Coffee Brands - A Case Study of Luckin Coffee

As a rapidly emerging coffee chain brand in the Chinese market, Luckin Coffee has attracted a lot of attention for its low-price strategy and rapid expansion mode. Luckin Coffee's low-price business model realizes the dual goals of price concessions and high-quality products, which challenges the business model and profitability of the traditional coffee industry. Luckin Coffee adopts a unique operation model that makes it stand out in a competitive market. According to the study of Luckin's profitability model and the comparison of the coffee industry, this research analyze the business logic and operation principle behind it. Through low-priced sales, Internet+ model, efficient supply chain management, diversified product portfolio, and rapid expansion of the number of stores, Luckin Coffee has successfully constructed a competitive business model and operation principle, which lays the foundation of its rapid rise in China's coffee market.Meanwhile, there are problems with Luckin Coffee's business model, and this study makes recommendations for its future development.

Research on Digital Economy Driving High Quality Development of China's Manufacturing Industry

With the profound changes in the global industrial economic situation, the industrial competition pattern is further adjusted, China's original reliance on the "demographic dividend" effect of the manufacturing industry expansion path is facing the challenge of low-end locking and marginalization, the urgent need to cultivate new kinetic energy. Get rid of the inherent low-cost competition and scale expansion mode, promote the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, are the road to high-quality development of the manufacturing industry under the new development pattern. On the one hand, the digital economy has reconstructed the layout of the manufacturing industry chain in digital space and physical space, effectively unimpeded the domestic macrocycle; on the other hand, the digital economy can promote China's manufacturing industry to the high-end of the value chain, and win a larger profit space and the right to speak for the manufacturing industry to integrate into the international cycle. Therefore, under the new development pattern of internal and external double cycle, digital economy has become the new kinetic energy for the upgrading of China's manufacturing industry. This project combs through the domestic digital economy to drive the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry related literature, summarizes the economy to drive the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry measurement method, organizes the recent years of China's manufacturing industry development related research, consolidates the research foundation and expands the research perspective, constructs the "scale - structure", We construct a four-dimensional analytical framework of "scale-structure" and "circulation-external circulation" for the high-quality development of manufacturing industry, and explore the theoretical mechanism of digitalization-driven high-quality development of manufacturing industry. Through the use of econometric modeling methods to carry out empirical analysis of the digital economy driven manufacturing high quality, according to the empirical results, more scientific formulation of the digital economy driven China's manufacturing industry upgrading countermeasures recommendations.

Shape Morphing of Tubular Structures with Tailorable Mechanical Properties

Tubular structures are in high demand in robotics, medicine, and electronics. They are expected to match different shapes under loading and simultaneously exhibit certain mechanical behavior, e.g., specific radial strength and local flexibility, that poses a complex engineering design task. Herein, strategies to achieve programmable shape morphing in patterned tubular structures are explored, whose mechanical properties for all types of deformation modes can be tailored on demand. The general design problem is formulated, and the programmable response for fundamental—expansion, bending, and twisting—modes activated by tension and pressurization is demonstrated. The design problem for expansion modes is solved analytically; the numerical results agree well with the experimental data for stereolithography three‐dimensional printed cellular tubes. The effects of loading and boundary conditions on the deformed shapes and the structural mechanical response are analyzed. Algorithm‐based design strategies are proposed to achieve quantitative and automatic design for complex deformation modes. The possible use of the proposed structures is also discussed with respect to several applications. The findings pave the way for multifunctional tubular structures by exploring the pluridimensional space of the geometric parameters of metamaterial patterns.