Theoretical Basis Research Articles

Effects of system parameters on a single-beam synthetic gradiometer with a dual-cell structure.

We report a single-beam synthetic gradiometer operated in the spin-exchange-relaxation free (SERF) regime, using the structure of two separate atomic vapor cells spaced 2 cm apart. To improve the capability of the gradiometer in suppressing the common-mode magnetic field noise, we are aiming at investigating the effects of the system parameters on the gradiometer common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR). The mathematical expression for the relationship between the gradiometer CMRR and the two variables including the linewidth ratio and the pumping factor ratio is constructed for the first time, to our knowledge. This means that the CMRR can be optimized by controlling the linewidth and the pumping factor, which is easy to implement in the operation process. As a result, a CMRR of 246 is achieved and a gradiometer sensitivity of 4.5 fT/cm/Hz1/2 is also measured. This method provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the automated operation of gradiometers, and the gradiometer system performance can be tuned to a desired state by simply controlling the linewidth and the incident light intensity.

Symbiotic virus-bacteria interactions in biological treatment of coking wastewater manipulating bacterial physiological activities

Biological treatment is commonly used in coking wastewater (CWW) treatment. Prokaryotic microbial communities in CWW treatment have been comprehensively studied. However, viruses, as the critical microorganisms affecting microbial processes and thus engineering parameters, still remain poorly understood in CWW treatment context. Employing viromics sequencing, the composition and function of the viral community in CWW treatment were discovered, revealing novel viral communities and key auxiliary metabolic functions. Caudovirales appeared to be the predominant viral order in the oxic-hydrolytic-oxic (OHO) CWW treatment combination, showing relative abundances of 62.47 %, 56.64 % and 92.20 % in bioreactors O1, H and O2, respectively. At the family level, Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae mainly prevailed in bioreactors O1 and H while Phycodnaviridae dominated in O2. A total of 56.23–92.24% of novel viral contigs defied family-level characterization in this distinct CWW habitat. The virus-host prediction results revealed most viruses infecting the specific functional taxa Pseudomonas, Acidovorax and Thauera in the entire OHO combination, demonstrating the viruses affecting bacterial physiology and pollutants removal from CWW. Viral auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were screened, revealing their involvement in the metabolism of contaminants and toxicity tolerance. In the bioreactor O1, AMGs were enriched in detoxification and phosphorus ingestion, where glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) and beta-ketoadipyl CoA thiolase (fadA) participated in biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols, respectively. In the bioreactors H and O2, the AMGs focused on cell division and epicyte formation of the hosts, where GDPmannose 4,6-dehydratase (gmd) related to lipopolysaccharides biosynthesis was considered to play an important role in the growth of nitrifiers. The diversities of viruses and AMGs decreased along the CWW treatment process, pointing to a reinforced virus-host adaptive strategy in stressful operation environments. In this study, the symbiotic virus-bacteria interaction patterns were proposed with a theoretical basis for promoting CWW biological treatment efficiency. The findings filled the gaps in the virus-bacteria interactions at the full-scale CWW treatment and provided great value for understanding the mechanism of biological toxicity and sludge activity in industrial wastewater treatment.

Research on the Impact of Environmental Protection Tax on Green Technology Innovation of Enterprises

Research on the Impact of Environmental Protection Tax on Green Technology Innovation of Enterprises

Bone mesenchymal stem cells improve cholestatic liver fibrosis by targeting ULK1 to regulate autophagy through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Cholestatic liver disease (CLD) is a severe disease, which can progress to liver cirrhosis, even liver cancer. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation plays a crucial role in CLD development. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) treatment was demonstrated to be beneficial in liver diseases. However, the therapeutic effect and mechanism of BMSCs on CLD are poorly known. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of BMSCs transplantation in mouse models of bile duct ligation-induced cholestatic liver fibrosis (CLF). The results revealed that BMSCs significantly improved liver function and reduced the formation of fibrosis after portal vein transplantation. Mechanistically, after coculturing BMSCs and HSCs, we identified that BMSCs alleviated starvation-induced HSCs activation. Further, BMSCs inhibited HSCs activation by decreasing autophagy, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was involved in the regulation. More importantly, ULK1 is identified as the main autophagy-related gene regulated by BMSCs in HSCs autophagy. Overexpression of ULK1 reversed the suppression of HSCs autophagy by BMSCs. Collectively, our results provide a theoretical basis for BMSCs targeting ULK1 to attenuate HSCs autophagy and activation and suggest that BMSCs or ULK1 may be an alternative therapeutic approach/target for the treatment of CLF.

Procurement contract design for distributed photovoltaic project considering output risk under asymmetric production effort information

PurposeDistributed photovoltaic (DPV) projects generally have output risks, and the production effort of the supplier is often private information, so the buyer needs to design the optimal procurement contract to maximise its procurement utility.Design/methodology/approachBased on the principal-agent theory, we design optimal procurement contracts for DPV projects with fixed payments and incentive factors under three situations, i.e. symmetry information, asymmetry information without monitoring and asymmetry information with monitoring. We obtain the optimal production effort and expected utility of the supplier, the expected output and expected utility of the buyer and analyse the value of the information and monitoring.FindingsThe results show that under asymmetric information without monitoring, risk-averse suppliers need to take some risk due to output risk, which reduces the optimal production effort of the supplier and the expected output and expected utility of the buyer. Therefore, when the monitoring cost is below a certain threshold value, the buyer can introduce a procurement contract with monitoring to address the asymmetry information. In addition, under asymmetric information without monitoring, the buyer should choose a supplier with a low-risk aversion.Originality/valueConsidering the output risk of DPV projects, we study the optimal procurement contract design for the buyer under asymmetric information. The results provide some theoretical basis and management insights for the buyer to design optimal procurement contracts in different situations.

Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) mediated synthesis of TiO2 with enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability

Improving photocatalytic activity and stability of titanium dioxide (TiO2) is crucial for its application in wastewater treatment. Incorporating polymer ligands into the synthetic process is an important way to improve the catalytic performance of TiO2. In this work, a water-soluble, non-toxic, and non-ionic polymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), was used to regulate the synthesis of TiO2 by using hydrothermal method. It was observed that PVP-regulated TiO2 had enhanced photocatalytic performance comparing with the pure TiO2, mainly due to the enhanced light absorption, the suppressed charge recombination efficiency, the increased oxidation power of photogenerated holes and specific surface area. Additionally, the catalytic stability of the catalyst was also improved. As a result, TiO2 assisted with PVP exhibited a significant improvement in catalytic stability after four cycles of methyl orange degradation. Our research results can provide experimental and theoretical basis for the development of photocatalysts with excel-lent stable catalytic performance.

Can Environmental Information Disclosure Improve Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing? Evidence from Chinese Enterprises

Improving the energy efficiency of enterprises is one of the key means to solve the problem of energy shortage. It is of great significance to investigate how environmental information disclosure (EDI) promotes the green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE) of enterprises. Based on this, this study calculates the GTFEE of enterprises by combining the database of Chinese manufacturing and the pollutant emission of industrial enterprises and investigates the impact of EDI on the GTFEE of manufacturing industries by using a difference-in-difference model. The following is found: (1) EDI can significantly promote the manufacturing enterprises’ GTFEE, and the results are still valid after a series of robustness tests; (2) Mechanism analysis shows that EDI can improve the GTFEE of manufacturing enterprises by promoting technological innovation and optimizing energy structure; (3) The heterogeneity analysis shows that EID is more positive on firms’ GTFEE in the eastern than western regions. The positive impact is greater for non-state-owned, low-energy consumption, export, and polluting enterprises. The findings of this paper provide a theoretical basis and practical enlightenment for the government to promote the green development transformation of enterprises.

Impact of Enterprise Digital Transformation on the Efficiency of Total Factor Energy Utilization

With the advent of the information age and the rapid progress of technology, it has become inevitable for enterprises to move towards digital transformation. Energy is one of the most vital material bases for national economic and social development, which plays a vital role in national economic growth. How to use energy efficiently has been the core factor to measure the sustainable development potential of an enterprise. Based on the data of listed companies in China, this paper empirically analyzes the impact of enterprise informatization on energy efficiency from different perspectives. Studies have shown that the degree of enterprise informatization has a direct relationship with its energy efficiency. At present, the overall informatization of enterprises in various regions of China is low. However, with the continuous popularization of digital technology and applications, it has a certain inhibitory effect on enterprise energy consumption, with the effect becoming more and more apparent. Especially during the digital transformation, the role of state-owned enterprises in promoting total factor energy consumption has been more significant. Therefore, from the perspective of digital transformation, it is of great significance to study the energy efficiency of state-owned enterprises. This research explores the significant differences in energy efficiency among various industries, and the adoption of digital transformation strategies will help narrow these differences and further promote energy efficiency improvement across the industry. In addition, through the analysis of typical cases, this topic reveals the main problems faced by enterprises in the process of digital transformation and their causes, which puts forward corresponding countermeasures and suggestions. This study can provide a solid theoretical basis for the positive role played by Chinese enterprises and related departments during the digital transformation.

How to animate learners to persist in learning massive open online courses? An application of the stimulus-organism-response paradigm

Purpose The purpose of this study is to propose a research model based on the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) model to examine whether network externality, personalization and sociability as environmental feature antecedents to learners’ learning engagement (LE) can influence their learning persistence (LP) in massive open online courses (MOOCs). Design/methodology/approach Sample data for this study were collected from learners who had experience in taking MOOCs provided by the MOOC platform launched by a well-known university in Taiwan, and 371 usable questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling in this study. Findings This study proved that learners’ perceived network externality, personalization and sociability in MOOCs positively affected their cognitive LE, psychological LE and social LE elicited by MOOCs, which jointly led to their LP in MOOCs. The results support all proposed hypotheses, and the research model accounts for 76.2% of the variance in learners’ LP in MOOCs. Originality/value This study uses the S–O–R model as a theoretical base to construct learners’ LP in MOOCs as a series of the inner process, which is affected by network externality, personalization and sociability. It is worth noting that three psychological constructs including cognitive LE, psychological LE and social LE are used to represent learners’ organismic states of MOOCs usage. To date, hedonic/utilitarian concepts are more often adopted as organisms in previous studies using the S–O–R model, and psychological constructs have received lesser attention. Hence, this study’ contribution on the application of capturing psychological constructs for completely expounding three types of environmental features as antecedents to learners’ LP in MOOCs is well documented.

Representative High-Temperature Hydrothermal Activities in the Himalaya Geothermal Belt (HGB): A Review and Future Perspectives

Southern Tibet and western Yunnan are areas with an intensive distribution of high-temperature geothermal systems in China, as an important part of the Himalayan Geothermal Belt (HGB). In recent decades, China has conducted systematic research on high-temperature geothermal fields such as Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai. However, a comprehensive understanding has not yet been formed. The objective of this study was to enhance comprehension of the high-temperature geothermal system in the HGB and to elucidate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of geothermal fluids. This will facilitate the subsequent sustainable development and exploitation of domestic high-temperature hydrothermal geothermal resources. To this end, this study analysed geothermal spring and borehole data from the Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai geothermal fields. Based on previous research results, the source, evolution, and reservoir temperature characteristics of geothermal fluids are compared and summarised. The main high-temperature geothermal water in the geothermal field is derived from the deep Cl-Na geothermal fluid. Yangbajing’s and Gudui’s geothermal waters are primarily recharged by snow-melt water, while Rehai’s geothermal water is mainly recharged by local meteoric water. The average mixing ratios of magmatic water in the Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai geothermal fields are 17%, 21%, and 22%, respectively. The Yangbajing and Gudui geothermal fields have a relatively closed geological environment, resulting in a stronger water–rock interaction compared to the Rehai geothermal field. As geothermal water rises, it mixes with shallow cold water infiltration. The mixing ratios of cold water in the Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai geothermal fields are 60–70%, 40–50%, and 20–40%, respectively. Based on the solute geothermometer calculations, the maximum geothermal reservoir temperatures for Yangbajing, Gudui, and Rehai are 237 °C, 266 °C, and 282 °C, respectively. This study summarises and compares the hydrogeochemical characteristics of three typical high-temperature geothermal fields. The findings provide an important theoretical basis for the development of high-temperature geothermal resources in the Himalayan Geothermal Belt.

The Effects of Long-Term Precipitation Exclusion on Leaf Photosynthetic Traits, Stomatal Conductance, and Water Use Efficiency in Phyllostachys edulis

Ongoing climate change is projected to intensify drought stress globally. Understanding the response mechanisms of Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz. (moso bamboo) to long-term drought is crucial, given its significance as a carbon sequestration resource. In this study, precipitation exclusion was implemented to simulate drought stress and we investigated the effects of long-term drought on the photosynthetic parameters, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency of moso bamboo. The results showed that throughout all growth seasons, the maximum net photosynthetic rates (Pmax) of bamboo at all ages under long-term drought conditions (after 8 years of precipitation exclusion treatment) were significantly lower than those of the control (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that long-term drought reduced the maximum photosynthetic capacity of the bamboo at all ages. Under long-term drought conditions, there were many seasons where the light saturation point (LSP) of first-degree (1–2 years old) bamboo and third-degree (5–6 years old) bamboo under drought was significantly lower than those of the control, while the LSP value of second-degree (3–4 years old) bamboo under drought was significantly higher than that of the control. This suggests that long-term drought reduced the ability of first-degree and third-degree bamboo to utilize strong light, while improving the ability of second-degree bamboo to utilize strong light in summer, autumn, and winter. Under long-term drought conditions, the light compensation point (LCP) and the apparent quantum efficiency (AQY) of the bamboo decreased. It can be concluded that long-term drought reduced the ability of first-degree bamboo to utilize weak light in all seasons, as well as the ability of second-degree bamboo to utilize weak light in spring and autumn; meanwhile, it improved the ability of second-degree bamboo to utilize weak light in summer and winter, and the ability of third-degree bamboo to utilize weak light in spring, summer, and autumn. In the high light range (PARi > 1000 µmol · m−2 · s−1), there were significant differences in stomatal conductance (gs) among different the different treatments of bamboo, which were influenced by both the growing season and the forest age. Compared to the control, under drought conditions, the stomatal conductance of third-degree bamboo increased in spring and that of the second-degree bamboo increased in autumn. The correlation analysis showed that the relationship between the stomatal conductance and vapor pressure deficit (VPDL) of bamboo under long-term drought conditions showed a significant polynomial relationship in both high and low light ranges. The correlation between the instantaneous water use efficiency (iWUE) and VPDL for the drought and control treatments of bamboo also showed a significant polynomial relationship in high light ranges. It was found that long-term drought changed the photosynthetic parameters of the bamboo, reflecting its ability to tolerate and adapt to drought in different seasons. Age-related differences in photosynthetic parameters should be fully considered in forest age structure adjustments and forest thinning procedures to strengthen the light intensity and maintain the opening of the stoma. These results provide a theoretical basis for the efficient and sustainable cultivation of bamboo under global climate change.

Response mechanism of rodent burrow density to natural environmental factors in desert areas based on multisource data

Timely and accurate prediction and early warning of rodent infestation are highly important for the sustainable development of desert ecosystems. This study combines data from 1376 UAV images of actual rodent burrows with natural environmental factor data, aiming to reveal the mechanism through which these factors affect rodent burrow density in the desert areas. The relationships between rodent burrow density and the 9 plant communities and 34 plant species in this area were analyzed by the K-W test and Spearman rank correlation analysis, respectively. The Boruta algorithm and the boosted regression trees (BRT) model were used to determine the six main factors influencing rodent burrow density from a total of 32 factors and to determine the distribution pattern of the burrows. The results show that (1) the density of rodent burrows in the Junggar Basin desert area gradually decreases from south to north and from west to east. (2) There were significant differences in rodent burrow density across the different plant community types (P = 0.048**). A total of 50.0 % of the species significantly influenced rodent burrow density at at least one level. (3) Among the 17 factors with lag effects, nine had the most significant correlation with rodent burrow density in April. Only two natural environmental factors demonstrated lag effects of less than one month. (4) The soil clay content, elevation, Normalized Difference Salinity Index (NDSI), vegetation cover, precipitation, and soil bulk density were the most important influencing factors on rodent burrow density. Considering the pairwise interactions among factors, the collective impact of these factors on rodent burrow density is at least sevenfold greater than the independent effect of a single factor. This study provides a theoretical basis for obtaining a timely and accurate understanding of the spatial distribution of rodent burrows, mitigating the degradation trend of desert ecosystems, and ensuring healthy and sustainable development.

Study on the Fracture of a Shield Segment in a Fully Excavated Hard Rock Section under the Influence of Construction Loads

In this paper, the initiation of the fracture of a segment caused by the pressure of the jack and other factors during shield construction is discussed. Based on the Rots model in the finite element software Diana 10.4, the fracture width is solved. Combined with in situ measurements, the mechanisms of concrete fracturing of a segment under external loads, such as the jack thrust deflection angle and uneven jack thrust caused by the changes in the segment due to the upward buoyancy and shield attitude, are studied; additionally, the occurrence conditions and engineering control measures for segment fracture are summarized. The results show that when the attitudes of the shield and segment are identical, the total thrust of the shield is recommended not to exceed 21,000 kN, and is strictly limited to 24,000 kN. When the attitude inclination angle between the shield machine and the segment is less than 1°, the impact on the segment quality is small. When the inclination angle reaches 2°, the total thrust of the shield is recommended not to exceed 16,000 kN, and is strictly limited to 18,000 kN. When the inclination reaches 3°, a fracture is easily produced. When the total thrust is 19,000 kN, it is recommended that the loading increase or decrease in the left and right four grippers should not exceed 20%, and they are prohibited to exceed 30%. The fracture width increases exponentially with the increase in misalignment between adjacent segment rings. These research results provide a theoretical basis for jack pressure control during shield construction.

Comparative genomic analyses provide insight into the pathogenicity of three Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae strains from Anhui Province, China

BackgroundPseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is an important bacterial plant pathogen that causes severe damage to the kiwifruit industry worldwide. Three Psa strains were recently obtained from different kiwifruit orchards in Anhui Province, China. The present study mainly focused on the variations in virulence and genome characteristics of these strains based on the pathogenicity assays and comparative genomic analyses.ResultsThree strains were identified as biovar 3 (Psa3), along with strain QSY6 showing higher virulence than JZY2 and YXH1 in pathogenicity assays. The whole genome assembly revealed that each of the three strains had a circular chromosome and a complete plasmid. The chromosome sizes ranged from 6.5 to 6.6 Mb with a GC content of approximately 58.39 to 58.46%, and a predicted number of protein-coding sequences ranging from 5,884 to 6,019. The three strains clustered tightly with 8 Psa3 reference strains in terms of average nucleotide identity (ANI), whole-genome-based phylogenetic analysis, and pangenome analysis, while they were evolutionarily distinct from other biovars (Psa1 and Psa5). Variations were observed in the repertoire of effectors of the type III secretion system among all 15 strains. Moreover, synteny analysis of the three sequenced strains revealed eight genomic regions containing 308 genes exclusively present in the highly virulent strain QSY6. Further investigation of these genes showed that 16 virulence-related genes highlight several key factors, such as effector delivery systems (type III secretion systems) and adherence (type IV pilus), which might be crucial for the virulence of QSY6.ConclusionThree Psa strains were identified and showed variant virulence in kiwifruit plant. Complete genome sequences and comparative genomic analyses further provided a theoretical basis for the potential pathogenic factors responsible for kiwifruit bacterial canker.

Effects of dietary multienzymes on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, nutrient digestibility, excreta noxious gas emission and nutrient transporter gene expression in white feather broilers.

Adding multienzymes to poultry feed rations is recognized as a nutritional strategy aimed at improving poultry performance and health status. Nonetheless, some literatures present an ongoing debate about the extent of multienzymes beneficial impact on poultry growth performance. This study aimed to explore the impacts of dietary multienzyme supplementation on broilers, focusing specifically on growth performance, carcass characteristics, apparent nutrient digestibility, excreta noxious gas emission, and intestinal nutrient transporter gene expression. A total of 3200 broilers were randomly assigned to five groups (8 replicates per treatment group) and treated with the following: normal control (CON), CON + 100g/t multienzyme (ME100), CON + 150g/t multienzyme (ME150), CON + 200g/t multienzyme (ME200), and CON + 250g/t multienzyme (ME250). Supplementing with multienzymes significantly influenced the feed conversion rate (linear, P = 0.007; quadratic, P = 0.024) and the European broiler index (linear, P = 0.004; quadratic, P = 0.016) in broilers. Dietary multienzymes significantly influenced apparent metabolizable energy (quadratic, P = 0.015) and neutral detergent fiber (quadratic, P < 0.001). Moreover, multienzyme supplementation in the diet also decreased the emission of ammonia (linear, P = 0.001; quadratic, P = 0.006) and hydrogen sulfide (quadratic, P = 0.006) in the excreta. In addition, dietary multi-enzyme notably elevated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of nutrient transporter genes, including peptide transporter 1 (PePT1), Na-dependent neutral amino acid transporter (B0AT), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), and fatty acid binding protein1 (FABP1). These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with multienzymes can improve the efficiency of feed utilization, and the digestion and absorption of nutrients and reduce excreta gas emission. Furthermore, this study provides a theoretical basis for advancing the use of multienzymes in broiler production.

The research on the failure mechanism and dynamic reliability of lubricated clearance

In the operation of mechanisms with lubricated clearances, uncertain parameters such as the temperature of lubricant, driving speed, and clearance value will lead to dynamic variations for oil film thickness of lubricated clearance. The lubrication may fail when the oil film thickness of bearing surfaces is insufficient, thereby significantly affecting the performance of the mechanism. This paper presents a novel method for the dynamic reliability of lubricated clearances by improved response surface method (IRSM). Firstly, the mathematical model of lubricated clearance is established, and the oil film load of lubricated clearance is defined, then the dynamic model of mechanism considering lubricated clearances is built through Lagrange method. Secondly, considering the failure mechanism of the lubricated clearance, the surrogate model is established using the IRSM with minimum oil film thickness as the failure criterion. Finally, taking the 9-link mechanism with multiple lubricated clearances as a numerical example, the dynamic minimum oil film thickness of the lubricated clearance considering uncertain parameters is computed. The reliability of the lubricated clearance is investigated by the surrogate model, and the applicability of the model is verified by the Monte Carlo method (MCM). The results demonstrate that the IRSM has higher accuracy compared to the traditional response surface method (TRSM). This paper provides a theoretical basis for the study of failure mechanism and reliability of lubricated clearances, and also has practical significance for engineering applications.

Quantitative Relationship of Plant Height and Leaf Area Index of Spring Maize under Different Water and Nitrogen Treatments Based on Effective Accumulated Temperature

To optimize the growth management of spring maize, it is essential to understand the dynamics of plant height and leaf area index (LAI) under controlled water and nitrogen supply. This study conducted two-year field experiments (2022–2023) in Karamay, Xinjiang. Three irrigation levels (75%, 100%, and 125% of Crop Evapotranspiration (ETc)) and four nitrogen application rates (0, 93, 186, and 279 kg N/ha) were set. A logistic growth model was fitted using accumulated effective temperature as the independent variable to analyze the growth and development characteristics of spring maize under various water and nitrogen conditions. The results demonstrated that the logistic models, based on relative effective accumulated temperature, had a determination coefficient (R2) of over 0.99 and a Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) of less than 10%. Irrigation extended the rapid growth phase of plant height, whereas nitrogen application shortened the time to enter this rapid growth phase and prolonged its duration. Irrigation increased the maximum LAI growth rate and shortened and prolonged the rapid growth phase, while nitrogen extended the duration of the rapid growth phase for LAI. The W2N2 treatment, consisting of 100% ETc irrigation and 186 kg N/ha, was identified as the optimal drip irrigation water–nitrogen combination for spring maize in the study area. Under optimal water and nitrogen supply, both the maximum growth rate and the average growth rate during the rapid growth phase were higher, requiring accumulated effective temperatures of 825.16–845.74 °C·d and 856.68–890.00 °C·d, respectively, to reach these rates. The appropriate water and nitrogen supply significantly enhanced the synergistic promotion of growth and development in spring maize. This study provides a theoretical basis for the quantitative analysis of growth dynamics in summer maize using effective accumulated temperature.

Potential role of IGF-1R in the interaction between orbital fibroblasts and B lymphocytes: an implication for B lymphocyte depletion in the active inflammatory phase of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

BackgroundThyroid eye disease (TED) is an inflammatory process involving lymphocyte-mediated immune response and orbital tissue damage. The anti-insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) antibodies produced by B lymphocytes are involved in the activation of orbital fibroblasts and the inflammatory process of orbital tissue damage in TED. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of IGF-1R in the mechanistic connection between orbital fibroblasts and B lymphocytes in TED.MethodsOrbital fibroblasts sampled from orbital connective tissues and peripheral B lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood, which were obtained from 15 patients with TED and 15 control patients, were co-cultured at a ratio of 1:20. The level of IGF-1R expression in orbital fibroblasts was evaluated by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Transient B lymphocyte depletion was induced with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab, while the IGF-1R pathway was blocked by the IGF-1R binding protein. The expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the co-culture model were quantified via ELISA.ResultsIGF-1R expression was significantly elevated in TED orbital fibroblasts compared to that of controls. A 24-h co-culture of orbital fibroblasts with peripheral B lymphocytes induced elevated expression levels of IL-6 and RANTES in each group (TED patients and controls), with the highest levels occurring in TED patients (T + T group). Rituximab and IGF-1R binding protein significantly inhibited increased levels of IL-6 and RANTES in the co-culture model of TED patients.ConclusionsIGF-1R may mediate interaction between orbital fibroblasts and peripheral B lymphocytes; thus, blocking IGF-1R may reduce the local inflammatory response in TED. Rituximab-mediated B lymphocyte depletion played a role in inhibiting inflammatory responses in this in vitro co-culture model, providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in TED.

Genome-wide association study reveals candidate genes critical for skin pigmentation in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) strains including koi

The differentiation and variation of body color in fish is an important component of biological evolution and phylogenetic research, and is influenced by several factors such as heredity, nutrition, physiological hormones and rearing conditions, with heredity being the most critical factor. An improved comprehension of the genetic regulation in different carp populations will facilitate future applications of precision breeding and pigment cell development-related genes editing. In this study, we used restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (2d-RAD) to determine the distribution characteristics of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in eight common carp strains including six koi strains, i.e., Kohaku (Hb), Taisho (Dz), Showa (Zh), Golden (Hj), Matsukawabake (Sch) and Five-color (Ws), and two genetically improved breeding strains, i.e., FFRC No. 2 strain (Fr) and red FFRC strain (Hfr), and then SNP markers to resolve genetic information on the population structure and skin color formation of these strains. We found that most individuals of eight strains were clearly divided into eight clades. Genetic diversity within Fr, Sch and Ws is relatively high, while it is low within Dz, Hb and Hfr. A comparison between the populations revealed that Hfr and Ws have the highest degree of genetic differences, while Hb and Dz have the lowest. The GWAS analysis for two strategies identified several SNPs that are significantly related to skin color variation and affect melanin synthesis (ephrinb2, slc22a23, herc2, ephb2), carotenoid metabolism (oca2, bcmo1, bco2) and circadian rhythm(cipc). To summarize, our study provides some information on the genetic structure and diversity of Japanese koi and Chinese FFRC carp. Furthermore, based on the data obtained on relevant genes related to skin color differentiation and pigmentation, it can provide a theoretical basis for the subsequent integration of dominant traits and precision breeding in carps.

Dynamic characteristics and evolution laws of underground brine in Mahai salt lake of Qaidam Basin during mining process

In the late stage of underground brine mining in salt lakes, the method of injecting fresh water is often used to extract the salt from the brine storage medium. This method of freshwater displacement breaks the original water–rock equilibrium and changes the evolution process of the original underground brine. To explore the mechanism of salt release in saline water-bearing media under conditions of relatively fresh lake water dissolution, this paper analyzes the changes in the chemical parameters of brine from 168 sampling points in the Mahai salt lake in the Qaidam Basin at three stages (before exploitation, during exploitation, and late exploitation) by correlation analysis, ion ratio analysis, and other methods and investigate the variations in porosity and the evolution laws of brine. The results show that the changes in the main ion content and brine mineralization during the exploitation process are small. The changes in Ca2+ content are significant due to the low solubility of calcium minerals, the precipitation of gypsum during the mixing process, and the adsorption of cations by alternating with Ca2+. Primary intergranular pore skeletons are easily corroded to form secondary pores, which increase the geological porosity. Na+ and Cl- are the dominant ions in the brine in the study area, but the concentration of Ca2 + decreased significantly under the influence of mining, by 41.7% in the middle period and 24.5% in the late period. The correlation between Ca2+ and salinity changes significantly in different mining stages, and the reason for the decrease of Ca2+ may be due to the influence of mineral dissolution, mixing, and anion-cation exchange. The porosity of the layer in the study area showed the opposite trend of Ca2+, and the porosity increased first and then decreased. The innovation of this paper lies in analyzing the reasons and mechanisms of the disturbance of artificial dissolution mining on stratum structure by comparing the hydrochemical characteristics and porosity of underground brine storage media in three different mining stages. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the calculation of brine resource reserves and the sustainable development of underground brine in salt lake areas.