Thirty-three mutations and four different haplotypes were found when cytochrome b（Cytb） gene partial sequences of 12 gayals were analyzed. Together with sequences of Bos indicus, Bos taurus, Bos grunniens, and Bos g...Thirty-three mutations and four different haplotypes were found when cytochrome b（Cytb） gene partial sequences of 12 gayals were analyzed. Together with sequences of Bos indicus, Bos taurus, Bos grunniens, and Bos gaurus with Bubalus bubalis as the out group, the partial sequences of Cytb gene of gayals were aligned and base composition and nucleotide variation of Cytb gene were analyzed. The phylogenetic trees were constructed by the NJ method and the MP method respectively, both supporting almost the same topology. Gayal is an independent species of Bos from Bos indicus, Bos taurus, and Bos gaurus. The results also indicate that a great proportion of gayal bloodline was invaded by other species, and the protection of gayal is facing a formidable situation.展开更多
Many oases(wet interdunes)are sedimentary systems characterized by high-frequency water-level oscillations,marked changes in salinity and intense biological activity at their margins.They are considered to be one of t...Many oases(wet interdunes)are sedimentary systems characterized by high-frequency water-level oscillations,marked changes in salinity and intense biological activity at their margins.They are considered to be one of the most challenging environments on Earth for ecosystem development.These dynamic,depositional settings are usually unfavourable for fossilization and subsequent preservation of vegetal remains.This paper describes bryophyte(liverwort)assemblages occurring in three successive horizons interpreted to represent(i)recurrent early successional phases of biological soil crust colonization of wet interdune margins or(ii)exceptional preservation of floating or riparian liverworts in oasis pond waters associated with a progressive fall of the interdune water level.The record of in situ colonization surfaces characterized by delicate(e.g.lignin-free)three-dimensional structures represents an exceptional type of preservation herein associated with a rapid variation in phreatic interdune water level and the subsequent establishment of anoxic and reducing conditions.The occurrence of exceptionally preserved liverwort colonies coincides with the sedimentary record of,at least,three seismite levels in the oasis.Data gathered from the site suggests that the water table of the oasis was controlled by a combination of(i)a positive creation of accommodation space due to subsidence associated with movement on syn-sedimentary extensional faults,and(ii)the rise and fall of the oasis water table controlled by the oscillations of the groundwater system due to orbital changes which appear to drive the variability of the climate system.Rising groundwater levels flooded the oasis soil crusts and lead to the exceptional recurrent preservation of liverwort colonies at the oasis margins.Alternatively,considering the hypothesis of floating or riparian liverworts in the oasis pond waters,the fall in the level of the oasis water table placed the floating liverworts in contact with the oasis bottom sediments.This fall in the level of the oasis water table could indicate a cessation of accommodation space by syn-sedimentary extensional faults and/or a regional lowering of the groundwater system level associated with drought periods.Preliminary results indicate that oasis lamination between liverwort colonies records decadal and sub-decadal cyclicity,related with 11-year Schwabe sunspot and sub-decadal NAO cyclicities,conferring for every sedimentary cycle between liverwort colonies a duration of approximately 200 years,that otherwise matches the expected recurrence period for the De Vries cycle of solar activity.展开更多
Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are rarely detected in the blood of cancer patients, even though they are a direct harbinger of eventual patient demise. We developed an innovative CTC culture technology to allow more se...Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are rarely detected in the blood of cancer patients, even though they are a direct harbinger of eventual patient demise. We developed an innovative CTC culture technology to allow more sensitive isolation, expansion, and characterization of viable colonies from patient blood. In this assay, the entire leukocyte fraction from 10 ml of anticoagulated patient blood is placed into culture medium without any pre-selection. After 16 days in culture, CTC derived colonies are counted. As a proof-of-principle, blood samples from 58 Stage IIa-IV melanoma patients were tested. Ninety percent of these samples grew colonies. The colony numbers ranged from 0 - 308 (mean 63 ± 9.5 SEM). Ten normal volunteers had virtually no growth (mean 0.5 ± 1.4 colonies). Colonies were harvested using a micropipette for characterization. Tumor-cell containing spheroids were embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained with melanoma-specific mAb for histologic characterization. MITF proved to be the most consistent immunostain that identified melanoma cells in these colonies. A host-cell component in colonies was also identified using CD68 and CD43 mAb staining. Following enzymatic dissociation of colonies, a variety of immunostains were tested. Papanicolau staining proved most useful for identifying the abnormal nuclei of tumor cells. Flow cytometry could readily distinguish host and tumor cell populations based on DNA content and forward/side scatter in dissociated colonies. The stem cell marker ALDH1A1 associated with the aneuploid population, but CD45 was expressed on both diploid and aneuploid cells. The ability to repeatedly isolate CTC derived colonies from cancer patient blood samples opens the door to a novel type of long-term clinical monitoring. This novel CTC culture technology may prove useful to perform molecular characterization, assessment of treatment response, and testing of drug sensitivity and resistance in patients during treatment.展开更多
A survey of Ardeid nesting colonies in central Guizhou,southwestern China in May 2006,which covered about one-third of the area of this province,recorded a total of 1587 nests of five species,i.e.,Little Egret (Egrett...A survey of Ardeid nesting colonies in central Guizhou,southwestern China in May 2006,which covered about one-third of the area of this province,recorded a total of 1587 nests of five species,i.e.,Little Egret (Egretta garzetta),Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis),Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus),Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) at 11 nesting colonies.The largest colonies were recorded at Fengyunyan and Yanfu resorts,the smallest one at Luobolin.The Little Egret was the dominant nesting species (49.7% of the total number of nests) and the Grey Heron was the least abundant (0.1%).All nesting colonies were located in the northern and central parts of Guizhou;no colonies were found in the Leigongshan area,the southern part of this province.The distribution of nesting colonies in central Guizhou appears to be affected by the relative composition of winter (wheat and vegetable) and summer (rice) crops during the breeding season (between late March and June).No colonies were found around farmlands with winter crops and most colonies were situated around rice paddies.The farmland use pattern is affected by rainfall.The summer crop is delayed if the rainy season starts late and the rainfall is light.Priority for conservation of the Ardeids in central Guizhou should be given to the larger colonies i.e.,Yanfu and Fengyunyan resorts.展开更多
The inhibitory effect of parvovirus H-1 on the colonyforming ability in vitro of QGY-7703, a cultured human hepatoma cell line, and on the formation and growth of its tumors in nude mice was studied. With higher multi...The inhibitory effect of parvovirus H-1 on the colonyforming ability in vitro of QGY-7703, a cultured human hepatoma cell line, and on the formation and growth of its tumors in nude mice was studied. With higher multiplicity of infection (MOI) of H-1 given, survival of the QGY-7703 cells was found to be decreased. H-1 DNA amplification level at 30 h postinfection(p.i.) was detected to be 7.4 times higher than that at 2 h by dispersed cells assay, while the cells were delayed to enter into S phase.Plaques were formed in the indicator cells (new-born human kidney cell line, NBK) by progeny H-1 virus particles released from the infected QGY-7703 cells by infectious cell center assay. The formation of tumors in nude mice by QGY-7703 cells which were injected s c at 2 h postinfection was observed to be prevented in 2 groups with given MOI 25 and 50. The tumor growth of MOI 10 group occurred at a lower exponential rate than that of control,after a 20 d latent period. It was evident that parvovirus H-1 exhibited a direct inhibitory effect on the formation and growth of human hepatoma cells in vivo as well as in vitro.展开更多
Distributed generation (DG) is gaining in importance due to the growing demand for electrical energy and the key role it plays in reducing actual energy losses, lowering operating costs and improving voltage stability...Distributed generation (DG) is gaining in importance due to the growing demand for electrical energy and the key role it plays in reducing actual energy losses, lowering operating costs and improving voltage stability. In this paper, we propose to inject distributed power generation into a distribution system while minimizing active energy losses. This injection should be done at a grid node (which is a point where energy can be injected into or recovered from the grid) that will be considered the optimal node when total active losses in the radial distribution system are minimal. The focus is on meeting energy demand using renewable energy sources. The main criterion is the minimization of active energy losses during injection. The method used is the algorithm of bee colony (ABC) associated with Newtonian energy flow transfer equations. The method has been implemented in MATLAB for optimal node search in IEEE 14, 33 and 57 nodes networks. The active energy loss results of this hybrid algorithm were compared with the results of previous searches. This comparison shows that the proposed algorithm allows to have reduced losses with the power injected that we have found.展开更多
Tsetse flies are the sole cyclic vectors of African trypanosomes,which cause human and animal African trypanosomiases in Africa.Tsetse fly control remains a promising option for disease management.The sterile insect t...Tsetse flies are the sole cyclic vectors of African trypanosomes,which cause human and animal African trypanosomiases in Africa.Tsetse fly control remains a promising option for disease management.The sterile insect technique(SIT)stands as an environmentally friendly tool to control tsetse populations.SIT requires the mass-rearing of competent sterile males to mate with wild females.However,long-term colonization might affect the genetic structure of the reared flies.This study investigated the genetic structure of four Glossina palpalis gambiensis colonies of different ages:two originating from Senegal(SEN and ICIRSEN)and two from Burkina Faso(CIR and IBD).Samples from these colonies were genotyped at ten microsatellite loci,followed by downstream population genetic analyses.The results show that the two colonies from Burkina Faso collected from close sites(~20 km apart)over 45-year interval retained the same genetic background(FsT cIR~IBD≈0,P-value=0.47).These flies were however,genetically different from those from the Senegal colonies(FsT cIR~SEN≈0.047;FsT IBD~SEN≈0.058,P-value=10-4).Moreover,no significant difference was detected in the gene diversity of the CIR and IBD colonies,with Hs values of 0.650 and 0.665,respectively.Theinbreeding coefficient showed that all four colonies where under Hardy—Weinberg equilibrium,with FIs values of 0.026,0.012,-0.064,and 0.001,for CIR,IBD,ICIRSEN,and SEN.respectively.Furthermore,no sign of a recent bottleneck was identified in tsetse samples from any of the four colonies.The results suggest that long-term mass-rearing of tsetse flies has no significant impact on their genetic background and diversity.展开更多
Transition metal vanadates(TMVs)have attracted significant attention in various research fields owing to their advantageous features.Furthermore,synthesizing TMVs directly on current collectors at the nanoscale is a p...Transition metal vanadates(TMVs)have attracted significant attention in various research fields owing to their advantageous features.Furthermore,synthesizing TMVs directly on current collectors at the nanoscale is a promising strategy for achieving better performance.Herein,cobalt–nickel vanadate(CoV_(2)O_(6)–Ni_(2)V_(2)O_(7),CNV)was directly grown on carbon fabric using a facile one-step hydrothermal method.In particular,the CNV sample prepared for 3 h(CNV-3)exhibited a benefit-enriched nanonest-colony morphology in which abundant nanowires(diameter:10 nm)were intertwined,providing sufficient space for electrolyte diffusion.All the CNV electrodes exhibited good cycling performance in the lithium-ion battery study.Espe-cially,the CNV-3 electrode retained higher discharge and charge capacities of 616 and 610 mAh g-1,respectively at the 100th cycle than the other two electrodes owing to several morphologic features.The electrocatalytic activity of all the CNV samples for the oxygen-evolution reaction(OER)was also explored in an alkaline electrolyte.Among these CNV catalysts,the CNV-3 displayed excellent OER performance and required an overpotential of only 270 mV to drive a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2).The Tafel slope of this catalyst was also found to be low(129 mV dec^(-1)).Moreover,the catalyst exhibited excellent durability in a 24 h stability test.These results indicate that the metal vanadates with favorable nanostructures are highly suitable for both energy storage and water-splitting applications.展开更多
Fluctuating voltage levels in power grids necessitate automatic voltage regulators(AVRs)to ensure stability.This study examined the modeling and control of AVR in hydroelectric power plants using model predictive cont...Fluctuating voltage levels in power grids necessitate automatic voltage regulators(AVRs)to ensure stability.This study examined the modeling and control of AVR in hydroelectric power plants using model predictive control(MPC),which utilizes an extensive mathe-matical model of the voltage regulation system to optimize the control actions over a defined prediction horizon.This predictive feature enables MPC to minimize voltage deviations while accounting for operational constraints,thereby improving stability and performance under dynamic conditions.Thefindings were compared with those derived from an optimal proportional integral derivative(PID)con-troller designed using the artificial bee colony(ABC)algorithm.Although the ABC-PID method adjusts the PID parameters based on historical data,it may be difficult to adapt to real-time changes in system dynamics under constraints.Comprehensive simulations assessed both frameworks,emphasizing performance metrics such as disturbance rejection,response to load changes,and resilience to uncertainties.The results show that both MPC and ABC-PID methods effectively achieved accurate voltage regulation;however,MPC excelled in controlling overshoot and settling time—recording 0.0%and 0.25 s,respectively.This demonstrates greater robustness compared to conventional control methods that optimize PID parameters based on performance criteria derived from actual system behavior,which exhibited settling times and overshoots exceeding 0.41 s and 5.0%,respectively.The controllers were implemented using MATLAB/Simulink software,indicating a significant advancement for power plant engineers pursuing state-of-the-art automatic voltage regulations.展开更多
The proposed hybrid optimization algorithm integrates particle swarm optimizatio(PSO)with Ant Colony Optimization(ACO)to improve a number of pitfalls within PSO methods traditionally considered and/or applied to indus...The proposed hybrid optimization algorithm integrates particle swarm optimizatio(PSO)with Ant Colony Optimization(ACO)to improve a number of pitfalls within PSO methods traditionally considered and/or applied to industrial robots.Particle Swarm Optimization may frequently suffer from local optima and inaccuracies in identifying the geometric parameters,which are necessary for applications requiring high-accuracy performances.The proposed approach integrates pheromone-based learning of ACO with the D-H method of developing an error model;hence,the global search effectiveness together with the convergence accuracy is further improved.Comparison studies of the hybrid PSO-ACO algorithm show higher precision and effectiveness in the optimization of geometric error parameters compared to the traditional methods.This is a remarkable reduction of localization errors,thus yielding accuracy and reliability in industrial robotic systems,as the results show.This approach improves performance in those applications that demand high geometric calibration by reducing the geometric error.The paper provides an overview of input for developing robotics and automation,giving importance to precision in industrial engineering.The proposed hybrid methodology is a good way to enhance the working accuracy and effectiveness of industrial robots and shall enable their wide application to complex tasks that require a high degree of accuracy.展开更多
Spinal cord injury represents a severe form of central nervous system trauma for which effective treatments remain limited.Microglia is the resident immune cells of the central nervous system,play a critical role in s...Spinal cord injury represents a severe form of central nervous system trauma for which effective treatments remain limited.Microglia is the resident immune cells of the central nervous system,play a critical role in spinal cord injury.Previous studies have shown that microglia can promote neuronal survival by phagocytosing dead cells and debris and by releasing neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory factors.However,excessive activation of microglia can lead to persistent inflammation and contribute to the formation of glial scars,which hinder axonal regeneration.Despite this,the precise role and mechanisms of microglia during the acute phase of spinal cord injury remain controversial and poorly understood.To elucidate the role of microglia in spinal cord injury,we employed the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622 to deplete microglia.We observed that sustained depletion of microglia resulted in an expansion of the lesion area,downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor,and impaired functional recovery after spinal cord injury.Next,we generated a transgenic mouse line with conditional overexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor specifically in microglia.We found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia increased angiogenesis and blood flow following spinal cord injury and facilitated the recovery of hindlimb motor function.Additionally,brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia reduced inflammation and neuronal apoptosis during the acute phase of spinal cord injury.Furthermore,through using specific transgenic mouse lines,TMEM119,and the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX73086,we demonstrated that the neuroprotective effects were predominantly due to brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia rather than macrophages.In conclusion,our findings suggest the critical role of microglia in the formation of protective glial scars.Depleting microglia is detrimental to recovery of spinal cord injury,whereas targeting brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia represents a promising and novel therapeutic strategy to enhance motor function recovery in patients with spinal cord injury.展开更多
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries,ornithology,based on shooting and skin collection,was regarded as an unsuitable pursuit for women.Simultaneously,colonial expansion was a dominantly masculine enterprise.From...In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries,ornithology,based on shooting and skin collection,was regarded as an unsuitable pursuit for women.Simultaneously,colonial expansion was a dominantly masculine enterprise.From postcolonial and gendered perspectives,we can rediscover severely marginalized and overshadowed roles of women within the network of colonial ornithology,a particularly masculine and patriarchal branch of imperial science.This paper highlights the contributions of three skilled women artists:Sarah Stone,Elizabeth Gwillim,and Elizabeth Gould.As embodiments of the Victorian ideal of the"angel in the house",these women also functioned as metaphorical angels within colonial ornithology.They provided unwavering support to the male-dominated scientific and imperial endeavors,which,in turn,enabled their travel to colonial territories and access to exotic avifauna.Their work holds enduring value in both scientific and artistic contexts,while simultaneously revealing women's entanglement in and contribution to the imperial agenda.Beyond illustration,women also engaged in observation,documentation,collection,and trade of birds in colonial contexts,with some even commemorated in bird nomenclature.展开更多
In this paper,a fusion model based on a long short-term memory(LSTM)neural network and enhanced search ant colony optimization(ENSACO)is proposed to predict the power degradation trend of proton exchange membrane fuel...In this paper,a fusion model based on a long short-term memory(LSTM)neural network and enhanced search ant colony optimization(ENSACO)is proposed to predict the power degradation trend of proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFC).Firstly,the Shapley additive explanations(SHAP)value method is used to select external characteristic parameters with high contributions as inputs for the data-driven approach.Next,a novel swarm optimization algorithm,the enhanced search ant colony optimization,is proposed.This algorithm improves the ant colony optimization(ACO)algorithm based on a reinforcement factor to avoid premature convergence and accelerate the convergence speed.Comparative experiments are set up to compare the performance differences between particle swarm optimization(PSO),ACO,and ENSACO.Finally,a data-driven method based on ENSACO-LSTM is proposed to predict the power degradation trend of PEMFCs.And actual aging data is used to validate the method.The results show that,within a limited number of iterations,the optimization capability of ENSACO is significantly stronger than that of PSO and ACO.Additionally,the prediction accuracy of the ENSACO-LSTM method is greatly improved,with an average increase of approximately 50.58%compared to LSTM,PSO-LSTM,and ACO-LSTM.展开更多
Security is the cor nerstone of a country's peace and stability and the prerequisite for its survival and development.All countries around the world regard security as their top priority.Since most Asian countries...Security is the cor nerstone of a country's peace and stability and the prerequisite for its survival and development.All countries around the world regard security as their top priority.Since most Asian countries suffered from colonial aggression and plundering for a long time in history,they as a whole attach special importance to national security.展开更多
SNAPSHOTS OF NOTABLE BOOKS ON AFRICA Dress Cultures in Zambia By KAREN TRANBERG HANSEN Cambridge University Press The author draws on more than 50 years of research and deep regional expertise to present a vivid and e...SNAPSHOTS OF NOTABLE BOOKS ON AFRICA Dress Cultures in Zambia By KAREN TRANBERG HANSEN Cambridge University Press The author draws on more than 50 years of research and deep regional expertise to present a vivid and engaging history of dress in Zambia from the late colonial era to the present.展开更多
Since it first appeared in 2022,the phenomenon referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder(CCD)has affected several regions of Morocco to varying degrees.In order to assess the possible impact of pesticides on the appeara...Since it first appeared in 2022,the phenomenon referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder(CCD)has affected several regions of Morocco to varying degrees.In order to assess the possible impact of pesticides on the appearance of this syndrome,we conducted a study aimed at evaluating the impact of pesticide use on the emergence of this syndrome through a year-long survey involving 160 beekeepers in the Beni Mellal–Khenifra Region(BKR)who also experienced an unprecedented desertion of hives during the same period.The majority of surveyed beekeepers practice mixed(45%)or migratory beekeeping(42%)and provide supplementary feeding(83.75%)to support their bees.Nearly 37.5%of the hives are located near crops treated with pesticides,exposing the bees to these chemicals.The results showed that the majority of beekeepers reported a cessation of queen laying(74.38%),high mortality rates among worker bees(81.25%),drones(65.63%),and queens(61.88%).Abnormal behaviors such as immobility with trembling(42.50%),reduced flights(47.50%),and disoriented navigation(28.75%)were also observed.Correlation analyses indicate that proximity to treated crops significantly increases the risk of queen laying cessation(Odds Ratio 6.0)and a reduction in waggle dances(Odds Ratio 2.41).Extended foraging flights show a borderline statistical significance(Odds Ratio 2.33),suggesting a disruption of natural food sources.These results highlight the potential impact of pesticides on colony health and bee behavior,pointing out the need to adapt beekeeping practices and implement protective measures against pesticides.展开更多
The genus Selenastrum comprises common coccoid green algae found in diverse habitats worldwide.This genus has a complex taxonomic history,but recent applications of molecular phylogenetic methods have removed some mem...The genus Selenastrum comprises common coccoid green algae found in diverse habitats worldwide.This genus has a complex taxonomic history,but recent applications of molecular phylogenetic methods have removed some members with similar morphologies from Selenastrum and established new genera.However,due to the lack of available molecular sequences and isolates,the species diversity of the genus has not been fully explored.We conducted a detailed examination of the taxonomy of genus Selenastrum based on 11 new strains collected from China.The multi-disciplinary study utilized morphology,ultrastructure,and phylogeny based on multiple molecular markers,and ITS-2 secondary structure.All the included strains of genus Selenastrum were clustered into two distinct clades.The members of one clade were similar morphologically to the type species Selenastrum bibraianum,whereas the strains of the other clade had distinctly different colony structures.Based on the latter clade’s larger colony cell numbers and independent phylogenetic position,we proposed that it as a new species of the genus Selenastrum,namely Selenastrum densum sp.nov.Additional taxa sampling and molecular data will help to discover additional new species and clarify the validity of morphological taxonomic characteristics within the genus Selenastrum.展开更多
Tick studies in Malaysia have experienced a dynamic evolution characterized by periods of growth,stagnation,and the potential for revival.Beginning during the colonial era in the early 1900s,tick studies were primaril...Tick studies in Malaysia have experienced a dynamic evolution characterized by periods of growth,stagnation,and the potential for revival.Beginning during the colonial era in the early 1900s,tick studies were primarily conducted by European scientists and curators,establishing the foundation for tick taxonomy in the region.Pioneering works by George Henry Falknier Nuttall and Cecil Warburton introduced several new tick species,including Haemaphysalis(H.)calva,H.mjoebergi,H.vidua and H.wellingtoni[1].However,some records from this period are now considered doubtful,for instance Amblyomma(A.)breviscutatum,A.clypeolatum and A.integrum.The 1929 description of Ornithodoros batuensis by Stanley Hirst[2]marked the first documentation of a soft tick species in Malaysia,setting the stage for subsequent research endeavours.The Golden Age of tick studies(early 1950s-late 1980s)in Malaysia saw a surge in tick research activities.展开更多
MADAGASCAR Colonial-Era Relics Reclaimed Madagascar has officially received colonial-era relics from France,marking a historic moment of remembrance and reconciliation.At a ceremony in Antananarivo on 2 September,thre...MADAGASCAR Colonial-Era Relics Reclaimed Madagascar has officially received colonial-era relics from France,marking a historic moment of remembrance and reconciliation.At a ceremony in Antananarivo on 2 September,three skulls of the Sakalava ethnic group were welcomed home after 128 years in France.One skull is believed to belong to King Toera.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the National Natureal Sciences Foundation of China(No: 30571323).
文摘Thirty-three mutations and four different haplotypes were found when cytochrome b（Cytb） gene partial sequences of 12 gayals were analyzed. Together with sequences of Bos indicus, Bos taurus, Bos grunniens, and Bos gaurus with Bubalus bubalis as the out group, the partial sequences of Cytb gene of gayals were aligned and base composition and nucleotide variation of Cytb gene were analyzed. The phylogenetic trees were constructed by the NJ method and the MP method respectively, both supporting almost the same topology. Gayal is an independent species of Bos from Bos indicus, Bos taurus, and Bos gaurus. The results also indicate that a great proportion of gayal bloodline was invaded by other species, and the protection of gayal is facing a formidable situation.
基金financed by the Project CRE:“Cretaceous Resin Event:Global bioevent of massive resin production at the initial diversification of modern forest ecosystems”funded by the Spanish AEI/FEDER,UE Grant CGL2017-84419Funded by the CGL2005-07445-C03-03 and CGL201123717 projects of the Ministry of Education of the Government of Spain。
文摘Many oases(wet interdunes)are sedimentary systems characterized by high-frequency water-level oscillations,marked changes in salinity and intense biological activity at their margins.They are considered to be one of the most challenging environments on Earth for ecosystem development.These dynamic,depositional settings are usually unfavourable for fossilization and subsequent preservation of vegetal remains.This paper describes bryophyte(liverwort)assemblages occurring in three successive horizons interpreted to represent(i)recurrent early successional phases of biological soil crust colonization of wet interdune margins or(ii)exceptional preservation of floating or riparian liverworts in oasis pond waters associated with a progressive fall of the interdune water level.The record of in situ colonization surfaces characterized by delicate(e.g.lignin-free)three-dimensional structures represents an exceptional type of preservation herein associated with a rapid variation in phreatic interdune water level and the subsequent establishment of anoxic and reducing conditions.The occurrence of exceptionally preserved liverwort colonies coincides with the sedimentary record of,at least,three seismite levels in the oasis.Data gathered from the site suggests that the water table of the oasis was controlled by a combination of(i)a positive creation of accommodation space due to subsidence associated with movement on syn-sedimentary extensional faults,and(ii)the rise and fall of the oasis water table controlled by the oscillations of the groundwater system due to orbital changes which appear to drive the variability of the climate system.Rising groundwater levels flooded the oasis soil crusts and lead to the exceptional recurrent preservation of liverwort colonies at the oasis margins.Alternatively,considering the hypothesis of floating or riparian liverworts in the oasis pond waters,the fall in the level of the oasis water table placed the floating liverworts in contact with the oasis bottom sediments.This fall in the level of the oasis water table could indicate a cessation of accommodation space by syn-sedimentary extensional faults and/or a regional lowering of the groundwater system level associated with drought periods.Preliminary results indicate that oasis lamination between liverwort colonies records decadal and sub-decadal cyclicity,related with 11-year Schwabe sunspot and sub-decadal NAO cyclicities,conferring for every sedimentary cycle between liverwort colonies a duration of approximately 200 years,that otherwise matches the expected recurrence period for the De Vries cycle of solar activity.
文摘Circulating tumor cells (CTC) are rarely detected in the blood of cancer patients, even though they are a direct harbinger of eventual patient demise. We developed an innovative CTC culture technology to allow more sensitive isolation, expansion, and characterization of viable colonies from patient blood. In this assay, the entire leukocyte fraction from 10 ml of anticoagulated patient blood is placed into culture medium without any pre-selection. After 16 days in culture, CTC derived colonies are counted. As a proof-of-principle, blood samples from 58 Stage IIa-IV melanoma patients were tested. Ninety percent of these samples grew colonies. The colony numbers ranged from 0 - 308 (mean 63 ± 9.5 SEM). Ten normal volunteers had virtually no growth (mean 0.5 ± 1.4 colonies). Colonies were harvested using a micropipette for characterization. Tumor-cell containing spheroids were embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained with melanoma-specific mAb for histologic characterization. MITF proved to be the most consistent immunostain that identified melanoma cells in these colonies. A host-cell component in colonies was also identified using CD68 and CD43 mAb staining. Following enzymatic dissociation of colonies, a variety of immunostains were tested. Papanicolau staining proved most useful for identifying the abnormal nuclei of tumor cells. Flow cytometry could readily distinguish host and tumor cell populations based on DNA content and forward/side scatter in dissociated colonies. The stem cell marker ALDH1A1 associated with the aneuploid population, but CD45 was expressed on both diploid and aneuploid cells. The ability to repeatedly isolate CTC derived colonies from cancer patient blood samples opens the door to a novel type of long-term clinical monitoring. This novel CTC culture technology may prove useful to perform molecular characterization, assessment of treatment response, and testing of drug sensitivity and resistance in patients during treatment.
文摘A survey of Ardeid nesting colonies in central Guizhou,southwestern China in May 2006,which covered about one-third of the area of this province,recorded a total of 1587 nests of five species,i.e.,Little Egret (Egretta garzetta),Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis),Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus),Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) at 11 nesting colonies.The largest colonies were recorded at Fengyunyan and Yanfu resorts,the smallest one at Luobolin.The Little Egret was the dominant nesting species (49.7% of the total number of nests) and the Grey Heron was the least abundant (0.1%).All nesting colonies were located in the northern and central parts of Guizhou;no colonies were found in the Leigongshan area,the southern part of this province.The distribution of nesting colonies in central Guizhou appears to be affected by the relative composition of winter (wheat and vegetable) and summer (rice) crops during the breeding season (between late March and June).No colonies were found around farmlands with winter crops and most colonies were situated around rice paddies.The farmland use pattern is affected by rainfall.The summer crop is delayed if the rainy season starts late and the rainfall is light.Priority for conservation of the Ardeids in central Guizhou should be given to the larger colonies i.e.,Yanfu and Fengyunyan resorts.
文摘The inhibitory effect of parvovirus H-1 on the colonyforming ability in vitro of QGY-7703, a cultured human hepatoma cell line, and on the formation and growth of its tumors in nude mice was studied. With higher multiplicity of infection (MOI) of H-1 given, survival of the QGY-7703 cells was found to be decreased. H-1 DNA amplification level at 30 h postinfection(p.i.) was detected to be 7.4 times higher than that at 2 h by dispersed cells assay, while the cells were delayed to enter into S phase.Plaques were formed in the indicator cells (new-born human kidney cell line, NBK) by progeny H-1 virus particles released from the infected QGY-7703 cells by infectious cell center assay. The formation of tumors in nude mice by QGY-7703 cells which were injected s c at 2 h postinfection was observed to be prevented in 2 groups with given MOI 25 and 50. The tumor growth of MOI 10 group occurred at a lower exponential rate than that of control,after a 20 d latent period. It was evident that parvovirus H-1 exhibited a direct inhibitory effect on the formation and growth of human hepatoma cells in vivo as well as in vitro.
文摘Distributed generation (DG) is gaining in importance due to the growing demand for electrical energy and the key role it plays in reducing actual energy losses, lowering operating costs and improving voltage stability. In this paper, we propose to inject distributed power generation into a distribution system while minimizing active energy losses. This injection should be done at a grid node (which is a point where energy can be injected into or recovered from the grid) that will be considered the optimal node when total active losses in the radial distribution system are minimal. The focus is on meeting energy demand using renewable energy sources. The main criterion is the minimization of active energy losses during injection. The method used is the algorithm of bee colony (ABC) associated with Newtonian energy flow transfer equations. The method has been implemented in MATLAB for optimal node search in IEEE 14, 33 and 57 nodes networks. The active energy loss results of this hybrid algorithm were compared with the results of previous searches. This comparison shows that the proposed algorithm allows to have reduced losses with the power injected that we have found.
基金funded by the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture,IAEA(CRP No.:D4.20.17),Vienna,Austria.
文摘Tsetse flies are the sole cyclic vectors of African trypanosomes,which cause human and animal African trypanosomiases in Africa.Tsetse fly control remains a promising option for disease management.The sterile insect technique(SIT)stands as an environmentally friendly tool to control tsetse populations.SIT requires the mass-rearing of competent sterile males to mate with wild females.However,long-term colonization might affect the genetic structure of the reared flies.This study investigated the genetic structure of four Glossina palpalis gambiensis colonies of different ages:two originating from Senegal(SEN and ICIRSEN)and two from Burkina Faso(CIR and IBD).Samples from these colonies were genotyped at ten microsatellite loci,followed by downstream population genetic analyses.The results show that the two colonies from Burkina Faso collected from close sites(~20 km apart)over 45-year interval retained the same genetic background(FsT cIR~IBD≈0,P-value=0.47).These flies were however,genetically different from those from the Senegal colonies(FsT cIR~SEN≈0.047;FsT IBD~SEN≈0.058,P-value=10-4).Moreover,no significant difference was detected in the gene diversity of the CIR and IBD colonies,with Hs values of 0.650 and 0.665,respectively.Theinbreeding coefficient showed that all four colonies where under Hardy—Weinberg equilibrium,with FIs values of 0.026,0.012,-0.064,and 0.001,for CIR,IBD,ICIRSEN,and SEN.respectively.Furthermore,no sign of a recent bottleneck was identified in tsetse samples from any of the four colonies.The results suggest that long-term mass-rearing of tsetse flies has no significant impact on their genetic background and diversity.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korean government(MSIP)(No.2018R1A6A1A03025708).
文摘Transition metal vanadates(TMVs)have attracted significant attention in various research fields owing to their advantageous features.Furthermore,synthesizing TMVs directly on current collectors at the nanoscale is a promising strategy for achieving better performance.Herein,cobalt–nickel vanadate(CoV_(2)O_(6)–Ni_(2)V_(2)O_(7),CNV)was directly grown on carbon fabric using a facile one-step hydrothermal method.In particular,the CNV sample prepared for 3 h(CNV-3)exhibited a benefit-enriched nanonest-colony morphology in which abundant nanowires(diameter:10 nm)were intertwined,providing sufficient space for electrolyte diffusion.All the CNV electrodes exhibited good cycling performance in the lithium-ion battery study.Espe-cially,the CNV-3 electrode retained higher discharge and charge capacities of 616 and 610 mAh g-1,respectively at the 100th cycle than the other two electrodes owing to several morphologic features.The electrocatalytic activity of all the CNV samples for the oxygen-evolution reaction(OER)was also explored in an alkaline electrolyte.Among these CNV catalysts,the CNV-3 displayed excellent OER performance and required an overpotential of only 270 mV to drive a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2).The Tafel slope of this catalyst was also found to be low(129 mV dec^(-1)).Moreover,the catalyst exhibited excellent durability in a 24 h stability test.These results indicate that the metal vanadates with favorable nanostructures are highly suitable for both energy storage and water-splitting applications.
文摘Fluctuating voltage levels in power grids necessitate automatic voltage regulators(AVRs)to ensure stability.This study examined the modeling and control of AVR in hydroelectric power plants using model predictive control(MPC),which utilizes an extensive mathe-matical model of the voltage regulation system to optimize the control actions over a defined prediction horizon.This predictive feature enables MPC to minimize voltage deviations while accounting for operational constraints,thereby improving stability and performance under dynamic conditions.Thefindings were compared with those derived from an optimal proportional integral derivative(PID)con-troller designed using the artificial bee colony(ABC)algorithm.Although the ABC-PID method adjusts the PID parameters based on historical data,it may be difficult to adapt to real-time changes in system dynamics under constraints.Comprehensive simulations assessed both frameworks,emphasizing performance metrics such as disturbance rejection,response to load changes,and resilience to uncertainties.The results show that both MPC and ABC-PID methods effectively achieved accurate voltage regulation;however,MPC excelled in controlling overshoot and settling time—recording 0.0%and 0.25 s,respectively.This demonstrates greater robustness compared to conventional control methods that optimize PID parameters based on performance criteria derived from actual system behavior,which exhibited settling times and overshoots exceeding 0.41 s and 5.0%,respectively.The controllers were implemented using MATLAB/Simulink software,indicating a significant advancement for power plant engineers pursuing state-of-the-art automatic voltage regulations.
文摘The proposed hybrid optimization algorithm integrates particle swarm optimizatio(PSO)with Ant Colony Optimization(ACO)to improve a number of pitfalls within PSO methods traditionally considered and/or applied to industrial robots.Particle Swarm Optimization may frequently suffer from local optima and inaccuracies in identifying the geometric parameters,which are necessary for applications requiring high-accuracy performances.The proposed approach integrates pheromone-based learning of ACO with the D-H method of developing an error model;hence,the global search effectiveness together with the convergence accuracy is further improved.Comparison studies of the hybrid PSO-ACO algorithm show higher precision and effectiveness in the optimization of geometric error parameters compared to the traditional methods.This is a remarkable reduction of localization errors,thus yielding accuracy and reliability in industrial robotic systems,as the results show.This approach improves performance in those applications that demand high geometric calibration by reducing the geometric error.The paper provides an overview of input for developing robotics and automation,giving importance to precision in industrial engineering.The proposed hybrid methodology is a good way to enhance the working accuracy and effectiveness of industrial robots and shall enable their wide application to complex tasks that require a high degree of accuracy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82072165 and 82272256(both to XM)the Key Project of Xiangyang Central Hospital,No.2023YZ03(to RM)。
文摘Spinal cord injury represents a severe form of central nervous system trauma for which effective treatments remain limited.Microglia is the resident immune cells of the central nervous system,play a critical role in spinal cord injury.Previous studies have shown that microglia can promote neuronal survival by phagocytosing dead cells and debris and by releasing neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory factors.However,excessive activation of microglia can lead to persistent inflammation and contribute to the formation of glial scars,which hinder axonal regeneration.Despite this,the precise role and mechanisms of microglia during the acute phase of spinal cord injury remain controversial and poorly understood.To elucidate the role of microglia in spinal cord injury,we employed the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622 to deplete microglia.We observed that sustained depletion of microglia resulted in an expansion of the lesion area,downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor,and impaired functional recovery after spinal cord injury.Next,we generated a transgenic mouse line with conditional overexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor specifically in microglia.We found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia increased angiogenesis and blood flow following spinal cord injury and facilitated the recovery of hindlimb motor function.Additionally,brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia reduced inflammation and neuronal apoptosis during the acute phase of spinal cord injury.Furthermore,through using specific transgenic mouse lines,TMEM119,and the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX73086,we demonstrated that the neuroprotective effects were predominantly due to brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia rather than macrophages.In conclusion,our findings suggest the critical role of microglia in the formation of protective glial scars.Depleting microglia is detrimental to recovery of spinal cord injury,whereas targeting brain-derived neurotrophic factor overexpression in microglia represents a promising and novel therapeutic strategy to enhance motor function recovery in patients with spinal cord injury.
文摘In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries,ornithology,based on shooting and skin collection,was regarded as an unsuitable pursuit for women.Simultaneously,colonial expansion was a dominantly masculine enterprise.From postcolonial and gendered perspectives,we can rediscover severely marginalized and overshadowed roles of women within the network of colonial ornithology,a particularly masculine and patriarchal branch of imperial science.This paper highlights the contributions of three skilled women artists:Sarah Stone,Elizabeth Gwillim,and Elizabeth Gould.As embodiments of the Victorian ideal of the"angel in the house",these women also functioned as metaphorical angels within colonial ornithology.They provided unwavering support to the male-dominated scientific and imperial endeavors,which,in turn,enabled their travel to colonial territories and access to exotic avifauna.Their work holds enduring value in both scientific and artistic contexts,while simultaneously revealing women's entanglement in and contribution to the imperial agenda.Beyond illustration,women also engaged in observation,documentation,collection,and trade of birds in colonial contexts,with some even commemorated in bird nomenclature.
基金Supported by the Major Science and Technology Project of Jilin Province(20220301010GX)the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation(20240402071GH).
文摘In this paper,a fusion model based on a long short-term memory(LSTM)neural network and enhanced search ant colony optimization(ENSACO)is proposed to predict the power degradation trend of proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFC).Firstly,the Shapley additive explanations(SHAP)value method is used to select external characteristic parameters with high contributions as inputs for the data-driven approach.Next,a novel swarm optimization algorithm,the enhanced search ant colony optimization,is proposed.This algorithm improves the ant colony optimization(ACO)algorithm based on a reinforcement factor to avoid premature convergence and accelerate the convergence speed.Comparative experiments are set up to compare the performance differences between particle swarm optimization(PSO),ACO,and ENSACO.Finally,a data-driven method based on ENSACO-LSTM is proposed to predict the power degradation trend of PEMFCs.And actual aging data is used to validate the method.The results show that,within a limited number of iterations,the optimization capability of ENSACO is significantly stronger than that of PSO and ACO.Additionally,the prediction accuracy of the ENSACO-LSTM method is greatly improved,with an average increase of approximately 50.58%compared to LSTM,PSO-LSTM,and ACO-LSTM.
文摘Security is the cor nerstone of a country's peace and stability and the prerequisite for its survival and development.All countries around the world regard security as their top priority.Since most Asian countries suffered from colonial aggression and plundering for a long time in history,they as a whole attach special importance to national security.
文摘SNAPSHOTS OF NOTABLE BOOKS ON AFRICA Dress Cultures in Zambia By KAREN TRANBERG HANSEN Cambridge University Press The author draws on more than 50 years of research and deep regional expertise to present a vivid and engaging history of dress in Zambia from the late colonial era to the present.
文摘Since it first appeared in 2022,the phenomenon referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder(CCD)has affected several regions of Morocco to varying degrees.In order to assess the possible impact of pesticides on the appearance of this syndrome,we conducted a study aimed at evaluating the impact of pesticide use on the emergence of this syndrome through a year-long survey involving 160 beekeepers in the Beni Mellal–Khenifra Region(BKR)who also experienced an unprecedented desertion of hives during the same period.The majority of surveyed beekeepers practice mixed(45%)or migratory beekeeping(42%)and provide supplementary feeding(83.75%)to support their bees.Nearly 37.5%of the hives are located near crops treated with pesticides,exposing the bees to these chemicals.The results showed that the majority of beekeepers reported a cessation of queen laying(74.38%),high mortality rates among worker bees(81.25%),drones(65.63%),and queens(61.88%).Abnormal behaviors such as immobility with trembling(42.50%),reduced flights(47.50%),and disoriented navigation(28.75%)were also observed.Correlation analyses indicate that proximity to treated crops significantly increases the risk of queen laying cessation(Odds Ratio 6.0)and a reduction in waggle dances(Odds Ratio 2.41).Extended foraging flights show a borderline statistical significance(Odds Ratio 2.33),suggesting a disruption of natural food sources.These results highlight the potential impact of pesticides on colony health and bee behavior,pointing out the need to adapt beekeeping practices and implement protective measures against pesticides.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32370219,32270220,U22A20445)the Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province(No.202303021221082)+2 种基金the Open Project Program of Xinghuacun College of Shanxi University(Shanxi Institute of Brewing Technology and Industry)(No.XCSXU-KF-202320)the Yuncheng Salt Lake Protection and Utilization Research Institute of Shanxi,China(No.YHYJ-2023003)the Program for Young Scholar Talents of Wenying in Shanxi University。
文摘The genus Selenastrum comprises common coccoid green algae found in diverse habitats worldwide.This genus has a complex taxonomic history,but recent applications of molecular phylogenetic methods have removed some members with similar morphologies from Selenastrum and established new genera.However,due to the lack of available molecular sequences and isolates,the species diversity of the genus has not been fully explored.We conducted a detailed examination of the taxonomy of genus Selenastrum based on 11 new strains collected from China.The multi-disciplinary study utilized morphology,ultrastructure,and phylogeny based on multiple molecular markers,and ITS-2 secondary structure.All the included strains of genus Selenastrum were clustered into two distinct clades.The members of one clade were similar morphologically to the type species Selenastrum bibraianum,whereas the strains of the other clade had distinctly different colony structures.Based on the latter clade’s larger colony cell numbers and independent phylogenetic position,we proposed that it as a new species of the genus Selenastrum,namely Selenastrum densum sp.nov.Additional taxa sampling and molecular data will help to discover additional new species and clarify the validity of morphological taxonomic characteristics within the genus Selenastrum.
基金supported by the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence(HICoE)program(MO002-2019&TIDREC-2023)funded by the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine,Hamburg,Germany[100-TNCPI/INT 16/6/2(005/2020)].
文摘Tick studies in Malaysia have experienced a dynamic evolution characterized by periods of growth,stagnation,and the potential for revival.Beginning during the colonial era in the early 1900s,tick studies were primarily conducted by European scientists and curators,establishing the foundation for tick taxonomy in the region.Pioneering works by George Henry Falknier Nuttall and Cecil Warburton introduced several new tick species,including Haemaphysalis(H.)calva,H.mjoebergi,H.vidua and H.wellingtoni[1].However,some records from this period are now considered doubtful,for instance Amblyomma(A.)breviscutatum,A.clypeolatum and A.integrum.The 1929 description of Ornithodoros batuensis by Stanley Hirst[2]marked the first documentation of a soft tick species in Malaysia,setting the stage for subsequent research endeavours.The Golden Age of tick studies(early 1950s-late 1980s)in Malaysia saw a surge in tick research activities.
文摘MADAGASCAR Colonial-Era Relics Reclaimed Madagascar has officially received colonial-era relics from France,marking a historic moment of remembrance and reconciliation.At a ceremony in Antananarivo on 2 September,three skulls of the Sakalava ethnic group were welcomed home after 128 years in France.One skull is believed to belong to King Toera.
