Macroalgae dominate nutrient dynamics and function as high-value foods for microbial,meio-and macrofaunal communities in coastal ecosystems.Because of this vital role,it is important to clarify the physiological infor...Macroalgae dominate nutrient dynamics and function as high-value foods for microbial,meio-and macrofaunal communities in coastal ecosystems.Because of this vital role,it is important to clarify the physiological information associated with environmental changes as it reflects their growth potential.To evaluate the effects of the changes in salinity and nutrients,the photosynthetic efficiency of a green macroalga Ulva fasciata from the Daya Bay was tested at a range of salinity(i.e.,31 to 10 psu)and nitrogen content(i.e.,5 to 60μmol L^(-1)).The results showed that cellular chlorophyll a(Chl a),carbohydrate and protein contents of U.fasciata were increased due to reduced salinity,and were decreased by interactive nitrogen enrichment.Within a short culture period(i.e.,18 h),the reduced salinity decreased the maximum photosynthetic efficiency(rETRmax and Pmax)derived from the rapid light response curve and photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate versus irradiance curve,respectively,as well as the saturation irradiance(E_(K)).This reducing effect diminished with enlonged cultivation time and reversed to a stimulating effect after 24 h of cultivation.The nitrogen enrichment stimulated the rETRmax and Pmax,as well as the E_(K),regardless of salinity,especially within short-term cultivation period(i.e.,<24 h).In addition,our results indicate that seawater freshening lowers the photosynthetic efficiency of U.fasciata in the short term,which is mitigated by nitrogen enrichment,but stimulates it in the long term,providing insight into how macroalgae thrive in coastal or estuarine waters where salinity and nutrients normally covary strongly.展开更多
Conductive materials(CM)can improve methane production(MP)efficiency in many methanogenic systems.However,several types of CM exist,and there are uncertainties regarding whether they all improve MP efficiency to the s...Conductive materials(CM)can improve methane production(MP)efficiency in many methanogenic systems.However,several types of CM exist,and there are uncertainties regarding whether they all improve MP efficiency to the same extent and modulate microbial communities in a similar way.To investigate that,different microbial enrichments with and without activated carbon(AC),magnetite(Mag),and zeolites(Zeo)(at 0.5 g/L)were developed.MP profiles and microbial composition changes were compared among enrichments.The behavior of all enrichments was different,although the initial inoculum sludge was the same.Lag phase duration was lower in AC enrichment,while the complete conversion of butyrate to methane was faster in Mag enrichment.Syntrophomonas was the most abundant bacterial genus in all enrichments,but changes in the methanogenic community were evident.Acetoclastic methanogens were more diverse in Mag enrichment,with microorganisms assigned to Methanosarcina and Methanothrix gener1,but Methanothrix was the only acetoclastic methanogen in the other enrichments.On the other hand,different species of hydrogenotrophic methanogens prevailed in distinct enrichments.The metatranscriptomics results revealed that the dominant mechanism of interspecies electron transfer in the AC enrichment utilized hydrogen as the electron carrier,and no evidences of direct interspecies electron transfer(DIET)could be found.These results showed how different CM modulate microbial communities and affect MP efficiency through mechanisms that do not necessarily involve DIET or mediation via CM.展开更多
This editorial highlighted the central role of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and discussed the emerging significance of Ras homolog enriched in brain 1(Rheb1)as a key regulato...This editorial highlighted the central role of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and discussed the emerging significance of Ras homolog enriched in brain 1(Rheb1)as a key regulator of β-cell mass and insulinsecretory capacity.While molecular mechanisms governing β-cell homeostasis remain incompletely defined,Yang et al have recently demonstrated that Rheb1 could promote β-cell proliferation through dual activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 and AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathways,rather than relying solely on mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1.Notably,Rheb1 expression is higher in pancreatic islets from younger individuals and upregulates hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha,which is recognized as a transcription factor essential for β-cell identity and insulin production.These insights position Rheb1 as a pivotal regulator of β-cell growth and metabolic function,with potential therapeutic implications for diabetes.Targeting Rheb1 may shift treatment paradigms from conventional glucose-lowering strategies towardβ-cell restoration,providing a novel approach to preserve or enhance functionalβ-cell mass in diabetic patients.Further investigation into Rheb1’s upstream regulators and downstream effectors may provide innovative therapeutic directions.展开更多
Grafting is a highly useful technique,and its success largely depends on graft union formation.In this study,we found that root-specific expression of the auxin biosynthetic gene iaaM in tobacco,when used as rootstock...Grafting is a highly useful technique,and its success largely depends on graft union formation.In this study,we found that root-specific expression of the auxin biosynthetic gene iaaM in tobacco,when used as rootstock,resulted in more rapid callus formation and faster graft healing.However,overexpression of the auxin-inactivating iaaL gene in rootstocks delayed graft healing.We observed increased endogenous auxin levels and auxin-responsive DR5::GUS expression in scions of WT/iaaM grafts compared with those found in WT/WT grafts,which suggested that auxin is transported upward from rootstock to scion tissues.A transcriptome analysis showed that auxin enhanced graft union formation through increases in the expression of genes involved in graft healing in both rootstock and scion tissues.We also observed that the ethylene biosynthetic gene ACS1 and the ethylene-responsive gene ERF5 were upregulated in both scions and rootstocks of the WT/iaaM grafts.Furthermore,exogenous applications of the ethylene precursor ACC to the junction of WT/WT grafts promoted graft union formation,whereas application of the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor AVG delayed graft healing in WT/WT grafts,and the observed delay was less pronounced in the WT/iaaM grafts.These results demonstrated that elevated auxin levels in the iaaM rootstock in combination with the increased auxin levels in scions caused by upward transport/diffusion enhanced graft union formation and that ethylene was partially responsible for the effects of auxin on grafting.Our findings showed that grafting success can be enhanced by increasing the auxin levels in rootstocks using transgenic or gene-editing techniques.展开更多
Selenium（Se） is one of the essential trace elements required by humans and animals. It will cause diseases for humans and animals when Se is excessive or lack in the environment.The research status of selenium-enric...Selenium（Se） is one of the essential trace elements required by humans and animals. It will cause diseases for humans and animals when Se is excessive or lack in the environment.The research status of selenium-enriched agricultural crops and selenium-enriched horticultural crops, functional mechanism and application status of selenium, and the latest progress in the study of selenium enrichment were summarized in this paper.展开更多
Cerebral ischemia activates an endogenous repair program that induces plastic changes in neurons. In this study, we investigated the effects of environmental enrichment on spatial learning and memory as well as on syn...Cerebral ischemia activates an endogenous repair program that induces plastic changes in neurons. In this study, we investigated the effects of environmental enrichment on spatial learning and memory as well as on synaptic remodeling in a mouse model of chronic cerebral ischemia, produced by subjecting adult male C57 BL/6 mice to permanent left middle cerebral artery occlusion. Three days postoperatively, mice were randomly assigned to the environmental enrichment and standard housing groups. Mice in the standard housing group were housed and fed a standard diet. Mice in the environmental enrichment group were housed in a cage with various toys and fed a standard diet. Then, 28 days postoperatively, spatial learning and memory were tested using the Morris water maze. The expression levels of growth-associated protein 43, synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 in the hippocampus were analyzed by western blot assay. The number of synapses was evaluated by electron microscopy. In the water maze test, mice in the environmental enrichment group had a shorter escape latency, traveled markedly longer distances, spent more time in the correct quadrant(northeast zone), and had a higher frequency of crossings compared with the standard housing group. The expression levels of growth-associated protein 43, synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 were substantially upregulated in the hippocampus in the environmental enrichment group compared with the standard housing group. Furthermore, electron microscopy revealed that environmental enrichment increased the number of synapses in the hippocampal CA1 region. Collectively, these findings suggest that environmental enrichment ameliorates the spatial learning and memory impairment induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Environmental enrichment in mice with cerebral ischemia likely promotes cognitive recovery by inducing plastic changes in synapses.展开更多
Many studies have shown that fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5(FDNC5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) play vital roles in plasticity after brain injury. An enriched environment refers to an ...Many studies have shown that fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5(FDNC5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) play vital roles in plasticity after brain injury. An enriched environment refers to an environment that provides animals with multi-sensory stimulation and movement opportunities. An enriched environment has been shown to promote the regeneration of nerve cells, synapses, and blood vessels in the animal brain after cerebral ischemia;however, the exact mechanisms have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine whether an enriched environment could improve neurobehavioral functions after the experimental inducement of cerebral ischemia and whether neurobehavioral outcomes were associated with the expression of FDNC5 and BDNF. This study established ischemic mouse models using permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO) on the left side. On postoperative day 1, the mice were randomly assigned to either enriched environment or standard housing condition groups. Mice in the standard housing condition group were housed and fed under standard conditions. Mice in the enriched environment group were housed in a large cage, containing various toys, and fed with a standard diet. Sham-operated mice received the same procedure, but without artery occlusion, and were housed and fed under standard conditions. On postoperative days 7 and 14, a beam-walking test was used to assess coordination, balance, and spatial learning. On postoperative days 16–20, a Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory. On postoperative day 15, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex were analyzed by western blot assay. The results showed that compared with the standard housing condition group, the motor balance and coordination functions(based on beam-walking test scores 7 and 14 days after operation), spatial learning abilities(based on the spatial learning scores from the Morris water maze test 16–19 days after operation), and memory abilities(based on the memory scores of the Morris water maze test 20 days after operation) of the enriched environment group improved significantly. In addition, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex increased in the enriched environment group compared with those in the standard housing condition group. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that neurobehavioral functions were positively associated with the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF(r = 0.587 and r = 0.840, respectively). These findings suggest that an enriched environment upregulates FDNC5 protein expression in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia, which then activates BDNF protein expression, improving neurological function. BDNF protein expression was positively correlated with improved neurological function. The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Fudan University, China(approval Nos. 20160858 A232, 20160860 A234) on February 24, 2016.展开更多
Many people who live in the low altitude areas are often suffered from hypoxia when they entered the high plateau. This problem may seriously influence the physical and mental state and work efficacy for the travelers...Many people who live in the low altitude areas are often suffered from hypoxia when they entered the high plateau. This problem may seriously influence the physical and mental state and work efficacy for the travelers and workers. Oxygen enrichment of a small space air at high altitude is considered as a simple way to provide lowlanders enriched oxygen for sleeping and resting, improving work efficiency, so we developed an oxygen concentration machine based on the technology of oxygen enrichment membrane. This paper tested 8 healthy male lowlanders (age 21.63±1.77 yr) who have never exposed to plateau performed an incremental exercise on cycle ergometer at sea-level in order to be used as sea-level controls. Two days later, the same subjects were taken to Lhasa (3700 m) by air and exposed to the plateau, performed the same exercise as they did at sea-level. The next day, all subjects were asked to enter the experimental tent which was enriched with oxygen (higher than 24%) by the oxygen concentration machine and sleep for 10 hours at night, then exposed to plateau and performed the same exercise twice at different time (2 hours and 10 hours after oxygen enrichment). During the tests, subjects must cycled continuously at 60 rpm beginning with a 3 min exercise intensity of 0 W followed by incremental increases of 25 W every 3 min until 150 W, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) were recorded. After sleeping in an oxygen enrichment of tent air, 2 hours later, the subjects’ load capacity had no difference compared with control group, but significant difference than before (higher SpO2 and lower HR), which indicated that oxygen concentration machine is effective in increasing the oxygen concentration of the air for the tent and sleeping in the oxygen enrichment tent for l0 h might be effective in improving exercise performance during high-altitude hypoxia. At the same time, 10 hours later, when work-load exceeded 125 W, the same effects were also found. The results indicated the effects of oxygen enrichment of tent air could last a certain period of time.展开更多
Two-stage underground coal gasification was studied to improve the caloric value of the syngas and to extend gas production times.A model test using the oxygen-enriched two-stage coal gasification method was carried o...Two-stage underground coal gasification was studied to improve the caloric value of the syngas and to extend gas production times.A model test using the oxygen-enriched two-stage coal gasification method was carried out.The composition of the gas produced,the time ratio of the two stages,and the role of the temperature field were analysed.The results show that oxygen-enriched two-stage gasification shortens the time of the first stage and prolongs the time of the second stage.Feed oxygen concentrations of 30%, 35%,40%,45%.60%,or 80%gave time ratios（first stage to second stage） of 1：0.12,1：0.21.1：0.51,1：0.64, 1：0.90.and 1：4.0 respectively.Cooling rates of the temperature field after steam injection decreased with time from about 19.1-27.4℃/min to 2.3-6.8℃/min.But this rate increased with increasing oxygen concentrations in the first stage.The caloric value of the syngas improves with increased oxygen concentration in the first stage.Injection of 80%oxygen-enriched air gave gas with the highest caloric value and also gave the longest production time.The caloric value of the gas obtained from the oxygenenriched two-stage gasification method lies in the range from 5.31 MJ/Nm^3 to 10.54 MJ/Nm^3.展开更多
Hybrid indica rice （Oryza sativa L.） cultivars play an important role in rice production system due to its heterosis, resistance to environmental stress, large panicle, and high yield potential. However, no attentio...Hybrid indica rice （Oryza sativa L.） cultivars play an important role in rice production system due to its heterosis, resistance to environmental stress, large panicle, and high yield potential. However, no attention has been given to its root growth dynamic responses to rising atmospheric CO2 concentration （[CO2]） in conjunction with nitrogen （N） availability. Free air COz enrichment （FACE） and N have significant effects on rice root growth. In this experiment, a hybrid cultivar Shanyou 63 （Oryza sativa L.） was used to study the effects of FACE and N levels on roots growth of rice. The results showed a significant increase in both adventitious root volume （ARV） and adventitious root dry weight （ARD） under the FACE treatment. The application of nitrogen also increased ARV and ARD, but the increase was smaller than that under FACE treatment. On the basis of the FACE experiment, numerical models for rice adventitious root volume and dry weight were built with the time as the driving factor. The models illustrated the dynamic development of rice adventitious root volume and dry weight after transplanting, regulated either by the influence factor of atmospheric [CO2] or by N application. The models were successfully used to predict ARV and ARD under FACE treatment in a different year with the predicted data being closely related to the actual experimental data. The model had guiding significance to growth regulation of rice root under the condition of atmospheric [CO2] rising in the future.展开更多
In this study,we examined 3-month-old female mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain and age-matched homologous normal aging female mice from the senescence accelerated-resistant mouse 1 strain.Mice ...In this study,we examined 3-month-old female mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain and age-matched homologous normal aging female mice from the senescence accelerated-resistant mouse 1 strain.Mice from each strain were housed in an enriched environment（including a platform,running wheels,tunnel,and some toys）or a standard environment for 3 months.The mice housed in the enriched environment exhibited shorter escape latencies and a greater percentage of time in the target quadrant in the Morris water maze test,and they exhibited reduced errors and longer latencies in step-down avoidance experiments compared with mice housed in the standard environment.Correspondently,brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA and protein ex- pression in the hippocampus was significantly higher in mice housed in the enriched environment compared with those housed in the standard environment,and the level of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein was positively correlated with the learning and memory abilities of mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain.These results suggest that an enriched environment improved cognitive performance in mice form the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus.展开更多
An economic and effective method of preparing enriched 10B boric acid was established by chemical reactionof enriched 10BF3 and CaCO3. A process of boron trifluoride reacting with water was investigated under certainc...An economic and effective method of preparing enriched 10B boric acid was established by chemical reactionof enriched 10BF3 and CaCO3. A process of boron trifluoride reacting with water was investigated under certainconditions. Calcium carbonate was selected to counteract hydrofluoric acid followed on. Some key operation factorswere investigated, such as temperature, reaction time and the ratio of CaCO3 to 10BF3. The results showed that the yieldof enriched 10B boric acid could reach 97. 2% and the purity was up to 94. 1% under the following conditions: the temperaturewas 50-60,℃, the reaction time was 28 h and the ratio of CaCO3 to 10BF3 was 4. In addition, after recrystallizationand titration analysis, the purity of the product could reach over 99. 2% from 94.1%.展开更多
The effects of ambient CO2/ambient UV-B, enriched CO2/ambient UV-B, ambient CO2/enhanced UV-B, and enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B on the ultrastructure of Dunaliella salina were investigated. （1） The ultrastructure of D...The effects of ambient CO2/ambient UV-B, enriched CO2/ambient UV-B, ambient CO2/enhanced UV-B, and enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B on the ultrastructure of Dunaliella salina were investigated. （1） The ultrastructure of D..salina cell in the control experiment showed that the arrangement of thylakoid lamellae was regular, and there were many large starch grains among the thylakoid lamellae. A prominent well-developed pyrenoid was found in the middle of the chloroplast. Nucleus envelope and nucleolus were clearly observed. The Golgi apparatus accompanied by numerous vesicles with a compact arrangement of cisternae and the peripheral tips of the cisternae were swollen to a size comparable to that of some of the associated vesicles. （2） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in enriched CO2 showed that the arrangement of thylakoid was regular and the lamellae were vivid. Developed pyrenoids were found in the low-CO2-grown cells, but not in the high-CO2-grown cells. The mitochondria cristae were vivid. The arrangement of Golgi apparatus was compact. （3） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in enhanced UV-B showed that the thylakoid was dissolved and the cells had a less developed pyrenoid or no detectable pyrenoid. Part of the nucleus envelope was dissolved. The number ofmitochondria was increased and some mitochondria cristae were disintegrated. The starch grains were broken apart into many small starch grains. The Golgi apparatus with a loose arrangement ofcistemae and the peripheral tips of the Golgi cistemae were not especially swollen, with several large associated vesicles. （4） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in the enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B showed that part of the thylakoid and nucleus envelopes of some cells were dissolved. The pyrenoid was larger than that of the enhanced UV-B. There were many mitochondria between stroma and chloroplast membrane, but mitochondria cristae were partly dissolved. Many small starch grains were accumulated in cells. The starch sheath was broken into several discontinuous starch grains with different sizes. The arrangement of Golgi apparatus was loose. Above all, although the enriched CO2 can alleviate the damage induced by the UV-B radiation, the effects of experimental UV-B radiation were larger than the effects of actual UV-B radiation, the damage induced by the UV-B radiation was so severe, therefore, CO2 enrichment could not restore the ultrastructure to the control level.展开更多
This work aimed at determining the maximum acceptable level of wheat germ that can be added to one of homemade biscuits in Jordan, studying some chemical and sensory properties of this product, moreover, studying the ...This work aimed at determining the maximum acceptable level of wheat germ that can be added to one of homemade biscuits in Jordan, studying some chemical and sensory properties of this product, moreover, studying the effect of storage time after two months at room temperature on the sensory parameters of this product. The results showed that the addition of wheat germ in biscuit making at level of 20% (w/w) enhanced the nutritional value by increasing protein and total mineral content, as well as decreasing fat, total carbohydrates and total calories. The acceptability of sensory characteristics was improved by this fortification immediately after preparation and during storage.展开更多
Cadmium(Cd)contamination in paddy soils means that the rice produced there may be unsafe for human consumption.A hydroponic study was conducted to enrich rice seedlings with zinc(Zn)or manganese(Mn),and the uptake and...Cadmium(Cd)contamination in paddy soils means that the rice produced there may be unsafe for human consumption.A hydroponic study was conducted to enrich rice seedlings with zinc(Zn)or manganese(Mn),and the uptake and transport characteristics of Cd in these Zn-and Mn-rich seedlings were subsequently investigated using a greenhouse pot trial.The results showed that hydroponic cultivation in 10-50μmol L^(-1) Zn(ZnSO_(4)·7 H_(2)O)or50-250μmol L^(-1) Mn(MnSO_(4)·H_(2)O)for 30 d had no significant impact on rice growth,while the accumulation of Zn and Mn was 7.31-18.5 and 25.4-47.7 times higher,respectively,than in the control(no Zn or Mn addition).The accumulation of Cd in the Zn-and Mn-rich rice plants was 26.3%-38.6% and 34.4%-44.5% lower than that in the control,respectively,and the translocation factors of Cd from roots to shoots also decreased by 23.3%-41.3% and 25.3%-37.0%,respectively,after transplanting to Cd-contaminated soils.Furthermore,the relative expression levels of OsIRT1(Oryza sativa iron-regulated transporter 1)were downregulated by 40.1%-59.3% and 16.0%-25.9%,respectively,in the Zn-and Mn-rich seedling roots.This downregulation may indicate a possible mechanism contributing to the reductions in Cd absorption.Field experiments confirmed that the Zn-and Mn-rich seedlings produced brown rice(unpolished rice grains)with significantly decreased concentrations of Cd(34.2%-44.4%).This study provides an innovative method for reducing the food safety risks from rice grown on slightly to moderately Cd-contaminated paddy soils.展开更多
The reproducing kernel particle method （RKPM） has been efficiently applied to problems with large deformations, high gradients and high modal density. In this paper, it is extended to solve a nonlocal problem modele...The reproducing kernel particle method （RKPM） has been efficiently applied to problems with large deformations, high gradients and high modal density. In this paper, it is extended to solve a nonlocal problem modeled by a fractional advectiondiffusion equation （FADE）, which exhibits a boundary layer with low regularity. We formulate this method on a moving least-square approach. Via the enrichment of fractional-order power functions to the traditional integer-order basis for RKPM, leading terms of the solution to the FADE can be exactly reproduced, which guarantees a good approximation to the boundary layer. Numerical tests are performed to verify the proposed approach.展开更多
The effects of gas composition, temperature, ore to coke ratio and prereduction rate of ore on coke degradation were studied. The results showed that 1% increment in solution loss of coke reduces coke strength by 0.6%...The effects of gas composition, temperature, ore to coke ratio and prereduction rate of ore on coke degradation were studied. The results showed that 1% increment in solution loss of coke reduces coke strength by 0.6%, and the coke degradation is accelerated with the temperature. The higher the temperature, the more coke surface is involved in reactions, and the less negative effect on coke strength is. Hydrogen exerts stronger effect on coke degradation than CO at high temperature. The coke degradation is decreased with the reduction of ore to coke ratio and increase of ore prereduction rate.展开更多
Several thousand genes(17000–19000)are expressed in the human/mouse testis and a sizeable number of these are testis-enriched.However,the function of many of these genes in spermatogenesis is yet to be investigated.I...Several thousand genes(17000–19000)are expressed in the human/mouse testis and a sizeable number of these are testis-enriched.However,the function of many of these genes in spermatogenesis is yet to be investigated.In a recent study by Oyama et al.,1 the essential nature of 12 testis-enriched genes in male fertility was tested using knockout mouse models generated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9(CRISPR/Cas9)technology.The authors performed basic male fertility analyses for three knockout lines(Tmem210,4921539E11Rik,and 4930558C23Rik)and determined that spermatogenesis was normal,motile and morphologically normal sperm were produced,and knockout males were fertile.For the remaining nine lines(Cby2,Ldhal6b,Rasef,Slc25a2,Slc25a41,Smim8,Smim9,Tomm20l,and 1700057G04Rik),the authors simply investigated fertility via mating.Thus,there is a small chance that subtle roles of these genes in spermatogenesis or optimal fertility were overlooked.Altogether,despite a biased testis expression,each gene was dispensable for male fertility.展开更多
Tinnitus is a heterogeneous hearing disorder with no cure at present,but some treatments,such as a combination of counselling and sound therapy,can alleviate the discomfort it causes.The sound therapy efficiency depen...Tinnitus is a heterogeneous hearing disorder with no cure at present,but some treatments,such as a combination of counselling and sound therapy,can alleviate the discomfort it causes.The sound therapy efficiency depends on both the type of sound stimulus and the time of exposure.This study describes the fundamentals of a personalized sound therapy that stimulates the auditory system with either continuous or sequential sounds whose spectra are adjusted to the hearing levels of the participants.This sound therapy is called Enriched Acoustic Environment and is assessed in a sample of 137 participants with tinnitus.Tinnitus-related distress relief was clinically relevant and statistically significant for 90%of these patients.This was quantified as a mean decrease of 24.3 points on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.31%of participants were treated with sequential stimuli and achieved greater relief of distress(29.4 points on their Tinnitus Handicap Inventory score)compared to those treated with continuous sound(69%).According to these results,sequential sound seems to be optimal compared to continuous sound.展开更多
Glaucoma is one of the world’s most frequent visual impairment causes and leads to selective damage to retinal ganglion cells and their axons.Despite glaucoma’s most accepted risk factor is increased intraocular pre...Glaucoma is one of the world’s most frequent visual impairment causes and leads to selective damage to retinal ganglion cells and their axons.Despite glaucoma’s most accepted risk factor is increased intraocular pressure(IOP),the mechanisms behind the disease have not been fully elucidated.To date,IOP lowering remains the gold standard;however,glaucoma patients may still lose vision regardless of effective IOP management.Therefore,the exclusive IOP control apparently is not enough to stop the disease progression,and developing new resources to protect the retina and optic nerve against glaucoma is a goal of vast clinical importance.Besides pharmacological treatments,environmental conditions have been shown to prevent neurodegeneration in the central nervous system.In this review,we discuss current concepts on key pathogenic mechanisms involved in glaucoma,the effect of enriched environment on these mechanisms in different experimental models,as well as recent evidence supporting the preventive and therapeutic effect of enriched environment exposure against experimental glaucomatous damage.Finally,we postulate that stimulating vision may become a non-invasive and rehabilitative therapy that could be eventually translated to the human disease,preventing glaucoma-induced terrible sequelae resulting in permanent visual disability.展开更多
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.20022YFC3102405)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42425004,32371665)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(Nos.2022A1515011461,2022A1515011831)。
文摘Macroalgae dominate nutrient dynamics and function as high-value foods for microbial,meio-and macrofaunal communities in coastal ecosystems.Because of this vital role,it is important to clarify the physiological information associated with environmental changes as it reflects their growth potential.To evaluate the effects of the changes in salinity and nutrients,the photosynthetic efficiency of a green macroalga Ulva fasciata from the Daya Bay was tested at a range of salinity(i.e.,31 to 10 psu)and nitrogen content(i.e.,5 to 60μmol L^(-1)).The results showed that cellular chlorophyll a(Chl a),carbohydrate and protein contents of U.fasciata were increased due to reduced salinity,and were decreased by interactive nitrogen enrichment.Within a short culture period(i.e.,18 h),the reduced salinity decreased the maximum photosynthetic efficiency(rETRmax and Pmax)derived from the rapid light response curve and photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate versus irradiance curve,respectively,as well as the saturation irradiance(E_(K)).This reducing effect diminished with enlonged cultivation time and reversed to a stimulating effect after 24 h of cultivation.The nitrogen enrichment stimulated the rETRmax and Pmax,as well as the E_(K),regardless of salinity,especially within short-term cultivation period(i.e.,<24 h).In addition,our results indicate that seawater freshening lowers the photosynthetic efficiency of U.fasciata in the short term,which is mitigated by nitrogen enrichment,but stimulates it in the long term,providing insight into how macroalgae thrive in coastal or estuarine waters where salinity and nutrients normally covary strongly.
基金supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology(FCT)under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and by the CM4Methane project(Ref:PTDC/BTA-BTA/2249/2021,DOI 10.54499/PTDC/BTABTA/2249/2021)FCT and European Union(EU),through the Portuguese State Budget and the European Social Fund under the scope of Norte2020-Programa Operacional Regional do Norte,also funded the SFRH/BD/132003/2017 and COVID/BD/152431/2022 grants held by Cátia S.N.Braga.,and the SFRH/BD/147271/2019 grant held by João C.Sequeira.M.SaloméDuarte acknowledges FCT for the Junior Research contract obtained under the scope of the Scientific Stimulus Employment 2022(ref:2022.06569.CEECIND/CP1718/CT0004,doi:https://doi.org/10.54499/2022.06569.CEECIND/CP1718/CT0004)PhD M.Fernando R.Pereira and PhD O.SaloméG.Soares from the Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials,Faculty of Engineering(University of Porto),for providing the AC used in this study.
文摘Conductive materials(CM)can improve methane production(MP)efficiency in many methanogenic systems.However,several types of CM exist,and there are uncertainties regarding whether they all improve MP efficiency to the same extent and modulate microbial communities in a similar way.To investigate that,different microbial enrichments with and without activated carbon(AC),magnetite(Mag),and zeolites(Zeo)(at 0.5 g/L)were developed.MP profiles and microbial composition changes were compared among enrichments.The behavior of all enrichments was different,although the initial inoculum sludge was the same.Lag phase duration was lower in AC enrichment,while the complete conversion of butyrate to methane was faster in Mag enrichment.Syntrophomonas was the most abundant bacterial genus in all enrichments,but changes in the methanogenic community were evident.Acetoclastic methanogens were more diverse in Mag enrichment,with microorganisms assigned to Methanosarcina and Methanothrix gener1,but Methanothrix was the only acetoclastic methanogen in the other enrichments.On the other hand,different species of hydrogenotrophic methanogens prevailed in distinct enrichments.The metatranscriptomics results revealed that the dominant mechanism of interspecies electron transfer in the AC enrichment utilized hydrogen as the electron carrier,and no evidences of direct interspecies electron transfer(DIET)could be found.These results showed how different CM modulate microbial communities and affect MP efficiency through mechanisms that do not necessarily involve DIET or mediation via CM.
基金Supported by Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation,No.2025AFB845Graduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund of Wuhan University of Science and Technology,No.JCX2024044.
文摘This editorial highlighted the central role of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and discussed the emerging significance of Ras homolog enriched in brain 1(Rheb1)as a key regulator of β-cell mass and insulinsecretory capacity.While molecular mechanisms governing β-cell homeostasis remain incompletely defined,Yang et al have recently demonstrated that Rheb1 could promote β-cell proliferation through dual activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 and AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathways,rather than relying solely on mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1.Notably,Rheb1 expression is higher in pancreatic islets from younger individuals and upregulates hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha,which is recognized as a transcription factor essential for β-cell identity and insulin production.These insights position Rheb1 as a pivotal regulator of β-cell growth and metabolic function,with potential therapeutic implications for diabetes.Targeting Rheb1 may shift treatment paradigms from conventional glucose-lowering strategies towardβ-cell restoration,providing a novel approach to preserve or enhance functionalβ-cell mass in diabetic patients.Further investigation into Rheb1’s upstream regulators and downstream effectors may provide innovative therapeutic directions.
基金the Citrus Research and Development Foundation(Projects Li-749 and 16-001 to Y.L.)USDA-NIFA BRAG Program(Award Number 2010-33522-21697 to Y.L.)+1 种基金Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station,the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31801823)111 Project(B17043)for the financial support provided.
文摘Grafting is a highly useful technique,and its success largely depends on graft union formation.In this study,we found that root-specific expression of the auxin biosynthetic gene iaaM in tobacco,when used as rootstock,resulted in more rapid callus formation and faster graft healing.However,overexpression of the auxin-inactivating iaaL gene in rootstocks delayed graft healing.We observed increased endogenous auxin levels and auxin-responsive DR5::GUS expression in scions of WT/iaaM grafts compared with those found in WT/WT grafts,which suggested that auxin is transported upward from rootstock to scion tissues.A transcriptome analysis showed that auxin enhanced graft union formation through increases in the expression of genes involved in graft healing in both rootstock and scion tissues.We also observed that the ethylene biosynthetic gene ACS1 and the ethylene-responsive gene ERF5 were upregulated in both scions and rootstocks of the WT/iaaM grafts.Furthermore,exogenous applications of the ethylene precursor ACC to the junction of WT/WT grafts promoted graft union formation,whereas application of the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor AVG delayed graft healing in WT/WT grafts,and the observed delay was less pronounced in the WT/iaaM grafts.These results demonstrated that elevated auxin levels in the iaaM rootstock in combination with the increased auxin levels in scions caused by upward transport/diffusion enhanced graft union formation and that ethylene was partially responsible for the effects of auxin on grafting.Our findings showed that grafting success can be enhanced by increasing the auxin levels in rootstocks using transgenic or gene-editing techniques.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(31171943)Major Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province(92101110600)~~
文摘Selenium（Se） is one of the essential trace elements required by humans and animals. It will cause diseases for humans and animals when Se is excessive or lack in the environment.The research status of selenium-enriched agricultural crops and selenium-enriched horticultural crops, functional mechanism and application status of selenium, and the latest progress in the study of selenium enrichment were summarized in this paper.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81672242(to YW)the Key Construction Projects of Shanghai Health and Family Planning on Weak Discipline,China,No.2015ZB0401(to YW)
文摘Cerebral ischemia activates an endogenous repair program that induces plastic changes in neurons. In this study, we investigated the effects of environmental enrichment on spatial learning and memory as well as on synaptic remodeling in a mouse model of chronic cerebral ischemia, produced by subjecting adult male C57 BL/6 mice to permanent left middle cerebral artery occlusion. Three days postoperatively, mice were randomly assigned to the environmental enrichment and standard housing groups. Mice in the standard housing group were housed and fed a standard diet. Mice in the environmental enrichment group were housed in a cage with various toys and fed a standard diet. Then, 28 days postoperatively, spatial learning and memory were tested using the Morris water maze. The expression levels of growth-associated protein 43, synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 in the hippocampus were analyzed by western blot assay. The number of synapses was evaluated by electron microscopy. In the water maze test, mice in the environmental enrichment group had a shorter escape latency, traveled markedly longer distances, spent more time in the correct quadrant(northeast zone), and had a higher frequency of crossings compared with the standard housing group. The expression levels of growth-associated protein 43, synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 were substantially upregulated in the hippocampus in the environmental enrichment group compared with the standard housing group. Furthermore, electron microscopy revealed that environmental enrichment increased the number of synapses in the hippocampal CA1 region. Collectively, these findings suggest that environmental enrichment ameliorates the spatial learning and memory impairment induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Environmental enrichment in mice with cerebral ischemia likely promotes cognitive recovery by inducing plastic changes in synapses.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81601961(to KWY),81672242(to YW)the Key Construction Projects of Shanghai Health and Family Planning on Weak Discipline,China,No.2015ZB0401(to YW)
文摘Many studies have shown that fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5(FDNC5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) play vital roles in plasticity after brain injury. An enriched environment refers to an environment that provides animals with multi-sensory stimulation and movement opportunities. An enriched environment has been shown to promote the regeneration of nerve cells, synapses, and blood vessels in the animal brain after cerebral ischemia;however, the exact mechanisms have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine whether an enriched environment could improve neurobehavioral functions after the experimental inducement of cerebral ischemia and whether neurobehavioral outcomes were associated with the expression of FDNC5 and BDNF. This study established ischemic mouse models using permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO) on the left side. On postoperative day 1, the mice were randomly assigned to either enriched environment or standard housing condition groups. Mice in the standard housing condition group were housed and fed under standard conditions. Mice in the enriched environment group were housed in a large cage, containing various toys, and fed with a standard diet. Sham-operated mice received the same procedure, but without artery occlusion, and were housed and fed under standard conditions. On postoperative days 7 and 14, a beam-walking test was used to assess coordination, balance, and spatial learning. On postoperative days 16–20, a Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory. On postoperative day 15, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex were analyzed by western blot assay. The results showed that compared with the standard housing condition group, the motor balance and coordination functions(based on beam-walking test scores 7 and 14 days after operation), spatial learning abilities(based on the spatial learning scores from the Morris water maze test 16–19 days after operation), and memory abilities(based on the memory scores of the Morris water maze test 20 days after operation) of the enriched environment group improved significantly. In addition, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex increased in the enriched environment group compared with those in the standard housing condition group. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that neurobehavioral functions were positively associated with the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF(r = 0.587 and r = 0.840, respectively). These findings suggest that an enriched environment upregulates FDNC5 protein expression in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia, which then activates BDNF protein expression, improving neurological function. BDNF protein expression was positively correlated with improved neurological function. The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Fudan University, China(approval Nos. 20160858 A232, 20160860 A234) on February 24, 2016.
文摘Many people who live in the low altitude areas are often suffered from hypoxia when they entered the high plateau. This problem may seriously influence the physical and mental state and work efficacy for the travelers and workers. Oxygen enrichment of a small space air at high altitude is considered as a simple way to provide lowlanders enriched oxygen for sleeping and resting, improving work efficiency, so we developed an oxygen concentration machine based on the technology of oxygen enrichment membrane. This paper tested 8 healthy male lowlanders (age 21.63±1.77 yr) who have never exposed to plateau performed an incremental exercise on cycle ergometer at sea-level in order to be used as sea-level controls. Two days later, the same subjects were taken to Lhasa (3700 m) by air and exposed to the plateau, performed the same exercise as they did at sea-level. The next day, all subjects were asked to enter the experimental tent which was enriched with oxygen (higher than 24%) by the oxygen concentration machine and sleep for 10 hours at night, then exposed to plateau and performed the same exercise twice at different time (2 hours and 10 hours after oxygen enrichment). During the tests, subjects must cycled continuously at 60 rpm beginning with a 3 min exercise intensity of 0 W followed by incremental increases of 25 W every 3 min until 150 W, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) were recorded. After sleeping in an oxygen enrichment of tent air, 2 hours later, the subjects’ load capacity had no difference compared with control group, but significant difference than before (higher SpO2 and lower HR), which indicated that oxygen concentration machine is effective in increasing the oxygen concentration of the air for the tent and sleeping in the oxygen enrichment tent for l0 h might be effective in improving exercise performance during high-altitude hypoxia. At the same time, 10 hours later, when work-load exceeded 125 W, the same effects were also found. The results indicated the effects of oxygen enrichment of tent air could last a certain period of time.
基金financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.50876112)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No.2009QH13)the Program of International S&T Cooperation (No.2009DFR60180,No.2010DFR60610)
文摘Two-stage underground coal gasification was studied to improve the caloric value of the syngas and to extend gas production times.A model test using the oxygen-enriched two-stage coal gasification method was carried out.The composition of the gas produced,the time ratio of the two stages,and the role of the temperature field were analysed.The results show that oxygen-enriched two-stage gasification shortens the time of the first stage and prolongs the time of the second stage.Feed oxygen concentrations of 30%, 35%,40%,45%.60%,or 80%gave time ratios（first stage to second stage） of 1：0.12,1：0.21.1：0.51,1：0.64, 1：0.90.and 1：4.0 respectively.Cooling rates of the temperature field after steam injection decreased with time from about 19.1-27.4℃/min to 2.3-6.8℃/min.But this rate increased with increasing oxygen concentrations in the first stage.The caloric value of the syngas improves with increased oxygen concentration in the first stage.Injection of 80%oxygen-enriched air gave gas with the highest caloric value and also gave the longest production time.The caloric value of the gas obtained from the oxygenenriched two-stage gasification method lies in the range from 5.31 MJ/Nm^3 to 10.54 MJ/Nm^3.
基金funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions,Chinathe Key Direction Research of Knowledge Innovation in Chinese Academy of Science (KZCX3-SW-440)
文摘Hybrid indica rice （Oryza sativa L.） cultivars play an important role in rice production system due to its heterosis, resistance to environmental stress, large panicle, and high yield potential. However, no attention has been given to its root growth dynamic responses to rising atmospheric CO2 concentration （[CO2]） in conjunction with nitrogen （N） availability. Free air COz enrichment （FACE） and N have significant effects on rice root growth. In this experiment, a hybrid cultivar Shanyou 63 （Oryza sativa L.） was used to study the effects of FACE and N levels on roots growth of rice. The results showed a significant increase in both adventitious root volume （ARV） and adventitious root dry weight （ARD） under the FACE treatment. The application of nitrogen also increased ARV and ARD, but the increase was smaller than that under FACE treatment. On the basis of the FACE experiment, numerical models for rice adventitious root volume and dry weight were built with the time as the driving factor. The models illustrated the dynamic development of rice adventitious root volume and dry weight after transplanting, regulated either by the influence factor of atmospheric [CO2] or by N application. The models were successfully used to predict ARV and ARD under FACE treatment in a different year with the predicted data being closely related to the actual experimental data. The model had guiding significance to growth regulation of rice root under the condition of atmospheric [CO2] rising in the future.
基金supported by the Program of Health Department of Hebei Province,No.20090338the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province,No.C2009001242Funding Project for Introduced Abroad Study Personnel of Hebei Province
文摘In this study,we examined 3-month-old female mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain and age-matched homologous normal aging female mice from the senescence accelerated-resistant mouse 1 strain.Mice from each strain were housed in an enriched environment（including a platform,running wheels,tunnel,and some toys）or a standard environment for 3 months.The mice housed in the enriched environment exhibited shorter escape latencies and a greater percentage of time in the target quadrant in the Morris water maze test,and they exhibited reduced errors and longer latencies in step-down avoidance experiments compared with mice housed in the standard environment.Correspondently,brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA and protein ex- pression in the hippocampus was significantly higher in mice housed in the enriched environment compared with those housed in the standard environment,and the level of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein was positively correlated with the learning and memory abilities of mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain.These results suggest that an enriched environment improved cognitive performance in mice form the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus.
基金Supported by the Independent Innovation Fund of Tianjin University(No.1307)
文摘An economic and effective method of preparing enriched 10B boric acid was established by chemical reactionof enriched 10BF3 and CaCO3. A process of boron trifluoride reacting with water was investigated under certainconditions. Calcium carbonate was selected to counteract hydrofluoric acid followed on. Some key operation factorswere investigated, such as temperature, reaction time and the ratio of CaCO3 to 10BF3. The results showed that the yieldof enriched 10B boric acid could reach 97. 2% and the purity was up to 94. 1% under the following conditions: the temperaturewas 50-60,℃, the reaction time was 28 h and the ratio of CaCO3 to 10BF3 was 4. In addition, after recrystallizationand titration analysis, the purity of the product could reach over 99. 2% from 94.1%.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 30270258 and 40506028the Encouraging Foundation for 0utstanding Youth Scientists of Shandong Province under contract No.03BS120the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under contract No.2005037237.
文摘The effects of ambient CO2/ambient UV-B, enriched CO2/ambient UV-B, ambient CO2/enhanced UV-B, and enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B on the ultrastructure of Dunaliella salina were investigated. （1） The ultrastructure of D..salina cell in the control experiment showed that the arrangement of thylakoid lamellae was regular, and there were many large starch grains among the thylakoid lamellae. A prominent well-developed pyrenoid was found in the middle of the chloroplast. Nucleus envelope and nucleolus were clearly observed. The Golgi apparatus accompanied by numerous vesicles with a compact arrangement of cisternae and the peripheral tips of the cisternae were swollen to a size comparable to that of some of the associated vesicles. （2） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in enriched CO2 showed that the arrangement of thylakoid was regular and the lamellae were vivid. Developed pyrenoids were found in the low-CO2-grown cells, but not in the high-CO2-grown cells. The mitochondria cristae were vivid. The arrangement of Golgi apparatus was compact. （3） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in enhanced UV-B showed that the thylakoid was dissolved and the cells had a less developed pyrenoid or no detectable pyrenoid. Part of the nucleus envelope was dissolved. The number ofmitochondria was increased and some mitochondria cristae were disintegrated. The starch grains were broken apart into many small starch grains. The Golgi apparatus with a loose arrangement ofcistemae and the peripheral tips of the Golgi cistemae were not especially swollen, with several large associated vesicles. （4） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in the enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B showed that part of the thylakoid and nucleus envelopes of some cells were dissolved. The pyrenoid was larger than that of the enhanced UV-B. There were many mitochondria between stroma and chloroplast membrane, but mitochondria cristae were partly dissolved. Many small starch grains were accumulated in cells. The starch sheath was broken into several discontinuous starch grains with different sizes. The arrangement of Golgi apparatus was loose. Above all, although the enriched CO2 can alleviate the damage induced by the UV-B radiation, the effects of experimental UV-B radiation were larger than the effects of actual UV-B radiation, the damage induced by the UV-B radiation was so severe, therefore, CO2 enrichment could not restore the ultrastructure to the control level.
文摘This work aimed at determining the maximum acceptable level of wheat germ that can be added to one of homemade biscuits in Jordan, studying some chemical and sensory properties of this product, moreover, studying the effect of storage time after two months at room temperature on the sensory parameters of this product. The results showed that the addition of wheat germ in biscuit making at level of 20% (w/w) enhanced the nutritional value by increasing protein and total mineral content, as well as decreasing fat, total carbohydrates and total calories. The acceptability of sensory characteristics was improved by this fortification immediately after preparation and during storage.
基金jointly sponsored by the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China(No.2015BAD05B04)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province,China(No.20202BAB215016)+3 种基金the Foundation of Jiangxi Educational Committee,China(No.GJJ191707)the Science and Technology Service Network Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(STS Program)the Regional Soil Pollution Control Program of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Chinathe Agro-Environmental Protection Program of Jiangxi Province,China。
文摘Cadmium(Cd)contamination in paddy soils means that the rice produced there may be unsafe for human consumption.A hydroponic study was conducted to enrich rice seedlings with zinc(Zn)or manganese(Mn),and the uptake and transport characteristics of Cd in these Zn-and Mn-rich seedlings were subsequently investigated using a greenhouse pot trial.The results showed that hydroponic cultivation in 10-50μmol L^(-1) Zn(ZnSO_(4)·7 H_(2)O)or50-250μmol L^(-1) Mn(MnSO_(4)·H_(2)O)for 30 d had no significant impact on rice growth,while the accumulation of Zn and Mn was 7.31-18.5 and 25.4-47.7 times higher,respectively,than in the control(no Zn or Mn addition).The accumulation of Cd in the Zn-and Mn-rich rice plants was 26.3%-38.6% and 34.4%-44.5% lower than that in the control,respectively,and the translocation factors of Cd from roots to shoots also decreased by 23.3%-41.3% and 25.3%-37.0%,respectively,after transplanting to Cd-contaminated soils.Furthermore,the relative expression levels of OsIRT1(Oryza sativa iron-regulated transporter 1)were downregulated by 40.1%-59.3% and 16.0%-25.9%,respectively,in the Zn-and Mn-rich seedling roots.This downregulation may indicate a possible mechanism contributing to the reductions in Cd absorption.Field experiments confirmed that the Zn-and Mn-rich seedlings produced brown rice(unpolished rice grains)with significantly decreased concentrations of Cd(34.2%-44.4%).This study provides an innovative method for reducing the food safety risks from rice grown on slightly to moderately Cd-contaminated paddy soils.
基金supported partly by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 11521202)support from the Chinese Scholarship Councilpartially support by an Army Research Office (Grant W911NF-15-10569)
文摘The reproducing kernel particle method （RKPM） has been efficiently applied to problems with large deformations, high gradients and high modal density. In this paper, it is extended to solve a nonlocal problem modeled by a fractional advectiondiffusion equation （FADE）, which exhibits a boundary layer with low regularity. We formulate this method on a moving least-square approach. Via the enrichment of fractional-order power functions to the traditional integer-order basis for RKPM, leading terms of the solution to the FADE can be exactly reproduced, which guarantees a good approximation to the boundary layer. Numerical tests are performed to verify the proposed approach.
文摘The effects of gas composition, temperature, ore to coke ratio and prereduction rate of ore on coke degradation were studied. The results showed that 1% increment in solution loss of coke reduces coke strength by 0.6%, and the coke degradation is accelerated with the temperature. The higher the temperature, the more coke surface is involved in reactions, and the less negative effect on coke strength is. Hydrogen exerts stronger effect on coke degradation than CO at high temperature. The coke degradation is decreased with the reduction of ore to coke ratio and increase of ore prereduction rate.
文摘Several thousand genes(17000–19000)are expressed in the human/mouse testis and a sizeable number of these are testis-enriched.However,the function of many of these genes in spermatogenesis is yet to be investigated.In a recent study by Oyama et al.,1 the essential nature of 12 testis-enriched genes in male fertility was tested using knockout mouse models generated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9(CRISPR/Cas9)technology.The authors performed basic male fertility analyses for three knockout lines(Tmem210,4921539E11Rik,and 4930558C23Rik)and determined that spermatogenesis was normal,motile and morphologically normal sperm were produced,and knockout males were fertile.For the remaining nine lines(Cby2,Ldhal6b,Rasef,Slc25a2,Slc25a41,Smim8,Smim9,Tomm20l,and 1700057G04Rik),the authors simply investigated fertility via mating.Thus,there is a small chance that subtle roles of these genes in spermatogenesis or optimal fertility were overlooked.Altogether,despite a biased testis expression,each gene was dispensable for male fertility.
文摘Tinnitus is a heterogeneous hearing disorder with no cure at present,but some treatments,such as a combination of counselling and sound therapy,can alleviate the discomfort it causes.The sound therapy efficiency depends on both the type of sound stimulus and the time of exposure.This study describes the fundamentals of a personalized sound therapy that stimulates the auditory system with either continuous or sequential sounds whose spectra are adjusted to the hearing levels of the participants.This sound therapy is called Enriched Acoustic Environment and is assessed in a sample of 137 participants with tinnitus.Tinnitus-related distress relief was clinically relevant and statistically significant for 90%of these patients.This was quantified as a mean decrease of 24.3 points on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.31%of participants were treated with sequential stimuli and achieved greater relief of distress(29.4 points on their Tinnitus Handicap Inventory score)compared to those treated with continuous sound(69%).According to these results,sequential sound seems to be optimal compared to continuous sound.
基金supported by grants from the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica,Nos.PICT 1563 and PICT 2731(to RER)The University of Buenos Aires,No.20020100100678(to RER)Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas,No.PIP 0707(to RER),Argentina。
文摘Glaucoma is one of the world’s most frequent visual impairment causes and leads to selective damage to retinal ganglion cells and their axons.Despite glaucoma’s most accepted risk factor is increased intraocular pressure(IOP),the mechanisms behind the disease have not been fully elucidated.To date,IOP lowering remains the gold standard;however,glaucoma patients may still lose vision regardless of effective IOP management.Therefore,the exclusive IOP control apparently is not enough to stop the disease progression,and developing new resources to protect the retina and optic nerve against glaucoma is a goal of vast clinical importance.Besides pharmacological treatments,environmental conditions have been shown to prevent neurodegeneration in the central nervous system.In this review,we discuss current concepts on key pathogenic mechanisms involved in glaucoma,the effect of enriched environment on these mechanisms in different experimental models,as well as recent evidence supporting the preventive and therapeutic effect of enriched environment exposure against experimental glaucomatous damage.Finally,we postulate that stimulating vision may become a non-invasive and rehabilitative therapy that could be eventually translated to the human disease,preventing glaucoma-induced terrible sequelae resulting in permanent visual disability.
