The inference of genome ancestry and the estimation of molecular relatedness are of great importance for breeding efficiency and association studies. Seventy SSR loci, evenly distributed in 10 chromosomes, were assaye...The inference of genome ancestry and the estimation of molecular relatedness are of great importance for breeding efficiency and association studies. Seventy SSR loci, evenly distributed in 10 chromosomes, were assayed for polymorphism among 187 commonly used maize （Zea mays L.） inbreds which represent the genetic diversity in China. The identified 290 alleles served as raw data for estimating population structure using the coalescent linked loci, based on the ADMIXTURE model. Population number, K, has been inferred to be between five and seven. Specifying five subpopulations （K = 5） led to a distinct decrease and specifying K to be greater than six resulted in only minimal increases in the likelihood value. Therefore, population number, K, has been inferred into six subpopulations, which are PA, BSSS （includes Reid）, PB, Lan （Lancaster Sure Crop）, LRC （Luda Reb Cob, a Chinese landrace, and its derivatives）, and SPT （Si-ping-tou, a Chinese landrace and its derivatives）. The Kullback-Leibler distance of pairwise subpopulation was also inferred as n × p （187 ×6） Q matrices, which gave a detailed percentage of genetic composition of six subpopulations and molecular relatedness of each line. The genome-wide linkage disequilibrium （LD） indicated that the asso- ciation studies in QTLs and/or candidate genes might avoid nonfunctional and spurious associations, as most of the LD blocks were broken among diverse germplasm. The defined population structure has given us a clear genetic structure of these lines for breeding practice and established a good basis for association analysis.展开更多
All human languages have words that can mean different things in different contexts, such words with multiple meanings are potentially “ambiguous”. The process of “deciding which of several meanings of a term is in...All human languages have words that can mean different things in different contexts, such words with multiple meanings are potentially “ambiguous”. The process of “deciding which of several meanings of a term is intended in a given context” is known as “word sense disambiguation (WSD)”. This paper presents a method of WSD that assigns a target word the sense that is most related to the senses of its neighbor words. We explore the use of measures of relatedness between word senses based on a novel hybrid approach. First, we investigate how to “literally” and “regularly” express a “concept”. We apply set algebra to WordNet’s synsets cooperating with WordNet’s word ontology. In this way we establish regular rules for constructing various representations (lexical notations) of a concept using Boolean operators and word forms in various synset(s) defined in WordNet. Then we establish a formal mechanism for quantifying and estimating the semantic relatedness between concepts—we facilitate “concept distribution statistics” to determine the degree of semantic relatedness between two lexically expressed con- cepts. The experimental results showed good performance on Semcor, a subset of Brown corpus. We observe that measures of semantic relatedness are useful sources of information for WSD.展开更多
Objective:This study aimed to explore the psychological needs of nurses caring for patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and to propose corresponding interventions.Methods:In-depth interviews were conducted ...Objective:This study aimed to explore the psychological needs of nurses caring for patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and to propose corresponding interventions.Methods:In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 nurses who cared for patients with COVID-19.Interview data were analyzed by category analysis from the perspective of the existence,relatedness,and growth theory(ERG).Results:The existence needs were mainly reflected in health and security needs,whereas the relatedness needs consisting mainly of interpersonal needs,humanistic concern needs,and family needs;further,the growth needs were mainly reflected as a strong need for knowledge.Existence needs were the main needs during the epidemic,with health and security needs influencing each other.Humanistic concern needs were the most important of the relatedness needs;interpersonal and family needs were also growing.Conclusion:It is found that the existence,relatedness,and growth needs coexist in clinical nurses.It is helpful to take effective interventions to meet their needs if the needs of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients could be perceived well.展开更多
Invasive species may pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and functioning.The number of introduced species that have become invasive is substantial and is rapidly increasing.Identifying pot...Invasive species may pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and functioning.The number of introduced species that have become invasive is substantial and is rapidly increasing.Identifying potentially invasive species and preventing their expansion are of critical importance in invasion ecology.Phylogenetic relatedness between invasive and native species has been used in predicting invasion success.Previous studies on the phylogenetic relatedness of plants at the transition from naturalization to invasion have shown mixed results,which may be because different methods were used in different studies.Here,I use the same method to analyze two comprehensive data sets from South Africa and China,using two phylogenetic metrics reflecting deep and shallow evolutionary histories,to address the question whether the probability of becoming invasive is higher for naturalized species distantly related to the native flora.My study suggests that the probability of becoming invasive is higher for naturalized species closely related to the native flora.The finding of my study is consistent with Darwin's preadaptation hypothesis.展开更多
Megalobrama pellegrini is a cyprinid fish endemic to upper reaches of the Changjiang(Yangtze)River,China,which is also an important economic species in the local area.In recent years,resources of this species have dec...Megalobrama pellegrini is a cyprinid fish endemic to upper reaches of the Changjiang(Yangtze)River,China,which is also an important economic species in the local area.In recent years,resources of this species have decreased sharply and its conservation has drawn great attention.In the present study,we collected 120 individuals from the Longxi River,a tributary isolated from the main channel of the Changjiang River,where M.pellegrini is still relatively abundant.Using two different molecular markers,mitochondrial cytochrome b(cyt b)gene,and nuclear microsatellite(simple sequence repeat,SSR),we analyzed the genetic diversity of this isolated population.The results show that sequence genetic diversity was low(Hd:0.290 and P i:0.000 77 for cyt b gene),while the SSR genetic diversity was high(Ho:0.824 4±0.147 2,He:0.823 5±0.145 1).Analysis indicated that this population had experienced a bottleneck,with inbreeding and small effective population size(around 50).Based on SSR data,relatedness analyzing revealed that the 120 samples were grouped into 10 completely independent clusters.It was inferred that the mating system of M.pellegrini was polygamy.We suggested that the low genetic diversity could be induced by the overfishing and inbreeding depression.Therefore,we suggested that the urgent conservation measures should be taken to control the overfi shing and give better conditions for the fish to grow and spawn,then to restore population size.展开更多
Ceiba species have high ornamental value and are widely cultivated in tropical regions.However,genetic background of cultivated Ceiba plants remains unclear.To understand the genetic relatedness of cultivated Ceiba pl...Ceiba species have high ornamental value and are widely cultivated in tropical regions.However,genetic background of cultivated Ceiba plants remains unclear.To understand the genetic relatedness of cultivated Ceiba plants and genetic basis of key horticultural traits,here we explored the genetic relatedness of 153 accessions of Ceiba plants cultivated in Southern China and identified SNPs associated with five horticultural traits,based on 11704 SNPs derived from double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing(ddRAD-seq).Clustering analysis revealed that these accessions were composed of three groups:C.speciosa group,C.insignis group,and hybrid group.The GWAS identified two,four,two,three,and four SNPs related to petal color,petal striation number,flowering time,trunk shape,and prickles on the trunk and branches,respectively.One to two candidate genes were found near the SNPs strongly associated with these traits.This study revealed the genetic relatedness in the Ceiba plants cultivated in Southern China and presented the first GWAS analysis for five horticultural traits for them,laying a foundation for phenotype-related marker selection and molecular breeding.展开更多
The estimation of genetic parameters has played an important role in animal selective breeding for growth traits.Recently studies show that molecular markers can be incorporated into genetic evaluations. In order to i...The estimation of genetic parameters has played an important role in animal selective breeding for growth traits.Recently studies show that molecular markers can be incorporated into genetic evaluations. In order to improve the performance of an incomplete pedigree（i.e, only parents are known） in the genetic evaluations, 12 microsatellite markers have been applied in the estimation of the genetic parameters for body weight in a farmed population（n=1 890） of juvenile turbot（Scophthalmus maximus L.）. A new relatedness called parental molecular relatedness（PMR） is estimated based on results of genotyping of 48 parents（31 males, 17 females） with microsatellites markers. The feasibility of PMR in estimation of genetic parameters is verified by comparison with pedigree related（PR） which is obtained from a complete pedigree. The results demonstrate that a high correlation（0.872） between them is found. Heritabilities are estimated using the PMR（0.52±0.13） and PR（0.55±0.22） with the same animal model. A cross-validation shows that the predictive abilities of models using the PMR and the PR are identical（0.81）. From that, a conclusion can be made that PMR and PR predicted genetic values equally well in a population of juvenile turbot. Therefore PMR can be applied as an alternative of the PR when only parents are known. However, for a better performance, more markers and more families should be included in a further study.展开更多
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital infections and is intrinsically resistant to most antibiotics. Emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) strains has been reported in the world and poses a great chal...Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital infections and is intrinsically resistant to most antibiotics. Emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) strains has been reported in the world and poses a great challenge in the management of infections associated with this species. While a substantial amount of research has been done on strains from most of other infection caused by this species in developed countries, little is known about the susceptibility profiles of strains recovered from African countries in general and Kenya in particular. Furthermore, there is paucity of data regarding strain, phenotype and genetic diversity of strains recoverable from wounds among patients in Kenya. The possible risk factors for acquisition of MDR strains and possible factors that could fuel clonal expansion in hospital and community settings remain undetermined. This cross-sectional study conducted in Tigoni Hospital, a rural area in Central Kenya sought to determine risk factors associated with carriage of MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa in wounds among rural population. We also analyzed antimicrobial resistance profiles among these isolates. Prevalence of P. aeruginosa in wounds was 28% with 85 isolates recovered from wounds of 299 participants. Most antimicrobial resistance prevalence was recorded towards Ceftazidime (64%) and Cefepime (52%) while Piperacillin-tazobactam was the most effective antimicrobial agent with a resistance prevalence rate of 20%. Resistance towards new classes of aminoglycosides such as Gentamicin was at 45% while that towards Amikacin was at 40%. Compared to other related studies, relatively lower resistance towards Ciprofloxacin (25%) and Meropenem (40%) were recorded. Some of the risk factors identified for carriages of MDR strains were self-medication (p: 0.001, C.I: 3.01 - 8.86, O.R: 5.17) and non-completion of dosage (p: 0.12, C.I: 0.9 - 2.5, O.R: 1.5).展开更多
Measuring relatedness of two papers is an issue which arises in many applications, e.g., recommendation, clustering and classification of papers. In this paper, a digital library is modeled as a directed graph;each no...Measuring relatedness of two papers is an issue which arises in many applications, e.g., recommendation, clustering and classification of papers. In this paper, a digital library is modeled as a directed graph;each node representing three different types of entities: papers, authors, and venues, and each edge representing relationships between these entities. Based on this graph model, six different types of relations are considered between two papers, and a new metric is proposed for evaluating relatedness of the papers. This metric only focuses on the relational features, and does not consider textual features. We have used it in combination with a textual similarity measure in the context of citation recommendation systems. Experimental results show that using this metric can successfully improve the quality of the recommendations.展开更多
Compared to terrestrial plants whose diversity is more directly influenced by climate,aquatic plant diversity is considered to be more dependent on water environments.Therefore,it could be predicted that the phylogene...Compared to terrestrial plants whose diversity is more directly influenced by climate,aquatic plant diversity is considered to be more dependent on water environments.Therefore,it could be predicted that the phylogenetic relatedness of terrestrial plants is more susceptible to climate filtering than that of aquatic plants.We compiled a comprehensive distribution dataset of herbaceous angiosperms in China,including both terrestrial and aquatic species.We compared the phylogenetic relatedness and its environmental correlation of the two groups,using the standardized effect size of phylogenetic diversity(PD_(ses))and the standardized effect size of mean phylogenetic distance(MPD_(ses)),which reflect shallow and deep evolutionary histories,respectively.We also use the deviation of PD_(ses)(ΔPD_(ses))and MPD_(ses)(ΔMPD_(ses))between terrestrial and aquatic plants to reflect differences in the phylogenetic relatedness between terrestrial and aquatic plants.Our results showed that the geographical patterns of PD_(ses)and MPD_(ses)between aquatic and terrestrial plants are roughly consistent.ΔPD_(ses)andΔMPD_(ses)between terrestrial and aquatic plants vary across the geographical scale and environmental gradient.Environmental variables(current climate,historical climate change and topography)explained more of the variation in PD_(ses)and MPD_(ses)of terrestrial plants than that of aquatic plants,with the current climate explaining more ofΔPD_(ses)andΔMPD_(ses)between terrestrial and aquatic plants.Our results reveal the differential impacts of large-scale environmental factors on the phylogenetic relatedness of terrestrial versus aquatic plant communities,providing a new perspective for understanding the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of these two distinct plant assemblages.展开更多
Epigenome-wide association studies(EWAS)are susceptible to widespread confounding caused by population structure and genetic relatedness.Nevertheless,kinship estimation is challenging in EWAS without genotyping data.H...Epigenome-wide association studies(EWAS)are susceptible to widespread confounding caused by population structure and genetic relatedness.Nevertheless,kinship estimation is challenging in EWAS without genotyping data.Here,we proposed MethylGenotyper,a method that for the first time enables accurate genotyping at thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)directly from commercial DNA methylation microarrays.We modeled the intensities of methylation probes near SNPs with a mixture of three beta distributions corresponding to different genotypes and estimated parameters with an expectation-maximization algorithm.We conducted extensive simulations to demonstrate the performance of the method.When applying MethylGenotyper to the Infinium EPIC array data of 4662 Chinese samples,we obtained genotypes at 4319 SNPs with a concordance rate of 98.26%,enabling the identification of 255 pairs of close relatedness.Furthermore,we showed that MethylGenotyper allows for the estimation of both population structure and cryptic relatedness among 702 Australians of diverse ancestry.We also implemented MethylGenotyper in a publicly available R package(https://github.com/Yi-Jiang/MethylGenotyper)to facilitate future large-scale EWAS.展开更多
Traumatic brain injury involves complex pathophysiological mechanisms,among which oxidative stress significantly contributes to the occurrence of secondary injury.In this study,we evaluated hypidone hydrochloride(YL-0...Traumatic brain injury involves complex pathophysiological mechanisms,among which oxidative stress significantly contributes to the occurrence of secondary injury.In this study,we evaluated hypidone hydrochloride(YL-0919),a self-developed antidepressant with selective sigma-1 receptor agonist properties,and its associated mechanisms and targets in traumatic brain injury.Behavioral experiments to assess functional deficits were followed by assessment of neuronal damage through histological analyses and examination of blood-brain barrier permeability and brain edema.Next,we investigated the antioxidative effects of YL-0919 by assessing the levels of traditional markers of oxidative stress in vivo in mice and in vitro in HT22 cells.Finally,the targeted action of YL-0919 was verified by employing a sigma-1 receptor antagonist(BD-1047).Our findings demonstrated that YL-0919 markedly improved deficits in motor function and spatial cognition on day 3 post traumatic brain injury,while also decreasing neuronal mortality and reversing blood-brain barrier disruption and brain edema.Furthermore,YL-0919 effectively combated oxidative stress both in vivo and in vitro.The protective effects of YL-0919 were partially inhibited by BD-1047.These results indicated that YL-0919 relieved impairments in motor and spatial cognition by restraining oxidative stress,a neuroprotective effect that was partially reversed by the sigma-1 receptor antagonist BD-1047.YL-0919 may have potential as a new treatment for traumatic brain injury.展开更多
Nerve regeneration following traumatic peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies is a complex process modulated by diverse factors and intricate molecular mechanisms.Past studies have focused on factors that stimulat...Nerve regeneration following traumatic peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies is a complex process modulated by diverse factors and intricate molecular mechanisms.Past studies have focused on factors that stimulate axonal outgrowth and myelin regeneration.However,recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of autophagy in peripheral nerve regeneration,particularly in the context of traumatic injuries.Consequently,autophagy-targeting modulation has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration.Our current understanding suggests that activating autophagy facilitates the rapid clearance of damaged axons and myelin sheaths,thereby enhancing neuronal survival and mitigating injury-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.These actions collectively contribute to creating a favorable microenvironment for structural and functional nerve regeneration.A range of autophagyinducing drugs and interventions have demonstrated beneficial effects in alleviating peripheral neuropathy and promoting nerve regeneration in preclinical models of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries.This review delves into the regulation of autophagy in cell types involved in peripheral nerve regeneration,summarizing the potential drugs and interventions that can be harnessed to promote this process.We hope that our review will offer novel insights and perspectives on the exploitation of autophagy pathways in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies.展开更多
This paper thoroughly explores the multifaceted factors influencing the efficacy of Chinese medicinals and categorizes them into three main groups:medicinal related factors,patient related factors,and practitioner rel...This paper thoroughly explores the multifaceted factors influencing the efficacy of Chinese medicinals and categorizes them into three main groups:medicinal related factors,patient related factors,and practitioner related factors.Regarding medicinal related factors,the place of origin,growing environment,harvesting time,storage conditions,quality control,dosage form selection,compatibility of medicinals,precise dosing,decoction methods,and administration routes all significantly impact efficacy.The place of origin determines the authenticity of medicinals,the growing environment affects their composition,harvesting time influences potency,improper storage leads to deterioration,quality control forms the foundation of efficacy,dosage forms and compatibility of medicinals affect absorption,dosing and decoction methods require precision,and administration routes should be tailored to individuals.Patient related factors include psychological state,individual differences,background,and disease condition.Psychological state affects treatment compliance,individual differences determine medicine responses,background influences patients’understanding of Chinese medicinals,and disease condition directly reflects efficacy.Practitioner related factors encompass theoretical knowledge,clinical experience,inherited practices,psychological state,and professional ethics.Theoretical knowledge guides medication use,clinical experience enhances efficacy,inherited practices influence prescribing styles,psychological state affects doctor–patient communication,and professional ethics ensure medical quality.These interrelated factors collectively influence the efficacy of Chinese medicinals,emphasizing the need for comprehensive consideration in clinical applications to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.展开更多
Objective:The aim of the study was to investigate the expression and biological role of nuclear factor erythroid–related factor 2(NRF2)in gastric cancer cells.Methods:Western blotting(WB)and reverse transcription-pol...Objective:The aim of the study was to investigate the expression and biological role of nuclear factor erythroid–related factor 2(NRF2)in gastric cancer cells.Methods:Western blotting(WB)and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)were used to detect the expression of NRF2 in the tumor tissues of patients with gastric cancer and MKN45 cells.NRF2 was transfected into MKN45 gastric cancer cells,and apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry.The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2.5-dipheny-tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay was per-formed to detect cell proliferation.Transwell and scratch experiments were performed to detect cell invasion and migration rates.WB blot-ting was performed to detect Bcl-2,COX-2,PEG2,Bax,and Cyt-C protein expression.RT-PCR was used to detect Bcl-2,COX-2,PEG2,Bax,Cyt-C,miR-340-5p,lncRNA HCG11,and NRF2 mRNA expression.Results:NRF2 expression increased in gastric cancer tissues and in the MKN45 gastric cancer cell model.Compared with the blank group,the shNRF2 knockdown group showed a significant increase in the MKN45 gastric cancer cell apoptosis rate(p<0.05)and a sig-nificant decrease in invasion and migration rates(p<0.05).WB and RT-PCR showed that,in the shNRF2 knockdown group,Bcl-2 protein and mRNA,miR-340-5p,and lncRNA HCG11 expression was significantly increased,whereas COX-2,PEG2,Bax,and Cyt-C protein and mRNA expression was significantly reduced(p<0.05).In the NRF2 overexpression group,Bcl-2 protein and mRNA expression was sig-nificantly reduced,whereas COX-2,PEG2,Bax,and Cyt-C protein and mRNA expression was significantly increased(p<0.05).The op-posite was observed for the NRF2 overexpression group.When miR-340-5p mimics were transfected into MKN45 gastric cancer cells,NRF2 and HCG11 expression significantly reduced(p<0.05).When the miR-340-5p inhibitor was transfected into MKN45 gastric cancer cells,NRF2 and HCG11 expression significantly increased(p<0.05).Conclusions:The invasion,migration,abnormal proliferation,and apoptosis of MKN45 gastric cancer cells are closely related to an im-balance in NRF2 expression,suggesting that MiR-340-5p may target and regulate the lncRNA HCG11,thereby inhibiting NRF2 expression.展开更多
As an essential candidate for environment-friendly luminescent quantum dots(QDs),CuInS-based QDs have attracted more attention in recent years.However,several drawbacks still hamper their industrial applications,such ...As an essential candidate for environment-friendly luminescent quantum dots(QDs),CuInS-based QDs have attracted more attention in recent years.However,several drawbacks still hamper their industrial applications,such as lower photoluminescence quantum yield(PLQY),complex synthetic pathways,uncontrollable emission spectra,and insufficient photostability.In this study,CuInZnS@ZnS core/shell QDs was prepared via a one-pot/three-step synthetic scheme with accurate and tunable control of PL spectra.Then their ensemble spectroscopic properties during nucleation formation,alloying,and ZnS shell growth processes were systematically investigated.PL peaks of these QDs can be precisely manipulated from 530 to 850 nm by controlling the stoichiometric ratio of Cu/In,Zn^(2+)doping and ZnS shell growth.In particular,CuInZnS@ZnS QDs possess a significantly long emission lifetime(up to 750 ns),high PLQY(up to 85%),and excellent crystallinity.Their spectroscopic evolution is well validated by Cu-deficient related intragap emission model.By controlling the stoichiometric ratio of Cu/In,two distinct Cu-deficient related emission pathways are established based on the differing oxidation states of Cu defects.Therefore,this work provides deeper insights for fabricating high luminescent ternary or quaternary-alloyed QDs.展开更多
Diamond combines many unique properties,including high stability,strong optical dispersion,excellent mechanical strength,and outstanding thermal conductivity.Its structure,surface groups,and electrical conductivity ar...Diamond combines many unique properties,including high stability,strong optical dispersion,excellent mechanical strength,and outstanding thermal conductivity.Its structure,surface groups,and electrical conductivity are also tunable,increasing its functional versatility.These make diamond and its related materials,such as its composites,highly promising for various applications in energy fields.This review summarizes recent advances and key achievements in energy storage and conversion,covering electrochemical energy storage(e.g.,batteries and supercapacitors),electrocatalytic energy conversion(e.g.,CO_(2)and nitrogen reduction reactions),and solar energy conversion(e.g.,photo-(electro)chemical CO_(2)and nitrogen reduction reactions,and solar cells).Current challenges and prospects related to the synthesis of diamond materials and the technologies for their energy applications are outlined and discussed.展开更多
In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave-making ants： Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony ...In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave-making ants： Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony structure within nests is an important trait in ants, especially in the case of mixed societies, when host and parasite coexist in the same nest. Data for their respective free-living hosts, Proformica korbi, P.. longiseta and P. sp., are also provided. For our study, we integrated a meticulous excava- tion procedure with a genetic method. We conclude that the average number of parasites, as well as of slaves, is species-specific, whereas nest depth depends on the nest archi- tecture of the host. The genus Rossomyrmex seems to be monogynous and monandrous, whereas Proformica shows differences in the number of queens and mating frequency. R. quandratinodum shows different traits in nest composition （host/parasite ratio： P/R） and architecture. The difference in traits may account for some differences in parasitism： raid process or avoidance of parasitism.展开更多
文摘The inference of genome ancestry and the estimation of molecular relatedness are of great importance for breeding efficiency and association studies. Seventy SSR loci, evenly distributed in 10 chromosomes, were assayed for polymorphism among 187 commonly used maize （Zea mays L.） inbreds which represent the genetic diversity in China. The identified 290 alleles served as raw data for estimating population structure using the coalescent linked loci, based on the ADMIXTURE model. Population number, K, has been inferred to be between five and seven. Specifying five subpopulations （K = 5） led to a distinct decrease and specifying K to be greater than six resulted in only minimal increases in the likelihood value. Therefore, population number, K, has been inferred into six subpopulations, which are PA, BSSS （includes Reid）, PB, Lan （Lancaster Sure Crop）, LRC （Luda Reb Cob, a Chinese landrace, and its derivatives）, and SPT （Si-ping-tou, a Chinese landrace and its derivatives）. The Kullback-Leibler distance of pairwise subpopulation was also inferred as n × p （187 ×6） Q matrices, which gave a detailed percentage of genetic composition of six subpopulations and molecular relatedness of each line. The genome-wide linkage disequilibrium （LD） indicated that the asso- ciation studies in QTLs and/or candidate genes might avoid nonfunctional and spurious associations, as most of the LD blocks were broken among diverse germplasm. The defined population structure has given us a clear genetic structure of these lines for breeding practice and established a good basis for association analysis.
文摘All human languages have words that can mean different things in different contexts, such words with multiple meanings are potentially “ambiguous”. The process of “deciding which of several meanings of a term is intended in a given context” is known as “word sense disambiguation (WSD)”. This paper presents a method of WSD that assigns a target word the sense that is most related to the senses of its neighbor words. We explore the use of measures of relatedness between word senses based on a novel hybrid approach. First, we investigate how to “literally” and “regularly” express a “concept”. We apply set algebra to WordNet’s synsets cooperating with WordNet’s word ontology. In this way we establish regular rules for constructing various representations (lexical notations) of a concept using Boolean operators and word forms in various synset(s) defined in WordNet. Then we establish a formal mechanism for quantifying and estimating the semantic relatedness between concepts—we facilitate “concept distribution statistics” to determine the degree of semantic relatedness between two lexically expressed con- cepts. The experimental results showed good performance on Semcor, a subset of Brown corpus. We observe that measures of semantic relatedness are useful sources of information for WSD.
文摘Objective:This study aimed to explore the psychological needs of nurses caring for patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and to propose corresponding interventions.Methods:In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 nurses who cared for patients with COVID-19.Interview data were analyzed by category analysis from the perspective of the existence,relatedness,and growth theory(ERG).Results:The existence needs were mainly reflected in health and security needs,whereas the relatedness needs consisting mainly of interpersonal needs,humanistic concern needs,and family needs;further,the growth needs were mainly reflected as a strong need for knowledge.Existence needs were the main needs during the epidemic,with health and security needs influencing each other.Humanistic concern needs were the most important of the relatedness needs;interpersonal and family needs were also growing.Conclusion:It is found that the existence,relatedness,and growth needs coexist in clinical nurses.It is helpful to take effective interventions to meet their needs if the needs of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients could be perceived well.
文摘Invasive species may pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and functioning.The number of introduced species that have become invasive is substantial and is rapidly increasing.Identifying potentially invasive species and preventing their expansion are of critical importance in invasion ecology.Phylogenetic relatedness between invasive and native species has been used in predicting invasion success.Previous studies on the phylogenetic relatedness of plants at the transition from naturalization to invasion have shown mixed results,which may be because different methods were used in different studies.Here,I use the same method to analyze two comprehensive data sets from South Africa and China,using two phylogenetic metrics reflecting deep and shallow evolutionary histories,to address the question whether the probability of becoming invasive is higher for naturalized species distantly related to the native flora.My study suggests that the probability of becoming invasive is higher for naturalized species closely related to the native flora.The finding of my study is consistent with Darwin's preadaptation hypothesis.
基金Supported by the Research Project of China Three Gorges Corporation(No.0799570)the Special Funds for Young Scholars of Taxonomy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.ZSBR-005)
文摘Megalobrama pellegrini is a cyprinid fish endemic to upper reaches of the Changjiang(Yangtze)River,China,which is also an important economic species in the local area.In recent years,resources of this species have decreased sharply and its conservation has drawn great attention.In the present study,we collected 120 individuals from the Longxi River,a tributary isolated from the main channel of the Changjiang River,where M.pellegrini is still relatively abundant.Using two different molecular markers,mitochondrial cytochrome b(cyt b)gene,and nuclear microsatellite(simple sequence repeat,SSR),we analyzed the genetic diversity of this isolated population.The results show that sequence genetic diversity was low(Hd:0.290 and P i:0.000 77 for cyt b gene),while the SSR genetic diversity was high(Ho:0.824 4±0.147 2,He:0.823 5±0.145 1).Analysis indicated that this population had experienced a bottleneck,with inbreeding and small effective population size(around 50).Based on SSR data,relatedness analyzing revealed that the 120 samples were grouped into 10 completely independent clusters.It was inferred that the mating system of M.pellegrini was polygamy.We suggested that the low genetic diversity could be induced by the overfishing and inbreeding depression.Therefore,we suggested that the urgent conservation measures should be taken to control the overfi shing and give better conditions for the fish to grow and spawn,then to restore population size.
基金supported by the Guangzhou Landscaping Company(Grant No.2018–69).
文摘Ceiba species have high ornamental value and are widely cultivated in tropical regions.However,genetic background of cultivated Ceiba plants remains unclear.To understand the genetic relatedness of cultivated Ceiba plants and genetic basis of key horticultural traits,here we explored the genetic relatedness of 153 accessions of Ceiba plants cultivated in Southern China and identified SNPs associated with five horticultural traits,based on 11704 SNPs derived from double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing(ddRAD-seq).Clustering analysis revealed that these accessions were composed of three groups:C.speciosa group,C.insignis group,and hybrid group.The GWAS identified two,four,two,three,and four SNPs related to petal color,petal striation number,flowering time,trunk shape,and prickles on the trunk and branches,respectively.One to two candidate genes were found near the SNPs strongly associated with these traits.This study revealed the genetic relatedness in the Ceiba plants cultivated in Southern China and presented the first GWAS analysis for five horticultural traits for them,laying a foundation for phenotype-related marker selection and molecular breeding.
基金The National High Technology Research and Development Program of China under contract No.2012AA10A408-7Special Scientific Research Funds for Central Non-profit Institute,Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences+2 种基金the Compare of Genome-wide Association Study Models in Turbot under contract 20603022013026Shandong Provincial Department of Agriculture,the Taishan scholar program for seed industryMinistry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China,Agricultural Science and Technology Achievements Transformation Fund "Propagation and promotion of seawater breeding new varieties of turbot ‘Danfa turbot’ "under contract No.2013GB2A200036
文摘The estimation of genetic parameters has played an important role in animal selective breeding for growth traits.Recently studies show that molecular markers can be incorporated into genetic evaluations. In order to improve the performance of an incomplete pedigree（i.e, only parents are known） in the genetic evaluations, 12 microsatellite markers have been applied in the estimation of the genetic parameters for body weight in a farmed population（n=1 890） of juvenile turbot（Scophthalmus maximus L.）. A new relatedness called parental molecular relatedness（PMR） is estimated based on results of genotyping of 48 parents（31 males, 17 females） with microsatellites markers. The feasibility of PMR in estimation of genetic parameters is verified by comparison with pedigree related（PR） which is obtained from a complete pedigree. The results demonstrate that a high correlation（0.872） between them is found. Heritabilities are estimated using the PMR（0.52±0.13） and PR（0.55±0.22） with the same animal model. A cross-validation shows that the predictive abilities of models using the PMR and the PR are identical（0.81）. From that, a conclusion can be made that PMR and PR predicted genetic values equally well in a population of juvenile turbot. Therefore PMR can be applied as an alternative of the PR when only parents are known. However, for a better performance, more markers and more families should be included in a further study.
文摘Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital infections and is intrinsically resistant to most antibiotics. Emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) strains has been reported in the world and poses a great challenge in the management of infections associated with this species. While a substantial amount of research has been done on strains from most of other infection caused by this species in developed countries, little is known about the susceptibility profiles of strains recovered from African countries in general and Kenya in particular. Furthermore, there is paucity of data regarding strain, phenotype and genetic diversity of strains recoverable from wounds among patients in Kenya. The possible risk factors for acquisition of MDR strains and possible factors that could fuel clonal expansion in hospital and community settings remain undetermined. This cross-sectional study conducted in Tigoni Hospital, a rural area in Central Kenya sought to determine risk factors associated with carriage of MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa in wounds among rural population. We also analyzed antimicrobial resistance profiles among these isolates. Prevalence of P. aeruginosa in wounds was 28% with 85 isolates recovered from wounds of 299 participants. Most antimicrobial resistance prevalence was recorded towards Ceftazidime (64%) and Cefepime (52%) while Piperacillin-tazobactam was the most effective antimicrobial agent with a resistance prevalence rate of 20%. Resistance towards new classes of aminoglycosides such as Gentamicin was at 45% while that towards Amikacin was at 40%. Compared to other related studies, relatively lower resistance towards Ciprofloxacin (25%) and Meropenem (40%) were recorded. Some of the risk factors identified for carriages of MDR strains were self-medication (p: 0.001, C.I: 3.01 - 8.86, O.R: 5.17) and non-completion of dosage (p: 0.12, C.I: 0.9 - 2.5, O.R: 1.5).
文摘Measuring relatedness of two papers is an issue which arises in many applications, e.g., recommendation, clustering and classification of papers. In this paper, a digital library is modeled as a directed graph;each node representing three different types of entities: papers, authors, and venues, and each edge representing relationships between these entities. Based on this graph model, six different types of relations are considered between two papers, and a new metric is proposed for evaluating relatedness of the papers. This metric only focuses on the relational features, and does not consider textual features. We have used it in combination with a textual similarity measure in the context of citation recommendation systems. Experimental results show that using this metric can successfully improve the quality of the recommendations.
基金National Science Foundation of China(32260046)Thousand Talents Program of Jiangxi Province(jxsq2023101079).
文摘Compared to terrestrial plants whose diversity is more directly influenced by climate,aquatic plant diversity is considered to be more dependent on water environments.Therefore,it could be predicted that the phylogenetic relatedness of terrestrial plants is more susceptible to climate filtering than that of aquatic plants.We compiled a comprehensive distribution dataset of herbaceous angiosperms in China,including both terrestrial and aquatic species.We compared the phylogenetic relatedness and its environmental correlation of the two groups,using the standardized effect size of phylogenetic diversity(PD_(ses))and the standardized effect size of mean phylogenetic distance(MPD_(ses)),which reflect shallow and deep evolutionary histories,respectively.We also use the deviation of PD_(ses)(ΔPD_(ses))and MPD_(ses)(ΔMPD_(ses))between terrestrial and aquatic plants to reflect differences in the phylogenetic relatedness between terrestrial and aquatic plants.Our results showed that the geographical patterns of PD_(ses)and MPD_(ses)between aquatic and terrestrial plants are roughly consistent.ΔPD_(ses)andΔMPD_(ses)between terrestrial and aquatic plants vary across the geographical scale and environmental gradient.Environmental variables(current climate,historical climate change and topography)explained more of the variation in PD_(ses)and MPD_(ses)of terrestrial plants than that of aquatic plants,with the current climate explaining more ofΔPD_(ses)andΔMPD_(ses)between terrestrial and aquatic plants.Our results reveal the differential impacts of large-scale environmental factors on the phylogenetic relatedness of terrestrial versus aquatic plant communities,providing a new perspective for understanding the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of these two distinct plant assemblages.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.82325044 and 82021005)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2021M701318)+2 种基金the Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hubei Province,China(Grant No.2022CFA046)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(Grant Nos.2019kfyXJJS036 and 2023BR030 of HUST)funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia(Grant Nos.GNT1161706 and GNT1151854).
文摘Epigenome-wide association studies(EWAS)are susceptible to widespread confounding caused by population structure and genetic relatedness.Nevertheless,kinship estimation is challenging in EWAS without genotyping data.Here,we proposed MethylGenotyper,a method that for the first time enables accurate genotyping at thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)directly from commercial DNA methylation microarrays.We modeled the intensities of methylation probes near SNPs with a mixture of three beta distributions corresponding to different genotypes and estimated parameters with an expectation-maximization algorithm.We conducted extensive simulations to demonstrate the performance of the method.When applying MethylGenotyper to the Infinium EPIC array data of 4662 Chinese samples,we obtained genotypes at 4319 SNPs with a concordance rate of 98.26%,enabling the identification of 255 pairs of close relatedness.Furthermore,we showed that MethylGenotyper allows for the estimation of both population structure and cryptic relatedness among 702 Australians of diverse ancestry.We also implemented MethylGenotyper in a publicly available R package(https://github.com/Yi-Jiang/MethylGenotyper)to facilitate future large-scale EWAS.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82204360(to HM)and 82270411(to GW)National Science and Technology Innovation 2030 Major Program,No.2021ZD0200900(to YL)。
文摘Traumatic brain injury involves complex pathophysiological mechanisms,among which oxidative stress significantly contributes to the occurrence of secondary injury.In this study,we evaluated hypidone hydrochloride(YL-0919),a self-developed antidepressant with selective sigma-1 receptor agonist properties,and its associated mechanisms and targets in traumatic brain injury.Behavioral experiments to assess functional deficits were followed by assessment of neuronal damage through histological analyses and examination of blood-brain barrier permeability and brain edema.Next,we investigated the antioxidative effects of YL-0919 by assessing the levels of traditional markers of oxidative stress in vivo in mice and in vitro in HT22 cells.Finally,the targeted action of YL-0919 was verified by employing a sigma-1 receptor antagonist(BD-1047).Our findings demonstrated that YL-0919 markedly improved deficits in motor function and spatial cognition on day 3 post traumatic brain injury,while also decreasing neuronal mortality and reversing blood-brain barrier disruption and brain edema.Furthermore,YL-0919 effectively combated oxidative stress both in vivo and in vitro.The protective effects of YL-0919 were partially inhibited by BD-1047.These results indicated that YL-0919 relieved impairments in motor and spatial cognition by restraining oxidative stress,a neuroprotective effect that was partially reversed by the sigma-1 receptor antagonist BD-1047.YL-0919 may have potential as a new treatment for traumatic brain injury.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82271411(to RG),51803072(to WLiu)grants from the Department of Finance of Jilin Province,Nos.2022SCZ25(to RG),2022SCZ10(to WLiu),2021SCZ07(to RG)+2 种基金Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Program,No.YDZJ202201ZYTS038(to WLiu)The Youth Support Programmed Project of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University,No.2022qnpy11(to WLuo)The Project of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University,No.XHQMX20233(to RG)。
文摘Nerve regeneration following traumatic peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies is a complex process modulated by diverse factors and intricate molecular mechanisms.Past studies have focused on factors that stimulate axonal outgrowth and myelin regeneration.However,recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of autophagy in peripheral nerve regeneration,particularly in the context of traumatic injuries.Consequently,autophagy-targeting modulation has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to enhancing peripheral nerve regeneration.Our current understanding suggests that activating autophagy facilitates the rapid clearance of damaged axons and myelin sheaths,thereby enhancing neuronal survival and mitigating injury-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.These actions collectively contribute to creating a favorable microenvironment for structural and functional nerve regeneration.A range of autophagyinducing drugs and interventions have demonstrated beneficial effects in alleviating peripheral neuropathy and promoting nerve regeneration in preclinical models of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries.This review delves into the regulation of autophagy in cell types involved in peripheral nerve regeneration,summarizing the potential drugs and interventions that can be harnessed to promote this process.We hope that our review will offer novel insights and perspectives on the exploitation of autophagy pathways in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies.
文摘This paper thoroughly explores the multifaceted factors influencing the efficacy of Chinese medicinals and categorizes them into three main groups:medicinal related factors,patient related factors,and practitioner related factors.Regarding medicinal related factors,the place of origin,growing environment,harvesting time,storage conditions,quality control,dosage form selection,compatibility of medicinals,precise dosing,decoction methods,and administration routes all significantly impact efficacy.The place of origin determines the authenticity of medicinals,the growing environment affects their composition,harvesting time influences potency,improper storage leads to deterioration,quality control forms the foundation of efficacy,dosage forms and compatibility of medicinals affect absorption,dosing and decoction methods require precision,and administration routes should be tailored to individuals.Patient related factors include psychological state,individual differences,background,and disease condition.Psychological state affects treatment compliance,individual differences determine medicine responses,background influences patients’understanding of Chinese medicinals,and disease condition directly reflects efficacy.Practitioner related factors encompass theoretical knowledge,clinical experience,inherited practices,psychological state,and professional ethics.Theoretical knowledge guides medication use,clinical experience enhances efficacy,inherited practices influence prescribing styles,psychological state affects doctor–patient communication,and professional ethics ensure medical quality.These interrelated factors collectively influence the efficacy of Chinese medicinals,emphasizing the need for comprehensive consideration in clinical applications to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.
基金Funded by the general program of the Nature Fund of InnerMongolia Autonomous Region.
文摘Objective:The aim of the study was to investigate the expression and biological role of nuclear factor erythroid–related factor 2(NRF2)in gastric cancer cells.Methods:Western blotting(WB)and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)were used to detect the expression of NRF2 in the tumor tissues of patients with gastric cancer and MKN45 cells.NRF2 was transfected into MKN45 gastric cancer cells,and apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry.The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2.5-dipheny-tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay was per-formed to detect cell proliferation.Transwell and scratch experiments were performed to detect cell invasion and migration rates.WB blot-ting was performed to detect Bcl-2,COX-2,PEG2,Bax,and Cyt-C protein expression.RT-PCR was used to detect Bcl-2,COX-2,PEG2,Bax,Cyt-C,miR-340-5p,lncRNA HCG11,and NRF2 mRNA expression.Results:NRF2 expression increased in gastric cancer tissues and in the MKN45 gastric cancer cell model.Compared with the blank group,the shNRF2 knockdown group showed a significant increase in the MKN45 gastric cancer cell apoptosis rate(p<0.05)and a sig-nificant decrease in invasion and migration rates(p<0.05).WB and RT-PCR showed that,in the shNRF2 knockdown group,Bcl-2 protein and mRNA,miR-340-5p,and lncRNA HCG11 expression was significantly increased,whereas COX-2,PEG2,Bax,and Cyt-C protein and mRNA expression was significantly reduced(p<0.05).In the NRF2 overexpression group,Bcl-2 protein and mRNA expression was sig-nificantly reduced,whereas COX-2,PEG2,Bax,and Cyt-C protein and mRNA expression was significantly increased(p<0.05).The op-posite was observed for the NRF2 overexpression group.When miR-340-5p mimics were transfected into MKN45 gastric cancer cells,NRF2 and HCG11 expression significantly reduced(p<0.05).When the miR-340-5p inhibitor was transfected into MKN45 gastric cancer cells,NRF2 and HCG11 expression significantly increased(p<0.05).Conclusions:The invasion,migration,abnormal proliferation,and apoptosis of MKN45 gastric cancer cells are closely related to an im-balance in NRF2 expression,suggesting that MiR-340-5p may target and regulate the lncRNA HCG11,thereby inhibiting NRF2 expression.
基金Fund Project for Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements of Jiangsu Province of China(BA2023020)。
文摘As an essential candidate for environment-friendly luminescent quantum dots(QDs),CuInS-based QDs have attracted more attention in recent years.However,several drawbacks still hamper their industrial applications,such as lower photoluminescence quantum yield(PLQY),complex synthetic pathways,uncontrollable emission spectra,and insufficient photostability.In this study,CuInZnS@ZnS core/shell QDs was prepared via a one-pot/three-step synthetic scheme with accurate and tunable control of PL spectra.Then their ensemble spectroscopic properties during nucleation formation,alloying,and ZnS shell growth processes were systematically investigated.PL peaks of these QDs can be precisely manipulated from 530 to 850 nm by controlling the stoichiometric ratio of Cu/In,Zn^(2+)doping and ZnS shell growth.In particular,CuInZnS@ZnS QDs possess a significantly long emission lifetime(up to 750 ns),high PLQY(up to 85%),and excellent crystallinity.Their spectroscopic evolution is well validated by Cu-deficient related intragap emission model.By controlling the stoichiometric ratio of Cu/In,two distinct Cu-deficient related emission pathways are established based on the differing oxidation states of Cu defects.Therefore,this work provides deeper insights for fabricating high luminescent ternary or quaternary-alloyed QDs.
基金西南大学中央高校基本科研业务费项目(SWU-KT22030)重庆市教育委员会科学技术研究项目(KJQN202300205)Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG,German Research Foundation,457444676).
文摘Diamond combines many unique properties,including high stability,strong optical dispersion,excellent mechanical strength,and outstanding thermal conductivity.Its structure,surface groups,and electrical conductivity are also tunable,increasing its functional versatility.These make diamond and its related materials,such as its composites,highly promising for various applications in energy fields.This review summarizes recent advances and key achievements in energy storage and conversion,covering electrochemical energy storage(e.g.,batteries and supercapacitors),electrocatalytic energy conversion(e.g.,CO_(2)and nitrogen reduction reactions),and solar energy conversion(e.g.,photo-(electro)chemical CO_(2)and nitrogen reduction reactions,and solar cells).Current challenges and prospects related to the synthesis of diamond materials and the technologies for their energy applications are outlined and discussed.
文摘In this paper, we analyze and compare nest composition and architecture as well as worker relatedness in three related species of slave-making ants： Rossomyrmex anatolicus, R. minuchae, and R. quandratinodum. Colony structure within nests is an important trait in ants, especially in the case of mixed societies, when host and parasite coexist in the same nest. Data for their respective free-living hosts, Proformica korbi, P.. longiseta and P. sp., are also provided. For our study, we integrated a meticulous excava- tion procedure with a genetic method. We conclude that the average number of parasites, as well as of slaves, is species-specific, whereas nest depth depends on the nest archi- tecture of the host. The genus Rossomyrmex seems to be monogynous and monandrous, whereas Proformica shows differences in the number of queens and mating frequency. R. quandratinodum shows different traits in nest composition （host/parasite ratio： P/R） and architecture. The difference in traits may account for some differences in parasitism： raid process or avoidance of parasitism.
