Objective To explore the etiology, incidence and methods to prevent and treat severe retinopathy of prematurity （ROP）,which is rapidly becoming a threat to the vision of babies in areas of the world where increasing...Objective To explore the etiology, incidence and methods to prevent and treat severe retinopathy of prematurity （ROP）,which is rapidly becoming a threat to the vision of babies in areas of the world where increasing numbers of premature babies are surviving.Data sources The data used in this review were mainly from Medline and PubMed published in English. The search term was ＂retinopathy of prematurity and premature birth＂.Study selection We discuss the historical perspectives, prevalence and incidence, classification and treatment methods of ROP in premature babies.Results Peripheral retinal ablation for eyes with severe ROP can help prevent progression to blindness and several large clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of this treatment in high risk eyes. As a greater proportion of VLBW and ELBW babies survive, the population of babies at risk increases. In various regions of the world, different identification criteria are used to determine which babies are at risk of blindness in order to provide timely diagnostic examinations and treatment as needed. Methods for preventiing ROP include better ante-natal and obstetric care leading to a reduction in the rate of prematurity, the use of ante-natal corticosteroids, and better neonatal care practices. Recent developments have indicated that management of oxygen supplementation is important for the prevention of severe ROP; however,there is not yet known what oxygen saturation target should be adopted. Sepsis increases severe ROP in very preterm infants. Genetic associations and a telemedicine approach may be explored to detect ROP. Treatment of anti-VEGF therapy are potentially useful in eyes with severe ROP, but long term effects are not yet known and such treatment should be used with great caution.Conclusions ROP is a potentially binding disease for premature babies which is becoming more prevalent with the development improving neonatal services in many countries in recent years. High priority should be placed on developing approaches to preven展开更多
A large portion of the Loess Plateau of China is characterized as “marginal” with serious land degradation and desertification problems. Consequently, two policies, Grain for Green and Western Development Action wer...A large portion of the Loess Plateau of China is characterized as “marginal” with serious land degradation and desertification problems. Consequently, two policies, Grain for Green and Western Development Action were established by the Chinese government in response to the demand for ecological protection and economic development in the Loess Plateau. These policies are designed to increase forest cover, expand farmlands, and enhance soil and water conservation, while creating sustainable vegetation restoration. Perennial grasses have gained attention as bioenergy feedstocks due to their high biomass yields, low inputs, and greater ecosystem services compared to annual crops. Moreover, perennial grasses limit nutrient runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and soil losses while sequestering carbon. Additionally, perennial grasses can generate economic returns for local farmers through producing bioenergy feedstock or forage on marginal lands. Here, we suggest a United States model energy crop, switchgrass（Panicum virgatum L.） as a model crop to minimize land degradation and desertification and to generate biomass for energy on the Loess Plateau.展开更多
A research study collected intensive longitudinal data from cancer patients on a daily basis as well as non-intensive longitudinal survey data on a monthly basis. Although the daily data need separate analysis, those ...A research study collected intensive longitudinal data from cancer patients on a daily basis as well as non-intensive longitudinal survey data on a monthly basis. Although the daily data need separate analysis, those data can also be utilized to generate predictors of monthly outcomes. Alternatives for generating daily data predictors of monthly outcomes are addressed in this work. Analyses are reported of depression measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 as the monthly survey outcome. Daily measures include numbers of opioid medications taken, numbers of pain flares, least pain levels, and worst pain levels. Predictors are averages of recent non-missing values for each daily measure recorded on or prior to survey dates for depression values. Weights for recent non-missing values are based on days between measurement of a recent value and a survey date. Five alternative averages are considered: averages with unit weights, averages with reciprocal weights, weighted averages with reciprocal weights, averages with exponential weights, and weighted averages with exponential weights. Adaptive regression methods based on likelihood cross-validation (LCV) scores are used to generate fractional polynomial models for possible nonlinear dependence of depression on each average. For all four daily measures, the best LCV score over averages of all types is generated using the average of recent non-missing values with reciprocal weights. Generated models are nonlinear and monotonic. Results indicate that an appropriate choice would be to assume three recent non-missing values and use the average with reciprocal weights of the first three recent non-missing values.展开更多
After spinal cord injury,there is an extensive infiltration of immune cells,which exacerbates the injury and leads to further neural degeneration.Therefore,a major aim of current research involves targeting the immune...After spinal cord injury,there is an extensive infiltration of immune cells,which exacerbates the injury and leads to further neural degeneration.Therefore,a major aim of current research involves targeting the immune response as a treatment for spinal cord injury.Although much research has been performed analyzing the complex inflammatory process following spinal cord injury,there remain major discrepancies within previous literature regarding the timeline of local cytokine regulation.The objectives of this study were to establish an overview of the timeline of cytokine regulation for 2 weeks after spinal cord injury,identify sexual dimorphisms in terms of cytokine levels,and determine local cytokines that significantly change based on the severity of spinal cord injury.Rats were inflicted with either a mild contusion,moderate contusion,severe contusion,or complete transection,7 mm of spinal cord centered on the injury was harvested at varying times post-injury,and tissue homogenates were analyzed with a Cytokine/Chemokine 27-Plex assay.Results demonstrated pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factorα,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6 were all upregulated after spinal cord injury,but returned to uninjured levels within approximately 24 hours post-injury,while chemokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 remained upregulated for days post-injury.In contrast,several anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors including interleukin-10 and vascular endothelial growth factor were downregulated by 7 days post-injury.After spinal cord injury,tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1,which specifically affects astrocytes involved in glial scar development,increased more than all other cytokines tested,reaching 26.9-fold higher than uninjured rats.After a mild injury,11 cytokines demonstrated sexual dimorphisms;however,after a severe contusion only leptin levels were different between female and male rats.In conclusion,pro-inflammatory cytokines initiate the inflammatory process and return to 展开更多
Here,we propose and demonstrate a modular holographic display system that allows seamless spatial tiling of multiple coarse integral holographic(CIH)displays called"holobricks".A holobrick is a self-containe...Here,we propose and demonstrate a modular holographic display system that allows seamless spatial tiling of multiple coarse integral holographic(CIH)displays called"holobricks".A holobrick is a self-contained CIH module enclosing a spatial light modulator(SLM),a scanner,and periscopic coarse integral optics.Modular CIH uses a coarse pitch and small area but high-bandwidth SLM in conjunction with periscopic coarse integral optics to form the angularly tiled 3D holograms with large viewing areas and fields of view.The creation of periscopic coarse integral optics prevents the optical system from being larger than the holographic image and allows the holographic fringe pattern to fill the entire face of the holobrick.Thus,multiple holobricks can be seamlessly abutted to form a scalable spatially tiled holographic image display capable of both wide feld-of-view angle and arbitrary large-size area.We demonstrate an initial prototype that seamlessly tiles two holobricks each with 1024×768 pixels,40°FOV,full color,24 fps,displaying 2D,3D holographic stereograms,and full parallax 3D CGI Fresnel holograms.展开更多
In this study,the influence of a plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO)surface treatment on a medical-grade WE43-based magnesium alloy is examined through an experimental and computational framework that considers the eff...In this study,the influence of a plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO)surface treatment on a medical-grade WE43-based magnesium alloy is examined through an experimental and computational framework that considers the effects of localised corrosion features and mechanical properties throughout the corrosion process.First,a comprehensive in-vitro immersion study was performed on WE43-based tensile specimens with and without PEO surface modification,which included fully automated spatial reconstruction of the phenomenological features of corrosion through micro-CT scanning,followed by uniaxial tensile testing.Then the experimental data of both unmodified and PEO-modified groups were used to calibrate parameters of a finite element-based surface corrosion model.In-vitro,it was found that the WE43-PEO modified group had a significantly lower corrosion rate and maintained significantly higher mechanical properties than the unmodified.While corrosion rates were~50%lower in the WE43-PEO modified specimens,the local geometric features of corroding surfaces remained similar to the unmodified WE43 group,however evolving after almost the double amount of time.We were also able to quantitatively demonstrate that the PEO surface treatment on magnesium continued to protect samples from corrosion throughout the entire period tested,and not just in the early stages of corrosion.Using the results from the testing framework,the model parameters of the surface-based corrosion model were identified for both groups.This enabled,for the first time,in-silico prediction of the physical features of corrosion and the mechanical performance of both unmodified and PEO modified magnesium specimens.This simulation framework can enable future in-silico design and optimisation of bioabsorbable magnesium devices for load-bearing medical applications.展开更多
Human pluripotent stem cells(hPSC)hold considerable promise as a source of adult cells for treatment of diseases ranging from diabetes to liver failure.Some of the challenges that limit the clinical/translational impa...Human pluripotent stem cells(hPSC)hold considerable promise as a source of adult cells for treatment of diseases ranging from diabetes to liver failure.Some of the challenges that limit the clinical/translational impact of hPSCs are high cost and difficulty in scaling-up of existing differentiation protocols.In this paper,we sought to address these challenges through the development of bioactive microcapsules.A co-axial flow focusing microfluidic device was used to encapsulate hPSCs in microcapsules comprised of an aqueous core and a hydrogel shell.Importantly,the shell contained heparin moieties for growth factor(GF)binding and release.The aqueous core enabled rapid aggregation of hPSCs into 3D spheroids while the bioactive hydrogel shell was used to load inductive cues driving pluripotency maintenance and endodermal differentiation.Specifically,we demonstrated that one-time,1 h long loading of pluripotency signals,fibroblast growth factor(FGF)-2 and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1,into bioactive microcapsules was sufficient to induce and maintain pluripotency of hPSCs over the course of 5 days at levels similar to or better than a standard protocol with soluble GFs.Furthermore,stem cell-carrying microcapsules that previously contained pluripotency signals could be reloaded with an endodermal cue,Nodal,resulting in higher levels of endodermal markers compared to stem cells differentiated in a standard protocol.Overall,bioactive heparin-containing core-shell microcapsules decreased GF usage five-fold while improving stem cell phenotype and are well suited for 3D cultivation of hPSCs.展开更多
Under warm temperatures,plants adjust their morphologies for environmental adaption via precise gene expression regulation.However,the function and regulation of alternative polyadenylation(APA),an important fine-tuni...Under warm temperatures,plants adjust their morphologies for environmental adaption via precise gene expression regulation.However,the function and regulation of alternative polyadenylation(APA),an important fine-tuning of gene expression,remains unknown in plant thermomorphogenesis.In this study,we found that SUMOylation,a critical post-translational modification,is induced by a long-term treat-ment at warm temperatures via a SUMO ligase SIZ1 in Arabidopsis.Disruption of SIZ1 altered the global usage of polyadenylation signals and affected the APA dynamic of thermomorphogenesis-related genes.CPSF100,a key subunit of the CPSF complex for polyadenylation regulation,is SUMOylated by SIZ1.Importantly,we demonstrated that SUMOylation is essential for the function of CPSF1oo in genome-wide polyadenylation site choice during thermomorphogenesis.Further analyses revealed that the SUMO conjugation on CPSF100 attenuates its interaction with two isoforms of its partner CPSF30,increasing the nuclear accumulation of CPsF1oo for polyadenylation regulation.In summary,our study uncovers a regulatory mechanism of APA via SiZ1-mediated SUMOylation in plant thermomorpho-genesis.展开更多
This study presents a computational framework that investigates the effect of localised surface-based corrosion on the mechanical performance of a magnesium-based alloy.A finite element-based phenomenological corrosio...This study presents a computational framework that investigates the effect of localised surface-based corrosion on the mechanical performance of a magnesium-based alloy.A finite element-based phenomenological corrosion model was used to generate a wide range of corrosion profiles,with subsequent uniaxial tensile test simulations to predict the mechanical response to failure.The python-based detection framework PitScan provides detailed quantification of the spatial phenomenological features of corrosion,including a full geometric tracking of corroding surface.Through this approach,this study is the first to quantitatively demonstrate that a surface-based non-uniform corrosion model can capture both the geometrical and mechanical features of a magne-sium alloy undergoing corrosion by comparing to experimental data.Using this verified corrosion modelling approach,a wide range of corrosion scenarios was evaluated and enabled quantitative relationships to be established between the mechanical integrity and key phenomenological corrosion features.In particular,we demonstrated that the minimal cross-sectional area parameter was the strongest predictor of the remaining mechanical strength(R2=0.98),with this relationship being independent of the severity or spatial features of localised surface corrosion.Interestingly,our analysis demonstrated that parameters described in ASTM G46-94 showed weaker correlations to the mechanical integrity of corroding specimens,compared to parameters determined by Pitscan.This study establishes new mechanistic insight into the performance of the magnesium-based materials undergoing corrosion.展开更多
We report on the successful demonstration of a 150 J nanosecond pulsed cryogenic gas cooled,diode-pumped multi-slab Yb:YAG laser operating at 1 Hz.To the best of our knowledge,this is the highest energy ever recorded ...We report on the successful demonstration of a 150 J nanosecond pulsed cryogenic gas cooled,diode-pumped multi-slab Yb:YAG laser operating at 1 Hz.To the best of our knowledge,this is the highest energy ever recorded for a diodepumped laser system.展开更多
Background In beef cattle, more than 50% of the energy input to produce a unit of beef is consumed by the female that produced the calf. Development of genomic tools to identify females with high genetic merit for rep...Background In beef cattle, more than 50% of the energy input to produce a unit of beef is consumed by the female that produced the calf. Development of genomic tools to identify females with high genetic merit for reproductive function could increase the profitability and sustainability of beef production.Results Genome-wide association studies(GWAS) were performed using a single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction approach on pregnancy outcome traits from a population of Angus–Brahman crossbred heifers. Furthermore, a validation GWAS was performed using data from another farm. Heifers were genotyped with the Bovine GGP F250 array that contains 221,077 SNPs. In the discovery population, heifers were bred in winter breeding seasons involving a single round of timed artificial insemination(AI) followed by natural mating for 3 months. Two phenotypes were analyzed: pregnancy outcome to first-service AI(PAI;n = 1,481) and pregnancy status at the end of the breeding season(PEBS;n = 1,725). The heritability was estimated as 0.149 and 0.122 for PAI and PEBS, respectively. In the PAI model, one quantitative trait locus(QTL), located between 52.3 and 52.5 Mb on BTA7, explained about 3% of the genetic variation, in a region containing a cluster of γ-protocadherin genes and SLC25A2. Other QTLs explaining between 0.5% and 1% of the genetic variation were found on BTA12 and 25. In the PEBS model, a large QTL on BTA7 was synonymous with the QTL for PAI, with minor QTLs located on BTA5, 9, 10, 11, 19, and 20. The validation population for pregnancy status at the end of the breeding season were Angus–Brahman crossbred heifers bred by natural mating. In concordance with the discovery population, the large QTL on BTA7 and QTLs on BTA10 and 12 were identified.Conclusions In summary, QTLs and candidate SNPs identified were associated with pregnancy outcomes in beef heifers, including a large QTL associated with a group of protocadherin genes. Confirmation of these associations with larger populations could lead to the d展开更多
We report the confirmation of a sub-Saturn-size exoplanet,TOI-1194 b,with a mass of about 0.456+0.055-0.051M_(J),and a very low mass companion star with a mass of about 96.5±1.5 MJ,TOI-1251 B.Exoplanet candidates...We report the confirmation of a sub-Saturn-size exoplanet,TOI-1194 b,with a mass of about 0.456+0.055-0.051M_(J),and a very low mass companion star with a mass of about 96.5±1.5 MJ,TOI-1251 B.Exoplanet candidates provided by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite(TESS)are suitable for further follow-up observations by ground-based telescopes with small and medium apertures.The analysis is performed based on data from several telescopes worldwide,including telescopes in the Sino-German multiband photometric campaign,which aimed at confirming TESS Objects of Interest(TOIs)using ground-based small-aperture and medium-aperture telescopes,especially for long-period targets.TOI-1194 b is confirmed based on the consistent periodic transit depths from the multiband photometric data.We measure an orbital period of 2.310644±0.000001 days,the radius is 0.767+0.045-0.041RJ and the amplitude of the RV curve is 69.4_(-7.3)^(+7.9)m s^(-1).TOI-1251 B is confirmed based on the multiband photometric and high-resolution spectroscopic data,whose orbital period is 5.963054+0.000002-0.000001days,radius is 0.947+0.035-0.033 R_(J) and amplitude of the RV curve is 9849_(-40)^(+42)ms^(-1).展开更多
The California Simulation of Evapotranspiration of Applied Water （CaI-SIMETAW） model is a new tool developed by the California Department of Water Resources and the University of California, Davis to perform daily s...The California Simulation of Evapotranspiration of Applied Water （CaI-SIMETAW） model is a new tool developed by the California Department of Water Resources and the University of California, Davis to perform daily soil water balance and determine crop evapotranspiration （ETo）, evapotranspiration of applied water （ETaw）, and applied water （AW） for use in California water resources planning. ETaw is a seasonal estimate of the water needed to irrigate a crop assuming 100% irrigation efficiency. The model accounts for soils, crop coefficients, rooting depths, seepage, etc. that influence crop water balance. It provides spatial soil and climate information and it uses historical crop and land-use category information to provide seasonal water balance estimates by combinations of detailed analysis unit and county （DAU/County） over Califomia. The result is a large data base of ETc and ETaw that will be used to update information in the new California Water Plan （CWP）. The application uses the daily climate data, i.e., maximum （Tx） and minimum （Tn） temperature and precipitation （Pcp）, which were derived from monthly USDA-NRCS PRISM data （PRISM Group 2011） and daily US National Climate Data Center （NCDC） climate station data to cover California on a 4 kmx4 km change grid spacing. The application uses daily weather data to determine reference evapotranspiration （ETo）, using the Hargreaves-Samani （HS） equation （Hargreaves and Samani 1982, 1985）. Because the HS equation is based on temperature only, ETo from the HS equation were compared with CIMIS ETo at the same locations using available CIMIS data to determine correction factors to estimate CIMIS ETo from the HS ETo to account for spatial climate differences. CaI-SIMETAW also employs near real-time reference evapotranspiration （ETo） information from Spatial CIMIS, which is a model that combines weather station data and remote sensing to provide a grid of ETo information. A second database containing the available展开更多
The background to this research was a flooding incident that occurred in Bridgend, Co. Donegal, Ireland in August 2017. While several properties were flooded, a flooding case study of a single dwelling house adjacent ...The background to this research was a flooding incident that occurred in Bridgend, Co. Donegal, Ireland in August 2017. While several properties were flooded, a flooding case study of a single dwelling house adjacent to the Bridgend River at Riverdale, Bunamayne, Co. Donegal, Ireland is used herein. For this study the flooded site shall be referred to as the “Hegarty property”. A structure in the form of a stone arched culvert is located directly adjacent to the two-storey detached dwelling house on the Hegarty Property. While the culvert is referred to locally as a bridge, within this research the word culvert will be used in connection with the structure. The culvert has a concrete surrounded utility (watermain) crossing at a gradient below the culvert soffit on the upstream face of the structure. The utility obstructed flow through the culvert and contributed to the flooding event. Given the implication of climate change and the increased probability of more extreme flooding events, it was decided to explore the case study to ascertain the factors that contribute to flooding events when utilities are positioned at culvert or bridge structures. This work was completed to assist undergraduate students, researchers, and local authorities in a relatively unknown area of flood causation.展开更多
文摘Objective To explore the etiology, incidence and methods to prevent and treat severe retinopathy of prematurity （ROP）,which is rapidly becoming a threat to the vision of babies in areas of the world where increasing numbers of premature babies are surviving.Data sources The data used in this review were mainly from Medline and PubMed published in English. The search term was ＂retinopathy of prematurity and premature birth＂.Study selection We discuss the historical perspectives, prevalence and incidence, classification and treatment methods of ROP in premature babies.Results Peripheral retinal ablation for eyes with severe ROP can help prevent progression to blindness and several large clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of this treatment in high risk eyes. As a greater proportion of VLBW and ELBW babies survive, the population of babies at risk increases. In various regions of the world, different identification criteria are used to determine which babies are at risk of blindness in order to provide timely diagnostic examinations and treatment as needed. Methods for preventiing ROP include better ante-natal and obstetric care leading to a reduction in the rate of prematurity, the use of ante-natal corticosteroids, and better neonatal care practices. Recent developments have indicated that management of oxygen supplementation is important for the prevention of severe ROP; however,there is not yet known what oxygen saturation target should be adopted. Sepsis increases severe ROP in very preterm infants. Genetic associations and a telemedicine approach may be explored to detect ROP. Treatment of anti-VEGF therapy are potentially useful in eyes with severe ROP, but long term effects are not yet known and such treatment should be used with great caution.Conclusions ROP is a potentially binding disease for premature babies which is becoming more prevalent with the development improving neonatal services in many countries in recent years. High priority should be placed on developing approaches to preven
基金supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Project (1001878)
文摘A large portion of the Loess Plateau of China is characterized as “marginal” with serious land degradation and desertification problems. Consequently, two policies, Grain for Green and Western Development Action were established by the Chinese government in response to the demand for ecological protection and economic development in the Loess Plateau. These policies are designed to increase forest cover, expand farmlands, and enhance soil and water conservation, while creating sustainable vegetation restoration. Perennial grasses have gained attention as bioenergy feedstocks due to their high biomass yields, low inputs, and greater ecosystem services compared to annual crops. Moreover, perennial grasses limit nutrient runoff and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and soil losses while sequestering carbon. Additionally, perennial grasses can generate economic returns for local farmers through producing bioenergy feedstock or forage on marginal lands. Here, we suggest a United States model energy crop, switchgrass（Panicum virgatum L.） as a model crop to minimize land degradation and desertification and to generate biomass for energy on the Loess Plateau.
文摘A research study collected intensive longitudinal data from cancer patients on a daily basis as well as non-intensive longitudinal survey data on a monthly basis. Although the daily data need separate analysis, those data can also be utilized to generate predictors of monthly outcomes. Alternatives for generating daily data predictors of monthly outcomes are addressed in this work. Analyses are reported of depression measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 as the monthly survey outcome. Daily measures include numbers of opioid medications taken, numbers of pain flares, least pain levels, and worst pain levels. Predictors are averages of recent non-missing values for each daily measure recorded on or prior to survey dates for depression values. Weights for recent non-missing values are based on days between measurement of a recent value and a survey date. Five alternative averages are considered: averages with unit weights, averages with reciprocal weights, weighted averages with reciprocal weights, averages with exponential weights, and weighted averages with exponential weights. Adaptive regression methods based on likelihood cross-validation (LCV) scores are used to generate fractional polynomial models for possible nonlinear dependence of depression on each average. For all four daily measures, the best LCV score over averages of all types is generated using the average of recent non-missing values with reciprocal weights. Generated models are nonlinear and monotonic. Results indicate that an appropriate choice would be to assume three recent non-missing values and use the average with reciprocal weights of the first three recent non-missing values.
基金supported by the National Institutes of HealthNo.R56 NS117935(to ASH and WLM)+1 种基金funded by Institutional Clinical and Translational Science AwardNo.UL1 TR002373。
文摘After spinal cord injury,there is an extensive infiltration of immune cells,which exacerbates the injury and leads to further neural degeneration.Therefore,a major aim of current research involves targeting the immune response as a treatment for spinal cord injury.Although much research has been performed analyzing the complex inflammatory process following spinal cord injury,there remain major discrepancies within previous literature regarding the timeline of local cytokine regulation.The objectives of this study were to establish an overview of the timeline of cytokine regulation for 2 weeks after spinal cord injury,identify sexual dimorphisms in terms of cytokine levels,and determine local cytokines that significantly change based on the severity of spinal cord injury.Rats were inflicted with either a mild contusion,moderate contusion,severe contusion,or complete transection,7 mm of spinal cord centered on the injury was harvested at varying times post-injury,and tissue homogenates were analyzed with a Cytokine/Chemokine 27-Plex assay.Results demonstrated pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factorα,interleukin-1β,and interleukin-6 were all upregulated after spinal cord injury,but returned to uninjured levels within approximately 24 hours post-injury,while chemokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 remained upregulated for days post-injury.In contrast,several anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors including interleukin-10 and vascular endothelial growth factor were downregulated by 7 days post-injury.After spinal cord injury,tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1,which specifically affects astrocytes involved in glial scar development,increased more than all other cytokines tested,reaching 26.9-fold higher than uninjured rats.After a mild injury,11 cytokines demonstrated sexual dimorphisms;however,after a severe contusion only leptin levels were different between female and male rats.In conclusion,pro-inflammatory cytokines initiate the inflammatory process and return to
文摘Here,we propose and demonstrate a modular holographic display system that allows seamless spatial tiling of multiple coarse integral holographic(CIH)displays called"holobricks".A holobrick is a self-contained CIH module enclosing a spatial light modulator(SLM),a scanner,and periscopic coarse integral optics.Modular CIH uses a coarse pitch and small area but high-bandwidth SLM in conjunction with periscopic coarse integral optics to form the angularly tiled 3D holograms with large viewing areas and fields of view.The creation of periscopic coarse integral optics prevents the optical system from being larger than the holographic image and allows the holographic fringe pattern to fill the entire face of the holobrick.Thus,multiple holobricks can be seamlessly abutted to form a scalable spatially tiled holographic image display capable of both wide feld-of-view angle and arbitrary large-size area.We demonstrate an initial prototype that seamlessly tiles two holobricks each with 1024×768 pixels,40°FOV,full color,24 fps,displaying 2D,3D holographic stereograms,and full parallax 3D CGI Fresnel holograms.
基金Funding support was also provided by the Irish Research Council(IRC)Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship(GOIPG/2017/2102).
文摘In this study,the influence of a plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO)surface treatment on a medical-grade WE43-based magnesium alloy is examined through an experimental and computational framework that considers the effects of localised corrosion features and mechanical properties throughout the corrosion process.First,a comprehensive in-vitro immersion study was performed on WE43-based tensile specimens with and without PEO surface modification,which included fully automated spatial reconstruction of the phenomenological features of corrosion through micro-CT scanning,followed by uniaxial tensile testing.Then the experimental data of both unmodified and PEO-modified groups were used to calibrate parameters of a finite element-based surface corrosion model.In-vitro,it was found that the WE43-PEO modified group had a significantly lower corrosion rate and maintained significantly higher mechanical properties than the unmodified.While corrosion rates were~50%lower in the WE43-PEO modified specimens,the local geometric features of corroding surfaces remained similar to the unmodified WE43 group,however evolving after almost the double amount of time.We were also able to quantitatively demonstrate that the PEO surface treatment on magnesium continued to protect samples from corrosion throughout the entire period tested,and not just in the early stages of corrosion.Using the results from the testing framework,the model parameters of the surface-based corrosion model were identified for both groups.This enabled,for the first time,in-silico prediction of the physical features of corrosion and the mechanical performance of both unmodified and PEO modified magnesium specimens.This simulation framework can enable future in-silico design and optimisation of bioabsorbable magnesium devices for load-bearing medical applications.
基金supported in part by the grants from the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine,J.W.Kieckhefer Foundation and Al Nahyan Foundation,from Regenerative Medicine Minnesota(RMM 101617 TR 004)and from NIH(DK107255).
文摘Human pluripotent stem cells(hPSC)hold considerable promise as a source of adult cells for treatment of diseases ranging from diabetes to liver failure.Some of the challenges that limit the clinical/translational impact of hPSCs are high cost and difficulty in scaling-up of existing differentiation protocols.In this paper,we sought to address these challenges through the development of bioactive microcapsules.A co-axial flow focusing microfluidic device was used to encapsulate hPSCs in microcapsules comprised of an aqueous core and a hydrogel shell.Importantly,the shell contained heparin moieties for growth factor(GF)binding and release.The aqueous core enabled rapid aggregation of hPSCs into 3D spheroids while the bioactive hydrogel shell was used to load inductive cues driving pluripotency maintenance and endodermal differentiation.Specifically,we demonstrated that one-time,1 h long loading of pluripotency signals,fibroblast growth factor(FGF)-2 and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1,into bioactive microcapsules was sufficient to induce and maintain pluripotency of hPSCs over the course of 5 days at levels similar to or better than a standard protocol with soluble GFs.Furthermore,stem cell-carrying microcapsules that previously contained pluripotency signals could be reloaded with an endodermal cue,Nodal,resulting in higher levels of endodermal markers compared to stem cells differentiated in a standard protocol.Overall,bioactive heparin-containing core-shell microcapsules decreased GF usage five-fold while improving stem cell phenotype and are well suited for 3D cultivation of hPSCs.
基金supported by grants from the Major Program of Guangdong Basic and Applied Research(2019B030302006)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32000449,32270292,32270344,32270752,and 32170593)+3 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2020M672674)the Program for Changjang Scholars,the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(2024A1515011497,2020B1515020007,and 2024A1515011071)the Guangdong Provincial Pearl River Talent Plan(2019QN01N108)the National Science Foundation of USA(2347540).
文摘Under warm temperatures,plants adjust their morphologies for environmental adaption via precise gene expression regulation.However,the function and regulation of alternative polyadenylation(APA),an important fine-tuning of gene expression,remains unknown in plant thermomorphogenesis.In this study,we found that SUMOylation,a critical post-translational modification,is induced by a long-term treat-ment at warm temperatures via a SUMO ligase SIZ1 in Arabidopsis.Disruption of SIZ1 altered the global usage of polyadenylation signals and affected the APA dynamic of thermomorphogenesis-related genes.CPSF100,a key subunit of the CPSF complex for polyadenylation regulation,is SUMOylated by SIZ1.Importantly,we demonstrated that SUMOylation is essential for the function of CPSF1oo in genome-wide polyadenylation site choice during thermomorphogenesis.Further analyses revealed that the SUMO conjugation on CPSF100 attenuates its interaction with two isoforms of its partner CPSF30,increasing the nuclear accumulation of CPsF1oo for polyadenylation regulation.In summary,our study uncovers a regulatory mechanism of APA via SiZ1-mediated SUMOylation in plant thermomorpho-genesis.
基金Irish Research Council(IRC)Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship(GOIPG/2017/2102).
文摘This study presents a computational framework that investigates the effect of localised surface-based corrosion on the mechanical performance of a magnesium-based alloy.A finite element-based phenomenological corrosion model was used to generate a wide range of corrosion profiles,with subsequent uniaxial tensile test simulations to predict the mechanical response to failure.The python-based detection framework PitScan provides detailed quantification of the spatial phenomenological features of corrosion,including a full geometric tracking of corroding surface.Through this approach,this study is the first to quantitatively demonstrate that a surface-based non-uniform corrosion model can capture both the geometrical and mechanical features of a magne-sium alloy undergoing corrosion by comparing to experimental data.Using this verified corrosion modelling approach,a wide range of corrosion scenarios was evaluated and enabled quantitative relationships to be established between the mechanical integrity and key phenomenological corrosion features.In particular,we demonstrated that the minimal cross-sectional area parameter was the strongest predictor of the remaining mechanical strength(R2=0.98),with this relationship being independent of the severity or spatial features of localised surface corrosion.Interestingly,our analysis demonstrated that parameters described in ASTM G46-94 showed weaker correlations to the mechanical integrity of corroding specimens,compared to parameters determined by Pitscan.This study establishes new mechanistic insight into the performance of the magnesium-based materials undergoing corrosion.
文摘We report on the successful demonstration of a 150 J nanosecond pulsed cryogenic gas cooled,diode-pumped multi-slab Yb:YAG laser operating at 1 Hz.To the best of our knowledge,this is the highest energy ever recorded for a diodepumped laser system.
基金supported by Grant no.2017-67007-26143 from the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative of USDA-NIFAthe L.E.“Red” Larson Endowment and Florida Cattleman’s Associationsupported by USDA NIFA grant 2021-38420-34067。
文摘Background In beef cattle, more than 50% of the energy input to produce a unit of beef is consumed by the female that produced the calf. Development of genomic tools to identify females with high genetic merit for reproductive function could increase the profitability and sustainability of beef production.Results Genome-wide association studies(GWAS) were performed using a single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction approach on pregnancy outcome traits from a population of Angus–Brahman crossbred heifers. Furthermore, a validation GWAS was performed using data from another farm. Heifers were genotyped with the Bovine GGP F250 array that contains 221,077 SNPs. In the discovery population, heifers were bred in winter breeding seasons involving a single round of timed artificial insemination(AI) followed by natural mating for 3 months. Two phenotypes were analyzed: pregnancy outcome to first-service AI(PAI;n = 1,481) and pregnancy status at the end of the breeding season(PEBS;n = 1,725). The heritability was estimated as 0.149 and 0.122 for PAI and PEBS, respectively. In the PAI model, one quantitative trait locus(QTL), located between 52.3 and 52.5 Mb on BTA7, explained about 3% of the genetic variation, in a region containing a cluster of γ-protocadherin genes and SLC25A2. Other QTLs explaining between 0.5% and 1% of the genetic variation were found on BTA12 and 25. In the PEBS model, a large QTL on BTA7 was synonymous with the QTL for PAI, with minor QTLs located on BTA5, 9, 10, 11, 19, and 20. The validation population for pregnancy status at the end of the breeding season were Angus–Brahman crossbred heifers bred by natural mating. In concordance with the discovery population, the large QTL on BTA7 and QTLs on BTA10 and 12 were identified.Conclusions In summary, QTLs and candidate SNPs identified were associated with pregnancy outcomes in beef heifers, including a large QTL associated with a group of protocadherin genes. Confirmation of these associations with larger populations could lead to the d
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC,Grant Nos.U1831209 and U2031144)the research fund of Ankara University(BAP)through the project 18A0759001。
文摘We report the confirmation of a sub-Saturn-size exoplanet,TOI-1194 b,with a mass of about 0.456+0.055-0.051M_(J),and a very low mass companion star with a mass of about 96.5±1.5 MJ,TOI-1251 B.Exoplanet candidates provided by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite(TESS)are suitable for further follow-up observations by ground-based telescopes with small and medium apertures.The analysis is performed based on data from several telescopes worldwide,including telescopes in the Sino-German multiband photometric campaign,which aimed at confirming TESS Objects of Interest(TOIs)using ground-based small-aperture and medium-aperture telescopes,especially for long-period targets.TOI-1194 b is confirmed based on the consistent periodic transit depths from the multiband photometric data.We measure an orbital period of 2.310644±0.000001 days,the radius is 0.767+0.045-0.041RJ and the amplitude of the RV curve is 69.4_(-7.3)^(+7.9)m s^(-1).TOI-1251 B is confirmed based on the multiband photometric and high-resolution spectroscopic data,whose orbital period is 5.963054+0.000002-0.000001days,radius is 0.947+0.035-0.033 R_(J) and amplitude of the RV curve is 9849_(-40)^(+42)ms^(-1).
基金supported and funded by the California Department of Water Resources(DWR)
文摘The California Simulation of Evapotranspiration of Applied Water （CaI-SIMETAW） model is a new tool developed by the California Department of Water Resources and the University of California, Davis to perform daily soil water balance and determine crop evapotranspiration （ETo）, evapotranspiration of applied water （ETaw）, and applied water （AW） for use in California water resources planning. ETaw is a seasonal estimate of the water needed to irrigate a crop assuming 100% irrigation efficiency. The model accounts for soils, crop coefficients, rooting depths, seepage, etc. that influence crop water balance. It provides spatial soil and climate information and it uses historical crop and land-use category information to provide seasonal water balance estimates by combinations of detailed analysis unit and county （DAU/County） over Califomia. The result is a large data base of ETc and ETaw that will be used to update information in the new California Water Plan （CWP）. The application uses the daily climate data, i.e., maximum （Tx） and minimum （Tn） temperature and precipitation （Pcp）, which were derived from monthly USDA-NRCS PRISM data （PRISM Group 2011） and daily US National Climate Data Center （NCDC） climate station data to cover California on a 4 kmx4 km change grid spacing. The application uses daily weather data to determine reference evapotranspiration （ETo）, using the Hargreaves-Samani （HS） equation （Hargreaves and Samani 1982, 1985）. Because the HS equation is based on temperature only, ETo from the HS equation were compared with CIMIS ETo at the same locations using available CIMIS data to determine correction factors to estimate CIMIS ETo from the HS ETo to account for spatial climate differences. CaI-SIMETAW also employs near real-time reference evapotranspiration （ETo） information from Spatial CIMIS, which is a model that combines weather station data and remote sensing to provide a grid of ETo information. A second database containing the available
基金supported by the National Institutes of Health of the US(DP5OD017898 and R01EB017270)the National Science Foundation of the US(1555220)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32071384)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2102300)。
文摘The background to this research was a flooding incident that occurred in Bridgend, Co. Donegal, Ireland in August 2017. While several properties were flooded, a flooding case study of a single dwelling house adjacent to the Bridgend River at Riverdale, Bunamayne, Co. Donegal, Ireland is used herein. For this study the flooded site shall be referred to as the “Hegarty property”. A structure in the form of a stone arched culvert is located directly adjacent to the two-storey detached dwelling house on the Hegarty Property. While the culvert is referred to locally as a bridge, within this research the word culvert will be used in connection with the structure. The culvert has a concrete surrounded utility (watermain) crossing at a gradient below the culvert soffit on the upstream face of the structure. The utility obstructed flow through the culvert and contributed to the flooding event. Given the implication of climate change and the increased probability of more extreme flooding events, it was decided to explore the case study to ascertain the factors that contribute to flooding events when utilities are positioned at culvert or bridge structures. This work was completed to assist undergraduate students, researchers, and local authorities in a relatively unknown area of flood causation.
