CRISPR/Cas9 genome targeting systems have been applied to a variety of species. However, most CRISPR/Cas9 systems reported for plants can only modify one or a few target sites. Here, we report a robust CRISPR/Cas9 vec...CRISPR/Cas9 genome targeting systems have been applied to a variety of species. However, most CRISPR/Cas9 systems reported for plants can only modify one or a few target sites. Here, we report a robust CRISPR/Cas9 vector system, utilizing a plant codon optimized Cas9 gene, for convenient and high- efficiency multiplex genome editing in monocot and dicot plants. We designed PCR-based procedures to rapidly generate multiple sgRNA expression cassettes, which can be assembled into the binary CRISPR/ Cas9 vectors in one round of cloning by Golden Gate ligation or Gibson Assembly. With this system, we edi- ted 46 target sites in rice with an average 85.4% rate of mutation, mostly in biallelic and homozygous status. We reasoned that about 16% of the homozygous mutations in rice were generated through the non-homol- ogous end-joining mechanism followed by homologous recombination-based repair. We also obtained uni- form biallelic, heterozygous, homozygous, and chimeric mutations in Arabidopsis T1 plants. The targeted mutations in both rice and Arabidopsis were heritable. We provide examples of loss-of-function gene mu- tations in To rice and T1Arabidopsis plants by simultaneous targeting of multiple （up to eight） members of a gene family, multiple genes in a biosynthetic pathway, or multiple sites in a single gene. This system has provided a versatile toolbox for studying functions of multiple genes and gene families in plants for basic research and genetic improvement.展开更多
As the world strives to reduce the impact of population growth, urbanization, agricultural expansion, and climate change on food security, energy and water shortage, resource over-exploration, biodiversity loss, envir...As the world strives to reduce the impact of population growth, urbanization, agricultural expansion, and climate change on food security, energy and water shortage, resource over-exploration, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, and ultimately human health, timely and higher resolution land cover information is urgently needed to achieve the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.展开更多
Heavy metal pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems in China and a large number of people are threatened by heavy metal pollution.Extensive damage to human organs,such as liver,kidney,digestion sys...Heavy metal pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems in China and a large number of people are threatened by heavy metal pollution.Extensive damage to human organs,such as liver,kidney,digestion system,and nervous system can be caused by uptake of excess heavy metals.Heavy metals in the environment can originate from both natural and anthropogenic sources.Although contamination of heavy metals has been known to be a severe environmental problem for decades,it is still getting worse in recent years and there are few feasible approaches to resolve this problem.Due to their high toxicity,prevalent existence and persistence in the environment,lead(Pb),mercury(Hg),cadmium(Cd),chromium(Cr) and arsenic(As) are commonly considered as the priority heavy metals which should be concerned and their emission should be controlled in China.This paper reviewed the pollution of heavy metals in China,focusing on the following four aspects:current status of heavy metal pollution in China,sources of heavy metals in China,toxicity and potential risk,and possible reduction strategies.展开更多
The three-dimensional unsteady turbulent flow in axial-flow pumps was simulated based on Navier-Stoke solver embedded with k - ε RNG turbulence model and SIMPLEC algorithm. Numerical results show that the unsteady pr...The three-dimensional unsteady turbulent flow in axial-flow pumps was simulated based on Navier-Stoke solver embedded with k - ε RNG turbulence model and SIMPLEC algorithm. Numerical results show that the unsteady prediction results are more accurate than the steady results, and the maximal error of unsteady prediction is only 4.54%. The time-domain spectrums show that the static pressure fluctuation curves at the inlet and outlet of the rotor and the outlet of the stator are periodic, and all have four peaks and four valleys. The pressure fluctuation amplitude increases from the hub to the tip at the inlet and outlet of the rotor, but decreases at the outlet of the stator. The pressure fluctuation amplitude is the greatest at the inlet of the rotor, and the average amplitude decreases sharply from the inlet to the outlet. The frequency spectrums obtained by Fast Fourier Transform （FFT） show that the dominant frequency is approximately equal to the blade passing frequency. The static pressure on the pressure side of hydrofoil on different stream surfaces remains almost consistent, and increases gradually from the blade inlet to the exit on the suction side at different time steps. The axial velocity distribution is periodic and is affected by the stator blade number at the rotor exit. The experimental results show that the flow is almost axial and the pre-rotation is very small at the rotor inlet under the conditions of 0.8 QN -1.2 QN Due to the clearance leakage, the pressure, circulation and meridional velocity at the rotor outlet all decrease near the hub leakage and tip clearance regions.展开更多
Background:Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses(CoVs),including severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS)-CoV,have raised great public health concern globally.Here,...Background:Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses(CoVs),including severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS)-CoV,have raised great public health concern globally.Here,we report a novel batorigin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans.Methods:We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL)specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital,Hubei province,China.Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing.Virus isolation was carried out,and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed.Results:Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29,2019 presented with fever,cough,and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome.Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation.One of these patients died.Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknownβ-CoV strain in all five patients,with 99.8%to 99.9%nucleotide identities among the isolates.These isolates showed 79.0%nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV(GenBank NC_004718)and 51.8%identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV(GenBank NC_019843).The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV(SL-ZC45,GenBank MG772933)with 87.6%to 87.7%nucleotide identity,but is in a separate clade.Moreover,these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8,as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs.However,the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV,indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor.Conclusion:A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.展开更多
A careful study on the integral properties of the primitive hydrostatic balance equations for baroclinic atmosphere is carried out, and a new scheme todesign the global adiabatic model of atmospheric dynamics ispresen...A careful study on the integral properties of the primitive hydrostatic balance equations for baroclinic atmosphere is carried out, and a new scheme todesign the global adiabatic model of atmospheric dynamics ispresented. This scheme includes a method of weighted equal-areamesh and a fully discrete finite difference method with quadraticand linear conservations for solving the primitive equationsystem. Using this scheme, we established a new dynamical corewith adjustable high resolution acceptable to the availablecomputer capability, which can be very stable without anyfiltering and smoothing. Especially, some important integralproperties are kept unchanged, such as the anti-symmetries of thehorizontal advection operators and the vertical convectionoperator, the mass conservation, the effective energy conservationunder the standard stratification approximation, and so on. Somenumerical tests on the new dynamical core, respectively regardingits global conservations and its integrated performances inclimatic modeling, incorporated with the physical packagesfrom the Community Atmospheric Model Version 2 (CAM2) of NationalCenter for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), are included.展开更多
Based on 11004 satellite images from CBERS CCD and Landsat TM/ETM,changes in the spatial characteristics of all lakes in China were determined following pre-established interpretation rules.This dataset was supported ...Based on 11004 satellite images from CBERS CCD and Landsat TM/ETM,changes in the spatial characteristics of all lakes in China were determined following pre-established interpretation rules.This dataset was supported by 6843 digital raster images(1:100000 and 1:50000),a countrywide digital vector dataset(1:250000),and historical literature.Comparative data were corrected for seasonal variations using precipitation data.There are presently 2693 natural lakes in China with an area greater than 1.0 km2,excluding reservoirs.These lakes are distributed in 28 provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities and have a total area of 81414.6 km2,accounting for-0.9% of China's total land area.In the past 30 years,the number of newly formed and newly discovered lakes with an area greater than 1.0 km2 is 60 and 131,respectively.Conversely,243 lakes have disappeared in this time period.展开更多
Cereal straw is one of the most abundant biomass burned in China but its contribution to fine particulates is not adequately understood. In this study, three main kinds of cereal straws were collected from five grain ...Cereal straw is one of the most abundant biomass burned in China but its contribution to fine particulates is not adequately understood. In this study, three main kinds of cereal straws were collected from five grain producing areas in China. Fine particulate matters （PMzs） from the cereal straws subjected to control burnings, both under smoldering and flaming status, were sampled by using a custom made dilution chamber and sampling system in the laboratory. Element carbon （EC） and organic carbon （OC） was analyzed. 141 compounds of organic matters were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrum （GC-MS）. Source profiles of particulate organic matters emitted from cereal straw burnings were obtained. The results indicated that organic matters contribute a large fraction in fine particulate matters. Levoglucosan had the highest contributions with averagely 4.5% in mass of fine particulates and can be considered as the tracer of biomass burnings. Methyloxylated phenols from lignin degradation also had high concentrations in PM2.5, and contained approximately equal amounts of guaiacyl and syringyl compounds. 13-Sitostrol also made up relatively a large fraction of PMz5 compared with the other sterols （0.18%-0.63% of the total fine particle mass）. Normal alkanes, PAHs, fatty acids, as well as normal alkanols had relatively lower concentrations compared with the compounds mentioned above. Carbon preference index （CPI） of normal alkanes and alkanoic acids showed characteristics of biogenic fuel burnings. Burning status significantly influenced the formations of EC and PAHs. The differences between the emission profiles of straw and wood combustions were displayed by the fingerprint compounds, which may be used to identify the contributions between wood and straw burnings in source apportionment researches.展开更多
The timing and duration of the destruction of the North China Craton, which is pivotal to understanding the destruction mechanism and its geodynamic controlling factors, still remain controversial. On the basis of the...The timing and duration of the destruction of the North China Craton, which is pivotal to understanding the destruction mechanism and its geodynamic controlling factors, still remain controversial. On the basis of the principles of magma genesis and evolution, first we outline magmatic expressions that can be related to cratonic destruction, then use magmatic and basin evolution trends to constrain the timescale of the lithospheric thinning in North China. The main conclusions include: (1) the thinning of the lithosphere beneath the North China Craton might have started, at least locally, since late Carboniferous-late Triassic, attained its climax during the late Jurassic-early Cretaceous, and continued till the end of late Cretaceous-early Cenozoic. The destruction of the North China Craton was a relatively slow, rather than a dramatic process. (2) The weakened lithospheric zones along the margins and interiors of the craton played an important role in cratonic destruction, partly accounting for the heterogeneous pattern of cratonic destruction. (3) The tectonic factors that controlled the destruction of the North China Craton may be multiple. The late Carboniferous southward subduction of the Paleo-Asian plate and the late Triassic collision between North China and South China may have re-activated the craton by influencing the thermal and integral structure of the craton. The Pacific subduction underneath the eastern Asian continent played a determinant role in the cratonic destruction, governing the distribution patterns of post-Mesozoic basins and major tectonic configuration, temporal change of magmatism and formation of the North-South gravity lineament.展开更多
The Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic emerged in Wuhan,China,spread nationwide and then onto half a dozen other countries between December 2019 and early 2020.The implementation of unprecedented strict quaran...The Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic emerged in Wuhan,China,spread nationwide and then onto half a dozen other countries between December 2019 and early 2020.The implementation of unprecedented strict quarantine measures in China has kept a large number of people in isolation and affected many aspects of people's lives.It has also triggered a wide variety of psychological problems,such as panic disorder,anxiety and depression.This study is the first nationwide largescale survey of psychological distress in the general population of China during the COVID-19 epidemic.展开更多
This paper presents findings from an investigation of the large-scale construction solid waste （CSW） landslide that occurred at a landfill at Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, on December 20, 2015, and which killed 77 peo...This paper presents findings from an investigation of the large-scale construction solid waste （CSW） landslide that occurred at a landfill at Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, on December 20, 2015, and which killed 77 people and destroyed 33 houses. The landslide involved 2.73 - 106 m3 of CSW and affected an area about 1100 m in length and 630 m in maximum width, making it the largest landfill landslide in the world. The investigation of this disaster used a combination of unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance and multistage remote-sensing images to reveal the increasing volume of waste in the landfill and the shifting shape of the landfill slope for nearly two years before the landslide took place, beginning with the creation of the CSW landfill in March, 2014, that resulted in the uncertain conditions of the landfill＇s boundaries and the unstable state of the hydrologic performance. As a result, applying conventional stability analysis methods used for natural landslides to this case would be difficult. In order to analyze this disaster, we took a multistage modeling technique to analyze the varied characteristics of the land- fill slope＇s structure at various stages of CSW dumping and used the non-steady flow theory to explain the groundwater seepage problem. The investigation showed that the landfill could be divided into two units based on the moisture in the land： （1） a front uint, consisted of the landfill slope, which had low water content; and （2） a rear unit, consisted of fresh waste, which had a high water content. This struc- ture caused two effects-surface-water infiltration and consolidation seepage that triggered the landslide in the landfill. Surface-water infiltration induced a gradual increase in pore water pressure head, or piezometric head, in the front slope because the infiltrating position rose as the volume of waste placement increased. Consolidation seepage led to higher excess pore water pressures as the loading of waste increased. We also investigated the post-failure soil dy展开更多
Although nitrogen （N） loss through runoff and leaching from croplands is suspected to contribute to the deterioration of surrounding water systems, there is no conclusive evidence for paddy soils to prove this hypot...Although nitrogen （N） loss through runoff and leaching from croplands is suspected to contribute to the deterioration of surrounding water systems, there is no conclusive evidence for paddy soils to prove this hypothesis. In this study, field plot experiments were conducted to investigate N losses through runoff and leaching for two consecutive years with 3 N fertilization rates in rice （Oryza sativa L.）-wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） rotations in the Taihu Lake region, China. A water collection system was designed to collect runoff and leachates for both the rice and wheat seasons. Results showed that dissolved N （DN）, rather than particulate N （PN）, was the main form of N loss by runoff. The NO3^--N concentration in runoff was between 0.1 and 43.7 mg L^-1, whereas the NH4^＋-N concentration ranged from below detection limit to 8.5 mg L^-1. Total N （TN） loads by runoff were 1.0-17.9 and 5.2-38.6 kg ha^-1 during rice and wheat seasons, respectively, and the main loss occurred at the early growing stage of the crops. Nitrogen concentrations in leachates during the rice seasons were below 1.0 mg L^-1 and independent of the N application rate, whereas those during the wheat season increased to 8.2 mg L^-1 and were affected by the fertilizer rate. Annual losses of TN through runoff and leaching were 13.7-48.1 kg ha^-1 from the rice-wheat cropping system, accounting for 5.6%-8.3% of the total applied N. It was concluded that reduction in the N fertilization rate, especially when the crop was small in biomass, could lower the N pollution potential for water systems.展开更多
To explore the effect of early enteral nutrition （EN） on postoperative nutritional status, intestinal permeability, and immune 6anction in elderly patients with esophageal cancer or cardiac cancer. Methods： A total...To explore the effect of early enteral nutrition （EN） on postoperative nutritional status, intestinal permeability, and immune 6anction in elderly patients with esophageal cancer or cardiac cancer. Methods： A total of 96 patients with esophageal cancer or cardiac cancer who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from June 2007 to December 2010 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into EN group （n=50） and parenteral nutrition （PN） group （n=46） based on the nutrition support modes. The body weight, time to first flatus/defecation, average hospital stay, complications and mortality after the surgery as well as the liver function indicators were recorded and analyzed. Peripheral blood samples were collected on the days 1, 4 and 7 after surgery. The plasma diamine oxidase （DAO） activity and D-lactate level were determined to assess the intestinal permeability. The plasma endotoxin levels were determined using dynamic turbidimetric assay to assess the protective effect of EN on intestinal mucosal barrier. The postoperative blood levels of inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins were determined using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Results： After the surgery, the time to first flatus/defecation, average hospital stay, and complications were significantly less in the EN group than those in the PN group （P〈0.05）, whereas the EN group had significantly higher albumin levels than the PN group （P〈0.05）. On the 7th postoperative day, the DAO activity, D-lactate level and endotoxin contents were significantly lower in the EN group than those in the PN group （all P〈0.05）. In addition, the EN group had significantly higher IgA, IgG, IgM, and CD4 levels than the PN group （P〈0.05） but significantly lower IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-a levels （P〈0.05）. Conclusions： In elderly patients with esophageal cancer or cardiac cancer, early EN after surgery can effectively improve the nutritional status, protect intestinal mucosal barrier （by reducing plasma展开更多
This letter proposes two algorithms: a novel Quantum Genetic Algorithm (QGA)based on the improvement of Han's Genetic Quantum Algorithm (GQA) and a new Blind Source Separation (BSS) method based on QGA and Indepen...This letter proposes two algorithms: a novel Quantum Genetic Algorithm (QGA)based on the improvement of Han's Genetic Quantum Algorithm (GQA) and a new Blind Source Separation (BSS) method based on QGA and Independent Component Analysis (ICA). The simulation result shows that the efficiency of the new BSS method is obviously higher than that of the Conventional Genetic Algorithm (CGA).展开更多
Tartary buckwheat （Fagopyrum tataricum） is an important pseudocereal crop that is strongly adapted to growth in adverse environments. Its gluten-free grain contains complete proteins with a well-balanced composition...Tartary buckwheat （Fagopyrum tataricum） is an important pseudocereal crop that is strongly adapted to growth in adverse environments. Its gluten-free grain contains complete proteins with a well-balanced composition of essential amino acids and is a rich source of beneficial phytochemicals that provide significant health benefits. Here, we report a high-quality, chromosome-scale Tartary buckwheat genome sequence of- 489.3 Mb that is assembled by combining whole-genome shotgun sequencing of both Illumina short reads and single-molecule real-time long reads, sequence tags of a large DNA insert fosmid library, Hi-C sequencing data, and BioNano genome maps. We annotated 33 366 high-confidence protein-coding genes based on expression evidence. Comparisons of the intra-genome with the sugar beet genome revealed an independent whole-genome duplication that occurred in the buckwheat lineage after they diverged from the common ancestor, which was not shared with rosids or asterids. The reference genome facilitated the identification of many new genes predicted to be involved in rutin biosynthesis and regulation, aluminum stress resistance, and in drought and cold stress responses. Our data suggest that Tartary buckwheat＇s ability to tolerate high levels of abiotic stress is attributed to the expansion of several gene families involved in signal transduction, gene regulation, and membrane transport. The availability of these genomic resources will facilitate the discovery of agronomically and nutritionally important genes and genetic improvement of Tartary buckwheat.展开更多
Thick and ultra-thick coal seams are main coal seams for high production rate and high efficiency in Chinese coal mines, which accounts for 44 % of the total minable coal reserve. A fully mechanized top-coal caving mi...Thick and ultra-thick coal seams are main coal seams for high production rate and high efficiency in Chinese coal mines, which accounts for 44 % of the total minable coal reserve. A fully mechanized top-coal caving mining method is a main underground coal extraction method for ultra-thick coal seams. The coal extraction technologies for coal seams less than 14 m thick were extensively used in China. However, for coal seams with thickness greater than 14 m, there have been no reported cases in the world for underground mechanical extraction with safe performance, high efficiency and high coal recovery ratio. To deal with this case, China Coal Technology ＆ Engineering Group, Datong Coal Mine Group, and other 15 organizations in China launched a fundamental and big project to develop coal mining technologies and equipment for coal seams with thicknesses greater than 14 m. After the completion of the project, a coal extraction method was developed for top-coal caving with a large mining height, as well as a ground control theory for ultra-thick coal seams. In addition, the mining technology for top-coal caving with a large mining height, the ground support technology for roadway in coal seams with a large cross-section, and the prevention and control technology for gas and fire hazards were developed and applied. Furthermore, a hydraulic support with a mining height of 5.2 m, a shearer with high reliability, and auxiliary equipment were developed and manufactured. Practical implication on the technologies and equipment developed was successfully completed at the No. 8105 coal face in the Tashan coal mine, Datong, China. The major achievements of the project are summarized as follows： 1. A top-coal caving method for ultra-thick coal seams is proposed with a cutting height of 5 m and a top-coal caving height of 15 m. A structural mechanical model of overlying strata called cantilever beam-articulated rock beam is established. Based on the model, the load resistance of the hydraulic support with a large mining heigh展开更多
Bckground Stem cells, which have the ability to differentiate into insulin-producing cells （IPCs）, would provide a potentially unlimited source of islet cells for transplantation and alleviate the major limitations ...Bckground Stem cells, which have the ability to differentiate into insulin-producing cells （IPCs）, would provide a potentially unlimited source of islet cells for transplantation and alleviate the major limitations of availability and allogeneic rejection. Therefore, the utilization of stem cells is becoming the most promising therapy for diabetes mellitus （DM）. Here, we studied the differentiation capacity of the diabetic patient＇s bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） and tested the feasibility of using MSCs for β-cell replacement. Methods Bone marrow-derived MSCs were obtained from 10 DM patients （5 type 1 DM and 5 type 2 DM） and induced to IPCs under a three-stage protocol. Representative cell surface antigen expression profiles of MSCs were analysed by flow cytometric analysis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） was performed to detect multiple genes related to pancreatic β-cell development and function. The identity of the IPCs was illustrated by the analysis of morphology, ditizone staining and immunocytochemistry. Release of insulin by these cells was confirmed by immunoradioassay. Results Flow cytometric analysis of MSCs at passage 3 showed that these cells expressed high levels of CD29 （98.28%）, CD44 （99.56%） and CD106 （98.34%）. Typical islet-like cell clusters were observed at the end of the protocol （18 days）. Ditizone staining and immunohistochemistry for insulin were both positive. These differentiated cells at stage 2 （10 days） expressed nestin, pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 （PDX-1）, Neurogenin3, Pax4, insulin, glucagon, but at stage 3 （18 days） we observed the high expression of PDX-1, insulin, glucagon. Insulin was secreted by these cells in response to different concentrations of glucose stimulation in a regulated manner （P〈0.05）. Conclusions Bone marrow-derived MSCs from DM patients can differentiate into functional IPCs under certain conditions in vitro. Using diabetic patient＇s own bone marrow-deriv展开更多
The variations of mass concentrations of PM2.5, PMl0, SO2, NO2, CO, and 03 in 31 Chinese provincial capital cities were analyzed based on data from 286 monitoring sites obtained between March 22, 2013 and March 31,201...The variations of mass concentrations of PM2.5, PMl0, SO2, NO2, CO, and 03 in 31 Chinese provincial capital cities were analyzed based on data from 286 monitoring sites obtained between March 22, 2013 and March 31,2014. By comparing the pollutant concentrations over this length of time, the characteristics of the monthly variations of mass concentrations of air pollutants were determined. We used the Pearson correlation coefficient to establish the relationship between PM2.5, PM10, and the gas pollutants. The results revealed significant differences in the concentration levels of air pollutants and in the variations between the different cities. The Pearson correlation coefficients between PMs and NO2 and SO2 were either high or moderate （PM2.s with NO2： r = 0.256-0.688, mean r = 0,498：PM10 with NO2： r = 0.169-0.713, mean r=0.493; PM2.5 with SO2： r=0.232-0.693, mean r=0.449; PM10 with SO2： r=0.131-0.669, mean r = 0.403）. The correlation between PMs and CO was diverse （PM2.5： r = 0.156-0.721, mean r = 0.437; PMl0： r= 0.06-0.67, mean r= 0.380）. The correlation between PMs and 03 was either weak or uncorrelated （PM2.s： r= -0,35 to 0.089, mean r= -0.164; PM10： r= -0.279 to 0.078, mean r= -0.127）, except in Haikou （PM2.5： r=0.500; PM10： r=0,509）.展开更多
文摘CRISPR/Cas9 genome targeting systems have been applied to a variety of species. However, most CRISPR/Cas9 systems reported for plants can only modify one or a few target sites. Here, we report a robust CRISPR/Cas9 vector system, utilizing a plant codon optimized Cas9 gene, for convenient and high- efficiency multiplex genome editing in monocot and dicot plants. We designed PCR-based procedures to rapidly generate multiple sgRNA expression cassettes, which can be assembled into the binary CRISPR/ Cas9 vectors in one round of cloning by Golden Gate ligation or Gibson Assembly. With this system, we edi- ted 46 target sites in rice with an average 85.4% rate of mutation, mostly in biallelic and homozygous status. We reasoned that about 16% of the homozygous mutations in rice were generated through the non-homol- ogous end-joining mechanism followed by homologous recombination-based repair. We also obtained uni- form biallelic, heterozygous, homozygous, and chimeric mutations in Arabidopsis T1 plants. The targeted mutations in both rice and Arabidopsis were heritable. We provide examples of loss-of-function gene mu- tations in To rice and T1Arabidopsis plants by simultaneous targeting of multiple （up to eight） members of a gene family, multiple genes in a biosynthetic pathway, or multiple sites in a single gene. This system has provided a versatile toolbox for studying functions of multiple genes and gene families in plants for basic research and genetic improvement.
基金partially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFA0600103)Delos Living LLCthe Cyrus Tang Foundation
文摘As the world strives to reduce the impact of population growth, urbanization, agricultural expansion, and climate change on food security, energy and water shortage, resource over-exploration, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, and ultimately human health, timely and higher resolution land cover information is urgently needed to achieve the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2013CB430004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(20937002,21120102040,20977107,21075130)
文摘Heavy metal pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems in China and a large number of people are threatened by heavy metal pollution.Extensive damage to human organs,such as liver,kidney,digestion system,and nervous system can be caused by uptake of excess heavy metals.Heavy metals in the environment can originate from both natural and anthropogenic sources.Although contamination of heavy metals has been known to be a severe environmental problem for decades,it is still getting worse in recent years and there are few feasible approaches to resolve this problem.Due to their high toxicity,prevalent existence and persistence in the environment,lead(Pb),mercury(Hg),cadmium(Cd),chromium(Cr) and arsenic(As) are commonly considered as the priority heavy metals which should be concerned and their emission should be controlled in China.This paper reviewed the pollution of heavy metals in China,focusing on the following four aspects:current status of heavy metal pollution in China,sources of heavy metals in China,toxicity and potential risk,and possible reduction strategies.
基金Project supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program,Grant No.2007AA05Z207)the Graduate Student Innovation Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Grant No.CX08B_064Z)the National Science and Technology Support Program (Grant No.2008BAF34B15)
文摘The three-dimensional unsteady turbulent flow in axial-flow pumps was simulated based on Navier-Stoke solver embedded with k - ε RNG turbulence model and SIMPLEC algorithm. Numerical results show that the unsteady prediction results are more accurate than the steady results, and the maximal error of unsteady prediction is only 4.54%. The time-domain spectrums show that the static pressure fluctuation curves at the inlet and outlet of the rotor and the outlet of the stator are periodic, and all have four peaks and four valleys. The pressure fluctuation amplitude increases from the hub to the tip at the inlet and outlet of the rotor, but decreases at the outlet of the stator. The pressure fluctuation amplitude is the greatest at the inlet of the rotor, and the average amplitude decreases sharply from the inlet to the outlet. The frequency spectrums obtained by Fast Fourier Transform （FFT） show that the dominant frequency is approximately equal to the blade passing frequency. The static pressure on the pressure side of hydrofoil on different stream surfaces remains almost consistent, and increases gradually from the blade inlet to the exit on the suction side at different time steps. The axial velocity distribution is periodic and is affected by the stator blade number at the rotor exit. The experimental results show that the flow is almost axial and the pre-rotation is very small at the rotor inlet under the conditions of 0.8 QN -1.2 QN Due to the clearance leakage, the pressure, circulation and meridional velocity at the rotor outlet all decrease near the hub leakage and tip clearance regions.
基金This study was supported by grants from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(CAMS)Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(No.2016-I2M-1-014)the National Major Science&Technology Project for Control and Prevention of Major Infectious Diseases in China(Nos.2017ZX10103004,2018ZX10305409,2017ZX10204401)the National Natural Science Foundation(No.81930063)
文摘Background:Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses(CoVs),including severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS)-CoV,have raised great public health concern globally.Here,we report a novel batorigin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans.Methods:We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL)specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital,Hubei province,China.Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing.Virus isolation was carried out,and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed.Results:Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29,2019 presented with fever,cough,and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome.Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation.One of these patients died.Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknownβ-CoV strain in all five patients,with 99.8%to 99.9%nucleotide identities among the isolates.These isolates showed 79.0%nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV(GenBank NC_004718)and 51.8%identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV(GenBank NC_019843).The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV(SL-ZC45,GenBank MG772933)with 87.6%to 87.7%nucleotide identity,but is in a separate clade.Moreover,these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8,as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs.However,the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV,indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor.Conclusion:A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.
基金This paper is supported by the 973 Project(Grant No.G1999032801)the Fund for Innovative Research Groups(Grant No.41221503)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40233031).
文摘A careful study on the integral properties of the primitive hydrostatic balance equations for baroclinic atmosphere is carried out, and a new scheme todesign the global adiabatic model of atmospheric dynamics ispresented. This scheme includes a method of weighted equal-areamesh and a fully discrete finite difference method with quadraticand linear conservations for solving the primitive equationsystem. Using this scheme, we established a new dynamical corewith adjustable high resolution acceptable to the availablecomputer capability, which can be very stable without anyfiltering and smoothing. Especially, some important integralproperties are kept unchanged, such as the anti-symmetries of thehorizontal advection operators and the vertical convectionoperator, the mass conservation, the effective energy conservationunder the standard stratification approximation, and so on. Somenumerical tests on the new dynamical core, respectively regardingits global conservations and its integrated performances inclimatic modeling, incorporated with the physical packagesfrom the Community Atmospheric Model Version 2 (CAM2) of NationalCenter for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), are included.
基金supported by the National Special Basic Research Project (Gran No. 2006FY110600)
文摘Based on 11004 satellite images from CBERS CCD and Landsat TM/ETM,changes in the spatial characteristics of all lakes in China were determined following pre-established interpretation rules.This dataset was supported by 6843 digital raster images(1:100000 and 1:50000),a countrywide digital vector dataset(1:250000),and historical literature.Comparative data were corrected for seasonal variations using precipitation data.There are presently 2693 natural lakes in China with an area greater than 1.0 km2,excluding reservoirs.These lakes are distributed in 28 provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities and have a total area of 81414.6 km2,accounting for-0.9% of China's total land area.In the past 30 years,the number of newly formed and newly discovered lakes with an area greater than 1.0 km2 is 60 and 131,respectively.Conversely,243 lakes have disappeared in this time period.
基金Project supported by the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program (863) of China (No. 2001AA641060 2003AA641040)the National Basic Research Program (973) of China (No. 2002CB410801).
文摘Cereal straw is one of the most abundant biomass burned in China but its contribution to fine particulates is not adequately understood. In this study, three main kinds of cereal straws were collected from five grain producing areas in China. Fine particulate matters （PMzs） from the cereal straws subjected to control burnings, both under smoldering and flaming status, were sampled by using a custom made dilution chamber and sampling system in the laboratory. Element carbon （EC） and organic carbon （OC） was analyzed. 141 compounds of organic matters were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrum （GC-MS）. Source profiles of particulate organic matters emitted from cereal straw burnings were obtained. The results indicated that organic matters contribute a large fraction in fine particulate matters. Levoglucosan had the highest contributions with averagely 4.5% in mass of fine particulates and can be considered as the tracer of biomass burnings. Methyloxylated phenols from lignin degradation also had high concentrations in PM2.5, and contained approximately equal amounts of guaiacyl and syringyl compounds. 13-Sitostrol also made up relatively a large fraction of PMz5 compared with the other sterols （0.18%-0.63% of the total fine particle mass）. Normal alkanes, PAHs, fatty acids, as well as normal alkanols had relatively lower concentrations compared with the compounds mentioned above. Carbon preference index （CPI） of normal alkanes and alkanoic acids showed characteristics of biogenic fuel burnings. Burning status significantly influenced the formations of EC and PAHs. The differences between the emission profiles of straw and wood combustions were displayed by the fingerprint compounds, which may be used to identify the contributions between wood and straw burnings in source apportionment researches.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 90714001, 40673038 and 40573015)
文摘The timing and duration of the destruction of the North China Craton, which is pivotal to understanding the destruction mechanism and its geodynamic controlling factors, still remain controversial. On the basis of the principles of magma genesis and evolution, first we outline magmatic expressions that can be related to cratonic destruction, then use magmatic and basin evolution trends to constrain the timescale of the lithospheric thinning in North China. The main conclusions include: (1) the thinning of the lithosphere beneath the North China Craton might have started, at least locally, since late Carboniferous-late Triassic, attained its climax during the late Jurassic-early Cretaceous, and continued till the end of late Cretaceous-early Cenozoic. The destruction of the North China Craton was a relatively slow, rather than a dramatic process. (2) The weakened lithospheric zones along the margins and interiors of the craton played an important role in cratonic destruction, partly accounting for the heterogeneous pattern of cratonic destruction. (3) The tectonic factors that controlled the destruction of the North China Craton may be multiple. The late Carboniferous southward subduction of the Paleo-Asian plate and the late Triassic collision between North China and South China may have re-activated the craton by influencing the thermal and integral structure of the craton. The Pacific subduction underneath the eastern Asian continent played a determinant role in the cratonic destruction, governing the distribution patterns of post-Mesozoic basins and major tectonic configuration, temporal change of magmatism and formation of the North-South gravity lineament.
文摘The Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic emerged in Wuhan,China,spread nationwide and then onto half a dozen other countries between December 2019 and early 2020.The implementation of unprecedented strict quarantine measures in China has kept a large number of people in isolation and affected many aspects of people's lives.It has also triggered a wide variety of psychological problems,such as panic disorder,anxiety and depression.This study is the first nationwide largescale survey of psychological distress in the general population of China during the COVID-19 epidemic.
基金Supported by Grants(in part)from the Major Projects Incubator Program of National Key Basic Research Program of China,No.2012CB526700National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81370511+1 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,No.S2011020002348Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,No.13ykjc01 and No.82000-3281901
文摘AIM: To investigate the etiology and complications of liver cirrhosis (LC) in Southern China.
文摘This paper presents findings from an investigation of the large-scale construction solid waste （CSW） landslide that occurred at a landfill at Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, on December 20, 2015, and which killed 77 people and destroyed 33 houses. The landslide involved 2.73 - 106 m3 of CSW and affected an area about 1100 m in length and 630 m in maximum width, making it the largest landfill landslide in the world. The investigation of this disaster used a combination of unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance and multistage remote-sensing images to reveal the increasing volume of waste in the landfill and the shifting shape of the landfill slope for nearly two years before the landslide took place, beginning with the creation of the CSW landfill in March, 2014, that resulted in the uncertain conditions of the landfill＇s boundaries and the unstable state of the hydrologic performance. As a result, applying conventional stability analysis methods used for natural landslides to this case would be difficult. In order to analyze this disaster, we took a multistage modeling technique to analyze the varied characteristics of the land- fill slope＇s structure at various stages of CSW dumping and used the non-steady flow theory to explain the groundwater seepage problem. The investigation showed that the landfill could be divided into two units based on the moisture in the land： （1） a front uint, consisted of the landfill slope, which had low water content; and （2） a rear unit, consisted of fresh waste, which had a high water content. This struc- ture caused two effects-surface-water infiltration and consolidation seepage that triggered the landslide in the landfill. Surface-water infiltration induced a gradual increase in pore water pressure head, or piezometric head, in the front slope because the infiltrating position rose as the volume of waste placement increased. Consolidation seepage led to higher excess pore water pressures as the loading of waste increased. We also investigated the post-failure soil dy
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.40571077 and 30390080)and the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.KZCX2-413).
文摘Although nitrogen （N） loss through runoff and leaching from croplands is suspected to contribute to the deterioration of surrounding water systems, there is no conclusive evidence for paddy soils to prove this hypothesis. In this study, field plot experiments were conducted to investigate N losses through runoff and leaching for two consecutive years with 3 N fertilization rates in rice （Oryza sativa L.）-wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） rotations in the Taihu Lake region, China. A water collection system was designed to collect runoff and leachates for both the rice and wheat seasons. Results showed that dissolved N （DN）, rather than particulate N （PN）, was the main form of N loss by runoff. The NO3^--N concentration in runoff was between 0.1 and 43.7 mg L^-1, whereas the NH4^＋-N concentration ranged from below detection limit to 8.5 mg L^-1. Total N （TN） loads by runoff were 1.0-17.9 and 5.2-38.6 kg ha^-1 during rice and wheat seasons, respectively, and the main loss occurred at the early growing stage of the crops. Nitrogen concentrations in leachates during the rice seasons were below 1.0 mg L^-1 and independent of the N application rate, whereas those during the wheat season increased to 8.2 mg L^-1 and were affected by the fertilizer rate. Annual losses of TN through runoff and leaching were 13.7-48.1 kg ha^-1 from the rice-wheat cropping system, accounting for 5.6%-8.3% of the total applied N. It was concluded that reduction in the N fertilization rate, especially when the crop was small in biomass, could lower the N pollution potential for water systems.
文摘To explore the effect of early enteral nutrition （EN） on postoperative nutritional status, intestinal permeability, and immune 6anction in elderly patients with esophageal cancer or cardiac cancer. Methods： A total of 96 patients with esophageal cancer or cardiac cancer who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from June 2007 to December 2010 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into EN group （n=50） and parenteral nutrition （PN） group （n=46） based on the nutrition support modes. The body weight, time to first flatus/defecation, average hospital stay, complications and mortality after the surgery as well as the liver function indicators were recorded and analyzed. Peripheral blood samples were collected on the days 1, 4 and 7 after surgery. The plasma diamine oxidase （DAO） activity and D-lactate level were determined to assess the intestinal permeability. The plasma endotoxin levels were determined using dynamic turbidimetric assay to assess the protective effect of EN on intestinal mucosal barrier. The postoperative blood levels of inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins were determined using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Results： After the surgery, the time to first flatus/defecation, average hospital stay, and complications were significantly less in the EN group than those in the PN group （P〈0.05）, whereas the EN group had significantly higher albumin levels than the PN group （P〈0.05）. On the 7th postoperative day, the DAO activity, D-lactate level and endotoxin contents were significantly lower in the EN group than those in the PN group （all P〈0.05）. In addition, the EN group had significantly higher IgA, IgG, IgM, and CD4 levels than the PN group （P〈0.05） but significantly lower IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-a levels （P〈0.05）. Conclusions： In elderly patients with esophageal cancer or cardiac cancer, early EN after surgery can effectively improve the nutritional status, protect intestinal mucosal barrier （by reducing plasma
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.60171029)
文摘This letter proposes two algorithms: a novel Quantum Genetic Algorithm (QGA)based on the improvement of Han's Genetic Quantum Algorithm (GQA) and a new Blind Source Separation (BSS) method based on QGA and Independent Component Analysis (ICA). The simulation result shows that the efficiency of the new BSS method is obviously higher than that of the Conventional Genetic Algorithm (CGA).
文摘Tartary buckwheat （Fagopyrum tataricum） is an important pseudocereal crop that is strongly adapted to growth in adverse environments. Its gluten-free grain contains complete proteins with a well-balanced composition of essential amino acids and is a rich source of beneficial phytochemicals that provide significant health benefits. Here, we report a high-quality, chromosome-scale Tartary buckwheat genome sequence of- 489.3 Mb that is assembled by combining whole-genome shotgun sequencing of both Illumina short reads and single-molecule real-time long reads, sequence tags of a large DNA insert fosmid library, Hi-C sequencing data, and BioNano genome maps. We annotated 33 366 high-confidence protein-coding genes based on expression evidence. Comparisons of the intra-genome with the sugar beet genome revealed an independent whole-genome duplication that occurred in the buckwheat lineage after they diverged from the common ancestor, which was not shared with rosids or asterids. The reference genome facilitated the identification of many new genes predicted to be involved in rutin biosynthesis and regulation, aluminum stress resistance, and in drought and cold stress responses. Our data suggest that Tartary buckwheat＇s ability to tolerate high levels of abiotic stress is attributed to the expansion of several gene families involved in signal transduction, gene regulation, and membrane transport. The availability of these genomic resources will facilitate the discovery of agronomically and nutritionally important genes and genetic improvement of Tartary buckwheat.
文摘Thick and ultra-thick coal seams are main coal seams for high production rate and high efficiency in Chinese coal mines, which accounts for 44 % of the total minable coal reserve. A fully mechanized top-coal caving mining method is a main underground coal extraction method for ultra-thick coal seams. The coal extraction technologies for coal seams less than 14 m thick were extensively used in China. However, for coal seams with thickness greater than 14 m, there have been no reported cases in the world for underground mechanical extraction with safe performance, high efficiency and high coal recovery ratio. To deal with this case, China Coal Technology ＆ Engineering Group, Datong Coal Mine Group, and other 15 organizations in China launched a fundamental and big project to develop coal mining technologies and equipment for coal seams with thicknesses greater than 14 m. After the completion of the project, a coal extraction method was developed for top-coal caving with a large mining height, as well as a ground control theory for ultra-thick coal seams. In addition, the mining technology for top-coal caving with a large mining height, the ground support technology for roadway in coal seams with a large cross-section, and the prevention and control technology for gas and fire hazards were developed and applied. Furthermore, a hydraulic support with a mining height of 5.2 m, a shearer with high reliability, and auxiliary equipment were developed and manufactured. Practical implication on the technologies and equipment developed was successfully completed at the No. 8105 coal face in the Tashan coal mine, Datong, China. The major achievements of the project are summarized as follows： 1. A top-coal caving method for ultra-thick coal seams is proposed with a cutting height of 5 m and a top-coal caving height of 15 m. A structural mechanical model of overlying strata called cantilever beam-articulated rock beam is established. Based on the model, the load resistance of the hydraulic support with a large mining heigh
文摘Bckground Stem cells, which have the ability to differentiate into insulin-producing cells （IPCs）, would provide a potentially unlimited source of islet cells for transplantation and alleviate the major limitations of availability and allogeneic rejection. Therefore, the utilization of stem cells is becoming the most promising therapy for diabetes mellitus （DM）. Here, we studied the differentiation capacity of the diabetic patient＇s bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） and tested the feasibility of using MSCs for β-cell replacement. Methods Bone marrow-derived MSCs were obtained from 10 DM patients （5 type 1 DM and 5 type 2 DM） and induced to IPCs under a three-stage protocol. Representative cell surface antigen expression profiles of MSCs were analysed by flow cytometric analysis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） was performed to detect multiple genes related to pancreatic β-cell development and function. The identity of the IPCs was illustrated by the analysis of morphology, ditizone staining and immunocytochemistry. Release of insulin by these cells was confirmed by immunoradioassay. Results Flow cytometric analysis of MSCs at passage 3 showed that these cells expressed high levels of CD29 （98.28%）, CD44 （99.56%） and CD106 （98.34%）. Typical islet-like cell clusters were observed at the end of the protocol （18 days）. Ditizone staining and immunohistochemistry for insulin were both positive. These differentiated cells at stage 2 （10 days） expressed nestin, pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 （PDX-1）, Neurogenin3, Pax4, insulin, glucagon, but at stage 3 （18 days） we observed the high expression of PDX-1, insulin, glucagon. Insulin was secreted by these cells in response to different concentrations of glucose stimulation in a regulated manner （P〈0.05）. Conclusions Bone marrow-derived MSCs from DM patients can differentiate into functional IPCs under certain conditions in vitro. Using diabetic patient＇s own bone marrow-deriv
基金funded by the Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information Science and Technology(TNList) Cross-discipline Foundationthe special fund of the Key Laboratory of Eco Planning & Green Building,Ministry of Education(Tsinghua University), China
文摘The variations of mass concentrations of PM2.5, PMl0, SO2, NO2, CO, and 03 in 31 Chinese provincial capital cities were analyzed based on data from 286 monitoring sites obtained between March 22, 2013 and March 31,2014. By comparing the pollutant concentrations over this length of time, the characteristics of the monthly variations of mass concentrations of air pollutants were determined. We used the Pearson correlation coefficient to establish the relationship between PM2.5, PM10, and the gas pollutants. The results revealed significant differences in the concentration levels of air pollutants and in the variations between the different cities. The Pearson correlation coefficients between PMs and NO2 and SO2 were either high or moderate （PM2.s with NO2： r = 0.256-0.688, mean r = 0,498：PM10 with NO2： r = 0.169-0.713, mean r=0.493; PM2.5 with SO2： r=0.232-0.693, mean r=0.449; PM10 with SO2： r=0.131-0.669, mean r = 0.403）. The correlation between PMs and CO was diverse （PM2.5： r = 0.156-0.721, mean r = 0.437; PMl0： r= 0.06-0.67, mean r= 0.380）. The correlation between PMs and 03 was either weak or uncorrelated （PM2.s： r= -0,35 to 0.089, mean r= -0.164; PM10： r= -0.279 to 0.078, mean r= -0.127）, except in Haikou （PM2.5： r=0.500; PM10： r=0,509）.
