Migratory birds rely on a habitat network along their migration routes by temporarily occupying stopover sites between breeding and non-breeding grounds. Removal or degradation of stopover sites in a ...network might impede movement and thereby reduce migration success and survival. The extent to which the breakdown of migration networks, due to changes in land use, impacts the population sizes of migratory birds is poorly understood. We measured the functional connectivity of migration networks of waterfowl species that migrate over the East Asian-Australasian Flyway from 1992 to 2015. We analysed the relationship between changes in non-breeding population sizes and changes in functional connectivity, while taking into account other commonly considered species traits, using a phylogenetic linear mixed model. We found that population sizes significantly declined with a reduction in the functional connectivity of migration networks; no other variables were important. We conclude that the current decrease in functional connectivity, due to habitat loss and degradation in migration networks, can negatively and crucially impact population sizes of migratory birds. Our findings provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms that affect population trends of migratory birds under environmental changes. Establishment of international agreements leading to the creation of systematic conservation networks associated with migratory species’ distributions and stopover sites may safeguard migratory bird populations.
Abstract
Chemical vapor deposition-based growth techniques allow flexible design of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatible materials. Here, we report the deuterated silicon-rich ...nitride films grown using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The linear and nonlinear properties of the films are characterized, and we experimentally confirm that the silicon-rich nitride films grown with SiD
4
eliminates Si–H and N–H related absorption. The performance of identical waveguides for films grown with SiH
4
and SiD
4
are compared demonstrating a 2 dB/cm improvement in line with that observed in literature. Waveguides fabricated on the SRN:D film are further shown to possess a nonlinear parameter of 95 W
−1
m
−1
, with the film exhibiting a linear and nonlinear refractive index of 2.46 and 9.8
$$\times$$
×
10
–18
m
2
W
−1
respectively.
In this article, a novel double-rotor flux-switching permanent-magnet (DR-FSPM) motor is proposed for electric vehicles with the capability of magnetic differential (MagD). The key is to introduce a ...new set of winding, which magnetically couples with the two rotors of the DR-FSPM motor in such a way that the magnetic coupling winding field can interact with the PM fields in the two rotors. Hence, the differential torque can be generated between wheels to achieve accurate cornering during vehicle steering. Consequently, the proposed system can offer higher efficiency and compactness than the conventional mechanical differential system, while providing higher reliability and safer operation than the electronic differential system. The operation principle and performances of the proposed DR-FSPM motor are thoroughly analyzed by finite element analysis while the proposed MagD system is also evaluated with system simulation. Finally, the motor prototype is built while the prototype and MagD system are tested for experimental verification.
The in-plane vibration of a complex cable-stayed bridge that consists of a simply-supported four-cable-stayed deck beam and two rigid towers is studied. The nonlinear and linear partial differential ...equations that govern transverse and longitudinal vibrations of the cables and transverse vibrations of segments of the deck beam, respectively, are derived, along with their boundary and matching conditions. The undamped natural frequencies and mode shapes of the linearized model of the cable-stayed bridge are determined, and orthogonality relations of the mode shapes are established. Numerical analysis of the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the cable-stayed bridge is conducted for various symmetrical and non-symmetrical bridge cases with regards to the sizes of the components of the bridge and the initial sags of the cables. The results show that there are very close natural frequencies when the bridge model is symmetrical and/or partially symmetrical, and the mode shapes tend to be more localized when the bridge model is less symmetrical. The relationships between the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the cable-stayed bridge and those of a single fixed–fixed cable and the single simply-supported deck beam are analyzed. The results, which are validated by commercial finite element software, demonstrate some complex classical resonance behavior of the cable-stayed bridge.
A new series of semisynthetic flavone-based small molecules mimicking antimicrobial peptides has been designed from natural icaritin to combat drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections. ...Compound 6 containing two arginine residues exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA, and very low toxicity to mammalian cells, resulting in a high selectivity of more than 511, comparable to that of several membrane-active antibiotics in clinical trials. Our data show for the first time that icaritin derivatives effectively kill bacteria. Meanwhile, this is the first study deploying a biomimicking strategy to design potent flavone-based membrane targeting antimicrobials. 6 showed rapid bactericidal activity by disrupting the bacterial membrane and can circumvent the development of bacterial resistance. Importantly, 6 was highly efficacious in a mouse model of corneal infection caused by MRSA and Staphylococcus aureus.
Isolates of three endornavirus species were identified co-infecting an unidentified species of Ceratobasidium, itself identified as a symbiont from within the roots of a wild plant of the terrestrial ...orchid Pterostylis vittata in Western Australia. Isogenic lines of the fungal isolate lacking all three mycoviruses were derived from the virus-infected isolate. To observe how presence of endornaviruses influenced gene expression in the fungal host, we sequenced fungus-derived small RNA species from the virus-infected and virus-free isogenic lines and compared them. The presence of mycoviruses influenced expression of small RNAs. Of the 3272 fungus-derived small RNA species identified, the expression of 9.1% (300 of 3272) of them were up-regulated, and 0.6% (18 of 3272) were down-regulated in the presence of the viruses. Fourteen novel micro-RNA-like RNAs (Cer-milRNAs) were predicted. Gene target prediction of the differentially expressed Cer-milRNAs was quite ambiguous; however, fungal genes involved in transcriptional regulation, catalysis, molecular binding, and metabolic activities such as gene expression, DNA metabolic processes and regulation activities were differentially expressed in the presence of the mycoviruses.
Functions of microRNAs in osteoporosis Ge, D-W; Wang, W-W; Chen, H-T ...
European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
21, Številka:
21
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Osteoporosis (OP) is a kind of disease with a 25% incidence, characterized by the bone mass loss, bone microstructure damage, increased bone fragility, and easy fracture. miRNA plays an important ...regulatory role in the process of bone remodeling, especially in the regulation of differentiation and function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and the development and progression of OP and other bone diseases. In the future, it is expected to delay the bone loss and promote the bone remodeling via the overexpression or inhibition of specific miRNAs in specific tissues, thereby treating OP.
The purpose of this study was to examine the thermoregulatory responses between self-paced and fixed-intensity exercise matched for average workload, in different thermal profiles matched for vapour ...pressure.
Thirteen moderate to highly trained cyclists maximal oxygen uptake: 59 (2.5)ml/kg/min; peak power output: 392.7 (14.1)W were recruited, where they underwent two 30min self-selected pace trials and two 30min fixed-intensity trials in 35̊C 34.9 (0.2)̊C; relative humidity: 50.1 (1.1)%; absolute humidity: 2.80 (0.1)kPa and 29̊C 29.2 (0.2)̊C; 69.4 (0.9)%; 2.81 (0.05)kPa with the same vapour pressure. The exercise intensity of the fixed-intensity trial was based on the average power output of the self-paced trial.
Despite cutaneous blood flow at the forearm region showing counter intuitive results 35̊C: self-paced vs. fixed-intensity, 279.1 (28.4) vs. 227.1 (19.1)AU, P=.042; 29̊C: 301.3 (25.8) vs. 378 (39.1)AU, P=.03, all others variables were not different between self-paced and fixed-intensity or different thermal profiles, such as rectal temperature 35̊C: self-paced vs. fixed-intensity, 38.0 (0.1) vs. 37.9 (0.1)̊C; 29̊C: 37.9 (0.1) vs. 38.0 (0.1)̊C, all P>.2, skin temperature 35̊C: self-paced vs. fixed-intensity, 36.3 (0.1) vs. 36.2 (0.1)̊C; 29̊C: 34.5 (0.2) vs. 34.4 (0.2)̊C, all P>.4.
We conclude that self-paced exercise does not reduce thermoregulatory strain in mild and moderate heat, when average workload is matched.
L’objectif de cette étude était d’examiner les réponses thermorégulatrices à deux types d’exercices, l’un à intensité librement choisie et l’autre à intensité fixe. Ces deux types d’exercice étaient appariés pour la charge de travail moyenne, et réalisés sous deux ambiances climatiques à pression partielle constante.
Treize cyclistes, modérément à hautement entraînés consommation maximale d’oxygène: 59 (2,5)ml/kg/min ; puissance de sortie maximale: 392,7 (14,1)W ont participé volontairement à cette étude. Ils ont réalisé deux exercices d’intensité librement choisie de 30min et deux exercices d’intensité fixe de 30min. Ces exercices ont été effectués sous deux ambiances climatiques différentes à 35̊C 34,9 (0,2)̊C ; humidité relative : 50,1 (1,1)%; humidité absolue : 2,80 (0,1)kPa et 29̊C 29,2 (0,2)̊C; 69,4 (0,9)%; 2,81 (0,05)kPa, à pression partielle constante. L’intensité de l’exercice à intensité fixe et prédéterminée était égale à la puissance moyenne de l’exercice à intensité librement choisie.
La grande majorité des variables représentatives de la thermorégulation n’étaient pas différente entre l’intensité librement choisie et l’intensité fixe. C’est le cas pour la température rectale À 35̊C, intensité libre vs. intensité fixe, 38,0 (0,1) vs. 37,9 (0,1)̊C; À 29̊C : 37,9 (0,1) vs. 38,0 (0,1)̊C, p>0,2, la température cutanée moyenne À 35̊C : intensité libre vs. intensité fixe, 36,3 (0,1) vs. 36,2 (0,1)̊C; À 29̊C : 34,5 (0,2) contre 34,4 (0,2)̊C, p>0,4. Seul le débit sanguin cutané mesuré au niveau de l’avant-bras était plus important à l’intensité libre qu’à intensité fixe à 35̊C (279,1 (28,4) vs. 227,1 (19,1)AU, p=0,042). L’inverse est observé à 29̊C (301,3 (25,8) vs. 378(39,1) AU, p=0,03).
Nous concluons que pour des charges de travail similaires, l’exercice à intensité librement choisie n’affecte pas les réponses thermorégulatrices à des ambiances climatiques chaudes, légère et modérée.
To promote the adhesion strength between diamond-like carbon (DLC) films and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) substrates, titanium-doped carbon (Ti-C) films prepared by dual-target magnetron sputtering ...under varied substrate bias voltages were used as an interlayer on the rough NBR. The surface topography and structure of Ti-C films were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectra. Raman analysis indicates that the increase of substrate bias voltage leads to an increase of the number or the size of sp2 clusters in the Ti-C interlayer. The adhesion strength and tribological properties of DLC films coated on NBR substrate were scrutinized by a scratch tester and a ball-on-disk tribometer, respectively. It was found that DLC film with a Ti-C interlayer at a certain bias voltage exhibited superior wear resistance with a low coefficient of friction (CoF) during the sliding of 6000 laps. No clear damages in the coatings were observed from the wear tracks. Besides, the scratch test also revealed a reliable adhesion when the interlayer was prepared at −150 V, as confirmed by a scratch crack width of ~50 μm as compared to that of the pure DLC film increasing to ~ 120 μm. Therefore, a Ti-C interlayer could significantly enhance the adhesion and wear resistance of DLC thin films deposited on NBR.
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•A Ti-C interlayer on rubber promotes the adhesion of diamond-like carbon film.•The tribology property of diamond-like carbon film is tailored by the Ti-C interlayer.•The wear resistance of diamond-like carbon film on rubber is tuned by bias voltage.
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