Abstract
Tropical Atlantic (TA) SST variability can impact the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). Here, we find that the interannual EASM–TA relationship exhibits an evident interdecadal variation ...modulated by the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). The EASM–TA interannual relationship is strong during the positive phase of the IPO (pIPO) but weak during the negative phase of the IPO (nIPO). The pIPO (nIPO)-related warm (cold) SST anomalies in the central tropical Pacific (CTP) intensify (weaken) the convection over the CTP. Therefore, a Matsuno–Gill response of the TA-induced CTP SST change is strong (weak) during the pIPO (nIPO) period. The strong Matsuno–Gill response excites an anomalous anticyclone over the western North Pacific (WNPAC), leading to a significantly positive EASM–TA relationship. However, the WNPAC is absent in the nIPO periods due to the weak Mastono–Gill response, suggesting an insignificant EASM–TA relationship. Understanding the IPO-modulated EASM–TA relationship helps better forecast EASM variability.
A linear actuator controlled by the reversed-phase connection of two piezoelectric bimorphs is proposed in this study to solve the problem of drawback in the existing piezoelectric linear actuators. ...The actuator is driven by one excitation signal, the two piezoelectric bimorphs will always bend in opposite directions by the reversed-phase connection, so the directions of the force output by the two piezoelectric bimorphs are opposite. Because of the length difference of the clamping blocks, the two forces outputted by each bending is different in magnitude, and always have a resultant force in the same direction to make the actuator move forward two steps in one cycle without drawback. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of the actuator provided. The starting voltage is 40 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\text{V}_{\mathrm {p-p}} </tex-math></inline-formula>, resolution can reach <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">1.16~\mu \text{m} </tex-math></inline-formula> without load. The load capacity of the actuator is 450 g with a 100 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\text{V}_{\mathrm {p-p}} </tex-math></inline-formula> voltage, a 2-Hz frequency, and the average step displacement in this case is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">0.725~\mu \text{m} </tex-math></inline-formula>. The prototype has high linearity and good repeatability. Experiments have proved that the actuator controlled by reversed-phase connection can eliminate drawback in principle, and can move forward two steps in one cycle. The resolution of the prototype by the reversed-phase connection is much higher than the in-phase connection, and it is a new method to improve the driving performance of piezoelectric actuators.
On Estrada index of trees Zhang, Jianbin; Zhou, Bo; Li, Jianping
Linear algebra and its applications,
2011, 2011-01-00, Volume:
434, Issue:
1
Journal Article
The aim of this study was to identify the key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and high-risk gene mutations in breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Raw data (GSE36863) were downloaded from ...the database of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), including three DCIS samples (DCIS cell lines MCF10.DCIS, Sum102, and Sum225) and one normal control sample (normal mammary epithelial cell line MCF10A). The DEGs were analyzed using NOIseq and annotated via DAVID. Motif scanning in the promoter region of DEGs was performed via SeqPos. Additionally, single nucleotide variations (SNVs) were identified via GenomeAnalysisTK and SNV risk was assessed via VarioWatch. Mutant genes with a high frequency and risk were validated by RT-PCR analyses.
Finally, 5391, 7073, and 7944 DEGs were identified in DCIS, Sum102, and Sum22 cell lines, respectively, when compared with MCF10A. VENN analysis of the three cell lines revealed 603 upregulated and 1043 downregulated DEGs, including 16 upregulated and 36 downregulated transcription factor (TF) genes. In addition, six TFs each (e.g., E2F1 and CREB1) were found to regulate the core up- and downregulated DEGs, respectively. Furthermore, SNV detection results revealed 1104 (MCF10.DCIS), 2833 (Sum102), and 1132 (Sum22) mutation sites. Four mutant genes (RWDD4, SDHC, SEPT7, and SFN) with high frequency and risk were identified. The results of RT-PCR analysis as well as bioinformatics analysis consistently demonstrated that the expression of RWDD4, SDHC, SEPT7, and SFN was downregulated in the tumor tissues as compared with that in adjacent non-tumor tissues.
The differentially expressed TFs, TFs regulating DEGs (e.g., E2F1 and CREB1), and high-frequency mutant genes (RWDD4, SDHC, SEPT7, and SFN) might play key roles in the pathogenesis of DCIS.
The fragile structure of a rootstock predisposes the stem to mechanical damage during grafting. Thus, it is necessary to take into account the rootstock’s rheological properties under mechanical ...compression when designing a clamping mechanism. This study focused on cucurbit, a typical rootstock for watermelon grafting. Firstly, we adopted a four-element Burgers model to analyze viscoelastic behavior and deformation characteristics of the rootstock, then conducted creep tests to obtain the parameters of the viscoelastic model. Next, we developed a model for the rootstock during holding based on viscoelastic parameters, loading force and contact time. Moreover, we evaluated the effect of various loading forces and test velocities on creep deformation to reveal the least damage on the rootstock. Results showed that the influence of loading force on the creep deformation was greater than test velocity. Finally, the holding test indicated that the clamping mechanism with silicone rubber can effectively prevent the damage to the stem. Specifically, the loading force should be controlled below 4 N to reduce the associated damage. Taken together, our findings provide a theoretical basis for analyzing the holding damage mechanism during watermelon grafting.
Previous studies suggest that the atmospheric precursor of E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation （ENSO） in the extratropical Southern Hemisphere （SH） might trigger a quadrapole sea surface temperature ...anomaly （SSTA） in the South Pacific and subsequently influence the following ENSO. Such a quadrapole SSTA is referred to as the South Pacific quadrapole （SPQ）. The present study investigated the relationships between the atmospheric precursor signal of ENSO and leading modes of atmospheric variability in the extratropical SH including the SH annular mode （SAM）, the first Pacific-South America （PSA1） mode, and the second Pacific-South America （PSA2） mode. The results showed that the atmospheric precursor signal in the extratropical SH basically exhibits a barotropic wavenumber-3 structure over the South Pacific and is significantly correlated with the SAM and the PSA2 mode during austral summer. Nevertheless, only the PSA2 mode was found to be a precursor for the following ENSO. It leads the SPQ-like SSTA by around one month, while the SAM and the PSA1 mode do not show any obvious linkage with either ENSO or the SPQ. This suggests that the PSA2 mode may provide a bridge between the preceding circulation anomalies over the extratropical SH and the following ENSO through the SPQ-like SSTA.
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common cause of mortality in people. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) has been shown to exert therapeutic potential to treat myocardial infarction (MI). However, in ...patients with diabetes, the diabetic environment affected MSCs activity and could impair the efficacy of treatment. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been shown to attenuate MI by suppressing inflammation. In current study, the combination of MSC transplantation with IL-10 was evaluated in a diabetic mice model with MI.
We engineered bone marrow derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) to overexpress IL-10 by using CRISPR activation. We established the diabetic mice model with MI and monitored the IL-10 expression after BM-MSCs transplantation. We also evaluated the effects of BM-MSCs transplantation on inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, cardiac function and angiogenesis.
CRISPR activation system enabled overexpression of IL-10 in BM-MSCs. Transplantation of BM-MSCs overexpressing IL-10 resulted in IL-10 expression in heart after transplantation. Transplantation of BM-MSCs overexpressing IL-10 inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokines production, improved cardiac functional recovery, alleviated cardiac injury, decreased apoptosis of cardiac cells and increased angiogenesis.
In summary, we have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of IL-10 overexpressed BM-MSCs in the treatment of MI in diabetic mice.
The variability in the Southern Ocean (SO) sea surface temperature (SST) has drawn increased attention due to its unique physical features; therefore, the temporal characteristics of the SO SST ...anomalies (SSTA) and their influence on extratropical atmospheric circulation are addressed in this study. Results from empirical orthogonal function analysis show that the principal mode of the SO SSTA exhibits a dipole-like structure, suggesting a negative correlation between the SSTA in the middle and high latitudes, which is referred to as the SO Dipole (SOD) in this study. The SOD features strong zonal symmetry, and could reflect more than 50% of total zonal-mean SSTA variability. We find that stronger (weaker) Subantarctic and Antarctic polar fronts are related to the positive (negative) phases of the SOD index, as well as the primary variability of the large-scale SO SSTA meridional gradient. During December–January–February, the Ferrel cell and the polar jet shift toward the Antarctic due to changes in the SSTA that could be associated with a positive phase of the SOD, and are also accompanied by a poleward shift of the subtropical jet. During June–July–August, in association with a positive SOD, the Ferrel cell and the polar jet are strengthened, accompanied by a strengthened subtropical jet. These seasonal differences are linked to the differences in the configuration of the polar jet and the subtropical jet in the Southern Hemisphere.
Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is one of the most important and well-known prebiotics that confers health benefits on the host. The effect of FOS is frequently associated with modulation of the ...abundance of gut microbes. However, the effect of FOS on gut microbes-mediated metabolism pathway remains largely undefined. This study aimed to explore the modulation effect of FOS on the metabolism pathway of tyrosine in gut microbes. Moreover, the effect of FOS on the production of p-cresol by gut microbes was studied, in which p-cresol is a uremic toxin precursor produced by tyrosine metabolism pathway. The results showed that FOS significantly prompted the anabolism pathway of tyrosine, which might promote the proliferation of gut microbes. Additionally, FOS significantly inhibited the catabolism pathway of tyrosine, therefore decreased p-cresol production in tyrosine oxidative catabolism pathway. Two mechanisms were proposed to explain the effect of FOS, one was to switch tyrosine catabolism from oxidative pathway to reductive pathway, the other was to directly inhibit the oxidative pathway in which p-cresol was produced. In conclusion, the present study suggested that as a well-known prebiotic, FOS inhibited the biosynthesis of p-cresol in gut microbes by regulating gut microbes-mediated tyrosine metabolism.
It has been demonstrated that ensemble mean forecasts, in the context of the sample mean, have higher forecasting skill than deterministic (or single) forecasts. However, few studies have focused on ...quantifying the relationship between their forecast errors, especially in individual prediction cases. Clarification of the characteristics of deterministic and ensemble mean forecasts from the perspective of attractors of dynamical systems has also rarely been involved. In this paper, two attractor statistics—namely, the global and local attractor radii (GAR and LAR, respectively)—are applied to reveal the relationship between deterministic and ensemble mean forecast errors. The practical forecast experiments are implemented in a perfect model scenario with the Lorenz96 model as the numerical results for verification. The sample mean errors of deterministic and ensemble mean forecasts can be expressed by GAR and LAR, respectively, and their ratio is found to approach
2
with lead time. Meanwhile, the LAR can provide the expected ratio of the ensemble mean and deterministic forecast errors in individual cases.
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