A new time-domain finite-element methods (TDFEM) is proposed for analyzing 2D electromagnetic transients. By using a pair of orthogonal vector basis functions, an explicit time-domain finite-element ...scheme is formulated, which eliminates the mass matrix inversion without loss of accuracy. An exact impedance absorbing boundary condition is derived from the boundary integral equation and applied at the truncated outer boundary. By using this exact boundary condition, the truncated outer boundary can be constructed conformal to the object being investigated. Furthermore, it can be placed as close to the object as possible. To deal with electromagnetic problems involving objects of large electrical dimensions, the 2D plane-wave time-domain (PWTD) algorithm is utilized to accelerate the evaluation of the absorbing boundary condition. The use of this type of boundary condition removes the spurious modes, which are likely to be supported by alternative global boundary condition implementations . Numerical results demonstrate the superior accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.
To clone and identify the gene encoding human ubiquitin binding enzyme 2 and study its expression pattern.
According to the sequence of human EST, which is highly homologous to the mouse ubiquitin ...binding/conjugating enzyme (E2), primers were synthesized to screen the human fetal brain cDNA library. The gene was analyzed by bioinformatics technique and its expression pattern was studied by using multiple-tissue Northern blot.
Two cDNA clones encoding human ubiquitin conjugating enzyme have been isolated and identified. Both containing the ubiquitin conjugating domain, the 2 cDNA clones are 88% identical in amino acid sequences and splicing isoforms to each other only with an exon excised to form the short sequence. They belong to a highly conserved and widely expressed E2 enzyme family. Northern blot shows that they are expressed exclusively in adult human heart, placenta, and pancreas but no transcripts can be detected in brain, lung, liver, skeletal muscle or kidney.
The gene encoding human ubiquitin binding enzyme is expressed under temporal control. As a key enzyme in the degradation of proteins, ubiquitin conjugating enzymes play a central role in the expression regulation on the level of post-translation.
Aim： To establish the mechanism responsible for the stimulation of glucose uptake by Astragalus polysaccharide （APS）, extracted from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, in L6 myotubes in vitro. Methods： ...APS-stimulated glucose uptake in L6 myotubes was measured using the 2-deoxy-3H-D-glucose method. The adenine nucle- otide contents in the cells were measured by HPLC. The phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK） and Akt substrate of 160 kDa （AS160） was examined using Western blot analysis. The cells transfected with 4P mutant AS160 （AS160-4P） were con- structed using gene transfer approach. Results： Treatment of L6 myotubes with APS （100-1600 μg/mL） significantly increased glucose uptake in time- and concentration-de- pendent manners. The maximal glucose uptake was reached in the cells treated with APS （400 pg/mL） for 36 h. The APS-stimulated glucose uptake was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with Compound C, a selective AMPK inhibitor or in the cells overexpress- ing AS160-4P. Treatment of L6 myotubes with APS strongly promoted the activation of AMPK. We further demonstrated that either Ca2＋/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 13 （CaMKKI3） or liver kinase B1 （LKB1） mediated APS-induced activation of AMPK in L6 myotubes, and the increased cellular AMP： ATP ratio was also involved. Treatment of L6 myotubes with APS robustly enhanced the phosphorylation of AS160, which was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with Compound C. Conclusion： Our results demonstrate that APS stimulates glucose uptake in L6 myotubes through the AMP-AMPK-AS160 pathway, which may contribute to its hypoglycemic effect.
To quantify the relationships between rice plant architecture parameters and the corresponding organ biomass, and to research on functional structural plant models of rice plant, this paper presented ...a biomass-based model of aboveground architectural parameters of rice （Oryza sativa L.） in the young seedling stage, designed to explain effects of cultivars and environmental conditions on rice aboveground morphogenesis at the individual leaf level. Various model variables, including biomass of blade and blade length, were parameterized for rice based on data derived from an outdoor experiment with rice cv. Liangyou 108, 86You 8, Nanjing 43, and Yangdao 6. The organ dimensions of rice aboveground were modelled taking corresponding organ biomass as an independent variable. Various variables in rice showed marked consistency in observation and simulation, suggesting possibilities for a general rice architectural model in the young seedling stage. Our descriptive model was suitable for our objective. However, they can set the stage for connection to physiological model via biomass and development of functional structural rice models （FSRM）, and start with the localized production and partitioning of assimilates as affected by abiotic growth factors. The finding of biomass-based rice architectural parameter models also can be used in morphological models of blade, sheath, and tiller of the other stages in rice life.
Critical patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), even those whose nucleic acid test results had turned negative and those receiving maximal medical support, have been noted to progress ...to irreversible fatal respiratory failure. Lung transplantation (LT) as the sole therapy for end-stage pulmonary fibrosis related to acute respiratory distress syndrome has been considered as the ultimate rescue therapy for these patients.
From February 10 to March 10, 2020, three male patients were urgently assessed and listed for transplantation. After conducting a full ethical review and after obtaining assent from the family of the patients, we performed three LT procedures for COVID-19 patients with illness durations of more than one month and extremely high sequential organ failure assessment scores.
Two of the three recipients survived post-LT and started participating in a rehabilitation program. Pearls of the LT team collaboration and perioperative logistics were summarized and continually improved. The pathological results of the explanted lungs were concordant with the critical clinical manifestation, and provided insight towards better understanding of the disease. Government health affair systems, virology detection tools, and modern communication technology all play key roles towards the survival of the patients and their rehabilitation.
LT can be performed in end-stage patients with respiratory failure due to COVID-19-related pulmonary fibrosis. If confirmed positive-turned-negative virology status without organ dysfunction that could contraindicate LT, LT provided the final option for these patients to avoid certain death, with proper protection of transplant surgeons and medical staffs. By ensuring instant seamless care for both patients and medical teams, the goal of reducing the mortality rate and salvaging the lives of patients with COVID-19 can be attained.
•GB reduced the CI symptoms of banana fruit.•GB enhanced the contents of antioxidant substances.•GB elevated enzyme activities and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes.•GB increased total ...antioxidant capacity.
Chilling injury (CI) represents a physiological disorder caused by improper low temperature management, which affects the postharvest quality and marketing potential of banana fruit. In this study, postharvest application of glycine betaine (GB) can significantly reduce the CI incidence of banana fruit during cold storage, as observed by lower CI index, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, and higher values of lightness, chlorophyll, soluble sugar contents. Moreover, GB not only increased the antioxidant substances such as total phenolics, glutathione and ascorbic acids (AsA), but also elevated the enzyme activities and gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes including ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). In addition, GB could obviously enhance the total antioxidant capacity of banana fruit under refrigerated storage. Collectively, these findings suggest that GB-attenuated CI incidence in banana fruit during cold storage might be, at least partially, ascribed to the enhancement of antioxidant system involving antioxidant substances, as well as enzyme activities and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes.
This paper describes a novel model known as the shadow obstacle model to generate a realistic comer-tuming behavior in crowd simulation. The motivation for this model comes from the observation that ...people tend to choose a safer route rather than a shorter one when turning a comer. To calculate a safer route, an optimization method is proposed to generate the corner-turning rule that maximizes the viewing range for the agents. By combining psychological and physical forces together, a full crowd simulation framework is established to provide a more realistic crowd simulation. We demonstrate that our model produces a more realistic comer-turning behavior by comparison with real data obtained from the experiments. Finally, we per- form parameter analysis to show the believability of our model through a series of experiments.
The thermal analysis is coupled with the full-wave electromagnetic analysis in order to accurately predict the electrical behaviors of through-silicon-via (TSV) structures. The cosimulation is ...implemented with the finite element method. A highly efficient domain decomposition scheme is introduced into the co-simulation to handle large-scale massively coupled TSV structures.
Atherosclerosis (AS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, thus imposing a growing burden on modern society. Herb‐derived bicyclol (BIC) is a versatile bioactive compound that can be used ...to treat AS. However, its efficacy in AS is not yet described. Here, it is shown that BIC normalizes gut microflora dysbiosis induced by a high fat diet in Apoe(−/−) mice. Metagenome‐wide association study analysis verifies that the modulation on carbohydrate‐active enzymes and short‐chain fatty acid generating genes in gut flora is among the mechanisms. The gut healthiness, especially the gut immunity and integrity, is restored by BIC intervention, leading to improved systemic immune cell dynamic and liver functions. Accordingly, the endothelial activation, macrophage infiltration, and cholesterol ester accumulation in the aortic arch are alleviated by BIC to lessen the plaque onset. Moreover, it is proved that the therapeutic effect of BIC on AS is transmissible by fecal microbiota transplantation. The current study, for the first time, demonstrates the antiatherosclerotic effects of BIC and shows that its therapeutic value can at least partially be attributed to its manipulation of gut microbiota.
Bicyclol (BIC) effectively modulates the composition, function, and production of endogenous metabolites of gut microbiota. The gut health reinstated by BIC benefits systemic immune cell dynamics and liver functions, leading to improved chronic inflammation and hypercholesterolemia. Consequently, endothelial activation, macrophage infiltration, and cholesterol ester accumulation in the aortic arch are attenuated, causing less plaque onset.
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