The potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is one of the most economically significant insect pests for potato in both field and storage worldwide. To evaluate the infestation, ...reduction of potato yield and the control efficacy for PTM, field tests were conducted in two seasons by intercropping of potato as the host plant with maize as a non-host plant of PTM. Three intercropping patterns were tested, which were 2 rows of potatoes with either 2, 3, or 4 rows of maize (abbreviated 2P:2M, 2P:3M, and 2P:4M), and the monocropped potato as the control, 2 rows of potatoes, without maize, (abbreviated 2P:0M). Results showed that the population and infestation of PTM in the 2P:3M intercropping pattern was significantly lower than those in 2P:2M, 2P:4M and the monocropping pattern of 2P:0M, due to the enhancement of natural enemies. Cumulative mines and tunneling in potato leaves in 2P:3M intercropping were significantly lower than those in 2P:2M and 2P:4M patterns. The population of parasitoids and the parasitism rate of PTM in intercropping pattern of 2P:3M were significantly higher than that in intercropping pattern of 2P:2M, 2P:4M and monocropping pattern of 2P:0M. We conclude that the potato intercropped with maize reduced the adult and larva populations, and reduced the damage from PTM by enhancing the number of parasitoids and the level of parasitism. The greatest population density of parasitoids and parasitism rate were in the intercropping pattern of 2 rows of potatoes with 3 rows of maize. These data indicate that the host/non-host intercropping patterns can be used as a biological control tactic against PTM by enhancing the density of natural enemies in the agro-ecosystems.
Roles of internal climate variabilities regulating global and ocean temperature changes is a hot but complex issue of scientific concern, influencing the comprehensive policy-making in response to ...global and regional warming. In this study, the time series of monthly global and ocean mean surface temperature (GST and OST, respectively) since 1866 is successfully reconstructed via natural and anthropogenic forcing factors and internal climate variability by using a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural network technique. The MLP demonstrates prominent monthly GST and OST reconstruction skills on both interannual and annual time scales. Most of the warming in GST and OST since 1866 is found to be attributable to anthropogenic forcing, while the multidecadal and interannual GST and OST variations are considerably dominated by Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Internal climate variabilities like Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) can amplify the GST and OST changes and explain the global warming slowdown since 1998. Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) performs a similar role as IPO but to a lesser extent. Changes in OST caused by solar forcing are more considerable than those in GST. Moreover, the ‘biased warmth’ during the Second World War is successfully reconstructed in MLP. AMO and IPO can explain most annual and even sub-annual temperature variations during this period, offering an explanation for the existence of this abnormal warm period other than that it was entirely caused by instrumental errors. The generally high accuracy of reconstructions on interannual and annual time scales can enhance the ability to monitor the prompt feedback of specific external radiative forcings and internal variabilities to changes in climate.
Fluorescent RNA is a kind of emerging RNA labeling technique that can be used for
labeling and imaging of RNA in live cells, which plays an important role in understanding the function and regulation ...mechanism of RNA. Biosensing technology based on fluorescent RNA can be applied in dynamic detection of small molecule metabolites and proteins in real time, offering valuable tools for basic life science research and biomedical sensing technology development. In this review, we introduce the development of genetically encoded fluorescent RNA, and the application of fluorescent RNA in RNA imaging and biosensing technology based on fluorescent RNA in biosensing in live cell. Meanwhile, we discuss the direction and challenge of future development of fluorescent RNA technology to provide valuable insights for further development and application of this technology in relevant fields.
The aims of this study were to explore changes in the telomere length (relative telomere repeat copy/single-copy gene T/S ratio) and serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels in female patients ...with chronic insomnia disorder (CID), examine their relationships with emotional abnormalities and cognitive impairment, and determine whether these 2 indicators were independently associated with sleep quality.
The CID group contained 80 patients diagnosed with CID, and 51 individuals constituted a healthy control group. Participants completed sleep, emotion, and cognition assessments. Telomere length was detected through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine sNfL concentrations.
Relative to the healthy control group, the CID group had elevated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Hamilton Anxiety Scale-14, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 scores and reduced Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale scores, a decreased T/S ratio, and an increased sNfL concentration. Subgroup analysis according to various CID-associated sleep factors showed that poor sleep performance corresponded to a lower T/S ratio. Higher anxiety levels and more cognitive dysfunction correlated with shorter telomere lengths. The T/S ratio negatively correlated with age, whereas the sNfL concentration positively correlated with age in the CID group. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score negatively correlated with the T/S ratio but did not correlate with sNfL levels. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the T/S ratio had a negative and independent effect on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores.
The CID group had shorter telomeres and higher sNfL concentrations, and reduced telomere length independently affected sleep quality.
Ren C-Y, Liu P-P, Li J, et al. Changes in telomere length and serum neurofilament light chain levels in female patients with chronic insomnia disorder.
. 2022;18(2):383-392.
Multiple mode gain competition in self-mixing laser diode has been investigated assisted by output optical spectrum. Experimental results show that multi-peaks appear in self-mixing signals depending ...on the length of the external cavity. The numbers of self-mixing peak signals are the same as that of the output optical spectrum. Laser multi-mode gain competition model has been established to analyze the multiple mode competition in self-mixing laser diode. Numerical analysis demonstrates that the sub-peak in self-mixing signals is attributed to mode gain competition between different longitudinal laser modes.
Abundant specimens of Watsonella crosbyi are here documented for the first time from the Yanjiahe Formation in Three Gorges area, South China. Specimens were collected from siliceous-phosphatic, ...intraclastic limestones at the base of Bed 5 in the measured Yanjiahe section, indicating a Cambrian Stage 2 position for Bed 5. The widely used, regional Aldanella yanjiaheensis assemblage zone in Three Gorges area is revised herein as the Watsonella crosbyi zone, allowing for greater accuracy and utility when correlating on a global scale. The examination of microstructures of W. crosbyi further confirms that its shell consists of two layers: an outer prismatic layer and an inner lamello-fibrillar layer with a stepwise texture. A pair of muscle attachment sites below the apex provide new soft part information about Watsonella, confirming that Watsonella is an untorted helcionelloid (mollusc) with endogastrically coiled shell. The stratigraphic range of W. crosbyi in the Yanjiahe Formation correlates with the ranges of the taxon elsewhere in South China as well as in Siberia, Mongolia, Avalonia, Australia and France. Its nearly cosmopolitan distribution and its occurrence across a range of facies and palaeolatitudes reinforce the notion that the FAD of W. crosbyi represents the best candidate for defining the base of Cambrian Stage 2.
Progressive collapse has attracted enormous research interests since the catastrophic 911 event. However, there is still a lack of fast assessment methods for assessing the damage state of structures ...suffering a certain initial local failure. In this paper, a newly developed efficient numerical model is introduced for progressive collapse analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structure, and the reliability of the numerical model is verified by a collapse test. Then, the fast assessment method is proposed based on both the numerical model and energy approach. A 6-story RC frame structure is taken as an example, and three different initial failure scenarios are analysed by both the proposed fast assessment method and direct dynamic analysis method. Results indicate that although only one static analysis is required for the proposed fast assessment method, the accuracy is almost identical with that of direct dynamic analysis.
The ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) converter station is the core of the UHVDC project to realize the mutual conversion of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). Its operational ...reliability directly affects the safety of personnel and equipment and the stable operation of the grid. The firestop system is key part of the protective system in converter station, and it faces the threat of fire and explosion of converter transformer. In this paper, in order to improve the safety performance of the firestop system of the valve hall of the existing converter station, the blast resistant design target of the firestop structure and a fireproof and blast resistant strengthening scheme are proposed; For a typical UHV converter station, the dynamic response process under different explosion conditions is further analyzed by numerical model. The results show that the strengthening scheme proposed in this paper can effectively meet the requirements of blast resistant design targets, and greatly improve the safety performance of the firestop system of the valve hall of the converter station under fire and explosion.
In this paper, a new blast and fire stopping system of valve hall for UHVDC converter station is proposed. With the hydrocarbon temperature rise curve, the fire resistance test of a 1.4m×1.8m sample ...was carried out, a numerical model for blast resistant analysis of the firestop structure was established, and the blast resistant performances of the original firestop structure and the new structure were calculated. The results show that the new fire and blast stopping system proposed in this paper has a fire endurance time limit of more than 4 hours with the hydrocarbon heating curve. At the same time, compared with the original system, the blast resistant capability of the new firestop structure is greatly improved.
The ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) converter station is the core of the UHVDC project to realize the mutual conversion of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). Its operational ...reliability directly affects the safety of personnel and equipment and the stable operation of the grid. The firestop system is key part of the protective system in converter station, and it faces the threat of fire and explosion of converter transformer. In this paper, in order to analyze the shortcomings of the existing firestop system of valve halls, numerical models for fire and blast resistance analysis of typical firestop system are established. For a typical UHVDC converter station, the temperature distribution under hydrocarbon heating curve and dynamic response under different blast loads are analyzed by using the established numerical model. And the results show that the existing firestop system has good heat insulation performance, while the blast resistance cannot meet the demand.
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