Optimization of freezing point regulator and its penetration dynamics on large yellow croaker

Different kinds of freezing-point regulators were evaluated to expand the freezing point zone of large yellow croaker, and several treatment methods such as ordinary atmospheric pressure, vacuum environment and injection during the process of penetration were compared to reveal the relationship of diffusion velocities, diffusion time and freezing point of the large yellow croaker. Results obtained for ideal freezing-point regulators were as follows: Sodium chloride 2.5% (w/w), trehalose 2.5% (w/w) and edible alcohol 2.0% (w/w), which could decrease the freezing point from -1.5℃ to -4.2℃. Comparing with atmospheric pressure or vacuum degrees treatment, using injection method to deal with the freezing-point regulators could decrease the freezing point in a short time and benefit the meat quality

Improving the eco-environment in the western-China by applying local tree species: Issues and implications for global arid areas

Local tree species would perform an important role in forestation, because they have more advantages than exotic species in terms of the physiological and adaptation aspects. In this article, we discussed some main factors which affect the drought resistance of trees and depict some anti-droughtcharacteristics and mechanisms of some local species. These factors include osmoregulation, antioxidant system, transpiration and the shape and structure of trees. At the same time, we also make some suggestions and discussions for the application of typical local tree species in the west-China for improving regional, national and international environmental quality

Q & A Experiment to Search for Vacuum Dichroism, Pseudoscalar-Photon Interaction and Millicharged Fermions

A number of experiments are underway to detect vacuum birefringence and dichroism -- PVLAS, Q & A, and BMV. Recently, PVLAS experiment has observed optical rotation in vacuum by a magnetic field (vacuum dichroism). Theoretical interpretations of this result include a possible pseudoscalar-photon interaction and the existence of millicharged fermions. Here, we report the progress and first results of Q & A (QED [quantum electrodynamics] and Axion) experiment proposed and started in 1994. A 3.5-m high-finesse (around 30,000) Fabry-Perot prototype detector extendable to 7-m has been built and tested. We use X-pendulums and automatic control schemes developed by the gravitational-wave detection community for mirror suspension and cavity control. To polarize the vacuum, we use a 2.3-T dipole permanent magnet, with 27-mm-diameter clear borehole and 0.6-m field length,. In the experiment, the magnet is rotated at 5-10 rev/s to generate time-dependent polarization signal with twice the rotation frequency. Our ellipsometer/polarization-rotation-detection-system is formed by a pair of Glan-Taylor type polarizing prisms with extinction ratio lower than 10-8 together with a polarization modulating Faraday Cell with/without a quarter wave plate. We made an independent calibration of our apparatus by performing a measurement of gaseous Cotton-Mouton effect of nitrogen. We present our first experimental results and give a brief discussion of our experimental limit on pseudo-scalar-photon interaction and millicharged fermions.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures, submitted to Modern Physics Letter

Genetic Loci Associated With Fluoride Resistance in Streptococcus mutans

The prolonged exposure of the cariogenic bacterial species Streptococcus mutans to high concentrations of fluoride leads to the development of fluoride resistance in this species. Previous studies confirmed the involvement of a mutation in a single chromosomal region in the occurrence of fluoride resistance. The involvement of multiple genomic mutations has not been verified. The aim of this study is to identify multiple genetic loci associated with fluoride resistance in S. mutans. The previously published whole genome sequences of two fluoride-resistant S. mutans strains (UA159-FR and C180-2FR) and their corresponding wild-type strains (UA159 and C180-2) were analyzed to locate shared chromosomal mutations in fluoride-resistant strains. Both fluoride-resistant strains were isolated in laboratory by culturing their mother strains in media with high concentrations of fluoride. The corresponding gene expression and enzyme activities were accordingly validated. Mutations were identified in two glycolytic enzymes, namely pyruvate kinase and enolase. Pyruvate kinase was deactivated in fluoride-resistant strain C180-2FR. Enolase was less inhibited by fluoride in fluoride-resistant strain UA159-FR than in its wild-type strain. Mutations in the promoter mutp constitutively increased the promoter activity and up-regulated the expression of the downstream fluoride antiporters in fluoride-resistant strains. Mutations in the intergenic region glpFp led to lower expression of glpF, encoding a glycerol uptake facilitator protein, in fluoride-resistant strains than in wild-type strains. Our results revealed that there is overlap of chromosomal regions with mutations among different fluoride-resistant S. mutans strains. They provide novel candidates for the study of the mechanisms of fluoride resistance

Urinary proteomics combined with home blood pressure telemonitoring for health care reform trial: rational and protocol

Background: Hypertension and diabetes cause chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction (DVD) as forerunners of disability and death. Home blood pressure telemonitoring (HTM) and urinary peptidomic profiling (UPP) are technologies enabling prevention. Methods: UPRIGHT-HTM (Urinary Proteomics Combined with Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring for Health Care Reform [NCT04299529]) is an investigator-initiated 5-year clinical trial with patient-centred design, which will randomise 1148 patients to be recruited in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and South America. During the whole study, HTM data will be collected and freely accessible for patients and caregivers. The UPP, measured at enrolment only, will be communicated early during follow-up to 50% of patients and their caregivers (intervention), but only at trial closure in 50% (control). The hypothesis is that early knowledge of the UPP risk profile will lead to more rigorous risk factor management and result in benefit. Eligible patients, aged 55-75 years old, are asymptomatic, but have ≥5 CKD- or DVD-related risk factors, preferably including hypertension, type-2 diabetes, or both. The primary endpoint is a composite of new-onset intermediate and hard cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Demonstrating that combining UPP with HTM is feasible in a multicultural context and defining the molecular signatures of early CKD and DVD are secondary endpoints. Expected outcomes: The expected outcome is that application of UPP on top of HTM will be superior to HTM alone in the prevention of CKD and DVD and associated complications and that UPP allows shifting emphasis from treating to preventing disease, thereby empowering patients

Relative and Absolute Risk to Guide the Management of Pulse Pressure, an Age-Related Cardiovascular Risk Factor

BACKGROUND Pulse pressure (PP) reflects the age-related stiffening of the central arteries, but no study addressed the management of the PP-related risk over the human lifespan. METHODS In 4663 young (18-49 years) and 7185 older adults (≥50 years), brachial PP was recorded over 24-hour. Total mortality and all major cardiovascular events combined (MACE) were co-primary endpoints. Cardiovascular death, coronary events and stroke were secondary endpoints. RESULTS In young adults (median follow-up, 14.1 years; mean PP, 45.1 mmHg), greater PP was not associated with absolute risk; the endpoint rates were ≤2.01 per 1000 person-years. The adjusted hazard ratios expressed per 10-mmHg PP increments were less than unity (P≤0.027) for MACE (0.67; 95% CI, 0.47-0.96) and cardiovascular death (0.33; 95% CI, 0.11-0.75). In older adults (median follow-up, 13.1 years; mean PP, 52.7 mmHg), the endpoint rates, expressing absolute risk, ranged from 22.5 to 45.4 per 1000 person-years and the adjusted hazard ratios, reflecting relative risk, from 1.09 to 1.54 (P3-fold from age 55 to 75 years, whereas absolute risk rose by a factor 3. CONCLUSIONS From 50 years onwards, the PP-related relative risk decreases, whereas absolute risk increases. From a lifecourse perspective, young adulthood provides a window of opportunity to manage risk factors and prevent target organ damage as forerunner of premature death and MACE. In older adults, treatment should address absolute risk, thereby extending life in years and qualit

Comparison of Gross Primary Productivity Derived from GIMMS NDVI3g, GIMMS, and MODIS in Southeast Asia

Gross primary production (GPP) plays an important role in the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems. It is particularly important to monitor GPP in Southeast Asia because of increasing rates of tropical forest degradation and deforestation in the region in recent decades. The newly available, improved, third generation Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI3g) from the Global Inventory Modelling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) group provides a long temporal dataset, from July 1981 to December 2011, for terrestrial carbon cycle and climate response research. However, GIMMS NDVI3g-based GPP estimates are not yet available. We applied the GLOPEM-CEVSA model, which integrates an ecosystem process model and a production efficiency model, to estimate GPP in Southeast Asia based on three independent results of the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by vegetation (FPAR) from GIMMS NDVI3g (GPPNDVI3g), GIMMS NDVI1g (GPPNDVI1g), and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MOD15A2 FPAR product (GPPMOD15). The GPP results were validated using ground data from eddy flux towers located in different forest biomes, and comparisons were made among the three GPPs as well as the MOD17A2 GPP products (GPPMOD17). Based on validation with flux tower derived GPP estimates the results show that GPPNDVI3g is more accurate than GPPNDVI1g and is comparable in accuracy with GPPMOD15. In addition, GPPNDVI3g and GPPMOD15 have good spatial-temporal consistency. Our results indicate that GIMMS NDVI3g is an effective dataset for regional GPP simulation in Southeast Asia, capable of accurately tracking the variation and trends in long-term terrestrial ecosystem GPP dynamics

Renormalization Group Running of Lepton Mixing Parameters in See-Saw Models with S4S_4 Flavor Symmetry

We study the renormalization group running of the tri-bimaximal mixing predicted by the two typical $S_4$ flavor models at leading order. Although the textures of the mass matrices are completely different, the evolution of neutrino mass and mixing parameters is found to display approximately the same pattern. For both normal hierarchy and inverted hierarchy spectrum, the quantum corrections to both atmospheric and reactor neutrino mixing angles are so small that they can be neglected. The evolution of the solar mixing angle $\theta_{12}$ depends on $\tan\beta$ and neutrino mass spectrum, the deviation from its tri-bimaximal value could be large. Taking into account the renormalization group running effect, the neutrino spectrum is constrained by experimental data on $\theta_{12}$ in addition to the self-consistency conditions of the models, and the inverted hierarchy spectrum is disfavored for large $\tan\beta$. The evolution of light-neutrino masses is approximately described by a common scaling factor.Comment: 23 pages, 6figure