Polynomial Chaos Expansion for Probabilistic Uncertainty Propagation

Uncertainty propagation (UP) methods are of great importance to design optimization under uncertainty. As a well-known and rigorous probabilistic UP approach, the polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) technique has been widely studied and applied. However, there is a lack of comprehensive overviews and studies of the latest advances of the PCE methods, and there is still a large gap between the academic research and engineering application for PCE due to its high computational cost. In this chapter, latest advances of the PCE theory and method are elaborated, in which the newly developed data-driven PCE method that does not depend on the complete information of input probabilistic distribution as the common PCE approaches is introduced and improved. Meanwhile, the least angle regression technique and the trust region scenario are, respectively, extended to reduce the computational cost of data-driven PCE to accommodate it to practical engineering design applications. In addition, comprehensive comparisons are made to explore the relative merits of the most commonly used PCE approaches in the literature to help designers to choose more suitable PCE techniques in probabilistic design optimization

Protocol for Seahorse Analysis of Ex Vivo Mouse Brown and White Adipose Tissues

The mitochondrial stress test is a gold-standard approach for assessing adipose tissue physiological functions and pathological changes. Here, we present a protocol for conducting Seahorse assays using ex vivo mouse brown and white adipose depots. We describe steps for rehydrating the cartridge, preparing freshly harvested fat depots, placing them onto an islet capture plate, and incubating them in a non-CO2 incubator. We then detail procedures for adding mitochondrial stressor solutions and conducting the mitochondrial stress test using the Seahorse XFe24 Analyzer. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to An et al.1

The Research on the Relationship between the Social Support and Mental Health Status of the Rural Elderly Five Years after 5.12 Earthquake

Objective: To understand the mental health status and social support status of the elderly population in rural areas after 5.12 earthquake disaster and its influence on mental health status. Methods: 195 rural elderly in Pengzhou mountainous areas (Longmen mountain town, Ci feng town, Xiao yudong town, Tongji town, Bailu town, Xinxing town) 6 towns were investigated by random questionnaire, self-made demographic scale, Symptom self-rating Scale (SCL-90) and Social Support scale. Results: (1) The social support status of the rural elderly was good, but the mental health levels were significantly lower than the national norm (p<0.001), and the prevalence of psychological symptoms was 6.16% (12/195). (2) The total score of social support and scores of subjective support were negatively correlated with the depression factors of mental health (r subjective support = -0.167 p<0.05, r social support total mark = -0.168 p<0.05), and the subjective support had a predictive effect on depression (β=-0.086, p<0.05). Conclusion: Although the detection rate of mental health of rural elderly in the five years after the earthquake is not high, the score of all dimensions of scl-90 is significantly lower than the norm, and the good social support will alleviate mental health problems

Cellulose-Based Thermoplastics and Elastomers via Controlled Radical Polymerization

This chapter is concerned with the recent progress in cellulose-based thermoplastic plastics and elastomers via homogeneous controlled radical polymerizations (CRPs), including atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP). The first section is a brief introduction of cellulose and cellulose graft copolymers. The second section is recent developments in cellulose graft copolymers synthesized by CRPs. The third part is a perspective on design and applications of novel cellulose-based materials. The combination of cellulose and CRPs can provide new opportunities for sustainable materials ranging from thermoplastics to elastomers, and these fascinating materials can find a pyramid of applications in our daily life in the near future

Material and Energy Efficiency Analysis of Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition of TiO2 Film

AbstractIn this paper, Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD) of TiO2 thin film process is chosen as the research object to study the material and energy consumptions in this process. The material and energy utilization efficiencies have been calculated and compared under five different reaction conditions (623K, 500Pa; 673K, 500Pa; 723K, 500Pa; 673K, 400Pa; 673K, 300Pa). The material utilization efficiency result reveals that the material utilization in this process is rather low (less 1% in each condition) and increases with higher temperature and lower pressure. The energy analysis result shows that the energy efficiency is extremely low (less 0.1% in each condition) and increases with decreasing temperature and increasing pressure. The reaction condition (623K, 500Pa) is regarded as a satisfactory condition with the highest energy efficiency (0.083%) in spite of the lowest material utilization efficiency (0.5%). This research can lay a foundation for the future optimization work to improve the sustainability performance of LPCVD preparing thin films

Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumors, Not Otherwise Specified: Analysis of Nine Cases With a Literature Review

BACKGROUND: Ovarian steroid cell tumors (SCTs), not otherwise specified (NOS), are rare, with few large studies. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical features, prognosis, and treatment choices for these patients of different age groups. METHODS: This was a retrospective study. We identified nine cases of ovarian steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified, confirmed by post-operative histopathological examination, and analyzed clinical features, surgical procedures, and follow up outcomes. We also reviewed cases reports of ovarian steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified. RESULTS: A total of nine cases were included. The age range was 9-68 years (mean, 41.89 ± 19.72 years). Clinical features included virilization, amenorrhea, abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, isosexual precocious puberty, Cushing\u27s syndrome, and abnormal weight gain with elevated testosterone levels. The follow up interval ranged 5-53 months and no recurrence was observed. CONCLUSION: Ovarian steroid cell tumors covered all age groups, with manifestations of androgen excess. Younger patients appeared to have a more favorable prognosis, which provided more opportunities for these patients to pursue treatment options that will preserve reproductive function

Rewiring of primary metabolism for ammonium recycling under short-term low CO2 treatment – its implication for C4 evolution

The dramatic decrease in atmospheric CO2 concentration during Oligocene was proposed as directly linked to C4 evolution. However, it remains unclear how the decreased CO2 concentration directly facilitate C4 evolution, besides its role as a selection pressure. We conducted a systematic transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis under short-term low CO2 condition and found that Arabidopsis grown under this condition showed 1) increased expression of most genes encoding C4-related enzymes and transporters; 2) increased expression of genes involved in photorespiration and pathways related to carbon skeleton generation for ammonium refixation; 3) increased expression of genes directly involved in ammonium refixation. Furthermore, we found that in vitro treatment of leaves with NH4+ induced a similar pattern of changes in C4 related genes and genes involved in ammonium refixation. These data support the view that Arabidopsis grown under short-term low CO2 conditions rewired its metabolism to supply carbon skeleton for ammonium recycling, during which process the expression of C4 genes were up-regulated as a result of a hitchhiking process. This study provides new insights into the adaptation of the C3 model plant Arabidopsis under low CO2 conditions and suggests that low CO2 can facilitate the evolution of C4 photosynthesis beyond the commonly assumed role of being a selection pressure

Screening candidate genes for fruit size based on QTL-seq in Chinese jujube

IntroductionFruit size is an important economic trait affecting jujube fruit quality, which has always been the focus of marker-assisted breeding of jujube traits. However, despite a large number of studies have been carried out, the mechanism and key genes regulating jujube fruit size are mostly unknown.MethodsIn this study, we used a new analysis method Quantitative Trait Loci sequencing (QTL-seq) (bulked segregant analysis) to screen the parents ‘Yuhong’ and ‘Jiaocheng 5’ with significant phenotypic differences and mixed offspring group with extreme traits of large fruit and small fruit, respectively, and, then, DNA mixed pool sequencing was carried out to further shortening the QTL candidate interval for fruit size trait and excavated candidate genes for controlling fruit size.ResultsThe candidate intervals related to jujube fruit size were mainly located on chromosomes 1, 5, and 10, and the frequency of chromosome 1 was the highest. Based on the QTL-seq results, the annotation results of ANNOVAR were extracted from 424 SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) and 164 InDels (insertion-deletion), from which 40 candidate genes were selected, and 37 annotated candidate genes were found in the jujube genome. Four genes (LOC107428904, LOC107415626, LOC125420708, and LOC107418290) that are associated with fruit size growth and development were identified by functional annotation of the genes in NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). The genes can provide a basis for further exploration and identification on genes regulating jujube fruit size.DiscussionIn summary, the data obtained in this study revealed that QTL intervals and candidate genes for fruit size at the genomic level provide valuable resources for future functional studies and jujube breeding

The identification and characterization of nucleic acid chaperone activity of human enterovirus 71 nonstructural protein 3AB

AbstractHuman enterovirus 71 (EV71) belongs to the genus Enterovirus in the family Picornaviridae and has been recognized as one of the most important pathogens that cause emerging infectious disease. Despite of the importance of EV71, the nonstructural protein 3AB from this virus is little understood for its function during EV71 replication. Here we expressed EV71 3AB protein as recombinant protein in a eukaryotic expression system and uncovered that this protein possesses a nucleic acid helix-destabilizing and strand annealing acceleration activity in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that EV71 3AB is a nucleic acid chaperone protein. Moreover, we characterized the RNA chaperone activity of EV71 3AB, and revealed that divalent metal ions, such as Mg2+ and Zn2+, were able to inhibit the RNA helix-destabilizing activity of 3AB to different extents. Moreover, we determined that 3B plus the last 7 amino acids at the C-terminal of 3A (termed 3B+7) possess the RNA chaperone activity, and five amino acids, i.e. Lys-80, Phe-82, Phe-85, Tyr-89, and Arg-103, are critical and probably the active sites of 3AB for its RNA chaperone activity. This report reveals that EV71 3AB displays an RNA chaperone activity, adds a new member to the growing list of virus-encoded RNA chaperones, and provides novel knowledge about the virology of EV71