Factors on perceived waiting time and implications on passengers’ satisfaction with waiting time

In order to explore the influence factors on perceived waiting time, a multiple linear regression model is used to quantitatively describe the relationship between perceived waiting time and various factors. The model is established with 234 data, which is surveyed with questionnaire in three stops in Harbin, China. The results show that several certain factors (“trip purpose-to where”, “presence of a companion-weather have a companion or not”, “having a timing device-weather have a timing device or not”, “riding frequency-how many times to take one line per week” and “waiting behavior-what to do when wait for a bus”) have significant influence on perceived waiting time, which confirms previous findings and supports transferability of results. The significance of “waiting mood-how about the mood when wait for a bus” and “reserved waiting time-how long will wait” are confirmed for the first time in this study. In contrast to previous studies, “waiting time interval-what time of one day” is a negative variable and socioeconomic variables are non-significant. And it is found that the relationship between perceived waiting time and passengers’ satisfaction with waiting time follows a decreasing exponential distribution. With this model, the variation trend of the section, where passengers’ satisfaction value is larger than 0, is obviously steeper than the section less than 0. Such result proves that passengers’ mood with short time are more sensitive than with longer waiting time. And the borderline perceived waiting time, distinguishing satisfied from dissatisfied passengers, is proved to be 7.87 minutes when assignment interval of satisfaction is (-25,25], when satisfaction is positive (larger than 0), the accuracy is 70.30%, while the accuracy is 82.71% for negative satisfaction (less than 0)

Projected Urbanization Impacts on Surface Climate and Energy Budgets in the Pearl River Delta of China

The climate impacts of future urbanization in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region in China were simulated with the Dynamics of Land Systems (DLS) model and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in this study. The land use and land cover data in 2000 and 2020 were simulated with the DLS model based on the regional development planning. Then the spatial and temporal changes of surface air temperature, ground heat flux, and regional precipitation in 2020 were quantified and analyzed through comparing simulation results by WRF. Results show that the built-up land will become the dominant land use type in the PRD in 2020. Besides, the near-surface air temperature shows an increasing trend on the whole region in both summer and winter, but with some seasonal variation. The urban temperature rise is more apparent in summer than it is in winter. In addition, there is some difference between the spatial pattern of precipitation in summer and winter in 2020; the spatial variation of precipitation is a bit greater in summer than it is in winter. Results can provide significant reference for the land use management to alleviate the climate change

Simultaneous Mutations in Multi-Viral Proteins Are Required for Soybean mosaic virus to Gain Virulence on Soybean Genotypes Carrying Different R Genes

BACKGROUND: Genetic resistance is the most effective and sustainable approach to the control of plant pathogens that are a major constraint to agriculture worldwide. In soybean, three dominant R genes, i.e., Rsv1, Rsv3 and Rsv4, have been identified and deployed against Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) with strain-specificities. Molecular identification of virulent determinants of SMV on these resistance genes will provide essential information for the proper utilization of these resistance genes to protect soybean against SMV, and advance knowledge of virus-host interactions in general. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To study the gain and loss of SMV virulence on all the three resistance loci, SMV strains G7 and two G2 isolates L and LRB were used as parental viruses. SMV chimeras and mutants were created by partial genome swapping and point mutagenesis and then assessed for virulence on soybean cultivars PI96983 (Rsv1), L-29 (Rsv3), V94-5152 (Rsv4) and Williams 82 (rsv). It was found that P3 played an essential role in virulence determination on all three resistance loci and CI was required for virulence on Rsv1- and Rsv3-genotype soybeans. In addition, essential mutations in HC-Pro were also required for the gain of virulence on Rsv1-genotype soybean. To our best knowledge, this is the first report that CI and P3 are involved in virulence on Rsv1- and Rsv3-mediated resistance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Multiple viral proteins, i.e., HC-Pro, P3 and CI, are involved in virulence on the three resistance loci and simultaneous mutations at essential positions of different viral proteins are required for an avirulent SMV strain to gain virulence on all three resistance loci. The likelihood of such mutations occurring naturally and concurrently on multiple viral proteins is low. Thus, incorporation of all three resistance genes in a soybean cultivar through gene pyramiding may provide durable resistance to SMV

An Alternative Globalization Barometer for Investigating the Trend of Globalization

Analyzing, evaluating, and predicting the trend of globalization are highly valuable endeavors. However, existing literature lacks a quantifiable metric for objective evaluation. To fill the gap, we first compiled a Globalization Index based on existing globalization indices and using the CRITIC weighting method. Second, we constructed the Globalization Barometer and a trend term for trend analysis using the HP filtering method. Third, we conducted time-series predictions for globalization trajectory by applying the Random Forest model. Our results indicate that: (1) The de facto and de jure globalization both displayed a gradually upward trend over time; (2) the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted globalization and served as turning points; (3) on a positive note, COVID-19 has narrowed the gap in both de facto and de jure globalization. This is due to the fact that the shocks were uneven, with economies that participated more in globalization weathering the brunt of the impact, while economies that participated less experiencing little changes; (4) the de facto and de jure globalization are predicted to remain on an upward trend for the subsequent 5 years. This research provides essential references for assessing and predicting globalization trends

Selection of reference genes for normalization of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) gene expression under different experimental conditions.

Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) is often chosen as an effective experimental method for analyzing gene expression. However, an appropriate reference gene as a standard is needed to obtain accurate gene expression data. To date, no internal reference genes have been reported for research on cranberries. Expanding the selection of internal reference genes for cranberry will enable reliable gene expression analysis, and, at the same time, can also lay a solid foundation for revealing the biological characteristics of cranberry. Here, we selected ten candidate reference gene families and used three statistical software tools-geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper-to evaluate their expression stability under the influence of different experimental factors. The results showed that protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit (PP2A) or RNA helicase-like 8 (RH 8) was the best choice for an internal reference gene when analyzing different cranberry cultivars. In two sample sets comprising different cranberry organs and three abiotic stress treatments, sand family protein (SAND) was the best choice as a reference gene. In this study, we screened genes that are stably expressed under the influence of various experimental factors by qRT-PCR. Our results will guide future studies involving gene expression analysis of cranberry

Genome-wide identification and characterization of COMT gene family during the development of blueberry fruit

Background: Caffeic acid O-methyltransferases (COMTs) play an important role in the diversification of natural products, especially in the phenylalanine metabolic pathway of plant. The content of COMT genes in blueberry and relationship between their expression patterns and the lignin content during fruit development have not clearly investigated by now. Results: Ninety-two VcCOMTs were identified in Vaccinium corymbosum. According to phylogenetic analyses, the 92 VcCOMTs were divided into 2 groups. The gene structure and conserved motifs within groups were similar which supported the reliability of the phylogenetic structure groupings. Dispersed duplication (DSD) and whole-genome duplication (WGD) were determined to be the major forces in VcCOMTs evolution. The results showed that the results of qRT-PCR and lignin content for 22 VcCOMTs, VcCOMT40 and VcCOMT92 were related to lignin content at different stages of fruit development of blueberry. Conclusion: We identified COMT gene family in blueberry, and performed comparative analyses of the phylogenetic relationships in the 15 species of land plant, and gene duplication patterns of COMT genes in 5 of the 15 species. We found 2 VcCOMTs were highly expressed and their relative contents were similar to the variation trend of lignin content during the development of blueberry fruit. These results provide a clue for further study on the roles of VcCOMTs in the development of blueberry fruit and could promisingly be foundations for breeding blueberry clutivals with higher fruit firmness and longer shelf life

Identification and quantification of anthocyanins of 62 blueberry cultivars via UPLC-MS

AbstractBlueberries are rich in anthocyanins, which are plant-specific secondary metabolites that are a good source of plant nutrients. Although anthocyanins have been investigated, there is a lack of comprehensive detailed research that includes large numbers of blueberry cultivars, and the anthocyanin compositions of some cultivars are still unknown. Consequently, we determined the anthocyanin compositions of 62 cultivars using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS). In total, we identified 30 anthocyanins derived from five kinds of anthocyanidin. We also identified four glycosides having three kinds of modifications. Among the tested cultivars, ‘Rubel’ contained the highest anthocyanin content, at 534.158 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), whereas ‘Puru’ contained the lowest anthocyanin content at 71.734 mg/100 g FW. ‘Malvidin-gal’ had the highest average content among all the anthocyanin monomers, at 48.95 mg/100 g FW. ‘HL9’ had the greatest methylation degree, at 79.39%, and ‘HL2’ had the greatest acetylation degree, at 25.14%. This study provides detailed anthocyanin compositions and modifications of different blueberry cultivars. These data will aid in breeding high-quality blueberry cultivars and in developing related healthy functional foods

Dietary Vitamin D3 Requirement of Juvenile Rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii)

Rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) is a near-shore, carnivorous coldwater fish, primarily distributed in the East China Sea, Korean peninsula, Japan, and the Sea of Okhotsk. Owing to its delicious meat, strong disease resistance, rapid growth, and other characteristics, it has become one of the main cultured fish in deep water cages in northern China. A high-quality and efficient formula diet for rockfish has not been developed because of nutrient requirement deficiencies. As vitamin D3 is the most important form of vitamin D and only exists in animals, cultured fish can only obtain vitamin D3 from their diet. Vitamin D3 can maintain the mineral homeostasis in fish, participate in the endocrine system, and affect the proliferation and apoptosis of immune cells. As such, this experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary vitamin D3 on growth performance, body composition, and immune function of juvenile rockfish and determine the optimum dietary vitamin D3 requirement. Six kinds of isonitrogenous and isolipidemic diets with 707, 1254, 1740, 2513, 4519, and 8671 IU/kg of vitamin D3 were prepared by adding 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 IU/kg of vitamin D3 into the basic diet. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of juveniles with initial bodyweights of (20.95±0.05) g for eight weeks. The fish were challenged with Vibrio harveyi for 48 hours after feeding. Results showed that, with the increase of vitamin D3 contents, both the weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate first increased and then decreased, reaching a maximum value in the 2513 IU/kg group, which was significantly higher than that in the 707 IU/kg group. The feed conversion rate first decreased and then increased and was significantly lower in the 2513 IU/kg group than other groups. Both viscerosomtic index and hepatosomatic index decreased significantly and were significantly higher in the 707 IU/kg group than in other groups. There were no significant differences in the condition factor and survival rate among all groups. The crude fat of whole fish and muscle showed an increasing trend, reaching a maximum value in the 4519 IU/kg group, which was significantly higher than 707 IU/kg group. The crude muscle protein first decreased and then increased; the 8671 IU/kg group was significantly higher than the 1740 IU/kg and 2513 IU/kg groups. The moisture, crude protein, and crude ash of whole fish, as well as the muscle moisture and crude ash, had no significant differences in concentration among all groups. The spine crude ash showed an increasing trend; the 1740~8671 IU/kg groups had significantly higher contents than the 707 IU/kg group. The calcium contents increased with the increase of dietary vitamin D3 levels. Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase activities first increased and then decreased, reaching a maximum in the 2513 IU/kg group. The malondialdehyde (MDA) contents first decreased and then increased; the 2513 IU/kg group had significantly lower content than the 707 IU/kg group. Complement 3 (C3) contents first increased and then decreased; the 707 IU/kg group had significantly lower content than the other groups. Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase first decreased and then increased, reaching minimum values in the 2513 IU/kg group. The highest cholesterol and triglyceride values were observed in the 4519 IU/kg group. The calcium (Ca2+) contents first increased with the increase of dietary vitamin D3 levels, with the 707 IU/kg group showing significantly lower content than other groups. The phosphorus and complement 4 (C4) contents were not affected by dietary vitamin D3. After the challenge, T-AOC, MDA, C3, and C4 were significantly elevated; T-AOC, C3, and C4 in the serum had maximum values in the 2513 IU/kg group, and MDA reached its minimum value in the 2513 IU/kg group. With the increase of dietary vitamin D3 content, HSP70, MYD88, IRAK4, TRAF6, and TLR2 in the liver, and head kidney increased first and then decreased before and after the challenge. Gene expression was significantly elevated after the challenge. Taking WGR as the evaluation index, a broken line regression analysis showed that the optimum dietary vitamin D3 requirement was 2 223.45 IU/kg diet for juvenile rockfish S. schlegelii with the body weight of (20.95±0.05) g

An Alternative Adaptive Method for Seismic Data Denoising and Interpolation

Seismic data denoising and interpolation are generally essential steps for reflection processing and imaging workflow especially for the complex surface geologic conditions and the irregular acquisition field area. The rank-reduction method is a valid way for the attenuation of random noise and data interpolation by selecting the suitable threshold, i.e., the rank of the useful signals. However, it is difficult for the traditional rank-reduction method to select an appropriate threshold. In this paper, we propose an adaptive rank-reduction method based on the energy entropy to automatically estimate the rank as the threshold for seismic data processing and interpolation. This method considers the energy entropy into the traditional rank-reduction method. The energy entropy of signals can be used to indicate the energy intensity of a signal component in the total energy. The difference of the energy entropy between the useful signals and random noise is perceived as a measurement for selecting the appropriate threshold. Synthetic and field examples indicate that the proposed method can well achieve the attenuation of random noise and interpolation automatically without the estimation of the ranks and demonstrate the feasibility of the new adaptive method in seismic data denoising and interpolation