Number of Matchings of Low Order in (4,6)-Fullerene Graphs

We obtain the formulae for the numbers of 4-matchings and 5-matchings in terms of the number of hexagonal faces in (4, 6)-fullerene graphs by studying structural classification of 6-cycles and some local structural properties, which correct the corresponding wrong results published. Furthermore, we obtain a formula for the number of 6-matchings in tubular (4, 6)-fullerenes in terms of the number of hexagonal faces, and a formula for the number of 6-matchings in the other (4,6)-fullerenes in terms of the numbers of hexagonal faces and dual-squares.Comment: This article was already published in 2017 in MATCH Commun. Math. Comput. Chem. We are uploading it to arXiv for readers' convenienc

Projection of land surface temperature considering the effects of future land change in the Taihu Lake Basin of China

Land surface temperature (LST) is an important environmental parameter that is significantly affected by land use and landscape composition. Despite the recent progress in LST retrieval algorithms and better knowledge of the relationship between LST and land coverage indices, predictive studies of future LST patterns are limited. Here, we project LST patterns in the Taihu Lake Basin to the year 2026 based on projected land use pattern and simulated land coverage indices that include normalized difference built-up index (NDBI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference water index (NDWI). We derived the spatiotemporal LST patterns in the Taihu Lake Basin from 1996 to 2026 using thermal infrared data from Landsat imagery. A CA-Markov model was applied to project the 2026 land use pattern in the basin based on spatial driving factors, using the 2004 land use as the initial state. We simulated the NDBI, NDVI and NDWI indices for 2026 using the projected land use patterns, and then generated the 2026 LST in the study area. Our results showed that LST has been increasing and the warming areas have been expanding since 1996, especially in the Su-Xi-Chang urban agglomeration. The mean LST in Su-Xi-Chang has increased from 31 degrees C in 2004 and has risen to about 33 degrees C in 2016, and the projection suggests that LST will reach about 35 degrees C in 2026. Our results also suggest that mean LST increased by 2 degrees C per decade in this highly urbanized area between 1996 and 2026. We present a preliminary method to produce future LST patterns and provide reasonable LST scenarios in the Taihu Lake Basin, which should help develop and implement management strategies for mitigating the effects of urban heat island

A complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the wild two-humped camel (Camelus bactrianus ferus): an evolutionary history of camelidae

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The family Camelidae that evolved in North America during the Eocene survived with two distinct tribes, Camelini and Lamini. To investigate the evolutionary relationship between them and to further understand the evolutionary history of this family, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the wild two-humped camel (<it>Camelus bactrianus ferus</it>), the only wild survivor of the Old World camel.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mitochondrial genome sequence (16,680 bp) from <it>C. bactrianus ferus </it>contains 13 protein-coding, two rRNA, and 22 tRNA genes as well as a typical control region; this basic structure is shared by all metazoan mitochondrial genomes. Its protein-coding region exhibits codon usage common to all mammals and possesses the three cryptic stop codons shared by all vertebrates. <it>C. bactrianus ferus </it>together with the rest of mammalian species do not share a triplet nucleotide insertion (GCC) that encodes a proline residue found only in the <it>nd1 </it>gene of the New World camelid <it>Lama pacos</it>. This lineage-specific insertion in the <it>L. pacos </it>mtDNA occurred after the split between the Old and New World camelids suggests that it may have functional implication since a proline insertion in a protein backbone usually alters protein conformation significantly, and <it>nd1 </it>gene has not been seen as polymorphic as the rest of ND family genes among camelids. Our phylogenetic study based on complete mitochondrial genomes excluding the control region suggested that the divergence of the two tribes may occur in the early Miocene; it is much earlier than what was deduced from the fossil record (11 million years). An evolutionary history reconstructed for the family Camelidae based on <it>cytb </it>sequences suggested that the split of bactrian camel and dromedary may have occurred in North America before the tribe Camelini migrated from North America to Asia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Molecular clock analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes from <it>C. bactrianus ferus </it>and <it>L. pacos </it>suggested that the two tribes diverged from their common ancestor about 25 million years ago, much earlier than what was predicted based on fossil records.</p

The Protective Antibodies Induced by a Novel Epitope of Human TNF-α Could Suppress the Development of Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a major inflammatory mediator that exhibits actions leading to tissue destruction and hampering recovery from damage. At present, two antibodies against human TNF-α (hTNF-α) are available, which are widely used for the clinic treatment of certain inflammatory diseases. This work was undertaken to identify a novel functional epitope of hTNF-α. We performed screening peptide library against anti-hTNF-α antibodies, ELISA and competitive ELISA to obtain the epitope of hTNF-α. The key residues of the epitope were identified by means of combinatorial alanine scanning and site-specific mutagenesis. The N terminus (80–91 aa) of hTNF-α proved to be a novel epitope (YG1). The two amino acids of YG1, proline and valine, were identified as the key residues, which were important for hTNF-α biological function. Furthermore, the function of the epitope was addressed on an animal model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). CIA could be suppressed in an animal model by prevaccination with the derivative peptides of YG1. The antibodies of YG1 could also inhibit the cytotoxicity of hTNF-α. These results demonstrate that YG1 is a novel epitope associated with the biological function of hTNF-α and the antibodies against YG1 can inhibit the development of CIA in animal model, so it would be a potential target of new therapeutic antibodies

Dysfunctional gut microbiota and relative co-abundance network in infantile eczema

Additional file 1. The representative sequences of OTUs in 33 infants

Percutaneous ballon compression for recurrent TN —a retrospective study of 33 cases

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous microballoon compression in the treatment of recurrent TN.MethodsThis retrospective study included 33 patients who underwent percutaneous microballoon compression for the treatment of recurrent TN from March 2019 to May 2022. Postoperative pain recurrence and facial numbness were assessed according to the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain score. Patients’ anxiety and sleep status during follow-up were assessed according to the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).ResultsAll patients (33 cases) were followed up for 12–38 months, with an average follow-up time of 23 months. On postoperative day 1, 31 patients (93.9%) reported no pain, and 2 patients were given drug treatment for pain relief, The total efficacy was 93.9%. Moreover, 2 patients (6.1%) reported significant pain relief 2 weeks postoperatively. There are many complications during and after PBC. The incidence of the trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) during surgery was 100%, and the incidence of facial numbness, masseter muscle weakness, labial herpes and headache was 97, 60.6, 12.1 and 3%. No patient experienced severe facial numbness, hearing impairment, diplopia, injury to cranial nerves, Meningitis, intracranial haemorrhage or keratitis. 1 patient had recurrence of pain at 6 months post-op, which was relieved by oral medication. 81.8% suffered from anxiety and 54.5% had poor sleep quality before surgery. After the period of PBC, SAS and PSQI scores decreased continuously. There were significant improvements in anxiety and sleep status postoperatively compared with preoperatively.ConclusionPBC is a safe and effective option for the treatment of recurrent TN. The arduous and demanding nature of the clinical course subjects the patient to severe pain, mental, and physical stress. Thankfully, it significantly improves the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleep quality

Editorial note for the geodesy and geodynamics journal special issue contemporary research in geodynamics and earth tides-Selection from the 19th international symposium on geodynamics and earth tides, 2021, Wuhan, China

Modern geodetic technologies such as high-precision ground gravity measurement, satellite gravity measurement, global navigation satellite system, remote sensing, etc. provide rich observation data for monitoring various geodynamic processes on the of the global earth and on its surface surface and inside. The 19th International Symposium on Geodynamics and Earth Tides brought together scientific researchers from 26 countries around the world, shared the application of various measurements in different geoscience issues, covering Earth tidal deformation, oceanic and atmospheric loading effects, earthquake cycle, hydrology, Earth rotation changes, etc., and provided a very valuable exchange platform for global peers. Keywords: Earth tides, Gravity, Earthquake, Earth rotation, Hydrolog