Parallel structure general repetitive controller for general grid-connected PWM converters

This study investigates parallel structure general repetitive control (PSGRC) and its error convergence rate by using exponential function properties. PSGRC offers a general repetitive control solution for power converters to mitigate power harmonics distortions. PSGRC with appropriate settings will lead to various RCs with various error convergence rates at interested harmonic frequencies, e.g. conventional RC, dual-model RC, and odd harmonics RC. As application examples, PSGRC was applied into general grid-connected pulse-width-modulation (PWM) converter systems. Experimental results show the effectiveness and advantages of PSGRC: three/single-phase grid-connected PWM converters can achieve zero-error current tracking and very fast current error convergence rate upon demand

Dynamic Changes in the Global MicroRNAome and Transcriptome Identify Key Nodes Associated With Ovarian Development in Chickens

The analysis of gene expression patterns during ovarian follicle development will advance our understanding of avian reproductive physiology and make it possible to improve laying performance. To gain insight into the molecular regulation of ovarian development, a systematic profiling of miRNAs and mRNAs at four key stages was conducted, using ovarian tissues from hens at 60 days of age (A), 100 days (B), 140 days-not yet laying (C), and 140 days-laying (D). Comparisons of consecutive stages yielded 73 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) (14 for B vs. A, 8 for C vs. B, and 51 for D vs. C) and 2596 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (51 for B vs. A, 20 for C vs. B, and 2579 for D vs. C). In addition, 174 DEMs (22 for C vs. A, 74 for D vs. A, and 78 for D vs. B) and 3205 DEGs (118 for C vs. A, 2284 for D vs. A, and 2882 for D vs. B) were identified between nonconsecutive stages. Some DEGs are involved in the Wnt and TGF-beta signaling pathways, which are known to affect ovarian development and ovulation. An integrative analysis of the miRNA and mRNA profiles identified 3166 putative miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs containing 84 DEMs and 1047 DEGs. Functional annotation of the networks provides strong evidence that the miRNA regulatory networks may play vital roles in ovarian development and ovulation. Ten DEMs and 10 genes were validated by real-time quantitative PCR. The candidate miRNA-mRNA pairs gga-miR-200a-3p-SFRP4, gga-miR-101-3p-BMP5, gga-miR-32-5p-FZD4, and gga-miR-458b-5p-CTNNB1 potentially associated with ovarian development

Mechanism of cell polarisation and first lineage segregation in the human embryo

The formation of differential cell lineages in the mammalian blastocyst from the totipotent zygote is crucial for implantation and the success of the whole pregnancy. The first lineage segregation generates the polarised trophectoderm (TE) tissue, which forms the placenta, and the apolar inner cell mass (ICM), which mainly gives rise to all foetal tissues and also the yolk sac. The mechanism underlying this cell fate segregation has been extensively studied in the mouse embryo. However, when and how it takes place in the human embryo remains unclear. Here, using time-lapse imaging and 325 surplus human embryos, we provide a detailed characterisation of morphological events and transcription factor expression and localisation to understand how they lead to the first lineage segregation in human embryogenesis. We show that the first lineage segregation of the human embryo is triggered by cell polarisation that occurs at the 8-cell stage in two sequential steps. In the first step, F-actin becomes apically polarised concomitantly with embryo compaction. In the second step, the Par complex becomes polarised to form the apical cellular domain. Mechanistically, we show that activation of Phospholipase C (PLC) triggers actin polarisation and is therefore essential for apical domain formation, as is the case in mouse embryos. Finally, we show that, in contrast to the mouse embryo, the key extra-embryonic determinant GATA3 is expressed not only in extra-embryonic lineage precursors upon blastocyst formation. However, the cell polarity machinery enhances the expression and nuclear accumulation of GATA3. In summary, our results demonstrate for the first time that cell polarisation reinforces the first lineage segregation in the human embryo

New record of the cockroach genus Pseudophoraspis (Blaberidae, Epilamprinae) from China with descriptions of three new species

ThegenusPseudophoraspisKirby,1903withthree newspecies, Pseudophoraspis clavellata sp. n., Pseudophoraspis recurvata sp. n. and Pseudophoraspis incurvata sp. n.,arereportedfromChina forthefirsttime.This extends the range of this genus northward from Vietnam. Species studied in the present paper are illustrated and described, and a key to these species based on males is provided

Jacobsonina Hebard 1929

Genus <i>Jacobsonina</i> Hebard, 1929 <p> <i>Jacobsonina</i> Hebard, 1929: 56; Roth 1993: 282, Wang <i>et al</i>. 2009: 751.</p> <p> <b>Type species.</b> <i>Jacobsonina simplex</i> Hebard, 1929.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Tegmina and wings fully developed. Front femur Type B3. Pulvilli and arolia present, tarsal claws symmetrical, unspecialized. Abdominal terga unspecialized, or only the seventh or the first tergum specialized, with a glandular area. Supra-anal plate symmetrical, paraproct dissimilar. Hypandrium symmetrical or asymmetrical, styles absent.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Oriental Region.</p>Published as part of <i>Wu, Keliang, Yue, Qiaoyun, Qiu, Deyi & Liu, Dexing, 2014, One new species in the cockroach genus Jacobsonina Hebard 1929 (Blattodea, Ectobiidae, Blattellinae) from Mainland China, pp. 275-282 in Zootaxa 3847 (2)</i> on page 276, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3847.2.7, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/229179">http://zenodo.org/record/229179</a&gt

One new species in the cockroach genus Jacobsonina Hebard 1929 (Blattodea, Ectobiidae, Blattellinae) from Mainland China

Wu, Keliang, Yue, Qiaoyun, Qiu, Deyi, Liu, Dexing (2014): One new species in the cockroach genus Jacobsonina Hebard 1929 (Blattodea, Ectobiidae, Blattellinae) from Mainland China. Zootaxa 3847 (2): 275-282, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3847.2.

Applying a Set of Potential Methods for the Integrated Assessment of the Marine Eco-Environmental Carrying Capacity in Coastal Areas

The accelerated socioeconomic development has placed the coastal ecosystems under stress, which influences the sustainable development of coastal areas. Marine eco-environmental carrying capacity assessment (MECCA) can provide a scientific basis for coordinating coastal socioeconomic development and eco-environmental protection, ensuring a more effective marine ecosystem-based management approach toward sustainability. However, accurate assessment methods are still in the exploratory stage, as there has been a lack of systematic research and applications combining integrated MECCA with a unified method to underpin coastal management processes. In light of this issue, this study applied the marine eco-environmental carrying capacity in coastal waters (MECCCW) conceptual framework to support the establishment of an assessment indicator system for MECCA and used the regularization method and entropy method to determine weights. This study also applied the simplified state space model to comprehensively evaluate and analyze the marine eco-environmental carrying capacity (MECC) of coastal areas. Focusing on the coastal area of Sanya Bay, southern China, as the study area, we assessed the MECC for the period from 2015 to 2020. The state of the MECC was divided into three grades: load capacity, full-load capacity, and overload capacity. The results showed that (1) the MECCA indicator system in Sanya Bay included a total of three criteria and eight assessment indicators and (2) the weights of the environmental carrying capacity (ECC) and human activities (HA) were both relatively higher than that of ecological resilience (ER). The latter result indicates that either ECC or HA could play a more predominant role in the changes of the MECC state in Sanya Bay. The results also indicated that (3) for each criterion, ECC, ER, and HA were at load capacity from 2015 to 2020. In this instance, ECC and HA presented similar change trends in relation to the MECC state of Sanya Bay. Finally, (4) the overall Sanya Bay’s MECC was also at load capacity and weakened, fluctuating between 2015 and 2020. These findings indicate that the coastal area of Sanya Bay is capable of sustainable development, but that there is a need for further eco-environmental improvement. The results of this study can serve as a reference when decisions have to be made about coastal management from an environmental and ecological perspective. Furthermore, this method may provide a feasible approach for integrated MECCA in other coastal areas