Isoflavone Content of Soybean Cultivars from Maturity Group 0 to VI Grown in Northern and Southern China

Soybean isoflavone content has long been considered to be a desirable trait to target in selection programs for their contribution to human health and plant defense systems. The objective of this study was to determine isoflavone concentrations of various soybean cultivars from maturity groups 0 to VI grown in various environments and to analyze their relationship to other important seed characters. Forty soybean cultivars were grown in replicated trials at Wuhan and Beijing of China in 2009/2010 and their individual and total isoflavone concentrations were determined by HPLC. Their yield and quality traits were also concurrently analyzed. The isoflavone components had abundant genetic variation in soybean seed, with a range of coefficient variation from 45.01% to 69.61%. Moreover, individual and total isoflavone concentrations were significantly affected by cultivar, maturity group, site and year. Total isoflavone concentration ranged from 551.15 to 7584.07 μg g(−1), and averaged 2972.64 μg g(−1) across environments and cultivars. There was a similar trend regarding the isoflavone contents, in which a lower isoflavone concentration was generally presented in early rather than late maturing soybean cultivars. In spite of significant cultivar × year × site interactions, cultivars with consistently high or low isoflavone concentrations across environments were identified, indicating that a genetic factor plays the most important role for isoflavone accumulation. The total isoflavone concentration had significant positive correlations with plant height, effective branches, pods per plant, seeds per plant, linoleic acid and linolenic acid, while significant negative correlations with oleic acid and oil content, indicating that isoflavone concentration can be predicted as being associated with other desirable seed characteristics

Multiscale Exploration and Experimental Insights into Separating Neutral Heterocyclic Nitrogen Compounds Using [emim][NO3] as an Extractant

As valuable chemical materials, the heterocyclic nitrogen compounds are widely found in nature, and they are in common use. In this paper, the multiscale interaction mechanisms between 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate ([emim][NO3]) and representative heterocyclic nitrogen compounds (pyrrole and indole) during the extraction process are investigated. By combining theoretical and experimental research, first, the ionic liquid and its corresponding composite systems are studied with a multiscale microscopic method. With the help of quantum chemical calculation and molecular dynamics simulation, the polarity and the difference of the interactions of [emim][NO3] and nitrogen compounds as well as the mechanism of the separation process are explored. Additionally, the mechanism of the separation process and its effects are evaluated through phase equilibrium measurement and extraction experiment. The results reveal the highly selective separation of neutral pyrrole and indole and lay a solid foundation for the development of a new extraction process for complex systems containing neutral heterocyclic nitrogen compounds.The authors are grateful for the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21908131), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2019BB066), and the Shenzhen Supercomputer Center

An Augmented Discrete-Time Approach for Human-Robot Collaboration

Human-robot collaboration (HRC) is a key feature to distinguish the new generation of robots from conventional robots. Relevant HRC topics have been extensively investigated recently in academic institutes and companies to improve human and robot interactive performance. Generally, human motor control regulates human motion adaptively to the external environment with safety, compliance, stability, and efficiency. Inspired by this, we propose an augmented approach to make a robot understand human motion behaviors based on human kinematics and human postural impedance adaptation. Human kinematics is identified by geometry kinematics approach to map human arm configuration as well as stiffness index controlled by hand gesture to anthropomorphic arm. While human arm postural stiffness is estimated and calibrated within robot empirical stability region, human motion is captured by employing a geometry vector approach based on Kinect. A biomimetic controller in discrete-time is employed to make Baxter robot arm imitate human arm behaviors based on Baxter robot dynamics. An object moving task is implemented to validate the performance of proposed methods based on Baxter robot simulator. Results show that the proposed approach to HRC is intuitive, stable, efficient, and compliant, which may have various applications in human-robot collaboration scenarios

Combining CD4 count, CD8 count and CD4/CD8 ratio to predict risk of mortality among HIV-positive adults after therapy: a group-based multi-trajectory analysis

IntroductionPrevious studies have indicated different immunological recovery trajectories based on CD4 count or CD4/CD8 ratio. However, these immune indicators are interconnected, and relying solely on one indicator may lead to inaccurate estimates. Therefore, it is essential to develop a comprehensive trajectory model that integrates CD4 count, CD8 count and CD4/CD8 ratio.MethodsWe utilized a group-based multi-trajectory model to characterize the latent cluster of recovery based on measurements of CD4 count, CD8 count and CD4/CD8 ratio over a period of up to 96 months following ART initiation. Subsequently, we investigated the characteristics associated with trajectory groups, especially sex and age. Cox model and Kaplan-Meier survival curve were employed to assess differences in all-cause, AIDS-related and non-AIDS related mortality between trajectory groups.ResultsA total of 14,718 eligible individuals were followed for a median of 55 months. Longitudinal model identified four subgroups: group 1 (32.5%, low CD4 and CD4/CD8 inversion), group 2 (25.9%, high CD8 and CD4/CD8 inversion), group 3 (27.2%, slow recovery of CD4 and CD4/CD8 inversion) and group 4 (14.4%, rapid increase of CD4 and normal CD4/CD8). Immune recovery was slower in male than in female, and in elders than in youngers. Compared to group 2, group 1 (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]=3.28; 95% CI 2.33-4.60) and group 3 (aHR=1.56; 95% CI 1.09-2.24) had increased risk of all-cause mortality after adjusting for other factors. Besides, group 1 (aHR=2.17) and group 3 (aHR=1.58) had higher risk of non-AIDS related mortality, and group 1 (aHR=5.92) had significantly increased risk of AIDS related mortality.ConclusionLongitudinal trajectory analysis of multiple immune indicators can be employed to guide targeted interventions among vulnerable populations in clinical practice

Research on Joint Resource Allocation for Multibeam Satellite Based on Metaheuristic Algorithms

With the rapid growth of satellite communication demand and the continuous development of high-throughput satellite systems, the satellite resource allocation problem—also called the dynamic resources management (DRM) problem—has become increasingly complex in recent years. The use of metaheuristic algorithms to obtain acceptable optimal solutions has become a hot topic in research and has the potential to be explored further. In particular, the treatment of invalid solutions is the key to algorithm performance. At present, the unused bandwidth allocation (UBA) method is commonly used to address the bandwidth constraint in the DRM problem. However, this method reduces the algorithm’s flexibility in the solution space, diminishes the quality of the optimized solution, and increases the computational complexity. In this paper, we propose a bandwidth constraint handling approach based on the non-dominated beam coding (NDBC) method, which can eliminate the bandwidth overlap constraint in the algorithm’s population evolution and achieve complete bandwidth flexibility in order to increase the quality of the optimal solution while decreasing the computational complexity. We develop a generic application architecture for metaheuristic algorithms using the NDBC method and successfully apply it to four typical algorithms. The results indicate that NDBC can enhance the quality of the optimized solution by 9–33% while simultaneously reducing computational complexity by 9–21%

Genotype Distribution and Migration Patterns of Hepatitis C Virus in Shandong Province, China: Molecular Epidemiology and Phylogenetic Study

Abstract BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant public health concern in China, particularly in Shandong Province, where detailed molecular epidemiological data are limited. HCV exhibits substantial genetic diversity, and understanding its genotype distribution and transmission dynamics is critical for developing effective control strategies. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity, geographic dissemination, and evolutionary history of HCV genotypes in Shandong Province, China, using molecular techniques and phylogenetic methods. MethodsA total of 320 HCV-positive serum samples were collected from multiple hospitals across Shandong Province between 2013 and 2021. HCV RNA was extracted and amplified targeting the 5′ untranslated region (UTR), Core, and NS5B regions. Sequencing was conducted, and genotypes were determined using the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (NCBI BLAST). Phylogenetic trees were constructed using maximum likelihood methods with the general time reversible with Gamma-distributed rate variation among sites [(GTR)+Gamma model]. The temporal and geographic evolution of the major subtypes (1b and 2a) was analyzed using Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods implemented in Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees (BEAST). The Bayesian skyline plot (BSP) was used to infer population dynamics and estimate the time to the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA). ResultsGenotypes 1b (n=165) and 2a (n=131) were identified as the predominant subtypes, with a small number of genotypes 3b, 6a, 6k, and potential recombinant strains also detected. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct evolutionary clustering of 1b and 2a strains, suggesting multiple diffusion events within the province. The tMRCA of subtypes 1b and 2a were estimated to be 1957 and 1979, respectively. Bayesian skyline analysis showed that both subtypes experienced long-term population stability, followed by a rapid expansion period between 2014 and 2019 (1b) and 2014 to 2016 (2a), respectively. The analysis also identified key transmission hubs such as Jinan, Liaocheng, Tai’an, and Dezhou, indicating city-level variations in HCV spread. ConclusionsThis study provides data-supported insights into the genotypic landscape and evolutionary patterns of HCV in Shandong Province. The identification of dominant subtypes, potential recombinant strains, and regional transmission pathways enhances our understanding of local HCV epidemiology. These findings have implications for public health policy, resource allocation, and targeted treatment strategies. The integration of molecular epidemiology and phylogenetics offers a valuable model for infectious disease surveillance and control in similar settings