Graph Descriptive Order Improves Reasoning with Large Language Model

In recent years, large language models have achieved state-of-the-art performance across multiple domains. However, the progress in the field of graph reasoning with LLM remains limited. Our work delves into this gap by thoroughly investigating graph reasoning with LLMs. In this work, we reveal the impact of the order of graph description on LLMs' graph reasoning performance, which significantly affects LLMs' reasoning abilities. By altering this order, we enhance the performance of LLMs from 42.22\% to 70\%. Furthermore, we introduce the Scaled Graph Reasoning benchmark for assessing LLMs' performance across various graph sizes and evaluate the relationship between LLMs' graph reasoning abilities and graph size. We discover that the graph reasoning performance of LLMs does not monotonically decrease with the increase in graph size. The experiments span several mainstream models, including GPT-3.5, LLaMA-2-7B, and LLaMA-2-13B, to offer a comprehensive evaluation

Association between pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on PISQ-12—an analysis of data from a multicenter cross-sectional study on 735 nulliparae during pregnancy

BackgroundPelvic floor muscle strength is well-known to be associated with female sexual function. However, there were a few studies that reported on the relationship between pelvic floor muscle strength and female sexual function in pregnant women, and the presented results were inconsistent. Nulliparae represent a specific cohort with simplicity to exclude confounding factors that are caused by parity. The present study aimed to explore the association of pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) of nulliparae during pregnancy.MethodsThis is the second analysis of the baseline data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT), which aimed to study the protective efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training on stress urinary incontinence at 6th week postpartum (registration number: ChiCTR2000029618). Nulliparae aged 20–40 years with singleton pregnancy before 16 weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study, and data, including participants' demographic information, the Modified Oxford Scale (MOS), and PISQ-12, were collected. Eligible nulliparae were divided into two groups: Group MOS > 3 and Group MOS ≤ 3. Demographic information of the two groups was compared. Sexual function based on the PISQ-12 scores of the two groups was compared. A comparison of the PISQ-12 scores between the two groups was calculated by the Mann–Whitney U-test using SPSS version 23.0.ResultsA total of 735 eligible nulliparae were enrolled in this study. Along with MOS grading up, PISQ-12 scores tended to get lower. Of the 735 nulliparae, there were 378 and 357 participants included in Group MOS > 3 and Group MOS ≤ 3, respectively. The PISQ-12 scores of Group MOS > 3 were significantly lower than those of Group MOS ≤ 3 (11 vs. 12, p < 0.001). The scores of the frequency of feeling sexual desire, orgasm achievement, sexual excitement, sexual activity satisfaction, sexual intercourse pain, fear of urinary incontinence, and negative emotion reactions with the sexual intercourse of Group MOS > 3 were lower than those of Group MOS ≤ 3 (p < 0.05).ConclusionPelvic floor muscle strength was positively associated with sexual function based on the questionnaire of young nulliparae during their first trimester. Up to half of the nulliparae during the first trimester were suffering from weak pelvic floor muscle strength and nearly a quarter of the nulliparae were facing this weakness combined with sexual dysfunction.Trial registrationThis study has been registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn (registration number: ChiCTR2000029618)

Second-harmonic generation of embedded plasmonic nanoparticle arrays via interparticle coupling

Efficient nonlinear frequency conversion, such as second-harmonic generation in ultracompact structures, is essential for the development of modern nanophotonic devices. Here, we demonstrate intense second-harmonic emission in scalable embedded Ag nanoparticle arrays fabricated by ion implantation into BK7 glass. The interparticle coupling effect significantly enhances the local field at the nanogap (gap size ∼1 nm) of two neighboring Ag nanoparticles and finally amplifies second-harmonic emission generated at the surface of plasmonic nanoparticles. Notably, the intensity of second-harmonic emission in embedded Ag nanoparticle arrays is comparable to that of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides under the excitation of a fundamental wave at 1064 nm and independent of the incident polarization angles. Our work offers a promising strategy on the rapid fabrication of low-cost nonlinear optical nanostructures with great environmental stability.Published versionThis work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11535008) and Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province (No. tspd20210303)

Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and source apportionment of VOCs in Lianyungang City in 2018

International audienceFrom April to September 2018, five sampling sites were selected in Lianyungang City for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis, including two sampling sites in the urban area (Lianyungang City Environmental Monitoring Supersite and Mine Design Institute), one sampling site in the industrial area (Deyuan Pharmaceutical Factory), and two sampling sites from the suburb (Hugou Management Office and YuehaiLou). The results showed that the mean VOCs concentration followed this pattern: industrial area (36.06 ± 12.2 µg m$^{-3}$ ) > urban area (33.47 ± 13.0 µg m$^{-3}$) > suburban area (27.68 ± 9.8 µg m$^{-3}$). The seasonal variation of the VOCs trend in the urban and suburban areas was relatively consistent, which was different from that in industrial areas. The concentration levels of VOCs components in urban and industrial areas were relatively close, which were significantly higher than that in suburban areas. The possible sources and relative importance of VOCs in Lianyungang City atmosphere were measured by the characteristic ratio of toluene/benzene (T/B), ethane/acetylene (E/E) and isopentane/TVOCs. The contribution of traffic sources to the VOCs in Lianyungang City was significant (T/B ~ 2), and there were obvious aging phenomena in the five sampling sites (E/E > 4). The ratio of isopentane/TVOCs in the contribution of gasoline volatilization sources in urban and suburban areas was significantly bigger than that in industrial areas. According to the maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) method, aromatics (40.32–58.09%) contributed the most to ozone formation potential (OFP) at the five sampling sites. The top 10 OFP species showedthat controlling n-hexane and aromatics, such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and trimethylbenzene in Lianyungang City can effectively control ozone generation. Nineteen typical VOCs components were selected and the sources of VOCs from five sampling points were analyzed by the principal component analysis (PCA) model. The sources of VOCs in different areas in Lianyungang were relatively consistent. Five sources were analyzed at the two sampling sites in the urban area: industrial emission + plants, vehicle exhaust, fuel evaporation, combustion and industrial raw materials. Four sources were analyzed in the industrial area: industrial emission + plants, vehicle exhaust, fuel evaporation and combustion. Five sources were analyzed at the two sampling sites in the suburban area: industrial emission + plants, vehicle exhaust, fuel evaporation, combustion and solvent usag

Surface plasmon enhanced photoluminescence of monolayer WS₂ on ion beam modified functional substrate

Developing efficient methods for boosting light-matter interactions is critical to improve the functionalities of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides toward next-generation optoelectronic devices. Here, we demonstrate that the light-matter interactions in tungsten disulfide (WS2) monolayer can be significantly enhanced by introducing an air-stable functional substrate (fused silica with embedded plasmonic Ag nanoparticles). Distinctive from conventional strategies, the Ag nanoparticles are embedded under the surface of fused silica via ion implantation, forming a functional substrate for WS2 monolayer with remarkably environmental stability. A tenfold photoluminescence enhancement in WS2 monolayer has been achieved due to the plasmonic effect of Ag nanoparticles. This work offers a strategy to fabricate the plasmon-2D hybrid system at low cost and large scale and paves the way for their applications in optoelectronics and photonics.Published versionThis work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11535008) and the Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province (No. tspd20210303)

Selective biosynthesis of a rhamnosyl nosiheptide by a novel bacterial rhamnosyltransferase

Abstract Nosiheptide (NOS) is a thiopeptide antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomyces actuosus. The hydroxyl group of 3‐hydroxypyridine in NOS has been identified as a promising site for modification, which we therefore aimed to rhamnosylate. After screening, Streptomyces sp. 147326 was found to regioselectively attach a rhamnosyl unit to the 3‐hydroxypyridine site in NOS, resulting in the formation of a derivative named NOS‐R at a productivity of 24.6%. In comparison with NOS, NOS‐R exhibited a 17.6‐fold increase in aqueous solubility and a new protective effect against MRSA infection in mice, while maintaining a similar in vitro activity. Subsequently, SrGT822 was identified as the rhamnosyltransferase in Streptomyces sp. 147326 responsible for the biosynthesis of NOS‐R using dTDP‐L‐rhamnose. SrGT822 demonstrated an optimal reaction pH of 10.0 and temperature of 55°C, which resulted in a NOS‐R yield of 74.9%. Based on the catalytic properties and evolutionary analysis, SrGT822 is anticipated to be a potential rhamnosyltransferase for use in the modification of various complex scaffolds

Design of a chimeric glycosyltransferase OleD for the site‐specific O‐monoglycosylation of 3‐hydroxypyridine in nosiheptide

Abstract To identify the potential role of the 3‐hydroxyl group of the pyridine ring in nosiheptide (NOS) for its antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive pathogens, enzymatic glycosylation was utilized to regio‐selectively create a monoglycosyl NOS derivative, NOS‐G. For this purpose, we selected OleD, a UDP glycosyltransferase from Streptomyces antibioticus that has a low productivity for NOS‐G. Activity of the enzyme was increased by swapping domains derived from OleI, both single and in combination. Activity enhancement was best in mutant OleD‐10 that contained four OleI domains. This chimer was engineered by site‐directed mutagenesis (single and in combination) to increase its activity further, whereby variants were screened using a newly‐established colorimetric assay. OleD‐10 with I117F and T118G substitutions (FG) had an increased NOS‐G productivity of 56%, approximately 70 times higher than that of wild‐type OleD. The reason for improved activity of FG towards NOS was structurally attributed to a closer distance (<3 Å) between NOS/sugar donor and the catalytic amino acid H25. The engineered enzyme allowed sufficient activity to demonstrate that the produced NOS‐G had enhanced stability and aqueous solubility compared to NOS. Using a murine MRSA infection model, it was established that NOS‐G resulted in partial protection within 20 h of administration and delayed the death of infected mice. We conclude that 3‐hydroxypyridine is a promising site for structural modification of NOS, which may pave the way for producing nosiheptide derivatives as a potential antibiotic for application in clinical treatment

The UPR Branch IRE1-<i>bZIP60</i> in Plants Plays an Essential Role in Viral Infection and Is Complementary to the Only UPR Pathway in Yeast

<div><p>The unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling network encompasses two pathways in plants, one mediated by inositol-requiring protein-1 (IRE1)-<i>bZIP60</i> mRNA and the other by site-1/site-2 proteases (S1P/S2P)-bZIP17/bZIP28. As the major sensor of UPR in eukaryotes, IRE1, in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, catalyzes the unconventional splicing of <i>HAC1</i> in yeast, <i>bZIP60</i> in plants and XBP1 in metazoans. Recent studies suggest that IRE1p and <i>HAC1</i> mRNA, the only UPR pathway found in yeast, evolves as a cognate system responsible for the robust UPR induction. However, the functional connectivity of IRE1 and its splicing target in multicellular eukaryotes as well as the degree of conservation of IRE1 downstream signaling effectors across eukaryotes remains to be established. Here, we report that IRE1 and its substrate <i>bZIP60</i> function as a strictly cognate enzyme-substrate pair to control viral pathogenesis in plants. Moreover, we show that the S1P/S2P-bZIP17/bZIP28 pathway, the other known branch of UPR in plants, does not play a detectable role in virus infection, demonstrating the distinct function of the IRE1-<i>bZIP60</i> pathway in plants. Furthermore, we provide evidence that <i>bZIP60</i> and <i>HAC1</i>, products of the enzyme-substrate duet, rather than IRE1, are functionally replaceable to cope with ER stress in yeast. Taken together, we conclude that the downstream signaling of the IRE1-mediated splicing is evolutionarily conserved in yeast and plants, and that the IRE1-<i>bZIP60</i> UPR pathway not only confers overlapping functions with the other UPR branch in fundamental biology but also may exert a unique role in certain biological processes such as virus-plant interactions.</p></div

VOC Characteristics and Their Source Apportionment in the Yangtze River Delta Region during the G20 Summit

To evaluate the effectiveness of measures to reduce the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are important precursors of ground-level ozone formation, the real-time monitoring data of VOCs at the urban Zhaohui supersite (ZH), the Dianshan Lake regional supersite (DSL) and the urban Yixing station (YX) in the Yangtze River Delta region were analyzed from 23 August to 15 September 2016 during the G20 Hangzhou Summit. The average mole ratios of VOCs at the three sites were 6.56, 21.33 and 19.62 ppb, respectively, which were lower than those (13.65, 27.72 and 21.38 ppb) after deregulation. The characteristics of the VOCs varied during the different control periods. Synoptic conditions and airmass transport played an important role in the transport and accumulation of VOCs and other pollutants, which affected the control effects. Using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) method in source apportionment, five factors were identified, namely, vehicle exhaust (19.66–31.47%), plants (5.59–17.07%), industrial emissions (13.14–33.82%), fuel vaporization (12.83–26.34%) and solvent usage (17.84–28.95%) for the ZH and YX sites. Factor 4 was identified as fuel vaporization + incomplete combustion (21.69–25.35%) at the DSL site. The Non-parametric Wind Regression (NWR) method showed that regional transport was the main factor influencing the VOC distribution

Effects of constitutive expression of <i>HAC1</i> and <i>bZIP60</i> on yeast growth.

<p><b>(A)</b> to <b>(C)</b> The untransformed or transformed CRY1 <i>Δhac1</i>::TRP cells, which were grown in the raffinose-containing medium for 8 h, were switched to galactose- or raffinose-containing medium for culture from OD₆₀₀ = 0.3. <b>(A)</b> After 10 h culture in the presence of raffinose, the cells were normalized to an OD₆₀₀ = 1.0 and 5-fold serial dilutions were spotted on raffinose-containing plates. The plates were kept at 30°C for 48 h. <b>(B)</b> and <b>(C)</b> Quantitative measurement of the effects of constitutive expression of HAC1p and bZIP60 on yeast growth in the presence of raffinose <b>(B)</b> and galactose <b>(C)</b>. After 5 and 10 h culture, the yeast cell density was determined by measuring the OD₆₀₀ (1 OD₆₀₀ = 5e+8). Note that the expression of <i>bZIP60</i> S and <i>bZIP60ΔN</i> S, not <i>bZIP60</i> U or <i>bZIP60ΔN</i> U, inhibits yeast growth, whereas the induction of both <i>HAC1</i> U and <i>HAC1</i> S leads to retarded growth (see <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1005164#pgen.1005164.g010" target="_blank">Fig 10B</a>). Data represent means with SD of three experiments. * <i>P</i><0.05, ** <i>P</i><0.01, *** <i>P</i><0.001, unpaired two-tailed Student’s test. ns, non-significant.</p