Multiple criteria data envelopment analysis for full ranking units associated to environment impact assessment

Author name used in this publication: Chun-Tian ChengAuthor Gang LI, Department of Civil Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian.2006-2007 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Using genetic algorithm and TOPSIS for Xinanjiang model calibration with a single procedure

Author name used in this publication: Chun-Tian ChengAuthor name used in this publication: K. W. ChauAuthor name used in this publication: Xin-yu Wu2005-2006 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Gene regulatory networks elucidating huanglongbing disease mechanisms.

Next-generation sequencing was exploited to gain deeper insight into the response to infection by Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus (CaLas), especially the immune disregulation and metabolic dysfunction caused by source-sink disruption. Previous fruit transcriptome data were compared with additional RNA-Seq data in three tissues: immature fruit, and young and mature leaves. Four categories of orchard trees were studied: symptomatic, asymptomatic, apparently healthy, and healthy. Principal component analysis found distinct expression patterns between immature and mature fruits and leaf samples for all four categories of trees. A predicted protein - protein interaction network identified HLB-regulated genes for sugar transporters playing key roles in the overall plant responses. Gene set and pathway enrichment analyses highlight the role of sucrose and starch metabolism in disease symptom development in all tissues. HLB-regulated genes (glucose-phosphate-transporter, invertase, starch-related genes) would likely determine the source-sink relationship disruption. In infected leaves, transcriptomic changes were observed for light reactions genes (downregulation), sucrose metabolism (upregulation), and starch biosynthesis (upregulation). In parallel, symptomatic fruits over-expressed genes involved in photosynthesis, sucrose and raffinose metabolism, and downregulated starch biosynthesis. We visualized gene networks between tissues inducing a source-sink shift. CaLas alters the hormone crosstalk, resulting in weak and ineffective tissue-specific plant immune responses necessary for bacterial clearance. Accordingly, expression of WRKYs (including WRKY70) was higher in fruits than in leaves. Systemic acquired responses were inadequately activated in young leaves, generally considered the sites where most new infections occur

MIM-Reasoner: Learning with Theoretical Guarantees for Multiplex Influence Maximization

Multiplex influence maximization (MIM) asks us to identify a set of seed users such as to maximize the expected number of influenced users in a multiplex network. MIM has been one of central research topics, especially in nowadays social networking landscape where users participate in multiple online social networks (OSNs) and their influences can propagate among several OSNs simultaneously. Although there exist a couple combinatorial algorithms to MIM, learning-based solutions have been desired due to its generalization ability to heterogeneous networks and their diversified propagation characteristics. In this paper, we introduce MIM-Reasoner, coupling reinforcement learning with probabilistic graphical model, which effectively captures the complex propagation process within and between layers of a given multiplex network, thereby tackling the most challenging problem in MIM. We establish a theoretical guarantee for MIM-Reasoner as well as conduct extensive analyses on both synthetic and real-world datasets to validate our MIM-Reasoner's performance

Inhibition of Fungal Aflatoxin B1 Biosynthesis by Diverse Botanically-Derived Polyphenols

Purpose: To identify and characterize the capacity of diverse botanically-derived polyphenols to inhibit aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production by Aspergillus flavus.Methods: A tea-derived polyphenol mixture and numerous individual polyphenols were tested for their effects on A. flavus growth and AFB1 production. Fungal spores were cultured for 60 h with polyphenols (range 0 ‒ 1,000 μg/mL). The fungi were enumerated by hemocytometry, and AFB1 in culture supernatants was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results: Neither the tea-derived polyphenol mixture nor individual polyphenol compound, except quercetin, inhibited A. flavus growth. Quercetin detectably inhibited growth at 800 μg/mL; none of the remaining polyphenols inhibited fungal proliferation, even at 1,000 μg/mL. However, catechin mixture and all individual polyphenols differentially inhibited fungal AFB1 biosynthesis. Non-ester catechin derivatives revealed stronger inhibitory activity than ester derivatives.Conclusion: Quercetin exhibits the strongest inhibitory effect on AFB1 production and is the only test compound that also inhibits fungal proliferation. Botanically-derived polyphenols are, therefore, promising reagents for controlling fungal contamination and associated toxic aflatoxin deposition in harvested crops and in food processing operations.Keywords: Polyphenols, Quercetin, Aflatoxin B1, Inhibition, Antioxidatio

Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic K-rich granites in the Phan Si Pan Complex, north Vietnam : constraints on the early crustal evolution of the Yangtze Block

This study was financially supported by projects from the China Natural Science Foundation (41672222) and State Key Laboratory of Geological Process and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan (MSFGPMR201802). PAC acknowledges support from Australian Research Council grant FL160100168. This study was also supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, Project BĐKH.29/16-20 to Dung My Tran.Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks of the Phan Si Pan Complex, North Vietnam, constitute the southern extension of the Yangtze Block, and provide a valuable record of the early evolution of the continental crust. We present results of U-Pb zircon geochronology and geochemistry for Precambrian granites in this complex to constrain their emplacement age and genesis. Granites from three plutonic bodies yielded ages of 2848 ± 15 Ma, 2768 ± 19 Ma and 1869 ± 30 Ma, which represent newly-recognized late Archean to Paleoproterozoic potassic granite plutonism in the southern Yangtze Block. The average εHf(t) values range from −6.2 to 0.1 for the 2.85–2.77 Ga granitic rocks and -13.1 to -9.2 for the ca. 1.86 Ga granitic rocks, with two-stage model ages of 3.64 to 3.20 Ga and 3.31 to 3.07 Ga, respectively, suggesting derivation from partial melting of Paleoarchean and Mesoarchean crust. The late Archean potassic granites exhibit high K2O, and high Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios with negligible Eu anomalies, indicating derivation from melting of the thickened lower crust, which is inferred to have occurred in an active margin setting. The late Paleoproterozoic alkali feldspar granites are characterized by high FeOT/(FeOT + MgO)(0.96–0.99) and 10000∗Ga/Al (2.75–2.94) ratios, showing an affinity of A-type granite. These A-type granites exhibit flat chondrite-normalized HREE patterns and strong negative Eu anomalies, and low Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios, corresponding to melting at a shallow depth, probably in a post-collisional extension setting. Comparison of the rock units and events recorded by the Phan Si Pan complex with other Archean to Paleoproterozoic complexes (Houhe, Dongchuan, Yudongzi, Douling, Zhongxiang and Kongling complexes) in the Yangtze Block indicate spatially distinct histories of crustal growth, and thus may reflect independent terranes. The ca. 1.86 Ga post-collisional magmatism, which succeeds a 2.0–1.9 Ga metamorphic event, is distributed throughout the Yangtze Block, including the Phan Si Pan Complex, suggesting assembly of the disparate terranes and final cratonization of the Yangtze Block overlaps with, and may be related to, assembly of the Nuna supercontinent.PostprintPeer reviewe

Early Paleoproterozoic magmatism in the Yangtze Block : evidence from zircon U-Pb ages, Sr-Nd-Hf isotopes and geochemistry of ca. 2.3 Ga and 2.1 Ga granitic rocks in the Phan Si Pan Complex, north Vietnam

This study was financially supported by projects from the China Natural Science Foundation (41672222) and State Key Laboratory of Geological Process and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan (MSFGPMR201802). PAC acknowledges support from Australian Research Council grant FL160100168. This study was also supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Viet Nam, Project BĐKH.29/16-20 to Dung My Tran.Our understanding of the early evolution of the Yangtze Block is limited by the sparsely dispersed nature of pre-Neoproterozoic exposures. New, integrated petrographic, zircon U-Pb age and Hf-Nd isotope analyses, and whole-rock geochemical data for early Paleoproterozoic granites in the Phan Si Pan Complex provides new insights into the evolution of the Yangtze Block as well as its role in the Pre-Nuna supercontinent. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of magmatic zircons from quartz monzonite and gneissic granite yielded 207Pb/206Pb ages of 2306 ± 12 Ma and 2096 ± 15 Ma, respectively. Zircons from the quartz monzonite have εHf(t) values ranging from -4.1 to -2.1, corresponding to TDM2 model ages of 3002–2890 Ma, whereas zircons in the gneissic granite have εHf(t) values between -0.95 and +1.72 and corresponding TDM2 model ages of 2660–2516 Ma, which are consistent with their whole-rock Nd isotope values. Geochemically, the quartz monzonites are I-type granites. Combined with their relatively high Sr/Y ratios and low Y concentrations, as well as fractionated REE patterns with relatively high LREE but low HREE concentrations, they were probably generated by partial melting of the thickened middle-lower crust under elevated temperature. Geochemical and isotopic signatures suggest that the ca. 2.1 Ga gneissic granites are high-K calc-alkaline, ferroan A-type granites formed by partial melting of juvenile crustal source at high temperature and low pressure with little involvement of ancient crustal material. The Phan Si Pan complex has a distinct early Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution history compared with the other crustal provinces of the Yangtze Block, suggesting independent histories that were not unified until the late Paleoproterozoic during the assembly of Nuna. Moreover, the magmatism and tectonic evolution of the north Vietnam region is broadly similar to that of the Arrowsmith Orogen of the Rae craton in Laurentia suggesting a potential spatial linkage. The geologic record of the Yangtze Block does not support an early Paleoproterozoic shutdown of plate tectonics.PostprintPeer reviewe

A Surrogate-Assisted Extended Generative Adversarial Network for Parameter Optimization in Free-Form Metasurface Design

Metasurfaces have widespread applications in fifth-generation (5G) microwave communication. Among the metasurface family, free-form metasurfaces excel in achieving intricate spectral responses compared to regular-shape counterparts. However, conventional numerical methods for free-form metasurfaces are time-consuming and demand specialized expertise. Alternatively, recent studies demonstrate that deep learning has great potential to accelerate and refine metasurface designs. Here, we present XGAN, an extended generative adversarial network (GAN) with a surrogate for high-quality free-form metasurface designs. The proposed surrogate provides a physical constraint to XGAN so that XGAN can accurately generate metasurfaces monolithically from input spectral responses. In comparative experiments involving 20000 free-form metasurface designs, XGAN achieves 0.9734 average accuracy and is 500 times faster than the conventional methodology. This method facilitates the metasurface library building for specific spectral responses and can be extended to various inverse design problems, including optical metamaterials, nanophotonic devices, and drug discovery

NRF2-driven miR-125B1 and miR-29B1 transcriptional regulation controls a novel anti-apoptotic miRNA regulatory network for AML survival

Transcription factor NRF2 is an important regulator of oxidative stress. It is involved in cancer progression, and has abnormal constitutive expression in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Posttranscriptional regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) can affect the malignant phenotype of AML cells. In this study, we identified and characterised NRF2-regulated miRNAs in AML. An miRNA array identified miRNA expression level changes in response to NRF2 knockdown in AML cells. Further analysis of miRNAs concomitantly regulated by knockdown of the NRF2 inhibitor KEAP1 revealed the major candidate NRF2-mediated miRNAs in AML. We identified miR-125B to be upregulated and miR-29B to be downregulated by NRF2 in AML. Subsequent bioinformatic analysis identified putative NRF2 binding sites upstream of the miR-125B1 coding region and downstream of the mir-29B1 coding region. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses showed that NRF2 binds to these antioxidant response elements (AREs) located in the 5′ untranslated regions of miR-125B and miR-29B. Finally, primary AML samples transfected with anti-miR-125B antagomiR or miR-29B mimic showed increased cell death responsiveness either alone or co-treated with standard AML chemotherapy. In summary, we find that NRF2 regulation of miR-125B and miR-29B acts to promote leukaemic cell survival, and their manipulation enhances AML responsiveness towards cytotoxic chemotherapeutics

Iron force constants of bridgmanite at high pressure: Implications for iron isotope fractionation in the deep mantle

The isotopic compositions of iron in major mantle minerals may record chemical exchange between deep-Earth reservoirs as a result of early differentiation and ongoing plate tectonics processes. Bridgmanite (Bdg), the most abundant mineral in the Earth’s lower mantle, can incorporate not only Al but also Fe with different oxidation states and spin states, which in turn can influence the distribution of Fe isotopes between Bdg and ferropericlase (Fp) and between the lower mantle and the core. In this study, we combined first-principles calculations with high-pressure nuclear resonant inelastic X-ray scattering measurements to evaluate the effects of Fe site occupancy, valence, and spin states at lower-mantle conditions on the reduced Fe partition function ratio (β-factor) of Bdg. Our results show that the spin transition of octahedral-site (B-site) Fe3+ in Bdg under mid-lower-mantle conditions generates a +0.09‰ increase in its β-factor, which is the most significant effect compared to Fe site occupancy and valence. Fe2+-bearing Bdg varieties have smaller β-factors relative to Fe3+-bearing varieties, especially those containing B-site Fe3+. Our models suggest that Fe isotopic fractionation between Bdg and Fp is only significant in the lowermost mantle due to the occurrence of low-spin Fe2+ in Fp. Assuming early segregation of an iron core from a deep magma ocean, we find that neither core formation nor magma ocean crystallization would have resulted in resolvable Fe isotope fractionation. In contrast, Fe isotopic fractionation between low-spin Fe3+-bearing Bdg/Fe2+-bearing Fp and metallic iron at the core-mantle boundary may have enriched the lowermost mantle in heavy Fe isotopes by up to +0.20‰