Geological characterization of a lower Cambrian marine shale: implications for shale gas potential in North-Western Hunan, South China

We have investigated the geologic features of the lower Cambrian-aged Niutitang Shale in the northwestern Hunan province of South China. Our results indicate that the Niutitang Shale has abundant and highly mature algal kerogen with total organic carbon (TOC) content ranging from 0.6% to 18.2%. The equivalent vitrinite reflectance (equal-Ro) value is between 2.5% and 4.3%. Mineral constituents are dominated by quartz and clay. The average quartz content (62.8%) is much higher than that of clay minerals (26.1%), and this suggests a high brittleness index. Organic-matter pores, interparticle pores, intraparticle pores, interlaminated fractures, and structural fractures are all well developed. The porosity ranges from 0.6% to 8.8%, with an average of 4.8%, whereas the permeability varies from 0.0018 to [Formula: see text] (microdarcy) (averaging [Formula: see text]). The porosity of TOC- and clay-rich shale samples is generally higher than that of quartz-rich shale samples. The gas adsorption capacity of the Niutitang Shale varies from 2.26 to [Formula: see text], with a mean value of [Formula: see text]. The TOC content appears to significantly influence gas adsorption capacity. In general, TOC-rich samples exhibit a much higher adsorption capacity than TOC-poor samples. </jats:p

The correlation of retinal neurodegeneration and brain degeneration in patients with Alzheimer’s disease using optical coherence tomography angiography and MRI

IntroductionPathological changes in Alzheimer’s disease can cause retina and optic nerve degeneration. The retinal changes are correlated with cognitive function. This study aimed to explore the relationship of retinal differences with neuroimaging in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, analyze the association of cognitive function with retinal structure and vascular density, and identify potential additional biomarkers for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.MethodWe performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and neuropsychological assessments in 28 patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease and 28 healthy controls. Retinal structure and vascular density were evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Furthermore, we analyzed the correlation between neuroimaging and OCTA parameters in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease with adjustment for age, gender, years of education, and hypertension.ResultsIn patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease, OCTA-detected retinal parameters were not significantly correlated with MRI-detected neuroimaging parameters after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. Under multivariable analysis controlled for age, gender, years of education, and hypertension, the S-Hemi (0–3) sector of macular thickness was significantly associated with Mini-cog (β = 0.583, P = 0.002) with Bonferroni-corrected threshold at P &lt; 0.003.ConclusionOur findings suggested decreased macular thickness might be associated with cognitive function in mild AD patients. However, the differences in retinal parameters didn’t correspond to MRI-detected parameters in this study. Whether OCTA can be used as a new detection method mirroring MRI for evaluating the effect of neuronal degeneration in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease still needs to be investigated by more rigorous and larger studies in the future

Multilevel defects in the hematopoietic niche in essential thrombocythemia

The role of the bone marrow niche in essential thrombocythemia (ET) remains unclear. Here, we observed multilevel defects in the hematopoietic niche of patients with JAK2V617F-positive ET, including functional deficiency in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), immune imbalance, and sympathetic-nerve damage. Mesenchymal stromal cells from patients with JAK2V617F-positive essential thrombocythemia had a transformed transcriptome. In parallel, they showed enhanced proliferation, decreased apoptosis and senescence, attenuated ability to differentiate into adipocytes and osteocytes, and insufficient support for normal hematopoiesis. Additionally, they were inefficient in suppressing immune responses. For instance, they poorly inhibited proliferation and activation of CD4-positive T cells and the secretion of the inflammatory factor soluble CD40-ligand. They also poorly induced formation of mostly immunosuppressive T-helper 2 cells (Th2) and the secretion of the anti-inflammatory factor interleukin-4 (IL-4). Furthermore, we identified WDR4 as a potent protein with low expression and which was correlated with increased proliferation, reduced senescence and differentiation, and insufficient support for normal hematopoiesis in MSC from patients with JAK2V617F-positive ET. We also observed that loss of WDR4 in MSC cells downregulated the interleukin-6 (IL-6) level through the ERK–GSK3β–CREB signaling based on our in vitro studies. Altogether, our results show that multilevel changes occur in the bone marrow niche of patients with JAK2V617F-positive ET, and low expression of WDR4 in MSC may be critical for inducing hematopoietic related changes

Transcriptional Activation of OsDERF1 in OsERF3 and OsAP2-39 Negatively Modulates Ethylene Synthesis and Drought Tolerance in Rice

The phytohormone ethylene is a key signaling molecule that regulates a variety of developmental processes and stress responses in plants. Transcriptional modulation is a pivotal process controlling ethylene synthesis, which further triggers the expression of stress-related genes and plant adaptation to stresses; however, it is unclear how this process is transcriptionally modulated in rice. In the present research, we report the transcriptional regulation of a novel rice ethylene response factor (ERF) in ethylene synthesis and drought tolerance. Through analysis of transcriptional data, one of the drought-responsive ERF genes, OsDERF1, was identified for its activation in response to drought, ethylene and abscisic acid. Transgenic plants overexpressing OsDERF1 (OE) led to reduced tolerance to drought stress in rice at seedling stage, while knockdown of OsDERF1 (RI) expression conferred enhanced tolerance at seedling and tillering stages. This regulation was supported by negative modulation in osmotic adjustment response. To elucidate the molecular basis of drought tolerance, we identified the target genes of OsDERF1 using the Affymetrix GeneChip, including the activation of cluster stress-related negative regulators such as ERF repressors. Biochemical and molecular approaches showed that OsDERF1 at least directly interacted with the GCC box in the promoters of ERF repressors OsERF3 and OsAP2-39. Further investigations showed that OE seedlings had reduced expression (while RI lines showed enhanced expression) of ethylene synthesis genes, thereby resulting in changes in ethylene production. Moreover, overexpression of OsERF3/OsAP2-39 suppressed ethylene synthesis. In addition, application of ACC recovered the drought-sensitive phenotype in the lines overexpressing OsERF3, showing that ethylene production contributed to drought response in rice. Thus our data reveal that a novel ERF transcriptional cascade modulates drought response through controlling the ethylene synthesis, deepening our understanding of the regulation of ERF proteins in ethylene related drought response

Dynamic Simulation of the Harvester Boom Cylinder

Based on the complete dynamic calculation method, the layout, force, and strength of harvester boom cylinders were designed and calculated. Closed simulations for the determination of the dynamic responses of the harvester boom during luffing motion considering the cylinder drive system and luffing angle position control have been realized. Using the ADAMS mechanical system dynamics analysis software, six different arm poses were selected and simulated based on the cylinder as the analysis object. A flexible model of the harvester boom luffing motion has been established. The movement of the oil cylinder under different conditions were analyzed, and the main operation dimensions of the harvester boom and the force condition of the oil cylinder were obtained. The calculation results show that the dynamic responses of the boom are more sensitive to the luffing acceleration, in comparison with the luffing velocity. It is seen that this method is very effective and convenient for boom luffing simulation. It is also reasonable to see that the extension of the distance of the bottom of the boom is shortened by adjusting the initial state of the boom in the working process, which can also effectively reduce the workload of the boom—thus improving the mechanical efficiency