Effects of Low Temperature at Booting Stage on Sucrose Metabolism and Endogenous Hormone Contents in Winter Wheat Spikelet

Low spring temperatures often occur during the winter wheat booting stage, when the young ears are very sensitive to cold. In this study, we used two wheat varieties differing in cold sensitivity (sensitive variety Yangmai 18 and tolerant variety Yannong 19) to examine the effect of low temperature on wheat grain number at booting stage. Low temperature stress was simulated in an artificial climate chamber at 4°C for 60 h in 2016 and at 2, 0, or −2°C for 24 h in morphological assays, showing that the development of wheat spikelets was inhibited and floret growth was delayed following low temperature stress. However, an increase in the sucrose content of young panicles was also observed, and the activity of enzymes involved in sucrose metabolism was dynamically altered. Sucrose phosphate synthase activity was enhanced, and sucrose synthase activity significantly increased after treatment at 4 and 2°C, respectively. However, activities of sucrose synthase and invertase decreased with a reduction in temperature. Gene expression assays further revealed downregulation of TaSuS1 expression and upregulation of TaSuS2, while expression of CWINV was inhibited. Moreover, phytohormone content assays showed an increase in the content of abscisic acid in young wheat ears, but a decrease in the content of auxin and gibberellins. The grain number per spike and 1000-grain weight also showed a downward trend following low temperature stress. Overall, these findings suggest that low temperature at booting induces abscisic acid accumulation in winter wheat, altering the activity of the enzymes involved in sucrose metabolism, which leads to an accumulation of sucrose in the young ears, thereby having a negative effect on wheat production

Brain Activities Responding to Acupuncture at ST36 (zusanli) in Healthy Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Task-Based fMRI Studies

PurposeStomach 36 (ST36, zusanli) is one of the important acupoints in acupuncture. Despite clinical functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of ST36 acupuncture, the brain activities and the neural mechanism following acupuncture at ST36 remain unclear.MethodsLiterature searches were conducted on online databases, including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, WeiPu database, and China Biology Medicine, for task-based fMRI studies of acupuncture at ST36 in healthy subjects. Brain regions activated by ST36 acupuncture were systematically evaluated and subjected to seed-based d mapping meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis was conducted on control procedures, manual acupuncture, electrical acupuncture (EA), and acupuncture-specific activations. Meta-regression analysis was performed to explore the effects of needle retention time on brain activities following ST36 acupuncture stimulation. The activated brain regions were further decoded and mapped on large-scale functional networks to further decipher the clinical relevance of acupuncturing at ST36.ResultsA total of sixteen studies, involving a total of 401 right-handed healthy participants, that satisfied the inclusion criteria were included in the present meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncturing on ST36 positively activates the opercular part of the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG.R), left superior temporal gyrus (STG.L), and right median cingulate/paracingulate gyri (MCG.R) regions. Needle retention time in an acupuncture session positively correlates with the activation of the left olfactory cortex, as shown in meta-regression analysis. Subgroup analysis revealed that EA stimulation may be a source of heterogeneity in the pooled results. Functional network mappings showed that the activated areas were mapped to the auditory network and salience network. Further functional decoding analysis showed that acupuncture on ST36 was associated with pain, secondary somatosensory, sound and language processing, and mood regulation.ConclusionAcupuncture at ST36 in healthy individuals positively activates the opercular part of IFG.R, STG.L, and MCG.R. The left olfactory cortex may exhibit positive needle retention time-dependent activities. Our findings may have clinical implications for acupuncture in analgesia, language processing, and mood disorders.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2021-12-0035

Convolutional Neural Networks for Classification of T2DM Cognitive Impairment Based on Whole Brain Structural Features

PurposeCognitive impairment is generally found in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although they may not have visible symptoms of cognitive impairment in the early stages of the disorder, they are considered to be at high risk. Therefore, the classification of these patients is important for preventing the progression of cognitive impairment.MethodsIn this study, a convolutional neural network was used to construct a model for classifying 107 T2DM patients with and without cognitive impairment based on T1-weighted structural MRI. The Montreal cognitive assessment score served as an index of the cognitive status of the patients.ResultsThe classifier could identify T2DM-related cognitive decline with a classification accuracy of 84.85% and achieved an area under the curve of 92.65%.ConclusionsThe model can help clinicians analyze and predict cognitive impairment in patients and enable early treatment

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu joints soldered with a Sn-based composite solder, reinforced by metal foam

In this study, Ni foam, Cu coated Ni foam and Cu-Ni alloy foams were used as strengthening phases for pure Sn solder. Cu-Cu joints were fabricated by soldering with these Sn-based composite solders at 260 °C for different times. The tensile strength of pure Sn solder was improved significantly by the addition of metal foams, and the Cu-Ni alloy/Sn composite solder exhibited the highest tensile strength of 50.32 MPa. The skeleton networks of the foams were gradually dissolved into the soldering seam with increasing soldering time, accompanied by the massive formation of (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 phase in the joint. The dissolution rates of Ni foam, Cu coated Ni foam and Cu-Ni alloy foams into the Sn matrix increased successively during soldering. An increased dissolution rate of the metal foam leads to an increase in the Ni content in the soldering seam, which was found to be beneficial in refining the (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 phase and inhibiting the formation of the Cu3Sn IMC layer on the Cu substrate surface. The average shear strength of the Cu joints was improved with increasing soldering time, and a shear strength of 61.2 MPa was obtained for Cu joints soldered with Cu-Ni alloy/Sn composite solder for 60 min

Optimization of Daylighting Pattern of Museum Sculpture Exhibition Hall

In this study, based on the current daylighting situation of a museum sculpture exhibition hall, the exhibition space is classified according to the daylighting requirements of the sculptures. Additionally, the daylighting pattern for the sculpture exhibition hall and the display layout of the exhibits are summarized. The daylighting parameters of the exhibition space under different scenarios are calculated. The exhibition space is simulated and analyzed under three daylighting conditions (flat skylights, flat skylights with side windows, and flat skylights with high side windows), and the daylighting parameters are optimized based on the daylighting patterns and components. It is discovered that with the combination of flat skylights and high side windows, the daylight factor (DF) and uniformity of daylighting (UD) of the sculpture exhibition as well as glare rating of the windows are the most favorable. Therefore, the appropriate daylighting pattern and components are determined, and the corresponding optimization strategy for daylighting is proposed. The results show that the daylighting optimization strategy proposed herein can improve the daylighting quality of the museum sculpture exhibition space and yield a suitable light environment

Optimization of Daylighting Pattern of Museum Sculpture Exhibition Hall

In this study, based on the current daylighting situation of a museum sculpture exhibition hall, the exhibition space is classified according to the daylighting requirements of the sculptures. Additionally, the daylighting pattern for the sculpture exhibition hall and the display layout of the exhibits are summarized. The daylighting parameters of the exhibition space under different scenarios are calculated. The exhibition space is simulated and analyzed under three daylighting conditions (flat skylights, flat skylights with side windows, and flat skylights with high side windows), and the daylighting parameters are optimized based on the daylighting patterns and components. It is discovered that with the combination of flat skylights and high side windows, the daylight factor (DF) and uniformity of daylighting (UD) of the sculpture exhibition as well as glare rating of the windows are the most favorable. Therefore, the appropriate daylighting pattern and components are determined, and the corresponding optimization strategy for daylighting is proposed. The results show that the daylighting optimization strategy proposed herein can improve the daylighting quality of the museum sculpture exhibition space and yield a suitable light environment

Study on Daylighting Optimization in the Exhibition Halls of Museums for Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Works

With respect to the light environment of the exhibition halls for Chinese calligraphy and painting works in the museums, the daylighting design in these display spaces have been studied, the key design factors, such as daylighting pattern, and arrangement of exhibits are examined and explored by field trips. Then, the display spaces are divided into diverse categories whose sky light environments are predicted by the demands of exhibits. Under changed daylighting situations, the daylight parameters, i.e., daylight factor (DF) and DF uniformity, discomfort glare index (DGI) and luminance distribution are calculated. Thus, the proper daylighting pattern and elements in the exhibition halls will be decided. The optimization strategies that optimize the parameters of daylighting patterns and elements are presented. The studies have shown that the daylighting quality will improved by the implement of optimal design, and good luminance environment in the calligraphy and painting exhibition halls are obtained

A new method for testing wide range horizontal field angle

In order to solve the problems of small measurement range, large error and low efficiency of laboratory optical field angle testing, a high-precision, easy -operating, high-efficient, and widely used horizontal field angle test method is proposed. It comes to a conclusion that the test method can reduce the experimental error through the analysis of the principle of the field of view error and the calculation of laboratory simulation. The simulation results show that for cameras with a field of view of more than 150 degrees, the measurement error can be reduced by 37 degrees, and when the field of view of the camera under test is close to 170 degrees, the method can reduce the measurement error by nearly 54 degrees. Meanwhile, a wide-range horizontal field angle measurement method is proposed. The camera under test is moved on the supporting mobile platform to image the target test board, and then the imaging target is read by reading the scale value on the test board calculates the angle of the camera under test. This method can effectively avoid the measurement error of the angle caused by the distance between the center of the lens surface and the center of the entrance pupil, so as to quickly obtain the angle of view test results, and improve the testing accuracy, and it is also suitable for cameras that measure a wide range of field angles (wide-angle camera or fisheye camera, etc.) to solve the problem of laboratory testing a wide range of horizontal field angles