Localizing Backscatters by a Single Robot With Zero Start-up Cost

Recent years have witnessed the rapid proliferation of low-power backscatter technologies that realize the ubiquitous and long-term connectivity to empower smart cities and smart homes. Localizing such low-power backscatter tags is crucial for IoT-based smart services. However, current backscatter localization systems require prior knowledge of the site, either a map or landmarks with known positions, increasing the deployment cost. To empower universal localization service, this paper presents Rover, an indoor localization system that simultaneously localizes multiple backscatter tags with zero start-up cost using a robot equipped with inertial sensors. Rover runs in a joint optimization framework, fusing WiFi-based positioning measurements with inertial measurements to simultaneously estimate the locations of both the robot and the connected tags. Our design addresses practical issues such as the interference among multiple tags and the real-time processing for solving the SLAM problem. We prototype Rover using off-the-shelf WiFi chips and customized backscatter tags. Our experiments show that Rover achieves localization accuracies of 39.3 cm for the robot and 74.6 cm for the tags

Transcriptional response provides insights into the effect of chronic polystyrene nanoplastic exposure on Daphnia pulex

Abstract(#br)Nanoplastic pollution is widespread and persistent across global water systems and can cause a negative effect on aquatic organisms, especially the zooplankter which is the keystone of the food chain. The present study uses RNA sequencing to assess the global change in gene expression caused by 21 days of exposure to 75 nm polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics on Daphnia pulex , a model organism for ecotoxicity . With the threshold value at P value 2, 244 differentially expressed genes were obtained. Combined with real-time PCR validation of several selected genes, our results indicated that a distinct expression profile of key genes, including downregulated trehalose transporter , trehalose 6-phosphate synthase/phosphatase, chitinase and cathepsin-L as well as upregulated doublesex 1 and doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor-like protein, contributed to the toxic effects of chronic nanoplastic exposure on Daphnia , such as slowed growth, subdued reproductive ability and reproductive pattern shifting. Our study also showed that chronic exposure to nanoplastic changed the sex ratio of D. pulex neonates. By integrating the gene expression pattern in an important model organism, this study gained insight into the molecular mechanisms of the toxic effect of chronic PS nanoplastic exposure on D. pulex , which may also extend to other nanoplastics or aquatic animals

Perovskite Origami for Programmable Microtube Lasing

Metal halide perovskites are promising materials for optoelectronic and photonic applications ranging from photovoltaics to laser devices. However, current perovskite devices are constrained to simple low-dimensional structures suffering from limited design freedom and holding up performance improvement and functionality upgrades. Here, a micro-origami technique is developed to program 3D perovskite microarchitectures toward a new type of microcavity laser. The design flexibility in 3D supports not only outstanding laser performance such as low threshold, tunable output, and high stability but also yields new functionalities like 3D confined mode lasing and directional emission in, for example, laser “array-in-array” systems. The results represent a significant step forward toward programmable microarchitectures that take perovskite optoelectronics and photonics into the 3D era. © 2021 The Authors. Advanced Functional Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH

Peregrine and saker falcon genome sequences provide insights into evolution of a predatory lifestyle

As top predators, falcons possess unique morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations that allow them to be successful hunters: for example, the peregrine is renowned as the world's fastest animal. To examine the evolutionary basis of predatory adaptations, we sequenced the genomes of both the peregrine (Falco peregrinus) and saker falcon (Falco cherrug), and we present parallel, genome-wide evidence for evolutionary innovation and selection for a predatory lifestyle. The genomes, assembled using Illumina deep sequencing with greater than 100-fold coverage, are both approximately 1.2 Gb in length, with transcriptome-assisted prediction of approximately 16,200 genes for both species. Analysis of 8,424 orthologs in both falcons, chicken, zebra finch and turkey identified consistent evidence for genome-wide rapid evolution in these raptors. SNP-based inference showed contrasting recent demographic trajectories for the two falcons, and gene-based analysis highlighted falcon-specific evolutionary novelties for beak development and olfaction and specifically for homeostasis-related genes in the arid environment–adapted saker

Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Sineleotris saccharae (Perciformes, Odontobutiae)

The freshwater sleeper, Sineleotris saccharae Herre, is a member of the Odontobutiae family, widely distributed in southern China. In the present study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of S. saccharae for the first time and analyzed its evolutionary relationship. The complete mitochondrial genome of S. saccharae was 16,487 bp long, and had 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNAs) and a control region (CR). The mitogenome of S. saccharae shared the same gene organization and orientation as other teleosts. According to phylogenetic research, S. saccharae was sister to S. chalmersi with high support value, providing the monophyly of the genus Sineleotris. These results will be helpful for understanding the systematics of the odontobutids

The complete mitogenome of clam Corbicula fluminea determined usingnext-generation and PacBio sequencing

Corbicula fluminea is an important aquatic commercial species in China. In this study, we present the complete mitogenome and a phylogenetic analysis of C. fluminea, determined using next-generation and PacBio long read sequencing. The mitogenome of C. fluminea is 17,423 bp in size, including 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a putative control region, all located on the same strand. The base composition of the entire mitogenome showed a conspicuous A + T bias of 70.5 %. The entire mitogenome data produced in this study provides the genomic resources available for future evolutionary studies

The complete mitochondrial genome of Callionymus olidus (Perciformes Callionymidae)

In this study, we present the complete mitogenome and a phylogenetic analysis of Callionymus olidus, determined by long PCR and primer walking methods. The complete mitochondrial genome is a circular molecule of 16,491 bp in length and contains the same set of 37 mitochondrial genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA)), and a control region as other bony fishes. The base composition of the entire mitogenome showed a slight excess of AT bias. The entire mitogenome data produced in this study provides the genomic resources available for future evolutionary studies

Warburg effect enhanced by AKR1B10 promotes acquired resistance to pemetrexed in lung cancer-derived brain metastasis

Abstract Background Resistance to pemetrexed (PEM), a rare chemotherapeutic agent that can efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier, limits the therapeutic efficacy for patients with lung cancer brain metastasis (BM). Aldo-keto reductase family 1 B10 (AKR1B10) was recently found to be elevated in lung cancer BM. The link between AKR1B10 and BM-acquired PEM is unknown. Methods PEM drug-sensitivity was assessed in the preclinical BM model of PC9 lung adenocarcinoma cells and the BM cells with or without AKR1B10 interference in vitro and in vivo. Metabolic reprogramming of BM attributed to AKR1B10 was identified by chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) metabolomics, and the mechanism of how AKR1B10 mediates PEM chemoresistance via a way of modified metabolism was revealed by RNA sequencing as well as further molecular biology experimental approaches. Results The lung cancer brain metastatic subpopulation cells (PC9-BrM3) exhibited significant resistance to PEM and silencing AKR1B10 in PC9-BrM3 increased the PEM sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Metabolic profiling revealed that AKR1B10 prominently facilitated the Warburg metabolism characterized by the overproduction of lactate. Glycolysis regulated by AKR1B10 is vital for the resistance to PEM. In mechanism, AKR1B10 promoted glycolysis by regulating the expression of lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) and the increased lactate, acts as a precursor that stimulates histone lactylation (H4K12la), activated the transcription of CCNB1 and accelerated the DNA replication and cell cycle. Conclusions Our finding demonstrates that AKR1B10/glycolysis/H4K12la/CCNB1 promotes acquired PEM chemoresistance in lung cancer BM, providing novel strategies to sensitize PEM response in the treatment of lung cancer patients suffering from BM

The complete mitogenome of freshwater gammarid Grandidierella taihuensis (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

The freshwater gammarid Grandidierella taihuensis is an important composition of benthic community. In this study, the complete mitogenome sequences of G. taihuensis are determined using next-generation and PacBio long-read sequencing. The mitogenome of G. taihuensis is 15,099 bp in size, and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a putative control region. Gene arrangement is as same as that of G. rubroantennata. The base composition of the entire mitogenome showed a conspicuous A + T bias of 69.4%. The mitogenome data produced in this study provides a useful resource for future evolutionary and ecological studies