Attitude Determination and Control System Design for STU-2A CubeSat and In-Orbit Results

STU-2A, a 3U CubeSat developed by Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites, along with the other two 2U CubeSats and one MicroSat, has been sent into a 481km sun-synchronous orbit by CZ-11 launch vehicle with its maiden journey. As the first batch of CubeSats in China that is made in accordance with CubeSat standard, the 2.9kg satellite is featured with the on-board CMOS color camera for taking pictures of polar glacier, Gamalink for Cubesats Networking, MEMS based cold-gas micropropulsion for attitude/orbit maneuver and formation flight and precise ADCS module for technology demonstration. The ADCS module, equipped with two 3-axis magnetometers, 1 fine Sun sensor, five coarse Sun sensors, one three-axis MEMS gyro, one Nano-scaled star tracker, three magnetic coils and three reaction wheels, would provide three-axis stabilization and maneuver capability. Combining the attitude sensors, TRAID and unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) algorithms are adopted to determine the attitude knowledge. Some attitude control modes, such as damping control, Sun-pointing, magnetic-based nadir pointing, momentum-biased stabilization and reaction wheels-based control, are designed to achieve the prefect attitude.In-Orbit data received by ground station verified the performance of ADCS of STU-2A

Gene Order Phylogeny and the Evolution of Methanogens

Methanogens are a phylogenetically diverse group belonging to Euryarchaeota. Previously, phylogenetic approaches using large datasets revealed that methanogens can be grouped into two classes, “Class I” and “Class II”. However, some deep relationships were not resolved. For instance, the monophyly of “Class I” methanogens, which consist of Methanopyrales, Methanobacteriales and Methanococcales, is disputable due to weak statistical support. In this study, we use MSOAR to identify common orthologous genes from eight methanogen species and a Thermococcale species (outgroup), and apply GRAPPA and FastME to compute distance-based gene order phylogeny. The gene order phylogeny supports two classes of methanogens, but it differs from the original classification of methanogens by placing Methanopyrales and Methanobacteriales together with Methanosarcinales in Class II rather than with Methanococcales. This study suggests a new classification scheme for methanogens. In addition, it indicates that gene order phylogeny can complement traditional sequence-based methods in addressing taxonomic questions for deep relationships

Association of basal serum testosterone levels with ovarian response and in vitro fertilization outcome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate basal testosterone (T) levels during follicular phase of the menstrual cycle as a predictor for ovarian response and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>We analyzed data retrospectively from hospital-based IVF center including one thousand two hundred and sixty Chinese Han women under their first IVF cycle reached the ovum pick-up stage, without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis undergoing long IVF protocol. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1: patients with diminished ovarian reserve (basal FSH >10 IU/L) (n = 187); Group 2: patients with normal ovarian reserve (basal FSH < = 10 IU/L) (n = 1073). We studied the association of basal T levels with ovarian response and IVF outcome in the two groups. Long luteal down-regulation protocol was used in all patients, that is, the gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist was administered in the midluteal phase of the previous cycle and use of recombinant FSH was started when satisfactory pituitary desensitization was achieved.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Basal T levels were markly different between pregnant and non-pregnant women in Group 1; whereas not in Group 2. A testosterone level of 47.85 ng/dl was shown to predict pregnancy outcome with a sensitivity of 52.8% and specificity of 65.3%; and the basal T was correlated with the numbers of large follicles (> 14 mm) on HCG day in Group 1. Significantly negative correlations were observed between basal T, days of stimulation and total dose of gonadotropins after adjusting for confounding factors in both groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In women with diminished ovarian reserve, basal T level was a predictor for the number of large follicles on HCG day and pregnancy outcome; but could not in those with normal serum FSH. Basal T levels were associated with both days of stimulation and total dose of gonadotropins, indicating that lower level of T might relate with potential ovarian poor response.</p

The adverse effect of gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on maternal–perinatal outcomes among singleton and twin pregnancies:A retrospective cohort study (2011–2019)

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are the predominant pregnancy complications among singleton and twin pregnancies worldwide. Our primary objective was to explore the adverse effect of GDM and HDP on maternal–perinatal outcomes compared with non-GDM and non-HDP in singleton and twin pregnancies. The secondary objective was to find the risk of adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies compared with singleton pregnancies complicated with GDM and HDP in Hubei, China. Methods: A tertiary hospital-based retrospective study was conducted at Wuhan University Renmin Hospital, Hubei Province, China, from 2011 to 2019. A chi-square test was used to determine the difference in adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes between singleton and twin pregnancies. A multiple binary logistic regression model and a joinpoint regression model were used to determine the association of GDM and HDP with adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes and GDM and HDP temporal trend among singleton and twin pregnancies. Results: The trend of HDP [average annual percentage change (AAPC) 15.1% (95% confidence interval (95%CI): 5.3, 25.7)] among singleton pregnancies and GDM [AAPC 50.4% (95%CI: 19.9, 88.7)] among twin pregnancies significantly increased from 2011 to 2019. After adjusting for confounding factors, GDM is associated with an increased risk of C-section (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.5; 95%CI: 1.3, 1.6) and macrosomia (aOR, 1.3; 95%CI: 1.1, 1.6) in singleton and preterm birth (PTB) (aOR, 2.1; 95%CI: 1.2, 3.3) in twin pregnancies compared with non-GDM. HDP was associated with a higher risk of C-section, PTB, perinatal mortality, and low birth weight (LBW) in both singleton and twin pregnancies compared with the non-HDP. Compared with singleton pregnancies complicated with GDM and HDP, twin pregnancies showed higher odds of C-section [(aOR, 1.7; 95%CI: 1.1, 2.7), (aOR, 4.6; 95%CI: 2.5, 8.7), respectively], PTB [(aOR, 22.9; 95%CI: 14.1, 37.3), (aOR, 8.1; 95%CI: 5.3, 12.3), respectively], LBW [(aOR, 12.1; 95%CI: 8.2, 18.1), (aOR, 5.1; 95%CI: 3.6, 7.4), respectively], and low Apgar score [(aOR, 8.2; 95%CI: 4.4, 15.1), (aOR, 3.8; 95%CI: 2.4, 5.8), respectively] complicated with GDM and HDP. Conclusion: In conclusion, GDM showed an increased risk of a few adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes and HDP is associated with a higher risk of several adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes in singleton and twin pregnancies compared to non-GDM and non-HDP. Moreover, twin pregnancies complicated with GDM and HDP showed higher odds of adverse maternal–neonatal outcomes compared with singleton pregnancies complicated with GDM and HDP.</p

The adverse effect of gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on maternal–perinatal outcomes among singleton and twin pregnancies:A retrospective cohort study (2011–2019)

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are the predominant pregnancy complications among singleton and twin pregnancies worldwide. Our primary objective was to explore the adverse effect of GDM and HDP on maternal–perinatal outcomes compared with non-GDM and non-HDP in singleton and twin pregnancies. The secondary objective was to find the risk of adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies compared with singleton pregnancies complicated with GDM and HDP in Hubei, China. Methods: A tertiary hospital-based retrospective study was conducted at Wuhan University Renmin Hospital, Hubei Province, China, from 2011 to 2019. A chi-square test was used to determine the difference in adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes between singleton and twin pregnancies. A multiple binary logistic regression model and a joinpoint regression model were used to determine the association of GDM and HDP with adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes and GDM and HDP temporal trend among singleton and twin pregnancies. Results: The trend of HDP [average annual percentage change (AAPC) 15.1% (95% confidence interval (95%CI): 5.3, 25.7)] among singleton pregnancies and GDM [AAPC 50.4% (95%CI: 19.9, 88.7)] among twin pregnancies significantly increased from 2011 to 2019. After adjusting for confounding factors, GDM is associated with an increased risk of C-section (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.5; 95%CI: 1.3, 1.6) and macrosomia (aOR, 1.3; 95%CI: 1.1, 1.6) in singleton and preterm birth (PTB) (aOR, 2.1; 95%CI: 1.2, 3.3) in twin pregnancies compared with non-GDM. HDP was associated with a higher risk of C-section, PTB, perinatal mortality, and low birth weight (LBW) in both singleton and twin pregnancies compared with the non-HDP. Compared with singleton pregnancies complicated with GDM and HDP, twin pregnancies showed higher odds of C-section [(aOR, 1.7; 95%CI: 1.1, 2.7), (aOR, 4.6; 95%CI: 2.5, 8.7), respectively], PTB [(aOR, 22.9; 95%CI: 14.1, 37.3), (aOR, 8.1; 95%CI: 5.3, 12.3), respectively], LBW [(aOR, 12.1; 95%CI: 8.2, 18.1), (aOR, 5.1; 95%CI: 3.6, 7.4), respectively], and low Apgar score [(aOR, 8.2; 95%CI: 4.4, 15.1), (aOR, 3.8; 95%CI: 2.4, 5.8), respectively] complicated with GDM and HDP. Conclusion: In conclusion, GDM showed an increased risk of a few adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes and HDP is associated with a higher risk of several adverse maternal–perinatal outcomes in singleton and twin pregnancies compared to non-GDM and non-HDP. Moreover, twin pregnancies complicated with GDM and HDP showed higher odds of adverse maternal–neonatal outcomes compared with singleton pregnancies complicated with GDM and HDP.</p

Evaluation of the green development efficiency of marine fish culture in China

Green development efficiency (GDE) is an important criterion for measuring the level of green development. GDE considers not only economic development efficiency but also environmental costs. In China, marine fish culture, as one of the pillar industries of mariculture, promotes green development and industrial transformation and upgradation. Based on data from the field surveys of marine fish farmers (2017–2019) and the China Fishery Statistical Yearbook (2018–2020), this study establishes an evaluation index system and uses the super-slack-based measure model (Super-SBM) to evaluate the GDE of marine fish culture. The results show that the average GDE of marine fish culture in China was 0.9529, which was in an inefficient state. As for culture species, golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) and cobia (Rachycentron canadum) were the two species farmed in an efficient state, with a GDE of 1.2107 and 1.0659, respectively. Regarding culture modes, green modes (offshore cage aquaculture, industrial recirculating aquaculture, and engineering pond aquaculture) were in an efficient state, with a GDE of 1.2310, 1.0827, and 1.0401, respectively. Traditional modes (industrial flow-through aquaculture, ordinary cage aquaculture, and ordinary pond aquaculture) were in an inefficient state, with their GDE being 0.9884, 0.8746, and 0.8248, respectively. Green modes have higher GDE than traditional modes. In contrast, the production and culture areas of green modes were less than those of traditional modes because the profits of the same species in green modes were lower than those in traditional modes. The results of this study present an objective assessment of the GDE of marine fish culture in China and provide valuable insights for analyzing the mechanisms to improve the GDE of marine fish culture

Unconscious Processing of Facial Emotional Valence Relation: Behavioral Evidence of Integration between Subliminally Perceived Stimuli

Although a few studies have investigated the integration between some types of unconscious stimuli, no research has yet explored the integration between unconscious emotional stimuli. This study was designed to provide behavioral evidence for the integration between unconsciously perceived emotional faces (same or different valence relation) using a modified priming paradigm. In two experiments, participants were asked to decide whether two faces in the target, which followed two subliminally presented faces of same or different emotional expressions, were of the same or different emotional valence. The interstimulus interval (ISI) between the prime and the target was manipulated (0, 53, 163 ms). In Experiment 1, prime visibility was assessed post-experiment. In Experiment 2, it was assessed on each trial. Interestingly, in both experiments, unconsciously processed valence relation of the two faces in the prime generated a negative priming effect in the response to the supraliminally presented target, independent of the length of ISI. Further analyses suggested that the negative priming was probably caused by a motor response incongruent relation between the subliminally perceived prime and the supraliminally perceived target. The visual feature incongruent relation across the prime and target was not found to play a role in the negative priming. Because the negative priming was found at short ISI, an attention mechanism as well as a motor inhibition mechanism were proposed in the generation of the negative priming effect. Overall, this study indicated that the subliminal valence relation was processed, and that integration between different unconsciously perceived stimuli could occur