The evolution of vortex tilt and vertical motion of tropical cyclones in directional shear flows

Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of moist dynamics on the intensification variability of tropical cyclones (TCs) in directional shear flows. Here, we propose that dry dynamics can account for many aspects of the structure change of TCs in moist simulations. The change of vortex tilt with height and time essentially determines the kinematic and thermodynamic structure of TCs experiencing directional shear flows, depending on how the environmental flow rotates with height; i.e., in a clockwise (CW) or counter-clockwise (CC) fashion. The vortex tilt precesses faster and is closer to the left-of-shear (with respect to the deep-layer shear), with smaller magnitude at equilibrium in CW hodographs than in CC hodographs. The low-level vortex tilt, and accordingly more low-level upward motions are ahead of the overall vortex tilt in CW hodographs, but are behind of the overall vortex tilt in CC hodographs. Such the configuration of vortex tilt in CW hodographs is potentially favorable for the continuous precession of convection into the up-shear region, but in CC hodographs is unfavorable. Most of the upward motions within a TC undergoing CW shear are concentrated in the down-shear-left region, whereas those in the CC shear are located in the down-shear-right region. Moreover, the upward (downward) motions are in-phase with positive (negative) local helicity in both CW and CC hodographs. Here we present an alternative mechanism that is associated with balanced dynamics in response to vortex tilt to explain the coincidence and also the distribution variability of vertical motions, as well as local helicity in directional shear flows. The balanced dynamics could explain the overlap of positive helicity and convection in both moist simulations and observations

The study on magnetism and solid coupling vibration and its electromagnetic force characteristics in stator system of electrical machine

The air-gap electromagnetic force is not the unique excitation which excites magnetism and solid coupling vibration on stator system of asynchronous machine. Besides, there should be a ponderomotive force as an internal electromagnetic excitation in stator core. Therefore, the magnetism and solid coupling vibration equation with both of the forces was obtained for the electromagnetically excited vibration on stator system of electrical machine. Based on Maxwell equations and the electromagnetic constitutive relation, the expressions of the electromagnetic field and force were derived by solving the eddy equation and the boundary conditions. With numerical calculation, the influences of geometric parameters on the electromagnetic field and forces were analyzed. The electromagnetic excitations of magnetism and solid coupling vibration on stator system were improved by the analysis of ponderomotive force in the stator core. Furthermore, the conclusions provide a theoretical basis for the electromagnetic design of asynchronous machine

Intensification variability of tropical cyclones in directional shear flows: vortex tilt-convection coupling

The coupling of vortex tilt and convection, and their effects on the intensification variability of tropical cyclones (TCs) in directional shear flows is investigated. The height-dependent vortex tilt controls TC structural differences in clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CC) hodographs during their initial stage of development. Moist convection may enhance the coupling between displaced vortices at different levels and thus reduce the vortex tilt amplitude and enhance precession of the overall vortex tilt during the early stage of development. However, differences in the overall vortex tilt between CW and CC hodographs are further amplified by a feedback from convective heating and therefore result in much higher intensification rates for TCs in CW hodographs than in CC hodographs. In CW hodographs, convection organization in the left-of-shear region is favored because the low-level vortex tilt is ahead of the overall vortex tilt and the TC moves to the left side of the deep-layer shear. This results in a more humid mid-troposphere and stronger surface heat flux on the left side (azimuthally downwind) of the overall vortex tilt, thus providing a positive feedback and supporting continuous precession of the vortex tilt into the up-shear-left region. In CC hodographs, convection tends to organize in the right side (azimuthally upwind) of the overall vortex tilt because the low-level vortex tilt is behind the overall vortex tilt and the TC moves to the right side of the deep-layer shear. In addition, convection organizes radially outward near the down-shear-right region, which weakens convection within the inner region. These configurations lead to a drier mid-troposphere and weaker surface heat flux in the downwind region of the overall vortex tilt and also a broader potential vorticity skirt. As a result, a negative feedback is established that prevents continuous precession of the overall vortex tilt

Aphid Endosymbiont Facilitates Virus Transmission by Modulating the Volatile Profile of Host Plants

BACKGROUND: Most plant viruses rely on vectors for their transmission and spread. One of the outstanding biological questions concerning the vector-pathogen-symbiont multi-trophic interactions is the potential involvement of vector symbionts in the virus transmission process. Here, we used a multi-factorial system containing a non-persistent plant virus, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), its primary vector, green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, and the obligate endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola to explore this uncharted territory. RESULTS: Based on our preliminary research, we hypothesized that aphid endosymbiont B. aphidicola can facilitate CMV transmission by modulating plant volatile profiles. Gene expression analyses demonstrated that CMV infection reduced B. aphidicola abundance in M. persicae, in which lower abundance of B. aphidicola was associated with a preference shift in aphids from infected to healthy plants. Volatile profile analyses confirmed that feeding by aphids with lower B. aphidicola titers reduced the production of attractants, while increased the emission of deterrents. As a result, M. persicae changed their feeding preference from infected to healthy plants. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that CMV infection reduces the B. aphidicola abundance in M. persicae. When viruliferous aphids feed on host plants, dynamic changes in obligate symbionts lead to a shift in plant volatiles from attraction to avoidance, thereby switching insect vector’s feeding preference from infected to healthy plants

Mesorhizobium septentrionale sp nov and Mesorhizobium temperatum sp nov., isolated from Astragalus adsurgens growing in the northern regions of China

Ninety-five rhizobial strains isolated from Astragalus adsurgens growing in the northern regions of China were classified into three main groups, candidate species 1, 11 and 111, based on a polyphasic approach. Comparative analysis of full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences of representative strains showed that candidate species I and 11 were Mesorhizobium, while candidate species 111, which consisted of non-nodulating strains, was closely related to Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The phylogenetic relationships of the three candidate species and some related strains were also confirmed by the sequencing of glnA genes, which were used as an alternative chromosomal marker. The DNA-DNA relatedness was between 11.3 and 47-1 % among representative strains of candidate species I and 11 and the type strains of defined Mesorhizobium species. Candidate III had DNA relatedness of between 4(.)3 and 25(.)2 % with type strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rubi. Two novel species are proposed to accommodate candidate species I and 11, Mesorhizobium septentrionale sp. nov. (type strain, SIDW014(T) =CCBAU 11014(T) = HAMBI 2582(T)) and Mesorhizobium temperatum sp. nov. (type strain, SIDW018(T) = CCBAU 11018(T) =HAMBI 2583(T)), respectively. At least two distinct nodA sequences were identified among the strains. The numerically dominant nodA sequence type was most similar to that from the Mesorhizobium tianshanense type strain and was identified in strains belonging to the two novel species as well as other, as yet, undefined genome types. Host range studies indicate that the different nodA sequences correlate with different host ranges. Further comparative studies with the defined Agrobacterium species are needed to clarify the taxonomic identity of candidate species 111

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

Integrated Analysis of microRNA and mRNA Transcriptome Reveals the Molecular Mechanism of \u3ci\u3eSolanum lycopersicum\u3c/i\u3e Response to \u3ci\u3eBemisia tabaci\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3eTomato chlorosis virus\u3c/i\u3e

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), is one of the most devastating cultivated tomato viruses, seriously threatened the growth of crops worldwide. As the vector of ToCV, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED) is mainly responsible for the rapid spread of ToCV. The current understanding of tomato plant responses to this virus and B. tabaci is very limited. To understand the molecular mechanism of the interaction between tomato, ToCV and B. tabaci, we adopted a next-generation sequencing approach to decipher miRNAs and mRNAs that are differentially expressed under the infection of B. tabaci and ToCV in tomato plants. Our data revealed that 6199 mRNAs were significantly regulated, and the differentially expressed genes were most significantly associated with the plant-pathogen interaction, the MAPK signaling pathway, the glyoxylate, and the carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms and photosynthesis related proteins. Concomitantly, 242 differentially expressed miRNAs were detected, including novel putative miRNAs. Sly-miR159, sly-miR9471b-3p, and sly-miR162 were the most expressed miRNAs in each sample compare to control group. Moreover, we compared the similarities and differences of gene expression in tomato plant caused by infection or co-infection of B. tabaci and ToCV. Taken together, the analysis reported in this article lays a solid foundation for further research on the interaction between tomato, ToCV and B. tabaci, and provide evidence for the identification of potential key genes that influences virus transmission in tomato plants

Local Diffusion Homogeneity Provides Supplementary Information in T2DM-Related WM Microstructural Abnormality Detection

Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether an inter-voxel diffusivity metric (local diffusion homogeneity, LDH), can provide supplementary information to traditional intra-voxel metrics (i.e., fractional anisotropy, FA) in white matter (WM) abnormality detection for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging was acquired from 34 T2DM patients and 32 healthy controls. Voxel-based group-difference comparisons based on LDH and FA, as well as the association between the diffusion metrics and T2DM risk factors [i.e., body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP)], were conducted, with age, gender and education level controlled.Results: Compared to the controls, T2DM patients had higher LDH in the pons and left temporal pole, as well as lower FA in the left superior corona radiation (p < 0.05, corrected). In T2DM, there were several overlapping WM areas associated with BMI as revealed by both LDH and FA, including right temporal lobe and left inferior parietal lobe; but the unique areas revealed only by using LDH included left inferior temporal lobe, right supramarginal gyrus, left pre- and post-central gyrus (at the semiovale center), and right superior radiation. Overlapping WM areas that associated with SBP were found with both LDH and FA, including right temporal pole, bilateral orbitofrontal area (rectus gyrus), the media cingulum bundle, and the right cerebellum crus I. However, the unique areas revealed only by LDH included right inferior temporal lobe, right inferior occipital lobe, and splenium of corpus callosum.Conclusion: Inter- and intra-voxel diffusivity metrics may have different sensitivity in the detection of T2DM-related WM abnormality. We suggested that LDH could provide supplementary information and reveal additional underlying brain changes due to diabetes

DISCOVERY OF POTENT, ORALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF TYROSINE KINASE AND SERINE/THREONINE-PROTEIN KINASE INHIBITOR WITH ANTI-TUMOR ACTIVITY IN PRECLINICAL ASSAYS

Traditional medicines have become the most productive source of leads for drugs development, particularly as anti-cancer agents. Various screening approaches are being applied. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, is used to treat primary kidney cancer (advanced renal cell carcinoma) and advanced primary liver cancer. A small library of compounds analogous to sorafenib were designed and screened for the treatment of liver cancer. Multiple members of the family in an assay panel of tyrosine kinase family and serine/threonine-protein kinase family, including VEGFR, Abl, Aurora A, p 38, Lck, Src, PDGFR, Flt3, c-RAF, c-KIT, MEK(MAPKK) were selected to test these compounds. Analysis of the selectivity patterns for these compounds shows specificity for many kinase families. IC50 were measured for the selected compounds. Multiple compounds have very similar kinase inhibition profiles of VEGFR, Flt3, FGFR to that of sorafenib. The IC50 of c-RAF of BB1 is lower than sorafenib. The IC50 of c-RAF of BB3-12 is higher than that of sorafenib. For Flt3, IC50 of BB1-4 is less than sorafenib. The IC50 value of KDR of BB1-10 is less than sorafenib. especially against c-RAF, PDGFR, c-KIT, KDR compared to sorafenib. These compounds are potent Raf1 and Flt4 kinase inhibitors