Sensitivity Analysis for Coupled Structural-Acoustic System with Absorbing Material Using FEM/BEM

Since the acoustic impedance in water cannot be neglected with respect to the mechanical impedance, the acoustic radiation caused by the vibration of structures in the compressible fluid would react to the structure. Therefore, the fluid-structure interaction needs to be considered. The finite element method is used for structure vibration analysis and the boundary element method for acoustic analysis. Sound absorption materials are used to reduce the scattering sound field in the reference region. The sensitivity analysis of a fully coupled structural-acoustic system is proposed. Numerical tests verify the correctness of the proposed algorithm

An adaptive acoustoelectric signal decoding algorithm based on Fourier fitting for brain function imaging

Acousticelectric brain imaging (ABI), which is based on the acoustoelectric (AE) effect, is a potential brain function imaging method for mapping brain electrical activity with high temporal and spatial resolution. To further enhance the quality of the decoded signal and the resolution of the ABI, the decoding accuracy of the AE signal is essential. An adaptive decoding algorithm based on Fourier fitting (aDAF) is suggested to increase the AE signal decoding precision. The envelope of the AE signal is first split into a number of harmonics by Fourier fitting in the suggested aDAF. The least square method is then utilized to adaptively select the greatest harmonic component. Several phantom experiments are implemented to assess the performance of the aDAF, including 1-source with various frequencies, multiple-source with various frequencies and amplitudes, and multiple-source with various distributions. Imaging resolution and decoded signal quality are quantitatively evaluated. According to the results of the decoding experiments, the decoded signal amplitude accuracy has risen by 11.39% when compared to the decoding algorithm with envelope (DAE). The correlation coefficient between the source signal and the decoded timing signal of aDAF is, on average, 34.76% better than it was for DAE. Finally, the results of the imaging experiment show that aDAF has superior imaging quality than DAE, with signal-to noise ratio (SNR) improved by 23.32% and spatial resolution increased by 50%. According to the experiments, the proposed aDAF increased AE signal decoding accuracy, which is vital for future research and applications related to ABI

FEM/Wideband FMBEM coupling based on subdivision isogeometry for structural-acoustic design sensitivity analysis

A computer simulation approach known as the isogeometric (IGA) method may directly use the surface information of geometric model. In 3D computer graphics, Loop subdivision surfaces are a common method for creating complicated shapes. In this study, we propose a coupling algorithm that utilizes Loop subdivision surfaces and a direct differentiation method for the computation of acoustic-fluid-structure interaction and the performance of structural-acoustic sensitivity analysis. This algorithm combines the finite element method (FEM) and wideband fast multipole boundary element method (FMBEM). Because of that the proposed method is of a great ability of integrating the numerical calculation and computer-aided modeling, the current technique can deliver results quickly and accurately. The numerical prediction of the effects of vibrating structures with arbitrary shape within sound field is made feasible by the FEM/Wideband FMBEM technique. Calculation examples are provided to show the applicability and effectiveness of the suggested method

Regulation of neural progenitor cell state by ephrin-B

Maintaining a balance between self-renewal and differentiation in neural progenitor cells during development is important to ensure that correct numbers of neural cells are generated. We report that the ephrin-B–PDZ-RGS3 signaling pathway functions to regulate this balance in the developing mammalian cerebral cortex. During cortical neurogenesis, expression of ephrin-B1 and PDZ-RGS3 is specifically seen in progenitor cells and is turned off at the onset of neuronal differentiation. Persistent expression of ephrin-B1 and PDZ-RGS3 prevents differentiation of neural progenitor cells. Blocking RGS-mediated ephrin-B1 signaling in progenitor cells through RNA interference or expression of dominant-negative mutants results in differentiation. Genetic knockout of ephrin-B1 causes early cell cycle exit and leads to a concomitant loss of neural progenitor cells. Our results indicate that ephrin-B function is critical for the maintenance of the neural progenitor cell state and that this role of ephrin-B is mediated by PDZ-RGS3, likely via interacting with the noncanonical G protein signaling pathway, which is essential in neural progenitor asymmetrical cell division

Community Composition and Metabolic Potential of Endophytic Actinobacteria From Coastal Salt Marsh Plants in Jiangsu, China

The diversity and functional roles of the plant associated endophytic actinobacteria in unique habitats remain poorly understood. In this paper, we examined the phylogenetic diversity and community composition of endophytic actinobacteria associated with native coastal salt marsh plants in Jiangsu, China using a combination of cultivation and 16S rRNA gene-based high-throughput sequencing (HTS) methods. Further, we evaluated the antifungal, fibrinolytic activities and the secondary metabolite biosynthesis potential of isolates via gene screening. A total of 278 actinobacterial isolates were isolated from 19 plant samples. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the isolates were highly diverse and belonged to 23 genera within the Actinomycetales order, with Streptomyces, Saccharopolyspora, and Pseudonocardia comprising the most abundant genera. In addition, more than 10 of the isolates were novel actinobacterial taxa distributed across eight genera. HTS analyses of seven representative plant root samples revealed that Actinobacteria phylum constituted 0.04–28.66% of root endophytic bacterial communities. A total of four actinobacterial classes, 14 orders, 35 families, and 63 known genera were detected via HTS, and these communities were found to be dominated by the members of the order Actinomycetales including the genera Streptomyces, Mycobacterium, Arthrobacter, Nocardioides, and Micromonospora. In addition, 30.4% of the representative isolates exhibited antifungal activities, 40.5% of them showed fibrinolytic activities, while 43.0% of the strains harbored secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes. These results demonstrated that coastal salt marsh plants in the Jiangsu Province represented an underexplored new reservoir of diverse and novel endophytic actinobacteria that may be of potential interest in the discovery of bioactive compounds with potential as biocontrol agents and for fibrinolytic enzyme production

The MBD7 complex promotes expression of methylated transgenes without significantly altering their methylation status.

DNA methylation is associated with gene silencing in eukaryotic organisms. Although pathways controlling the establishment, maintenance and removal of DNA methylation are known, relatively little is understood about how DNA methylation influences gene expression. Here we identified a METHYL-CpG-BINDING DOMAIN 7 (MBD7) complex in Arabidopsis thaliana that suppresses the transcriptional silencing of two LUCIFERASE (LUC) reporters via a mechanism that is largely downstream of DNA methylation. Although mutations in components of the MBD7 complex resulted in modest increases in DNA methylation concomitant with decreased LUC expression, we found that these hyper-methylation and gene expression phenotypes can be genetically uncoupled. This finding, along with genome-wide profiling experiments showing minimal changes in DNA methylation upon disruption of the MBD7 complex, places the MBD7 complex amongst a small number of factors acting downstream of DNA methylation. This complex, however, is unique as it functions to suppress, rather than enforce, DNA methylation-mediated gene silencing

Phosphorus fractions and alkaline phosphatase activity in sediments of a large eutrophic Chinese lake (Lake Taihu)

Spatial, vertical, and seasonal variations in phosphorus fractions and in alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) were investigated in sediments in a large-shallow eutrophic Chinese lake (Lake Taihu) in 2003-2004. The phosphorus content was highest in the most seriously polluted lake area. Iron-bound phosphorus (Fe(OOH)-P) dominated (47% on average) among the phosphorus fractions determined according to Golterman (Hydrobiologia 335:87-95, 1996). Notably, organically-bound P comprised a further significant additional portion (acid-soluble + hot NaOH-extractable organic P = 25%), which was highest at the most polluted sites. The Fe(OOH)-P content was the lowest in spring (April, 2004), suggesting that degradation of organic matter led to the release of iron-bound phosphates. Sediment APA showed a significant positive relationship with both organically-bound P and Fe(OOH)-P. Consequently, organically-bound P is an important portion of the sediment phosphorus in Lake Taihu. It is mainly derived from freshly-settled autochthonous particles and from external discharges. Organically-bound P induces APA and may lead to the release of bioavailable phosphates from the organic sediments, thereby accelerating lake eutrophication.Spatial, vertical, and seasonal variations in phosphorus fractions and in alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) were investigated in sediments in a large-shallow eutrophic Chinese lake (Lake Taihu) in 2003-2004. The phosphorus content was highest in the most seriously polluted lake area. Iron-bound phosphorus (Fe(OOH)-P) dominated (47% on average) among the phosphorus fractions determined according to Golterman (Hydrobiologia 335:87-95, 1996). Notably, organically-bound P comprised a further significant additional portion (acid-soluble + hot NaOH-extractable organic P = 25%), which was highest at the most polluted sites. The Fe(OOH)-P content was the lowest in spring (April, 2004), suggesting that degradation of organic matter led to the release of iron-bound phosphates. Sediment APA showed a significant positive relationship with both organically-bound P and Fe(OOH)-P. Consequently, organically-bound P is an important portion of the sediment phosphorus in Lake Taihu. It is mainly derived from freshly-settled autochthonous particles and from external discharges. Organically-bound P induces APA and may lead to the release of bioavailable phosphates from the organic sediments, thereby accelerating lake eutrophication

Discovery of a Unique Structural Motif in Lanthipeptide Synthetases for Substrate Binding and Interdomain Interactions

Class III lanthipeptide synthetases catalyze the formation of lanthionine/methyllanthionine and labionin crosslinks. We present here the 2.40 Å resolution structure of the kinase domain of a class III lanthipeptide synthetase CurKC from the biosynthesis of curvopeptin. A unique structural subunit for leader binding, named leader recognition domain (LRD), was identified. The LRD of CurKC is responsible for the recognition of the leader peptide and for mediating interactions between the lyase and kinase domains. LRDs are highly conserved among the kinase domains of class III and class IV lanthipeptide synthetases. The discovery of LRDs provides insight into the substrate recognition and domain organization in multidomain lanthipeptide synthetases