A Simple and Low-Cost Strategy to Improve Conidial Yield and Stress Resistance of Trichoderma guizhouense through Optimizing Illumination Conditions

Light is perceived by photoreceptors in fungi and further integrated into the stress-activated MAPK HOG pathway, and thereby potentially activates the expression of genes for stress responses. This indicates that the precise control of light conditions can likely improve the conidial yield and stress resistance to guarantee the low cost and long shelf life of Trichoderma-based biocontrol agents and biofertilizers. In this study, effects of wavelengths and intensities of light on conidial yield and stress tolerance to osmotic, oxidative and pH stresses in Trichoderma guizhouense were investigated. We found that 2 μmol photons/(m$^{2}$ × s) of blue light increased the conidial yield more than 1000 folds as compared to dark condition and simultaneously enhanced conidial stress resistance. The enhanced conidial stress resistance is probably due to the upregulated stress-related genes in blue light, which is under the control of the blue light receptor BLR1 and the MAP kinase HOG1

Quercetin Pretreatment Attenuates Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion-Induced Apoptosis and Autophagy by Inhibiting ERK/NF- κ

Background. Hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury is a common phenomenon in transplantation or trauma. The aim of the present study was to determine the protective effect of quercetin (QE) on hepatic IR injury via the ERK/NF-κB pathway. Methods. Mice were randomized into the sham, IR, QE100 + IR, and QE200 + IR groups. Quercetin was administered intragastrically daily at two doses (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) for 5 days prior to IR injury. The expression levels of liver enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, and other marker proteins were determined at 2, 8, and 24 hours after IR. And they were compared among these groups. Results. Compared with the IR group, the treatment of QE reduced the release of cytokines, leading to inhibition of apoptosis and autophagy via downregulation of the ERK/NF-κB pathway in this model of hepatic IR injury. Conclusion. Apoptosis and autophagy caused by hepatic IR injury were inhibited by QE following a reduction in the release of inflammatory cytokines, and the relationship between the two may be associated with inactivation of the ERK/NF-κB pathway

Urban hydrological model (UHM) developed for an urban flash flood simulation and analysis of the flood intensity sensitivity to urbanization

AbstractAn urban hydrological model (UHM) forced by radar-observed rainfalls was developed for producing rainstorm-related urban inundation maps for obtaining flash flood forecasts. The parameter sets of the land use and land cover (LULC) and urban drainage capacity derive from satellite multispectral images and high spatial resolution GIS datasets, relating to the urban hydrology and hydraulic properties. The hydrodynamics model was based on the simplified shallow water equation (SWE) neglecting the convective acceleration and pressure terms in the St. Venant equation. The intense convective rainstorm that induced heavy flash floods on 21 Jul. 2012 and the large-scale stratiform precipitation that occurred from 19 Jul. to 21 Jul. 2016 in Beijing were deliberately selected to perform flood-simulation and model-validation case studies. The simulation of severe flooding scenarios in the 2012 event was fairly reproduced and verified using media reports. In the case studies, the sensitivity tests verified that the flood intensity (1) would be enhanced slightly on pure impervious surfaces, (2) would be reduced significantly on pure pervious surfaces, and (3) would increase by 30%–60% without a drainage system. No false alarm could be perceived in the simulation of the 2016 event in a prolonging stratiform precipitation. The case studies confirmed the perspectives of using the hydrological model fed by QPEs/QPFs for flash flood forecasting and concluded that the hourly precipitation surpassing 30 mm/h would be indicative in impending flash floods in Beijing metropolis

Coins have both sides: Revealing the structure and pattern of global interdependence network for five critical metals

Evaluating the trade interdependence among countries is the key to understanding critical metal minerals security. By constructing a novel interdependence network, this paper reveals a more comprehensive world hierarchy and risk system of critical metals, and focuses on the interdependencies between China and the US-led MSP countries before and after the Sino-US trade disputes. The results indicate that the global interdependence network of critical metals has declined, with antimony interdependence being the loosest. China and the U.S. are gradually separating into different communities and driving the camp-based world pattern. In addition, the world is increasingly less dependent on China, but China is increasingly dependent on the world. China only remains the world's most indispensable in both lithium and tungsten alone, but it is the most world-dependent country in all four critical metal interdependence networks except tungsten. Meanwhile, China and Western countries such as the U.S. are at high risk of dependence on critical metal chains, while most of the others are gradually getting better. Interestingly, MSP countries and China maintain strong interdependencies. MSP countries' dependencies on China have significantly decreased, While China's dependence on MSP has gradually deepened

The propagation of sustainable fishery by Arctic shipping route stakeholders

This research addresses the question of how to better disseminate the concept of sustainable fishery along the Arctic shipping route. The fishery trade network of Arctic is constructed and the complex network theory is applied to conduct the analysis. We further simulate the network by introducing three factors, namely, national will, knowledge absorption capacity and initial propagation node and applying the SIR (susceptible–infective-removed) model. It is found that, in order to disseminate the sustainable fishery concept in the Arctic shipping route, there is a need for countries to increase their national will, increase their capacity to absorb knowledge, and give full play to the role of high-node countries. This paper theoretically suggests three countries of Norway, Denmark, and China to act as initiators of the network and proposes possible measures that countries can take to cooperate on sustainable fisheries development. Our findings offer a useful reference on international arctic fishery cooperation

Impact of Moisture Content on the Brittle-Ductile Transition and Microstructure of Sandstone under Dynamic Loading Conditions

Rockburst frequently occurred in an unstable or violent manner, which posed great safety risk and economic loss in deep underground engineering. The water injection into rock stratum was one of the most effectively ways to reduce rockburst by weakening rock mechanics. However, the moisture content was an important index related to rock mechanical properties. Many previous studies focused on the relationship between the moisture contents and macromechanical properties of rock materials under static load and seldom explored the impact of moisture variation on the mechanical properties and brittle-ductile transition characteristics of rock materials under dynamic loads. In this paper, we studied the dynamic mechanical properties of sandstone with different moisture contents under the same strain rate by the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) experimental system. The relationship between dynamic mechanical properties of sandstone and moisture content was studied, and a dynamic ductility coefficient was proposed, which could be determined by the ratio between the peak strain and the yield strain. Then, it was used to assess the critical moisture content of the brittle-ductile transition of the sandstone. Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination, the microstructure of sandstones with different moisture contents was inspected at magnifications of 500, 2000, and 5000 times, respectively. We showed that as the moisture content increased, the dynamic peak strength and elastic modulus decreased at different degrees, whereas the dynamic peak strain and ductility coefficient exhibited a nonlinear increase, respectively. When the moisture content reached 2.23%, the variation ratio of the dynamic ductility coefficient commenced to increase obviously, indicating that the sandstone began to transit from brittle behavior to ductile behavior. When the sample magnification was 500 times, the microstructure of the sandstone samples with zero and 2.01% to 2.40% moisture content mainly displayed the step pattern and river pattern, respectively, showing that the damage mode was brittle fracture. When the moisture content ranged from 2.49% to 2.58%, the microstructure of the sample included a large number of dimple clusters with local snake patterns and belonged to ductile fracture. When the sample magnification was 2000 and 5000 times, the microstructure was mainly brittle fracture with a moisture content lower than 2.23%. The microstructure of the sample with moisture content of 2.23% exhibited brittle-ductile composite fracture form, whereas others exhibited obviously ductile fracture. These characteristics were fundamentally consistent with the results reflected by the dynamic ductility coefficient. Our findings could provide a theoretical basis for mitigating coal and rock bursts by injecting water methods in underground coal mines

Risk Factors for Delirium after Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery under Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is associated with perioperative complications and mortality. Data on the risk factors for delirium after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) surgery is not clarified in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients receiving total intravenous anesthesia. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for delirium after STN-DBS surgery in PD patients. Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 131 PD patients who underwent STN-DBS for the first time under total intravenous anesthesia from January to December 2021. Delirium assessments were performed twice daily for 7 days after surgery or until hospital discharge using the confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factor of POD. Results: In total, 22 (16.8%) of 131 patients were in the POD group, while the other 109 patients were in the Non-POD group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative Mini-mental State Examination score [odds ratio = 0.855, 95% confidence interval = 0.768–0.951, p = 0.004] and unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale part 3 (on state) score (odds ratio = 1.061, 95% confidence interval = 1.02–1.104, p = 0.003) were independently associated with delirium after surgery. Conclusions: In this retrospective cohort study of PD patients, a lower Mini-mental State Examination score and a higher unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale part 3 (on state) score were the independent risk factors for delirium after STN-DBS surgery in PD patients under total intravenous anesthesia