Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of the Endogenous Cellulase Gene MaCel1 in Monochamus alternatus

The purpose of this study was to characterize the endogenous cellulase gene MaCel1 of Monochamus alternatus, which is an important vector of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a pine wood nematode, which causes pine wilt disease (PWD). In this study, MaCel1 was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE), and its expression analyzed by RT-qPCR (real-time quantitative PCR detecting). A total of 1778 bp of cDNA was obtained. The encoding region of this gene was 1509 bp in length, encoding a protein containing 502 amino acids with a molecular weight of 58.66 kDa, and the isoelectric point of 5.46. Sequence similarity analysis showed that the amino acids sequence of MaCel1 had high similarity with the beta-Glucosinolate of Anoplophora glabripennis and slightly lower similarity with other insect cellulase genes (GH1). The beta-D-Glucosidase activity of MaCel1 was 256.02 +/- 43.14 U/L with no beta-Glucosinolate activity. MaCel1 gene was widely expressed in the intestine of M. alternatus. The expression level of MaCel1 gene in male (3.46) and female (3.51) adults was significantly higher than that in other developmental stages, and the lowest was in pupal stage (0.15). The results will help reveal the digestive mechanism of M. alternatus and lay the foundation for controlling PWD by controlling M. alternatus

Disruption of cortical integration during midazolam-induced light sedation: Effects of Midazolam-Induced Sedation on RSNs

This work examines the effect of midazolam‐induced light sedation on intrinsic functional connectivity of human brain, using a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over, within‐subject design. Fourteen healthy young subjects were enrolled and midazolam (0.03 mg/kg of the participant's body mass, to a maximum of 2.5 mg) or saline were administrated with an interval of one week. Resting‐state fMRI was conducted before and after administration for each subject. We focus on two types of networks: sensory related lower‐level functional networks and higher‐order functions related ones. Independent component analysis (ICA) was used to identify these resting‐state functional networks. We hypothesize that the sensory (visual, auditory, and sensorimotor) related networks will be intact under midazolam‐induced light sedation while the higher‐order (default mode, executive control, salience networks, etc.) networks will be functionally disconnected. It was found that the functional integrity of the lower‐level networks was maintained, while that of the higher‐level networks was significantly disrupted by light sedation. The within‐network connectivity of the two types of networks was differently affected in terms of direction and extent. These findings provide direct evidence that higher‐order cognitive functions including memory, attention, executive function, and language were impaired prior to lower‐level sensory responses during sedation. Our result also lends support to the information integration model of consciousness. Hum Brain Mapp 36:4247–4261, 2015. © 2015 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Low-Cost Metamaterial Antennas: Forward-Looking Imaging Experiment and Analysis

A phase error correction method is proposed to compensate for the phase error in super-resolution correlated imaging based on metamaterial antennas. The varying carrier frequencies of a metamaterial antenna can generate the random radiation field for super-resolution correlation imaging, but the variation of the signal carrier frequency leads to large phase errors in the imaging results. In this proposed method, the sampling matrix in the super-resolution correlated imaging algorithm is used to compensate for the phase errors. Each element of the matrix is multiplied by a compensation phase corresponding to the phase error, and the error is subtly removed from the algorithm. In the experiment, the antenna pattern at each frequency of the metamaterial antenna is measured and recorded. In addition, an external field experiment is also carried out, and the collected data are imaged with the improved algorithm. Experimental results show that this technology can effectively solve the effect of phase errors on imaging results caused by signal carrier frequency changes

Varying Amplitude Vibration Phase Suppression Algorithm in ISAL Imaging

Platform vibration introduces sinusoidal modulation in inverse synthetic aperture lidar (ISAL) imaging, which causes paired echoes in ISAL imaging. In this paper, a varying amplitude vibration phase suppression algorithm is proposed. Working without prior knowledge, the proposed algorithm can suppress paired echoes under the condition of varying vibration amplitude and will not introduce new phase errors. Furthermore, the method is suitable for the imaging scene without isolated points. Both the simulated and real experiment results of ISAL turntable data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm

Electronic Properties of Typical Molecules and the Discharge Mechanism of Vegetable and Mineral Insulating Oils

Vegetable insulating oil may replace the mineral insulating oil used in large power transformers due to its extraordinary biodegradability and fire resistance. According to component analysis, 1-methylnaphthalene and eicosane are considered the typical molecules in mineral oil. Triolein and tristearin are considered the typical molecules in vegetable oil. The ionization potential (IP) and the variation of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of typical molecules under an external electric field are calculated using quantum chemistry methods. The calculation results show that the IP of the triolein molecule is comparable to that of the 1-methylnaphthalene molecule. The mechanisms of losing electrons are discussed, based on the analysis of HOMO composition. The insulation characteristics of the triolein and tristearin are more likely to be degraded under an external electric field than those of 1-methylnaphthalene and eicosane. Due to the fact that the number density of low IP molecules groups in vegetable oil is much greater than that in mineral oil, the polarity effect in vegetable oil is more obvious than that in mineral oil. This eventually leads to different streamer characteristics in vegetable oil and mineral oil under positive polarity and negative polarity

Equivalent Solution Method for the Analytical Transverse Modal Shape of Hollow Slab Bridges

Hollow slab bridges are the most widely used form of small- and medium-span bridges. The existing research on the dynamic characteristics of hollow slab bridges is mostly based on numerical models, but there is a lack of theoretical analyses of their dynamic characteristics. In this paper, the relationship between the dynamic characteristic parameters and structural parameters of a hollow slab bridge is explored theoretically. Firstly, the solid model of a hollow slab bridge was established, and a modal analysis was carried out on it as a reference. Then, an orthotropic plate was used as an equivalent dynamic analysis model, and the analytical form of the transverse modal shape was deduced based on Kirchhoff thin plate theory. Furthermore, one hinge joint was considered as being equivalent to the elastic support boundary, and the local structure and the equivalent elastic support boundary were used to reflect the transverse modal shape of the original structure. The analysis shows that the influence of hinge joints on the transverse modal shape is mainly reflected in the transmission of bending deformation. Through comparison and verification, the results show that the analytical expression of the transverse modal shape can well describe the low-order transverse modal shape of a hollow slab bridge

Pattern Synthesis of Time-Modulated Sparse Array by an OPM-CVX Algorithm

This paper addresses the constrained multiobjective optimization problem of time-modulated sparse arrays. The synthesis objective is to find an optimal element arrangement and associated excitation strategy of sparse arrays, which realize the balance of radiation power and sideband suppression performance with minimum number of elements, and suppress side lobe level simultaneously. A novel hybrid algorithm based on orthogonal perturbation method and convex optimization (OPM-CVX) for the synthesis of time-modulated sparse antenna array is presented in this paper. In order to satisfy the main lobe beamforming and side lobe suppression of sparse arrays, the proposed method optimizes element positions with minimum array numbers by orthogonal perturbation method and optimizes excitations of array element with dynamic range ratio constraint by convex optimization. Furthermore, a trapezoidal pulse time-modulated switching function is proposed to find the balance of radiation power and sideband suppression performance. The numerical results indicate that the proposed algorithm can be an effective approach for synthesis problems of time-modulated sparse arrays

Equivalent Solution Method for the Analytical Transverse Modal Shape of Hollow Slab Bridges

Hollow slab bridges are the most widely used form of small- and medium-span bridges. The existing research on the dynamic characteristics of hollow slab bridges is mostly based on numerical models, but there is a lack of theoretical analyses of their dynamic characteristics. In this paper, the relationship between the dynamic characteristic parameters and structural parameters of a hollow slab bridge is explored theoretically. Firstly, the solid model of a hollow slab bridge was established, and a modal analysis was carried out on it as a reference. Then, an orthotropic plate was used as an equivalent dynamic analysis model, and the analytical form of the transverse modal shape was deduced based on Kirchhoff thin plate theory. Furthermore, one hinge joint was considered as being equivalent to the elastic support boundary, and the local structure and the equivalent elastic support boundary were used to reflect the transverse modal shape of the original structure. The analysis shows that the influence of hinge joints on the transverse modal shape is mainly reflected in the transmission of bending deformation. Through comparison and verification, the results show that the analytical expression of the transverse modal shape can well describe the low-order transverse modal shape of a hollow slab bridge

The Effect of Light Sedation with Midazolam on Functional Connectivity of the Dorsal Attention Network

Altered connectivity within and between the resting-state networks (RSNs) brought about by anesthetics that induce altered consciousness remains incompletely understood. It is known that the dorsal attention network (DAN) and its anticorrelations with other RSNs have been implicated in consciousness. However, the role of DAN-related functional patterns in drug-induced sedative effects is less clear. In the current study, we investigated altered functional connectivity of the DAN during midazolam-induced light sedation. In a placebo-controlled and within-subjects experimental study, fourteen healthy volunteers received midazolam or saline with a 1-week interval. Resting-state fMRI data were acquired before and after intravenous drug administration. A multiple region of interest-driven analysis was employed to investigate connectivity within and between RSNs. It was found that functional connectivity was significantly decreased by midazolam injection in two regions located in the left inferior parietal lobule and the left middle temporal area within the DAN as compared with the saline condition. We also identified three clusters in anticorrelation between the DAN and other RSNs for the interaction effect, which included the left medial prefrontal cortex, the right superior temporal gyrus, and the right superior frontal gyrus. Connectivity between all regions and DAN was significantly decreased by midazolam injection. The sensorimotor network was minimally affected. Midazolam decreased functional connectivity of the dorsal attention network. These findings advance the understanding of the neural mechanism of sedation, and such functional patterns might have clinical implications in other medical conditions related to patients with cognitive impairment