Design and operational parameters optimisation of a citrus substrate filling and transporting machine

Aiming to address the problem of low mechanisation of filling and transporting citrus seedling pots in China, a new type of pot filling and transporting machine with 120 pots at a time was designed. Based on the study of flow characteristics of the seedling substrate, key components of the filling and transporting machines, such as the hopper component, transmission mechanism, flip mechanism, and steering mechanism, were designed. The effects of the opening width of the hopper, the rotating speed of the stirring shaft, the moisture content of the seedling substrate, and the forward speed of the transporting device on the filling effect of the seedling pot were studied by the experimental method, and the optimal operation parameters were determined. The prototype tests were repeated 3 times with the best combination of parameters. The test results indicate that the machine was in good condition for loading and unloading. The number of filling pots was 120 once, and the average filling time was 40 s. The average filling mass was 1.881 kg, 0.006 kg different from the predicted value of 1.887 kg, and the relative error was 0.32%. The coefficient of variation of the mass was 2.97%, which was 0.12% different from the predicted value of 2.85%, and the relative error was 4.0%. This designed machine can provide a reference for developing and optimising the citrus substrate filling and transporting machine

Tip60 Suppresses Cholangiocarcinoma Proliferation and Metastasis via PI3k-AKT

Background/Aims: Aberrant expression of Tip60 is associated with progression in many cancers. However, the role of Tip60 in cancer progression remains contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance, biological functions and underlying mechanisms of Tip60 deregulation in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) for the first time. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry staining (IHC) were carried out to measure Tip60 expression in CCA tissues and cell lines. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log-rank test were used for survival analysis. In vitro, cell proliferation was evaluated by flow cytometry and CCK-8, colony formation, and EDU assays. Migration/ invasion was evaluated by trans-well assays. Phosphokinase array was used to confirm the dominant signal regulated by Tip60. Tumor growth and metastasis were demonstrated in vivo using a mouse model. Results: Tip60 was notably downregulated in CCA tissues, which was associated with greater tumor size, venous invasion, and TNM stage. Down-regulation of Tip60 was associated with tumor progression and poorer survival in CCA patients. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that Tip60 suppressed growth and metastasis throughout the progression of CCA. We further identified the PI3K/AKT pathway as a dominant signal of Tip60 and suggested that Tip60 regulated CCA cell proliferation and metastasis via PT3K-AKT pathway. Pearson analysis revealed that PTEN was positively correlated with the Tip60 level in CCA tissues. Conclusion: Tip60, as a tumor suppressor in CCA via the PI3K/AKT pathway, might be a promising therapeutic target or prognostic marker for CCA

Prioritized Degree Distribution in Wireless Sensor Networks with a Network Coded Data Collection Method

sensor

Experimental investigation of starting-up, energy-saving, and emission-reducing performances of hybrid supercapacitor energy storage systems for automobiles

© 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is the accepted manuscript version of an article which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2022.106602Improvements in engine starting-up performance, such as reducing fuelconsumption and exhaust emission pollution during the startup process, are very vital to achieve the national development goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) energy storage systems containing batteries and supercapacitors (SCs) are considered promising energy storage strategies to compensate for the disadvantages of a single energy storage technology. In this paper, two kinds of novel 12 V/50 Ah and 12 V/70 Ah module-level energy storage systems were first composed of cell-level 3.6 V/2200 F HSCs were designed. Analysis on their fundamental electrochemical properties under room temperature conditions was also performed. Four different types of energy storage systems composed of 12 V/70 Ah lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, 12 V/70 Ah valve-29 regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries, and the aforementioned HSCs were then employed to compare their starting energy, energy-saving, and emission-reduction characteristics. Additionally, the 12 V/70 Ah HSC module saved 7.82%, 3.18%, and 1.65% of fuel as compared to the 12 V/70 Ah VRLA, 12 V/70 Ah LFP, and 12 V/50 Ah HSC modules, respectively, demonstrating its superior fuel economy property. Simultaneously, the volume concentration of HC and CO emission in the startup process are 12.7% and 13.2% lower than that average of the other three modules, respectively, which shows a good exhaust emission reduction effect. The proposed energy storage system willprovide systematic experimental data support and valuable theoretical guidance for the industrialization and application of HSCs.Peer reviewe

Identification and Characterization of c-di-GMP Metabolic Enzymes of Leptospira interrogans and c-di-GMP Fluctuations After Thermal Shift and Infection

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira species. The most common species, Leptospira interrogans, can transfer from contaminated soil or water to the human body. It is able to survive these changing environments through sensing and responding to the changes of environmental cues. Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a special secondary messenger in bacteria, which can respond to the environment and regulate diverse bacterial behaviors. The c-di-GMP levels in bacterial cells are regulated by diguanylatecyclases (DGC) and phosphodiesterases (PDE), which are responsible for synthesizing or hydrolyzing c-di-GMP, respectively. In this study, distribution and phylogenetics of c-di-GMP metabolic genes among 15 leptospiral species were systematically analyzed. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that leptospiral species contain a multitude of c-di-GMP metabolic genes. C-di-GMP metabolic genes in L. interrogans strain Lai 56601 were further analyzed and the results showed that these genes have very diverse expression patterns. Most of the putative DGCs and PDEs possess enzymatic activities, as determined by riboswitch-based dual-fluorescence reporters in vivo or HPLC in vitro. Furtherer analysis of subdomains from GGDEF-containing proteins revealed that the ability to synthesize c-di-GMP was lost when the GAF domain from LA1483 and PAS domain from LA2932 were deleted, while deletion of the REC domain from LA2528 did not affect its ability to synthesize c-di-GMP. Furthermore, high temperatures generally resulted in low c-di-GMP concentrations in L. interrogans and most of the c-di-GMP metabolic genes exhibited differential temperature regulation. Also, infection of murine J774A.1 cells resulted in reduced c-di-GMP levels, while no significant change of c-di-GMP metabolic genes on transcriptional levels were observed during the infection of J774A.1 cells. Taken together, these results provide a basic platform for future studies of c-di-GMP signaling pathways in Leptospira

Image1_Identification and Characterization of c-di-GMP Metabolic Enzymes of Leptospira interrogans and c-di-GMP Fluctuations After Thermal Shift and Infection.TIF

<p>Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira species. The most common species, Leptospira interrogans, can transfer from contaminated soil or water to the human body. It is able to survive these changing environments through sensing and responding to the changes of environmental cues. Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a special secondary messenger in bacteria, which can respond to the environment and regulate diverse bacterial behaviors. The c-di-GMP levels in bacterial cells are regulated by diguanylatecyclases (DGC) and phosphodiesterases (PDE), which are responsible for synthesizing or hydrolyzing c-di-GMP, respectively. In this study, distribution and phylogenetics of c-di-GMP metabolic genes among 15 leptospiral species were systematically analyzed. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that leptospiral species contain a multitude of c-di-GMP metabolic genes. C-di-GMP metabolic genes in L. interrogans strain Lai 56601 were further analyzed and the results showed that these genes have very diverse expression patterns. Most of the putative DGCs and PDEs possess enzymatic activities, as determined by riboswitch-based dual-fluorescence reporters in vivo or HPLC in vitro. Furtherer analysis of subdomains from GGDEF-containing proteins revealed that the ability to synthesize c-di-GMP was lost when the GAF domain from LA1483 and PAS domain from LA2932 were deleted, while deletion of the REC domain from LA2528 did not affect its ability to synthesize c-di-GMP. Furthermore, high temperatures generally resulted in low c-di-GMP concentrations in L. interrogans and most of the c-di-GMP metabolic genes exhibited differential temperature regulation. Also, infection of murine J774A.1 cells resulted in reduced c-di-GMP levels, while no significant change of c-di-GMP metabolic genes on transcriptional levels were observed during the infection of J774A.1 cells. Taken together, these results provide a basic platform for future studies of c-di-GMP signaling pathways in Leptospira.</p

Image2_Identification and Characterization of c-di-GMP Metabolic Enzymes of Leptospira interrogans and c-di-GMP Fluctuations After Thermal Shift and Infection.TIF

<p>Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira species. The most common species, Leptospira interrogans, can transfer from contaminated soil or water to the human body. It is able to survive these changing environments through sensing and responding to the changes of environmental cues. Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a special secondary messenger in bacteria, which can respond to the environment and regulate diverse bacterial behaviors. The c-di-GMP levels in bacterial cells are regulated by diguanylatecyclases (DGC) and phosphodiesterases (PDE), which are responsible for synthesizing or hydrolyzing c-di-GMP, respectively. In this study, distribution and phylogenetics of c-di-GMP metabolic genes among 15 leptospiral species were systematically analyzed. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that leptospiral species contain a multitude of c-di-GMP metabolic genes. C-di-GMP metabolic genes in L. interrogans strain Lai 56601 were further analyzed and the results showed that these genes have very diverse expression patterns. Most of the putative DGCs and PDEs possess enzymatic activities, as determined by riboswitch-based dual-fluorescence reporters in vivo or HPLC in vitro. Furtherer analysis of subdomains from GGDEF-containing proteins revealed that the ability to synthesize c-di-GMP was lost when the GAF domain from LA1483 and PAS domain from LA2932 were deleted, while deletion of the REC domain from LA2528 did not affect its ability to synthesize c-di-GMP. Furthermore, high temperatures generally resulted in low c-di-GMP concentrations in L. interrogans and most of the c-di-GMP metabolic genes exhibited differential temperature regulation. Also, infection of murine J774A.1 cells resulted in reduced c-di-GMP levels, while no significant change of c-di-GMP metabolic genes on transcriptional levels were observed during the infection of J774A.1 cells. Taken together, these results provide a basic platform for future studies of c-di-GMP signaling pathways in Leptospira.</p