Identification of Zebrafish Fxyd11a Protein that is Highly Expressed in Ion-Transporting Epithelium of the Gill and Skin and its Possible Role in Ion Homeostasis

FXYD proteins, small single-transmembrane proteins, have been proposed to be auxiliary regulatory subunits of Na+–K+-ATPase and have recently been implied in ion osmoregulation of teleost fish. In freshwater (FW) fish, numerous ions are actively taken up through mitochondrion-rich cells (MRCs) of the gill and skin epithelia, using the Na+ electrochemical gradient generated by Na+–K+-ATPase. In the present study, to understand the molecular mechanism for the regulation of Na+–K+-ATPase in MRCs of FW fish, we sought to identify FXYD proteins expressed in MRCs of zebrafish. Reverse-transcriptase PCR studies of adult zebrafish tissues revealed that, out of eight fxyd genes found in zebrafish database, only zebrafish fxyd11 (zfxyd11) mRNA exhibited a gill-specific expression. Double immunofluorescence staining showed that zFxyd11 is abundantly expressed in MRCs rich in Na+–K+-ATPase (NaK-MRCs) but not in those rich in vacuolar-type H+-transporting ATPase. An in situ proximity ligation assay demonstrated its close association with Na+–K+-ATPase in NaK-MRCs. The zfxyd11 mRNA expression was detectable at 1 day postfertilization, and its expression levels in the whole larvae and adult gills were regulated in response to changes in environmental ionic concentrations. Furthermore, knockdown of zFxyd11 resulted in a significant increase in the number of Na+–K+-ATPase–positive cells in the larval skin. These results suggest that zFxyd11 may regulate the transport ability of NaK-MRCs by modulating Na+–K+-ATPase activity, and may be involved in the regulation of body fluid and electrolyte homeostasis

Since 2015 the SinoGerman research project SIGN supports water quality improvement in the Taihu region, China

The Taihu (Tai lake) region is one of the most economically prospering areas of China. Due to its location within this district of high anthropogenic activities, Taihu represents a drastic example of water pollution with nutrients (nitrogen, phosphate), organic contaminants and heavy metals. High nutrient levels combined with very shallow water create large eutrophication problems, threatening the drinking water supply of the surrounding cities. Within the international research project SIGN (SinoGerman Water Supply Network, www.water-sign.de), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), a powerful consortium of fifteen German partners is working on the overall aim of assuring good water quality from the source to the tap by taking the whole water cycle into account: The diverse research topics range from future proof strategies for urban catchment, innovative monitoring and early warning approaches for lake and drinking water, control and use of biological degradation processes, efficient water treatment technologies, adapted water distribution up to promoting sector policy by good governance. The implementation in China is warranted, since the leading Chinese research institutes as well as the most important local stakeholders, e.g. water suppliers, are involved

Two ultraviolet radiation datasets that cover China

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has significant effects on ecosystems, environments, and human health, as well as atmospheric processes and climate change. Two ultraviolet radiation datasets are described in this paper. One contains hourly observations of UV radiation measured at 40 Chinese Ecosystem Research Network stations from 2005 to 2015. CUV3 broadband radiometers were used to observe the UV radiation, with an accuracy of 5%, which meets the World Meteorology Organization's measurement standards. The extremum method was used to control the quality of the measured datasets. The other dataset contains daily cumulative UV radiation estimates that were calculated using an all-sky estimation model combined with a hybrid model. The reconstructed daily UV radiation data span from 1961 to 2014. The mean absolute bias error and root-mean-square error are smaller than 30% at most stations, and most of the mean bias error values are negative, which indicates underestimation of the UV radiation intensity. These datasets can improve our basic knowledge of the spatial and temporal variations in UV radiation. Additionally, these datasets can be used in studies of potential ozone formation and atmospheric oxidation, as well as simulations of ecological processes

behavioral and erp data

behavioral  and ERP data</p

Research on high performance combustible gas concentration sensor based on pyramid beam splitter matrix.

Combustible gas concentration detection faces challenges of increasing accuracy, and sensitivity, as well as high reliability in harsh using environments. The special design of the optical path structure of the sensitive element provides an opportunity to improve combustible gas concentration detection. In this study, the optical path structure of the sensitive element was newly designed based on the Pyramidal beam splitter matrix. The infrared light source was modulated by multi-frequency point signal superimposed modulation technology. At the same time, concentration detection results and confidence levels were calculated using the 4-channel combustible gas concentration detection algorithm based on spectral refinement. Through experiment, it is found that the sensor enables full-range measurement of CH4, at the lower explosive limit (LEL, CH4 LEL of 5%), the reliability level is 0.01 parts-per-million (PPM), and the sensor sensitivity is up to 0.5PPM. The sensor is still capable of achieving PPM-level detections, under extreme conditions in which the sensor's optical window is covered by 2/3, and humidity is 85% or dust concentration is 100mg/m3. Those improve the sensitivity, robustness, reliability, and accuracy of the sensor

High Precision Edge Detection Algorithm for Mechanical Parts

High precision and high efficiency measurement is becoming an imperative requirement for a lot of mechanical parts. So in this study, a subpixel-level edge detection algorithm based on the Gaussian integral model is proposed. For this purpose, the step edge normal section line Gaussian integral model of the backlight image is constructed, combined with the point spread function and the single step model. Then gray value of discrete points on the normal section line of pixel edge is calculated by surface interpolation, and the coordinate as well as gray information affected by noise is fitted in accordance with the Gaussian integral model. Therefore, a precise location of a subpixel edge was determined by searching the mean point. Finally, a gear tooth was measured by M&M3525 gear measurement center to verify the proposed algorithm. The theoretical analysis and experimental results show that the local edge fluctuation is reduced effectively by the proposed method in comparison with the existing subpixel edge detection algorithms. The subpixel edge location accuracy and computation speed are improved. And the maximum error of gear tooth profile total deviation is 1.9 μm compared with measurement result with gear measurement center. It indicates that the method has high reliability to meet the requirement of high precision measurement

Design and Development of Coal Mining Equipment Inspection Instrument Application System

Based on the inspection instrument, the paper has offered an equipment inspection instrument regular repairing application system suited to the characteristics of coal enterprises. This system works stably in coal enterprises, effectively completing the measurement and management of equipment inspection, improving the reliability of the equipment, reducing the incidence of failure

A Capacitive Particle-Analyzing Smoke Detector for Very Early Fire Detection

Smoke detectors face the challenges of increasing accuracy, sensitivity, and high reliability in complex use environments to ensure the timeliness, accuracy, and reliability of very early fire detection. The improvement in and innovation of the principle and algorithm of smoke particle concentration detection provide an opportunity for the performance improvement in the detector. This study is a new refinement of the smoke concentration detection principle based on capacitive detection of cell structures, and detection signals are processed by a multiscale smoke particle concentration detection algorithm to calculate particle concentration. Through experiments, it is found that the detector provides effective detection of smoke particle concentrations ranging from 0 to 10% obs/m; moreover, the detector can detect smoke particles at parts per million (PPM) concentration levels (at 2 and 5 PPM), and the accuracy of the detector can reach at least the 0.5 PPM level. Furthermore, the detector can detect smoke particle concentrations at better than 1 PPM accuracy even in an environment with 6% obs/m oil gas particles, 7% obs/m large dust interference particles, or 8% obs/m small dust interference particles

Research on a capacitive particle analysis smoke detector

Abstract Smoke detectors face the challenges of increasing accuracy, sensitivity, and high reliability in complex use environments to ensure the timeliness, accuracy, and reliability of very early fire detection. The improvement and innovation of the principle and algorithm for smoke particle concentration detection provide opportunities for improving the performance of the detector. This study represents a new refinement of the smoke concentration detection principle based on capacitive detection of cell structures, and detection signals are processed by a multiscale smoke particle concentration detection algorithm to calculate smoke concentration. Through experiments, it was found that the detector provides effective detection of smoke particle concentrations ranging from 0 to 10% obs/m; moreover, when the detection accuracy is greater than a certain number of parts per million (PPM), the sensitivity of the detector can reach the PPM level; furthermore, the detector can detect smoke particle concentrations higher than the PPM level accuracy even in an environment with a certain concentration of petroliferous and dust particles of different sizes