A Dimension-Augmented Physics-Informed Neural Network (DaPINN) with High Level Accuracy and Efficiency

Physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) have been widely applied in different fields due to their effectiveness in solving partial differential equations (PDEs). However, the accuracy and efficiency of PINNs need to be considerably improved for scientific and commercial use. To address this issue, we systematically propose a novel dimension-augmented physics-informed neural network (DaPINN), which simultaneously and significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of the PINN. In the DaPINN model, we introduce inductive bias in the neural network to enhance network generalizability by adding a special regularization term to the loss function. Furthermore, we manipulate the network input dimension by inserting additional sample features and incorporating the expanded dimensionality in the loss function. Moreover, we verify the effectiveness of power series augmentation, Fourier series augmentation and replica augmentation, in both forward and backward problems. In most experiments, the error of DaPINN is 1$\sim$2 orders of magnitude lower than that of PINN. The results show that the DaPINN outperforms the original PINN in terms of both accuracy and efficiency with a reduced dependence on the number of sample points. We also discuss the complexity of the DaPINN and its compatibility with other methods.Comment: 33 pages, 12 figure

Evolutionary Analyses Reveal Diverged Patterns of SQUAMOSA Promoter Binding Protein-Like (SPL) Gene Family in Oryza Genus

The SPL (SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like) gene family is one of the plant-specific transcription factor families and controls a considerable number of biological functions, including floral development, phytohormone signaling, and toxin resistance. However, the evolutionary patterns and driving forces of SPL genes in the Oryza genus are still not well-characterized. In this study, we investigated a total of 105 SPL genes from six AA genome Oryza representative species (O. barthii, O. glumipatula, O. nivara, O. rufipogon, O. glaberrima, and O. sativa). Phylogenetic and motif analyses indicated that SPL proteins could be divided into two distinct lineages (I and II), and further studies showed lineage II consisted of three clades (IIA, IIB, and IIC). We found that clade I had comparable structural features with clade IIA, whereas genes in clade IIC displayed intrinsic differences, such as lower exon numbers and the presence of miR156 regulation elements. Nineteen orthologous groups of OsSPLs in Oryza were also identified, and most exons within those genes maintained constant length, whereas length of intron changed relatively. All groups were constrained by stronger purifying selection and diversified continually including alterative gene number, intron length, and miR156 regulation. Subsequently, cis-acting element analyses revealed the potential role of SPLs in wild rice, which might participate in light-responsive, phytohormone response, and plant growth and development. Our results shed light on that different evolutionary rates and duplication events might result in divergent evolutionary patterns in each lineage of SPL genes, providing a guide in exploring diverse function in the rice gene family among six closely related Oryza species

Novel HLA-DRB1 alleles contribute risk for disease susceptibility in primary biliary cholangitis

Background: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a complex disease with high heritability. We investigated the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 alleles and PBC in families and sporadic cases to evaluate the genetic components of the disease. Methods: We performed whole exome sequencing in three PBC families. We genotyped HLA-DRB1 and calculated the association between HLA-DRB1 alleles and the encoding amino acid sequences with the clinical features. Results: Ten variants harboured the HLA-DRB1 gene associated with PBC. DRB1 x07:01, 14:01 and 14:05 were highly increased in PBC. Ten coding region polymorphisms were associated with PBC that encode the amino acid variants of HLA-DR beta 54, beta 59 and beta 66 located in the peptide-binding site of the MHC molecule. Glutamine at position 54 was confirmed as a risk amino acid, verifying the results of familial aggregation analysis of PBC families. Discussion: Familial aggregation analysis indicated that HLA-DRB1 is a candidate gene for the risk of disease course. Considering that amino acid variations are critical to peptide-binding properties, they underlie the major component of MHC association with PBC. (c) 2021 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Adsorption of thallium(I) on rutile nano-titanium dioxide and environmental implications

Rutile nano-titanium dioxide (RNTD) characterized by loose particles with diameter in 20–50 nm has a very large surface area for adsorption of Tl, a typical trace metal that has severe toxicity. The increasing application of RNTD and widespread discharge of Tl-bearing effluents from various industrial activities would increase the risk of their co-exposure in aquatic environments. The adsorption behavior of Tl(I) (a prevalent form of Tl in nature) on RNTD was studied as a function of solution pH, temperature, and ion strength. Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics for Tl(I) were also investigated. The adsorption of Tl(I) on RNTD started at very low pH values and increased abruptly, then maintained at high level with increasing pH >9. Uptake of Tl(I) was very fast on RNTD in the first 15 min then slowed down. The adsorption of Tl(I) on RNTD was an exothermic process; and the adsorption isotherm of Tl(I) followed the Langmuir model, with the maximum adsorption amount of 51.2 mg/g at room temperature. The kinetics of Tl adsorption can be described by a pseudo-second-order equation. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed that -OH and -TiOO-H play an important role in the adsorption. All these results indicate that RNTD has a fast adsorption rate and excellent adsorption amount for Tl(I), which can thus alter the transport, bioavailability and fate of Tl(I) in aqueous environment

Personality traits, intra-household allocation and the gender wage gap

A model of how personality traits affect household time and resource allocation decisions and wages is developed and estimated. In the model, households choose between two behavioral modes: cooperative or noncooperative. Spouses receive wage offers and allocate time to supplying labor market hours and to producing a public good. Personality traits, measured by the so-called Big Five traits, can affect household bargaining weights and wage offers. Model parameters are estimated by Simulated Method of Moments using the Household Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) data. Personality traits are found to be important determinants of household bargaining weights and of wage offers and to have substantial implications for understanding the sources of gender wage disparities

Thermal Stability Calculation and Experimental Investigation of Common Binary Chloride Molten Salts Applied in Concentrating Solar Power Plants

A computational study on thermal stability was conducted the first time, combining the modified quasi-chemical model, the Antoine equation, and the adiabatic flash evaporation calculation principle to design a method to calculate the system pressure-temperature (P-T) phase diagram of binary chloride molten salts. The evaporation temperature of the molten salt obtained by analyzing the P-T phase diagram of the eutectic molten salt clearly defined the upper limit of the optimal operating temperature of the mixed molten salt. The results indicated that the upper-temperature limits of NaCl-KCl, NaCl-CaCl2, KCl-CaCl2, NaCl-MgCl2, and KCl-MgCl2 are determined to be 1141 K, 1151 K, 1176 K, 1086 K, and 1068 K. The maximum working temperature was measured experimentally using a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the relative error between the calculation and experiment was calculated. The maximum error between the calculated and experimental values of the maximum operating temperature was 6.02%, while the minimum was 1.29%, demonstrating the method’s high accuracy. Combined with the lowest eutectic temperature and the upper-temperature limits of binary chloride molten salts, the stable operating temperature ranges of NaCl-KCl, NaCl-CaCl2, KCl-CaCl2, NaCl-MgCl2, and KCl-MgCl2 are 891~1141 K, 750~1151 K, 874~1176 K, 732~1086 K, and 696~1086 K

The mechanisms of nerve injury caused by viral infection in the occurrence of gastrointestinal motility disorder-related diseases

Abstract Gastrointestinal motility refers to the peristalsis and contractility of gastrointestinal muscles, including the force and frequency of gastrointestinal muscle contraction. Gastrointestinal motility maintains the normal digestive function of the human body and is a critical component of the physiological function of the digestive tract. At present, gastrointestinal motility disorder-related diseases are gradually affecting human production and life. In recent years, it has been consistently reported that the enteric nervous system has a coordinating and controlling role in gastrointestinal motility. Motility disorders are closely related to functional or anatomical changes in the gastrointestinal nervous system. At the same time, some viral infections, such as herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus infections, can cause damage to the gastrointestinal nervous system. Therefore, this paper describes the mechanisms of viral infection in the gastrointestinal nervous system and the associated clinical manifestations. Studies have indicated that the means by which viruses can cause the infection of the enteric nervous system are various, including retrograde transport, hematogenous transmission and centrifugal transmission from the central nervous system. When viruses infect the enteric nervous system, they can cause clinical symptoms, such as abdominal pain, abdominal distension, early satiation, belching, diarrhea, and constipation, by recruiting macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils and regulating intestinal microbes. The findings of several case‒control studies suggest that viruses are the cause of some gastrointestinal motility disorders. It is concluded that one of the causes of gastrointestinal motility disorders is viral infection of the enteric nervous system. In such disorders, the relationships between viruses and nerves remain to be studied more deeply. Further studies are necessary to evaluate whether prophylactic antiviral therapy is feasible in gastrointestinal motility disorders

A Novel Insight into Functional Divergence of the MST Gene Family in Rice Based on Comprehensive Expression Patterns

Sugars are critical for plant growth and development as suppliers of carbon and energy, as signal molecules, or as solute molecules for osmotic homeostasis. Monosaccharide transporter (MST) genes are involved in various processes of plant growth and development as well as in response to abiotic stresses. However, the evolution and their roles of MST genes in growth and development and in coping with abiotic stresses in rice are poorly known. Here, we identified 64 MST genes in rice genome, which are classified into seven subfamilies: STP, PLT, AZT, ERD, pGlcT, INT, and XTPH. MST genes are not evenly distributed between chromosomes (Chrs) with a bias to Chr 3, 4, 7, and 11, which could be a result of duplication of fragments harboring MST genes. In total, 12 duplication events were found in the rice MST family, among which, two pairs were derived from fragmental duplications and ten pairs were from tandem duplications. The synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates of duplicate gene pairs demonstrated that the MST family was under a strong negative selection during the evolution process. Furthermore, a comprehensive expression analysis conducted in 11 different tissues, three abiotic stresses, five hormone treatments, and three sugar treatments revealed different expression patterns of MST genes and indicated diversified functions of them. Our results suggest that MST genes play important roles not only in various abiotic stresses but also in hormone and sugar responses. The present results will provide a vital insight into the functional divergence of the MST family in the future study

Solar-assisted isotropically thermoconductive sponge for highly viscous crude oil spill remediation

Summary: Efficiently cleaning up high-viscosity crude oil spills is still a serious global problem. In this paper, a composite filler PPy-polydopamine/BN (PPB) with high photothermal effect and high thermal conductivity was first prepared. Then the polyurethane sponge is decorated with polydimethylsiloxane and PPB to obtain a solar-assisted isotropically thermoconductive adsorbent (PPB@PU), which exhibits remarkable stability and durable mechanical properties. Meanwhile, the PPB@PU sponge has good thermal conductivity, and its surface temperature rises to 91°C in just 1 min under irradiation (1 sun). Therefore, the PPB@PU sponge can quickly heat and adsorb the crude oil contacted by the surface, significantly speed up the crude oil recovery process, and the adsorption capacity is as high as about 45 g/g. Finally, the oil adsorption method of the three-dimensional adsorbent is demonstrated, which provides a new idea for the subsequent development of advanced oil spill adsorbent