Matching Book Thickness of Halin Graphs

The \emph{matching book embedding} of a graph $G$ is to arrange its vertices on the spine, and draw its edges into the pages so that the edges on every page do not intersect each other and the maximum degree of vertices on every page is one. The \emph{matching book thickness} is the minimum number of pages in which the graph $G$ can be matching embedded. In this paper, the matching book thickness of Halin graphs is determined

Overexpression of the Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) TaPEPKR2 Gene Enhances Heat and Dehydration Tolerance in Both Wheat and Arabidopsis

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality are adversely affected by heat, drought, or the combination of these two stresses in many regions of the world. A phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase kinase-related kinase gene, TaPEPKR2, was identified from our previous heat stress-responsive transcriptome analysis of heat susceptible and tolerant wheat cultivars. Based on the wheat cultivar Chinese Spring genome sequence, TaPEPKR2 was mapped to chromosome 5B. Expression analysis revealed that TaPEPKR2 was induced by heat and polyethylene glycol treatment. To analyze the function of TaPEPKR2 in wheat, we transformed it into the wheat cultivar Liaochun10, and observed that the transgenic lines exhibited enhanced heat and dehydration stress tolerance. To examine whether TaPEPKR2 exhibits the same function in dicotyledonous plants, we transformed it into Arabidopsis, and found that its overexpression functionally enhanced tolerance to heat and dehydration stresses. Our results imply that TaPEPKR2 plays an important role in both heat and dehydration stress tolerance, and could be utilized as a candidate gene in transgenic breeding

Influences of scanning strategy on the quality, accuracy, microstructure and performance of Inconel 625 parts by LAM

In order to obtain the influence law of scanning strategy on the quality, accuracy, microstructure and performance of parts by Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM), three scanning strategies, namely long-edge, short-edge and cross-layer, were used for additive manufacturing of Inconel 625 parts. Optical Microscope (OM) experiments indicate that the microstructures of samples with different scanning strategies are different. The results of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) suggest that the size and distribution of Laves phase of samples with the different scanning strategies are distinctive, and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) tests indicate that the degree of composition segregation varies according to the scanning strategy. The results of X-ray Diffraction (XRD) show that the main phase of the samples with different scanning strategies is γ-Ni solid solution. The diffraction peak positions are basically the same, but the peak intensities are diverse, indicating that the scanning strategy has a significant impact on the orientation of grains and the intensity of texture. The mechanical properties tests prove that the cross-layer scanning strategy synthesizes the advantages of the other two scanning strategies. The microhardness test shows that the hardness of samples with different scanning strategies is determined by the size, distribution and morphology of Laves phase, as well as the size of grains. As a result, it can be proved that the scanning strategy has a great influence on the quality, accuracy, microstructure and properties of the as-formed samples. The cross-layer orthogonal scanning strategy achieves the best processing results by combining the advantages of long-edge and short-edge scanning strategies

Occurrence of Microplastics from Plastic Fragments in Cultivated Soil of Sichuan Province: The Key Controls

With the continuous increase in the amount of mulch film, “white pollution” caused by plastic fragments (PF) has seriously affected agricultural production progress and poses a great threat to the safety and health of the agricultural environment. In the present study, PFs collected from 20 mulched agricultural farmlands in Sichuan Province were investigated. The PFs were separated and screened following the density flotation method. Optical microscopy was used to assess the fragments’ distribution, abundance, color, size, and morphology, and Raman spectroscopy was used to identify the types. In addition, through the analysis of a questionnaire survey, a random forest (RF) model was conducted to assess the effects of environmental factors on the amount of PF. The results showed that the abundance of PFs was the highest in Lade Town, Zigong City, reaching 1158.33 ± 52.04 particles kg−1. Meanwhile, PFs were less abundant in Foyin Town, Luzhou City, with 50.00 ± 25.00 particles kg−1; the morphology features of PF in the cultivated soil were mainly transparent (60.06%) and flaky-like (83.41%), with sizes < 5 mm (63.61%). In total, 75% of the representative PFs were PE PFs, while PVC PFs were 25%. The RF model indicated that there were significant effects due to the total mulch film amount, annual precipitation, and planting pattern on the number of derived residues (PF). This study provides data indicating the urgent need to prevent and control plastic pollution in mulch farming, specifically in the soils of Sichuan Province

Circulating concentrations of bile acids and prevalent chronic kidney disease among newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The relationship between circulating bile acids (BAs) and kidney function among patients with type 2 diabetes is unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of circulating concentrations of BAs, particularly individual BA subtypes, with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we included 1234 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who participated in an ongoing prospective study, the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort. Circulating primary and secondary unconjugated BAs and their taurine- or glycine-conjugates were measured using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. CKD was defined as eGFR < 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Logistic regression model was used to compute odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results After adjusting for multiple testing, higher levels of total primary BAs (OR per standard deviation [SD] increment: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65–0.92), cholate (OR per SD: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66–0.92), chenodeoxycholate (OR per SD: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.69–0.96), glycocholate (OR per SD: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.68–0.96), and glycochenodeoxycholate (OR per SD: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69–0.97) were associated with a lower likelihood of having CKD in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. No significant relationships between secondary BAs and odds of CKD were observed. Conclusions Our findings showed that higher concentrations of circulating unconjugated primary BAs and their glycine-conjugates, but not taurine-conjugates or secondary BAs, were associated with lower odds of having CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes

Tai chi for health benefits in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review

<div><p>The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of Tai chi, which is critical to provide guidelines for clinicians to improve symptomatic management in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). After performing electronic and manual searches of many sources, ten relevant peer-reviewed studies that met the inclusion criteria were retrieved. The existing evidence supports the effectiveness of Tai chi on improving quality of life (QOL) and functional balance in MS patients. A small number of these studies also reported the positive effect of Tai chi on flexibility, leg strength, gait, and pain. The effect of Tai chi on fatigue is inconsistent across studies. Although the findings demonstrate beneficial effects on improving outcome measures, especially for functional balance and QOL improvements, a conclusive claim should be made carefully for reasons such as methodological flaws, small sample size, lack of specific-disease instruments, unclear description of Tai chi protocol, unreported safety of Tai chi, and insufficient follow-up as documented by the existing literature. Future research should recruit a larger number of participants and utilize the experimental design with a long-term follow-up to ascertain the benefits of Tai chi for MS patients.</p></div

Summary of Tai Chi for patients with multiple sclerosis (intervention frequency and duration, outcome measures, results, conclusion, and adverse events/follow-up).

<p>Summary of Tai Chi for patients with multiple sclerosis (intervention frequency and duration, outcome measures, results, conclusion, and adverse events/follow-up).</p

Overexpression of wheat ferritin gene TaFER-5B enhances tolerance to heat stress and other abiotic stresses associated with the ROS scavenging

Abstract Background The yield of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), an important crop, is adversely affected by heat stress in many regions of the world. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying thermotolerance are largely unknown. Results A novel ferritin gene, TaFER , was identified from our previous heat stress-responsive transcriptome analysis of a heat-tolerant wheat cultivar (TAM107). TaFER was mapped to chromosome 5B and named TaFER-5B . Expression pattern analysis revealed that TaFER-5B was induced by heat, polyethylene glycol (PEG), H 2 O 2 and Fe-ethylenediaminedi(o-hydroxyphenylacetic) acid (Fe-EDDHA). To confirm the function of TaFER-5B in wheat, TaFER-5B was transformed into the wheat cultivar Jimai5265 (JM5265), and the transgenic plants exhibited enhanced thermotolerance. To examine whether the function of ferritin from mono- and dico-species is conserved, TaFER-5B was transformed into Arabidopsis , and overexpression of TaFER-5B functionally complemented the heat stress-sensitive phenotype of a ferritin-lacking mutant of Arabidopsis . Moreover, TaFER-5B is essential for protecting cells against heat stress associated with protecting cells against ROS. In addition, TaFER-5B overexpression also enhanced drought, oxidative and excess iron stress tolerance associated with the ROS scavenging. Finally, TaFER-5B transgenic Arabidopsis and wheat plants exhibited improved leaf iron content. Conclusions Our results suggest that TaFER-5B plays an important role in enhancing tolerance to heat stress and other abiotic stresses associated with the ROS scavenging

Flow chart showing the study selection.

<p>Flow chart showing the study selection.</p

Study quality assessment for observational studies.

<p>Study quality assessment for observational studies.</p