Heteroalleles in Common Wheat: Multiple Differences between Allelic Variants of the Gli-B1 Locus

The Gli-B1-encoded γ-gliadins and non-coding γ-gliadin DNA sequences for 15 different alleles of common wheat have been compared using seven tests: electrophoretic mobility (EM) and molecular weight (MW) of the encoded major γ-gliadin, restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns (RFLPs) (three different markers), Gli-B1-γ-gliadin-pseudogene known SNP markers (Single nucleotide polymorphisms) and sequencing the pseudogene GAG56B. It was discovered that encoded γ-gliadins, with contrasting EM, had similar MWs. However, seven allelic variants (designated from I to VII) differed among them in the other six tests: I (alleles Gli-B1i, k, m, o), II (Gli-B1n, q, s), III (Gli-B1b), IV (Gli-B1e, f, g), V (Gli-B1h), VI (Gli-B1d) and VII (Gli-B1a). Allele Gli-B1c (variant VIII) was identical to the alleles from group IV in four of the tests. Some tests might show a fine difference between alleles belonging to the same variant. Our results attest in favor of the independent origin of at least seven variants at the Gli-B1 locus that might originate from deeply diverged genotypes of the donor(s) of the B genome in hexaploid wheat and therefore might be called “heteroallelic”. The donor’s particularities at the Gli-B1 locus might be conserved since that time and decisively contribute to the current high genetic diversity of common wheat.     

Intrinsic Defect Limit to the Growth of Orthorhombic HfO2 and (Hf,Zr)O2 with Strong Ferroelectricity: First-Principles Insights

It is believed that promoting the fraction of ferroelectric orthorhombic phase (o-phase) through O-poor growth conditions can increase the spontaneous polarization of HfO₂ and (Hf,Zr)O₂ thin films. However, the first-principles calculations show that the growth may be limited by the easy formation of point defects in the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases of HfO₂, ZrO₂, and (Hf,Zr)O₂. Their dominant defects, O interstitial (O_i) under O-rich conditions and O vacancy (V_O) under O-poor condition, have low formation energies and quite high density (10¹⁶–10¹⁹ cm⁻³ for 800–1400 K growth temperature). Especially, O_i has negative formation energy in tetragonal HfO₂ under O-rich condition, causing non-stoichiometry and limiting the crystalline-seed formation during o-phase growth. High-density defects can cause disordering of dipole moments and increase leakage current, both diminishing the polarization. These results explain the experimental puzzle that the measured polarization is much lower than the ideal value even in O-poor thin films and highlight that controlling defects is as important as promoting the o-phase fraction for enhancing ferroelectricity. The O-intermediate condition (average of O-rich and O-poor conditions) and low growth temperature are proposed for fabricating HfO₂ and (Hf,Zr)O₂ with fewer defects, lower leakage current, and stronger ferroelectricity, which challenges the belief that O-poor condition is optimal.     

Interleukin-1β Modulation of the Mechanobiology of Primary Human Pulmonary Fibroblasts: Potential Implications in Lung Repair

Pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1β (IL-1β) are upregulated during early responses to tissue damage and are expected to transiently compromise the mechanical microenvironment. Fibroblasts are key regulators of tissue mechanics in the lungs and other organs. However, the effects of IL-1β on fibroblast mechanics and functions remain unclear. Here we treated human pulmonary fibroblasts from control donors with IL-1β and used Atomic Force Microscopy to unveil that IL-1β significantly reduces the stiffness of fibroblasts concomitantly with a downregulation of filamentous actin (F-actin) and alpha-smooth muscle (α-SMA). Likewise, COL1A1 mRNA was reduced, whereas that of collagenases MMP1 and MMP2 were upregulated, favoring a reduction of type-I collagen. These mechanobiology changes were functionally associated with reduced proliferation and enhanced migration upon IL-1β stimulation, which could facilitate lung repair by drawing fibroblasts to sites of tissue damage. Our observations reveal that IL-1β may reduce local tissue rigidity by acting both intracellularly and extracellularly through the downregulation of fibroblast contractility and type I collagen deposition, respectively. These IL-1β-dependent mechanical effects may enhance lung repair further by locally increasing pulmonary tissue compliance to preserve normal lung distension and function. Moreover, our results support that IL-1β provides innate anti-fibrotic protection that may be relevant during the early stages of lung repair.     

大数据环境下基于K中心点优化算法的Web服务组合

在当前Web服务海量增加、现有Web服务选择算法低效、用户匹配度差的基础上，针对K中心点算法存在的质点偏移、准确率低和容易发生畸变等问题，提出一种大数据环境下基于K中心点优化算法的Web服务组合方法。该方法是在大数据环境下，根据不同用户需求满意度及Web服务QoS参数，对基于优化初始聚类中心的K中心点算法的Web服务选择及最优Web服务组合进行研究。同时针对不同的选择方法对服务动态选择及组合的准确度、迭代更新次数、候选集选择时间及选择总时间进行实验分析，验证了本文研究方法的有效性和可靠性。     

面向连续查询的敏感语义位置隐私保护方案

针对连续查询位置服务中构造匿名区域未考虑语义位置信息导致敏感隐私泄露问题，通过设计[(K,θ)]-隐私模型，提出一种路网环境下面向连续查询的敏感语义位置隐私保护方案。该方案利用Voronoi图将城市路网预先划分为独立的Voronoi单元，依据用户的移动路径和移动速度，选择具有相似特性的其他[K-1]个用户，构建匿名用户集；利用匿名用户集用户设定的敏感语义位置类型和语义安全阈值，以及用户所处语义位置的Voronoi单元，构建满足[(K,θ)]-隐私模型的语义安全匿名区域，可以同时防止连续查询追踪攻击和语义推断攻击。实验结果表明，与SCPA算法相比，该方案在隐私保护程度上提升约15%，系统开销上降低约20%。     

高强不锈钢绞线网与ECC黏结-滑移关系模型

高强不锈钢绞线网与ECC的黏结是二者协同工作的基础，且黏结 滑移关系模型是其黏结性能的综合反映，故通过对17组51个高强不锈钢绞网增强ECC薄板试件进行单边拉拔试验，研究横向钢绞线间距、纵向钢绞线直径和相对锚固长度等因素对钢绞线网在ECC中黏结性能的影响规律。试验结果表明，横向钢绞线的设置可使黏结破坏由脆性破坏转变为延性破坏；高强不锈钢绞线网与ECC的黏结滑移曲线可分为5个阶段，分别为上升段、微降段、延性强化段、下降段和残余段。基于试验结果，对钢绞线网在ECC中的黏结破坏特征和黏结 滑移机理进行分析，在相关黏结-滑移关系模型的基础上，提出钢绞线网与ECC的黏结 滑移关系模型，并进行模型参数分析。所提模型及模型参数计算公式与试验结果吻合良好，能较好地反映钢绞线网与ECC的界面黏结滑移特征。     

臭氧氧化-循环喷淋法处理钨钼选矿废水

采用臭氧氧化-循环喷淋法去除钨钼选矿废水中COD,研究了pH值、臭氧流量、循环频率对COD去除效果的影响。结果表明: 废水COD去除率随pH值、臭氧流量、循环频率增大而增加,在pH值为10、臭氧流量3.0 L/min、循环频率4.0次/min条件下,氧化120 min后废水COD含量由131 mg/L降至11.5 mg/L,COD去除率达91.2%,满足《污水综合排放标准》(GB 8978-1996)一级标准。与O₂、NaClO处理废水COD的对比试验结果表明,循环喷淋法结合O₃表现出较好的COD去除效果。     

China’s ‘old’ and ‘new’ Mekong River politics: the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation from a comparative benefit-sharing perspective

This article analyzes China’s Mekong River politics before and after the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) from a comparative benefit-sharing perspective. China’s pre-LMC approach focused too much on the creation of economic benefits from and beyond the river while neglecting ecological benefits to the river. Moreover, despite the problems this ‘old’ approach caused for China and its downstream neighbours, China’s current LMC strategy seems to essentially replicate its former approach. While sustainable water resources management is identified as a priority area, actual cooperation and benefit sharing in this field remain insufficient.     

Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles prepared by microwave hydrothermal synthesis and adsorption efficiency for organic dyes: Isotherms,thermodynamics and kinetic studies

Magnetic nanoferrites (MFe₂O₄, M = Co, Ni) were successfully synthesised through microwave-hydrothermal route, characterised and used for adsorption of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) and Bromophenol Blue (BRB) dyes from their aqueous solution. The powder XRD patterns confirmed the formation of cubic spinel structure for both the ferrites. Under identical conditions, the adsorption efficiency of CoFe₂O₄ was found relatively higher than the corresponding NiFe₂O_4. Further characterisations revealed that CoFe₂O₄ sample was nearly spherical in size (8–9 nm) with narrow size distribution. The sample showed superparamagnetic behaviour with saturation magnetization (M_s) value (66.4 emu/g). BET surface area calculated for the synthesized cobalt ferrite as 70.9 m²/g. Batch adsorption experiments as a function of initial dye concentration, pH, contact time and adsorbent dose showed the adsorption of dyes depends on pH. Equilibrium adsorption data were well explained by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacities (Q_o) were found to be 82.6 and 25.6 mg/g for EBT and BRB dyes, respectively. Kinetics of the adsorption was best described by pseudo-second-order model. Various thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG, ΔH and ΔS derived from adsorption data over the temperature range 20–50 °C, accounted for a favourable, spontaneous, endothermic physisorption process. The materials showed potential for repeated use without significant decrease in adsorption capacity after proper regeneration.     

β-环糊精修饰Ni/SFCC强化C9石油树脂催化加氢性能

以废弃的流化催化裂化催化剂（简称SFCC）为载体、β-环糊精为金属络合剂、硝酸镍为镍源，采用湿法浸渍法制备β-环糊精修饰的Ni/SFCC催化剂（简称Ni/SFCC-CD催化剂），考察其对C9石油树脂的催化加氢性能。通过BET比表面积测试、H2程序升温还原、X射线光电子能谱等手段对催化剂的物相结构进行表征，研究β-环糊精的作用机理及其对催化剂加氢性能的影响。研究结果表明：在反应温度为260 ℃、反应压力为7 MPa、反应时间为2.0 h的最优条件下，采用Ni/SFCC-CD催化C9石油树脂加氢，可制得溴值为1.45 gBr/（100 g）、色号（加纳德）小于1的水白色氢化C9石油树脂，催化剂循环使用4次后仍保持良好活性；β-环糊精的作用机理是：β-环糊精与硝酸镍产生络合作用，抑制硝酸镍的分解、控制NiO的结晶过程和增强活性组分Ni与载体之间的相互作用力，从而提高了Ni/SFCC-CD的催化活性和稳定性。