Stem Photosynthesis—A Key Element of Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) Acclimatisation to Salinity

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is a leguminous plant of outstanding tolerance to abiotic stress. The aim of the presented study was to describe the mechanism of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) photosynthetic apparatus acclimatisation strategies to salinity stress. The seedlings were cultivated in a hydroponic system in media containing various concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, and 100 mM), imitating none, moderate, and severe salinity, respectively, for three weeks. In order to characterise the function and structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, Chl a fluorescence, gas exchange measurements, proteome analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis were done inter alia. Significant differences in the response of the leaf and stem photosynthetic apparatus to severe salt stress were observed. Leaves became the place of harmful ion (Na⁺) accumulation, and the efficiency of their carboxylation decreased sharply. In turn, in stems, the reconstruction of the photosynthetic apparatus (antenna and photosystem complexes) activated alternative electron transport pathways, leading to effective ATP synthesis, which is required for the efficient translocation of Na⁺ to leaves. These changes enabled efficient stem carboxylation and made them the main source of assimilates. The observed changes indicate the high plasticity of grass pea photosynthetic apparatus, providing an effective mechanism of tolerance to salinity stress.     

Sustainable optimization of waste management network over extended planning time horizon

This study proposes a multiperiod mixed integer linear programming model for the management of a single municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment plant with sustainability as the objective. Discrete and continuous variables define the capacity selections for diverse MSW technologies, and the operation of the MSW network, respectively. The economic target is considered to maximize the net present value. The environmental impact is the minimization of a normalized environmental objective function (NEOF). The social target is the maximization of jobs. An interesting feature about the research work is the requirement of biodrying technologies for MSW moisture content control. Due to the conflicted nature among the sustainability components, a multiobjective optimization (MO) is carried out to find the Pareto optimal solutions. The MO results show that the Pareto optimal solutions vary around profit range of $4.9–8.5 billion, NEOF impact range of 3.2–3.6 units, and social benefit range of 2700–4828 jobs.     

Effect of suspension characteristics on the performance of thermal barrier coatings deposited by suspension plasma spray

This paper investigates the influence of suspension characteristics on microstructure and performance of suspensions plasma sprayed (SPS) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). Five suspensions were produced using various suspension characteristics, namely, type of solvent and solid load content, and the resultant suspensions were utilized to deposit five different TBCs under identical processing conditions. The produced TBCs were evaluated for their performance i.e. thermal conductivity, thermal cyclic fatigue (TCF) and thermal shock (TS) lifetime. This experimental study revealed that the differences in the microstructure of SPS TBCs produced using varied suspensions resulted in a wide-ranging overall TBC performance. All TBCs exhibited thermal conductivity lower than 1 W/(m. K) except water-ethanol mixed suspension produced TBC. The TS lifetime was also affected to a large extent where 10 wt % solid loaded ethanol and 25 wt % solid loaded water suspensions produced TBCs exhibited the highest and the lowest lifetime, respectively. On the contrary, TCF lifetime was not as significantly affected as thermal conductivity and TS lifetime, and all ethanol suspensions showed marginally better TCF lifetime than water and ethanol-water mixed suspensions deposited TBCs.     

广义正交码索引调制系统的性能分析

摘 要：为了提高码索引调制（code index modulation，CIM）系统的传输效率，提出了一种具有更低复杂度的单输入单输出（single input single output，SISO）的广义正交码索引调制（generalized orthogonal code index modulation，GQCIM）系统。CIM 系统使用扩频码和星座符号传输信息，但只能激活两个扩频码索引和一个调制符号。而 GQCIM 系统以一种新颖的方式克服了只激活一个调制符号的限制，同时充分利用了调制符号的正交性，增加扩频码索引以传输更多的额外信息位，提高了系统的传输效率。此外，分析了GQCIM系统的理论性能，推导了误码率性能的上界。通过蒙特卡罗仿真验证了GQCIM系统的性能，对比发现GQCIM系统的理论和仿真性能一致。而且在相同的传输效率下，结果显示GQCIM系统的性能优于同样具有正交性的调制系统，如广义码索引调制（generalized code index modulation，GCIM）系统、CIM系统、码索引调制-正交空间调制（code index modulation aided quadrature spatial modulation，CIM-QSM）系统、码索引调制-正交空间调制（code index modulation aided spatial modulation，CIM-SM）系统、脉冲索引调制（pulse index modulation，PIM）系统。     

Bioinformatic Prediction of an tRNASec Gene Nested inside an Elongation Factor SelB Gene in Alphaproteobacteria

In bacteria, selenocysteine (Sec) is incorporated into proteins via the recoding of a particular codon, the UGA stop codon in most cases. Sec-tRNA^Sec is delivered to the ribosome by the Sec-dedicated elongation factor SelB that also recognizes a Sec-insertion sequence element following the codon on the mRNA. Since the excess of SelB may lead to sequestration of Sec-tRNA^Sec under selenium deficiency or oxidative stress, the expression levels of SelB and tRNA^Sec should be regulated. In this bioinformatic study, I analyzed the Rhizobiales SelB species because they were annotated to have a non-canonical C-terminal extension. I found that the open reading frame (ORF) of diverse Alphaproteobacteria selB genes includes an entire tRNA^Sec sequence (selC) and overlaps with the start codon of the downstream ORF. A remnant tRNA^Sec sequence was found in the Sinorhizobium meliloti selB genes whose products have a shorter C-terminal extension. Similar overlapping traits were found in Gammaproteobacteria and Nitrospirae. I hypothesized that once the tRNA^Sec moiety is folded and processed, the expression of the full-length SelB may be repressed. This is the first report on a nested tRNA gene inside a protein ORF in bacteria.     

面向智能客服的句子相似度计算方法

针对金融领域中智能客服的句子相似度计算方法进行了研究。利用基于词性的分词纠正模型减少中文歧义词、金融相关词汇的分词错误；通过词向量方法和循环神经网络分别提取词语级和句子级的语义特征，并且得到句子向量；用融合层计算出句子向量间的差异特征；对差异特征进行降维和归一化得到句子相似度计算结果。实验结果表明，该方法具有较高的准确率和[F1]值。     

轻量级电驱水下机械臂设计与运动学分析

设计了一款四功能水下机械臂，并对驱动关节进行了模块化设计和密封测试。为了保证水下机械臂的可靠性，在水下机械臂水下测试前，进行了强度校核和模态分析。为了验证水下机械臂的性能，通过 Ｄ- Ｈ法建立了其运动学模型，在此基础上分别进行了正、逆运动学分析。此外还采用蒙特卡洛法，在正运动学分析的基础上研究了工作空间特点。研究结果将为进一步的运动控制提供有益的帮助。     

Epigenetic Targets for Oligonucleotide Therapies of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Arterial wall remodeling underlies increased pulmonary vascular resistance and right heart failure in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). None of the established vasodilator drug therapies for PAH prevents or reverse established arterial wall thickening, stiffening, and hypercontractility. Therefore, new approaches are needed to achieve long-acting prevention and reversal of occlusive pulmonary vascular remodeling. Several promising new drug classes are emerging from a better understanding of pulmonary vascular gene expression programs. In this review, potential epigenetic targets for small molecules and oligonucleotides will be described. Most are in preclinical studies aimed at modifying the growth of vascular wall cells in vitro or normalizing vascular remodeling in PAH animal models. Initial success with lung-directed delivery of oligonucleotides targeting microRNAs suggests other epigenetic mechanisms might also be suitable drug targets. Those targets include DNA methylation, proteins of the chromatin remodeling machinery, and long noncoding RNAs, all of which act as epigenetic regulators of vascular wall structure and function. The progress in testing small molecules and oligonucleotide-based drugs in PAH models is summarized.     

Influence analysis of bracket set on seismic performance of steel eave columns in Chinese traditional style buildings

This paper presents influence analysis of bracket set on seismic performance of steel eave columns in Chinese traditional style buildings. Eight 1/1.5‐scale steel eave columns were constructed and tested under low cyclic reversed loading, including 4 specimens with bracket set and 4 specimens without bracket set. Based on the analysis of the strain of the specimens, the failure modes of the specimens were obtained. In addition, the hysteresis loops, skeleton curves, degradations of stiffness and strength, ductility, and dissipation capacities of the specimens were analyzed. Bracket set changed the force transfer mechanisms and failure modes of the specimens and had a significant influence on the seismic performance of the specimens. Compared with the specimens without bracket set, the yielded and ultimate bearing capacities of the specimens with bracket set improved by 30.7% and 24.0%, respectively. And also, the stiffness of the specimens with bracket set at the yielded and ultimate points increased by 52.8% and 135.6%. The dissipation capacities of the specimens with bracket set were 2.12 times those of the specimens without bracket set at yielded load. However, the ductility of the specimens with bracket set slightly decreased by 8.5%. It was shown that the seismic performance of the specimens with bracket set was better than that of the specimens without bracket set. The work in this paper provides a basis for further theoretical study on the seismic performance of steel eave columns in Chinese traditional style buildings.     

波浪与冲刷作用后吸力式基础承载力分析

吸力式桶形基础是一种应用于海上风机的典型基础形式，波浪循环荷载与海流引起的冲刷会影响基础的承载力，进而危及结构的安全。采用模型试验手段和有限元软件数值方法，分析了基础的长径比（0.50、0.75和1.00）、冲刷和波浪荷载作用对基础的承载特性的影响。研究发现:随着长径比的增加，吸力式桶形基础承载力（水平和竖向抗拔）的增长速率明显加快而冲刷作用会降低其增长速率；静力荷载作用下分为弹性变形、塑性变形和失稳破坏3个阶段；试验中前期波浪作用扮演改变砂土密实度的角色，不同波浪作用下的砂土会发生剪胀和剪缩，结合数值计算结果说明了砂土剪胀角对基础承载力的影响；随着波浪荷载和冲刷深度的增加，吸力式基础的承载力呈下降趋势。