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- 2019
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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| 2. |
- Cheng, Shi-Ping, et al.
(author)
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Haplotype-resolved genome assembly and allele-specific gene expression in cultivated ginger
- 2021
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In: Horticulture Research. - : Springer Nature. - 2052-7276. ; 8:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the most valued spice plants worldwide; it is prized for its culinary and folk medicinal applications and is therefore of high economic and cultural importance. Here, we present a haplotype-resolved, chromosome-scale assembly for diploid ginger anchored to 11 pseudochromosome pairs with a total length of 3.1 Gb. Remarkable structural variation was identified between haplotypes, and two inversions larger than 15 Mb on chromosome 4 may be associated with ginger infertility. We performed a comprehensive, spatiotemporal, genome-wide analysis of allelic expression patterns, revealing that most alleles are coordinately expressed. The alleles that exhibited the largest differences in expression showed closer proximity to transposable elements, greater coding sequence divergence, more relaxed selection pressure, and more transcription factor binding site differences. We also predicted the transcription factors potentially regulating 6-gingerol biosynthesis. Our allele-aware assembly provides a powerful platform for future functional genomics, molecular breeding, and genome editing in ginger.
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| 3. |
- Fa, Wenxin, et al.
(author)
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Associations of Blood Absolute Neutrophil Count and Cytokines With Cognitive Function in Dementia-Free Participants : A Population-Based Cohort Study
- 2023
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In: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. - 1079-5006 .- 1758-535X.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The relationships of neutrophils and cytokines with cognitive dysfunction are poorly defined. We aimed to investigate the association of peripheral blood absolute neutrophil count (ANC) with cognitive function in older adults and to further explore the mediating role of serum cytokines in this association.Methods: This population-based cohort study included 1 666 dementia-free participants (age ≥60 years) derived from baseline examinations (March–September 2018) of the Multimodal Intervention to Delay Dementia and Disability in Rural China (MIND-China); of these, 1 087 participants completed follow-up examinations in October–December 2019. We used a neuropsychological test battery to assess episodic memory, verbal fluency, attention, and executive function at the baseline and follow-up examinations. We used Mindray BC-6800 automated hematology analyzer to measure ANC and Meso Scale Discovery to measure serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and eotaxin-3.Results: The linear regression analysis of cross-sectional data at baseline (n = 1 666) suggested that increased ANC was significantly associated with a lower episodic memory z score (β coefficient: −0.149, 95% CI: −0.274 to −0.023) and lower long-delayed free recall z score (−0.216, −0.361 to −0.070). Serum IL-6 and eotaxin-3 could mediate 16.16% to 20.21% and 7.55% to 9.35%, respectively, of these associations. The analysis of longitudinal data (n = 1 087) showed a J-shaped relationship of ANC with decline in episodic memory z score (p for nonlinear = .049), and a U-shaped relationship between ANC and decline in long-delayed free recall z score (p for nonlinear = .043).Conclusions: Increased neutrophils are associated with poor cognitive performance and accelerated decline in episodic memory, and the cross-sectional association is partly mediated by serum cytokines.
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| 4. |
- Fan, Qunping, et al.
(author)
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10.13% Efficiency All-Polymer Solar Cells Enabled by Improving the Optical Absorption of Polymer Acceptors
- 2020
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In: Solar RRL. - : Wiley. - 2367-198X. ; 4:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The limited light absorption capacity for most polymer acceptors hinders the improvement of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs). Herein, by simultaneously increasing the conjugation of the acceptor unit and enhancing the electron-donating ability of the donor unit, a novel narrow-bandgap polymer acceptor PF3-DTCO based on an A–D–A-structured acceptor unit ITIC16 and a carbon–oxygen (C–O)-bridged donor unit DTCO is developed. The extended conjugation of the acceptor units from IDIC16 to ITIC16 results in a red-shifted absorption spectrum and improved absorption coefficient without significant reduction of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level. Moreover, in addition to further broadening the absorption spectrum by the enhanced intramolecular charge transfer effect, the introduction of C–O bridges into the donor unit improves the absorption coefficient and electron mobility, as well as optimizes the morphology and molecular order of active layers. As a result, the PF3-DTCO achieves a higher PCE of 10.13% with a higher short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 15.75 mA cm−2 in all-PSCs compared with its original polymer acceptor PF2-DTC (PCE = 8.95% and Jsc = 13.82 mA cm−2). Herein, a promising method is provided to construct high-performance polymer acceptors with excellent optical absorption for efficient all-PSCs.
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| 5. |
- Guo, Di, et al.
(author)
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Cholecystokinin-like peptide mediates satiety by inhibiting sugar attraction
- 2021
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In: PLOS Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7390 .- 1553-7404. ; 17:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Feeding is essential for animal survival and reproduction and is regulated by both internal states and external stimuli. However, little is known about how internal states influence the perception of external sensory cues that regulate feeding behavior. Here, we investigated the neuronal and molecular mechanisms behind nutritional state-mediated regulation of gustatory perception in control of feeding behavior in the brown planthopper and Drosophila. We found that feeding increases the expression of the cholecystokinin-like peptide, sulfakinin (SK), and the activity of a set of SK-expressing neurons. Starvation elevates the transcription of the sugar receptor Gr64f and SK negatively regulates the expression of Gr64f in both insects. Interestingly, we found that one of the two known SK receptors, CCKLR-17D3, is expressed by some of Gr64f-expressing neurons in the proboscis and proleg tarsi. Thus, we have identified SK as a neuropeptide signal in a neuronal circuitry that responds to food intake, and regulates feeding behavior by diminishing gustatory receptor gene expression and activity of sweet sensing GRNs. Our findings demonstrate one nutritional state-dependent pathway that modulates sweet perception and thereby feeding behavior, but our experiments cannot exclude further parallel pathways. Importantly, we show that the underlying mechanisms are conserved in the two distantly related insect species.
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| 6. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(author)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
- 2012
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In: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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| 7. |
- Leng, Xue-Li, et al.
(author)
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Spiral Coil Inserts for Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Parallel-plate Channel
- 2014
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In: Numerical Heat Transfer Part A: Applications. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1040-7782 .- 1521-0634. ; 66:7, s. 756-772
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The flow fields and heat transfer characteristics in a parallel-plate channel with a transversely placed spiral coil insert were investigated by three-dimensional numerical simulation. The structure of multi-longitudinal-vortices (MLVs) induced by the spiral coil and the effects of MLVs on velocity and temperature fields were studied. The three-dimensional spiral coil induces a series of longitudinal vortices in the channel including leading longitudinal vortex, mainstream longitudinal vortices, near-wall longitudinal vortices, and rear central longitudinal vortex. Transport by the longitudinal vortices can increase the mass exchange between the boundary layer and the mainstream, which speeds up the heat migration from the channel walls and enhances the heat diffusion in the mainstream.
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| 8. |
- Li, Jian, et al.
(author)
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Atomic-resolution structures from polycrystalline covalent organic frameworks with enhanced cryo-cRED
- 2022
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 13:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The pursuit of atomic precision structure of porous covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is the key to understanding the relationship between structures and properties, and further developing new materials with superior performance. Yet, a challenge of how to determine their atomic structures has always existed since the first COFs reported seventeen years ago. Here, we present a universal method for ab initio structure determination of polycrystalline three-dimensional (3D) COFs at atomic level using enhanced cryo-continuous rotation electron diffraction (cryo-cRED), which combines hierarchical cluster analysis with cryo-EM technique. The high-quality datasets possess not only up to 0.79-angstrom resolution but more than 90% completeness, leading to unambiguous solution and precise refinement with anisotropic temperature factors. With such a powerful method, the dynamic structures with flexible linkers, degree of interpenetration, position of functional groups, and arrangement of ordered guest molecules are successfully revealed with atomic precision in five 3D COFs, which are almost impossible to be obtained without atomic resolution structure solution. This study demonstrates a practicable strategy for determining the structures of polycrystalline COFs and other beam-sensitive materials and to help in the future discovery of novel materials on the other.
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| 9. |
- Li, Lianhui, et al.
(author)
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Sustainability Assessment of Intelligent Manufacturing Supported by Digital Twin
- 2020
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In: IEEE Access. - : IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC. - 2169-3536. ; 8, s. 174988-175008
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As a major challenge and opportunity for traditional manufacturing, intelligent manufacturing is facing the needs of sustainable development in future. Sustainability assessment undoubtedly plays a pivotal role for future development of intelligent manufacturing. Aiming at this, the paper presents the digital twin driven information architecture of sustainability assessment oriented for dynamic evolution under the whole life cycle based on the classic digital twin mapping system. The sustainability assessment method segment of the architecture includes indicator system building, indicator value determination, indicator importance degree determination and intelligent manufacturing project assessing. A novel approach for treating the ambiguity of expert judgment in indicator value determination by introducing trapezoidal fuzzy number into analytic hierarchy process is proposed, while the complexity of the influence relationship among the indicators is processed by the integration of complex networks modeling and PROMETHEE II for the indicator importance degree determination. A two-stage evidence combination model based on evidence theory is built for intelligent manufacturing project assessing lastly. The presented digital-twin-driven information architecture and the sustainability assessment method is tested and validated on a study of sustainability assessment of 8 intelligent manufacturing projects of an air conditioning enterprise. The results of the presented method were validated by comparing them with the results of the fuzzy and rough extension of the PROMETHEE II, TOPSIS and VIKOR methods, indicator importance degree determining method by entropy and indicator value determining method by accurate expert scoring.
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| 10. |
- Ma, Tianqiong, et al.
(author)
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Observation of Interpenetration Isomerism in Covalent Organic Frameworks
- 2018
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In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126. ; 140:22, s. 6763-6766
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report herein the first example of interpenetration isomerism in covalent organic frameworks (COFs). As a well-known three-dimensional (3D) COF, COF-300 was synthesized and characterized by the Yaghi group in 2009 as a 5-fold interpenetrated diamond structure (dia-cS topology). We found that adding an aging process prior to the reported synthetic procedure afforded the formation of an interpenetration isomer, dia-c7 COF-300. The 7-fold interpenetrated diamond structure of this new isomer was identified by powder Xray diffraction and rotation electron diffraction analyses. Furthermore, we proposed a universal formula to accurately determine the number of interpenetration degrees of dia-based COFs from only the unit cell parameters and the length of the organic linker. This work not only provides a novel example to the category of interpenetration isomerism but also provides new insights for the further development of 3D COFs.
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