The studypresents theHalfMax InsertionHeuristic (HMIH) as a novel approach to solving theTravelling SalesmanProblem (TSP). The goal is to outperform existing techniques such as the Farthest Insertion Heuristic (FIH) a...The studypresents theHalfMax InsertionHeuristic (HMIH) as a novel approach to solving theTravelling SalesmanProblem (TSP). The goal is to outperform existing techniques such as the Farthest Insertion Heuristic (FIH) andNearest Neighbour Heuristic (NNH). The paper discusses the limitations of current construction tour heuristics,focusing particularly on the significant margin of error in FIH. It then proposes HMIH as an alternative thatminimizes the increase in tour distance and includes more nodes. HMIH improves tour quality by starting withan initial tour consisting of a ‘minimum’ polygon and iteratively adding nodes using our novel Half Max routine.The paper thoroughly examines and compares HMIH with FIH and NNH via rigorous testing on standard TSPbenchmarks. The results indicate that HMIH consistently delivers superior performance, particularly with respectto tour cost and computational efficiency. HMIH’s tours were sometimes 16% shorter than those generated by FIHand NNH, showcasing its potential and value as a novel benchmark for TSP solutions. The study used statisticalmethods, including Friedman’s Non-parametric Test, to validate the performance of HMIH over FIH and NNH.This guarantees that the identified advantages are statistically significant and consistent in various situations. Thiscomprehensive analysis emphasizes the reliability and efficiency of the heuristic, making a compelling case for itsuse in solving TSP issues. The research shows that, in general, HMIH fared better than FIH in all cases studied,except for a few instances (pr439, eil51, and eil101) where FIH either performed equally or slightly better thanHMIH. HMIH’s efficiency is shown by its improvements in error percentage (δ) and goodness values (g) comparedto FIH and NNH. In the att48 instance, HMIH had an error rate of 6.3%, whereas FIH had 14.6% and NNH had20.9%, indicating that HMIH was closer to the optimal solution. HMIH consistently showed superior performanceacross many benchmarks, with lower percentage error and higher goodness values, suggesting a closer match tothe optimal tour costs. This study substantially contributes to combinatorial optimization by enhancing currentinsertion algorithms and presenting a more efficient solution for the Travelling Salesman Problem. It also createsnew possibilities for progress in heuristic design and optimization methodologies.展开更多
Fusarium pseudograminearum is a devastating pathogen that causes Fusarium crown rot(FCR)in wheat and poses a significant threat to wheat production in terms of grain yield and quality.However,the mechanism by which F....Fusarium pseudograminearum is a devastating pathogen that causes Fusarium crown rot(FCR)in wheat and poses a significant threat to wheat production in terms of grain yield and quality.However,the mechanism by which F.pseudograminearum infects wheat remains unclear.In this study,we aimed to elucidate these mechanisms by constructing a T-DNA insertion mutant library for the highly virulent strain WZ-8A of F.pseudograminearum.By screening this mutant library,we identified nine independent mutants that displayed impaired pathogenesis in barley leaves.Among these mutants,one possessed a disruption in the gene FpRCO1 that is an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RCO1,encoding essential component of the Rpd3S histone deacetylase complex in F.pseudograminearum.To further investigate the role of FpRCO1 in F.pseudograminearum,we employed a split-marker approach to knock out FpRCO1 in F.pseudograminearum WZ-8A.FpRCO1 deletion mutants exhibit reduced vegetative growth,conidium production,and virulence in wheat coleoptiles and barley leaves,whereas the complementary strain restores these phenotypes.Moreover,under stress conditions,the FpRCO1 deletion mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to NaCl,sorbitol,and SDS,but possessed reduced sensitivity to H_(2)O_(2)compared to these characteristics in the wild-type strain.RNA-seq analysis revealed that deletion of FpRCO1 affected gene expression(particularly the downregulation of TRI gene expression),thus resulting in significantly reduced deoxynivalenol(DON)production.In summary,our findings highlight the pivotal role of FpRCO1 in regulating vegetative growth and development,asexual reproduction,DON production,and pathogenicity of F.pseudograminearum.This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying F.pseudograminearum infection in wheat and may pave the way for the development of novel strategies to combat this devastating disease.展开更多
Nickel-based materials,including metallic Ni and Ni oxide,have been widely studied in the exploration of non-precious-metal hydrogen electrocatalysts,but neither pure Ni nor NiO is ideal for the hydrogen evolution rea...Nickel-based materials,including metallic Ni and Ni oxide,have been widely studied in the exploration of non-precious-metal hydrogen electrocatalysts,but neither pure Ni nor NiO is ideal for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR).In this paper,an oxygen insertion strategy was applied on nickel to regulate its hydrogen electrocatalytic performance,and the oxygen-inserted nickel catalyst was successfully obtained with the assistance of tungsten dioxide support(denoted as O-Ni/WO_(2)).The partial insertion of oxygen in Ni maintains the face-centered cubic arrangement of Ni atoms,simultaneously expanding the lattice and increasing the lattice spacing.Consequently,the adsorption strength of^(*)H and^(*)OH on Ni is optimized,thus resulting in superior electrocatalytic performance of0-Ni/WO_(2)in alkaline HER/HOR.The Tafel slope of O-Ni/WO_(2)@NF for HER is 56 mV dec^(-1),and the kinetic current density of O-Ni/WO_(2)for HOR reaches 4.85 mA cm^(-2),which is ahead of most currently reported catalysts.Our proposed strategy of inserting an appropriate amount of anions into the metal lattice could provide more possibilities for the design of high-performance catalysts.展开更多
Insertional mutation,phenotypic evaluation,and mutated gene cloning are widely used to clone genes from scratch.Exogenous genes can be integrated into the genome during non-homologous end joining(NHEJ)of the double-st...Insertional mutation,phenotypic evaluation,and mutated gene cloning are widely used to clone genes from scratch.Exogenous genes can be integrated into the genome during non-homologous end joining(NHEJ)of the double-strand breaks of DNA,causing insertional mutation.The random insertional mutant library constructed using this method has become a method of forward genetics for gene cloning.However,the establishment of a random insertional mutant library requires a high transformation efficiency of exogenous genes.Many microalgal species show a low transformation efficiency,making constructing random insertional mutant libraries difficult.In this study,we established a highly efficient transformation method for constructing a random insertional mutant library of Nannochloropsis oceanica,and tentatively tried to isolate its genes to prove the feasibility of the method.A gene that may control the growth rate and cell size was identified.This method will facilitate the genetic studies of N.oceanica,which should also be a reference for other microalgal species.展开更多
BACKGROUND Benign rectal strictures can be categorized as primary(disease-related)and secondary(surgical anastomosis-related).Secondary strictures arise from surgical complications,whereas primary strictures have dive...BACKGROUND Benign rectal strictures can be categorized as primary(disease-related)and secondary(surgical anastomosis-related).Secondary strictures arise from surgical complications,whereas primary strictures have diverse etiologies,including various inflammatory conditions.Benign strictures are usually managed by surgery and endoscopy.We present an unusual etiology of benign rectal stricture caused by the repeated insertion of foreign objects into the rectum for sexual purposes,resulting in rectal injury and subsequent chronic inflammation.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old man presented to the outpatient clinic of the Colorectal Surgery Department with symptoms of chronic constipation and bloody stools.The patient previously experienced rectal injury due to foreign object insertion for sexual purposes.Colonoscopy revealed benign circumferential narrowing of the rectum.He underwent treatment by endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation and follow-up as an outpatient for 4 months.A colonoscopy at the end of the follow-up period revealed no evidence of rectal stricture relapse.CONCLUSION A history of rectal injury,followed by chronic inflammation,should be considered in patients with benign rectal strictures.Management with endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation can prevent the need for surgical resection of benign rectal strictures.展开更多
Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord corresponds to the insertion of the cord directly on amniotic membranes. It is a rare situation whose frequency varies from 0.5% to 1.69% of single pregnancies. It must be d...Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord corresponds to the insertion of the cord directly on amniotic membranes. It is a rare situation whose frequency varies from 0.5% to 1.69% of single pregnancies. It must be diagnosed during the morphological ultrasound of the 2nd trimester, actively looking for the association with a vasa previa, due to the risk of fetal haemorrhagic threat. We report an antenatal diagnosis of velamentous cord insertion and its management with literature review.展开更多
The In segregation and its suppression in InGaAs/AlGaAs quantum well are investigated by using high-resolution x-ray diffraction(XRD)and photoluminescence(PL),combined with the state-of-the-art aberration corrected sc...The In segregation and its suppression in InGaAs/AlGaAs quantum well are investigated by using high-resolution x-ray diffraction(XRD)and photoluminescence(PL),combined with the state-of-the-art aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(Cs-STEM)techniques.To facility our study,we grow two multiple quantum wells(MQWs)samples,which are almost identical except that in sample B a thin GaAs layer is inserted in each of the InGaAs well and AlGaAs barrier layer comparing to pristine InGaAs/AlGaAs MQWs(sample A).Our study indeed shows the direct evidences that In segregation occurs in the InGaAs/AlGaAs interface,and the effect of the Ga As insertion layer on suppressing the segregation of In atoms is also demonstrated on the atomic-scale.Therefore,the atomic-scale insights are provided to understand the segregation behavior of In atoms and to unravel the underlying mechanism of the effect of GaAs insertion layer on the improvement of crystallinity,interface roughness,and further an enhanced optical performance of InGaAs/AlGaAs QWs.展开更多
DEAR EDITOR,Insertion sequences(ISs) are the simplest structural transposable elements(TEs) in prokaryotes, consisting only of a transposase coding sequence and its bilateral short terminal inverted repeats. Due to th...DEAR EDITOR,Insertion sequences(ISs) are the simplest structural transposable elements(TEs) in prokaryotes, consisting only of a transposase coding sequence and its bilateral short terminal inverted repeats. Due to their gradually streamlined genomic construction, TEs rarely exist in the genomes of obligate endosymbionts. However, TE content, especially ISs.展开更多
GaN-based p-channel heterostructure field-effect transistors(p-HFETs)face significant constraints on on-state currents compared with n-channel high electron mobility transistors.In this work,we propose a novel double ...GaN-based p-channel heterostructure field-effect transistors(p-HFETs)face significant constraints on on-state currents compared with n-channel high electron mobility transistors.In this work,we propose a novel double heterostructure which introduces an additional p-GaN insertion layer into traditional p-HFETs.The impact of the device structure on the hole densities and valence band energies of both the upper and lower channels is analyzed by using Silvaco TACD simulations,including the thickness of the upper AlGaN layer and the doping impurities and concentration in the GaN buffer layer,as well as the thickness and Mg-doping concentration in the p-GaN insertion layer.With the help of the p-GaN insertion layer,the C-doping concentration in the GaN buffer layer can be reduced,while the density of the two-dimensional hole gas in the lower channel is enhanced at the same time.This work suggests that a double heterostructure with a p-GaN insertion layer is a better approach to improve p-HFETs compared with those devices with C-doped buffer layer alone.展开更多
Sexual reproduction in plants is the main pathway for creating new genetic combinations in modern agriculture.In heterozygous plants,after the identification of a plant with desired traits,vegetative propagation(cloni...Sexual reproduction in plants is the main pathway for creating new genetic combinations in modern agriculture.In heterozygous plants,after the identification of a plant with desired traits,vegetative propagation(cloning)is the primary path to create genetically uniform plants.Another natural plant mechanism that creates genetically uniform plants(clones)is apomixis.In fruit crops like citrus and mango,sporophytic apomixis results in polyembryony,where seeds contain multiple embryos,one of which is sexually originated and the others are vegetative clones of the parent mother tree.Utilizing the mango genome and genetic analysis of a diverse germplasm collection,we identified MiRWP as the gene that causes polyembryony in mango.There is a strong correlation between a specific insertion in the gene’s promoter region and altered expression in flowers and developing fruitlets,inducing multiple embryos.The MiRWP gene is an ortholog of CitRWP that causes polyembryony in citrus.Based on the data,we speculate that promoter insertion events,which occurred independently in citrus and mango,induced nucellar embryogenesis.The results suggest convergent evolution of polyembryony in the two species.Further work is required to demonstrate the utility of these genes(mango and citrus)in other biological systems as a tool for the clonal production of other crops.展开更多
Introduction: Contraceptive implants are one of the most effective methods of birth spacing. Jadelle<sup>®</sup> implants consist of two strands that are easy to insert and remove. Although their e...Introduction: Contraceptive implants are one of the most effective methods of birth spacing. Jadelle<sup>®</sup> implants consist of two strands that are easy to insert and remove. Although their effectiveness is no longer in question, their use (insertion) requires a surgical procedure with the corollary possibility of complications. These are mainly insertions that are too deep (in the arm muscle), vascular and nerve damage. Material and Methods: Our study focused on complications related to implant insertion. It was a descriptive and retrospective study over thirty-four months, from October 2016 to July 2019, and concerned all patients seen in consultation and who presented a complication related to the insertion of contraceptive implants in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the National Hospital of Pikine. Results: We collected nine complications managed at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of the Centre Hospitalier National de Pikine from 2016 to 2019. These were insertions that were too deep with sometimes nerve damage, infection or incident during anesthesia. The operative procedures were based on the type of complication. Conclusion: Although Jadelle<sup>®</sup> has the advantage of having only 2 rods compared to its predecessor Norplant<sup>®</sup>, its use is also conditioned by insertion and removal procedures which may experience complications.展开更多
GAO Caixia’s group from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)has developed a new genome editing technology that achieves efficient and precise targeted inser...GAO Caixia’s group from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)has developed a new genome editing technology that achieves efficient and precise targeted insertion of large DNA segments in plants.The new technology,called prime editing-mediated recombination of opportune targets(PrimeRoot),combines an optimized dual-ePPE editor protein previously published by the group with a highly efficient tyrosine site-specific recombinase,Cre.It can achieve one-step,precise targeted insertion of large DNA segments in rice and maize with an efficiency up to 6%and has been used to successfully insert DNA segments up to 11.1 kb.展开更多
[Objective] The aim of this study is to understand the genetic characteristics of a grain shape mutant and its possible role in genetic improvement of grain yield in rice. [Method] On the basis of the collection of T-...[Objective] The aim of this study is to understand the genetic characteristics of a grain shape mutant and its possible role in genetic improvement of grain yield in rice. [Method] On the basis of the collection of T-DNA tag lines, the progeny of homozygous plants carrying T-DNA insertion were screened for mutants with mutated phenotypes. The genetic analysis of the mutant and test for the linkage between the mutated phenotype and the T-DNA insertion were carried out to determine its genetic characteristics. [Result] In the present study, a grain shape mutant induced by T-DNA insertion in rice was identified, which showed small grain. Genetic analysis of the mutant showed that the two types of phenotype, normal and small grain in the segregating populations derived from the T-DNA heterozygotes, fit the ratio of 3∶1. Test for Basta resistance showed that all the mutants were resistant while the normal plants segregated for resistant and susceptible by the ratio of 2∶1. The results indicated that the mutant phenotype cosegregated with Bar gene. The small grain mutant caused by T-DNA insertion was confirmed by PCR amplification aiming at T-DNA. [Conclusion] The grain shape mutant is useful for isolation of the tagged gene and genetic improvement in rice.展开更多
Needle insertion is a common surgical procedure used in diagnosis and treatment.The needle steering technologies make continuous developments in theoretical and practical aspects along with the in-depth research on ne...Needle insertion is a common surgical procedure used in diagnosis and treatment.The needle steering technologies make continuous developments in theoretical and practical aspects along with the in-depth research on needle insertion.It is necessary to summarize and analyze the existing results to promote the future development of theories and applications of needle insertion.Thus,a survey of the state of the art of research is presented on algorithms of needle steering techniques,the surgical robots and devices.Based on the analysis of the needle insertion procedure,the concept of needle steering is defined as a kinematics problem,which is to place the needle at the target and avoid the obstacles.The needle steering techniques,including the artificial potential field method and the nonholonomic model,are introduced to control the needles for improving the accuracy.Based on the quasi-static thinking,the virtual spring model and the cantilever-beam model are developed to calculate the amount of needle deflection and generate the needle path.The phantoms instead of the real tissue are used to verify the models mentioned in most of the experimentations.For the desired needle trajectories,the image-guided robotic devices and some novel needles are presented to achieve the needle steering.Finally,the challenges are provided involving the controllability of the long flexible needle and the properties of soft tissue.The results and investigations can be used for further study on the precision and accuracy of needle insertion.展开更多
Irreversible reductive insertion of Zn2+transforms Mn3O4 such that the resulting Zn0.2Mn3O4 exhibits highly reversible storage properties of chloride ions,thus rendering Zn0.2Mn3O4 an excellent cathode of aqueous dual...Irreversible reductive insertion of Zn2+transforms Mn3O4 such that the resulting Zn0.2Mn3O4 exhibits highly reversible storage properties of chloride ions,thus rendering Zn0.2Mn3O4 an excellent cathode of aqueous dual-ion batteries.With Zn2+trapped,Zn0.2Mn3O4 delivers the chloride-storage capacity over 200 mAh/g at an average potential of 1.6 V vs Zn2+/Zn by reversibly forming a new ionic compound equivalent to Zn0.2Mn3O4Cl1.7.Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance results suggest chloride as the primary charge carrier in the reversible oxidative anion insertion.The Mn3O4 anion-hosting cathode couples with Zn metal anode in a full-cell dual-ion battery,demonstrating stable cycling in practical pouch cells with an energy density of 150 Wh/kg based on the mass of both electrodes.展开更多
An algorithm of path based timing optimization by buffer insertion is presented.The algorithm adopts a high order model to estimate interconnect delay and a nonlinear delay model based on look up table for gate dela...An algorithm of path based timing optimization by buffer insertion is presented.The algorithm adopts a high order model to estimate interconnect delay and a nonlinear delay model based on look up table for gate delay estimation.And heuristic method of buffer insertion is presented to reduce delay.The algorithm is tested by industral circuit case.Experimental results show that the algorithm can optimize the timing of circuit efficiently and the timing constraint is satisfied.展开更多
A fine-grain sleep transistor insertion technique based on our simplified leakage current and delay models is proposed to reduce leakage current. The key idea is to model the leakage current reduction problem as a mix...A fine-grain sleep transistor insertion technique based on our simplified leakage current and delay models is proposed to reduce leakage current. The key idea is to model the leakage current reduction problem as a mixed-integer linear programming （MLP） problem in order to simultaneously place and size the sleep transistors optimally. Because of better circuit slack utilization, our experimental results show that the MLP model can save leakage by 79.75%, 93.56%, and 94.99% when the circuit slowdown is 0%, 3%, and 5%, respectively. The MLP model also achieves on average 74.79% less area penalty compared to the conventional fixed slowdown method when the circuit slowdown is 7%.展开更多
A parallel embedding overlapped iterative (EOI) algorithm about classicimplicit equations with asymmetric Saul'yev schemes (CIS-EOI) to solve one-dimensional diffusionequations is discussed to improve the properti...A parallel embedding overlapped iterative (EOI) algorithm about classicimplicit equations with asymmetric Saul'yev schemes (CIS-EOI) to solve one-dimensional diffusionequations is discussed to improve the properties of the segment classic implicit iterative (SCII)algorithm. The structure of CIS-EOI method is given and the stability of scheme and convergence ofiteration are proved by matrix method. The property of gradual-approach convergence is alsodiscussed. It has been shown that the convergent rate is faster and the property of gradual-approachconvergence also becomes better with the increasing of the net point in subsystems than with theSCII algorithm. The simulation examples show that the parallel iterative algorithm with a differentinsertion scheme CIS-EOI is more effective.展开更多
Introduction: Literature reveals several peritoneal dialysis laparoscopic catheter insertion techniques developed to improve long-term results for treatment chronic kidney failure with the technic of peritoneal dialys...Introduction: Literature reveals several peritoneal dialysis laparoscopic catheter insertion techniques developed to improve long-term results for treatment chronic kidney failure with the technic of peritoneal dialysis. The purpose of the study is evaluation of developed and recommended minimally invasive laparoscopic technic for chronic peritoneal dialysis catheter placement using specially constructed trocar. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study included 804 patients in 10 departments of surgery. Surgical and non surgical complications related to PD catheter placement were analysed: bleeding, dialysate leak, early SSI, peritonitis, catheter tip migration, catheter obstruction, omental wrapping and visceral perforations. Available software (Microsoft? Excel for Windows 10, MedCalc, Mariakerke, Belgium) was used for statistical analysis (presented as percentages, mean ± SD or median). Conclusions: The presented technique with specially constructed trocar is a simple and effective procedure with fewer complications comparing to literature. The advantages of this method include long rectus sheath tunnel with the deep cuff placed pre-peritoneally, the small size of the entrance into the peritoneum and accurate position and control of catheter tip in the pelvis.展开更多
Computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion is applied to the thoracic and lumbar spine to attain high insertion accuracy and a low rate of screw-related complications.However,some in vivo and in vitro studies have sho...Computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion is applied to the thoracic and lumbar spine to attain high insertion accuracy and a low rate of screw-related complications.However,some in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that no advantages are gained with the use of navigation techniques compared to conventional techniques.Additionally,inconsistent conclusions have been drawn in various studies due to different population characteristics and methods used to assess the accuracy of screw placement.Moreover,it is not clear whether pedicle screw insertion with navigation techniques decreases the incidence of screw-related complications.Therefore,this study was sought to perform a meta-analysis of all available prospective evidence regarding pedicle screw insertion with or without navigation techniques in human thoracic and lumbar spine.We considered in vivo comparative studies that assessed the results of pedicle screw placement with or without navigation techniques.PubMed,Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched.Three published randomized controlled trials（RCTs） and nine retrospective comparative studies met the inclusion criteria.These studies included a total of 732 patients in whom 4,953 screws were inserted.In conclusion,accuracy of the position of grade I,II,III and IV screws and complication rate related to pedicle screw placement were significantly increased when navigation techniques were used in comparison to conventional techniques.Future research in this area should include RCTs with well-planned methodology to limit bias and report on validated,patient-based outcome measures.展开更多
基金the Centre of Excellence in Mobile and e-Services,the University of Zululand,Kwadlangezwa,South Africa.
文摘The studypresents theHalfMax InsertionHeuristic (HMIH) as a novel approach to solving theTravelling SalesmanProblem (TSP). The goal is to outperform existing techniques such as the Farthest Insertion Heuristic (FIH) andNearest Neighbour Heuristic (NNH). The paper discusses the limitations of current construction tour heuristics,focusing particularly on the significant margin of error in FIH. It then proposes HMIH as an alternative thatminimizes the increase in tour distance and includes more nodes. HMIH improves tour quality by starting withan initial tour consisting of a ‘minimum’ polygon and iteratively adding nodes using our novel Half Max routine.The paper thoroughly examines and compares HMIH with FIH and NNH via rigorous testing on standard TSPbenchmarks. The results indicate that HMIH consistently delivers superior performance, particularly with respectto tour cost and computational efficiency. HMIH’s tours were sometimes 16% shorter than those generated by FIHand NNH, showcasing its potential and value as a novel benchmark for TSP solutions. The study used statisticalmethods, including Friedman’s Non-parametric Test, to validate the performance of HMIH over FIH and NNH.This guarantees that the identified advantages are statistically significant and consistent in various situations. Thiscomprehensive analysis emphasizes the reliability and efficiency of the heuristic, making a compelling case for itsuse in solving TSP issues. The research shows that, in general, HMIH fared better than FIH in all cases studied,except for a few instances (pr439, eil51, and eil101) where FIH either performed equally or slightly better thanHMIH. HMIH’s efficiency is shown by its improvements in error percentage (δ) and goodness values (g) comparedto FIH and NNH. In the att48 instance, HMIH had an error rate of 6.3%, whereas FIH had 14.6% and NNH had20.9%, indicating that HMIH was closer to the optimal solution. HMIH consistently showed superior performanceacross many benchmarks, with lower percentage error and higher goodness values, suggesting a closer match tothe optimal tour costs. This study substantially contributes to combinatorial optimization by enhancing currentinsertion algorithms and presenting a more efficient solution for the Travelling Salesman Problem. It also createsnew possibilities for progress in heuristic design and optimization methodologies.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31901835)the Science and Technology Planning Project of Henan Province of China(212102110145)the International(Regional)Cooperation and Exchange Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31961143018).
文摘Fusarium pseudograminearum is a devastating pathogen that causes Fusarium crown rot(FCR)in wheat and poses a significant threat to wheat production in terms of grain yield and quality.However,the mechanism by which F.pseudograminearum infects wheat remains unclear.In this study,we aimed to elucidate these mechanisms by constructing a T-DNA insertion mutant library for the highly virulent strain WZ-8A of F.pseudograminearum.By screening this mutant library,we identified nine independent mutants that displayed impaired pathogenesis in barley leaves.Among these mutants,one possessed a disruption in the gene FpRCO1 that is an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RCO1,encoding essential component of the Rpd3S histone deacetylase complex in F.pseudograminearum.To further investigate the role of FpRCO1 in F.pseudograminearum,we employed a split-marker approach to knock out FpRCO1 in F.pseudograminearum WZ-8A.FpRCO1 deletion mutants exhibit reduced vegetative growth,conidium production,and virulence in wheat coleoptiles and barley leaves,whereas the complementary strain restores these phenotypes.Moreover,under stress conditions,the FpRCO1 deletion mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to NaCl,sorbitol,and SDS,but possessed reduced sensitivity to H_(2)O_(2)compared to these characteristics in the wild-type strain.RNA-seq analysis revealed that deletion of FpRCO1 affected gene expression(particularly the downregulation of TRI gene expression),thus resulting in significantly reduced deoxynivalenol(DON)production.In summary,our findings highlight the pivotal role of FpRCO1 in regulating vegetative growth and development,asexual reproduction,DON production,and pathogenicity of F.pseudograminearum.This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying F.pseudograminearum infection in wheat and may pave the way for the development of novel strategies to combat this devastating disease.
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22209049,22075102,22005120)Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(No.2023A1515012804)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2022ZYGXZR048)。
文摘Nickel-based materials,including metallic Ni and Ni oxide,have been widely studied in the exploration of non-precious-metal hydrogen electrocatalysts,but neither pure Ni nor NiO is ideal for the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR).In this paper,an oxygen insertion strategy was applied on nickel to regulate its hydrogen electrocatalytic performance,and the oxygen-inserted nickel catalyst was successfully obtained with the assistance of tungsten dioxide support(denoted as O-Ni/WO_(2)).The partial insertion of oxygen in Ni maintains the face-centered cubic arrangement of Ni atoms,simultaneously expanding the lattice and increasing the lattice spacing.Consequently,the adsorption strength of^(*)H and^(*)OH on Ni is optimized,thus resulting in superior electrocatalytic performance of0-Ni/WO_(2)in alkaline HER/HOR.The Tafel slope of O-Ni/WO_(2)@NF for HER is 56 mV dec^(-1),and the kinetic current density of O-Ni/WO_(2)for HOR reaches 4.85 mA cm^(-2),which is ahead of most currently reported catalysts.Our proposed strategy of inserting an appropriate amount of anions into the metal lattice could provide more possibilities for the design of high-performance catalysts.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(Nos.2018YFD0901506,2018YFD0900305)the Marine S&T Fund of Shandong Province for Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology(Qingdao)(No.2018 SDKJ0406-3)。
文摘Insertional mutation,phenotypic evaluation,and mutated gene cloning are widely used to clone genes from scratch.Exogenous genes can be integrated into the genome during non-homologous end joining(NHEJ)of the double-strand breaks of DNA,causing insertional mutation.The random insertional mutant library constructed using this method has become a method of forward genetics for gene cloning.However,the establishment of a random insertional mutant library requires a high transformation efficiency of exogenous genes.Many microalgal species show a low transformation efficiency,making constructing random insertional mutant libraries difficult.In this study,we established a highly efficient transformation method for constructing a random insertional mutant library of Nannochloropsis oceanica,and tentatively tried to isolate its genes to prove the feasibility of the method.A gene that may control the growth rate and cell size was identified.This method will facilitate the genetic studies of N.oceanica,which should also be a reference for other microalgal species.
文摘BACKGROUND Benign rectal strictures can be categorized as primary(disease-related)and secondary(surgical anastomosis-related).Secondary strictures arise from surgical complications,whereas primary strictures have diverse etiologies,including various inflammatory conditions.Benign strictures are usually managed by surgery and endoscopy.We present an unusual etiology of benign rectal stricture caused by the repeated insertion of foreign objects into the rectum for sexual purposes,resulting in rectal injury and subsequent chronic inflammation.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old man presented to the outpatient clinic of the Colorectal Surgery Department with symptoms of chronic constipation and bloody stools.The patient previously experienced rectal injury due to foreign object insertion for sexual purposes.Colonoscopy revealed benign circumferential narrowing of the rectum.He underwent treatment by endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation and follow-up as an outpatient for 4 months.A colonoscopy at the end of the follow-up period revealed no evidence of rectal stricture relapse.CONCLUSION A history of rectal injury,followed by chronic inflammation,should be considered in patients with benign rectal strictures.Management with endoscopic argon plasma coagulation and balloon dilation can prevent the need for surgical resection of benign rectal strictures.
文摘Velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord corresponds to the insertion of the cord directly on amniotic membranes. It is a rare situation whose frequency varies from 0.5% to 1.69% of single pregnancies. It must be diagnosed during the morphological ultrasound of the 2nd trimester, actively looking for the association with a vasa previa, due to the risk of fetal haemorrhagic threat. We report an antenatal diagnosis of velamentous cord insertion and its management with literature review.
基金X.H.gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.21902096)the Scientific Research Foundation of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology(Grant No.126061803)+1 种基金S.M.and B.X.thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.21972103)the Shanxi Provincial Key Innovative Research Team in Science and Technology(Grant No.201703D111026).
文摘The In segregation and its suppression in InGaAs/AlGaAs quantum well are investigated by using high-resolution x-ray diffraction(XRD)and photoluminescence(PL),combined with the state-of-the-art aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(Cs-STEM)techniques.To facility our study,we grow two multiple quantum wells(MQWs)samples,which are almost identical except that in sample B a thin GaAs layer is inserted in each of the InGaAs well and AlGaAs barrier layer comparing to pristine InGaAs/AlGaAs MQWs(sample A).Our study indeed shows the direct evidences that In segregation occurs in the InGaAs/AlGaAs interface,and the effect of the Ga As insertion layer on suppressing the segregation of In atoms is also demonstrated on the atomic-scale.Therefore,the atomic-scale insights are provided to understand the segregation behavior of In atoms and to unravel the underlying mechanism of the effect of GaAs insertion layer on the improvement of crystallinity,interface roughness,and further an enhanced optical performance of InGaAs/AlGaAs QWs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31830084, 32070466)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Nankai University (96172158,96173250, 91822294)。
文摘DEAR EDITOR,Insertion sequences(ISs) are the simplest structural transposable elements(TEs) in prokaryotes, consisting only of a transposase coding sequence and its bilateral short terminal inverted repeats. Due to their gradually streamlined genomic construction, TEs rarely exist in the genomes of obligate endosymbionts. However, TE content, especially ISs.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.62104184,62234009,62090014,62188102,62104178,and 62104179)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(Grant Nos.YJSJ23019,XJSJ23047,and ZDRC2002)+1 种基金the China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents(Grant No.BX20200262)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2021M692499)。
文摘GaN-based p-channel heterostructure field-effect transistors(p-HFETs)face significant constraints on on-state currents compared with n-channel high electron mobility transistors.In this work,we propose a novel double heterostructure which introduces an additional p-GaN insertion layer into traditional p-HFETs.The impact of the device structure on the hole densities and valence band energies of both the upper and lower channels is analyzed by using Silvaco TACD simulations,including the thickness of the upper AlGaN layer and the doping impurities and concentration in the GaN buffer layer,as well as the thickness and Mg-doping concentration in the p-GaN insertion layer.With the help of the p-GaN insertion layer,the C-doping concentration in the GaN buffer layer can be reduced,while the density of the two-dimensional hole gas in the lower channel is enhanced at the same time.This work suggests that a double heterostructure with a p-GaN insertion layer is a better approach to improve p-HFETs compared with those devices with C-doped buffer layer alone.
基金The research was supported by Research Grant No.IS-5106-18R from BARD,The United States-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund(granted to A.S.,D.N.K.,Y.C.,and R.O.)by grants No.203-0859(granted to A.S.and R.O.)No.203-0110(granted to Y.C.)from the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture.D.N.K.was supported by a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture(USDA-NIFA 2018-51181-28375).
文摘Sexual reproduction in plants is the main pathway for creating new genetic combinations in modern agriculture.In heterozygous plants,after the identification of a plant with desired traits,vegetative propagation(cloning)is the primary path to create genetically uniform plants.Another natural plant mechanism that creates genetically uniform plants(clones)is apomixis.In fruit crops like citrus and mango,sporophytic apomixis results in polyembryony,where seeds contain multiple embryos,one of which is sexually originated and the others are vegetative clones of the parent mother tree.Utilizing the mango genome and genetic analysis of a diverse germplasm collection,we identified MiRWP as the gene that causes polyembryony in mango.There is a strong correlation between a specific insertion in the gene’s promoter region and altered expression in flowers and developing fruitlets,inducing multiple embryos.The MiRWP gene is an ortholog of CitRWP that causes polyembryony in citrus.Based on the data,we speculate that promoter insertion events,which occurred independently in citrus and mango,induced nucellar embryogenesis.The results suggest convergent evolution of polyembryony in the two species.Further work is required to demonstrate the utility of these genes(mango and citrus)in other biological systems as a tool for the clonal production of other crops.
文摘Introduction: Contraceptive implants are one of the most effective methods of birth spacing. Jadelle<sup>®</sup> implants consist of two strands that are easy to insert and remove. Although their effectiveness is no longer in question, their use (insertion) requires a surgical procedure with the corollary possibility of complications. These are mainly insertions that are too deep (in the arm muscle), vascular and nerve damage. Material and Methods: Our study focused on complications related to implant insertion. It was a descriptive and retrospective study over thirty-four months, from October 2016 to July 2019, and concerned all patients seen in consultation and who presented a complication related to the insertion of contraceptive implants in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the National Hospital of Pikine. Results: We collected nine complications managed at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of the Centre Hospitalier National de Pikine from 2016 to 2019. These were insertions that were too deep with sometimes nerve damage, infection or incident during anesthesia. The operative procedures were based on the type of complication. Conclusion: Although Jadelle<sup>®</sup> has the advantage of having only 2 rods compared to its predecessor Norplant<sup>®</sup>, its use is also conditioned by insertion and removal procedures which may experience complications.
文摘GAO Caixia’s group from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)has developed a new genome editing technology that achieves efficient and precise targeted insertion of large DNA segments in plants.The new technology,called prime editing-mediated recombination of opportune targets(PrimeRoot),combines an optimized dual-ePPE editor protein previously published by the group with a highly efficient tyrosine site-specific recombinase,Cre.It can achieve one-step,precise targeted insertion of large DNA segments in rice and maize with an efficiency up to 6%and has been used to successfully insert DNA segments up to 11.1 kb.
文摘[Objective] The aim of this study is to understand the genetic characteristics of a grain shape mutant and its possible role in genetic improvement of grain yield in rice. [Method] On the basis of the collection of T-DNA tag lines, the progeny of homozygous plants carrying T-DNA insertion were screened for mutants with mutated phenotypes. The genetic analysis of the mutant and test for the linkage between the mutated phenotype and the T-DNA insertion were carried out to determine its genetic characteristics. [Result] In the present study, a grain shape mutant induced by T-DNA insertion in rice was identified, which showed small grain. Genetic analysis of the mutant showed that the two types of phenotype, normal and small grain in the segregating populations derived from the T-DNA heterozygotes, fit the ratio of 3∶1. Test for Basta resistance showed that all the mutants were resistant while the normal plants segregated for resistant and susceptible by the ratio of 2∶1. The results indicated that the mutant phenotype cosegregated with Bar gene. The small grain mutant caused by T-DNA insertion was confirmed by PCR amplification aiming at T-DNA. [Conclusion] The grain shape mutant is useful for isolation of the tagged gene and genetic improvement in rice.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51165040,50775119)Visiting Scholar Foundation of Key Lab in University of China (Grant No. GZKF-201020)
文摘Needle insertion is a common surgical procedure used in diagnosis and treatment.The needle steering technologies make continuous developments in theoretical and practical aspects along with the in-depth research on needle insertion.It is necessary to summarize and analyze the existing results to promote the future development of theories and applications of needle insertion.Thus,a survey of the state of the art of research is presented on algorithms of needle steering techniques,the surgical robots and devices.Based on the analysis of the needle insertion procedure,the concept of needle steering is defined as a kinematics problem,which is to place the needle at the target and avoid the obstacles.The needle steering techniques,including the artificial potential field method and the nonholonomic model,are introduced to control the needles for improving the accuracy.Based on the quasi-static thinking,the virtual spring model and the cantilever-beam model are developed to calculate the amount of needle deflection and generate the needle path.The phantoms instead of the real tissue are used to verify the models mentioned in most of the experimentations.For the desired needle trajectories,the image-guided robotic devices and some novel needles are presented to achieve the needle steering.Finally,the challenges are provided involving the controllability of the long flexible needle and the properties of soft tissue.The results and investigations can be used for further study on the precision and accuracy of needle insertion.
文摘Irreversible reductive insertion of Zn2+transforms Mn3O4 such that the resulting Zn0.2Mn3O4 exhibits highly reversible storage properties of chloride ions,thus rendering Zn0.2Mn3O4 an excellent cathode of aqueous dual-ion batteries.With Zn2+trapped,Zn0.2Mn3O4 delivers the chloride-storage capacity over 200 mAh/g at an average potential of 1.6 V vs Zn2+/Zn by reversibly forming a new ionic compound equivalent to Zn0.2Mn3O4Cl1.7.Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance results suggest chloride as the primary charge carrier in the reversible oxidative anion insertion.The Mn3O4 anion-hosting cathode couples with Zn metal anode in a full-cell dual-ion battery,demonstrating stable cycling in practical pouch cells with an energy density of 150 Wh/kg based on the mass of both electrodes.
文摘An algorithm of path based timing optimization by buffer insertion is presented.The algorithm adopts a high order model to estimate interconnect delay and a nonlinear delay model based on look up table for gate delay estimation.And heuristic method of buffer insertion is presented to reduce delay.The algorithm is tested by industral circuit case.Experimental results show that the algorithm can optimize the timing of circuit efficiently and the timing constraint is satisfied.
文摘A fine-grain sleep transistor insertion technique based on our simplified leakage current and delay models is proposed to reduce leakage current. The key idea is to model the leakage current reduction problem as a mixed-integer linear programming （MLP） problem in order to simultaneously place and size the sleep transistors optimally. Because of better circuit slack utilization, our experimental results show that the MLP model can save leakage by 79.75%, 93.56%, and 94.99% when the circuit slowdown is 0%, 3%, and 5%, respectively. The MLP model also achieves on average 74.79% less area penalty compared to the conventional fixed slowdown method when the circuit slowdown is 7%.
文摘A parallel embedding overlapped iterative (EOI) algorithm about classicimplicit equations with asymmetric Saul'yev schemes (CIS-EOI) to solve one-dimensional diffusionequations is discussed to improve the properties of the segment classic implicit iterative (SCII)algorithm. The structure of CIS-EOI method is given and the stability of scheme and convergence ofiteration are proved by matrix method. The property of gradual-approach convergence is alsodiscussed. It has been shown that the convergent rate is faster and the property of gradual-approachconvergence also becomes better with the increasing of the net point in subsystems than with theSCII algorithm. The simulation examples show that the parallel iterative algorithm with a differentinsertion scheme CIS-EOI is more effective.
文摘Introduction: Literature reveals several peritoneal dialysis laparoscopic catheter insertion techniques developed to improve long-term results for treatment chronic kidney failure with the technic of peritoneal dialysis. The purpose of the study is evaluation of developed and recommended minimally invasive laparoscopic technic for chronic peritoneal dialysis catheter placement using specially constructed trocar. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study included 804 patients in 10 departments of surgery. Surgical and non surgical complications related to PD catheter placement were analysed: bleeding, dialysate leak, early SSI, peritonitis, catheter tip migration, catheter obstruction, omental wrapping and visceral perforations. Available software (Microsoft? Excel for Windows 10, MedCalc, Mariakerke, Belgium) was used for statistical analysis (presented as percentages, mean ± SD or median). Conclusions: The presented technique with specially constructed trocar is a simple and effective procedure with fewer complications comparing to literature. The advantages of this method include long rectus sheath tunnel with the deep cuff placed pre-peritoneally, the small size of the entrance into the peritoneum and accurate position and control of catheter tip in the pelvis.
文摘Computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion is applied to the thoracic and lumbar spine to attain high insertion accuracy and a low rate of screw-related complications.However,some in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that no advantages are gained with the use of navigation techniques compared to conventional techniques.Additionally,inconsistent conclusions have been drawn in various studies due to different population characteristics and methods used to assess the accuracy of screw placement.Moreover,it is not clear whether pedicle screw insertion with navigation techniques decreases the incidence of screw-related complications.Therefore,this study was sought to perform a meta-analysis of all available prospective evidence regarding pedicle screw insertion with or without navigation techniques in human thoracic and lumbar spine.We considered in vivo comparative studies that assessed the results of pedicle screw placement with or without navigation techniques.PubMed,Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched.Three published randomized controlled trials（RCTs） and nine retrospective comparative studies met the inclusion criteria.These studies included a total of 732 patients in whom 4,953 screws were inserted.In conclusion,accuracy of the position of grade I,II,III and IV screws and complication rate related to pedicle screw placement were significantly increased when navigation techniques were used in comparison to conventional techniques.Future research in this area should include RCTs with well-planned methodology to limit bias and report on validated,patient-based outcome measures.
