Overcoming Challenges: Extending Cycle Life of Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries at High Zinc Utilization through a Synergistic Strategy.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) face challenges in achieving high energy density compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The lower operating voltage and excessive Zn metal as anode pose constraints on the overall energy storage capacity of these batteries. An effective approach is to reduce the thickness of the Zn metal anode and control its mass appropriately. However, under the condition of using a thin Zn anode, the performance of AZIBs is often unsatisfactory. Through experiments and computational simulations, the electrode structural change and the formation of dead Zn as the primary reasons for the failure of batteries under a high Zn utilization rate are identified. Based on this understanding, a universal synergistic strategy that combines Cu foil current collectors and electrolyte additives to maintain the structural and thermodynamic stability of the Zn anode under a high Zn utilization rate (ZUR) is proposed. Specifically, the Cu current collectors can ensure that the Zn anode structure remains intact based on the spontaneous filling effect, while the additives can suppress parasitic side reactions at the interface. Ultimately, the symmetric cell demonstrates a cycling duration of 900 h at a 70% ZU, confirming the effectiveness of this strategy.

Intranasal delivery of small extracellular vesicles reduces the progress of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the overactivation of complement-coagulation cascade and NF-ĸB signaling in SOD1G93A mice.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease characterized by progressive motoneuron degeneration, and effective clinical treatments are lacking. In this study, we evaluated whether intranasal delivery of mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) is a strategy for ALS therapy using SOD1G93A mice. In vivo tracing showed that intranasally-delivered sEVs entered the central nervous system and were extensively taken up by spinal neurons and some microglia. SOD1G93A mice that intranasally received sEV administration showed significant improvements in motor performances and survival time. After sEV administration, pathological changes, including spinal motoneuron death and synaptic denervation, axon demyelination, neuromuscular junction degeneration and electrophysiological defects, and mitochondrial vacuolization were remarkably alleviated. sEV administration attenuated the elevation of proinflammatory cytokines and glial responses. Proteomics and transcriptomics analysis revealed upregulation of the complement and coagulation cascade and NF-ĸB signaling pathway in SOD1G93A mouse spinal cords, which was significantly inhibited by sEV administration. The changes were further confirmed by detecting C1q and NF-ĸB expression using Western blots. In conclusion, intranasal administration of sEVs effectively delays the progression of ALS by inhibiting neuroinflammation and overactivation of the complement and coagulation cascades and NF-ĸB signaling pathway and is a potential option for ALS therapy.

Nonflammable Phosphate-Based Electrolyte for Safe and Stable Potassium Batteries Enabled by Optimized Solvation Effect.

Current potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) are limited in safety and lifetime owing to the lack of suitable electrolyte solutions. To address these issues, herein, we report an innovative non-flammable electrolyte design strategy that leverages an optimal moderate solvation phosphate-based solvent which strikes a balance between solvation capability and salt dissociation ability, leading to superior electrochemical performance. The formulated electrolyte simultaneously exhibits the advantages of low salt concentration (only 0.6 M), low viscosity, high ionic conductivity, high oxidative stability, and safety. Our electrolyte also promotes the formation of self-limiting inorganic-rich interphases at the anode surface, alongside robust cathode-electrolyte interphase on iron-based Prussian blue analogues, mitigating electrode/electrolyte side reactions and preventing Fe dissolution. Notably, the PIBs employing our electrolyte exhibit exceptional durability, with 80 % capacity retention after 2,000 cycles at high-voltage of 4.2 V in a coin cell. Impressively, in a larger scale pouch cell, it maintains over 81 % of its initial capacity after 1,400 cycles at 1 C-rate with high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.6 %. This work represents a significant advancement toward the realization of safe, sustainable, and high-performance PIBs.

Moraxella haemolytica sp. nov., isolated from a goat with respiratory disease.

An aerobic, haemolytic, Gram-negative and rod-shaped bacterial strain ZY171148T was isolated from the lung of a dead goat with respiratory disease in Southwest China. The strain grew at 24-39 °C, at pH 6.0-9.0 and in the presence of 0.5-2.0% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain belongs to the genus Moraxella. The nucleotide sequence similarity analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that the strain has the highest similarity of 98.1% to Moraxella (M.) caprae ATCC 700019 T. Phylogenomic analysis of 800 single-copy protein sequences indicated that the strain is a member of the genus Moraxella and forms a separated branch on the Moraxella phylogenetic tree. The strain exhibited the highest orthologous average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) and average amino acid identity (AAI) values of 77.0 and 77.9% to M. nasibovis CCUG 75921T and M. ovis CCUG 354T, respectively. The strain shared the highest digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) value of 26.2% to M. osloensis CCUG 350T. The genome G + C content of strain ZY171148T was 42.6 mol%. The strain had C18:1 ω9c (41.7%), C18:0 (11.2%), C16:0 (14.1%) and C12:0 3OH (9.7%) as the predominant fatty acids and CoQ-8 as the major respiratory quinone. The strain contained phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, cardiolipin, dilysocardiolipin, monolysocardiolipin and phosphatidic acid as the major polar lipids. ß-haemolysis was observed on Columbia blood agar. All results confirmed that strain ZY171148T represents a novel species of the genus Moraxella, for which the name Moraxella haemolytica sp. nov. is proposed, with strain ZY171148T = CCTCC AB 2021471T = CCUG 75920T as the type strain.

Moraxella nasicaprae sp. nov., Isolated from a Goat with Respiratory Disease.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, irregular coccus designated as ZY201224T, was isolated from the nasal cavity of a goat with respiratory disease in a goat farm, located at Jianshui, Yunnan Province, PR China and its taxonomic position was clarified using a polyphasic approach. The strain grew optimally at 37 °C, at pH 8.0 and in the presence of 1% NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenomic analysis based on 808 single-copy genes revealed that the strain is affiliated to the genus Moraxella and is distinct from the recognized species of the genus. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis indicated that the strain is most closely related to Moraxella caviae CCUG 355T with sequence similarity of 98.1%. The genomic OrthoANI and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the strain and the type strains of Moraxella species were no higher than 74.7% (Moraxella pluranimalium CCUG 54913T) and 26.0% (Moraxella oblonga NBRC 102422T), respectively. The G + C content of the complete genome sequence was 43.6 mol%. The strain contained CoQ-8 as the major respiratory quinone, and C18:1ω9c, C17:1ω8c, C16:0 and summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/ or C16:1ω6c) as the predominant fatty acids (> 5%). The major polar lipids comprised phosphatidylglycerol (PG), cardiolipin (CL), monolysocardiolipin (MLCL), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and lysophosphatidylglycerol (LPG). Based on these taxonomic characterizations, strain ZY201224T represents a novel species of the genus Moraxella, for which the name Moraxella nasicaprae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZY201224T (= CCTCC AB 2021474T = NBRC 115473T).

Moraxella nasibovis sp. nov., Isolated from a Cow with Respiratory Disease.

Strain ZY190618T, isolated from the nasal cavity of a cow with respiratory disease, was subjected to taxonomic characterization. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and coccus-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16 S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain belonged to the genus Moraxella with the highest similarity of 98.1% to Moraxella nasovis CCUG 75922T. Phylogenomic analysis based on 810 single-copy genes revealed that the strain was a member of the genus Moraxella and formed a deep and separated clade within the genus. The strain showed the highest orthologous average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) value of 77.1% with Moraxella ovis CCUG 354T and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) value of 24.7% with Moraxella equi NCTC 11012T, respectively. The DNA G + C content was 46.5 mol%. The strain optimally grew at 37 °C (temperature range, 24-42 °C), at pH 8.0 (pH range, 6.0-9.0) and with 1.5% (w/v) NaCl (NaCl range, 0.5-3.0%). The strain contained C18:1 ω9c as the sole predominant fatty acid (> 5 %) and CoQ-8 as the major respiratory quinone. The major polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, cardiolipin, monolysocardiolipin and hemibismonoacylglycerophosphate. Based on these data, strain ZY190618T clearly represents a novel species in the genus Moraxella, for which the name Moraxella nasibovis sp. nov. (The type strain ZY190618T = CCUG 75921T = CCTCC AB 2021472T) is proposed.

Moraxella nasovis sp. nov., isolated from a sheep with respiratory disease.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, coccus-shaped bacteria, designated ZY201115T, was isolated from the nasal cavity of a sheep with respiratory disease in Yunnan Province, south-west China, and its taxonomic affiliation was studied by applying a polyphasic approach. The strain grew at 18-41 °C (optimum, 37 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and in 0.5-3.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.0 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain is affiliated to the genus Moraxella with highest similarity to Moraxella bovis ATCC 10900T (96.6 %). Phylogenomic analysis based on 811 single-copy genes also indicated that the strain represents a novel species in the genus Moraxella and formed a deep and separated clade with Moraxella caviae NCTC 10293T. The highest genomic orthologous average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between the strain and the type strains in the genus Moraxella were 73.7% (M. caviae NCTC 10293T) and 25.3% (Moraxella osloensis CCUG 350T), respectively. The G+C content of the complete genome sequence was 42.1 mol%. The predominant fatty acids (>5 %) were C18:1 ω9c, C17:1 ω8c, C12:03OH and summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin, monolysocardiolipin, phosphatidylethanolamine and hemibismonoacylglycerophosphate. The major respiratory quinone was CoQ-8. On the basis of the results of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterizations, strain ZY201115T clearly represents a novel species of the genus Moraxella, for which the name Moraxella nasovis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZY201115T (=CCTCC AB 2021473T=CCUG 75922T).

Cerebral infarct induced by severe leptospirosis-a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Although most leptospirosis is mild, the severe form can cause multiple complications, with a fatality rate of over 50% even with ICU support. The clinical manifestations of leptospirosis vary depending on organs and tissues involved. Both cerebral artery and coronary artery can be damaged by leptospirosis. Although cerebral arteritis induced by leptospirosis has been reported, cerebral infarction caused by leptospirosis is rarely reported. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 79-year-old man admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) because of 3 days duration of fever, bloody sputum and dyspnea. Five days before he was admitted to hospital, he had harvested rice in flooded fields. After admission, leptospira interrogans DNA sequence was identified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) showed the serum antibody of Mini serovars was 1,600 and Hebdomadis serovars was 800. On the eighth day of admission, the patient noted left hemiplegia. Cranial CT scan revealed low-density shadow in the right basal ganglia, so cerebral infarction was diagnosed. The patient's condition rapidly deteriorated and he died on the eleventh day of admission despite penicillin treatment, invasive mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement support. CONCLUSION: Neurologic leptospirosis manifested as cerebral occlusion, although rare, might be deadly and should not be ignored.

Design of a Robust System Architecture for Tracking Vehicle on Highway Based on Monocular Camera.

Multi-Target tracking is a central aspect of modeling the environment of autonomous vehicles. A mono camera is a necessary component in the autonomous driving system. One of the biggest advantages of the mono camera is it can give out the type of vehicle and cameras are the only sensors able to interpret 2D information such as road signs or lane markings. Besides this, it has the advantage of estimating the lateral velocity of the moving object. The mono camera is now being used by companies all over the world to build autonomous vehicles. In the expressway scenario, the forward-looking camera can generate a raw picture to extract information from and finally achieve tracking multiple vehicles at the same time. A multi-object tracking system, which is composed of a convolution neural network module, depth estimation module, kinematic state estimation module, data association module, and track management module, is needed. This paper applies the YOLO detection algorithm combined with the depth estimation algorithm, Extend Kalman Filter, and Nearest Neighbor algorithm with a gating trick to build the tracking system. Finally, the tracking system is tested on the vehicle equipped with a forward mono camera, and the results show that the lateral and longitudinal position and velocity can satisfy the need for Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Navigation On Pilot (NOP), Auto Emergency Braking (AEB), and other applications.

Mitochondrial Fusion Mediated by Mitofusin 1 Regulates Macrophage Mycobactericidal Activity by Enhancing Autophagy.

A mitochondrion, as a highly dynamic organelle, continuously changes morphology and position during its life cycle. Mitochondrial dynamics, including fission and fusion, play a critical role in maintaining functional mitochondria for ATP production, which is directly linked to host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. However, how macrophages regulate mitochondrial dynamics during M. tuberculosis infection remains elusive. In this study, we found that M. tuberculosis infection induced mitochondrial fusion by enhancing the expression of mitofusin 1 (MFN1), which resulted in increased ATP production. Silencing of MFN1 inhibited mitochondrial fusion and subsequently reduced ATP production, which, in turn, severely impaired macrophages' mycobactericidal activity by inhibiting autophagy. Impairment of mycobactericidal activity and autophagy was replicated using oligomycin, an inhibitor of ATP synthase. In summary, our study revealed that MFN1-mediated mitochondrial fusion is essential for macrophages' mycobactericidal activity through the regulation of ATP-dependent autophagy. The MFN1-mediated metabolism pathway might be a target for the development of a host direct therapy (HDT) strategy against tuberculosis.

Faecalibacter bovis sp. nov., isolated from cow faeces.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, yellow-pigmented, aerobic, pleomorphic rod-shaped bacterium, designated ZY171143T, was isolated from faeces of a cow with diarrhoea in Wenshan, Yunnan Province, south-west China and its taxonomic position was studied. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ZY171143T belonged to the family Weeksellaceae and was most closely related to the only species of the genus Faecalibacter, Faecalibacter macacae CCTCC AB 2016016T with a sequence similarity of 97.8 %. The genomic OrthoANI and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between the strain and F. macacae CCTCC AB 2016016T were 86.2 and 30.5 %, respectively. The genomic G+C content was 31.1 mol%. The predominant fatty acids (>5 %) were C15 : 0 iso, C17 : 0 iso 3OH, C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω5c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or 16 : 1 ω6c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, triacylglycerol and sulfonolipid. The sole respiratory quinone was MK-6. These chemotaxonomic characterizations also revealed that strain ZY171143T was a member of the genus Faecalibacter. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain ZY171143T represents a novel species within the genus Faecalibacter, for which the name Faecalibacter bovis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZY171143T (=CGMCC 1.13663T=KCTC 62642T).

Global Dynamics of a Reaction-Diffusion Model of Zika Virus Transmission with Seasonality.

In this paper, we propose a periodic reaction-diffusion model of Zika virus with seasonal and spatial heterogeneous structure in host and vector population. We introduce the basic reproduction ratio [Formula: see text] for this model and show that the disease-free periodic solution is globally asymptotically stable if [Formula: see text], while the system admits a globally asymptotically stable positive periodic solution if [Formula: see text]. Numerically, we study the Zika transmission in Rio de Janeiro Municipality, Brazil, and investigate the effects of some model parameters on [Formula: see text]. We find that the neglect of seasonality underestimates the value of [Formula: see text] and the maximum carrying capacity affects the spread of Zika virus.

Mannheimia bovis sp. nov., Isolated from a Dead Cow with Hemorrhagic Pneumonia.

Strain ZY190616T was isolated from lung of a dead cow with hemorrhagic pneumonia in Yunnan Province, China. The strain was Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the strain was closely related to species of the genus Mannheimia and formed an independent clade with M.varigena CCUG 38462 T (97.0% similarity). Phylogenetic analysis based on recN gene indicated that the strain formed a clade with M.caviae CCUG 59995 T (87.8% similarity). Phylogenetic analysis based on rpoB gene indicated that the strain formed a clade with M.varigena CCUG 38462 T (94.7% similarity). The genomic OrthoANI values between strain ZY190616T and M. ovis, M.haemolytica and M.granulomatis were 84.5%, 82.7% and 81.9%, respectively. The genomic G + C content was 39.8 mol%. The predominant fatty acids (> 5%) of the strain were C16:0, C14:0, C18:1ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/ or C16:1ω6c) and summed feature 2 (C14:0 3OH/ C16:1 Iso). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), monophosphatidylglycerol (MGDG), triacylglycerol (TAG) and diphosphatidylglycerol (DLCL). The sole respiratory quinone was CoQ-7. Based on evidence from the taxonomic study, strain ZY190616T represents a novel species of the genus Mannheimia, for which the name Mannheimia bovis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZY190616T (= CCTCC AB 2020168 T = KCTC 25018 T).

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of TRAF6 in the spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus).

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is a crucial adapter protein in the toll-like receptor signaling pathway that triggers downstream molecules involved in innate immunity. Although TRAF6 has been well studied in mammals, the molecular information and function of TRAF6 in fish is still limited. Here, we identified and analyzed a TRAF6 homolog (LmTRAF6) from the spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus). Similar to its counterparts in mammals and other fish species, LmTRAF6 shares the domain topology containing one N-terminal RING, two TRAF-type zinc fingers, a coiled-coil region and a C-terminal MATH domain. Despite a sequence similarity of 60% with mammalian TRAF6s, LmTRAF6 shares higher similarities with teleost homologs (~68%-93%). The coding region of LmTRAF6 gene contains seven exons and six introns, which is consistent to the genetic organization in grouper and rock bream, but not in zebrafish, common carp and tetrapods (the sixth intron was lost resulting in a combined exon). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that LmTRAF6 transcripts were ubiquitously expressed in all tested tissues and upregulated after Vibrio. harveyi and S. agalactiae infection. LmTRAF6 could assist HEK293T cells to survive by inhibiting apoptosis under both V. harveyi and S. agalactiae stimulation. Intracellular localization showed that LmTRAF6 was localized mainly in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of wild-type (WT) LmTRAF6 and the truncated form of △MATH increased the ability of NF-κB in HEK293T cells, whereas truncations, including the △RING and △coiled-coil domain, did not significantly activate NF-κB, indicating that the RING finger and coiled-coil domain play crucial roles in downstream signal transduction. In addition, overexpression of LmTRAF6-WT significantly increased the activation of NF-κB in HEK293T cells under V. harveyi and S. agalactiae stimulation. These results suggest that LmTRAF6 activates NF-κB and plays a potential role in the immune defense system against bacterial infection.

Mannheimia ovis sp. nov., Isolated from Dead Sheep with Hemorrhagic Pneumonia.

Two Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacteria, designated ZY170218T and ZY180512, were isolated from lungs of dead sheep with hemorrhagic pneumonia in Yunnan Province, China and their taxonomic positions were studied by a polyphasic approach. The two isolates grew optimally at 37 °C, pH 9.0 and 1.0% NaCl (w/v), and showed identical 16S rRNA, recN and rpoB gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the two strains fell within the cluster of species in the genus Mannheimia and formed a separated lineage with comparatively low similarity to the closest related species M. granulomatis (96.5%). Phylogenetic analysis based on rpoB gene indicated that the strains formed a monophyletic evolutionary lineage, with low sequence similarity ≤ 89.0% to the species of the genus Mannheimia. The genomic OrthoANI values between strain ZY170218T and M. granulomatis and M. haemolytica were 80.4% and 83.1%, respectively. The genomic G + C content of strain ZY170218T was 39.1 mol%. The predominant fatty acids (> 5%) of the two strains were C16:0, C14:0, C18:1ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/ or C16:1ω6c) and summed feature 2 (C14:0 3OH/ C16:1 Iso). The major polar lipids of strain ZY170218T were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate and diacylglycerols. The sole respiratory quinone of the two strains was CoQ-7. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain ZY170218T and ZY180512 clearly represents a novel species of the genus Mannheimia, for which the name Mannheimia ovis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZY170218T (= CGMCC 1.13620 T = KCTC 15731 T).

Suicoccus acidiformans gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a sick pig.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, catalase-positive and facultatively anaerobic coccus, designated ZY16052T, was isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes of a sick piglet in Kunming, Yunnan Province, PR China and its taxonomic position was studied by following a polyphasic approach. Optimal growth was observed at 37 °C, pH 8.0 and 2 % NaCl (w/v) on Columbia agar. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ZY16052T formed a separated evolutionary lineage from recognized genera of the family Aerococcaceae and shared low similarity to its closest related species Facklamiasourekii (93.8 %) and Ignavigranum ruoffiae (93.4 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the housekeeping gene recA indicated that strain ZY16052T represented a deep and distinct evolutionary lineage, and was well separated from all genera in the family Aerococcaceae, with very low sequence similarity(≤73.2 %). Sequence analysis based on the housekeeping gene rpoA indicated that strain ZY16052T shared very low similarity ≤77.0 % to related genera. The genomic OrthoANI values between strain ZY16052T and type species of related genera in the family Aerococcaceae and species in the genus Facklamia were ≤67.77 and ≤68.11 %, respectively. The genomic G+C content was 42.3 mol%. The predominant fatty acids (>5 %) were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c, C14 : 0 and summed feature 5 (C18 : 2ω6,9c and/or C18 : 0 ante). The major polar lipids were digalactosyldiacylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, diacylglycerols, triacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. The peptidoglycan contained the amino acids lysine, glycine, alanine and glutamic acid, which is characteristic of peptidoglycan type A1a. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, we propose that the unknown bacterium be classified as Suicoccus acidiformans gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Suicoccus acidiformans is ZY16052T (=CCTCC AB 2017017T=DSM 105755T).

A periodic SEIRS epidemic model with a time-dependent latent period.

Many infectious diseases have seasonal trends and exhibit variable periods of peak seasonality. Understanding the population dynamics due to seasonal changes becomes very important for predicting and controlling disease transmission risks. In order to investigate the impact of time-dependent delays on disease control, we propose an SEIRS epidemic model with a periodic latent period. We introduce the basic reproduction ratio [Formula: see text] for this model and establish a threshold type result on its global dynamics in terms of [Formula: see text]. More precisely, we show that the disease-free periodic solution is globally attractive if [Formula: see text]; while the system admits a positive periodic solution and the disease is uniformly persistent if [Formula: see text]. Numerical simulations are also carried out to illustrate the analytic results. In addition, we find that the use of the temporal average of the periodic delay may underestimate or overestimate the real value of [Formula: see text].

Quantum Annealing and Thermalization: Insights from Integrability.

We solve a model that has basic features that are desired for quantum annealing computations: entanglement in the ground state, controllable annealing speed, ground state energy separated by a gap during the whole evolution, and a programmable computational problem that is encoded by parameters of the Ising part of the spin Hamiltonian. Our solution enables exact nonperturbative characterization of final nonadiabatic excitations, including a scaling of their number with the annealing rate and the system size. We prove that quantum correlations can accelerate computations and, at the end of the annealing protocol, lead to the perfect Gibbs distribution of all microstates.

Cloning and characterization of PHGPx and its synergistic role with p53 in mediating stress in Penaeus monodon.

Phospholipid-hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx), a ubiquitous antioxidant enzyme in the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) family, plays multiple roles in different organisms. Here, a novel PHGPx (PmPHGPx) was identified from Penaeus monodon. The full-length PmPHGPx cDNA was 1885 bp in length with a 489-bp open reading frame (ORF) containing a selenocysteine codon, TGA177-179, and a selenocysteine insertion sequence in the 3'-UTR. The typical signature motifs of the GPx family were also detected in the PmPHGPx amino acid sequence. The PmPHGPx expression pattern showed tissue-specific variations, with the highest expression level in the heart and the lowest expression level in the muscle. To examine the relationship between Pmp53 and PmPHGPx, Pmp53 was successfully silenced with a dsRNA-p53 injection, and an obvious down-regulation in PmPHGPx expression was apparent. To clarify the functional roles of Pmp53 and PmPHGPx, their expression patterns were also assessed after pH-induced stress, salinity stress and heavy metal (Cu, Zn, and Cd) challenges. Similar trends in the expression profiles for PmPHGPx and Pmp53 were detected in both the gills and hepatopancreas in response to all stressors. Therefore, we conclude from the results that PmPHGPx acts synergistically and subsequently works cooperatively with Pmp53 toward mediating cell stress. This study improves our understanding of PmPHGPx and its synergistic role with Pmp53 in counteracting stressors in P. monodon.

Universality in Higher Order Spin Noise Spectroscopy.

Higher order time correlators of spin fluctuations reveal considerable information about spin interactions. We argue that in a broad class of spin systems, one can justify a phenomenological approach to explore such correlators. We predict that the third and fourth order spin cumulants are described by a universal function that can be parametrized by a small set of parameters. We show that the fluctuation theorem constrains this function so that such correlators are fully determined by lowest nonlinear corrections to the free energy and the mean and variance of microscopic spin currents. We also provide an example of microscopic calculations for conduction electrons.