Potential contribution of alpha-fetoprotein level to biomarker of pregnancy outcome in Asian elephants.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a structural serum glycoprotein that plays vital roles in reproduction and mammalian development. Analysis of serum prolactin (PRL) is considered one of the useful methods for diagnosing pregnancy in Asian elephants. However, the expression profiles of AFP in pregnant and nonpregnant Asian elephants remain unclear, nor is the relationship with PRL. In this study, serum seven gonadal hormones and AFP in three pregnant and seven nonpregnant Asian elephants were analysed by via radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. We found that the mean (±SD) concentration of prolactin (PRL) in pregnant (136.782 ± 30.987 ng/mL) elephants was significantly higher than that in nonpregnant elephants (52.803 ± 21.070 ng/mL; p ≤ 0.0005). The mean (±SD) concentration of AFP in pregnant elephants (11.598 ± 0.824 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that in nonpregnant elephants (7.200 ± 2.283 ng/mL; p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the AFP concentration was positively correlated with the PRL concentration in the 10 Asian elephants studied. In conclusion, our findings suggest that serum AFP concentration is a potential biomarker of pregnancy outcomes in Asian elephants.

Two new species of the genus Halichoanolaimus (Nematoda, Selachinematidae) from the intertidal zone of the Yellow Sea, China.

Two new marine nematode species belonging to the genus Halichoanolaimus from the intertidal zone of the Yellow Sea are described. Halichoanolaimussinensis sp. nov. is characterized by amphideal fovea with 2.5-3.0 turns, 20-27% of corresponding body diameters; spicules curved, middle portion broad, tapering distally, 1.4-1.5 cloacal body diameters long; gubernaculum slender consisting of two detached lateral pieces tapering distally; 10-13 papilliform precloacal supplements in two groups, the posterior three supplements smaller and closer to each other, the remaining supplements larger and widely spaced; tail conico-cylindrical with a half cylindrical portion. The second new species, Halichoanolaimuszhangi sp. nov. is distinct by having lateral differentiation present except in anterior half of pharynx which has even punctations, amphideal fovea with 3.0-3.3 turns, spicules curved, gradually narrowing from proximal to distal end with pointed tip, 7 papilliform precloacal supplements, gradually increasing the spacing distance forward, two rows of subventral conical setae situated at the precloacal region, tail elongated, filiform. An updated key to 30 valid species of Halichoanolaimus is provided.

Optical spatial differentiation enabled layer sensing of two-dimensional atomic crystals.

Zero-thickness model and slab model are two important models in the description of optical behaviors in two-dimensional atomic crystals. The predicted difference in optical behaviors between the two models is very small, which is difficult to distinguish by established measurement methods. Here, we present an optical spatial differentiation method to examine the difference in edge images of different graphene layers. The theoretical results show that the edge imaging is significantly different between the two different models. When the beam reflection is at the Brewster angle, different graphene layers are used to adjust the spatial differentiation. It is shown that the slab model is more sensitive to the number of graphene layers. The zero-thickness model is more suitable for one-dimensional optical differential operation. Moreover, the spatial differentiation plays the role of a band-pass filter. The high-frequency edge information components will pass through the filter, thus realizing layer-sensitive edge-enhanced imaging. In addition, we do not focus on the verification of the exact model, but only provide an alternative method to characterize the number of graphene layers based on two models, and also provide possibilities for achieving imaging edge detection by graphene differential operators. This study may provide a possible method for the optical characterization of two-dimensional atomic crystals.

Enhancing heat transfer efficiency in corrugated tube heat exchangers: A comprehensive approach through structural optimization and field synergy analysis.

In this paper, a precise and efficient method to optimize corrugated tube heat exchangers is proposed by combining computational fluid dynamics simulation with optimization. The optimization of tubular heat exchangers involves contradictory Colburn coefficient j, and the friction coefficient f, so it is a multi-objective optimization problem. The approximate model is obtained by an extreme learning machine, and the structure parameter of the heat exchanger is optimized by the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-Ⅱ. Compared to the results between the original and optimized tube, the optimized structure Colburn coefficient increased by 5.1 % and the friction coefficient decreased by 9.3 %. Finally, the internal flow field is compared qualitatively from temperature, pressure, and velocity. The optimization effect is further emphasized by using the field synergy theory.

Two new species of the order Monhysterida (Nematoda) from the sea of China.

Two new marine nematode species belonging to the order Monhysterida are described from the sea of China. Halomonhysterazhangisp. nov. is characterized by its relatively small body size; short anterior sensory setae; small, circular amphidial fovea located at the level of buccal cavity base; funnel-shaped buccal cavity; an excretory-secretory system with a large ventral gland and opening as a very narrow canal just posterior to the level of cephalic setae; slightly curved slender spicules with cephalated proximal end and tapered distal end; rod-like gubernaculum without apophysis; two papilliform precloacal supplements just in front of the cloaca; conico-cylindrical tail with two ventral papillae, each with a seta; and distance between the vulva and anus slightly longer than the tail length. This is the first new species of epiphytic nematode reported in China. The second new species, Stylotheristusflagellicaudatussp. nov., has a relatively shorter body and longer tail; striated cuticle; The anterior sensilla arranged in two circles, the first circle consisting of six inner labial setiform papillae (3-4 µm) and the second circle consisting of 16 long setae (12-19 µm); a transversely oval amphideal fovea; a well-developed muscle around the funnel-shaped buccal cavity; short spicules and a gubernaculum composed of a single piece; and precloacal supplements absent. An updated key to all species of Halomonhystera and pictorial key to all species of Stylotheristus are also given.

Two new species of Promonhystera Wieser, 1956 (Nematoda: Monhysterida: Xyalidae) from the South China Sea.

Two new species of free-living marine nematodes from the littoral sediment of the South China Sea are described as Promonhystera papilla sp. nov. and Promonhystera fluctispicula sp. nov. Both new species are characterized by striated cuticle; circular amphideal fovea; anterior sensilla in two circles, inner labial sensilla setiform; funnel-shaped buccal cavity; elongated spicules and conico-cylindrical tail. P. papilla sp. nov. is different from all known species of the genus by longer body length (more than 2.1mm versus less than 1.5 mm in other species), longer spicules (sp/a.b.d. = 4.14.6 versus 2.7) and males with three papilliform precloacal supplements and one small postcloacal papilla (versus absence) and gubernaculum boot-shaped. P. fluctispicula sp. nov. is similar to P. tricuspidata Wieser, 1956 in having similar waved spicules but differs from the latter species by tail conico-cylindrical (versus conical) and simple plate-like gubernaculum without tooth (versus gubernaculum with four distal teeth).

Starch degradation and nutrition value improvement in corn grits by solid state fermentation technique with Coriolus versicolor

The study was conducted to evaluate effect of Coriolus versicolor mycelia on degrading starch and improving nutrition value in corn grits through solid state fermentation technique. The results showed that using soybean meal as a nitrogen source, á-amylase secreted from C. versicolor expressed 407.25U/g of activity, leading to 45.15 percent of starch degraded. The activity grew with fermentation time until the 15th day, after that the amylase was deactivated rapidly. An orthogonal experiment designed for the study illustrated that degradation rate of starch in corn grits attained to maximum, 50.51 percent, when 100g of corn grits, added 16g of soybean meal, were fermented by C. versicolor for 12 days, in an initial pH 5.5. After fermenting, compared to the nonfermented control, contents of amino acids, total sugar, crude fat and crude protein were increased by 21.00 percent, 38.45 percent, 55.56 percent, 69.15 percent respectively. The significant improvement of nutrition value in corn grits is probably attributed to the intense metabolism of C. versicolor.