Intelligent Recognition Using Ultralight Multifunctional Nano-Layered Carbon Aerogel Sensors with Human-Like Tactile Perception.

Humans can perceive our complex world through multi-sensory fusion. Under limited visual conditions, people can sense a variety of tactile signals to identify objects accurately and rapidly. However, replicating this unique capability in robots remains a significant challenge. Here, we present a new form of ultralight multifunctional tactile nano-layered carbon aerogel sensor that provides pressure, temperature, material recognition and 3D location capabilities, which is combined with multimodal supervised learning algorithms for object recognition. The sensor exhibits human-like pressure (0.04-100 kPa) and temperature (21.5-66.2 °C) detection, millisecond response times (11 ms), a pressure sensitivity of 92.22 kPa-1 and triboelectric durability of over 6000 cycles. The devised algorithm has universality and can accommodate a range of application scenarios. The tactile system can identify common foods in a kitchen scene with 94.63% accuracy and explore the topographic and geomorphic features of a Mars scene with 100% accuracy. This sensing approach empowers robots with versatile tactile perception to advance future society toward heightened sensing, recognition and intelligence.

A high-quality Bougainvillea genome provides new insights into evolutionary history and pigment biosynthetic pathways in the Caryophyllales.

Bougainvillea is a perennial ornamental shrub that is highly regarded in ornamental horticulture around the world. However, the absence of genome data limits our understanding of the pathways involved in bract coloration and breeding. Here, we report a chromosome-level assembly of the giga-genome of Bougainvillea × buttiana 'Mrs Butt', a cultivar thought to be the origin of many other Bougainvillea cultivars. The assembled genome is ~5 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 151 756 278 bp and contains 86 572 genes which have undergone recent whole-genome duplication. We confirmed that multiple rounds of whole-genome multiplication have occurred in the evolutionary history of the Caryophyllales, reconstructed the relationship in the Caryophyllales at whole genome level, and found discordance between species and gene trees as the result of complex introgression events. We investigated betalain and anthocyanin biosynthetic pathways and found instances of independent evolutionary innovations in the nine different Caryophyllales species. To explore the potential formation mechanism of diverse bract colors in Bougainvillea, we analyzed the genes involved in betalain and anthocyanin biosynthesis and found extremely low expression of ANS and DFR genes in all cultivars, which may limit anthocyanin biosynthesis. Our findings indicate that the expression pattern of the betalain biosynthetic pathway did not directly correlate with bract color, and a higher expression level in the betalain biosynthetic pathway is required for colored bracts. This improved understanding of the correlation between gene expression and bract color allows plant breeding outcomes to be predicted with greater certainty.

An optimized machine learning technology scheme and its application in fault detection in wireless sensor networks.

Aiming at the problem of fault detection in data collection in wireless sensor networks, this paper combines evolutionary computing and machine learning to propose a productive technical solution. We choose the classical particle swarm optimization (PSO) and improve it, including the introduction of a biological population model to control the population size, and the addition of a parallel mechanism for further tuning. The proposed RS-PPSO algorithm was successfully used to optimize the initial weights and biases of back propagation neural network (BPNN), shortening the training time and raising the prediction accuracy. Wireless sensor networks (WSN) has become the key supporting platform of Internet of Things (IoT). The correctness of the data collected by the sensor nodes has a great influence on the reliability, real-time performance and energy saving of the entire network. The optimized machine learning technology scheme given in this paper can effectively identify the fault data, so as to ensure the effective operation of WSN.

Delphinieae flowers originated from the rewiring of interactions between duplicated and diversified floral organ identity and symmetry genes.

Species of the tribe Delphinieae (Ranunculaceae) have long been the focus of morphological, ecological, and evolutionary studies due to their highly specialized, nearly zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical) spiral flowers with nested petal and sepal spurs and reduced petals. The mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of Delphinieae flowers, however, remain unclear. Here, by conducting extensive phylogenetic, comparative transcriptomic, expression, and functional studies, we clarified the evolutionary histories, expression patterns, and functions of floral organ identity and symmetry genes in Delphinieae. We found that duplication and/or diversification of APETALA3-3 (AP3-3), AGAMOUS-LIKE6 (AGL6), CYCLOIDEA (CYC), and DIVARICATA (DIV) lineage genes was tightly associated with the origination of Delphinieae flowers. Specifically, an AGL6-lineage member (such as the Delphinium ajacis AGL6-1a) represses sepal spur formation and petal development in the lateral and ventral parts of the flower while determining petal identity redundantly with AGL6-1b. By contrast, two CYC2-like genes, CYC2b and CYC2a, define the dorsal and lateral-ventral identities of the flower, respectively, and form complex regulatory links with AP3-3, AGL6-1a, and DIV1. Therefore, duplication and diversification of floral symmetry genes, as well as co-option of the duplicated copies into the preexisting floral regulatory network, have been key for the origin of Delphinieae flowers.

Association Between Circulating Cell-Free DNA Level at Admission and the Risk of Heart Failure Incidence in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients.

Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was elevated in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart failure (HF). However, whether cfDNA could serve as a predictor for risk of HF after AMI remains unknown. In this study, we conducted a pilot prospective cohort study in which 98 AMI patients were enrolled from a single center to assess the association between cfDNA levels at admission and risk of HF in an AMI population. Patients with cfDNA above the median level (14.39 ng/mL) showed higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) levels compared with patients below the median. cfDNA was positively correlated with cTnI (r = 0.377, p < 0.001) and sST2 (r = 0.443, p < 0.001). Within a median follow-up of about 345 days, 46 patients (52.6%) developed HF. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that a higher cfDNA (above the cutoff value: 9.227 ng/mL) was an effective risk predictor (C-index = 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.733-0.748) for HF incidence after AMI (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.805; 95% CI: 1.087-7.242; p = 0.033). Moreover, a linear association was observed between cfDNA and risk of HF incidence adjusted for by age, gender, and history of chronic kidney disease (p for linear trend = 0.044). Taken together, the cfDNA levels at admission are associated with the incidence of HF in AMI patients. A positive correlation between cfDNA and the fibrotic factor sST2 was proved, but the underlying mechanisms require further study.

An Enhanced Intrusion Detection Model Based on Improved kNN in WSNs.

Aiming at the intrusion detection problem of the wireless sensor network (WSN), considering the combined characteristics of the wireless sensor network, we consider setting up a corresponding intrusion detection system on the edge side through edge computing. An intrusion detection system (IDS), as a proactive network security protection technology, provides an effective defense system for the WSN. In this paper, we propose a WSN intelligent intrusion detection model, through the introduction of the k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm (kNN) in machine learning and the introduction of the arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA) in evolutionary calculation, to form an edge intelligence framework that specifically performs the intrusion detection when the WSN encounters a DoS attack. In order to enhance the accuracy of the model, we use a parallel strategy to enhance the communication between the populations and use the Lévy flight strategy to adjust the optimization. The proposed PL-AOA algorithm performs well in the benchmark function test and effectively guarantees the improvement of the kNN classifier. We use Matlab2018b to conduct simulation experiments based on the WSN-DS data set and our model achieves 99% ACC, with a nearly 10% improvement compared with the original kNN when performing DoS intrusion detection. The experimental results show that the proposed intrusion detection model has good effects and practical application significance.

Conjuncted photo-thermoelectric effect in ZnO-graphene nanocomposite foam for self-powered simultaneous temperature and light sensing.

The self-powered sensors are more and more important in current society. However, detecting both light and temperature signals simultaneously without energy waste and signal interference is still a challenge. Here, we report a ZnO/graphene nanocomposite foam-based self-powered sensor, which can realize the simultaneous detection of light and temperature by using the conjuncted photo-thermoelectric effect in ZnO-graphene nanocomposite foam sensor. The output current under light, heating and cooling of the device with the best ZnO/graphene ratio (8:1) for the foam can reach 1.75 µA, 1.02 µA and 0.70 µA, respectively, which are approximately three fold higher than them of devices with other ZnO/graphene ratios. The ZnO-graphene nanocomposite foam device also possesses excellent thermoelectric and photoelectric performances for conjuncted lighting and heating detection without mutual interference. The ZnO-graphene nanocomposite foam device exhibits a new designation on the road towards the fabrication of low cost and one-circuit-based multifunction sensors and systems.

Author Correction: The morphology, molecular development and ecological function of pseudonectaries on Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae) petals.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The morphology, molecular development and ecological function of pseudonectaries on Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae) petals.

Pseudonectaries, or false nectaries, the glistening structures that resemble nectaries or nectar droplets but do not secrete nectar, show considerable diversity and play important roles in plant-animal interactions. The morphological nature, optical features, molecular underpinnings and ecological functions of pseudonectaries, however, remain largely unclear. Here, we show that pseudonectaries of Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae) are tiny, regional protrusions covered by tightly arranged, non-secretory polygonal epidermal cells with flat, smooth and reflective surface, and are clearly visible even under ultraviolet light and bee vision. We also show that genes associated with cell division, chloroplast development and wax formation are preferably expressed in pseudonectaries. Specifically, NidaYABBY5, an abaxial gene with ectopic expression in pseudonectaries, is indispensable for pseudonectary development: knockdown of it led to complete losses of pseudonectaries. Notably, when flowers without pseudonectaries were arrayed beside those with pseudonectaries, clear differences were observed in the visiting frequency, probing time and visiting behavior of pollinators (i.e., honey bees), suggesting that pseudonectaries serve as both visual attractants and nectar guides.

Increased KIF21B expression is a potential prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The kinesin superfamily protein member KIF21B plays an important role in regulating mitotic progression; however, the function and mechanisms of KIF21B in cancer, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), are unknown. AIM: To explore the role of KIF21B in hepatocellular carcinoma and its effect on prognosis after hepatectomy. METHODS: First, data on the differential expression of KIF21B in patients with HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database was analyzed. Subsequently, the expression levels of KIF21B in HCC cell lines and hepatocytes were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and its biological effect on BEL-7404 cells was evaluated by KIF21B knockdown. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to validate the differential expression of KIF21B in HCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 186 patients with HCC after hepatectomy. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess prognosis significance. RESULTS: KIF21B expression levels were significantly higher in HCC tissues than in corresponding adjacent normal tissues. The expression levels of KIF21B in four HCC cell lines were higher than that in normal liver cells. Functional experiments showed that KIF21B knockdown remarkably suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Moreover, immunohistochemistry results are consistent with The Cancer Genome Atlas analysis, with KIF21B expression levels being increased in HCC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed KIF21B as an independent risk factor for overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with HCC after hepatectomy. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results provide evidence that KIF21B plays an important role in HCC progression and may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for HCC.

Primary intestinal extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary intestinal extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (PI-ENKTCL) is a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) subtype, and its prognosis is extremely poor. Clinical characteristics of the disease are not obvious and easily misdiagnosed. In this case report, we describe a patient with PI-ENKTCL who presented with intermittent hematochezia. The advantages of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) as a useful diagnostic tool and the role of surgery as an important therapy are highlighted. CASE SUMMARY: A 45-year-old man, hospitalized due to intermittent hematochezia, underwent gastroscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy and CT, but no cause was found. Hence, we carried out a multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion on the causes and treatment of this patient, and it was decided to perform PET-CT imaging with a MDT discussion of the results. PET-CT demonstrated a diagnosis of lymphoma and it was decided to surgically resect the lesion, and a R0 resection was successfully performed. Postoperative pathology showed negative resection margins, and examination of the lesion confirmed the diagnosis of PI-ENKTCL. After surgery, the patient underwent a follow-up period of 6 mo and received 6 cycles of gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and L-asparaginase. No recurrence or metastasis occurred. CONCLUSION: PI-ENKTCL is rare, and MDT discussion is required during diagnosis. PET-CT can be performed for imaging diagnosis. Treatment is based on surgical resection, and the best treatment regimen is determined according to postoperative pathological results to improve prognosis and to extend survival in patients.

Surface modification of PS microtiter plate with chitosan oligosaccharides by 60Co irradiation.

By 60Co-γ irradiation method, the Chitosan-oligosaccharide (COS) was grafted onto the inner surface of the polystyrene (PS) microtiter, which was soaked with COS solution before the irradiation. To evaluated the effect of COS concentration on the properties of the PS microtiter, FTIR, XPS, AFM, Contact angle tester and enzyme-linked analyser was used to measure the surface properties and BSA adsorption of PS-COS plates. The results shows that, with the increase of COS concentration, the contact angle clearly decreased at the dose of 12kGy. The absorbance variances of the COS modified plate is less than 5% while the BSA adsorption is higher than the PS plates. The COS-modified microtiter has the potential applications in biochemical analysis.

[Molecular identification and sequence analysis of broad bean wilt virus 2 isolates from atractylodes macrocephala Koidz].

To identity the pathogen that causes the mosaic and yellowing symptoms on Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz in Jiangxian, Shanxi province, biological inoculation, sequence-independent amplification (SIA),RT-PCR and other identification methods were used. The results showed that the chlorotic and necrosis symptoms occurred in the indicator plant Chenopodium quinoa after it was infected with the pathogen,and the same symptoms appeared after the reinoculation of healthy Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz; this reflected that the disease was likely to be caused by a virus. The results of SIA and sequencing showed that Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2) was present in severely mosaic Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz leaves. To further characterize the BBWV2 isolate from Atractylodes macrocephala (BBWV2-Am), the polyprotein partial gene encoded by BBWV2-Am RNA2 was cloned and sequenced. Sequence alignments showed that the nucleotide sequence identity of BBWV2-Am SCP and LCP genes ranged from 79.3% to 87.2% and from 80.1% to 89.2% compared to other BBWV2 strains,respectively; the deduced amino acid sequence similarities of the two gene products ranged from 91.2% to 95.7% and from 89.44 to 95.5%, respectively,compared to those of other BBWV2 strains. Phylogenetic comparisons showed that BBWV2-Am was most likely to be related to BBWV2-Rg,but formed an independent branch. This is the first report of BBWV2 in Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.