Improving the cotton simulation model, GOSSYM, for soil, photosynthesis, and transpiration processes.

GOSSYM, a mechanistic, process-level cotton crop simulation model, has a two-dimensional (2D) gridded soil model called Rhizos that simulates the below-ground processes daily. Water movement is based on gradients of water content and not hydraulic heads. In GOSSYM, photosynthesis is calculated using a daily empirical light response function that requires calibration for response to elevated carbon dioxide (CO2). This report discusses improvements made to the GOSSYM model for soil, photosynthesis, and transpiration processes. GOSSYM's predictions of below-ground processes using Rhizos are improved by replacing it with 2DSOIL, a mechanistic 2D finite element soil process model. The photosynthesis and transpiration model in GOSSYM is replaced with a Farquhar biochemical model and Ball-Berry leaf energy balance model. The newly developed model (modified GOSSYM) is evaluated using field-scale and experimental data from SPAR (soil-plant-atmosphere-research) chambers. Modified GOSSYM better predicted net photosynthesis (root mean square error (RMSE) 25.5 versus 45.2 g CO2 m-2 day-1; index of agreement (IA) 0.89 versus 0.76) and transpiration (RMSE 3.3 versus 13.7 L m-2 day-1; IA 0.92 versus 0.14) and improved the yield prediction by 6.0%. Modified GOSSYM improved the simulation of soil, photosynthesis, and transpiration processes, thereby improving the predictive ability of cotton crop growth and development.

Projected long-term climate trends reveal the critical role of vapor pressure deficit for soybean yields in the US Midwest.

Extreme climate events including heat waves and droughts are projected to become more frequent under future climate change conditions. However, the mechanisms between soybean yields and climate factors, specifically involving variable rainfall and high heat episodes, are still unclear, particularly with respect to spatial trends in the United States (US) Midwest. A recently modified version of the model GLYCIM was used to evaluate rainfed soybean production across 12 states at a 10 km spatial resolution for three time periods (2011-2020, 2051-2060, 2091-2099) under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios 4.5 and 8.5. Results showed that except for the northernmost Midwest counties, most of the current rainfed cropping system in the Midwest would suffer a 24.6-47.4 % yield loss without considering the CO2 fertility effect. Incorporating the effect of elevated CO2 showed a smaller yield loss of 11.6-29.5 %. The increased frequency of extreme degree days (EDD) or accumulation of hourly temperatures above 30 °C associated with increased vapor pressure deficit (VPD) played a key role in contributing to water deficits and resultant crop losses under these future climate conditions. Although a relatively weak relationship between summer rainfall and crop yield was observed, decreased rainfall caused VPD to increase which induced crop water deficits. These findings suggest that it is crucial to consider VPD along with high temperature and low rainfall trends simultaneously for development of potential management or breeding-based adaptative strategies for soybean.

Assessment of the Iodine Status of Lactating Women and Infants in Shanghai, China.

There is a risk of iodine deficiency among pregnant women in China. However, research on the iodine status of lactating women and infants is scarce. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the iodine status of lactating women and their infants and explore the relationship between breast milk iodine concentrations (BMICs) and urinary iodine concentrations (UICs). In total, 257 lactating women and their infants were recruited from the Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital East campus between May 2018 and May 2019. The BMIC and UIC were measured by inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry (ICP‒MS). One-day 24-h dietary recall was used to determine the dietary intake of iodine. The mean dietary intake of iodine among the lactating women was 145.1 µg/day, and 97.83% (n = 225) of the lactating women had a dietary iodine intake below 240 µg/day. The median BMIC and UIC of the lactating women was 150.7 µg/L (interquartile range, IQR 102.9, 205.5) and 110.0 µg/L (IQR 65.8, 171.4), respectively, and the median UIC of the infants was 212.7 µg/L (IQR 142.1, 320.6). The BMIC of lactating women who consumed iodized salt was significantly higher than that of lactating women who did not consume iodized salt (p = 0.015). The infants' UIC values were significantly correlated with the BMIC values (r = 0.597**, p < 0.001). The iodine nutritional status of lactating women and infants in Shanghai was generally sufficient according to the WHO's iodine nutritional status recommendation. The use of iodized salt was related to increasing dietary iodine intake and the BMIC. Improvements in BMICs have positive effects on the nutritional levels of iodine in infants.

Association of pre-pregnancy low-carbohydrate diet with maternal oral glucose tolerance test levels in gestational diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence exists on the correlation between the pre-pregnancy low-carbohydrate (LC) diet and maternal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) levels during pregnancy. Our aim was to compare the differences in maternal OGTT levels among women who had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy and adopted different dietary patterns in the pre-pregnancy period. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in 20 women with GDM who adhering to an LC diet (carbohydrate intake < 130 g/d) during pre-conception (LC/GDM,cases). Control subjects, who were matched in a 4:1 ratio, were 80 women with GDM and conventional diet (Con/GDM,control), and 80 women with conventional diet but without GDM (Con/Healthy,control). Women diagnosed with GDM using 75-g OGTT between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. We used unadjusted raw data to compare the dietary composition data and biomarkers of the three study groups. RESULTS: The average pre-conception BMI in each group suggested a similar body size from the three study groups(19.12 ± 2.00 LC/GDM, 19.65 ± 2.32 Con/GDM, 19.53 ± 2.30 Con/Healthy; P = 0.647). Compared with the Con/GDM group, the OGTT-1 h and OGTT-2 h values in LC/GDM group were significantly higher (10.36 ± 1.28 mmol/L vs. 9.75 ± 0.98 mmol/L; 9.12 ± 0.98 mmol/L vs. 8.29 ± 1.06 mmol/L). Furthermore, the percentage of women who had more than one abnormal OGTT value (OGTT-1 h and OGTT-2 h) was 40% in the LC/GDM group, which was significantly higher than in the Con/GDM group (16.3%). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a relationship between the pre-pregnancy LC diet and more detrimental OGTT values in patients with GDM. This finding warrants further studies to understand the effect of pre-pregnancy LC diet practice on maternal glucose tolerance.

Manipulation of the MoO2/MoSe2 Heterointerface Boosting High Rate and Durability for Sodium/Potassium Storage.

The main challenge for sodium/potassium ion storage is to find the suitable host materials to accommodate the larger-sized Na+/K+ and conquer the sluggish chemical kinetics. Herein, by selenation of polyoxometalate in electrospinning fiber, a novel MoO2/MoSe2 heterostructure embedded in one-dimensional (1D) N,P-doped carbon nanofiber (MoO2/MoSe2@NPC) is rationally constructed to show distinct enhancement of rate performance and cycle life for sodium ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium ion batteries (PIBs). The 1D skeleton of MoO2/MoSe2@NPC decreases the diffusion pathway of Na+/K+, and the doping of N/P heteroatoms in carbon fiber creates abundant active sites and provides good reachability for Na+/K+ transportation. MoSe2 nanosheets grow in the bulk phase of MoO2 via in situ local phase transformation to achieve effective and firm heterointerfaces. Especially, the exposure extent of heterointerfaces can be controlled by treatment temperature during the preparation process, and the optimized heterointerfaces result in an ideal synergic effect between MoO2 and MoSe2. DFT calculations confirm that the internal electric field in the heterogeneous interface guides the electron transfer from MoO2 to MoSe2, combined with strong adsorption capacity toward sodium/potassium, facilitating ion/electron transfer kinetics. It is confirmed that the MoO2/MoSe2@NPC anode for SIBs delivers 382 mA h g-1 under 0.1 A g-1 upon 200 cycles; meanwhile, a reversible capacity of 266 mA h g-1 is maintained even under 2 A g-1 after 2000 cycles. For PIBs, it can reach up to 216 mA h g-1 in the 200th cycle and still retain 125 mA h g-1 after 2000 cycles under 1 A g-1. This study opens up a new interface manipulation strategy for the design of anode materials to boost fast Na+/K+ storage kinetics.

A Miniature Soft Sensor with Origami-Inspired Self-Folding Parallel Mechanism.

Miniature soft sensors are crucial for the perception of soft robots. Although centimeter-scale sensors have been well developed, very few works addressed millimeter-scale, three-dimensional-shaped soft sensors capable of measuring multi-axis forces. In this work, we developed a millimeter-scale (overall size of 6 mm × 11 mm × 11 mm) soft sensor based on liquid metal printing technology and self-folding origami parallel mechanism. The origami design of the sensor enables the soft sensor to be manufactured within the plane and then fold into a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, the parallel mechanism allows the sensor to rotate along two orthogonal axes. We showed that the soft sensor can be self-folded (took 17 s) using a shape-memory polymer and magnets. The results also showed that the sensor prototype can reach a deformation of up to 20 mm at the tip. The sensor can realize a measurement of external loads in six directions. We also showed that the soft sensor enables underwater sensing with a minimum sensitivity of 20 mm/s water flow. This work may provide a new manufacturing method and insight into future millimeter-scale soft sensors for bio-inspired robots.

Optimal Cutoffs for the Diagnosis of Sarcopenia in Older Chinese Adults.

Background: The optimal criteria for sarcopenia in the older Chinese population have not been defined. Consequently, this study aims to determine the optimal cutoffs of grip strength, appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and gait speed, comprising the best definition of sarcopenia for older Chinese populations. Methods: A total of 2,821 (1,398 men and 1,423 women) community-dwelling older people (≥60 years) and 409 (205 men and 204 women) young healthy adults (25-34 years) were recruited from three big cities in China. Besides gait speed and grip strength, we examined ASMI by BIA and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), comprising the three components of sarcopenia. DXA classification for low ASMI, 20th percentile among older adults in the study sample, was found to be best compared with the other existing classification, 1 SD and 2 SD below the mean for the young population, and was used as the gold standard to determine the optimal cutoffs of BIA using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). The cutoffs of handgrip strength and gait speed were determined following the same rule. Results: Using gender-specific 20th percentiles of DXA (6.53 kg/m2 for men and 5.40 kg/m2 for women), the cutoffs 7.05 kg/m2 for men and 5.85 kg/m2 for women were determined as optimal cutoffs of BIA by achieving the largest sensitivity (0.81, 95% CI: 0.63-0.93 for men and 0.90, 95% CI: 0.73-0.98 for women) and specificity greater than 0.80 (0.80, 95% CI: 0.72-0.87 for men and 0.81, 95% CI: 0.72-0.87 for women) in the ROC analysis. The 28.5 kg and 1.05 m/s for men and 18.6 kg and 1.01 m/s for women were determined as the cutoffs for handgrip strength and gait speed, respectively. Based on the derived cutoffs, 14.2% of men and 15.7% of women in the older Chinese study population were classified as sarcopenia. Conclusion: Notably, 7.05 kg/m2, 28.5 kg, and 1.05 m/s for men and 5.85 kg/m2, 18.6 kg, and 1.01 m/s for women were selected as the optimal cutoffs for low ASMI by BIA, handgrip strength, and gait speed, respectively. These optimal cutoffs will enhance practicability for screening sarcopenia in primary care and clinical settings.

Aerial-aquatic robots capable of crossing the air-water boundary and hitchhiking on surfaces.

Many real-world applications for robots-such as long-term aerial and underwater observation, cross-medium operations, and marine life surveys-require robots with the ability to move between the air-water boundary. Here, we describe an aerial-aquatic hitchhiking robot that is self-contained for flying, swimming, and attaching to surfaces in both air and water and that can seamlessly move between the two. We describe this robot's redundant, hydrostatically enhanced hitchhiking device, inspired by the morphology of a remora (Echeneis naucrates) disc, which works in both air and water. As with the biological remora disc, this device has separate lamellar compartments for redundant sealing, which enables the robot to achieve adhesion and hitchhike with only partial disc attachment. The self-contained, rotor-based aerial-aquatic robot, which has passively morphing propellers that unfold in the air and fold underwater, can cross the air-water boundary in 0.35 second. The robot can perform rapid attachment and detachment on challenging surfaces both in air and under water, including curved, rough, incomplete, and biofouling surfaces, and achieve long-duration adhesion with minimal oscillation. We also show that the robot can attach to and hitchhike on moving surfaces. In field tests, we show that the robot can record video in both media and move objects across the air/water boundary in a mountain stream and the ocean. We envision that this study can pave the way for future robots with autonomous biological detection, monitoring, and tracking capabilities in a wide variety of aerial-aquatic environments.

Eating behavior and hypertension in Chinese.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Sakata's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (SEBQ) was developed to grasp distortions and habits in eating behavior. This study aimed to validate the factor structure and psychometrics properties of the Chinese version of the SEBQ, and examine the relationship between eating behavior and hypertension. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Individuals were recruited from a community in Xuhui district in Shanghai. The 30-item SEBQ was used to measure eating behavior. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the dimensional structure, logistic regression analysis and mediating effect analysis were conducted to evaluate the relation between SEBQ with obesity and hypertension. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.81 revealed good internal reliability. The values of root mean square error of approximation [90% confidence intervals (CI)], comparative fit index and Tucker-Lewis index were 0.053 (0.050, 0.056), 0.90 and 0.89 for the original version, and 0.062 (0.045, 0.079), 0.91 and 0.86 for the 7-item short form respectively. SEBQ can be used as a predictor of general obesity [odds ratio (OR): 5.14, 95%CI: 2.91-9.08], central obesity (OR: 2.87, 95%CI: 1.86-4.42) and abdominal obesity (OR: 2.59, 95%CI: 1.67-4.01). Its effect on hypertension was mediated by obesity (ß=0.018, p=0.027), and the percentage of mediated effect by obesity between eating behavior and hypertension was 43.9%. CONCLUSIONS: This study shown that SEBQ is a valid and reliable measurement tool to define obesity in Chinese as well and the associations between eating behavior and hypertension was mediated by obesity. Further validation among different populations is needed in the future study.

Transcriptomes of Saussurea (Asteraceae) Provide Insights into High-Altitude Adaptation.

Understanding how species adapt to extreme environments is an extension of the main goals of evolutionary biology. While alpine plants are an ideal system for investigating the genetic basis of high-altitude adaptation, genomic resources in these species are still limited. In the present study, we generated reference-level transcriptomic data of five Saussurea species through high-throughput sequencing and de novo assembly. Three of them are located in the highland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), and the other two are close relatives distributed in the lowland. A series of comparative and evolutionary genomics analyses were conducted to explore the genetic signatures of adaptive evolution to high-altitude environments. Estimation of divergence time using single-copy orthologs revealed that Saussurea species diversified during the Miocene, a period with extensive tectonic movement and climatic fluctuation on the QTP. We characterized gene families specific to the alpine species, including genes involved in oxidoreductase activity, pectin catabolic process, lipid transport, and polysaccharide metabolic process, which may play important roles in defense of hypoxia and freezing temperatures of the QTP. Furthermore, in a phylogenetic context with the branch model, we identified hundreds of genes with signatures of positive selection. These genes are involved in DNA repair, membrane transport, response to UV-B and hypoxia, and reproductive processes, as well as some metabolic processes associated with nutrient intake, potentially responsible for Saussurea adaptation to the harsh environments of high altitude. Overall, our study provides valuable genomic resources for alpine species and gained helpful insights into the genomic basis of plants adapting to extreme environments.

Effect of an individualised nutritional intervention on gestational diabetes mellitus prevention in a high-risk population screened by a prediction model: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The ability of a preventive nutritional intervention to reduce the morbidity of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains controversial. We aim to assess whether GDM can be prevented by an individualised nutritional intervention in pregnant women who are at high risk for the disease based on a prediction model. METHODS/DESIGN: A multicentre randomised controlled trial was designed to assess the efficacy of an individualised nutritional intervention for the prevention of GDM in a high-risk population screened by a novel prediction model in the first trimester. Pregnant women evaluated to be at high risk for GDM by the prediction model at less than 14 gestational weeks will be included. Women with pre-existing chronic diseases, including pregestational diabetes, or who are currently prescribed medicines that affect glucose values will be excluded. Allocation to intervention/control at a ratio of 1:1 will be conducted by a computerized randomisation system. The intervention group will complete 3-day food records and receive 3 individualised nutritional consultations with professional dieticians before the oral glucose tolerance test. The primary intention of the intervention is to promote a long-term healthy dietary pattern and prevent excessive gestational weight gain throughout pregnancy. The control group will complete 3-day food records at designated gestational weeks and receive standard antenatal care according to local health care provisions. The primary outcome is the incidence of GDM according to the criteria of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG). A sample of 464 participants will provide 80% power to detect a 30% reduction in GDM incidence (α = 0.05 two tailed, 10% dropout). A total of 500 participants will be recruited. DISCUSSION: To date, this is the first randomised controlled trial aimed to evaluate the protective effect of an individualised nutritional intervention against GDM based on a logistic regression prediction model. Eligibility is not limited to obese women or singleton pregnancies, as in previous studies. This pragmatic trial is expected to provide valuable information on early screening and effective GDM prevention methods. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900026963 . Registered 27 October 2019.

Vitamin D status and vitamin D deficiency risk factors among pregnancy of Shanghai in China.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing awareness that vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women may be associated with several adverse effects for the mother and newborn. The risks for vitamin D deficiency are unclear. This study was to assess vitamin D nutritional status and vitamin D deficiency risk factors among pregnant women in Shanghai in China. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in the Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. A total of 953 healthy pregnant women participated, serological examinations and other variables included serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], total blood cholesterol (TCh), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, triglycerides at the first antenatal visit (12-14 weeks) pregnancy parity and age, body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy, and completed OGTTs test. Associations between vitamin D deficiency and possible predictors (age group, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, and gestational hyperlipemia) were assessed with a multinomial logistic regression analysis. And also used to investigate the effects of 25(OH)D and the other variables on the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The mean vitamin D level of pregnancy was 16 (a range from 11 to 21) ng/ml, and severe vitamin D deficiency was 31.8% (303); vitamin D deficiency was 40.7% (388); vitamin D insufficiency was 25.1% (239); normal vitamin D was 2.4%(23). Vitamin D deficiency risk factors were age over 30, parity over 2, overweight, obese, and hyperlipemia. The increasing level of vitamin D nutritional status in pregnancy is significantly related to reducing gestational diabetes mellitus. Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: It is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Chinese pregnancy in Shanghai. Aging more than 30 years, the parity of more than 2, overweight and obesity, and hyperlipemia are risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus. Public health strategies to prevent vitamin D deficiency should focus on those risks to promote health pregnancy of Shanghai in China.

Study protocol for the Sino-Canadian Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (SCHeLTI): a multicentre, cluster-randomised, parallel-group, superiority trial of a multifaceted community-family-mother-child intervention to prevent childhood overweight and obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood overweight and obesity (OWO) is a primary global health challenge. Childhood OWO prevention is now a public health priority in China. The Sino-Canadian Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (SCHeLTI), one of four trials being undertaken by the international HeLTI consortium, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted, community-family-mother-child intervention on childhood OWO and non-communicable diseases risk. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a multicentre, cluster-randomised, controlled trial conducted in Shanghai, China. The unit of randomisation is the service area of Maternal Child Health Units (N=36). We will recruit 4500 women/partners/families in maternity and district level hospitals. Participants in the intervention group will receive a multifaceted, integrated package of health promotion interventions beginning in preconception or in the first trimester of pregnancy, continuing into infancy and early childhood. The intervention, which is centred on a modified motivational interviewing approach, will target early-life maternal and child risk factors for adiposity. Through the development of a biological specimen bank, we will study potential mechanisms underlying the effects of the intervention. The primary outcome for the trial is childhood OWO (body mass index for age ≥85th percentile) at 5 years of age, based on WHO sex-specific standards. The study has a power of 0.8 (α=0.05) to detect a 30% risk reduction in the proportion of children with OWO at 5 years of age, from 24.4% in the control group to 17% in the intervention group. Recruitment was launched on 30 August 2018 for the pilot study and 10 January 2019 for the formal study. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital in Shanghai, China, and the Research Ethics Board of the Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et Services Sociaux de l'Estrie-CHUS in Sherbrooke, Canada. Data sharing policies are consistent with the governance policy of the HeLTI consortium and government legislation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR1800017773. PROTOCOL VERSION: November 11, 2020 (Version #5).

The Status and Knowledge of Iodine among Pregnant Women in Shanghai.

Iodine plays an important role in thyroid function. However, in daily practices, people lack the related details including the knowledge concerned iodine usage, attitudes towards it, and practice among pregnant women. The aim of the present study is to assess the iodine status of pregnant women in Shanghai, and their knowledge regarding iodine, with the goal of investigating the relationship between iodine and thyroid function during pregnancy. This is a cross-sectional study. We recruited 3 groups of participants including 145 pregnant women (12-16 weeks gestation), 101 pregnant women (24-28 weeks gestation), and 108 pregnant women (34-38 weeks gestation). Iodine status and dietary intake were calculated from 24-h urinary iodine concentration (UIC). Knowledge regarding iodine was collected through a questionnaire. We additionally examined TSH, FT3, FT4, and TPOAb of the participants. The median of UIC of the 354 pregnant women was 119.2 µg/L, and 68.9% had urinary iodine levels below 150 µg/L. The proportion of daily iodized salt consumption in pregnant women was only 78.0%. The median UIC of the pregnant women who had consumed iodized salt was significantly higher than that of the pregnant women without iodized salt intake (Z = - 5.087, P < 0.001). Pregnant women in weeks 34-38 with a high level of knowledge had significantly lower TSH levels than those with low knowledge level (P = 0.046). Among the 349 pregnant women, few were aware of the harm to the fetus (8.3%). Significant differences were found in the scores for the knowledge level of women with different educational levels (Z = - 5.413, P < 0.001). Pregnant women in Shanghai have mild iodine deficiency. Approaches to improve iodine status among pregnant women in Shanghai include raising their awareness of iodine intake and changing their dietary habits. Otherwise, the risk of iodine deficiency in pregnant women may continue to increase.

Sequencing and characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Sorbaria arborea (Rosaceae).

Sorbaria arborea is a species which is endemic to China. We utilized next-generation Illumina sequencing technology to sequence and assemble its chloroplast genome. The 160,137 bp genome contained four main sections, including a pair of inverted repeat regions which were 26,332 bp in length, and a small single-copy region was 19,418 bp, as well as a large single-copy region, which was 88,055 bp. The genome had a GC content of 36.1% and contained 113 unique genes, including 4 rRNAs, 30 tRNAs, and 79 protein-coding genes. The phylogenetic relationship of 25 Rosaceae species was constructed based on their chloroplast genome sequences, which supported a close relationship between S. arborea and Amygdaloideae. This newly sequenced plastid genome provides useful information for assessing the genetic diversity and phylogenetic position of S. arborea.

Detachment of the remora suckerfish disc: kinematics and a bio-inspired robotic model.

Remora suckerfish can attach to a wide diversity of marine hosts, however, their detachment mechanism remains poorly understood. Through analyzing high-speed videos, we found that the detachment of the live remora (Echeneis naucrates) is a rapid behavior that can happen within 240 ms. We separate this remarkable behavior into three stages: 1) lamellae folding down and soft lip curling, 2) disc raising and 3) complete detachment. To quantitatively investigate the detachment behavior, we fabricated a multi-material biomimetic disc and utilized it to study each stage of the detachment process. In stage one, we found that folding down lamellae is essential for decreasing the detachment resistance (vertical interfacial force and friction force) of the suction disc. Also, curling up the soft lip to breaking the adhesive seal reduced the vertical pull-off force up to 94 times. During disc raising in stage 2, we found that the partially flexible base (Young's modulus: ∼3 MPa) of the disc can lead to a 30% power-use reduction compared to a rigid base (Young's modulus: ∼3 GPa). After completing full detachment in stage 3, the corresponding drag wake flow decreased by 44% compared to an attached state due to lamellae folding and the entire soft lip uncurling. We developed a bio-inspired remora suckerfish robot propelled by a water jet to demonstrate a complete detachment which covers all three stages within 200 ms. We also demonstrated that an ROV has both hitchhiking and pick-and-place capabilities by integrating remora-inspired discs at appropriate locations. This study may shed light on future research in bio-inspired adhesives and lay a foundation for developing an untethered, multimodal, underwater hitchhiking robot.

Karyomorphology of three endemic plants (Brassicaceae: Euclidieae and Arabideae) from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its significance.

In the paper, chromosome number and karyotype of three endemic genera from China are reported for the first time. Our results show that Anzhengxia yechengnica has a karyotype formula 2n = 2x = 14 = 6 m + 8sm and belongs to Stebbins-3A; Shangrilaia nana karyotype formula is 2n = 2x = 14 = 10 m + 4sm (2sat) and belongs to Stebbins-1A; Baimashania pulvinata karyotype formula is 2n = 2x = 16 = 12 m (2sat) + 4sm and belongs to Stebbins-1A. Anzhengxia and Shangrilaia are monospecific genera belonging to tribe Euclidieae and both have a basic chromosome x = 7. Baimashania, which belongs to tribe Arabideae, has two species which have a basic chromosome x = 8. The implications of these cytological data are compared with morphological support and the implications for each tribe are discussed. We also summarize chromosomal number variation and its systematic implications of two tribes from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Kinetic modeling of molybdenum sorption and transport in soils.

In this investigation, batch and column experiments were conducted to investigate the molybdenum (Mo) sorption and transport processes on a neutral-pH soil (Webster loam) and an acidic soil (Mahan sand) in Ca2+ and K+ background solutions. Batch results showed that the adsorption of Mo was strongly non-linear in both soils and amount of Mo sorbed in the acidic soil was larger than the neutral soil. The Freundlich distribution coefficients (Kf) and Langmuir sorption maxima (Smax) in Ca2+ background solution are larger than that in K+ solution, indicating greater Mo sorption in Ca2+ than in K+. Experimental breakthrough curves (BTCs) demonstrated that mobility of Mo was higher at neutral condition than that at acidic condition. A multi-reaction transport model (MRTM) formulation with two kinetic retention reactions (reversible and irreversible) well described Mo transport for Webster soil. However, MRTM model which accounts for equilibrium and kinetic sites is recommended for Mo transport in Mahan soil, reflecting different soil properties. Based on inverse modeling, the sorption forward rate coefficients (k1) obtained from Ca2+ in both soils are larger than that from K+, which consistent with batch experiment. Overall, MRTM model was capable of describing the Mo transport behavior under different geochemical conditions.

Diet quality during preconception or pregnancy and gestational weight gain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Inappropriate gestational weight gain (GWG), including inadequate and excessive GWG, has become pandemic across nations and continents. This review aims to synthesise the evidence on the correlation between diet quality and GWG. If this association is confirmed, improving diet quality could become an intervention target in the efforts to reduce inappropriate GWG. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a systematic review of all prospective cohort studies on diet quality in preconception or pregnancy and GWG. Our secondary outcomes include gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and birth weight. A comprehensive search of all published articles in MEDLINE ALL (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Food Science and Technology Abstracts (Ovid) and CINAHL (EBSCOHost), from database creation to 20 April 2019, will be conducted. Studies will be screened for eligibility by title, abstract and full text in duplicate by two independent reviewers. Study quality and risk of bias will be assessed using the adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results will be reported following the meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology guidelines. If sufficient data are available, a meta-analysis will be conducted to synthesise the effect size reported as OR with 95% CI using both fixed-effect and random-effect models. I2 statistics and visual inspection of the forest plots will be used to assess heterogeneity and identify the potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias will be assessed by visual inspections of funnel plots and Egger's test. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Formal ethical approval is not required as no primary data will be collected. We aim to publish the results of this study in a peer-reviewed journal and present them at conferences and scientific meetings to promote knowledge transfer. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019128732.