ABSTRACT In 2009, a new citrus viral disease caused by Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) was first discovered in Yunnan province of China. In this study, a survey was conducted in 27 orchards from Yunnan province from April 2017 to September 2018. In all, 45 of a total of 513 citrus samples were tested positive for CYVCV by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the complete genome sequences of six CYVCV isolates from different hosts were sequenced. Comparisons of the whole genome sequences of these six CYVCV isolates as well as 34 isolates previously reported from around the world revealed the sequence identity ranged from 96.9% to 99.8% at nucleotide level, indicating that there is a very low level of sequence heterogeneity among CYVCV isolates of different hosts in Yunnan province.

Abstract A balanced-to-single-ended (BTSE) Wilkinson power divider of planar microstrip structure is proposed in this paper. It has a balanced input and two single-ended outputs. Cascade of a balun and a conventional power divider can be replaced by this proposed structure. Based on the theory of mixed-mode S parameters and the admittance matrix method, the critical parameters are determined. The four-port network is analyzed by simplifying it to two-port network with other ports matched at the central frequency. Then the key parameters are derived and the impact of a freely selected variable on the bandwidth is also discussed. An example of 2.4GHz BTSE power divider is designed. The simulated and measured results show the effectiveness of the method: differential-mode transmissions are better than −3.25dB, common-mode transmissions are lower than −28.6dB, common-mode return loss is −0.10dB, differential-mode return loss and isolation is lower than −23.7dB. While the operating bandwidth is 20%.

Abstract: A neural network for a pattern recognition model is developed for the first time to predict the diffusion behavior of the model diesel components (dibenzothiophene and quinolone) in three different membranes of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride and polymethyl acrylate. The simulation results show that the excellent performance target parameter optimization area can be obtained and the effective desulfurization and denitrification agent can be found. Compared with the advanced molecular dynamic simulation method and verified by adsorption experiments, the simulation values are in good agreement with the experimental data and molecular dynamic simulation data. The results reveal that the polyvinyl chloride membrane can improve the diffusion selectivity of dibenzothiophene and it is selected as the most effective desulfurization agent, while the polyvinyl alcohol membrane is selected as the most effective denitrification agent to remove the nitrogen compounds. Development time and effort of screening desulfurization agent and denitrification agent tests are also reduced because the neural network for the pattern recognition model provides ready-made decisions. Therefore, the neural network for pattern recognition is a prospect and practicable theoretical method to research the diffusion behavior of model diesel components in polymer membranes.

ABSTRACT DNA vaccines have been shown to be an effective approach to induce antigen-specific cellular and humoral immunity. However, the inability of DNA vaccines to elicit strong immune responses in clinical trials limits the application of DNA vaccines. Here, we developed a new DNA vaccine based on MUC1, which has been suggested as a potential target for lung cancer therapy, and we enhanced the potency of the DNA vaccine by including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as an adjuvant. A series of DNA plasmids encoding MUC1, human GM-CSF and their conjugates were constructed and injected into female mice intramuscularly (i.m.). This action was followed by an electric pulse. The humoral and cellular immune responses after immunization were examined by ELISA and ELISPOT, respectively. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the plasmids, a mouse model with a MUC1-expressing tumor was designed. Mice vaccinated with the MUC1-GM-CSF plasmid generated the strongest MUC1-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Furthermore, these vaccinations inhibited the growth of MUC1-expressing tumors and prolonged mouse survival. These observations emphasize the potential of GM-CSF as an adjuvant for DNA vaccines and of vaccines based on MUC1 and GM-CSF as a promising treatment for lung cancer.

Inferential models are usually used to evaluate the effect of winter warming on range expansion of insects. Generally, correlative approaches used to predict changes in the distributions of organisms are based on the assumption that climatic boundaries are fixed. Spodoptera exigua Htibner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) overwinters as larvae or pupae in China regions. To understand the climate change impacts on overwintering of this species in regions of China, CLIMEX and Arc-GIS models were used to predict possible changes of distribution based on temperature. The climate change projection clearly indicated that the northern boundary of overwintering for S. exigua will shift northward from current distribution. Thus, the ongoing winter warming is likely to increase the frequency of S. exigua outbreaks.

The objective of this study was to produce artificial antigens for astragaloside IV that could be used to prepare antibodies against astragaloside IV screened in Radix astragali (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bunge, Fabaceae) and its preparations, using an indirect ELISA. Astragaloside IV was coupled to carrier proteins, bovine serum albumin and ovalbumin using the sodium periodate method and was then evaluated using SDS-PAGE, MALDI-TOF MS and animal immunizations. The coupling ratio of astragaloside IV to bovine serum albumin ratio was determined to be thirteen, and the indirect ELISA demonstrated that three groups of mice immunized with astragaloside IV-bovine serum albumin produced anti-astragaloside IV- bovine serum albumin-specific antibody, with a minimum serum titer of 1:9600. A method for synthesizing highly immunogenic astragaloside IV artificial antigens was successfully developed thus indicating its feasibility in the establishment of a fast immunoassay for astragaloside IV content determination in Radix astragali and its products.

Mulberry leaves Flavones Pharmacokinetics Metabolites Rutin Quercetin Mulberry leaves, a traditional Chinese medicine, are effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Rutin and quercetin are the main components of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract. To study the pharmacokinetics of rutin and quercetin in rat plasma and their metabolites in rat urine and feces after oral administration of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract. At different timepoints after oral administration of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract in rats, plasma concentrations of rutin and quercetin were determined by RP-HPLC. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using 3P97 software. The metabolites in rat urine and feces were determined by using UPLCESI-QTOF/MS and estimated MetaboLynxTM software. The plasma concentration-time curves of rutin and quercetin both were best fitted with a two-compartment model. Rutin and quercetin were absorbed rapidly and then slowly decreased. Two prototype compounds and seven metabolites were identified. The pharmacokinetic and metabolic results may be useful for further studies of the bioactive mechanism of mulberry leaf flavones and potential development of a new TCM.