The enormity of the zinc deficiency problem and available solutions; an overview

The societal cost of micronutrient deficiency (MND) or the “hidden hunger” is in millions of dollars/year, reducing the GDP of some countries by as much as 11%. Zn is an important micronutrient for both plants and animals. An estimated 17% of the world population, or around 1.1 billion people, are at the risk of zinc (Zn) deficiency. The deficiency has been related to adverse pregnancy outcomes, stunted growth, premature deaths, immune system dysfunctions, neuro-behavioral disorders, and recently with the failure to recover from COVID-19. These health risks associated with Zn deficiency have compelled FAO and WHO to recommend Zn fortification of diet. Correcting Zn deficiency is a challenge due to several reasons. Close to half of the agricultural soils are Zn deficient, and chemical Zn fertilizers are costly and ineffective. Developing Zn-rich crops through plant breeding and genetic engineering is challenging. Zn-dense diet is costly and cannot be implemented in the low-income region most affected by Zn deficiency. Lack of consensus among regulatory bodies on defining and diagnosing Zn deficiency in plants and Humans. Awareness and other sociocultural issues. Among the most important available solutions are zinc biofortification of the cereal crops, use of zinc biofertilizers, development of Zn-efficient crops with reduced phytate content. The use of Zn supplements, dietary modification, and diversification, especially with fish, are proposed as the most accessible and affordable solutions. Awareness programs in areas suffering the most from Zn deficiency are required. Despite the suggestions from FAO and WHO, global efforts to combat Zn deficiency matching those for combating diseases like HIV are not in place. Coordinated efforts of the international community, especially policy-makers, agricultural scientists, dieticians, physicians, and others, are required to address the issue of hidden hunger.     

Actuating Shape Memory Polymer for Thermoresponsive Soft Robotic Gripper and Programmable Materials

For soft robotics and programmable metamaterials, novel approaches are required enabling the design of highly integrated thermoresponsive actuating systems. In the concept presented here, the necessary functional component was obtained by polymer syntheses. First, poly(1,10-decylene adipate) diol (PDA) with a number average molecular weight M_n of 3290 g·mol⁻¹ was synthesized from 1,10-decanediol and adipic acid. Afterward, the PDA was brought to reaction with 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol. The resulting polyester urethane (PEU) was processed to the filament, and samples were additively manufactured by fused-filament fabrication. After thermomechanical treatment, the PEU reliably actuated under stress-free conditions by expanding on cooling and shrinking on heating with a maximum thermoreversible strain of 16.1%. Actuation stabilized at 12.2%, as verified in a measurement comprising 100 heating-cooling cycles. By adding an actuator element to a gripper system, a hen’s egg could be picked up, safely transported and deposited. Finally, one actuator element each was built into two types of unit cells for programmable materials, thus enabling the design of temperature-dependent behavior. The approaches are expected to open up new opportunities, e.g., in the fields of soft robotics and shape morphing.     

A measure of mutual complete dependence in discrete variables through subcopula

Siburg and Stoimenov [12] gave a measure of mutual complete dependence of continuous variables which is different from Spearman's ρ and Kendall's τ. In this paper, a similar measure of mutual complete dependence is applied to discrete variables. Also two measures for functional relationships, which are not bijection, are investigated. For illustration of our main results, several examples are given.     

教学评一致性视域下金属单元复习课的实践*

分析金属知识在中考和教材中的地位,针对当前单元复习教学中存在的问题,依据教学评一致性原则,将“金属知识”的单元复习在“订书钉”为主要线索的探究活动中展开,以此激发学生的学习兴趣,优化学生单元知识结构,发展学生分析问题、解决问题的能力,同时提高学生对学科价值的认识。     

Analysis of ginseng root and leaf by multiple columns and detections liquid chromatography

Abstract

A multiple columns and detections liquid chromatography system, including size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), for the analysis of macromolecules and micromolecules in ginseng root and leaf was developed. The columns were connected by two switching valves. Macromolecules were separated on a SEC column (TSK gel SuperMultipore PW-H column, 6?mm× 150?mm, 8?μm) by isocratic elution of 50?mM ammonium acetate aqueous solution, 0.3?mL/min of flow rate and detected by evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). Micromolecules were analyzed on a Poroshell RP column (Agilent Poroshell 120?SB-Aq column, 4.6?mm × 50?mm, 2.7 µm) with gradient elution of water and acetonitrile, 0.6?mL/min of flow rate and detected by ultraviolet detection (UV). As a result, in the macromolecules chromatogram of ginseng root sample showed two main peaks while only one major peak for ginseng leaf. For micromolecules analysis, 17 compounds (3 nucleosides + 14 saponins) and 17 compounds (3 nucleosides + 1 flavonoid + 13 saponins) were found in ginseng root and leaf, respectively. The developed method is helpful for the quality evaluation of ginseng root and leaf.     

汇率变动对进出口影响的实证分析

本文研究了汇率变动对中国进出口的影响,在间接标价法下对论文中所用到的汇率贬值改善国际收支的三个必要条件给出了结论和证明(弹性法);在经济理论及经验研究的基础上,建立了论文中所需要的所有模型并且根据模型对相关经济问题利用现代计量经济学方法进行了实证研究.通过实证研究我们得到的结论是:我国满足汇率贬值改善国际收支的必要条件;出口增加有助于GDP的增长,进口增加对GDP的影响是反向的且随着进口增加这种影响逐渐减弱最终趋于零.     

生晒参、全须生晒参中19种有机氯残留农药的毛细管气相色谱测定

建立了生晒参、全须生晒参中19种有机氯农药残留的毛细管气相色谱分析方法。对样品中六六六的4种异构体、滴滴涕的5种异构体、四氯苯胺、六氯苯、五氯硝基苯、七氯、五氯苯胺、艾氏剂、百菌清、环氧七氯、狄氏剂及异狄氏剂共19种有机氯农药的残留量进行了测定。以石油醚-丙酮混合物作为提取剂,样品采用索氏提取,提取液用弗罗里硅土柱层析净化。采用OV-1701石英毛细管气相色谱柱分离样品,ECD检测器进行检测。在3个水平添加时的回收率(n=5)分别为75.7%~96.1%、78.8%~111.6%和81.7%~115·2%;相对标准偏差分别为2.4%~10.6%、2.1%~9.8%和1.4~10.0%。方法用于生晒参和全须生晒参样品中农药残留的测定,结果满意。     

NeuDATool：支持GPU硬件加速和计算机集群跨节点并行的开源中子散射数据分析软件

实验势精修是20世纪80年代英国散裂中子源无定型材料组开发的用于分析中子散射实验数据的软件. 实验势精修的目标是根据中子散射数据重建样品的三维原子结构. 在过去的几十年,实验势精修被广泛用于中子散射实验数据分析,为实验用户提供了可靠的分析结果. 但是实验势精修是基于共享内存并行计算(OpenMP)的Fortran程序,不支持计算机服务器集群跨节点并行加速和GPU加速;这限制了它的分析速度. 随着计算机服务器集群的广泛建设和GPU加速技术的普遍使用,有必要重新编写EPSR程序以提高运算速度. 本文使用面向对象的C++语言,开发了一套实现EPSR算法的开源软件包NeuDATool;软件通过MPI和CUDA C实现了计算机集群跨节点并行和GPU加速. 使用液态水和玻璃态二氧化硅的中子散射实验数据对软件进行了测试. 测试显示软件可以正确重建出样品的三维原子结构;并且模拟体系达到10万原子以上时,使用GPU加速可以比串行的CPU算法提高400倍以上的模拟速度. NeuDATool为中子实验用户尤其是对熟悉C++编程并希望定义特殊分析算法的实验科学家提供了一种新的选择.     

用于神光Ⅲ原型装置20 kJ能源系统的研制

在神光Ⅲ原型棒状放大器能源系统中,采用LC串联谐振变换器构成的软开关式恒流充电单元设计了高精度充电机.同时,基于RLC串联谐振电路的临界阻尼特性,设计了脉冲成形单元.分析了氙灯非线性解决办法及内触发点灯方式的可靠性,得出了脉冲氙灯线形等价和触发脉宽影响点灯可靠性的结论.采取计算机远程集中控制的控制策略,使得该系统控制安全高效.设计的20套能源模块完全符合用户要求,说明该方案具有可行性.