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With the growing penetration of doubly‐fed induction generator (DFIG)‐based wind farms (WFs) in power systems, short‐term voltage stability problem has become more prominent. This study proposes a new approach for post‐fault short‐term voltage stability analysis by establishing a quantitative relationship between the system states/outputs and external disturbances. The concept of the integral‐integral estimate, which is equivalent to input‐to‐state stability, was adopted to perform quantitative analysis at the subsystem level, and practical algorithms were developed to study the local input‐to‐state/output stability properties of subsystems. System‐level quantitative analysis was achieved through the proposed criterion considering the stability properties of subsystems and their connections. The proposed method reveals the dynamic responses of the system under external disturbances and quantifies the size of the external disturbance that the system can tolerate, thus facilitating the operation of the power system integrated with DFIG‐based WFs. The short‐term voltage stability of a test power system was analysed using the proposed quantitative stability analysis approach, and the results were verified through time‐domain simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A passive micro-displacement sensor (for ∼μm displacement) was fabricated based on a magnetoelectric laminate, in which the displacement change can result in a change of the magnetic flux around the magnetoelectric sensor. The displacement measurement was realized by measuring the magnetoelectric output voltage. The displacement detecting coefficient was ∼2.5 mV/μm at a frequency of ∼1 kHz. This passive displacement sensor possesses the advantages of low cost, high resolution, low energy consumption and good linearity and has potential for application in future displacement detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to traditional Chinese medicine, lily bulb and Rehmannia decoction (LBRD) is a specialized formula for the treatment of "lily disease", the symptoms of which resemble the clinical manifestations of major depression. However, the molecular basis of the antidepressant mechanism of LBRD and the quality marker ingredients of LBRD remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the quality marker ingredients of LBRD and to show the molecular mechanism of its antidepressant activities. In this study, we adopted the chronic unpredicted mild stress paradigm to construct a depression model. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the levels of the main markers in LBRD. The underlying mechanism of LBRD was explored by measuring neurotransmitter and cytokine levels using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and by quantifying differentially expressed gene (DEG) of transcriptome in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) tissue through RNA sequencing. HPLC results showed that the average levels of quality marker ingredients of LBRD (ferulic acid, dioscin, verbascoside and catalpol) were 0.00079%, 0.00039%, 0.7% and 1.6% (w/w), respectively. LBRD intervention significantly attenuated the depressive phenotype compared with that in the depressed group. LBRD treatment altered the enriched DEGs in the signaling pathways of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate neurotransmitter, synaptic plasticity and axon guidance, circadian rhythm and neural‐immunity. GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses as well as brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/TrkB‐dependent phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin‐1 (mTOR1), might be the main signaling pathways underlying the multi‐target therapeutic effects of LBRD against depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) G‐308A gene is the most studied regarding susceptibility to major depressive disorder (MDD). However, results have been controversial perhaps due to the heterogeneous genetic backgrounds influenced by race as well as subtypes of depression. Methods and materials: A systematic MEDLINE search was performed to retrieve all published studies that identified the connection between the TNF‐α G‐308A gene polymorphism and the risk of MDD. Results: There was no statistical difference between the allele frequencies or genotypes of TNF‐α G‐308A gene and the depressive patients or healthy subjects in the five models tested. Further, subgroup analyses showed that the TNF‐α G‐308A gene polymorphism also did not confer susceptibility to poststroke, late‐life, maternal, or major depression. Publication bias analysis showed p values were more than.05, suggesting that the 9 articles included in the current analysis had no publication bias. Conclusion: Neither the allele frequencies nor genotypes of TNF‐α G‐308A gene could be served as an independent risk factor of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian clock confers temporal control in metabolism, with its disruption leading to the development of insulin resistance. Metabolic substrate utilization in skeletal muscle is coordinated with diurnal nutrient cycles. However, whether the molecular clock is involved in this coordination is largely unknown. Using a myocyte‐selective genetic ablation mouse model of the essential clock activator Bmal1, here we identify muscle‐intrinsic clock as a sensor of feeding cues to orchestrate skeletal muscle oxidation required for global nutrient flux. Bmal1 in skeletal muscle responds robustly to feeding in vivo and insulin induces its expression. Muscle Bmal1 deficiency impaired the transcriptional control of glucose metabolic pathway, resulting in markedly attenuated glucose utilization and fasting hyperglycemia. Notably, the loss of Bmal1 response to feeding abolished fasting‐to‐feeding metabolic fuel switch from fatty acids to glucose in skeletal muscle, leading to the activation of energy‐sensing pathways for fatty acid oxidation. These altered metabolic substrate oxidations in Bmal1‐deficient muscle ultimately depleted circulating lipid levels that prevented hepatic steatosis. Collectively, our findings highlight the key role of the metabolic‐sensing function of skeletal muscle clock in partitioning nutrient flux between muscle and liver to maintain whole‐body lipid and glucose homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor which threatens the health and life of the population. Long non‐coding RNA X‐inactive specific transcript (XIST) and mouse double minute clone 2 (MDM2) are connected with the tumorigenesis of LAD. Nevertheless, whether MDM2 is regulated by XIST has not previously been reported in LAD. Methods: Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was employed to detect the expression of XIST, microRNA‐363‐3p (miR‐363‐3p) and MDM2 in LAD tissues and cells. The proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of LAD cells were determined by 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐YI)‐2, 5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), transwell or flow cytometry assay, respectively. MDM2 protein level was detected using western blot analysis. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and RNA pulldown assay were performed to determine the interaction among XIST, miR‐363‐3p and MDM2. A xenograft tumor model was constructed to validate the effect of XIST on LAD cells in vivo. Results: We found that XIST and MDM2 were remarkably elevated while miR‐363‐3p was reduced in LAD tissues and cells. Both XIST and MDM2 downregulation restrained proliferation, migration and invasion, and facilitated apoptosis of LAD cells in vitro. Importantly, XIST bound to miR‐363‐3p to modulate MDM2 expression in LAD cells. Moreover, miR‐363‐3p knockdown or MDM2 elevation reversed the effects of XIST downregulation on the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of LAD cells. Furthermore, XIST knockdown constrained tumor growth on LAD cells in vivo. Conclusions: XIST knockdown repressed proliferation, migration and invasion, and accelerated apoptosis of LAD cells by downregulating MDM2 expression via binding to miR‐363‐3p. Key points: Significant findings of the studyXIST and MDM2 were abnormally enhanced in LAD tissues and cells.Both downregulation of XIST and MDM2 repressed proliferation, migration and invasion, and boosted apoptosis of LAD cells in vitro.XIST bound to miR‐363‐3p to regulate MDM2 expression in LAD cells.Downregulation of XIST impeded tumor growth on LAD cells in vivo.What this study addsThis study confirmed that XIST was a potential target for inhibiting the development of LAD, and affords a possible strategy for the treatment of LAD in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, research on genome‐scale epigenetic modifications for studying the pathogenesis of lung cancer is lacking. Aberrant DNA methylation, as the most common and important modification in epigenetics, is an important means of regulating genomic function and can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). In this paper, methylation information and gene expression data from patients with LUSC were extracted from the TCGA database. Univariate and multivariate COX analyses were used to screen abnormally methylated genes related to the prognosis of LUSC. The relationship between key DNA methylation sites and the transcriptional expression of LUSC‐related genes was explored. A prognostic risk model constructed by four abnormally methylated genes (VAX1, CH25H, AdCyAP1, and Irx1) was used to predict the prognosis of LUSC patients. Also, the methylation levels of the key gene IRX1 are significantly correlated with the prognosis and correlated with the methylation of the site cg09232937 and cg10530883. This study is based on high‐throughput data mining and provides an effective bioinformatics basis for further understanding the pathogenesis and prognosis of LUSC, which has important theoretical significance for follow‐up studies on LUSC. In this study, we performed whole‐genome methylation analysis of LUSC patients based on the TCGA database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the prognostic risk model constructed by four abnormally methylated genes (VAX1, CH25H, ADCYAP1, and IRX1) proved to be an independent prognostic factor for LUSC. Also, the expression and methylation levels of the key gene IRX1 are significantly correlated with prognosis and are negatively correlated with the methylation of the site cg09232937 and cg10530883. This study is based on high‐throughput data mining and provides an effective bioinformatics basis for further understanding the pathogenesis and prognosis of LUSC, which has important theoretical significance for follow‐up studies on LUSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous studies have identified potential risk factors for pulmonary carcinoid tumors and evaluated the effect of various treatments; however, the results were not entirely consistent. We conducted a population‐based study to further explore relevant prognostic issues. We extracted cases with pulmonary carcinoid tumors from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database. Cox proportional hazard regression was utilized to identify potential significant risk factors, which helped establish a nomogram for predicting long‐term survival. Survival analysis and a competing risk study were conducted to evaluate the value of different surgical approaches. There were 7057 cases included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that age, sex, tumor size, stage, histology, surgical type, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy were all significant prognostic factors. A nomogram with good accuracy for predicting 10‐year survival was formulated. Furthermore, patients who had undergone surgery had a significantly better survival than those who did not undergo surgery. There was no significant prognostic difference between lobectomy and sublobectomy stratified by tumor stage; however, lobectomy was associated with a significantly better survival in atypical tumors, especially those with regional disease. Our research identified possible risk factors in a large cohort and constructed a nomogram to visually predict 10‐year survival of pulmonary carcinoid tumors. We showed that lobectomy and sublobectomy should be considered as the mainstay of treatment, especially lobectomies for atypical tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytosterols have been demonstrated to be precursors of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) formed during biomass pyrolysis. Here, a novel Paenibacillus sp. was evaluated for its ability to degrade phytosterols in tobacco waste extract (TWE). The optimal conditions for cell growth and stigmasterol (a representative of phytosterols) degradation were 37 °C, pH 7.0, 1.0 g/L yeast extract, and 6.0 g/L glucose. Paenibacillus sp. could degrade stigmasterol under high concentrations of glucose (up to 130 g/L) and tolerate wide pH (5.0-9.0) and temperature (25-42 °C) ranges. The new strain could degrade stigmasterol completely into CO2 and H2O, and no intermediate steroids were detected during the degradation process. Phytosterol degradation in TWE was demonstrated by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Under optimal conditions (37 °C, pH 7.0, with the exponential-phase cells), the total degradation ratio of phytosterols reached 38.5% in TWE, including 45.2% of stigmasterol, 37.4% of β-sitosterol, 27.3% of campesterol, and 28.7% of cholesterol. These results showed that Paenibacillus sp. is a candidate for phytosterol degradation in TWE and other biomass and is potentially useful in reducing the PAHs generated from biomass pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A glycoside hydrolase from Penicillium oxalicum BL 3005 was purified to apparent homogeneity. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 90 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme was identified to be a new member of family-3 by peptide sequence. High transglycosylation activity was found in the hydrolytic reaction of cellobiose. In the reaction, salidroside (4-hydroxyphenethyl O-β- d-glucopyranoside) was formed by adding tyrosol as the glycosyl acceptor. The optimum reaction pH and temperature were pH 6.5 and 55 °C, respectively. The maximum yield of salidroside was almost 20 g/L. These results indicated that the β-glucosidase of P. oxalicum can be considered as a very promising catalyst for the synthesis of salidroside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating symbiotic relationships between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plants contributes to a better understanding of their reciprocally dependent coexistence and community assembly. However, the main drivers of plant and AMF community assembly remain unclear. In this study, we examined AMF communities from 166 root samples of 17 woody plant species from 10 quadrats in a Chinese subtropical forest using 454 pyrosequencing of 18S rRNA gene to describe symbiotic AMF–plant association. Our results show the woody plant–AMF networks to be highly interconnected and nested, but in antimodular and antispecialized manners. The nonrandom pattern in the woody plant–AMF network was explained by plant and AMF phylogenies, with a tendency for a stronger phylogenetic signal by plant than AMF phylogeny. This study suggests that the phylogenetic niche conservatism in woody plants and their AMF symbionts could contribute to interdependent AMF and plant community assembly in this subtropical forest ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating interactions of above-ground and below-ground communities in different habitat types is essential for understanding biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem functioning., Using 454 pyrosequencing of ITS2 sequences we examined the relationship between subtropical mountain forest soil fungal communities, abiotic conditions, and plant communities using correlation and partial models., Ridge and valley habitats with differing fungal communities were delineated. Total, saprotrophic and pathogenic fungal richness were significantly correlated with plant species richness and/or soil nutrients and moisture in the ridge habitat, but with habitat convexity or basal area of Castanopsis eyrei in the valley habitat. Ectomycorrhizal ( EM) fungal richness was significantly correlated with basal area of C. eyrei and total EM plants in the ridge and valley habitats, respectively. Total, saprotrophic, pathogenic and EM fungal compositions were significantly correlated with plant species composition and geographic distance in the ridge habitat, but with various combinations of plant species composition, plant species richness, soil C : N ratio and pH or no variables in the valley habitat., Our findings suggest that mechanisms influencing soil fungal diversity and community composition differ between ridge and valley habitats, and relationships between fungal and woody plant assemblages depend on habitat types in the subtropical forest ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients who suffer from migraines often report impaired quality of life. Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is a novel treatment modality for migraines, although few systematic reviews have evaluated whether this therapy is efficacious. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of ONS for treating migraine through a literature review. We performed a literature search to identify studies that investigated ONS for migraine treatment. Evidence levels of these studies were assessed by recommendations set by the University of Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Five randomized controlled trials, 4 retrospective studies, and one prospective study met the inclusion criteria. Results from the retrospective studies and case series indicated that ONS significantly reduced the pain intensity and the number of days with headache in patients with migraine. However, the evidence of ONS efficacy established by randomized controlled trials was limited. Improvement in the migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) score was more dramatic than improvement in the SF-36 score at follow-up. The mean complication incidence of ONS was 66% for the reviewed studies. Future clinical studies should optimize and standardize the ONS intervention process and identify the relationship among the surgical process, efficacy, and complications resulting from the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

isolation and structure elucidation of erinacerin M (I), erinacerin N-P (II), erinacerin Q (III), erinacerin R (IV), erinacerin S (V), and erinacerin T (VI) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose The molecular identity of calcium-activated chloride channels ( Ca CCs) in vascular endothelial cells remains unknown. This study sought to identify whether anoctamin-1 ( Ano1, also known as TMEM16 A) functions as a CaCC and whether hypoxia alters the biophysical properties of Ano1 in mouse cardiac vascular endothelial cells ( CVECs). Experimental Approach Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR, confocal imaging analysis and patch-clamp analysis combined with pharmacological approaches were used to determine whether Ano1 was expressed and functioned as CaCC in CVECs. Key Results Ano1 was expressed in CVECs. The biophysical properties of the current generated in the CVECs, including the Ca2+ and voltage dependence, outward rectification, anion selectivity and the pharmacological profile, are similar to those described for Ca CCs. The density of ICl( Ca) detected in CVECs was significantly inhibited by T16 Ainh- A01, an Ano1 inhibitor, and a pore-targeting, specific anti- Ano1 antibody, and was markedly decreased in Ano1 gene knockdown CVECs. The density of ICl( Ca) was significantly potentiated in CVECs exposed to hypoxia, and this hypoxia-induced increase in the density of ICl( Ca) was inhibited by T16 Ainh- A01 or anti- Ano1 antibody. Hypoxia also increased the current density of ICl( Ca) in Ano1 gene knockdown CVECs. Conclusions and Implications Ano1 formed CaCC in CVECs of neonatal mice. Hypoxia enhances Ano1-mediated ICl( Ca) density via increasing its expression, altering the ratio of its splicing variants, sensitivity to membrane voltage and to Ca2+. Ano1 may play a role in the pathophysiological processes during ischaemia in heart, and therefore, Ano1 might be a potential therapeutic target to prevent ischaemic damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the relationships between the biodiversity of groups of interacting organisms yields insight into ecosystem stability and function (Hooper et al. ; Wardle ). We demonstrated positive relationships between host plant richness and ectomycorrhizal ( EM) fungal diversity both in a field study in subtropical China (Gutianshan) and in a meta-analysis of temperate and tropical studies (Gao et al. ). However, based on re-evaluation of our data sets, Tedersoo et al. () argue that the observed positive correlation between EM fungal richness and EM plant richness at Gutianshan and also in our metastudies was based mainly from (i) a sampling design with inconsistent species pool and (ii) poor data compilation for the meta-analysis. Accordingly, we checked our data sets and repeated the analysis performed by Tedersoo et al. (). In contrast to Tedersoo et al. (), our re-analysis still confirms a positive effect of plant richness on EM fungal diversity in Gutianshan, temperate and tropical ecosystems, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High photovoltaic efficiency is a key index in the application of silicon (Si) solar cells. In this study, a composite of a photovoltaic Si p-n junction solar cell and a magnetostrictive Tb xDy1− xFe2 alloy was fabricated. By utilizing the magnetostrictive strain to modulate the energy bandgap of Si, the open-circuit voltage and the maximum photovoltaic output power of the Si p-n junction solar cell could be enhanced by ∼12% and 9.1% under a dc magnetic field of ∼250 mT, respectively. The significantly enhanced photovoltaic performance and the simple fabrication process make the Si-p-n/Tb xDy1− xFe2 composite a promising material for high-efficiency solar cell devices. The structure of the proposed Si-p-n/Tb xDy1− xFe2 laminated composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial diversity is generally far higher than plant diversity, but the relationship between microbial diversity and plant diversity remains enigmatic. To shed light on this problem, we examined the diversity of a key guild of root-associated microbes, that is, ectomycorrhizal ( EM) fungi along a plant diversity gradient in a Chinese subtropical forest. The results indicated that EM fungal diversity was positively correlated with host plant diversity. Furthermore, this relationship was best predicted by host genus-level diversity, rather than species-level diversity or family-level diversity. The generality of this finding was extended beyond our study system through the analyses of 100 additional studies of EM fungal communities from tropical and temperate forests. Here as well, EM fungal lineage composition was significantly affected by EM plant diversity levels, and some EM fungal lineages were co-associated with some host plant genera. These results suggest a general diversity maintenance mechanism for host-specific microbes based on higher order host plant phylogenetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various mechanistic theories of community assembly have been proposed ranging from niche-based theory to neutral theory. Analyses of beta diversity in a phylogenetic context could provide an excellent opportunity for testing many of these hypotheses. We analyzed the patterns of phylogenetic beta diversity in tropical tree communities in Panama to test several community assembly hypotheses. In particular, the degree to which the phylogenetic dissimilarity between communities can be explained by geographical or environmental distance can yield support for stochastic or deterministic assembly processes, respectively. Therefore, we examined: (i) the existence of distance decay of phylogenetic similarity among communities and its degree of departure from that expected under a null model; and (ii) the relative importance of geographical versus environmental distance in predicting the phylogenetic dissimilarity of communities. We found evidence that the similarity in the phylogenetic composition of communities decayed with geographical distance and environmental gradients. Null model evidence showed that beta diversity in the study system was phylogenetically non-random. Our results highlighted not only the role of local ecological mechanisms, including environmental filtering and competitive exclusion, but also biogeographical processes such as speciation, dispersal limitation, and niche evolution in structuring phylogenetic turnover. These results also highlight the importance of niche conservatism in structuring species diversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering strategies based on "nanostructuring" and "active/inactive composites" are commonly used separately to improve the performance of alkali‐ion battery electrodes. Here, these two strategies are merged to further enhance the performance of alloy‐type alkali‐ion battery anodes. Specifically, macroporous antimony (Sb)/magnesium fluoride (MgF2) active/inactive composite material is used as a high‐performance Na‐ion battery anode. The porous Sb phase with pore size in the sub‐micrometer range acts as the electrochemically active component and the electrochemically inactive dense MgF2 phase acts as a mechanical buffer. Na‐ion battery anodes made of porous Sb/MgF2 active/inactive composites are reversibly sodiated for over 300 cycles, delivering a capacity of ≈551 mAh g−1 after 300 cycles at a C‐rate of C/2. This performance is remarkable because the porous Sb/MgF2 composite is not made of mesoporous structures. Furthermore, the cycling longevity of this porous Sb/MgF2 composite outperforms the common nanostructured Sb‐based Na‐ion battery anode materials. This good performance is attributed to the "porous active/inactive" configuration, where the dense inactive mechanical buffer phase absorbs part of the phase transformation‐induced stresses, while porosity in the active phase helps to accommodate the phase transformation induced volume expansions and electrolyte transfer into the bulk of this composite. This work reports on a high‐performance Na‐ion battery anode consisting of macroporous Sb/MgF2 active/inactive composites in which dense MgF2 (blue in figure) acts as an electrochemically inert mechanical buffer that absorbs sodiation‐induced volume expansions in the macroporous Sb (red in figure), the active phase for Na storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor which discusses the effect of glucagon-like peptide produced intravitreally on retinal ganglion cell count in rats with optic nerve crush is presented.

Purpose To examine the effect of intraocularly produced glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) on the survival rate of retinal ganglion cells in an optic nerve crush model. Methods Forty‐one Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into a study group (21 animals) in which 4 beads with 3000 genetically modified cells to produce GLP‐1 were intravitreally implanted into the right eye; a saline control group (n=12) with intravitreal saline injection; and a GLP‐1 negative bead control group (n=8) in which 4 beads with 3000 cells without GLP‐1 production were intravitreally implanted. The right optic nerves of all animals were crushed in a standardized manner. After labeling the retinal ganglion cells by injecting 3% fluorogold into the superior colliculus, the animals were sacrificed, and the ganglion cells were counted on retinal flat mounts. Results The retinal ganglion cell density of the right eyes was significantly higher in the study group (2030±470 cells/mm2) than in the GLP‐1 bead negative control group (1390±367 cells/mm2;P=0.001) and than in the saline control group (1734±424 cells/mm2;P=0.07). Correspondingly, the survival rate (ratio of retinal ganglion cell density of right eye / left eye) was significantly higher in the study group (71±19%) than in the GLP‐1 bead negative control group (49±14%; P=0.003) and than in the saline control group (57±16%;P=0.03). Conclusion Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 produced by intravitreally implanted cell beads was associated with a higher survival rate of retinal ganglion cells after an experimental optic nerve crush in rats. Commercial interest [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]