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Objective: fetal circulatory characteristics differ from those after birth; the right ventricle assumes more than 60% of the workload in the systemic circulation before birth. The right ventricle automated myocardial performance index (AM+MPI) is a simple, time-efficient, and stable assessment method used to evaluate overall cardiac function. This study aimed to apply the right ventricle AM+MPI technique to explore its role in normal mid-to-late pregnancy fetal cardiac function and compare the AM+MPI differences between diabetic and normal fetuses. Methods: A total of 150 pregnant women who visited the obstetric outpatient department at Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, from January 2022 to June 2022 were selected. We excluded 42 patients with comorbid conditions other than diabetes, fetal anomalies, and unclear last menstrual periods, resulting in 85 healthy pregnant patients and 17 diabetic pregnant patients. Using a Samsung WS80A color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic device, we measured the fetal right ventricle AM+MPI, isovolumic contraction time (ICT), isovolumic relaxation time (IRT), and ejection time (ET) in RMPI mode. We performed variability and correlation analyses within the normal group and compared these parameters with those of the diabetic group. Results: In the healthy pregnant group, there was no significant variability in the fetal MPI, ET, or ICT values among the groups (p > 0.05). However, the IRT was positively correlated with gestational age (p < 0.05), with a linear fit formula of IRT = 29.78 + 0.49 × gestational age (DW value 1.87; F = 32.25, p < 0.05), indicating that the IRT increases with gestational age. The right ventricle MPI in the diabetic group was significantly greater than that in the normal group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The right ventricle AM+MPI technique is simple, time-efficient, and stable and can objectively assess fetal right ventricle function, providing a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis of intrauterine cardiac function abnormalities. Additionally, there are significant differences in the right ventricle MPI between diabetic and normal fetuses, providing evidence for predicting fetal developmental issues and postnatal complications. The right ventricle AM+MPI holds promise as a new method for prenatal evaluation of fetal right heart function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes and their elicitors can all be utilized in regulating crop biochemical qualities. However, living endophytes and their derived elicitors are always applied separately; little is known about the similarities and differences of their effects. To increase the efficiency of this system when applied in practice, the present work profiled simultaneously the metabolomes in grape cells exposed to endophytic fungi (EF) and their corresponding fungal extracts (CFE). As expected, grape cells exposed separately to different fungi, or to different fungi derived extracts, each exhibited different modifications of metabolite patterns. The metabolic profiles of certain EF- and CFE-exposed grape cells were also differently influenced to certain degrees, owing to the presence of differentially responding metabolites (DRMs). However, the detected majority proportions of coordinately responding metabolites (CRMs) in both the EF- and the CFE-exposed grape cells, as well as the significantly influenced metabolites (SIMs) which are specific to certain fungal strains, clearly indicate coordinative changes in metabolites in grape cells exposed to EF and CFEs. The coordinative changes in metabolites in EF- and CFE-treated grape cells appeared to be fungal strain-dependent. Notably, several of those fungal strain-specific CRMs and DRMs are metabolites and belong to amino acids, lipids, organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and others, which are major contributors to the biochemistry and sensory qualities of grapes and wines. This research clarifies the detailed responses of metabolites in grape cells exposed to EF and CFEs. It also demonstrates how endophytes can be selectively used in the form of extracts to produce functions as CRMs of the living fungus with increased eco-safety, or separately applied to the living microbes or elicitors to emphasize those effects related to their specifically initiated SIMs and DRMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a maternally inherited trait that inhibits plants from producing or releasing viable pollen. CMS is caused by mitochondrial–nuclear interaction, and can be rescued by introducing functional nuclear restorer-of-fertility (Rf) gene. The Tetep-CMS/Rf lines were developed through successive inter-subspecific backcrosses between indica and japonica rice accessions. Phenotypic characterization of Tetep-CMS lines revealed abnormal anther dehiscence and the inability to release, while possessing functional pollen. Transverse sections of developing anthers collected from CMS plants showed connective tissue deformities and aberrant dehydration of endothecium and epidermis. Fine mapping of Rf-Tetep using a series of segregating populations, delimited the candidate region to an approximately 109 kb genomic interval between M2099 and FM07 flanking markers. Nanopore long-read sequencing and genome assembly, proceeded by gene prediction and annotation revealed 11 open reading frames (ORFs) within the candidate region, and suggest ORF6 annotated as pentatricopeptide repeat motif containing gene 1 (PPR1), as a possible candidate gene responsible for fertility restoration. This study suggests that tissue-specific abnormalities in anthers are responsible for indehiscence-based sterility, and propose that the functional Rf gene is derived from allelic variation between inter-subspecies in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study an optimal dividend problem for an insurer who simultaneously controls investment weights in a financial market, liability ratio in the insurance business, and dividend payout rate. The insurer seeks an optimal strategy to maximize her expected utility of dividend payments over an infinite horizon. By applying a perturbation approach, we obtain the optimal strategy and the value function in closed form for log and power utility. We conduct an economic analysis to investigate the impact of various model parameters and risk aversion on the insurer's optimal strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we aim to study optimal decisions on consumption, investment and purchasing life insurance of a household with two consecutive generations, say parents and children. A continuous-time model featuring the impacts of labor income uncertainty and model uncertainty on those decisions is considered. Specifically, as in the economic literature about the labor income process, we consider the situation where the income growth rate is unobservable. The model takes account of the decision makings of both the parents and the children who are supposed to be ambiguity-averse expected utility maximizers. An attention is given to exploring the impacts of life insurance purchasing on the decision makings. The robustness approach to economic decision makings, which is implemented in the continuous-time model through a Girsanov's measure change for a Brownian motion, is applied to capture ambiguity aversion. Employing the known mathematical techniques in stochastic optimal control, say the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman dynamic programing principle, closed-form solutions are obtained. Numerical studies are provided to illustrate the economic implications of the solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (RIRI) is the main cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients. We investigated the role of miR-182 after renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rat to characterize the microRNA (miRNA) network activated during development and recovery from RIRI. Methods and Results: 12 h after lethal (45 min) renal ischemia, AKI was verified by renal histology (tubular necrosis and regeneration), blood urea nitrogen level, and renal mRNA expression in Wistar rats. We found that miR-182 markedly increased after renal I/R. In cell hypoxia/reoxygenation model, we found similar upregulation of miR-182. In function gain/loss assay, we confirmed an impaired effect of miR-182 and identified Forkhead box O3 (FoxO3) as a direct downstream target of it. By using miR-182 antagomir, the I/R injury was markedly ameliorated. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that miR-182 promotes cell apoptosis and I/R injury through directly binding to FoxO3. The present study will provide potential therapeutic targets for renal I/R-induced AKI, and open a new avenue for AKI treatment by manipulating miRNAs levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the optimal dividend for a multi-line insurance group, in which each subsidiary runs a product line and is exposed to some external credit risk. The default contagion is considered such that one default event may increase the default probabilities of all surviving subsidiaries. The total dividend problem for the insurance group is investigated and we find that the optimal dividend strategy is still of the barrier type. Furthermore, we show that the optimal barrier of each subsidiary is modulated by the default state. That is, how many and which subsidiaries have defaulted will determine the dividend threshold of each surviving subsidiary. These conclusions are based on the analysis of the associated recursive system of Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman variational inequalities (HJBVIs). The existence of the classical solution is established and the verification theorem is proved. In the case of two subsidiaries, the value function and optimal barriers are given in analytical forms, allowing us to conclude that the optimal barrier of one subsidiary decreases if the other subsidiary defaults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the open-loop equilibrium strategy for mean-variance portfolio selection problem under the assumption that the risk tolerance of the investor is a non-negative and non-linear function of his/her wealth. We derive a sufficient and necessary condition for the existence and uniqueness of an open-loop equilibrium strategy via a coupled forward-backward stochastic differential equation. To the best of our knowledge, such an equation appears for the first time in the literature. The well-posedness of this equation is established by merely imposing Lipschitz condition on the risk tolerance. We also present two examples with non-monotone risk tolerances, where some interesting findings are revealed and the equilibrium strategies are obtained explicitly and numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): The current study was aimed to investigate the effect of morpholin-4-ium 4 methoxyphenyl (morpholino) phosphinodithioate (GYY4137) on ipsilateral epididymis injury in a rat model of experimental varicocele (VC). Materials and Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to sham, sham plus GYY4137, VC and VC plus GYY4137 groups. Sperm quality parameters, including sperm count, motility and viability were evaluated after 4 weeks. Histological changes were measured by hematoxylin and eosin staining between the groups. The oxidative stress levels were estimated by determining epididymal superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The apoptosis status and the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3'-OH kinase (PI3K)/Akt were analyzed by immunohistochemical analysis, western blot and RT-qPCR. Results: VC resulted in the decrease of sperm parameters, significant histological damage and higher levels of oxidative stress and apoptosis. Compared to the VC group, GYY4137 markedly ameliorated these observed changes. In addition, treatment with GYY4137 obviously reduced the levels of caspase-3 and Bax and increased the levels of the phosphorylation of PI3K p85 and Akt. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that GYY4137 may alleviate the sperm damage and epididymis injury in experimentally VC-induced rats by activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a numerical method to find optimal ergodic (long‐run average) dividend strategies in a regime‐switching model. The surplus process is modelled by a regime‐switching process subject to liability constraints. The regime‐switching process is modelled by a finite‐time continuous‐time Markov chain. Using the dynamic programming principle, the optimal long‐term average dividend payment is a solution to the coupled system of Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations. Under suitable conditions, the optimal value of the long‐term average dividend payment can be determined by using an invariant measure. However, due to the regime switching, getting the invariant measure is very difficult. The objective is to design a numerical algorithm to approximate the optimal ergodic dividend payment strategy. By using the Markov chain approximation techniques, the authors construct a discrete‐time controlled Markov chain for the approximation, and prove the convergence of the approximating sequences. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the optimal quota-share reinsurance strategies that can bring mutual benefit to both an insurer and a reinsurer. We consider five different optimality criteria that reflect the interest of both parties. The mutual beneficiary is also reflected in utility improvement constraints, which guarantee that both the insurer and the reinsurer will end up with higher expected utility of wealth with reinsurance agreements. Under each optimality criterion, explicit expressions of optimal quota-share retention and the corresponding objective function are obtained. Results indicate that the reinsurer’s safety loading plays a key role in determining the optimal retained proportion. In the numerical example, we demonstrate the expected utility increment after underwriting optimal constrained quota-share reinsurance that minimizes the total VaR/TVaR of the two parties. Comparing with the optimal strategies without utility constraint, the total expected utility will increase significantly after entering into an optimal quota-share reinsurance contact with utility improvement constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the optimal debt ratio and dividend strategy for an insurer under the model with the coefficients depending on the state of the economy. The object is to maximize the total expected discounted utility of dividend payment of the insurer. The optimal strategy and value function are characterized by the classical solution of the associated Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation which can be reduced to a system of nonlinear PDEs. Considering logarithmic and power utility, we show the existence of classical solution to the system by the ordered upper-lower solution method, and verify that the solution is indeed the value function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Accumulating evidences has indicated that aberrant expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is tightly associated with the progression of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Previous studies have reported that lncRNA MALAT1 regulates cell apoptosis and proliferation in myocardial and cerebral IRI. However, the underlying mechanism of MALAT1 in testicular IRI has not been elucidated. Methods: The levels of MALAT1, some related proteins and apoptosis in the testicular tissues were determined by quantitative real-time PCR, HE staining, immunohistochemistry, western blot and TUNEL assays. Relative expression of MALAT1, miR-214 and related proteins in cells were measured by western blot and quantitative real-time PCR. Cell viability and apoptosis were examined using MTT assay and flow cytometry. Results: In the present study, we found that MALAT1 was up-regulated in animal samples and GC-1 cells. The expression level of MALAT1 was positively related to cell apoptosis and negatively correlated with cell proliferation as testicular IRI progressed. In gain and loss of function assays, we confirmed that MALAT1 promotes cell apoptosis and suppresses cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that MALAT1 negatively regulates expression of miR-214 and promotes TRPV4 expression at the post-transcriptional level. Consequently, we investigated the correlation between MALAT1 and miR-214 and identified miR-214 as a direct target of MALAT1. In addition, we found that TRPV4 acted as a target of miR-214. Over-expression of miR-214 efficiently abrogated the up-regulation of TRPV4 induced by MALAT1, suggesting that MALAT1 positively regulates the expression of TRPV4 by sponging miR-214. Conclusion: In sum, our study indicated that the lncRNA MALAT1 promotes cell apoptosis and suppresses cell proliferation in testicular IRI via miR-214 and TRPV4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the valuation of dynamic fund protections (DFPs) under a jump diffusion model, where the jump size follows a hyperexponential distribution. The closed-form solution of the value of DFP is obtained in terms of Laplace transform. A numerical example is provided to show that the explicit solution is easy to implement by using the Gaver–Stehfest algorithm. Effects of key parameters are analyzed at last. The valuation method developed in this work can be used in pricing various variable annuities and path-dependent financial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether morpholin-4-ium 4 methoxyphenyl (morpholino) phosphonodithioate (GYY4137) exhibits a protective effect on ipsilateral testicular injury in experimentally varicocele (VC)-induced rats. A total of 48 rats were randomly divided into the following 6 groups (n=8 each): Group A (control group); group B (sham group); group C (VC group); group D (VC group administered 5 mg/kg/day GYY4137); group E (VC group administered 10 mg/kg/day GYY4137) and group F (VC group administered 20 mg/kg/day GYY4137). Indicators of oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation were measured to evaluate the effect of GYY4137 on ipsilateral testicular injury. Compared with groups A and B, rats in group C exhibited severe histological changes and an increase in oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation. By contrast, amelioration of testicular damage was evident in the group D, E and F that were treated with GYY4137. These results demonstrate that GYY4137 may be a promising therapy to treat VC as it alleviates oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation in experimentally VC-induced rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, the hypothesis that testicular varicocelectomy improves spermatogenesis and attenuates apoptosis via the induction of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in a rat model of varicocele was investigated. Adult male Wistar rats (n=75) were randomly divided into 5 groups of 15 each: Control, sham, varicocele, varicocelectomy, and varicocelectomy plus Quercetin. A total of 6 weeks after the varicocelectomy, the left testis of all rats was removed for subsequent examination. Histological changes were compared between the groups. The expression of Hsp70 and apoptosis‑associated indicators were evaluated based on immunohistochemical, western blot and mRNA expression analyses. Compared with the varicocele group, the varicocelectomy group exhibited a markedly reduced Bcl‑2‑associated X protein/B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bax/Bcl‑2) ratio, and had a decreased expression of caspase‑9, cytochrome c (cyt c) and caspase‑3 through the intrinsic signal transduction pathways. Quercetin treatment inhibited the protective effects of varicocelectomy. The expression of Hsp70 was increased in the varicocele group which was further elevated by the varicocelectomy. These results indicated that varicocelectomy can reduce the Bax/Bcl‑2 ratio, and decrease the levels of caspase‑9, cyt c and caspase‑3 via the mitochondrial signal transduction pathway. Such protective effects on left testis spermatogenesis and against apoptosis may be due to the induction of Hsp70. The findings of the present study suggested that varicocelectomy has a clear advantage in protecting testicular function and ameliorating spermatogenic cells apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on an optimal hedging problem of the vulnerable European contingent claims. The underlying asset of the vulnerable European contingent claims is assumed to be nontradable. The interest rate, the appreciation rate and the volatility of risky assets are modulated by a finite-state continuous-time Markov chain. By using the local risk minimization method, we obtain an explicit closed-form solution for the optimal hedging strategies of the vulnerable European contingent claims. Further, we consider a problem of hedging for a vulnerable European call option. Optimal hedging strategies are obtained. Finally, a numerical example for the optimal hedging strategies of the vulnerable European call option in a two-regime case is provided to illustrate the sensitivities of the hedging strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper deals with the valuation of dynamic fund protections in a Markov regime-switching environment. The volatility switches over time subject to a continuous-time Markov chain. Using a regime-switching diffusion process to describe the primary mutual fund value, explicit solutions of the Laplace transforms of the value of the dynamic fund protection are obtained through martingale technique. Moreover, we analyze the value of dynamic fund protections under a generalized regime-switching jump diffusion model. Due to the complexity of Markov regime-switching, the jump process involved, and the nonlinearity, closed-form formulas for dynamic fund protection prices are virtually impossible to obtain. We design a numerical algorithm according to the Markov chain approximation techniques and obtain numerical results of the value of dynamic fund protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Invasion and metastasis are the main causes of unfavourable prognosis in patients diagnosed with bladder cancer. The efficacy of immunotherapy in bladder cancer remains suboptimal due to the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. The novel protein family with sequence similarity 171B (FAM171B) has been identified, but its precise role and mechanism in bladder cancer remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we conducted an analysis to investigate the associations between FAM171B expression and the prognosis and clinicopathological stage of bladder cancer. To this end, we utilized RNA sequencing data from the TCGA and GEO databases, as well as tumor tissue specimens obtained from our clinical centre. RNA sequencing analysis allowed us to examine the biological function of FAM171B at the transcriptional level in bladder cancer cells. Additionally, we used immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to identify the protein that interacts with FAM171B in bladder cancer cells. The effects of FAM171B on modulating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and vimentin-mediated tumor progression, as well as the underlying mechanisms, were clarified by phalloidin staining, immunofluorescence staining, ELISA, RNA immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry and a bladder cancer graft model. Results: FAM171B expression exhibits strong positive correlation with poor survival outcomes and advanced clinicopathological stages in patients with bladder cancer. FAM171B significantly promoted bladder cancer growth and metastasis, accompanied by TAM accumulation in the microenvironment, in vivo and in vitro. Through studies of the molecular mechanism, we found that FAM171B contributes to tumor progression by stabilizing vimentin in the cytoplasm. Additionally, our research revealed that FAM171B enhances the splicing of CCL2 mRNA by interacting with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (HNRNPU), ultimately leading to increased recruitment and M2 polarization of TAMs. Conclusions: In this study, we identified FAM171B as a potent factor that promotes the progression of bladder cancer. These findings establish a solid theoretical foundation for considering FAM171B as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study closed-loop equilibrium strategies for mean–variance portfolio selection problems in a hidden Markov model with dynamic attention behavior. In addition to the investment strategy, the investor's attention to news is introduced as a control of the accuracy of the news signal process. The objective is to find equilibrium strategies by numerically solving an extended HJB equation by using Markov chain approximation method. An iterative algorithm is constructed and its convergence is established. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper derives the optimal debt ratio and consumption strategies for an economy during the financial crisis. Taking into account the impact of labor market condition during the financial crisis, the production rate function is stochastic and affected by the government fiscal policy and unanticipated shocks. The objective is to maximize the total expected discounted utility of consumption in the infinite time horizon. Using dynamic programming principle, the value function is a solution of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation. The subsolution-supersolution method is used to verify the existence of classical solutions of the HJB equation. The explicit solution of the value function is derived, and the corresponding optimal debt ratio and consumption strategies are obtained. An example is provided to illustrate the methodologies and some interesting economic insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cys-MoS 2 was introduced into Pebax to prepare MMMs for CO 2 /N 2 separation. • The vacancies, defects and amine groups synergically improved CO 2 permeation properties of MMMs. • MMMs exhibited a CO 2 permeability of 297 Barrer with a CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 120. The incorporation of lamellar materials into polymer matrix can improve the gas separation performance of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), which have great potential in chemical separation process. However, few intrinsic selectivity sites on MoS 2 sheets suppress further employment in the membrane separation. In this work, the vacancies and defects-containing MoS 2 sheets were prepared by high temperature oxidation and hydrothermal reaction in NaOH solution, and then L-cysteine-functionalized MoS 2 (Cys-MoS 2) was synthesized by a thiol-click chemistry reaction between S vacancies and thiol groups as confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N 2 absorption. After blending with polyether-block-amide (Pebax), the as-prepared MMMs showed outstanding mechanical properties as a result of the homogeneous dispersion of Cys-MoS 2 and hydrogen bonding between two phases as evidenced by attenuated total reflectance-FTIR, scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The highest permeability of 297 Barrer accompanied with a CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 120 was obtained for MMMs loaded with 1.5 wt% Cys-MoS 2 , which were enhanced by 206.2 % and 124.7 % over the pristine Pebax membrane, respectively. Meanwhile, this value was superior to that of the previously reported Pebax-based MMMs, transcending 2019 upper bound. The enhanced gas separation performance is due to the improved CO 2 adsorption selectivity by the vacancies and defects of Cys-MoS 2 , while the amine groups carrier enhanced CO 2 reactivity selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Herein, we aimed at exploring the FAP expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) along with its clinical implication. Methods: Using computational tools analysis of different freely accessible gene databases, the expression pattern, clinical importance, co-expressed genes, and signaling pathways of FAP in ccRCC were thoroughly investigated. FAP expression was examined in clinical ccRCC specimens through qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out using flow cytometry, CCK-8, wound-healing and Transwell assays, as well as xenograft tumor model, respectively. Results: FAP levels were found to be significantly elevated in ccRCC based on bioinformatic data from public databases. Patients who exhibited higher expression levels of FAP had poorer prognoses, according to Kaplan–Meier analysis of survival data. In addition, diagnostic and prognostic value of FAP in ccRCC was figured out by ROC curve and prognostic nomogram model. In vitro study revealed that the over-expression FAP accelerated cell proliferation, migration as well as invasion, and suppressed cell apoptosis, but silencing of FAP had the opposite effect. FAP suppression reduced the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway's stimulation, whereas FAP up-regulation increased the stimulation of the pathway. Blocking the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway with the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 repressesed cancer-promoting effect of FAP. Additionally, we found that the downregulation of FAP was effective at slowing tumor progression in vivo. Conclusion: It is possible that FAP could be a reliable biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of ccRCC because of its role in the ccRCC progression via triggering the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gremlin-1 (GREM1) is a protein closely related to tumor growth, although its function in bladder cancer (BCa) is currently unknown. Our first objective was to study the GREM1 treatment potential in BCa. Methods: BCa tissue samples were collected for the detection of GREM1 expression using Western blot analysis and Immunofluorescence staining. Association of GREM1 expression with clinicopathology and prognosis as detected by TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database. The functional investigation was tested by qRT-PCR, western blot analysis, CCK-8, cell apoptosis, wound healing, and transwell assays. The interaction between GREM1 and the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was assessed by Western blot analysis. Results: GREM1 exhibited high expression in BCa tissues and was linked to poor prognosis. Stable knockdown of GREM1 significantly inhibited BCa cell (T24 and 5637) proliferation, apoptosis, migratory, invasive, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) abilities. GREM1 promotes the progression in BCa via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that the progression-promoting effect of GREM1 in BCa, providing a novel biomarker for BCa-targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on numerical methods for finding optimal dividend payment and investment policies to maximize the present value of the cumulative dividend payment until ruin; the surplus is modeled by a regime-switching jump diffusion process subject to both regular and singular controls. Using the dynamic programming principle, the optimal value function obeys a coupled system of nonlinear integro-differential quasi-variational inequalities. Since the closed-form solutions are virtually impossible to obtain, we use Markov chain approximation techniques to approximate the value function and optimal controls. Convergence of the approximation algorithms are proved. Examples are presented to illustrate the applicability of the numerical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on finding optimal dividend payment and capital injection policies to maximize the present value of the difference between the cumulative dividend payment and the possible capital injections with delays. Starting from the classical Cramér–Lundberg process, using the dynamic programming approach, the value function obeys a quasi-variational inequality. With delays in capital injections, the company will be exposed to the risk of financial ruin during the delay period. In addition, the optimal dividend payment and capital injection strategy should balance the expected cost of the possible capital injections and the time value of the delay period. In this paper, the closed-form solution of the value function and the corresponding optimal policies are obtained. Some limiting cases are also discussed. A numerical example is presented to illustrate properties of the solution. Some economic insights are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work focuses on numerical methods for finding optimal investment, dividend payment, and capital injection policies to maximize the present value of the difference between the cumulative dividend payment and the possible capital injections. The surplus is modeled by a regime-switching jump diffusion process subject to both regular and singular controls. Using the dynamic programming principle, the value function is a solution of the coupled system of nonlinear integro-differential quasi-variational inequalities. In this paper, the state constraint of the impulsive control gives rise to a capital injection region with free boundary, which makes the problem even more difficult to analyze. Together with the regular control and regime-switching, the closed-form solutions are virtually impossible to obtain. We use Markov chain approximation techniques to construct a discrete-time controlled Markov chain to approximate the value function and optimal controls. Convergence of the approximation algorithms is proved. Examples are presented to illustrate the applicability of the numerical methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper develops numerical methods for finding optimal dividend pay-out and reinsurance policies. A generalized singular control formulation of surplus and discounted payoff function is introduced, where the surplus is modeled by a regime-switching process subject to both regular and singular controls. To approximate the value function and optimal controls, Markov chain approximation techniques are used to construct a discrete-time controlled Markov chain. The proofs of the convergence of the approximation sequence to the surplus process and the value function are given. Examples of proportional and excess-of-loss reinsurance are presented to illustrate the applicability of numerical methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This work develops an approximation procedure to find optimal annuity-purchasing strategies for minimizing the probability of lifetime ruin. The wealth is modelled as a regime-switching diffusion modulated by a continuous-time Markov chain. Based on Markov chain approximation techniques, a discrete-time controlled Markov chain with two components is constructed. Under simple conditions, the convergence of the approximation sequence to the wealth process is obtained. The convergence of the approximation to the value function is also established. Several examples are provided to demonstrate the performance of the algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work develops numerical approximation methods for quantile hedging involving mortality components for contingent claims in incomplete markets, in which guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDBs) could not be perfectly hedged. A regime-switching jump-diffusion model is used to delineate the dynamic system and the hedging function for GMDBs, where the switching is represented by a continuous-time Markov chain. Using Markov chain approximation techniques, a discrete-time controlled Markov chain with two component is constructed. Under simple conditions, the convergence of the approximation to the value function is established. Examples of quantile hedging model for guaranteed minimum death benefits under linear jumps and general jumps are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) and nonylphenol (NP) are typical pollutants that are frequently detected in aquatic environments and can pose a risk to aquatic organisms. However, the responses of algae, the producers in aquatic ecosystems, to MP and NP co-exposure have not been extensively investigated. In this study, polystyrene (PS, 50 mg/L) was selected as a representative MP to evaluate its short-term effects on algae treated with NP (4 mg/L). The results showed that PS mitigated the toxicity of NP to algae after 96 h of exposure, as illustrated by the higher cell densities and pigment concentrations, as well as lower extracellular protein contents and better integrity of intracellular structures, in algae subjected to PS + NP treatment compared with those subjected to NP treatment. Moreover, the upregulated expression of genes involved in photosynthesis and downregulated expression of ribosomal genes as well as genes encoding ATPase and antioxidase, analyzed through RNA-sequencing analysis, further indicated the potential repair and defense mechanisms of PS in NP-treated algae. • No obvious growth inhibition was observed in algae exposed to PS. • PS mitigated the toxicity of NP to algae after 96 h of exposure. • Algae suffered less oxidative stress and structural damage in PS + NP than in NP. • There was gene expression difference in algae between NP alone and PS + NP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral organ number is crucial for successful seed setting and mature grain development. Although some genes and signaling pathways controlling floral organ number have been studied, the underlying mechanism is complicated and requires further investigation. In this study, a floral organ number mutant was generated by the ethyl methanesulfonate treatment of the Korean japonica rice cultivar Ilpum. In the floral organ number mutant, 37% of the spikelets showed an increase in the number of floral organs, especially stamens and pistils. Histological analysis revealed that the number of ovaries was determined by the number of stigmas; spikelets with two or three stigmas contained only one ovary, whereas spikelets with four stigmas possessed two ovaries. The floral organ number mutant showed pleiotropic phenotypes including multiple grains, early flowering, short plant height, and reduced tiller number compared with the wild-type. Genetic and MutMap analyses revealed that floral organ number is controlled by a single recessive gene located between the 8.0 and 20.0 Mb region on chromosome 8. Calculation of SNP-index confirmed Os08g0299000 as the candidate gene regulating floral organ number, which was designated as FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER7 (FON7). A single nucleotide polymorphism (G to A) was discovered at the intron splicing donor site of FON7, which caused the skipping of the entire sixth exon in the mutant, resulting in the deletion of 144 bp. Furthermore, the T-DNA-tagged line displayed the same floral organ number phenotype as the fon7 mutant. These results provide valuable insight into the mechanism of floral organ differentiation and formation in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In white spruce (Picea glauca) protoplasts, abscisic acid (ABA) and optically pure ABA analogs induced expression of a reporter gene under regulation of a wheat ABA‐responsive promoter. A fusion of a 650 bp promoter fragment from the wheat Em gene promoter and the Escherichia coli uidA sequence encoding β‐glucuronidase (GUS) was linked in the plasmid pBM 113Kp. Expression of the Em‐uidA fusion varied among 6 white spruce genotypes. Protoplasts from 4‐day‐old embryogenic suspension cultures gave the highest GUS activity relative 10 other stages in the 7‐day growth cycle of suspension cultures. Racemic ABA [R.S‐(±)‐ABA] induced a significant increase of protoplast GUS activity over background at a concentration of 1 × 10−5M, but maximum GUS activity was found at 1 × 10−3M, ABA stereochemistry had a significant effect on gene expression. The natural isomer of ABA [S‐(+)‐ABA] was an effective inducer at a concentration as low as 1 × 10−7M, but a concentration of greater than 1 × 10−4M was required for induction by [R‐(—)‐ABA]. Moreover, analogs with the same configuration at C‐l1 as that of natural ABA were more effective for induction of expression from the Em‐uidA. insert at 1 × 10−4M than were their enamiomers. Plasnud pBI511. carrying the chloramphenicol acety] transferase (CAT) gene driven by the constitutively expressed, tandemly duplicated cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, was co‐electroporated with pBM113Kp for monitoring Ihe influence of addition of exogenous ABA or ABA analogs on heterologous gene expression in protoplasts. CAT activity was not significantly affected by the presence or absence of ABA or the analogs used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetep-cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) was developed through successive backcrosses between subspecies indica and japonica in rice (Oryza sativa L.), which showed abnormal anther dehiscence phenotypes. Whole genome sequencing and de novo assembly of the mitochondrial genome identified the chimeric gene orf312, which possesses a transmembrane domain and overlaps with two mitotype-specific sequences (MSSs) that are unique to the Tetep-CMS line. The encoded peptide of orf312 was toxic to Escherichia coli and inhibited cell growth compared to the control under isopropyl-β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction. The peptide of orf312 contains COX11-interaction domains, which are thought to be a main functional domain for WA352c in the wild abortive (WA-CMS) line of rice. A QTL for Rf-Tetep (restorer-of-fertility gene(s) originating from Tetep) was identified on chromosome 10. In this region, several restorer genes, Rf1a, Rf1b, and Rf4, have previously been reported. Collectively, the interactions of orf312, a candidate gene for Tetep-CMS, and Rf-Tetep, a restorer QTL, confer male sterility and fertility restoration, respectively, which enables a hybrid rice breeding system. Further studies on orf312 and isolation of Rf-Tetep will help to identify the underlying molecular mechanism of mitochondrial ORFs with the COX11-interaction domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic carcinoma (PC) is a rapidly progressive, fatal malignant tumor with the poorest prognosis among all major carcinoma types. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) have been indicated to be key post-transcriptional regulatory factors, which are involved in cancer development. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of miR-23a on PC cell proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis. The expression of miR-23a was detected in a normal pancreatic ductal epithelial cell line and three PC cell lines, and miR-23a inhibitor or mimics were transfected into the Panc-1 and MiaPaCa2 PC cells. The association between miR-23a and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI)-2 was examined using a luciferase reporter assay. MTT and flow cytometry assays were used to assess cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Furthermore, wound-healing, Transwell and Matrigel assays were used to evaluate cell migration and invasion abilities, and the protein expression level of TFPI-2 was determined using western blot analysis. The results of the present study revealed that miR-23a was upregulated in PC cells. Furthermore, TFPI-2 was identified as a downstream target of miR-23a, and TFPI-2 expression was found to be increased following miR-23a knockdown. In addition, functional assays revealed that downregulation of miR-23a decreased PC cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness and promoted cell apoptosis, while miR-23a overexpression exerted the opposite effects. Furthermore, TFPI-2 knockdown rescued the biological effects on PC cells, which were induced by miR-23a knockdown. The results of the present study indicated that miR-23a negatively modulated TFPI-2 expression in vitro and enhanced the malignant phenotypes of PC cells. Therefore, miR-23a may be a potential marker and/or target for the diagnosis and treatment of PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) incurs severe quality degradation and yield loss from powdery mildew, a major fungal disease caused by Erysiphe necator. ENHANCED DISEASE RESISTANCE1 (EDR1), a Raf-like mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase, negatively regulates defense responses against powdery mildew in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). However, little is known about the role of the putatively orthologous EDR1 gene in grapevine. In this study, we obtained grapevine VviEDR1-edited lines using CRISPR/Cas9. Plantlets containing homozygous and bi-allelic indels in VviEDR1 developed leaf lesions shortly after transplanting into the soil and died at the seedling stage. Transgenic plants expressing wild-type VviEDR1 and mutant Vviedr1 alleles as chimera (designated as VviEDR1-chi) developed normally and displayed enhanced resistance to powdery mildew. Interestingly, VviEDR1-chi plants maintained a spatiotemporally distinctive pattern of VviEDR1 mutagenesis: while almost no mutations were detected from terminal buds, ensuring normal function of the apical meristem, mutations occurred in young leaves and increased as leaves matured, resulting in resistance to powdery mildew. Further analysis showed that the resistance observed in VviEDR1-chi plants was associated with callose deposition, increased production of salicylic acid and ethylene, H2O2 production and accumulation, and host cell death. Surprisingly, no growth penalty was observed with VviEDR1-chi plants. Hence, this study demonstrated a role of VviEDR1 in the negative regulation of resistance to powdery mildew in grapevine and provided an avenue for engineering powdery mildew resistance in grapevine. ENHANCED DISEASE RESISTANCE1 negatively regulates powdery mildew resistance in grapevine, and chimeric edited lines improve resistance without growth penalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Large-scale three-dimensional physical similarity model experiment is performed. • Real-time monitoring of stress and deformation is performed during mining. • Mining-induced deformation and fracture field characteristics are studied. • Numerical simulation methods are used to verify the reliability of physical model tests. Underground mining engineering causes complex changes in the three-dimensional stress near the working face of a mine, resulting in deformation and failure of the roof and floor rocks, as well as ground subsidence. To study the stress, deformation, and fracture field characteristics of the roof and floor strata due to mining, an indoor large-scale three-dimensional physical similarity model was developed. A novel method was used to simulate the mining process of coal seams. The results show that coal seam mining disrupted the original stress balance; consequently, a bearing pressure was generated in front of the working face, and a significant pressure relief state appeared in a particular area. The collapsed rock blocks of the overburden strata filled the goaf and played a supporting role, causing the overburden stress to increases again to a value close to the original rock stress. After complete mining, the overburden strata subsided, and the floor strata bulged. With an increasing vertical distance from the working face, the deformation of the rock formation gradually decreased. Evident fractured fields were formed in the surrounding rock of the goaf. In the horizontal section of the overburden rock layer, the cracks were distributed in a "rounded rectangular" shape. As the distance from the coal seam increased, the "rounded rectangular" boundary became smoother; the coverage area decreased; and the degree of crack opening and development in the plane decreased. The fractal dimensions of fractures with different overburden heights and different strike positions are calculated using the fractal geometry theory. We found that as the distance from the excavation face increased, the fractal dimensions of the fractures gradually became stable. In addition, numerical simulation methods were used to verify the correctness of the physical similarity model experiments. The research results can provide important references for the stability of deep underground projects such as coal mining process, tunnel excavation process, nuclear waste storage and other engineering stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular markers are efficient and essential genotyping tools for molecular breeding and genetic analysis of rice. We developed two 96-plex indica–japonica single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping sets for genetic analysis and molecular breeding in rice using the Fluidigm platform. Informative SNPs between indica and japonica were selected from SNP data of the Rice Diversity database, HapRice world SNP data of the Q-TARO database, and our 40 rice cultivar resequencing dataset. SNPs in set 1 were evenly distributed across all 12 rice chromosomes at a spacing of 4–5 Mb between adjacent SNPs. SNPs in set 2 mapped to the long genetic intervals in set 1 and included 14 functional or linked SNPs in genes previously cloned and associated with agronomic traits. Additionally, we used the SNP sets developed in this study to perform genetic diversity analysis of various cultivated and wild rice accessions, construction and validation of a subspecies diagnostic subset, linkage map construction and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of a japonica × indica F2 population, and background profiling during marker-assisted backcrossing. Furthermore, we identified subspecies-specific SNPs and discuss their distribution and association with agronomic traits and subspecies differentiation. Our results indicate that these subspecies-specific SNPs were present in wild rice prior to domestication. This genotyping system will serve as an efficient and quick tool for genetic analysis and molecular breeding in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins contribute greatly to the organoleptic and biochemical properties of grapes and wines. Although there are broadly documented factors involved in grape anthocyanin synthesis, the present work focused on fungal endophytes and their possible role in grape coloration. Our results showed that exposure to endophytic fungi within a dual culture system differentially affected total anthocyanin concentrations and PAL activities in grape cells. Grape cells dual cultured with fungal strains XH-2, R2-21 and B2-17 showed significant differences of their anthocyanin concentrations were subjected to further analysis of their anthocyanidin compositions. Compared to the no-fungus controls, grape cells exposed to fungal strains XH-2 and R2-21 exhibited quantitative promotion of their total anthocyanidin concentrations by 74% and 28%, respectively, whereas treatment with the fungus B2-17 reduced the anthocyanidin content by 19%. A total of 14 species of anthocyanidins were detected from the grape cells in these experiments. Most interestingly, exposure to any of these fungal strains differentially modified the compositional patterns of grape cellular anthocyanidins. The obvious upregulation of the transcription of VvMYB in grape cells treated with fungal strains XH-2 and R2-21 implies that the increased anthocyanin levels in these grape cells may be due to the activated transcriptional factors. In addition, the exposure of grape cells to extracts of these fungi initiated similar responses of anthocyanin contents and PAL activities to exposure to the living fungi and appeared obvious dosage effects. The influence of fungal endophytes on the coloration of grape berries was also examined in this study. Image 1 • Fungal endophytes (FE) play a role in host anthocyanin synthesis. • Exposure to FE modifies anthocyanin patterns in grape cells. • FE induce anthocyanin variation in grape cells via TF activation. • Diffusible molecules from FE are involved in grape cell anthocyanin responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the investigations of macrofungi resources in Zhejiang Province, China, an interesting wood rot fungus was collected. Based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies, it is described as a new species, Anthracophyllum sinense. A. sinense is characterized by its sessile, charcoal black and pleurotoid pileus, sparse lamellae occasionally branching, clavate basidia with long sterigmata [(3-)6–7(-8) μm], and non-heteromorphous cystidia. A. sinense establishes a separate lineage close to A. archeri and A. lateritium in the phylogenetic tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a 2-factor MBMM model with exponential Lévy process to develop a stochastic mortality process. The two components are fitted by two independent NIG distributions. Compared to Lee–Carter model or 1-factor MBMM model, our mortality model explains more variation and improves the goodness of fit by including the second time component. Based on the improved model, we price three longevity-linked financial instruments, namely the longevity bond, q-forward and s-forward. The pricing is demonstrated on English and Welsh males aged 65 in 2013. Results indicate that the 2-factor MBMM model gives the highest price for mortality-related type of contract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algal cultures of Dictyosphaerium sp. were treated with a wide range (0–8 mg/L) of nonylphenol (NP) applications to investigate the species' potential to perform bioremediation of NP-contaminated wastewater and explore the mechanism of NP toxicity in algal cell. The algal species exhibited a high tolerance for NP and efficiently removed even high concentrations of NP. The accumulation of NP in algal cells tended to increase and the percentage of NP adhered to the cell walls tended to decrease as the NP concentration increased. The thylakoid density and the pyrenoid size also tended to decrease as the NP concentration rose. The key genes involved in the antioxidative pathways and photosynthetic pathways were down-regulated in the NP-treated algal cells. Algal ribosome genes were especially sensitive to NP. The results indicated that NP could induce oxidative stress in algal cells and that Dictyosphaerium sp. showed potential as a bioremediation agent. Unlabelled Image • The bioaccumulated content increased as NP concentration rose. • Dictyosphaerium sp. efficiently removed NP at a high concentration (8 mg/L). • Algal thylakoids density and pyrenoid size decreased as the NP concentration increased. • NP induced oxidative stress in algal cells and ribosomal genes were the direct target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a collective defined contribution (CDC) pension fund scheme in continuous time, where members' contributions are fixed in advance, and benefit payments depend on the final salary rate. We take account of the co-integration between labor income and the stock market by letting the difference between logs of labor and dividends follow a mean-reverting process. Further, labor income is also a product of aggregate labor income and member's idiosyncratic shocks whose constant growth rate is unknown. It can be modeled by a continuous-time two-state hidden Markov chain. Further, the pension fund can be invested in the financial market consisting of one risky asset and one risk-free asset to enhance profits. After using Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equations, the closed-form solutions for the optimal asset allocation and the benefit payment policies are obtained to maximize the social welfare and the terminal surplus wealth. Numerical examples are also conducted to illustrate the sensitivity of parameters on the optimal strategies. • This paper investigates a collective defined contribution (CDC) pension fund scheme in continuous time. • This paper captures the co-integration relation between labor income and stock market. • Labor income is modeled with both aggregate labor income and idiosyncratic shocks. • The uncertainty of labor income is modeled by using a two-hidden Markov chain. • Closed-form solutions for the optimal asset allocation and benefit payment policies are derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our findings show that Overexpression of SIRT1 attenuates calcium oxalate-induced apoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells by promoting macrophage polarization towards the M2 type.. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) protein is involved in macrophage differentiation, while NOTCH signaling affects inflammation and macrophage polarization. Inflammation and macrophage infiltration are typical processes that accompany kidney stone formation. However, the role and mechanism of SIRT1 in renal tubular epithelial cell injury caused by calcium oxalate (CaOx) deposition and the relationship between SIRT1 and the NOTCH signaling pathway in this urological disorder are unclear. This study investigated whether SIRT1 promotes macrophage polarization to inhibit CaOx crystal deposition and reduce renal tubular epithelial cell injury. Public single-cell sequencing data, RT-qPCR, immunostaining approaches, and Western blotting showed decreased SIRT1 expression in macrophages treated with CaOx or exposed to kidney stones. Macrophages overexpressing SIRT1 differentiated towards the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, significantly inhibiting apoptosis and alleviating injury in the kidneys of mice with hyperoxaluria. Conversely, decreased SIRT1 expression in CaOx-treated macrophages triggered Notch signaling pathway activation, promoting macrophage polarization towards the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype. Our results suggest that SIRT1 promotes macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype by repressing the NOTCH signaling pathway, which reduces CaOx crystal deposition, apoptosis, and damage in the kidney. Therefore, we propose SIRT1 as a potential target for preventing disease progression in patients with kidney stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our study is the first to show that miR-195-5p expression is negatively correlated with that of PELP1 during IRI progression. miR-195-5p was lowly expressed and PELP1 was highly expressed in testicular IRI. • miR-195-5p attenuated cellular pyroptosis by directly targeting PELP1 both in vitro and in vivo. • miR-195-5p might be a potential therapeutic target for inhibition of germ cell pyroptosis in testicular IRI. Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), which is characterized by testicular torsion and causes permanent impairment of spermatogenic function, is linked with pyroptosis. Studies have implicated endogenous small non-coding RNAs in IRI development across various organs. In this study, we elucidated the mechanism underlying miR-195-5p's action in regulating pyroptosis in testicular IRI. We established two models, namely a testicular torsion/ detorsion (T/D) mouse model and an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R)-treated germ cell model. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to evaluate the testicular ischemic injury. The expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and reactive oxygen species production in testis tissues were detected using Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase assay kits and immunohistochemistry. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated using CCK-8 and LDH assays, whereas expression patterns of inflammatory proteins were measured using ELISA, immunofluorescence, and western blot assays. miR-195-5p interaction with PELP1 was validated by conducting the luciferase enzyme reporter test. Pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18 were significantly upregulated following testicular IRI. A similar pattern was observed in the OGD/R model. miR-195-5p was significantly downregulated in mouse IRI testis tissue and OGD/R-treated GC-1 cells. Notably, miR-195-5p downregulation promoted whereas its upregulation attenuated pyroptosis in OGD/R-treated GC-1 cells. Furthermore, we found that PELP1 is a miR-195-5p target. miR-195-5p attenuated pyroptosis in GC-1 cells by inhibiting PELP1 expression during OGD/R, and this protective effect was blocked upon miR-195-5p downregulation. Collectively, these results indicated that miR-195-5p inhibits testicular IRI-induced pyroptosis by targeting PELP1, suggesting that it has the potential to serve as a novel target for the future development of therapies for testicular torsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic micro/nanocrystals possessing unique molecular packing arrangements and minimized defect densities exhibit tremendous potential for high-performance optoelectronic applications. However, their susceptibility to air/water due to weaker intermolecular interactions and challenges in large-scale production have severely impeded their practical utility. In this study, we present a rational design approach to engineer multicolor organic micro/nanocrystals by finely controlling noncovalent interactions. These interactions, namely arene-perfluoroarene (AP) and charge-transfer (CT) interactions, were deliberately leveraged to manipulate the emission properties of green-emissive benzo[pqr]tetraphene (BPT) micro/nanocrystals toward blue and red emission, respectively. Furthermore, employing a facile electrospinning technology, we incorporated these micro/nanocrystals into nanofibers to create large-scale (∼28 cm × 18 cm) and stable luminescent textiles. The spinning nanofibers acted as micro/nanoreactors, facilitating in-situ self-assembly of multicolor BPT-based micro/nanocrystals within the fibers. This resulted in the fabrication of functional textiles with stable, uniform, and intense emission over large-scale areas, making them ideal for customization into desired patterns for wearable displays. Our work introduces a simple and versatile method for scalable luminescent textiles, offering significant promise for next-generation lighting and display technologies. • The introduction of AP and CT interactions induces blue and red shift emission. • Matched energy structure benefits the ET process, generating desired white-light emission. • Organic crystals were introduced into the polymer for scalable luminescent textiles. • Electrospinning technology is beneficial for the practical application of organic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax ginseng is widely used for its medicinal value. With the decline in wild ginseng resources, garden ginseng (GG) and ginseng under forest (FG) have become the main sources. Their different growth conditions and ages may account for the differences in epigenetics. The genomic DNA of Panax ginseng was digested using the methylation-insensitive enzyme Mse Ⅰ combined with the methylation-sensitive enzymes Aci Ⅰ, Pst Ⅰ, and EcoT22 Ⅰ. Then, a sequencing library of CG, CHG, and CHH methylation contexts was constructed and sequenced through amplicon sequencing. Differences in DNA methylation were observed using the methylation context-sensitive enzyme ddRAD (MCSeEd), revealing eight differentially methylated regions (DMRs). The bisulfite sequencing technology revealed that the methylation level of GG was higher than that of FG. The Plant ISOform Sequencing Database was used to predict the regulatory function of CpG island–coding region so as to estimate the relationship between methylation and effective components. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) showed that the expression of functional genes in FG was higher than that in GG. These studies showed that the increase in GG methylation level was associated with the decrease in gene expression, providing a new perspective on epigenetic differences and gene expression in ginseng. • Analysis of the DNA methylation of ginseng by MCSeEd technic for the first time. • Based on DMPs, the garden ginseng and ginseng under forest were distinguished. • Four functional genes regulated of DMRs coding region were predicted by database. • The relationship between methylation and component production's gene was verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glycyrrhiza is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines in China. Its main bioactive ingredient glycyrrhizic acid (GA) has the potential to be used as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) because it has similar actions to steroids, but with relatively few side effects. Aims: The objective of this study was to explore the potential mechanisms of GA on AD mice model. Methods: Calcipotriol, a vitamin D3 analogue (MC903) was applied topically to establish AD mouse model. Mice were intraperitoneally administrated with 2 mg/kg dexamethasone (DEX), 25 or 50 mg/kg GA for 15 days. After mice were executed, skin tissues were collected and detected the expression levels of IL‐4, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). The percentages of Th1, Th2, Th17, langerhans cells (LCs) in draining lymph nodes (dLNs) were measured by flow cytometry. Results: Our data demonstrated that GA improved the symptoms of AD by exerting anti‐inflammatory and anti‐allergic functions in vivo. We found that GA treatment decreased the level of total IgE in serum, suppressed ear swelling, reduced the infiltration of mast cells in skin lesions and decreased expressions of IL‐4, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α and TSLP in skin lesions. Furthermore, our experimental results demonstrated that GA suppressed the Th1/Th2/Th17‐immune responses in the dLNs, inhibited the migration of LCs in dLNs. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggested potential therapeutic effects of GA against MC903‐induced AD‐like skin lesions in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspirin (ASP) is currently the drug of choice for antiplatelet therapy. However, approximately 5%–45 % of patients are resistant to ASP and do not achieve the expected result. At present, a few studies have investigated the correlation between ASP resistance (AR) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Traditional detection methods are time-consuming and laborious, affecting the accuracy of personalized medicine. This study aimed to establish a new assay to identify four SNPs associated with AR. A large amount of double-stranded DNA was formed after multiple cycles of specific exponential amplification by ligase chain reaction, the specific melting peak of which was visible in the detection curve, with a detection limit of 10−11mol/L. The specificity experiments of different proportions of wild-type and mutant plasmid standards showed that the novel method could detect up to 1 % allele frequency and the specificity was good. Clinical blood samples of 57 patients were tested in this study. The results were consistent with those of sequencing and more accurate and reliable than those of the high-resolution melting method. The technique used in this study was simple, sensitive and specific compared with the traditional method. Statistical analysis revealed that AR was significantly correlated with the rs12041331 site of the PEAR1 gene and the rs1695 site of the GSTP1 gene, providing an important reference value for the study of AR. [Display omitted] • LCR was successfully constructed to detect four kinds of SNPs related to ASP. • LCR assays are more accurate, simpler, more specific and more practical than HRM. • HRM has higher requirements for the operator than LCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]