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We explore the influence of radio-mode feedback on the properties of the cool circumgalactic medium (CGM). To this end, we assemble a statistical sample of approximately 30,000 radio galaxies with background quasars by combining optical spectroscopic measurements of luminous red galaxies and quasars from the year 1 data set of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument and radio sources from the LOw-Frequency ARray Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) DR2 catalog and the Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS) quick-look catalog. Galaxies with similar optical properties but with no radio counterparts in LoTSS and VLASS are selected as the control group. We measure the cool CGM properties of radio galaxies and their control samples traced by Mg ii absorption lines, including covering fraction, rest equivalent width, and gas kinematics. Our results show no significant difference in the properties of gas around radio galaxies and their control sample, indicating that the operating radio-mode feedback of massive galaxies does not produce detectable effects on the properties of the cool CGM. Finally, we show that the CGM of radio galaxies contains a nonnegligible amount of cool gas with approximately 1010 M ⊙. This abundance can place a stringent constraint on the radio-mode feedback models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective Thomson scattering (CTS) is a diagnostic technique that obtains ion temperature and ion composition of plasma by spectral decomposition from scattering spectra. Bayesian estimation and least squares fitting are usually applied in this spectral decomposition process. Nevertheless, these spectral decomposition methods strongly rely on measurements of other diagnostic systems, and the measurement errors of other systems would influence the spectral decomposition results. In this article, an improved genetic algorithm is applied to decompose the scattering spectra of CTS. By analyzing the sensitivity of plasma parameters, the width and slope of the scattering spectrum are found to be strongly associated with ion temperature. Based on this correlation relation, a new fitness function is designed to provide a more precise estimation of ion temperature. Meanwhile, adaptive crossover and mutation operators are introduced to solve the premature convergence problem. This improved genetic algorithm with the new fitness function can obtain a more precise ion temperature from scattering spectra of CTS and does not rely on the measurement of other diagnostic systems, which has an extensive application prospect in data processing of CTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no definitive approach for assessing mesenteric ischemia and determining the optimal timing for endovascular intervention in the management of spontaneous isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SISMAD). A 56-year-old male with acute abdominal pain was diagnosed with SISMAD. After evaluating mesenteric ischemia through mesenteric fractional flow reserve (FFR), FFR was 0.72, and the patient was recommended conservative treatment for SISMAD, which involves fasting, total parenteral nutrition, and anticoagulation. The patient's syndrome was relieved after conservative treatment for 14 days without stent implantation. Over the next 5 years, no recurrence of abdominal pain or worsening of SISMAD was observed in the patient. Assessing the severity of mesenteric ischemia can be done through mesenteric FFR. Upon confirmation of the exclusion of risks related to dilatation or rupture of SISMAD aneurysm, an approach in favor of conservative management for SISMAD may indeed be considered pragmatic when the FFR exceeds 0.72. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing short-term forecasting models for global atmospheric temperature and wind in near space is crucial for understanding atmospheric dynamics and supporting human activities in this region. While numerical models have been extensively developed, deep learning techniques have recently shown promise in improving atmospheric forecasting accuracy. In this study, convolutional long short-term memory (ConvLSTM) and convolutional gated recurrent unit (ConvGRU) neural networks were applied to build for short-term global-scale forecasting model of atmospheric temperature and wind in near space based on the MERRA-2 reanalysis dataset from 2010–2022. The model results showed that the ConvGRU model outperforms the ConvLSTM model in the short-term forecast results. The ConvGRU model achieved a root mean square error in the first three hours of approximately 1.8 K for temperature predictions, and errors of 4.2 m/s and 3.8 m/s for eastward and northward wind predictions on all 72 isobaric surfaces. Specifically, at a higher altitude (on the 1.65 Pa isobaric surface, approximately 70 km above sea level), the ConvGRU model achieved a RMSE of about 2.85 K for temperature predictions, and 5.67 m/s and 5.17 m/s for eastward and northward wind. This finding is significantly meaningful for short-term temperature and wind forecasts in near space and for exploring the physical mechanisms related to temperature and wind variations in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) is a critical enzyme that regulates nitric oxide (NO) signaling through the degradation of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Previous studies have revealed a link between the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise and the upregulation of DDAH1 in bones and hearts. We previously reported that skeletal muscle DDAH1 plays a protective role in cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced skeletal muscle injury and regeneration. To determine the effects of aerobic exercise on CTX-induced skeletal muscle injury and the role of DDAH1 in this process, wild-type (WT) mice and skeletal muscle-specific Ddah1-knockout (Ddah1MKO) mice were subjected to swimming training for 8 weeks and then injected with CTX. In WT mice, swimming training for 8 weeks significantly promoted skeletal muscle regeneration and attenuated inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the gastrocnemius (GA) muscle after CTX injection. These phenomena were associated with increases in the protein expression of PAX7, myogenin, MEF2A, eNOS, SOD2, and peroxiredoxin 5 and decreases in iNOS expression in GA muscles. Swimming training also decreased serum ADMA levels and increased serum nitrate/nitrite (NOx) levels and skeletal muscle DDAH1 expression. Interestingly, swimming training in Ddah1MKO mice had no obvious effect on CTX-induced skeletal muscle injury or regeneration and did not repress the CTX-induced inflammatory response, superoxide generation, or apoptosis. In summary, our data suggest that DDAH1 is important for the protective effect of aerobic exercise on skeletal muscle injury and regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal nitrides, particularly those of 5d metals, are known for their outstanding properties, often relevant for industrial applications. Among these metal elements, tungsten is especially attractive given its low cost. In this high‐pressure investigation of the W–N system, two novel ultra‐incompressible tungsten nitride superconductors, namely W2N3 and W3N5, are successfully synthesized at 35 and 56 GPa, respectively, through a direct reaction between N2 and W in laser‐heated diamond anvil cells. Their crystal structure is determined using synchrotron single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. While the W2N3 solid's sole constituting nitrogen species are N3‐ units, W3N5 features both discrete N3‐ as well as N24‐ pernitride anions. The bulk modulus of W2N3 and W3N5 is experimentally determined to be 380(3) and 406(7) GPa, and their ultra‐incompressible behavior is rationalized by their constituting WN7 polyhedra and their linkages. Importantly, both W2N3 and W3N5 are recoverable to ambient conditions and stable in air. Density functional theory calculations reveal W2N3 and W3N5 to have a Vickers hardness of 30 and 34 GPa, and superconducting transition temperatures at ambient pressure (50 GPa) of 11.6 K (9.8 K) and 9.4 K (7.2 K), respectively. Additionally, transport measurements performed at 50 GPa on W2N3 corroborate with the calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An order of addition experiment is an experiment to study how the order of addition of components affect the results, with the objective of predicting and determining the optimal order of addition of components. Order of addition experiment are also commonly used in the drug combination therapy, where experimenting with all drugs combinations is unaffordable. To solve this problem, we constructed a new design table, two-level component factorial design table (TLCF), which combine the component orthogonal array design table and the two-level partial factorial design table by matrix product. TLCF can explore the order and dosage effect of components on the results and can greatly reduce the number of experiments. We also prove that the relative D-efficiency of the TLCF can reach 100% and solve an explicit expression for the D-efficiency of the full design. In the simulation experiment, we compare the D-efficiency of the TLCF with the random design table to prove the superiority of TLCF. Finally, we give a treatment plan for the combination of three drugs for glioblastoma based on the TLCF, which provides a new perspective for the precision treatment of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle is an important motor organ with multinucleated myofibers as its smallest cellular units. Myofibers are formed after undergoing cell differentiation, cell–cell fusion, myonuclei migration, and myofibril crosslinking among other processes and undergo morphological and functional changes or lesions after being stimulated by internal or external factors. The above processes are collectively referred to as myogenesis. After myofibers mature, the function and behavior of skeletal muscle are closely related to the voluntary movement of the body. In this review, we systematically and comprehensively discuss the physiological and pathological processes associated with skeletal muscles from five perspectives: molecule basis, myogenesis, biological function, adaptive changes, and myopathy. In the molecular structure and myogenesis sections, we gave a brief overview, focusing on skeletal muscle‐specific fusogens and nuclei‐related behaviors including cell–cell fusion and myonuclei localization. Subsequently, we discussed the three biological functions of skeletal muscle (muscle contraction, thermogenesis, and myokines secretion) and its response to stimulation (atrophy, hypertrophy, and regeneration), and finally settled on myopathy. In general, the integration of these contents provides a holistic perspective, which helps to further elucidate the structure, characteristics, and functions of skeletal muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased volume of rumors and attention on related topics during the COVID-19 pandemic have had a significant negative social impact. To combat rumors, it is crucial to study the actors involved in their spread. In this study, we first introduce prospect theory and construct an evolutionary game model between network operators and government regulators. We investigate collusion between network operators and Internet rumormongers as well as the regulatory behavior of government agencies. Second, we use prospect value to replace traditional expected utility to construct a profit prospect matrix and apply the dynamic replicator equation to analyze the equilibrium stability of the model. The stability conditions of the game between the two parties are closely related to the government's regulatory costs, and the strength of government punishment after collusion is detected. Finally, we propose relevant countermeasures against collusion problems during the network rumor control period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frozen embryo transfer (FET) has become a widely employed assisted reproductive technology technique. There have historically been concerns regarding the long-term metabolic safety of FET technology in offspring due to pregnancy-induced hypertension and large for gestational age, both of which are well-recognized factors for metabolic dysfunction of children. Therefore, we aimed to compare the metabolic profiles of children born after frozen versus fresh embryo transfer at 2 to 5 years of age. Methods and findings: This was a prospective cohort study. Using data from the "Assisted Reproductive Technology borned KIDs (ARTKID)," a birth cohort of offspring born from assisted reproductive technology at the Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, Shandong University, China. We included 4,246 singletons born after FET (n = 2,181) and fresh embryo transfer (n = 2,065) enrolled between 2008 and 2019 and assessed the glucose and lipid variables until the age of 2 to 5 years. During a mean follow-up of 3.6 years, no significant differences were observed in fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance Index, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels between offspring conceived by fresh and frozen embryo transfer in the crude model and adjusted model (adjusted for parental age, parental body mass index, parental education level, paternal smoking, parity, offspring age and sex). These results remained consistent across subgroup analyses considering offspring age, the stage of embryo transfer, and the mode of fertilization. Results from sensitivity analysis on children matched for age within the cohort remains the same. The main limitation of our study is the young age of the offspring. Conclusions: In this study, the impact of FET on glucose and lipid profiles during early childhood was comparable to fresh embryo transfer. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate the metabolic health of offspring born after FET. Wei Zhou and co-workers explore the impact of fresh Versus frozen embryo transfer on the metabolic profiles of children in China. Author summary: Why was this study done?: Frozen embryo transfer (FET) is a commonly used assisted reproductive technology technique. Concerns have existed about the long-term metabolism of FET for offspring due to increased risk of well-recognized factors for metabolic dysfunction, including pregnancy-induced hypertension, macrosomia, large for gestational age, and elevated birth weight. Limited studies have reported on the metabolic profiles of children born after FET, leaving the potential long-term metabolic safety of FET unclear. What did the researchers do and find?: Using data from the "Assisted Reproductive Technology borned KIDs (ARTKID)," a prospective birth cohort at a Chinese single reproductive center, 4,246 singletons of "ARTKID" cohort at 2 to 5 years of age born after either FET (n = 2,181) or fresh embryo transfer (n = 2,065) were included. The average duration of follow-up across the study was 3.6 years. Assessments included fasting blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The study found no significant differences in various metabolic parameters between children born after frozen versus fresh embryo transfer, even after adjusting for potential confounders, including parental age, body mass index, and other factors [adjusted mean difference (95% CI): fasting blood glucose, −0.01(−0.03, 0.02); total cholesterol, 0(−0.05, 0.04)]. What do these findings mean?: FET does not have a significant adverse impact on glucose and lipid profiles during early childhood. These data provide valuable evidence on the safety of FET when counselling couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment. The main limitations are the young age of the offspring, as they may not fully manifest comprehensive metabolic phenotypic changes at this stage, necessitating longer follow-up studies for a more thorough understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let D be a non-trivial G-block-transitive 3-(v, k, 1) design, where T ≤ G ≤ Aut (T) for some finite non-abelian simple group T. It is proved that if T is a simple exceptional group of Lie type, then T is either the Suzuki group 2 B 2 (q) or G 2 (q) . Furthermore, if T = 2 B 2 (q) then the design D has parameters v = q 2 + 1 and k = q + 1 , and so D is an inverse plane of order q, and if T = G 2 (q) then the point stabilizer in T is either SL 3 (q). 2 or SU 3 (q). 2 , and the parameter k satisfies very restricted conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a carrier of cultural characteristics of historic districts, the soundscape has unique advantages in shaping regional cultural personality, and mastering its spatiotemporal characteristics is crucial for preserving soundscape heritage with natural and humanistic environments as its kernel. Focusing on the Three Square and Seven Alleys historic and cultural district in Fuzhou, this paper analyzes the spatial and temporal patterns of the physical acoustic indicators of the soundscape, the spatial dependence of the sound source harmony, and the spatial relationship between the two. It was found that the physical acoustic indicators showed dynamic changes in spatial and temporal scales and reflect specific human activity and behavioral patterns; sound source harmony showed spatial autocorrelation in both global and local models, with prominent spatial characteristics; and the physical acoustic indicators may negatively affect soundscape perception. The study emphasizes the importance of the regional cultural connotation of soundscape in urban planning. It provides a scientific basis for the planning, designing, and managing of soundscape resources in historic and cultural districts and world heritage sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing trends of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition resulting from a large number of anthropogenic emissions of reactive N are dramatically altering the global biogeochemical cycle of N. Nitrogen uptake by mosses occurs mainly from the atmosphere, making it a competent bio-indicator of N deposition. However, high uncertainties exist when using mosses to indicate N deposition, especially in choosing sampling periods and sampling frequencies. In this study, atmospheric N deposition and moss N content in the urban–agro–forest transition, a region with a high N deposition level of 27.46–43.70 kg N hm -2 yr -1 , were monitored, and the method for monitoring atmospheric N deposition by mosses was optimized. We found that the optimal sampling frequency is within 6 months per time, and the optimal sampling times are winter (January and February), autumn (October and November), and summer (July and August), which provides us with a more accurate estimation of atmospheric N deposition than other scenarios. In addition, the moss N content serves as a more reliable N species. This study eventually allowed mosses to be used more effectively and sensibly as an indicator of atmospheric N deposition and helped to improve the accuracy of the model for quantifying N deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on graphical processing unit acceleration, a new method of finite‐difference time‐domain scheme is proposed to simulate the interaction between electromagnetic waves and magnetized plasma in two‐dimensional conditions. In this study, transversely electric and transversely magnetic are computed in time to avoid matrix operations involving Lorentz equations of motion. Compared to Young's method, the new method reduces addition and multiplication by about 63% and 66%, respectively. The simulation results of ionospheric wave propagation show that the new method agrees well with Young's method and the calculation speed is improved significantly. Plain Language Summary: Finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) has been widely used in electromagnetic waves propagation in plasma. FDTD method computation can be greatly accelerated by graphical processing unit (GPU). However, in magnetized plasma, the media information is described by a tensor, and the computing includes the complex matrix operation. Moreover, in nonlinear physical process, the complex operation brings a larger amount of computation. This shortage is more significant for multicore GPU with weaker single‐core computing power. Thus, it is essential to find new FDTD schemes to avoid the matrix operation and it is meaningful for both scientific calculation and engineering application. Key Points: We present a new two‐dimension finite‐difference time‐domain (scheme for wave propagation in and interaction with magnetized plasmaThe new method avoid complex matrix operation in solving couple of three velocities induced by Lorentz termThe method performance shows less operation and faster speed in computation, especially for multicore parallel computation with graphical processing unit [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reported models have disadvantages such as poor prediction accuracy and time‐consuming. And they can not reflect the impact of chemical reactions on CO2 solubility. To compensate for these deficiencies, parameters representing operational parameters, physical properties, chemical properties, and molecular properties are introduced as input variables. A series of models are constructed by three algorithms: back propagation neural network, radial basis function neural network, and random forest. The model with the best prediction performance is level OPCM (RBFNN), with the AARE of only 1.52%. By ranking the importance of the features using the RF algorithm, PCO2, was found to be the key parameter affecting the CO2 loadings, with M being the least important. Using the screened key parameters to model the model, as well as optimizing the structure, can further improve the predictive performance of the model. The full process development and optimization model framework constructed in this article can provide practical guidance for the development of machine learning models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The metastasis accounts for most deaths from breast cancer (BRCA). Understanding the molecular mechanisms of BRCA metastasis is urgently demanded. Flap Endonuclease 1 (FEN1), a pivotal factor in DNA metabolic pathways, contributes to tumor growth and drug resistance, however, little is known about the role of FEN1 in BRCA metastasis. Methods and results: In this study, FEN1 expression and its clinical correlation in BRCA were investigated using bioinformatics, showing being upregulated in BRCA samples and significant relationships with tumor stage, node metastasis, and prognosis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of local BRCA cohort indicated that the ratio of high FEN1 expression in metastatic BRCA tissues rose over that in non-metastatic tissues. The assays of loss-of-function and gain-of-function showed that FEN1 enhanced BRCA cell proliferation, migration, invasion, xenograft growth as well as lung metastasis. It was further found that FEN1 promoted the aggressive behaviors of BRCA cells via Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) activation. Specifically, the STAT3 inhibitor Stattic thwarted the FEN1-induced enhancement of migration and invasion, while the activator IL-6 rescued the decreased migration and invasion caused by FEN1 knockdown. Additionally, overexpression of FEN1 rescued the inhibitory effect of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor BAY117082 on phosphorylated STAT3. Simultaneously, the knockdown of FEN1 attenuated the phosphorylation of STAT3 promoted by the NF-κB activator tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Conclusions: These results indicate a novel mechanism that NF-κB-driven FEN1 contributes to promoting BRCA growth and metastasis by STAT3 activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for plant growth and development. The identification and utilization of N use efficiency (NUE) loci are essential for breeding high NUE cultivars. In this study, 15 NUE traits were measured in a recombinant inbred line population containing 121 lines derived from the cross between a cultivated barley (Baudin) and a wild barley (CN4027). The hydroponic culture was conducted with normal N and low N treatments in one‐time frame, and field trials were conducted with N sufficiency and N deficiency treatments in two growing seasons. Twenty‐two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and four clusters were detected. Of them, the five stable QTLs Qgna.sau‐3H for grain N concentration, Qtna.sau‐3H for total N accumulation per plant, Qnhi.sau‐3H for N harvest index, Qnutegy.sau‐3H for N utilization efficiency for grain yield and Qanutedm.sau‐3H.1 for N utilization efficiency for aboveground dry matter were co‐located on chromosome 3H flanked by the markers bpb6282426 and bpb4786261. These two novel QTL clusters simultaneously controlled NUE traits at the seedling and maturity stages. Some genes related to NUE traits in intervals of the major QTLs were predicted. The significant relationships between NUE traits and agronomic and physiological traits were detected and discussed. In conclusion, this study uncovers the most promising genomic regions for the marker‐assisted selection of NUE traits to improve NUE in barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of family functioning on problem behaviour among Chinese preschool children, 1,025 preschool parents were assessed using the family assessment device, child problem behaviour scale, and parent–child relationship scale through a random sampling method. Based on the McMaster model of family functioning and the Process Person Context Time model, this study analysed the relationships between family functioning and children's problem behaviour, taking into account the mediating role of the mother–child relationship. The results showed that preschool problem behaviour was significantly positively correlated with mother–child conflict and significantly negatively correlated with mother–child intimacy. In particular, mother–child conflict played a mediating role between family functioning and problem behaviour in preschool children. The results of this study suggest that improving family functioning and reducing mother–child conflict play an important role in reducing the incidence of problem behaviour among Chinese preschool children and promoting their healthy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Mitochondrial dysfunction, a characteristic pathological feature of renal Ischemic/reperfusion injury (I/RI), predisposes tubular epithelial cells to maintain an inflammatory microenvironment, however, the exact mechanisms through which mitochondrial dysfunction modulates the induction of tubular injury remains incompletely understood. Methods: ESI‐QTRAP‐MS/MS approach was used to characterize the targeted metabolic profiling of kidney with I/RI. Tubule injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, and fumarate level were evaluated using qPCR, transmission electron microscopy, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. Results: We demonstrated that tubule injury occurred at the phase of reperfusion in murine model of I/RI. Meanwhile, enhanced glycolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction were found to be associated with tubule injury. Further, we found that tubular fumarate, which resulted from fumarate hydratase deficiency and released from dysfunctional mitochondria, promoted tubular injury. Mechanistically, fumarate induced tubular injury by causing disturbance of glutathione (GSH) hemostasis. Suppression of GSH with buthionine sulphoximine administration could deteriorate the fumarate inhibition‐mediated tubule injury recovery. Reactive oxygen species/NF‐κB signaling activation played a vital role in fumarate‐mediated tubule injury. Conclusion: Our studies demonstrated that the mitochondrial‐derived fumarate promotes tubular epithelial cell injury in renal I/RI. Blockade of fumarate‐mediated ROS/NF‐κB signaling activation may serve as a novel therapeutic approach to ameliorate hypoxic tubule injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant cuticle is an important protective barrier on the plant surface, constructed mainly by polymerized cutin matrix and a complex wax mixture. Although the pathway of plant cuticle biosynthesis has been clarified, knowledge of the transcriptional regulation network underlying fruit cuticle formation remains limited. In the present work, we discovered that tomato fruits of the NAC transcription factor SlNOR-like1 knockout mutants (nor-like1) produced by CRISPR/Cas9 [clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9] displayed reduced cutin deposition and cuticle thickness, with a microcracking phenotype, while wax accumulation was promoted. Further research revealed that SlNOR-like1 promotes cutin deposition by binding to the promoters of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase6 (SlGPAT6 ; a key gene for cutin monomer formation) and CUTIN DEFICIENT2 (SlCD2 ; a positive regulator of cutin production) to activate their expression. Meanwhile, SlNOR-like1 inhibits wax accumulation, acting as a transcriptional repressor by targeting wax biosynthesis, and transport-related genes 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase1 (SlKCS1), ECERIFERUM 1-2 (SlCER1-2), SlWAX2 , and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored lipid transfer protein 1-like (SlLTPG1-like). In conclusion, SlNOR-like1 executes a dual regulatory effect on tomato fruit cuticle development. Our results provide a new model for the transcriptional regulation of fruit cuticle formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the standardized outcomes in nephrology–hemodialysis fatigue (SONG–HD fatigue) scale and to assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the SONG–HD fatigue (C-SONG–HD fatigue) scale. Methods: Forward and back translations were used to translate the SONG–HD fatigue scale into Chinese. We used the C-SONG–HD fatigue scale to survey Chinese patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in China. We examined the distribution of responses and floor and ceiling effects. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficient, intraclass coefficients, and Spearman correlations were used to assess internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability, and convergent validity, respectively. Responsiveness was also evaluated. Results: In total, 489 participants across southeast China, northwest China, and central China completed the study. The C-SONG–HD fatigue scale had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.861, omega coefficient 0.916), test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.695), and convergent validity (Spearman correlation 0.691). The analysis of all first-time HD patients did not show notable responsiveness, and only patients with temporary vascular access had good responsiveness with an effect size (ES) of 0.54, a standardized response mean (SRM) of 0.85, and a standard error of measurement (SEM) of 0.77. Conclusion: The Chinese version of the SONG–HD fatigue scale showed satisfactory reliability and validity in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in China. It could be used as a tool to measure the fatigue of Chinese HD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase I (PKG-I), a serine/threonine kinase, is important in tumor development. The present study determines that the cGMP/PKG I pathway is essential for promoting cell proliferation and survival in human ovarian cancer cells, whereas cGMP analog has been shown to lead to growth inhibition and apoptosis of various cancer cells. The role of cGMP/PKG I pathway in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), therefore, remains controversial. We investigated the effect of cGMP/PKG I pathway and the underlying mechanism in EOC. Methods and results: The results showed that exogenous 8-Bromoguanosine-3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) (cGMP analog) could antagonize the effects by EGF, including suppressing proliferation, invasion and migration of EOC cells. In vivo, 8-Br-cGMP hampered the growth of the xenograft tumor. Additionally, the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki67 in xenograft tumor were decreased after 8-Br-cGMP intervention. Further research demonstrated that 8-Br-cGMP decreased the phosphorylation of EGFR (Y992) and downstream proteins phospholipase Cγ1 (PLC γ1) (Y783), calmodulin kinase II (T286) and inhibited cytoplasmic Ca2+ release as well as PKC transferring to cell membrane. It's worth noting that the inhibition was 8-Br-cGMP dose-dependent and 8-Br-cGMP showed similar inhibitory effect on EOC cells compared with U-73122, a specific inhibitor of PLC γ1. Conclusions: The activation of endogenous PKG I by addition of exogenous 8-Br-cGMP could inhibit EOC development probably via EGFR/PLCγ1 signaling pathway. 8-Br-cGMP/PKG I provide a new insight and strategy for EOC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The metastasis accounts for most deaths from breast cancer (BRCA). Understanding the molecular mechanisms of BRCA metastasis is urgently demanded. Flap Endonuclease 1 (FEN1), a pivotal factor in DNA metabolic pathways, contributes to tumor growth and drug resistance, however, little is known about the role of FEN1 in BRCA metastasis. Methods and results: In this study, FEN1 expression and its clinical correlation in BRCA were investigated using bioinformatics, showing being upregulated in BRCA samples and significant relationships with tumor stage, node metastasis, and prognosis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of local BRCA cohort indicated that the ratio of high FEN1 expression in metastatic BRCA tissues rose over that in non-metastatic tissues. The assays of loss-of-function and gain-of-function showed that FEN1 enhanced BRCA cell proliferation, migration, invasion, xenograft growth as well as lung metastasis. It was further found that FEN1 promoted the aggressive behaviors of BRCA cells via Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) activation. Specifically, the STAT3 inhibitor Stattic thwarted the FEN1-induced enhancement of migration and invasion, while the activator IL-6 rescued the decreased migration and invasion caused by FEN1 knockdown. Additionally, overexpression of FEN1 rescued the inhibitory effect of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor BAY117082 on phosphorylated STAT3. Simultaneously, the knockdown of FEN1 attenuated the phosphorylation of STAT3 promoted by the NF-κB activator tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Conclusions: These results indicate a novel mechanism that NF-κB-driven FEN1 contributes to promoting BRCA growth and metastasis by STAT3 activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase I (PKG-I), a serine/threonine kinase, is important in tumor development. The present study determines that the cGMP/PKG I pathway is essential for promoting cell proliferation and survival in human ovarian cancer cells, whereas cGMP analog has been shown to lead to growth inhibition and apoptosis of various cancer cells. The role of cGMP/PKG I pathway in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), therefore, remains controversial. We investigated the effect of cGMP/PKG I pathway and the underlying mechanism in EOC. Methods and results: The results showed that exogenous 8-Bromoguanosine-3′, 5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) (cGMP analog) could antagonize the effects by EGF, including suppressing proliferation, invasion and migration of EOC cells. In vivo, 8-Br-cGMP hampered the growth of the xenograft tumor. Additionally, the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki67 in xenograft tumor were decreased after 8-Br-cGMP intervention. Further research demonstrated that 8-Br-cGMP decreased the phosphorylation of EGFR (Y992) and downstream proteins phospholipase Cγ1 (PLC γ1) (Y783), calmodulin kinase II (T286) and inhibited cytoplasmic Ca2+ release as well as PKC transferring to cell membrane. It’s worth noting that the inhibition was 8-Br-cGMP dose-dependent and 8-Br-cGMP showed similar inhibitory effect on EOC cells compared with U-73122, a specific inhibitor of PLC γ1. Conclusions: The activation of endogenous PKG I by addition of exogenous 8-Br-cGMP could inhibit EOC development probably via EGFR/PLCγ1 signaling pathway. 8-Br-cGMP/PKG I provide a new insight and strategy for EOC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of metal and sulfur sources in hydrothermal Sb ore deposits has long been recognized as a challenging task. Stibnite is commonly found as one of the primary ore minerals in most antimony deposits, and it can even occur as the sole ore mineral in some large antimony deposits; therefore, the sulfur isotope composition of stibnite often contains invaluable information for exploring the origin and ore-forming processes of Sb deposits. A well-characterized and matrix-matched material is imperative for conducting in situ S isotope microanalysis. However, the lack of standardized materials for stibnite hinders precise determination of sulfur isotope composition, thereby impeding the application of stibnite sulfur isotopes in deciphering the ore genesis of Sb deposits. The present study recommends the utilization of a natural stibnite (BJ-Snt) as a potential reference material for S isotope analysis employing laser ablation multicollector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS). The sulfur isotope compositions, backscattered electron (BSE) maps, mineral phases, and elemental compositions were analyzed to evaluate the homogeneity of the stibnite BJ-Snt. The method validation was conducted through comparison of S isotope values obtained by LA-MC-ICP-MS and IRMS, as well as intercomparisons with two other laboratories. The consistent findings have established that BJ-Snt is a suitable standard for bracketing in situ S isotope measurement using LA-MC-ICP-MS, and the recommended δ34S value determined by IRMS was −0.71 ± 0.32‰ (2 s, n = 15). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing trends of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition resulting from a large number of anthropogenic emissions of reactive N are dramatically altering the global biogeochemical cycle of N. Nitrogen uptake by mosses mainly from the atmosphere, making it a competent bio-indicator for N deposition. However, high uncertainties exist when using mosses to indicate N deposition, especially in choosing sampling period and sampling frequency. In this study, atmospheric N deposition and moss N content in the urban-agro-forest transition, a region with a high N deposition level of 27.46~43.70 kg N hm-2 yr-1, were monitored, and the method for atmospheric N deposition monitoring by mosses was optimized. We found that the optimal sampling frequency is within six months per time, and the optimal sampling time is autumn (October and November) and summer (July and August), which gives us a better estimation for atmospheric N deposition than other scenarios. In addition, the moss N content could better indicate total N deposition than the deposition of specific N species. This study eventually allowed moss to be used more effectively and sensibly as an indicator of atmospheric N deposition and helped to improve the accuracy of the model of quantifying N deposition by using mosses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate affected factors for subgroups of fatigue and the degree of fatigue in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. This study included 120 MHD patients. Questionnaires, pre- and post-dialysis clinical data, bioimpedance spectroscopy, and ultrasound assessment were involved. The prevalence of fatigue in participants was 83%, including 54% of patients with fatigue worsened by dialysis, 13% with fatigue lessened by dialysis, and 16% with undifferentiated fatigue. Based on multi-nominal logistic regression analysis, age was associated with worsened fatigue by dialysis (odds ratio (OR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.11, p = 0.019), lower post-dialysis phosphorus was associated with lessened fatigue by dialysis (OR = 0.03, 95% CI 0.001–0.981, p = 0.049), and there was an increasing trend of patients experiencing undifferentiated fatigue as the extracellular water / intracellular water (E/I) level increased (p for trend = 0.020). Based on multi-ordinal logistic regression analysis, age was also a significant predictor for more severe fatigue (OR = 1.042, 95% CI 1.008–1.059, p = 0.015). Different subgroups of fatigue in MHD patients have different affecting factors. Older patients were prone to worsened fatigue by dialysis, patients with lower post-dialysis phosphorus were prone to lessened fatigue by dialysis, and patients with higher E/I levels were prone to undifferentiated fatigue. Meanwhile, older patients are prone to suffer from more severe fatigue. However, more in-depth studies are needed to clarify the pathogenesis of fatigue in MHD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrification inhibitors (NIs) are considered as an effective strategy for reducing nitrification rate and related environmental nitrogen (N) loss. However, whether plant-derived biological NIs had an advantage over chemical NIs in simultaneously inhibiting nitrification rate and N2O production remains unclear. Here, we conducted an aerobic 15N microcosmic incubation experiment to compare the effects of a biological NI (methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, MHPP) with three chemical NIs, 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine (nitrapyrin), dicyandiamide (DCD), and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on (i) gross N mineralization and nitrification rate and (ii) the relative importance of nitrification and denitrification in N2O emission in a calcareous soil. The results showed that DMPP significantly inhibited m_gross rate (P < 0.05), whereas DCD, nitrapyrin, and MHPP only numerically inhibited it. Gross N nitrification (n_gross) rates were inhibited by 9.48% in the DCD treatment to 51.5% in the nitrapyrin treatment. Chemical NIs primarily affected the amoA gene abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), whereas biological NIs affected the amoA gene abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and AOB. AOB's community composition was more susceptible to NIs than AOA, and NIs mainly targeted Nitrosospira clusters of AOB. Chemical NIs of DCD, DMPP, and nitrapyrin proportionally reduced N2O production from nitrification and denitrification. However, the biological NI MHPP stimulated short-term N2O emission and increased the proportion of N2O from denitrification. Our findings showed that the influence of NIs on gross N mineralization rate (m_gross) was dependent on the NI type. MHPP exhibited a moderate n_gross inhibitory capacity compared with the three chemical NIs. The mechanisms of chemical and biological NIs inhibiting n_gross can be partly attributed to changes in the abundance and community of ammonia oxidizers. A more comprehensive evaluation is needed to determine whether biological NIs have advantages over chemical NIs in inhibiting greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive abdominal malignancies with a poor prognosis and it is urgent to find effective biomarkers for prediction. Although BICC1 expression is related to the survival, no evidence for its role in PC development has been found. Methods: We used RNA-seq data to screen for molecular markers highly associated with lymph node metastasis. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) public databases were used to analyze the expression and prognosis of Differential Expressed Genes (DEGs) in PC. R studio was used for visualization and functional analysis. Results: BicC Family RNA Binding Protein 1 (BICC1) was a lymph node metastasis-related DEGs in PC patients. Our study found that BICC1 mRNA levels in the tumor tissue were significantly higher and associated with poorer prognosis. Enrichment analysis found that BICC1 was enriched primarily in the Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) pathway. Using the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms, we found that BICC1 was related to immune cell infiltration. As a regulator of multiple immune checkpoints, BICC1 was also involved in PC's immune response. Conclusions: BICC1 has the potential to be a new marker in association with lymph node metastasis as well as immune infiltration of PC. In addition to being a prognostic indicator, it may also be a potential therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study intended to compare the difference between the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL) angle with chronic ankle instability (CAI) patients and healthy volunteers, and to confirm whether using the ATFL–PTFL angle could be a reliable assessment method for CAI, so as to improve the accuracy and specificity of clinical diagnosis. Methods: This retrospective study included 240 participants: 120 CAI patients and 120 healthy volunteers between 2015 and 2021. The ATFL–PTFL angle of the ankle region was gaged in the cross-sectional supine position on MRI between two groups. After participants undergoing a comprehensive MRI scanning, ATFL–PTFL angles were regarded as the main indicator of patients with the injured ATFLs and healthy volunteers to compare, and were measured by an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist. Moreover, other qualitative and quantitative indicators referring to anatomical and morphological characteristics of the AFTL were included in this study with MRI, such as the length, width, thickness, shape, continuity, and signal intensity of the ATFL, which can be used as secondary indicators. Results: In the CAI group, the ATFL–PTFL angle was 90.8° ± 5.7°, which was significantly different from the non-CAI group where the ATFL–PTFL angle for 80.0° ± 3.7° (p < 0.001). As for the ATFL-MRI characteristics, the length (p = 0.003), width (p < 0.001), and thickness (p < 0.001) in the CAI group were also significantly different from the non-CAI group. Over 90% of the cases, patients of the CAI group had injured ATFL with an irregular shape, non-continuous, and high or mixed signal intensity. Conclusion: Compared with healthy people, the ATFL–PTFL angle of most CAI patients is larger, which can be used as a secondary index to diagnose CAI. However, the MRI characteristic changes of ATFL may not relate to the increased ATFL–PTFL angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) are the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aim to explore the impact of concurrent MAFLD on the risk of HCC in CHB. Methods: Patients with CHB were consecutively recruited from 2006 to 2021. MAFLD was defined by steatosis and either obesity, diabetes mellitus, or other metabolic abnormalities. The cumulative incidence of HCC and associated factors were compared between the MAFLD and non-MAFLD groups. Results: 10,546 treatment-naïve CHB patients were included with a median follow-up of 5.1 years. CHB patients with MAFLD (n = 2212) had fewer hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positivity, lower HBV DNA levels, and Fibrosis-4 index compared with the non-MAFLD group (n = 8334). MAFLD was independently associated with a 58% reduced risk of HCC (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25–0.68, p < 0.001). Furthermore, steatosis and metabolic dysfunction had distinct effects on HCC. Steatosis was protective against HCC (aHR 0.45, 95% CI 0.30–0.67, p < 0.001), while a greater burden of metabolic dysfunction increased the risk (aHR 1.40 per dysfunction increase, 95% CI 1.19–1.66, p < 0.001). The protective effect of MAFLD was further confirmed in analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), patients who had undergone antiviral therapy, those with probable MAFLD, and after multiple imputation for missing data. Conclusions: Concurrent hepatic steatosis is independently associated with a lower risk of HCC, whereas the increasing burden of metabolic dysfunction aggravates the risk of HCC in untreated CHB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the relationship between the prevalence of antinuclear antibody (ANA) ‐associated rheumatic diseases (AARD) and the presence of dense fine speckled (DFS) and homogeneous patterns in ANA tests. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled adult patients with either a DFS or homogeneous pattern in their ANA test. A mixed pattern was defined as the presence of more than one pattern reported in the test. The presence of anti‐DFS70 antibodies and other common autoantibodies were detected using EUROLINE ANA Profile 23. A 1:2 propensity score matching was applied to control for demographic and other interfering factors. Results: A total of 59 patients with a DFS pattern were enrolled and compared with a matched homogeneous group. The DFS group had a significantly lower prevalence of AARD (3.4% vs. 16.9%, p =.008) and the subgroup with anti‐DFS70 antibodies showed an even lower prevalence (2% vs. 20%, p =.002). Among the 33 patients with monospecific anti‐DFS70 antibodies, five had a mixed pattern, and all patients with common autoantibodies had an isolated DFS pattern. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that patients with a DFS pattern in their ANA test may have a lower prevalence of AARD compared with those with a homogeneous pattern. However, an isolated DFS pattern in ANA testing does not necessarily indicate the presence of monospecific anti‐DFS70 antibodies or AARD. Confirmatory testing for the monospecific anti‐DFS70 antibody is mandatory to exclude AARD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important biological signaling molecule affecting muscle regeneration. The activity of NO synthase (NOS) is regulated by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) through degradation of the endogenous NOS inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). To investigate the role of DDAH1 in muscle injury and regeneration, muscle-specific Ddah1-knockout mice (Ddah1MKO) and their littermates (Ddah1f/f) were used to examine the progress of cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced muscle injury and subsequent muscle regeneration. After CTX injection, Ddah1MKO mice developed more severe muscle injury than Ddah1f/f mice. Muscle regeneration was also delayed in Ddah1MKO mice on Day 5 after CTX injection. These phenomena were associated with higher serum ADMA and LDH levels as well as a great induction of inflammatory response, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in the gastrocnemius (GA) muscle of Ddah1MKO mice. In the GA muscle of CTX-treated mice, Ddah1 deficiency decreased the protein expression of M-cadherin, myogenin, Bcl-2, peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) and PRDX5, and increased the protein expression of MyoD, TNFα, Il-6, iNOS and Bax. In summary, our data suggest that DDAH1 exerts a protective role in muscle injury and regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most regions of southern China, condensation frequently occurs on building surfaces during the period from March to April. This phenomenon has been affecting people's safety and structural properties. This article proposes an innovative anti-condensation floor system based on the reverse Carnot cycle. The evaporation side treats the air and reduces the moisture content, and the heat extracted from the condensation side is recovered by a heat exchanger and transferred to the floor through capillary mats. Simulation studies of the dynamic operation performance have been conducted through the TRNSYS 18 software. The results show that an innovative anti-condensation floor system can effectively keep the floor dry in Guilin. At the same time, regarding the indoor comfort level index, the PMV value is within ±0.5, and the energy consumption of the system is 42% less than that of the cooling dehumidification system. The system also performs well in representative cities where the air moisture content is less than 12 g/kg. This article also provides a reference for the feasibility of radiant floor systems in humid climate areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let D be a nontrivial 3-(v, k, 1) design admitting a block-transitive group G of automorphisms. A recent work of Gan and the second author asserts that G is either affine or almost simple. In this paper, it is proved that if G is almost simple with socle an alternating group, then D is the unique 3-(10, 4, 1) design, and G = PGL (2 , 9) , M 10 or Aut (A 6) = S 6 : Z 2 , and G is flag-transitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating disease with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. We have previously shown that ferroptosis contributes to neuronal loss in ICH mice. The overload of iron and dysfunction of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) promote neuronal ferroptosis post-ICH. However, how epigenetic regulatory mechanisms affect the ferroptotic neurons in ICH remains unclear. In the current study, hemin was used to induce ferroptosis in N2A and SK-N-SH neuronal cells to mimic ICH. The results showed that hemin-induced ferroptosis was accompanied by an increment of global level of trimethylation in histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9me3) and its methyltransferase Suv39h1. Transcriptional target analyses indicated that H3K9me3 was enriched at the promoter region and gene body of transferrin receptor gene 1 (Tfr1) and repressed its expression upon hemin stimulation. Inhibition of H3K9me3 with inhibitor or siRNA against Suv39h1 aggravated hemin- and RSL3-induced ferroptosis by upregulating Tfr1 expression. Furthermore, Suv39h1-H3K9me3 mediated repression of Tfr1 contributes to the progression of ICH in mice. These data suggest a protective role of H3K9me3 in ferroptosis post ICH. The knowledge gained from this study will improve the understanding of epigenetic regulation in neuronal ferroptosis and shed light on future clinical research after ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis, a newly identified form of cell death, is characterized by iron overload and accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species. Inactivation of pathways, such as glutathione/glutathione peroxidase 4, NAD(P)H/ferroptosis suppressor protein 1/ubiquinone, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase/ubiquinol, or guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase-1/6(R)-l-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin pathways, have been found to induce ferroptosis. The accumulating data suggest that epigenetic regulation can determine cell sensitivity to ferroptosis at both the transcriptional and translational levels. While many of the effectors that regulate ferroptosis have been mapped, epigenetic regulation in ferroptosis is not yet fully understood. Neuronal ferroptosis is a driver in several central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury, and thus, research on how to inhibit neuronal ferroptosis is required to develop novel therapies for these diseases. In this review, we have summarized epigenetic regulation of ferroptosis in these CNS diseases, focusing in particular on DNA methylation, non-coding RNA regulation, and histone modification. Understanding epigenetic regulation in ferroptosis will hasten the development of promising therapeutic strategies in CNS diseases associated with ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decoupling of cropland and livestock due to the industrialization of livestock production is a difficult problem for sustainable agricultural development in many global locations, including China. As population and urbanization increase, this decoupling is likely to become more serious. To date, the relationship between cropland and livestock has been mainly studied from a single perspective, and mostly at the regional and the local scales. Thus, the objective of our study is to systematically assess the coupling relationship between cropland and livestock from multiple aspects on a large scale. Here, we used a complex system covering cropland, livestock and environment subsystems to comprehensively analyze the spatio-temporal variation of the coupling coordination between cropland and livestock and its influencing factors in China over the past two decades. Elaborating on the data, we constructed a comprehensive system of evaluation indexes for cropland–livestock systems. We used a coupling coordination degree model to evaluate the coupling coordination relationship between cropland and livestock in 31 provinces of China during 2000–2020. The results show that the range of cropland–livestock and cropland–livestock–environment coupling coordination degree was 0.4–0.9. In most of the provinces, there was no risk of cropland and livestock decoupling; however, the coupling coordination degree needed to be increased. More attention should be paid to the coordinated development of cropland and livestock coupling in urbanized areas such as Beijing and Tianjin, where cropland and livestock decoupling was more likely to occur. Among the assessed 29 factors, 15 and 16 had an impact on the cropland–livestock and the cropland–livestock–environment coupling coordination degrees, respectively. Our study provides science-based evidence to support estimating the coupling relationship between cropland and livestock in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cadherin-4 gene (CDH4), a member of the cadherin family genes, encodes R-cadherin (R-cad); however, the function of this gene in different types of cancer remains controversial. The function of CDH4 in OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma) is unknown. Materials and methods: We use the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to find the expression of CDH4 in OSCC is more than normal tissue. Our tissue samples also confirmed that CDH4 gene was highly expressed in OSCC. The related cell function assay detected that CDH4 promotes the ability of cell proliferation, migration, self-renewal and invasion. Cell staining experiment confirmed that the change of CDH4 expression would change the cell mortality. The western blot of GPX4 (glutathione-dependent peroxidase-4), GSH (reduced glutathione) test assay and MDA(Malondialdehyde) test assay show that the expression of CDH4 may resist the sensitivity of ferropotosis in OSCC. Results: CDH4 was upregulated in OSCC samples and was correlation with poor survival of patients. High expression of CDH4 effectively promotes the proliferation, mobility of OSCC cells and reduce the sensitivity of OSCC cells to ferroptosis. CDH4 is positively correlated with EMT pathway genes, negatively correlated with fatty acid metabolism pathway genes and peroxisome pathway genes, and positively correlated with ferroptosis suppressor genes in OSCC. Conclusions: These results indicate that CDH4 may play a positive role in tumor progression and resistance ferroptosis and may be a potential therapeutic target for OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) stress seriously constrains barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production globally by influencing its growth and development. In this study, we used a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of 121 crosses between the variety Baudin and the wild barley accession CN4027 to detect QTL for 27 traits at the seedling stage in hydroponic culture trials and 12 traits at the maturity stage in field trials both under two N treatments, aiming to uncover favorable alleles for N tolerance in wild barley. In total, eight stable QTL and seven QTL clusters were detected. Among them, the stable QTL Qtgw.sau-2H located in a 0.46 cM interval on the chromosome arm 2HL was a novel QTL specific for low N. Notably, Clusters C4 and C7 contained QTL for traits at both the seedling and maturity stages. In addition, four stable QTLs in Cluster C4 were identified. Furthermore, a gene (HORVU2Hr1G080990.1) related to grain protein in the interval of Qtgw.sau-2H was predicted. Correlation analysis and QTL mapping showed that different N treatments significantly affected agronomic and physiological traits at the seedling and maturity stages. These results provide valuable information for understanding N tolerance as well as breeding and utilizing the loci of interest in barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten-tin-(rare-metal) deposits are most commonly granite-related and an important source of critical metals. This study describes the fluid evolution in the Tiantangshan Rb-Sn-W deposit, Nanling Range, China, and discusses the implications for mineralizing processes. Mineralization at Tiantangshan is spatially zoned. The greisen roof hosts wolframite-cassiterite quartz veins. The surrounding volcanic rocks host biotite quartz veins (Rb mineralization) crosscut by cassiterite quartz veins and sphalerite-galena quartz veins. The earliest intermediate-density fluids are responsible for the early W-(Sn)-Rb mineralization and evolve towards decreasing homogenization temperature (Th) and ratios of W, Sn, Rb, Cs, Fe, and Mn to Na + K as the fluid migrated from the greisen to the volcanic rocks hosted veins (Th: 420 to 350 °C; salinity: 13 to 4 wt% NaCleq). The spatial distribution of mineralization and fluid paragenesis indicates that precipitation of wolframite, early cassiterite, and Rb-rich biotite was associated with a pH increase during fluid-rock interaction. Late cassiterite and intergrown quartz precipitated from a degassing fluid with lower Th (mainly 360 to 340 °C) and salinity (10 to 2 wt% NaCleq) and with distinctly lower Sn concentrations. Late cassiterite precipitation is therefore likely related with depressurization by brittle failure of the rock leading to simultaneous boiling and meteoric water input. Late Pb–Zn mineralization precipitated from low Th (< 320 °C) and salinity (0 to 2 wt% NaCleq) fluids through extensive mixing with meteoric water. The tempo-spatial development of Rb-Sn-W-Pb–Zn mineralization at Tiantangshan was controlled by a mixing fluid regime, where input of meteoric water gradually increased with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) nerve guide conduits (NGCs) are a promising strategy to replace autogenous nerve grafting for the treatment of peripheral nerve system (PNS) injury. However, dECM conduits with mechanical properties that match those of peripheral nerves are yet to be well developed. Herein, we developed polyurethane-based NGCs incorporating decellularized spinal cord (BWPU-DSC NGCs) to repair peripheral nerves. BWPU-DSC NGCs have an inner three-dimensional micro–nanostructure. The mechanical properties of BWPU-DSC NGCs were similar to those of polyurethane NGCs, which were proven to promote peripheral nerve regeneration. An in vitro study indicated that BWPU-DSC NGCs could boost the proliferation and growth of cell processes in Schwann and neuron-like cells. In a rat sciatic nerve transected injury model, BWPU-DSC NGCs exhibited a dramatic increase in nerve repair, similar to that obtained by the current gold standard autograft implantation at only 6 weeks post-implantation, whereas polyurethane NGCs still displayed incomplete nerve repair. Histological analysis revealed that BWPU-DSC NGCs could induce the reprogramming of Schwann cells to promote axon regeneration and remyelination. Moreover, reprogrammed Schwann cells together with BWPU-DSC NGCs had anti-inflammatory effects and altered the activation state of macrophages to M2 phenotypes to enhance PNS regeneration. In this study, we provided a strategy to prepare polyurethane-based dECM NGCs enriched with bioactive molecules to promote PNS regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Application of exogenous carbon (C) and nitrification inhibitors are common measures to regulate soil nitrogen cycling and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. However, we lack knowledge on their direct effects on denitrification processes. Methods: A 15 N anaerobic microcosm experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of exogenous C and/or nitrification inhibitors on denitrification rate, N2O/(N2O + N2) product stoichiometry ratio, and nirS- and nirK-type denitrifiers in a calcareous soil. Exogenous C were wheat straw and wheat straw–derived biochar, and nitrification inhibitors were chemical nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and biological nitrification inhibitor methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (MHPP). Results: Wheat straw, composite with much of liable C, significantly increased denitrification rate (3.96–4.19 times higher than control), N2O emission, and N2O/(N2O + N2) ratio (p < 0.05) by upregulating nirK and nirS genes of denitrifiers, and changing the community structure of nirS-type denitrifiers. By contrast, biochar, composite with much of recalcitrant organic C, increased the N2O/(N2O + N2) ratio but did not stimulate the denitrification rate (P > 0.05). One percent (w/w applied-N) DMPP, 1% MHPP, and 5% MHPP exhibited minor effects on denitrification rate, while 10% MHPP increased the denitrification rate by 1.32 times relative to control (p < 0.05). Wheat straw biochar applied with two nitrification inhibitors reshaped the community structure of nirK- and nirS-type denitrifiers, decreasing the denitrification rate compared with control, and the N2O/(N2O + N2) ratio compared with application of biochar alone (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The direct effects of exogenous C on denitrification and denitrification processes were dependent on the type of exogenous C applied. High dosage of MHPP (> 10% w/w) increased both denitrification rate and N2O/(N2O + N2) ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]