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Background: There are no standard treatment options for bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules requiring resection. This study aimed to summarize the experience of simultaneous bilateral uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of bilateral multiple primary pulmonary nodules. Methods: The clinical data of 65 cases of simultaneous bilateral uniportal thoracoscopic surgery for bilateral multiple primary pulmonary nodules treated were retrospectively analyzed. These cases were treated within The Ninth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital between January 2018 and November 2020. Parameters related to the surgery, perioperative aspects, surgical techniques, pathology results, and postoperative complications were examined. Results: All surgeries were conducted through uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, with no instances of intraoperative conversion to thoracotomy. Fifty-three patients further underwent CT-guided Hookwire localization for the localization of pulmonary nodules. A total of 189 nodules were resected using multiple surgical procedures, with a malignancy rate of 86.2%. The average operation time was 226 ± 77.4 min, the average thoracic drainage duration was 3.1 ± 1.5 days, the average 24 h pleural drainage was 385.9 ± 157.4 mL, the average postoperative hospital stay was 8.6 ± 2.4 days, and the average blood loss was 77.2 ± 33.8 mL. Post-surgery, all patients were transferred to the ward safely within 12 h. 15.38% of patients have prolonged drainage time, and 12.31% of patients experience complications such as lung infection, arrhythmia, and venous thrombosis. Conclusion: The selected cases undergoing simultaneous bilateral uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the management of bilateral multiple primary pulmonary nodules demonstrated favorable outcomes. Our observations indicate the safety and feasibility of this procedure, providing an individualized and precise treatment approach for affected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc) is an important pathogen associated with diseases in goats, hindering the development of the livestock industry. We previously isolated the HN-B strain of Mcc from goats on Hainan Island, China. The genomic and biological characteristics of this strain were investigated. In this study, we infected mice and RAW264.7 cells with Mcc HN-B to explore its pathogenic mechanism in the host. Differentially expressed genes related to immune terms and pathways were identified using bioinformatic analyses. The expression of two inflammatory proteins, S100A8 and S100A9, was up-regulated in mouse lungs post Mcc HN-B infection. This study preliminarily elucidates the pathogenesis of Mcc in mice and paves the way for further research in goats. Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc), a member of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster, has a negative impact on the goat-breeding industry. However, little is known about the pathogenic mechanism of Mcc. This study infected mice using a previously isolated strain, Mcc HN-B. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, RNA sequencing, bioinformatic analyses, RT-qPCR, and immunohistochemistry were performed on mouse lung tissues. The results showed that 235 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggested that the DEGs were mainly associated with immune response, defensive response to bacteria, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and T cell receptor signaling pathway. RT-qPCR verified the expression of Ccl5, Cd4, Cd28, Il2rb, Lck, Lat, Ptgs2, S100a8, S100a9, and Il-33. The up-regulation of S100A8 and S100A9 at the protein level was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, RT-qPCR assays on Mcc HN-B-infected RAW264.7 cells also showed that the expression of S100a8 and S100a9 was elevated. S100A8 and S100A9 not only have diagnostic value in Mcc infection but also hold great significance in clarifying the pathogenic mechanism of Mcc. This study preliminarily elucidates the mechanism of Mcc HN-B-induced lung injury and provides a theoretical basis for further research on Mcc–host interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China has thousands years of goat breeding and abundant goat genetic resources. Additionally, the Hainan black goat is one of the high-quality local goat breeds in China. In order to conserve the germplasm resources of the Hainan black goat, facilitate its genetic improvement and further protect the genetic diversity of goats, it is urgent to develop a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip for Hainan black goat. Results: In this study, we aimed to design a 10K liquid chip for Hainan black goat based on genotyping by pinpoint sequencing of liquid captured targets (cGPS). A total of 45,588 candidate SNP sites were obtained, 10,677 of which representative SNP sites were selected to design probes, which finally covered 9,993 intervals and formed a 10K cGPS liquid chip for Hainan black goat. To verify the 10K cGPS liquid chip, some southern Chinese goat breeds and a sheep breed with similar phenotype to the Hainan black goat were selected. A total of 104 samples were used to verify the clustering ability of the 10K cGPS liquid chip for Hainan black goat. The results showed that the detection rate of sites was 97.34% -99.93%. 84.5% of SNP sites were polymorphic. The heterozygosity rate was 3.08%-36.80%. The depth of more than 99.4% sites was above 10X. The repetition rate was 99.66%-99.82%. The average consistency between cGPS liquid chip results and resequencing results was 85.58%. In addition, the phylogenetic tree clustering analysis verified that the SNP sites on the chip had better clustering ability. Conclusion: These results indicate that we have successfully realized the development and verification of the 10K cGPS liquid chip for Hainan black goat, which provides a useful tool for the genome analysis of Hainan black goat. Moreover, the 10K cGPS liquid chip is conducive to the research and protection of Hainan black goat germplasm resources and lays a solid foundation for its subsequent breeding work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylanase is an essential component used to hydrolyze the xylan in wheat flour to enhance the quality of bread. Presently, cold-activated xylanase is popularly utilized to aid in the development of dough. In this study, ancestral sequence reconstruction and molecular docking of xylanase and wheat xylan were used to enhance the activity and stability of a thermophilic xylanase. The results indicated that the ancestral enzyme TmxN3 exhibited significantly improved activity and thermal stability. The Vmax increased by 2.7 times, and the catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km) increased by 1.7 times in comparison to TmxB. After being incubated at 100 °C for 120 min, it still retained 87.3% of its activity, and the half-life in 100 °C was 330 min, while the wild type xylanase was only 55 min. This resulted in an improved shelf life of bread, while adding TmxN3 considerably enhanced its quality with excellent volume and reduced hardness, chewiness, and gumminess. The results showed that the hardness was reduced by 55.2%, the chewiness was reduced by 40.11%, and the gumminess was reduced by 53.52%. To facilitate its industrial application, we further optimized the production conditions in a 5L bioreactor, and the xylanase activity reached 1.52 × 106 U/mL culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We report the photoelectric properties and structural changes of ZnO nanoparticles (∼63 nm) under pressures of up to 22.9(5) GPa using in situ Raman spectroscopy, photocurrent measurements, and theoretical calculations. The ZnO nanoparticles show enhanced photocurrent (2.8 mA) and responsivity (4.78 × 106 mA W–1) under 365 nm irradiation in the wurtzite (B4) phase. On the contrary, the rock-salt (B1) phase, emerging post the wurtzite phase, exhibits a smaller band gap and decreased absorption coefficient, leading to reduced photocurrents and responsivity. These findings highlight the potential of high-pressure modulation to optimize the photoelectronic properties of ZnO nanoparticles for electronic device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer remains the common cancer with the worst prognosis because of its late diagnosis and extensive metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GABRP on pancreatic cancer metastasis and the molecular mechanism. The expression of GABRP was measured using the quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. The biological behaviors of cancer cells were assessed using the cell counting kit-8, Transwell assay, and western blot. The regulation of GABRP on the MEK/ERK pathway was detected by western blot. The results indicated that GABRP was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells. Knockdown of GABRP suppressed cell viability, invasion, migration, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), whereas GABRP overexpression facilitated these biological behaviors. Inactivation of the MEK/ERK pathway reversed the effects on cellular processes induced by GABRP. Moreover, silencing of GABRP inhibited tumor growth. In conclusion, GABRP promoted the progression of pancreatic cancer by facilitating cell metastasis and tumor growth via activating the MEK/ERK pathway. The findings suggest that GABRP has the potential to be a therapeutic target for the metastatic pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mannheimia haemolytica (M. haemolytica) is a significant bacterial pathogen that causes substantial economic losses to the livestock industry by infecting ruminants. In our previous study, we successfully isolated and identified a strain of M. haemolytica from Hainan Black goats. However, the pathogenicity of this strain and the molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between M. haemolytica and animals have not been investigated. In this study, we constructed a M. haemolytica infection model in mice to analyze the histopathology of the bacterial infection and explore the immune mechanisms employed by the murine spleen to resist M. haemolytica infection. (1) Background: Mannheimia haemolytica (M. haemolytica) is an opportunistic pathogen and is mainly associated with respiratory diseases in cattle, sheep, and goats. (2) Methods: In this study, a mouse infection model was established using a M. haemolytica strain isolated from goats. Histopathological observations were conducted on various organs of the mice, and bacterial load determination and RNA-seq analysis were specifically performed on the spleens of the mice. (3) Results: The findings of this study suggest that chemokines, potentially present in the spleen of mice following a M. haemolytica challenge, may induce the migration of leukocytes to the spleen and suppress the release of pro-inflammatory factors through a negative feedback regulation mechanism. Additionally, an interesting observation was made regarding the potential of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells congregating in the spleen to differentiate into immune cells, which could potentially collaborate with leukocytes in their efforts to counteract M. haemolytica invasion. (4) Conclusions: This study revealed the immune regulation mechanism induced by M. haemolytica in the mouse spleen, providing valuable insights into host–pathogen interactions and offering a theoretical basis for the prevention, control, and treatment of mannheimiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-Cas (CRISPR-Cas9) technology in the genetic modification of Yarrowia lipolytica is challenged by low efficiency and low throughput. Here, a highly efficient CRISPR-iCas9 (with D147Y and P411T mutants) genetic manipulation tool was established for Y. lipolytica, which was further utilized to integrate carotene synthetic key genes and significantly improve the target product yield. First, CRISPR-iCas9 could shorten the time of genetic modification and enable the rapid knockout of nonsense suppressors. iCas9 can lead to more than 98% knockout efficiency for NHEJ-mediated repair after optimal target disruption of a single gene, 100% knockout efficiency for a single gene-guided version, and more than 80% knockout efficiency for multiple genes simultaneously in Y. lipolytica. Subsequently, this technology allowed for rapid one-step integration of large fragments (up to 9902-bp) of genes into chromosomes. Finally, YL-ABTG and YL-ABTG2Z were further constructed through CRISPR-iCas9 integration of key genes in a one-step process, resulting in a maximum β-carotene and zeaxanthin content of 3.12 mg/g and 2.33 mg/g dry cell weight, respectively. Therefore, CRISPR-iCas9 technology provides a feasible approach to genetic modification for efficient biosynthesis of biological compounds in Y. lipolytica. Key points: • iCas9 with D147Y and P411T mutants improved the CRISPR efficiency in Y. lipolytica. • CRISPR-iCas9 achieved efficient gene knockout and integration in Y. lipolytica. • CRISPR-iCas9 rapidly modified Y. lipolytica for carotenoid bioproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, we aimed to explore the expression of TUSC3 in Preeclampsia and to research the potential function of TUSC3 in placental trophoblast cells. Methods: We collected 10 cases of normal placental tissues and preeclampsia placental tissues, respectively. These parturient received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University between June 1,2020, and December 31, 2022. The expression of TUSC3 in placenta was detected by immunohistochemistry. The effect of TUSC3 on the migration and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells was analyzed by migration assay and Transwell assay. Results: The expression of TUSC3 was slightly increased in placental villis in preeclampsia. Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of TUSC3 protein and mRNA in placental tissues. TUSC3 was markedly upregulated in PE placental tissues (P<0.01). The results of migration assay and Transwell assay showed that the migration rate and the number of invasive cells were significantly decreased in HTR8 overexpressing TUSC3(P<0.01). Conclusions: TUSC3 was markedly increased in PE placental tissues and inhibited trophoblast cells migration and invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The interface zone, area around invasive carcinoma, can be thought of as the actual tissue of the tumor microenvironment with precedent alterations for tumor invasion. However, the heterogeneity and characteristics of the microenvironment in the interface area have not yet been thoroughly explored. Methods: For in vitro studies, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to characterize the cells from the tumor zone, the normal zone and the interface zone with 5-mm-wide belts between the tumor invasion front and the normal zone. Through scRNA-seq data analysis, we compared the cell types and their transcriptional characteristics in the different zones. Pseudotime, cell–cell communication and pathway analysis were performed to characterize the zone-specific microenvironment. Cell proliferation, wound healing and clone formation experiments explored the function of differentially expressed gene BMPR1B, which were confirmed by tumor models in vivo. Results: After screening, 88,548 high-quality cells were obtained and identified. Regulatory T cells, M2 macrophages, angiogenesis-related mast cells, stem cells with weak DNA repair ability, endothelial cells with angiogenic activity, fibroblasts with collagen synthesis and epithelial cells with proliferative activity form a unique tumorigenic microenvironment in the interface zone. Cell–cell communication analysis revealed that there are special ligand–receptor pairs between different cell types in the interface zone, which protects endothelial cell apoptosis and promotes epithelial cell proliferation and migration, compared to the normal zone. Compared with the normal zone, the highly expressed BMPR1B gene promotes the tumorigenic ability of cancer cells in the interface zone. Conclusions: Our work identified a unique tumorigenic microenvironment of the interface zone and allowed for deeper insights into the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer that will serve as a helpful resource for advancing breast cancer diagnosis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ophiolites in the Beishan Orogenic Belt provide important information about the evolution of the Beishan Ocean in the Paleozoic Era. We studied ophiolite petrology, geochemistry and isotopic chronology. The Shazouquan ophiolites consist of dunites, wehrlites, gabbros and anorthosites. Ophiolitic mélange belts are composed of matrixes and blocks, and different rocks are fault-bounded. Dunites and wehrlites are high in Mg#, Cr# and MgO, low in TiO2, relatively depleted in large-ion lithophile elements (Ti and P) and enriched in high-strength elements (U, Zr and Hf). They have a total REE of 1.25 × 10–6−5.39 × 10−6 and δEu of 1.12–3.54, which are similar to those of SSZ-type ophiolites, indicating that their parent magma source region may be a weakly depleted mantle source region. The anorthosite and gabbro are high in Al2O3, MgO and Mg#, low in TiO2, enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (Rb and Sr), and depleted in high-strength elements (Nb, Ta and Ti), but enriched in Zr and Hf. They have similar geochemical signatures to those of arc magmatic rocks. They are derived from the mantle peridotite formed against the tectonic background of subduction and modified by the fluid materials in the subduction zone. We collected anorthosite and gabbro, which were produced as ophiolite for U-Pb dating. The anorthosite yields a zircon U-Pb, aged 394 ± 11 Ma (MSWD = 0.84), and a gabbro zircon U-Pb, aged 466 ± 12 Ma (MSWD = 3.2), indicating that the Shazouquan ophiolite was formed in the Middle Ordovician–Early Devonian eras. Combining the above evidence, we conclude that the Beishan Ocean was in a subduction tectonic background from the Middle Ordovician to Early Devonian periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyze the motion characteristics of the spring pendulum under the action of magnetic field force, the motion of the spring pendulum will be studied by applying a uniform magnetic field in the vertical direction. Firstly, a first-order approximate solution is given by studying the micro-vibration around its equilibrium point. And an approximate solution similar to the Foucault pendulum is also presented in the case of a soft spring with strong ductility. Then, according to the resonance conditions of mechanical vibration, the internal resonance phenomenon of magnetic spring pendulum is discovered, and then the conclusion that the energy of the system is cyclically transmitted between the three modes of breathing, oscillating and deflection is presented subsequently. Finally, the influence of magnetic field strength on the motion stability of the spring pendulum is explored, and not only the bifurcation phenomenon at its equilibrium point is found, but also the complex dynamic behavior including chaotic motion occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on post-collisional magmatic rocks can provide key clues to researching the crust–mantle interactions and the tectonic evolution of collisional orogenic belts. This study investigated a suite of newly discovered mafic intrusions in the middle of the East Kunlun orogenic belt through integrated analysis of petrology, petrography, and zircon U–Pb dating. The data could offer new insights into the generation of the Proto-Tethyan tectonic evolution. The result shows that these mafic intrusions are mainly gabbro and diabase, formed in the Early Devonian, with zircon U–Pb ages of 408.9 ± 2.0 Ma for gabbro and 411.1 ± 3.1 Ma for diabase. It consists of plagioclase, pyroxene, and dark minerals, and a small number of calcite and chlorite. Diabase has a small amount of amygdale. Their Na2O + K2O contents range from 3.47 wt.% to 5.45 wt.%, with Na2O/K2O ratios from 1.39 to 3.09, suggesting that they are calc–alkaline rocks. These rocks have an Fe2O3ᵀ content of 7.68 wt.%–11.59 wt.% and Mg# of 50.58–59.48, belonging to the iron-rich and magnesium-poor type. The chondrite-normalized rare earth elements show similar patterns that are characterized by enrichment of light rare earth elements, with (La/Yb)N of 3.27–6.75 and no significant europium anomaly, indicating the rocks are homogenous. The studied rocks are characterized by low contents of compatible elements Cr and Ni, enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements such as Rb, U, Sr, and Nd, and high-field-strength elements such as Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and Th. The mafic magma originated from the partial melting of the enriched mantle and was assimilated and mixed with crust materials during the process of migration. Based on the regional tectonic evolution, we interpret that the Proto-Tethys Ocean had closed in the Early Devonian, and that the East Kunlun region was in a post-collisional extensional tectonic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The N-soliton solution of the (2+1)-dimensional Sawada-Kotera equation is given by using the Hirota bilinear method, and then, the conjugate parameter method and the long-wave limit method are used to get the breather solution and the lump solution, as well as the interaction solution of the elastic collision properties between them. In addition, according to the expression of the lump-type soliton solution and the striped soliton solution, the completely inelastic collision, rebound, absorption, splitting, and other particle characteristics of the two solitons in the interaction process are directly studied with the simulation method, which reveals the laws of physics reflected behind the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Rationale: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a critical disease with a poor prognosis. Although different studies have been conducted for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, limited treatments are available. Jin-shui Huan-xian granule (JHG), which is a Chinese medicine herbal compound, has shown promising efficacy in reducing frequencies of acute exacerbations, improving exercise capacity the quality of life of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of JHG for IPF.Subjects and Methods: This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 312 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients will be enrolled and randomly allocated to one of the two groups with 1:1. After a 2-week washout period, 52-week treatment will also be performed for all the patients. Patients in the experimental group and the control group will be given JHG and JHG placebo, respectively. Outcome measures including acute exacerbations, pulmonary function, dyspnea, exercise capacity, and quality of life will be evaluated in this study.Discussion: Based on our previous study, it is hypothesized that JHG will reduce acute exacerbations; improve exercise capacity, pulmonary function, and quality of life; and delay the disease progression-free. High-level evidence-based support for TCM in IPF will also be obtained in this study.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04187690. Register on December 11, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Chinese fir sprouting population lifespan is shortened and survivorship situation and biomass are also changed by bamboo expansion via declines in mother tree density and weakened physiological accommodation. Natural regeneration is a vital means of maintaining forest populations. Although bamboo expansion negatively affects population structures of neighboring communities, its influence on sprouting natural regeneration is still poorly understood. We compared the population structure and biomass allocation of Chinese fir regenerating sprouts in previous (CLS), middle (CPM) and late (PCM) periods of bamboo expansion. Life tables and survivorship curves were used to assess sprouting population structure and survival dynamics, and allometric analysis was conducted on biomass allocation. The results showed that bamboo expansion reduced the number and longevity (maximum age class shorted from X to VI) of the Chinese fir sprouting population and weakened its survival capacity. Survivorship curves indicated that the CLS population conformed more to a recession type (Deevey III) while CPM and PCM tended to be stable types (Deevey II). Highly mortality and survival risk in the early growing stage drove a population decrease. Meanwhile, sprouting component biomasses were decreased first and then increased by expansion effect, leaf and stem biomass had constant relationships with total biomass, and branch biomass had allometric relationships with total biomass. We considered that bamboo expansion changed sprouting population survival and growth mainly through affected Chinese fir mother tree density and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Cervical spondylosis (CS) is often accompanied by persistent cervical pain, and psychological complications including depression and anxiety, which aggravate pain. Past studies have revealed brain alterations in chronic pain patients. However, the cortical mechanism for NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) responders relative to non-responders is still lacking. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the brain functional differences between responders to NSAID relative to non-responders using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and dynamic functional connectivity variance (DFCV). To our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate the DFCV in CS patients. Materials and methods: We first explored the differences in psychological inventories in CS patients who respond to NSAID vs non-responders. The voxel-wise ALFF was calculated and compared between CS patients and healthy controls. The ALFF within the resultant clusters were extracted and compared between responders and non-responders. DFCV among the resulting clusters was compared in responders vs non-responders. Results: We found that (1) compared to responders, non-responders exhibited higher levels of anxiety and depression; (2) relative to healthy controls, CS patients exhibited altered ALFF within the middle cingulate cortice (MCC), cerebellum, and middle frontal gyrus (MFG); (3) moreover, compared with responders, non-responders exhibited lower ALFF within MCC; furthermore, non-responders also exhibited increased DFCV between MCC and cerebellum, and between MCC and MFG. Conclusion: Our data indicate that psychological comorbidities (e.g., anxiety) influence response to NSAID in CS patients. Relative to NSAID responders, non-responders had altered MCC function, which may be associated with anxiety in CS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Identifying patients with BRCA mutations is clinically important to inform on the potential response to treatment and for risk management of patients and their relatives. However, traditional referral routes may not meet clinical needs, and therefore, mainstreaming cancer genetics has been shown to be effective in some high-income and high health-literacy settings. To date, no study has reported on the feasibility of mainstreaming in low-income and middle-income settings, where the service considerations and health literacy could detrimentally affect the feasibility of mainstreaming. Methods The Mainstreaming Genetic Counselling for Ovarian Cancer Patients (MaGiC) study is a prospective, two-arm observational study comparing oncologist-led and genetics-led counselling. This study included 790 multiethnic patients with ovarian cancer from 23 sites in Malaysia. We compared the impact of different method of delivery of genetic counselling on the uptake of genetic testing and assessed the feasibility, knowledge and satisfaction of patients with ovarian cancer. Results Oncologists were satisfied with the mainstreaming experience, with 95% indicating a desire to incorporate testing into their clinical practice. The uptake of genetic testing was similar in the mainstreaming and genetics arm (80% and 79%, respectively). Patient satisfaction was high, whereas decision conflict and psychological impact were low in both arms of the study. Notably, decisional conflict, although lower than threshold, was higher for the mainstreaming group compared with the genetics arm. Overall, 13.5% of patients had a pathogenic variant in BRCA1 or BRCA2, and there was no difference between psychosocial measures for carriers in both arms. Conclusion The MaGiC study demonstrates that mainstreaming cancer genetics is feasible in low-resource and middle-resource Asian setting and increased coverage for genetic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To perform environmental sampling and molecular identification of Paragonimus in endemic regions, which may help in minimizing transmission among humans. Methods: Mountain crabs from the genus Potamiscus were collected and the encysted metacercariae were extracted and subjected to morphological identification, followed by animal inoculation in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. After 112 days of infection, animals were killed and adult worms were extracted from lungs and muscles. The morphology of adult worms was characterized by microscopy and molecular identification was done by polymerase chain reaction, followed by sequencing of cox1 and ITS2 genes. Phylogenetic analysis was done by maximum parsimony method. Results: A total of 447 crabs were captured from the streams of Tongchang Town, Jinping County, Yunnan Province, China. The infection rate was found to be 41% (186 out of 447 crabs). The metacercariae of Paragonimus skrjabini was identified by the characteristics round or spherical encysted form measuring 410 to 460 × 400 to 460 µm. After animal infection in SD rats, adults were presumptively confirmed to be P. skrjabini, which was also confirmed by gene amplification and sequence analysis of cox1 and ITS2 regions. Paragonimus skrjabini clustered with previously reported P. skrjabini from Yunnan and Vietnam. The confidence values of their branches were > 95%. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS2 region revealed two distinct clusters with distinct geographical grouping. Phylogenetic analysis with the combined data sets reiterated the geographical grouping with P. skrjabini from Yunnan clustering with strains from Vietnam. Conclusion: Metacercariae of P. skrjabini was discovered in freshwater crabs in Yunnan province, China, and the strains were phylogenetically related to P. skrjabini from Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratin is a tough fibrous structural protein that is difficult to digest with pepsin and trypsin because of the presence of a large number of disulfide bonds. Keratin is widely found in agricultural waste. In recent years, especially, the development of the poultry industry has resulted in a large accumulation of feather keratin resources, which seriously pollute the environment. Keratinase can specifically attack disulfide bridges in keratin, converting them from complex to simplified forms. The keratinase thermal stability has drawn attention to various biotechnological industries. It is significant to identify keratinases and improve their thermostability from microorganism in extreme environments. In this study, the keratinases DgoKerA was identified in Deinococcus gobiensis I-0 from the Gobi desert. The amino acid sequence analysis revealed that DgoKerA was 58.68% identical to the keratinase MtaKerA from M. thermophila WR-220 and 40.94% identical to the classical BliKerA sequence from B. licheniformis PWD-1. In vitro enzyme activity analysis showed that DgoKerA exhibited an optimum temperature of 60 °C, an optimum pH of 7 and a specific enzyme activity of 51147 U/mg. DgoKerA can degrade intact feathers at 60 °C and has good potential for industrial applications. The molecular modification of DgoKerA was also carried out using site-directed mutagenesis, in which the mutant A350S enzyme activity was increased by nearly 30%, and the results provide a theoretical basis for the development and optimization of keratinase applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillin is one of the most commonly used natural-occurring flavors in the world. This study successfully constructed an efficient whole-cell catalytic system for vanillin biosynthesis from ferulic acid by regulating feruloyl-CoA synthetase (FCS) and enoyl-CoA hydratase (ECH). First, we constructed an efficient cell-free catalytic system with FCS-Str (fcs from Streptomyces sp. V-1) and ECH-Str (ech from Streptomyces sp. V-1) combination at 1:1. The efficient cell-free catalytic system provided necessary strategies for optimizing the whole-cell catalytic system. Then, we constructed the recombinant Escherichia coli by heterologously expressing the fcs-Str and ech-Str combination. Moreover, E. coli JM109 was a better recombinant Escherichia coli than E. coli BL21 with higher vanillin production. Finally, we first adjusted the ratio of FCS and ECH in E. coli JM109 to 1:1 using two copies of fcs-Str. For higher vanillin production, we further optimized the induction conditions of E. coli JM109 to increase the amount of FCS and ECH. The optimized E. coli JM109-FE-F constructed in this study has the highest vanillin synthesis rate of converting 20 mM ferulic acid to 15 mM vanillin in 6 h among all of the E. coli catalytic systems. Our study made a significant contribution to the construction of the vanillin biosynthesis system and provided a valuable strategy for increasing vanillin production. Key points: • The efficient cell-free vanillin biosynthesis system was constructed by FCS-Str and ECH-Str combination at 1:1. • Escherichia coliJM109 was determined as a better recombinant Escherichia coli than E. coli BL21 with higher vanillin production. • Escherichia coliJM109-FE-F with two copies of fcs-Str and one copy of ech-Str has the highest catalytic efficiency for vanillin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paragonimus species are highly prevalent in various regions of China. The study's objective is to isolate and identify Paragonimus from natural habitats and compare the phylogenetic diversity of Paragonimus in southern Yunnan province, China. Metacercariae of Paragonimus was isolated from crabs, and morphologic identification was performed by microscopy. Metacercariae were injected into experimental Paragonimus free Sprague Dawley rats. After 114 days, adult worms and eggs were isolated from multiple organs. Morphologic identification confirmed the initial identification. DNA was extracted from 5 adult worms, and molecular characterization was performed by amplification and sequencing of CO1 and ITS2 regions, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Out of 447 crabs captured, 186 crabs were found to be infected. A total of 4 species of Paragonimus was observed from naturally infected crabs. Paragonimus microrchis (2), Paragonimus heterotremus (1), Paragonimus proliferus (1), and Paragonimus skrjabini (1) were isolated and identified. A total of 32 sequences were downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and 5 sequences generated in the study were used for phylogenetic analysis. In the phylogenetic tree of the CO1 gene, Paragonimus proliferus, Paragonimus heterotremus, and Paragonimus skrjabini were clustered with the same species, and the confidence values of their branches were >95%. A congruent phylogenetic relationship was observed with the ITS2 phylogenetic tree. In the phylogenetic tree constructed with the combined dataset of CO1 and ITS2 datasets, Paragonimus proliferus, Paragonimus heterotremus, and Paragonimus skrjabini clustered with the same species, and their branch confidence values were >94%. Paragonimus microrchis clustered with Paragonimus bangkokensis in both datasets. Phylogenetic analysis revealed robustness of the double loci method as against the single-locus method with either CO1 or ITS2 alone. Paragonimus species isolated from the southern Yunnan province, China, was phylogenetically diverse, and the analysis revealed the clustering of multiple species of Paragonimus isolated from different geographic locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study translates the Organization Big Five Scale (ORG-B5) into Chinese and tests its reliability and validity. In Study 1 (N =406), the ORG-B5 was translated into Chinese, and an exploratory factor analysis established the scale's factorial validity. In Study 2 (N =391), confirmatory factor analyses found that the five-factor correlation model fit the data best. The results from the configural, metric, and scalar invariance models also demonstrate that the ORG-B5 is equivalent across gender, age, and work tenure. The relationship between ORG-B5 and related constructs was also explored further. This study argues that the Chinese version of ORG-B5 provides researchers with a psychometrically sound and efficient tool to assess the Big Five personality traits within organizations in the Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The community species abundance and diversity declined with bamboo invasion had been widely reported worldwide. However, the physiological strategies used during root competition between native species and invasive bamboo are poorly understood. To clarify the mechanisms underlying such strategies, the stoichiometric dynamics and homeostasis of nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon in root orders of Phyllostachys edulis (I du [=I-Pe, years 1 and 2]; II du [=II-Pe, years 3 and 4]), Cunninghamia lanceolata in transition and pure forests were analyzed. With increasing intensity of bamboo invasion, N, P, and C content of C. lanceolata root orders declined, N and P content in P. edulis rhizome orders declined, while C increased, the stoichiometric ratios in mixed forest interface mainly increased, and the stoichiometric differences within native and invasive species root orders narrowed. Meanwhile, the stoichiometric homeostasis index (H) of elements in the same root order and even the same elements in different root orders were not consistent. H of most root orders (except some HP) was greater than 4, the H ranked order was I-Pe > Cl > II-Pe in mixed interfaces, and the N:P ratio of most species root orders was greater than 16, despite being affected by invasion. Our research concluded that the bamboo invasion narrows stoichiometric differences within root orders, and the juvenile bamboo rhizome has a stronger capacity for homeostatic regulation than in adult bamboo and C. lanceolata, which is a key determinant of bamboo invasion success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: β-Carotene has been widely used in the food and feed industry and has significant commercial value. This study aimed to increase the β-carotene production in engineered Yarrowia lipolytica by optimizing the host metabolic network. The DID2 gene, a subunit of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT), was integrated into a β-carotene producing strain. Results: The β-carotene production was increased by 260%, and the biomass increased by 10% for engineered Y. lipolytica. Meanwhile, DID2 elevated the mRNA level and protein level of the genes in the β-carotene synthesis pathway, then increased precursors (FPP, Lycopene) utilization. DID2 also increased the mRNA level of the genes in the glucose pathway, pentose phosphate pathway, and tricarboxylic acid cycle and promoted glucose utilization and cofactors consumption. Conclusion: The ESCRT protein complex subunit, DID2, improved β-carotene production in engineered Y. lipolytica and beneficial to glucose utilization and cofactors consumption. This study provided new finding of the DID2 gene's function and it mostly could be used for many other natural product productions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of mini‐open retroperitoneal oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) for the treatment of lumbar spinal tuberculosis. Methods: A total of 115 patients who suffered from lumbar spinal tuberculosis from June 2014 to December 2017 were included in this research. A total of 59 patients underwent OLIF and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (OLIF group) and 56 patients underwent the anterior‐only approach (anterior‐only group). All patients were followed up for at least 24 months. Operation time, blood loss, and rate of complications were used to assess the safety of these two techniques. The visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate the relief of neurological and functional symptoms. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were measured to investigate the activity and recurrence of spinal tuberculosis. The Cobb angle, the sagittal vertical axis of the spine (SVA), the pelvic tilt (PT), the sacral slope (SS), the pelvic incidence (PI), and postoperative Frankel classification were also used to assess the efficiency of the spine deformity correction and the recovery of long‐term neurological function. Results: Most patients were successfully treated with OLIF and the anterior‐only technique and attained satisfactory clinical efficiency during the 24‐month follow‐up period. In the perioperative period, the mean operative time (154.68 ± 23.64 min, P < 0.001), the mean blood loss (110.57 ± 87.67 mL, P < 0.001), and the mean hospital stay (9.55 ± 3.62 days, P < 0.001) of the OLIF group were all significantly lower than in the anterior‐only group (172.49 ± 25.67 min, 458.56 ± 114.89 mL, and 14.89 ± 3.89 days, respectively). A total of 10 patients (16.95%) experienced complications in the OLIF group, including neurological injury, segmental artery and iliac vein lacerations, peritoneal injury, instrument failure, and infection of incisions; this rate of complications was lower than in the anterior‐only group (37.50%, P = 0.013). Regard to spinal deformity correction, the Cobb angle (9.42° ± 1.72°, P = 0.032), the SVA (2.23 ± 1.07 cm, P = 0.041), the PT (14.26° ± 2.37°, P = 0.037), and the SS (39.49° ± 2.17°, P = 0.042) of the OLIF group at last follow‐up were all significantly different when compared to the anterior‐only group (14.75° ± 2.13°, 3.48 ± 0.76 cm, 18.58° ± 1.45°, and 36.78° ± 1.96°, respectively). The VAS and the ODI of the OLIF group at 1 week postoperatively (3.15 ± 0.48, 21.85 ± 3.78, P = 0.032, 0.037) and at the last follow‐up (2.12 ± 0.35, 16.70 ± 5.25, P = 0.043, 0.035) were both lower than for the anterior‐only group (5.18 ± 0.56, 29.83 ± 5.42 and 3.67 ± 0.62, 20.68 ± 6.23). The Frankel classification was improved for both OLIF and anterior‐only patients; however, there were 35 cases (59.32%) classified as Frankel grade E in the OLIF group and 22 cases (39.29%, P = 0.021) in the anterior‐only group Conclusion: The OLIF surgical technique for single lumbar (L2–L5) spinal tuberculosis is less invasive, has lower complication rates, and is more efficient than the anterior‐only approach. However, the long‐term effects of this surgical technique still need to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A and has multiple physiological functions. Producing β-carotene by microbial fermentation has attracted much attention to consumers' preference for natural products. This study focused on improving β-carotene production by constructing codon-adapted genes and minimizing intermediate accumulation. The codon-adapted CarRA and CarB genes from the industrial strain of Blakeslea trispora were integrated into the genome of the Yarrowia lipolytica to construct YL-C0, the baseline strain for producing β-carotene. Thereafter, the β-carotene biosynthetic pathway's metabolic balance was accurately regulated to reduce the intermediates' accumulation. Notably, the β-carotene content increased by 21 times to reach 12.5 dry cell weight (DCW) mg/g when minimizing HMG-CoA and FPP accumulation. Further, we improved the expression levels of the CarRA and CarB genes to minimize the accumulation of phytoene and lycopene. Total production of β-carotene of 1.7 g/L and 21.6 mg/g DCW was achieved. These results reveal that the rate-limiting enzymes CarRA and CarB of B. trispora exhibited higher catalytic activity than the same enzymes from other microorganisms. Promoting metabolic balance by minimizing the accumulation of intermediates is a very effective strategy for increasing β-carotene. The β-carotene-producing strain constructed in this study has established the foundation for its potential use in industrial production. These successful engineering strategies also provide a foundation for large-scale production of other terpenoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sterols attract increasing attention due to their important bioactivities. The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has large lipid droplets, which provide storage for the accumulated steroid compounds. In this study, we have successfully constructed a campesterol biosynthetic pathway by modifying the synthetic pathway of ergosterol in Y. lipolytica with different capacity of lipid synthesis. The results showed that the maximal campesterol production was produced in the engineered strain YL-D+M−E−, as the optimal lipid content. Furthermore, we found that campesterol mainly exists in the lipid droplets. The campesterol production was further accumulated through the overexpression of two copies of dhcr7. Finally, the maximal campesterol production of 837 mg/L was obtained using a 5-L bioreactor in the engineered YL-D+D+M−E−, exhibiting a 3.7-fold increase compared with the initial strain YL-D+E−. Our results demonstrate that the proper promotion of lipid content plays an important role in campesterol biosynthesis in Y. lipolytica, and what we found provides an effective strategy for the production of hydrophobic compounds. Key Points • Campesterol was biosynthesized by deleting erg5 and introducing heterologous dhcr7. • Campesterol production elevated via promotion of lipid content. • Campesterol was mainly found in lipid droplets. • Promotion of lipid content is an effective strategy to produce hydrophobic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a valuable carotenoid, β-carotene is commercially used in food, cosmetics, animal feeds, and other industries. Metabolic engineering of microorganisms has been widely explored to improve the production of β-carotene. Compared with the traditional genetic modifications mainly focused on the pathways of mevalonate (MVA) and β-carotene biosynthesis, this study aims to increase the β-carotene production through promoting the synthesis of precursor substances by overexpressing hexokinase and hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase in an engineered Yarrowia lipolytica. In this study, we investigated the effect of the unique hexokinase gene (Hxk) overexpression on β-carotene accumulation and glucose consumption. The Hxk gene was introduced into a β-carotene producing strain Y.L-1 to generate strain Y.L-2, and this increased the β-carotene content by 98%. Overexpression of the Hxk gene led to increasing in hexokinase activity (329% higher), glucose-6-phosphate content (92% higher), and improvement of the transcriptional level of Hxk (315% higher) compared to the control Y.L-1 strain. Moreover, Hxk overexpression accelerated the utilization rate of glucose. The gene erg13 encoding hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase was also overexpressed to increase the precursor supply for β-carotene biosynthesis. Recombinant Y.L-4 harboring two copies of erg13 produced 8.41 mg/g dry cell weight (DCW) of β-carotene, which was 259% higher than Y.L-1. The β-carotene content of 9.56 mg/g DCW was achieved in strain Y.L-6 by integrating erg13 into the chromosome and Hxk overexpression. The 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-CoA content in the cells was increased by overexpressing two copies of the erg13 gene. Finally, the titer of β-carotene reached 2.4 g/L using a 50 L bioreactor by the engineered strain, and the fermentation cycle was shortened from 144 to 120 h. Overall, overexpression of Hxk and erg13 could improve β-carotene production and successfully overcoming the bottleneck of precursor generation to support a more efficient pathway for the production of the target product. Our results revealed a novel strategy to engineer the pathway of β-carotene synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Ti‐Si‐Sn‐Sb/GAC particle electrodes were prepared by sol–gel method. The particle electrodes were characterized by SEM, XRD, EDX, and BET then used to carry out three‐dimensional (3D) electrocatalytic oxidation degradation on simulated refractory p‐aminophenol (PAP) wastewater. The effects of initial pH, cell voltage, aeration flow rate and initial PAP concentration on degradation experiments were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the PAP and COD removal rates were 89.45% and 75.17% respectively. In addition, the possible degradation mechanism of PAP was further investigated by UV–Vis and HPLC. Finally, it was found that the Ti‐Si‐Sn‐Sb/GAC particle electrodes with high catalytic activity and excellent stability could significantly improve the PAP wastewater removal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse micellar systems of nonionic surfactant Span 80/isooctane/n-hexane is used for the extraction of pectinesterase from crude aqueous extract of lemon peel waste. The effect of extraction process parameters on the extraction efficiency and activity recovery were studied in detail for the lemon peel extract. The optimum NaCl concentration (0.2 mol/L), Span 80 concentration (0.3 mol/L), the extraction phase pH (7.0), the temperature (60°C), and oscillation time (30 min) were found out and the optimized conditions for the extraction from lemon peel waste resulted in back extraction efficiencies of 52.4%. A fairly good activity recovery (83.7%) of pectinesterase is obtained under these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial oil triacylglycerol (TAG) from the renewable feedstock attract much attention. The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has become the most studied for lipid biosynthesis. Fatty acid desaturases catalyze the introduction of a double bond into fatty-acid hydrocarbon chains to produce unsaturated fatty acids. Desaturases are known to enhance lipid accumulation. In this study, we have achieved a significant increase in lipid production and increase the unsaturated fatty acids content in Y. lipolytica. By comparing the expression of the native genes of △-9 stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and △12 desaturase (△12D), and an exogenous △15 desaturase (△15D) from flax in the strain with deleted peroxisomal biogenesis factor 10 (PEX10) and overexpressed diacylglyceride acyl-transferase (DGA1), we found that the strain with overexpressed △15 desaturase accumulated 30.7% lipid. Simultaneously, we explored the effect of two copies of desaturase genes (12D - SCD , 15D - SCD , 12D - 15D) on lipid production, and found co-expression of △ 12D and △ 15D accumulated 42.6% lipid. The lipid content was further increased by 56.3% through the deletion of the multifunctional enzyme (MFE1) and the overexpression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC1). Finally, the lipid productivity of 50 g/L and maximal lipid content of 77.8% DCW are obtained using a 5-L stirred-tank bioreactor during the stationary phase in the engineered YL-10. Our result demonstrated that the △12 and △15 desaturases play an important role in lipid production in Y. lipolytica and provides an effective strategy for biodiesel development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in males and particularly tends to metastasize to bone. Currently, metastatic bone disease is incurable, and new therapies need to be developed. Our study aims to determine the role of miR‐127‐3p in PCa metastasis to bone. The results demonstrate that miR‐127‐3p is markedly reduced in bone metastasis‐positive PCa tissues relative to that in bone metastasis‐negative PCa tissues. Furthermore, overexpressing miR‐127‐3p inhibits PCa cell invasion and migration in vitro by targeting the proteasome β‐subunit PSMB5. Moreover, CCCTC‐binding factor (CTCF) transcriptionally inhibits miR‐127‐3p by interacting with the miR‐127‐3p promoter. Collectively, this study uncovers a novel mechanism of the CTCF/miR‐127‐3p/PSMB5 axis in promoting PCa bone metastasis, indicating that miR‐127‐3p could function as a promising therapeutic target against bone metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explain the anomalous anisotropy in thermal expansion properties reported in rhodochrosite (MnCO3) previously Rao and Murthy (J Mater Sci 5: 82, 1970), Li et al. (High Temp High Press, 2019), the evaluation of crystal structure is thought to be indispensable as an important aspect in mineralogy. In this spirit, single crystals of impurity-free rhodochrosite, up to 100 μm in size, were synthesized under high-pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions. The standard crystal structure, without the impurities common to natural samples, was investigated by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). The unit cell parameters obtained for the R 3 ¯ c symmetry were a = 4.7754(5) Å and c = 15.6484(18) Å, with a final R value of 0.0162. The (MnO6) octahedron exhibits an anomalous bond angle that tends more toward 90° of a regular octahedron, which is totally different from those of MgCO3, FeCO3, and CaCO3. Using the single-crystal XRD from 100 to 370 K, the thermal expansion coefficients were quantified as αa = 5.08 × 10−6 K−1 and αc = 18.06 × 10–6 K−1, as well as αVunit cell = 28.49 × 10–6 K−1. The geometry of (MnO6) octahedron as function of temperature was also determined as αMn–O = 12.14 × 10−6 K−1 and αO–Mn–O ≈ 0.05°/100 K. The anisotropy of MnCO3 (αa/αc = 3.55), similar to that of MgCO3 (~ 3.0, Markgraf and Reeder, Am Mineral, 70: 590–600, 1985), indicates that the difference in bond angle has no significant effect on the thermal expansion properties. According to the standard crystal structures of end members (MgCO3, FeCO3, MnCO3, and CaCO3), the cation substitution in calcite-type structures is proven to agree with the rigid body model and the linear solid solution relationship is highly consistent with those of natural carbonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) developed by Baer and colleagues has been widely used owing to its satisfactory psychometric properties. Because there was not yet a short-form version of the FFMQ (SF-FFMQ) that could be utilized in work settings available in China, we developed a Chinese SF-FFMQ. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a five-factor structure of our Chinese SF-FFMQ in two Chinese samples (Sample 1, N = 535; Sample 2, N = 391). The internal consistencies of the facets and the whole scale were acceptable. The predictive validity of this questionnaire was affirmed. Overall, the mindfulness facets correlated with related constructs including depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, employee life well-being, employee workplace well-being, and employee psychological well-being. In sample 2, which consisted of participants employed by local companies, we found that mindfulness mediated a positive relationship between servant leadership and employees' satisfaction with work-family balance. In conclusion, our Chinese SF-FFMQ was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool and our results support its use in both research and practice in clinical and work settings in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of norsethite-type carbonate BaMn(CO3)2 up to 200 μm in size were synthesized in a closed cavity under high pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions. Electron microprobe analyses revealed the composition of 49.00–49.09 wt% BaO and 22.66–22.74 wt% MnO, which correspond well to the ideal formula of Ba1.0Mn1.0(CO3)2. Accurate crystalline structural data were determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). The R 3 ¯ c space-group with a doubled c-axis and R 3 ¯ m space-group were used to refine the crystal structure of BaMn(CO3)2. It is proved that R 3 ¯ m is the most probable space-group for the BaMn(CO3)2 crystal structure because no superstructure reflections were observed in the X-ray images. The unit cell parameters were identified to be a = 5.0827(2) Å and c = 17.2797(10) Å in the rhombohedral symmetry of the R 3 ¯ m space-group with a final R-value of 0.0184. High-pressure Raman spectroscopy was performed up to 10 GPa at room temperature, and Raman band shifts ( d ν i d P ) were quantified. Each Raman vibration underwent resolvable splitting and the corresponding d ν i d P showed a pronounced jump as the pressure reached 3.8 GPa arising from a pressure-induced transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite strong evidence for the involvement of PDGF signaling in breast cancer, little is known about the PDGF ligand responsible for PDGFR activation during breast cancer progression. Here, we found PDGF-C to be highly expressed in breast carcinoma cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis of invasive breast cancer revealed an association between increased PDGF-C expression and lymph node metastases, Ki-67 proliferation index, and poor disease-free survival. We also identified a PDGF-C splice variant encoding truncated PDGF-C (t-PDGF-C) isoform lacking the signal peptide and the N-terminal CUB domain. While t-PDGF C homodimer is retained intracellularly, it can be secreted as a heterodimer with full-length PDGF-C (FL-PDGF-C). PDGF-C downregulation reduced anchorage-independent growth and matrigel invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Conversely, ectopic expression of t-PDGF-C enhanced phenotypic transformation and invasion in BT-549 cells expressing endogenous FL-PDGF-C. The present study provides new insights into the functional significance of PDGF-C and its splice variant in human breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The aims of this study were to examine novel mutations in PITX2 and FOXC1 in Chinese patients with anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) and to compare the clinical presentations of these mutations with previously reported associated phenotypes. Methods. Twenty-six unrelated patients with different forms of ASD were enrolled from our paediatric and genetic eye clinic. The ocular manifestations of both eyes of each patient were recorded. Genomic DNA was prepared from venous leukocytes. All coding exons of PITX2 and FOXC1 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from genomic DNA and subjected to direct DNA sequencing. Analysis of mutations in control subjects was performed by heteroduplex single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Results. Sequence analysis of the PITX2 gene revealed four mutations, including c.475_476delCT (P.L159VfsX39), c.64C > T (P.Q22X), c.296delG (P.R99PfsX56), and c.206G > A (P.R69H). The first three mutations were found to be novel. The c.475_476delCT (P.L159VfsX39) mutation, located at the 3′ end of the PITX2-coding region, was identified in a Chinese Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome (ARS) patient who presented with an unusual severe phenotype of bilateral aniridia. The clinical characteristics, including the severity and manifestations of the patient's phenotype, were compared with reported PITX2-associated aniridia phenotypes of ARS in the literature. Conclusions. These results expand the mutation spectrum of the PITX2 gene in patients with ARS. The PITX2 gene may be responsible for a significant portion of ARS with additional systemic defects in the Chinese population. This is the first reported case of a mutation at the 3′ end of the PITX2-coding region extending the phenotypic consequences to bilateral aniridia. The traits of ARS could display tremendous variability in severity and manifestations due to the dominant-negative effect of PITX2. Our results further emphasize the importance of careful clinical and genetic analysis in determining mutation-disease associations and may lead to a better understanding of the role of PITX2 in ocular development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a major threat to the European honey bee Apis mellifera. Beekeepers apply the miticide thymol directly within the hives to kill this parasitic mite. Thymol is repellent to bees and causes them to ventilate the hive, yet its impact on bee hygienic behaviours that prevent the spread of diseases has never been studied. We measured the efficiency of colonies at removing dead adult bees, uncapping dead pupal cells and removing dead brood in two miticide-free Australian environments where the mite is absent. Thymol increased the uncapping and removal of dead brood by 24 to 36% after 48 h at both locations but had no effect on the removal of dead adult bees. The increased removal of brood could enhance the effect of thymol on V. destructor, especially if bees preferentially remove cells infected with the mite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent conducting films based on solution-synthesized copper nanowires (Cu NWs) are considered to be an attractive alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) due to the relative abundance of Cu and the low cost of solution-phase NW coating processes. Moreover, transparent electrodes tend to be flexible. This makes Cu NWs more attractive because ITO is brittle and can not meet the requirements of flexibility. For Cu NWs, aspect ratio is an important property. Cu NWs can be directly prepared by chemical reduction with various reducing agents and suitable capping agents. In general, the selectivity of the capping agent is very important for the formation of one-dimensional nanostructures because it plays a major role in the thermodynamic regulations and growth kinetics that influence the geometry and morphology of the crystal facets. Therefore, different aspect ratios are formed. Conductivity is the most important property for transparent electrodes. Organic pickling, annealing and glare pulses have a certain improvement in conductivity. Meanwhile, it is also essential to increase the oxidation resistance of the transparent electrode. The reduction of graphene oxide (r-GO), the coating of metal and polymer improve the oxidation resistance of the transparent electrode to varying degrees. This paper reviews the effect of different capping agents on the aspect ratio of NWs, and the effects of different post-treatments on oxidation resistance and conductivity of transparent electrodes. Copper nanowires (Cu NWs), as the attractive alternative to ITO, have excellent electrical, optical, and thermal properties and have the potential of replacing traditional electrode materials. However, it is still a challenge to improve the aspect ratio and long-term chemical stability of Cu NWs. Therefore, the methods of synthesizing Cu NWs by choosing different capping agents and the methods of improving oxidation resistance are reviewed in this paper. It is of great significance to the emergence of new methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]