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Global climate change is expected to have a profound effect on species distribution. Due to the temperature constraints, some narrow niche species could shift their narrow range to higher altitudes or latitudes. In this study, we explored the correlation between species traits, genetic structure, and geographical range size. More specifically, we analyzed how these variables are affected by differences in fundamental niche breadth or dispersal ability in the members of two sympatrically distributed stream‐dwelling amphibian species (frog, Quasipaa yei; salamander, Pachyhynobius shangchengensis), in Dabie Mountains, East China. Both species showed relatively high genetic diversity in most geographical populations and similar genetic diversity patterns (JTX, low; BYM, high) correlation with habitat changes and population demography. Multiple clustering analyses were used to disclose differentiation among the geographical populations of these two amphibian species. Q. yei disclosed the relatively shallow genetic differentiation, while P. shangchengensis showed an opposite pattern. Under different historical climatic conditions, all ecological niche modeling disclosed a larger suitable habitat area for Q. yei than for P. shangchengensis; these results indicated a wider environment tolerance or wider niche width of Q. yei than P. shangchengensis. Our findings suggest that the synergistic effects of environmental niche variation and dispersal ability may help shape genetic structure across geographical topology, particularly for species with extremely narrow distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is currently an endangered species due to a combination of factors, including climate change, anthropogenic activities, and habitat fragmentation. Captivity plays a crucial role in mitigating the decline of the Chinese alligator population. Currently, there is a lack of clarity regarding the influence of host development and captive conditions on the gut microbiota of Chinese alligators. The aim of the study was to investigate the gut bacterial communities of Chinese alligators and their surrounding environmental bacterial communities using 16S rRNA sequencing. The primary gut flora of Chinese alligators consists of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Proteobacteria is the most abundant and efficient settler in the gut, water, and sediment. PCoA and Adonis test revealed significant differences in bacterial communities across these habitats. Venn analysis revealed overlap in OTUs among the gut, water, and sediment, varying with growth stage and density stress. Different growth stages of Chinese alligator guts harbor distinct pathogenic bacteria, requiring attention. Density stress leads to an increase in pathogenic bacteria, a decrease in gut absorption efficiency. PICRUst2 predicts more abundant metabolic pathways related to gut function during high‐density stress, possibly linked to Roseburia. SourceTracker Analysis indicated that water bacteria have a greater impact on Chinese alligator gut bacteria than sediment, and density stress significantly affects the contribution of environmental microorganisms to the gut microbes of Chinese alligator. BugBase analysis identified water body microbes as the main source of "potentially pathogenic" phenotypes in the gut microbiota. RDA analysis found dissolved oxygen (DO) in water to be the most significant factor influencing water microorganisms, positively correlated with certain pathogenic strains. These findings enhance our understanding of the significance of microbial communities in the gut and surrounding aquatic environment of the Chinese alligator. Furthermore, they provide theoretical support for environmental regulation, disease control, and healthy breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibians and reptiles, especially the critically endangered Chinese alligators, are vulnerable to climate change. Historically, the decline in suitable habitats and fragmentation has restricted the distribution of Chinese alligators to a small area in southeast Anhui Province in China. However, the effects of climate change on range‐restricted Chinese alligator habitats are largely unknown. We aimed to predict current and future (2050s and 2070s) Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. We employed species distribution models, barycenter migration analyses, and the Marxian model to assess current and future Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. The results showed that the lowest temperature and rainfall seasonality in the coldest month were the two most important factors affecting the distribution of Chinese alligators. Future predictions indicate a reduction (3.39%–98.41%) in suitable habitats and a westward shift in their distribution. Further, the study emphasizes that suitable habitats for Chinese alligators are threatened by climate change. Despite the impact of the Anhui Chinese Alligator National Nature Reserve, protection gaps persist, with 78.27% of the area lacking priority protected area. Our study provides crucial data for Chinese alligator adaptation to climate change and underscores the need for improved conservation strategies. Future research should refine conservation efforts, consider individual plasticity, and address identified limitations to enhance the resilience of Chinese alligator populations in the face of ongoing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) among residents in Shenzhen and explore its relationship with different obesity statuses, to provide data support for understanding the prevalence of PAD in China and a basis for formulating prevention and control policies to prevent PAD. Methods From April 2021 to December 2021, a multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to select permanent residents aged 18 years or older from 54 community neighborhood committees in Shenzhen as the study population. Data were collected using questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. A generalized additive model was fitted and plotted using the R package, and logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between different obesity status groups and PAD. Results Among the 6 230 study subjects, the prevalence of PAD in the study population was 6.21%, and the prevalence of PAD increased with age, with the lowest rate of 4.67% in the 18-<25 age group and the highest rate of 33.33% in the ≥85 age group. In addition, the prevalence of PAD increased with increasing body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference. Analysis of multifactorial logistic regression models showed that both overall obesity (OO) classified by BMI and central obesity (CO) classified by waist circumference may increase the risk of PAD (OO statistic value OR=2.63, 95%CI: 1.97-3.50; CO statistic value OR=2.32, 95%CI:1.79-2.99). When combining BMI and waist circumference classification, compared to those who were neither OO nor CO, individuals who were both OO and CO had a significantly higher risk of PAD (OR=2.61, 95%CI: 1.99-3.44). Conclusions The prevalence of PAD among adults in Shenzhen is not optimistic, and the elderly need additional attention. Both OO based on BMI and CO based on waist circumference are independent risk factors for PAD. The joint use of BMI and waist circumference grouping helps to better classify and manage people at risk of PAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibians and reptiles, especially the critically endangered Chinese alligators, are vulnerable to climate change. Historically, the decline in suitable habitats and fragmentation has restricted the distribution of Chinese alligators to a small area in southeast Anhui Province in China. However, the effects of climate change on range‐restricted Chinese alligator habitats are largely unknown. We aimed to predict current and future (2050s and 2070s) Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. We employed species distribution models, barycenter migration analyses, and the Marxian model to assess current and future Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. The results showed that the lowest temperature and rainfall seasonality in the coldest month were the two most important factors affecting the distribution of Chinese alligators. Future predictions indicate a reduction (3.39%–98.41%) in suitable habitats and a westward shift in their distribution. Further, the study emphasizes that suitable habitats for Chinese alligators are threatened by climate change. Despite the impact of the Anhui Chinese Alligator National Nature Reserve, protection gaps persist, with 78.27% of the area lacking priority protected area. Our study provides crucial data for Chinese alligator adaptation to climate change and underscores the need for improved conservation strategies. Future research should refine conservation efforts, consider individual plasticity, and address identified limitations to enhance the resilience of Chinese alligator populations in the face of ongoing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the associations between the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) and the risks of all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality. Materials and Methods: A total of 3 916 214 Chinese adults were enrolled in a nationwide population cohort covering all 31 provinces of mainland China. The CVAI was calculated based on age, body mass index, waist circumference, and triglyceride and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. We used a Cox proportional hazards regression model to determine the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of mortality associated with different CVAI levels. Results: The median follow‐up duration was 3.8 years. A total of 86 158 deaths (34 867 cardiovascular disease [CVD] deaths, 29 884 cancer deaths, and 21 407 deaths due to other causes) were identified. In general, after adjusting for potential confounding factors, a U‐shaped relationship between CVAI and all‐cause mortality was observed by restricted cubic spline (RCS). Compared with participants in CVAI quartile 1, those in CVAI quartile 4 had a 23.0% (95% CI 20.0%–25.0%) lower risk of cancer death, but a 23.0% (95% CI 19.0–27.0) higher risk of CVD death. In subgroup analysis, a J‐shaped and inverted U‐shaped relationship for all‐cause mortality and cancer mortality was observed in the group aged < 60 years. Conclusions: The CVAI, an accessible indicator reflecting visceral obesity among Chinese adults, has predictive value for all‐cause, CVD, and cancer mortality risks. Moreover, the CVAI carries significance in the field of health economics and secondary prevention. In the future, it could be used for early screening purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the key tailback for hydrogen production from the water electrolysis. Masking OER with thermodynamically auspicious methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) can significantly boost the H2 and value-added products production. However, it is currently challenging to achieve a synergistic manipulation of product selectivity and performance for MOR electrocatalyst. Herein, we report NiSnPH@OOH/CC (CC = carbon cloth) perovskite hydroxide nanosphere as an efficient MOR electrocatalyst with high activity, stability, and selectivity towards methanol oxidation to formate. A surface amorphous layer of defect rich NiOOH was generated in operando by selective Sn leaching with stable perovskite hydroxide bulk structure, which mitigates the oxidative power and optimizes the local coordination environment of the active NiOOH sites. In situ Raman combined with electrochemical studies further confirm the key active species, NiOOH, generated in operando enhance the MOR and blocking the over oxidation of methanol to CO2. As a result, NiSnPH@OOH/CC effectively masks the OER and attains > 99% selectivity with 100% Faradic efficiency for methanol-to-formate. The results of this study show the advances of NiSnPH@OOH/CC as an efficient electrocatalyst for MOR and also suggest its potential applications for various small organic molecules oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy is dependent on effective viral transduction, which might be inhibited by preexisting immunity to AAV acquired from infection or maternal delivery. Anti-AAV neutralizing Abs (NAbs) titer is usually measured by in vitro assay and used for patient enroll; however, this assay could not evaluate NAbs' impacts on AAV pharmacology and potential harm in vivo. Here, we infused a mouse anti-AAV9 monoclonal antibody into Balb/C mice 2 h before receiving 1.2 × 1014 or 3 × 1013 vg/kg of rAAV9-coGAA by tail vein, a drug for our ongoing clinical trials for Pompe disease. The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and cellular responses combined with in vitro NAb assay validated the different impacts of preexisting NAbs at different levels in vivo. Sustained GAA expression in the heart, liver, diaphragm, and quadriceps were observed. The presence of high-level NAb, a titer about 1:1000, accelerated vector clearance in blood and completely blocked transduction. The AAV-specific T cell responses tended to increase when the titer of NAb exceeded 1:200. A low-level NAbs, near 1:100, had no effect on transduction in the heart and liver as well as cellular responses, but decreased transduction in muscles slightly. Therefore, we propose to preclude patients with NAb titers > 1:100 from rAAV9-coGAA clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investing heavily in the transition to renewable energy is essential for global sustainability. Companies in the renewable energy sector often use bank financing for day-to-day operations and capital expenditures. This research looks at the effect of financial ties between renewable energy companies and banks on both industries' viability as they make the switch to renewable power sources. We analyze a large worldwide sample of renewable energy firms and banks to see how these interdependencies affect the long-term viability of both industries. According to our findings, the effectiveness of the shift is heavily impacted by the degree of interconnection between renewable energy businesses and banks. Financing costs are reduced and investments in renewable energy projects are encouraged when banks have a higher exposure to renewable energy enterprises. In addition to highlighting the importance of these linkages, our research also emphasizes the possible hazards associated with them, such as financial contagion and systemic risk, and underscores the necessity for effective risk management methods. In conclusion, this study highlights the need for a coordinated strategy to the renewable energy transition that weighs the advantages and disadvantages of interconnection. We show that there are both positive and negative outcomes that can result from the relationship between financial institutions and renewable energy enterprises, and we highlight the duty of policymakers and regulators to ensure that banks have adequate exposure to the industry while closely monitoring associated risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian DNA derived from invertebrates (iDNA), including blowfly iDNA, is an alternative tool to conventional camera trapping in assessing mammalian diversity. The method has been used in tropical mammal surveillance but no attempt has been made to compare the efficacy of blowfly iDNA and camera trapping for monitoring mammal diversity in subtropical forests. We compared the blowfly iDNA monitoring with camera trapping to assess mammal diversity in the subtropical Jiulongfeng Nature Reserve (JLF), China, over a one-month period. The camera traps captured 2508 animal photos of 11 species belonging to four orders, eight genera, and eight families, whereas the blowfly iDNA method successfully detected ten species from six orders, eight genera, and eight families in JLF. Both methods were complementing each other instead of competing due to the low overlaps of mammal species detected. Of the total number of mammal species listed in JLF's threatened list, 40% and 10% were detected through camera traps and blowfly iDNA methods, respectively. The estimated species richness curves indicated that combining camera traps and blowfly traps would increase the detection of mammal species. The strategy would significantly contribute to mammalian diversity surveillance and conservation programs in the tropical and subtropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A better understanding of the hindlimb developmental process will provide data support for the comparative evolutionary and functional genomics of crocodilians. For the Chinese alligator, the hindlimb is one of the main sources of power, and its development and differentiation will directly influence the survival ability in the wild. But little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating the development and differentiation of the hindlimb of the Chinese alligator. In this study, RNA-sequencing technology was used to analyze the gene expression of the hindlimb in the Chinese alligator embryos at different stages (on days 29, 35, 41, and 46). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at different stages were identified. Our results will provide data support for the embryonic development process of the Chinese alligator. Crocodilians, which are a kind of animal secondary adaptation to an aquatic environment, their hindlimb can provide the power needed to engage in various life activities, even in low-oxygen water environments. The development of limbs is an important aspect of animal growth and development, as it is closely linked to body movement, support, heat production, and other critical functions. For the Chinese alligator, the hindlimb is one of the main sources of power, and its development and differentiation will directly influence the survival ability in the wild. Furthermore, a better understanding of the hindlimb developmental process will provide data support for the comparative evolutionary and functional genomics of crocodilians. In this study, the expression levels of genes related to hindlimb development in the Chinese alligator embryos during fetal development (on days 29, 35, 41, and 46) were investigated through transcriptome analysis. A total of 1675 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at different stages were identified by using limma software. These DEGs were then analyzed using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), and 4 gene expression modules and 20 hub genes were identified that were associated with the development of hindlimbs in the Chinese alligator at different periods. The results of GO enrichment and hub gene expression showed that the hindlimb development of the Chinese alligator embryos involves the development of the embryonic structure, nervous system, and hindlimb muscle in the early stage (H29) and the development of metabolic capacity occurs in the later stage (H46). Additionally, the enrichment results showed that the AMPK signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction are involved in the development of the hindlimb of the Chinese alligator. Among these, the HIF-1 signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction may be related to the adaptation of Chinese alligators to low-oxygen environments. Additionally, five DEGs (CAV1, IRS2, LDHA, LDB3, and MYL3) were randomly selected for qRT-PCR to verify the transcriptome results. It is expected that further research on these genes will help us to better understand the process of embryonic hindlimb development in the Chinese alligator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The precise mechanisms of hormone action responsible for the full course of events modulating folliculogenesis in crocodilian have not been determined, although histological features have been identified. Results: The Alligator sinensis ovarian morphological characteristics observed at 1, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 300 days post hatching(dph) revealed that the dynamic changes in germ cells varied in different meiotic and developmental stages, confirming that the processes of folliculogenesis were protracted and asynchronous. The presence of endogenous follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) mRNA and protein expression within the cerebrum at 1 dph, in parallel with the increase in germ cells within the germ cell nests(Nest) from 1 dph to 15 dph, suggested that endocrine regulation of the pituitary-gonad axis is an early event in oogonia division. Furthermore, the endogenous expression of FSH showed a trend of negative feedback augmentation accompanied by the exhaustion of maternal yolk E2 observed at 15 dph. Such significant elevation of endogenous FSH levels was observed to be related to pivotal events in the transition from mitosis to meiosis, as reflected by the proportion of oogonia during premeiosis interphase, with endogenous FSH levels reaching a peak at the earliest time step of 1 dph. In addition, the simultaneous upregulation of premeiotic marker STRA8 mRNA expression and the increase in endogenous FSH further verified the above speculation. The strongly FSHr-positive label in the oocytes within Pre-previtellogenic follicles was synchronized with the significant elevation of ovarian cAMP detected at 300 dph, which suggested that diplotene arrest maintenance during early vitellogenesis might be FSH dependent. In addition, preferential selection in asynchronous meiotic initiation has been supposed to act on somatic supportive cells and not directly on germ cells via regulation of FSH that in turn affects downstream estrogen levels. This suggestion was verified by the reciprocal stimulating effect of FSH and E2 on the accelerated meiotic marker SYCP3 and by the inhibited cell apoptosis demonstrated in ovarian cell culture in vitro. Conclusion: The corresponding results contribute an expansion of the understanding of physiological processes and shed some light on the specific factors responsible for gonadotropin function in the early folliculogenesis of crocodilians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shenzhen has made great efforts to address the tobacco epidemic in the past decade. This study aims to evaluate the current status of the tobacco epidemic among adolescent in Shenzhen, China. Methods: The multi-stage random cluster sampling method was used in the school-based cross-sectional study in 2019 and a total of 7,423 junior and high school (both senior and vocational) students were recruited. Information on cigarette use was collected by the electronic questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations between current cigarette use and associated factors. ORs with their 95% CIs were reported. Results: The prevalence of current cigarette use among adolescents was 2.3%, with boys (3.4%) significantly higher than girls (1.0%). Smoking rates in junior high schools, senior high schools, and vocational senior high schools were 1.0%, 2.7%, and 4.1%, respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that gender, age, parental smoking, teachers smoking in schools, friends smoking, exposure to tobacco marketing, and misconceptions about cigarette use were associated factors for adolescent smoking behaviour. Conclusions: The prevalence of current smoking was relatively low among adolescent in Shenzhen, China. Personal characteristics, family, and school were associated with current adolescent smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Any abnormalities in the physical properties of an egg can decrease the hatching rate. The embryos of oviparous reptiles obtain Ca from the eggshell. This motivated us to analyze the microstructure and Ca in the eggshells of Chinese alligators. We found that the shells of the eggs with high hatching rates were thicker than those of the eggs with low hatching rates. There were also fewer erosion-crater pores on the surfaces of the eggs with high hatching rates than on the surfaces of the eggs with low hatching rates. Moreover, the shells' Ca contents were significantly higher in the eggs with high hatching rates than in the eggs with low hatching rates. Cluster modeling indicated that the highest hatching rate occurred when the eggshell thickness was 200–380 µm and there were 1–12 pores. These results suggest that eggs with adequate Ca contents, thicker shells, and less air permeability are more likely to hatch. Furthermore, our findings can inform future studies. The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis), found only in a small region in southeastern Anhui Province, is listed as critically endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to its current declining population trend. Any abnormalities in the physical properties of an egg can decrease the hatching rate. In particular, eggshells play an essential role in embryo development, motivating us to analyze the microstructures of the eggshells of Chinese alligators. In this study, we categorized the eggshells into two groups, based on the hatching rates, and analyzed the relationship between the eggshell parameters (eggshell thickness, calcium content, and number of pores in erosion craters) and the hatching rate, as well as the relationships between the eggshell parameters. We found that the shells of the eggs with high hatching rates were thicker than those of the eggs with low hatching rates. There were also fewer erosion-crater pores on the surfaces of the eggs with high hatching rates than on the surfaces of the eggs with low hatching rates. Moreover, the shell Ca content was significantly higher in the eggs with high hatching rates than in the eggs with low hatching rates. Cluster modeling indicated that the highest hatching rate occurred when the eggshell thickness was 200–380 µm and there were 1–12 pores. These results suggest that eggs with adequate Ca contents, thicker shells, and less air permeability are more likely to hatch. Furthermore, our findings can inform future studies, which will be vital for the survival of the critically endangered Chinese alligator species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shenzhen has made great efforts to address the tobacco epidemic in the past decade. This study aims to evaluate the current status of the tobacco epidemic among adolescent in Shenzhen, China. Methods: The multi-stage random cluster sampling method was used in the school-based cross-sectional study in 2019 and a total of 7,423 junior and high school (both senior and vocational) students were recruited. Information on cigarette use was collected by the electronic questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations between current cigarette use and associated factors. ORs with their 95% CIs were reported. Results: The prevalence of current cigarette use among adolescents was 2.3%, with boys (3.4%) significantly higher than girls (1.0%). Smoking rates in junior high schools, senior high schools, and vocational senior high schools were 1.0%, 2.7%, and 4.1%, respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that gender, age, parental smoking, teachers smoking in schools, friends smoking, exposure to tobacco marketing, and misconceptions about cigarette use were associated factors for adolescent smoking behaviour. Conclusions: The prevalence of current smoking was relatively low among adolescent in Shenzhen, China. Personal characteristics, family, and school were associated with current adolescent smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogenic variation in BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA) causes high risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and BRCA variation data are important markers for BRCA‐related clinical cancer applications. However, comprehensive BRCA variation data are lacking from the Asian population despite its large population size, heterogenous genetic background and diversified living environment across the Asia continent. We performed a systematic study on BRCA variation in Asian population including extensive data mining, standardization, annotation and characterization. We identified 7587 BRCA variants from 685 592 Asian individuals in 40 Asia countries and regions, including 1762 clinically actionable pathogenic variants and 4915 functionally unknown variants (https://genemutation.fhs.um.edu.mo/Asian-BRCA/). We observed the highly ethnic‐specific nature of Asian BRCA variants between Asian and non‐Asian populations and within Asian populations, highlighting that the current European descendant population‐based BRCA data is inadequate to reflect BRCA variation in the Asian population. We also provided archeological evidence for the evolutionary origin and arising time of Asian BRCA variation. We further provided structural‐based evidence for the deleterious variants enriched within the functionally unknown Asian BRCA variants. The data from our study provide a current view of BRCA variation in the Asian population and a rich resource to guide clinical applications of BRCA‐related cancer for the Asian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The holocrine process of sebum, derived from the sebocytes, begins with the proliferation of this undifferentiated and mitotically active population of peripheral, immature cells [[10]]; furthermore, the cells undergo nuclear degeneration and move more centrally, which can lead to the induction of apoptosis and the bursting of cells [[12]]. TdT-Mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) Assay for Cell Apoptosis The cell apoptotic analysis was performed on three slides randomly selected to be technical replicates from the E36, E41, and NH1 using commercial TUNEL assay kit (C1089, Beyotime, China). As the most important regulators of cell apoptosis, the key regulator of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) shows expression patterns in the uropygial gland; this indicates that the terminal differentiation of sebocytes during holocrine secretion in DGs is realized mainly through cell apoptosis [[13]]. For the cell apoptosis pathway, five genes including MCP1, -tubulin 3, CRLM2, CSF2RB, and BIRC5, were down-regulated in the E41 compared with those within the E36 ( I p i < 0.01), whereas no significant difference was detected between E41 and NH1 ( I p i > 0.05). [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common digestive system tumors and seriously threatens the lives of patients. The choice of treatment options and the prognosis of CRC patients are closely related to the KRAS genotype. Notably, microRNAs (miRNAs) have great application value in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC. Methods: The current study used qRT–PCR to analyze the expression of KRAS-targeting miRNAs and determine the correlation between miRNA expression and KRAS gene expression among patients with varying genotypes. The effect of the KRAS gene on the prognosis of patients with cancer was determined. Results: Eighty-two differentially expressed miRNAs were identified between CRC tumor and normal tissues: 58 dysregulated miRNAs were identified in patients with KRAS mutations, and 62 aberrantly expressed miRNAs were detected in patients with wild-type KRAS. Thirteen miRNAs were abnormally expressed in KRAS-mutant patients compared with KRAS wild-type patients. Some miRNAs not only acted as biomarkers for CRC but also indicated the genotype of KRAS. Conclusion: This finding is very important for patients who must choose from clinical treatment options based on KRAS results. Thus, the abnormal expression of miRNAs has great application potential for the selection of chemotherapy regimens for patients with cancer. The relationship between differential miRNA expression and the KRAS genotype is very important for studying related mechanisms in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although oviductal sperm storage are essential steps in reproduction for female animals with internal fertilisation, no systematic study on the identification of genes involving sperm storage has been performed in crocodilian species. In the present research, the relationship between morphological variation related to sperm storage in the oviduct and gene expression patterns derived from RNA sequencing analyses between active period (AP), breeding period (BP), and hibernation period (HP) were investigated. The corresponding results indicated that sperm were observed not only in the ciliated cells within infundibulum and mucosal layer of uterus during BP, but also been detected in the spermatosperm storage tube (SST) in the anterior uterus at HP stage. The further transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated that the differences in the number and activity of the secretory cells likely to attributed to the seasonal variation of microenvironment related to the sperm storage. Based on the RNA-sequecing, 13 147 DEGs related to the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and FOXO signalling were identified, including these, the down-regulated ATG12 and BCL2L11 in the HP group may thus constitute an important point of convergence between autophagy and apoptosis involving the FOXO1 pathway. The genes involved in the PPARs pathway might modulate the immune response and thereby contribute to prolong the life span of stored spermatozoa in Alligator sinensis. The outcomes of this study provide fundamental insights into the mechanism of sperm storage in A. sinensis. The differences in the number and activity of the secretory cells in the oviductal epithelium is likely attributed to the seasonal variation of the microenvironment in the lumen. A list of DEGs related to the PPARs, FOXO, and steroid biosynthesis pathways were identified and comprehensively profiled. This study provides fundamental insights into the mechanism of sperm storage in A. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One critical issue for wireless power transfer is to avoid human health impairments caused by electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure. The existing studies mainly focus on scheduling wireless chargers so that (expected) EMR at any point in the area does not exceed a threshold $R_t$ R t . Nevertheless, they overlook the EMR jitter that leads to exceeding of $R_t$ R t even if the expected EMR is no more than $R_t$ R t . This paper studies the fundamental problem of RObustly SafE charging for wireless power transfer (ROSE), that is, scheduling the power of chargers so that the charging utility for all rechargeable devices is maximized while the probability that EMR anywhere does not exceed $R_t$ R t is no less than a given confidence. We first build our empirical probabilistic charging model and EMR model. Then, we present EMR approximation and area discretization techniques to formulate ROSE into a Second-Order Cone Program. After that, we propose the first redundant second-order cone constraints reduction algorithm to reduce the computational cost, and therefore obtain a $(1-\epsilon)$ (1 - ε) -approximation centralized algorithm. Further, we propose a $(1-\epsilon)$ (1 - ε) -approximation fully distributed algorithm scalable with network size for ROSE. We conduct both simulation and field experiments, and the results show that our algorithms can outperform comparison algorithms by 480.19 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to explore the reproductive characteristics of the first-generation hybrid crocodile derived from captive Crocodylus siamensis, C. niloticus and C. porosus introduced from Cambodia, South Africa, and Malaysia. The data for 789 eggs and 651 hatchlings in 26 nests of hybrids of three different crocodile species were collected. Statistical analysis of reproductive variables of hybrid crocodile eggs indicated that the characteristic variables were normally distributed except for the hatching rate. Regression analyses were used to develop the linear equation between egg length, egg width, hatching rate, hatchling weight, and egg mass. The results found a significant correlation between egg mass and other traits except for egg shape index. Significant influences of egg mass and the egg shape index on hatching rate were detected. There was no significant linear relationship between clutch size and egg characteristics. There were several differences in the reproductive characteristic variables between hybrid crocodiles of C. niloticus×C. siamensis and their parental species bred in captivity (variables of the hybrid were generally smaller) and between C. siamensis×C. porosus and their parental species (variables of the hybrid were generally larger). However, there was no difference in the reproductive variables between hybrid crocodiles of C. niloticus×C. porosus and their parental species. These results indicate that careful and rigorous scientific assessments are required on the hybridization of endangered species in particular to fully consider the effects of human intervention on hybridization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a lethal biliary tract malignant neoplasm. Patient-derived primary cancer cell lines (PDPCs) are appropriate models to explore biological characteristics and potential therapeutics; however, there is a lack of PDPCs in GBC. In this study, we aimed to establish and characterize the GBC PDPCs, and further investigated the intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH). Multi-region sampling (3–9 regions) of the operable tumor tissue samples was used to establish PDPCs. Short tandem repeat genotyping for cell authentication and karyotyping was performed, followed by whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing to assess the ITH at the genetic and transcriptional levels, respectively. Thirty-eight PDPCs were successfully established from seven GBC patients and characterized. ITH was observed with a median of 38.3% mutations being heterogeneous (range, 26.6–59.4%) across all patients. Similar with other tumor types, TP53 mutations were always truncal. In addition, there were three genes, KMT2C, CDKN2A, and ARID1A, with truncal mutations in at least two patients. A median of 370 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was identified per patient. Distinct expression patterns were observed between major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II genes. We found the expression of MHC class II genes in the PDPC samples was closely regulated by CIITA, while that of MHC class I genes were not correlated with CIITA expression. The PDPCs established from GBC patients can serve as novel in vitro models to identify the ITH, which may pave a crucial molecular foundation for enhanced understanding of tumorigenesis and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare malignant tumor of the biliary system. The heterogeneity of CCA leads to the lack of effective targeted treatment for CCA subtypes. The molecular characteristic of hilar CCA (hCCA) is still unclear. Methods: A total of 63 hCCA patients were enrolled from Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues, and matched blood were collected and deep sequencing targeting 450 cancer genes were performed. Tumor mutation burden (TMB) was measured by an algorithm developed in-house. Correlation analysis was performed by Fisher's exact test. Results: The most commonly mutated genes were TP53 (51.7%), NF1 and KRAS (20%, for both), SMAD4 (16.7%), FAT3 and FRS2 (13.3%, for both), NF1 (11.7%), and KMT2C, MDM2, and ATM (10%, for each) in hCCA. ARID1A, GATA6, and PREX2 mutations commonly occurred in female and KMT2C mutations mainly occurred in patients under 60 years old. Statistical analysis showed the association between ARID1A mutation and tumor stage (P = 0.041) and between NF1 mutation and high TMB (P = 0.0095). Furthermore, ARID1B mutation was identified to associate with the poor prognosis of Chinese hCCA patients (P = 0.004). Conclusion: The mutational characterization of hCCA is different from both extrahepatic CCA and intrahepatic CCA. ARID1B is a potential biomarker for prognosis prediction of Chinese hCCA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hibernation is a physiological state for Chinese alligators to cope with cold weather. In mammals, gene expression changes during hibernation and their regulatory mechanisms have been extensively studied, however, these studies in reptiles are still rare. Here, integrated analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) reveals the molecular mechanisms of the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle in hibernating and active individuals. During hibernation, the number of genes increased in the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle was 585, 282, and 297, while the number of genes decreased was 215, 561, and 627, respectively, as compared with active individuals. Through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, the differential expressed genes were mainly enriched in DNA damage repair, biological rhythm, energy metabolism, myoprotein degradation, and other related items and pathways. Besides, 4740 miRNAs were identified in three tissues. Through the comprehensive analysis of miRNA and mRNA abundance profiles, 12,291, 6997, and 8232 miRNA–mRNA pairs all showed a negative correlation in the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle, respectively. Some miRNA target genes were related tobiological rhythm and energy metabolism, suggesting that miRNA may play an important role in the physiological metabolism of the hibernating adaptability of Chinese alligators. Moreover, 402, 230, and 130 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified in the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle, respectively. The targeting relationship of four lncRNA–mRNA pairs were predicted, with the main function of target genes involved in the amino acid transportation. These results are helpful to further understand the molecular regulatory basis of the hibernation adaptation in Chinese alligators. Highlights: Some candidate genes related to hibernation physiology were identifiedmiRNA and lncRNA of Alligator sinensis were identifiedmiRNAs could play a key role in the regulation of gene expression in Chinese alligator during hibernation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese alligator is an endemic crocodilian species in China. We isolated and obtained the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor genes coding from the kidney of Alligator sinensis by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene has 2343 base pairs encoding 780 amino acids, while the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) gene is 2958 bp in length encoding 985 amino acids. Quantitative real‐time PCR was used to detect the distribution of messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. The maximum mRNA expressions were observed in the ovary and kidney, suggesting that these receptors may be involved in basic cellular functions or stress response of alligators. Besides this, RT‐qPCR was performed to analyze the abundance of GR and MR mRNA transcripts in early embryonic development of the Chinese alligator in the kidney, liver, and heart. The mRNA levels of GR and MR at earlier stages in kidney, liver, and heart indicates that they might involve in the transcriptional regulation of early embryos and activate many precise developmental effects in fetal tissues. We also measured the protein expression in the liver embryonic developmental stages and found that the GR and MR proteins were restricted to both the nuclei and cytoplasm. The protein expression levels in the liver at different embryonic developmental stages have extremely prominent differences. Taken together, our results showed the full coding regions of GR and MR, their characteristics, and embryonic developmental mRNA and protein expressions of both genes in A. sinensis. This study could provide the necessary information for further investigating the diverse functions of GR and MR in A. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kisspeptin1 (Kiss1), a product of the Kiss1 gene, plays an important role in the regulation of reproduction in vertebrates by activating the Kiss1 receptor (Kiss1R) and its coexpression with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in GnRH neurons. The purpose of this study was to clone the Kiss1 and Kiss1R genes found in the brain of Alligator sinensis and to explore their relationship with reproduction. The full-length cDNA of Kiss1 is 816 bp, the open reading frame (ORF) is 417 bp and the gene encodes a 138-amino acid precursor protein. The full-length cDNA of Kiss1R is 2348 bp, the ORF is 1086 bp and the gene encodes a 361-amino acid protein. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that, except for Kiss1R expression in the hypothalamus, the expression of Kiss1 and Kiss1R during the reproductive period of A. sinensis was higher than that in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovary during the hibernation period. The changes in GnRH2 mRNA in the hypothalamus were similar to those of GnRH1 and peaked during the reproductive period. This study confirms the existence of Kiss1 and Kiss1R in A. sinensis and the findings strongly suggest that Kiss1 and Kiss1R may participate in the regulation of GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus of alligators during the reproductive period. Furthermore, this is the first report of the full-length cDNA sequences of Kiss1 and Kiss1R in reptiles. To date, there are no reports of kisspeptins as key regulators of crocodilian reproduction. This study investigated the reproductive function of Alligator sinensis by cloning and expression profiling the Kisspeptin1 (Kiss1) and Kiss1 receptor (Kiss1R) genes. It is important to understand when A. sinensis reaches sexual maturity and reproduction in this species for restoration of the wild population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the problem of practical Heterogeneous wIreless charger Placement with Obstacles (HIPO), i.e., given a number of heterogeneous rechargeable devices distributed on a 2D plane where obstacles of arbitrary shapes exist, deploying heterogeneous chargers with a given cardinality of each type, i.e., determining their positions and orientations, the combination of which we name as strategies, on the plane such that the rechargeable devices achieve maximized charging utility. After presenting our practical directional charging model, we first propose to use a piecewise constant function to approximate the nonlinear charging power, and divide the whole area into multi-feasible geometric areas in which a certain type of chargers have constant approximated charging power. Next, we propose the Practical Dominating Coverage Set extraction algorithm to reduce the unlimited solution space to a limited one by exacting a finite set of candidate strategies for all multi-feasible geometric areas. Finally, we prove the problem falls in the realm of maximizing a monotone submodular function subject to a partition matroid constraint, which allows a greedy algorithm to solve with approximation ratio of $\frac{1}{2} - \epsilon$ 1 2 - ε . We conduct experiments to evaluate the performance. Results show that our algorithm outperforms the comparison algorithms by at least 33.49 percent on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common illnesses that seriously threatens human health; many papers have reported that microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarkers for cancer detection. However, miRNAs have not been used in clinical practice even though they are superior to the currently used screening tools, such as the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) measurement. Methods: In this study, we focused on the usefulness of a panel of miRNAs and the combination of miRNAs with the FOBT and CEA measurement, the currently used general diagnosis methods, to improve the accuracy of CRC diagnosis. Results: The results showed that the miRNA panel has great potential value as a diagnostic biomarker with high specificity and sensitivity, and further analysis demonstrated that the miRNA panel had higher sensitivity and specificity than the FOBT and CEA measurement, even when these methods were combined. More importantly, although the miRNA panel is superior to the FOBT and CEA measurement, it cannot replace them. Conclusions: In this research, we investigated whether complementarity exists between the miRNA panel and the FOBT and CEA measurement for CRC diagnosis. Interestingly, the results indicated that the FOBT and CEA measurement could improve the positivity rate of the miRNA panel as a biomarker and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have indicated that disease activity, psychological symptoms and social support were associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD). However, it is unclear how disease activity, psychological symptoms and social support interact to affect HRQoL. The main purpose of this study was to examine the mediation effect of psychological symptoms in the relationship between disease activity, social support and HRQoL.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, which collected data using convenience sampling, between December 2016 and March 2018, from the Third XiangyaHospital of Central South University in Changsha, China. An online self-administered questionnaire (including demographic and clinical information), Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, Disease Activity Indices scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Social Support Rating Scale, were administered to each participant. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlations were used to summarize data, whereas PROCESS analysis was performed to examine the pre-specified mediation effect.Results: A total of 199 patients with IBD were included. Disease activity indices (DAI) and hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) were negatively correlated with HRQoL (β = - 3.37, - 2.54 respectively, P < 0.001), while social support was positively correlated with HRQoL (β = 1.38, P < 0.01). HAD partially mediated the negative relationship between DAI and HRQoL (β = - 0.83, P < 0.001) with the mediation effect ratio of 24.6%, and completely mediated the positive relationship between social support and HRQoL (β = 1.20, P < 0.001).Conclusions: Psychological symptoms acted as a mediator in the relationship between disease activity, social support and HRQoL. Interventions to improve HRQoL in patients with IBD should take into account the mediation effect of psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the scenario in which a mobile charger (MC) periodically travels within a sensor network to recharge the sensors wirelessly. We design joint charging and scheduling schemes to maximize the Quality of Monitoring (QoM) for stochastic events, which arrive and depart according to known probability distributions of time. Information is considered captured if it is sensed by at least one sensor. We focus on two closely related research issues, i.e., how to choose the sensors for charging and decide the charging time for each of them, and how to schedule the sensors’ activation schedules according to their received energy. We formulate our problem as the maximum QoM CHArging and SchEduling problem (CHASE). We first ignore the MC's travel time and study the resulting relaxed version of the problem, which we call CHASE-R. We show that both CHASE and CHASE-R are NP-hard. For CHASE-R, we prove that it can be formulated as a submodular function maximization problem, which allows two algorithms to achieve $1/6$ 1 / 6 - and $1/(4 + \epsilon)$ 1 / (4 + ε) -approximation ratios. Then, for CHASE, we propose approximation algorithms to solve it by extending the CHASE-R results. We conduct simulations to validate our algorithm design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BRCA1 and BRCA2 play essential roles in maintaining the genome stability. Pathogenic germline mutations in these two genes disrupt their function, lead to genome instability and increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA mutations have been extensively screened in Caucasian populations, and the resulting information are used globally as the standard reference in clinical diagnosis, treatment and prevention of BRCA‐related cancers. Recent studies suggest that BRCA mutations can be ethnic‐specific, raising the question whether a Caucasian‐based BRCA mutation information can be used as a universal standard worldwide, or whether an ethnicity‐based BRCA mutation information system need to be developed for the corresponding ethnic populations. In this study, we used Chinese population as a model to test ethnicity‐specific BRCA mutations considering that China has one of the latest numbers of breast cancer patients therefore BRCA mutation carriers. Through comprehensive data mining, standardization and annotation, we collected 1,088 distinct BRCA variants derived from over 30,000 Chinese individuals, one of the largest BRCA data set from a non‐Caucasian population covering nearly all known BRCA variants in the Chinese population (https://dbBRCA-Chinese.fhs.umac.mo). Using this data, we performed multi‐layered analyses to determine the similarities and differences of BRCA variation between Chinese and non‐Chinese ethnic populations. The results show the substantial differences of BRCA data between Chinese and non‐Chinese ethnicities. Our study indicates that the current Caucasian population‐based BRCA data is not adequate to represent the BRCA status in non‐Caucasian populations. Therefore, ethnic‐based BRCA standards need to be established to serve for the non‐Caucasian populations. What's new? Currently, Caucasian population‐based BRCA mutation data are used worldwide as the standard reference for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of BRCA‐associated cancers. Recent studies however suggest that BRCA variation can be ethnic specific. Here, the authors carried out a comprehensive comparison of BRCA mutation data between the Chinese and worldwide non‐Chinese populations and found substantial differences. The study suggests that BRCA mutations are highly ethnic specific and that the current Caucasian population‐based BRCA data is not adequate to represent the BRCA status in non‐Caucasian populations. Developing new standard references using ethnic‐based BRCA mutation data is needed to better serve non‐Caucasian ethnic populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of childhood maltreatment among college students in China by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic search of relevant articles in Pubmed, Wanfang Data, Chinese Scientific Journals Fulltext Database (CQVIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and China Biology Medicine disc (CBMdisc) was conducted on September 1, 2017. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence and sources of heterogeneity were explored using subgroup analyses. Results: In total, 32 studies were included in our review. The pooled prevalence of childhood maltreatment among college students was 64.7% (CI: 52.3%-75.6%). For childhood physical abuse(CPA), childhood emotional abuse(CEA), childhood sexual abuse(CSA), childhood physical neglect(CPN)and childhood emotional neglect (CEN), the pooled estimates were 17.4% (13.8%-21.3%), 36.7%(25.1%-49.1%), 15.7%(11.6%-20.2%), 54.9%(41.2%-68.1%) and 60.0% (45.0%-74.0%), respectively. Use of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) yielded a higher pooled estimate than any other measurement tools in the subgroup analyses of CPA, CEA, CSA, CPN and CEN. The Egger’s tests revealed no evidence of publication bias(P>0.05). Conclusions: Childhood maltreatment is common among college students in China. Prevention policies and programmes should be urgently developed to stop the occurrence of child maltreatment, and special attention should be paid to maltreated college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illness representations play a significant role on mental health across various health conditions. The present study explores the associations between illness representations of HIV and mental health (suicidal ideation and depression), and the mediation effects of emotional representations on the associations between cognitive representations and mental health among men who have sex with men who were newly diagnosed with HIV (ND-MSM) in China. A total of 225 ND-MSM were recruited from a non-governmental organisation and were invited to complete a cross-sectional survey. Results showed that 48.0% had suicidal ideation since HIV diagnosis and 48.4% scored higher than the cut-off for mild depression or above. Stepwise regression analyses showed that higher levels of emotional representations of HIV and lower levels of treatment control were associated with both suicidal ideation and depression. Emotional representations were shown to mediate the associations between some cognitive representations variables and mental health. Findings suggest that both cognitive and emotional representations of HIV were important factors of mental health among ND-MSM. Interventions to promote the mental health of ND-MSM are warranted and should seek to improve their cognitive and emotional representations of HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newly diagnosed HIV-positive men who have sex with men (NHMSM) are at high risk of mental health problems but may also develop post-traumatic growth (PTG). According to the Common Sense Model, illness perception (including both cognitive representation and emotional representation) affects coping and health-related outcomes. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine the associations between illness perception and PTG among 225 NHMSM in Chengdu, China. Linear regression analyses indicated that the constructs of emotional representation subscale (β = −0.49) and five cognitive representation subscales (timeline, consequence, identity, attribution to god’s punishment/will, and attribution to chance/luck) (β = −0.13 to −0.37) were negative correlates of PTG, while four other constructs of cognitive representation (coherence, treatment control, personal control, and attribution to carelessness) were positive correlates (β = 0.15 to 0.51). No moderating effects were observed. The associations between five cognitive representation subscales and PTG were fully-mediated via emotional representation. The results indicate that interventions promoting PTG among NHMSM are warranted and should alter illness perception, emotional representation in particular. Future studies should clarify relationships between cognitive representation and emotional representation, and extend similar research to other health-related outcomes and HIV-positive populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is an endemic and rare species in China, and is considered to be one of the most endangered vertebrates in the world. It is known to hibernate, an energy-saving strategy against cold temperatures and food deprivation. Changes in gene expression during hibernation remain largely unknown. To understand these complex seasonal adaptive mechanisms, we performed a comprehensive survey of differential gene expression in heart, skeletal muscle, and kidney of hibernating and active Chinese alligators using RNA-Sequencing. In total, we identified 4780 genes differentially expressed between the active and hibernating periods. GO and KEGG pathway analysis indicated the likely role of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The upregulated DEGs in the active Chinese alligator, CSRP3 , MYG and PCKGC , may maintain heart and skeletal muscle contraction, transport and storage of oxygen, and enhance the body's metabolism, respectively. The upregulated DEGs in the dormant Chinese alligator, ADIPO , CIRBP and TMM27 , may improve insulin sensitivity and glucose/lipid metabolism, protect cells against harmful effects of cold temperature and hypoxia, regulate amino acid transport and uptake, and stimulate the proliferation of islet cells and the secretion of insulin. These results provide a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms of the seasonal adaptation required for hibernation in Chinese alligators, as well as effective information for other non-model organisms research. Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis) are an endemic and rare species in China. We performed RNA-Sequencing to compare the transcriptome of the Chinese alligator during hibernation and active periods in order to better understand the mechanisms underlying seasonal differences in activity level. Results indicate that some differentially expressed genes play a crucial role in a wide range of fundamental physiological processes in Chinese alligators. These data may provide valuable and useful resources for further studies of Chinese alligators. Photo by Hongji Sun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis (Fauvel, 1879) is an endangered species endemic to China. Up to this date, very little is known about the regulation of its growth and development. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) plays essential roles in regulating vertebrate growth and development by modulating IGFs action. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA of Chinese alligator IGFBP-1 (caIGFBP-1) for the first time, which has an open reading frame (ORF) of 885-bp nucleotides encoding a peptide of 294 amino acid residues. The caIGFBP-1 contains all features of IGFBP-1 peptide with the conserved cysteine-rich N- and C-terminal domains and variable central L-domain. Multiple alignment analysis showed that caIGFBP-1 shares high identity in amino acid sequence with the IGFBP-1 s of American alligator Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1802) (99.32%) and birds (66.32-74.53%). Phylogenetic tree analysis of IGFBP-1 amino acid sequences indicated that alligators cluster into bird branch. The caIGFBP-1 is widely expressed in all the examined tissues, the expression level is highest in liver, higher in kidney, moderate in pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and lower in ovary, muscle, lung, heart. During the hibernating period, the expression level of caIGFBP-1 was significantly reduced in liver, kidney, stomach, pancreas and small intestine, while did not significantly change in heart, lung, ovary and muscle. The caIGFBP-1 mRNA expression changes during the active and hibernating periods, which coincides with that of Chinese alligator IGF, implicating that it might play important roles in the IGF-mediated growth and development of Chinese alligator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passeriformes is the largest group within aves and the phylogenetic relationships between Passeriformes have caused major disagreement in ornithology. Particularly, the phylogenetic relationships between muscicapoidea and sylvioidea are complex, and their taxonomic boundaries have not been clearly defined. Our aim was to study the status of two bird species: Tarsiger cyanurus and Phoenicurus auroreus. Furthermore, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationships of Passeriformes. Complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of both species were determined and the lengths were 16,803 (T. cyanurus) and 16,772 bp (P. auroreus), respectively. Thirteen protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and one control region were identified in these mtDNAs. The contents of A and T at the base compositions was significantly higher than the content of G and C, and this AT skew was positive, while the GC skew was negative. The monophyly of Passeriformes is divided into four major clades: Corvoidea, Sylvioidea, Passeroidea, and Musicicapoidea. Paridae should be separated from the superfamily Sylvioidea and placed within the superfamily Muscicapoidea. The family Muscicapidae and Corvida were paraphyly, while Carduelis and Emberiza were grouped as a sister taxon. The relationships between some species of the order passeriformes may remain difficult to resolve despite an effort to collect additional characters for phylogenetic analysis. Current research of avian phylogeny should focus on adding characters and taxa and use both effectively to obtain a better resolution for deeper and shallow nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless power transfer technology is considered as one of the promising solutions to address the energy limitation problems for end-devices, but its incurred potential risk of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure is largely overlooked by most existing works. In this paper, we consider the Safe Charging with Adjustable PowEr (SCAPE) problem, namely, how to adjust the power of chargers to maximize the charging utility of devices, while assuring that EMR intensity at any location in the field does not exceed a given threshold Rt . We present novel techniques to reformulate SCAPE into a traditional linear programming problem, and then remove its redundant constraints as much as possible to reduce computational effort. Next, we propose a series of distributed algorithms, including a fully distributed algorithm that provably achieves $(1-\epsilon)$ approximation ratio and requires only communications with neighbors within a constant distance for each charger. Through extensive simulation and testbed experiments, we demonstrate that our proposed algorithms can outperform the set-cover algorithm by up to 17.05%, and has an average performance gain of 41.1% over the existing algorithm in terms of the overall charging utility. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Newly diagnosed HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) are an important subgroup in HIV intervention. How newly diagnosed HIV-positive MSM look at HIV/AIDS is consequential and is potentially associated with their risk behaviors and mental health problems. Illness representation has been used to define patients' beliefs and expectations on an illness, and the revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) has been developed to measure illness representations. This study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the IPQ-R among newly diagnosed HIV-positive MSM and to investigate their views towards HIV/AIDS.Method: A total of 225 newly diagnosed HIV-positive MSM completed the Chinese version of IPQ-R. Both confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were applied to examine the factor structure of IPQ-R.Results: CFA showed a poor goodness of fit to the original factor structure of IPQ-R. EFA of the IPQ-R revealed 7 factors, including Emotional Response, Treatment Control, Timeline-acute/chronic, Illness Coherence, Consequence, Personal Control and Helplessness. Cronbach's alpha showed acceptable internal consistency for the derived factors, except the Personal Control (0.61) and Helplessness (0.55). Person correlation coefficients demonstrated that the derived factors of IPQ-R had significant associations with the outcome variables (depression and posttraumatic growth). The scores of the Emotional Response, Consequence, Treatment Control, Personal Control, Timeline-acute/chronic and Illness Coherence were above the midpoint, and the score of the Helplessness was below the midpoint.Conclusion: Both similarities and differences were found when the IPQ-R is applied to newly diagnosed HIV-positive MSM. The IPQ-R can be used with some refinements in future studies. Newly diagnosed HIV-positive MSM have a relatively high level of negative perceptions towards HIV/AIDS in both cognitive and emotional aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As battery-powered mobile devices become more popular and energy hungry, wireless power transfer technology, which allows the power to be transferred from a charger to ambient devices wirelessly, receives intensive interests. Existing schemes mainly focus on the power transfer efficiency but overlook the health impairments caused by RF exposure. In this paper, we study the safe charging problem (SCP) of scheduling power chargers so that more energy can be received while no location in the field has electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exceeding a given threshold Rt . We show that SCP is NP-hard and propose a solution, which provably outperforms the optimal solution to SCP with a relaxed EMR threshold (1-\epsilon )Rt . Testbed results based on 8 Powercast TX91501 chargers validate our results. Extensive simulation results show that the gap between our solution and the optimal one is only 6.7% when $\epsilon = 0.1$ , while a naive greedy algorithm is 34.6% below our solution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Small cells are introduced to cellular systems to enhance coverage and improve capacity. Densely deploying small cells can not only offload the traffic of macrocells but also provide an energy- and cost-efficient way to meet the sharp increase in traffic demands in mobile networks. However, such a cell deployment paradigm also leads to heterogeneous network (HetNet) infrastructure and raises new challenges for cell planning. In this paper, we study the cell planning issue in the HetNet. Our optimization task is to select a subset of candidate sites to deploy macro or small cells to minimize the total cost of ownership (TCO) or the energy consumption of the cellular system while satisfying practical constraints. We introduce approximation algorithms to cope with two different cell-planning cases, which are both NP-hard. First, we discuss the macrocell-only case. Our proposed algorithm achieves an approximation ratio of O(\log R) in this scenario, where R is the maximum achievable capacity of macrocells. Then, we introduce an O(\log \widetildeR)-approximation algorithm to the small-cell scenario, where \widetildeR is the maximum achievable capacity of a macrocell with small cells overlaid on it. Numerical results indicate that the HetNet can significantly reduce the TCO and the energy consumption of the cellular system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]