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The prognosis for pathologically node-negative (pN0) esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with surgery alone remains poor. We aimed to develop a model for a more precise prediction of recurrence, which will allow personalized management for pN0 ESCC after upfront complete resection. Clinical and pathological records of patients with completely resected pT1-3N0M0 ESCC were retrospectively analyzed between January 2014 and December 2019. A nomogram for the prediction of recurrence was established based on the Cox regression analysis and evaluated by C-index, AUC, and calibration curves. The model was further validated using bootstrap resampling and k-fold cross-validation and compared with the 8th edition of the AJCC TNM staging system using Td-ROC, NRI, IDI, and DCA. Two-hundred-and seventy cases were included in this study. The median follow-up was 45 months. Distant and/or loco-regional recurrences were noted in 89 (33.0%) patients. The predictive model revealed pT-category, differentiation, perineural invasion, examined lymph nodes (ELN), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as independent risk factors for recurrence, with a c-index of 0.725 in the bootstrapping cohort. Td-ROC, NRI, and IDI showed a better predictive ability than the AJCC 8th TNM staging system. Based on this model, patients in the low-risk group had a significantly lower recurrence incidence than those in the high-risk group (p <.001). The predictive model developed in this study may facilitate the precise prediction of recurrences for pN0 ESCC after upfront surgery. Stratifying management of those patients might bring significantly better survival benefits. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban plants are important for the aesthetics and functionality of the urban environment and are closely related to human life. To help fill the current research void on the distribution patterns and driving mechanisms of urban plant diversity in the tropics, we tested the relationship between plant species richness and land use and anthropogenic and environmental factors in 491 urban functional units (UFUs) in three tropical cities in China (i.e., Zhanjiang, Haikou, and Sanya). The results showed highly significant differences in the distribution of plant richness between different land use types, with the high plant diversity found in residential areas, and leisure and entertainment areas. A positive relationship was found between construction age and spontaneous plant species richness. Furthermore, housing price, trimming and fertilizing frequencies were positively related with cultivated species richness and negatively related with spontaneous species richness. We conclude that urban plant species richness is not the result of a single factor but is influenced by the interaction between anthropogenic factors and environmental factors; although anthropogenic factors play the largest role in determining patterns of urban plant diversity. These results can help decision-makers and managers better understand the current spatial patterns of urban plant diversity, in order to establish and manage urban green space more scientifically and realize sustainable development of urban green space. • Land use type had a significant effect on plant diversity. • Spontaneous species richness increases with construction age. • The urban plant diversity distribution pattern t is influenced by multiple factors. • The influence of socioeconomic factors on the urban plant diversity was greater than that of environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We identified 5163 plant species (229 families and 1730 genera) in the final plant species list from the 18 Chinese cities. • The composition of all plant species was significantly positively correlated with both MAP and MAT. • Very few diversity metrics could be related to the environmental factors tested. • The Net Relatedness Index of native cultivated species was negatively related to socioeconomic variable UGP. • The family richness and phylogenetic overdispersion of urban spontaneous plant species were positively related to MAT. Abstract Analyses of the phylogenetic relatedness of plant communities in urban areas have great potential to inform future diversity planning in expanding or new urban areas. The influences affecting the number of taxa found in urban areas and their phylogenetic diversity remains unclear. Both native and exotic (or imported) plant species can be found in urbanized areas: some grow spontaneously, and some are cultivated. These groups likely have different drivers: cultivated species diversity may be dependent on city wealth and the nature and extent of green space within those urban areas. In contrast, spontaneous species diversity may be more closely related to the constraints of climate. In this study, we analyzed the drivers of plant taxonomic richness and phylogenetic diversity of five groups (native-spontaneous, native-cultivated, exotic-spontaneous, exotic-cultivated and all) across 18 different cities in China that spanned different climate zones and socioeconomic status. We used both fieldwork and existing literature in our study. We constructed general linear models to assess whether the number of taxa and the phylogenetic diversity of plant life in each of the five studied groups could be related to any of two biophysical variable Mean Annual Temperature (MAT) and Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP as well as two socioeconomic variables, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Urban Greening Percentage (UGP). We identified 5163 plant species (229 families and 1730 genera) in the combined final plant species list from the 18 Chinese cities. The composition of all plant species was positively correlated (p < 0.01) with both MAP and MAT. Very few diversity metrics seemed to be related to the environmental factors tested, but the patterns were consistent with expectations. The Net Relatedness Index (NTI) of native cultivated species was negatively related to socioeconomic variable UGP (greater overdispersion with greater UGP), whereas the family richness and phylogenetic overdispersion of urban spontaneous plant species were positively related to the climate variable MAT. These findings might indicate long-term urban legacy effects over the course of centuries as have been observed in other world regions having a long history of urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drivers of patterns in plant diversity remain poorly understood in tropical cities. Therefore, we investigated diversity within the tropical city of Sanya in Hainan Province of southern China by sampling one to three plots within 154 urban functional units (UFUs) based on six primary and 18 secondary UFUs. To measure diversity, we determined the number of vascular plants (species richness; SR) within each functional unit based on vegetation plots. We computed Faith's phylogenetic diversity (PD Faith) using a large megatree of plant life. To assess the potential drivers of SR and PD Faith, we performed multiple regressions using socioeconomic, biophysical, and vegetation management variables. The results showed significant differences in SR and PD Faith among the six primary UFUs. PD Faith of cultivated species was significantly higher than PD Faith of spontaneous species in all UFUs except in the wasteland area. Management measures were better predictors of SR and PD Faith than socioeconomic variables. The best predictor of SR and PD Faith of spontaneous species was the management of the urban green space. Our results provide clear guidelines for improved management strategies in Sanya, especially by showing how spontaneous and/or cultivated plant diversity can be encouraged depending on environmental, ecological, and cultural needs. Our work also adds to the presently scarce literature on drivers of urban plant diversity in tropical cities worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces (UGSs) provide a plethora of ecosystem services that benefit humans and wildlife within cities. UGS both promotes and is affected by overall urban ecological health, which can be measured by a wide range of indices. In this study, we investigated the distribution patterns and drivers of UGS within the tropical coastal city of Haikou, Hainan, China over the past decade using a combination of remote sensing data and field work. We interpreted Google earth images from 2010 and 2020 to determine the land cover of UGS within Urban Functional Units (UFUs). We collected socioeconomic variables to test if wealth, site age, and land use determine the proportion of UGS in the city. We found that the proportion of UGS in parks was the highest among all UFUs in 2010 and 2020. In general, UGS increased with maintenance frequency and housing price, which are proxies for the luxury effect. However, land use also played a role in UGS distribution across UFUs, especially in transportation areas, recreation and leisure districts, and residential districts. Haikou is similar to other cities in showing a positive luxury effect on the distribution of UGS. Our results highlight the key roles that parks, colleges and universities, and research institute areas have played in maintaining stable green space within Haikou over the past decade. We suggest that relatively recently implemented governmental programs to increase green space elsewhere in the city may not yet have achieved success within the time span that we analyzed. • Urban green area in Haikou decreased from 2010 to 2020 across 190 UFUs. • Maintenance frequency and wealth are primary drivers of the distribution of UGS in Haikou. • Site age also plays a role in the distribution of urban green space in Haikou [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Urban structural units (USUs) are work (or similar) units in urbanized areas. In this study, USUs based on urban land use and land cover were used to explain and compare urban ecological conditions within Beijing. This study focused on the spatial pattern of land use for different USUs in urban areas. The results showed that 453 USUs belong to 12 primary USUs and to 38 different secondary USUs. The percentage of built-up area was highest in those regions with hotels, and lowest in areas with cemeteries. The percentage of woodland area was highest in primary and middle schools, and the lowest in entertainment plazas. The percentage of grassland area was highest in farmland or orchards, and lowest in Siheyuan (courtyards). The percentage of green space is highest in lands dedicated to middle and primary schools, and lowest in areas with museums. There is no significant linear relationship between construction period and green space percentage in Colleges/Universities (R =0.045, p =0.806>0.05) and Parks (R =0.13, p =0.43>0.05). However, there was an inverted-U curve relationship with the relevant housing price in the residential area, a relationship that can be described by the equation: f =17736.45+348.21x −4.15 x 2, p =0.0022<0.05. This relationship implied that the socio-economic factors like housing prices may be a factor in determining the green space pattern of urban ecosystems in Beijing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Following an acute injury, the liver may maintain its structure and function through mitotic division of mature hepatocytes (i.e. hepatic regeneration). However, the regeneration ability of hepatocytes can be impaired in chronic liver diseases including chronic viral infection and alcohol abuse. Hepatic progenitor cells/oval cells (HPCs/OCs), capable of differentiation into both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, occur and proliferate during chronic injury. Unfortunately, a use of HPCs for clinical therapy is blocked by the difficulty of exact identity of HPCs in liver. Focusing on the links between phenotype of HPCs and real stem cells originating from fetal liver or bone marrow (BM), the recent studies of HPCs neglect functional analysis and the close relationship between activation of HPCs and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. It is currently widely accepted that mesenchymal-epithelial transition (EMT) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (MET) play important roles not only in liver development but also in healing of chronic injured adult liver. Co-expression of epithelial/mesenchymal and HPCs markers has been demonstrated in cells undergoing EMT/MET. These cells led to hepatic regeneration after transplanted into rats with chronic liver injury. Notably, there is an increased expression of mesenchymal markers in HPCs after exposure to transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1). Based on these evidences, we hypothesize that HPCs represent a transitioning cell population undergoing EMT/MET, both parenchymal and mesenchymal cells of liver may be the direct sources of HPCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Urban plant diversity influences the social functioning and well-being of urban dwellers. However, the patterns and drivers of plant diversity in tropical urban areas are still not entirely understood. In response to the knowledge deficiencies in this area, we investigated spontaneous and cultivated plant richness and their phylogenetic diversity and relatedness in 260 Urban Functional Units (UFUs), which represented nine different land use types according to anthropogenic function, in the tropical coastal city of Zhanjiang, China. Plant diversity was modelled as a function of UFU characteristics and human maintenance practices. Spontaneous species richness was highest in urban villages and vacant lands and lowest in transportation areas, while phylogenetic diversity was highest in utilities and lowest in parks. In comparison, cultivated species richness was highest in multi-family residential areas and lowest in vacant lands, while phylogenetic diversity of cultivated species was highest in commercial/industry areas and lowest in agriculture areas. The number of cultivated species and the degree of phylogenetic relatedness of spontaneous species were positively correlated with the human population density. The phylogenetic diversity of cultivated species within UFUs was generally higher than that of spontaneous species. Human maintenance of landscapes acted as an environmental filter for spontaneous species, but also promoted the number of cultivated plants. We conclude that appropriate investment in urban green areas may improve both plant species richness and phylogenetic diversity in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used plastic monomer and plasticizer, is detectable in blood, urine and semen of a healthy people, with concentrations ranging from 0.1 nM to 10 nM. It has been shown that in vitro exposure of BPA as low as 0.001 nM could significantly inhibited mouse sperm motility and acrosome reaction. However, it is still unclear whether BPA at those physiologically detectable concentration affects human sperm. The effects of different concentrations of BPA (0, 10−3, 10−2, 10−1, 10, 103 nM) on sperm functions were examined, including human sperm viability, kinematic parameters, hyperactivation and capacitation. BPA caused a remarkable decline in human sperm viability, motility and progressive motility, hyperactivation, capacitation and progesterone-induced acrosome reaction. Mechanism studies showed that BPA could suppress the protein tyrosine phosphorylation level of human sperm, but had no effect on sperm calcium signaling. Physiologically detectable concentrations of BPA may impair human sperm functions via suppressing protein tyrosine phosphorylation of human sperm, implying that environmental pollution of BPA might be a factor contributing to male infertility. • The direct effects of physiologically detectable concentrations of bisphenol A on human sperm were firstly examined. • Bisphenol A caused a significant decline in human sperm viability, motility and progressive motility. • Bisphenol A remarkably suppressed hyperactivation, capacitation and P4-induced acrosome reaction on human sperm. • Bisphenol A impaired human sperm functions by reducing protein tyrosine phosphorylation rather than affecting [Ca2+] i. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Relatively little is known about the dynamics of tropical urban forests. • Phylogenetic diversity and available permanent plot data were used to test the luxury and legacy effects hypotheses. • Mixed evidence of luxury and legacy effects were linked to diversity of anthropogenic ecosystems. • The existing San Juan urban forest diversity is the result of climate, biome, and multi-scale socioeconomic contexts. • PD metrics can be used to better understand urban biodiversity and other beneficial urban forest attributes. Relatively little is known about the dynamics of tropical urban forests, their phylogenetic diversity, as well as the socioeconomic and ecological factors that influence overall diversity across the urban landscape. However, permanent forest inventory and monitoring plot networks are increasingly being established across forests and cities of the world to monitor structural and functional attributes of urban forests, as well as ecosystem services. We analyzed a tropical, coastal urban forest in San Juan, Puerto Rico using metrics of phylogenetic diversity (PD), plant diversity, and available permanent plot data from an urban forest inventory and monitoring system. In total, we found 152 species belonging to 119 genera and 44 families in San Juan. PD tended to be highest in forest remnant areas. We also explored correlations between socioeconomic factors and taxonomic diversity and found that plant species richness was correlated with population density and housing price. We found marginally significant relationships between housing price, population density, and several PD metrics. Our results further suggest mixed evidence of luxury and legacy effects, two factors that have been linked to the plant diversity of anthropogenic ecosystems in other research. Overall, despite centuries of human influence, the existing urban forest diversity in San Juan - although perhaps not the particular species composition - is likely to be primarily the result of climate, biome, and multi-scale socioeconomic contexts and not legacy effects. The approach used and findings from this study could be used to better understand the application of PD metrics for assessing urban biodiversity and other beneficial attributes and traits of urban forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Species Richness and Phylogenetic Diversity differed significantly across primary UFUs. • Most land cover and plant diversity variables were significantly positively correlated with socioeconomic variables. • Tree SR, PD, and MNTD were positively correlated with maintenance times and watering frequency per year. • Socioeconomic variables help predict the percentage of green space and changes in SR and PD among Haikou urban ecosystems. Urban development proceeds rapidly, so understanding the mechanisms underpinning this process is critical to urban planning. One way to accomplish this is by measuring and comparing mosaics in urban ecosystems across space and time, and relating these to ecosystem processes. In this study, we examined 190 Urban Functional Units (UFUs) within urbanized areas in the tropical city of Haikou in China, and we assigned each to a UFU type. We assessed land cover as well as plant taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity within each UFU using field investigations and by interpreting imagery from remote sensing. Additionally, we quantified several relevant factors that may influence plant diversity. Using these data, we built general linear models to test how UFU types, as well as relevant biophysical, socioeconomic, and management factors, predict variation in urban plant diversity. We found that the 190 UFUs examined in Haikou belong to 6 primary and 16 secondary UFUs. We observed that land cover varied strongly among secondary UFUs and that species richness and diversity differed significantly across the 6 primary UFUs. Most land cover and plant diversity variables were significantly positively correlated with total land area, the age of the UFU, and average housing prices. Tree species richness, phylogenetic distance, and the mean nearest taxon distance were positively correlated with maintenance times and watering frequency per year (green management variables). Our study indicated that socioeconomic variables help predict the percentage of green space and plant taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity differences among Haikou urban ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]