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Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. Heart failure (HF) is a disease caused by heart dysfunction. The prevalence of AF and HF were progressively increasing over time. The co‐existence of AF and HF presents a significant therapeutic challenge. In order to provide new ideas for the diagnosis of AF and HF, it is necessary to carry out biomarker related studies. Methods and results: The training set and validation set data of AF and HF patient samples were downloaded from the GEO database, 'limma' was used to compare the differences in gene expression levels between the disease group and the normal group to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) identified the modules with the highest positive correlation with AF and HF. Functional enrichment and PPI network construction of key genes were carried out. Biomarkers were screened by machine learning. The infiltration of immune cells in AF and HF groups was evaluated by R‐packet 'CIBERSORT'. The miRNA network was constructed and potential therapeutic agents for biomarker genes were predicted through the drugbank database. Through WGCNA analysis, it was found that the modules most positively correlated with AF and HF were MEturquoise (r = 0.21, P value = 0.09) and MEbrown (r = 0.62, P value = 8e‐12), respectively. We screened 25 genes that were highly correlated with both AF and HF. Lasso regression analysis results showed 7 and 20 core genes in AF and HF groups, respectively. The top 20 important genes in AF and HF groups were obtained as core genes by RF model analysis. Four biomarkers were obtained after the intersection of core genes in four groups, namely, GLUL, NCF2, S100A12, and SRGN. The diagnostic efficacy of four genes in AF validation sets was good (AUC: GLUL 0.76, NCF2 0.64, S100A12 0.68, and SRGN 0.76), as well as in the HF validation set (AUC: GLUL 0.76, NCF2 0.84, S100A12 0.92, and SRGN 0.68). The highest correlation with neutrophils was observed for GLUL, NCF2, and S100A12, while SRGN exhibited the strongest correlation with T cells CD4 memory resting in the AF group. GLUL, NCF2, S100A12, and SRGN were most associated with neutrophils in the HF group. A total of 101 miRNAs were predicted by four genes, and GLUL, NCF2, and S100A12 predicted a total of 10 potential therapeutic agents. Conclusions: We identified four biological markers that are highly correlated with AF and HF, namely, GLUL, NCF2, S100A12, and SRGN. Our findings provide theoretical basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of AF and HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground‐dwelling invertebrates are vital for soil biodiversity and function maintenance. Contemporary biodiversity assessment necessitates novel and automatic monitoring methods because of the threat of sharp reductions in soil biodiversity in farmlands worldwide. Using infrared camera traps (ICTs) is an effective method for assessing richness and abundance of ground‐dwelling invertebrates. However, the influence that the shooting area of ICTs has on the diversity of ground‐dwelling invertebrates has not been strongly considered during survey design. In this study, data from six ICTs with two shooting areas (A1, 38.48 cm2; A2, 400 cm2) were used to investigate ground‐dwelling invertebrates in a farm in a city on the Eastern Coast of China from 20: 00 on July 31 to 00:00 on September 29, 2022. Over the course of 59 days and 1420 h, invertebrates within 9 taxa, 2447 individuals, and 112,909 ind./m2 were observed from 222,912 images. Our results show that ICTs with relatively large shooting areas recorded relatively high taxonomic richness and abundance of total ground‐dwelling invertebrates, relatively high abundance of the dominant taxon, and relatively high daily and hourly abundance of most taxa. The shooting areas of ICTs significantly affected the recorded taxonomic richness and abundance of ground‐dwelling invertebrates throughout the experimental period and at fine temporal resolutions. Overall, these results suggest that the shooting areas of ICTs should be considered when designing experiments, and ICTs with relatively large shooting areas are more favorable for monitoring the diversity of ground‐dwelling invertebrates. This study further provides an automatic tool and high‐quality data for biodiversity monitoring and protection in farmlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many recent studies have provided significant insights into polyploid breeding, but limited research has been carried out on trees. The genomic information needed to understand growth and response to abiotic stress in polyploidy trees is largely unknown, but has become critical due to the threats to forests imposed by climate change. Populus alba 'Berolinensis,' also known "Yinzhong poplar," is a triploid poplar from northeast China. This hybrid triploid poplar is widely used as a landscape ornamental and in urban forestry owing to its adaptation to adverse environments and faster growth than its parental diploid. It is an artificially synthesized male allotriploid hybrid, with three haploid genomes of P. alba 'Berolinensis' originating from different poplar species, so it is attractive for studying polyploidy genomic mechanisms in heterosis. In this study, we focused on the allelic genomic interactions in P. alba 'Berolinensis,' and generated a high‐quality chromosome‐level genome assembly consisting of 19 allelic chromosomes. Its three haploid chromosome sets are polymorphic with an average of 25.73 nucleotide polymorphism sites per kilobase. We found that some stress‐related genes such as RD22 and LEA7 exhibited sequence differences between different haploid genomes. The genome assembly has been deposited in our polyploid genome online analysis website TreeGenomes (https://www.treegenomes.com). These polyploid genome‐related resources will provide a critical foundation for the molecular breeding of P. alba 'Berolinensis' and help us uncover the allopolyploidization effects of heterosis and abiotic stress resistance and traits of polyploidy species in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Tropospheric attenuations can be significant in the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency bands; hence, accurate prediction modeling of tropospheric attenuation is important for reliable mmWave communication. Several models have been established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), yet estimation accuracy is limited due to the large spatial scales used for model input parameters. In this paper, we address this and apply local precipitation data to analyze tropospheric attenuation statistics and compare to results when using ITU regional input rain data. Specifically, tropospheric attenuation is predicted via simulations using the ITU method at 30, 60, and 90 GHz in four distinct geographic locations with different climate types. From our simulations, we gather statistics for annual average rain attenuation, worst month rain attenuation, and rain attenuation per decade. Our results indicate that when using local measured rain data, for 1 km link distance, mean rain event attenuation increases from 0.5 to 2 dB. Local rain data yield larger attenuations at essentially all percentages of time not exceeded (essentially corresponding to all probability values): for example, for 0.1% of time not exceeded, in Columbia, SC, rain attenuation for 30 GHz frequency increases to 9 dB with local rain data, compared to 5 dB with ITU's regional data, corresponding to rain rates of 38.2 and 17.5 mm/h, respectively; at the same probability and location, the 90 GHz attenuation increases by 10 dB, from 10 to 20 dB when local rain data are used. Fog attenuations are also appreciable, reaching 8 dB for the 90 GHz frequency. Moreover, for the example locations, peak rain attenuations have increased at a rate of approximately 2 dB/decade over the past 50 years. Our results indicate that actual tropospheric attenuations may be substantially larger than that predicted by the ITU model when using regional rain rate data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the pathogenesis of ameloblastoma (AB), identifying potential novel targets for future targeted therapy. Materials and Methods: CircRNA and microRNA (miRNA) profiling in AB were built with microarrays. Six novel circRNAs were validated, circ‐miRNA networks were delineated. Hsa‐miR‐608 was filtered over cross‐comparison between database screening, miRNA microarray and validated. Circ‐miRNA binding sponge was validated via luciferase reporter assay. Downstream mRNAs were screened. Regulation between miRNAs and mRNAs was confirmed in vitro. Gene interaction networks and circRNA–miRNA–mRNA interaction pathway enrichment analyses were established. Results: Six differentially expressed circRNAs were selected and validated. According to miRNAs and pathways predicted, six correlated miRNAs were selected, hsa‐miR‐608 was filtered and validated. The hsa_circ_0089153/hsa‐miR‐608 binding sponge was validated. Downstream gene interaction networks showed that EGFR and p53 had the strongest co‐expression. In vitro transfection results confirmed the suppressive function of miR‐608 and EGFR p53. Hsa_circ_0089153/hsa‐miR‐608/EGFR p53 interaction pathway enrichment analysis confirmed functions mainly enriched in MAPK and related signaling pathways regulating AB progression. Conclusions: Six novel circRNAs were identified. Hsa_circ_0089153/hsa‐miR‐608 sponging was validated, hsa‐miR‐608 downregulated EGFR and p53, which might further regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell cycle processes via the MAPK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ameloblastoma (AB) is a common epithelial odontogenic tumor. The Wnt/β‐catenin pathway has been found to be related to AB invasion. Methods: The alteration expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) was performed by miRNA and mRNA microarray analysis and validated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The effects of miR‐29a‐3p on migration and invasion in AB cells were evaluated by a transwell assay. Bioinformatic prediction was conducted using the miRSystem and validated by quantitative RT‐PCR, western blot, and a luciferase reporter assay. Results: miR‐29a‐3p was overexpressed in AB tissues, which promoted the migration and invasion of AB cells in vitro. Catenin beta interacting protein 1 (CTNNBIP1), a negative regulator of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, was predicted to be a target of miR‐29a‐3p. miR‐29a‐3p inhibited the expression of CTNNBIP1 and promoted the expression of the downstream molecules of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. Conclusions: miR‐29a‐3p promoted migration and invasion in AB via Wnt/β‐catenin signaling by targeting CTNNBIP1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atorvastatin, a hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor, and endothelin-1 ( ET-1) receptor antagonist have been separately indicated to ameliorate disease progression in atherosclerosis. However, no study has evaluated the effect of their combination on atherosclerosis. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the direct in vivo effects of a combination regimen of atorvastatin and ET-1 receptor antagonist on male New Zealand white rabbit models of atherosclerosis (injury-induced). Thirty-two atherosclerotic rabbits were divided into four experimental groups: (a) injury group - fed high-fat diet; (b) ET-1 receptor antagonist preventive group - fed high-fat diet, but with intragastric administration of the ET-1 receptor antagonist, darusentan; (c) combined preventive group - fed high-fat diet, but with intragastric administration of both darusentan and atorvastatin; and (d) treatment group - fed high-fat diet for the first 8 weeks, followed by normal diet and intragastric administration of both darusentan and atorvastatin up to 16 weeks. A further eight non-atherosclerotic rabbits were fed normal diet and classified as the control group. At the end of 8 and 16 weeks, compared with the injury group, the combined preventive group had significant reduction in both the concentration of serum lipids and inflammatory factors and atherosclerosis formation, indicative of a multifaceted anti-atherosclerotic impact. The relative area of atherosclerotic lesions in the injury group (30.84%) was significantly higher than the control group (4.62%; p < 0.05). The combined preventive group showed a significantly robust effect on lowering serum lipid, inflammatory cytokines, and maintained homeostatic balance of free radicals, and important downstream effectors like ET-1 and matrixmetalloproteinase-9. Our data show that atorvastatin and ET-1 receptor antagonist co-administration may decrease lipid levels, stabilize plaques and relieve vascular inflammation. By reducing the plaque burden, this regimen may minimize the risk of atherosclerotic plaque rupture or arterial occlusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The present study demonstrates that Icariside II (10, 20, and 40 µM) reduced Leydig cell testosterone production and cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide staining indicated that no morphological changes in Leydig cell nuclear chromatin occurred, caspase-3 expression also showed no significant change, but cell death was caused by the 10-µM Icariside II treatment. Furthermore, a significant reduction in NAD+ levels was observed following Icariside II exposure (10, 20, and 40 µM). Cell death was avoided when Icariside II treated cells were incubated with extracellular NAD+ (5 and 10 mM). Moreover, the addition of NAD+ (5 and 10 mM) could restore ATP production and prevent cell death. The results suggest that Icariside II can reduce testosterone production by inducing necrosis, but not apoptosis, in rat Leydig cells. This mechanism may also account for the Icariside II induced depletion of NAD+ and ATP levels. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J BiochemMol Toxicol 27:243-250, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/jbt.21481 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A curved, convex towards the channel bottom magnetic field is an important feature of an advanced Hall thruster that allows confining the plasma flow in the channel center, reducing the divergence angle of the ejected ion beam, and improving the discharge performance. In this article, the discharge behaviour of a Hall thruster in magnetic fields with different degrees of curvature is simulated with a particle‐in‐cell numerical method, and the effect of curved magnetic field on the ion bombardment and wall erosion and the associated mechanisms are studied and analysed. The results show that, as the curvature of the magnetic field increases, the propellant ionization becomes more confined at the channel center, the potential drop inside the channel decreases, and the acceleration region shifts outside the channel, which lead to the attenuation of the ion energy bombarding the wall and the deviation of the bombardment angle from the optimal sputtering angle. Conversely, the ion flux bombarding the wall near the channel exit increases. Nevertheless, the bombardment energy and angle are the dominant factors for the wall erosion, and the wall erosion rate clearly decreases with the increasing curvature of the magnetic field. These findings are closely related to the behaviour of electron conduction under a curved magnetic field; the relevant mechanisms are clarified in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]