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During 6–10 January 2021, a recorded strong cold surge took place in China, with over 800 observational stations reaching their historical extremes. Unlike previous studies that focused on the response of either the power load or generation separately, this study quantitatively revealed the impacts on the balance between the demand and supply sides of the grid. On the demand side, the sensitivity of power load was found to increase substantially higher in southern China (0.533 GW °C−1) than in the northern region (0.139 GW °C−1) due to the limited municipal heating system. On the supply side, the hourly wind power generation dropped from the highest of 110 GW on 6 January to the lowest of 54 GW on 9 January due to the reduction in wind speed. In addition, a reduction in solar power generation was observed during 8–10 January. Thus, the balance of the power system was influenced by this cold event. As an effective adaptation measure, results further showed that early warning by three weeks ahead can be obtained by an operational climate model. The sensitivity of China's power system to such cold surge events may increase remarkably due to the expected increase in the proportion of wind and solar power generation in future new-type power systems. Thus, close cooperation between climate scientists and power engineers is needed to build the resilience of the power system to the cold extremes.

Abstract Background Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infection can lead to a broad spectrum of lung diseases, including infectious diseases and tumors. Recently, with the wide application of bronchoscopes and cytopathology of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the diagnostic efficiency of lung diseases has improved. The present study focuses on analyzing the cytopathologic characteristics of BALF in the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS-related lung disease and comparing the lung disease spectrum between HIV and HIV-uninfected patients. Methods BALF specimens were collected from 2211 patients. Using ThinPrep liquid-based technology, the cytologic smears were prepared by staining with Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE), Gomori's methenamine silver (GMS), and Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS), acid-fast and immunocytochemical (ICC) staining. Real-time PCR was used to detect cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) in the remaining BALF. PCR-reverse dot hybridization was used for mycobacterial species identification. Results From the 2211 BALF specimens, 1768 (79.96%) were specimens from HIV-infected patients, and 443 (20.04%) were speciments from HIV-uninfected patients. The HIV-infected patients with a median age of 38.5 ± 11.3 years were markedly younger than the HIV-uninfected patients (52.9 ± 14.9 years) (p

Abstract Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been recognized as one of the frequently occurring opportunistic infections (OIs) reported in the patients having human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). In addition, it has been identified as the factor leading to gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorder among HIV/AIDS population. CMV exhibits broad cell tropism in different organs. This study evaluated the CMV cell tropism and clinicopathological characteristics of CMV infection in the different GI regions in HIV/AIDS cases. Methods Using nucleic acid in situ hybridization (ISH), CMV was detected in the gastrointestinal mucosal biopsy samples. The paraffin-embedded samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Results A total of 32 HIV/AIDS patients were enrolled in this study. Fourteen of these patients underwent gastroscopy, while the remaining eighteen received colonoscopy. CMV-infected cells were observed at 46 GI sites. Among them, the colon was the region with the highest susceptibility to GI CMV infection (n = 12, 26.1%). The CMV giant cell inclusion bodies were detected in epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells, including histiocytes, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. In the duodenum, there were markedly more positive epithelial cells than mesenchymal cells (p = 0.033). In contrast, in the esophagus (p = 0.030), cardia (p = 0.003), rectum (p = 0.019), colon (p

Abstract Background Cervical lymphadenopathy refers to a frequently observed clinical presentation in numerous pathological conditions. A wide spectrum of diseases can cause cervical lymphadenopathy, irrespective of the fact that the patients are infected with HIV or not. The present study focuses on validating whether the causes of cervical lymphadenopathy differ significantly in HIV and non-HIV patients by using fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) combining cell block. Methods A total of 589 patients with cervical lymphadenopathy were recruited in the FNA clinic. The samples were obtained by an auto-vacuumed syringe that benefited the sampling more materials. The cytological smears were prepared by Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE), Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS), Gomori’s methenamine silver (GMS) and acid-fast staining. Cell blocks were made if required, and immunohistochemistry stain was performed on the cell block section. Results The study found 453 (76.9%) patients with HIV and 136 (23.1%) patients without HIV infection. The average age of HIV-infected patients was 34.8 ± 10.2 years, which was significantly lower than that of non-HIV-infected patients (42.9 ± 18.1 years) (p

Summary: Cyclin E is a key factor for S phase entry, and deregulation of Cyclin E results in developmental defects and tumors. Therefore, proper cycling of Cyclin E is crucial for normal growth. Here we found that transcription factors Apontic (Apt) and E2f1 cooperate to induce cyclin E in Drosophila. Functional binding motifs of Apt and E2f1 are clustered in the first intron of Drosophila cyclin E and directly contribute to the cyclin E transcription. Knockout of apt and e2f1 together abolished Cyclin E expression. Furthermore, Apt up-regulates Retinoblastoma family protein 1 (Rbf1) for proper chromatin compaction, which is known to repress cyclin E. Notably, Apt-dependent up-regulation of Cyclin E and Rbf1 is evolutionarily conserved in mammalian cells. Our findings reveal a unique mechanism underlying the induction and subsequent decline of Cyclin E expression.

Sweet corn is a feed resource with a high content of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) available for ruminant production. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of inoculation with Lactobacillus plantarum on fermentation and nutritional quality of sweet corn silage. Sweet corn whole plant (WP) and sweet corn stover (CS) were ensiled in mini silos with or without inoculation of L. plantarum. Proximate composition and fermentation variables, and composition of the bacterial community, were evaluated before ensiling and at the end of the first, second, and third month after ensiling. There was fiber degradation in CS silage after three months of ensilage, but not in WP silage. Inoculation of WP silage, but not of CS silage, with L. plantarum, increased starch content. The relative abundance of genus Lactobacillus was increased by inoculation with L. plantarum by 14.2% and 82.2% in WP and CS silage, respectively. Inoculation with L. plantarum was not necessary to achieve adequate fermentation of either WP or CS silage, as the abundance of native lactic acid bacteria in both materials seemed suitable for adequate fermentation. That said, increased starch content in WP resulting from inoculation with L. plantarum can increase the nutritive value of WP for ruminants.

Sedimentary environment and possible origins of geothermal water in the Gushi depression, Shaanxi Province, NW China are discussed in this paper based on the isotope and hydrochemistry characteristics of the geothermal water. The results illustrate that isotope and hydrochemistry characteristics in different parts of the study area show obvious differences, which indicate their different storage environments, recharge resources, and genetic types. The study expound for the first time that genetic types of geothermal water are various and the main genetic types of geothermal water include: (1) modern circulating water which host on an opener thermal environment; (2) residual connate water that may exist in a closed geothermal reservoir; and (3) the mixed water between 1 and 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most lethal thyroid malignancy. Identification of novel drug targets is urgently needed. Materials & Methods We re-analyzed several GEO datasets by systematic retrieval and data merging. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered out. We also performed pathway enrichment analysis to interpret the data. We predicted key genes based on protein–protein interaction networks, weighted gene co-expression network analysis and genes’ cancer/testis expression pattern. We also further characterized these genes using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project and gene ontology annotation. Results Cell cycle-related pathways were significantly enriched in upregulated genes in ATC. We identified TRIP13, DLGAP5, HJURP, CDKN3, NEK2, KIF15, TTK, KIF2C, AURKA and TPX2 as cell cycle-related key genes with cancer/testis expression pattern. We further uncovered that most of these putative key genes were critical components during chromosome segregation. Conclusion We predicted several key genes harboring potential therapeutic value in ATC. Cell cycle-related processes, especially chromosome segregation, may be the key to tumorigenesis and treatment of ATC.

ABSTRACT: The physiological function of the reticulorumen plays an essential role in ruminant nutrition, and detailed knowledge of rumen motility can further advance understanding of ruminant nutrition and physiology. Rumen motility was simulated by setting different stirrer rotation speeds in a rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rotation speeds on rumen fermentation, saturation factor of dissolved gases, hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) emissions, microbial protein synthesis, and selected microbial population using RUSITEC. The experiment was performed according to a balanced 3 × 3 Latin square design, and each period included 7 d for adaptation and 3 d for sampling. Three motility treatments included 5, 15, and 25 rpm rotation speeds. Daily total gas and H2 and CH4 emissions had quadratic responses to the increasing rotation speed and were highest at 15 rpm. Quadratic and linear responses (highest at 5 rpm) to increasing rotation speed were observed for saturation factors of H2 and CH4, liquid-dissolved H2 and CH4 concentrations, and headspace concentration of H2 in the gas phase, whereas increasing rotation speed linearly decreased saturation factors of CO2 and liquid-dissolved CO2 concentration. Quadratic and linear responses to increasing rotation speed were observed for molar percentages of acetate, ammonia, and microbial protein concentration, whereas increasing rotation speed quadratically increased pH and decreased total volatile fatty acid concentration and acetate-to-propionate ratio. The 15-rpm rotation speed had the highest values of total volatile fatty acids, acetate molar percentage, and microbial protein concentration. Quadratic and linear responses to increasing rotation speed were observed for copy numbers of solid-associated fungi and fluid-associated bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, while increasing rotation speed linearly increased copy numbers of solid-associated protozoa. Rotation at 15 rpm increased populations of fungi and protozoa in the solid rumen contents and the population of bacteria and fungi in the liquid rumen contents. In summary, this study provides insights on the biofunction of proper rumen motility (i.e., at a rotation speed of 15 rpm), such as improving feed fermentation, increasing gas emissions with decreased dissolved gas concentrations and saturation factors, and promoting microbial colonization and microbial protein synthesis, although further increase in rotation speed (i.e., to 25 rpm) decreases feed fermentation and microbial protein synthesis.

In vitro rumen batch culture is a technology to simulate rumen fermentation by inoculating microorganisms from rumen fluids. Although inocula (INO) are commonly derived from fresh rumen fluids, frozen rumen fluids are also employed for the advantages of storing, transporting, and preserving rumen microorganisms. The effects of frozen INO on microbial fermentation and community may be interfered with by substrate type, which has not been reported. This study was designed to test whether rumen fluid treatments (i.e., fresh and frozen) could interact with incubated substrates. A complete block design with fractional arrangement treatment was used to investigate the effects of INO (fresh or frozen rumen fluids) and concentrate-to-forage ratios (C/F, 1:4 or 1:1) on rumen fermentation and microbial community. The effects of increasing C/F were typical, including increased dry matter (DM) degradation and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration (P < 0.001), and decreased acetate to propionate ratio (P = 0.01) and bacterial diversity of richness and evenness (P ≤ 0.005) with especially higher fermentative bacteria such as genus Rikenellaceae_RC, F082, Prevotella, Bacteroidales_BS11, Muribaculaceaege, and Christensenellaceae_R-7 (P ≤ 0.04). Although frozen INO decreased (P < 0.001) DM degradation and altered rumen fermentation with lower (P ≤ 0.01) acetate to propionate ratio and molar proportion of butyrate than fresh INO, typical effects of C/F were independent of INO, as indicated by insignificant INO × C/F interaction on substrate degradation, VFA profile and bacterial community (P ≥ 0.20). In summary, the effect of C/F on fermentation and bacterial diversity is not interfered with by INO type, and frozen INO can be used to distinguish the effect of starch content.

QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit (QIAGEN, Valencia, CA, United States) and RBB + C (Yu and Morrison, 2004) methodologies are widely employed to extract microbial DNA from rumen samples and can exhibit different efficiencies of obtaining DNA yield, quality, and downstream amplicon sequence analysis. No study has conducted to investigate the contributions of chemical and mechanical lysis on DNA extraction, which included chemical lysis from QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit (QIA) and RBB + C (YM), bead (BB), and sand beating (SB). Effects of chemical lysis and bead beating (BB) were investigated by conducting a 2 × 2 factorial-designed experiment with four methodologies, including QIA without (QIA−) and with BB (QIA + BB), and YM without (YM−) and with BB (YM + BB). Comparisons between bead and sand were conducted by comparing methodologies of YM + BB and YM + SB. Comparing with QIA, YM had lower (P ≤ 0.10) OD260/280 and diversity of ZOTUs and length polymorphism of protozoal amplicons but harvested greater (P ≤ 0.086) DNA from fibrolytic bacteria such as Ruminococcaceae lineages. Including BB increased (P = 0.001) total DNA yield without affecting (P ≥ 0.55) OD260/280 and richness of bacterial ZOTUs but decreased (P ≤ 0.08) richness of both ZOTUs and length polymorphism of protozoal amplicon. Bead beating and SB showed no difference (P ≥ 0.19) in DNA yield and quality and bacterial and protozoal community. In summary, chemical lysis provided by RBB + C and QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit should be better to extract DNA for analyzing bacterial and protozoal community, respectively. Sand can be an alternative beater for DNA extraction, and mechanical lysis is not recommended for protozoal community analysis.

The article demonstrates a strategy for large-scale fabrication of bioinspired polymeric woods with similar polyphenol matrix materials, and outstanding comprehensive performance by a self-assembly and thermocuring process of traditional resins. It mentions that woods provide bioinspiration for engineering materials due to their superior mechanical performance; and its use for mass production of a series of high-performance biomimetic engineering materials.