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SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants have become the predominantly strain in most countries. However, the neutralizing activity of the human serum after Omicron-based vaccine booster against different SARS-CoV-2 variants is poorly understood. Here, we developed an update Omicron vaccine (SCoK-Omicron), based on the RBD-Fc fusion protein vaccine (SCoK) and RBD domain of Omicron BA.1. To assess cross-variant neutralizing activity in adults, 25 volunteers that have received three doses of SCoK and 25 volunteers with two doses of CoronaVac (inactive vaccine) were further boosted with a dose updated vaccine (SCoK-Omicron). The results of pseudovirus neutralization assays demonstrated that the booster potently induced the high-level of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 Wild type, Delta and Omicron subvariants in adults. Further assays of single point mutations showed that K444T, L452R, N460K, or F486V was key mutations to cause immune evasion. Together, these data suggest that SCOK-Omicron can be used as a booster vaccine candidate in adults receiving subunit protein or inactivated vaccine in response to the epidemic of COVID-19 Omicron subvariants, and the mutation K444T, L452R, N460K, or F486V needs to be considered in future vaccine design.

In this study, we cloned the BtSAMS coding sequence and found transgenic Arabidopsis plants heterologously expressing BtSAMS showed greater resistance to aphids compared with untransformed control plants

Oncolytic virotherapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer. Influenza A virus has shown potential as an oncolytic agent. In this study, a recombinant PR8 influenza viral vector, called delNS1-GM-CSF, was generated with a partial deletion in NS and the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) coding sequence inserted into the influenza nonstructural protein 1 gene. The morphological characteristics of delNS1-GM-CSF were examined. The delNS1-GM-CSF virus replicated well in various cell lines, including MDCK, A549, SMCC7721, and HepG2 cells. Moreover, selective cytotoxicity of the virus was observed in various hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, while no effect was demonstrated in the normal liver cell line LO2, as indicated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and crystal violet assays. Importantly, using a model based on the growth of HepG2 cells as a xenograft in nude mice, it was found that a reassortant delNS1-GM-CSF virus inhibited tumor growth significantly following intratumoral injection in a dose-dependent manner. Ex vivo results showed that the tumor inhibition efficacy of delNS1-GM-CSF was observed in HCC clinical samples. Taken together, these results are the first to demonstrate that influenza A viruses may have potential as oncolytic virotherapeutic agents against HCC.

Non-intrusive load identification technology can provide household electricity data for power companies without installing indoor measuring equipment, and its modification design is more acceptable to users. A non-intrusive load identification algorithm which is specifically designed for dormitory electrical equipment has not yet been proposed. An identification algorithm based on penalty function is proposed in this paper. First, the working characteristic indicators of electrical equipment is selected. Next, whether the current signal is in a steady state is judged. If it is, a matrix equation for multiple power equipment which is working in the system at the same time is established. Then the least norm generalized squares solution is used to judge the working condition of the electrical equipment in the dormitory. Finally, a large number is introduced into the penalty function to improve the accuracy of identification. The experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper has good recognition accuracy and stability, and can be applied in the dormitory electricity environment.

Accurately forecast interruptible load can help to alleviate the power supply tension during peak load and make scheduling more flexible. Support vector machine (SVM) method which has been widely used in load forecasting usually selects a period of date close to the forecast day without considering the information characteristics of itself. An interruptible load forecasting method based on clustering algorithm is proposed in this paper. This method puts forward a new idea to select the sample of prediction model which takes full account of the weather and date information of the forecast day and solve the problem that the traditional SVM method cannot properly reflect it. In this paper, the principles of clustering algorithm and support vector machine are introduced firstly. Then K-means clustering algorithm is used to classify the historical data, and the support vector machine forecasting model is constructed by using the categories of the forecast day membership. Finally, the prediction is carried out by combining with the actual data. The results show that the prediction accuracy of this method is more than 95%, and it has higher precision.

pH-sensitive polymer poly (polylactide-co-methacrylic acid)-b-poly (acrylic acid) was synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization and ring-opening polymerization and characterized by gel permeation chromatography and (1)H NMR. The polymers can self-assemble to form micelles in aqueous medium, which respond rapidly to pH change within the gastrointestinal relevant pH range. Critical micelle concentrations and pH response behavior of the polymeric micelle were investigated. Water-insoluble drug nifedipine was loaded and the drug-loading content can be controlled by tuning the composition of the polymers. The in vitro release studies indicate pH sensitivity enabled rapid drug release at the environment of simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.36), the cumulative released amount of NFD reached more than 80% within 24 h, while only 35% in the simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.35). All the results showed that the pH-sensitive P(PLAMA-co-MAA)-b-PAA micelle may be a prospective candidate as oral drug delivery carrier for hydrophobic drugs with controlled release behavior.

Ordovician fracture-cavity carbonate reservoir beds are the major type of producing formations in the Tahe oilfield, Tarim Basin. The seismic responses of these beds clearly changes depending on the different distance of the fracture-cavity reservoir bed from the top of the section. The seismic reflection becomes weak or is absent when the fracture-cavity reservoir beds are less than 20 ms below the top Ordovician. The effect on top Ordovician reflection became weaker with deeper burial of fracture-cavity reservoir beds but the developed deep fracture-cavity reservoir beds caused stronger reflection in the interior of the Ordovician. This interior reflection can be divided into strong long-axis, irregular and bead string reflections, and was present 80 ms below the top Ordovician. Aimed at understanding reflection characteristics, the spectral decomposition technique, which uses frequency to “tune-in” bed thickness, was used to predict Ordovician fracture-cavity carbonate formations in the Tahe oilfield. Through finely adjusting the processing parameters of spectral decomposition, it was found that the slice at 30 Hz of the tuned data cube can best represent reservoir bed development. Two large N-S-trending strong reflection belts in the mid-western part of the study area along wells TK440-TK427-TK417B and in the eastern part along wells TK404-TK409 were observed distinctly on the 30 Hz slice and 4-D time-frequency data cube carving. A small N-S trending reflection belt in the southern part along wells T403-TK446B was also clearly identified. The predicted reservoir bed development area coincides with the fracture-cavities connection area confirmed by drilling pressure testing results. Deep karst cavities occur basically in three reservoir bed-development belts identified by the Ordovician interior strong reflection. Spectral decomposition proved to be a useful technique in identifying fracture-cavity reservoir beds.

The geological background of the Subei basin is that of small relief subsidence, low geothermal gradient, multi-sedimentary hiatuses, intense reconstruction of the basin, frequent magmatic activity, and a unique combination of source rock and reservoir. This geological background resulted in characteristics such as many small fault blocks, multiple oil-bearing formations, scattered oil distribution, mini- to small-sized reservoirs, and difficulties in exploration. Aimed at such characteristics, an effective exploration strategy was adopted, and the oil reserves, production and economic benefits of the Jiangsu oilfield were significantly increased. This exploration strategy included understanding the hydrocarbon generation mechanism of source rocks, progressive evaluation of oil resources, comprehensive research on the faulted systems, the distribution of oil reservoirs and their controlling factors. The techniques used included integration of acquisition, processing and interpretation with 3-D seismics as the core technology, trap description and evaluation, directional drilling and cluster drilling, integration of cuttings logging, gas chromatographic logging and geochemical logging, and integration of early reservoir description and progressive exploration and development. This strategy could be guidance for other complex fault blocks.

Daihai Lake lies in the transitional area from semi-humid to semi-arid region, and also in the north margin of the East Asia monsoon. The analysis of 65 pollen samples from the surface sediment of Daihai Lake and alluvium of its inflow rivers revealed the characteristics of pollen distribution and different transport vectors. Most pollen grains in Daihai Lake come from its inflow rivers, although rain-out and wind are also important. Activities of insects, birds and humans may also carry pollen into the lake. The pollen assemblages are consistent with the regional vegetation in general. The variance of pollen assemblages in different parts of the lake reflects changes of local vegetation near the lakeshore. Pollen concentrations in the lake sediment surface are lower than that in fresh alluvium in its inflow rivers, and the highest percentages and concentrations of major pollen types mainly appear in the margin part of the lake. DCA demonstrated that there are more similarities between lake sediments and the inflow rivers than there are differences.

Geological structure plays an important role in the development of the palaeochannels in the North China Plain. Mountain uplift, subsidence of the plain, and tectonic movement of the basement since the Cenozoic, have interacted with the flashy fluvial regime involving high sediment loads and frequent channel changes. The structure of the basement controlled the scale of palaeochannel development, and tectonics have influenced the changes of the ancient river systems.

Mordern alluvial pollen varies with geomorphic setting and depositional facies in sediments of the Yellow, Hutuo, and Luan rivers and in Baiyangdian and Hengshuihu lakes. Most of the arboreal pollen is derived from the mountains, whereas most of the nonarboreal pollen is derived from the plain itself. Alluvium dominated by Pinus pollen and Selaginella spores was deposited during a flood. Hydrodynamic sorting of alluvial pollen exists in the sediments of floodplain, central bar, natural levees, and point bar. In reconstructing the ancient vegetation and past climate based on pollen in alluvium, it is important to consider sedimentary facies and geomorphologic setting.

In order to investigate the indication of major pollen types to source plants, 39 surface pollen samples are collected from 39 plant communities. The results show that diversity of pollen assemblages presents in different communities. Chenopodiaceae pollen percentages are highest in Kalidium communities and Ceratoides communities (higher than 45%, average is 63.4%), but high Ephedra pollen percentages (higher than 3.3%, average is 16.5%)in Ceratoides communities make it distinguished from Kalidium communities. Artemisia pollen percentages (more than 50%) are much higher than Chenopodiaceae (less than 35%) in Artemisia Communities. Nitraria pollen percentages (higher than 2%, average is 13.6%) are highest in Nitraria communities compared with those in other community patterns. Tamariceae pollen percentages (higher than 2%, average is 8.6%) are highest both in Tetraena and Reaumuria communities compared with those in other community patterns. But in Reaumuria communities, Artemisia pollen percentages are higher than Chenopodiaceae with some other pollen types such as Gramineae, Compositae, Leguminosae; on the contrary, in Tetraena communities, Artemisia pollen percentages are less than Chenopodiaceae with few other pollen types. Calligonum pollen only appears in Calligonum communities (higher than 2%, average is 5%). The results of cluster analysis (CLA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) show that the pollen indication to source plants can be reflected by association indices (A), over-representation indices (O), under-representation indices (U), R-value, the average pollen percentages where parent plants are absent (Xa and the average pollen percentages where parent plants are present (Xp). Zygophyllum, Calligonum, Tetraena, Tribulus and Tamariceae can indicate source plants very well, owing to high A scores. Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae and Gramineae have high R-values, and Nitraria, Cruciferae and sedum have high O scores, so they are over-represented types, but the higher Xp and the lower Xa values make that these pollen types can also indicate source plants moderately. Allium, Leguminosae, Roseceae, Pedicularis and Compositae have low A scores (less than 0.5), high O and/or U scores, so they cannot indicate source plants clearly. Some other pollen types, such as Pinus, Picea, Betula, Quercus, Ulmus, Ephedra, Elaegnaceae, Ranunculaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Polygonaceae, Saxifragaceae, only appear in pollen assemblages, so their indication cannot be decided. Just like the pollen percentage ratios of Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae (A/C), the ratios of Ephedra and Artemisia (E/A), Nitraria and Ephedra (N/E) can also indicate the aridity of environment. In typical desert communities, A/C ratios are less than 0.5, E/A ratios are more than 0.1, and N/E ratios are less than 1. In steppe desert, A/C ratios are 0.5–2, E/A ratios are less than 0.1, and N/E ratios are more than 1.

Although there have been great achievements in the battle against cancer over the past decades, cancer is still the leading cause of death in developing countries like China. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), especially traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), usually having good clinical tolerability, is applied as an adjuvant therapy to treat cancer in China based on TCM or modern pharmacological theories. In the west, CAM has increasingly become popular in cancer patients. It is estimated that the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) spends around $120 million each year on complementary and alternative medicine related research projects. However, a fact is that although a lot of CAMs are widely used clinically, most evidence supporting their use came from poorly reported published clinical studies or studies with questionable methodology. Call for high quality evidence is a mission of this special issue. This issue on CAM for treatment or prevention of cancer compiles 13 exciting manuscripts, most of which reporting the efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of CAM or active constituents on cancer prevention and/or therapy in clinical and experimental levels. S. S. M. Fong et al. contributed high quality evidence about Tai Chi Qigong Training for balance performance in irradiated survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer by a well-designed, well-conducted, and well-reported randomized controlled trial. Totally 120 senior adults participated in the study voluntarily. In this cross-sectional exploratory study, they have done very well on the ethics issues including protocol approval by ethical committee, properly informed consent, and high quality methodological issues, including the randomization method and allocation procedure, the recruitment of patients, the data management, the analysis method of results. All of the procedures were conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki. This transparency makes readers confident to trust the result of the study. This is the first study to show that participating survivors of NPC had inferior OLS balance performances in all of the visual and supporting surface conditions compared with age-matched healthy counterparts. TC Qigong might be a potential rehabilitation exercise to improve the somatosensory function and single-leg standing balance performance of survivors of NPC. The shortcoming of this study is that it uses a convenience sample which may have introduced a self-selection bias that may threaten the internal validity of the study. In addition, homogenous subject group, small sample size, and OLS clinical test for balance performance assessment may limit the generalizability of results. However, we still believe that this study and its report could be a good evidence for efficacy of CAMs. This edition also includes a review that discusses the possibility of TCM as maintenance therapy for advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. The review concludes that TCM as maintenance therapy can improve the QOL and prolong the PFS of advanced NSCLC patients. Besides, TCM can be applied for NSCLC patients not limited in population selection. However, there are only small sample clinical trials about TCM as maintenance therapy for advanced NSCLC. More large-scale trials of TCM as maintenance therapy for advanced NSCLC are expected. For experimental study, A. Movahedi et al. investigated the capability of the decoction of Teucrium polium L. from Lamiaceae family to protect liver cells against hepatocellular carcinoma in carcinogenesis-induced animal model. After 28 weeks of treatment, they found that serum biochemical markers (ALT, AST, AFP, GGT, ALP, HCY, TNF-α, α2MG, and CBG), total antioxidant status, liver lesion, and glucocorticoid activity were all regulated auspiciously by Teucrium polium L. Y. Lin et al. studied that elemene, a compound found in an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, has the effect of protecting cancer cells from death either in apatinib induced nutrient deficient environment or in serum-free induced starvation. Further data on the mechanism study revealed that elemene induced protective autophagy and prevented human hematoma cancer cells from undergoing apoptosis. In addition to the mentioned papers above, other studies included in this issue provide sufficient scientific evidence from CAM research to clarify their mechanism of action and demonstrate their efficacy and safety. Through the rigorous researches, the benefits of CAM therapies will be highlighted, and this will support the clinical use of CAMs and help integrating CAM into the mainstream medicine. We hope that this special issue informs us about the rationale use of CAM in cancer prevention and therapy. We also hope that the papers included in this issue play a role in reflecting the recent advancement in the field of CAM. Peng Cao Senthamil R. Selvan Esra Kupeli Akkol Ning Wang Hongjun Yang Xiaolan Cheng

Comrades Zhang Dawei of Liaocheng, Shandong province, Ling Fengyun of Jinzhou, and Yang Xiaolan of Dandong: Your letters said that after passing the entrance examinations for normal schools, you feel as if something heavy were weighing on your minds. You think that to be teachers after graduation is inferior to others and therefore you cannot keep your.minds on your study. You should not have such a thought. We know that science and culture develop very fast today and are based on education. In recent years, the Communist Party and the government have paid great attention to educational work in order to raise the scientific and cultural level of our people. This testifies to the important role played by education in the development of the national economy. Teachers are entrusted with the glorious task of training a new generation of people equipped with progressive ideology and also knowledge in modern science and technology. They are praised as "engineers of man's soul" and "gardeners" and are universall...