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The rising prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) poses a significant global health challenge, affecting over 30% of adults worldwide. MASLD is linked to increased mortality rates and substantial healthcare costs, primarily driven by its progression to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which can lead to severe liver complications including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite its growing burden, effective pharmacotherapy for MASLD/MASH has been lacking until the recent conditional approval of resmetirom by the FDA. Resmetirom, a liver-targeted thyroid hormone receptor-p selective drug, has shown promise in clinical trials for treating non-cirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis. It has demonstrated efficacy in reducing hepatic fat content, improving liver histology (both MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement), and ameliorating biomarkers of liver damage without significant effects on body weight or glucose metabolism. Notably, resmetirom also exhibits favourable effects on circulating lipids, potentially reducing cardiovascular risk in MASLD/MASH patients. The safety profile of resmetirom appears acceptable, with gastrointestinal adverse events being the most common, though generally mild or moderate. However, long-term surveillance is warranted to monitor for potential risks related to thyroid, gonadal, or bone diseases. Clinical implementation of resmetirom faces challenges in patient selection and monitoring treatment response, and will heavily rely on non-invasive tests for liver fibrosis assessment. Nonetheless, resmetirom represents a landmark breakthrough in MASLD/MASH treatment, paving the way for future therapeutic strategies aiming to mitigate the multifaceted risks associated with this complex metabolic liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has reached epidemic proportions worldwide and is the most frequent cause of chronic liver disease in developed countries. Within the spectrum of liver disease in MAFLD, steatohepatitis is a progressive form of liver disease and hepatocyte ballooning (HB) is a cardinal pathological feature of steatohepatitis. The accurate and reproducible diagnosis of HB is therefore critical for the early detection and treatment of steatohepatitis. Currently, a diagnosis of HB relies on pathological examination by expert pathologists, which may be a time-consuming and subjective process. Hence, there has been interest in developing automated methods for diagnosing HB. This narrative review briefly discusses the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology for diagnosing fatty liver disease pathology over the last 30 years and provides an overview of the current research status of AI algorithms for the identification of HB, including published articles on traditional machine learning algorithms and deep learning algorithms. This narrative review also provides a summary of object detection algorithms, including the principles, historical developments, and applications in the medical image analysis. The potential benefits of object detection algorithms for HB diagnosis (specifically those combined with a transformer architecture) are discussed, along with the future directions of object detection algorithms in HB diagnosis and the potential applications of generative AI on transformer architecture in this field. In conclusion, object detection algorithms have huge potential for the identification of HB and could make the diagnosis of MAFLD more accurate and efficient in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, generalizing our previous construction, we equip the relative moduli stack of complexes over a Calabi–Yau fibration (possibly with singular fibers) with a shifted Poisson structure. Applying this construction to the anticanonical linear systems on surfaces, we get examples of compatible Poisson brackets on projective spaces extending Feigin–Odesskii Poisson brackets. Computing explicitly the corresponding compatible brackets coming from Hirzebruch surfaces, we recover the brackets defined by Odesskii–Wolf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Qing Chang oral liquid (QOL) is a veterinary drug, which mainly composed of Artemisiae annuae herba, Dichroae radix, Agrimonia pilosa and Sanguisorbae radix. Objectives: This study aims to explore the effect of Qing Chang Oral Liquid (QOL) on the treatment effect of artificially infected chicken coccidiosis and to the cellular immunity. Methods: Healthy Roman chickens were randomly divided into five groups: blank group, model group, QOL high‐, medium‐ and low‐dose groups. All the groups were orally administered with 1 × 104 sporulated oocysts (except the blank group). After 5 days of oral administration, the high‐, medium‐ and low‐dose groups of QOL were added to the drinking water at 2.4, 1.8 and 1.2 ml/kg, respectively. The blank and model groups were fed normally, and this experiment lasted for 7 days. The clinical signs were observed, and the relative weight gain, survival rate, cecum lesion score and oocyst value were measured to evaluate the effect of QOL. Meanwhile, the peripheral blood T‐lymphocyte subsets and cecal IL‐2, IL‐17, IFN‐γ mRNA expression were detected by flow cytometry and fluorescent quantitative PCR. Results: The chickens in the model group were in poor mental state, gathered together, had loose stools or bloody stools and had less food intake and less exercise. The chicken mental state improved, the food intake and drinking water increased, and the faeces are normal in the high‐, medium‐ and low‐dose groups, especially in the high‐dose group, the anti‐coccidial indexes were up to 173.08. No significant differences were observed (p > 0.05) in the peripheral blood CD3+, CD3+CD4+ between the experimental groups. Compared with the blank group, there were different degrees of increase in each dose drug group of the cecal IFN‐γ, IL‐2 and IL‐17 mRNA expression, but the high‐dose group was significantly reduced compared with the model group (p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This study suggests that QOL has positive anti‐coccidial effect but has no obvious effect on the cellular immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Hemiepiphytic figs killing their host trees is an ecological process unique to the tropics. Yet the benefits and adaptive strategies of their special life history remain poorly understood.We compared leaf phosphorus (P) content data of figs and palms worldwide, and functional traits and substrate P content of hemiepiphytic figs (Ficus tinctoria), their host palm and nonhemiepiphytic conspecifics at different growth stages in a common garden.We found that leaf P content of hemiepiphytic figs and their host palms significantly decreased when they were competing for soil resources, but that of hemiepiphytic figs recovered after host death. P availability in the canopy humus and soil decreased significantly with the growth of hemiepiphytic figs. Functional trait trade‐offs of hemiepiphytic figs enabled them to adapt to the P shortage while competing with their hosts. From the common garden to a global scale, the P competition caused by high P demand of figs may be a general phenomenon.Our results suggest that P competition is an important factor causing host death, except for mechanically damaging and shading hosts. Killing hosts benefits hemiepiphytic figs by reducing interspecific P competition and better acquiring P resources in the P‐deficient tropics, thereby linking the life history strategy of hemiepiphytic figs to the widespread P shortage in tropical soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abyssal current is important for water renewal and energy conversion in the deep South China Sea (SCS), and it potentially contributes to the upper and middle circulations. A mooring array including 11 current and pressure-recording inverted echo sounders was deployed in the northern SCS between July 2016 and April 2019 to observe large-scale and long-term abyssal currents. The yearly averaged current flows southwestward following the boundary with a maximum velocity of 2.25-2.52 cm/s. The spatial structure exhibits a weaker and wider current in the north, where topography is subdued, whereas the current enhances and narrows on the steep slopes. The southwestward current is strong in the summer and autumn but is insignificant in the winter and spring. In the autumn, the current is narrower and closer to the boundary than that in the summer, and a northeastward countercurrent is found ~60 km away from the western boundary. The southwestward and northeastward currents constitute the cyclonic circulation. Drastic temporal variability is observed in the deep ocean. The abyssal current is dominated by semidiurnal tides, diurnal tides, and near-inertial waves (NIWs) in the high-frequency band. Bursts of NIWs are observed in the deep ocean after two typhoons, and the NIWs propagate southwestward at a velocity of 2.4 m/s. The low-frequency band is dominated by a westward-propagating 70-day fluctuation following the characteristics of topographic Rossby waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Few studies have explored how – within the same system – clonality and positive plant–plant interactions might interact to regulate plant community composition. Canopy‐dwelling epiphytes in species‐rich forests provide an ideal system for studying this because many epiphytic vascular plants undertake clonal growth and because vascular epiphytes colonize canopy habitats after the formation of nonvascular epiphyte (i.e. bryophyte and lichen) mats.We investigated how clonal integration of seven dominant vascular epiphytes influenced inter‐specific interactions between vascular epiphytes and nonvascular epiphytes in a subtropical montane moist forest in southwest China.Both clonal integration and environmental buffering from nonvascular epiphytes increased survival and growth of vascular epiphytes. The benefits of clonal integration for vascular epiphytes were higher when nonvascular epiphytes were removed. Similarly, facilitation from nonvascular epiphytes played a more important role when clonal integration of vascular epiphytes was eliminated. Overall, clonal integration had greater benefits than inter‐specific facilitation.This study provides novel evidence for interactive effects of clonality and facilitation between vascular and nonvascular species, and has implications for our understanding of a wide range of ecosystems where both high levels of clonality and facilitation are expected to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epiphytes in tree canopies make a considerable contribution to the species diversity, aboveground biomass, and nutrient pools in forest ecosystems. However, the nutrient status of epiphytes and their possible adaptations to nutrient deficiencies in the forest canopy remain unclear. Therefore, we analyzed the stoichiometry of five macroelements (C, N, P, K, and Ca) in four taxonomic groups (lichens, bryophytes, ferns, and spermatophytes) to investigate this issue in a subtropical montane moist evergreen broad‐leaved forest in Southwest China. We found that the interspecific variations in element concentrations and mass ratios were generally greater than the intraspecific variations. And there were significant stoichiometric differences among functional groups. Allometric relationships between N and P across the epiphyte community indicated that P might be in greater demand than N with an increase in nutrients. Although canopy nutrients were deficient, most epiphytes could still maintain high N and P concentrations and low N:P ratios. Moreover, ferns and spermatophytes allocated more limited nutrients to leaves than to stems and roots. To alleviate frequent drought stress in the forest canopy, vascular epiphytes maintained several times higher K concentrations in their leaves than in the tissues of lichens and bryophytes. Our results suggest that epiphytes may have evolved specific nutrient characteristics and adaptations, so that they can distribute in heterogeneous canopy habitats and maintain the stability of nutrient metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although epiphytic habitats are more stressful and heterogeneous than terrestrial habitats, how facultative epiphytes acclimate to such contrasting environments has been poorly understood. Our study focused on the variation of functional traits between epiphytic and terrestrial individuals of Selliguea griffithiana, and provided considerable functional acclimation of this species to such contrasting environments. We sampled ramets of S. griffithiana from epiphytic and terrestrial habitats of a subtropical montane moist forest, SW China. Morphological and anatomical traits, photosynthesis, biomass and ramet density of S. griffithiana were measured and it was found that these traits differed significantly between the two habitats. Frond length, stipe length, spacer length (interramet distance), stomatal density, vein density, maximal chlorophyll fluorescence and relative chlorophyll content of fronds, and biomass per ramet were all lower in epiphytic habitat than those in terrestrial habitat, whereas frond thickness and ramet density were higher in the former. Photosynthetic light–response curves revealed a higher carbon assimilation capability of individuals in terrestrial habitat than in epiphytic habitat, whereas cumulative water loss curves showed a lower water loss rate in the latter. The findings demonstrate acclimation of S. griffithiana to both habitats, that is, epiphytic ramets can mitigate water scarcity at some cost of a reduced photosynthetic capacity, whereas terrestrial ramets can afford to improve the light capture to a higher photosynthetic capacity without any water stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Uncovering the factors influencing antimony (Sb) species in sediments is crucial to understanding the biogeochemical behavior of Sb, given that sediments are an important sink for Sb in the environment. Such factors, however, have rarely been documented in natural sediments. In this study, we examined Sb species in 40 sediments of the world's largest Sb mine (Xikuangshan) located in southern China and tried to relate them to not only geochemical properties of the sediments but also their microbiological parameters obtained with the next‐generation DNA sequencing and metagenomics. We showed that Sb(III) accounted for <30% of inorganic Sb [Sb(III) + Sb(V)] in the sediments. Linear regression analysis revealed that the percentage of Sb(III) was negatively correlated to redox potential (Eh) but positively correlated to concentration of Fe(II), electrical conductivity, and the relative abundance of Sb(V)‐reducing microbes of the sediments, although the relative abundance of Sb(III)‐oxidizing microbes and the number of microbial genes responsible for Sb(III) oxidation were uncorrelated to the percentage of Sb(III). The observed strong associations indicated that Eh, concentration of Fe(II), electrical conductivity, and Sb(V)‐reducing microbes were involved in influencing Sb species in the sediments. On this basis, we further proposed a preliminary biogeochemical model for Sb speciation in water‐sediment systems affected by Sb‐mining activities. This study improved our understanding of the biogeochemical factors involved in influencing Sb species in natural sediments contaminated by Sb‐mining activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Darwin's naturalisation conundrum describes the paradox that the relatedness of exotic species to native residents could either promote or hinder their success through opposing mechanisms: niche pre-adaptation or competitive interactions. Previous studies focusing on single snapshots of invasion patterns have provided support to both sides of the conundrum. Here, by examining invasion dynamics of 480 plots over 40 years, we show that exotic species more closely related to native species were more likely to enter, establish and dominate the resident communities, and that native residents more closely related to these successful exotics were more likely to go locally extinct. Therefore, non-random displacement of natives during invasion could weaken or even reverse the negative effects of exotic-native phylogenetic distances on invasion success. The scenario that exotics more closely related to native residents are more successful, but tend to eliminate their closely related natives, may help to reconcile the 150-year-old conundrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological communities often transition from phylogenetic and functional clustering to overdispersion over succession as judged by space-for-time substitution studies. Such a pattern has been generally attributed to the increase in competitive exclusion of closely related species with similar traits through time, although colonisation and extinction have rarely been examined. Using 44 years of uninterrupted old-field succession in New Jersey, USA, we confirmed that phylogenetic and functional clustering decreased as succession unfolded, but the transition was largely driven by colonisation. Early colonists were closely related and functionally similar to residents, while later colonists became less similar to the species present. Extirpated species were generally more distantly related to residents than by chance, or exhibited random phylogenetic/functional patterns, and their relatedness to residents was not associated with time. These results provide direct evidence that the colonisation of distant relatives, rather than extinction of close relatives, drives phylogenetic and functional overdispersion over succession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question We investigated the bryophyte communities on tree boles along three altitudinal gradients located within different types of forested area to answer the following questions: (1) how many bole epiphytic bryophyte species are there; (2) what are the dominant species; (3) what are the richness patterns of epiphytic bryophyte communities along the altitudinal gradients; and (4) what are the major drivers and conservation implications of these patterns? Location Three protected forested areas in sub-montane (Mengla transect: 800-1400 m), montane (Zhenyuan transect: 2000-2600 m) and sub-alpine (Lijiang transect: 3200-3800 m) regions in Yunnan, SW China. Method Sixty 20 m × 20 m sampling plots were established, five at each of 12 altitudes at 200-m intervals along the transects. Species composition and cover of bryophytes were investigated from 594 subplots (each 400 cm2) on large tree boles of these plots. One-way ANOVAs were adopted to test for differences in species diversity among different transects. Multi-dimensional scaling in two dimension ( MDS-2 D) ordinations were conducted to assess similarity of bryophyte communities among study transects and altitudes. Canonical correspondence analysis ( CCA) was applied to relate species composition to selected environmental variables. Results The three protected forests in Yunnan harboured 226 epiphytic bryophyte species belonging to 101 genera and 46 families, which were essential components of biodiversity of the entire forest ecosystem. In total, 99% of bryophyte species (224 species) showed varying degrees of local rarity. Smooth mat, fan and turf dominated in the sub-montane, montane and sub-alpine forests, respectively. Significantly lower bryophyte species richness was detected in the sub-montane area, which may be partly attributed to higher temperature, limited water availability and more frequent human disturbance. Epiphytic bryophytes exhibited a hump-shaped species richness pattern with increasing altitude. Peak richness coincided with highest moisture levels at ca. 2600 m. Conclusions Based on the presence of a high diversity of bryophytes and a high percentage (99%) of locally rare species growing on tree boles, this study emphasizes the importance of conserving these forests in Yunnan. Additionally, the regional pattern of lower epiphytic bryophyte diversity in warmer, drier areas shown in this study reveals how emerging climate change threatens Yunnan's epiphytic bryophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the factors determining the success of invasive species is critical for management of biological invasions. Darwin's naturalization conundrum states that exotic species closely related to natives should be successful because of a shared affinity for local environmental conditions, but at the same time close relatives often compete more intensively, limiting 'niche' opportunities for the invaders. Previous studies have generally considered these two 'opposing' hypotheses as mutually exclusive, yet evidence for both of them abounds, indicating a practical dilemma for management of biological invasions., In this study, we sowed the seeds of the invasive exotic Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. into 369 experimental plant communities to mimic an introduction of the exotics into a series of new habitats. We further linked the establishment and growth performance of the invader in these experimental communities to the phylogenetic relatedness between the invader and the community residents where it was introduced., We found that the probability of invader establishment declined with increasing phylogenetic distance between the invader and residents, whereas the average size of surviving invader individuals increased with the phylogenetic distance., These results can be at least partly explained by the observations that close relatives tend to create similar soil microhabitat through harbouring similar soil enzymes (e.g. alkaline and acid phosphatases) benefiting invader establishment and that intense competitive interactions between the invader and its close relatives suppressed exotic growth., Synthesis and applications. This study presents the first experimental evidence that phylogenetic relatedness has contrasting effects on different aspects of invader success, thus shedding light on the long-standing Darwin's naturalization conundrum. Moreover, our findings also have important implications for management of plant invasions: for controlling invasive species characterized by high establishment probability, native species distantly related to the invasive species can be planted in sites surrounding the invasion foci, whereas the opposite seems to be true for controlling those characterized by large individual size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of 3- N-substituted amino-6-benzyloxypyridazine derivatives were designed and synthesized in satisfactory yields. Their structures were confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR, and elemental analysis; compound 5j was further determined by X-ray diffraction crystallography. Their herbicidal activities were evaluated through barnyard grass and rape cup tests in laboratory bioassays. Most of the title compounds 5 displayed moderate herbicidal activities against the dicotyledonous plant Brassica campestris L. The most active compounds in the laboratory were also evaluated in the greenhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to link the microbial community composition and function in mine tailings to the generation of acid mine drainage, we simultaneously explored the geochemistry and microbiology of six tailings collected from a lead/zinc mine, i.e. primary tailings ( T1), slightly acidic tailings ( T2), extremely acidic tailings ( T3, T4 and T5) and orange-coloured oxidized tailings ( T6). Geochemical results showed that the six tailings (from T1 to T6) likely represented sequential stages of the acidification process of the mine tailings. 16 S r RNA pyrosequencing revealed a contrasting microbial composition between the six tailings: Proteobacteria-related sequences dominated T1- T3 with relative abundance ranging from 56 to 93%, whereas Ferroplasma-related sequences dominated T4- T6 with relative abundance ranging from 28 to 58%. Furthermore, metagenomic analysis of the microbial communities of T2 and T6 indicated that the genes encoding key enzymes for microbial carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation and sulfur oxidation in T2 were largely from Thiobacillus and Acidithiobacillus, Methylococcus capsulatus, and Thiobacillus denitrificans respectively; while those in T6 were mostly identified in Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum, Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum, and Acidithiobacillus respectively. The microbial communities in T2 and T6 harboured more genes suggesting diverse metabolic capacities for sulfur oxidation/heavy metal detoxification and tolerating low pH respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of novel 3-(α-hydroxymethylene)pyrrolidine-2,4-dione derivatives containing a cyclopropane moiety were designed and synthesized in satisfactory yields. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR and HRMS. The bioassays indicated that most of the title compounds displayed some extent herbicidal activities at 100 mg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: 4-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridazine represents a new series of compounds with bleaching and herbicidal activities. RESULTS: A total of 43 novel 3-(substituted benzyloxy or phenoxy)-6-methyl-4-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridazine derivatives were synthesised, and their bleaching and herbicidal activities were evaluated through Spirodela polyrrhiza and greenhouse tests. Some compounds exhibited excellent herbicidal activities, even at a dose of 7.5 g ha−1. CONCLUSION: The results showed that a substituted phenoxy group at the 3-position of the pyridazine ring and the electron-withdrawing group at the para-position on the benzene ring were essential for high herbicidal activity. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane emissions from hydroelectric reservoirs can comprise a considerable portion of anthropogenic methane. However, lack of data on CH emissions in different geographical regions and high spatial-temporal variability in the emission rates of reservoirs has led to uncertainties regarding regional emission estimates of CH. In the subtropical plateau climate region, we used the Ertan hydroelectric reservoir as a study area. The CH flux at the air-water interface was assessed by floating chambers and factors influencing emissions, including the distance from the dam, water depth, seasonal variation in wet and dry season, air-water temperature gradient and wind speed, and was also studied through a year-long systematic sampling and monitoring experiment. The results showed that the surface of the reservoir was a source of CH during the sampling period and the annual average CH flux was 2·80 ± 1·52 mg m d. CH flux (and its variation) was higher in the shallow water areas than in the deep-water areas. CH flux near the dam was significantly higher than that of other locations farther from the dam in the dry season. The seasonal variations of CH emission in wet and dry seasons were minor and significant diurnal variations were observed in wet and dry seasons. Exponential relationships between the CH flux and air-water temperature gradient were found. Air-water temperature gradient was an important factor influencing diurnal variations of CH flux in the Ertan hydroelectric reservoir. These results indicate that systematic sampling is needed to better estimate CH flux through coverage of the spatial variation of different water depths, measuring-point distance from the dam, seasonal variation in wet and dry seasons and changes in climate factors (such as air-water temperature gradient). Our results also provide a fundamental parameter for CH emission estimation of global reservoirs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few investigations have been made on the impact of elevated ozone (O) concentration on methane (CH) emission from rice paddies. Using open-top chambers in situ with different O treatments, CH emissions were measured in a rice paddy in Yangtze River Delta, China in 2007 and 2008. There were four treatments applied: charcoal-filtered air (CF), nonfiltered air (NF), and charcoal-filtered air with different O additions (O-1 and O-2). The mean O concentrations during the O fumigation were 19.7, 22.6, 69.6 and 118.6 ppb in 2007 and 7.0, 17.4, 82.2 and 138.3 ppb in 2008 for treatments CF, NF, O-1 and O-2, respectively. The rice yields, as compared with CF, were reduced by 32.8% and 37.1%, 58.3% and 52.1% in treatments O-1 and O-2 in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The diurnal patterns of CH emission varied temporally with treatments and there was inconsistence in diurnal variations in CH emissions from the paddy field. The daily mean CH emissions were significantly lower in treatments O-1 and O-2 than those in treatments CF and NF. Compared with CF treatment, CH emissions from the paddy field were decreased to 46.5% and 38.3%, 50.6% and 46.8% under treatments O-1 and O-2 in the whole growing seasons of 2007 and 2008, respectively. The seasonal mean CH emissions were negatively related with AOT40 (accumulative O concentration above 40 ppb; P < 0.01 in both years), but positively related to the relative rice yield (reference to CF; P < 0.01 in 2007 and P < 0.001 in 2008), aboveground biomass ( P < 0.01 in both years) and underground biomass ( P < 0.01 in 2007 and P < 0.05 in 2008). The decreased CH emission from the rice paddy due to an increased O exposure might partially mitigate the global warming potential induced by soil carbon loss under elevated O concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier studies identified testes-specific protease 50 ( TSP50), which encodes a threonine protease, and showed that it was abnormally reactivated in many breast cancer biopsies. Further, it was shown to be negatively regulated by the p53 gene. However, little is known about the biological function of TSP50. In this study, we applied RNA interference to knockdown TSP50 gene expression in P19 murine embryonal carcinoma stem cells and tested whether this modulated the cell phenotype. The results showed that downregulation of TSP50 expression not only reduced cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration but also induced cell apoptosis. Further investigation revealed that knockdown of TSP50 resulted in greater sensitivity to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and that activation of caspase-3 was involved in this process. © 2010 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2010 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study to estimate the soil carbon sequestration potential from straw return to soil in China. The "Straw Return and Burning Model" (SRBM) was constructed to estimate the net mitigation potential of straw return to the soil. The structure of SRBM includes five processes in order to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation. It is concluded that change of treatment method from straw burning to straw return will result to different levels of GHG mitigation.

In May 2008, a major earthquake struck Sichuan Province, in southwestern China. In addition to catastrophic loss of human life and destruction of towns and villages, the earthquake severely damaged ecosystems that support some of the last remaining giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) populations in the wild. To measure the extent of this destruction, we analyzed panda habitat loss and fragmentation across the South Minshan Mountains, using Thematic Mapper (TM) images and field data collected before and after the earthquake. Results show that 354 km2 (23%) of panda habitat in this region was destroyed, 249 km2 of which was inside nature reserves. The remaining habitat was fragmented by landslides and mudflows, thereby threatening the giant panda's long-term survival. Furthermore, the mean patch size of the remaining habitat inside reserves was only 23% of that outside, indicating markedly higher habitat fragmentation inside reserves compared to outside. To assist in regional conservation efforts for the giant panda and its habitat, we propose the creation of a conservation management unit that would include key areas, corridors, and current reserves, to encourage the dispersal/movement of pandas between isolated habitat patches. Other measures include human disturbance alleviation and "ecological compensation", which would increase the efficacy of the conservation management unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Hepatic encephalopathy continues to be a major clinical problem and the current decade has not witnessed major therapeutic breakthroughs in this area.l-ornithine-l-aspartate (LOLA) is not frequently used as there are still some reservations about its benefits. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of LOLA in the management of hepatic encephalopathy. Methods: We used the method recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration to perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of LOLA therapy for hepatic encephalopathy including three randomized controlled trials. Results: Three randomized trials randomizing 212 patients were included. LOLA versus placebo had a significant effect on improvement of hepatic encephalopathy (relative risk 1.89; 95% CI 1.32 to 2.71; P = 0.0005). This comparison showed no statistical heterogeneity ( P = 0.85 and χ2 = 0.09). Subgroup analysis showed that LOLA could be effective versus placebo in trials with grade I or II overt hepatic encephalopathy patients (relative risk 1.87; 95% CI 1.30 to 2.68; P = 0.0007) and had no significant effect in trials with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy patients (relative risk 1.69; 95% CI 0.72 to 3.94; P = 0.23). Adverse effects were observed in only three patients treated with LOLA in one report. Conclusions: LOLA benefited patients with overt hepatic encephalopathy (I or II), whereas these data do not support the use of LOLA for patients with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which assessed the feasibility of mass spectrometry-based protein profiling for differentiating patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) from noncancer patients. The study analyzed serum samples from patients diagnosed with NPC and from noncancer controls using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). It concluded that SELDI-TOF-MS combined with a tree analysis model can discriminate NPC from noncancer patients.

The complex microspheres based on alginate (AL) and soy protein isolate (SPI) were prepared by solution blending and then Ca2+ crosslinking, and their function as drug carrier was explored as well. The effects of composition on the structures of microspheres were studied, and the XRD results proved the miscibility between components. Meanwhile, FTIR results suggested that such miscibility was driven by strong hydrogen bonding. Especially, the complex microsphere with equal content of AL and SPI had the best miscibility by morphological analysis, shown as a smooth and uniform surface of SEM images. The controlled release function of the complex microspheres was verified using theophylline as a drug model, that is, the swelling and drug release were affected by pH conditions and showed obvious differences under given pH of stomach, intestine, and colon. Moreover, the intestine and colon may be optimal site for prompt release of drugs. Except for the attribution of AL component to pH sensitivity, the complex microspheres also inherited the bioactivity of SPI component, which may lower irritants of drug to the tissues in body. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nano‐SiO2 particles were compounded into soy protein isolated (SPI) matrix to produce a series of reinforcing nanocomposite sheets by compression‐molding. Except for the expected increase of strength and modulus, the elongation was also enhanced when the nano‐SiO2 content was lower than 8 wt %. Moreover, two nanocomposite materials were recommended: the one is a nanocomposite containing 4 wt % nano‐SiO2 with the highest strength and enhanced elongation, the other is a reinforced material with the best elongation filled by 8 wt % nano‐SiO2. The increase of nano‐SiO2 content produced many kinds of distributions in SPI matrix, such as single nanosphere, ∼ 100 nm nanocluster, interconnected network structure and great domain. Such structures strongly affected the mechanical performances of nanocomposite materials. The simultaneous enhancement of strength and elongation was related to homogeneous dispersion of nanoclusters while aggregated great domains severely decreased elongation in spite of obvious reinforcing effect. However, the reinforced materials with high loading of inorganic filler should be paid attention and have economic value to some extent in practical application. With the changes of nano‐SiO2 distribution, the structures of SPI matrix changed as well. After adding a mall amount of nano‐SiO2, the damage of glycerol plasticization to ordered structure of SPI was reduced. But as nano‐SiO2 content increased, the SPI microphase was separated from nano‐SiO2 domains. Furthermore, the condition of simultaneous reinforcing and toughening was put forward: the moderate aggregation of nano‐SiO2 as well as all kinds of strong interfacial interactions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population viability of the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is threatened by small population sizes in scattered isolated habitat areas. Designing a conservation plan for protecting and connecting the fragmented habitat will improve the chances for survival of this endangered species. For such a plan, this study assessed the overall habitat suitability for the species in the Qionglai mountain range (Sichuan, China) using Landsat TM imagery acquired in 2001, geographical data, field surveys, and information acquired in previous researches. Results show that the habitat is separated by roads and rivers, as well as by human settlements and cropland areas, into four main habitat blocks. Overlapping these four habitat blocks with the current nature reserve network reveals that only 36% of the total habitat is protected within nature reserves. Thus, the current nature reserve network is failing to preserve essential habitat for dispersal and genetic exchange. In this study, five key areas and four linkage areas were identified and suggested as nature reserves and/or corridors. These areas, together with the six currently established nature reserves in the mountain range, will form a conservation unit for facilitating the exchange of giant panda individuals among previously isolated habitat blocks. Policies recently implemented by the Chinese government, including the Natural Forest Conservation Program (NFCP) and the Grain-to-Green Program (GTGP), could aid in the formation of such a conservation unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adrenomedullin (AM) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) have structural similarities, interact with each others receptors (calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR)/receptor-activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs)) and show overlapping biological activities. AM and CGRP receptors are chiefly coupled to cAMP production. In this study, a method of primary dissociated cell culture was used to investigate the presence of AM and CGRP receptors and their effects on cAMP production in embryonic spinal cord cells.Both neuronal and non-neuronal CLR immunopositive cells were present in our model.High affinity, specific [125I]-AM binding sites (Kd 79±9 pM and Bmax 571±34 fmol mg−1 protein) were more abundant than specific [125I]-CGRP binding sites (Kd 12±0.7 pM and Bmax 32±2 fmol mg−1 protein) in embryonic spinal cord cells.Specific [125I]-AM binding was competed by related molecules with a ligand selectivity profile of rAM>hAM22–52>rCGRPα>CGRP8–37≫[r-(r*,s*)]-N-[2-[[5-amino-1-[[4-(4-pyridinyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl]pentyl]amino]-1-[(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-2-oxoethyl]-4-(1,4-dihydro-2-oxo-3(2H)-quinazolinyl)-,1-piperidinecarboxamide (BIBN4096BS).Specific [125I]-CGRP binding was competed by rCGRPα>rAMCGRP8–37BIBN4096BS>hAM22–52.Cellular levels of cAMP were increased by AM (pEC50 10.2±0.2) and less potently by rCGRPα (pEC50 8.9±0.4). rCGRPα-induced cAMP accumulation was effectively inhibited by CGRP8–37 (pA2 7.63±0.44) and hAM22–52 (pA2 6.18±0.21) while AM-stimulation of cAMP levels was inhibited by CGRP8–37 (pA2 7.41±0.15) and AM22–52 (pA2 7.26±0.18). BIBN4096BS only antagonized the effects of CGRP (pA2 8.40±0.30) on cAMP accumulation.These pharmacological profiles suggest that effects of CGRP are mediated by the CGRP1 (CLR/RAMP1) receptor in our model while those of AM are related to the activation of the AM1 (CLR/RAMP2) receptor subtype.British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 148, 459–468. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706750; published online 15 May 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl pyridazinone derivatives was synthesised. Herbicidal activities of the two intermediate compounds and 15 pyridazinone derivatives were evaluated through barnyardgrass and rape cup tests and Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Schleiden tests. Selected compounds were also evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Bleaching activities were observed at 10 µg ml-1 and some compounds exhibited herbicidal activities at a rate of 300 g ha-1. The relationship between crystal structures and herbicidal activities is discussed through a comparison of two compounds (5a and 5f). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Up to now, there is still no ideal tumor marker in early diagnosis and effective monitoring, especially for surgical resection of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the application of urinary normal and modified nucleosides in diagnosis and surgery monitoring of CRC. Methods: Between October 2002 and July 2003, 52 consecutive patients with pathological confirmed CRC were enrolled. Spontaneous urine samples were collected 1 day before surgery and on day 8 postoperatively, and 14 urinary nucleosides were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Another 62 healthy people were also studied as control. The clinical routine tumor markers, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA)199, CA125, and α-fetoprotein (AFP) of CRC patients, were correspondingly evaluated by elecctrochemiluminescent immunoassay. Results: The levels of 11 out of 14 of the determined urinary nucleosides in the CRC group were much higher than those of normal controls. Through the principal component analysis of these 14 nucleosides, 76.9% of CRC patients were correctly classified. The sensitivity of this analysis was much higher than that of CEA (38.5%), CA199 (40.4%), CA125 (15.4%), and AFP (17.3%; P < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of 1-methylguanosine (m1G) and pseudouridine (Pseu) showed good sensitivity–specificity profiles of the diagnosis of CRC. The elevated levels of the nine nucleosides significantly decreased after curative resection of 40 CRC cases. The data also showed that the preoperative levels of some nucleosides were positively related with tumor size and Dukes staging of CRC. Conclusion: The evaluation of normal and modified urinary nucleosides might become novel tumor markers, which will be facilitated in the clinical setting and helpful in the diagnosis, management and follow up of CRC. Pseu and m1G may be more promising for clinical use and be worthy of further studies in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More substances leaked from a higher-vigor seed sample than from a lower-vigor sample. This indicates that, in some cases, electric conductivity does not represent seed vigor level very well, especially for high-vigor seeds. Results from germination, germination index, leachate conductivity, and the ratio of K+/Na+ from three-seed lots of Chinese cabbage ( Brassica pekinensis (Louv.) Rupr) showed that K+/Na+ correlated well with germination and germination index. The ability of K+/Na+ to indicate well changes in vigor was further supported by investigation in soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seeds and another cultivar of Chinese cabbage seeds. Thus, seed leakage of K+/Na+ can accurately indicate seed vigor, whereas the conductivity test failed to do so. Furthermore, K+/Na+ showed up bigger quantitative differences in vigor level than did the conductivity test. This findings provide a more sensitive and accurate index for the assessment of seed vigor. The mechanisms of Na+ and K+ ion transport are also discussed. (Managing editor: Ping HE) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures of methyl 5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)Phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate, C15H9ClF3N3O5, (I), methyl 2-chloro-5-[3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyrimidin-1-y1]benzoate, C14H10ClF3N2O4, (II), and 2-[4-chloro-2-fluoro-5(prop-2-ynyloxy)phenyl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)piperidine-2.6-dione, C15H10ClF4NO3, (III), are similar in their dihedral angles and in the distances between the farthest two atoms. There are two independent molecules in the structure of (I). The dihedral angles between the two aromatic rings in each molecule in (I), between the benzene and tetrahydropyrimidine rings in (II), and between the benzene ring and the five-atom planar portion of the piperidine-2,6-dione ring in (III) are 80.78 (11)189.75 (11), 89.13 (9) and 87.52 (13)°, respectively. The distances between the farthest two atoms, viz. O···F in the two molecules of (I), and Cl···F in (II) and (III), are 11.763 (7)111.953 (6), 10.734 (10) and 10.889 (9) Å, respectively. In all three crystal structures, the molecules are linked to generate sheets of molecules via C—H···O interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular structures of 2-[4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-(prop- 2-ynyloxy)phenyl]-1,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydroisoindole-1,3-dione, C17H13ClFNO3, (I). and the isomeric compound 2-[4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-(prop-2-ynyloxy)phenyl]-cis-1,3,3a,4,7,-7a-hexahydroisoindole-1,3-dione, (II), are, as anticipated, significantly different in their conformations and in the distances between the farthest two atoms. The six-membered ring of the 1,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydroisoindole-1,3-dione moiety in (I) adopts a half-chair conformation. The dihedral angle between the five-membered dione ring of (I) and the benzene ring is 50.96 (7)°. The six-membered ring of the cis-1,3,3a,4,7 ,7a-hexahydroisoindole-1,3-dione moiety in (II) adopts a boat conformation. The dihedral angle in (II) between the five-membered dione ring and the benzene ring is 61.03 (13)°. In the crystal structures, the molecules are linked by C—H··· hydrogen bonds and weak π-π interactions. Compound (I) is a much more potent herbicide than (II). The Cl···H distances between the farthest two atoms in (I) and (II) are 11.37 and 9.97 Å, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]