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Metastasis is the primary cause of death of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while the mechanism underlying this severe disease remains largely unclear. The Kruppel‐like factor (KLF) family is one of the largest transcription factor families that control multiple physiologic and pathologic processes by governing the cellular transcriptome. To identify metastatic regulators of HCC, we conducted gene expression profiling on the MHCC97 cell series, a set of subclones of the original MHCC97 that was established by in vivo metastasis selection therefore harbouring differential metastatic capacities. We found that the expression of KLF9, a member of the KLF family, was dramatically repressed in the metastatic progeny clone of the MHCC97 cells. Functional studies revealed overexpression of KLF9 suppressed HCC migration in vitro and metastasis in vivo, while knockdown of KLF9 was sufficient to promote cell migration and metastasis accordingly. Mechanistically, we found the expression of KLF9 can reverse the pro‐metastatic epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) program via direct binding to the promoter regions of essential mesenchymal genes, thus repressing their expression. Interestingly, we further revealed that KLF9 was, in turn, directly suppressed by a mesenchymal transcription factor Slug, suggesting an intriguing negative feedback loop between KLF9 and the EMT program. Using clinical samples, we found that KLF9 was not only downregulated in HCC tissue compared to its normal counterparts but also further reduced in the HCC samples of whom had developed metastatic lesions. Together, we established a critical transcription factor that represses HCC metastasis, which is clinically and mechanically significant in HCC therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the effect of WeChat-based health education combined with the Satir model on self-management behaviors and social adaptation in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients during the perioperative period. Methods. A total of 100 CRC patients treated in our hospital from April 2018 to April 2020 were selected as the objects for the retrospective study and divided into the observation group and the reference group according to their admission order, with 50 cases each. The patients in both groups accepted health education based on the WeChat platform, and additionally, those in the observation group received the Satir group intervention on self-approval for 3 months to compare the patients' scores on self-management behaviors, social adaptation, and self-care agency before and after the intervention between the two groups. Results. Between the observation group and the reference group, the patients' general information, including age, gender ratio, and course of the disease, was not statistically different (P > 0.05). After nursing intervention, the scores on patients' self-management behaviors, social adaptation, and self-care agency were significantly higher in the observation group than in the reference group (P < 0.001). Conclusion. Combining the WeChat-based health education with the Satir model can improve the self-management awareness in the CRC patients during the perioperative period, enhance their self-care agency and self-management behaviors, and promote their social adaptation, demonstrating that such a nursing intervention model is worthy of clinical promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis), the least‐known big cat, disappeared in most historical range for decades, following the development of modern civilization. Unfortunately, we have scarce knowledge about the status of this big cat so far, apart from anecdotal reports. In this study, we investigated density, distribution, and habitat use of the leopard, the apex predator, in a complex forest landscape in the Loess Plateau. We used a camera‐trapping network to obtain population estimates for leopards over 2 years through spatially explicit capture–recapture models. Our results, based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian/MCMC methods, reveal that the largest wild population of the leopard was found widely distributed in remnant forests in central Loess plateau. The population is increasing in our study area, and the density of leopards (1.70 (SE = 0.48) − 2.40 (SE = 0.67)/100 km2) is higher than other areas of China. According to the analysis of 2 seasonal occupancy models, prey species drive partially the leopard habitat use, predicting that the big cat thrives from the recovery of prey community. However, human disturbances, especially oil wells, seem to have negative impacts on the habitat use of leopards. Specifically, it is necessary to have joint efforts by the government and researchers to improve human disturbances management and prey species population density, as well as strengthen the investment in research on the North Chinese leopard, which could all further strengthen protection ability and ensure the long‐term survival of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large carnivore populations are globally threatened by human impacts. Better protection could benefit carnivores, co‐occurring species, and the ecosystems they inhabit. The relationship between carnivores and humans, however, is not always consistent in areas of high human activities and is often mediated through the effects of humans on their ungulate prey. To test assumptions regarding how prey abundance and humans affect carnivore occurrence, density, and daily activity patterns, we assessed tiger–prey–human spatiotemporal patterns based on camera‐trapping data in Hunchun Nature Reserve, a promising core area for tiger restoration in China. Our study area contained seasonally varying levels of human disturbance in summer and winter. We used N‐mixture models to predict the relative abundance of ungulate prey considering human and environmental covariates. We estimated tiger spatial distribution using occupancy models and models of prey relative abundance from N‐mixture models. Finally, we estimated temporal activity patterns of tigers and prey using kernel density estimates to test for temporal avoidance between tigers, prey, and humans. Our results show that human‐related activities depressed the relative abundance of prey at different scales and in different ways, but across species, the relative abundance of prey directly increased tiger occupancy. Tiger occupancy was strongly positively associated with the relative abundance of sika deer in summer and winter. The crepuscular and nocturnal tigers also apparently synchronized their activity with that of wild boar and roe deer. However, tigers temporally avoided human activity without direct spatial avoidance. Our study supports the effects of humans on tigers through human impacts on prey populations. Conservation efforts may not only target human disturbance on predators, but also on prey to alleviate human–carnivore conflict. We use data from the recovering Amur tiger population in China from an extensive remote camera‐trapping study to understand the effects of humans on tigers and their prey in both space and time. Our study showed human affected tigers both by direct temporal avoidance and indirectly via the negative influence of humans on the relative abundance of the primary wild prey of tigers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel Bi2WO6-coupled Fe3O4 magnetic photocatalysts with excellent and stable photocatalytic activity for degrading tetracycline hydrochloride and RhB were successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal route. Through the characterization of the as-prepared magnetic photocatalysts by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, it was found that the as-prepared magnetic photocatalysts were synthesized by the coupling of Bi2WO6 and Fe3O4, and introduction of appropriated Fe3O4 can improve nanospheres morphology and visible-light response. Among them, BFe2 (0.16% Fe3O4) exhibited the best photocatalytic activity for degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), reaching 81.53% after 90 min. Meanwhile, the as-prepared magnetic photocatalysts showed great separation and recycle property. Moreover, the results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrated that the well conductivity of Fe3O4 can promote photogenerated charge carriers transfer and inhibit recombination of electron-hole pairs, so that Bi2WO6/Fe3O4 exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity on degradation of TCH and RhB. Hence, this work provides a principle method to synthesize Bi2 WO6/Fe3O4 with excellent photocatalytic performance for actual application, in addition, it showed that introduction of Fe3O4 not only can provide magnetism, but also can enhance photocatalytic activity of Bi2 WO6/Fe3O4 magnetic photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an apex predator the Amur tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica) could play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of forest ecosystems in Northeast Asia. Due to habitat loss and harvest over the past century, tigers rapidly declined in China and are now restricted to the Russian Far East and bordering habitat in nearby China. To facilitate restoration of the tiger in its historical range, reliable estimates of population size are essential to assess effectiveness of conservation interventions. Here we used camera trap data collected in Hunchun National Nature Reserve from April to June 2013 and 2014 to estimate tiger density and abundance using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) methods. A minimum of 8 individuals were detected in both sample periods and the documentation of marking behavior and reproduction suggests the presence of a resident population. Using Bayesian SECR modeling within the 11 400 km2 state space, density estimates were 0.33 and 0.40 individuals/100 km2 in 2013 and 2014, respectively, corresponding to an estimated abundance of 38 and 45 animals for this transboundary Sino-Russian population. In a maximum likelihood framework, we estimated densities of 0.30 and 0.24 individuals/100 km2 corresponding to abundances of 34 and 27, in 2013 and 2014, respectively. These density estimates are comparable to other published estimates for resident Amur tiger populations in the Russian Far East. This study reveals promising signs of tiger recovery in Northeast China, and demonstrates the importance of connectivity between the Russian and Chinese populations for recovering tigers in Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political borders and natural boundaries of wildlife populations seldom coincide, often to the detriment of conservation objectives. Transnational monitoring of endangered carnivores is rare, but is necessary for accurate population monitoring and coordinated conservation policies. We investigate the benefits of collaboratively monitoring the abundance and survival of the critically endangered Amur leopard, which occurs as a single transboundary population across China and Russia. Country‐specific results overestimated abundance and were generally less precise compared to integrated monitoring estimates; the global population was similar in both years: 84 (70–108, 95% confidence interval). Uncertainty in country‐specific annual survival estimates were approximately twice the integrated estimates of 0.82 (0.69–0.91, 95% confidence limits). This collaborative effort provided a better understanding of Amur leopard population dynamics, represented a first step in building trust, and lead to cooperative agreements to coordinate conservation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]