Search

The phytopathogenic genus, Entomosporium can cause serious leaf diseases worldwide. Entomosporium has long been regarded as a synonym of Diplocarpon. However, different morphologies between Entomosporium and Diplocarpon make this doubtful. Based on morpho-phylogenetic analyses, the placement of the genus was re-evaluated in this study. The combined the internal transcribed spacer gene region (ITS) and the 28S large subunit ribosomal RNA gene region (LSU) phylogenetic analysis shows that Entomosporium is an independent clade within Drepanopezizaceae and formed a sister clade to the generic type Diplocarpon. Moreover, Hymenula and Pseudopeziza do not cluster in Drepanopezizaceae. We propose to resurrect the name Entomosporium, and exclude Hymenula cerealis and Pseudopeziza medicaginis from Drepanopezizaceae and propose to treat them under Ploettnerulaceae. A new species, E. dichotomanthes is also introduced from China based on morpho-molecular analyses which is associated with Dichotomanthes tristaniicarpa.

Abstract Background Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common childhood health complaint, whose etiology is multifactorial. The incidence of DDH is variable and higher in Tibet plateau. Here, we collected plasma samples and studied the metabolomics signatures of DDH. Methods Fifty babies were enrolled: 25 with DDH and 25 age-matched non-DDH healthy controls (HC group). We collected plasma samples, laboratory parameters and conducted untargeted metabolomics profiling. Results There are many differential metabolites among patients with DDH, including 4-β-hydroxymethyl-4-α-methyl-5-α-cholest-7-en-3-beta-ol, β-cryptoxanthin, α-tocopherol, taurocholic acid, glycocholic acid, 2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyloxy)-4,6-dihydroxybenzoate, arabinosylhypoxanthine, leucyl-hydroxyproline, hypoxanthine. The main differential metabolic pathways focused on primary bile acid biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, histidine metabolism, purine metabolism. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of metabolomics profile in babies with DHH. By combining the α-tocopherol and taurocholic acid, we could achieve the differential diagnosis of DDH.

Ice sheet serves as a crucial indicator for assessing climate change. Mass loss in recent remote sensing-based studies indicated that the Antarctic Peninsula has rapid rates of glacier retreat and speed up of surface velocity. However, observations of seasonal variability of ice speed are limited, and glacier-area changes require multi-temporal monitoring. This study investigated the changes in area and surface velocities of ∼375 glaciers on the northern Antarctic Peninsula (NAP) utilizing satellite images acquired by the Sentinel 1&2 satellites during 2018–2022. The results indicate that the glacier area reduced by approximately 166.1 ± 44.2 km2 (−0.2% ± 0.1% per year) during the study period, with an acceleration after 2020 (−0.4% ± 0.3% per year), and the most dramatic reduction happened on the eastern NAP. The maximum annual ice speeds on the NAP generally exceeded 3500 m per year, while the ice speeds in 2021 were the highest (exceeded 4210 m per year). The ice speed variability in austral autumn was higher than in other seasons, meanwhile the summer ice speeds showed an increasing trend. The glacier G012158E47018N, McNeile Glacier, glacier G299637E64094S and Drygalski Glacier showed the most remarkable ice speed variations represented by high daily velocities and strong fluctuations on their termini. Our results demonstrated that the variations in glacier area and seasonal ice speed on the NAP were responsive to the ice–ocean–atmosphere processes. Therefore, seasonal velocity and area variations should be considered when conducting accurate mass balance calculations, model validations and change mechanism analyses under climate warming scenarios.

BackgroundThe clinical utility of Bacteroides fragilis in treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains unclear. Therefore, this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects and safety of B. fragilis BF839 in the treatment of pediatric ASD.MethodsWe examined 60 children aged 2–10 years diagnosed with ASD, and participants received either BF839 powder (10 g/bar with ≥106 CFU/bar of viable bacteria, two bars/day) or placebo for 16 weeks. The primary outcomes was Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) score. The secondary outcomes were Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Normal Development of Social Skills from Infants to Junior High School Children (S-M), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) scores, and fecal microbiome composition. Assessments were performed on day 0 and at weeks 8 and 16.ResultsCompared with the placebo group, the BF839 group showed significant improvement in the ABC body and object use scores at week 16, which was more pronounced in children with ASD aged

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability and a monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorders. Deficiencies in the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein, encoded by the FMR1 gene, lead to various anatomical and pathophysiological abnormalities and behavioral deficits, such as spine dysmorphogenesis and learning and memory impairments. Synaptic cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play crucial roles in synapse formation and neural signal transmission by promoting the formation of new synaptic contacts, accurately organizing presynaptic and postsynaptic protein complexes, and ensuring the accuracy of signal transmission. Recent studies have implicated synaptic CAMs such as the immunoglobulin superfamily, N-cadherin, leucine-rich repeat proteins, and neuroligin-1 in the pathogenesis of FXS and found that they contribute to defects in dendritic spines and synaptic plasticity in FXS animal models. This review systematically summarizes the biological associations between nine representative synaptic CAMs and FMRP, as well as the functional consequences of the interaction, to provide new insights into the mechanisms of abnormal synaptic development in FXS.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to develop a nomogram model for predicting the occurrence of intramyocardial hemorrhage (IMH) in patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). The model is constructed utilizing clinical data and the SYNTAX Score (SS), and its predictive value is thoroughly evaluated. Methods A retrospective study was conducted, including 216 patients with AMI who underwent Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) within a week post-PCI. Clinical data were collected for all patients, and their SS were calculated based on coronary angiography results. Based on the presence or absence of IMH as indicated by CMR, patients were categorized into two groups: the IMH group (109 patients) and the non-IMH group (107 patients). The patients were randomly divided in a 7:3 ratio into a training set (151 patients) and a validation set (65 patients). A nomogram model was constructed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The predictive capability of the model was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, comparing the predictive value based on the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results In the training set, IMH post-PCI was observed in 78 AMI patients on CMR, while 73 did not show IMH. Variables with a significance level of P

A climate transition towards warm–wet conditions in Northwest China has drawn much attention. With continuous climate change and universal glacier degradation, increasing water-related hazards and vulnerability have become one of the important problems facing the Tarim Basin. However, the impacts of the climate transition on streamflow abrupt change and extreme hydrological events were less discussed, especially in glacial basins. In the present study, the discharge datasets in four glacial basins of Tarim Basin from 1979 to 2018 were constructed using the GRU-GSWAT+ model first. The differences in streamflow characteristics, the shift of hydrological extreme pattern, and potential changes of the controlling factors before and after the abrupt changes were investigated. The results indicated that the abrupt change point (ACP) in streamflow occurred in 2000 in the Qarqan River Basin, 2002 in the Weigan River Basin, and 1994 in the Aksu River Basin and the Yarkant River Basin. A general decrease in streamflow before the ACP has shifted to a notable upward trend in the Qarqan River Basin and the Aksu River Basin, while minor upward fluctuations were observed in other basins. Moreover, the hydrological characteristics in extreme events vary dramatically before and after the ACPs, characterized by a pronouncing shift from drought-dominant pattern to wet events dominated pattern. The driven climate factors have been altered after the ACPs with notable spatial heterogeneity, in which temperature remained as the dominant role in meltwater-dominated basins while the influence of precipitation has increased after the ACPs, whereas the sensitivity of temperature on streamflow change has been enhanced in basins dominated by precipitation such as the Qarqan River Basin. Owing to the evident warming–wetting trend and glacier compensation effect, both the inter-annual and intra-annual streamflow fluctuations can be efficiently smoothed in basins with a high glacier area ratio (GAR). These findings provide a further understanding of the abrupt change in streamflow under the exacerbated climate and glacier change in mountainous arid regions.

To investigate the influence of freezing-thawing cycle on the quality of prefabricated mushroom soup, the differences in the basic indicators of mushroom soup including microbial quantity, color, soluble protein, reducing sugar, and total phenolic content were compared among unfrozen samples (control) and repeated freezing-thawing samples. Besides that, the equivalent umami concentration (EUC) values and volatile flavor compounds in those prefabricated mushroom soup were further analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively. The results showed that the first freezing-thawing treatment comprehensively affected the quality of prefabricated mushroom soup by decreasing the content of basic components (reducing sugar, total phenolics and total amino acids) and flavor (EUC value and volatile components) of mushroom soup obviously. The effect of freezing-thawing cycles (1~5 cycles) on the quality of mushroom soup was further compared. When the mushroom soup was frozen and thawed for three times, the content of soluble protein in the soup decreased significantly (P

LTX-315 is a synthetic cationic oncolytic peptide with potent anticancer activity but limited toxicity for non-malignant cells. LTX-315 induces both immunogenic tumor cell death and generation of tumor-specific immune responses in multiple experimental tumor models. Given the central role of dendritic cell (DC) maturation in the induction of antigen-specific immunity, we investigated the effect of LTX-315 treatment on the maturation of tumor-infiltrating DCs (TiDCs) and the generation of anti-melanoma immunity. We found that LTX-315 treatment induces the maturation of DCs, both indirectly through the release of cancer cell-derived damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)/alarmins and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) capable of triggering distinct Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, and, directly by activating TLR7. The latter results in the ignition of multiple intracellular signaling pathways that promotes DC maturation, including NF-κB, mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and inflammasome signaling, as well as increased type 1 interferon production. Critically, the effects of LTX-315 on DCs the consequent promotion of anti-melanoma immunity depend on the cytosolic signal transducer myeloid differentiation response gene 88 (MyD88). These results cast light on the mechanisms by which LTX-315 induces DC maturation and hence elicits anticancer immunity, with important implications for the use of LTX-315 as an anticancer immunotherapeutic.

Background24-h movement behaviors, including light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen-based sedentary behavior (SSB), non-screen-based sedentary behavior (NSB) and sleep are crucial components affecting mental health. This study aimed to examine the associations of movement behaviors with mental health outcomes among overweight/obese college students using a compositional data analysis approach.MethodsUsing a prospective design, 437 Chinese college students (20.1 ± 1.7 years, 51.7% female) completed a two-wave online data collection, where demographics and movement behaviors (LPA, MVPA, SSB, NSB, sleep) were collected at baseline, while depression, anxiety and stress were measured at the 2-month follow-up (Apr-Jul 2022). Compositional data analyses were implemented using R.ResultsDepression, anxiety, and stress were negatively associated with time spent in MVPA and sleep (p

In this paper, the samples of Fritillaria hupehensis and Fritillaria thunbergii were collected from the same area with identical growth cycle, and their compositions of TPC (total phenolics content), TFC (total flavonoids content), free amino acids, trace elements, nucleosides and nucleobases were comprehensively compared. Besides that, their corresponding physicochemical properties of antioxidant ability, solubility, swelling and gelatinization characteristic were also discussed. Compared with Fritillaria hupehensis, the Fritillaria thunbergii showed higher antioxidant activities in mature bulb due to its higher TPC, TFC, DPPH, FRAP and ABTS values. On the other hand, the contents of total nucleosides, nucleobases, amino acids in bulb of Fritillaria hupehensis were significantly higher than those of Fritillaria thunbergii (P

Abstract Background Three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasonography is nonionizing and has been demonstrated to be a reliable tool for scoliosis assessment, including coronal and sagittal curvatures. It shows a great potential for axial vertebral rotation (AVR) evaluation, yet its validity and reliability need to be further demonstrated. Materials and Methods Twenty patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) (coronal Cobb: 26.6 ± 9.1°) received 3D ultrasound scan for twice, 10 were scanned by the same operator, and the other 10 by different operators. EOS Bi‐planar x‐rays and 3D scan were conducted on another 29 patients on the same day. Two experienced 3D ultrasonographic researchers, with different experiences on AVR measurement, evaluated the 3D ultrasonographic AVR of the 29 patients (55 curves; coronal Cobb angle: 26.9 ± 11.3°). The gold standard AVR was determined from the 3D reconstruction of coronal and sagittal EOS radiographs. Intra‐class correlation coefficients (ICCs), mean absolute difference (MAD), standard error measurements (SEM), and Bland–Altman's bias were reported to evaluate the intra‐operator and inter‐operator/rater reliabilities of 3D ultrasonography. The reliability of 3D ultrasonographic AVR measurements was further validated using inter‐method with that of EOS. Results ICCs for intra‐operator and inter‐operator/rater reliability assessment were all greater than 0.95. MAD, SEM, and bias for the 3D ultrasonographic AVRs were no more than 2.2°, 2.0°, and 0.5°, respectively. AVRs between both modalities were strongly correlated (R2 = 0.901) and not significantly different (p = 0.205). Bland–Altman plot also shows that the bias was less than 1°, with no proportional bias between the difference and mean of expected and radiographic Cobb angles. Conclusion This study demonstrates that 3D ultrasonography is valid and reliable to evaluate AVR in AIS patients. 3D ultrasonography can be a potential tool for screening and following up subjects with AIS and evaluating the effectiveness of nonsurgical treatments.

This study was aimed to compare the effects of thermal treatment (70, 90 ℃) and non-thermal treatment (room temperature, ultrasound treatment, homogenization and high hydrostatic pressure) on the umami taste and antioxidant capability of water extracts of Morchella esculenta. The content of 5’-nucleotide (5’-CMP, 5’-UMP, 5’-XMP, 5’-GMP, 5’-IMP and 5’-AMP) and free amino acid (17 kinds) in these extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography and amino acid analyzer respectively, and their corresponding value of Equivalent Umami Concentration (EUC) were calculated. Antioxidant properties of each water extract of Morchella esculenta were comprehensively evaluated by DPPH, FRAP and ABTS methods. Except for the treatment of RT (room temperature), other treatment on finely pulverized Morchella esculenta powder (P2 or P3, 35.52 and 6.28 μm, respectively) increased the contents of total 5'-nucleotides while decreased the contents of umami amino acids and total free amino acids (FAA) in their corresponding water extract. Therefore, the EUC values of the Morchella esculenta extracts were changed from 106.58 g MSG/100 g~493.97 g MSG/100 g to 74.70 g MSG/100 g~364.35 g MSG/100 g. Compared with the room temperature treatment, other treatments improved the EUC value of the water extracts. However, thermal treatment decreased the antioxidant capacity of the extract, and non-thermal treatment of HHP displayed the highest EUC value and ideal antioxidant effect. Especially, the original Morchella esculenta powder without superfine grinding had the highest EUC value and the best antioxidant capacity after HHP treatment, which might be suitable for the further processing of Morchella esculenta.

Objective: Improve the quality of dried okra products. Methods: The rehydration ratio, shrinkage rate, vitamin C content, drying time and sensory score were used to analyze the effects of different pretreatment methods on the quality of dried okra products, and the coefficient of variation method was used for comprehensive weighted evaluation. Results: The results showed that blanching and ultrasonic pretreatment can significantly increase the rehydration ratio of the dried sample （P＜0.05）. The shrinkage rate was most affected by blanching. The vitamin C content of the pretreatment group was lower than that of the control group, and the ultrasound treatment group had the least loss. The blanching and ultrasonic pretreatment can shorten the drying time, and sensory scores of samples pretreated by ultrasound and color protection were significantly higher than those pretreated by blanching （P＜0.05）. The comprehensive evaluation by the coefficient of variation method showed that the quality of the okra pretreated by ultrasonic was the best, followed by the color protection treatment, and the blanching treatment had the lowest comprehensive score. When the ultrasonic pretreatment temperature was 20 ℃, the comprehensive score of the dried sample obtained was the highest, which was 0.907. Conclusion: The research showed that the ultrasonic pretreatment was a better pretreatment method with hot air drying of okra.

Ganoderma is a white-rot fungus with a cosmopolitan distribution and includes several economically important species. This genus has been extensively researched due to its beneficial medicinal properties and chemical constituents with potential nutritional and therapeutic values. Traditionally, species of Ganoderma were identified solely based on morphology; however, recent molecular studies revealed that many morphology-based species are conspecific. Furthermore, some type species are in poor condition, which hinders us from re-examining their taxonomic characteristics and obtaining their molecular data. Therefore, new species and fresh collections with multigene sequences are needed to fill the loopholes and to understand the biological classification system of Ganoderma.In a survey of Ganoderma in Guizhou Province, southwest China, we found a new species growing on soil and, herein, it was identified by both morphology and phylogenetic evidence. Hence, we propose a new species, Ganoderma ovisporum sp. nov. This species is characterised by an annual, stipitate, laccate basidiome, with a red–brown to brownish-black pileus surface and pale white pores, duplex context, clavate pileipellis terminal cells, trimitic hyphal system, ellipsoid basidiospores with dark brown eusporium bearing coarse echinulae and an obtuse turgid appendix. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the novel species sisters to G. sandunense with high bootstrap support. Furthermore, the RPB2 sequence of G. sandunense is supplied for the first time. Notably, we re-examined the type specimen of G. sandunense and provide a more precise description of the duplex context, pileipellis terminal cells and basidia. All species collected are described and illustrated with coloured photographs. Moreover, we present an updated phylogeny for Ganoderma, based on nLSU, ITS, RPB2 and TEF1-α DNA sequence data and species relationships and classification are discussed.

Chaotic output of a self-chaotic microlaser with the typical wide lasing spectra, as shown, was applied for high speed random number generation.

BackgroundBlood pressure variability (BPV) has been reported to be a predictor of cardiovascular and some cognitive diseases. However, the association between napping and BPV remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the association between napping and BPV.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study including 105 university students was conducted. Participants’ 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24 h ABPM) were measured, and napping behaviors were investigated. BPV were measured by the 24 h ABPM, included standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and average real variability (ARV).ResultsAmong the participants, 61.9% reported daytime napping. We found that nap duration was significantly associated with daytime CV of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.250, P = 0.010), nighttime CV of systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.217, P = 0.026), 24 h WCV of DBP (r = 0.238, P = 0.014), 24 h ARV of SBP (r = 0.246, P = 0.011) and 24 h ARV of DBP (r = 0.291, P = 0.003). Compared with the no napping group, 24 h WCV of DBP, daytime CV of DBP, and daytime SD of DBP were significantly higher in participants with napping duration >60 min. With multiple regression analysis we found that nap duration was an independent predictor for 24 h ARV of SBP (β = 0.859, 95% CI, 0.101–1.616, P = 0.027) and 24 h ARV of DBP (β = 0.674, 95% CI, 0.173–1.175, P = 0.009).ConclusionsNapping durations are associated with BPV among university students. Especially those with napping durations >60 min had a significantly higher BPV than those non-nappers.

Alpine meadow degradation is an important issue for ecosystem stability in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). As an essential part of alpine meadow ecosystems, mattic epipedon (ME) refers to the soil surface horizons rich in organic matter and roots, which plays an important role in nutrient cycling, water retention, and ecological stability of QTP. The rupture of ME has caused serious alpine meadow degradation, biodiversity accidents, and ecosystem service decline, as well as attracted substantial concerns. However, the type of ME ruptures and their distribution environment are not well studied. In this perspective, to identify the major type of ME ruptures in QTP, 257 areas were investigated and 24 dominant plant species were collected from 2019 to 2023. Results indicated that ME ruptures exist in 234 investigated areas and can be broadly divided into 5 types based on visual observations and expert knowledge: collapsed ruptures, polygon ruptures, sheddable ruptures, cavernous ruptures, and hummock ruptures. The dominant plant species and coverage also present great differences between different rupture types. This study provides insights into alpine meadow degradation from the ME rupture types and distribution perspectives. Identifying the ME rupture types and their distribution will contribute to enhance alpine meadow restoration success for protecting the ecological benefits.

Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were used to study the effects of temperature (310 K to 400 K), pressure (≤30 MPa) and water content (0 molecule/nm3 to 9 molecule/nm3) on the adsorption and diffusion behavior of CH4 and C2H6 in 3 nm kaolinite slit under supercritical conditions. The obtained adsorption capacity, isosteric adsorption heat, concentration distribution and diffusion coefficient were analyzed and compared. The simulation results show that the adsorption capacity of C2H6 is higher under low pressure conditions, and the adsorption capacity of CH4 is higher under high pressure conditions due to the small molecular radius and increased adsorption space. The addition of water molecules and the increase in temperature will reduce the adsorption capacity and isosteric adsorption heat of the two gases. We analyzed the changes in Langmuir volume and Langmuir pressure of the two gases under different temperature and water content conditions. The addition of water molecules and the increase in temperature will reduce the saturation adsorption capacity (which has a greater effect on C2H6) and the adsorption rate of the two gases in the kaolinite slit. The water molecules occupy the adsorption site of the gas molecules (limiting the diffusion of the gas molecules), which reduces the interaction between gas molecules and the wall surface, thus altering the distribution of the two gases in the slit. The increase in temperature will accelerate the oscillation of the gas molecules, increasing diffusion, and also leads to a reduction in the peak value of the adsorption peaks of the two gases.

The effects of high-intensity ultrasound on the physicochemical and gelling properties of Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei) myofibrillar protein (MP) were investigated. MP solutions were subjected to ultrasound treatment (power 100 W, 300 W, and 500 W). It was found that the carbonyl and free amino contents of MP increased significantly with increasing ultrasound power, accompanied by enhanced emulsification properties. The increase of free radical and carbonyl content indicated that ultrasound induced the oxidation of MP. With the increase of ultrasound power, it was found that the total sulfhydryl content of the shrimp MP decreased, but the surface hydrophobicity increased significantly, which might be closely related to the conformational changes of MP. Meanwhile, a significant increase of β-sheet but a decrease of α-helix in the secondary structure of MP was observed with increasing ultrasound power, indicating that ultrasound treatment induced the stretching and flexibility of MP molecules. SDS-PAGE showed that L. vannamei MP consisted of myosin heavy chain, actin, myosin light chain, paramyosin and tropomyosin. Ultrasound treatment could lead to some degree of oxidative aggregation of MP. The results of rheological properties indicated that ultrasound treatment enhanced the viscoelasticity of MP and further improved the gel strength of MP gel. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the functional modification of shrimp MP and the processing of its surimi products.

The effects of supplementing 50% of the mineral N fertilizer with organic fertilizer on the metabolism and diversity of soil microbial communities in an oat field were investigated using Biolog-Eco plates. The experiment consisted of five treatments: no fertilizer (CK), mineral N fertilizer applied at 90 and 45 kg ha−1 N in the form of urea (U1 and U2, respectively), and U2 supplemented with organic fertilizer in the form of sheep manure at 90 and 45 kg ha−1 N (U2OM1 and U2OM2, respectively). Each treatment had three replications. The experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 in Pinglu District, Shanxi Province, China. The carbon source utilization by soil microbial communities, such as amino acids, amines, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, and polymers, increased when 50% of the mineral N fertilizer was replaced with organic fertilizer in both years. This result was accompanied by increased richness, dominance, and evenness of the microbial communities. The utilization of amino acid, amine, and carboxylic acid carbon sources and community evenness were further improved when the organic fertilizer amount was doubled in both years. Biplot analysis indicated that amines and amino acids were the most representative of the total carbon source utilization by the soil microbial communities in both years. The highest oat yield was achieved at a total N application rate of 135 kg ha−1 in the treatment involving 45 kg ha−1 N in the form of urea and 90 kg ha−1 N in the form of sheep manure in both years. It was concluded that the application of 50% of the conventional rate of mineral N fertilizer supplemented with an appropriate rate of organic fertilizer enhanced both the functional diversity of soil microbial communities and oat yield. Amine and amino acid carbon sources may be used as a substitute for total carbon sources for assessing total carbon source utilization by soil microbial communities in oat fields in future studies.

Assimilating Sentinel-2 images with the CERES-Wheat model can improve the precision of winter wheat yield estimates at a regional scale. To verify this method, we applied the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) to assimilate the leaf area index (LAI) derived from Sentinel-2 data and simulated by the CERES-Wheat model. From this, we obtained the assimilated daily LAI during the growth stage of winter wheat across three counties located in the southeast of the Loess Plateau in China: Xiangfen, Xinjiang, and Wenxi. We assigned LAI weights at different growth stages by comparing the improved analytic hierarchy method, the entropy method, and the normalized combination weighting method, and constructed a yield estimation model with the measurements to accurately estimate the yield of winter wheat. We found that the changes of assimilated LAI during the growth stage of winter wheat strongly agreed with the simulated LAI. With the correction of the derived LAI from the Sentinel-2 images, the LAI from the green-up stage to the heading–filling stage was enhanced, while the LAI decrease from the milking stage was slowed down, which was more in line with the actual changes of LAI for winter wheat. We also compared the simulated and derived LAI and found the assimilated LAI had reduced the root mean square error (RMSE) by 0.43 and 0.29 m2 m−2, respectively, based on the measured LAI. The assimilation improved the estimation accuracy of the LAI time series. The highest determination coefficient (R2) was 0.8627 and the lowest RMSE was 472.92 kg ha−1 in the regression of the yields estimated by the normalized weighted assimilated LAI method and measurements. The relative error of the estimated yield of winter wheat in the study counties was less than 1%, suggesting that Sentinel-2 data with high spatial-temporal resolution can be assimilated with the CERES-Wheat model to obtain more accurate regional yield estimates.

Triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive types of solid-organ cancers. While immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has significantly improved outcomes in certain types of solid-organ cancers, patients with immunologically cold TNBC are afforded only a modest gain in survival by the addition of ICB to systemic chemotherapy. Thus, it is urgently needed to develop novel effective therapeutic approaches for TNBC. Utilizing the 4T1 murine model of TNBC, we developed a novel combination immunotherapeutic regimen consisting of intratumoral delivery of high-mobility group nucleosome binding protein 1 (HMGN1), TLR2/6 ligand fibroblast-stimulating lipopeptide (FSL-1), TLR7/8 agonist (R848/resiquimod), and CTLA-4 blockade. We also investigated the effect of adding SX682, a small-molecule inhibitor of CXCR1/2 known to reduce MDSC trafficking to tumor microenvironment, to our therapeutic approach. 4T1-bearing mice responded with significant tumor regression and tumor elimination to our therapeutic combination regimen. Mice with complete tumor regressions did not recur and became long-term survivors. Treatment with HMGN1, FSL-1, R848, and anti-CTLA4 antibody increased the number of infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ effector/memory T cells in both tumors and draining lymph nodes and triggered the generation of 4T1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the draining lymph nodes. Thus, we developed a potentially curative immunotherapeutic regimen consisting of HMGN1, FSL-1, R848, plus a checkpoint inhibitor for TNBC, which does not rely on the administration of chemotherapy, radiation, or exogenous tumor-associated antigen(s).

Prealloyed Cr–Fe and prealloyed Fe powders were used as a replacement for widely used tungsten carbide powder to fabricate impregnated diamond bits. The effects of the prealloyed Fe content and sintering process on the matrix properties of the impregnated diamond bits wereinvestigated. The relative density, bending strength, and hardness were tested, and the fracture was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The results showedthat as the mass fraction of prealloyed Fe powder increased, the density and bending strength of the matrix decreased, and the hardness increased. The mechanical properties of the matrix increased with increasing sintering temperature; when the temperature was higher than 940 °C, the mechanical propertiestended to stabilize or decrease slightly. When the holding time was 5 min, the relative density, bending strength, and hardness of the matrix material were high. The experimental data showedthat a proper amount of prealloyed Fe can yieldgood mechanical properties, and that prealloyed Cr–Fe and prealloyed Fe can completely replace WC (tungsten carbide) as the framework material of thematrix. In conclusion, it is feasible and reasonable to replace WC powder with prealloyed Fe powder to prepare impregnated diamond bits. This process has significant economic benefits and market prospects.

This study aims to reveal the control mechanism of viscoelastic (VE) energy dissipation braces with strong mechanical nonlinear characteristics on the seismic response of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures. Firstly, a new STM32-Matlab-OpenSees joint hybrid test platform is developed by introducing OpenSees, which is convenient for structural modeling and fast for structural calculation. The overall architecture and operation of the hybrid test platform are comprehensively analyzed. Then, a series of simulated seismic hybrid tests on three-dimensional (3D) RC frame structures with VE energy dissipation braces under different seismic waves are successfully carried out. Lastly, the hybrid test results of this structure system at different working conditions are compared and analyzed comprehensively. The research results show that the developed platform breaks the boundary limitation that OpenSees relies on the framework software OpenFresco and can only be connected to specific control systems in the hybrid test. Thus, it greatly expands the application scope of flexible configuration controller and actuator categories for the hybrid test platform, and it also provides a good reference value for the establishment and implementation of similar hybrid test platforms. Under the action of various seismic waves, VE energy dissipation braces has good universality for the shock absorption of RC frame structures. The damping control effect and energy dissipation efficiency of VE energy dissipation braces are significantly different under various seismic waves. In the design of RC frame structures with VE energy dispersion braces, it is very necessary to conduct the seismic analysis of the structures under multiple ground motions with wide frequency domain. The additional position of VE energy dissipation braces should be an important analysis indicators in the optimization design of the structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) gene has been linked to coronary artery disease. We investigated an association between the polymorphism of MIF gene rs2070766 and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and the predictive value of MIF gene variation in clinical outcomes. This study involved in 963 ACS patients and 932 control subjects from a Chinese population. All participants were genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of MIF gene rs2070766 using SNPscan™. A nomogram model using MIF genetic variation and clinical variables was established to predict risk of ACS. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were monitored during a follow-up period. The frequency of rs2070766 GG genotype was higher in ACS patients than in control subjects (6.2 vs 3.8%, p = 0.034). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals with mutant GG genotype had a 1.7-fold higher risk of ACS compared with individuals with CC or CG genotypes. Using MIF rs2070766 genotypes and clinical factors, we developed a nomogram model to predict risk of ACS. The nomogram model had a good discrimination with an area under the curve of 0.781 (95% CI: 0.759–0.804), concordance index of 0.784 (95% CI: 0.762–0.806) and well-fitted calibration. During the follow-up period of 25 months, Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that ACS patients carrying GG phenotype developed more MACE compared to CC or CG carriers (p < 0.05). GG genotype of MIF gene rs2070766 was associated with a higher risk of ACS in a Chinese population. The GG genotype carriers in ACS patients had worse clinical outcomes compared with those carrying CC or CG genotype. Together with rs2070766 genetic variant of MIF gene, we established a novel nomogram model that can provide individualized prediction for ACS.

The combined effects of ultrasound and the antioxidants of bamboo leaves (AOB) on the quality maintenance of the adductor muscle of scallops (AMSs) during cold storage was investigated. Ultrasound power at 350 W coupled with AOB solution (2% w/v) (UAOB-350) was applied to treat the AMSs according to Taylor diagram analysis. The microstructure, oxidative changes (lipid and protein oxidation), total numbers of colonies, total volatile basic nitrogen, and texture of the AMSs during 6 days of cold storage were analysed. The results indicated that UAOB-350 treatment could effectively retard protein and lipid oxidation and bacterial growth and maintain better microstructure and texture characteristics than AOB solution treatment alone, prolonging the shelf life of the AMSs by 2 days during storage at 4 °C. These results indicate that the UAOB-350 combination method has promising potential to maintain the quality and extend the shelf life of AMSs during cold storage.

Abstract Background Individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) have a high suicide risk. Some evidence suggests that uric acid (UA) may be involved in the pathophysiology of MDD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether serum UA levels were associated with suicide risk in MDD patients. Methods One hundred four female patients with MDD (52 patients with suicide risk and 52 patients without suicide risk) and 52 healthy individuals were included in this study. The suicide risk was evaluated by Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.). Fasting serum levels of UA, as well as glucose, lipid and renal function indicators were measured. Results Serum UA levels in MDD patients with suicide risk (245.01 ± 55.44 μmol/L) were significantly lower than those in MDD patients without suicide risk (274.17 ± 72.65 μmol/L) (p = 0.017) and healthy controls (271.42 ± 55.25 μmol/L) (p = 0.030). There was no difference in serum UA levels between the MDD patients without suicide risk and healthy controls (p = 0.821). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between suicide risk and decreased serum UA levels (OR = 0.989, p = 0.010) in MDD patients. Conclusion Decreased serum UA levels were associated with suicide risk in MDD patients. Purinergic system dysfunction may be involved in the neurobiological basis of suicide risk in these patients.

Objective To explore the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying fibroblast differentiation and dysfunction in the development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in an effort to identify candidate therapeutic targets for AIS. Methods The GSE110359 dataset, obtained from the bone marrow stromal cells of 12 AIS patients and five healthy controls, was retrieved from the GEO database. The data were preprocessed and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. KEGG pathway and Gene Ontology (GO)‐Biological Process (BP) enrichment analyses were performed to identify the function of the DEGs. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) and a microRNA‐transcription factor (TF)‐target co‐regulatory network were constructed to identify hub genes in the development of AIS. In addition, hub DEGs were evaluated by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemical staining. Results A total of 188 DEGs including 100 up‐regulated and 88 down‐regulated genes were obtained. The up‐regulated DEGs were related to “p53 signaling pathway”, “FoxO signaling pathway”, and “cGMP‐PKG signaling pathway” terms, while the down‐regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in seven terms including “protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum”. The key up‐regulated genes, PRKG1, CCNG2, and KAT2B, and the key down‐regulated genes, MAP2K1 and DUSP6, were identified by the PPI and miRNA‐TF‐Target regulatory network analyses. mRNA expression patterns for PRKG1, DUSP6, and KAT2B were successfully verified by qPCR. In addition, PRKG1 protein levels were found to be elevated during the immunohistochemical analysis. Conclusion Increased expression of PRKG1 in AIS patients might be an attractive therapeutic target for AIS. However, further gain or loss‐of‐function studies should be conducted.

Abstract Background Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the common first-line treatment for patients with advanced cervical cancer. However, radioresistance remains a major clinical challenge, which results in recurrence and poor survival. Many studies have shown the potential of Delta-like Ligand 4 (DLL4) as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in many solid tumors. Previously, we have found that high DLL4 expression in tumor cells may predict the pelvic lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. In our present study, we further studied the effects of DLL4 on the biological behavior and radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells. Methods The expression of DLL4 and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype markers in cervical cancer cell lines or tissues were detected using Western blotting, and the expression of DLL4 mRNA in cervical cancer cell lines or tissues was detected using Quantitative real-time PCR. The effect of DLL4 on cell proliferation, migration, and radiosensitivity was evaluated using the CCK8 assay, flow cytometry, Transwell assays for cell invasion and migration, and Immunofluorescence staining in vitro. Results The expression of DLL4 in radiotherapy-resistant SiHa cells was significantly higher than that in radiotherapy-sensitive Me-180 cells. Furthermore, downregulation of DLL4 enhanced the radiosensitivity of SiHa and Caski cells via the inhibition of cell proliferation, promotion of radiation-induced apoptosis, and inhibition of the DNA damage repair. Moreover, downregulation of DLL4 inhibited the EMT and reduced the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability in SiHa and Caski cells. Consistent with the DLL4 expression in the cell lines, the expression of DLL4 in the tissues of the radioresistant group was also higher than that of the radiosensitive group. Conclusions Downregulation of DLL4 inhibited the progression and increased the radiosensitivity in cervical cancer cells by reversing EMT. These results indicated the promising prospect of DLL4 against the radioresistance and metastasis of cervical cancer and its potential as a predictive biomarker for radiosensitivity and prognosis in patients with cervical cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT).

Abstract Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains one of the major causes of death in humans. Genetic testing may allow early detection and prevention of this disease. This study aimed to investigate the association between the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) -173G/C (rs755622) polymorphism and susceptibility to CAD based on a meta-analysis. Methods We searched several databases to identify observational case-control studies investigating the association between the MIF -173G > C (rs755622) polymorphism and CAD risk published before July 30, 2019. Data were analyzed using the STATA software. Results Six studies, comprising a total of 1172 CAD cases and 1564 controls evaluated for MIF polymorphisms, were included. The occurrence of CAD was found to be associated with the C allele of the MIF rs755622 SNP in the total population (C/G, OR = 1.489, 95% CI = 1.223–1.813). Further, MIF –173G/C polymorphism was significantly associated with CAD under the allelic model in the Asian (C/G, OR = 1.775, 95% CI = 1.365–2.309) and Caucasian (C/G, OR = 1.288, 95% CI 1.003–1.654) subgroups. The data showed that the risk of CAD was higher in the population carrying the C allele. Conclusions We found evidence of associations between MIF -173C/G and CAD susceptibility in the Asian and Caucasian populations.

Abstract. Objective:. Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare but clinically well-known polygenic systemic autoinflammatory disease. In this review, we aim to present frontiers in the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, biomarkers, disease course, prognosis, and treatment in AOSD. Data sources:. We retrieved information from the PubMed database up to July 2019, using various search terms and relevant words, including AOSD and Still's disease. Study selection:. We included data from peer-reviewed journals. Both basic and clinical studies were selected. Results:. Pathogenesis of AOSD involves genetic background, infectious triggers, and immunopathogenesis, mainly the activation of macrophages and neutrophils followed by a cytokine storm. Diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of AOSD is still challenging; therefore, there is an urgent need to identify better biomarkers. Biologic agents, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists in the treatment of AOSD, have good prospect. Conclusion:. This review highlights the advances in pathogenesis, potential biomarkers, disease course, and treatment in AOSD.

Intercropping is used widely by smallholder farmers in developing countries to increase land productivity and profitability. We conducted a maize/peanut intercropping experiment in the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons in Shandong, China. Treatments included sole maize (SM), sole peanut (SP), and an intercrop consisting of four rows of maize and six rows of peanut (IM and IP). The results showed that the intercropping system had yield advantages based on the land equivalent ratio (LER) values of 1.15 and 1.16 in the two years, respectively. Averaged over the two years, the yield of maize in the intercropping was increased by 61.05% compared to that in SM, while the pod yield of peanut was decreased by 31.80% compared to SP. Maize was the superior competitor when intercropped with peanut, and its productivity dominated the yield of the intercropping system in our study. The increased yield was due to a higher kernel number per ear (KNE). Intercropping increased the light transmission ratio (LTR) of the ear layer in the maize canopy, the active photosynthetic duration (APD), and the harvest index (HI) compared to SM. In addition, intercropping promoted the ratio of dry matter accumulation after silking and the distribution of 13C-photosynthates to grain compared to SM. In conclusion, maize/peanut intercropping demonstrated the potential to improve the light condition of maize, achieving enhanced photosynthetic characteristics that improved female spike differentiation, reduced barrenness, and increased KNE. Moreover, dry matter accumulation and 13C-photosynthates distribution to grain of intercropped maize were improved, and a higher grain yield was ultimately obtained.

Adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome due to anti-interferon (IFN)-γ autoantibodies has attracted much attention in recent years. It usually occurs in previously healthy people and usually presents as chronic, recurrent, and hard-to-control infections that can be effectively treated with aggressive antibiotic therapy. Adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome is also referred to as AIDS-like syndrome. Anti-type I IFN (IFN-I) autoantibodies have been reported to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and preexisting anti-IFN-I autoantibodies are associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19. This review summarizes the effects of anti-IFN autoantibodies on the susceptibility and severity of various infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, we discuss the role of anti-IFN autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases that are characterized by recurrent infections.

Objective: To investigate whether a healthy lifestyle is associated with the lower childhood obesity regardless of birth weight.Methods: Participants were selected from a large-scale cross-sectional study conducted in the seven provinces across China. Birth weight and lifestyle factors were collected through a questionnaire. A weighted healthy lifestyle score was calculated and categorized into favorable, intermediate, and unfavorable lifestyles.Results: A total of 47,768 participants were enrolled in this study. Overall, 16.4% of the participants followed a favorable lifestyle, 62.8% followed an intermediate lifestyle, and 20.8% followed an unfavorable lifestyle. Compared with the participants who were born normal birth weight (NBW), participants who were born high birth weight (HBW) (OR = 1.58; 95% CI 1.48–1.77) and very high birth weight (VHBW) (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.47–2.18) had higher obesity risk, however, the participants who were born low birth weight (LBW) had lower obesity risk (OR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.68–0.96). Participants with an unfavorable lifestyle were associated with a higher risk of childhood obesity compared with the participants with favorable lifestyle (OR = 1.25; 95%CI: 1.14–1.38). Participants who were born VHBW and with an unfavorable lifestyle had 2.76 times (95% CI: 1.78–4.28) further risk of childhood obesity compared with the participants who were born NBW and with a favorable lifestyle. However, adherence to a favorable lifestyle seems to counteract the elevated risk of childhood obesity by VHBW (OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 0.84–2.24).Conclusion: Both the HBW and unfavorable lifestyle were significantly associated with risk of childhood obesity. Adherence to a favorable lifestyle decreased the risk of childhood obesity among the participants with VHBW. A more longitudinal study is required to repeat the finding to inform tailored prevention programs.