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Abstract The relationship between psoriasis and site-specific cancers remains unclear. Here, we aim to investigate whether psoriasis is causally associated with site-specific cancers. We use observational and genetic data from the UK Biobank, obtaining GWAS summary data, eQTL analysis data, TCGA data, and GTEx data from public datasets. We perform PheWAS, polygenic risk score analysis, and one-sample and two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses to investigate the potential causal associations between psoriasis and cancers. In the unselected PheWAS analysis, psoriasis is associated with higher risks of 16 types of cancer. Using one-sample Mendelian randomization analyses, it is found that genetically predicted psoriasis is associated with higher risks of anal canal cancer, breast cancer, follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer in women; and lung cancer and kidney cancer in men. Our two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis indicates that psoriasis is causally associated with breast cancer and lung cancer. Gene annotation shows that psoriasis-related genes, such as ERAP1, are significantly different in lung and breast cancer tissues. Taken together, clinical attention to lung cancer and breast cancer may be warranted among patients with psoriasis.

This study investigated the biphasic phenoxyethanol–citric acid (PECA) pretreatment for bamboo residues (BRs) and its corresponding effects on the enzymatic hydrolysis performance. It is found that increasing the concentration of citric acid in the pretreatment system from 2.5% to 15% greatly enhanced the delignification and xylan removal for BRs. Consequently, the enzymatic hydrolysis yield of pretreated BRs significantly enhanced, increasing from 12.4% to 58.2% and 28.0%72.4% when the concentration of citric acid was increased from 2.5% to 15.0% at 160°C and 170°C, respectively. The characterization results from cellulose crystallinity, accessibility, and hydrophobicity of pretreated bamboo residues indicated that their changes possessed a beneficial performance on the enzymatic hydrolysis yield, which could result from the synergistic removal of lignin and xylan. The Chrastil model analysis showed that pretreatment at higher conditions resulted in the pretreated BRs possessing weaker diffusion resistance for cellulase, which is attributed to its higher enzymatic hydrolysis yield.

Background: The BCL2 interacting protein 3-like (BNIP3L) protein is involved in multiple myeloma (MM) development and progression. This study aims to explore the connection between BNIP3L single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and MM.Methods: SNaPshot was used to examine six SNP loci of the BNIP3L gene in enrolled subjects. The relationship between these loci and MM susceptibility and prognosis was explored. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the impact of different factors on patient survival.Results: The rs2874670 AA genotype and A allele were associated with increased MM risk (P < 0.05). The CCACAC haplotype had a higher frequency in MM, while CCGCAC had a higher frequency in normal patients (all P < 0.05). Patients with R-ISS stage I and II had higher survival rates than those with stage III (P < 0.05). Patients, who received chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation, had longer survival time than those who only received chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Low levels of LDH and β2-MG were associated with better survival rates (P < 0.05). Cox regression identified that LDH levels, β2-MG levels, and R-ISS staging were the risk factors for the death of MM. Mann-Whitney U test found a significant difference in survival time between MM patients with different BNIP3L rs2874670 genotypes after BD chemotherapy (P < 0.05).Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to find that BNIP3L rs2874670 could increase MM susceptibility in China. Different BNIP3L rs2874670 genotypes may affect the prognosis of MM patients receiving BD chemotherapy.

ABSTRACTObjectives Aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) based screening is the first step in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA). However, the guideline-recommended ARR cutoff covers a wide range, from the equivalent of 1.3 to 4.9 ng·dl−1/mIU∙l−1. We aimed to optimize the ARR cutoff for PA screening based on the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).Methods Longitudinally, we included hypertensive participants from the Framingham Offspring Study (FOS) who attended the sixth examination cycle and followed up until 2014. At baseline (1995–1998), we used circulating concentrations of aldosterone and renin to calculate ARR (unit: ng·dl−1/mIU∙l−1) among 1,433 subjects who were free of CVD. We used spline regression to calculate the ARR threshold based on the incident CVD. We used cross-sectional data from the Chongqing Primary Aldosteronism Study (CONPASS) to explore whether the ARR cutoff selected from FOS is applicable to PA screening.Results In FOS, CVD risk increased with an increasing ARR until a peak of ARR 1.0, followed by a plateau in CVD risk (hazard ratio 1.49, 95%CI 1.19–1.86). In CONPASS, when compared to essential hypertension with ARR

ObjectiveSymptomatic carotid artery disease is indicative of an elevated likelihood of experiencing a subsequent stroke, with the morphology of plaque and its specific features being closely linked to the risk of stroke occurrence. Our study based on the characteristics of carotid plaque assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), the plaque morphology evaluated by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and clinical laboratory indicators were combined, develop a combined predictive model to identify symptomatic carotid plaque.MethodsPatients diagnosed with carotid atherosclerotic stenosis who underwent whole-brain DSA and OCT examination at the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 2021 to November 2023 were evaluated. Clinical features, as well as DSA and OCT plaque characteristics, were analyzed for differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic cohorts. An analysis of logistic regression was carried out to identify factors associated with the presence of symptomatic carotid plaque. A multivariate binary logistic regression equation was established with the odds ratio (OR) serving as the risk assessment parameter. The receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized to assess the combined predictive model and independent influencing factors.ResultsA total of 52 patients were included in the study (symptomatic: 44.2%, asymptomatic: 55.8%). Symptomatic carotid stenosis was significantly linked to four main factors: low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol >3.36 mmol/L [OR, 6.400; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.067–38.402; p = 0.042], irregular plaque (OR, 6.054; 95% CI, 1.016–36.083; p = 0.048), ruptured plaque (OR, 6.077; 95% CI, 1.046–35.298; p = 0.048), and thrombus (OR, 6.773; 95% CI, 1.194–38.433; p = 0.044). The combined predictive model generated using four indicators showed good discrimination (Area Under Curve, 0.924; 95% CI, 0.815–0. 979). The p value was 3.36 mmol/L, irregular plaque, ruptured plaque, and thrombus could help in the detection of symptomatic carotid plaque. Further research conducted on additional independent cohorts is necessary to confirm the clinical significance of the predictive model for symptomatic carotid plaque.

This study examines the atmospheric water cycle dynamics in the China-Mongolia Arid Region (CMAR), a region significantly affected by aridity. By employing a combination of Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis, ERA5 reanalysis data, and the Dynamic Recycling Model (DRM), we investigate the spatial and temporal variations in the Precipitation Recycling Ratio (PRR) and Precipitable Water Conversion Rate (PWCR) over a forty-year period (1979–2021). Our findings reveal that both PRR and PWCR are generally higher but decreasing in most subregions of CMAR, suggesting a notable contribution of local moisture to precipitation. We also identify an increasing trend in PRR across the northwestern subregions and a decreasing trend in other areas. Similarly, PWCR exhibits an increasing trend in the northwestern and southern subregions, while decreasing elsewhere, implying a decline in water vapor conversion and recycling efficiency. Furthermore, our EOF analysis uncovers distinct spatial patterns, with dominant modes accounting for significant variances in PRR and PWCR, correlating with local variations in atmospheric moisture and advective changes. These results underscore the complex interplay between regional topography, atmospheric dynamics, and the hydrological cycle in CMAR. The insights from this study are vital for formulating effective water management strategies and adapting to climate change impacts in arid regions, holding broad implications for environmental science, climate studies, and sustainable resource management. Our findings reveal distinct spatial patterns and contrasting trends in precipitation recycling and water vapor conversion across the subregions of CMAR. This heterogeneity underscores the importance of conducting analyses at finer spatial scales to avoid contradictory conclusions that can arise from topographic influences when treating CMAR as a single unit. Future studies should focus on smaller subregions to accurately capture the intricacies of the water cycle in this topographically complex arid region.

In order to improve the reliability of the deployment of production schemes after artificial fracturing in tight reservoirs, it is urgent to carry out research on the description of fractures after artificial fracturing. In this study, taking the Chang 61 oil formation group in the Wangyao South area of Ordos Basin as an example, three different fracture modeling schemes are used to establish the geological model of fractured reservoirs, and the fitting ratios of the respective reservoir models are calculated by using the method of reservoir numerical simulation of the initial fitting, and the optimal fractured reservoir modeling scheme is screened in the end. The research area adopts three types of fracture prediction results based on FMI fracture interpretation data, seismic fracture prediction data, and rock mechanics artificial fracturing simulation data. On this basis, geological models of fractured reservoirs are established, respectively. The initial fitting of reservoir values of each geological model are compared, and the highest initial fitting rate of reservoir values is 88.44%, which is based on rock mechanics artificial fracturing simulation data. However, the initial fitting rate of the reservoir model was the lowest at 75.76%, which was established based on the fracture random modeling results of FMl fracture interpretation data. Under the constraints of seismic geostress prediction results and microseismic monitoring data, the simulation results of rock mechanics artificial fracturing fracture are used as the basis, on which the geological model of artificially fractured reservoirs is thus established, and this scheme can more realistically characterize the characteristics of fractured reservoirs after artificial fracturing in the study area.

The current seismic prediction methods of the shale brittleness index are all based on the pre-stack seismic inversion of elastic parameters, and the elastic parameters are transformed by Rickman and other simple linear mathematical relationship formulas. In order to address the low accuracy of the seismic prediction results for the brittleness index, this study proposes a method for predicting the brittleness index of shale reservoirs based on an error backpropagation neural network (BP neural network). The continuous static rock elastic parameters were calculated by fitting the triaxial test data with well logging data, and the static elastic parameters with good correlation with the brittleness index of shale minerals were selected as the sample data of the BP neural network model. A dataset of 1970 data points, characterized by Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, shear modulus, and the mineral brittleness index, was constructed. A total of 367 sets of data points from well Z4 were randomly retained as model validation data, and 1603 sets of data points from the other three wells were divided into model training data and test data at a ratio of 7:3. The calculation accuracy of the model with different numbers of nodes was analyzed and the key parameters of the BP neural network structure such as the number of input layers, the number of output layers, the number of hidden layers, and the number of neurons were determined. The gradient descent method was used to determine the weight and bias of the model parameters with the smallest error, the BP neural network model was trained, and the stability of the brittleness index prediction model of the BP neural network was verified by posterior data. After obtaining Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and shear modulus through pre-stack seismic inversion, the BP neural network model established in this study was used to predict the brittleness index distribution of the target layer in the study area. Compared with the conventional Rickman method, the prediction coincidence rate is 69.16%, and the prediction coincidence rate between the prediction results and the real value is 95.79%, which is 26.63% higher. The BP neural network method proposed in this paper provides a reliable new method for seismic prediction of the shale reservoir brittleness index, which has important practical significance for clarifying the shale gas development scheme and improving shale gas exploitation efficiency.

Introduction:Nuclear undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase 1 (NUS1) gene variants are associated with a range of phenotypes, including epilepsy, intellectual disability, cerebellar ataxia, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and congenital disorders of glycosylation. Additionally, cases describing genotypes and clinical features are rare.Case Presentation:Herein, we report the case of a 23-year-old Chinese female patient who presented with tremors, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. A history of carbon monoxide exposure, brain trauma, or encephalitis was not present in this case. Trio whole-exome sequencing analysis revealed a de novo pathogenic variant of c.750del in exon 4, leading to p.Leu251* amino acid substitution. Genetic analysis failed to identify the identical mutations in the remaining family members who underwent screening. The patient was diagnosed with a rare congenital disease, “congenital glycosylation disorder, type 1aa, autosomal dominant, type 55, with seizures (MRD-55).”Conclusion:We provide further evidence for the role of variants in NUS1 in the development of tremors, epilepsy, and intellectual disabilities. These findings expand our understanding of the clinical phenotypes of NUS1 variants.

Wheat leaf rust fungus is an obligate parasitic fungus that can absorb nutrients from its host plant through haustoria and secrete effector proteins into host cells. The effector proteins are crucial factors for pathogenesis as well as targets for host disease resistance protein recognition. Exploring the role of effector proteins in the pathogenic process of Puccinia triticina Eriks. (Pt) is of great significance for unraveling its pathogenic mechanisms. We previously found that a cysteine-rich effector protein, Pt1641, is highly expressed during the interaction between wheat and Pt, but its specific role in pathogenesis remains unclear. Therefore, this study employed techniques such as heterologous expression, qRT-PCR analysis, and host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) to investigate the role of Pt1641 in the pathogenic process of Pt. The results indicate that Pt1641 is an effector protein with a secretory function and can inhibit BAX-induced programmed cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana. qRT-PCR analyses showed that expression levels of Pt1641 were different during the interaction between the high-virulence strain THTT and low-virulence strains FGD and Thatcher, respectively. The highest expression level in the low-virulence strain FGD was four times that of the high-virulence strain THTT. The overexpression of Pt1641 in wheat near-isogenic line TcLr1 induced callose deposition and H2O2 production on TcLr1. After silencing Pt1641 in the Pt low-virulence strain FGD on wheat near-isogenic line TcLr1, the pathogenic phenotype of Pt physiological race FGD on TcLr1 changed from “;” to “3”, indicating that Pt1641 plays a non-toxic function in the pathogenicity of FGD to TcLr1. This study helps to reveal the pathogenic mechanism of wheat leaf rust and provides important guidance for the mining and application of Pt avirulent genes.

Clouds are crucial in regulating the Earth’s energy budget. Global cloud top heights have been easily retrieved from satellite measurements, but there are few methods for determining cloud base height (CBH) from satellite measurements. The Cloud Base Altitude Spatial Extrapolator (CBASE) algorithm was proposed to derive the height of the lower-troposphere liquid cloud base by using the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal polarization cloud aerosol LiDAR (CALIOP) profiles and weather observations at airports from aviation routine and special weather report (METARs and SPECIs, called METAR) observation data in the United States. A modification to the CBASE algorithm over China (CNMETAR-CBASE) is presented in this paper. In this paper, the ability of the CBASE algorithm to calculate CBH in China is evaluated, and METAR observations over China (CNMETAR) were then used to modify the CBASE algorithm. The results including CNMETAR observation data in China can better retrieve CBH over China compared with the results using the original CBASE algorithm, and the accuracy of the global CBH results has been improved. Overestimations of CBH with the original algorithm range from 500 to 800 m in China, which have been reduced to about 300 m with an improved algorithm. The deviations calculated by the algorithm also have a significant reduction, from 480 m (CBASE) to 420 m (CNMETAR-CBASE). In conclusion, the modified CBASE algorithm not only calculates the CBH more accurately in China but also improves the results of the global CBH retrieved from satellites.

Chitin/polysaccharide deacetylases belong to the carbohydrate esterases family 4 (CE4 enzymes). They play a crucial role in modifying the physiochemical characteristics of structural polysaccharides and are also involved in a wide range of biological processes such as fungal autolysis, spore formation, cell wall formation and integrity, and germling adhesion. These enzymes are mostly common in fungi, marine bacteria, and a limited number of insects. They facilitate the deacetylation of chitin which is a structural biopolymer that is abundantly found in fungal cell walls and spores and also in the cuticle and peritrophic matrices of insects. The deacetylases exhibit specificity towards a substrate containing a sequence of four GlcNAc units, with one of these units being subjected to deacetylation. Chitin deacetylation results in the formation of chitosan, which is a poor substrate for host plant chitinases, therefore it can suppress the host immune response triggered by fungal pathogens and enhance pathogen virulence and colonization. This review discusses plant pathogenic fungal chitin/polysaccharide deacetylases including their structure, substrate specificity, biological roles and some recently discovered chitin deacetylase inhibitors that can help to mitigate plant fungal diseases. This review provides fundamental knowledge that will undoubtedly lead to the rational design of novel inhibitors that target pathogenic fungal chitin deacetylases, which will also aid in the management of plant diseases, thereby safeguarding global food security.

IntroductionPrevious studies have shown disrupted effective connectivity in the large-scale brain networks of individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it is unclear whether these changes differ between first-episode drug-naive MDD (FEDN-MDD) and recurrent MDD (R-MDD).MethodsThis study utilized resting-state fMRI data from 17 sites in the Chinese REST-meta-MDD project, consisting of 839 patients with MDD and 788 normal controls (NCs). All data was preprocessed using a standardized protocol. Then, we performed a granger causality analysis to calculate the effectivity connectivity (EC) within and between brain networks for each participant, and compared the differences between the groups.ResultsOur findings revealed that R-MDD exhibited increased EC in the fronto-parietal network (FPN) and decreased EC in the cerebellum network, while FEDN-MDD demonstrated increased EC from the sensorimotor network (SMN) to the FPN compared with the NCs. Importantly, the two MDD subgroups displayed significant differences in EC within the FPN and between the SMN and visual network. Moreover, the EC from the cingulo-opercular network to the SMN showed a significant negative correlation with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) score in the FEDN-MDD group.ConclusionThese findings suggest that first-episode and recurrent MDD have distinct effects on the effective connectivity in large-scale brain networks, which could be potential neural mechanisms underlying their different clinical manifestations.

To understand how the soil microbial community structure responds to vegetation restoration in alpine mining areas, this study specifically examines the grassland ecosystem in the Qianmalong mining area of the Qilian Mountains after five years of artificial restoration. High-throughput sequencing methods were employed to analyze soil bacteria and fungi microbial characteristics in diverse grassland communities. Combined with modifications in vegetation diversity as well as soil physicochemical properties, the impact of vegetation restoration on soil microbiome diversity in this alpine mining area was investigated. The findings indicated that the dominant plants were Cyperus rotundus, Carex spp., and Elymus nutans. As the extent of the grassland’s restoration increased, the number of plant species, importance values, and plant community diversity showed an increasing trend. The plant functional groups were mainly dominated by Cyperaceae, followed by Poaceae. Plant height, density, plant cover, frequency, and aboveground biomass showed an increasing trend, and soil water content (SWC) increased. While soil pH and soil electrical conductivity (EC) exhibited a declining trend, available phosphorus (AP), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil water content (SWC) showed an increasing trend. The dominant bacterial communities were Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, and Gemmatimonadota, while the dominant fungal communities were Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, unclassified_k_Fungi, and Glomeromycota. Significant differences were detected within soil microbial community composition among different degrees of restoration grasslands, with bacteria generally dominating over fungi. SWC, TP, and TN were found to be the main soil physicochemical factors affecting the distribution of soil bacterial communities’ structure; however, SOC, TN, and NO3-N were the primary factors influencing the soil distribution of fungal communities. The results of this study indicate that different degrees of vegetation restoration in alpine mining areas can significantly affect soil bacterial and fungal communities, and the degree of restoration has varying effects on the soil bacteria and fungi community structure in alpine mining areas.

Abstract Background Female reproductive tract infection (RTI) is the common source of varied diseases, especially as an important risk factor for pregnancy outcomes, therefore the rapid, accurate and simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens is in urgent need for assisting the diagnosis and treatment of RTI in pregnant women. Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Gardnerella vaginalis (G. vaginalis), Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) are five main pathogens in lower genital tract with high risk, serious consequences and clinical demands. The combination of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and microfluidic technology was used to develop the LAMP-microfluidic chip for rapid, simple, sensitive and simultaneous detection of the five target pathogens above. Results Standard strains and clinical isolates were used for the establishment of the novel LAMP method in tube and LAMP-microfluidic chip, followed by the chip detection on 103 clinical samples and PCR verification partially. The sensitivities of LAMP of S. agalactiae, E. faecalis, G. vaginalis, and C. albicans in tube were 22.0, 76.0, 13.2, 1.11 CFU/μL, respectively, and C. trachomatis was 41.3 copies/μL; on LAMP-microfluidic chip they were 260, 154, 3.9 and 7.53 CFU/μL, respectively, and C. trachomatis was 120 copies/μL. The positive coincidence rates of clinical stains in tube and on chip experiments were 100%. Compared with the classic culture method performed in hospitals, the positive coincidence rate of the 103 clinical samples detected by LAMP-microfluidic chip were 100%. For the six inconsistent ones, including four G. vaginalis and two C. albicans positive samples tested by LAMP-microfluidic chip and verified by PCR were negative by culturing method in hospitals, indicating the lack of efficient detection by the classic culturing method. Conclusion Our study suggested that the LAMP-microfluidic chips could simultaneously, efficiently, and accurately detect multiple main pathogens, including S. agalactiae, E. faecalis, G. vaginalis, C. albicans and C. trachomatis, in clinical samples of female RTI to give a great clinical value. Accordingly, this novel method has the potential to provide a valuable reference for female RTI screening and early diagnosis during pregnancy.

To clarify the risk posed to groundwater in oil shale in situ mining areas, we examine five leached pollutants: Fe, Mn, Cr, sulfate, and ammonia nitrogen. Potential groundwater contents of these five pollutants were evaluated using an improved Nemero comprehensive index method and a health risk assessment method. The results show that, compared with the Class III groundwater quality standard (GB/T 14848-2017) used in the People’s Republic of China, average values of Fe, Mn, and sulfate in leaching solution from Fuyu oil shale exceed the standard, while Cr and ammonia nitrogen do not exceed the standard, and the leaching solution is within Class V groundwater quality. The average values of Fe and Mn in the leaching solution from Fushun oil shale exceed the Class III standard, while Cr, sulfate, and ammonia nitrogen values from this oil shale do not exceed the standard, and the leaching solution is Class IV in terms of groundwater quality. The weighting value used in the Nemero assessment method for the heavy metal Cr is the largest as its potential to cause harm to groundwater quality is the largest. The weight value for sulfate is the smallest as the harm degree is the smallest. The chemical carcinogen Cr has the greatest potential impact on human health. The health risk caused by the chemical non-carcinogen Mn is greater than that caused by Fe and ammonia nitrogen. When high pyrolysis temperatures are used, Mn will be released into groundwater in large quantities. Therefore, supervision and control should be strengthened. The results presented here can provide a reference for the comprehensive evaluation of groundwater risks caused by in situ oil shale mining.

Wheat leaf rust, caused by the obligate biotrophic fungus Puccinia triticina Eriks. (Pt), is one of the most common wheat foliar diseases that continuously threatens global wheat production. Currently, the approaches used to mitigate pathogen infestation include the application of fungicides and the deployment of resistance genes or cultivars. However, the continuous deployment of selected resistant varieties causes host selection pressures that drive Pt evolution and promote the incessant emergence of new virulent races, resulting in the demise of wheat-resistant cultivars after several years of planting. Intriguingly, diploid wheat accessions were found to confer haustorium formation-based resistance to leaf rust, which involves prehaustorial and posthaustorial resistance mechanisms. The prehaustorial resistance in the interaction between einkorn and wheat leaf rust is not influenced by specific races of the pathogen. The induced defense mechanism, known as systemic acquired resistance, also confers durable resistance against a wide array of pathogens. This review summarizes the host range, pathogenic profile, and evolutionary basis of Pt; the molecular basis underlying wheat–Pt interactions; the cloning and characterization of wheat leaf rust resistance genes; prehaustorial and posthaustorial resistance; systemic acquired resistance; and the role of reactive oxygen species. The interplay between climatic factors, genetic features, planting dates, and disease dynamics in imparting resistance is also discussed.

With the continuous development of ports, ship transportation, resource extraction and artificial habitat deployment, an increasing number of artificial structures have created new usable spaces for marine organisms, and the biological communities living on their surfaces have undergone ecological succession. However, related studies have ignored ecological functions, interspecific relationships, and stability in different successional stages. Based on traditional taxonomy, this study applied functional diversity, niche overlap and niche breadth indexes to compare the attached organisms on artificial reefs (ARs) with different construction times in Bailong Pearl Bay, Fangchenggang City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The change trends of richness, habitat resource supply, resource utilization degree and efficiency, and interspecific relationships during the succession process were analysed. The results indicated that richness increased with functional diversity. While the number of species increased, the attached organisms showed different functional characteristics, and the number of species with identical traits decreased. The attached community in the later stage of development had a higher degree of utilization of ecological space, more comprehensive and efficient utilization of effective resources, a stronger degree of complementarity of organismal niches, and weaker interspecific competition. In the early stage of the developmental process, the attached community was affected by more environmental factors and had very significant correlations with those factors. The combination of the niche overlap index and the niche breadth index indicated that the resource supply supporting the survival and development of the attached organisms on the ARs with earlier construction times may be greater. The decrease in the number of biomarkers, the similarity of biomarkers belonging to the same family, and the similarity of dominance alternation all indicated that during the process of long-term development and community succession, the organisms attached to the various parts of the ARs tended to become more similar.

In this paper we present a model-predictive control (MPC) based approach for vehicle platooning in an urban traffic setting. Our primary goal is to demonstrate that vehicle platooning has the potential to significantly increase throughput at intersections, which can create bottlenecks in the traffic flow. To do so, our approach relies on vehicle connectivity: vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. In particular, we introduce a customized V2V message set which features a velocity forecast, i.e. a prediction on the future velocity trajectory, which enables platooning vehicles to accurately maintain short following distances, thereby increasing throughput. Furthermore, V2I communication allows platoons to react immediately to changes in the state of nearby traffic lights, e.g. when the traffic phase becomes green, enabling additional gains in traffic efficiency. We present our design of the vehicle platooning system, and then evaluate performance by estimating the potential gains in terms of throughput using our results from simulation, as well as experiments conducted with real test vehicles on a closed track. Lastly, we briefly overview our demonstration of vehicle platooning on public roadways in Arcadia, CA.

Artificial habitat deployment can restore natural habitats or supplement existing natural habitats. The effect of resource proliferation and protection is obvious. However, few reports have addressed the biological community association between artificial habitats and adjacent environments. Here, Illumina sequencing of 18S rDNA was performed, and the diversity, community structure, and co-occurrence networks of protists in different layers of artificial reefs (ARs) and adjacent seawater (WAR) were described to verify that constructing ARs in Bailong Pearl Bay improves local spatial heterogeneity and functional diversity. In terms of the degree of species interaction, the protist communities were ranked as follows: surface and bottom of WAR > ARs and WAR > different layers of ARs. The α-diversity of protists associated with ARs and WAR decreased with an increase in depth. Protist diversity was greater in WAR than in ARs. β-Diversity analysis revealed significant differences in protist community structure between WAR and ARs (P < 0.05), and the upper layers of ARs and the middle or bottom layers of ARs differed. The key topological features of protist networks showed more positive interspecific interactions in the AR-associated protist community, a higher degree of niche differentiation, and higher complexity and stability. The keystone protists in the bottom seawater layer displayed community functions that were biased toward initial fixation in the ocean carbon cycle. The AR-associated protist community tended to participate in carbon transfer in the food chain and decomposition and utilization of dissolved organic matter (DOM). This study revealed significant differences in protist community structure between ARs and the adjacent environment, and the ecological functions of the key phyla were found to be related. In conclusion, protist communities in WAR may provide food sources for AR-associated heterotrophic protists. A variety of key phyla associated with ARs have biological roles in the carbon pump via their ecological characteristics.

Abstract Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common degenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairment, memory decline, and language disorder for which there is no effective treatment. Neurogenesis has been indicated in AD and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Targeting this pathway is a new idea for the treatment of the disease. A recent study reveals that the cellular prion protein (PrP), a receptor for Aβ oligomers, regulates neurogenesis, and its elevated expression is related to cell differentiation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of 6D11 (PrP monoclonal antibody) via neurogenesis promotion in APP/PS1 transgenic mice and Aβ‐induced cell model of AD. Methods In the present study, 9‐month‐old male APP/PS1 mice were injected with 6D11. Then, the Morris water maze was used to examine the spatial learning and memory abilities of the mice in both groups, and immunostained was used to assess the level of Aβ, neurogenesis, and neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiation. Results 6D11 attenuated cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 transgenic mice, which was accompanied by a decrease of the deposition of Aβ. In addition, 6D11 treatment promoted differentiation of the existing hippocampal cells to neurons. Conclusions Our findings confirmed that 6D11 has a therapeutic effect in APP/PS1 transgenic AD mouse model and Aβ‐induced AD cell model, and the effect exerted via increase of neurogenesis and cell differentiation by transduction of Aβ peptide signal.

Polymer microspheres (PMs) are a kind of self-similar volume expansion particle, and their fractal dimension varies with hydration swelling. However, there is no unique fractal dimension calculation method for their characteristics. A new model is established in this paper, which is particular to calculate the fractal dimension of PMs. We carried out swelling hydration experiments and scanning electron microscope (SEM) experiments to verify the new model. The new model and the box-counting model were used to calculate the fractal dimensions of PMs based on the hydration experiment results. Then, a comparison of the calculation results of the two methods was used to verify the validity of the model. Finally, according to the new model calculation results, the fractal dimension characteristics of PMs were analyzed. The research results indicate that the new model successfully correlates the cumulative probability of the PMs dispersed system with the fractal dimension and makes fractal dimension calculation of PMs more accurate and convenient. Based on the experiment results, the new model was used to calculate the fractal dimension of PMs and the box-counting model, and its findings were all 2.638 at initial state hydration and 2.739 and 2.741 at hydration time as of day 1. This result verifies the correctness of the new model. According to the hydration swelling experiments and the new model calculation results, the fractal dimension is linear correlated to the average particle size of PMs and the standard deviation average particle size. This means the fractal dimension of PMs represents the space occupancy ability and space occupancy effectiveness.

Even traditional pretreatments can partially remove or degrade lignin and hemicellulose from lignocellulosic biomass for enhancing its enzymatic digestibility, the remaining lignin in pretreated biomass still restricts its enzymatic hydrolysis by limiting cellulose accessibility and lignin-enzyme nonproductive interaction. Therefore, many pretreatments that can modify lignin structure in a unique way and approaches to block the lignin’s adverse impact have been proposed to directly improve the enzymatic digestibility of pretreated biomass. In this review, recent development in sulfite pretreatment that can transform the native lignin into lignosulfonate and subsequently enhance saccharification of pretreated biomass under certain conditions was summarized. In addition, we also reviewed the approaches of the addition of reactive agents to block the lignin’s reactive sites and limit the cellulase-enzyme adsorption during hydrolysis. It is our hope that this summary can provide a guideline for workers engaged in biorefining for the goal of reaching high enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulose.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the main blood disorders threatening human health today. This study aimed to examine the expression of BCL-2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa-interacting protein 3-like (BNIP3L) in patients with MM and explore its mechanisms in silico. Bone marrow samples (n = 36 from patients with MM and n = 12 from healthy donors) were used to conduct BNIP3L expression analysis using immunohistochemistry. Microarray or RNA sequencing data from the Sequence Read Archive, Gene Expression Omnibus, and ArrayExpress databases were used to appraise BNIP3L expression and its prognostic role in patients with MM. The co-expressed genes of BNIP3L were identified for enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses to determine the associated signaling pathways. Immunohistochemistry indicated that BNIP3L expression in bone marrow of patients with MM was significantly lower than that in bone marrow of healthy donors. BNIP3L mRNA expression was also significantly lower in patients with MM than in healthy donors. The overall standard mean difference (SMD) for downregulation of BNIP3L was −0.62 [−1.17, −0.06], and the area under the curve was 0.81 [0.78, 0.85] based on a total of 694 MM cases. The overall survival analysis demonstrated that BNIP3L levels could act as an independent protective indicator of MM patient survival (HR = 0.79). Moreover, 261 co-expressed genes of BNIP3L were confirmed and found to be mainly involved in the adipocytokine signaling pathway. We preliminarily proved that downregulation of BNIP3L may play an important role in the occurrence and development of MM, and the promoting cancer capacity may be related to the pathway of adipocytokine signaling pathway.

In order to improve the working efficiency of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and the processing efficiency of fulfilling orders in intelligent warehouses, a novel parallel ant colony optimization algorithm for warehouse path planning is proposed. Through the interaction of pheromones among multiple subcolonies, the coevolution of multiple subcolonies is realized and the operational capability of the algorithm is improved. Then, a multiobjective function with the object of the shortest path and the minimum number of turns of the AGV is established. And the path satisfying this objective function is obtained by the proposed algorithm. In addition, the path is further smoothed by reducing the number of intermediate nodes. The results show that the stability and convergence rate of the algorithm are faster and more stable, compared to other algorithms, in generating paths for different complexity maps. The smoothing treatment of the path significantly reduces the number of turns and the path length in the AGV driving process.

OBJECTIVES: Delay in the treatment of pleural infection may contribute to its high mortality. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of pleural adenosine deaminase in discrimination between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial infections of the pleural space prior to selecting antibiotics. METHODS: A total of 76 patients were enrolled and grouped into subgroups according to Gram staining: 1) patients with Gram-negative bacterial infections, aged 53.2±18.6 years old, of whom 44.7% had empyemas and 2) patients with Gram-positive bacterial infections, aged 53.5±21.5 years old, of whom 63.1% had empyemas. The pleural effusion was sampled by thoracocentesis and then sent for adenosine deaminase testing, biochemical testing and microbiological culture. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine the differences in adenosine deaminase levels between the groups. Correlations between adenosine deaminase and specified variables were also quantified using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Moreover, receiver operator characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of pleural effusion adenosine deaminase. RESULTS: Mean pleural adenosine deaminase levels differed significantly between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial infections of the pleural space (191.8±32.1 U/L vs 81.0±16.9 U/L, p

Evapotranspiration plays an inevitable role in various fields of hydrology and agriculture. Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is mostly applied in irrigation planning and monitoring. An accurate estimation of ET0 contributes to decision and policymaking processes governing water resource management, efficiency, and productivity. Direct measurements of ET0, however, are difficult to achieve, often requiring empirical methods. The Penman–Monteith FAO56 (PM-FAO56) method, for example, is still considered to be the best way of estimating ET0 in most regions of the globe. However, it requires a large number of meteorological variables, often restricting its applicability in regions with poor or missing meteorological observations. Furthermore, the objectivity of some elements of the empirical equations often used can be highly variable from region to region. The result is a need to find an alternative, objective method that can more accurately estimate ET0 in regions of interest. This study was conducted in the Hexi corridor, Northwest China. In it we aimed to evaluate the applicability of 32 simple empirical ET0 models designed under different climatic conditions with different data inputs requirements. The models evaluated in this study are classified into three types of methods based on temperature, solar radiation, and mass transfer. The performance of 32 simple equations compared to the PM-FAO56 model is evaluated based on model evaluation techniques including root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), percentage bias (PBIAS), and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). The results show that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Mahringer (MAHR) models perform well and are ranked as the best alternative methods to estimate daily and monthly ET0 in the Hexi corridor. The WMO and MAHR performed well with monthly mean RMSE = 0.46 mm and 0.56 mm, PBIAS = 12.1% and −11.0%, and NSE = 0.93 and 0.93, before calibration, respectively. After calibration, both models showed significant improvements with approximately equal PBIAS of −2.5%, NSE = 0.99, and RMSE of 0.24 m. Calibration also significantly reduced the PBIAS of the Romanenko (ROM) method by 82.12% and increased the NSE by 16.7%.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. The pathogenesis of PD is complicated and remains obscure, but growing evidence suggests the involvement of mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction. Mitophagy, the process of removing damaged mitochondria, is compromised in PD patients and models, and was found to be associated with accelerated neurodegeneration. Several PD-related proteins are known to participate in the regulation of mitophagy, including PINK1 and Parkin. In addition, mutations in several PD-related genes are known to cause mitochondrial defects and neurotoxicity by disturbing mitophagy, indicating that mitophagy is a critical component of PD pathogenesis. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how these genes are involved in mitochondrial quality control or mitophagy regulation in the study of PD pathogenesis and the development of novel treatment strategies. In this review, we will discuss the critical roles of mitophagy in PD pathogenesis, highlighting the potential therapeutic implications of mitophagy regulation.

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) is a potent pleiotropic cytokine that is produced by activated CD4 T cells. This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between two IL-13 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP rs1800925 and SNP rs20541) and the incidence of hepatitis B virus-related (HBV) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Three hundred and ninety-eight HBV-positive individuals (192 HCC and 206 patients with chronic hepatitis) and one hundred and ninety-two healthy participants from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were enrolled in this study.The results showed no significant differences between the genotype and allele frequencies of the IL-13 gene rs1800925 and rs20541 polymorphisms and chronic hepatitis B risk after adjusting for age, sex, tobacco use, and alcohol intake using binary logistic regression analyses. Regarding the rs20541 SNP, the GA genotype was significantly related to a decreased risk of HCC after adjusting for age, sex, tobacco use, and alcohol intake using binary logistic regression analyses (The odds ratio (OR) = 0.54, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.34-0.87). The adjusted OR for the GA and AA genotypes combined was 0.68 (95% CI 0.39-0.90).This study indicates that the functional IL-13 rs20541 polymorphism may contribute to the risk of HCC and that the rs20541 polymorphism is a protective factor for HCC.

OBJECTIVE: Caspase-8 (CASP8) plays a central role in the apoptotic pathway and aberrant regulation of this pathway may cause cancers. Previous studies investigating the association between CASP8 -652 6N ins/del polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk showed inconclusive results. We performed a meta-analysis of all available studies to investigate this association. METHODS: All studies published up to October 2013 on the association between CASP8 -652 6N ins/del polymorphism and CRC risk were identified by searching electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library. The association between CASP8 -652 6N ins/del polymorphism and CRC risk was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Six studies with 6,325 cases and 6,842 controls were included in the meta-analysis. We observed that the CASP8 -652 6N ins/del polymorphism was significantly correlated with CRC risk when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (ins/del vs. ins/ins: OR = 0.890, 95%CI 0.821-0.964, P = 0.004; del/del + ins/del vs. ins/ins: OR = 0.899, 95%CI 0.833-0.970, P = 0.006). In stratified analyses by ethnicity, source of control, and quality score, significant association was observed in Asians (ins/del vs. ins/ins: OR = 0.862, 95%CI 0.761-0.977, P = 0.020; del/del + ins/del vs. ins/ins: OR = 0.845, 95%CI 0.749-0.953, P = 0.006), population-based studies (ins/del vs. ins/ins: OR = 0.890, 95%CI 0.813-0.975, P = 0.012; del/del + ins/del vs. ins/ins: OR = 0.901, 95%CI 0.827-0.982, P = 0.018), and high quality studies. However, in subgroup analysis according to cancer location, no significant association was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis suggests that the CASP8 is a candidate gene for CRC susceptibility. The CASP8 -652 6N ins/del polymorphism may play a protective role in CRC development especially among Asians. Further large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm this association.

Polymorphisms of genes encoding components of the vitamin D pathway including vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D binding protein (DBP) have been widely investigated because of the complex role played by vitamin D in cancer tumorogenesis. In this study, we investigated the association between VDR and DBP gene polymorphisms and HBV-related HCC risk in a Chinese population.Study subjects were divided into three groups: 184 HBV patients with HCC, 296 HBV patients without HCC, and 180 healthy controls. The VDR rs2228570, and rs3782905 and the DBP rs7041 polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR-RFLP and the VDR rs11568820 polymorphism was genotyped by PCR-SSP, respectively. DNA sequencing was performed to validate the genotype results.We found that there were significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of the VDR rs2228570 and DBP rs7041 polymorphisms between HBV patients with HCC and healthy controls. The rs2228570 T allele was associated with a significant increased HBV-related HCC risk as compared with the C allele. The rs2228570 TT and TT/TC genotypes were correlated with a significant increased HBV-related HCC risk when compared with the wild-type CC homozygote. Similarly, the rs7041 G allele was associated with a significant increased HBV-related HCC risk as compared with the T allele. The rs7041 GG and GG/TG genotypes were correlated with a significant increased HBV-related HCC risk when compared with the wild-type TT homozygote. However, we did not observe any significant effect of VDR rs11568820, and rs3782905 polymorphisms on HBV-related HCC risk in this population. In haplotype analysis, we also did not find any significant differences in haplotype frequencies of the VDR gene between HBV patients with HCC and the healthy controls.We conclude that the VDR rs2228570 and DBP rs7041 polymorphisms may contribute to increased susceptibility to HBV-related HCC in the Chinese population. Due to the marginal significance, further large and well-designed studies in diverse ethnic populations are needed to confirm our results.

Chitin/polysaccharide deacetylases belong to the carbohydrate esterases family 4 (CE4 enzymes). They play a crucial role in modifying the physiochemical characteristics of structural polysaccharides and are also involved in a wide range of biological processes such as fungal autolysis, spore formation, cell wall formation and integrity, and germling adhesion. These enzymes are mostly common in fungi, marine bacteria, and a limited number of insects. They facilitate the deacetylation of chitin which is a structural biopolymer that is abundantly found in fungal cell walls and spores and also in the cuticle and peritrophic matrices of insects. The deacetylases exhibit specificity towards a substrate containing a sequence of four GlcNAc units, with one of these units being subjected to deacetylation. Chitin deacetylation results in the formation of chitosan, which is a poor substrate for host plant chitinases, therefore it can suppress the host immune response triggered by fungal pathogens and enhance pathogen virulence and colonization. This review discusses plant pathogenic fungal chitin/polysaccharide deacetylases including their structure, substrate specificity, biological roles and some recently discovered chitin deacetylase inhibitors that can help to mitigate plant fungal diseases. This review provides fundamental knowledge that will undoubtedly lead to the rational design of novel inhibitors that target pathogenic fungal chitin deacetylases, which will also aid in the management of plant diseases, thereby safeguarding global food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Echinococcus granulosus can manipulate its host's immune response to ensure its own survival. However, the effect of histone modifications on the regulation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and downstream interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production in response to the parasite is not fully understood. Methods We evaluated IL-1β secretion through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and assessed reactive oxygen species levels using the dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe. Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to examine the expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β in mouse peritoneal macrophages and Tohoku Hospital Pediatrics-1 cells, a human macrophage cell line. The presence of trimethylated histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) modification on NLRP3 and IL-1β promoters was studied by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results Treatment with E. granulosus cyst fluid (EgCF) considerably reduced IL-1β secretion in mouse and human macrophages, although reactive oxygen species production increased. EgCF also suppressed the expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β. Mechanistically, EgCF prompted the enrichment of repressive H3K27me3 modification on the promoters of both NLRP3 and IL-1β in macrophages. Notably, the presence of EgCF led to a significant reduction in the expression of the H3K27me3 demethylase KDM6B. Conclusions Our study revealed that EgCF inhibits KDM6B expression and H3K27me3 demethylation, resulting in the transcriptional inhibition of NLRP3 and IL-1β. These results provide new insights into the immune evasion mechanisms of E. granulosus. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Echinococcus granulosus cyst fluid (EgCF) weakens macrophage inflammatory responses, thereby enabling the parasite to evade the immune system. However, the role of histone modification in this process remains to be explored. Methods The levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, H3K4me3, and KDM5B were detected using quantitative real-time PCR, ELISA, and Western blotting. The enrichment of H3K4me3 and KDM5B at the promoter of inflammatory factors was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results Based on EgCF-stimulated macrophage models, we found that EgCF significantly inhibited mRNA expression and protein secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α and upregulated mRNA expression of IL-10 under the influence of TLR4. EgCF lowered the level of H3K4me3 and promoted the transcription and protein stability of histone demethylase KDM5B. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that EgCF suppressed the enrichment of H3K4me3 modification at the promoters of TNF-α and IL-6 and downregulated their expression in macrophages. Additionally, the inhibition of KDM5B activity by CPI-455 weakened the anti-inflammatory effect of EgCF. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate a novel mechanism through which EgCF promotes KDM5B expression and inhibits the enrichment of H3K4me3 at the promoters of inflammatory cytokines to suppress the inflammatory response. Graphical Abstract

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) rs1058587, rs4808793, and rs1059369 polymorphisms, serum concentrations of GDF15, and International Staging System (ISS) staging or Durie-Salmon staging system (DS) staging in multiple myeloma patients and whether its polymorphism affects the expression of serum GDF15 in Chinese population. Methods: A total of 120 patients with multiple myeloma and 119 healthy controls were included in the study. The SNaPshot technique was used to detect the GDF15 gene polymorphisms. Serum GDF15 levels were measured using an Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. Results: There was no significant difference in genotype distribution or allele frequency of three loci between multiple myeloma patients and healthy controls. However, the genotype distribution and allele frequencies of rs1059369 in ISS stage I were significantly different from those in ISS stage II (p = 0.008), and the distribution of rs1058587 genotype was different between ISS stage II and ISS stage III (p = 0.014). The overall serum concentration of GDF15 and the same genotype at the same locus (rs1058587: GC, GG; rs4808793: CC, GC; rs1059369: AA, AT, and TT) in patients with multiple myeloma was significantly higher than in the healthy control group (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results showed the genotype distribution and allele frequencies of rs1059369 and rs1058587 of GDF15 gene have some association with ISS and DS stage. But the polymorphism of GDF15 did not affect the expression of serum GDF15 in patients with multiple myeloma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To deeply analyze the thalassochemical conditions and organic matter enrichment mechanism during the Early Cambrian (541-509 Ma)and actively evaluate the potential of shale gas resources of the Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation(Fm) in the southwestern Sichuan Basin, based on the analysis of the petrology, organic geochemistry, element characteristics, pore structure and adsorption capacity of Qiongzhusi Formation, Well W-207, Weiyuan area, this study has discussed the Early Cambrian paleo-ocean environment, organic matter enrichment control factors and gas-bearing properties of shale gas in the upslope area of the Upper Yangtze Platform. Sedimentary cycle shows that multiple interactive conversioncycles of deep-water continental shelf and shallow-water continental shelf are developed during the fine-grained deposition period of Qiongzhusi Formation under the control of eustasy. In particular, the slope turbidite (fan) and gravity flow sediments indicate that shallow-water continental shelf facies are dominant, and the wells in the upslope of the Weiyuan area are not in deep-water for a long time, with the sedimentary thickness of organic-rich black shale limited. Organic geochemistry evidence indicates that the organic matter of Qiongzhusi Formation in Well W-207 is mainly Type-Ⅰ kerogen, with a high degree of thermal evolution, fewer residual hydrocarbons and a low hydrocarbon generation capacity. The redox parameters indicate that the marine environment on the upslope has a medium restrictive degree, and there is a certain degree of upwelling. The seawater has experienced the transformation process of "anoxic-oxidation-anoxic-secondary oxidation- oxidation". Therefore, the paleo-ocean productivity level in the upslope area is generally low, with an obvious downward trend from bottom to top. The pore structure and nitrogen adsorption curve show that the reservoirs of the Qiongzhusi Formation are mainly complex and irregular slit pores. The methane adsorption capacity is positively correlated with TOC but negatively correlated with temperature, indicating that the high-pressure and high-temperature conditions generally faced by the Qiongzhusi Fm are not suitable for methane adsorption. As a result, the geological conditions of shale gas for Qiongzhusi Fm in the upslope area are complex. With high exploration risk, this study suggests that the resource evaluation direction should change to the intracratonic sag (downslope area), which is characterized by deep-water continental shelf facies.

Abstract Introduction The main emphasis of the research about adjuvant imatinib for high‐risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is prolonging the treatment duration and ignores the heterogeneous that 10‐year recurrence rates ranged from about 20%–100%. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of different durations of adjuvant imatinib on outcomes in high‐risk GISTs to explore the feasibility of individual treatment. Methods We analyzed 855 high‐risk GIST patients from three centers who underwent macroscopically complete resection between December 2007 and September 2020. The patients were divided into training (n =564) and two validation cohorts (n = 238 and53) based on their source. Recurrence‐free survival (RFS) was the primary point. Cox multivariate analysis was used to develop the nomogram. C‐index, time‐dependent area under the curves, and calibration plots were used to assess the performance of the nomogram. Results Univariate analysis showed that longer adjuvant imatinib was significantly associated with better 5‐year RFS (p

Abstract. Background:. Keloids are benign fibrous growths that are caused by excessive tissue build-up. Severe keloids exert more significant effects on patients’ quality of life than do mild keloids. We aimed to identify factors associated with the progression from mild keloids to severe keloids, as distinct from those associated with the formation of keloids. Methods:. In this retrospective case-control study, 251 patients diagnosed with keloids at West China Hospital between November 2018 and April 2021 were grouped according to the severity of lesions (mild [n = 162] or severe [n = 89]). We collected their basic characteristics, living habits, incomes, comorbidities, and keloid characteristics from Electronic Medical Records in the hospital and the patients’ interviews. Conditional multivariable regression was performed to identify the independent risk factors for the progression of keloids. Results:. Eighty-nine patients (35.5%) were classified as having severe keloids. We found the distribution of severe keloids varied with sex, age, excessive scrubbing of keloids, family income, the comorbidity of rheumatism, disease duration, characteristics of the location, location in sites of high-stretch tension, the severity and frequency of pain, the severity of pruritus, and infection. Multivariable analysis revealed significant associations between severe keloids and infection (odds ratio [OR], 3.55; P = 0.005), excessive scrubbing of keloids (OR, 8.65; P = 0.001), low or middle family income (OR, 13.44; P = 0.021), comorbidity of rheumatism (OR, 18.97; P = 0.021), multiple keloids located at multiple sites (OR, 3.18; P = 0.033), and disease duration > 15 years (OR, 2.98; P = 0.046). Conclusion:. Doctors should implement more active and thorough measures to minimize the progression of mild keloids in patients who have any of the following risk factors: infection, excessive scrubbing of keloids, low or middle family income, comorbidity of rheumatism, multiple keloids located at multiple sites, and disease duration > 15 years.

Abstract Background Most previous studies compared the risk for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in biologic-treated common inflammatory diseases with the general population. Whether the increased NMSC risk is caused by the disease itself, the biologics, or both remains unknown. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to May 2021. Studies were included if they assessed the risk of NMSC for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or psoriasis patients treated with biologics compared with patients not receiving biologics. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the fixed- or random-effects model. Results The current meta-analysis included 12 studies. Compared with patients with the inflammatory disease without biologics, patients receiving biological therapy were associated with an increased risk for NMSC (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.37), especially in patients with RA (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.36) and psoriasis (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.52), but not in patients with IBD (RR 1.49, 95% CI 0.46 to 4.91). The risks for squamous cell skin cancer and basal cell skin cancer were both increased for patients receiving biologics. However, the risk of NMSC did not increase in patients treated with biologics less than 2 years. Conclusions Current evidence suggests that increased risk of NMSC was identified in RA and psoriasis treated with biologics compared with patients not receiving biologics, but not in patients with IBD. The inner cause for the increased risk of NMSC in IBD patients should be further discussed.

The growing demands for material longevity in marine environments necessitate the development of highly efficient, low-cost, and durable corrosion-protective coatings. Although magnesium alloys are widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries, severe corrosion issues still hinder their long-term service in naval architecture. In the present work, an epoxy composite coating containing sericite nanosheets is prepared on the AZ31B Mg alloy using a one-step electrophoretic deposition method to improve corrosion resistance. Due to the polyetherimide (PEI) modification, positively charged sericite nanosheets can be highly orientated in an epoxy coating under the influence of an electric field. The sericite-incorporated epoxy coating prepared in the emulsion with 4 wt.% sericite exhibits the highest corrosion resistance, with its corrosion current density being 6 orders of magnitude lower than that of the substrate. Electrochemical measurements and immersion tests showed that the highly orientated sericite nanosheets in the epoxy coating have an excellent barrier effect against corrosive media, thus significantly improving the long-term anti-corrosion performance of the epoxy coating. This work provides new insight into the design of lamellar filler/epoxy coatings with superior anticorrosion performance and shows promise in the corrosion protection of magnesium alloys.

Peaches/nectarines (Prunus persica L.) are widely cultivated worldwide. As with other species, the sugar content is the most important trait for fruit quality, especially for precocious cultivars. Most fruits need to improve their sugar content in order to be more profitable under fierce market competition. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a naturally occurring δ-amino acid, has been shown to improve leaf photosynthesis and fruit quality, especially sugar content. However, the mechanisms are not clear. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of exogenous ALA on leaf photosynthesis, assimilate transport, and sugar accumulation during fruit development. We used the field-cultivated precocious nectarine ‘Zhongyoutao 4’ and potted cultivated peach ‘Zhongai 33’ as materials, whereas in the second experiment, we used 14C radiolabeling to trace 14C fixation in leaves, transport in branches, and distribution in different organs. The results showed that ALA significantly enhanced the photosynthetic gas exchange capacity, and the effects were maintained for at least one month. The results of the 14C radiolabel experiment showed that ALA enhanced 14C fixation in leaves, promoted the transport to fruits, and reduced the allocation rate of young leaves. This suggests that ALA enlarges “source” volume and strengthens “sink” competition; therefore, assimilate translocation to fruits is promoted. It was observed that sucrose contributed the main saccharide for peach fruit quality at maturity, which might not be converted from glucose or fructose but from starch degradation. ALA improved starch accumulation in the young fruits as well as degradation during maturity. The RT-qPCR showed that the expression of most genes involved in sugar metabolism did not correlate or even negatively correlate with fruit sucrose content. However, the expressions of SWEET1/6/7/8/15/16/17 were highly correlated with the sucrose content, and exogenous ALA treatment up-regulated the gene expression at fruit maturity, suggesting they might play an important role in fruit sugar accumulation. These results provide important theoretical support for ALA application in fruit quality improvement, as well as a regulatory mechanism study on sugar accumulation in fruits.

Somatic mutations are crucial to the understanding of cancer genesis, progression, and treatment, but are still challenging to detect. Here the authors present NeuSomatic, a convolutional neural network approach for accurate somatic mutation detection across various sequencing scenarios.

Distributed optical fiber sensing that enables simultaneous vibration and temperature monitoring is demonstrated in this work, which is achieved by implementing polarization optical time-domain reflectometry (P-OTDR) and Raman optical time-domain reflectometry (ROTDR) respectively through space-division multiplexed (SDM) configuration in different cores of a multicore fiber (MCF). Optimized system setup is obtained in the proposed hybrid system, where only one laser source is used, and the generated pulse is shared by the two reflectometers. Owing to the reason that separate interrogation fiber cores are used by the two reflectometers, the proposed hybrid system allows for simultaneous measurements of spontaneous Raman and Rayleigh scattering signals, thus it no longer suffers from the incompatible pump power levels issue, which results from different pump power demands, and hinders the implementation of the hybrid system in single mode fiber due to the fiber nonlinear effects imposed restriction. In addition, in order to extend the sensing range, we also explore the employment of wavelet transform denoising technique in the improvement of signal-to-noise ratio of ROTDR measurement. Eventually, simultaneous distributed vibration and temperature sensing in 5.76 km sensing range with 3 m spatial resolution and 0.57 °C temperature uncertainty has been demonstrated. The proposed hybrid sensing system has the outstanding advantage of high reliability, since the cross-sensitivity issue is effectively mitigated, which shows great potential for pipeline monitoring in oil and gas industry.

Background Published studies investigating the association between XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk reported inconclusive results. We performed a meta-analysis to derive a precise estimation of the relationship. Methods A comprehensive literature search was done in databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library up to December 2013. The association between XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism and CRC risk was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Eight studies with 3,301 cases and 4,177 controls were included in the meta-analysis. We observed that the XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism was correlated with an increased CRC risk when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (Gln/lys vs. Lys/Lys: OR = 1.293, 95%CI 1.169-1.430, P = 0.000; Gln/Gln + Gln/lys vs. Lys/Lys: OR = 1.260, 95%CI 1.145- 1.388, P = 0.000). In stratified analyses by ethnicity, smoking, and study quality, significant increased CRC risk was found in Asians (Gln/lys vs. Lys/Lys: OR = 1.345, 95%CI 1.187- 1.523, P = 0.000; Gln/Gln + Gln/lys vs. Lys/Lys: OR = 1.317, 95%CI 1.170-1.484, P = 0.000), nonsmokers (Gln/Gln + Gln/lys vs. Lys/Lys: OR = 1.286, 95%CI 1.020-1.622, P = 0.033), and high quality studies. In subgroup analysis by source of control, significant increased CRC risk was found in both hospital-based studies and population-based studies. However, in subgroup analysis according to cancer location, no any significant association was detected. Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that the XPC is a candidate gene for CRC susceptibility. The XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism may play an important role in CRC development among Asians and nonsmokers. Further large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The base excision repair (BER) pathway removes DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation, reactive oxidative species and methylating agents. OGG1 and APE1 are two important genes in the BER pathway. Many epidemiological studies have evaluated the association between polymorphisms in the two BER genes (OGG1 Ser326Cys and APE1 Asp148Glu) and breast cancer risk. However, the results are inconsistent. Methods We searched the electronic databases including PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library for all eligible studies for the period up to February 2014. Data were extracted by two independent authors and pooled odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the association. Results A total of 17 studies including 9,040 cases and 10,042 controls were available for OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and 7 studies containing 2,979 cases and 3,111 controls were included for APE1 Asp148Glu polymorphism. With respect to OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism, we did not find a significant association with breast cancer risk when all eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis. However, in subgroup analyses by ethnicity and menopausal status, statistical significant increased breast cancer risk was found in Asian populations (Cys/Cys vs. Ser/Ser: OR = 1.157, 95%CI 1.013-1.321, P = 0.011; Cys/Cys vs. Ser/Cys + Ser/Ser: OR = 1.113, 95%CI 1.009-1.227, P = 0.014) and postmenopausal patients (Cys/Cys vs. Ser/Cys + Ser/Ser: OR = 1.162, 95%CI 1.003-1.346, P = 0.024). In subgroup analysis according to quality score, source of control, and HWE in controls, no any significant association was detected. With respect to APE1 Asp148Glu polymorphism, no significant association with breast cancer risk was demonstrated in the overall and stratified analyses. Conclusions The present meta-analysis suggests that the OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism may be a risk factor for breast cancer in Asians and postmenopausal patients. Further large and welldesigned studies are needed to confirm this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) plays a central role in catalyzing the twoelectron reduction of quinoid compounds into hydroquinones. The NQO1 Pro187Ser polymorphism was found to correlate with a lower enzymatic activity, which may result in increased incidence of carcinomas including breast cancer. Previous studies investigating the association between NQO1 Pro187Ser polymorphism and breast cancer risk showed inconsistent results. We performed a meta-analysis to summarize the possible association. Methods All studies published from January 1966 to February 2014 on the association between NQO1 Pro187Ser polymorphism and breast cancer risk were identified by searching electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Chinese Biomedical Literature database (CBM). The association between NQO1 Pro187Ser polymorphism and breast cancer risk was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Ten studies with 2,773 cases and 4,076 controls were finally included in the meta-analysis. We did not observe a significant association between NQO1 Pro187Ser polymorphism and breast cancer risk when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis. In subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant increased breast cancer risk was found in Caucasians (Ser/Pro vs. Pro/Pro: OR = 1.145, 95% CI = 1.008-1.301, P = 0.038; Ser/Ser + Ser/Pro vs. Pro/Pro: OR = 1.177, 95% CI = 1.041-1.331, P = 0.009). When stratified by source of control, significant increased breast cancer risk was found in population-based studies (Ser/Pro vs. Pro/Pro: OR = 1.180, 95% CI = 1.035-1.344, P = 0.013; Ser/Ser + Ser/Pro vs. Pro/Pro: OR = 1.191, 95% CI = 1.050-1.350, P = 0.007). However, in subgroup analyses according to menopausal status, quality score, and HWE in controls, no any significant association was detected. Conclusions Our meta-analysis provides the evidence that the NQO1 Pro187Ser polymorphism contributed to the breast cancer susceptibility among Caucasians. Further large and welldesigned studies are needed to confirm this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]