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As a predominant ecosystem-providing area and distinctive landscape in arid regions, an oasis plays an important role in maintaining land stability, human production, and daily activities. Studying the dynamics of oasis and its driving factors is vital to supporting arid regions' sustainable development. As a typical mountain–desert–oasis landscape, the Turpan–Hami (Tuha) Basin, located in Xinjiang, China, includes complex interactions among different land types. For this study, we revealed the spatio-temporal patterns and transition processes of the oasis using a complex network method between 1990 and 2020 in the Tuha Basin. In the oasis transition network, the degree value, betweenness centrality, and average path length were calculated to express the transition relationship, key oasis type, and oasis structural stability, respectively. Six factors related to climate change and human actives were selected to investigate the driving forces behind oasis transitions, including the average temperature and precipitation in the growing season, the total power of agricultural machinery (TAMP), the production of raw coal (PRC), the total output value of the plantation industry (TPI), and the population (Pop). Our results show that the oasis area of the Tuha Basin, including the natural oasis and artificial oasis, all grew from 1990 to 2020, with the natural oasis expanding more than the artificial oasis. The transitions between oasis types became more frequent as the area of oasis land types increased throughout the study period. Grassland acted as the most important oasis type in the network, with the highest betweenness centrality, but its importance declined due to the increasing complexity of the oasis transition network from 1990 to 2020. The transitions between oasis types became simpler, and the oasis structural stability decreased. Through driving force analysis, the oasis changes showed a positive correlation with the temperature (p-value < 0.05, r = 0.88), and urbanization and industrialization factors prompted transitions to built-up areas and cropland from grassland and shrubland. In summary, our results suggest that to create a harmonious symbiotic relationship between the natural environment in dryland and human activities, preventing grassland degradation and excessive reclamation of land cover is an available way. Meanwhile, the protection of shrubland and water resources is also important. This study provided reference and theory support for promoting the sustainable development of oases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality of parent–child interaction in early childhood functions as a critical indicator of nurturing care and is strongly associated with short‐term and long‐term development (health, cognition, language, social emotion, well‐being, etc.). NCAST PCI Teaching Scale (PCI‐TS), a video‐based assessment regarded as a gold standard to measure PCI, has been widely used worldwide. However, its psychometric soundness among the urban Chinese population is unclear. This study assesses the PCI‐TS's reliability and validity and explores predictive factors among urban Chinese parent–child dyads. Methods: PCI‐TS was adopted to code mother–child interaction among urban Chinese dyads recruited during the children's regular health checks in local maternal and child health centres. Reliability was evaluated by internal consistency (Cronbach'α coefficient) and test–retest reliability (Pearson correlation) with an average interval of 18 days. Score distribution of each subscale and total scale were compared with NCAST Database and Canadian community sample by single sample t‐test. Criteria‐related validity was conducted by Infant‐Toddler Home Observation Measurement of the Environment (Pearson correlation). Predictive factors was performed by multiple linear regression. Results: Four hundred and twenty‐nine eligible mother–child dyads were included for data analysis among the 466 recruited samples. Four qualified local paediatricians accomplished video coding with an average agreement of 86%. The PCI‐TS has strong reliability among the Chinese population with the Cronbach'α coefficients of the Caregiver‐Infant total score, Caregiver total and Infant total scores of 0.81, 0.81 and 0.74, respectively; an acceptable test–retest reliability (r = 0.73, p < 0.01); and moderate correlation with IT‐HOME, ranging from 0.53 to 0.62. Child age, birth weight, maternal education, full‐time housewife, living with grandparent(s) and living space were predictive factors on PCI‐TS in the Chinese population. Conclusion: PCI‐TS showed good psychometric properties for measuring mother–child interactions among urban Chinese dyads, offering clinicians and researchers a practical tool to evaluate PCI objectively. Child age, maternal education and living space were beneficial factors, while full‐time mothers and living with grandparent(s) were risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation accounts for the process of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the specific mechanism of which is still to be elucidated yet. Nitric oxide (NO), a critical inflammation regulator, the role of which is the inflammation of T2DM, is rarely reported. Therefore, our study is aimed at exploring the effect of NO on the inflammation in T2DM and the corresponding mechanism. We analyzed the NO levels in plasma samples from T2DM patients and paired healthy adults by Nitric Oxide Analyzer then measured the expression of inflammatory cytokines (C-reactive protein, heptoglobin, IL-1 β , TNF- α , IL-6) in insulin-induced HepG2 cells treated with NO donor or NO scavenger, and the PPAR γ , eNOS, C-reactive protein, heptoglobin, IL-1 β , TNF- α , and IL-6 levels were detected by RT-PCR and western blot in insulin-induced HepG2 cells transfected with si-PPAR γ . The results showed that excess NO increased the inflammation marker levels in T2DM, which is activated by the PPAR γ /eNOS pathway. These findings will strengthen the understanding of NO in T2DM and provide a new target for the treatment of T2DM., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Hua Guo et al.)

Radiotherapeutic resistance is a major obstacle for the effective treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in chemoresistance and radioresistance. Here, we aimed to investigate whether miR-590-3p participates in the radioresistance of CRC. High expression of miR-590-3p and low expression of CLCA4 were found in both CRC tissues and cell lines. CLCA4 was indicated to be a target gene of miR-590-3p. CAF-derived exosomes were extracted and co-cultured with CRC cells, which were then exposed to radiation. CRC cells were transfected with plasmids and injected into nude mice to detect the in vivo effect of CAF-derived exosomes. Treatment with CAF-derived exosomes decreased the sensitivity of CRC cells to radiation. CAF-derived exosomes overexpressing miR-590-3p increased cell survival and the ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT while lowering the expressions of cleaved-PARP, cleaved-caspase 3, and γH2AX in cells. Furthermore, in vivo experimental results confirmed that CAF-derived exosomal miR-590-3p stimulated tumor growth in mice following radiotherapy. Our results demonstrate that miR-590-3p delivery via exosomes derived from CAFs enhances radioresistance in CRC through the positive regulation of the CLCA4-dependent PI3K/Akt signaling pathway., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Acting as a cage-type cellular probe, an extracellular supramolecular reticular DNA-quantum dot (QD) sheath has been developed for high-intensity fluorescence microscopy imaging and the sensitive electrochemical detection of Ramos cells. The extracellular supramolecular reticular DNA-QD sheath is constructed from layer-by-layer self-assembly of DNA-CdTe QD probes and DNA nanowire frameworks functionalized with a Ramos cell-binding aptamer. The DNA-QD sheath forms specifically and quickly on the surface of Ramos cells at physiological temperature, and the assembly of large numbers of DNA-CdTe QD probes on the surface of Ramos cells produces exceedingly high fluorescence intensity. Using the extracellular supramolecular reticular DNA-QD sheath as the cellular probe, Ramos cells can be clearly observed and easily distinguished from a mixture of multiple cancer cells by fluorescence microscopy imaging. Using the new cage-type cellular probe, a sensitive sandwich-type electrochemical strategy has also been developed to achieve accurate quantitative analysis of Ramos cells. Under the optimized conditions, Ramos cells can be detected quantitatively in a range from 10 to 1000 cells with a detection limit of 10 cells. This strategy presents a promising platform for highly sensitive and convenient evaluation of cancer cell levels., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Objective: To observe the effects of Icariin on ovariectomized osteoporotic rats., Methods: Female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and administered different dosage of Icariin and 17beta-estradiol for eight weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD), indexes of biomechanics and bone metabolism-associated biochemical markers were measured., Results: Icariin increased the BMD, maximum load and flexural rigidity in the osteoporotic rats. The activities of serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) were decreased in the Icraiin-fed ovariectomized rats., Conclusion: Icariin 225mg/kg per day could increase the BMD and improve indexes of bone biomechanics in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats. It was effective in preventing bone loss induced by ovariectomy.

Objective: To compare the effects of three different iodine interventions on the speed of normalization of enlarged thyroid gland., Methods: Schoolchildren aged 8 - 10 years were randomized divided into one of three groups: group A was given iodized salt by researchers with an iodine concentration of 25 mg/kg; group B used iodized salt purchased from the market; and group C was similar to group B with additional intake of iodized oil capsules containing 400 mg iodine at the beginning of the study. Salt iodine content was measured bimonthly for 18 months and indicators of iodine deficiency were measured at baseline and 6, 9, 12 and 18 months thereafter., Results: The prevalence of goiter measured by ultrasound, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) body surface area reference > 97(th) percentile, was 18% at baseline and declined to less than 5% by 12 month in groups A and C respectively, and to 9% after 18 months in group B. Rates of goiter were similar by palpation or by ultrasound. The median urinary iodine was 94 micro g/L at baseline and increased in all groups to > 200 micro g/L at the 6-month follow-up., Conclusions: In this sample of schoolchildren with initially low or moderate level of iodine deficiency, the group receiving salt with 25 mg/kg (group A) recovered from iodine deficient on all indicators after 18 months of study. However when the iodine content of salt was floating, as seen in group B, the sizes of thyroid did not yet achieve normal status by 18 months.