Search

Background and Aim: Endoscopic full‐thickness resection (EFTR) is a promising technique in treating gastric submucosal tumors originating from the muscularis propria (SMT‐MPs). However, it is challenging without counter‐traction. Methods: A snare was inserted through the forceps channel to grasp the part of the tumor or the mucosa connected to the tumor. The outer sheath and inner wire of snare in vitro were fixed by a pair of hemostatic forceps. The handle of snare was cut off, and the endoscope was pulled out without affecting the traction state of snare. Snare‐assisted EFTR (EFTR‐S) was then performed with counter‐traction. One hundred and four patients with gastric SMT‐MPs who received the procedure of EFTR with or without snare traction method were retrospectively analyzed using univariate and multiple regressions, and covariates were adjusted in the multiple analysis. Results: Compared with EFTR group (n = 36), EFTR‐S group (n = 68) showed a higher operative success rate (95.6% vs 72.2%, P = 0.001), a lower incidence of intraoperative hemorrhage (4.4% vs 16.7%, P = 0.038) and shorter operative time among operative successes (53.6 ± 16.6 min vs 67.7 ± 33.4 min, P < 0.001). Univariate logistic analysis showed that snare traction represented a significant factor, which could improve operative successful rate (odds ratio, 8.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.1 to 32.7; P = 0.002). Postoperative outcomes and adverse events among operative successes were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: This novel snare traction method may provide an effective counter‐traction and reduce the difficulty of EFTR for gastric SMT‐MPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As cyanobacterial blooms and herbicide pollution, which are often detected in eutrophic waters, can separately jeopardise zooplankton populations, there is an urgent and on‐going need to understand the strength and direction of their interactive effects. This is a crucial step toward realistic risk‐evaluation of agricultural pollution in eutrophic waterbodies.In this study, we evaluated how the herbicide, atrazine (ATZ), alters the effects of cyanobacterial food on the zooplankter, Daphnia magna.We found survival time of Daphnia decreased with increasing amounts of Microcystis in their diets, and the magnitude of this cyanobacterial effect was independent of ATZ. In contrast, ATZ exposure triggered faster growth and larger body size in Daphnia fed diets containing Microcystis compared to those fed the good‐food diet. Although toxic Microcystis reduced the overall reproductive output of Daphnia, the presence of ATZ, regardless of the type of food treatment, exhibited a masking effect by further significantly decreasing Daphnia's overall reproductive output, resulting in a low level of reproduction. Finally, we found an expression trade‐off at the molecular scale between growth and reproduction genes on one side, and antioxidation gene on the other, which could account in part for ATZ's influence on Microcystis toxicity to Daphnia at maturation stage.These results demonstrated that ATZ can reshape Daphnia's responses to Microcystis, predominantly with effects on growth and reproductive traits. These trait‐dependent responses were found to be closely linked to the regulation of key metabolic pathways.Collectively, our study enhances current knowledge regarding the potential interaction between fundamental trophic levels in cyanobacteria‐dominated lakes around farmlands, and is helpful to achieve more realistic environmental risk management of agricultural pollution in eutrophic waterbodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: ZmWRKY64 positively regulates Arabidopsis and maize Cd stress through modulating Cd uptake, translocation, and ROS scavenging genes expression. Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal with severe impacts on crops growth and development. The WRKY transcription factor is a significant regulator influencing plant stress response. Nevertheless, the function of the WRKY protein in maize Cd stress response remains unclear. Here, we identified a maize WRKY gene, ZmWRKY64, the expression of which was enhanced in maize roots and leaves under Cd stress. ZmWRKY64 was localized in the nucleus and displayed transcriptional activity in yeast. Heterologous expression of ZmWRKY64 in Arabidopsis diminished Cd accumulation in plants by negatively regulating the expression of AtIRT1, AtZIP1, AtHMA2, AtNRAMP3, and AtNRAMP4, which are involved in Cd uptake and transport, resulting in Cd stress tolerance. Knockdown of ZmWRKY64 in maize led to excessive Cd accumulation in leaf cells and in the cytosol of the root cells, resulting in a Cd hypersensitive phenotype. Further analysis confirmed that ZmWRKY64 positively regulated ZmABCC4, ZmHMA3, ZmNRAMP5, ZmPIN2, ZmABCG51, ZmABCB13/32, and ZmABCB10, which may influence Cd translocation and auxin transport, thus mitigating Cd toxicity in maize. Moreover, ZmWRKY64 could directly enhance the transcription of ZmSRG7, a reported key gene regulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis under abiotic stress. Our results indicate that ZmWRKY64 is important in maize Cd stress response. This work provides new insights into the WRKY transcription factor regulatory mechanism under a Cd-polluted environment and may lead to the genetic improvement of Cd tolerance in maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives/Purpose/Research Questions: This study had two specific research goals. First, it investigated the relative importance of meaning and form in bilingual morphological processing of English prefixed and suffixed words. Second, it probed how target language proficiency and morphological type moderated bilingual morphological processing. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study implemented the masked morphological priming paradigm that administered three prime types (Transparent, Opaque, and Form) from two morphological types (prefix and suffix) to three Chinese-English bilingual groups (advanced, intermediate, and lower-intermediate). The critical stimuli included the Transparent (e.g., visualize-VISUAL; disagreement-DISAGREE), the Opaque (e.g., vanity-VAN; submission-MISSION), and the Form (e.g., example-EXAM; apparent-PARENT) English words. Data and Analysis: A total of 120 Chinese-English bilinguals representing three levels of distinct English competence participated in a masked priming lexical decision experiment. Direct comparisons were made using the linear mixed-effects models on bilingual groups' priming effects from the Transparent, the Opaque, and the Form conditions of both English prefixed and suffixed words. Findings/Conclusion: The results exhibited that compared to suffixed words Chinese-English bilinguals altogether were less sensitive to the internal structure of prefixed words. The results presented that target language proficiency and morphological type moderated bilingual morphological processing, with the advanced Chinese-English bilinguals approximating previous native English speakers in processing English suffixed words. Originality: This study compared the priming effects from the Transparent, the Opaque, and the Form conditions of both English prefixed and suffixed words among three Chinese-English bilingual groups with distinct English competence. This study therefore should be the first empirical study that simultaneously evaluates the effects of target language proficiency and morphological type on bilingual morphological processing of prefixed and suffixed words. Significance/Implications: The present results indicate that target language proficiency and morphological type interact to impact bilingual morphological processing. Besides, this study provides important methodological and statistical implications for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Mental disorders are a public health concern with media as a primary source of information. This study aims to present current research on how the media reports mental disorders. Methods: This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 130 published studies on media coverage of mental disorders, focusing on the research themes and research trends of the published studies. Results: The results show that media coverage of mental disorders was generally negative and influenced by socio-demographic factors (e.g., age, gender, and cultural values). Results also show that social media was becoming crucial for mental health communication. Conclusion: Media worsen the stigma against those with mental disorders, continuing prejudice and discrimination. The field has shifted from traditional media to social media, and from general to specific mental disorder descriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is often subjected to various environmental stresses. The strictosidine synthase-like (SSL) family is thought to catalyze the key step in the monoterpene alkaloids synthesis pathway in response to environmental stresses. However, the role of ZmSSL genes in maize growth and development and its response to stresses is unknown. Herein, we undertook the systematic identification and analysis of maize SSL genes. Twenty SSL genes were identified in the maize genome. Except for chromosomes 3, 5, 6, and 10, they were unevenly distributed on the remaining 6 chromosomes. A total of 105 SSL genes from maize, sorghum, rice, Aegilops tauschii, and Arabidopsis were divided into five evolutionary groups, and ZmSSL gene structures and conserved protein motifs in the same group were similar. A collinearity analysis showed that tandem duplication plays an important role in the evolution of the SSL family in maize, and ZmSSL genes share more collinear genes in crops (maize, sorghum, rice, and Ae. tauschii) than in Arabidopsis. Cis-element analysis in the ZmSSL gene promoter region revealed that most genes contained many development and stress response elements. We evaluated the expression levels of ZmSSL genes under normal conditions and stress treatments. ZmSSL4–9 were widely expressed in different tissues and were positively or negatively regulated by heat, cold, and infection stress from Colletotrichum graminicola and Cercospora zeina. Moreover, ZmSSL4 and ZmSSL5 were localized in the chloroplast. Taken together, we provide insight into the evolutionary relationships of the ZmSSL genes, which would be useful to further identify the potential functions of ZmSSLs in maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ARR3 gene, also known as cone arrestin, belongs to the arrestin family and is expressed in cone cells, inactivating phosphorylated-opsins and preventing cone signals. Variants of ARR3 reportedly cause X-linked dominant female-limited early-onset (age < 7 years old) high myopia (< − 6D). Here, we reveal a new mutation (c.228T>A, p.Tyr76*) in ARR3 gene that can cause early-onset high myopia (eoHM) limited to female carriers. Protan/deutan color vision defects were also found in family members, affecting both genders. Using ten years of clinical follow-up data, we identified gradually worsening cone dysfunction/color vision as a key feature among affected individuals. We present a hypothesis that higher visual contrast due to the mosaic of mutated ARR3 expression in cones contributes to the development of myopia in female carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the treatment of small gastric subepithelial tumors originating from muscularis propria (SET-MPs), endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) has been an effective procedure and ligation-assisted EFTR (EFTR-L) seems a feasible and promising operation. We aimed to compare the therapeutic outcomes of EFTR-L and EFTR to evaluate effect and safety of either method in the treatment of small (≤ 1.5 cm) gastric SET-MPs. Methods: Between January 2018 to May 2022, we retrospectively enrolled a total of 119 patients with gastric SET-MPs treated by EFTR-L (79 patients) or EFTR (40 patients) at Xiangya Hospital Central South University. Clinical characteristics, operation efficacy, adverse events (AEs), and operation cost were compared between the 2 groups. Univariate and multiple logistic and linear regressions were applied to analyze the therapeutic outcomes of the procedure, and covariates were adjusted in the multiple analysis. Results: The operation time of EFTR-L group (16.34 ± 5.75 min) was significantly shorter than EFTR group (51.23 ± 21.21 min, P < 0.001), and the difference remained significant after adjusting the covariates (adjusted mean difference, 30.56; 95% confidence interval, 25.65–35.47; P < 0.001). The operation cost of EFTR-L group was lower than EFTR group (1268.52 ± 457.22 vs 1643.18 ± 295.08 $; P < 0.001). The complete resection rate of the EFTR-L group was 98.72% and of the EFTR group 100%. The incidence of abdominal pain in the EFTR-L group (5.06%) was lower than in the EFTR group (27.50%, P = 0.008). A patient in the EFTR group underwent severe pneumoperitoneum and received abdominocentesis during operation. One case of peritonitis occurred in the EFTR-L group but recovered from intensified antibiotic therapy. No delayed blood or perforation occurred. Conclusions: Compared to EFTR, EFTR-L might be a feasible procedure for small (≤ 1.5 cm) gastric SET-MPs due to the acceptable efficacy, shorter operation time, and lower cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predators can modify population and community dynamics not only through direct predation, but also through nonconsumptive effects. Predator‐induced changes in the traits of prey species are important components of these nonconsumptive effects. While these are well studied in simplified one‐predator one‐prey settings, relatively little is known about how kairomones act on prey across heterogeneous aquatic ecosystems with diverse identities of predator and prey. Kairomones are, to some extent, predator specific, and can be classified as diet dependent or diet independent. This classification depends on whether the identity of the prey plays a role in eliciting a defense response. In an effort to elucidate how prey and predator identity determines the defense responses in water fleas, we used inducible morphology and life history traits of Daphnia mitsukuri as a model to systematically explore to what extent predator and prey identity, and species composition of the prey community determined the expression of inducible defenses, and to what extent predator‐induced responses differed among genotypes. Our results showed that the defense responses of D. mitsukuri mainly relied on diet‐dependent kairomones, which were not influenced by fish species identity but were highly dependent on the phylogenetic distances between D. mitsukuri and the prey ingested by fish. This phylogenetic signal is strong, with D. mitsukuri responding only to the kairomones of fish that feed on cladocerans. We also found that the amplitude of the responses to fish kairomones increased with the amount of cladoceran in the dietary community. We observed significant differences in defensive traits among three D. mitsukuri genotypes, but the differences were minor compared with the effects of kairomones themselves. The results of our systematic analyses point to the role of prey phylogeny in eliciting inducible defenses of D. mitsukuri, thereby enriching our understanding of nonconsumptive effects in aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulation and density functional workflow for calculating the lifetime of vibrational modes of molecular adsorbates on solid surfaces due to vibration–phonon coupling are presented. The anharmonic coupling is invoked to give the correct description of the origin of temperature dependence. Using pyrrolidine (C4H9N) absorbed on the Cu(001) surface as a concrete example, we show that the anharmonic coupling can be one to two orders more significant than the harmonic interaction for the broadening of vibrational spectra, especially as temperature increases. These results challenge the common assumption that the anharmonic interaction is weak and call for attention of considering its effect in quantum relaxation and related problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rbfox1 is a multifunctional RNA binding protein that regulates various aspects of RNA metabolism important for neuronal differentiation and normal physiology. Rbfox1 has been associated with neurodevelopmental and neurological conditions as well as age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. We have shown that in mammalian retinas Rbfox1 is expressed in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and in amacrine cells (ACs). This study investigates the effect of advanced age (22-month-old mice) on visual function, retinal morphology and survival of injured retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in Rbfox1 knockout (KO) animals. A visual cliff test, which was used to evaluate visual function, showed that 22-month old Rbfox1 KO mice have profound depth perception deficiency. Retinal gross morphology in these animals appeared to be normal. Optic nerve crush (ONC) induced axonal injury resulted in approximately 50% of RGC loss in both Rbfox1 KO and age-matched control animals: the average RGC densities in uninjured control and Rbfox1 KO animals were 6274 ± 1673 cells/mm2 and 6004 ± 1531 cells/mm2, respectively, whereas 1 week after ONC, RGC numbers in the retinas of control and Rbfox1 KO mice were reduced to 2998 ± 858 cells/mm2 and 3036 ± 857 cells/mm2, respectively (Rbfox1 KO vs. Rbfox1 KO + ONC, p < 0.0001 and control vs. control + ONC, p < 0.0001). No significant difference between RGC numbers in Rbfox1 KO + ONC and age-matched control + ONC animals was observed, suggesting that Rbfox1 has no effect on the survival of injured RGCs. Interestingly, however, contrary to a commonly accepted view that the number of RGCs in old (18 month of age) compared to young animals is reduced by approximately 40%, the RGC densities in 22-month-old mice in this study were similar to those of 4-month-old counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trachealfibrosis is an important cause of tracheal stenosis without effective treatments, and new drug targets need to be developed. The role of SOX9 in the injury and repair of the trachea is unknown; this study aims to investigate the role of SOX9 in the regulation of tracheal fibrosis based on clinical samples from patients with tracheal injury and a model of tracheal fibrosis produced by tracheal brushing in rats. The results showed that the expressions of SOX9 and mesenchymal and ECM-related indicators were increased in the injury and fibrosis of the trachea in patients and rats. Serum SOX9 levels exhibited a sensitivity of 83.87% and specificity of 90% in distinguishing patients with tracheal fibrosis from healthy volunteers when the cut‑off value was 13.24 ng/ml. Knockdown SOX9 can markedly inhibit granulation tissue proliferation, reduce inflammation and ECM deposition, promote epithelial regeneration and granulation tissue apoptosis, and attenuate the tracheal fibrosis after injury. Additionally, RNA sequencing showed that the proliferation, migration, and ECM deposition of tracheal granulation tissue were related to the activation of Wnt pathway, activation of the β-catenin, and p-GSK3β after injury can be inhibited by the knockdown of SOX9. In summary, SOX9 is upregulated in tracheas fibrosis and may be a novel factor to promote tracheal fibrosis progression. Inhibiting SOX9 may be used to prevent and treat tracheal fibrosis in the future. Key message: The expression of SOX9 is upregulated the process of injury and repair of the tracheal fibrosis. Knocking down SOX9 can attenuate tracheal fibrosis after injury by inhibiting inflammation response, granulation tissue proliferation, ECM deposition, and promoting granulation tissue apoptosis. The Wnt/β-catenin-SOX9 axis is activated during tracheal injury and fibrosis, and inhibition of SOX9 can partially alleviate tracheal fibrosis. SOX9 may act as a new diagnostic and therapeutic target in patients with tracheal fibrosis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite-retrieved and model-based reanalysis precipitation products with high resolution have received increasing attention in recent decades. Their hydrological performance has been widely evaluated. However, whether they can be applied in characterizing the novel category of extreme events, such as compound moist heat-flood (CMHF) events, has not been fully investigated to date. The CMHF refers to the rapid transition from moist heat stress to devastating floods and has occurred increasingly frequently under the current warming climate. This study focuses on the applicability of the Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) and the fifth generation of European Reanalysis (ERA5-Land) in simulating CMHF events over 120 catchments in China. Firstly, the precipitation accuracy of IMERG and ERA5-Land products is appraised for each catchment, using the gridded in situ meteorological dataset (CN05.1) as a baseline. Then, the ability of IMERG and ERA5-Land datasets in simulating the fraction, magnitude, and decade change of floods and CMHFs is comprehensively evaluated by forcing the XAJ and GR4J hydrological models. The results show that: (a) the IMERG and ERA5-Land perform similarly in terms of precipitation occurrences and intensity; (b) the IMERG yields discernably better performance than the ERA5-Land in streamflow simulation, with 71.7% and 50.8% of catchments showing the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) higher than 0.5, respectively; (c) both datasets can roughly capture the frequency, magnitude, and their changes of floods and CMHFs in recent decades, with the IMERG exhibiting more satisfactory accuracy. Our results indicate that satellite remote sensing and atmospheric reanalysis precipitation can not only simulate individual hydrological extremes in most regions, but monitor compound events such as CMHF episodes, and especially, the IMERG satellite can yield better performance than the ERA5-Land reanalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GRACE satellite mission provides a new approach for monitoring, tracking, and assessing drought conditions by detecting changes in Earth’s gravitational fields and inversing signals of terrestrial water storage anomalies. Existing studies of terrestrial water storage anomalies related droughts paid rare attention to the behind atmospheric physical mechanisms, nor quantified the risk propagation patterns between terrestrial water storage deficits and hydrological or agricultural droughts. In this study, we first extract terrestrial water storage (TWS) droughts, hydrological droughts, and agricultural droughts by using multiple variables including TWS from the GRACE/GRACE-FO satellites, runoff and soil moisture from the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset. We then identify key atmospheric and oceanic oscillation indices affecting water deficits by employing machine learning technologies. We characterize the joint distributions between drought duration and severity by using the Copula function and quantify the risk propagation of hydrological and agricultural droughts to TWS droughts. The results show that: (1) From 2002 to 2021, there is a significant decrasing trend of TWS in China; the WPIO group atmospheric circulation indices (sea surface temperature index within the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean) contributes the most to TWS. Specifically, the sea surface temperature anomalies within the NINO 3.4 region as well as the Western Pacific Warm Pool area index show significantly positive correlation relationships with TWS in southern China; (2) The northwestern China, the Yangtze River basin, and the downstream of the Pearl River basin are the hotspots of TWS droughts. Besides, the hotspots of hydrological droughts locate in northwestern China and the hotspots of agricultural droughts locate in South China and eastern Tibetan Plateau; (3) The elastic coefficients of hydrological droughts propagating to TWS droughts are higher than those of agricultural droughts, indicating that the TWS droughts are more sensitive to hydrological droughts than to agricultural droughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inducible defences of prey are evolved under diverse and variable predation risks. However, during the co‐evolution of prey and multiple predators, the responses of prey to antagonistic predation risks, which may put the prey into a dilemma of responding to predators, remain unclear. Based on antagonistic predation pressure from an invertebrate (Chaoborus larvae) and a vertebrate (Rhodeus ocellatus) predator, we studied the responses of multiple traits and transcriptomes of the freshwater crustacean Ceriodaphnia cornuta under multiple predation risks. Chaoborus predation risk altered the expression of genes encoding cuticle proteins and modulated the biosynthesis of steroid hormones, cutin, suberine, and wax, leading to the development of horns and increase in size at the late developmental stage. Meanwhile, fish predation risk primarily triggered genes encoding ribosomes and those involved in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and cysteine and methionine metabolism, resulting in smaller individual size and earlier reproduction. Inducible responses of both transcriptome and individual traits revealed that predator‐dependent unique responses were dominant and the dilemma of antagonistic responses was relatively limited. However, the unique individual traits in response to invertebrate predation could be significantly impaired by vertebrate predation risk, even though the unique responses to different predators were extremely weakly correlated and could be elicited simultaneously. These results indicate that diverse predator‐dependent unique responses are favoured by Ceriodaphnia during its co‐evolution with multiple predators. Nonetheless, Ceriodaphnia is not a generalist that can fully adopt all predator‐dependent unique responses simultaneously under multiple predation risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Class $\boldsymbol{\Phi _2}$ is a suitable power amplifier (PA) topology for applications that demand low device voltage stress and simple gate driving. The push–pull with T network (PPT) version of this architecture can be advantageous over a conventional single-ended $\boldsymbol{\Phi _2}$ due to higher power capabilities through interleaving and simple closed-form design equations. The downside with this and many other switch-mode PAs is that they perform efficiently only at a single frequency with the power degrading outside the nominal point of operation. To improve upon this issue, we incorporate a phase-switched impedance modulation variable capacitor and a reactance compensation network so that the PPT $\boldsymbol{\Phi _2}$ can function across broadband. We experimentally demonstrate a 300-W PA for a 50- ${\Omega }$ load impedance using silicon devices. The PA achieves above 90% efficiency over approximately a 30% fractional bandwidth. The PA can also operate across broadband with light loads, where above 80% efficiency is maintained for up to five times higher load resistances. This switch-mode PA is one of the first to demonstrate such performance under load variation and across a wide bandwidth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of multisource sensors to drones requires high-quality images to ensure it. In simultaneous interpreting two or more multisensor images based on the same scene or target, the image obtained by the UAV sensor is limited by the imaging time and the shooting angle. The images obtained may not be aligned in the spatial position, thus affecting the fusion effect. Therefore, different sensor images must be registered before image fusion. During the shooting process of the drone imaging sensor, imaging angle, and environmental conditions, the obtained various sensor images will have rotation, translation, and other deformations in the spatial position so that they do not reach the spatial position. Therefore, it is impossible to directly perform image fusion directly. Therefore, before the multisensor image fusion, the image registration process must be completed to ensure that the two images are aligned in space. This paper analyzes the principles; based on the principles of the Powell search algorithm and improved walking algorithm, an algorithm combining Powell and improved walking algorithm is proposed. This paper also studies several traditional image neutrosophic fusions. The algorithm combines the fusion optimization algorithm proposed in this paper greatly reduces the calculation speed and improves the performance of the optimization algorithm and success rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines retinas from a rat glaucoma model for oxidized nucleosides 8OHdG and 8OHG, biomarkers for oxidative damage of DNA and RNA, respectively. Immunohistochemical data indicate a predominant localization of 8OHdG/8OHG in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The levels for these oxidized DNA/RNA products were 3.2 and 2.8 fold higher at 1 and 2 weeks after intraocular pressure elevation compared to control retinas, respectively. 8OHdG/8OHG were almost exclusively associated with mitochondrial DNA/RNA: ~ 65% of 8OHdG/8OHG were associated with RNA isolated from mitochondrial fraction and ~ 35% with DNA. Furthermore, we analyzed retinas of the rd10 mouse, a model for retinitis pigmentosa, with severe degeneration of photoreceptors to determine whether high levels of 8OHdG/8OHG staining intensity in RGCs of control animals is related to the high level of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation necessary to support light-evoked RGC activity. No significant difference in 8OHdG/8OHG staining intensity between control and rd10 mouse retinas was observed. The results of this study suggest that high levels of 8OHdG/8OHG in RGCs of wild-type animals may lead to cell damage and progressive loss of RGCs observed during normal aging, whereas ocular hypertension-induced increase in the level of oxidatively damaged mitochondrial DNA/RNA could contribute to glaucomatous neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under global warming, a novel category of extreme events has become increasingly apparent, where flood and hot extremes occur in rapid succession, causing significant damages to infrastructure and ecosystems. However, these bivariate compound flood‐hot extreme (CFH) hazards have not been comprehensively examined at the global scale, and their evolution under climate warming remains unstudied. Here, we present the first global picture of projected changes in CFH hazards by using a cascade modeling chain of CMIP6 models, satellite and reanalysis data sets, bias correction, and hydrological models. We find an increasing percentage of floods will be accompanied by hot extremes under climate change; the joint return periods of CFHs are projected to decrease globally, particularly in the tropics. These decreasing joint return periods are largely driven by changes in hot extremes and indicate a likely increase of CFH hazards, and ultimately highlight the urgent need to conduct adaptation planning for future risks. Plain Language Summary: Climate change alters the Earth's energy budget and accelerates the hydrological cycle, bringing new hazards such as temporally compounding flood and hot extremes. Rapid transitions from devastating floods to deadly heat, or vice versa, which used to be rare, are already occurring under the present climate and bring new threats to infrastructure and the public. However, these bivariate CFH hazards have been poorly understood at the global scale, and their future evolution in the context of climate change has not yet been assessed. Here, we provide the first systematic assessment of projected changes and attributions in the multivariate hazards of global flood‐hot extremes. We find that the fraction of flooding accompanied by hot extremes could rise markedly under global warming. Changes in hot extremes dominate the exacerbation of global CFH hazards, especially in tropical climate zones. Our study identifies the tropics as the new global hotspot of flood‐hot extreme events in a warming future, and reveals an increasing global risk of unexpected sequential wet‐hot extremes, highlighting the need to better prepare adaptation and mitigation solutions. Key Points: We present the first global assessment of projected changes in compound river flood‐hot extremesFuture flood‐hot extremes are mainly driven by changes in hot extremesSubstantial increases in compound flood‐hot extremes are projected in tropical regions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis induced by RAS-selective lethal small molecule 3 (RSL3) can trigger anti-tumor immune responses by reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). However, it is challenging to achieve sufficient ferroptosis in the tumor via RSL3 alone. Because of the excellent reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capacity of glucose oxidase (GOx) and Fe3+, we hypothesized that GOx and Fe3+ could increase intracellular lipid peroxidation (LPO) accumulation, and strengthen RSL3-induced ferroptosis in tumor cells. Herein we designed an in-situ gelation strategy based on sodium alginate (SA) to realize localized transport and specific retention of GOx, RSL3, and Fe3+ in tumor tissues. We loaded hydrophobic RSL3 with the tannic acid (TA)/Fe3+ complexes to form nanoparticles (RTF NPs). GOx diluted in the SA solution was blended with RTF NPs to obtain a homogeneous solution. The solution could form hydrogels in the tumor site (RTFG@SA) upon injection. The retained GOx and Fe3+ amplified the induction of ferroptosis by RSL3, augmented immunogenic cell death (ICD) and promoted antitumor immunity. The RTFG@SA hydrogel presented a significant restraint of tumor growth and metastasis in the 4T1 tumor model. This hydrogel could offer an effective means of co-delivery of hydrophilic drugs, hydrophobic drugs, and metal ions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airway fibrosis is among the pathological manifestations of benign central airway obstruction noted in the absence of effective treatments and requires new drug targets to be developed. Slit guidance ligand 2–roundabout guidance receptor 1 (Slit2–Robo1) is involved in fibrosis and organ development. However, its significance in airway fibrosis has not yet been reported. The study explored how the recombinant protein Slit2 functions in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-mediated airway fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. In this study, Slit2 expression initially increased in the tracheal granulation tissues of patients with tracheobronchial stenosis but decreased in the fibrotic tissue. In primary rat tracheal fibroblasts (RTFs), recombinant Slit2 inhibited the expression of extracellular matrices such as Timp1, α-SMA, and COL1A2, whereas recombinant TGF-β1 promoted the expression of Robo1, α-SMA, and COL1A2. Slit2 and TGF-β1 played a mutual inhibitory role in RTFs. Slit2 supplementation and Robo1 downregulation inhibited excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition induced by TGF-β1 in RTFs via the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway. Ultimately, exogenous Slit2 and Robo1 knockdown-mediated attenuation of airway fibrosis were validated in a trauma-induced rat airway obstruction model. These findings demonstrate that recombinant Slit2 alleviated pathologic tracheobronchial healing by attenuating excessive ECM deposition. Slit2–Robo1 is an attractive target for further exploring the mechanisms and treatment of benign central airway obstruction. • Slit2 was down-regulated and correlated with airway fibrosis. • Slit2-Robo1 regulated tracheal fibroblasts activation via TGF-β1/Smad3. • Inhibition of Robo1 by Slit2 or shRNA partially attenuated airway fibrosis in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lonicera ruprechtiana Regel is widely used as a greening tree in China and also displays excellent pharmacological activities. The phylogenetic relationship between L. ruprechtiana and other members of Caprifoliaceae remains unclear. In this study, the complete cp genome of L. ruprechtiana was identified using high-throughput Illumina pair-end sequencing data. The circular cp genome was 154,611 bp long and has a large single-copy region of 88,182 bp and a small single-copy region of 18,713 bp, with the two parts separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions (23,858 bp each). A total of 131 genes were annotated, including 8 ribosomal RNAs, 39 transfer RNAs, and 84 protein-coding genes (PCGs). In addition, 49 repeat sequences and 55 simple sequence repeat loci of 18 types were also detected. Codon usage analysis demonstrated that the Leu codon is preferential for the A/U ending. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis using 22 Caprifoliaceae species revealed that L. ruprechtiana was closely related to Lonicera insularis. Comparison of IR regions revealed that the cp genome of L. ruprechtiana was largely conserved with that of congeneric species. Moreover, synonymous (Ks) and non-synonymous (Ka) substitution rate analysis showed that most genes were under purifying selection pressure; ycf3, and some genes associated with subunits of NADH dehydrogenase, subunits of the cytochrome b/f complex, and subunits of the photosystem had been subjected to strong purifying selection pressure (Ka/Ks < 0.1). This study provides useful genetic information for future study of L. ruprechtiana evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding resource allocation strategies underlying inducible defense is a challenging scientific issue, because of the difficulty in measuring resource allocations of defensive traits. We examined allometric changes to evaluate resource allocation strategies on the tail spine of Daphnia within and between species and further explore the allometric changes at different developmental stages and their relationship with growth and reproduction. We found that four Daphnia species (Daphnia magna , Daphnia sinensis , Daphnia galeata and Daphnia mitsukuri) can perform significant inducible defensive responses when exposed to fish kairomone. Different from the other Daphnia species, D. mitsukuri significantly enhanced the allometric slope of its tail spine when exposed to fish kairomone. We also found that allometric changes among different D. mitsukuri clones are significant in adult individuals. Furthermore, the allometric changes show a significant negative interaction with individual growth, indicating that a trade-off may exist between the resource allocations of tail spine elongation and growth. This study highlights the species-specific allometric changes in tail spine elongation and provides an explanation for this from resource allocations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for locally advanced pancreatic head cancers. Methods: A total of 16 patients were included in the single‐institution phase I dose‐escalation study. The initial dose level was 35 Gy in five fractions, doses were then sequentially escalated to 37.5 Gy, 40 Gy, 42.5 Gy, and 45 Gy. The dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as III/IV GI (gastrointestinal) toxicity. Results: A total of 16 patients with locally advanced pancreatic head cancers were analyzed, 14 patients had received gemcitabine or S1‐based chemotherapy. Median OS and LPFS were 14.5 months and 12.5 months, respectively; The OS rates at 1 and 2 years were 68.8% and 25%, respectively. No grade 3 or 4 acute or late GI toxicities were observed. Grade 3 toxicities were observed in four patients with three hematologic toxicities and one biliary obstruction for acute toxicities, G1–2 of GI late toxicity were in 31.25% of patients. Conclusions: SBRT doses ranging from 35 to 45 Gy in five fractions could be given for patients with locally advanced pancreatic head cancers without severe GI toxicities, whereas the side effect of biliary obstruction should be paid more attention. Trial registration: Clinical trials:NCT02716207. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation of amyloid oligomers and fibrils underlies the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. One mechanism of action by which Aβ aggregates cause neuronal toxicity is through interactions with cellular membranes. Aβ aggregates have been shown to disrupt membrane integrity via pore formation, membrane thinning, or lipid extraction. At the same time, lipid membranes also affect the rate of Aβ aggregation and remodel pre-formed Aβ fibrils. Here we show that Aβ42 globulomers, a type of well-characterized and stable Aβ oligomers, convert to amyloid fibrils in the presence of DOPC liposomes. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies show that the fibrils converted from Aβ42 globulomers adopt the same structure as fibrils formed directly from monomers. Our results suggest that the interactions between Aβ oligomers and cellular membranes are dynamic. By converting Aβ oligomers to fibrils, the lipid membrane can reduce the membrane-disrupting activities caused by these oligomers. Modulation of Aβ-membrane interactions as a therapeutic strategy should take into account the dynamic nature of these interactions. [Display omitted] • Aβ oligomers are toxic species causing pathology in Alzheimer's disease. • Aβ oligomers may cause toxicity by disrupting membrane integrity. • Here we studied the effect of DOPC vesicles on the structure of Aβ42 globulomers. • TEM shows that Aβ42 globulomers convert to fibrils in the presence of DOPC vesicles. • EPR shows the same structure from oligomer-converted and monomer-formed fibrils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenotypic plasticity is common, and the induction and reversibility of plastic traits is closely related to the fitness of organisms in fluctuating environments. However, understanding the expression and reversion patterns of inducible traits in environments with fluctuating predation intensity is still a challenge.The present study focused on the inducible horns of Ceriodaphnia cornuta and its interaction with predation by Chaoborus larvae. We described the expression and reversion patterns of horns under increasing predation risks, which included response time, rate, and intensity. Additionally, we used predation trials to measure the effect of inducible horns on the survival rate and resistance to Chaoborus larvae predation by juvenile and adult C. cornuta.The results revealed that the size and expression patterns of horns at different body parts contributed to individual horn induction, which ultimately led to adaptive expression and reversion patterns under increasing predation risks. Specifically, the expression time and intensity increased linearly under increasing predation risks. Correspondingly, the reversion time also increased linearly, reversibility decreased linearly, and induction and reversion rates increased logarithmically. Corresponding with the plasticity pattern, predation trials showed that adult individuals with horns were remarkably less vulnerable to predation by Chaoborus larvae than undefended individuals. This finding provides a direct evidence of the benefit of inducible horns in C. cornuta.By combining benefits and response patterns, the present study provided a basic understanding of the ontogenetic plasticity of horns in C. cornuta. Furthermore, our study indicates that C. cornuta could be an efficient organism for understanding the induction and reversibility of inducible defensive traits and related interspecific relationships under fluctuating conditions in aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalysts play an important role in fuel cells, metal–air batteries, and water-splitting devices. The development of low-cost, high-activity, and high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts for the ORR and OER is a research hotspot. Herein, a N/S codoped functionalized graphene bifunctional catalyst was developed and successfully applied to zinc–air batteries. Graphene oxide was used as a starting material, and its carbonyl, hydroxyl, and epoxy groups have been fully utilized. Doping with nitrogen and sulfur changed the electronic properties of graphene, and charge transfer caused by doping promoted the adsorption and dissociation of oxygen, induced the production of active sites, and enhanced the intrinsic activity, thus improving the electrocatalytic performance. In 0.1 M KOH, the half-wave potential of Co–N/S/rGO is 870 mV, which is higher than that of Pt/C (829 mV). Rotating ring disk testing also shows that this system is close to a four-electron transfer reaction system, and the formation rate of H2O2 is very low (<5%). In addition, Co–N/S/rGO also showed excellent catalytic performance in the OER, with an overpotential of 320 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, which was slightly worse than that of RuO2 (290 mV). The excellent catalytic performance is attributed to the charge redistribution caused by N and S doping, and the abundant CoNx active sites. A rechargeable liquid zinc–air battery based on the Co–N/S/rGO catalyst had a high open circuit voltage (1.49 V) and galvanostatic discharge capacity (2320 min, 5 mA cm−2). Under the same conditions, the OCV of Pt/C + RuO2 is 1.43 V, and its galvanostatic discharge capacity is only 730 min at 5 mA cm−2. Moreover, the peak power density of Co–N/S/rGO (66.6 mW cm−2) is much higher than that of Pt/C + RuO2 (26.3 mW cm−2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier 1 (MPC1), one of the rate-limiting proteins involved in glycolysis metabolism, has been demonstrated as a tumor inhibitor in several cancers. This study was conducted with the aim of exploring the role and underlying mechanisms of MPC2 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we found that MPC2 expression was decreased in CRC samples. According to the analysis on our TMA data, lower expression of MPC2 is correlated with a higher incidence of distant metastasis and lymph node invasion, bigger tumor size, low survival rate of patients, and advanced T stages. Functionally, in vivo/vitro experiments showed that MPC2 knockdown induced CRC cell proliferation and growth, while MPC2 overexpression inhibited the proliferation and growth of CRC. Further study demonstrated that MPC2 knockdown resulted in aerobic glycolysis in CRC cells. Similarly, MPC2 overexpression in CRC cells also caused inhibited aerobic glycolysis. Further study found that MPC2 knockdown in CRC cell lines activated the mTOR signaling pathway, and the addition of rapamycin reversed the promoting effect of MPC2 knockdown on CRC proliferation and glycolysis. Likewise, the addition of MHY1485 also reversed the MPC2 overexpression's role in hindering aerobic glycolysis in CRC cells. Collectively, our study established that low expression of MPC2 led to CRC growth as well as aerobic glycolysis through the regulation of the mTOR pathway in CRC cells, indicating a potential biomarker and therapy target for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megahertz-frequency inductive wireless power transfer holds the promise of compact and efficient wireless power transfer. Unfortunately, due to high-frequency losses in wide-bandgap semiconductors and low-Q high-frequency coil designs, these systems are universally less efficient, on a dc–dc basis, than wireless power systems operating at conventional frequency regimes. This letter describes the design considerations for inductive wireless power transfer systems operating at 6.78 MHz. With a novel high-frequency resonant amplifier topology, a high-Q self-resonant coil structure, and a better understanding of Coss losses in wide-bandgap power semiconductors, we demonstrate 6.78- MHz wireless power transfer systems that achieve 95% dc–dc efficiency at power levels up to and beyond 1 kW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submergence stress represents a serious threat to the yield and quality of maize because it can lead to oxygen deficiency and the accumulation of toxic metabolites. However, the mechanisms by which maize resists the adverse effects of submergence stress have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we cloned a gene from maize Balem (Barley aleurone and embryo), ZmB12D , which was expressed at significant levels in seed embryos during imbibition and in leaves under submergence stress. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that the ZmB12D protein was localized in the mitochondria. The overexpression of ZmB12D in increased the tolerance of Arabidopsis to submergence stress, probably due to a reduction in the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT), enhanced electron transport by coordinating the expression of non-symbiotic hemoglobin-2 (AHb2) and Fe transport-related (AtNAS3) genes (mediating Fe and oxygen availability) and also modulated the anaerobic respiration rates through upregulated the AtPDC1 , AtADH1 , AtSUS4 genes under submergence. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and transient transactivation assays demonstrated that ZmWRKY70 bound to the ZmB12D promoter and activated ZmB12D. Collectively, out findings indicate that ZmB12D plays an important role in the tolerance of maize to submergence stress. This research provides new insights into the genetic improvement of maize with regards to submergence tolerance. • ZmB12D increased submergence tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis. • Expression of ZmB12D in Arabidopsis modulated the expression of AHb2 , AtNAS3 , AtPDC1 , AtADH1 and AtSUS4 genes. • ZmWRKY70 directly upregulating the transcription of ZmB12D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emerging environmental pollutant may have a greater impact on phenotypic plasticity than its direct toxicity, causing maladaptive responses of organisms to their current environment. To better understand such ecological risks, we proposed a delicate plasticity hypothesis: if an emerging stressor acts on the fundamental processes underlying a specific adaptive plastic response, it is more likely to pose high risks to the phenotypic plasticity. Endocrine regulation is one of the critical processes of plasticity and is becoming a target for emerging pollutants. To test this hypothesis, we measured individual traits and the expression of endocrine-related genes in Daphnia magna in response to fish predation risk under exponentially increasing concentrations of the antidepressant sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The results showed that sertraline impaired most of the defense responses of D. magna at concentrations lower than the effective concentrations of its direct toxicity. The high risks of sertraline on inducible defenses were also visually reflected in the relationships between toxicity and plasticity strength, that is, most of the defense responses exponentially decayed with an increase in sertraline toxicity. In addition, the expression of genes involved in serotonin synthesis was significantly correlated with the expression of other endocrine-related genes and with changes in morphological traits. These results revealed that environmental sertraline pollution could disturb endocrine regulation and cause high risks to inducible defenses of D. magna , providing evidence supporting the delicate plasticity hypothesis. [Display omitted] • Sertraline pollution could disturb the endocrine regulation of Daphnia magna. • Low levels of sertraline could impair most inducible responses of D. magna. • The endocrine regulation is highly correlated with the inducible individual traits. • Environmental sertraline poses high risks to antipredator responses of D. magna. • Relationships between toxicity and plasticity strength visualize pollutant risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was to evaluate CT vein image segmentation and three-dimensional imaging in the anatomical structure of gastrocolic venous trunk before operation for colon cancer.Methods: CT scanning images by Philips Brilliance CT 256CT scanner. Vein position was segmented and calculated by grey value through algorithm flow. Intensity measurement of selected image area by a calculate through noise cancellation and missing pixel filling, based on numerical morphology.Results: The direction of the right colonic vein could be clearly displayed in all 96 patients by morphological filtering technique. Among these patients, there were 78 patients with gastrocolic vein trunk, with an occurrence rate of 81.25%. According to the classification of GVT, there were 36 cases of type A (46.2%), 22 cases of type B (28.2%), 12 cases of type C (15.4%) and 6 cases of type D (7.7%).Conclusion: CT vein image segmentation and three-dimensional imaging can effectively evaluate the anatomical variation of gastrocolic vein trunk before operation, which is helpful for operators to correctly understand its anatomical structure and choose a reasonable anatomical approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As atmospheric moisture holding capacity is positively dependent on temperatures, a large intensification of precipitation extremes is projected under foreseeable climate warming. Flooding that is mainly attributed to extreme storms usually accounts for an ambitious target in weather‐related hazard mitigation over China. Previous works seldom focused on flooding evolution patterns under climate change at a national scale, and fewer flooding projections considered the estimation uncertainty sourced from limited samples. This study systematically projected changes in flood quantiles based on annual maximum series and seasonality and also evaluated the variations of sampling uncertainty for 151 catchments over mainland China under the emission scenario of representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5. In order to project future streamflow series, the bias‐corrected outputs of six global climate models (GCMs) were input into a best‐performing hydrological model, which was selected from four calibrated hydrological models based on the KGE criteria. The Pearson type‐III (P‐III) distribution and L‐moments (L‐M) method were employed to derive the flood quantiles for different return periods during historical (1961–2005) and future (2056–2100) periods, and the bootstrapping method was applied to estimate the sampling uncertainty. A regression trend method was used to track the variations of flood seasonality in the context of climate warming. Our results project earlier flood timing and larger flood quantiles for most catchments in future period than those in the historical period, despite being accompanied by substantial spatial variations. We also project that the sampling uncertainty in estimating flood quantiles is increased in a warming future. Many catchments are exposed to dramatic changes in both flood quantile and estimation uncertainty by over 50%, while only a few catchments are projected to have decreasing flood risks. These results suggest an urgent need to improve the functionality of early warning systems and increase societal resilience to warming climates over China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation of Aβ oligomers and fibrils plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. There are two major forms of Aβ in the brain: Aβ42 and Aβ40. Aβ42 is the major component of the amyloid plaques, but the overall abundance of Aβ40 is several times that of Aβ42. In vitro experiments show that Aβ42 and Aβ40 affect each other's aggregation. In mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, overexpression of Aβ40 has been shown to reduce the plaque pathology, suggesting that Aβ42 and Aβ40 also interact in vivo. Here we address the question of whether Aβ42 and Aβ40 interact with each other in the formation of oligomers using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. When the Aβ42 oligomers were formed using only spin-labeled Aβ42, the dipolar interaction between spin labels that are within 20 Å range broadened the EPR spectrum and reduced its amplitude. Oligomers formed with a mixture of spin-labeled Aβ42 and wild-type Aβ42 gave an EPR spectrum with higher amplitude due to weakened spin-spin interactions, suggesting molecular mixing of labeled and wild-type Aβ42. When spin-labeled Aβ42 and wild-type Aβ40 were mixed to form oligomers, the resulting EPR spectrum also showed reduced amplitude, suggesting that wild-type Aβ40 can also form oligomers with spin-labeled Aβ42. Therefore, our results suggest that Aβ42 and Aβ40 form mixed oligomers with direct molecular interactions. Our results point to the importance of investigating Aβ42-Aβ40 interactions in the brain for a complete understanding of Alzheimer's pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions. Image 1 • Aβ aggregation underlies the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. • Aβ has two main isoforms: Aβ42 and Aβ40. • Aβ42 is the main component in amyloid plaques, but Aβ40 is more abundant. • EPR studies show Aβ42 and Aβ40 interact with each other in oligomers. • Future studies should have a focus on Aβ composition of in vivo oligomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Class Φ2/EF2 amplifier is an attractive topology for high-voltage and high-frequency power conversion because of the high efficiency, reduced device voltage stress, simplicity of gate driving, and load-independent ZVS operation. Due to many degrees of freedom for tuning, previous studies can only solve the single-ended Φ2 circuit using numerical methods. This work focuses on improving the design and operating characteristics of a push–pull Φ2 amplifier with a T network connected between the switch nodes, or a PPT Φ2 amplifier. The PPT Φ2 amplifier has less circulating energy and achieves higher cutoff frequency ƒT than other Φ2/EF2 circuits. We, then, present a series-stacked input configuration to reduce the switch voltage stress and improve the efficiency and power density. A compact 6.78-MHz, 100-V, 300-W prototype converter is demonstrated that uses low-cost Si devices and achieves 96% peak total efficiency and maintains above 94.5% drain efficiency across a wide range of voltage and power. Together with the advances in wide-bandgap semiconductors and magnetic materials, the PPT Φ2 circuit opens more possibilities for the state-of-the-art performance of solid-state RF amplifiers in high-frequency, high-power applications, including wireless charging for electric vehicles, plasma RF drives, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To investigate the protective effect of VX‐765 on human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) in stroke and its mechanism. Materials and methods: Mouse models of ischemic stroke were established using the distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) method. The dMCAO mice were accordingly transplanted with HUMSCs, VX‐765‐treated HUMSCs, or VX‐765 + MHY185‐treated HUMSCs. The HUMSCs were inserted with green fluorescent protein (GFP) for measurement of transplantation efficiency which was determined by immunofluorescence assay. Oxygen‐glucose deprivation (OGD) was applied to mimic ischemic environment in vitro experiments, and the HUMSCs herein were transfected with AMPK inhibitor Compound C or autophagy inhibitor 3‐MA. MTT assay was used to test the toxicity of VX‐765. TUNEL staining and ELISA were applied to measure the levels of apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐10), respectively. The expressions of autophagy‐associated proteins, AMPK, and mTOR were detected by Western blotting. TTC staining was applied to reveal the infarct lesions in the brain of dMCAO mice. Results: The pro‐inflammatory cytokines, TUNEL‐positive cells, and p‐mTOR were decreased while the anti‐inflammatory cytokine, autophagy‐related proteins, and p‐AMPK were increased in HUMSCs treated with VX‐765 under OGD condition. Different expression patterns were found with the above factors after transfection of 3‐MA or Compound C. The pro‐inflammatory cytokines, TUNEL‐positive cells, and infarct sections were decreased while the anti‐inflammatory cytokine and autophagy‐related proteins were increased in dMCAO mice transplanted with VX‐765‐treated HUMSCs compared to those transplanted with HUMSCs only. The autophagy was inhibited while p‐mTOR was up‐regulated after transfection of MHY. Conclusion: VX‐765 protects HUMSCs against stroke‐induced apoptosis and inflammatory responses by activating autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless power transfer systems and plasma generators are among the increasing number of applications that use high-frequency power converters. Increasing switching frequency can reduce the energy storage requirements of the passive elements that can lead to higher power densities or even the elimination of magnetic cores. However, operating at higher frequencies requires faster switching devices in packages with low parasitics. Wide-bandgap (WBG) power devices, such as gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) devices, have high-critical fields and high-thermal conductivity that make them good candidates for efficient high-voltage and high-frequency operations. Commercially available GaN and SiC devices have ratings targeting different applications. Lateral GaN devices dominate in lower voltage (<650 V) and high-frequency applications as they have relatively small device capacitances ($C_{\text{oss}},C_{\text{iss}}$), which make them easy to drive at high frequencies. On the other hand, vertical SiC devices are often used in high-voltage and low-frequency applications since they have higher blocking voltages and larger gate charge than their GaN counterparts. As a result, SiC devices usually require high power and complicated gate drive circuitry. Recent work shows that in both GaN and SiC devices, losses in device $C_{\text{oss}}$ can exceed the conduction losses at high-switching frequencies and relatively high voltages under zero-voltage-switching conditions. Moreover, the $C_{\text{oss}}$ energy loss ($E_{\text{oss}}$) per switching cycle increases with frequency in GaN devices but remains roughly independent of frequency in SiC devices. This means that at high frequencies, SiC devices can be preferable due to their smaller $C_{\text{oss}}$ energy loss even when taking into consideration the complexity of the gate drive circuit. In this article, we present a WBG high-voltage cascode GaN/SiC power device, combining the advantages of both a GaN and an SiC device—namely, simple gate drive requirements, $E_{\text{oss}}$ loss per cycle roughly independent of frequency, and relatively high-voltage blocking capability. Comparing this cascode GaN/SiC device with an SiC mosfet and a SiC junction gate field-effect transistor of similar voltage ratings and $R_{ds,{\text{ON}}}$ , we find that the inverter using the cascode GaN/SiC device has the highest efficiency and simplest auxiliary gate drive circuitry. Finally, integrating the cascode GaN/SiC device has the potential benefits of achieving lower $C_{\text{oss}}$ losses, higher device ratings, and better heat removal capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design and implementation of a high-frequency/very high frequency (VHF) multiresonant gate drive circuit. The design procedure outlined here is greatly simplified compared with other VHF self-oscillating multiresonant gate drivers presented in previous works. The proposed circuit can reduce the long start-up time required in a self-oscillating resonant gate drive circuit and utilize the fast transient capability of VHF converters better. We demonstrate a prototype resonant gate driver, which reduces up to 60% of the gate-driving power in a 20-MHz 32-W Class-E power amplifier using a Si MOSFET. The proposed technique could also drive a high-voltage rated SiC MOSFET at 30 MHz with a slew rate of 2.5 V/ns at the gate, while an integrated hard-switching gate driver only provides a slew rate of 1.8-V/ns and is five times less efficient than the proposed resonant gate driver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the challenges of implementing resonant converters using silicon carbide (SiC) power devices at high frequency: namely, the issue of high parasitic inductance packages and the ability to drive and enhance the mosfet at these frequencies. Although power circuit designers have many alternative device technologies to choose from, such as silicon and gallium nitride materials, SiC devices have several advantageous attributes especially in high power applications. As a solution, we study the device performance and parasitics of SiC mosfets in different packaging schemes. We further offer a solution to the challenges of driving SiC devices by demonstrating a multiresonant gate driver and use this scheme to drive an SiC mosfet at 30 MHz and a SiC JFET at 13.56 MHz in a class-E inverter, achieving 85.7 $\%$ drain efficiency for the mosfet and 93.8 $\%$ for the JFET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Raffinose is thought to play an important role in plant tolerance of abiotic stress. We report here that maize HEAT SHOCK FACTOR A2 (ZmHSFA2) and HEAT SHOCK BINDING PROTEIN 2 (ZmHSBP2) physically interact with each other and antagonistically modulate expression of GALACTINOL SYNTHASE2 (ZmGOLS2) and raffinose biosynthesis in transformed maize protoplasts and Arabidopsis plants. Overexpression of ZmHSFA2 in Arabidopsis increased the expression of Arabidopsis AtGOLS1, AtGOLS2 and AtRS5 (RAFFINOSE SYNTHASE), increased the raffinose content in leaves and enhanced plant heat stress tolerance. Contrary to ZmHSFA2, overexpression of ZmHSBP2 in Arabidopsis decreased expression of AtGOLS1, AtGOLS2 and AtRS5, decreased the raffinose content in leaves and reduced plant heat stress tolerance. ZmHSFA2 and ZmHSBP2 also interact with their Arabidopsis counterparts AtHSBP and AtHSFA2 as determined using bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. Furthermore, endogenous ZmHSBP2 and Rluc, controlled by the ZmHSBP2 promoter, are transcriptionally activated by ZmHSFA2 and inhibited by ZmHSBP2 in maize protoplasts. These findings provide insights into the transcriptional regulation of raffinose biosynthetic genes, and the tolerance their product confers to plant heat stress. Significance Statement: Supraoptimal temperature is a major threat to plant productivity and survival. We found that maize HEAT SHOCK FACTOR A2 (HSFA2) and HEAT SHOCK BINDING PROTEIN 2 (HSBP2) antagonistically modulate expression of the GALACTINOL SYNTHASE gene in maize protoplast cells, and regulate both raffinose biosynthesis and plant heat stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. In addition, ZmHSBP2 is transcriptionally activated by ZmHSFA2 and inhibited by its own protein ZmHSBP2, elucidating control of protective oligosaccharide production in response to this abiotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of climate change impacts is usually done by calculating the change in drought conditions between future and historical periods by using multiple climate model simulations. However, this approach usually focuses on anthropogenic climate changes (ACCs) while ignoring the internal climate variability (ICV) caused by the chaotic nature of the climate system. Recent studies have shown that ICV plays an important role in the projected future climate change. To evaluate that role, this study quantifies the contribution of ICV to climate change impacts on regional droughts by using the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the fraction of standard deviation (FOSD) as metrics for China. The internal climate variability or noise (i.e. ICV) is estimated as the inter-member variability of two climate models' large-member ensembles; the signal (i.e. ACC) and the climate model uncertainty (or inter-model uncertainty, IMU) are estimated as the ensemble mean and inter-model variability of 29 global climate models, respectively. The drought conditions are characterized by drought frequency, duration and severity, which are quantified by using the theory of run based on the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). The results show that deteriorated drought conditions induced by ACCs are projected to occur over China. From the perspective of the SNR, the ICV impacts are less significant compared to the ACC impacts for drought metrics. Remarkable spatial variations of SNRs for future drought metrics are found, with values varying from 0.001 to exceeding 10. In terms of the FOSD, ICV contributions relative to the IMU are large, as FOSDs are >1 for around 22% grids. These results imply the significance of taking into account the impacts of ICV in drought assessment, any study ignores the influence of ICV may be biased. Unlabelled Image • This study quantifies the contribution of internal climate variability to climate change impacts on drought. • The internal climate variability is less influential compared to anthropogenic climate change on future droughts. • The internal climate variability contributes significantly to the uncertainty envelope of drought estimations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollen grains of 38 species and one variety of 17 genera in the family Solanaceae were studied using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Among them, the pollen morphology of 13 species was described for the first time. Our results suggested that the exine ornamentation of pollen grains could be divided into 11 types, made up of three types (cerebroid, granulate-perforate-punctate and rugulate-perforate) which were observed for the first time in Solanaceae, and other normal types (granulate, granulate-perforate, punctate, reticulate, rugulate, rugulate-striate, spinulose-perforate, striate). In addition, the studied species have pollen grains that differ in size, shape, equatorial view, polar view, aperture features and exine ornamentation, confirming that Solanaceae is a eurypalynous family. Furthermore, the intergeneric and intrageneric relationships of Solanaceae were explored. These results could provide a palynological basis for classification and systematic study of Solanaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • GATA6 and NLRP3 inflammasome are critically upregulated in tracheal injury. • GATA6 drives NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated epithelial pyroptosis to promote the fibrotic repair of tracheal injury. • GATA6 may be a potential biological therapeutic target for tracheal injury and associated stenosis. Tracheal injury is a challenging emergency condition that is characterized by the abnormal repair of the trachea. GATA6, a well-established transcription factor, plays a crucial role in tissue injury and epithelial regenerative repair. This study aims to evaluate the role of GATA6 in NF-κB-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis after tracheal injury. Tracheal tissues and serum samples were collected from clinical patients and a rat model of tracheal injury. Upon GATA6 knockdown or overexpression, BEAS-2B and rat tracheal epithelial (RTE) cells were treated with lipopolysaccharides and nigericin before being co-cultured with primary tracheal fibroblasts. The changes of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis and their underlying mechanisms were detected. Additionally, the role of GATA6 downregulation in tracheal injury was verified in rats. GATA6 expression and NLRP3 inflammasome activation were upregulated following tracheal injury in the epithelium of granulation tissues. GATA6 silencing inhibited NLRP3 priming, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and pyroptosis in BEAS-2B and RTE cells. Mechanistically, GATA6 was determined to have bound to the promoter region of NLRP3 and synergistically upregulated NLRP3 promoter activity with NF-κB. Furthermore, GATA6 overexpression promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition via modulating the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. Epithelial NLRP3 inflammasome activation triggered ECM production in fibroblasts, which was suppressed by GATA6 knockdown and induced by GATA6 overexpression. Finally, the downregulation of GATA6 alleviated NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis induced by tracheal injury in rats, thereby reducing tracheal stenosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. GATA6 promotes fibrotic repair in tracheal injury through NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated epithelial pyroptosis, making it a potential biological therapeutic target for tracheal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A model of solar dish system based on position adjustable receiver is proposed. • Multi-condition heat collection experiment is carried out. • Key parameters of the model are determined. • The excess heat removal factor is analyzed based on experimental results. • The value range of excess heat removal factor is 0.45–0.95. Based on the cascade utilization of solar energy at different DNI levels, the establishment of a solar dish Stirling cogeneration system is one of the effective solutions both from the current Stirling engine technology level and from the perspective of overall system efficiency optimization. In this paper, a model of solar dish concentrating and receiving based on the position adjustable receiver is proposed, which provides a theoretical basis for the application of the solar dish system in cogeneration. The accuracy and reliability of the model are verified by the multi working condition heat collection experiment, and the change rule and value range of the key parameters in the model are determined. The results show that by adjusting the value of the excess heat removal factor in the model according to a certain rule within a certain range, the calculated results of the theoretical model can be well matched with the experimental results, and the average relative error can be controlled within 10% or even 5%. However, compared with the experimental results, the theoretical model results are more volatile, especially on a shorter time scale. In addition, with the increase of heat transfer oil temperature, the excess heat removal factor shows an increasing trend, and the overall value range is 0.45–0.95. The cases below 0.5 and above 0.9 usually occur at the beginning and end of the experiment. As the experiment goes on, when the oil temperature reaches about 80–100 ℃, the value of the excess heat removal factor begins to fluctuate, which intuitively shows that the overall trend is still subject to increase with the increase of the oil temperature, but the corresponding oil temperature range starts to overlap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxic stress due to submergence is a serious threat to the growth and development of maize. WRKY transcription factors are significant regulators of plant responses to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Nevertheless, their function and regulatory mechanisms in the resistance of maize to submergence stress remain unclear. Here we report the cloning of a maize WRKY transcription factor gene, ZmWRKY70 , transcripts of which accumulate under submergence stress in maize seedlings. Subcellular localization analysis and yeast transcriptional activation assay indicated that ZmWRKY70 was localized in the nucleus and had transcriptional activation activity. Heterologous overexpression of ZmWRKY70 in Arabidopsis increased the tolerance of seeds and seedlings to submergence stress by upregulating the transcripts of several key genes involved in anaerobic respiration, such as group VII ethylene-responsive factor (ERFVII) (AtRAP2.2), alcohol dehydrogenase (AtADH1), pyruvate decarboxylase (AtPDC1/2), and sucrose synthase (AtSUS4), under submergence conditions. Moreover, the overexpression of ZmWRKY70 in maize mesophyll protoplasts enhanced the expression of ZmERFVII members (ZmERF148 , ZmERF179 , and ZmERF193), ZmADH1 , ZmPDC2/3 , and ZmSUS1. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase activity assays further confirmed that ZmWRKY70 enhanced the expression of ZmERF1 48 by binding to the W box motif located in the promoter region of ZmERF148. Together, these results indicate that ZmWRKY70 plays a significant role in tolerance of submergence stress. This work provides a theoretical basis, and suggests excellent genes, for biotechnological breeding to improve the tolerance of maize to submergence through the regulation of ZmWRKY genes. • ZmWRKY70 increased submergence tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis. • Expression of ZmWRKY70 in Arabidopsis and maize mesophyll protoplasts upregulated anaerobic respiration genes. • ZmWRKY70 directly upregulating the transcription of ZmERF148. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening disease characterized by abrupt and extensive hepatic necrosis and apoptosis, resulting in high mortality. The approved drug, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), is only effective for acetaminophen (APAP)-associated ALF at the early stage. Thus, we investigate whether fluorofenidone (AKF-PD), a novel antifibrosis pyridone agent, protects against ALF in mice and explore its underlying mechanisms. ALF mouse models were established using APAP or lipopolysaccharide/ D -galactosamine (LPS/ D -Gal). Anisomycin and SP600125 were used as JNK activator and inhibitor, respectively, and NAC served as a positive control. Mouse hepatic cell line AML12 and primary mouse hepatocytes were used for in vitro studies. AKF-PD pretreatment alleviated APAP-induced ALF with decreased necrosis, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) markers, and mitochondrial permeability transition in liver. Additionally, AKF-PD alleviated mitochondrial ROS stimulated by APAP in AML12 cells. RNA-sequencing in the liver and subsequent gene set enrichment analysis showed that AKF-PD significantly impacted MAPK and IL-17 pathway. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that AKF-PD inhibited APAP-induced phosphorylation of MKK4/JNK, while SP600125 only inhibited JNK phosphorylation. The protective effect of AKF-PD was abolished by anisomycin. Similarly, AKF-PD pretreatment abolished hepatotoxicity caused by LPS/ D -Gal, decreased ROS levels, and diminished inflammation. Furthermore, unlike NAC, AKF-PD, inhibited the phosphorylation of MKK4 and JNK upon pretreatment, and improved survival in cases of LPS/ D -Gal-induced mortality with delayed dosing. In summary, AKF-PD can protect against ALF caused by APAP or LPS/ D -Gal, in part, via regulating MKK4/JNK pathway. AKF-PD might be a novel candidate drug for ALF. [Display omitted] • Fluorofenidone (AKF-PD), a novel antifibrotic pyridone agent, mitigates acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver failure (ALF) in mice by modulating the MKK4/JNK pathway. • In ALF induced by lipopolysaccharide/ D -galactosamine (LPS/ D -Gal) in mice, AKF-PD pretreatment effectively reduces liver injury by decreasing ROS levels and inflammation. • AKF-PD inhibits phosphorylation of MKK4 and JNK upon pretreatment, enhancing survival in LPS/ D -Gal-induced mortality cases with delayed dosing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Compares the efficacy of indicators and measures of sulphuric acid degradation. • Considers impact of sulphuric acid degradation on OPC and alkali activated concrete. • Test methodology ensures consistent boundary conditions. • Results show no single universal indicator of resistance to sulphuric acid. • The same indicators cannot be applied to OPC and alkali activated concrete. Abstract Biogenic sulphuric acid corrosion can lead to significant degradation of Ordinary Portland Cement Concrete (OPCC) and cause significant damage to wastewater infrastructure. Recent studies have suggested that alkali-activated concrete (AAC) has improved durability compared to OPCC in a range of aggressive environments. In this study, the resistance of both OPCC and class F fly ash based AAC to sulphuric acid is investigated in order to develop a simple laboratory test method, capable of indicating the susceptibility of both materials to biogenic acid corrosion. Tests that provide an indication of the susceptibility of cementitious materials to corrosion (change of mass, length, compressive strength, and cross-section) are undertaken under exposure to 1% (pH = 1.0) and 3% (pH = 0.52) sulphuric acid concentration for 495 and 112 days respectively, to establish the ability to accelerate testing. Further, characterization tests are conducted to investigate the change of specimens at the microstructural level. The indicators of susceptibility to corrosion are discussed based on their potential advantages and limitations as well as application to both OPCC and Class F fly ash based AAC. The results show that although the alkali-activated matrix partially retains strength after sulphuric acid attack, the coarse aggregates in the alkali-activated concrete are more prone to attack than those in an OPC matrix. It is also shown that using a higher concentration sulphuric acid accelerates the degradation of specimens sufficiently to perform an indicator test within 90 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria have become more prevalent than other phytoplankton in freshwater assemblages during summer. In such conditions, cyanobacterial traits may reduce zooplankton fitness and the energy flow efficiency from primary producers to aquatic herbivores. Cladocerans, as the dominant zooplankton grazers in freshwater ecosystems, exhibit clonal variation in their tolerance to cyanobacteria with an increasing gradient in eutrophication history. Hitherto, research on the full modes of action (MoAs) of Daphnia clonal differences in tolerance to toxic Microcystis still remains in its infancy. We conducted fitness and transcriptome analyses on two Daphnia clones, clone TH09 and TH14. A significant decline in body growth rate was detected in the sensitive clone TH09 compared with the tolerant clone TH14 at the presence of toxic Microcystis. Furthermore, transcriptional analysis indicated that major MoAs such as glutathione metabolism, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, amino sugar/nucleotide sugar metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism were linked to the tolerance fitness in Daphnia similoides. These results provided mechanistic insights into the pathways of genetic and biological processes involved in cyanobacteria tolerance in the Daphnia clonal variation, and propose that the genetic architecture of this fitness‐related trait would be helpful to clarify how zooplankton clones adapt to harmful algal blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coking technological improvements are required to effectively upgrade/refine extra-heavy oil residues. The influence of types and blending ratios of coker-derived liquids on the coking performance of Venezuelan residue was studied in terms of product distribution and coke morphology. Blending of the coker diesel distillates (200-350 °C) with the residues was not suggested, given the negative interactions at all blending ratios (0-0.6) as concluded from coke yield analysis. Blending of the coker gas oil improved the coke quality and inhibited the coke formation. The recycle of heavy coker gas oil (430 °C+) at a blending ratio of 0.3 was most favorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mycoplasmal pneumonia is a common type of adult community‐acquired pneumonia in China, but round/spherical pneumonia caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae has rarely been reported. Here, we report an outbreak of mycoplasmal round pneumonia in a military dormitory in China. Methods: We analysed epidemiological, clinical, imaging and laboratory data from a series of adults affected by an outbreak of mycoplasmal round pneumonia in the dormitory of a military hospital (Fuzhou General Hospital) in Fuzhou, China. The dormitory included 2 separate buildings. Mycoplasma antibody was detected using a passive agglutination assay. Results: The first case in our series, a 23‐year‐old male intern, presented on July 16, 2015 with a 3‐day history of low‐grade fever, dizziness, fatigue and chest tightness. Chest computed tomography revealed spherical masses. Over the following 4 days, 11 individuals who had been in close contact with the first patient were found to have similar masses. All 12 cases were mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic, and fever was the only sign visible upon physical examination. Chest radiology revealed single, round consolidations in 3 cases and multiple round consolidations in 9 cases; consolidations ranged in size from 0.2 to 2.9 cm. Most cases had normal blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein level. Nasopharyngeal swabs from all cases tested negative for 25 pathogens, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, in a PCR‐based assay performed on August 1, 2015. All 12 patients showed a 4‐fold increase in the titre of anti‐mycoplasmal pneumonia antibody in paired sera on August 13, 2015. Patients were given the antibiotic moxifloxacin or symptomatic treatment, and 11 of the 12 cases showed complete resolution of round pneumonia lesions within 4 weeks. Conclusion: This case series illustrates the diversity of clinical manifestations as well as imaging findings for mycoplasmal pneumonia, to which clinicians should pay more attention. Mycoplasmal round pneumonia should be included in differential diagnosis of multiple pulmonary nodules in adults in order to enable accurate clinical identification of disease and successful treatment and resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]