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Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as a new class of important regulators of signal transduction in tissue homeostasis and cancer development. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) occurs in a wide range of biological processes, while its role in signal transduction remains largely undeciphered. In this study, we uncovered a lipid-associated lncRNA, small nucleolar RNA host gene 9 (SNHG9) as a tumor-promoting lncRNA driving liquid droplet formation of Large Tumor Suppressor Kinase 1 (LATS1) and inhibiting the Hippo pathway. Mechanistically, SNHG9 and its associated phosphatidic acids (PA) interact with the C-terminal domain of LATS1, promoting LATS1 phase separation and inhibiting LATS1-mediated YAP phosphorylation. Loss of SNHG9 suppresses xenograft breast tumor growth. Clinically, expression of SNHG9 positively correlates with YAP activity and breast cancer progression. Taken together, our results uncover a novel regulatory role of a tumor-promoting lncRNA (i.e., SNHG9) in signal transduction and cancer development by facilitating the LLPS of a signaling kinase (i.e., LATS1).

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) commonly exhibit significant performance degradation due to ion migration through the top charge transport layer and ultimately metal electrode corrosion. Here, we demonstrate an interfacial management strategy using a boron chloride subphthalocyanine (Cl6SubPc)/fullerene electron-transport layer, which not only passivates the interfacial defects in the perovskite, but also suppresses halide diffusion as evidenced by multiple techniques, including visual element mapping by electron energy loss spectroscopy. As a result, we obtain inverted PSCs with an efficiency of 22.0% (21.3% certified), shelf life of 7000 h, T80 of 816 h under damp heat stress (compared to less than 20 h without Cl6SubPc), and initial performance retention of 98% after 2000 h at 80 °C in inert environment, 90% after 2034 h of illumination and maximum power point tracking in ambient for encapsulated devices and 95% after 1272 h outdoor testing ISOS-O-1. Our strategy and results pave a new way to move PSCs forward to their potential commercialization solidly.

How do humans excel at tracking the narrative of a particular speaker with a distracting noisy background? This feat places great demands on the collaboration between speech processing and goal-related regulatory functions. Here, we propose that separate subsystems with different cross-task dynamic activity properties and distinct functional purposes support goal-directed speech listening. We adopted a naturalistic dichotic speech listening paradigm in which listeners were instructed to attend to only one narrative from two competing inputs. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging with inter- and intra-subject correlation techniques, we discovered a dissociation in response consistency in temporal, parietal and frontal brain areas as the task demand varied. Specifically, some areas in the bilateral temporal cortex (SomMotB_Aud and TempPar) and lateral prefrontal cortex (DefaultB_PFCl and ContA_PFCl) always showed consistent activation across subjects and across scan runs, regardless of the task demand. In contrast, some areas in the parietal cortex (DefaultA_pCunPCC and ContC_pCun) responded reliably only when the task goal remained the same. These results suggested two dissociated functional neural networks that were independently validated by performing a data-driven clustering analysis of voxelwise functional connectivity patterns. A subsequent meta-analysis revealed distinct functional profiles for these two brain correlation maps. The different-task correlation map was strongly associated with language-related processes (e.g., listening, speech and sentences), whereas the same-task versus different-task correlation map was linked to self-referencing functions (e.g., default mode, theory of mind and autobiographical topics). Altogether, the three-pronged findings revealed two anatomically and functionally dissociated subsystems supporting goal-directed speech listening.

Fertilizer application is an important material basis to ensure crop growth, and special formula fertilizer for rapeseed is widely used in production as a key technology for light and simplified planting of rapeseed. The appropriate dosage of special formula fertilizer for rapeseed that clearly takes into account the dual objectives of abundant yield and high quality will provide key technical support for green and high-quality production of rape-seed. Five fertilizer dosages of 0, 450, 600, 750 and 900 kg/hm2 were set through field trials at three locations in Jiangling County, Shayang County and Honghu City, Hubei Province, in 2020-2021 to study the effects of different dedicated formula fertilizer dosages on rape yield, yield composition factors, nutrient content and quality. Application of the dedicated formula fertilizer significantly increased the number of corners per plant, the number of grains per corner and the thousand grain weight, which in turn enhanced the yield of rapeseed. Compared with the no-fertilizer treatment, the number of corms per plant, number of grains per corner and thousand grain weight increased by 277.4%, 17.9% and 9.2%, respectively, and the yield of rapeseed increased by 183%-300% when the special formula fertilizer was applied at a rate of 900 kg/hm ². The application of canola-specific formula fertilizer significantly affected the oil and protein content of rapeseed. Compared with the no-fertilizer treatment, the protein content of rapeseed was highest at the special formula fertilizer dosage of 900 kg/hm2, with a growth rate of 16.0%-34.6%; the oil content was lowest at the fertilizer dosage of 900 kg/hm2, with a decrease of 4.4%-11.6% compared to the no-fertilizer treatment. Correlation analysis showed that the increase of special fertilizer significantly increased rapeseed yield, water content, protein, erucic acid and fatty acid composition, and reduced glucosinolate content in rapeseed. Taking into account the yield, rapeseed quality and feed, a special fertilizer dosage of 750-900 kg/hm2 could achieve higher rapeseed yield and protein yield with less increase in the production of glucosinolate, erucic acid and saturated fatty acid in rapeseed and Increased oil production. Continue to pursue quality improvement on the basis of yield increase of rape. Medium and trace elements can be added appropriately in combination with different soil fertility conditions to further improve the oil content of rapeseed and the composition of fatty acids, so as to achieve the synergy between yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective-To investigate the prevalence and modifiable risk factors of degenerative valvular heart disease (DVHD) among elderly population in southern China. Methods-A stratified multistage sampling method was used to recruit subjects. The contents of the survey included the questionnaire, laboratory examination, echocardiography, and other auxiliary examinations. The possible risk factors of DVHD were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results-A total of 3 538 subjects ≥ 65 years of age were enrolled. One thousand three hundred and seven subjects (36.9%) were diagnosed with DVHD. Degenerative was the most common etiology of VHD. Prevalence of DVHD increased with advancing age. The prevalence of DVHD differed by living region (Χ2 = 45.594, P < 0.001), educational level (Χ2 = 50.557, P < 0.001), and occupation (Χ2 = 36.961, P < 0.001). Risk factors associated with DVHD included age (two-fold increased risk for each 10-year increase in age), elevated level C-reactive protein (OR = 1.346, 95% CI: 1.100-1.646), elevated level low density lipoprotein (OR = 1.243, 95% CI: 1.064-1.451), coronary artery disease (OR = 1.651, 95% CI: 1.085-2.513), smoking (OR = 1.341, 95% CI: 1.132-1.589), and hypertension (OR = 1.414, 95% CI: 1.221-1.638). Other significant risk factors included reduced or elevated level red blood cell (OR = 1.347, 95% CI: 1.031-1.761; OR = 1.599, 95% CI: 1.097-2.331; respectively), elevated level platelets (OR = 1.891, 95% CI: 1.118-3.198), elevated level uric acid (OR = 1.282, 95% CI: 1.112-1.479), and stroke (OR: 1.738, 95% CI = 1.085-2.513). Conclusions-The survey characterized the baseline conditions of DVHD cohort of elderly population in Guangzhou city. The established and emerging risk factors for DVHD may represent challenges and opportunities for therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advantages of face processing over processing items in other object categories have been found in conditions both with and without visual awareness. This study examined the possible mechanisms underlying the advantages of processing visible and invisible faces. Specifically, contributions from face-like configurations and face-specific local attributes were evaluated by comparing perceptual processes of three image types: genuine faces, face-like objects, and non-face-like objects. Illusory face perception induced from face-like objects largely depended on information from a global configuration level, with a high tolerance for variations in local features. Comparable processing advantages for real faces and face-like objects were observed in invisible conditions using interocular rivalry and crowding paradigms. However, the visible face advantage seemed to be exclusive to genuine faces. These results suggest that the face processing privilege is twofold: It is strongly triggered by global configuration without visual awareness, but with awareness, it relies on facial local attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]