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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a high global prevalence and affects approximately one-third of adults, owing to high-fat dietary habits and a sedentary lifestyle. The role of hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) in NAFLD progression remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic hypoxia on NAFLD progression by examining the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) activation and that of hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-derived myofibroblasts through glutaminolysis. We hypothesised that hypoxia exacerbates NAFLD by promoting HIF-2α upregulation and inhibiting phosphorylated yes-associated protein (YAP), and that increasing YAP expression enhances HSC-derived myofibroblasts. We studied patients with NAFLD living at high altitudes, as well as animal models and cultured cells. The results revealed significant increases in HSC-derived myofibroblasts and collagen accumulation caused by HIF-2α and YAP upregulation, both in patients and in a mouse model for hypoxia and NAFLD. HIF-2α and HIF-2α-dependent YAP downregulation reduced HSC activation and myofibroblast levels in persistent chronic hypoxia. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced HIF-2α upregulation promoted YAP and inhibited YAP phosphorylation, leading to glutaminase 1 (GLS1), SLC38A1, α-SMA, and Collagen-1 overexpression. Additionally, hypoxia restored mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction. Thus, chronic hypoxia-induced HIF-2α activation enhances fibrosis and NAFLD progression by restoring mitochondrial ROS production and glutaminase-1-induced glutaminolysis, which is mediated through the inhibition of YAP phosphorylation and increased YAP nuclear translocation. In summary, HIF-2α plays a pivotal role in NAFLD progression during chronic hypoxia.

Dragon’s blood (DB) has shown a protective effect on neurological diseases. Microgravity (MG) or simulated MG (SMG) can induce blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, which is a characteristic feature of neurological disorders. This study’s purpose was to evaluate the effect of DB on SMG-induced BBB dysfunction and explore its signaling pathway. Both DB and vitamin C (Vc) were administered orally for tail-suspended rats within 3 weeks. DB and Vc solutions were added to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HCMEC/D3) cells, which were then exposed to SMG for 24 h. The protective effect of DB was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin and Nissl staining, ultrastructure observation, and permeability in rats. Cell apoptosis and the distribution of tight junction (TJ) and adherens junction (AJ) proteins and filamentous actin (F-actin) were examined in HCMEC/D3. The oxidative stress and inflammation, and TJ and AJ protein expressions were determined in rat brain and HCMEC/D3. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling pathway proteins were determined. DB protected SMG-induced rat BBB disruption by improving neuronal apoptosis, repairing widened intercellular space, and decreasing BBB permeability. DB effectively relieved SMG-induced HCMEC/D3 damage by inhibiting cell apoptosis and restoring F-actin spindle distribution. High doses of DB upregulated TJ and AJ protein expressions and decreased oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine levels in rat brain and HCMEC/D3. DB enhanced the expressions of FAK signal transduction proteins and F-actin/globular actin (G-actin) ratio in rat brain and HCMEC/D3, suggesting that DB promotes actin cytoskeleton polymerization, benefits the endothelial cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix adhesion, and, in consequence, contributes to BBB integrity.

Prominent theories propose that interoception modulates our behavioral and emotional responses involving decision-making and emotion regulation. Are the regions implicated in interoception also spatially related to and possibly nested within the networks of decision making and emotion regulation? Addressing this question, we performed three meta-analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies to identify the regions that are commonly activated by the three domains using activation likelihood estimation (ALE). Additionally, we assessed the coactivation pattern of identified common regions using meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM). The results showed major overlaps of interoception with both decision making and emotion regulation in specifically the right dorsal anterior insula. The pairwise contrast analyses confirmed this finding and revealed conjunction-based activities in decision making and emotion regulation in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). MACM based on the identified insula revealed a widespread convergent coactivation pattern with the left anterior insula, dACC, and bilateral thalamus which, together, constitute the salience network. Among these co-activated regions, bilateral insula and the dACC were shared among all three domains. These results suggest that the regions mediating interoception including intero-exteroceptive integration and salience attribution are contained and thus spatially nested within the more extensive networks recruited during decision making and emotion regulation.

In China, the Lower Jingjiang Reach (LJR) of the Yangtze River could be one of the most complicated areas in terms of channel migration. The river had undergone many channel changes in the reach since the 18th century. Intensive human activities in recent decades, such as the construction of upstream dams and revetments, had directly affected the channel migration characteristics. The revetment would significantly diminish migration, whereas the reduced sediment caused by dams would increase bank erosion and bank failure risks. Satellite imageries of Landsat Multi Spectral Scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) were employed to quantify the planform migration of the reach from 1983 to 2013 and to investigate the possible effect of human activities on the LJR channel evolution. Apart from the commonly used planform morphometric parameters, the migration direction was introduced to predict the future migration trends. Results showed that the LJR was gradually changing to a straighter channel, with sinuosity reducing from 2.09 to 1.9 and river length decreasing from 125.32 km to 113.31 km in the past 30 years. Planform morphometric parameters, such as migration rate of the channel centerline and erosion and deposition areas and rates, also decreased drastically in the past 30 years. The migration rate of the channel centerline decreased from 31.05 m·year−1 in 1983–1988 to 11.62 m·year−1 in 2009–2013. The lateral erosion and deposition areas decreased from 21.32 and 25.73 km2 in 1983–1988 to 4.83 and 5.83 km2 in 2009–2013. All of these findings indicate that the LJR tended to be in a steady state from 1983 to 2013 and was totally controlled by the bank revetments. However, the undercutting was strengthened because of the restrictive effect of revetments on lateral migration in the LJR. Moreover, the channel migrated to the left bank with a visible tendency as the total migration area to the left bank was approximately two times that of the right bank during the period. Consequently, the left bank of the LJR should be the focus of more attention in future migrations, and bank revetments of the left bank should be kept reinforced and adjusted with the change of water and sediment conditions.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a high global prevalence and affects approximately one-third of adults, owing to high-fat dietary habits and a sedentary lifestyle. The role of hypoxia-inducible factor 2a (HIF-2α) in NAFLD progression remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic hypoxia on NAFLD progression by examining the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF2α) activation and that of hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-derived myofibroblasts through glutaminolysis. We hypothesised that hypoxia exacerbates NAFLD by promoting HIF-2α upregulation and inhibiting phosphorylated yes-associated protein (YAP), and that increasing YAP expression enhances HSC-derived myofibroblasts. We studied patients with NAFLD living at high altitudes, as well as animal models and cultured cells. The results revealed significant increases in HSC-derived myofibroblasts and collagen accumulation caused by HIF-2α and YAP upregulation, both in patients and in a mouse model for hypoxia and NAFLD. HIF-2α and HIF-2α-dependent YAP downregulation reduced HSC activation and myofibroblast levels in persistent chronic hypoxia. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced HIF-2α upregulation promoted YAP and inhibited YAP phosphorylation, leading to glutaminase 1 (GLS1), SLC38A1, α-SMA, and Collagen-1 overexpression. Additionally, hypoxia restored mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction. Thus, chronic hypoxiainduced HIF-2α activation enhances fibrosis and NAFLD progression by restoring mitochondrial ROS production and glutaminase-1-induced glutaminolysis, which is mediated through the inhibition of YAP phosphorylation and increased YAP nuclear translocation. In summary, HIF-2α plays a pivotal role in NAFLD progression during chronic hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to ensure the accuracy of laboratory test results, the uncertainty of the determination of indicative polychlorinated biphenyls in fish by gas chromatography was evaluated. According to the national Food Safety standard, National Food Safety Standard Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods (GB 2762-2022), the content of PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB118, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180) in the "measured" samples was determined as the total content of PCBs. Then, the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) measurement model was re-established according to the "measured" and detection standard, and then the weight of uncertainty affected by the measurement model on test results were analyzed and evaluated. After evaluation, the measurement result of PCBs in quality control fish samples was 149.1 μg/kg, and the relative extended uncertainty was Ur=2.9%, k=2. The contribution of uncertainty was measurement repeatability 70.8%, sample weight 0.025%, internal standard volume 1.8%, sum of concentration ratios of each target in sample solution 27.3%.

Tumor mutation burden (TMB) has emerged as an essential biomarker for assessing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. However, due to the inherent complexity of tumors, TMB is not always correlated with the responsiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Thus, refining the interpretation and contextualization of TMB is a requisite for enhancing clinical outcomes. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of the relationship between TMB and multi-omics data across 33 human cancer types. Our analysis revealed distinct biological changes associated with varying TMB statuses in STAD, COAD, and UCEC. While multi-omics data offer an opportunity to dissect the intricacies of tumors, extracting meaningful biological insights from such massive information remains a formidable challenge. To address this, we developed and implemented the PGLCN, a biologically informed graph neural network based on pathway interaction information. This model facilitates the stratification of patients into subgroups with distinct TMB statuses and enables the evaluation of driver biological processes through enhanced interpretability. By integrating multi-omics data for TMB prediction, our PGLCN model outperformed previous traditional machine learning methodologies, demonstrating superior TMB status prediction accuracy (STAD AUC: 0.976 ± 0.007; COAD AUC: 0.994 ± 0.007; UCEC AUC: 0.947 ± 0.023) and enhanced interpretability (BA-House: 1.0; BA-Community: 0.999; BA-Grid: 0.994; Tree-Cycles: 0.917; Tree-Grids: 0.867). Furthermore, the biological interpretability inherent to PGLCN identified the Toll-like receptor family and DNA repair pathways as potential combined biomarkers in conjunction with TMB status in gastric cancer. This finding suggests a potential synergistic targeting strategy with immunotherapy for gastric cancer, thus advancing the field of precision oncology.

Demand-side management is very critical in China’s energy systems because of its high fossil energy consumption and low system energy efficiency. A building shape factor is introduced in describing the architectural characteristics of different functional areas, which are combined with the characteristics of the energy consumed by users to investigate the features of heating load in different functional areas. A Stackelberg game-based optimal scheduling model is proposed for electro-thermal integrated energy systems, which seeks to maximize the revenue of integrated energy operator (IEO) and minimize the cost of users. Here, IEO and users are the Stackelberg game leader and followers, respectively. The leader uses real-time energy prices to guide loads to participate in demand response, while the followers make energy plans based on price feedback. Using the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) condition and the big-M method, the model is transformed into a mixed-integer quadratic programming (MIQP) problem, which is solved by using MATLAB and CPLEX software. The results demonstrate that the proposal manages to balance the interests of IEO and users. Furthermore, the heating loads of public and residential areas can be managed separately based on the differences in energy consumption and building shape characteristics, thereby improving the system operational flexibility and promoting renewable energy consumption.

Multi-party reversible data hiding over ciphered images (MRDH-CI) has high restorability since the image is split into multiple ciphered images by secret sharing. However, the MRDH-CI methods either fail to produce satisfied results, or only work well for conventional images. This paper introduces a multi-party reversible data-hiding approach over ciphered overexposed images. First, the pixels of the overexposed images are decomposed into two parts, each of which can be used for secret sharing. Then, the decomposed overexposed images are converted into multiple ciphered overexposed images by using a modified secret sharing method, in which the differences of the ciphered overexposed images are retained. The symmetry of the difference retaining makes the secret data conceal within the ciphered overexposed images such that the marked ciphered overexposed images can be created. Finally, by collecting sufficient marked ciphered overexposed images, it is possible to symmetrically reconstruct the concealed data and primitive overexposed image. Experimental results illustrate that the presented method can efficiently deal with overexposed images while maintaining a low computational overhead.

Peltoboykinia tellimoides, which is distributed in Japan and China, is the type species of Peltoboykinia. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of P. tellimoides and reconstructed the phylogeny of Saxifragaceae based on the whole cp genome sequences. The cp genome of P. tellimoides was 156,274 bp in length, comprising a pair of inverted repeat regions (25,099 bp) separated by a large single copy region (88,109 bp) and a small single copy region (17,967 bp). The genome encoded 112 unique genes consisting of 78 different protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA and four ribosomal RNA genes, with 16 duplicated genes in the inverted repeats. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that P. tellimoides together with three Chrysosplenium species formed a high support clade, which was sister to Micranthes melanocentra.

In China, the Lower Jingjiang Reach (LJR) of the Yangtze River could be one of the most complicated areas in terms of channel migration. The river had undergone many channel changes in the reach since the 18th century. Intensive human activities in recent decades, such as the construction of upstream dams and revetments, had directly affected the channel migration characteristics. The revetment would significantly diminish migration, whereas the reduced sediment caused by dams would increase bank erosion and bank failure risks. Satellite imageries of Landsat Multi Spectral Scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) were employed to quantify the planform migration of the reach from 1983 to 2013 and to investigate the possible effect of human activities on the LJR channel evolution. Apart from the commonly used planform morphometric parameters, the migration direction was introduced to predict the future migration trends. Results showed that the LJR was gradually changing to a straighter channel, with sinuosity reducing from 2.09 to 1.9 and river length decreasing from 125.32 km to 113.31 km in the past 30 years. Planform morphometric parameters, such as migration rate of the channel centerline and erosion and deposition areas and rates, also decreased drastically in the past 30 years. The migration rate of the channel centerline decreased from 31.05 m ⋅ year-1 in 1983-1988 to 11.62 m ⋅ year-1 in 2009-2013. The lateral erosion and deposition areas decreased from 21.32 and 25.73 km² in 1983-1988 to 4.83 and 5.83 km² in 2009-2013. All of these findings indicate that the LJR tended to be in a steady state from 1983 to 2013 and was totally controlled by the bank revetments. However, the undercutting was strengthened because of the restrictive effect of revetments on lateral migration in the LJR. Moreover, the channel migrated to the left bank with a visible tendency as the total migration area to the left bank was approximately two times that of the right bank during the period. Consequently, the left bank of the LJR should be the focus of more attention in future migrations, and bank revetments of the left bank should be kept reinforced and adjusted with the change of water and sediment conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The progress of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is dependent on both cancer stem cells (CSCs) and immune suppression. This study was designed to evaluate the distribution of CSCs and the characteristic immune suppression status in HNSCC primary tumors and lymph nodes. A total of 303 lymph nodes from 25 patients, as well as tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples, were evaluated by a quantitative PCR assay of the markers of CSCs and the characteristic immune suppression. Expressions of selected genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were also analyzed. In the primary tumors, we found that expressions of CSCs markers (ALDH1L1, PECAM1, PROM1) were down-regulated, while immune suppression markers FOXP3, CD47, EGFR, SOX2, and TGFB1 were up-regulated significantly when compared to that in adjacent normal tissues. In the lymph nodes, expressions of both CSCs, and immune suppression markers were upregulated significantly compared with that in primary tumors. The mRNA expression of selected CSCs and immune suppression markers exhibited the highest expression in the level II of metastasis, then declined in the level III and remained constant at a reduced value in levels IV and V of metastases. These results reveal a comprehensive understanding of the unique genetic characteristics associated with metastatic loci and potential routes of lymphatic dissemination of HNSCC, which helps to explain why the level II has a high incidence of lymph node metastasis, and why skip metastasis straight to the level IV or level V is rarely found in the clinic.

Most natural forests are mixed forests, a mixed broadleaf-conifer forest is essentially a heterogeneously mixed pixel in remote sensing images. Satellite missions rely on modeling to acquire regional or global vegetation parameter products. However, these retrieval models often assume homogeneous conditions at the pixel level, resulting in a decrease in the inversion accuracy, which is an issue for heterogeneous forests. Therefore, information on the canopy composition of a mixed forest is the basis for accurately retrieving vegetation parameters using remote sensing. Medium and high spatial resolution multispectral time-series data are important sources for canopy conifer-broadleaf ratio estimation because these data have a high frequency and wide coverage. This paper highlights a successful method for estimating the conifer-broadleaf ratio in a mixed forest with diverse tree species and complex canopy structures. Experiments were conducted in the Purple Mountain, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China, where we collected leaf area index (LAI) time-series and forest sample plot inventory data. Based on the Invertible Forest Reflectance Model (INFORM), we simulated the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time-series of different conifer-broadleaf ratios. A time-series similarity analysis was performed to determine the typical separable conifer-broadleaf ratios. Fifteen Gaofen-1 (GF-1) satellite images of 2015 were acquired. The conifer-broadleaf ratio estimation was based on the GF-1 NDVI time-series and semi-supervised k-means cluster method, which yielded a high overall accuracy of 83.75%. This study demonstrates the feasibility of accurately estimating separable conifer-broadleaf ratios using field measurement data and GF-1 time series in mixed broadleaf-conifer forests.

Electric vehicles (EVs) and charging piles have been growing rapidly in China in the last five years. Private charging piles are widely adopted in major cities and have partly changed the charging behaviors of EV users. Based on the charging data of EVs in Hefei, China, this study aims to assess the impacts of increasing private charging piles and smart charging application on EVs’ charging load profiles. The charging load profiles of three types of charging piles which are public, employee-shared, and private ones, are simulated in three different scenarios. The results of scenario simulation indicate that the increase in EVs will reinforce the peak value of the total power load, while increasing private charging piles and the participation rate of smart charging piles will have peak-load shifting effects on the power load on weekdays. Specifically, 12% of the charging load will be shifted from public piles to private ones if the ratio of EVs and private piles increases from 5:3 to 5:4. The adoption of smart charging in private piles will transfer 18% of the charging load from the daytime to the night to achieve peak-load shifting. In summary, promoting the adoption of private piles and smart charging technology will reshape the charging load profile of the city, but the change will possibly reduce the utilization rate of public charging piles. The results suggest that urban governments should consider the growth potential of private piles and promote smart charging in charging infrastructure planning.

A novel imidazoline derivative, 2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-tosyl-4, 5-dihydro-1H-imidazole (IMI), was prepared and investigated as corrosion inhibitor for P110 carbon steel in 1.0 M HCl solution by weight loss measurements, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. The inhibition efficiency increased with the rising concentration of IMI inhibitor. The test results and fitting data indicated that the IMI behaved as a mixed-type inhibitor and obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out to investigate the surface of carbon steel specimens, showing great protection from aggressive solution. Finally, inhibition mechanism of IMI on metal surface was further discussed.

The increasing number of Chinese sensor types used for terrestrial remote sensing has necessitated an additional effort to evaluate and standardize the data they acquire. In this study, we assessed the potential use of GF-1 WFV (Wild Field Camera), ZY-3 MUX (Multi-spectral camera), and HJ-1 CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor data for grassland monitoring by comparing spectral field measurements, vegetation coverage, and the leaf area index (LAI) of grassland stands with reflectance in the red and near-infrared bands and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Based on spectral field measurements, the characteristic differences of spectral response functions of the sensors were analyzed. Based on simulations using the SAIL bidirectional canopy reflectance model coupled with the PROSPECT leaf optical properties model (PROSAIL), we investigated the effects of changes in the sensors’ zenith angle caused by side sway. The following conclusions were drawn. (1) Differences in the adjusted coefficients of determination (R2) exist when comparing correlations between the reflectances from the three sensor types in different bands. The values of R2 are 0.556–0.893 and 0.819–0.850 for the infrared and red bands, respectively, and these data show a better correlation for the red band than for the infrared band. Fitted slope equations revealed inconsistencies in the data between the different sensor types. In the red band, GF-1 WFV and HJ-1 CCD data are the most consistent, but in the near-infrared band, GF-1 WFV and ZY-3 MUX data are the most consistent; (2) The correlation of NDVIs obtained from the different sensor types is high (R2 between 0.758 and 0.852); however, the consistency is low in that the NDVI based on GF-1 WFV data is significantly higher than that based on ZY-3 MUX and HJ-1 CCD data. In contrast, the mean difference is small between the NDVIs based on ZY-3 MUX and HJ-1 CCD; (3) Correlation analysis between ground grass-coverage and measured LAI data shows that the three sensor types are better at estimating coverage than the LAI, and that the GF-1 WFV sensor gave the best performance; (4) Changes in the sensors’ zenith angle caused by side sway were proven to have greater impact on reflectance and NDVI than the spectral response function; (5) For LAI values of 0–3, the NDVI changes significantly with increasing LAI, and differences between the three sensor types are obvious. For LAI > 3.5, the NDVI appears to experience a saturated tendency, which greatly reduces the differences between the sensors.