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Abstract Dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is involved in the pathogenesis of various malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). Ubiquitin domain containing 1 (UBTD1), a ubiquitin-like protein, regulates UPS-mediated protein degradation and tumor progression in some cancer types. However, the biological function and mechanism of UBTD1 are far from being well elucidated, and its role in CRC has not been explored yet. In our study, we analyzed CRC patients’ clinical information and UBTD1 expression data, and found that the expression of UBTD1 in cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissue. Higher UBTD1 expression was significantly associated with poorer survival and more lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of UBTD1 could facilitate, while knockdown could inhibit CRC cell proliferation and migration, respectively. RNA-seq and proteomics indicated that c-Myc is an important downstream target of UBTD1. Metabolomics showed the products of the glycolysis pathway were significantly increased in UBTD1 overexpression cells. In vitro, we verified UBTD1 upregulating c-Myc protein and promoting CRC cell proliferation and migration via regulating c-Myc. UBTD1 promoted CRC cells’ glycolysis, evidenced by the increased lactate production and glucose uptake following UBTD1 overexpression. Mechanistically, UBTD1 prolonged the half-life of the c-Myc protein by binding to E3 ligase β-transducin repeat-containing protein (β-TrCP), thereby upregulated the expression of glycolysis rate-limiting enzyme hexokinase II (HK2), and enhanced glycolysis and promoted CRC progression. In conclusion, our study revealed that UBTD1 promotes CRC progression by upregulating glycolysis via the β-TrCP/c-Myc/HK2 pathway, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in CRC.

Abstract. Background:. This systematic review aimed to examine whether dual-task (DT) training was superior to single-task (ST) training in improving DT walking, balance and cognitive functions for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods:. Literature search was performed in the following electronic databases: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Metstr covering inception to May 10, 2023. And in order to facilitate comparison across trials, we calculated the effect size (Hedges’ g) of gait, balance, cognitive, and other parameters under both ST and DT conditions, using the mean change score and standard deviation (SD) of change score of the experimental and control groups. Randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of DT motor and cognitive training in individuals with Parkinson’s disease were included for this systematic review. Results:. A total of 214 participants recruited from six articles (actually five trials) were involved in this review. In terms of walking ability, only double support time and stride time variability showed significant between-group difference (Hedges’ g = 0.34, 0.18, respectively). Compared to ST training group, DT training group had a more improvement effect in laboratory balance measurement (Hedges’ g = 0.18, 1.25), but no significant improvement in clinical balance measurement. No significant between-group differences were observed, thus its training effect on cognitive function was inconclusive. Conclusions:. The DT training failed to achieve promising results better than ST training in improving DT walking and balance functions for individuals with PD. Any firm conclusion cannot be drawn at present, due to the limited number of eligible publications. Larger sample size and high-quality studies are needed to investigate the effectiveness of DT training in individuals with PD.

Zhigancao decoction is a traditional prescription for treating irregular pulse and palpitations in China. As the monarch drug of Zhigancao decoction, the bioactive molecules of licorice against heart diseases remain elusive. We established the HRESIMS-guided method leading to the isolation of three novel bicyclic peptides, glycnsisitins A–C (1–3), with distinctive C–C and C–O–C side-chain-to-side-chain linkages from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Licorice). Glycnsisitin A demonstrated stronger cardioprotective activity than glycnsisitins B and C in an in vitro model of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyocyte injury. Glycnsisitin A treatment not only reduced the mortality of heart failure (HF) mice in a dose-dependent manner but also significantly attenuated DOX-induced cardiac dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of the differentially expressed genes indicated that the cardioprotective effect of glycnsisitin A was mainly attributed to its ability to maintain iron homeostasis in the myocardium. Mechanistically, glycnsisitin A interacted with transferrin and facilitated its binding to the transferrin receptor (TFRC), which caused increased uptake of iron in cardiomyocytes. These findings highlight the key role of bicyclic peptides as bioactive molecules of Zhigancao decoction for the treatment of HF, and glycnsisitin A constitutes a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of HF.

Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate the developments in the treatment and prevalence of hypertension by demographic subgroups in least developed area of China in 2012 and 2022. This population‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2012 and 2022, we applied stratified multistage random sampling to investigate residents aged 18 years or older in Gansu, the least developed province in the northwest of China. Questionnaires and anthropometric measurements were given to all respondents. The standardized prevalence of hypertension in adults in Gansu increased from 26.1% in 2012 to 28.8% in 2022. Compared with 2012, the control rate remains decreased despite the significantly improved awareness and treatment rates of hypertension in 2022. Apart from the reversal of the control rate, the trend of higher prevalence in men and higher awareness and treatment rates in women has not changed. There was an obviously increase in the proportion of participants who had received health education and hypertension management services from medical workers. The treatment was still primarily monotherapy, and there was no significant improvement in the prescription of medication. The prevalence of hypertension has increased mildly in the least developed region of China over the past decade, and the challenge of hypertension management has shifted from increasing awareness and treatment rates to increasing control rates. The onset and control of hypertension are affected by education methods, BMI, local economic conditions and other factors, and targeted strategies can be adopted to strengthen the management of hypertension in economically underdeveloped areas of China.

Abstract To explore the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance of casting-type calcification (CC) in patients with breast cancer presenting with microcalcification on mammography. Data on patients with invasive breast cancer who had mammographic calcification was retrospectively analyzed. The chi-square test was utilized to assess the clinicopathological characteristics of two forms of CC-related breast cancer. The examination of prognostic variables was conducted using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses. A total of 427 eligible patients were included in this study. Chi-square analysis indicated that the presence of CC was associated with estrogen receptor (ER) negativity (P = 0.005), progesterone receptor (PR) negativity (P

The safety and reliability of high-speed trains depend on the brake disc. In order to improve the lifetime of brake disc and reduce the waste of resources, a coating with higher microhardness and well wear resistance is urgently needed. The effect of chromium content on the microstructure, microhardness and wear resistance of NiCr coating has been studied. Nano-crystalline Ni and NiCr coatings with superior mechanical properties were successfully prepared on the 30CrNiMo steel substrate by pulse current electrodeposition method. The inclusion of formic acid and sodium citrate was found to significantly expedite the co-deposition of Ni and Cr. The NiCr coatings with various Cr contents were prepared at current densities ranging from 200 to 300 mA/cm2. These coatings significantly enhance microhardness and wear resistance of the substrate. The microhardness of the NiCr coating increased to 603 HV, outperforming pure Ni coating by 119 HV. Additionally, the wear rate of the NiCr coating decreased by 50% at a load of 10 N in comparison to the Ni coating. The high microhardness is attributed to grain refinement and solution strengthening. This study successfully addresses the challenges associated with electrodepositing Ni-based coatings on 30CrNiMo steel substrate and lays a theoretical foundation for the utilization of Ni-based coatings to enhance the tribological properties of materials used in high-speed train brake disc.

Treatment effects with heterogeneity and heteroskedasticity are widely studied and applied in many fields, such as statistics and econometrics. The conditional average treatment effect provides an excellent measure of the heterogeneous treatment effect. In this paper, we propose a model averaging estimation for the conditional average treatment effect with partially linear models based on the jackknife-type criterion under heteroscedastic error. Within this context, we provide theoretical justification for our model averaging approach, and we establish asymptotic optimality and weight convergence properties for our model under certain conditions. The performance of our proposed estimator is compared with that of classical estimators by using a Monte Carlo study and empirical analysis.

This is an article in the field of ceramics and composites. Natural porous minerals have many environmental attributes, such as pore structure, surface effect, environmental hydration effect, ion exchange characteristics and good adsorption capacity. The natural porous minerals have good harmony with the earth's ecological environment and can be applied to agricultural fertilizers, soil reclamation, feed breeding and other aspects of agricultural production. Based on the environmental attributes of natural porous minerals and their mineral materials, researchers should pay attention to exploiting their special functions in agricultural production and agricultural ecological environment. The self-purification function of natural porous minerals is a potential function endowed by nature for the survival and development of the earth's environment. Its resource characteristics and environmental attributes are very suitable for the application conditions of soil remediation and green agricultural production in China. The research on using natural porous minerals in agricultural production has an important economic influence on society.

Abstract Biodiversity loss in river ecosystems is much faster and more severe than in terrestrial systems, and spatial conservation and restoration plans are needed to halt this erosion. Reliable and highly resolved data on the state of and change in biodiversity and species distributions are critical for effective measures. However, high‐resolution maps of fish distribution remain limited for large riverine systems. Coupling data from global satellite sensors with broad‐scale environmental DNA (eDNA) and machine learning could enable rapid and precise mapping of the distribution of river organisms. Here, we investigated the potential for combining these methods using a fish eDNA dataset from 110 sites sampled along the full length of the Rhone River in Switzerland and France. Using Sentinel 2 and Landsat 8 images, we generated a set of ecological variables describing both the aquatic and the terrestrial habitats surrounding the river corridor. We combined these variables with eDNA‐based presence and absence data on 29 fish species and used three machine‐learning models to assess environmental suitability for these species. Most models showed good performance, indicating that ecological variables derived from remote sensing can approximate the ecological determinants of fish species distributions, but water‐derived variables had stronger associations than the terrestrial variables surrounding the river. The species range mapping indicated a significant transition in the species occupancy along the Rhone, from its source in the Swiss Alps to outlet into the Mediterranean Sea in southern France. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of combining remote sensing and eDNA to map species distributions in a large river. This method can be expanded to any large river to support conservation schemes.

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. The relationship between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the prognosis of patients with breast cancer has not been clearly reported. This study investigated the prognostic value of RC in predicting mortality in patients with breast cancer. Methods This study prospectively analysed 709 women patients with breast cancer from the Investigation on Nutrition Status and Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers (INSCOC) project. Restricted cubic splines were used to analyse the dose-response relationship between RC and breast cancer mortality. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to evaluate the overall survival of patients with breast cancer. A Cox regression analyses was performed to assess the independent association between RC and breast cancer mortality. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) using the propensity score was used to reduce confounding. Sensitivity analysis was performed after excluding patients with underlying diseases and survival times shorter than one year. Results A linear dose-response relationship was identified between RC and the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with breast cancer (p = 0.036). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank test showed that patients with high RC levels had poorer survival than those with low RC levels (p = 0.007). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that RC was an independent risk factor for mortality in women patients with breast cancer. IPTW-adjusted analyses and sensitivity analyses showed that CR remained a prognostic factor. Conclusions RC is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients with breast cancer, and patients with higher RC levels have poorer survival.

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in regulating gene expression vital for the growth and development of plants. Despite this, the role of lncRNAs in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) pollen development and male fertility remains poorly understood. Results In this study, we characterized a recessive genic male sterile mutant (366–2 S), where the delayed degradation of tapetum and the failure of tetrad separation primarily led to the inability to form single microspores, resulting in male sterility. To analyze the role of lncRNAs in pollen development, we conducted a comparative lncRNA sequencing using anthers from the male sterile mutant line (366–2 S) and the wild-type male fertile line (366–2 F). We identified 385 differentially expressed lncRNAs between the 366–2 F and 366–2 S lines, with 172 of them potentially associated with target genes. To further understand the alterations in mRNA expression and explore potential lncRNA-target genes (mRNAs), we performed comparative mRNA transcriptome analysis in the anthers of 366–2 S and 366–2 F at two stages. We identified 1,176 differentially expressed mRNAs. Remarkably, GO analysis revealed significant enrichment in five GO terms, most notably involving mRNAs annotated as pectinesterase and polygalacturonase, which play roles in cell wall degradation. The considerable downregulation of these genes might contribute to the delayed degradation of tapetum in 366–2 S. Furthermore, we identified 15 lncRNA-mRNA modules through Venn diagram analysis. Among them, MSTRG.9997-BraA04g004630.3 C (β-1,3-glucanase) is associated with callose degradation and tetrad separation. Additionally, MSTRG.5212-BraA02g040020.3 C (pectinesterase) and MSTRG.13,532-BraA05g030320.3 C (pectinesterase) are associated with cell wall degradation of the tapetum, indicating that these three candidate lncRNA-mRNA modules potentially regulate pollen development. Conclusion This study lays the foundation for understanding the roles of lncRNAs in pollen development and for elucidating their molecular mechanisms in regulating male sterility in Chinese cabbage.

The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 is a critical regulator of the survival and death of tumor cells. The pro-death effect of Nur77 can be regulated by its interaction with Bcl-2, resulting in conversion of Bcl-2 from a survival to killer. As Bcl-2 is overexpressed in various cancers preventing them from apoptosis and promoting their resistance to chemotherapy, targeting the apoptotic pathway of Nur77/Bcl-2 may lead to new cancer therapeutics. Here, we report our identification of XS561 as a novel Nur77 ligand that induces apoptosis of tumor cells by activating the Nur77/Bcl-2 pathway. In vitro and animal studies revealed an apoptotic effect of XS561 in a range of tumor cell lines including MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and MCF-7/LCC2 tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer (TAMR) in a Nur77-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies showed XS561 potently induced the translocation of Nur77 from the nucleus to mitochondria, resulting in mitochondria-related apoptosis. Interestingly, XS561-induced accumulation of Nur77 at mitochondria was associated with XS561 induction of Nur77 phase separation and the formation of Nur77/Bcl-2 condensates. Together, our studies identify XS561 as a new activator of the Nur77/Bcl-2 apoptotic pathway and reveal a role of phase separation in mediating the apoptotic effect of Nur77 at mitochondria.

To enhance the friction and wear properties of Ti–6Al–4V, the AlTiVCrNb lightweight refractory high entropy alloy coating was applied to a Ti–6Al–4V substrate by laser cladding. The microstructure was investigated through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that the coatings are metallurgically bonded to the Ti–6Al–4V substrate, and the microstructure of the AlTiVCrNb coatings with high Ti content comprises disordered BCC phases, laves reinforced phases, and diffusely distributed Ti2AlNb nanophases. The microhardness of the coating measures 548.54 HV0.1, surpassing that of the Ti–6Al–4V substrate by 1.57 times. The wear resistance of the AlTiVCrNb HEA coating is 1.58 times higher than that of the Ti–6Al–4V alloy under a 20 N load, thereby effectively improving the wear resistance of the Ti6Al4V alloy. The main wear mechanisms of AlTiVCrNb high-entropy alloy coatings are oxidative and adhesive wear.

Abstract Liver cancer, a chronic non-communicable disease, represents a serious public health problem. Long-term trends in the burden of liver cancer disease are heterogeneous across regions. Incidence and mortality of liver cancer, based on the Global Burden of Disease, were collected from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Age–period–cohort model was utilized to reveal the secular trends and estimate the age, period and cohort effects on primary liver cancer due to specific etiologies. Both the age-standardized incidence and mortality rate of liver cancer in Hubei province were on the rise, although there were discrepancies between gender groups. From age–period–cohort analysis, both incidence and mortality of liver cancer due to Hepatitis B virus were the highest in all age groups. The incidence of all liver cancer groups increased with time period in males, while this upward trend was observed in females only in liver cancer due to alcohol use group. Cohort effects indicated the disease burden of liver cancer decreased with birth cohorts. Local drifts showed that the incidence of liver cancer due to specific etiologies was increasing in the age group of males between 40 and 75 years old. The impact of an aging population will continue in Hubei Province. the disease burden of liver cancer will continue to increase, and personalized prevention policies must be adopted to address these changes.

Abstract The poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (THCA) subtype is associated with an aggressive disease course, a less favorable overall prognosis, and an increased risk of distant organ metastasis. In this study, our objective was to explore the potential utility of the Sprouty-related EVH1 domain-containing protein 3 (SPRED3) as a biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis in THCA patients. The differentially expressed prognostic-related genes associated with THCA were identified by querying The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The difference in the expression of the SPRED3 gene between thyroid carcinoma (THCA) tissues and normal tissues was analyzed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and further validated through immunohistochemistry. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used, along with clinical information from THCA patients, to analyze the prognostic value of the SPRED3 gene in THCA patients. Functional enrichment analysis was subsequently performed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory effects of the SPRED3 gene on thyroid carcinoma. Additionally, we calculated the percentage of infiltrating immune cells in THCA patients and evaluated their correlation with SPRED3 gene expression. Compared with those in noncancerous thyroid tissue, the gene and protein expression levels of SPRED3 were found to be elevated in thyroid carcinoma tissues. Furthermore, the expression of SPRED3 in thyroid carcinoma exhibited significant correlations with tumor location, histological grade, pathological stage, and tumor node metastasis classification (TNM) stage. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards (Cox) regression analyses demonstrated that SPRED3 could serve as an independent prognostic factor for predicting the overall survival of THCA patients. The results of functional enrichment analysis suggested the potential involvement of SPRED3 in the regulation of extracellular matrix organization, epidermal development, signaling receptor activator activity, skin development, receptor ligand activity, glycosaminoglycan binding, neuroactive ligand‒receptor interaction, the IL-17 signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Additionally, there were significant correlations between the expression level of the SPRED3 gene and the infiltration of various immune cells (eosinophils, central memory T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and NK cells) within the thyroid tumor microenvironment. SPRED3 can be used as a prognostic biomarker in patients with THCA could potentially be therapeutic target for THCA.

Highlights This review introduces the potential of 2D electronics for post-Moore era and discusses their current progress in digital circuits, analog circuits, heterogeneous integration, sensing circuits, artificial intelligence chips, and quantum chips in sequence. A comprehensive analysis of the current trends and challenges encountered in the development of 2D materials is summarized. An in-depth roadmap outlining the future development of 2D electronics is presented, and the most accessible and promising avenues for 2D electronics are suggested.

With the continuous construction of high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission projects, higher requirements are placed on the frequency security of the regional power systems. In order to ensure the frequency security of regional power systems, this paper proposes a transient frequency analytical method considering the emergency frequency control (EFC). Firstly, the aggregated system frequency response (SFR) model is constructed by reducing the order of the generator governor equation, the EFC equation, and the load model equation. Then, based on the aggregation model, the analytical solution of the transient frequency nadir of the regional power system is derived. The model can quickly and accurately calculate the transient frequency nadir of the regional power system considering EFC after the HVDC block fault. Finally, based on an actual regional power system model, the accuracy and applicability of the proposed method under HVDC block fault are verified.

Abstract The smart materials with multi‐color and stimuli‐responsive luminescence are very promising for next generation of optical information encryption and anti‐counterfeiting, but these materials are still scarce. Herein, a multi‐level information encryption strategy is developed based on the polychromatic emission of Sb‐doped double perovskite powders (SDPPs). Cs2NaInCl6:Sb, Cs2KInCl6:Sb, and Cs2AgInCl6:Sb synthesized through coprecipitation methods exhibit broadband emissions with bright blue, cyan, and orange colors, respectively. The information transmitted by specific SDPP is encrypted when different SDPPs are mixed. The confidential information can be decrypted by selecting the corresponding narrowband filter. Then, an encrypted quick response (QR) code with improved security is demonstrated based on this multi‐channel selection strategy. Moreover, the three types of SDPPs exhibit three different water‐triggered luminescence switching behaviors. The confidential information represented by Cs2NaInCl6:Sb can be erased/recovered through a simple water spray/drying. Whereas, the information collected from the green channel is permanently erased by moisture, which fundamentally avoids information leakage. Therefore, different encryption schemes can be designed to meet a variety of encryption requirements. The multicolor and stimuli‐responsive luminescence greatly enrich the flexibility of optical information encryption, which leaps the level of security and confidentiality.

Abstract Background Over the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly transformed cancer treatment. However, ICIs inevitably may cause a spectrum of immune‐related adverse events, among which cardiovascular toxicity, particularly myocarditis, while infrequent, has garnered increasing attention due to its high fatality rate. Methods We conducted a multicenter retrospective study to characterize ICI‐associated cardiovascular adverse events. Logistic regression was performed to explore the risk factors for the development of myocarditis and severe myocarditis. Receiver operating characteristic curves were conducted to assess the diagnostic abilities of cardiac biomarkers to distinguish different cardiovascular toxicities, and the performance and calibration were evaluated using Hosmer–Lemeshow test. Results Forty‐four patients were identified, including thirty‐five myocarditis, five heart failure, three arrhythmias, and one myocardial infarction. Compared with other patients, myocarditis patients had higher cardiac troponin‐I (cTnI) levels (p

Vaginitis, characterized by pathogenic invasion and a deficiency in beneficial lactobacilli, has recognized lactobacilli supplementation as a novel therapeutic strategy. However, due to individual differences in vaginal microbiota, identifying universally effective Lactobacillus strains is challenging. Traditional methodologies for probiotic selection, which heavily depend on extensive in vitro experiments, are both time-intensive and laborious. The aim of this study was to pinpoint possible vaginal probiotic candidates based on whole-genome screening. We sequenced the genomes of 98 previously isolated Lactobacillus strains, annotating their genes involved in probiotic metabolite biosynthesis, adherence, acid/bile tolerance, and antibiotic resistance. A scoring system was used to assess the strains based on their genomic profiles. The highest-scoring strains underwent further in vitro evaluation. Consequently, two strains, Lactobacillus crispatus LG55-27 and Lactobacillus gasseri TM13-16, displayed an outstanding ability to produce d-lactate and adhere to human vaginal epithelial cells. They also showed higher antimicrobial activity against Gardnerella vaginalis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to reference Lactobacillus strains. Their resilience to acid and bile environments highlights the potential for oral supplementation. Oral and vaginal administration of these two strains were tested in a bacterial vaginosis (BV) rat model at various doses. Results indicated that combined vaginal administration of these strains at 1 × 106 CFU/day significantly mitigated BV in rats. This research offers a probiotic dosage guideline for vaginitis therapy, underscoring an efficient screening process for probiotics using genome sequencing, in vitro testing, and in vivo BV model experimentation.

Objective: To investigate and compare the differences between the incidence of falls, balance and living environment among older persons in urban villages and other types of residential areas. Methods: We surveyed 580 older adults living in different types of residential areas in Shantou, China, surveying basic information, fall incidence, balance ability testing of older persons, home environment safety assessment. Results: The incidence of falls among older people in urban villages (19.54 %) was between urban areas(26.63 %) and rural areas(16.91 %). The influencing factors of falls in different residential types were different. Near-fall, abnormal bowel movement, and impaired balance ability were the risk factors of falls among older persons in urban villages. Divorce/single, fair and poor hearing loss and near-fall were the risk factors of falls in urban older adults. Frailty and impaired balance ability were the risk factors of falls in rural older people. Conclusions: Risk factors for falls in older people vary according to the characteristics of their living areas and relevant interventions should be targeted according to the characteristics of falls occurring in different residential areas.

Clubroot disease poses a significant threat to Brassica crops, necessitating ongoing updates on resistance gene sources. In F2 segregants of the clubroot-resistant inbred line BrT18-6-4-3 and susceptible DH line Y510, the genetic analysis identified a single dominant gene responsible for clubroot resistance. Through bulk segregant sequencing analysis and kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assays, CRA8.1.6 was mapped within 110 kb (12,255–12,365 Mb) between markers L-CR11 and L-CR12 on chromosome A08. We identified B raA08g015220.3.5C as the candidate gene of CRA8.1.6. Upon comparison with the sequence of disease-resistant material BrT18-6-4-3, we found 249 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, seven insertions, six deletions, and a long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposon (5,310 bp) at 909 bp of the first intron. However, the LTR retrotransposon was absent in the coding sequence of the susceptible DH line Y510. Given the presence of a non-functional LTR insertion in other materials, it showed that the LTR insertion might not be associated with susceptibility. Sequence alignment analysis revealed that the fourth exon of the susceptible line harbored two deletions and an insertion, resulting in a frameshift mutation at 8,551 bp, leading to translation termination at the leucine-rich repeat domain’s C-terminal in susceptible material. Sequence alignment of the CDS revealed a 99.4% similarity to Crr1a, which indicate that CRA8.1.6 is likely an allele of the Crr1a gene. Two functional markers, CRA08-InDel and CRA08-KASP1, have been developed for marker-assisted selection in CR turnip cultivars. Our findings could facilitate the development of clubroot-resistance turnip cultivars through marker-assisted selection.

Primary myxofibrosarcoma of the heart, a rare cardiac malignancy, was diagnosed in a middle-aged female patient exhibiting progressive dyspnea following transthoracic echocardiography and pathological analysis. Postoperatively, the patient underwent chemotherapy and Lenvatinib mesylate therapy, with regular check-ups confirming her survival. After 10 months the patient is still alive and well.

Plant synthetic biology research requires diverse bioparts that facilitate the redesign and construction of new-to-nature biological devices or systems in plants. Limited by few well-characterized bioparts for plant chassis, the development of plant synthetic biology lags behind that of its microbial counterpart. Here, we constructed a web-based Plant Synthetic BioDatabase (PSBD), which currently categorizes 1677 catalytic bioparts and 384 regulatory elements and provides information on 309 species and 850 chemicals. Online bioinformatics tools including local BLAST, chem similarity, phylogenetic analysis, and visual strength are provided to assist with the rational design of genetic circuits for manipulation of gene expression in planta. We demonstrated the utility of the PSBD by functionally characterizing taxadiene synthase 2 and its quantitative regulation in tobacco leaves. More powerful synthetic devices were then assembled to amplify the transcriptional signals, enabling enhanced expression of flavivirus non-structure 1 proteins in plants. The PSBD is expected to be an integrative and user-centered platform that provides a one-stop service for diverse applications in plant synthetic biology research.

Abstract Dysregulated hematopoietic niches remodeled by leukemia cells lead to imbalances in immunological mediators that support leukemogenesis and drug resistance. Targeting immune niches may ameliorate disease progression and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance in Philadelphia chromosome-positive B-ALL (Ph+ B-ALL). Here, we show that T helper type 17 (Th17) cells and IL-17A expression are distinctively elevated in Ph+ B-ALL patients. IL-17A promotes the progression of Ph+ B-ALL. Mechanistically, IL-17A activates BCR-ABL, IL6/JAK/STAT3, and NF-kB signalling pathways in Ph+ B-ALL cells, resulting in robust cell proliferation and survival. In addition, IL-17A-activated Ph+ B-ALL cells secrete the chemokine CXCL16, which in turn promotes Th17 differentiation, attracts Th17 cells and forms a positive feedback loop supporting leukemia progression. These data demonstrate an involvement of Th17 cells in Ph+ B-ALL progression and suggest potential therapeutic options for Ph+ B-ALL with Th17-enriched niches.

Abstract Despite continued advances in prevention and treatment strategies, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death worldwide, and more effective therapeutic methods are urgently needed. Polygonatum is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with a variety of pharmacological applications and biological activities, such as antioxidant activity, anti-inflammation, antibacterial effect, immune-enhancing effect, glucose regulation, lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects, treatment of diabetes and anticancer effect. There has also been more and more evidence to support the cardioprotective effect of Polygonatum in recent years. However, up to now, there has been a lack of comprehensive studies on the active ingredients and their pharmacotoxicological effects related to cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the main active components of Polygonatum (including Polysaccharides, Flavonoids, Saponins) and their biological activities were firstly reviewed in this paper. Furthermore, we summarized the pharmacological effects of Polygonatum’s active components in preventing and treating CVDs, and its relevant toxicological investigations. Finally, we emphasize the potential of Polygonatum in the prevention and treatment of CVDs.

Background: Aggrephagy is a lysosome-dependent process that degrades misfolded protein condensates to maintain cancer cell homeostasis. Despite its importance in cellular protein quality control, the role of aggrephagy in glioma remains poorly understood. Objective: To investigate the expression of aggrephagy-related genes (ARGs) in glioma and in different cell types of gliomas and to develop an ARGs-based prognostic signature to predict the prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and immunotherapy response of gliomas. Methods: ARGs were identified by searching the Reactome database. We developed the ARGs-based prognostic signature (ARPS) using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 669) by Lasso-Cox regression. We validated the robustness of the signature in clinical subgroups and CGGA cohorts (n = 970). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to identify the pathways enriched in ARPS subgroups. The correlations between ARGs and macrophages were also investigated at single cell level. Results: A total of 44 ARGs showed heterogeneous expression among different cell types of gliomas. Five ARGs (HSF1, DYNC1H1, DYNLL2, TUBB6, TUBA1C) were identified to develop ARPS, an independent prognostic factor. GSEA showed gene sets of patients with high-ARPS were mostly enriched in cell cycle, DNA replication, and immune-related pathways. High-ARPS subgroup had higher immune cell infiltration states, particularly macrophages, Treg cells, and neutrophils. APRS had positive association with tumor mutation burden (TMB) and immunotherapy response predictors. At the single cell level, we found ARGs correlated with macrophage development and identified ARGs-mediated macrophage subtypes with distinct communication characteristics with tumor cells. VIM+ macrophages were identified as pro-inflammatory and had higher interactions with malignant cells. Conclusion: We identified a novel signature based on ARGs for predicting glioma prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and immunotherapy response. We highlight the ARGs-mediated macrophages in glioma exhibit classical features.

The development of conventional augmented reality (AR) works typically involves complex environment setup, programming development, high costs, and long development cycles, requiring developers to possess certain technical expertise and facing a high entry barrier. To address these challenges and reduce the difficulty of AR work development, this paper proposes a method for creating AR works based on graphical programming. A prototype system is developed to facilitate visual creation. The proposed method involves importing models and AR markers to construct the elements of the work. Subsequently, model parameter variables are designed to enable graphical programming and establish data associations between the work’s elements and the logic function algorithm. Additionally, the front-end page layout of the work can be conducted, and the binding of front-end buttons to back-end graphical programming trigger events can be realized. The prototype system is developed using the AR-Foundation and Unity3D engine. Several case studies are presented to demonstrate the feasibility and versatility of this AR creation method.

Abstract Background Several publications suggest that UTP11 may be a promising gene engaged for involvement of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathology. However, there are extremely limited biological, mechanistic and clinical studies of UTP11 in HCC. Methods To anayze the UTP11 mRNA expression in HCC and normal clinical samples and further investigate the correlation between UTP11 expression and pathology and clinical prognosis via the Cancer Tissue Gene Atlas (TCGA) database. The protein levels of UTP11 were checked using the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database. GO-KEGG enrichment was performed from Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) database and TCGA dataset. The levels of UTP11 were tested with qRT-PCR and western blotting assays. Cell viability, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry assays and animal models were used to explore the potential involvement of UTP11 in regulating HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. The correlation of UTP11 and tumor stemness scores and stemness-associated proteins from TCGA database. The mRNA stability was treated with Actinomycin D, followed by testing the mRNA expression using qRT-PCR assay. Results UTP11 was highly expressed in HCC samples compared to normal tissues from TCGA database. Similarly, UTP11 protein expression levels were obviously elevated in HCC tissue samples from HPA database. Furthermore, UTP11 levels were correlated with poor prognosis in HCC patient samples in TCGA dataset. In addition, the UTP11 mRNA levels was notably enhanced in different HCC cell lines than in normal liver cells and knocking down UTP11 was obviously reduced the viability and cell death of HCC cells. UTP11 knockdown suppressed the tumor growth of HCC in vivo experiment and extended the mice survival time. GO-KEEG analysis from CCLE and TCGA database suggested that UTP11 might involve in RNA splicing and the stability of mRNA. Further, UTP11 was positively correlated with tumor stemness scores and stemness-associated proteins from TCGA database. Knockdown of UTP11 was reduced the expression of stem cell-related genes and regulated the mRNA stability of Oct4. Conclusions UTP11 is potentially a diagnostic molecule and a therapeutic candidate for treatment of HCC.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine has a similar effectiveness and safety profile in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and healthy controls (HCs). Methods Between August 10, 2021 and September 30, 2021, 134 HCs and 269 patients with RMDs were recruited. All participants who tested negative for COVID-19 were vaccinated with SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine. Next, 150 patients with RMDs and 30 HCs infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant within the previous 12 weeks were recruited between February 20, 2023 and March 1, 2023. Serum samples were collected from each participant, and the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 were determined using a chemiluminescence assay. Results No statistically significant difference was found in the titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies, or in the incidence of vaccination-related adverse events between the RMD and HC groups (P = 0.183, P = 0.903, and P = 0.27, respectively). Serum IgG titers of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies were significantly higher in patients who received two or more doses of inactivated vaccine than in patients who were unvaccinated or had received one dose of vaccine (244.36 ± 109.79 vs. 66.20 ± 82.50; P

Abstract Freshwater wetlands have experienced disproportionate biodiversity loss due to environmental change. The lack of long-term biological data limits our understanding of wetland biodiversity dynamics and principal drivers. Here, we combine aquatic biomonitoring with satellite-derived imagery and spatial-explicit analysis to assess the changes in macroinvertebrate diversity and driving factors from 1988 to 2017 in Dongting Lake, China. The results revealed declining macroinvertebrate alpha diversity (species richness and functional redundancy) but increased beta diversity (taxonomic and functional dissimilarity). An increase in nutrients due to changes in land-use intensity in the surrounding terrestrial ecosystem was the primary mechanism for the losses of species and functional groups. Alpha diversity changes were most influenced by land-use changes in adjacent land areas 1.5 kilometers from the sampling sites, while beta diversity was affected within 50 meters. Our results highlight a need for attenuating land-use effects by establishing protected buffer areas to protect biodiversity in the future.

Abstract Background Malnutrition is associated with poor overall survival (OS) in breast cancer patients; however, the most predictive nutritional indicators for the prognosis of patients with breast cancer are not well-established. This study aimed to compare the predictive effects of common nutritional indicators on OS and to refine existing nutritional indicators, thereby identifying a more effective nutritional evaluation indicator for predicting the prognosis in breast cancer patients. Methods This prospective study analyzed data from 776 breast cancer patients enrolled in the “Investigation on Nutritional Status and its Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers” (INSCOC) project, which was conducted in 40 hospitals in China. We used the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), Kaplan–Meier survival curve, and Cox regression analysis to evaluate the predictive effects of several nutritional assessments. These assessments included the patient-generated subjective nutrition assessment (PGSGA), the global leadership initiative on malnutrition (GLIM), the controlling nutritional status (CONUT), the nutritional risk index (NRI), and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Utilizing machine learning, these nutritional indicators were screened through single-factor analysis, and relatively important variables were selected to modify the PNI. The modified PNI, termed the cholesterol-modified prognostic nutritional index (CPNI), was evaluated for its predictive effect on the prognosis of patients. Results Among the nutritional assessments (including PGSGA, GLIM, CONUT, NRI, and PNI), PNI showed the highest predictive ability for patient prognosis (time-dependent ROC = 0.58). CPNI, which evolved from PNI, emerged as the superior nutritional index for OS in breast cancer patients, with the time-dependent ROC of 0.65. It also acted as an independent risk factor for mortality (p

Abstract Background Involuntary weight loss (WL) is a common symptom in cancer patients and is associated with poor outcomes. However, there is no standardized definition of WL, and it is unclear what magnitude of weight loss should be considered significant for prognostic purposes. This study aimed to determine an individualized threshold for WL that can be used for prognostic assessment in cancer patients. Methods Univariate and multivariate analyses of overall survival (OS) were performed using Cox proportional hazard models. The Kaplan–Meier method was performed to estimate the survival distribution of different WL levels. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between WL and 90‐day outcomes. Restricted cubic splines with three knots were used to examine the effects of WL on survival under different body mass index (BMI) conditions. Results Among the 8806 enrolled patients with cancer, median survival time declined as WL increased, from 25.1 to 20.1, 17.8 and 16.4 months at

Abstract Background Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is a major public health burden; its pathogenesis involves atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) are vasoactive substances synthesized by endothelial cells that play a crucial role in CCS development. The Gensini score (GS) is used for evaluating CCS severity based on lumen segment changes, stenosis degree, and coronary stenosis site. Methods This prospective study included 71 patients with CCS; we evaluated the relationships between GS and ET-1 and NO serum levels were evaluated in these patients. The GS was calculated for all patients. Serum ET-1 & NO levels among other laboratory parameters were measured. Results The high GS group had higher ET-1 and relatively NO expressions in the than the low GS group. GS was positively correlated with ET-1 and negatively correlated with NO, T4, and TSH levels. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis showed that ET-1 had the most significant effect on GS. Conclusions We found a strong association between ET-1, NO, and CCS severity. A combination of ET-1, NO, and GS is an essential predictor of CCS disease severity.

Abstract Cultured meat production has emerged as a breakthrough technology for the global food industry with the potential to reduce challenges associated with environmental sustainability, global public health, animal welfare, and competition for food between humans and animals. The muscle stem cell lines currently used for cultured meat cannot be passaged in vitro for extended periods of time. Here, we develop a directional differentiation system of porcine pre-gastrulation epiblast stem cells (pgEpiSCs) with stable cellular features and achieve serum-free myogenic differentiation of the pgEpiSCs. We show that the pgEpiSCs-derived skeletal muscle progenitor cells and skeletal muscle fibers have typical muscle cell characteristics and display skeletal muscle transcriptional features during myogenic differentiation. Importantly, we establish a three-dimensional differentiation system for shaping cultured tissue by screening plant-based edible scaffolds of non-animal origin, followed by the generation of pgEpiSCs-derived cultured meat. These advances provide a technical approach for the development of cultured meat.

In response to the inability of the flexible DC transmission system connected to the AC grid under conventional control strategies to provide inertia to the system as well as to participate in frequency regulation, a virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control strategy is proposed for a voltage source converter (VSC)-based multi-terminal high-voltage direct current (VSC-MTDC) interconnection system. First, the virtual controller module is designed by coupling AC frequency and active power through virtual inertia control, so that the VSC-MTDC system can provide inertia response for AC grid frequency. Second, by introducing the power margin of the converter station into the droop coefficient, the unbalanced power on the DC side is reasonably allocated to reduce the overshoot of the DC voltage in the regulation process. Finally, the power regulation capability of the normal AC system is used to provide power support to the fault end system, reducing frequency deviations and enabling inter-regional resource complementation. The simulation model of the three-terminal flexible DC grid is built in PSCAD/EMTDC, and the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is verified by comparing the conventional control strategy and the additional frequency control strategy.

Resource-rich shale gas plays a pivotal role in new energy types. The key to scientifically and efficiently developing shale gas fields is to clarify the main factors that affect the production of shale gas wells. In this paper, according to the shale gas reservoir characteristic of the Fuling marine Longmaxi Formation, a single-well geological model was established using the reservoir numerical simulation software CMG. Then, 10,000 different reservoir models were randomly generated for different formation physical parameters, completion parameters, and fracturing parameters using the Monte Carlo method, and these 10,000 models were simulated numerically. The machine learning model uses a dataset of 10,000 different geological, completion, and fracturing parameters as input and 10,000 production curves as output. Multiple machine learning regression methods were used to train and test the dataset, and the optimal method (GBDT algorithm) was selected, and the accuracy R2 of the test set of the GBDT prediction model is 0.96. A fracturing parameter optimization workflow was constructed by combining a production prediction model with a particle swarm optimizer (PSO). The process can quickly optimize the fracturing parameters and predict the production for each time by targeting the cumulative gas production under different geological conditions. The optimized parameters are Fracture Spacing, Fracture Width, Intrinsic Permeability, Fracture Half-length, Langmuir Pressure, and Langmuir Volume. The initial predicted cumulative gas production was 4.59 × 108 m3, which was optimized to 4.90 × 108 m3. The proposed PSO-GBDT proxy model can instantly predict the production of shale gas wells with considerable accuracy, reliability, and efficiency, which is a vital tool for optimizing fracture design. This investigation provides a solid foundation for predicting the production of unconventional gas reservoirs and for parameter optimization.

Abstract The identification of effective drug targets and the development of bioactive molecules are areas of high need in cancer therapy. The phosphatidylinositol transfer protein alpha/beta isoform (PITPα/β) has been reported to play an essential role in integrating phosphoinositide trafficking and lipid metabolism in diverse cellular processes but remains unexplored as a potential target for cancer treatment. Herein, data analysis of clinical cancer samples revealed that PITPα/β expression is closely correlated with the poor prognosis. Target identification by chemical proteomic methods revealed that microcolin H, a naturally occurring marine lipopeptide, directly binds PITPα/β and displays antiproliferative activity on different types of tumour cell lines. Furthermore, we identified that microcolin H treatment increased the conversion of LC3I to LC3II, accompanied by a reduction of the level of p62 in cancer cells, leading to autophagic cell death. Moreover, microcolin H showed preeminent antitumour efficacy in nude mouse subcutaneous tumour models with low toxicity. Our discoveries revealed that by targeting PITPα/β, microcolin H induced autophagic cell death in tumours with efficient anti-proliferating activity, which sheds light on PITPα/β as a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

Abstract Objectives Vascular stiffening is highly predictive of major adverse cardiovascular events. It is not clear whether microangiopathy, such as fundus arteriosclerosis, is related to carotid atherosclerosis. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and fundus arteriosclerosis among individuals of different sexes in the Chinese health-examination population. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study involved 20,836 participants, including 13050 males and 7786 females. All participants underwent a detailed health examination, including medical history assessment, physical examination, assessment of lifestyle factors, fundus photography, Doppler ultrasound examination of the neck, and laboratory examinations. Two trained ophthalmologists analysed fundus arteriosclerosis based on fundus photographs, while carotid atherosclerosis was diagnosed using colour Doppler sonography of the neck. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and fundus arteriosclerosis. Results In participants with fundus arteriosclerosis, the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis was higher than that of participants without fundus arteriosclerosis (52.94% vs. 47.06%). After adjustments for potential confounding factors, fundus arteriosclerosis was significantly associated with the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. The OR with 95% CI for fundus arteriosclerosis was 1.17 (1.02, 1.34) with p = 0.0262, and individuals who did not have fundus arteriosclerosis were used as a reference in the total population. Fundus arteriosclerosis was associated with the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis in males (p = 0.0005) but not in females (p = 0.0746). Conclusions Fundus arteriosclerosis was closely associated with carotid atherosclerosis in the Chinese population. This association was found in males but not in females.

Advanced multifunctional composite phase change materials (PCMs) for integrating energy storage, photothermal conversion and microwave absorption can promote the development of next-generation miniaturized electronic devices. Here, we report paraffin wax (PW)-based multifunctional composite PCMs with a hierarchical network structure assembled by two‐dimensional (2D) nickel-based metal-organic frameworks (Ni-MOFs) decorated carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The PW/CNTs@Ni-MOF composite PCMs yield an excellent photothermal energy conversion efficiency of 93.2%, as well as a good phase change enthalpy of 126.5 J/g and prominent thermal stability. Preferably, the composite PCMs also present great microwave absorption with –25.32 dB minimum reflection loss (RLmin) at 9.85 GHz. The remarkable features of the composite PCMs lie in their hierarchical network architecture and the synergistic enhancement of CNTs and MOFs, giving rise to the increased surface area, accelerated photon capture and transmission, and enhanced dielectric loss caused by polarization effects and multiple reflections, thus further boosting the latent energy storage capacity, photothermal kinetics, and microwave reflection loss. This work provides a facile and scalable approach to regulating the multifunction of composite PCMs.

The monitoring and management of aquatic ecosystems depend on precise estimates of biodiversity. Metabarcoding analyses of environmental nucleic acids (eNAs), including environmental DNA (eDNA) and environmental RNA (eRNA), have garnered attention for their cost-effective and non-invasive biomonitoring capabilities. However, the accuracy of biodiversity estimates obtained through eNAs can vary among different organismal groups. Here we evaluate the performance of eDNA and eRNA metabarcoding across nine organismal groups, ranging from bacteria to terrestrial vertebrates, in three cross-sections of the Yangtze River, China. We observe robust complementarity between eDNA and eRNA data. The relative detectability of eNAs was notably influenced by major taxonomic groups and organismal sizes, with eDNA providing more robust signals for larger organisms. Both eDNA and eRNA exhibited similar cross-sectional and longitudinal patterns. However, the detectability of larger organisms declined in eRNA metabarcoding, possibly due to differential RNA release and decay among different organismal groups or sizes. While underscoring the potential of eDNA and eRNA in large river biomonitoring, we emphasize the need for differential interpretation of eDNA versus eRNA data. This highlights the importance of careful method selection and interpretation in biomonitoring studies.

Facing the great threats to ecosystems and human health posed by the continuous release of chemicals into aquatic environments, effect-directed analysis (EDA) has emerged as a powerful tool for identifying causative toxicants. However, traditional EDA shows problems of low-coverage, labor-intensive and low-efficiency. Currently, a number of high-efficiency techniques have been integrated into EDA to improve toxicant identification. In this review, the latest progress and current limitations of high-efficiency EDA, comprising high-coverage effect evaluation, high-resolution fractionation, high-coverage chemical analysis, high-automation causative peak extraction and high-efficiency structure elucidation, are summarized. Specifically, high-resolution fractionation, high-automation data processing algorithms and in silico structure elucidation techniques have been well developed to enhance EDA. While high-coverage effect evaluation and chemical analysis should be further emphasized, especially omics tools and data-independent mass acquisition. For the application status in aquatic environments, high-efficiency EDA is widely applied in surface water and wastewater. Estrogenic, androgenic and aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activities are the most concerning, with causative toxicants showing the typical structural features of steroids and benzenoids. A better understanding of the latest progress and application status of EDA would be beneficial to further advance in the field and greatly support aquatic environment monitoring.

An effective identification method for detecting illegal goods involving raw tobacco material is crucial for tobacco monopolies to conduct surveillance. We developed Nicotiana-specific molecular markers to determine whether seized goods contain raw tobacco material. The sequence data for genes related to the nicotine metabolism pathway and genomic data from the public Solanaceae database were used to establish Nicotiana-specific molecular markers. These markers were determined by experimentally verifying 17 types of nontobacco plant material and 91 types of tobacco material belonging to 11 sections of 3 subgenera. Two reliable Nicotiana-specific markers, Ntsp027 and Ntsp151, were selected from among the 209 newly developed markers. The results indicated that the primers corresponding to these two markers can amplify the target fragments in the 91 types of Nicotiana material without amplification of any PCR products in the 17 types of non-Nicotiana material. Furthermore, utilizing the marker Ntsp151, we verified the efficacy of the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay in authenticating tobacco material. The identification of 21 tea-cigarette products via the combination of GC‒MS, a Nicotiana-specific molecular marker and LAMP methods underscores the utility of Nicotiana-specific DNA markers in determining whether illegal goods contain raw tobacco material. Our results indicate an impressive accuracy rate of 100%, which is consistent with the reliability assessment, underscoring the accuracy of these markers in effectively identifying tobacco material. Our findings can significantly augment the capacity for surveillance and anticounterfeiting efforts by aiding the fight against illicit trade and ensuring the integrity of all tobacco-related products in the market.

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) have been widely detected in multiple environment media and have many adverse effects with complex toxicity mechanisms. However, the early molecular responses to OPFRs have not been fully elucidated, thereby making it difficult to assess their risks accurately. In this work, we systematically explored the point of departure (POD) of biological pathways at genome-wide level perturbed by 14 OPFRs with three substituents (alkyl, halogen, and aryl) using a dose-dependent functional genomics approach in Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 24 h exposure. Firstly, our results demonstrated that the overall biological potency at gene level (PODDRG20) ranged from 0.013 to 35.079 μM for 14 OPFRs, especially the tributyl phosphate (TnBP) exhibited the strongest biological potency with the least PODDRG20. Secondly, we found that structural characteristics of carbon number and logKow were significantly negatively correlated with POD, and carbon number and logKow also significantly affected lipid metabolism associated processes. Thirdly, these early biological pathways of OPFRs toxification were found to be involved in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, DNA damage, MAPK signaling pathway, and amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, among which the lipid metabolism was the most sensitive molecular response perturbed by most OPFRs. More importantly, we identified one resistant mutant strain with knockout of ERG2 (YMR202W) gene participated in steroid biosynthesis pathway, which can serve as a key yeast strain of OPFRs toxification. Overall, our study demonstrated an effective platform for accurately assessing OPFRs risks and provided a basis for further green OPFRs development.

Valorization of food processing effluent (FPE) by microalgae cultivation for astaxanthin production is regarded as a potential strategy to solve the environmental pollution of food processing industry and promote the development of eco-friendly agriculture. In this review paper, microalgal species which have the potential to be employed for astaxanthin in FPE were identified. Additionally, in terms of CO2 emission, the performances of microalgae cultivation and traditional methods for FPE remediation were compared. Thirdly, an in-depth discussion of some innovative technologies, which may be employed to lower the total cost, improve the nutrient profile of FPE, and enhance the astaxanthin synthesis, was provided. Finally, specific effects of dietary supplementation of algal astaxanthin on the growth rate, immune response, and pigmentation of animals were discussed. Based on the discussion of this work, the cultivation of microalgae in FPE for astaxanthin production is a value-adding process which can bring environmental benefits and ecological benefits to the food processing industry and agriculture. Particularly, technological innovations in recent years are promoting the shift of this new idea from academic research to practical application. In the coming future, with the reduction of the total cost of algal astaxanthin, policy support from the governments, and further improvement of the innovative technologies, the concept of growing microalgae in FPE for astaxanthin will be more applicable in the industry.

This study evaluates the value of ecological products in the Yellow River Basin, China within the “Two Mountains” theory framework prioritizing ecological conservation and quality growth. Major basin cities were analyzed to quantify ecological product value flows from 2011 to 2020 using an entropy approach assessing rural dynamics, financing, governance, manufacturing, and economic structuring. Entropy valuations of datasets from 38 basin municipalities showed aggregated ecological product values increased from ¥5.73 trillion in 2011 to ¥6.54 trillion in 2020. Spatial disparities were observed with mid-upper basin regions exhibiting significantly higher valuations than lower basinal areas. The novel entropy valuation methodology provides localized quantification of ecological product values aligned with China's sustainability initiatives. The multivariate panel regression model shows that while rural development and agricultural fiscal support negatively impact ecological product value, environmental regulation and advanced industrial structures have a strong positive influence. Furthermore, quantile regression analysis reveals heterogeneities in the distribution of explanatory variables across different quantiles of ecological product value. This offers a comprehensive view of the various factors and dynamics influencing ecological product values in the Yellow River Basin. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of balancing ecological value realization with economic growth, particularly in coastal cities of the Basin. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing ecological value and advancing environmental protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.

In this paper, the objective was to evaluated the impact of germination of chickpea cultivars (Muying1, Y2-514 and YZ-364) on the bioactivity, volatiles and functional properties. The results showed that the Vitamin C content of Muying1, Y2-514 and YZ-364 after germination significantly increased (p

Background: Currently, there is no recommended standard third-line chemotherapy for metastatic gastric cancer. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate irinotecan’s efficacy and safety in treating metastatic gastric cancer after the failure of first- and second-line chemotherapy. Design: Prospective single-arm, two-center, phase II trial. Methods: Patients were aged 18–70 years, with histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–1, progressed during or within 3 months following the last administration of second-line chemotherapy and had no other severe hematologic, cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, or renal functional abnormalities or immunodeficiency diseases. Eligible patients received 28-day cycles of irinotecan (180 mg/m 2 intravenously, days 1 and 15) and were assessed according to the RECIST 1.1 criteria every two cycles. Patients who discontinued treatment for any reason were followed up every 2 months until death. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and toxicity. Results: A total of 98 eligible patients were enrolled in this study. In the intention-to-treat population, the median OS was 7.17 months, the median PFS was 3.47 months, and the ORR and DCR were 4.08% and 47.96%, respectively. In the per-protocol population, the median OS was 7.77 months, the median PFS was 3.47 months, and the ORR and DCR were 4.82% and 50.60%, respectively. The incidence of grade 3 or 4 hematological and non-hematological toxicities was 19.4%, and none of the patients died owing to adverse events. Cox regression analysis revealed neutropenia and baseline thrombocyte levels were independently correlated with PFS and OS. Conclusion: Irinotecan monotherapy is an efficient, well-tolerated, and economical third-line treatment for patients with metastatic gastric cancer as a third-line treatment. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02662959.

Droop control is widely used in multi-terminal flexible DC (VSC-MTDC) transmission systems by virtue of the advantage of multi-station cooperative unbalanced power dissipation, however, the essence of the droop control strategy is to change the DC current to realize the unbalanced power dissipation, and the resulting DC voltage deviation will affect the normal operation of the system. Firstly, this paper theoretically analyses the working characteristics of the conventional droop control and proposes a control method to realize the quasi-differential-free regulation of DC voltage by translating the droop curve. Second, according to the power margin of the converter station, the feedforward compensation amount of each converter station is reasonably set to avoid the power impact on the converter station. Finally, for the problem that the actual value of DC voltage still deviates from the rated value, a control strategy containing secondary regulation of DC voltage is proposed to further restore the DC voltage to the initial value on the basis of ensuring the effect of power regulation, which improves the stability of the operation of the VSC-MTDC system. The final simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Abstract The photothermal conversion capacity of pristine organic phase change materials (PCMs) is inherently insufficient in solar energy utilization. To upgrade their photothermal conversion capacity, we developed bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) derived Co/N co‐doped flower‐like carbon (Co/N‐FLC)‐based composite PCMs toward solar energy harvesting. 3D interconnected carbon framework with low interfacial thermal resistance, abundant carbon defects and high content of nitrogen doping, excellent localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Co nanoparticles, and light absorber Co3ZnC in Co/N‐FLC synergistically upgrade the photothermal capacity of (polyethylene glycol) PEG@Co/N‐FLC composite PCMs with an ultrahigh photothermal conversion efficiency of 94.8% under 0.16 W/cm2. Uniformly anchored Co and Co3ZnC nanoparticles in carbon framework guarantee excellent photon capture ability. Bridging carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in 2D carbon nanosheets further accelerate the rapid transport of phonons by constructing cross‐connected heat transfer paths. Additionally, PEG@Co/N‐FLC exhibits a thermal energy storage density of 100.69 J/g and excellent thermal stability and durable reliability. Therefore, PEG@Co/N‐FLC composite PCMs are promising candidates to accelerate the efficient utilization of solar energy.