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This is an article in the field of materials science. Magnetic LSX molecular sieves were prepared by colloidal directing agent and Fe3O4. After silver ion exchange and hydrazine hydrate reduction, magnetic LSX molecular sieves containing silver atoms were prepared, the surface morphology, magnetic properties, phase structure, elemental composition and specific surface area of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, X-ray diffraction analyzer, photoelectron spectroscopy and specific surface adsorption instrument. The results showed that magnetic LSX molecular sieve is the composite material of LSX molecular sieve and Fe3O4. The micropore specific surface area was 679.38 m2/g. The optimum dosage of colloidal guide agent was 0.5%. The magnetic properties increased with the increase of Fe3O4 content. The specific surface area of magnetic LSX molecular sieve reduced after silver exchange with hydrazine hydrate.

Abstract Background Despite significant progress in the prognosis of pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) in recent decades, a notable portion of children still confronts challenges such as treatment resistance and recurrence, leading to limited options and a poor prognosis. LIM domain-binding protein 1 (LDB1) has been confirmed to exert a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes. In our research, we aim to elucidate the underlying function and mechanisms of LDB1 within the background of T-ALL. Methods Employing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) techniques, we delineated the functional impact of LDB1 in T-ALL cell lines. Through the application of RNA-Seq, CUT&Tag, and immunoprecipitation assays, we scrutinized master transcription factors cooperating with LDB1 and identified downstream targets under LDB1 regulation. Results LDB1 emerges as a critical transcription factor co-activator in cell lines derived from T-ALL. It primarily collaborates with master transcription factors (ERG, ETV6, IRF1) to cooperatively regulate the transcription of downstream target genes. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments affirm the essential fuction of LDB1 in the proliferation and survival of cell lines derived from T-ALL, with MYB identified as a significant downstream target of LDB1. Conclusions To sum up, our research establishes the pivotal fuction of LDB1 in the tumorigenesis and progression of T-ALL cell lines. Mechanistic insights reveal that LDB1 cooperates with ERG, ETV6, and IRF1 to modulate the expression of downstream effector genes. Furthermore, LDB1 controls MYB through remote enhancer modulation, providing valuable mechanistic insights into its involvement in the progression of T-ALL.

Abstract Background Despite the use of targeted therapeutic approaches, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is still associated with a high incidence of complications and a poor prognosis. Indisulam (also known as E7070), a newly identified molecular glue compound, has demonstrated increased therapeutic efficacy in several types of cancer through the rapid degradation of RBM39. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of indisulam in T-ALL, elucidate its underlying mechanisms and explore the role of the RBM39 gene. Methods We verified the anticancer effects of indisulam in both in vivo and in vitro models. Additionally, the construction of RBM39-knockdown cell lines using shRNA confirmed that the malignant phenotype of T-ALL cells was dependent on RBM39. Through RNA sequencing, we identified indisulam-induced splicing anomalies, and proteomic analysis helped pinpoint protein changes caused by the drug. Comprehensive cross-analysis of these findings facilitated the identification of downstream effectors and subsequent validation of their functional roles. Results Indisulam has significant antineoplastic effects on T-ALL. It attenuates cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis and interferes with cell cycle progression in vitro while facilitating tumor remission in T-ALL in vivo models. This investigation provides evidence that the downregulation of RBM39 results in the restricted proliferation of T-ALL cells both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that RBM39 is a potential target for T-ALL treatment. Indisulam’s efficacy is attributed to its ability to induce RBM39 degradation, causing widespread aberrant splicing and abnormal translation of the critical downstream effector protein, THOC1, ultimately leading to protein depletion. Moreover, the presence of DCAF15 is regarded as critical for the effectiveness of indisulam, and its absence negates the ability of indisulam to induce the desired functional alterations. Conclusion Our study revealed that indisulam, which targets RBM39 to induce tumor cell apoptosis, is an effective drug for treating T-ALL. Targeting RBM39 through indisulam leads to mis-splicing of pre-mRNAs, resulting in the loss of key effectors such as THOC1.

Abstract Bone implantation surgery is often accompanied by bacterial infection, resulting in infectious bone non‐union, pathological fracture and other serious consequences, which will aggravate the pain of patients. A non‐antibiotic coating consisting of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and levulinic acid (LA) with different concentrations was prepared by the authors on the zinc–aluminium alloy (ZA6‐1) using a wet chemistry treatment for orthopaedic application. The influence of SDS/LA concentrations on the surface morphology, composition and performance of the developed coating was investigated. The results showed that as‐prepared coating on a zinc alloy surface could improve the substrate's corrosion resistance and increase the degradation rate from 0.82 to 19.70 μm/year upon raising the SDS/LA concentration. Furthermore, higher hydrophilicity (100%) and morphology, as well as good cell adhesion and differentiation (ALP >95% for 7 days) were observed on coated zinc alloys. The increased SDS/LA concentration slightly weakens the biocompatibility and enhances the antibacterial performance of coated zinc alloys due to the synergistic effect of SDS/LA. Overall, the coating comprising 6 wt.% SDS and 9 wt.% LA showed excellent antibacterial action with a high level of biocompatibility, confirming its potential application for orthopaedic implants.

We study Thouless pumping and arresting of gap solitons in a two-component Bose gas loaded into an optical superlattice. We show that, depending on the atomic interactions and chemical potentials, the two solitons can be simultaneously pumped or trapped, but we also identify regimes where one soliton is pumped and the other arrested. These behaviors can be understood by considering an effective model of the system based on a variational approach, which reveals that the soliton width is a suitable qualifier for the observed behaviors: solitons with a larger width get transported, while solitons with a smaller width get trapped. Since these widths can be controlled by tuning interactions, it should be possible to observe all behaviors experimentally.

We study elementary excitations in a Floquet-engineered spin-1 BEC with spin–orbit coupling, which can be realized by periodically driving the quadratic Zeeman shift. We calculate the excitation spectrum of the plane-wave phase, the zero-momentum phase, and the stripe phase, as well as the corresponding response function and static structure factor. In special, we find that two roton modes appear in the lowest two excitation bands of the stripe phase, which are tunable by changing the driving parameters. The phase transition between different phases can be identified by the sound velocity of these phases. We also investigate spin dynamics in such a system, which strongly depend on the driving parameter.

We study the impact of saturable nonlinearity on the presence and location of exceptional points in a non-Hermitian dimer system. The inclusion of the saturable nonlinearity leads to the emergence of multiple eigenvalues, exceeding the typical two found in the linear counterpart. To identify the exceptional points, we calculate the nonlinear eigenvalues both from a polynomial equation for the defined population imbalance and through a fully numerical method. Our results reveal that exceptional points can be precisely located by adjusting the non-equal saturable nonlinearities in the detuning space.

Abstract Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignancy of the hematopoietic system, and childhood AML accounts for about 20% of pediatric leukemia. ANP32B, an important nuclear protein associated with proliferation, has been found to regulate hematopoiesis and CML leukemogenesis by inhibiting p53 activity. However, recent study suggests that ANP32B exerts a suppressive effect on B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in mice by activating PU.1. Nevertheless, the precise underlying mechanism of ANP32B in AML remains elusive. Results Super enhancer related gene ANP32B was significantly upregulated in AML patients. The expression of ANP32B exhibited a negative correlation with overall survival. Knocking down ANP32B suppressed the proliferation of AML cell lines MV4-11 and Kasumi-1, along with downregulation of C-MYC expression. Additionally, it led to a significant decrease in H3K27ac levels in AML cell lines. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that ANP32B knockdown effectively inhibited tumor growth. Conclusions ANP32B plays a significant role in promoting tumor proliferation in AML. The downregulation of ANP32B induces cell cycle arrest and promotes apoptosis in AML cell lines. Mechanistic analysis suggests that ANP32B may epigenetically regulate the expression of MYC through histone H3K27 acetylation. ANP32B could serve as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for AML patients.

Abstract Periodic band structures are a hallmark phenomenon of condensed matter physics. While often imposed by external potentials, periodicity can also arise through the interplay of couplings that are not necessarily spatially periodic on their own, but this option is generally less explored than the fully-periodic counterpart. Here, we investigate dynamics in a lattice structure that emerges from the simultaneous application of Raman and radio frequency coupling to a dilute-gas Bose-Einstein condensate. We elaborate on the role of Galilean invariance in this system and demonstrate a variety of techniques, including Bloch oscillations and lattice shaking with spin and momentum resolved measurements. This combined coupling scheme allows for tunability and control, enabling future investigations into unconventional band structures such as quasi-flat ground bands and those with semimetal-like band gaps.

We show that the transfer of matter-wave solitons and half-vortex solitons in a spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensate between two (or more) arbitrarily chosen sites of an optical lattice can be implemented using the adiabatic passage. The underlying linear Hamiltonian has a flat band in its spectrum, so that even sufficiently weak interatomic interactions can sustain well-localized Wannier solitons which are involved in the transfer process. The adiabatic passage is assisted by properly chosen spatial and temporal modulations of the Rabi frequency. Within the framework of a few-mode approximation, the mechanism is enabled by a dark state created by coupling the initial and target low-energy solitons with a high-energy extended Bloch state, like in the conventional stimulated Raman adiabatic passage used for the coherent control of quantum states. In real space, however, the atomic transfer between initial and target states is sustained by the current carried by the extended Bloch state, which remains populated during the whole process. The full description of the transfer is provided by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Protocols for the adiabatic passage are described for one- and two-dimensional optical lattices, as well as for splitting and subsequent transfer of an initial wave packet simultaneously to two different target locations.

Foam drainage agents enhance gas production by removing wellbore liquids. However, due to the ultra-high salinity environments of the Hechuan gas field (salinity up to 32.5 × 104 mg/L), no foam drainage agent is suitable for this gas field. To address this challenge, we developed a novel nanocomposite foam drainage system composed of quaternary ammonium and two types of nanoparticles. This work describes the design and synthesis of a quaternary ammonium foam drainage agent and nano-engineered stabilizers. Nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether sulfosuccinate quaternary ammonium foam drainage agent was synthesized using maleic anhydride, sodium chloroacetate, N,N-dimethylpropylenediamine, etc., as precursors. We employed the Stöber method to create hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. Carbon quantum dots were then prepared and functionalized with dodecylamine. Finally, carbon quantum dots were incorporated into the mesopores of silica nanoparticles to enhance stability. Through optimization, the best performance was achieved with a (quaternary ammonium foam drainage agents)–(carbon quantum dots/silica nanoparticles) ratio of 5:1 and a total dosage of 1.1%. Under harsh conditions (salinity 35 × 104 mg/L, condensate oil 250 cm3/m3, temperature 80 °C), the system exhibited excellent stability with an initial foam height of 160 mm, remaining at 110 mm after 5 min. Additionally, it displayed good liquid-carrying capacity (160 mL), low surface tension (27.91 mN/m), and a long half-life (659 s). These results suggest the effectiveness of nanoparticle-enhanced foam drainage systems in overcoming high-salinity challenges. Previous foam drainage agents typically exhibited a salinity resistance of no more than 25 × 104 mg/L. In contrast, this innovative system demonstrates a superior salinity tolerance of up to 35 × 104 mg/L, addressing a significant gap in available agents for high-salinity gas fields. This paves the way for future development of advanced foam systems for gas well applications with high salinity.

Abstract In this work, a novel coating with a non‐antibiotic agent for inhibiting Gram‐positive bacteria and promoting osteogenesis was prepared on zinc‐aluminium alloy (ZA6‐1) via mussel mimetic polydopamine (PDA) containing lysozyme (LYS) and parathyroid hormone (PTH). The results indicate that as‐deposited coatings can efficiently decrease the degradation rate of ZA6‐1 from 0.52 to 0.16 mm/year, and the addition of LYS weakens the coating resistance, while the addition of PTH enhances the coating resistance. In spite that no obvious inhibition of Escherichia coli is observed, the coated zinc alloys show good in vitro antibacterial performance against Staphylococcus aureus. Compared with ZA6‐1 zinc alloys, the increase of antibacterial efficacy reaches 86.9%–90.1%. Furthermore, the lower hydrophilicity (26.4°), higher osteoblast cell viability (>100%), good osteoblast cell morphology and better osteoblast cell differentiation (ALP = 107.7%) for PDA‐LYS/PTH coated samples support that as‐prepared coating is promising for modifying biodegradable zinc implants.

Objective: To compare the chemical composition of mature fruit, immature fruit, stalk and leaf of Cinnamomum migao (C. migao), and also to investigate the antioxidant capacity. Methods: The volatile oils of mature fruit, immature fruit, stalk and leaf of C. migao were extracted by hydrodistillation, and their respective components were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the analytical results were searched and matched with Nist 17 and Wiley 275 standard mass spectra, and their relative contents were determined by peak area normalization method, the DPPH· and ABTS+· and total reducing capacity antioxidant system was also used to investigate their antioxidant effects. Results: 66 components were detected from the mature fruit volatile oil of C. migao, with a relative content of 89.365%, and the main components were n-decanoic acid (28.563%), 1,8-cineole (13.461%) and dodecanoic acid (13.279%), etc. 60 components were detected from the immature fruit volatile oil of C. migao, with a relative content of 86.2%, and the main components were 1,8-cineole (11.845%), β-phellandrene (10.831%) and α-phellandrene (9.178%), etc. 67 components were detected from the stalk volatile oil with a relative content of 55.047%, the main components were β-eudesmol (13.683%), 1-((1R,2R,3R)-2-(3- Isopropylfuran-2-yl)-3-methylcyclopentyl)ethanone (3.426%) and δ-cadinene (3.188%), etc. 50 components were detected from the leaf volatile oil with a relative content of 64.389%, the main components were 1-((1R,2R,3R)-2-(3-Isopropylfuran-2-yl)-3-methylcyclopentyl)ethanone (11.259%), spathulenol (8.473%) and 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (7.79%), etc. The antioxidant results indicating that the mature fruit volatile oil had the best antioxidant effect and the stalk volatile oil had the worst antioxidant effect. Correlation analysis showed that hydrocarbon and acid components were positively correlated with antioxidant capacity. Cluster analysis classified the mature and immature fruit into one category, and the stalk and leaf into one category. Conclusion: The components and contents of the volatile oil from different parts of C. migao varied greatly, but all of them had good antioxidant ability, which could lay the foundation for the subsequent study.

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers have specific characteristics such as thermal insulation, weatherproofing, and sunlight resistance and therefore are appropriate to be applied as insulation materials for various industries, especially in greenhouse construction. The heat source in greenhouse buildings that operate independently in the heating network comes from heat storage tanks. In the present study, employing thermal field numerical simulations, we investigate the heat flux of a cylindrical heat storage tank with silica aerogel-modified PAN nanofibers as thermal insulation materials. The geometric scale of the tank body, thermal insulation material thickness, and outdoor temperature are optimized to improve thermal insulation. The significant discrepancy in heat flux at different parts of the heat storage tank leads to the extreme heat flux arising at the water–gas interface on the inner and outer walls. It is indicated that the heat flux distribution can be effectively ameliorated by modifying the scale of the tank body to retain the overall water temperature. In particular, effective insulation can merely be acquired when the thermal conductivity of the insulation material is below 3.3 W·m−1·K−1. Eventually, the heat storage tank is optimized to store 1400 L water at 100 °C with a radius of 0.6 m and a thermal insulation thickness of 50 mm at an outdoor temperature of −10 °C, which can maintain excellent thermal insulation for 8 and 24 h at 87.7 and 69.9 °C, respectively.

Soil salinization is a global agro-ecological problem and a major factor impeding agricultural development. Planting salt-tolerant plants to improve saline soils offers both ecological and economic benefits. Currently, there are few studies addressing the combined effects of salt and alkali stress. Quinoa is known for its salinity tolerance. However, research has predominantly focused on the effects of salinity stress on quinoa’s morphology and physiology, with its molecular mechanisms remaining unclear. To better understand quinoa’s response mechanisms to salinity and alkali stress, we employed RNA-seq technology to analyze transcriptomes under these conditions. We identified 1833 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under salt stress and 2233 DEGs under alkali stress. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotations revealed that quinoa responds to salt and alkali stress through similar mechanisms. Both stresses promoted sucrose synthesis, starch synthesis and catabolism, which increased the osmotic potential of quinoa leaves. Additionally, there was a regulation of the down-regulated expression of the abscisic acid receptor PYR/PYL and the up-regulated expression of the serine/threonine protein kinase (PP2C) gene in the ABA signaling pathway. Contrasting with salt tolerance, the mechanism specific to quinoa’s alkalinity tolerance involves the up-regulation of the citric acid cycle via an active γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) branch, enhancing quinoa’s energy metabolism. In summary, our transcriptome analysis revealed key regulatory mechanisms in quinoa’s response to saline and alkaline stress. This study deepens the understanding of quinoa’s stress response mechanisms and provides theoretical references for the biological improvement of salinized soils.

The timely and accurate mapping of crop types is crucial for agricultural insurance, futures, and assessments of food security risks. However, crop mapping is currently focused on the post-harvest period, and less attention has been paid to early crop mapping. In this study, the feasibility of using Sentinel-1 (S1) and Sentinel-2 (S2) data for the earliest identifiable time (EIT) for major crops (sunflower, maize, spring wheat, and melon) was explored in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID) of China, based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. An early crop identification strategy based on the Random Forest (RF) model for HID was proposed, and the performance of the model transfer was evaluated. First, the median synthesis, linear shift interpolation, and the Savitzky–Golay (SG) filter methods were used to reconstruct the time series of S1 and S2. Subsequently, the sensitivity of different input features, time intervals, and data integration to different early crop identifications was evaluated based on the RF model. Finally, the model with optimal parameters was evaluated in terms of its transfer capacity and used for the early mapping of crops in the HID area. The results showed that the features extracted from S2 images synthesized at 10-day intervals performed well in obtaining crop EITs. Sunflower, maize, spring wheat, and melon could be identified 90, 90, 70, and 40 days earlier than the harvest date. The identification accuracy, measured by the F1-score, could reach 0.97, 0.95, 0.98, and 0.90, respectively. The performance of the model transfer is good, with the F1-score decreasing from 0 to 0.04 and no change in EIT for different crops. It was also found that the EIT of crops obtained using S1 data alone was 50–90 days later than that obtained using S2 data alone. Additionally, when S1 and S2 were used jointly, S1 data contributed little to early crop identification. This study highlights the potential of early crop mapping using satellite data, which provides a feasible solution for the early identification of crops in the HID area and valuable information for food security assurance in the region.

Abstract Background Cancer patients can achieve dramatic responses to chemotherapy yet retain resistant tumor cells, which ultimately results in relapse. Although xenograft model studies have identified several cellular and molecular features that are associated with chemoresistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), to what extent AML patients exhibit these properties remains largely unknown. Results We apply single-cell RNA sequencing to paired pre- and post-chemotherapy whole bone marrow samples obtained from 13 pediatric AML patients who had achieved disease remission, and distinguish AML clusters from normal cells based on their unique transcriptomic profiles. Approximately 50% of leukemic stem and progenitor populations actively express leukemia stem cell (LSC) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) signatures, respectively. These clusters have a higher chance of tolerating therapy and exhibit an enhanced metabolic program in response to treatment. Interestingly, the transmembrane receptor CD69 is highly expressed in chemoresistant hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-like populations (named the CD69 + HSC-like subpopulation). Furthermore, overexpression of CD69 results in suppression of the mTOR signaling pathway and promotion of cell quiescence and adhesion in vitro. Finally, the presence of CD69 + HSC-like cells is associated with unfavorable genetic mutations, the persistence of residual tumor cells in chemotherapy, and poor outcomes in independent pediatric and adult public AML cohorts. Conclusions Our analysis reveals leukemia stem cell and OXPHOS as two major chemoresistant features in human AML patients. CD69 may serve as a potential biomarker in defining a subpopulation of chemoresistant leukemia stem cells. These findings have important implications for targeting residual chemo-surviving AML cells.

Abstract Germ cell tumors complicated by hematological malignancy (HM) are a rare clinical phenomenon. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) is a potentially effective therapy, but graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) is a life‐threatening complication. We report a case of a 13‐year‐old female patient diagnosed with germ cell tumors followed by acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After chemotherapy, she received allo‐HSCT and her chimerism rate decreased rapidly to near zero by 6 months without evidence of HM recurrence. However, she developed severe, multiorgan GVHD‐like manifestations. DNA analysis revealed the pathogenesis of GVHD to be loss of HLA heterozygosity in recipient hematopoietic cells.

Abstract One of the characteristics of leukemia is that it contains multiple rearrangements of signal transduction genes and overexpression of non-mutant genes, such as transcription factors. As an important regulator of hematopoietic stem cell development and erythropoiesis, LMO2 is considered an effective carcinogenic driver in T cell lines and a marker of poor prognosis in patients with AML with normal karyotype. LDB1 is a key factor in the transformation of thymocytes into T-ALL induced by LMO2, and enhances the stability of carcinogenic related proteins in leukemia. However, the function and mechanism of LMO2 and LDB1 in AML remains unclear. Herein, the LMO2 gene was knocked down to observe its effects on proliferation, survival, and colony formation of NB4, Kasumi-1 and K562 cell lines. Using mass spectrometry and IP experiments, our results showed the presence of LMO2/LDB1 protein complex in AML cell lines, which is consistent with previous studies. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that LDB1 is essential for the proliferation and survival of AML cell lines. Analysis of RNA-seq and ChIP-Seq results showed that LDB1 could regulate apoptosis-related genes, including LMO2. In LDB1-deficient AML cell lines, the overexpression of LMO2 partially compensates for the proliferation inhibition. In summary, our findings revealed that LDB1 played an important role in AML as an oncogene, and emphasize the potential importance of the LMO2/LDB1 complex in clinical treatment of patients with AML.

This is a paper in the field of ceramics and composites. In order to understand the water content distribution characteristics of 4A molecular sieve in the process of water absorption and dehydration, the calculation methods of high temperature dehydration and low temperature water absorption were used to discuss the water content distribution of 4A molecular sieve under different desorption temperature and atmosphere. The results showed that when the desorption temperature was 200~230 ℃, the effective residual water was 4%~5%, the effective desorption water was 24%~25% and the water absorption was 83%~87% in the non vacuum air desorption under vacuum, the effective residual water was 1%~2%, the effective desorption water was 27%~28%, and the water absorption is 93%~97%. In order to make the effective residual water content less than 2%, the best desorption regeneration conditions are vacuum atmosphere and desorption temperature not less than 200 ℃.The effective dewater and residual water of molecular sieve in non vacuum atmosphere can be estimated by differential thermal analysis. The water absorption rate of the sample after vacuum desorption is higher than that of the sample without vacuum desorption.

In air pollution studies, the correlation analysis of environmental variables has usually been challenged by parametric diversity. Such variable variations are not only from the extrinsic meteorological conditions and industrial activities but also from the interactive influences between the multiple parameters. A promising solution has been motivated by the recent development of visibility graph (VG) on multi-variable data analysis, especially for the characterization of pollutants' correlation in the temporal domain, the multiple visibility graph (MVG) for nonlinear multivariate time series analysis has been verified effectively in different realistic scenarios. To comprehensively study the correlation between pollutant data and season, in this work, we propose a multi-layer complex network with a community division strategy based on the joint analysis of the atmospheric pollutants. Compared to the single-layer-based complex networks, our proposed method can integrate multiple different atmospheric pollutants for analysis, and combine them with multivariate time series data to obtain higher temporary community division for ground air pollutants interpretation. Substantial experiments have shown that this method effectively utilizes air pollution data from multiple representative indicators. By mining community information in the data, it successfully achieves reasonable and strong interpretive analysis of air pollution data.

ABSTRACTIntroduction B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the most prevalent malignant tumor affecting children. While the majority of B-ALL patients (90%) experience successful recovery, early relapse cases of B-ALL continue to exhibit high mortality rates. MZ1, a novel inhibitor of Bromodomains and extra-terminal (BET) proteins, has demonstrated potent antitumor activity against hematological malignancies. The objective of this study was to examine the role and therapeutic potential of MZ1 in the treatment of B-ALL.Methods In order to ascertain the fundamental mechanism of MZ1, a sequence of in vitro assays was conducted on B-ALL cell lines, encompassing Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assay, Propidium iodide (PI) staining, and Annexin V/PI staining. Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were employed to examine protein and mRNA expression levels. Transcriptomic RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was utilized to screen the target genes of MZ1, and lentiviral transfection was employed to establish stably-expressing/knockdown cell lines.Results MZ1 has been observed to induce the degradation of Bromodomain Containing 4 (BRD4), Bromodomain Containing 3 (BRD3), and Bromodomain Containing 2 (BRD2) in B-ALL cell strains, leading to inhibited cell growth and induction of cell apoptosis and cycle arrest in vitro. These findings suggest that MZ1 exhibits cytotoxic effects on two distinct molecular subtypes of B-ALL, namely 697 (TCF3/PBX1) and RS4;11 (MLL-AF4) B-ALL cell lines. Additionally, RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that MZ1 significantly downregulated the expression of Cyclin D3 (CCND3) gene in B-ALL cell lines, which in turn promoted cell apoptosis, blocked cell cycle, and caused cell proliferation inhibition.Conclusion Our results suggest that MZ1 has potential anti-B-ALL effects and might be a novel therapeutic target.

Abstract Flesh color is an important quality of melon (Cucumis melo L.) and is determined mainly by carotenoid content, awarding them with colors, aromas, and nutrients. enhancing the nutritional and health benefits of fruits and vegetables for humans. In this study, we performed transcriptomic analysis of two melon inbred line “B-14” (orange-flesh) and “B-6” (white-flesh) at three developmental stages. We observed that the β-carotene content of inbred line “B-6” (14.232 μg/g) was significantly lower than that of inbred line “B-14” (0.534 μg/g). RNA-sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription PCR analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two inbred lines at different stages; the DEGs were analyzed using the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases (KEGG). We identified 33 structural DEGs in different developmental periods of the two lines that were related to carotenoid metabolism. Among them, PSY, Z-ISO, ZDS, CRTISO, CCD4, VDE1, and NCED2 were highly correlated with carotenoid content. Thus, this study provides a basis for molecular mechanism of carotenoid biosynthesis and flesh color in melon fruit.

In order to investigate the microwave vacuum drying characteristics of Lycium barbarum extract, the prediction model of drying kinetics of the relationship between its moisture ratio and drying time was established by investigating the influence rule of microwave power density and the initial relative density of the extract on the temperature, dry basis moisture content and water loss rate of the extract, and the model was validated. The experimental results showed that the microwave vacuum drying process of Lycium barbarum extract could be divided into two stages: The extract was transformed from a fluid state to a semi-fluid state (stage I) and from a semi-fluid state to a dry paste state (stage II). The higher the microwave power density and the initial relative density, the rising trend of the temperature of the extract seemed more obvious. The faster the water content of the dry base decreased, the greater the change in the rate of water loss, and the shorter the drying time required. By fitting six commonly used empirical models for thin-layer drying, among which the Wang model R2 was between 0.98878~0.99902, \begin{document}$ X $\end{document}2 and SSE were less than 0.0017 and 0.00849, which were the smallest values among the six models. And after verification, the predicted values of the model were basically fitted with the experimental values, which could better predict the moisture of Lycium barbarum extract during microwave vacuum drying change rule.

We study nonlinear transports of a light field through finite parity–time symmetric lattice potentials. The initial light field is trapped in a source reservoir and is released to expand toward the lattice potentials along the transverse direction due to the nonlinearity. We identify the transports that can be classified into in-band and in-gap transports. In the in-band transport, the light field can tunnel through the lattices into the sink reservoir, and in the in-gap transport, the light field is self-trapped inside the lattices to form a solitary wave.

To accurately and non-destructively monitor the growth of spring wheat in the Hetao irrigation area, UAV remote sensing was employed during various fertility stages. Digital image indices from diverse fertilization treatments were calculated and compared with physiological indices to identify the most sensitive digital image indices corresponding to these indices. The study underscored the critical importance of the flowering stage in the growth of spring wheat, thus highlighting the necessity of focusing on this stage. This finding reiterated that the flowering stage was pivotal for spring wheat development in the Hetao Irrigation Area. Several digital image indices, such as GLA, R, G, INT, g, GRVI, MGRVI, RGBVI, EXG, and GRRI, exhibited a high frequency of significant correlations with physiological indices during the four primary reproductive stages of wheat. Consequently, these sensitive digital image indices during the flowering stage can more effectively characterize the physiological indices of spring wheat.

IntroductionAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is a standard treatment for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL). However, about 30-40% of patients still relapse after HCT. Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has been proven effective in the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-ALL.Patients and methodsWe report a cohort of 30 B-ALL patients, who relapsed after HCT and were enrolled in the 4SCAR2.0 study, receiving CD19 CAR-Ts alone (20 patients), or two types of CAR-Ts targeting CD19, CD22, CD38 or CD123 antigens (10 patients), depending on the tumor antigen expression profile. These patients had extramedullary (EM) relapse or bone marrow (BM) relapse, or both. Based on the GVHD history, donor chimerism, and the available T-cell source, 25 patients received allogeneic donor CAR-Ts, and 5 patients received autologous CAR-T treatment. ResultsAll 20 patients receiving a single CD19 CAR-T infusion achieved a minimal residual disease (MRD) remission within 60 days. The remaining 10 patients, due to low CD19 antigen expression profile, received 2 CAR-T products given on the same day, and 9 of 10 achieved complete remission (CR) and one had disease progression within 60 days. After CAR-T infusion, no cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was observed in 14 patients, and 16 patients experienced grade 1 CRS, and there was no neurotoxicity. Seventeen of the 30 patients who achieved remission (57%) remained in continuous remission following CAR-T treatment with a median follow-up period of 2 years and a median duration of remission of 12 months (range: 2.8 months - 67 months). Twelve out of 29 patients (41%) who achieved remission, subsequently relapsed at a median of 6.3 months (range: 2.8 months - 22.3 months) after CAR-T treatment. In summary, 29 patients (97%) achieved MRD negative remission within 60 days of therapy with a single or double CAR-T infusion, and seven patients remained in durable remission (7/30, 23%) after more than 2 years of follow-up. DiscussionThe tumor antigen profile-guided precision 4SCAR2.0 regimen for the treatment of r/r B-ALL after allo-HCT was highly effective with low toxicity. This approach warrants extended follow-up and further studies. Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03125577.

IntroductionMacrophages or T-lymphocytes triggered inflammation and, consequently, activated glial cells may contribute to neuroinflammation and neurotransmitter dysfunction in schizophrenia (SZ), while omega(n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can attenuate some SZ symptoms through anti-inflammatory effects. However, the correlations between macrophage/T-lymphocyte-produced cytokines and glia phenotypes, between inflammatory status and PUFAs composition, between cytokines and neurotransmitter function, and between n-3 PUFAs and neurotransmitter abnormality in SZ are unclear.MethodsChanges in T-helper (h) patterns, peripheral macrophage/glial markers, PUFAs profile, membrane fluidity, and neurotransmitter functions were evaluated in SZ patients (n = 50) and healthy controls (n = 30) using ELISA, gas chromatography, fluorescence anisotropy techniques, and HPLC, respectively.ResultsCompared to the control, blood lymphocyte proliferation, the concentration of macrophage/microglia phenotype M1 markers, including cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α (Th1) and IL-6 (Th2), and astrocyte phenotype A1 marker S100β was significantly increased, while IL-17 and n-3 PUFAs contents, n-3/n-6 ratio, and membrane fluidity (FLU) were significantly decreased in SZ. Moreover, increased DA and HVA, decreased 5-HT and NE, and their metabolites appeared in SZ. Moreover, negative correlations between IL-6 and A2 marker Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) or n-3 PUFAs EPA and between IL-1β and FLU or 5HIAA, while positive correlations between EPA and 5-HIAA and between FLU and DHA were found in SZ.DiscussionThese findings showed (1) no clear Th pattern, but pro-inflammatory-dominant immunity occurred; (2) the pro-inflammatory pattern may result in the activated microglia M1 and astrocyte A1 phenotype; and (3) increased pro-inflammatory cytokines were related to decreased n-3 PUFA and decreased membrane fluidity and dysfunctional neurotransmitter systems in SZ.

Deep learning-based methods for detecting surface defects on strip steel have advanced detection capabilities, but there are still problems of target loss, false alarms, large computation, and imbalance between detection accuracy and detection speed. In order to achieve a good balance between detection accuracy and speed, a lightweight YOLOv5 strip steel surface defect detection algorithm based on YOLOv5s is proposed. Firstly, we introduce the efficient lightweight convolutional layer called GSConv. The Slim Neck, designed based on GSConv, replaces the original algorithm's neck, reducing the number of network parameters and improving detection speed. Secondly, we incorporate SimAM, a non-parametric attention mechanism, into the improved neck to enhance detection accuracy. Finally, we utilize the SIoU function as the regression prediction loss instead of the original CIoU to address the issue of slow convergence and improve efficiency. According to experimental findings, the YOLOv5-GSS algorithm outperforms the YOLOv5 method by 2.9% on the NEU-DET dataset and achieves an average accuracy (mAP) of 83.8% with a detection speed (FPS) of 100 Hz, which is 3.8 Hz quicker than the YOLOv5 algorithm. The proposed model outperforms existing approaches and is more useful, demonstrating the efficacy of the optimization strategy.

BackgroundMethotrexate (MTX), utilized as a graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylactic agent in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), has been proven to effectively decrease the occurrence of the peri-engraftment syndrome (Peri-ES) and acute GvHD (aGvHD). Changes in the pharmacodynamics of MTX are closely associated with gene polymorphisms in genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Nevertheless, the current studies mainly concentrate on leukemia or autoimmune diseases, and limited studies on allo-HSCT were reported.MethodsHere, we retrospectively assessed the relationship between MTX-related transporter and metabolizing enzyme gene polymorphisms, clinical characteristics, and outcomes in 57 pediatric patients who received haploid HSCT (haplo-HSCT) with malignant tumors at a single center.ResultsWe discovered all gene polymorphisms were in the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in our cohort. We discovered a significant correlation between platelet recovery time and ABCB1 (1236C>T) (p = 0.042). Compared with patients with SLCO1B1 (1865+4846T>C) TT, patients with SLCO1B1 (1865+4846T>C) TC/CC had an increased incidence of Peri-ES (p = 0.030). Based on the multivariate Cox analysis, we discovered that SLCO1B1 (1865+4846T>C) TT genotype was an independent protective factor for Peri-ES morbidity (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.464, p = 0.031), and the dose of mononuclear cells reinfused was significantly correlated with II–IV aGvHD (HR = 2.604, p = 0.039).ConclusionIn summary, our findings prove that the host’s genotypes might modify the risk of developing Peri-ES, contribute to a better understanding of the inter-individual difference in efficacy, and facilitate the development of individualized approaches to GvHD prophylaxis.

Public transit is a critical part of transportation infrastructure and social equity. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on transit systems throughout the nation. The study area for this paper, the Inland Empire (I.E.) in Southern California, has a significant minority and disadvantaged population, highlighting the importance of creating opportunities and new means of transportation. The transportation system has been built to support automobile travel, but public transit is an important mobility factor for many people. This paper aims to study the performance of public transit services and their impact on underserved communities. Pre-pandemic, during and post-COVID-19 vaccination rollout time periods, were selected to analyze the impact on transit equity. A transit equity analysis model was built using multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) on demographic and transit-related data from 645 census tracts. This model creates a transit equity index (TEI), which includes a transit service index (TSI), a socially disadvantaged index (DAI), and a race index (R.I.). The transit equity index shows a strong relationship between TSI and R.I. on DAI, reflecting the region's lack of efficient transit services in racially marginalized census tracts. As a result, new policies are needed to promote public transportation, create adequate infrastructure, and envision urban planning to decrease public transit social inequities within the I.E.

The traffic flow pertinent modelling is essential for distinct strategy formulations. However, the present literature illustrated some needed improvements for such models, especially those related to lane-specific flow. Given such context, this study aims to bridge the research gap by generating regression models to investigate influential factors for traffic flow based on the data collected from one multilane freeway. With the Full Bayesian specification, the hierarchical models were built by accounting for three types of random effects: the structured and unstructured spatial effects, and the one addressing the multivariate heterogeneity across multiple lanes. The endogenous relationship of traffic flow of adjacent lanes was also explored by utilizing the capability of multivariate correlation structure for simultaneous estimation of lane flow. The model estimates revealed the presence of endogeneity with statistical significance for the flow of neighbouring lanes for both directions of travel. The impact of flow was not only limited to the adjacent lanes but also to non-adjacent lanes. The multivariate specification also confirmed interdependency for lane flows. Compared to conventional approaches, the more accurate model estimation in the study indicates the advantage of incorporating the various correlation structures in the models.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly cancerous and aggressive hematologic disease with elevated levels of drug resistance and relapse resulting in high mortality. Recently, bromodomains and extra-terminal (BET) protein inhibitors have been extensively researched in hematological tumors as potential anticancer agents. MZ1 is a novel BET inhibitor that mediates selective proteins degradation and suppression of tumor growth through proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTAC) technology. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the role and therapeutic potential of MZ1 in AML. In this study, we first identified that AML patients with high BRD4 expression had poor overall survival than those with low expression group. MZ1 inhibited AML cell growth and induced apoptosis and cycle arrest in vitro. MZ1 induced degradation of BRD4, BRD3 and BRD2 in AML cell strains. Additionally, MZ1 also initiated the cleavage of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), which showed cytotoxic effects on NB4 (PML-RARa), K562 (BCR-ABL), Kasumi-1 (AML1-ETO), and MV4-11 (MLL-AF4) cell lines representing different molecular subtypes of AML. In AML mouse leukemia model, MZ1 significantly decreased leukemia cell growth and increased the mouse survival time. According to the RNA-sequencing analysis, MZ1 led to c-Myc and ANP32B genes significant downregulation in AML cell lines. Knockdown of ANP32B promoted AML cell apoptosis and inhibited cell growth. Overall, our data indicated that MZ1 had broad anti-cancer effects on AML cell lines with different molecular lesions, which might be exploited as a novel therapeutic strategy for AML patients.

In order to study the optimal extraction process, composition and antioxidant activity of the Litsea lancilimba Merr. volatile oil, using the extraction rate of the Litsea lancilimba Merr. volatile oil as index, based on the single factor test, the response surface method was used to investigate the extraction process; GC-MS was used to analysis the composition of volatile oil; DPPH· scavenging test was used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of Litsea lancilimba Merr. volatile oil. The results showed that the best extraction process was soak time 5 h, 5 times the material-liquid ratio, and extraction time 8 h. Under the above conditions, the extraction rate was 10.67%. 74 components were identified from the Litsea lancilimba Merr. volatile oil by GC-MS, accounting for 93.175% of the total volatile oil. Among them, the relative contents higher than 3% were 1, 8-cineole (21.854%), n-decanoic acid (12.893%), β-pinene (4.873%), p-cymene (4.579%), α-pinene (4.452%), lauric acid (3.734%), α-terpinenol (3.188%). The total antioxidant activity of Litsea lancilimba Merr. volatile oil gradually increased with the increase of the concentration. When the concentration was in the range of 1.0~6.0 mg/mL, the highest clearance rate was 92.94%. The optimized process was suitable for the extraction of Litsea lancilimba Merr. volatile oil. There were many components in the Litsea lancilimba Merr. volatile oil, among which terpenoids, hydrocarbons and acids were the main components. The antioxidant results indicate that it has a certain in vitro antioxidant capacity.

Abstract Background Proanthocyanidins (PAs) have always been considered as important medicinal value component. In order to gain insights into the PA biosynthesis regulatory network in I. stachyodes roots, we analyzed the transcriptome of the I. stachyodes in Leaf, Stem, RootI (one-year-old root), and RootII (two-year-old root). Results In this study, a total of 110,779 non-redundant unigenes were obtained, of which 63,863 could be functionally annotated. Simultaneously, 75 structural genes that regulate PA biosynthesis were identified, of these 6 structural genes (IsF3′H1, IsANR2, IsLAR2, IsUGT72L1-3, IsMATE2, IsMATE3) may play an important role in the synthesis of PAs in I. stachyodes roots. Furthermore, co-expression network analysis revealed that 34 IsMYBs, 18 IsbHLHs, 15 IsWRKYs, 9 IsMADSs, and 3 IsWIPs hub TFs are potential regulators for PA accumulation. Among them, IsMYB24 and IsMYB79 may be closely involved in the PA biosynthesis in I. stachyodes roots. Conclusions The biosynthesis of PAs in I. stachyodes roots is mainly produced by the subsequent pathway of cyanidin. Our work provides new insights into the molecular pathways underlying PA accumulation and enhances our global understanding of transcriptome dynamics throughout different tissues.

Abstract Background Karst-adapted plant, Lysionotus pauciflours accumulates special secondary metabolites with a wide range of pharmacological effects for surviving in drought and high salty areas, while researchers focused more on their environmental adaptations and evolutions. Nevadensin (5,7-dihydroxy-6,8,4'-trimethoxyflavone), the main active component in L. pauciflours, has unique bioactivity of such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tubercular, and anti-tumor or cancer. Complex decoration of nevadensin, such as hydroxylation and glycosylation of the flavone skeleton determines its diversity and biological activities. The lack of omics data limits the exploration of accumulation mode and biosynthetic pathway. Herein, we integrated transcriptomics, metabolomics, and microbial recombinant protein system to reveal hydroxylation and glycosylation involving nevadensin biosynthesis in L. pauciflours. Results Up to 275 flavonoids were found to exist in L. pauciflorus by UPLC-MS/MS based on widely targeted metabolome analysis. The special flavone nevadensin (5,7-dihydroxy-6,8,4'-trimethoxyflavone) is enriched in different tissues, as are its related glycosides. The flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was drawn based on differential transcripts analysis, including 9 PAL, 5 C4H, 8 4CL, 6 CHS, 3 CHI, 1 FNSII, and over 20 OMTs. Total 310 LpCYP450s were classified into 9 clans, 36 families, and 35 subfamilies, with 56% being A-type CYP450s by phylogenetic evolutionary analysis. According to the phylogenetic tree with AtUGTs, 187 LpUGTs clustered into 14 evolutionary groups (A-N), with 74% being E, A, D, G, and K groups. Two LpCYP82D members and LpUGT95 were functionally identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli, respectively. CYP82D-8 and CYP82D-1 specially hydroxylate the 6- or 8-position of A ring in vivo and in vitro, dislike the function of F6H or F8H discovered in basil which functioned depending on A-ring substituted methoxy. These results refreshed the starting mode that apigenin can be firstly hydroxylated on A ring in nevadensin biosynthesis. Furthermore, LpUGT95 clustered into the 7-OGT family was verified to catalyze 7-O glucosylation of nevadensin accompanied with weak nevadensin 5-O glucosylation function, firstly revealed glycosylation modification of flavones with completely substituted A-ring. Conclusions Metabolomic and full-length transcriptomic association analysis unveiled the accumulation mode and biosynthetic pathway of the secondary metabolites in the karst-adapted plant L. pauciflorus. Moreover, functional identification of two LpCYP82D members and one LpUGT in microbe reconstructed the pathway of nevadensin biosynthesis.

When aiming to achieve consistency in fractal characteristics between different models, it is crucial to consider the synchronization of Julia sets. This paper studies the synchronization of Julia sets in three-dimensional discrete financial models. First, three-dimensional discrete financial models with different model parameters are proposed and their Julia sets are presented. According to the model forms, two kinds of synchronous couplers that can achieve synchronization of Julia sets between different models are designed by changing the synchronization parameters. The proposed synchronization method is theoretically derived and the efficiency of different synchronous couplers are compared. Finally, the effectiveness is verified by Julia sets graphics. This method has reference value for theoretical research into financial models in the field of fractals.

Abstract Background Predictive biomarkers are needed to identify oestrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER + /HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients who would likely benefit from cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors combined with endocrine therapy. Therefore, we performed an exploratory study to evaluate the tumour heterogeneity parameters based on 16α-18F-fluoro-17β-oestradiol (18F-FES)-PET imaging as a potential marker to predict progression-free survival (PFS) in MBC patients receiving palbociclib combined with endocrine therapy. Methods Fifty-six ER + MBC patients underwent 18F-FES-PET/CT before the initiation of palbociclib. 18F-FES uptake was quantified and expressed as the standardized uptake value (SUV). Interlesional heterogeneity was qualitatively identified according to the presence or absence of 18F-FES-negative lesions. Intralesional heterogeneity was measured by the SUV-based heterogeneity index (HI = SUVmax/SUVmean). Association with survival was evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results A total of 551 metastatic lesions were found in 56 patients: 507 lesions were identified as 18F-FES-positive, 38 lesions were distributed across 10 patients without 18F-FES uptake, and the remaining 6 were liver lesions. Forty-three patients obtained a clinical benefit, and 13 developed progressive disease (PD) within 24 weeks. Nine out of 10 patients with an 18F-FES-negative site developed PD, and the median PFS was only 2.4 months. Among 46 patients with only 18F-FES-positive lesions, only four patients had PD, and the median PFS was 23.6 months. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P

Cinnamomum migao H. W. Li is an evergreen woody plant that is only distributed in southwest China. The volatile oils from the fruits of C. migao have long been used as a special authentic medicinal herb by local ethnic minorities. Due to its low seed germination rate, destructive lumbering and low rates of artificial planting, C. migao is facing the danger of extinction. Therefore, it is urgent to exploit and protect this species using molecular biological technology, especially to target the genes involved in the biosynthesis of terpenoids in the volatile oil. However, the genomic data for this plant are not available. In this study, the transcriptome sequencing of C. migao was performed to obtain the key genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis via a combination of full-length transcriptome and next-generation sequencing (NGS). More than 39.9 Gb of raw data was obtained and 515,929 circular consensus sequences (CCSs) were extracted. After clustering similar 472,858 full-length non-chimeric (FLNC) reads and correction with NGS data, 139,871 consensus isoforms were obtained. Meanwhile, 73,575 non-redundant transcripts were generated by removing redundant transcripts. Then, 70,427 isoforms were successfully annotated using public databases. Moreover, differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) in four different developmental stages of the C. migao fruit were analyzed and 5764 transcripts showed period-specific expression. Finally, 15 transcripts, 6 transcripts, and only 1 transcript were identified as being involved in the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, and monoterpenoids, respectively. This study provides a basis for future research in the gene mining, genetic breeding, and metabolic engineering of C. migao.

Background. Arising from T progenitor cells, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignant tumor, accounting for 15% of childhood ALL and 25% of adult ALL. Composing of putative enhancers in close genomic proximity, super enhancer (SE) is critical for cell identity and the pathogenesis of multiple cancers. Belonging to the cytosolute linker protein group, FYB1 is essential for TCR signaling and extensively studied in terms of tumor pathogenesis and metastasis. Dissecting the role of FYN binding protein 1 (FYB1) in T-ALL holds the potential to improve the treatment outcome and prognosis of T-ALL. Methods. In this study, SEs were explored using public H3K27ac ChIP-seq data derived from T-ALL cell lines, AML cell lines and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Downstream target of FYB1 gene was identified by RNA-seq. Effects of shRNA-mediated downregulation of FYB1 and immunoglobulin lambda-like polypeptide 1 (IGLL1) on self-renewal of T-ALL cells were evaluated in vitro and/or in vivo. Results. As an SE-driven gene, overexpression of FYB1 was observed in T-ALL, according to the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia database. In vitro, knocking down FYB1 led to comprised growth and enhanced apoptosis of T-ALL cells. In vivo, downregulation of FYB1 significantly decreased the disease burden by suppressing tumor growth and improved survival rate. Knocking down FYB1 resulted in significantly decreased expression of IGLL1 that was also an SE-driven gene in T-ALL. As a downstream target of FYB1, IGLL1 exerted similar role as FYB1 in inhibiting growth of T-ALL cells. Conclusion. Our results suggested that FYB1 gene played important role in regulating self-renewal of T-ALL cells by activating IGLL1, representing a promising therapeutic target for T-ALL patients.

Microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) can serve as a communication channel among microorganisms, insects and plants, making them important in ecosystem. In order to understand the possible role of mVOCs in Arctic ecology, the microbes in Arctic flowers and their mVOCs and effects on plants were investigated. This study aims to isolate different yeast species from the flowers of five Arctic plant species and further to explore the function of mVOCs emitted by these microbes to plant. It was found that the composition and amount of mVOCs produced by the isolated yeasts were considerably affected by changes in incubation temperature. When the incubation temperature rose, the species of alcohols, aldehydes, esters, organic acids, and ketones increased, but substances specific to low temperature decreased or disappeared. When yeasts were co-cultured with Arabidopsis thaliana without any direct contact, mVOCs produced by the isolated yeasts inhibited the seed germination of A. thaliana at low temperatures; however, the mVOCs promoted the chlorophyll content, fresh weight, root weight and flowering rate of Arabidopsis plants. Although the overall growth-promoting effect of yeast mVOCs was higher at 20°C than at 10°C, the growth-promoting effect on roots, flowers and chlorophyll was highest at 10°C. When cultured at 10°C, the mVOCs produced by Cystofilobasidium capitatum A37, Cryptococcus sp. D41, and Sporidiobolus salmonicolor D27 had the highest growth-promoting effects on the root, flowering rate and chlorophyll content of Arabidopsis, respectively. In the co-culture system, some new mVOCs were detected, such as hendecane, tetradecane, and 1-hexanol that have been proven to promote plant growth. In addition, mVOCs of the isolated Arctic yeasts could inhibit the growth of several microorganisms, especially filamentous fungi. It was the first time to prove that mVOCs produced by the isolated yeasts had varying effects on plant growth at different incubating temperatures, providing a reference for the interactions between microorganisms and plants and their possible responses to climate change in the Arctic area. Moreover, the characteristics of promoting plant growth and inhibiting microbial growth by mVOCs of Arctic yeasts would lay a foundation for potential applications in the future.

Summary: Various global land use/land cover (LULC) products have been developed to drive land-relevant climate and hydrological models for environmental assessments. However, systematic studies remain scarce that assess the uncertainties of using these products. By using a total of 16 commonly used global LULC products, we find a logarithm law of upscaling with the spatial resolution. The law reveals spatial details of urban features will be majorly distorted when using LULC products with coarser resolutions. A tipping point of the law around the 30-m resolution was identified by additional analysis of the 1-m and 10-m local land use dataset. Through the example of assessing crop production loss, we further find that most of these products will yield a significant underestimation of crop production losses, globally and locally. We conclude that the underestimated urban land rooted in most of these products would cause vital impacts on global change analyses and modeling.

Bletilla ochracea Schltr. (Orchidaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant widely distributed in the south-central part of China. The complete chloroplast genome of B. ochracea was sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq X Ten platform. The chloroplast genome was 160,018 bp in length, which contained two short inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions of 26,295 bp and was separated by a large single copy (LSC) region of 88,270 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 19,158 bp. The GC content of the whole chloroplast genome was 37.2%. The chloroplast DNA of B. ochracea consisted of 114 distinct genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes, and 30 transfer RNA genes. The phylogenetic tree showed that B. ochracea was sister to B. formosana. Meanwhile, the monophyletic clade formed by all species of genus Bletilla was closely related to genus Thunia.

Tilapia skin is a great source of collagen. Here, we aimed to isolate and identify the peptides responsible for combating dry eye disease (DED) in tilapia skin peptides (TSP). In vitro cell DED model was used to screen anti-DED peptides from TSP via Sephadex G-25 chromatography, LC/MS/MS, and in silico methods. The anti-DED activity of the screened peptide was further verified in the mice DED model. TSP was divided into five fractions (TSP-I, TSP-II, TSP-III, TSP-IV, and TSP-V), and TSP-II exerted an effective effect for anti-DED. A total of 131 peptides were identified using LC/MS/MS in TSP-II, and NGGPSGPR (NGG) was screened as a potential anti-DED fragment in TSP-II via in silico methods. In vitro, NGG restored cell viability and inhibited the expression level of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) induced by NaCl. In vivo, NGG increased tear production, decreased tear ferning score, prevented corneal epithelial thinning, alleviated conjunctival goblet cell loss, and inhibited the apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells in DED mice. Overall, NGG, as an anti-DED peptide, was successfully identified from TSP, and it may be devoted to functional food ingredients or medicine for DED.

Neuroinflammation induced by microglial and astrocyte polarizations may contribute to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. Omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, but conflicting results were reported after different n-3 PUFA treatments. This study examined both the change in glial polarizations in ageing rats and the differential effects of two omega-3 PUFAs. The results showed that both PUFAs improved spatial memory in ageing rats, with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) being more effective than eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The imbalance between microglial M1/M2 polarizations, such as up-regulating ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1) and down-regulating CD206 and arginase-1 (ARG-1) was reversed in the hippocampus by both n-3 PUFAs, while the DHA effect on CD206 was stronger. Astrocyte A1 polarization presented increasing S100B and C3 but decreasing A2 parameter S100A10 in the ageing brain, which were restored by both PUFAs, while DHA was more effective on S100A10 than EPA. Consistent with microglial M1 activation, the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased, which were attenuated by DHA, while EPA only suppressed IL-6. In correlation with astrocyte changes, brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor was increased in ageing rats, which was more powerfully down-regulated by DHA than EPA. In summary, enhanced microglial M1 and astrocytic A1 polarizations may contribute to increased brain pro-inflammatory cytokines, while DHA was more powerful than EPA to alleviate ageing-associated neuroimmunological changes, thereby better-improving memory impairment.

We propose a spin-orbit-coupled Floquet spinor Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) which can be implemented by Floquet engineering of a quadratic Zeeman field. The Floquet spinor BEC has a Bessel-function-modulated Rabi frequency and a Floquet-induced spin-exchange interaction. The quantum phase diagram of the spin-orbit-coupled Floquet spinor BEC is investigated by considering antiferromagnetic or ferromagnetic spin-spin interactions. In comparison with the usual spin-orbit-coupled spin-1 BEC, we find that a stripe phase for antiferromagnetic interactions can exist in a large quadratic Zeeman field regime, and a different stripe phase with an experimentally favorable contrast for ferromagnetic interactions is uncovered.

Granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs) differentiate into both neutrophils and monocytes. Recently, uni-potential neutrophil progenitors have been identified both in mice and humans using an array of surface markers. However, how human GMPs commit to neutrophil progenitors and the regulatory mechanisms of fate determination remain incompletely understood. In the present study, we established a human neutrophil deficiency model using the small molecule alpha-lipoic acid. Using this neutrophil deficiency model, we determined that the neutrophil progenitor commitment process from CD371+ CD115– GMPs defined by CD34 and CD15 and discovered that critical signals generated by RNA splicing and rRNA biogenesis regulate the process of early commitment for human early neutrophil progenitors derived from CD371+ CD115– GMPs. These processes were elucidated by single-cell RNA sequencing both in vitro and in vivo derived cells. Sequentially, we identified that the transcription factor ELK1 is essential for human neutrophil lineage commitment using the alpha-lipoic acid (ALA)-inducing neutrophil deficiency model. Finally, we also revealed differential roles for long-ELK1 and short-ELK1, balanced by SF3B1, in the commitment process of neutrophil progenitors. Taken together, we discovered a novel function of ALA in regulating neutrophil lineage specification and identified that the SF3B1-ELK axis regulates the commitment of human neutrophil progenitors from CD371+ CD115– GMPs.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy with a prognosis inferior to that of other leukemias. Recent targeted therapies offer new opportunities to achieve better treatment outcomes. However, due to the complex heterogeneity of AML, its prognosis remains dismal. In this study, we first identified the correlation between high expression of BRD4 and overall survival of patients with AML. Targeted degradation of BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4 proteins by dBET1, a proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) against the bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family members, showed cytotoxic effects on Kasumi (AML1-ETO), NB4 (PML-RARa), THP-1 (MLL-AF9), and MV4-11 (MLL-AF4) AML cell lines representing different molecular subtypes of AML. Furthermore, we determined that dBET1 treatment arrested cell cycling and enhanced apoptosis and c-MYC was identified as the downstream target. Collectively, our results indicated that dBET1 had broad anti-cancer effects on AML cell lines with different molecular lesions and provided more benefits to patients with AML.

Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Rchb.f. is a perennial herb belonging to the Orchidaceae family. Its tubers are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat gastric ulcers, inflammation, silicosis tuberculosis, and pneumogastric hemorrhage. It has been reported that different soil types can affect the growth of B. striata and the accumulation of secondary metabolites in its tubers, but the biological mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In this study, we compared agronomic traits and the accumulation of secondary metabolites (extractum, polysaccharide, total phenol, militarine) in B. striata grown in sandy loam or sandy clay soil. In addition, we compared physicochemical properties and microbial communities between the two soil types. In pot experiments, we tested how irradiating soil or transplanting microbiota from clay or loam into soil affected B. striata growth and accumulation of secondary metabolites. The results showed that sandy loam and sandy clay soils differed significantly in their physicochemical properties as well as in the structure and composition of their microbial communities. Sandy loam soil had higher pH, SOM, SOC, T-Ca, T-N, T-Mg, T-Mn, T-Zn, A-Ca, A-Mn, and A-Cu than sandy clay soil, but significantly lower T-P, T-K, T-Fe, and A-P content. Sandy loam soil showed 7.32% less bacterial diversity based on the Shannon index, 19.59% less based on the Ace index, and 24.55% less based on the Chao index. The first two components of the PCoA explained 74.43% of the variation in the bacterial community (PC1 = 64.92%, PC2 = 9.51%). Similarly, the first two components of the PCoA explained 58.48% of the variation in the fungal community (PC1 = 43.67%, PC2 = 14.81%). The microbiome associated with sandy clay soil can promote the accumulation of militarine in B. striata tubers, but it inhibits the growth of B. striata. The accumulation of secondary metabolites such as militarine in B. striata was significantly higher in sandy clay than in sandy loam soil. Conversely, B. striata grew better in sandy loam soil. The microbiome associated with sandy loam soil can promote the growth of B. striata, but it reduces the accumulation of militarine in B. striata tubers. Pot experiment results further confirmed that the accumulation of secondary metabolites such as militarine was higher in soil transplanted with loam microbiota than in soil transplanted with clay microbiota. These results may help guide efforts to improve B. striata yield and its accumulation of specific secondary metabolites.

As an important traditional medicine of Buyi and Miao ethnic groups in Guizhou, Sabia parviflora Wall. provides antiviral properties against hepatitis, eliminates wind and dampness, and exhibits anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties. It has also been shown to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other diseases. However, the pharmacodynamic mechanism of S. parviflora Wall. for RA has not been reported. In this study, we identified the effective compounds of S. parviflora Wall. leaves against RA and discussed the mechanism against complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) based on inflammatory proteins and transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins. S. parviflora Wall. leaf extracts (0.64 g/kg, 0.32 g/kg, and 0.16 g/kg, once daily) were given orally for 21 days. On the 15th day of complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced RA, the effects of this medicine on RA rats were investigated. S. parviflora Wall. extracts increased body weight, decreased foot swelling, and reduced thymus and spleen indices in model rats. Most of pannus in the synovial tissue of RA rats disappeared upon treatment, and the local inflammatory cells were greatly reduced when given the fraction of n-butanol (0.64 g/kg/d, 0.32 g/kg/d, and 0.16 g/kg/d) of 70% alcohol-soluble fraction of S. parviflora Wall. leaves. In addition, the release of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-15 (IL-15), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the RA rat serum was inhibited. The active compounds inhibited the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15 and nuclear factor kappa-Bp65 (NF-κBp65) inflammatory protein and TRP protein transient receptor potential melastatin-5 (TRPM-5) and transient receptor potential channel-6 (TRPC-6), to reduce the expression of VEGF in synovial tissue of RA rats and relieve redness and edema. High-performance liquid chromatography identified six flavonoids and three triterpenoid saponins as active compounds. These findings suggest S. parviflora Wall. leaves may play a role in RA treatment by inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors as well as participating in the inflammatory protein expression in the NF-κB pathway and TRP protein family.