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Abstract Background Heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents significant challenges for therapeutic strategies and necessitates combinatorial treatment approaches to counteract suppressive behavior of tumor microenvironment and achieve improved outcomes. Here, we employed cytokines to induce memory-like behavior in natural killer (NK) cells, thereby enhancing their cytotoxicity against HCC. Additionally, we evaluated the potential benefits of combining sorafenib with this newly developed memory-like NK cell (pNK) immunochemotherapy in a preclinical model. Methods HCC tumors were grown in SD rats using subcapsular implantation. Interleukin 12/18 cytokines were supplemented to NK cells to enhance cytotoxicity through memory activation. Tumors were diagnosed using MRI, and animals were randomly assigned to control, pNK immunotherapy, sorafenib chemotherapy, or combination therapy groups. NK cells were delivered locally via the gastrointestinal tract, while sorafenib was administered systemically. Therapeutic responses were monitored with weekly multi-parametric MRI scans over three weeks. Afterward, tumor tissues were harvested for histopathological analysis. Structural and functional changes in tumors were evaluated by analyzing MRI and histopathology data using ANOVA and pairwise T-test analyses. Results The tumors were allowed to grow for six days post-cell implantation before treatment commenced. At baseline, tumor diameter averaged 5.27 mm without significant difference between groups (p = 0.16). Both sorafenib and combination therapy imposed greater burden on tumor dimensions compared to immunotherapy alone in the first week. By the second week of treatment, combination therapy had markedly expanded its therapeutic efficacy, resulting in the most significant tumor regression observed (6.05 ± 1.99 vs. 13.99 ± 8.01 mm). Histological analysis demonstrated significantly improved cell destruction in the tumor microenvironment associated with combination treatment (63.79%). Interestingly, we observed fewer viable tumor regions in the sorafenib group (38.9%) compared to the immunotherapy group (45.6%). Notably, there was a significantly higher presence of NK cells in the tumor microenvironment with combination therapy (34.79%) compared to other groups (ranging from 2.21 to 26.50%). Although the tumor sizes in the monotherapy groups were similar, histological analysis revealed a stronger response in pNK cell immunotherapy group compared to the sorafenib group. Conclusions Experimental results indicated that combination therapy significantly enhanced treatment response, resulting in substantial tumor growth reduction in alignment with histological analysis.

ZrP2O7 is a promising wave-transparent material due to its low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, but its inherent phase transition characteristic at approximately 300 °C limits its high-temperature application. Therefore, suppressing the phase transition is necessary for ZrP2O7 to serve in extremely harsh environments. In this work, introducing Ti and Hf into ZrP2O7 causes significant lattice distortion and an increase in entropy, both of which synergistically limit the crystal structure transformation. In addition, enhanced phonon scattering by mismatch of atomic mass and local distortion leads to a reduction in the thermal conductivity. Lattice distortions also cause changes in both bond length and tilting angle, so that (Ti1/3Zr1/3Hf1/3)P2O7 does not undergo sudden expansion as does ZrP2O7. (Ti1/3Zr1/3Hf1/3)P2O7 maintains excellent dielectric properties, which highlights it as a promising high-temperature wave-transparent material.

Abstract Chemotherapy is an important therapuetic strategy for colorectal cancer (CRC), but chemoresistance severely affects its efficacy, and the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Increasing evidence suggests that lipid peroxidation imbalance-mediated ferroptosis is closely associated with chemoresistance. Hence, targeting ferroptosis pathways or modulating the tolerance to oxidative stress might be an effective strategy to reverse tumor chemoresistance. HtrA serine protease 1 (HTRA1) was screened out as a CRC progression- and chemoresistance-related gene. It is highly expressed in CRC cells and negatively correlated with the prognosis of CRC patients. Gain- and loss-of-function analyses demonstrated a stimulatory role of HTRA1 on the proliferation of CRC cells. The enrichment analysis of HTRA1-interacting proteins indicated the involvement of ferroptosis in the HTRA1-mediated chemoresistance. Moreover, electron microscope analysis, as well as the ROS and MDA levels in CRC cells also confirmed the effect of HTRA1 on ferroptosis. We also verified that HTRA1 could interact with SLC7A11 through its Kazal structural domain and up-regulate the expression of SLC7A11, which in turn inhibited the ferroptosis and leaded to the chemoresistance of CRC cells to 5-FU/L-OHP. Hence, we propose that HTRA1 may be a potential therapeutic target and a prognostic indicator in CRC.

Seven known extant species of Manica have been identified worldwide: M. bradleyi (Wheeler, 1909), M. hunteri (Wheeler, 1914), M. invidia Bolton, 1995, M. parasitica (Creighton, 1934), M. rubida (Latreille, 1802), M. shanyii sp. nov., and M. yessensis Azuma, 1955. The discovery of the new species is documented from Sichuan Province, China, marking the first recorded instance of the genus Manica in China. Additionally, an identification key for distinguishing the known species within the genus Manica is provided.

Two new species of ponerine ants from Hainan Province, China, Leptogenys hainanensis sp. nov. and L. zhoui sp. nov., are delineated and depicted based on the worker caste. Leptogenys hainanensis sp. nov. belongs to the L. leleji species group, with mandibles elongate, slender and curved, lacking a distinct masticatory margin. On the other hand, L. zhoui sp. nov. belongs to the L. crassicornis species group, distinguished by its square head, smooth body, mandibles with a dentate masticatory margin, and short antennae. A key to workers for the known species of Leptogenys in China are provided and a map is provided for the newly described species.

The challenge of cavitation erosion (CE) in flow-handling components of marine engineering has promoted the development of advanced materials due to safety incidents and economic costs. High entropy alloys (HEAs), known for high hardness and corrosion resistance, emerge as promising candidates. This paper delved into the CE characteristics of CoCrFeNiMoCu0.1 HEA when subjected to the 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, elucidating the synergistic effect of CE-corrosion. The quantitative analysis revealed that CE-corrosion synergy contributed 48.02% to total CE mass loss, primarily attributed to corrosion-induced CE damage. Meanwhile, electrochemical noise (EN) was utilized to reveal the corrosion behavior of CoCrFeNiMoCu0.1 HEA in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution combined with the morphologies observation and surface roughness. Extended CE time compromised the corrosion resistance of CoCrFeNiMoCu0.1 HEA and diminished the impact of selective phase corrosion on the surface. Eventually, the CE damage mechanism of CoCrFeNiMoCu0.1 HEA was revealed based on pertinent experimental findings. The results showed that with increased CE time, the CoCrFeNiMoCu0.1 HEA transitioned from predominantly extensive exfoliation of the initial FCC phase to further damage of the intermetallic σ and μ phases.

Tungsten is one of the most promising materials for plasma facing components (PFCs), and β-ray induced X-ray spectrometry (BIXS) is an important non-destructive method to obtain tritium depth profile and retention information for the development of PFCs, recovery of fuel and control of tritium safety in a fusion reactor. In this article, benchmark experiments to obtain tritium 3D profile in tungsten have been firstly performed using layer-by-layer chemical etching (LLCE) and imaging plate (IP) techniques. BIXS spectra have been detected at each layer. The average layer thickness of each erosion was controlled to be around 150 nm and 8 layers (the total thickness was 1.21 μm) were eroded, and the maximum uncertainty of tritium activity was 7.91 % in the LLCE experiments. Monte-Carlo simulations of BIXS spectra with Geant 4 code and four kinds of physical packages (Penelope, Livermore, EmStd. Opt1 and EmStd. Opt4) have been benchmarked against to the experimental results. Results show that all the four physical packages are not suitable to calculate the intensity of the BIXS spectra, and the current mode or cross sections should be improved to simulate the interaction between low electron/photon and tungsten accurately. However, the relative intensity of W-Mα peak and W-Lα can be simulated well using current physical packages such as EmStd. Opt4 and Livermore, which is a good indicator for tritium depth profile in tungsten.

Rare earth (RE) silicate is one of the most promising environmental barrier coatings for silicon-based ceramics in gas turbine engines. However, calcium–magnesium–alumina–silicate (CMAS) corrosion becomes much more serious and is the critical challenge for RE silicate with the increasing operating temperature. Therefore, it is quite urgent to clarify the mechanism of high-temperature CMAS-induced degradation of RE silicate at relatively high temperatures. Herein, the interaction between RE2SiO5 and CMAS up to 1500 ℃ was investigated by a novel high-temperature in-situ observation method. High temperature promotes the growth of the main reaction product (Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2) fast along the [001] direction, and the precipitation of short and horizontally distributed Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2 grains was accelerated during the cooling process. The increased temperature increases the solubility of RE elements, decreases the viscosity of CMAS, and thus elevates the corrosion reaction rate, making RE2SiO5 fast interaction with CMAS and less affected by RE element species.

Chaylte vine, the tender shoot of Sechium edule, is popular among vegetable consumers because of its high nutritional content, crisp texture, and unique flavor. Existing studies on the nutrient composition of chaylte vines are mostly simple chemical determinations, which have limited the breeding of specialized cultivars and the development of related industries. Using metabolomics combined with transcriptomics, this study analyzed the metabolic characteristics and related molecular mechanisms of two common varieties of chaylte vines: green-skinned (SG) and white-skinned (SW). Between the two varieties, a total of 277 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and 739 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Furthermore, chemical assays demonstrated that the SW exhibited a higher total flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, it was found that the SG samples exhibited a higher diversity of flavonoid subclasses compared to the SW samples, despite having a lower total flavonoid content. This inconsistent finding was likely due to the differential expression of the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS) genes in the two varieties. These results laid the foundation for investigating the mechanisms involved in flavonoid regulation and the breeding of specialized S. edule cultivars for chaylte vine production.

The ant genus Syscia Roger, 1861 is a cryptobiotic group of the subfamily Dorylinae. In this study, eight species of this genus from Asia are recognized, including two new species, Syscia arcodorsa sp. nov. and S. zhoui sp. nov., both described from Guangxi in China. In addition, Cerapachys guizhouensis Zhou, 2006 is redescribed and transferred to Syscia as S. guizhouensis (Zhou, 2006) comb. nov. The species Syscia typhla Roger, 1861 is removed from the ant fauna of China. Lastly, a key to species of Syscia from Asia based on the worker caste is presented.

The pathological accumulation of GM2 ganglioside associated with Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) and Sandhoff disease (SD) occurs in individuals who possess mutant forms of the heterodimer β-hexosaminidase A (Hex A) because of mutation of the HEXA and HEXB genes, respectively. With a lack of approved therapies, patients experience rapid neurological decline resulting in early death. A novel bicistronic vector carrying both HEXA and HEXB previously demonstrated promising results in mouse models of SD following neonatal intravenous administration, including significant reduction in GM2 accumulation, increased levels of Hex A, and a 2-fold extension of survival. The aim of the present study was to identify an optimal dose of the bicistronic vector in 6-week-old SD mice by an intrathecal route of administration along with transient immunosuppression, to inform possible clinical translation. Three doses of the bicistronic vector were tested: 2.5e11, 1.25e11, and 0.625e11 vector genomes per mouse. The highest dose provided the greatest increase in biochemical and behavioral parameters, such that treated mice lived to a median age of 56 weeks (>3 times the lifespan of the SD controls). These results have direct implications in deciding a human equivalent dose for TSD/SD and have informed the approval of a clinical trial application (NCT04798235).

Poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) molecular wires are one-dimensional materials with distinctive properties and can be applied in electronic devices. Here, the approach called first-principles quantum transport is utilized to investigate the PPE molecular wire field-effect transistor (FET) efficiency limit through the geometry of the gate-all-around (GAA) instrument. It is observed that the n-type GAA PPE molecular wire FETs with a suitable gate length (Lg = 5 nm) and underlap (UL = 1, 2, 3 nm) can gratify the on-state current (Ion), power dissipation (PDP), and delay period (τ) concerning the conditions in 2028 to achieve the higher performance (HP) request of the International Roadmap for Device and Systems (IRDS, 2022 version). In contrast, the p-type GAA PPE molecular wire FETs with Lg = 5, 3 nm, and UL of 1, 2, 3 nm could gratify the Ion, PDP, and τ concerning the 2028 needs to achieve the HP request of the IRDS in 2022, while Lg = 5 and UL = 3 nm could meet the Ion and τ concerning the 2028 needs to achieve the LP request of the IRDS in 2022. More importantly, this is the first one-dimensional carbon-based ambipolar FET. Therefore, the GAA PPE molecular wire FETs could be a latent choice to downscale Moore’s law to 3 nm.

The effects of tritium at low doses and low dose rates have received increasing attention due to recent developments in fusion energy and the associated risks of tritium releases into the environment. Mitochondria have been identified as a potential candidate for studying the effects of low-dose/low-dose-rate radiation, with extensive experimental results obtained using X-ray irradiation. In this study, irradiation experiments were conducted on normal B-lymphoblastoid cells using HTO at varying doses. When compared to X-ray irradiation, no significant differences in cell viability induced by different doses were observed. However, the results of ATP levels showed a significant difference between the irradiated sample at a dose of 500 mGy by tritium beta-rays and the sham-irradiated sample, while the levels obtained with X-ray irradiation were almost identical to the sham-irradiated sample. In contrast, ATP levels for both tritium beta-rays and X-rays at a dose of 1.0 Gy showed minimal differences compared to the sham-irradiated sample. Furthermore, distinct effects at 500 mGy were also confirmed in both ROS levels and apoptosis results obtained through tritium beta-ray irradiation. This suggests that mitochondria might be a potential sensitive target for investigating the effects of tritium beta-ray irradiation.

This review presents a systematic analysis of the studies on volatiles in Dendrobium. Among the various components, aromatic terpenes are a crucial component in the development of the aromatic characteristics of Dendrobium and other plants. Recent advancements in detection and sequencing technology have resulted in a considerable rise in research on the biosynthetic processes of aromatic terpenes in Dendrobium and other flowering plants. Nevertheless, the inquiry into the precise means by which plants regulate the proportion of diverse aromatic terpenes in their floral scent, thereby preserving their olfactory traits, requires further investigation. A conjecture on the botanical perfumer mechanism, which condensed the findings of earlier studies, was put forward to address this area of interest. Specific transcription factors likely govern the coordinated expression of multiple key terpene synthase (TPS) genes during the flowering stage of plants, thereby regulating the proportional biosynthesis of diverse aromatic terpenes and sustaining the distinctive aromatic properties of individual plants. This review serves as a significant theoretical reference for further investigations into aromatic volatile compounds in Dendrobium.

Engineered T cells hold great promise to become part of an effective HIV cure strategy, but it is currently unclear how best to redirect T cells to target HIV. To gain insight, we generated engineered T cells using lentiviral vectors encoding one of three distinct HIV-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) or a previously optimized HIV-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and compared their functional capabilities. All engineered T cells had robust, antigen-specific polyfunctional cytokine profiles when mixed with artificial antigen-presenting cells. However, only the CAR T cells could potently control HIV replication. TCR affinity enhancement did not augment HIV control but did allow TCR T cells to recognize common HIV escape variants. Interestingly, either altering Nef activity or adding additional target epitopes into the HIV genome bolstered TCR T cell anti-HIV activity, but CAR T cells remained superior in their ability to control HIV replication. To better understand why CAR T cells control HIV replication better than TCR T cells, we performed a time course to determine when HIV-specific T cells were first able to activate Caspase 3 in HIV-infected targets. We demonstrated that CAR T cells recognized and killed HIV-infected targets more rapidly than TCR T cells, which correlates with their ability to control HIV replication. These studies suggest that the speed of target recognition and killing is a key determinant of whether engineered T cell therapies will be effective against infectious diseases.

This article presents a 39 GHz transceiver front-end chipset for 5G multi-input multi-output (MIMO) applications. Each chip includes two variable-gain frequency-conversion channels and can support two simultaneous independent beams, and the chips also integrate a local-oscillator chain and digital module for multi-chip extension and gain-state control. To improve the radio-frequency performance, several circuit-level improvement techniques are proposed for the key building blocks in the front-end system. Furthermore, an advanced low-temperature co-fired ceramic process is developed to package the 39 GHz dual-channel transceiver chipset, and it achieves low packaging loss and high isolation between the two transmitting (TX)/receiving (RX) channels. Both the chip-level and system-in-package (SIP)-level measurements are conducted to demonstrate the performance of the transceiver chipset. The measurement characteristics show that the TX SIP provides 11 dB maximum gain and 10 dBm saturated output power, while the RX SIP achieves 52 dB maximum gain, 5.4 dB noise figure, and 7.2 dBm output 1 dB compression point. Single-channel communication link testing of the transceiver exhibits an error vector magnitude (EVM) of 3.72% and a spectral efficiency of 3.25 bit·s−1·Hz−1 for 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulation and an EVM of 3.76% and spectral efficiency of 3.90 bit·s−1·Hz−1 for 256-QAM modulation over a 1 m distance. Based on the chipset, a 39 GHz multi-beam prototype is also developed to perform the MIMO operation for 5G millimetre wave applications. The over-the-air communication link for one- and two-stream transmission indicates that the multi-beam prototype can cover a 5–150 m distance with comparable throughput.

Flavonoids are a diverse family of natural compounds that are widely distributed in plants and play a critical role in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. In recent years, the biosynthesis of flavonoids in plants has been well-researched, with the successive discovery of key genes driving this process. However, the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in fungi remains unclear. Stropharia rugosoannulata is an edible mushroom known for its high nutritional and pharmacological value, with flavonoids being one of its main active components. To investigate the flavonoid content of S. rugosoannulata, a study was conducted to extract and determine the total flavonoids at four stages: young mushroom (Ym), gill (Gi), maturation (Ma), and parachute-opening (Po). The findings revealed a gradual increase in total flavonoid concentration as the fruiting body developed, with significant variations observed between the Ym, Gi, and Ma stages. Subsequently, we used UPLC-MS/MS and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to quantify the flavonoids and identify regulatory genes of Ym, Gi, and Ma. In total, 53 flavonoid-related metabolites and 6726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Through KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, we identified 59 structural genes encoding flavonoid biosynthesis-related enzymes, most of which were up-regulated during the development of the fruiting body, consistent with the accumulation of flavonoids. This research led to the establishment of a comprehensive transcriptional metabolic regulatory network encompassing flavonoids, flavonoid synthases, and transcription factors (TFs). This represents the first systematic exploration of the molecular mechanism of flavonoids in the fruiting of fungi, offering a foundation for further research on flavonoid mechanisms and the breeding of high-quality S. rugosoannulata.

The gut microbiota of vertebrates and invertebrates has become the focus of recent research. However, current sterilizing practices need more systematic quantitative methods due to limitations caused by their minute body size. Thus, an effective sterilization process incorporating organic and inorganic methods to obtain invertebrate microbiota, particularly when evaluating smaller insects, has yet to be elucidated. This study investigated if the whole abdomen should be utilized as the material to sterilize and examined whether physical and chemical surface sterilization methods could be combined to facilitate the acquisition of gut microbiota from the imported red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972). Eight methods were designed by incorporating three chemical reagents (sterile water, 2.0 mg/L NaClO, and 75% ethanol) and one physical treatment (250 nm UV). The length range of the amplified fragment in the red imported fire ant is 401-450 bp. According to the results of the GLM regression model and interaction effect model, none of these factors (sterile water, 2.0 mg/L NaClO, and 75% ethanol, 250 nm UV) were significant for statistical regression of the Chao index, and these factors did not significantly interact with each other. Based on Alpha and Beta diversity analysis, none of the methods significantly affected the diversity of insects’ gut microbiome. Finally, we suggested that it is feasible for different species of small insects to select appropriate methods according to the current situation. Still, it is best to achieve unity in the same group.

Abstract The orchid Dendrobium officinale grows throughout southeast China and southeast Asian countries and is used to treat inflammation and diabetes in traditional Chinese medicine. Tie pi feng dou is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine made from the dried D. officinale stems. Processing alters the physicochemical properties of TPFD; however, it is unclear how processing affects the quality and medicinal value of this plant. Here, we analyzed and compared the chemical composition of fresh stems of D. officinale and TPFD and explored possible explanations for the enhanced medicinal efficacy of processed D. officinale stems using qualitative and quantitative methods. To identify the components of FSD and TPFD, we used ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry in negative and positive ion modes and interpreted the data using the Human Metabolome Database and multivariate statistical analysis. We detected 23,709 peaks and identified 2352 metabolites; 370 of these metabolites were differentially abundant between FSD and TPFD (245 more abundant in TPFD than in FSD, and 125 less abundant), including organooxygen compounds, prenol lipids, flavonoids, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, and fatty acyls. Of these, 43 chemical markers clearly distinguished between FSD and TPFD samples, as confirmed using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. A pharmacological activity analysis showed that, compared with FSD, TPFD had significantly higher levels of some metabolites with anti-inflammatory activity, consistent with its use to treat inflammation. In addition to revealing the basis of the medicinal efficacy of TPFD, this study supports the benefits of the traditional usage of D. officinale.

Particle boards are manufactured through a hot pressing process using wood materials (natural polymer materials) and adhesive, which find common usage in indoor decorative finishing materials. Flame-retardant particleboard, crucial for fire safety in such applications, undergoes performance analysis that includes assessing temperature distribution across its facing surface and temperature increase on the backside surface during facade combustion, yielding critical insights into fire scenario development. In this study, a compact flame spread apparatus is utilized to examine the flame retardancy and combustion behavior of particle boards, with a specific emphasis on the application of cost-effective flame retardants, encompassing aluminum hypophosphite (ALHP), an intumescent flame retardant (IFR) comprising ammonium polyphosphate (APP), melamine (MEL), and Dipentaerythritol (DPE), alongside magnesium hydroxide (MDH), and their associated combustion characteristics. The D300°C values, representing the vertical distance from the ignition point (IP) to P300°C (the temperature point at 300 °C farthest from IP), are measured using a compact temperature distribution measurement platform. For MDH/PB, APP + MEL + DPE/PB, and ALHP/PB samples, the respective D300°C values of 145.79 mm, 117.81 mm, and 118.57 mm indicate reductions of 11.11%, 28.17%, and 27.71%, compared to the untreated sample’s value of 164.02 mm. The particle boards treated with ALHP, IFR, and MDH demonstrated distinct flame-retardant mechanisms. MDH/PB relied on the thermal decomposition of MDH to produce MgO and H2O for flame retardancy, while APP + MEL + DPE/PB achieved flame retardancy through a cross-linked structure with char expansion, polyphosphate, and pyrophosphate during combustion. On the other hand, ALHP/PB attained flame retardancy by reacting with wood materials and adhesives, forming a stable condensed P-N-C structure. This study serves as a performance reference for the production of cost-effective flame-resistant particleboards and offers a practical method for assessing its fire-resistant properties when used as a decorative finishing material on facades in real fire situations.

GM2 gangliosidoses are a group of neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorders that are characterized by the accumulation of GM2 gangliosides (GM2), leading to rapid neurological decline and death. The hydrolysis of GM2 requires the specific synthesis, processing, and combination of products of three genes—HEXA, HEXB, and GM2A—within the cell’s lysosomes. Mutations in these genes result in Tay-Sachs disease, Sandhoff disease, or AB-variant GM2 gangliosidosis (ABGM2), respectively. ABGM2, the rarest of the three types, is characterized by a mutation in the GM2A gene, which encodes the GM2 activator (GM2A) protein. Being a monogenic disease, gene therapy is a plausible and likely effective method of treatment for ABGM2. This study aimed at assessing the effects of administering a one-time intravenous treatment of single-stranded Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (ssAAV9)-GM2A viral vector at a dose of 1 × 1014 vector genomes (vg) per kilogram per mouse in an ABGM2 mouse model (Gm2a−/−). ssAAV9-GM2A was administered at 1-day (neonatal) or 6-weeks of age (adult-stage). The results demonstrated that, in comparison to Gm2a−/− mice that received a vehicle injection, the treated mice had reduced GM2 accumulation within the central nervous system and had long-term persistence of vector genomes in the brain and liver. This proof-of-concept study is a step forward towards the development of a clinically therapeutic approach for the treatment of patients with ABGM2.

Metal-organic porous materials (MOPMs), represented by the famous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), have attracted extensive attention in recent years. While MOFs are unstable in nature, they are constructed by coordination bond with low bond energies (

Dendrobium chrysotoxum is considered as an important ornamental dendrobium because of its strong and long-lasting floral scent. Nevertheless, few information is known about the dynamic changes and related formation mechanism of dendrobium floral scent at different flowering stages. In this study, the characteristics and biosynthetic mechanism of floral scent in D. chrysotoxum during flowering was revealed by using widely-targeted volatilomics (WTV) combined with transcriptome analysis. Over 500 kinds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected in the floral scents of D. chrysotoxum, which improved the knowledge about floral scent components of dendrobium. A total of 153 differential VOCs and 4,487 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between flowers of different flowering stages, respectively. The results for both volatilomics and transcriptomics data indicated that terpenes and related genes played an important role in the formation of floral characteristics of D. chrysotoxum. But in general, the expression of genes showed an opposite trend to the accumulation of metabolites during flowering, suggesting that the regulation of floral scent biosynthesis might have started at the budding stage in D. chrysotoxum. Additionally, a transcriptional metabolic regulatory network consisting of terpenes, terpene synthases and candidate transcription factors was established. This research is the first systematic and comprehensive exploration of floral characteristics and related mechanisms during flowering in D. chrysotoxum. It provides basis for exploration of mechanisms on the floral scents and the breeding of aromatic dendrobium.

Machine learning (ML) algorithms were used to identify a novel biological target for breast cancer and explored its relationship with the tumor microenvironment (TME) and patient prognosis. The edgR package identified hub genes associated with overall survival (OS) and prognosis, which were validated using public datasets. Of 149 up-regulated genes identified in tumor tissues, three ML algorithms identified COL11A1 as a hub gene. COL11A1was highly expressed in breast cancer samples and associated with a poor prognosis, and positively correlated with a stromal score (r=0.49, p

GM2 gangliosidosis is a group of genetic disorders that result in the accumulation of GM2 ganglioside (GM2) in brain cells, leading to progressive central nervous system (CNS) atrophy and premature death in patients. AB-variant GM2 gangliosidosis (ABGM2) arises from loss-of-function mutations in the GM2 activator protein (GM2AP), which is essential for the breakdown of GM2 in a key catabolic pathway required for CNS lipid homeostasis. In this study, we show that intrathecal delivery of self-complementary adeno-associated virus serotype-9 (scAAV9) harbouring a functional human GM2A transgene (scAAV9.hGM2A) can prevent GM2 accumulation in in GM2AP-deficient mice (Gm2a−/− mice). Additionally, scAAV9.hGM2A efficiently distributes to all tested regions of the CNS within 14 weeks post-injection and remains detectable for the lifespan of these animals (up to 104 weeks). Remarkably, GM2AP expression from the transgene scales with increasing doses of scAAV9.hGM2A (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 × 1011 vector genomes (vg) per mouse), and this correlates with dose-dependent correction of GM2 accumulation in the brain. No severe adverse events were observed, and comorbidities in treated mice were comparable to those in disease-free cohorts. Lastly, all doses yielded corrective outcomes. These data indicate that scAAV9.hGM2A treatment is relatively non-toxic and tolerable, and biochemically corrects GM2 accumulation in the CNS—the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with ABGM2. Importantly, these results constitute proof-of-principle for treating ABGM2 with scAAV9.hGM2A by means of a single intrathecal administration and establish a foundation for future preclinical research.

BackgroundThe infiltration of CD8 T cells is usually linked to a favorable prognosis and may predict the therapeutic response of breast cancer patients to immunotherapy. The purpose of this research is to investigate the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network correlated with the infiltration of CD8 T cells.MethodsBased on expression profiles, CD8 T cell abundances for each breast cancer (BC) patient were inferred using the bioinformatic method by immune markers and expression profiles. We were able to extract the differentially expressed RNAs (DEmRNAs, DEmiRNAs, and DElncRNAs) between low and high CD8 T-cell samples. The ceRNA network was constructed using Cytoscape. Machine learning models were built by lncRNAs to predict CD8 T-cell abundances. The lncRNAs were used to develop a prognostic model that could predict the survival rates of BC patients. The expression of selected lncRNA (XIST) was validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).ResultsA total of 1,599 DElncRNAs, 89 DEmiRNAs, and 1,794 DEmRNAs between high and low CD8 T-cell groups were obtained. Two ceRNA networks that have positive or negative correlations with CD8 T cells were built. Among the two ceRNA networks, nine lncRNAs (MIR29B2CHG, NEAT1, MALAT1, LINC00943, LINC01146, AC092718.4, AC005332.4, NORAD, and XIST) were selected for model construction. Among six prevalent machine learning models, artificial neural networks performed best, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.855. Patients from the high-risk category with BC had a lower survival rate compared to those from the low-risk group. The qRT-PCR results revealed significantly reduced XIST expression in normal breast samples, which was consistent with our integrated analysis.ConclusionThese results potentially provide insights into the ceRNA networks linked with T-cell infiltration and provide accurate models for T-cell prediction.

The extent of antibody protection against SARS-CoV-2 remains unclear. Here, using a cohort of 120 seroconverted individuals, the authors longitudinally characterize neutralization, Fc-function, and SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses, which they show to be prominent only in those subjects that elicited receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific antibody titers above a certain threshold, suggesting that development of T cell responses to be related to anti-RBD Ab production.

Long-term relief of indoor volatile pollution has become a competitive issue worldwide in both visible and dark environments. A novel self-luminous wood coating with carbon dots (CDs)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterial coated SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ (CDs/TiO2@SAO) composite was prepared for the long-term degradation of formaldehyde through a simple sol-gel method. The microstructure, chemical composition, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra, and long-lasting fluorescence of the CDs/TiO2@SAO photocatalyst were analyzed to illustrate the mechanism for degrading formaldehyde. The obtained CDs with a particle size of ~2–7 nm have a good graphite structure and presented good absorption in visible light. In addition, owing to the synergistic effect of the CDs/TiO2 nanomaterial coating layer and the long-afterglow luminescence of the SAO phosphor, the CDs/TiO2@SAO composite can absorb a part of the visible light for photocatalytic degradation and store luminous energy efficiently at daytime so as to give out visible luminescence continuously for a few hours in the darkness. Furthermore, the functional wood coatings with CDs/TiO2@SAO composite presented continuous and efficient photocatalytic activity in the presence and absence of light exposure. The current research could provide a new strategy for designing an efficient photocatalyst for degrading formaldehyde pollution in the daytime with a visible light supply and in an indoor dark environment without an external light source.

Clarifying phylogenetic position and reconstructing robust phylogeny of groups using various evidences are an eternal theme for taxonomy and systematics. In this study, the complete mitogenomes of Longzhouacris mirabilis, Ranacris albicornis, and Conophyma zhaosuensis were sequenced using next-generation sequencing (NGS), and the characteristics of the mitogenomes are presented briefly. The mitogenomes of the three species are all circular molecules with total lengths of 16,164 bp, 15,720 bp, and 16,190 bp, respectively. The gene structures and orders, as well as the characteristics of the mitogenomes, are similar to those of other published mitogenomes in Caelifera. The phylogeny of the main subfamilies of Acrididae with prosternal process was reconstructed using a selected dataset of mitogenome sequences under maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) frameworks. The results showed that the genus Emeiacris consistently fell into the subfamily Melanoplinae rather than Oxyinae, and the genus Choroedocus had the closest relationship with Shirackiacris of the subfamily Eyprepocnemidinae in both phylogenetic trees deduced from mitogenome protein coding genes (PCGs). This finding is entirely consistent with the morphological characters, which indicate that Emeiacris belongs to Melanoplinae and Choroedocus belongs to Eyprepocnemidinae. In addition, the genera Conophymacris and Xiangelilacris, as well as Ranacris and Menglacris, are two pairs of the closest relatives, but their phylogenetic positions need further study to clarify.

As one of the most abundant and complex groups of terrestrial insects, ants have associations with many other organismal groups, such as hemipteran insects producing honeydew. With the aim of expanding the knowledge base of ant species associated with aphids, this study analyzed mitochondrial COI barcodes of 301 ant samples for 37 aphid-associated ant species in a subtropical area of southern China. Sequence analyses revealed that the intraspecific and interspecific distances ranged from zero to 7.7%% and 0.2 to 31.7%, respectively. Three barcoding approaches – Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes and Generalized Mixed Yule-coalescent – were used to help delimit ant species based on COI sequences, and their results corresponded well with most of the morphospecies. All three approaches indicate cryptic diversity may exist within Tetramorium bicarinatum and Technomyrmex albipes, with intraspecific genetic distances of 7.7% and 6.24%, respectively. Our analyses also reported five species for the first time from Fujian Province of China, and the COI sequences of nine species are newly added into the GenBank. This study provides information about species diversity of aphid-associated ants in subtropical China and compiles a DNA barcode reference library for future ant barcoding work.

Simopone fisheri sp. n., a new species of the subfamily Dorylinae, is described based on the worker caste. The new species is separated easily from the other named congeners by the longitudinally striate sculpture on the posterolateral portion of pronotum. An illustrated key is presented to species of the S. grandidieri group based on the worker caste.

GM2 gangliosidoses are a family of severe neurodegenerative disorders resulting from a deficiency in the β-hexosaminidase A enzyme. These disorders include Tay-Sachs disease and Sandhoff disease, caused by mutations in the HEXA gene and HEXB gene, respectively. The HEXA and HEXB genes are required to produce the α and β subunits of the β-hexosaminidase A enzyme, respectively. Using a Sandhoff disease mouse model, we tested for the first time the potential of a comparatively lower dose (2.04 × 1013 vg/kg) of systemically delivered single-stranded adeno-associated virus 9 expressing both human HEXB and human HEXA cDNA under the control of a single promoter with a P2A-linked bicistronic vector design to correct the neurological phenotype. A bicistronic design allows maximal overexpression and secretion of the Hex A enzyme. Neonatal mice were injected with either this ssAAV9-HexB-P2A-HexA vector or a vehicle solution via the superficial temporal vein. An increase in survival of 56% compared with vehicle-injected controls and biochemical analysis of the brain tissue and serum revealed an increase in enzyme activity and a decrease in brain GM2 ganglioside buildup. This is a proof-of-concept study showing the “correction efficacy” of a bicistronic AAV9 vector delivered intravenously for GM2 gangliosidoses. Further studies with higher doses are warranted. Keywords: Sandhoff disease, Tay-Sachs disease, AAV9, gene therapy, hexosaminidase

Eight species of the ant genus Anochetus are recognized in China: A. graeffei Mayr, A. lanyuensis Leong et al., A. longus sp. n., A. madaraszi Mayr, A. mixtus Radchenko, A. medogensis sp. n., A. risii Forel, A. subcoecus Forel. A. taiwaniensis Terayama, 1989 is proposed as a junior synonym of A. risii Forel, 1900. Anochetus gracilis Karavaiev, 1925 is restored from synonymy of A. risii. A key based on the worker caste is provided for the Chinese species.

Summary: We describe a physics-based learning model for predicting the immunogenicity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes derived from diverse pathogens including SARS-CoV-2. The model was trained and optimized on the relative immunodominance of CTL epitopes in human immunodeficiency virus infection. Its accuracy was tested against experimental data from patients with COVID-19. Our model predicts that only some SARS-CoV-2 epitopes predicted to bind to HLA molecules are immunogenic. The immunogenic CTL epitopes across all SARS-CoV-2 proteins are predicted to provide broad population coverage, but those from the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein alone are unlikely to do so. Our model also predicts that several immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 CTL epitopes are identical to seasonal coronaviruses circulating in the population and such cross-reactive CD8+ T cells can indeed be detected in prepandemic blood donors, suggesting that some level of CTL immunity against COVID-19 may be present in some individuals before SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Cymbidium dayanum, a wild orchid species in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae), is considered highly valuable because of its long flowering period and beautiful plant shape. We sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of C. dayanum using the Illumina Hiseq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA). The size of the C. dayanum chloroplast genome is 155,408 bp, with an average GC content of 36.76%. This chloroplast genome has containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,189 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,991 bp, and two inverted (IRa and IRb) repeat regions of two 26,614 bp. A total of 118 unique genes were annotated, including 76 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree indicated that C. dayanum is closely related to C. tracyanum in the genus Cymbidium based on 9 whole chloroplast genome sequences.

We investigated if corilagin can ameliorate or reverse atherosclerotic development via the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Ana-1 cells or mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) were stimulated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein followed by corilagin treatment. TLR4 expression in Ana-1 cells was upregulated by lentiviral transduction and downregulated by small interfering RNA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), plasma samples, and femoral arteries were collected from rats exhibiting peripheral artery disease (PAD). mRNA and protein expression of TLR4 and downstream molecules were decreased significantly by corilagin treatment in Ana-1 cells, MPMs, and rat PBMCs, and the reduction remained irrespective of downregulation or upregulation of TLR4 expression in Ana-1 cells. Corilagin also exerted a prominent effect on changes in plasma levels of cytokines and the pathologic manifestation of atherosclerosis in femoral arteries. Corilagin could ameliorate the development of atherosclerotic plaques by inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway in monocyte/macrophages and reduce the release of proinflammatory cytokines. This study provides a new therapeutic target and new niche targeting drug to oppose atherosclerosis and reveals the enormous potential of corilagin for control of PAD in humans.

Here we describe an Ooceraea species with 8-segmented antennae for the first time. A revised key for all the known species of this genus based on the worker caste is provided.

Talc is a popular filler for the fabrication of plastic composites. The presence of talc helps improve mechanical, thermal, and flame resistance properties of the composite. In this work, we report the influence of a talc-filled plastic shell layer on thermal stability and fire flammability of the core-shell structured wood high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites manufactured through coextrusion. The result showed that morphological analysis of the char layer after combustion confirmed the formation of a continuous surface char layer with talc addition in the composites, helping block fire penetration and enhance overall fire resistance of the composites. The shell thickness averaged at 1.0±0.2 mm, which represents a fair thick shell over a 10 mm thick WPC core layer. The surface of regular wood-filled HDPE showed large cracks, allowing more rapid fire penetration and reducing its fire resistance. At 800°C, average residual weight for all composite was 21.5±13.8%, most of which was attributed to the inorganic nonvolatile talc components. With the increase of talc level, THR values of coextruded WPC decreased from 302.47 MJ/m2 (5 wt% of talc) to 262.96 kW/m2 (50 wt% of talc). When talc content in the shell layer was less than 25 wt%, the flame resistance properties were slightly enhanced compared with the composites containing unmodified HDPE shells. When talc content in the shell exceeded 25 wt%, the composite’s total heat release and its rate substantially decreased.

Flower fragrance is one of the traits that holds important economical values in flowering plants. Extensive attention has converged on fragrance preservation in flower cultivation and breeding. Dendrobium loddigesii is an important species for cultivating aromatic Dendrobium orchid varieties for the long term due to its fragrance. Few studies focus on exploring related genes responsible for the aroma components in D. loddigesii. We analyzed flowers from two aromatic D. loddigesii varieties using high-throughput RNA sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The metabolomics results showed that the main volatile compounds responsible for the aroma formation of D. loddigesii were terpenes, especially monoterpenes. The de novo transcriptome assembly comprised 175,089 unigenes, and 24,570 unigenes of the genes were identified as differential expressed genes (DEGs) between the two varieties. Among these DEGs, 525 genes were mapped into seven pathways that related to the floral scent synthesis. Seventeen key genes were significantly correlated with volatile aroma metabolites, including geraniol, α-pinene, eugenol, and (Z)-3-hexenal. These results provide references for understanding the aroma biosynthesis and perfume formulations of D. loddigesii.

This paper presents a high linearity and low noise mixer for millimeter-wave applications in 65-nm CMOS process. A noise-reduction transformer with harmonic suppression is utilized and inserted between transconductance stage and switch stage to improve the linearity and noise figure (NF). Benefitted from the transformer-coupling cascode topology, the mixer can operate at a low supply voltage without sacrificing the linearity. In addition, this topology provides a great freedom for the choice of biases in transconductance stage and switch stage. Thus, linearity and noise performance can be further improved by optimizing the bias conditions of the two stages. According to experimental results, the proposed mixer exhibits a maximum conversion gain of 9.5 dB and a minimum single sideband NF of 9.2 dB with a local oscillator (LO) power of -3 dBm. The 3-dB bandwidth ranges from 62 to 90 GHz. The input 1-dB compression point (P1 dB) is -3.8 dBm at 77 GHz. Due to the compact and fully symmetrical layout, the LO-to-RF isolation is better than 48 dB.

Obesity is a key correlate of severe SARS-CoV-2 outcomes while the role of obesity on risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, symptom phenotype, and immune response remain poorly defined. We examined data from a prospective SARS-CoV-2 cohort study to address these questions. Serostatus, body mass index, demographics, comorbidities, and prior COVID-19 compatible symptoms were assessed at baseline and serostatus and symptoms monthly thereafter. SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays included an IgG ELISA targeting the spike RBD, multiarray Luminex targeting 20 viral antigens, pseudovirus neutralization, and T cell ELISPOT assays. Our results from a large prospective SARS-CoV-2 cohort study indicate symptom phenotype is strongly influenced by obesity among younger but not older age groups; we did not identify evidence to suggest obese individuals are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection; and remarkably homogenous immune activity across BMI categories suggests immune protection across these groups may be similar.

Whole mitogenomes are a useful data source for a wide variety of research goals due to the vastly cheaper sequencing cost and the far less demanding high-quality templates. The mitogenome has demonstrated great potential in resolving phylogenetic questions in Orthoptera at different taxonomic scales as well as exploring patterns of molecular and morphological character evolutions. In this study, the complete mitogenome of Alulacrisshilinensis (Zheng, 1977) was sequenced using next-generation sequencing, the characteristics of the mitogenome are presented briefly, and the phylogeny of the Melanoplinae and Catantopinae was reconstructed using a selected dataset of mitogenome sequences under maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference frameworks. The results show that the genus was consistently assigned to the subfamily Melanoplinae rather than Catantopinae in all phylogenetic trees deduced from different datasets under different frameworks, and this finding is entirely consistent with its morphological characters. Therefore, it is more appropriate to place the genus Alulacris in Melanoplinae rather than in Catantopinae.

GM2 gangliosidosis disorders are a group of neurodegenerative diseases that result from a functional deficiency of the enzyme β-hexosaminidase A (HexA). HexA consists of an α- and β-subunit; a deficiency in either subunit results in Tay–Sachs Disease (TSD) or Sandhoff Disease (SD), respectively. Viral vector gene transfer is viewed as a potential method of treating these diseases. A recently constructed isoenzyme to HexA, called HexM, has the ability to effectively catabolize GM2 gangliosides in vivo. Previous gene transfer studies have revealed that the scAAV9-HEXM treatment can improve survival in the murine SD model. However, it is speculated that this treatment could elicit an immune response to the carrier capsid and “non-self”-expressed transgene. This study was designed to assess the immunocompetence of TSD and SD mice, and test the immune response to the scAAV9-HEXM gene transfer. HexM vector-treated mice developed a significant anti-HexM T cell response and antibody response. This study confirms that TSD and SD mouse models are immunocompetent, and that gene transfer expression can create an immune response in these mice. These mouse models could be utilized for investigating methods of mitigating immune responses to gene transfer-expressed “non-self” proteins, and potentially improve treatment efficacy.

Three new species of the genus Gnamptogenys Roger, 1863 are described from southern China: Gnamptogenys dentihumera Chen, Lattke & Zhou, sp. n., Gnamptogenys nanlingensis Chen, Lattke & Zhou, sp. n. and Gnamptogenys quadrutinodules Chen, Lattke & Zhou, sp. n. A distribution map and an identification key to workers for the known species of China are provided.

The integrity of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) related to pressurized thermal shocks (PTSs) has been extensively studied. This paper introduces an integrity assessment of an RPV subjected to a PTS transient based on the French codes. In the USA, the “screening criterion” for maximum allowable embrittlement of RPV material is developed based on the probabilistic fracture mechanics. However, in the French RCC-M and RSE-M codes, which are developed based on the deterministic fracture mechanics, there is no “screening criterion”. In this paper, the methodology in the RCC-M and RSE-M codes, which are used for PTS analysis, are firstly discussed. The bases of the French codes are compared with ASME and FAVOR codes. A case study is also presented. The results show that the method in the RCC-M code that accounts for the influence of cladding on the stress intensity factor (SIF) may be nonconservative. The SIF almost doubles if the weld residual stress is considered. The approaches included in the codes differ in many aspects, which may result in significant differences in the assessment results. Therefore, homogenization of the codes in the long time operation of nuclear power plants is needed.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the flame retardant (FR) efficiency of melamine pyrophosphate (MP) with added layered double hydroxide (LDH) in medium density fiberboards (MDFs) to be used as building decorative materials. The thermal degradation, FR efficiency, and combustion properties of MDF were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, and cone calorimetric test. The TGA results showed that the combination of MP and LDH led to a lower decomposition temperature than the pure MP and pure LDH. The LOI results showed that the LOI values increased with the addition of the FRs. The cone calorimetric results showed that the addition of four proportions (1:1, 2:1, 1:2, and 1:3) of the compounds into MDF can clearly decrease the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and mean heat release rate (MHRR). The results indicated that the MP and LDH compounds have a synergistic effect to improve the flame retardancy and smoke suppression in the MDFs. The combination of MP and LDH in a 1:1 ratio under 10 wt% FR addition has the best flame retardant efficiency in the MDFs.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is a prevalent method for gene expression analysis, depending on the stability of the reference genes for data normalization. Lagerstroemia indica and L. speciosa are popular ornamental plants which are famous for the long flowering period. However, no systematic studies on reference genes in Lagerstroemia have yet been conducted. In the present study, we selected nine candidate reference genes (GAPDH, TUA, TUB, 18S, RPII, EF-1α, ATC, EIF5A and CYP) and evaluated their expression stability in different tissues during floral development of L. indica and L. speciosa using four algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and, RefFinder). Results showed that RPII and EF-1α were the most stably expressed and suitable reference genes for both of Lagerstroemia species. Moreover, ACT exhibited high expression stability in L. indica and GAPDH was a suitable reference gene for L. speciosa in different flower development stages. TUB was an unsuitable reference gene for gene expression normalization due to significant variations in expression across all samples. Finally, we verified the reliability of the selected candidate reference genes by amplifying an AGAMOUS homolog (LsAG1) of Arabidopsis thaliana. This study provides a list of suitable reference genes, thereby broadening the genetic basis of the gene expression patterns in Lagerstroemia species.

Background and purpose: It remains unclear about the etiopathogenesis of cognitive impairment (CI) in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Since diabetes mellitus (DM) has been shown to be associated with CI in several diseases, we examined the association between CI and dysglycemia in PD.Methods: Enrolled PD patients completed a series of clinical and neuropsychological assessments. Motor symptoms were determined by Hohen-Yahr staging (H-Y staging) and Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale – motor score (UPDRS-III). Neuropsychological functions were evaluated by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales. Moreover, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and oral glucose tolerance test were performed to assess glucose metabolism.Results: MoCA and MMSE scores in PD patients with DM group (PD-DM) were significantly lower than those in PD patients without DM group (PD-nDM). Consistently, PD-DM group showed significantly higher constituent ratio of CI than PD-nDM group. In addition, MoCA scores in HbA1c ≥ 6.5% group and HbA1c ≥ 7% group were significantly lower than those in the corresponding control groups. MoCA score in IR ≥ 3 group was significantly lower than that in IR < 3 group. Furthermore, MoCA score was negatively correlated with H-Y staging, HbA1c and insulin resistance, respectively. Finally, regression analysis indicated that H-Y staging and HbA1c ≥ 7% were independent risk factors of CI in PD.Conclusion: CI may be tightly associated with dysglycemia in, at least partially, PD patients. Importantly, H-Y staging and HbA1c ≥ 7%, two independent risk factors of CI in PD, may serve as key biomarkers in future PD clinical practice.