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Abstract With the widespread application of composite insulators in transmission lines, exploring the accumulation mechanism of pollution particles on composite insulator surfaces is of importance to ensure the safe and steady operation of the power system. Addressing the current theoretical shortcomings, this study categorises the accumulation process of particles on the insulator surface into three stages, namely ‘spatial motion’, ‘surface collision’, and ‘surface motion’. The motion and rotation velocities in a multi‐physics field are calculated in the spatial motion stage. In the surface collision stage, a parameter called ‘neck height’ is introduced to determine the optimum mechanics theory, and the normal deposition criterion is established. For the surface motion stage, the sliding displacement and rolling displacement on the surface are calculated based on the rotation speed of the particles. A dynamic pollution accumulation model of the composite insulator is established based on the normal deposition criterion and tangential displacement. Finally, numerical simulations are performed by using the finite element method. Simulation results show that the proposed model agrees with the actual insulator pollution accumulation, and the deposition model is still applicable for various types of composite insulators operating in different applied voltages. The deposition probability of particles increases with the increasing particle size. In the surface motion stage, particle displacement increases with particle size and wind velocity.

Abstract Background This study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 and [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging for primary lesions and metastatic lymph nodes in patients with tonsil cancer. Method Twenty-one tonsil cancer patients who underwent [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 and [18F]FDG PET/CT scans within two weeks in our centre were retrospectively enrolled. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) of the two tracers were compared by using the Mann‒Whitney U test. In addition, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the two methods for diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes were analysed. Results In detecting primary lesions, the efficiency was higher for [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT (20/22) than for [18F]FDG PET/CT (9/22). Although [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 uptake (SUVmax, 5.03 ± 4.06) was lower than [18F]FDG uptake (SUVmax, 7.90 ± 4.84, P = 0.006), [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 improved the distinction between the primary tumor and contralateral normal tonsillar tissue. The TBR was significantly higher for [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT (3.19 ± 2.06) than for [18F]FDG PET/CT (1.89 ± 1.80) (p

Saline and alkaline stress is one of the major abiotic stresses facing agricultural production, which severely inhibits the growth and yield of plant. The application of plant growth regulators can effectively prevent crop yield reduction caused by saline and alkaline stress. Exogenous melatonin (MT) can act as a signaling molecule involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological processes in plants, has been found to play a key role in enhancing the improvement of plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. However, the effects of exogenous MT on saline and alkaline tolerance of table grape seedlings and its mechanism have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of exogenous MT on morphological and physiological growth of table grape seedlings (Vitis vinifera L.) under saline and alkaline stress. The results showed that saline and alkaline stress resulted in yellowing and wilting of grape leaves and a decrease in chlorophyll content, whereas the application of exogenous MT alleviated the degradation of chlorophyll in grape seedling leaves caused by saline and alkaline stress and promoted the accumulation of soluble sugars and proline content. In addition, exogenous MT increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which resulted in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by saline and alkaline stress. In conclusion, exogenous MT was involved in the tolerance of grape seedlings to saline and alkaline stress, and enhanced the saline and alkaline resistance of grape seedlings to promote the growth and development of the grape industry in saline and alkaline areas.

Rhododendron, a globally popular ornamental flower, is nevertheless limited in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying its fragrance formation. Notably, terpenoids are the most prevalent volatile metabolite produced by plants. In this study, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and transcriptomics sequencing were conducted to analyze the synthesis mechanisms of terpenoid fragrance compounds of petals in fragrant R. fortunei Lindl. (YJ) and non-fragrant R. “Nova Zembla” (NW). The results identified that (-)-myrtenol, linalool, pinene, myrtenyl acetate, and terpineol were key floral aroma substances in YJ. Furthermore, an analysis of KEGG enrichment and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed that the bud and decay stages exhibited the highest number of enriched DEGs among different aroma types, indicating these as critical stages for the synthesis of terpenoid floral compounds. In this study, a structural gene, denoted as RfFDPS, was identified as a negative regulatory gene for monoterpene accumulation and a positive regulatory gene for sesquiterpene accumulation in YJ. Utilizing subcellular localization technology, we determined that RfFDPS proteins are located in the cytoplasm. A functional analysis through transient expression and gene silencing of RfFDPS demonstrated its ability to regulate the accumulation of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The overexpression of RfFDPS led to an increase in the expression of structural genes related to terpenoid synthesis, resulting in a decrease in monoterpenes and an increase in sesquiterpenes. Conversely, gene silencing had the opposite effect. In conclusion, RfFDPS plays a pivotal role in the synthesis and release of terpenoid volatile compounds in YJ petals, laying a solid theoretical foundation for the cultivation and enhancement of aromatic R. species.

Heavy metals in soil significantly threaten human health, and their remediation is essential. Among the various techniques used, phytoremediation is one of the safest, most innovative, and effective. In recent years, the use of biodegradable chelators to assist plants in improving their remediation efficiency has gained popularity. These biodegradable chelators aid in the transformation of metal ions or metalloids, thereby facilitating their mobilization and uptake by plants. Developed countries are increasingly adopting biodegradable chelators for phytoremediation, with a growing emphasis on green manufacturing and technological innovation in the chelating agent market. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms and market prospects of biodegradable chelators for phytoremediation. This review focuses on elucidating the uptake, translocation, and detoxification mechanisms of chelators in plants. In this study, we focused on the effects of biodegradable chelators on the growth and environmental development of plants treated with phytoremediation agents. Finally, the potential risks associated with biodegradable chelator-assisted phytoremediation are presented in terms of their availability and application prospects in the market. This study provides a valuable reference for future research in this field.

Abstract Objective Intra-tumoral heterogeneity of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) uptake has been proven to be a surrogate marker for predicting treatment outcome in various tumors. However, the value of intra-tumoral heterogeneity in metastatic Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2) positive breast cancer (MHBC) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate 18F‐FDG uptake heterogeneity to predict the treatment outcome of the dual target therapy with Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab(TP) in MHBC. Methods Thirty-two patients with MHBC who underwent 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan before TP were enrolled retrospectively. The region of interesting (ROI) of the lesions were drawn, and maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), mean standard uptake value (SUVmean), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and heterogeneity index (HI) were recorded. Correlation between PET/CT parameters and the treatment outcome was analyzed by Spearman Rank Test. The ability to predict prognosis were determined by time‐dependent survival receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. And the survival analyses were then estimated by Kaplan‐Meier method and compared by log‐rank test. Results The survival analysis showed that HI50% calculated by delineating the lesion with 50%SUVmax as threshold was a significant predictor of patients with MHBC treated by the treatment with TP. Patients with HI50% (≥ 1.571) had a significantly worse prognosis of progression free survival (PFS) (6.87 vs. Not Reach, p = 0.001). The area under curve (AUC), the sensitivity and the specificity were 0.88, 100% and 63.6% for PFS, respectively. Conclusion 18F-FDG uptake heterogeneity may be useful for predicting the prognosis of MHBC patients treated by TP.

Background: The 18F-fluoroestradiol positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FES PET/CT) technique provides a convenient method to evaluate the overall estrogen receptor (ER) expression in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. There are long debates on the characteristics and treatment strategy of patients with positive primary ER lesions but negative ER expression in metastatic disease. 18F-FES PET offers an opportunity to answer this question. Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the primary ER-positive patients with advanced-stage FES negativity and investigate the real-world treatment decisions made by physicians subsequently, and compare the efficacy between different regimens. Design: This observational cohort study was conducted at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, enrolling breast cancer patients with ER-positive primary tumors who showed advanced-stage FES negativity. Methods: Descriptive statistics were used in clinicopathologic characteristics and compared with a chi-square test or t -test. In addition, progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Results: 16.6% (52/314) of patients with an ER-positive primary tumor had negative ER expression assessed by 18F-FES for MBC prior to receiving first-line systemic therapy, among whom adjuvant endocrine therapy was prevalently utilized (86.5%, 45/52). The rate of FES negativity in the advanced stage was negatively correlated with levels of ER expression of primary tumors. Chemotherapy (83.3%, 40/48) was the most common treatment strategy afterward, among which capecitabine monotherapy (62.5%, 25/40) was a dominant alternative. PFS was significantly prolonged with capecitabine alone versus other chemotherapy (median PFS: 13.14 versus 6.21 months, p = 0.029). Conclusion: Negative conversion of ER in MBC detected by 18F-FES occurred frequently. Patients with lower ER expression in the primary lesion were more likely to have negative ER expression in the metastasis. In real-world clinical practice, most physicians primarily opted for chemotherapy, with capecitabine monotherapy being a commonly selected regimen. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05797987.

Abstract Background Limited studies have explored the association between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass and fat‐to‐muscle mass ratio (FMR) and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the sex‐specific association of VAT and FMR with all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality by age. Methods A total of 438 896 participants (49.8% men, mean age ± standard deviation: 57 ± 8 years for men; 56 ± 8 years for women) were included from the UK Biobank cohort. The nature of VAT was predictive, as obtained by sex‐stratified, non‐linear prediction models. Fat and muscle mass were estimated using a bioelectrical impedance assessment device. FMR was calculated as the fat mass divided by the muscle mass in the whole body. VAT and FMRs were divided into quintiles in ascending order, and the 3rd quintile was used as the reference. Cox regression analyses were used to estimate the associations between VAT, FMR and mortality. Results During a median of 12.4 years of follow‐up, we documented 29 903 deaths. After adjusting for various covariates, the individuals in the highest quintiles of VAT and FMR had the highest hazard ratios (HRs) of all‐cause mortality [1.24 (95% confidence interval: 1.17–1.33) for VAT and 1.24 (1.17–1.31) for FMR in men; and 1.11 (1.03–1.21) for VAT in women], except that the 1st quintile of FMR in women had the greatest HR [1.18 (1.09–1.27)]. Significant interactions were observed in both sexes according to age category (P for interaction

Plant structure has a large influence on crop yield formation, with branching and plant height being the important factors that make it up. We identified a gene, MtTCP18, encoding a TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) transcription factor highly conserved with Arabidopsis gene BRC1 (BRANCHED1) in Medicago truncatula. Sequence analysis revealed that MtTCP18 included a conserved basic helix–loop–helix (BHLH) motif and R domain. Expression analysis showed that MtTCP18 was expressed in all organs examined, with relatively higher expression in pods and axillary buds. Subcellular localization analysis showed that MtTCP18 was localized in the nucleus and exhibited transcriptional activation activity. These results supported its role as a transcription factor. Meanwhile, we identified a homozygous mutant line (NF14875) with a mutation caused by Tnt1 insertion into MtTCP18. Mutant analysis showed that the mutation of MtTCP18 altered plant structure, with increased plant height and branch number. Moreover, we found that the expression of auxin early response genes was modulated in the mutant. Therefore, MtTCP18 may be a promising candidate gene for breeders to optimize plant structure for crop improvement.

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

Testosterone (TS) is an important androgen drug and a precursor of steroid drug synthesis. Ketoreductase 2 (KR-2) (GenBank accession no. ABP64403.1) is observed to stereo-selectively catalyze the bioreduction of 4-androstene-3,17-dione (4-AD) to testosterone and contribute to the regeneration of NADH using isopropanol as a co-substrate. The Km value of KR-2 was 2.22 mmol/L with 4-AD, and the optimal pH was 6.5–7.0. The enzyme is stable and demonstrates relatively high-level enzyme activity at 40 °C. Acetone significantly inhibits this activity. This inhibition was overcome using an intermittent vacuum during the reaction process. Finally, the amount of TS reached 65.42 g/L after a 52 h reaction with 65.8 g/L 4-AD, 10% isopropanol, and 2 g/L β–NAD+ at 40 °C, with a conversion rate of 98.73%. A total of 6.15 g of TS was obtained from 6.58 g of 4-AD after the reaction and purification; the HPLC purity was 99.82%, and the overall yield was 92.81%. This enzyme provides a promising route for the green biosynthesis of testosterone for industrial applications.

Abstract Background Recently, immunotherapy has been used to treat metastatic triple‐negative breast cancer (mTNBC). Basic research has indicated a relation between tumor heterogeneity and the immune response. Tumor heterogeneity derived from 18F‐FDG PET/CT is a potential predictor of chemotherapy results; however, few studies have focused on immunotherapy. This study aims to develop a convenient and efficient measurement of tumor heterogeneity for the prediction of immunotherapy in mTNBC patients. Methods We enrolled mTNBC patients who received immunotherapy (PD‐1/PD‐L1 antibody) plus chemotherapy as first‐line treatment and underwent 18F‐FDG PET/CT scans before treatment. We defined a novel index representing tumor heterogeneity calculated from the standard uptake value (SUV) as IATH and IETH. Optimal cutoffs were determined using time‐dependent receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis. Results A total of 32 patients were enrolled and analyzed in this trial. A significantly longer median PFS was observed in the low SUVmax group than in the high SUVmax group (9.4 vs. 5.8 months, HR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.9, p = 0.025). The median PFS of low‐IATH patients was significantly longer than that of high‐IATH patients (HR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.8, p = 0.022). Similarly, patients with low IETH had significantly longer PFS than patients with high IETH (9.4 vs. 4.9 months, HR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.7, p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated IETH as an independent predictor of PFS. Conclusions This study proposed a novel method to assess intratumor and intertumor heterogeneity among metastatic breast cancer patients and determined that baseline IETH derived from 18F‐FDG PET/CT could represent a simple and promising predictor for first‐line immunotherapy among mTNBC patients.

Summary: In primary visual cortex (V1), critical period for ocular dominance (OD) plasticity is a well-defined developmental stage to shape neuronal circuits based on visual experience. Recent studies showed that V1-like OD plasticity existed in mouse dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). It is still unclear what the exact time window is and how neural circuits contribute to OD plasticity in dLGN. Using in vivo electrophysiology, we defined a critical period for OD plasticity in dLGN from eye opening to puberty. There also existed an innate process of OD formation from contralateral to equal bias in dLGN binocular neurons. Instant V1 inactivation with muscimol had no effect on OD bias or plasticity. Short-term V1 inactivation with N-methyl-d-aspartate reversed the formation of equal OD bias, while long-term V1 inactivation retained dLGN development to an immature stage.

One new phenylpropenol ester (1) and three new lindenane sesquiterpenes (2–4) were isolated from the whole plant of Chloranthus japonicus together with three known lindenane derivatives (5–7). Their structures were determined based on detailed spectroscopic and electronic circular dichroism computational analyses. Compound 4 showed moderate efficacy in inhibiting cell migration, invasion, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in human of hepatocarcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells. Furthermore, compound 4 could alter the expression of the proteins Vimentin, N-cadherin, Snail1 and E-cadherin by down-regulating the expression of Twist1, which indicated that its antimetastatic effect was associated with restraining the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HepG2 cells.

Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH), belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 16, is one of the key enzymes in plant cell wall remodeling. Schima superba is an important timber and fireproof tree species in southern China. However, little is known about XTHs in S. superba. In the present study, a total of 34 SsuXTHs were obtained, which were classified into three subfamilies based on the phylogenetic relationship and unevenly distributed on 18 chromosomes. Furthermore, the intron–exon structure and conserved motif composition of them supported the classification and the members belonging to the same subfamily shared similar gene structures. Segmental and tandem duplication events did not lead to SsuXTH gene family expansion, and strong purifying selection pressures during evolution led to similar structure and function of SsuXTH gene family. The interaction network and cis-acting regulatory elements analysis revealed the SsuXTH expression might be regulated by multiple hormones, abiotic stresses and transcription factors. Finally, expression profiles and GO enrichment analysis showed most of the tandem repeat genes were mainly expressed in the phloem and xylem and they mainly participated in glycoside metabolic processes through the transfer and hydrolysis of xyloglucan in the cell wall and then regulated fiber elongation.

Electroplated hard chromium (EPHC) has been widely used in industry due to its excellent mechanical properties, but the development of this technology is limited by environmental risks. The physical vapor deposition (PVD) process has shown promise as an alternative to EPHC for producing chromium-based coatings. In this research, we investigate the microstructure and wear resistance of pure chromium coatings using two PVD techniques, namely, magnetron sputtering ion plating (MSIP) and micro-arc ion plating (MAIP), which are compared to EPHC. To assess wear resistance, we evaluated factors such as hardness, coating base bonding force, wear rate and friction coefficient via friction and wear experiments. The results show that, in terms of microstructure, while the EPHC coating does not exhibit a strong preferred growth orientation, the PVD coatings exhibit an obvious preferred growth orientation along the (110) direction. The average grain size of the EPHC coating is the smallest, and the PVD chromium coatings show a higher hardness than the EPHC coating. The results of pin-on-disk tests show that there is little difference in friction coefficients between EPHC and MAIP chromium plating; however, the MAIP chromium coating showed an excellent specific wear rate (as low as 1.477 × 10−13 m3/Nm). The wear condition of the MAIP chromium coating is more stable than that of the EPHC coating, indicating its potential as a replacement for EPHC.

Similar to many energy projects, the evaluation of investments in natural gas projects is influenced by technical and economic uncertainties. These uncertainties include natural resource characteristics, production, decline laws, prices, taxes, benchmark yield, and so on. In China, conventional natural gas is still the dominant energy source. The investors are mainly large state-owned energy companies. Therefore, it is necessary to include the technical and economic uncertainties, as well as the investment decision and optimization problems of the enterprises in a unified analytical framework. To this end, this paper innovatively constructs such a framework. Using numerical simulations of approaches, the process of investment decision optimization by companies based on technology assessment and price forecasting is visualized in detail. The results suggest that the investment decision of the enterprise needs to consider technical and economic uncertainties in an integrated manner. It also needs to combine the business strategy and social responsibility of the enterprise in order to construct the objective function. With the availability of data, the framework and its algorithms can be used for practical evaluation of investment plans and decision supports for conventional natural gas projects. The framework can also integrate the analytical perspective of the macroeconomic and political environment to bring in a more comprehensive range of uncertainties.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in edible agricultural products, especially in crops, has raised worldwide concerns regarding food safety consumption. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the applicable methods and perspectives for reducing Cd contamination of agricultural products. Agricultural approaches of soil amendments, irrigation management, microbial agent, and cropping patterns were systematically concluded to illustrate the developments and achievements in crop contamination management. The use of traditional soil amendments as well as novel nano-materials has contributed to producing safe crops in agricultural soil contaminated with Cd. This review provides an inspiring and promising tool for maintaining food safety by reducing Cd accumulation in edible agricultural products.

Abstract Background Intratumoral heterogeneity has an enormous effect on patient treatment and outcome. The purpose of the current study was to establish and validate a nomogram with intratumoral heterogeneity derived from 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for prognosis of 5-Year progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods A total of 171 NPC patients who underwent pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT were retrospectively enrolled. Data was randomly divided into training cohort (n = 101) and validation cohort (n = 70). The clinicopathologic parameters and the following PET parameters were analyzed: maximum and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmax, SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and heterogeneity index (HI, SUVmax/SUVmean) for primary tumor and maximal neck lymph node. Cox analyses were performed on PFS in the training cohort. A prognostic nomogram based on this model was developed and validated. Results For the primary tumor, MTV-2.5, TLG-2.5, MTV-70%, and TLG-70% were significantly correlated with PFS. For the maximal neck lymph node, short diameter and HI were significantly correlated with PFS. Among the clinicopathologic parameters, M stage was a significant prognostic factor for recurrence. In multivariate analysis, M stage (P = 0.006), TLG-T-70% (P = 0.002), and HI-N (P = 0.018) were independent predictors. Based on this prognostic model, a nomogram was generated. The C-index of this model was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.63–0.85). For the cross validation, the C-index for the model was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.62–0.83) with the validation cohort. Patients with a risk score of ≥111 had poorer survival outcomes than those with a risk score of 0–76 and 77–110. Conclusions Intratumoral heterogeneity derived from 18F-FDG PET/CT could predict long-term outcome in patients with primary NPC. A combination of PET parameters and the TNM stage enables better stratification of patients into subgroups with different PFS rates.

Economic development level (EDL) cannot completely explain environmental behavior and participation (EBP) patterns as many other factors affect environmental performances, and the conflict of ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy Needs model’ or ‘Affluence hypothesis’ and ‘Challenge-response Model’ hypothesis has been continuously discussed. In the present study, a standardized two-dimensional array (STDA) model is employed to deliberate on the EDL-EBP relationship in different sub-groups with the highest ($21389.08) and the lowest ($5216.41) average capita GDPs in Guangdong Province, China. This is the first attempt to investigate the relationships between the regional EDL represented by capita GDP and public environmental behaviors represented by actual resident’s resource consumption, pollution emission and environmental participation in areas with similar natural and cultural condition, and an Environmental Effort Indicator (EEI) is established based on the STDA model. The results show that (1) the STDA model is applicable in distinguishing resident’s EBPs of 20 prefecture-level cities (PLCs) of Guangdong Province with rather different EDLs; (2) the relationship of EDL-EBP is not liner pattern and is behavior- and region-specific; (3) public participation plays an important role that is most decisive to the EEI; (4) the V-shaped EDL-EEI relationships can be explained each other with the EKC model. The formation of resident’s good environmental habits would be a long-term process and environmental education is a key way to accelerate the process and to maintain sustainable developments of the nature and human society.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate tumor heterogeneity of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and investigate its impact on the efficacy of pyrotinib in patients with HER2-positive MBC. Methods: MBC patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT before pyrotinib treatment were included. Temporal and spatial tumor heterogeneity was evaluated by the discordance between primary and metastatic immunohistochemistry (IHC) results and baseline 18F-FDG uptake heterogeneity (intertumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity indexes: HI-inter and HI-intra), respectively. Progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared by a log-rank test. Results: A total of 572 patients were screened and 51 patients were included. In 36 patients with matched IHC results, 25% of them had HER2 status conversion. Patients with homogenous HER2 positivity had the longest PFS, followed by patients with gained HER2 positivity, while patients with HER2 negative conversion could not benefit from pyrotinib (16.8 vs. 13.7 vs. 3.6 months, p < 0.0001). In terms of spatial heterogeneity, patients with high HI-intra and HI-inter had significantly worse PFS compared to those with low heterogeneity (10.6 vs. 25.3 months, p = 0.023; 11.2 vs. 25.3 months, p = 0.040). Conclusions: Temporal heterogeneity of HER2 status and spatial heterogeneity of 18F-FDG uptake could predict the treatment outcome of pyrotinib in patients with HER2-positive MBC, which provide practically applicable methods to assess tumor heterogeneity and guidance for treatment decisions.

Abstract Background Usually the microRNA (miRNA)-mediated gene regulatory network (GRN) is constructed from the investigation of miRNA expression profiling and target predictions. However, the higher/lower expression level of miRNAs does not always indicate the higher/lower level of cleavages and such analysis, thus, sometimes ignores the crucial cleavage events. In the present work, the degradome sequencing data were employed to construct the complete miRNA-mediated gene regulatory network in soybean, unlike the traditional approach starting with small RNA sequencing data. Results We constructed the root-, cotyledon-, leaf- and seed-specific miRNA regulatory networks with the degradome sequencing data and the forthcoming verification of miRNA profiling analysis. As a result, we identified 205 conserved miRNA-target interactions (MTIs) involved with 6 conserved gma-miRNA families and 365 tissue-specific MTIs containing 24 root-specific, 45 leaf-specific, 63 cotyledon-specific and 225 seed-specific MTIs. We found a total of 156 miRNAs in tissue-specific MTIs including 18 tissue-specific miRNAs, however, only 3 miRNAs have consistent tissue-specific expression. Our study showed the degradome-dependent miRNA regulatory networks (DDNs) in four soybean tissues and explored their conservations and specificities. Conclusions The construction of DDNs may provide the complete miRNA-Target interactions in certain plant tissues, leading to the identification of the conserved and tissue-specific MTIs and sub-networks. Our work provides a basis for further investigation of the roles and mechanisms of miRNA-mediated regulation of tissue-specific growth and development in soybean.

Background: The heterogeneity of estrogen receptor (ER) expression has long been a challenge for the diagnosis and treatment strategy of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). A novel convenient method of ER detection using 18F-fluoroestradiol positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FES PET/CT) offers a chance to screen and analyze MBC patients with ER uncertainty. Methods: MBC patients who received 18F-FES PET/CT were screened and patients with both FES positive (FES+) and negative (FES-) lesions were enrolled in this study. Progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and was compared using the log-rank test. Results: A total of 635 patients were screened and 75 of 635 (11.8%) patients showed ER uncertainty; 51 patients received further treatment and were enrolled in this study. Among them, 20 (39.2%) patients received chemotherapy (CT), 21 (41.2%) patients received endocrine-based therapy (ET), and 10 (19.6%) patients received combined therapy (CT + ET). CT showed a better progression-free survival (PFS) compared with ET (mPFS 7.1 vs. 4.6 months, HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.20–0.93, p = 0.03). CT + ET did not improve PFS compared with either CT or ET alone (mPFS 4.4 months, p > 0.2). All three treatment options were well tolerated. Conclusions: 18F-FES PET/CT could identify patients with ER heterogeneity. Patients with bone metastasis are more likely to have ER heterogeneity. Patients with ER heterogeneity showed better sensitivity to CT rather than ET. Combined therapy of CT + ET did not improve the treatment outcome.

DNA methylation is a major, conserved epigenetic modification that influences many biological processes. Cotyledons are specialized tissues that provide nutrition for seedlings at the early developmental stage. To investigate the patterns of genomic DNA methylation of germinated cotyledons in soybean (Glycine max) and its effect on cotyledon development, we performed a genome-wide comparative analysis of DNA methylation between the soybean curled-cotyledons (cco) mutant, which has abnormal cotyledons, and its corresponding wild type (WT) by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. The cco mutant was methylated at more sites but at a slightly lower level overall than the WT on the whole-genome level. A total of 46 CG-, 92 CHG-, and 9723 CHH- (H = A, C, or T) differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified in cotyledons. Notably, hypomethylated CHH-DMGs were enriched in the gene ontology term “sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor activity.” We selected a DMG encoding a homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) I subgroup transcription factor (GmHDZ20) for further functional characterization. GmHDZ20 localized to the nucleus and was highly expressed in leaf and cotyledon tissues. Constitutive expression of GmHDZ20 in Arabidopsis thaliana led to serrated rosette leaves, shorter siliques, and reduced seed number per silique. A yeast two-hybrid assay revealed that GmHDZ20 physically interacted with three proteins associated with multiple aspects of plant growth. Collectively, our results provide a comprehensive study of soybean DNA methylation in normal and aberrant cotyledons, which will be useful for the identification of specific DMGs that participate in cotyledon development, and also provide a foundation for future in-depth functional study of GmHDZ20 in soybean.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to employ dual tracers 16α-[18F]fluoro-17β-estradiol (18F-FES) and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) as imaging biomarkers in predicting progression-free survival (PFS) in ER-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients receiving fulvestrant therapy.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 35 HR+HER2- MBC patients who underwent 18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET/CT scans prior to fulvestrant therapy in our center. The SUVmax across all metastatic lesions on the PET/CT were assessed. The heterogeneity of ER expression was assigned by the presence of any 18F-FES negative lesions for patients with entirely 18F-FES positive lesions categorized into two groups by the median ratio of FES/FDG SUVmax, low FES/FDG, and high FES/FDG. PFS were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model.ResultsIn total, 12 patients had both 18F-FES negative and positive lesions, indicating the heterogeneity of ER expression in metastatic lesions. These patients had a low median PFS of 5.5 months (95% CI 2.3–8.7). Of patients with entirely 18F-FES positive lesions, 11 had a low FES/FDG, and 12 had a high FES/FDG. These groups had a median PFS of 29.4 months (95% CI 2.3–56.5) and 14.7 months (95% CI 10.9–18.5), respectively. The patients were stratified in three categories based on incorporating both 18F-FES and 18F-FDG imaging results that were significantly correlated with PFS by univariate analysis (P < 0.001) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.006).Conclusion18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET could serve as prognostic imaging biomarkers for ER-positive MBC patients treated with fulvestrant therapy.

Environmental meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, air pressure, etc.) have an important impact on short gap streamer discharge. Based on the streamer theory and particle continuity equation of gas discharge, a short gap streamer discharge simulation model is established, and the influence of environmental parameters on the dynamic development process of streamer discharge is simulated and analyzed. The short gap air gap discharge characteristics were tested in a self-made gas discharge chamber. The results show that at low humidity (relative humidity 80%), with the increase of humidity, the electron density of the streamer channel decreases, the field strength of the streamer head decreases, the development speed of the streamer slows down, and the gap breakdown voltage increase. With a decrease of gas pressure, the electron density of the streamer channel decreases, the field strength of the streamer head decreases, the development speed of the streamer increases, and the gap breakdown voltage decreases; The temperature change has little effect on the streamer development process.

Abstract Heterogeneity has been demonstrated to be a predictor of treatment failure and drug resistance. Our study aimed to investigate imaging parameters, including tumor heterogeneity, as prognostic factors of response to 500 mg fulvestrant using 18F-FDG PET/CT. Twenty-seven estrogen receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients who received 500 mg fulvestrant and underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT before treatment were retrospectively included. In PET/CT scans, conventional parameters (maximum and mean standardized uptake value, metabolic tumor volume [MTV], total lesion glycolysis [TLG]) and heterogeneity parameters (intra-tumor heterogeneity index [HI] and inter-tumor heterogeneity coefficient of variation [COV]) were analyzed. Progression-free survival (PFS) was mainly assessed for efficacy. The survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Univariate analysis indicated that a high SUVmax and a high tumor HI at baseline were associated with longer PFS of fulvestrant (P = 0.036 and P = 0.033, respectively). Liver metastasis, SUVmax and HI were statistically significant in multivariate analysis (P values of 0.017, 0.025 and 0.043, respectively). 18F-FDG based intra-tumor heterogeneity appears to be a potential predicator of efficacy of fulvestrant among HR+HER2− metastatic breast cancer patients.

Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is a reliable and high-throughput technique for gene expression studies, but its accuracy depends on the expression stability of reference genes. Schima superba is a fast-growing timber species with strong resistance. However, thus far, reliable reference gene identifications have not been reported in S. superba. In this study, 19 candidate reference genes were selected and evaluated for their expression stability in different tissues of S. superba. Three software programs (geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper) were used to evaluate the reference gene transcript stabilities, and comprehensive stability ranking was generated by the geometric mean method. Our results show that SsuACT was the most stable reference gene and that SsuACT + SsuRIB was the best reference gene combination for different tissues. Finally, the stable and less stable reference genes were verified using SsuSND1 expression in different tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first report to verify appropriate reference genes for normalizing gene expression in S. superba for different tissues, which will facilitate the future elucidation of gene regulations in this species and useful references for relative species.

Abstract The present explorative study was initiated to evaluate the clinical value of 18F-FES PET/CT in monitoring the change of estrogen receptor (ER) expression and potential predictive value in metastatic breast cancer patients. Twenty-two pathology-confirmed breast cancer patients were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into two groups (T: docetaxel, n = 14 and TF: docetaxel + fulvestrant, n = 8). The percentage of patients without disease progression after 12 months (PFS > 12 months) was 62.5% in group TF compared with 21.4% in group T (P = 0.08). According to 18F-FES PET/CT scans, the SUVmax (maximum standard uptake value) of all the metastatic lesions decreased in group TF after 2 cycles of treatment (6 weeks ± 3 days). However, 6 of 9 patients in group T had at least one lesion with higher post-treatment SUVmax. There was a significant difference in the reduction of ER expression between these two groups (P = 0.028). In group TF, the patients with PFS > 12 months had significantly greater SUVmax changes of 18F-FES than those with PFS 12 months: 91.0 ± 12.0% versus PFS