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IntroductionGastric cancer (GC) complicated by bone marrow metastasis (BMM) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) represents poor prognosis and most of these patients would die in a few months. Active treatment strategies such as chemotherapy are effective in restoring coagulation function and prolonging patients’ survival time. Immunotherapy including programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) or programmed death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors has emerged as a first-line treatment of gastric cancer. However, the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor-based treatment strategies in these patients remains unknown.Case descriptionHerein, we presented two cases of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) complicated by BMM and DIC, in which two patients received chemotherapy and PD-1 inhibitor as the first-line treatment. Both of them achieved a partial response after treatment, and the coagulation function was restored. The patient who discontinued the PD-1 inhibitor after 6 months experienced DIC relapse, whereas the other patient who maintained the PD-1 inhibitor treatment cycle remained responsive after 10 months.ConclusionsWe speculate that PD-1 inhibitor-based treatment strategies are effective and safe in prolonging survival against gastric cancer with BMM and DIC, and the coagulation function is well controlled by the treatment with a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Background Cheese intake has been observed to be associated with obesity, but whether this relationship was causal was still unclear. To evaluate whether cheese intake have an causality effect on obesity and related traits. Methods We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Summary statistics from published Genome-wide association study (GWAS) associated with obesity and related traits including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were obtained from FinnGen Biobank, IEU OpenGWAS database and UK Biobank. The cheese intake summary dataset was obtained from a UK Biobank database including 451,486 participants. Effect estimates were evaluated using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method. Other MR analyses, including MR Egger (bootstrap), weighted median and weighted mode methods were performed in sensitivity analyses. Results In the MR analysis, genetically predicted cheese intake were associated with a 60% decreased risk of obesity (95% CI: 0.25, 0.63, P = 9.76E-5), 72% of obesity class 1 (95% CI: 0.16, 0.51, P = 1.75E-5), 74% of obesity class 2 (95% CI: 0.13, 0.55, P = 4.12E-4), 79% of obesity class 3 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.64, P = 6.25E-3) and 52% of overweight (95% CI: 0.33, 0.71, P = 2.39E-4) per 1-standard deviation (SD) increment of cheese intake by IVW. The results also provided strong evidence that cheese intake was causally and negatively associated with BMI (β=-0.60, 95% CI: -0.90, -0.29; P = 0.000), WC (β=-0.28, 95% CI: -0.40, -0.17; P = 2.13E-6), HC (β=-0.27, 95% CI: -0.41, -0.13; P = 2.13E-4) and WHR (β=-0.39, 95% CI: -0.50, -0.27; P = 5.92E-11). Results were robust using other MR methods in sensitivity analyses. Conclusions This two-sample MR analysis found that genetically predicted cheese intake had causal effect on an decreased risk of obesity and related traits. The improvement of dietary behavior may be beneficial to prevent obesity.

Two α-cyanostilbene derivatives exhibiting bright emission in both well-dissolved solutions (Φ > 49%) and the solid state (Φ > 95%) have been synthesized as novel DSEgens for high-contrast mechanofluorochromism (>50 nm) and live cell imaging.

HighlightsThe Sentinel-2 images are reconstructed by the SupReME algorithm to obtain rich spatial features and consistent spectral reflectance.The reconstructed images are more advantageous for LAI estimation than the original images.The PROSAIL coupled RF model is verified to be an effective method for time-series LAI estimation at 10 m spatial resolution.Abstract. Accurate time-series crop leaf area index (LAI) monitoring can provide data support for field management and early yield estimation. The Sentinel-2 satellite has a high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution, and its unique three red-edge bands provide an ideal data source for LAI estimation. However, the inconsistent spatial resolution of different bands hinders the application potential of Sentinel-2 images. In view of this problem, we focused on mining more information provided by the high spatial resolution bands of Sentinel-2 images using the Super-Resolution for Multispectral Multiresolution Estimation (SupReME) algorithm. Furthermore, The SNAP (Sentinel Application Platform) biophysical processor and the PROSAIL radiation transfer model coupled with Random Forest (RF) model were applied to estimate time-series LAI of maize canopy at 10 m spatial resolution, and the Leaf Area Index Wireless Sensor Network (LAINet) measurements were used for accuracy verification. Finally, the effectiveness of images reconstructed by SupReME and the two inversion methods for time-series LAI estimation were evaluated. The results showed that: (1) the Sentinel-2 images reconstructed by SupReME can improve spatial characteristics while maintaining spectral invariance, and they were more advantageous for LAI estimation than the original images; (2) The SNAP biophysical processor suits a quick large-scale estimation with robustness, while the PROSAIL coupled RF model achieved a higher coefficient of determination (R2) and a lower root mean square error (RMSE) (R2 increased by more than 0.1, RMSE decreased by more than 0.33) for time-series LAI estimation in this specific study area; (3) both inversion methods showed apparent underestimation at the late growth stage. This study verifies the feasibility of obtaining high spatial resolution images using a super-resolution algorithm for LAI inversion and provides the effect of two commonly used inversion methods for time-series LAI estimation at 10 m resolution. Keywords: Leaf area index, PROSAIL model, Random forest, SNAP biophysical processor, SupReME algorithm.

Understanding the spatiotemporal pattern of precipitation concentration is important in the water cycle under changing environments. In this study, the daily precipitation concentration index in the Yangtze River Delta in China is calculated based on the Lorenz curves obtained from the observed data of 36 meteorological stations from 1960 to 2017, and spatiotemporal pattern variations and their possible causes are investigated. The driving forces of elevation, SUNSPOT, El Niño-Antarctic Oscillation, Pacific Decade Oscillation, and Arctic Oscillation are detected with correlation and wavelet analysis. Results show that, the daily precipitation concentration index ranges from 0.55 to 0.62 during the study period, 22 of 36 stations (accounting for 61%) show increasing trends, while three stations increase significantly at the 95% significant level. Relationship analysis indicates that the daily precipitation concentration shows a slightly negative correlation with elevation, while the relationships with SUNSPOT, El Niño-Antarctic Oscillation, Pacific Decade Oscillation, and Arctic Oscillation are complicated and diverse, there are different correlations and significance levels in different years. Further analysis shows that SUNSPOT is significantly correlated with El Niño-Antarctic Oscillation, Pacific Decade Oscillation, and Arctic Oscillation, which suggests that SUNSPOT may be an important factor that drives the changes of the three large-scale atmosphere circulation factors and causes precipitation concentration changing indirectly. These results provide further understanding of precipitation variations, which is meaningful for regional flood risk management under climate change.

A three-dimensional carbon-reinforced ionic-electronic composite (CRIEC) boosts the cycling areal capacities of working anode-free all-solid-state lithium batteries.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a photovoltaic module array with an energy storage system that has equalizing charge/discharge controls for regulating the power supply to the grid. Firstly, the boost converter is used in conjunction with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) such that the photovoltaic module array (PVMA) can output maximum power at any time. The battery equalizing charge/discharge architecture is composed of multiple sets of bidirectional buck–boost soft-switching converters in serial connection in order to achieve zero-voltage switching (ZVS) and zero-current switching (ZCS) so that when the charge/discharge power is above 150 W, the converter efficiency can be increased by 3%. The voltage and current signals from the battery are captured and input into the digital signal processor (DSP) to establish an equalizing charge/discharge control rule. For the output voltage control of the bidirectional buck–boost soft-switching converter, the dynamic mode is derived by first using the step response at chosen operating point, then quantitatively designing the controller parameters for the converter, so that the output voltage response can meet the pre-defined performance specifications. Finally, actual test results prove that the equalizing charge/discharge time of the quantitative design controller is shortened by more than 10% when compared to the traditional proportional-integral (P-I) controller regardless of charging or discharging; this also proves that the design of the photovoltaic module array with an energy storage system (ESS) that has equalizing charge/discharge controls is valid.

For determining the effects of meta-tolyl-N-methylcarbamate (MTMC, metolcarb) on Aphrophora costalis Matsumura (ACM) and the migration and leaching law of MTMC in soil, the thin-layer chromatography method was used. The characteristics of migration and leaching of MTMC in the dark brown soils, and the most critical influences such as soil type, pH, and amount of water were considered to evaluate the impact of leaching rate. The results showed that 25% MTMC diluted 1,000 times was most effective in controlling ACM, with a mortality reaching 87.8% by root irrigation, and a mortality of up to 94.4% by root burial. For dark brown soil, clay minerals are primarily quartz, as well as small amounts of agalmatolite, mica, and kaolinite. Adsorption of MTMC by dark brown soil begins within 2 h, which increases rapidly in capacity before 16 h, and tends to balance with a decrease in the gradient concentration after 16 h. The desorption capacity of MTMC exhibits a gradual increase within 2 h, showing a maximum around 12 μg·g-1, which tends to stabilize after 12 h. MTMC has moderate mobility in dark brown soil. This research has important practical significance for controlling tree diseases and insect pests and protecting the environment.

There has been growing interest in applying the DEM (discrete element method) to study the charging and burden distribution in a BF (blast furnace). In practice, the real particles in a BF are non-spherical. However, spherical particles have mostly been used in previous DEM investigations. Furthermore, various particle models have been developed to describe non-spherical particles. However, the effects of using different particle models on particle behavior in a BF are still unclear. Therefore, a comparative study of how the particle shape model impacts the burden charging in a BF was conducted. Specifically, the DEM using a multi-sphere model, polyhedral model, and super-ellipsoid model was first established. Then, experiments and DEM simulations of the charging and burden distribution of non-spherical quartz sand particles in a lab-scale bell-less top BF were performed. The results indicated that the number of sub-spheres, the principle of creating the particle for multi-spheres, the number of planes for polyhedrons, and the shape indices for super-ellipsoids could all affect the accuracy and efficiency. Moreover, applying the super-ellipsoid model and multi-sphere model could achieve reasonable accuracy and efficiency, with the highest simulation accuracy for the polyhedral model but at the cost of a rather heavy computational burden.

In ultra-high frequency (UHF) band, conventional microwave absorbers are limited in application by their thickness or weight. In order to solve this problem, a novel double-sided and dual-tuned active frequency selective surface (AFSS) absorber for the UHF band is designed and implemented for the first time. The physical mechanism is analyzed by the equivalent circuit method (ECM) and current distribution. Non-coplanar bias circuits of p-i-n diodes and varactors are proposed and achieved by a double-sided structure. The Fano resonance introduced by double-sided structure is analyzed and suppressed. The proposed structure covers an ultrabroadband of 0.4–2.5 GHz (144.8% in fractional bandwidth) below −10 dB by changing the working states. The thickness is only $\lambda _{L}$ /30 in the lowest operating frequency, and the areal density is only 1.54 kg/m2. It is worth mentioning that the structure has good angular sensitivity and can be used to complex targets for low-RCS applications.

Monolithic Nd: YAG lasers pumped by laser diodes have been widely used in precision measurement fields due to its low frequency noise and intensity noise. Previously, people found that the intensity noise of the pump laser would affect the frequency noise of the Nd: YAG lasers, but the cause has not been well explained so far. In this paper, we propose that this effect is thermally induced. The experimental results agreed well with the theoretical model predictions in up to 60 kHz frequency range. The finding can provide ideas for further reducing the frequency noise of Nd: YAG lasers. We get about 300 Hz linewidth in NPRO laser pumped by single laser diode.

Two viscosity-sensitive two-photon fluorescent probes (QL and QLS) were designed and synthesized, which can be localized in lysosome and mitochondria in living HeLa cells, respectively. As the increases of viscosity from 2.55 to 1150 cP, the fluorescence quantum yield (Φ) of QL and QLS was increased by 28-fold and 37-fold, respectively. At the same time, its effective two-photon absorption cross section (Φδ

Background To report the incidence and risk factors of suction loss during small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Methods This retrospective comparative case control study included 8493 eyes of 4261 patients. Patients underwent SMILE surgery between January 2014 and September 2019 were included. Videos of suction loss were reviewed, and the direct causes of suction loss were noted. An independent samples t-test was used for comparisons between the suction loss group and the control group. A binary logistic regression model was used to determine the possible significant risk factors that might increase the likelihood of suction loss during SMILE surgery. Results Suction loss occurred in 31 (0.37%) eyes of 30 patients; 23 (74.2%) cases occurred in the right eye (the first operative eye) and 8 (25.8%) cases occurred in the left eye. Among the 30 patients, 23 (76.7%) were male and 7 (23.3%) were female. The incidence in the six consecutive years were 0, 2.13, 0.34, 0.24, 0.22, and 0.25%. Head and eye movements during surgery caused suction loss in 16 (51.6%) and 15 (48.4%) eyes, respectively. Comparison between the suction loss group and the control group showed that the first operative eye and male sex are at a significantly high risk for suction loss (p Conclusions The risk factors of suction loss were first operative eye and male sex. Head and eye movements due to patient anxiety are the most common direct causes of suction loss. Surgeon’s experience may help to reduce the incidence of suction loss. Preoperative education and better communication during surgery needs to be emphasized. Trial registration Retrospectively registered. ChiCTR-ORC-17011040. Registered 1 April 2017. Name of registry: The observation of clinical results after corneal refractive surgery. Data of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: 1 January 2014.

Obtaining sustainable high yield and suitable soil nutrient management is crucial for cultivate alfalfa grassland. However, the information on the trade‐offs between soil nutrient and productivity of alfalfa grassland following long‐term cultivation under intensive agricultural management is scare. Six alfalfa grasslands of different ages under a highly intensive agricultural management system were chosen for this study. It was shown that long‐term planting of alfalfa reduced soil nutrients overall. In the 0–100, 100–200, and 200–300 cm layers, the highest values of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (TN), and soil total phosphorus (TP) content were observed in one‐year‐old alfalfa grassland. SOC, TN, and TP contents in each 100 cm soil layers linearly declined with increasing stand age, and decreasing rates of SOC and TN (4.31 and 0.03 g kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹) in the 0–100 cm layer were higher than other two soil layers. The SOC storage (SOCS) and TN storage (TNS) in 0–20 cm soil were significantly higher than other soil profiles in six alfalfa grasslands of different ages. SOCS and TNS in 0–100 cm, especially in upper 40 cm soil, decreased over time until the fourth year, and gradually increased in the fifth and sixth years. While in the third and fourth years, productivity reached peak value (3.13 and 3.12 t ha⁻¹), and then reduced. Correlation analysis showed productivity was significantly negatively correlated with SOCS and TNS in 0–100 cm soil depth. The decline in soil nutrients affected alfalfa growth and then feedback its productivity, and the optimal stand age of alfalfa grasslands should not be longer than 6 years for the limitation of soil nutrient, especially SOC storage. To acquire sustainable high productivity of artificial alfalfa grassland, our study suggested that more organic and nitrogen/phosphorus fertilizers should be applied to the upper soil layer beginning in the third year after planting.

In recent years, urbanization has accelerated and the gap between urban water supply and demand has become more significant. This phenomenon has led to greater demands on urban water resource management. Thus, analyses of the forces that drive urban water demand growth can help efficient management of urban water resources. “Jing-Jin-Ji” refers to the district composed of Beijing and Tianjin, municipality as well as Hebei Province, which is among the political and economic centers of China. The traditional analysis of driving force for water resources often consider cities as independent individuals and ignores the interaction between them. Such method cannot describe the spatial distribution of regional water demand. In this study, the water demand field theory is used to construct water demand and social development fields for the Jing-Jin-Ji district with relevant indicators. The distribution trends of the two fields, and the correlation of their intensities, are then analyzed. Principal component analysis is used to specifically determine the forces that drive water demand at different stages of development. Results indicate that the water demand field theory can accurately describe spatial variations in water demand intensity in the study area. The main driving force for water demand in the Jing-Jin-Ji district from 2000 to 2014 is the growth of urban population. However, in 2015 and 2016, “GDP of the tertiary industry” overtook it. The results of this study can serve as a basis for regional water demand forecasting, with large potential to be applied to urban water resource management.

China has long faced the problem of uneven distribution of water resources in time and space. The state of water security is therefore a key factor in regional development. The Jing-Jin-Ji district in China, which includes Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province, faced severe water security problems. Therefore, to improve the management of water resources, water security should be properly evaluated. This study established a comprehensive evaluation index system for evaluation. Furthermore, it analyzed the impacts of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP), which fully reflects the impact of human activities on the spatial distribution of water resources and is an innovation. The results showed that the state of water security in the Jing-Jin-Ji district generally had an increasing trend, and the score of the overall evaluation was increased by 65.8%. The Middle Route of the SNWTP had played a major role in water security in resources criterion, which increased by 28.53% in 2015 and 13.64% in 2016. With social development, the general state of water security in the district was improving. These findings could provide a scientific basis for regional water resources management.

A dual-band electromagnetic absorber based on double-layer frequency selective surface (FSS) is proposed for broadband applications. The layer I is designed with an absorption performance at higher frequency and a transmission window at lower frequency. Simultaneously, the layer II is designed with an absorption performance at lower frequency and a strong-reflection window at higher frequency. Due to the low-pass property of the layer I, this layer is on the top of the absorption structure, allowing the incident waves to transmit to the layer II at lower frequency and be absorbed. Meanwhile, the incident wave is absorbed at higher frequency by the layer I since the layer II acts as the strong-reflection substrate in the bottom of the absorption structure. The reflectivity of absorber below −10 dB covers a bandwidth of 1.3–4.1 GHz and 7.2–10 GHz at normal incidence. Furthermore, the absorber can still maintain an absorption bandwidth below −10 dB at 1.4–4.1 GHz under the 30° oblique incidence. The good agreement between simulation and measurement validates the proposed absorber.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the clinical significance of upper esophageal sphincter (UES) motility disorders and their association with the treatment response of type II achalasia. None of the three versions of the Chicago Classification of Esophageal Motility Disorders has defined UES abnormality metrics or their function. UES abnormalities exist in some patients and indicate a clinically significant problem in patients with achalasia. AIM To demonstrate the manometric differentiation on high-resolution esophageal manometry between subjects with abnormal UES and normal UES, and the association between UES type and the treatment response of type II achalasia. METHODS In total, 498 consecutive patients referred for high-resolution esophageal manometry were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups, those with normal and abnormal UES function. UES parameters were analyzed after determining lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function. Patients with type II achalasia underwent pneumatic dilation for treatment. Using mixed model analyses, correlations between abnormal UES and treatment response were calculated among subjects with type II achalasia. RESULTS Of the 498 consecutive patients, 246 (49.40%) were found to have UES abnormalities. Impaired relaxation alone was the most common UES abnormality (52.85%, n = 130). The incidence rate of type II achalasia was significantly higher in subjects with abnormal UES than those with normal UES (9.77% vs 2.58%, P = 0.01). After pneumatic dilation, LES resting pressure, LES integrated relaxation pressure, and UES residual pressure were significantly decreased (41.91 ± 9.20 vs 26.18 ± 13.08, 38.94 ± 10.28 vs 16.71 ± 5.65, and 11.18 ± 7.93 vs 5.35 ± 4.77, respectively, P < 0.05). According to the Eckardt score, subjects with type II achalasia and abnormal UES presented a significantly poorer treatment response than those with normal UES (83.33% vs 0.00%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Impaired relaxation alone is the most common UES abnormality. The incidence of type II achalasia is associated with abnormal UES. Type II achalasia with abnormal UES has a poorer treatment response, which is a potentially prognostic indicator of treatment for this disease.

Nanozymes with various activities have attracted much attention owing to their great potential in the fields of biochemical analysis and environmental monitoring. Herein, for the first time, granular Co2V2O7 particles were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method with pH regulation, and the triple-enzyme (oxidase-like, peroxidase-like, and catalase-like) activities and catalytic mechanisms of the prepared particles were systematically studied. On the basis of the excellent oxidase-like and peroxidase-like activities of Co2V2O7 particles, respectively, a colorimetric biosensor for detecting glutathione in health products (linear range: 2.5–20 μM) and a fluorescent platform for detecting glucose in human serum (linear range: 0.1–80 μM) were established, both of which had good selectivity and reliability. In particular, the fluorescence detection system exhibited ultrahigh sensitivity for H2O2, with a linear range of 0.008–3.2 μM, and a detection limit (0.002 μM) far superior to most reported in the li...

The main purpose of this study was to develop a photovoltaic module array (PVMA) and an energy storage system (ESS) with charging and discharging control for batteries to apply in grid power supply regulation of high proportions of renewable energy. To control the flow of energy at the DC load and charge/discharge the battery uniformly, this work adapted a bidirectional buck–boost soft-switching converter and the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique of the photovoltaic module array. First, a boost converter is used with the perturb and observe (P&O) method, so that the photovoltaic module array can work at the maximum power point (MPP) at any time. When the output power of the photovoltaic module array is greater than the load power, the excess power is used to charge the battery; on the contrary, if the output power of the photovoltaic module array is lower than the load power, the battery discharges for auxiliary power supply. This makes the voltage of the DC link maintain a constant value. The monitoring circuit sends the voltage and current signals to the TMS320F2809 digital signal processor (DSP) produced by Texas Instruments to control the battery charging/discharging voltage and current. The photovoltaic module array works at the MPP to improve the performance of the overall energy storage system. Finally, the actual test result shows that the soft-switching converter used in this work, when compared to the hard-switching converter, can improve efficiency by nearly 4% when the load power is above 125 W. When the photovoltaic power generation system operation is between 150 W and 400 W, the proposed uniform charging and discharging architecture can rapidly reach uniformity.

Electroplated diamond tools with single-layered high density diamond particles in an average size of 150 μm were prepared through a three-step electroplating process, including Ni-undercoating, Ni-diamond co-electrodeposition and Cr-C strengthening electroplating. Martensitic stainless steel (AISI 440C) rods with a diameter of 3 mm were used as substrates for tool fabrications. To evaluate tool grinding performances, linear slot grinding tests on the Al2O3 plates were conducted. The grinding performance of an electroplated diamond tool was determined through its maximum ground length upon tool failure. Experimental results show that an electroplated diamond tool with high density of diamond particles can be prepared by using Ni-diamond co-electrodeposition. After annealing at 500°C for 30 min, the hardness of Cr-C deposit was significantly increased from 597 Hv to 1636 Hv. The anneal-hardened Cr-C deposit is a suitable strengthening layer for fabricating electroplated diamond tools. The grinding performance of an electroplated diamond tool was strongly affected by the Ni-undercoating thickness. The highest maximum ground length of 2231 mm can be achieved by the electroplated diamond tool with a Ni-undercoating thickness of 90 μm. When the Cr-C strengthening deposit wore out, extruded diamond particles on the tool surface could be easily embedded into the Ni-undercoating, leading to fatigue fracture of the AISI 440C substrate.

This case highlights that hormonal changes during pregnancy could affect the biomechanical stability of the cornea and lead to corneal ectasia during pregnancy after corneal refractive surgery.We report an unusual case of bilateral corneal ectasia after small-incision lenticule extraction that developed during pregnancy.A 27-year-old woman experienced post-small-incision lenticule extraction corneal ectasia. Her pre-operative corneal topography was normal, with a minimum central corneal thickness of 538 μm in the right eye and 530 μm in the left eye. The manifest refraction was -7.75 -0.25 × 180 and -7.50 -0.75 × 10, and the lenticule thickness was 140 and 139 μm in the right and left eyes, respectively. After 11 months, in her first trimester, the patient began to experience gradually deteriorating blurred vision. Two years post-operatively, corneal ectasia was diagnosed based on topographic data. The automatic optometer examination was -7.25 -2.50 × 42 in the right eye and -11.00 -5.00 × 140 in the left eye. Later, the patient underwent corneal collagen cross-linking to control further progression and was recommended to wear rigid gas-permeable contact lenses.Surgeons should be alert for cornea ectasia after refractive surgery in pregnant patients, as hormonal changes during pregnancy may affect corneal biomechanical stability.

Nanozymes with various activities have attracted much attention owing to their great potential in the fields of biochemical analysis and environmental monitoring. Herein, for the first time, granular Co

A moderate halophilic bacterium that could accumulate ectoine and hydroxyectoine was isolated from soil near a salt mine and was identified as a Sinobaca sp. (designed strain H24) according to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The bacterium grew well in the presence of 1–2 M NaCl, while growth in a medium that contained 2 M NaCl led to higher accumulation of ectoines. The yields of ectoine and hydroxyectoine by Sinobaca sp. H24 reached 11.27 mg/l and 1.34 mg/l, respectively, when cultured in the following medium: NaCl (2 M), peptone (5 g/l), yeast extract (1 g/l), NH4Cl (0.02 M), KH2PO4 (1 M), K2HPO4 (0.1 M), and glycerol (1% w/v). Genes that are involved in ectoine biosynthesis of Sinobaca sp. H24 were also identified, and their sequences were determined by a metagenomics approach. The results demonstrated that Sinobaca sp. H24 possesses ectoine metabolism genes for both ectoine biosynthesis (ectA, ectB, ectC, and ectD) and ectoine degradation (doeA). Genes that are related to ectoine biosynthesis, such as lysC and asd, were also characterized. The identification and characterization results for ectoine/hydroxyectoine biosynthesis genes are in agreement with the physiology of Sinobaca sp. H24 as a potential candidate for ectoine production for industrial applications. This report established for the first time the accumulation of ectoine/hydroxyectoine in Sinobaca sp. and characterized the genes that are involved in ectoine/hydroxyectoine biosynthesis in Sinobaca sp. H24.

Background Prognosis varies among stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC). Our study aimed to build a robust prognostic nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS) of patients with stage IV CRC in order to provide evidence for individualized treatment. Method We collected the information of 16,283 patients with stage IV CRC in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and then randomized these patients in a ratio of 7:3 into a training cohort and an internal validation cohort. In addition, 501 patients in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China) database were selected and used as an external validation cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were used to screen out significant variables for nomogram establishment. The nomogram model was assessed using time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic curve (time-dependent ROC), concordance index (C-index), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan–Meier method. Result The C-index of the nomogram for OS in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts were 0.737, 0.727, and 0.655, respectively. ROC analysis and calibration curves pronounced robust discriminative ability of the model. Further, we divided the patients into a high-risk group and a low-risk group according to the nomogram. Corresponding Kaplan–Meier curves showed that the prediction of the nomogram was consistent with the actual practice. Additionally, model comparisons and decision curve analysis proved that the nomogram for predicting prognosis was significantly superior to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system. Conclusions We constructed a nomogram to predict OS of the stage IV CRC and externally validate its generalization, which was superior to the TNM staging system.

Background: Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a specific type of gastric cancer. The clinicopathological and molecular characteristics that can be used to predict the response to anti-PD-1 therapy for these patients are still not clear. Methods: Patients with advanced SRCC who received first-line anti-PD-1-based treatment were enrolled in this study. The clinicopathological characteristics of these patients were obtained from their medical records. The molecular features of these patients were analyzed by means of a next-generation-sequencing-based panel. The predictive significance of clinicopathological and molecular features for efficacy was analyzed. Results: A total of 71 patients with measurable lesions were included in this study, among which 46 patients had enough tissues for next-generation sequencing. The overall objective response rate (ORR) was 46.4%. ORR was significantly higher in mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient (dMMR) patients than in MMR-proficient (pMMR) patients, in patients with lymph node metastasis only than those with other metastasis sites, and in patients with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0 than with a PS of 1 or 2. The progression-free survival was significantly longer in patients with dMMR, lymph node metastasis only, PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 5, and CDH1 wild type. Conclusions: Several clinicopathological and molecular features are associated with anti-PD-1 treatment efficacy in SRCC, which might be used to identify patients who can benefit most from these therapies.

The mangrove ecosystem is significantly affected by human activities, climate change, and rising sea level. The propagules of mangroves dispersal with tide and river currents that extend upstream habitats are why mangroves are the dominant species in the tidal area. Bridging critical knowledge gaps can help to create restoration plans for mangrove extension. However, studies on the hydrodynamic and propagation trajectory model (PTM) simulation of propagule long-distance dispersal (LDD) and mangrove growth potential are scarce. By combining various numerical methods and empirical formulas and verifying them with the data obtained through field surveys, this study established a comprehensive model to assess the dispersal and growth of the propagules of Kandelia ovobata. The stepping-stone approach (SSA) and habitat suitability index (HSI) model were also employed to determine the location of the appropriate new habitats through iterative simulation in propagule dispersal. Dike removal was proposed as a nature-based solution and modeled to evaluate the benefits of ecological conservation and flood prevention. The PTM simulations indicated that the deterministic process of horizontal advection accounted for80 %, and that the remaining variability in the model could be explained by stochastic processes in predicting mangrove propagules pathways. The integrated model of the PTM and SSA proved that propagules have LDD in an estuary. There were few matches in the regions for mangrove growth when comparing the suitability of habitat distribution and the probability of propagule movement. We suggested that the mangrove spread model incorporating the SSA and HSI models predict the potential for mangrove dispersal into new habitats. In addition, the removal of levees aids floodplain regeneration and allows propagules to disperse across the floodplain at high tide and establishment at low tide. The Guandu floodplain restoration with dike removal supplied a cobenefits on ecological demands and flood risk reduction. Future research could thus utilize the adaptation and mitigation strategies presented in this study by incorporating socioeconomic considerations to enhance practical feasibility.