Search

During high-speed continuous casting, the effect of secondary cooling on the quality of the billet is more obvious, and the possibility of quality problems is higher. This study takes the continuous casting machine producing 165 mm × 165 mm billet as the research object. The six different secondary cooling schemes are designed with the 4.5 m/min casting speed. By comparing the shell deformation, surface stress, surface temperature recovery, and metallurgical lengths at different secondary cooling schemes, the secondary cooling scheme applied in the high-speed continuous casting process is selected. The results show that the surface temperature recovery and stress of the billet in Scheme 1 are higher than those of other cooling schemes. The metallurgical length and shell deformation of the billet in Scheme 4 are higher than those of other cooling schemes. In Schemes 2, 3, 5, and 6, the shell deformation of Schemes 3 and 5 is higher than that of Schemes 2 and 6. In Schemes 2 and 6, the maximum surface central stress of the continuous casting billet in the secondary cooling zone is 36.3 MPa and 31 MPa, respectively. Scheme 6 is used as the secondary cooling scheme of high-speed continuous casting in this study. The water quantity in secondary cooling zone 1 ~ 5 segments of Scheme 6 is 28 m3/h, 31 m3/h, 16 m3/h, 10 m3/h, and 6 m3/h, respectively. Finally, the industrial trial is carried out, which proves that Scheme 6 can be applied to high-speed continuous casting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion resistance of Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 amorphous alloys fabricated by twin-roll strip casting using various process parameters was systematically investigated compared with 316 stainless steel. Potentiodynamic polarization tests indicated that pure amorphous alloy sheets possessed the best passivation in NaOH and H2SO4 solutions, but pitting corrosion was observed in NaCl solution. In NaOH and H2SO4 solution, the corrosion current density of amorphous matrix is increased by nearly two times, and the corrosion rate increases accordingly. The presence of Al-rich microcrystallites retained from the melt in the amorphous matrix reduces the corrosion resistance of the sheets. The preferential attack occurs on the microcrystallites due to the formation of a passivation film of composition and structure different from that of the substrate. The study on the corrosion properties of twin-roll cast-rolling amorphous provides theoretical guidance for expanding its practical application. It provides new ideas to extend the application of amorphous alloys in practical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Various SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses have been increasingly identified in pangolins, showing a potential threat to humans. Here we report the infectivity and pathogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2-related virus, PCoV-GX/P2V, which was isolated from a Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica). PCoV-GX/P2V could grow in human hepatoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, and human primary nasal epithelial cells. It replicated more efficiently in cells expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) as SARS-CoV-2 did. After intranasal inoculation to the hACE2-transgenic mice, PCoV-GX/P2V not only replicated in nasal turbinate and lungs, but also caused interstitial pneumonia, characterized by infiltration of mixed inflammatory cells and multifocal alveolar hemorrhage. Existing population immunity established by SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination may not protect people from PCoV-GX/P2V infection. These findings further verify the hACE2 utility of PCoV-GX/P2V by in vivo experiments using authentic viruses and highlight the importance for intensive surveillance to prevent possible cross-species transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, spatial transcriptomics (ST) research has become a popular field of study and has shown great potential in medicine. However, there are few bibliometric analyses in this field. Thus, in this study, we aimed to find and analyze the frontiers and trends of this medical research field based on the available literature. A computerized search was applied to the WoSCC (Web of Science Core Collection) Database for literature published from 2006 to 2023. Complete records of all literature and cited references were extracted and screened. The bibliometric analysis and visualization were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Bibliometrix R Package software, and Scimago Graphica. A total of 1467 papers and reviews were included. The analysis revealed that the ST publication and citation results have shown a rapid upward trend over the last 3 years. Nature Communications and Nature were the most productive and most co-cited journals, respectively. In the comprehensive global collaborative network, the United States is the country with the most organizations and publications, followed closely by China and the United Kingdom. The author Joakim Lundeberg published the most cited paper, while Patrik L. Ståhl ranked first among co-cited authors. The hot topics in ST are tissue recognition, cancer, heterogeneity, immunotherapy, differentiation, and models. ST technologies have greatly contributed to in-depth research in medical fields such as oncology and neuroscience, opening up new possibilities for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Moreover, artificial intelligence and big data drive additional development in ST fields. Spatial transcriptomics (ST) technologies and application prospects. (1) Imaging-based approaches, including in situ sequencing (ISS)—where transcripts are amplified and sequenced in tissue—and ISH-based approaches—where imaging probes are sequentially hybridized in tissue. (2) NGS-based techniques, in which positional information is encoded onto transcripts prior to NGS sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial geothermal springs are physicochemically diverse and host abundant populations of Archaea. However, the diversity, functionality, and geological influences of these Archaea are not well understood. Here we explore the genomic diversity of Archaea in 152 metagenomes from 48 geothermal springs in Tengchong, China, collected from 2016 to 2021. Our dataset is comprised of 2949 archaeal metagenome-assembled genomes spanning 12 phyla and 392 newly identified species, which increases the known species diversity of Archaea by ~48.6%. The structures and potential functions of the archaeal communities are strongly influenced by temperature and pH, with high-temperature acidic and alkaline springs favoring archaeal abundance over Bacteria. Genome-resolved metagenomics and metatranscriptomics provide insights into the potential ecological niches of these Archaea and their potential roles in carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and hydrogen metabolism. Furthermore, our findings illustrate the interplay of competition and cooperation among Archaea in biogeochemical cycles, possibly arising from overlapping functional niches and metabolic handoffs. Taken together, our study expands the genomic diversity of Archaea inhabiting geothermal springs and provides a foundation for more incisive study of biogeochemical processes mediated by Archaea in geothermal ecosystems. Here, Qi et al. assembled ~3000 archaeal genomes from hot springs, capturing temporal dynamics and environmental diversity, and systematically explored functional niches and metabolic handoffs, shedding light on Archaea's role in biogeochemical cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in maintaining immune homeostasis in multiple sclerosis (MS). Hence, we aimed to explore the therapeutic efficacy and safety of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) utilizing induced antigen-specific Tregs in an animal model of MS, that is, in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. B cells from EAE model that were activated with soluble CD40L were used as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to induce the differentiation of antigen-specific Tregs from naïve CD4 precursors, and then, a stepwise isolation of CD4+CD25highCD127low Tregs was performed using a flow sorter. All EAE mice were divided into Treg-treated group (2 × 104 cells in 0.2 mL per mouse, n = 14) and sham-treated group (0.2 mL normal saline (NS), n = 20), which were observed daily for clinical assessment, and for abnormal appearance for 6 weeks. Afterward, histological analysis, immunofluorescence and real-time PCR were performed. Compared to sham-treated mice, Treg-treated mice exhibited a significant decrease in disease severity scores and reduced inflammatory infiltration and demyelination in the spinal cord. Additionally, Tregs-treated mice demonstrated higher CCN3 protein and mRNA levels than sham-treated mice. The results of this preclinical study further support the therapeutic potential of this ACT approach in the treatment of MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal grain growth (AGG) involving orientation selectivity during isothermal annealing in non-oriented silicon steels (NGO) was comparatively investigated by quasi-in situ observation. Remarkable abnormal growth of {100} grains occurred in strip-cast NGO after isothermal annealing. Similar AGG tendencies but with relatively small grain size and random orientation were observed in the suction-cast NGO and hot-rolled NGO. The abnormal grain growth process can be divided into three stages: (1) incubation stage where the seed grains germinated; (2) rapid development stage with seed grain growth rate of ~ 1.5 μm/s; (3) perfection stage with grain growth rate of ~ 0.4 μm/s, slowed down by coarse grains and the sheet surface. Grain growth kinetic can be well represented under three segments instead of constant linear regression. The kinetics for normal grain growth and AGG were D = D0 + 4.43 × 10−6t1.789 and D = D0 + 5.95 × 10−6t2.565, respectively. The selective AGG with preferred orientation showed strain dependence. With increase in prior deformation, the trend of AGG weakened and the orientation became more random. Inhomogeneous micro-strain distribution played a key role for initiation and propagation of AGG with preferred orientation in the strip-cast NGO. Sub-rapid solidification and slight deformation during strip casting process typically generated high level of strain inhomogeneity, which acted as an additional driving force to induce AGG by enhanced grain boundary migration. The preferred orientation of AGG may be related to orientation dependence of solidification and grain growth behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although emerging evidence indicates that alterations in proteins within nuclear compartments elicit changes in chromosomal architecture and differentiation, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we investigate the direct role of the abundant nuclear complex protein Matrin3 (Matr3) in chromatin architecture and development in the context of myogenesis. Using an acute targeted protein degradation platform (dTAG-Matr3), we reveal the dynamics of development-related chromatin reorganization. High-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) experiments revealed substantial chromatin loop rearrangements soon after Matr3 depletion. Notably, YY1 binding was detected, accompanied by the emergence of novel YY1-mediated enhancer-promoter loops, which occurred concurrently with changes in histone modifications and chromatin-level binding patterns. Changes in chromatin occupancy by Matr3 also correlated with these alterations. Overall, our results suggest that Matr3 mediates differentiation through stabilizing chromatin accessibility and chromatin loop-domain interactions, and highlight a conserved and direct role for Matr3 in maintenance of chromosomal architecture. Alterations in proteins within nuclear compartments often lead to changes in chromosomal architecture. Here, using acute targeted protein degradation, the authors reveal that the nuclear complex protein Matrin3 directly mediates differentiation through stabilizing chromatin loop domain interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present frequency-selective 1-bit bifunctional coding metasurfaces (BCMs) for acoustic-wave field manipulations. Unlike most conventional metasurfaces operating at a single frequency and having only one functionality, the BCM demonstrates the capability to achieve different functionalities at two distinct frequencies. The underlying mechanism is based on the design of the coding units with Helmholtz resonators operating at two frequencies independently. We demonstrate the achievement of different functionalities by the BCMs, involving acoustic focusing, generation of Airy beam, and acoustic splitting. The results are shown through theoretical predictions and finite-element simulations, which show good correspondence. Our work presents a promising metasurface design for pragmatic applications, such as multiple acoustic beam shaping and information preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, high temperature hot rolling and weld simulations were performed in Al-killed and Ti-Zr-killed steels. The microstructure and impact toughness of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the two experimental steels were investigated, and the ferrite transformation behavior in HAZ was also observed. The characteristic inclusions in the Ti-Zr-killed steel were studied using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results suggested that the HAZ microstructure of the Al-killed steel consisted of coarse bainite ferrite (BF) and granular bainite (GB) packets. The HAZ microstructure of Ti-Zr-killed steel was significantly refined and mainly contained fine acicular ferrite (AF) and BF. The Ti-Zr-O + MnS inclusions were 0.3–2.1 μm and could effectively promote the formation of AF after the weld simulations. MnS had a specific orientation relationship: {111}MnS║{0001}Ti-Zr-O, < 110 > MnS║ < 2 1 - 1 - 0 > Ti-Zr-O with Ti-Zr-O inclusion, and its precipitation promoted the formation of the Mn-depleted zone (MDZ). AF formed around it. The formation of an interlocked AF structure in the HAZ of the Ti-Zr-killed steel obviously increased the proportion of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) and refined the average effective grain size of the HAZ microstructure. Consequently, the impact toughness of the Ti-Zr-killed steel had no deterioration, but the impact toughness of Al-killed steel had an obvious loss after the weld simulation with a heat input of 70 kJ/cm. The impact absorption energy of HAZ of Ti-Zr-killed steel was improved from 6 to 219 J compared to Al-killed steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Source identification and quality monitoring of soil nutrients and beneficial elements (NBEs) are crucial for agricultural production and environmental protection. In this study, grid sampling (223 topsoil samples and 223 subsoil samples) was carried out in the Tongzhou District of Beijing. The concentration level of representative NBEs (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Se, V, Ge, Mn, Zn) and some typical soil properties representing indicators (total organic carbon, TFe2O3, Al2O3/SiO2, and pH) in soils and their spatial distribution were analyzed. The major sources contributing to these NBEs were assessed by principal component analysis (PCA), redundancy analysis (RDA), and positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis. The results suggested that the soil parent material contributed 40.09–69.84% to Zn, V, Ge, Mn, F, and K in soils; the local external source contributed 54.89–75.04% to N, Se, and TOC; and the hydrous system contributed 40.67–77.31% to Ca and Mg. The enrichment degree of each NBE was calculated using the standardized concentration ratio method. These indices exhibited the influence and mixing process of different sources on the target NBEs in topsoils. The individual concentrations of the target NBEs and the combined concentrations of N, P, and K were used to evaluate the soil quality. Our study estimated the relative contributions from dominant sources to NBEs in soils from a typical suburban area, providing a basis for agricultural activities and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To review the literature and analyze the efficacy and safety of two surgery procedures, intracranial drainage and extracranial shunt, for intracranial arachnoid cysts. Methods: We searched the online Medlars, PubMed, and Cochrane Central electronic databases and collected studies of patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts treated with two surgical methods. Results: The meta-analysis results shows that there were not statistically significant in clinical symptoms improvement, cyst reduction, the improvement of epilepsy, epidural hematoma, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and recurrence rate (P > 0.05, with RR values are 0.99, 0.94, 1.00, 0.94, 1.21, and 0.75 respectively). There was statistically significant in the occurrence rate of intracranial infection (P = 0.0004, RR = 0.28). The intracranial drainage group was lower than extracranial shunt group. Conclusion: The results indicated that the efficacy and safety of two surgery procedures are similar in the treatment of intracranial arachnoid cysts, but the intracranial drainage was better than extracranial shunt in reducing the risk of intracranial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most cancer vaccines target peptide antigens, necessitating personalization owing to the vast inter-individual diversity in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules that present peptides to T cells. Furthermore, tumours frequently escape T cell-mediated immunity through mechanisms that interfere with peptide presentation1. Here we report a cancer vaccine that induces a coordinated attack by diverse T cell and natural killer (NK) cell populations. The vaccine targets the MICA and MICB (MICA/B) stress proteins expressed by many human cancers as a result of DNA damage2. MICA/B serve as ligands for the activating NKG2D receptor on T cells and NK cells, but tumours evade immune recognition by proteolytic MICA/B cleavage3,4. Vaccine-induced antibodies increase the density of MICA/B proteins on the surface of tumour cells by inhibiting proteolytic shedding, enhance presentation of tumour antigens by dendritic cells to T cells and augment the cytotoxic function of NK cells. Notably, this vaccine maintains efficacy against MHC class I-deficient tumours resistant to cytotoxic T cells through the coordinated action of NK cells and CD4+ T cells. The vaccine is also efficacious in a clinically important setting: immunization following surgical removal of primary, highly metastatic tumours inhibits the later outgrowth of metastases. This vaccine design enables protective immunity even against tumours with common escape mutations.A vaccine targeting stress proteins expressed by many cancers blocks a tumour escape mechanism, enabling protective immunity mediated by diverse T cell and NK cell populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control cooling is an essential method for microstructure and mechanical property control in hot rolling strip making. Therefore, it is vital to realize high-precision temperature distribution prediction and control in cooling process to ensure the industrial production. In this paper, a traditional mechanism model based on finite-difference method combined with online cycle velocity calculation strategy was introduced as one of the baseline methods estimating temperature distribution. However, considering calculation time, variable-velocity rolling makes it difficult to rapidly realize temperature and modifying water distribution of all segments in cooling zone. Herein, a temperature distribution prediction method based on recurrent neural network was proposed, by fully considering the variable-velocity rolling dynamic characteristics. And the temperature distribution prediction performance of the model with different recurrent cell and time steps was evaluated. The results indicated that the proposed model could realize temperature distribution prediction, and the model based on bi-LSTM and 48 timesteps has the highest determination coefficient value of 0.976, the lowest root mean square error of 8.03, and a mean absolute error of 5.7. Furthermore, compared with baseline model, the proposed model retained lower computational cost, making it applicable in industrial application by providing real-time temperature distribution prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two extremely halophilic strains, designated SYSU A558-1T and SYSU A121-1, were isolated from a saline sediment sample collected from Aiding salt-lake, China. Cells of strains SYSU A558-1T and SYSU A121-1 were Gram-stain-negative, coccoid, and non-motile. The strains were aerobic and grew at NaCl concentration of 10–30% (optimum, 20–22%), at 20–55 °C (optimum, 37–42 °C) and at pH 6.5–8.5 (optimum, 7.0–8.0). Cells lysed in distilled water. The polar lipids were phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, disulfated diglycosyl diether-1 and unidentified glycolipid. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the two strains SYSU A558-1T and SYSU A121-1 were closely related to the membranes of the genus Haloterrigena. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic trees of strains SYSU A558-1T and SYSU A121-1 demonstrated a robust clade with Haloterrigena turkmenica, Haloterrigena salifodinae and Haloterrigena salina. The genomic DNA G + C content of strains SYSU A558-1T and SYSU A121-1 were 65.8 and 65.0%, respectively. Phenotypic, phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and genome analysis suggested that the two strains SYSU A558-1T and SYSU A121-1 represent a novel species of the genus Haloterrigena, for which the name Haloterrigena gelatinilytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYSU A558-1T (= KCTC 4259T = CGMCC 1.15953T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise control of gene expression during differentiation relies on the interplay of chromatin and nuclear structure. Despite an established contribution of nuclear membrane proteins to developmental gene regulation, little is known regarding the role of inner nuclear proteins. Here we demonstrate that loss of the nuclear scaffolding protein Matrin-3 (Matr3) in erythroid cells leads to morphological and gene expression changes characteristic of accelerated maturation, as well as broad alterations in chromatin organization similar to those accompanying differentiation. Matr3 protein interacts with CTCF and the cohesin complex, and its loss perturbs their occupancy at a subset of sites. Destabilization of CTCF and cohesin binding correlates with altered transcription and accelerated differentiation. This association is conserved in embryonic stem cells. Our findings indicate Matr3 negatively affects cell fate transitions and demonstrate that a critical inner nuclear protein impacts occupancy of architectural factors, culminating in broad effects on chromatin organization and cell differentiation. Interactions between chromatin and nuclear components and whether these interactions affect development is not well understood. Here the authors show inner nuclear protein Matrin-3 (Matr3) loss leads to accelerated erythroid maturation, and that Matr3 is involved in chromosomal structure organization and compartmentalization to negatively regulate cell differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forward genetic screen is a powerful, unbiased method to gain insights into biological processes, yet this approach has infrequently been used in vivo in mammals because of high resource demands. Here, we use in vivo somatic Cas9 mutagenesis to perform an in vivo forward genetic screen in mice to identify regulators of cardiomyocyte (CM) maturation, the coordinated changes in phenotype and gene expression that occur in neonatal CMs. We discover and validate a number of transcriptional regulators of this process. Among these are RNF20 and RNF40, which form a complex that monoubiquitinates H2B on lysine 120. Mechanistic studies indicate that this epigenetic mark controls dynamic changes in gene expression required for CM maturation. These insights into CM maturation will inform efforts in cardiac regenerative medicine. More broadly, our approach will enable unbiased forward genetics across mammalian organ systems. Throughput of in vivo genetic screens is a barrier to efficient application. Here the authors use a high-throughput CRISPR-based in vivo forward genetic screen in mice to identify transcriptional regulators of cardiomyocyte maturation, including the epigenetic modifiers RNF20 and RNF40. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel Ti–Mg–Ce–V-treated steel was designed for large heat input welding. The addition of Ce in Ti → Mg deoxidation process ensured sufficient Ti–Mg–Ce oxide inclusions in steel. The complex precipitation of V further improved the nucleation ability of ferrite. At simulated heat input of 500 kJ/cm, significant austenite pinning effect and intragranular ferrite nucleation were realized concurrently. A fine-grained microstructure with high impact toughness was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the relationships between chromosome structures, nuclear bodies, chromatin states and gene expression is an overarching goal of nuclear-organization studies1–4. Because individual cells appear to be highly variable at all these levels5, it is essential to map different modalities in the same cells. Here we report the imaging of 3,660 chromosomal loci in single mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells using DNA seqFISH+, along with 17 chromatin marks and subnuclear structures by sequential immunofluorescence and the expression profile of 70 RNAs. Many loci were invariably associated with immunofluorescence marks in single mouse ES cells. These loci form ‘fixed points’ in the nuclear organizations of single cells and often appear on the surfaces of nuclear bodies and zones defined by combinatorial chromatin marks. Furthermore, highly expressed genes appear to be pre-positioned to active nuclear zones, independent of bursting dynamics in single cells. Our analysis also uncovered several distinct mouse ES cell subpopulations with characteristic combinatorial chromatin states. Using clonal analysis, we show that the global levels of some chromatin marks, such as H3 trimethylation at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) and macroH2A1 (mH2A1), are heritable over at least 3–4 generations, whereas other marks fluctuate on a faster time scale. This seqFISH+-based spatial multimodal approach can be used to explore nuclear organization and cell states in diverse biological systems.Multiplexed imaging of 3,660 chromosomal loci in individual mouse embryonic stem cells by DNA seqFISH+ with immunofluorescence of 17 chromatin marks and subnuclear structures reveals invariant organization of loci within individual cells, and heterogeneous and long-lived distinct combinatorial chromatin states in cellular subpopulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CO2 corrosion behavior of V140 steel for oil country tubular goods exposed to high-temperature and pressure environment was studied by immersion corrosion experiments. The morphology, composition and elemental analysis of corrosion products were conducted by scanning electron microscope, x-ray diffractometer and electron probe micro-analyzer, respectively. The results showed that the corrosion rate gradually decreased and tended to be stable with the extension of corrosion time. The corrosion products in the initial stage were FeOOH and Fe2O3, and the final corrosion product was FeCO3. With the extension of corrosion time, corrosion products gradually became thick and dense from sparse. The fine and dense FeCO3 layer effectively improved the CO2 corrosion resistance of V140 steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the central nervous system (CNS), three types of myelin-associated inhibitors (MAIs) have major inhibitory effects on nerve regeneration. They include Nogo-A, myelin-associated glycoprotein, and oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein. MAIs possess two co-receptors, Nogo receptor (NgR) and paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PirB). Previous studies have confirmed that the inhibition of NgR only results in a modest increase in regeneration in the CNS; however, the inhibitory effects of PirB with regard to nerve regeneration after binding to MAIs remain controversial. In this study, we demonstrated that PirB is expressed in primary cultures of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and the inhibitory effects of the three MAIs on the growth of RGC neurites are not significantly decreased after direct PirB knockdown using adenovirus PirB shRNA. Interestingly, we found that retinal Müller cells expressed PirB and that its knockdown enhanced the regeneration of co-cultured RGC neurites. PirB knockdown also activated the JAK/Stat3 signaling pathway in Müller cells and upregulated ciliary neurotrophic factor levels. These findings indicate that PirB plays a novel role in retinal Müller cells and that its action in these cells may indirectly affect the growth of RGC neurites. The results also reveal that PirB in Müller cells affects RGC neurite regeneration. Our findings provide a novel basis for the use of PirB as a target molecule to promote nerve regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-staining positive, motile, rod-shaped and subterminal endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain SYSU K30005T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a karst cave in Libo county, Guizhou province, south-western China. Strain SYSU K30005T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Lysinibacillus fusiformis (98.6%) and Lysinibacillus sphaericus (98.2%). In phylogenetic tree, strain SYSU K30005T clade with the members of the genus Lysinibacillus. Based on the phylogenetic and 16S gene sequence result, strain SYSU K30005T was affiliated to the genus Lysinibacillus. The growth of SYSU K30005T was observed at 15–37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–4% (w/v) NaCl (optimum in 3.5% NaCl). Cell wall peptidoglycan type was A4α (Lys–Asp). The cell-wall sugars of SYSU K30005T were ribose, galactose and mannose and MK-7 was the only quinone. The fatty acids (> 5% of total fatty acids) were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and iso-C17:0. The polar lipids profile included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatideylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid. The genomic DNA G + C content was 37.2 mol%. The average nucleotide identity values between SYSU K30005T and its closest relatives were below the cut-off level (95–96%) for species delineation. The results support the conclusion that strain SYSU K30005T represents a novel species of the genus Lysinibacillus, for which we proposed the name Lysinibacillus cavernae sp. nov. The type strain is SYSU K30005T (= KCTC 43130T = CGMCC 1.17492T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons, especially axons, are metabolically demanding and energetically vulnerable during injury. However, the exact energy budget alterations that occur early after axon injury and the effects of these changes on neuronal survival remain unknown. Using a classic mouse model of optic nerve-crush injury, we found that traumatized optic nerves and retinas harbor the potential to mobilize two primary energetic machineries, glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, to satisfy the robustly increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) demand. Further exploration of metabolic activation showed that mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was amplified over other pathways, which may lead to decreased retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival despite its supplement to ATP production. Gene set enrichment analysis of a microarray (GSE32309) identified significant activation of oxidative phosphorylation in injured retinas from wild-type mice compared to those from mice with deletion of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), while PTEN-/- mice had more robust RGC survival. Therefore, we speculated that the oxidation-favoring metabolic pattern after optic nerve-crush injury could be adverse for RGC survival. After redirecting metabolic flux toward glycolysis (magnifying the Warburg effect) using the drug meclizine, we successfully increased RGC survival. Thus, we provide novel insights into a potential bioenergetics-based strategy for neuroprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel proteobacterial strain designated SYSU H10001T was isolated from a soil sample collected from plateau meadow in Hongyuan county, Sichuan province, south-western China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and phylogenetic analysis, strain SYSU H10001T was most closely related to Lysobacter soli KCTC 22011T (98.6%, sequence similarity) and Lysobacter panacisoli JCM 19212T (98.2%). The prediction result of secondary metabolites based on genome shown that the strain SYSU H10001T contained 3 clusters of bacteriocins, 1 cluster of non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, 1 cluster of type 1 polyketide synthase and 1 cluster of arylpolyene. In addition, the major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8 and the major fatty acids were identified as iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 and Summed feature 9. The polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and three unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain SYSU H10001T was 66.5% (genome). On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain SYSU H10001T represents a novel species of the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobacter prati sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYSU H10001T (= KCTC 72062T = CGMCC 1.16662T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-Ca deoxidized low-carbon steel compared with Al-Ca deoxidized steel were investigated. Hot rolling experiment and high heat input welding heat-affected zone (HAZ) simulation were carried out. In situ transformation behavior and crack propagation during impact in simulated HAZ were analyzed. The results indicated that interlocking acicular ferrite (AF) was the dominant microstructure after Ti-Ca deoxidation treatment, and TiOx-CaO-Al2O3-MnS-type complex inclusion with maximum proportion was effective for AF nucleation. However, Al2O3-CaO-(Ca, Mn)S-type inclusion that was dominant in Al-Ca steel exhibited significantly lower ability for AF nucleation. The high ratio of high-angle grain boundaries/low-angle grain boundaries in AF microstructure hindered the initiation and propagation of crack. The stress concentration in the vicinity of crack tip can be released because of superior deformability of AF structure as compared to bainite packets. By introducing Ti-Ca oxide particles, the mechanical properties of hot-rolled steel plate and HAZ, particularly impact toughness, were significantly enhanced because of the formation of fine AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dulaglutide 0.75 and 1.5 mg in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by baseline glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) < 8.5% or ≥ 8.5% after 26 weeks of treatment. Methods: Assessment of the Weekly AdministRation of dulaglutide in Diabetes (AWARD) China 1 (CHN1) study (NCT01644500, n = 556) included patients on dulaglutide vs. glimepiride who were treatment naïve or on monotherapy but discontinued therapy. AWARD-CHN2 (NCT01648582, n = 591) patients were on dulaglutide vs. insulin glargine and continued on metformin and/or sulfonylurea. Mean daily dose of glimepiride and insulin glargine was 2.51 mg and 21.0 IU, respectively. Post hoc analyses were conducted based on mixed-model repeated measures using a modified intent-to-treat analysis set with only the Chinese population. Change from baseline in HbA1c and body weight was analyzed by individual study. Results: In the two studies, 70.1% of patients in AWARD-CHN1 and 59.7% in AWARD-CHN2 had baseline HbA1c < 8.5% (mean HbA1c 7.4% and 7.6%, respectively) and 29.9% in AWARD-CHN1 and 40.3% in AWARD-CHN2 had baseline HbA1c ≥ 8.5% (mean HbA1c 9.2% and 9.4%, respectively). In AWARD-CHN1, the HbA1c reductions at 26 weeks with baseline HbA1c < 8.5% and ≥ 8.5%, respectively, were dulaglutide 1.5 mg: − 1.1% and − 2.2%; dulaglutide 0.75 mg: − 0.9% and − 2.0%; glimepiride: − 0.7% and − 1.4%. In AWARD-CHN2, the HbA1c reductions at 26 weeks with baseline HbA1c < 8.5% and ≥ 8.5%, respectively, were dulaglutide 1.5 mg: − 1.2% and − 2.3%; dulaglutide 0.75 mg: − 1.0% and − 1.7%; and insulin glargine: − 0.6% and − 1.7%. Irrespective of baseline HbA1c, body weight decreased with both dulaglutide doses and increased with either glimepiride or insulin glargine at 26 weeks. Dulaglutide demonstrated low incidence of hypoglycemia in both doses in the two trials. Hypoglycemia incidence was generally lower in patients with baseline HbA1c ≥ 8.5%. Conclusions: Dulaglutide demonstrated significantly greater HbA1c reduction with weight loss and lower risk of hypoglycemia compared with active comparators in Chinese patients with T2DM irrespective of baseline HbA1c, with much greater HbA1c reductions in patients with a higher baseline HbA1c. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01644500 and NCT01648582. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To master the effect of small nucleolar RNA, SNORD44, on the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of glioma cells and its relevant mechanism. SNORD44 and GAS5 expression in glioma tissues and cells was detected through qRT-PCR. Then, the glioma cell lines (U87 and U251) were divided into different groups with different treatments. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, while the abilities of the cell migration and invasion were measured by wound-healing test and Transwell assay, respectively. Cell apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. The expression of apoptosis proteins was quantified through Western blotting. Finally, the xenograft models were established on nude mice to investigate the effects of SNORD44 on the growth of glioma and the expressions of Ki67, MMP2 and MMP9 in vivo. SNORD44 and GAS5 were down-regulated in glioma tissues and cells in a positive correlation. Either SNORD44 or GAS5 overexpression decreased the proliferation, invasion and migration of U87 and U251 cells with the up-regulation of apoptosis rates, as well as the expressions of cleaved PARP, caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9. Moreover, the in vivo experiment showed that overexpression of SNORD44 blocked the growth of glioma xenograft in nude mice accompanying with the inhibition of Ki67, MMP2 and MMP9 expressions. The combination overexpression of SNORD44 and GAS5 gained better inhibitory effects on glioma cells. Overexpression of SNORD44 and GAS5 activate the caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway to facilitate the apoptosis with the inhibited proliferation, invasion and migration of glioma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated SYSU K12189T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a Karst cave in Xingyi county, Guizhou province, south-western China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the strain were observed to be aerobic and Gram-stain positive. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and phylogenetic analysis, strain SYSU K12189T is closely related to the type strains of the genus Microlunatus, Microlunatus parietis 12-Be-011T (98.5% sequence similarity), Microlunatus nigridraconis CPCC 203993T (98.4%) and Microlunatus cavernae YIM C01117T (96.6%), and is therefore considered to represent a member of the genus Microlunatus. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain SYSU K12189T and related type strains of the genus Microlunatus were < 70%. In addition, LL-diaminopimelic acid was found to be the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan. The major isoprenoid quinone was identified as MK-9(H4), while the major fatty acids (> 10%) were found to be anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and iso-C14:0. The polar lipids were found to contain diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, three glycolipids and two unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SYSU K12189T was determined to be 69.4 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain SYSU K12189T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Microlunatus, for which the name Microlunatus speluncae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYSU K12189T (= KCTC 39847T = DSM 103947T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogens such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) play an important role in promoting the production of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in response to infection or damage in microglia. However, whether different signalling pathways regulate these two inflammatory factors remains unclear. The protein kinase C (PKC) family is involved in the regulation of inflammation, and our previous research showed that the activation of the PKC pathway played a key role in the LPS-induced transformation of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) from anti-inflammatory activity to pro-inflammatory activity under high glutamate concentrations. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated the role of PKC in the LPS-induced production of these inflammatory cytokines in mouse primary microglia. GF109203X, a specific PKC inhibitor, inhibited the LPS-induced expression of IL-1β messenger ribonucleic acid and intracellular protein in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, 5 µM GF109203X prevented LPS-induced IL-1β expression but did not significantly affect LPS-induced TNF-α expression. PKC promoted IL-1β expression by regulating the activity of NF-κB but did not significantly impact the activity of ERK1/2. A2AR activation by CGS21680, an A2AR agonist, facilitated LPS-induced IL-1β expression through the PKC pathway at high glutamate concentrations but did not significantly affect LPS-induced TNF-α expression. Taken together, these results suggest a new direction for specific intervention with LPS-induced inflammatory factors in response to specific signalling pathways and provide a mechanism for A2AR targeting, especially after brain injury, to influence inflammation by interfering with A2AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two reduced Schiff bases, namely 5-[(2-hydroxybenzyl)amino]isophthalic acid (1) and 5-[(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)amino]isophthalic acid (2), were synthesized in two-step method using 5-aminoisophthalic acid as the starting material, and were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, infrared, 1H NMR, mass, absorption and fluorescence spectra. Both 1 and 2 crystallize in monoclinic system with space groups P21/c for 1 and P21/n for 2. Photophysical properties of both 1 and 2 are significantly different from those of raw material 5-aminoisophthalic acid due to stronger p → π conjugation when one amino hydrogen atom in 5-aminoisophthalic acid is substituted with electron-donor group. 1 displays a very strong narrow-band blue fluorescence with the maximum peak at 439 nm, a high quantum efficiency up to 64%, and a narrow full width at half maximum of 35 nm, while 2 has a broader and weaker fluorescence with the peak at 418 nm and FHWM of about 50 nm. Two reduced Schiff bases with blue fluorescence were synthesized from 5-aminoisophthalic acid in two-step method including formation of the corresponding Schiff bases and further reduction by NaBH4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mapping the chromatin occupancy of transcription factors (TFs) is a key step in deciphering developmental transcriptional programs. Here we use biotinylated knockin alleles of seven key cardiac TFs (GATA4, NKX2-5, MEF2A, MEF2C, SRF, TBX5, TEAD1) to sensitively and reproducibly map their genome-wide occupancy in the fetal and adult mouse heart. These maps show that TF occupancy is dynamic between developmental stages and that multiple TFs often collaboratively occupy the same chromatin region through indirect cooperativity. Multi-TF regions exhibit features of functional regulatory elements, including evolutionary conservation, chromatin accessibility, and activity in transcriptional enhancer assays. H3K27ac, a feature of many enhancers, incompletely overlaps multi-TF regions, and multi-TF regions lacking H3K27ac retain conservation and enhancer activity. TEAD1 is a core component of the cardiac transcriptional network, co-occupying cardiac regulatory regions and controlling cardiomyocyte-specific gene functions. Our study provides a resource for deciphering the cardiac transcriptional regulatory network and gaining insights into the molecular mechanisms governing heart development. Mapping transcription factors (TFs) occupancy is essential for understanding transcriptional programs. Here the authors use biotinylated knockin alleles of key cardiac TFs (GATA4, NKX2-5, MEF2A, MEF2C, SRF, TBX5, TEAD1) to map their genome-wide occupancy in the fetal and adult mouse heart, providing insight into the cardiac transcriptional regulatory network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), which anchors DNA loops that organize the genome into structural domains, has a central role in gene control by facilitating or constraining interactions between genes and their regulatory elements1,2. In cancer cells, the disruption of CTCF binding at specific loci by somatic mutation3,4 or DNA hypermethylation5 results in the loss of loop anchors and consequent activation of oncogenes. By contrast, the germ-cell-specific paralogue of CTCF, BORIS (brother of the regulator of imprinted sites, also known as CTCFL)6, is overexpressed in several cancers7–9, but its contributions to the malignant phenotype remain unclear. Here we show that aberrant upregulation of BORIS promotes chromatin interactions in ALK-mutated, MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma10 cells that develop resistance to ALK inhibition. These cells are reprogrammed to a distinct phenotypic state during the acquisition of resistance, a process defined by the initial loss of MYCN expression followed by subsequent overexpression of BORIS and a concomitant switch in cellular dependence from MYCN to BORIS. The resultant BORIS-regulated alterations in chromatin looping lead to the formation of super-enhancers that drive the ectopic expression of a subset of proneural transcription factors that ultimately define the resistance phenotype. These results identify a previously unrecognized role of BORIS—to promote regulatory chromatin interactions that support specific cancer phenotypes. The CTCF paralogue BORIS is upregulated in transcriptionally reprogrammed neuroblastoma cells rendered resistant to targeted therapy, in which it promotes regulatory chromatin interactions that maintain the resistance phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorophyll content in lichens is routinely used as an accurate indicator of lichen vigor, interspecific differences, and the effect of site-related environmental parameters. Traditional methods of chlorophyll extraction are destructive, time-consuming, expensive, and inoperable, especially when measuring large quantities of chlorophyll. However, non-destructive methods of measurement using portable chlorophyll meters are rarely used for lichens. Considering the characteristics of lichens such as rough blade surface and absence of chlorophyll b in cyanolichens, we compared the non-destructive methods with traditional methods and evaluated their applicability in studying lichen pigment content. Two instruments, SPAD-502 and CCM-300, were used to measure the pigment content of seven foliose lichen species. These pigment readings were compared with those determined using the dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) extraction method. Significant correlations were observed between SPAD/CCM values and pigments (chlorophyll and total carotenoids) extracted from chlorolichens, especially species with a smooth surface. The CCM-300 was more accurate in detecting the pigment content of foliose chlorolichens. However, both instruments showed certain limitations in the determination of pigment content in cyanolichens, especially gelatinous species. For example, CCM-300 often failed to give specific values for some cyanolichen samples, and both instruments showed low measurement accuracy for cyanolichens. Based on the high correlation observed between chlorophyll meter readings and pigments extracted from chlorolichens, equations obtained in this study enabled accurate prediction of pigment content in these lichens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid increase in anthropogenic activities, the local emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in background regions, such as the Tibetan Plateau (TP), have attracted great attention. The deposition of PAHs in lake sediments provides a historical evolutionary record of such compounds in these regions. To investigate the evolution of PAHs in the TP, two sedimentary cores from Yamzho Yumco Lake were collected and dated at high resolution, and the concentrations of 16 PAHs and sediment properties were also analyzed. The total concentrations of the 16 PAHs ranged from 6.52 to 57.97 ng/g (dry weight) in YC1 and from 0.91 to 4.57 ng/g (dry weight) in YC2. According to the methods of principal component analysis (PCA) followed by multilinear regression analysis (MLRA), four sources of PAHs in the sediments were qualitatively and quantitatively identified, such as petroleum combustion, petrogenic, coal combustion, and biomass burning. Thus, the historical evolution of PAHs was summarized. In addition, the transported distance from local PAH emission sources was found to greatly affect the composition and concentration of PAHs in sites YC1 and YC2. Specifically, local sources contributed a greater proportion of heavy molecular weight (HMW) PAHs in YC1 and a higher proportion of light-molecular-weight (LMW) PAHs in YC2. Moreover, fine particles (size < 20 μm) were found to play a significant role in adsorbing PAHs in sediments. Furthermore, ∑16PAHs in sediments were linearly correlated with the percentage of fine particles (size < 20 μm). This study provides a first example to investigate the historical evolution of PAH local emission in background regions by using lake sedimentary records, especially in the TP. Specifically, different local sources were identified using the methods of PCA followed by MLRA, and PAHs in TP sediments were predominantly adsorbed by fine particles rather than by total organic carbon (TOC) because the amount of TOC was limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated YIM ART13T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a karst cave in Xingyi county, Guizhou province, South western China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the strain were found to aerobic and Gram-stain positive. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain YIM ART13T was found to be closely related to Nocardioides pakistanensis NCCP 1340T (96.1% sequence similarity) and is therefore considered to represent a member of the genus Nocardioides. In addition, ll-diaminopimelic acid was identified as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan. The whole cell sugars were found to be mannose, galactose, glucose and ribose. The major isoprenoid quinone was identified as MK-8(H4), while the major fatty acids (> 10%) were identified as iso-C16:0, C18:1ω9c and C18:0 10-methyl. The polar lipids were found to contain diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside, an unidentified phospholipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain YIM ART13T was determined from the draft genome sequence to be 70.1 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain YIM ART13T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides speluncae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM ART13T (= KCTC 39593T = DSM 100493T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging the transcriptome in situ with high accuracy has been a major challenge in single-cell biology, which is particularly hindered by the limits of optical resolution and the density of transcripts in single cells1–5. Here we demonstrate an evolution of sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization (seqFISH+). We show that seqFISH+ can image mRNAs for 10,000 genes in single cells—with high accuracy and sub-diffraction-limit resolution—in the cortex, subventricular zone and olfactory bulb of mouse brain, using a standard confocal microscope. The transcriptome-level profiling of seqFISH+ allows unbiased identification of cell classes and their spatial organization in tissues. In addition, seqFISH+ reveals subcellular mRNA localization patterns in cells and ligand–receptor pairs across neighbouring cells. This technology demonstrates the ability to generate spatial cell atlases and to perform discovery-driven studies of biological processes in situ. seqFISH+, an evolution of sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization with super-resolution imaging capabilities, is used to image mRNAs of 10,000 genes in cultured cells and mouse brain slices, demonstrating the ability to generate spatial atlases and to perform discovery-driven studies in situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural vibration and the sound radiation induced by the flow over a cavity on a hydrofoil are investigated experimentally and numerically. The large eddy simulation (LES) is adopted to calculate the flow field and the pressure fluctuation characteristics. A coupled finite element method/boundary element method approach is used to analyze the hydrofoil vibration and the structure-borne noise. The flow noise is calculated using an acoustic analogy by considering the surface pressure fluctuations as the dipole sources. A hollow hydrofoil with an orifice supported by four cylinder rods is constructed for the experiments. Modal tests are performed to obtain the natural frequencies of the hydrofoil in air and water. The vibro-acoustic experiments are carried out in the water tunnel at various free stream velocities with the orifice open and closed. A pressure transducer is used to measure the pressure fluctuations behind the downstream edge of the orifice. The triaxial accelerometers mounted on the side walls are used to measure the vibrational response of the hydrofoil. Furthermore, a hydrophone located in a box, filled with water is used to measure the sound radiation. The structure-borne noise and the flow noise are identified by their frequency properties. Reasonable agreements are observed between the numerical predictions and the experimental measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How intrinsic gene-regulatory networks interact with a cell's spatial environment to define its identity remains poorly understood. We developed an approach to distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic effects on global gene expression by integrating analysis of sequencing-based and imaging-based single-cell transcriptomic profiles, using cross-platform cell type mapping combined with a hidden Markov random field model. We applied this approach to dissect the cell-type- and spatial-domain-associated heterogeneity in the mouse visual cortex region. Our analysis identified distinct spatially associated, cell-type-independent signatures in the glutamatergic and astrocyte cell compartments. Using these signatures to analyze single-cell RNA sequencing data, we identified previously unknown spatially associated subpopulations, which were validated by comparison with anatomical structures and Allen Brain Atlas images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]