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Nucleic acid modifications have attracted increasing attention in recent years since they have been found to be related to a number of diseases including cancer. Previous studies have shown that the early development of endometrial cancer (EC) is often accompanied by changes in methylation levels of related genes, and the expression of related proteins that regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) shows significant differences in EC cells and tissues. However, it has not been reported whether nucleic acid modifications related to methylation or ROS can serve as biomarkers for EC. Accurate quantification of these nucleic acid modifications still has challenges because their amounts in urine are very low and the interferences in urine are complicated. In this study, a novel dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE) method based on chitosan-carbon nanotube-Al2O3 (CS-CNT-Al2O3) has been established for the analysis of 5-hydroxymethyluracil (5 mU), 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-mdC), 5-hydroxymethyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-hmdC), 5-formyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-fdC), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in EC patient urine samples coupled with UHPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS/MS and HPLC–UV. Firstly, the synthesis of the CS-CNT-Al2O3 nanocomposite was conducted by a sono-coprecipitation method and was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Under the optimal extraction conditions of DSPE, we successfully quantified 5 mU, 5-mdC, 5-hmdC, 5-fdC, and 8-OHdG in urine samples from 37 EC patients and 39 healthy controls. The results showed that there were significant differences in the levels of 5-mdC, 5-hmdC, 5-fdC, and 8-OHdG in EC patients compared to the healthy control group. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was carried out to evaluate the potential of 5-mdC, 5-hmdC, 5-fdC, and 8-OHdG to distinguish EC patients from healthy volunteers. The area under the curve (AUC) for 5-mdC, 5-hmdC, 5-fdC, and 8-OHdG was 0.7412, 0.667, 0.8438, and 0.7981, respectively. It indicated that 5-mdC, 5-hmdC, 5-fdC, and 8-OHdG had certain potential in distinguishing between EC patients and healthy volunteers and they could act as potential non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of EC. Moreover, the present study would stimulate investigations of the effects of nucleic acid modifications on the initiation and progression of EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "A new methodology to reveal potential nucleic acid modifications associated with the risk of endometrial cancer through dispersive solid-phase extraction coupled with UHPLC-QE-Orbitrap-MS/MS and HPLC-UV." The correction addresses an error in Table 4 of the original article, where the order of literature numbers in column 8 was incorrect. The correct order should be "32, 33, 34, 35, 36" instead of "28, 29, 30, 31, 32." The correction has been made to the original article. The document also includes a note from the publisher stating their neutrality regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

At present, the research focus has been aimed at the pursuit of the design and synthesis of catalysts for effective photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater, and further exploration of novel materials of the photodegradation catalyst. In this paper, the Sol-gel route after thermal treatment was used to produce NiFe2O4 carbon aerogel (NiFe2O4-CA) nanocomposites with cotton linter cellulose as the precursor of aerogel, by co-precipitating iron and nickel salts onto its substrate. The structure and composition of these materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectra, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM), high-resolution scanning electron microscope mapping (SEM-mapping), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)'s surface area. The magnetic properties of the material were analyzed by a vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM). Moreover, diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photo-luminescence spectroscopy (PL) characterized the photoelectric properties of this cellulose-aerogels-based NiFe2O4-CA. Methylene blue (MB) acted as the simulated pollutant, and the photocatalytic activity of NiFe2O4-CA nanocomposites under visible light was evaluated by adjusting H2O2 content and the pH value. The results showed that the optical absorption range of nickel ferrite was broadened by doping cellulose-aerogels-based carbon, which exerted more positive effects on photocatalytic reactions. This is because the doping of this aerogel carbon promoted a more uniform distribution of NiFe2O4 particles. Given the Methylene blue (MB) degradation reaction conformed to the first-order kinetic equation, the NiFe2O4-CA nanocomposites conducted excellent catalytic activity by maintaining almost 99% of the removal of MB (60 mg/L) within 180 min and upheld excellent stability over four consecutive cycles. This study indicated that NiFe2O4-CA nanocomposites reserved the potential as a future effective treatment of dye wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome-wide association studies were conducted using a globally diverse safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Genebank collection for grain yield (YP), days to flowering (DF), plant height (PH), 500 seed weight (SW), seed oil content (OL), and crude protein content (PR) in four environments (sites) that differed in water availability. Phenotypic variation was observed for all traits. YP exhibited low overall genetic correlations (rGoverall) across sites, while SW and OL had high rGoverall and high pairwise genetic correlations (rGij) across all pairwise sites. In total, 92 marker-trait associations (MTAs) were identified using three methods, single locus genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using a mixed linear model (MLM), the Bayesian multi-locus method (BayesR), and meta-GWAS. MTAs with large effects across all sites were detected for OL, SW, and PR, and MTAs specific for the different water stress sites were identified for all traits. Five MTAs were associated with multiple traits; 4 of 5 MTAs were variously associated with the three traits of SW, OL, and PR. This study provided insights into the phenotypic variability and genetic architecture of important safflower agronomic traits under different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We define the group measure matrix of the alternative scheme and the ideal scheme based on the relevant factor sequence and the system characteristic behavior sequence. Furthermore, the information distances of decision makers and decision criteria are defined, respectively. According to the information distance, we obtain each scheme's grey matrix incidence degree for the scheme ranking. Finally, we use an example to verify the rationality of the model and compare it with other classic methods, such as TOPSIS, VIKOR, MULTI-MOORA. Compared with previous grey incidence analysis model, the proposed model can make full use of information of the decision-maker dimension and the criteria dimension. The proposed model can avoid high-dimensional information loss. The results show that the proposed method has superiority in measuring decision-maker information and decision-making standard information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface phonon polaritons (SPhPs) enable unique surface heat dissipation on nanoscale polarized membranes, countering reduced lattice thermal conductivity (κ) from decreased membrane thickness (d) and increased temperature (T). SrTiO 3 , a polar perovskite material, supports SPhPs across a wide Reststrahlen band linked to its substantial polarizability. However, limited studies explore SPhPs' role in SrTiO 3 heat transfer. Moreover, the d , T , and dielectric mismatch (Δ ɛ) in the upper and lower media sandwiching the membrane can modulate the SPhPs' resonance, affecting the polaritonic in-plane κ. This study thoroughly investigates the correlation between SPhPs and polaritonic κ of SrTiO 3 in symmetric and asymmetric systems. The predicted polaritonic κ of 100-nm-thick suspended SrTiO 3 membrane can reach 18.60 W/mK at 300 K, more than doubling the lattice κ. High ambient dielectric constant, elevated temperature, and reduced thickness redshift the thermal hot spot of SPhPs resonant modes in membrane to a lower frequency, predominantly influencing the polaritonic κ. Our work centers on investigating the significant potential of SPhPs to augment in-plane heat transfer, offering valuable insights into the feasibility of thermal management for microelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, cancer poses a significant health challenge in the medical community. Traditional chemotherapeutic agents are often accompanied by toxic side effects and limited therapeutic efficacy, restricting their application and advancement in cancer treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for developing intelligent drug release systems. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have many advantages, such as a large specific surface area, substantial pore volume and size, adjustable mesoporous material pore size, excellent biocompatibility, and thermodynamic stability, making them ideal carriers for drug delivery and release. Additionally, they have been widely used to develop novel anticancer drug carriers. Recently, MSNs have been employed to design responsive systems that react to the tumor microenvironment and external stimuli for controlled release of anticancer drugs. This includes factors within the intratumor environment, such as pH, temperature, enzymes, and glutathione as well as external tumor stimuli, such as light, magnetic field, and ultrasound, among others. In this review, we discuss the research progress on environmental stimulus-responsive MSNs in anticancer drug delivery systems, including internal and external environment single stimulus-responsive release and combined stimulus-responsive release. We also summarize the current challenges associated with environmental stimulus-responsive MSNs and elucidate future directions, providing a reference for the functionalization modification and practical application of these MSNs. [Display omitted] ● Developing nanoparticle drug delivery systems with clinical applications. ● Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have high drug loading. ● Killing effect of environmental stimulus-responsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles on tumor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase formation mechanism, microstructure and superconducting properties of Nb 3 Al prepared by mechanical alloying and subsequent sintering were systematically investigated in this work. It was found that when the milling time is less than 16h, the Nb 3 Al is formed via the reaction between the Nb 2 Al that crystallizes from Nb–Al amorphous phase and residual Nb during subsequent sintering process. Whereas the milling time exceeds 16h, the Nb 3 Al transforms directly from Nb–Al supersaturated solid solution (Nb(Al) ss) during subsequent sintering process. Due to this difference in phase formation route, the grain size of M16h sintered sample is larger than that of M12h and M20h sintered samples. Besides, the intergranular connectivity of M16h sintered sample is the poorest among them. These factors make the critical current density (J c) of M16h sample abnormally lower than that of both M12h and M20h samples. According to these results, the highest J c (about 1 × 104 A cm−2 at 4.2K, 6T) is obtained for the sample prepared by 20h ball milling and subsequent sintering at 850°Cfor 5h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical technology was employed to degrade p -nitrophenol (PNP) in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). Approximately 81% of 50 mg/L PNP was degraded within 24 h by the anode at 28 °C and pH 7.0. A significant interaction of temperature, pH, and initial PNP concentration was found for the degradation of PNP, and a theoretical maximum degradation rate of 95% was achieved at 34.63 °C, pH 7.4, and an initial PNP concentration of 126.96 mg/L after a 3-day incubation. Moreover, after long-term operation, the anodic biofilm exhibited the ability to degrade various aromatic compounds, including chloramphenicol, benzofluorfen, fluoxastrobin, and flubendiamide. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that functional bacteria of the genera Corynebacterium , Comamonas , Chryseobacterium and Rhodococcus predominated in the MFC anode biofilm. The complex syntrophic interactions among these functional bacteria were important for efficient removal of organic compounds. In conclusion, the MFC exhibited the potential to treat aromatic contaminants due to its energy recovery and the catabolic versatility of the anodic biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider the existence of nonoscillatory solutions for system of higher-order neutral differential equations with distributed coefficients and delays. We use the B a n a c h contraction principle to obtain new sufficient conditions for the existence of nonoscillatory solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider the existence of nonoscillatory solutions for a system of higher-order neutral differential equations with distributed coefficients and delays. We use the $Banach$ contraction principle to obtain new sufficient conditions for the existence of nonoscillatory solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider the existence of nonoscillatory solutions of higher-order neutral differential equations with distributed coefficients and delays. We use the $Banach$ contraction principle to obtain new sufficient condition for the existence of nonoscillatory solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the existence of nonoscillatory solutions of higher-order neutral differential equations with distributed coefficients. We use the Banach contraction principle to obtain new sufficient condition for the existence of nonoscillatory solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Consider the even-order nonlinear neutral differential equation and the associated differential inequality Using Lebesgue’s dominated convergence theorem, a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of eventually positive and bounded solutions is obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The capability of embryogenic callus induction is a prerequisite for in vitro plant regeneration. However, embryogenic callus induction is strongly genotype-dependent, thus hindering the development of in vitro plant genetic engineering technology. In this study, to examine the genetic variation in embryogenic callus induction rate (CIR) in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at the seventh, eighth, and ninth subcultures (T7, T8, and T9, respectively), we performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for CIR in a population of 353 peanut accessions. The coefficient of variation of CIR among the genotypes was high in the T7, T8, and T9 subcultures (33.06%, 34.18%, and 35.54%, respectively), and the average CIR ranged from 1.58 to 1.66. A total of 53 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected (based on the threshold value −log10(p) = 4.5). Among these SNPs, SNPB03-83801701 showed high phenotypic variance and neared a gene that encodes a peroxisomal ABC transporter 1. SNPA05-94095749, representing a nonsynonymous mutation, was located in the Arahy.MIX90M locus (encoding an auxin response factor 19 protein) at T8, which was associated with callus formation. These results provide guidance for future elucidation of the regulatory mechanism of embryogenic callus induction in peanut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SEMs) are the important part of economic society whose innovation activities are of great significance for building innovative country. In order to investigate how technological innovation (TI) and business model design (BMD) affect the business performance of SMEs, samples of 268 SMEs in the artificial intelligence industry and hierarchical regression models are used in the analysis. The results indicate that TI, BMD, and the matching of them have different effects on the innovation of SMEs of different sizes. These findings are helpful for enriching the theory of the fit between TI and BMD and providing theoretical guidance for the innovation activities in SEMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The microstructure and phase evolution in Nb-Al system during MA are systemically studied. The existence of Nb-Al amorphous layer surrounding Nb nano-grains after short-time ball milling was confirmed by the HRTEM observation as well as the crystallization behavior in the annealing experiment. It was also found that after short time milling, only very little Al can enter the crystal lattice of Nb and substitute for Nb, whereas most of Al mainly concentrate in this amorphous layer surrounding Nb nano-grains. What's more, interface thermodynamic analysis and calculation were employed to investigate the phase formation and evolution of this amorphous layer in Nb-Al binary system during MA process. Accordingly, positive driving force (≡-ΔG) definitely exists for the formation of the amorphous layer {NbAl} surrounding Nb nano-grains. Thus, these amorphous layers can form and exist stably in the short-time milled Nb-Al system. With the milling time prolonging, this amorphous layer becomes unstable and can crystallize into Nb(Al) ss solid solution when its thickness increases beyond a critical thickness. The critical thickness of this amorphous layer is also predicted by the interface thermodynamics calculation and the corresponding calculated value (approximately 1.9 nm) is consistent with the observed thickness (about 2.2 nm) by the HRTEM within the error range. More importantly, the solubility of Al in the lattice of Nb can be significantly increased resulting from the crystallization of this amorphous layer {NbAl}. Our work provides a new and rational perspective to well understand the complicated microstructure and phase evolution in various nano-sized systems during MA process. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Nb-Al amorphous layer was found surrounding Nb nano-grains. • The amorphous layers crystallized into solid solution after long-time milling. • The solubility of Al in Nb increased resulting from the crystallization. • The observation well agreed with the interface thermodynamics calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nb 3 Al superconductors with high superconducting performance are of interest as potential materials for using in high magnetic fields. The phase formation mechanism plays a vital role in preparing high quality Nb 3 Al superconductor, especially with better superconducting transition temperature (T c). In this work, the phase evolution of Nb Al system during mechanical alloying and subsequent sintering process was studied, and the corresponding kinetics mechanism of Nb 3 Al phase formation was investigated in detail. It was found that the Nb 3 Al phase can be formed through two different routes: one is reaction between Nb 2 Al and Nb, the other is transformation from Nb Al supersaturated solid solution (Nb(Al) ss) directly. Mechanical alloying promotes the transformation of Nb Al pre-alloyed powders from local Nb Al amorphous to Nb(Al) ss , controlling the different formation routes of Nb 3 Al phase. According to the kinetics calculation of the Nb 3 Al phase formation during sintering process, the values of activation energy (E) for the reaction between Nb 2 Al and Nb forming Nb 3 Al is higher than that for the transformation from Nb(Al) ss to Nb 3 Al in the initial stage, but decreases sharply with the reaction going on. Moreover, Nb 3 Al bulk synthesized via reaction between Nb 2 Al and Nb obtained a higher value of T c (about 15.8 K) compared with the Nb 3 Al bulk synthesized via Nb(Al) ss. The results in our work suggest that the phase formation mechanism of Nb 3 Al during mechanical alloying and subsequent sintering process actually influence their final superconductivity performance and can give an effective guide for optimizing the technique of preparing Nb 3 Al superconductors. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Two formation routes of Nb 3 Al phase are found during mechanical alloying and subsequent sintering. • The formation of Nb 3 Al phase is dominated by interface reaction and random nucleation. • Nb 3 Al bulk synthesized via reaction between Nb 2 Al and Nb obtained a higher value of T c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wax is an acellular structural substance attached to the surface of plant tissues. It forms a protective barrier on the epidermis of plants and plays an important role in resisting abiotic and biotic stresses. In this paper, nonheading Chinese cabbage varieties with and without wax powder were observed using scanning electron microscopy, and the surface of waxy plants was covered with a layer of densely arranged waxy crystals, thus differentiating them from the surface of waxless plants. A genetic analysis showed that wax powder formation in nonheading Chinese cabbage was controlled by a pair of dominant genes. A preliminary bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) assay showed that one gene was located at the end of chromosome A09. Within this interval, we identified BraA09000626, encoding an AP2 transcription factor homologous to Arabidopsis AtSHINE3, and we named it BrSHINE3. By comparing the CDS of the gene in the two parental plants, a 35 bp deletion in the BrSHINE3 gene of waxless plants resulted in a frameshift mutation. Tissue analysis showed that BrSHINE3 was expressed at significantly higher levels in waxy plant rosette stage petioles and bolting stage stems than in the tissues of waxless plants. We speculate that this deletion in BrSHINE3 bases in the waxless material may inhibit wax synthesis. The overexpression of BrSHINE3 in Arabidopsis induced the accumulation of wax on the stem surface, indicating that BrSHINE3 is a key gene that regulates the formation of wax powder in nonheading Chinese cabbage. The analysis of the subcellular localization showed that BrSHINE3 is mainly located in the nucleus and chloroplast of tobacco leaves, suggesting that the gene may function as a transcription factor. Subsequent transcriptome analysis of the homology of BrSHINE3 downstream genes in nonheading Chinese cabbage showed that these genes were downregulated in waxless materials. These findings provide a basis for a better understanding of the nonheading Chinese cabbage epidermal wax synthesis pathway and provide important information for the molecular-assisted breeding of nonheading Chinese cabbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel (Ni) is an essential trace element for plant growth and a component of the plant body that has many different functions in plants. Although it has been confirmed that nickel ions (Ni2+) havea certain regulatory effect on nitrogen (N) metabolism, there are not enough data to prove whether exogenous Ni2+ can increase the carbon (C) and N metabolism in the roots of tomato seedlingsunder low-nitrogen (LN) conditions. Therefore, through the present experiment, we revealed the key mechanism of Ni2+-mediated tomato root tolerance to LN levels. Tomato plants were cultured at two different N levels (7.66 and 0.383 mmol L−1) and two different Ni2+ levels (0 and 0.1 mg L−1 NiSO4 6H2O) under hydroponic conditions. After nine days, we collected roots for physiological, biochemical, and transcriptome sequencing analyses and found that the activities of N assimilation-related enzymes decreased at LN levels. In contrast, Ni2+ significantly increased the activities of N assimilation-related enzymes and increased the contents of nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+), and total amino acids. Through root transcriptomic analysis, 3738 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. DEGs related to C and N metabolism were downregulated after LN application. However, after Ni2+ treatment, PK, PDHB, GAPDH, NR, NiR, GS, GOGAT, and other DEGs related to C and N metabolism were significantly upregulated. In conclusion, our results suggest that Ni2+ can regulate the C and N metabolism pathways in tomato roots to alleviate the impact of LN levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO/CO2 hydrogenation has attracted much attention as a pathway to achieve carbon neutrality and production of synthetic natural gas (SNG). In this work, two-dimensional NiAl layered double oxide (2D NiAl-LDO) has been successfully decorated by SiO2 nanoparticles derived from SiCl4 and used as CO/CO2 methanation catalysts. The as-obtained H-SiO2-NiAl-LDO exhibited a large specific surface area of 201 m2/g as well as high ratio of metallic Ni0 species and surface adsorption oxygen that were beneficial for low-temperature methanation of CO/CO2. The conversion of CO methanation was 99% at 400 °C, and that of CO2 was 90% at 350 °C. At 250 °C, the CO methanation reached 85% whereas that of CO2 reached 23% at 200 °C. We believe that this provides a simple method to improve the methanation performance of CO and CO2 and a strategy for the modification of other similar catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Starch accounts for over 80% of the total dry weight in cereal endosperm and determines the kernel texture and nutritional quality. Amyloplasts, terminally differentiated plastids, are responsible for starch biosynthesis and storage. We screened a series of rice mutants with floury endosperm to clarify the mechanism underlying amyloplast development and starch synthesis. We identified the floury endosperm19 (flo19) mutant which shows opaque of the interior endosperm. Abnormal compound starch grains (SGs) were present in the endosperm cells of the mutant. Molecular cloning revealed that the FLO19 allele encodes a plastid‐localized pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E1 component subunit α1 (ptPDC‐E1‐α1) that is expressed in all rice tissues. In vivo enzyme assays demonstrated that the flo19 mutant showed decreased activity of the plastidic pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. In addition, the amounts of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) were much lower in the developing flo19 mutant endosperm, suggesting that FLO19 participates in fatty acid supply for galactolipid biosynthesis in amyloplasts. FLO19 overexpression significantly increased seed size and weight, but did not affect other important agronomic traits, such as panicle length, tiller number and seed setting rate. An analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism data from a panel of rice accessions identified that the pFLO19L haplotype was positively associated with grain length, implying a potential application in rice breeding. In summary, our study demonstrates that FLO19 is involved in galactolipid biosynthesis which is essential for amyloplast development and starch biosynthesis in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• DNA/chromosome- and extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated activities are key events during SV40T lentivirus-induced immortalization. • Many other transcription factors play more important roles than pRB in the SV40T-induced immortalization of MEFs, such as STAT1. • Viral integration may promote immortalization by disturbing the transcription of genes involved in DNA/chromosome- and ECM-associated activities. Lentivirus containing simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV40T) is routinely used to induce cell immortalization. However, the roles of viral integration itself in this progress is still controversial. Here, we transformed primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with SV40T lentivirus and studied the roles of viral integration in the immortalization using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). During the immortalization, differentially expressed genes (DGEs) are enriched in viral infection and several diverse activities. However, DEGs between immortalized and aging cells are significantly enriched in DNA/chromosome- and extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated activities. Gene regulatory network (GRN) analysis shows that although p53 is a key regulatory factor, many other transcription factors also play critical roles in the process, like STAT1. Of these DEGs, 32 genes have viral integration in their coding and/or regulatory regions. Our findings suggest that viral integration may promote SV40T-mediated immortalization by disturbing the expression of DNA/chromosome- and ECM-associated genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zinc transporters have been found to be associated with the pathogenesis of numerous human diseases including cancer. As the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, ovarian cancer is characterized by rapid progression and widespread metastases. However, the function and underlying mechanism of zinc transporters in ovarian cancer metastasis remain unclear. Methods: The relationship between zinc transporter gene expressions and clinical outcomes of ovarian cancer was assessed with the online database Kaplan-Meier plotter (http://kmplot.com/analysis/). Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate the prognostic importance of ZIP13. The expression of ZIP13 in ovarian cancer cell lines was depleted to explore its effect on proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion both in vitro and in vivo assays. RNA-Seq, quantitative RT-PCR, and western blot analysis were performed to explore ZIP13-regulated downstream target genes. Results: The expressions of several zinc transporters were highly associated the clinical outcomes of ovarian cancer patients. Among them, high ZIP13 expression was an independent prognostic factor for poor survival in patients with ovarian cancer. ZIP13 knockout suppressed the malignant phenotypes of ovarian cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Further investigation revealed that ZIP13 regulated intracellular zinc distribution and then affected the expressions of genes involved in extracellular matrix organization and cytokine-mediated signaling pathway. This led to the activation of Src/FAK pathway with increased expressions of pro-metastatic genes but decreased expressions of tumor suppressor genes. Conclusions: ZIP13 is shown to be a novel driver of metastatic progression by modulating the Src/FAK signaling pathway, which may serve as a promising biomarker for prognostic evaluation and targeted therapy in ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether patients' negative metastereotypes undermine their perception of doctor–patient relations through raising their intergroup anxiety and decreasing their trust level. One hundred twenty‐four outpatients from a Chinese hospital participated in this study; they were randomly assigned to either the negative metastereotype activation (NMSA) or the non‐NMSA condition according to different instructions. Then, they were asked to complete the Intergroup Anxiety, Patient Trust, and Doctor–Patient Relations Scale. Patients' negative metastereotypes undermined doctor–patient relations through the mediation of intergroup anxiety and patient trust (i.e., the independent mediation effect of intergroup anxiety and patient trust) and the serial mediation effect of intergroup anxiety and patient trust. These findings suggest that future research consider intergroup anxiety and patient trust in developing interventions to improve doctor–patient relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutamate stimuli and hyperactivation of its receptor are predominant determinants of ischemia-induced cytotoxic cerebral edema, which is closely associated with protein nanoparticle (PN)-induced increases in osmotic pressure. Herein, we investigated the electrochemical and mechanical mechanisms underlying the neuron swelling induced by PNs via the co-activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit (NMDAR) and excitatory metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). We observed that co-activation of ionic glutamate receptor NMDAR and Group I metabotropic mGluRs promoted alteration of PN-induced membrane potential and increased intracellular osmosis, which was closely associated with calcium and voltage-dependent ion channels. In addition, activation of NMDAR-induced calmodulin (CaM) and mGluR downstream diacylglycerol (DAG)/protein kinase C α (PKCα) were observed to play crucial roles in cytotoxic hyperosmosis. The crosstalk between CaM and PKCα could upregulate the sensitivity and sustained opening of sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1)-transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 4 (TRPM4) and transmembrane protein 16 A (TMEM16A) channels, respectively, maintaining the massive Na+/Cl- influx, and the resultant neuron hyperosmosis and swelling. Intracellular PNs and Na+/Cl- influx were found to be as potential targets for cerebral edema treatment, using the neurocyte osmosis system and a cerebral ischemic rat model. This study highlights PNs as a key factor in "electrochemistry-tension" signal transduction controlling Na+/Cl- ion channels and increased osmotic pressure in ischemia-induced cytotoxic edema. Moreover, enhanced sensitivity in both Na+ and Cl- ion channels also has a crucial role in cerebral edema. [Display omitted] • Co-activation of NMDAR and Group I mGluRs promotes PNs-induced neuronal hyperosmosis. • PNs exert electrophysiological effects and activate ion channels. • PKCα and CaM enhance sensitivity of SUR1-TRPM4 and TMEM16A channel currents. • PNs and Na+ /Cl- influx as potential targets for cerebral edema treatment. • Electrochemistry-tension signal transduction controls cytotoxic cerebral edema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converting excessive CO 2 emissions from industrial operation into methane (CH 4) is critical for the remediation of global warming. However, this reaction requires a high temperature to overcome the high thermodynamic stability of CO 2. The development of efficient catalysts for the CO 2 methanation reaction at low temperature remains challenging. Here we report that when a TiO 2 photothermal catalyst is loaded with Ru nanoparticles, the CO 2 to CH 4 conversion efficiency is markedly enhanced under light illumination. In fact, the CO 2 performance was enhanced fourfold and twofold from those of the traditional thermal catalytic reaction at 200 °C and 250 °C, respectively. In-situ DRIFTS analysis revealed that light irradiation accelerates the transition of bicarbonate to formates via light-induced charge carriers. Moreover, theoretical calculations revealed that photo-induced electron transfer effectively promotes H 2 dissociation and CO 2 activation on the Ru atoms. This work provides new theoretical insights into CO 2 activation and methanation under light illumination. [Display omitted] • Ru/TiO 2 is 4 × (200 °C) and 2 × (250 °C) more catalytic after photo-induced heating. • Enhancing factors are prolonged charge lifetime and narrowed bandgap of Ru/TiO 2. • Ru active sites accept electrons from the photoexcited TiO 2 supports under light. • Electron-rich Ru promotes H 2 dissociation, CO 2 activation, conversion of intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer cell invasion and metastasis are closely related to intracellular tension. The cell-polarity protein, Par3, is a mechanical transmitter that affects cytoskeletal forces and determines breast cancer aggressiveness. Increased Par3 tension caused by aPKC inactivation is involved in filopodia and lamellipodia formation. Blocking the connection between Par3 and aPKC increases breast cancer aggressiveness both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, aPKC-induced Par3 cytoplasmic translocation results in JAM-A phase separation and microfilament depolymerization, which is associated with increased intracellular protein nanoparticle-induced osmotic pressure. This study demonstrated the effects of aPKC on Par3 tension and osmotic pressure in breast cancer metastasis, and introduced Par3-associated mechanical mechanisms as potential targets for breast cancer treatment. [Display omitted] • Par3 mechanical signal is positive related to breast cancer migration. • aPKC-induced Par3 cytoplasmic translocation results in JAM-A phase separation and microfilament depolymerization. • Par3 cytoplasmic translocation increases osmotic pressure. • Par3 integrates inward cytoskeletal force and outward osmotic pressure to promote breast cancer mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity has caused a huge burden of disease. Few studies have explored individuals' environmental exposure level and the impact of multiple environmental exposures on obesity. The aim of this study was to explore individual air pollution exposure evaluation, and the association between and multiple environmental factors and obesity among adult residents in rural areas of China. In this study, 8400 residents of 14 districts and counties in eastern of China were selected by multistage stratified cluster sampling, and a total of 8377 residents were included in the final analysis. We adopted BMI (Body Mass Index) > 28 kg/m2 as the definition of obesity. First, an individual air pollution evaluation model was established based on the monitoring data of air pollution stations closest to residential address, different demographic characteristics of residents and daily living habits using generalized linear model and random forest model. Then, we used Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and Quantile g-Computation (QgC) models to explore multiple environmental exposures on obesity. The results showed that six air pollutants were significantly positively associated with obesity, and green space had a significant protective effect on obesity. The BKMR model showed that the effects of different air pollutants on obesity were significantly enhanced by each other, while green space significantly reduced the positive effect of air pollution on obesity. The QgC model showed a significant positive association with obesity when all environmental factors were exposed as a whole, especially in males, higher household incomes and young people. It suggested that relevant authorities should improve regional air quality and green space to reduce the burden of disease caused by obesity. [Display omitted] • We evaluated individual air pollution exposure of residents in Anhui Province. • There was a positive association between air pollution and obesity. • Green space was negatively associated with obesity. • Green space could attenuate effect of air pollution on obesity. • Multiple environmental exposure was positively associated with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension (HTN) was a major preventable cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), contributing to a huge disease burden. Ambient temperature, air pollution and green space were important influencing factors of HTN, and few studies have assessed the effects and interactions of ambient temperature, air pollution and green space on HTN in rural areas. In this study, we selected 8400 individuals randomly in rural areas of Anhui Province by a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling. A total of 8383 individuals were included in the final analysis. We collected particulate pollutants and meteorological data from the local air quality monitoring stations and National Center for Meteorological Science from January 1 to December 31, 2020, respectively. The normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) of Anhui Province in 2020 was produced and processed by remote sensing inversion on the basis of medium resolution satellite images. The average annual mean exposure concentrations of air pollution, meteorological factors, and NDVI were calculated for each individual based on the geocoded residential address. HTN was defined according the Chinese Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of HTN. The effects and interactions of ambient temperature, air pollution and green space on HTN were evaluated by generalized linear model and interaction model, respectively. In this study, the prevalence of HTN was 24.14%. The adjusted odd ratio of HTN for each 1 μg/m3 increasing in PM 2.5 and PM 10 , 1 °C of ambient temperature, and 0.1 of NDVI were:1.276 (1.013, 1.043), 1.012 (1.006, 1.018), 0.862 (0.862, 0.981) and 0.669 (0.611, 0.733), respectively. The results showed that air pollutants were positively correlated with HTN, while ambient temperature and green space were negatively correlated with HTN. Meanwhile, the negative associations of green space on HTN could decrease with the increasing concentrations of air pollution, but increase with the rising of ambient temperature. • We focused on influencing factors of HTN in rural areas of Anhui Province. • There was a positive correlation between air pollution and HTN. • Ambient temperature and green space were negatively associated with HTN. • Air pollution could attenuate effect of green space on HTN. • Increasing of ambient temperature strengthened effect of green space on HTN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conifers dominate the world's forest ecosystems and are the most widely planted tree species. Their giant and complex genomes present great challenges for assembling a complete reference genome for evolutionary and genomic studies. We present a 25.4-Gb chromosome-level assembly of Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) and revealed that its genome size is mostly attributable to huge intergenic regions and long introns with high transposable element (TE) content. Large genes with long introns exhibited higher expressions levels. Despite a lack of recent whole-genome duplication, 91.2% of genes were duplicated through dispersed duplication, and expanded gene families are mainly related to stress responses, which may underpin conifers' adaptation, particularly in cold and/or arid conditions. The reproductive regulation network is distinct compared with angiosperms. Slow removal of TEs with high-level methylation may have contributed to genomic expansion. This study provides insights into conifer evolution and resources for advancing research on conifer adaptation and development. [Display omitted] • Chromosome-level assembly and methylome of the largest gymnosperm genome so far • Continuous expansion and slow removal of transposons cause conifer huge genome • Large genes with ultra-long introns tend to be expressed at higher levels • Distinctive reproductive evolutionary trajectory compared to angiosperms Assembly of the Chinese Pine giga-genome reveals insights into conifer evolution and provides a resource for studies on conifer adaptation and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Essential oil (TEON) and ultrasound (US) had synergistic antibacterial effects. • TEON+US reduced E. coli populations by up to 7.42 logs. • TEON+US remarkably increased the cell membrane permeability. • TEON+US altered the morphology and microstructure of cells. • TEON+US resulted in more leakage of internal constituents. Essential oil nanoemulsions have been proven to have stronger antimicrobial effects compared to the essential oil alone or coarse emulsion. Sonoporation could be the promising candidate to trigger a synergistic effect with thyme essential oil nanoemulsion (TEON) and produce a more effective antibacterial efficacy. Therefore, in this study, the bactericidal effects of ultrasound (US) in combination with TEON treatments against Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 were investigated. The remarkable synergistic effects of US (20 kHz, 255 W/cm2, 9 min) and TEON (0.375 mg/mL) treatments at 22 °C reduced E. coli O157:H7 populations by 7.42 ± 0.27 log CFU/mL. The morphological changes of cells exposed to different treatments were observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the synergistic effects of the ultrasound and TEON treatments altered the morphology and interior microstructure of organism cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) images revealed that the combination treatments of ultrasound and TEON altered the permeability of cell membranes, and this affected the integrity of E. coli O157:H7 cells. This was further indicated by the high amounts of nucleic acids and proteins released from these cells following treatment. The results from this study illustrated the mechanisms of the synergistic effects of sonoporation and TEON treatments and provided valuable information for their potential in food pasteurization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Polar HPD-500 resin exhibited the best adsorption/desorption capacity. • Ultrasound increased adsorption/desorption capacity and reduced the equilibrium time. • Optimum conditions: HPST (540 W, 5 min) at 25 °C and 80% ethanol as desorption solvent. • Ultrasound increased flavonoid contents by 2–3-fold and enhanced antioxidant capacity. • Ultrasound reduced the total sugar and acid contents in the extract by 5–8-fold. This work described the purification and enrichment of flavonoids from baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit pulp (BFP) by ultrasound-assisted adsorption/desorption procedure using macroporous resins. Four resins were tested and HPD-500 polar resin exhibited the best adsorption/desorption properties. Based on preliminary experiments and literature reports, the effects of various ultrasonic conditions including high power short time (HPST, 540 W for 5 min), medium power medium time (MPMT, 270 W for 15 min) and low power long time (LPLT, 45 W for 30 min) as well as different temperatures (T = 25–45 °C) on the adsorption of Total Flavonoids Content (TFC) were investigated in comparison with orbital shaking/no sonication (NS). Also, the effect of ultrasound on the desorption capacity and recovery of TFC was determined at different concentrations of ethanol (30–100%). Remarkably, ultrasonic treatment significantly increased the adsorption/desorption capacity and recovery and shortened the equilibrium time. The pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models better delineated the adsorption process under ultrasound. Moreover, the adsorption process was both spontaneous and thermodynamically favourable with physical adsorption and multilinear intraparticle diffusion being the predominant mechanisms of the whole process. HPST treatment at 25 °C with 80% ethanol as the desorption solvent most noticeably enhanced the adsorption/desorption of flavonoids and contributed to the highest recovery of TFC, Total Phenolic Content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity in addition to a 5–8-fold reduction in total sugar and acid contents when compared with NS treatment. Moreover, HPLC analysis revealed that the content of nine out of thirteen phenolic compounds from the HPST treatment was the highest, and the individual flavonoids content increased by 2–3-fold compared with the other treatments. Our analyses suggested that ultrasound can be employed as a practical approach to intensify the adsorption and desorption of functional compounds in BFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nb 3 (Al 1-x Sn x) superconductors (x = 0.05, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35) were prepared by mechanical alloying and subsequent low-temperature sintering. It was found that the critical current density (J c) of the obtained Nb 3 (Al 1-x Sn x) sample is enhanced significantly compared to undoped Nb 3 Al prepared using the same method. The maximum value of the J c reaches up to 5.10 × 104 A·cm−2 (4.2 K, 5 T) for Nb 3 (Al 0.85 Sn 0.15) sample. Combined with the phase composition analysis and microstructure observation, it is indicated that Sn enters the A15 crystal structure of Nb 3 Al forming the Nb 3 (Al 1-x Sn x) phase after low-temperature sintering. What's more, Sn doping improves the grain connectivity as well as refines the grain size of Nb 3 Al, which are the main reasons for the enhancement of J c in the Sn doped samples. Based on the exploration of the phase evolution of Nb–Al–Sn system during the mechanical alloying and subsequent low-temperature sintering process, it is also confirmed that Nb 3 Sn forms firstly during the sintering process and then can serve as the perfect nucleus of Nb 3 Al to increase its nucleation rate, leading to the significant decrease of the grain size of Nb 3 Al. • The J c of Nb 3 Al reaches up to 5.10×104 A·cm−2 (4.2 K, 5 T) after Sn doping. • The Sn doping sharply reduced the grain size of Nb 3 Al (from 80-200 nm to 25–40 nm). • During the low-temperature sintering process, the Nb 3 Sn formed firstly and then served as the perfect nucleus of Nb 3 Al to increase its nucleation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous cropping of sugar beet can result in soil degradation and a decrease in the sugar beet yield and quality. However, the role of continuous sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. var. saccharifera) cropping in shaping the structure and function of the rhizosphere microbial community remains poorly investigated. In this study, we comparatively investigated the impact of different numbers of years of continuous sugar beet cropping on structural and functional changes in the microbial community of the rhizosphere using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. We collected rhizosphere soils from fields continuously cropped for one-year (T1), five-year (T5), and thirty-year (T30) periods, as well as one bulk soil (T0), in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The results demonstrated that continuous sugar beet cropping resulted in a significant decline in the community diversity of soil bacterial and fungal populations from T1 to T5. With continuous change in the structure of the microbial community, the Shannon diversity and observed species were increased in T30. With an abundance of pathogenic microbes, including Acidobacteria, Alternaria, and Fusarium, that were highly enriched in T30, soil-borne diseases could be accelerated, deduced by functional predictions based on 16S rRNA genes. Continuous sugar beet cropping also led to significant declines in beneficial bacteria, including Actinobacteria, Pseudomonas spp., and Bacillus spp. In addition, we profiled and analyzed predictive metabolic characteristics (metabolism and detoxification). The abundance of phenolic acid decarboxylase involved in the phenolic acid degradation pathway was significantly lower in groups T5 and T30 than that in T0 and T1, which could result in the phenolic compounds becoming excessive in long-term continuous cropping soil. Our results provide a deeper understanding of the rhizosphere soil microbial community's response to continuous sugar beet cropping, which is important in evaluating the sustainability of this agricultural practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a cross-sectional survey including 23869 participants and aimed to measure the prevalences of and risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in a Chinese rural population. CKD and DKD status was defined according to the combination of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and presence of albuminuria Participant completed a questionnaire involving life-style and relevant medical history, and the blood and urinary specimen were taken. The age- and gender- adjusted prevalences of CKD and DKD were calculated and risk factors associated with the presence of CKD and DKD were analyzed by logistic regression. The overall prevalence of CKD was 16.4% (15.9–16.8%) and of DKD was 2.9% (2.7–3.1%). In participants with diabetes, the overall prevalence of CKD was 35.5% (95% CI = 33.7–37.3%). Factors independently associated with renal damage were age, gender, education, personal income, alcohol consumption, overweight, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Our study shows current prevalences of CKD and DKD in Chinese rural residents. Further researches could identify potential factors explaining the observed differences and implement the interventions to relieve the high burden of CKD and DKD in rural population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]