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Abstract The mechanisms by which animals respond to rapid changes in temperature are largely unknown. Here, we found that polymodal ASH sensory neurons mediate rapid cooling-evoked avoidance behavior within the physiological temperature range in C. elegans. ASH employs multiple parallel circuits that consist of stimulatory circuits (AIZ, RIA, AVA) and disinhibitory circuits (AIB, RIM) to respond to rapid cooling. In the stimulatory circuit, AIZ, which is activated by ASH, releases glutamate to act on both GLR-3 and GLR-6 receptors in RIA neurons to promote reversal, and ASH also directly or indirectly stimulates AVA to promote reversal. In the disinhibitory circuit, AIB is stimulated by ASH through the GLR-1 receptor, releasing glutamate to act on AVR-14 to suppress RIM activity. RIM, an inter/motor neuron, inhibits rapid cooling-evoked reversal, and the loop activities thus equally stimulate reversal. Our findings elucidate the molecular and circuit mechanisms underlying the acute temperature stimuli-evoked avoidance behavior.

Abstract Background Numerous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between diet quality and cognitive performance, indicating that improving diet quality may be beneficial in preventing cognitive decline in older adults. However, few study has investigated the causal relationship between diet quality and cognitive performance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the causal effects of diet quality on cognitive performance in Chinese adults aged 55 years and older. Particularly, we utilize the Chinese Diet Quality Index (CHEI), a dietary assessment tool tailored for Chinese populations, as a proxy for older adults’ diet quality. Methods Data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) ( $$N = 2337$$ N = 2337 , $$\ge$$ ≥ 55 years old) conducted in 2004 and 2006. Cognitive function was tested by a subset of items from the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m). Data on dietary intake was retrieved from three consecutive 24 hour recalls by participants and its quality was assessed by the 17-items Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI). An Instrumental Variable technique was used to deal with the potential endogeneity of dietary quality. The instrumental variable used in our study is the community mean of CHEI. Results After adjusting for socio-demographic factors (age, gender, education, per capita household income), lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, BMI), and chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes), our findings revealed that improving diet quality had a significant positive effect on cognitive performance ( $$P = 0.020$$ P = 0.020 ), particularly in females aged 55-65 years ( $$P = 0.003$$ P = 0.003 ) and females with primary education and below ( $$P < 0.001$$ P < 0.001 ). Conclusion Our study suggests that improving diet quality and adhering to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese may enhance cognitive performance in Chinese adults aged 55 years and older.

Shoot architecture in maize is critical since it determines resource use, impacts wind and rain damage tolerance, and affects yield stability. Quantifying the diversity among inbred lines in heterosis breeding is essential, especially when describing germplasm resources. However, traditional geometric description methods oversimplify shoot architecture and ignore the plant’s overall architecture, making it difficult to reflect and illustrate diversity. This study presents a new method to describe maize shoot architecture and quantifies its diversity by combining computer vision algorithms and persistent homology. Our results reveal that persistent homology can capture key characteristics of shoot architecture in maize and other details often overlooked by traditional geometric analysis. Based on this method, the morphological diversity of shoot architecture can be mined (quantified), and the main shoot architecture types can be obtained. Consequently, this method can easily describe the diversity of shoot architecture in many maize materials.

【Objective】Aroma is one of the important quality traits of rice, which directly affects consumers' evaluation on cooking and eating quality of rice. The selection of aromatic rice resources and the identification and utilization of aroma genes has practical significance for the genetic breeding and the development of aromatic rice. The aroma gene, Badh2, is a major gene that has been cloned to control the aroma of rice. Clarifying the distribution and utilization frequency of different alleles of Badh2 in main aromatic rice varieties planted in South China will better serve the breeding practice of aromatic rice in this area.【Method】Genotypic analysis was conducted on Badh2 in 30 rice cultivars collected from different areas in South China with the KASP functional molecular marker. The aroma of all the cultivars were tested with different evaluation methods including chewing method, KOH soaking method and HS-SPME/GC-MS. Meanwhile, the aroma ancestries of the above aromatic rice cultivars were traced, and their genetic backgrounds of aroma origins were analysed.【Result】KASP molecular markers could accurately genotype the aroma gene Badh2. The Badh2 allele variations of 30 aromatic rice varieties planted in South China were all Badh2-E7 type. The results of the aroma test showed that all Badh2-E7 type varieties possessed aroma. The aroma source parent tracing analysis of the aromatic rice varieties revealed that the aroma source parents of aromatic rice varieties were relatively simple and mainly included Xiangyaxiangzhan, Basmati 370, and etc. Xiangyaxiangzhan accounted for about 30% of the aroma source parents, and Basmati 370 accounted for about 13% of the aroma source parents.【Conclusion】Large scale and rapid identification of aromatic rice can be achieved through KASP genotyping technology. The Badh2 alleles of 30 aromatic rice varieties collected in South China are all the genotype of Badh2-E7, and the simplicity of the genetic background of the aroma gene may result from the single source of the aroma parent. In future aromatic rice breeding, new aroma genes can be introduced to enrich the genetic background of rice aroma.

Abstract Background Ankyrin repeat domain 49 (ANKRD49) has been found to be highly expressed in multiple cancer including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC). However, the function of ANKRD49 in the pathogenesis of NSCLC still remains elusive. Previously, ANKRD49 has been demonstrated to promote the invasion and metastasis of A549 cells, a LUAD cell line, via activating the p38-ATF-2-MMP2/MMP9 pathways. Considering the heterogeneity of tumor cells, the function and mechanism of ANKRD49 in NSCLC need more NSCLC-originated cells to clarify. Methods Real-time qPCR was employed to test ANKRD49 expression levels in nine pairs of fresh NSCLC tissues and the corresponding adjacent normal tissues. The function of ANKRD49 was investigated using overexpression and RNA interference assays in lung adenocarcinoma cell line (NCI-H1299) and lung squamous carcinoma cell line (NCI-H1703) through gelatin zymography, cell counting kit-8, colony formation, wound healing, migration and invasion assays mmunoprecipitation was performed to in vitro. Immunoprecipitation was performed to test the interaction of c-Jun and ATF2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was conducted to assess the transcriptional regulation of ATF2/c-Jun on MMP-2/9. Moreover, the tumorigenicity of ANKRD49 was evaluated in nude mice models and the involved signal molecular was also measured by immunohistochemical method. Results We found that the levels of ANKRD49 in cancerous tissues were higher than those in adjacent normal tissues. in vitro assay showed that ANKRD49 promoted the migration and invasion of NCI-H1299 and NCI-H1703 cells via enhancing the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, ANKRD49 elevated phosphorylation of JNK and then activated c-Jun and ATF2 which interact in nucleus to promote the binding of ATF2:c-Jun with the promoter MMP-2 or MMP-9. In vivo assay showed that ANKRD49 promoted lung metastasis of injected-NSCLC cells and the high metastatic rate was positively correlated with the high expression of ANKRD49, MMP-2, MMP-9, p-JNK, p-c-Jun and p-ATF2. Conclusion The present study indicated that ANKRD49 accelerated the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC cells via JNK-mediated transcription activation of c-Jun and ATF2 which regulated the expression of MMP-2/MMP-9. The molecular mechanisms of ANKRD49’s function is different from those found in A549 cells. The current study is a supplement and improvement to the previous research.

Abstract Background Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a category of pervasive and enduring environmental pollutants that present a risk to human health. Although growing evidence suggests that probiotics can potentially alleviate the adverse effects of PFAS, large cross-sectional studies on the relationship between probiotic consumption and PFAS remain lacking. Objective The objective of this study is to assess the association between the exposure of probiotics and serum levels of PFAS. Methods This analysis included individuals aged 20 and above who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2018. Probiotic consumption was considered when a participant reported consuming yogurt during the two 24-h dietary recall or using a probiotic supplement in dietary supplement questionnaires over the past 30 days. Results This study involved 9469 adults, out of which 1333 had been exposed to probiotics. We found negative associations between probiotic consumption and serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (β: − 0.19, 95% CI − 0.35 to − 0.02; P = 0.027), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) (β: − 0.1.27, 95% CI − 2.23 to − 0.32; P = 0.010). The consumption of probiotic supplements alone was associated with reduced perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (β: − 0.19, 95% CI − 0.28 to − 0.10; P

Background In recent years, medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are widely concerned by domestic and foreign scholars. However, China started late in this field with relatively backward development. It is of significant importance for the promotion of MUPS field development in China to learn the researches on MUPS by international scholars. Objective To discusses the current status, research hotspots and development trends of MUPS internationally by using bibliometrics method. Methods The papers related to MUPS from inception to 2022-08-15 were searched based on Web of Science core collection databases from July to August in 2022. The bibliometric analysis was performed on the included papers in terms of publication volume trends and the distributions of authors, institutions and research areas after screening and data processing. CiteSpace 6.1R3 software was used to conduct visualization analysis on collaboration between countries or regions, document co-citation, keywords co-occurrence, keywords clustering, and keywords with bursts. Results A total of 1 615 papers were finally included, the number of annual publications in studies regarding MUPS showed an overall upward trend from 1985 to 2022, with the most rapid growth from 2014 to 2016. ROSMALEN J G M (43 papers), WITTHOFT M (41 papers) and RIEF W (31 papers) ranked the top three authors in terms of number of publications, and the total citations of the three scholars' papers also ranks in the top 10, with 954 times, 1 275 times and 1 339 times, respectively. The top three institutions in terms of number of publications were all from the UK, including University of London (143 papers), King's College London (95 papers) and University of Manchester (84 papers). The top three countries/regions in terms of number of publications were England (422 papers), the United States (341 papers), and Netherlands (268 papers), all of which cooperated closely with other countries. A total of 75 research areas were involved in all the literature, with most studies in psychiatry (605 papers). The literature co-citation network map includes 1 393 nodes and 6 108 connections, and the paper with the highest co-citation frequency was titled Somatoform Disorders and Medically Unexplained Symptoms in Primary Care. Except of "Medically unexplained symptoms", the top five keywords in terms of occurrence frequency were "primary care" (422 times), "somatoform disorder" (405 times), "somatization" (354 times), "prevalence" (217 times) and "depression" (211 times). A total of 12 clusters were obtained by keywords clustering analysis, reflecting in the subject category and epidemiological characteristics of MUPS, key subtypes of MUPS, main treatment methods and management of MUPS. Keyword with the highest intensity of burst was "somatic symptom disorder" "children" "bodily distress syndrome" "somatic symptom disorder" and "model" have burst in recent years and persisted till now. Conclusion At present, the publications of international studies regarding to MUPS show an upward stage, with research hotspots and trends mainly focus on the sutypes of MUPS with more researches, attention to juvenile groups and creation of effective communication models, correct evaluation and long-term management of MUPS, effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for MUPS.

Objective To investigate the preparation quality and clinical application effect of pooled platelets with leukocytes reduced. Methods The quality and clinical effect of the buffy-coated method prepared pooled platelets leukocytes reduced (experimental group, n=40) and apheresis platelets leukocytes reduced (control group, n=40) were compared. Results The platelet volume (mL), platelet count (×1011), red blood cell contamination (×108) and residual white blood cell (×106) of the experimental group and control group were 278.90±7.92 vs 276.52±8.01, 2.66±0.09 vs 2.66±0.83, 0.54±0.42 vs 0.83±0.84, 0.29±0.54 vs 0.27±0.51, respectively, with no significant difference. The results of bacterial culture were negative, all met the requirements of relevant national standards. In addition, the CCI (×103, 24 h) and PPR (%) were 15.11±9.86 vs 14.61±12.55 and 54.23±18.70 vs 61.41±19.09 respectively, with no significant difference, indicating a certain degree of therapeutic effect. Conclusion The quality and clinical therapeutic effect of pooled platelets leukocytes reduced were consistent with that of apheresis platelets leukocytes reduced.

When analyzing GPS time series, common mode errors (CME) often obscure the actual crustal movement signals, leading to deviations in the velocity estimates of station coordinates. Therefore, mitigating the impact of CME on station positioning accuracy is crucial to ensuring the precision and reliability of GNSS time series. The current approach to separating CME mainly uses signal filtering methods to decompose the residuals of the observation network into multiple signals, from which the signals corresponding to CME are identified and separated. However, this method overlooks the spatial correlation of the stations. In this paper, we improved the Independent Component Analysis (ICA) method by introducing correlation coefficients as weighting factors, allowing for more accurate emphasis or attenuation of the contributions of the GNSS network’s spatial distribution during the ICA process. The results show that the improved Weighted Independent Component Analysis (WICA) method can reduce the root mean square (RMS) of the coordinate time series by an average of 27.96%, 15.23%, and 28.33% in the E, N, and U components, respectively. Compared to the ICA method, considering the spatial distribution correlation of stations, the improved WICA method shows enhancements of 12.53%, 3.70%, and 8.97% in the E, N, and U directions, respectively. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the WICA method in separating CMEs and provides a new algorithmic approach for CME separation methods.

Anoikis is a distinct type of programmed cell death and a unique mechanism for tumor progress. However, its exact function in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the function of anoikis-related lncRNA (ar-lncRNA) in the prognosis of GC and its immunological infiltration. The ar-lncRNAs were derived from RNA sequencing data and associated clinical information obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Pearson correlation analysis, differential screening, LASSO and Cox regression were utilized to identify the typical ar-lncRNAs with prognostic significance, and the corresponding risk model was constructed, respectively. Comprehensive methods were employed to assess the clinical characteristics of the prediction model, ensuring the accuracy of the prediction results. Further analysis was conducted on the relationship between immune microenvironment and risk features, and sensitivity predictions were made about anticancer medicines. A risk model was built according to seven selected ar-lncRNAs. The model was validated and the calibration plots were highly consistent in validating nomogram predictions. Further analyses revealed the great accuracy of the model and its ability to serve as a stand-alone GC prognostic factor. We subsequently disclosed that high-risk groups display significant enrichment in pathways related to tumors and the immune system. Additionally, in tumor immunoassays, notable variations in immune infiltrates and checkpoints were noted between different risk groups. This study proposes, for the first time, that prognostic signatures of ar-lncRNA can be established in GC. These signatures accurately predict the prognosis of GC and offer potential biomarkers, suggesting new avenues for basic research, prognosis prediction and personalized diagnosis and treatment of GC.

The composition and distribution of storage substances in rice endosperm directly affect grain quality. A floury endosperm mutant, wcr (white-core rice), was identified, exhibiting a loose arrangement of starch granules with a floury opaque appearance in the inner layer of mature grains, resulting in reduced grain weight. The total starch and amylose content remained unchanged, but the levels of the four component proteins in the mutant brown rice significantly decreased. Additionally, the milled rice (inner endosperm) showed a significant decrease in total starch and amylose content, accompanied by a nearly threefold increase in albumin content. The swelling capacity of mutant starch was reduced, and its chain length distribution was altered. The target gene was mapped on chromosome 5 within a 65 kb region. A frameshift mutation occurred due to an insertion of an extra C base in the second exon of the cyOsPPDKB gene, which encodes pyruvate phosphate dikinase. Expression analysis revealed that wcr not only affected genes involved in starch metabolism but also downregulated expression levels of genes associated with storage protein synthesis. Overall, wcr plays a crucial role as a regulator factor influencing protein synthesis and starch metabolism in rice grains.

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) is known to positively affect individuals’ mental and physical health, especially those who experience high levels of stress, such as teachers. Previous studies have examined the relationship between teachers’ PA, mental health, and well-being. Still, there is a lack of research on the direct and indirect effects of PA and self-efficacy. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the structural relationship between teachers’ PA, mental health, well-being, and self-efficacy among ESL/EFL teachers. A total of 364 Chinese English language teachers were selected through convenience sampling. Mental health, physical activity, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy instruments were used. Methodology The data was analyzed using Smart PLS software, and the hypothesized model was evaluated. The results indicated an acceptable level of divergent and convergent validity and goodness of fit. Results The findings revealed that PA directly predicts teachers’ mental health and well-being, but the direct structural relationship between teachers’ PA and self-efficacy was not confirmed. However, the results showed that teachers’ PA contributes to their self-efficacy by enhancing their mental and psychological well-being. The total effect of teachers’ PA on their self-efficacy was significant. Additionally, mental health and psychological well-being strongly influenced teachers’ self-efficacy. Conclusion In conclusion, regular weekly physical activity can help EFL/ESL teachers foster their mental health, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy. These findings have theoretical and practical significance for teachers, trainers, and educational psychologists.

AIM: To investigate the aqueous vein in vivo by using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: In this cross-sectional comparative study, 30 healthy participants were enrolled. Images of the aqueous and conjunctival veins were captured by EDI-OCT and OCTA before and after water loading. The area, height, width, location depth and blood flow of the aqueous vein and conjunctival vein were measured by Image J software. RESULTS: In the static state, the area of the aqueous vein was 8166.7±3272.7 μm2, which was smaller than that of the conjunctival vein (13 690±7457 μm2, P

Brandisia is a shrubby genus of about eight species distributed basically in East Asian evergreen broadleaved forests (EBLFs), with distribution centers in the karst regions of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi in southwestern China. Based on the hemiparasitic and more or less liana habits of this genus, we hypothesized that its evolution and distribution were shaped by the development of EBLFs there. To test our hypothesis, the most comprehensive phylogenies of Brandisia hitherto were constructed based on plastome and nuclear loci (nrDNA, PHYA and PHYB); then divergence time and ancestral areas were inferred using the combined nuclear loci dataset. Phylogenetic analyses reconfirmed that Brandisia is a member of Orobanchaceae, with unstable placements caused by nuclear-plastid incongruences. Within Brandisia, three major clades were well supported, corresponding to the three subgenera based on morphology. Brandisia was inferred to have originated in the early Oligocene (32.69 Mya) in the Eastern Himalayas–SW China, followed by diversification in the early Miocene (19.45 Mya) in karst EBLFs. The differentiation dates of Brandisia were consistent with the origin of keystone species of EBLFs in this region (e.g., Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Theaceae, and Magnoliaceae) and the colonization of other characteristic groups (e.g., Gesneriaceae and Mahonia). These findings indicate that the distribution and evolution of Brandisia were facilitated by the rise of the karst EBLFs in East Asia. In addition, the woody and parasitic habits, and pollination characteristics of Brandisia may also be the important factors affecting its speciation and dispersal.

To address the challenges posed by the fast-charging demand of electric vehicles, causing feeder load and voltage imbalances during operation, this paper introduces a spatio-temporal pricing strategy tailored to enhance feeder operation equilibrium. This approach facilitates the spatio-temporal guidance of fast-charging loads for electric vehicles in operation. This paper begins by formulating a spatio-temporal distribution model for electric vehicle fast-charging loads, considering owners’ preferences. It further develops a behavioral model for the travel choices of electric vehicles, illustrating the impact of spatio-temporal electricity pricing at fast-charging stations on load distribution. Next, it proposes a multi-objective spatio-temporal pricing model and its solution method specifically designed for feeder-balance-oriented fast-charging stations. This model targets the minimization of the spatio-temporal imbalance in feeder voltage and load. It takes a comprehensive approach, considering the constraints of the spatio-temporal load distribution model and optimal power flow model. The resulting spatio-temporal pricing model for fast-charging stations is effectively solved using the extended Pareto evolutionary algorithm. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in achieving feeder balancing, this paper analyzes two examples: a self-built 29-node road network and a 9-node distribution network, as well as a 66-node road network and a 33-node distribution network in the Xinjiang region. The results show that the proposed method can effectively guide the charging of electric vehicles and make the load distribution more balanced.

Abstract Hereditary deafness is a common neurosensory disorder, and 148 non‐syndromic deafness genes have been identified to date. Gene therapy has been used to treat a variety of genetic diseases, but no gene therapy drug for hereditary deafness has been approved for clinical use. At present, several clinical trials of gene therapy for hereditary deafness are underway. However, few normative documents have been issued to guide the standardization of gene therapy for hearing loss, and this document is the first global gene therapy guideline for hereditary hearing loss. The guidelines were jointly developed and drafted by experienced audiologists, virologists and biologists who are vigorously involved in inner ear gene therapy research in the Hearing, Speech and Communication Subsociety of Biophysical Society of China, Audiology Development Foundation Of China and Audiology Subsociety of Jiangsu Medical Association. These guidelines cover preclinical research and clinical practice of gene therapy for hereditary deafness, including indications, key points of pre‐clinical research, patient selection criteria, pre‐clinical preparation, drug efficacy, drug safety evaluation criteria, ethical review, etc. We hope that the guidelines will promote the standardization of clinical practice related to gene therapy for hereditary deafness in China and around the world.

Abstract The progression of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) is complex, influenced by a myriad of factors including gut microbiota. While emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota can have beneficial effects in managing CKD, it is also recognized that dysbiosis may contribute to the progression of CKD and associated uremic complications. Our previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of lanthanum hydroxide in delaying kidney failure and preserving renal function. However, the role of lanthanum hydroxide in modulating gut microbiota in this context remains unclear. In our study, we induced CKD in rats using adenine, leading to gut microbial dysbiosis, kidney pathology, and disturbances in amino acid metabolism. In this adenine‐induced CKD model with hyperphosphatemia, treatment with lanthanum hydroxide improved renal function. This improvement was associated with the restoration of gut microbial balance and an increase in urine ammonium metabolism. These results suggest that the therapeutic potential of lanthanum hydroxide in CKD may be partly due to its ability to reshape gut microbiota composition. This study underscores the significance of lanthanum hydroxide in kidney protection, attributing its benefits to the modulation of gut microbiota in a rat model of CKD.

Salt lakes are significant components of global inland waters. Salt lake (SL) water can provide precious mineral resource for microbial growth. The prospect of utilizing diluted SL water for cultivation of a terrestrial oil-producing microalga Vischeria sp. WL1 was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Based on the detected mineral element composition, the water from Gouchi Salt Lake was diluted 2, 4, 6 and 8 folds and used with supplementation of additional nitrogen, phosphorus and iron (SL+ water). It was found that 4 folds diluted SL+ water was most favorable for biomass and oil production. When cultivated in this condition, Vischeria sp. WL1 gained a biomass yield of 0.82 g L−1 and an oil yield of 0.56 g L−1 after 24 days of cultivation, which is comparable to the optimum productivity we previously established. In addition, total monounsaturated fatty acid contents (64.4∼68.1 %) of the oils resulted from cultures in diluted SL+waters were higher than that in the control (55.5 %). It was also noteworthy that in all these cultures the oil contents (652.0∼681.0 mg g−1) accounted for the most of the biomass, which are far more than the protein and starch contents. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using SL water as a cost-effective mineral resource to cultivate microalgae for biomass and oil production.

Abstract Background Modular tissue engineering (MTE) is a novel “bottom-up” approach that aims to mimic complex tissue microstructural features. The constructed micromodules are assembled into engineered biological tissues with repetitive functional microunits and form cellular networks. This is emerging as a promising strategy for reconstruction of biological tissue. Results Herein, we constructed a micromodule for MTE and developed engineered osteon-like microunits by inoculating human-derived umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) onto nHA/PLGA microspheres with surface modification of dual growth factors (BMP2/bFGF). By evaluating the results of proliferation and osteogenic differentiation ability of HUMSCs in vitro, the optimal ratio of the dual growth factor (BMP2/bFGF) combination was derived as 5:5. In vivo assessments showed the great importance of HUMSCs for osteogneic differentiation. Ultimately, direct promotion of early osteo-differentiation manifested as upregulation of Runx-2 gene expression. The vascularization capability was evaluated by tube formation assays, demonstrating the importance of HUMSCs in the microunits for angiogenesis. Conclusions The modification of growth factors and HUMSCs showed ideal biocompatibility and osteogenesis combined with nHA/PLGA scaffolds. The micromodules constructed in the current study provide an efficient stem cell therapy strategy for bone defect repair.

Abstract Background Programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) has been demonstrated to facilitate tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in an immune‐independent manner. Nevertheless, the function and underlying signaling network(s) of cancer cell‐intrinsic PD‐L1 action remain largely unknown. Herein, we sought to better understand how ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 51 (USP51)/PD‐L1/integrin beta‐1 (ITGB1) signaling performs a cell‐intrinsic role in mediating chemotherapeutic resistance in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Western blotting and flow cytometry were employed for PD‐L1 detection in NSCLC cell lines. Coimmunoprecipitation and pulldown analyses, protein deubiquitination assay, tissue microarray, bioinformatic analysis and molecular biology methods were then used to determine the significance of PD‐L1 in NSCLC chemoresistance and associated signaling pathways in several different cell lines, mouse models and patient tissue samples. Ubiquitin‐7‐amido‐4‐methylcoumarin (Ub‐AMC)‐based deubiquitinase activity, cellular thermal shift and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analyses were performed to investigate the activity of USP51 inhibitors. Results We provided evidence that cancer cell‐intrinsic PD‐L1 conferred the development of chemoresistance by directly binding to its membrane‐bound receptor ITGB1 in NSCLC. At the molecular level, PD‐L1/ITGB1 interaction subsequently activated the nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) axis to elicit poor response to chemotherapy. We further determined USP51 as a bona fide deubiquitinase that targeted the deubiquitination and stabilization of the PD‐L1 protein in chemoresistant NSCLC cells. Clinically, we found a significant direct relationship between the USP51, PD‐L1 and ITGB1 contents in NSCLC patients with chemoresistant potency. The elevated USP51, PD‐L1 and ITGB1 levels were strongly associated with worse patient prognosis. Of note, we identified that a flavonoid compound dihydromyricetin (DHM) acted as a potential USP51 inhibitor and rendered NSCLC cells more sensitive to chemotherapy by targeting USP51‐dependent PD‐L1 ubiquitination and degradation in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions Together, our results demonstrated that the USP51/PD‐L1/ITGB1 network potentially contributes to the malignant progression and therapeutic resistance in NSCLC. This knowledge is beneficial to the future design of advanced cancer therapy.

Objective To investigate the pharmacological process of the effect of rapamycin upon the proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by regulating tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 （TRAP1），and to unravel the anti-breast cancer mechanism of rapamycin. Methods MDA-MB-231 cells were randomly divided into the control group and different-dose rapamycin groups，and then the effect of rapamycin on cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay at 24 h and 48 h，respectively. Meantime，the half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC50） of rapamycin was considered as the research condition. The effect of rapamycin on MDA-MB-231 cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR），p-mTOR and TRAP1 proteins were detected by Western blot. The expression levels of mTOR and TRAP1 mRNA were measured by qPCR. ATP content was detected by ATP kit. The amount of lactic acid was determined by lactate assay kit. Results Rapamycin inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner （P < 0.01）. The proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells was decreased at 24 h and significantly decreased at 48 h after rapamycin treatment. IC50 was obtained at 10 μmol/L after 48 h. Rapamycin induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase （P < 0.01）. Compared with the control group，the expression level of TRAP1 mRNA was significantly down-regulated （P < 0.05），and the expression levels of p-mTOR and TRAP1 proteins were significantly down-regulated （both P < 0.001），whereas the expression levels of mTOR mRNA and total mTOR protein were not significantly changed （both P > 0.05），the content of ATP was significantly increased （P < 0.001），and the content of lactic acid was significantly decreased （P < 0.001） in the 48-h rapamycin group. Conclusion Rapamycin can inhibit the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells by regulating the metabolic process，which is related to the decrease of TRAP1.

Oil spill pollution seriously endangers human and ecosystem health. Therefore, it is urgent to develop oil-absorbing materials to effectively remove oil spill pollution. Among the traditional oil-absorbing materials, natural organic adsorption material has low oil absorption capacity and hydrophilicity; inorganic adsorption materials are difficult to recover and have low oil absorption efficiency and high price; and although the synthetic organic adsorbent has outstanding oil absorption capacity, its biodegradation is poor. Silica aerogel (SA) has the characteristics of high porosity, low density, and high specific surface area, which make it an excellent oil-absorbing material. However, the hydrophilic surface and pearl necklace structure of SA limit its wide applications in the oil absorption field. Hydrophobically modified hydrophobic silica aerogel (HSA) has not only excellent SA characteristics but also good hydrophobic/lipophilic properties. In this paper, focusing on HSA preparation by surface posttreatment modification and coprecursor modification, the research progress on these two methods combined with supercritical drying and ambient pressure drying is systematically introduced, and the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods are analyzed and summarized. The coprecursor modification is mainly combined with a supercritical drying process to prepare HSA, while the surface posttreatment modification is often combined with an ambient pressure drying process. Both methods normally use silylating agents as hydrophobic modifiers. The surface posttreatment modification does not change the formed pore structure, and the pore size and particle size of HSA are relatively uniform. However, the modification process of surface posttreatment is long, the solvent consumption is large, and the cost is high. In addition, incomplete internal modification may be a problem. In the coprecursor modification method, wet gel is formed and modified simultaneously, shortening the modification time and saving costs. The prepared HSA of coprecursor modification has a larger specific surface area and better hydrophobicity, but its pore size is uneven, and the introduced hydrophobic groups are limited. Excessive silylating agents affect the sol–gel process of HSA. In addition, the current methods for strengthening HSA mechanical properties and the research progress on HSA oil absorption properties are reviewed. Finally, based on the current development of HSA as oil-absorbing materials, the development direction of these materials is discussed, for example, developing low-cost and eco-friendly raw materials, shortening the hydrophobic modification process, preparing bulk HSA, strengthening the mechanical properties, and improving the oil-absorbing properties of HSA.

The existence of Himalayan long-eared bats, Plecotus homochrous (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), in China has not been previously confirmed. In this study, four bats captured with harp traps from two sites in the Maoershan National Nature Reserve in Guangxi, China were investigated. These bats have long, wide auricles, each with a prominent tragus. The length of each auricle is about the same as that of a forearm. Hairs on the ventral fur have a dark base with mixed grey and yellowish tips; those on the dorsal fur also have a dark base and are bicolored with brown tips. The thumbs are very short. A concavity is present in the front of the dorsal side of the cranium. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogeny using Cyt b gene sequences, these bats were identified as P. homochrous, thus confirming the existence of Himalayan long-eared bats in China.

Cyclic olefin copolymer is a type of high-performance polyolefin material, which is prepared by using a single-site catalyst in solution polymerization. The common activator of this system is alkyl aluminoxane or organic boron/aluminum system. Among them, organic boron is mostly triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate or dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate. In this study, ethylene and norbornene were copolymerized with metallocene catalyst activated with the combination of tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron and triisobutylaluminium. Compared with homopolymerization of ethylene, copolymerization shows high activity. The molecular weight of the polymer increased significantly with the increase of the insertion rate of norbornene. Fineman-Ross method was used to calculate the reactivity ratio, which showed that the reactivity ratio of norbornene was much lower than that of ethylene. The high copolymerization activity may indicate that, although norbornene has a lower coordination probability, its insertion rate is higher than ethylene. The copolymer with higher norbornene incorporation has a higher glass transition temperature, and the relationship between them is linear.

Objectives: Spinal fusion is a widely employed treatment of patients with degenerative disc disease, in which a cage is used to replace the disc for spinal fusion. But it often fails for insufficient mechanical strength and poor osseointegration. Here, we designed a polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK)/tantalum (Ta) composite cage with a biomimetic gradient porous micro-structure, simultaneously enhancing mechanical properties and accelerating osseointegration in spinal fusion. Materials and methods: In the study, based on the mechanical performances of PEEK and osteogenic potential of Ta, and the three-dimensional (3D) structures of cuttlebone and vertebra, the cages were respectively 3D printed by pure PEEK, PEEK with 5 wt% Ta (PEEK/Ta-5), PEEK with 10 wt% Ta (PEEK/Ta-10) and PEEK with 15 wt% Ta (PEEK/Ta-15), then verified in vitro and in sheep cervical fusion model systematically. Results: Vertebral Gyroid structure PEEK/Ta-15 cage exhibited superior mechanical properties than Cuttlebone-like structure PEEK/Ta-15 cage, closer to the cervical vertebra. Furthermore, PEEK/Ta-15 cage with higher Ta microparticles in PEEK provided a biomimetic gradient porous micro-structure with higher surface energy, guiding cell biological behavior, promoting new bone penetration, and accelerating osseointegration in vivo. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study designed a biomimetic gradient porous cage with a micro-structure for enhancing mechanical properties, accelerating osseointegration and forming an anatomical lock in the fusion segment through composites, mechanical efficiency, surface extension, and pores.

This paper presents a charge pump circuit with a wide output range and low current mismatch applied to phase-locked loops. In this designed structure, T-shaped analog switches are adopted to suppress the non-ideal effects of clock feedthrough, switching time mismatch, and charge injection. A source follower and current splitting circuits are proposed to improve the matching accuracy of the charging and discharging currents and reduce the current mismatch rate. A rail-to-rail high-gain amplifier with a negative feedback connection is introduced to suppress the charge-sharing effect of the charge pump. A cascode current mirror with a high output impedance is used to provide the charge and discharge currents for the charge pump, which not only improves the current accuracy of the charge pump but also increases the output voltage range. The proposed charge pump is designed and simulated based on a 65 nm CMOS process. The results show that when the power supply voltage is 1.2 V, the output current of the charge pump is 100 μA, the output voltage is in the range of 0.2~1 V, and the maximum current mismatch rate and current variation rate are only 0.21% and 1.4%, respectively.

The accurate perception of external environment information through the robot foot is crucial for the mobile robot to evaluate its ability to traverse terrain. Adequate foot-end contact signals can provide robust support for robot motion control and decision-making processes. The shape and uncertain rotation of the wheel-legged robot foot end represent a significant challenge to sensing the robot foot-end contact state, which current foot-end sensing schemes cannot solve. This paper presents a sensing method for the tire stress field of wheel-legged robots. A finite element analysis was conducted to study the deformation characteristics of the foot-end tire under force. Based on this analysis, a heuristic contact position estimator was designed that utilizes symmetrical deformation characteristics. Strain sensors, arranged in an array, extract the deformation information on the inner surface of the tire at a frequency of 200 Hz. The contact position estimator reduces the dimensionality of the data and fits the eigenvalues to the estimated contact position. Using support vector regression, the force estimator utilizes the estimated contact position and sensor signal to estimate the normal reaction force, designated as FZ. The sensing system is capable of detecting the contact position on the wheel circumference (with a root mean square error of 1.150°), as well as the normal force of 160 N on the Z axis (with a root mean square error of 6.04%). To validate the efficacy of the sensor detection method, a series of randomized and repeated experiments were conducted on a self-constructed test platform. This novel approach offers a promising avenue for perceiving contact states in wheel-legged robots.

In this study, a tracking and pointing control system with a dual-FSM (fast steering mirror) two-dimensional flexible turntable composite axis is proposed. It is applied to the target-tracking accuracy control in a GI LiDAR (ghost imaging LiDAR) system. Ghost imaging is a multi-measurement imaging method; the dual-FSM GI LiDAR tracking and pointing imaging control system proposed in this study mainly solves the problems of the high-resolution remote sensing imaging of high-speed moving targets and various nonlinear disturbances when this technology is transformed into practical applications. Addressing the detrimental effects of nonlinear disturbances originating from internal flexible mechanisms and assorted external environmental factors on motion control’s velocity, stability, and tracking accuracy, a nonlinear active disturbance rejection control (NLADRC) method based on artificial neural networks is advanced. Additionally, to overcome the limitations imposed by receiving aperture constraints in GI LiDAR systems, a novel optical path design for the dual-FSM GI LiDAR tracking and imaging system is put forth. The implementation of the described methodologies culminated in the development of a dual-FSM GI LiDAR tracking and imaging system, which, upon thorough experimental validation, demonstrated significant improvements. Notably, it achieved an improvement in the coarse tracking accuracy from 193.29 μrad (3σ) to 87.21 μrad (3σ) and enhanced the tracking accuracy from 10.1 μrad (σ) to 1.5 μrad (σ) under specified operational parameters. Furthermore, the method notably diminished the overshoot during the target capture process from 28.85% to 12.8%, concurrently facilitating clear recognition of the target contour. This research contributes significantly to the advancement of GI LiDAR technology for practical application, showcasing the potential of the proposed control and design strategies in enhancing system performance in the face of complex disturbances.

Introduction: An ideal bone repair scaffold should have dual functions of osteoinductive ability and in vivo imaging. In this study, the simultaneous substitution of silicon (Si) and gadolinium (Gd) in hydroxyapatite (HA) as potential multifunctional bone graft materials has been successfully developed.Methods: A series of HA nanoparticles (HA NPs) doped with different proportions of Si and Gd were prepared. The chemical structure and phase composition of the materials were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructure, magnetic properties, surface potential, and cytotoxicity of the materials were also analyzed. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) effect of Gd&Si-HA/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (Gd&Si-HA/PLGA) composite materials was evaluated. Osteogenic-related gene expression, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level, and mineralization capacity of MC3T3-E1 cultured on Gd&Si-HA/PLGA composite materials were also detected.Results and Discussion: The 1.5Gd&Si-HA@PLGA group showed good ability to promote osteogenic differentiation of cells. The MRI effect of the 1.5Gd&Si-HA@PLGA scaffold was observable. This HA material containing Si and Gd co-doping has a broad application prospect in the field of bone tissue engineering owing to its ability to enhance osteoinductive property and improve MRI effect.

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has been reported to be linked to a series of adverse health outcomes in mothers and their children. As the gut microbiota is a sensitive biomarker for assessing the toxicity of environmental contaminants, this study attempted to investigate whether prenatal PFASs exposure was associated with the gut microbiota of infants. Based on the Shanghai-Minhang Birth Cohort Study, this prospective cohort study included 69 mother-infant pairs. Fasting blood samples were collected from pregnant women for the PFASs assay. We collected fecal samples of infants at 1 year of age and analyzed the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16 S rRNA gene by high-throughput sequencing. Among the detected 11 PFASs, the concentration of perfluorooctanoic acid (22.19 ng/mL) was the highest, followed by perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (12.08 ng/mL). Compared with infants whose mothers’ total PFASs concentrations during pregnancy were at the 40th percentile or lower (reference group), the species richness and diversity of microbiota were lower in infants prenatally exposed to a high level of PFASs (the sum of PFASs concentrations above the 60th percentile). Prenatal exposure to PFASs was associated with a higher proportion of Acidaminococcaceae, Acidaminococcus, Megamonas, Megasphaera micronuciformis and Megamonas funiformis in infants. The changes of the species have been suggested to be associated with immune and metabolic dysfunction in humans. Functional alterations of gut microbiota due to PFASs exposure were dominated by an enrichment of butanoate metabolism. Our preliminary findings may shed light on the potential role of the microbiota underlying the well-known impact of prenatal PFASs exposure on health outcomes of humans in later life.

The occurrences and spatial distributions of eight organic ultraviolet absorbents (UVAs) were investigated in surface sediments from Taihu Lake, China. The detection frequencies and concentrations of UVAs in 2016 were significantly higher than those in 2015.2-Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and homosalate (HMS) were the predominant UVAs in the sediment samples. The total UVA concentration range in sediment samples was 0.15–85.3 ng/g. The spatial distribution results showed that UVAs were concentrated in the northwest of Taihu Lake. The total organic carbon content may affect the fate of UVAs in sediments. Source analysis and correlation analysis showed that the following compounds had high proportions and significant correlations: 2-ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, and HMS in 2015; and benzophenone-3, HMS, and benzyl salicylate in 2016. These results indicated the correlated compounds within each year had the same source. Ecological risk assessment results showed that UVAs in sediment from Taihu Lake may present a moderate risk to benthic organisms. The risk quotient of UVAs in 2016 was slightly higher than that in 2015. The seasonal pollution characteristics of UVAs and their comprehensive environmental risks should receive further attention.

Background and aimHigh-grade fetal adenocarcinoma of the lung (HG-FLAC) is a specific subtype of lung adenocarcinoma with a poor prognosis. A lack of understanding exists because of the rarity of this disease. This study aimed to present a case of HG-FLAC with multiple metastases misdiagnosed as male breast carcinoma at the initial diagnosis.Case presentationThe patient visited our hospital due to a month-long cough. The chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a mass in the left lung and chest wall, accompanied by enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes. The magnetic resonance imaging indicated potential metastatic lesions in the brain and adrenal glands. The patient underwent a biopsy of the lesion in the right chest wall. The pathological and immunohistochemical findings indicated a high possibility of male breast cancer. However, the clinical features did not support this diagnosis. Therefore, a CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy was performed, and the pathological examination finally indicated HG-FLAC.ConclusionsWe presented a complex yet interesting case in which HG-FLAC was misdiagnosed as male breast cancer. Our interesting case may stimulate discussions about the methods to manage patients with HG-FLAC.

ABSTRACT Fusobacterium nucleatum is a harmful bacterium that produces hydrogen sulfide by metabolizing sulfur-containing amino acids, both of which have been shown to promote/initiate the development of various cancers, such as colorectal cancer, liver cancer, as well as lung cancer. However, few studies have reported how F. nucleatum acts on gut microbiota, influences the autophagy process, and promotes the development of colorectal cancer through the metabolite hydrogen sulfide. It was found that HCT116 cells secreted more inflammatory factors and showed higher survival as well as migration rate when given a pathological concentration of hydrogen sulfide. Using cellular transcriptome sequencing, it could be seen that after giving HCT116 cells F. nucleatum or F. nucleatum with L-cysteine, many inflammation-related signaling pathways, including autophagic pathways, were elevated compared to the control group. In vivo, the mice in the model groups displayed cancer progression, and the expression of some of the autophagy-related genes, DRAM1, NBR1, ATG7, MAP1LC3A were also increased in mice given F. nucleatum or F. nucleatum with L-cysteine when compared to the untreated control mice. The number of certain probiotic bacteria and fungi in the mice given F. nucleatum or F. nucleatum and L-cysteine decreased significantly; in contrast, the number of potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi increased. These findings suggest that F. nucleatum and its metabolite hydrogen sulfide can modulate intestinal microbiota and autophagy as well as promote the development and progression of colorectal cancer. IMPORTANCE Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in the world; the main treatment for CRC is immunosuppressive therapy, but this therapy is only effective for a small percentage of CRC patients, so there is an urgent need for a treatment with fewer side effects and higher efficacy. This study demonstrated that Fusobacterium nucleatum with increased abundance in CRC can regulate the autophagy process and disrupt normal intestinal microbiota by producing hydrogen sulfide, factors that may be involved in the development and progression of CRC. This study may provide a reference for future CRC treatment options that are efficient and have fewer side effects.

Epimedium koreanum Nakai, a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been widely used to treat osteoporosis and sexual dysfunction for thousands of years. However, due to the decreasing population of East Asian natural resources, yearly output of Epimedium crude herb has been in low supply year by year. In this study, an unusual variety of E. koreanum was discovered in Dunhua, Jilin Province, the northernmost area where this variety was found containing 6 individuals, with three branches that had 27 leaflets, which is much more than the typical leaflet number of 9. Firstly, the novel E. koreanum varety was identified using DNA barcodes. Then, 1171 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were discovered through parallel RNA-seq analysis between the newly discovered variety and wild type (WT) E. koreanum plant. Furthermore, the results of bioinformatics investigation revealed that 914 positively and 619 negatively correlated genes associated with the number of leaflets. Additionally, based on RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analysis, two homologous hub TCP genes, which were commonly implicated in plant leaf development, and shown to be up regulated and down regulated in the discovered newly variety, respectively. Thus, our study discovered a novel wild resource for leaf yield rewarding medicinal Epimedium plant breeding, provided insights into the relationship between plant compound leaf formation and gene expression of TCPs transcription factors and other gene candidates, providing bases for creating high yield cultivated Epimedium variety by using further molecular selection and breeding techniques in the future.

Citrus aurantium L. fruit is a commonly used Chinese medicine whose therapeutic effects tends to be affected by growing conditions. In order to gain insights into the effects of growing location on the cuticular wax composition of C. aurantium L. fruit, we analyzed the differences in the wax composition of its fruits collected from different regions. The findings showed that the cuticular waxes in the fruit peels were mainly composed of fatty acids, which differed quantitatively in the chemical profiles of C. aurantium L. samples from different geographical conditions. Particularly, the concentrations of linoleic acid and stearic acid in the total component content of the fruit peel were above 1%, with a greater level in the geo-authentic samples. Thus, GC–MS-based wax analysis was first used for the chemical characterization and quantification of cuticular waxes, which could be considered as a rapid way for evaluating the quality of medicinal fruits.

Introduction: Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material implants have been applied more and more clinically recently. In order to increase the osteogenic activity of PEEK material, the microstructure change of the material surface and the construction of functional microcoatings have become a hot research topic. This study investigated the ability of PEEK surfaces modified by different methods to carry Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and the osteogenic ability of different PEEK microstructures after carrying PRP in vivo/in vitro.Methods: In this study, PEEK surfaces were modified by sulfuric acid, gaseous sulfur trioxide and sandpaper. Next, PRP from SD rats was prepared and incubated on PEEK material with different surface microstructures. Lactate dehydrogenase test, scanning electron microscope and Elisa assay was used to evaluate adhesion efficiency of PRP. Then in vitro tests such as CCK-8, ALP staining, ARS staining and RT-qPCR et al were used to further evaluate osteogenesis ability of the PRP coating on PEEK surface. Finally, The tibia defects of SD rats were established, and the new bone was evaluated by Micro-CT, HE staining, and immunofluorescence staining.Results: The sandpaper-polished PEEK with the strongest PRP carrying capacity showed the best osteogenesis. Our study found that the modified PEEK surface with PRP coating has excellent osteogenic ability and provided the basis for the interface selection of PRP for the further application of PEEK materials.Discussion: Among the three PEEK modified surfaces, due to the most PRP carrying and the strongest osteogenic ability in vitro/vivo, the frosted surface was considered to be the most suitable surface for the preparation of PRP coating.

Abstract Objective Recent studies indicated that transmembrane protein 40 (TMEM40) is associated with several types of cancers but is not clear in cervical cancer (CC). The study aimed to examine the role of TMEM40 in CC and related mechanisms. Methods The expression of TMEM40 in CC tissues and cell lines was studied with western blot and real-time quantitative RT-PCR. The effect of TMEM40 on proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8, EdU and colony formation assay. The migration, invasion, cell cycle and apoptosis of CC cells were studied with wound healing, transwell assays and flow cytometry. Tumor growth was evaluated in vivo using a xenogenous subcutaneously implant model. Results The results revealed that the TMEM40 elevation in CC tissues and cell lines was closely correlated with tumor size and lymph node metastasis in clinical patients. Upregulation of TMEM40 with OE-TMEM40 vector promoted the invasion, migration and proliferation, inhibited the apoptosis and led to distinct S cell cycle arrest in CC cell lines. Silencing TMEM40 with shRNA inhibited the invasion, migration and proliferation, promoted apoptosis and led to a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in CC cell lines. Silence of TMEM40 downregulated the expression of c-MYC, Cyclin D1, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), but in contrast, activated p53 and several apoptosis related proteins such as p53, Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and PARP1. In addition, TMEM40 silencing dramatically decreased tumor growth in mice models. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that TMEM40 upregulation can be a potential prognostic biomarker and contribute to CC development.

[Purpose/Significance] As important historical data, images in modern literature are increasingly valued by humanities researchers. The deep annotation of large-scale image resources has also become an important part of the construction of image data infrastructure. It is a new direction of image study to analyze the content of massive images by using technologies such as deep learning. The purpose of this paper is to address the challenges of automatic classification of large-scale modern document images, improve accuracy and efficiency in practical application through the empirical research of transfer learning based on a simplified EfficientNet network specifically optimized for modern document image classification. [Method/Process] This paper adopts the selective images of "Illustrated Century - Modern Chinese Literature Library" from Shanghai Library, which is a deep exploration of the image content in modern Chinese literature by the "National Newspaper Index". The research method is to improve the diversity of sample images by serial stacking of those selective 7,645 modern literature image data sets through imaging enhancement technologies such as cutting, white balance, tone separation, and affine transformation, based on the characteristics analysis of modern literature images. Then we conducted transfer learning by fine-tuning simplified EfficientNet depth convolution neural network model through the study of depth learning algorithms. Finally, an optimized model that performs well in modern literature image classification was identified. Our simplified model achieved an average classification Top1 accuracy of 90.97%, an average F1 value of 91.00%, which validated its simplification, efficient, and good generalization ability for modern literature image classification application. During the experiments, it was also found that some images had high similarity and phototropism in morphology, which led to not good-enough classification results. However, this does provide valuable insights for further optimization and simplification of EfficientNet network model. The performance comparison test results with ResNet50-vd network also fully demonstrate that the simplified EfficientNet network can more economically and efficiently support incremental iterative training of subsequent models for achieving high-precision artificial intelligence classification of modern literature image databases. [Results/Conclusions] The experimental results indicate that the model effectively improves the efficiency and accuracy of image classification, and thus it has certain application promotion value for solving the automatic classification challenges of large-scale images in modern literature. In the future, we will continue to explore its application in the extraction of digital image semantic information. Through digital image pre-processing and extraction of digital image content and characteristics, we will provide technical enablers for automatic extraction of semantic information, so as to truly reduce the workload of manual intervention and achieve semantic description of millions of image data.

To date, the recycling technology of common solid waste (blast furnace iron slag) in the iron and steel industry has made important progress. However, persisting, stubborn solid waste problems urgently need to be solved. With the continuous growth of stainless steel production in China, the total amount of stainless steel slag has reached more than 10 million tons. This slag contains a lot of CaO, MgO, and SiO2, which are suitable building material additives. However, the harmful element chromium (Cr) in the slag and the dissolution characteristics of Cr6+ ions limit its large-scale application. For a long time, no effective, harmless disposal method has been available for Cr-containing slag, which brings great hidden danger to the environment. Given the characteristics of stainless steel slag, the current detoxification methods mainly include the solidification method, wet reduction, high-temperature ferrosilicon reduction, and high-temperature modification–crystallization control processes. Among these methods, high-temperature modification–crystallization control can promote Cr-containing spinel phase formation by adjusting steel slag compositions (e.g., basicity and oxidation-reduction properties) to improve the enrichment degree of Cr in the spinel phase. At the same time, by adjusting the slag cooling system (e.g., the quenching temperature and holding time) and reducing the slag viscosity, the nucleation and growth of the Cr-containing spinel phase can be improved, the precipitation amounts of the spinel phase are increased, and the occurrence probability of chromium in the matrix phase is reduced; thus, the detoxification of stainless steel slag can be achieved. Compared with the other three detoxification treatment methods, high-temperature modification–crystallization control has the advantages of a simple process, stable treatment effect, and large scale. In particular, solid wastes containing silicon, aluminum, and magnesium can be used as additives to adjust the composition of steel slag to realize a coordinated treatment of various solid wastes, which has very high economic value. In addition, using waste heat to modify steel slag directly after slag picking can substantially reduce energy consumption, should become one of the most promising harmless treatment approaches, and has recently attracted extensive attention. In this paper, the research progress of high-temperature modification and detoxification of stainless steel slag is reviewed according to its thermodynamic mechanism and crystallization kinetics principles. On the basis of the core problem of melt modification-selective crystallization, the methods and measures for improving the detoxification effect are emphasized. In addition, aiming at the existing problems in the high-temperature modification–crystallization control detoxification of stainless steel slag, development directions are proposed.

Abstract Background Focal atrial tachycardia (FAT) always originates from atrium specific sites and can be successfully cured by radiofrequency (RF) ablation. However, the middle cardiac vein (MCV) is a rare site of focal atrial tachycardia. Herein, we present a case of a 20-year-old young woman with FAT. Electrophysiological examination showed FAT arising from the proximal middle cardiac vein (pMCV), and successful RF ablation was applied with a low power and short-ablation. Case presentation A 20-year-old woman with no structural heart disease suffered recurrent supraventricular tachycardia for 1 year. Physical examination, laboratory studies and the echocardiography results of this patient were normal. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showed a narrow QRS and long RP tachycardia which was always triggered by a sinus rhythm. The patient underwent an electrophysiological study and found the earliest activation was in the proximal MCV (pMCV). After a low power and short-ablation, AT was terminated and noninducible by programmed pacing with or without isoproterenol infusion. Conclusion This case presented a rare case of FAT arising from the pMCV. We demonstrate that low power and short-ablation are effective in AT arising from specific areas such as the coronary sinus ostium and pMCV.

Over the past decade, the power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells has increased from 3.8% to the current 25.5%, which is expected to become the next generation of commercial thin-film solar cells. However, the widely used TiO2 electron transport layer has low electron mobility, requires a high annealing temperature, and has poor UV light stability, limiting the performance of TiO2-based perovskite solar cells, especially long-term stability. SnO2 is expected to be the first choice to replace TiO2 electron transport layers because of its high electron mobility, suitable band structure, low-temperature solution synthesis, and stable chemical structure. Although the certified maximum efficiency of state-of-the-art SnO2-based perovskite solar cells had exceeded 25%, it was still below its theoretical efficiency. Therefore, component engineering, interface engineering, solvent engineering, and other methods to improve the efficiency and stability of SnO2-based perovskite solar cells have become a major research focus. Currently, regulating the SnO2/perovskite and perovskite/hole transport layer interface is key to optimizing the performance of SnO2-based perovskite solar cells. Most studies focused on improving the charge transport performance of SnO2 and modifying the SnO2/perovskite interface, while few studies have addressed defect passivation of the perovskite layer and the modification of the perovskite/SnO2 interface. Therefore, it is essential to summarize the research progress of interface modification and performance optimization of SnO2-based perovskite solar cells. This paper introduces the types and characteristics of defects in the bulk and surface of the SnO2 electron transport layer, as well as defects in the bulk, grain boundaries, and surface of the perovskite film. The research progress of the interface modification (bulk and surface defect passivation) and performance improvement for the SnO2 electron transport layer/perovskite and perovskite/hole transport layer are reviewed. Finally, the research directions of SnO2-based perovskite solar cells on interface modification and performance optimization are presented.