Search

Background: The brain is one of the most vulnerable metastasis sites in lung cancer; approximately 40–50% of lung cancer patients develop brain metastasis during the disease course, contributing to the poor prognosis and high mortality of lung cancer patients. Therefore, it is important to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying brain metastasis of lung cancer for improving the overall survival of lung cancer patients. The present study aimed to investigate the potential role of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in the development of brain metastasis of lung cancer and explore the effect of aspirin in an in-vitro BBB model. Methods: An in-vitro BBB model was established. The expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and occludin in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells was detected using Western blot at different time points following the administration of aspirin. Results: HSP70, ZO-1, and occludin expressions did not show significant changes before aspirin administration, but increased noticeably after aspirin administration. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) could significantly attenuate the increased expression of these proteins induced by aspirin. Additionally, TNF-α also significantly reversed the aspirin-induced decrease of BBB permeability. Conclusions: Aspirin may inhibit brain metastasis of lung cancer in a time-dependent manner via upregulating tight junction proteins to reduce BBB permeability, and this effect can be reversed by TNF-α.

Porous NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) possess compatible mechanical properties with human bones and can effectively reduce the risk of stress shielding and stress concentration; therefore, they have been termed promising candidates for orthopedic implants. However, microstructure characteristics of porous NiTi SMAs during plastic deformation have rarely been investigated. The present study aims to specifically investigate microstructure characteristics and the corresponding underlying mechanisms of fabricated porous NiTi SMAs via a conventional sintering (CS) process with NaCl space holder during compressive deformation at room temperature. To realize the aforementioned target, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) are applied in the present study. The results show that the fabricated porous NiTi SMA is 51.8% for porosity, 181.65 μm for the average pore size, and 0.78 μm for the average grain size. Many Ni4Ti3 and NiTi2 phases are formed in the mixed matrix with dominant B2 (NiTi) and some B19′ (NiTi). Severe inhomogeneous deformation happens within compressed specimens, leading to the occurrence of tangled dislocation and shear bands. Microcracks occur within fabricated porous NiTi SMAs at a deformation degree of 9.2%; then, they extend quickly to form macrocracks, which finally results in the failure of regions between pores. The observed nanocrystallization and amorphization around microcrack tips within the 12.5%-deformed sample can be attributed to the relatively small grain size and the grain segmentation effect via statistically stored dislocation (SSD) and geometrically necessary dislocation (GND).

Abstract Background Eucalyptus spp. are candidates for phytoremediation in heavy metal (HM)-polluted soils as they can adapt to harsh environments, grow rapidly, and have good economic value. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the most widely distributed plant symbiotic fungi in nature, and they play an important role in promoting the phytoremediation of HM-polluted soils. However, few studies have evaluated the HM detoxification mechanism of E. spp. in symbiosis with AMF, and thus, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Results The gene transcription and metabolic pathways of E. grandis were studied with and without inoculation with AMF and at different zinc (Zn) concentrations. Here, we focused on the transcript level of six HM-related gene families (ZNT, COPT/Ctr, YSL, ZIFL and CE). Under high-Zn conditions, thirteen genes (ZNT:2, COPT/Ctr:5, YSL:3, ZIFL:1, CE:2) were upregulated, whereas ten genes (ZNT:3, COPT/Ctr:2, YSL:3, ZIFL:1, CE:1) were downregulated. With AMF symbiosis under high-Zn conditions, ten genes (ZNT:4, COPT/Ctr:2, YSL:3, CE:1) were upregulated, whereas nineteen genes (ZNT:9, COPT/Ctr:2, YSL:3, ZIFL:4, CE:1) were downregulated. Under high-Zn conditions, genes of three potassium-related transporters, six phosphate transporters (PHTs), and two nitrate transporters (NRTs) were upregulated, whereas genes of four potassium-related transporters,four PHTs, and four nitrogen-related transporters were downregulated. With AMF symbiosis under high-Zn conditions, genes of two potassium-related transporters, six ammonium transporters (AMTs) and five PHTs were upregulated, whereas genes of six potassium-related transporters, two AMTs and five PHTs were downregulated. Conclusions Our results indicates that AMF increases the resistance of E. grandis to high-Zn stress by improving nutrients uptake and regulating Zn uptake at the gene transcription level. Meanwhile, our findings provide a genome-level resource for the functional assignments of key genes regulated by Zn treatment and AM symbiosis in six HM-associated gene families and macromineral nutrient-related gene families of E. grandis. This may contribute to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of the response to Zn stress in E. grandis with AM symbiosis at the aspect of the interaction between HM tolerance and nutrient acquisition.

We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated a high-speed and point-to-multipoint (P2MP) mobile fronthaul (MFH) downstream system based on the code-division multiplexing (CDM) and self-homodyne coherent (SHC) technologies. We find that compared with the traditional 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) signal transmission, the change of phase noise between two demultiplexed symbols is much larger in the CDM-16QAM signal transmission because it is the accumulation of phase noise change of n multiplexed symbols. Therefore, a low-complexity pilot sequence-assisted phase noise estimation algorithm is proposed and designed to compensate for the phase noise caused by fiber mismatch length, which makes it possible to use a low-cost distributed feedback (DFB) laser. Besides, the spread signal's distribution in the frequency domain of each code sequence is different, leading to different transmission performances between different remote radio units (RRUs). A power optimization scheme is proposed to balance the transmission performances of different RRUs by multiplying each channel's signal by a normalized weight factor at the transmitter. The experimental results show that the proposed system could successfully support the transmission of 245 Gb/s 16QAM signal from baseband unit (BBU) to 7 RRUs (each RRU could have 2 antennas to transmit signals at 2 polarizations) over 10 km standard single-mode fiber (SSMF). The measured worst bit error rate (BER) value of 14 channels is 1.77e-3 which is below the hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) threshold (3.8e-3).

We experimentally investigated the fabrication and characterization of long-period fiber grating in few-mode fiber (FMF-LPFGs) by using the femtosecond laser direct writing technique. Thanks to the high flexibility and repeatability of this technique, stable FMF-LPFGs fabrication technology has been developed. In addition, the properties of FMF-LPFGs have also been characterized. The coupling of LP01- LP11 and LP01- cladding mode LP13 were investigated by both the transmission spectrum and the mode patterns. The temperature, strain and twist sensitivities of the resonance dips were calibrated by experiments, and the sensitivity difference between the dips was explained. By using their disparate responses to external temperature and strain, a cross coefficient matrix was established and dual-parameter discrimination determination is realized. This work provides a thoroughly theoretical and experimental investigation on the fabrication and characterization of FMF-LPFGs based on femtosecond laser direct writing technique. It is believed that the flexible and efficient LPFGs fabrication technique will benefit a lot in the future for developing various functional specialty optical fiber devices and sensors.

Abstract Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), a prominent type of spintronic device based on the spin valve effect, have facilitated the development of numerous spintronic applications. The technical appeal for the next‐generation MTJ devices has been proposed in two directions: improving device performance by utilizing advanced two‐dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic materials or extending device functionalities by exploring the gate‐tunable magnetic properties of ferromagnets. Based on the recent development of 2D magnets with the ease of external stimuli, such as electric field, due to their reduced dimensions, reliable prospects for gate‐tunable MTJ devices can be achieved, shedding light on the great potential of next‐generation MTJs with multiple functionalities for various application environments. While the electrical gate‐tunable MTJ device is highly desirable for practical spintronic devices, it has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we demonstrate the experimental realization of a spin valve device by combining a vertical Fe3GeTe2/h‐BN/Fe3GeTe2 MTJ with an electrolyte gate. The magnetoresistance ratio (MR ratio) of 36% for the intrinsic MTJ confirms the good performance of the device. By electrolyte gating, the tunneling MR ratio of Fe3GeTe2/h‐BN/Fe3GeTe2 MTJ can be elevated 2.5 times, from 26% to 65%. Importantly, the magnetic fields at which the magnetoresistance switches for the MTJ can be modulated by electrical gating, providing a promising method to control the magnetization configuration of the MTJ. Our work demonstrates a gate‐tunable MTJ device toward the possibility for gate‐controlled spintronic devices, paving the way for performing 2D magnetism manipulations and exploring innovative spintronic applications.

ObjectiveTo analyze the factors influencing the distribution of 131-I in the liver of patients with advanced hepatic carcinoma treated with the combination of Licartin (131I Metuximab) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). This study provides a reference and basis for the clinic on how to choose the best time for the treatment of Licartin and how to reduce other possible factors affecting the role of Licartin.MethodsData from 41 patients with advanced hepatic carcinoma treated with the combination of Licartin and TACE in the Interventional Department of our hospital from March 2014 to December 2020 were collected. This included general characteristics, history of open and interventional surgery, interval between the last interventional surgery and the Licartin treatment, selected arteries in the Licartin perfusion, and 131-I distribution in the liver. Regression analysis was conducted to investigate the factors affecting the distribution of 131I in the liver.ResultsIn 14 cases (34.1%), 131-I was evenly distributed in the liver, and there was no correlation between the cause of even distribution with age(OR=0.961, P = 0.939), previous open surgery history(OR=3.547,P= 0.128), previous history of interventional therapy(OR=0.140,P = 0.072), the interval between the last interventional surgery and the Licartin treatment(OR=0.858,P = 0.883), or the choice of the perfusion artery in the Licartin treatment (OR=1.489,P = 0.419). In 14 cases (34.1%), there was higher aggregation in the tumor than in the normal liver, which was related to previous interventional surgery (OR=7.443,P = 0.043). In 13 cases (31.7%), there was lower aggregation in the tumor than in the normal liver, which was related to the selected vessels in the Licartin perfusion (OR=0.23,P = 0.013).ConclusionThe effective aggregation of 131-I in the liver, even in tumors, the previous history of TACE, and the choice of vessels in the Licartin infusion might be the factors influencing the distribution of 131-I in the liver during hepatic artery infusion of Licartin in combination with TACE therapy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided stiff challenges for planning and resourcing in health services in the UK and worldwide. Epidemiological models can provide simulations of how infectious disease might progress in a population given certain parameters. We adapted an agent-based model of COVID-19 to inform planning and decision-making within a healthcare setting, and created a software framework that automates processes for calibrating the model parameters to health data and allows the model to be run at national population scale on National Health Service (NHS) infrastructure. We developed a method for calibrating the model to three daily data streams (hospital admissions, intensive care occupancy, and deaths), and demonstrate that on cross-validation the model fits acceptably to unseen data streams including official estimates of COVID-19 incidence. Once calibrated, we use the model to simulate future scenarios of the spread of COVID-19 in England and show that the simulations provide useful projections of future COVID-19 clinical demand. These simulations were used to support operational planning in the NHS in England, and we present the example of the use of these simulations in projecting future clinical demand during the rollout of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme. Being able to investigate uncertainty and test sensitivities was particularly important to the operational planning team. This epidemiological model operates within an ecosystem of data technologies, drawing on a range of NHS, government and academic data sources, and provides results to strategists, planners and downstream data systems. We discuss the data resources that enabled this work and the data challenges that were faced.

The debris flows in the Taihang Mountain region in North China are basically triggered by rainstorms. Firstly, the debris flow susceptibility of the Shaling Gully, Lingshou County, Hebei Province, China was analyzed in this paper to evaluate its hazard and effect on the downstream proposed structures. Secondly, the maximum flow depth and velocity of the potential debris flow in Shaling Gully were numerically simulated based on the FLO-2D model, and the simulation results indicate that the flow depths under the 50-year and 100-year rainstorms will have some effect on the downstream proposed structures. With debris flow intensity classification, the hazard of potential debris flow in Shaling Gully was classified. According to the flow depths and velocities simulated by FLO-2D model, the ARCGIS10.8 software was adopted to optimize the hazard zones, and therefore the hazard zonation map was established. With consideration of simulation results under natural conditions and other factors such as gully feature, a 4 m high and 40 m wide retaining dam was designed. The numerical simulation results show that the retaining dam may decrease the debris flow hazard to a negligible level, which offers some beneficial reference to the subsequent engineering design for Shaling Gully.

IntroductionSaline-alkali stress seriously endangers the normal growth of Populus simonii×P. nigra. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance the saline-alkali tolerance of plants by establishing a symbiotic relationship with them.MethodsIn this study, a pot experiment was conducted to simulate a saline-alkali environment where Populus simonii×P. nigra were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae to explore their effects on the saline-alkali tolerance of Populus simonii×P. nigra.Results and DiscussionOur results show that a total of 8 NHX gene family members are identified in Populus simonii×P. nigra. F. mosseae regulate the distribution of Na+ by inducing the expression of PxNHXs. The pH value of poplar rhizosphere soil is reduced, result in the promote absorption of Na+ by poplar, that ultimately improved the soil environment. Under saline-alkali stress, F. mosseae improve the chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic parameters of poplar, promote the absorption of water, K+ and Ca2+, thus increase the plant height and fresh weight of aboveground parts, and promote the growth of poplar. Our results provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the application of AM fungi to improve the saline-alkali tolerance of plants.

Monogenic autoinflammatory diseases (AID) encompass a growing group of inborn errors of the innate immune system causing unprovoked or exaggerated systemic inflammation. Diagnosis of monogenic AID requires an accurate description of the patients’ phenotype, and the identification of highly penetrant genetic variants in single genes is pivotal. We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) of 125 pediatric patients with suspected monogenic AID in a routine genetic diagnostic setting. Datasets were analyzed in a step-wise approach to identify the most feasible diagnostic strategy. First, we analyzed a virtual gene panel including 13 genes associated with known AID and, if no genetic diagnosis was established, we then analyzed a virtual panel including 542 genes published by the International Union of Immunological Societies associated including all known inborn error of immunity (IEI). Subsequently, WES data was analyzed without pre-filtering for known AID/IEI genes. Analyzing 13 genes yielded a definite diagnosis in 16.0% (n = 20). The diagnostic yield was increased by analyzing 542 genes to 20.8% (n = 26). Importantly, expanding the analysis to WES data did not increase the diagnostic yield in our cohort, neither in single WES analysis, nor in trio-WES analysis. The study highlights that the cost- and time-saving analysis of virtual gene panels is sufficient to rapidly confirm the differential diagnosis in pediatric patients with AID. WES data or trio-WES data analysis as a first-tier diagnostic analysis in patients with suspected monogenic AID is of limited benefit.

IntroductionPhosphorus (P) is one of the most important nutrient elements for plant growth and development. Under P starvation, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can promote phosphate (Pi) uptake and homeostasis within host plants. However, the underlying mechanisms by which AM fungal symbiont regulates the AM symbiotic Pi acquisition from soil under P starvation are largely unknown. Here, we identify a HLH domain containing transcription factor RiPho4 from Rhizophagus irregularis.MethodsTo investigate the biological functions of the RiPho4, we combined the subcellular localization and Yeast One-Hybrid (Y1H) experiments in yeasts with gene expression and virus-induced gene silencing approach during AM symbiosis.ResultsThe approach during AM symbiosis. The results indicated that RiPho4 encodes a conserved transcription factor among different fungi and is induced during the in planta phase. The transcription of RiPho4 is significantly up-regulated by P starvation. The subcellular localization analysis revealed that RiPho4 is located in the nuclei of yeast cells during P starvation. Moreover, knock-down of RiPho4 inhibits the arbuscule development and mycorrhizal Pi uptake under low Pi conditions. Importantly, RiPho4 can positively regulate the downstream components of the phosphate (PHO) pathway in R. irregularis.DiscussionIn summary, these new findings reveal that RiPho4 acts as a transcriptional activator in AM fungus to maintain arbuscule development and regulate Pi uptake and homeostasis in the AM symbiosis during Pi starvation.

Cyclization and glycosylation serve as effective approaches for enhancing the drug properties of peptides. Distinct from typical glycosylation, atypical arginine N-glycosylation has drawn increasing attention due to its fundamental role in various cellular procedures and signaling pathways. We previously developed a robust strategy for constructing arginine N-glycosylated peptides characterized by silver-promoted solid-phase guanidinylation. Modeled after cyclic octapeptide Samoamide A, an antitumor peptide composed of eight hydrophobic amino acids extracted from cyanobacteria, herein we first performed arginine scanning to determine an optimal position for replacement with arginine. Consequently, the first synthesis of arginine glycosylated Samoamide A cyclopeptide analogue was described combining solid-phase glycosylation with solution-phase cyclization. The resultant SA-HH-TT displayed enhanced water solubility compared with the non-glycosylated SA-HH-TT. Notably, our method provides a universal strategy for synthesizing arginine N-glycosylated cyclopeptides.

In order to solve the problem that when test vector leakage assessment （TVLA） technology is used for side channel leakage detection， the mean difference between the two groups of power consumption samples （fixed plaintext and random plaintext） is small， and the t-test may miss detection and lead to false negative evaluation.The Bartlett and multi-classification F-test side channel leakage assessment method （Bartlett-F test） was proposed.In the Bartlett-F test， the Bartlett-test was used to the power samples with greater variance difference than mean difference to solve the problem of missing detection， and the multi-classification F-test was used to the power samples with greater mean difference than variance difference to solve the problem of false negative evaluation.In the test， there is leakage if the P-value is less than the threshold.The experimental results show that when the mean difference is less than the variance difference， the sample size required by Bartlett-test is 1.5×104 when the P-value of Bartlett-test is less than the threshold， while the sample size required by t-test is larger.When the variance difference is less than the mean difference， the sample size required by t-test is 2.0×102 when the P-value of t-test is less than the threshold， while the sample size required by F-test is only 1/10 of t-test.Therefore， Bartlett-F test can solve the problems of TVLA technology in leak detection.

The molecular determinants of lung cancer histologic subtypes are not well understood. Here the authors analyze lung cancers of mixed histology and find that histologic subtypes are associated with transcriptomic features rather than genomic profiles in most tumors.

Abstract Anterior spine decompression and reconstruction with bone grafts and fusion is a routine spinal surgery. The intervertebral fusion cage can maintain intervertebral height and provide a bone graft window. Titanium fusion cages are the most widely used metal material in spinal clinical applications. However, there is a certain incidence of complications in clinical follow-ups, such as pseudoarticulation formation and implant displacement due to nonfusion of bone grafts in the cage. With the deepening research on metal materials, the properties of these materials have been developed from being biologically inert to having biological activity and biological functionalization, promoting adhesion, cell differentiation, and bone fusion. In addition, 3D printing, thin-film, active biological material, and 4D bioprinting technology are also being used in the biofunctionalization and intelligent advanced manufacturing processes of implant devices in the spine. This review focuses on the biofunctionalization of implant materials in 3D printed intervertebral fusion cages. The surface modifications of implant materials in metal endoscopy, material biocompatibility, and bioactive functionalizationare summarized. Furthermore, the prospects and challenges of the biofunctionalization of implant materials in spinal surgery are discussed. Fig.a.b.c.d.e.f.g As a pre-selected image for the cover, I really look forward to being selected. Special thanks to you for your comments.

As studies continue sequencing with deeper coverage, computational processing of these profiles has become increasingly resource consuming. Here the authors designed an efficient computational method called Chromap to align and preprocess high throughput sequencing data from chromatin profiling techniques, including ChIP-seq, Hi-C, or scATAC-seq, with a major decrease in runtime.

BackgroundCOVID-19 data have been generated across the United Kingdom as a by-product of clinical care and public health provision, as well as numerous bespoke and repurposed research endeavors. Analysis of these data has underpinned the United Kingdom’s response to the pandemic, and informed public health policies and clinical guidelines. However, these data are held by different organizations, and this fragmented landscape has presented challenges for public health agencies and researchers as they struggle to find relevant data to access and interrogate the data they need to inform the pandemic response at pace. ObjectiveWe aimed to transform UK COVID-19 diagnostic data sets to be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR). MethodsA federated infrastructure model (COVID - Curated and Open Analysis and Research Platform [CO-CONNECT]) was rapidly built to enable the automated and reproducible mapping of health data partners’ pseudonymized data to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model without the need for any data to leave the data controllers’ secure environments, and to support federated cohort discovery queries and meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 56 data sets from 19 organizations are being connected to the federated network. The data include research cohorts and COVID-19 data collected through routine health care provision linked to longitudinal health care records and demographics. The infrastructure is live, supporting aggregate-level querying of data across the United Kingdom. ConclusionsCO-CONNECT was developed by a multidisciplinary team. It enables rapid COVID-19 data discovery and instantaneous meta-analysis across data sources, and it is researching streamlined data extraction for use in a Trusted Research Environment for research and public health analysis. CO-CONNECT has the potential to make UK health data more interconnected and better able to answer national-level research questions while maintaining patient confidentiality and local governance procedures.

ABSTRACT The majority of vascular flowering plants can establish arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with AM fungi. These associations contribute to plant health and plant growth against various environmental stresses. In the mutualistic endosymbiosis, the AM fungi deliver phosphate (Pi) to the host root through highly branched hyphae called arbuscules. The molecular mechanisms of Pi transfer from AM fungi to the plant have been determined, which are dominated by AM-specific Pi transporters belonging to the PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER 1 (Pht1) family within the subfamily I. However, it is unknown whether Pht1 family proteins are involved in other regulations in AM symbiosis. Here, we report that the expression of EgPT8 is specifically activated by AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and is localized in root cortical cells containing arbuscules. Interestingly, knockdown of EgPT8 function does not affect the Eucalyptus grandis growth, total phosphorous (P) concentration, and arbuscule formation; however, the size of mature arbuscules was significantly suppressed in the RNAi-EgPT8 lines. Heterogeneous expression of EgPT4, EgPT5, and EgPT8 in the Medicago truncatula mutant mtpt4-2 indicates that EgPT4 and EgPT5 can fully complement the defects of mutant mtpt4-2 in mycorrhizal Pi uptake and arbuscule formation, while EgPT8 cannot complement the defective AM phenotype of the mtpt4-2 mutant. Based on our results, we propose that the AM fungi-specific subfamily I transporter EgPT8 has novel functions and is essential to arbuscule elongation. IMPORTANCE Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) formation in host root cortical cells is initiated by exchanges of diffusible molecules, among which Pi uptake is known as the important feature of AM fungi on symbiosis functioning. Over the last two decades, it has been repeatedly proven that most vascular plants harbor two or more AM-specific Pht1 proteins; however, there is no direct evidence regarding the potential link among these Pi transporters at the symbiotic interface. This work revealed a novel function of a structurally conserved protein involved in lateral arbuscule development. In total, we confirmed that three AM-specific Pht1 family proteins are nonredundant in Eucalyptus grandis and that EgPT8 is responsible for fungal arbuscule elongation of Rhizophagus irregularis.

This paper discusses the application of Eye Tracking (ET) technologies for researchers to understand a driver’s perception of signage at the highway work zone. Combining ET within a screen-based motion pictures and a driving simulator, the team developed an analytical method that allowed designers to evaluate signage design. Two experiments were set up to investigate how signage design might affect a driver’s visual attention and interaction under various environmental complexities and glare conditions. The study explores the visual perception related to several spatial features, including signage modality, scene complexity, and color schemes. The ET method utilizes total fixation time and time to first fixation data to evaluate the effectiveness of signage presented through screen-based video and a driving simulator.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are symbionts of most terrestrial plants and enhance their adaptability in metal-contaminated soils. In this study, mycorrhized and non-mycorrhized Eucalyptus grandis were grown under different Zn treatments. After 6 weeks of treatment, the growing status and ionome content of plants as well as the expression patterns of metal tolerance proteins and auxin biosynthesis–related genes were measured. In this study, mycorrhized E. grandis showed higher biomass and height at a high level of Zn compared with non-mycorrhized plants. In addition, AM plants accumulated P, Mg, and Mn in roots and P, Fe, and Cu in shoots, which indicate that AM fungi facilitate the uptake of ionome nutrients to promote plant growth. In addition, mycorrhiza upregulated the expression of EgMTP1 and EgMTP7, whose encoding proteins were predicted to be located at the vacuolar membrane. Meanwhile, Golgi membrane transporter EgMTP5 was also induced in AM shoot. Our results suggest that AM likely mitigates Zn toxicity through sequestrating excess Zn into vacuolar and Golgi. Furthermore, the expression of auxin biosynthesis–related genes was facilitated by AM, and this is probably another approach for Zn tolerance.

Colon cancer undergoes a traditional pathway from colon polyps to colon cancer. It is of great significance to investigate the key molecules involved in carcinogenesis from polyps to malignancies. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stably expressed in human body fluids such as plasma. Here, we demonstrated a differential expression pattern of plasma circRNAs in healthy individuals, colon polyp patients and colon cancer patients using circRNA Arraystar microarray. We explored that circRNA HADHA (circHADHA) was upregulated in plasma from polyp patients, whereas it was downregulated in plasma from colon cancer patients. Overexpression of circHADHA promoted autophagy in colon epithelial cells. Moreover, in colon cancer cells, overexpression of circHADHA promoted autophagy, whereas it inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation. CircHADHA increased the expression of ATG13 via miR-361 in both colon epithelial and cancer cells. ATG13 knockdown reduced autophagy even in the presence of circHADHA in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, the growth of circHADHA-overexpressing colon cancer cell-derived xenograft tumors was significantly decreased compared with control tumors in nude mice. In conclusion, circHADHA was differentially expressed in the plasma of healthy individuals, colon polyp patients and colon cancer patients. CircHADHA promoted autophagy by regulating ATG13 via miR-361 in both colon epithelial and cancer cells. CircHADHA suppressed tumor growth by inducing cell autophagy in colon cancer cells. CircHADHA potentially serves as a biomarker for screening of precursor colon cancer and a therapeutic target for colon cancer treatment.

Dendrobium plays a key role in the orchid industry, with ornamental, medicinal, and economic value. Recently, we found a newly recorded boring pest damaging Dendrobium in Guizhou Province, China. The species is identified as Nassophasis sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Rhynchophorinae) by morphological and anatomical features. The occurrence and biological characteristics of this species were verified through field investigation and indoor experiments. The results showed that detailed external morphological and genitalia characters and male-female differences are described to identify Nassophasis sp. The pest produces three generations per year, with overlapping generations. The adults overwinter in the root stains of Dendrobium and emerge in mid-March of the following year. Adults feed on stems, leaves, and flowers, often laying their eggs inside the stems; larvae then bore into the stems causing decaying and hollowing until complete immature development. There are three larval instars, grouped according to their head capsule width and body length, which were measured following Dyar’s law and Crosby’s law of growth and showed a significant linear regression (p < 0.0001). The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the prediction and comprehensive control of the insect.

Background and Objectives: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is prevalent in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and is hypothesized to heighten the risk of subsequent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Whether antibiotic treatment of ASB in KTRs is beneficial has not been elucidated. Materials and Methods: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that examined the merits of managing asymptomatic bacteriuria in KTRs. The primary outcomes were rates of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and antimicrobial resistance. Results: Five studies encompassing 566 patients were included. No significant difference in symptomatic UTI rates was found between antibiotics and no treatment groups (relative risk (RR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.78–1.41), with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 36%). Antibiotic treatment was found to present an uncertain risk for the development of drug-resistant strains (RR = 1.51, 95% CI = 0.95–2.40, I2 = 0%). In all trials, no significant difference between study arms was demonstrated regarding patient and graft outcomes, such as graft function, graft loss, hospitalization due to UTI, all-cause mortality, or acute rejection. Conclusions: The practice of screening and treating kidney transplant patients for asymptomatic bacteriuria does not curtail the incidence of future symptomatic UTIs, increase antimicrobial resistance, or affect graft outcomes. Whether early treatment of ASB after kidney transplantation (

Abstract The sex-specific physical and biochemical responses in dioecious plants to abiotic stresses could result in gender imbalance, and how to ease the current situation by microorganisms is still unclear. Using native soil where poplars were grown, growth parameters, soil physicochemical properties in the rhizosphere soil of different sexes of Populus cathayana exposed to salt stress and exogenous arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation were tested. Besides, the sex-specific microbial community structures in the rhizosphere soil of different sexes of Populus cathayana were compared under salt stress. To identify the sex-specific microbial community characteristics related to salinity and AM symbiosis, a combined qPCR and DGGE method was used to monitor microbial community diversity. Seedlings suffered severe pressure by salt stress, reflected in limited growth, biomass, and nutrient element accumulation, especially on females. Exogenous AM inoculation treatment alleviated these negative effects, especially under salt treatment of 75 mM. Compared with salt effect, exogenous AM inoculation treatment showed a greater effect on soil physical–chemical properties of both sexes. Based on DGGE results, salt stress negatively affected fungal richness but positively affected fungal Simpson diversity index, while exogenous AM inoculation treatment showed the opposite effect. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to show the causal relationships between salt and exogenous AM inoculation treatments with biomass accumulation and microbial community: salt and exogenous AM inoculation treatment showed complicated effects on elementary concentrations, soil properties, which resulted in different relationship with biomass accumulation and microbial community. Salt stress had a negative effect on soil properties and microbial community structure in the rhizosphere soil of P. cathayana, whereas exogenous AM inoculation showed positive impacts on most of the soil physical–chemical properties and microbial community status.

Model extraction attack focuses on reverse engineering architecture and weights of DNN model deployed in edge.Model extraction attack is a basic security problem in AI security, it underlies advanced attacks as data provider, such as adversarial sample and data poisoning.A novel method named Cluster-based SCA was proposed,this method did not need leakage model.Cluster-based SCA was based on vulnerability of quantized inference.There exist a phenomenon in multiplication operation in quantized inference, which the output of different weights were not equivalent in respect of classification.It can be used to distinguish different weights.The proposed method computed output activations of each DNN layer with guessing weight.Then acquired side channel signal were classified into different class, the taxonomy was corresponding output activations' value.Average dispersion of all classes σ ¯ was used to decide whether guess was right.The effectiveness of Cluster-based SCA method was verified by simulation experiment and HW model was used as target leakage model.For all weights from first convolution layer of target CNN model, TOP2 recovery rate was 52.66%.And for large weights in significant interval,TOP2 recover rate was 100%.

The cancer cell-extrinsic roles of deubiquitinases are unclear. Here the authors show that deubiquitinase USP12 downregulation contributes to development of an immune-suppressive tumour microenvironment in KRAS-driven lung cancers and mechanistically this is through the insufficient deubiquitination of the NF-κB inhibitor, PPM1B.

ObjectiveThe study aimed to determine the prevalence and pathogens of invasive fungal infection (IFI) among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The next goal was to investigate the association between empirical antifungal treatment and mortality in ICU patients.MethodsUsing microbiological events, we identified all ICU patients with IFI and then retrieved electronic clinical data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. The data were statistically analyzed using t-tests, chi-square tests, log-rank tests, and Cox regression.ResultsThe most commonly reported fungi were Candida (72.64%) and Aspergillus (19.08%). The most frequently prescribed antifungal medication was fluconazole (37.57%), followed by micafungin (26.47%). In the survival study of ICU patients and patients with sepsis, survivors were more likely to receive empirical antifungal treatment. In contrast, non-empirical antifungal therapy was significantly associated with poor survival in patients with positive blood cultures. We found that the current predictive score makes an accurate prediction of patients with fungal infections challenging.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that empirical antifungal treatment is associated with decreased mortality in ICU patients. To avoid treatment delays, novel diagnostic techniques should be implemented in the clinic. Until such tests are available, appropriate empirical antifungal therapy could be administered based on a model that predicts the optimal time to initiate antifungal therapy. Additional studies should be conducted to establish more accurate predictive models in the future.

The present paper aims to develop and validate a robust and secure watermarking algorithm. Firstly, the algorithm transforms the cover image and the watermark image separately by FRFT to obtain the amplitudes of both the cover image and watermark image, and then the two-level DWT transformation only carries out for the amplitude of the cover image. Secondly, the algorithm applies the SVD to the low-frequency sub-band of the second level DWT of the cover image and the amplitude of the watermark image. Thirdly, a new matrix is constructed based on the singular values from both the cover and watermark images to embed watermark information. Lastly, the algorithm takes the preliminary numerical calculation to determine an appropriate transformation order of FRFT for the cover image and to provide an outstanding balance between the imperceptibility and robustness in the proposed watermarking scheme. Moreover, it guarantees the security of watermarking scheme by the transformation order of FRFT. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed watermarking scheme provides better performance in imperceptibility and resistance against traditional signal processing and geometric attacks, especially in image rotation, image cropping, average filtering, median filtering, and Gaussian filtering in comparison with the existing methods in the literature.

The Toom-Cook method is a well-known strategy for building algorithms to multiply polynomials efficiently. Along with NTT-based polynomial multiplication, Toom-Cook-based or Karatsuba-based polynomial multiplication algorithms still have regained attention since the start of the NIST’s post-quantum standardization procedure. Compared to the comprehensive analysis done for NTT, the leakage characteristics of Toom-Cook have not been discussed. We analyze the vulnerabilities of Toom-Cook in the reference implementation of Saber, a third round finalist of NIST’s post-quantum standardization process. In this work, we present the first single-trace attack based on the soft-analytical side-channel attack (SASCA) targeting the Toom-Cook. The deep learning-based power analysis is combined with SASCA to decrease the number of templates since there are a large number of similar operations in the Toom-Cook. Moreover, we describe the optimized factor graph and improved belief propagation to make the attack more practical. The feasibility of the attack is verified by evaluation experiments. We also discuss the possible countermeasures to prevent the attack.

Treatment-resistant glioma stem cells are thought to propagate and drive growth of malignant gliomas, but their markers and our ability to target them specifically are not well understood. We demonstrate that podoplanin (PDPN) expression is an independent prognostic marker in gliomas across multiple independent patient cohorts comprising both high- and low-grade gliomas. Knockdown of PDPN radiosensitized glioma cell lines and glioma-stem-like cells (GSCs). Clonogenic assays and xenograft experiments revealed that PDPN expression was associated with radiotherapy resistance and tumor aggressiveness. We further demonstrate that knockdown of PDPN in GSCs in vivo is sufficient to improve overall survival in an intracranial xenograft mouse model. PDPN therefore identifies a subset of aggressive, treatment-resistant glioma cells responsible for radiation resistance and may serve as a novel therapeutic target.

The application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) and phosphorus (P) can improve plant growth under drought stress by upregulating the antioxidant system and osmotic accumulation. The 14-3-3 protein can respond to different abiotic stresses such as low P and drought. The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of AM fungi (Rhizophagus intraradices) inoculation on reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, P metabolism, and 14-3-3 gene expression of Populus cathayana at different P levels and drought stress (WW: well-watered and WD: water deficit). Under WD conditions, AM fungi inoculation significantly increased the P content in leaves and roots, but the benefit in roots is limited by the level of P addition, and the roots may have more alkaline phosphatase and phytase under P stress, and these activities in the rhizosphere soil inoculated with AM fungi were stronger. Under WD conditions, the activities of catalase (leaf and root) and peroxidase (root) inoculated with AM fungi were significantly higher than those without inoculation and decreased with P addition. 14-3-3 genes, PcGRF10 and PcGRF11, have a positive correlation with the antioxidant system, osmotic regulation, and P metabolism, which may be more significant after inoculation with AM fungi. Our results provide new insights into the mechanism of ROS homeostasis and P metabolism in mycorrhizal plants under drought stress.

The sulfakinin (SK) is an important signal molecule. As a neuromodulator, it mediates a variety of behavioral processes and physiological functions in invertebrates through the interaction with G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, there is no report on the functional role of SK in the Chinese white pine beetle, Dendroctonus armandi. We have cloned and characterized SK and SKR genes in the D. armandi and carried out bioinformatics predictions on the basis of the deduced amino acid sequences, which are very similar to those from Dendroctonus ponderosa. The expression levels of the two genes were different between male and female adults, and there were significant changes in different developmental stages, tissues, and between starvation and following re-feeding states. Additionally, RNA-interference (RNAi) using double-stranded RNA to knock down SK and SKR reduced the transcription levels of the target genes and increased their body weight. In parallel, injection of SK caused a significant reduction in body weight and increase in mortality of D. armandi and also led to an increase in trehalose and a decrease in glycogen and free fatty acid. The results show that the SK signal pathway plays a positive and significant role in feeding regulation and provides a potential molecular target for the control of this pest.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous disease with significant mortality and frequent recurrence. Prior efforts to transcriptionally classify HNSCC into groups of varying prognoses have identified four accepted molecular subtypes of the disease: Atypical (AT), Basal (BA), Classical (CL), and Mesenchymal (MS). Here, we investigate the active enhancer landscapes of these subtypes using representative HNSCC cell lines and identify samples belonging to the AT subtype as having increased enhancer activity compared to the other 3 HNSCC subtypes. Cell lines belonging to the AT subtype are more resistant to enhancer-blocking bromodomain inhibitors (BETi). Examination of nascent transcripts reveals that both AT TCGA tumors and cell lines express higher levels of enhancer RNA (eRNA) transcripts for enhancers controlling BETi resistance pathways, such as lipid metabolism and MAPK signaling. Additionally, investigation of higher-order chromatin structure suggests more enhancer-promoter (E-P) contacts in the AT subtype, including on genes identified in the eRNA analysis. Consistently, known BETi resistance pathways are upregulated upon exposure to these inhibitors. Together, our results identify that the AT subtype of HNSCC is associated with higher enhancer activity, resistance to enhancer blockade, and increased signaling through pathways that could serve as future targets for sensitizing HNSCC to BET inhibition.

As a major environmental factor, salt stress substantially retards growth and reduces the productivity of rice (Oryza sativa). Members of the DUF1644 family, “the domains of unknown function 1644 motif” are predicted to play an essential regulatory role in response to abiotic stress. However, the specific molecular mechanisms of most members of this family remain elusive. Here, we report that the OsSIDP301 (stress-induced DUF1644 protein) was induced by salt stress and abscisic acid (ABA). We found that overexpression of OsSIDP301 (OE) in plants conferred salt hypersensitivity and reduced grain size, whereas plants with OsSIDP301 RNA interference (RNAi) exhibited salt tolerance and increased grain size in rice. OsSIDP301 determines salt stress tolerance by modulating genes involved in the salt-response and ABA signaling pathways. Further studies suggest that OsSIDP301 regulates grain size by influencing cell expansion in spikelet hulls. Moreover, OsSIDP301 interacts with OsBUL1 COMPLEX1 (OsBC1), which positively regulates grain size in rice. Our findings reveal that OsSIDP301 functions as a negative regulator of salt stress and grain size, and repressing its expression represents a promising strategy for improving salt stress tolerance and yield in rice.

Grade 2 and higher radiation pneumonitis (RP2) is a potentially fatal toxicity that limits efficacy of radiation therapy (RT). We wished to identify a combined biomarker signature of circulating miRNAs and cytokines which, along with radiobiological and clinical parameters, may better predict a targetable RP2 pathway. In a prospective clinical trial of response-adapted RT for patients (n = 39) with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, we analyzed patients’ plasma, collected pre- and during RT, for microRNAs (miRNAs) and cytokines using array and multiplex enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Interactions between candidate biomarkers, radiobiological, and clinical parameters were analyzed using data-driven Bayesian network (DD-BN) analysis. We identified alterations in specific miRNAs (miR-532, -99b and -495, let-7c, -451 and -139-3p) correlating with lung toxicity. High levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 1 (sTNFR1) were detected in a majority of lung cancer patients. However, among RP patients, within 2 weeks of RT initiation, we noted a trend of temporary decline in sTNFR1 (a physiological scavenger of TNFα) and ADAM17 (a shedding protease that cleaves both membrane-bound TNFα and TNFR1) levels. Cytokine signature identified activation of inflammatory pathway. Using DD-BN we combined miRNA and cytokine data along with generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) to identify pathways with better accuracy of predicting RP2 as compared to either miRNA or cytokines alone. This signature suggests that activation of the TNFα-NFκB inflammatory pathway plays a key role in RP which could be specifically ameliorated by etanercept rather than current therapy of non-specific leukotoxic corticosteroids.

A case study of migmatites indicates that the juvenile arc crust underwent a rapid self-recycling process from arc magmatism to erosion and weathering at the surface, then to burial and remelting. Intra-arc thrust fault systems might efficiently promote endogenous recycling.

Constraining the thermal state of the lithosphere is crucial to understanding geodynamic regime in early Earth. Here the authors reconstruct ~2.9–2.5 Ga thermal structure of continental lithosphere of the North China Craton using TTG and propose a systematic Archean geodynamic evolution process.

Abstract Background A better understanding of non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) dynamics in trees under drought stress is critical to elucidate the mechanisms underlying forest decline and tree mortality from extended periods of drought. This study aimed to assess the contribution of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus (Suillus variegatus) to hydraulic function and NSC in roots, stems, and leaves of Pinus tabulaeformis subjected to different water deficit intensity. We performed a continuous controlled drought pot experiment from July 10 to September 10, 2019 using P. tabulaeformis seedlings under 80, 40, and 20% of the field moisture capacity that represented the absence of non-drought, moderate drought, and severe drought stress, respectively. Results Results indicated that S. variegatus decreased the mortality rate and increased height, root biomass, and leaf biomass of P. tabulaeformis seedlings under moderate and severe drought stress. Meanwhile, the photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rates of P. tabulaeformis were significantly increased after S. variegatus inoculation. Moreover, the inoculation of S. variegatus also significantly increased the NSC concentrations of all seedling tissues, enhanced the soluble sugars content, and increased the ratios of soluble sugars to starch on all tissues under severe drought. Overall, the inoculation of S. variegatus has great potential for improving the hydraulic function, increasing the NSC storage, and improving the growth of P. tabulaeformis under severe drought. Conclusions Therefore, the S. variegatus can be used as a potential application strain for ecological restoration on arid regions of the Loess Plateau, especially in the P. tabulaeformis woodlands.

Abstract Background Minimally invasive reconstruction techniques are used for anatomical ligament construction of the lateral collateral ligament complex of the ankle, but the two key elements, the bone tunnel and the appropriate graft tension, for the identification of the anatomic location during the surgery are not clearly stated. Methods The patients with chronic ankle instability who received arthroscopic anatomic lateral ligament complex reconstruction were retrospectively analyzed. The anatomical location of the bone tunnel was performed under arthroscopy combined with fluoroscopy for accurate location of the bone tunnel entrance. The graft tension and routing were controlled under arthroscopic visualization. The clinical outcomes were assessed using the Karlsson-Peterson score, Sefton articular stability scale, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The complications were recorded during the follow-up. Results A total of 18 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean follow-up was 33.33 ± 3.69 (range from 24 to 36) months. No patient had recurrence of ankle instability after the operation. According to the Sefton articular stability scale, 94.5% of the patients had excellent/good function. The mean value of the anterior drawer tests and the talar tilt angle examination were decreased. The mean of the Karlsson-Peterson score and the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) score were both improved significantly. Conclusions The anatomic reconstruction of the ankle lateral ligament complex to treat chronic ankle instability using the arthroscopy combined with the fluoroscopic technique could improve the clinical functions, satisfaction, and reduced pain of patients.

Abstract Nanobodies are the recombinant variable domains of heavy-chain-only antibodies, with many unique properties such as small size, excellent solubility, superior stability, quick clearance from blood, and deep tissue penetration. As a result, nanobodies have become a promising tool for the diagnosis and therapy of diseases. As imaging tracers, nanobodies allow an early acquisition of high-quality images, provide a comprehensive evaluation of the disease, and subsequently enable a personalized precision therapy. As therapeutic agents, nanobodies enable a targeted therapy by lesion-specific delivery of drugs and effector domains, thereby improving the specificity and efficacy of the therapy. Up to date, a wide variety of nanobodies have been developed for a broad range of molecular targets and have played a significant role in patients with a broad spectrum of diseases. In this review, we aim to outline the current state-of-the-art research on the nanobodies for medical applications and then discuss the challenges and strategies for their further clinical translation.

The promising solution for short-reach optical communication, discrete multitone (DMT) system suffer from high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). It is easy for the DMT signal to enter the nonlinear region of the components in the systems, which distorts the signal and limits the modulation efficiency. It is well-known that the precoding technique can suppress the PAPR of DMT without loss of spectral efficiency. We found that, in the I/Q plane, the nonlinear distortion clusters in the constellation points with higher power due to the joint precoding and inverse fast Fourier transform. The principle of this phenomenon has been studied. To cope with the specially distributed nonlinear distortions induced by precoding, we adopted the probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS) technique to reduce the probability of constellation points with high power, resulting in the overall performance improvement. Joint precoding and PCS significantly improve the resistance to nonlinear distortions for DMT systems. Simulations and experiments of 16-QAM and 64-QAM DMT transmission systems were conducted to evaluate the performance. The experimental results show that at the NGMI threshold of 0.92, up to 4 dB enhancement of the receiver sensitivity has been achieved by the proposed scheme when 4-GBd 64-QAM signals are transmitted.

This paper proposes an improved intelligent driver model (IDM) by considering the information of multiple front and rear vehicles to describe the car-following behaviour of CAVs (Connected and autonomous vehicles). The model involves the velocity and acceleration of multiple front and rear vehicles as well as the velocity difference and headway between the host vehicle and its surrounding vehicles. By introducing location-related parameters, the model quantitatively expresses the change in influence degree of a surrounding vehicle with its location to the host vehicle. To maximize traffic stability, we obtain the optimal value of the parameters in the model and the effect of specific time delays on the stability of traffic flow with numerical simulation. The results indicate that for a single vehicle control, the proposed model provides a much quicker and smoother acceleration and deceleration process to the desired speed than the IDM and multi-front IDM. And for fleet control, the proposed multi-front and rear IDM is superior to the other two models in decreasing the starting and braking time and increasing the stability of speed and acceleration. With effective car-following behaviour control, it is helpful to improve the operation efficiency of CAVs and enhance the stability of traffic flow. In addition to the car-following behaviour control, the model can be utilized for fleet control in the case of CAVs’ homogeneous flow. This model can also serve as an effective tool to simulate car-following behaviour, which is beneficial for road traffic management and infrastructure layout in connected environments.

ABSTRACT Plants can improve their resistance to a variety of stresses by forming mutualistic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The 14-3-3 protein is a major regulator of the plant stress response. However, the regulation mechanism of 14-3-3 family protein genes (14-3-3s) of mycorrhizal plants coping with stress during AMF symbiosis remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the physiological changes and 14-3-3 expression profiles of Populus cathayana inoculated with AMF under different water conditions. The results showed that good colonization and symbiotic relationships with plants were formed under all water conditions (63.00% to 83.67%). Photosynthesis, peroxidase (POD) activity, and Mg and Ca content were significantly affected by drought and AMF. In addition, thirteen 14-3-3 protein genes (PcGRF1-PcGRF13) were identified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), of which the expression levels of PcGRF10 and PcGRF11 induced by AMF were significantly positively correlated with superoxide dismutase (SOD), POD, and sugar content, indicating that the 14-3-3s of mycorrhizal symbiotic plants may respond to drought through antioxidant and osmotic regulation. This is the first study on 14-3-3s in the symbiosis system of forest arbor plants and AMF, and it may help to further study the effects of 14-3-3s during AMF symbiosis on stresses and provide new ideas for improving mycorrhizal seedling cultivation under stress. IMPORTANCE The 14-3-3 protein may regulate many biochemical and physiological processes under abiotic stress. Studies have shown that the 14-3-3 protein gene of AMF is not only upregulated under drought stress, but also enhances the regulation of AMF on plant drought tolerance by regulating plant signal pathways and drought response genes; however, knowledge about the biological relevance of these interactions remains limited and controversial. The precise functions of Populus cathayana 14-3-3s under drought stress remain poorly resolved and the mechanisms of action of these genes in mycorrhizae-induced drought stress are still unknown. Thus, studying the drought-resistance mechanism of the AMF symbiotic plant 14-3-3 gene is of special significance to improving the drought tolerance of the plant. Further systematic study is needed to probe the mechanism by which AMF regulates different 14-3-3 genes and their subsequent physiological effects on drought.

Rolling bearings are widely used in industrial equipment. It is of great significance to study the degradation trend of rolling bearings. In this paper, an Adaptive Multi-population Genetic Algorithm (AMGA) is proposed. Firstly, Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) method is used to fuse the vibration signal in both time domain and frequency domain, which uses kernel to map the sample space to higher dimensional space and uses the higher dimensional space for linear dimensionality reduction. It can effectively reduce the dimension of nonlinear correlation variables and obtain the trend signal representing the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) characteristics of rolling bearing. Moreover, AMGA is proposed to optimize the number of neurons, initial weight, and initial threshold of the Back Propagation (BP) neural network prediction model. AMGA applies chaos algorithm to Genetic Algorithm (GA) to improve the diversity of the initial population. Meanwhile, the communication frequency between different populations is controlled by judging the similarity of the optimal solution among different populations, so as to effectively jump out of the local optimum and obtain the global optimal solution. Finally, the whole life data of the spin-up process of the rolling bearing from University of Cincinnati is taken as an example to analyze the performance of the algorithm. Compared with the traditional BP, the R2-score performance and the MAPE performance of KPCA-AMGA-BP are improved by 0.297 and 2.46% respectively. Furthermore, compared with the optimized BP, this method obtains the improved R2-score performance and the MAPE performance by 0.218 and 0.46%.

In practical production, many factors should be considered for construction of natural gas supply chain system.However, in most of the researches, the transportation mode considered was single, which could neither effectively solvethe problem of seasonal fluctuation of urban gas demand, nor realize the optimization of transportation mode and structurallayout. With the restraints of transportation mode, volume, transportation facilities, the capability of supply and demand, andthe construction scheme of stations considered comprehensively, a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model wasestablished by setting the minimum average daily operation cost of the natural gas supply chain as the objective function.Taking the annual demand task of a natural gas supply chain as an example, the station construction plan, the purchase plan, the natural gas transportation plan, the gas storage plan and the operation plan of the treatment plant were obtained andthe accuracy of MILP model was verified by assuming the minimum construction and operation cost of the system underthe condition of satisfying the urban demand of natural gas, which can provide guidance to the construction of natural gassupply chain system.

The exact origin of lithium enrichment in arc magmatic systems is unclear. Here the authors conduct a global systematics of lithium, explaining why volcanic arcs built on thickened crust are most lithium-enriched, which sheds light on the future exploration of lithium resources.

A new species of Asteraceae, Synotis panzhouensis, is described and illustrated from Guizhou Province in China. Compared with other species of the genus, it is distinguishable by having red-purple pappus; additionally, it differs from its closest ally S. nayongensis by the larger involucres and phyllaries, and higher number of phyllaries and disk florets. In addition, detailed discussion of morphological differences, the provisional IUCN status and a distribution map are provided.