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The spatial distribution, composition, and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments and suspended particulate matter (SPM) from the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal areas were examined. Total PAH concentrations varied from 189 to 637 ng/g in sediments and 422 to 1,850 ng/g in SPM. PAHs were dominated by 5,6-ring compounds in sediments and by 2,3-ring compounds in SPM samples. Assessment of PAH sources suggested that biomass and coal combustion is the major PAH source to the outer part of the estuary sediments and that petroleum combustion is the major PAH source to the inner part of estuary sediments. As for SPM samples, PAH isomer pair ratios indicated multiple (petroleum, petroleum combustion, and biomass and coal combustion) PAH sources, and significant temporal variations could exist for the sources of water column PAHs in the study area. The distribution of perylene in SPM samples indicated that the river was the dominant source of perylene in SPM and that perylene could be taken as an index to assess the contribution of river inflow to the total PAHs in SPM samples. The high concentration of perylene in the sediment was indicative of an in situ biogenic origin.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of extensively porous-coated femoral stem in revision of total hip arthroplasty (THA)., Methods: From January 1999 to December 2003, fifteen hips of fifteen cases received revision of THA with extensively porous-coated femoral stem. There were six males and nine females. The average age was 66 years (ranging 58-82 years). The reason for the revision was aseptic loosening in 10 cases, septic loosening in 2, femoral shaft fracture around loose implant in 2, and femoral revision for malposition of the femoral component in 1. All the patients were clinically evaluated using Harris hip score and radiographically evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively at regular follow-up intervals., Results: No patients were lost for follow-up. The average length of follow-up was 2.3 years (range, 1-5 years). The average preoperative Harris hip score was 42 points, which was improved to 89 points at latest follow-up. The latest follow-up showed that bone in-growth occurred in fourteen stems and solid fibrous fixation in one. Complications consisted of femoral shaft fracture in two cases (1 undisplaced distal femur fracture and 1 cortical perforation at the tip of the prosthesis), and postoperative dislocation in one. There was no mechanical failure of the stem in this study., Conclusions: Satisfactory results of short-term clinical and radiographic follow-up have been achieved in using extensively porous-coated femoral stem for revision of THA. It should be noticed that the straight, 203 mm stem should be used with caution in short people.

Objective: To evaluate the results of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with posttraumatic degenerative arthritis due to a previous fracture around the knee., Methods: We analyzed the results of 15 TKAs, performed from 1997 to 2003, in 15 patients with post-traumatic degenerative arthritis due to a previous fracture around knee. There were 3 women and 12 men with an average age of 58 years (range, 31-76 years). The time from fracture to arthroplasty averaged 8.2 years (range, 2-27 years). Internal fixation had previously been performed in 8 patients resulting in retained hardware. At the time of arthroplasty a femoral fracture malunion was present in two knees. Lateral retinacular release (4 knees), extensor mechanism realignment (1 knee) or medial collateral ligament reconstruction (1 knee) were needed at the time of arthroplasty., Results: Follow-up averaged 35 months (range, 12-73 months). No patient was lost for follow-up. According to the Knee Society Score scale, the mean preoperative knee score was 37 (range, 10-70) and functional score was 41 (range, 0-60). They were improved significantly to a mean of 84 (range, 10-100) and 76 (range, 20-100) points, respectively at the latest follow-up. The mean knee arc of motion were improved from 84 degree preoperation to 94 degree at the latest follow-up. Postoperative manipulation under anesthesia for poor motion was carried out in 4 knees. No knee had aseptic loosening that required subsequent revision. Two knees developed superficial infection and were treated with debridement. It subsequently recovered with the retention of components., Conclusions: Significant improvement in function and relief of pain has been achieved in patients with previous fractures undergoing subsequent TKA. However, this procedure is technically demanding and patients are at increased risk for restricted motion and need more care following TKA. This study suggests that the outcome of TKA may be improved further by making special efforts to restore limb alignment, to ensure correct component positioning, and to manage soft tissue balance.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of total hip arthroplasty (THA) with cementless cups and femoral head autografts for patients with hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis., Methods: Between 1995 and 2002, we implanted 23 cementless cups and femoral head autografts in 20 patients with hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. In this study, a retrospective study was made on 21 hips in 20 patients (18 females and 2 males, aged 50 years on an average) with developmental hip dysplasia treated by THA with a cementless cup and femoral head autograft. The acetabular cup was placed at the level of the true acetabulum and all the patients required autogenous femoral head grafts due to acetabular deficiency. The average rate of the acetabular cup covered by the femoral head autograft was 31% (ranging from 10% to 45%). Eight hips had less than 25% cup coverage and thirteen between 25% and 50%. The average follow-up period was 4.7 years (range, 1-8 years). The replacing outcome was evaluated by modified Harris hip score. Preoperative and follow-up radiographs were made., Results: All the autografts were united to the host bones. No autograft was collapsed or no component from the hip was loosed in all the patients. According to the modified Harris hip score, the average hip score increased from 46 before operation to 89 at the final review. Before operation, the leg-length discrepancy was greater than 2 cm in all the patients except one with bilateral hip dysplasia. After operation, only 2 out of 20 patients had a leg-length discrepancy greater than 1 cm. Three hips showed minor bone resorption in the lateral portion of the graft, which did not support the cup. Three hips developed Grade 1 Brooker heterotopic ossification and one developed Grade 2., Conclusions: THA with a cementless cup and a femoral head autograft for patients with osteoarthritis resulted from hip dysplasia can result in favorable outcomes. This method can provide reliable acetabular fixation and restore the acetabular bone stock in patients with developmental hip dysplasia when the cementless cup covered by the graft does not exceed 50%.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for coxarthrosis due to dysplasia with acetabular reconstruction of an uncemented cup in conjunction with a femoral head autograft., Methods: A retrospective study was made on 21 hips in 20 patients (18 female and 2 male; average age, 50 years) with developmental hip dysplasia treated by THA with use of an uncemented cup. The acetabular cup was placed at the level of the true acetabulum; all patients required autogenous femoral head grafts due to acetabular deficiency. The average coverage of the acetabular cup by the femoral head autograft was 31% (range, 10% to 45%). Eight hips had less than 25% cup coverage and 13 between 25% and 50%. The average follow-up period was 4.7 years (range, 1-8 years). All patients were evaluated with the use of a modified Harris hip score. Radiographic evaluations were made by preoperative and follow-up., Results: All autografts were seen to be united to host-bone. No collapse of the autograft and no hip had the evidence of loosening of component seen in all patients. According to the modified Harris hip score, the average hip score increased from 46 at preoperation to 89 at the final review. Preoperative leg-length discrepancy was greater than 2 cm seen in all except 1 patient with bilateral hip dysplasia. After surgery, only 2 of 20 patients still had a leg-length discrepancy greater than 1 cm. Three hips showed minor resorption in the lateral portion of the graft which was not supporting the cup. Three hips developed grade 1 Brooker heterotopic ossification and one had grade 2., Conclusions: THA with an uncemented cup in conjunction with a femoral head autograft for coxarthrosis due to dysplasia could obtain favorable results. This method could provide reliable acetabular fixation and appeared to restore acetabular bone stock in patients with developmental hip dysplasia when the coverage of the cementless cup by the graft does not exceed 50%.

The summer contamination of dissolved nonylphenols (NPs) and octylphenol (OP) in surface water of Zhujiang estuary and other rivers of Zhujiang Delta was analyzed. The result reveals that NPs concentration in The Pearl River remains < 20-40 ng/L, apart from the NPs concentrations of the mouth of The Pingzhou Channel the mouth of The Shawan Channel and Hutiaomen reaching a higher level of 98.84, 129.82 and 164.98 ng/L respectively. The Lingding Sea and open sea surface water keep at a lower level with the NPs concentration of < 10-14 ng/L. In terms of OP concentration in The Pearl River, any other sampling location is below LOD 2 ng/L, except for Baiertan, the mouth of The Shawan Channel and Hutiaomen being 2.89, 2.44, 2.12 ng/L respectively and inside Macao harbor being the highest level of 8.54 ng/L. The OP concentrations of The Lingding Sea and open sea surface water are lower than LOD 1 ng/L.

Six water samples were collected, and twenty-one compounds of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface water from the Pearl River Artery estuary were analyzed quantitatively, based on USEPA 8000 series methods and under quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC). The total (particulate plus dissolved phase) concentration of OCPs in surface water from the Pearl River Artery estuary in both high flow season and low flow season were 9.7 ng/L-26.3 ng/L and 41.7 ng/L-122.5 ng/L respectively. The concentration of total HCHs and total other OCPs was much higher than that of DDTs. The seasonality of the concentration of OCPs was significantly, and the level of OCPs in low flow season was higher than that of OCPs in high flow season. The spatial and temporal distribution of OCPs suggested that there were significant differences of OCPs between the East River (Dongjiang) network and Guangzhou channel and the nonpoint-source pollution of OCPs was found in the Pearl River Artery estuary, particularly in high flow season.

During a large-scale screen of a human fetal brain cDNA library, a full-length cDNA encoding a novel Rap2 interacting protein was isolated and sequenced. The cDNA is 3397bp long and has a predicted open reading frame encoding a protein of 329 aa. The predicted protein shows high homology to mouse and human RPIP8, and has a RUN domain near its C-terminus. The gene was mapped to human chromosome 7q21-7q22 and has 9 exons and 8 introns. The expression pattern was also detected by cycle-limited reverse polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

A cDNA was isolated from the fetal brain cDNA library by high throughput cDNA sequencing. The 2390 bp cDNA with an open reading fragment (ORF) of 816 bp encodes a 272 amino acids putative protein with a thrombospondin type I repeat (TSR) domain and a cysteine-rich region at the N-terminus, so it is named hPWTSR. We used Northern blot detected two bands with length of about 3 kb and 4 kb respectively, which expressed in human adult tissues with different intensities. The expression pattern was verified by RT-PCR, revealing that the transcripts were expressed ubiquitously in fetal tissues and human tumor tissues too. However, the transcript was detected neither in ovarian carcinoma GI-102 nor in lung carcinoma LX-1. Blast analysis against NCBI database revealed that the new gene contained at least 5 exons and located in human chromosome 6q22.33. Our results demonstrate that the gene is a novel member of TSR supergene family.

A 2860-bp cDNA was isolated from a human fetal brain cDNA library by high throughput cDNA sequencing, which encodes a putative protein with 186 amino acids. The putative protein shares 90.7% identity with rat pBOG (3403163) and shares 93.4% identity with human RBBP9 (NP&#95;006597.1). A conserved RB binding domain, L x C x E, located between residue 63 and 68 was recognized. Therefore, it was named RBBP10. Mapviewer analysis locates it on human chromosome 20q11.22. RBBP10 spans about 9.6 kb of the genome and consists of six exons and five introns. RT-PCR revealed that the gene was expressed widely in various human tissues, and the expression level is somewhat higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues. But subsequent sequencing analysis did notfound any mutation of this in tumor tissues. The COS 7 cell transfected with the ORF of RBBP10 showed that the protein was distributed both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. Our results suggest that RBBP10 is the orthologue of the rat BOG gene (AF025819) and a paralogue of human RBBP9 (AF039564).

A novel human galectin cDNA (PPL13) was isolated by screening a human 18-week fetal brain library. The mRNA was predominantly expressed in placenta, while the expression of it was not or barely detectable in heart, brain, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and pancreas by Northern blot. COS-7 cells transfected with cDNA encoding human PPL13 sequestered the protein in nuclei although it lacked any known nuclear localization signal. STS of Unigene Hs. 24236 placed the cDNA to human chromosome 19q13.2.

Objective: To observe the effect of Qiangshengye liquid on senility retarding in rats., Methods: The liquid was orally administrated to rats at doses of 3.3 g.kg-1 and 6.6 g.kg-1, and after Twenty-one days the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in red blood cells and lipid peroxide(LPO) in plasma and in liver were examined respectively by spectrophotometry. Fluorescence polarization was used to evaluate the fluidity of erythrocyte membrane. In addition the anti-fatigue effect of the liquid in mice was detected., Results: The liquid can significantly increase the activity of SOD(P < 0.05) in red blood cells and decrease the contents of LPO in plasma (P < 0.05) and in liver(P < 0.01). The fluidity of erythrocyte membrane was also improved (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Qiangshengye liquid can antagonize lipid peroxidation and therefore may be used for anti-fatigue and senility retarding purposes.

A synthetic oligonucleotide, HSD-2a, encoding a peptide segment of the extracellular domain of a human sperm membrane protein, YWK-II, was inserted by blunt-end ligation at the EcoRV site in the hypervariable, antigenically determinant region IV of Salmonella flagellin gene fliC (d). The recombinant plasmid (pLS408-H1) was transferred into the nonpathogenic aroA live vaccine Salmonella dublin strain SL5928, which is flagellin-negative. Location of the HSD-2a protein on the surface of the flagella was demonstrated by ELISA and by immunogold-labeling electron microscopy using mouse anti-YWK-II antiserum. A 60 kD protein, corresponding to the chimeric flagellin, was isolated from the recombinant S. dublin and found to contain the expressed HSD-2a peptide determined by Western blot analysis using anti-YWK-II antiserum. The Salmonella strain carrying the recombinant plasmid-pLS408-H1 may thus be a potential source of antifertility vaccine.

We devised a method for portal vein embolization with ethanol injection (PVEEI) via a fine needle. Both the efficacy and safety of this procedure were evaluated in 28 dogs. An embolization of the left central and lateral lobes was undertaken with various doses of absolute (95%) ethanol. The smallest dose, 0.25 ml/kg ethanol (n = 7), caused the least damage to the liver, but the embolization was not complete. At the highest dose at 1.0 ml/kg, four of the seven dogs died of respiratory arrest; however, embolization was complete in the remaining dogs. All animals tolerated the procedure by 0.5 ml/kg ethanol (n = 11) with a satisfactory embolic effect, slight toxicity to the hepatic parenchyma, and only transient changes in liver function. The results suggested that PVEEI is safe and effective when a suitable dose of ethanol is administered. Local overembolization occurred in one dog due to extension of the thrombus, suggesting that the point of puncture should not be near the confluence of the branches. Since a selective portal venous puncture is not difficult to perform under sonographic guidance, PVEEI is expected to be clinically applied.

Cymbidium ensifolium L. is an economically important terrestrial orchid. Leaf color is a key horticultural trait with aesthetic and ornamental significance. However, the molecular basis of leaf color change in C. ensifolium remains to be fully understood. Here, different color leaves of C. ensifolium were collected and classified into two groups, namely, leaf buds that appear red in the juvenile stage (RL) and those that transform green in the mature stage (GL). Significantly higher anthocyanin content was observed in RL than GL. RNA-seq data showed a total of 3955 differentially expressed unigenes (DEUs) were screened, and 381 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected by metabolome analysis in RL vs GL. Further analysis revealed that the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway (ko00942) is essential for leaf color change. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidin-3-O-(6″-O-p-coumaroyl) rutinoside, and peonidin-3-O-glucoside were identified as key anthocyanins affecting leaf color change. Meanwhile, we identified key structural unigenes associated with leaf color change, including CHS, CHI, DFR, F3H, F3′H, and ANS. Correlation analysis revealed 77 DEUs associated with transcription factors to exhibit strong correlations with both DEUs and DAMs involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Our study identifies the important metabolic and functional role of the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway in C. ensifolium leaf color change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obligate plant symbionts belonging to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), are ubiquitous in agricultural soils. Their aerobic nature makes them susceptible to the anoxic conditions prevailing in waterlogged environments, as encountered in wetland rice fields. This study utilized genotypic analysis to examine changes in AMF diversity in wetland rice cultivation compared to aerobic rice cultivation. High-throughput sequencing was employed to assess the composition of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in both ecosystems. Our findings revealed that 88.8% of OTUs were shared between aerobic and wetland rice soils, with 6.1% and 5.1% being unique to aerobic and wetland cultivation, respectively. Various AMF families, including Glomeraceae, Paraglomeraceae, Acaulosporaceae, Geosiphonaceae, and Gigasporaceae, were prevalent in aerobic rice cultivation, whereas Claroideoglomeraceae and Diversisporaceae species dominated in wetland rice cultivation. The richness of Claroideoglomus and Diversispora species showed a strong correlation with soil phosphate and potassium concentrations. Moreover, Claroideoglomus exhibited significant positive associations with glomalin concentration, acid phosphatase, and other soil biochemical properties in wetland rice. Further co-occurrence network analysis identified Paraglomus brasilianum as the keystone species in both aerobic and wetland soil. These findings underscore the significance of species keystoneness in enhancing the ecological network of AMF in rice soils and shed light on the impact of anoxic conditions on AMF genetic drift in wetland rice cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA), known as one of the most common types of aseptic inflammation of the musculoskeletal system, is characterized by chronic pain and whole-joint lesions. With cellular and molecular changes including senescence, inflammatory alterations, and subsequent cartilage defects, OA eventually leads to a series of adverse outcomes such as pain and disability. CRISPR-Cas-related technology has been proposed and explored as a gene therapy, offering potential gene-editing tools that are in the spotlight. Considering the genetic and multigene regulatory mechanisms of OA, we systematically review current studies on CRISPR-Cas technology for improving OA in terms of senescence, inflammation, and cartilage damage and summarize various strategies for delivering CRISPR products, hoping to provide a new perspective for the treatment of OA by taking advantage of CRISPR technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gibberellic acid (GA) inhibitor, uniconazole, is a plant growth regulator commonly used in banana cultivation to promote dwarfing but also enhances the cold resistance in plants. However, the mechanism of this induced cold resistance remains unclear. Results: We confirmed that uniconazole induced cold tolerance in bananas and that the activities of Superoxide dismutase and Peroxidase were increased in the uniconazole-treated bananas under cold stress when compared with the control groups. The transcriptome and metabolome of bananas treated with or without uniconazole were analyzed at different time points under cold stress. Compared to the control group, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between adjacent time points in each uniconazole-treated group were enriched in plant-pathogen interactions, MAPK signaling pathway, and plant hormone signal transduction, which were closely related to stimulus-functional responses. Furthermore, the differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) between adjacent time points were enriched in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism pathways in the uniconazole-treated group than those in the control group. Temporal analysis of DEGs and DAMs in uniconazole-treated and control groups during cold stress showed that the different expression patterns in the two groups were enriched in the linoleic acid metabolism pathway. In addition to strengthening the antioxidant system and complex hormonal changes caused by GA inhibition, an enhanced linoleic acid metabolism can protect cell membrane stability, which may also be an important part of the cold resistance mechanism of uniconazole treatment in banana plants. Conclusions: This study provides information for understanding the mechanisms underlying inducible cold resistance in banana, which will benefit the production of this economically important crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulsatilla saxatilis, a new species of the genus Pulsatilla has been discovered. The morphological information of this species has been well described, but its chloroplast genome characteristics and comparison with species of the same genus remain to be reported. Results: Our results showed that the total length of chloroplast (cp.) genome of P. saxatilis is 162,659 bp, with a GC content of 37.5%. The cp. genome contains 134 genes, including 90 known protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. P. saxatilis demonstrated similar characteristics to other species of genus Pulsatilla. Herein, we compared cp. genomes of 10 species, including P. saxatilis, and found that the cp. genomes of the genus Pulsatilla are extremely similar, with a length of 162,322–163,851 bp. Furthermore, The SSRs of Pulsatilla ranged from 10 to 22 bp in length. Among the four structural regions of the cp. genome, most long repeats and SSRs were detected in the LSC region, followed by that in the SSC region, and least in IRA/ IRB regions. The most common types of long repeats were forward and palindromic repeats, followed by reverse repeats, and only a few complementary repeats were found in 10 cp. genomes. We also analyzed nucleotide diversity and identified ccsA_ndhD, rps16_trnK-UUU, ccsA, and rbcL, which could be used as potential molecular markers for identification of Pulsatilla species. The results of the phylogenetic tree constructed by connecting the sequences of high variation regions were consistent with those of the cp. gene phylogenetic tree, and the species more closely related to P. saxatilis was identified as the P. campanella. Conclusion: It was determined that the closest species to P. saxatilis is P. campanella, which is the same as the conclusion based on pollen grain characteristics, but different from the P. chinensis determined based on morphological characteristics. By revealing information on the chloroplast characteristics, development, and evolution of the cp. genome and the potential molecular markers, this study provides effective molecular data regarding the evolution, genetic diversity, and species identification of the genus Pulsatilla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Red River Delta is one of primary banana-producing regions in Vietnam, and it has been afflicted by Fusarium wilt disease, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). This study aimed to identify Foc strains from banana-diseased samples collected from six different provinces in this region. Foc's identity was confirmed based on morphological characteristics, artificial inoculation on the Tieu hong banana cultivar, and through DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of PCR products amplified by race-specific primer pairs (Foc-1/Foc-2, Foc TR4-F/FocTR4-R). Ten Foc TR4 strains were identified, including VP1(2), VP1(5), and VP2(6) strains were found in Vinh Phuc Province, ML02.2 strain in Ha Noi City, MS1T2 strain in Hung Yen province, BV03 and BV06 strains in Hai Phong City, and QG1(R), QG4(T), QH2(R) strains in Thai Binh province. This discovery underscores the importance of appropriately identifying causal pathogens for integrated pest management of Fusarium wilt disease in the Red River Delta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of circular RNA has been reported in cancer development. However, the role and mechanism of circ_0000370 in CRC progression are still unclear. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot assay were performed to measure RNA and protein expression. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell colony formation assay and 5-Ethynyl-2ʹ-deoxyuridine assay. Flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis. Cell migration and invasion were detected by transwell assay. The intermolecular target relations between miR-502-5p and circ_0000370 or SIRT1 were confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. A xenograft tumor model was established to examine the role of circ_0000370 in tumor growth in vivo. As compared with controls, the expression of circ_0000370 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cells. Circ_0000370 depletion inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion but induced cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, circ_0000370 depletion restrained tumor growth in vivo. In addition, miR-502-5p inhibitor partly reverted the impacts of circ_0000370 knockdown on CRC cells. Moreover, miR-502-5p mimic-caused effects on cell phenotypes were attenuated by SIRT1 overexpression. Circ_0000370 induced the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells by sponging miR-502-5p and enhancing SIRT1 expression, which provided a possible target for CRC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the stamping behavior of cast-rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets at room temperature is helpful to promote its deep processing application. The research object selected in this paper is a variable-curvature shell with complex geometric features. The purpose is to investigate the effects of blank shape, blank holder force (BHF), and die clearance on the formability of cast-rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy shells, and to further clarify under reasonable process conditions defects that are prone to occur in the shell characteristic areas and limit the forming height of the shells. The results show that the proportion of the safety zone is obviously affected by the process conditions. It appears that the blank shape when approaching the cross-section of the shell is beneficial to improve the safety zone ratio. When the BHF is 65 kN and die clearance is 3 mm, the safety zone ratio will reach the maximum proportion of ~ 39.61%. During the stamping, there are obvious differences in defect formation between different characteristic areas. They are prone to crack in both the punch corner area and the die corner area, form insufficiently in the bottom zone and the transition zone, and form shear fractures in the flange area. The forming limit height of the variable-curvature shell has been determined to be ~ 13 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mission of Advanced Ionospheric Probe (AIP) onboard FORMOSAT-5 (F5) satellite is to detect pre-earthquake ionospheric anomalies (PEIAs) and observe ionospheric space weather. F5/AIP plasma quantities in the nighttime of 22:30 LT (local time) and the total electron content (TEC) of the global ionosphere map (GIM) are used to study PEIAs of an M7.3 earthquake in the Iran–Iraq border area on 12 November 2017, as well as signatures of two magnetic storms on 7 and 21–22 November 2017. Statistical analyses of the median base and one sample test are employed to find the characteristics of temporal PEIAs in GIM TEC over the Iran–Iraq area. The anomalous increases of the GIM TEC and F5/AIP ion density over the epicenter area on 3–4 November (day 9–8 before the M7.3 earthquake) agree with the temporal PEIA characteristics that the significant TEC increase frequently appears on day 14–6 before 53 M ≥ 5.5 earthquakes in the area during 1999–2016. The spatial analyses together with odds studies show that the PEIAs frequently appear specifically over the epicenter day 9–8 before the M7.3 earthquake and day 10–9 before a M6.1 earthquake on 1 December, while proponent TEC increases occur at worldwide high latitudes on the two magnetic storm days. The F5/AIP ion velocity uncovers that the PEIAs of the two earthquakes are caused by associated eastward electric fields, and the two positive storm signatures are due to the prompt penetration electric fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A typical representative of Inner Asian Marmotini is the pallid ground squirrel Spermophilus pallidicauda, the intraspecific structure of which has remained unstudied to date. We performed a first study of genetic structure in the pallid ground squirrel, based on variability in the mitochondrial DNA control region and cytochrome b. Besides, we generated ecological niche models to estimate the current and past habitat suitability for S. pallidicauda, in order to assess an influence of paleoclimatic events on the range and genetic structure of this species. Our results revealed two phyletic lineages dividing this species into western and eastern population groups. The divergence of the detected phyla may have resulted from the formation of a climatically induced ecological barrier that separated western and eastern parts of the range in the early Holocene according to our hypotheses about the history of S. pallidicauda range. The influence of Quaternary climatic changes is a source of intraspecific genetic heterogeneity of faunal components of Asian steppe and semi-desert ecosystems. The detected intraspecific genetic variability of S. pallidicauda, including phyletic lineages which may be considered as Evolutionary Significant Units (ESU), increases the adaptive and conservation potential of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid identification and classification of bats are critical for practical applications. However, species identification of bats is a typically detrimental and time-consuming manual task that depends on taxonomists and well-trained experts. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs) provide a practical approach for the extraction of the visual features and classification of objects, with potential application for bat classification. Results: In this study, we investigated the capability of deep learning models to classify 7 horseshoe bat taxa (CHIROPTERA: Rhinolophus) from Southern China. We constructed an image dataset of 879 front, oblique, and lateral targeted facial images of live individuals collected during surveys between 2012 and 2021. All images were taken using a standard photograph protocol and setting aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the DCNNs classification. The results demonstrated that our customized VGG16-CBAM model achieved up to 92.15% classification accuracy with better performance than other mainstream models. Furthermore, the Grad-CAM visualization reveals that the model pays more attention to the taxonomic key regions in the decision-making process, and these regions are often preferred by bat taxonomists for the classification of horseshoe bats, corroborating the validity of our methods. Conclusion: Our finding will inspire further research on image-based automatic classification of chiropteran species for early detection and potential application in taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the leading causes of digestive system tumor related death in the world. Unfortunately, effective chemopreventive agent is lack for patients with ESCC in clinical practice, which leads to the extremely high mortality rate. Methods: A library of prescribed drugs was screened for finding critical anti-tumor properties in ESCC cells. The phosphoproteomics, kinase array, pulldown assay and drug affinity responsive target stabilization assay (DARTS) were applied to explore mechanisms and searched for synergistic targets. Established models of PDX in mice were used to determine the therapeutic effect of domperidone. Results: After screening a library of prescribed drugs, we discovered that domperidone has anti-tumor properties. Domperidone, acting as a gastroprokinetic agent, has been widely used in clinic for gastrointestinal motility disorders. Despite limited research, there are indications that domperidone may have anti-tumor properties. In this study, we determined that domperidone significantly inhibited ESCC proliferation in vitro and in vivo. We employed phosphoproteomics to reveal p-ERK, and p-SMAD3 down-regulation upon domperidone treatment. Then, the results of kinase assay and pulldown assay further validated that domperidone directly combined with MEK1/2 and CDK4, leading to the inhibition of their kinase activity. Furthermore, our results revealed that MEK/ERK and CDK4/SMAD3 signal pathway were major pathways in domperidone against ESCC. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings suggest that domperidone serves as an effective "multi-target" inhibitor of MEK1/2 and CDK4, offering potential benefits for the chemoprevention of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to review and highlight the important modelling methodologies used for studying carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their composites. Understanding appropriate modelling methods for specific applications is crucial as CNTs become integral in achieving lighter, multifunctional composite structures. This paper explores a range of techniques, including finite element modelling (FEM), Molecular Dynamics (MD), Molecular Structural Mechanics (MSM), as well as nonlocal models, and the Cauchy-Born (CB) rule. Emphasis is placed on factors such as interphase effects between CNTs and the matrix, bonding interactions, non-bonded van der Waals (vdW) forces, and dynamic behaviour. Multiscale modelling is extensively discussed as a pivotal approach for efficiently addressing various length scales in nanocomposites. Modelling of failure, damage and its propagation, delamination, and instabilities such as buckling and fracture have been highlighted, and research gaps have been pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperelastic materials like gels and rubbers have numerous applications in daily life and industrial production. However, most traditional contact models for rough solids do not include the hyperelastic deformation mechanism. This paper extends the linear-elastic incremental equivalent contact model to study the contact processes of hyperelastic rough solids. For any specific surface separation, the contact stiffness is determined by the total area and number of the contact patches, as well as the instantaneous tangent modulus. Analogous to buckle theory, we introduce the hyperelasticity of materials through employing the tangent modulus. By integrating the stiffness of contact spots, the normal contact force is then obtained. The load-area relation predicted by the present model exhibits consistency with finite element results even up to a contact area fraction of 90%. For hyperelastic solids with self-affine fractal rough surfaces, we investigate the effect of surface morphologies and material nonlinearity on contact behaviors. This research will be helpful for further studies on the lubrication, leakage, and wear of contact interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Bridges play a crucial role in ensuring regional connectivity and traffic safety. However, their vulnerability to environmental factors and material degradation can lead to varying degrees of damage. The bridge structural health monitoring system (SHMS) has emerged as an efficient and intelligent alternative to traditional detection methods to tackle these challenges. Methods: This paper presents an improved approach for reconstructing the response of measuring points based on proper orthogonal decomposition. First, the novel sensor layout scheme based on orthogonal decomposition is introduced to reconstruct stress responses at measuring points. Subsequently, the proposed response reconstruction theory is developed by decomposing stress responses from known points into random time functions and modes. These components are then combined with verification point modes and random time functions using the interpolation method, enabling the determination of stress responses at verification points. Lastly, the proposed response reconstruction theory is validated through numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. Results: The results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves an error rate of less than 5% when comparing the maximum stress response identified by the proposed method to the actual value. Moreover, it has minimal impact on vehicle weight, speed, and complex load factors. Conclusion: Therefore, the response reconstruction method and sensor layout scheme proposed in this study provide an accurate and efficient solution for bridge SHMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friction and wear are important phenomenon directly related to the efficiency and reliability of the mechanical systems. Lubricating oils have been used as one traditional approach to reducing friction and wear, which have contributed to significantly extending the lifetime of tribological components. To further improve the lubricating ability of the oils, nanoparticles have been introduced as lubricant additives, and several studies have reported that the shape of nanoparticles could significantly affect its tribological performances of oils. In this work, the tribological performances of the oil containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and CNT microspheres as lubricant additives, respectively, were evaluated in terms of friction and wear to investigate the effect of CNTs shape on lubricating ability. For this purpose, CNT microspheres consisting of CNT particles were successfully prepared using water-in-oil method and the suspensions of sunflower oil, one of the vegetable oils, were prepared in which CNTs and CNT microspheres were added at 0.01 wt.%, respectively. As a result, CNT microspheres showed a low friction of ~ 0.11 for 5000 sliding cycles and a significant (~ 2 × ) reduction in wear rate compared to the base oil which was attributed to the enhanced aggregation resistance property of CNT microspheres. Overall, the results showed that CNT microspheres can be effectively used as a lubricant additive, enhancing the lubricating ability of vegetable oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early Paleogene latitudinal precipitation gradients and patterns along the Pacific coast of Eurasia are studied in time and space using the Coexistence Approach, for the first time applied on an extensive regional palaeobotanical record. The palaeobotanical data used in this reconstruction are compiled from literature resources on 110 reasonably well-dated floras, including terrestrial deposits of 73 sites located in the Far East of Russia, Eastern Siberia, China, and Japan, and covering the early Palaeocene to early Eocene. Our reconstructions of precipitation for the Pacific side of Eurasia in the early Paleogene demonstrate a clear division (especially pronounced in the early Eocene) into two zones at ca. 50° N palaeolatitude on all precipitation parameters. Our results reveal very weak latitudinal precipitation gradients during the early and late Palaeocene. In the early Eocene, the gradient became more clearly pronounced, and a larger "arid" zone can be distinguished in the mid-latitudes. Our data suggest that in the early Paleogene, the global atmospheric circulation consisted of two well-defined cells, Hadley and Ferrell, while the polar cell was either absent or located over the Arctic Ocean and was very weak. Based on our reconstructions, the records could not be interpreted in terms of a monsoonal type of climate. The regional distribution of hygrophilous and xerophilous taxa in our early Eocene record largely coincides with the reconstructed precipitation pattern and generally corresponds to the distribution of coals and/or oil shales and red beds and/or evaporites, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water shortage has been one of the major problems that limit the production yield of banana. The molecular mechanisms by which banana plants thrive in drought are not completely understood. This study aimed to reveal the major bioprocesses affected by water shortage in banana plantlet using a transcriptomic analysis approach. In vitro shoot cultures of banana (Musa acuminata) cv Barangan Merah were established on water stress treatments with the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the culture medium. Banana plantlets generated from water stressed shoots from the control (BK), low 2.5% PEG), medium (7.5% PEG) and high (10% PEG) levels were utilized as the resource for total RNA samples. Four cDNA libraries were constructed and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeqTM 2000 platform. Transcriptome data analysis was conducted. From a pool of four transcriptome libraries, each consisting of about 3,500,000 paired-end raw reads, 147,811 contigs were assembled, from which 129,701 contigs were annotated with SwissProt reference and Musa acuminata gene model. A total of 101,406 high quality and non-redundant contigs were obtained for differential expressed genes (DEG) analyses. Gene ontology was performed using DAVID, followed by pathway prediction using KEGG. Statistical analysis identified 1,744 genes as DEGs under PEG treatment in which 1,046 genes (67%) of them were mapped to the reference genomes. These DEGs were distributed in 26 functional clusters. There were eight major biological processes that were highly affected by the drought stress in banana, including photosynthesis, cellular redox balance, cellular components stability, cellular energy preservation, metal ion homeostasis, hormonal-activated signaling pathways, organ development, and production of transcription factors (TFs). There 47 genes encoded for TFs were identified including five families that are typical for stressresponsive genes families (MYB, WRKY, bZIP, ABF, DRE), also auxin- and ethylene-activated TFs and WUSCHELrelated homeobox. Fifteen DEGs were selected for qRT-PCR validation and their expression results were confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Background and Purpose: Soil microorganisms that are closely related to plants are important factors affecting plant health. Therefore, elucidating the abundant and rare bacterial species in soil associated with plant diseases is crucial for understanding ecological processes, maintaining the stability of microecological environments, and formulating microbial strategies that are consistent with modern agricultural development., Results: Tea leaf blight leads to an increase in bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere. Random processes dominate the assembly of abundant and rare taxa, while abundant taxa are also influenced by deterministic processes. In the co-occurrence network, the increase in bacterial community diversity mediated by tea cloud leaf blight enhances the stability of the network. Meanwhile, the proportion of positive correlation between rare taxa is relatively high, and the relationship between rare taxa and intermediate taxa is closer. This highly diverse bacteria community maintained the structure and stability of the community to a certain extent., Conclusion: The rare taxa in the rhizosphere and the rhizosphere bacterial community mediated by tea leaf blight have high diversity, which is of great significance for maintaining the stability of the rhizosphere bacterial ecological network. In the future, we will further explore the dynamic changes and interaction patterns of the species in the rhizosphere soil affected by tea tree diseases, and their ecological functions and importance in areas of habitat fragmentation. Overall, there are many microbial resources in the rhizosphere microbiota under the influence of plant diseases that can be used for agricultural practice. The results of this study will enrich the insights into ecodynamics of bacteria in karst areas, especially in karst tea gardens., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The source of experimental samples is collection, and the samples collected in the experiment have obtained permission from the tea garden managers. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cardiotoxicity is one of the major obstacles to anthracycline chemotherapy. Anthracycline cardiotoxicity is closely associated with inflammation. Imperatorin (IMP), a furocoumarin ingredient extracted from Angelica dahurica, might have potential activity in preventing anthracycline cardiotoxicity due to its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, cardioprotective properties. This study aims to reveal the effect of IMP on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity and its underlying mechanism. We established a rat model of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by intraperitoneal injection with DOX (1.25 mg/kg twice weekly for 6 weeks), and found that both IMP (25 mg/kg and 12.5 mg/kg) and dexrazoxane 12.5 mg/kg relieved DOX-induced reductions in heart weight, change in cardiac histopathology, and elevated serum levels of LDH, AST and CK-MB. Moreover, DOX upregulated mRNA levels of NLRP3, CASP1, GSDMD, ASC, IL-1β and IL-18, elevated protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD-FL, GSDMD-N, pro‑caspase‑1, caspase‑1 p20, pro‑IL‑1β and IL‑1β in heart tissues, as well as increased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β and IL-18, however both of IMP and dexrazoxane suppressed these alterations. In addition, we carried out neonatal rat cardiomyocytes experiments to confirm the results of the in vivo study. Consistently, pretreatment with IMP 25 µg/mL relieved DOX (1 μg/mL)-induced cardiomyocytes injury, including decreased cell viability and reduced supernatant LDH. IMP inhibited DOX-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, IMP had a protective effect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity via repressing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. These findings suggest that IMP may be a promising alternative or adjunctive drug for the prevention of anthracycline cardiotoxicity., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Pharmacognosy.)

Background: Peach bacterial shot hole, caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv pruni (Xap), is a global bacterial disease that poses a threat to the yield and quality of cultivated peach trees (Prunus persica). Results: This study compared the mRNA and miRNA profiles of two peach varieties, 'Yanbao' (resistant) and 'Yingzui' (susceptible), after inoculation with Xap to identify miRNAs and target genes associated with peach tree resistance. mRNA sequencing results revealed that in the S0-vs-S3 comparison group, 1574 genes were upregulated and 3975 genes were downregulated. In the R0-vs-R3 comparison group, 1575 genes were upregulated and 3726 genes were downregulated. Through miRNA sequencing, a total of 112 known miRNAs belonging to 70 miRNA families and 111 new miRNAs were identified. Notably, some miRNAs were exclusively expressed in either resistant or susceptible varieties. Additionally, 59 miRNAs were downregulated and 69 miRNAs were upregulated in the R0-vs-R3 comparison group, while 46 miRNAs were downregulated and 52 miRNAs were upregulated in the S0-vs-S3 comparison group. Joint analysis of mRNA and miRNA identified 79 relationship pairs in the S0-vs-S3 comparison group, consisting of 48 miRNAs and 51 target genes. In the R0-vs-R3 comparison group, there were 58 relationship pairs, comprising 28 miRNAs and 20 target genes. Several target genes related to resistance, such as SPL6, TIFY6B, and Prupe.4G041800_v2.0.a1 (PPO), were identified through literature reports and GO/KEGG enrichment analysis. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study discovered several candidate genes involved in peach tree resistance by analyzing differential expression of mRNA and miRNA. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying resistance to Xap in peach trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evapotranspiration is an important parameter used to characterize the water cycle of ecosystems. To understand the properties of the evapotranspiration and energy balance of a subalpine forest in the southeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, an open-path eddy covariance system was set up to monitor the forest from November 2020 to October 2021 in a core area of the Three Parallel Rivers in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The results show that the evapotranspiration peaked daily, the maximum occurring between 11:00 and 15:00. Environmental factors had significant effects on evapotranspiration, among them, net radiation the greatest (R2 = 0.487), and relative humidity the least (R2 = 0.001). The energy flux varied considerably in different seasons and sensible heat flux accounted for the main part of turbulent energy. The energy balance ratio in the dormant season was less than that in the growing season, and there is an energy imbalance at the site on an annual time scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional knowledge associated with medicinal food plants (MFPs) plays a vital role in fighting hidden hunger and safeguarding the health of local people. MFPs resources are abundant in the Gaoligongshan area, a biosphere reserve with the richest biocultural diversity in China. Local people of different linguistic groups also have rich traditional botanical knowledge. However, there are still few comprehensive and systematic studies on MFPs there. Methods: Ethnobotanical investigation including market survey, semi-structured interviews, free listing and key informant interviews was conducted in the Gaoligongshan area, Western Yunnan, Southwest China. A total of 13 local farmers' markets were selected and information about medicinal food plants, including food categories, medicinal and edible parts, modes of consumption, medicinal effects, and distribution were collected. The relative occurrence frequency (RFO) and cultural food significance index (CFSI) were calculated to identify the culturally significant MFPs. Results: A total of 184 species of MFPs, belonging to 83 families, were collected in the Gaoligongshan area, including vegetables (77), medicinal diets (26), fruits (25), spices (18), herbal tea (13), tea substitutes (11), substitutes for staple food (8), nuts (5), oils and fats (4), and dye material (1). The most frequently used families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Apiaceae, with 11, 10, and 9 species, respectively. The most frequently used plant parts were the stems, followed by fruits and leaves. Based on the evaluation results of the CFSI and RFO indices, 18 species of MFPs with magnificent local cultural importance have been screened out, such as Houttuynia cordata, Eryngium foetidum, Sechium edule, Centella asiatica and Pseudocydonia sinensis. Conclusion: These findings have guiding significance for conservation of traditional knowledge associated with MFPs and facilitation of scientific utilization of MFPs to meet local people's needs for a healthy life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies about wind pressure on agricultural greenhouse buildings concentrate on the mean wind pressure while ignoring the systematic research on fluctuating wind pressure characteristics and the influence of roof shape on the wind pressure characteristics, which are closely associated with the wind-induced damage mechanism. In this study, two typical agricultural greenhouse buildings on tropical islands are selected as prototypes to conduct pressure measurement experiments in the wind tunnel. Based on the wind pressure time series for the two greenhouses, the mean and fluctuating wind pressure distribution pattern and the localized high-pressure generation mechanism are analyzed. Then, the shape coefficient of the two greenhouses is compared in depth to the standards from four countries. Besides, wind pressure non-Gaussian determination criteria for agricultural greenhouse buildings considering the roof shape and wind directions are proposed. Lastly, the differences in wind pressure spectra on the roofs and walls of the two greenhouses are summarized. The results indicate the roof shape has a significant influence on the wind pressure characteristics. Compared with the pitched roof, the vaulted roof will increase the suction effect on the windward front zone and the middle area, mitigate the suction impact on the leeward roof, and weaken the wind pressure non-Gaussian characteristics. The experimental shape coefficient of the pitched-roof greenhouse is basically consistent with the standard from the U.S., while that of the vaulted-roof greenhouse has some deviation from the existing standards. The results provide a theoretical basis for the wind-resistant design of agricultural greenhouse buildings on tropical islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is a progressive metabolic disorder that is difficult to cure clinically. The molecular mechanisms of OP urgently need to be further examined. This study was designed to explore the potential function of circ_0027885 during osteogenic differentiation, as well as the systematic interactions among circ_0027885, miR-203-3p and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). Methods: Relative levels of circ_0027885, miR-203-3p and RUNX2 were analyzed with RT-qPCR and western blotting. Alizarin red staining was performed to detect the mineralization ability under the control of circ_0027885 and miR-203-3p. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to examine the combination among circ_0027885, miR-203-3p and RUNX2. Results: Our research demonstrated that circ_0027885 was significantly increased during hBMSCs differentiation. Overexpression of circ_0027885 notably facilitated osteogenic differentiation and upregulated RUNX2 expression, while knockdown of circ_0027885 reversed the above results. Through prediction on bioinformatics analysis, miR-203-3p was the target binding circ_0027885, and RUNX2 was the potential target of miR-203-3p. Subsequently, these changes induced by the overexpression of circ_0027885 were reversed upon addition of miR-203-3p mimic. Conclusions: Circ_0027885 could sponge miR-203-3p to regulate RUNX2 expression and alleviate osteoporosis progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overdiagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) caused by nonspecific elevation serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the overtreatment of indolent PCa have become a global problem that needs to be solved urgently. We aimed to construct a prediction model and provide a risk stratification system to reduce unnecessary biopsies. In this retrospective study, clinical data of 1807 patients from three Chinese hospitals were used. The final model was built using stepwise logistic regression analysis. The apparent performance of the model was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis. Finally, a risk stratification system of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) was created, and diagnosis-free survival analyses were performed. Following multivariable screening and evaluation of the diagnostic performances, a final diagnostic model comprised of the PSA density and Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score was established. Model validation in the development cohort and two external cohorts showed excellent discrimination and calibration. Finally, we created a risk stratification system using risk thresholds of 0.05 and 0.60 as the cut-off values. The follow-up results indicated that the diagnosis-free survival rate for csPCa at 12 months and 24 months postoperatively was 99.7% and 99.4%, respectively, for patients with a risk threshold below 0.05 after the initial negative prostate biopsy, which was significantly better than patients with higher risk. Our diagnostic model and risk stratification system can achieve a personalized risk calculation of csPCa. It provides a standardized tool for Chinese patients and physicians when considering the necessity of prostate biopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]