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[Objective] The temporal and spatial variation of ecological environmental quality and its heterogeneity were analyzed in order to provide a scientific basis for the government and relevant departments to formulate ecological environmental protection policies. [Methods] The google earth engine (GEE) platform was used to select Landsat images of central Yunnan Province from 2000 to 2020, and the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) was extracted year by year. Spatial analysis methods such as hotspot analysis, standard deviation ellipse, and ecological environment gravity center shift were used to explore the temporal and spatial evolution of ecological environmental quality. [Results] ① The overall ecological environmental quality of the central Yunnan urban agglomeration showed a declining trend, and the average RSEI dropped from 0.51 in 2000 to 0.46 in 2020. ② The ecological environmental quality in Central and Eastern Yunnan Province was obviously better than in the western region, except for a few years. Most of the areas with better ecological environmental quality had greater forest coverage. ③ In the past 20 years, the spatial distribution of the ecological environment of the Central Yunnan urban agglomeration showed a north-south direction, and the overall ecological environmental quality of the urban agglomeration showed a certain degree of aggregation. [Conclusion] The deterioration of the ecological environment of the Central Yunnan urban agglomeration was closely related to the rapid expansion of the built-up areas of the urban agglomeration, climatic anomalies, vegetation destruction, and aggravation of soil erosion.

Metasurfaces have attracted broad interest thanks to their unprecedented capacity for electromagnetic wavefront manipulation. The compact, ultrathin and multifunctional metasurface calls for novel design principles. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a non-interleaved and non-segmented bidirectional Janus metasurface that encodes multiple functionalities in full-space scattering channels with different propagation directions and polarization in the microwave region. Specifically, by rotating and adjusting the elementary double-arrow-shaped structure within the same meta-atom, the independent phase control can be achieved in both cross-polarized transmission and co-polarized reflection components under oppositely directed incident waves. Our metasurface with broken mirror symmetry can fully exploit four independent information channels under opposite propagation directions. A series of proof-of-concept is constructed to validity of our methodology, and the simulations and experimental results further show that the proposed non-interleaved bidirectional metasurface can provide an attractive platform for various applications, ranging from structured light conversion, optical imaging, multifunctional optical information processing and others.

A commonly adopted dehumidification system on a suspension bridge is the desiccant wheel dehumidification system (DWDS), which demonstrates ineffectiveness and energy-intensiveness in high temperature and humidity scenarios. This paper proposes a suspension bridge hybrid dehumidification system (HDS) as a better alternative for corrosion protection. A numerical model of HDS was first established. Then, the effects of the main operating parameters on HDS were analyzed, and the dehumidification performance of HDS and DWDS was further compared to illustrate the superiority of HDS to apply on a suspension bridge. In addition, the air supply parameter was discussed, and a low-energy operation strategy of HDS in summer cases was proposed. Finally, limitations and adaptations of heat pump dehumidification system (HPDS) and DWDS on suspension bridges were discussed. The results showed that: (1) HDS realizes the utilization of waste energy from suspension bridges, enhancing the system efficiency. Its specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) reaches 3.16 kg kW−1 h−1 in a high-temperature and -humidity environment (35 °C, 30.82 g kg−1) of the suspension bridge. (2) In the same inlet air conditions, HDS has greater dehumidification capacity than DWDS, and this advantage is enlarged with the increment of inlet air temperature and moisture content. In addition, HDS can strengthen dehumidification ability by decreasing the evaporation temperature and increasing the regeneration temperature to meet peak moisture loads of the suspension bridge. (3) Considering the anti-corrosion effects, energy consumption and drying time, the authors recommend that the moisture content corresponding to the atmospheric temperature and RH of 45% be used for air supply on a suspension bridge. (4) HPDS has poor adaptability to temperatures below 20 °C, while DWDS has poor adaptability to some high temperatures of 24~40 °C and high humidities of 19~30 g kg−1. None of them can meet the air supply requirements of a suspension bridge’s main cable alone.

Abstract Background To describe the diagnostic criteria used and their application accuracy in the practice of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) caring among obstetricians and gynaecologists across China. Methods This was an Online cross-sectional survey of Obstetricians and gynecologists involved in PCOS caring conducted via the largest continuing education platform of obstetrics and gynecology across China from September 2019 to November 2019. Results A total of 2,328 respondents were eligible for the final analysis. Of these, 94.5 % were general obstetricians and gynaecologists (Ge-ObGyn), and 5.5 % were reproductive endocrinologists (Re-ObGyn). Overall, the most frequently used criteria were the Androgen Excess and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society (AE-PCOS) criteria (48.2 %), followed by the Rotterdam criteria (35.7 %) and NIH criteria (12.1 %). Of the respondents, 31.3 % used their diagnostic criteria in their clinical practice. More respondents who chose the Rotterdam criteria could accurately apply the diagnostic criteria than those who chose the AE-PCOS criteria (41.2 % vs. 32.1 %, P

A previous study using next-generation sequencing illustrated and confirmed that the cholinergic receptor muscarinic 3 (CHRM3) gene resides within CNVRs of yak populations that overlap with quantitative trait loci (QTL) relating to meat quality and growth, and plays a prominent role in smooth muscle contraction. This study was conducted to determine the distribution of the CNVs of the CHRM3 gene in five Chinese domestic yak breeds and to investigate the influences of the CHRM3 gene on the gene expression and growth traits of the Datong yak. The data were analyzed by ANOVA using SPSS software. Our results revealed that a gain CNV type in the CHRM3 gene is more highly associated (P

Hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) binds anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL through its BH3-like motif to promote viral replication. Here, the authors provide the structure of the HBx BH3-like domain and Bcl-xL, which shows an unusual mode of interaction, and identify a short peptide that inhibits HBV replication in cultured human hepatic cells.

In recent years, radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been increasingly used for treating hepatic hemangiomas attributing to its unique advantages, such as minimal invasiveness, definite efficacy, high safety, fast recovery, and wide applicability. However, complications related to RF ablation had been frequently reported, especially while being used for treating huge hemangioma (≥10 cm). Cautious measures had been taken to prevent the incidence of ablation-induced complications, but still unexpected complications occurred. Herein we reported a case of severe myocardial dysfunction along with systemic inflammatory response syndrome occurring immediately post RF ablation of a 10.7 cm hemangioma. This serious complication was effectively managed by supportive care with the full recovery in a short period of time.

The continuous urbanization leads to a large number of land lost farmers pouring into the city, and the social integration of these people has become an important research topic of urban renewal. By means of field exploration and in-depth visit, this paper investigates and collates the data of some typical urban residual spaces where new industrial workers live, and finds that these spaces have common spatial characteristics, such as single spatial level, poor ecological environment and lack of landscape facilities. Then, by using statistical analysis and structural model, the comparative analysis of different types of space, and finds that the use of ecological compensation regulation can form a reasonable spatial layout, high-quality ecological effects and rich service facilities, so as to improve the spatial quality of urban residual space and provide highquality space environment for new industrial workers, Promote social integration, social integration of workers in new industries.

Autophagy mediates the degradation of paternal mitochondria after fertilization in C. elegansto ensure that mitochondria are inherited maternally. Here the authors show that mitochondrial dynamics is critical for the selectivity and kinetics of paternal mitochondrial elimination.

Endonuclease G (EndoG) is a mitochondrial protein that is released from mitochondria and relocated into the nucleus to promote chromosomal DNA fragmentation during apoptosis. Here, we show that oxidative stress causes cell-death defects in C. elegans through an EndoG-mediated cell-death pathway. In response to high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, homodimeric CPS-6—the C. elegans homolog of EndoG—is dissociated into monomers with diminished nuclease activity. Conversely, the nuclease activity of CPS-6 is enhanced, and its dimeric structure is stabilized by its interaction with the worm AIF homolog, WAH-1, which shifts to disulfide cross-linked dimers under high ROS levels. CPS-6 thus acts as a ROS sensor to regulate the life and death of cells. Modulation of the EndoG dimer conformation could present an avenue for prevention and treatment of diseases resulting from oxidative stress.

Paracaesicola n. gen., is erected herein to accommodate a new microcotylid species, Paracaesicola nanshaensis n. sp., collected from the Yongshu Reef, South China Sea. This species is the first monogenean to be recorded from the gills of Paracaesio sordida. The new species is characterized by the following features: (i) haptor short, with clamps arranged in two equal bilateral rows; (ii) testes numerous, arranged in two roughly alternating longitudinal rows, extending into the haptor; (iii) genital atrium armed with 16 robust spines, which are vertically arranged on top of the sausage shaped muscular male copulatory organ; and (iv) single vagina, bottle-shaped, with a distinctly bulbous vaginal atrium. The terminals of the reproductive system discriminate Paracaesicola n. gen. from all other genera in the Microcotylidae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on partial 28S rDNA, places Paracaesicola nanshaensis n. sp. within the microcotylid clade, but its sequence differs from all known available microcotylid sequences.

Parasite biodiversity of fish in coral reefs of the South China Sea is still incompletely explored. We describe here a new species of Neohexostoma (Monogenea: Hexostomatidae) from the gill filaments of the dogtooth tuna Gymnosarda unicolor (Scombridae), collected off Yongshu Reef, South China Sea. Neohexostoma gymnosardae n. sp. is distinguished from its congeners by the following features: (i) haptor clearly marked from body proper by a strongly constricted peduncle, divided in its posterior margin into two symmetrical lobes, (ii) vagina armed with scattered small blunt spines, (iii) eggs tied by their long polar filaments, (vi) esophagus with several lateral diverticula, (v) intestinal ceca unfused and extending into the haptor. We present an analysis of the relationships of this monogenean based on partial 28S rDNA sequences. An identification key for species of Neohexostoma is provided. This is the first member of the genus Neohexostoma known to parasitize a species of Gymnosarda.

Genetic redundancy and pleiotropism have limited the discovery of functions associated with miRNAs and other regulatory mechanisms. To overcome this, we performed an enhancer screen for developmental defects caused by compromising both global miRISC function and individual genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Among 126 interactors with miRNAs, we surprisingly found the CED-3 caspase that has only been well studied for its role in promoting apoptosis, mostly through protein activation. We provide evidence for a non-apoptotic function of CED-3 caspase that regulates multiple developmental events through proteolytic inactivation. Specifically, LIN-14, LIN-28, and DISL-2 proteins are known miRNA targets, key regulators of developmental timing, and/or stem cell pluripotency factors involved in miRNA processing. We show CED-3 cleaves these proteins in vitro. We also show CED-3 down-regulates LIN-28 in vivo, possibly rendering it more susceptible to proteasomal degradation. This mechanism may critically contribute to the robustness of gene expression dynamics governing proper developmental control.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 is an autosomal dominant multiple neoplasia syndrome and is usually caused by mutations in the neurofibromin 2 (NF2) gene, which encodes a tumor suppressor and initiates the Hippo pathway. However, the mechanism by which NF2 functions in the Hippo pathway isn't fully understood. Here we identified a NF2 c.770-784del mutation from a neurofibromatosis type 2 family. MD simulations showed that this mutation significantly changed the structure of the F3 module of the NF2-FERM domain. Functional assays indicated that the NF2 c.770-784del variant formed LLPS in the cytoplasm with LATS to restrain LATS plasma membrane localization and inactivated the Hippo pathway. Besides, this deletion partly caused a skipping of exon 8 and reduced the protein level of NF2, collectively promoting proliferation and tumorigenesis of meningeal cells. We identified an unrecognized mechanism of LLPS and splicing skipping for the NF2-induced Hippo pathway, which provided new insight into the pathogenesis of neurofibromatosis type 2.

DNase II enzymes are acidic endonucleases that have been implicated in mediating apoptotic DNA degradation, a critical cell death execution event. C. elegans genome contains three DNase II homologues, NUC-1, CRN-6, and CRN-7, but their expression patterns, acting sites, and roles in apoptotic DNA degradation and development are unclear. We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of three C. elegans DNase II genes and found that nuc-1 plays a major role, crn-6 plays an auxiliary role, and crn-7 plays a negligible role in resolving 3' OH DNA breaks generated in apoptotic cells. Promoter swapping experiments suggest that crn-6 but not crn-7 can partially substitute for nuc-1 in mediating apoptotic DNA degradation and both fail to replace nuc-1 in degrading bacterial DNA in intestine. Despite of their restricted and largely non-overlapping expression patterns, both CRN-6 and NUC-1 can mediate apoptotic DNA degradation in many cells, suggesting that they are likely secreted nucleases that are retaken up by other cells to exert DNA degradation functions. Removal or disruption of NUC-1 secretion signal eliminates NUC-1's ability to mediate DNA degradation across its expression border. Furthermore, blocking cell corpse engulfment does not affect apoptotic DNA degradation mediated by nuc-1, suggesting that NUC-1 acts in apoptotic cells rather than in phagocytes to resolve 3' OH DNA breaks. Our study illustrates how multiple DNase II nucleases play differential roles in apoptotic DNA degradation and development and reveals an unexpected mode of DNase II action in mediating DNA degradation.