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In the use of Sn58Bi solder alloy, the abnormal enrichment and coarsening of Bi phase in solder joints and the excessive growth of IMC seriously affect its service reliability, among which, the IMC's reaction mechanism and evolution, the influence on the coarsening of the Bi phase within the solder and the coarsening process are not yet clear. The study found that the initial type and morphology evolution of IMC of Sn58Bi/Cu solder joint are influenced by soldering temperature and cooling rate, attributed to the differences in dissolution and diffusion of Cu in Sn58Bi, resulting in different initial appearances of Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn; The temperature and cooling rate affect whether Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn are directly generated by the reaction of Cu atoms in the substrate or appear through the consumption of Cu3Sn or Cu6Sn5; The cooling rate affects the IMC morphology evolution of top-view; Based on this, it was cleared that Sn58Bi/Cu solder joints follow four interfacial reaction mechanisms. Meanwhile, the evolution of Bi phase in the solder is affected by the growth of IMC in Sn58Bi/Cu, resulting in varying degrees of coarsening. Analysis suggests that the entire coarsening process involves the aggregation, dissolution, and separation of Bi phase. This article elucidates the reaction mechanism of IMC growth at the Sn58Bi/Cu solder joint interface and its influence on the coarsening of Bi phase inside the solder, providing theoretical support for improving the reliability of Sn58Bi solder in the future.

Abstract Quantum teleportation is the process of transferring quantum information using classical communication and pre-shared entanglement. This process can benefit from the use of catalysts, which are ancillary entangled states that can enhance teleportation without being consumed. While chemical catalysts undergoing deactivation invariably exhibit inferior performance compared to those unaffected by deactivation, quantum catalysts, termed embezzling catalysts, that are subject to deactivation, may outperform their non-deactivating counterparts. In this work, we present teleportation protocols with embezzling catalysts that can achieve arbitrarily high fidelity. This enables the teleported state to closely approximate the original message state with arbitrary precision, while maintaining arbitrarily small variations in the catalytic system through the use of finite-dimensional embezzling catalysts. We show that some embezzling catalysts are universal, meaning that they can improve the teleportation fidelity for any pre-shared entanglement. We also explore methods to reduce the dimension of catalysts without increasing catalyst consumption, an essential step towards realizing quantum catalysis in practice.

Background: The mechanisms by which SLC2A1 enhances chemo-resistance of taxanes to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains enigmatic. Methods: An investigation into the SLC2A1 expression pattern and prognosis across diverse datasets, as well as our internally collected samples, was undertaken. Additionally, the biological function of SLC2A1 was further delved into through in vitro experiments. The study also examined the chemo-resistance of NSCLC to taxanes using CCK-8, Annexin-V, and caspase-3 assays. Furthermore, the impact of taxanes on SLC2A1 expression was determined via western blot analysis. The effects of SLC2A1 on the formation of CSCs was examined via flow cytometry and metabolomics techniques. Finally, the impact of SLC2A1 on the tumor microenvironment was analyzed using single-cell sequencing and cellchat. Results: In the present investigation, it was observed that there was an elevated expression of SLC2A1 in NSCLC tumor tissues, which exhibited a significant association with a poorer prognosis. SLC2A1 overexpression in vitro promoted NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, chemo-resistance, and the formation of CD90+ and EpCAM+ CSCs. NSCLC cells were categorized based on SLC2A1 and EpCAM expression. SLC2A1highEpCAM+ CSCs were more chemo-resistance to taxanes. NSCLC patients with high SLC2A1 and EpCAM expression had poorer prognosis. Mechanically, SLC2A1 promoted the formation of CD90+ and EpCAM+ CSCs via activating glycolysis. Finally, SLC2A1low tumor cells promoted CD8+ T cell function via HLA-A, B, C, and suppressed NK cell function via HLA-E. Conclusion: Together, SLC2A1 plays an important role in enhancing chemo-resistance of taxanes to NSCLC.

Due to the discovery of Crassostrea dianbaiensis and C. iredalei in southern China, they may be considered important germplasm resources. However, the artificial breeding and large-scale aquaculture of these two oysters have not been extensively developed in China. Therefore, this study evaluated the artificial breeding and aquaculture potential of these two oysters and compared them with an economic species, C. hongkongensis in southern China. In addition, this study also investigated the effects of different species, sites, and their interactions on growth traits. The results indicated that under different salinities (16–32 ppt), the D larval rate of C. dianbaiensis and C. iredalei were both high, C. dianbaiensis could reach over 60 % (20–32 ppt), while C. iredalei could reach over 85 % (16–28 ppt). At the 15th day, the survival rates of C. dianbaiensis and C. iredalei larvae were significantly higher than those of C. hongkongensis (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between these two oysters. In terms of the growth traits, the shell height of C. iredalei larvae was significantly higher than that of C. dianbaiensis and C. hongkongensis (P < 0.05), and the growth tendency was different from the larvae (C. dianbaiensis > C. hongkongensis > C. iredalei). During the grow-out stage (90th to 360th days), the cumulative survival rate was significantly influenced by sites and interaction effects (P < 0.05). On the 360th day, at the Sanbaimen site, the cumulative survival rate of C. dianbaiensis was significantly higher than that of C. iredalei and C. hongkongensis (P < 0.05). For yearling progeny, at the Sanbaimen site, the shell height of C. dianbaiensis was significantly higher than that of C. iredalei and C. hongkongensis, influenced by different species, site, and interaction effects (P < 0.001). In terms of relative yield, at the Sanbaimen site, the relative yield of C. dianbaiensis was significantly higher than that of C. hongkongensis (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between C. iredalei and C. hongkongensis. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the potential for large-scale commercial aquaculture of C. dianbaiensis is feasible and has an improvement effect on the existing commercial oyster industry in southern China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of organic compounds which are comprised of two or more fused benzene rings. As a typical environmental pollutant, PAHs are widely distributed in water, soil, atmosphere and food. Despite extensive researches on the mechanisms of health damage caused by PAHs, especially their carcinogenic and mutagenic toxicity, there is still a lack of comprehensive summarization and synthesis regarding the mechanisms of PAHs on the gut-testis axis, which represents an intricate interplay between the gastrointestinal and reproductive systems. Thus, this review primarily focuses on the potential forms of interaction between PAHs and the gut microbiota and summarizes their adverse outcomes that may lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis, then compiles the possible mechanistic pathways on dysbiosis of the gut microbiota impairing the male reproductive function, in order to provide valuable insights for future research and guide further exploration into the intricate mechanisms underlying the impact of gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by PAHs on male reproductive function.

Sex is an integral part of the evolution of species and often takes the form of intersex and sexual change in mollusks. As a major member of the deep-sea coral reef ecosystem, Tridacna crocea has complex gonadal development mechanisms and reproductive strategies, and the regulation model of spermatogenesis needs to be further explored. In this study, gonadal transcripts of T. crocea in resting, spermatogonia and sperm stage were evaluated. According to the statistics of bioinformatics analysis, a total of 10,260 DEGs were identified, including 3021 genes shared by three developmental stages. Through dynamic expression analysis, we identified the expression patterns and functional classification of genes that regulate spermatogenesis. These candidate genes were involved in regulatory mechanisms such as nucleotide binding, cell cycle, sexual reproduction and DNA replication. Subsequently, based on functional screening, PPI analysis was performed on the target gene cluster to learn the network relationships among candidate genes and other genes closely related to candidate genes. The results showed that in addition to candidate genes (zmcm6, gins2, mcm9, blm, mcm4, psmc3ip, haus, ccnb3, spice, rad1, rad17, ncapg, bub1b, lin9, tipin, and cks), several genes that have been shown to be associated with gonadal development were present in the network (such as fanci, aurka, kif20a and nek2), suggesting the reliability of the results. Finally, the expression levels of candidate genes between individuals at different developmental stages were compared with transcriptional expression profiles, which further proved that these candidate genes were related to T. crocea gonad development traits. These results make up for the lack of research on T. crocea gametogenesis, spermatogenesis and gonad development, and provide a reference for the research on Tridacna reproductive mechanism.

BackgroundSquamous cell carcinoma of the lung (LUSC) is a severe and highly lethal malignant tumor of the respiratory system, and its molecular mechanisms at the molecular level remain unc\lear.MethodsWe acquired RNA-seq data from 8 surgical samples obtained from early-stage LUSC and adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 3 different centers. Utilizing Deseq2, we identified 1088 differentially expressed genes with |LogFC| > 1 and a p-value < 0.05 threshold. Furthermore, through MR analysis of Exposure Data for 26,153 Genes and 63,053 LUSC Patients, incorporating 7,838,805 SNPs as endpoints, we identified 213 genes as potential exposure factors.ResultsAfter intersecting the results, we identified 5 differentially expressed genes, including GYPE, PODXL2, RNF182, SIRPG, and WNT7A. PODXL2 (OR 95% CI, 1.169 (1.040 to 1.313)) was identified as an exposed risk factor, with p-values less than 0.01 under the inverse variance weighted model. GO and KEGG analyses revealed enhanced ubiquitin-protein transferase activity and activation of pathways such as the mTOR signaling pathway and Wnt signaling pathway. Immune infiltration analysis showed downregulation of Plasma cells, T cells regulatory (Tregs), and Dendritic cells activated by the identified gene set, while an enhancement was observed in Macrophages M1. Furthermore, we externally validated the expression levels of these five genes using RNA-seq data from TCGA database and 11 GEO datasets of LUSC, and the results showed SIRPG could induce LUSC.ConclusionSIRPG emerged as a noteworthy exposure risk factor for LUSC. Immune infiltration analysis highlighted Macrophages M1 and mTOR signaling pathway play an important role in LUSC.

Abstract Tridacna crocea is an ecologically important marine bivalve inhabiting tropical coral reef waters. High quality and available genomic resources will help us understand the population structure and genetic diversity of giant clams. This study reports a high-quality chromosome-scale T. crocea genome sequence of 1.30 Gb, with a scaffold N50 and contig N50 of 56.38 Mb and 1.29 Mb, respectively, which was assembled by combining PacBio long reads and Hi-C sequencing data. Repetitive sequences cover 71.60% of the total length, and a total of 25,440 protein-coding genes were annotated. A total of 1,963 non-coding RNA (ncRNA) were determined in the T. crocea genome, including 62 micro RNA (miRNA), 58 small nuclear RNA (snRNA), 83 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and 1,760 transfer RNA (tRNA). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that giant clams diverged from oyster about 505.7 Mya during the evolution of bivalves. The genome assembly presented here provides valuable genomic resources to enhance our understanding of the genetic diversity and population structure of giant clams.

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accounts for over 40% of all non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases and continues to be difficult to treat despite advancements in diagnostics and therapies. Ferritinophagy, a newly recognized autophagy process linked to ferroptosis, has been associated with LUAD development. Recent studies have shown a dysregulation of genes related to ferritinophagy in LUAD, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target. Methods: We constructed a predictive model using seven genes associated with ferritinophagy. The model’s accuracy was evaluated across three independent gene expression datasets. We analyzed the biological functions, immune environment, mutations, and drug sensitivities in groups with high and low risk. Utilizing a single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset, we confirmed the expression of the model genes and identified a subtype of epithelial cells expressing AHNAK2. We further investigated the impact of the ferritinophagy-related gene AHNAK2 on LUAD cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and ferroptosis in vitro. Results: Our prediction model, comprising seven genes (AHNAK2, ARNTL2, CD27, LTB, SLC15A1, SLC2A1, and SYT1), has shown potential in predicting the prognosis of individuals diagnosed with LUAD. Notably, AHNAK2 impedes ferroptosis, promoting LUAD progression in vitro. Conclusions: Our research suggests that ferritinophagy-associated genes are promising prognostic markers for LUAD and lay the groundwork for further exploration of ferritinophagy’s role in LUAD. Furthermore, we present AHNAK2 as a novel regulator of ferroptosis, which requires further investigation to understand its mechanism.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) leads to excessive fibrous tissue in the lungs, increasing the risk of lung cancer (LC) due to heightened fibroblast activity. Advances in nucleotide point mutation studies offer insights into fibrosis-to-cancer transitions. Methods: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) approach was used to explore the causal relationship between IPF and LC. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified shared gene modules related to immunogenic cell death (ICD) from transcriptomic datasets. Machine learning selected key genes, and a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model was developed for IPF prediction and diagnosis. SMR and PheWAS were used to assess the expression of key genes concerning IPF risk. The impact of core genes on immune cells in the IPF microenvironment was explored, and in vivo experiments were conducted to examine the progression from IPF to LC. Results: The TSMR approach indicated a genetic predisposition for IPF progressing to LC. The predictive model, which includes eight ICD key genes, demonstrated a strong predictive capability (AUC = 0.839). The SMR analysis revealed that the elevated expression of MS4A4A was associated with an increased risk of IPF (OR = 1.275, 95% CI: 1.029–1.579; p = 0.026). The PheWAS did not identify any significant traits linked to MS4A4A expression. The rs9265808 locus in MS4A4A was identified as a susceptibility site for the progression of IPF to LC, with mutations potentially reprogramming lung neutrophils and increasing the LC risk. In vivo studies suggested MS4A4A as a promising therapeutic target. Conclusions: A causal link between IPF and LC was established, an effective prediction model was developed, and MS4A4A was highlighted as a therapeutic target to prevent IPF from progressing to LC.

With the rapid development of the advanced electronic packaging field, the requirements for the connection between solder and Cu substrate are becoming increasingly stringent. Currently, the commonly used Ni-P diffusion barrier layer in the industry lacks long-term reliability, and its resistivity is higher than that of other substrates. This paper introduces the highly conductive metal element W to modify the binary Ni-P coating and prepares a ternary Ni-W-P coating through electrodeposition to improve this situation. The key parameters for the electrodeposition of ternary Ni-W-P are determined. The isothermal aging reaction of Ni-W-P with Sn-Bi solder at 100 °C was studied, and the results showed that, compared to the conventional Ni-P coating, the Ni-W-P barrier coating with higher W content has a much longer lifespan as a barrier layer and exhibits significantly better electrical conductivity. Additionally, the reaction mechanism between Ni-W-P and the Sn-Bi solder is proposed. This research presents a promising advancement in the development of barrier layers for electronic packaging, potentially leading to more reliable and efficient electronic devices. Introducing tungsten into the Ni-P matrix not only extends the lifespan of the coating but also enhances its electrical performance, making it a valuable innovation for applications requiring high conductivity and durability. This study could guide further investigations into the application of ternary coatings in various electronic components, paving the way for improved designs and materials in the semiconductor industry.

The study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of the interaction between hypoxia and the immune system in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) microenvironment. A comprehensive evaluation of 13 hypoxia phenotype-related genes (HPRs) was conducted using data from TCGA-ESCC and two GEO cohorts. Three distinct HPRclusters were identified, and the HPRscore was established as an independent prognostic factor (p = 0.001), with higher scores indicating poorer prognosis. The HPRscore was validated in various immunotherapy cohorts, demonstrating its efficacy in evaluating immunotherapy and chemotherapy outcomes. Additionally, phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) analysis showed that PKP1 had no significant correlation with other traits at the gene level. PKP1 was identified as a potential prognostic marker for ESCC, with upregulated expression observed in ESCC patients. In vitro experiments showed that the knockdown of PKP1 inhibited ESCC cell proliferation and migration. These findings suggest that the novel HPRscore and PKP1 may serve as prognostic tools and therapeutic targets for ESCC patients.

Single-crystal diamond tools occupy an important position in the field of optical processing as the basis and key to advanced optical manufacturing technology, such as grating manufacturing and optical mirror-turning processing. Single-crystal diamond tools have become the cornerstone of the development of related industries. This paper takes a single-crystal diamond arc tool as the research object. Sound signal analysis technology and vibration signal analysis technology are comprehensively applied to the online orientation identification of a single-crystal diamond tool in the indexing grinding process. The online orientation method of the tool is explored, the sound signal and the vibration signal are taken as the characteristic signals, and a wavelet algorithm (WT) is used to reduce the noise of the vibration signal and sound signal. The kurtosis of the sound signal and the kurtosis and skewness of the vibration signal in the high-order statistics strongly related to the grinding direction of a single-crystal diamond are used as the characteristic parameters, and the online direction recognition model of the tool is established using the Hidden Markov Method (HMM). The above characteristic parameters are used as model input for multi-information fusion. The mapping relationship between the characteristic parameters of the characteristic signal and the crystal orientation of the single-crystal diamond crystal face is obtained, and then the online orientation method of the single-crystal diamond arc tool in the process of indexing grinding is formed. The effectiveness of the method is verified by experiments, and effective orientation information is provided for research on the positioning control strategy of the tool grinding process to ensure the efficiency of grinding and improve the manufacturing level of the tool.

Abstract Background Biopsies obtained from primary oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) guide diagnosis and treatment. However, spatial intra‐tumoral heterogeneity (ITH) influences biopsy‐derived information and patient responsiveness to therapy. Here, we aimed to elucidate the spatial ITH of ESCC and matched lymph node metastasis (LNmet). Methods Primary tumour superficial (PTsup), deep (PTdeep) and LNmet subregions of patients with locally advanced resectable ESCC were evaluated using whole‐exome sequencing (WES), whole‐transcriptome sequencing and spatially resolved digital spatial profiling (DSP). To validate the findings, immunohistochemistry was conducted and a single‐cell transcriptomic dataset was analysed. Results WES revealed 15.72%, 5.02% and 32.00% unique mutations in PTsup, PTdeep and LNmet, respectively. Copy number alterations and phylogenetic trees showed spatial ITH among subregions both within and among patients. Driver mutations had a mixed intra‐tumoral clonal status among subregions. Transcriptome data showed distinct differentially expressed genes among subregions. LNmet exhibited elevated expression of immunomodulatory genes and enriched immune cells, particularly when compared with PTsup (all P

BackgroundApoptosis regulates normal development, homeostasis, immune tolerance and response to environmental stress by eliminating unwanted or diseased cells, and plays a key role in non-specific immunity of invertebrates. The exogenous pathway mediated by death receptors and death ligands is a very important pathway for cell apoptosis. Death ligands are mainly members of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family, of which FasL is an important member. The deep involvement of FasL in vertebrates cell apoptosis and immunity has been reported many times, but there is limited research on the FasL gene in shellfish, and its functional importance in oyster cell apoptosis and immunity remains unclear.MethodsThe full length of ChFasL was identified and cloned based on the genome of Crassostrea hongkongensis. Quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression of ChFasL in different developmental stages and tissues, as well as the changes of relative expression in hemocytes after bacterial infection. The expression position of ChFasL in HEK293T cells was also located by subcellular localization, and the effect of increased recombinant protein content on the activity of reporter genes p53 and p21 was studied by dual-fluorescence reporter gene. Finally, the changes of apoptosis rate in hemocytes after ChFasL silencing was identified by RNA interference technology.ResultsWe identified a novel FasL gene from C. hongkongensis and named it ChFasL. We found that ChFasL has potential N-linked glycosylation site, a transmembrane domain and a TNF region, which was a typical characteristics of TNF family. ChFasL was expressed in all developmental stages of larvae and in all tissues of oysters. After stimulation by V. alginolyticus or S. haemolyticus, its relative expression in hemocytes increased significantly, suggesting that ChFasL was deeply engaged in the immune response process of C. hongkongensis to external microbial stimulation. The results of subcellular localization showed that ChFasL was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of HEK293T cells. With the overexpression of the recombinant protein pcDNA3 1- ChFasL, the activity of p53 and p21 significantly increased, showing a positive regulatory effect. Moreover, after dsRNA successfully reduced the relative expression of ChFasL, the apoptosis rate of hemocytes was significantly lower than that the dsGFP group.ConclusionThese results comprehensively confirmed the important role of ChFasL in the apoptosis process of C. hongkongensis, which provided the basis and premise for the in-depth understanding of the immune function of apoptosis in molluscs, and also contributed to the research on the pathogenic death mechanism and disease resistance breeding of marine bivalves.

Bivalves are species-rich mollusks with prominent protective roles in coastal ecosystems. Across these ancient lineages, colony-founding larvae anchor themselves either by byssus production or by cemented attachment. The latter mode of sessile life is strongly molded by left-right shell asymmetry during larval development of Ostreoida oysters such as Crassostrea hongkongensis. Here, we sequenced the genome of C. hongkongensis in high resolution and compared it to reference bivalve genomes to unveil genomic determinants driving cemented attachment and shell asymmetry. Importantly, loss of the homeobox gene Antennapedia (Antp) and broad expansion of lineage-specific extracellular gene families are implicated in a shift from byssal to cemented attachment in bivalves. Comparative transcriptomic analysis shows a conspicuous divergence between left-right asymmetrical C. hongkongensis and symmetrical Pinctada fucata in their expression profiles. Especially, a couple of orthologous transcription factor genes and lineage-specific shell-related gene families including that encoding tyrosinases are elevated, and may cooperatively govern asymmetrical shell formation in Ostreoida oysters.

Abstract Background In segmentectomy, in addition to the anatomy of the segmental hilum, the identification and separation of the intersegmental plane is also an important step of the operation. Because of its simplicity and high efficiency, most thoracic surgeons choose the staplers. But the energy devices also have its unique advantages in the separation of the intersegmental plane. This study compared the clinical efficacy of staplers and energy devices in the separation of the intersegmental planes during the uniport thoracoscopic segmentectomy through the clinical data. Methods Clinical data of 89 patients undergoing uniport VATS lung segmentectomy from January 2019 to October 2020 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were analyzed retrospectively. According to the different treatment methods of intersegmental plane, the patients were divided into two groups, 55 in the stapler group and 34 in the energy device group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared and analyzed statistically. And the univariate and multivariate logistic regression were also used to explore the influencing factors of postoperative complications. Results Lung segmentectomy was successfully operated in both groups. There were statistically significant differences in operative duration, number of staplers used, surgical expenses and postoperative complications (P 0.05). Smoking history (OR 5.08, 95% CI 1.05–24.56, P = 0.043) and intersegmental plane treatment (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.11–9.14, P = 0.031) were risk factors for postoperative complications. Patients of the energy device group had a higher incidence of postoperative complications. Conclusions In uniport thoracoscopic segmentectomy, the use of energy devices to treat the intersegmental plane will result in longer operative duration and higher postoperative complication rate, but it does not affect postoperative recovery and can help reduce surgical expenses. Both methods are safe and reliable. Clinically, the two methods can be reasonably selected according to the specific situation.

Urban agglomeration has the function of being an incubator for innovation. Previous studies have only focused on the output of innovation, ignoring the knowledge cooperation and exchange between cities, which is an important embodiment of the incubation. Compared with scientific cooperation, technical cooperation is more experimental and application oriented, requires more face-to-face communication, and is more sensitive to distance. In this paper co-patent data were selected to show the development and differences of intercity technological cooperation networks within Chinese urban agglomerations. The results show that the technical cooperation network within Chinese urban regions has generally developed rapidly in the past decade, especially those in eastern China, which have become the closest urban regions in China’s technical cooperation.

As important actors in innovation, global innovative enterprises have shaped the innovative pattern of the world. China’s most innovative enterprises have also transformed the innovative landscape in China. Using the location information of the 1778 most innovative enterprises in China and the headquarter–branch method, we visualized the Chinese urban network constructed by these enterprises. Although the network covers 353 cities across China, its spatial distribution is extremely uneven. A few cities dominate the structure of the network, and Beijing stands in a strong control position. Megacities and provincial capitals have become the favoured headquarter locations of innovative enterprises. The five major urban agglomerations form the uneven diamond structure in the innovation network.

Abstract Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a histological subtype of non-small cell lung cancer with the worse progression. SRY-Box Transcription Factor 2 (SOX2) copy number amplification (CNA) is the oncogenic driver in ~60% of patients diagnosed with LUSC. Thus, SOX2 represents an effective therapeutic target in SOX2-amplified LUSC. However, SOX2 protein was considered undruggable. Here, we report the expression of a circular RNA, cicSOX2 in SOX2-amplified LUSC. Patients with SOX2-CAN LUSC expressing circSOX2 manifested increased survival outcomes. CircSOX2 suppressed the proliferation, metastasis, and sphere formation in SOX2-amplified LUSC in vitro and in vivo. CircSOX2 originates in the reverse strand of the SOX2 gene and its sequence was reverse complement to partial 3’UTR of SOX2-coding transcript (mSOX2). CircSOX2 bound to AUF1 and occupied in the 3’UTR of mSOX2, inducing the degradation of mSOX2. In general, circSOX2 is an endogenous self-restricted circRNA in SOX2-amplified LUSC. CircSOX2 might be an effective and stable nucleic acid drug candidate in SOX2-amplified LUSC with low immunogenicity.

Abstract Human settlements have an important impact on human health, livability, and the economy, which has attracted widespread concern worldwide. Few studies have, however, paid attention to a comprehensive evaluation of urban and rural areas, as well as subjective and objective aspects. This paper evaluates four dimensions of urban–rural settlements in China, including environmental health, environmental tidiness, environmental amenity, and environmental support, from both subjective and objective perspectives. The findings are summarized as follows: (1) The quality of urban–rural human settlements in China has significantly improved over the last 20 years, and it shows a significant decreasing tendency from the southeastern coastal area to the northwestern inland area spatially. (2) The national average score of subjective estimation of human settlement is at the level of “Satisfied”, and it displays significant disparities in terms of residents’ attributes, such as occupation, age, education, and habitation. (3) The subjective evaluation and subjective well-being have a positive correlation regarding the comprehensive assessment of urban–rural human settlements, but there are significant differences in objective estimation to different sub-dimensions. Long-term follow-up investigation and evaluation should be the focus of future research. Findings provide scientific guidance for the optimization and improvement mechanism of urban–rural human settlements.

Abstract Background Although ileal faecal diversion is commonly used in clinical settings, complications accompany it. Elucidating the intestinal changes caused by ileal faecal diversion will help resolve postoperative complications and elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of associated intestinal disorders, such as Crohn's disease (CD). Therefore, our study aimed to provide new insights into the effects of ileal faecal diversion on the intestine and the potential mechanisms. Methods Single‐cell RNA sequencing was performed on proximal functional and paired distal defunctioned intestinal mucosae from three patients with ileal faecal diversion. We also performed in vitro cellular and animal experiments, tissue staining and analysed public datasets to validate our findings. Results We found that the epithelium in the defunctioned intestine tended to be immature, with defective mechanical and mucous barriers. However, the innate immune barrier in the defunctioned intestine was enhanced. Focusing on the changes in goblet cells, we demonstrated that mechanical stimulation promotes the differentiation and maturation of goblet cells through the TRPA1‐ERK pathway, indicating that the absence of mechanical stimulation may be the main cause of defects in the goblet cells of the defunctioned intestine. Furthermore, we found obvious fibrosis with a pro‐fibrotic microenvironment in the defunctioned intestine and identified that monocytes may be important targets for faecal diversion to alleviate CD. Conclusions This study revealed the different transcription landscapes of various cell subsets and the potential underlying mechanisms within the defunctioned intestine, when compared to the functional intestine, based on the background of ileal faecal diversion. These findings provide novel insights for understanding the physiological and pathological roles of the faecal stream in the intestine.

The Kumamoto oyster, Crassostrea sikamea, is widely found in China, from Jiangsu to Guangxi, and has high aquaculture potential due to its beautiful shape and unique flavor. The individual size of C. sikamea in China is significantly smaller than that in the United States of America, the main reason should be the lack of artificial breeding. In 2012, a mass selective breeding program for C. sikamea was initiated to improve growth performance of our successive mass-selected C. sikamea generations, with the ultimate aim of improving the growth rate of C. sikamea. At harvest, each selective breeding generation showed superior growth performance compared to the corresponding control line. In the four generations of mass selection, the response to selection (SR), realized heritability (hR2) and genetic gain (GG) for shell height were 0.63–0.82, 0.38–0.51 and 5.54–9.50%, respectively. Meanwhile, the average SR, hR2 and GG of the total weight of C. sikamea after mass selection for four successive generations were 0.61–0.90, 0.36–0.56 and 12.25–15.34%, respectively. The positive selection response for the fast growth of C. sikamea suggested that they have high levels of genetic variation, that can be used in future breeding programs to further improve their aquaculture traits. In addition, we also studied the genetic variability of successive mass-selected generations using microsatellite markers, and the results indicated that the selected line F4 exhibited significant lower genetic variation compared to F0 population. In future, we will use the F4 population to cross with other fast-growing breeding populations from other wild populations to retain the fast-growing traits while restoring its population genetic diversity.

Ni–Cu under-bump metallisation (UBM) can reduce stress and improve wetting ability in technology for electronic packaging technology advances with three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC) devices. The bond between the Sn-based solder and Ni–Cu UBM is affected by the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs), specifically Ni3Sn4 and (Ni,Cu)3Sn4. This paper investigates the mechanical properties of IMCs, which are critical in assessing the longevity of solder joints. First-principles calculations were carried out to investigate the phase stability, mechanical properties and electronic structures of Ni3Sn4, Ni2.5Cu0.5Sn4, Ni2.0Cu1.0Sn4, and Ni1.5Cu1.5Sn4 IMCs. The calculated formation enthalpies show that the doping of Cu atoms leads to a decrease in the stability of the phases and a reduction in the mechanical properties of the Ni3Sn4 crystal structure. As the concentration of Cu atoms in the Ni3Sn4 cells increases, the bulk modulus values of (Ni,Cu)3Sn4 formed with different compositions decrease from 107.78 GPa to 87.84 GPa, the shear modulus decreases from 56.64 GPa to 45.08 GPa, and the elastic modulus decreases from 144.59 GPa to 115.48 GPa, indicating that the doping of Cu atoms into the Ni3Sn4 cells may adversely affect their mechanical properties and increase the possibility of microcracking at the interface during actual service. The anisotropy of (Ni,Cu)3Sn4 is more significant than that of Ni3Sn4, with Ni2.0Cu1.0Sn4 showing the highest anisotropy. After evaluating the electronic structures, the metallic properties of Ni3Sn4 and the Ni2.5Cu0.5Sn4, Ni2.0Cu1.0Sn4, and Ni1.5Cu1.5Sn4 phases are revealed by electronic structure analysis. The total density of states (TDOS) for (Ni,Cu)3Sn4 structures is mainly influenced by Ni-d and Cu-d states. The addition of Cu atoms can increase the brittleness of Ni3Sn4. In addition, the region where d and p hybridisation occurs gradually increases with increasing Cu content. The electronic properties suggest that the binding energy between Ni and Sn atoms weakens with the addition of Cu atoms, resulting in a decrease in the elastic modulus. This research can serve as a valuable reference and theoretical guide for future applications of these materials.

Informal development, as a unique phenomenon that has become widespread in China’s urbanization process in recent years, has continued to attract the attention of both the government and academia. Existing studies focus on urban village redevelopment strategies, and little research has been conducted on informal development in urban villages under the land property approach. In particular, research needs to further explore what impact China’s collective land property rights have had on informality in urban villages. This study mainly adopts a qualitative research method, including field observation and in-depth interviews. The research was conducted in urban villages in Guangzhou. The study finds that land property rights have an important impact on urbanization and property rights arrangements have an important impact on resource allocation efficiency. Due to the ambiguity of collective land property rights in China, informal development in urban villages is the result of the collective action of villagers, government, and enterprises under the stimulation of economic development. The interaction of the stakeholders has promoted the rapid development of informal housing in urban villages.

Abstract Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are regarded as vital regulatory factors in various cancers. However, the biological functions of circDNER in the paclitaxel (PTX) resistance of lung cancer remain largely unexplored. Methods Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was used to analyze circDNER, miR‐139‐5p, and ITGB8. Cell proliferation was assessed via colony formation and MTT assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Western blot was performed to assess protein expression. The targeted interaction among circDNER, miR‐139‐5p, and ITGB8 were validated using dual‐luciferase reporter or RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Results Inhibition of circDNER reduced IC50 of PTX, inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration, as well as promoted cell apoptosis in PTX‐resistant lung cancer cells. Mechanistically, circDNER sponged miR‐139‐5p to upregulate ITGB8 expression. Overexpression of miR‐139‐5p reversed the biological functions mediated by circDNER in PTX‐resistant lung cancer cells. MiR‐139‐5p overexpression suppressed PTX resistance and malignant behaviors of PTX‐resistant lung cancer cells, with ITGB8 elevation rescued the impacts. Moreover, we demonstrated that circDNER was upregulated in plasma exosomes from lung cancer patients. The plasma exosomes derived from these patients are the key factors enhancing the migration and invasion potential of lung cancer cells. Conclusion The circDNER mediated miR‐139‐5p/ITGB8 axis suppresses lung cancer progression. Our findings suggest that circDNER might act as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for lung cancer treatment.

Population growth in the coming decades will lead to increasing land conversion to urban areas. Here, the authors use spatially explicit projections of global urban expansion to analyze its effects on habitat changes, and terrestrial mammals, birds and amphibians under the main shared socioeconomic pathways.

Coherence-assisted transformation under incoherent operations is discussed. For transformation from the pure state to the mixed state, we show that the coherence loss can be partially recovered by adding auxiliary coherent states. First, we discuss the coherence-assisted transformation for qubit states and give the sufficient and necessary condition for the partial recovery of coherence loss, and the maximum of the recovery of coherence loss is also studied in this case. Second, the maximally coherent state can be obtained in the above recovery scheme, so we give the full characterization of obtaining the maximally coherent state in a qubit system. Finally, we show that the coherence-assisted transformation for arbitrary finite-dimensional main coherent states and low-dimensional auxiliary coherent states is always possible, and the coherence loss also can be partially recovered in these cases.

Giant clams are conspicuous bivalves that inhabit in coral reefs. Among the giant clams, eight species of subfamily Tridacninae are the most common in the Asia-Pacific. However, very little is known about their evolutionary history. Here, we determined the complete mitochondria genome of Hippopus porcellanus, which was 29,434 bp in size and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and 23 tRNAs. The A+T composition of protein-coding regions was 57.99%, and the AT composition of the 3rd codon position was 59.33%, of which in agreement with the invertebrate bias favoring codons ending in A or T. Analysis of phylogenetic relationships according to the concatenated nucleotide data set containing 18S rRNA gene and 13 protein-coding genes, the phylogenetic relationship was analyzed by Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The results showed that T. maxima was placed with the clade comprising T. noae, T. squamosa, and T. crocea, in which T. squamosa was highly similar to T. crocea and is consistent with the results of the previous studies using15 mitochondrial markers and nuclear 18S rRNA. Moreover, the inferred divergence time of Tridacnidae species is generally consistent with the fossil record of Tridacnidae. The divergence time of H. porcellanus and H. hippopus was about 10.64 Mya, this result is in agreement with the speculation that H. porcellanus also originated in Miocene. The availability of molecular phylogeny and divergence time estimation provides information genetic relationship of Tridacninae, which could be helpful to the ecological research and conservation of giant clams.

BackgroundAccumulating evidence has highlighted the significance of chromatin regulator (CR) in pathogenesis and progression of cancer. However, the prognostic role of CRs in LUAD remains obscure. We aim to detect the prognostic value of CRs in LUAD and create favorable signature for assessing prognosis and clinical value of LUAD patients.MethodsThe mRNA sequencing data and clinical information were obtained from TCGA and GEO databases. Gene consensus clustering analysis was utilized to determine the molecular subtype of LUAD. Cox regression methods were employed to set up the CRs-based signature (CRBS) for evaluating survival rate in LUAD. Biological function and signaling pathways were identified by KEGG and GSEA analyses. In addition, we calculated the infiltration level of immunocyte by CIBERSORT algorithm. The expressions of model hub genes were detected in LUAD cell lines by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).ResultsKEGG analysis suggested the CRs were mainly involved in histone modification, nuclear division and DNA modification. Consensus clustering analysis identified a novel CRs-associated subtype which divided the combined LUAD cohort into two clusters (C1 = 217 and C2 = 296). We noticed that a remarkable discrepancy in survival rate among two clusters. Then, a total of 120 differentially expressed CRs were enrolled into stepwise Cox analyses. Four hub CRs (CBX7, HMGA2, NPAS2 and PRC1) were selected to create a risk signature which could accurately forecast patient outcomes and differentiate patient risk. GSEA unearthed that mTORC1 pathway, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and p53 pathway were greatly enriched in CRBS-high cohort. Moreover, the infiltration percentages of macrophage M0, macrophage M2, resting NK cells, memory B cells, dendritic cells and mast cells were statistically significantly different in the two groups. PCR assay confirmed the differential expression of four model biomarkers.ConclusionsAltogether, our project developed a robust risk signature based on CRs and offered novel insights into individualized treatment for LUAD cases.

BackgroundWith the popularization of mobile phones and the development of the Internet, many patients use social media platforms to seek health information. Currently, TikTok, iQiyi, Bilibili, and Weibo are the most popular video platforms in China. Therefore, based on the above facts, this study estimated the quality of lung nodule videos taken in China using these platforms.MethodsThe term “lung nodule” was searched on these platforms. Then, the first 30 videos were selected. Subsequently, some videos were excluded after they had been reviewed and analyzed, after which information on the features and sources of these videos was finally assessed using DISCERN, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria, and the Hexagonal Radar Schema. Analysis was performed according to different groups.Results101 videos were included in this study. According to the different sources, although most videos were from physicians (71.3%), comprising those with shorter durations; faster updates; and more likes, comments, and shares; no significant difference in the scores were obtained. Moreover, regarding the different platforms, while Weibo had the highest update, TikTok had more likes, comments, and shares. Investigations also revealed that while score differences were recorded, most videos were rated “very poor” and “poor.” Besides, hexagonal radar charts showed a severe deficiency of video information.ConclusionsAlthough the quality of most videos on the understudied social media platforms was poor, these platforms have huge potential. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using the platforms as information sources about lung nodules, and a better review and push system is needed.

The intensified competition for innovation among countries and the various risks that come with it have made innovation resilience a central concern of the international community in recent years. The concepts of resilience and innovation are inextricably intertwined; however, both theoretical discussions and case studies on innovation resilience are in the “embryonic” stage. This article attempts to integrate the system and nodes of network resilience, the potential and connectivity of city resilience, and the hierarchy and assortativity of urban network resilience to construct a theoretical analysis framework of intercity innovation network resilience and conduct a case study on the resilience of a patent cooperation network among 338 prefecture-level cities in China during 2017–2019. The results show that the systemic resilience of Chinese urban innovation networks exhibits relatively low hierarchical and yearly decreasing disassortative characteristics, and the node resilience shows a spatial pattern of being high in the southeast and low in the northwest, as well as higher innovation resilience in cities with higher administrative levels. The results provide insights into the overall systemic and internal structural characteristics of innovation resilience in Chinese urban networks and also expand the application of resilience concepts in the field of innovation research from the perspective of urban networks.

The unprecedented urbanization recently has inevitably intensified the changes in land use morphology. However, current studies on land use primarily analyze a single morphology, ignoring the relationships between different land use morphologies. Taking the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains (NSTM) as the study area, this article quantifies the spatiotemporal pattern of land use change, and estimates trade-offs and synergies between dominant (patch density, largest patch index, and landscape shape index) and recessive (land use efficiency, land use intensity, and agricultural non-point source pollution) morphologies to fully understand the dynamic characteristics of land use. Results showed bare areas and grassland were always predominant land use types, and land use change from 1990 to 2020 was characterized by the increase of impervious surfaces and the decrease of bare areas. The strongest trade-off was found between largest patch index and land use intensity, while the synergy between landscape shape index and land use intensity was strongest. There are significant disparities in terms of temporal and spatial patterns of trade-offs/synergies. The correlation coefficients in different study periods were much smaller than their estimations in the whole region, and the trade-offs/synergies in the eastern NSTM were basically identical with the whole relationships. The findings reveal the interactions among various land use characteristics, and provide significant references for coordinated land management and regional high-quality development.

Synchrotron radiation X-ray imaging technique was applied for in situ observation of Cu6Sn5 intermetallic compounds (IMC) growth in Sn/Cu and Sn-3.5Ag/Cu joints under isothermal temperature conditions of 250/300/350 °C and time duration of 1.5 h. The IMC in Sn-Ag solder was characterized by the formation of grooves during the interfacial reaction, and this can be attributed to the Ag content. Kinetically, the growth rate constants for the height of Cu6Sn5 were observed to increase with temperatures and the presence of Ag in solder. As compared to pure Sn solders, the Sn-3.5Ag solders were observed with interfacial IMC of greater height, smaller base width, and lowered aspect ratio.

In the process of globalization, the transformation of production methods has triggered a restructuring of scales, resulting in the emergence of a new spatial phenomenon known as cross-border regions. Previous studies have focused on the coordination of cross-border regions, often concentrating solely on either spatial or governance aspects, and lacking a comprehensive exploration of the underlying mechanisms linking space and governance. This study examines the evolution of cross-border governance using the Tokyo Bay Area as a case study, taking into account the dual characteristics of space and governance. The findings of this research indicate a certain correlation between spatial evolution and governance mechanisms during different stages of development in the Tokyo Bay Area. Over time, the spatial configuration of the port cluster has undergone significant changes, while the governance mechanisms of the cross-border region have transitioned from informal to formal approaches. Additionally, the study summarizes both diachronic and synchronic characteristics, confirming the effectiveness of the space governance and providing an analysis of its underlying mechanisms. These findings provide valuable insights for promoting the modernization of national governance systems and governance capabilities.

Combining population genetics with genomic data has transformed scientist’s ability and resolution of making ecological inferences, thus making it possible to detect previously unidentified structures and obtain more accurate estimates of demographic parameters in wild populations. Ark shell is an economically and ecologically important marine species for fisheries industry in China, but its habitats have been severely damaged due to overexploitation of natural resources. Recently, protection of the ark shell as a natural resource has attracted extensive attention. Here, we identified 10,108 single-nucleotide polymorphisms using Restriction-site Associated DNA Sequencing (2b-RAD) to explore the structure of seven populations of S. broughtonii from the Asian Pacific Northwest region (four sites in China, two in Korea, and one in North Korea). A high level of genetic diversity was detected in all seven S. broughtonii populations. Pairwise FST estimates and neighbor-joining (NJ) tree topologies showed a clear division between the populations from China and Korea, and Chinese populations exhibited low levels of divergence from one another. This significant genetic divergence of the Chinese population implies that translocation of individuals for aquaculture should be properly managed for the preservation of genetic diversity and eventual local adaptation in natural populations.

Urban thermal condition has seriously affected the quality of residents’ daily life and triggered some environmental issues. Understanding spatial patterns of land surface temperature (LST) and its driving mechanism is important for the sustainable development of cities. Taking Beijing as an example, this study employed spatial econometric models to investigate spatial and temporal heterogeneity of LST from 2014 to 2018 based on multisource remote sensing and statistical data. The global autocorrelation Moran's I index showed the existence of significant positive correlations of LST among regions, indicating the regions with high thermal environments are spatially adjacent. The temperature of a region would increase by more than 0.6% for every 1% increase in LST of surrounding areas based on the spatial Durbin model. In terms of spatial interactions of influencing factors, elevation, normalized difference vegetation index, modified normalized difference water index, nighttime light, and fossil energy consumption of neighbors exhibited significantly positive spatial agglomeration effects on local LST, whereas albedo, GDP, and population density of adjacent areas had negative effects on LST in local areas. Particularly, the indirect effects of drivers were greater than their direct effects, indicating urban thermal condition was an interregional issue and joint control measures should be adopted to mitigate the urban heat island effects as a whole.

Abstract Background Gonad development and differentiation is an essential function for all sexually reproducing species, and many aspects of these developmental processes are highly conserved among the metazoa. However, the mechanisms underlying gonad development and gametogenesis remain unclear in Tridacna squamosa, a large-size bivalve of great ecological value. They are protandrous simultaneous hermaphrodites, with the male gonad maturing first, eventually followed by the female gonads. In this study, nine gonad libraries representing resting, male and hermaphrodite stages in T. squamosa were performed to identify the molecular mechanisms. Results Sixteen thousand four hundred ninety-one unigenes were annotated in the NCBI non-redundant protein database. Among the annotated unigenes, 5091 and 7328 unigenes were assigned to Gene Ontology categories and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway database, respectively. A total of 4763 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparing male to resting gonads, consisting of 3499 which were comparatively upregulated in males and 1264 which were downregulated in males. Six hundred-ninteen DEGs between male and hermaphroditic gonads were identified, with 518 DEGs more strongly expressed in hermaphrodites and 101 more strongly expressed in males. GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that various biological functions and processes, including functions related to the endocrine system, oocyte meiosis, carbon metabolism, and the cell cycle, were involved in regulating gonadal development and gametogenesis in T. squamosa. Testis-specific serine/threonine kinases 1 (TSSK1), TSSK4, TSSK5, Doublesex- and mab-3-related transcription factor 1 (DMRT1), SOX, Sperm surface protein 17 (SP17) and other genes were involved in male gonadal development in Tridacna squamosal. Both spermatogenesis- (TSSK4, spermatogenesis-associated protein 17, spermatogenesis-associated protein 8, sperm motility kinase X, SP17) and oogenesis-related genes (zona pellucida protein, Forkhead Box L2, Vitellogenin, Vitellogenin receptor, 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor) were simultaneously highly expressed in the hermaphroditic gonad to maintain the hermaphroditism of T. squamosa. Conclusion All these results from our study will facilitate better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying giant clam gonad development and gametogenesis, which can provided a base on obtaining excellent gametes during the seed production process for giant clams.

P-element-induced wimpy testis (Piwi) is a key gene involved in germ cell development in a diverse range of organisms. However, in giant clams, the function of Piwi remains unclear. In the present study, we isolated the full-length cDNA of Piwi ortholog (Tc-Piwi1) and analyzed its expression patterns in the gonads of adult and juvenile Tridacna crocea. The results of qPCR showed that the transcript of Tc-Piwi1 was mainly expressed in gonad tissue. In addition, the relative expression level of Tc-Piwi1 increased with the proliferation of male and female germ cells during the adult gonad development stage, suggesting that Tc-Piwi1 might be involved in gametogenesis. In situ hybridization revealed that Tc-Piwi1 RNA was located in female and male germ cells and strongly expressed in male germ cells in the early stage. Furthermore, immunohistochemical experiments further confirmed that Tc-Piwi1 was mainly located in primordial germ cells (PGCs), germ stem cells (GSCs), and female and male germ cells of early development, so it could be used as a marker gene of T. crocea germ cells. Whole-mount in situ hybridization suggested that Tc-Piwi1 was of maternal origin and located in two clusters of cells in the trochophore-larvae stage, implying that these cells might be putative PGCs during the embryo development. Finally, Tc-Piwi1 was used as a molecular marker to elucidate the gonadal formation, sex differentiation, and gonadal maturation process of juvenile T. crocea for the first time in the Tridacna family. Collectively, all these results revealed that Tc-Piwi1 was involved in germline formation and sex differentiation in T. crocea.

An ileostomy is a surgery that is commonly performed to protect low pelvic anastomoses or prevent high-risk anastomotic leakages. However, various postoperative complications remain of major concern. After an ileostomy, the distal intestinal segment is left open for an extended period and is in a non-functional state. Consequently, the intestinal mucosa, smooth muscle, and microbiota undergo significant changes that are closely related to postoperative recovery and complications. A systematic description of these changes is necessary to understand the relationship among them and take more effective measures for postoperative intervention.

Giant clams are marine bivalves that inhabit Indo-Pacific coral reefs. The boring giant clam, Tridacna crocea, exhibits bright and conspicuous mantle coloration based on the specialized cells (iridocytes) that generate structural colors. In order to illustrate the coloring mechanism of individual iridocytes, the reflection spectra curve of iridocytes was obtained by a micro-hyperspectral imager. TEM images were obtained to show the inner nanostructures of iridocytes. FDTD simulation was conducted to analyze the relationship between the color of iridocytes and the unique lamellar structure. We found that the laminae in the regular arrangement within cells govern the coloration of individual iridocytes. With the gradual increase of lamellar thickness and spacing, the color of the structure varies from bright violet to orange-red, forming a full visible spectrum. This study provides a new understanding of the various colors produced by individual iridocytes.

Abstract. Rationale:. Tracheal bronchus is an aberrant bronchus that arises directly from the carina of the trachea. It was rare, with only 0.1% to 2% on the right and 0.3% to 1% on the left side of the lateral wall. Tracheal bronchus is usually asymptomatic and can be accidentally detected during bronchoscopy or computed tomography (CT). Patient concerns:. A 62-year-old woman presented with recurrent cough and sputum for more than 1 month. Diagnosis:. Bronchoscopy and three-dimensional-CT confirmed that the bronchial leiomyoma blocked the opening of the right apical segmental tracheal bronchus. Interventions:. After 2 bronchoscopy treatments, the patient still complained of. cough and sputum. Finally, the patient underwent thoracotomy for a right apical segmentectomy and tracheoplasty. Outcomes:. The patient was safely discharged and no longer experienced cough. or sputum. Lessons:. Surgery can reliably remove bronchial leiomyomas. When crossing. the tracheal bronchus, it is important to be cautious about the pulmonary. In such situations, bronchoscopy and three-dimensional-CT are beneficial for surgery.

In order to control the end-point carbon content in the process of argon–oxygen refining ferrochromium alloys, according to the mechanism model of the oxygen supply rate and carbon content variation, the mechanism model of the argon supply rate and carbon content variation, and the mechanism model of the supply rate of the two gases and molten iron temperature variation, this paper proposes an improved multivariable inference control system and uses expert control to realize the automatic adjustment of the filter time constant in the multivariable reasoning controller. The simulation results show that this method can ensure the stability of the control system without errors and maintain the furnace temperature below the maximum withstanding temperature, further improving the dynamic response of the system and effectively shortening the smelting time of the entire argon–oxygen refining ferrochromium alloy. It is beneficial for improving smelting efficiency and prolonging furnace service.

Abstract Background Lung cancer has high morbidity and mortality across the globe, and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histologic subtype. Disordered lipid metabolism is related to the development of cancer. Analysis of lipid-related transcriptome helps shed light on the diagnosis and prognostic biomarkers of LUAD. Methods In this study, expression analysis of 1045 lipid metabolism-related genes was performed between LUAD tumors and normal tissues derived from the Cancer Genome Atlas Lung Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-LUAD) cohort. The interaction network of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was constructed to identify the hub genes. The association between hub genes and overall survival (OS) was evaluated and formed a model to predict the prognosis of LUAD using a nomogram. The model was validated by another cohort, GSE13213. Results A total of 217 lipid metabolism-related DEGs were detected in LUAD. Genes were significantly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism, fatty acid metabolic process, and eicosanoid signaling. Through network analysis and cytoHubba, 6 hub genes were identified, including INS, LPL, HPGDS, DGAT1, UGT1A6, and CYP2C9. High expression of CYP2C9, UGT1A6, and INS, and low expressions of DGAT1, HPGDS, and LPL, were associated with worse overall survival for 1925 LUAD patients. The model showed that the high-risk score group had a worse OS, and the validated cohort showed the same result. Conclusions In this study, a signature of 6 lipid metabolism genes was constructed, which was significantly associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of LUAD patients. Thus, the gene signature can be used as a biomarker for LUAD.

Central Asia (including five countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) is rich in oil reserves and has become one of the most important target regions for global oil investment. The construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt has prompted Central Asia to look outwards for more collaborations in the oil industry. China's need for oil investment in Central Asia has also increased significantly. This research established a comprehensive index system for assessing the risks of transnational oil investment in Central Asia. The system incorporated political, regulatory, economic, social, and infrastructural indices. Based on the Delphi method and fuzzy comprehension evaluation method, we qualitatively and quantitatively assessed and analyzed the risks of transnational oil investment in Central Asia. The results indicate that the risk score for regulatory risk was highest with the value of 6.1670, indicating a high risk level in transnational oil investment, followed by economic, social, political, and infrastructural risk indices. Of the 18 secondary risk indices calculated, there were seven indices with the probability of high risk occurrence exceeded 30.0% and the descending order was as follows: establishment of mining rights; host country intervention in operations; taxing system; stability of regulations; war and turmoil; labor capital; and ethnic, cultural, and religious differences. These seven critical risks should be watched closely and avoided during transnational oil investment in Central Asia. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the potential risks of investing oil in Central Asia. The findings demonstrate the causes of these risks and provide a scientific basis for reasonably avoiding oil investment risk and improving investment benefits for both host and investing countries.

With the increased use of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), the detection of multifocal pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) has increased. According to the current clinical guidelines, multifocal GGNs tend to be treated as the multiple primary early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. However, studies have indicated that parts of multiple GGNs may originate from single nodules via intrapulmonary metastasis (IPM). Such IPM indicates the advanced stages even when the multiple GGNs are present as the early characteristics in pathological assessments. However, no gold standard exists for the differential diagnosis of multiple IPM GGNs. Here, we report two multifocal pulmonary GGNs cases where panel sequencing (672 driver mutation loci) showed that patient 1 (P1) shared two rare epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations (primary L747_T751del and primary T790M) in the left upper lobe anterior segment and left lower lobe superior segment, respectively. Patient 2 (P2) shared a low-frequency human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutation (primary Tyr772_Ala775dup) in two GGNs located in the apicoposterior and superior lingular segment of the left lower lobe (LLL). Oncogenic driver mutations were concordant between primary tumors and metastasis. Thus, shared low-frequency driver mutations in multiple GGNs strongly suggested that IPM existed with a high probability in these patients. Also, tumor cell spread through air spaces (STAS) was identified in pathological sections of the left upper lobe (LUL) nodule of P1, suggesting aerogenous spread may have been an effective pathway for IPM. Our report suggests that oncogenic driver mutations have prominent diagnostic value for IPM. Also, GGN IPM may occur in one lung lobe and between in different lung lobes.

Background: We aim to assess the prognostic ability of three common lymph node–based staging algorithms, namely, the number of positive lymph nodes (pN), the lymph node ratio (LNR), and log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: A total of 3902 ESCC patients treated at 10 Chinese institutions between 2003 and 2013 were included, along with 2465 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The prognostic ability of the aforementioned algorithms was evaluated using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (tdROC) curves, R 2 , Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), and the likelihood ratio chi-square score. The primary outcomes included cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and CSS with a competing risk of death by non-ESCC causes. Results: LODDS had better prognostic performance than pN or LNR in both continuous and stratified patterns. In the multicenter cohort, the multivariate analysis showed that the model based on LODDS classification was superior to the others in predictive accuracy and discriminatory capacity. Two nomograms integrating LODDS classification and other clinicopathological risk factors associated with OS as well as cancer-specific mortality were constructed and validated in the SEER database. Finally, a novel TN LODDS classification which incorporates the LODDS classification was built and categorized patients in to three new stages. Conclusion: Among the three lymph node–based staging algorithms, LODDS demonstrated the highest discriminative capacity and prognostic accuracy for ESCC patients. The nomograms and novel TN LODDS classification based on LODDS classification could serve as precise evaluation tools to assist clinicians in estimating the survival time of individual patients and improving clinical outcomes postoperatively in the future.

The noble scallop, Chlamys nobilis, is an important bivalve mollusk with high commercial value and is usually farmed in the waters of southern China. To date, very little is known about the genetic diversity and population structure of C. nobilis. In this study, 10 microsatellite loci of four farmed C. nobilis populations were compared with one another and compared wild population in southern China. A total of 83 alleles were found. Surprisingly, the level of genetic diversity of the farmed C. nobilis populations was higher than that of the wild population. Although the population genetic of wild population was completely in the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, due to heterozygote deficiency, significant deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were found in all farmed populations, suggesting a genetic admixture caused by the mixing of seeds from various hatcheries. The Fst and AMOVA values showed significant genetic differences between wild and farmed populations. The Bayesian assignment also confirmed that genetic admixture was significant and widespread in artificial breeding of C. nobilis. Furthermore, the UPGMA tree topology and PCA demonstrated that the genetic diversity of wild population can be clearly distinguished from farmed populations. In a nutshell, the findings of this study not only fill the knowledge gaps in genetic diversity of wild and farmed C. nobilis populations, but also serve as a guide for maintaining the genetic diversity of C. nobilis in both farmed and wild populations.

The boring giant clam (Tridacna crocea) is the smallest species of the Tridacna genus, but they strongly express mantle color polymorphism. These color morphs represent potential genetic resources for aquaculture to supply the aquarium market, and the evaluation of their genetic and production characteristics is important. Wild yellow-green clams were consistently larger than blue clams in both the Huangyan Island and Zhaoshu Island populations in the Southern China Sea. To determine the relationship between mantle color and phenotypic traits, blue, yellow-green and control strains (various colors) were constructed and cultured for 1.5 years at an experimental station in Sanya, Hainan Island Province. All three strains had a high fertilization rate, but the survival to D larvae of the blue strain was significantly lower than the other two strains. Larval survival rate was over 85 % for all three strains, but the metamorphosis rate of the control strain was significantly lower than that of the other two strains. During the grow-out stage, the survival rate of the control strain from day 120 to day 480 was highest and that of the blue strain was lowest of the three groups. After metamorphosis, growth divergence of the three strains varied until day 120. Consistent growth trends appeared from day 120 to day 180, with the yellow-green strain largest, followed by the control strain. The process of mantle coloration was divided into three stages: the non-coloring period (day 0–60), the coloring period (day 60–180), and the stable expression period (day 180 onward). The yellow-green and blue mantle colors are genetically stable. This study provides a base for analysis of mantle color heredity and the genetic breeding of giant clams, and has great potential applications in the aquaculture industry, aquarium market and the coral reef tourism.