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Peripheral nerve injury–induced mechanical allodynia is often accompanied by abnormalities in the higher cortical regions, yet the mechanisms underlying such maladaptive cortical plasticity remain unclear. Here, we show that in male mice, structural and functional changes in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) caused by peripheral nerve injury require neuron-microglial signaling within the local circuit. Following peripheral nerve injury, microglia in the S1 maintain ramified morphology and normal density but up-regulate the mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Using in vivo two-photon imaging and Cx3cr1CreER;Bdnfflox mice, we show that conditional knockout of BDNF from microglia prevents nerve injury–induced synaptic remodeling and pyramidal neuron hyperactivity in the S1, as well as pain hypersensitivity in mice. Importantly, S1-targeted removal of microglial BDNF largely recapitulates the beneficial effects of systemic BDNF depletion on cortical plasticity and allodynia. Together, these findings reveal a pivotal role of cerebral microglial BDNF in somatosensory cortical plasticity and pain hypersensitivity. This study reveals that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) from cerebral microglia contributes to nerve injury-induced synaptic remodeling and neuronal hyperactivity, and ultimately contributes to pain sensitivity in mice; removal of microglial BDNF has beneficial effects on cortical plasticity and pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly aims to introduce Quintuple Implication Principle (QIP) on interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs). Firstly, some algebraic properties of a class of interval-valued intuitionistic triangular norms are discussed in detail. In particular, a unified expression of residual interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy implications generated by left-continuous triangular norms is presented. Secondly, Triple Implication Principles (TIPs) of both interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy modus ponens (IVIFMP) and fuzzy modus tollens (IVIFMT) based on residual interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy implications are analyzed. It is shown that the TIP solution of IVIFMP is recoverable, and the TIP solution of IVIFMT is only weakly local recoverable. Moreover, it sees by an illustrated example that the TIP method sometimes makes the computed solutions for IVIFMP and IVIFMT meaningless or misleading. To avoid the above shortcoming and enhance the recovery property of TIP solution of IVIFMT, QIP and α -QIP for IVIFMP and IVIFMT are investigated and the corresponding expressions of solutions of them are also given, respectively. In addition, the QIP methods for IVIFMP and IVIFMT are recoverable and sound. Finally, QIP solutions of IVIFMP for multiple fuzzy rules are provided. An application example for medical diagnosis is given to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the QIP of IVIFMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As a nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ (PPARδ) plays a critical role in regulating inflammation and cancer, while it is still unclear the mechanism of PPARδ agonist GW501516 on colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Here we found that GW501516 significantly enhanced colitis-associated colorectal cancer in AOM/DSS-induced mice. In addition, PPARδ agonist GW501516 enhanced pro-inflammatory gene expressions (COX-2, IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1) in inflamed colon. Further analysis showed that GW501516 increased the expressions of Glut1 and SLC1A5 in colon cancer cells as well as AOM/DSS-induced colorectal tumors. These findings revealed a new mechanism of PPARδ agonist GW501516-mediated colitis-associated colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Randomness and uncertainty always coexist in complex systems such as decision-making and risk evaluation systems in the real world. Intuitionistic fuzzy random variables, as a natural extension of fuzzy and random variables, may be a useful tool to characterize some high-uncertainty phenomena. This paper presents a scalar expected value operator of intuitionistic fuzzy random variables and then discusses some properties concerning the measurability of intuitionistic fuzzy random variables. In addition, a risk model based on intuitionistic fuzzy random individual claim amount in insurance companies is established, in which the claim number process is regarded as a Poisson process. The mean chance of the ultimate ruin is investigated in detail. In particular, the expressions of the mean chance of the ultimate ruin are presented in the cases of zero initial surplus and arbitrary initial surplus, respectively, if individual claim amount is an exponentially distributed intuitionistic fuzzy random variable. Finally, two illustrated examples are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect herbivory during the Pennsylvanian–Permian transition interval (late Gzhelian) was estimated from the Williamson Drive locality of north-central Texas, USA. We investigated vegetational composition and the response of host plants to herbivores by characterization of insect-damage patterns. The bulk flora consists of four major plant groups: lycophytes, sphenophytes, pteridophytes, and pteridosperms, as well as unaffiliated morphotypes. Forty-six distinctive damage types (DTs) were recognized from 17 herbivorized plant-host taxa that were categorized into the five functional feeding groups (FFGs) of external foliage feeding (20 DTs), oviposition (11 DTs), piercing and sucking (9 DTs), galling (5 DTs), and wood boring (1 DT). The distributional patterns of FFGs and DTs on the most herbivorized plant hosts indicate several generalized and specialized patterns and organization into distinctive component communities. The overall herbivory level in the flora is elevated compared to other Cisuralian floras of north-central Texas, based on separate analyses of foliar surface area removed (0.86%) and frequency of herbivorized leaves (19.83%). One ubiquitous plant host, Macroneuropteris scheuchzeri (Hoffmann) Cleal, Shute and Zodrow, is disproportionately consumed, representing 35.75% of all specimens, but contributing 84.38% of the total herbivorized surface area, 60.87% of DT richness, and 55.44% of the DT abundance from all plant species. A notable feature is the abundance of nine piercing-and-sucking DTs on several hosts, representing three of the four new DTs described in this flora and indicating the ecological expansion of this FFG by Paleodictyopteroidea and earliest Hemipteroidea. There is evidence for physical and chemical antiherbivore defense afforded by trichomes and resin ducts of two major host plants, but the absence of seed predation is curious. Analyses of herbivory at Williamson Drive and four younger Cisuralian floras of the region support Feeny's apparency hypothesis. The overwhelming dominance of M. scheuchzeri herbivory at Williamson Drive, absent in earlier, peat-substrated Pennsylvanian floras, is typical of Cisuralian mineral-substrated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new portfolio selection model, where the goal is to maximize the expected portfolio return and meanwhile minimize the risks of all the assets. The average return of every asset is considered as an interval number, and the risk of every asset is treated by probabilistic measure. An algorithm for solving the portfolio selection problem is given. Then a Pareto-maximal solution could be obtained under order relations between interval numbers. Finally, the empirical analysis is presented to show the feasibility and robustness of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new fossil species, two attributed to the genus Castanopsis ( C. nanningensis and C. guangxiensis ) and one to the organ genus Lithocarpoxylon ( L. nanningensis ) are described on the basis of well-preserved mummified wood from the upper Oligocene of Yongning Formation in the Nanning Basin, Guangxi Province, South China. The two species of Castanopsis represent the most ancient reliable wood record of this genus in China and also southeastern Asia, which is the center of diversity of extant species. The fossil leaf records of Castanopsis indicated this genus has migrated to South China in the late Eocene. This fossil wood evidence confirms the presence and persistence of Castanopsis in this region in the late Oligocene. In the Yongning Formation, the presence of numerous Fagaceae woods with faint or absent growth ring boundaries (in C. nanningensis ) occasionally associated with prominent ring-porous patterns, suggests that Guangxi (South China) had a seasonal (probably monsoonal) tropical climate during the late Oligocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Naoxintong capsule (NXT) has been approved by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), which is used for cardiocerebrovascular disease treatment. Here we found that NXT extract significantly promoted H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell autophagy involved in increased autophagy-associated gene expression leading to inhibition of mTOR signaling. Moreover, NXT extract increased PPARγ protein expression and transcription activity of H9c2 cell. Consistent with this, in PPARγ gene silenced H9c2 cells, NXT had no effect on autophagy and mTOR signaling. Furthermore, NXT/PPARγ-mediated H9c2 autophagy led to inhibition of cardiomyocyte cell hypertrophy. These findings suggest that the extract of NXT inhibited H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell hypertrophy via PPARγ-mediated cell autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The inhibitor of growth (ING) family consists of ING1, ING2, ING3, ING4 and ING5, which function as the type II tumor suppressors. INGs regulate cell proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, differentiation, angiogenesis, DNA repair, metastasis, and invasion by multiple pathways. In addition, INGs increase cancer cell sensitivity for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while clinical observations show that INGs are frequently lost in some types of cancers. The aim of the study was to summarize the recent progress regarding INGs regulating tumor progression. Methods: The literatures of INGs regulating tumor progression were searched and assayed. Results: The regulating signaling pathways of ING1, ING2, ING3 or ING4 on tumor progression were shown. The mechanisms of INGs on tumor suppression were also assayed. Conclusions: This review better summarized the signaling mechanism of INGs on tumor suppression, which provides a candidate therapy strategy for cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naoxintong (NXT) is an empirical formula based on the principle of traditional Chinese medicine, which has been approved by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) and is widely used for treatment of patients with cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases in China. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective mechanism of NXT on H9c2 cells (cardiogenic cell line) in response to H2O2. MTT, Western blot, and flow cytometry (FCM) methods were used to identify the protective effect of NXT extract on H2O2-induced H9c2 cells. Here we found that NXT extract significantly increased H9c2 cell viability and reduced H2O2-induced cell apoptosis and autophagy. More importantly, NXT inhibited H2O2-induced H9c2 cell apoptosis and autophagy by increasing PPARα protein levels. In contrast, silenced PPARα terminated NXT protective effect on H2O2-induced H9c2 cells. These findings suggest that NXT/PPARα signaling suppressed H2O2-induced H9c2 cell apoptosis and autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. Petrified wood has never been described from the Miocene of South China, and the Miocene flora from this region is also poorly known. The fabaceous fossil wood introduced in this article not only contributes to the scant knowledge of petrified woods in South China but also provides significant fossil evidence to study the Miocene floristic diversity in the modern tropical area of China. Methodology. Anatomically preserved petrified woods collected from the Early-Middle Miocene of Jialai-Nanbao Basin, Hainan Island, were sectioned in accordance with standard methods of cutting, grinding, and polishing. We determined their taxonomic positions based on comparative work in anatomy with similar extant and fossil wood slides. Pivotal results. Woods in two different degrees of fossilization represent the same species and correspond closely to wood structure of modern genera Afzelia and Intsia and their fossil counterparts Pahudioxylon. The wood is recognized as Pahudioxylon bankurensis Chowdhury, Ghosh, et Kazmi, which had been reported from the Neogene of India. Six species of Pahudioxylon (P. sahnii Ghosh et Kazmi, P. deomaliense Prakash, P. welkitii Lemoigne et Beauchamp, P. assamicum Prakash et Tripathi, P. indicum Prakash, and P. bengalensis Ghosh et Roy) have been reconsidered as its synonyms. Conclusions. This studied Pahudioxylon species represents the first occurrence of this genus in China as well as rarely reported Miocene plant megafossils in South China. Several previously described Pahudioxylon species should be merged into P. bankurensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Huadu flora of Guangdong Province, South China contains the lepidodendrid Lepidodendron shanyangense Wu et He, its putative rhizophore Stigmaria cf. ficoides (Brongniart) Sternberg; sphenophyte s.l. Archaeocalamites scrobiculatus (Brongniart) Stur; bowmanitid Sphenophyllum tenerrimum (Ettingshausen) Stur; pteridophyll Sphenopteris sp. of uncertain taxonomic position; undetermined ferns gen. et sp. nov.; lyginopterid pteridosperm Rhodeopteridium hsianghsiangense (Sze) Zhang, Zhao et Wu, a trigonocarpoid pteridosperm represented by fronds and isolated pinnules of Paripteris gigantea (Sternberg) Gothan, male fructifications of Potoniea sp., and seeds of Trigonocarpus sp. Ecologically, the Early Carboniferous (Visean) Huadu vegetation was divided into two neighboring communities: (1) a near-shore hydrophilous 'community A' with predominating Archaeocalamites and Rhodeopteridium; and (2) a wet forest 'community B' with predominating shrubby trigonocarpalean pteridosperm Paripteris gigantea (Sternberg) Gothan and tall tree-like lepidodendrid Lepidodendron shanyangense Wu et He. The Huadu vegetation was physiognomically similar to present-day low-latitude mangrove forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore the effects of genetic polymorphisms (CYP1B1*2 G355T, CYP1B1*3 C4326G, and CYP2E1*5 G-1293C) and environmental factors (smoking and drinking) on susceptibility to laryngeal cancer in a Han Chinese study group. Methods: This case-control study included 552 Han Chinese patients diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and 666 healthy control subjects of the same ethnicity, similar age, and gender. Genetic polymorphisms were examined using multi-PCR and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization - Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF MS) methodology. The association of these genetic and environmental factors with susceptibility to laryngeal cancer was evaluated using a statistical approach. Results: The frequencies of all three polymorphisms in the patient cohort were significantly different from those in the control cohort. Compared to the control cohort, carriers of variant alleles of CYP1B1*2 355T and CYP2E1*5 -1293C showed a higher risk for developing laryngeal cancer (for CYP1B1*2 355T, adjusted OR = 2.657, P <0.001; for CYP2E1*5 -1293C, adjusted OR = 1.938, P <0.001), while carriers of mutation allele CYP1B1*3 4326G showed a lower risk (adjusted OR = 0.562, P <0.001). Joint effects of these polymorphisms were observed. When compared to haplotype G355C4326G−1293, haplotypes T355C4326G−1293 (adjusted OR = 1.809, P <0.001), G355C4326C−1293 (adjusted OR = 1.644, P = 0.044), and T355C4326C−1293 (adjusted OR = 3.104, P <0.001) were associated with a significantly higher laryngeal cancer risk. The adjusted ORs for non-smokers, non-drinkers, smokers, and drinkers with the GT/TT genotype at CYP1B1*2 G355T were 2.190 (P = 0.006), 2.008 (P = 0.001), 5.875 (P <0.001), and 4.518 (P <0.001), respectively. Conclusions: CYP1B1*2 355T and CYP2E1*5 -1293C are associated with an increased laryngeal cancer risk, while CYP1B1*3 4326G is associated with a decreased risk. These polymorphisms showed joint effects on laryngeal cancer risk. Smoking and drinking showed collaborative effects with two high risk alleles (CYP1B1*2 355T and CYP1B1*3 4326G) for promoting laryngeal cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Exosomes are nanosized vesicles secreted by living cells and exist in biological fluids. Exosomes contain various bioactive molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, which can reflect the pathophysiological state of donor cells. In recent years, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in exosomes have attracted wide attention in cancer research. Exosomal lncRNAs play important roles in gastrointestinal cancer progression. Blood samples-derived exosomal lncRNAs also exhibit great potential to serve as important indicators of liquid biopsy, thus providing a novel diagnosis strategy for gastrointestinal cancer. In addition, exosomes-mediated several lncRNAs delivery can exert anti-tumor effects. The aim of this review article is to summarize the recent work conducted in this field and evaluate the opportunities and challenges in utilizing exosomal lncRNAs for the diagnostic and therapeutic purposes of gastrointestinal cancer in the clinical setting. Due to the lack of specific and effective biomarkers and therapeutic targets, the early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer remain unsatisfactory. As a type of nanosized vesicles derived from living cells, exosomes mediate cell-to-cell communication by transporting bioactive molecules, thus participating in the regulation of many pathophysiological processes. Recent evidence has revealed that several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are enriched in exosomes. Exosomes-mediated lncRNAs delivery is critically involved in various aspects of gastrointestinal cancer progression, such as tumor proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, stemness, immune microenvironment, and drug resistance. Exosomal lncRNAs represent promising candidates to act as the diagnosis biomarkers and anti-tumor targets. This review introduces the major characteristics of exosomes and lncRNAs and describes the biological functions of exosomal lncRNAs in gastrointestinal cancer development. The preclinical studies on using exosomal lncRNAs to monitor and treat gastrointestinal cancer are also discussed, and the opportunities and challenges for translating them into clinical practice are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Binding mode to ctDNA was studied by various methods. [•] Intercalation is the most possible binding mode. [•] Dynamic and static quenching occurred simultaneously. [•] Hydrophobic force played a major role. [•] Binding characteristic of rare earth complexes to DNA are dependent on the element. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Soil moisture is crucial in governing land surface processes that have an important influence on the yield and quality of crops. Therefore, it is essential to establish criteria for appropriate mean soil moisture monitoring strategy in order to obtain a representative mean soil moisture value of a farmer's field. In this study, the plant available water capacity was introduced as an auxiliary variable and a stratified soil moisture sampling method based on the spatial autocorrelation of auxiliary variables (SSAV) was proposed by integrating classical statistics and geostatistics. The results of the proposed methods were compared with those of the international common simple random sampling (SRS) and stratified random sampling (STRS) methods at the field and regional scale. The results showed that the range of mean relative error and the standard deviation of the soil moisture obtained with the SSAV method were significantly lower than those of the soil moisture obtained with the SRS and STRS methods at both the field and regional scales. The root mean squared error between the observed and estimated soil moisture at the field and regional scales were found to be 0.0104 and 0.0125 cm3/cm3, respectively, with the SSAV method, which are significantly lower than those obtained with the SRS method (0.0124 and 0.0139 cm3/cm3, respectively) and STRS method (0.0116 and 0.0130 cm3/cm3, respectively). The standard deviation of the relative difference, mean absolute bias error, and root-mean-squared difference of the SSAV method, which were used as stability indices of the monitoring points, were all lower than those of the SRS and STRS methods. These results demonstrated that the SSAV could promote the monitoring accuracy and precision, and the soil moisture estimated based on the SSAV could represent the mean soil moisture for several years. The use of the SSAV is recommended as an effective method for the placement of soil moisture sampling points to estimate the mean soil moisture. • Soil maximum available water capacity was introduced to estimate soil moisture. • Sampling strategy combined statistics, geostatistics and stratified sampling. • Improved sampling strategy can estimate soil moisture accurately and rapidly for years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, on the basis of breadth-first and depth-first ways, we establish a fundamental framework of fuzzy grammars based on lattices, which provides a necessary tool for the analysis of fuzzy automata. The relationship among finite automata with membership values in lattices ( l-VFAs), lattice-valued regular grammars ( l-RGs) and lattice-valued deterministic regular grammars ( l-DRGs) is investigated. It is demonstrated that, based on each semantic way, l-VFAs and l-RGs are equivalent in the sense that they accept or generate the same classes of fuzzy languages. Furthermore, it is proved that l-VFAs, l-valued deterministic finite automata, l-RGs and l-DRGs are equivalent based on depth-first way. For any l-RG, the language based on breadth-first way coincides with the language based on depth-first way if and only if the truth-valued domain l is a distributive lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study reports the first fruit fossil record of the genus Morinda from the Eocene. Morinda chinensis sp. nov. was found in the Eocene coal-bearing series in the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, south China, and belongs to Sect. Roioc of Morinda according to the characters of its infructescence. This is the first fossil report of Morinda in a tropical area of China and it moves the fossil record of this genus from the Miocene back to the Eocene. The discovery of Morinda in the fossil record in south China provides important evidence for the geologic and phytogeographic history of the genus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fossil reproductive structure from the Eocene of the Changchang Basin (Hainan Island, South China) is recognized as Chaneya hainanensis sp. nov. This new species is characterized by persistent corolla of five obovate petals with three subparallel primary venation linked by arching secondary veins, circular central disk bearing two orbicular ovaries or fruit bodies. This discovery confirms the presence of the extinct fruit genus Chaneya in low-latitude tropical area, providing significant fossil evidence for investigating the origin, migration, and phytogeography of this genus and discussing the Tertiary floristic exchanges among North America, eastern Asia, and Europe. Considering the distribution of this genus and its extant relatives and the climate changes during the Cenozoic, we hypothesize that Chaneya was a widespread tropical or subtropical taxon, but, with climate cooling, became extinct in northern latitudes and evolved into Picrasma (Simaroubaceae) and Rutaceae mainly in modern tropics and subtropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This phase II study is performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine combined with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) in Chinese patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Methods: Between February 2007 and December 2008, 62 patients with LARC were treated with capecitabine (825 mg/m(2), twice daily) and concurrent RT (50.4 Gy/28 fractions). Patients underwent surgery after 6-8 weeks of combined therapy, followed by 4 cycles of adjuvant capecitabine (1,250 mg/m(2), twice daily on days 1-14, every 3 weeks). The primary endpoint was the rate of pathologic complete response (pCR).Results: Fifty-eight patients (93.5%) completed the preoperative chemoradiation course as initially planned. The most severe hematologic adverse event was leucopenia, which occurred with grade 2 intensity in 12 (19.7%) patients and grade 3 in 2 (3.3%) patients. Grade 3 diarrhea and hand-foot syndrome (HFS) were observed in one (1.6%) and two (3.3%) patients, respectively. However, no grade 4 toxicity was observed. There were no treatment-related deaths during this study. Of the 59 patients treated with surgery, all had radial margins (R0 resections). Among the 29 patients with the primary tumor ≤5 cm from the anal verge, 18 (62.1%) underwent sphincter-preserving surgical resections. pCR was found in eight patients (13.6%). The pathologic stage was lower than the initial clinical stage in 57.6% (34/59), 63.4% (26/41), and 81.4% (48/59) of the resected tumors for the primary tumor (T), lymph node (N), and combined TN categories, respectively. The estimate of disease-free survival and overall survival at 24 months were 80.6% (95% CI, 70.8-90.4%) and 92.5% (95% CI, 85.9-99.1%), respectively.Conclusion: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine and RT appears to be a safe, well-tolerated, and effective neoadjuvant treatment modality for LARC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a chronic kidney disease, is characterized by progressive fibrosis caused due to persistent hyperglycemia. The development of fibrosis in DKD determines the patient prognosis, but no particularly effective treatment. Here, small extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-sEV) have been used to treat DKD fibrosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to analyze 27,424 cells of the kidney, we have found that a novel fibrosis-associated TGF-β1+Arg1+ macrophage subpopulation, which expanded and polarized in DKD and was noted to be profibrogenic. Additionally, Actin+Col4a5+ mesangial cells in DKD differentiated into myofibroblasts. Multilineage ligand-receptor and cell-communication analysis showed that fibrosis-associated macrophages activated the TGF-β1/Smad2/3/YAP signal axis, which promotes mesangial fibrosis-like change and accelerates renal fibrosis niche. Subsequently, the transcriptome sequencing and LC-MS/MS analysis indicated that MSC-sEV intervention could restore the levels of the kinase ubiquitin system in DKD and attenuate renal interstitial fibrosis via delivering CK1δ/β-TRCP to mediate YAP ubiquitination degradation in mesangial cells. Our findings demonstrate the unique cellular and molecular mechanisms of MSC-sEV in treating the DKD fibrosis niche at a single-cell level and provide a novel therapeutic strategy for renal fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China experienced an overwhelming COVID-19 pandemic from middle December 2022 to middle January 2023 after lifting the zero-COVID-19 policy on December 7, 2022. However, the infection rate was less studied. We aimed to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in children shortly after discontinuation of the zero-COVID-19 policy. Methods: From February 20 to April 10, 2023, we included 393 children aged 8 months to less than 3 years who did not receive COVID-19 vaccination and 114 children aged 3 to 6 years who received inactivated COVID-19 vaccines based on the convenience sampling in this cross-sectional study. IgG and IgM antibodies against nucleocapsid (N) and subunit 1 of spike (S1) of SARS-CoV-2 (anti-N/S1) were measured with commercial kits (Shenzhen YHLO Biotech, China). Results: Of the 393 unvaccinated children (1.5 ± 0.6 years; 52.2% boys), 369 (93.9%) were anti-N/S1 IgG positive. Of the 114 vaccinated children (5.3 ± 0.9 years; 48.2% boys), 112 (98.2%) were anti-N/S1 IgG positive. None of the unvaccinated or vaccinated children was anti-N/S1 IgM positive. The median IgG antibody titers in vaccinated children (344.91 AU/mL) were significantly higher than that in unvaccinated children (42.80 AU/mL) (P < 0.0001). The positive rates and titers of anti-N/S1 IgG had no significant difference between boys and girls respectively. Conclusion: Vast majority of children were infected with SARS-CoV-2 shortly after ending zero-COVID-19 policy in China. Whether these unvaccinated infected children should receive COVID-19 vaccine merits further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study summarizes all existing and unpublished data on the Late Triassic plant fossils in Guangdong. • Four regional assemblages have been distinguished in the Late Triassic by marine fossils such as ammonites and bivalves. • The Late Triassic climate in the Guangdong region was mainly warm and humid, either tropical or subtropical. • During the Late Triassic, central and northern Guangdong were located at similar latitude, along the southern coastline of the South China Block. Triassic-Jurassic deposits are well developed in Guangdong Province, South China. In particular, the Upper Triassic coal-bearing strata which alternate between marine and terrestrial deposits yield diverse and abundant fossil plants, ammonites and bivalves. These strata provide a significant reference for the study of palaeoenvironmental variations in the lower latitude regions. In this paper, we review the major progress on Late Triassic floral studies in this area. Specifically, we compare the regional plant assemblages from different fossil sites in central and northern Guangdong which have been dated with marine fauna. 155 species belonging to 56 genera of fossil plants have been reported so far in northern and central Guangdong. The Late Triassic floras in Guangdong are mainly composed of Bennettitales and ferns, followed by horsetails, seed ferns, cycads, ginkgos and conifers. In ascending order, four regional plant fossil assemblages can be recognized in the Late Triassic deposits, namely the Pachypteris - Lindleycladus Assemblage (Julian), the Pterophyllum - Baiera Assemblage (late Julian), the Clathropteris - Otozamites Assemblage (Tuvalian), and the Danaeopsis - Anomozamites Assemblage (Rhaetian). In general, the Late Triassic climate in the Guangdong region was mainly humid and warm and either tropical or subtropical. The fossil plants corroborate palaeomagnetic evidence that the central and northern Guangdong region was located at approximately the same latitude as it is today and formed the southern coastline of the South China Block during the Late Triassic. Palaeogeographically, the transgression started at the end of the Julian and the south coastal terrane consisted of a western bay, a peninsula and an eastern bay. During the regression period, post-Rhaetian, the bays evolved into a gulf coastal plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The modern distribution centre of the genus Craigia is situated in South China and adjacent northernmost Vietnam, but it was widely distributed in Europe, North America and East Asia during the Tertiary. Up to now, the genus Craigia includes only two extant and two fossil species. Based on a detailed study of the fossil material from the coal-bearing deposits of the Changchang Formation (Eocene) from the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, China, Craigia hainanensis sp. nov. is established. This is the first fossil record of Craigia in its modern distribution centre which provides a new data on the origin and phytogeographic history of this genus. The distribution of extant and fossil Craigia in North America, Europe, Central and East Asia suggests that the Far East of Russia is a possible centre of origin of Craigia where the fossil record of this genus goes back to the Paleocene. During the Eocence global warming event, Craigia had dispersed rapidly to North America, Spitzbergen, East and Central Asia, and reached its modern distribution centre in South China no later than in the early Late Eocene. During the Oligocene and Neogene this genus continued to spread over Asia and further dispersed to Europe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two types of fossil fruit, one belonging to Palaeocarya sp. (Juglandaceae) and the other to Acer cf. A. miofranchetii Hu et Chaney (Aceraceae), are found in the Eocene coal-bearing series from the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, China. This is the first fossil record of Palaeocarya and Acer in a tropical area of China. These fossils provide evidence for an investigation of the phytogeographic history of these two genera. Since their extant relative genera are distributed mostly in northern temperate or tropical–subtropical mountainous regions, I propose that the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island was close to a mountainous region in the Eocene; the plants bearing these fruits were growing at a mid-high altitude with a relatively cool climate, and the fruits were not preserved in situ but transported to the fossil site. The characters of other associated fossil plants and palynological data also support this hypothesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Immune cells can protect against tumor progression by killing cancer cells, while aberrant expression of the immune checkpoint protein PD‐L1 (programmed death ligand 1) in cancer cells facilitates tumor immune escape and inhibits anti‐tumor immunotherapy. As a serine/threonine kinase, CK2 (casein kinase 2) regulates tumor progression by multiple pathways, while it is still unclear the effect of CK2 on tumor immune escape. Here it is found that ING4 induced PD‐L1 autophagic degradation and inhibites non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) immune escape by increasing T cell activity. However, clinical analysis suggests that high expression of CK2 correlates with low ING4 protein level in NSCLC. Further analysis shows that CK2 induce ING4‐S150 phosphorylation leading to ING4 ubiquitination and degradation by JFK ubiquitin ligase. In contrast, CK2 gene knockout increases ING4 protein stability and T cell activity, subsequently, inhibites NSCLC immune escape. Furthermore, the combined CK2 inhibitor with PD‐1 antibody effectively enhances antitumor immunotherapy. These findings provide a novel strategy for cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In precision agriculture, suitable soil moisture and nutrient levels are important for crop production. Therefore, studying the spatial variability in soil moisture and nutrient, and their impact on crop yield is essential. In this study, spatial variability in soil mechanical composition, bulk density, water content and nutrient content in north China along with its impact on crop yield is investigated. Results show that soil mechanical composition and bulk density respectively exhibited moderate and weak spatial variation at the 0–80 cm soil depth. Soil moisture and NH4+-N contents at the 0–80 cm soil depth showed moderate spatial variation, while soil NO3−-N content showed a moderate spatial variation from the seedling stage to the filling stage and a strong spatial variation from the milk-riping stage to the maturing stage. The maximum attainable yield was achieved under the optimum soil moisture, NH4+-N, or NO3−-N contents for the whole growth period and each growth stage. At high soil water condition, both soil NH4+-N and NO3−-N contents were found to be significantly different between the high and low yield areas, while at low soil water condition, only soil NO3−-N content affected the crop yield significantly. At either low or high soil NO3−-N level, soil NH4+-N content in high-producing areas was significantly lower than that in low-producing areas. Excess fertilization was found in the experimental area. This study can provide a scientific basis for developing appropriate crop irrigation and fertilization management practices to obtain high yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose generalized hesitant fuzzy soft sets by integrating generalized fuzzy soft sets with hesitant fuzzy sets. Then we investigate several fundamental properties of generalized hesitant fuzzy soft sets. In particular, a system of all the generalized hesitant fuzzy soft sets with narrow strict union and generalized strict intersection operators turns out to be a lattice. Meanwhile, a system of all the generalized hesitant fuzzy soft sets with generalized strict union and narrow strict intersection operators is a lattice. Based on generalized hesitant fuzzy soft sets, we provide an effective approach to decision making. Finally, three examples are presented to illuminate the feasibility of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fissistigma nanningense sp. nov. (Annonaceae) is described based on well-preserved mummified leaves from the Oligocene Yongning Formation of Nanning, Guangxi, southern China. They are characterized by retuse apex, a swollen petiole, eucamptodromous to simple brochidodromous secondary veins, percurrent tertiary veins, an obvious sub-vascular bundle and abundant oil cells. The nearest living relative of F. nanningense is considered to be Fissistigma glaucescens based on both qualitative morphological comparisons and the principal component analysis. The climbing habit of this genus indicates that a multilayered structure must have existed in the Oligocene forest of Guangxi. Moreover, according to the variation of leaf morphology in F. glaucescens under different environment, analogically, the present fossil leaves possessing small size and retuse apex indicate that they might grow in a sparse forest, or/and under the nutrient-poor conditions. Highlights • The earliest known fossil records of Fissistigma (Annonaceae) from China. • Leaf architecture and anatomical characters of Fissistigma are described. • The nearest living relative was found based on the principal component analysis (PCA). • Fissistigma in the Oligocene forest indicates a multilayered structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PPARα (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor α) plays a critical role in regulation of inflammation and cancer, while the regulatory mechanism of PPARα on cancer cell autophagy is still unclear. Here we found that PPARα enhanced autophagy in HEK293T, SW480, and Hela cell lines, which was independent of PPARα transcription activity. PPARα induced antiapoptotic Bcl2 protein degradation resulting in release of the Beclin-1/VPS34 complex. Consistently, silenced PPARα reversed this event. PPARα-induced autophagy significantly inhibited tumor growth and enhanced SW480 cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. Moreover, PPARα agonist increased SW480 cancer cell chemotherapy sensitivity. These findings revealed a novel mechanism of PPARα/Bcl2/autophagy pathway suppressed tumor progression and enhanced chemotherapy sensitivity, which is a potential drug target for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadurcodon maomingensissp. nov. is described based on a partial skull and associated vertebrae from the middle–upper Eocene Youganwo Formation in the Maoming Basin, Guangdong Province, China. The taxonomy ofCadurcodonKretzoi, 1942 ( =SianodonXu, 1965, syn. nov.; =ParacadurcodonXu, 1966, syn. nov.) is revised, and a new diagnosis of the genus is provided. It includes six species:C. ardynensis(Osborn, 1923),C. kazakademiusBiryukov, 1961,C. bahoensis(Xu, 1965) comb. nov.,C. suhaituensis(Xu, 1966) comb. nov.,C. houldjinensisB.-Y. Wang, Qiu, Zhang, Wu, & Ning, 2009 andC. maomingensissp. nov. A new phylogenetic hypothesis of Amynodontidae is based on the cladistic analysis of the distribution of 48 characters in 16 amynodontid taxa. The family is divided into two sister taxa, Metamynodontini (Paramynodon,MegalamynodonandMetamynodon) and Cadurcodontini (Procadurcodon,Zaisanamynodon,CadurcodonandCadurcotherium). The remaining amynodontid genera are consideredincertae sedis. The evolution of amynodontids was confined mainly to Central and East Asia, with four dispersal events to North America (Amynodon,Amynodontopsis, Metamynodontini andProcadurcodon), and one to Europe and South Asia (Cadurcotherium). The holotype ofC. maomingensissp. nov. is an adult male with body mass estimated as 1.4 tons. Amynodontids show considerable increase in size during evolution, with the largest species weighing over two tons (C. kazakademius,Zaisanamynodon borisoviandProcadurcodon orientalis). http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FD6EEE3E-AE06-4DA2-AFFD-39362724C1C2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant Asplenium is one of the most widespread fern groups and occurs in the temperate and tropical regions. However, the fossil records of this genus are poorly documented, especially in the low latitudes. Here, a new species, Asplenium sanshuiense sp. nov. is described from the early Eocene of Sanshui Basin, Guangdong Province, South China. This is the lowest modern latitude fossil record of Asplenium and the first fossil assignment of A. section Darea (Jussieu) Bak., as well as the first fossil record of Asplenium reported from South China. This new species shows that Asplenium had already spread into South China by the early Eocene and the section Darea (Jussieu) Bak. was identifiable within the genus Asplenium during that time. This new species, combined with previous fossil spore-pollen records indicates a warm and humid climate in the Sanshui Basin of the early Eocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drug resistance is an important factor affecting the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with colon cancer. However, clinical markers for diagnosing drug resistance of tumor cells are not only a few in number, but also low in specificity, and the mechanism of action of tumor cell drug resistance remains unclear. Methods: Dipeptidase 1 (DPEP1) expression was analyzed using the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and genotype‐Tissue Expression pan‐cancer data. Survival analysis was performed using the survival package in R software to assess the prognostic value of DPEP1 expression in colon cancer. Correlation and Venn analyses were adopted to identify key genes. Immunohistochemistry, western blot, qRT–PCR, Co‐immunoprecipitation, and dual‐luciferase reporter experiments were carried out to explore the underlying associations between DPEP1 and Achaete scute‐like 2 (ASCL2). MTT assays were used to evaluate the role of DPEP1 and ASCL2 in colon cancer drug resistance. Results: DPEP1 was highly expressed in colon cancer tissues. DPEP1 expression correlated negatively with disease‐specific survival but not with overall survival. Bioinformatics analysis and experiments showed that the expressions of DPEP1 and ASCL2 in colon cancer tissues were markedly positively correlated. Mechanistic research indicated that DPEP1 enhanced the stability of protein ASCL2 by inhibiting its ubiquitination‐mediated degradation. In turn, ASCL2 functioned as a transcription factor to activate the transcriptional activity of the DPEP1 gene and boost its expression. Furthermore, DPEP1 also could enhance the expression of colon cancer stem cell markers (LGR5, CD133, and CD44), which strengthened the tolerance of colon cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that the DPEP1 enhances the stemness of tumor cells by forming a positive feedback loop with ASCL2 to improve resistance to chemotherapy drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Two fruit fossil species of Ceratophyllum L. are discovered from South China, namely C. cf. muricatum Chamisso from the upper Eocene of the Maoming Basin, Guangdong, and C. demersum L. from the Miocene of the Guiping Basin, Guangxi. Our findings provide evidence for the distribution of Ceratophyllum in South China in the late Eocene, and its wide expansion in subtropical China during the Miocene. Ceratophyllum L. is a cosmopolitan genus of perennial aquatic herbs that occur in quiet freshwaters. Fossils of this genus have been widely reported from the Northern Hemisphere, most of them occurring in the temperate zone. Here, we describe two species of fossil fruits discovered from subtropical areas of China. The fossil fruit discovered from the upper Eocene Huangniuling Formation of the Maoming Basin is designated as C. cf. muricatum Chamisso, and fruits discovered from the Miocene Erzitang Formation of the Guiping Basin are assigned to the extant species C. demersum L. The discovery of these two fossil species indicates that Ceratophyllum had spread to South China by the late Eocene and their distribution expanded in subtropical China during the Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Several cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), are caused by genes related to necroptosis. However, it is still unknown how necroptosis-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be involved in LUAD. In order to predict the prognosis of LUAD patients and personalize immunotherapy, this study set out to construct a necroptosis-related lncRNA prognostic signature (NLPS). Methods. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to download the LUAD transcriptome data and the associated clinical data. lncRNAs associated with necroptosis were screened using coexpression analysis. An NLPS was built using univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database's GSE30219 was used to validate the NLPS. The prognostic value of the risk score was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) Cox regression, multivariate Cox regression, and nomogram analyses. Then, we looked into the differences between the low- and high-risk groups in the tumor immune microenvironment, immunotherapy response, and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Results. The 14 lncRNAs in a novel NLPS were created. With further validation in the GSE30219 dataset, the risk score according to the NLPS was an independent prognostic indicator for LUAD patients. Patients with better overall survival (OS) in the low-risk group, who were characterized by increased immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and immunophenoscore (IPS), may have hot tumors and higher immunotherapy response rates. In addition, the risk score was also closely linked to sensitivity to various anticancer medications. Conclusions. We constructed a novel NLPS that could predict OS and sensitivity to immunotherapy in LUAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are rising in both incidence and prevalence and remain a major global health and socioeconomic burden in the twenty-first century. Despite an increasing understanding of these diseases, the lack of effective treatments remains an ongoing challenge. Mitochondria are key players in intracellular energy production, calcium homeostasis, signaling, and apoptosis. Emerging evidence shows that mitochondrial dysfunction participates in the pathogeneses of metabolic diseases. Exogenous supplementation with healthy mitochondria is emerging as a promising therapeutic approach to treating these diseases. This article reviews recent advances in the use of mitochondrial transplantation therapy (MRT) in such treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of extracellular vesicles (EVs) to regulate a broad range of cellular processes has recently been used to treat diseases. Growing evidence indicates that EVs play a cardioprotective role in heart disease by activating beneficial signaling pathways. Multiple functional components of EVs and intracellular molecular mechanisms are involved in the process. To overcome the shortcomings of native EVs such as their heterogeneity and limited tropism, a series of engineering approaches has been developed to improve the therapeutic efficiency of EVs. In this review, we present an overview of the research and future directions for EVs-based cardiac therapies with an emphasis on EVs-mediated delivery of therapeutic agents. The advantages and limitations of various modification strategies are discussed, and possible opportunities for improvement are proposed. An in-depth understanding of the endogenous properties of EVs and EVs engineering strategies could lead to a promising cell-free therapy for cardiac repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PPARα belongs to the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) family that consists of PPARα, PPARδ, and PAPRγ. Activation of PPARα by ligands including fatty acids and their derivatives as well as some synthetic compounds regulates tumor progression in various tissues. Activated PPARα inhibits or promotes tumorigenesis depending on the specific tissues, but the molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this review, the recent progress of PPARα regulating tumorigenesis is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing the affective states of social counterparts and responding appropriately fosters successful social interactions. However, little is known about how the affective states are expressed and perceived and how they influence social decisions. Here, we show that male and female mice emit distinct olfactory cues after experiencing distress. These cues activate distinct neural circuits in the piriform cortex (PiC) and evoke sexually dimorphic empathic behaviors in observers. Specifically, the PiC → PrL pathway is activated in female observers, inducing a social preference for the distressed counterpart. Conversely, the PiC → MeA pathway is activated in male observers, evoking excessive self-grooming behaviors. These pathways originate from non-overlapping PiC neuron populations with distinct gene expression signatures regulated by transcription factors and sex hormones. Our study unveils how internal states of social counterparts are processed through sexually dimorphic mechanisms at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels and offers insights into the neural mechanisms underpinning sex differences in higher brain functions. [Display omitted] • Male and female mice display different empathic behaviors in response to others' pain • Female mice show social preference, whereas male mice display excessive self-grooming • Distinct behaviors arise from neural circuits involving two populations of PiC neurons • The two PiC neuron populations exhibit distinct gene expression signatures Fang et al. discovered that male and female mice display different empathic behaviors in response to others' pain. Specifically, males engage in self-grooming, whereas females demonstrate social approaching. Processing information about others' pain involves distinct neural circuits for each sex. Importantly, these circuits inherently differ in gene expression patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the results of a functional analysis of the expressed product of rice allergen cDNA (RA117) in Escherichia coli. Experimental procedure; Inhibitory activity of expressed products gravitate toward insect alpha-amylase; Comparison of mean weight of larvae with expressed products of prokaryotic expression vectors.

Fossil wood of Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii Franch.) from the Late Pleistocene deposits of Maoming Basin of South China provides the first megafossil evidence for glacial expansion of the range of a cold-tolerant species in low latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Premise o f the study: The fossil record of alder (Alnus) is well known in the Cenozoic deposits throughout the northern hemisphere, based on numerous reports of the distinctive pollen, cone-like infructescences, staminate inflorescences, and leaves. However, our understanding of the systematic position of these fossils relative to the modern phytogeny of the genus has been limited because most fossils were described from only one organ. * Methods: We examined well-preserved leaves and associated fruiting and staminate catkins from the middle Eocene, Clarno Formation, Oregon, USA by stereomicroscopy. In situ and dispersed pollen were cleaned with HF and acetolized for light and scanning electron microscopy. * Key results: We reconstructed a new extinct species based on multiple organs and discuss significant phytogeographic and phylogenetic implications for Alnus. Alnus clamoensis sp. nov. is described based on serrate leaves with 1-4 small teeth between each primary tooth, associated cone-like fruiting catkins with fruits in situ, and associated slender pollen catkins beating in situ 3- to 6-pored pollen with arci between the pores. Combined investigations of each organ indicate that they probably derive from the same species and can be confidently attributed to subgenus Alnus Furlow based on leaf architecture and pollen pore number frequency. * Conclusions: The Clarno fossils are most similar to the extant North American species of subgenus Alnus rather than to those from Asia and Europe, indicating that this modern subgenus was already distinct by the middle Eocene and that the intercontinental migration likely occurred earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Itch encompasses both sensory and emotional dimensions, with the two dimensions reciprocally exacerbating each other. However, whether a shared neural circuit mechanism governs both dimensions remains elusive. Here, we report that the anterior insular cortex (AIC) is activated by both histamine-dependent and -independent itch stimuli. The activation of AIC elicits aversive emotion and exacerbates pruritogen-induced itch sensation and aversion. Mechanistically, AIC excitatory neurons project to the GABAergic neurons in the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST). Manipulating the activity of the AIC → dBNST pathway affects both itch sensation and itch-induced aversion. Our study discovers the shared neural circuit (AIC → dBNST pathway) underlying the itch sensation and aversion, highlights the critical role of the AIC as a central hub for the itch processing, and provides a framework to understand the neural mechanisms underlying the sensation and emotion interaction. [Display omitted] • AICExt neurons are activated by both histamine-dependent and -independent itch • AICExt neurons contribute to both itch sensation and itch-evoked aversion • AICExt neurons send projections to GABAergic neurons in the dBNST Zheng et al. reveal that the anterior insular cortex (AIC) and its downstream region, the dBNST, collaborate in itch sensation and itch-induced aversion. This study offers a framework for comprehending the neural mechanisms involved in the interaction between sensation and emotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Petrified dicotyledonous wood is reported for the first time from the Eocene Youganwo Formation of the Maoming Basin, South China. The combination of anatomical features including solitary and radial multiples of vessels, simple perforation plates, medium to large alternate intervessel pits, septate and non-septate fibers, rare axial parenchyma, heterocellular rays, and crystals in chambered ray cells and axial parenchyma cells occurs in extant Anacardiaceae, Burseraceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Salicaceae, Phyllanthaceae and the fossil wood genus Paraphyllanthoxylon. Closest resemblance to extant Bischofia javanica is justified and a new fossil wood species Bischofia maomingensis sp. nov. is proposed after comparing with these taxa. This is the earliest occurrence of fossil Bischofia woods in China, contributing to our scant knowledge of Chinese Paleogene angiosperm woods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new species, Altingioxylon hainanensis, is described from the Eocene Changchang Formation of the Changchang Basin on Hainan Island, South China. It is the first record of a fossil wood assigned to Altingiaceae found in China, and the most ancient evidence of wood for this family in eastern Asia. The new species is similar to A. rhodoleioides, known since the Miocene in India and Java Island, and to Altingia hisauchii from the Miocene to Pliocene of Japan. The close resemblance between these species and Liquidambar sp., known from the Middle Miocene of western North America, provides additional evidence for the migration of their ancestors from Asia to North America across the Bering land bridge during the Miocene. Distinctions in ray sizes between the eastern Asian specimens and their contemporaries from Europe to Kazakhstan is suggested as a result of the divergence between the large eastern Asian clade and the North American-west Asian clade within Altingiaceae during the Eocene-Oligocene. The presence of crystals in ray cells may be considered an ancestral condition that persists in the eastern Asian lineages up to the extant Altingia and Semiliquidambar, but which was lost in other Altingiaceae in the course of evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new species of Nelumbo Adanson is described from the Eocene of the Changchang Basin, Hainan Island, South China. This is the first comprehensive report on a fossil Nelumbo species from the Eocene of the Changchang Basin, Hainan Island. The co-occurrence of fruits, tubers, rhizomes with numerous adventitious roots, leaves, and receptacles indicates that the plants grew where they are preserved. These specimens, combined with palynological assemblage and other macrofossils, indicate a tropical or subtropical humid climate in the Changchang Basin from the late early Eocene to early late Eocene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Colorectal cancer is an important death‐related disease in the worldwide. However, specific colon cancer tumor markers currently used for diagnosis and treatment are few. The purpose of this study is to screen the potential colon cancer markers by bioinformatics and verify the results with experiments. Methods: Gene expression data were downloaded from two different databases: TCGA database and GEO datasets, which were then analyzed by two different methods (difference analysis and WGCNA method). Venn and PPI analysis obtained the potential core genes, which were then performed the GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis. Expressions levels of NKD1 in colon carcinoma tissues were further confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and western blot assays. Moreover, the function was measured by MTT, clone formation, and tumor transplantation experiments. Importantly, co‐immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and protein stability assays were further performed to explore the underlying mechanism of NKD1 promoting cell proliferation. Results: Nine potential core genes highly expressed in colon cancer samples were screened out by bioinformatics analysis. NKD1, one of the hub genes, highly expressed in the colon carcinoma tissues could enhance the proliferation of colon cancer cells. Mechanism research demonstrated that NKD1 was essential for the combination between Wnt signalosome (DVL) and β‐catenin, and that NKD1 knockout remarkably decreased the β‐catenin expression. Immunofluorescence assays further implied that NKD1 knockout significantly inhibited β‐catenin nuclear accumulation. Importantly, the stability of β‐catenin proteins was maintained by NKD1 in the colon cancer cells. Conclusion: We believe that NKD1 well expressed in the colorectal carcinoma tissues can enhance the proliferation of colon cancer cells. Furthermore, the functions that NKD1 may have in colon cancer cells should be different from that NKD1 has played in the zebrafish. Thus, NKD1 could be a specific colorectal cancer marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Syzygium guipingensis sp. nov. (Myrtaceae), is described based on mummified fossil wood from the Miocene Erzitang Formation of Guiping Basin, Guangxi, South China. This species represents the most ancient reliable fossil record of the genus Syzygium in eastern Asia, showing the greatest similarity to the extant species S. buxifolium Hook. et Arnott. Its occurrence in the Miocene is consistent with the diversification age of the Asian lineage within Syzygium as estimated by molecular dating (11.4 Ma). The fossil record of Syzygium suggests that this genus migrated from Australia to eastern Asia in the Miocene, coincidently with the formation of island chains between these continents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]