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Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease marked by inflammatory cell infiltration and joint damage. The Chinese government has approved the prescription medication sinomenine (SIN), an effective anti-inflammation drug, for treating RA. This study evaluated the possible anti-inflammatory actions of SIN in RA based on bioinformatics analysis and experiments. Six microarray datasets were acquired from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. We used R software to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and perform function evaluations. The CIBERSORT was used to calculate the abundance of 22 infiltrating immune cells. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to discover genes associated with M1 macrophages. Four public datasets were used to predict the genes of SIN. Following that, function enrichment analysis for hub genes was performed. The cytoHubba and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were employed to select hub genes, and their diagnostic effectiveness was predicted using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Molecular docking was undertaken to confirm the affinity between the SIN and hub gene. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy of SIN was validated in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells line using Western blot and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) was identified as the hub M1 macrophages-related biomarker in RA using bioinformatic analysis and molecular docking. Our study indicated that MMP9 took part in IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways. Furthermore, we found that SIN suppresses the MMP9 protein overexpression and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell line. In conclusion, our work sheds new light on the pathophysiology of RA and identifies MMP9 as a possible RA key gene. In conclusion, the above findings demonstrate that SIN, from an emerging research perspective, might be a potential cost-effective anti-inflammatory medication for treating RA.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, along with the novelty of innovation, are significant factors in promoting sustainable development for corporations. This study employs the Heckman two-stage model to examine the impact of ESG performance on innovation novelty using a dataset comprising A-share listed companies in the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2011 to 2020. The results indicate that enhanced ESG performance significantly fosters innovation by expanding innovation resources and mitigating agency problems. Further analysis reveals that this relationship is more pronounced under high economic policy uncertainty, a challenging information environment, elevated financing constraints, and in the context of digital transformation. This study not only expands the research on the economic implications of ESG performance for enterprise innovation behavior but also places a distinct emphasis on innovation quality rather than quantity. Additionally, this study enriches the existing literature on the factors influencing innovation novelty and extends research into the link between environmental protection and firm innovation, particularly from the perspective of stakeholder theory. Furthermore, this study holds practical significance for governments aiming to enhance ESG evaluation systems and establish guiding policies that encourage novel innovations, ultimately contributing to sustainable and high-quality development. Simultaneously, this study provides guidance to enterprises by encouraging them to embrace green development, improve social responsibility, and elevate their governance standards to promote innovation quality.

Abstract Nipa palm hispid beetle (Octodonta nipae) is an insect species that is native to Malaysia but has spread to southern China and beyond, seriously threatening palm production. A lack of high-quality genome resources has hindered understanding of the insect’s invasive characteristics and ecological adaptations. Here, we combined Illumina short read, PacBio long-read, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing technologies to generate a high-quality, chromosome-scale genome assembly of nipa palm hispid beetle. The genome assembly was 1.31 Gb in size, consisting of nine chromosomes. The contig and scaffold N50 values were 1.022 Mb and 148.6 Mb, respectively. The genome assembly completeness was estimated at 99.1%. Annotation revealed 16,305 protein-coding genes and 62.16% repeat sequences. This high-quality genome assembly is a valuable resource that will contribute to understanding of the genetic factors underlying the invasive characteristics of nipa palm hispid beetle, ultimately promoting development of efficient control policies.

Abstract Objective Cerebral malperfusion (CM) is a common comorbidity in acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD), which is associated with high mortality and poor neurological prognosis. This meta-analysis investigated the surgical strategy of ATAAD patients with CM, aiming to compare the difference in therapeutic effectiveness between the central repair-first and the early reperfusion-first according to clinical outcomes. Methods The meta-analysis and systematic review was conducted based on studies sourced from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane literature database, in which cases of ATAAD with CM underwent surgical repair were included. Data for baseline characteristics, mortality, survival were extracted, and risk ratio (RR) values and the pooled mortality were calculated. Results A total of 17 retrospective studies were analyzed, including 1010 cases of ATAAD with CM underwent surgical repair. The pooled early mortality in early reperfusion group was lower (8.1%; CI, 0.02 to 0.168) than that in the central repair group (16.2%; CI, 0.115 to 0.216). The pooled long-term mortality was 7.9% in the early reperfusion cohort and 17.4% the central repair-first cohort, without a statistically significant heterogeneity (I [2] = 51.271%; p = 0.056). The mean time of symptom-onset-to-the-operation-room in all the reports was 8.87 ± 12.3 h. Conclusion This meta-analysis suggested that early reperfusion-first may achieved better outcomes compared to central repair-first in ATAAD patients complicated with CM to some extent. Early operation and early restoration of cerebral perfusion may reduce the occurrence of some neurological complications. Trial registration : The meta-analysis was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (No. CRD CRD42023475629) on Nov. 8th, 2023.

Abstract On June 6, 2023, the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine experienced a catastrophic breach that led to the loss of life and substantial economic values. Prior to the breach, the supporting structures downstream of the spillway had shown signs of being compromised. Here, we use multi-source satellite data, meteorological reanalysis, and dam design criteria to document the dam’s pre-failure condition. We find that anomalous operation of the Kakhovka Dam began in November 2022, following the destruction of a bridge segment, which led to persistent overtopping from late April 2023 up to the breach, contributing to the erosion of the spillway foundation. Moreover, our findings also highlight safety and risk-reduction measures pivotal in avoiding such scenarios. To help prevent future disasters, we advocate for greater transparency in the design parameters of key water structures to enable risk management, and conclude that remote sensing technology can help ensuring water infrastructure safety.

Gliomas of the brain are characterised by high aggressiveness, high postoperative recurrence rate, high morbidity and mortality, posing a great challenge to clinical treatment. Traditional treatments include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy; they also have significant associated side effects, leading to difficulties in tumour resection and recurrence. Photodynamic therapy has been shown to be a promising new strategy to help treat malignant tumours of the brain. It irradiates the tumour site at a specific wavelength to activate a photosensitiser, which selectively accumulates at the tumour site, triggering a photochemical reaction that destroys the tumour cells. It has the advantages of being minimally invasive, highly targeted and with few adverse reactions, and is expected to be well used in anti-tumour therapy. However, the therapeutic effect of traditional PDT is limited by the weak tissue penetration ability of photosensitiser, hypoxia and immunosuppression in the tumour microenvironment. This paper reviews the current research status on the therapeutic principle of photodynamic therapy in glioma and the mechanism of tumour cell injury, and also analyses the advantages and disadvantages of the current application in glioma treatment, and clarifies the analysis of ideas to improve the tissue penetration ability of photosensitizers. It aims to provide a feasible direction for the improvement of photodynamic therapy for glioma and a reference for the clinical treatment of deep brain tumours.

BackgroundExcessive inflammation poses significant risks to human physical and mental health. Astilbe grandis, a traditional Miao medicine, is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the specific anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of many compounds within this plant remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of two characteristic oleanane triterpenoids, 3α-acetoxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (1) and 3β-acetoxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid (2), isolated from Astilbe grandis, using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Macrophages.MethodsThe anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of compounds 1 and 2 were investigated by establishing an LPS-induced inflammation model in RAW 264.7 cells and THP-1 cells. Nitric oxide (NO) levels were assessed using the Griess method. The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined using western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Additionally, the phosphorylation level of p65 in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was assessed through western blotting. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 was assessed through immunofluorescence staining. Finally, the binding affinity of the compounds to NF-κB p65 target was validated through molecular docking.ResultsCompounds 1 and 2 significantly inhibited the expression of NO, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2, and iNOS in LPS-induced Macrophages. Mechanistically, they attenuated the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway by downregulating the phosphorylation level and nuclear translocation of p65.ConclusionThis study elucidates the anti-inflammatory activities and potential mechanism of the characteristic oleanane triterpenoids with C-14 carboxyl group, compounds 1 and 2, in LPS-induced Macrophages by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway for the first time. These findings suggest that these two compounds hold promise as potential candidates for anti-inflammatory interventions in the future.

Abstract Yttrium iron garnet, a material possessing ultralow magnetic damping and extraordinarily long magnon diffusion length, is the most widely studied magnetic insulator in spintronics and magnonics. Field-free electrical control of perpendicular yttrium iron garnet magnetization with considerable efficiency is highly desired for excellent device performance. Here, we demonstrate such an accomplishment with a collinear spin current, whose spin polarization and propagation direction are both perpendicular to the interface. Remarkably, the field-free magnetization switching is achieved not only with a heavy-metal-free material, Permalloy, but also with a higher efficiency as compared with a typical heavy metal, Pt. Combined with the direct and inverse effect measurements, we ascribe the collinear spin current to the anomalous spin Hall effect in Permalloy. Our findings provide a new insight into spin current generation in Permalloy and open an avenue in spintronic devices.

Abstract Background Varicocele is the most prevalent correctable cause of male infertility. Currently, surgical treatment is the primary method to enhance fertility.For many young varicocele patients who have postponed surgery due to time constraints, daytime surgery is especially crucial. Thus, this study aims to investigate the clinical and nursing application value of the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle in daytime varicocelectomy. Methods Retrospective collection of clinical data was conducted on 130 patients undergoing laparoscopic varicocelectomy in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou,China.Among them, 65 patients who underwent daytime surgery were assigned to the observation group, while 65 patients who underwent routine hospital surgeries were assigned to the control group.The former also implemented PDCA cycle management.A comparison was made between the two groups regarding hospitalization time, hospitalization costs, and patient satisfaction. Results The observation group exhibited a shorter hospitalization time and lower hospitalization costs compared to the control group, with higher patient satisfaction and pre-discharge visual analog scale (VAS) scores noted (P 0.05). The implementation of the PDCA cycle in the observation group has demonstrated its effectiveness, ensuring the smooth conduct of the daytime varicocelectomy. Conclusion In conclusion,daytime varicocelectomy can reduce hospitalization time,lower hospitalization costs, improve patient satisfaction. The PDCA Cycle enhances the rationality and efficacy of the daytime varicocelectomy procedure and is highly recommended. Furthermore, it offers valuable reference for the application of the PDCA Cycle in various other diseases and nursing management approaches. Trial Registration The Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2300077465;Date of registration: November 9, 2023.

Abstract The shuffled frog leaping algorithm (SFLA) is a promising metaheuristic bionics algorithm, which has been designed by the shuffled complex evolution and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) framework. However, it is easily trapped into local optimum and has the low optimization accuracy when it is used to optimize complex engineering problems. To overcome the shortcomings, a novel modified shuffled frog leaping algorithm (MSFLA) with inertia weight is proposed in this paper. To extend the scope of the direction and length of the updated worst frog (vector) of the original SFLA, the inertia weight α was introduced and its meaning and range of the new parameters are fully explained. Then the convergence of the MSFLA is deeply analyzed and proved theoretically by a new dynamic equation formed by Z-transform. Finally, we have compared the solution of the 7 benchmark functions with the original SFLA, other improved SFLAs, genetic algorithm, PSO, artificial bee colony algorithm, and the grasshopper optimization algorithm with invasive weed optimization. The testing results showed that the modified algorithms can effectively improve the solution accuracy and convergence property, and exhibited an excellent ability of global optimization in high-dimensional space and complex function problems.

Water is an important element in the ecological environment, and different types of water (e.g., rivers, lakes, and ponds) have different impacts on the ecology. The extraction and classification of different types of water bodies has significant implications for the water resource management and water environment monitoring. Current research on the water-body types classification is relatively limited compared to water body extraction. Existing methods typically adopt a two-stage architecture, where the first stage extracts water bodies at the pixel level, and the second stage classifies the water bodies into different types using rule-based thresholds classifier and morphological features at object level. However, methods in the second stage suffer from overfitting, lack of robustness, and confusion in object segmentation. Despite these challenges, the deep learning methods could capture the high-level semantic features, which are effective for the classification of different types of water bodies. In this article, a novel water-scene enhancement deep model (WSEDM) was proposed for identifying multiple types of water bodies. The WSEDM consists of a pixel-wise water body extraction using Edge-Otsu and a patch-wise water-body types classification through deep learning model. In order to improve the accuracy of patch-wise water body classification, a novel multimodal feature fusion network (CASANet) was designed for the fusing of optical and synthetic aperture radar images. The water-body types classification was conducted on three international wetland cities in the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The 10-m water-body types map achieved an overall accuracy of 94.6%. The proposed CASANet is also validated through comparison and transferability experiments, which further confirmed the superior performance.

Geological remote sensing interpretation plays a pivotal role in the field of regional geological mapping, encompassing the analysis of rock, soil, and water features. However, these geological elements can be obscured by the surrounding geographical environment and can undergo modifications caused by geological activities. The former hinders the effectiveness of satellite remote sensing data, resulting in the invisibility of element features, while the latter leads to the complex distribution of element features and significant spatial variations of geological elements. Consequently, existing deep learning-based models for interpreting geological elements often exhibit limited accuracy. To address these issues, this study proposes the contextually enhanced multiscale feature fusion network for the efficient interpretation of geological elements. First, the context enhancement module is employed to extract abundant feature information and reinforce contextual features, aiming to capture essential features and strengthen their interconnections. Second, the multiscale feature fusion module incorporates the SimAM attention mechanism to adaptively learn features from different channels, emphasizing the feature information that contributes to interpretation results and maximizing the comprehensive and crucial feature information for each element. Extensive experiments demonstrate the superior performance of both the context enhancement module and the multiscale feature fusion module compared to several representative deep learning networks in terms of overall interpretation accuracy on two datasets. The model demonstrated improvements in oPA and mIoU of 2.4% and 2.8%, respectively, on the Landsat 8 dataset, and 3.5% and 3.2%, respectively, on the Sentinel-2 dataset.

Abstract Background Lepidoptera is one of the most species-rich animal groups, with substantial karyotype variations among species due to chromosomal rearrangements. Knowledge of the evolutionary patterns of lepidopteran chromosomes still needs to be improved. Results Here, we used chromosome-level genome assemblies of 185 lepidopteran insects to reconstruct an ancestral reference genome and proposed a new chromosome nomenclature. Thus, we renamed over 5000 extant chromosomes with this system, revealing the historical events of chromosomal rearrangements and their features. Additionally, our findings indicate that, compared with autosomes, the Z chromosome in Lepidoptera underwent a fast loss of conserved genes, rapid acquisition of lineage-specific genes, and a low rate of gene duplication. Moreover, we presented evidence that all available 67 W chromosomes originated from a common ancestor chromosome, with four neo-W chromosomes identified, including one generated by fusion with an autosome and three derived through horizontal gene transfer. We also detected nearly 4000 inter-chromosomal gene movement events. Notably, Geminin is transferred from the autosome to the Z chromosome. When located on the autosome, Geminin shows female-biased expression, but on the Z chromosome, it exhibits male-biased expression. This contributes to the sexual dimorphism of body size in silkworms. Conclusions Our study sheds light on the complex evolutionary history of lepidopteran chromosomes based on ancestral chromosome reconstruction and novel chromosome nomenclature.

Background: /Objective: The therapeutic efficacy and prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unsatisfactory, and further studies are supposed to provide more effective treatment strategies. Immune cells in extracellular matrix play an important role in the therapeutic effect and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Method: To explore the mechanism of immune cells, we analysed the relationship between immune infiltration and gene expression profile through public databases. Patients were divided into high and low groups according to immune score by the ESTIMATE algorithm. It was found that the prognosis and clinical data of patients with liver cancer were correlated with immune scores. Results: Using the CIBERSORT method, we identified 21 types of immunocytes infiltration in HCC and demonstrated that these immune cells have clinical and prognostic implications. According to immune score, 590 differentially expressed genes were identified, and 6 key immune-related genes were screened by univariate COX analysis and lasso regression. In addition, the expression of EGLN3, KLRB1, MSC and HMOX1 was found to be correlated with immune cells (B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells) in HCC by the TIMER algorithm. Conclusions: These findings provide new clues to understanding the mechanisms of immune cells in HCC and lay the foundation for the development of new prognostic strategies in HCC.

In this study, we investigate the impact of prior ferrite on the bainite transformation kinetics and microstructure of medium-carbon steel interrupted by an intercritical annealing (IAA) process. It was found that the incubation time and completion time decreased from 687 s and 6018 s to 20 s and 4680 s, with the volume fraction of ferrite increasing from 9.5% to 28.6%, while the maximum transformation rate increased from 00271 μm/s to 0.0436 μm/s. The ferrite/austenite interface is introduced, and the nucleation sites are increased to accelerate the subsequent bainite transformation due to the formation of prior ferrite. However, there is a competitive relationship between the number and activation energy of bainite nucleation. According to the experimental results and theoretical calculations, the activation energy of the bainite transformation in the medium-carbon bainite steel decreases gradually with an increase in the volume fraction of prior ferrite.

Abstract The tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, or Phthorimaea absouta, is native to South America, but quickly spread to other regions of world, including Europe, Africa, and Asia, devastating to global tomato production. However, a lack of high-quality genome resources makes it difficult to understand its high invasiveness and ecological adaptation. Here, we sequenced the genome of the tomato pinworm using Nanopore platforms, yielding a genome assembly of 564.5 Mb with contig N50 of 3.33 Mb. BUSCO analysis demonstrated that this genome assembly has a high-level completeness of 98.0% gene coverage. In total, 310 Mb are repeating sequences accounting for 54.8% of genome assembly, and 21,979 protein-coding genes are annotated. Next, we used the Hi-C technique to anchor 295 contigs to 29 chromosomes, yielding a chromosome-level genome assembly with a scaffold N50 of 20.7 Mb. In sum, the high-quality genome assembly of the tomato pinworm is a useful gene resource that contributes to a better understanding of the biological characteristics of its invasiveness and will help in developing an efficient control policy.

Abstract The spotted alfalfa aphid (SAA, Therioaphis trifolii) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a destructive pest of cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) that leads to large financial losses in the livestock industry around the world. Here, we present a chromosome-scale genome assembly of T. trifolii, the first genome assembly for the aphid subfamily Calaphidinae. Using PacBio long-read sequencing, Illumina sequencing, and Hi-C scaffolding techniques, a 541.26 Mb genome was generated, with 90.01% of the assembly anchored into eight scaffolds, and the contig and scaffold N50 are 2.54 Mb and 44.77 Mb, respectively. BUSCO assessment showed a completeness score of 96.6%. A total of 13,684 protein-coding genes were predicted. The high-quality genome assembly of T. trifolii not only provides a genomic resource for the more complete analysis of aphid evolution, but also provides insights into the ecological adaptation and insecticide resistance of T. trifolii.

High-quality information disclosure improves the accuracy of investors’ judgment and efficiency in resource allocation. With a focus on the readability of information disclosed, this study analyzes how political connections affect the readability of financial statements by taking A-share private-owned companies listed on Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges as research sample from 2008 to 2019. We use ordinary least squares model and moderating effect model as our main methodology. A series of robustness tests are also carried out. Our research finds that companies with political connections are more likely to issue less readable financial statements. This negative impact is diminished for the firms with a higher marketization level, better corporate governance, and greater analyst coverage. Further research on the economic consequences demonstrates that political connections would weaken the positive effect of the readability of financial statements on the firm’s future market value. This study enriches the research on the factors influencing the readability of financial statements and reveals the economic consequences of political connections in terms of textual information disclosure quality. It is therefore an important reference for regulatory authorities to formulate guidelines on text information disclosure and supervise the compliance of politically affiliated enterprises, while facilitating listed companies to enhance the readability of their financial statements.

BackgroundAcquired brain injury (ABI) in children and adolescents can lead to motor and executive impairments that often require long-term treatment. The implementation of web-based telerehabilitation therapy at home is a method to improve the functional status of patients. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of the effects of web-based telerehabilitation programs on functional outcomes in children and adolescents with brain injury and supplemented the findings with a meta-analysis. ObjectiveThis study evaluated the therapeutic effect of web-based telerehabilitation training on children and adolescents with brain injury to determine whether web-based telerehabilitation therapy improved motor function, executive function, physical activity level, lower limb strength, hand and upper limb function, visual processing skills, and occupational functional performance in children and adolescents with brain injury. MethodsPubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials on web-based telerehabilitation programs in children and adolescents with brain injury until December 2022, and the risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration Tool. Relevant data were extracted, and a meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software. ResultsOverall, 17 studies involving 848 patients were included. Web-based telerehabilitation therapy improved the motor function (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.29, 95% CI 0.01-0.57; P=.04), physical activity level (SMD 0.42, 95% CI 0.11-0.73; P=.007), lower limb strength (SMD 0.52, 95% CI 0.13-0.90; P=.009), and visual processing skills (SMD 0.26, 95% CI 0.02-0.50; P=.04) of children and adolescents with brain injury. It also improved executive function in letter-number sequencing (SMD 1.26, 95% CI 0.26-2.26; P=.01), attention (SMD 0.38, 95% CI 0.09-0.66; P=.009), and symbol search (SMD 1.18, 95% CI 0.43-1.93, P=.002). ConclusionsWeb-based telerehabilitation therapy improved motor function, physical activity level, lower limb strength, letter-number sequencing, attention, and symbol search, which improved the quality of life in children and adolescents with brain injury. Web-based telerehabilitation programs provide great convenience for children and adolescents with ABI who need long-term treatment and allow them to exercise at home for rehabilitation training. The widespread implementation of remote interventions also provides children and adolescents in remote areas with better access to rehabilitation services. This review provides evidence for the effectiveness of web-based telerehabilitation therapy, but there was heterogeneity in some of the results because of different disease types and intervention programs. Future studies can expand the sample size according to disease type and increase follow-up time according to different exercise prescriptions to further refine the long-term effects of this intervention on various functions of children and adolescents with ABI. Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42023421917; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=421917

Autophagy, as a special programmed cell death, is a critical degradative process that eliminates intracellular abnormal proteins or damage organelles to balance cell energy and favor cell metabolism with autophagy-related (ATG) proteins. Autophagy activation is being increasingly recognized as an essential hallmark in tumorigenesis through influencing the metabolism of stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) which comprises of tumor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), cancer-associated endothelial cells (CAEs), immune cells and adipocytes. Tumor cells can reuse autophagy-involved recycling to maintain mitochondrial function and energy supply to meet the metabolic demand of their growth and proliferation. However, the mechanism through which autophagy can promote a crosstalk between tumor and stroma cells is not clear. Reprogramed metabolism is one of the main characteristics of TME leading to higher adaptability of tumor cells with diverse mechanisms. The activation of autophagy has expanded our understanding on the interaction between tumor metabolism and TME. The aim of this review is to report recent advances on the metabolic cross-talk between stromal cells and solid tumor cells induced by autophagy in TME and revealed potential therapeutic targets.

Abstract We retrospectively enrolled 325 gastric cancer (GC) patients to investigate the associations of programmed death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) expression with clinicopathological characteristics by different scoring methods and different cutoff values. PD‐L1 expression was evaluated by the tumor proportion score (TPS) and the combined positive score (CPS). The positive rate of PD‐L1 TPS ≥1%, CPS ≥1, CPS ≥5 and CPS ≥10 in our study were 12.0%, 87.4%, 69.8% and 42.2%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that PD‐L1 CPS ≥5 was related to high expression of Ki67 (OR = 2.658, 95% CI: 1.401–5.045, p = .003) and pTNM staging (p = .033). PD‐L1 CPS ≥10 was correlated with larger tumor size (OR = 2.322, 95% CI: 1.052–5.127, p = .037) and lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.495, 95% CI: 1.293–4.814, p = .006). It is expected that these results can provide a reference for screening GC patients with high PD‐L1 expression level.

Abstract Purpose MUC1 is a membrane bound protein that can regulate tumor progression but its role in tumor metastasis and the metastatic microenvironment remains unclear. Methods We performed differential gene analysis for primary liver cancer (n = 31) and lung metastases (n = 31) using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset (GSE141016) and obtained RNA sequencing data from 374 liver cancer and 50 normal tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We analyzed the prognostic value of MUC1 and the relationship between MUC1 and the TME using online databases and a clinical cohort. Immunohistochemistry detected MUC1 in normal liver, liver cancer, and lung metastases. Multiplex immunohistochemistry staining detected immune cells in the metastatic microenvironment. Results High MUC1 expression levels in hepatocellular carcinoma are associated with worse clinical prognosis and higher rates of lung metastasis. In addition, we observed a correlation between MUC1 and multiple immune cells in the metastatic microenvironment. In paired primary liver cancer and lung metastatic tumor tissues from the same patient, we observed higher MUC1 protein levels in lung metastases than in primary liver cancer. Furthermore, MUC1 was negatively correlated with CD8+T and Treg cells in the metastatic tumor microenvironment and positively correlated with DC. In addition, we found that MUC1 was associated with CD8+T cell activation and function using flow cytometry in another cohort of patients with liver cancer. Conclusion These data confirm the potential of MUC1 as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target.

This study optimized the design of an aeration device for pond engineered recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) whose application is aimed at increasing dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in RAS aquaculture practice. DO is a key factor in aquaculture productivity, and oxygenators are the power devices used for regulating its levels in aquaculture ponds. In this study, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) aquaculture trials were conducted in a self-built RAS by using the new aeration device (NAD); the microporous and impeller aeration components were individually tested in terms of performance, and then combined for the orthogonal testing of their operating parameters in order to assess the NAD’s oxygenation capacity. The test results show that the device effectively increased the dissolved oxygen levels in the RAS tank, enhanced the upper–lower water layer exchange and directional flow, and met the design and parameter selection requirements. Compared with the existing RAS oxygenation equipment, the NAD operated with the optimal parameters and increased the oxygen transfer rate in the pond water tank by 122%.

The homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) transcription factors, representing one of the largest plant-specific superfamilies, play important roles in the response to various abiotic stresses. However, the functional roles of HD-ZIPs in abiotic stress tolerance and the underlying mechanisms remain relatively limited in Miscanthus sinensis. In this study, we isolated an HD-ZIP TF gene, MsHDZ23, from Miscanthus and ectopically expressed it in Arabidopsis. Transcriptome and promoter analyses revealed that MsHDZ23 responded to salt, alkali, and drought treatments. The overexpression (OE) of MsHDZ23 in Arabidopsis conferred higher tolerance to salt and alkali stresses compared to wild-type (WT) plants. Moreover, MsHDZ23 was able to restore the hb7 mutant, the ortholog of MsHDZ23 in Arabidopsis, to the WT phenotype. Furthermore, MsHDZ23-OE lines exhibited significantly enhanced drought stress tolerance, as evidenced by higher survival rates and lower water loss rates compared to WT. The improved drought tolerance may be attributed to the significantly smaller stomatal aperture in MsHDZ23-OE lines compared to WT. Furthermore, the accumulation of the malondialdehyde (MDA) under abiotic stresses was significantly decreased, accompanied by dramatically enhanced activities in several antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in the transgenic plants. Collectively, these results demonstrate that MsHDZ23 functions as a multifunctional transcription factor in enhancing plant resistance to abiotic stresses.

Red lead is commonly employed as a red pigment in numerous valuable cultural artifacts. Raman spectrometry has been widely employed as the primary tool in many nondestructive studies on red lead. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate and study the impact of lasers on the pigment. The degradation of red lead induced by a 532 nm laser is investigated using micro-Raman spectroscopy. At room temperature, red lead begins to degrade into β-PbO when the power density of the 532 nm laser reaches approximately 5.1 × 104 W/cm2 (laser: 532 nm, objective: 50×). At this point, the temperature at the focus of the sample is estimated to be at least 500 °C, aided by the Raman peak shift of β-PbO. Furthermore, the power density of the laser-induced degradation decreases as the temperature of the red lead increases. Hence, the degradation of red lead can be attributed to the photothermal effect. The temperature rise can be explained by two factors. First, red lead exhibits a high absorbance of approximately 0.5942 at 532 nm. Second, red lead has significantly low thermal diffusivity and conductivity, measuring 0.039 mm2·s−1 and 0.078 W·m−1·K−1, respectively, which leads to heat accumulation at the focal point of the laser beam. To better preserve cultural heritage, the appropriate laser power should be prioritized when the degradation process is caused by the thermal effect of laser irradiation.

Abstract Isodon amethystoides (Lamiaceae) is a popular plant in folk medicine in the southern provinces of China. Our phytochemical investigation of the twigs and leaves of this plant led to the discovery of five new diterpenoids with isopimarane and 3,4-seco isopimarane scaffolds [isoamethinols A–E (1–5)], along with the known compound 3,4-seco isopimara-4(18),7,15-triene-3-oic acid methylester (6). The chemical structures of these compounds, including the absolute configurations of the new diterpenoids, were determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. These compounds were evaluated for their biological activities against a panel of human cancer cell lines, gram-positive bacterial strains and HIV. Notably, the 3,4-seco-isopimarane isoamethinol D (4) showed toxicity to the cervical Hela cancer (Hela) cells with an IC50 value of 27.21 μM and the lung (A549) cancer cells with an IC50 value of 21.47 μM. Compound 4 also exhibited mild antimicrobial activity against the oral bacterial strain Streptococcus mutans. These findings suggested that the diterpenoids with a 3,4-seco-isopimarane diterpenoids isolated from I. amethystoides could provide a novel structure scaffold for the discovery of anticancer and antimicrobial compounds. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Distant metastasis is a sign of poor prognosis for cancer patients. Extrahepatic liver cancer metastases commonly spread to the lung. Remodelling of the metastatic microenvironment is essential for tumour metastasis. Neutrophil‐associated metastatic microenvironment contributes to the early metastatic colonisation of cancer cells in the lung. Method The lung metastasis models were constructed via treated cancer cells by tail vein injection into mice. And samples of lung were harvested at the indicated time to analyze tumor growth and immune cells in the microenvironment. Tumors and lung metastasis specimens were obtained via surgical operations for research purposes. Neutrophils were obtained from peripheral blood of patients with liver cancer or healthy donors (HD). Results Hepatocellular carcinoma cells reduce the secretion of histidine‐rich glycoprotein (HRG), regulate the recruitment and activation of neutrophils in the metastatic microenvironment and promote the production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), thereby promoting liver cancer lung metastasis. HRG binds to FCγR1 on the neutrophil membrane while inhibiting PI3K and NF‐κB activation, thereby reducing IL‐8 secretion to reduce neutrophil recruitment. Meanwhile, HRG inhibited IL8‐MAPK and NF‐κB pathway activation and ROS production, resulting in reduced NETs formation. Conclusions Our study reveals that liver cancer regulates neutrophil recruitment and NETs formation in the metastatic microenvironment by reducing HRG secretion, thereby promoting tumour lung metastasis. The results of this study will contribute to the development of possible strategies for treating metastases.

Liver cancer is an aggressive tumor originating in the liver with a dismal prognosis. Current evidence suggests that liver cancer is the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide and the second most deadly type of malignancy. Tumor heterogeneity accounts for the differences in drug responses among patients, emphasizing the importance of precision medicine. Patient-derived models of cancer are widely used preclinical models to study precision medicine since they preserve tumor heterogeneity ex vivo in the study of many cancers. Patient-derived models preserving cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions better recapitulate in vivo conditions, including patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), precision-cut liver slices (PCLSs), patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and patient-derived tumor spheroids (PDTSs). In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the different modalities used to establish preclinical models for precision medicine in liver cancer.

In this paper, a multi-point geostatistical (MPS) method based on variational function partition simulation is proposed to solve the key problem of MPS 3D modeling using 2D training images. The new method uses the FILTERSIM algorithm framework, and the variational function is used to construct simulation partitions and training image sequences, and only a small number of training images close to the unknown nodes are used in the partition simulation to participate in the MPS simulation. To enhance the reliability, a new covariance filter is also designed to capture the diverse features of the training patterns and allow the filter to downsize the training patterns from any direction; in addition, an information entropy method is used to reconstruct the whole 3D space by selecting the global optimal solution from several locally similar training patterns. The stability and applicability of the new method in complex geological modeling are demonstrated by analyzing the parameter sensitivity and algorithm performance. A geological model of a uranium deposit is simulated to test the pumping of five reserved drill holes, and the results show that the accuracy of the simulation results of the new method is improved by 11.36% compared with the traditional MPS method.

Building extraction refers to the automatic identification and separation of buildings from the background in remote sensing images. It plays a significant role in urban planning, land management, and disaster monitoring. Deep-learning methods have shown advantages in building extraction, but they still face challenges such as variations in building types, object occlusions, and complex backgrounds. To address these issues, SDSNet, a deep convolutional network that incorporates global multi-scale feature extraction and cross-level feature fusion, is proposed. SDSNet consists of three modules: semantic information extraction (SIE), multi-level merge (MLM), and semantic information fusion (SIF). The SIE module extracts contextual information and improves recognition of multi-scale buildings. The MLM module filters irrelevant details guided by high-level semantic information, aiding in the restoration of edge details for buildings. The SIF module combines filtered detail information with extracted semantic information for refined building extraction. A series of experiments conducted on two distinct public datasets for building extraction consistently demonstrate that SDSNet outperforms the state-of-the-art deep-learning models for building extraction tasks. On the WHU building dataset, the overall accuracy (OA) and intersection over union (IoU) achieved impressive scores of 98.86% and 90.17%, respectively. Meanwhile, on the Massachusetts dataset, SDSNet achieved OA and IoU scores of 94.05% and 71.6%, respectively. SDSNet exhibits a unique advantage in recovering fine details along building edges, enabling automated and intelligent building extraction. This capability effectively supports urban planning, resource management, and disaster monitoring.

Peanut root rot, caused by Fusarium spp., is a devastating fungal disease. As part of a program to obtain a biocontrol agent to control peanut root rot in the field, a bacterial strain LY-1 capable of inhibiting the growth of the fungus in vitro was isolated from rhizosphere soil samples collected from wild mint by agar disk dilution and dual-culture assay. Strain LY-1 was identified as Bacillus subtilis based on morphological characteristics, 16S rDNA, and gyrA sequence analyses. The bacterial suspension and cell-free culture filtrate of LY-1 could significantly inhibit the growth of Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium solani, but volatile organic compounds from the cultures had only a weak effect on mycelial growth. The percentage inhibition of 20% concentration of the cell-free culture filtrate of LY-1 on conidium production of each of the three Fusarium species was greater than 72.38%, and the percentage inhibition by the culture filtration on the germination of conidia of the three species was at least 62.37%. The production of extracellular enzyme activity by LY-1 was studied in functional assays, showing protease, cellulase, amylase, chitinase, and β-1,3-glucanase activity, while LY-1 contained a gene encoding iturin, an antifungal lipopeptide. In addition, under pot culture in a greenhouse, culture filtrate of LY-1 significantly promoted the growth of peanut, increasing the fresh and dry mass of the plant by 30.77% and 27.27%, respectively, in comparison with the no-filtrate control. The culture filtrate of LY-1 increased the resistance of peanut plants to F. oxysporum, with the biocontrol efficiency reaching 44.71%. In conclusion, B. subtilis LY-1, a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium, was able to protect peanuts from Fusarium spp. infection.

Short-term drought events occur more frequently and more intensively under global climate change. Biochar amendment has been documented to ameliorate the negative effects of water deficits on plant performance. Moreover, biochar can alter the soil microbial community, soil properties and soil metabolome, resulting in changes in soil functioning. We aim to reveal the extent of biochar addition on soil nutrients and the soil microbial community structure and how this improves the tolerance of legume crops (peanuts) to short-term extreme drought. We measured plant performances under different contents of biochar, set as a gradient of 2%, 3% and 4%, after an extreme experimental drought. In addition, we investigated how soil bacteria and fungi respond to biochar additions and how the soil metabolome changes in response to biochar amendments, with combined growth experiments, high-throughput sequencing and soil omics. The results indicated that biochar increased nitrites and available phosphorus. Biochar was found to influence the soil bacterial community structure more intensively than the soil fungal community. Additionally, the fungal community showed a higher randomness under biochar addition when experiencing short-term extreme drought compared to the bacterial community. Soil bacteria may be more strongly related to soil nutrient cycling in peanut agricultural systems. Although the soil metabolome has been documented to be influenced by biochar addition independent of soil moisture, we found more differential metabolites with a higher biochar content. We suggest that biochar enhances the resistance of plants and soil microbes to short-term extreme drought by indirectly modifying soil functioning probably due to direct changes in soil moisture and soil pH.

Abstract Background Although the safety and feasibility of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) transplantation have been established, the effectiveness of this approach compared with CABG alone remains controversial. The aim of this updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was to evaluate the efficacy of this procedure. Methods A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using studies sourced from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane literature databases to compare patients who received isolated CABG (CABG group) and BMSC transplantation with CABG (BMSC group). 22 studies were included. Results A total of 22 relevant publications with 820 patients were included. 432 patients received BMSC transplantation with CABG and 388 patients received isolated CABG. Compared with the CABG group, the BMSC transplantation group exhibited an improvement in the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (mean difference (MD) = 3.87%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.93–5.80%; P

Abstract The aim was to analyze the clinical characteristics of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) induced by Osimertinib and their effects on the prognosis, so as to further provide reference for clinical medication. This was a retrospective study, and 66 nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who had ADR in the 2nd‐line treatment with Osimertinib from January 2017 to December 2018 were included. Clinical characteristics and survival in subgroups of Osimertinib‐related ADRs were analyzed. The majority of patients who developed ADRs after the 2nd‐line treatment of Osimertinib were mainly middle‐aged and elderly women. Osimertinib‐related ADRs were mainly found in the skin, respiratory and digestive systems. The most common ADRs were rash (69.70%), diarrhea (66.67%), stomatitis (54.55%), and fatigue (51.52%). The degree of Osimertinib‐related ADRs was tolerable. Only seven patients experienced grade 3 ADRs, all of which involved the skin system. Exactly 92.42% of patients had more than two adverse reactions. The median PFS was influenced by the type, quantity, and severity of Osimertinib‐related ADRs. Osimertinib‐related ADRs are closely related to the prognosis of patients so that more attention should be paid to monitoring the occurrence of ADRs in clinical use of Osimertinib, especially ADRs in the skin, respiratory system and digestive system.

Introduction: Exercise has been proved to reduce the risk of recurrence and mortality of cancer. Emerging evidence indicated that exercise may regulate both systematical and local metabolism, immunity and other ways. Although the role of exercise in inhibiting castration-resistant prostate cancer is well established, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Method: Twenty C57BL/6 male mice were used to construct CRPC xenograft models and randomly divided into exercise group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). After exercised with voluntarily wheel running for 21 days, the mice were sacrificed and the tumor tissues and serum were collected. TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of tumor cells. The expression of PI3K signal pathway and apoptosis related proteins were detected by Western blot. The expression of AR and HMGB1 were examined by Western blot and Immunohistochemical staining. IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 in serum was examined using ELISA kits. Results: Voluntarily wheel running inhibited the growth of CRPC xenografts, inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells and promoted the apoptosis of tumor cells. HMGB1 levels in serum and tumor tissues were significantly reduced after exercise, which enhanced local immunity by inducing more leukocyte infiltration and inhibited systemic inflammatory response by regulating cytokines. Conclusion: Voluntary wheel running can down-regulate the expression of HMGB1 in serum and transplanted tumor tissues, inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of tumor cells, enhance immune cell infiltration and systemic inflammatory response, and regulate local anti-tumor effects in tumor microenvironment.

The intracellular delivery of messenger (m)RNA holds great potential for the discovery and development of vaccines and therapeutics. Yet, in many applications, a major obstacle to clinical translation of mRNA therapy is the lack of efficient strategy to precisely deliver RNA sequence to liver tissues and cells. In this study, we synthesized virus-like mesoporous silica (V-SiO2) nanoparticles for effectively deliver the therapeutic RNA. Then, the cationic polymer polyethylenimine (PEI) was included for the further silica surface modification (V-SiO2-P). Negatively charged mRNA motifs were successfully linked on the surface of V-SiO2 through electrostatic interactions with PEI (m@V-SiO2-P). Finally, the supported lipid bilayer (LB) was completely wrapped on the bionic inspired surface of the nanoparticles (m@V-SiO2-P/LB). Importantly, we found that, compared with traditional liposomes with mRNA loading (m@LNPs), the V-SiO2-P/LB bionic-like morphology effectively enhanced mRNA delivery effect to hepatocytes both in vitro and in vivo, and PEI modification concurrently promoted mRNA binding and intracellular lysosomal escape. Furthermore, m@V-SiO2-P increased the blood circulation time (t1/2 = 7 h) to be much longer than that of the m@LNPs (4.2 h). Understanding intracellular delivery mediated by the V-SiO2-P/LB nanosystem will inspire the next-generation of highly efficient and effective mRNA therapies. In addition, the nanosystem can also be applied to the oral cavity, forehead, face and other orthotopic injections.

There is evidence that the triazine herbicide atrazine, which is used extensively, is present in both surface water and groundwater, and its interfering effect on immune systems, endocrine systems, and tumours has been reported by laboratory and epidemiological studies. This study explored how atrazine affected 4T1 breast cancer cell development in vitro and in vivo. The obtained results showed that after exposure to atrazine, the cell proliferation and tumour volume were significantly increased and the expression of MMP2, MMP7, and MMP9 was upregulated. The thymus and spleen indices, the CD4 + and CD3 + lymphocyte percentages which from the spleen and inguinal lymph nodes, and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio were noticeably lower than they were in the control group. Importantly, tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes such as CD4 + , CD8 + , and NK cells were decreased while Treg cells were increased. Moreover, IL-4 was increased and IFN-γ and TNF-α were decreased in the serum and tumour microenvironment. These results suggested that atrazine can suppress systemic as well as local tumour immune function and upregulate MMPs to promote breast tumour development.

Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) is a relatively less known glycoprotein, but it is abundant in plasma with a multidomain structure, which allows it to interact with many ligands and regulate various biological processes. HRGP ligands includes heme, Zn2+, thrombospondin, plasmin/plasminogen, heparin/heparan sulfate, fibrinogen, tropomyosin, IgG, FcγR, C1q. In many conditions, the histidine-rich region of HRGP strengthens ligand binding following interaction with Zn2+ or exposure to low pH, such as sites of tissue injury or tumor growth. The multidomain structure and diverse ligand binding attributes of HRGP indicates that it can act as an extracellular adaptor protein, connecting with different ligands, especially on cell surfaces. Also, HRGP can selectively target IgG, which blocks the production of soluble immune complexes. The most common cell surface ligand of HRGP is heparan sulfate proteoglycan, and the interaction is also potentiated by elevated Zn2+ concentration and low pH. Recent reports have shown that HRGP can modulate macrophage polarization and possibly regulate other physiological processes such as angiogenesis, anti-tumor immune response, fibrinolysis and coagulation, soluble immune complex clearance and phagocytosis of apoptotic/necrosis cells. In addition, it has also been reported that HRGP has antibacterial and anti-HIV infection effects and may be used as a novel clinical biomarker accordingly. This review outlines the molecular, structural and biological properties of HRGP as well as presenting an update on the function of HRGP in various physiological processes.

Biochar has been widely reported to improve soil conditions and affect plant growth. However, its effectiveness is limited by soil type and production technology. Considering the application effect of biochar in saline alkali soil, there is currently a lack of in-depth mechanism explanations in the research. Therefore, we designed an experiment to explore the effect of biochar on plant growth in saline alkali soil and conducted soil column experiments in a greenhouse environment using composite inorganic fertilizer (NPK). The results showed that biochar significantly affected the distribution of soil nutrient content at different depths, with a significant increase in fertility levels in the surface and middle layers and a decrease in fertility levels in deep soils. Compared to using fertilizers alone, the combined use of biochar and fertilizers further expands the enrichment effect and significantly reduces the leaching of fertilizers into deeper layers. At the same time, the application of biochar also improved soil properties, including an increase in electrical conductivity and organic matter content, as well as an increase in soil enzyme activity. On the other hand, the application of biochar also increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of osmoregulation substances in plants, reducing the environmental stress that plants are subjected to. Therefore, our results indicate that biochar can reduce the leaching of fertilizers into deep soil layers, improve soil properties, and promotes the growth of Miscanthus in saline alkali soils.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oil and cash crop. An efficient utilization of saline–alkali soil resources, the development of peanut planting in saline–alkali soil, and obtaining high and stable yield have become urgent needs to ensure peanut production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been reported to develop the potential productivity of host plants and improve their salt resistance and tolerance. However, there is still limited research on promoting the growth and morphology of peanut roots. Therefore, in this study, seeds of salt-tolerant peanut variety “HY 25” were coated with commercial AMF inoculant before being planted in saline–alkali and normal soils to investigate the effects of AMF on peanut root growth and rhizosphere soil. The results showed that root morphological characteristics were significantly increased by the use of AMF at the podding stage in saline–alkali soil and from the flowering and pegging stage to the maturity stage in normal soil. Of note, the total root volume of peanut inoculated with AMF significantly increased by 31.57% during the podding stage in saline–alkali soil. Meanwhile, AMF significantly increased the phosphatase and invertase activities in the peanut rhizosphere of saline–alkali soil from the flowering stage to maturity stage and soil CAT activity at the maturity stage (41.16~48.82%). In normal soil, soil phosphatase and urease activities were enhanced by AMF at the flowering stage and the podding stage, respectively. AMF also increased the contents of soil organic matter, available phosphorus, and hydrolysable nitrogen, but decreased soil EC in saline–alkali soil. In addition to the significant increase in soil available phosphorus content, AMF had no significant effect on the physical and chemical properties of the soil and other soil nutrients in normal soil. AMF significantly increased pod biomass and yield in saline–alkali soil and normal soil, and improved their agronomic characteristics. In conclusion, peanut seeds coated with AMF improved the root morphological characteristics of peanuts and improved the physical and chemical properties in peanut rhizosphere, especially in saline–alkali soil. The process of rhizosphere soil nutrient transformation was also enhanced. Finally, AMF improved plant agronomic traits to increase the pod yield (16.5~21.9%). This study provides the theoretical basis and technical support for the application of AMF in peanut production in saline–alkali soil.

Road extraction is crucial in urban planning, rescue operations, and military applications. Compared to traditional methods, using deep learning for road extraction from remote sensing images has demonstrated unique advantages. However, previous convolutional neural networks (CNN)-based road extraction methods have had limited receptivity and failed to effectively capture long-distance road features. On the other hand, transformer-based methods have good global information-capturing capabilities, but face challenges in extracting road edge information. Additionally, existing excellent road extraction methods lack validation for the Chinese region. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel road extraction model called the global–local information fusion network (GLNet). In this model, the global information extraction (GIE) module effectively integrates global contextual relationships, the local information extraction (LIE) module accurately captures road edge information, and the information fusion (IF) module combines the output features from both global and local branches to generate the final extraction results. Further, a series of experiments on two different Chinese road datasets with geographic robustness demonstrate that our model outperforms the state-of-the-art deep learning models for road extraction tasks in China. On the CHN6-CUG dataset, the overall accuracy (OA) and intersection over union (IoU) reach 97.49% and 63.27%, respectively, while on the RDCME dataset, OA and IoU reach 98.73% and 84.97%, respectively. These research results hold significant implications for road traffic, humanitarian rescue, and environmental monitoring, particularly in the context of the Chinese region.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Due to the insidiousness of HCC onset and the lack of specific early-stage markers, the early diagnosis and treatment of HCC are still unsatisfactory, leading to a poor prognosis. Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicle containing various components, which play an essential part in the development, progression, and metastasis of HCC. A large number of studies have demonstrated that exosomes could serve as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC. These diagnostic components mainly include proteins, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs. The exosome biomarkers showed high sensitivity and high specificity in distinguishing HCC from health controls and other liver diseases, such as chronic HBV and liver cirrhosis. The expression of these biomarkers also exhibits correlations with various clinical factors such as tumor size, TMN stage, overall survival, and recurrence rate. In this review, we summarize the function of exosomes in the development of HCC and highlight their application as HCC biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis prediction.

Two undescribed ent-kaurene diterpenes, named guidongnins I (1) and J (2), were isolated from the medicinal plant Isodon rubescens. Compound 1 was determined to contain an unprecedented 23 carbons in the skeleton by bearing an extra isopropyl group at C-17 out of the diterpenoid parent structure, and compound 2 was the first example of 6,7-seco-7,20-olide-ent-kaurenes with two fused-tetrahydrofuran rings formed between C-6 and C-19/C-20 through oxygen bridges. Their structures, including their absolute configurations, were determined using the analyses of the spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction data. Guidongnins I (1) and J (2) were assessed for their anti-cancer activities against the growth of various cancer cell lines, and 2 displayed cytotoxic potency against HepG2 at IC50 27.14 ± 3.43 μM.

Long-term excessive application of chemical fertilizers can cause many problems, such as soil degradation and environmental pollution. Therefore, we reduced conventional nitrogen fertilization and added organic fertilizers in some cases to investigate the response of photosynthetic characteristics, root nodules and yield on reduced nitrogen fertilization. Compared to conventional nitrogen fertilization, the 25% and 35% nitrogen reduction treatments reduced the leaf area index, net photosynthetic rate, 100-fruit weight, 100-kernel weight and the yield of peanut, but had no significant effect on the kernel rate. With constant N fertilizer, adding organic fertilization alone increased leaf area index, chlorophyll, net photosynthetic rate and yield of peanut. In compounded treatments of nitrogen and organic fertilizer, the highest yields were achieved in the 25% N reduction with the 3000 kg/hm−2 organic fertilizer treatment (T3) and the 4500 kg/hm−2 organic fertilizer treatment (T4); furthermore, the net photosynthetic rate, leaf area index, yield and fertilizer contribution were significantly higher in these two treatments than in the conventional fertilizer treatments. Nitrogen fertilizer had significant effects on the quantity and fresh weight of root nodules. Concretely, nitrogen reduction increased the quantity and fresh weight of root nodules of peanut in the early stage of fertility but decreased them in the harvest stage. Nitrogen reduction with an additional organic fertilizer in the late stage of fertility increased the quantity and fresh weight of root nodules of peanut. Considering the property of root nodules was significantly positively correlated with net photosynthetic rate and yield, the arguments above may be the mechanism of the highest yields found in T3 and T4. This work can provide empirical and instructional support for a balanced fertilization strategy in peanut agriculture and high-yielding and efficient cultivation of peanut.

The specificity of the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) used in the RNA interference (RNAi) technique is crucial for the success of sequence-specific gene silencing. Currently, RNAi-mediated insect control is a trending research topic. However, the off-target effects of the dsRNA in RNAi are a major concern. In this study, the dsHvβ´COPI (coat protein complex I, β´ subunit)-treated and untreated transcriptomes of the 28-spotted potato lady beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) were compared to understand its off-target gene silencing effects. The RNA-seq results revealed that 63 and 44 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in the dsHvβ´COPI treated group as compared with the control. Validation of the differential expressions of some selected DEGs via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis confirmed the reliability of the transcriptome analysis results. Further downstream analysis revealed that there were no genes homologous with Hvβ´COPI in H. vigintioctopunctata. Additionally, no genes with a >11 bp continuous match with dsHvβ´COPI were found in the H. vigintioctopunctata transcriptome. Six genes (Hvcitron, Hvhelicase, Hvtransposase, Hvserine, Hvdynein, and HvE3 ubiquitin) were selected to examine the off-target activity of dsHvβ´COPI based on their potential involvement in various H. vigintioctopunctata metabolic pathways. The severity of silencing these six off-target genes was evaluated by employing RNAi. The RNAi results confirmed the downregulation of the expression of all six genes, although there was no significant lethality. The findings of this study will be helpful in the risk analysis of future RNAi-mediated pest control experiments.

A recent breakthrough in agricultural biotechnology is the introduction of RNAi-mediated strategies in pest control. However, the off-target effects of RNAi pest control are still not fully understood. Here, we studied the off-target effects of two insecticidal siRNAs in both target and non-target insects. The results revealed that off-target effects of insecticidal siRNAs occur widely in both target and non-target insects. We classified the expression-changed genes according to their homology to the siRNA-targeted gene, related KEGG pathways with the siRNA-targeted gene and continuous matches with siRNAs. Surprisingly, the unintended significant changes in gene expression levels did not strictly match with the number of contiguous nucleotides in the siRNAs. As expected, the expression of small portions of the homologous and KEGG-related genes were significantly changed. We calculated the Shannon entropy of the transcriptome profile of the insects after injecting them with insecticidal siRNAs. Though hundreds of genes were affected in their expression levels post siRNA-treatment, the Shannon entropy of the transcriptome remained unchanged, suggesting that the transcriptome expression was balanced. Our results provide evidence that siRNAs cross-reacted with individual genes in non-target species, but did not have significant effects on the integrity of the transcriptome profiles in either target or non-target species on a genomic scale. The metric we proposed can be used to estimate the off-target effects of insecticidal siRNAs, which might be useful for evaluating the safety of RNAi in pest control.

Abstract Background The prognosis difference based on the depth of tumor muscularis propria invasion in gastric cancer (GC) was still debated, and therapy strategy for stage IB GC patient required further investigation. Methods A total of 380 patients with pT2 GC after radical surgery were retrospectively analyzed, including 185 in superficial muscularis propria (sMP) group and 195 in deep muscularis propria (dMP) group. Results The overall survival (OS) was significantly better for patients in sMP group than for patients in dMP group (P = 0.007). In multivariate analysis, depth of tumor invasion, pN stage, age, primary location, positive expression of p53, elevated maximal LDH, elevated initial CA19-9 and AFP level were independent prognostic factors for OS. The sMP group had a significantly better OS than dMP group (P = 0.014) in pN0 stage. After further stratification, the survival outcomes were not significantly different between deep muscularis propria tumor invasion without lymph node metastasis (dMPN0) group (stage IB) and superficial muscularis propria tumor invasion with stage 1–2 lymph node metastasis (sMPN1–2) group (stage II) (P = 0.100). Patients with adjuvant chemotherapy had a statistically better survival than those without in dMPN0 group (P = 0.045) and dMPN0 patients with adjuvant chemotherapy had better OS than sMPN1–2 patients (P = 0.015). In addition, greater postoperative survival could be observed in sMPN0 patients than dMPN0 patients in p53-positive group (P = 0.002), and similar OS could be seen between dMPN0 patients with p53-positive and T2N1–2 patients (P = 0.872). Conclusion As a unique subclassification of stage IB GC, appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered for patients with dMPN0 stage. In addition, positive expression of p53, elevated LDH could be potential factors in identifying the different prognoses for stage IB GC patients.

BackgroundThe incidence and mortality of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) are increasing yearly. There is currently no screening test for UCEC, and progress in its treatment is limited. It is important to identify new biomarkers for screening, diagnosing and predicting the outcomes of UCEC. A large number of previous studies have proven that KNL1 is crucial in the development of lung cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer, but there is a lack of studies about the role of KNL1 in the development of UCEC.MethodsThe mRNA and protein expression data of KNL1 in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and UALCAN databases and related clinical data were used to analyze the expression differences and clinical correlations of KNL1 in UCEC. A total of 108 clinical samples were collected, and the results of bioinformatics analysis were verified by immunohistochemistry. KNL1 and its related differentially expressed genes were used to draw a volcano map, construct a PPI protein interaction network, and perform gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and immune infiltration analysis to predict the function of KNL1 during UCEC progression. The prognostic data of TCGA and 108 clinical patients were used to analyze the correlation of KNL1 expression with the survival of patients, and KM survival curves were drawn. The UCEC cell lines Ishikawa and Hec-1-A were used to verify the function of KNL1.ResultsKNL1 is significantly overexpressed in UCEC and is associated with a poor prognosis. KNL1 overexpression is closely related to cell mitosis, the cell cycle and other functions and is correlated with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histological grade and other characteristics of UCEC patients. Knockdown of KNL1 expression in UCEC cell lines can inhibit their proliferation, invasion, metastasis and other phenotypes.ConclusionKNL1 is a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker associated with immune evasion in patients with UCEC.