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Drought is one of the major climate disasters leading to forest degradation in dryland mountains. Hence, revealing the response of forest resilience to drought is crucial to predict forest succession in dryland mountains under future global warming. Here, we chose the Qilian Mountains as the study area and calculated the recovery time and drought intensity along elevation from 1982 to 2020 using the Leaf Area Index (LAI) and the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Then, the forest resilience to drought was calculated using the area of an exponentially fitted curve between drought intensity and corresponding recovery time. Finally, the dominant climate factors underlying altitude differentiation of forest resilience were analyzed using a random forest (RF) regression model, and correlations were determined based on a generalized additive model (GAM). The results indicate that forests in the elevation range of 2600–3900 m exhibited faster recovery rates and greater resilience compared to those in 1700–2600 m. The attributional analysis shows that altitudinal differentiation of forest resilience to drought was mainly constrained by precipitation with a non-monotonic correlation, and resilience was strongest when monthly precipitation reaches 30 mm. In terms of the occurrence of historical drought events, increased potential evapotranspiration improved resilience in the elevation range of 2600–3900 m and enhanced cloud cover initially enlarged the resilience and then decreased it in the elevation range of 3000–3400 m and 3400–3900 m, with resilience being strongest when cloud cover reached 24% and 33%, respectively. Under future climate change, global warming will further exacerbate the drought impact in arid regions, increasing the risk of primary forest collapse. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for predicting the potential changes in vegetation resilience and developing policies for ecological protection in dryland mountains, and we will take addressing the difficult study of the quantitative effects of tree species on resilience altitude differentiation based on ecosystem scales as our future direction.

Cancer metastasis leading to the dysfunction of invaded organs is the main cause of the reduced survival rates in lung cancer patients. However, the molecular mechanism for lung cancer metastasis remains unclear. Recently, the increased activity of inflammasome appeared to correlate with the metastatic progression and immunosuppressive ability of various cancer types. Our results showed that the mRNA levels of absence in melanoma 2 (AIM2), one of the inflammasome members, are extensively upregulated in primary tumors compared with normal tissues derived from the TCGA lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) database. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that a higher mRNA level of AIM2 refers to a poor prognosis in LUAD patients. Particularly, AIM2 upregulation is closely correlated with smoking history and the absence of EGFR/KRAS/ALK mutations in LUAD. We further showed that the endogenous mRNA levels of AIM2 are causally associated with the metastatic potentials of the tested LUAD cell lines. AIM2 knockdown suppressed but overexpression promoted the migration ability and lung colony-forming ability of tested LUAD cells. In addition, we found that AIM2 upregulation is closely associated with an increased level of immune checkpoint gene set, as well as programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) transcript, in TCGA LUAD samples. AIM2 knockdown predominantly repressed but overexpression enhanced PD-L1 expression via altering the activity of PD-L1 transcriptional regulators NF-κB/STAT1 in LUAD cells. Our results not only provide a possible mechanism underlying the AIM2-promoted metastatic progression and immune evasion of LUAD but also offer a new strategy for combating metastatic/immunosuppressive LUAD via targeting AIM2 activity.

Two new Schiff base copper(II) complexes, [Cu2L2] (I) and [Cu2L(NCNCN)2]n (II), where L is the dianionic form of N,N'-bis(5-fluorosalicylidene)-1,3-propanediamine (H2L), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, infrared and electronic spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray determinations (CIF files CCDC. nos. 2000415 (I) and 2000416 (II)). Complex I is a phenolate bridged dinuclear copper(II) compound. Complex II is a phenolate and dicyanoamide bridged polynuclear copper(II) compound. In both complexes, the Cu atoms are in square pyramidal coordination. The Schiff base ligand coordinates to the Cu atoms through the phenolate O and imino N atoms. The Schiff base H2L and the two complexes showed high selectivity and antimicrobial activities against a number of the bacteria and fungi.

In this study, the chitosan‐based release microspheres were prepared by spray drying method. Chitosan was used as the carrier material, and Panax notoginseng extract, Codonopsis extract, and Atractylodes extract (the mass ratio was 2:7:5) were active substance. The spray drying preparation process of microsphere was optimized by single factor experiment and L9 (34) orthogonal design. Drug loading (DL), particle size, and sustained release performance of microspheres were investigated. The mass fraction of chitosan was 1.5%, the mass ratio of drug to chitosan was 1:3, the inlet air temperature was 130°C, and the injection rate was 400 ml/hr. The chitosan‐based microspheres prepared under the above conditions had a smooth surface, and the DL was 23.87 ± 0.93%; the average particle diameter was 10.27 ± 1.05 μm, and the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the microspheres was 91.28 ± 1.04%. The preparation process of chitosan‐based drug microsphere prepared by spray drying method was simple and stable. The prepared microspheres in this paper showed a sustained release effect in vitro., To study the characteristics and the drug release of the chitosan‐based microspheres in vitro. The gastric mucosal protective drug microspheres were used chitosan as the carrier material and prepared with Panax notoginseng extract, Codonopsis extract, and Atractylodes extract by spray drying. The preparation process of chitosan‐based gastric mucosa protective drug microsphere was simple and stable.

Cancer recurrence and metastasis are the primary reasons for treatment failure in late-stage oral cancer. Cancer stem cells are the root of cancer recurrence and metastasis. By using the microRNAome analysis of Taiwan OSCC cohort, we found miR-876-3p was highly correlated to OSCC recurrence. The precursor miR-876 promoted in vitro OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and cancer stemness and regulated several cancer stemness-relative genes such as NANOG, OCT4, and LIN28A expression. miR-876 and miR-873 are located in the second intron of the 5’-untransalation region (5’-UTR) at the alternative variant leucine-rich repeat and Ig domain containing 2 (LINGO2). Interestingly, only OSCC cells presented LINGO2 protein expression but did not show in primary oral keratinocytes (HOK). The unique CpG islands at the alternative transcription start site of LINGO2 hinted at crucial epigenetic regulation that controls LINGO2 activation. Silencing of LINGO2 expression reduced OSCC cell growth and cancer stemness abilities. LINGO2 expression was higher in OSCC tumor tissue than in adjacent normal tissue in both Taiwan and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) head and neck cancer cohorts. Moreover, LINGO2 also served as a poor prognostic marker in cancer patients' overall and recurrent free survival time. In summary, we found a novel LINGO2-microRNA cluster that regulates OSCC stemness and metastasis abilities. Those cancer specific expressions may provide a new therapy niche in OSCC cancer therapy. Citation Format: Wei-Min Chang, Li-Jie Li, Che-Hsuan Lin, Michael Hsiao, Peter Mu-Hsin Chang. LINGO2-microRNA cluster controls oral cancer stemness ability and cancer progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr LB270.

The emerging advances in cancer therapies have changed the landscape for the treatment, but there are limited treatments options for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Cancer stem cell-induced chemoresistance and tumor metastasis accounts for treatment failure and recurrence in NSCLC. Additionally, the up-regulated glycosaminoglycan-chondroitin sulfate (CS) biosynthesis pathway contributes to the mesenchymal state of lung cancer and related to unfavorable prognosis. Previously, we found carbohydrate sulfotransferase 11 (CHST11), a key CS biosynthetic enzyme, was associated with tumor progression and metastasis in NSCLC as well as lung fibrosis. Furthermore, ceruloplasmin (CP) acted as a downstream effector of CHST11 through interferon-γ signaling pathway stimulation and increased NSCLC metastatic features. However, the linkage between metabolic dysregulation and NSCLC stemness remains unclear. Here, we found not only overexpression of CHST11 but also CS-A treatment, the metabolite of CHST11, promoted NSCLC tumor sphere formation, the expression of cancer stemness markers, and transcriptional activities of stemness-related pathways. Iron was a necessary ion in upregulating cancer stemness properties such as tumor-initiation, metastasis and chemoresistance. We found both CHST11 and iron enhanced NSCLC tumorigenesis. Moreover, iron chelation disrupted CHST11-CP axis induced-stemness. The combination of iron chelator with chemotherapies showed the synergistic effect on antitumor as well as anti-cancer stemness and further promoted apoptosis. Our findings implicate that the CHST11-CP-iron axis facilitates tumor progression and cancer stemness in NSCLC. A regimen that combines an iron chelator and chemotherapies targeting cancer stem cells will benefit for not only preventing NSCLC tumorigenesis but cancer recurrence. Citation Format: Li-Jie Li, Wei-Min Chang, Michael Hsiao. The CHST11-CP-iron axis contributes to NSCLC stemness. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6040.

BackgroundHPV16 is the predominant cancer-causing strain that is responsible for over 50% of all cervical cancers. In this study, we aim to investigate the therapeutic effect of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) knockdown on HPV16+cervical cancer progression and the underlying mechanism.MethodsThe transcript and protein expression of Hsp90 in normal cervical and HPV16+cervical cancer tissues and cell lines were detected by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry staining and Western blot. Hsp90 knockdown clones were established using HPV16+cervical cancer cell line Caski and SiHa cells. The effect of Hsp90 knockdown on HER2/PI3K/AKT pathway and PD-L1 expression was characterized using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Cell proliferation and migration were determined using MTT and transwell assays. Using mouse xenograft tumor model, the impact of Hsp90 knockdown and PD-L1 overexpression on tumor progression was evaluated.ResultsHsp90 expression was up-regulated in HPV16+cervical cancer tissues and cells. Knockdown of Hsp90 inhibited proliferation and migration of Caski and SiHa cells. PD-L1 expression in cervical cancer tissues was positively correlated with Hsp90 expression, and Hsp90 regulated PD-L1 expression via HER2/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The results of mouse xenograft tumor model demonstrated Hsp90 knockdown suppressed tumor formation and overexpression of PD-L1 simultaneously eliminated the cancer-suppressive effect of Hsp90 knockdown.ConclusionIn this study, we demonstrated a promising tumor-suppressive effect of Hsp90 knockdown in HPV16+cervical cancers, and investigated the underlying molecular pathway. Our results suggested that Hsp90 knockdown holds great therapeutic potential in treating HPV16+cervical cancers.

Nepenthes plants are a folk medicine in many Southeast Asia countries for curing diseases but its anticancer effect is rarely investigated. The objectives of this study were to investigate the anti...

Ethyl acetate Nepenthes extract (EANT) from Nepenthes thorellii × (ventricosa × maxima) shows antiproliferation and apoptosis but not necrosis in breast cancer cells, but this has not been investigated in oral cancer cells. In the present study, EANT shows no cytotoxicity to normal oral cells but exhibits selective killing to six oral cancer cell lines. They were suppressed by pretreatment of the antioxidant inhibitor N-acetylcysteine (NAC), demonstrating that EANT-induced cell death was mediated by oxidative stress. Concerning high sensitivity to EANT, Ca9-22 and CAL 27 oral cancer cells were chosen for exploring detailed selective killing mechanisms. EANT triggers a mixture of necrosis and apoptosis as determined by annexin V/7-aminoactinmycin D analysis. Still, they show differential switches from necrosis at a low (10 μg/mL) concentration to apoptosis at high (25 μg/mL) concentration of EANT in oral cancer cells. NAC induces necrosis but suppresses annexin V-detected apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Necrostatin 1 (NEC1), a necroptosis inhibitor, moderately suppresses necrosis but induces apoptosis at 10 μg/mL EANT. In contrast, Z-VAD-FMK, a pancaspase inhibitor, slightly causes necrosis but suppresses apoptosis at 10 μg/mL EANT. Furthermore, the flow cytometry-detected pancaspase activity is dose-responsively increased but is suppressed by NAC and ZVAD, although not for NEC1 in oral cancer cells. EANT causes several oxidative stress events such as reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial superoxide, and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. In response to oxidative stresses, the mRNA for antioxidant signaling, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (NFE2L2), catalase (CAT), heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), and thioredoxin (TXN), are overexpressed in oral cancer cells. Moreover, EANT also triggers DNA damage, as detected by γH2AX and 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine adducts. The dependence of oxidative stress is validated by the evidence that NAC pretreatment reverts the changes of cellular and mitochondrial stress and DNA damage. Therefore, EANT exhibits antiproliferation involving an oxidative stress-dependent necrosis/apoptosis switch and DNA damage in oral cancer cells.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs known to negative regulate endogenous genes. Some microRNAs have high sequence conservation and localize as clusters in the genome. Their coordination is regulated by simple genetic and epigenetic events mechanism. In cells, single microRNAs can regulate multiple genes and microRNA clusters contain multiple microRNAs. MicroRNAs can be differentially expressed and act as oncogenic or tumor suppressor microRNAs, which are based on the roles of microRNA-regulated genes. It is vital to understand their effects, regulation, and various biological functions under both normal and disease conditions. Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas are some of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide and are regulated by many factors, including the dysregulation of microRNAs and their clusters. In disease stages, microRNA clusters can potentially control every field of oncogenic function, including growth, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and intercellular commutation. Furthermore, microRNA clusters are regulated by genetic mutations or translocations, transcription factors, and epigenetic modifications. Additionally, microRNA clusters harbor the potential to act therapeutically against cancer in the future. Here, we review recent advances in microRNA cluster research, especially relative to head and neck cancers, and discuss their regulation and biological functions under pathological conditions as well as translational applications.

Background: Breakfast, which is considered as an important meal of the day, is being ignored by an increasing number of people as the pace of modern life accelerates. Although a large number of previous studies have reported the relationship between skipping breakfast and type 2 diabetes mellitus, most of them were cross-sectional studies. It remains unclear how skipping breakfast affects such specific cardio-metabolic diseases as hypertension, strokes and hypercholesterolemia. Methods: The protocols and reports of this meta-analysis are based on a meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiological guidelines (MOOSE). Relevant studies were systematically retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library, and were restricted to English from the inception to May 10, 2019. All the results were obtained by RRs, and outcomes of interests should include the occurrence of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Results: Fourteen cohort studies in total were eventually included. Compared with people having breakfast frequency≦3times/week, those with a frequency>3 times/week have reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, Cardiovascular Diseases, cardiovascular Mortality, hypertension and strokes, with (RR = 0.8 [95% CI: 0.7–0.91], P = .142, I2 = 37.6%), (RR = 0.74 [95% CI: 0.59–0.94], P

This study aims to investigate the correlation between the trajectory of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and new renal damage in a nonhypertensive population.This prospective cohort study included a total of 14 382 nonhypertensive individuals, employees of Kailuan Group of Companies, who took part in five healthy examinations in 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2010-2011, 2012-2013, and 2014-2015, and had complete data. These individuals were divided into four groups according to the different trajectories of SBP: low-low, low-stable, middle-high, and high-high groups. The correlation between the trajectory of SBP and new renal damage in a nonhypertensive population was analyzed using a multivariate Cox's proportional hazard regression model.(a) A total of 14 382 individuals had complete data and the average age of these individuals was 44.6±10.8 years. Among these, 10 888 (75.7%) individuals were men and 3494 (24.3%) individuals were women. (b) These individuals were divided into four groups according to different trajectories of blood pressure: low-low group, accounting for 13.15% (blood pressure was106 mmHg); low-stable group, accounting for 53.91% (blood pressure was between 115 and 116 mmHg); middle-high group, accounting for 28.77% (blood pressure was between 125 and 131 mmHg); and high-high group, accounting for 4.6% (blood pressure was between 126 and 151 mmHg). (c) With the increase in the trajectory of SBP, the detection rate of renal damage increased gradually. From the low-low group to the high-high group, the detection rates of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m were 2.3, 2.4, 3.6, and 4.3%, respectively; the positive rates of urinary protein were 1.7, 2.9, 3.8, and 5.5%, respectively; and the detection rates of eGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m or positive urinary protein were 4, 5.2, 7.3, and 9.3%, respectively (P0.05). (d) After adjustment for other confounding factors, multivariate Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis showed that compared with the low-low group, the risk of eGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m increased by nearly 1.5 times in the high-high group and in the low-stable, middle-high, and high-high groups, the risks of positive urinary protein, eGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m, or positive urinary protein increased by 1.48-2.34 and 1.20-1.70 times, respectively.In a nonhypertensive population, the high trajectory of SBP is a risk factor for kidney damage.

Four transition metal energetic complexes with 5,5′-bistetrazole-1,1′-diolatedehydrate (BTO) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single X-ray diffraction. The thermal decomposition processes of the complexes and BTO were studied by means of the TG-TDA technologies. The compatibility of the four complexes with RDX, HMX, NC, and Al powder was also investigated. Sensitivity tests reveal that the complexes are more insensitive to mechanical stimuli than RDX.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for one of the most deadly cancers due to metastasis after therapy. Cancer metastasis usually results from epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metabolic disorder is a key mediator of lung cancer EMT. The linkage between metabolic disorder and NSCLC EMT is still unclear. Using in silico analysis, C4ST1, a key enzyme of glycosaminoglycan synthesis pathway was up-regulation in mesenchymal type NSCLC cells. C4ST1 catalyzes chondroitin sulfate A (CsA) formation. We found both C4ST1 and CsA were up-regulation in mesenchymal type NSCLC cells. Not only C4ST1 overexpression but also CsA treatments changed NSCLC EMT balance and decreased the transcriptional activity on CDH1 promoter region. Furthermore, both treatments could promote in vitro NSCLC migration and invasion abilities in the epithelial type NSCLC cells. Up-regulation of C4ST1 cells also promoted lung cancer metastasis. Moreover, we used CsA binding peptide as a targeting ligands of metastatic NSCLC cells on theranostics nanoparticles. In summary, this study finds key gene in NSCLC EMT. Up-regulation of C4ST1 promotes NSCLC EMT and cell surface CsA content which may provide a novel theranostics niche on metastatic NSCLC cells. Citation Format: LI-JIE LI, Ming-Hsien Chan, Wei-Min Chang, Michael Hsiao. Theranostics nanoparticles targeting to metastatic non small cell lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2883.

To explore the role of exogenous spermidine (Spd) in enhancing the resistance of maize to drought stress, 15% polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) was used to simulate drought stress and with 'Xianyu 335' (drought-insensitive) and 'Fenghe 1' (drought sensitive) as the experiment materials, the effects of Spd (0.1 mmol·L为探究外源亚精胺(Spd)在增强玉米干旱胁迫耐受性中的作用,以‘先玉335’(干旱不敏感型)和‘丰禾1’(干旱敏感型)为试验材料,采用营养液水培法,研究了15%聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱胁迫下,外源Spd (0.1 mmol·L

An improved multidirectional velocity model was proposed for more accurately locating micro-seismic events in rock engineering. It was assumed that the stress wave propagation velocities from a micro-seismic source to three nearest monitoring sensors in a sensor’s array arrangement were the same. Since the defined objective function does not require pre-measurement of the stress wave propagation velocity in the field, errors from the velocity measurement can be avoided in comparison to three traditional velocity models. By analyzing 24 different cases, the proposed multidirectional velocity model iterated by the Simplex method is found to be the best option no matter the source is within the region of the sensor’s array or not. The proposed model and the adopted iterative algorithm are verified by field data and it is concluded that it can significantly reduce the error of the estimated source location.

The plug door system is an important guarantee of the safe operation of the emu, since it has structural redundancy, correlation function and fault dynamic characteristics, this paper uses the dynamic fault tree analysis method for reliability analysis. In deep understanding of the basis of the structure and working principle of the plug door, dynamic fault tree model is established by the way of structure ontology, Module iteration is introduced , and the Markov method is adopted to solve the reliability. At the last, we obtained the equipment failure rate and the reliability of the whole system.

Based on the principle of heat transfer, a monitoring software package about identifying erosion profile of submerged arc furnace with “freeze” lining is developed by VC++. Reliability of traditional lining without monitoring system and “freeze” lining with monitoring software are evaluated by Fuzzy FMECA Method. There is a conclusion can be draw that the hazard rating of submerged arc furnace with traditional lining is 2.9094.This value of “freeze” lining is 2.1087.The result indicates that adopting the “freeze” lining with monitoring software can drop the potential safety hazard effectively and reduce casualties.

Aiming at the machined workpiece surface texture images,some technology about image pre-processing and the texture feature extraction based on gray level co-occurrence matrix are researched. Then it is time for the analysis of the texture characteristic parameters based on BP neural network and the identification and diagnosis of tool wear state, Finally the recognition diagnosis system interface is designed by Matlab-GUI.System simulation shows that the interface fusion of image processing and neural network is a good way to ensure the realization of tool wear condition recognition,what’more, the identification diagnosis rate is profect.

A comparative study between Sm12Co59Cu6Fe20Zr3 master alloy magnet and melt-spun ribbon magnet is made by applying the same traditional sintering-solid solution-aging-slow cooling method. The X-ray diffractometer, electron microscope and magnetometer are employed to investigate the structure and magnetic properties of the magnets. It is found that two types of sintered magnets are formed both of which have Th2Zn17-type main phase. Master alloy sintered magnet has a typical cellular structure, with average cell size of 88.3 nm and cell wall width less than 20 nm, and the comprehensive magnetic properties are: Hci = 21.1 kOe, Mr = 75.9 emu/g and Ms9T = 107.8 emu/g. The coercivity of the ribbons melt-spun at a speed of 20 m/s is merely 2.1 kOe, while in ribbon sintered magnet, this value can approach as high as 27.4 kOe, together with remanence 61.8 emu/g and maximum magnetization Ms9T = 103.6 emu/g. A typical cellular–lamellar microstructure is obtained in ribbon sintered magnet, with average cell size of 102.3 nm, cell wall width less than 10 nm and lamellar size of 1–3 nm. The high-coercivity of ribbon sintered magnet can be attributed to the following factors: the existence of lamellar phases, larger cell size, thinner cell walls, more cell boundary phases and desirable composition distribution.

Analyzed the factors which affected the coal and gas outburst, then established the corresponding indicator system. Built a dynamic set-pair analysis prediction model which combined of Markov model and set-pair analysis model, and then it applied to coal and gas outburst prediction. Finally, compared the prediction results with the actual results. As provided a reference to the coalmine in safety decision-making. The research results indicate that there are four districts in high dangerous level, two districts in middle level and one district in low level, which consistent with the actual situation; the dynamic set-pair analysis model has a good effect in predicting coal and gas outburst. Especially in the continuous time intervals, according to the data of mined exploration and the connection degree analysis, we can deduce the dangerous levels of unexplored districts from the historical data. In different districts, the relevant indicators can be adjusted accordingly, so as to enhance the accuracy of the prediction.