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Transcription factors (TFs) are major contributors to gene transcription, especially in controlling cell-specific gene expression and disease occurrence and development. Uncovering the relationship between TFs and their target genes is critical to understanding the mechanism of action of TFs. With the development of high-throughput sequencing techniques, a large amount of TF-related data has accumulated, which can be used to identify their target genes. In this study, we developed TFTG (Transcription Factor and Target Genes) database (http://tf.liclab.net/TFTG), which aimed to provide a large number of available human TF-target gene resources by multiple strategies, besides performing a comprehensive functional and epigenetic annotations and regulatory analyses of TFs. We identified extensive available TF-target genes by collecting and processing TF-associated ChIP-seq datasets, perturbation RNA-seq datasets and motifs. We also obtained experimentally confirmed relationships between TF and target genes from available resources. Overall, the target genes of TFs were obtained through integrating the relevant data of various TFs as well as fourteen identification strategies. Meanwhile, TFTG was embedded with user-friendly search, analysis, browsing, downloading and visualization functions. TFTG is designed to be a convenient resource for exploring human TF-target gene regulations, which will be useful for most users in the TF and gene expression regulation research.

Abstract Temozolomide (TMZ) is widely utilized as the primary chemotherapeutic intervention for glioblastoma. However, the clinical use of TMZ is limited by its various side effects and resistance to chemotherapy. The present study revealed the synergistic inhibition of glioblastoma through the combined administration of TMZ and perifosine. This combination therapy markedly diminished BRCA1 expression, resulting in the suppression of DNA repair mechanisms. Furthermore, the combination of TMZ and perifosine elicited caspase-dependent apoptosis, decreasing glioblastoma cell viability and proliferation. The observed synergistic effect of this combination therapy on glioblastoma was validated in vivo, as evidenced by the substantial reduction in glioblastoma xenograft growth following combined treatment with TMZ and perifosine. In recurrent glioma patients, higher BRCA1 expression is associated with worse prognosis, especially the ones that received TMZ-treated. These findings underscore the potent antitumor activity of the AKT inhibitor perifosine when combined with TMZ and suggest that this approach is a promising strategy for clinical glioblastoma treatment.

Extreme climate events are becoming increasingly severe owing to global warming. In recent years, the Yalong River has experienced frequent droughts, which has seriously hindered the development of hydropower. Based on standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and standardized runoff index (SRI) values, this study employed transfer entropy, multivariate Copula functions, and a cloud model to study the response relationship and risk situation between meteorological and hydrological droughts. The results showed that: (1) The smaller the scale of SPEI and SRI, the more sensitive the identification of drought and the faster the detection of drought trend changes. (2) Combined with small-scale drought index analyses, the trend and severity of meteorological and hydrological droughts propagating from the upper and middle reaches to the lower reaches is increasing from year to year. (3) The Gumbel-Hougaard Copula function reveals the relationship between meteorological and hydrological drought, with the longest joint return period of 13–15 months. (4) In cloud model risk evaluation, the degree, uncertainty and stochasticity of drought risk in the basin are increasing, and the risk degree of interannual meteorological and seasonal hydrological droughts in the basin was high. This study provides theoretical support for optimizing water resource allocation and drought risk situation analysis in the basin.

Hydropower plants utilize hydroelectric energy while also impacting the hydrodynamic and hydrothermal processes within river. To comprehend and address the environmental and ecological impacts of hydropower plants, it is crucial to quantify these processes. The study synthesizes methods for calculating reservoir heat transport and Richardson numbers, presenting a comprehensive framework for understanding the interaction of heat transport and hydrodynamic processes in reservoirs based on EFDC model simulations. It quantifies the external thermal and internal hydrodynamic effects on the water temperature evolution of a deep valley reservoir, using the Jinsha River Xiluodu Reservoir as a case study. Multi-interface heat transport calculations indicate that the Deep River Valley Reservoir is a hydrothermal body dominated by inflow and outflow. During the water temperature stratification period, the reservoir water temperature increases by 0.015 °C/day due to surface heat fluxes, incorporating hydraulic residence time, while the reservoir water temperature increases by 0.06 °C/day due to inflow heat fluxes. Furthermore, this study analyses the interrelationships between reservoir buoyancy and shear stress based on the gradient Richardson number, revealing the interaction between hydrodynamic and water temperature processes. This study not only provides a framework for understanding reservoir thermodynamics but also provides a theoretical basis for effective reservoir management and ecosystem assessment.

AbstractUnder global warming, the acceleration of the water cycle has increased the risk of drought in the Yellow River Basin. Revealing the drought driving mechanisms in the basin and understanding the risk situation of drought have become particularly important. This paper uses wavelet analysis and transfer entropy to analyze the drought driving mechanisms. In addition, an Improved Particle Swarm Optimization (IPSO) coupled with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) is used for drought risk prediction. The results are as follows: (1) Hydrological drought lags behind meteorological drought by 2–3 months, and they show two main periods on different time scales, which are 5–6 months and 8–14 months, respectively. (2) Rainfall, runoff, temperature, humidity, and vapor pressure are the main drought driving factors, with rainfall and humidity having the most significant impact. (3) The IPSO-LSTM model has improved the process of selecting model parameters based on empirical experiences in the LSTM model, improving the prediction accuracy by an average of 3.1%. This paper provides a scientific basis for water resource management and drought risk assessment in the basin, to better cope with future climate challenges.

AbstractGlobal droughts have become more frequent in recent years, posing a serious threat to human production and life. In order to overcome the limitations of traditional studies in quantifying drought risk, this study uses runs theory to extract drought duration, severity and kurtosis as drought characteristic variables from standardized precipitation index (SPI) in Henan Province. Drought risk analysis models based on multivariate copula function are constructed to reveal the response relationships between drought characteristic variables. The results show that the smaller the SPI scale, the higher the sensitivity to identify drought processes. In addition, the multivariate copula function shows good fitting performance for the optimal joint distribution of drought characteristic variables, with R2 values exceeding 0.9. Drought joint recurrence period is positively correlated with drought characteristic variables, and the recurrence period within the duration of 4–6 months occur frequently, indicating a higher probability of experiencing short-term droughts and cross-seasonal droughts. When the drought duration, severity and kurtosis are greater than 2.5, 2200 and 1300, respectively, the drought joint recurrence period reaches 20 months. The research results have provided new methods for drought risk analysis and data support for formulating drought mitigation strategies in Henan Province.

Abstract Limited numbers of available hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) limit the widespread use of HSC-based therapies. Expansion systems for functional heterogenous HSCs remain to be optimized. Here, we present a convenient strategy for human HSC expansion based on a biomimetic Microniche. After demonstrating the expansion of HSC from different sources, we find that our Microniche-based system expands the therapeutically attractive megakaryocyte-biased HSC. We demonstrate scalable HSC expansion by applying this strategy in a stirred bioreactor. Moreover, we identify that the functional human megakaryocyte-biased HSCs are enriched in the CD34+CD38-CD45RA-CD90+CD49f lowCD62L-CD133+ subpopulation. Specifically, the expansion of megakaryocyte-biased HSCs is supported by a biomimetic niche-like microenvironment, which generates a suitable cytokine milieu and supplies the appropriate physical scaffolding. Thus, beyond clarifying the existence and immuno-phenotype of human megakaryocyte-biased HSC, our study demonstrates a flexible human HSC expansion strategy that could help realize the strong clinical promise of HSC-based therapies.

BackgroundStudies have shown that longer leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is significantly associated with increased risk of meningioma. However, there is limited evidence concerning the causal association of LTL with benign and malignant meningiomas or with the location of benign tumors.MethodsWe used three LTL datasets from different sources, designated by name and sample size as LTL-78592, LTL-9190, and LTL-472174. The linkage disequilibrium score (LDSC) was used to explore the association between LTL and meningioma. We utilized two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (TSMR) to evaluate whether LTL is causally related to meningioma risk. We adjusted for confounders by conducting multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR).ResultsIn the LTL-78592, longer LTL was significantly associated with increased risk of malignant [odds ratio (OR) = 5.14, p = 1.04 × 10−5], benign (OR = 4.81, p

Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor with a poor median survival of less than 15 months. However, clinical strategies and effective therapies are limited. Here, we found that the second-generation small molecule multi-CDK inhibitor AT7519 is a potential drug for GBM treatment according to high-throughput screening via the Approved Drug Library and Clinical Compound Library (2718 compounds). We found that AT7519 significantly inhibited the cell viability and proliferation of U87MG, U251, and patient-derived primary GBM cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, AT7519 also inhibited the phosphorylation of CDK1/2 and arrested the cell cycle at the G1-S and G2-M phases. More importantly, AT7519 induced intrinsic apoptosis and pyroptosis via caspase-3-mediated cleavage of gasdermin E (GSDME). In the glioblastoma intracranial and subcutaneous xenograft assays, tumor volume was significantly reduced after treatment with AT7519. In summary, AT7519 induces cell death through multiple pathways and inhibits glioblastoma growth, indicating that AT7519 is a potential chemical available for GBM treatment.

Abstract The importance of actin and microtubule (MT) cytoskeletons in testis function in rodents is known to some extent, but its role in the etiology of azoospermia in humans remains unexplored. Here, we examined if MT cytoskeleton was defective in NOA (non-obstructive azoospermia) testes versus normal human testes based on histopathological, immunofluorescence (IF), and scRNA-Seq transcriptome profiling. Testis biopsy samples from n = 6 normal men versus n = 3 Sertoli cell only (SCO) and n = 3 MA (meiotic arrest) of NOA patients were used for histopathological analysis. IF analysis was also used to examine MT organization across the seminiferous epithelium, investigating the likely involvement of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). scRNA-Seq transcriptome profiling datasets from testes of 3 SCO patients versus 3 normal men in public domain in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Sample (GSM) with identifiers were analyzed to examine relevant genes that regulate MT dynamics. NOA testes of MA and SCO patients displayed notable defects in MT organization across the epithelium with extensive truncation, mis-alignments and appeared as collapsed structures near the base of the tubules. These changes are in contrast to MTs in testes of normal men. scRNA-Seq analyses revealed considerable loss of spermatogenesis capacity in SCO testes of NOA patients versus normal men. An array of genes that support MT dynamics displayed considerable changes in expression and in spatial distribution. In summary, defects in MT cytoskeleton were noted in testes of NOA (SCO) patients, possibly mediated by defective spatial expression and/or distribution of MAPs. These changes, in turn, may impede spermatogenesis in SCO testes of NOA patients.

Since improving floodwater utilization may increase flood risk, flood risk control methods for trade-offs between these factors have research value. This study presented a flood risk control method oriented towards floodwater utilization which considers multiple main flood risk factors. The proposed method not only achieves the boundaries of the flood limited water level (FLWL) under various acceptable risks but also dynamically controls the water level to enhance floodwater utilization. A case study conducted on the Danjiangkou reservoir yielded the following results: (1) The proposed method provides FLWL dynamic control boundaries under various acceptable risks. (2) The proposed method reveals the potential to raise the FLWL, with a possibility to raise it by 1.00 m above the present FLWL under the absence of flood risk. (3) The available flood resources in both the wet and dry seasons increase, on average, by 0.83 and 0.81 billion m3, and the flood risk remains within the acceptable range after raising the FLWL by 1.00 m, which contributes to enhancing floodwater utilization.

Influenza A viruses in animal reservoirs repeatedly cross species barriers to infect humans. Dogs are the closest companion animals to humans, but the role of dogs in the ecology of influenza viruses is unclear. H3N2 avian influenza viruses were transmitted to dogs around 2006 and have formed stable lineages. The long-term epidemic of avian-origin H3N2 virus in canines offers the best models to investigate the effect of dogs on the evolution of influenza viruses. Here, we carried out a systematic and comparative identification of the biological characteristics of H3N2 canine influenza viruses (CIVs) isolated worldwide over 10 years. We found that, during adaptation in dogs, H3N2 CIVs became able to recognize the human-like SAα2,6-Gal receptor, showed gradually increased hemagglutination (HA) acid stability and replication ability in human airway epithelial cells, and acquired a 100% transmission rate via respiratory droplets in a ferret model. We also found that human populations lack immunity to H3N2 CIVs, and even preexisting immunity derived from the present human seasonal influenza viruses cannot provide protection against H3N2 CIVs. Our results showed that canines may serve as intermediates for the adaptation of avian influenza viruses to humans. Continuous surveillance coordinated with risk assessment for CIVs is necessary.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic fatal lung disease with a median survival time of 3–5 years. Inaccurate diagnosis, limited clinical therapy and high mortality together indicate that the development of effective therapeutics for IPF is an urgent need. In recent years, it was reported that DDRs are potential targets in anti-fibrosis treatment. Based on previous work we carried out further structure modifications and led to a more selective inhibitor 47 by averting some fibrosis-unrelated kinases, such as RET, AXL and ALK. Extensive profiling of compound 47 has demonstrated that it has potent DDR1/2 inhibitory activities, low toxicity, good pharmacokinetic properties and reliable in vivo anti-fibrosis efficacy. Therefore, we confirmed that discoidin domain receptors are promising drug targets for IPF, and compound 47 would be a promising candidate for further drug development.

Interest in edible and medicinal macrofungi is millennial in terms of their uses in health and food products in Central Asia, while interest in inedible and medicinal macrofungi has grown in popularity in recent years. Edible and inedible medicinal basidiomycetes were collected during field surveys from different regions of Uzbekistan. The morphological characters and similarity assessment of rDNA-Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence data were used to measure diversity and habitat associations. A number of 17 species of medicinal macrofungi of ethnomycological and medicinal interest was found associated with 23 species of trees and shrubs belonging to 11 families and 14 genera. Polyporaceae and Hymenochaetaceae were represented by the highest number of species followed by Ganodermataceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Auriculariaceae, Cerrenaceae, Grifolaceae, Phanerochaetaceae, Laetiporaceae, Schizophyllaceae, and Stereaceae. The highest number of medicinal basidiomycete species was reported in the following host genera: Acer, Betula, Celtis, Crataegus, Juglans, Juniperus, Lonicera, Malus, Morus, Platanus, Populus, Prunus, Quercus, and Salix. An updated list of edible and inedible medicinal mushrooms identified in Uzbekistan, their morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic placement are given for the first time. Information is provided on their uses in traditional and modern medicine. Their bioactive compounds and extracts can be applied as medicines, as well as food and cosmetic ingredients.

Abstract Background Sanghuangporus sanghuang is a well-known traditional medicinal mushroom associated with mulberry. Despite the properties of this mushroom being known for many years, the regulatory mechanisms of bioactive compound biosynthesis in this medicinal mushroom are still unclear. Lysine malonylation is a posttranslational modification that has many critical functions in various aspects of cell metabolism. However, at present we do not know its role in S. sanghuang. In this study, a global investigation of the lysine malonylome in S. sanghuang was therefore carried out. Results In total, 714 malonyl modification sites were matched to 255 different proteins. The analysis indicated that malonyl modifications were involved in a wide range of cellular functions and displayed a distinct subcellular localization. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that malonylated proteins were engaged in different metabolic pathways, including glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Notably, a total of 26 enzymes related to triterpene and polysaccharide biosynthesis were found to be malonylated, indicating an indispensable role of lysine malonylation in bioactive compound biosynthesis in S. sanghuang. Conclusions These findings suggest that malonylation is associated with many metabolic pathways, particularly the metabolism of the bioactive compounds triterpene and polysaccharide. This paper represents the first comprehensive survey of malonylation in S. sanghuang and provides important data for further study on the physiological function of lysine malonylation in S. sanghuang and other medicinal mushrooms.

Vaccinating health-care workers against influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic can effectively prevent and control influenza and reduce COVID-19 strain on health systems. This study was conducted to explore influenza vaccination coverage and determinants among health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/2021 influenza season in Ningxia. This cross-sectional survey included demographic characteristics of health-care workers, influenza vaccination status, reasons for not getting vaccinated, and whether influenza vaccination was recommended for others. We found that influenza vaccine rate of health-care workers was 39.6%. A binary logistic regression analysis showed that health-care workers’ vaccination coverage was higher when the individuals were aware of the effect of the influenza vaccine (OR = 0.624, 95% CI: 0.486–0.802). Health-care workers who from internal medicine (OR = 1.494, 95% CI: 1.146–1.948), pediatrics (OR = 2.091, 95% CI: 1.476–2.962), and surgery departments (OR = 1.373, 95% CI: 1.014–1.859) had a lower coverage than those who worked in vaccination and infectious disease departments. The main reasons that some stated for not getting vaccinated were that they felt it was unnecessary (52.22%). Health-care workers who were vaccinated against influenza were more likely to recommend influenza vaccination to their patients than health-care workers who had not been vaccinated. The incidence of influenza among health-care workers was higher than that of the general population in Ningxia. Under the policy of voluntary and self-pay influenza vaccination in Ningxia, the coverage rate of influenza vaccine among health-care workers was far below the vaccination requirements of influenza vaccine in influenza season even during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Recent studies have found that the protein encoded by the FDX1 gene is involved in mediating Cuproptosis as a regulator of protein lipoylation and related to immune response process of tumors. However, the specific biological function of FDX1 in glioma is currently unclear. To explore the potential function of FDX1, this study explored the correlation between the expression of FDX1 in cancers and survival prognosis by analyzing the public databases of GEPIA and Cbioportal. Immune infiltration was analyzed by the TIMER2.0 database in tumors. The possible biological processes and functions of FDX1-related in glioma were annotated through gene enrichment. Relationship between Cuproptosis and autophagy was explored through gene co-expression studies. Summary and conclusions of this study: (1) FDX1 is highly expressed in gliomas and associated with poor prognosis in low-grade gliomas (LGG). (2) Gene annotation indicates that FDX1 is mainly involved in the tumor protein lipoylation and cell death. (3) FDX1 expression is positively correlated with the infiltration of immune cells. (4) LIPT2 and NNAT, two other genes involved in lipoylation, may be unidentified marker gene for Cuproptosis. And the Cuproptosis genes related to FDX1 were positively correlated with the expression of autophagy marker genes Atg5, Atg12, and BECN-1. This evidence suggests that there may be some interaction between FDX1 mediated Cuproptosis and autophagy. In summary, FDX1 may serve as a potential immunotherapy target and prognostic marker for Glioma.

Abstract Background Although chronic periodontitis has previously been reported to be linked with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the pathogenesis between the two is unclear. The purpose of this study is to analyze and screen the relevant and promising molecular markers between chronic periodontitis and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods In this paper, we analyzed three AD expression datasets and extracted differentially expressed genes (DEGs), then intersected them with chronic periodontitis genes obtained from text mining, and finally obtained integrated DEGs. We followed that by enriching the matching the matching cell signal cascade through DAVID analysis. Moreover, the MCODE of Cytoscape software was employed to uncover the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and the matching hub gene. Finally, we verified our data using a different independent AD cohort. Results The chronic periodontitis gene set acquired from text abstracting was intersected with the previously obtained three AD groups, and 12 common genes were obtained. Functional enrichment assessment uncovered 12 cross-genes, which were mainly linked to cell morphogenesis involved in neuron differentiation, leading edge membrane, and receptor ligand activity. After PPI network creation, the ten hub genes linked to AD were retrieved, consisting of SPP1, THY1, CD44, ITGB1, HSPB3, CREB1, SST, UCHL1, CCL5 and BMP7. Finally, the function terms in the new independent dataset were used to verify the previous dataset, and we found 22 GO terms and one pathway, "ECM-receptor interaction pathways", in the overlapping functional terms. Conclusions The establishment of the above-mentioned candidate key genes, as well as the enriched signaling cascades, provides promising molecular markers for chronic periodontitis-related AD, which may help the diagnosis and treatment of AD patients in the future.

Sanghuangporus sanghuang is a large wood-decaying mushroom highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine due to its medicinal properties, including hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antitumor, and antibacterial properties effects. Its key bioactive compounds include flavonoids and triterpenoids. Specific fungal genes can be selectively induced by fungal elicitors. To investigate the effect of fungal polysaccharides derived from Perenniporia tenuis mycelia on the metabolites of S. sanghuang, we conducted metabolic and transcriptional profiling with and without elicitor treatment (ET and WET, respectively). Correlation analysis showed significant differences in triterpenoid biosynthesis between the ET and WET groups. In addition, the structural genes associated with triterpenoids and their metabolites in both groups were verified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). Through metabolite screening, three triterpenoids were identified: betulinol, betulinic acid, and 2-hydroxyoleanolic acid. Excitation treatment increased the level of betulinic acid by 2.62-fold and 2-hydroxyoleanolic acid by 114.67-fold compared to WET. The qRT-PCR results of the four genes expressed in secondary metabolic pathways, defense gene activation, and signal transduction showed significant variation between the ET and WET groups. Overall, our study suggests that the fungal elicitor induced the aggregation of pentacyclic triterpenoid secondary metabolites in S. sanghuang.

Background Spermatogenesis is a complex process that includes mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. During spermatogenesis, genetic factors play a vital role inthe formation of properly functioning sperm. GTPase-activating protein (SH3 domain)-binding protein 2 (G3BP2) is known to take part in immune responses, mRNA transport, and stress-granule assembly. However, its role in male fertility is unclear. Here, we generated a G3bp2 conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model to explore the function of G3BP2 in male fertility. Methods Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting (WB) were used to confirm testis-specific G3bp2 knockout. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to observe testicular morphology and epididymal structure. Computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) to detect sperm concentration and motility. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect apoptotic cells. Results We found that cKO male mice are fertile with the normal morphology of the testis and sperm. Additionally, CASA of the semen from cKO mice showed that they all had a similar sperm concentration and motility. In addition, sperm from these mice exhibited a similar morphology. But the tunnel assay revealed increased apoptosis in their testes relative to the level in the wild type (WT). Conclusion Together, our data demonstrate that G3BP2 is dispensable for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice albeit with the increased germ-cell apoptosis.

This study proposes a newly designed ignition circuit that does not change the ignition starting parameters of a Hall thruster, reduces the critical ignition voltage, and improves ignition reliability. The complexity and weight of the Hall thruster power supply system are reduced by multiplexing the ignition and discharge power supplies. Under the condition that the design parameters are satisfied, that is, R3+REC2 is much larger than RCC1, the residual energy in the circuit after the cathode breakdown can be fed into the thruster discharge channel to improve the ignition energy supply. The experimental results show that when the anode voltage is 98 V, only nine of the 100 ignition tests are successful using the traditional ignition circuit, whereas the number of successes using the newly designed ignition circuit is as high as 99, which provides a simple solution method for improving the ignition reliability.

Obtaining more accurate flood information downstream of a reservoir is crucial for guiding reservoir regulation and reducing the occurrence of flood disasters. In this paper, six popular ML models, including the support vector regression (SVR), Gaussian process regression (GPR), random forest regression (RFR), multilayer perceptron (MLP), long short-term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) models, were selected and compared for their effectiveness in flood routing of two complicated reaches located at the upper and middle main stream of the Yangtze River. The results suggested that the performance of the MLP, LSTM and GRU models all gradually improved and then slightly decreased as the time lag increased. Furthermore, the MLP, LSTM and GRU models outperformed the SVR, GPR and RFR models, and the GRU model demonstrated superior performance across a range of efficiency criteria, including mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean square error (RMSE), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE), Taylor skill score (TSS) and Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE). Specifically, the GRU model achieved reductions in MAPE and RMSE of at least 7.66% and 3.80% in the first case study and reductions of 19.51% and 11.76% in the second case study. The paper indicated that the GRU model was the most appropriate choice for flood routing in the Yangtze River.

Abstract Non‐obstructive azoospermia is one of the most common causes of male infertility, but there is still no specific treatment drug. Given that the Oct4 (Octamer‐binding transcription factor 4) has an important regulatory effect on spermatogenesis, activating it can effectively promote spermatogenesis, so it is of great value to develop Oct4‐targeted drug design and elucidating its mechanism of action. Here, we screened out the Oct4‐targeted drug molecule NBMA (N‐benzyl‐4‐methoxy‐2‐(1‐(4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)vinyl)aniline) by computer‐assisted technology, and found that it has a significant promoting effect on spermatogenesis in the established mouse azoospermia model. Subsequently, through transcriptome sequencing and enrichment analysis, real‐time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) and western blot experiments revealed that NBMA promotes the differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells by activating the Oct4 pathway, thereby promoting spermatogenesis. This study proves that NBMA is a molecule with great potential to be developed as a therapeutic drug for azoospermia. It also shows that computer‐assisted, chemical and biological multidisciplinary methods play a very important role in innovative drug discovery.

Resting state networks comprise several brain regions that exhibit complex patterns of interaction. Switching from eyes closed (EC) to eyes open (EO) during the resting state modifies these patterns of connectivity, but precisely how these change remains unclear. Here we use functional magnetic resonance imaging to scan healthy participants in two resting conditions (viz., EC and EO). Seven resting state networks were chosen for this study: salience network (SN), default mode network (DMN), central executive network (CEN), dorsal attention network (DAN), visual network (VN), motor network (MN) and auditory network (AN). We performed functional connectivity (FC) analysis for each network, comparing the FC maps for both EC and EO. Our results show increased connectivity between most networks during EC relative to EO, thereby suggesting enhanced integration during EC and greater modularity or specialization during EO. Among these networks, SN is distinctive: during the transition from EO to EC it evinces increased connectivity with DMN and decreased connectivity with VN. This change might imply that SN functions in a manner analogous to a circuit switch, modulating resting state relations with DMN and VN, when transitioning between EO and EC.

Sanghuangporus sanghuang polysaccharide (SHP) and ethyl alcohol fractions from the alcohol deposit fluid (SHE) were obtained from the fermentation broth of S. sanghuang. The component analysis by GC–MS showed that 4 organic reagent (petroleum ether, trichloroethane, ethyl acetate and n-butyl alcohol) extractions (SHEs) covered mainly esters, alcohols, phenols, free alkaloids and glycosides. The cytotoxicity and hypoglycemic effect of SHP/SHEs were tested on insulin resistance cell model, the results showed that SHP and SHEs could significantly promote glucose consumption at certain concentrations. Interestingly, SHP not only possessed hypoglycemic, but also inhibited the cytoactive at 2.5–10 mg/mL. Subsequently, the results in type Ⅱ diabetes model on mice revealed that SHP could significantly decrease blood glucose, recover blood lipid levels and repair the damaged tissues at 100–400 mg/Kg·BW. Altogether, our research concluded that SHP possesses antidiabetic activity, suggesting it a prospect application prospect as functional food and medical health product.

Background: Ferroptosis plays an important role in glioma and significantly affects the prognosis, but the specific mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Recent studies suggest that autophagy regulates the process of ferroptosis. This study aimed to find potential autophagy-ferroptosis genes and explore the prognostic significance in glioma.Methods: Ferroptosis and autophagy genes were obtained from two online databases (zhounan.org/ferrdb and autophagy.lu/). The RNAseq data and clinical information were obtained from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database (http://www.cgga.org.cn/). Univariate, multivariate, lasso and Cox regression analysis screened out prognosis-related genes, and a risk model was constructed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated the predictive efficiency of the model. Finally, a nomogram was constructed to more accurately predict the prognosis of glioma.Results: We developed a Venn diagram showing 23 autophagy-ferroptosis genes. A total of 660 cases (including RNA sequences and complete clinical information) from two different cohorts (training group n = 413, verification group n = 247) of the CGGA database was acquired. Cohorts were screened to include five prognosis-related genes (MTOR, BID, HSPA5, CDKN2A, GABARAPLA2). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the risk model was a good prognostic indicator (p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed good efficacy of the risk model. Multivariate Cox analysis also revealed that the risk model was suitable for clinical factors related to prognosis, including type of disease (primary, recurrence), grade (III-IV), age, temozolomide treatment, and 1p19q state. Using the five prognosis-related genes and the risk score, we constructed a nomogram assessed by C-index (0.7205) and a calibration plot that could more accurately predict glioma prognosis.Conclusion: Using a current database of autophagy and ferroptosis genes, we confirmed the prognostic significance of autophagy-ferroptosis genes in glioma, and we constructed a prognostic model to help guide treatment for high grade glioma in the future.

Abstract Background In May 2017, 17 dogs in a German Shepherd breeding kennel in northern China developed respiratory clinical signs. The owner treated the dogs with an intravenous injection of Shuang-Huang-lian, a traditional Chinese medicine, and azithromycin. The respiratory signs improved 3 days post-treatment, however, cysts were observed in the necks of eight dogs, and three of them died in the following 2 days. Case presentation Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect canine influenza virus (CIV). All of the dogs in this kennel were positive and the remaining 14 dogs had seroconverted. Two of the dogs were taken to the China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for further examination. Two strains of influenza virus (A/canine/Beijing/0512–133/2017 and A/canine/Beijing/0512–137/2017) isolated from the nasal swabs of these dogs were sequenced and identified as avian-origin H3N2 CIV. For the two dogs admitted to the hospital, hematology showed mild inflammation and radiograph results indicated pneumonia. Cyst fluid was plated for bacterial culture and bacterial 16 s rRNA gene PCR was performed, followed by Sanger sequencing. The results indicated an Enterococcus faecalis infection. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed and dogs were treated with enrofloxacin. All 14 remaining dogs recovered within 16 days. Conclusions Coinfection of H3N2 CIV and Enterococcus faecalis was detected in dogs, which has not been reported previously. Our results highlight that CIV infection might promote the secondary infection of opportunistic bacteria and cause more severe and complicated clinical outcomes.

During 2012–2017, we collected throat swabs from dogs in China to characterize canine influenza virus (CIV) A(H3N2) isolates. A new antigenically and genetically distinct CIV H3N2 clade possessing mutations associated with mammalian adaptation emerged in 2016 and replaced previously circulating strains. This clade probably poses a risk for zoonotic infection.

BackgroundMosquitoes host and transmit numerous arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) that cause disease in both humans and animals. Effective surveillance of virome profiles in mosquitoes is vital to the prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases in northwestern China, where epidemics occur frequently.MethodsMosquitoes were collected in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region (Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region) of China from June to August 2019. Morphological methods were used for taxonomic identification of mosquito species. High-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis were used to characterize mosquito viromes.ResultsA total of 22,959 mosquitoes were collected, including Culex pipiens (45.7%), Culex tritaeniorhynchus (40.6%), Anopheles sinensis (8.4%), Aedes (5.2%), and Armigeres subalbatus (0.1%). In total, 3,014,183 (0.95% of clean reads) viral sequences were identified and assigned to 116 viral species (including pathogens such as Japanese encephalitis virus and Getah virus) in 31 viral families, including Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Phasmaviridae, Phenuiviridae, and some unclassified viruses. Mosquitoes collected in July (86 species in 26 families) showed greater viral diversity than those from June and August. Culex pipiens (69 species in 25 families) and Culex tritaeniorhynchus (73 species in 24 families) carried more viral species than Anopheles sinensis (50 species in 19 families) or Aedes (38 species in 20 families) mosquitoes.ConclusionViral diversity and abundance were affected by mosquito species and collection time. The present study elucidates the virome compositions of various mosquito species in northwestern China, improving the understanding of virus transmission dynamics for comparison with those of disease outbreaks.

Air pollution containing particulate matter (PM) less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) plays an essential role in regulating hepatic disease. However, its molecular mechanism is not yet clear, lacking effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, we attempted to investigate the effects and mechanisms of PM2.5 exposure on hepatic injury by the in vitro and in vivo experiments. At first, we found that PM2.5 incubation led to a significant reduction of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), along with markedly reduced expression of different anti-oxidants. Notably, suppressor of IKKε (SIKE), known as a negative regulator of the interferon pathway, was decreased in PM2.5-incubated cells, accompanied with increased activation of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). The in vitro studies showed that Nrf2 positively regulated SIKE expression under the conditions with or without PM2.5. After PM2.5 treatment, Nrf2 knockdown further accelerated SIEK decrease and TBK1/NF-κB activation, and opposite results were observed in cells with Nrf2 over-expression. Subsequently, the gene loss- and gain-function analysis demonstrated that SIKE deficiency further aggravated inflammation and TBK1/NF-κB activation caused by PM2.5, which could be abrogated by SIKE over-expression. Importantly, SIKE-alleviated inflammation was mainly dependent on TBK1 activation. The in vivo studies confirmed that SIKE- and Nrf2-knockout mice showed significantly accelerated hepatic injury after long-term PM2.5 exposure through reducing inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Juglanin (Jug), mainly isolated from Polygonum aviculare, exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. We found that Jug could increase Nrf2 activation, and then up-regulated SIKE in cells and liver tissues, mitigating PM2.5-induced liver injury. Together, all these data demonstrated that Nrf2 might positively meditate SIKE to inhibit inflammatory and oxidative damage, ameliorating PM2.5-induced liver injury. Jug could be considered as an effective therapeutic strategy against this disease by improving Nrf2/SIKE signaling pathway.

During meiosis, telomeres attach to the nuclear envelope (NE) to promote homologous chromosome moving, pairing, synapsis, and recombination. The telomere-NE attachment is mediated by SUN1, TERB1-TERB2-MAJIN (TTM complex), and TRF1. The interaction of the TTM complex with shelterin is mediated by TERB1 and TRF1, but how SUN1 interacts with the TTM complex is not yet fully understood. In this study, we found that SUN1 not only interacted with TERB1 but also interacted with MAJIN, and the interaction of SUN1 with MAJIN is stronger than TERB1. We also found that SUN1 interacted with SPDYA, an activator of CDK2. The binding sites of MAJIN and SPDYA at SUN1 were mapped, and both MAJIN and SPDYA bound to the N-terminal domain of SUN1 and the two binding sites were close to each other. Furthermore, SPDYA bound to SUN1 via the Ringo domain and recruited CDK2 to SUN1. Then, we found that the interaction of SUN1 with MAJIN was decreased by the CDK2 inhibitors. Taken together, our results provide the possible mechanism of SUN1, MAJIN, and SPDYA-CDK2 in promoting the telomere-NE attachment during meiosis.

Although Japanese encephalitis virus genotype Ib (JEV GIb) has replaced JEV GIII as the dominant genotype in endemic areas of Asia, no JEV GIb has been isolated from JE cases and natural mosquitoes at the same time in an outbreak of JE. In this study, we conducted virological and molecular biological laboratory tests on JE case samples (serum/cerebrospinal fluid) and locally collected mosquito samples from the 2018 JE outbreak in Ningxia, China. The result of JEV IgM antibody detection showed that 96% (67/70) of the suspected cases were laboratory-confirmed JE cases. Of the mosquitoes collected from local environments, 70% (17400/24900) were Culex tritaeniorhynchus of which 4.6% (16 /348 of the pools tested) were positive for JEV, other mosquitoes were negative. JEVs isolated from both the human cases and C. tritaeniorhynchus specimens belong to JEV GIb and are in the same evolutionary clade according to molecular evolution analyses. JEV GIb was detected simultaneously from specimens of JE cases and mosquito samples collected in nature in this study, suggesting that the JE outbreak that occurred in Ningxia in 2018 was due to infection of JEV GIb.

Recent advances in deep learning, especially the long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, provide some useful insights on how to tackle time series prediction problems, not to mention the development of a time series model itself for prediction. Runoff forecasting is a time series prediction problem with a series of past runoff data (water level and discharge series data) as inputs and a fixed-length series of future runoff as output. Most previous work paid attention to the sufficiency of input data and the structural complexity of deep learning, while less effort has been put into the consideration of data quantity or the processing of original input data—such as time series decomposition, which can better capture the trend of runoff—or unleashing the effective potential of deep learning. Mutual information and seasonal trend decomposition are two useful time series methods in handling data quantity analysis and original data processing. Based on a former study, we proposed a deep learning model combined with time series analysis methods for daily runoff prediction in the middle Yangtze River and analyzed its feasibility and usability with frequently used counterpart models. Furthermore, this research also explored the data quality that affect the performance of the deep learning model. With the application of the time series method, we can effectively get some information about the data quality and data amount that we adopted in the deep learning model. The comparison experiment resulted in two different sites, implying that the proposed model improved the precision of runoff prediction and is much easier and more effective for practical application. In short, time series analysis methods can exert great potential of deep learning in daily runoff prediction and may unleash great potential of artificial intelligence in hydrology research.

In order to study the crystallinity of different density polyethylenes, this paper conducts an experimental study on the transformation of the conductance mechanism under a high electric field. In this experiment, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differentials scanning calorimetry (DSC), direct current (DC) breakdown of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), as well as the conductivity characteristics under an electric field of 5−200 kV/mm are tested. In addition, the electric field−current density curves of the four kinds of polyethylene are fitted to analyze their conductance transition in non-ohmic regions under different high field strengths, through applying the mathematical formula of a variety of conductance mechanisms. The experimental results are as follows: as the density of polyethylene increases, the crystallinity increases continuously. Moreover, the continuous increase of crystallinity causes the electric conduction flow under the same field strength to decrease significantly. The field strength corresponding to the two turning points in the conductance characteristic curve increases simultaneously, and the breakdown field strength increases accordingly; through analysis, it is found that in the high field, as the electric field increases, the conductance mechanism develops from the ohmic conductance of the low field strength region to the bulk effect of the high field strength region (Poole−Frenkel effect). Then, it develops into the electrode effect to the high field strength (Schottky effect), although the threshold field strength of this conductance mechanism transition increases with the increase of crystallinity.

In order to study the effects of the crystallinity of polyethylene with different densities on breakdown strength and conductance properties, this paper mainly tests the X-ray diffraction (XRD), different scanning calorimeter (DSC), direct current (DC) breakdown and conductance properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and further analyzes the experimental results separately. The results show that an increase in the density of polyethylene leads to the continuous improvement of crystallinity, and an increase in crystallinity causes a significant decrease in the conduction current at the same field strength. The field strength corresponding to the two turning points in the conductance characteristic curve increases simultaneously.

Electric potential plays an indispensable role in tissue engineering and wound healing. Piezoelectric nanogenerators based on direct piezoelectric effects can be self-powered energy sources for electrical stimulation and have attracted extensive attention. However, the accuracy of piezoelectric stimuli on piezoelectric polymers membranes in vitro during the dynamic condition is rarely studied. Here, a self-powered tunable electrical stimulation system for assisting the proliferation of preosteoblasts was achieved by well-aligned P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric nanofiber membrane (NFM) both as a nanogenerator (NG) and as a scaffold. The effects of electrospinning and different post-treatments (annealing and poling) on the surface wettability, piezoelectric β phase, ferroelectric properties, and sensing performance of NFMs were evaluated here. The polarized P(VDF-TrFE) NFM offered an enhanced piezoelectric value (d31 of 22.88 pC/N) versus pristine P(VDF-TrFE) NFM (d31 of 0.03 pC/N) and exhibited good sensing performance. The maximum voltage and current output of the P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric nanofiber NGs reached −1.7 V and 41.5 nA, respectively. An accurate electrical response was obtained in real time under dynamic mechanical stimulation by immobilizing the NGs on the flexible bottom of the culture plate, thereby restoring the real scene of providing electrical stimulation to the cells in vitro. In addition, we simulated the interaction between the piezoelectric nanofiber NG and cells through an equivalent circuit model. To verify the feasibility of P(VDF-TrFE) nanofiber NGs as an exact electrical stimulation, the effects of different outputs of P(VDF-TrFE) nanofiber NGs on cell proliferation in vitro were compared. The study realized a significant enhancement of preosteoblasts proliferation. This work demonstrated the customizability of P(VDF-TrFE) piezoelectric nanofiber NG for self-powered electrical stimulation system application and suggested its significant potential application for tissue repair and regeneration.

Self-powered operation, flexibility, excellent mechanical properties, and ultra-high sensitivity are highly desired properties for pressure sensors in human health monitoring and anthropomorphic robotic systems. Piezoelectric pressure sensors, with enhanced electromechanical performance to effectively distinguish multiple mechanical stimuli (including pressing, stretching, bending, and twisting), have attracted interest to precisely acquire the weak signals of the human body. In this work, we prepared a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene)/ multi-walled carbon nanotube (P(VDF-TrFE)/MWCNT) composite by an electrospinning process and stretched it to achieve alignment of the polymer chains. The composite membrane demonstrated excellent piezoelectricy, favorable mechanical strength, and high sensitivity. The piezoelectric coefficient d33 value was approximately 50 pm/V, the Young’s modulus was ~0.986 GPa, and the sensitivity was ~540 mV/N. The resulting composite membrane was employed as a piezoelectric pressure sensor to monitor small physiological signals including pulse, breath, and small motions of muscle and joints such as swallowing, chewing, and finger and wrist movements. Moderate doping with carbon nanotubes had a positive impact on the formation of the β phase of the piezoelectric device, and the piezoelectric pressure sensor has the potential for application in health care systems and smart wearable devices.

Several viruses within the Coronaviridae family have been categorized as either emerging or re-emerging human pathogens, with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) being the most well known. The NIAID-sponsored Virus Pathogen Database and Analysis Resource (ViPR, www.viprbrc.org) supports bioinformatics workflows for a broad range of human virus pathogens and other related viruses, including the entire Coronaviridae family. ViPR provides access to sequence records, gene and protein annotations, immune epitopes, 3D structures, host factor data, and other data types through an intuitive web-based search interface. Records returned from these queries can then be subjected to web-based analyses including: multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic inference, sequence variation determination, BLAST comparison, and metadata-driven comparative genomics statistical analysis. Additional tools exist to display multiple sequence alignments, view phylogenetic trees, visualize 3D protein structures, transfer existing reference genome annotations to new genomes, and store or share results from any search or analysis within personal private ‘Workbench’ spaces for future access. All of the data and integrated analysis and visualization tools in ViPR are made available without charge as a service to the Coronaviridae research community to facilitate the research and development of diagnostics, prophylactics, vaccines and therapeutics against these human pathogens.

The decoration of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of metal oxide semiconductors to enhance material characteristics and gas-sensing performance has recently attracted increasing attention from researchers worldwide. Here, we have synthesized porous silicon (PS)/WO3 nanorods (NRs) functionalized with Pd NPs to enhance NO2 gas-sensing performance. PS was first prepared using electrochemical methods and worked as a substrate. WO3 NRs were synthesized by thermally oxidizing W film on the PS substrate. Pd NPs were decorated on the surface of WO3 NRs via in-situ reduction of the Pd complex solution by using Pluronic P123 as the reducing agent. The gas-sensing characteristics were tested at different gas concentrations and different temperatures ranging from room temperature to 200 °C. Results revealed that, compared with bare PS/WO3 NRs and Si/WO3 NRs functionalized with Pd NPs, the Pd-decorated PS/WO3 NRs exhibited higher and quicker responses to NO2, with a detection concentration as low as 0.25 ppm and a maximum response at room temperature. The gas-sensing mechanism was also investigated and is discussed in detail. The high surface area to volume ratio of PS and the reaction-absorption mechanism can be explained the enhanced sensing performance.

Although traditional fault diagnosis methods can qualitatively identify the failure modes for power equipment, it is difficult to evaluate the failure probability quantitatively. In this paper, a failure probability calculation method for power equipment based on multi-characteristic parameters is proposed. After collecting the historical data of different fault characteristic parameters, the distribution functions and the cumulative distribution functions of each parameter, which are applied to dispersing the parameters and calculating the differential warning values, are calculated by using the two-parameter Weibull model. To calculate the membership functions of parameters for each failure mode, the Apriori algorithm is chosen to mine the association rules between parameters and failure modes. After that, the failure probability of each failure mode is obtained by integrating the membership functions of different parameters by a weighted method, and the important weight of each parameter is calculated by the differential warning values. According to the failure probability calculation result, the series model is established to estimate the failure probability of the equipment. Finally, an application example for two 220 kV transformers is presented to show the detailed process of the method. Compared with traditional fault diagnosis methods, the calculation results not only identify the failure modes correctly, but also reflect the failure probability changing trend of the equipment accurately.

Anaplasma (formerly Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Neorickettsia (formerly Ehrlichia) sennetsu are intracellular vector-borne pathogens that cause human ehrlichiosis, an emerging infectious disease. We present the complete genome sequences of these organisms along with comparisons to other organisms in the Rickettsiales order. Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. display a unique large expansion of immunodominant outer membrane proteins facilitating antigenic variation. All Rickettsiales have a diminished ability to synthesize amino acids compared to their closest free-living relatives. Unlike members of the Rickettsiaceae family, these pathogenic Anaplasmataceae are capable of making all major vitamins, cofactors, and nucleotides, which could confer a beneficial role in the invertebrate vector or the vertebrate host. Further analysis identified proteins potentially involved in vacuole confinement of the Anaplasmataceae, a life cycle involving a hematophagous vector, vertebrate pathogenesis, human pathogenesis, and lack of transovarial transmission. These discoveries provide significant insights into the biology of these obligate intracellular pathogens.