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Abstract Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and clinical characteristics in breast cancer. Patients and methods The clinical records of all 432 patients tested for AR in our institution between January 2020 and May 2023 were reviewed. Clinical characteristics, age, menopausal status, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, distant metastasis, pathological complete response (pCR), histopathological features histological grade, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor, Her-2, Ki-67, and molecular subtype were registered for all patients. Results About 377 (87.27%) of the 432 patients had AR expression. No significant difference in AR expression was found with age, menopausal status, TNM stage of primary tumor, or pCR. AR was positively and significantly associated with the histological grade, and recurrence. The AR expression was significantly related with molecular subtypes, including ER, PR Her-2, Ki67 and molecular subtype. ER (OR = 10.489, 95%CI: 5.470–21.569), PR (OR = 7.690, 95%CI: 3.974–16.129, Her-2 (OR = 10.489, 95%CI: 2.779–23.490 and tumor recurrence (OR = 0.110, 95%CI: 0.031–0.377 were significant independent risk factors affecting AR expression. Conclusions AR expression can serve as a reliable basis for judging the clinical molecular types and poor prognosis for breast cancer. AR may be a novel biomarker and target in AR-positive breast cancer depending on significant difference in AR expression among different molecular types of breast cancer.

Abstract Seed size/weight plays an important role in determining crop yield, yet only few genes controlling seed size have been characterized in soybean. Here, we perform a genome-wide association study and identify a major quantitative trait locus (QTL), named GmSW17 (Seed Width 17), on chromosome 17 that determine soybean seed width/weight in natural population. GmSW17 encodes a ubiquitin-specific protease, an ortholog to UBP22, belonging to the ubiquitin-specific protease (USPs/UBPs) family. Further functional investigations reveal that GmSW17 interacts with GmSGF11 and GmENY2 to form a deubiquitinase (DUB) module, which influences H2Bub levels and negatively regulates the expression of GmDP-E2F-1, thereby inhibiting the G1-to-S transition. Population analysis demonstrates that GmSW17 undergo artificial selection during soybean domestication but has not been fixed in modern breeding. In summary, our study identifies a predominant gene related to soybean seed weight, providing potential advantages for high-yield breeding in soybean.

ObjectiveTo analyze the effects of dapagliflozin on blood glucose levels, renal function, and the levels of miR-21-5p and miR-423-5p in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Methods A total of 98 patients with diabetic nephropathy admitted in The Second People's Hospital of Hefei from February 2022 to October 2023 were selected and divided into the control group (n=49) and the observation group (n=49) according to the random number table method. The control group was treated with metformin, and the observation group was treated with a combination of metformin and dapagliflozin. Blood glucose levels, renal function, expression levels of miR-21-5p, miR-423-5p and serum proinflammatory factors before and after treatment were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of adverse reactions was recorded. Results The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), cystatin C (Cys-C) in both groups decreased after 3 months of treatment, and the above indexes in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P0.05). Conclusion Daglipzin can help improve the blood sugar level and renal function of patients with diabetes nephropathy, reduce the expression of miR-21-5p, miR-423-5p and the level of serum proinflammatory factors, with good safety.

IntroductionMajor depressive disorder is a condition involving microbiota–gut–brain axis dysfunction. Increasing research aims to improve depression through gut microbiota regulation, including interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplants. However, most research focuses on exogenous depression induced by chronic stress or drugs, with less attention given to endogenous depression. Additionally, research on gut mycobiota in depression is significantly less than that on gut bacteria.MethodsIn the present study, Wistar–Kyoto rats were used as an endogenous depression and treatment-resistant depression model, while Wistar rats served as controls. Differences between the two rat strains in behavior, gut bacteria, gut mycobiota, nervous system, endocrine system, immune system, and gut barrier were evaluated. Additionally, the effects of Lactobacillus helveticus NS8 supplementation were investigated.ResultsWistar–Kyoto rats demonstrated increased depressive-like behaviors in the forced swimming test, reduced sucrose preference in the sucrose preference test, and decreased locomotor activity in the open field test. They also exhibited abnormal gut bacteria and mycobiota, characterized by higher bacterial α-diversity but lower fungal α-diversity, along with increased butyrate, L-tyrosine, and L-phenylalanine biosynthesis from bacteria. Furthermore, these rats showed dysfunction in the microbiota–gut–brain axis, evidenced by a hypo-serotonergic system, hyper-noradrenergic system, defective hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, compromised gut barrier integrity, heightened serum inflammation, and diminished gut immunity. A 1-month L. helveticus NS8 intervention increased the fecal abundance of L. helveticus; reduced the abundance of Bilophila and Debaryomycetaceae; decreased immobility time but increased climbing time in the forced swimming test; reduced hippocampal corticotropin-releasing hormone levels; decreased hypothalamic norepinephrine levels; increased hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor dopamine, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid content; and improved the gut microbiota, serotonergic, and noradrenergic system.ConclusionThe depressive phenotype of Wistar–Kyoto rats is not only attributed to their genetic context but also closely related to their gut microbiota. Abnormal gut microbiota and a dysfunctional microbiota–gut–brain axis play important roles in endogenous depression, just as they do in exogenous depression. Supplementing with probiotics such as L. helveticus NS8 is likely a promising approach to improve endogenous depression and treatment-resistant depression.

The influence of B and Sb on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of T6-treated Al–Si–Mg alloys has been specifically studied. It is found that the addition of 0.03 wt% B to Al–Si–Mg alloys results in the lowest corrosion rate (0.02451 mm/y) when immersed in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for 3 days. This improvement can be attributed to the transformation of coarse dendritic α-Al grains into refined equiaxed grains, which is beneficial for the formation of uniform and compact passive film. In contrast, the Al–Si–Mg alloy with addition of 0.2 wt% Sb shows the highest corrosion rate (0.05795 mm/y), which can be attributed to two reasons. First, the addition of Sb contributes to the transformation of rod-like eutectic Si particles into a spherical morphology, increasing the number of micro-galvanic corrosion sites and thus accelerating the corrosion process. Second, the generated Mg3Sb2 phase, being more noble than the eutectic Si phase, strengthens the micro-galvanic corrosion.

Abstract Green innovation in the tourism industry is a sustainable development concept for resource conservation and environmental optimization. The effective measurement of green innovation efficiency in the tourism industry and an accurate understanding of its spatial relationship was significantly important for promoting its sustainable development. Using the SBM-undesirable model, kernel density estimation, and a spatial Markov chain, we explored the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics and influencing mechanisms of urban tourism green innovation efficiency (TGIE) in China between 2000 and 2020. We found that (1) the temporal and spatial changes of TGIE were generally at a lower than medium level and fluctuated throughout country, with a transition in the east, collapse in the middle, and stagnation in the northeast. (2) The dynamic evolution of TGIE always exhibited polarization, but regional coordination was gradually enhanced with strong stability, although it was difficult to achieve leap-forward development. The cities with spatial upward transfer were concentrated mainly in the central and western region and while there were few cities with a downward adjustment, there were obvious asymmetrical spatial spillover effects. (3) The driving factors of TGIE were the overall economic level, industrial structure, government regulation, and education level. These factors had a significant positive relationship with TGIE, while the degree of opening up to the outside world has no significant effect, but the degree of influence, mechanism, and conditions of each factor were strongly regional.

To address the problems of long planning time, redundant planning path, and even planning failure caused by local constraints in narrow spaces in the rapid exploring random trees (RRT) algorithm when unmanned aerial vehicle is planning a path in a complex environment, an improved Informed RRT* algorithm is proposed. First, the artificial potential field (APF) method is used to make the sampling points move to the target point in the way of potential field descending, which improves the purpose and directionality of RRT tree expansion. Considering the complexity of the global environment during tree expansion, an adaptive step size is introduced to accelerate the expansion speed of the RRT tree in an unobstructed environment. Then, relevant constraints are added in the process of random tree expansion to ensure the feasibility of the generated paths. After the first reachable path is found, variable elliptic or ellipsoidal sampling domain is used to limit the selection of sampling points and the expansion range of adaptive step size, so as to accelerate the convergence of the algorithm to the asymptotic optimization. Finally, the original algorithm and the improved algorithm are compared in two-dimensional and three-dimensional complex environment. The simulation results show that the improved algorithm can find a better reachable path with a small number of iterations, lock the elliptic or ellipsoidal sampling domain faster and leave more time for path optimization. The improved algorithm performs better in path planning.

Abstract The tourism industry in China presents uneven tourism efficiency but deepening spatial associations; thus, tourism resources must be more rationally allocated. In this study, the highly efficient SBM model was used to measure the tourism environmental efficiency of 31 provinces in China. A spatial correlation network is then constructed based on the gravity model, and the structural characteristics and influencing factors of the network are analyzed. The results show that (1) the overall tourism environmental efficiency in China presents a fluctuating growth trend, with significantly higher values observed in the eastern region than in the central and western regions; moreover, the growth in efficiency in the eastern region has been relatively stable in recent years, that in the central region has increased, while that in the western region has significantly declined. (2) A spatially linked network with a stable tourism environmental efficiency structure has been formed in China. The number of network relations and density of the network fluctuate and increase, while the network efficiency continues to decrease; however, a strong small-world nature is observed. (3) An obvious network core–edge structure is observed, with Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu at the center showing a significant intermediary role and remote provinces such as Tibet, Xinjiang, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia at the edge showing fewer connections. (4) The four major plates of China based on the CONCOR algorithm are sparsely connected internally and show strong inter-plate connections and spillover effects. (5) The industry support capacity difference matrix, technological development level difference matrix, transportation accessibility difference matrix, and environmental regulation level difference matrix significantly and positively affect spatial associations, while the geographical distance matrix significantly and negatively affect spatial association relationship establishment. These findings have important theoretical and practical significance for the sustainable development of tourism in China's provinces and cities.

Abstract The proper axial length of the eye is crucial for achieving emmetropia. In this study, we present a wireless battery-free eye modulation patch designed to correct high myopia and prevent relapse. The patch consists of piezoelectric transducers, an electrochemical micro-actuator, a drug microneedle array, μ-LEDs, a flexible circuit, and biocompatible encapsulation. The system can be wirelessly powered and controlled using external ultrasound. The electrochemical micro-actuator plays a key role in precisely shortening the axial length by driving the posterior sclera inward. This ensures accurate scene imaging on the retina for myopia eye. The drug microneedle array delivers riboflavin to the posterior sclera, and μ-LEDs’ blue light induces collagen cross-linking, reinforcing sclera strength. In vivo experiments demonstrate that the patch successfully reduces the rabbit eye’s axial length by ~1217 μm and increases sclera strength by 387%. The system operates effectively within the body without the need for batteries. Here, we show that the patch offers a promising avenue for clinically treating high myopia.

Abstract Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) of the heart are rarely observed in the eldly. We report a case involving an elderly woman with an IMT situated on the right atrial wall. The tumor was fully excised. The patient had a smooth recovery post-surgery and remained free of recurrence for three years.

ABSTRACTThe quality of cooked potato depends on its nutritional components. This study aimed to select suitable potato cultivars for cooking through correlation analysis of their nutritional composition and cooking characteristics. The nutritional components and sensory properties of 10 potatoes from the Xinjiang province were determined. Correlation analysis showed that protein and calcium, as well as the dietary fiber, iron, and phosphorus contents were significantly associated with the total colour difference (ΔE) and softening (p < .05). The umami and kokumi of potatoes after cooking were significantly correlated with isoleucine and tyrosine, as well as lysine, leucine, and isoleucine (p < .01). It could be deduced from the colour, texture characteristics and sensory properties that Longshu11 was suitable for processing mashed potato products, and that Jizhang12, Longshu10 and Heijingang were suitable for fresh-cut. The results provided new ideas and theoretical support for efficiently selecting suitable potato varieties for cooking and processing.