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Abstract Background Cotton serves as a primary source of natural fibers crucial for the textile industry. However, environmental elements such as drought have posed challenges to cotton cultivation, resulting in adverse impacts on both production and fiber quality. Improving cotton’s resilience to drought could mitigate yield losses and foster the expansion of cotton farming. Rab7 protein, widely present in organisms, controls the degradation and recycling of cargo, and has a potential role in biotic and abiotic tolerance. However, comprehensive exploration of the Rab7 gene family in Gossypium remains scarce. Results Herein, we identified a total of 10, 10, 20, and 20 Rab7 genes through genome-wide analysis in Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium raimondii, Gossypium hirsutum, and Gossypium barbadense, respectively. Collinearity analysis unveiled the pivotal role of whole genome or segmental duplication events in the expansion of GhRab7s. Study of gene architecture, conserved protein motifs, and domains suggested the conservation of structure and function throughout evolution. Exploration of cis-regulatory elements revealed the responsiveness of GhRab7 genes to abiotic stress, corroborated by transcriptome analysis under diverse environmental stresses. Notably, the greatly induced expression of GhRab7B3-A under drought treatment prompted us to investigate its function through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assays. Silencing GhRab7B3-A led to exacerbated dehydration and wilting compared with the control. Additionally, inhibition of stomatal closure, antioxidant enzyme activities and expression patterns of genes responsive to abiotic stress were observed in GhRab7B3-A silenced plants. Conclusions This study sheds light on Rab7 members in cotton, identifies a gene linked to drought stress, and paves the way for additional investigation of Rab7 genes associated with drought stress tolerance.

Yawan Jing,1,2 Ruixin Cheng,3 Hao Zeng,1 Qin Huang,1 Dongyu He,1 Jiayi Sun,1 Panwen Tian,1,4 Yalun Li1,4 1Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Center/Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People’s Republic of China; 4Lung Cancer Center/Lung Cancer Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yalun Li; Panwen Tian, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Alley, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 28 85423660, Email lunlunhx@qq.com; mrascend@163.comBackground: KRAS mutation is one of the most common driver oncogenes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the most common mutation subtype is G12C. However, there is still a lack of efficacy and prognosis data related to immunotherapy, which hinders the promotion of new strategies.Methods: Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were collected and analyzed for patients with NSCLC harboring KRAS mutations at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 2013 to March 2023.Results: Among the 231 patients with KRAS-mutated NSCLC, 29.4% had KRAS G12C mutations. Compared to the KRAS non-G12C NSCLC group, the KRAS G12C NSCLC group had a greater number of pack-years. The programmed death ligand 1 expression and the proportion of patients with a high tumor mutational burden were not significantly different between the two groups. Similar patterns of TP53, STK11, and CDKN2A mutations were observed between KRAS G12C and KRAS non-G12C NSCLC groups. The median progression-free survival (PFS) (8.4 vs 7.0 months, p=0.100) and overall survival (OS) (12.1 vs 18.1 months, p=0.590) were not statistically different between KRAS G12C and KRAS non-G12C. Compared to patients with KRAS G12C NSCLC who did not receive immunotherapy, patients who received immunotherapy had a better objective response rate (46.2% vs 0%, p=0.002), PFS (12.2 vs 7.5 months, p=0.087) and OS (49.9 vs 11.1 months, p=0.12).Conclusion: Patients with KRAS G12C were more likely to be smokers. Advanced KRAS G12C NSCLC patients who received immunotherapy had a better ORR than those who did not, suggesting that patients with G12C mutations are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy.Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer, KRAS G12C mutation, KRAS mutation, immunotherapy, overall survival

Abstract Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by an unregulated inflammatory reaction, often leading to severe morbidity and ultimately death. Excessive inflammation caused by M1 macrophage polarization and pyroptosis has been revealed to have a critical role in ALI. Recent study suggests that glycolytic reprogramming is important in the regulation of macrophage polarization and pyroptosis. However, the particular processes underlying ALI have yet to be identified. In this study, we established a Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI model and demonstrated that blocking glycolysis by using 2-Deoxy-D-glucose(2-DG) significantly downregulated the expression of M1 macrophage markers and pyroptosis-related genes, which was consistent with the in vitro results. Furthermore, our research has revealed that Phosphoglycerate Kinase 1(PGK1), an essential enzyme in the glycolysis pathway, interacts with NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3). We discovered that LPS stimulation improves the combination of PGK1 and NLRP3 both in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, the absence of PGK1 reduces the phosphorylation level of NLRP3. Based on in vitro studies with mice bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), we further confirmed that siPGK1 plays a protective role by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis and M1 macrophage polarization. The PGK1 inhibitor NG52 suppresses the occurrence of excessive inflammation in ALI. In general, it is plausible to consider a therapeutic strategy that focuses on modulating the relationship between PGK1 and NLRP3 as a means to mitigate the activation of inflammatory macrophages in ALI.

Excessive agricultural investment brought about by increased multiple-cropping index may compromise environmental sustainability. There are few studies on the sustainability of diversified multi-cropping systems in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). Therefore, this study selected five representative locations in the YRB. According to the local climate characteristics and food demand, diversified multi-cropping systems were designed, and the main local winter crops were selected as the previous crops of the corn–soybean strip compound cropping system, with the local traditional double-cropping model as the control (CK). The emergy evaluation method was introduced to quantitatively compare the efficiency and sustainability of diversified multi-cropping systems in the YRB. The results showed that by incorporating soybean by intercropping with corn, compared with the CK, the total energy input, annual energy output, and annual economic output increased by 15.80%, 9.78%, and 33.12% on average, respectively. The unit emergy value (UEV) and unit non-renewable value (UNV) increased by 6.03% and 5.98%, respectively; the emergy yield ratio (EYR) and environmental loading ratio (ELR) decreased by 0.91% and 0.44%, respectively; the emergy sustainability index (ESI) was the same. In the third mature crop selection, compared with that of corn, the ELR of soybean decreased by 14.32%, and the ESI increased by 18.55%. In addition, the choice of winter crops plays a vital role in the system’s efficiency and sustainability. Compared with those of other winter crops, the annual economic outputs of potato (upper reaches of the YRB), potato or forage rape (middle reaches of the YRB), and wheat (lower reaches of the YRB) increased by 51.02%, 32.27%, and 0.94%, respectively; their ESI increased by 71.21%, 47.72%, and 12.07%, respectively. Potato–corn/soybean or potato/corn/soybean (upper reaches of the YRB), forage rape–corn/soybean or potato/corn/soybean (middle reaches of the YRB), and wheat–corn/soybean (lower reaches of the YRB) were chosen to facilitate the coexistence of high economic benefits and environmental sustainability. Additionally, promoting mechanization and reducing labor input were essential to improve the efficiency and sustainability of multi-cropping systems. This study would provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for the development of efficient and sustainable multiple-cropping systems in the dryland of the YRB.

Since 2012, China has pursued an “ecological civilization” policy to promote green energy, increase environmental protection, and transition to more sustainable growth models. The complicated positive trends in energy consumption, more sustainable economic growth, and ecological management are obscured by China's persistent, significant dependence on fossil fuels, particularly coal. The study aims to analyze how renewable energy use in China affects carbon dioxide emissions and how those impacts change over time, as well as urbanization, industrialization, tourism, and green supply chain management. The DOLS dynamic system method used historical data from 1995 to 2022. The DOLS results show a positive and statistically significant economic growth coefficient in the long term, suggesting that an increase of only one percent in CO₂ emissions rise would be proportional to a surge in economic growth.Furthermore, using renewable energy sources correlates with long-term sustainability negatively and significantly. The results show reducing CO₂ emissions and boosting renewable energy use by 1 %. Furthermore, the long-run coefficients for industrialization and urbanization are positive and statistically significant, indicating that a 1 % increase in either component results in a comparable increase in CO₂ emissions. Sustainable logistics and tourism have negative and statistically significant coefficients, meaning that a one percent increase will gradually decrease carbon dioxide emissions. The estimated findings hold up when using other estimators, such as the commonly used co-integrating regression (CCR) strategy and fully modified least squares (FMOLS). When Granger causality is coupled, the test also catches the variables' causal link. test. To achieve environmental sustainability, the essay suggests using robust regulatory policy tools to curb ecological deterioration.

Intercropping can improve light interception and crop yield on limited farmlands. The light interception rate in intercropping is determined by row configuration. Quantifying the spatio-temporal light interception of intercrops is very important for improving crop yields by optimizing the row configuration. A two-year field experiment was conducted at two sites to quantify the responses of the light interception rate of intercrops to five treatments: two rows of maize alternated with three rows of soybean (2M3S), two rows of maize alternated four rows of soybean (2M4S), two rows of maize alternated five rows of soybean (2M5S), sole soybean (SS), and sole maize (SM). We developed a multiple regression model based on the sine of the solar elevation angle (sin(h)) and crop leaf area density (LAD) to quantify the spatio-temporal light interception of intercrops. The predicted light interception rate was positively correlated with the measured values of photosynthetically active radiation (R2 > 0.814) and dry matter (R2 > 0.830). Increasing soybean rows led to an increase in light interception of both soybean and the lower layer of maize. However, this also resulted in a decrease in light interception in the upper layer of maize. At the two sites, compared to 2M3S, the annual average cumulative light interception of soybean in 2M5S increased by 44.73% and 47.18%, that of the lower layer of maize in 2M5S increased by 9.25% and 8.04%, and that of whole canopy of maize decreased by 13.77% and 17.74% respectively. The changes in dry matter and yield of intercrops were consistent with the change in light interception, which further verified the high accuracy of the light interception model. The annual average maize yield of 2M5S was 6.03% and 6.16% lower but the soybean yield was 23.69% and 28.52% higher than that of 2M3S. On the basis of system yield, the best performance was recorded in 2M4S at the two sites. In summary, the newly created light interception model performs well in the quantification of the temporal and spatial changes in crop light interception in strip intercropping and has potential applications in other configurations. Optimizing row configurations across climatic regions to enhance light interception and yield at the system level will become a future target.

Based on the 3-UU parallel mechanism, a prototype robot for wrist joint rehabilitation is developed to assist stroke patients in wrist joint rehabilitation training. Based on the constraint relation and geometric characteristics of the 3-UU mechanism, the inverse kinematics of 3-UU mechanism is analyzed by spherical coordinate method and roll-pitch-yaw (RPY) method， and the relation between the platform and the driver is obtained. Compared with the classic 3-RRR wrist joint rehabilitation mechanism, the developed prototype has no advantages such as multi-solution and singular value. The motion performance of the prototype and the electromyographic signals of the two major muscle groups in the forearm are measured. The experimental results show that the maximum roll angle is -90° to 90°, the pitch angle is -90° to 90°， and the virtual yaw angle is -180° to 180°. The maximum electromyogram (EMG) signal can be generated at 950 mV. The results show that the developed model can meet the requirements of the wrist motion and train the forearm muscle group.

Biochar has the potential to become a more promising carbon source with a broad range of applications in soil agroecosystems. The depletion of soil minerals is a big problem due to soil erosion and leaching of nutrients. Biochar is a soil conditioner used in crop production to improve soil profile, increase fertilizer use efficiency, plant growth and development, carbon sequestration, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is persistent in the environment and retains water, nutrients, and contaminants. It can also be applied in environmental rehabilitation for remediating contaminated soil. Applied biochar significantly enhanced the nutrients in the rhizospheric soil and reduced the bioavailability and uptake of heavy metals. The enhancement of soil nutrient values was the major functional mechanism for enhancing plant protection and production. Overall, the results of this mini-review are significant because they provide the strategies and technological direction for using biochar in sustainable agricultural systems.

This paper presents an innovative fusion model called “CALSE-LSTM,” which integrates Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Long Short-Term Memory Networks (LSTMs), self-attention mechanisms, and squeeze-and-excitation attention mechanisms to optimize the estimation accuracy of the State of Charge (SoC). The model incorporates battery historical data as input and employs a dual-attention mechanism based on CNN-LSTM to extract diverse features from the input data, thereby enhancing the model's ability to learn hidden information. To further improve model performance, we fine-tune the model parameters using the Pelican algorithm. Experiments conducted under Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) conditions show that the CALSE-LSTM model achieves a Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of only 1.73 % in lithium battery SoC estimation, significantly better than GRU, LSTM, and CNN-LSTM models, reducing errors by 31.9 %, 31.3 %, and 15 %, respectively. Ablation experiments further confirm the effectiveness of the dual-attention mechanism and its potential to improve SoC estimation performance. Additionally, we validate the learning efficiency of CALSE-LSTM by comparing model training time with the number of iterations. Finally, in the comparative experiment with the Kalman filtering method, the model in this paper significantly improved its performance by incorporating power consumption as an additional feature input. This further verifies the accuracy of CALSE-LSTM in estimating the State of Charge (SoC) of lithium batteries.

[Objective] Soil erosion is a prominent ecological problem in southwestern Hubei Province. A reasonable assessment of the vulnerability of soil erosion in this area and exploration of its driving mechanisms are prerequisites for effective soil and water conservation measures. [Methods] The effects of natural and socio-economic factors on soil erosion in southwest Hubei were analyzed from the perspective of the human-land coupling system. The evaluation index system of soil erosion vulnerability in southwest Hubei was constructed from three aspects: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability. The comprehensive weighting method was used to determine the index weight. [Results] (1) From 2010 to 2020, the vulnerability of soil erosion in southwest Hubei generally showed a trend of decreasing first and then increasing. The vulnerability of soil erosion with strong and above intensity showed a fragmented distribution pattern, which was mainly concentrated in the central and southern parts of southwest Hubei and the western part of Yichang municipal district in the east. (2) The area with the highest sensitivity in the study area was concentrated at an altitude of 800 ~ 1 500 m, and the sensitivity was the largest at a slope of 25° ~ 35°, and showed a decreasing trend to both sides. When the slope was greater than 15°, the area with higher and higher sensitivity increased sharply; (3) Soil erosion vulnerability was higher than soil erosion intensity at higher and above soil erosion levels, and lower than soil erosion intensity at lower and below soil erosion levels. There was a synergistic trend between soil erosion vulnerability and soil erosion intensity. (4) The distribution pattern of soil erosion vulnerability was caused by a multi-factor synergy. The analysis of the geographical detector showed that slope, vegetation coverage, education quality, and urbanization rate have strong explanatory power for soil erosion vulnerability. [Conclusion] In the future, it is necessary to attach great importance to the protection of vegetation coverage in areas with a slope>15°, and to enhance the awareness of local residents about soil and water conservation by improving the quality of local education and strengthening the publicity of soil and water conservation.

Based on Donghua steel continuous casting rolling(DSCCR) production line, hot rolling tests rolled at 880, 820 ℃ and 780 ℃ were carried out to study the effect of finish rolling temperature on microstructure and properties of low carbon steel. OM, SEM, EBSD and other characterization methods were used to observe and analyze the microstructure of hot rolled strip at different finish rolling temperatures. Meanwhile, the tensile properties of hot rolled strip were tested and analyzed, and the changes of yield strength, tensile strength and elongation of hot rolled strip at different finish rolling temperatures were compared and analyzed. In addition, the thickness of iron oxide scale of hot rolled strip at different finish rolling temperatures was also measured. The results show that with the decrease of finish rolling temperature, the tensile strength ratio and elongation ratio of the strips decrease from 0.8-0.81 at 880 ℃ to 0.75-0.79 at 780 ℃, the elongation of the strips decrease from 40% at 880 ℃ to 27% at 780 ℃, and n value (strain-hardening exponent)decreases from 0.22 at 880 ℃ to 0.17 at 780 ℃. At the same time, the iron oxide scale of hot rolled strip steel was observed and analyzed. With the decrease of finish rolling temperature, the thickness of the iron oxide scale decreases from 10.2 μm at 880 ℃ to 8.8 μm at 780 ℃, and the decrease of the iron oxide scale sheet can improve the subsequent pickling efficiency and reduce the consumption of pickling.

Lin Xu,* Dongxu Zhao,* Pengcheng Tian,* Jiaan Ding,* Zhengyu Jiang, Guanyin Ni, Zhongheng Hou, Caifang Ni Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Caifang Ni, Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China, Email szncf@suda.edu.cn Zhongheng Hou, Department of Interventional Radiology, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, People’s Republic of China, Email 1453713285@qq.comPurpose: We aimed to develop a prognostic nomogram utilizing preoperative serum prealbumin levels to predict the overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Patients and Methods: A total of 768 individuals with unresectable HCC who underwent TACE at three medical facilities in Suzhou between January 2007 December 2018 were included. The patient cohort was assigned to a training set (n = 461) and a validation set (n = 307). Cox regression analysis identified independent prognostic factors, which were then used to construct a prognostic nomogram. Internal validation was performed in the testing group, and its effectiveness and capability were evaluated with reference to the concordance index (C-index), area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).Results: Independent risk factors identified through Cox regression analyses included the BCLC stage, cirrhosis, invasion, tumor number, preoperative serum PALB, performance status (PS), and tumor size. The nomogram demonstrated a C-index of 0.734 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.710– 0.758) in the training set and 0.717 (95% CI: 0.678– 0.756) in the validation set, indicating strong discriminatory ability. The nomogram also demonstrated favorable discriminatory performance with AUC values of 0.873, 0.820, and 0.833 for 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS, respectively, in the training set, and 0.854, 0.765, and 0.724 in the validation set. The AUC value of the nomogram (0.843) was significantly higher than that of the four conventional staging systems. Moreover, calibration graphs confirmed a strong concordance between the predicted and observed results. Furthermore, DCA underscored the significant clinical utility of the nomogram. Additionally, the low-risk group exhibited considerably superior rates of survival compared to the high-risk group.Conclusion: The developed nomogram demonstrated excellent prognostic capability, which served as a valuable tool for personalized clinical decision-making for patients with HCC.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, nomogram, prealbumin, overall survival, prognosis

Objective: Sepsis is linked to high morbidity and mortality rates. Consequently, early diagnosis is crucial for proper treatment, reducing hospitalization, and mortality rates. Additionally, over one-fifth of sepsis patients still face a risk of death. Hence, early diagnosis, and effective treatment play pivotal roles in enhancing the prognosis of patients with sepsis. Method: The study analyzed whole blood data obtained from patients with sepsis and control samples sourced from three datasets (GSE57065, GSE69528, and GSE28750). Commonly dysregulated immune-related genes (IRGs) among these three datasets were identified. The differential characteristics of these common IRGs in the sepsis and control samples were assessed using the REO-based algorithm. Based on these differential characteristics, samples from eight Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases (GSE57065, GSE69528, GSE28750, GSE65682, GSE69063, GSE95233, GSE131761, and GSE154918), along with three ArrayExpress databases (E-MTAB-4421, E-MTAB-4451, and E-MTAB-7581), were categorized and scored. The effectiveness of these differential characteristics in distinguishing sepsis samples from control samples was evaluated using the AUC value derived from the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve. Furthermore, the expression of IRGs was validated in peripheral blood samples obtained from patients with sepsis through qRT-PCR. Results: Among the three training datasets, a total of 84 common dysregulated immune-related genes (IRGs) were identified. Utilizing a within-sample relative expression ordering (REOs)-based algorithm to analyze these common IRGs, differential characteristics were observed in three reverse stable pairs (ELANE-RORA, IL18RAP-CD247, and IL1R1-CD28). In the eight GEO datasets, the expression of ELANE, IL18RAP, and IL1R1 demonstrated significant upregulation, while RORA, CD247, and CD28 expression exhibited notable downregulation during sepsis. These three pairs of immune-related marker genes displayed accuracies of 95.89% and 97.99% in distinguishing sepsis samples among the eight GEO datasets and the three independent ArrayExpress datasets, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranged from 0.81 to 1.0. Additionally, among these three immune-related marker gene pairs, mRNA expression levels of ELANE and IL1R1 were upregulated, whereas the levels of CD247 and CD28 mRNA were downregulated in blood samples from patients with sepsis compared to normal controls. Conclusion: These three immune-related marker gene pairs exhibit high predictive performance for blood samples from patients with sepsis. They hold potential as valuable auxiliary clinical blood screening tools for sepsis.

Northwest Hubei Province is a region prone to soil erosion. Investigating the spatiotemporal variations in soil erosion and identifying its underlying causes can offer valuable insights for guiding soil and water conservation efforts in the area. Based on the RUSLE model, we quantitatively analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in soil erosion in Northwest Hubei from 2005 to 2020. A geographical detector model was used to study the dominant factors of the spatial and temporal differentiation patterns of soil erosion, the degree of interactive coupling between multiple factors, and quantitative attribution of soil erosion-prone areas. The results indicate that, overall, the intensity of soil erosion in Northwest Hubei continued to decrease from 2005 to 2020. The average soil erosion modulus decreased by 16.3 t/(km2·a), and the soil erosion volume decreased by 200,000 t in 2020 compared to in 2005. Northwest Hubei showed a spatially divergent pattern of strong soil erosion intensity in the west and south and weak soil erosion in the central and north, with slight and mild erosion as a whole (accounting for 93% of the total erosion area). The land-use types in the study area were mainly forest land, and the proportions of forest land in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were over 60%. The soil erosion intensity of cultivated land was the highest among all land-use types. The area proportion of mild and above grade erosion intensity in this type was 85%, followed by forest land and grassland, with the percentage of the area of mild erosion intensity being 33.96% and 26.63%, respectively. From 2005 to 2020, each land-use type was transformed into another, and the transfer matrix results showed that cultivated land and grassland were mostly transformed into forest land, with a transfer area of 11.98%. Topographic factors markedly affected the soil erosion pattern: the soil erosion intensity in northwestern Hubei first increased and then decreased with the increase in elevation; the most significant erosion occured in the elevation zones of >200-500 m and >500-800 m, with proportions of the total erosion area being 47.7% and 31.8%, respectively. The soil erosion pattern was different under different slopes, and the area of >8°-25° was dominated by moderate, strong, and very strong erosion (the proportion of erosion is 55.4%); 65.6% of the area of >25° is strong and above high-intensity erosion. Given the impact of topographic factors on soil erosion, effective arrangements for soil erosion prevention and control measures should be made, keeping in mind the elevation distribution law and slope as the primary influencing factors. The results of geographical detection showed that slope and land use were the dominant factors affecting soil erosion, and the explanatory power of the two factors on soil erosion (q=0.479) was better than that of a single factor. Areas with slopes>35°, at elevations ranging between 500 and 800 m, showing an annual rainfall erosivity of 4,950.55-6,378.09 MJ·mm/(hm2·h·a), and cultivated land as the main land use type were identified as high-risk erosion areas. The results provide a scientific basis for soil erosion prevention, control, and land-use optimization in northwestern Hubei.

Yuyi Chen,1 Xuemei Zhao,1 Lin Liang,1 Pengchao Tian,1 Jiayu Feng,1 Liyan Huang,1 Boping Huang,1 Yihang Wu,1 Jing Wang,1 Jingyuan Guan,1 Xinqing Li,1 Jian Zhang,1,2 Yuhui Zhang1 1Heart Failure Center, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Clinical Research for Cardiovascular Medications, National Health Committee, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yuhui Zhang, Heart Failure Center, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8615901314243, Email yuhuizhangjoy@163.com Jian Zhang, Heart Failure Center, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613911102015, Email fwzhangjian62@126.comObjective: To identify biomarkers with independent prognostic value and investigate the prognostic value of multiple biomarkers in combination in patients hospitalized with heart failure.Methods: A total of 884 consecutive patients hospitalized with heart failure from 2015 to 2017 were enrolled. Twelve biomarkers were measured on admission, and the relationships between biomarkers and outcomes were assessed.Results: During the median follow-up of 913 days, 291 patients (32.9%) suffered from primary endpoint events. Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) (per log [unit] increase, adjusted HR [95% CI]: 1.39 [1.13,1.72], P = 0.002) and big endothelin-1 (big ET-1) (per log [unit] increase, adjusted HR [95% CI]: 1.56 [1.23,1.97], P < 0.001) remained independent predictors of primary endpoint event after adjusting for other predictors including N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT). Both sST2 (C-statistic: 0.810 vs 0.801, P = 0.005, and 0.832 vs 0.826, P = 0.024, respectively) and big ET-1 (C-statistic: 0.829 vs 0.801, P = 0.001, and 0.843 vs 0.826, P < 0.001, respectively) significantly improved the predictive value for primary endpoint event at 1 year and 3 years. However, only big ET-1 (C-statistic: 0.852 vs 0.846, P = 0.014) significantly improved the predictive value at 3 months when added to clinical predictors and known biomarkers. According to the number of elevated biomarkers (including NT-proBNP, hs-cTnT, sST2, and big ET-1), patients with three or more elevated biomarkers had a higher risk of primary endpoint event compared to those with two elevated biomarkers (P = 0.001), as well as in patients with two elevated biomarkers compared to those with one elevated biomarker (P = 0.004). However, the risk of primary endpoint event was comparable between patients with one elevated biomarker and those with no elevated biomarker (P = 0.582).Conclusion: Multiple biomarkers in combination could provide a better prognostic value than a single biomarker. sST2 and big ET-1 could act as alternatives of multi-biomarkers strategies for prognosis evaluation beyond NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT in patients hospitalized with heart failure.Keywords: heart failure, prognostic value, multiple biomarkers, sST2, big ET-1

Abstract Background Benefiting from increased life expectancy and improved perioperative management, more elderly patients with pancreatic head cancer (PHC) underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, individualized predictive models for the safety and efficacy of PD is still lacking. this study aimed to developed three safety‐ and efficacy‐related risk calculators for elderly (> = 65 years) PHC patients. Methods This study was designed with two research cohorts, namely, the training cohort and the validation cohort, and comprises four general steps: (1) Risk factors were analyzed for the incidence of postoperative complications, cancer‐specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) in the training cohort (N = 271) using logistic and Cox‐regression analysis. (2) Nomograms were then plotted based on the above results. (3) The accuracy of the developed nomogram models was then verified with the validation cohort (N = 134) data using consistency index (C‐index) and calibration curves. (4) We then evaluated the efficacy of these nomograms using decision curve analysis (DCA) in both the training and validation cohorts, and ultimately constructed three online calculators based on these nomograms. Results We identified ASA, diabetes, smoking, and lymph node invasion as predisposing risk factors for postoperative complications, and the predictive factors that affected both OS and CSS were ASA, diabetes, BMI, CA19‐9 level, and tumor diameter. By integrating the above risk factors, we constructed three nomograms on postoperative complication, CSS, and OS. The C‐index for complication, CSS, and OS were 0.824, 0.784, and 0.801 in the training cohort and 0.746, 0.718, and 0.708 in the validation cohort. Moreover, the validation curves and DCA demonstrated good calibration and robust compliance in both training and validation cohorts. We then developed three web calculators (https://caiming.shinyapps.io/CMCD/, https://caiming.shinyapps.io/CMCSS/, and https://caiming.shinyapps.io/CMOS/) to facilitate the use of the nomograms. Conclusions The calculators demonstrated promising performance as an tool for predicting the safety and efficacy of PD in elderly PHC patients.

To better understand the influence of aerosols on micro-properties of clouds and to facilitate weather modification experiments including the analysis of various materials' seeding effect on clouds and precipitation, Beijing Weather Modification Center has taken a decisive step forward by constructing an advanced facility known as Beijing aerosol and cloud interaction chamber (BACIC) in suburban Pinggu district. Boasting an impressive volume of 70 m3, BACIC is not only the largest of its kind in operation in China, but also a testament to the scale of the country's commitment to this sphere of atmospheric science. The enormity of the chamber's capacity facilitates the performance of a broad spectrum of investigations, thus enhancing the comprehensiveness and reliability of the results obtained.Inside BACIC, advanced instrumentation allows for the meticulous measurement and control of temperature, relative humidity, and background aerosol concentration. During 2019-2021, the chamber's capabilities extend further, as demonstrated by successful tests of its ability to create liquid and mixed-phase clouds. These attributes, combined with its capacity to control the cloud droplet size distribution as proved by comparative experiments involving changes in expansion rate and aerosol number concentration, solidify BACIC's standing as a prime location for warm cloud experimentation. The chamber has also been utilized to investigate effects of anthropogenic pollution over North China Plain (NCP) on cloud microphysics. Using ambient air and manipulating the expansion rate, a significant correlation is discovered between such pollution and the size distribution of cloud droplets. Interestingly, while an increase in aerosol leads to higher number of cloud droplets, it also causes a decrease in droplet size, typically within the range of 5-8 μm. Furthermore, an increase in aerosol number concentration leads to a decrease in the activation rate of aerosols into cloud droplets. This activation rate is around 10% for aerosol concentrations less than 5000 cm-3, and remains stable even when the aerosol concentration increases to 10000 cm-3.BACIC is also proved useful in conducting warm cloud expansion experiments involving different hygroscopic materials. It shows that the distribution of submicron (less than 1 μm) hygroscopic catalysts in a polluted environment leads to narrowing of the cloud droplet spectrum. It suggests that for the purpose of artificially reducing warm clouds or fog, it is recommended to use larger particle sizes. The results obtained from these diverse series of experiments have significantly contributed to theoretical knowledge and provide practical guidance for the ongoing development of artificial weather modification techniques.

Abstract Background The triglyceride and glucose index (TyG), as a surrogate of insulin resistance (IR), is closely associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the association between the TyG index and NAFLD in atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the association between the TyG index and NAFLD in AF. Methods This retrospective study was performed at Nanchang University’s Second Affiliated Hospital. The AF patients who were hospitalized from January 2021 to December 2022 were enrolled. The association between the TyG index and NAFLD in AF patients was assessed by logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis. The ability of TyG index for identifying NAFLD was estimated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Results In this study, 632 people participated in the final analysis, with 176 (27.84%) having NAFLD. In the full adjustment model, there is an association between the TyG index and NAFLD [per 1 unit increment; odds ratios (ORs): 3.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.14, 5.03]. Compared to the lowest tertile (TyG index

Abstract Intercropping can obtain yield advantages, but the mechanism of yield advantages of maize-legume intercropping is still unclear. Then, we explored the effects of cropping systems and N input on yield advantages in a two-year experiment. Cropping systems included monoculture maize (Zea mays L.) (MM), monoculture soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) (MS), monoculture peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) (MP), maize-soybean substitutive relay intercropping (IMS), and maize-peanut substitutive strip intercropping (IMP). N input included without N (N0) and N addition (N1). Results showed that maize’s leaf area index was 31.0% and 34.6% higher in IMS and IMP than in MM. The specific leaf weight and chlorophyll a (chl a) of maize were notably higher by 8.0% and 18.8% in IMS, 3.1%, and 18.6% in IMP compared with MM. Finally, N addition resulted in a higher thousand kernels weight of maize in IMS and IMP than that in MM. More dry matter accumulated and partitioned to the grain, maize's averaged partial land equivalent ratio and the net effect were 0.76 and 2.75 t ha−1 in IMS, 0.78 and 2.83 t ha−1 in IMP. The leaf area index and specific leaf weight of intercropped soybean were 16.8% and 26% higher than MS. Although soybean suffers from shade during coexistence, recovered growth strengthens leaf functional traits and increases dry matter accumulation. The averaged partial land equivalent ratio and the net effect of intercropped soybean were 0.76 and 0.47 t ha−1. The leaf area index and specific leaf weight of peanuts in IMP were 69.1% and 14.4% lower than in the MP. The chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b of peanut in MP were 17.0% and 24.4% higher than in IMP. A less dry matter was partitioned to the grain for intercropped peanut. The averaged pLER and NE of intercropped peanuts were 0.26 and -0.55 t ha−1. In conclusion, the strengthened leaf functional traits promote dry matter accumulation, maize-soybean relay intercropping obtained a win–win yield advantage, and maize-peanut strip intercropping achieved a trade-off yield advantage.

[Objective] The adaptation relationship and the changing trends between total water consumption and total GDP, water consumption of three industries and GDP of corresponding industries in Jiangxi Province and its 11 prefecture-level cities from 2015 to 2020 were studied, revealing the reasons for the adaptation differences, and providing scientific basis for the coordination of water resource utilization and economic development in the region. [Methods] Industrial water consumption and industrial GDP data were used with the Tapio model in this study. [Results] Total water use and total GDP of Jiangxi Province were both in a state of adaptation from 2015 to 2020, showing a trend pattern of “strong adaption—expanded adaption—strong adaptation”. The degree of adaptation exhibited a spatial distribution pattern of northwest > south > central and east. Agricultural water consumption and GDP of the primary industry showed a trend pattern of “adaptation—coupling—adaptation”, while the adaptation relationship for each city fluctuated. Except for the expansionary adaptation between industrial water consumption and GDP for the secondary industry in the province in 2018—2019, there was a strong adaptation relationship in other periods, and all cities reached a strong adaptation state in 2017—2018. The tertiary industry of the entire province was in a state of expansionary adaptation and positive coupling from 2015 to 2020. Except during the pandemic period in 2020, the adaptation of most cities was better than that of agriculture from 2015 to 2019. On the whole, the degree of adaptation between industrial water consumption and industrial GDP in Jiangxi Province followed the order of industry > tertiary industry > agriculture. [Conclusion] The main reasons for the change in the adaptation relationship between water use and economic development were precipitation, economic level, policy measures, industrial structure, technological progress, construction of water conservation facilities, etc. Countermeasures, such as developing special industries according to local conditions, determining production with water, and promoting transformation and upgrading of industrial structure, have been proposed to help promote sustainable development in Jiangxi Province.

The design of secure mechanisms and failure recovery mechanisms for inter-satellite routing has become pivotal in maintaining dependable communication within the LEO satellite network.To address the potential security threats faced by satellite networks, the impact of different routing attack behaviors on a typical inter-satellite routing protocol was analyzed and differentiated packet security authentication mechanisms and link failure recovery mechanisms were designed.Additionally, a satellite network emulation platform based on virtualization technology was constructed, enabled the verification of the effectiveness of the designed inter-satellite routing security mechanisms through the emulation of various routing attack scenarios.Furthermore, performance metrics such as CPU utilization and packet processing time were also evaluated before and after the introduction of security mechanisms.Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed inter-satellite routing security mechanism effectively mitigated multiple security threats in the space network environment while reduced communication latency caused by sudden link failures, thereby ensured secure and reliable communication within the LEO satellite network.

[Objective] Accurately assessing the carbon emissions of marine fisheries and predicting its future development trend will help promote energy conservation and emission reduction in China’s marine fisheries, accelerate the realization of the goal of “carbon neutrality”, and promote the sustainable development of China’s marine fisheries. [Methods] Based on the economic data of China’s marine fisheries from 2006 to 2020, this study used the data of mariculture, marine fishing and seafood processing tocomprehensively calculated the carbon emissions of marine fisheries, revealed the driving factors of carbon emissions of marine fisheries with the Log Mean Divisia Index (LMDI), and combined with the system dynamics model to simulate the trend of change of marine fishery carbon emissions under different scenarios in the future. [Results] The results show that: (1) From 2006 to 2020, China’s marine fishery carbon emissions decreased by 653500 tons. The carbon source was dominated by marine fishing and tended to decline, while the carbon sink was dominated by shellfish and grew rapidly. High-value areas of carbon emissions and carbon sources were concentrated in Zhejiang Province, and high-value areas of carbon sinks were concentrated in Shandong and Fujian Provinces. The center of gravity of China’s marine fishery carbon sources, carbon sinks, and carbon emissions moved to the northwest, northeast, and southwest, respectively. (2) The driving effects of carbon sinks and carbon emission coefficient, energy intensity, and industrial structure improvement weakened the total carbon emissions of marine fisheries, while the effects of increasing industrial scale and employed population exacerbated the growth of carbon emissions of marine fisheries. (3) The carbon emissions of marine fishery in the future all show a potential increasing trend, with the characteristics of rapid economic development scenario > current utilization level scenario > energy efficiency adjustment scenario > carbon sink enhancement development scenario > industrial structure adjustment scenario. [Conclusion] Studies have shown that China’s future marine fisheries carbon reduction efforts still face significant challenges. In order to promote energy-saving, emissions reduction, and high-quality development of China's marine fisheries, it is necessary to accelerate the adjustment and upgrading of the industrial structure, increase investment in marine fisheries technology, and actively develop carbon sequestration fisheries and recreational fisheries.

Radix puerariae has become the most commonly used medicine for diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the mechanism of Radix puerariae in the treatment of DN is not completely clear. This study is to determine the active ingredients, targets, and signaling pathways of Radix puerariae for the treatment of DN using network pharmacology analysis and animal experiments to confirm its possible mechanism of action. A total of 12 potential effective components and 10 key therapeutic targets were obtained. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis indicated that the use of Radix puerariae in DN treatment mainly involves HIF-1 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, FoxO signaling, and VEGF signaling pathway. Molecular docking proved that the combined activity of the components with potential key targets were excellent. Animal experiments showed that Radix puerariae could improve the renal pathological structure in DN rats. Radix puerariae could decrease the content of AKT1, IL-6, INS, and reduce the expression levels of p-Akt/Akt and p-FoxO1/FoxO1 in renal tissue of DN rats. This study provides insight into the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms of Radix puerariae for treating DN.

In rice, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the functional aspects of the members of the serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) gene family. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the SHMT gene family, covering phylogeny, gene structure, promoter analysis, expression analysis, subcellular localization, and protein interaction. Remarkably, we discovered a specific gene loss event occurred in the chloroplast-localized group IIa SHMTs in monocotyledons. However, OsSHMT3, which originally classified within cytoplasmic-localized group Ib, was found to be situated within chloroplasts in rice protoplasts. All five OsSHMTs are capable of forming homodimers, with OsSHMT3 being the only one able to form dimers with other OsSHMTs, except for OsSHMT1. It is proposed that OsSHMT3 functions as a mobile protein, collaborating with other OsSHMT proteins. Furthermore, the results of cis-acting element prediction and expression analysis suggested that members of the OsSHMT family could be involved in diverse stress responses and hormone regulation. Our study aims to provide novel insights for the future exploration of SHMTs.

In order to reveal the yield-increasing mechanism of relay intercropping (RI) maize with different varieties from the perspective of plant growth, source sink relationship, and root growth, a two-factor randomized block design trial was designed, which includes different maize varieties (Rongyu1210 (RY1210), Zhongyu 3 (ZY3)) and plant pattern (RI, Sole cropping (SC)). The leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation and distribution, root dry weight (RDW), root length (RL), root surface area (RSA), root volume (RV), and maize yield were determined. LAI of RI RY1210 was significantly higher than that of the SC RY1210 at the filling stage and maturity stage. The dry matter accumulation of RI RY1210 ear was significantly higher than that of SC RY1210 and RI ZY3, and the RDW of RY1210 was significantly higher than that of ZY3. The ratio of RDW of RI RY1210 was higher than that of RI ZY3 in the 20–40 and 40–60 cm soil layers, respectively. The RDW, RL, RV, and RSA of RI RY1210 were significantly lower than that of sole RY1210 by 25.43%, 10.75%, 30.79%, and 23.73%, respectively, but higher than that of RI ZY3 by 143.98%, 278.29%, 54.40%, and 29.57%, respectively. The average yield of RI RY1210 was 8782.71 kg ha−1, with no significant difference compared to SC, which was mainly attributed to a larger ear dry matter accumulation, higher LAI in later growth stages, larger RDW, and the ratio of roots in deeper soil layers. This study will be useful and helpful to farmers for how to select and plant high-yielding maize varieties in strip relay intercropping.

Although studies have shown that protein 53 (p53)-mediated ferroptosis is involved in acute lung injury (ALI), the mechanism of its regulation remains unclear. The protective effects of Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), a histone deacetylase, have been demonstrated in multiple diseases; however, further studies are needed to elucidate the role of SIRT6 in ALI. In the present study, we hypothesize that SIRT6 protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI by regulating p53-mediated ferroptosis. We observed that the inhibition of ferroptosis prevented LPS-induced ALI. The knockout of p53 blocked LPS-induced ferroptosis and ALI, suggesting that p53 facilitated ALI by promoting ferroptosis. In addition, the inhibition of SIRT6 aggravated LPS-induced ferroptosis and ALI, while the depression of ferroptosis blocked the exacerbation of lung injury induced by SIRT6 inhibition. The results suggest that SIRT6 protects against ALI by regulating ferroptosis. Furthermore, the inhibition of SIRT6 reinforced the p53 acetylation and the deletion of p53 rescued the exacerbation of ferroptosis induced by SIRT6 inhibition. The findings indicate that SIRT6 regulates the acetylation of p53 and prevents p53-mediated ferroptosis. In conclusion, our results indicate that SIRT6 protects against LPS-induced ALI by regulating p53-mediated ferroptosis, thereby demonstrating that SIRT6 holds great promise as a therapeutic target for ALI.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a malignancy of the inner epithelial lining of the uterus. While early-stage EC is often curable through surgery, the management of advanced, recurrent and metastatic EC poses significant challenges and is associated with a poor prognosis. Pyroptosis, an emerging form of programmed cell death, is characterized by the cleavage of gasdermin proteins, inducing the formation of extensive gasdermin pores in the cell membrane and the leakage of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18), consequently causing cell swelling, lysis and death. It has been found to be implicated in the occurrence and progression of almost all tumors. Recent studies have demonstrated that regulating tumor cells pyroptosis can exploit synergies function with traditional tumor treatments. This paper provides an overview of the research progress made in molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis. It then discusses the role of pyroptosis and its components in initiation and progression of endometrial cancer, emphasizing recent insights into the underlying mechanisms and highlighting unresolved questions. Furthermore, it explores the potential value of pyroptosis in the treatment of endometrial cancer, considering its current application in tumor radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of three-dimensional visualization technique (3DVT)-guided hepatectomy in the treatment of complicated hepatolithiasis. Methods: The clinical and follow-up data of 279 patients with complicated hepatolithiasis were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a 3DVT group (group A, 66 cases) and a non-3DVT group (group B, 213 cases). After baseline data were balanced using propensity score matching (PSM), the clinical characteristics and follow-up data of the two groups were observed. Results: After 1:1 PSM, 58 patients in each group were successfully matched with each other. When the groups were compared, the surgical duration (p = 0.033) and intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.002) of group A were lower than those of group B. The immediate stone clearance rate (91.4% vs. 75.9%, p = 0.024) and quality of life outcome (p = 0.034) of group A were significantly higher than those of group B. Logistic regression analysis showed that history of two or more biliary tract operations (odds ratio [OR] = 6.544, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.193–35.890, p = 0.031), bilateral stone distribution (OR = 4.198, 95% CI = 1.186–14.854, p = 0.026), and Geng grade III or IV (OR = 12.262, 95% CI = 2.224–67.617, p = 0.004) were independent risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with complicated hepatolithiasis. Conclusion: Compared to conventional imaging examinations, 3DVT can be used to guide and achieve accurate preoperative diagnosis of complicated hepatolithiasis and has good safety, feasibility, and efficacy.

Crataegus scabrifolia (Franch.) Rehd is a medicinal and edible plant in Southwest China. The chloroplast genome of C. scabrifolia was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology, and its genetic relationship to related species was discussed. The chloroplast genome is 159,637 bp long, with two inverted repeat (IR) regions (26,384 bp each) that separate a large single-copy (LSC) region (87,730 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (19,139 bp). A total of 127 genes were annotated, including 83 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 36 tRNA genes. The phylogenetic tree shows that C. hupehensis is closely related to C. scabrifolia with strong bootstrap support.

Bi-Hua Luo,&ast; Jian-Qing Huang,&ast; Chun-Yu Huang, Pan Tian, Ai-Zhen Chen, Wei-Hao Wu, Xiao-Mei Ma, Yue-Xing Yuan, Lian Yu Department of Hematology, Longyan First Hospital Affiliated Fujian Medical University, Fujian, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lian Yu, Department of Hematology, Longyan First Hospital Affiliated Fujian Medical University, No. 105 of Jiuyibei Road, Xinluo District, Fujian, 364000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13859572936, Email yulian_ly@126.comObjective: The objective of this study was to screen lymphoma radiotherapy-resistant genes using CRISPR activation (CRISPRa).Methods: The Human CRISPRa library virus was packaged and then transfected into lymphoma cells to construct an activation library cell line, which was irradiated at the minimum lethal radiation dose to screen radiotherapy-resistant cells. Radiotherapy-resistant cell single-guide RNA (sgRNA) was first amplified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the coding region and then subject to next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics analysis to screen radiotherapy-resistant genes. Certain radiotherapy-resistant genes were then selected to construct activated cell lines transfected with a single gene so as to further verify the relationship between gene expression and radiotherapy resistance.Results: A total of 16 radiotherapy-resistant genes, namely, C20orf203, MTFR1, TAF1L, MYADM, NIPSNAP1, ZUP1, RASL11A, PSMB2, PSMA6, OR8H3, TMSB4Y, CD300LF, EEF1A1, ATP6AP1L, TRAF3IP2, and SNRNP35, were screened based on the NGS results and bioinformatics analysis of the radiotherapy-resistant cells. Activated cell lines transfected with a single gene were constructed using 10 radiotherapy-resistant genes. The qPCR findings showed that, when compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly up-regulated mRNA expression of MTFR1, NIPSNAP1, ZUP1, PSMB2, PSMA6, EEF1A1, TMSB4Y and TAF1L (p < 0.05). No significant difference in the mRNA expression of AKT3 or TRAF3IP2 (p > 0.05) was found between the two groups (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The 16 genes screened are potential lymphoma radiotherapy-resistant genes. It was initially determined that the high expression of 8 genes was associated with lymphoma radiotherapy resistance, and these genes could serve as the potential biomarkers for predicting lymphoma radiotherapy resistance or as new targets for therapy.Keywords: lymphoma, radiotherapy resistance, gene, CRISPR/Cas9

The development and utilization of perovskites are beneficial to improve or even change the optical properties of devices and obtain fascinating performances such as higher photoelectric conversion efficiency, better thermal stability, higher external quantum efficiency, more excellent remodeling, and flexibility. So, there are many articles on perovskite reviews having been reported from synthesis, properties to various applications (such as optoelectronic devices, electrical memristor, etc.). Based on the reported review of perovskites, this study will make a further supplement to the research progress of perovskites in visible light communication (VLC), optical neuromorphic devices, and highlight huge development prospects in these emerging fields in recent years. First, we briefly reviewed the preparation methods of common perovskite materials, followed by the optical and electrical characteristics. Then, the specific applications of optical properties based on perovskite materials are emphatically investigated, in addition to traditional photovoltaic devices, especially the latest cutting-edge fields of information encryption and decryption, VLC as well as optical memristive devices for photonic synapse and photonic neuromorphic computing. Finally, the main conclusions and prospects are given. Perovskite-based optical memristive devices are enabled to assist photonic neuromorphic calculations, showing huge potential application prospects in intelligent integrated chip fusing sensing, storage, and computing.

Computer vision (CV)-based recognition approaches have accelerated the automation of safety and progress monitoring on construction sites. However, limited studies have explored its application in process-based quality control of construction works, especially for concealed work. In this study, a framework is developed to facilitate process-based quality control utilizing Spatial–Temporal Graph Convolutional Networks (ST-GCNs). To test this model experimentally, we used an on-site collected plastering work video dataset to recognize construction activities. An ST-GCN model was constructed to identify the four primary activities in plastering works, which attained 99.48% accuracy on the validation set. Then, the ST-GCN model was employed to recognize the activities of three extra videos, which represented a process with four activities in the correct order, a process without the activity of fiberglass mesh covering, and a process with four activities but in the wrong order, respectively. The results indicated that activity order could be clearly withdrawn from the activity recognition result of the model. Hence, it was convenient to judge whether key activities were missing or in the wrong order. This study has identified a promising framework that has the potential to the development of active, real-time, process-based quality control at construction sites.

With the continuous development of science and technology, metal castings are widely used in aerospace, oil exploitation and other fields, and the safety and availability of casting quality has become a hot issue in current research. Ultrasonic nondestructive testing has good penetration and directivity, but nonstationary ultrasonic signals will be formed in the process of flaw detection, which has a certain impact on the extraction of effective information. Therefore, by processing and analyzing ultrasonic signals, this paper uses wavelet transform and empirical mode decomposition to make a comparative study. It is found that the wavelet transform denoising algorithm still has distortion after processing the noisy signal. Empirical mode decomposition is based on the signal itself, which has strong adaptability and better performance. Moreover, the improved threshold function has higher accuracy in signal processing, and the distortion degree of waveform is reduced, which is more suitable for noise reduction of metal echo signal, and can meet the requirements of engineering applications.

BackgroundPathological cardiac hypertrophy is commonly resulted from sustained pressure overload and/or metabolic disorder and eventually leads to heart failure, lacking specific drugs in clinic. Here, we aimed to identify promising anti-hypertrophic drug(s) for heart failure and related metabolic disorders by using a luciferase reporter-based high-throughput screening.MethodsA screen of the FDA-approved compounds based on luciferase reporter was performed, with identified luteolin as a promising anti-hypertrophic drug. We systematically examined the therapeutic efficacy of luteolin on cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in vitro and in vivo models. Transcriptome examination was performed to probe the molecular mechanisms of luteolin.ResultsAmong 2,570 compounds in the library, luteolin emerged as the most robust candidate against cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Luteolin dose-dependently blocked phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and showed extensive cardioprotective roles in cardiomyocytes as evidenced by transcriptomics. More importantly, gastric administration of luteolin effectively ameliorated pathological cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, metabolic disorder, and heart failure in mice. Cross analysis of large-scale transcriptomics and drug-target interacting investigations indicated that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was the direct target of luteolin in the setting of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and metabolic disorders. Luteolin can directly interact with PPARγ to inhibit its ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, PPARγ inhibitor and PPARγ knockdown both prevented the protective effect of luteolin against phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro.ConclusionOur data clearly supported that luteolin is a promising therapeutic compound for pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure by directly targeting ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of PPARγ and the related metabolic homeostasis.

Storage proteins are essential for seed germination and seedling growth, as they provide an indispensable nitrogen source and energy. Our previous report highlighted the defective endosperm development in the serine hydroxymethyltransferase 4 (OsSHMT4) gene mutant, floury endosperm20-1 (flo20-1). However, the alterations in storage protein content and distribution within the flo20-1 endosperm remained unclear. Here, the immunocytochemistry analyses revealed a deficiency in storage protein accumulation in flo20-1. Electron microscopic observation uncovered abnormal morphological structures in protein bodies (PBI and PBII) in flo20-1. Immunofluorescence labeling demonstrated that aberrant prolamin composition could lead to the subsequent formation and deposition of atypical structures in protein body I (PBI), and decreased levels of glutelins and globulin resulted in protein body II (PBII) malformation. Further RNA-seq data combined with qRT-PCR results indicated that altered transcription levels of storage protein structural genes were responsible for the abnormal synthesis and accumulation of storage protein, which further led to non-concentric ring structural PBIs and amorphous PBIIs. Collectively, our findings further underscored that OsSHMT4 is required for the synthesis and accumulation of storage proteins and storage organelle formation in endosperm cells.

Objective To detect expression changes of Sfrp1 in NRK-52E cells after 5-Aza-2'deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) intervention. Methods Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into normal group (NC group) and diabetic nephropathy group (DN group) randomly. The related biochemical indexes were detected after successfully modeling[1-2] for 10 weeks;kidney index (KI) was calculated; the expression of Sfrp1 in renal tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. NRK-52E cells were divided into normal glucose group (NG, 5.5 mmol/L), high glucose group (HG, 30 mmol/L) and high glucose +5-Aza-CdR group(5-Aza-CdR group);the expressions of Sfrp1,Dnmt3a,Dnmt3b,col-Ⅲ and col-Ⅳ were detected by Western blot;the mRNA expression of Sfrp1 was detected by RT-qPCR;pearson test was used to analyze the correlation between Sfrp1 and Dnmt3a,Dnmt3b,col-Ⅲ or col-Ⅳ. Results The level of KI, blood glucose, 24 h urinary protein and creatinine in DN group were all higher than those in NC group.The expression of Sfrp1 in renal tissue of DN group was significantly lower than that of NC group.The results of in vitro experiments showed as follows:the mRNA and protein expression of Sfrp1 were decreased in HG group(P＜0.05),while the protein expressions of Dnmt3a,Dnmt3b,col-Ⅲ and col-Ⅳ in HG group were increased (P＜0.05);compared with HG group,the mRNA and protein expression of Sfrp1 was increased in 5-Aza-CdR group(P＜0.05), the protein expressions of Dnmt3a,Dnmt3b,col-Ⅲ and col-Ⅳ in 5-Aza-CdR group were decreased (P＜0.05); Sfrp1 was negatively correlated with Dnmt3a (r=-0.937, P＜0.05),Dnmt3b (r=-0.965, P＜0.05),col-Ⅲ(r=-0.694, P＜0.05) and col-Ⅳ(r=-0.888, P＜0.05). Conclusions The mechanism through which 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine inhibits renal fibrosis is potentially related to the reduction of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b expression and the increase of Sfrp1 expression.

The spin exchange, which is central to spintronics, has been restricted to devices with long-range magnetic ordering to date. Here, Pei et al. design a single-molecule-magnet and utilize its internal spin exchange to control the current through a single-molecule junction with high spin polarization (>95%).

ALK fusion genes are diverse. Approximately 30 different ALK fusion protein partners have been described previously, and some of these fusion proteins have been reported to be effective against ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). ALK rearrangements often occur at a common breakpoint in exon 20 of the genome. SLC8A1-ALK, a novel fusion protein partner, comes from exon 2 of the SLC8A1 gene rearranged with exon 20 of the ALK gene. Here, we reported a patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring a SLC8A1-ALK fusion who benefited from first-line treatment with alectinib. After 2 months of taking alectinib, the targeted lung lesions and intrahepatic metastases regressed significantly. To date, the patient has achieved nearly 1 year of progression-free survival while taking the drug. Given the diversity of ALK fusion genes and the different efficacy of ALK-TKIs, we believe that this case report has an important clinical reference.