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In this paper, Cinnamomum cassia polysaccharide (CCP) was extracted and purified, and its physicochemical properties, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities were investigated. The polysaccharide yield was optimized by the response surface test with three conditions: Temperature, time and liquid-solid ratio. Then the physicochemical properties of purified CCP were investigated by high performance liquid chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis and other methods, meanwhile, its antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities were tested in vitro. Results indicated that the optimum extraction conditions as follow: Extraction temperature 90 ℃, extraction time 2.5 h, liquid-solid ratio 20:1 (mL/g), extraction twice, under these conditions, the average yield was 3.22%. The relative molecular weight of CCP was 1.95×106 Da, the total sugar content was 90.11%±1.24%, and it was stable within 230 ℃. Both Fourier-transform infrared and nuclear magnetic hydrogen spectra showed that CCP had α, β-glycosidic bonds and other structures, in addition, Congo red staining showed that it might not have triple helix structure. Activity assays showed that CCP had good scavenging effect on DPPH·, ABTS+∙, ·OH, with IC50 values of 0.191, 2.835 and 3.221 mg/mL, respectively, and the total reducing power value of the polysaccharide at 6 mg/mL was 1.18. In addition, CCP also had inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC50 values of 0.189 and 0.340 mg/mL. In this study, a high molecular weight Cinnamomum cassia polysaccharide was extracted and purified, which had good antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities, which may provide a basis for the functional development and utilization of Cinnamomum cassia.

In order to improve the antioxidant activity of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides, sulfate it and explore the optimum modification conditions. Polysaccharides was extracted by water extraction and alcohol precipitation method from Zizania latifolia, then it was separated and purified to obtain a new type of water-soluble polysaccharide. Using formamide as solvent, polysaccharides were sulfated by sulfur trioxide-pyridine method. The degree of substitution (DS) was set as the examination index, the optimal sulfonation conditions were selected by response surface method. Through the free radical scavenging rate trial in vitro, compared with natural polysaccharides, to explore the changes of antioxidant activity of sulfated polysaccharides in vitro. The results showed that the optimum reaction conditions obtained as polysaccharide 100 mg, time 4 h, temperature 70 ℃, sulfur trioxide-pyridine complex 2.6 g. The optimum DS was 1.79. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the fastest weight loss rate of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides was 16.48% at 46.38 ℃, and the sulfated polysaccharides was 2.92% at 65.04 ℃. In the antioxidant test in vitro, the IC50 of free radical scavenging ability of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides to DPPH·, ·OH and ABTS+· were 3.49, 3.28 and 12.70 mg/mL respectively. The sulfated polysaccharides of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides were 0.39, 1.00 and 1.82 mg/mL respectively, and the positive control (VC) was 0.069, 0.17 and 0.077 mg/mL respectively. In summary, sulfation modification can enhance the thermal stability of Zizania latifolia polysaccharides and enhance its free radical scavenging ability to some extent.

Abstract In recent years, negative pressure wound dressings have garnered widespread attentions. However, it is challenging to drain the accumulated fluid under negative pressures for hydrogel dressings. To address this issue, this study prepared a chemical/physical duel‐network PEG‐CMCS/AG/MXene hydrogel composed by chemical disulfide crosslinked network of four‐arm polyethylene glycol/carboxymethyl chitosan (4‐Arm‐PEG‐SH/CMCS), and the physical network of hydrogen bond of agar (AG). Under near‐infrared light (NIR) irradiation, the PEG‐CMCS/AG/MXene hydrogel undergoes photothermal heating due to integrate of MXene, which destructs the hydrogen bond network and allows the removal of exudate through a mechanism mimicking the sweat gland‐like effect of skin pores. The photothermal heating effect also enables the antimicrobial activity to prevent wound infections. The excellent electrical conductivity of PEG‐CMCS/AG/MXene can promote cell proliferation under the external electrical stimulation (ES) in vitro. The animal experiments of full‐thickness skin defect model further demonstrate its ability to accelerate wound healing. The conversion between thioester and thiol achieved with L‐cysteine methyl ester hydrochloride (L‐CME) can provides the on‐demand dissolution of the dressing in situ. This study holds promises to provide a novel solution to the issue of fluid accumulations under hydrogel dressings and offers new approaches to alleviating or avoiding the significant secondary injuries caused by frequent dressing changes.

Clonorchis sinensis is one of the most important fish-borne zoonotic parasitic worms in humans, and is distributed in several countries with more than 15 million people infected globally. However, the lack of a point-of-care testing (POCT) method is still the critical barrier to effectively prevent clonorchiasis. With the application of novel fluorescent nanomaterials, the development of on-site testing methods with high signal enhancement can provide a simple, precise and inexpensive tool for disease detection. In this study, Eu-(III) nanoparticles (EuNPs) were used as indicative probes, combined with C. sinensis tandem repeat sequence 1 (CSTR1) antigen to capture specific antibodies. Afterward, the complex binds to mouse anti-human IgG immobilized on the test line (T-line) producing a fluorescent signal under UV light. The EuNPs-fluorescent immunoassay (EuNPs-FIA) was successfully constructed, allowing sample detection within 10 min. It enabled both qualitative determination with the naked eye under UV light and quantitative detection by scanning the fluorescence intensity on the test line and control line (C-line). A total of 133 clinical human sera (74 negative, 59 clonorchiasis, confirmed by conventional Kato-Katz (KK) methods and PCR via testing fecal samples corresponding to each serum sample) were used in this study. For qualitative analysis, the cut-off value of fluorescence for positive serum was 31.57 by testing 74 known negative human samples. The assay had no cross-reaction with other 9 parasite-infected sera, and could recognize the mixed infection sera of C. sinensis and other parasites. The sensitivity and specificity of EuNPs-FIA were both 100% compared with KK smear method. Taking advantage of its high precision and user-friendly procedure, the established EuNPs-FIA provides a powerful tool for the diagnosis and epidemiological survey of clonorchiasis.

Abstract Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) offers a new opportunity for treatment for gastric cancer (G.C.). Understanding the upstream regulation of immune checkpoints is crucial to further improve the efficacy of ICB therapy. Herein, using the CRISPR-Cas9-based genome-wide screening, we identified TRIM28 as one of the most significant regulators of PD-L1, a checkpoint protein, in G.C. cells. Mechanistically, TRIM28 directly binds to and stabilizes PD-L1 by inhibiting PD-L1 ubiquitination and promoting PD-L1 SUMOylation. Furthermore, TRIM28 facilitates K63 polyubiquitination of TBK1, activating TBK1-IRF1 and TBK1-mTOR pathways, resulting in enhanced PD-L1 transcription. It was found that TRIM28 was positively correlated with PD-L1 in G.C. cells. Moreover, high TRIM28 expression suggests poor survival in a cohort of 466 patients with G.C., and this observation is consistent while analyzing data from publicly available databases. Ectopic TRIM28 expression facilitated tumor growth, increased PD-L1 expression, and suppressed T cell activation in mice. Administration of the PD-L1 or TBK1 inhibitor significantly alleviated the TRIM28-induced tumor progression. Furthermore, combining the TBK1 inhibitor with CTLA4 immune checkpoint blockade has synergistic effects on G.C., and provides a novel strategy for G.C. therapy.

Facing severe air pollution, the Chinese government has introduced bottom-up public participation in environmental policy. The increase in public environmental attention can promote the participation of all people in environmental governance, which is a major guarantee for achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. In this paper, we use city-year panel data and the strategy of difference in difference (DID) to estimate the impact of environmental regulation of "The Blue Sky Defense War" on public environmental concerns (PEC). This environmental regulation reduces PEC for two reasons. First, the policy has greatly improved air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas. When air quality improves, people pay less attention to environmental issues. Second, environmental regulations reduce household income. As incomes fall, people will focus more on economic development than on environmental issues.

Abstract Background Fish-borne zoonotic clonorchiasis, caused by Clonorchis sinensis, is an emerging public health problem in several countries with more than 15 million people infected globally. However, a lack of accurate point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests in resource-limited areas is still a critical barrier to effective treatment and control of clonorchiasis. The development of the recombinase polymerase amplification(RPA) assay, a POC diagnostic test based on the amplification of pathogen DNA, has provided a new, simple and inexpensive tool for disease detection with high sensitivity and specificity. Methods A novel RPA method was developed based on specific primers and probes, and combined with the dipstick, to allow for the rapid and intuitive detection of C. sinensis through the amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene. The lower limit of detection for the combined RPA/lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) assay was evaluated using dilutions of the target DNA sequence. Cross-reactivity was evaluated using genomic DNA from 10 additional control parasites. Forty human clinical stool samples were tested to verify its performance. Results The evaluated primers designed from the C. sinensis COX1 region can be used to detect adult worms, metacercariae, and eggs at 39 °C within 20 min, and the results can be visually observed using the LFD. The detection limit of pathogen genomic DNA was as low as 10 fg, and the number of metacercaria(e) in fish and egg(s) in faeces were both as low as one. This improved the sensitivity of low-infection detection tremendously. The test is species-specific, and no other related control parasites were detected. In human stool samples with eggs per gram (EPG) > 50, the RPA-LFD assay was performed consistent with conventional Kato-Katz (KK) and PCR methods. Conclusion The established RPA-LFD assay provides a powerful tool for the diagnosis and epidemiological survey of C. sinensis from human and animal samples, and has important implications for the effective control of clonorchiasis. Graphical Abstract

In order to explore the effect of abnormal pressure on shale oil accumulation in the Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, the formation pressure distribution, muddy shale lithofacies, hydrocarbon generation evolution of organic matters, clay mineral conversion, hydrocarbon retention, and the distribution of secondary pores and microfractures in each of four exploration wells specially for Paleogene shale oil were studied by total rock X-ray diffraction analysis, conventional pyrolysis analysis on hydrocarbon generation potential, systematic analysis on organic geochemistry, and other methods. In the study area, the lithofacies association in middle and lower submembers of the third member (Es3middle and Eslower)3, and upper submember of the fourth member (Es4upper) of Paleogene Shahejie Formation adjacent to subsag center is mainly carbonate rocks, while near sag margin, there are primarily mixed sediments of clastic rocks/chemical rocks. Based on the data from sonic, density and drilling loggings, pressure distribution and abnormal pressure characteristics in single well could be identified effectively; in addition, the factors that affect formation pore pressure in organic shale containing major association of carbonate and clay minerals could be uncovered. Comprehensive application of geochemical evidences confirmed that Paleogene overpressure in the Jiyang Depression was mainly originated from hydrocarbon generation pressurization in mature muddy shale. Self-source overpressure intervals in muddy shale are in correspondence with the zones of secondary pore development and peak hydrocarbon retention.

This study focused on examining the early stages of tea cultivation (1, 3, and 5 years) in mountainous tea plantations. It specifically aimed to investigate the changes in soil micro-ecology at different locations (inter-row, terrace surfaces, and terrace walls). It was revealed that as tea tree cultivation progressed over the years, bacterial diversity and co-occurrence networks annually decreased in different locations. The results of soil physicochemical index analysis showed that the soil’s available nutrients and the activities of cellulase and protease increased. Furthermore, the amplitude of variation of these indexes in the inter-row soil was significantly higher than that on the terrace surfaces and the terrace walls (p < 0.05). Alterations occurred in the soil microbial community structure, with an enrichment of bacterial genera such as Sinomonas, Granulicella, and Sphingomonas, as well as fungal genera such as Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Talaromyces; an increase in the proportion of plant pathogenic fungi (Cladosporium, Fusarium, and Curvularia) was observed in the inter-row soil. The results of soil microbial function prediction showed that nitrification and nitrogen fixation decreased, but denitrification increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, cultivating tea trees in mountainous terraced plantations significantly impacted the soil microbial community, accelerated the metabolism of soil organic matter, disrupted soil nitrogen cycling functions, and increased the presence of plant pathogenic fungal pathogens. Moreover, the changes in the structure and functions of the soil microbial community demonstrate a spatial distance effect across different terrace locations.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Macrophage polarization is involved in the pathogenesis of IBD. Repolarization of macrophage has thus emerged as a novel therapeutic approach for managing IBD. Chensinin-1b, derived from the skin of Rana chensinensis, is a derivative of a native antimicrobial peptide (AMP). It shows anti-inflammatory effects in sepsis models and can potentially modulate macrophage polarization. The objective of this research was to study the role of chensinin-1b in macrophage polarization and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. RAW264.7 macrophages were polarized to the M1 phenotype using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and simultaneously administered chensinin-1b at various concentrations. The ability of chenisnin-1b to reorient macrophage polarization was assessed by ELISA, qRT-PCR, and flow cytometry analysis. The addition of chensinin-1b significantly restrained the expression of M1-associated proinflammatory cytokines and surface markers, including TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and CD86, and exaggerated the expression of M2-associated anti-inflammatory cytokines and surface markers, including IL-10, TGF-β1, Arg-1, Fizz1, Chil3, and CD206. Mechanistically, via Western Blotting, we revealed that chensinin-1b induces macrophage polarization from the M1 to the M2 phenotype by inhibiting the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). In mouse models of colitis, intraperitoneal administration of chensinin-1b alleviated symptoms induced by DSS, including weight loss, elevated disease activity index (DAI) scores, colon shortening, colonic tissue damage, and splenomegaly. Consistent with our in vitro data, chensinin-1b induced significant decreases in the expression of M1 phenotype biomarkers and increases in the expression of M2 phenotype biomarkers in the mouse colitis model. Furthermore, chensinin-1b treatment repressesed NF-κB phosphorylation in vivo. Overall, our data showed that chensinin-1b attenuates IBD by repolarizing macrophages from the M1 to the M2 phenotype, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for IBD.

Abstract Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) overexpressiosn and hyperactivation are correlated with aggressive growth and other malignant characteristics in a wide variety of cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the regulatory mechanism of RAC1 expression and activation in HCC is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that E3 ubiquitin ligase MG53 (also known as tripartite motif 72, TRIM72) acted as a direct inhibitor of RAC1, and it catalyzed the ubiquitination of RAC1 and further inhibited RAC1 activity in HCC cells. Mechanistically, MG53 directly bound with RAC1 through its coiled-coil domain and suppressed RAC1 activity by catalyzing the Lys48 (K48)-linked polyubiquitination of RAC1 at Lys5 residue in HCC cells. We further demonstrated that MG53 significantly suppressed the malignant behaviors of HCC cells and enhanced the chemosensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib treatment by inhibiting RAC1-MAPK signaling axis. In summary, we identified MG53 as a novel RAC1 inhibitor and tumor suppressor in HCC, and it suppressed HCC progression by inducing K48-linked polyubiquitination of RAC1 and further inhibiting the RAC1-MAPK signaling. Altogether, our investigation provided a new therapeutic strategy for RAC1 overactivated tumors by modulating MG53.

CDK2 can drive the proliferation of cancer cells. Here, the authors screened for a non-ATP competitive inhibitor of the CDK2/cylinA complex and find that Homoharringtonine can disrupt the complex and promote the degradation of CDK2.

As a gas-rich region in the Tarim Basin, the northern Shuntuoguole area (also known as the Shunbei area) is an attractive prospect. Non-etheless, the debate about the origins of these natural gas continues. The analysis on the geological context, natural gas components, and the carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios prove that methane is the predominate component of alkane gases. Alkane gases’ carbon isotope fractionation (δ13C2 < −28‰ and δ13C3 < −25‰) shows that they are oil-associated gas, and their parent material type is I kerogen. Natural gas can be broken down further into three subgroups—Type I1, Type I2, and Type I3. Based on the link between the carbon number 1/n and δ13Cn of the gas. Modified plots of lnC1/C2 vs. lnC2/C3 reveal that kerogen cracking is the primary source of natural gas in the Shunbei area, and that this gas is combined with the contribution of oil cracking gas. Petroleum exploration and development in the Shunbei area can be justified on the basis that natural gas in the area originate primarily from Ordovician source rocks, as shown by carbon isotopic compositions.

Large skin defects caused by accidents or disease can cause fluid loss, water and electrolyte disorders, hypoproteinemia and serious infection and remain a difficult problem in clinical practice. In situ bioprinting is a promising, recently developed technology that involves timely, customized, and morphologically adapted bioprinting of bioink into tissue defects to promote the recovery of human tissues or organs. During this process, bioink is a key factor. In this study, we synthesized a biocompatible, photosensitive hydrogel material comprising gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) for robot-assisted in situ bioprinting of skin wounds. The results showed that GelMA demonstrated good printability of that supported the proliferation of skin-derived precursors (SKPs) and maintained their properties. Furthermore, in situ bioprinting of GelMA hydrogels with epidermal stem cells (Epi-SCs) and SKPs onto skin wounds showed complete wound healing and functional tissue skin regeneration. The regenerated skin contains epidermis, dermis, blood vessels, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands and resembling native skin. These results provide an effective strategy for skin repair through the combined application of GelMA hydrogels, Epi-SCs, SKPs and in situ bioprinting and its promising clinical translational potential for further applications.

The study of lipid metabolism relies on the characterization of the lipidome, which is quite complex due to the structure variations of the lipid species. New analytical tools have been developed recently for characterizing fine structures of lipids, with C=C location identification as one of the major improvements. In this study, we studied the lipid metabolism reprograming by analyzing glycerol phospholipid compositions in breast cancer cell lines with structural specification extended to the C=C location level. Inhibition of the lipid desaturase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, increased the proportion of n-10 isomers that are produced via an alternative fatty acid desaturase 2 pathway. However, there were different variations of the ratio of n-9/n-7 isomers in C18:1-containing glycerol phospholipids after stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 inhibition, showing increased tendency in MCF-7 cells, MDA-MB-468 cells, and BT-474 cells, but decreased tendency in MDA-MB-231 cells. No consistent change of the ratio of n-9/n-7 isomers was observed in SK-BR-3 cells. This type of heterogeneity in reprogrammed lipid metabolism can be rationalized by considering both lipid desaturation and fatty acid oxidation, highlighting the critical roles of comprehensive lipid analysis in both fundamental and biomedical applications.

Shale oil yield, movability, and reservoir brittleness are three factors that must be focused on for shale oil exploration and development. The yield and composition of hydrocarbons and mineral composition have changed significantly during diagenesis, affecting the yield and movability of shale oil and the brittleness of the rock. In this study, the source rocks at different depths in the Dongying Sag were subjected to hydrous pyrolysis, and the yield and composition of pyrolyzed hydrocarbons and mineral composition were systematically analyzed. The brittleness index (BEI), weighted average specific surface area (SSAWA), and polarity index (PI) have been established to quantitatively characterize the brittleness and adsorption capacity of rock as well as the mobility of shale oil. The results suggest that diagenetic evolution controls rocks’ brittleness and adsorption capacity by changing their mineral composition. In the low-temperature stage, the mineral transformation is not obvious, and the BEI and SSAWA fluctuate in a small range. In the high-temperature stage, the rapid smectite illitization leads to an increase in the brittleness and a decrease in the adsorption capacity. In addition, the nonpolar components such as saturates and aromatics in the pyrolyzed hydrocarbons gradually increased with the increasing temperature, enhancing the mobility of the shale oil. Based on the three evaluation indexes of BEI, PI, and SSAWA, and combined with the changes in hydrocarbon yields during hydrous pyrolysis, we comparatively analyzed the differences in the mobility and yields of original soluble organic matter as well as pyrolyzed hydrocarbons of the source rocks at different depths. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that the shale in the depth range of 3300–3795 m is a favorable area for shale oil exploration and development in the study area. This work suggests that predicting the sweet spot for shale oil exploration and development requires more attention to the impact of diagenetic evolution on the composition of minerals and hydrocarbons.

In the context of climate change, it is important to examine the correlation between farmers’ disaster shock experience and their entrepreneurial inclination, as well as its adaptive mechanisms for rural development. We define farmers’ entrepreneurship as farmers engaging in self-employment or business operation, then analyze the positive and negative correlations between disaster shock experience and farmers’ entrepreneurship and propose that there is a U-shaped relationship between them. We develop a mechanism based on the mediating role of farmers’ risk appetite and the moderating role of government support. Based on a survey of 39,113 households from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey, we test our hypotheses using a probit model and structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that disaster shock experience strongly correlates with farmers’ entrepreneurship. Over time, a U-shaped trend emerges between them, in which disaster shock experience can deter farmers’ entrepreneurship through risk appetite, while government support can alleviate this inhibitory effect. Moreover, different types of disasters show the same U-shaped trend, but the relationship differs based on farmers’ gender and income levels. These findings suggest that rural areas should enhance their development capacity and disaster resilience, and the government should establish long-term support mechanisms for entrepreneurship. Additionally, farmers need to accurately understand and cope with disaster shock experience, so they can uncover the potential value and opportunities it presents.

The isolation and quantitative characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are of great importance in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, isolating and detecting CTCs in whole blood presents a significant challenge due to the low numbers of CTCs (often ranging from one to five) in samples containing billions of erythrocytes. Recently, point-of-care devices that use antibody trapping coupled with remote immunofluorescence analyses have been described to identify the number and type of CTCs in blood. In this study, we propose a novel method for trapping and quantifying CTCs using Sepharose 6B beads of 45–160 μm size that are engineered with capture antibodies. Specifically, we employed CD44 antibody conjugates (bearing a maleimide group) that are specific to the CTCs of breast cancer to thiol-Sepharose beads 6B. These beads, when mixed with MDAMB231 and Jurkat cells and filtered through a 40 μm filter, can capture ~80% of MDAMB231 cells. Furthermore, the antibody-modified Sepharose 6B can be stored at four degrees Celsius for a period exceeding six months.

A basic research program on deep hydrocarbon resource accumulation mechanisms and key exploitation technologies was initiated by the National Natural Science Foundation of China at the beginning of 2020, to meet the theoretical and technological demands of deep hydrocarbon exploration and development in the Tarim, Sichuan and Ordos basins. This paper provided a review of the recent program progresses on (1) the reconstruction of prototypes and the transformation histories of three ancient cratons in China; (2) the petroleum accumulation and flow mechanisms in deep marine carbonate reservoirs and deep shale gas systems; (3) the geophysical theories and methods for imaging the deep structures and predicting the deep petroleum reservoirs; and (4) the new protocols and downhole tools for deep well drilling and completion. Brief comments were also made on the preliminary application of the recent program results in facilitating several breakthroughs in the deep petroleum exploration of the Tarim and Sichuan basins.

The matrix type shale oil will become the main contributer for increasing shale oil reserves and production in China. Maturity is an important factor for the controlling to the distribution of sweet spot area for matrix type shale oil. The vitrinite reflectance suppression ranges of continental organic rich shale with different organic matter type were analyzed, and the maturity limit of sweet spot area for continental matrix type shale oil was discussed taking the lower Es3 (third member of Shahejie Formation) and upper Es4 (fourth member of Shahejie Formation) sub-members of the Dongying Sag as a case study. The vitrinite reflectance suppression ranges of continental organic rich shale are positively correlated to organic matter types. The actual maturity (EqVRo) of organic matter rich shale of the lower Es3 in subsags of Dongying Sag was mainly at the range of 0.69%-1.05%, and that of the upper Es4 is mainly at the range of 0.74%-1.20%. Combining with the analysis of geological and engineering sweet spot conditions, the EqVRo of organic matter rich shale of both two sub-members range 0.74%-1.20%. The deeper areas of four sub-sags in the Dongying Sag all have favorable prospecting of commercial development for matrix type shale oil in the lower Es3 and upper Es4 sub-members.

Abstract Background Existing evidence suggests that visual field defect in eyes with glaucoma significantly varies between individuals. The following study compared the central visual field defects with the peripheral visual field defects in patients with suspect glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and investigated whether using the central visual field test alone could result in loss of clinically valuable information. Methods In this prospective observational study, 167 eyes from 89 patients with suspect glaucoma or POAG were first examined with static automated perimetry (SAP), followed by a peripheral visual field test on Octopus 900 perimeter (Haag-Streit, Koeniz, Switzerland). The peripheral visual field test was performed by “Auto Kinetic Perimetry” program, in which Goldmann III4e stimuli randomly moved along 16 vectors at a constant angular velocity of 5 deg/s. Results Glaucomatous peripheral visual field defects were seen in 18% of the eyes with a normal central visual field. In addition, 86% of glaucoma patients with moderate-to-severe central visual field defects had corresponding peripheral visual field defects in the form of localized or diffuse depression of the isopters. Furthermore, a moderate correlation was found between the central and peripheral visual fields. The median test duration was 71 s for the peripheral test and 803 s for the central test (p

The Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) superfamily is a large gene family in plants that regulates organelle RNA metabolism, which is important for plant growth and development. However, a genome-wide analysis of the PPR gene family and its response to abiotic stress has not been reported for the relict woody plant Liriodendron chinense. In this paper, we identified 650 PPR genes from the L. chinense genome. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the LcPPR genes could roughly be divided into the P and PLS subfamilies. We found that 598 LcPPR genes were widely distributed across 19 chromosomes. An intraspecies synteny analysis indicated that duplicated genes from segmental duplication contributed to the expansion of the LcPPR gene family in the L. chinense genome. In addition, we verified the relative expression of Lchi03277, Lchi06624, Lchi18566, and Lchi23489 in the roots, stems, and leaves and found that all four genes had the highest expression in the leaves. By simulating a drought treatment and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, we confirmed the drought-responsive transcriptional changes in four LcPPR genes, two of which responded to drought stress independent of endogenous ABA biosynthesis. Thus, our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the L. chinense PPR gene family. It contributes to research into their roles in this valuable tree species’ growth, development, and stress resistance.

Carotenoid cleavage oxygenase (CCO) is an enzyme that can catalyze carotenoids to volatile aromatic substances and participate in the biosynthesis of two important phytohormones, i.e., abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactone (SL). However, the genome-wide identification and analysis of the CCO gene family in the rare and endangered woody plant Liriodendron chinense has not been reported. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the CCO gene family in the L. chinense genome and examined its expression pattern during different developmental processes and in response to various abiotic stresses. A total of 10 LcCCO genes were identified and divided into 6 subfamilies according to the phylogenetic analysis. Subcellular localization prediction showed that most of the LcCCO proteins were located in the cytoplasm. Gene replication analysis showed that segmental and tandem duplication contributed to the expansion of this gene family in the L. chinense genome. Cis-element prediction showed that cis-elements related to plant hormones, stress and light response were widely distributed in the promoter regions of LcCCO genes. Gene expression profile analysis showed that LcNCED3b was extensively involved in somatic embryogenesis, especially the somatic embryo maturation, as well as in response to heat and cold stress in leaves. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis showed that LcNCED3b obviously responded to drought stress in roots and leaves. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the LcCCO gene family and a potential gene target for the optimization of the somatic embryogenesis system and resistance breeding in the valuable forest tree L. chinense.

Fasciolosis is a significant zoonotic and common parasitic disease for animals and humans, creating public health concerns worldwide. This study retrieved articles related to the occurrence of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica in sheep and goats in China by searching five databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and the VIP Chinese Journal Database. A total of 60 valid articles were captured. The pooled prevalence of ovine and caprine fasciolosis was 26.00%. It was also found to be higher in the subgroups of Northwest China and Shaanxi Province, as well as in areas with a high altitude, rainfall of ≥800 mm, and temperature ranging between 10 °C and 20 °C. Analysis of the type of season and sampling years showed significant (p < 0.05) difference. In other subgroups, sheep (34.74%), hosts aged over 2 years (32.26%), females (48.33%) and free-range animals (26.83%) showed a higher disease prevalence. These results indicated that ovine and caprine fasciolosis was widely distributed, especially in Northwest China. The sampling years and the type of season are risk factors for the prevalence of ovine and caprine fasciolosis. Therefore, strategies for ovine and caprine fasciolosis control should be developed based on these epidemic risk factors, which will reduce the prevalence of fasciolosis in China.

Analyzing the lipidomes of single cells remains a challenge. Here, the authors present a strategy to identify class, fatty acyl-chain, C=C locations and sn-positions of lipids in single cells, and use their method to identify individual gefitinib-resistant cells in a wild-type lung cancer cell population.

Counting wheat heads is a time-consuming process in agricultural production, which is currently primarily carried out by humans. Manually identifying wheat heads and statistically analyzing the findings has a rigorous requirement for the workforce and is prone to error. With the advancement of machine vision technology, computer vision detection algorithms have made wheat head detection and counting feasible. To accomplish this traditional labor-intensive task and tackle various tricky matters in wheat images, a high-precision wheat head detection model with strong generalizability was presented based on a one-stage network structure. The model's structure was referred to as that of the YOLO network; meanwhile, several modules were added and adjusted in the backbone network. The one-stage backbone network received an attention module and a feature fusion module, and the Loss function was improved. When compared to various other mainstream object detection networks, our model outperforms them, with a mAP of 0.688. In addition, an iOS-based intelligent wheat head counting mobile app was created, which could calculate the number of wheat heads in images shot in an agricultural environment in less than a second.

TP53 is the most frequently mutated gene in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) is considered a vital factor that influences tumor progression and survival rate. The influence of TP53 mutation on TIM in LUAD has not been fully studied. Here we systematically investigated the relationship and potential mechanisms between TP53 mutation status and immune response in LUAD. We constructed an immune prognostic model (IPM) using immune associated genes, which were expressed differentially between the TP53 mutant and wild type LUAD patients. We discovered that TP53 mutations were significantly associated with 5 immune related biological processes. Thirty-six immune genes were expressed differentially between TP53 mutant and wild type LUAD patients. An IPM was constructed using 3 immune genes to differentiate the prognostic survival in LUAD. The high-risk LUAD group displayed significantly higher proportions of dendritic cell resting, T cell CD4 memory resting and mast cell resting, and significantly low proportions of dendritic cell activated, T cell CD4 memory activated, and mast cell activated. Moreover, IPM was found to be an independent clinical feature and can be used to predict immunotherapy responses. In summary, we constructed and validated an IPM using 3 immune related genes, which provides a better understanding of the mechanism from an immunological perspectives.

Mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 drive the development of gliomas. These genetic alterations promote tumor cell renewal, disrupt differentiation states, and induce stem-like properties. Understanding how this phenotypic reprogramming occurs remains an area of high interest in glioma research. Previously, we showed that IDH mutation results in the development of a CD24-positive cell population in gliomas. Here, we demonstrate that this CD24-positive population possesses striking stem-like properties at the molecular and phenotypic levels. We found that CD24 expression is associated with stem-like features in IDH-mutant tumors, a patient-derived gliomasphere model, and a neural stem cell model of IDH1-mutant glioma. In orthotopic models, CD24-positive cells display enhanced tumor initiating potency compared to CD24-negative cells. Furthermore, CD24 knockdown results in changes in cell viability, proliferation rate, and gene expression that closely resemble a CD24-negative phenotype. Our data demonstrate that induction of a CD24-positive population is one mechanism by which IDH-mutant tumors acquire stem-like properties. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of IDH-mutant gliomas.

Malignant fungating wounds are severe skin lesions caused by any primary tumor, causing patient suffering and disturbing their family members. In this article, we summarize the experience of nursing a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma complicated with a facial malignant wound. Initially, a chemotherapy regimen was formulated as the main treatment for the patient. Throughout the patient's treatment course, we evaluated the patient holistically, conducting debridement, anti-infection, and drainage management under the guidance of moist wound healing. Throughout the entire process, psychological nursing and health education were provided to the patient and family. Eventually, the patient's wound symptoms were well controlled, and the wound healed completely.

An excellent quantitative evaluation method of SAR de-speckling filters needs to contain a comprehensive evaluation of both noise smoothing and edge preservation. However, most existing evaluation models only evaluate a single aspect, while a few comprehensive indicators lack robustness. For this reason, a novel integrated quantitative evaluation method of de-speckling filters is proposed. The proposed evaluation method is weighted by two sub-indicators: the coherent equivalent number of looks and edge preservation evaluation. The evaluation indicator of the coherent equivalent number of looks is built to evaluate the noise-smoothing ability of de-speckling filters, whereas the indicator of edge preservation evaluation is built to evaluate the edge-preserving performance of filtered image. Six filters with an excellent performance, five real synthetic aperture radar images with three bands, four polarization modes, four resolutions, and five common evaluation indexes were used in the experiment. The experimental results show that the evaluation results of the proposed evaluation method were consistent with the visual effect and other indicators, and its feasibility was verified.

Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) has emerged as a powerful imaging technique for the analysis of biological samples, providing valuable insights into the spatial distribution and structural characterization of lipids. The advancements in high-resolution MSI have made it an indispensable tool for single-cell or subcellular lipidomics. By preserving both intracellular and intercellular information, MSI enables a comprehensive analysis of lipidomics in individual cells and organelles. This enables researchers to delve deeper into the diversity of lipids within cells and to understand the role of lipids in shaping cell behavior. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements and future prospects of MSI for cellular/subcellular lipidomics. By keeping abreast of the cutting-edge studies in this field, we will continue to push the boundaries of the understanding of lipid metabolism and the impact of lipids on cellular behavior.

In this work, we report the coupling of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) enabled by surface-coated acupuncture needles with nano-electrospray mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS) for the analysis of bioactive molecules in living plants. The needle tip was oxidized by a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide solution and then subject to surface coating via carbonization of paraffin. A combination of oxidation and surface coating resulted in a thin coating of carbon film, whereby the significantly increased surface area promoted both analyte enrichment and ionization for MS analysis. The analytical performances were evaluated through the characterization of small molecules, peptides and proteins. Compared with conventional nanoESI, our new strategy of employing surface-coated needles had a high salt tolerance. The streamlined experimental workflow could be completed within one minute. The linear dynamic ranges for L-histidine and L-lysine, as two representatives, were over two orders of magnitude with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.0~5.0 ng/mL. A mark is made on the needle at 2 mm from the tip, the needle is then kept in the sample for 30 s. In vivo sampling and identification of α-tomatine and organic acids from the stem of a living tomato plant were demonstrated as a practical application, while the physiological activities of the plant were not disrupted due to the minimally invasive sampling. We anticipate that the developed strategy may be of potential use for real-time clinical and other on-site analyses.

Roots are essential for plant growth, and studies on root-related genes, exemplified by WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX5 (WOX5), have mainly concentrated on model organisms with less emphasis on the function of these genes in woody plants. Here, we report that overexpression of the WOX5 gene from Liriodendron hybrid (LhWOX5) in Arabidopsis leads to significant morphological changes in both the aerial and subterranean organs. In the Arabidopsis aerial parts, overexpression of LhWOX5 results in the production of ectopic floral meristems and leaves, possibly via the ectopic activation of CLV3 and LFY. In addition, in the Arabidopsis root, overexpression of LhWOX5 alters root apical meristem morphology, leading to a curled and shortened primary root. Importantly, these abnormal phenotypes in the aerial and subterranean organs caused by constitutive ectopic expression of LhWOX5 mimic the observed phenotypes when overexpressing AtWUS and AtWOX5 in Arabidopsis, respectively. Taken together, we propose that the LhWOX5 gene, originating from the Magnoliaceae plant Liriodendron, is a functional homolog of the AtWUS gene from Arabidopsis, while showing the highest degree of sequence similarity with its ortholog, AtWOX5. Our study provides insight into the potential role of LhWOX5 in the development of both the shoot and root.

Using the statistical data of 280 prefectural-level cities in China from 2011 to 2020, this paper empirically tests the relationship between digital finance and residents’ income in a linear and nonlinear model based on the G-J model theory, respectively. The study aims to discuss and analyze the impact of digital finance development on income distribution in the context of the current situation of digital finance development in China and further explore how to make digital finance better regulate the income distribution of residents. The innovation of this paper is to use two nonlinear methods to verify the Kuznets effect and threshold characteristics of digital financial development affecting the income distribution of residents based on linear analysis and explore the relationship between n digital economic development the current income gap more comprehensively. The study shows a Kuznets effect of digital finance development on the income distribution of Chinese residents. Thus, most regions in China have not yet crossed the inflection point of the bell-shaped curve, and the income gap within areas will continue to increase with the development of digital finance. By constructing a threshold model, it is found that the positive effect of digital finance on income disparity may initially increase with the increase of regional economic level. Still, when the regional economic development reaches a higher stage, the effect will tend to fall back. As a result, the negative impact of digital finance development on residents’ income distribution will be significantly reduced at that time.

Fifteen inter-salt shale cores were collected from the well WY 11, Qianjiang Sag, Jianghan Basin, and the sampling intervals include four of the salt cycles in the Eq3 Member of the Eogene Qianjiang Formation. Bulk geochemical data were obtained by whole rock pyrolysis, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses were conducted for molecular compositions of saturated and aromatic biomarkers. Our results separated the analyzed samples into two broad categories corresponding to brackish-saline and saline lacustrine settings. Inter-salt shales deposited in the brackish-saline lakes occur over large geographic areas with relatively strong water column stratification, and are characterized by the presence of abundant gammacerane and 2, 3, 6-trimethyl-aryl isoprenoid alkanes. In contrast, inter-salt shales deposited in saline lakes tend to distribute in small areas, and the presence of abundant 3, 4, 5-trimethyl-aryl isoprenoid alkanes with lower contents of gammacerane is consistent with relatively shallow water depth. High pyrolysis S1 contents, S1/w(TOC) ratios, Ts/(Ts+Tm), and 20S/(20S+20R) and (αββ/ααα+αββ) ratios of C29 steranes are good indicators for the inter-salt shales that were deposited in the brackish-saline settings and are ideal habitats for lacustrine shale oil enrichment, since the presence of organic rich lamina favor the updip, lateral oil migration along the bedding parallel microfractures. According to the common hopane and sterane parameters as well as aryl isoprenoid biomarker distributions, it is suggested that inter-salt shale oil exploration in the Jianghan Basin should be focused on organic rich shale beds in the Eq3 and Eq4 members deposited during the maximum lake expansion. More efforts were suggested to be invested in the mature source kitchens of the Banghu Sag in addition to the continuing pilot production tests in the Wangchang area.

This manuscript provides a review of the recent advances in the study of fundamental processes and geological drivers involved in the lacustrine shale deposition, burial diagenesis, thermal maturation and in-situ oil accumulation, aimed at identifying key problem areas for future study. A survey of relevant literature on the sedimentology of fine-grained sediments reveals that paleoclimate changes on the global scale and tectonic evolution on the basinal scale have played a significant role in the formation of organic rich shales. Due to the strong heterogeneity in the mixed deposition of fine-grained sediments in the lacustrine setting, multiscale integration of different grain sequence sedimentary rocks is vital in the modeling of the lacustrine shale oil reservoirs. Techniques and methodologies are generally mature for characterizing and describing micropores and microfractures at various scales in the lacustrine shales. However, the current understanding of the dynamic processes in the shale diagenesis is incompatible with the high demand for predicting the key shale attributes as an effective shale oil reservoir. The processes involved in the thermal maturation, hydrocarbon generation and expulsion, as well as the physical status of oils in a shale, are generally well understood. The next logic step would be the application of these knowledges to tailor our methodologies for the classification and evaluation of shale oil resources in different tectonostratigraphic settings. While progresses have been made fairly recently in the physical constraints of the multi-phase and multiscale non-Darcy flows in the lacustrine shale, it is highly desirable to gain a better understanding of the likely modes, as well as associated temporal and spatial consequences, of hydrocarbon flows across different shale lithofacies. As the basic study of shale oil accumulation mechanisms has lagged behind the industry drilling activity, it is necessary to expedite the basic study in order to develop suitable protocols, parameters and laboratory tools for core area and "sweet-spots" delineation in a lacustrine shale play.

Hyperspectral image anomaly detection is an increasingly important research topic in remote sensing images understanding and interpretation. Recently, low-rank representation-based methods have attracted extensive attention and achieved promising performances in hyperspectral anomaly detection. These methods assume that the hyperspectral data can be decomposed into two parts: the low-rank component representing the background and the residual part indicating the anomaly. In order to improve the separability of the background and anomaly, we propose a novel hyperspectral anomaly detection based on low-rank representation with dictionary construction and data-driven projection. To construct a robust dictionary that contains all categories of the background objects whilst excluding the anomaly's influence, we adopt a superpixel-based tensor low-rank decomposition method to generate a comprehensive and pure background dictionary. Considering the spectral redundancy in the hyperspectral data, data-driven projection is introduced to the low-rank representation to project the original data to a low-dimensional feature space to better separate the anomaly and the background. Experimental results on four real hyperspectral datasets show that the proposed anomaly detection method outperforms the other anomaly detectors.

Coupling photochemical derivatization with tandem mass spectrometry enables C=C-isomer resolved lipidomics. Here, the authors further develop this approach into a shotgun lipidomics workflow that allows simultaneous characterization of lipid C=C locations and sn-positions in complex biological samples.

Achieving high-accuracy chicken face detection is a significant breakthrough for smart poultry agriculture in large-scale farming and precision management. However, the current dataset of chicken faces based on accurate data is scarce, detection models possess low accuracy and slow speed, and the related detection algorithm is ineffective for small object detection. To tackle these problems, an object detection network based on GAN-MAE (generative adversarial network-masked autoencoders) data augmentation is proposed in this paper for detecting chickens of different ages. First, the images were generated using GAN and MAE to augment the dataset. Afterward, CSPDarknet53 was used as the backbone network to enhance the receptive field in the object detection network to detect different sizes of objects in the same image. The 128×128 feature map output was added to three feature map outputs of this paper, thus changing the feature map output of eightfold downsampling to fourfold downsampling, which provided smaller object features for subsequent feature fusion. Secondly, the feature fusion module was improved based on the idea of dense connection. Then the module achieved feature reuse so that the YOLO head classifier could combine features from different levels of feature layers to capture greater classification and detection results. Ultimately, the comparison experiments’ outcomes showed that the mAP (mean average Precision) of the suggested method was up to 0.84, which was 29.2% higher than other networks’, and the detection speed was the same, up to 37 frames per second. Better detection accuracy can be obtained while meeting the actual scenario detection requirements. Additionally, an end-to-end web system was designed to apply the algorithm to practical applications.

The Onchocercidae family is composed of more than 30 valid nematode species with notable zoonotic potential. Current limitations in molecular characterization methods and species identification are the main obstacles to a better understanding of the biology of Onchocercidae species, particularly in wildlife. This study describes for the first time the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence of Neofoleyellides sp. isolated from a wild bird (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and belonging to the Neofoleyellides genus (Nematoda: Onchocercidae). The mt genome of Neofoleyellides sp. (GenBank accession number: ON641583) was a typical circular DNA molecule of 13,628 bp in size with an AT content of 76.69%. The complete mt genome comprised 36 functional subunits, including 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. The most common start codon was ATT/ATG except for nad2 with TTG, and TAA was the termination codon for all protein-coding genes (PCGs). Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated and aligned amino acid sequences of the 12 PCGs showed that the trees generated using different methods (Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood) with different partition schemes shared similar topologies. The isolated Neofoleyellides sp. was placed in the Onchocercidae family and formed a sister branch with the genera Onchocerca and Dirofilaria. The entire mt genome of Neofoleyellides sp. presented in this study could provide useful data for studying the population genetics and phylogenetic relationships of Onchocercidae species.

Flexible respiratory monitoring devices have become available for outside-hospital application scenarios attributable to their improved system wearability. However, the complex fabrication process of such flexible devices results in high prices, limiting their applications in real-life scenarios. This study proposes a flexible, low-cost, and easy-processing paper-based humidity sensor for sleep respiratory monitoring. A paper humidity sensing model was established and sensors under different design parameters were processed and tested, achieving high sensitivity of 5.45 kΩ/%RH and good repeatability with a matching rate of over 85.7%. Furthermore, the sensor patch with a dual-channel 3D structure was designed to distinguish between oral and nasal breathing from origin signals proved in the simulated breathing signal monitoring test. The sensor patch was applied in the sleep respiratory monitoring of a healthy volunteer and an obstruct sleep apnea patient, demonstrating its ability to distinguish between different respiratory patterns as well as various breathing modes.

Tabanidae suck the blood of humans and animals, are important biological vectors for the transmission of diseases, and are of considerable economic and medical significance. However, current knowledge about the mitochondrial genome of this family is limited. More complete mitochondrial genomes of Tabanidae are essential for the identification and phylogeny. Therefore, this study sequenced and analyzed six complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequences of four genera of Tabanidae for the first time. The complete mt genomes of the six new sequences are circular molecules ranging from 15,851 to 16,107 base pairs (bp) in size, with AT content ranging from 75.64 to 77.91%. The six complete mitochondrial genomes all consist of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (RRNA), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and a control region, making a total of 37 functional subunits. ATT/ATG was the most common start codon, and the stop codon was TAA of all PCGS. All tRNA except tRNA Ser1 had a typical clover structure. Phylogeny was inferred by analyzing the 13 concatenated amino acid sequences of the 22 mt genomes. Bayesian inference, maximum-likelihood trees, and maximum-parsimony inference analyses all showed consistent results. This study supports the concept of monophyly of all genus, ratifies the current taxonomic classification, and provides effective genetic markers for molecular classification, systematics, and genetic studies of Tabanidae.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system is insufficiently prognostic for gastric cancer (GC) patients and complementary factors are in urgent need. Here we aimed to develop a comprehensive model, consisting of both immune signatures and cancer signaling molecules, which was expected to accurately improve survival prediction in non-metastatic gastric cancer (GC). We first validated the prognostic value of a combination of 18 immune features and 52 cancer-signaling molecules in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, their expression and distribution were analyzed in consecutive 1180 GC patients using immunohistochemistry. We developed and validated a novel protein-based prognostic classifier using CDH1, an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker, and five immune features (CD3, CD4, CD274, GZMB, and PAX5) by Cox regression model with group LASSO penalty. We observed significant differences in the overall survival of the high- and low-prognostic risk groups (66.8% VS 27.0%, P

Developments in medical device design result in advances in wearable technologies, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and patient-specific approaches to medicine. In this review, we analyze the trajectory of biomedical and engineering approaches to soft robotics for healthcare applications. We review current literature across spatial scales and biocompatibility, focusing on engineering done at the biotic-abiotic interface. From traditional techniques for robot design to advances in tunable material chemistry, we look broadly at the field for opportunities to advance healthcare solutions in the future. We present an extracellular matrix-based robotic actuator and propose how biomaterials and proteins may influence the future of medical device design.

Abstract Screening for possible development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is essential for risk prediction and early therapy. This study reported a novel model comprised of routine laboratory variables for predicting HCC from CHB. A retrospective study was performed among 463 participants. alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), platelet and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (APAR) was constructed to differentiate HCC from CHB or non-cancer with area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of 0.815 and 0.868 in the training set, 0.831 and 0.861 in the validation set, respectively. In participants with low or normal AFP (

Feature extraction of an urban area is one of the most important directions of polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) applications. A high-resolution PolSAR image has the characteristics of high dimensions and nonlinearity. Therefore, to find intrinsic features for target recognition, a building area extraction method for PolSAR images based on the Adaptive Neighborhoods selection Neighborhood Preserving Embedding (ANSNPE) algorithm is proposed. First, 52 features are extracted by using the Gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and five polarization decomposition methods. The feature set is divided into 20 dimensions, 36 dimensions, and 52 dimensions. Next, the ANSNPE algorithm is applied to the training samples, and the projection matrix is obtained for the test image to extract the new features. Lastly, the Support Vector machine (SVM) classifier and post processing are used to extract the building area, and the accuracy is evaluated. Comparative experiments are conducted using Radarsat-2, and the results show that the ANSNPE algorithm could effectively extract the building area and that it had a better generalization ability; the projection matrix is obtained using the training data and could be directly applied to the new sample, and the building area extraction accuracy is above 80%. The combination of polarization and texture features provide a wealth of information that is more conducive to the extraction of building areas.

Laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) is a primary tool for biological analysis. Its success relies on the use of chemical matrices that facilitate soft desorption and ionization of the biomolecules, which, however, also limits its application for metabolomics study due to the chemical interference by the matrix compounds. The requirement for sample pretreatment is also undesirable for direct sampling analysis or tissue imaging. In this study, antireflection (AR) metal surfaces were investigated as sample substrates for matrix-free LDI-MS. They were prepared through ultrafast laser processing, with high light-to-heat energy conversion efficiency. The morphology and micro/nanostructures on the metal surfaces could be adjusted and optimized by tuning the laser fabrication process. The super-high UV absorption at 97% enabled highly efficient thermal desorption and ionization of analytes. The analytical performance for the matrix-free LDI was explored by analyzing a variety of biological compounds, including carbohydrates, drugs, metabolites, and amino acids. Its applicability for direct analysis of complex biological samples was also demonstrated by direct analysis of metabolites in yeast cells.