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Objective: To elucidate the biological basis of the heart qi deficiency (HQD) pattern, an in-depth understanding of which is essential for improving clinical herbal therapy. Methods: We predicted and characterized HQD pattern genes using the new strategy, TCM-HIN2Vec, which involves heterogeneous network embedding and transcriptomic experiments. First, a heterogeneous network of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patterns was constructed using public databases. Next, we predicted HQD pattern genes using a heterogeneous network-embedding algorithm. We then analyzed the functional characteristics of HQD pattern genes using gene enrichment analysis and examined gene expression levels using RNA-seq. Finally, we identified TCM herbs that demonstrated enriched interactions with HQD pattern genes via herbal enrichment analysis. Results: Our TCM-HIN2Vec strategy revealed that candidate genes associated with HQD pattern were significantly enriched in energy metabolism, signal transduction pathways, and immune processes. Moreover, we found that these candidate genes were significantly differentially expressed in the transcriptional profile of mice model with heart failure with a qi deficiency pattern. Furthermore, herbal enrichment analysis identified TCM herbs that demonstrated enriched interactions with the top 10 candidate genes and could potentially serve as drug candidates for treating HQD. Conclusion: Our results suggested that TCM-HIN2Vec is capable of not only accurately identifying HQD pattern genes, but also deciphering the basis of HQD pattern. Furthermore our finding indicated that TCM-HIN2Vec may be further expanded to develop other patterns, leading to a new approach aimed at elucidating general TCM patterns and developing precision medicine.

Abstract Background Urban ecological health is crucial for the long-term sustainable development of watershed. Accurately evaluating the health level of the ecological environment helps to develop reasonable strategies for ecological environment restoration and resource management. This paper constructed a comprehensive evaluation index system based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework and evaluated the ecological health of eleven administrative regions in the Wei River Basin (WRB), northwest China in 1980, 2000, and 2020 using an evaluation model established by fuzzy mathematics. Further, obstacle degrees were used to quantify the contribution of pressure, state, and response modules, as well as individual indicators to ecological health. Results The comprehensive evaluation system constructed based on the PSR framework could effectively reflect the ecological health conditions of different regions in the WRB. During the study period, the ecological health went through a process of first deterioration and then improvement. By 2020, the ecological health of seven administrative regions reached healthy levels. The state module was the main obstacle module of the PSR framework to the ecological health of the most regions. The population density (P1), patch density of construction land (S5), comprehensive elasticity index (S8), soil erosion index (R1), and per capital GDP (R3) were the most crucial individual indicators affecting the ecological health. For different cities, the main obstacle factors varied. In economically developed cities, the limiting effect of P1 was more significant, while in economically underdeveloped cities, the limiting effect of R3 was stronger. Conclusions In response to the special natural environment and socio-economic conditions of arid and semi-arid areas in the WRB, an ecological health evaluation index system suitable for the characteristics of the basin was constructed. The results indicated that, to improve the levels of urban ecological health, it is necessary to restore the natural ecological environment and control population size while accelerating economic construction. Our results can provide scientific support for the ecological health evaluation and protection of the WRB and even the arid and semi-arid areas in northwest China.

Abstract Experimental realization of strong coupling between a single exciton and plasmons remains challenging as it requires deterministic positioning of the single exciton and alignment of its dipole moment with the plasmonic fields. This study aims to combine the host–guest chemistry approach with the cucurbit[7]uril-mediated active self-assembly to precisely integrate a single methylene blue molecule in an Au nanodimer at the deterministic position (gap center of the nanodimer) with the maximum electric field (EFmax) and perfectly align its transition dipole moment with the EFmax, yielding a large spectral Rabi splitting of 116 meV for a single-molecule exciton—matching the analytical model and numerical simulations. Statistical analysis of vibrational spectroscopy and dark-field scattering spectra confirm the realization of the single exciton strong coupling at room temperature. Our work may suggest an approach for achieving the strong coupling between a deterministic single exciton and plasmons, contributing to the development of room-temperature single-qubit quantum devices.

Abstract The development of neuromorphic visual systems has recently gained momentum due to their potential in areas such as autonomous vehicles and robotics. However, current machine visual systems based on silicon technology usually contain photosensor arrays, format conversion, memory and processing modules. As a result, the redundant data shuttling between each unit, resulting in large latency and high-power consumption, seriously limits the performance of neuromorphic vision chips. Here, we demonstrate an artificial neural network (ANN) architecture based on an integrated 2D MoS2/Ag nanograting phototransistor array, which can simultaneously sense, pre-process and recognize optical images without latency. The pre-processing function of the device under photoelectric synergy ensures considerable improvement of efficiency and accuracy of subsequent image recognition. The comprehensive performance of the proof-of-concept device demonstrates great potential for machine vision applications in terms of large dynamic range (180 dB), high speed (500 ns) and low energy consumption per spike (2.4 × 10−17 J).

IntroductionAlthough rural industrial integration is a crucial pathway for advancing the revitalization of rural economies, it continues to grapple with financial challenges. This paper delves into the theoretical underpinnings of how capital marketization influences rural industrial integration.MethodsUsing panel data from China’s provinces spanning the years 2010 to 2020, a comprehensive index of rural industrial integration is constructed from the vantage point of a new development paradigm. The paper employs the system GMM method to empirically investigate the impact of capital marketization on rural industrial integration and to dissect its transmission mechanisms. Additionally, a threshold regression model is applied to explore the specific patterns of the nonlinear relationship between the two variables.Results and discussionThe study’s findings reveal that the degree of rural industrial integration is significantly and positively influenced by its previous level, demonstrating an accumulative effect wherein the prior level of integration lays the groundwork for future advancements. The influence of capital marketization on the degree of rural industrial integration is characterized by a non-linear relationship, adhering to a “U-shaped” curve. Below the inflection point, the development of capital marketization is detrimental to rural industrial integration, whereas above this point, it exerts a positive influence. Currently, China’s overall level of capital marketization is positioned beyond the inflection point, indicating substantial potential for enhancing industry integration in rural China. In addition, the study indicates that at very low levels of economic development, capital marketization does not affect the development of rural industries. As the economic development level rises, so does the impact of capital marketization on rural industrial integration.

Selective and efficient electrochemical conversion of cheap and abundant biomass derivatives into high‐value‐added products can provide a way to store large‐scale renewable intermittent energy such as wind energy, solar energy, etc. Although a large amount of research is devoted to developing highly efficient catalysts or disclosing the reaction processes, there are always challenges of conversion rate and selectivity, and the relevant comprehensive and in‐depth discussion is relatively scarce. This review introduces the basic principles and reaction processes from the charge transfer pathway of biomass electrochemical conversion. Then, for the design of the anode, the representative work is summarized and discussed in detail from the point of view of material adjustment, theoretical calculations, and in situ characterizations. Finally, insights for further optimization of the reaction systems are put forward. It is believed that this review provides guidance for the selection, design, and application of materials for high‐value‐added organic electrochemical synthesis.

Abstract The general strategy for n‐type organic thermoelectric is to blend n‐type conjugated polymer hosts with small molecule dopants. In this work, all‐polymer n‐type thermoelectric is reported by dissolving a novel n‐type conjugated polymer and a polymer dopant, poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI), in alcohol solution, followed by spin‐coating to give polymer host/polymer dopant blend film. To this end, an alcohol‐soluble n‐type conjugated polymer is developed by attaching polar and branched oligo (ethylene glycol) (OEG) side chains to a cyano‐substituted poly(thiophene‐alt‐co‐thiazole) main chain. The main chain results in the n‐type property and the OEG side chain leads to the solubility in hexafluorineisopropanol (HFIP). In the polymer host/polymer dopant blend film, the Coulombic interaction between the dopant counterions and the negatively charged polymer chains is reduced and the ordered stacking of the polymer host is preserved. As a result, the polymer host/polymer dopant blend exhibits the power factor of 36.9 µW m−1 K−1, which is one time higher than that of the control polymer host/small molecule dopant blend. Moreover, the polymer host/polymer dopant blend shows much better thermal stability than the control polymer host/small molecule dopant blend. This research demonstrates the high performance and excellent stability of all‐polymer n‐type thermoelectric.

Crotonylation is a recently discovered protein acyl modification that shares many enzymes with acetylation. However, it possesses a distinct regulatory mechanism and biological function due to its unique crotonyl structure. Since the discovery of crotonylation in 2011, numerous crotonylation sites have been identified in both histones and other proteins. In recent studies, crotonylation was found to play a role in various diseases and biological processes. This paper reviews the initial discovery and regulatory mechanisms of crotonylation, including various writer, reader, and eraser proteins. Finally, we emphasize the relationship of dysregulated protein crotonylation with eight common malignancies, including cervical, prostate, liver, and lung cancer, providing new potential therapeutic targets.

Polygonatum sibiricum (P. sibiricum), recognized as a precious nourishing Chinese traditional medicine, exhibits the pharmacological effect of anti-aging. In this work, we proposed a novel mechanism underlying this effect related to the less studied bioactive compounds fructooligosaccharides in P. sibiricum (PFOS) to identify the inhibition effect of the small glycosyl molecules on the age-related zinc metalloprotease carbonic anhydrase II (CA II). Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were used to investigate the structural and energetic properties of the complex systems consisting of the CA II enzyme and two possible structures of PFOS molecules (PFOS-A and PFOS-B). The binding affinity of PFOS-A (−7.27 ± 1.02 kcal/mol) and PFOS-B (−8.09 ± 1.75 kcal/mol) shows the spontaneity of the binding process and the stability of the combination in the solvent. Based on the residue energy decomposition and nonbonded interactions analysis, the C-, D- and G-sheet fragments of the CA II were found to be crucial in binding process. Van der Waals interactions form on the hydrophobic surface of CAII mainly with 131PHE and 135VAL, while hydrogen bonds form on the hydrophilic surface mainly with 67ASN and 92GLN. The binding of PFOS results in the blocking of the zinc ions pocket and then inhibiting its catalytic activity, the stability of which has been further demonstrated by free energy landscape. These findings provide evidence of the effective inhibition of PFOS to CA II enzyme, which leads to a novel direction for exploring the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine focused on small molecule fructooligosaccharides.

Microfinance has gained significant importance in supporting the livelihoods of individuals in developing economies. This paper examines the influence of self-employment on preferences for microfinance, based on the hypothesis that self-employment choices and participation in microfinance share the same decision-making ability. The analysis utilizes data from a recent survey conducted in rural China, employing a generalized multinomial logit model (GMNL) to account for both preference heterogeneity and scale heterogeneity. This model allows us to investigate the choice probabilities and the impact of different types of self-employment on preferences for microfinance attributes. The empirical findings indicate that engaging in self-employment contributes to a sense of reassurance regarding preferences for microfinance among rural respondents. Specifically, non-agricultural self-employment has a positive effect on this preference, whereas agricultural self-employment has a negative effect.

The fish louse Argulus japonicus, a branchiuran crustacean of the Argulidae family, is attracting increasing attention because of its parasitic tendencies and significant health threats to global fish farming. The mitogenomes can yield a foundation for studying epidemiology, genetic diversity, and molecular ecology and therefore may be used to assist in the surveillance and control of A. japonicus. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the complete mitogenome of A. japonicus to shed light on its genetic and evolutionary blueprint. Our investigation indicated that the 15,045-bp circular genome of A. japonicus encodes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) with significant AT and GC skews. Comparative genomics provided an evolutionary scenario for the genetic diversity of 13 PCGs: all were under purifying selection, with cox1 and nad6 having the lowest and highest evolutionary rates, respectively. Genome-wide phylogenetic trees established a close relationship between species of the families Argulidae (Arguloida) and Armilliferidae (Porocephalida) within Crustacea, and further, A. japonicus and Argulus americanus were determined to be more closely related to each other than to others within the family Argulidae. Single PCG-based phylogenies supported nad1 and nad6 as the best genetic markers for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies for branchiuran crustaceans due to their similar phylogenetic topologies with those of genome-based phylogenetic analyses. To sum up, these comprehensive mitogenomic data of A. japonicus and related species refine valuable marker resources and should contribute to molecular diagnostic methods, epidemiological investigations, and ecological studies of the fish ectoparasites in Crustacea.

Introduction: High concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) is the key of characteristic of fatty liver in dairy cows. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high concentration of NEFA on lipid metabolism in hepatocytes through the lipidomic approach and molecular biology techniques.Methods: Stimulate AML-12 cells with different concentrations of NEFA, observe the cellular lipid accumulation, and select 0.6 mM NEFA stimulation concentration for subsequent experiments. Collect cells for lipidomics analysis.Results: High concentration of NEFA (0.6–2.4 mM) significantly reduced the cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that high concentrations of NEFA have lipotoxicity on hepatocytes. In addition, NEFA promoted triglycerides (TAG) accumulation, increased the mRNA expression of the lipogenic molecules SREBP1c and FASN, and decreased the mRNA expression of lipolytic molecules CPT1A and HSL in hepatocytes. Mechanistically, high concentration of NEFA induced lipid metabolism disorders in hepatocytes by regulating metabolic pathways such as glycerol phospholipid metabolism, glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchored biosynthesis, triglyceride metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and inositol phosphate metabolism.Discussion: High concentration of NEFA is lipotoxic to cells, promoting lipid accumulation. LPE (18:2), LPE (18:3), LPE (18:1) via glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis, glycerolipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and inositol phosphate metabolism, indicating their potential regulation role in the pathogenesis of fatty liver.

Background: The prognostic significance of the ratio of activated CD4 T cells to Tregs infiltrating tumor tissues in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. Materials and methods: For the quantification of infiltration of immune cells, the ssGSEA algorithm, which is a single sample gene set enrichment analysis, was utilized. Group A was defined as having activated CD4 T cells/Tregs >1, while group B was defined as having activated CD4 T cells/Tregs

The peroxidase-like behaviors of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have the potential to the development of rapid and sensitive colorimetric assays for specific food ingredients and contaminants. Here, using NaBH4 as a reducing agent, AuNPs with a supramolecular macrocyclic compound β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) capped were synthesized under alkaline conditions. Monodispersal of β-CD@AuNPs possessed a reduction in diameter size and performed great peroxidase-like activities toward both substrates, H2O2 and TMB. In the presence of H2O2, the color change of TMB oxidization to oxTMB was well-achieved using β-CD@AuNPs as the catalyst, which was further employed to develop colorimetric assays for ascorbic acid, with a limit of detection as low as 0.2 μM in ddH2O. With the help of the host-guest interaction between β-CD and adamantane, AuNPs conjugated with nanobodies to exhibit peroxidase-like activities and specific recognition against Salmonella Typhimurium simultaneously. Based on this bifunctional bioprobe, a selective and sensitive one-step colorimetric assay for S. Typhimurium was developed with a linear detection from 8.3 × 104 to 2.6 × 108 CFU/mL and can be provided to spiked lettuce with acceptable recoveries of 97.31% to 103.29%. The results demonstrated that the excellent peroxidase-like behaviors of β-CD@AuNPs can be applied to develop a colorimetric sensing platform in the food industry.

The thickness of the indium tin oxide (ITO) layer is a critical parameter affecting the performance of solar cells. Traditional measurement methods require sample collection, leading to manufacturing interruptions and potential quality issues. In this paper, we propose a real-time, non-contact approach using deep learning and optical interference phenomena to estimate the thickness of ITO layers in solar cells. We develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) model that processes microscopic images of solar cells and predicts the ITO layer thickness. In addition, mean absolute error (MAE) and mean squared error (MSE) loss functions are combined to train the model. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in accurately estimating the ITO layer thickness. The integration of computer vision and deep learning techniques provides a valuable tool for non-destructive testing and quality control in the manufacturing of solar cells. The loss of the model after training is reduced to 0.83, and the slope of the test value in the scatter plot with the true value of the ellipsometer is approximately equal to 1, indicating the high reliability of the model.

The small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), whose molecular weight ranges from 12∼43 kDa, are members of the heat shock protein (HSP) family that are widely found in all organisms. As intracellular stress resistance molecules, sHSPs play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the intracellular environment under various stressful conditions. A total of 10 sHSPs have been identified in mammals, sharing conserved α-crystal domains combined with variable N-terminal and C-terminal regions. Unlike large-molecular-weight HSP, sHSPs prevent substrate protein aggregation through an ATP-independent mechanism. In addition to chaperone activity, sHSPs were also shown to suppress apoptosis, ferroptosis, and senescence, promote autophagy, regulate cytoskeletal dynamics, maintain membrane stability, control the direction of cellular differentiation, modulate angiogenesis, and spermatogenesis, as well as attenuate the inflammatory response and reduce oxidative damage. Phosphorylation is the most significant post-translational modification of sHSPs and is usually an indicator of their activation. Furthermore, abnormalities in sHSPs often lead to aggregation of substrate proteins and dysfunction of client proteins, resulting in disease. This paper reviews the various biological functions of sHSPs in mammals, emphasizing the roles of different sHSPs in specific cellular activities. In addition, we discuss the effect of phosphorylation on the function of sHSPs and the association between sHSPs and disease.

The flood season is the main period for runoff and sediment yield, and understanding the variations of runoff and sediment of flood events is of great significance for distinguishing the runoff-sediment processes in the Loess Plateau. In this study, we analyzed the variations of runoff and sediment at the flood event scale in the Qiaogou catchment and investigated the influencing factors. The results showed that runoff and sediment of flood events were mainly produced by rainfall with short rainfall duration and heavy rainfall intensity in the study area. Based on the 28 flood events and corresponding precipitation data from the reference period (P-I, 1986–1989) and the revegetation period (P-II, 2001–2009), we analyzed the variations of runoff-sediment processes at the flood event scale in the Qiaogou catchment, a typical catchment of the Loess Plateau. The results showed that the flood variables were lower in the revegetation period than those in the reference period, except for the flood peak discharge time and the flood duration. The sediment transport capacity per unit runoff depth in the revegetation period was weaker than that in the reference period. The hysteresis analysis indicated that the patterns of the hysteretic loop were dominated by the figure-of-eight pattern and the compound pattern, respectively, in the reference period and revegetation period. Compared to the reference period, runoff and sediment-related variables for flood events of counter-clockwise, figure-of-eight, and compound patterns were less in the revegetation period. With similar rainfall conditions, the main reason for the noticeable difference in runoff and sediment of flood events for the two periods was the variations in vegetation cover. The mentioned results indicated that revegetation performed a critical function in the variations of runoff and sediment at the flood event scale. This study revealed the variations of runoff-sediment processes of flood events and their responses to rainfall and revegetation in a typical catchment of the Loess Plateau, which can provide a basis for decision-making on soil erosion management and sustainable development of the ecological environment in the Loess Plateau.

Corrosion accounts for 52% of the recorded breakdown of insulators utilized in transmission lines, which may interfere with the reliability of power utilities. The CeO2 conversion coating, CeO2-ethylene propylene diene monomer, EPDM composite coating, and Perfluoropolyether PFPE lubricating oil-infused hydrophobized CeO2 composite surfaces were developed on the insulator surface to address these challenges. The properties of these three kinds of structures are compared based on the persistence of coating over insulators installed in a highly contaminated environment. PFPE lubricating oil-infused hydrophobized CeO2 composite surfaces show excellent performance over other approaches. A lubricating oil-infused hydrophobized CeO2 composite of thickness 35.4 µm exhibits contact angles 60°, 85°, and 160°, and contact angle hysteresis of 12°, 10°, and 4°, respectively, after accelerated thermal aging. The proposed approach presents self-healing and corrosion resistance (corrosion rate 0.3 × 10−3 mm/Y, Icorr 1.2 × 10−7), post-accelerated thermal aging. The research outcome is expected to pave the way for incredibly robust insulator coatings.

ObjectiveDisruption of the circadian rhythm is associated with cancer occurrence, response to chemotherapy, and poor prognosis. Thus, using internal clock-based chronotherapy to optimize the administration time may improve the therapeutic effects of anticancer drugs while reducing the side effects. Chronotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been observed in colorectal cancer (CRC) for a long time, but its effect is under controversial and the mechanism remains unclear.MethodsGenome-wide clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screening and RNA-sequencing were combined to identify the potential genes or pathways involved in 5-FU chronochemotherapy. Genetic deletion or overexpression of pyrimidine metabolic pathway genes were conducted to examine cellular viability with or without 5-FU via flow cytometry. Western blotting, qPCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation, gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays of several CRC cell lines in vitro and in vivo were used to elaborate and validate the mechanism of 5-FU chronotherapeutic effects.ResultsChronochemotherapeutic effects of 5-FU on CRC in vivo were verified. Furthermore, 5-FU chronochemotherapy related genes such as UPP2, UCK2 and UMPS in the pyrimidine metabolic pathway were identified. Disturbance in these genes, especially UMPS, perturbs 5-FU treatment outcomes in CRC cells. Mechanistically, the core circadian gene, brain and muscle aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like protein-1 (BMAL1), extensively regulate gene expression in pyrimidine metabolic pathway by binding to E-box element in the promoter region of key genes such as UMPS and perturb their enzymatic activities, thereby maintain diurnal efficacy of 5-FU in CRC cells.ConclusionThis study uncovered a new mechanism by which a core circadian gene BMAL1 increases the effectiveness of 5-FU by enhancing the expression and enzymatic activities of key genes in the pyrimidine metabolic pathway in CRC cells. The findings suggest a novel strategy for CRC chemotherapy by targeting chrono-modulated genes of the 5-FU metabolic pathway.

The Loess Plateau is ecologically vulnerable. Vegetation is the key factor in ecological improvement. The study of the distribution patterns of vegetation and its impact factors has important guiding meaning for ecological construction in the region. The existing single sensor cannot provide long-term and high-resolution data. We established data of NDVI with a great spatial resolution by fusing the GIMMS NDVI and the MODIS NDVI based on the ESTARFM. Furthermore, we analyzed the variation in NDVI under different topographies and its response to climatic factors and human activities in the Loess Plateau. The results manifested that: (1) The fused NDVI by the ESTARFM had a high correlation with the MODIS NDVI and can be used in subsequent studies. (2) The multi-year average NDVI of this region ranged from 0.027 to 0.973, which is specifically low in the northwest and high southeast. The NDVI manifested an upward trend in the last 31 years. Its growth rate was 0.0036/a (p < 0.01). Spatially, the area with an upward trend of NDVI accounted for 89.48% of the plateau. (3) For topography, the larger area with the extremely significant upward of NDVI was found at elevations of 500–1500 m, with slopes of 6–15°. The larger area with the extremely significant downward trend of NDVI was found at an elevation of higher than 3000 m, with a slope of greater than 35°. (4) The response of the NDVI to the climatic factors manifested a significant spatial heterogeneity. The temperature had a more significant impact on NDVI than precipitation. (5) Human activities contributed more to NDVI than climatic factors (65.22% for human activities and 34.78% for climatic factors). Among them, the area with a high contribution of human activities to NDVI increase was consistent with the area where the GGP was implemented. The distribution of areas with high contribution of human activities to NDVI decrease was in line with that of the provincial capital cities. The results served as the theoretical foundation for assessing the efficacy of environmental stewardship and for optimizing ecological restoration measures.

Background: DNA damage repair (DDR) is an important mechanism for the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its impact on prognosis has not been fully understood.Materials and methods: A total of 904 HCC patients were included in our study, TCGA (n = 370) and GSE14520 (n = 239) were merged into a large-sample training cohort (n = 609). The training cohort was clustered into C1 and C2 based on prognostic DDR-related genes, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between C1 and C2 were identified by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test referred to criteria (|log2FC|≥1 and FDR< 0.05). The univariate Cox analysis was used to screen the prognostic-related DEGs, and Lasso penalized Cox regression analysis was used to construct the risk score. The patients were clarified into high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score. ICGC (n = 231) and GSE116174 (n = 64) cohorts were used for external validation of the risk score’s prognostic value.Results: The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that the high-risk group had a significantly reduced overall survival (OS) compared to the low-risk group in the three independent cohorts, and the time-dependent ROC curve showed that the five-gene (STMN1, PON1, PLOD2, MARCKSL1, and SPP1) risk score with a high accuracy in predicting OS. The patients with AFP >300 ng/ml, tumor poor differentiation (grade 3–4), micro and macro vascular tumor invasion, advanced stage (AJCC III-IV, BCLC stage B-C, and CLIP score >2) exhibited a higher risk score. Subgroup survival analysis found that the risk score was applicable to patients with different clinical characteristics. GO and KEGG functional enrichment analysis revealed that cell cycle, p53 signaling, TNF signaling-related pathways were upregulated in the high-risk group. The higher infiltration level of activated CD4 T cell, CD56 bright natural killer cell, plasmacytoid dendritic cell, and type 2 T helper cells were found to lead an unfavorable impact on the OS of HCC patients, and these four kinds of immune cells exhibited a higher infiltration level in the high-risk group.Conclusion: The five-gene risk score proposed in the research may provide new insights into the individualized evaluation of HCC prognosis.

South Asia, one of the most important food producing regions in the world, is facing a significant threat to food grain production under the influence of extreme high temperatures. Furthermore, the probability of simultaneous trends in extreme precipitation patterns and extreme heat conditions, which can have compounding effects on crops, is a likelihood in South Asia. In this study, we found complex relationships between extreme heat and precipitation patterns, as well as compound effects on major crops (rice and wheat) in South Asia. We also employed event coincidence analysis (ECA) to quantify the likelihood of simultaneous temperature and crop extremes. We used the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) as the primary data to evaluate the distinct responses of major crops to weather extremes. Our results suggest that while the probability of simultaneous extreme events is small, most regions of South Asia (more than half) have experienced extreme events. The regulatory effect of precipitation on heat stress is very unevenly distributed in South Asia. The harm caused by a wet year at high temperature is far greater than that during a dry year, although the probability of a dry year is greater than that of a wet year. For the growing seasons, the highest significant event coincidence rates at a low EVI were found for both high- and low-temperature extremes. The regions that responded positively to EVI at extreme temperatures were mainly concentrated in irrigated farmland, and the regions that responded negatively to EVI at extreme temperatures were mostly in the mountains and other high-altitude regions. Implications can guide crop adaptation interventions in response to these climate influences.

Objective: Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is considered one of the most aggressive types of lung cancer due to its rapid growth and early metastasis. No tumor markers or therapeutic targets have been demonstrated to be specific or effective in SCLC to date. This study aims to evaluate the potential of Flotillin1 (Flot1) as a target of SCLC treatment. Methods: Flot1 expression level in the tissue of SCLC and other tissue of lung disease was detected using immunohistochemical staining. Transwell and Matrigel assays were employed to examine migration and invasion of cancer cells. Flow cytometry and xCELLigence system were used to evaluate cell apoptosis and cell viability, respectively. Expression levels of Flot1, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker E-cadherin, vimentin, cyclinD1, TGF-β-Smad2/3, and p-AKT were examined using Western blot. Furthermore, xenograft tumor in nude mice was used to evaluate the growth and metastasis of NCI-H446 cells in vivo.Results: Our results demonstrated that Flot1 is highly expressed in SCLC samples and that its expression correlates strongly with clinical stage, distant metastasis, and poor survival. The knockdown of Flot1 decreased the growth, migration, and invasiveness of SCLC cells and reversed EMT phenotype in vitro and in vivo, while enhanced Flot1 expression exhibited the opposite behavior. Gene expression profile analysis demonstrated that Flot1-regulated genes frequently mapped to the AKT and TGF-β-Smad2/3 pathways. Our results further revealed that Flot1 affected the progression of SCLC via regulation of EMT progression. Conclusions: These findings indicated an oncogenic role of Flot1 via promoting EMT in SCLC and suggested its potential as a tumor marker and prognostic indicator.

ObjectivesTo assess whether social support or autonomy support intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes can achieve glycemic control at the end of intervention, and to test whether the glycemic control effect can be maintained for a long time.Research design and methodsIn this cluster randomized controlled trial, 18 community healthcare stations (CHSs) were randomized to the following: (1) usual care group (UCG) offering regular public health management services, (2) social support group (SSG) providing 3-month social support intervention based on problem solving principles, and (3) autonomy support group (ASG) offering 3-month autonomy support intervention based on self-determination theory. A total of 364 patients registered in the CHSs were enrolled into either of the three groups. The primary outcome was hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and secondary outcomes were diabetes self-management (DSM) behaviors. Assessment was conducted at baseline and at 3 and 6 months.ResultsPatients in ASG achieved better HbA1c reduction at the end of intervention (0.53% or 7.23 mmol/mol, p

Changes in the structure and function of the hippocampus contribute to epilepsy, schizophrenia and other neurological or mental disorders of the brain. Since the function of the hippocampus depends heavily on the glutamate (Glu) signaling pathways, in situ real-time detection of Glu neurotransmitter release and electrophysiological signals in hippocampus is of great significance. To achieve the dual-mode detection in mouse hippocampus in vivo, a 16-channel implantable microelectrode array (MEA) was fabricated by micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) technology. Twelve microelectrode sites were modified with platinum black for electrophysiological recording and four sites were modified with glutamate oxidase (GluOx) and 1,3-phenylenediamine (mPD) for selective electrochemical detection of Glu. The MEA was implanted from cortex to hippocampus in mouse brain for in situ real-time monitoring of Glu and electrophysiological signals. It was found that the Glu concentration in hippocampus was roughly 50 μM higher than that in the cortex, and the firing rate of concurrently recorded spikes declined from 6.32 ± 4.35 spikes/s in cortex to 0.09 ± 0.06 spikes/s in hippocampus. The present results demonstrated that the dual-mode MEA probe was capable in neurological detections in vivo with high spatial resolution and dynamical response, which lays the foundation for further pathology studies in the hippocampus of mouse models with nervous or mental disorders.