The effects of EFL wordlist and proficiency on vocabulary knowledge.

Introduction: The Gaokao Word List (GWL) in China serves as a guideline for learning L2 vocabulary, but there are few studies verifying its effect on university EFL learners' vocabulary knowledge. Method: This study investigated the effects of the GWL and EFL proficiency on 66 Chinese university EFL learners' vocabulary knowledge by administering word recognition tests. Results and discussion: The results showed that: (1) the GWL had significant effects on participants' receptive vocabulary knowledge; (2) EFL proficiency had significant effects on participants' word recognition, without interaction with the GWL. These findings were discussed through the lens of frequency of exposure, accounting for the overwhelming GWL effect on learners' vocabulary knowledge. We suggest EFL proficiency be taken into consideration when the GWL is revised in the future, to smoothen the transition in vocabulary learning from high school to university, and improve vocabulary learning efficiency.

Molecular Evolution of SNAREs in Vitis vinifera and Expression Analysis under Phytohormones and Abiotic Stress.

SNARE proteins (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) play a key role in mediating a variety of plant biological processes. Currently, the function of the SNARE gene family in phytohormonal and abiotic stress treatments in grapevine is currently unknown, making it worthwhile to characterize and analyze the function and expression of this family in grapevine. In the present study, 52 VvSNARE genes were identified and predominantly distributed on 18 chromosomes. Secondary structures showed that the VvSNARE genes family irregular random coils and α-helices. The promoter regions of the VvSNARE genes were enriched for light-, abiotic-stress-, and hormone-responsive elements. Intraspecific collinearity analysis identified 10 pairs collinear genes within the VvSNARE family and unveiled a greater number of collinear genes between grapevine and apple, as well as Arabidopsis thaliana, but less associations with Oryza sativa. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses showed that the VvSNARE genes have response to treatments with ABA, NaCl, PEG, and 4 °C. Notably, VvSNARE2, VvSNARE14, VvSNARE15, and VvSNARE17 showed up-regulation in response to ABA treatment. VvSNARE2, VvSNARE15, VvSNARE18, VvSNARE19, VvSNARE20, VvSNARE24, VvSNARE25, and VvSNARE29 exhibited significant up-regulation when exposed to NaCl treatment. The PEG treatment led to significant down-regulation of VvSNARE1, VvSNARE8, VvSNARE23, VvSNARE25, VvSNARE26, VvSNARE31, and VvSNARE49 gene expression. The expression levels of VvSNARE37, VvSNARE44, and VvSNARE46 were significantly enhanced after exposure to 4 °C treatment. Furthermore, subcellular localization assays certified that VvSNARE37, VvSNARE44, and VvSNARE46 were specifically localized at the cell membrane. Overall, this study showed the critical role of the VvSNARE genes family in the abiotic stress response of grapevines, thereby providing novel candidate genes such as VvSNARE37, VvSNARE44, and VvSNARE46 for further exploration in grapevine stress tolerance research.

XCR1: A promising prognostic marker that pinpoints targeted and immune-based therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: The lymphotactin receptor X-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (XCR1) is an essential member of the chemokine receptor family and is related to tumor development and progression. Nevertheless, further investigation is required to explore its expression patterns, prognostic values, and functions related to target or immune therapies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methods: The differential expression patterns of XCR1 and its prognostic influences were performed through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were performed to validate the prognostic values in different subgroups. Furthermore, the potential roles of XCR1 in predicting target and immune therapeutic responses were also investigated. Results: Increased expression level of XCR1 was associated with favorable overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Subgroup analysis revealed that a high expression level of XCR1 or positive immune cell proportion score (iCPS) were associated with favorable OS in the HCC patients with favorable tumor characteristics. In addition, the enhanced XCR1 expression was associated with the tumor environment scores, immune cell infiltration levels, and the expression levels of immune checkpoint genes. Further analysis revealed that improved expression of XCR1 was linked to better OS and RFS in HCC patients who received sorafenib. Conclusion: This study identified that XCR1 is a valuable prognostic biomarker in the HCC population, especially in those with favorable tumor characteristics. The combination of iCPS status and BCLC status has a synergistic effect on stratifying patients' OS and RFS. Further analyses showed that XCR1 has the potential ability to predict treatment responses to sorafenib and immune-based therapies.

Interaction patterns and assembly mechanisms of dinoflagellates and diatoms in a coastal bay suffering from long-term eutrophication.

Dinoflagellates and diatoms are highly prevalent and ecologically important phytoplankton in coastal waters, greatly contributing to primary productivity in marine ecosystems. Although their composition and diversity have been extensively elucidated in the open ocean, their interaction patterns and community assembly in long-term eutrophic coastal waters remain poorly understood. This investigation aimed to elucidate the seasonal successional patterns of dinoflagellates and diatoms by 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing in a semi-enclosed bay. The results revealed that dinoflagellate and diatom communities have pronounced seasonal succession patterns, which are primarily associated with temperature. Furthermore, the most prevalent species throughout the year were Heterocapsa rotundata and Skeletonema costatum. Moreover, the assembly of dinoflagellate and diatom communities was mainly dominated by stochastic processes, with drift being the major factor. The co-occurrence of dinoflagellates and diatoms showed seasonal patterns, with the highest interactions observed in autumn. In addition, interactions of Syndiniales with dinoflagellates and diatoms highlighted the roles of parasites in eutrophic conditions. Flavobacteriaceae and Rhodobacteraceae are the bacterial taxa that most frequently interacted with dinoflagellates and diatoms, with interactions between dinoflagellates and bacteria being more complex than those between diatoms and bacteria. Overall, this study provides results that deepen our understanding of the phytoplankton dynamics in coastal eutrophic waters.IMPORTANCEDinoflagellates and diatoms are major phytoplankton groups in coastal waters. The composition and diversity of dinoflagellates and diatoms in the open ocean have been well documented; however, it remains uncertain to what extent their adaptation to long-term eutrophic conditions influences their response to environmental disturbances. Here, we investigated the interactions and assembly processes of dinoflagellates and diatoms in a eutrophic bay throughout the whole year. Our findings revealed that interactions between dinoflagellates and diatoms are primarily shaped by seasonal transitions, while prolonged eutrophic conditions tend to amplify stochastic processes in community assembly. These findings provide novel perspectives on the influence of long-term eutrophication on phytoplankton dynamics within eutrophic waters.

Elevated temperature alters bacterial community from mutualism to antagonism with Skeletonema costatum: insights into the role of a novel species, Tamlana sp. MS1.

Skeletonema costatum, a cosmopolitan diatom primarily inhabiting coastal ecosystems, exhibits a typically close yet variable relationship with heterotrophic bacteria. The increasing temperature of surface seawater is expected to substantially affect the viability and ecological dynamics of S. costatum, potentially altering its relationship with bacteria. However, it remains unclear to what extent the elevated temperature could change these relationships. Here, the relationship between axenic S. costatum and natural seawater bacteria underwent a dramatic shift from mutualism to antagonism as the co-culture temperature increased from 20°C to 25°C. The co-occurrence network indicated significantly increased complexity of interaction between S. costatum and bacteria community after temperature elevation, especially with Flavobacteriaceae, implying their potential role in eliminating S. costatum under higher temperatures. Additionally, a Flavobacteriaceae isolate, namely MS1 identified as Tamlana genus, was isolated from the co-culture system at 25°C. MS1 had a remarkable ability to eliminate S. costatum, with the mortality rate at 25°C steadily rising from 30.2% at 48 h to 92.4% at 120 h. However, it promoted algal growth to some extent at 20°C. These results demonstrated that increased temperature promotes MS1 shifts from mutualism to antagonism with S. costatum. According to the comparative genomics analysis, changes in the lifestyle of MS1 were attributed to the increased gliding motility and attachment of MS1 under elevated temperature, enabling it to exert an algicidal effect through direct contact with alga. This investigation provided an advanced understanding of interactions between phytoplankton and bacteria in future warming oceanic ecosystems. IMPORTANCE: Ocean warming profoundly influences the growth and metabolism of phytoplankton and bacteria, thereby significantly reshaping their interactions. Previous studies have shown that warming can change bacterial lifestyle from mutualism to antagonism with phytoplankton, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we found that high temperature promotes Tamlana sp. MS1 adhesion to Skeletonema costatum, leading to algal lysis through direct contact, demonstrating a transition in lifestyle from mutualism to antagonism with increasing temperature. Furthermore, the gliding motility of MS1 appears to be pivotal in mediating the transition of its lifestyle. These findings not only advance our understanding of the phytoplankton-bacteria relationship under ocean warming but also offer valuable insights for predicting the impact of warming on phytoplankton carbon sequestration.

The relationship between serum coagulation parameters and the recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma.

The aim is to investigate the relationship between serum coagulation parameters (PT, APTT, D-D and FDP) before hospitalization and recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). 236 patients with CSDH who were diagnosed for the first time and had complete medical records were followed up for at least 90 days. Fifty patients (21.2%) had relapsed. Univariate analysis was conducted including general data, imaging data and test results. Serum coagulation parameters (PT, APTT, D-D and FDP) were detected for all CSDH patients. The study identified several factors that exhibited a significant correlation with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) recurrence. These factors included advanced age (p = 0.01), hypertension (p = 0.04), liver disease (p = 0.01), anticoagulant drug use (p = 0.01), antiplatelet drug use (p = 0.02), bilateral hematoma (p = 0.02), and single-layer hematoma (p = 0.01). In addition, the presence of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) exceeding 5 mg/L demonstrated a significant relationship with CSDH recurrence (P < 0.05). Notably, the combined assessment of D-dimer (D-D) and FDP exhibited a significant difference, particularly regarding recurrence within 30 days after surgery (P < 0.05). The simultaneous elevation of serum FDP and D-D levels upon admission represents a potentially novel predictor for CSDH recurrence. This finding is particularly relevant for patients who experience recurrence within 30 days following surgical intervention. Older individuals with CSDH who undergo trepanation and drainage should be closely monitored due to their relatively higher recurrence rate.

Establishment of RNAi-Mediated Pest Control Method for Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta.

RNAi plays a crucial role in insect gene function research and pest control field. Nonetheless, the variable efficiency of RNAi across diverse insects and off-target effects also limited its further application. In this study, we cloned six essential housekeeping genes from Solenopsis invicta and conducted RNAi experiments by orally administering dsRNA. Then, we found that mixing with liposomes significantly enhanced the RNAi efficiency by targeting for SiV-ATPaseE. Additionally, we observed a certain lethal effect of this dsRNA on queens by our established RNAi system. Furthermore, no strict sequence-related off-target effects were detected. Finally, the RNAi effect of large-scale bacteria expressing dsRNA was successfully confirmed for controlling S. invicta. In summary, this study established an RNAi system for S. invicta and provided a research template for the future development of nucleic acid drugs based on RNAi.

METTL3 recruiting M2-type immunosuppressed macrophages by targeting m6A-SNAIL-CXCL2 axis to promote colorectal cancer pulmonary metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The regulatory role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in the onset and progression of cancer has garnered increasing attention in recent years. However, the specific role of m6A modification in pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer remains unclear. METHODS: This study identified differential m6A gene expression between primary colorectal cancer and its pulmonary metastases using transcriptome sequencing and immunohistochemistry. We investigated the biological function of METTL3 gene both in vitro and in vivo using assays such as CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, EDU, transwell, and apoptosis, along with a BALB/c nude mouse model. The regulatory mechanisms of METTL3 in colorectal cancer pulmonary metastasis were studied using methods like methylated RNA immunoprecipitation quantitative reverse transcription PCR, RNA stability analysis, luciferase reporter gene assay, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and quantitative reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS: The study revealed high expression of METTL3 and YTHDF1 in the tumors of patients with pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer. METTL3 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer by m6A modification of SNAIL mRNA, where SNAIL enhances the secretion of CXCL2 through the NF-κB pathway. Additionally, colorectal cancer cells expressing METTL3 recruit M2-type macrophages by secreting CXCL2. CONCLUSION: METTL3 facilitates pulmonary metastasis of colorectal cancer by targeting the m6A-Snail-CXCL2 axis to recruit M2-type immunosuppressive macrophages. This finding offers new research directions and potential therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer treatment.

Effects of Total Intravenous Anesthesia on Circadian Rhythms in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Transcatheter Closure.

Objective To evaluate the effects of total intravenous anesthesia on the circadian rhythms in the patients undergoing cardiac transcatheter closure. Methods Thirty patients undergoing cardiac transcatheter closure under elective intravenous anesthesia were included in this study.Paired t-tests were performed to compare the mRNA levels of the genes encoding circadian locomotor output cycles kaput(CLOCK),brain and muscle ARNT-1 like protein-1(BMAL1),cryptochrome 1(CRY1),and period circadian clock 2(PER2),the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire(MCTQ)score,and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)score before and after anesthesia.Multiple stepwise regression analysis was performed to screen the factors influencing sleep chronotype and PSQI total score one week after surgery. Results The postoperative mRNA level of CLOCK was higher [1.38±1.23 vs.1.90±1.47;MD(95%CI):0.52(0.20-0.84),t=3.327,P=0.002] and the postoperative mRNA levels of CRY1 [1.56±1.50 vs.1.13±0.98;MD(95%CI):-0.43(-0.81--0.05),t=-2.319,P=0.028] and PER2 [0.82±0.63 vs.0.50±0.31;MD(95%CI):-0.33(-0.53--0.12),t=-3.202,P=0.003] were lower than the preoperative levels.One week after surgery,the patients presented advanced sleep chronotype [3∶03±0∶59 vs.2∶42±0∶37;MD(95%CI):-21(-40--1),t=-2.172,P=0.038],shortened sleep latency [(67±64)min vs.(37±21)min;MD(95%CI):-30.33(-55.28--5.39),t=-2.487,P=0.019],lengthened sleep duration [(436±83)min vs.(499±83)min;MD(95%CI):62.80(26.93-98.67),t=3.581,P=0.001],increased sleep efficiency [(87.59±10.35)% vs.(92.98±4.27)%;MD(95%CI):5.39(1.21-9.58),t=2.636,P=0.013],decreased sleep quality score [1.13±0.78 vs.0.80±0.71;MD(95%CI):-0.33(-0.62--0.05),t=-2.408,P=0.023],and declined PSQI total score [6.60±3.17 vs.4.03±2.58;MD(95%CI):-2.57(-3.87--1.27),t=-4.039,P<0.001].Body mass index(BMI)(B=-227.460,SE=95.475,t=-2.382,P=0.025),anesthesia duration(B=-47.079,SE=18.506,t=-2.544,P=0.017),and mRNA level of PER2(B=2815.804,SE=1080.183,t=2.607,P=0.015)collectively influenced the sleep chronotype,and the amount of anesthesia medicine(B=0.067,SE=0.028,t=2.385,P=0.024)independently influenced the PSQI one week after surgery. Conclusions Total intravenous anesthesia can improve sleep habits by advancing sleep chronotype.BMI,anesthesia duration,and mRNA level of PER2 collectively influence sleep chronotype one week after surgery.The amount of anesthesia medicine independently influences the PSQI total score one week after surgery.

Overcoming cold tumors: a combination strategy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) therapy has advanced significantly in treating malignant tumors, though most 'cold' tumors show no response. This resistance mainly arises from the varied immune evasion mechanisms. Hence, understanding the transformation from 'cold' to 'hot' tumors is essential in developing effective cancer treatments. Furthermore, tumor immune profiling is critical, requiring a range of diagnostic techniques and biomarkers for evaluation. The success of immunotherapy relies on T cells' ability to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. In 'cold' tumors, the absence of T cell infiltration leads to the ineffectiveness of ICI therapy. Addressing these challenges, especially the impairment in T cell activation and homing, is crucial to enhance ICI therapy's efficacy. Concurrently, strategies to convert 'cold' tumors into 'hot' ones, including boosting T cell infiltration and adoptive therapies such as T cell-recruiting bispecific antibodies and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells, are under extensive exploration. Thus, identifying key factors that impact tumor T cell infiltration is vital for creating effective treatments targeting 'cold' tumors.

Histone Acetylation Enhancing Host Melanization in Response to Parasitism by an Endoparasitoid Wasp.

Endoparasitoids are insects that develop within other insects, employing unique strategies to enhance their offspring's survival. They inject polydnavirus and/or venom into their hosts along with eggs, effectively suppressing the host's immune system. Polydnavirus from Braconidae and Ichneumonidae wasps can integrate into the host's genome to express viral genes using the host's transcription systems. However, the ability of parasitoids without polydnavirus to manipulate host gene expression remains unclear. Lysine acetylation (LysAc), a post-translational modification critical for gene regulation, is hypothesized to be used by endoparasitoids lacking polydnavirus. We utilized the Chalcidoidea wasp Tetrastichus brontispae, which lacks polydnavirus, as an idiobiont endoparasitoid model to test this hypothesis, with pupae of the nipa palm hispid beetle Octodonta nipae as the host. Parasitism by T. brontispae resulted in the reduced expression of histone deacetylase Rpd3 and elevated levels of LysAc modification at histones H3.3K9 and H3.3K14 through proteomics and LysAc modification omics. The knockdown of Rpd3 increased the expression level of OnPPAF1 and OnPPO involved in the phenoloxidase cascade, leading to melanization in the host body whereby it resembled a mummified parasitized pupa and ultimately causing pupa death. This study enhances our understanding of how endoparasitoids employ histone acetylation to regulate immunity-related genes, offering valuable insights into their survival strategies.

Deciphering the population structure and genetic basis of growth traits from whole-genome resequencing of the leopard coral grouper ( Plectropomus leopardus).

The leopard coral grouper ( Plectropomus leopardus) is a species of significant economic importance. Although artificial cultivation of P. leopardus has thrived in recent decades, the advancement of selective breeding has been hindered by the lack of comprehensive population genomic data. In this study, we identified over 8.73 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) through whole-genome resequencing of 326 individuals spanning six distinct groups. Furthermore, we categorized 226 individuals with high-coverage sequencing depth (≥14×) into eight clusters based on their genetic profiles and phylogenetic relationships. Notably, four of these clusters exhibited pronounced genetic differentiation compared with the other populations. To identify potentially advantageous loci for P. leopardus, we examined genomic regions exhibiting selective sweeps by analyzing the nucleotide diversity ( θπ) and fixation index ( F ST) in these four clusters. Using these high-coverage resequencing data, we successfully constructed the first haplotype reference panel specific to P. leopardus. This achievement holds promise for enabling high-quality, cost-effective imputation methods. Additionally, we combined low-coverage sequencing data with imputation techniques for a genome-wide association study, aiming to identify candidate SNP loci and genes associated with growth traits. A significant concentration of these genes was observed on chromosome 17, which is primarily involved in skeletal muscle and embryonic development and cell proliferation. Notably, our detailed investigation of growth-related SNPs across the eight clusters revealed that cluster 5 harbored the most promising candidate SNPs, showing potential for genetic selective breeding efforts. These findings provide a robust toolkit and valuable insights into the management of germplasm resources and genome-driven breeding initiatives targeting P. leopardus.

Thermal stratification controls taste and odour compounds by regulating the phytoplankton community in a large subtropical water source reservoir (Xin'anjiang Reservoir).

2-Methylisoborneol (2-MIB) and geosmin are compounds released by algae that significantly degrade reservoir water quality, posing a threat to both the safety of drinking water and the quality of aquatic products sourced from these environments. However, few studies have explored how enhanced thermal stratification affects the occurrence and regulation of odorants in large drinking water reservoirs. Through systematic monitoring and investigation of Xin'anjiang Reservoir, we found that enhanced thermal stratification promotes filamentous cyanobacteria, particularly Leptolyngbya sp., as the primary contributor to 2-MIB production within the 1-10 m layer of the water column. The highest 2-MIB concentration, 92.5 ng/L, was recorded in the riverine region, which was 2.54 and 14.52 times higher than that in the transitional and central parts of the reservoir, respectively. Temperature indirectly impacted algal growth and odorant production by modulating TN/TP ratios. Geosmin concentration responded rapidly to relatively low TN/TP ratios (< 25). Our findings suggest that phosphorus control in estuaries should be enhanced during thermal stratification period. In summary, our study provides valuable insights to inform pragmatic water intake strategies and the distribution and release of odorants caused by thermal stratification. This is particularly relevant in the context of future global warming and extremely high temperatures during the warm season.

A Transformer-Based microvascular invasion classifier enhances prognostic stratification in HCC following radiofrequency ablation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We aimed to develop a Transformer-based deep learning (DL) network for prognostic stratification in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing RFA. METHODS: A Swin Transformer DL network was trained to establish associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) datasets and the ground truth of microvascular invasion (MVI) based on 696 surgical resection (SR) patients with solitary HCC ≤3 cm, and was validated in an external cohort (n = 180). The multiphase MRI-based DL risk outputs using an optimal threshold of .5 was employed as a MVI classifier for prognosis stratification in the RFA cohort (n = 180). RESULTS: Over 90% of all enrolled patients exhibited hepatitis B virus infection. Liver cirrhosis was significantly more prevalent in the RFA cohort compared to the SR cohort (72.2% vs. 44.1%, p < .001). The MVI risk outputs exhibited good performance (area under the curve values = .938 and .883) for predicting MVI in the training and validation cohort, respectively. The RFA patients at high risk of MVI classified by the MVI classifier demonstrated significantly lower recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years compared to those classified as low risk (p < .001). Multivariate cox regression modelling of a-fetoprotein > 20 ng/mL [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.53; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.02-2.33, p = .047], high risk of MVI (HR = 3.76; 95% CI: 2.40-5.88, p < .001) and unfavourable tumour location (HR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.40-3.29, p = .001) yielded a c-index of .731 (bootstrapped 95% CI: .667-.778) for evaluating RFS after RFA. Among the three risk factors, MVI was the most powerful predictor for intrahepatic distance recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed MVI classifier can serve as a valuable imaging biomarker for prognostic stratification in early-stage HCC patients undergoing RFA.

Sentiment annotations for 3827 simplified Chinese characters.

Sentiment analysis in Chinese natural language processing has been largely based on words annotated with sentiment categories or scores. Characters, however, are the basic orthographic, phonological, and in most cases, semantic units in the Chinese language. This study collected sentiment annotations for 3827 characters. The ratings demonstrated high levels of reliability, and were validated through a comparison with the ratings of some characters' word equivalents reported in a previous norming study. Relations with other lexico-semantic variables and character processing efficiency were investigated. Furthermore, analyses of the association between constituent character valence and word valence revealed semantic compositionality and sentiment fusion characteristic of larger Chinese linguistic units. These ratings for characters, expanding current Chinese sentiment lexicons, can be utilized for the purposes of more precise stimuli assessment in research on Chinese character processing and more efficient sentiment analysis equipped with annotations of single-character words.

Distinct roles of the Hox genes Ultrabithorax and abdominal-A in scorpionfly embryonic proleg development.

The abdominal appendages of larval insects have a complex evolutionary history of gain and loss, but the regulatory mechanisms underlying the abdominal appendage development remain largely unclear. Here, we investigated the embryogenesis of abdominal prolegs in the scorpionfly Panorpa liui Hua (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) using in situ hybridization and parental RNA interference. The results show that RNAi-mediated knockdown of Ultrabithorax (Ubx) led to a homeotic transformation of the first abdominal segment (A1) into the third thoracic segment (T3) and changed the distributions of the downstream target Distal-less (Dll) expression but did not affect the expression levels of Dll. Knockdown of abdominal-A (abd-A) resulted in malformed segments, abnormal prolegs and disrupted Dll expression. The results demonstrate that the gene Ubx maintains an ancestral role of modulating A1 appendage fate without preventing Dll initiation, and a secondary adaptation of abd-A evolves the ability to specify abdominal segments and proleg identity. We conclude that changes in abdominal Hox gene expression and their target genes regulate abdominal appendage morphology during the evolutionary course of holometabolous larvae.

Predictable shifts in diversity and ecosystem function in phytoplankton and zooplankton communities along thermocline stratification intensity continua.

Thermocline stratification is a global threat to water quality in drinking water reservoirs, though its underlying mechanisms are not clear. The impacts of thermocline stratification intensity on biodiversity-ecosystem relationships were assessed using phytoplankton and zooplankton indicators from four stages of stratification in Lake Qiandaohu. There were significant differences in biomass, species diversity, and resource use efficiency (RUEpp = phytoplankton biomass/total phosphorus) for phytoplankton between continuous stratification and mixing periods, but only in FDis and RaoQ diversity indices for zooplankton. Phytoplankton species diversity and RUE were higher in the formative and stable periods, while zooplankton species diversity and zooplankton biomass/phytoplankton biomass (RUEzp) were lower. When combining the data from the four periods, a negative linear pattern was found between phytoplankton Simpson's, functional dispersion (FDis), and Rao's Quadratic (RaoQ) diversity indices, and thermocline depth (TD). Only zooplankton FDis and RaoQ diversity indices were significantly positively related to TD. Phytoplankton RUE was significantly negatively related only to its Pielou's evenness (J) diversity, while zooplankton RUE was significantly negatively related to its J, FDis, and RaoQ diversity indices. The results of structural equation models (SEMs) showed that the R2 of RUE for phytoplankton was much higher than that for zooplankton. Thermocline stratification intensity exerted an indirect positive effect on phytoplankton RUE by affecting species diversity but had a negative effect on zooplankton RUE. These findings underscore the negative influence of thermocline stratification resulting in various biodiversity changes in freshwater ecosystems.

Thermocline stratification favors phytoplankton spatial overlap and species diversity in a subtropical deep reservoir.

Spatial segregation of species along opposing resource gradients is a major research topic in ecology as it enables the coexistence and maintenance of high diversity. Thermocline stratification causes heterogeneous resource distribution, however, the effect of thermocline stratification on phytoplankton dynamic in-depth profiles is still unclear. To understand the underlying mechanism behind the effects of thermocline stratification on phytoplankton species diversity in stratified lakes, the monthly changes in thermocline parameters, deep chlorophyll maxima (DCM) parameters, spatial overlap (SO) among major phytoplankton taxonomic groups, and phytoplankton species diversity were evaluated in Lake Qiandaohu in the Zhejiang Province of China from April 2017 to December 2018. Thermocline depth (TD) was significantly negatively related to thermocline strength (TS). The monthly air temperature was the main driver behind the thermocline and the seasonal thermal-stratification cycle was divided into two stratification stages. Significant linear relationships were observed between the DCM parameters (depth, concentration, and thickness) and TD during the strong stratification period. TD was significantly positively related to phytoplankton species diversity and the SO between Cryptophyta and Chlorophyta as well as between Cryptophyta and Bacillariophyta during weak stratification periods. Significant positive correlations were observed between SO and Shannon diversity during both periods. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that air temperature significantly decreased TD and increased species diversity by increasing SO during the strong stratification period. Strong stratification under warming favored the formation of shallower and thinner DCMs, leading to phytoplankton coexistence and maintenance of high species diversity through a preclusion of dominance. This study characterized the temporal dynamics of phytoplankton dynamic in-depth profiles in response to strong stratification from warming.

Gut microbiota and risk of polycystic ovary syndrome: Insights from Mendelian randomization.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted endocrine and metabolic syndrome with complex origins and pathogenesis that has not yet been fully elucidated. Recently, the interconnection between gut microbiota and metabolic diseases has gained prominence in research, generating new insights into the correlation between PCOS and gut microbiota composition. However, the causal link between PCOS and gut microbiota remains relatively unexplored, indicating a crucial gap in current research. Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis using summary statistics obtained from the MiBioGen Consortium's extensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analysis, focusing on the gut microbiota. Summary statistics for PCOS were acquired from the FinnGen Consortium R7 release data. Various statistical approaches, including inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, maximum likelihood, weighted model, and weighted median, have been employed to investigate the causal association between the gut microbiota and PCOS. Additionally, we performed a reverse causal analysis. Cochran's Q statistic was used to assess the heterogeneity of the instrumental variables. Regarding the relationships between PCOS and specific genera within the gut microbiota, a significance level of P < 0.05 was observed, but only when q ≥ 0.1. Results: Our analysis revealed that specific microbial genera, namely Bilophila (P = 4.62 × 10-3), Blautia (P = 0.02), and Holdemania (P = 0.04), displayed a protective effect against PCOS. Conversely, the presence of the Lachnospiraceae family of bacteria was associated with a detrimental effect on PCOS (P = 0.04). Furthermore, reverse Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed the significant influence of Lachnospiraceae on PCOS. No significant variations in instrumental variables or evidence of horizontal pleiotropy were observed. Conclusions: The results revealed a definitive causal link between PCOS and the presence of Bilophila, Blautia, Holdemania, and Lachnospiraceae in the gut microbiota. This discovery could provide pivotal insights, leading to novel preventive and therapeutic approaches for PCOS.

Predictors and occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in children undergoing noncardiac surgery: A prospective cohort study.

In children after cardiac surgery, alterations in cognitive ability and behavior are increasingly common, but whether postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) occurs in children undergoing noncardiac surgery is not known. The present study was performed to investigate the incidence rate and potential risk factors of early neurocognitive dysfunction in children after noncardiac surgery. Two hundred patients aged between 4 and 14 years old underwent elective noncardiac surgery and 100 healthy age-matched controls were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence or Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised were conducted 1 day before and 3 days after surgery. POCD was calculated and diagnosed as a combined Z score. Any factors that differed between POCD and non-POCD group (p < 0.10) were tested together by multivariate logistic regression analysis against the cognitive outcome of patients, to find out the independent risk factors of POCD. The general incidence of POCD was 15.6%. The univariate analysis revealed that POCD was associated with general anesthesia, surgical and anesthesia duration, early postoperative fever (EPF), and surgical history. However, only the history of surgery (p = 0.029), anesthesia duration (p = 0.010), and EPF (p < 0.001) were demonstrated to be independent risk factors for POCD. The occurrence rate of early POCD after noncardiac surgery in children is 15.6%. Children who had surgical history, longer anesthesia duration, or EPF are more prone to develop POCD.