Lithiating magneto-ionics in a rechargeable battery.

Magneto-ionics, real-time ionic control of magnetism in solid-state materials, promise ultralow-power memory, computing, and ultralow-field sensor technologies. The real-time ion intercalation is also the key state-of-charge feature in rechargeable batteries. Here, we report that the reversible lithiation/delithiation in molecular magneto-ionic material, the cathode in a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, accurately monitors its real-time state of charge through a dynamic tunability of magnetic ordering. The electrochemical and magnetic studies confirm that the structural vacancy and hydrogen-bonding networks enable reversible lithiation and delithiation in the magnetic cathode. Coupling with microwave-excited spin wave at a low frequency (0.35 GHz) and a magnetic field of 100 Oe, we reveal a fast and reliable built-in magneto-ionic sensor monitoring state of charge in rechargeable batteries. The findings shown herein promise an integration of molecular magneto-ionic cathode and rechargeable batteries for real-time monitoring of state of charge.

Fascin-1 limits myosin activity in microglia to control mechanical characterization of the injured spinal cord.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical softening of the glial scar region regulates axonal regeneration to impede neurological recovery in central nervous system (CNS) injury. Microglia, a crucial cellular component of the glial scar, facilitate neuronal survival and neurological recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the critical mechanical characterization of injured spinal cord that harmonizes neuroprotective function of microglia remains poorly understood. METHODS: Spinal cord tissue stiffness was assessed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in a mouse model of crush injury. Pharmacological depletion of microglia using PLX5622 was used to explore the effect of microglia on mechanical characterization. Conditional knockout of Fascin-1 in microglia (Fascin-1 CKO) alone or in combination with inhibition of myosin activity was performed to delve into relevant mechanisms of microglia regulating mechanical signal. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate the related protein levels, inflammatory cells, and neuron survival after SCI. The Basso mouse scale score was calculated to assess functional recovery. RESULTS: Spinal cord tissue significantly softens after SCI. Microglia depletion or Fascin-1 knockout in microglia limits tissue softening and alters mechanical characterization, which leads to increased tissue pathology and impaired functional recovery. Mechanistically, Fascin-1 inhibits myosin activation to promote microglial migration and control mechanical characterization after SCI. CONCLUSIONS: We reveal that Fascin-1 limits myosin activity to regulate mechanical characterization after SCI, and this mechanical signal should be considered in future approaches for the treatment of CNS diseases.

Hyperoside alleviates photoreceptor degeneration by preventing cell senescence through AMPK-ULK1 signaling.

Vision loss and blindness are frequently caused by photoreceptor degeneration, for example in age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. However, there is no effective medicine to treat these photoreceptor degeneration-related diseases. Cell senescence is a common phenotype in many diseases; however, few studies have reported whether it occurs in photoreceptor degeneration diseases. Herein, we identified that cell senescence is associated with photoreceptor degeneration induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU, a commonly used photoreceptor degeneration model), presented as increased senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity, DNA damage, oxidative stress and inflammation-related cytokine Interleukin 6 (IL6), and upregulation of cyclin p21 or p16. These results suggested that visual function might be protected using anti-aging treatment. Furthermore, Hyperoside is reported to help prevent aging in various organs. In this study, we showed that Hyperoside, delivered intravitreally, alleviated photoreceptor cell senescence and ameliorated the functional and morphological degeneration of the retina in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, Hyperoside attenuated the MNU-induced injury and aging of photoreceptors via AMPK-ULK1 signaling inhibition. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Hyperoside can prevent MNU-induced photoreceptor degeneration by inhibiting cell senescence via the AMPK-ULK1 pathway.

Microascones, Decahydrofluorene-Class Alkaloids from the Marine-Derived Fungus Microascus sp. SCSIO 41821.

Eight new decahydrofluorene-class alkaloids, microascones A and B (1 and 2), 2,3-epoxyphomapyrrolidone C (3), 14,16-epiascomylactam B (4), 24-hydroxyphomapyrrolidone A (5), and microascones C-E (6-8), along with five known analogs (9-13) were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Microascus sp. SCSIO 41821. Compounds 1 and 2 have an unprecedented complex macrocyclic alkaloid skeleton with a 6/5/6/5/6/5/13 polycyclic system. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical calculations of ECD spectra, and 13C NMR chemical shifts. Compounds 10-13 showed selective enzyme inhibitory activity against PTPSig, PTP1B, and CDC25B, and 4, 9, and 10 exhibited strong antibacterial activity against seven tested pathogens. Their structure-bioactivity relationship was discussed, and a plausible biosynthetic pathway for 1-8 was also proposed.

Efficacy and safety of the orthopaedic manipulation techniques of the Lin School of Lingnan Region in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: protocol of a participant-and-assessor-blinded randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common developmental spine disorder among children. It is characterized by a lateral deviation of the spine that gives rise to the distinctive "S" or "C" shaped bending of the spine. The Lin School of Lingnan Region (LSLR), one of the prominent schools for bare-handed orthopaedic manipulation in southern China, provides preliminary evidences that the orthopaedic manipulation techniques help to correct deviations of the spine. Previous research found that Orthopaedic Manipulation Techniques of LSLR (OMT-LSLR) could reduce the Cobb's angles in patients with AIS. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of the OMT-LSLR in treating teenagers with AIS. METHODS: In this participant-and-assessor-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial, 50 participants identified AIS without surgical indications will be recruited and randomized into two groups to receive physiotherapy scoliosis-specific exercises training with either orthopaedic manipulation or sham manipulation treatment for 16 weeks, followed by post-treatment visits at week 24. Primary outcome measure is the change of Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire score. Secondary outcome measures include Traditional Chinese version of Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (TC-SAQ) score, Italian Spine Youth Quality of Life (ISYQOL) score, the change of Cobb's angle measured by Xray, and the change of Cobb's angle, spinal rotation and muscle volume measured by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound. The trial will be conducted at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Specialty Clinic cum Clinical Teaching and Research Centre in Hong Kong (CUHK-CMSCTRC). DISCUSSION: The results of this study will establish comprehensive clinical evidence about the efficacy and safety of the Orthopaedic Manipulation Techniques of the Lin School of Lingnan Region in the Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. One of the characteristics of this trial is that it is a participant-and-assessor-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial with sham manipulation. The study would also apply three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound technology to investigate the relationship between the change of the muscle volume and the spinal curve. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05639023 ) on December 6, 2022.

Exosomal miR-17-92 Cluster from BMSCs Alleviates Apoptosis and Inflammation in Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) involves neuronal apoptosis and axonal disruption, leading to severe motor dysfunction. Studies indicate that exosomes transport microRNAs (miRNAs) and play a crucial role in intercellular communication. This study aimed to explore whether the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSCs)-exosomal miR-17-92 cluster can protect against SCI and to explain the underlying mechanisms. In vivo and in vitro SCI models were established and treated with control exosomes (con-exo) or exosomes derived from BMSCs transfected with miR-17-92 cluster plasmid (miR-17-92-exo). Rat BMSCs were isolated and positive markers were identified by flow cytometry. BMSC-derived exosomes were extracted and verified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and western blotting. The expression of the miR-17-92 cluster was validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Spinal cord function, histopathological changes, apoptotic cells, and inflammatory cytokines release in spinal cord tissues were assessed using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, terminal deoxynucleotide transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and qRT-PCR. In PC12 cells, cell proliferation, apoptosis, apoptosis-related proteins cleaved-Caspase3 expression, and inflammatory factors secretion were analyzed using a cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay, flow cytometry, western blotting, and ELISA. Our data revealed that the exosomes were successfully isolated from rat BMSCs. The BMSC-exosomal miR-17-92 cluster improved neural functional recovery after SCI, as evidenced by an increased BBB score, improved pathological damage, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and decreased inflammatory factors release. Additionally, miR-17-92-exo treatment significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced reduction in cell viability, increase in cell apoptosis, and upregulation of inflammatory factors in PC12 cells. The exosomal miR-17-92 cluster derived from BMSCs improved functional recovery and exhibited neuroprotective effects in SCI by alleviating apoptosis and inflammation.

Surface Proteins of Bifidobacterium Bifidum DNG6 Growing in 2'-FL Alleviating LPS-Induced Intestinal Barrier Injury in vitro.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) promote the growth and adhesion of bifidobacteria, thus exerting multiple biological functions on intestinal epithelial cells. Bacterial surface proteins play an important role in bacterial-host intestinal epithelial interactions. In this study, we aim to investigate the effects of surface proteins extracted from Bifidobacterium bifidum DNG6 (B. bifidum DNG6) consuming 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) on Caco-2 cells monolayer barrier injury induced by lipopolysaccharide, compared with lactose (Lac) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). Our results indicated that 2'-FL may promote the surface proteins of B. bifidum DNG6 to improve intestinal barrier injury by positively regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, reducing inflammation(TNF-α reduced to 50.34%, IL-6 reduced to 22.83%, IL-1ß reduced to 37.91%, and IL-10 increased to 63.47%)and strengthening tight junction (ZO-1 2.39 times, Claudin-1 2.79 times, and Occludin 4.70 times). The findings of this study indicate that 2'-FL can further regulate intestinal barrier damage by promoting the alteration of B. bifidum DNG6 surface protein. The findings of this research will also provide theoretical support for the development of synbiotic formulations.

Factors that influence the choice of long-acting reversible contraceptive use among adolescents post-abortion in Chongqing, China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Induced abortion can seriously harm the physical and mental health of adolescent women. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) can effectively reduce unplanned pregnancies and prevent repeated abortions among adolescents. This study aimed to analyse the factors affecting the choice of LARC among adolescents in Chongqing of China. METHODS: A total of 555 adolescents who underwent induced abortions for unplanned pregnancies between January 2019 and October 2021 were selected as study subjects. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors affecting adolescent LARC choices following induced abortions. RESULTS: The factors that affected adolescent LARC choices included an average monthly income ≥ ¥3000 (OR = 3.432, 95% CI: 1.429∼8.244), history of previous abortions (OR = 3.141, 95% CI: 1.632∼6.045), worrying about unplanned pregnancy (OR = 0.365, 95% CI: 0.180∼0.740), parental support for using LARC (OR = 3.549, 95% CI: 1.607∼7.839), sexual partners' support for using LARC (OR = 2.349, 95% CI: 1.068∼5.167), concerns about using LARC (OR = 0.362, 95% CI: 0.176∼0.745), and willingness to use free IUDs (OR = 13.582, 95% CI: 7.173∼25.717). CONCLUSION: Cost is one of the factors affecting LARC choices. Parents and sexual partners may play important role in the choice of LARC.

The study analysed the choice of contraceptive methods and the factors affecting the choice of long-acting reversible contraception methods after induced abortion among adolescents in Chongqing, China. The results showed that the income level, history of previous abortions, extent of worrying about unplanned pregnancy, parents' and sexual partners' attitude towards to use long-acting reversible contraception methods, concerns about using long-acting reversible contraception methods, and willingness to use free intrauterine devices were the factors affecting the choice of long-acting reversible contraception methods after induced abortion among adolescents.

Low blood flow ratio is associated with hemorrhagic transformation secondary to mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A significant decrease of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is a risk factor for hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to ascertain whether the ratio of different CBF thresholds derived from computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is an independent risk factor for HT after mechanical thrombectomy (MT). METHODS: A retrospective single center cohort study was conducted on patients with AIS undergoing MT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from August 2018 to December 2023. The perfusion parameters before thrombectomy were obtained according to CTP automatic processing software. The low blood flow ratio (LFR) was defined as the ratio of brain volume with relative CBF <20 % over volume with relative CBF <30 %. HT was evaluated on the follow-up CT images. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between parameters that differ between the two groups with regards to HT occurrence. The predictive efficacy was assessed utilizing the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: In total, 243 patients met the inclusion criteria. During the follow-up, 46.5 % of the patients (113/243) developed HT. Compared with the Non-HT group, the HT group had a higher LFR (0.47 (0.34-0.65) vs. 0.32 (0.07-0.56); P < 0.001). According to the binary logistic regression analysis, the LFR (aOR: 6.737; 95 % CI: 1.994-22.758; P = 0.002), Hypertension history (aOR: 2.231; 95 % CI: 1.201-4.142; P = 0.011), plasma FIB levels before MT (aOR: 0.641; 95 % CI: 0.456-0.902; P = 0.011), and the mismatch ratio (aOR: 0.990; 95 % CI: 0.980-0.999; P = 0.030) were independently associated with HT secondary to MT. The area under the curve of the regression model for predicting HT was 0.741. CONCLUSION: LFR, a ratio quantified via CTP, demonstrates potential as an independent risk factor of HT secondary to MT.

Difficulty of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Segmentectomy: Proposal for a New Classification.

BACKGROUND: Segmentectomy has classically been distinguished as "simple" or "complex" based on the number of intersegmental planes (ISPs) dissected. However, with the increasing variety and complexity of segmentectomies, it is clear that a classification based on the number of ISPs alone is inadequate. This study aimed to develop a new classification to predict the surgical difficulty of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy. METHODS: The study retrospectively reviewed 1868 patients who underwent VATS segmentectomy between January 2014 and December 2019. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors associated with prolonged operative time (>140 min), and a scoring system was constructed to classify the surgical difficulty of VATS segmentectomy. RESULTS: Altogether, 1868 VATS segmentectomies were divided into three groups: group 1 (low difficulty, including segmentectomy with only one intersegmental plane [ISP] dissection), group 2 (intermediate difficulty, including a single segmentectomy with more than one ISP dissection and a single subsegmentectomy), group 3 (high difficulty level, including combined resection with more than one ISP dissection). This classification effectively differentiated the three groups in terms of operative time, estimated blood loss, major complications, and overall complications (all p < 0.001). For receiver operating characteristic analysis, the new classification showed significantly better differentiation performance in terms of operative time (p < 0.001), estimated blood loss (p = 0.004), major complications (p = 0.002), and overall complications (p = 0.012) than the simple/complex classification. CONCLUSIONS: This new three-level classification accurately predicted the surgical difficulty of VATS segmentectomy.

Nucleon Transversity Distribution in the Continuum and Physical Mass Limit from Lattice QCD.

We report a state-of-the-art lattice QCD calculation of the isovector quark transversity distribution of the proton in the continuum and physical mass limit using large-momentum effective theory. The calculation is done at four lattice spacings a={0.098,0.085,0.064,0.049} fm and various pion masses ranging between 220 and 350 MeV, with proton momenta up to 2.8 GeV. The result is nonperturbatively renormalized in the hybrid scheme with self-renormalization, which treats the infrared physics at large correlation distance properly, and extrapolated to the continuum, physical mass, and infinite momentum limit. We also compare with recent global analyses for the nucleon isovector quark transversity distribution.

Machine learning radiomics to predict the early recurrence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after curative resection: A multicentre cohort study.

PURPOSE: Postoperative early recurrence (ER) leads to a poor prognosis for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). We aimed to develop machine learning (ML) radiomics models to predict ER in ICC after curative resection. METHODS: Patients with ICC undergoing curative surgery from three institutions were retrospectively recruited and assigned to training and external validation cohorts. Preoperative arterial and venous phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) images were acquired and segmented. Radiomics features were extracted and ranked through their importance. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify clinical characteristics. Various ML algorithms were used to construct radiomics-based models, and the predictive performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: 127 patients were included for analysis: 90 patients in the training set and 37 patients in the validation set. Ninety-two patients (72.4%) experienced recurrence, including 71 patients exhibiting ER. Male sex, microvascular invasion, TNM stage, and serum CA19-9 were identified as independent risk factors for ER, with the corresponding clinical model having a poor predictive performance (AUC of 0.685). Fifty-seven differential radiomics features were identified, and the 10 most important features were utilized for modelling. Seven ML radiomics models were developed with a mean AUC of 0.87 ± 0.02, higher than the clinical model. Furthermore, the clinical-radiomics models showed similar predictive performance to the radiomics models (AUC of 0.87 ± 0.03). CONCLUSION: ML radiomics models based on CECT are valuable in predicting ER in ICC.

Myelin Debris Impairs Tight Junctions and Promotes the Migration of Microvascular Endothelial Cells in the Injured Spinal Cord.

Clearance of myelin debris caused by acute demyelination is an essential process for functional restoration following spinal cord injury (SCI). Microvascular endothelial cells, acting as "amateur" phagocytes, have been confirmed to engulf and degrade myelin debris, promoting the inflammatory response, robust angiogenesis, and persistent fibrosis. However, the effect of myelin debris engulfment on the function of endothelial tight junctions (TJs) remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that myelin debris uptake impairs TJs and gap junctions of endothelial cells in the lesion core of the injured spinal cord and in vitro, resulting in increased permeability and leakage. We further show that myelin debris acts as an inducer to regulate the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in a dose-dependent manner and promotes endothelial cell migration through the PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling pathways. Together, our results indicate that myelin debris engulfment impairs TJs and promotes the migration of endothelial cells. Accelerating myelin debris clearance may help maintain blood-spinal cord barrier integrity, thus facilitating restoration of motor and sensory function following SCI.

Development and validation of a novel radiomics-clinical model for predicting post-stroke epilepsy after first-ever intracerebral haemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel prediction model combining clinical factors and radiomics features to accurately identify patients at high risk of developing PSE after intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: Researchers performed a retrospective medical chart review to extract derivation and validation cohorts of patients with first-ever ICH that attended two tertiary hospitals in China between 2010 and 2020. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records and supplemented by tele-interview. Predictive clinical variables were selected by multivariable logistic regression to build the clinical model. Predictive radiomics features were identified, and a Rad-score was calculated according to the coefficient of the selected feature. Both clinical variables and radiomic features were combined to build the radiomics-clinical model. Performances of the clinical, Rad-score, and combined models were compared. RESULTS: A total of 1571 patients were included in the analysis. Cortical involvement, early seizures within 7 days of ICH, NIHSS score, and ICH volume were included in the clinical model. Rad-score, instead of ICH volume, was included in the combined model. The combined model exhibited better discrimination ability and achieved an overall better benefit against threshold probability than the clinical model in the decision curve analysis (DCA). CONCLUSIONS: The combined radiomics-clinical model was better able to predict ICH-associated PSE compared to the clinical model. This can help clinicians better predict an individual patient's risk of PSE following a first-ever ICH and facilitate earlier PSE diagnosis and treatment. KEY POINTS: • Radiomics has not been used in predicting the risk of developing PSE. • Higher Rad-scores were associated with higher risk of developing PSE. • The combined model showed better performance of PSE prediction ability.

Totally mechanical Collard versus circular stapled cervical esophagogastric anastomosis for minimally invasive esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have proposed that the totally mechanical Collard (TMC) method may reduce anastomotic leakage and stricture. This study aimed to compare the TMC method and the circular stapled (CS) method for cervical anastomosis after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for esophageal cancer. METHODS: From May 2017 to September 2020, 308 patients (165 in the CS group and 143 in the TMC group) were included in this study. The primary endpoints were anastomotic leakage and anastomotic stricture within 12 months. Propensity score matching was used to control potential selection bias. RESULTS: Anastomotic leak, anastomotic stricture, and refractory stricture (≥ 3 dilations) occurred in 30 (9.7%), 28 (9.1%), and 18 (5.8%) patients, respectively. The rate of anastomotic leak was similar in the CS and TMC methods (9.7 vs. 9.8%; P = 0.978), but anastomotic stricture (3.5 vs. 13.9%; P = 0.001) and refractory stricture (2.8 vs. 9.1%, P = 0.022) occurred less frequently in the TMC method. Propensity score matching yielded 128 patient pairs and confirmed these results. Multivariable analyses found that CS method, anastomotic leakage, and diabetes were independent predictors for both anastomotic stricture and refractory stricture. Subgroup analysis revealed that for patients with anastomotic leakage, the postoperative hospital stay in the TMC group was significantly longer than that in the CS group. CONCLUSION: In cervical anastomosis after MIE, the TMC method is superior to the CS method regarding anastomotic stricture and refractory stricture formation. However, compared to the CS method, the TMC method cannot lower the probability of anastomotic leakage, and anastomotic leakage with the TMC method requires a longer healing time.

Two new linear peptides from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium sp. SCSIO 41512.

Two new linear peptides, penicamides A and B (1 and 2), together with four known analogous were isolated from the extracts of the marine-derived fungus Penicillium sp. SCSIO 41512. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of 1D/2D NMR data and HRESI-MS. Their absolute configurations were established by Marfey's methods and quantum chemical calculations.

Transcriptomics Reveals the Effect of Short-Term Freezing on the Signal Transduction and Metabolism of Grapevine.

Low temperature is an important factor limiting plant growth. Most cultivars of Vitis vinifera L. are sensitive to low temperatures and are at risk of freezing injury or even plant death during winter. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome of branches of dormant cv. Cabernet Sauvignon exposed to several low-temperature conditions to identify differentially expressed genes and determine their function based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)enrichment analyses. Our results indicated that exposure to subzero low temperatures resulted in damage to plant cell membranes and extravasation of intracellular electrolytes, and that this damage increased with decreasing temperature or increasing duration. The number of differential genes increased as the duration of stress increased, but most of the common differentially expressed genes reached their highest expression at 6 h of stress, indicating that 6 h may be a turning point for vines to tolerate extreme low temperatures. Several pathways play key roles in the response of Cabernet Sauvignon to low-temperature injury, namely: (1) the role of calcium/calmodulin-mediated signaling; (2) carbohydrate metabolism, including the hydrolysis of cell wall pectin and cellulose, decomposition of sucrose, synthesis of raffinose, and inhibition of glycolytic processes; (3) the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and metabolism of linolenic acid; and (4) the synthesis of secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids. In addition, pathogenesis-related protein may also play a role in plant cold resistance, but the mechanism is not yet clear. This study reveals possible pathways for the freezing response and leads to new insights into the molecular basis of the tolerance to low temperature in grapevine.

Application and Development of QKD-Based Quantum Secure Communication.

Quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols have unique advantages of enabling symmetric key sharing with information-theoretic security (ITS) between remote locations, which ensure the long-term security even in the era of quantum computation. QKD-based quantum secure communication (QSC) enhancing the security of key generation and update rate of keys, which could be integrated with a variety of cryptographic applications and communication protocols, has become one of the important solutions to improve information security. In recent years, the research on QKD has been active and productive, the performance of novel protocol systems has been improved significantly, and the feasibility of satellite-based QKD has been experimentally verified. QKD network construction, application exploration, and standardization have been carried out in China as well as other countries and regions around the world. Although QKD-based QSC applications and industrialization are still in the initial stage, the research and exploration momentum is positive and more achievements could be expected in the future.

[Screening and promoting effect of grow-promoting fungi in rhizosphere of Angelica dahurica var. formosana].

Excessive application of chemical fertilizer has caused many problems in Angelica dahurica var. formosana planting, such as yield decline and quality degradation. In order to promote the green cultivation mode of A. dahurica var. formosana and explore rhizosphere fungus resources, the rhizosphere fungi with nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, potassium solubilization, iron-producing carrier, and IAA-producing properties were isolated and screened in the rhizosphere of A. dahurica var. formosana from the genuine and non-genuine areas, respectively. The strains were identified comprehensively in light of the morphological characteristics and ITS rDNA sequences, and the growth-promoting effect of the screened strains was verified by pot experiment. The results showed that 37 strains of growth-promoting fungi were isolated and screened from the rhizosphere of A. dahurica var. formosana, mostly belonging to Fusarium. The cultured rhizosphere growth-promoting fungi of A. dahurica var. formosana were more abundant and diverse in the genuine producing areas than in the non-genuine producing areas. Among all strains, Aspergillus niger ZJ-17 had the strongest growth promotion potential. Under the condition of no fertilization outdoors, ZJ-17 inoculation significantly promoted the growth, yield, and accumulation of effective components of A. dahurica var. formosana planted in the soil of genuine and non-genuine producing areas, with yield increases of 73.59% and 37.84%, respectively. To a certain extent, it alleviated the restriction without additional fertilization on the growth of A. dahurica var. formosana. Therefore, A. niger ZJ-17 has great application prospects in increasing yield and quality of A. dahurica var. formosana and reducing fertilizer application and can be actually applied in promoting the growth of A. dahurica var. formosana and producing biofertilizer.

LINC02418 upregulates EPHA2 by competitively sponging miR-372-3p to promote 5-Fu/DDP chemoresistance in colorectal cancer.

Chemoresistance is a huge clinical challenge in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and messenger RNA (mRNA) are involved in CRC chemoresistance. However, the profiles of long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), mRNAs and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks in CRC chemoresistance are still largely unknown. Here, we compared the gene expression profiles in chemosensitive (HCT8) and chemoresistant [HCT8/5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and HCT8/cisplatin (DDP)] cell lines by whole-transcriptome sequencing. The common differentially expressed RNAs in two drug-resistant cells were selected to construct lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks. The ceRNA network closely related to chemoresistance was further established based on the widely accepted drug resistance-associated genes enriched in three signaling pathways involved in chemoresistance. In total 52 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA pathways were screened out, among which EPHA2 and LINC02418 were identified as hub genes; thus, LINC02418/miR-372-3p/EPHA2 were further selected and proved to affect the 5-Fu and DDP resistance of CRC. Mechanistically, LINC02418 upregulated EPHA2 by functioning as a 'sponge' of miR-372-3p to modulate the chemoresistance of CRC. Collectively, our study uncovered the underlying mechanism of LINC02418/miR-372-3p/EPHA2 in 5-Fu and DDP resistance of CRC, which may provide potential therapeutic targets for improving the chemosensitivity of CRC.