[Prediction Spatial Distribution of Soil Organic Matter Based on Improved BP Neural Network with Optimized Sparrow Search Algorithm].

Soil organic matter is an important indicator of soil fertility, and it is necessary to improve the accuracy of regional organic matter spatial distribution prediction. In this study, we analyzed the organic matter content of 1 690 soil surface layers (0-20 cm) and collected data on the natural environment and human activities in the Weining Plain of the Yellow River Basin. The SOM spatial distribution prediction model was established with 1 348 points using classical statistics, deterministic interpolation, geostatistical interpolation, and machine learning, respectively, and 342 sample points data were used as the test set to test and analyze the prediction accuracy of different models. The results showed that the average SOM content of the surface soil of the Weining Plain was 14.34 g·kg-1, and the average soil organic matter variation across 1 690 sampling points was 34.81%, indicating a medium degree of variability. The results also revealed a spatial distribution trend, with low soil organic matter content in the northeast and southwest, high soil organic matter on the left and right banks of the Yellow River in the middle, and relatively high soil organic matter in the sloping terrain of the Weining Plain. The four types of methods in order of high to low prediction accuracy were the machine learning method, geostatistical interpolation method, deterministic interpolation method, and classical statistical method. Through comparison, the BP neural network that was improved based on the optimized sparrow search algorithm had the best prediction accuracy, and the optimized sparrow search algorithm had better convergence accuracy, avoided falling into local optimization, prevented data overfitting, and had better prediction ability. This optimization algorithm can improve the accuracy of SOM prediction and has good application prospects in soil attribute prediction.

Establishment of reference measurement procedure and reference material for Treponema pallidum.

Stem cell preparations, as a new type of biotherapeutic product, should be subject to strict quality control in terms of cell safety. The testing of stem cell donors and blood products used in stem cell cultures, including but not limited to Treponema pallidum, is needed to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases by stem cell medical products. In this study, a reference measurement procedure (RMP) was established based on digital PCR (dPCR). A homogeneous reference material (RM) of TP containing the tpp47 gene has been developed and characterized. Two dPCR assays (A and B) show ideal linearity within five orders of magnitude. The limit of quantification (LoQ) for both assays is 57 copies/reaction; the limits of detection (LoD) are 9.69 and 9.59 copies/reaction, respectively. The quantitative results of the established duplex dPCR assay are in good agreement. The RM of TP containing the tpp47 gene has been developed and characterized. The reference value with its expanded uncertainty is (2.21 ± 0.22) × 106 copies per µL determined by the established dPCR RMP. The developed dPCR was validated by applying a simulated stem cell matrix, and no impact was observed on the accuracy of dPCR. By providing an accurate reference value for the absolute copy number of the target gene, the developed RM can be used to improve the reliability of TP testing in the production of stem cell preparations and clinical diagnostics.

Primary Pancreatic Lymphoma Masquerading as Carcinoma on 18 F-FDG PET/CT.

ABSTRACT: A 76-year-old man with yellowish discoloration of sclera and skin for 2 months was referred to 18 F-FDG PET/CT for metabolic characterization of the mass in the pancreas. The images showed intense FDG uptake in the head of the pancreas, as well as a lymph nodal mass in the hepatic hilar region, which was consistent with pancreatic malignancy. Histopathologic findings showed characteristic findings of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with no evidence of adenocarcinoma.

Remediation of arsenic contaminated water and soil using mechanically (ball milling) activated and pyrite-amended electrolytic manganese slag.

With the development of industry, heavy metal (HM) pollution of soil has become an increasingly serious problem. Using passivators made of industrial by-products to immobilize HMs in contaminated soil is a promising in-situ remediation technology. In this study, the electrolytic manganese slag (EMS) was modified into a passivator (named M-EMS) by ball milling, and the effects of M-EMS on adsorption of As(V) in aquatic samples and on immobilization of As(V) and other HMs in soil samples were investigated under different conditions. Results demonstrated that M-EMS had a maximum As(V) adsorption capacity of 65.3 mg/g in the aquatic samples. Adding M-EMS to the soil reduced the leaching of As (from 657.2 to 319.8 µg/L) and other HMs after 30 d of incubation, reduced the bioavailability of As(V) and improved the quality and microbial activity of the soil. The mechanism for M-EMS to immobilize As in the soil are complex reactions, ion exchange reaction with As and electrostatic adsorption. This work provides new ideas of using waste residue matrix composites for sustainable remediation of Arsenic in the aquatic environment and soil.

Treatment of Post-Stroke Dysphagia with Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Based on the Bimodal Balance Recovery Model: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Brain plasticity and functional reorganization are the main mechanisms of stroke rehabilitation and the theoretical basis for transcranial magnetic therapy. Bimodal balance recovery model suggests that the structural integrity of neural pathways affects the functional reorganization mode of brain recovery after stroke. The principal neural pathway that innervates swallowing is the corticobulbar tract (CBT). The goal is to investigate the impact of corticobulbar tract integrity on swallowing function recovery in post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) patients treated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). METHODS: Thirty-five patients with high CBT integrity (relative fractional anisotropy (rFA) >0.5) and 32 patients with low CBT integrity (rFA ≤0.5) were respectively assigned to three subgroups through a random number table: 5 Hz frequency rTMS group, 1 Hz frequency rTMS group, and Sham rTMS group. The Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA), Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS), and Dysphagia Outcome Severity Scale (DOSS) were analyzed before and after therapy. RESULTS: Significant improvements in SSA (p < 0.05), PAS (p < 0.05), and DOSS scores (p < 0.05) were seen in the high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) groups compared with the Sham group for patients with high CBT integrity. Increased SSA (p < 0.05), PAS (p < 0.05), and DOSS scores (p < 0.05) demonstrated that the HF group achieved greater remediation than the LF and Sham groups for patients with low CBT integrity. CONCLUSIONS: Both 5 Hz and 1 Hz rTMS over the contralateral hemisphere are effective for the treatment of swallowing disorders for patients with high CBT integrity after stroke; 5 Hz rTMS over the contralateral hemisphere is more effective than 1 Hz and sham stimulation for patients with low CBT integrity.

[Spatiotemporal Pattern and Driving Force Analysis of Ecological Environmental Quality in Typical Ecological Areas of the Yellow River Basin from 1990 to 2020].

Scientific evaluation of ecological environmental quality is the premise of realizing regional ecological sustainable development. Taking Landsat series satellite images from 1990 to 2020 as the data source, on the basis of the entropy remote sensing ecological index (E-RSEI), combining the Mann-Kendall significance test, Theil-Sen Median analysis, Hurst exponent, and stability analysis, the spatial-temporal variation characteristics of ecological environmental quality in typical ecological areas of the Yellow River Basin were analyzed in the context of multi-spatiotemporal scales. In addition, the effects of eight environmental and human factors on the change in E-RSEI were quantified using a geodetector. The results showed that:① in the past 31 years, the average value of E-RSEI was 67.5%, which showed an increasing trend on the time scale, with an average increase of 0.066·(10 a)-1. On the spatial scale, E-RSEI was higher in the west and the south lower in the east and the north. ② The ecological environmental quality will continue to improve in the future, but 9.33% of the areas have potential risks of degradation. ③ Precipitation was the dominant environmental factor that affected the spatial distribution of E-RSEI in this area, and the influence of human factors was low. Compared with that of single factors, the interaction of factors had a stronger impact on ecological environmental quality, and the interaction between precipitation and other factors played a leading role. The results of this study can provide a scientific reference for the sustainable development of ecological environmental quality in the ecological zone of the Yellow River Basin.

[Soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration and associated influencing factors in a sustainable cultivation system of fruit trees intercropped with cover crops]. / æžœæ ‘-è¦†ç›–ä½œç‰©å¯æŒç»­ç§æ¤ä½“ç³»åœŸå£¤ç¢³æ°®å›ºå­˜åŠå ¶å½±å“å› ç´ .

We comprehensively quantified the influence of cover crops on soil carbon and nitrogen storage in Chinese orchards by a meta-analysis based on the literature published during 1990 to 2020. The factors influencing soil carbon and nitrogen storage were also analyzed. The results showed that compared with clean tillage, soil carbon and nitrogen storage under the cultivation of cover crops considerably increased by 31.1% and 22.8%, respectively. Intercropping legumes enhanced soil organic carbon storage by 4.0% and total nitrogen storage by 3.0% compared with non-legumes. The effect of mulching duration was most prominent at 5-10 years, with 58.5% and 32.8% increases in soil carbon and nitrogen storage, respectively. The largest increase in soil carbon and nitrogen storage (32.3% and 34.1%, respectively) occurred in areas with low initial organic carbon (<10 g·kg-1) and total nitrogen (<1.0 g·kg-1). In addition, suitable mean annual temperature (10-13 ℃) and precipitation (400-800 mm) markedly contributed to soil carbon and nitrogen storage in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. The findings indicated that multiple factors influence the synergistic changes in soil carbon and nitrogen storage in orchards, while intercropping with cover crops is an effective strategy for enhancing soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration.

Development of highly accurate digital PCR method and reference material for monkeypox virus detection.

Human monkeypox has attracted attention recently. Monkeypox virus (MPXV) keeps evolving as it spreading around the world rapidly, which may threaten the health of more and more people. Here, we have developed a high order reference method based on digital PCR (dPCR) for MPXV detection, of which the limits of quantification (LoQ) and detection (LoD) are 38 and 6 copies/reaction, respectively. Pseudovirus reference materials (RM) containing the conserved F3L gene has been developed, and the homogeneity assessment showed that the RM was homogeneous. The reference value with its expanded uncertainty determined by the established dPCR is (2.74 ± 0.46) × 103 copies/µL. Six different MPXV test kits were accessed by the RM. Four out of six test kits cannot reach their claimed LoDs. The poor analytical sensitivity might cause false-negative results, which lead to incorrect diagnosis and treatment. The establishment of a high order reference method of dPCR and pseudovirus RM is very useful for improving the accuracy and reliability of MPXV detection.

[Spatial-temporal differentiation and driving factors of vegetation coverage in Ningxia Helan Mountain based on geodetector]. / åŸºäºŽåœ°ç†æŽ¢æµ‹å™¨çš„å®å¤è´ºå °å±±æ¤è¢«è¦†ç›–åº¦æ—¶ç©ºåˆ†å¼‚åŠé©±åŠ¨å› å­.

Monitoring the regional changes in vegetation coverage and analyzing its driving factors are beneficial to realizing the sustainable development of ecological environment. Based on Landsat 5/8 remote sensing images from 1989 to 2021, vegetation coverage of Helan Mountain in Ningxia was estimated by pixel dichotomy model. In addition, the influence of 10 factors, including environmental factors and human factors, on the spatial-temporal variations of vegetation coverage was quantified by geodetector. The results showed that average vegetation coverage was 35.8% in the study area from 1989 to 2021. On the temporal scale, it showed an increasing trend, with an average increasing rate of 0.043·(10 a)-1. On the spatial scale, vegetation coverage presented a distribution characteristic of decreasing from southwest to northeast. 58.1% of vegetation coverage in the study area would continue to improve in the future, but 30.7% of vegetation would have the potential risk of degradation. Precipitation was the dominant environmental factor driving the distribution of vegetation. Compared with single factor, the interaction between environmental factors and human factors had a stronger impact on vegetation coverage, while the interaction between precipitation and other factors played a leading role.

CircDUSP16 Contributes to Cell Development in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Regulating miR-497-5p/TKTL1 Axis.

BACKGROUND: The vital roles of circular RNAs in human cancers have been demonstrated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functions of circDUSP16 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) development. METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was executed for the expression levels of circDUSP16, DUSP16, miR-497-5p, and transketolase-like-1 (TKTL1) messenger RNA. Actinomycin D assay and RNase R digestion assay were used to determine the characteristics of circDUSP16. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and colony formation assay were applied for cell proliferation. Transwell assay was performed to assess cell migration and invasion. The glycolysis level was evaluated using specific kits. Protein levels were measured by Western blot assay. RNA pull-down assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay were adopted to explore the relationships among circDUSP16, miR-497-5p, and TKTL1. Murine xenograft model was used to determine the role of circDUSP16 in ESCC in vivo. RESULTS: CircDUSP16 level was elevated in ESCC tissues, cells, and hypoxia-stimulated ESCC cells. Knockdown of circDUSP16 suppressed hypoxia-induced ESCC cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis. For mechanism analysis, circDUSP16 could positively regulate TKTL1 expression by sponging miR-497-5p in ESCC cells. Moreover, miR-497-5p inhibition restored the effects of circDUSP16 knockdown on the malignant behaviors of ESCC cells under hypoxia condition. MiR-497-5p overexpression suppressed hypoxia-induced ESCC cell progression by targeting TKTL1. In addition, circDUSP16 knockdown repressed the tumorigenesis of ESCC in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: CircDUSP16 knockdown suppressed hypoxia-induced ESCC cell growth, invasion, and glycolysis by regulating TKTL1 expression through sponging miR-497-5p.

Surface-decorated S. cerevisiae for flow cytometric array immunoassay.

Our laboratory had developed a cell-based bio-bead for protein quantification. However, the selection of antibody in the above immunoassay is limited. This study describes a surface-decorated Saccharomyces cerevisiae for flow cytometric array immunoassay. S. cerevisiae was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and oxidized by sodium periodate, in which the saccharide group on the cytoderm outer layer was converted to an aldehyde group. In succession, adipic dihydrazide was bio-conjugated to the aldehyde group and glutaraldehyde bound to the hydrazide group. Phycoerythrin (PE)-labeled goat anti-mouse polyclonal antibody was used to assess the conjugation of mouse anti-human monoclonal antibody to surface-decorated S. cerevisiae. Cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra21-1) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) antigens were also employed to evaluate the flow cytometric array immunoassay based on surface-decorated S. cerevisiae. Flow cytometry demonstrated that FITC-barcoded S. cerevisiae as two legible populations. PE-labeled polyclonal antibody validated the coating of surface-decorated S. cerevisiae with the monoclonal antibody. The flow cytometric array immunoassays for Cyfra21-1 and NSE documented that the limit of detection (LOD) was at least 0.4 ng/mL. Precision and accuracy assessments appeared that the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was <15%, and the relative error (R.E.) ranged from 0.9 to 1.1. The correlation coefficient between this immunoassay and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was 0.9622 for serum Cyfra21-1 and 0.9918 for serum NSE. In conclusion, the surface-decorated S. cerevisiae may be of use in flow cytometric array immunoassay.

The role of MALAT1/miR-1/slug axis on radioresistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Recent studies demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a critical role in the regulation of cancer progression and metastasis. However, little is known whether lncRNA regulated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell radioresistance. In the present study, we found that MALAT1 was significantly upregulated in NPC cell lines and tissues. Knockdown of MALAT1 could sensitize NPC cells to radiation both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, we found that MALAT1 regulated radioresistance by modulating cancer stem cell (CSC) activity. Furthermore, we found that there was reciprocal repression between MALAT1 and miR-1, and slug was identified as a downstream target of miR-1. Taking these observations into consideration, we proposed that MALAT1 regulated CSC activity and radioresistance by modulating miR-1/slug axis, which indicated that MALAT1 could act as a therapeutic target for NPC patients.

Reciprocal regulation of Hsa-miR-1 and long noncoding RNA MALAT1 promotes triple-negative breast cancer development.

Recent studies demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a critical role in the regulation of cancer progression and metastasis. However, little is known about the mechanism through which metastasis-associated lung adencarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) exerts its oncogenic activity, and the interaction between MALAT1 and microRNA remains largely unknown. In the present study, we reported that MALAT1 was upregulated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tissues. Knockdown of MALAT1 inhibited proliferation, motility, and increased apoptosis in vitro. In vivo study indicated that knockdown of MALAT1 inhibited tumor growth and metastasis. Patients with high MALAT1 expression had poorer overall survival time than those with low MALAT1 expression. In addition, our findings demonstrate a reciprocal negative control relationship between MALAT1 and miR-1: downregulation of MALAT1 increased expression of microRNA-1 (miR-1), while overexpression of miR-1 decreased MALAT1 expression. Slug was identified as a direct target of miR-1. We proposed that MALAT1 exerted its function through the miR-1/slug axis. In summary, we proposed that MALAT1 may be a target for TNBC therapy.