Genome­based classification of the family Natrialbaceae and description of four novel halophilic archaea from three saline lakes and a saline-alkaline land.

The current representatives of the family Natrialbaceae within the class Halobacteria were subjected to phylogenetic, phylogenomic, and comparative genomic analyses. The current species of Halobiforma and Halomontanus were found to be related to those of Natronobacterium and Natronoglomus, respectively. According to the cutoff value of average amino acid identity (AAI) (≤ 76%) proposed to differentiate genera within the family Natrialbaceae, Halobiforma, and Natronoglomus should be merged with Natronobacterium and Halomontanus, respectively. Beyond these, four novel halophilic archaeal strains, CCL63T, AD-5T, CG52T, and KLK7T, isolated from three saline lakes and a saline-alkaline land in China, were simultaneously subjected to polyphasic classification. The phenotypic, phylogenetic, phylogenomic, and comparative genomic analyses indicated that strain CCL63T (= CGMCC 1.18663T = JCM 35096T) represents a novel genus of the family Natrialbaceae, strains AD-5T (= CGMCC 1.13783T = JCM 33734T) and CG52T (= CGMCC 1.17139T = JCM 34160T) represent two novel species of the genus Natronococcus, and strain KLK7T (= MCCC 4K00128T = KCTC 4307T) represents a novel species of Haloterrigena. Halovalidus salilacus gen. nov., sp. nov., Natronococcus wangiae sp. nov., Natronococcus zhouii sp. nov., and Haloterrigena salinisoli sp. nov. are further proposed based on these type strains accordingly.

Genome-based classification of the family Haloferacaceae and description of five novel species of Halobaculum.

The taxonomic status of some species of Halobellus, Haloferax, Halogranum, and Haloplanus within the family Haloferacaceae was elucidated by phylogenetic, phylogenomic, and comparative genomic analyses. The relative species of each genus should constitute a single species based on the overall genome-related indexes proposed for species demarcation. The cutoff values of AAI (72.1%), ANI (82.2%), and rpoB' gene similarity (90.7%) were proposed to differentiate genera within the family Haloferacaceae. According to these standards, a novel genus related to the genus Halobaculum was proposed to accommodate Halobaculum halophilum Gai3-2 T and Halobaculum salinum NJ-3-1 T. Five halophilic archaeal strains, DT31T, DT55T, DT92T, SYNS20T, and YSMS11T, isolated from a tidal flat and a marine solar saltern in China, were subjected to polyphasic classification. The phenotypic, phylogenetic, phylogenomic, and comparative genomic analyses revealed that strains DT31T (= CGMCC 1.18923 T = JCM 35417 T), DT55T (= CGMCC 1.19048 T = JCM 36147 T), DT92T (= CGMCC 1.19057 T = JCM 36148 T), SYNS20T (= CGMCC 1.62628 T = JCM 36154 T), and YSMS11T (= CGMCC 1.18927 T = JCM 34912 T) represent five novel species of the genus Halobaculum, for which the names, Halobaculum lipolyticum sp. nov., Halobaculum marinum sp. nov., Halobaculum litoreum sp. nov., Halobaculum halobium sp. nov., and Halobaculum limi sp. nov., are proposed.

Isolation and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory property of bacoside-A3 via downregulation of ß-amyloid induced inflammatory response.

Alzheimer's disease is one of the neurodegenerative disorders caused by neuronal degeneration and apoptosis in brain. Bacoside A and B isolated from the Bacopa monniera plant are responsible for cognitive effects. These compounds repair damaged neurons by promoting activity of kinases, synaptic activity restoration, and improvement of nerve transmission. The present study explored the effect of bacoside-A3 on ß-amyloid-induced reduction of U87MG cell viability, generation of oxidative radicals, and activation of nuclear factor-κB. The U87MG cells were stimulated with ß-amyloid (10 µM) after 24 h of bacoside-A3 pretreatment or without pretreatment to induce characteristics of Alzheimer disease in vitro. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay was used to count viable cells and ELISA kit for analysis of PGE2 secretion. The pretreatment with bacoside-A3 prevented ß-amyloid-mediated suppression of U87MG cell proliferation. Pretreatment of U87MG cells with bacoside-A3 prior to ß-amyloid stimulation suppressed generation of ROS in a concentration-based manner. The ß-amyloid-mediated formation of iNOS in U87MG cells was suppressed by bacoside-A3 in a dose-based manner. The ß-amyloid-mediated PGE2 secretion was suppressed by bacoside-A3 pretreatment in U87MG cells in the dose-based manner. The overexpression of COX-2 by ß-amyloid stimulation was suppressed in bacoside-A pretreated cells in the dose-based manner. The bacoside-A3 pretreatment prevented nuclear translocation of NF-κB in U87MG cells in the dose-based manner. In summary, bacoside-A3 prevented ß-amyloid-mediated suppression of U87MG cell viability, inhibited generation of oxidative radicals, PGE2, and synthesis of iNOS. Therefore, bacoside-A3 has therapeutic potential for Alzheimer disease and further in vivo studies need to be performed.

ILF3 is responsible for hyperlipidemia-induced arteriosclerotic calcification by mediating BMP2 and STAT1 transcription.

Calcification is common in atherosclerotic plaque and can induce vulnerability, which further leads to myocardial infarction, plaque rupture and stroke. The mechanisms of atherosclerotic calcification are poorly characterized. Interleukin enhancer binding factor 3 (ILF3) has been identified as a novel factor affecting dyslipidemia and stroke subtypes. However, the precise role of ILF3 in atherosclerotic calcification remains unclear. In this study, we used smooth muscle-conditional ILF3 knockout (ILF3SM-KO) and transgenic mice (ILF3SM-Tg) and macrophage-conditional ILF3 knockout (ILF3M-KO) and transgenic (ILF3M-Tg) mice respectively. Here we showed that ILF3 expression is increased in calcified human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HAVSMCs) and calcified atherosclerotic plaque in humans and mice. We then found that hyperlipidemia increases ILF3 expression and exacerbates calcification of VSMCs and macrophages by regulating bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) transcription. We further explored the molecular mechanisms of ILF3 in atherosclerotic calcification and revealed that ILF3 acts on the promoter regions of BMP2 and STAT1 and mediates BMP2 upregulation and STAT1 downregulation, which promotes atherosclerotic calcification. Our results demonstrate the effect of ILF3 in atherosclerotic calcification. Inhibition of ILF3 may be a useful therapy for preventing and even reversing atherosclerotic calcification.

Identification of pimavanserin tartrate as a potent Ca2+-calcineurin-NFAT pathway inhibitor for glioblastoma therapy.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant type of primary brain tumor, and 95% of patients die within 2 years after diagnosis. In this study, aiming to overcome chemoresistance to the first-line drug temozolomide (TMZ), we carried out research to discover a novel alternative drug targeting the oncogenic NFAT signaling pathway for GBM therapy. To accelerate the drug's clinical application, we took advantage of a drug repurposing strategy to identify novel NFAT signaling pathway inhibitors. After screening a set of 93 FDA-approved drugs with simple structures, we identified pimavanserin tartrate (PIM), an effective 5-HT2A receptor inverse agonist used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease-associated psychiatric symptoms, as having the most potent inhibitory activity against the NFAT signaling pathway. Further study revealed that PIM suppressed STIM1 puncta formation to inhibit store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) and subsequent NFAT activity. In cellula, PIM significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, division, and motility of U87 glioblastoma cells, induced G1/S phase arrest and promoted apoptosis. In vivo, the growth of subcutaneous and orthotopic glioblastoma xenografts was markedly suppressed by PIM. Unbiased omics studies revealed the novel molecular mechanism of PIM's antitumor activity, which included suppression of the ATR/CDK2/E2F axis, MYC, and AuroraA/B signaling. Interestingly, the genes upregulated by PIM were largely associated with cholesterol homeostasis, which may contribute to PIM's side effects and should be given more attention. Our study identified store-operated calcium channels as novel targets of PIM and was the first to systematically highlight the therapeutic potential of pimavanserin tartrate for glioblastoma.

Experimental study on sleep quality affected by carbon dioxide concentration.

This study comprehensively investigated the impact of indoor carbon dioxide (CO2 ) concentration on sleep quality. Three experimental conditions (800, 1900, 3000 ppm) were created in chambers decorated as bedroom and other environmental parameters that may influence the sleep quality were under strict control. Sleep quality of 12 subjects (6 men and 6 women) was monitored for 54 consecutive days through sleep quality questionnaire and physiological measures. Both subjective and physiological results showed that sleep quality decreased significantly with the increase of CO2 concentration, and the comprehensive questionnaire score at 3000 ppm was only 80.8% of that at 800 ppm. A linear positive correlation was found between sleep onset latency (SOL) and CO2 concentration, while a linear negative correlation occurred between slow-wave sleep (SWS) and CO2 concentration. In addition, in the same sleep environment, men had higher subjective questionnaire scores after wake-up, longer SWS and shorter SOL, which lead to a better sleep quality compared with women, and there was a significant gender difference in sleep quality at 800 ppm (P < .05).

Circ-sirt1 inhibits growth and invasion of gastric cancer by sponging miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p and upregulating sirt1 expression.

circRNAs have been considered as a rising factor in cancers. However, the roles and mechanisms of circ-sirt1 in gastric cancer (GC) remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that the expressions of sirt1 and circ-sirt1 are decreased in tissues or serums of GC patients by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The expressions of miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p showed an opposite tendency in these samples. The co-transfection of miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p mimics counteracted the enhancement of sirt1 expression induced by circ-sirt1. The results of cell colony-formation assay and transwell assays demonstrated that the proliferation, migration, and invasion activities of BGC-823 cells were inhibited by circ-sirt1 overexpression or miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p knockdown, respectively. The xenograft tumor model result indicated that the circ-sirt1 overexpression suppressed the tumor growth of BGC-823 cells. The regulation of miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p between circ-sirt1 and sirt1 was verified in the mice tumor tissues. Thus, circ-sirt1 inhibited tumor growth and invasion probably by sponging miR-132-3p/miR-212-3p and upregulating sirt1 expression in GC. These findings may provide a theoretical basis for the classification of GC and a novel therapeutic target for GC patients.

Indoor thermal environment and air quality in Chinese-style residential kitchens.

This paper reviews the published literature on indoor thermal environment and air quality in Chinese-style residential kitchens (CRKs). The paper first discusses typical characteristics of CRKs, including kitchen layout, cooking methods, and ventilation systems used. Next, the paper describes the current state of the indoor thermal environment and air quality in CRKs. Finally, this paper summarizes measures to control and improve the environment inside CRKs. The results indicate that the indoor environment of CRKs is too hot in summer and exhibits a large vertical temperature difference. No appropriate model was available for accurately evaluating the thermal environment in CRKs. At the same time, CRKs are highly polluted by COx, NOx, TVOC, and particulate matter (PM). Although existing exhaust hoods could improve the indoor environment to some extent, the use of a combined exhaust, make-up air, and air-conditioning system should be considered to provide a comfortable and healthy environment in CRKs.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Atorvastatin on Patients with Carotid Plaque by an Innovative Ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to explore the efficacy of atorvastatin on patients with carotid plaque, applying superb microvascular imaging (SMI), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for evaluating carotid intraplaque neovascularization. METHODS: A total of 82 patients (82 carotid plaques) who were randomized into treatment group and control group underwent conventional ultrasound, CEUS, and SMI examinations. Patients in treatment group received a dose of 20 mg atorvastatin per day for 6 months while those in control group received placebo instead. Lipid parameters were assessed and intraplaque neovascularization were evaluated by CEUS and SMI before and 6 months after atorvastatin treatment. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the 2 groups at the study entry. Patients with atorvastatin treatment received marked improvement in total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol compared with those in control group (P < .001). In treatment group, SMI-detected intraplaque neovascularization reduced from 69.23% to 48.72% while CEUS-detected ones reduced from 76.92% to 69.23%. By contrast, the percentage of intraplaque neovascularization in control group did not change too much either by SMI (65.12%, 67.44%) or CEUS (74.41%, 74.41%). The consistency between CEUS and SMI was above .75 at all assessments (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Atorvastatin treatment works for patients with carotid plaque by reducing LDL-cholesterol and improving plaque regression. Second, the consistency between SMI and CEUS in visualizing intraplaque neovascularization is good. That indicates a high possibility to identify carotid plaque instability by a safer and cheaper ultrasonography without contrast agent.

The combined effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome on colorectal carcinoma mortality: a retrospective in Chinese females.

BACKGROUND: This research aimed to investigate whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) had both individual and synergistic effects on the prognosis for female colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients. METHODS: The relationship between CRC prognosis and NAFLD as well as MetS was evaluated in 764 female participants. Based on the NAFLD level, patients were divided into significant NAFLD (SNAFLD), "moderate" and "severe" level, and non-SNAFLD, "non" and "mild" level. All the patients were categorized into four subgroups according to the status of SNAFLD and MetS and then a comparison of CRC prognosis among those four groups was performed. RESULTS: NAFLD, SNAFLD, and MetS were independent factors for CRC-specific mortality with the adjustment of age and other confounders. The hazard ratio (HR) of CRC-specific mortality in MetS (+) SNAFLD (+) group was significantly higher than that in other three groups. Relative excess risk of interaction (RERI) was 2.203 with 95% CI ranged from 0.197 to 4.210, attributable proportion (AP) was 0.444 with range from 0.222 to 0.667, and synergy index (SI) of 2.256 with 95% CI from 1.252 to 4.065, indicating SNAFLD and MetS had a significant synergic effect on CRC-specific mortality. CONCLUSIONS: SNAFLD and MetS are independent risk factors for CRC-specific mortality in females. Moreover, those two diseases have a synergistic effect on promoting CRC-specific mortality.

Prognostic Value of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) in Patients with Hyperacute Cerebral Infarction Receiving rt-PA Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the potential value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the prognosis of patients with hyperacute cerebral infarction (HCI) receiving intravenous thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). MATERIAL AND METHODS From June 2012 to June 2015, 58 cases of HCI (<6 h) undergoing rt-PA intravenous thrombolytic therapy (thrombolysis group) and 70 cases of HCI (<6 h) undergoing conventional antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy (control group) in the same period were collected. DWI was conducted on all the subjects, and ADC maps were generated with Functool software to quantify ADC value. The clinical outcomes of HCI patients were observed for 3 months, and prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS Before thrombolysis treatment, the lesion area presented high signal intensity on DWI map and low signal intensity on ADC map, and gradually weakened signal intensity on DWI map and gradually enhanced signal intensity on ADC map were observed after thrombolysis. The ADC values of the thrombolysis group were significantly higher than those of the control group after treatment (24 h, 7 d, 30 d, and 90 d) (all P<0.05), and the ADC and rADC values in the thrombolysis group gradually increased over time (all P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, baseline rADC value, and stroke history were the independent factors for the prognosis of HIC patients with thrombolysis (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The values of ADC and rADC may provide guidance in the prognosis of HCI patients receiving rt-PA, and the baseline rADC value is the protective factor for the prognosis of HCI patients receiving rt-PA.

Inhibition of LDHA suppresses tumor progression in prostate cancer.

A key hallmark of cancer cells is their altered metabolism, known as Warburg effect. Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) executes the final step of aerobic glycolysis and has been reported to be involved in the tumor progression. However, the function of LDHA in prostate cancer has not been studied. In current study, we observed overexpression of LDHA in the clinical prostate cancer samples compared with benign prostate hyperplasia tissues as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and real-time qPCR. Attenuated expression of LDHA by siRNA or inhibition of LDHA activities by FX11 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis of PC-3 and DU145 cells. Mechanistically, decreased Warburg effect as demonstrated by reduced glucose consumption and lactate secretion and reduced expression of MMP-9, PLAU, and cathepsin B were found after LDHA knockdown or FX11 treatment in PC-3 and DU145 cells. Taken together, our study revealed the oncogenic role of LDHA in prostate cancer and suggested that LDHA might be a potential therapeutic target.

Changing trends in the causes and management of male urethral stricture disease in China: an observational descriptive study from 13 centres.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there have been any changes in the causes and management of urethral strictures in China. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data from 4,764 men with urethral stricture disease who underwent treatment at 13 medical centres in China between 2005 and 2010 were retrospectively collected. The databases were analysed for the possible causes, site and treatment techniques for the urethral stricture, as well as for changes in the causes and management of urethral strictures. RESULTS: The most common cause of urethral strictures was trauma, which occurred in 2,466 patients (51.76%). The second most common cause was iatrogenic injures, which occurred in 1,643 patients (34.49%). The most common techniques to treat urethral strictures were endourological surgery (1,740, 36.52%), anastomotic urethroplasty (1,498, 31.44%) and substitution urethroplasty (1,039, 21.81%). A comparison between the first 3 years and the last 3 years showed that the constituent ratio of endourological surgery decreased from 54% to 32.75%, whereas the constituent ratios of anastomotic urethroplasty and substitution urethroplasty increased from 26.73% and 19.18% to 39.93% and 27.32%, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: During recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of urethral strictures caused by trauma and iatrogenic injury. Endourological urethral surgery rates decreased significantly, and open urethroplasty rates increased significantly during the last 3 years.

Arterial occlusion to treat basilar artery dissecting aneurysm.

OBJECT: To explore the clinical feasibility of employing occlusion to treat basilar artery dissecting aneurysm. METHODS: One patient, male and 46 years old, suffered transient numbness and weakness on the right limbs. Cerebral angiography indicated basilar artery dissecting aneurysm. The patient underwent the stent-assisted coil embolization of aneurysm and the result is satisfactory. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) reviews were performed at 1 month and 4.5 months, respectively after the operation and indicate that the basilar artery is unobstructed and there was no recurrence of the aneurysm. DSA review 1 year after the first treatment indicates the aneurysm recurrence, stent-assisted coils dense embolization of aneurysm was performed again and the result was satisfactory. Ten months after the second operation, DSA review found the basilar artery aneurysm recurrence again and occlusion of the basilar artery was performed. RESULTS: The basilar artery occlusion was effective. The bilateral posterior inferior cerebellar arteries and the bilateral posterior cerebral arteries are unobstructed. Five months of follow-up found that the patient recovered well. DSA reviews performed 5 months after occlusion indicate no recurrence of the aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: Occlusion to treat basilar artery dissecting aneurysm is clinically feasible, but surgical indications should be considered strictly.

[Influences of three surgical approaches to urethral stricture on the erectile function of the patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impacts of three different surgical approaches to urethral stricture on the erectile function of the patients. METHODS: This study included 126 male patients with urethral stricture, 35 treated by substitution urethroplasty (group A), 52 by anastomotic urethroplasty (group B), and 39 by internal urethroplasty (group C). We evaluated the pre- and postoperative erectile function of the patients using IIEF-5 scores by telephone calls and interviews. We also monitored their nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT). RESULTS: The IIEF-5 scores in groups A, B and C were 13.5 +/- 4.5, 11.1 +/- 4.8 and 14.5 +/- 4.41 respectively after surgery, all significantly decreased as compared with 17.1 +/- 2.6, 17.1 +/- 3.0 and 17.6 +/- 2.2 preoperatively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: All the three surgical approaches can reduce IIEF-5 scores in patients with urethral stricture, but anastomotic urethroplasty may induce a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction than the other two approaches.

Association of ERCC1 rs3212986 & ERCC2 rs13181 polymorphisms with the risk of glioma.

OBJECTIVE: : Several previous studies have reported the role variant of ERCC1 rs3212986 and ERCC2 rs13181 polymorphisms in the risk of glioma, but the results of these studies are inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to investigate the role of ERCC1 rs3212986 and ERCC2 rs13181 on the risk of glioma. METHODS: A comprehensive research was conducted through the databases of Pubmed, EMBASE and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) platforms until June 1, 2014, including 14 eligible case-control studies. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis found that ERCC1 rs3212986 AA genotype was significantly associated with increased risk of glioma compared with CC genotype, and the pooled OR (95%CI) was 1.29(1.07-1.55). By subgroup analysis, ERCC1 rs3212986 AA genotype was found to be significantly correlated with increased glioma risk in Chinese population (OR=1.37, 95%CI=1.07, 1.55), Similarly, we found that ERCC2 rs13181 GT and TT genotypes were significantly associated with increased risk of glioma in Chinese population, with ORs(95%CI) of 1.47(1.17-1.85) and 1.50(1.02-2.22). But ERCC1 rs3212986 and ERCC2 rs13181 polymorphisms had no significant association with glioma risk in Caucasian populations. By begg's funnel plot, we found that no publication bias was existed in this meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggested that ERCC1 rs3212986 and ERCC2 rs13181 polymorphism play an important risk factor for brain tumor development in Chinese population, but no association in Caucasian populations.

A hyperstable, low-salt adapted protease from halophilic archaeon with potential applications in salt-fermented foods.

Salt-tolerant proteases with remarkable stability are highly desirable biocatalysts in the salt-fermented food industry. In this study, the undigested autocleavage product of HlyA (halolysin A), a low-salt adapted halolysin from halophilic archaeon Halococcus salifodinae, was investigated. HlyA underwent autocleavage of its C-terminal extension (CTE) at temperatures over 40 °C or NaCl concentrations below 2 M to yield HlyAΔCTE. HlyAΔCTE demonstrated robust stability over a wide range of -20-60 °C, 0.5-4 M NaCl, and pH 6.0-10.0 for at least 72 h. Notably, HlyAΔCTE is the first reported halolysin with such exceptional stability. Compared with HlyA, HlyAΔCTE preferred high temperatures (50-75 °C), low salinities (0.5-2.5 M NaCl), and near-neutral (pH 6.5-8.0) conditions to achieve high activity, consistently with its production conditions. HlyAΔCTE displayed a higher Vmax value against azocasein than HlyA. During fish sauce fermentation, HlyAΔCTE significantly enhanced fish protein hydrolysis, indicating its potential as a robust biocatalyst in the salt-fermented food industry.

Salinirarus marinus gen. nov., sp. nov., Haloplanus salilacus sp. nov., Haloplanus pelagicus sp. nov., Haloplanus halophilus sp. nov., and Haloplanus halobius sp. nov., halophilic archaea isolated from commercial coarse salts with potential as starter cultures for salt-fermented foods.

Five halophilic archaeal strains, XH8T, CK5-1T, GDY1T, HW8-1T, and XH21T, were isolated from commercial coarse salt produced in different regions of China. Their 16S rRNA and rpoB' gene sequences indicated that four of the strains (CK5-1T, GDY1T, HW8-1T, and XH21T) represent distinct species within the genus Haloplanus (family Haloferacaceae), while strain XH8T represents a novel genus within the same family. These assignments were supported by phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses, which showed that strains CK5-1T, GDY1T, HW8-1T, and XH21T cluster with the current species of the genus Haloplanus, while strain XH8T forms a separate branch from the genus Haloplanus. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average amino acid identity (AAI) values among these four strains and the current members of the genus Haloplanus were 23.1%-35.2% and 75.9%-83.8%, respectively; and those values between strain XH8T and other genera in the family Haloferacaceae were 18.8%-33.6% and 59.8%-66.6%, respectively, much lower than the threshold values for species demarcation. Strain XH8T may represent a novel genus of the family Haloferacaceae according to the cut-off value of AAI (≤72.1%) proposed to differentiate genera within the family Haloferacaceae. These five strains could be distinguished from the related species according to differential phenotypic characteristics. Based on these results, it is proposed that strain XH8T represents a novel genus within the family Haloferacaceae, and strains CK5-1T, GDY1T, HW8-1T, and XH21T represent four novel species of the genus Haloplanus, respectively. Additionally, these five strains possess genes encoding enzymes critical for the fermentation process in salt-fermented foods, indicating their potential as starter cultures for these applications.

[Evaluation of Land Ecological Status and Diagnosis of Obstacle Factors in Jiangsu, China].

By constructing a land ecological evaluation index system at the village scale and using models such as spatial correlation analysis, hotspot analysis, and obstacle factor diagnosis, the basic characteristics, spatial differentiation, and obstacle factors of land ecological status in Jiangsu Province were studied. This study sought to clarify the foundation, structure, function, and benefit characteristics of land ecosystems and optimize land management and policy regulation. The results showed that： ① The spatial distribution of land ecological status in Jiangsu Province was high in the north and low in the south, with multiple high-value areas radiating outward and decreasing, with low value centers radiating outward and increasing. The distribution area of the highest and lower values was relatively small, whereas the area of the middle value area was the largest. The higher values were mainly distributed in the suburbs and edge areas of each county. ② The spatial autocorrelation of land ecological status in Jiangsu Province was significant, with hot spots mainly concentrated in northern Jiangsu and cold spots concentrated in southern Jiangsu, as well as some areas of Taizhou and Nantong. The spatial distribution of cold and hot spots showed a complementary pattern with the level of regional development. The comprehensive index value of land ecology in developed areas was lower, whereas the index value in underdeveloped areas was higher. ③ The natural background conditions of Class Ⅰ land ecological zone in Jiangsu Province were superior, with good ecological construction and benefits and a high level of ecological status. The obstacle factors mainly included the proportion of water bodies and the average annual degradation rate of forest land. The Class Ⅱ land ecological zone was mostly located in the Huainan region and mainly composed of plain landforms. The Class Ⅲ land ecological zone had the largest area, located in the riverside areas of southern Jiangsu. The obstacle factors mainly included the average annual degradation rate of arable land and the proportion of soil pollution area. By controlling land ecological risks, the early warning level of ecological crisis could be improved.

Probabilistic double hierarchy linguistic Maclaurin symmetric mean-MultiCriteria Border Approximation area Comparison method for multi-criteria group decision making and its application in a selection of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gradually played an indispensable role in people's health maintenance, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases. However, there is always uncertainty and hesitation in the judgment and understanding of diseases by doctors, which affects the status recognition and optimal diagnosis and treatment decision-making of patients. In order to overcome the above problems, we lead into probabilistic double hierarchy linguistic term set (PDHLTS) to accurately describe language information in traditional Chinese medicine and make decisions. In this paper, a multi-criteria group decision making (MCGDM) model is constructed based on the MSM-MCBAC (Maclaurin symmetric mean-MultiCriteria Border Approximation area Comparison) method in the PDHL environment. Firstly, a PDHL weighted Maclaurin symmetric mean (PDHLWMSM) operator is proposed to aggregate the evaluation matrices of multiple experts. Then, combined with the BWM and maximizing deviation method, a comprehensive weight determination method is put forward to calculate the weights of criteria. Furthermore, we propose PDHL MSM-MCBAC method based on the Multi-Attributive Border Approximation area Comparison (MABAC) method and the PDHLWMSM operator. Finally, an example of a selection of TCM prescriptions is used and some comparative analyses are made to verify the effectiveness and superiority of this paper.