Naa10p Inhibits Beige Adipocyte-Mediated Thermogenesis through N-α-acetylation of Pgc1α.

Diet-induced obesity can be caused by impaired thermogenesis of beige adipocytes, the brown-like adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT). Promoting brown-like features in WAT has been an attractive therapeutic approach for obesity. However, the mechanism underlying beige adipocyte formation is largely unknown. N-α-acetyltransferase 10 protein (Naa10p) catalyzes N-α-acetylation of nascent proteins, and overexpression of human Naa10p is linked to cancer development. Here, we report that both conventional and adipose-specific Naa10p deletions in mice result in increased energy expenditure, thermogenesis, and beige adipocyte differentiation. Mechanistically, Naa10p acetylates the N terminus of Pgc1α, which prevents Pgc1α from interacting with Pparγ to activate key genes, such as Ucp1, involved in beige adipocyte function. Consistently, fat tissues of obese human individuals show higher NAA10 expression. Thus, Naa10p-mediated N-terminal acetylation of Pgc1α downregulates thermogenic gene expression, making inhibition of Naa10p enzymatic activity a potential strategy for treating obesity.

The Role of N-α-acetyltransferase 10 Protein in DNA Methylation and Genomic Imprinting.

Genomic imprinting is an allelic gene expression phenomenon primarily controlled by allele-specific DNA methylation at the imprinting control region (ICR), but the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. N-α-acetyltransferase 10 protein (Naa10p) catalyzes N-α-acetylation of nascent proteins, and mutation of human Naa10p is linked to severe developmental delays. Here we report that Naa10-null mice display partial embryonic lethality, growth retardation, brain disorders, and maternal effect lethality, phenotypes commonly observed in defective genomic imprinting. Genome-wide analyses further revealed global DNA hypomethylation and enriched dysregulation of imprinted genes in Naa10p-knockout embryos and embryonic stem cells. Mechanistically, Naa10p facilitates binding of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) to DNA substrates, including the ICRs of the imprinted allele during S phase. Moreover, the lethal Ogden syndrome-associated mutation of human Naa10p disrupts its binding to the ICR of H19 and Dnmt1 recruitment. Our study thus links Naa10p mutation-associated Ogden syndrome to defective DNA methylation and genomic imprinting.

Recombination Variation Shapes Phylogeny and Introgression in Wild Diploid Strawberries.

Introgressive hybridization is widespread in wild plants and has important consequences. However, frequent hybridization between species makes the estimation of the species' phylogeny challenging, and little is known about the genomic landscape of introgression as it results from complex interactions of multiple evolutionary processes. Here, we reconstructed the phylogeny of ten wild diploid strawberries with whole genome resequencing data and then investigated the influence of recombination rate variation on phylogeny and introgression. We found that genomic regions with low recombination showed reduced levels of incomplete lineage sorting and introgression, and concentrated phylogenetic signals, thus contributing to the most likely species tree of wild diploid strawberries. We revealed complex and widespread introgression across the genus Fragaria, with an average proportion of approximately 4.1% of the extant genome. Introgression tends to be retained in the regions with high recombination rates and low gene density. Furthermore, we identified four SLF genes under selective sweeps that may play potential roles in the possible regain of self-incompatibility by ancient introgression. Altogether, our study yielded novel insights into the evolutionary history and genomic characteristics of introgression in wild diploid strawberries and provides evidence for the role of introgression in plant mating system transitions.

Pseudo coherent-perfect-absorption approach toward perfect polarization conversion.

Polarization is one of the essential properties of light. Thereby, its manipulation is important for numerous applications. When employing a resonance in a mirror-symmetry system to manipulate polarization, non-zero residual light in the excited polarization channel leads to the shrink in the scope of the polarization manipulation, and a perfect polarization conversion cannot occur. In this work we show that the concept of coherent perfect absorption can be applied to perfect polarization conversion for circular polarization states. We find that the only requirement to achieve a perfect polarization conversion is that the working frequency is the resonant one. More importantly, the range of the output polarization states can be efficiently enlarged, and can span the entire Poincare sphere by combining the momentum dependent radiative coupling rate driven by the bound states in the continuum (BIC) and the phase delay. When applied to realistic design, we adopt a guided mode resonance driven from the symmetry protected BICs in a dielectric photonic crystal slab. Numerical results are in good agreements with our theoretical predictions. We believe this work can deliver important benefits for a variety of applications based on the efficiently light polarization control and management.

Phylogenomic Analyses Reveal an Allopolyploid Origin of Core Didymocarpinae (Gesneriaceae) Followed by Rapid Radiation.

Allopolyploid plants have long been regarded as possessing genetic advantages under certain circumstances due to the combined effects of their hybrid origins and duplicated genomes. However, the evolutionary consequences of allopolyploidy in lineage diversification remain to be fully understood. Here, we investigate the evolutionary consequences of allopolyploidy using 138 transcriptomic sequences of Gesneriaceae, including 124 newly sequenced, focusing particularly on the largest subtribe Didymocarpinae. We estimated the phylogeny of Gesneriaceae using concatenated and coalescent-based methods based on five different nuclear matrices and 27 plastid genes, focusing on relationships among major clades. To better understand the evolutionary affinities in this family, we applied a range of approaches to characterize the extent and cause of phylogenetic incongruence. We found that extensive conflicts between nuclear and chloroplast genomes and among nuclear genes were caused by both incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and reticulation, and we found evidence of widespread ancient hybridization and introgression. Using the most highly supported phylogenomic framework, we revealed multiple bursts of gene duplication throughout the evolutionary history of Gesneriaceae. By incorporating molecular dating and analyses of diversification dynamics, our study shows that an ancient allopolyploidization event occurred around the Oligocene-Miocene boundary, which may have driven the rapid radiation of core Didymocarpinae.

Demonstration of π-π Stacking at Interfaces: Synthesis of an Indole-Modified Monodisperse Silica Microsphere SiO2@IN.

In the present study, a novel silane coupling agent, designated INSi, was synthesized via a facile synthetic route, incorporating indole-functional moieties. This agent was further employed for the surface modification of homemade silica nanomicrospheres (SMPs). The ensuing nanomicrosphere composite, denoted as SiO2@IN, exemplified pronounced interfacial π-π interactions. Optimization of the reaction conditions was conducted using the response surface optimization technique. Subsequent validation of interfacial π-π interactions was accomplished through a synergistic approach, integrating theoretical calculations and comprehensive analyses of spectral and morphological attributes exhibited by the SiO2@IN.

Genome-wide data reveal cryptic diversity and hybridization in a group of tree ferns.

Discovery of cryptic diversity is essential to understanding both the process of speciation and the conservation of species. Determining species boundaries in fern lineages represents a major challenge due to lack of morphologically diagnostic characters and frequent hybridization. Genomic data has substantially enhanced our understanding of the speciation process, increased the resolution of species delimitation studies, and led to the discovery of cryptic diversity. Here, we employed restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) and integrated phylogenomic and population genomic analyses to investigate phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of 16 tree ferns with marginate scales (Cyatheaceae) from China and Vietnam. We conducted multiple species delimitation analyses using the multispecies coalescent (MSC) model and novel approaches based on genealogical divergence index (gdi) and isolation by distance (IBD). In addition, we inferred species trees using concatenation and several coalescent-based methods, and assessed hybridization patterns and rate of gene flow across the phylogeny. We obtained highly supported and generally congruent phylogenies inferred from concatenated and summary-coalescent methods, and the monophyly of all currently recognized species were strongly supported. Our results revealed substantial evidence of cryptic diversity in three widely distributed Gymnosphaera species, each of which was composite of two highly structure lineages that may correspond to cryptic species. We found that hybridization was fairly common between not only closely related species, but also distantly related species. Collectively, it appears that scaly tree ferns may contain cryptic diversity and hybridization has played an important role throughout the evolutionary history of this group.

Phylogenomic and Macroevolutionary Evidence for an Explosive Radiation of a Plant Genus in the Miocene.

Mountain systems harbor a substantial fraction of global biodiversity and, thus, provide excellent opportunities to study rapid diversification and to understand the historical processes underlying the assembly of biodiversity hotspots. The rich biodiversity in mountains is widely regarded as having arisen under the influence of geological and climatic processes as well as the complex interactions among them. However, the relative contribution of geology and climate in driving species radiation is seldom explored. Here, we studied the evolutionary radiation of Oreocharis (Gesneriaceae), which has diversified extensively throughout East Asia, especially within the Hengduan Mountains (HDM), using transcriptomic data and a time calibrated phylogeny for 88% (111/126) of all species of the genus. In particular, we applied phylogenetic reconstructions to evaluate the extent of incomplete lineage sorting accompanying the early and rapid radiation in the genus. We then fit macroevolutionary models to explore its spatial and diversification dynamics in Oreocharis and applied explicit birth-death models to investigate the effects of past environmental changes on its diversification. Evidence from 574 orthologous loci suggest that Oreocharis underwent an impressive early burst of speciation starting ca. 12 Ma in the Miocene, followed by a drastic decline in speciation toward the present. Although we found no evidence for a shift in diversification rate across the phylogeny of Oreocharis, we showed a difference in diversification dynamics between the HDM and non-HDM lineages, with higher diversification rates in the HDM. The diversification dynamic of Oreocharis is most likely positively associated with temperature-dependent speciation and dependency on the Asian monsoons. We suggest that the warm and humid climate of the mid-Miocene was probably the primary driver of the rapid diversification in Oreocharis, while mountain building of the HDM might have indirectly affected species diversification of the HDM lineage. This study highlights the importance of past climatic changes, combined with mountain building, in creating strong environmental heterogeneity and driving diversification of mountain plants, and suggests that the biodiversity in the HDM cannot directly be attributed to mountain uplift, contrary to many recent speculations.[East Asian monsoons; environmental heterogeneity; Hengduan Mountains; incomplete lineage sorting; Oreocharis; past climate change; rapid diversification; transcriptome.].

Phylogenomics reveals widespread hybridization and polyploidization in Henckelia (Gesneriaceae).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hybridization has long been recognized as an important process for plant evolution and is often accompanied by polyploidization, another prominent force in generating biodiversity. Despite its pivotal importance in evolution, the actual prevalence and distribution of hybridization across the tree of life remain unclear. METHODS: We used whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing and cytological data to investigate the evolutionary history of Henckelia, a large genus in the family Gesneriaceae with a high frequency of suspected hybridization and polyploidization events. We generated WGS sequencing data at about 10× coverage for 26 Chinese Henckelia species plus one Sri Lankan species. To untangle the hybridization history, we separately extracted whole plastomes and thousands of single-copy nuclear genes from the sequencing data, and reconstructed phylogenies based on both nuclear and plastid data. We also explored sources of both genealogical and cytonuclear conflicts and identified signals of hybridization and introgression within our phylogenomic dataset using several statistical methods. Additionally, to test the polyploidization history, we evaluated chromosome counts for 45 populations of the 27 Henckelia species studied. KEY RESULTS: We obtained well-supported phylogenetic relationships using both concatenation- and coalescent-based methods. However, the nuclear phylogenies were highly inconsistent with the plastid phylogeny, and we observed intensive discordance among nuclear gene trees. Further analyses suggested that both incomplete lineage sorting and gene flow contributed to the observed cytonuclear and genealogical discordance. Our analyses of introgression and phylogenetic networks revealed a complex history of hybridization within the genus Henckelia. In addition, based on chromosome counts for 27 Henckelia species, we found independent polyploidization events occurred within Henckelia after different hybridization events. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that hybridization and polyploidization are common in Henckelia. Furthermore, our results revealed that H. oblongifolia is not a member of the redefined Henckelia and they suggested several other taxonomic treatments in this genus.

Impact of minimally invasive total mesoesophageal excision and minimally invasive esophagectomy on failure patterns of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a matched cohort study with long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The effects of minimally invasive total mesoesophageal excision (MITME) on the long-term prognosis of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unknown. The objective of this study was to compare the static and dynamic failure patterns of MITME and minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for locally advanced ESCC. METHODS: We use propensity score matching (PSM) method to analyze the postoperative failure patterns of the two groups. Cumulative event curves were analyzed for cumulative incidence of failure between different groups, and independent prognostic factors were assessed using time-dependent multivariate analyses. The risk of dynamic failure calculated at 12-month intervals was compared between the two groups using the lifetime table. RESULTS: A total of 366 ESCC patients were studied by 1:1 PSM for T stage and TNM stage (MITME group, n = 183; MIE group, n = 183). In the matched cohort, there was significant differences between the MITME and MIE groups in the failure pattern of regional lymph node recurrence (0.5 vs 3.8%, P = 0.032) and non-tumor death (10.9 vs 31.7%, P < 0.001). The cumulative event curve found that the 5-year cumulative failure rate was lower in the MITME group than in the MIE group (3.3 vs 17.1%, P = 0.026) after 5 years of survival. In addition, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that MIE was an independent poor prognostic factor for a high cumulative failure rate in locally advanced ESCC patients at 5 years after surgery (HR:4.110; 95% CI 1.047-16.135; P = 0.043). The dynamic risk curve showed that the MITME group had a lower risk of failure within 5 years after surgery than the MIE group. CONCLUSION: Considering that MITME can significantly improve the postoperative failure pattern and the benefit lasts for at least 5 years, it is feasible to use MITME as a treatment for locally advanced ESCC.

First description study on molecular characterization of Hemiclepsis khankiana (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) in China.

BACKGROUND: Leeches are an integral component of aquatic biocenosis and can be found in a wide range of ecosystems such as freshwater, saltwater, flowing, and still-water ecosystems. It especially plays an important role in the freshwater benthic community and is an important part of the food web. In this study, a leech species was found in the mantle cavity of wild freshwater mussels in Zigong City, Sichuan Province, China, and its identity was determined through morphological analysis and molecular biological analysis. RESULTS: The leech is Hemiclepsis khankiana, a new species of Hemiclepsis that has been discovered in Russia in recent years. Through morphological analysis, the current survey observed that the morphological characteristics of Hemiclepsis khankiana eyespots were significantly different from the first reported description. The first pair of eyespots on the leech were separated and clear, while it had been reduced to unclear shadows in the previous report. The phylogenetic tree based on the COI gene showed that the COI gene sequence obtained in this study was in the same evolutionary branch as Hemiclepsis khankiana (MN295420, MN295421). Genetically, it was most closely related to Hemiclepsis kasmiana (mean COI p-distance = 3.98%). CONCLUSIONS: The current study reported on the new distribution range of Hemiclepsis khankiana, which was initially discovered in China. This study indicates that the distribution range of the leech species has expanded, laying a foundation for further studies in China.

The potential value of serum GP73 in the ancillary diagnosis and grading of liver cirrhosis.

This study is to evaluate the potential value of serum GP73 in ancillary cirrhosis diagnosis. 150 cirrhotic subjects and healthy subjects were retrospectively analyzed, and the two groups were compared in terms of Child‒Pugh grade. Serum GP73 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of GP73, and the quantitative relationship between cirrhosis and GP73 was verified by logistic regression. The result showed in regard to serum biomarkers related to cirrhosis, the serum levels of GP73, TBIL, DBIL, and PT were higher and the ALB and PLT were lower in the cirrhosis group than in the control group (p = 0.000), and the area under the ROC curve of GP73 for diagnosing cirrhosis was 0.823 (p = 0.000), the cutoff value was 135 ng/ml, the sensitivity was 60.0%, and the specificity was 88.67%. Logistic regression analysis showed that GP73 > 135 ng/ml had an odds ratio of 11.735 (ß= 2.463, 95% CI: 6.432-21.411, p = 0.000) for diagnosing cirrhosis. Additionally, the Child‒Pugh A, B, and C groups had different levels of GP73 (χ2 =17.840, p = 0.000). A pairwise comparison between the groups showed that there was a significant difference between grades A and B (p = 0.004) and between grades A and C (p = 0.002), but there was no significant difference between grades B and C (p = 1.000). We found serum GP73 levels were elevated in patients with cirrhosis. When the GP73 level was >135 ng/ml, the potential risk of a cirrhosis diagnosis increased approximately 12-fold.

Clinical observation on the treatment of ankle fracture with buttress plate and traditional internal fixation and its effect on GQOLI-74 score and Baird-Jackson score.

Objective: To explore the curative effect of buttress plate and traditional internal fixation in the treatment of ankle fracture, so as to provide potential reference for the clinical treatment of this disease. Methods: This is a clinical comparative study. The subjects of this study were one hundred patients with ankle fracture treated in Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021. Enrolled patients were randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group. Patients in the control group were treated with traditional internal fixation, and those in the experimental group were provided with buttress plate. Patients were compared in several aspects such as the comprehensive quality of life assessment questionnaire (GQOLI-74), Baird-Jackson score and postoperative complications. Result: The experimental group showed improved Baird-Jackson score after treatment, significantly higher fracture healing rate than that of the control group three months after treatment. Besides, there was no significant difference in the complications between the two groups, with good prognosis after timely treatment. Conclusion: Internal fixation with buttress plate has obvious advantages in the treatment of ankle fractures, which can effectively improve the quality of life and promote the rapid healing of fractures. It is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Tracing the Diploid Ancestry of the Cultivated Octoploid Strawberry.

The commercial strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa, is a recent allo-octoploid that is cultivated worldwide. However, other than Fragaria vesca, which is universally accepted one of its diploid ancestors, its other early diploid progenitors remain unclear. Here, we performed comparative analyses of the genomes of five diploid strawberries, F. iinumae, F. vesca, F. nilgerrensis, F. nubicola, and F. viridis, of which the latter three are newly sequenced. We found that the genomes of these species share highly conserved gene content and gene order. Using an alignment-based approach, we show that F. iinumae and F. vesca are the diploid progenitors to the octoploid F. × ananassa, whereas the other three diploids that we analyzed in this study are not parental species. We generated a fully resolved, dated phylogeny of Fragaria, and determined that the genus arose ∼6.37 Ma. Our results effectively resolve conflicting hypotheses regarding the putative diploid progenitors of the cultivated strawberry, establish a reliable backbone phylogeny for the genus, and provide genetic resources for molecular breeding.

Genomic insights into inter- and intraspecific mating system shifts in Primulina.

The mating system shift from outcrossing to selfing is one of the most frequent evolutionary trends in flowering plants. However, the genomic consequences of this shift remain poorly understood. Specifically, the relative importance of the demographic and genetic processes causing changes in genetic variation and selection efficacy associated with the evolution of selfing is unclear. Here we sequenced the genomes of two Primulina species with contrasting mating systems: P. eburnea (outcrossing) versus P. tabacum (outcrossing, mixed-mating and selfing populations). Whole-genome resequencing data were used to investigate the genomic consequences of mating system shifts within and between species. We found that highly selfing populations of P. tabacum display loss of genetic diversity, increased deleterious mutations, higher genomic burden and fewer adaptive substitutions. However, compared with outcrossing populations, mixed-mating populations did not display loss of genetic diversity and accumulation of genetic load. We find no evidence of population bottlenecks associated with the shift to selfing, which suggests that the genetic effects of selfing on Ne and possibly linked selection, rather than demographic history, are the primary drivers of diversity reduction in highly selfing populations. Our results highlight the importance of distinguishing the relative contribution of mating system and demography on the genomic consequences associated with mating system evolution in plants.

Gene flow, linked selection, and divergent sorting of ancient polymorphism shape genomic divergence landscape in a group of edaphic specialists.

Interpreting the formation of genomic variation landscape, especially genomic regions with elevated differentiation (i.e. islands), is fundamental to a better understanding of the genomic consequences of adaptation and speciation. Edaphic islands provide excellent systems for understanding the interplay of gene flow and selection in driving population divergence and speciation. However, discerning the relative contribution of these factors that modify patterns of genomic variation remains difficult. We analysed 132 genomes from five recently divergent species in Primulina genus, with four species distributed in Karst limestone habitats and the fifth one growing in Danxia habitats. We demonstrated that both gene flow and linked selection have contributed to genome-wide variation landscape, where genomic regions with elevated differentiation (i.e., islands) were largely derived by divergent sorting of ancient polymorphism. Specifically, we identified several lineage-specific genomic islands that might have facilitated adaptation of P. suichuanensis to Danxia habitats. Our study is amongst the first cases disentangling evolutionary processes that shape genomic variation of plant specialists, and demonstrates the important role of ancient polymorphism in the formation of genomic islands that potentially mediate adaptation and speciation of endemic plants in special soil habitats.

LR-M Observations on Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound: Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Additional Features in Comparison With Current LI-RADS Criteria.

BACKGROUND. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS assigns category LR-M to observations that are definitely or probably malignant but that on imaging are not specific for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A high percentage of LR-M observations represent HCC. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the utility of additional features, beyond conventional LI-RADS major features, for detecting HCC among LR-M observations on CEUS. METHODS. This retrospective study included 174 patients (145 men, 29 women; mean age, 53 years) at high risk of HCC who underwent CEUS from August 2014 to June 2016 that showed an LR-M observation according to CEUS LI-RADS version 2017. Two radiologists independently assessed CEUS images for major features and four additional features (chaotic vessels, peripheral circular artery, clear boundary of tumor enhancement, clear boundary of intratumoral unenhanced area). The diagnostic performance of four proposed criteria for the detection of HCC among LR-M observations was assessed. The impact of criteria based on the additional findings on detection of HCC was further explored. Histology or composite imaging and clinical follow-up were the reference standards. RESULTS. The 174 LR-M observations included 142 HCCs and 32 non-HCC lesions (20 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, five combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinomas, seven benign lesions). Interreader agreement on the additional features ranged from κ = 0.65 to κ = 0.88. Two of the additional features had excellent PPV for HCC: chaotic vessels (94.8%) and peripheral circular arteries (98.1%). The presence of either of these two additional features had sensitivity of 50.7%, specificity of 90.6%, PPV of 96.0%, and NPV of 29.3% for HCC. Three other criteria incorporating variations of major LI-RADS features but not the additional features had sensitivities of 55.6-96.5%, specificities of 49.6-68.8%, PPVs of 87.8-90.6%, and NPVs of 25.0-75.0%. On the basis of criteria that included additional features, 75 of 174 LR-M observations were recategorized LR-5; 72 of the 75 were HCC. CONCLUSION. The presence of chaotic vessels and/or peripheral circular artery had high specificity and PPV for HCC among LR-M observations. Other explored criteria based on major features did not have higher specificity or PPV. CLINICAL IMPACT. Clinical adoption of the additional CEUS features could help establish the diagnosis of HCC noninvasively and avoid the need for biopsy of LR-M observations.

CHRNA1 promotes the pathogenesis of primary focal hyperhidrosis.

The aim of the study was to elucidate the involvement of cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 1 subunit (CHRNA1) in the pathogenesis of primary focal hyperhidrosis (PFH). The hyperhidrosis mouse model was constructed using pilocarpine injection. The expression levels of CHRNA1 in sweat gland tissues of PFH patients and hyperhidrosis mice were compared using Western blots and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses. Sweat secretion in hyperhidrosis mice treated with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting CHRNA1 (si-CHRNA1) or non-specific siRNA were compared. Sweat secretory granules in the sweat gland cells of hyperhidrosis mice were examined using transmission electron microscopy. The serum level of acetylcholine was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while markers associated with PFH, including Aquaporin 5 (AQP5) and Calcium Voltage-Gated Channel Subunit Alpha1 C (CACNA1C), were assessed using immunohistochemical assay and Western blots. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Neuregulin 1 (NRG-1) in sympathetic ganglia axons of hyperhidrosis mice were quantified using Western blots. CHRNA1 up-regulation is a characteristic of the sweat glands of PFH patients and Hyperhidrosis mice. Silencing CHRNA1 decreased sweat secretion and the number of sweat secretory granules of hyperhidrosis mice. Serum acetylcholine, as well as AQP5 and CACNA1C expression in the sweat glands, was reduced by siCHRNA1. BDNF1 and NRG-1 levels in the sympathetic ganglia axons were also attenuated by siCHRNA1 treatment. CHRNA1 up-regulation is a potential biomarker of PFH and downregulating CHRNA1 could alleviate the symptoms of PFH through inactivating the sympathetic system.

Lightweight Security Transmission in Wireless Sensor Networks through Information Hiding and Data Flipping.

Eavesdroppers can easily intercept the data transmitted in a wireless sensor network (WSN) because of the network's open properties and constrained resources. Therefore, it is important to ensure data confidentiality in WSN with highly efficient security mechanisms. We proposed a lightweight security transmission method based on information hiding and random data flipping to ensure that the ally fusion center (AFC) can achieve confidential data transmission over insecure open links. First, the sensors' local measurements are coded into a customized binary string, and then before data transmission, some parts of the string are flipped by the sensors according to the outputs of a pre-deployed pseudo-random function. The AFC can recover the flipped binaries using the same function and extract the measurement hidden in the string, while the enemy fusion center (EFC) cannot distinguish flipped and non-flipped data at all, and they cannot restore the measurement correctly as long as one bit in the string is not correctly recovered. We proved the security and anti-interference of the scheme through both simulations and physical experiments. Furthermore, the proposed method is more efficient such that it consumes less power than traditional digital encryptions through real power consumption tests.

Electromyography Parameter Variations with Electrocardiography Noise.

Electromyograms (EMG signals) may be contaminated by electrocardiographic (ECG) signals that cannot be easily separated with traditional filters, because both signals have some overlapping spectral components. Therefore, the first challenge encountered in signal processing is to extract the ECG noise from the EMG signal. In this study, the EMG, mixed with different degrees of noise (ECG), is simulated to investigate the variations of the EMG features. Simulated data were derived from the MIT-BIH Noise Stress Test (NSTD) Database. Two EMG and four ECG data were composed with four EMG/ECG SNR to 32 simulated signals. Following Pan-Tompkins R-peak detection, four ECG removal methods were used to remove ECG with different compensation algorithms to obtain the denoised EMG signal. A total of 13 time-domain and four frequency-domain EMG features were calculated from the denoised EMG. In addition, the similarity of denoised EMG features compared to clean EMG was also evaluated. Our results showed that with the ratio EMG/ECG SNR = 10 and 20, the ECG can be almost ignored, and the similarity of EMG features is close to 1. When EMG/ECG SNR = 1 and 2, there is a large variation of EMG features. The results of our simulation study would be beneficial for understanding the variations of EMG features upon the different EMG/ECG SNR.