Relation extraction: advancements through deep learning and entity-related features.

Capturing semantics and structure surrounding the target entity pair is crucial for relation extraction. The task is challenging due to the limited semantic elements and structural features of the target entity pair within a sentence. To tackle this problem, this paper introduces an approach that fuses entity-related features under convolutional neural networks and graph convolution neural networks. Our approach combines the unit features of the target entity pair to generate corresponding fusion features and applies the deep learning framework to extract high-order abstract features for relation extraction. Experimental results from three public datasets (ACE05 English, ACE05 Chinese, and SanWen) indicate that the proposed approach achieves F1-scores of 77.70%, 90.12%, and 68.84%, respectively, highlighting its effectiveness and robustness. This paper provides a comprehensive description of the approach and experimental results.

Cyclic di-GMP contributes to adaption and virulence of Bacillus thuringiensis through a riboswitch-regulated collagen adhesion protein.

Cyclic di-GMP is a ubiquitous second messenger that regulates diverse cellular processes in bacteria by binding to various protein or riboswitch effectors. In Bacillus thuringiensis BMB171, a c-di-GMP riboswitch termed Bc2 RNA resides in the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of an mRNA that encodes a collagen adhesion protein (Cap). The expression of cap was strongly repressed in parent strain BMB171 because of the presence of Bc2 RNA but was significantly promoted in the Bc2 RNA markerless deletion mutant. Bc2 RNA acts as a genetic "on" switch, which forms an anti-terminator structure to promote cap read-through transcription upon c-di-GMP binding. As a result, cap transcription was de-repressed under high c-di-GMP levels. Therefore, Bc2 RNA regulates cap expression using a repression/de-repression model. Bc2 RNA-regulated Cap was also found to be tightly associated with motility, aggregation, exopolysaccharide secretion, biofilm formation, and virulence of B. thuringiensis BMB171 against its host insect Helicoverpa armigera.

Complete genome sequence of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. chinensis strain CT-43.

Bacillus thuringiensis has been widely used as an agricultural biopesticide for a long time. As a producing strain, B. thuringiensis subsp. chinensis strain CT-43 is highly toxic to lepidopterous and dipterous insects. It can form various parasporal crystals consisting of Cry1Aa3, Cry1Ba1, Cry1Ia14, Cry2Aa9, and Cry2Ab1. During fermentation, it simultaneously generates vegetative insecticidal protein Vip3Aa10 and the insecticidal nucleotide analogue thuringiensin. Here, we report the finished, annotated genome sequence of B. thuringiensis strain CT-43.

[Comparison of different antidepression therapy in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with depression].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of antidepression drugs and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with depression. METHODS: Eighty six perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with depression were divided into two groups, and treated for 12 weeks, respectively. Forty three received antidepression drugs as control group. Among them, mild to moderate depression were treated with deanxid (1 - 2 pills/d), and severe depression with fluoxetine (20 mg/d). Another 43 took Tibolone (livial) as HRT group (1.25 mg/d). All patients were assessed with the Hamilton depression rating scale for depression (HRSD) and self rating depression scale (SDS) before and at weeks 4, 8, 12 after treatment. RESULTS: (1) Total effective rate of control and HRT groups was 96% and 93%, respectively, in mild-moderate depression (chi(2)=0.012, P>0.05), while there was a significant difference between two groups in severe depression. The overall effective rates were 93% (control group) and 42% (HRT group), respectively (chi(2) = 5.72, P < 0.01). (2) HRSD of mild-moderate depression was 26.8 +/- 5.7, 10.7 +/- 3.6, 6.4 +/- 3.6, 3.5 +/- 2.5, respectively in control group, and were 25.3 +/- 4.7, 15.2 +/- 5.3, 11.4 +/- 4.4, 4.4 +/- 3.8 in HRT group before and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after treatment. There was no difference between two groups at weeks 0, and 12 after treatment (P>0.05). HRSD scores of severe depression were 37.6 +/- 5.6, 21.4 +/- 5.2, 14.2 +/- 4.2, 7.3 +/- 2.3, respectively, in control group, and were 38.2 +/- 4.8, 32.6 +/- 5.4, 28.2 +/- 4.6, 24.3 +/- 4.5, respectively, in HRT group before and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after treatment. There was no difference in HRSD before treatment (P>0.05), but a significant difference at weeks 4, 8, and 12 between two groups (P<0.01). (3) SDS of mild and moderate as well as severe depression was significantly different at weeks 0, 4.8, and 12 in control group (P<0.01), while there was a difference in SDS of severe depression before treatment and at weeks 12 in HRT group (P<0.05). A significant reduction in HRSD and SDS of severe depression was demonstrated in control group than in HRT group (P<0.01) CONCLUSION: Antidepression drugs and HRT can improve symptoms of depression in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, but the effect of antidepression drugs is much better than HRT, especially in severe depression.