The neural correlates of value hierarchies: a prospective typology based on personal value profiles of emerging adults.

Introduction: Value hierarchies, as motivational goals anchored in the self-schema, may be correlated with spontaneous activity in the resting brain, especially those involving self-relevance. This study aims to investigate the neural correlates of value hierarchies from the perspective of typology. Methods: A total of 610 Chinese college students (30.31% women), aged 18 to 23, completed the personal values questionnaire and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results: The latent profile analysis revealed three personal value profiles: traditional social orientation, modernized orientation, and undifferentiated orientation. Neuroimaging results revealed that individuals with modernized orientation prioritized openness to change value, and this personal-focus is related to the higher low-frequency amplitude of the posterior insula; individuals with traditional social orientation prioritized self-transcendence and conservation values, and this social-focus is related to the stronger functional connectivity of the middle insula with the inferior temporal gyrus, temporal gyrus, posterior occipital cortex, and basal ganglia, as well as weaker functional connections within the right middle insula. Discussion: Taken together, these findings potentially indicate the intra-generational differentiation of contemporary Chinese emerging adults' value hierarchies. At the neural level, these are correlated with brain activities involved in processing self- and other-relevance.

Changes in the distribution of endogenous hormones in Phyllostachys edulis 'Pachyloen' during bamboo shooting.

In this study, we investigated the changes in the distribution and regulation of endogenous hormones in Phyllostachys edulis 'Pachyloen' during bamboo shooting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the mass fractions of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and abscisic acid (ABA) in rhizomes, shoots, and maternal bamboo organs during shoot sprouting, shoot growth, and new-bamboo formation. Measurements were compared among bamboo parts and developmental periods. The overall mass fractions of IAA and ABA were significantly higher than those of ZR and GA, driven by differences among bamboo parts and developmental periods. The abundance of each endogenous hormone varied among bamboo parts and developmental periods. During bamboo shooting, ABA had the highest mass fraction in all bamboo parts sampled, followed by IAA, GA, and ZR. Among bamboo parts, rhizomes had more IAA, ZR, and GA than the other parts, but significantly less ABA. Winter shoots had higher ZR: IAA and GA: IAA ratios than rhizomes and maternal bamboo organs. During shoot growth, ABA was the most abundant hormone in rhizomes and maternal bamboo organs, followed by IAA, ZR, and GA. In contrast, IAA was the most abundant hormone in spring shoots, followed by ABA, ZR, and GA. Maternal bamboo organs had a significantly higher ZR: GA ratio, and significantly lower IAA: ABA, ZR: ABA, and GA: ABA ratios than rhizomes. Spring shoots had significantly higher IAA: ABA, ZR: ABA, and GA: ABA ratios than rhizomes and maternal bamboo organs; significantly higher ZR mass fractions, and ZR: GA and ZR: IAA ratios and significantly lower ABA mass fractions than rhizomes; and significantly higher GA: IAA ratio than maternal bamboo organs. During new-bamboo formation, ABA was the most abundant hormone in rhizomes, winter shoots, and maternal bamboo organs, followed by IAA, ZR, and GA. Maternal bamboo organs had significantly lower IAA mass fractions and significantly higher ABA mass fractions than rhizomes and new bamboo tissue. IAA and ABA abundances exhibited an inverse relationship in rhizomes and maternal bamboo organs. GA: ABA and GA: IAA ratios decreased gradually and other hormone ratios exhibited parabolic trends over the bamboo-shooting period, with the highest ratios observed in new bamboo tissues. Overall, the coordination or antagonism among endogenous hormones plays a key regulatory role in bamboo shoot growth. The formation of thick walls in P. edulis 'Pachyloen', one of its major traits, may be partially attributed to the relatively high IAA and ZR and low GA mass fractions.

AKT1 inhibitory DNAzymes inhibit cell proliferation and migration of thyroid cancer cells.

AKT1 is a member of the serine/threoine AGC protein kinase family involved in thyroid cancer metabolism, growth, proliferation and survival. It is overexpressed in thyroid tumors. In this study, we designed two AKT1 specific DNAzymes (DRz1 and DRz2) that target AKT1 mRNA. The results showed that DRz1 could decrease the expression of AKT1 by 58%. Furthermore, DRz1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and inhibited invasion in SW597 cells. In addition, down-regulation of survivin expression was associated with decreased caspase-3, VEGF and MMP2 in SW597 cells after 24 h. In our study, the efficacy of DRz1 in decreasing AKT1 protein levels were better than DRz2. AKT1-DRz1 might have anti-tumorigenic activity and may provide the basis for a novel therapeutic intervention in thyroid cancer treatment.