MiR-383-5p inhibits the proliferation and migration of lung adenocarcinoma cells by targeting SHMT2.

Purpose: To explore the effects of miR-383-5p and serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) on the proliferation and migration of lung adenocarcinoma cells. Methods: SHMT2 expression in lung adenocarcinoma and normal tissues was investigated using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to confirm SHMT2 expression in lung adenocarcinoma and adjacent normal lung tissues. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays were used to analyze the relationship between miR-383-5p and SHMT2 expression. The protein expression levels of SHMT2, vimentin, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, Bcl-2, and cyclinD1 were analyzed using western blotting. The reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect SHMT2 knockdown efficiency, miR-383-5p overexpression, and inhibition efficiency. The proliferative ability of cells was detected using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The Transwell assay was used to detect the migration ability of cells. Results: SHMT2 expression was significantly increased in patients with lung adenocarcinoma compared to that in control patients; the higher the SHMT2 expression the worse the outcomes were in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. SHMT2 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H1299 cells. MiR-383-5p directly targeted and downregulated SHMT2 in A549 and H1299 cells. The effects of miRNA-383-5p on the proliferation and migration of these cells differed from those of SHMT2. Exogenous overexpression of SHMT2 reversed the miR-383-5p-induced proliferation and migration inhibition in A549 and H1299 cells. Conclusion: MiR-383-5p inhibits the proliferation and migration of lung adenocarcinoma cells by targeting and downregulating SHMT2.

ScrollTimes: Tracing the Provenance of Paintings as a Window into History.

The study of cultural artifact provenance, tracing ownership and preservation, holds significant importance in archaeology and art history. Modern technology has advanced this field, yet challenges persist, including recognizing evidence from diverse sources, integrating sociocultural context, and enhancing interactive automation for comprehensive provenance analysis. In collaboration with art historians, we examined the handscroll, a traditional Chinese painting form that provides a rich source of historical data and a unique opportunity to explore history through cultural artifacts. We present a three-tiered methodology encompassing artifact, contextual, and provenance levels, designed to create a "Biography" for handscroll. Our approach incorporates the application of image processing techniques and language models to extract, validate, and augment elements within handscroll using various cultural heritage databases. To facilitate efficient analysis of non-contiguous extracted elements, we have developed a distinctive layout. Additionally, we introduce ScrollTimes, a visual analysis system tailored to support the three-tiered analysis of handscroll, allowing art historians to interactively create biographies tailored to their interests. Validated through case studies and expert interviews, our approach offers a window into history, fostering a holistic understanding of handscroll provenance and historical significance.

A nanozyme with switchable enzyme-like activity for the logic gates detection of thymol and hydrogen peroxide in honey.

A new nanozyme (CuGaa) with switchable enzyme-like activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase was successfully prepared based on guanidinoacetic acid and copper. The two enzyme-like activities can be easily switched by changing temperature or adding MnCl2. At 4 °C, polyphenol oxidase-like activity decreased to nearly 1%, and the material is mainly characterized by peroxidase-like activity at this point. However, at 60 °C in the presence of 20 mM MnCl2, the peroxidase-like activity decreased to nearly 10%, and the polyphenol oxidase-like activity of the materials increased to 140%. Based on the switchable enzyme-like activity of CuGaa, detection methods for thymol and hydrogen peroxide were developed. In addition, a rapid combination strategy was further established combined with logic gate technology for the facile identification of complex contamination in honey, which provided new ideas for low-cost and rapid honey identification.

Coexistence of a novel chromosomal integrative and mobilizable element Tn7548 with two blaKPC-2-carrying plasmids in a multidrug-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila strain K522 from China.

OBJECTIVES: Herein, we detected one multidrug-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila strain K522 co-carrying two blaKPC genes together with a novel chromosomal integrative and mobilizable element (IME) Tn7548 from China. To reveal the genetic characteristics of the novel reservoir of blaKPC-2 and IME in Aeromonas, a detailed genomic characterization of K522 was performed, and a phylogenetic analysis of Tn7412-related IMEs was carried out. METHODS: Carbapenemases were detected by using the immunocolloidal gold technique and antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by using VITEK 2. The whole genome sequences of K522 were analyzed using phylogenetics, detailed dissection and comparison. RESULTS: Strain K522 carried a Tn7412-related chromosomal IME Tn7548 and three resistance plasmids pK522-A-KPC, pK522-B-KPC, and pK522-MOX. A phylogenetic tree of 82 Tn7412-related IMEs was constructed and five families of IMEs were divided. These IMEs shared four key backbone genes int, repC, and hipAB, and carried various profiles of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). pK522-A-KPC and pK522-B-KPC carried blaKPC-2 and belonged to IncG and unclassified type plasmid, respectively. The blaKPC-2 regions of these two plasmids were the truncated version derived from Tn6296, resulting in the carbapenem resistance of K522. CONCLUSIONS: We first reported A. hydrophila harboring a novel Tn7412-related IME Tn7548 together with two blaKPC-2 carrying plasmids and an MDR plasmid. Three of these four MGEs discovered in A. hydrophila K522 were novel. The emergence of novel MGEs carrying ARGs indicated the rapid evolution of the resistance gene vectors in A. hydrophila under selection pressure and would contribute to the further dissemination of various ARGs in Aeromonas.

Rhodamine-based fluorescent probe for dynamic STED imaging of mitochondria.

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy holds tremendous potential and practical implications in the field of biomedicine. However, the weak anti-bleaching performance remains a major challenge limiting the application of STED fluorescent probes. Meanwhile, the main excitation wavelengths of most reported STED fluorescent probes were below 500 nm or above 600 nm, and few of them were between 500-600 nm. Herein, we developed a new tetraphenyl ethylene-functionalized rhodamine dye (TPERh) for mitochondrial dynamic cristae imaging that was rhodamine-based with an excitation wavelength of 560 nm. The TPERh probe exhibits excellent anti-bleaching properties and low saturating stimulated radiation power in mitochondrial STED super-resolution imaging. Given these outstanding properties, the TPERh probe was used to measure mitochondrial deformation, which has positive implications for the study of mitochondria-related diseases.

All-organic transparent plant e-skin for noninvasive phenotyping.

Real-time in situ monitoring of plant physiology is essential for establishing a phenotyping platform for precision agriculture. A key enabler for this monitoring is a device that can be noninvasively attached to plants and transduce their physiological status into digital data. Here, we report an all-organic transparent plant e-skin by micropatterning poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. This plant e-skin is optically and mechanically invisible to plants with no observable adverse effects to plant health. We demonstrate the capabilities of our plant e-skins as strain and temperature sensors, with the application to Brassica rapa leaves for collecting corresponding parameters under normal and abiotic stress conditions. Strains imposed on the leaf surface during growth as well as diurnal fluctuation of surface temperature were captured. We further present a digital-twin interface to visualize real-time plant surface environment, providing an intuitive and vivid platform for plant phenotyping.

Lysine Deacetylation Is a Key Function of the Lysyl Oxidase Family of Proteins in Cancer.

Mammalian members of the lysyl oxidase (LOX) family of proteins carry a copper-dependent monoamine oxidase domain exclusively within the C-terminal region, which catalyzes ε-amine oxidation of lysine residues of various proteins. However, recent studies have demonstrated that in LOX-like (LOXL) 2-4 the C-terminal canonical catalytic domain and N-terminal scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) repeats domain exhibit lysine deacetylation and deacetylimination catalytic activities. Moreover, the N-terminal SRCR repeats domain is more catalytically active than the C-terminal oxidase domain. Thus, LOX is the third family of lysine deacetylases in addition to histone deacetylase and sirtuin families. In this review, we discuss how the LOX family targets different cellular proteins for deacetylation and deacetylimination to control the development and metastasis of cancer.

Modulation of the enzyme-like activity of CuAsp nanozyme by gallic acid and the selective detection of bisphenol A in infant food packaging.

The activity modulation of nanozymes with multi-enzymatic activities has both opportunities and challenges in practical applications. In this study, we found firstly that gallic acid erosion had a significant inhibitory effect on the peroxidase-catalyzed colorimetric reaction process of copper aspartate nanozyme prepared based on aspartic acid and copper (CuAsp), and the laccase-like catalytic activity remained almost unchanged. A sensing strategy for bisphenol A was then developed based on the laccase-like activity of GA-CuAsp synthesized by gallic acid (GA) acid erosion of CuAsp, which may have less interference due to the peroxidase-like activity. The developed sensing strategy had good selectivity and interference resistant ability, with a detection limit of 0.75 µmol L-1. In addition, the method was successfully applied to detecting BPA in plastic bottled drinking water samples and infant food packaging.

Short-Term Dendritic Dynamics of Neonatal Cortical Neurons Revealed by In Vivo Imaging with Improved Spatiotemporal Resolution.

Individual neurons in sensory cortices exhibit specific receptive fields based on their dendritic patterns. These dendritic morphologies are established and refined during the neonatal period through activity-dependent plasticity. This process can be visualized using two-photon in vivo time-lapse imaging, but sufficient spatiotemporal resolution is essential. We previously examined dendritic patterning from spiny stellate (SS) neurons, the major type of layer 4 (L4) neurons, in the mouse primary somatosensory cortex (barrel cortex), where mature dendrites display a strong orientation bias toward the barrel center. Longitudinal imaging at 8 h intervals revealed the long-term dynamics by which SS neurons acquire this unique dendritic pattern. However, the spatiotemporal resolution was insufficient to detect the more rapid changes in SS neuron dendrite morphology during the critical neonatal period. In the current study, we imaged neonatal L4 neurons hourly for 8 h and improved the spatial resolution by uniform cell surface labeling. The improved spatiotemporal resolution allowed detection of precise changes in dendrite morphology and revealed aspects of short-term dendritic dynamics unique to the neonatal period. Basal dendrites of barrel cortex L4 neurons were highly dynamic. In particular, both barrel-inner and barrel-outer dendrites (trees and branches) emerged/elongated and disappeared/retracted at similarly high frequencies, suggesting that SS neurons acquire biased dendrite patterns through rapid trial-and-error emergence, elongation, elimination, and retraction of dendritic trees and branches. We also found correlations between morphology and behavior (elongation/retraction) of dendritic tips. Thus, the current study revealed short-term dynamics and related features of cortical neuron dendrites during refinement.

Dynamic Volumetric Imaging of Mouse Cerebral Blood Vessels In Vivo with an Ultralong Anti-Diffracting Beam.

Volumetric imaging of a mouse brain in vivo with one-photon and two-photon ultralong anti-diffracting (UAD) beam illumination was performed. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of blood vessels in the mouse brain were mapped to a two-dimensional (2D) image. The speed of volumetric imaging was significantly improved due to the long focal length of the UAD beam. Comparing one-photon and two-photon UAD beam volumetric imaging, we found that the imaging depth of two-photon volumetric imaging (80 µm) is better than that of one-photon volumetric imaging (60 µm), and the signal-to-background ratio (SBR) of two-photon volumetric imaging is two times that of one-photon volumetric imaging. Therefore, we used two-photon UAD volumetric imaging to perform dynamic volumetric imaging of mouse brain blood vessels in vivo, and obtained the blood flow velocity.

Smartphone-assisted sensor array constructed by copper-based laccase-like nanozymes for specific identification and discrimination of organophosphorus pesticides.

Accurate pesticide identification is of great importance for regulating food safety. However, the discrimination between organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) and carbamate pesticides (CPs) is still a challenge for existing analytical methods based on cholinesterase inhibition. It mainly because of the similar inhibitory effect of OPs and CPs on cholinesterase. Herein, we found that OPs and CPs differentially affected nanozymes with laccase-like activity, which would be interfered by OPs in different degrees rather than CPs. Thus, we fabricated a nanozyme sensor array and successfully achieved the OPs identification and similar individual discrimination, ignoring the interference from CPs or other potential interferents (antibiotics, ions, other pesticides). On the basis of nanozyme sensor array, a portable method using smartphone was constructed and utilized to determine OPs in fruits and vegetables. This work would contribute to the development of portable sensors and the highly selective identification and discrimination of OPs in complex samples.

A novel strategy for identification of pesticides in different categories by concentration-independent model based on a nanozyme with multienzyme-like activities.

Conventional rapid detection methods are difficult to identify or distinguish various pesticide residues at the same time. And sensor arrays are also limited by the complexity of preparing multiple receptors and high cost. To address this challenge, a single material with multiple properties is considered. Herein, we first found that different categories of pesticides have diverse regulatory behaviors on the multiple catalytic activities of Asp-Cu nanozyme. Thus, a three-channel sensor array based on the laccase-like, peroxidase-like, and superoxide dismutase-like activities of Asp-Cu nanozyme was constructed and successfully used for the discrimination of eight kinds of pesticides (glyphosate, phosmet, isocarbophos, carbaryl, pentachloronitrobenzene, metsulfuron-methyl, etoxazole, and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid). In addition, a concentration-independent model for qualitative identification of pesticides has been established, and 100% correctness was achieved in the recognition of unknown samples. Then, the sensor array also exhibited excellent interference immunity and was reliable for real sample analysis. It provided a reference for pesticide efficient detection and food quality supervision.

Design of intermittent continuous measurement of radon concentration in water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the maximum contaminant level limit for radon concentration in drinking water as 11.1 Bq L-1. A new device based on the bubbling method with a 290 mL sample bottle was designed for intermittent continuous measurement of water radon concentration. A STM32 is used to control the switch of the water pump and the valves. The Water-Radon-Measurement software written in C# is to connect RAD7 and calculate the water radon concentration automatically.

Horizontal CO2 Compensation in the Yangtze River Delta Based on CO2 Footprints and CO2 Emissions Efficiency.

PURPOSE: In this study, we attempted to reduce the negative economic externalities related to Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions in the Yangtze River Delta region (YRD) and designed a cross-municipality responsibility-sharing mechanism. METHODS: We estimated the municipal CO2 footprints in the YRD from 2000 to 2019 based on nighttime light data and measured CO2 emissions efficiency using a super slack-based measurement (super-SBM) model. Based on this, we designed a scenario of horizontal CO2 compensation among the YRD's municipalities from the perspectives of both CO2 footprints and CO2 trading (CO2 unit prices in trading were determined based on CO2 emissions efficiency). RESULTS: The results showed the following: (1) The CO2 footprints evolution of the YRD municipalities could be divided into four categories, among which, eleven municipalities showed a decreasing trend. Thirteen municipalities stabilized their CO2 footprints. Thirteen municipalities exhibited strong growth in their CO2 footprints, whereas four municipalities maintained a low level of slow growth. (2) Spatially, CO2 emissions efficiency evolved from a broad distribution of low values to a mosaic distribution of multi-type zones. (3) After 2011, the ratio of CO2 footprint compensation amounts to local Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in most municipalities was less than 0.01%, with its center of gravity shifting cyclically. It was appropriate to start charging the CO2 footprint compensation amounts after 2011, with a dynamic adjustment of 3 years. (4) After 2007, the supply-demand relationship of CO2 trading continued to deteriorate, and it eased in 2016. However, its operational mechanism was still very fragile and highly dependent on a few pioneering municipalities. INNOVATIONS: In this study, we designed a horizontal CO2 compensation mechanism from the binary perspective of CO2 footprints and CO2 trading. In this mechanism, the former determines the CO2 footprint compensation amounts paid by each municipality based on whether the CO2 footprint exceeds its CO2 allowance. The latter determines the CO2 trading compensation amounts paid by the purchasing municipalities based on their CO2 emissions efficiency. This system balances equity and efficiency and provides new ideas for horizontal CO2 compensation.

The Heterogeneous Effects of Formal and Informal Environmental Regulation on Green Technology Innovation-An Empirical Study of 284 Cities in China.

Promoting green technology innovation (GTI) through environmental regulation is a key measure in reducing the severity of environmental problems. However, the effects of formal environmental regulation (FER) and informal environmental regulation (IER) on GTI have not been clarified. Through theoretical analysis, this paper analyzes the effects of FER and IER on GTI based on OLS and GTWR models. The results show the following: (1) In all Chinese cities, both FER and IER have had a positive impact on GTI. The impact of FER has been much stronger than that of IER. They show a linkage effect, and their interaction (TER) has had a positive impact on GTI. (2) In terms of spatial heterogeneity, the impact of FER, IER, and TER on GTI has decreased across the east-west gradient and has been supplemented by a core-periphery structure. (3) In terms of urban heterogeneity, the impact of FER, IER, and TER has decreased with the size of the city. This study has the potential to strengthen the effect of environmental regulation on GTI. It can provide a decision-making reference for cities to coordinate FER and IER strategies, and provides evidence for adopting regionally differentiated environmental regulation strategies.

Low-power compact continuous-wave stimulated emission depletion microscopy.

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy can break the optical diffraction barrier and provide subdiffraction resolution. According to the STED superresolution imaging principle, the resolution of STED is positively related to the power of the depletion laser. However, high-laser power largely limits the study of living cells or living bodies. Moreover, the high complexity and high cost of conventional pulsed STED microscopy limit the application of this technique. Therefore, this paper describes a simple continuous-wave STED (CW-STED) system constructed on a 45 × 60 cm breadboard and combined with digitally enhanced (DE) technology; low-power superresolution imaging is realized, which has the advantages of reducing system complexity and cost. The low-system complexity, low cost, and low-power superresolution imaging features of CW-STED have great potential to advance the application of STED microscopy in biological research.

Association between eating at night and skipping breakfast with anxiety symptoms among freshman in colleges in Yunnan Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To study the association between eating at night and skipping breakfast with college students anxiety symptoms, and to provide reference basis for preventing and alleviating college students anxiety symptoms.@*Methods@#A cross sectional survey was conducted among 9 960 freshman from three universities in Kunming and Dali, Yunnan Province. The dietary frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate the dietary behavior of college students. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to evaluate the anxiety symptoms of college students. The association of late night snack and breakfast skipping with the association of anxiety symptoms in college students used generalized linear model and Logistic regression model.@*Results@#The proportion of college students who reported eating at night and breakfast skipping in the last month was 72.5%(7 217/9 960) and 61.6%(6 131/9 960) respectively. The detection rate of anxiety symptoms in college students was 28.9%(2 875/9 960). There was a statistical significance between eating at night with anxiety symptoms( OR =1.40-2.54), and breakfast skipping with anxiety symptoms( OR =1.23-1.60)( P <0.05). The interaction between eating late at night and breakfast skipping was positively correlated with college students anxiety symptoms (multiplicative interaction, β=0.06, 95%CI=0.02- 0.10 , P<0.01; additive interaction, OR=2.00, 95%CI=1.59-2.51, P <0.01).@*Conclusion@#The study suggests that the college students who eat at night and frequently skipped breakfast are more likely to have anxiety symptoms. It suggested to promote the formation of healthy eating habits of college students, so as to reduce the occurrence of anxiety sympotoms.

Ultra-long anti-diffracting beam volume imaging using a single-photon excitation microscope.

We studied a novel volumetric single-photon excitation microscope with an ultralong anti-diffracting (UAD) beam as illumination. Volumetric fluorescence image direct mapping showed that the axial imaging range of the UAD beam was approximately 14 times and 2 times that of conventional Gaussian and Airy beams, respectively, while maintaining a narrow lateral width. We compared the imaging capabilities of the Gaussian, Airy, and UAD modes through a strongly scattering environment mixed with fluorescent microspheres and agarose gel. Thick samples were scanned layer by layer in the Gaussian, Airy, and UAD modes, and then the three-dimensional structural information was projected onto a two-dimensional image. Benefiting from the longer focal length of the UAD beam, a deeper axial projection was provided, and the volume imaging speed was vastly increased. To demonstrate the performances of the UAD microscope, we performed dynamic volumetric imaging on the cardiovascular system of zebrafish labeled with green fluorescent proteins in the three modes and dynamically monitored substance transport in zebrafish blood vessels. In addition, the symmetrical curve trajectory of the UAD beam and the axial depth of the lateral position can be used for localization of micro-objects.

Fine mapping of the gene controlling the weeping trait of Prunus persica and its uses for MAS in progenies.

BACKGROUND: Fruit tree yield and fruit quality are affected by the tree's growth type, and branching angle is an important agronomic trait of fruit trees, which largely determines the crown structure. The weeping type of peach tree shows good ventilation and light transmission; therefore, it is commonly cultivated. However, there is no molecular marker closely linked with peach weeping traits for target gene screening and assisted breeding. RESULTS: First, we confirmed that the peach weeping trait is a recessive trait controlled by a single gene by constructing segregating populations. Based on BSA-seq, we mapped the gene controlling this trait within 159 kb of physical distance on chromosome 3. We found a 35 bp deletion in the candidate area in standard type, which was not lacking in weeping type. For histological assessments, different types of branches were sliced and examined, showing fiber bundles in the secondary xylem of ordinary branches but not in weeping branches. CONCLUSIONS: This study established a molecular marker that is firmly linked to weeping trait. This marker can be used for the selection of parents in the breeding process and the early screening of hybrid offspring to shorten the breeding cycle. Moreover, we preliminary explored histological differences between growth types. These results lay the groundwork for a better understanding of the weeping growth habit of peach trees.

Ultralow Laser Power Three-Dimensional Superresolution Microscopy Based on Digitally Enhanced STED.

The resolution of optical microscopes is limited by the optical diffraction limit; in particular, the axial resolution is much lower than the lateral resolution, which hinders the clear distinction of the three-dimensional (3D) structure of cells. Although stimulated emission depletion (STED) superresolution microscopy can break through the optical diffraction limit to achieve 3D superresolution imaging, traditional 3D STED requires high depletion laser power to acquire high-resolution images, which can cause irreversible light damage to biological samples and probes. Therefore, we developed an ultralow laser power 3D STED superresolution imaging method. On the basis of this method, we obtained lateral and axial resolutions of 71 nm and 144 nm, respectively, in fixed cells with 0.65 mW depletion laser power. This method will have broad application prospects in 3D superresolution imaging of living cells.