A rat model of adenoid hypertrophy constructed by using ovalbumin and lipopolysaccharides to induce allergy, chronic inflammation, and chronic intermittent hypoxia.

BACKGROUND: Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) is a common pediatric disease that significantly impacts the growth and quality of life of children. However, there is no replicable and valid model for AH. METHODS: An AH rat model was developed via comprehensive allergic sensitization, chronic inflammation induction, and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). The modeling process involved three steps: female Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 4-5 weeks) were used for modeling. Allergen sensitization was induced via intraperitoneal administration and intranasal provocation using ovalbumin (OVA); chronic nasal inflammation was induced through intranasal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration for sustained nasal irritation; CIH akin to obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome was induced using an animal hypoxia chamber. Postmodel establishment, behaviors, and histological changes in nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) and nasal mucosa were assessed. Arterial blood gas analysis and quantification of serum and tissue levels of (interleukin) IL-4 and IL-13, OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), IL-17, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß were conducted for assessment. The treatment group received a combination of mometasone furoate and montelukast sodium for a week and then was evaluated. RESULTS: Rats exhibited notable nasal symptoms and hypoxia after modeling. Histopathological analysis revealed NALT follicle hypertrophy and nasal mucosa inflammatory cell infiltration. Elevated IL-4, IL-13, IL-17, OVA-sIgE, ECP, and TNF-α levels and reduced TGF-ß levels were observed in the serum and tissue of model-group rats. After a week of treatment, the treatment group exhibited symptom and inflammatory factor improvement. CONCLUSION: The model effectively simulates AH symptoms and pathological changes. But it should be further validated for genetic, immunological, and hormonal backgrounds in the currently used and other strains and species.

LEVA: Using Large Language Models to Enhance Visual Analytics.

Visual analytics supports data analysis tasks within complex domain problems. However, due to the richness of data types, visual designs, and interaction designs, users need to recall and process a significant amount of information when they visually analyze data. These challenges emphasize the need for more intelligent visual analytics methods. Large language models have demonstrated the ability to interpret various forms of textual data, offering the potential to facilitate intelligent support for visual analytics. We propose LEVA, a framework that uses large language models to enhance users' VA workflows at multiple stages: onboarding, exploration, and summarization. To support onboarding, we use large language models to interpret visualization designs and view relationships based on system specifications. For exploration, we use large language models to recommend insights based on the analysis of system status and data to facilitate mixed-initiative exploration. For summarization, we present a selective reporting strategy to retrace analysis history through a stream visualization and generate insight reports with the help of large language models. We demonstrate how LEVA can be integrated into existing visual analytics systems. Two usage scenarios and a user study suggest that LEVA effectively aids users in conducting visual analytics.

Effects of intensive chlorine disinfection on nitrogen and phosphorus removal in WWTPs.

The increased use of disinfection since the pandemic has led to increased effective chlorine concentration in municipal wastewater. Whereas, the specific impacts of active chlorine on nitrogen and phosphorus removal, the mediating communities, and the related metabolic activities in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) lack systematic investigation. We systematically analyzed the influences of chlorine disinfection on nitrogen and phosphorus removal activities using activated sludge from five full-scale WWTPs. Results showed that at an active chlorine concentration of 1.0 mg/g-SS, the nitrogen and phosphorus removal systems were not significantly affected. Major effects were observed at 5.0 mg/g-SS, where the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency decreased by 38.9 % and 44.1 %, respectively. At an active chlorine concentration of 10.0 mg/g-SS, the nitrification, denitrification, phosphorus release and uptake activities decreased by 15.1 %, 69.5-95.9 %, 49.6 % and 100 %, respectively. The proportion of dead cells increased by 6.1 folds. Reverse transcriptional quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis showed remarkable inhibitions on transcriptions of the nitrite oxidoreductase gene (nxrB), the nitrite reductase genes (nirS and nirK), and the nitrite reductase genes (narG). The nitrogen and phosphorus removal activities completely disappeared with an active chlorine concentration of 25.0 mg/g-SS. Results also showed distinct sensitivities of different functional bacteria in the activated sludge. Even different species within the same functional group differ in their susceptibility. This study provides a reference for the understanding of the threshold active chlorine concentration values which may potentially affect biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal in full-scale WWTPs, which are expected to be beneficial for decision-making in WWTPs to counteract the potential impacts of increased active chlorine concentrations in the influent wastewater.

Super-enhancers and the super-enhancer reader BRD4: tumorigenic factors and therapeutic targets.

Transcriptional super-enhancers and the BET bromodomain protein BRD4 are emerging as critical drivers of tumorigenesis and therapeutic targets. Characterized by substantial accumulation of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) signals at the loci of cell identity genes and critical oncogenes, super-enhancers are recognized, bound and activated by BRD4, resulting in considerable oncogene over-expression, malignant transformation, cancer cell proliferation, survival, tumor initiation and progression. Small molecule compound BRD4 BD1 and BD2 bromodomain inhibitors block BRD4 binding to super-enhancers, suppress oncogene transcription and expression, reduce cancer cell proliferation and survival, and repress tumor progression in a variety of cancer types. Like other targeted therapy agents, BRD4 inhibitors show moderate anticancer effects on their own, and exert synergistic anticancer effects in vitro and in preclinical models, when combined with other anticancer agents including CDK7 inhibitors, CBP/p300 inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors. More recently, BRD4 BD2 bromodomain selective inhibitors, proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) BRD4 protein degraders, and dual BRD4 and CBP/p300 bromodomain co-inhibitors have been developed and shown better anticancer efficacy and/or safety profile. Importantly, more than a dozen BRD4 inhibitors have entered clinical trials in patients with cancer of various organ origins. In summary, super-enhancers and their reader BRD4 are critical tumorigenic drivers, and BRD4 BD1 and BD2 bromodomain inhibitors, BRD4 BD2 bromodomain selective inhibitors, PROTAC BRD4 protein degraders, and dual BRD4 and CBP/p300 bromodomain co-inhibitors are promising novel anticancer agents for clinical translation.

Realizing High Thermoelectric Properties in Bi2 S3 Bulk via Band Engineering and Nanorods Compositing.

Bismuth sulfide is a promising thermoelectric material because of its low cost and toxicity; however, its low electrical conductivity limits its thermoelectric properties. In this study, Bi2 S3 +x wt% HfCl4 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0) bulk samples are fabricated using a combination of melting and spark plasma sintering. The microstructures, electronic structures, and thermoelectric properties of the composites are characterized. The results of electronic structure calculations show that doping with HfCl4 produces an impurity energy level that narrows the bandgap and allows the Fermi energy level to enter the conduction band, leading to a favorable increase in carrier concentration. By regulating the HfCl4 doping concentration, the electrical conductivity of the 0.75 wt% doped sample reaches 253 Scm-1 at 423 K and its maximum ZT value is 0.47 at 673 K. Moreover, the sample is compounded with Bi2 S3 nanorods prepared by the hydrothermal method, reducing thermal conductivity by 30% due to the introduction of additional interfaces and pores. This resulted in a final ZT value of 0.61 at 673 K, which is approximately eight times higher than that of pure Bi2 S3 . This step-by-step optimization approach provides a valuable methodology for enhancing the performance of other thermoelectric material systems.

Prevalence of propionic acidemia in China.

Propionic acidemia (PA) is a rare autosomal recessive congenital disease caused by mutations in the PCCA or PCCB genes. Elevated propionylcarnitine, 2-methylcitric acid (2MCA), propionylglycine, glycine and 3-hydroxypropionate can be used to diagnose PA. Early-onset PA can lead to acute deterioration, metabolic acidosis, and hyperammonemia shortly after birth, which can result in high mortality and disability. Late-onset cases of PA have a more heterogeneous clinical spectra, including growth retardation, intellectual disability, seizures, basal ganglia lesions, pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, adaptive immune defects, rhabdomyolysis, optic atrophy, hearing loss, premature ovarian failure, and chronic kidney disease. Timely and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to saving patients' lives and improving their prognosis. Recently, the number of reported PA cases in China has increased due to advanced diagnostic techniques and increased research attention. However, an overview of PA prevalence in China is lacking. Therefore, this review provides an overview of recent advances in the pathogenesis, diagnostic strategies, and treatment of PA, including epidemiological data on PA in China. The most frequent variants among Chinese PA patients are c.2002G > A in PCCA and c.1301C > T in PCCB, which are often associated with severe clinical symptoms. At present, liver transplantation from a living (heterozygous parental) donor is a better option for treating PA in China, especially for those exhibiting a severe metabolic phenotype and/or end-organ dysfunction. However, a comprehensive risk-benefit analysis should be conducted as an integral part of the decision-making process. This review will provide valuable information for the medical care of Chinese patients with PA.

Design and implementation of high sampling rate and multichannel wireless recorder for EEG monitoring and SSVEP response detection.

Introduction: The collection and process of human brain activity signals play an essential role in developing brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. A portable electroencephalogram (EEG) device has become an important tool for monitoring brain activity and diagnosing mental diseases. However, the miniaturization, portability, and scalability of EEG recorder are the current bottleneck in the research and application of BCI. Methods: For scalp EEG and other applications, the current study designs a 32-channel EEG recorder with a sampling rate up to 30 kHz and 16-bit accuracy, which can meet both the demands of scalp and intracranial EEG signal recording. A fully integrated electrophysiology microchip RHS2116 controlled by FPGA is employed to build the EEG recorder, and the design meets the requirements of high sampling rate, high transmission rate and channel extensive. Results: The experimental results show that the developed EEG recorder provides a maximum 30 kHz sampling rate and 58 Mbps wireless transmission rate. The electrophysiological experiments were performed on scalp and intracranial EEG collection. An inflatable helmet with adjustable contact impedance was designed, and the pressurization can improve the SNR by approximately 4 times, the average accuracy of steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) was 93.12%. Animal experiments were also performed on rats, and spike activity was captured successfully. Conclusion: The designed multichannel wireless EEG collection system is simple and comfort, the helmet-EEG recorder can capture the bioelectric signals without noticeable interference, and it has high measurement performance and great potential for practical application in BCI systems.

A near-complete genome assembly of the allotetrapolyploid Cenchrus fungigraminus (JUJUNCAO) provides insights into its evolution and C4 photosynthesis.

JUJUNCAO (Cenchrus fungigraminus; 2n = 4x = 28) is a Cenchrus grass with the highest biomass production among cultivated plants, and it can be used for mushroom cultivation, animal feed, and biofuel production. Here, we report a nearly complete genome assembly of JUJUNCAO and reveal that JUJUNCAO is an allopolyploid that originated ∼2.7 million years ago (mya). Its genome consists of two subgenomes, and subgenome A shares high collinear synteny with pearl millet. We also investigated the genome evolution of JUJUNCAO and suggest that the ancestral karyotype of Cenchrus split into the A and B ancestral karyotypes of JUJUNCAO. Comparative transcriptome and DNA methylome analyses revealed functional divergence of homeologous gene pairs between the two subgenomes, which was a further indication of asymmetric DNA methylation. The three types of centromeric repeat in the JUJUNCAO genome (CEN137, CEN148, and CEN156) may have evolved independently within each subgenome, with some introgressions of CEN156 from the B to the A subgenome. We investigated the photosynthetic characteristics of JUJUNCAO, revealing its typical C4 Kranz anatomy and high photosynthetic efficiency. NADP-ME and PEPCK appear to cooperate in the major C4 decarboxylation reaction of JUJUNCAO, which is different from other C4 photosynthetic subtypes and may contribute to its high photosynthetic efficiency and biomass yield. Taken together, our results provide insights into the highly efficient photosynthetic mechanism of JUJUNCAO and provide a valuable reference genome for future genetic and evolutionary studies, as well as genetic improvement of Cenchrus grasses.

A pan-cancer analysis to determine the prognostic analysis and immune infiltration of HSPA5.

BACKGROUND: Heat shock 70kDa protein 5 (HSPA5), also known as GRP78, is widely expressed in most malignant cells and has been shown to have a significant role in the spread of most malignancies by transferring them to the cell membrane. High-level HSPA5 may serve as an independent prognostic marker for various malignancies due to its ability to accelerate tumor growth and migration, inhibit cell apoptosis and closely connect to prognosis. Therefore, it is crucial to examine HSPA5 using pan-cancer research, which might result in the discovery of novel cancer treatment targets. METHOD: The GTEx and TCGA databases have both provided evidence of the expression of various amounts of HSPA5 in various tissues. The Clinical Proteomics Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) evaluated the levels of HSPA5 protein expression, while qPCR investigations also evaluated the expression of HSPA5 mRNA in certain tumors. HSPA5 was studied using the Kaplan-Meier method to examine how it influences overall survival and disease-free survival in malignancies. GEPIA2 was used to investigate the correlation between HSPA5 expression and the clinical stage of cancer. The tumor-immune system interaction database (TISIDB) examined the expression of HSPA5 in association with molecular and tumor immune subtypes. The co-expressed genes of HSPA5 were extracted from the STRING database, and the top 5 co-expressed genes of HSPA5 in 33 cancers were identified using the TIMER database. Further research examined the relationship between tumor mutations and HSPA5. Microsatellite Instability (MSI) and Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB) were the primary areas of interest. The association between HSPA5 mRNA expression and immune infiltration was also explored using the TIMER database. Additionally, through the Linkedomics database, we examined the enrichment of GO and KEGG for HSPA5 in glioblastoma. Finally, the Cluster Analyzer tool was used to carry out a GSEA functional enrichment investigation. RESULTS: HSPA5 mRNA expression was found to be greater in all 23 tumor tissues than in the equivalent normal tissues, and high HSPA5 expression appeared to be strongly related to a poor prognosis in the majority of cancers, as observed by survival plots. In the tumour clinical stage display map, HSPA5 showed differential expression in most tumours. HSPA5 is strongly associated with Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB) and Microsatellite Instability (MSI). Cancer-associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) infiltration was strongly associated with HSPA5, as were nine immunological subtypes of malignancy and seven molecular subtypes of malignancy. According to the results of GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, HSPA5 in GBM is mostly involved in neutrophil-mediated immunological and collagen metabolic activities. Additionally, GSEA enrichment analyses of HSPA5 and associated genes demonstrated a substantial link between HSPA5 and the immunological milieu of tumors, cell division and nervous system regulation. By using qPCR, we were able to further corroborate the enhanced expression in the GBM, COAD, LUAD and CESC cell lines. CONCLUSION: Our bioinformatics research leads us to hypothesize that HSPA5 may be involved in immune infiltration as well as tumor growth and progression. Additionally, it was found that differentially expressed HSPA5 is linked to a poor prognosis for cancer, with the neurological system, the tumor immunological microenvironment and cytokinesis being potential contributing factors. As a result, HSPA5 mRNA and the associated protein might be used as therapeutic targets and possible prognostic markers for a range of malignancies.

Oxidative stress in the tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer and its potential role in immunotherapy.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death and the fifth most common malignant tumor globally. However, the clinical efficacy of conventional therapies is limited. Currently, immunotherapy is considered an effective therapeutic strategy for the management of various cancers, especially GC, but is of only limited benefit for GC patients. Accumulating evidence has revealed that oxidative stress plays a critical role in the regulation of immune responses within the tumor microenvironment (TME), affecting the efficacy of immunotherapies. Reactive oxygen species exert critical roles in enhancing antigen presentation, regulating immune responses, and preventing immunoescape. In this review, we summarize the dominant cancer immunotherapeutic strategies and describe the interaction between oxidative stress and the immune TME. We emphasize the underlying mechanisms of the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, which involves its effects on oxidative stress, in the context of GC. We also highlight the therapeutic potential of regulating oxidative stress to improve immunotherapies, which may have benefits for clinical practice.

Diagnostic value of serum LDH in children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumoniae: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To investigate the relationship between serum Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) in juvenile individuals. Methods: Search Chinese databases and English databases. The retrieval time limit is from the establishment of the database to 2022-04-27. And screening and inclusion of relevant diagnostic test literature. The QUADAS-2 method was used to evaluate the quality of the included literature. The random effects model was used to combine sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, summary receiver operating characteristic curve, and area under summary receiver operating characteristic curve to evaluate the prediction value of LDH for RMPP. Subgroup analyses were used to explore sources of heterogeneity. Results: ① A total of 29 literatures that met the criteria were included in the study, and the quality of the literature was medium and high, with a total of 702,2 patients. ② The combined sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the curve of the studies were: 0.75 (95% CI = 0.73-0.76), 0.73 (95% CI = 0.72-0.74), 3.61 (95% CI = 2.86-4.56), 0.30 (95% CI = 0.23-0.39), 13.04 (95% CI = 8.24-20.63), and 0.85(95% CI = 0.82-0.88). ③ The results of subgroup analysis showed that Compared with the subgroup with LDH threshold ≤400 IU/L, the AUC increased from 0.84 (95% CI = 0.80-0.87) to 0.89 (95% CI = 0.86-0.91). Conclusions: The serum LDH has good accuracy for the diagnosis of RMPP and can serve as a diagnostic marker for RMPP.

Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation to explore the potential mechanism of Long Mu Qing Xin mixture for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Background: Long Mu Qing Xin Mixture (LMQXM) has shown potentially positive effects in alleviating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, the action mechanism is still not fully understood. This study aimed to predict the potential mechanism of LMQXM for ADHD using network pharmacology and molecular docking, which were then validated using animal experiments. Methods: Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to predict the core targets and potential pathways of LMQXMQ for ADHD, and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed the potential significance of dopamine (DA) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathways. To verify the hypothesis, we conducted an animal experiment. In the animal experiment, the young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were randomly divided into the model group (SHR), the methylphenidate hydrochloride group (MPH, 4.22 mg/kg), and 3 LMQXM groups (low-dose (LD) group, 5.28 ml/kg; medium-dose (MD) group, 10.56 ml/kg; and high-dose (HD) group, 21.12 ml/kg), and administered by gavage for 4 weeks; the WKY rats were set as the control group. The open field test and Morris water maze test were used to evaluate the behavioral performance of rats, high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to analyze DA levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum of rats, ELISA was used to detect cAMP concentrations in the PFC and striatum, and immunohistochemistry and qPCR were used to analyze positive cell expression and mRNA expression for indicators related to DA and cAMP pathways. Results: The results showed that beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, rhynchophylline, baicalein, and formononetin might be key components of LMQXM for ADHD and that these components bind well to the core targets, DA receptors (DRD1 and DRD2). Furthermore, LMQXM might act through the DA and cAMP signaling pathways. In the animal experiment, we found that MPH and LMQXM-MD controlled hyperactivity and improved learning and memory in SHRs, while LMQXM-HD only controlled hyperactivity in SHRs; meanwhile, MPH and LMQXM-MD upregulated DA and cAMP levels, mean optical density (MOD) of cAMP, and MOD and mRNA expression of DRD1 and PKA in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum of SHRs, while LMQXM-LD and LMQXM-HD upregulated DA and cAMP levels in the striatum, MOD of cAMP in the PFC, and mRNA expression of PKA in the PFC. However, we did not find a significant regulatory effect of LMQXM on DRD2. Conclusion: To sum up, this study demonstrated that LMQXM may increase DA levels mainly by activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway through DRD1, thereby controlling the behavioral disorders of SHRs, which is most effective at moderate doses, and this may be a key mechanism for LMQXM in the treatment of ADHD.

A complete gap-free diploid genome in Saccharum complex and the genomic footprints of evolution in the highly polyploid Saccharum genus.

A diploid genome in the Saccharum complex facilitates our understanding of evolution in the highly polyploid Saccharum genus. Here we have generated a complete, gap-free genome assembly of Erianthus rufipilus, a diploid species within the Saccharum complex. The complete assembly revealed that centromere satellite homogenization was accompanied by the insertions of Gypsy retrotransposons, which drove centromere diversification. An overall low rate of gene transcription was observed in the palaeo-duplicated chromosome EruChr05 similar to other grasses, which might be regulated by methylation patterns mediated by homologous 24 nt small RNAs, and potentially mediating the functions of many nucleotide-binding site genes. Sequencing data for 211 accessions in the Saccharum complex indicated that Saccharum probably originated in the trans-Himalayan region from a diploid ancestor (x = 10) around 1.9-2.5 million years ago. Our study provides new insights into the origin and evolution of Saccharum and accelerates translational research in cereal genetics and genomics.

Dynamic expression of Mage-D1 in rat dental germs and potential role in mineralization of ectomesenchymal stem cells.

Mage-D1 (MAGE family member D1) is involved in a variety of cell biological effects. Recent studies have shown that Mage-D1 is closely related to tooth development, but its specific regulatory mechanism is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of Mage-D1 in rat dental germ development and its differential mineralization ability to ectomesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs), and to explore its potential mechanism. Results showed that the expression of Mage-D1 during rat dental germ development was temporally and spatially specific. Mage-D1 promotes the proliferation ability of EMSCs but inhibits their migration ability. Under induction by mineralized culture medium, Mage-D1 promotes osteogenesis and tooth-forming ability. Furthermore, the expression pattern of Mage-D1 at E19.5 d rat dental germ is similar to p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), distal-less homeobox 1 (Dlx1) and msh homeobox 1 (Msx1). In addition, Mage-D1 is binding to p75NTR, Dlx1, and Msx1 in vitro. These findings indicate that Mage-D1 is play an important regulatory role in normal mineralization of teeth. p75NTR, Dlx1, and Msx1 seem to be closely related to the underlying mechanism of Mage-D1 action.

Study and Analysis of the Effect of Polyamide Seamless Knitted Fabric with Different Graphene Content on the Blood-Flow Velocity of Human-Skin Microcirculation.

In this paper, four kinds of polyamide yarns with different graphene contents and three kinds of seamless knitting structures were used. The scheme of samples was established according to the comprehensive experimental design method, and 12 pieces of knitted fabric samples were woven on the seamless knitting machine. Through testing and analyzing the influence of each sample on the blood-flow rate of human-surface-skin microcirculation, the research shows that the higher the content of graphene in the veil, the better the promotion effect of the fabric prepared under this process condition on the blood-flow rate of human-surface-skin microcirculation. Sample 11# with the veil type of GP-0.8% and fabric weave of 1+1 simulated ribbed stitch has the strongest effect in this experiment, with a promotion multiple of 1.2189, and the influence of tissue structure is not obvious. The relevant performance test data and experimental research results in this paper provide empirical data support for developing medical or health textiles related to promoting the blood-flow velocity of skin microcirculation.

ARHGEF3 regulates the stability of ACLY to promote the proliferation of lung cancer.

Rho GTPases play an essential role in many cellular processes, including cell cycle progress, cell motility, invasion, migration, and transformation. Several studies indicated that the dysregulation of Rho GTPase signaling is closely related to tumorigenesis. Rho GEFs considered being positive regulators of Rho GTPase, promoting the dissociation of Rho protein from GDP and binding to GTP, thus activating the downstream signaling pathway. Herein, we demonstrated that ARHGEF3, a member of the Rho GEFs family, played an important role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We found that ARHGEF3 was highly expressed in non-small cell lung cancer and facilitated cancer cell proliferation of NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. Further studies demonstrated that ARHGEF3 enhanced the protein homeostasis of ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) by reducing its acetylation on Lys17 and Lys86, leading to the dissociation between ACLY and its E3 ligase-NEDD4. Interestingly, this function of ARHGEF3 on the protein homeostasis of ACLY was independent of its GEF activity. Taken together, our findings uncover a novel function of ARHGEF3, suggesting that ARHGEF3 is a promising therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer.

The ITS analysis and identification of Actinidia eriantha and its related species.

The dried plant material of medically important plant Actinidia eriantha especially when it remains in the form of powder often look morphologically similar to its related species. The lack of efficient methods to distinguish the authentic material from other similar species leads to chances of adulteration. The molecular authentication of herbal plant materials such as the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences is considered as more reliable method compared to morphological traits. In this study, we aim to evaluate the potential of identification for roots of A. eriantha and its related species by ITS sequences. The lengths of ITS regions ranged from 624 to 636 bp with GC content ranging from 50.96% to 59.55%. A total of 194 variation sites and 46 haplotypes were formed in 185 samples. Among them, the roots of A. eriantha possessed specific sites at 85bp (C), 205bp (T), 493bp (C), 542bp (G), 574bp (C), 582bp (T) and 610bp (G), while A. hemsleyana, A. callosa, A. valvata and A. polygama have their own specific sites. The inter-specific genetic distance among 8 Actinidia species in the range 2.28% to 11.00%. The phylogenetic tree constructed with ITS, ITS1 and ITS2 region showed that the ITS sequences have higher potential for identification in 8 Actinidia species. However, as to A. eriantha, A. hemsleyana and A. valvata, these three barcodes have the same identification ability. The ITS regions indicated that different samples from same species can be grouped together, except for A. arguta and A. melanandrah. In conclusion, the ITS sequences can be used as an efficient DNA barcode for the identification of A. eriantha and its related species.

Climate change drives rapid decadal acidification in the Arctic Ocean from 1994 to 2020.

The Arctic Ocean has experienced rapid warming and sea ice loss in recent decades, becoming the first open-ocean basin to experience widespread aragonite undersaturation [saturation state of aragonite (Ωarag) < 1]. However, its trend toward long-term ocean acidification and the underlying mechanisms remain undocumented. Here, we report rapid acidification there, with rates three to four times higher than in other ocean basins, and attribute it to changing sea ice coverage on a decadal time scale. Sea ice melt exposes seawater to the atmosphere and promotes rapid uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide, lowering its alkalinity and buffer capacity and thus leading to sharp declines in pH and Ωarag. We predict a further decrease in pH, particularly at higher latitudes where sea ice retreat is active, whereas Arctic warming may counteract decreases in Ωarag in the future.

Self-Healing Silicone Elastomer with Stable and High Adhesion in Harsh Environments.

Adhesive and self-healing elastomers are urgently needed for their convenience and intelligence in biological medicine, flexible electronics, intelligent residential systems, etc. However, their inevitable use in harsh environments results in further enhancement requirements of the structure and performance of adhesive and self-healing elastomers. Herein, a novel self-healing and high-adhesion silicone elastomer was designed by the synergistic effect of multiple dynamic bonds. It revealed excellent stretchability (368%) and self-healing properties at room temperature (98.1%, 5 h) and in a water environment (96.4% for 5 h). Meanwhile, the resultant silicone elastomer exhibited high adhesion to metal and nonmetal and showed stable adhesion in harsh environments, such as under acidic (pH 1) and alkaline (pH 12) environments, salt water, petroleum ether, water, etc. Furthermore, it was applied as a shatter-proof protective layer and a rust-proof coating, proving its significant potential in intelligent residential system applications.

The impact of withdrawing aquaculture facilities on metazooplankton communities in the lakes are connected to the Yangtze River, China.

The withdrawal of aquaculture facilities has an important impact on the aquatic ecosystem of the lakes connected to the Yangtze River. In order to elucidate the response mechanism of metazooplankton to the changes in water environment after the removal of aquaculture facilities, we collected metazooplankton samples and investigated the water environment in the Huayanghe Lakes from the summer of 2018 to the spring of 2019. Aquatic plants recovered quickly, and water eutrophication was relieved, especially in Lake Huangda, followed by Lake Bo. During our study, the highest regional (γ) diversity was 71 in summer, while the lowest was 32 in winter. Species turnover in space (ß diversity) varied between 10.01 and 56.52, which was highest in summer. Based on redundancy analysis, environmental factors such as transparency, Chl α, water temperature and water depth, had greatly effects on the metazooplankton community structure. The results showed that the restoration of aquatic plants increased species diversity and metazooplankton density. This study provides a data basis for lakes restoration and a scientific basis for the management and protection of lakes water ecosystem.