Integrated optimization of scheduling for unmanned follow-me cars on airport surface.

To promote the application of automated vehicles in large airports, in this study, we present an integrated optimization method for scheduling Unmanned follow-me cars. The scheduling process is divided into three phases: Dispatch, Guidance, and Recycle. For the Dispatch phase, we establish a vehicle assignment model, to allocate the vehicle resource equitably. For the Guidance phase, we offer an quantitative way, to measure the spacing between Unmanned follow-me car and aircraft. To optimize the efficiency of airport operation in the three phases and ensure safety, the collaborative planning model, and the conflict prediction model are established. An improved grey wolf optimization algorithm is adopted to enhance the convergence speed and generalization performance. A case study at Ezhou Huahu Airport in China demonstrates the effectiveness of the methods. The results show that the model of collaborative planning can make the balance of path selection, Unmanned follow-me car's working time, and departure sequence. The convergence speed of the improved algorithm has been increased by 18.75%. The inequity index of vehicle assignment is only 0.015731, and the spatiotemporal distribution of conflicts is influenced by the airport's surface layout.

Screening of temperature-responsive signalling molecules during sex differentiation in Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica).

BACKGROUND: The Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica) is an important commercial freshwater aquaculture species in China. This species is a highly sexually dimorphic species, with males growing at a faster rate than females and exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), in which the incubation temperature during embryonic development determines the sexual fate. However, the mechanisms of the sex determination or sex differentiation in the Asian yellow pond turtle are remain a mystery. RESULTS: Temperature-specific gonadal transcriptomics of the Asian yellow pond turtle were performed during the thermosensitive period (stage 15) using RNA-seq technology to identify candidate genes that initiate gonadal differentiation. We uncovered candidates that were the first to respond to temperature. These candidates were sexually dimorphic in expression, reflecting differences in gonadal (Cirbp, Runx1) and germline differentiation (Vasa, Nanos1, Piwil2), gametogenesis (Hmgb3, Zar1, Ovoinhibitor-like, Kif4), steroid hormone biosynthesis (Hsd17b5, Hsd17b6), heat shock (Dnajb6, Hsp90b1, Hsp90aa1) and transient receptor potential channel genes (Trpm1, Trpm4, Trpm6, Trpv1). CONCLUSIONS: Our work will provide important genetic information to elucidate the mechanisms of sex control in the Asian yellow pond turtles, and will contribute important genetic resources for further studies of temperature-dependent sex determination in turtles.

Dihydroartemisinin, a potential PTGS1 inhibitor, potentiated cisplatin-induced cell death in non-small cell lung cancer through activating ROS-mediated multiple signaling pathways.

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exerts an anti-tumor effect in multiple cancers, however, the molecular mechanism of DHA and whether DHA facilitates the anti-tumor efficacy of cisplatin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unclear. Here, we found that DHA potentiated the anti-tumor effects of cisplatin in NSCLC cells by stimulating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, C-Jun-amino-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo. Of note, we demonstrated for the first time that DHA inhibits prostaglandin G/H synthase 1 (PTGS1) expression, resulting in enhanced ROS production. Importantly, silencing PTGS1 sensitized DHA-induced cell death by increasing ROS production and activating ER-stress, JNK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. In summary, our findings provided new experimental basis and therapeutic prospect for the combined therapy with DHA and cisplatin in some NSCLC patients.

Whole-Genome Identification and Characterization of the DKK Gene Family and Its Transcription Profiles: An Analysis of the Chinese Soft-Shell Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis).

The DKK family is a canonical small family of WNT antagonists. Though recent studies have suggested that the DKK gene family may be involved in sex differentiation in Pelodiscus sinensis, there are still a lot of things about the DKK gene family that we do not know. In this study, we used bioinformatics methods to identify members of the DKK gene family in P. sinensis and analyzed their phylogeny, covariance, gene structure, structural domains, promoter conserved sites, signal peptides, gonadal transcription factors, transcriptional profiles, and tissue expression profiles. Additionally, qRT-PCR results were utilized for the validation and preliminary investigation of the function of the DKK gene family in P. sinensis. The results showed that the DKK gene family is divided into six subfamilies, distributed on six different chromosomal scaffolds containing different gene structures and conserved motifs with the same structural domains, and all of the members were secreted proteins. Our transcriptional profiling and embryonic expression analysis showed that DKKL1 and DKK4 were significantly expressed in the testes, whereas DKK1 and DKK3 were significantly upregulated in the ovaries. This suggests a potential function in sex differentiation in P. sinensis. Our results may provide a basic theoretical basis for the sex differentiation process in P. sinensis.

Effects of Photoperiod on Survival, Growth, Physiological, and Biochemical Indices of Redclaw Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) Juveniles.

Through a 30-day experiment, this study investigated the effects of five photoperiods (0L:24D, 6L:18D, 12L:12D, 18L:6D, and 24L:0D) on the survival, enzyme activity, body color, and growth-related gene expression of redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) juveniles. The results showed that C. quadricarinatus juveniles under 18L:6D and 24L:0D photoperiods exhibited the highest survival rate, which was significantly higher than the survival rates of juveniles under the other three photoperiods (p < 0.05). However, the 0L:24D group had the highest final body weight and weight gain rate, significantly surpassing those of the 12L:12D, 18L:6D, and 24L:0D groups (p < 0.05). Regarding enzyme activity and hormone levels, juveniles under the 18L:6D photoperiod exhibited relatively higher activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), acid phosphatase (ACP), and lysozyme (LZM) enzymes than those under other photoperiods, but their levels of melatonin and cortisol were relatively low. In addition, the 24L:0D group showed the highest malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Analysis of gene expression levels revealed that retinoid X receptor (RXR) and α-amylase (α-AMY) genes in C. quadricarinatus juveniles exhibited significantly higher expression levels under the 18L:6D photoperiod than those under the other four photoperiods (p < 0.05). With increasing daylight exposure, the body color of C. quadricarinatus changed from pale blue to yellow-brown. In summary, C. quadricarinatus juveniles achieved high survival rates, good growth performance, strong antioxidant stress response, and immune defense capabilities under an 18 h photoperiod. Therefore, in the industrial seedling cultivation of redclaw crayfish, it is recommended to provide 18 h of daily light. Further, the study demonstrated the ability to manipulate the body color of C. quadricarinatus through controlled artificial photoperiods. These findings provide essential technical parameters needed for the industrial cultivation of C. quadricarinatus juveniles.

Assessing and Screening of Female Fertility in Artificially Bred Asian Yellow Pond Turtles (Mauremys mutica) Based on Parentage Assignment.

The Asian yellow pond turtle (Mauremys mutica) is widely traded in China, and its artificial breeding has now become a major industry. However, the insufficient offspring supply and reproductive decline of farmed turtles make the wild turtles more vulnerable. The present study was mainly designed to quantify the fecundity of M. mutica and attempt to screen for good reproductive performance in females. The genetic variability of the population and its genetic structure were also analysed. The parent-offspring relationships of all offspring in four consecutive years were confirmed using sixteen microsatellite loci. The genetic variability between the parents and offspring was low, and offspring of different years also showed little variability. We summarised the reproductive results of all females and counted the annual number of offspring and the variation in the number of offspring. The females were then divided into three types (stable, undulating and levelling off) according to the continuity. We selected seven females with good reproductive ability, which provided 16.94% of the annual contributions, while there were two females that had no offspring in four years. We also analysed the possible reasons for this difference and the importance of carrying out a family survey. This research can provide the basis and materials for the creation of a good reproductive group and the study of the reproductive biology of turtles in M. mutica aquaculture.

Trichinella spiralis -induced immunomodulation signatures on gut microbiota and metabolic pathways in mice.

The hygiene hypothesis proposes that decreased exposure to infectious agents in developed countries may contribute to the development of allergic and autoimmune diseases. Trichinella spiralis, a parasitic roundworm, causes trichinellosis, also known as trichinosis, in humans. T. spiralis had many hosts, and almost any mammal could become infected. Adult worms lived in the small intestine, while the larvae lived in muscle cells of the same mammal. T. spiralis was a significant public health threat because it could cause severe illness and even death in humans who eat undercooked or raw meat containing the parasite. The complex interactions between gastrointestinal helminths, gut microbiota, and the host immune system present a challenge for researchers. Two groups of mice were infected with T. spiralis vs uninfected control, and the experiment was conducted over 60 days. The 16S rRNA gene sequences and untargeted LC/MS-based metabolomics of fecal and serum samples, respectively, from different stages of development of the Trichinella spiralis-mouse model, were examined in this study. Gut microbiota alterations and metabolic activity accompanied by parasite-induced immunomodulation were detected. The inflammation parameters of the duodenum (villus/crypt ratio, goblet cell number and size, and histological score) were involved in active inflammation and oxidative metabolite profiles. These profiles included increased biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan while decreasing cholesterol metabolism and primary and secondary bile acid biosynthesis. These disrupted metabolisms adapted to infection stress during the enteral and parenteral phases and then return to homeostasis during the encapsulated phase. There was a shift from an abundance of Bacteroides in the parenteral phase to an abundance of probiotic Lactobacillus and Treg-associated-Clostridia in the encapsulated phase. Th2 immune response (IL-4/IL-5/IL-13), lamina propria Treg, and immune hyporesponsiveness metabolic pathways (decreased tropane, piperidine and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis and biosynthesis of alkaloids derived from ornithine, lysine, and nicotinic acid) were all altered. These findings enhanced our understanding of gut microbiota and metabolic profiles of Trichinella -infected mice, which could be a driving force in parasite-shaping immune system maintenance.

Identification of Sex-Specific Markers and Candidate Genes Using WGS Sequencing Reveals a ZW-Type Sex-Determination System in the Chinese Soft-Shell Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis).

Male and female Chinese soft-shelled turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis) have sex-dimorphic growth patterns, and males have higher commercial value because of their larger size and thicker calipash. Thus, developing sex-specific markers is beneficial to studies on all-male breeding in P. sinensis. Here, we developed an accurate and efficient workflow for the screening of sex-specific sequences with ZW or XY sex determination systems. Based on this workflow, female and male P. sinensis reference genomes of 2.23 Gb and 2.26 Gb were obtained using de novo assembly. After aligning and filtering, 4.01 Mb female-specific sequences were finally identified. Subsequently, the seven developed sex-specific primer pairs were 100% accurate in preliminary, population, and embryonic validation. The presence and absence of bands for the primers of P44, P45, P66, P67, P68, and P69, as well as two and one bands for the PB1 primer, indicate that the embryos are genetically female and male, respectively. NR and functional annotations identified several sex-determining candidate genes and related pathways, including Ran, Eif4et, and Crkl genes, and the insulin signaling pathway and the cAMP signaling pathway, respectively. Collectively, our results reveal that a ZW-type sex-determination system is present in P. sinensis and provide novel insights for the screening of sex-specific markers, sex-control breeding, and the studies of the sex determination mechanism of P. sinensis.

Comparative genomic survey and functional analysis of DKKL1 during spermatogenesis in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis).

A feature of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is seasonal spermatogenesis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is not well clarified. Here, we firstly cloned and characterized P. sinensis DKKL1, and then performed comparative genomic studies, expression analysis, and functional validation. P. sinensis DKKL1 had 2 putative N-glycosylation sites and 16 phosphorylation sites. DKKL1 also had classic transmembrane structures that were extracellularly localized. DKKL1's genetic distance was close to turtles, followed by amphibians and mammals, but its genetic distance was far from fishes. DKKL1 genes from different species shared distinct genomic characteristics. Meanwhile, they were also relatively conserved among themselves, at least from the perspective of classes. Notably, the transcription factors associated with spermatogenesis were also identified, containing CTCF, EWSR1, and FOXL2. DKKL1 exhibited sexually dimorphic expression only in adult gonads, which was significantly higher than that in other somatic tissues (P < 0.001), and was barely expressed in embryonic gonads. DKKL1 transcripts showed a strong signal in sperm, while faint signals were detected in other male germ cells. DKKL1 in adult testes progressively increased per month (P < 0.05), displaying a seasonal expression trait. DKKL1 was significantly downregulated in testes cells after the sex hormones (17ß-estradiol and 17α-methyltestosterone) and Wnt/ß-catenin inhibitor treatment (P < 0.05). Likewise, the Wnt/ß-catenin inhibitor treatment dramatically repressed CTCF, EWSR1, and FOXL2 expression. Conversely, they were markedly upregulated after the 17ß-estradiol and 17α-methyltestosterone treatment, suggesting that the three transcription factors might bind to different promoter regions, thereby negatively regulating DKKL1 transcription in response to the changes in the estrogen and androgen pathways, and positively controlling DKKL1 transcription in answer to the alterations in the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Knockdown of DKKL1 significantly reduced the relative expression of HMGB2 and SPATS1 (P < 0.01), suggesting that it may be involved in seasonal spermatogenesis of P. sinensis through a positive regulatory interaction with these two genes. Overall, our findings provide novel insights into the genome evolution and potential functions of seasonal spermatogenesis of P. sinensis DKKL1.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of the Asian giant softshell turtle Pelochelys cantorii.

The Asian giant softshell turtle Pelochelys cantorii is one of the largest aquatic turtles in China and has been designated a First Grade Protected Animal in China. To advance conservation research, a combination of Illumina short-read, PacBio long-read, and Hi-C scaffolding technologies was used to develop a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly for P. cantorii. A total of 262.77 Gb of clean data were produced (121.6 × depth) and then the genome was assembled into 2.16 Gb with a contig N50 of 41.44 Mb and scaffold N50 length of 120.17 Mb, respectively. Moreover, about 99.98% assembly genome sequences were clustered and ordered onto 33 pseudochromosomes. Genome annotation revealed that 21,833 protein-coding genes were predicted, and 96.40% of them were annotated. This new chromosome-level assembly will be an enabling resource for genetic and genomic studies to support fundamental insight into P. cantorii biology.

Multi-Effects of Acute Salinity Stress on Osmoregulation, Physiological Metabolism, Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity, and Apoptosis in Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

Salinity stress can trigger a series of physiological changes. However, the mechanism underlying the response to acute salinity stress in Macrobrachium rosenbergii remains poorly understood. In this study, osmoregulation, physiological metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and apoptosis were examined over 96 h of acute salinity stress. Hemolymph osmolality increased with increasing salinity. After 48 h of salinity exposure, the glucose, triglycerides, total protein, and total cholesterol contents in two salinity stress groups (13 and 26‱ salinity) were significantly lower than those in the 0‱ salinity group. The highest levels of these parameters were detected at 6 h; however, superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were the lowest at 96 h in the 13‱ salinity group. The activity of immunity-related enzyme alkaline phosphatase (AKP) showed a decreasing trend with increasing salinity and remained at a low level in the 26‱ salinity group throughout the experiment. No significant differences were observed in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or lysozyme (LZM) among the three treatments at 96 h. After 96 h of salinity treatments, the gill filament diameter significantly decreased, and a more pronounced terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive signal was detected in the 13‱ and 26‱ groups compared to that in the 0‱ group. Expression levels of apoptosis-related genes, including Cysteine-aspartic acid protease 3 (Caspase 3), Cysteine-aspartic acid protease 8 (Caspase 8), Cytochrome c (Cyt-c), tumor suppressor gene (P53), Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and B cell lymphoma 2 ovarian killer (Bok) were significantly higher in the 26‱ salinity group than in the other groups at 24 h, but lower than those in the 0‱ salinity group at 96 h. Cyt-c and P53 levels exhibited a significantly positive relationship with MDA, AST, and LZM activity during salinity stress. In the 13‱ salinity group, Bok expression was significantly correlated with SOD, T-AOC, AKP, acid phosphatase, and LZM activity, whereas in the 26‱ group, the AST content was positively correlated with Caspase 8, Cyt-c, and P53 expression. A significant negative relationship was observed between Caspase 3 expression and catalase (CAT) activity. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the response to acute salinity stress and will contribute to improving M. rosenbergii aquaculture and management practices.

Molecular simulation of the confined crystallization of ice in cement nanopore.

Freezing of water under nanoconfinement exhibits physical peculiarities with respect to the bulk water. However, experimental observations are extremely challenging at this scale, which limits our understanding of the effect of confinement on water properties upon freezing. In this study, we use molecular dynamic simulations to investigate how confinement affects the kinetics of growth of ice and the thermodynamic equilibrium of ice-liquid coexistence. TIP4P/Ice water model and CSH-FF model were applied to simulate ice crystallization in a confined cement system at temperatures down to 220 K. We adapted an interface detection algorithm and reparameterized the CHILL/CHILL+ algorithm to capture ice growth. The confinement leads to a shift of the maximum growth rate of ice to a higher temperature than for bulk water. Both the confinement and surface impurities contribute to slowing down the ice growth. For the ice-liquid coexistence at equilibrium, we derive a formulation of Thomson's equation adapted to statistical physics quantities accessible by molecular simulation, and we show that this adapted equation predicts accurately the melting line of bulk and confined ice Ih as a function of pressure. The confinement decreases systematically the melting temperature of ice of about 5 K compared with bulk ice Ih. A premelted water film about 1 nm thick is observed between the solid wall and ice, and its thickness is found to decrease continuously as temperature is lowered. We note that the surface impurities are key to the formation of the premelted water nanofilm when the temperature is lower than 250 K.

Exploring the relationship between environmental DNA concentration and biomass in Asian giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii).

In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) technology has become an accepted approach for investigating rare and endangered species because of its economic efficiency, high sensitivity, and non-invasiveness. The Asian giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) is a first-class protected aquatic animal in China, and traditional resource survey methods have not identified its natural populations for many years. In this study, primers and a TaqMan probe targeting ND5 were designed, reaction conditions were optimized, a standard curve was constructed using synthetic DNA, and an eDNA quantitative PCR (qPCR) detection method was established. The eDNA detection technology for P. cantorii revealed that the number of species in the experimental pools showed a significant linear relationship with the eDNA concentration (p < 0.05). The eDNA concentration was negatively correlated with the length of time after the removal of P. cantorii and retention in the water body for 9 days. The qPCR detection method for P. cantorii eDNA established in this study can be applied to the qualitative detection of P. cantorii in water bodies, as well as to preliminary evaluation of its relative biomass. This can serve as a baseline for the investigation of natural P. cantorii population and the evaluation of its wild release effects.

LncRNA CYP4A22-AS1 promotes the progression of lung adenocarcinoma through the miR-205-5p/EREG and miR-34c-5p/BCL-2 axes.

OBJECTIVES: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) exhibits a higher fatality rate among all cancer types worldwide, yet the precise mechanisms underlying its initiation and progression remain unknown. Mounting evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert significant regulatory roles in cancer development and progression. Nevertheless, the precise involvement of lncRNA CYP4A22-AS1 in LUAD remains incompletely comprehended. METHODS: Bioinformatics analyses evaluated the expression level of CYP4A22-AS1 in lung adenocarcinoma and paracancer. The LUAD cell line with a high expression of CYP4A22-AS1 was constructed to evaluate the role of CYP4A22-AS1 in the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD by CCK8, scratch healing, transwell assays, and animal experiments. We applied transcriptome and microRNA sequencing to examine the mechanism of CYP4A22-AS1 enhancing the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD. Luciferase reporter gene analyses, west-blotting, and qRT-PCR were carried out to reveal the interaction between CYP4A22-AS1, miR-205-5p/EREG, and miR-34c-5p/BCL-2 axes. RESULTS: CYP4A22-AS1 expression was significantly higher in LUAD tissues than in the adjacent tissues. Furthermore, we constructed a LUAD cell line with a high expression of CYP4A22-AS1 and noted that the high expression of CYP4A22-AS1 significantly enhanced the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD. We applied transcriptome and microRNA sequencing to examine the mechanism of CYP4A22-AS1 enhancing the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD. CYP4A22-AS1 increased the expression of EREG and BCL-2 by reducing the expression of miR-205-5p and miR-34-5p and activating the downstream signaling pathway of EGFR and the anti-apoptotic signaling pathway of BCL-2, thereby triggering the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD. The transfection of miR-205-5p and miR-34-5p mimics inhibited the role of CYP4A22-AS1 in enhancing tumor progression. CONCLUSION: This study elucidates the molecular mechanism whereby CYP4A22-AS1 overexpression promotes LUAD progression through the miR-205-5p/EREG and miR-34c-5p/BCL-2 axes.

Reproductive Output Reveals the Maternal Effects on Offspring Size-Number Trade-Off in Cultured Asian Yellow Pond Turtle (Mauremys mutica).

Offspring size-number trade-off is a critical component of life-history theory and is important for further understanding the reproductive strategies of animals. The relationship between this trade-off and maternal size has been explored in several turtle species, except for the Asian yellow pond turtle, Mauremys mutica. To investigate how the maternal condition affects offspring size and number, we explored the relationships among the maternal body size and the number and size of cultured M. mutica hatchlings using a 4-year dataset. Our results showed that different females not only produced different sizes of offspring but also produced different numbers of offspring. No trade-off in egg size number was detected. According to regression analysis, we did not find that the maternal body size significantly influenced the offspring mass; however, we detected that the offspring size was significantly correlated with the clutch size and maternal age. The mean body mass of offspring increased with maternal age, and the clutch size varied significantly over four years, which was correlated with offspring size, maternal body size and age. However, the number of offspring per female increased with the maternal plastron length rather than age. Our results were inconsistent with the optimal offspring size theory in that females did not increase their offspring size but rather increased the offspring number to increase their fitness, which will also provide a basis for the efficient cultivation management of turtles.

Chromosome-Level Analysis of the Pelochelys cantorii Genome Provides Insights to Its Immunity, Growth and Longevity.

The Asian giant soft-shelled turtle, Pelochelys cantorii (Trionychidae), is one of the largest aquatic turtles in China and was designated as a First-Grade Protected Animal in China in 1989. Previous investigation based on a combination of Illumina short-read, PacBio long-read and Hi-C scaffolding technologies acquired a high-quality chromosome-level genome of Pc. cantorii. In this study, comparative genomic analysis between Pc. cantorii and 16 other vertebrate genomes indicated that turtles separated from the ancestor of archosaurians approximately 256.6 (95% highest posterior density interval, 263.6-251.9) million years ago (Mya) (Upper Permian to Triassic) and that Pc. cantorii separated from the ancestor of Pd. sinensis and R. swinhoei approximately 59.3 (95% highest posterior density interval, 64.3-54.3) Mya. Moreover, several candidate genes, such as VWA5A, ABCG2, A2M and IGSF1, associated with tumor suppression, growth and age were expanded, implicating their potential roles in the exceptional longevity of turtles. This new chromosome-level assembly has important scientific value in the study of conservation of Pc. cantorii and also enriches the evolutionary investigation of turtle species.

Single-Cell Atlas Reveals the Hemocyte Subpopulations and Stress Responses in Asian Giant Softshell Turtle during Hibernation.

Hibernation in turtle species is an adaptive survival strategy to colder winter conditions or food restrictions. However, the mechanisms underlying seasonal adaptions remain unclear. In the present study, we collected hemocytes from Pelochelys cantorii and compared the molecular signature of these cells between the active state and hibernation period based on single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. We found six cell types and identified a list of new marker genes for each cell subpopulation. Moreover, several heat shock genes, including the Hsp40 family chaperone gene (DNAJ) and HSP temperature-responsive genes (HSPs), were upregulated during the hibernation period, which predicted these genes may play crucial roles in the stress response during hibernation. Additionally, compared to hemocytes in the active state, several upregulated differentially expressed immune-related genes, such as stat1, traf3, and socs6, were identified in hemocytes during the hibernation period, thus indicating the important immune function of hemocytes. Therefore, our findings provide a unified classification of P. cantorii hemocytes and identify the genes related to the stress response, thereby providing a better understanding of the adaptive mechanisms of hibernation.

Effects of biochar addition on aeolian soil microbial community assembly and structure.

The effects of biochar on soil improvement have been widely confirmed, but its influence on soil microorganisms is still unclear. Elucidating the complex relationship and the community assembly processes of microorganisms under biochar addition is important to understand the ecological effects of this substance. We performed a one-time addition of biochar on aeolian soils and planted maize (Zea mays L.) continuously for 7 years. Afterwards, soil samples were collected, and the 16S/ITS rRNA gene sequencing technology was used to study changes in microbial community structure, network characteristics, and community assembly processes in the aeolian soils. We found that biochar addition significantly increased the maize yield and changed the soil microbial community composition (ß-diversity), but had no significant effect on the microbial α-diversity. The addition of 31.5-126.0 Mg ha-1 of biochar led to a reduction of the rhizosphere bacterial network's edge number, average degree, and robustness, but had no significant effect on the fungal network properties. The bacterial community was controlled by deterministic processes, while fungi were mainly controlled by stochastic processes. The addition of 126.0 Mg ha-1 of biochar led to a transformation of the bacterial community's assembly processes from deterministic to stochastic. These results indicate that the stability of the rhizosphere bacterial community's complex network in aeolian soils diminishes under biochar addition, together changed the bacterial community's assembly processes. Fungi can instead effectively resist the environmental changes brought by biochar addition, and their network remains unchanged. These findings help clarify the effect of biochar addition on microbial interaction and assembly processes in aeolian soils characteristic of arid regions. KEY POINTS: • Biochar addition led to changes in the microbial community composition • Biochar addition reduced the network's stability of rhizosphere bacteria • Biochar addition changed the processes of the bacterial community assembly.

The Effects of Oil and Gas Produced Water on Soil Bacterial Community Structure in the Arid Desert Area.

The safe utilization and risk assessment of produced water (PW) from oil and gas fields for desert irrigation have received increasing attention in recent years. In this context, this study aimed to analyze structural changes in soil bacterial community, and assess the environmental impact of PW discharge and irrigation over time. High-throughput sequencing technology was employed to examine the structure of the soil bacterial community in the constructed wetland and its surrounding desert vegetation irrigation region where PW was released for a considerable amount of time (30 years). The results revealed that long-term discharge of PW and irrigation significantly reduced the abundance of the soil bacterial community but did not significantly alter the richness and diversity of the soil bacterial community. Proteobacteria was the dominant bacterial phyla in soil, but in irrigated and drained areas, the dominant bacterial phyla changed from Alphaproteobacteria to Gammaproteobacteria, the Firmicutes abundance was significantly reduced.

Isopimaric acid, an ion channel regulator, regulates calcium and oxidative phosphorylation pathways to inhibit breast cancer proliferation and metastasis.

Breast cancer is the globally most common malignant tumor and the biggest threat to women. Even though the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer are progressing continually, a large number of breast cancer patients eventually develop a metastatic tumor, especially triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Recently, metal ion homeostasis and ion signaling pathway have become important targets for cancer therapy. In this study, We analyzed the effects and mechanisms of isopimaric acid (IPA), an ion channel regulator, on the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells (4 T1, MDA-MB-231and MCF-7) by cell functional assay, flow cytometry, western blot, proteomics and other techniques in vitro and in vivo. Results found that IPA significantly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells (especially 4 T1). Further studies on the anti-tumor mechanism of IPA suggested that IPA might affect EMT and Wnt signaling pathways by targeting mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation and Ca2+ signaling pathways, and then inducing breast cancer cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Our research reveals the therapeutic value of IPA in breast cancer and provides a theoretical basis for the new treatment of breast cancer.