Computed tomography radiomics study of invasion and instability of lung adenocarcinoma manifesting as ground glass nodule.

Background: Ground-glass nodule (GGN) is the most common manifestation of lung adenocarcinoma on computed tomography (CT). Clinically, the success rate of preoperative diagnosis of GGN by puncture biopsy and other means is still low. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical and radiomics characteristics of lung adenocarcinoma presenting as GGN on CT images using radiomics analysis methods, establish a radiomics model, and predict the classification of pathological tissue and instability of GGN type lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: This study retrospectively collected 249 patients with 298 GGN lesions who were pathologically confirmed of having lung adenocarcinoma. The images were imported into the Siemens scientific research prototype software to outline the region of interest and extract the radiomics features. Logistic model A (a radiomics model to identify the infiltration of lung adenocarcinoma manifesting as GGNs) was established using features after the dimensionality reduction process. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the model on training set and the verification set was drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Second, a total of 112 lesions were selected from 298 lesions originating from CT images of at least two occasions, and the time between the first CT and the preoperative CT was defined as not less than 90 days. The mass doubling time (MDT) of all lesions was calculated. According to the different MDT diagnostic thresholds instability was predicted. Finally, their AUCs were calculated and compared. Results: There were statistically significant differences in age and lesion location distribution between the "noninvasive" lesion group and the invasive lesion group (P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in sex (P>0.05). Model A had an AUC of 0.89, sensitivity of 0.75, and specificity of 0.86 in the training set and an AUC of 0.87, sensitivity of 0.63, and specificity of 0.90 in the validation set. There was no significant difference statistically in MDT between "noninvasive" lesions and invasive lesions (P>0.05). The AUCs of radiomics models B1, B2 and B3 were 0.89, 0.80, and 0.81, respectively; the sensitivities were 0.71, 0.54, and 0.76, respectively; the specificities were 0.83, 0.77, and 0.60, respectively; and the accuracies were 0.78, 0.65, and 0.69, respectively. Conclusions: There were statistically significant differences in age and location of lesions between the "noninvasive" lesion group and the invasive lesion group. The radiomics model can predict the invasiveness of lung adenocarcinoma manifesting as GGNs. There was no significant difference in MDT between "noninvasive" lesions and invasive lesions. The radiomics model can predict the instability of lung adenocarcinoma manifesting as GGN. When the threshold of MDT was set at 813 days, the model had higher specificity, accuracy, and diagnostic efficiency.

FABP3 Induces Mitochondrial Autophagy to Promote Neuronal Cell Apoptosis in Brain Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

This study elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which FABP3 regulates neuronal apoptosis via mitochondrial autophagy in the context of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Employing a transient mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) established using the filament method, brain tissue samples were procured from I/R mice. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing on the Illumina CN500 platform was performed to identify differentially expressed mRNAs. Critical genes were selected by intersecting I/R-related genes from the GeneCards database with the differentially expressed mRNAs. The in vivo mechanism was explored by infecting I/R mice with lentivirus. Brain tissue injury, infarct volume ratio in the ischemic penumbra, neurologic deficits, behavioral abilities, neuronal apoptosis, apoptotic factors, inflammatory factors, and lipid peroxidation markers were assessed using H&E staining, TTC staining, Longa scoring, rotation experiments, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot. For in vitro validation, an OGD/R model was established using primary neuron cells. Cell viability, apoptosis rate, mitochondrial oxidative stress, morphology, autophagosome formation, membrane potential, LC3 protein levels, and colocalization of autophagosomes and mitochondria were evaluated using MTT assay, LDH release assay, flow cytometry, ROS/MDA/GSH-Px measurement, transmission electron microscopy, MitoTracker staining, JC-1 method, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. FABP3 was identified as a critical gene in I/R through integrated transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. In vivo experiments revealed that FABP3 silencing mitigated brain tissue damage, reduced infarct volume ratio, improved neurologic deficits, restored behavioral abilities, and attenuated neuronal apoptosis, inflammation, and mitochondrial oxidative stress in I/R mice. In vitro experiments demonstrated that FABP3 silencing restored OGD/R cell viability, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and decreased mitochondrial oxidative stress. Moreover, FABP3 induced mitochondrial autophagy through ROS, which was inhibited by the free radical scavenger NAC. Blocking mitochondrial autophagy with sh-ATG5 lentivirus confirmed that FABP3 induces mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal apoptosis by activating mitochondrial autophagy. In conclusion, FABP3 activates mitochondrial autophagy through ROS, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal apoptosis, thereby promoting cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate protects vascular relaxation in ApoE-knockout mice by inhibiting the SYK-NLRP3 inflammasome-MMP2/9 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia damages vascular wall and serves as a foundation for diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and stiffness. The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is implicated in vascular dysfunction associated with hyperlipidemia-induced vascular injury. Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS), a well-established cardiovascular protective drug with recognized anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vasodilatory properties, is yet to be thoroughly investigated for its impact on vascular relaxant imbalance induced by hyperlipidemia. METHODS: In this study, we treated ApoE-knockout (ApoE-/-) mouse with STS and assessed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, expression of MMP2/9, integrity of elastic fibers, and vascular constriction and relaxation. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that STS intervention effectively preserves elastic fibers, significantly restores aortic relaxation function in ApoE-/- mice, and reduces their excessive constriction. Furthermore, STS inhibits the phosphorylation of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK), suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduces MMP2/9 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that STS protects vascular relaxation against hyperlipidemia-induced damage through modulation of the SYK-NLRP3 inflammasome-MMP2/9 pathway. This research provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying vascular relaxation impairment in a hyperlipidemic environment and uncovers a unique mechanism by which STS preserves vascular relaxation, offering valuable foundational research evidence for its clinical application in promoting vascular health.

Application of Fusobacterium nucleatum as a biomarker in gastrointestinal malignancies.

The morbidity and mortality of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies are among the highest in the world, posing a serious threat to human health. Because of the insidious onset of the cancer, it is difficult for patients to be diagnosed at an early stage, and it rapidly progresses to an advanced stage, resulting in poor treatment and prognosis. Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a gram-negative, spore-free anaerobic bacterium that primarily colonizes the oral cavity and is implicated in the development of colorectal, esophageal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers via various intricate mechanisms. Recent development in novel research suggests that F. nucleatum may function as a biomarker in GI malignancies. Detecting the abundance of F. nucleatum in stool, saliva, and serum samples of patients may aid in the diagnosis, risk assessment, and prognosis monitoring of GI malignancies. This editorial systematically describes the biological roles and mechanisms of F. nucleatum in GI malignancies focusing on the application of F. nucleatum as a biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis of GI malignancies to promote the clinical translation of F. nucleatum and GI tumors-related research.

Elongatibacter sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from intertidal sediment, and genomic comparison with all genera in the family Wenzhouxiangellaceae.

A novel slightly halophilic, aerobic, and Gram-stain-negative strain, designated as CH-27T, was isolated during a bacterial resource investigation of intertidal sediment collected from Xiaoshi Island in Weihai, PR China. Cells of strain CH-27T were rod-shaped with widths of 0.3-0.6 µm and lengths of 2.0-11.0 µm. Strain CH-27T grew optimally at 37 °C, pH 7.0 and with 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Catalase activity was weakly positive and oxidase activity was positive. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CH-27T was most related to Marinihelvus fidelis KCTC 92639T (93.6 %), followed by Wenzhouxiangella marina MCCC 1K00261T (92.0 %). Based on genome comparisons between strain CH-27T and M. fidelis KCTC 92639T, the average amino acid identity was 63.6 % and the percentage of conserved proteins was 48.3 %. The major cellular fatty acid of strain CH-27T (≥10 %) was iso-C15 : 0 and the sole respiratory quinone was quinone-8. The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, and aminophospholipid. The DNA G+C content was 62.7 mol%. Based on comprehensive analysis of its phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain CH-27T represents a novel species in a novel genus, for which the name Elongatibacter sediminis gen. nov., sp.nov. is proposed. The type strain is CH-27T (=MCCC 1H00480T=KCTC 8011T).

Designing Symmetric Gradient Honeycomb Structures with Carbon-Coated Iron-Based Composites for High-Efficiency Microwave Absorption.

The impedance matching of absorbers is a vital factor affecting their microwave absorption (MA) properties. In this work, we controllably synthesized Material of Institute Lavoisier 88C (MIL-88C) with varying aspect ratios (AR) as a precursor by regulating oil bath conditions, followed by one-step thermal decomposition to obtain carbon-coated iron-based composites. Modifying the precursor MIL-88C (Fe) preparation conditions, such as the molar ratio between metal ions and organic ligands (M/O), oil bath temperature, and oil bath time, influenced the phases, graphitization degree, and AR of the derivatives, enabling low filler loading, achieving well-matched impedance, and ensuring outstanding MA properties. The MOF-derivatives 2 (MD2)/polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF), MD3/PVDF, and MD4/PVDF absorbers all exhibited excellent MA properties with optimal filler loadings below 20 wt% and as low as 5 wt%. The MD2/PVDF (5 wt%) achieved a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.52 GHz (1.90 mm). The MD3/PVDF (10 wt%) possessed a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value of - 67.4 at 12.56 GHz (2.13 mm). A symmetric gradient honeycomb structure (SGHS) was constructed utilizing the high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS) to further extend the EAB, achieving an EAB of 14.6 GHz and a RLmin of - 59.0 dB. This research offers a viable inspiration to creating structures or materials with high-efficiency MA properties.

Distribution, risk evaluation, and source allocation of cesium and strontium in surface soil in a mining city.

Radioactive nuclides cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) possess long half-lives, with 135Cs at approximately 2.3 million years and 87Sr at about 49 billion years. Their persistent accumulation can result in long-lasting radioactive contamination of soil ecosystems. This study employed geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk index (PEPI), health risk assessment model (HRA), and Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the pollution and health risks of Cs and Sr in the surface soil of different functional areas in a typical mining city in China. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used to elucidate the potential sources of Cs and Sr and the respective contribution rates of natural and anthropogenic sources. The findings indicate that soils in the mining area exhibited significantly higher levels of Cs and Sr pollution compared to smelting factory area, agricultural area, and urban residential area. Strontium did not pose a potential ecological risk in any studied functional area. The non-carcinogenic health risk of Sr to the human body in the study area was relatively low. Because of the lack of parameters for Cs, the potential ecological and human health risks of Cs was not calculated. The primary source of Cs in the soil was identified as the parent material from which the soil developed, while Sr mainly originated from associated contamination caused by mining activities. This research provides data for the control of Cs and Sr pollution in the surface soil of mining city.

Pyrenetetrasulfonate-grafted 2D ultrathin metal-organic layer as new electrochemiluminescence emitters for ultrasensitive microRNA-21 assay.

The exploration of novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophores with excellent ECL properties is a current research hotspot in the ECL field. Herein, a novel high-efficiency Ru-complex-free ECL emitter PyTS-Zr-BTB-MOL has been prepared by using porous ultrathin Zr-BTB metal-organic layer (MOL) as carrier to coordinatively graft the cheap and easily available polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derivative luminophore PyTS whose ECL performance has never been investigated. Gratifyingly, the ECL intensity and efficiency of PyTS-Zr-BTB-MOL were markedly enhanced compared to both PyTS monomers and PyTS aggregates. The main reason was that the distance between pyrene rings was greatly expanded after the PyTS grafting on the Zr6 clusters of Zr-BTB-MOL, which overcame the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect of PyTS and thus enhanced the ECL emission. Meanwhile, the porous nanosheet structure of PyTS-Zr-BTB-MOL could distinctly increase the exposure of PyTS luminophores and shorten the diffusion paths of coreactants and electrons/ions, which effectively promoted the electrochemical excitation of more PyTS luminophores and thus achieved a further ECL enhancement. In light of the remarkable ECL property of PyTS-Zr-BTB-MOL, it was employed as an ECL indicator to build a novel high-sensitivity ECL biosensor for microRNA-21 determination, possessing a satisfactory response range (100 aM to 100 pM) and an ultralow detection limit (10.4 aM). Overall, this work demonstrated that using MOLs to coordinatively graft the PAH derivative luminophores to eliminate the ACQ effect and increase the utilization rate of the luminophores is a promising and efficient strategy to develop high-performance Ru-complex-free ECL materials for assembling ultrasensitive ECL biosensing platforms.

Intermittent Fasting Targets Osteocyte Neuropeptide Y to Relieve Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent progressive joint disease that still requires an optimal therapeutic approach. Intermittent fasting is an attractive dieting strategy for improving health. Here this study shows that intermittent fasting potently relieves medial meniscus (DMM)- or natural aging-induced osteoarthritic phenotypes. Osteocytes, the most abundant bone cells, secrete excess neuropeptide Y (NPY) during osteoarthritis, and this alteration can be altered by intermittent fasting. Both NPY and the NPY-abundant culture medium of osteocytes (OCY-CM) from osteoarthritic mice possess pro-inflammatory, pro-osteoclastic, and pro-neurite outgrowth effects, while OCY-CM from the intermittent fasting-treated osteoarthritic mice fails to induce significant stimulatory effects on inflammation, osteoclast formation, and neurite outgrowth. Depletion of osteocyte NPY significantly attenuates DMM-induced osteoarthritis and abolishes the benefits of intermittent fasting on osteoarthritis. This study suggests that osteocyte NPY is a key contributing factor in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and intermittent fasting represents a promising nonpharmacological antiosteoarthritis method by targeting osteocyte NPY.

Applications of Ene-Reductases in the Synthesis of Flavors and Fragrances.

Flavors and fragrances (F&F) are interesting organic compounds in chemistry. These compounds are widely used in the food, cosmetic, and medical industries. Enzymatic synthesis exhibits several advantages over natural extraction and chemical preparation, including a high yield, stable quality, mildness, and environmental friendliness. To date, many oxidoreductases and hydrolases have been used to biosynthesize F&F. Ene-reductases (ERs) are a class of biocatalysts that can catalyze the asymmetric reduction of α,ß-unsaturated compounds and offer superior specificity and selectivity; therefore, ERs have been increasingly considered an ideal alternative to their chemical counterparts. This review summarizes the research progress on the use of ERs in F&F synthesis over the past 20 years, including the achievements of various scholars, the differences and similarities among the findings, and the discussions of future research trends related to ERs. We hope this review can inspire researchers to promote the development of biotechnology in the F&F industry.

Developments in the study of Chinese herbal medicine's assessment index and action mechanism for diabetes mellitus.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), based on various pathogenic symptoms and the 'golden chamber' medical text, Huangdi Neijing, diabetes mellitus falls under the category 'collateral disease'. TCM, with its wealth of experience, has been treating diabetes for over two millennia. Different antidiabetic Chinese herbal medicines reduce blood sugar, with their effective ingredients exerting unique advantages. As well as a glucose lowering effect, TCM also regulates bodily functions to prevent diabetes associated complications, with reduced side effects compared to western synthetic drugs. Chinese herbal medicine is usually composed of polysaccharides, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids. These active ingredients reduce blood sugar via various mechanism of actions that include boosting endogenous insulin secretion, enhancing insulin sensitivity and adjusting key enzyme activity and scavenging free radicals. These actions regulate glycolipid metabolism in the body, eventually achieving the goal of normalizing blood glucose. Using different animal models, a number of molecular markers are available for the detection of diabetes induction and the molecular pathology of the disease is becoming clearer. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of scientific data about the pharmacology, dose-effect relationship, and structure-activity relationship of TCM and its constituents. Further research into the efficacy, toxicity and mode of action of TCM, using different metabolic and molecular markers, is key to developing novel TCM antidiabetic formulations.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood vaccinations.

Routine pediatric vaccination is one of the most effective public health inter-ventions for the control of a number of fatal diseases. However, during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, routine pediatric vaccination rates were severely affected by disruptions of health services and vaccine confidence issues. Governments and the United Nations have taken measures to re-establish routine pediatric vaccination, while additional efforts are needed to catch up and develop plans to ensure routine vaccination services for the future pandemics.

hnRNP Q/SYNCRIP interacts with LIN28B and modulates the LIN28B/let-7 axis in human hepatoma cells.

The RNA-binding protein LIN28B represses the biogenesis of the tumor suppressor let-7. The LIN28B/let-7 axis regulates cell differentiation and is associated with various cancers. The RNA-binding protein Q (hnRNP Q) or SYNCRIP (Synaptotagmin Binding Cytoplasmic RNA Interacting Protein) has been implicated in mRNA splicing, mRNA transport, translation, and miRNAs biogenesis as well as metabolism in cancer. To determine whether hnRNP Q plays a role in the LIN28B/let-7 axis, we tested for interactions between hnRNP Q and LIN28B. We demonstrated that hnRNP Q interacts with LIN28B in an RNA-dependent manner. Knockdown of hnRNP Q caused reduced expression of a well-known let-7 target TRIM71, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that belongs to the RBCC/TRIM family, and also LIN28B, whose mRNA itself is down-regulated by let-7. In addition, hnRNP Q knockdown increased let-7 family miRNA levels and reduced the activity of luciferase reporters fused with the TRIM71 3'UTR or a synthetic 3'UTR carrying 8X let-7 complementary sites. Finally, depletion of hnRNP Q inhibited the proliferation of a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, Huh7. This observation is consistent with the survival curve for liver cancer patients from the TCGA database, which indicates that high expression of hnRNP Q is a prognostic marker for a poor outcome in individuals afflicted with hepatocellular carcinoma. Together, our findings suggest that hnRNP Q interacts with LIN28B and modulates the LIN28B/let-7 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Characteristics of corn starch/polyvinyl alcohol composite film with improved flexibility and UV shielding ability by novel approach combining chemical cross-linking and physical blending.

With the aim of effectively improving the performance of bio-friendly food packaging and circumventing the hazards associated with petroleum-based plastic food packaging, composite films of corn starch and polyvinyl alcohol were prepared using a new method that involved chemical cross-linking of glutaraldehyde and blending with cinnamon essential oil nanoemulsion (CNE). Glutaraldehyde and CNE enhance the film's network structure by chemical bonding and hydrogen bonding, respectively. This results in improved surface smoothness, mechanical properties, and UV shielding ability of the film. However, the films' surface hydrophilicity increased as a result of CNE, which is harmful for food preservation in high humidity. Overall, glutaraldehyde and CNE have a synergistic effect on some of the properties of the film which is mainly attributed to the films' structure improvement. The films have great potential for preparing flexible and UV-shielding films and offer new ideas for developing biodegradable films.

T1-Weighted Imaging-Based Hippocampal Radiomics in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the potential of T1-weighted imaging (T1WI)-based hippocampal radiomics as imaging markers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their efficacy in discriminating between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in AD. METHODS: A total of 126 AD patients underwent T1WI-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations, along with 108 age-sex-matched healthy controls (HC). This was a retrospective, single-center study conducted from November 2021 to February 2023. AD patients were categorized into two groups based on disease progression and cognitive function: AD-MCI and dementia (AD-D). T1WI-based radiomics features of the bilateral hippocampi were extracted. To diagnose AD and differentiate between AD-MCI and AD-D, predictive models were developed using random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), and support vector machine (SVM). We compared radiomics features between the AD and HC groups, as well as within the subgroups of AD-MCI and AD-D. Area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were all used to assess model performance. Furthermore, correlations between radiomics features and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 181 (P-tau-181), and amyloid ß peptide1-42 (Aß1-42) were analyzed. RESULTS: The RF model demonstrated superior performance in distinguishing AD from HC (AUC=0.961, accuracy=90.8%, sensitivity=90.7%, specificity=90.9%) and in identifying AD-MCI and AD-D (AUC=0.875, accuracy=80.7%, sensitivity=87.2%, specificity=73.2%) compared to the other models. Additionally, radiomics features were correlated with MMSE scores, P-tau-181, and Aß1-42 levels in AD. CONCLUSION: T1WI-based hippocampal radiomics features are valuable for diagnosing AD and identifying AD-MCI and AD-D.

Capsaicin pretreatment attenuates salt-sensitive hypertension by alleviating AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.

Background: Long term hypertension seriously promotes target organ damage in the brain and heart, and has increasingly become serious public health problem worldwide. The anti-hypertensive effects of capsaicin has been reported, however, the role and mechanism of capsaicin within the brain on salt-induced hypertension have yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that capsaicin attenuates salt-induced hypertension via the AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Methods: Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl S) rats were used as animal model for the present study. Rats were randomly divided into four groups based on their dietary regimen (0.3% normal salt diet and 8% high salt diet) and treatment methods (infusion of vehicle or capsaicin in the PVN). Capsaicin was chronically administered in the PVN throughout the animal experiment phase of the study that lasted 6 weeks. Results: Our results demonstrated that PVN pretreatment with capsaicin can slow down raise of the blood pressure elevation and heart rate (HR) of Dahl S hypertensive rats given high salt diet. Interestingly, the cardiac hypertrophy was significantly improved. Furthermore, PVN pretreatment with capsaicin induced decrease in the expression of mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NOX4, p-IKKß and proinflammatory cytokines and increase in number of positive cell level for Nrf2 and HO-1 in the PVN of Dahl S hypertensive rats. Additionally, the protein expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase-B (p-AKT) were decreased, phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) were increased after the PVN pretreatment with capsaicin. Conclusion: Capsaicin pretreatment attenuates salt-sensitive hypertension by alleviating AMPK/Akt/iNOS pathway in the PVN.

Plant beta-turnover rather than nestedness shapes overall taxonomic and phylogenetic beta-diversity triggered by favorable spatial-environmental conditions in large-scale Chinese grasslands.

Introduction: Although it is widely acknowledged that biodiversity maintains plant community assembly processes, exploring the patterns and drivers of beta-diversity (ß-diversity; species variation among local plant communities) has received much less attention compared to alpha-diversity (α-diversity; species variation within a local plant community). Here, we aim to examine the patterns and spatial-environmental drivers of taxonomic and phylogenetic ß-diversity, and their components such as species turnover and nestedness, in large-scale Leymus chinensis grassland communities. Methods: We collected plant community data from 166 sites across widely distributed L. chinensis communities in northern China, and then calculated the taxonomic and phylogenetic ß-diversity indices (overall, turnover and nestedness) using a pairwise dissimilarity approach. To assess the effects and to explain the variation in the patterns of ß-diversity, we collected data on geospatial, climate and soil conditions. We applied descriptive statistics, Mental correlations, and multiple linear regression models to assess the patterns and spatial-environmental drivers of ß-diversity. Results: The ß-turnover, as compared to ß-nestedness, exhibited a predominant influence, constituting 92.6% of the taxonomic ß-diversity and 80.4% of the phylogenetic ß-diversity. Most of the spatial-environmental variables were significantly positively correlated with the overall taxonomic and phylogenetic ß-diversity and ß-turnover, but not with ß-nestedness. Climatic factors such as MAP and MAT were the strongest predictors of both taxonomic and phylogenetic ß-diversity and ß-turnover. The variance partitioning analysis showed that the combined effects of spatial and environmental factors accounted for 19% and 16% of the variation in the taxonomic and phylogenetic ß-diversity (overall), 17% and 12% of the variation in the ß-turnover, and 7% and 1% of the variation in the ß-nestedness, respectively, which were higher than independent effects of either spatial or environmental factors. Discussion: At larger spatial scales, the turnover component of ß-diversity may be associated with the species complementarity effect, but dominant or functionally important species can vary among communities due to the species selection effect. By incorporating ß-diversity into grassland management strategies, we can enhance the provision of vital ecosystem services that bolster human welfare, serving as a resilient barrier against the adverse effects of climate change at regional and global scales.

Susceptibility gene identification and risk evaluation model construction by transcriptome-wide association analysis for salt sensitivity of blood pressure.

BACKGROUND: Salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) is an intermediate phenotype of hypertension and is a predictor of long-term cardiovascular events and death. However, the genetic structures of SSBP are uncertain, and it is difficult to precisely diagnose SSBP in population. So, we aimed to identify genes related to susceptibility to the SSBP, construct a risk evaluation model, and explore the potential functions of these genes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A genome-wide association study of the systemic epidemiology of salt sensitivity (EpiSS) cohort was performed to obtain summary statistics for SSBP. Then, we conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) of 12 tissues using FUSION software to predict the genes associated with SSBP and verified the genes with an mRNA microarray. The potential roles of the genes were explored. Risk evaluation models of SSBP were constructed based on the serial P value thresholds of polygenetic risk scores (PRSs), polygenic transcriptome risk scores (PTRSs) and their combinations of the identified genes and genetic variants from the TWAS. The TWAS revealed that 2605 genes were significantly associated with SSBP. Among these genes, 69 were differentially expressed according to the microarray analysis. The functional analysis showed that the genes identified in the TWAS were enriched in metabolic process pathways. The PRSs were correlated with PTRSs in the heart atrial appendage, adrenal gland, EBV-transformed lymphocytes, pituitary, artery coronary, artery tibial and whole blood. Multiple logistic regression models revealed that a PRS of P < 0.05 had the best predictive ability compared with other PRSs and PTRSs. The combinations of PRSs and PTRSs did not significantly increase the prediction accuracy of SSBP in the training and validation datasets. CONCLUSIONS: Several known and novel susceptibility genes for SSBP were identified via multitissue TWAS analysis. The risk evaluation model constructed with the PRS of susceptibility genes showed better diagnostic performance than the transcript levels, which could be applied to screen for SSBP high-risk individuals.

Photoinduced decarboxylative germylation of α-fluoroacrylic acids: access to germylated monofluoroalkenes.

Herein, a novel strategy is presented for the photoinduced decarboxylative and dehydrogenative cross-coupling of a wide range of α-fluoroacrylic acids with hydrogermanes. This methodology provides an efficient and robust approach for producing various germylated monofluoroalkenes with excellent stereoselectivity within a brief photoirradiation period. The feasibility of this reaction has been demonstrated through gram-scale reaction, conversion of germylated monofluoroalkenes, and modification of complex organic molecules.

Assembly of Heterocyclic C-Glycosides by Ru-Catalyzed C-H Activation/Cyclization with Carbonyl Sulfoxonium Ylide Glyco-Reagents.

New carbonyl sulfoxonium ylide glyco-reagents have been developed, enabling the synthesis of versatile heteroarene C-glycosides through a Ru-catalyzed C-H activation/annulation strategy. These reactions tolerate various saccharide donors and represent a significant advance in the stereoselective synthesis of heterocyclic C-glycosides. Furthermore, the strategy and methods could be applied to large-scale reactions and late-stage modifications of some structurally complex natural products or drugs.