Cyclic Behavior and Stress-Strain Model of Nano-SiO2-Modified Recycled Aggregate Concrete

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) possesses different mechanical properties than ordinary concrete because of inherent faults in recycled aggregates (RAs), such as the old interfacial transition zone (ITZ). However, the application of nano-SiO2 presents an effective methodology to enhance the quality of RA. In this study, nano-SiO2-modified recycled aggregate (SRA) was used to replace natural aggregate (NA), and the stress-strain relationships and cyclic behavior of nano-SiO2-modified recycled aggregate concrete (SRAC) with different SRA replacement rates were investigated. After evaluating the skeleton curve of SRAC specimens, the existing constitutive models were compared. Additionally, the study also proposed a stress-strain model designed to predict the mechanical behavior of concrete in relation to the SRA replacement rate. The results show that compared with RAC, the axial compressive strength of SRAC specimens showed increases of 40.27%, 29.21%, 26.55%, 16.37%, and 8.41% at specific SRA replacement rates of 0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%, respectively. Moreover, the study found that the Guo model's calculated results can accurately predict the skeleton curves of SRAC specimens.

Automated 3D analysis of social head-gaze behaviors in freely moving marmosets

Social communication relies on the ability to perceive and interpret the direction of others' attention, which is commonly conveyed through head orientation and gaze direction in both humans and non-human primates. However, traditional social gaze experiments in non-human primates require restraining head movements, which significantly limit their natural behavioral repertoire. Here, we developed a novel framework for accurately tracking facial features and three-dimensional head gaze orientations of multiple freely moving common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). To accurately track the facial features of marmoset dyads in an arena, we adapted computer vision tools using deep learning networks combined with triangulation algorithms applied to the detected facial features to generate dynamic geometric facial frames in 3D space, overcoming common occlusion challenges. Furthermore, we constructed a virtual cone, oriented perpendicular to the facial frame, to model the head gaze directions. Using this framework, we were able to detect different types of interactive social gaze events, including partner-directed gaze and jointly-directed gaze to a shared spatial location. We observed clear effects of sex and familiarity on both interpersonal distance and gaze dynamics in marmoset dyads. Unfamiliar pairs exhibited more stereotyped patterns of arena occupancy, more sustained levels of social gaze across inter-animal distance, and increased gaze monitoring. On the other hand, familiar pairs exhibited higher levels of joint gazes. Moreover, males displayed significantly elevated levels of gazes toward females' faces and the surrounding regions irrespective of familiarity. Our study lays the groundwork for a rigorous quantification of primate behaviors in naturalistic settings.

Isotropic resolution plenoptic background oriented schlieren through dual-view acquisition

The key to uncovering underlying fluid mechanisms lies in high-resolution and large-scale three-dimensional (3D) measurements of flow fields. Currently, the mainstream methods that are capable of volumetric measurements, such as tomographic background oriented schlieren and conventional plenoptic background oriented schlieren (plenoptic BOS), suffer system complexity and low axial resolution, respectively, prohibiting their application in high fidelity 3D flow measurement. This paper proposed an isotropic resolution plenoptic BOS (ISO plenoptic BOS) system that employed a mirror to create a second image view for the region of interest, thereby can achieve isotropic spatial resolution with only one camera. We comprehensively assessed the feasibility of the system by imaging the density field induced by candle flames, heat gun, and the Mach disk produced by the underexpanded jet through the high-pressure nozzle exit. All results proved that the dual-view plenoptic BOS system has higher axial resolution and can provide a more accurate 3D density field than the conventional system. As a BOS system that can achieve high-resolution volumetric imaging without the additional cost of cameras, data acquisition, hardware synchronization, and scanning, our ISO plenoptic BOS can expand the road to large-scale and high-resolution aerodynamic imaging.

Cloning, tissue expression and imprinting status analysis of the NDN gene in Dolang sheep

BACKGROUND

Genomic imprinting refers to expressing parent-specific genes in mammalian diploid cells. The NDN gene is maternally imprinted in humans and mice and correlates with the timing of puberty. This study aimed to investigate its imprinting status and its relationship with the onset of puberty in Dolang sheep.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, cloning and sequencing obtained the NDN gene cDNA sequence of 1082 bp of Dolang sheep, coding for 325 amino acids. Similarity analysis and phylogenetic tree showed that the NDN gene conformed to the law of speciation and was highly conserved among mammals. RT-qPCR results showed the highest expression of NDN mRNA was found in the hypothalamus at puberty, and the expression was significantly increased and then significantly decreased from prepuberty to postpuberty in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovary and oviduct. Based on expressed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), the NDN gene was expressed monoallelically in the tissues of adult and neonatal umbilical cords, and the expressed allele was paternally inherited. The NDN promoter region of 3400 bp was obtained by cloning and identified in monoallelic-expressing tissues (hypothalamus, ovary, spleen) as a differentially methylated region (DMR).

CONCLUSION

These findings will enrich the number of imprinted genes in sheep and suggest that the NDN gene could be a candidate gene for studying puberty initiation in Dolang sheep.

Magnetic susceptibility and R2*-based texture analysis for evaluating liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease

PURPOSE

To explore potential feasibility of texture features in magnetic susceptibility and R2* maps for evaluating liver fibrosis.

METHODS

Thirty-one patients (median age 46 years; 22 male) with chronic liver disease were prospectively recruited and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood tests, and liver biopsy. Susceptibility and R2* maps were obtained using a 3-dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination sequence with a 3T MRI scanner. Texture features, including histogram, gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), gray-level dependence matrix (GLDM), gray-level run length matrix (GLRLM), gray-level size zone matrix (GLSZM), and neighboring gray tone difference matrix (NGTDM) features, were extracted. Texture features and blood test results of non-significant (Ishak-F < 3) and significant fibrosis patients (Ishak-F ≥ 3) were compared, and correlations with Ishak-F stages were analyzed. Areas under the curve (AUCs) were calculated to determine the efficacy for evaluating liver fibrosis.

RESULTS

Nine texture features of susceptibility maps and 19 features of R2* maps were significantly different between non-significant and significant fibrosis groups (all P < 0.05). Large dependence high gray-level emphasis (LDHGLE) of GLDM and long run high gray-level emphasis (LRHGLE) of GLRLM in R2* maps showed significantly negative and good correlations with Ishak-F stages (r = -0.616, P < 0.001; r = -0.637, P < 0.001). Busyness (NGTDM) in susceptibility maps, LDHGLE of GLDM and LRHGLE of GLRLM in R2* maps yield the highest AUCs (AUC = 0.786, P = 0.007; AUC = 0.807, P = 0.004; AUC = 0.819, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Texture characteristics of susceptibility and R2* maps revealed possible staging values for liver fibrosis. Susceptibility and R2*-based texture analysis may be a useful and noninvasive method for staging liver fibrosis.

Carbonation of steel slag at low CO2 concentrations: Novel biochar cold-bonded steel slag artificial aggregates

Carbonation technology resolves the volume expansion of steel slag by combining CO2 with f-CaO, but the previous stringent carbonation conditions (99%vol) significantly limit the application prospect of steel slag. To achieve the carbonation of steel slag at lower CO2 concentrations, a novel cold-bonded artificial aggregates (CASSAs) based on steel slag and biochar is produced in this paper. The carbon capture capacities of CASSAs with different biochar contents (5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 15 wt%) are investigated in a low-CO2 concentration environment (10.79 % vol) and natural environment using the porosity and CO2 adsorption capacity of biochar. The changes in the performance of CASSAs before and after carbonation are investigated at different curing ages (7 d and 28 d). The results reveal that biochar increases the pores of the CASSAs. At 7 d, B15 achieves complete carbonation at low concentrations and can uptake 6.5 wt% of CO2. CO2 adsorption capacity by biochar in the natural environment facilitates the diffusion of CO2 in CASSAs. Regarding mechanical properties, the addition of biochar makes B15 at 7 d half as strong as B0, but B15 exhibits long-term strength development. B15 at 7 d has a strength of 8.49 MPa after carbonation, which is almost the same as B0. In addition, B15 achieves a net CO2 emission of -39.9 kg/ton. This study combines biochar with CASSAs to provide a potential method to carbonate steel slag at low CO2 concentrations. A new methodology was also used to quantitatively assess the ability of biochar CASSAs to solidify CO2 under low concentration conditions and natural environments from a macroscopic perspective. Biochar CASSAs have great potential to realize resource utilization and carbon capture from steel slag.

Analysis of the Imprinting Status and Expression of the MAGEL2 Gene During Initiation at Puberty in the Dolang Sheep

Genomic imprinting refers to the expression of parent-specific genes in diploid mammalian cells. MAGEL2 gene is a maternally imprinted gene that has been identified in mice and humans and is associated with the onset of puberty. The purpose of this study was to investigate its imprinting status and its relationship with the onset of puberty in Dolang sheep. The sequence of 3734 bp cDNA of MAGEL2 in Dolang sheep was obtained by cloning and sequencing, encoding 1173 amino acids. The results of the nucleotide and amino acid similarity analysis showed that it was highly conserved among different mammalian species. The MAGEL2 gene was expressed monoallelically in the tissues of adult and neonatal umbilical cords, and the expressed allele was paternally inherited. Real Time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) results showed that the MAGEL2 gene was highly expressed in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, increased significantly from prepuberty to puberty, and decreased significantly after puberty. This study suggests that MAGEL2 is a paternally expressed and maternally imprinted gene in Dolang sheep, which may be involved in the initiation of puberty in Dolang sheep. This study provides a theoretical basis for further research on the mechanism of the imprinted gene MAGEL2 regulating the onset of puberty in sheep, and provides a new idea for the future research on the mechanism of onset of puberty in sheep.

Genomic Signature for Oligometastatic Disease in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Biomarkers for oligometastatic disease remain elusive and few studies have attempted to correlate genomic data to the presence of true oligometastatic disease.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and brain metastases were identified in our departmental database. Electronic medical records were used to identify patients for whom liquid biopsy-based comprehensive genomic profiling (Guardant Health) was available. Oligometastatic disease was defined as patients having ≤5 non-brain metastases without diffuse involvement of a single organ. Widespread disease was any spread beyond oligometastatic. Fisher's exact tests were used to identify mutations statistically associated (p<0.1) with either oligometastatic or widespread extracranial disease. A score of +1 was assigned for every mutation present associated with oligometastatic disease, and -1 was assigned for mutations associated with widespread disease. Scores were summed for each patient to create a risk score for the likelihood of oligometastatic disease, with scores subsequently correlated to the likelihood of having oligometastatic disease vs widespread disease. For oligometastatic patients, a competing risk analysis was done to assess for cumulative incidence of oligometastatic progression accounting for the potential competing risks of widespread progression of extracranial disease or death. Cox regression was used to determine the association between oligometastatic risk score and oligometastatic progression.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty patients met study criteria and were included in the analysis. 51 patients (39%) had oligometastatic disease. Genetic mutations included in the Guardant panel associated (p<0.1) with the presence of oligometastatic extracranial disease included ATM, JAK2, MAP2K2, and NTRK1; ARID1A and CCNE1 were associated with widespread disease. Patients with a positive, neutral and negative risk score for oligometastatic disease had a 78%, 41% and 11.5% likelihood of having oligometastatic disease, respectively (p<0.0001). Overall survival for patients with positive, neutral and negative risk scores for oligometastatic disease was 86% vs 82% vs 64% at 6 months (p = 0.2). The competing risk analysis found that the oligometastatic risk score was significantly associated with the likelihood of oligometastatic progression based on the Wald Chi-square test. Patients with positive, neutral and negative risk scores for oligometastatic disease had a cumulative incidence of oligometastatic progression of 77% vs 35% vs 33% at 6 months (p = 0.03 from competing risk model).

CONCLUSION

Elucidation of a genomic signature for oligometastatic disease derived from non-invasive liquid biopsy appears feasible for NSCLC patients. Patients with the oligometastatic signature exhibited higher rates of early oligometastatic progression. Validation of this signature could lead to a biomarker that has the potential to direct local therapies in oligometastatic patients.

[Comparative analysis of intestinal microbiota distribution characteristics based on metagenomics in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis with or without ascites]

Objective: To use metagenomic sequencing to compare the differences in intestinal microbiota species and metabolic pathways in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis with or without ascites and further explore the correlation between the differential microbiota and clinical indicators and metabolic pathways. Methods: 20 hepatitis B cirrhosis cases [10 without ascites (HBLC-WOA), 10 with ascites (HBLC-WA), and 5 healthy controls (HC)] were selected from the previously studied 16S rRNA samples. Metagenome sequencing was performed on the intestinal microbiota samples. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test and Spearman test were used to identify and analyse differential intestinal microbiota populations, metabolic pathways, and their correlations. Results: (1) The overall structure of the intestinal microbiota differed significantly among the three groups (R = 0.19, P = 0.018). The HC group had the largest abundance of Firmicutes and the lowest abundance of Proteobacteria at the genus level. Firmicutes abundance was significantly decreased (P(fdr) < 0.01), while Proteobacteria abundance was significantly increased (P(fdr) < 0.01) in patients with cirrhosis accompanied by ascites; (2) LEfSe analysis revealed that 29 intestinal microbiota (18 in the HBLC-WA group and 11 in the HBLC-WOA group) played a significant role in the disease group. The unclassified Enterobacteriaceae and Klebsiella species in the HBLC-WA group and Enterobacteriaceae in the HBLC-WOA group were positively correlated with the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, prothrombin time, and international normalized ratio score and negatively correlated with albumin and hemoglobin levels (P < 0.05). Escherichia and Shigella in the HBLC-WA group were positively correlated with CTP scores (P < 0.05); (3) The correlation analysis results between the KEGG pathway and 29 specific intestinal microbiota revealed that Enterobacteriaceae and arachidonic acid, α-linolenic acid, glycerolipid metabolism, and fatty acid degradation were positively correlated in the lipid metabolism pathway, while most Enterobacteriaceae were positively correlated with branched-chain amino acid degradation and negatively correlated with aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in the amino acid metabolic pathway. Conclusion: A significant increment of Enterobacteriaceae in the intestines of HBLC-WA patients influenced hepatic reserve function and was associated with amino acid and lipid metabolic pathways. Therefore, attention should be paid to controlling the intestinal microbiota to prevent complications and improve the prognosis in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis, especially in those with ascites.

Co-disposal of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) and steel slag (SS) to improve the geopolymer materials properties

In previous studies, municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) exhibited low compressive strength when made into geopolymer materials due to the lack of active Ca. The introduction of steel slag (SS) not only supplements MSWIBA with active Ca, but also enables further treatment of SS, an underutilized solid waste. In this study, mechanical properties, XRD, TGA, FTIR and MIP are the means to evaluate this binary geopolymer. The heavy metal leaching concentration of this geopolymer was used as a basis for assessing its environmental impact. The results show that the introduction of SS helps to improve the compressive strength of geopolymers. The introduction of SS supplements the active Ca and promotes the production of C-(A)-S-H gels. Increasing the alkali doping on this basis contributes to the dissolution of active substances in MSWIBA and SS and promotes the generation of silica-aluminate gels, which likewise contributes to the development of compressive strength of geopolymers. The activation of MSWIBA by alkali can be used as an aluminum removal process, which can reduce the volume of harmful pores in the geopolymer. The solidification efficiency of heavy metals after the introduction of SS can be>90%.

Lin28B overexpression decreases let-7b and let-7g levels and increases proliferation and estrogen secretion in Dolang sheep ovarian granulosa cells

Although ovine puberty initiation has been previously studied, the mechanism by which the RNA-binding protein Lin28B affects this process has not been investigated. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Lin28B overexpression on let-7b, let-7g, cell proliferation, and estrogen secretion in Dolang sheep ovine ovarian granulosa cells. In this study, a Lin28B vector was constructed and transfected into ovarian granulosa cells using liposomes. After 24, 48, and 72 h of overexpression, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used for measuring let-7b and let-7g microRNA (miRNA) levels, and estrogen secretion was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) kit was used for evaluating cell viability and proliferation in response to Lin28B overexpression at 24 h. The results showed that the expression of let-7b and let-7g decreased significantly after Lin28B overexpression, and the difference was consistent over different periods. The result of ELISA showed that estradiol (E2) levels significantly increased following Lin28B overexpression. Additionally, Lin28B overexpression significantly increased the cell viability and proliferation. Therefore, the Lin28B-let-7 family axis may play a key role in the initiation of female ovine puberty.

Degradation of the Three-Phase Boundary Zone of Carbon Fiber Anodes in an Electrochemical System

The electrochemical recycling nanoarchitectonics of graphene oxide from carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) is a promising approach due to its economic and environmental benefits. However, the rapid degradation of the CFRP anode during the recycling process reduces its overall efficiency. Although previous studies have investigated the electrochemical oxidation of carbon fibers (CFs) and bonding of CFs to the matrix, few researchers have explicitly studied the electrochemical activity of CFs and the possible fracture caused by strong electrochemical reactions. To address this gap, this study investigates the degradation mechanism of CF anodes by analyzing changes in overall mechanical properties, hardness, elastic modulus, functional groups, and elemental composition of individual fibers. The experimental results demonstrate that the three-phase boundary region experiences the most severe degradation, primarily due to the number of oxygen-containing functional groups, which is the most important factor affecting the degree of degradation. This continuous decrease in the hardness and elastic modulus of individual fibers eventually leads to the fracture of CF anodes.

Development of Sustainable Engineered Cementitious Composites by Incorporating Local Recycled Fine Aggregate

In this study, sustainable engineered cementitious composites (ECC) exhibiting high tensile strength as well as high tensile strain capacity were successfully developed by incorporating polyethylene (PE) fiber, local recycled fine aggregate (RFA), and limestone calcined clay cement (LC³). The improvement in tensile strength and tensile ductility was attributed to the self-cementing properties of RFA as well as the pozzolanic reaction between calcined clay and cement. Carbonate aluminates were also generated owing to the reaction between calcium carbonate in limestone and the aluminates in both calcined clay and cement. The bond strength between fiber and matrix was also enhanced. At the age of 150 days, the tensile stress-strain curves of ECC containing LC³ and RFA shifted from a bilinear model to a trilinear model, and the hydrophobic PE fiber exhibited hydrophilic bonding performance when embedded in RFA-LC³-ECC matrix, which could be explained by the densified cementitious matrix as well as the refined pore structure of ECC. Moreover, the substitution of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) by LC³ resulted in energy consumption and equivalent CO₂ emission reduction ratios of 13.61% and 30.34%, respectively, when the replacement ratio of LC³ is 35%. Therefore, PE fiber-reinforced RFA-LC³-ECC demonstrates excellent mechanical performance as well as considerable environmental benefits.

Synthesis of geopolymer using municipal solid waste incineration fly ash and steel slag: Hydration properties and immobilization of heavy metals

In this study, a novel method for the disposal of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) was proposed. By applying geopolymer technology, steel slag (SS) and MSWIFA were used together as precursors to synthesize a cementitious material with sufficient strength that is useable in construction. The effects of the dosages of SS and alkaline activator on the properties of the geopolymer were investigated. Compressive testing was used to characterize the mechanical properties of the geopolymer. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used for microscopic analysis. Leaching tests were performed to assess the immobilization effect of the geopolymer on heavy metals. The results showed that the compressive strength of the geopolymer reached 23.03 MPa at 56 d with 20% SS and 11% Na₂O admixture. Highly polymerized hydration products, such as C-(A)-S-H gels and N-A-S-H gels, contributed to the compact microstructure, which provided mechanical strength and limited the migration and leaching of heavy metals in the geopolymer matrix. In terms of the results, this work is significant for the development of MSWIFA management.

Analysis of Lin28B Promoter Activity and Screening of Related Transcription Factors in Dolang Sheep

The Lin28B gene is involved in the initiation of puberty, but its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to study the regulatory mechanism of the Lin28B promoter by cloning the Lin28B proximal promoter for bioinformatic analysis. Next, a series of deletion vectors were constructed based on the bioinformatic analysis results for dual-fluorescein activity detection. The transcriptional regulation mechanism of the Lin28B promoter region was analyzed by detecting mutations in transcription factor-binding sites and overexpression of transcription factors. The dual-luciferase assay showed that the Lin28B promoter region -837 to -338 bp had the highest transcriptional activity, and the transcriptional activity of the Lin28B transcriptional regulatory region decreased significantly after Egr1 and SP1 mutations. Overexpression of the Egr1 transcription factor significantly enhanced the transcription of Lin28B, and the results indicated that Egr1 and SP1 play important roles in regulating Lin28B. These results provide a theoretical basis for further research on the transcriptional regulation of sheep Lin28B during puberty initiation.

Haplotype mapping of H3K27me3-associated chromatin interactions defines topological regulation of gene silencing in rice

Histone modification H3K27me3 is an important chromatin mark that plays vital roles in repressing expression of developmental genes. Here, we construct high-resolution 3D genome maps using long-read chromatin interaction analysis by paired-end tag sequencing (ChIA-PET) and characterize H3K27me3-associated chromatin interactions in an elite rice hybrid, Shanyou 63. We find that many H3K27me3-marked regions may function as silencer-like regulatory elements. The silencer-like elements can come into proximity with distal target genes via forming chromatin loops in 3D space of the nuclei, regulating gene silencing and plant traits. Natural and induced deletion of silencers upregulate expression of distal connected genes. Furthermore, we identify extensive allele-specific chromatin loops. We find that genetic variations alter allelic chromatin topology, thus modulating allelic gene imprinting in rice hybrids. In conclusion, the characterization of silencer-like regulatory elements and haplotype-resolved chromatin interaction maps provide insights into the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying allelic gene silencing and plant trait controlling.

Abstract 5979: TY-0540, a highly potent CDK2/4/6 inhibitor, attenuates acquired resistance against CDK4/6 inhibition

The introduction of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and 6 dual inhibitors significantly improves the progression-free survival of patients with ER+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer. A large cohort of patients, however, eventually relapse to CDK4/6 therapy. To further empower the CDK therapy, simultaneous targeting of CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 has been proposed as a new strategy based on the finding that abnormal activation of CDK2/CyclinE1 due to CCNE1 gene amplification is determined the key resistant mechanism to CDK4/6 inhibition. Here we present preclinical data of TY-0540, a novel CDK2/4/6 inhibitor for the treatment of breast cancer that is resistant to CDK4/6 inhibition. TY-0540 demonstrates high selectivity against CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 compared to that of CDK1, CDK7, and CDK9 in a CDK panel screening. In vitro cell proliferation data shows that tumor cell lines OVCAR3 and HCC1806, both bearing CCNE1 amplification, are highly sensitive to TY-0540 treatment. To test the effectiveness of the clinical candidate compound on CDK4/6i resistance models, two Palbociclib resistant cell populations (T47D-R, HCC1428-R) were in-house generated via gradient exposure of the cells to Palbociclib. As expected, TY-0540 potently inhibits T47D-R and HCC1428-R cell proliferation whereas Palbociclib only confers mild interruption to cell proliferation. TY-0540 abolishes Rb phosphorylation at all its three phosphorylation sites and down-regulates E2F1, FOXM1, and c-Myc expression levels in the model cell line OVCAR3. Meanwhile, cell cycle analysis suggests the occurrence of strong G1 arrest at 24 hours after TY-0540 treatment. Consistent with the in vitro results, TY-0540 treatment confers extraordinary in vivo efficacy with a spectrum of tumor CDX mouse models and PDX models in mice. To examine the in vivo effectiveness of TY-0540 over resistance models to CDK4/6 inhibition, we developed Palbociclib-resistant MCF7 tumor model (Palbociclib-R-MCF7) through a combination of in vitro and in vivo evolution of the cells under the selection pressure of Palbociclib. In agreement with its mode of action, TY-0540 is able to suppress Palbociclib-R-MCF7 tumor growth and maintain tumor size at stable disease status. Taken together, we have identified a potent CDK2/4/6 inhibitor which may grant new therapeutic opportunities for cancer patients who relapse or refractory to CDK4/6 signaling blockage therapy. #Meihua Li and Chengshan Niu contributed equally to this work. *Jun Li, Meihua Li and Chengshan Niu are the correspondent authors.

Citation Format: Meihua Li, Chengshan Niu, Mingtao Chen, Kaige Ji, Hui Xu, Shengli Dong, Yan Zhang, Qinguo Meng, Yuge Dou, Yijun Wang, Rui Wu, Yian Tu, Chao Zhou, Apeng Liang, Huan Wang, Rongzhen Ni, Aishen Gong, Hui Su, Mingyu Jiang, Feng Xing, Shaoqing Chen, Xiugui Chen, Jun Li, Yusheng Wu. TY-0540, a highly potent CDK2/4/6 inhibitor, attenuates acquired resistance against CDK4/6 inhibition [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5979.

[The effect of lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of retinoblastoma cells by targeting miR-200b-5p]

Objective: To explore the effect of lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of retinoblastoma cells and its possible mechanism. Methods: The tumor tissues of 31 patients with retinoblastoma admitted to Henan Provincial Eye Hospital from February to June 2020 and their corresponding normal tissues adjacent to the cancer were collected. The expression levels of lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 and miR-200b-5p in retinoblastoma tissues and normal adjacent tissues were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Human retinal epithelial cell ARPE-19, human retinoblastoma cell Y-79 and WERI-Rb-1 were cultured in vitro. The expression levels of lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 and miR-200b-5p were detected by qRT-PCR. Y-79 cells were randomly divided into si-con group, si-lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 group, miR con group, miR-200b-5p group, si-lncRNA ADPGK-AS1+ anti-miR con group, and si-lncRNA ADPGK-AS1+ anti-miR-200b-5p group. The proliferation, cloning and apoptosis of cells in each group were detected by tetramethylazol blue method, plate cloning test and flow cytometry, respectively. The targeting relationship between lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 and miR-200b-5p was detected by double luciferase report test, and the expression level of cleaved-caspase-3 protein was detected by western blot. Results: Compared with the adjacent tissues, the expression of lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 in retinoblastoma tissues was increased (P<0.05), while the expression of miR-200b-5p was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with ARPE-19 cells, the expression of lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 in Y-79 and WERI-Rb-1 cells was increased (P<0.05), while the expression of miR-200b-5p was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the si-con group, the cell viability of the si-lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 group was reduced (1.06±0.09 vs 0.53±0.05, P<0.05), the number of cell clone formation was reduced (114.00±8.03 vs 57.00±4.13, P<0.05), while the apoptosis rate [(7.93±0.68)% vs (25.43±1.94)%] and the protein level of cleaved-caspase-3 were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the miR-con group, the cell viability of the miR-200b-5p group was decreased (1.05±0.08 vs 0.57±0.05, P<0.05), the number of cell clone formation was decreased (118.00±10.02 vs 64.00±5.13, P<0.05), while the apoptosis rate [(7.89±0.71)% vs (23.15±1.62)%] and the protein level of cleaved-caspase-3 were increased (P<0.05). lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 could target the expression of miR-200b-5p. Compared with the si-lncRNA ADPGK-AS1+ anti-miR-con group, cell viability of the si-lncRNA ADPGK-AS1+ anti-miR-200b-5p group was increased (0.53±0.04 vs 1.25±0.10, P<0.05), and the number of cell clones was increased (54.00±4.39 vs 125.00±10.03, P<0.05), while the rate of apoptosis [(25.38±1.53)% vs (9.76±0.71)%] and the protein level of cleaved-caspase-3 were decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Interfering with the expression of lncRNA ADPGK-AS1 could inhibit the proliferation and clone formation and induce apoptosis of retinoblastoma cells by targeting the expression of miR-200b-5p.

Analysis of Methylation and mRNA Expression of Lin28B Gene Promoter Region in the Hypothalamus of Dolang Sheep During Pubertal Initiation

Lin28B plays an important role in puberty initiation in sheep. This study aimed to discuss the correlation between different growth periods and the methylation status of cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) islands in the promoter region of the Lin28B gene in the Dolang sheep's hypothalamus. In this study, the sequence of the Lin28B gene promoter region in Dolang sheep was obtained by cloning and sequencing, and methyl groups of the CpG island of the Lin28B gene promoter in the hypothalamus were detected by bisulfite sequencing PCR during the three periods of prepuberty, adolescence, and postpuberty in Dolang sheep. Lin28B expression in the Dolang sheep's hypothalamus was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR at three stages: prepuberty, puberty, and postpuberty. In this experiment, the 2993-bp Lin28B promoter region was obtained, and it was predicted that there was a CpG island containing 15 transcription factor binding sites and 12 CpG sites, which may play a role in gene expression regulation. Overall, methylation levels increased from prepuberty to postpuberty, while Lin28B expression levels decreased, indicating that Lin28B expression was negatively correlated with promoter methylation levels. Variance analysis showed significant differences in the methylation status of CpG5, CpG7, and CpG9 between pre- and postpuberty (p < 0.05). Our data show that Lin28B expression is increased by demethylation of promoter CpG islands, with CpG5, CpG7, and CpG9 implicated as critical regulatory sites.

Exploring the carbon capture and sequestration performance of biochar-artificial aggregate using a new method

To achieve the ambitious goal of carbon neutrality, more carbon sequestration channels need to be developed. In this study, we tried to combine biochar with cold-bonded artificial lightweight coarse aggregate (ALCA) which is made from municipal solid household waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA).The strong carbon capture ability of biochar was used to attract external CO₂ into the interior of ALCAs, which combined with CaO in MSWIBA to form CaCO₃ to achieve the effect of chemical carbon sequestration. The total carbon sequestration and carbon sequestration rate of biochar-ALCAs were quantified by a self-designed CO₂ concentration change test box, the physical and mechanical properties of biochar-ALCAs were investigated, as well as the changes before and after carbonization. The results showed that biochar and ALCAs had good synergistic carbon sequestration ability. The total carbon sequestration of biochar-ALCAs could reach 30.58-33.06 kg/ton. The carbon sequestration efficiency could reach 70.2 % and 84.9 % at 28 d/56 d in a low CO₂ concentration environment (0.05 % VOL). In addition, the water absorption of biochar-ALCAs decreased by 4.3 %-13.9 %, the apparent density increased by 0.9 %-2.8 %, and the strength increased by 4.3 %-7.0 % after carbon sequestration, and the physical and mechanical properties were significantly improved. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the synergistic carbon sequestration of biochar in combination with ALCAs and to quantitatively assess its ability to solidify low concentrations of CO₂ in the natural environment. A new test apparatus and test method were designed for this purpose. This paper may contribute for an important advance on the preparation of recyclable cement-type composites able to capture and solidify CO₂ from the natural environment.

Resource utilization of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash - cement and alkali-activated cementitious materials: A review

The increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) production has led to an increase in MSW incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) production. MSWIFA contains toxic and harmful substances such as heavy metals and dioxins, which can cause harm to the environment if not treated properly. Only a few MSWIFAs will be landfilled directly, and the rest will need to be treated by other methods. The treatment of MSWIFA can be divided into three types: separation, stabilization/solidification (S/S), and thermal treatment, which are either not fully developed or too costly. Resource utilization is a sustainable means of treating MSWIFA. MSWIFA is used in the production of cement and alkali-activated cementitious materials as a means of resource utilization with significant advantages. This can alleviate the consumption of nature and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in conventional cement production. Compared with MSWIFA cement, MSWIFA alkali-activated cementitious material can be achieved with almost no consumption of natural resources, which is worthy of further research to realize the large-scale application of MSWIFA. At the end of the paper, the perspective of separation of dioxins from MSWIFA, co-processing of MSWI ash, and production of "MSWIFA green materials" is presented.

miR-219-5p attenuates cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer by inactivating Wnt/β-catenin signaling and autophagy via targeting HMGA2

Our previous study confirmed that miR-219-5p inhibits the progression of ovarian cancer (OC) by targeting high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2), while the role of miR-219-5p on the chemoresistance of OC is unclear. HMGA2 and miR-219-5p expression in OC tumors and various types of OC cells were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. The miRNA profiles in A2780 and cisplatin-resistant A2780 cells were investigated via bulk miRNA sequencing, and the interactions of miR-219-5p and HMGA2 were determined by luciferase reporter activity assay. Cell function was verified through Cell Counting Kit-8, invasion assay, wound-healing, and TUNEL assays. HMGA2 level is highly expressed in cisplatin-resistant OC cell lines compared to normal OC cells, while the expression trend of miR-219-5p is the opposite. In addition, we found that miR-219-5p is one of the miRNAs that have the most significant reduction in levels in the cisplatin-resistant A2780/DDP cell line compared to A2780 cells. Then, we reveal that miR-219-5p directly targets HMGA2 in cisplatin-resistant OC cells, and upregulation of miR-219-5p significantly reduces the resistance of OC cells to cisplatin both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, our results suggest that Wnt/β-catenin signaling and autophagy pathway is involved in the role of miR-219-5p/HMGA2 on resistance of OC cells to cisplatin via gain-of-function experiments. Collectively, the present study shows that miR-219-5p decreases the resistance of OC cells to cisplatin via Wnt/β-catenin signaling and autophagy by regulating HMGA2, which provides a feasible solution for the resistance of OC to chemotherapy.

2019 Global NAFLD Prevalence: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The increasing rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus may lead to increased prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to determine the current and recent trends on the global and regional prevalence of NAFLD.

METHODS

Systematic search from inception to March 26, 2020 was performed without language restrictions. Two authors independently performed screening and data extraction. We performed meta-regression to determine trends in NAFLD prevalence.

RESULTS

We identified 17,244 articles from literature search and included 245 eligible studies involving 5,399,254 individuals. The pooled global prevalence of NAFLD was 29.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28.6%-31.1%); of these, 82.5% of included articles used ultrasound to diagnose NAFLD, with prevalence of 30.6% (95% CI, 29.2%-32.0%). South America (3 studies, 5716 individuals) and North America (4 studies, 18,236 individuals) had the highest NAFLD prevalence at 35.7% (95% CI, 34.0%-37.5%) and 35.3% (95% CI, 25.4%-45.9%), respectively. From 1991 to 2019, trend analysis showed NAFLD increased from 21.9% to 37.3% (yearly increase of 0.7%, P < .0001), with South America showing the most rapid change of 2.7% per year, followed by Europe at 1.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite regional variation, the global prevalence of NAFLD is increasing overall. Policy makers must work toward reversing the current trends by increasing awareness of NAFLD and promoting healthy lifestyle environments.

Recycling Nanoarchitectonics of Graphene Oxide from Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer by the Electrochemical Method

In this paper, an electrochemical method was proposed to recycle nanoarchitectonics of graphene oxide (GO) from carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). In the recycling process, NaCl solution with varied concentrations (3% and 10%) and tap water were used as electrolyte, while the impressed current density varied from 2.67 A/m² to 20.63 A/m². The results indicated that in NaCl electrolyte, the obtained nanoarchitectonics of GO contained a large amount of nano-carbon onions (NCO) produced by etching CFRP, while high purity GO was produced when tap water was used as electrolyte. The higher current density improved the production efficiency and resulted in a finer GO particle size. The proposed recycling method of GO is economical and simple to operate. It also provides an alternate approach to handle discarded CFRP.

Valorization of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) into cold-bonded aggregates (CBAs): Feasibility and influence of curing methods

The municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) contains amounts of hazardous elements or composition, and its disposal to landfills may pose a serious threat to the ground water and soil. To reduce the environmental impact of MSWIBA, a novelty application into the utilization of MSWIBA for the manufacture of cold-bonded aggregates (CBAs) was investigated in this study. This study explored the impacts of curing systems on the comprehensive properties of CBAs. Furthermore, the hydrating phases of the designed CBAs were studied by X-ray diffractometer, and the micro characteristics of CBAs was analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results show that CBAs produced from the MSWIBA had good properties with density of 1.75-1.98 g/cm³, moisture content of 0.78-16.48 %, water absorption of 3.99-14.02 % and compressive behavior of 1.6-4.8 MPa. Moreover, the heating water curing environment can significantly improve the comprehensive properties of CBAs. Specifically, the compressive strength of the CBAs under the 80 °C curing condition was increased by 74 %-113 %, and the water absorption rate was reduced by 3.4 %-8 %, compared with other curing regimes. Additionally, the XRD analysis showed that there are spinel phases in the CBAs compounds, which is beneficial to solidify the hazardous metals. Also, low-carbon CBAs also greatly reduce the amount of Cu and Pb leaching, which meets the limit requirements in the Chinese standards. Overall, application of MSWIBA as admixture in CBAs is an effective approach to recycle waste and replace natural aggregates. Meanwhile, this work can provide an insight for the production of eco-friendly LWAs.

High expression of PDIA4 promotes malignant cell behavior and predicts reduced survival in cervical cancer

The protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) gene family plays important roles in the maintenance of several cellular functions. Previous studies have showed that protein disulfide isomerase family A member 4 (PDIA4) is aberrantly expressed in several types of cancer, and correlates with prognosis of patients. However, the role of PDIA4 in cervical cancer remains unclear. In the present study, the expression pattern of PDIA4 from both public database and immunohistochemical analysis in cervical samples was analyzed. Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays were performed to determine the effect of PDIA4 on cervical cancer cell proliferation and migration. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to provide the associated enriched pathways of PDIA4 in regulating cervical tumorigenesis. It was observed that mRNA expression and protein level of PDIA4 were upregulated in cervical cancer tissues. High expression of PDIA4 was significantly associated with poor overall survival (P=0.0095) and relapse-free survival (P=0.0019) in The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort. Knockdown of PDIA4 inhibited cervical cancer cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, PDIA4 affected the expression of proliferation-related molecules (cyclin D1 and PCNA) and migration-related molecules (E-cadherin and Vimentin). Additionally, GSEA revealed that PDIA4 was significantly associated with gene signatures involving glycan biosynthesis, glycosaminoglycan degradation and protein export. In conclusion, the present findings highlighted the importance of PDIA4 in cervical oncogenesis, and suggested that targeting PDIA4 may be a potential therapeutic application for cervical cancer.

Identification of Signatures of Selection for Litter Size and Pubertal Initiation in Two Sheep Populations

Fecundity is an important economic trait in sheep that directly affects their economic and productive efficiency. Our study aimed to identify SNP loci associated with sheep puberty or litter size which could be used in future breeding programs to improve fertility. Genomic DNA was obtained from Hetian and Cele Black sheep breeds and used for reduced-representation genome sequencing to identify SNP loci associated with pubertal initiation and litter size. Selective signatures analysis was performed based on the fixation index and nucleotide diversity, followed by pathway analysis of the genes contained in the selected regions. The selected SNP loci in the genes associated with pubertal initiation and litter size were validated using both sheep breeds. In total, 384,718 high quality SNPs were obtained and 376 genes were selected. Functional annotation of genes and enrichment analysis identified 12 genes associated with pubertal initiation and 11 genes associated with litter size. SNP locus validation showed that two SNP on PAK1 and four on ADCY1 may be associated with pubertal initiation, and one SNP on GNAQ gene (NC_040253.1: g.62677376G > A) was associated with litter size in Cele Black sheep. Our results provide new theoretical support for sheep breeding.

Novel recycling application of high volume municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) into sustainable concrete

Since municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) contains some heavy metals that are harmful to the groundwater and soil, this study proposes an effective and new approach to deal with high-volume MSWIBA. Selecting 70% MSWIBA, 10% ordinary Portland cement (OPC), 10% fly ash/ground granulated blast furnace slag (FA/GGBFS), and 1% volume of polypropylene (PP) fiber as the raw materials, this project designed and manufactured cold-bonded fiber aggregates (CBFAs) and applied them into sustainable concrete. It was found that the water absorption of CBFAs was between 12 and 14%, the bulk density was between 900 and 1100 kg/m³, and the compressive strength of single particle was greater than 1.8 MPa. And it was found that the mechanical strength and bulk density of CBFAs were positively correlated, while the mechanical strength and water absorption were negatively correlated. The leaching behaviors of CBFAs on Cu, Pb, Cd, and Cr were successfully suppressed to less than 1% of that originally from MSWIBA, which can be in line with the Chinese standards. Additionally, it is also found that the green concrete with adding GGBFS-CBFAs has higher overall fluidity and better mechanical properties than the concrete with FA-CBFAs. The mechanical properties of concrete were the best under the replacement rate of 60% of CFBAs, and the strength of green concrete added with GGBFS-CBFAs reached 96% of that of ordinary concrete. In this study, the rapid chloride ion penetration test, mercury intrusion and electron microscope tests found that the bonding effect between the CBFAs and the green concrete matrix was better, and the pore structure in the transition zone of the surrounding interface was refined. The proportion of transition pores in the pore structure was up to 59%. This shows that the concrete added with CBFAs has better resistance to chloride ion diffusion, and has some improvement on the durability. This research suggests that CBFAs including high volume MSWIBA has the potential to be successfully applied as the alternative to natural aggregates in sustainable concrete, and this can also advance waste recycling, and solidify high volume heavy metals in infrastructures.

Evolution of Microstructural Characteristics of Carbonated Cement Pastes Subjected to High Temperatures Evaluated by MIP and SEM

The microstructural evolutions of both uncarbonated and carbonated cement pastes subjected to various high temperatures (30 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, 720 °C, and 950 °C) are presented in this study by the means of mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the thermal stabilities of uncarbonated cement pastes were significantly changed from 400 to 500 °C due to the decomposition of portlandite at this temperature range. More large pores and microcracks were generated from 600 to 720 °C, with the depolymerization of C-S-H. After carbonation, the microstructures of carbonated cement pastes remained unchanged below 500 °C and started to degrade at 600 °C, due to the decompositions of calcium carbonates and calcium modified silica gel. At 950 °C, both uncarbonated and carbonated cement pastes showed a loosely honeycombed microstructure, composed mainly of β-C₂S and lime. It can be concluded that carbonation improves the high-temperature resistance of cement pastes up to 500 °C, but this advantage is lost at temperatures over 600 °C.

Expression and functional analysis of GnRH at the onset of puberty in sheep

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a key factor at the onset of puberty. This decapeptide has been found in mammalian ovaries, but its regulatory mechanism in the ovary of sheep at the onset of puberty is not clear. This study investigated the coding sequence (CDS) of the GnRH gene in the ovary of Duolang sheep and the expression of GnRH mRNA in different tissues at the onset of puberty, and analyzed the effect of GnRH on ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of Duolang sheep. The results showed that the GnRH CDS of sheep was cloned, the full length of the GnRH CDS in sheep ovary was 279 bp, and the nucleotide sequence was completely homologous to that in the hypothalamus. The expression of GnRH mRNA was highest in the hypothalamus and ovary. The expression of related hormones and receptors in GCs of Duolang sheep treated with different concentrations of GnRH for 24 h was affected. GnRH significantly inhibited LH synthesis and LHR expression in GCs. Low concentration (100 ng mL-1) had the most obvious therapeutic effect on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and FSHR. Higher concentration (250 ng mL-1) significantly promoted estradiol and ERβ mRNA. These findings provide strong evidence that ovarian GnRH is an important regulatory factor at the onset of puberty in sheep.

Identification and Expression Analysis of CAMTA Genes in Tea Plant Reveal Their Complex Regulatory Role in Stress Responses

Calmodulin-binding transcription activators (CAMTAs) are evolutionarily conserved transcription factors and have multi-functions in plant development and stress response. However, identification and functional analysis of tea plant (Camellia sinensis) CAMTA genes (CsCAMTAs) are still lacking. Here, five CsCAMTAs were identified from tea plant genomic database. Their gene structures were similar except CsCAMTA2, and protein domains were conserved. Phylogenetic relationship classified the CsCAMTAs into three groups, CsCAMTA2 was in group I, and CsCAMTA1, 3 and CsCAMTA4, 5 were, respectively, in groups II and III. Analysis showed that stress and phytohormone response-related cis-elements were distributed in the promoters of CsCAMTA genes. Expression analysis showed that CsCAMTAs were differentially expressed in different organs and under various stress treatments of tea plants. Three-hundred and four hundred-one positive co-expressed genes of CsCAMTAs were identified under cold and drought, respectively. CsCAMTAs and their co-expressed genes constituted five independent co-expression networks. KEGG enrichment analysis of CsCAMTAs and the co-expressed genes revealed that hormone regulation, transcriptional regulation, and protein processing-related pathways were enriched under cold treatment, while pathways like hormone metabolism, lipid metabolism, and carbon metabolism were enriched under drought treatment. Protein interaction network analysis suggested that CsCAMTAs could bind (G/A/C)CGCG(C/G/T) or (A/C)CGTGT cis element in the target gene promoters, and transcriptional regulation might be the main way of CsCAMTA-mediated functional regulation. The study establishes a foundation for further function studies of CsCAMTA genes in stress response.

An Herbal Product Alleviates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice via Regulating NF-κB/TNF-α Signaling in Macrophages

Background and aim: Pro-inflammatory macrophages aggravated progress of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) both in patients and animal models. Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) formula, a Chinese herbal product, is effective in treating pulmonary fibrosis in our previous study. But its action mechanism against PF relating to macrophage activation was unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory roles of FZHY in pulmonary fibrosis and to elucidate the potential mechanisms. Methods: Network pharmacology was employed to identify the interrelationships among compounds of FZHY, potential targets and putative pathways on anti-pulmonary fibrosis. According to the data of bioinformatics analysis, the key pharmacological target for FZHY against PF was screened. The network pharmacological prediction was validated by a series of experimental assays, including CCK8, western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Then molecular mechanism of FZHY on relating to the predictive target were studied in bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice with methylprednisolone as a positive control, and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated cultured macrophages in culture, respectively. Results: The network pharmacology analysis reveal that a total of 12 FZHY-PF crossover proteins were filtered into a protein-protein interaction network complex and designated as the potential targets of FZHY against pulmonary fibrosis, while TNF-α signal pathway ranked at the top. FZHY and methylprednisolone could attenuate the lung fibrosis and decrease pulmonary TNF-α expression in bleomycin induced fibrotic mice, without difference between two treatments. While TNF-α was mainly originated from macrophages identified by double fluorescent staining of TNF-α and F4/80. LPS stimulated cultured macrophage polarization and activation demonstrated by the enhance contents of TNF-α and iNOS but decreased level of Arg-1. FZHY could alleviate the LPS stimulated macrophage polarization and activation demonstrated by decreasing TNF-α and iNOS and increasing Arg-1. In particular, FZHY could significantly reduce the production of p65 and the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated p65. Conclusion: Fuzheng Huayu formula has a good effect against pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in mice, whose action mechanism was associated with down-regulation of NF-κB/TNF-α signaling pathway in pro-inflammatory macrophages. These findings provided an important strategy for developing new agents against lung fibrosis and accelerated FZHY product application on patients with lung fibrosis.

[Effects of subanesthetic dose of esketamine on opioid consumption after thoracoscopic surgery]

Objective: To investigate the effect of continuous intravenous infusion of subanesthetic dose of esketamine intraoperatively on postoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. Methods: A total of 71 patients with elective thoracoscopic lung surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2020 to December 2021 were selected. Patients who were classified as grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and aged 18-70 years were included, including 32 males and 39 females, with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-30.0 kg/m². The patients were randomly divided into three groups: (1) Control group (group C, n=24): continuous intravenous infusion of normal saline at the same rate during surgery; (2) Subanesthetic dose of esketamine 0.125 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 group (group ES1, n=23): continuous intravenous infusion of esketamine at a rate of 0.125 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 during surgery; (3) Subanesthetic dose of esketamine 0.250 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 group (group ES2, n=24): continuous intravenous infusion of esketamine at a rate of 0.250 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 during surgery. The main outcome measures were the total consumptions of hydromorphone of 3 groups within 24 and 48 hours after surgery. The secondary outcome measures were the extubation time, length of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, the time of first feeding, and the incidences of adverse effects within 24 h after surgery in 3 groups. Results: The 24 h postoperative consumption of hydromorphone in group C, ES1 and ES2 was (5.4±1.0) mg, (4.5±1.5) mg and (4.0±0.8) mg, respectively. Likewise, the 48 h postoperative consumption of hydromorphone was (9.7±2.2) mg, (9.0±3.0) mg and (7.7±1.8) mg, respectively. Compared with group C, the 24 h postoperative hydromorphone consumptions were significantly reduced in group ES1 and ES2 (both P<0.05). The extubation time, length of PACU stay and the time of first feeding after surgery in group C were (23±10) min,(70±12) min,(17±3) h,in group ES1 were (22±4) min,(69±11) min,(14±5) h,in group ES2 were (16±8) min,(58±12) min,(14±3) h, respectively. Compared with group C and group ES1, both of the extubation time and length of PACU stay were shortened in group ES2 (both P<0.05). Compared with group C, the first postoperative feeding time of group ES1 and ES2 was shortened (both P<0.05). There were no differences in the incidences of adverse effects at postoperative 24 h among 3 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Continuously intravenous infusion of subanesthetic esketamine at a rate of 0.250 mg·kg^-1·h^-1 can significantly reduce the postoperative opioid consumption and improve the patient's outcomes.

[Characteristics of fusion gene expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia]

Objective: To analyze the genetic landscape of 52 fusion genes in patients with de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and to investigate the characteristics of other laboratory results. Methods: The fusion gene expression was retrospectively analyzed in the 1 994 patients with de novo ALL diagnosed from September 2016 to December 2020. In addition, their mutational, immunophenotypical and karyotypical profiles were investigated. Results: In the 1 994 patients with ALL, the median age was 12 years (from 15 days to 89 years). In the panel of targeted genes, 15 different types of fusion genes were detected in 884 patients (44.33%) and demonstrated a Power law distribution. The frequency of detectable fusion genes in B-cell ALL was significantly higher than that in T-cell ALL (48.48% vs 18.71%), and fusion genes were almost exclusively expressed in B-cell ALL or T-cell ALL. The number of fusion genes showed peaks at<1 year, 3-5 years and 35-44 years, respectively. More fusion genes were identified in children than in adults. MLL-FG was most frequently seen in infants and TEL-AML1 was most commonly seen in children, while BCR-ABL1 was dominant in adults. The majority of fusion gene mutations involved signaling pathway and the most frequent mutations were observed in NRAS and KRAS genes. The expression of early-stage B-cell antigens varied in B-cell ALL patients. The complex karyotypes were more common in BCR-ABL1 positive patients than others. Conclusion: The distribution of fusion genes in ALL patients differs by ages and cell lineages. It also corresponds to various gene mutations, immunophenotypes, and karyotypes.

Transcriptome Sequencing-Based Mining of Genes Associated With Pubertal Initiation in Dolang Sheep

Improving the fertility of sheep is an important goal in sheep breeding as it greatly increases the productivity. Dolang sheep is a typical representative breed of lamb in Xinjiang and is the main local sheep breed and meat source in the region. To explore the genes associated with the initiation of puberty in Dolang sheep, the hypothalamic tissues of Dolang sheep prepubertal, pubertal, and postpubertal periods were collected for RNA-seq analysis on the Illumina platform, generating 64.08 Gb clean reads. A total of 575, 166, and 648 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in prepuberty_vs._puberty, postpuberty_vs._prepuberty, and postpuberty_vs._puberty analyses, respectively. Based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses, the related genes involved in the initiation of puberty in Dolang sheep were mined. Ten genes that have direct or indirect functions in the initiation of puberty in Dolang sheep were screened using the GO and KEGG results. Additionally, quantitative real-time PCR was used to verify the reliability of the RNA-Seq data. This study provided a new approach for revealing the mechanism of puberty initiation in sheep and provided a theoretical basis and candidate genes for the breeding of early-pubertal sheep by molecular techniques, and at the same time, it is also beneficial for the protection, development, and utilization of the fine genetic resources of Xinjiang local sheep.

The landscape of promoter-centred RNA-DNA interactions in rice

Chromatin-associated RNAs play key roles in various biological processes. However, both their repository and conjugation genomic loci and potential functions remain largely unclear. Here, we develop an effective method for mapping of chromatin-associated RNA-DNA interactions, followed by paired-end-tag sequencing (ChRD-PET) in rice. We present a comprehensive interaction map between RNAs and H3K4me3-marked regions based on H3K4me3 ChRD-PET data, showing three types of RNA-DNA interactions-local, proximal and distal. We further characterize the origin and composition of the RNA strand in R-loop RNA-DNA hybrids and identify that extensive cis and trans RNAs, including trans-non-coding RNAs, are prevalently involved in the R-loop. Integrative analysis of rice epigenome and three-dimensional genome data suggests that both coding and non-coding RNAs engage extensively in the formation of chromatin loops and chromatin-interacting domains. In summary, ChRD-PET is an efficient method for studying the features of RNA-chromatin interactions, and the resulting datasets constitute a valuable resource for the study of RNAs and their biological functions.

Efficacy of canagliflozin versus metformin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, open-label, noninferiority trial

OBJECTIVES

To determine the safety and efficacy of canagliflozin in comparison to metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with insulin resistance (IR).

METHODS

A single-centre, prospective, randomized open-label (ratio 1:1) noninferiority trial was conducted at the Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, between July 2019 and April 2021. Women aged 18 to 45 years with PCOS and IR were enrolled and randomly assigned to either 100 mg (n = 33) canagliflozin daily or 1500 to 2000 mg metformin daily (n = 35) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was changes in homeostatic model assessment (HOMA)-IR after 12 weeks of treatment. The secondary outcomes included changes in anthropometric measurements, menstrual frequency, sex hormone levels, metabolic variables and body fat distribution.

RESULTS

For lowering of HOMA-IR after 12 weeks of treatment, canagliflozin was found to be noninferior to metformin (least-squares mean difference -0.81% [95% confidence interval -2.13 to 0.51]). Both canagliflozin and metformin significantly improved menstrual pattern, reduced body weight and total fat mass, and decreased triglyceride levels. Compared with metformin, canagliflozin had significant advantages in reducing uric acid and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels. Pruritus vulvae (9.09%) and gastrointestinal reaction (55.55%) were the main adverse events in the metformin group and canagliflozin group, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that canagliflozin was not inferior to metformin in PCOS patients with IR, which suggests that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors should be considered as effective drugs in the treatment of PCOS patients with IR.

Long non-coding RNA TP73-AS1 predicts poor prognosis and regulates cell proliferation and migration in cervical cancer

INTRODUCTION

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women, which seriously affects women's health, especially in developing countries. This study aims to investigate novel molecular markers for poor prognosis of cervical cancer to achieve correct guidance of clinical treatment, accurate assessment of prognosis, and provide a new basis for the choice of reasonable treatment options for cervical cancer patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

QRT-PCR was employed to investigate the expression of lncRNA TP73-AS1 in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. COX multivariate analysis showed the relationship between TP73-AS1 expression and clinicopathological features of patients with cervical cancer. Colony formation and MTT assay detected the effect of TP73-AS1 on proliferation of cervical cancer cells. The effect of TP73-AS1 on migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells was determined by the wound-healing assay and transwell assay. Western blot was performed to assess the expression of EMT markers.

RESULTS

This study showed that lncRNA TP73-AS1 was up-regulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines (p < 0.001), and high expression of TP73-AS1 could be considered as an independent prognostic factor (p < 0.05). Moreover, lncRNA TP73-AS1 promotes cervical cancer cell migration and invasion, and knockdown of TP73-AS1 inhibits the growth of cervical cancer cells (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that lncRNA TP73-AS1 was up-regulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines, predicting poor prognosis of cervical cancer and regulating cell proliferation and migration.

Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 production by natamycin

Aspergillus flavus causes huge crop losses, reduces crop quality and has adverse effects on human and animal health. A large amount of food contaminated with aflatoxin can greatly increase the risk of liver cancer. Therefore, prevention and control of aflatoxin production have aroused attention of research in various countries. Natamycin extracted from Streptomyces spp. has been widely used in production practice due to its good specificity and safety. Here, we found that natamycin could significantly inhibit fungal growth, conidia germination, ergosterol and AFB1 production by A. flavus in a dose-dependent manner. Scanning electron microscope analysis indicated that the number of conidia was decreased, the outer wall of conidia was destroyed, and the mycelia were shrivelled and tangled by natamycin. RNA-Seq data indicated that natamycin inhibited fungal growth and conidia development of A. flavus by significantly down-regulating some genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis, such as Erg13, HMG1 and HMG2. It inhibited conidia germination by significantly down-regulating some genes related to conidia development, such as FluG and VosA. After natamycin exposure, the decreased ratio of aflS/aflR caused by the down-regulation of all the structural genes, which subsequently resulted in the suppression of AFB1 production. In conclusion, this study served to reveal the inhibitory mechanisms of natamycin on fungal growth and AFB1 biosynthesis in A. flavus and to provide solid evidence for its application in controlling AFB1 contamination.

Effect of phosphogypsum on the properties of magnesium phosphate cement paste with low magnesium-to-phosphate ratio

The incorporation of phosphogypsum (PG) in magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MPPC) can promote the utilization of PG not only by utilising the phosphate impurity in PG, but also by immobilising the heavy metals with MPPC. This paper investigates the feasibility of the incorporation of PG in preparing MPPC. Both early age properties, including workability and setting time, and hardened properties of compressive strength and microstructure, of PG-incorporated MPPC paste were investigated, and the hydration mechanism was explored. The results indicated that the addition of PG increased the workability of MPPC and extended the setting time of MPPC. However, incorporation of 20% PG slightly reduced the compressive strength because higher PG content led to the loose microstructure. Moreover, the addition of PG did not change the formation of hydration product, while it only reduced the hydration heat. Finally, compared to PG, the concentration of leached heavy metals of MPPC with PG was significantly reduced after 28 days curing.

CircRNA_100395 protects breast carcinoma deterioration by targeting MAPK6

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to uncover the differential expression of circRNA_100395 in breast carcinoma specimens, and its regulatory effect on cancer cell phenotypes. The role of circRNA_100395 in affecting breast carcinoma progression and the molecular mechanism are explored as well.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

CircRNA_100395 expressions in breast carcinoma and paracancerous tissues were detected. The influence of circRNA_100395 level on clinical indicators of breast carcinoma patients was analyzed. In vitro regulations of circRNA_100395 on phenotypes of breast carcinoma cells were examined by CCK-8, colony formation, and transwell assay. The interaction between circRNA_100395 and MAPK6 was confirmed by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay and rescue assays.

RESULTS

CircRNA_100395 was downregulated in breast carcinoma tissues and cell lines. Its level was negatively correlated to tumor staging and tumor size of breast carcinoma. Overexpression of circRNA_100395 in SKBR3 and MDA-MB-231 cells weakened proliferative and migratory abilities. MAPK6 was the target gene of circRNA_100395. Overexpression of MAPK6 reversed the anti-cancer effect of circRNA_100395 on breast carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

CircRNA_100395 serves as an anti-cancer gene in breast carcinoma progression by targeting MAPK6, and its level is negatively correlated to tumor staging and tumor size of breast carcinoma. CircRNA_100395 can be utilized as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target of breast carcinoma.

Parental variation in CHG methylation is associated with allelic-specific expression in elite hybrid rice

Heterosis refers to the superior performance of hybrid lines over inbred parental lines. Besides genetic variation, epigenetic differences between parental lines are suggested to contribute to heterosis. However, the precise nature and extent of differences between the parental epigenomes and the reprograming in hybrids that govern heterotic gene expression remain unclear. In this work, we analyzed DNA methylomes and transcriptomes of the widely cultivated and genetically studied elite hybrid rice (Oryza sativa) SY63, the reciprocal hybrid, and the parental varieties ZS97 and MH63, for which high-quality reference genomic sequences are available. We showed that the parental varieties displayed substantial variation in genic methylation at CG and CHG (H = A, C, or T) sequences. Compared with their parents, the hybrids displayed dynamic methylation variation during development. However, many parental differentially methylated regions (DMRs) at CG and CHG sites were maintained in the hybrid. Only a small fraction of the DMRs displayed non-additive DNA methylation variation, which, however, showed no overall correlation relationship with gene expression variation. In contrast, most of the allelic-specific expression (ASE) genes in the hybrid were associated with DNA methylation, and the ASE negatively associated with allelic-specific methylation (ASM) at CHG. These results revealed a specific DNA methylation reprogramming pattern in the hybrid rice and pointed to a role for parental CHG methylation divergence in ASE, which is associated with phenotype variation and hybrid vigor in several plant species.