Solute carrier-related signature for assessing prognosis and immunity in patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

Background:Clear-cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC)is the most common malignant kidney cancer.However,the tumor microenvironment and crosstalk involved in metabolic reprogramming in ccRCC are not well-understood.Methods:We used The Cancer Genome Atlas to obtain ccRCC transcriptome data and clinical information.The EMTAB-1980 cohort was used for external validation.The GENECARDS database contains the first 100 solute carrier(SLC)-related genes.The predictive value of SLC-related genes for ccRCC prognosis and treatment was assessed using univariate Cox regression analysis.An SLC-related predictive signature was developed through Lasso regression analysis and used to determine the risk profiles of patients with ccRCC.Patients in each cohort were separated into high-and low-risk groups based on their risk scores.The clinical importance of the signature was assessed through survival,immune microenvironment,drug sensitivity,and nomogram analyses using R software.Results:SLC25A23,SLC25A42,SLC5A1,SLC3A1,SLC25A37,SLC5A6,SLCO5A1,and SCP2 comprised the signatures of the eight SLCrelated genes.Patients with ccRCC were separated into high-and low-risk groups based on the risk value in the training and validation cohorts;the high-risk group had a significantly worse prognosis(p<0.001).The risk score was an independent predictive indicator of ccRCC in the two cohorts according to univariate and multivariate Cox regression(p<0.05).Analysis of the immune microenvironment showed that immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint gene expression differed between the two groups(p<0.05).Drug sensitivity analysis showed that compared to the low-risk group,the high-risk group was more sensitive to sunitinib,nilotinib,JNK-inhibitor-VIII,dasatinib,bosutinib,and bortezomib(p<0.001).Survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves were validated using the E-MTAB-1980 cohort.Conclusions:SLC-related genes have predictive relevance in ccRCC and play roles in the immunological milieu.Our results provide insight into metabolic reprogramming in ccRCC and identify promising treatment targets for ccRCC.

Geochronology and mineralogy of the Weishan carbonatite in Shandong province, eastern China

The Weishan REE deposit is located at the eastern part of North China Craton(NCC), western Shandong Province. The REE-bearing carbonatite occur as veins associated with aegirine syenite. LA-ICP-MS bastnaesite Th-Pb ages(129 Ma) of the Weishan carbonatite show that the carbonatite formed contemporary with the aegirine syenite. Based on the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of calcite, the REEbearing carbonatite mainly consists of Generation-1 igneous calcite(G-1 calcite) with a small amount of Generation-2 hydrothermal calcite(G-2 calcite). Furthermore, the Weishan apatite is characterized by high Sr, LREE and low Y contents, and the carbonatite is rich in Sr, Ba and LREE contents. The δ^(13)Cv-PDB(-6.5‰ to -7.9‰) and δ^(13)OV-SMOW(8.48‰-9.67‰) values are similar to those of primary, mantlederived carbonatites. The above research supports that the carbonatite of the Weishan REE deposit is igneous carbonatite. Besides, the high Sr/Y, Th/U, Sr and Ba of the apatite indicate that the magma source of the Weishan REE deposit was enriched lithospheric mantle, which have suffered the fluid metasomatism. Taken together with the Mesozoic tectono-magmatic activities, the NW and NWW subduction of Izanagi plate along with lithosphere delamination and thinning of the North China plate support the formation of the Weishan REE deposit. Accordingly, the mineralization model of the Weishan REE deposit was concluded: The spatial-temporal relationships coupled with rare and trace element characteristics for both carbonatite and syenite suggest that the carbonatite melt was separated from the CO_2-rich silicate melt by liquid immiscibility. The G-1 calcites were crystallized from the carbonatite melt, which made the residual melt rich in rare earth elements. Due to the common origin of G-1 and G-2 calcites, the REE-rich magmatic hydrothermal was subsequently separated from the melt. After that, large numbers of rare earth minerals were produced from the magmatic hydrothermal stage.

Performance Trade-off for Integrated Communication and Data-Assisted Positioning in MIMO-OFDM System

Communication and positioning,the two pillars of mobile communication systems,are currently being integrated together.The development of communication technologies is the driving force of the positioning progress.In turn,the location information provided by positioning improves the communication performance in various ways.However,the competition of these two functions in terms of resource allocation is a critical issue hindering their integration.In this article,we investigate the trade-off for the integrated communication and data-assisted positioning in multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems.A data-assisted positioning method is designed first,which uses both positioning reference signals(PRSs)and data signals for positioning.The positioning and communication performance are theoretically evaluated respectively,then combined to obtain an integrated performance metric.The trade-off is analyzed and the integrated performance is optimized considering the priority of different functions.Numerical simulations show that the data-assisted positioning can not only improve the positioning accuracy,but also reduce the PRS overhead.And the established integrated performance metric can identify the optimal performance and the corresponding resource allocation schemes.

Phase-matched second-harmonic generation in hybrid polymer-LN waveguides

Here we propose a hybrid polymer-LN waveguide for achieving phase-matched second-harmonic generation(SHG).From the aspect of super-mode theory,the geometric parameters of the hybrid semi-nonlinear waveguide were optimized to utilize both symmetric(even)and antisymmetric(odd)modes of the pump and SHG waves so as to facilitate phase matching with large modal overlap.Phase matching between a fundamental even(TE_(00)-like)mode at 1320 nm and a fundamental odd(TE_(01)-like)mode at 660 nm was found with a calculated modal overlap integral of 0.299,while utilizing the largest nonlinear coefficient d_(33),and achieving an efficient calculated normalized conversion efficiency of 148%W^(-1)·cm^(-2).Considering the fabrication feasibility of such hybrid waveguide with features including etchless,large dimension,and low structural sensitivity,we believe our findings would provide a useful reference for future on-chip efficient nonlinear conversion devices.

A CNN-SVR model for NO_(2)profile prediction based on MAX-DOAS observations:The influence of Chinese New Year overlapping the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown on vertical distributions of tropospheric NO_(2)in Nanjing,China

In this study,a hybrid model,the convolutional neural network-support vector regression model,was adopted to achieve prediction of the NO_(2)profile in Nanjing from January 2019to March 2021.Given the sudden decline in NO_(2)in February 2020,the contribution of the Coronavirus Disease-19(COVID-19)lockdown,Chinese New Year(CNY),and meteorologi cal conditions to the reduction of NO_(2)was evaluated.NO_(2)vertical column densities(VCDs) from January to March 2020 decreased by 59.05%and 32.81%,relative to the same period in 2019 and 2021,respectively.During the period of 2020 COVID-19,the average NO_(2)VCDs were 50.50%and 29.96%lower than those during the pre-lockdown and post-lockdown pe riods,respectively.The NO_(2)volume mixing ratios(VMRs)during the 2020 COVID-19 lock down significantly decreased below 400 m.The NO_(2)VMRs under the different wind fields were significantly lower during the lockdown period than during the pre-lockdown period This phenomenon could be attributed to the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.The NO_(2)VMRs be fore and after the CNY were significantly lower in 2020 than in 2019 and 2021 in the same period,which further proves that the decrease in NO_(2)in February 2020 was attributed to the COVID-19 lockdown.Pollution source analysis of an NO_(2)pollution episode during the lockdown period showed that the polluted air mass in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei was trans ported southwards under the action of the north wind,and the subsequent unfavorable meteorological conditions(local wind speed of<2.0 m/sec)resulted in the accumulation o pollutants.

槲皮素通过抑制小鼠骨髓来源泡沫细胞焦亡抗动脉粥样硬化的研究

目的本研究探讨了槲皮素对骨髓来源泡沫细胞焦亡的拮抗作用,从抗焦亡角度研究槲皮素抗动脉粥样硬化的作用和机制。方法(1)动物实验:槲皮素灌胃动脉粥样硬化模型小鼠进行分组,油红O染色检测槲皮素对小鼠动脉粥样硬化病变的作用;蛋白质印迹法检测动脉粥样硬化组织中焦亡相关蛋白的表达。(2)细胞实验:培养原代小鼠骨髓来源巨噬细胞(BMDM),应用ox-LDL诱导泡沫细胞形成,应用细胞活力实验检测槲皮素作用于小鼠骨髓来源泡沫细胞的最佳浓度;酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)检测培养基中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)量;流式细胞术检测细胞中活性氧(ROS)量;蛋白质印迹法检小鼠骨髓来源泡沫细胞中焦亡相关蛋白的表达。结果高浓度槲皮素干预后动脉粥样硬化模型小鼠动脉窦区油红O染色动脉粥样硬化减轻,动脉粥样硬化病变组织中焦亡相关蛋白下调,一氧化氮(NO)量下调。槲皮素作用于小鼠骨髓来源泡沫细胞后培养基中LDH量下降,蛋白质印迹显示焦亡相关蛋白下调。结论槲皮素可能通过抑制ROS产生下调NLRP3的表达,进而抑制泡沫细胞的焦亡,改善动脉粥样硬化。

Diets enriched with finely ground wheat bran alter digesta passage rate and composition of the gut microbiome in sows

We investigated the effects of finely ground wheat bran on the nutrient digestibility, digesta passage rate,and gut microbiota structure in sows. A 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 test periods and 3 experimental diets was used. Six non-pregnant sows(parity: 5 to 7) were randomly assigned to 3 experimental diets with 2 replicates per treatment in each period. Each period lasted 19 d(12 d for adaptation and 7 d for experiment). The experimental diets included(a) a basal corn and soybean meal diet(CON),(b) a basal diet with 20% coarse wheat bran(CWB;particle size: 605 μm), and(c) a basal diet with 20% fine wheat bran(FWB;particle size: 438 μm). The results demonstrated that the apparent total tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and energy were reduced(P < 0.05) in the FWB and CWB groups compared with those in the CON group. Viscosity of digesta increased(P < 0.001) in FWB-fed sows. The passage rate of digesta from the mouth to the ileum decreased(P < 0.001) in FWB-fed sows. Peptide YY(PYY) concentration increased(P = 0.01) in FWB-fed sows after 30 min of feeding.In the FWB group, the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae at the family level increased(P < 0.05) in the ileal digesta. At the class level, the relative abundance of Clostridia in feces decreased(P < 0.05) in FWB-fed sows. FWB enhanced the concentration of butyrate in feces compared with CON and CWB(P = 0.04). These results suggest that dietary supplementation with finely ground wheat bran reduces the passage rate of digesta, increases the abundance of beneficial microorganisms, and elevates the concentration of short-chain fatty acids and PYY in sows. These findings indicate that the addition of finelyground wheat bran to the diets of sows is more effective than using coarse wheat bran for improving their satiety and intestinal microbial composition.

Wheat bran inclusion level impacts its net energy by shaping gut microbiota and regulating heat production in gestating sows

An accurate estimation of net energy(NE)of wheat bran is essential for precision feeding of sows.However,the effects of inclusion level on NE of wheat bran have not been reported.Inclusion level was hypothesized to impact NE of wheat bran by regulating gut microbiota and partitioning of heat production.Therefore,twelve multiparous sows(Yorkshire×Landrace;2 to 4 parity)were assigned to a replicated 3×6 Youden square with 3 successive periods and 6 diets in each square.The experiment included a corn-soybean meal diet(WB0)and five diets including 9.8%(WB10),19.5%(WB20),29.2%(WB30),39.0%(WB40)and 48.7%wheat bran(WB50),respectively.Each period included 6 d of adaptation to diets followed by 6 d for heat production measurement using open-circuit respiration chambers.Compared with other groups,WB30,WB40,and WB50 enriched different fiber-degrading bacteria genera(P<0.05).Apparent total tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber of wheat bran were greater in WB30 and WB40(P<0.05).Physical activity(standing and sitting)decreased as inclusion level increased(P=0.04),which tended to decrease related heat production(P=0.07).Thermic effect of feeding(TEF)was higher in WB50 than other treatments(P<0.01).Metabolizable energy of wheat bran was similar among treatment groups(except for WB10).NE of wheat bran conformed to a quadratic regression equation with inclusion level(R^(2)=0.99,P<0.01)and peaked at an inclusion level of 35.3%.In conclusion,increasing inclusion level decreased energy expenditure of sows on physical activity and promoted growth of fiber-degrading bacteria,which improved energy utilization of fiber.Fermentation of wheat bran fiber by Prevotellaceae_UCG-003 and norank_f_Paludibacteraceae might increase TEF.Consequently,sows utilized energy in wheat bran most efficiently at an inclusion level of 35.3%.

Dietary supplementation with pyrroloquinoline quinone promotes growth,relieves weaning stress,and regulates metabolism of piglets compared with adding zinc oxide

Hindered growth often occurs because of psychological and environmental stress during the weaning period of piglets.This study aimed to compare the effects of growth performance,diarrhea indices,digestibility of nutrients,antioxidant capacity,neurotransmitters levels and metabolism of weaned pigs fed diets supplemented with pyrroloquinoline quinone(PQQ)and zinc oxide(ZnO).Pigs weaned at d 28(n=108)were fed with three different diets including:the basal diet(CTRL group),the basal diet supplemented with 3.0 mg/kg PQQ(PQQ group)and the basal diet containing 1,600 mg/kg ZnO(ZNO group).During the first 14 d,weaned pigs fed the diet supplemented with PQQ and ZnO decreased feed to gain ratio and diarrhea rate(P<0.01).Compared with the CTRL group,average daily gain was increased in weaned pigs in the PQQ group from d 15 to 28(P=0.03).Compared with the CTRL group,pigs fed PQQ and ZnO supplemented diets showed improved apparent total tract digestibility(ATTD)of nutrients(P≤0.05).During the overall experimental period,the concentration of malondialdehyde was decreased in plasma of pigs in the PQQ and ZNO groups compared with the CTRL group(P<0.05).At d 28,the concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)and calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)was lower in plasma of weaned pigs in the PQQ and ZNO groups compared with the CTRL group(P<0.05).There was no difference between the PQQ and ZNO group in growth performance,ATTD of nutrition,antioxidant capacity and neurotransmitters levels.PQQ increased 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelate(P<0.05)compared with the CTRL group.According to metabolomic analysis,erucamide,formononetin and 3-methyl-L-histidine were up-regulated in the PQQ group(P<0.05).Compared with the CTRL group,aloesin and dibutyl adipate were down-regulated in the PQQ group(P<0.05).In conclusion,similar to ZnO,PQQ improves growth performance,digestibility of nutrients,antioxidant capacity,neuromodulation and metabolism of weaned pigs.Thus,like ZnO,PQQ can be effectively applied in weaned pigs.

Recent progress of in‑fber WGM microsphere resonator

In-fber whispering gallery mode(WGM)microsphere resonators have received remarkable attention due to the superiorities of compact structure,high stability and self-alignment.As an in-fber structure,WGM microsphere resonators have been demonstrated in various applications,such as sensors,flters and lasers,which have signifcant impacts on modern optics.Herein,we review recent progress of in-fber WGM microsphere resonators,which involve fbers of diverse structures and microspheres of diferent materials.First,a brief introduction is given to in-fber WGM microsphere resonators,from structures to applications.Then,we focus on recent progresses in this feld,including in-fber couplers based on conventional fbers,capillaries and micro-structure hollow fbers,and passive/active microspheres.Finally,future developments of the in-fber WGM microsphere resonators are envisioned.

Monitoring and identifying pendant droplets in microbottle resonators

Optofluidic resonators are capable of characterizing various fluidic media.Here,we propose an optofluidic microbottle resonator(OFMBR)that is applied to generate pendant droplets,whose maximum mass is related to the liquid surface tension.Mass and type of droplets forming along the OFMBR stem can be monitored in real time by spectrum variation.As a pendant droplet grows,increased droplet gravity introduces a decreased coupling gap and compressive force between the tapered fiber and OFMBR,leading to a resonance wavelength shift.The operation mechanism of the proposed sensors is validated by theoretical simulation and experimental results.From the experimental spectra,a liquid mass sensor with maximum sensitivity of−3.34pm/mg is obtained,and distilled water and alcohol can be identified.This scheme provides a new thread for droplet generation as well as fluidic properties characterization.

Multipath mitigation method based on Gaussian mixture model in RF relative measurement

Radio Frequency(RF) technology represents a high-precision relative navigation solution that has significant potential for application to earth-orbiting satellites. In precision applications, multipath errors dominate the total error because observables, which are used to estimate carrier-phase integer ambiguity, are not always subject to a Gaussian distribution when dualfrequency ambiguity estimation methods are used in the presence of multipath. As it has been shown that ranging observables obey a Gaussian mixture distribution, this study proposes improvements to the accuracy of estimation based on multipath mitigation founded on the Gaussian mixture model. To this end, such a model is created for integer ambiguity resolution in the presence of multipath, using which the theoretical error in dual-frequency ambiguity estimation is derived.Expectation Maximization(EM), which aids dual-frequency ambiguity estimation, is subsequently proposed to reduce the effect of multipath errors. Finally, two experimental scenarios are implemented to test the performance of the proposed method. The results show that EM-aided dualfrequency ambiguity estimation reduces the range error to approximately 20% in comparison with simple dual-frequency ambiguity estimation. Therefore the proposed technique is effective for multipath mitigation in RF relative measurement.

Constructing Donor-Resonance-Donor Molecules for AcceptorFree Bipolar Organic Semiconductors

Organic semiconductors with bipolar transporting character are highly attractive as they offer the possibility to achieve high optoelectronic performance in simple device structures.However,the continual efforts in preparing bipolar materials are focusing on donor-acceptor(D-A)architectures by introducing both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing units into one molecule in static molecular design principles.Here,we report a dynamic approach to construct bipolar materials using only electron-donating carbazoles connected by N-P=X resonance linkages in a donor-resonance-donor(D-r-D)structure.By facilitating the stimuli-responsive resonance variation,these D-r-D molecules exhibit extraordinary bipolar properties by positively charging one donor of carbazole in enantiotropic N^(+)=P-X-canonical forms for electron transport without the involvement of any acceptors.With thus realized efficient and balanced charge transport,blue and deep-blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes hosted by these D-r-D molecules show high external quantum efficiencies up to 16.2%and 18.3%in vacuum-deposited and spin-coated devices,respectively.These results via the D-r-D molecular design strategy represent an important concept advance in constructing bipolar organic optoelectronic semiconductors dynamically for high-performance device applications.