Growth hormone promotes the reconstruction of injured axons in the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system

Previous studies have shown that growth hormone can regulate hypothalamic energy metabolism, stress, and hormone release. Therefore, growth hormone has great potential for treating hypothalamic injury. In this study, we established a specific hypothalamic axon injury model by inducing hypothalamic pituitary stalk electric lesions in male mice. We then treated mice by intraperitoneal administration of growth hormone. Our results showed that growth hormone increased the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 and its receptors, and promoted the survival of hypothalamic neurons, axonal regeneration, and vascular reconstruction from the median eminence through the posterior pituitary. Altogether, this alleviated hypothalamic injury-caused central diabetes insipidus and anxiety. These results suggest that growth hormone can promote axonal reconstruction after hypothalamic injury by regulating the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor 1 axis.

Growth and inhibition of zinc anode dendrites in Zn-air batteries:Model and experiment

Zinc(Zn)-air batteries are widely used in secondary battery research owing to their high theoretical energy density,good electrochemical reversibility,stable discharge performance,and low cost of the anode active material Zn.However,the Zn anode also leads to many challenges,including dendrite growth,deformation,and hydrogen precipitation self-corrosion.In this context,Zn dendrite growth has a greater impact on the cycle lives.In this dissertation,a dendrite growth model for a Zn-air battery was established based on electrochemical phase field theory,and the effects of the charging time,anisotropy strength,and electrolyte temperature on the morphology and growth height of Zn dendrites were studied.A series of experiments was designed with different gradient influencing factors in subsequent experiments to verify the theoretical simulations,including elevated electrolyte temperatures,flowing electrolytes,and pulsed charging.The simulation results show that the growth of Zn dendrites is controlled mainly by diffusion and mass transfer processes,whereas the electrolyte temperature,flow rate,and interfacial energy anisotropy intensity are the main factors.The experimental results show that an optimal electrolyte temperature of 343.15 K,an optimal electrolyte flow rate of 40 ml·min^(-1),and an effective pulse charging mode.

Extensive numerical simulations on competitive growth between the Edwards–Wilkinson and Kardar–Parisi–Zhang universality classes

Extensive numerical simulations and scaling analysis are performed to investigate competitive growth between the linear and nonlinear stochastic dynamic growth systems, which belong to the Edwards–Wilkinson(EW) and Kardar–Parisi–Zhang(KPZ) universality classes, respectively. The linear growth systems include the EW equation and the model of random deposition with surface relaxation(RDSR), the nonlinear growth systems involve the KPZ equation and typical discrete models including ballistic deposition(BD), etching, and restricted solid on solid(RSOS). The scaling exponents are obtained in both the(1 + 1)-and(2 + 1)-dimensional competitive growth with the nonlinear growth probability p and the linear proportion 1-p. Our results show that, when p changes from 0 to 1, there exist non-trivial crossover effects from EW to KPZ universality classes based on different competitive growth rules. Furthermore, the growth rate and the porosity are also estimated within various linear and nonlinear growths of cooperation and competition.

Microenvironmental effects on growth response of Pinus massoniana to climate at its northern boundary in the Tongbai Mountains,Central China

The Tongbai Mountains is an ecologically sensi-tive region and the northern boundary of Pinus massoniana Lamb.To analyze the effect of different microenvironments on tree growth response to climate factors,we developed standard chronologies for earlywood width(EWW),late-wood width(LWW),and total ring width(TRW)of P.massoniana at two sampling sites on slopes with different orientations,then analyzed characteristics of the chronolo-gies and their correlations with climate variables from five stations in the region and with a regional normalized differ-ence vegetation index(NDVI).Statistical results showed that the TRW/EWW/LWW chronology consistency and charac-teristics(mean sensitivity,signal to noise ratio,expressed population signal)for trees growing on the southeastern slope were much higher than for trees on the northeastern slope.Correlations indicated that temperature in current March and August has a significant positive effect on TRW/EWW/LWW formation,and the effect on the northeastern slope was weaker than on the southeastern slope.Compared to temperature,precipitation has more complicated effects on tree growth,but the effect on the northeastern slope was also generally weaker than on the southeastern slope.Step-wise linear regression analyses showed that temperature in August was the main limiting factor at the two sampling sites.Similarly,the response of tree growth on the southeast-ern slope as determined by the NDVI is better than on the northeastern slope,and the TRW/EWW/LWW chronologies for the southeastern slope explained over 50%of the total NDVI variances in June.Overall,the results indicate that the difference in the climate response of P.massoniana at two sampling sites is clearly caused by differences in the microenvironment,and such differences should be properly considered in future studies of forest dynamics and climate reconstructions.

基于FP-growth的老年行人交通事故损伤致因研究

为研究老年行人交通事故相关因素及其对损伤程度的影响,以中国交通事故深度调查数据库中2013—2023年710起机动车-老年行人事故为分析对象,利用FP-growth算法挖掘出4类影响因素28个类型变量共5594项关联规则。研究结果表明:行人年龄、碰撞速度、事故时间段及事故地点是影响老年行人事故死亡率的显著因素。特别是,行人年龄和碰撞速度对死亡率有显著影响,随着碰撞速度的增加,死亡率显著上升;60岁及以上老年行人年龄每增加1岁,其死亡率提升0.037倍。此外,事故发生在夜间、郊区或村庄的死亡率更高。研究结果可为提高老年行人交通安全,制定相关安全措施提供一定参考。

Quantifying the natural growth rate of hepatocellular carcinoma:A real-world retrospective study in southwestern China

BACKGROUND In recent years,approximately half of the newly diagnosed cases and mortalities attributed to hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)have been reported in China.Despite the high incidence of HCC,there remains a paucity of data regarding the natural growth pattern and the determination of optimal surveillance intervals specific to the Chinese population.AIM To quantify the natural tumor growth pattern of HCC in regional China.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on patients from a single institution in Southwest China who had undergone two or more serial dynamic computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans between 2014 and 2020,without having received any anti-cancer therapy.Tumor growth was assessed using tumor volume doubling time(TVDT)and tumor growth rate(TGR),with volumes measured manually by experienced radiologists.Simple univariate linear regression and descriptive analysis were applied to explore associations between growth rates and clinical factors.RESULTS This study identifies the median TVDT for HCC as 163.4 d,interquartile range(IQR)72.1 to 302.3 d,with a daily TGR of 0.42%(IQR 0.206%-0.97%).HCC growth patterns reveal that about one-third of tumors grow indolently with TVDT exceeding 270 d,another one-third of tumors exhibit rapid growth with TVDT under 90 d,and the remaining tumors show intermediate growth rates,with TVDT ranging between 3 to 9 months.CONCLUSION The identified TGRs support biannual surveillance and follow-up for HCC patients in certain regions of China.Given the observed heterogeneity in HCC growth,further investigation is warranted.

Therapeutic strategies targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway in metastatic colorectal cancer

More than 1.9 million new colorectal cancer(CRC)cases and 935000 deaths were estimated to occur worldwide in 2020,representing about one in ten cancer cases and deaths.Overall,colorectal ranks third in incidence,but second in mortality.More than half of the patients are in advanced stages at diagnosis.Treatment options are complex because of the heterogeneity of the patient population,including different molecular subtypes.Treatments have included conventional fluorouracil-based chemotherapy,targeted therapy,immunotherapy,etc.In recent years,with the development of genetic testing technology,more and more targeted drugs have been applied to the treatment of CRC,which has further prolonged the survival of metastatic CRC patients.

Activation of endogenous neurogenesis and angiogenesis by basic fibroblast growth factor-chitosan gel in an adult rat model of ischemic stroke

Attempts have been made to use cell transplantation and biomaterials to promote cell proliferation,differentiation,migration,and survival,as well as angiogenesis,in the context of brain injury.However,whether bioactive materials can repair the damage caused by ischemic stroke by activating endogenous neurogenesis and angiogenesis is still unknown.In this study,we applied chitosan gel loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor to the stroke cavity 7 days after ischemic stroke in rats.The gel slowly released basic fibroblast growth factor,which improved the local microenvironment,activated endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells,and recruited these cells to migrate toward the penumbra and stroke cavity and subsequently differentiate into neurons,while enhancing angiogenesis in the penumbra and stroke cavity and ultimately leading to partial functional recovery.This study revealed the mechanism by which bioactive materials repair ischemic strokes,thus providing a new strategy for the clinical application of bioactive materials in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Effects of thinning on the understory light environment of different stands and the photosynthetic performance and growth of the reforestation species Phoebe bournei

Light levels determine regeneration in stands and a key concern is how to regulate the light environment of different stand types to the requirements of the understory.In this study,we selected three stands typical in south China(a Cryptomeria japonica plantation,a Quercus acutissima plantation,and a mixed stand of both)and three thinning intensities to determine the best understory light environ-ment for 3-year-old Phoebe bournei seedlings.The canopy structure,understory light environment,and photosynthe-sis and growth indicators were assessed following thin-ning.Thinning improved canopy structure and understory light availability of each stand;species composition was the reason for differences in the understory light environ-ment.Under the same thinning intensity,the mixed stand had the greatest light radiation and most balanced spectral composition.P.bournei photosynthesis and growth were closely related to the light environment;all three stands required heavy thinning to create an effective and sustained understory light environment.In a suitable understory light environment,the efficiency of light interception,absorption,and use by seedlings was enhanced,resulting in a higher carbon assimilation the main limiting factor was stomatal conductance.As a shade-avoidance signal,red/far-red radia-tion is a critical factor driving changes in photosynthesis and growth of P.bournei seedlings,and a reduction increased light absorption and use capacity and height:diameter ratios.The growth advantage transformed from diameter to height,enabling seedlings to access more light.Our findings suggest that the regeneration of shade-tolerant species such as P.bournei could be enhanced if a targeted approach to thinning based on stand type was adopted.

Genetic parameter evaluation for growth and cold resistance traits of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

The giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii distributed from tropical to subtropical regions,is a warm-water species,and its survival temperature is 14-35°C,which greatly limits its culture cycle and culture area in China.Therefore,it is urgent to cultivate a new high quality,high yield variety with improved cold-resistance,but the genetic parameters for cold-resistance traits are unknown in M.rosenbergii.In this study,the cold-resistance of adult M.rosenbergii populations was tested using the indoor artificial cooling method.Individuals were selected from 139 families of Shufeng G3 generation and cultured for 200 days.A linear mixed model was constructed by ASReml-R to evaluate the genetic parameters of the cold-resistance trait(cooling degree hours,CDH)and growth traits(body weight,BW,and body length,BL)based on the restricted maximum likelihood(REML)method.The results show that the heritability of CDH was low(0.12±0.05),while the growth traits(BW and BL)had low to moderate heritability,with 0.20±0.06 for BW and 0.06±0.04 for BL.The phenotypic and genetic correlation between BW and BL was significantly positive,but significantly negative phenotypic and genetic correlations were detected between CDH and BW and between CDH and BL.Furthermore,the analysis of the differences between cold-resistance and phenotypic traits showed that the female reproductive status,exoskeleton hardness and claw number of adult prawns had a great influence on the cold-resistance of M.rosenbergii(P<0.05),indicating that adults with claws and hard exoskeletons are preferred as parents in subsequent breeding selection.The present results can be attributed to the selection and breeding of a new cold-resistant variety of M.rosenbergii.

Effects of pyraclostrobin on growth,oxidative stress,and gene expression in relation to stress and ATP-binding cassette transporters in Tetrahymena thermophila

Pyraclostrobin(PYR),a widely used fungicide,has negative effects on fish and algae,but its toxicity in protozoa remains unclear.In this study,the effects of PYR on the growth,oxidative stress,and gene expression related to stress and ATP-binding cassette(ABC)transporters in Tetrahymena thermophila were investigated.The result showed that the 96-h IC_(50)of PYR against T.thermophila was 17.2 mg/L.Moreover,PYR inhibited the growth of T.thermophila in concentration-or time-dependent manner.A morphological study revealed that the shape and size of T.thermophila changed,and damage of cell membrane surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy after 96 h of PYR exposure.The activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)increased throughout the experiment.In contrast,the glutathione(GSH)content was increased at 24 h and 48 h of exposure and decreased at 96 h.Moreover,a significant increase in malondialdehyde(MDA)level was observed in T.thermophila after96 h of exposure.Furthermore,PYR upregulated the HSP703,HSP705,GPx2,and ABAC15 gene expression in the 0.1–5-mg/L groups and downregulated the HSP704,HSP90,TGR,and ABCC52 mRNA levels at 96 h of exposure.These results suggest that PYR may exert adverse effects on T.thermophila by inducing oxidative stress and changing the gene expression related to ABC transporters and stress,which may enrich the understanding of the toxicity mechanism of PYR in aquatic organisms and provide reference data for aquatic ecological risk assessments.

Effects of Poria cocos polysaccharide on growth performance,physiological parameters,and lipid metabolism of spotted sea bass Lateolabrax maculatus

The aquaculture industry has developed significantly over the past few decades and has had a substantial impact on the global food supply and marine fisheries resources.However,some problems arise behind the scenes due to excessive intensive farming,such as slow animal growth,frequent disease,and lipid metabolism disorders.These problems have limited the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry,and a continuable solution is required.The use of fungal polysaccharide appears to provide a solution to these problems.Therefore,different supplemented levels of Poria cocos polysaccharide(PCP)(0,0.4,0.8,1.2,1.6,and 2.0 g/kg,respectively)were fed to spotted sea bass(Lateolabrax maculatus)in similar size(30.28±0.18 g)in current study.The effects of PCP on growth,physiological parameters,and lipid metabolism of spotted sea bass were investigated after a 4-week rearing period.Results showed,fish with PCP intake presented a significantly higher weight gain,specific growth rate,and a significantly lower feed conversion ratio.Significantly higher trypsin activity in liver and intestine were observed in fish with PCP intake.The superoxide dismutase activity in serum and liver of fish with PCP intake were significantly improved,while significantly higher serum total antioxidant capacity and hepatic catalase activity were also observed.However,no significant differences in lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase activity were evident among groups.Fish with PCP intake showed a significantly lower total cholesterol,but no noteworthy change in triglyceride and lipid-metabolismrelated genes expression were observed among groups.Results indicated that intake of PCP has a positive effect on growth and antioxidant capacity of spotted sea bass,but seems to have a limited effect on the non-specific immunity and lipid metabolism of spotted sea bass.Based on the regression analysis results,1.4 g/kg of PCP is the optimal dose for spotted sea bass in size(30.28±0.18 g).

Genome-wide association study identifies 12 new genetic loci associated with growth traits in pigs

Growth traits are among the most important economic traits in pigs and are regulated by polygenes with complex regulatory mechanisms.As the major indicators of growth performance,the backfat thickness(BFT),loin eye area(LEA),and days to 100 kg(D100)traits are commonly used to the genetics improvement in pigs.However,the available genetic markers for these traits are limited.To uncover novel loci and candidate genes associated with growth performance,we collected the phenotypic information of BFT,LEA,and D100 in 1,186 pigs and genotyped all these individuals using the Neogen GGP porcine 80K BeadChip.We performed a genome-wide association study(GWAS)using 4 statistical models,including mixed linear models(MLM),fixed and random model circulating probability unification(FarmCPU),settlement of MLM under progressively exclusive relationships(SUPER),Bayesian-information and linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively nested keyway(Blink),and identified 5,3,and 6 high-confidence single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)associated with BFT,LEA,and D100,respectively.Variant annotation and quantitative trait locus(QTL)mapping analysis suggested that6 genes(SKAP2,SATB1,PDE7B,PPP1R16B,WNT3,and WNT9B)were potentially associated with growth performance in pigs.Transcriptome analysis suggested that the expression of Src Kinase Associated Phosphoprotein 2(SKAP2)was higher in prenatal muscles than in postnatal muscles,and the expression of Phosphodiesterase 7B(PDE7B)continuously increased during the prenatal stages and gradually decreased after birth,implying their potential roles in prenatal skeletal muscle development.Overall,this study provides new candidate loci and genes for the genetic improvement of pigs.

Unlocking the potential of ultra-thin two-dimensional antimony materials:Selective growth and carbon coating for efficient potassium-ion storage

Antimony-based anodes have attracted wide attention in potassium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical specific capacities(∼660 mA h g^(-1))and suitable voltage platforms.However,severe capacity fading caused by huge volume change and limited ion transportation hinders their practical applications.Recently,strategies for controlling the morphologies of Sb-based materials to improve the electrochemical performances have been proposed.Among these,the two-dimensional Sb(2D-Sb)materials present excellent properties due to shorted ion immigration paths and enhanced ion diffusion.Nevertheless,the synthetic methods are usually tedious,and even the mechanism of these strategies remains elusive,especially how to obtain large-scale 2D-Sb materials.Herein,a novel strategy to synthesize 2D-Sb material using a straightforward solvothermal method without the requirement of a complex nanostructure design is provided.This method leverages the selective adsorption of aldehyde groups in furfural to induce crystal growth,while concurrently reducing and coating a nitrogen-doped carbon layer.Compared to the reported methods,it is simpler,more efficient,and conducive to the production of composite nanosheets with uniform thickness(3–4 nm).The 2D-Sb@NC nanosheet anode delivers an extremely high capacity of 504.5 mA h g^(-1) at current densities of 100 mA g^(-1) and remains stable for more than 200 cycles.Through characterizations and molecular dynamic simulations,how potassium storage kinetics between 2D Sb-based materials and bulk Sb-based materials are explored,and detailed explanations are provided.These findings offer novel insights into the development of durable 2D alloy-based anodes for next-generation potassium-ion batteries.

The growth ofβphase in Mg-Gd-Y-Ni alloy by experimental and first-principles study

The paper reports on the atomic investigation aboutβphase in Mg_(96)Gd_(2)Y_(1)Ni_(1) alloy by using the first-principles study and the high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscope(HAADF-STEM)corrected by atomic Cs.By using HAADF-STEM,the rectangularβphases were observed in the underage and peak aging stages in Mg_(96)Gd_(2)Y_(1)Ni_(1) alloy.Theβphase could be precipitated from the previously precipitatedβphase,and theβphase grew in steps when it was precipitated.A special transition structure of three atomic layer thicknesses was first observed at the edge of theβphase and the structure of this interface is probably as theβ/Mg_(1) interface for the analysis of thermodynamic characterization and electronic characterization.Theβ'phase and theβ_(H) structure were precipitated only at the edge of the length directions of theβphase.Theβ'phase continues to grow into aβphase directly without the formation ofβ_(1) phase,resulting in an increase in the length of theβphase,which is discovered for the first time.

Effects of Nitrogen-Regulating Gene AreA on Growth,Pathogenicity,and Fumonisin Synthesis of Fusarium proliferatum

Rice spikelet rot disease not only threatens rice yields but also poses risks to humans and animals due to the production of the category 2B carcinogen fumonisins by the pathogen Fusarium proliferatum.Nitrogen(N)metabolism is known to have a significant influence on fungal growth and the synthesis of secondary metabolites.AreA is a global N regulatory gene belonging to the GATA transcription factor family.In this study,we observed that theΔAreA mutant exhibited a notable reduction in growth rate and conidium production.Pathogenicity experiments revealed thatΔAreA had almost lost its ability to infect rice spikelets.

Effects of orientation on the fatigue crack growth behaviors of the ZK60 magnesium alloy in air and PBS

Strong anisotropic corrosion and mechanical properties caused by specimen orientations greatly limit the applications of wrought magnesium alloys.To investigate the influences of specimen orientation,the corrosion tests and(corrosion)fatigue crack growth tests were conducted.The rolled and transverse surfaces of the materials show distinct corrosion rate differences in the stable corrosion stage,but the truth is the opposite for the initial stage of corrosion.In air,specimen orientations have a significant influence on the plastic deformation mechanisms near the crack tip,which results in different fatigue fracture surfaces and cracking paths.Compared with R-T specimens,N-T specimens show a slower fatigue crack growth(FCG)rate in air,which can be attributed to crack closure effects and deformation twinning near the crack tip.The corrosion environment will not significantly change the main plastic deformation mechanisms for the same type of specimen.However,the FCG rate in phosphate buffer saline(PBS)is one order of magnitude higher than that in air,which is caused by the combined effects of hydrogen-induced cracking and anodic dissolution.Owing to the similar corrosion rates at crack tips,the specimens with different orientations display close FCG rates in PBS.

Controllable step-flow growth of GaN on patterned freestanding substrate

A new kind of step-flow growth mode is proposed,which adopts sidewall as step source on patterned GaN substrate.The terrace width of steps originated from the sidewall was found to change with the growth temperature and ammonia flux.The growth mechanism is explained and simulated based on step motion model.This work helps better understand the behaviors of step advancement and puts forward a method of precisely modulating atomic steps.

Phase-field lattice-Boltzmann study on fully coupled thermal-solute-convection dendrite growth of Al-Cu alloy

Dendrite growth is a complex liquid-solid phase transition process involving multiple physical factors.A phase-field lattice-Boltzmann method was developed to simulate the two-and three-dimension dendrite growth of Al-Cu alloy.The effect of fully coupled thermal-solute-convection interaction on the dendrite growth was investigated by incorporating a parallel-adaptive mesh refinement algorithm into the numerical model.By accurately reproducing the latent heat release,solute diffusion and convective transport behaviors at the liquidsolid interface,the interaction mechanism among thermal-solute-convection transport as well as their coupling effects on the dendrite growth dynamics were discussed.The simulation results show that the release of latent heat slows down the dendrite growth rate,and both natural and forced convection disrupt the symmetrical growth of dendrites.Their combination makes the growth of dendrites more complex,capturing important physical aspects such as recalescence,dendrite tip splitting,dendrite tilting,dendrite remelting,and solute plume in the simulation case.Based on the robustness and powerful ability of the numerical model,the formation mechanisms of these physical aspects were revealed.

Annual growth of Fagus orientalis is limited by spring drought conditions in Iran’s Golestan Province

Due to the lack of a uniform and accurate defi-nition of‘drought’,several indicators have been introduced based on different variables and methods,and the efficiency of each of these is determined according to their relationship with drought.The relationship between two drought indices,SPI(standardized precipitation index)and SPEI(standard-ized precipitation-evapotranspiration index)in different sea-sons was investigated using annual rings of 15 tree samples to determine the effect of drought on the growth of oriental beech(Fagus orientalis Lipsky)in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran.The different evapotranspiration calcula-tion methods were evaluated on SPEI efficiency based on Hargreaves-Samani,Thornthwaite,and Penman-Monteith methods using the step-by-step M5 decision tree regression method.The results show that SPEI based on the Penman-Monteith in a three-month time scale(spring)had similar temporal changes and a better relationship with annual tree rings(R^(2)=0.81)at a 0.05 significant level.Abrupt change and a decreasing trend in the time series of annual tree rings are similar to the variation in the SPEI based on the Penman-Monteith method.Factors affecting evapotranspiration,temperature,wind speed,and sunshine hours(used in the Penman-Monteith method),increased but precipitation decreased.Using non-linear modeling methods,SPEI based on Penman-Monteith best illustrated climate changes affecting tree growth.