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•A Llandovery palynoflora revealed from Tarim, Xinjiang, China.•Palynofloa with moderately diverse cryptospores of eight genera and twelve species.•Biogeographical zonation of ...sporomorph probably emerged in the Llandovery.•Tarim was closely proximal to western Gondwana during the early Silurian.
The Tarim Plate, an independent continent during the Paleozoic, is of significance in understanding life and environment evolution; however, its paleogeography during the early Silurian is poorly known. Palynology, especially on land-derived palynomorphs, provides independent evidence for paleogeography as a supplement to paleomagnetic data. Here we recognize a Llandovery palynoflora of the Kalpintag Formation from two sections (Arisu and East Dawangou) in the northwestern Tarim Basin, southern Xinjiang, China, the paleontological evidence of which suggests that the Tarim Plate was proximal to western Gondwana during the early Silurian. The palynoflora consists of moderately diverse cryptospores with eight genera and twelve species, as represented by Laevolancis chibrikovae, Sphaerasaccus glabellus, Dyadospora murusdensa, Pseudodyadospora laevigata, P. petasus, and Tetrahedraletes medinensis. The monad S. glabellus reported herein is the first record from China. Other palynomorphs include a large number of sphaeromorph acritarchs, some tubes and cuticle-like sheets, and a few scolecodonts. The various kinds of meiosis process and predetermined diversity of older cryprospore producers in the Tarim Basin, together with ecological factors, contribute to the evolution of the Kalpintag cryptospore producers. By taxonomic comparisons of global coeval sporomorph records, combined with quantitative analyses (Cluster Analysis and Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling Analysis), the Kalpintag palynoflora shows more closely related to those in northern Chad, northeastern Libya and central Saudi Arabia. The geographical zonation of sporomorphs might emerge in the Llandovery. The geographical proximity of the Tarim Plate to western Gondwana during that time is also suggested.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus–associated acute respiratory infection (RSV-ARI) constitutes a substantial disease burden in older adults aged ≥65 years. We aimed to identify all studies ...worldwide investigating the disease burden of RSV-ARI in this population. We estimated the community incidence, hospitalization rate, and in-hospital case-fatality ratio (hCFR) of RSV-ARI in older adults, stratified by industrialized and developing regions, using data from a systematic review of studies published between January 1996 and April 2018 and 8 unpublished population-based studies. We applied these rate estimates to population estimates for 2015 to calculate the global and regional burdens in older adults with RSV-ARI in the community and in hospitals for that year. We estimated the number of in-hospital deaths due to RSV-ARI by combining hCFR data with hospital admission estimates from hospital-based studies. In 2015, there were about 1.5 million episodes (95% confidence interval CI, .3 million–6.9 million) of RSV-ARI in older adults in industrialized countries (data for developing countries were missing), and of these, approximately 14.5% (214 000 episodes; 95% CI, 100 000–459 000) were admitted to hospitals. The global number of hospital admissions for RSV-ARI in older adults was estimated at 336 000 hospitalizations (uncertainty range UR, 186 000–614 000). We further estimated about 14 000 in-hospital deaths (UR, 5000–50 000) related to RSV-ARI globally. The hospital admission rate and hCFR were higher for those aged ≥65 years than for those aged 50–64 years. The disease burden of RSV-ARI among older adults is substantial, with limited data from developing countries. Appropriate prevention and management strategies are needed to reduce this burden.
The Early Devonian flora of South China is composed of many endemic members and has been studied mainly based on Yunnan materials. We in this study report a new Lower Devonian plant locality, ...recognize four sub-regions of the Early Devonian flora from South China and furthermore demonstrate these plants' distribution pattern and probable dispersal route. The new finds of plant fossils are from the Lower Devonian of Hezhang County, Guizhou Province, and include Zosterophyllopsida
and Euphyllophytopsida
.
, consisting of cylindrical strobili with four longitudinal rows of sporangia decussately arranged, shows great similarities to the plant from Yunnan and Guangxi localities.
sp. nov. has distinct fertile units with grouped sporangia and each unit with two or three fusiform sporangia. The new locality belongs to the Guizhou sub-region and shares some taxa with the eastern Yunnan and Cathaysia sub-regional floras within South China, in which the shared plant members are distributed around the epicontinental sea. We suggest that the Guizhou sub-region might act as a bridge during plant dispersal from eastern Yunnan to Cathaysia Oldland in the Early Devonian. This article is part of the theme issue 'The impact of Chinese palaeontology on evolutionary research'.
The ability to identify and isolate lineage-specific stem cells from adult tissues could facilitate cell replacement therapy. Leydig cells （LCs） are the primary source of androgen in the mammalian ...testis, and the prospective iden- tification of stem Leydig cells （SLCs） may offer new opportunities for treating testosterone deficiency. Here, in a transgenic mouse model expressing GFP driven by the Nestin （Nes） promoter, we observed Nes-GFP~ cells located in the testicular interstitial compartment where SLCs normally reside. We showed that these Nes-GFP~ cells expressed LIFR and PDGFR-e, but not LC lineage markers. We further observed that these cells were capable of clonogenic self-renewal and extensive proliferation in vitro and could differentiate into neural or mesenchymal cell lineages, as well as LCs, with the ability to produce testosterone, under defined conditions. Moreover, when transplanted into the testes of LC-disrupted or aging models, the Nes-GFP＋ cells colonized the interstitium and partially increased testosterone production, and then accelerated meiotic and post-meiotic germ cell recovery. In addition, we further demonstrated that CD51 might be a putative cell surface marker for SLCs, similar with Nestin. Taken together, these results suggest that Nes-GFP~ cells from the testis have the characteristics of SLCs, and our study would shed new light on developing stem cell replacement therapy for testosterone deficiency.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Abstract
Under the background of digital revolution, the level of power grid intelligence and automation has been improved, and a large number of data of various types have been gathered. Through the ...analysis of multi-source data of power grid, the new profit growth point of power grid enterprises can be mined. In this paper, the “STP theory” is introduced into the power data commodity market. Through the in-depth analysis of the three elements of power data market segmentation, target market selection and market positioning, the power data product types facing different data trading objects, such as government, power grid itself, third-party enterprises and ordinary users, are constructed. This study will provide a basis for grid companies to explore new data business model.
Cirrhosis is a recognized risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Few studies have reported the expression profile of circRNAs in HCC samples compared to paratumour dysplastic ...nodule (DN) samples.
The Arraystar Human circRNA Array combined with laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to analyse the expression profile of circRNAs in HCC samples compared to paratumour DN samples. Then, both in vitro and in vivo HCC models were used to determine the role and mechanism of key circRNA in HCC progression and treatment sensitivity.
We found that circMEMO1 was significantly downregulated in HCC samples and that the level of circMEMO1 was closely related to the OS and disease-free survival (DFS) of HCC patients. Mechanistic analysis revealed that circMEMO1 can modulate the promoter methylation and gene expression of TCF21 to regulate HCC progression by acting as a sponge for miR-106b-5p, which targets the TET family of genes and increases the 5hmC level. More importantly, circMEMO1 can increase the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib treatment.
Our study determined that circMEMO1 can promote the demethylation and expression of TCF21 and can be considered a crucial epigenetic modifier in HCC progression.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Aim: Deepening our understanding of the molecular mechanism of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression will help set up novel avenues for therapeutic target identification. Our aim here was to ...unveil the mechanism function of STAT3 in AAA progression. Methods: We investigated the functional role of STAT3 in AAA by evaluating vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis and proliferation via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling, western blotting, 5-ethynyl-2´-deoxyuridine, and Cell Counting Kit-8 assays. The interplay of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA was verified using the luciferase reporter assay and the RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were utilized to quantitate the RNA and protein levels of the indicated molecules. Results: Inhibition of STAT3 facilitated VSMC proliferation and repressed VSMC apoptosis. Moreover, It was demonstrated that small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) sponged miR-106b-5p to release STAT3 from the inhibitory effect of miR-106b-5p. SNHG16 led to the upregulation of STAT3, and STAT3 was an upstream factor in the activation of SNHG16 transcription. Moreover, rescue experiments indicated that SNHG16 depended on STAT3 to regulate VSMC apoptosis and proliferation. In vivo assays showed that SNHG16 knockdown retarded the formation of AAA and upregulated STAT3 in vivo. Conclusions: We identified that SNHG16/miR-106b-5p/STAT3 formed a complex circuitry for the deterioration of AAA via regulating VSMCs, suggesting a possible target for the pathogenesis of AAA.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder associated with infertility and pregnancy complications. The pathogenesis of PCOS and its impact on reproductive function may be ...influenced by the source of androgens, including testosterone, free androgen, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). However, the differential effects of these androgen on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes and the cut-off value of East Asian population with PCOS remain unclear.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2015 to November 2022, involving 636 cycles of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). Subgroup analyses were performed using cut-off values of 6.4 for free androgen index (FAI), 9.5 µmol/L for DHEAS. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were compared between groups. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to identify significant cut-off values affecting pregnancy.
Higher FAI levels (> 6.4) were associated with decrease in clinical pregnancy rate (PR) (50.61% vs. 41.66%, p = 0.024), live birth rate (LBR) (42.42% vs. 32.35%, p = 0.011). When DHEAS levels exceeded 9.5 µmol/L, there was a significant decrease in clinical PR (51.27% vs. 42.73%, P = 0.039), LBR (42.73% vs. 32.73%, P = 0.012). Negative correlations were also observed between DHEAS levels and cumulative pregnancy rate (70.57% vs 56.62% p = 0.002) and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) (59.35% vs 43.37%, p = 0.0007). Both FAI and DHEAS elevated is associated with the lowest clinical pregnancy rate (37.84%). Conversely, when solely FAI is elevated, the pregnancy rate increases to 52.38%, while an elevation in DHEAS alone is associated with a pregnancy rate of, both of which are lower than when neither FAI nor DHEAS are elevated (60.68%). The live birth rates exhibit a similar trend (30.00% vs 40.00% vs 41.83% vs 44.48%). RCS revealed a significant decrease in CPR and CLBR when DHEA levels exceeded 7.69 umol/L, while the cut-off value of FAI was 6.36 for CPR and CLBR.
In conclusion, PCOS patients with biochemical hyperandrogenism show unsatisfactory clinical PR and CLBR when undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART). This may be attributed to the influence of both adrenal-derived DHEAS and ovarian-derived FAI on the unfavorable pregnancy outcomes.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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