Food availability and climate represent environmental factors that affect species' social behavior, ranging patterns, diet, and activity budget. From August 2012 to September 2013, we examined the ...effects of seasonal changes in food availability, temperature, and rainfall on the diet and behavioral ecology of Shortridge's langur (Trachypithecus shortridgei) an Endangered primate species inhabiting moist evergreen broadleaf forests in the Eastern Himalayas. Our field site represents the northernmost latitudinal distribution of this species. Data were collected using scan sampling at 10 min intervals, and analyzed based on generalized linear models. The results indicate that the langurs experienced two feeding peaks (9:00 and 17:00) and two traveling peaks (10:00 and 19:00) during each day. Periods of rest, mainly occurred between 10:00 and 13:00, and overnight. Feeding accounted for 38.5% of the daily activity budget, followed by resting (35%), traveling (24.5%), and socializing (2%). During periods when young leaves were most available, the langurs increased feeding time on young leaves (35% vs. 4%). During periods of maximum fruit availability, the langurs decreased total time spent feeding (36.6% vs. 40.4%), devoted more time to traveling (28.1% vs. 21%), and increased time spent consuming fruit (49.1% vs. 11.8%). During the winter, the langurs increased their consumption of mature leaves (44.5%) and reduced time spent traveling (20.2% vs. 25.4%). Overall, time spent resting was greatest in the spring (47.5%), time spent feeding was greatest during the summer (51.1%), and time spent in traveling was greatest in the autumn (33.2%). The frequency of social interactions remained relatively constant throughout the year. Foraging effort was greatest in the summer, when fruits dominated the diet. Like other species of temperate langurs, T. shortridgei devoted less time to resting, more time to feeding, and was characterized by a greater year‐round foraging effort than tropical/subtropical langurs.
Research Highlights
This is the first study examining the activity budget and feeding effort of the Endangered Trachypithecus shortridgei.
Food availability played a more critical role in the foraging effort and activity budget of Trachypithecus shortridgei than did rainfall or temperature.
Similar to other temperate Trachypithecus species, T. shortridgei in the Gaoligong Mountains adopted a time minimizing behavioral strategy and had a greater annual foraging effort than tropical langur species.
Shortridge's langurs (Trachypithecus shortridgei) forage on the cliffs in the Drung Valley, Yunnan, China
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR‐TKI) afatinib improves survival in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutation. We analysed the outcome between ...EGFR mutation subtypes in a large afatinib‐treated cohort in which 516 EGFR‐mutated NSCLC patients receiving afatinib as front‐line treatment. EGFR uncommon mutations include exon 20 insertion, de novo T790M of high or low allele frequency (dT790MHAF/dT790MLAF), non‐T790M compound mutation and others, where EGFR exon 20 insertion and dT790MHAF were defined as type‐I and the rest as type‐II uncommon mutation. Four hundred and sixty‐one (89.3%) and 55 (10.7%) patients were common and uncommon mutation, respectively. Exon 20 insertion and dT790MHAF patients demonstrated a significantly shortened progression‐free survival (PFS) (2.6 and 4.1 months) compared to EGFR common mutation, dT790MLAF and other uncommon mutation patients (15.1, 27.0 and 18.4 months; P = 3 × 10−8). Type‐I uncommon mutation was an independent predictor of PFS (HR 4.46 95% CI, 2.60‐7.64; P < .001) and OS (HR 2.56 95% CI, 1.37‐4.75; P = .003). EGFR L858R patients demonstrated a significantly higher CNS progression (cause‐specific HR, 3.16; 95% CI 1.24‐8.08; P = .016), and type‐I uncommon mutation patients exhibited a significantly higher systemic progression (cause‐specific HR, 4.95; 95% CI 2.30‐10.60; P = 4.3 × 10−5). Tendencies of higher CNS and lower systemic progression were observed in type‐II uncommon mutation patients. A PFS ≥ 12 months (OR 2.38 95% CI, 1.18‐4.89; P = .016) and uncommon EGFR mutation (OR 0.08 95% CI, 0.01‐0.48; P = .021) were independent predictors of secondary T790M. Afatinib‐treated NSCLC patients presented an EGFR genotype‐specific pattern of disease progression and outcome.
What's new?
For patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‐TKIs) can significantly improve survival. EGFG‐TKI effectiveness, however, is compromised by acquired EGFR mutations, especially de novo T790M mutations. Here, the impact of EGFR genotypes on the efficacy of afatinib, a second‐generation EGFR‐TKI, was investigated in a cohort of EGFR‐mutated NSCLC patients. Afatinib efficacy was associated with T790M allele quantity in patients with de novo T790M mutation. In particular, front‐line afatinib therapy was associated with favourable survival in EGFR‐mutated patients, whereas resistance was marked by a genotype‐specific pattern of disease progression, with secondary T790M development.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The symptoms of vaginal candidiasis exacerbate in the second half of the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women when the serum estradiol level is elevated. Estradiol has been shown to inhibit Th17 ...differentiation and production of antifungal IL-17 cytokines. However, little is known about the mechanisms. In the present study, we used mouse splenocytes and found that estradiol inhibited Th17 differentiation through downregulation of Rorγt mRNA and protein expression. Estradiol activated estrogen receptor (ER)α to recruit repressor of estrogen receptor activity (REA) and form the ERα/REA complex. This complex bound to three estrogen response element (ERE) half-sites on the Rorγt promoter region to suppress Rorγt expression. Estradiol induced Rea mRNA and protein expression in mouse splenocytes. Using Rea small interfering RNA to knock down Rea expression enhanced Rorγt expression and Th17 differentiation. Alternatively, histone deacetylase 1 and 2 bound to the three ERE half-sites, independent of estradiol. Histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275 dose- and time-dependently increased Rorγt expression and subsequently enhanced Th17 differentiation. In 15 healthy premenopausal women, high serum estradiol levels are correlated with low RORγT mRNA levels and high REA mRNA levels in the vaginal lavage. These results demonstrate that estradiol upregulates REA expression and recruits REA via ERα to the EREs on the RORγT promoter region, thus inhibiting RORγT expression and Th17 differentiation. This study suggests that the estradiol/ERα/REA axis may be a feasible target in the management of recurrent vaginal candidiasis.
Herbicide safeners enhance herbicide detoxification in crops without affecting target weed sensitivity. To enhance crop tolerance to the toxicity-related stress caused by the herbicide acetochlor ...(ACT), a new class of substituted phenyl isoxazole derivatives was designed by an intermediate derivatization method as herbicide safeners. Microwave-assisted synthesis was used to prepare the phenyl isoxazole analogues, and all of the structures were confirmed via IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Compound I-1 was further characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Bioassay results showed that most of the obtained compounds provided varying degrees of safening against ACT-induced injury by increasing the corn growth recovery, glutathione content, and glutathione S-transferase activity. In particular, compound I-20 showed excellent safener activity against ACT toxicity, comparable to that of the commercial safener benoxacor. Gaussian calculations have been performed and the results indicated that the nucleophilic ability of compound I-20 is higher than that of benoxacor, thus the activity is higher than that of benoxacor. These findings demonstrate that phenyl isoxazole derivatives possess great potential for protective management in cornfields.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Lactate, the main contributor to the acidic tumor microenvironment, not only promotes the proliferation of tumor cells, but also closely relates to tumor invasion and metastasis. Here, a tumor ...targeting nanoplatform, designated as Me&Flu@MSN@MnO
-FA, was fabricated for effective tumor suppression and anti-metastasis by interfering with lactate metabolism of tumor cells. Metformin (Me) and fluvastatin sodium (Flu) were incorporated into MnO
-coated mesoporous silicon nanoparticles (MSNs), the synergism between Me and Flu can modulate the pyruvate metabolic pathway to produce more lactate, and concurrently inhibit lactate efflux to induce intracellular acidosis to kill tumor cells. As a result of the restricted lactate efflux, the extracellular lactate concentration is reduced, and the ability of the tumor cells to migrate is also weakened. This ingenious strategy based on Me&Flu@MSN@MnO
-FA showed an obvious inhibitory effect on tumor growth and resistance to metastasis.
Long-term degradation of black soil has led to reductions in soil fertility and ecological service functions, which have seriously threatened national food security and regional ecological security. ...This study is motivated by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2—Zero Hunger, specifically, SDG 2.4 Sustainable Food Production Systems. The aim was to monitor the soil organic matter (SOM) content of black soil and its dynamics via hyperspectral remote sensing inversion. This is of great significance to the effective utilization and sustainable development of black soil resources. Taking the typical black soil area of Northeast China as an example, the hyperspectral data of ground features were compared with SOM contents measured in soil samples to correlate SOM with spectral features. Based on their quantitative relationship, a dynamic fitness inertia weighted particle swarm optimization (DPSO) algorithm is proposed, which balances the global and local search abilities of a particle swarm optimization algorithm. The DPSO algorithm is applied to the parameter adjustment of an artificial neural network (BPNN), which is used instead of a traditional error back propagation algorithm, to build a DPSO-BPNN model. Then a global optimal analytical expression of hyperspectral inversion is obtained to improve the generalization ability and stability of the remote sensing quantitative inversion model. The results show that DPSO-BPNN model is more stable and accurate than existing models, such as multiple stepwise regression, partial least squares, and BP neural network models (adjust complex coefficient of determination = 0.89, root mean square error = 1.58, relative recent deviation = 2.93). The results of DPSO-BPNN inversion are basically consistent with the trend in SOM contents measured during surface geochemical exploration. As such, this study provides a basis for hyperspectral remote sensing inversion and monitoring of the SOM contents in black soil.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
For decades, traditional correlation analysis and regression models have been used in social science research. However, the development of machine learning algorithms makes it possible to apply ...machine learning techniques for social science research and social issues, which may outperform standard regression methods in some cases. Under the circumstances, this article proposes a methodological workflow for data analysis by machine learning techniques that have the possibility to be widely applied in social issues. Specifically, the workflow tries to uncover the natural mechanisms behind the social issues through a data-driven perspective from feature selection to model building. The advantage of data-driven techniques in feature selection is that the workflow can be built without so much restriction of related knowledge and theory in social science. The advantage of using machine learning techniques in modelling is to uncover non-linear and complex relationships behind social issues. The main purpose of our methodological workflow is to find important fields relevant to the target and provide appropriate predictions. However, to explain the result still needs theory and knowledge from social science. In this paper, we trained a methodological workflow with left-behind children as the social issue case, and all steps and full results are included.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Esophageal cancer is one of the most common tumor in the world, and the morbidity rate is as high as 100/100 000 in some parts of China. Therefore, it is important and urgent to explore the ...pathogenesis of esophageal cancer and find new therapeutic targets for esophageal cancer. In this study, we found that a novel tumor suppressor SPINK5 is significantly reduced in the development of esophageal cancer, and is closely related to the pathological differentiation and lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer via bioinformatics analysis and esophageal cancer tissue array. Further studies have found that SPINK5 is closely related to Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway by bioinformatics analysis and western blot. In esophageal cancer cells, SPINK5 overexpression can inhibit Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Combined with LiCl or MG‐132 treatment, SPINK5 can inhibit GSK3β phosphorylation and promote β‐catenin protein degradation, thus inhibit Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. In vivo study, SPINK5 overexpression can significantly inhibit the growth of esophageal cancer cells. Our study shows that SPINK5 can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of esophageal cancer cells by inhibiting Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway, and thus plays an important role in the development of esophageal cancer, and may serve as a treatment target of esophageal cancer.
In esophageal cancer cells, SPINK5 overexpression can inhibit Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway, and its mechanism is that SPINK5 can inhibit GSK3β phosphorylation and promote β‐catenin protein degradation, thus inhibit Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
In this brief, a frequency and pattern reconfigurable antenna using double layer petal shaped parasitic structure loaded with PIN diodes is proposed. The double layer parasitic structure proposed in ...this brief makes it possible to realize pattern reconfigurable function at a wider range of frequency. The operating frequency of the antenna can be tuned continuously and the radiation pattern can be controlled to scan from 0° to 360° in steps of 25.7°. First, an omnidirectional antenna consisting of four bending dipoles is designed and varactor diodes are loaded on the antenna to realize frequency dynamic manipulation. Then petal shaped parasitic structures with PIN diodes loaded at the center gaps are placed around the omnidirectional antenna to achieve pattern reconfiguration with high angle resolution in 360° range. The parasitic structures are distributed on both sides of the dielectric plate, which can be combined to broaden the tunable frequency range of the pattern reconfigurable antenna effectively. Finally, a prototype antenna is fabricated and measured. The center frequency of the antenna can be tuned from 2.2 GHz to 2.52 GHz and the radiation pattern can be manipulated to change at intervals of 25.7° in the whole horizontal plane.
The first organocatalytic diastereoselective (4 + 1) cycloaddition of o-hydroxyphenyl-substituted secondary phosphine oxides (SPOs) has been established, which makes use of o-hydroxyphenyl ...substituted SPOs as suitable four-atom phosphorus-containing 1,4-dinucleophiles and 3-indolylformaldehydes as competent 1,1-dielectrophiles under Bro̷nsted acid catalysis. The reaction mechanism was suggested to involve the formation of 3-indolylmethanol intermediates and vinyliminium intermediates, which played an important role in controlling the reactivity and diastereoselectivity of the (4 + 1) cycloaddition under Bro̷nsted acid catalysis. By this approach, a series of benzo oxaphospholes bearing P- and C-stereocenters were synthesized in moderate to good yields (50%-95% yields) with excellent diastereoselectivities (all >95:5 dr). This reaction not only represents the first organocatalytic diastereoselective (4 + 1) cycloaddition of o-hydroxyphenyl-substituted SPOs but also provides an efficient and diastereoselective method for the construction of phosphorus-containing benzo five-membered heterocyclic skeletons bearing both P-stereocenter and C-stereocenter.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
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