Two-dimensional non-Hermitian skin effect in an ultracold Fermi gas.

The concept of non-Hermiticity has expanded the understanding of band topology, leading to the emergence of counter-intuitive phenomena. An example is the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE), which involves the concentration of eigenstates at the boundary. However, despite the potential insights that can be gained from high-dimensional non-Hermitian quantum systems in areas such as curved space, high-order topological phases and black holes, the realization of this effect in high dimensions remains unexplored.

Metal Ion-Induced Acid Hydrolysis Strategy for the One-Step Synthesis of Tough and Highly Transparent Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide Hydrogels.

Polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogel is hard to enhance through coordination bonds because amide groups rarely coordinate with metal ions strongly in an aqueous solution. It is known that the aqueous solution of ZrOCl.8HO can be strongly acidic depending on its concentration.

Fatty acids metabolism affects the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 in tumor immune microenvironment in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a highly invasive and metastatic subtype of kidney malignancy and is correlated with metabolic reprogramming for adaptation to the tumor microenvironment comprising infiltrated immune cells and immunomodulatory molecules. The role of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and their association with abnormal fatty acids metabolism in ccRCC remains poorly understood.

Method: RNA-seq and clinical data of KIRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and E-MTAB-1980 from the ArrayExpress dataset.

Characteristics of Families with Members Going Out for Work and Associated Factors among Persons with Schizophrenia in Rural China.

Background: The characteristics associated with having family members going out for work among persons with schizophrenia in rural China are unknown. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of families with members going out for work and the risk factors among persons with schizophrenia in a rural area of China.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional dataset from a mental health survey, using the International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), conducted among 152,776 people aged 15 years and older in Xinjin District, Chengdu, China, in 2015.

Identification of risk genes in Chinese nonobstructive azoospermia patients based on whole-exome sequencing.

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a severe condition in infertile men, and increasing numbers of causative genes have been identified during the last few decades. Although certain causative genes can explain the presence of NOA in some patients, a proportion of NOA patients remain to be addressed. This study aimed to investigate potential high-risk genes associated with spermatogenesis in idiopathic NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing.

Observing a topological phase transition with deep neural networks from experimental images of ultracold atoms.

Although classifying topological quantum phases have attracted great interests, the absence of local order parameter generically makes it challenging to detect a topological phase transition from experimental data. Recent advances in machine learning algorithms enable physicists to analyze experimental data with unprecedented high sensitivities, and identify quantum phases even in the presence of unavoidable noises. Here, we report a successful identification of topological phase transitions using a deep convolutional neural network trained with low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) experimental data obtained in a symmetry-protected topological system of spin-orbit-coupled fermions.

A near-infrared fluorescent probe based on the hemicyanine skeleton for the detection of hydrogen peroxide in vivo.

As a member of the reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide (HO) plays critical roles in oxidative stress and cell signaling. Intracellular abnormal levels of HO production are closely related to many diseases. Therefore, the real-time monitoring of HO in the cells is important.

Pollen micromorphology of eastern Chinese Polygonatum and its role in taxonomy by using scanning electron microscopy.

Although considerable progress has recently been made in the taxonomic study of Asparagaceae, but the Polygonatum remains one of the most poorly investigated genus. Therefore, the present study was designed with the aim, to document the pollen micromorphology of closely related Polygonatum taxa and its taxonomic significance. Pollen micro-morphological features were observed using scanning electron microscopy-SEM).

Identification and Expression Profile of Olfactory Receptor Genes Based on (Hope) Antennal Transcriptome.

Insects' olfactory receptor plays a central role in detecting chemosensory information from the environment. Odorant receptors (ORs) and ionotropic receptors (IRs) are two types of olfactory receptors, and they are essential for the recognition of ligands at peripheral neurons. (Hope) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is one of the most serious insect pests that cause damage to economic trees and landscaping trees, resulting in massive environmental damages and economic losses.

Treatment Status of Elderly Patients With Severe Mental Disorders in Rural China.

This study was performed to compare the treatment status between older (≥65 years) and younger adults (18-64 years) with severe mental illness (SMI) and explore factors associated with treatment status in rural China. Persons with SMI were identified in one mental health survey in 2015 in 6 townships of Xinjin County, Chengdu, China. Logistic regressions were conducted to explore factors associated with treatment status.

Changes in treatment status of patients with severe mental illness in rural China, 1994-2015.

Background: Although it is crucial to improve the treatment status of people with severe mental illness (SMI), it is still unknown whether and how socioeconomic development influences their treatment status.AimsTo explore the change in treatment status in people with SMI from 1994 to 2015 in rural China and to examine the factors influencing treatment status in those with SMI.

Method: Two mental health surveys using identical methods and ICD-10 were conducted in 1994 and 2015 (population ≥15 years old, n = 152 776) in the same six townships of Xinjin County, Chengdu, China.

A Plastid-Localized Pentatricopeptide Repeat Protein is Required for Both Pollen Development and Plant Growth in Rice.

Several mitochondrial-targeted pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins involved in pollen development have been reported to be fertility restorer (Rf) proteins. However, the roles of plastid-localized PPR proteins in plant male reproduction are poorly defined. Here, we described a plastid-localized PPR-SMR protein, OsPPR676, which is required for plant growth and pollen development in rice.

The family economic status and outcome of people with schizophrenia in Xinjin, Chengdu, China: 14-year follow-up study.

Background: Little is known about whether family economic status might influence the long-term (e.g. over 10 years) outcome of persons with schizophrenia in the community.

Astragaloside IV prevents high glucose-induced podocyte apoptosis via downregulation of TRPC6.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important causes of end‑stage renal disease. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a saponin isolated from Astragalus membranaceus, which possesses various pharmacological activities. AS‑IV prevents podocyte apoptosis and ameliorates renal injury in DN; however, few studies have focused on its effects on ion channels.

[Species diversity and temporal niche of entomopathogenic fungi in the extensively managed tea plantation soil].

The species diversity and temporal niche of entomopathogenic fungi community in the rhizosphere soil collected from the extensively managed Huangshan fuzz tip tea plantation were investigated. A total of 140 soil samples were collected at the location of Tangkou Town, Huangshan of Anhui Province during August, 2012 to June, 2013, and totally 1041 fungal isolates were obtained on selective medium with soil dilution plating. The results showed that the entomopathogenic fungi community in the tea plantation soil was diverse with 13 species in 6 genera.

Reduced mir-29b-3p expression up-regulate CDK6 and contributes to IgA nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common glomerulonephritis and the etiology of which is complex and multiple, and the pathological damage of IgAN is diversified. MicroRNA is a kind of gene expression suppressor and recently, researchers have found that microRNAs may play an important role in the pathogenesis of IgAN. Herein, we found that miR-29b-3p not miR-29a or miR-29c was significantly down regulated in IgAN patients' renal tissues.

Overexpression of HOXC11 homeobox gene in clear cell renal cell carcinoma induces cellular proliferation and is associated with poor prognosis.

Novel evidence has confirmed the involvement of dysregulated expression of HOX genes in cancer. HOX genes are a family of 39 transcription factors, divided in four clusters (HOXA to HOXD), that during normal development regulate cell proliferation and specific cell fate. The aim of this study was to investigate whether genes of the HOXC cluster might play a role in renal cancer.

Effects of stomatal development on stomatal conductance and on stomatal limitation of photosynthesis in Syringa oblata and Euonymus japonicus Thunb.

During leaf development, the increase in stomatal conductance cannot meet photosynthetic demand for CO2, thus leading to stomatal limitation of photosynthesis (Ls). Considering the crucial influences of stomatal development on stomatal conductance, we speculated whether stomatal development limits photosynthesis to some extent. To test this hypothesis, stomatal development, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis were carefully studied in both Syringa oblata (normal greening species) and Euonymus japonicus Thunb (delayed greening species).

Elevated microRNA-185 is associated with high vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 expression levels and high microvessel density in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in a number of biological processes, including tumor biology. Previous studies have demonstrated that miRNA-185 regulates signaling downstream of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) and, consequently, angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential relationship between miRNA-185, VEGFR-2, and angiogenesis in samples from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients.

Structural characterisation and antioxidant activity evaluation of phenolic compounds from cold-pressed Perilla frutescens var. arguta seed flour.

A total of 11 phenolic compounds, as well as sucrose (12) and tryptophan (13), were isolated from cold-pressed Perilla frutescens var. arguta seed flour using column chromatography, and their chemical structures were identified as 3'-dehydroxyl-rosmarinic acid-3-o-glucoside (1), rosmarinic acid-3-o-glucoside (2), rosmarinic acid (3), rosmarinic acid methyl ester (4), luteolin (5), luteolin-5-o-glucoside (6), apigenin (7), caffeic acid (8), caffeic acid-3-o-glucoside (9), vanillic acid (10) and cimidahurinine (11) using NMR and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Of these components, compound 1 is novel, and this is the first report of compounds 10 and 11 in perilla seeds.

Effects of mutual shading on the regulation of photosynthesis in field-grown sorghum.

In the field, close planting inevitably causes mutual shading and depression of leaf photosynthesis. To clarify the regulative mechanisms of photosynthesis under these conditions, the effects of planting density on leaf structure, gas exchange and proteomics were carefully studied in field-grown sorghum. In the absence of mineral deficiency, (1) close planting induced a significant decrease in light intensity within populations, which further resulted in much lower stomatal density and other anatomical characteristics associated with shaded leaves; (2) sorghum grown at high planting density had a lower net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance than those grown at low planting density; (3) approximately 62 protein spots changed their expression levels under the high planting density conditions, and 22 proteins associated with photosynthesis were identified by mass spectrometry.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of the heat stress response in the filamentous fungus Metarhizium anisopliae using RNA-Seq.

The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is widely used for biological control of a variety of insect pests. The effectiveness of the microbial pest control agent, however, is limited by poor thermotolerance. The molecular mechanism underlying the response to heat stress in the conidia of entomopathogenic fungi remains unclear.

Temporary filters and liver mobilization technique improve the safety and prognosis of radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava thrombectomy in renal cell carcinoma with subdiaphragmatic thrombosis.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of preoperative temporary inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement and intraoperative application of a liver mobilization technique.

Materials And Methods: The experiment cohort of 42 cases and the control cohort of 36 cases of renal cell carcinoma involving the IVC were analyzed retrospectively. In the experiment cohort, patients were implanted with a temporary IVC filter as routine preoperative treatment.

Empty pericarp5 encodes a pentatricopeptide repeat protein that is required for mitochondrial RNA editing and seed development in maize.

In flowering plants, RNA editing is a posttranscriptional mechanism that converts specific cytidines to uridines in both mitochondrial and plastidial transcripts, altering the information encoded by these genes. Here, we report the molecular characterization of the empty pericarp5 (emp5) mutants in maize (Zea mays). Null mutation of Emp5 results in abortion of embryo and endosperm development at early stages.