Impacts of climate change and fruit tree expansion on key hydrological components at different spatial scales

Assessing how fruit tree expansion and climate variability affect hydrological components (e.g., water yield, surface runoff, underground runoff, soil water, evapotranspiration, and infiltration) at different spatial scales is crucial for the management and protection of watersheds, ecosystems, and engineering design. The Jiujushui watershed (259.32 km2), which experienced drastic forest changes over the past decades, was selected to explore the response mechanisms of hydrological components to fruit tree expansion and climate variability at different spatial scales (whole basin and subbasin scale). Specifically, we set up two change scenarios (average temperature increase of 0.5°C and fruit tree area expansion of 18.97%) in the SWAT model by analyzing historical data (1961∼2011). Results showed that climate change reduced water yield, surface runoff, and underground runoff by 6.75, 0.37, and 5.91 mm, respectively. By contrast, the expansion of fruit trees increased surface runoff and water yield by 2.81 and 4.10 mm, respectively, but decreased underground runoff by 1 mm. Interestingly, the sub-basins showed different intensities and directions of response under climate change and fruit tree expansion scenarios. However, the downstream response was overall more robust than the upstream response. These results suggest that there may be significant differences in the hydrological effects of climate change and fruit tree expansion at different spatial scales, thus any land disturbance measures should be carefully considered

Insight of novel biomarkers for papillary thyroid carcinoma through multiomics

IntroductionThe overdiagnosing of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in China necessitates the development of an evidence-based diagnosis and prognosis strategy in line with precision medicine. A landscape of PTC in Chinese cohorts is needed to provide comprehensiveness.Methods6 paired PTC samples were employed for whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and data-dependent acquisition mass spectrum analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and protein-protein interactions networks were used to screen for hub genes. Moreover, we verified the hub genes' diagnostic and prognostic potential using online databases. Logistic regression was employed to construct a diagnostic model, and we evaluated its efficacy and specificity based on TCGA-THCA and GEO datasets.ResultsThe basic multiomics landscape of PTC among local patients were drawn. The similarities and differences were compared between the Chinese cohort and TCGA-THCA cohorts, including the identification of PNPLA5 as a driver gene in addition to BRAF mutation. Besides, we found 572 differentially expressed genes and 79 differentially expressed proteins. Through integrative analysis, we identified 17 hub genes for prognosis and diagnosis of PTC. Four of these genes, ABR, AHNAK2, GPX1, and TPO, were used to construct a diagnostic model with high accuracy, explicitly targeting PTC (AUC=0.969/0.959 in training/test sets).DiscussionMultiomics analysis of the Chinese cohort demonstrated significant distinctions compared to TCGA-THCA cohorts, highlighting the unique genetic characteristics of Chinese individuals with PTC. The novel biomarkers, holding potential for diagnosis and prognosis of PTC, were identified. Furthermore, these biomarkers provide a valuable tool for precise medicine, especially for immunotherapeutic or nanomedicine based cancer therapy

Hybrid silver pastes with synergistic effect of multi-scale silver fillers and the application in flexible circuits

Silver circuits prepared by new hybrid pastes exhibit high electrical conductivity and mechanical properties, which are ideal for modern flexible electronics. Herein, the hybrid silver pastes composed of different silver nanoparticle content (0, 10, 20, 30 wt%), micron-sized silver flakes and epoxy-based binders were prepared. The corresponding electrical conductivity and bending resistance of the screen-printed silver circuits were studied. The experimental results demonstrated that the synergistic effect of micro-size silver flakes and nanoparticles can greatly improve the electrical conductivity and bending resistance of flexible circuits. Specifically, the silver circuits with 46 wt% micro-size silver flakes and 20 wt% silver nanoparticles incorporation exhibit a lower electrical resistivity of 8.1 × 10 ^−5 Ω·cm. Moreover, 10 wt% silver nanoparticles can be applied to significantly reduce the resistance change of flexible circuit, indicting a superior bending property. Our designed hybrid silver pastes with excellent performance might enable valuable applications in advanced electronic devices

Stability on coupling SIR epidemic model with vaccination

We develop a mathematical model for the disease which can be transmitted via vector and through blood transfusion in host population. The host population is structured by the chronological age. We assume that the instantaneous death and infection rates depend on the age. Applying semigroup theory and so forth, we investigate the existence of equilibria. We also discuss local stability of steady states

Stability results on age-structured SIS epidemic model with coupling impulsive effect

We develop an age-structured epidemic model for malaria with impulsive effect, and consider the effect of blood transfusion and infected-vector transmission. Transmission rates depend on age. We derive the condition in which eradication solution is locally asymptotically stable. The condition shows that large enough pulse reducing proportion and relatively small interpulse time lead to the eradication of the diseases

Behavioral and technical perspectives of green supply chain management practices:Empirical evidence from an emerging market

Recently, companies in emerging markets have implemented green supply chain management (GSCM) practices to tackle environmental issues. Drawing upon socio-technical systems theory, this study develops a conceptual model suggesting a sequential effect between two distinct categories of GSCM practices, namely behavioral (human and soft aspects) and technical (tangible and hard aspects) practices, on performance. We employ structural equation modeling method to test hypotheses based on survey responses from 200 Chinese manufacturers. The categorization of behavioral and technical GSCM practices and research findings contribute to the GSCM literature. Statistical results demonstrate the complete mediation effect of technical GSCM practices (e.g., green design, green manufacturing and reverse logistics) on the relationship between behavioral GSCM practices (e.g., relationship with customers and suppliers) and organizational performance. Such results recommend that companies in emerging markets should highlight behavioral GSCM practices first and then implement necessary technical GSCM practices to reap economic, environmental and operational performance

BRD4 promotes the migration and invasion of bladder cancer through the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway and enhances cisplatin resistance

Platinum-based chemotherapy is a widely used strategy in bladder cancer (BCa) treatments. However, the clinical efficacy is affected by chemotherapy resistance with complex molecular mechanisms. Therefore, it is urgent to explore new targets for BCa therapy. Here, we showed that bromodomain-4 protein (BRD4) expression was obviously upregulated in BCa tissues and cells. Inhibition of BRD4 attenuated the migration and invasion of BCa cells, which was rescued by the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway activator recombinant human Sonic hedgehog peptide (rhSHH). We further found that cisplatin (DDP) suppressed the migration and invasion of BCa cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo; however overexpression of BRD4 weakened the pharmacological effects of DDP. In brief, our research reveals that BRD4 promotes migration and invasion by positively regulating the SHH pathway, drives DDP resistance in BCa and is a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of BCa.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author