Genome Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Bovine Hepacivirus in Inner Mongolia, Northeastern China

Bovine hepacivirus (BovHepV) is a new member of the genus Hepacivirus in the family Flaviviridae , which has been detected in cattle in more than seven countries. The purpose of this study was to identify and genetically characterize BovHepV in cattle in Inner Mongolia, northeastern (NE) China. A total of 116 serum samples from cattle were collected from HulunBuir in Inner Mongolia from April to May, 2021, and were divided into three pools for metagenomic sequencing. The samples were verified with semi-nested RT-PCR with primers based on the BovHepV sequences obtained from metagenomic sequencing. The complete genomes of BovHepV were amplified, and were used for genome characterization and phylogenetic analysis. BovHepV was detected in two pools through metagenomic sequencing. Five BovHepV positive samples were identified in Yakeshi of HulunBuir, thus indicating a prevalence of 8.8% (5/57). Two 8840 nucleotide long BovHepV strains YKS01/02 were amplified from the positive samples and showed 79.3%–91.9% nucleotide sequence identity with the discovered BovHepV strains. Phylogenetic analysis classified the YKS01/02 strains into BovHepV subtype G group. This study reports the first identification of BovHepV in cattle in northeastern China, and expands the known geographical distribution and genetic diversity of BovHepV in the country

Analysis of Slope Stability and Disaster Law under Heavy Rainfall

Based on this, the slope stability and disaster law under the condition of heavy rainfall are studied. With the slope of Shangge Village as the background, the slope stability under the condition of heavy rainfall is deeply studied through theoretical analysis, laboratory physical model experiment, and numerical simulation. Results showed that due to the heavy rainfall within 2 h, the deformation of the slope is not obvious in the rain 2 h~7 h period, first of all in the position of slope toe of slope stress raiser; As the rainfall continued, the infiltration of rainwater led to weakening of the rock mass strength, and the cracks in the slope fracture zone further expanded and extended to the top of the slope. After 7 hours of rainfall, the slope formed a sliding surface. The physical model experiment and the numerical simulation results are in good agreement, which can provide the basis for slope reinforcement under heavy rainfall conditions and have important scientific significance and social value for the reasonable site selection of housing construction, transportation network, and disaster prevention and mitigation in coastal areas

An Improved Differential Evolution for Parameter Identification of Photovoltaic Models

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are crucial for converting solar energy into electricity. Optimization, control, and simulation for PV systems are important for effectively harnessing solar energy. The exactitude of associated model parameters is an important influencing factor in the performance of PV systems. However, PV model parameter extraction is challenging due to parameter variability resulting from the change in different environmental conditions and equipment factors. Existing parameter identification approaches usually struggle to calculate precise solutions. For this reason, this paper presents an improved differential evolution algorithm, which integrates a collaboration mechanism of dual mutation strategies and an orientation guidance mechanism, called DODE. This collaboration mechanism adaptively assigns mutation strategies to different individuals at different stages to balance exploration and exploitation capabilities. Moreover, an orientation guidance mechanism is proposed to use the information of the movement direction of the population centroid to guide the evolution of elite individuals, preventing them from being trapped in local optima and guiding the population towards a local search. To assess the effectiveness of DODE, comparison experiments were conducted on six different PV models, i.e., the single, double, and triple diode models, and three other commercial PV modules, against ten other excellent meta-heuristic algorithms. For these models, the proposed DODE outperformed other algorithms, with the separate optimal root mean square error values of 9.86021877891317 × 10−4, 9.82484851784979 × 10−4, 9.82484851784993 × 10−4, 2.42507486809489 × 10−3, 1.72981370994064 × 10−3, and 1.66006031250846 × 10−2. Additionally, results obtained from statistical analysis confirm the remarkable competitive superiorities of DODE on convergence rate, stability, and reliability compared with other methods for PV model parameter identification

ABO blood type and the risk of cancer - Findings from the Shanghai Cohort Study.

ABO blood type is an inherited characteristic. The associations between ABO blood type and risk of all cancer and specific cancers were examined in a prospective cohort study of 18,244 Chinese men enrolled in 1986. During the 25 years of follow-up, 3,973 men developed cancer including 964 lung cancers, 624 colorectal cancers, 560 gastric cancers, 353 liver cancers, and 172 urinary bladder cancers. Hazard ratios (HR) for all cancer and specific cancers by ABO blood type were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. Compared with blood type A, blood type B was associated with statistically significant reduced risk of all cancers (HR, 0.91, 95% CI:0.84, 0.99). Both blood types B and AB were associated with significantly lower risk of gastrointestinal cancer and colorectal cancer, respectively. Blood type B was also associated with significantly lower risk of stomach cancer and bladder cancer, while blood type AB was associated with significantly increased risk of liver cancer. By histological type, blood types B and AB were associated with lower risk of epidermoid carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, but were not associated with risk of sarcoma, lymphoma, leukemia or other cell types of cancer. The findings of this study support a role of genetic traits related to ABO blood type in the development of cancers in the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts

Editorial: Three-way interactions between host, environment, and microbiome: Importance of microbiology in the One Health

Peer reviewed: Tru

MicroRNA-320 Enhances Radiosensitivity of Glioma Through Down-Regulation of Sirtuin Type 1 by Directly Targeting Forkhead Box Protein M1

Glioma is the most common cancer in human brain system and seriously threatens human health. miRNA-320 has been demonstrated to be closely correlated with the development of glioma. However, its effect and molecular mechanism underlying radioresistance have not been fully elucidated in glioma. Here, RT-qPCR assay was used to assess the expressions of miR-320 and forkhead box protein M1 (FoxM1) mRNA in glioma tumor tissues and cells. The effects of miR-320, FoxM1 and sirtuin type 1 (Sirt1) on radiosensitivity in glioma cells were evaluated by clone formation assay, apoptosis assay, histone H2AX phosphorylation level (γH2AX) detection and caspase 3 activity analysis, respectively. The direct interaction between miR-320 and FoxM1 was detected by luciferase assay. The protein levels of FoxM1, Sirt1 and γH2AX were measured by western blot assay. We found that miR-320 expression was down-regulated and FoxM1 expression was up-regulated in radioresistant glioma tissues and IR-treated glioma cells. miR-320 overexpression dramatically enhanced radiosensitivity, promoted apoptosis, and improved γH2AX expression and caspase 3 activity in glioma cells. Luciferase reporter assay and western blot assay further validated that miR-320 suppressed FoxM1 expression by directly targeting 3’ UTR region of FoxM1. Moreover, miR-320 inhibited Sirt1 expression via targeting FoxM1 in glioma cells. Furthermore, overexpression of FoxM1 and Sirt1 strikingly attenuated miR-320-induced increase of radiosensitivity, apoptosis and γH2AX expression in glioma cells. In conclusion, miR-320 enhanced radiosensitivity of glioma cells through down-regulation of Sirt1 by directly targeting FoxM1

Contribution of exogenous humic substances to phosphorus availability in soil-plant ecosystem: A review

Phosphorus (P) is one of the largest nutrients limiting crop productivity. Meanwhile, P deficiency is a common phenomenon in agricultural soils around the world. Humic substances, as macromolecular polymer, accelerate and strengthen process which transforms P into bio-available forms via a range of chemical reactions and biological interactions. There is now an urgent need to comprehend the work carried out on the interaction among humic substances, soil and plant to better understand their role in the transformation and promotion of soil bioavailable P for plant growth. Herein, we discuss the factors and mechanisms of humic substances influencing P cycling in soil-plant systems, which focus on their contribution to soil P mobilization and plant P acquisition. This review covers how humic substances influence the mobilization and transformation of P in soils, including release of P from residues, and competitive adsorption of P and humic acid or fulvic acid to metallic minerals, as well as exchange with P adsorbed by humic substances. It then discusses a range of contributions to plant available P acquisition such as the release of organic acids from roots caused by humic substances, and promoting the solubilize and/or hydrolyze phosphate by plant and their associated microbes. Notably, we also discuss the challenges of artificial humic substances influencing P cycling in soil-plant systems, which may alleviate the global deficit of soil P resources. Overall, humic substances have become promising for sustainable agriculture over time and have great potential to meet specific soil-plant systems.</p

Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for cancer associated with ABO blood type Shanghai Cohort Study 1986–2013.^a

<p>Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for cancer associated with ABO blood type Shanghai Cohort Study 1986–2013.<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184295#t003fn001" target="_blank">^a</a></p

Number of cancer cases by ABO blood type, Shanghai Cohort Study 1986–2013.

<p>Number of cancer cases by ABO blood type, Shanghai Cohort Study 1986–2013.</p