Distinct Traits Research Articles

FHS-adapter: fine-grained hierarchical semantic adapter for Chinese landscape paintings generation

How to migrate text-to-image models based on pre-trained diffusion models to adapt them to domain generation tasks is a common problem. In particular, the generation task for Chinese landscape paintings with unique characteristics suffers from a scarcity of fine-grained contextual details specific to such artwork. Moreover, the use of substantial amounts of non-landscape painting data during pre-training predisposes the model to be swayed by alternative visual styles, thereby leading to generated images that inadvertently lack the distinctive traits inherent to Chinese paintings. In this paper, we propose a Fine-grained Hierarchical Semantic Adapter for Chinese landscape paintings generation, namely FHS-adapter. The method orchestrates the diffusion process in a batch-wise manner, leveraging external fine-grained multi-perspective information to guide it. It gradually diminishes the influence of other style images embedded in the pre-trained diffusion model, ultimately preserving a greater number of landscape painting elements. The encoder was also replaced with the Taiyi-CLIP encoder, which is adapted for Chinese. We propose T2ICLP, a multimodal dataset containing 10,000 high-quality image-text pairs of Chinese landscape paintings. Unlike previous datasets, this dataset extracts fine-grained textual information from four perspectives, including Meta, Description, Sentiment, Poem. We compared the proposed model with the mainstream diffusion-based T2I models. Through an anonymous user study, our FHS-adapter method performs well in simulating various aspects such as brushwork, e.g.‘Gou, Cun, Dian, Ran’ means hooking, texturing, dotting, and dyeing, compositional space, elemental proportions, and color usage of different painting genres and artists. Our dataset is available at https://github.com/T2ICLP/t2iclp.

Quantitative analysis of spatial gene in traditional villages: a case study of Korean traditional villages in Northeast China

ABSTRACT Traditional villages possess distinct regional cultural traits and serve as a concrete manifestation and inheritance of traditional culture. In today’s era, where the preservation of traditional villages is emphasized, the study of Korean traditional villages in Northeast China, with their ethnic culture and unique spatial patterns, becomes significantly important. In this paper, we adopt the spatial gene perspective and establish a framework for analyzing spatial genes in traditional villages. Based on frequency analysis of qualitative data obtained from NVivo 14, 16 spatial gene entries were identified. Village spatial gene entries were quantified using ArcGIS, FRAGSTATS and other software. Additionally, 47 spatial gene fragments were extracted using the natural breaks method. Spatial gene sequences were mined using Spearman correlation analysis, and spatial gene maps were created. The study results indicate that: (1) the primary genes of traditional Korean villages include close to mountain, close to water, globular boundary, low integration road, etc. (2) There are significant correlations between spatial genes such as distance from mountains, mountain coverage and road integration, water coverage and boundary shape index. (3) Plain, mountain, and hill-type villages differ in characteristics such as road linear density, water coverage, and courtyard type.

Distinctive clinical traits of lupus-related myocarditis: a multicentre retrospective study.

Cardiovascular involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is frequent but little is known about possible distinctive traits of SLE-related myocarditis (myoSLE) in comparison to patients with SLE (onlySLE) or myocarditis alone (onlyMyo). A retrospective analysis was performed comparing patients with myoSLE (n = 25) from three centres with consecutive patients with onlySLE (n = 279) and onlyMyo (n = 88). SLE patients were dichotomised by disease duration ≤1 vs >1 year into recent onlySLE/early myoSLE vs longstanding onlySLE/late myoSLE. Further stratification into disease duration of 1-5, 5-10 and >10 years was also performed. SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) was used to estimate disease activity. Myocarditis was diagnosed through biopsy or magnetic resonance. Women were significantly more frequent among myoSLE than among onlyMyo (72% vs 43%; p= 0.013). Compared with onlyMyo, myoSLE patients had a higher frequency of conduction abnormalities (22% vs 5%; p= 0.046) and presented with numerically higher frequencies of left ventricular function compromise (48% vs 30%), along with higher pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels. Inflammation markers were higher in myoSLE compared with onlyMyo and to patients with onlySLE with >10 years of disease duration. SLEDAI-2K was significantly higher in late myoSLE than in longstanding onlySLE. Antiphospholipid syndrome was more frequent in myoSLE than in onlySLE. Multivariate analysis showed an association among myoSLE, anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I antibodies (aB2GPI, p= 0.014) and a higher number of involved British Isles Lupus Assessment Group domains in patient history (p= 0.003). myoSLE has unique clinical traits compared with other forms of myocarditis and is associated with aB2GPI and a more severe SLE course.

Bone microstructure as an indicator of digging ability in moles (Talpidae, Eulipotyphla).

Talpid moles (Talpidae, Eulipotyphla) are mammals highly specialised in burrowing using their forelimbs. Fossoriality has allowed moles to expand their ecological niche by enabling access to subterranean resources and spaces. This specialisation in burrowing has led to adaptations in the forelimb bones of moles for humeral rotation digging, a distinctive strategy unparalleled among other diggers. While bone robustness has been examined in moles through external morphology, the adaptation of bone microstructure to digging strategy remains unclear. Based on two assumptions, (1) the humerus of moles is subjected to a torsional load due to humeral rotation digging, and (2) the magnitude of torsional load correlates with the compactness of the substrate in which the individuals can dig, we hypothesised that humeral rotation digging influences bone microstructure. Comparative analyses of transverse sections from the humeri and femora of three mole species (Mogera imaizumii, Mogera wogura and Urotrichus talpoides; Talpidae) and an outgroup eulipotyphlan (Suncus murinus; Soricidae) revealed that (1) vascular canals distributed in the humeri of moles align more predominantly circumferential along the bone walls, indicating an adaptation to the torsion generated by humeral rotation digging, and (2) the laminarity of vascular canals, particularly in Mogera species compared with Urotrichus, potentially reflects differences in the magnitude of load due to substrate compactness during digging. The aligned vascular canals are distinctive traits not observed in mammals employing other digging strategies. This suggests that vascular canal laminarity can be an indicator of not only humeral rotation digging in fossorial animals, but also the variation of eco-spaces in talpid species.

Decoding stomatal characteristics regulating water use efficiency at leaf and plant scales in rice genotypes.

Stomatal traits in rice genotypes affect water use efficiency. Low-frequency small-size stomata correlate with whole plant efficiency, while low-frequency large-size stomata show intrinsic efficiency and responsiveness to vapour pressure deficit. Leaf surface and the patterning of the epidermal layer play a vital role in determining plant growth. While the surface helps in determining radiation interception, epidermal pattern of stomatal factors strongly regulate gas exchange and water use efficiency (WUE). This study focuses on identifying distinct stomatal traits among rice genotypes to comprehend their influence on WUE. Stomatal frequency ranged from 353 to 687 per mm2 and the size varied between 128.31 and 339.01 μm2 among 150 rice germplasm with significant variability in abaxial and adaxial surfaces. The cumulative water transpired and WUE determined at the outdoor phenomics platform, over the entire crop growth period as well as during specific hours of a 24h-day did not correlate with stomatal frequency nor size. However, genotypes with low-frequency and large-size stomata recorded higher intrinsic water use efficiency (67.04μmol CO2 mol-1 H2O) and showed a quicker response to varying vapour pressure deficit that diurnally ranged between 0.03 and 2.17kPa. The study demonstrated the role of stomatal factors in determining physiological subcomponents of WUE both at single leaf and whole plant levels. Differential expression patterns of stomatal regulatory genes among the contrasting groups explained variations in the epidermal patterning. Increased expression of ERECTA, TMM and YODA genes appear to contribute to decreased stomatal frequency in low stomatal frequency genotypes. These findings underscore the significance of stomatal traits in breeding programs and strongly support the importance of these genes that govern variability in stomatal architecture in future crop improvement programs.

European and African-specific plasma protein-QTL and metabolite-QTL analyses identify ancestry-specific T2D effector proteins and metabolites.

Initially focused on the European population, multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of complex diseases, such as type-2 diabetes (T2D), have now extended to other populations. However, to date, few ancestry-matched omics datasets have been generated or further integrated with the disease GWAS to nominate the key genes and/or molecular traits underlying the disease risk loci. In this study, we generated and integrated plasma proteomics and metabolomics with array-based genotype datasets of European (EUR) and African (AFR) ancestries to identify ancestry-specific muti-omics quantitative trait loci (QTLs). We further applied these QTLs to ancestry-stratified T2D risk to pinpoint key proteins and metabolites underlying the disease-associated genetic loci. We nominated five proteins and four metabolites in the European group and one protein and one metabolite in the African group to be part of the molecular pathways of T2D risk in an ancestry-stratified manner. Our study demonstrates the integration of genetic and omic studies of different ancestries can be used to identify distinct effector molecular traits underlying the same disease across diverse populations. Specifically, in the AFR proteomic findings on T2D, we prioritized the protein QSOX2; while in the AFR metabolomic findings, we pinpointed the metabolite GlcNAc sulfate conjugate of C21H34O2 steroid. Neither of these findings overlapped with the corresponding EUR results.

Clinical and molecular characteristics of Kabuki syndrome patients with missense variants-novel features and literature review.

Kabuki Syndrome (KS) encompasses a spectrum of clinical manifestations, primarily attributed to pathogenic variants in the KMT2D gene. This study aims to elucidate novel features in KS patients with missense variants, contrasting their presentation with both literature-reported cases of patients with missense pathogenic variants as well as other KS patients with truncating pathogenic variants. Employing a survey questionnaire and clinical evaluations, we examined ten KS patients with missense variants, focusing on their dysmorphism characteristics, behavior and psychomotor development. We identified unique features in missense variant patients, including foot hyperesthesia, musicality, and sensory integration disorders. Notably, despite similarities in developmental trajectories, distinct phenotypic traits emerged in missense variant cases, suggesting a potential genotype-phenotype correlation. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of KS heterogeneity and underscore the importance of genotype-specific characterization for prognostic and therapeutic considerations. Further exploration of genotype-phenotype relationships promises to refine clinical management strategies and enhance patient outcomes in this complex syndrome.

Genome-Wide Methylation Analysis Reveals a KCNK3-Prominent Causal Cascade on Hypertension.

Despite advances in understanding hypertension's genetic structure, how noncoding genetic variants influence it remains unclear. Studying their interaction with DNA methylation is crucial to deciphering this complex disease's genetic mechanisms. We investigated the genetic and epigenetic interplay in hypertension using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Methylation profiling in 918 males revealed allele-specific methylation and methylation quantitative trait loci. We engineered rs1275988T/C mutant mice using CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9), bred them for homozygosity, and subjected them to a high-salt diet. Telemetry captured their cardiovascular metrics. Protein-DNA interactions were elucidated using DNA pull-downs, mass spectrometry, and Western blots. A wire myograph assessed vascular function, and analysis of the Kcnk3 gene methylation highlighted the mutation's role in hypertension. We discovered that DNA methylation-associated genetic effects, especially in non-cytosine-phosphate-guanine (non-CpG) island and noncoding distal regulatory regions, significantly contribute to hypertension predisposition. We identified distinct methylation quantitative trait locus patterns in the hypertensive population and observed that the onset of hypertension is influenced by the transmission of genetic effects through the demethylation process. By evidence-driven prioritization and in vivo experiments, we unearthed rs1275988 in a cell type-specific enhancer as a notable hypertension causal variant, intensifying hypertension through the modulation of local DNA methylation and consequential alterations in Kcnk3 gene expression and vascular remodeling. When exposed to a high-salt diet, mice with the rs1275988C/C genotype exhibited exacerbated hypertension and significant vascular remodeling, underscored by increased aortic wall thickness. The C allele of rs1275988 was associated with elevated DNA methylation levels, driving down the expression of the Kcnk3 gene by attenuating Nr2f2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 2) binding at the enhancer locus. Our research reveals new insights into the complex interplay between genetic variations and DNA methylation in hypertension. We underscore hypomethylation's potential in hypertension onset and identify rs1275988 as a causal variant in vascular remodeling. This work advances our understanding of hypertension's molecular mechanisms and encourages personalized health care strategies.

Inner Structure of the Lateral Geniculate Complex of Adult and Newborn Acomys cahirinus.

Acomys cahirinus is a unique Rodentia species with several distinctive physiological traits, such as precocial development and remarkable regenerative abilities. These characteristics render A. cahirinus increasingly valuable for regenerative and developmental physiology studies. Despite this, the structure and postnatal development of the central nervous system in A. cahirinus have been inadequately explored, with only sporadic data available. This study is the first in a series of papers addressing these gaps. Our first objective was to characterize the structure of the main visual thalamic region, the lateral geniculate complex, using several neuronal markers (including Ca2+-binding proteins, glutamic acid decarboxylase enzyme, and non-phosphorylated domains of heavy-chain neurofilaments) to label populations of principal neurons and interneurons in adult and newborn A. cahirinus. As typically found in other rodents, we identified three subdivisions in the geniculate complex: the dorsal and ventral lateral geniculate nuclei (LGNd and LGNv) and the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL). Additionally, we characterized internal diversity in the LGN nuclei. The "shell" and "core" regions of the LGNd were identified using calretinin in adults and newborns. In adults, the inner and outer parts of the LGNv were identified using calbindin, calretinin, parvalbumin, GAD67, and SMI-32, whereas in newborns, calretinin and SMI-32 were employed for this purpose. Our findings revealed more pronounced developmental changes in LGNd compared to LGNv and IGL, suggesting that LGNd is less mature at birth and more influenced by visual experience.

Polygenic scores for psychiatric traits mediate the impact of multigenerational history for depression on offspring psychopathology.

A family history of depression is a well-documented risk factor for offspring psychopathology. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of depression remain unclear. We used genetic, family history, and diagnostic data from 11,875 9-10 year-old children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. We estimated and investigated the children's polygenic scores (PGSs) for 30 distinct traits and their association with a family history of depression (including grandparents and parents) and the children's overall psychopathology through logistic regression analyses. We assessed the role of polygenic risk for psychiatric disorders in mediating the transmission of depression from one generation to the next. Among 11,875 multi-ancestry children, 8,111 participants had matching phenotypic and genotypic data (3,832 female [47.2%]; mean (SD) age, 9.5 (0.5) years), including 6,151 [71.4%] of European ancestry). Greater PGSs for depression (estimate = 0.129, 95% CI = 0.070-0.187) and bipolar disorder (estimate = 0.109, 95% CI = 0.051-0.168) were significantly associated with higher family history of depression (Bonferroni-corrected P < .05). Depression PGS was the only PGS that significantly associated with both family risk and offspring's psychopathology, and robustly mediated the impact of family history of depression on several youth psychopathologies including anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, and any psychiatric disorder (proportions mediated 1.39%-5.87% of the total effect on psychopathology; FDR-corrected P < .05). These findings suggest that increased polygenic risk for depression partially mediates the associations between family risk for depression and offspring psychopathology, showing a genetic basis for intergenerational transmission of depression. Future approaches that combine assessments of family risk with polygenic profiles may offer a more accurate method for identifying children at elevated risk.

Evolution and Functional Differentiation of the C-terminal Motifs of FtsZs During Plant Evolution.

Filamentous temperature-sensitive Z (FtsZ) is a tubulin-like GTPase that is highly conserved in bacteria and plants. It polymerizes into a ring at the division site of bacteria and chloroplasts and serves as the scaffold protein of the division complex. While a single FtsZ is present in bacteria and cyanobacteria, there are two subfamilies, FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 in the green lineage, and FtsZA and FtsZB in red algae. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the C-terminal motifs of AtFtsZ1 (Z1C) and AtFtsZ2-1 (Z2C) display distinct functions in the regulation of chloroplast division. Z1C exhibits weak membrane-binding activity, whereas Z2C engages in the interaction with the membrane protein AtARC6. Here, we provide evidence revealing the distinct traits of the C-terminal motifs of FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 throughout the plant evolutionary process. In a range of plant species, the C-terminal motifs of FtsZ1 exhibit diverse membrane-binding properties critical for regulating chloroplast division. In chlorophytes, the C-terminal motifs of FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 exhibit both membrane-binding and protein interaction functions, which are similar to those of cyanobacterial FtsZ and red algal FtsZA. During the transition from algae to land plants, the functions of the C-terminal motifs of FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 exhibit differentiation. FtsZ1 lost the function of interacting with ARC6 in land plants, and the membrane-binding activity of FtsZ2 was lost in ferns. Our findings reveal the functional differentiation of the C-terminal motifs of FtsZs during plant evolution, which is critical for chloroplast division.

Research on Privacy-by-Design Behavioural Decision-Making of Information Engineers Considering Perceived Work Risk

Privacy by design (PbD) has attracted considerable attention from researchers and information security experts due to its enormous potential for protecting private information and improving the privacy and security quality of information technology products. The adoption of PbD among information engineers is currently limited owing to its innovativeness and the distinctive traits of the information technology industry. Utilising the Technology Acceptance Model as a framework, this study innovatively explores the pivotal factors and mechanisms that influence information engineers’ decision-making in the adoption of PbD from the viewpoint of the perceived work risk. In this empirical research, professional information engineers were invited to complete a questionnaire survey. After analysing the data using partial least squares structural equation modelling, the results reveal that information engineers’ perceived work risk in PbD (PWRP) negatively affects their perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of PbD. This negative perception subsequently reduces their intention to implement PbD (INTP) and adversely impacts their attitudes towards implementing PbD (ATTP). Furthermore, the study findings reveal that a positive ATTP among engineers boosts their INTP and positively influences their behaviours regarding information security. This study provides an in-depth examination of these findings and lays a solid theoretical groundwork for the further promotion and implementation of PbD in information technology enterprises. Moreover, the findings offer invaluable support for management decisions in both information technology companies and information security regulatory authorities, significantly contributing to the expansion and deepening of research in the field of PbD.

Comparative analysis of nutrient composition and antioxidant activity in three dragon fruit cultivars.

Dragon fruit has significant economic value in many countries due to has excellent nutritional content, health advantages, and adaptability to different climates, making it an important crop in the global fruit industry. This study aimed to gather comprehensive nutritional data on three dragon fruit cultivars by analysing the levels of micronutrients, fibre, carbohydrates, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in their pulps. Uniform dragon fruit samples underwent thorough analysis for proximate composition, mineral content, pigments, antioxidants, and vitamin C, with statistical methods used to assess significant differences among the parameters studied. The proximate composition analysis revealed significant differences among the three dragon fruit cultivars. Among the proximate components, protein (0.40±0.02g/100 g), moisture (91.33±0.88%), crude fibre (0.32±0.07 g/100 g), and ash (1.27±0.09 g/100 g) were more abundant in Hylocereus costaricensis than in Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus megalanthus. On the other hand, Hylocereus undatus had higher carbohydrate (17.02±0.63 g/100 g) and energy (69.74±2.44 kcal/100 g) contents. K (7.23±0.35 mg/100 g), Ca (1.61±0.13 mg/100 g), Fe (1.84±0.05 mg/100 g), and Zn (0.37±0.034 mg/100 g) are highly abundant in H. costaricensis. Additionally, Hylocereus costaricensis had the highest anthocyanin content (120.15±3.29 mg/g FW) and total carotenoid content (72.51±1.62 mg/g FW), along with the highest vitamin C content (8.92±0.13 mg/g FW) and total soluble phenolic content (572.48±20.77 mg/100 g). Its remarkable antioxidant activity was further highlighted by the lowest SC50 value (13.50±0.4 mg/mL) for its DPPH radical scavenging capacity. The total soluble sugar content was highest in Hylocereus megalanthus (8.72±0.30 g/100 g FW). Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed distinct trait and genotype associations; among the studied cultivars, Hylocereus costaricensis demonstrated superior performance across multiple traits. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive correlations among several traits, while principal component analysis highlighted the contribution of each trait to overall variance, with PC1 explaining 73.95% of the total variance. This study highlights the nutritional variations among dragon fruit cultivars, with Hylocereus costaricensis showing superior performance, guiding dietary planning and functional food development.

Quantitative trait locus mapping in placenta: A comparative study of chorionic villus and birth placenta

The placenta, a pivotal player in the prenatal environment, holds crucial insights into early developmental pathways and future health outcomes. In this study, we explored genetic molecular regulation in chorionic villus samples (CVS) from the first trimester and placenta tissue at birth. We assessed quantitative trait locus mapping (QTL) on DNA methylation and gene expression data in a Finnish cohort of 574 individuals. We found more QTLs in birth placenta than in first-trimester placenta. Nevertheless, a substantial amount of associations overlapped in their effects and showed consistent direction in both tissues, with increasing molecular genetic effects from early pregnancy to birth placenta. The identified QTLs in birth placenta were most enriched in genes with placenta-specific expression. Conducting a PheWAS study on the associated SNPs, we observed numerous overlaps with GWAS hits (spanning 57 distinct traits and 23 SNPs), with notable enrichments for immunological, skeletal and respiratory traits. The QTL-SNP rs1737028 (chr6:29737993) presented with the highest number of GWAS hits. This SNP was related to HLA-G expression via DNA methylation and associated with various immune, respiratory, and psychiatric traits. Our findings implicate increasing genetic molecular regulation during the course of pregnancy and support the involvement of placenta gene regulation, particularly in immunological traits. This study presents a framework for understanding placenta-specific gene regulation during pregnancy and its connection to health-related traits.

Sound transmission loss and energy absorbing performance of stiffened doubly-curved shells with corrugated-honeycomb hybrid cores

Compared to traditional lightweight corrugation and cellular cores, the novel cellular cores auxetic metamaterials with negative and zero Poisson's ratios possess distinctive mechanical deformation traits, making them suitable for modeling lightweight sandwich structures. Therefore, the concept of combining auxetic metamaterial cellular with folded corrugation is proposed to construct a new type of corrugated honeycomb hybrid cores for studying the sound insulation and energy absorption characteristics of the stiffened sandwich doubly-curved shells, wherein the honeycomb core possesses a full range of Poisson's ratio characteristic and is composed of cellular cores exhibiting positive, negative, and zero Poisson's ratios (PPR, NPR, and ZPR). The Hamilton's principle is hired to derive the governing equations and considers fluid-structure coupling by applying normal velocities continuity conditions at the fluid-structure interface, which is further analytically solved using Navier's techniques, and the sound transmission loss (STL) is described analytically. The accuracy of these results is validated through comparisons with both experimental measurements conducted in an impedance tube and simulated outcomes generated by the COMSOL commercial software. The properties of stiffened sandwich doubly-curved shells with corrugated honeycomb hybrid cores are meticulously evaluated and compared, and the results show that the hybrid cellular core type significantly impacts the STL, wherein the average STL of the corrugation ZPR cellular hybrid cores stands at 42.06 dB within the broad low-frequency range of 380–2422 Hz, which has increased by 9.11% and 8.31% compared to the values of the corrugation NPR and traditional PPR cellular hybrid cores, the specific energy absorption (SEA) of the corrugation ZPR cellular hybrid cores is 13.06 kJ/m3, which has increased by 16.19% and 18.08% compared with the corrugation NPR and PPR cellular hybrid cores, respectively, indicating that the corrugation ZPR cellular hybrid cores have better sound insulation and energy absorption characteristics than the corrugation NPR and PPR cellular hybrid cores.

Characteristics of auto-quantified tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the prognostic value in adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction, gastric adenocarcinoma, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEGJ) with a specific pathological profile and poor prognosis has limited therapeutic options. Previous studies have found that TILs exhibit distinct characteristics in different tumors and are correlated with tumor prognosis. We established cellular training sets to obtain auto-quantified TILs in pathological images. And we compared the characteristics of TILs in AEGJ with those in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) to gain insight into the unique immune environments of these three tumors and investigate the prognostic value of TILs in these three tumors. Utilizing a case-control study design, we analyzed 214 AEGJ, 256 GAC, and 752 ESCC cases. The TCGA dataset was used to validate prognostic value of auto-quantified TILs. The specific cellular training sets were established by experienced pathologists to determine TILs counts. Kruskal-Wallis test and multi-variable linear regression were conducted to explore TILs characteristics. Survival analyses were performed with Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model. The three cellular training sets of these cancers achieved a classification accuracy of 87.55 at least. The median auto-quantified TILs of AEGJ, GAC, and ESCC cases were 4.82%, 1.92%, and 0.12%, respectively. The TILs demonstrated varied characteristics under distinctive clinicopathological traits. The higher TILs proportion was associated with better prognosis in esophagogastric cancers (all P < 0.05) and was an independent prognostic biomarker on AEGJ in both datasets (Taixing: HR = 0.965, 95% CI = 0.938-0.994; TCGA: HR = 0.811, 95% CI = 0.712-0.925). We found variations in TILs across ESCC, GAC, and AEGJ, as assessed by image processing algorithms. Additionally, TILs in these three cancers are an independent prognostic factor. This enhances our understanding of the unique immune characteristics of the three tumors, improving patient outcomes.

Genetic Factors Contributing to Respiratory Disorders in Brachycephalic Dog Breeds in Uganda

Purpose: To aim of the study was to analyze the genetic factors contributing to respiratory disorders in brachycephalic dog breeds. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Genetic factors are primary contributors to respiratory disorders in brachycephalic dog breeds, known for their flattened facial structure. Breeds like Bulldogs and Pugs exhibit narrowed nostrils, elongated soft palates, and other airway obstructions due to selective breeding for these distinctive traits. These anatomical abnormalities restrict airflow, leading to symptoms such as noisy breathing and exercise intolerance. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Genetic inheritance theory, evolutionary genetics theory &amp; genotype-environment interaction theory may be used to anchor future studies on genetic factors contributing to respiratory disorders in brachycephalic dog breeds. Implement breeding programs that prioritize genetic health over physical appearance. Establish and enforce regulatory standards for breeding brachycephalic dogs that include mandatory genetic testing for respiratory disorder markers.

Integrative Multiomics Analyses Identify Molecular Subtypes of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Distinct Therapeutic Vulnerabilities.

Substantial heterogeneity in molecular features, patient prognoses, and therapeutic responses in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) highlights the urgent need to develop molecular classifications that reliably and accurately reflect tumor behavior and inform personalized therapy. Here, we leveraged the similarity network fusion bioinformatics approach to jointly analyze multiomics datasets spanning copy number variations, somatic mutations, DNA methylation, and transcriptomic profiling and derived a prognostic classification system for HNSCC. The integrative model consistently identified three subgroups (IMC1-3) with specific genomic features, biological characteristics, and clinical outcomes across multiple independent cohorts. The IMC1 subgroup included proliferative, immune-activated tumors and exhibited a more favorable prognosis. The IMC2 subtype harbored activated EGFR signaling and an inflamed tumor microenvironment with cancer-associated fibroblast/vascular infiltrations. Alternatively, the IMC3 group featured highly aberrant metabolic activities and impaired immune infiltration and recruiting. Pharmacogenomics analyses from in silico predictions and from patient-derived xenograft model data unveiled subtype-specific therapeutic vulnerabilities including sensitivity to cisplatin and immunotherapy in IMC1 and EGFR inhibitors (EGFRi) in IMC2, which was experimentally validated in patient-derived organoid models. Two signatures for prognosis and EGFRi sensitivity were developed via machine learning. Together, this integrative multiomics clustering for HNSCC improves current understanding of tumor heterogeneity and facilitates patient stratification and therapeutic development tailored to molecular vulnerabilities. Significance: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma classification using integrative multiomics analyses reveals subtypes with distinct genetics, biological features, clinicopathological traits, and therapeutic vulnerabilities, providing insights into tumor heterogeneity and personalized treatment strategies.

Role of cytokinins in the regulation the chilling stress response in Triticum aestivum and Triticum spelta

The research is devoted to the study of the effect of chilling (+4 °C, 2 h) on cytokinin homeostasis in 14-day stressed and 21-day restored plants of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. “Podolyanka” and spelt wheat (Triticum spelta L.) cv. “Frankenkorn”. Our study revealed that chilling induces complex changes in the content and distribution of cytokinins in plants that are species- and organ-specifi c. After chilling, the total cytokinin content in the roots of winter wheat cv. “Podolyanka” increased threefold due to the accumulation of trans-zeatin-O-glucoside, trans-zeatin, isopentenyladenine and isopentenyladenosine. Stress did not aff ect trans-zeatin riboside accumulation in roots but induced a fourfold increase in its content in the shoots of winter wheat cv. “Podolyanka”. The total content of cytokinin in the roots of spelt wheat cv. “Frankenkorn” decreased by 1.4 times due to decline in trans-zeatin-O-glucoside and trans-zeatin riboside content, while in shoots, it decreased by 1.2 times owing to reduced trans-zeatin-O-glucoside and isopentenyladenine levels. Prolonged exposure to chilling was manifested by an increase in hormone levels in both 21-day-old species. Our data revealed common and distinct traits in cytokinin homeostasis between winter wheat cv. “Podolyanka” and spelt wheat cv. “Frankenkorn” during rapid adaptation and the recovery period, providing new insights into the response of these species to chilling.

Exploring the distribution and habitat preferences of Polytrichaceae (Bryophyta) in Tibet, China

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau stands as one of the most ecologically fragile and biodiversity-rich regions globally. Understanding the distribution of different taxa and their relationship with environmental factors is crucial for effective conservation and sustainable management. Polytrichaceae, a significant bryophyte family widely distributed in Tibet, displays distinct structural, morphological, and phylogenetic traits compared to other mosses. Despite its importance, the distribution of Polytrichaceae in Tibet and its correlation with environmental factors have yet to be explored. In this study, we used an optimized Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model to explore the potential suitable habitats of Polytrichaceae in Tibet, aiming to clarify their geographic distribution pattern as well as the key environmental influence factors. The model had high accuracy with an average Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.933 and True Skill Statistics (TSS) value of 0.789. The results showed that the potential suitability habitats of Polytrichaceae were mainly located in southeastern Tibet, and the low suitable, moderately suitable, and highly suitable habitats accounted for 12.53 %, 6.84 %, and 3.31 % of the total area of Tibet respectively. Unsuitable habitats were mainly located in northwestern Tibet, accounting for about 77.32 %. In Tibet, temperature factors (Mean Temperature of Coldest Quarter (Bio11) and Annual Mean Temperature (Bio1)) played a pivotal role in determining the potential suitable habitats for Polytrichaceae, and elevation, precipitation, and vegetation coverage also had an important influence. The family preferred warm, moist and densely vegetated habitats in Tibet. This study enriched our ecological understanding of bryophyte ecology in this region and provided data-driven support for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management in Tibet.