Distribution Patterns Research Articles

Patterns of Tau pathology in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease visualized by Florzolotau (18F) PET.

Anti-IgLON5 disease is a rare autoimmune neurological disorder with prominent Tau protein deposits in the brainstem and hypothalamus. The aim of this study was to visualize the in vivo distribution patterns of Tau protein in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease using the second-generation Tau PET tracer, Florzolotau (18F) PET imaging. Patients diagnosed with anti-IgLON5 disease were enrolled consecutively. Age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were also enrolled. The uptake of Florzolotau (18F) and 18F-FDG was assessed using both visual and semi-quantitative analysis techniques. A total of 10 patients with anti-IgLON5 disease and 40 HCs were included in the study. All ten patients with anti-IgLON5 disease underwent Florzolotau (18F) PET scans, and five of them underwent 18F-FDG PET scans. Twenty HCs underwent Florzolotau (18F) PET scans, and the remaining 20 HCs underwent 18F-FDG PET scans. In patients with anti-IgLON5 disease, significant uptake of Florzolotau (18F) was observed predominantly in the midbrain, pons, cerebellum, caudate, and putamen. This uptake pattern was notably absent in the control group. Moreover, semi-quantitative analysis techniques demonstrated widespread hypometabolism in the cerebral cortex in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease. This study indicates distinct Tau protein deposition patterns in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease, potentially serving as imaging biomarkers.

Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Lithium-ion Battery based on AConvST-LSTM-Net-TL

Abstract The accurate prediction of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of lithium-ion batteries can significantly enhance the safety and reliability of these batteries, thereby reducing operational risks. However, numerous existing methodologies operate under the assumption that both training and testing data adhere to the same distribution pattern, hindering the application of successful laboratory-based models to different target batteries. Hence, this study introduces a transfer learning model for predicting lithium-ion battery life, utilizing an attention mechanism-driven convolutional neural network (ACNN) in conjunction with a spatiotemporal Long Short-Term Memory network (ST-LSTM). Initially, the deep charging process data is leveraged for battery capacity estimation, where a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) is employed to delineate the nonlinear trend of battery capacity decay and characterize the capacity degradation. Following feature extraction, the Maximum Mean Discrepancy (MMD) value is computed to assess the distribution disparity between the two domains. Subsequently, the AConvST-LSTM-Net computes capacity estimations, loss functions for both source and target domains, merging these with the MMD value to formulate a comprehensive loss function. In conclusion, by employing transfer learning, the refined model is adapted to the target domain dataset, enabling the accurate prediction of the RUL of lithium-ion batteries. This approach is validated using the NASA lithium-ion battery dataset and the National Big Data Alliance for New Energy Vehicles (NDANEV), demonstrating the superior accuracy and robustness of the AConvST-LSTM-Net-TL model in comparisn to other prediction methods.

Spatial Analysis of Maritime Disasters in the Philippines: Distribution Patterns and Identification of High-Risk Areas

Maritime accidents frequently occur in the Philippine archipelagic waters, often resulting in significant loss of life. These incidents highlight the urgent need for improvements in the country’s maritime safety systems. By utilising accident data from the Philippine Coast Guard and the GISIS IMO databases, spatial analytical approaches were employed to determine incident distribution patterns and resulted in an overall depiction of the likelihood component of risk across the country’s territorial waters. Kernel density and hotspot analysis revealed areas where incidents were concentrated and where statistically significant hotspots occurred. The Maxent tool was used to develop risk likelihood models for the incident locations using environmental rasters representing wind speed, significant wave height, depth, surface current, land distance and port distance. Model performance metrics including the AUC, TSS and Kappa were used to compare the two datasets and provide confidence on model robustness. Variable contribution figures showed that land distance is the most influential variable, with the majority of high-risk areas predominantly located near population centres. The resulting maps provide an intuitive and informative depiction of the characteristic patterns of maritime accidents in the country, identify areas of high risk requiring immediate attention and offer valuable insights to support strategies for improving and enhancing the country’s maritime safety.

Phylogenetic relationships of Smilax astrosperma (Smilacaceae) with other Smilax species and its potential distribution patterns in karst areas of south China

The genus Smilax is adapted for growth in karst areas of south China, likely because of the karst habitat heterogeneity of the area and climate factors. However, the phylogenetic relationships among different species in this genus and impact of environmental changes on its geographic distribution patterns remain unclear. Therefore, we assembled the 11 chloroplast genomes of the genus Smilax and reconstructed its phylogeny using the maximum‐likelihood method to confirm the phylogenetic relationships of Smilax astrosperma among 28 other Smilax genus species. In addition, a maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was applied to evaluate and predict the potential distribution of S. astrosperma using bioclimatic variables, soil environment, elevation, slope degree and aspect, and human footprints under present and predicted future climate scenarios. The results show that S. astrosperma has a close relationship with S. glabra in the genus Smilax. The average temperature of the coldest quarter is a crucial factor influencing the distribution of S. astrosperma in karst areas. The potential distribution range of S. astrosperma increases and decreases under the SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5 scenarios, respectively. These findings highlight that S. astrosperma and other species of the karst areas of south China need special attention under climate warming since both warming itself and extreme weather events threaten their survival.

Constructing Knowledge Graphs for New Species in the Greater Mekong Subregion

Purpose: This study presents a methodology for developing a knowledge graph by integrating World Wildlife Fund (WWF) species discovery reports in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Design/methodology/approach: The research employs a four-phase approach: constructing a taxonomic data model, implementing a graph database, developing a web application architecture, and creating an interactive user interface. Findings: The knowledge graph integrates 2,783 species across 27 taxonomic groups, comprising 12,089 nodes and 30,303 connections. The system enables complex queries through SPARQL endpoints, revealing patterns in species distribution and conservation status from 1997 to 2022. Research limitations: Primary limitations include geographical constraints to the Greater Mekong Subregion and limited integration with external biodiversity databases. Practical implications: The system provides researchers with a graph search engine for exploring species data, supporting scientific research and conservation planning. Originality/value: This study presents a novel approach to organizing biodiversity data by combining taxonomic hierarchies with conservation metrics, establishing a framework for integrating species discovery data.

Finite Element Analysis of Stress Distribution in Cancellous Bone During Dental Implant Pilot Drilling

Background/Objectives: This study investigates stress distribution in cancellous bone during pilot drilling for dental implants using the Cowper–Symonds model. Understanding the biomechanical effects of drilling parameters on bone health is essential for optimizing implant stability and longevity. Methods: A finite element analysis (FEA) approach was employed to simulate the pilot drilling process in cancellous bone. A three-dimensional jawbone model was developed from CT scan data, processed using 3D Slicer, and refined with CAD tools. The drilling simulation incorporated a rigid pilot drill and flexible cancellous bone, utilizing explicit dynamic methods. Stress distribution was evaluated for drilling depths ranging from 6 mm to 16 mm, with mesh density and strain rate effects considered to ensure accuracy. Results: The results showed an increase in stress levels with drilling depth, with maximum stress recorded at 16 mm. Initial contact stress was 17.3 MPa, rising to 228.9 MPa at deeper penetration due to increased interaction between the drill and bone. Stress distribution patterns emphasized the critical role of drilling depth and design parameters in mitigating bone damage. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of optimized drilling protocols and pilot drill design to reduce stress and preserve bone integrity. The findings provide valuable insights into improving implant procedures and demonstrate the utility of FEA as a robust tool for evaluating biomechanical impacts during implant placement. Future research should incorporate cortical bone and thermal effects for a comprehensive analysis.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome in a diverse pediatric kidney transplant population: which anthropometric measure best predicts arterial stiffness?

Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) accelerate arterial stiffening, increasing cardiovascular (CV) risk after transplant. BMI is limited by inability to differentiate muscle, fat mass, and fat distribution patterns. The aim of this study was to identify the best anthropometric measure to detect arterial stiffness as assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) in a racially diverse pediatric transplant population. Kidney transplant recipients 6-20years old and ≥ 6months post-transplant were prospectively enrolled. PWV was measured oscillometrically by Mobil-O-Graph. Skeletal muscle-to-fat mass ratio (SM:FM) and percent body fat (PBF) were evaluated by dual-frequency bioelectrical impedance. BMI and waist-to-height ratio (WHR) were calculated. Associations of arterial stiffness (high PWV) with obesity and MS as defined by WHR, SM:FM, PBF, and BMI were evaluated. Participants (n = 67) were 15 (IQR 11, 18) years old and 39 (IQR 10, 68) months post-transplant. Participants with SM:FM-obesity (OR 3.2) and WHR-obesity (OR 3.0) had increased odds of high PWV (p = 0.04) while PBF-obesity (OR 2.6, p = 0.09) and BMI-obesity (OR 2.2, p = 0.17) were not significant. Participants with WHR-MS (OR 12.5, p = 0.02), SM:FM-MS (OR 5.2, p = 0.03), and PBF-MS (OR 5.0, p = 0.02) had increased odds of arterial stiffness, while BMI-MS was not significant (OR 3.7, p = 0.08). Obesity is associated with arterial stiffness in a racially diverse cohort of pediatric transplant recipients. Anthropometric measures that assess body fat distribution (WHR) and body composition (SM:FM) are more strongly associated with arterial stiffness than BMI. MS has a stronger association with arterial stiffness than obesity alone, particularly when WHR is used.

Visualizing the Spatial Distribution of Metabolites in Angelica sinensis Roots by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

Angelica sinensis is one of the most popular traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and has been extensively used to treat various diseases. Hundreds of endogenous ingredients have been isolated and identified from this herb, but their spatial distribution within the plant root is largely unknown. In this study, we tried to investigate and map within-tissue spatial distribution of metabolites in Angelica sinensis roots. After optimization of experiment conditions, the 1,5-diaminonaphthalene (1,5-DAN) was chosen as the matrix and was sprayed on the surface of root sections. Then matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) was employed to perform insitu detection and obtain detail spatial distribution information of metabolites in Angelica sinensis roots. The spatial distributions of a wide range of metabolites including organic acids, amino acids, oligosaccharides, and phospholipids were characterized and visualized in Angelica sinensis roots. Majority of these metabolites were located in the phloem and xylem, while ferulic acid was mainly present in the cork layer. The results revealed a dramatic metabolic heterogeneity among different regions of the roots and distinct spatial distribution patterns of different metabolites. Additionally, the metabolic pathways involved in the biosynthesis of choline were also successfully localized and visualized. This study comprehensively characterized the spatial distribution of metabolites in Angelica sinensis roots, which would prompt the understanding of its chemical separation, biosynthesis, and pharmacological activities.

Phylogeographic analyses reveal recent dispersal and multiple Wolbachia infections of the bright-eyed ringlet Erebia oeme within the European mountain systems

The genus Erebia comprises numerous species in Europe. Due to preference of cold environments, most species have disjunct distributions in the European mountain systems. However, their biogeographical patterns may differ significantly. The Bright-eyed ringlet Erebia oeme is widespread in high-altitude grasslands of the European high mountains, hence showing a disjunct distribution pattern. Over its distribution, E. oeme shows high morphological variability indicating pronounced intraspecific differentiation. We analysed two mitochondrial (COI, Cytb) and eight nuclear markers as well as the Wolbachia surface protein-coding gene (WSP). A total of four lineages were identified: two Balkan lineages, one Slovenian lineage as well as one lineage containing all other individuals (Alps, Massif Central, Pyrenees). COI data only indicate a fifth lineage in the southern Carpathians. The region of origin of E. oeme is most likely the western Balkans. From here, E. oeme spread to the eastern Balkan area and further to the southern Carpathians as well as to Slovenia, from where it rapidly crossed the Alps to Massif Central and Pyrenees. Wolbachia was found to be highly prevalent with multiple strains, partly within one population. However, recent Wolbachia impact on the mitochondrial DNA and consequently influence on the intraspecific genetic structure was not detected.

Nanocarrier imaging at single-cell resolution across entire mouse bodies with deep learning.

Efficient and accurate nanocarrier development for targeted drug delivery is hindered by a lack of methods to analyze its cell-level biodistribution across whole organisms. Here we present Single Cell Precision Nanocarrier Identification (SCP-Nano), an integrated experimental and deep learning pipeline to comprehensively quantify the targeting of nanocarriers throughout the whole mouse body at single-cell resolution. SCP-Nano reveals the tissue distribution patterns of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) after different injection routes at doses as low as 0.0005 mg kg-1-far below the detection limits of conventional whole body imaging techniques. We demonstrate that intramuscularly injected LNPs carrying SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA reach heart tissue, leading to proteome changes, suggesting immune activation and blood vessel damage. SCP-Nano generalizes to various types of nanocarriers, including liposomes, polyplexes, DNA origami and adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), revealing that an AAV2 variant transduces adipocytes throughout the body. SCP-Nano enables comprehensive three-dimensional mapping of nanocarrier distribution throughout mouse bodies with high sensitivity and should accelerate the development of precise and safe nanocarrier-based therapeutics.

Spatial distribution and subtype-specific expression patterns of Nectin-4 in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

To investigate the expression patterns of Nectin-4, the target molecule of the antibody-drug conjugate enfortumab vedotin (EV), in relation to histological and molecular subtypes of urothelial bladder cancer (UBC). We assessed the protein expression patterns of Nectin-4 in a spatially organised tissue microarray containing 1386 tissue cores from 314 consecutive patients with UBC who underwent radical cystectomy (2005-2018). Results were correlated with clinicopathological and follow-up data, as well as with different spatial locations (tumour central vs tumour-normal interface and primary tumour vs lymph node [LN] metastases). Additionally, we correlated Nectin-4 expression levels with histological and molecular subtypes. Finally, we assessed the value of Nectin-4 expression for predicting the efficacy of platinum therapy in the peri-operative setting. Nectin-4 expression was observed in 63% of primary tumours and 87% of LN metastases, with significantly higher levels in LNs. Of the histological subtypes, the micropapillary (58%) and pure urothelial histologies (30%) were associated with the highest Nectin-4 positivity, while the sarcomatoid (17%), squamous (15%) and small/cell-neuroendocrine (0%) subtypes exhibited the lowest. Nectin-4 immunopositivity rates were significantly higher in luminal (urothelial-like [42%] and genomically unstable [34%] Lund subtypes) compared to the basal (5%) or mesenchymal (0%) molecular subtypes. Higher Nectin-4 expression levels were associated with lower tumour stage but showed no association with overall survival. Finally, patients with low Nectin-4 expression tended to derive more benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy in both adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings (P < 0.001, P = 0.067). Our results revealed a low spatial heterogeneity of Nectin-4 expression within the primary tumour. In contrast, differential Nectin-4 expression was found in the context of histological and molecular subtypes. Nectin-4-expressing tumours may show varying sensitivity to both EV and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Long-term fasting induces a remodelling of fatty acid composition in erythrocyte membranes.

Long-term fasting (LF) activates an adaptative response to switch metabolic fuels from food glucose to lipids stored in adipose tissues. The increase in free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation during fasting triggers health benefits. We questioned if the changes in lipid metabolism during LF could affect lipids in cell membranes in humans. We thus analysed the FA composition in erythrocyte membranes (EM) during 12.6 ± 3.5 days of LF and 1 month after food reintroduction. A total of 98 subjects out of three single-arm interventional studies underwent a medical supervised long-term fasting (12.6 ± 3.5 days) programme. The distribution pattern of 26 FA as well as the HS-Omega-3 Index were assessed in the EM using gas chromatography. Eighteen of 26 FA showed significant changes. Within the group of saturated FA, myristic (14:0) and stearic acid (18:0) decreased while palmitic (16:0) and arachid acid (20:0) increased. While most monounsaturated FA increased, trans fatty acids decreased or remained unchanged. Within the polyunsaturated FA, arachidonic (20:4n6) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n3) acid increased, while linoleic (18:2n6), alpha-linolenic (18:3n3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n3) decreased. Consequently, the HS-Omega-3 Index increased. 11 out of the 18 FA with significant changes returned to baseline levels 1 month afterwards. Levels of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid increased over baseline levels. Long-term fasting triggers changes in the FA composition of EM.

Optimization of Development Strategies and Injection-Production Parameters in a Fractured-Vuggy Carbonate Reservoir by Considering the Effect of Karst Patterns: Taking C Oilfield in the Tarim Basin as an Example

The spatial structural characteristics of fractured-vuggy units vary greatly in different karst patterns, which significantly influence the study of remaining oil distribution patterns in ultra-deep fractured-vuggy reservoirs and the determination of the most efficient development strategies. However, few numerical simulation studies have focused on improving water and gas injection in fractured-vuggy reservoirs by considering the effect of karst patterns. By taking a typical fractured-vuggy reservoir in C oilfield in Tarim Basin, China as an example, the development dynamic characteristics of eight typical fractured-vuggy units in three different karst patterns are analyzed, and based on the newly proposed numerical simulation method of fluid vertical equilibrium, the residual oil reservoir distribution in different karst pattern fractured-vuggy units are studied, and the effects of fracture-vuggy karst patterns on the development characteristics, on the remaining oil morphology pattern, on the development strategies, and on the injection-production parameters are explored. This study shows that for different karst patterns fractured-vuggy units, the complexity of spatial structure, reserve scale, and oil-water relationship aggravates the heterogeneity of reservoirs and results in substantial differences in the development of dynamic patterns. In the northern facing karst fractured-vuggy units, there are two main types of remaining oil: well-spacing type and local-blocking type, and the reasonable development strategies are affected by reservoir morphology and the connectivity of structure patterns. Attic-type remaining oil mainly occurs in platform margin overlay and fault-controlled karst fractured-vuggy units. In the southern fault-controlled karst area, the remaining oil is mostly found along the upper part, and periodic gas injection or N2 huff-n-puff is recommended with priority for potential tapping. The fractured-vuggy karst patterns show a significant influence on the optimal level of injection-production parameters for improving the development of gas injection development strategies. The ideas of improving water injection and gas injection for fracture-vuggy reservoirs proposed in this paper also provide a good reference to further improve water control and increase oil production in other similar carbonate reservoirs.

Multidimensional Environmental Drivers of Bamboo Species Richness on Subtropical Islands

Understanding the distribution patterns and driving mechanisms of bamboo species diversity on islands is essential for advancing knowledge of island ecosystem processes and informing strategies for bamboo resource conservation and management. This study utilized standardized major axis regression (SMA) to assess the effects of island area and isolation on bamboo species across 30 islands in Fujian, China. Furthermore, a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was constructed to explore the driving mechanisms underlying bamboo species richness. This analysis incorporated six key environmental factors—island size, isolation, shape, climate, development intensity, and habitat heterogeneity—spanning a total of 12 variables. The primary findings were as follows: (1) Eight genera and twenty-nine bamboo species were identified on Fujian islands. Species richness increased significantly with island area, consistent with the theory of area effects, while isolation had no significant impact on richness. (2) Different reproductive types exhibited distinct responses to environmental conditions. This was evident in the species–area relationship slopes (z-values): SR = 2.07; monopodial = 0.94; sympodial = 0.82; and polycyclic = 0.44. These variations highlight the ecological adaptability and functional traits of different reproductive strategies within island ecosystems. (3) Among the six environmental factors, island area exerted the greatest influence on species richness, underscoring its role as the primary driver of bamboo diversity and reproductive strategies. (4) Island area and isolation also impacted species richness indirectly through their effects on development intensity. In conclusion, the bamboo species richness and reproductive types on Fujian islands are primarily shaped by island area, followed by development intensity and habitat heterogeneity. In contrast, climate, island shape, and isolation play relatively minor roles. This study provides critical insights into the interplay of island area, isolation, shape, climate, development intensity, and habitat heterogeneity in shaping bamboo diversity. The findings offer a valuable foundation for bamboo resource conservation, island ecosystem management, and sustainable development.

H3K9 post-translational modifications regulate epiblast/primitive endoderm specification in rabbit blastocysts

Post-translational modifications of histone H3 on lysine 9, specifically acetylation (H3K9ac) and tri-methylation (H3K9me3), play a critical role in regulating chromatin accessibility. However, the role of these modifications in lineage segregation in the mammalian blastocyst remains poorly understood. We demonstrate that di- and tri-methylation marks, H3K9me2 and H3K9me3, decrease during cavitation and expansion of the rabbit blastocyst. Notably, H3K9me3 levels are particularly low in inner cell mass cells at the onset of blastocyst formation but increase again just before gastrulation. Conversely, H3K9ac is abundant in early blastocyst stages but decreases during the transition from the inner cell mass to the epiblast. These distinct distribution patterns correlate with high expression levels of methyltransferases (EHMT1, EHMT2, SETDB1) and deacetylases (HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC5) in expanding blastocysts. Functionally, inhibiting H3K9me2/3 through an EHMT1/2 inhibitor disrupts primitive endoderm segregation, whereas enhancing histone acetylation (including H3K9ac) using a class I HDAC inhibitor promotes epiblast expansion at the expense of the primitive endoderm. These modifications impact the expression of genes associated with pluripotency and lineage determination, underscoring the importance of H3K9 modifications in embryonic cell fate decisions.

CLUSTERING DISTRICTS/CITIES IN EAST JAVA PROVINCE BASED ON HIV CASES USING K-MEANS, AGNES, AND ENSEMBLE

Cluster analysis is a method of grouping data into certain groups based on similar characteristics. This research aims to group districts/cities in East Java Province in 2021 based on HIV cases using hierarchical cluster analysis (AGNES), non-hierarchical cluster analysis (K-means), and ensemble clustering. The study found that the ensemble clustering solution forms four clusters, consistent with the results of AGNES clustering. This suggests that ensemble clustering improves the quality of cluster solutions by leveraging both hierarchical and non-hierarchical methods. The grouping of districts/cities based on HIV cases provides a clear distribution pattern for more targeted interventions. The study is limited to HIV cases in East Java Province and may not be generalizable to other regions with different epidemic characteristics. Additionally, the study focuses on clustering methods without investigating temporal changes in HIV case distribution. This research is one of the few studies that applies ensemble clustering to HIV cases in East Java Province. It combines hierarchical and non-hierarchical methods to improve the clustering process and provides a practical approach for regional HIV control planning.

Assessing the distribution pattern of Saussurea medusa under climate change using an optimized MaxEnt model in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Saussurea medusa is a rare alpine plant with significant medicinal value. To better understand the changes in its habitat in the context of climate change, this study used an optimized MaxEnt model to predict the current and future habitat of S. medusa under four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) across three time periods (current, mid-century, and end-century) based on three climate system models. The results showed that the suitable habitat of S. medusa is mainly located in the southern and eastern parts of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP), exhibiting a fragmented distribution pattern. The future suitable area of S. medusa is projected to decrease significantly by 42.5% to 96.7%, accompanied by a southward shift in its centroid and an upward shift in altitude. The study found that the highest temperature in the warmest month is the most important environmental factor affecting the distribution of S. medusa. This species is highly sensitive to climate change and requires urgent protection measures. Priority should focus on strengthening habitat protection in the southeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, where some stable habitats remain outside protected areas. Expanding population monitoring, promoting ex-situ conservation, enhancing public education, and encouraging community involvement are essential. Additionally, as a medicinal plant, alternative strategies are needed to curb overharvesting of wild resources.

Spatial distribution and influencing factors of China’s overseas farmland investment projects under the background of food security

Since the 21st century, overseas farmland investment has gradually become the focus of research in the field of transnational agricultural investment. Under the background of China’s “going out” strategy, exploring the spatial distribution pattern and influencing factors of China’s overseas farmland investment activities in different regions of the world and reducing domestic food supply pressure through effective use of overseas farmland resources has become an important path for China to ensure food security. Based on the case data of China’s overseas cultivated Land investment in the Land Matrix database, this paper sorted out the utilization status of China’s global cultivated land resources, and analyzed the spatial distribution and influencing factors by using spatial analysis method and grey correlation analysis method. The results show that: (1) At present, the host countries of China’s overseas cultivated land investment have obvious spatial aggregation, showing the spatial characteristics of “small agglomeration and large dispersion,” and have the characteristics of distribution along the border and river; (2) China’s overseas farmland investment is affected by geo-economy, resource base, geo-culture and geopolitics, and the degree of impact is weakened in turn. Among them, the average annual import and export value, total water resources and other indicators have a significant impact on the investment choice of Chinese enterprises. Based on this, on the basis of identifying the spatial distribution pattern of China’s global overseas farmland investment and development and analyzing its key driving factors, this study proposed the path that overseas farmland investment and development can help improve the resilience of food system with the goal of ensuring the food security of sustainable agricultural system. It provides a theoretical basis for the country to formulate food security strategy based on overseas farmland investment and guide enterprises to invest overseas farmland.

Glucose-Sensing Carbohydrate Response Element-Binding Protein in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Retinopathy

Glucose-sensing ChREBP and MondoA are transcriptional factors involved in the lipogenic, inflammatory, and insulin signaling pathways implicated in metabolic disorders; however, limited ocular studies have been conducted on these proteins. We aimed to investigate the potential role of ChREBP in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). We used diabetic human and mouse retinal cryosections analyzed by immunohistochemistry. qRT-PCR was performed to quantify gene expression. To explore the role of ChREBP in rods, we generated caChREBPRP mice with constitutively active (ca) ChREBP. These mice underwent retinal functional testing, which was followed by proteomic analysis using LC-MS. Furthermore, ARPE-19 cells were infected with lentiviral particles expressing human ChREBP (ARPE-19ChREBP) and subjected to global proteomics. Our results demonstrate that both proteins were expressed across the retina, although with distinct distribution patterns: MondoA was more prominently expressed in cones, while ChREBP was broadly expressed throughout the retina. Elevated expression of both proteins was observed in DR. This may have contributed to rod photoreceptor degeneration, as we observed diminished scotopic ERG amplitudes in caChREBPRP mice at P35. The retinal proteomic landscape revealed a decline in the KEGG pathways associated with phototransduction, amino acid metabolism, and cell adhesion. Furthermore, rod-specific caChREBP induced TXNIP expression. Consistent with altered retinal proteomics, ARPE-19ChREBP cells exhibit a metabolic shift toward increased glyoxylate signaling, sugar metabolism, and lysosomal activation. Our study demonstrates that ChREBP overexpression causes significant metabolic reprogramming triggering retinal functional loss in mice.

Projecting Water Yield Amidst Rapid Urbanization: A Case Study of the Taihu Lake Basin

Changes in land cover and land use (LULC) can impact water availability by altering the structure and functioning of land ecosystems. Accurately projecting the impacts of LULC on water yield (WY) is of utmost importance for regional landscape management. Taking the rapidly urbanizing Taihu Lake Basin (TLB) as an example, coupled with the PLUS-InVEST model, three scenarios of a natural development (ND) scenario, urban development (UD) scenario, and ecological protection (EP) scenario were set to simulate the response mechanisms of land use changes for WY and the influence of policy-making on the water conservation capacity of river basins. (1) During 2000 and 2020, the Taihu Lake Basin (TLB) experienced rapid urbanization, which was evident in the conversion of forest and cropland for urban development. (2) From 2000 to 2020, the TLB’s WY first decreased and then increased, ranging from 201.52 × 108 m3 to 242.70 × 108 m3. Spatially, an uneven distribution pattern of WY depth emerged, with mountainous and hilly regions exhibiting higher WY compared to plain areas. Temporally, changes in total WY were primarily influenced by precipitation, while areas with increased WY showed a certain correlation with regions experiencing an expansion of construction land. (3) By 2030, the TLB will continue to expand construction land under the UD scenario, while the area of ecological land will expand under the EP scenario. WY is expected to vary across scenarios, with the highest yield observed under the UD scenario, followed by the ND scenario, while the EP scenario exhibits the lowest yield. These findings can offer scientifically informed insights and guidance for future WY changes, carrying substantial effects for maintaining ecological preservation and promoting high-quality development in the TLB.