ABSTRACT Objectives: We examined the expression of Lnc-ZFAS1 in osteosarcoma and comprehensively evaluated its effects on osteosarcoma in vitro and vivo. Moreover, we revealed the regulatory mechanism between Lnc-ZFAS1 and miR-520b/miR-520e-mediated RHOC and provided a novel clue for ameliorating osteosarcoma. Method: The expression of Long non-coding RNA Zinc Finger Antisense 1 (LncRNA ZFAS1) osteosarcoma tissues and normal tissues in the TCGA database was analyzed. Then, LncRNA ZFAS1 expression was further verified in clinical samples and osteosarcoma cell lines (U2OS and KHOS), as well as the human osteoblast cell line hFOB1.19 by qRT-PCR. Thereafter, LncRNA ZFAS1 was overexpressed or silenced to explore its effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). The fundamental mechanism through which Lnc-ZFAS1 affects osteosarcoma progression was further investigated and verified. Results: We found that LncRNA ZFAS1 was upregulated in osteosarcoma, and Lnc-ZFAS1 overexpression facilitated osteosarcoma cells proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT, while Lnc-ZFAS1 silence exerted reverse influence. Mechanistically, Lnc-ZFAS1 functionally acted as a sponger of microRNA-520b (miR-520b) and micro-RNA-520e (miR-520e) to up-regulate Ras Homologue C (RHOC). In addition, depleted Lnc-ZFAS1 restrained osteosarcoma cells proliferation, migration, and invasion, which could be rescued by RHOC overexpression. Lnc-ZFAS1 was upregulated in osteosarcoma and Lnc-ZFAS1 could exert promoted impact upon osteosarcoma cells proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in vitro. Conclusions: Lnc-ZFAS1 acted sponger of miR-520b and miR-520e to promote RHOC, indicating that Lnc-ZFAS1/miR-520b/RHOC and Lnc-ZFAS1/miR-520e/RHOC axes might serve as potential therapeutic strategies against osteosarcoma.

ABSTRACT The mixture of mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium (ME+IMS) as post-emergence dual-purpose herbicide exhibits phytotoxicity in foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) Reducing ME+IMS stress in foxtail millet is therefore of practical significance. This study assessed the effects of seed pre-soaking with different concentrations of brassinolide (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 mg L-1) on foxtail millet grown under ME+IMS (2.81+0.56 g ai ha-1) stress. The agronomic characteristics, photosynthetic pigment, gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence and P700 parameters of two foxtail millet cultivars (‘Jingu 21’ and ‘Zhangza 5’) were analyzed 7 d after ME+IMS treatment at the 5th leaf stage. Compared with ME+IMS treatment alone, brassinolide treatment within a concentration range of 0.1-1.0 mg L-1 had a positive effect on all plant parameters to varying degrees. Pre-soaking of seeds with 0.1 mg L-1 brassinolide increased the leaf area (41.8%), fresh mass (179.2%), net photosynthetic rate (Pn, 38.4%), transpiration rate (Tr, 61.5%), stomatal conductance (gs, 103.1%), photosystem II maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm, 8.6%), effective quantum yield (Y(II), 16.0%), electron transport rate (ETR(II), 17.8%), photosystem I photochemical quantum yield (Y(I), 16.7%) and electron transport rate (ETR(I), 38.7%) in ‘Zhangza 5’ leaves under ME+IMS stress. An increase in plant height (53.0%), total chlorophyll (38.3%), carotenoid contents (40.0%), and maximal P700 change (Pm, 34.3%) were also observed following 1.0 mg L-1 brassinolide treatment compared with ME+IMS in ‘Jingu 21’. Comprehensive analysis showed that pre-sowing seed treatment with 0.1-1.0 mg L-1 brassinolide could enhance the growth and photosynthetic resistance of foxtail millet seedlings to ME+IMS stress.

ABSTRACT To accurately measure sowing depth, we designed a multisensor data fusion algorithm based on the Kalman filter and applied it to a dual-channel ultrasonic sowing depth measurement system. We installed two ultrasonic sensors on the frame above the depth limit wheel and the soil covering-compacting wheel. The terrain-like plate was installed on the central axis of the depth limit wheel to simulate the surface relief and calculate the seeding depth value. The Kalman filter algorithm filters out the clutter generated when the two ultrasonic sensors collect the depth data and then fuses the two ultrasounds of the filtered data. The test shows that when the vehicle speed is 4 km/h , the fluctuation ranges of the collected data of ultrasonic 1 and 2 are 45-60 mm and 35-70 mm , respectively, and the fluctuation ranges of the filtered data are 52-58 mm and 48-60 mm , respectively. After data fusion processing, the data fluctuate in a small range of approximately 55 mm . When the vehicle speed is 6 km/h and 8 km/h, the obtained results have the same trend as the experimental results at 4 km/h . The results show that the sowing depth measurement system is effective.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between ambient air pollutants and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in relatively low-polluted areas in China. METHODS Atmospheric pollutants levels and meteorological data were obtained from January 2016 to December 2020. The medical database including daily hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ICD10: J44) was derived from the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University. The generalized additive model was used to analyze the percentage change with 95% confidence interval in daily hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with a 10 µg/m3 increase in atmospheric pollutants levels. RESULTS In total, occurred 4,980 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions (not including emergency department visits) during 2016–2020. The mean concentrations of daily PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3, and CO were 37.5 μg/m3, 60.1 μg/m3, 18.7 μg/m3, 23.5 μg/m3, 70.0 μg/m3, and 1.2 mg/m3 in Ganzhou. Each 10 µg/m3 increment of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were significantly associated with 2.8% (95%CI: 1.0–4.7), 1.3% (95%CI: 0.3–2.4), 2.8% (95%CI: 0.4–5.4), and 1.5% (95%CI: 0.2–2.7) elevation in daily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions. The estimates of delayed effects of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were observed at lag6, lag6, lag8, lag1, respectively. The health effects of particulate pollutants (PM2.5 and PM10) may be independent of other pollutants. The adverse effects of air pollutants were more evident in the warm season (May–Oct) than in the cold season (Nov–Apr). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that elevated concentrations of atmospheric pollutant (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3), especially particulate pollutants, can be associated with increased daily count of hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , which may promote further understanding of the potential hazards of relatively low levels of air pollution on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory disorders.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between ambient air pollutants and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in relatively low-polluted areas in China. METHODS Atmospheric pollutants levels and meteorological data were obtained from January 2016 to December 2020. The medical database including daily hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ICD10: J44) was derived from the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University. The generalized additive model was used to analyze the percentage change with 95% confidence interval in daily hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with a 10 µg/m3 increase in atmospheric pollutants levels. RESULTS In total, occurred 4,980 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions (not including emergency department visits) during 2016–2020. The mean concentrations of daily PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3, and CO were 37.5 μg/m3, 60.1 μg/m3, 18.7 μg/m3, 23.5 μg/m3, 70.0 μg/m3, and 1.2 mg/m3 in Ganzhou. Each 10 µg/m3 increment of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were significantly associated with 2.8% (95%CI: 1.0–4.7), 1.3% (95%CI: 0.3–2.4), 2.8% (95%CI: 0.4–5.4), and 1.5% (95%CI: 0.2–2.7) elevation in daily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions. The estimates of delayed effects of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 were observed at lag6, lag6, lag8, lag1, respectively. The health effects of particulate pollutants (PM2.5 and PM10) may be independent of other pollutants. The adverse effects of air pollutants were more evident in the warm season (May–Oct) than in the cold season (Nov–Apr). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that elevated concentrations of atmospheric pollutant (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3), especially particulate pollutants, can be associated with increased daily count of hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , which may promote further understanding of the potential hazards of relatively low levels of air pollution on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory disorders.