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This book introduces 10 mega business trends, ranging from big data to the O2O model. By mining and analyzing mountains of data, the author identifies these 10 emerging trends and goes to great lengths to explain and support his views with up-to-date cases. By incorporating the latest developments, this book allows readers to keep abreast of rapidly advancing digital technologies and business models. In this time of mass entrepreneurship and innovation, acquiring deep insights into business trends and grasping opportunities for innovation give readers (business executives in particular) and their companies a competitive advantage and the potential to become the next success story. The Chinese version of the book has become a hit, with some business schools using it as a textbook for their S & T Innovation and Business Trends programs. It also provides business executives with a practical guide for their investment and operation decisions.

Cryptochromes (CRYs) are photolyase-like blue-light/ultraviolet-A (UV-A) receptors that regulate diverse aspects of plant growth and development. Maize ( Zea mays ), a major crop often grown under high UV-B radiation, harbors four copies of CRY. However, whether CRYs in maize have evolved to improve UV tolerance or acquire novel functions remains unclear. In this study, CRISPR-Cas9-engineered Zmcry mutants are used to investigate the functions of ZmCRYs in maize. The findings reveal that ZmCRYs act redundantly in mediating blue light signaling and inhibiting mesocotyl elongation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ZmCRYs mediate blue light-enhanced UV-B stress tolerance in maize by upregulating the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of UV-B stress tolerance-related metabolites, including phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and fatty acids. Further analyses show that blue light modulates both the accumulation and composition of epidermal waxes, suggesting that blue light enhances epidermal wax accumulation for UV-B stress tolerance. Notably, we identify that ZmCRY1 directly interacts with GLOSSY2 (GL2), a key acyltransferase in very-long-chain fatty acid metabolism, in a blue light-strengthened manner to mediate blue light-promoted C32 aldehyde accumulation, shedding new light on the enigma of the aldehyde-forming pathway in plants. These results highlight the critical roles of ZmCRY1s in mediating blue light-regulated epidermal wax biosynthesis and UV-B tolerance in Zea mays . Zhao et al. demonstrate that ZmCRY1s, blue-light receptors in maize, interact with GL2 in blue light to promote C32 aldehyde accumulation thereby modulating epidermal wax composition and enhancing UV-B tolerance, revealing a light-regulated wax biosynthetic mechanism critical for maize stress adaptation.

Background Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging mediators of intercellular communication that have been shown to play important roles in tumor progression. YRNA fragments, a type of small non-coding RNA, are dysregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell-derived EVs, suggesting that they may be an effective biomarker for cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies. Methods Differentially expressed YRNA hY4 fragments (hY4F) in EVs from NSCLC cells and normal lung fibroblasts were isolated by differential ultra-centrifugation. RNA-binding proteins that interacted with hY4F were identified by screening with an RNA pulldown assay and mass spectrometry. The molecular mechanism of hY4F and the RNA-binding protein Y box binding protein 1 (YBX1) was demonstrated by qRT-PCR, western blot, RNA pulldown, and rescue experiments. Transcriptome sequencing, qRT-PCR validation, bioinformatics analysis and NF-κB pathway inhibitor assays elucidate the mechanism of YBX1 and hY4F inhibiting lung cancer. A peptide pulldown assay was performed to screen and identify a potential methyltransferase for YBX1. The roles of hY4F, YBX1, and SET domain containing 3 in biological functions, such as proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, in lung cancer cells were also examined by EdU incorporation assay, Transwell assay, flow cytometry, and other methods. Lastly, a mouse xenograft assay was used to assess the clinical relevance of YBX1 and hY4F in vivo. Results Our data demonstrate that hY4 RNA fragments were upregulated in lung cancer- derived EVs, hY4F inhibits tumor progression through downregulating MAPK/NF-κB signaling, and then the selective sorting and secretion of hY4F into lung cancer EVs is regulated by the RNA-binding protein YBX1. Furthermore, we identified lysine K264 within the YBX1 C-terminal domain as the necessary site for its interaction with hY4Fs. K264 is modified by methylation, which affects its binding to hY4F and subsequent selective sorting into EVs in lung cancer cells. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that hY4F acts as a tumor suppressor and is selectively sorted into lung cancer cell-derived EVs by interacting with methylated YBX1, which in turn promotes lung cancer progression. hY4F is a promising circulating biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis and prognosis and an exceptional candidate for further therapeutic exploration.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a key metabolite derived from the gut microbial metabolism of choline, has recently been implicated as a significant contributor to the development of several chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. Its detrimental effects have garnered widespread attention in the scientific community. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), marked by persistent and recurring gastrointestinal inflammation, is a significant global health issue. Emerging evidence highlights a critical role for TMAO in the pathogenesis of IBD. This review comprehensively summarizes current research on the association between TMAO and IBD, with a particular focus on the mechanisms by which TMAO regulates immunometabolism in diseases.

Water walls in power plant boilers are prone to failure under extreme conditions involving high temperature, corrosion, and wear, which severely threaten unit reliability and operational economy. In this work, a NiCr-Cr3C2 protective coating was deposited on SA213-T12 steel substrates using high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spraying, with arc-sprayed PS45 coating as a reference. The NiCr-Cr3C2 coating exhibited a dense, low-porosity structure with homogeneous dispersion of Cr3C2 hard phases in the NiCr matrix, forming a typical cauliflower-like composite morphology. During high-temperature sulfate corrosion tests at 750 °C, the NiCr-Cr3C2 coating demonstrated superior corrosion resistance, with a weight gain of only 2.7 mg/cm2, significantly lower than that of the PS45 coating and the SA213-T12 substrate. The higher microhardness and lower friction coefficient also indicate excellent high-temperature wear resistance. The enhanced performance of the NiCr-Cr3C2 coating is attributed to the high Cr content, which promotes the formation of a continuous and protective scale composed of Cr2O3 and NiCr2O4, effectively inhibiting corrosive diffusion and penetration. This work demonstrates the application prospects of NiCr-Cr3C2 coatings on water walls of power plant boilers and guides the development of advanced HVOF coatings.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), as miRNA sponges, have been found to participate in transcriptional control and many important biological processes. Heat stress (HS) severely affects feed intake and milk production of sows. However, the expression and function of circRNAs in the hypothalamus of sows and whether they are involved in the adaptation to HS have not been explored. In this study, RNA sequencing and functional analysis were performed to explore the expression and function of circRNAs in the hypothalamus of heat-stressed sows. Toally, 38,143 circRNAs were identified from the hypothalamus of heat-stressed sows, among which 307 circRNAs (170 upregulated and 137 downregulated) were significantly differentially expressed (DE) in the HS groups compared to the control groups. Their host genes are involved in the cellular component organization or biogenesis, metabolic process, and cellular metabolic process, the MAPK signalling pathway and the TGF-β signalling pathway. And a total of 307 DE circRNAs were found to act as sponges for 457 miRNAs. This research explored the expression profiles of circRNAs in the hypothalamus of heat-stressed sows, which will provide basic data for further investigation of the biological function and the regulatory role of circRNAs in the heat-stressed sows.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by tumor cells play important roles on the remodeling of the tumor–stromal environment and on promoting tumor metastasis. Our earlier studies revealed that miR-122-5p, a type of small non-coding RNA, was dysregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell-derived EVs. In this study, we found that miR-122-5p was selectively sorted and secreted into lung cancer EVs through binding to RNA-binding protein hnRNPA2B1. In addition, we found that hnRNPA2B1 interacted with miR-122-5p through the EXO-motif. The delivering of lung cancer EVs-miR-122-5p promoted the migration of liver cells, which may play roles in establishing a pre-metastatic micro-environment and hepatic metastasis of lung cancer. Importantly, our findings revealed the molecular mechanism that RNA-binding protein controls the selective sorting of tumor-derived EV miR-122-5p, which potentially promotes lung cancer progression.

The corrosion thinning behavior and mechanism of low-alloy water wall tubes of an ultra-supercritical power plant was investigated via SEM, EPMA, XRD, TEM, and laboratory simulation experiments. Fireside corrosion was first initiated by chemical potential- and concentration-governed transportation and diffusion, sequentially facilitated by sensitization, which was observed by TEM in terms of the carbide matrix precipitation on the grain boundary, and finally accelerated by the kinetic controlled growth, leading to the final thinning behavior. Laboratory experiments revealed that the reduced atmosphere corrosion kinetic simulation followed the linear law, as well as a different corrosion scale structure layer, compared to the furnace corrosion sample; the reduced atmosphere condition in the laboratory experiment inhibited the oxidation process and layer growth. The frequent shift between the oxidizing and reducing properties of the atmosphere around the water wall tubes during boiler operation may contribute to the delaminated oxidation layer.

ObjectiveIntestinal fibrosis, a common and serious complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), results from chronic inflammation. A high-cholesterol diet may be a risk factor for IBD and 27-hydroxylcholesterol (27HC) is the main human cholesterol metabolite. This study investigated whether 27HC can induce intestinal fibrosis.MethodsThe effects of cholesterol and 27HC on intestinal fibrosis were assessed in zebrafish and human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells.ResultsCholesterol and 27HC induced intestinal inflammation and collagen deposition, inhibited E-cadherin (E-ca) expression in the intestinal epithelium, and promoted nuclear translocation of β-catenin in zebrafish. Cholesterol and 27HC up-regulated expression of COL-1, α-SMA, CTGF, TIMP1, N-cadherin, vimentin, glycogen synthesis kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and β-catenin, but inhibited E-ca, in Caco-2 cells. The expression of these proteins was inhibited by CYP27A1 knockdown and β-catenin knockdown. 27HC-induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin occurs in Caco-2 cells. p38, ERK, and AKT activate β-catenin and thereby participate in 27HC-induced epithelia–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrosis. 27HC-increased oxidative stress and the fibrosis and EMT markers, the nuclear translocation of β-catenin, and the up-regulation of p-cell kinase proteins promoted by 27HC were inhibited by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Folic acid (FA), resveratrol (RES), and NAC all ameliorated the 27HC-induced effects in Caco-2 cells and zebrafish.ConclusionA high-cholesterol diet caused intestinal fibrosis in zebrafish, mediated by a major cholesterol metabolite, 27HC. 27HC increased oxidative stress and activated p38, ERK, AKT, and β-catenin, leading to EMT of epithelial cells and intestinal fibrosis. FA and RES both ameliorated intestinal fibrosis by restraining 27HC-induced β-catenin activation.

Water walls in power plant boilers are prone to failure under extreme conditions involving high temperature, corrosion, and wear, which severely threaten unit reliability and operational economy. In this work, a NiCr-Cr[sub.3]C[sub.2] protective coating was deposited on SA213-T12 steel substrates using high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spraying, with arc-sprayed PS45 coating as a reference. The NiCr-Cr[sub.3]C[sub.2] coating exhibited a dense, low-porosity structure with homogeneous dispersion of Cr[sub.3]C[sub.2] hard phases in the NiCr matrix, forming a typical cauliflower-like composite morphology. During high-temperature sulfate corrosion tests at 750 °C, the NiCr-Cr[sub.3]C[sub.2] coating demonstrated superior corrosion resistance, with a weight gain of only 2.7 mg/cm[sup.2], significantly lower than that of the PS45 coating and the SA213-T12 substrate. The higher microhardness and lower friction coefficient also indicate excellent high-temperature wear resistance. The enhanced performance of the NiCr-Cr[sub.3]C[sub.2] coating is attributed to the high Cr content, which promotes the formation of a continuous and protective scale composed of Cr[sub.2]O[sub.3] and NiCr[sub.2]O[sub.4], effectively inhibiting corrosive diffusion and penetration. This work demonstrates the application prospects of NiCr-Cr[sub.3]C[sub.2] coatings on water walls of power plant boilers and guides the development of advanced HVOF coatings.