DONGYE YANG^1,#,*, DONGDONG GUO^2,3,#, YUNMEI PENG², DONGMENG LIU¹, YANQIU FU¹, FEN SUN², LISHI ZHOU¹, JIAQI GUO¹, LAIQING HUANG^2,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.9, pp. 2037-2049, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.028863

Abstract Introduction: Sulfatase 2 (SULF2), an endogenous extracellular sulfatase, can remove 6-O-sulfate groups of glucosamine residues from heparan sulfate (HS) chains to modulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which plays an important role in both liver carcinogenesis and embryogenesis. Side population (SP) cells are widely identified as stem-like cancer cells and are closely related to carcinoma metastasis, recurrence, and poor patient prognosis. However, the roles of SULF2 in SP cells of hepatomas are unclear, and the underlying mechanism is undefined. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the heterogeneity between SP cells and non-side population (NSP) cells derived from three different liver cancer… More > Graphic Abstract

XIAOFENG LI¹, JINYANG ZHENG², JINFENG ZHU³, XIN HUANG⁴, HUANHUAN ZHU⁵, BINGDI CHEN^6,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.8, pp. 1771-1781, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.028343

Abstract Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are neoplastic cells that are detached from primary tumors and enter circulation. Enumeration and characterization of CTCs are of significance in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. CTC survival in the bloodstream is a limiting step for the development of metastases in distant organs. Recent technological advances, especially in single-cell molecular analyses have uncovered heterogeneous CTC survival mechanisms. Undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), increasing stem cell-like properties, and forming cell clusters enable CTCs to adapt to the harsh microenvironment of the circulation. Expressing and releasing several immunosuppressive molecules help CTCs escape from anti-cancer immune mechanisms. This review… More >

MUHAMMAD BABAR KHAWAR^1,2,3,#, YAJUN WANG^4,#, ANEEQA MAJEED³, ALI AFZAL⁵, KABEER HANEEF⁶, HAIBO SUN^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.31, No.5, pp. 677-688, 2023, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.029718

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common primary liver cancer and a leading cause of death, is a difficult disease to treat due to its heterogeneous nature. Traditional models, such as 2D culture and patient-derived xenografts, have not proven effective. However, the development of 3D culture techniques, such as organoids, which can mimic the tumor microenvironment (TME) and preserve heterogeneity and pathophysiological properties of tumor cells, offers new opportunities for treatment and research. Organoids also have the potential for biomarker detection and personalized medication, as well as genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 to study the behavior of certain genes and therapeutic interventions. This… More > Graphic Abstract

Tao Liu¹, Kejia Zhang^1,*, Jingsong Yin¹, Yan Zhang¹, Zihao Mu¹, Chunsheng Li¹, Yanan Hu²

Computer Systems Science and Engineering, Vol.47, No.2, pp. 2563-2582, 2023, DOI:10.32604/csse.2023.041228

Abstract Spatio-temporal heterogeneous data is the database for decision-making in many fields, and checking its accuracy can provide data support for making decisions. Due to the randomness, complexity, global and local correlation of spatiotemporal heterogeneous data in the temporal and spatial dimensions, traditional detection methods can not guarantee both detection speed and accuracy. Therefore, this article proposes a method for detecting the accuracy of spatiotemporal heterogeneous data by fusing graph convolution and temporal convolution networks. Firstly, the geographic weighting function is introduced and improved to quantify the degree of association between nodes and calculate the weighted adjacency value to simplify the… More >

Longlong Bai^1,#, Yong Zhang^2,#, Min Wang¹, Ying He¹, Tao Ye¹, Keli Zhao^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.91, No.10, pp. 2221-2233, 2022, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2022.021422

Abstract Chinese Torreya grandis (Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii) is a unique economic tree species in China. Intensive management related to application of chemical fertilizer and herbicides caused serious soil quality degradation of Chinese Torreya grandis plantations. Totally, 120 soil samples were collected from the main disbtributed areas of Chinese Torreya grandis in Southeastern China. In this area, soil pH values varied from 3.68 to 6.78, with a median value of 4.91, implying a trend of acidification. The average concentrations of organic matter, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were 27.52 g kg⁻¹, 135.77 mg kg⁻¹, 15.12 mg kg⁻¹, and 153.43… More >

Kang Liu, Yanqiao Wang^*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.131, No.1, pp. 119-135, 2022, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2022.018134

Abstract Soil slope stability in seasonally frozen regions is a challenging problem for geotechnical engineers. The freeze-thaw process of soil slope caused by the temperature fluctuation increases the difficulty in predicting the slope stability because the soil property is influenced by the freeze-thaw cycle. In addition, the frozen soil, which has ice crystal, ice lens and experienced freeze-thaw process, could present stronger heterogeneity. Previous research has not investigated the combined effect of soil heterogeneity and freeze-thaw cycle. This paper studies the influence of soil heterogeneity on the stability of frozen soil slope under freeze-thaw cycles. The local average subdivision (LAS) is… More >

M. N. Tarhuni^1,*, W. R. Sulaiman¹, M. Z. Jaafar¹, K. M. Sabil²

Energy Engineering, Vol.119, No.1, pp. 253-273, 2022, DOI:10.32604/EE.2022.017820

Abstract The X field is located in the southwestern part of block NX89 of Kentan Basin in Libya. This field is produced from Hailan multilayer consolidated sandstone with moderate rock property and a relatively low energy supplying. The reserve of subsurface energy sources is declining with years. Therefore, techniques were combined to achieve the energy optimization and increase hydrocarbon recovery. In order to understand the subsurface formation of the reservoir and facilitate oil production, global hydraulic element technique was used to quantify the reservoir rock types. In addition, stratigraphic modified Lorenz plot was used for reservoir layering. Reservoir heterogeneity was identified… More >

Jie Li¹, Ziyu Zhou², Yun Chen², Qiusheng Yang^1,*, Carlos Alberto Busso^3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.90, No.6, pp. 1633-1644, 2021, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2021.016795

Abstract The spatial-temporal variation of understory light availability has important influences on species diversity and community assembly. However, the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of understory light availability have not been fully elucidated, especially in temperate deciduous, broad-leaved forests. In this study, the understory light availability was monitored monthly (May–October) in a temperate deciduous, broad-leaved forest in Henan Province, China. Differences in the light availability among different months and habitat types were statistically analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis method, respectively. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) was used to explore the direct and/or indirect effects of stand structure, dominant species and topographic factors… More >

M. N. Tarhuni^*, W. R. Sulaiman, M. Z. Jaafar, M. Milad, A. M. Alghol

Energy Engineering, Vol.118, No.4, pp. 761-795, 2021, DOI:10.32604/EE.2021.016645

Abstract Fluid flow in fractured media has been studied for decades and received considerable attention in the oil and gas industry because of the high productivity of naturally fractured reservoirs. Due to formation complexity and reservoir heterogeneity, characterizing fluid flow with an appropriate reservoir model presents a challenging task that differs relatively from homogeneous conventional reservoirs in many aspects of view, including geological, petrophysical, production, and economics. In most fractured reservoirs, fracture networks create complex pathways that affect hydrocarbon flow, well performance, hence reservoir characterization. A better and comprehensive understanding of the available reservoir modeling approaches is much needed to accurately… More >

Simei Yao^1,2, Yu Jin^2,3, Limin Zhang², Ningfei Lei^1,*, Wei Xue^2,*, Jinsong Chen³, Qian Zhang², Feihai Yu^1,2

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.90, No.4, pp. 1259-1271, 2021, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2021.014968

Abstract Soil nutrients are commonly heterogeneously distributed and earthworms are one of the most common soil organisms. While effects of both soil nutrient heterogeneity and earthworms have been well studied, their interactive effect on plant community productivity has rarely been tested. In a greenhouse experiment, we constructed experimental plant communities by sowing seed mixtures of four grasses, two legumes and two forbs in either a heterogeneous soil consisting of low and high nutrient soil patches or a homogeneous soil where the low and high nutrient soil patches were evenly mixed. The earthworm Eisenia fetida was either added to these soils or… More >