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Objective(s): Liver fibrosis is a common liver disease caused by chronic liver damage. However, there are currently no approved drugs available to treat it. Therefore, the therapeutic effect of indirubin on liver fibrosis was evaluated. This study investigated the protective effect and related molecular mechanism of indirubin against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Materials and Methods: We first detected the effect of indirubin on liver fibrosis in mice (n=8 per group, 32 mice total) by ELISA, HE, and Masson staining. Subsequently, the proliferation of activated HSCs was detected by MTT and EdU. Finally, the changes of related proteins and signaling pathways in mice treated with indirubin were investigated by qRT-PCR and Western blot. One-way ANOVA or two-tailed student's t-test was used for comparison between groups. Results: Firstly, we found that indirubin (25 mg/kg) therapy could attenuate liver injury and significantly down-regulate α-SMA (P=0.0038) and collagen 1 (P=0.0057) in the liver using CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Secondly, we showed that indirubin (25 μM) could significantly inhibit hepatic stellate cell (HSC) trans-differentiation into myofibroblasts and proliferation (P=0.0063) in HSC-T6 cells treated by TGF-β. Finally, we showed that indirubin could greatly reduce the protein levels of p-Smad2/3, p38, p-ERK, and p-JNK in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Our results suggested that indirubin alleviated liver fibrosis and HSC activation mainly through TGF-β-mediated signaling pathways in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, our data showed that indirubin could be a promising clinical therapeutic drug for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] In response to the issue of soil improvement in Yuanmou County, the effects of combined application of biochar-based organic fertilizer and reduced nitrogen fertilizer on soil nutrients, soil enzyme activity, and yield of purple cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capita rubra) were investigated in the field base of Institute of Thermal Zone Ecological Agriculture, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Yuanmou County. [Methods] A total of 13 treatments were set up by applying biochar-based organic fertilizer at three levels of 15, 30 and 45 t/hm² (T1, T2, T3), combined with top application of nitrogen fertilizer (u-rea) at four levels: 375 (N1), 300 (N2), 225 (N3) and 0 kg/hm², with non-fertilizing treatment as control check (CK), in order to explore the optimal ratio for the combined application of biochar-based organic fertilizer with nitrogen fertilizer. [Results] The application of biochar-based organic fertilizer could significantly improve soil nutrients, enzyme activity, and purple cabbage yield. The improvement effect of combined application with nitrogen fertilizer was higher than that of single application of biochar-based organic fertilizer, and the improvement effect was enhanced with the application amount of biochar-based organic fertilizer increasing. The contents of organic matter and total nitrogen were the highest in treatment T3N3, of which the values increased by 81.39% and 56. 09% compared with the CK, respectively. The contents of soil hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium were all the highest under treatment T3N2, with increases of 92.76%, 171.01% and 235.50%, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the activity of soil catalase, urease, and sucrase and organic matter, total nitrogen, and available nutrients. The overall soil enzyme activity was relatively higher in treatment T3N2. The yield of purple cabbage treated with biochar-based organic fertilizer combined with nitrogen fertilizer could reach 85 750 kg/hm², which was 94.78% higher than that treated with bio-char-based organic fertilizer alone. Based on comprehensive analysis, the optimal combination ratio was 45 t/hm² of biochar-based organic fertilizer and 300 kg/hm² of urea (T3N2). [Conclusions] This study provides data support for the promotion of biochar-based organic fertilizers and reduced fertilizer in agricultural soil in the Dam area of Yuanmou County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is prevalent worldwide and affects 1 in 10 adults. Despite the successful development of glucose-lowering drugs, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors recently, the proportion of patients achieving satisfactory glucose control has not risen as expected. The heterogeneity of diabetes determines that a one-size-fits-all strategy is not suitable for people with diabetes. Diabetes is undoubtedly more heterogeneous than the conventional subclassification, such as type 1, type 2, monogenic and gestational diabetes. The recent progress in genetics and epigenetics of diabetes has gradually unveiled the mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity of diabetes, and cluster analysis has shown promising results in the substratification of type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 95% of diabetic patients. More recently, the rapid development of sophisticated glucose monitoring and artificial intelligence technologies further enabled comprehensive consideration of the complex individual genetic and clinical information and might ultimately realize a precision diagnosis and treatment in diabetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the association of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) α-SMA and ß-catenin levels and the severity of pneumonia. Methods: The records of patients with severe pneumonia treated in our hospital from June 2019 to June 2020 were selected. The clinical outcome was observed within 10 days. For the purpose of analysis, patients were divided into two groups according to the outcome, 47 cases in the improvement group and 39 cases in the deterioration group. The intubation time, mechanical ventilation time and APACHE II score 10 days after admission were compared between the two groups; We assessed pulmonary infections using the clinical pulmonary infection score(CPIS). The levels of α-SMA and ß-catenin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at different time points were compared and analyzed, to analyze the association between the levels and the CPIS. Results: The APACHE II score in the improvement group were lower than those in the deterioration group (P<0.05). The expressions of α-SMA and ß-catenin in the BALF of patients in the improvement group were significantly lower than those of patients in the deterioration group on day 1, 3, and 7 (P<0.05); and the expressions of α-SMA and ß-catenin in the BALF of patients in the improvement group decreased with time, while those of patients in the deterioration group increased gradually with time(P<0.05). The expressions of α-SMA and ß-catenin in patients with CPIS>6 was significantly higher than those in patients with CPI≤6(P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the levels of α-SMA and ß-catenin in BALF were positively correlated with the CPIS. Conclusion: The levels of α-SMA and ß-catenin in BALF are closely associated with the clinical condition of patients with severe pneumonia; the levels are positively associated with the severity of the disease and they increase with symptomatic worsening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lethal infections by strains of the highly-pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 pose serious threats to both the poultry industry and public health worldwide. A lack of confirmed HPAIV epitopes recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) has hindered the utilization of CD8+ T-cell-mediated immunity and has precluded the development of effectively diversified epitope-based vaccination approaches. In particular, an HPAIV H5N1 CTL-recognized epitope based on the peptide MHC-I-β2m (pMHC-I) complex has not yet been designed. Here, screening a collection of selected peptides of several HPAIV strains against a specific pathogen-free pMHC-I (pBF2*1501), we identified a highly-conserved HPAIV H5N1 CTL epitope, named HPAIV-PA123-130. We determined the structure of the BF2*1501-PA123-130 complex at 2.1 Å resolution to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of a preferential presentation of the highly-conserved PA123-130 epitope in the chicken B15 lineage. Conformational characteristics of the PA123-130 epitope with a protruding Tyr-7 residue indicated that this epitope has great potential to be recognized by specific TCRs. Moreover, significantly increased numbers of CD8+ T cells specific for the HPAIV-PA123-130 epitope in peptide-immunized chickens indicated that a repertoire of CD8 T cells can specifically respond to this epitope. We anticipate that the identification and structural characterization of the PA123-130 epitope reported here could enable further studies of CTL immunity against HPAIV H5N1. Such studies may aid in the development of vaccine development strategies using well-conserved internal viral antigens in chicke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MHC class II (MHC-II) molecules play a crucial role in cellular and humoral immunity by forming peptide-MHC-II (pMHC-II) complexes. The three-dimensional structures of pMHC-II complexes have been well resolved in humans and mice. However, there is no structural information for pMHC-II complexes in nonmammals. In chickens, there are two closely related and highly polymorphic &#946-chains and one monomorphic α-chain, and the mechanism by which one monomorphic α-chain combines with two polymorphic β-chains to form a functional heterodimer remains unknown. In this study, we report the crystal structure of a chicken pMHC-II complex (pBL2*019:01) at 1.9-°A resolution as the first nonmammalian structure of a pMHC-II complex. The structure reveals an increase in hydrogen bonding between the α and &#946 main chains at the central interface that is introduced by the insertion of four residues in the &#945-chain. The residues in the &#946-chain that form hydrogen bonds with the &#945-chain are conserved among all &#946 alleles. These structural characteristics explain the phenomenon of only one BLA allele without sequence variation pairing with highly diverse BLB alleles from two loci in the genome. Additionally, the characteristics of the peptide in the peptidebinding groove were confirmed. These results provide a new understanding of the pairing mechanism of the &#945- and &#946-chains in a pMHC-II complex and establish a structural principle to design epitope-related vaccines for the prevention of chicken diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: To elucidate the role of dietary fats on the relationship between mild cognitive impairment and sarcopenia and help identifying and preventing the decline of cognitive and muscle function in elderly individuals. Methods and Study Design: The study conducted involving a group of 1812 individuals between the ages of 61 and 92. Body composition and BMR were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Cognitive function and dietary nutrition were evaluated by neuropsychological assessments and questionnaire of food intake frequency. Lipidomics analysis was performed using UHPLC-Qtrap-MS/MS. Results: MCI and SA are mutual influencing factors, lower intake of MUFA, PUFA and higher intake of fat was associated with cognitive dysfunction and/or SA (p < 0.05). PUFA was important for MCI combined with SA (Compared with Q1, Q4 OR: 0.176, 95%CI: 0.058,0.533). Lipidomics analysis revealed that triacylglycerol (TAG) contain more carbon chains with saturated double bonds may be closely related to cognitive impairment and the progression of SA (p < 0.05). While, DAG with carbon chains of unsaturated double bonds is opposite. Conclusions: Insufficient intake of unsaturated fatty acids was associated with the development of cognitive decline and the progression of SA. MUFA affecting muscle health, fats and PUFA has a greater impact on MCI combined with SA. Less MUFA intake and increasing saturated double-bonded fatty acid intake might be the key factors on promoting cognitive impairment and SA in the elderly. They have the potential to serve as prospective biomarkers indicating a higher risk of cognitive decline and/or SA in the elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lyciurn exsertum A. Gray is a wild species of wolfberry, which is mainly distributed in the desert area of Arizona, USA. It was introduced from the United States in 2016. The plant grows vigorously, and its moqdiological characteristics are different from those of domestic Lycium. The introduction of this material can enrich the domestic Lycium germplasm resources, and it can also he applied in the creation of anti-root rot Lycium germplasm materials and the study on reproduotive evolution of Lycium species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azoxystrobin has been largely applied as a kind of new strobilurin fungicide in recent years. Knowledge about the impact of the fungicide on soil biochemical properties is critical for understanding its effect on soil health. The effects of different doses of azoxystrobin (0, 0.1, 1, 10 mg·kg-1) on cultivable soil microbial population, soil enzymatic activities, and soil respiration in Cambisol were investigated under laboratory incubation. These soil properties were determined after treatments of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The results indicated that azoxystrobin applications inhibited soil respiration, the populations of bacteria and actinomycetes, and dehydrogenase activity. However, catalase activity was activated as an effect of azoxystrobin application. Meanwhile, the treatment had no significant impact on fungi population and protease activity compared with the control. Urease activity was obviously inhibited with the azoxystrobin-treated soil in the first 14 days, but recovered close to the control levels on day 28. In general, azoxystrobin could cause certain negative effects on soil microbes in the acid soil with low organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A method for rapid analysis of the refining process of honey was developed based on near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Methods: Partial least square calibration models were built for the four components after the selection of the optimal spectral pretreatment method and latent factors. Results: The models covered the samples of different temperatures and time points, therefore the models were robust and universal. Conclusions: These results highlighted that the NIR technology could extract the information of critical process and provide essential process knowledge of the honey refining process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effects of three fixation methods ( steaming, blanching and microwave fixation) on chemical composition and sensory quality of Lydum ruthenicum bud-tea were investigated. The results showed the fixation technique (the leaf weight 3 g/cm², the time 1.5 min, and the temperature 100°C ) was the best, which was beneficial to the conservation of free amino acid and soluble sugar in L. ruthenicum bud-tea. The loss of chlorophyll was limited, and the score of sensory quality review was higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaporation rates of water can be enhanced by adding the hydrophobically modified nanoparticles as a suspension. The magnitudes of enhancement are related to the diameter and mass concentration of nanoparticles. In particular, a 15% enhancement was achieved after adding the modified Al2O3 nanoparticle with a diameter of 13 nm and mass percentage of 0.02%. A theoretical model was established in order to estimate the evaporation rates of hydrophobic particle-based nanofluids. The obtained results indicate that the enhanced evaporation rates are attributed to the elevated saturated vapor pressures of the nanofluids. These results may have important applications for energy-efficient enhancement of water evaporation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a large number of relevant literatures, the effects of environmental factors and human factors on forest soil nutrients in nature reserve were summarized, as well as the soil quality assessment and correlation of soil nutrients,to provide references for a deep research on forest nature reserve soil and its protection. The distribution of forest soil nutrients has significant spatial heterogeneity,and its final distribution pattern is the result of joint action of environmental factors,including topography, vegetation, soil type, seasonal change as well as soil microorganism, and human factors. In natural ecosystem, environmental factors are the main factors that determine the differences of soil nutrients. Effective human management can promote the accumulation of forest soil nutrients, but improper interference will cause a significant loss of soil nutrients. Accurate soil quality evaluation can objectively clarify the impact of different soil management practices on soil, contributing to the timely adjustment of management measures. The establishment of long-term soil monitoring stations in forest nature reserves is a good way to master the influencing factors and the mechanism of forest soil nutrients, and can ultimately provide theoretical guidance for a sustainable and healthy operation of forest nature reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women and the presence of metastasis significantly decreases survival. MicroRNAs are involved in tumor progression and the metastatic spreading of breast cancer. Here, we reported that a microRNA, mmu-miR-1894, significantly decreased the lung metastasis of 4TO7 mouse breast cancer cells by 86.7% in mouse models. Mmu-miR-1894-3p was the functional mature form of miR-1894 and significantly decreased the lung metastasis of 4TO7 cells by 90.8% in mouse models. A dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that mmu-miR-1894-3p directly targeted the tripartite motif containing 46 (Trim46) 31-untranslated region (UTR) and downregulated the expression of Trim46 in 4TO7 cells. Consistent with the effect of mmu-miR-1894-3p, knockdown of Trim46 inhibited the experimental lung metastasis of 4TO7 cells. Moreover, knockdown of human Trim46 also prohibited the cell proliferation, migration and wound healing of MBA-MD-231 human breast cancer cells. These results suggested that the effect of knockdown of Trim46 alone was sufficient to recapitulate the effect of mmu-miR-1894 on the metastasis of the breast cancer cells in mouse and that Trim46 was involved in the proliferation and migration of mouse and human breast cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the Lycium L. plants are medicinal plants, and L. barbarum in this genus is an important Chinese medicinal material. The United States is one of the largest countries in the world in conservation of plant germplasm resources and conservation types. The United States has collected 50 plant resources from 13 species and 1 variety of Lycium L. from all over the world. If we can introduce and utilize these plant resources, it is very important to Chinese wolfberry germplasm resources innovation and genetic improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone H2B monoubiquitination (H2Bub1) is an important regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic gene transcription and is essential for normal plant development. However, the function of H2Bub1 in reproductive development remains elusive. Here, we report rice (Oryza sativa) HISTONE MONOUBIQUITINATION1 (OsHUB1) and OsHUB2, the homologs of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) HUB1 and HUB2 proteins, which function as E3 ligases in H2Bub1, are involved in late anther development in rice. oshub mutants exhibit abnormal tapetum development and aborted pollen in postmeiotic anthers. Knockout of OsHUB1 or OsHUB2 results in the loss of H2Bub1 and a reduction in the levels of dimethylated lysine-4 on histone 3 (H3K4me2). Anther transcriptome analysis revealed that several key tapetum degradation-related genes including OsC4, rice Cysteine Protease1 (OsCP1), and Undeveloped Tapetum1 (UDT1) were down-regulated in the mutants. Further, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that H2Bub1 directly targets OsC4, OsCP1, and UDT1 genes, and enrichment of H2Bub1 and H3K4me2 in the targets is consistent to some degree. Our studies suggest that histone H2B monoubiquitination, mediated by OsHUB1 and OsHUB2, is an important epigenetic modification that in concert with H3K4me2, modulates transcriptional regulation of anther development in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholangiocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive types of malignancy, and is associated with poor patient prognosis. Recent findings suggest that a decrease in pleckstrin homology-like domain family A, member 1 (PHLDA1) expression is significant in the induction of cell migration and tumor invasion. The clinicopathological significance of the expression of PHLDA1, and its potential correlation with the expression of CD133 in cholangiocarcinoma have remained to be elucidated. In the present study, PHLDA1 protein expression was investigated by immunohistochemical analysis of 218 cholangiocarcinoma tissue samples, as well as 30 para-neoplastic and 20 normal bile ducts. The expression status of PHLDA1 and CD133 was determined, and these results were analyzed against the age, gender, tumor location and size, histological grade, clinical stage and overall mean survival time of the patients. The expression of PHLDA1 protein was markedly decreased in 35.3% of cholangiocarcinomas, compared with that of the para-neoplastic and normal cholangiocytes. Carcinomas with loss of expression of PHLDA1 were signifi- cantly correlated with the tumor site (P=0.001), histological grade (P=0.020) and clinical stage (P=0.0001), but not with age (P=0.085), gender (P=0.456 ) or size (P=0.413), respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the loss of expression of PHLDA1 was significantly correlated with the overall survival time (Log rank=193.861; P=0.0001). Furthermore, the expression of PHLDA1 was found to be inversely correlated with the expression of CD133 (γ=-0.142; P=0.036). These findings suggested that the decreased expression of PHLDA1 may be significant in the carcinogenesis and progression of cholangiocarcinoma, and may represent a novel adjunct marker of disease prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using fluorescent AFLP-markers, the genetic diversity and structure of six geographical populations of the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus (Miers, 1876), from the coast of China were analysed to assess their genetic resource state. Eight primer combinations generated 925 loci among 85 individuals, and revealed a high polymorphism within these populations that varied from 57.41% (Zhoushan population) to 76.86% (Dalian population). According to the combination of percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) and Shannon's information index (I), the populations from Zhangzhou, Dongying and Dalian showed more genetic variation than the Lianyungang, Zhanjiang and Zhoushan populations. The gene flow (Nm) and GST across all populations overall were 1.935 and 0.205, respectively, showing moderate genetic differentiation. Differentiation was highest in the Zhoushan and Zhanjiang populations, and the geographical distribution and UPGMA cluster tree were not fully accordant. Neutrality test results revealed that the Zhangzhou population faced a smaller selective pressure than the other five populations (P <0.05). In general, a high genetic diversity among the P. trituberculatus populations was observed along the coast of China, especially in the Zhangzhou, Dongying, Dalian and Lianyungang populations, while a pronounced level (FST > 0.25) of genetic differentiation has occurred between the Zhoushan population and the other populations. Therefore, these findings have the following implications for conservation and genetic improvement: (1) high diversity levels and good genetic resources, especially in the Zhangzhou population, which could lay the foundations for breeding research and genetic improvement; (2) the importance of preventing species escape and gene pool contamination in ex-situ conservation and species introduction programs in the Zhoushan population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the dispersion property of a given photonic crystal fiber (PCF), we study how to directly generate photon pairs with minimized frequency correlation via pulse-pumped spontaneous four-wave mixing. After illustrating why the intensity correlation function g(2) of individual signal (idler) photons can be used to reliably characterize the frequency correlation of photon pairs, we numerically investigate the dependence of g(2) under various kinds of experimental conditions. The results show that to minimize the frequency correlation, the experimental parameters should be properly optimized by balancing the influences of the high-order dispersion and the intrinsic sinc oscillation of phase matching function, apart from the satisfaction of the specified phase matching condition and the usage of transform-limited pump pulses. To verify the calculated results, we conduct two series of experiments by regulating the pump to respectively satisfy the asymmetric and symmetric group velocity matching conditions in our 0.6 m-long PCF. In both cases, the measured values of g(2) are less than the calculated results due to the inhomogeneity of the PCF; however, the experimental results qualitatively agree with the numerical simulations. Our investigation is very useful in fiber-based quantum state engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Advanced age and hospitalization are associated with increasing risk of venous thromboembolic (VTE) events. The aim of this study was to investigate whether elevated D-dimer levels could predict VTE events in elderly patients hospitalized for acute illness. Methods: 458 consecutive patients (65% men; mean age, 77 ± 7 years) who were older than 60 years, immobilized for " 3 days, and hospitalized for heart failure, respiratory failure, acute ischemic stroke, or acute infectious disease without pharmacological prophylaxis or recent major surgery, were enrolled. Elevated D-dimer levels were defined as > 500 ng/ ml. VTE events included symptomatic VTE within 90 days or asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis screened by compression ultrasonography at enrollment and 3-week follow-up. The association between baseline D-dimer levels and subsequent VTE events, adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, co-morbidities, and acute disease status, was assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. Results: 49.1% (n = 225) of patients had elevated baseline D-dimer levels, and of these patients, 14.2% (n = 32) developed VTE during the 90-day follow-up. In contrast, only 5.6% (n = 13) of patients with normal D-dimer levels developed VTE. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with elevated D-dimer levels had a 3.2-fold increased risk of developing VTE (95% confidence interval, 1.5-6.5; P = 0.002) in comparison with patients with normal levels. Conclusions: In elderly patients who were hospitalized for acute medical illness, elevated D-dimer levels are associated with subsequent VTE events. Our data suggest that measurement of D-dimer, a widely-performed objective test, may help clinicians address highrisk individuals for VTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) has been a cost-effective tool in molecular biology and represents an abundant valuable resource for genome annotation, gene expression, and comparative genomics in plants. Results: In this study, we constructed a cDNA library of Prunus mume flower and fruit, sequenced 10,123 clones of the library, and obtained 8,656 expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences with high quality. The ESTs were assembled into 4,473 unigenes composed of 1,492 contigs and 2,981 singletons and that have been deposited in NCBI (accession IDs: GW868575 - GW873047), among which 1,294 unique ESTs were with known or putative functions. Furthermore, we found 1,233 putative simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the P. mume unigene dataset. We randomly tested 42 pairs of PCR primers flanking potential SSRs, and 14 pairs were identified as true-to-type SSR loci and could amplify polymorphic bands from 20 individual plants of P. mume. We further used the 14 ESTSSR primer pairs to test the transferability on peach and plum. The result showed that nearly 89% of the primer pairs produced target PCR bands in the two species. A high level of marker polymorphism was observed in the plum species (65%) and low in the peach (46%), and the clustering analysis of the three species indicated that these SSR markers were useful in the evaluation of genetic relationships and diversity between and within the Prunus species. Conclusions: We have constructed the first cDNA library of P. mume flower and fruit, and our data provide sets of molecular biology resources for P. mume and other Prunus species. These resources will be useful for further study such as genome annotation, new gene discovery, gene functional analysis, molecular breeding, evolution and comparative genomics between Prunus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether foreign direct investment (FDI) affects economic growth based on a panel of data for 84 countries over the period 1970-99. Both single equation and simultaneous equation system techniques are applied to examine this relationship. A significant endogenous relationship between FDI and economic growth is identified from the mid-1980s onwards. FDI not only directly promotes economic growth by itself but also indirectly does so via its interaction terms. The interaction of FDI with human capital exerts a strong positive effect on economic growth in developing countries, while that of FDI with the technology gap has a significant negative impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, titanium slag (TS) was used as an alternative aggregate to prepare reactive powder concrete (RPC). The mechanical properties, hydration characteristics, and interface structure of the RPC was investigated. The results showed that the porous, low-activity TS aggregate had high water adsorption and proper secondary hydration during moulding and hardening. This accelerated the early-age hydration reaction of RPC and significantly improved the interfacial structure between paste and aggregate. Ca2+, Mg2+, and Si4+ present in TS leached out and generated additional C-S-H around the aggregate during hydration, which filled the gap between paste and aggregate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal bifunctional terpene synthases (BFTSs) catalyze the formation of numerous di-/sester-/tri-terpenes skeletons. However, the mechanism in controlling the cyclization pattern of terpene scaffolds is rarely deciphered for further application of tuning the catalytic promiscuity of terpene synthases for expanding the chemical space. In this study, we expanded the catalytic promiscuity of Fusarium oxysporum fusoxypene synthase (FoFS) by a single mutation at L89, leading to the production of three new sesterterpenes. Further computational analysis revealed that the reconstitution of the hydrogen-bond (H-bond) network of second-shell residues around the active site of FoFS influences the orientation of the aromatic residue W69 within the first-shell catalytic pocket. Thus, the dynamic orientation of W69 alters the carbocation transport, leading to the production of diverse ring system skeletons. These findings enhance our knowledge on understanding the molecular mechanisms, which could be applied on protein engineering terpene synthases on regulating the terpene skeletons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the concept of the "Digital Human" in the metaverse and its potential applications in medicine. It discusses the increasing demand for personalized healthcare resources and the role of technologies like AR/VR, computer vision, and intelligent voice in creating digital humans. The article delves into the three levels of medical digital humans, emphasizing the importance of natural and lifelike interaction capabilities and the use of artificial intelligence and deep learning for data analysis. It also discusses the applications of medical digital humans in healthcare, including as virtual doctors, medical assistants, and virtual patients, and their potential to revolutionize medicine and address healthcare challenges. [Extracted from the article]

A look-up table (LUT) method for solving the problem of phase unwrapping is presented. Considering the effect of noise on the unwrapping process, a concept called “tolerance” is advanced, and an associated algorithm called the “equipartition of tolerance” algorithm is proposed. The proposed algorithm eliminates the need for a high signal-to-noise ratio while retaining the LUT method’s advantages of extended measurement range and high precision. Further, it improves the tolerance of the LUT method and enables reconstruction of discontinuous objects. In simulations and experiments conducted, the proposed algorithm successfully unwrapped the absolute phase of a slope model and a three-step model. The proposed algorithm is significantly more accurate and has better stability and sensitivity than the heterodyne algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the fretting damage (fretting wear and fretting fatigue) resistance of Ti-811 titanium alloy, three Cu/Ni multilayer films with the same modulation period thickness (200 nm) and different modulation ratios (3:1, 1:1, 1:3) were deposited on the surface of the alloy via ion-assisted magnetron sputtering deposition (IAD). The bonding strength, micro-hardness, and toughness of the films were evaluated, and the effect of the modulation ratio on the room-temperature fretting wear (FW) and fretting fatigue (FF) resistance of the alloy was determined. The results indicated that the IAD technique can be successfully used to prepare Cu/Ni multilayer films, with high bonding strength, low-friction, and good toughness, which yield improved room-temperature FF and FW resistance of the alloy. For the same modulation period (200 nm), the micro-hardness, friction, and FW resistance of the coated alloy increased, decreased, and improved, respectively, with increasing modulation ratio of the Ni-to-Cu layer thickness. However, the FF resistance of the coated alloy increased non-monotonically with the increasing modulation ratio. Among the three Cu/Ni multilayer films, those with a modulation ratio of 1:1 can confer the highest FF resistance to the Ti-811 alloy, owing mainly to their unique combination of good toughness, high strength, and low-friction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To further evaluate the safety of Fuganlin Oral Liquid (FGLOL) for clinical application by conducting toxicological tests in young rats. Methods: Based on the clinical dose for infants aged less than 1 year, 4-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were orally administered FGLOL3.88, 11.64 and 38.75 g crude drug/kg for 18 days, followed by a 3-week withdrawal. This was followed by evaluating the effect of FGLOL on various growth and development indicators, nerve reflex function and spontaneous behavior of the rats. Based on the clinical dose for children aged 1 - 6 years, 15-day-old rats were orally administered FGLOL3.88, 11.64 and 38.75 g crude drug/kg for 31 days, followed by a 3-week withdrawal in order to evaluate the impact of the FGLOL on the development of reproductive organs and nervous systems in young rats. The effects of FGLOL on the safety of young rats were judged based on ophthalmic examination, physical examination, spontaneous behavior and other developmental effects. Results: FGLOL did not cause animal death, and no significant toxicological changes were observed in the body weight, growth and development, and behavior of the young rats (p < 0.05). No observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) even after administering the higher dose at each stage. However, the results at each stage showed that oral administration of a large amount of FGLOL had a greater effect on normal food consumption of the rats (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that Fuganlin Oral Liquid, a traditional Chinese medicine formulation, is safe in rats. However, clinical trials are required to acertain its safety in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven coastal geographical populations of wild Cyclina sinensis in China were collected in February 2020, and the effects of four morphological traits (shell length; shell height; shell width; external ligament length) on one weight trait (living body weight) were studied by correlation analysis, path analysis, determination coefficient analysis, and regression analyses. The statistical results showed that the coefficient of body weight variation was generally greater than morphological traits(P"0.05). The correlation analysis results showed that the coefficient of correlation between morphological traits (except for external ligament length) and body weight are significantly positive (P"0.05) in all populations. Based on the results of path analysis and determination coefficient analysis, shell length has the greatest direct effect on body weight in the Yancheng population; shell height has the greatest direct effect on body weight in Dandong, Fuzhou and Tangshan populations; shell width has the greatest direct effect on body weight in Zhanjiang, Wenzhou, Dongtai, Ningbo, Tianjin, Dongying, and Wanning populations. Multiple regression equations were obtained with body weight as the dependent variable, shell length, height, and width and external ligament length as independent variables. The results of systematic clustering showed that there are no apparent geographical differentiation characteristics among eleven geographical populations in morphology. This study provided a scientific basis for selective and genetic breeding and can guide the development and utilization of wild C. sinensis seed resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metformin, an antidiabetic drug, shows some potent anti-tumor effects. However, the molecular mechanism of metformin in tumor suppression has not been clarified. Here, we provided evidence using in vitro and in vivo data that metformin inhibited mevalonate pathway by downregulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1 (HMGCS1), a key enzyme in this pathway. Our results further demonstrated that metformin downregulated HMGCS1 expression through inhibition of transcription factor nuclear factor E2-related factor 2. In addition, we determined that HMGCS1 was highly expressed in human liver and lung cancer tissues and associated with lower survival rates. In summary, our study indicated that metformin suppresses tumorigenesis through inhibition of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2-HMGCS1 axis, which might be a potential target in cancer prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the standards for wireless sensor system identification, the sensor node identity OID identification and the management object OID identification in the SNMP MIB are merged, and a management object OID identification coding mechanism for the SNMP-based wireless sensor system is proposed to make the node management system only. The identity, attributes, and multiple entities of the target sensor node in the wireless sensor network can be identified and managed by the node management object OID. The source of abnormal medical big data generally uses two models of multidimensional data and sliding window for detection and verification. First, the sliding window can be used to detect abnormalities. The result is that under this condition, the detection rate of medical big data is more than 95%; the effect is very good, but in different dimensions, the detection rate of four-dimensional data is 2.9% higher than that of a single-dimensional one. On the basis of the ZigBee wireless network, the terminal signal transmission of fracture treatment can be realized. On this basis, combined with the actual needs of fracture treatment, it can be built with its wireless module. The wireless network has a certain basic function. The reform of the nursing system was carried out on the basis of the safety and reliability of the nursing system, the efficiency of the nursing system was improved, and timely and safe nursing services were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although recent evidence has implicated that 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (ALOX5AP) gene is associated with ischemic stroke (IS) risk, the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be defined. This study aimed to investigate the role of ALOX5AP rs4073259 in ischemic stroke in a Northeastern Chinese Han population. Methods: A total of 501 IS patients and 497 healthy controls were enrolled for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ligase detection reaction (LDR) analysis of ALOX5AP r s407 3259 single nucleo tide polymorphism (SNP). Results: There were no statistically significant differences in ALOX5AP rs4073259 allele and genotype frequencies between IS or subtypes of IS and controls. There was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies of atherosclerosis degree between ischemic subjects with carotid artery plaque or absence. However, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in women patients were significantly higher than those in men (p = 0.015, 0.000, and 0.008, respectively). Total homocysteine (tHcy) was higher in men patients than that in women (p = 0.021). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant association of ALOX5AP rs4073259 SNP with ischemic stroke in this northeastern Chinese Han population living in Heilongjiang province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus (Miers, 1876) is one of the most common edible marine crabs in East Asia. In this study, a multiple mixed probes hybridization method was used to isolate microsatellites to improve experimental efficiency and streamline the procedure. The mix of biotinylated probes included microsatellite GA, CA and CAT motifs. Fourteen novel polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from a wild population of P. trituberculatus. The number of alleles varied between three and nine, and the observed and expected heterozygosity at population level ranged from 0.542 to 1.000 and 0.616 to 0.851, respectively. Two loci, Ptr1 and Ptr3, significantly deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.01). These informative microsatellite markers could be useful for future population genetic analyses and genome mapping studies in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under a pronounced climate warming, permafrost has been degrading in most areas, but it is still unclear in the northwestern part of the Da Xing'anling Mountains, Northeast China. According to a ten-year observation of permafrost and active-layer temperatures, the multi-year average of mean annual ground temperatures at 20 m was -2.83, -0.94, -0.80, -0.70, -0.60 and -0.49, respectively, at Boreholes GH4, MG3, MG1, MG2, GH5 and YTLH2, with the depths of permafrost table varying from 1.1 to 7.0 m. Ground cooling at shallow depths has been detected, resulting in declining thaw depths in Yituli'he during 2009-2020, possibly due to relatively stable mean positive air temperature and declining snow cover and dwindling local population. In most study areas (e.g., Mangui and Genhe), permafrost warming is particularly pronounced at larger depths (even at 80 m). These results can provide important information for regional development and engineering design and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context The effects of fish oil on cardiac function, ventricular remodelling and functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) remain controversial. Objective The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate effects of fish oil on cardiac function and related parameters in CHF patients. Data Sources Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library and references cited in related reviews and studies. Study Selection Randomised controlled trials of fish oil supplementation on cardiac function in patients with CHF were identified. Data Extraction Two investigators read all papers and extracted all relevant information. A fixed effect or, in the presence of heterogeneity, a random effect model, was used to estimate the combined effects. Results 7 trials with 825 participants were included. Meta-analysis results showed that left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly increased (weighted mean difference (WMD) ¼ 2.25%, 95% CI 0.66 to 3.83, p ¼ 0.005) and left ventricular end-systolic volume was significantly decreased (WMD ¼ 7.85 ml, 95% CI -15.57 to -0.12, p ¼ 0.05) in the fish oil group compared with the placebo group, although left ventricular end-diastolic volume was not significantly affected. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis indicated that the improvement in left ventricular systolic function was more remarkable in patients with nonischaemic heart failure. Fish oil supplementation also improved the New York Heart Association functional classification and peak oxygen consumption in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure. Conclusions Improvement in cardiac function, remodelling and functional capacity may be important mechanisms underlying the potential therapeutic role of fish oil for patients with CHF. These effects might be more remarkable in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effect of fish oil supplementation on flow-mediated dilation, an index of endothelial function in humans, remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether fish oil supplementation could improve endothelial function. Methods: Human intervention studies were identified by systematic searches of Medline, Embase, Cochrane's library and references of related reviews and studies. A random-effect model was applied to estimate the pooled results. Meta- regression and subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of study characteristics on the effect of fish oil supplementation on flow-mediated dilation. Results: A total of sixteen records with 1,385 subjects were reviewed. The results of the pooled analysis showed that fish oil supplementation significantly improved flow-mediated dilation (weighed mean difference: 1.49%, 95% confidence interval 0.48% to 2.50%, p = 0.004). Meta-regression and subgroup analysis suggested that the quality of included studies were inversely related to the overall effect (regression coefficient = --1.60, p = 0.04), and the significance of the effect was mainly driven by the studies with relatively poor quality. Sensitivity analysis including only double-blind, placebo-controlled studies indicated fish oil supplementation has no significant effect on endothelial function (weighed mean difference: 0.54%, 95% confidence interval --0.25% to 1.33%, p = 0.18). Besides, normoglycemic subjects or participants with lower diastolic blood pressure seemed to be associated with remarkable improvement of endothelial function after fish oil supplementation. Conclusions: Although current evidence suggested a possible role of fish oil in improving endothelial function, large-scale and high-quality clinical trials are needed to evaluate these effects before we can come to a definite conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated apoptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease. Gene transfer of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) attenuates myocardial apoptosis in a variety of heart failure models. This study is to investigate the effects of SERCA2a gene delivery on the myocardial apoptosis and ER stress pathway in a porcine ischemic heart disease model. Eighteen pigs were either subjected to ameroid implantation in the coronary artery or sham operation. Eight wks after gene delivery, the protein level and activity of SERCA2a were measured. Myocardial apoptosis was determined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated DNA nick-end labeling assay. Regional myocardial perfusion and function were evaluated by 99m Tc-sestamibi (99m Tc-MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography and echocardiography. The ER stress signaling was assessed by Western blot. SERCA2a protein level and activity were significantly decreased in the ischemic myocardium and restored to normal after SERCA2a gene transfer. Restoration of SERCA2a expression significantly improved the cardiac function, although no improvement of regional myocardial perfusion was detected. Restoration of SERCA2a significantly attenuated myocardial apoptosis and reversed the activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway and the ER stress-associated apoptosis pathways. These findings demonstrate a robust role of SERCA2a in attenuation of ischemic myocardial apoptosis, correlating with reverse activation of the ER stress-associated apoptosis pathways, suggesting that the beneficial effects of SERCA2a gene transfer may involve the attenuation of ER stress-associated myocardial apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate schemes for generating polarization-entangled photon pairs in standard optical fibres. The advantages of a double-loop scheme are explored through comparison with two other schemes, namely, the Sagnacloop scheme and the counter-propagating scheme. Experimental measurements with the double-loop scheme verify the predicted advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent magnesium aluminate spinel (MgO-1.1Al2O3) ceramics were successfully prepared by the solid-state reactive sintering method using commercial 7-Al2O3 and MgO powders as raw material. The extra alumina compared with stoichiometric spinel was found efficient to improve the optical quality of transparent spinel ceramics. The influence of presintering temperature on the phase formation, densification process, microstructure evolution, and optical quality of MgO-1.1Al2O3 was systematically investigated. The a-Al2O3 phase was found in the ceramics calcined at 800°C. With the calcination temperature exceeding 1000°C, the magnesium aluminate spinel ceramics were all pure spinel phase. The density increased from 3.05 to 3.53 g/cm³ and the average grain size increased from 0.5 to 1.9 µm with the increase of presintering temperature from 1450°C to 1600°C. The transparent MgO⋅1.1Al2O3 ceramic sample presintered at 1550° C for 3 h and hot isostatic pressing posttreated at 1600° C for 3 h showed the best in-line transmittance of 86.5% at 1100 nm and 84.3% at 800 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a spectrum of chronic liver disease ranging from simple steatosis (NAFL) to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the molecular mechanisms of NASH progression remain incompletely understood. White adipose tissue (WAT) has emerged as an important endocrine organ and contributes not only to the initial stage of NAFLD, but also to its severity. In the current study, through transcriptomic analysis we identified increased expression of Sparcl1, a secreted glycoprotein, in the WAT from NASH mice. Plasma Sparcl1 levels were similarly elevated and positively correlated with hepatic pathological features in NASH patients. Functional studies showed that both chronic injection of recombinant Sparcl1 protein and overexpression of Sparcl1 exaggerated hepatic inflammation and liver injury in mice. In contrast, genetic ablation of Sparcl1, knockdown of Sparcl1 in WAT, and treatment with a Sparcl1-neutralizing antibody dramatically alleviated diet-induced NASH pathogenesis. Mechanistically, Sparcl1 promoted the expression of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) in hepatocytes through binding to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and activation of the NF-κB/p65 signaling pathway. Genetically or pharmacologically blocking the CCL2/CCR2 pathway attenuated the hepatic inflammatory response evoked by Sparcl1. Thus, our results demonstrated an important role for Sparcl1 in NASH progression, suggesting a potential target for therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, lakes and artificial reservoirs are increasingly threatened by eutrophication, which is the result of the combined action of many natural and anthropogenic factors. In the past, the effect of nutrient load on the trophic state of water bodies has attracted much attention, while few studies have addressed the effect of hydrological characteristics. Therefore, to reveal the coupling effects of hydrological characteristics and nutrient load in sediments on the trophic state of water bodies, this study collected relevant data from 36 lakes and reservoirs across China. Pearson correlation analysis showed that trophic level index was positively and significantly correlated with nutrient load in sediments and hydraulic retention time, while it was negatively correlated with mean depth and hydraulic load. The principal component analysis showed that the nutrient load was the first major component that influenced the trophic state of water bodies, followed by the mean depth and hydraulic retention time. Eutrophication was prone to occur in water bodies with mean depth less than 7 m and hydraulic retention time greater than 14 d, and the trophic level index regression equation with hydrological characteristics and nutrient load in sediments was derived by multiple regression analysis. This study revealed that the trophic state of water bodies influenced by both nutrient load and hydrological characteristics. It provides a new idea to reduce the occurrence of eutrophication in reservoirs by using the artificial hydrological regulation capacity of reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background ‒ Heart failure (HF) is a serious and advanced stage of various cardiac diseases with high mortality and rehospitalization rates. Phosphoglycerate mutase 2 (PGAM2) overexpression was identified in the serum of patients with HF. Material/methods ‒ One hundred and fifty-three cases of HF were included in the present work. According to New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, 22 were grade II, 84 were grade III, and 47 were grade IV. Serum PGAM2, NT-proBNP, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), troponin T (TNT), and Cys-C of HF patients were detected using ELISA assay. Left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic inner diameter, and left atrium (LA) inner diameter of the included cases were also detected by the cardiac color Doppler. Results ‒ The number of patients with atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in NYHA IV group than in groups II and III with statistical difference (p < 0.05). The serum PGAM2, NT-proBNP, and Cys-C were significantly higher in NYHA IV group than in NYHA II and NYHA III groups (pall < 0.05). NT-proBNP had the highest prediction efficacy of HF severity and PGAM2 was also a potential biomarker for HF severity evaluation with relatively high sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC. The overall survival among NYHA II, III, and IV groups were statistically different (p = 0.04) with the median survival time of 25 months for NYHA III and IV groups. Conclusion ‒ PGAM2 is a new promising biomarker for evaluation of the severity of HF. Combination detection using multiple serum factors such as PGAM2, NT-proBNP, BNP, TNT, and Cys-C can improve the HF severity differential diagnosis performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of ginkgolide K and ketamine treatments, alone and in combination, on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R)-induced injury in rats, as well as the mechanism involved. Methods: Rats were treated with ginkgolide K (GK, 15 mg/kg i.v) and ketamine (KTM, 100 mg/kg i.p.), either alone or in combination 30 min before the induction of intestinal I/R. The effects of GK and KTM were determined by assessing the levels of cytokines in serum, and parameters of oxidative stress and ROS production in the intestinal tissues of I/R rats. Moreover, intestinal mRNA expressions of JNK, ERK, p38 and NF-ΚB were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: GK and KTM treatments, alone and in combination, reduced cytokine levels in serum and oxidative stress parameters in intestinal tissues, when compared to I/R group of rats. Treatments with GK and KTM, alone and in combination, mitigated the altered mRNA expressions of JNK, ERK, p38 and NF-ΚB in intestinal tissues of I/R-injured rats. Conclusion: These results reveal that GK potentiates the protective effect of KTM100 on I/R-induced intestinal injury in rats by regulating the NF-ΚB/ERK/JNK signaling pathway. Therefore, GK and KTM may find use in the management of I/R [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become an expanding global public health problem. Although the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is an important regulator of glucose metabolism, the relationship between circulating glucocorticoids (GCs) and the features of T2DM remains controversial. Here, we show that 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), an intermediate steroid in the biosynthetic pathway that converts cholesterol to cortisol, binds to and stimulates the transcriptional activity of GR. Hepatic 17-OHP concentrations are increased in diabetic mice and patients due to aberrantly increased expression of Cyp17A1. Systemic administration of 17-OHP or overexpression of Cyp17A1 in the livers of lean mice promoted the pathogenesis of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, whereas knockdown of Cyp17A1 abrogated metabolic disorders in obese mice. Therefore, our results identify a Cyp17A1/17-OHP/GR-dependent pathway in the liver that mediates obesity-induced hyperglycemia, suggesting that selectively targeting hepatic Cyp17A1 may provide a therapeutic avenue for treating T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potyviral helper component protease (HC-Pro), as a major determinant of symptom expression in susceptible plants, is a likely target candidate in the production of attenuated strains for cross-protection. In this study, single or double mutations of Lys (K) to Glu (E) in the Lys-Ile-Thr-Cys motif and Arg (R) to Ile (I) in the Phe-Arg-Asn-Lys motif of the HC-Pro from the severe papaya leaf distortion mosaic virus strain DF (PLDMVDF) reduced symptom expression and virus accumulation in infected papaya (Carica papaya) plants. The papaya plants infected with the attenuated double mutant of PLDMV-EI presented as symptomless. PLDMV-EI provided effective protection against PLDMV-DF infection in three papaya cultivars and had no effect on plant growth and development. Our result showed that PLDMV-EI is a promising mild strain for the practical use of cross-protection in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we analysed the expression patterns of TaLr35PR2 and confirmed its role in Lr35-mediated adult resistance to leaf rust fungus. b-1,3-glucanase, a pathogenesis-related protein, has a critical function in plant defence response against fungal pathogens. We previously described the full-length gene TaLr35PR2, which encodes a protein exhibiting amino acid and structural similarity to b-1,3-glucanase, in the wheat near-isogenic line TcLr35 (GenBank accession number DQ294235.1). This work aimed to further assess TaLr35PR2 expression patterns and function in Lr35-mediated adult resistance to Puccinia triticina. Immunoblot was performed to demonstrate that TaLr35PR2 expression was triggered early by P. triticina, with expression levels markedly elevated in incompatible interaction compared with those in compatible one. Additionally, TaLr35PR2 accumulation steadily increased and overtly peaked after challenge with P. triticina through the various developmental stages of TcLr35 wheat, and remaining at similar levels after mock inoculation. Furthermore, TaLr35PR2 expression was significantly reduced in barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-induced gene knockdown plants, in which pathological assessment revealed that TaLr35PR2-silenced plants was obviously susceptible to leaf rust fungus compared with wild-type TcLr35, indicating that Lr35-mediated resistance to leaf rust was diminished. These findings strongly suggest that TaLr35PR2 is involved in Lr35-mediated wheat defence against the leaf rust pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]