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Single‐component epoxy adhesives are widely used in various fields due to their simple operation process and excellent bonding properties. However, the excessively high curing temperature of the traditional single‐component epoxy adhesives may easily damage the electronic devices, limiting their further application. Hence, it is of great significance to develop the low‐temperature‐curing single‐component epoxy adhesives. However, the room temperature storage stability of low‐temperature curing system is generally poor. This work selected epoxy resin (EPON‐828), pentaerythritol tetra (3‐mercaptopropionate) (PETMP), 1‐benzylimidazole (1‐BMZ), and stabilizer (salicylic acid) as materials to prepare low‐temperature curing single‐component epoxy adhesives. In order to improve the storage stability of the system, polycarbonate (PCM‐A‐37) with low molecular weight was employed to coat the accelerator 1‐BMZ by physical sedimentation. The results showed that the room temperature storage period of the system reached 140 h, which was 2.18 times longer than before coating, and the curing temperature of 75°C was determined through DSC curves fitting. The epoxy adhesives have been completely cured at 75°C for 5 h, and shear strength reached 10.20 ± 0.51 MPa, which was not significantly different from that of the system with uncoated accelerators. We believe our paradigm can provide a feasible approach for preparing low‐temperature curing single‐component epoxy adhesives, and has reference significance for the preparation of single‐component adhesives in other systems, too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the energy demand increases, there is a significant expansion and utilization of oil resources, resulting in the inevitable occurrence of environmental pollution. Oil has been identified as a prevalent soil contaminant, posing substantial risks to the soil ecosystems. The remediation of soil contaminated with oil is a formidable undertaking. Increasing evidence shows that chemical washing, a remediation technique employing chemical reagents like surfactants to augment the solubilization, desorption, and separation of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil, proves to be an efficacious approach, but the latest advances on this topic have not been systematically reviewed. Here, we present the state of knowledge about the surfactant-based chemical washing to remediate oil-contaminated soil. Using the latest data, the present article systematically summarizes the advancements on ex situ chemical washing of oil pollution and provides a concise summary of the underlying principles. The use of various surfactants in chemical washing and the factors influencing remediation efficiency are highlighted. Based on the current research status and knowledge gaps, future perspectives are proposed to facilitate chemical washing of oil-polluted soil. This review can help recognize the application of chemical washing in the remediation of oil-polluted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The network fracturing technique is a key technology for increasing effective reservoir volume and enhancing production in shale oil and gas. The fracture network's conductivity is one of the crucial factors affecting the efficient development of shale gas. To evaluate the variation patterns and influencing factors of the conductivity of network fractures, this study employed a proppant conductivity evaluation system and an equivalent theory testing method. It investigated the conductivity of propped and self-propped fractures under different angles and numbers of fractures. Experimental results showed that fractures with proppant support had higher conductivity than unsupported fractures. Smaller angles between secondary and main fractures resulted in greater conductivity. The conductivity of multi-fracture structures increased with the number of fractures. Under low-closure pressure conditions, self-propped fractures exhibited significantly higher conductivity than propped fractures, but this trend reversed under high closure pressure. This experimental research provides guidance for constructing network fractures with high conductivity in unconventional oil and gas reservoir fracturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Immune defense against bacterial infection involves a fierce struggle between bacteria and immune cells. Neutrophils, as the first line of defense, must cross the epithelial barrier to reach the infected site. During this process, communication between neutrophils and endothelial cells is crucial for regulating immune defense, cascade reactions, and inflammation. Therefore, we present the detailed steps of neutrophil–endothelial cell interactions and the principles of neutrophil biology. The overview of the research progress focuses on transendothelial neutrophil killing and how endothelial dysfunction affects inflammatory cascade reactions. These summaries of neutrophil activation and endothelial dysfunction provide potential therapeutic targets for discovering and developing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. The endothelial barrier plays a critical role in immune defense against bacterial infection. Efficient interactions between neutrophils and endothelial cells facilitate the activation of both cell types. However, neutrophil activation can have dual effects, promoting bacterial clearance on one hand while triggering inflammation on the other. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of the cellular defense progression when neutrophils encounter bacteria, focusing specifically on neutrophil–endothelial interactions and endothelial activation or dysfunction. By elucidating the underlying mechanisms of inflammatory pathways, potential therapeutic targets for inflammation caused by endothelial dysfunction may be identified. Overall, our comprehensive understanding of neutrophil–endothelial interactions in modulating innate immunity provides deeper insights into therapeutic strategies for infectious diseases and further promotes the development of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stomatal complex on the surface of maize leaves is closely related to photosynthesis and transpiration, and the study of maize stomatal phenotypes and the discovery of their regulatory genes are of great importance for the breeding of high-quality and high-yielding maize. In this study, rapid scanning electron microscopy was used to obtain images of the abaxial stomata of 457 maize inbred lines with extensive genetic variation, and stomata density was obtained by counting. The results of correlation showed that stomata density was significantly correlated with leaf width, and Analysis of variance found that there were significant differences (P value < 0.05) in stomata density among different leaf width and 100-grain weight. The highest stomata density was found in the inbred lines with wide and short leaves and higher 100-grain weight. Furthermore, genome-wide association analysis was performed using a mixed linear model. It showed that eight SNPs significantly associated with stomata density were obtained, which could explain 35.507% of the phenotypic variation. Among these, four SNPs on chromosome 5 were tightly linked, mainly formatting two haplotypes, CTTA (0.636) and TCCG (0.330). Twelve genes with functional annotation were identified within 100 kb upstream and downstream of the eight SNPs. One gene, GRMZM2G068277, which had been shown to be involved in plant mitotic processes and exhibited high expression at the leaf base, was therefore the most likely candidate gene for stomata density. The results presented here could provide references for further cloning of functional genes related to stomata density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise adjustment of the pore size, damage repair, and efficient cleaning is all challenges for the wider application of inorganic membranes. This study reports a simple strategy of combining dry‐wet spinning and electrosynthesis to fabricate stainless‐steel metal–organic framework composite membranes characterized by customizable pore sizes, targeted reparability, and high catalytic activity for membrane cleaning. The membrane pore size can be precisely customized in the range of 14–212 nm at nanoscale, and damaged membranes can be repaired by targeted treatment in 120 s. In addition, advanced oxidation processes can be used to quickly clean the membrane and achieve 98% flux recovery. The synergistic actions of the membrane matrix and the selective layer increase the adsorption energy of active sites to oxidant, shorten the electron transfer cycle, and enhance the overall catalytic performance. This study can provide a new direction for the development of advanced membranes for water purification and high‐efficiency membrane cleaning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is a worldwide problem that limits agricultural production. It is important to understand the salt stress tolerance ability of maize seedlings and explore the underlying related genetic resources. In this study, we used a high-throughput phenotyping platform with a 3D laser sensor (Planteye F500) to identify the digital biomass, plant height and normalized vegetation index under normal and saline conditions at multiple time points. The result revealed that a three-leaf period (T3) was identified as the key period for the phenotypic variation in maize seedlings under salt stress. Moreover, we mapped the salt-stress-related SNPs and identified candidate genes in the natural population via a genome-wide association study. A total of 44 candidate genes were annotated, including 26 candidate genes under normal conditions and 18 candidate genes under salt-stressed conditions. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a high-throughput phenotyping platform to accurately, continuously quantify morphological traits of maize seedlings in different growing environments. And the phenotype and genetic information of this study provided a theoretical basis for the breeding of salt-resistant maize varieties and the study of salt-resistant genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant vertical heterogeneity, variations in ground stress directions, and irregular bedding interfaces make it extremely challenging to predict fracture propagation in continental shale reservoirs. In this article, we conducted a series of triaxial laboratory experiments on continental shale outcrop rocks to investigate the effects of formation dip angle and wellbore orientation on crack propagation under horizontal well conditions. Our study revealed that fracture propagation features can be categorized into four distinct types: (1) hydraulic fractures pass through the bedding interface without activating it; (2) fractures pass through and activate the bedding interface; (3) hydraulic fractures open and penetrate the bedding interface while also generating secondary fractures; and (4) hydraulic fractures open but do not penetrate the bedding interface. We found that as the dip angle decreases, the likelihood of fractures penetrating through the bedding interface increases. Conversely, as the dip angle increases, fractures are more likely to simply open the interface without penetrating it. Moreover, we observed that the well azimuth significantly affects the degree of fracture distortion. Specifically, higher azimuth angles corresponded to a higher degree of fracture distortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moderate stimuli in mitochondria improve wide‐ranging stress adaptability in animals, but whether mitochondria play similar roles in plants is largely unknown. Here, we report the enhanced stress adaptability of S‐type cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS‐S) maize and its association with mild expression of sterilizing gene ORF355. A CMS‐S maize line exhibited superior growth potential and higher yield than those of the near‐isogenic N‐type line in saline fields. Moderate expression of ORF355 induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and activated the cellular antioxidative defense system. This adaptive response was mediated by elevation of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide concentration and associated metabolic homeostasis. Metabolome analysis revealed broad metabolic changes in CMS‐S lines, even in the absence of salinity stress. Metabolic products associated with amino acid metabolism and galactose metabolism were substantially changed, which underpinned the alteration of the antioxidative defense system in CMS‐S plants. The results reveal the ORF355‐mediated superior stress adaptability in CMS‐S maize and might provide an important route to developing salt‐tolerant maize varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is a trait of economic importance in the production of hybrid seeds. In CMS-S maize, exerted anthers appear frequently in florets of field-grown female populations where only complete male-sterile plants were expected. It has been reported that these reversions are associated with the loss of sterility-conferring regions or other rearrangements in the mitochondrial genome. However, the relationship between mitochondrial function and sterility stability is largely unknown. Results: In this study, we determined the ratio of plants carrying exerted anthers in the population of two CMS-S subtypes. The subtype with a high ratio of exerted anthers was designated as CMS-Sa, and the other with low ratio was designated as CMS-Sb. Through next-generation sequencing, we assembled and compared mitochondrial genomes of two CMS-S subtypes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed strong similarities between the two mitochondrial genomes. The sterility-associated regions, S plasmids, and terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) were intact in both genomes. The two subtypes maintained high transcript levels of the sterility gene orf355 in anther tissue. Most of the functional genes/proteins were identical at the nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence levels in the two subtypes, except for NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1). In the mitochondrial genome of CMS-Sb, a 3.3-kilobase sequence containing nad1-exon1 was absent from the second copy of the 17-kb repeat region. Consequently, we detected two copies of nad1-exon1 in CMS-Sa, but only one copy in CMS-Sb. During pollen development, nad1 transcription and mitochondrial biogenesis were induced in anthers of CMS-Sa, but not in those of CMS-Sb. We suggest that the impaired mitochondrial function in the anthers of CMS-Sb is associated with its more stable sterility. Conclusions: Comprehensive analyses revealed diversity in terms of the copy number of the mitochondrial gene nad1-exon1 between two subtypes of CMS-S maize. This difference in copy number affected the transcript levels of nad1 and mitochondrial biogenesis in anther tissue, and affected the reversion rate of CMS-S maize. The results of this study suggest the involvement of mitochondrial robustness in modulation of sterility stability in CMS-S maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The novel ZmR1CQ01 allele for maize anthocyanin synthesis was identified, and the biological function and regulatory molecular mechanisms of three ZmR1 alleles were unveiled. Anthocyanins in maize are valuable to human health. The R1 gene family is one of the important regulatory genes for the tissue-specific distribution of anthocyanins. R1 gene allelic variations are abundant and its biological function and regulatory molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. By exploiting genetic mapping and transgenic verification, we found that anthocyanin pigmentation in maize leaf midrib was controlled by ZmR1 on chromosome 10. Allelism test of maize zmr1 EMS mutants confirmed that anthocyanin pigmentation in leaf sheath was also controlled by ZmR1. ZmR1CQ01 was a novel ZmR1 allelic variation obtained from purple maize. Its overexpression caused the whole maize plant to turn purple. ZmR1B73 allele confers anthocyanin accumulation in near ground leaf sheath rather than in leaf midribs. The mRNA expression level of ZmR1B73 was low in leaf midribs, resulting in no anthocyanin accumulation. ZmR1B73 overexpression promoted anthocyanin accumulation in leaf midribs. Loss of exon 5 resulted in ZmR1ZN3 allele function destruction and no anthocyanin accumulation in leaf midrib and leaf sheath. DNA affinity purification sequencing revealed 1010 genes targeted by ZmR1CQ01, including the bz2 in anthocyanin synthesis pathway. RNA-seq analysis showed 55 genes targeted by ZmR1CQ01 changed the expression level significantly, and the expression of genes encoding key enzymes in flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways were significantly up-regulated. ZmR1 functional molecular marker was developed. These results revealed the effects of transcriptional regulation and sequence variation on ZmR1 function and identified the genes targeted by ZmR1CQ01 at the genome-wide level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality deterioration and eutrophication of urban shallow lakes are global ecological problems with increasing concern and greater environmental efforts. In this study, spatiotemporal changes of water quality and eutrophication were assessed by trophic level index (TLI), cluster analysis, and spatial interpolation methods in Lake Taihu and its sub-lakes from 2015 to 2019. Results showed that the Taihu had poor water quality and maintained a light-eutropher state overall, mainly astricted by the total nitrogen (TN) and the total phosphorus (TP). All nutrient parameters reached relatively higher concentrations in the northwestern and northern areas. Meiliang Bay was the most polluted and nutrient-rich area. In terms of trend, the Mann–Kendall test highlighted that the TP and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations increased significantly while the TN and five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) decreased. The massive nutrient loads caused by human activity from the northwestern Taihu and the geomorphological characteristic of the north closed bays were the main contributors to the spatial heterogeneity in water quality. The main driving force of the alleviative nitrogen pollution was the declining river inflow nitrogen loading, and phosphorus pollution was affected more by accumulated endogenous pollution and decline in aquatic plants area, as well as closely linked with algae biomass. Further water pollution and eutrophication restoration of Taihu should focus on the nutrient reductions and those heavily polluted closed bays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of high-throughput phenotypic detection techniques makes it possible to obtain a large number of crop phenotypic information quickly, efficiently, and accurately. Among them, image-based phenotypic acquisition method has been widely used in crop phenotypic identification and characteristic research due to its characteristics of automation, non-invasive, non-destructive and high throughput. In this study, we proposed a method to define and analyze the traits related to leaf sheaths including morphology-related, color-related and biomass-related traits at V6 stage. Next, we analyzed the phenotypic variation of leaf sheaths of 418 maize inbred lines based on 87 leaf sheath-related phenotypic traits. In order to further analyze the mechanism of leaf sheath phenotype formation, 25 key traits (2 biomass-related, 19 morphology-related and 4 color-related traits) with heritability greater than 0.3 were analyzed by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). And 1816 candidate genes of 17 whole plant leaf sheath traits and 1,297 candidate genes of 8 sixth leaf sheath traits were obtained, respectively. Among them, 46 genes with clear functional descriptions were annotated by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) that both Top1 and multi-method validated. Functional enrichment analysis results showed that candidate genes of leaf sheath traits were enriched into multiple pathways related to cellular component assembly and organization, cell proliferation and epidermal cell differentiation, and response to hunger, nutrition and extracellular stimulation. The results presented here are helpful to further understand phenotypic traits of maize leaf sheath and provide a reference for revealing the genetic mechanism of maize leaf sheath phenotype formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In clinical diagnosis, karyotyping is carried out to detect genetic disorders due to chromosomal aberrations. Accurate segmentation is crucial in this process that is mostly operated by experts. However, it is time-consuming and labor-intense to segment chromosomes and their overlapping regions. In this research, we look into the automatic segmentation of overlapping pairs of chromosomes. Different from standard semantic segmentation applications that mostly detect object regions or boundaries, this study attempts to predict not only non-overlapping regions but also the order of superposition and opaque regions of the underlying chromosomes. We propose a novel convolutional neural network called Compact Seg-UNet with enhanced deep feature learning capability and training efficacy. To address the issue of unrealistic images in use characterized by overlapping regions of higher color intensities, we propose a novel method to generate more realistic images with opaque overlapping regions. On the segmentation performance of overlapping chromosomes for this new dataset, our Compact Seg-UNet model achieves an average IOU score of 93.44% ± 0.26 which is significantly higher than the result of a simplified U-Net reported by literature by around 6.08%. The corresponding F1 score also increases from 0.9262 ± 0.1188 to 0.9596 ± 0.0814 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective. White matter lesions (WMLs) are imaging changes characterized by hyperintensities on T2-weighted or FLAIR images, which are closely related to the decline of cognitive function. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of WMLs remain undetermined. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between adiponectin levels and cognitive decline in persons with or without white matter lesions. Method. In the present study, 126 patients, 90 cases in the WML group and 36 cases in the control group, were analyzed to explore the relationship between adiponectin and WMLs. All patients underwent an MRI scan to assess whether white matter lesions happened. And the serum levels of adiponectin were detected by ELISA. Results. In this study, according to Fazekas criteria, WMLs were divided into different severity groups. With the increase of WML score, the level of adiponectin decreased, and linear correlation analysis shows that adiponectin is negatively correlated with the severity of white matter lesions (p < 0.001). And adiponectin level was significantly positively correlated with MoCA score (p < 0.05). Moreover, adiponectin in the WMLs combined with the cognitive impairment group was significantly reduced (p < 0.01). Conclusion. The level of adiponectin is independently associated with WMLs and cognitive function, which suggests that adiponectin may be a protective factor for WMLs and cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson's disease (PD) can lead to falls, impair quality of life, and increase mortality. A trajectory analysis of OH could be useful to predict and prevent the hypotension incidence early. Methods: The longitudinal data of 660 patients with PD with disease duration up to 12 years were extracted from an integrated PD database. We used latent class mixed modeling (LCMM) to identify patient subgroups, demonstrating trajectories of changes in orthostatic blood pressure (BP) over time. The optimal number of subgroups was selected by several criteria including the Bayesian Information Criterion. Baseline information comparison between groups and backward stepwise logistic regression were conducted to define the distinguishing characteristics of these subgroups and to investigate the predictors for BP trajectory. Results: We identified three trajectories for each orthostatic change of systolic blood pressure (ΔSBP), namely, Class 1 (i.e., the increasing class) consisted of 18 participants with low ΔSBP that increased continuously during the follow-up; Class 2 (i.e., the low-stable class) consisted of 610 participants with low ΔSBP that remained low throughout the follow-up; and Class 3 (i.e., the high-stable class) consisted of 32 participants with high ΔSBP at baseline that was relatively stable throughout the follow-up. Several parameters differed among subgroups, but only male sex [odds ratio (OR) = 4.687, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.024–21.459], lower supine diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (OR = 0.934, 95% CI = 0.876–0.996), and lower level of total protein at baseline (OR = 0.812, 95% CI = 0.700–0.941) were significant predictors of an increasing ΔSBP trajectory. Conclusion: This study provides new information on the longitudinal development of ΔSBP in patients with PD with distinct trajectories of rapidly increasing, low-stable, and high-stable class. The parameters such as male sex, lower supine DBP, and lower total proteins help to identify the rapidly increasing class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ratio of excitatory to inhibitory neurotransmitters is essential for maintaining the firing patterns of neural networks, and is strictly regulated within individual neurons and brain regions. Excitatory to inhibitory (E/I) imbalance has been shown to participate in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Glutamate excitotoxicity and GABAergic neuron dysfunction appear to be key components of the neuronal cell death that takes place in AD. Since extracellular vesicles (EVs) are now explored as an important vehicle in transmitting signals between cells, we hypothesized that the function of neuron-derived small EVs (sEVs) might be regulated by the status of neurotransmitter balance and that sEVs might affect amyloid β (Aβ) toxicity on neurons. This study aimed to reveal the effects of sEVs from unbalanced neurotransmitter-stimulated neurons on Aβ-induced toxicity. We demonstrated the opposite effects of the two groups of sEVs isolated from neurons stimulated by glutamate or GABA on Aβ toxicity in vivo and in vitro. The sEVs released from GABA-treated neurons alleviated Aβ-induced damage, while those released from glutamate-treated neurons aggravated Aβ toxicity. Furthermore, we compared the microRNA (miRNA) composition of sEVs isolated from glutamate/GABA/PBS-treated neurons. Our results showed that glutamate and GABA oppositely regulated miR-132 levels in sEVs, resulting in the opposite destiny of recipient cells challenged with Aβ. Our results indicated that manipulating the function of sEVs by different neurotransmitters may reveal the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of AD and provide a promising strategy for AD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Salt stress is a major devastating abiotic factor that affects the yield and quality of maize. However, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of the responses to salt stress in maize is limited. To elucidate the genetic basis of salt tolerance traits, a genome‐wide association study was performed on 348 maize inbred lines under normal and salt stress conditions using 557 894 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The phenotypic data for 27 traits revealed coefficients of variation of >25%. In total, 149 significant SNPs explaining 6.6%–11.2% of the phenotypic variation for each SNP were identified. Of the 104 identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs), 83 were related to salt tolerance and 21 to normal traits. Additionally, 13 QTLs were associated with two to five traits. Eleven and six QTLs controlling salt tolerance traits and normal root growth, respectively, co‐localized with QTL intervals reported previously. Based on functional annotations, 13 candidate genes were predicted. Expression levels analysis of 12 candidate genes revealed that they were all responsive to salt stress. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology targeting three sites was applied in maize, and its editing efficiency reached 70%. By comparing the biomass of three CRISPR/Cas9 mutants of ZmCLCg and one zmpmp3 EMS mutant with their wild‐type plants under salt stress, the salt tolerance function of candidate genes ZmCLCg and ZmPMP3 were confirmed. Chloride content analysis revealed that ZmCLCg regulated chloride transport under sodium chloride stress. These results help to explain genetic variations in salt tolerance and provide novel loci for generating salt‐tolerant maize lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in maize grains is detrimental to human health. Developing maize varieties with low Cd content is important for safe consumption of maize grains. However, the key genes controlling maize grain Cd accumulation have not been cloned. Here, we identified one major locus for maize grain Cd accumulation (qCd1) using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and bulked segregant RNA-seq analysis with a biparental segregating population of Jing724 (low-Cd line) and Mo17 (high-Cd line). The candidate gene ZmHMA3 was identified by fine mapping and encodes a tonoplast-localized heavy metal P-type ATPase transporter. An ethyl methane sulfonate mutant analysis and an allelism test confirmed that ZmHMA3 influences maize grain Cd accumulation. A transposon in intron 1 of ZmHMA3 is responsible for the abnormal amino acid sequence in Mo17. Based on the natural sequence variations in the ZmHMA3 gene of diverse maize lines, four PCR-based molecular markers were developed, and these were successfully used to distinguish five haplotypes with different grain Cd contents in the GWAS panel and to predict grain Cd contents of widely used maize inbred lines and hybrids. These molecular markers can be used to breed elite maize varieties with low grain Cd contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive dysfunction is one of the complications of diabetes. Unfortunately, there is no effective methods to block its progression currently. One of the pathophysiological mechanisms is synaptic protein damage and neuronal signal disruption because of glucose metabolism disorder. Dystroglycan protein, located in the post‐synaptic membrane of neurons, links the intracellular cytoskeleton with extracellular matrix. Abnormal expression of dystroglycan protein affects neuronal biological functions and leads to cognitive impairment. However, there are no relevant studies to observe the changes of β‐dystroglycan protein in diabetes rat brain and in primary neurons under high glucose exposure. Our data demonstrated the alterations of cognitive abilities in the diabetic rats; β‐dystroglycan protein degradation occurred in hippocampal and cortical tissues in diabetic rat brain. We further explored the mechanisms underlying of this phenomenon. When neurons are exposed to high glucose environment in long‐term period, microRNA‐132 (miR‐132) would be down‐regulated in neurons. Matrix Metalloproteinases‐9 (MMP‐9) mRNA, as a target of miR‐132, could be up‐regulated; higher expression and overlay activity of MMP‐9 protein could increase β‐DG protein degradation. In this way, β‐DG degradation may affect structure and functions among the synapses, which related to cognition decline. It may provide some theoretical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanism of diabetes‐induced cognitive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early morning off (EMO) refers to off-states in the morning in people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). This study determined the clinical manifestations of EMO and the association with nocturnal sleep problems and quality of life (QOL) in Chinese PwPD. Methods: In this multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study, data concerning the clinical manifestations of EMO were collected from PwPD in Shanghai by questionnaire. The stepwise logistic regression was performed to analyze the potential risk factors, as well as whether EMO was an independent risk factor for functional dependency in daily life. The mediation analyses were conducted to evaluate whether nocturnal sleep problems might mediate the association between EMO and the QOL. Results: Among the 454 subjects evaluated, EMO occurred in 39.43% of PwPD across all disease stages. The prevalence of EMO increased as the Hoehn and Yahr stage increased and was observed in 35.60% of patients in stages 1–2.5 and 48.85% of patients in stages 3–5. EMO was associated with non-motor symptoms (NMSs). The predominant NMSs associated with EMO were nocturnal sleep problems (98.90%), mood/cognition impairment (93.90%), decreased attention/memory (91.60%), gastrointestinal symptoms (91.60%), and urinary urgency (90.50%). The QOL of PwPD with EMO was significantly reduced (P < 0.001). Moreover, nocturnal sleep problems might partially mediate this relationship (indirect effect: β = 13.458, 95% boot CI: 6.436, 22.042). Conclusion: PwPD have EMO throughout all stages of the disease. Patients with EMO have severe motor symptoms and NMSs. EMO decreases the QOL in PwPD and this relationship is partially mediated by nocturnal sleep problems. In light of these findings, it is suggested that recognition and appropriate treatment of EMO and nocturnal sleep problems could improve the management of PwPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An easily scoring system to predict the risk of cognitive impairment after minor ischemic stroke has not been available. We aimed to develop and externally validate a nomogram for predicting the probability of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) among hospitalized population with minor stroke. Moreover, the association of Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) with PSCI is also investigated. We prospectively conducted a developed cohort on collected data in stroke center from June 2017 to February 2018, as well as an external validation cohort between June 2018 and February 2019. The main outcome is cognitive impairment defined as <22 Montreal Cognition Assessment (MoCA) score points 6 – 12 months following a minor stroke onset. Based on multivariate logistic models, the nomogram model was generated. Plasma TMAO levels were assessed at admission using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 228 participants completed the follow-up data for generating the nomogram. After multivariate logistic regression, seven variables remained independent predictors of PSCI to compose the nomogram included age, female, Fazekas score, educational level, number of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS), HbA1c, and cortical infarction. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUC-ROC) curve of model was 0.829, C index was good (0.810), and the AUC-ROC of the model applied in validation cohort was 0.812. Plasma TMAO levels were higher in patients with cognitive impairment than in them without cognitive dysfunction (median 4.56 vs. 3.22 μmol/L; p ≤ 0.001). In conclusion, this scoring system is the first nomogram developed and validated in a stroke center cohort for individualized prediction of cognitive impairment after minor stroke. Higher plasma TMAO level at admission suggests a potential marker of PSCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry matter accumulation and partitioning during the early phases of development could significantly affect crop growth and productivity. In this study, the aboveground dry matter (DM), the DM of different organs, and partition coefficients of a maize association mapping panel of 412 inbred lines were evaluated at the third and sixth leaf stages (V3 and V6). Further, the properties of these phenotypic traits were analyzed. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted on the total aboveground biomass and the DM of different organs. Analysis of GWAS results identified a total of 1,103 unique candidate genes annotated by 678 significant SNPs (P value < 1.28e–6). A total of 224 genes annotated by SNPs at the top five of each GWAS method and detected by multiple GWAS methods were regarded as having high reliability. Pathway enrichment analysis was also performed to explore the biological significance and functions of these candidate genes. Several biological pathways related to the regulation of seed growth, gibberellin-mediated signaling pathway, and long-day photoperiodism were enriched. The results of our study could provide new perspectives on breeding high-yielding maize varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: High‐throughput phenotyping is increasingly becoming an important tool for rapid advancement of genetic gain in breeding programmes. Manual phenotyping of vascular bundles is tedious and time‐consuming, which lags behind the rapid development of functional genomics in maize. More robust and automated techniques of phenotyping vascular bundles traits at high‐throughput are urgently needed for large crop populations. In this study, we developed a standard process for stem micro‐CT data acquisition and an automatic CT image process pipeline to obtain vascular bundle traits of stems including geometry‐related, morphology‐related and distribution‐related traits. Next, we analysed the phenotypic variation of stem vascular bundles between natural population subgroup (480 inbred lines) based on 48 comprehensively phenotypic information. Also, the first database for stem micro‐phenotypes, MaizeSPD, was established, storing 554 pieces of basic information of maize inbred lines, 523 pieces of experimental information, 1008 pieces of CT scanning images and processed images, and 24 192 pieces of phenotypic data. Combined with genome‐wide association studies (GWASs), a total of 1562 significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) were identified for 30 stem micro‐phenotypic traits, and 84 unique genes of 20 traits such as VBNum, VBAvArea and PZVBDensity were detected. Candidate genes identified by GWAS mainly encode enzymes involved in cell wall metabolism, transcription factors, protein kinase and protein related to plant signal transduction and stress response. The results presented here will advance our knowledge about phenotypic trait components of stem vascular bundles and provide useful information for understanding the genetic controls of vascular bundle formation and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the long-term safety and benefits of antiplatelet therapy in patients with cerebral infarction with thrombocytopenia, as evidence regarding this was limited. This cohort trial assessed patients with acute cerebral infarction with thrombocytopenia treated in the Neurology Department of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018, and enrolled patients were followed up for 9 months. The patients were divided into non-antiplatelet and antiplatelet groups based on the actual intake of antiplatelet drugs. Primary endpoints included hemorrhagic events, recurrence of cerebral infarction, and activity of daily living (ADL) score changes. To balance baseline clinical data, propensity score matching was applied, and there were finally 65 matched patients, including 30 and 35 in the antiplatelet and non-antiplatelet groups, respectively. There were no differences in hemorrhagic and cerebral infarction recurrence rates between the 2 groups. ADL score change was higher in the antiplatelet group than in the non-antiplatelet group (10 vs 5, p = 0.039). In multivariate regression analysis, antiplatelet therapy significantly predicted a positive change in ADL scores [B = 8.381, 95% confidence interval (0.56-16.19)]. In patients with acute cerebral infarction with thrombocytopenia, antiplatelet therapy could the improve the quality of life in the chronic stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglia activation contributes to Alzheimer's disease (AD) etiology, and microglia migration is a fundamental function during microglia activation. The repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST), a powerful transcriptional factor, was found to play a neuroprotective role in AD. Despite its possible role in disease progression, little is known about whether REST participates in microglia migration. In this study, we aimed to explore the function of REST and its molecular basis during microglia migration under Aβ1-42-treated pathological conditions. When treated by Aβ1-42 REST was upregulated through JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway in BV2 cells. And transwell coculture system was used to evaluate cell migration function of microglia-like BV2. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting progranulin (PGRN) were delivered into BV2 cells, and results showed that PGRN functions to promote BV2 migration. REST expression was inhibited by sh-RNA, which induced BV2 cell migration obviously. On the contrary, REST was overexpressed by REST recombinant plasmid transfection, which repressed BV2 cell migration, indicating that REST may act as a repressor of cell migration. To more comprehensively examine the molecular basis, we analyzed the promoter sequence of PGRN and found that it has the potential binding site of REST. Moreover, knocking-down of REST can increase the expression of PGRN, which confirms the inhibiting effect of REST on PGRN expression. Further detection of double luciferase reporter gene also confirmed the inhibition of REST on the activity of PGRN promoter, indicating that REST may be an inhibitory transcription factor of PGRN which governs microglia-like BV2 cell migration. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that transcription factor REST may act as a repressor of microglia migration through PGRN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compelling evidence from basic molecular biology has demonstrated the crucial role of microglia in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglia were believed to play a dual role in both promoting and inhibiting Alzheimer's disease progression. It is of great significance to regulate the function of microglia and make them develop in a favorable way. In the present study, we investigated the function of repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST) in Aβ1-42-induced BV-2 cell dysfunction. We concluded that Aβ1-42 could promote type I activation of BV-2 cells and induce cell proliferation, migration, and proinflammation cytokine TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression. Meanwhile, REST was upregulated, and nuclear translocalization took place due to Aβ1-42 stimulation. When REST was knocked down by a specific short hairpin RNA (sh-RNA), BV-2 cell proliferation, migration, and proinflammation cytokine expression and secretion induced by Aβ1-42 were increased, demonstrating that REST may act as a repressor of microglia-like BV-2 cell activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern corn rust (SCR) caused by Puccinia polysora Underw. is a major disease causing severe yield losses during maize production. Here, we identified and mapped the SCR resistance gene RppM from the near-isogenic line Kangxiujing2416 (Jing2416K), which harbors RppM in the genetic background of the susceptible inbred line Jing2416. In this study, the inheritance of SCR resistance was investigated in F2 and F3 populations derived from a cross between Jing2416K and Jing2416. The observed 3:1 segregation ratio of resistant to susceptible plants indicated that the SCR resistance is controlled by a single dominant gene. Using an F2 population, we performed bulked segregant analysis (BSA) sequencing and mapped RppM to a 3.69-Mb region on chromosome arm 10S. To further narrow down the region harboring RppM , we developed 13 insertion/deletion (InDel) markers based on the sequencing data. Finally, RppM was mapped to a region spanning 110-kb using susceptible individuals from a large F2 population. Two genes (Zm00001d023265 and Zm00001d023267) encoding putative CC-NBS-LRR (coiled-coiled, nucleotide-binding site, and leucine-rich repeat) proteins, a common characteristic of R genes, were located in this region (B73 RefGen_v4 reference genome). Sequencing and comparison of the two genes cloned from Jing2416K and Jing2416 revealed sequence variations in their coding regions. The relative expression levels of these two genes in Jing2416K were found to be significantly higher than those in Jing2416. Zm00001d023265 and Zm00001d023267 are thus potential RppM candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Exercise has an integral impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), yet no comprehensive and quantitative analysis has been conducted on the effect of exercise on quality of life (QoL) in these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise on overall QoL and different domains of QoL in people with PD, as well as investigating the influence of factors such as the exercise type and intervention period. Methods. Databases, such as PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched since inception to August 14, 2018 to identify randomized controlled trials that compare the effect of exercise versus no intervention on QoL in PD patients. Following the subgroup analysis, heterogeneity was further explored. The quality of eligible studies was assessed according to PRISMA guidelines. Results. 20 studies were included with 1,143 participants in total. A meta-analysis showed a significant improvement in QoL after exercise intervention in PD patients (SMD = −0.24, 95% CI = −0.36 to −0.12, P < 0.001). A subgroup analysis of exercise types revealed significant QoL improvement with aerobic exercise, martial arts, and dance, but not anaerobic exercise and combined exercise. Interventions lasting 12 weeks or longer improved QoL significantly. Conclusions. Exercise interventions, especially aerobic exercise, dance, and Tai Chi, significantly improve QoL in PD patients. At least 12 weeks of exercise is needed to bring about significant benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of neuronal α-synuclein is a prominent feature in Parkinson's disease. More recently, such abnormal protein aggregation has been reported to spread from cell to cell and exosomes are considered as important mediators. The focus of such research, however, has been primarily in neurons. Given the increasing recognition of the importance of non-cell autonomous-mediated neurotoxicity, it is critical to investigate the contribution of glia to α-synuclein aggregation and spread. Microglia are the primary phagocytes in the brain and have been well-documented as inducers of neuroinflammation. How and to what extent microglia and their exosomes impact α-synuclein pathology has not been well delineated. We report here that when treated with human α-synuclein preformed fibrils, exosomes containing α-synuclein released by microglia are fully capable of inducing protein aggregation in the recipient neurons. Additionally, when combined with microglial proinflammatory cytokines, these exosomes further increased protein aggregation in neurons. Inhibition of exosome synthesis in microglia reduced α-synuclein transmission. The in vivo significance of these exosomes was demonstrated by stereotaxic injection of exosomes isolated from α-synuclein preformed fibrils treated microglia into the mouse striatum. Phosphorylated α-synuclein was observed in multiple brain regions consistent with their neuronal connectivity. These animals also exhibited neurodegeneration in the nigrostriatal pathway in a time-dependent manner. Depleting microglia in vivo dramatically suppressed the transmission of α-synuclein after stereotaxic injection of preformed fibrils. Mechanistically, we report here that α-synuclein preformed fibrils impaired autophagy flux by upregulating PELI1, which in turn, resulted in degradation of LAMP2 in activated microglia. More importantly, by purifying microglia/macrophage derived exosomes in the CSF of Parkinson's disease patients, we confirmed the presence of α-synuclein oligomer in CD11b+ exosomes, which were able to induce α-synuclein aggregation in neurons, further supporting the translational aspect of this study. Taken together, our study supports the view that microglial exosomes contribute to the progression of α-synuclein pathology and therefore, they may serve as a promising therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) has been increasingly recognized in patients, but some stroke survivors appear to show cognitive improvement beyond the acute stage. The risk factors associated with cognitive recovery after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) onset have not yet been sufficiently investigated in prospective studies. Objective: We aimed to identify the trajectory of post-ICH cognitive impairment and the association of potential prognostic factors with follow-up cognitive recovery beyond early PSCI. Methods: In this stroke center-based cohort study, 141 consecutive dementia-free patients with spontaneous ICH were included and underwent Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) evaluation for cognitive function at baseline (within 2 weeks of ICH onset) and the shortened MoCA (short-MoCA) at a 6-month follow-up. To explore the prognostic factors associated with trajectory of cognition after an ICH onset, we adjusted for demographic and vascular risk factors, using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 141 ICH patients, approximately three quarters (106/141) were diagnosed with early PSCI (MoCA score <26) within 2 weeks of ICH onset. The multiple logistic regression indicated independent positive associations between risk of early PSCI and dominant-hemisphere hemorrhage [odd's ratio (OR): 8.845 (3.347–23.371); P < 0.001], mean corpuscular volume (MCV) [OR: 1.079 (1.002–1.162); P = 0.043], admission systolic blood pressure (sBP) [OR: 1.021 (1.005–1.038); P = 0.012]. Furthermore, 36% (33/90) of ICH survivors who had early PSCI exhibited cognitive recovery at the 6-month follow-up. After examining potential predictors through multiple linear regression based on stepwise, there were independent negative associations between cognitive recovery and dominant hemisphere hemorrhage [OR: 6.955 (1.604–30.162); P < 0.01], lobar ICH [OR: 8.363 (1.479–47.290); P = 0.016], years of education ≤ 9 [OR: 5.145 (1.254–21.105); P = 0.023], and MCV [OR: 1.660 (1.171–2.354); P = 0.004]. Baseline cognitive performance in the domains of visuospatial/executive function, attention, orientation, and language showed positive correlations with cognitive improvement (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In this cohort study of dementia-free survivors of ICH, our results show that one in three early PSCI survivors exhibit cognitive recovery, in relation to dominant-hemisphere hematoma, lobar ICH, educational history, and MCV levels. Future clinical trials including ICH survivors with cognitive dysfunction should assess these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the analytical solution for the vibration of simply supported beams with arbitrarily and continuously varying thickness based on the two-dimensional elasticity theory. The general expression of stress function, which exactly satisfies the governing differential equations and the boundary conditions, is derived. Frequency equation governing the free vibration of beams with variable thickness can be obtained by using the Fourier sinusoidal series expansion on the upper and lower surfaces of the beam. The present solution method ensures a rapid convergence and meets the need of high accuracy in modern precise instruments. Several examples are provided to show the application of the proposed solution method which can be used to assess the validity of various approximate solutions and numerical methods for the beams with arbitrarily and continuously varying thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectins, the major components of cell walls in plants, are synthesized and secreted to cell walls as highly methyl-esterified polymers and then demethyl-esterified by pectin methylesterases (PMEs). The PMEs are spatially regulated by pectin methylesterase inhibitors (PMEIs). In this study, 43 and 49 putative PME and PMEI genes were identified in maize, respectively. Gene structure and motif analysis revealed that members in the same paralogous pairs or in the same subgroup generally had common motif compositions and gene structure patterns, which indicates functional similarity between the closely related ZmPME/PMEI genes. Gene ontology annotation analysis showed that most of the ZmPME/PMEI genes are involved in cell wall modification and pectin catabolic process with molecular functions of pectinesterase or pectinesterase inhibitor activities. There are 35 ZmPME/PMEI genes expressed higher in anthers than in other tissues from the NimbleGen maize microarray data, and the semiq-RT-PCR assay revealed most of these ZmPME/PMEIs specially expressed in anthers and pollens, indicating they possibly had role in anther and pollen development. In addition, these ZmPME/PMEI genes were highly expressed in the fertile anthers, while lowly or no expressed in sterile anthers. This further indicated these genes might be involved in the development of anther and pollen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Manipulating the immune inflammatory response after cerebral ischemia has been a novel therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke. This study attempted to investigate the effects of the transplantation of lymphocytes co-cultured with human cord blood-derived multipotent stem cells (HCB-SCs) on the inflammatory response in transient middle cerebral occlusion (tMCAO) rats. Methods: The tMCAO rats were subjected to the transplantation of lymphocytes co-cultured with HCB-SCs through tail vein injection. Infarct size and neurological deficits were measured at 48 hrs after stroke. Neurological deficits were assessed using Bederson's scoring system and tape removal test. Blood T cell flow cytometry was performed to measure the differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of inflammation-related molecules, apoptosis-related molecule, and signaling molecules in ischemic brain. TUNEL staining was performed to analyze cell apoptosis in ischemic cerebral cortex. Results: The transplantation of lymphocytes co-cultured with HCB-SCs significantly improved the neurological defects, reduced ischemic brain damage, and increased the proportion of peripheral CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs. Meanwhile, the transplantation of co-cultured cells decreased the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome and associated factors, such as caspase-1 and IL-1β, and inhibited the activation of NF-κB, ERK and caspase-3 in ischemic brain. The co-cultured cells significantly decreased the number of tMCAO-induced cell apoptosis. Conclusion: Lymphocytes co-cultured with HCB-SCs exhibit a neuroprotective effect after ischemic stroke by promoting Tregs differentiation and suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and neuron apoptosis, and might be a promising therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two isomorphic compounds {[Ln2(H2O)10](Mo8O27)}·8H2O (Ln = Tm (1), Er (2)) were obtained by microwave irradiation, in which β-{Mo8O28} building units are linked via bridge oxygen and lanthanide ions coordinated with {MoO6} octahedra. The synthesis chemical processes have a short reaction time (15 min) with high yields (exceeding 85%). The solid-state photochromic properties of these two compounds were studied, and their color change process and the photochromic mechanism were analyzed. Furthermore, the solid-state photoluminescence properties of these two compounds were investigated and the stability of the luminescence was verified. Finally, variable temperature magnetic susceptibilities indicate that both compounds have anti-ferromagnetic interaction properties and 1/χM values are linear with temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia promotes both total extracellular and exosomal amyloid-β (Aβ) production and aggravates Alzheimer's disease (AD). Resveratrol (RSV) has been proved to be neuroprotective in AD models, and down-regulated the expression of CD147, an additional subunit of γ-secretase. In this study, we aimed to explore the role and mechanisms of RSV in hypoxia-induced upregulation of Aβ, especially exosomal Aβ. SH-SY5Y cells and HEK293 cells overexpressing amyloid precursor protein (APP) as well as C57BL/6 mice were treated with RSV and exposed to hypoxic conditions. The expression of SIRT1 or CD147 was modulated by transfection of specific siRNAs or plasmid. Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 levels were determined by ELISA. Hypoxia increased the levels of both Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 in the hippocampal lysates and serum-derived exosomes of mice. Hypoxia also increased both Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42 levels in the total culture medium (CM), cell-derived exosomal lysates, and exosome-free CM of both cell lines. Treatment with RSV abrogated these changes in Aβ expression, inhibited the hypoxia-induced down-regulation of SIRT1 and up-regulation of CD147. Knockdown of SIRT1 promote total Aβ level but has no effect on exosomal Aβs expression. Knockdown of CD147 inhibits both total and exosomal Aβs expression. Furthermore, overexpressing CD147 in cells exposed to hypoxia facilitated the production of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42, while application of RSV reduced the CD147 expression as well as Aβ levels in both exosomes and exosome-free CM. These results suggested that RSV abrogated hypoxia-induced up-regulation of total and exosomal Aβ partially by inhibiting CD147. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke is a common disabling disease that severely affects the daily life of patients. Accumulating evidence indicates that rehabilitation therapy can improve movement function. However, no clear guidelines have specific and effective rehabilitation therapy schemes, and the development of new rehabilitation techniques has been relatively slow. This study used a text mining approach, the ABC model, to identify an existing rehabilitation candidate therapy method that is most likely to be repositioned for stroke. In the model, we built the internal links of stroke (A), assessment scales (B), and rehabilitation therapies (C) in PubMed and the links were related to upper limb function measurements for patients with stroke. In the first step, using E-utility, we retrieved both stroke-related assessment scales and rehabilitation therapy records and then compiled two datasets, which were called Stroke_Scales and Stroke_Therapies, respectively. In the next step, we crawled all rehabilitation therapies co-occurring with the Stroke_Therapies and then named them as All_Therapies. Therapies that were already included in Stroke_Therapies were deleted from All_Therapies; therefore, the remaining therapies were the potential rehabilitation therapies, which could be repositioned for stroke after subsequent filtration by a manual check. We identified the top-ranked repositioning rehabilitation therapy and subsequently examined its clinical validation. Hand-arm bimanual intensive training (HABIT) was ranked the first in our repositioning rehabilitation therapies and had the most interaction links with Stroke_Scales. HABIT significantly improved clinical scores on assessment scales [Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and action research arm test (ARAT)] in the clinical validation study for acute stroke patients with upper limb dysfunction. Therefore, based on the ABC model and clinical validation, HABIT is a promising repositioned rehabilitation therapy for stroke, and the ABC model is an effective text mining approach for rehabilitation therapy repositioning. The findings in this study would be helpful in clinical knowledge discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Maize is a globally important crop that was a classic model plant for genetic studies. Here, we report a 2.2 Gb draft genome sequence of an elite maize line, HuangZaoSi (HZS). Hybrids bred from HZS-improved lines (HILs) are planted in more than 60% of maize fields in China. Proteome clustering of six completed sequenced maize genomes show that 638 proteins fall into 264 HZS-specific gene families with the majority of contributions from tandem duplication events. Resequencing and comparative analysis of 40 HZS-related lines reveals the breeding history of HILs. More than 60% of identified selective sweeps were clustered in identity-by-descent conserved regions, and yield-related genes/QTLs were enriched in HZS characteristic selected regions. Furthermore, we demonstrated that HZS-specific family genes were not uniformly distributed in the genome but enriched in improvement/function-related genomic regions. This study provides an important and novel resource for maize genome research and expands our knowledge on the breadth of genomic variation and improvement history of maize. Maize (Zea mays subsp. mays) is a globally important crop and a classic genetic model plant. Here, we report a 2.2 Gb draft genome sequence of an elite maize line, HuangZaoSi (HZS). Hybrids bred from HZS-improved lines are planted in more than 60% of maize fields in China. This study provides an important and novel resource for maize genome research and expands our knowledge on the breadth of genomic variation and improvement history of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arcuate fasciculus (AF) is a neural fiber tract that is critical to speech and music development. Although the predominant role of the left AF in speech development is relatively clear, how the AF engages in music development is not understood. Congenital amusia is a special neurodevelopmental condition, which not only affects musical pitch but also speech tone processing. Using diffusion tensor tractography, we aimed at understanding the role of AF in music and speech processing by examining the neural connectivity characteristics of the bilateral AF among thirty Mandarin amusics. Compared to age- and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched controls, amusics demonstrated increased connectivity as reflected by the increased fractional anisotropy in the right posterior AF but decreased connectivity as reflected by the decreased volume in the right anterior AF. Moreover, greater fractional anisotropy in the left direct AF was correlated with worse performance in speech tone perception among amusics. This study is the first to examine the neural connectivity of AF in the neurodevelopmental condition of amusia as a result of disrupted music pitch and speech tone processing. We found abnormal white matter structural connectivity in the right AF for the amusic individuals. Moreover, we demonstrated that the white matter microstructural properties of the left direct AF is modulated by lexical tone deficits among the amusic individuals. These data support the notion of distinctive pitch processing systems between music and speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Acute ischemic stroke is caused by stenosis of artery supplying to brain. We aimed to detect some metabolites in the serum that would be related to the degree of artery stenosis and to analyze potential mechanisms. Methods: Patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke were divided into two groups according to their degree of artery stenosis (which was determined by computed tomographic angiography): a mild group (stenosis ≤ 30%) and a severe group (stenosis > 30%). Serum from these patients was collected, and we focused on the differences in the concentrations of calcium, uric acid, low density lipoprotein and homocysteine. The dataset GSE11583 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database was analyzed to find the potential mechanism using bioinformatics methods. Results: Among the four metabolites, the only difference that reached significance between the two groups was in the concentration of calcium in serum (2.27±0.08 mmol/L vs 2.21±0.08 mmol/L). By comparing the gene expression levels between normal endothelial cells and adaptive remodeling endothelial cells in GSE11583, we identified 51 upregulated and 40 downregulated genes in adaptive remodeling endothelial cells. The gene set enrichment analysis revealed that upregulated genes were enriched in a phosphatidylinositol signaling system, which is closely involved in the calcium signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the concentration of serum calcium is higher in patients with more severe artery stenosis lesions and that the phosphatidylinositol signaling system is a key biological pathway involved in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]