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Abstract The responses of sea cucumbers to salinity changes are reflected in the expression profiles of multiple genes and microRNAs. The miR‐2008 and Pleckstrin Homology Domain Containing A3 (PLEKHA3) were previously shown to be involved in responses to salinity changes in sea cucumbers. To better understand the relationship between miR‐2008 and PLEKHA3, the miR‐2008 and PLEKHA3 predicted interaction was investigated using luciferase reporter assays and gene knockdowns. Dual‐luciferase reporter gene analysis indicated that miR‐2008 overexpression decreased luciferase activity in the PLEKHA3‐WT group. The miR‐2008 expression in coelomocytes was increasingly downregulated in the agomir group with salinity acclimation. PLEKHA3 expression patterns in the miR‐2008 agomir group were upregulated after 6 and 48 h and downregulated after 24 h of low‐salinity stress. The miR‐2008 expression in the miR‐2008 agomir group peaked after 24 h of low‐salinity exposure in sea cucumbers. miR‐2008 overexpression and PLEKHA3 inhibition affected ion concentrations, osmotic pressure, Na+/K+‐ATPase (NKA) activity, and ROS levels. The changes in ion concentrations, osmotic pressure, and NKA activity after 6–24 h of salinity stress were observed. The results indicated that 6–24 h after the initiation of salinity stress may be critical to the salinity‐acclimation process in sea cucumbers.

Objective The colonization ability and efficiency of two Escherichia coli (E. coli)-engineered strains, Nissle1917 and BW25113, in the intestine were evaluated in mice, we aimed to screen out strains for subsequent research on clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) system-engineered bacteria to eliminate drug-resistant bacteria via high intestinal colonization efficiency. Methods Seventy ICR mice (18–20 g), half male and half female, were randomly divided into 7 treatment groups by gender, with 10 mice in each group (6 for experiment and 4 for control). The experimental group was gavaged with 2×1010 of the engineered strains at a final volume of 200 μL, and the control group was gavaged with an equal volume of PBS. At 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after gavage, the mesenteric lymph nodes, stomach, ileocecal and colonic tissues, and intestinal contents of the mice were removed. The two E. coli strains were detected using plate inoculation, fluorescence microscopy, and PCR amplification to compare their in vivo colonization ability and efficiency. Results At 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after gavage, both E. coli strains had colonized in the stomach, ileocecal and colonic tissues as detected using the three methods, and no leakage of E. coli fluid from the lymph nodes was observed; at 72 hours, only Nissle1917 colonized in the ileocecal and colonic tissues, comparing the colonization efficiency of the two E. coli strains, that of Nissle1917 was 100% and that of BW25113 was 0 at 72 hours. Conclusion Nissle1917 has a higher colonization efficiency than BW25113 and can colonize in the mucosal surface of ileocecal and colonic tissues for a long time, suggesting that it can be used as a carrier for the CRISPR system to prevent and control drug resistance gene transmission.

Objective: Employing network pharmacology and molecular docking, the study predicts the active compounds in garlic and elucidates their mechanism in inhibiting the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). ALD is a global chronic liver disease with potential for hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Methods: The main active ingredients and targets of garlic were identified through screening the TCMSP, TCM-ID, and ETCM databases. ALD disease targets were sourced from DisGeNET, GeneCards, and DiGSeE databases, and intervention targets for garlic were determined through intersections. Protein interaction networks were constructed using the STRING platform, and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed with R software. The garlic component-disease-target network was established using Cytoscape software. Validation of active ingredients against core targets was conducted through molecular docking simulations using AutoDock Vina software. Expression validation of core targets was carried out using human sequencing data of ALD obtained from the GEO database. Results: Integration of garlic drug targets with ALD disease targets identified 83 target genes. Validation through an alcohol-induced ALD mouse model supported certain network pharmacology findings, suggesting that garlic may impede disease progression by mitigating the inflammatory response and promoting ethanol metabolism. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the potential therapeutic mechanisms of garlic in inhibiting ALD development. The identified active ingredients offer promising avenues for further investigation and development of treatments for ALD, emphasizing the importance of botanical remedies in liver disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the landscape of typical roadway trees and their planting parameters on Pingtan Island are investigated and analyzed in the field. A three-dimensional model of street trees was created using AutoCAD 2020, and Ansys Fluent 2022 was used to simulate the wind condition of trees with various planting parameters under high wind circumstances. The study explores the stress and adaptability of roadway trees in the wind environment under different planting parameters, such as different heights, plant spacing, lower shrub heights, and two-row and three-row planting with different row spacings. The results show that the wind resistance of street trees is connected to the planting parameters and that modifying the appropriate planting parameters can improve the wind stability of road green space. The height of street trees is more suitable between 6.0~9.0 m. The planting spacing should be not less than 1.0 times the crown and not more than 1.75 times the crown. The form of planting has an important effect on wind resistance. Two rows of planting of street trees have a better utility and wind resistance, and a row spacing of 2.0~6.0 m is more appropriate. The height of the lower shrubs should be lower than the height of the first branch, with 0.5~1.0 m being more suitable. Based on the results of the data simulation and analysis, this paper proposes corresponding tree species selections and planting strategies for road green belts on Pingtan Island from the perspective of street tree species, planting parameters, and planting forms to provide references for the upgrading and planning of roadway tree landscapes on Pingtan Island as well as in similar climatic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary way of passing down Thang-ga is to carry forward the painting techniques. This paper explores the spiritual significance of Thang-ga’s painting techniques based on the aesthetic culture and philosophical ideas that underlie the techniques: as the spiritual significance of Thang-ga determines the procedures of Thang-ga making, each painting step and brushstroke represents the philosophical ideas and the spirit of Tibetan Buddhism. But if techniques are unduly emphasized and Thang-ga’s spiritual significance is neglected, Thang-ga will become mere forms deprived of artistic values.

The ionic toxicity induced by salinization has adverse effects on the growth and development of crops. However, researches on ionic toxicity and salt tolerance in plants have focused primarily on cations such as sodium ions (Na+), with very limited studies on chloride ions (Cl−). Here, we cloned the homologous genes of Arabidopsis thaliana AtCLCc, GhCLCc-1A/D, from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), which were significantly induced by NaCl or KCl treatments. Subcellular localization showed that GhCLCc-1A/D were both localized to the tonoplast. Complementation of Arabidopsis atclcc mutant with GhCLCc-1 rescued its salt-sensitive phenotype. In addition, the silencing of the GhCLCc-1 gene led to an increased accumulation of Cl− in the roots, stems, and leaves of cotton seedlings under salt treatments, resulting in compromised salt tolerance. And ectopic expression of the GhCLCc-1 gene in Arabidopsis reduced the accumulation of Cl− in transgenic lines under salt treatments, thereby enhancing salt tolerance. These findings elucidate that GhCLCc-1 positively regulates salt tolerance by modulating Cl− accumulation and could be a potential target gene for improving salt tolerance in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]