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A partitionable adaptive multilayer diffractive optical neural network is constructed to address setup issues in multilayer diffractive optical neural network systems and the difficulty of flexibly changing the number of layers and input data size. When the diffractive devices are partitioned properly, a multilayer diffractive optical neural network can be constructed quickly and flexibly without readjusting the optical path, and the number of optical devices, which increases linearly with the number of network layers, can be avoided while preventing the energy loss during propagation where the beam energy decays exponentially with the number of layers. This architecture can be extended to construct distinct optical neural networks for different diffraction devices in various spectral bands. The accuracy values of 89.1% and 81.0% are experimentally evaluated for MNIST database and MNIST fashion database and show that the classification performance of the proposed optical neural network reaches state-of-the-art levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The volume of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, only a few studies have examined its effect on the myocardial function of endurance in athletes. The association between the EAT and the variation of myocardial function is still unclear in amateur marathoners. Consequently, by using some sedentary individuals as the control, this study aims to evaluate the correlation between the EAT volume and the myocardial strain in the left and right ventricles of Chinese amateur marathoners by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods: A total of 30 amateur marathoners were included as the exercise group and 20 sedentary people as a control group. All participants received the cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to measure the left and right ventricular end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and volume index, stroke volume and index, cardiac output index, ejection fraction and myocardial mass, the EAT volume, global radial, circumferential, and longi-tudinal strains, and the strain rates of left and right ventricular myocardium. Results: There was a significant difference in the EAT volume (EATV) index between the exercise group and the control group (26.82±11.76ml/m2 vs 37.82±17.15ml/m2, P = 0.01). Results from the multivariate linear regression analysis showed that BMI (standardized β = 0.458; P < 0.001) had an independent positive correlation with the EATV index. The EATV index was negatively correlated with the left ventricular global radial strain (GRS) (r = -0.505; P = 0.004) in the exercise group, while it is negatively correlated with right ventricular GRS (r = -0.492; P = 0.027) and positively correlated with global longitudinal strain (GLS) (r = 0.601; P = 0.005) in the control group. In the exercise group, the multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the EATV index (standardized β = -0.429; P = 0.021) was an independent determinant of the left ventricular GRS, and being a male (standardized β = 0.396; P = 0.029) was an independent determinant of the right ventricular GLS. Conclusion: The EATV index is independently correlated with the left ventricular GRS in the amateur Chinese marathoners, also, the amateur marathon reduces the EATV index and increases the left ventricular myocardial mass, which consequently reduces the adverse effects on myocardial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Urchin-like TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 O x (MXene) photocatalysts have been successfully fabricated. • Surface -O terminated Ti 3 C 2 O x has a work function about 0.3 eV higher than that of TiO 2. • The photocatalytic H 2 evolution and LEV degradation of TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 O x are 9.7 and 6.7 folds higher than those of TiO 2 , respectively. • The photocatalytic reaction pathways were carefully investigated. • The photogenerated carriers were efficiently separated at the TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 O x interface. The surface groups of MXene act as a decisive role on the performance of MXene-based photocatalysts. In this work, TiO 2 nano-whiskers were grown in-situ on Ti 3 C 2 T x , through a hydrothermal and post-heat treatment process, meanwhile, the surface groups of Ti 3 C 2 T x were unified -O adsorption. The as-prepared urchin-like TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 O x composite have efficient activity for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and degradation of levofloxacin (LEV). The optimized hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance reached 346.8 μmol g-1 h−1, and the apparent quantum yield at 313 nm was 7.67%. Its hydrogen production performance and degradation rate of LEV were 9.7 and 7.7 folds higher than those of pure TiO 2 , respectively. The -O terminated Ti 3 C 2 O x achieving a work function about 0.3 eV larger than TiO 2 , as both DFT calculation and UPS measurement depicted. Therefore, the photogenerated e-/h+ were separated at the TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 O x interface via Schottky junction, a large amount of e- was enriched on Ti 3 C 2 O x , which enabled the photocatalyst with remarkable charge separation and photocatalytic performance. Meanwhile, the reaction pathways of TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 O x photocatalytic HER and LEV degradation/mineralization were carefully investigated. This study underlines the significance of surface groups on photocatalysts composed of MXenes, and sheds light on the new approach to the rational design of high-efficiency MXene-based photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) plays important roles on growth, gene expression and metabolite accumulation in plants. In this study, the physiological and biochemical characteristics, transcriptome and metabolome profiles of Isatis indigotica Fort., responded to MeJA were explored. Under the treatment, the contents of dry matter, chlorophyll and carotenoids increased significantly, while the water content did not. And the contents of soluble protein, flavonoid and lignin were also raised significantly, but the soluble sugar decreased. Besides, the enzyme activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), lipoxygenase (LOX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased, showing certain resistance characteristics of this plant. Based on RNA-seq, 31,769 unigenes were functionally annotated, and 2725 differential expressed genes (DEGs) identified. Among them, 57 DEGs covered most of the catalytic steps in general biosynthesis pathways of jasmonic acid, glucosinolates and phenylpropanoid. Referring to the metabolomics analysis, 175 significant differential metabolites were detected by GC-MS, combined with LC-MS method. Moreover, 53 differential metabolites were identified by the multivariate statistical analysis, mainly enriched in 37 different metabolic pathways, with most differential metabolites found in phenylalanine metabolism pathway. The results provided the comprehensive analysis on growth, transcriptome and metabolite profiles responded to MeJA, and gave new insights into revealing and enriching the functions of MeJA, contributing to explore the key genes and their functions on growth and metabolite accumulation and regulation process in I. indigotica. • MeJA could improve the seedling growth and enhance the resistance of I. indigotica. • A total of 2725 genes differentially expressed in response to MeJA. • 175 metabolites differentially changed in response to MeJA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric cold plasma is a powerful and profitable microbial decontamination technology in the food industry. The microbial load and food matrix have a great influence on the plasma inactivation effect. This study aimed to quantify the effects of initial cell concentration and soluble solids on the inactivation of yeast in apple juice by gas-phase surface discharge plasma. A computer simulation model was developed to predict the inactivation process using commercial finite element software, COMSOL Multiphysics, and the model was verified by experiments. Studies have shown that the inactivation of yeast was affected by the initial cell concentration and soluble solids. These effects were quantified by fitting equations and used as model inputs. The simulation model predicted the D-value of plasma inactivation of yeast under different discharge voltages and apple juice volume, which was verified in experiments. Therefore, the established model can be used for plasma development to predict how the food matrix affects the inactivation process, thereby providing useful and practical tools for amplifying the commercial application of plasma. • A surface discharge voltage plasma deactivation model was developed and verified. • Model correlated the cell concentration and soluble solids with inactivation rates. • The influence of discharge voltage and process capacity was predicted in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tip growth is an extreme form of polarized cell expansion that occurs in all eukaryotic kingdoms to generate highly elongated tubular cells with specialized functions, including fungal hyphae, animal neurons, plant pollen tubes, and root hairs (RHs). RHs are tubular structures that protrude from the root epidermis to facilitate water and nutrient uptake, microbial interactions, and plant anchorage. RH tip growth requires polarized vesicle targeting and active exocytosis at apical growth sites. However, how apical exocytosis is spatially and temporally controlled during tip growth remains elusive. Here, we report that the Qa-Soluble N -ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) SYP121 acts as an effector of Rho of Plants 2 (ROP2), mediating the regulation of RH tip growth. We show that active ROP2 promotes SYP121 targeting to the apical plasma membrane. Moreover, ROP2 directly interacts with SYP121 and promotes the interaction between SYP121 and the R-SNARE VAMP722 to form a SNARE complex, probably by facilitating the release of the Sec1/Munc18 protein SEC11, which suppresses the function of SYP121. Thus, the ROP2-SYP121 pathway facilitates exocytic trafficking during RH tip growth. Our study uncovers a direct link between an ROP GTPase and vesicular trafficking and a new mechanism for the control of apical exocytosis, whereby ROP GTPase signaling spatially regulates SNARE complex assembly and the polar distribution of a Q-SNARE. Root hair tip growth requires polarized vesicle targeting and active exocytosis at apical growth site, but how it is spatially and temporally controlled remains elusive. This study demonstrates that ROP2 directly regulates the polar localization of SYP121 and its interaction with VAMP722 for SNARE complex assembly, establishing a tight link between ROP signaling and apical exocytosis during root hair tip growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glucosinolates (GSLs) play important roles in defending against exogenous damage and regulating physiological activities in plants. However, GSL accumulation patterns and molecular regulation mechanisms are largely unknown in Isatis indigotica Fort. Results: Ten GSLs were identified in I. indigotica, and the dominant GSLs were epiprogoitrin (EPI) and indole-3-methyl GSL (I3M), followed by progoitrin (PRO) and gluconapin (GNA). The total GSL content was highest (over 20 μmol/g) in reproductive organs, lowest (less than 1.0 μmol/g) in mature organs, and medium in fresh leaves (2.6 μmol/g) and stems (1.5 μmol/g). In the seed germination process, the total GSL content decreased from 27.2 μmol/g (of seeds) to 2.7 μmol/g (on the 120th day) and then increased to 4.0 μmol/g (180th day). However, the content of indole GSL increased rapidly in the first week after germination and fluctuated between 1.13 μmol/g (28th day) and 2.82 μmol/g (150th day). Under the different elicitor treatments, the total GSL content increased significantly, ranging from 2.9-fold (mechanical damage, 3 h) to 10.7-fold (MeJA, 6 h). Moreover, 132 genes were involved in GSL metabolic pathways. Among them, no homologs of AtCYP79F2 and AtMAM3 were identified, leading to a distinctive GSL profile in I. indigotica. Furthermore, most genes involved in the GSL metabolic pathway were derived from tandem duplication, followed by dispersed duplication and segmental duplication. Purifying selection was observed, although some genes underwent relaxed selection. In addition, three tandem-arrayed GSL-OH genes showed different expression patterns, suggesting possible subfunctionalization during evolution. Conclusions: Ten different GSLs with their accumulation patterns and 132 genes involved in the GSL metabolic pathway were explored, which laid a foundation for the study of GSL metabolism and regulatory mechanisms in I. indigotica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the digestion of pectic polysaccharide from Brassica rapa L. (BRP) in vitro and its effect on the intestinal microbiota in cyclophosphamide (Cy)‐treated mice were investigated. As a result, the molecular weight (Mw) of BRP was significantly decreased after simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and content of reducing sugars (CR) was significantly increased (P < 0.05), implying that BRP was gradually degraded under gastrointestinal digestion conditions in vitro. In vivo, both 50 or 200 mg kg−1·BW/d of BRP significantly improved SCFAs concentrations that decreased by Cy treatment (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, BRP enriched the alpha‐diversity of intestinal microbiota and altered the microbial composition with an increase of Lactobacillus and a decrease of Clostridium, Ruminococcus, Oscillospira (P < 0.05). Besides, BRP intervention was conducive to the recovery of mouse body weight, thymus and spleen indices, and contributed to improve the intestinal barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]