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This study aimed to investigate the effects of different defatting methods of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal (BSFM) on the metabolic energy and nutrient digestibility in laying hens. Sixty young laying hens (Hy-Line W-36) aged 63 days were randomly divided into two groups (G1 and G2), each with five replicates of six hens housed in individual cages. Group G1 was fed 25% pressed black soldier fly meal (BSFMp) and 75% basal diet, and Group G2 was fed 25% extracted black soldier fly meal (BSFMe) and a 75% basal diet. Both diets included 5 g/kg chromium oxide as an external marker. A 7-day preliminary trial was followed by a 4-day experimental period. The results indicate that pressing and extracting significantly affected the digestibility of crude fat and total energy in BSFM, with BSFMp showing significantly higher crude fat digestibility than BSFMe. Similarly, total energy digestibility was also significantly higher in BSFMp. However, there were no significant differences in dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein digestibility between the two processing methods. The apparent metabolic energy values of BSFMp and BSFMe were 16.34 and 12.41 MJ/kg, respectively, showing a significant difference. The nitrogen-corrected metabolic energy values were 15.89 MJ/kg in BSFMp and 11.93 MJ/kg in BSFMe, indicating a highly significant difference. The digestibility of arginine and leucine in BSFMp was significantly higher than in BSFMe, while differences in lysine, cystine, threonine, tryptophan, and isoleucine were not significant. In conclusion, both defatting methods of BSFM had no adverse effects on the metabolic energy and nutrient digestibility in young laying hens, but BSFMp demonstrated better effects on the digestibility of metabolic energy and nutrients in the feed for young laying hens.

Yak is an excellent germplasm resource on the Tibetan Plateau and is able to live in high-altitude areas with hypoxic, cold, and harsh environments. Studies on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in large ruminants commonly involve a combination strategy involving six transcription factors, Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, and Lin28 (OSKMNL). This strategy tends to utilize genes from the same species to optimize pluripotency maintenance. In this study, we cloned the six pluripotency genes (OSKMNL) from yak and constructed a multi-cistronic lentiviral vector carrying these genes. This vector efficiently delivered the genes into yak fibroblasts, aiming to promote the reprogramming process. We verified that the treated cells had several pluripotency characteristics, marking the first successful construction of a lentiviral system carrying yak pluripotency genes. This achievement lays the foundation for subsequent establishment of yak iPSCs and holds significant implications for yak-breed improvement and germplasm-resource conservation.

MicroRNA482 (miR482) is a conserved microRNA family in plants, playing critical regulatory roles in different biological activities. Though the members of the miR482 gene family have been identified in plants, a systematic study has not been reported yet. In the present research, 140 mature sequences generated by 106 precursors were used for molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis, and target gene prediction, and the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network mediated by miR482 was summarized. The length of mature sequences ranged from 17 nt to 25 nt, with 22 nt being the most abundant, and the start and end of the mature sequences had a preference for uracil (U). By sequence multiplex comparison, it was found that the mature sequences of 5p were clustered into one group, and others were clustered into the other group. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 140 mature sequences were categorized into six groups. Meanwhile, all the precursor sequences formed a stable hairpin structure, and the 106 precursors were divided into five groups. However, the expression of miR482 varied significantly between different species and tissues. In total, 149 target genes were predicted and their functions focused on single-organism process, cellular process, and cell and cell part. The ceRNA network of miR482 in tomato, cotton, and peanut was summarized based on related publications. In conclusion, this research will provide a foundation for further understanding of the miR482 gene family.

Parental selection is important for heterosis formation during crossbreeding of Populus. However, in poplar hybrids, the effect of parents on vegetative growth heterosis is not well understood. In this study, one female parent (P. simonii XY4) and two male parents (P. nigra OH and P. deltoides × P. nigra BJLY3#) were used to produce two progenies (Hyb1 and Hyb2). Vegetative growth investigation showed that both Hyb1 and Hyb2 performed heterosis in plant growth and ground diameter. The vegetative growth of hybrids was strongly correlated with the male parents but not with the female parents. The gene expression levels in the hybrids were more biased toward the male parents. In Hyb1 and Hyb2, 51.93% and 45.03% of the expressed genes showed the non-additive effect, respectively, and over 65% of the non-additively expressed genes showed the dominant effect. It is noteworthy that genes of paternal expression dominant effect (ELD_♂) account for the majority of dominantly expressed genes, suggesting the paternal contribution to heterosis. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that a large number of non-additively expressed genes were enriched in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway. WGCNA analysis showed that MEcyan was significantly correlated with the traits of hybrids, and 12 plant hormone signal transduction pathway genes were enriched in this module. Transcription factors (TFs) MYB88, LHY, and TCP4 may be involved in the regulation of these pathway genes. This finding supported that the male parents play an important role in the formation of vegetative growth heterosis of Populus. In addition, the non-additively expressed genes of the signal transduction pathway and the regulation of TFs related to these pathway genes may be one of the reasons for the generation of heterosis.

Yellow fever (YF), caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), continually spreads and causes epidemics worldwide, posing a great threat to human health. The live-attenuated YF 17D vaccine (YF-17D) has been licensed for preventing YFV infection and administrated via the intramuscular (i.m.) route. In this study, we sought to determine the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of aerosolized YF-17D via the intratracheal (i.t.) route in mice. YF-17D stocks in liquids were successfully aerosolized into particles of 6 μm. Further in vitro phenotype results showed the aerosolization process did not abolish the infectivity of YF-17D. Meanwhile, a single i.t. immunization with aerosolized YF-17D induced robust humoral and cellular immune responses in A129 mice, which is comparable to that received i.p. immunization. Notably, the aerosolized YF-17D also triggered specific secretory IgA (SIgA) production in bronchoalveolar lavage. Additionally, all immunized animals survived a lethal dose of YFV challenge in mice. In conclusion, our results support further development of aerosolized YF-17D in the future.

Reversible regulation of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation of eukaryotic RNA via methyltransferases is an important epigenetic event affecting RNA metabolism. As such, m6A methylation plays crucial roles in regulating animal growth, development, reproduction, and disease progression. Herein, we review the latest research advancements in m6A methylation modifications and discuss regulatory aspects in the context of growth, development, and reproductive traits of livestock. New insights are highlighted and perspectives for the study of m6A methylation modifications in shaping economically important traits are discussed.

Poplar coma, the fluff-like appendages of seeds originating from the differentiated surface cells of the placenta and funicle, aids in the long-distance dispersal of seeds in the spring. However, it also poses hazards to human safety and causes pollution in the surrounding environment. Unraveling the regulatory mechanisms governing the initiation and development of coma is essential for addressing this issue comprehensively. In this study, strand-specific RNA-seq was conducted at three distinct stages of coma development, revealing 1888 lncRNAs and 52,810 mRNAs. The expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs during coma development were analyzed. Subsequently, potential target genes of lncRNAs were predicted through co-localization and co-expression analyses. Integrating various types of sequencing data, lncRNA-miRNA-TF regulatory networks related to the initiation of coma were constructed. Utilizing identified differentially expressed genes encoding kinesin and actin, lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks associated with the construction and arrangement of the coma cytoskeleton were established. Additionally, relying on differentially expressed genes encoding cellulose synthase, sucrose synthase, and expansin, lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks related to coma cell wall synthesis and remodeling were developed. This study not only enhances the comprehension of lncRNA but also provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms governing the initiation and development of poplar coma.

Molecular breeding accelerates animal breeding and improves efficiency by utilizing genetic mutations. Structural variations (SVs), a significant source of genetic mutations, have a greater impact on phenotypic variation than SNPs. Understanding SV functional mechanisms and obtaining precise information are crucial for molecular breeding. In this study, association analysis revealed significant correlations between 198-bp SVs in the GSTA2 promoter region and abdominal fat weight, intramuscular fat content, and subcutaneous fat thickness in chickens. High expression of GSTA2 in adipose tissue was positively correlated with the abdominal fat percentage, and different genotypes of GSTA2 exhibited varied expression patterns in the liver. The 198-bp SVs regulate GSTA2 expression by binding to different transcription factors. Overexpression of GSTA2 promoted preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation, while interference had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, the 198-bp fragment contains binding sites for transcription factors such as C/EBPα that regulate GSTA2 expression and fat synthesis. These SVs are significantly associated with chicken fat traits, positively influencing preadipocyte development by regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Our work provides compelling evidence for the use of 198-bp SVs in the GSTA2 promoter region as molecular markers for poultry breeding and offers new insights into the pivotal role of the GSTA2 gene in fat generation.

In this paper, the effect of a buffer layer created using different hydrogen-containing ratios of reactive gas on the electrical properties of a top-gate In-Ga-Zn-O thin-film transistor was thoroughly investigated. The interface roughness between the buffer layer and active layer was characterized using atomic force microscopy and X-ray reflection. The results obtained using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy show that the hydrogen content of the buffer layer increases with the increase in the hydrogen content of the reaction gas. With the increase in the hydrogen-containing materials in the reactive gas, field effect mobility and negative bias illumination stress stability improve nearly twofold. The reasons for these results are explained using technical computer-aided design simulations.

Self-melting ice asphalt pavement materials inhibit pavement freezing and improve driving safety. This paper aims to study the long-term salt release characteristics of self-melting ice asphalt mixtures and the impact on pavement after complete salt release. Firstly, a method to accelerate the rapid release of salt based on the Los Angeles abrasion tester. Then, long-term salt release patterns were elucidated under the influence of deicing agent dosage, type of asphalt, and type of gradation. Finally, a quantitative analysis of the pavement performance after complete salt release is conducted. The results indicate that the release efficiency of the Los Angeles abrasion tester method has increased by 91 times compared to the magnetic stirrer immersion flushing method and by 114 times compared to the natural soaking method. The SBS-modified self-melting ice asphalt mixture possesses a longer duration of salt release, but the uniformity of salt release is inferior. Salt release duration is directly proportional to the dosage of deicing agents. SMA-13 self-melting ice asphalt mixture exhibits poorer uniformity in salt release. After complete salt release, high-temperature stability of self-melting ice asphalt mixtures decreased by 31.6%, low-temperature performance decreased by 15.4%, water stability decreased by 26.7%, and fatigue life decreased by 35.9%.

Hyperspectral images (HSI) find extensive application across numerous domains of study. Spectral superresolution (SSR) refers to reconstructing HSIs from readily available RGB images using the mapping relationships between RGB images and HSIs. In recent years, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have become widely adopted in SSR research, primarily because of their exceptional ability to extract features. However, most current CNN-based algorithms are weak in terms of extracting the spectral features of HSIs. While certain algorithms can reconstruct HSIs through the fusion of spectral and spatial data, their practical effectiveness is hindered by their substantial computational complexity. In light of these challenges, we propose a lightweight network, Transformer with convolutional spectral self-attention (TCSSA), for SSR. TCSSA comprises a CNN-Transformer encoder and a CNN-Transformer decoder, in which the convolutional spectral self-attention blocks (CSSABs) are the basic modules. Multiple cascaded encoding and decoding modules within TCSSA facilitate the efficient extraction of spatial and spectral contextual information from HSIs. The convolutional spectral self-attention (CSSA) as the basic unit of CSSAB combines CNN with self-attention in the transformer, effectively extracting both spatial local features and global spectral features from HSIs. Experimental validation of TCSSA’s effectiveness is performed on three distinct datasets: GF5 for remote sensing images along with CAVE and NTIRE2022 for natural images. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a harmonious balance between reconstruction performance and computational complexity.

The rapid serial visual presentation-based brain–computer interface (RSVP-BCI) system achieves the recognition of target images by extracting event-related potential (ERP) features from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and then building target classification models. Currently, how to reduce the training and calibration time for classification models across different subjects is a crucial issue in the practical application of RSVP. To address this issue, a zero-calibration (ZC) method termed Attention-ProNet, which involves meta-learning with a prototype network integrating multiple attention mechanisms, was proposed in this study. In particular, multiscale attention mechanisms were used for efficient EEG feature extraction. Furthermore, a hybrid attention mechanism was introduced to enhance model generalization, and attempts were made to incorporate suitable data augmentation and channel selection methods to develop an innovative and high-performance ZC RSVP-BCI decoding model algorithm. The experimental results demonstrated that our method achieved a balance accuracy (BA) of 86.33% in the decoding task for new subjects. Moreover, appropriate channel selection and data augmentation methods further enhanced the performance of the network by affording an additional 2.3% increase in BA. The model generated by the meta-learning prototype network Attention-ProNet, which incorporates multiple attention mechanisms, allows for the efficient and accurate decoding of new subjects without the need for recalibration or retraining.

Fruit pubescence (trichome) is an important characteristic and is controlled by a single dominant gene (G/g), resulting in peaches and nectarines. The length and/or density of fruit fuzz varies greatly among different peach cultivars. However, little is known about fruit trichome development in peaches. In this study, significant differences in fruit trichome length and density were identified between ‘XT1’ and its bud mutation ‘BM’, showing much higher values for ‘BM’. Comparative transcriptome analysis was performed, and 987 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, which were confirmed by qRT-PCR. GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analyses showed that genes involved in defense response, secondary metabolites and plant hormone signal transduction may also be related to the development of peach fruit trichomes. By integrating other transcriptome data, we finally determined 47 DEGs that might participate in peach trichome development, including five plant-hormone-related genes. The promoter analysis showed that one abscisic-acid-related gene, Prupe.6G072400 (abscisic acid 8′-hydroxylase 2), and one auxin-related gene, Prupe.3G074900 (auxin-responsive protein IAA1), have obvious differences in the cis-acting elements of the promoters between ‘XT1’ and ‘BM’. The results of this study will provide a valuable resource illustrating the mechanism of fruit trichome development in peaches and benefit future genomic research.

Purple sweet potato (PSP) has abundant nutritional compounds, which are valuable constituents of the human diet, but its development and utilization are still in the primary processing phase. This study examined the differences in nutritional characteristics of 10 PSP varieties. A variety of nutritional components were evaluated and comprehensively compared using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). The PSP had 60.9–70.1% moisture. The dried PSP had abundant starch (43.9~67.2%) and dietary fiber (9.40~16.5%), moderate levels of protein (3.19~8.75%) and reducing sugar (1.44~4.01%), and low amounts of crude fat (0.51~1.01%). The anthocyanin profile varied significantly between the different varieties. A correlation analysis showed that a higher content of anthocyanins resulted in a darker color. The PCA and CA suggested that varieties XS, ZL, and JS18 are desirable for developing the diabetic patient’s diet. JS1 had the highest anthocyanin, protein, and dietary fiber contents and the lowest starch, implying that it could be used as a source of natural colorants or functional foods. Varieties FX, GS, ES13, and EN are suitable for producing various starch-based food products, such as noodles, cookies, and pastries. This study provides a reference for the practical use and rational processing of PSP resources.

In order to accurately assess the fatigue performance of semi-rigid base layers, this paper proposes a novel fatigue testing method for semi-rigid base layers that takes into account the spatial stress state. Based on this method, the fatigue performance of three types of reinforced semi-rigid base-layer materials (steel wire mesh, plastic geogrid, and fiberglass) was tested and compared with unreinforced materials. The fatigue strain evolution patterns of these materials were analyzed, and a fatigue strain characteristic value at the limit state was proposed as an evaluation index for the fatigue failure of base layer materials. The results showed that in terms of fatigue performance, plastic geogrid > steel wire mesh > fiberglass > unreinforced specimens. The development of tensile strain can be approximately classified into a three-stage growth pattern, consisting of “curve + straight line + curve”. For the unreinforced specimens, the three stages of bending strain accounted for 10%, 70%, and 20% of the total fatigue life, respectively. The fatigue failure stages of the three types of reinforced materials had similar proportional ranges, representing 5%, 75%, and 20% of the total fatigue life, respectively. The fatigue strain characteristic values for plastic geogrid, steel wire mesh, fiberglass, and unreinforced specimens were 371 με, 280 με, 280 με, and 195 με, respectively. In summary, the use of reinforced materials within semi-rigid base layers enhances their fatigue performance, providing new insights and methods for extending the service life of road surfaces and offering scientific guidance for the practical application of reinforced materials in semi-rigid base layer road surfaces’ fatigue performance.

Microwave maintenance technology, as a new development trend, can realize the environmentally noninvasive and rapid repair of asphalt pavement and gradually replace traditional maintenance methods. Iron tailings were used as a self-healing material in this study to investigate the temperature response matching of microwave maintenance technology. Firstly, the physical properties and the mechanism of iron tailings were elaborated through macroscopic physical index testing and microscopic X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Secondly, the applicability of aggregates to microwave heating was demonstrated by analyzing the temperature rise characteristics of the granules using infrared imaging. Then, the temperature field variation rules of the iron tailing asphalt mixture were summarized by microwave heating Marshall specimens. Finally, the road performance was assessed by conducting high-temperature dynamic stability, low-temperature tensile, water immersion Marshall, and freeze-thaw splitting tests. The experimental results showed that the iron tailings can be used as an aggregate for high-grade asphalt pavement and as the preferred aggregate for microwave maintenance technology. The iron tailings temperature field was radial from the inside out to provide different temperature response states for different pavement diseases, so the asphalt was dissolved and precipitated in a short time. The particle size of iron tailings was inversely proportional to the wave-absorbing heating rate, and the heating efficiency of the small particle size (0–4.75 mm) was the highest. The specimens doped with 4.75–13.2 mm iron tailings showed the best heating performance and road performance, with the average surface temperature of the specimens reaching 126.0 °C within 2 min. In summary, according to different disease types and construction needs, iron tailings can be used as an aggregate for asphalt pavement, providing an appropriate temperature field and improving the efficiency of the microwave maintenance of asphalt pavements.

To investigate the impact of underground water seepage and soil stress fields on the deformation of excavation and support structures, this study initially identified the key influencing factors on excavation deformation. Subsequently, through a finite element simulation analysis using Plaxis, this study explored the effects of critical factors, such as the excavation support form, groundwater lowering depth, permeability coefficient, excavation layer, and sequence on excavation deformation. Furthermore, a comprehensive consideration of various adverse factors was integrated to establish excavation support early warning thresholds, and optimal dewatering strategies. Finally, this study validated the simulation analysis through an on-site in situ testing with wireless sensors in the context of a physical construction site. The research results indicate that the internal support system within the excavation piles exhibited better stability compared to the external anchor support system, resulting in a 34.5% reduction in the overall deformation. Within the internal support system, the factors influencing the excavation deformation were ranked in the following order: water level (35.5%) > permeability coefficient (17.62%) > excavation layer (11.4%). High water levels, high permeability coefficients, and multi-layered soils were identified as the most unfavorable factors for excavation deformation. The maximum deformation under the coupled effect of these factors was established as the excavation support early warning threshold, and the optimal dewatering strategy involved lowering the water level at the excavation to 0.5 m below the excavation face. The on-site in situ monitoring data obtained through wireless sensors exhibited low discrepancies compared to the finite element simulation data, indicating the high precision of the finite element model for considering the fluid–structure interaction.

Due to its broad yield-increasing effect and low cost, humic acid urea (HAU) has become one of the leading modified fertilizers worldwide. The fertisphere is the primary space where urea (U) granules participate in the soil nitrogen cycle, forming a nutrient concentration gradient centered on the point of fertilization. The closer the circle layers to the urea granule in the fertisphere, the higher the nitrogen concentration. However, HAU in this microregion remains poorly understood. The differences in the transformation process from the inside to outside circle layers of the U and HAU fertispheres were simulated and studied using soil incubation experiments under 20, 10, 2, 1, and 0.2 g kg−1 nitrogen inputs. The 20 and 10 g kg−1 inputs represent the layers closest to the urea granule. Within the first seven days, HAU treatment showed higher concentrations of soil ammonia-N content than U treatment within the two layers closest to the fertilizer core, while exhibiting lower concentrations under the farthest two layers. Under 2 g kg−1 nitrogen input, the nitrate nitrogen under the HAU treatment was significantly higher than that in the U treatment, indicating a higher nitrification rate. During the 42-day incubation period, soil mineral nitrogen content under the HAU treatment was higher than that for the U treatment in the two closest circles. On the 42nd day, the residual urea-N under the HAU treatment was significantly higher than that for the U treatment when the nitrogen input was higher than 1 g kg−1. The effect of higher fertilizer preservation and supply capacity of HAU in Fluvo-aquic soil was achieved by changing the urease activity and nitrification rate in fertisphere ranges closer to the fertilizer core. An improved understanding of the high-efficiency mechanism of HAU in the fertisphere process will contribute to the development of new-generation high-efficiency urea products.

Continuous mining is one of the development goals for metal mines, and the application of coal mining equipment represented by shearers provides a reference for continuous mining. However, rock in metal mines is generally harder than coal, making cutting difficult. Improving the surrounding rock conditions is an important way to improve the applicability of the drum for hard rock cutting. Therefore, this article explores the correlation between drum-cutting performance and surrounding rock boundary conditions, aiming to obtain surrounding rock boundary conditions that can help improve drum-cutting performance. To achieve the goal, a model of a shearer drum and hard rock is established using finite element software. With the model, hard rock cutting was simulated and the stress distribution on rock mass, deformation of rock mass, and drum cutting force during the cutting process under different confining pressures were analyzed. Relations between drum cutting force and confining pressure on rock mass were obtained. Then, drum cutting force under different free surfaces of rock mass are studied and the positions of free surface on rock mass that help to reduce the drum cutting force were summarized. According to the research, when the rock mass is under uniaxial compression, drum cutting force increases with the confining pressure on the rock mass; In addition, the free surfaces on the rock mass are proved to be helpful to reduce the drum cutting force. The research content lays the foundation for the boundary conditions required to reduce drum-cutting force in metal mining.

This study investigates the application of foam asphalt (FA) to enhance the compaction effectiveness of a hot in-place recycling asphalt mixture (HIR-AM) during the HIR process of old road surfaces. Initially, the process parameters for FA preparation were determined through expansion-rate and half-life tests. Subsequently, the study focused on evaluating the impact of FA on the compaction quality of HIR-AM. Performance assessments were conducted through rutting tests, low-temperature bending tests, Hamburg wheel tracking tests, dynamic modulus analyses, and various other experiments to evaluate the road performance of HIR-FAM. Finally, the research findings were validated through practical engineering applications, and the construction process for HIR-FAM was summarized. The research results reveal that the optimal foaming temperature for SBS asphalt is 170 °C, with an ideal water content of 1.7%. Under the same compaction temperature, HIR-FAM demonstrated a significant reduction in void content, ranging from 3.8% to 21.2% compared to HIR-AM. Moreover, a higher proportion of FA usage resulted in a more substantial decrease in void content. Compared to HIR-AM, HIR-FAM exhibited notable improvements, including an 11.6% increase in dynamic stability, a 13.4% enhancement in bending strength, a 13.3% increase in maximum bending strain, an 8.1% improvement in residual stability, and an 8.5% boost in freeze–thaw splitting strength. Furthermore, HIR-FAM demonstrated superior water-thermal stability and resistance to low-frequency loads. Paving a test road verified that the adoption of foam asphalt in thermal recycling led to a compaction density increase of over 0.79% compared to traditional in situ thermal recycling sections, with improved compaction uniformity.

Polyaspartic acid (PASP) is widely used in agriculture owing to its role in promoting crop growth and nutrient absorption, and its effects are correlated with its molecular weight. In this study, a field soil column experiment using a 15N tracer was conducted to compare the effects of urea enhanced by PASPs with different molecular weights on wheat yield, nitrogen uptake by wheat, and nitrogen residue in the soil. The results showed that urea enhanced with PASPs (PASPUs) increased the wheat yield by 2.02–9.77% than conventional urea (CU) through enhancing the wheat spike number. PASPUs promoted wheat nitrogen uptake, and urea enhanced with PASPs of high molecular weight (>10 kDa) significantly promoted total nitrogen uptake, fertilizer–N uptake, and soil–N uptake by 9.92%, 4.65%, and 19.62%, respectively, compared with CU. PASPUs reduced fertilizer–N leaching by increasing its residue in the 30–60 cm soil layer and decreasing its amount in the 60–90 cm soil layer. A comprehensive evaluation based on radar charts showed that PASPs of high molecular weight showed a significant improvement in wheat yield and nitrogen–use efficiency, compared with CU and urea enhanced with other molecular weights, and is the most recommended PASP fraction for enhancing nitrogen utilization.

Chinese Materia Medica Resources (CMMRs) are crucial for developing the tradition and industry of traditional Chinese medicine. Given the increasing demand for CMMRs, an accurate and effective understanding of CMMRs is urgently needed. Chinese medicinal plants (CMPs) are the most important sources of CMMRs. Traditional methods of investigating medicinal plant resources have limitations, including severe subjectivity and poor timeliness, which make it difficult to meet the demand for real-time monitoring of large-scale medicinal plant resources. In recent years, remote sensing technology has become an important means of obtaining information on medicinal plants, and the application of this technology has made up for the shortcomings of traditional methods. This paper first discusses the development of investigation methods of CMMRs; points out the importance of remote sensing technology in the application of spatial distribution and information identification and extraction of Chinese medicinal plant resources (CMPRs); analyzes the characteristics of CMPs in different planting patterns, different habitats, and different regions from the perspective of remote sensing information extraction; and explores the selection of suitable data sources, providing a reference for medicinal plant identification and information extraction. Secondly, according to the existing classification and identification methods, previous studies are summarized from the perspectives of classification scales, classification features, and classification accuracy, and the advantages and disadvantages of the commonly used remote sensing classification methods in the investigation of CMPRs are summarized and compared. Finally, the development trend of remote sensing technology in the identification and information extraction of CMPs is examined, and the key technical problems to be solved in the identification and classification of CMPs and the extraction of area information are summarized so as to provide technical support and experience references for the application of remote sensing in the investigation of CMPRs.

As an important timber genus with high economic and ecological values, Populus is a model for dissecting the genetic architecture of growth traits in perennial forest trees. However, the genetic mechanisms of longitudinal growth traits in poplar remain incompletely understood. In this study, we conducted longitudinal genetic analysis of height and diameter at breast height (DBH) in eleven-year poplar clones using ultra-deep sequencing datasets. We compared four S-shaped growth models, including asymptotic, Gompertz, logistic, and Richard, on eleven-year height and DBH records in terms of five metrics. We constructed the best-fitting growth model (Richard) and determined poplar ontogenetic stages by virtue of growth curve fitting and likelihood ratio testing. This study provides some scientific clues for temporal variation of longitudinal growth traits in Populus species.

Zinc (Zn)-enriched pears, which are derived from genetically related cultivars or crops fortified using agronomic methods, have the potential to partly satisfy the human demand for Zn nutrition and diversify consumer choices. However, a standard for the Zn fortification level in pears is lacking, and the disparity in literature-reported fruit Zn concentrations can vary by substantial amounts. Before investigating the Zn concentrations in fruits of the main pear cultivars in China, common sample preparation methods were compared. Among the pre-treatment methods tested, the freeze-dry technique had a greater degree of discrete variation, whereas oven drying (fresh weight) was the optimal method for determining fruit Zn concentrations. Based on the optimal method, no significant distribution patterns of fruit Zn concentration were found among the regions and strains examined. The averaged pulp Zn concentration in all 26 cultivars was 0.72 mg kg−1, with the Hongxiangsu, Jinfeng, and 420 cultivars having the highest concentrations. Combined with the findings from our previous field experiments on Zn-fortified pears, a Zn concentration of ≥0.90 mg kg−1 is the suggested standard for pear enrichment. These results help us to better understand pear Zn nutrition levels and facilitate the marketisation of the fortified fruit.

Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) is a major fast-growing woody tree species and pioneer species for afforestation in barren sites in southern China. However, the regulatory mechanism of gene expression in P. massoniana under drought remains unclear. To uncover candidate microRNAs, their expression profiles, and microRNA-mRNA interactions, small RNA-seq was used to investigate the transcriptome from seedling roots under drought and rewatering in P. massoniana. A total of 421 plant microRNAs were identified. Pairwise differential expression analysis between treatment and control groups unveiled 134, 156, and 96 differential expressed microRNAs at three stages. These constitute 248 unique microRNAs, which were subsequently categorized into six clusters based on their expression profiles. Degradome sequencing revealed that these 248 differentially expressed microRNAs targeted 2069 genes. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis suggested that these target genes were related to translational and posttranslational regulation, cell wall modification, and reactive oxygen species scavenging. miRNAs such as miR482, miR398, miR11571, miR396, miR166, miRN88, and miRN74, along with their target genes annotated as F-box/kelch-repeat protein, 60S ribosomal protein, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, luminal-binding protein, S-adenosylmethionine synthase, and Early Responsive to Dehydration Stress may play critical roles in drought response. This study provides insights into microRNA responsive to drought and rewatering in Masson pine and advances the understanding of drought tolerance mechanisms in Pinus.

The compensatory growth and defensive capabilities of woody plants after damage are crucial to their large-scale promotion and economic value. Here, Popular talassica × Popular euphratica were subjected to artificial defoliation treatments that simulated leaf damage [25% (D25), 50% (D50), and 75% (D75) leaf removal] to study the growth, anatomical, and physiological characteristics. The results showed that D25 and D50 treatments significantly increased the growth parameters, such as leaf length, leaf area, and specific leaf area, but did not affect the distributions of root and stem biomasses compared with the CK. However, the D75 treatment significantly decreased most growth parameters. The time required for the chlorophyll content to recover increased along with the damage intensity as follows: D25, high-flat-high; D50, low-high-flat; and D75, low-flat-high. Furthermore, leaf damage significantly reduced stomatal density, whereas the stomatal width, area, opening, and Pn significantly increased by 8.59%, 8.40%, 23.27%, and 31.22%, respectively, under the D50 treatment, generating a photosynthetic compensation response. The leaf anatomical parameters increased along with damage intensity, except spongy tissue thickness, which decreased, while the stem anatomical parameters showed trends of first increasing and then decreasing, reaching maxima under the D50 treatment. The enzymes showed an increasing and then decreasing trend as the damage time increased. After 1 d of treatment, CAT, POD, and PAL activities peak at D75, in contrast to a peak of SOD activity at D50. Overall, these findings indicate that it is advisable to keep the amount of leaf damage within 50%. The leaf damage can have an impact on the growth of P. talassica × P. euphratica. They adjusted their resource allocation strategy and physiological defense capacity by increasing the chlorophyll content, improving photosynthetic capacity, changing stem and leaf anatomy, and increasing defense enzyme activity levels, thereby improving their damage tolerance and adaptability.

Xylogenesis is a complex and sequential biosynthetic process controlled by polygenes. Deciphering the genetic architecture of this complex quantitative trait could provide valuable information for increasing wood biomass and improving its properties. Here, we performed genomic resequencing of 64 24-year-old trees (64 hybrids of section Aigeiros and their parents) grown in the same field and conducted full-sib family-based association analyses of two growth and six woody traits using GEMMA as a choice of association model selection. We identified 1342 significantly associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 673 located in the region upstream and downstream of 565 protein-encoding genes. The transcriptional regulation network of secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis was further constructed based on the published data of poplar miRNA, transcriptome, and degradome. These provided a certain scientific basis for the in-depth understanding of the mechanism of poplar timber formation and the molecular-assisted breeding in the future.

Thin film transistors (TFTs) as the core devices for displays, are widely used in various fields including ultra-high-resolution displays, flexible displays, wearable electronic skins and memory devices, especially in terms of sensors. TFTs have now started to move towards miniaturization. Similarly to MOSFETs problem, traditional planar structure TFTs have difficulty in reducing the channel’s length sub-1μm under the existing photolithography technology. Vertical channel thin film transistors (V-TFTs) are proposed. It is an effective solution to overcome the miniaturization limit of traditional planar TFTs. So, we summarize the different aspects of VTFTs. Firstly, this paper introduces the structure types, key parameters, and the impact of different preparation methods in devices of V-TFTs. Secondly, an overview of the research progress of V-TFTs’ active layer materials in recent years, the characteristics of V-TFTs and their application in examples has proved the enormous application potential of V-TFT in sensing. Finally, in addition to the advantages of V-TFTs, the current technical challenge and their potential solutions are put forward, and the future development trend of this new structure of V-TFTs is proposed.

The NAC (NAM-ATAF1/2-CUC) transcription factor family is one of the largest plant-specific transcription factor families, playing an important role in plant growth and development and abiotic stress response. As a short-rotation woody plant, Salix integra (S. integra) has high lead (Pb) phytoremediation potential. To understand the role of NAC in S. integra Pb tolerance, 53 SiNAC transcripts were identified using third-generation and next-generation transcriptomic data from S. integra exposed to Pb stress, and a phylogenetic analysis revealed 11 subfamilies. A sequence alignment showed that multiple subfamilies represented by TIP and ATAF had a gene that produced more than one transcript under Pb stress, and different transcripts had different responses to Pb. By analyzing the expression profiles of SiNACs at 9 Pb stress time points, 41 of 53 SiNACs were found to be significantly responsive to Pb. Short time-series expression miner (STEM) analysis revealed that 41 SiNACs had two significant Pb positive response patterns (early and late), both containing 10 SiNACs. The SiNACs with the most significant Pb response were mainly from the ATAF and NAP subfamilies. Therefore, 4 and 3 SiNACs from the ATAF and NAP subfamilies, respectively, were selected as candidate Pb-responsive SiNACs for further structural and functional analysis. The RT-qPCR results of 7 transcripts also confirmed the different Pb response patterns of the ATAF and NAP subfamilies. SiNAC004 and SiNAC120, which were randomly selected from two subfamilies, were confirmed to be nuclear localization proteins by subcellular localization experiments. Functional prediction analysis of the associated transcripts of seven candidate SiNACs showed that the target pathways of ATAF subfamily SiNACs were “sulfur metabolism” and “glutathione metabolism”, and the target pathways of NAP subfamily SiNACs were “ribosome” and “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis”. This study not only identified two NAC subfamilies with different Pb response patterns but also identified Pb-responsive SiNACs that could provide a basis for subsequent gene function verification.

To investigate the effect of recycled engine oil bottoms (REOB) as a compatibilizer on the properties of styrene–butadiene–styrene-modified bitumen (SBS-PMB), this paper studied the preparation method, properties, and micro-mechanism of composite modification of matrix bitumen with SBS and REOB. Firstly, a multi-factor orthogonal experiment determined the optimal preparation scheme of REOB/SBS composite-modified bitumen (REOB/SBS-PMB). Then, the high-temperature stability rheological properties, and anti-aging performance of REOB-PMB were studied by testing Brookfield viscosity, elasticity recovery, and dynamic shear rheology (DSR) and by short-term aging simulation (TFOT). Finally, the microstructure, fraction content, and SBS particle dispersion of 70# matrix bitumen (70-MB), SBS-PMB, and REOB/SBS-PMB were compared and analyzed by tests of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), rod-shaped thin-layer chromatography, and fluorescence microscopy to reveal the micro-mechanism of REOB improving SBS and bitumen compatibility. The research results showed that the mixing form of SBS and REOB in bitumen was mainly physical swelling and blending, with chemical changes also present that have a minor impact. The light fraction in REOB increased the flowability of bitumen, promoted the swelling of SBS, improved the compatibility between SBS and bitumen, and improved the high-temperature stability and rheological properties while reducing the impact of aging.

Exploring the effective signal features of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals is an important issue in the research of brain–computer interface (BCI), and the results can reveal the motor intentions that trigger electrical changes in the brain, which has broad research prospects for feature extraction from EEG data. In contrast to previous EEG decoding methods that are based solely on a convolutional neural network, the traditional convolutional classification algorithm is optimized by combining a transformer mechanism with a constructed end-to-end EEG signal decoding algorithm based on swarm intelligence theory and virtual adversarial training. The use of a self-attention mechanism is studied to expand the receptive field of EEG signals to global dependence and train the neural network by optimizing the global parameters in the model. The proposed model is evaluated on a real-world public dataset and achieves the highest average accuracy of 63.56% in cross-subject experiments, which is significantly higher than that found for recently published algorithms. Additionally, good performance is achieved in decoding motor intentions. The experimental results show that the proposed classification framework promotes the global connection and optimization of EEG signals, which can be further applied to other BCI tasks.

Like its outdoor counterpart (e.g., GPS), an indoor tracking system can bring about disruptive changes in how we live and work. This paper proposes a location and tracking system using a single WiFi link based on channel state information. The system can realize real-time, decimeter-level localization and tracking. In this system, phase calibration and static path elimination are realized by multiplying the conjugate signals of different antennas. Then, a three-dimensional MUSIC algorithm is employed to estimate the angle of arrival (AOA), the time of flight (TOF), and the velocity of a target. A scheme is then developed to adjust the MUSIC search range and reduce the computation time from about ten hours to tens of seconds. The Widar2.0 data set from Tsinghua University are used for the experiments; the proposed system is found to have an average tracking error of 0.68 m in the three environments of classroom, office, and corridor, which is better than the existing single link localization and tracking system.

Saline-alkali stress adversely affects crop growth and nutrient absorption, thereby reducing crop yield and quality. Exogenous amino acids have multiple synergistic effects; however, whether a preparation containing amino acids increases the resistance of pakchoi to saline-alkali soil remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of a patented “preparation” containing amino acids on crop growth, nutrient absorption, and tolerance to saline-alkali stress in pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.), using a pot culture experiment with three successive plantings. The preparation was made using tail liquor generated during the production of monosodium glutamate. Topdressing with the preparation had little effect on pakchoi growth, yield, quality, or nutrient accumulation, compared with no topdressing treatment. However, the addition of the preparation to water-soluble fertiliser increased crop yield by 11.9–17.6%, with a 15.4% cumulative increase over the three crops. The concentrations of vitamin C, soluble sugar, and soluble protein increased by 10.2–12.4%, 11.9–22.3%, and 3.0–14.3%, respectively. The fertiliser utilisation ratio for the three crops increased by 30.5%, while the nitrate content decreased by 8.5–20.4%. The fresh weight significantly decreased when the dosage of water-soluble fertiliser was reduced to 20%. However, the addition of the preparation to the reduced-dosage water-soluble fertiliser compensated for this reduction, especially in the third crop. Our results show that the preparation improves pakchoi resistance to saline-alkali stress and restores agricultural productivity.

Accurate and robust camera pose estimation is essential for high-level applications such as augmented reality and autonomous driving. Despite the development of global feature-based camera pose regression methods and local feature-based matching guided pose estimation methods, challenging conditions, such as illumination changes and viewpoint changes, as well as inaccurate keypoint localization, continue to affect the performance of camera pose estimation. In this paper, we propose a novel relative camera pose regression framework that uses global features with rotation consistency and local features with rotation invariance. First, we apply a multi-level deformable network to detect and describe local features, which can learn appearances and gradient information sensitive to rotation variants. Second, we process the detection and description processes using the results from pixel correspondences of the input image pairs. Finally, we propose a novel loss that combines relative regression loss and absolute regression loss, incorporating global features with geometric constraints to optimize the pose estimation model. Our extensive experiments report satisfactory accuracy on the 7Scenes dataset with an average mean translation error of 0.18 m and a rotation error of 7.44° using image pairs as input. Ablation studies were also conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in the tasks of pose estimation and image matching using the 7Scenes and HPatches datasets.

We present an environment-friendly and highly efficient method for the oxidation of aromatic alcohols to carboxylic acids or ketones in air via light irradiation under external catalyst-, additive-, and base-free conditions. The photoreaction system exhibits a wide substrate scope and the potential for large-scale applications. Most of the desired products are easily obtained via recrystallization and separation from low-boiling reaction medium acetone in good yields, and the products can be subsequent directly transformed without further purification.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of poorly conserved transcripts without protein-encoding ability, are widely involved in plant organogenesis and stress responses by mediating the transmission and expression of genetic information at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and epigenetic levels. Here, we cloned and characterized a novel lncRNA molecule through sequence alignment, Sanger sequencing, transient expression in protoplasts, and genetic transformation in poplar. lncWOX11a is a 215 bp transcript located on poplar chromosome 13, ~50 kbp upstream of PeWOX11a on the reverse strand, and the lncRNA may fold into a series of complex stem–loop structures. Despite the small open reading frame (sORF) of 51 bp within lncWOX11a, bioinformatics analysis and protoplast transfection revealed that lncWOX11a has no protein-coding ability. The overexpression of lncWOX11a led to a decrease in the quantity of adventitious roots on the cuttings of transgenic poplars. Further, cis-regulatory module prediction and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout experiments with poplar protoplasts demonstrated that lncWOX11a acts as a negative regulator of adventitious rooting by downregulating the WUSCHEL-related homeobox gene WOX11, which is supposed to activate adventitious root development in plants. Collectively, our findings imply that lncWOX11a is essential for modulating the formation and development of adventitious roots.

The transgenesis of silkworms is an important way to innovate genetic resources and silk function. However, the silk-gland (SG) of transgenic silkworms, which is the most concerned target tissue of sericulture, often suffers from low vitality, stunting and other problems, and the reasons are still unknown. This study trans engineered recombinant Ser3, a middle silk gland (MSG) specific expression gene, in the posterior silk gland (PSG) of the silkworm, and studied hemolymph immune melanization response changes in mutant pure line SER (Ser3+/+). The results showed that although the mutant had normal vitality, the melanin content and phenoloxidase (PO) activity in hemolymph related to humoral immunity were significantly reduced, and caused significantly slower blood melanization and weaker sterilization ability. The mechanism investigation showed that the mRNA levels and enzymatic activities of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine decarboxylase (DDC) in the melanin synthesis pathway in mutant hemolymph, as well as the transcription levels of the PPAE, SP21 and serpins genes in the serine protease cascade were significantly affected. Moreover, the total antioxidant capacity, superoxide anion inhibition capacity and catalase (CAT) level related to the redox metabolic capacity of hemolymph were significantly increased, while the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and glutathione (GSH), were significantly decreased. In conclusion, the anabolism of melanin in the hemolymph of PSG transgenic silkworm SER was inhibited, while the basic response level of oxidative stress was increased, and the hemolymph immune melanization response was decreased. The results will significantly improve the safe assessment and development of genetically modified organisms.

Cinnamomum camphora is one of the most commonly used tree species in landscaping. Improving its ornamental traits, particularly bark and leaf colors, is one of the key breeding goals. The basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) are crucial in controlling anthocyanin biosynthesis in many plants. However, their role in C. camphora remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified 150 bHLH TFs (CcbHLHs) using natural mutant C. camphora ‘Gantong 1’, which has unusual bark and leaf colors. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 150 CcbHLHs were divided into 26 subfamilies which shared similar gene structures and conserved motifs. According to the protein homology analysis, we identified four candidate CcbHLHs that were highly conserved compared to the TT8 protein in A. thaliana. These TFs are potentially involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in C. camphora. RNA-seq analysis revealed specific expression patterns of CcbHLHs in different tissue types. Furthermore, we verified expression patterns of seven CcbHLHs (CcbHLH001, CcbHLH015, CcbHLH017, CcbHLH022, CcbHLH101, CcbHLH118, and CcbHLH134) in various tissue types at different growth stages using qRT-PCR. This study opens a new avenue for subsequent research on anthocyanin biosynthesis regulated by CcbHLH TFs in C. camphora.

The increased utilization of pellets in blast furnaces is one of the directions for low-carbon ironmaking. As a result, the low slag rate may affect the desulfurization of the hot metal and the removal of alkali in the blast furnace. Effective desulfurization and the removal of alkali in the low slag ironmaking process have become the focus of the steel industry. In this paper, the effects of slag quantity, temperature, reaction time and slag composition on the desulfurization and removal of alkali were studied using the slag-metal reaction method. It was found that the slag quantity had the same influence trend on the desulfurization and the removal of alkali. The greater the slag quantity, the more effective the desulfurization and the removal of alkali. The slag composition, temperature and reaction time had the opposite effect on the desulfurization and the removal of alkali. High temperature, long reaction time, high MgO concentration, high CaO/SiO2 ratio and low Al2O3 concentration increased the desulfurization of hot metal but reduced the removal rate of alkali from the blast furnace. Applications of the experimental results on high-proportion pellet blast furnace operation are discussed.

In this study, the periodic evolution and characteristics of the Palaeogene tectonic activity in the deep-water area of the Qiongdongnan Basin were revealed through the identification and analysis of the regional angular unconformity and the characteristics of the periodic fault activity. In addition to a comprehensive analysis of the controls on sedimentary paleogeomorphologic background, sedimentary characteristics and evolution by periodic rifting are systematically discussed. The studies have shown that the tectonic activity of the Paleogene Qiongdongnan Basin underwent three separate rifting phases: Phase-I (T100–T80), Phase-II (T80–T70), and Phase-III (T70–T60). The early phase of rifting was dominated by strong differential block-fault settlement, while the later phase was gradually replaced by homogeneous settlement controlled by regional depressions and a small amount of fault activity, characterized by a weak-strong-weak evolution. From Phase-I to Phase-III, the paleo-geomorphology margin changed from a large gradient to a gentle gradient, the subsidence center moved from the initial basin margin to the later basin center, and the basin-marginal fans extended finitely before developing on a large lateral scale in the later Phase-III. Analyzing the characteristics of periodic tectonic evolution and sedimentation response is important for petroleum exploration in marine basins, such as locating economic reservoirs.

Metasilicate-rich groundwater could meet the high demand of the international community for high-quality water. In order to comprehensively analyze the genetic mechanism of metasilicate-rich groundwater, and help human communities effectively exploit and utilize high-quality water resources, taking the Ji’nan rock mass area as an example, this study carried out systematic research on the spatial distribution and genetic mechanism of the metasilicate-rich groundwater Based on the regional hydrogeological conditions, the influencing factors on the spatial distribution characteristics of the metasilicate-rich groundwater in the study area were systematically sorted out by means of petrogeochemistry, hydrochemistry, and chemical weathering index analysis, and the accumulation mechanism of the metasilicate-rich groundwater was discussed from the perspective of water-rock interaction. The results show that: (1) On the northwest side and part of the northeast side of Ji’nan rock mass, the metasilicate content of the groundwater samples exceeded 25 mg/L; the metasilicate content on the south, west, and east sides were relatively low; (2) Ji’nan rock mass is mainly composed of gabbro easily weathered, with high SiO2 content and high weathering degree showing obvious characteristics of desilication. FeS2 developing along the contact zones between the rock mass and surrounding rocks was easily oxidized to form H2SO4, which enhanced the solubility of silicate minerals in the groundwater. Ji’nan rock mass was located in the low-lying position of the monocline structure, which presented better water conservation and recharges conditions. The above factors resulted in the metasilicate-rich groundwater accumulating in the area of Ji’nan rock mass and showed different spatial distribution characteristics.

sRNAs (small RNAs) play an important role in regulation of plant immunity against a variety of pathogens. In this study, sRNA sequencing analysis was performed to identify miRNAs (microRNAs) during the interaction of potato and Phytophthora infestans. Totally, 171 potato miRNAs were identified, 43 of which were annotated in the miRNA database and 128 were assigned as novel miRNAs in this study. Those potato miRNAs may target 878 potato genes and half of them encode resistance proteins. Fifty-three potato miRNAs may target 194 P. infestans genes. Three potato miRNAs (novel 72, 133, and 140) were predicted to have targets only in the P. infestans genome. miRNAs transient expression and P. infestans inoculation assay showed that miR396, miR166, miR6149-5P, novel133, or novel140 promoted P. infestans colonization, while miR394 inhibited colonization on Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. An artificial miRNA target (amiRNA) degradation experiment demonstrated that miR394 could target both potato gene (PGSC0003DMG400034305) and P. infestans genes. miR396 targets the multicystatin gene (PGSC0003DMG400026899) and miR6149-5p could shear the galactose oxidase F-box protein gene CPR30 (PGSC0003DMG400021641). This study provides new information on the aspect of cross-kingdom immune regulation in potato-P. infestans interaction at the sRNAs regulation level.

Blue mold, caused by Penicillium expansum, is the most destructive fungal disease of apples and causes great losses during the post-harvest storage of the fruit. Although some apple cultivars are resistant to P. expansum, there has been little information on the molecular mechanism of resistance. In this study, differential proteomic analysis was performed on apple samples infected and uninfected with P. expansum. Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) technology was used to target and verify the expression of candidate proteins. The label-free technique identified 343 differentially expressed proteins, which were mainly associated with defense responses, metal ion binding, stress responses, and oxidative phosphorylation. The differential expression of enzymes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis and scavenging, the activation of defense-related metabolic pathways, and the further production of pathogenesis-related proteins (PR proteins) during P. expansum infection in apples, and direct resistance to pathogen invasion were determined. This study reveals the mechanisms of apple response at the proteomic level with 9 h of P. expansum infection.

Salt stress can cause cellular dehydration, which induces oxidative stress by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. They may play signaling roles and cause structural damages to the cells. To overcome the negative impacts, the plant ROS scavenging system plays a vital role in maintaining the cellular redox homeostasis. The special sugar beet apomictic monosomic additional M14 line (BvM14) showed strong salt stress tolerance. Comparative proteomics revealed that six antioxidant enzymes (glycolate oxidase (GOX), peroxiredoxin (PrxR), thioredoxin (Trx), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and dehydroascorbate reductase3 (DHAR3)) in BvM14 were responsive to salt stress. In this work, the full-length cDNAs of genes encoding these enzymes in the redox system were cloned from the BvM14. Ectopic expression of the six genes reduced the oxidative damage of transgenic plants by regulating the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid (AsA), and glutathione (GSH), and thus enhanced the tolerance of transgenic plants to salt stress. This work has charecterized the roles that the antioxidant enzymes play in the BvM14 response to salt stress and provided useful genetic resources for engineering and marker-based breeding of crops that are sensitive to salt stress.

Neurons communicate through complex chemical and electrophysiological signal patterns to develop a tight information network. A physiological or pathological event cannot be explained by signal communication mode. Therefore, dual-mode electrodes can simultaneously monitor the chemical and electrophysiological signals in the brain. They have been invented as an essential tool for brain science research and brain-computer interface (BCI) to obtain more important information and capture the characteristics of the neural network. Electrochemical sensors are the most popular methods for monitoring neurochemical levels in vivo. They are combined with neural microelectrodes to record neural electrical activity. They simultaneously detect the neurochemical and electrical activity of neurons in vivo using high spatial and temporal resolutions. This paper systematically reviews the latest development of neural microelectrodes depending on electrode materials for simultaneous in vivo electrochemical sensing and electrophysiological signal recording. This includes carbon-based microelectrodes, silicon-based microelectrode arrays (MEAs), and ceramic-based MEAs, focusing on the latest progress since 2018. In addition, the structure and interface design of various types of neural microelectrodes have been comprehensively described and compared. This could be the key to simultaneously detecting electrochemical and electrophysiological signals.

A new method for the synthesis of α-trifluoromethylated tertiary alcohols bearing coumarins is described. The reaction of 3-(trifluoroacetyl)coumarin and pyrrole provided the target compounds with high yields under catalyst-free, mild conditions. The crystal structure of compound 3fa was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The biological activities, such as in vitro antifungal activity of the α-trifluoromethylated tertiary alcohols against Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium moniliforme, Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn, and Phytophthora parasitica var nicotianae, were investigated. The bioassay results indicated that compounds 3ad, 3gd, and 3hd showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity in vitro. Compound 3cd exhibited excellent fungicidal activity against Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn, with an EC50 value of 10.9 μg/mL, which was comparable to that of commercial fungicidal triadimefon (EC50 = 6.1 μg/mL). Furthermore, molecular docking study suggested that 3cd had high binding affinities with 1W9U, like argifin.

The camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl.) is the representative species of subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests in eastern Asia and an important raw material for essential oil production worldwide. Although MYBs have been comprehensively characterized and their functions have been partially resolved in many plants, it has not been explored in C. camphora. In this study, 121 CcMYBs were identified on 12 chromosomes in the whole genome of C. camphora and found that CcMYBs were mainly expanded by segmental duplication. They were divided into 28 subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis and gene structural characteristics. In the promoter regions, numerous cis-acting elements were related to biological processes. Analysis of RNA sequencing data from seven tissues showed that CcMYBs exhibited different expression profiles, suggesting that they have various roles in camphor tree development. In addition, combined with the correlation analysis of structural genes in the flavonoid synthesis pathway, we identified CcMYBs from three subgroups that might be related to the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. This study systematically analyzed CcMYBs in C. camphora, which will set the stage for subsequent research on the functions of CcMYBs during their lifetime and provide valuable insights for the genetic improvement of camphor trees.

In this paper, a facile modifying technique of source/drain regions conductivity was proposed for self-aligned top-gate In-Ga-Zn-O (IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) by controlling the process parameter of the passivation layer at relatively low temperatures. The sheet resistance of the source and drain regions of IGZO was approximately 365 Ω/□, and there was no significant change within a month. The device parameters of mobility, threshold voltage, subthreshold swing, and current switching ratio of the fabricated device were 15.15 cm2V−1s−1, 0.09 V, 0.15 V/dec, and higher than 109, respectively. The threshold voltage drift under negative bias illumination stress was −0.34 V. In addition, a lower channel width-normalized contact resistance of 9.86 Ω·cm was obtained.

Consumers in electricity markets are becoming more proactive because of the rapid development of demand–response management and distributed energy resources, which boost the transformation of peer-to-peer (P2P) energy-trading mechanisms. However, in the P2P negotiation process, it is a challenging task to prevent private information from being attacked by malicious agents. In this paper, we propose a privacy-preserving, two-party, secure computation mechanism for consensus-based P2P energy trading. First, a novel P2P negotiation mechanism for energy trading is proposed based on the consensus + innovation (C + I) method and the power transfer distribution factor (PTDF), and this mechanism can simultaneously maximize social welfare and maintain physical network constraints. In addition, the C + I method only requires a minimum set of information to be exchanged. Then, we analyze the strategy of malicious neighboring agents colluding to attack in order to steal private information. To defend against this attack, we propose a two-party, secure computation mechanism in order to realize safe negotiation between each pair of prosumers based on Paillier homomorphic encryption (HE), a smart contract (SC), and zero-knowledge proof (ZKP). The energy price is updated in a safe way without leaking any private information. Finally, we simulate the functionality of the privacy-preserving mechanism in terms of convergence performance, computational efficiency, scalability, and SC operations.

In this paper, a novel and complete navigation system is proposed for mobile ground vehicles in a park environment. LiDAR map representation and maintenance, dynamic objects detection and removal, hierarchal path planning and model-free local planning are developed in the system. The system is formulated in three layers. In the global layer, given the global point cloud map of the environment, the traverse area is detected and its skeleton graph is extracted to represent the global topology of the environment. Then, in the middle layer, the global map is divided into several submaps and each submap is represented by a modified multi-layer grid map. In the local layer, considering the dynamics of the environment, according to the real-time LiDAR observation, a probabilistic distribution-based representation and its updating mechanism are proposed. Based on the hierarchal environment map representation, the path planning and local planning are performed in a hierarchal way. Considering the complexity of the motion model estimation, a model free local planner is used. Extensive experiments are conducted in the real environment and the source code will be made open for the robotics community.