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Wheat plants are ubiquitously simultaneously exposed to salinity and limited iron availability caused by soil saline-alkalisation. Through this study, we found that both low Fe and NaCl severely inhibited the growth of seminal roots in wheat seedlings; however, sufficient Fe caused greater growth cessation of seminal roots than low Fe under salt stress. Low Fe improved the root meristematic division activity, not altering the mature cell sizes compared with sufficient Fe under salt stress. Foliar Fe spray and split-root experiments showed that low Fe-alleviating the salinity-induced growth cessation of seminal roots was dependent on local low Fe signals in the roots. Ionomics combined with TEM/X-ray few differences in the root Na

The black carabid beetle Calosoma maximoviczi is a successful predator that serves as both a beneficial insect and a severe threat to economic herbivores. Its hunting technique relies heavily on olfaction, but the underlying mechanism has not been studied. Here, we report the electrophysiological, ecological and molecular traits of bioactive components identified from a comprehensive panel of natural odorants in the beetle-prey-plant system. The aim of this work was to investigate olfactory perceptions and their influence on the behaviours of C. maximoviczi.Among the 200 identified volatiles, 18 were concentrated in beetle and prey samples, and 14 were concentrated in plants. Insect feeding damage to plants led to a shift in the emission fingerprint. Twelve volatiles were selected using successive electrophysiological tests. Field trials showed that significant sex differences existed when trapping with a single chemical or chemical mixture. Expression profiles indicated that sex-biased catches were related to the expression of 15 annotated CmaxOBPs and 40 CmaxORs across 12 chemosensory organs. In silico evaluations were conducted with 16 CmaxORs using modelling and docking. Better recognition was predicted for the pairs CmaxOR5-(Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, CmaxOR6-β-caryophyllene, CmaxOR18-(E)-β-ocimene and CmaxOR18-tetradecane, with higher binding affinity and a suitable binding pocket. Lastly, 168Y in CmaxOR6 and 142Y in CmaxOR18 were predicted as key amino acid residues for binding β-caryophyllene and tetradecane, respectively.This work provides an example pipeline for de novo investigation in C. maximoviczi baits and the underlying olfactory perceptions. The results will benefit the future development of trapping-based integrated pest management strategies and the deorphanization of odorant receptors in ground beetles. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Although some robotic systems have been developed to improve conventional flexible ureteroscopy (FURS), a widely used intervention in urology, these robots rarely have a comprehensive force feedback function which is important for master-slave controlled surgical robots.Here, we design and fabricate a novel FURS robot with a comprehensive force feedback function. Moreover, to realize better force feedback, a neural network-based method is also demonstrated to estimate the interactive forces between the flexible ureteroscope and the environment.We show that when teleoperating the flexible ureteroscope with our robot, the operator can accurately feel the obstruction if the interactive axial force or torque exceeds 1.2 N or 15.6 mN·m respectively. For bending movement, augmented force feedback greatly improves the accuracy of the operator's perception of obstruction.The developed robotic system with force feedback is expected to improve the safety of robot-assisted FURS.

Transcription factor SP1 could manipulate pathways involved in ovarian cancer progression. LncRNAs are involved in SP1‐mediated tumorigenesis. LncRNA DANCR could promote metastasis of ovarian cancer. However, the regulatory function and involvement of SP1‐induced lncRNA DANCR in ovarian cancer remain elusive. Data from this study showed that SP1 was up‐regulated in ovarian cancer tissues and cells (CAOV3, SKOV3, A2780), and SP1 could bind to the promoter region of DANCR through chromatin immunoprecipitation and leuciferase activity assays. Therefore, DANCR was transcriptionally induced by SP1 in ovarian cancer tissues and cells (CAOV3, SKOV3, A2780). Functionally, reduced expression of DANCR suppressed cell viability, migration and invasion of CAOV3, while enhanced DANCR expression contributed to SKOV3 growth. Over‐expression of SP1 reversed the suppressive effects of DANCR interference on ovarian cancer progression. In conclusion, SP1‐induced DANCR contributed to oncogenic potential of ovarian cancer, suggesting a promising therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Lin28a has been found to enhance glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity. Lin28a alleviates cardiac dysfunction under various pathological conditions. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of Lin28a on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) are not well-understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether Lin28a protects against DCM and the potential mechanisms. Two to three days old mouse neonatal primary cardiomyocytes were randomized for treatment with adenoviruses harboring Lin28a and mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (Mst1) short hairpin RNA, 48 hr before culturing in normal or high glucose medium. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis, autophagy, mitochondrial morphology, adenosine triphosphate content, and cytokine levels in the high glucose or normal conditions were observed between all groups. Either Lin28a overexpression or Mst1 knockdown alleviated mitochondrial ultrastructure impairment, decreased cytokine levels, inhibited apoptosis, and enhanced autophagy in primary neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes treated with high glucose. Importantly, the protective effects of Lin28a and Mst1 disappeared after treatment with 3-methyladenine, an autophagy inhibitor. Interestingly, in Mst1 knockdown cardiomyocytes, Lin28a overexpression failed to further enhance autophagy and alleviate high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte injury, which implies the protective roles of Lin28a counteracting high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte injury are dependent on Mst1 inhibition. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence double staining suggested that there were no direct interactions between Mst1 and Lin28a. Lin28a increased the expression of Akt, which inhibited the activation of Mst1-mediated apoptotic pathways.

Background The present subanalysis of the Study of Once Daily Levemir (SOLVE) study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of once-daily insulin detemir as add-on to oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients according to body mass index in a real-life setting. Methods In all, 3272 eligible patients who were treated with diet, exercise, and one or more OAD were prescribed once-daily insulin detemir by their physician according to routine clinical practice and were followed-up for 24 weeks. The incidence of serious adverse reactions (SADRs), including major hypoglycemia, was the primary endpoint. Subanalyses were performed on patients in the following BMI groups: normal weight (BMI

This study uses an unbalanced panel data analysis to examine the effects of social capital, top executive attributes and R&D on firm value in Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Board from 2007 to 2011. There are several interesting findings. First, the gender (male) and academic degree of the chairperson in the SMEs have a positive and significant effect on firm value. Second, social capital (measured by political connections, managerial business association networks and technology association networks) and R&D have a positive effect on SME firm value. Third, the effect of political connections on firm value for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is stronger than for non-SOEs, while the effect of business and technology networks on firm value for non-SOEs is stronger than for SOEs. Our study has important policy implications for SMEs that want to compete successfully in China.

A convenient and efficient synthetic method has been developed to construct highly functionalized polycyclic indoline skeletons with four contiguous stereocenters, which are of great importance in biological and pharmaceutical chemistry. The selective formation of either the oxabridged-ring or ring-opening polycyclic indoline derivatives can be controlled by using different gold catalytic systems. A variety of polycyclic indoline derivatives were obtained in moderate to good yields under mild conditions with moderate to excellent enantioselectivity.

BACKGROUND: Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, methane emission, and the net carbon sink represented by rice straw incorporated into soil (RIS) were studied using long-term experimentation with rice straw incorporated into soil (LRIS) and short-term experimentation with different patterns of rice straw incorporated into soil (SPRIS). RESULTS: Soil organic carbon could be improved by RIS combined with soil ploughing. The increased rate of SOC deposition per cultivated layer was 0.10 t C ha−1 for 2.625 t ha−1 straw incorporated each season in LRIS and 0.36 t C ha−1 for 4.5 t straw ha−1 season−1 incorporated in SPRIS; the apparent SOC conversion by rice straw (stubble) was reduced as the amount of incorporated straw increased. However, RIS methane emission from paddy fields also significantly exacerbated the CH4 emission flux observed during the early and late rice growing seasons, which was increased by 75.0% (P < 0.01) and 251.5% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared with combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertiliser (NPK). The apparent methane conversion of straw was almost uniform with a similar rice yield and soil cultivating mode. Among the patterns of RIS, methane emission was significantly reduced under straw covering untilled land, and this property led to the lowest apparent methane conversion. CONCLUSION: RIS with ploughing and tilling resulted in negative carbon sequestration because of increased methane emissions. A combined NPK application with only rice stubble incorporation may be sustainable for a higher rice yield, but this approach has a reduced rate of negative carbon sequestration in the paddy field. Straw covering with no tillage was the best measure to realise high yield and low carbon emission for RIS. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry