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Summary: In superrosid species, root epidermal cells differentiate into root hair cells and nonhair cells. In some superrosids, the root hair cells and nonhair cells are distributed randomly (Type I pattern), and in others, they are arranged in a position‐dependent manner (Type III pattern). The model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) adopts the Type III pattern, and the gene regulatory network (GRN) that controls this pattern has been defined. However, it is unclear whether the Type III pattern in other species is controlled by a similar GRN as in Arabidopsis, and it is not known how the different patterns evolved.In this study, we analyzed superrosid species Rhodiola rosea, Boehmeria nivea, and Cucumis sativus for their root epidermal cell patterns. Combining phylogenetics, transcriptomics, and cross‐species complementation, we analyzed homologs of the Arabidopsis patterning genes from these species.We identified R. rosea and B. nivea as Type III species and C. sativus as Type I species. We discovered substantial similarities in structure, expression, and function of Arabidopsis patterning gene homologs in R. rosea and B. nivea, and major changes in C. sativus.We propose that in superrosids, diverse Type III species inherited the patterning GRN from a common ancestor, whereas Type I species arose by mutations in multiple lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As one of the most abundant bioresource in nature, the value-added utilization of lignocellulosic biomass is limited due to its inherent stubbornness. Pretreatment is a necessary step to break down the recalcitrance of cell walls and achieve an efficient separation of three main components (cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin). Results: In this study, hemicelluloses and lignin in Boehmeria nivea stalks were selectively extracted with a recyclable acid hydrotrope, an aqueous solution of P-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TsOH). 79.86% of hemicelluloses and 90.24% of lignin were removed under a mild pretreatment condition, C80T80t20, (acid concentration of 80 wt%, pretreatment temperature and time of 80 °C and 20 min, respectively). After ultrasonic treatment for 10 s, the residual cellulose-rich solid was directly converted into pulp. Subsequently, the latter was utilized to produce paper via mixing with softwood pulp. The prepared handsheets with a pulp addition of 15 wt% displayed higher tear strength (8.31 mN m2/g) and tensile strength (8.03 Nm/g) than that of pure softwood pulp. What's more, the hydrolysates of hemicelluloses and the extracted lignin were transformed to furfural and phenolic monomers with yields of 54.67% and 65.3%, respectively. Conclusions: The lignocellulosic biomass, Boehmeria nivea stalks, were valorized to pulp, furfural, and phenolic monomers, successfully. And a potential solution of comprehensive utilization of Boehmeria nivea stalks was provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When subjected to mechanical characterization, natural fibre-reinforced composites perform better. Ramie/silk reinforced with epoxy hybrid composites have been used to enhance the quasistatic characteristics of natural fibre composites. Yet, research has been done on the synergistic effects of the design factors on ramie and silk reinforced with epoxy resins and filled with nanofillers. In this study, the impact of the stacking order on the mechanical characteristics and moisture absorption of ramie and silk with montmorillonite nanoclay (OMMT) particles has been examined. Five different laminates were prepared using the manual hand layup method with a filler percentage of 3%. The prepared laminates are cut according to the ASTM standard for conducting different mechanical tests. The result shows that the incorporation of pure ramie fibres enhances the mechanical characterization. The hybrid composite of laminated RSSR with 3% OMMT nanoclay produced the highest tensile strength compared to the other two hybrid laminates. The highest flexural strength and modulus are found in the laminate RRRR. The moisture absorption percentage was maximum for ramie laminate RRRR and minimum for silk laminate SSSS. The fractured and debonding tensile specimen was analysed by scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NAC transcription factors are one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, and they play a key role in the growth and development of a secondary cell wall. Despite the fact that ramie is well-known for its high fiber yield, the role of NAC transcription factors in ramie secondary cell wall synthesis and fiber development remains unknown. In this study, based on our previous study, we describe the characterization, physicochemical property analysis, protein structure and function prediction, subcellular localization, and functional validation of Bnt05G007257, which encodes an NAC transcription factor from ramie, in transgenic A. thaliana. Our findings show that the open reading frame of Bnt05G007257 was 1035 bp long and encodes for a protein comprising 344 amino acids, having a relative molecular mass of 39.0945 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 6.55. The secondary structure of the encoded protein mainly consisted of random coiling, with a typical conserved structural domain of NAC. The phylogenetic tree revealed that Bnt05G007257 is a homolog of the NAC transcription factor SND2, which regulates secondary wall biosynthesis in A. thaliana. Subcellular localization showed that Bnt05G007257 was tentatively predicted to be localized in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, in stem sections, the secondary wall fiber cells' thickness in Bnt05G007257 transgenic plants was 31.50% thicker than that in wild-type plants, and the radial width was significantly increased by approximately 21.75%. This indicates that the NAC family homolog Bnt05G007257 may have the potential function of promoting fiber cell development and secondary cell wall synthesis, providing a theoretical basis for the selection of high-fiber-yielding ramie varieties in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibberellin regulates plant growth, development, and metabolic processes. However, the underlying mechanism of the substantial effect of gibberellin on stem height and secondary metabolites in forage ramie is unclear. Therefore, this study combined transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses to identify the mechanisms regulating growth and secondary metabolite contents in forage ramie following exogenous gibberellin application. Exogenous gibberellin application significantly reduced the lignin content in the leaves but not in the stems. At the same time, gibberellin significantly increased the total flavonoid and chlorogenic acid contents in both the stems and leaves. In addition, 293 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 68 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in the leaves. In the stems, 128 DEGs and 41 DEMs were identified. The DEGs PER42, FLS, CYP75A, and PNC1 were up-regulated in the leaves, affecting phenylpropane metabolism. The joint analysis of the DEMs and DEGs revealed that the changes in the DEGs and DEMs in the leaves and stems improved the substrate efficiency in the phenol propane pathway and inhibited lignin synthesis in plants, thus shifting to flavonoid pathway synthesis. In conclusion, gibberellin treatment effectively reduces the lignin content in forage ramie while increasing the flavonoid and chlorogenic acid contents. These findings provide empirical and practical guidance for breeding for forage quality in ramie and the improvement and cultivation control of forage ramie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, little is known regarding the optimal technique for the abdominal phase of RAMIE. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) in both the abdominal and thoracic phase (full RAMIE) compared to laparoscopy during the abdominal phase (hybrid laparoscopic RAMIE). Methods: This retrospective propensity-score matched analysis of the International Upper Gastrointestinal International Robotic Association (UGIRA) database included 807 RAMIE procedures with intrathoracic anastomosis between 2017 and 2021 from 23 centers. Results: After propensity-score matching, 296 hybrid laparoscopic RAMIE patients were compared to 296 full RAMIE patients. Both groups were equal regarding intraoperative blood loss (median 200 ml versus 197 ml, p = 0.6967), operational time (mean 430.3 min versus 417.7 min, p = 0.1032), conversion rate during abdominal phase (2.4% versus 1.7%, p = 0.560), radical resection (R0) rate (95.6% versus 96.3%, p = 0.8526) and total lymph node yield (mean 30.4 versus 29.5, p = 0.3834). The hybrid laparoscopic RAMIE group showed higher rates of anastomotic leakage (28.0% versus 16.6%, p = 0.001) and Clavien Dindo grade 3a or higher (45.3% versus 26.0%, p < 0.001). The length of stay on intensive care unit (median 3 days versus 2 days, p = 0.0005) and in-hospital (median 15 days versus 12 days, p < 0.0001) were longer for the hybrid laparoscopic RAMIE group. Conclusions: Hybrid laparoscopic RAMIE and full RAMIE were oncologically equivalent with a potential decrease of postoperative complications and shorter (intensive care) stay after full RAMIE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corethrodendron fruticosum is an endemic forage grasses in China with high ecological value. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of C. fruticosum was sequenced using Illumina paired-end sequencing. The C. fruticosum chloroplast genome was 123,100 bp and comprised 105 genes, including 74 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNA-coding genes, and 27 tRNA-coding genes. The genome had a GC content of 34.53%, with 50 repetitive sequences and 63 simple repeat repetitive sequences that did not contain reverse repeats. The simple repeats included 45 single-nucleotide repeats, which accounted for the highest proportion and primarily comprised A/T repeats. A comparative analysis of C. fruticosum, C. multijugum, and four Hedysarum species revealed that the six genomes were highly conserved, with differentials primarily located in the conserved non-coding regions. Moreover, the accD and clpP genes in the coding regions exhibited high nucleotide variability. Accordingly, these genes may serve as molecular markers for the classification and phylogenetic analysis of Corethrodendron species. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed that C. fruticosum and C. multijugum appeared in different clades than the four Hedysarum species. The newly sequenced chloroplast genome provides further insights into the phylogenetic position of C. fruticosum, which is useful for the classification and identification of Corethrodendron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophagectomy is the selected treatment for nonmetastatic esophageal and esophagogastric junction cancer, although high perioperative morbidity and mortality incur. Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) effectively reduces cardiopulmonary complications compared to open esophagectomy and offers a technical advantage, especially for lymph node dissection and intrathoracic anastomosis. This article aims at describing our initial experience of Ivor Lewis RAMIE, focusing on the technique's main steps and robotic-sewn esophagogastrostomy. Prospectively collected data from all consecutive patients who underwent Ivor Lewis RAMIE for cancer was reviewed. Reconstruction was performed with a gastric conduit pull-up and a robotic-sewn intrathoracic anastomosis. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded as prescribed by the Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group (ECCG). Thirty patients underwent Ivor Lewis RAMIE with complete mediastinal lymph node dissection and robot-sewn anastomosis. No intraoperative complications nor conversion occurred. Pulmonary complications totaled 26.7%. Anastomotic leakage (ECCG, type III) and conduit necrosis (ECCG, type III) both occurred in one patient (3.3%). Chylothorax appeared in 2 patients (6.7%) (ECCG, Type IIA). Anastomotic stricture, successfully treated with endoscopic dilatations, occurred in 8 cases (26.7%). Median overall postoperative stay was 11 days (range, 6–51 days). 30 day and 90 day mortality was 0%. R0 resection was performed in 96.7% of patients with a median number of 47 retrieved lymph nodes. RAMIE with robot-sewn intrathoracic anastomosis appears to be feasible, safe and effective, with favorable perioperative results. Nevertheless, further high-quality studies are needed to define the best anastomotic technique for Ivor Lewis RAMIE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the elevated labor intensity and low efficiency of ramie fiber decortication, we designed a simple automatic ramie decortication machine in line with the characteristics of the ramie fiber decortication process, design requirements and market demand through an innovative design and theoretical analysis of key components such as the clamping and conveying device and the fiber detecting device, and identified the key factors and parameters affecting the quality of ramie decortication. We develop a mathematical model of the fiber percentage of fresh stalks and the ramie fiber impurity rate by considering decortication clearance, the drum speed, and the conveyance speed as factors, and determine the effect of operating parameters on ramie decortication and the optimal combination of parameters. Finally, a multi-objective optimization test was performed using the Box–Behnken test. In this paper, based on the results of the multi-objective parameter optimization analysis, the optimal parameters for ramie peeling were determined, namely, a decortication clearance of 3.7 mm, and a conveyance speed of 340 rpm. According to the optimized parameters, the ramie peeling process was experimentally validated. Using the optimized parameters, a validation test of the ramie direction in this study was performed. As indicated by the results, the percentage of fiber in the fresh stalk reached 5.05%, and the impurity rate in the ramie fiber was 1.24%. The relative errors of all metrics and model predictions were less than 5%, thus validating the accuracy of the prediction model. The machine achieved a production efficiency of 78.5 kg·h−1, which is in line with the design specifications. The raw fiber had a gum content of 23.45 percent, and the stripped fiber met the national standard for secondary ramekin fiber. This study lays a theoretical basis while providing technical support for fully automatic ramie decorticators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of a natural prepreg with poly-lactic acid (PLA) matrix and ramie fiber reinforcement was engineered on a laboratory scale by impregnating the unidirectional and bidirectional ramie fiber with PLA matrix solvent on a glass die. The obtained composite prepreg has been stored at a very low temperature to maximize its shelf life. Tensile and biodegradability tests of the composite laminates prepared by the hot-pressing method have also been conducted. Tensile test results show that the freezer-stored bidirectional 0/90° prepreg laminate specimen has the highest tensile strength of 71.44 MPa with a modulus of 2.70 GPa on average. Meanwhile, the unstored bidirectional 0/90° prepreg laminate specimen has the highest level of elasticity, with a modulus of 1.29 GPa on average. The biodegradability test shows the decomposition process of the composite laminate under actual composting conditions. Microscopic observation of the damaged specimen results shows good adhesion between the PLA matrix and ramie fiber and the decomposition of the biodegradability test samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ramie is an important fiber crop. Due to the shortage of land resources and the promotion of excellent varieties, the genetic variation and diversity of ramie decreased, which increased the need for investigation and protection of the ramie germplasm resources diversity. The crop phenotype measurement method based on UAV remote sensing can conduct frequent, rapid, non-destructive and accurate monitoring of different genotypes, which can fulfill the investigation of crop germplasm resources and screen specific and high-quality varieties. In order to realize efficient comprehensive evaluation of ramie germplasm phenotype and assist in screening of dominant ramie varieties, a method for monitoring and screening ramie germplasm phenotype was proposed based on UAV remote sensing images. Firstly, based on UAV remote sensing images, the digital surface model (DSM) and orthophoto of the test area were generated by Pix4dmapper. Then, the key phenotypic parameters (plant height, plant number, leaf area index, leaf chlorophyll content and water content) of ramie germplasm resources were estimated. The subtraction method was used to extract ramie plant height based on DSM, while the target detection algorithm was applied to extract ramie plant number based on orthographic images, and four machine learning methods were used to estimate the leaf area index (LAI), leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD value) and water content. Finally, according to the extracted remote sensing phenotypic parameters, the genetic diversity of ramie germplasm was analyzed by using variability analysis and principal component analysis. The results showed that: (1) The ramie phenotype estimation based on UAV remote sensing was effective, with the fitting accuracy of plant height 0.93, and the root mean square error (RMSE) 5.654 cm. The fitting indexes of SPAD value, water content and LAI were 0.66, 0.79 and 0.74, respectively, and RMSE were 2.03, 2.21 and 0.63, respectively; (2) The remote sensing phenotypes of ramie germplasm were significantly different, as the coefficients of variation of LAI, plant height and plant number reached 20.82%, 24.61% and 35.48%, respectively; (3) Principal component analysis was used to cluster the remote sensing phenotypes into factor 1 (plant height and LAI) and factor 2 (LAI and SPAD value), factor 1 can be used to evaluate the structural characteristics of ramie germplasm resources, and factor 2 can be used as the screening index of high-light efficiency ramie resources. This study could provide references for crop germplasm phenotypic monitoring and breeding correlation analysis.

Abstract Background Pathogenic microbes still become obstacles that can reduce the quality of plant growth, including ramie (Boehmeria nivea) plants. The study identified the microbiome and antagonistic interaction of the endophytic community from the B. nivea is necessary to improve the production of the ramie plant, especially ramie stem organs for fiber materials. Results Twenty isolates of endophytic microorganisms were obtained from the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. They were identified using the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal (rDNA), and its morphotypes obtained 20 isolates, with a composition of 9 species of bacteria and 11 species of fungi. Besides that, the disease observations on ramie stems showed that four species of pathogenic fungi were identified as Fusarium solani isolate 3,248,941, Fusarium solani isolates colpat-359, Fusarium oxysporum isolate N-61–2, Clonostachys rosea strain B3042. The endophytic microorganism of ramie ability was tested to determine their potential to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic fungi based on the in-vivo antagonist test. The isolated bacteria were only able to inhibit the growth of F. solani, with the highest percentage of 54–55%. Three species of endophytic fungi, including Cladosporium tennissimum, Fusarium falciforme, and Penicillium citrinum, showed the best inhibition against the fungal pathogen Fusarium solani with the highest inhibitory presentation of 91–95%. Inhibitory interaction between the endophytic microbes and the ramie pathogens indicated the type of antibiosis, competition, and parasitism. Conclusion The results of this study succeeded in showing the potential antifungal by endophytic fungi from ramie against the pathogens of the plant itself. P. citrinum isolate MEBP0017 showed the highest inhibition against all the pathogens of the ramie.

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) is an economic fiber crop that is specifically produced in southern China and faces heavy metal pollution of arable soil. This study investigated the phytoextraction of cadmium (Cd) in seven ramie cultivars, including uptake, translocation, and accumulation differences in organs among cultivars, and assessed the safety of fiber for human health. The obtained results demonstrated that: (1) Zhongzhu No. 3 exhibited the best yield performance, with a fresh bast weight of approximately 343 g in a medium Cd-contaminated paddy field. Leaves accounted for the largest biomass among the parts investigated. (2) Phloem exhibited the highest Cd concentration. Low accumulation and reasonable allocation of Cd enhanced the resistance of ramie to Cd. (3) All varieties exhibited more than 90% Cd removal percentage during the stripping process of fibers. The Cd concentration of the fiber was significantly lower than that of the standard for the fiber industry. Our study provides a new direction for variety breeding in Cd-resistant plants.

The areca fibers are significantly playing a vital role in the production of activated carbon, ethanol, and enzyme, as a fuel in bio-gas and commonly used as air fresheners. Due to hydrophilic in nature of areca fibers exist nonpolar characteristics and compounding difficulties along with the matrix result an ununiform distribution of resins which increase complexity issues while laminating into the desired shape. Moreover, an uneven resin flow caused fibers to de-bond from the laminated surface that consequences low mechanical and metallurgical properties. Therefore, an attempt has been made to utilize ramie fiber as an effective compatibilizer for the areca fiber. The necessary tests, such as mechanical and metallurgical characteristics of areca/ramie fibers were analyzed by varying its stacking sequences. Moreover, B4C nanoparticles were dispersed on the fibril surfaces to understand the effects of nanoparticles on the areca/ramie fibers. The obtained results revealed that ramie fibers could be used as a better compatibilizer to retain the required shape and also to produce an adequate bonding between the fiber/matrix.

This study investigated simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker associated with fiber fineness in ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaudich). Firstly, association analysis was carried out using 107 ramie accessions and 95 SSR markers. Three stable molecular markers related to fiber fineness were detected in multiple environments. Furthermore, we validated the three SSR markers using single marker association on a set of 286 accessions planted in another three environments. The result of polymorphisms analysis found that the average polymorphism information content (PIC) of three markers was 0.5149; average number of alleles was 3.6667; average genetic diversity was 0.6043; average Shannon-Wiener diversity index was 0.9710; and average major allele frequency (MAF) was 0.4488. We demonstrated that marker RAM39 was stably associated with fiber fineness, highlighting its utility for breeding. These findings provide a basis for genetic improvement of ramie quality traits through marker-assisted selection.

In this study, the hybrid composites were prepared from ramie and jute natural as reinforcement, an epoxy polymer as a matrix, and SiC and cellulose as fillers via hand layup process. Mechanical and thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to quantify the effect of reinforcement on hybrid composites and evaluate their mechanical properties and thermal stability. The mechanical tests showed improvement in tensile and flexural strength of the hybrid composites with increasing content of bidirectional woven ramie fiber, and decreased with increased content of chopped jute fiber. The Izod impact test results revealed that chopped jute fiber form could resist more impact load when compared with woven ramie mat fibers. Hence, the impact energy increased with the increased content of chopped jute fiber in the hybrid composites. The surface morphological analysis of hybrid composites revealed the fiber pullout, cracks, and other failure modes of the hybrid composite using SEM analysis.

Research and development of ramie harvesting equipment is a key link to revitalize ramie industry, problems such as the tendency of stalks to tangle and clog the machine are very problematic, seriously affect the quality and fluency of the harvester. The structure of ramie stalk is complex, and the mechanical properties of each component vary greatly, collision between stalk and machine creates complex stress relationship. By building a finite element model, it is possible to analyze the stress state of the stalk during bending from a microscopic perspective, and to analyze the complex stress–strain situation within the stalk. The purpose of this paper is to establish a standard ramie stalk bending finite element model to provide a theoretical basis for the subsequent kinematics and dynamics. Firstly, material experiments were carried out on ramie straw. The structural and mechanical parameters of the straw components were obtained through measurement and calculation tests, and the force–deformation curves for straw bending were obtained. Bending finite element simulations were carried out on the basis of mechanical tests, and the parameters such as dynamic friction coefficient, wood Poisson's ratio and bast Poisson's ratio were determined by the central combination design. Then established an accurate bending finite element simulation model of ramie stalk, the accuracy of the model was verified at the end. In this paper, the key parameters of the ramie stalk model were calibrated through a combination of material tests and simulations. All parameters of the ramie stalk model were finally obtained, and the bending mechanical properties of the ramie stalk were analysed by applying finite element analysis. This bending mechanics simulation model can be used for kinematic and dynamics simulation analysis of conveying and baling to provide a theoretical basis for the structural design of the harvester. The methods explored here can be applied to other slender straw crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several studies reported the advantages of minimally invasive esophagectomy over the conventional open approach, particularly in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality. The literature regarding the elderly population is however scarce and it is still not clear whether elderly patients may benefit from a minimally invasive approach as the general population. We sought to evaluate whether thoracoscopic/ laparoscopic (MIE) or fully robotic (RAMIE) Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy significantly reduces postoperative morbidity in the elderly population. Methods: We analyzed data of patients who underwent open esophagectomy or MIE/RAMIE at Mainz University Hospital and at Padova University Hospital between 2016 and 2021. Elderly patients were defined as those ≥ 75 years old. Clinical characteristics and the postoperative outcomes were compared between elderly patients who underwent open esophagectomy or MIE/RAMIE. A 1-to-1 matched comparison was also performed. Patients < 75 years old were evaluated as a control group. Results: Among elderly patients MIE/RAMIE were associated with a lower overall morbidity (39.7% vs. 62.7%, p=0.005), less pulmonary complications (32.8 vs. 56.9%, p=0.003) and a shorter hospital stay (13 vs. 18 days, p=0.03). Comparable findings were obtained after matching. Similarly, among < 75 years-old patients, a reduced morbidity (31.2% vs. 43.5%, p=0.01) and less pulmonary complications (22% vs. 36%, p=0.001) were detected in the minimally invasive group. Discussion: Minimally invasive esophagectomy improves the postoperative course of elderly patients reducing the overall incidence of postoperative complications, particularly of pulmonary complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid polymer composites are vastly used in aerospace, construction, and automotive fields. This study aims to analyze the flammability and vibrational behavior of graphene incorporated epoxy/ramie/glass (ERG) hybrid nanocomposite. The samples were prepared with different weight percentage of graphene (GR) through hand layup method, followed by vacuum bag technique. The samples were analyzed for water intake, porosity, mechanical strength, fractography, vibrational property together with flammability of the material. GR addition depletes water intake and porosity by 11.5% to 5.3% and 6.2% to 2.2%, respectively. It increases hardness and flexural strength up to 25% and 41%, with a reduction in tensile property of the composites. Besides, GR nanocomposites show improved damping properties, owing to stick‐slip mechanism exhibited at epoxy and GR interface. Also, GR addition declines burning rate of ERG at high concentrations since it does not score any grade in flammability test. This work found that the incorporation of GR in ERG composite enhances mechanical properties and decreases water intake. A decrease in the burning rate of the ERG composite could be achieved by incorporating graphene particles, which could be used for structural applications (car door‐panels, ballistic, and aerospace) leading to delay in burning rate of the developed composites when exposed to fire during accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : The purpose of this randomized trial is to evaluate the early removal of postoperative drains after robot-assisted minimally invasive oesophagectomy (RAMIE). Evidence is lacking about feasibility, associated pain, recovery, and morbidity. Methods/design: This is a randomized controlled multicentric trial involving 72 patients undergoing RAMIE. Patients will be allocated into two groups. The "intervention" group consists of 36 patients. In this group, abdominal and chest drains are removed 3 h after the end of surgery in the absence of contraindications. The control group consists of 36 patients with conventional chest drain management. These drains are removed during the further postoperative course according to a standard algorithm. The primary objective is to investigate whether postoperative pain measured by NRS on the second postoperative day can be significantly reduced in the intervention group. Secondary endpoints are the intensity of pain during the first week, analgesic use, number of postoperative chest X-ray and CT scans, interventions, postoperative mobilization (steps per day as measured with an activity tracker), postoperative morbidity and mortality. Discussion: Until now, there have been no trials investigating different intraoperative chest drain strategies in patients undergoing RAMIE for oesophageal cancer with regard to perioperative complications until discharge. Minimally invasive approaches combined with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols lower morbidity but still include the insertion of chest drains. Reduction and early removal have been proposed after pulmonary surgery but not after RAMIE. The study concept is based on our own experience and the promising current results of the RAMIE procedure. Therefore, the presented randomized controlled trial will provide statistical evidence of the effectiveness and feasibility of the "drainless" RAMIE. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05553795. Registered on 23 September 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NAM, ATAF, and CUC (NAC) proteins are plant-specific transcription factors that play crucial roles in fiber growth by regulating the secondary wall thickening. In this study, a systematical investigation of NAC genes was performed in the genome of ramie, an important fiber crop, resulting in a total of 60 ramie NAC genes identified. Phylogenetic analysis of these 60 NAC members in conjunction with 111 Arabidopsis NAC proteins identified 11 subfamilies, three of which showed considerable contraction in the ramie genome. Ten ramie NAC genes were identified to encode the orthologs of Arabidopsis NAC regulators involved in the control of secondary wall biosynthesis. Of these ten genes, most showed relatively high expression in the stems, and eight displayed a differential expression between the barks from the top and middle section of the stems where fiber growth is under different stages. Furthermore, the overexpression of three of these ten NAC genes significantly promoted fiber growth in transgenic Arabidopsis. These results indicated that these ten NAC genes were associated with the fiber growth of ramie. This study provided an important basis for researching the regulatory mechanism of fiber growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Minimally Invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is associated with less morbidity compared to open approach. Whether robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) results in better long-term survival compared with open esophagectomy (OE) and minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is unclear. Methods: We analyzed data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients with primary esophageal cancers who underwent esophagectomy in 2010–2017. Those with unknown staging, distant metastasis, or diagnosed with another cancer were excluded. Patients were stratified by RAMIE, MIE, and OE operative techniques. The Kaplan–Meier method and associated log-rank test were employed to compare unadjusted survival outcomes by surgical technique, our primary outcome. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to discern factors independently contributing to survival. Results: A total of 5170 patients who underwent esophagectomy were included in the analysis; 428 underwent RAMIE, 1417 underwent MIE, and 3325 underwent OE. Overall median survival was 42 months. In comparison to RAMIE, there was an increased risk of death for those that underwent either MIE [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.19; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): > 1.00 to 1.41; P < 0.047)] or OE (HR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.43; P < 0.017). Academic vs community program facility type was associated with decreased risk of death (HR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.76 to 0.93; P < 0.001). In general, males from areas of lower income with advanced stages of cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation were at increased risk of death. Factors that were not associated with survival included race and ethnicity, Charlson-Devo Score, type of health insurance, zipcode level education, and population density. Conclusions: Overall survival was significantly longer in patients with esophageal cancers that underwent RAMIE in comparison to either MIE or OE in a 7-year NCDB cohort study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to create bio-based non-isocyanate polyurethane (Bio-NIPU) resins derived from the tannin of Acacia mangium Willd. bark for the impregnation of ramie fibres (Boehmeria nivea L.) and to investigate the properties of impregnated fibres. Tannin was extracted from the bark of A. mangium using hot water. Tannin-bio-NIPU resin was created using dimethyl carbonate and hexamine. Based on the findings, it is possible to conclude that tannin extract from the bark of Acacia mangium can be used effectively as a renewable alternative to toxic polyols in the development of tannin-Bio-NIPU resins. FTIR spectroscopy was used to confirm the urethane bond formed on the tannin-Bio-NIPU resins. Thermal and mechanical analysis were used to investigate the properties of tannin-Bio-NIPU resins and ramie fibres before and after impregnation. This study shows that the impregnation time of ramie fiber using tannin-Bio-NIPU resins is 30 minutes. The reaction between tannin-Bio-NIPU resins with ramie fiber forms the C=O urethane group as confirmed by FTIR Spectroscopy. The characterization results show that tannin-Bio-NIPU resins has ability to modify ramie fiber via impregnation in order to increase its mechanical properties, thus enhancing its potential for wider industrial application as a functional material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ramie stripping machine has been commonly used in modern agriculture in recent years. However, the current manual feeding and back-pulling cannot fully meet the large-scale production, due to the high operational intensity, low safety, and unstable stripping quality. In this study, a double-drum stripping device was designed to replace the manual feeding and reverse-pulling in an automatic ramie fiber stripping machine. There were also the different mechanical properties between the ramie fiber layer and the woody part. Firstly, some measurements were performed on the physical dimensions and mechanical property parameters of "Chuanzhu No. 11" ramie stalks. Then, the technical solution of a double clamping mechanism was proposed with the synchronous belt clamping and conveying, motor-driven clamping mechanism flipping and changing position, and double-drum reverse stripping. The ramie stalks were fed directly, and then stripped at the base and tip of the ramie stalks in turn by the changing position of the clamps. The toothed rubber clamping plate was used to hold the stalks. The grooves and projections of the toothed rubber plate were firmly held to prevent the stalks crushed by the clamps and slipping out. The operation of the ramie stripping machine was divided into four steps: the straw feeding, base stripping, tip stripping, and collecting ramie skin. The key components mainly included the transposition clamping, lateral feeding, and ramie stripping device. The mechanical analysis of double-drum ramie stalk stripping showed that the stripping force was closely related to the drum speed. A mechanical test was carried out to investigate the relationship between the stalk feeding angle and stripping force. The results showed that the stalk feeding angle and stripping force shared a highly significant negative linear correlation. The structural design and theoretical analysis were performed on the main components in the ramie stripping device and clamping mechanism. After that, the structure and motion parameters of the ramie stripping machine were determined, including drum speed, reverse-pulling speed, and feeding angle. Furthermore, a single-factor simulation model was established using ANSYS/ LS-DYNA to simulate the process of stripping and the amount of xylem removal, the loss of the bast fiber layer, and the force of the feeding direction. Previously, the ramie stalk actual stripping process was analyzed and a simulation model was developed. The structure of the ramie stalk was also analyzed during this time. The optimal ranges of parameters were achieved for a better stripping effectiveness: the roller speed of 350-650 r/min, the reverse-pulling speed of 0.2-0.4 m/s, and the feeding angle of 5°-15°. A three-factor and three-level orthogonal test was conducted, according to the Box-Behnken method. The results showed that the drum speed, reverse-pulling speed, and feeding angle posed the significant effects on the fiber percentage of fresh stalk, and the impurity rate of raw fiber using ANOVA and response surface analysis. In addition, a significant coupling effect was found in the interaction of drum speed and reverse-pulling speed, as well as each experimental factor, but there was no a simple linear relationship. The optimal operating parameters were obtained for the ramie stripping machine with the reverse-pulling clamping: the stripping drum speed of 450 r/min, the reverse-pulling speed of 0.32 m/s, and the feeding angle of 11°. Finally, the validation test of the ramie stripping machine prototype was carried out using the optimized parameters. A better performance was achieved in an average fresh stem fiber yield of 5.03% and an average impurity rate of 1.14% of raw ramie, fully meeting the national technical standards of the ramie stripping machine. The transposition clamping device can be expected to realize the ramie clamping and feeding, as well as the automatic reverse pulling. The simple and optimal structure of the ramie stripping machine was had improved the performance and quality of ramie stripping. The finding can provide a technical reference for the development of an automatic lightweight ramie stripping machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, ramie mixed silage with Pennisetum purpureum (sweet elephant grass) was stored for 45 days according to the mass percentage of ramie was 100 (CK), 80 (R8), 60 (R6) and 40 %(R4), respectively. The sensory evaluation and the analysis of nutrient composition and fermentation quality of forage ramie mixed silage were carried out to find the best mixing ratio of forage ramie mixed silage with sweet elephant grass. The results showed that the fermentation quality of mixed silage improved gradually with the decrease of ramie proportion, and the comprehensive sensory evaluation was all good grade 1 except CK. The nutrient composition of mixed silage of forage ramie and sweet elephant grass with different proportions changed greatly. CP content decreased with the increase of sweet elephant grass supplemental level, and there were significant differences among all treatment groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in NDF content among all groups. There were no significant differences in ADF content between CK and R8, R8 and R6 (P>0.05), but there were significant differences between CK and R6, R4 and all treatment groups. There was no significant difference in Ash content among all groups (P>0.05). The pH value of control group (CK) was higher than that of other treatment groups, but there was no significant difference in pH value among all treatments (P>0.05). In terms of lactic acid, acetic acid and NH3-N/TN, there were no significant differences between R8, R6 and R4 (P>0.05), but there were significant differences between them and CK. There was no significant difference in propionic acid treatment. No butyric acid was found in any treatment group. In this study, it was found that the quality of ramie mixed silage was obviously better than that of single silage, and the quality ratio of forage ramie was 60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is one of the most economically important pests that cause serious damage to agricultural production by transmitting plant pathogenic viruses. Approximately 90% of the virus species transmitted by the whitefly are members of the genus begomovirus. Ramie mosaic virus (RaMoV) is a new bipartite begomovirus that causes severe damage to ramie and several other economic crops in China. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that RaMoV had no obvious direct or indirect effects on B. tabaci. However, whether B. tabaci affects RaMoV infection and the molecular mechanisms of their interaction remain unclear. RESULTS: Here, we identified a zinc finger protein 330 (ZNF330) in B. tabaci MED interacted with the coat protein (CP) of RaMoV by the yeast two‐hybrid assay. Then the interaction between ZNF330 and RaMoV CP was further verified by glutathione S‐transferase (GST) pull‐down assay. The expression of ZNF330 gene was continuously induced after RaMoV infection. ZNF330 negatively regulated RaMoV replication in the B. tabaci MED. Furthermore, the longevity and fecundity of RaMoV‐infected female adults were significantly decreased after silencing of ZNF330. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that the ZNF330 protein was involved in the negative regulation of RaMoV replication in the B. tabaci MED. High viral accumulation caused by ZNF330 silencing is detrimental to fecundity and longevity of the B. tabaci MED. These findings provided a new insight into identifying the binding partners in whitefly with viral CP and fully understanding the complex interactions between begomoviruses and their whitefly vector. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain the physical parameters and contact parameters of ramie stalk decorticating simulation, the structural dimensions, density, moisture content, elastic modulus, and contact parameters of the ramie stalk were measured in this study based on the phloem and xylem of the ramie stalk. The physical stacking angles of the phloem and xylem were measured by the cylinder lift method and the extraction of the partition method, respectively. The contact parameters between the xylem and phloem of the ramie stalk were directly calibrated. Additionally, the contact parameters of the phloem–phloem, phloem–Q235A steel, xylem–xylem, and xylem–Q235A steel were used as calibration objects, and the simulated stacking angle was used as the evaluation index. Then, the Plackett–Burman test was designed to screen for the parameters which were significantly affecting the simulated stacking angle. Furthermore, the steepest ascent test determined the optimal range of values for two significant parameters of the phloem and three significant parameters of the xylem. Based on the central composite design, the second-order regression equations between the significant parameters of the phloem and xylem and the stacking angle were established, respectively. The physical stacking angles of 37.93° for phloem and 27.17° for xylem were the target values to obtain the optimal parameter group. The results showed that the restitution, static, and rolling friction coefficients between the xylem and phloem were 0.60, 0.53, and 0.021, respectively. The static and rolling friction coefficients between the phloem and phloem were 0.41 and 0.056, respectively. The rolling friction coefficient between the xylem and Q235A steel was 0.033, and the static and rolling friction coefficients between the xylem and xylem were 0.44 and 0.016, respectively. The verification test showed that the relative error values were less than 2.11%, which further indicated that the modeling method and parameter calibration of the ramie stalk phloem and xylem models were accurate and reliable. They can be used for the subsequent calibration simulation tests of ramie stalk bonding parameters and ramie stalk decorticating simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural uses in the vehicle, aerospace, and sporting goods industries are being supplanted by hybrid composites that utilized natural fibers as reinforcements. The main focus of this work is to fabricate and characterize the ramie, hemp, and kevlar fabric reinforced hybrid vinyl ester composites. The composite laminates were fabricated via economically feasible and flexible hand lay‐up technique. Overall six composites were prepared by varying the stacking sequence, including both hybrid and non‐hybrid composites. The prepared composites were subjected to physical analysis (density, void fraction), mechanical tests (tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear, and impact test), morphological analysis (scanning electron microscopy), and water absorption test. The hybrid composites exhibited lesser void percentage than the non‐hybrid composites. The mechanical properties were maximum for kevlar fabric skinned with core natural fabric reinforced composites (L‐5, L‐6) due to hybridization of highly strengthened kevlar fabrics. Moreover, the number fabric layers reinforced to achieve the standard thickness also affected the mechanical properties. All composite morphologies exhibited the same failure characteristics, including transverse interlaminar shear cracking, microbuckling, and fiber rip. The texture of the Kevlar yarns is uniform, but the texture of the natural fabric yarns is relatively less uniform. In comparison to the salt water medium, the percentage of water absorbed by composites in normal and distilled water was greater. This is due to the presence and accumulation of salt particles on the surface of the materials, which inhibits the action of water molecules, resulting in a drop in the proportion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayered Armor System (MAS) is being extensively studied around the world for its ability to retain ceramic fragmentation after a collision occurs. MAS consist of a ceramic layer placed at the front and supported by a composite layer of ramie-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin. Present study utilizes natural fibers of 50 % ramie fibers with epoxy resin as the matrix and Silicon Carbide (SiC) ceramic as the front panel. The ballistic testing in this study used 7.62×51 mm NATO Ball projectile with a firing distance of 15 m from the bullet panel. The velocity of projectile was detected using LIGHT SCREEN B471 type. The aim of the study is to conclude the optimal thickness of ramie fiber-epoxy and SiC ceramics MAS structure based on experiments which can withstand 7.62 NATO ball bullet penetration. To achieve this aim, the following objectives are accomplished: study the effect of SiC ceramic addition to ramie composite on BFS and study the effect of SiC ceramic addition to ramie composite on failure mode. Results show that the addition of the number of layers of SiC increases resistance of ballistic MAS marked by a decrease in the value of BFS clay. The 5SiC+10R is the optimal thickness in resisting the penetration of 7.62×51 mm bullets with 12 mm BFS clay. Failure phenomena found in this study were projectile fragments, matrix cracks, radial cracks, impact points, and ceramic fragments. Matrix crack formation appears on 5SiC+10R with mini deformation in rear side. Phenomenon of ceramic fragmentation in the shot causes the MAS structure to be damaged, so that the ramie fiber composite layer will face the bullet directly if it is subjected to a second shot. Ultra High Hardness Armor (UHHA) as first layer on the MAS structure is an attractive option for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv. (Poales: Poaceae), is a troublesome and widespread grass weed in China. The acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide nicosulfuron has been intensively used to manage S. viridis, and this has substantially increased the selection pressure. Here we confirmed a 35.8-fold resistance to nicosulfuron in an S. viridis population (R376 population) from China and characterized the resistance mechanism. Molecular analyses revealed an Asp-376-Glu mutation of the ALS gene in the R376 population. The participation of metabolic resistance in the R376 population was proved by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450) inhibitor pre-treatment and metabolism experiments. To further elucidate the mechanism of metabolic resistance, eighteen genes that could be related to the metabolism of nicosulfuron were obtained bythe RNA sequencing. The results of quantitative real-time PCR validation indicated that three ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters (ABE2, ABC15, and ABC15-2), four P450 (C76C2, CYOS, C78A5, and C81Q32), and two UDP-glucosyltransferase (UGT) (UGT13248 and UGT73C3), and one glutathione S-transferases (GST) (GST3) were the major candidates that contributed to metabolic nicosulfuron resistance in S. viridis. However, the specific role of these ten genes in metabolic resistance requires more research. Collectively, ALS gene mutations and enhanced metabolism may be responsible for the resistance of R376 to nicosulfuron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tug of war is a sport known for strength, however a weaker team can also win the game by a suitable team co-operation. A mathematical model is established, showing that the team co-operation or rhythmical frequency plays an important role in victory. A team can win even the rope is pulled to the opposite direction depending upon the rhythmical frequency. A criterion for rhythmical frequency is obtain to guarantee victory when the strength is almost same for both teams. Additionally the rope pulling can be also used for moving a heavy weight object, the principle might be used for building the great pyramids in ancient Egypt. Finally magic ramie ropes with special thermoplastic properties and controllable frequency are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boehmeria nivea (ramie) is an important fiber crop with strong tolerance to cadmium (Cd). In our previous study, a novel MYB transcription factor gene from ramie, BnMYB2, was found to positively regulate Cd tolerance and accumulation in the transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines. Herein, transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes involved in cadmium response between the wild-type (WT) and BnMYB2 overexpressed lines; 1598 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in the shoot. GO and KEGG analysis indicated that the majority of DEGs belonged to the categories of transcription factors, plant hormone signal transduction and nitrogen metabolism. The expression level of the Ib subgroup bHLH genes (AtbHLH38, AtbHLH39, AtbHLH100 and AtbHLH101) and nitrogen assimilation-related genes (AtNIA1, AtNIA2, AtNIR1 and AtASN2) were significantly higher than that of WT, accompanied with the positive changes in iron (Fe) and total nitrogen content in the shoot of BnMYB2 overexpression lines. Several DEGs belonging to the bZIP transcription factor family or SAUR family were also found up-regulated in the transgenic plants. These results provide important clues for elucidating how the molecular mechanisms of BnMYB2 regulate plant response to Cd stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop tannin-based non-isocyanate polyurethane (tannin-Bio-NIPU) and tannin-based polyurethane (tannin-Bio-PU) resins for the impregnation of ramie fibers (Boehmeria nivea L.) and investigate their mechanical and thermal properties. The reaction between the tannin extract, dimethyl carbonate, and hexamethylene diamine produced the tannin-Bio-NIPU resin, while the tannin-Bio-PU was made with polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI). Two types of ramie fiber were used: natural ramie without pre-treatment (RN) and with pre-treatment (RH). They were impregnated in a vacuum chamber with tannin-based Bio-PU resins for 60 min at 25 °C under 50 kPa. The yield of the tannin extract produced was 26.43 ± 1.36%. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that both resin types produced urethane (-NCO) groups. The viscosity and cohesion strength of tannin-Bio-NIPU (20.35 mPa·s and 5.08 Pa) were lower than those of tannin-Bio-PU (42.70 mPa·s and 10.67 Pa). The RN fiber type (18.9% residue) was more thermally stable than RH (7.3% residue). The impregnation process with both resins could improve the ramie fibers' thermal stability and mechanical strength. The highest thermal stability was found in RN impregnated with the tannin-Bio-PU resin (30.5% residue). The highest tensile strength was determined in the tannin-Bio-NIPU RN of 451.3 MPa. The tannin-Bio-PU resin gave the highest MOE for both fiber types (RN of 13.5 GPa and RH of 11.7 GPa) compared to the tannin-Bio-NIPU resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the hygrothermal aging behavior, finite element analysis and mechanical properties of the ramie fiber (RF) reinforced polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) composites modified with silane coupling agent and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were investigated. The results show that after 90-days hygrothermal aging, the RF/PETG composites with untreated, KH550-treated, 0.5% CNT-treated and 1.0% CNT-treated modifications have the low water uptakes of 4.55%, 4.36%, 4.30% and 4.15%, respectively. The surface modifications of ramie fibers have no obvious influence on the water uptakes of the RF/PETG composites, which is related to the hydrophilicity difference of surface and cross sections of the RF/PETG composites. The moisture absorption behaviors of the RF/PETG composites conform to Fick's water diffusion law. The results of the finite element analysis of the RF/PETG composites show a good consistency with the experimental results of the water absorption. As compared with untreated composites, the bending strengths of RF/PETG composites modified with silane coupling agent, 0.5 wt% CNTs and 1.0 wt% CNTs increased with 8.5%, 16.9%, and 20.5%, respectively. The bending strength and modulus of the RF/PETG composites first rapidly decrease and then slowly decrease with the increase of aging time. The RF/PETG composites show different bending fracture behaviors before and after 90-days hygrothermal aging. The developed RF/PETG composites have low water absorption and good mechanical properties, which can broaden the research and application of ramie fiber reinforced composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes are a potent source of bioactive compounds that mimic plant-based metabolites. Fungi Fusarium spp. and Clonostachys rosea have been identified as pathogenic microorganisms in ramie (Boehmeria nivea). The antifungal test was carried out using the diffusion method and the MIC50 and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) values using the tested microbial pathogens were Fusarium solani isolate 3248941, F. solani isolate Colpat-359, F. oxysporum isolate N-61-2, dan Clonostachys rosea strain B3042. Identification of secondary metabolites of the extract was carried out using GC-MS. The chromatogram of GC-MS analysis of this ethyl acetate extract (EA) showed seven dominant chemical compounds with various biological activities. Ethyl asetate extract of P. citrinum showed inhibition zone ranged from 19.10–22.07 mm with strong-very strong category at 200 mg ml-1 concentration against the tested microbial pathogens. Results revealed that the significant MIC values were observed against F. solani isolate 3248941 and Clonostachys rosea strain B3042 by less than 6.3 mg ml-1 and against F. solani isolate Colpat-359 and F. oxysporum isolate N-61-2 with 12.5 mg ml-1 and 25 mg ml-1 respectively. Minimum Fungicidal concentrations (MFC) for EA of P. citrinum were also reported against F. solani isolate 3248941 and C. rosea strain B3042, by 12.5 mg ml-1, whilst Fusarium solani isolate Colpat-359 by 25 mg ml-1 and Fusarium oxysporum isolate N-61-2,by 50 mg ml-1 respectively. Results of this study showed that P. citrinum, endophytic fungi of ramie, could be a promising source of compounds for antifungal agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf area index (LAI) is an important parameter indicating crop growth. At present, spectral technology has developed into a popular means for LAI monitoring, which can provide accurate estimation results by constructing a model with crop spectral information and a ground LAI value. Spectral range and data type may affect the performance of the model, but few studies have compared the estimation accuracy of crop LAI using different spectral sensors, especially in ramie. In this study, we compared the potential to estimate the ramie LAI of a hyperspectral sensor with a multispectral sensor. A handheld hyperspectral sensor and an airborne multispectral sensor were used to collect spectral data from multiple growth stages, and then four machine learning algorithms were used to construct the LAI estimation model. The results showed that the R2 of the hyperspectral model was 0.702, while the R2 of the multispectral model was 0.816. The cropped hyperspectral data was less sensitive to LAI than the multispectral data with the same spectral band, due to the result of radiation area and data type. The accuracy of the ramie LAI estimation model constructed with all stage data was improved (R2 = 0.828). In conclusion, the airborne multi-spectrometer is more suitable for monitoring ramie LAI in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical research about textiles made from bast fibers has progressed in recent years broadening our perspectives of people's needs for textile raw materials. Despite this, analyses of textiles made of mixed fibers from a variety of plants have not received sufficient attention. Textiles were often made of blends of different bast plant fibers, which was during historical time common but is rarely mentioned in research, compounding the difficulty of accurate fiber identification. Fibers could be blended as the yarn was spun, of yarns different fibers were woven into a single fabric, and various fabrics were assembled in a range of everyday textiles. Without relying on proper analysis protocols, it is difficult of distinguish different bast fibers, and this has resulted in the misidentification of textiles in museum collections. This study addresses seven representative's handmade textiles with a focus on hemp, combined with either flax, hop, ramie or cotton. The various textile fibers identified indicate that blends were common from the Middle Ages until modern times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) in clinical trials has demonstrated improved outcomes compared to open esophagectomy (OE). However, outcomes after national implementation remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative outcomes after RAMIE. Patients who underwent elective esophagectomy between 2016 and 2020 were identified from the American College of Surgeons-- National Surgical Quality Improvement Program esophageal targeted participant user files and categorized by operative approach, with patients who underwent hybrid procedures excluded. Outcomes were compared between OE and minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE)/RAMIE, with subset analyses by minimally invasive operative approach. Primary outcomes included pulmonary complications, anastomotic leak requiring reintervention, all-cause morbidity, and 30-d mortality. In total 2786 patients were included, of which 58.3% underwent OE, 33.2% underwent MIE, and 8.4% underwent RAMIE. In the entire cohort, Ivor Lewis esophagectomy was the most common technique (64.6%), followed by transhiatal (22.0%), and a McKeown technique (13.4%). Comparing OE and MIE/RAMIE, pulmonary complications (21.5% versus 16.1%, P < 0.01) and all-cause morbidity (40.9% versus 32.3%, P < 0.01) were both reduced in the MIE/RAMIE group. When directly comparing MIE to RAMIE, there was no difference in the rate of pulmonary complications, anastomotic leak, all-cause morbidity, and mortality. However, RAMIE was associated with decreased all-cause morbidity compared to OE (40.9% versus 33.3%, P = 0.03). RAMIE was associated with decreased morbidity compared to OE, with similar outcomes to MIE. The national adoption of RAMIE in this select cohort appears safe. [Display omitted] • Pulmonary complications and all-cause morbidity are reduced with minimally invasive esophagectomy /robotic-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE/RAMIE). • RAMIE is associated with less morbidity compared to open esophagectomy. • Morbidity and mortality were similar between MIE and RAMIE. • The national adoption of RAMIE appears safe in properly selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundChest drain management has a significant influence on postoperative recovery after robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE). The use of chest drains increases postoperative pain by irritating intercostal nerves and hinders patients from early postoperative mobilization and recovery. To our knowledge, no study has investigated the use of two vs. one intercostal chest drains after RAMIE.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated patients undergoing elective RAMIE with gastric conduit pull-up and intrathoracic anastomosis. Patients were divided into two groups according to placement of one (11/2020–08/2022) or two (08/2018–11/2020) chest drains. Propensity score matching was performed in a 1:1 ratio, and the incidences of overall and pulmonary complications, drainage-associated re-interventions, radiological diagnostics, analgesic use, and length of hospital stay were compared between single drain and double drain groups.ResultsDuring the study period, 194 patients underwent RAMIE. Twenty-two patients were included after propensity score matching in the single and double chest drain group, respectively. Time until removal of the last chest drain [postoperative day (POD) 6.7 ± 4.4 vs. POD 9.4 ± 2.7, p = 0.004] and intensive care unit stay (4.2 ± 5.1 days vs. 5.3 ± 3.5 days, p = 0.01) were significantly shorter in the single drain group. Overall and pulmonary complications, drainage-associated events, re-interventions, number of diagnostic imaging, analgesic use, and length of hospital stay were comparable between both groups.ConclusionThis study is the first to demonstrate the safety of single intercostal chest drain use and, at least, non-inferiority to double chest drains in terms of perioperative complications after RAMIE.

Plants face multiple stresses in their natural habitats. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) play an important regulatory role in plant stress signaling, regulating the expression of multiple stress-related genes to improve plant stress resistance. In this study, we analyzed the expression profiles of 25 BnWRKY genes in three stages of ramie growth (the seedling stage, the rapid-growth stage, and the fiber maturity stage) and response to abiotic stress through qRT-PCR. The results indicated that 25 BnWRKY genes play a role in different growth stages of ramie and were induced by salt and drought stress in the root and leaf. We selected BnWRKY49 as a candidate gene for overexpression in Arabidopsis. BnWRKY49 was localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of BnWRKY49 affected root elongation under drought and salt stress at the Arabidopsis seedling stage and exhibited increased tolerance to drought stress. Further research found that BnWRKY49-overexpressing lines showed decreased stomatal size and increased cuticular wax deposition under drought compared with wild type (WT). Antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD, POD, and CAT were higher in the BnWRKY49-overexpressing lines than the WT. These findings suggested that the BnWRKY49 gene played an important role in drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis and laid the foundation for further research on the functional analysis of the BnWRKYs in ramie.

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) is China’s unique environmentally friendly cash crop. To protect the environment more strictly and develop sustainably, the planting process will reduce the input of fertilizer (nitrogen fertilizer). The effect of reduced nitrogen fertilizer on the yield and quality of ramie is still under systematic investigation. Taking the fiber variety ‘H5’ as the target, 4 N application rates of 100% (N 390 kg/hm2), 85%, 70%, and 55% were set, with no N application as the control (marked as N100, N85, N70, N55, and CK), to study the effects of N reduction on ramie yield, N uptake and utilization, and soil fertility. The results showed that the total production of ramie first harvest raw fiber and nitrogen accumulation showed a trend of first rising and then falling with the decrease of nitrogen application, the output of secondary and tertiary harvest ramie decreased with the reduction of nitrogen application, and the total production of N85 treatment was the highest. Compared with N100, N70 and N85 can improve n utilization, N agronomic utilization, N partial productivity, and N harvest index. Nitrogen reduction can reduce the content of soil organic matter, available phosphorus, and available potassium in ramie, and the difference between N85 and N100 is not significant. Nitrogen fertilizer application can be reduced by 15% in ramie production.

IntroductionSeveral studies reported the advantages of minimally invasive esophagectomy over the conventional open approach, particularly in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality. The literature regarding the elderly population is however scarce and it is still not clear whether elderly patients may benefit from a minimally invasive approach as the general population. We sought to evaluate whether thoracoscopic/ laparoscopic (MIE) or fully robotic (RAMIE) Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy significantly reduces postoperative morbidity in the elderly population.MethodsWe analyzed data of patients who underwent open esophagectomy or MIE/RAMIE at Mainz University Hospital and at Padova University Hospital between 2016 and 2021. Elderly patients were defined as those ≥ 75 years old. Clinical characteristics and the postoperative outcomes were compared between elderly patients who underwent open esophagectomy or MIE/RAMIE. A 1-to-1 matched comparison was also performed. Patients < 75 years old were evaluated as a control group.ResultsAmong elderly patients MIE/RAMIE were associated with a lower overall morbidity (39.7% vs. 62.7%, p=0.005), less pulmonary complications (32.8 vs. 56.9%, p=0.003) and a shorter hospital stay (13 vs. 18 days, p=0.03). Comparable findings were obtained after matching. Similarly, among < 75 years-old patients, a reduced morbidity (31.2% vs. 43.5%, p=0.01) and less pulmonary complications (22% vs. 36%, p=0.001) were detected in the minimally invasive group.DiscussionMinimally invasive esophagectomy improves the postoperative course of elderly patients reducing the overall incidence of postoperative complications, particularly of pulmonary complications.