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Minimizing cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice grains is crucial for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. Utilizing genetic modification to generate rice varieties with low Cd accumulation is a promising strategy due to its cost-effectiveness and operational simplicity. Our study demonstrated that the CRISPR-Cas9-mediated quadruple mutation of the multicopper oxidase genes OsLPR1/3/4/5 in the japonica rice cultivar Tongjing 981 had little effect on yields. However, a notable increase was observed in the cell wall functional groups that bind with Cd. As a result, the quadruple mutation of OsLPR1/3/4/5 enhanced Cd sequestration within the cell wall while reducing Cd concentrations in both xylem and phloem sap, thereby inhibiting Cd transport from roots to shoots. Consequently, Cd concentrations in brown rice and husk in oslpr1/3/4/5 quadruple mutants (qm) decreased by 52% and 55%, respectively, compared to the wild-type. These findings illustrate that the quadruple mutation of OsLPR1/3/4/5 is an effective method for minimizing Cd contamination in rice grains without compromising yields. Therefore, the quadruple mutation of OsLPR1/3/4/5 via biotechnological pathways may represent a valuable strategy for the generation of new rice varieties with low Cd accumulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

First-principles calculations were employed to study the molecular and dissociative adsorption of CO 2 , H 2 O, O 2 and N 2 on a LaB 6 (100) surface. The adsorption energy calculation results indicate that these gas molecules can form thermodynamically stable adsorption structures. Dissociative adsorption is always accompanied by more electron transfer compared to molecular adsorption, which is one of the necessary conditions for dissociation to occur. Bader charge analysis indicates that the adsorption of gas molecules on the LaB 6 (100) surface is always accompanied by electron transfer from the surface to the adsorbed molecules. This electron transfer forms a dipole moment from the adsorbed molecule towards the surface, leading to an increase in the work function of LaB 6 (100). This mechanism is a crucial aspect of the LaB 6 (100) poisoning effect. Additionally, LaB 6 (100) sometimes exhibits a certain degree of resistance to poisoning. In such cases, after the adsorption of gas molecules, local regions of the LaB 6 (100) surface become negatively charged, which counteracts the poisoning effect to some extent. Using electronic density of states and electron localization function analyses, we examined the nature of the chemical bonds. It was found that La tends to form non-covalent bonds with the adsorbates, whereas B tends to form covalent bonds with them. The 2p orbitals of B play a significant role in the formation of these covalent bonds in most cases.

Structural symmetry breaking plays a pivotal role in fine-tuning the properties of nano-layered materials. Here, based on the first-principles approaches we propose a Janus monolayer of metallic CoSb by breaking the out-of-plane structural symmetry. Specifically, within the CoSb monolayer by replacing the top-layer 'Sb' with 'As' atoms entirely, the Janus Co 2 AsSb monolayer can be formed, whose structure is confirmed via structural optimization and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Notably, the Janus Co 2 AsSb monolayer demonstrates stability at an elevated temperature of 1200 K, surpassing the stability of the CoSb monolayer, which remains stable only up to 900 K. We propose that both the CoSb and Janus Co 2 AsSb monolayers could serve as capable anode materials for power-driven metal-ion batteries, owing to their substantial theoretical capacity and robust binding strength. The theoretical specific capacities for Li/Na reach up to 1038.28/1186.60 mA h g -1 for CoSb, while Janus Co 2 AsSb demonstrates a marked improvement in electrochemical storage capacity of 3578.69/2215.38 mA h g -1 for Li/Na, representing a significant leap forward in this domain. The symmetry-breaking effect upgrades the CoSb monolayer, as a more viable contender for power-driven metal-ion batteries. Furthermore, electronic structure calculations indicate a notable charge transfer that augments the metallic nature, which would boost electrical conductivity. These simulations demonstrate that the CoSb and Janus Co 2 AsSb monolayers have immense potential for application in the design of metal-ion battery technologies.

Inositol hexaphosphate (InsP 6 ) is the major storage form of phosphorus in seeds. Reducing seed InsP 6 content is a breeding objective in agriculture, as InsP 6 negatively impacts animal nutrition and the environment. Nevertheless, how InsP 6 accumulation is regulated remains largely unknown. Here, we identify a clade of receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs), named Inositol Polyphosphate-related Cytoplasmic Kinases 1-6 (IPCK1-IPCK6), deeply involved in InsP 6 accumulation. The InsP 6 concentration is dramatically reduced in seeds of ipck quadruple (T-4m/C-4m) and quintuple (C-5m) mutants, accompanied with the obviously increase of phosphate (Pi) concentration. The plasma membrane-localized IPCKs recruit IPK1 involved in InsP 6 synthesis, and facilitate its binding and activity via phosphorylation of GRF 14-3-3 proteins. IPCKs also recruit IPK2s and PI-PLCs required for InsP 4 /InsP 5 and InsP 3 biosynthesis respectively, to form a potential IPCK-GRF-PLC-IPK2-IPK1 complex. Our findings therefore uncover a regulatory mechanism of InsP 6 accumulation governed by IPCKs, shedding light on the mechanisms of InsP biosynthesis in eukaryotes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Plant survival requires an ability to adapt to differing concentrations of nutrient and toxic soil ions, yet ion sensors and associated signaling pathways are mostly unknown. Aluminum (Al) ions are highly phytotoxic, and cause severe crop yield loss and forest decline on acidic soils which represent ∼30% of land areas worldwide. Here we found an Arabidopsis mutant hypersensitive to Al. The gene encoding a leucine-rich-repeat receptor-like kinase, was named Al Resistance1 (ALR1). Al ions binding to ALR1 cytoplasmic domain recruits BAK1 co-receptor kinase and promotes ALR1-dependent phosphorylation of the NADPH oxidase RbohD, thereby enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. ROS in turn oxidatively modify the RAE1 F-box protein to inhibit RAE1-dependent proteolysis of the central regulator STOP1, thus activating organic acid anion secretion to detoxify Al. These findings establish ALR1 as an Al ion receptor that confers resistance through an integrated Al-triggered signaling pathway, providing novel insights into ion-sensing mechanisms in living organisms, and enabling future molecular breeding of acid-soil-tolerant crops and trees, with huge potential for enhancing both global food security and forest restoration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Plant high-affinity K + transporters (HKTs) mediate Na + and K + uptake, maintain Na + /K + homeostasis, and therefore play crucial roles in plant salt tolerance. In this study, we present cryoelectron microscopy structures of HKTs from two classes, class I HKT1;1 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtHKT1;1) and class II HKT2;1 from Triticum aestivum (TaHKT2;1), in both Na + - and K + -bound states at 2.6- to 3.0-Å resolutions. Both AtHKT1;1 and TaHKT2;1 function as homodimers. Each HKT subunit consists of four tandem domain units (D1-D4) with a repeated K + -channel-like M-P-M topology. In each subunit, D1-D4 assemble into an ion conduction pore with a pseudo-four-fold symmetry. Although both TaHKT2;1 and AtHKT1;1 have only one putative Na + ion bound in the selectivity filter with a similar coordination pattern, the two HKTs display different K + binding modes in the filter. TaHKT2;1 has three K + ions bound in the selectivity filter, but AtHKT1;1 has only two K + ions bound in the filter, which has a narrowed external entrance due to the presence of a Ser residue in the first filter motif. These structures, along with computational, mutational, and electrophysiological analyses, enable us to pinpoint key residues that are critical for the ion selectivity of HKTs. The findings provide new insights into the ion selectivity and ion transport mechanisms of plant HKTs and improve our understanding about how HKTs mediate plant salt tolerance and enhance crop growth., (Copyright © 2024 The Author. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) is currently widely used in left-sided colorectal cancer. Some clinical comparative studies have been conducted, providing evidence of its safety and oncological benefits. However, these studies are typically characterized by small sample sizes and short postoperative follow-up periods. Consequently, in this research, the authors adopt the propensity score matching method to undertake a large-scale retrospective comparative study on NOSES colectomy for left-sided colorectal cancer, with the goal of further augmenting the body of evidence-based medical support for NOSES., Methods: This retrospective study involved patients who underwent NOSES colectomy and conventional laparoscopic (CL) colectomy for left-sided colorectal cancer between January 2014 and April 2021. In the NOSES group, specimens were extracted through the anus with the help of a Cai tube (homemade invention: ZL201410168748.2). The patients were matched at a ratio of 1:1 according to age, sex, BMI, tumor diameter, tumor location (descending and splenic flexure colon/ sigmoid colon/ middle and upper rectum), tumor height from anal verge, ASA grade, previous abdominal surgery, clinical pathologic stage, preoperative CEA. After matching, 132 patients in the NOSES group and 132 patients in the CL group were eligible for analysis., Results: Compared with CL group, NOSES group was associated with decreased postoperative maximum pain score (2.6±0.7 vs. 4.7±1.7, P=0.000), less additional analgesia required (6.8 vs. 34.8%, P=0.000), faster time to passage of flatus (2.3±0.6 days vs. 3.3±0.7 days, P=0.000), less wound infection (0.0 vs. 6.1%, P=0.007), and longer operative time (212.5±45.8 min vs. 178.0±43.4 min, P=0.000). No significant differences were observed in estimated blood loss, time to resume regular diet, postoperative hospital stay, conversion to open surgery or conventional minilaparotomy, total morbidity, readmission, mortality, pathologic outcomes, and Wexner incontinence score between groups. After a median follow-up of 63.0 months, the 5-year overall survival rates were 88.3 versus 85.0% (P=0.487), disease-free survival rates were 82.9 versus 83.6% (P=0.824), and the local recurrence rates were 4.4 versus 4.0% (P=0.667) in the NOSES and CL groups, respectively., Conclusions: This study suggests that NOSES colectomy using a Cai tube for left-sided colorectal cancer is a safe and feasible option with better cosmetic results, less pain, faster recovery of gastrointestinal function, and comparable long-term clinical and oncologic outcomes to CL colectomy., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Root hairs are tubular-shaped outgrowths of epidermal cells essential for plants acquiring water and nutrients from the soil. Despite their importance, the growth of root hairs is finite. How this determinate growth is precisely regulated remains largely unknown. Here we identify LONG ROOT HAIR (LRH), a GYF domain-containing protein, as a unique repressor of root hair growth. We show that LRH inhibits the association of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4Es (eIF4Es) with the mRNA of ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE6-LIKE4 (RSL4) that encodes the master regulator of root hair growth, repressing RSL4 translation and thus root hair elongation. RSL4 in turn directly transactivates LRH expression to maintain a proper LRH gradient in the trichoblasts. Our findings reveal a previously uncharacterized LRH-RSL4 feedback regulatory loop that limits root hair growth, shedding new light on the mechanism underlying the determinate growth of root hairs., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cytokinins are essential for plant growth and development, and their tissue distributions are regulated by transmembrane transport. Recent studies have revealed that members of the 'Aza-Guanine Resistant' (AZG) protein family from Arabidopsis thaliana can mediate cytokinin uptake in roots. Here we present 2.7 to 3.3 Å cryo-electron microscopy structures of Arabidopsis AZG1 in the apo state and in complex with its substrates trans-zeatin (tZ), 6-benzyleaminopurine (6-BAP) or kinetin. AZG1 forms a homodimer and each subunit shares a similar topology and domain arrangement with the proteins of the nucleobase/ascorbate transporter (NAT) family. These structures, along with functional analyses, reveal the molecular basis for cytokinin recognition. Comparison of the AZG1 structures determined in inward-facing conformations and predicted by AlphaFold2 in the occluded conformation allowed us to propose that AZG1 may carry cytokinins across the membrane through an elevator mechanism., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

In 2 O 3 is an optimal material for sensitive detection of carbon monoxide (CO) gas due to its low resistivity and high catalytic activity. Yet, the gas response dynamics between the CO gas molecules and the surface of In 2 O 3 is limited by its solid structure, resulting in a weak gas response value and sluggish electron transport. Herein, we report a strategy to synthesize porous In 2 O 3 /Fe 2 O 3 core-shell nanotubes derived from In/Fe bimetallic organic frameworks. The fabricated porous In 2 O 3 /Fe 2 O 3 -4 core-shell nanotubes present outstanding gas sensitivities, including a response value 3.8 times (33.7 to 200 ppm CO at 260 °C) higher than that of monometallic-derived In 2 O 3 (8.7), ultrashort response and recovery times (23/76 s) to 200 ppm CO, low detection limit (1 ppm), promising selectivity, and long-term stability. The enhanced sensing mechanisms are clarified by the combination of experiment and first-principles calculations, showing that the synergetic strategy of higher adsorption energy, increased electrical conductivity, higher electron transfer numbers, and larger specific surface area of porous core-shell structures promotes the surface activity and charge transfer efficiency. The present work paves a way to tune gas-sensing materials with special morphologies for the development of high-performance CO sensors.

Tetradymite compounds, such as Bi 2 Te 3 , crystallizing in rhombohedral structures have triggered tremendous research interest from the scientific community because of their intriguing properties. Herein, using the state-of-the-art first-principles calculations, we identify that La 2 X 2 Y (X = I, Br, Cl; Y = Ge, Te) nanosheets exhibit a ternary tetradymite-type structure with extraordinary electrical and electrochemical properties. It is first demonstrated that the layered La 2 X 2 Y compounds exhibit weak interlayer coupling with cleavage energies in the range of ∼0.28-0.38 J m -2 , allowing the ready separation of monolayers that can be synthesized by mechanical exfoliation from their bulk counterparts. Next, we predict that La 2 X 2 Ge nanosheets exhibit a semiconducting nature, and upon physical realistic strain, a Dirac cone can be realized. These findings can be exploited in the transport properties. Furthermore, we comprehensively investigated the electrochemical properties of the predicted systems to evaluate their potential use in metal-ion (Li/Na) batteries. Our detailed analyses reveal that the Li (Na) adatoms are sufficiently mobile on the surface of the studied systems. For instance, the binding energy for the Li (Na) adatom on La 2 I 2 Ge is -2.24(-1.79) eV with a diffusion barrier of as small as ∼0.31(0.20) eV. Subsequently, the maximum theoretical specific capacity for Li (Na) reaches as high as 887(1064) mA h g -1 , which can be attributed to a much higher storage capacity compared to previously identified 2D anode materials. These findings substantiate that the predicted nanosheets could be synthesized to explore their potential applications in future metal-ion batteries.

Black phosphorene (BP) is a glowing two-dimensional semiconducting layer material for cutting-edge microelectronics, with high carrier mobility and thickness-dependent band gap. Here, based on van der Waals (vdW)-corrected first-principles approaches, we investigated stacked BP/tin selenide (BP/SnSe) vdW heterostructure as an anode material for metal ion batteries, which exhibits a significant theoretical capacity, along with relatively durable binding strength compared to the constituent BP and SnSe monolayers. Our calculations demonstrated that the Li/Na adatom favors insertion into the interlayer region of BP/SnSe vdW heterostructure owing to synergistic interfacial effect, resulting in comparable diffusivity to the BP and SnSe monolayers. Subsequently, the theoretical specific capacities for Li/Na are found to be as high as 956.30 mAhg -1 and 828.79 mAhg -1 , respectively, which could be attributed to the much higher storage capacity of Li/Na adatoms in the BP/SnSe vdW heterostructure. Moreover, the electronic structure calculations reveal that a large amount of charge transfer assists in semiconductor-to-metallic transition upon lithiation/sodiation, ensuring good electrical conductivity. These simulations verify that the BP/SnSe vdW heterostructure has immense potential for application in the design of metal-ion battery technologies., (© 2023 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) colectomy using Cai tube for treating left-sided colorectal cancer. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial. Inclusion criteria were as follows: preoperative pathological diagnosis of left-sided colorectal adenocarcinoma (rectal, sigmoid colon, descending colon, or left transverse colon cancer with the caudad margin ≥8 cm from the anal margin); preoperative abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (or magnetic resonance imaging) showing maximum tumor diameter <4.5 cm; and BMI <30 kg/m 2 . Patients with synchronous multiple primary cancers or recurrent cancers, a history of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, preoperative evidence of significant local infiltration, distant metastasis, or complications such as intestinal obstruction and intestinal perforation, or who were not otherwise considered suitable for laparoscopic surgery were excluded. A random number table was used to randomize sequential patients to NOSES surgery using Cai tube (non-assisted incision anal sleeve: patent number ZL201410168748.2) (NOSES group) or traditional laparoscopic-assisted surgery (CLS group). Relevant clinical data of the two groups of patients were analyzed, the main outcomes being disease-free survival, overall survival, overall recurrence rate, and local recurrence rate 5 years after surgery. Results: Patients in both study groups completed the surgery successfully with no requirement for additional surgery. After mean 70 (7-83) months postoperative follow-up, the 5-year overall postoperative survival in the NOSES and CLS groups was 90.0% and 83.3%, respectively ( P =0.455); disease free survival was 90.0% and 83.3%, respectively ( P =0.455); overall recurrence rate 6.6% and 10.0%, respectively ( P =0.625); and local recurrence rate both were 3.3% ( P =0.990), respectively. None of these differences was statistically significant. Conclusions: NOSES and CLS have similar long-term efficacy, and NOSES deserves to be used in clinical practice.

Core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) are active research areas for their unique properties and wide applications. By changing the elemental composition in the core and shell, a series of core-shell NPs with specific functions can be obtained, where the sizes of the core and shell also influence the properties. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is useful in this context as a means of quantitatively analyzing such NPs. The empirical formula proposed by Shard [ J. Phys. Chem. C , 2012, 116 (31), 16806-16813] for calculating the shell thickness of the spherical core-shell NPs has been verified by Powell et al. [ J. Phys. Chem. C , 2016, 120 (39), 22730-22738] through a simulation of XPS with Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA) software. However, real core-shell NPs are not necessarily ideal spheres; such NPs can have rich shapes and uneven thicknesses. This work aims to extend the Shard formula to non-ideal core-shell NPs. We have used a Monte Carlo simulation method to study the XPS signal variation with the shell thickness for several modeled non-spherical shapes of core-shell NPs including some complex geometric structures which are numerically constructed with finite-element triangular meshes. Five types of non-spherical shapes, i.e. egg, ellipsoid, rod, rough-surface, and star shapes, are considered, while the size parameters are varied over a wide range. The equivalent radius and equivalent thickness are defined to characterize the average size of the nanoparticles for the use of the Shard formula. We have thus derived an extended Shard formula for the specific core-shell NPs, with which the relative error between the predicted shell thickness and the real thickness can be reduced to less than 10%.

The energy loss functions (ELFs) of Fe and Ni have been derived from measured reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectra by a reverse Monte Carlo analysis in our previous work. In this work, we present further improvements of ELFs for these metals. For Fe, we have updated ELFs at primary electron energies of 2 keV and 3 keV in a wider photon energy region (0-180 eV) with a better accuracy, which is verified by sum rules. Regarding to Ni, we supplement the ELF at primary energy of 5 keV and we also improve the data accuracy at 3 keV. Applying these new and more accurate ELFs we present the optical constants and dielectric functions for the two metals. The improvements were highlighted by comparing our present results with the previous data., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Knowledge of absolute secondary electron yield ( δ ) is important for various applications of electron emission materials. Besides, it is also crucial to know the dependence of δ on primary electron energy E p and material properties like atomic number Z. The available experimental database of δ reveals a large discrepancy among the measurement data, while the oversimplified semi-empirical theories of secondary electron emission can only present the general shape of the yield curve but not the absolute yield value. This limits not only the validation of a Monte Carlo model for theoretical simulations but also presents large uncertainties in the applications of different materials for various purposes. In applications, it is highly desirable to have the knowledge of the absolute yield of a material. Therefore, it is highly desirable to establish the relationship of the absolute yield with material and electron energy based on the available experimental data. Recently, machine learning (ML) methods have been increasingly used for the prediction of material properties mainly based on the atomistic calculations with the first-principles theory. We propose here the application of ML models to a material property study, starting with experimental observations and unfolding the relationship of δ with basic material properties and primary electron energy. Our ML models are able to predict δ ( E p )-curve covering a wide energy range of 10 eV-30 keV for unknown elements within the uncertainty range of the experimental data and can suggest more reliable data among the scattered experimental data.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of Cai tube-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) in gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This was a descriptive case-series study. Inclusion criteria: (1) colorectal or gastric cancer diagnosed by preoperative pathological examination or redundant sigmoid or transverse colon detected by barium enema; (2) indications for laparoscopic surgery; (3) body mass index <30 kg/m 2 (transanal surgery) and 35 kg/m 2 (transvaginal surgery); (4) no vaginal stenosis or adhesions in female patients undergoing transvaginal specimen extraction; and (5) patients with redundant colon aged 18-70 years and a history of intractable constipation for more than 10 years. Exclusion criteria: (1) colorectal cancer with intestinal perforation or obstruction, or gastric cancer with gastric perforation, gastric hemorrhage, or pyloric obstruction; (2) simultaneous resection of lung, bone, or liver metastases ; (3) history of major abdominal surgery or intestinal adhesions; and (4) incomplete clinical data. From January 2014 to October 2022, 209 patients with gastrointestinal tumors and 25 with redundant colons who met the above criteria were treated by NOSES utilizing a Cai tube (China invention patent number:ZL201410168748.2) in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University. The procedures included eversion and pull-out NOSES radical resection in 14 patients with middle and low rectal cancer, NOSES radical left hemicolectomy in 171 patients with left-sided colorectal cancer, NOSES radical right hemicolectomy in 12 patients with right-sided colon cancer, NOSES systematic mesogastric resection in 12 patients with gastric cancer, and NOSES subtotal colectomy in 25 patients with redundant colons. All specimens were collected by using an in-house-made anal cannula (Cai tube) with no auxiliary incisions. The primary outcomes included 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and postoperative complications. Results: Among 234 patients, 116 were male and 118 were female. The mean age was (56.6±10.9) years. NOSES was successfully completed in all patients without conversion to open surgery or procedure-related death. The negative rate of circumferential resection margin was 98.8% (169/171) with both two positive cases having left-sided colorectal cancer. Postoperative complications occurred in 37 patients (15.8%), including 11 cases (4.7%) of anastomotic leakage, 3 cases(1.3%) of anastomotic bleeding, 2 cases (0.9%) of intraperitoneal bleeding, 4 cases (1.7%) of abdominal infection, and 8 cases (3.4%) of pulmonary infection. Reoperations were required in 7 patients (3.0%), all of whom consented to creation of an ileostomy after anastomotic leakage. The total readmission rate within 30 days after surgery was 0.9% (2/234). After a follow-up of (18.3±3.6) months, the 1-year RFS was 94.7%. Five of 209 patients (2.4%) with gastrointestinal tumors had local recurrence, all of which was anastomotic recurrence. Sixteen patients (7.7%) developed distant metastases, including liver metastases( n =8), lung metastases( n =6), and bone metastases ( n =2). Conclusion: NOSES assisted by Cai tube is feasible and safe in radical resection of gastrointestinal tumors and subtotal colectomy for redundant colon.

Cell wall is the first physical barrier to aluminum (Al) toxicity. Modification of cell wall properties to change its binding capacity to Al is one of the major strategies for plant Al resistance; nevertheless, how it is regulated in rice remains largely unknown. In this study, we show that exogenous application of putrescines (Put) could significantly restore the Al resistance of art1, a rice mutant lacking the central regulator Al RESISTANCE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 1 (ART1), and reduce its Al accumulation particularly in the cell wall of root tips. Based on RNA-sequencing, yeast-one-hybrid and electrophoresis mobility shift assays, we identified an R2R3 MYB transcription factor OsMYB30 as the novel target in both ART1-dependent and Put-promoted Al resistance. Furthermore, transient dual-luciferase assay showed that ART1 directly inhibited the expression of OsMYB30, and in turn repressed Os4CL5-dependent 4-coumaric acid accumulation, hence reducing the Al-binding capacity of cell wall and enhancing Al resistance. Additionally, Put repressed OsMYB30 expression by eliminating Al-induced H 2 O 2 accumulation, while exogenous H 2 O 2 promoted OsMYB30 expression. We concluded that ART1 confers Put-promoted Al resistance via repression of OsMYB30-regulated modification of cell wall properties in rice., (© 2022 Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

C1q (complement C1q A chain, complement C1q B chain, and complement C1q C chain) is a recognized component of the classical complement pathway that influences the prognosis of various cancers. However, the effects of C1q on cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) outcomes and immune infiltration remain unknown. Gene expression profiling interactive analysis 2 and the human protein atlas were used to evaluate differential expression of C1q mRNA and protein. The relationship between C1q expression and clinicopathological features was also examined. The genetic alterations of C1q and their impact on survival were analyzed using the cbioportal database. The Kaplan-Meier approach was used to assess the significance of C1q in individuals with SKCM. The cluster profiler R package and the cancer single-cell state atlas database were used to investigate the function and mechanism of C1q in SKCM. The relationship between C1q and immune cell infiltration was estimated using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. C1q expression was increased, and predicted a favorable prognosis. High C1q expression correlated with clinicopathological T stage, pathological stage, overall survival, and disease specific survival events. Moreover, C1q genetic alterations range from 2.7% to 4%, with no impact on prognosis. According to the enrichment analysis, C1q and immune-related pathways were closely connected. The link between complement C1q B chain and the functional state of inflammation was determined using the cancer single-cell state atlas database. In particular, C1q expression was significantly associated with infiltration of most immune cells and checkpoints PDCD1, CD274, and HAVCR2. The results of this study suggest that C1q is associated with prognosis and immune cell infiltration, supporting its value as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

We present a combined experimental and theoretical work to obtain the energy loss function (ELF) or the excitation spectrum of samarium in the energy loss range between 3 and 200 eV. At low loss energies, the plasmon excitation is clearly identified and the surface and bulk contributions are distinguished. For the precise analysis the frequency-dependent energy loss function and the related optical constants (n and k) of samarium were extracted from the measured reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectra by the reverse Monte Carlo method. The ps- and f-sum rules with final ELF fulfils the nominal values with 0.2% and 2.5% accuracy, respectively. It was found that a bulk mode locates at 14.2 eV with the peak width ~6 eV and the corresponding broaden surface plasmon mode locates at energies of 5-11 eV., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The well known nonlinear fluctuating hydrodynamics theory has grouped diffusions in anharmonic chains into two universality classes: one is the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) class for chains with either asymmetric potential or nonzero static pressure and the other is the Gaussian class for chains with symmetric potential at zero static pressure, such as Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou (FPUT)-β chains. However, little is known of the nonequilibrium transient diffusion in anharmonic chains. Here, we reveal that the KPZ class is the only universality class for nonequilibrium transient diffusion, manifested as the KPZ scaling of the side peaks of momentum correlation (corresponding to the sound modes correlation), which was completely unexpected in equilibrium FPUT-β chains. The underlying mechanism is that the nonequilibrium soliton dynamics cause nonzero transient pressure so that the sound modes satisfy approximately the noisy Burgers equation, in which the collisions of solitons was proved to yield the KPZ dynamic exponent of the soliton dispersion. Therefore, the unexpected KPZ universality class is obtained in the nonequilibrium transient diffusion in FPUT-β chains and the corresponding carriers of nonequilibrium transient diffusion are attributed to solitons.

Background: The role of laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction (LA-NOSE) colectomy in the treatment of left-sided colon cancer has not been well defined, and there remains confusion about how to conveniently exteriorize specimens through natural orifices. Therefore, we introduced a homemade invention, the Cai tube, to facilitate the extraction of specimens and compared the clinical outcomes of LA-NOSE with conventional laparoscopic (CL) colectomy for left-sided colon cancer., Methods: From March 2015 to August 2017, patients with left-sided colon cancer were randomly divided into LA-NOSE and CL groups. Specimens were extracted through the anus with the help of a Cai tube (Patent Number: ZL201410168748.2) in the LA-NOSE group. The primary outcome measure was postoperative pain. Secondary outcomes were the duration of operation, postoperative recovery, surgical morbidity, pathological quality of the specimen, and long-term outcomes, including 3-year overall survival, disease-free survival, local recurrence, and overall recurrence., Results: A total of 60 patients (30 per group) were recruited for this study. None of the patients required emergency conversion to conventional laparoscopic or open surgery during the operation. The postoperative maximum pain score was significantly lower in the LA-NOSE group (mean 2.5 vs. 5.1, P = 0.001), as was the additional analgesia requirement (mean 2/30 vs. 10/30, P = 0.021). Patients in the LA-NOSE group experienced a shorter first time to passage of flatus (mean 2.2 vs. 3.1 days, P = 0.026). All patients could control their defecation at 6 months after surgery. The comparison between the two groups showed no significant differences in the operative time, bleeding volume, postoperative hospital stay, surgical morbidity rates, number of lymph nodes harvested, or resection margin status. The mean follow-up was 48 months (range 7-59) and was similar in both groups. The results showed no differences in long-term outcomes between the two groups., Conclusion: In the treatment of left-sided colon cancer, compared with conventional laparoscopic colectomy, LA-NOSE colectomy using the Cai tube exhibited lower postoperative pain, shorter recovery of gastrointestinal function, and similar long-term outcomes., Registration Number: ChiCTR-OOR-15007060 ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/ )., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: There is scant data on the association of the Pulsed wave-Doppler tissue imaging (PW-DTI)-derived tricuspid lateral annular peak systolic velocity (S') and poor short-term prognosis of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF)., Patients and Methods: A total number of 732 participants from the Heb-ADHF registry in China were divided into three groups according to the corresponding status of tricuspid S'. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, physical examinations, lab tests, and medications were compared among the different groups. Different logistic regression models were utilized to gauge the relationship between S' and the risk of a composite of short-term all-cause mortality or 30-day heart failure (HF)-related rehospitalization., Results: The number of composite outcome events identified in the study population was 85, with the short-term all-cause death coupled with 30-day HF readmission events reaching 23 and 62, respectively. As per the multivariable adjusted analysis, S' was inversely related to the risk of a composite outcome [<10 cm/s odds ratios (OR) 2.90, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.33-6.31; 10-11 cm/s OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.10-4.33; p for trend = 0.006] in comparison with S' at >11 cm/s. When S' was analysed as a continuous variable, per 1 cm/s increase, the OR (95% CI) for a composite outcome was [0.87 (0.77-0.99), p  = 0.028]. Area under curve (AUC) of S' for predicting outcome of ADHF was 0.631 (95%CI: 0.573 - 0.690, p  < 0.01). Significant inverse association was also observed in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥40% subgroup., Conclusions: Inspite of the potential confounders, a more impaired tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity is associated with a poorer short-term prognosis of patients with ADHF.

We report an improved calculation of the electron backscattering coefficients (BSCs) for beryllium, molybdenum and tungsten at electron energies of 0.1-100 keV based on an up-to-date Monte Carlo simulation method with different input of energy loss function (ELF) data. The electron inelastic cross-section is derived from the relativistic dielectric functional formalism, where the full Penn's algorithm is applied for the extension of the ELF from the optical limit of [Formula: see text] into the [Formula: see text]-plane. We have found that the accuracy of energy loss function may affect largely the calculated BSC. We also show that this has close relationship with the f- and ps-sum rules., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Phospholipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids at the bis-allylic position drives ferroptosis. Here we identify a novel role for phospholipid peroxidation in the inhibition of autophagy. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we report that phospholipid peroxidation induced by glutathione peroxidase-4 inhibition and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase overexpression leads to overload of peroxidized phospholipids and culminate in inhibition of autophagy. Functional and lipidomics analysis further demonstrated that inhibition of autophagy was associated with an increase of peroxidized phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) conjugated LC3. We further demonstrate that autophagy inhibition occurred due to preferential cleavage of peroxidized LC3-PE by ATG4B to yield delipidated LC3. Mouse models of phospholipid peroxidation and autophagy additionally supported a role for peroxidized PE in autophagy inhibition. Our results agree with the recognized role of endoplasmic reticulum as the primary source for autophagosomal membranes. In summary, our studies demonstrated that phospholipid peroxidation inhibited autophagy via stimulating the ATG4B-mediated delipidation of peroxidized LC3-PE., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The PIN-FORMED (PIN) protein family of auxin transporters mediates polar auxin transport and has crucial roles in plant growth and development 1,2 . Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of PIN3 from Arabidopsis thaliana in the apo state and in complex with its substrate indole-3-acetic acid and the inhibitor N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA). A. thaliana PIN3 exists as a homodimer, and its transmembrane helices 1, 2 and 7 in the scaffold domain are involved in dimerization. The dimeric PIN3 forms a large, joint extracellular-facing cavity at the dimer interface while each subunit adopts an inward-facing conformation. The structural and functional analyses, along with computational studies, reveal the structural basis for the recognition of indole-3-acetic acid and NPA and elucidate the molecular mechanism of NPA inhibition on PIN-mediated auxin transport. The PIN3 structures support an elevator-like model for the transport of auxin, whereby the transport domains undergo up-down rigid-body motions and the dimerized scaffold domains remain static., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

A full-space analysis based on the multislice method is presented and has been applied to the simulation of mechanical interaction of electron vortex beam with a nanoparticle. The moment acting on the particle is calculated and presented as a moment map. We have calculated the total torque and compared it with the result from orbital angular momentum analysis. The thickness dependent torque and angular momentum are derived and discussed for different incident energies, convergence angles and angular momenta of the incident electron vortex beam. For different incident beams, the enhanced torque caused by diffraction enhancement is discussed. The oscillation behavior of the torque and angular momentum on depth is explained by a channeling theory. A comparison of thickness dependent angular momentum between the proposed analysis and conventional orbital angular momentum analysis in both the multislice method and the Bloch wave method is presented and discussed., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Rice, as one of the most aluminium (Al)-resistant cereal crops, has developed more complicated Al resistance mechanisms than others. By using forward genetic screening from a rice ethyl methanesulfonate mutant library, we obtained a mutant showing specifically high sensitivity to Al. Through MutMap analysis followed by a complementation test, we identified the causal gene, Al-related Protein Kinase (ArPK) for Al-sensitivity. ArPK expression was induced by a relatively longer exposure to high Al concentration in the roots. The result of RNA-sequencing indicated the functional disorder in arginine metabolism pathway with downregulation of N-acetylornithine deacetylase (NAOD) expression and upregulation of Ornithine decarboxylase1 (ODC1) expression in arpk mutant. Al specifically and rapidly upregulated ODC1 expression and causes overaccumulation of putrescine (Put), whereas the ODC inhibitor difluoromethylornithine reverted Al-sensitive phenotype of arpk, suggesting that overaccumulation of endogenous Put might be harmful for root growth, and that ArPK seems to act as an endogenous inhibitor of ODC1 action to maintain suitable endogenous Put level under Al treatment. Overall, we identified ArPK and its putative repressive role in controlling a novel ODC-dependent Put biosynthesis pathway specifically affecting rice Al resistance, thus enriching the fundamental understanding of plant Al resistance., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To evaluate the mid-term efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) colectomy using the Cai tube in the treatment of left colorectal cancer. Methods: A prospective randomized control trial (China Clinical Trials Registration Number: ChiCTR-OOR-15007060) was performed. Sixty patients with left colorectal cancer at Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of Zhongshan Hospital from September 2015 to August 2017 were prospectively enrolled. Case inclusion criteria: (1) left colorectal adenocarcinoma (rectal cancer with distance ≥ 8 cm from tumor low margin to anal edge, sigmoid colon cancer, descending colon cancer and left transverse colon cancer) confirmed by preoperative pathology; (2) satisfactory conditions of conventional laparoscopic surgery; (3) maximum diameter of the tumor < 4.5 cm confirmed by preoperative abdominal and pelvic CT or MRI; (4) BMI < 30 kg/m 2 . Case exclusion criteria: (1) benign lesions, mucinous adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma and other special pathological types of tumors confirmed by preoperative pathological examination; (2) multiple or recurrent cancers; (3) with a history of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy; (4) obvious regional infiltration or distant metastasis indicated by preoperative imaging examination; (5) intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, etc. Participants were randomly assigned to NOSES group (using the Cai tube) and conventional laparoscopy (CL) group by random number table method. Clinical data between two groups were compared and analyzed, including perioperative conditions, tumor exfoliation cell detection and bacterial culture results of intraperitoneal lavage fluid, postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grading), postoperative pain [visual simulation scoring (VAS) assessment], anal function (Kirwan anal function grading assessment), and postoperative 3-year disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), overall recurrence rate, and local recurrence rate. Results: A total of 60 patients were enrolled, with 30 in the NOSES group and 30 in the CL group. All the patients in the NOSES group successfully completed operation with Cai tube. Baseline data between the two groups were not significantly different (all P >0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in conversion rate to open surgery, number of lymph node harivested, proximal and distal resection margin of tumor, negative rate of circumferential margin, operation time, blood loss, inflammatory indexes, postoperative anal function, postoperative hospital stay, hospitalization cost, morbidity of postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade II or above) (all P >0.05). Compared to the CL group, the NOSES group had lower maximum postoperative VAS score (2.5±0.3 vs. 5.1±0.4, t =3.187, P <0.01), and fewer use of additional postoperative analgesia [6.7% (2/30) vs. 33.3% (10/30),χ 2 =6.670, P =0.02]. The postoperative time to gas passage was shorter in the NOSES group [(2.2±1.4) days vs. (3.1±1.2) days, P =0.026]. No tumor cells and bacterial contamination were found in abdominal lavage fluid before and after operation in either group. The anal function at postoperative 3-month of all the patients in the NOSES group was Kirwan grade I to II, while in the CL group, anal function of 2 cases (6.7%) was Kirwan grade III, and of 28 cases was also Kirwan grade I to II, whose difference was not statistically significant ( P >0.05). In the NOSES group and the CL group, 3-year DFS was 96.7% and 83.3% ( P =0.090), OS was 100% and 90% ( P =0.096), overall recurrence rate was 3.3% and 10.0% ( P =0.166), and local recurrence rate was 3.3% and 3.3% ( P =0.999), respectively, whose differences were not statistically significant (all P >0.05). Conclusions: In the treatment of left colorectal cancer, compared with conventional laparoscopic colectomy, NOSES colectomy using Cai tube exhibits less scar, less postoperative pain, shorter recovery of gastrointestinal function, and similar mid-term outcomes. Given proper surgical indications, the surgical procedure is safe and feasible.

Plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays an indispensable role in the control of leaf senescence, during which ABA signaling depends on its biosynthesis. Nevertheless, the role of ABA transport in leaf senescence remains unknown. Here, we identified two novel RING-box protein-encoding genes UBIQUITIN LIGASE of SENESCENCE 1 and 2 (ULS1 and ULS2) involved in leaf senescence. Lack of ULS1 and ULS2 accelerates leaf senescence, which is specifically promoted by ABA treatment. Furthermore, the expression of senescence-related genes is significantly affected in mature leaves of uls1/uls2 double mutant (versus wild type (WT)) in an ABA-dependent manner, and the ABA content is substantially increased. ULS1 and ULS2 are mainly expressed in the guard cells and aging leaves, and the expression is induced by ABA. Further RNA-seq and quantitative proteomics of ubiquitination reveal that ABA transporter ABCG40 is highly expressed in uls1/uls2 mutant versus WT, though it is not the direct target of ULS1/2. Finally, we show that the acceleration of leaf senescence, the increase of leaf ABA content, and the promotion of stomatal closure in uls1/usl2 mutant are suppressed by abcg40 loss-of-function mutation. These results indicate that ULS1 and ULS2 function in feedback inhibition of ABCG40-dependent ABA transport during ABA-induced leaf senescence and stomatal closure., (© 2022 Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

Main Conclusion: Genetic analysis reveals a previously unknown role for ethylene signaling in regulating Arabidopsis thaliana nitrogen metabolism. Nitrogen (N) is essential for plant growth, and assimilation of soil nitrate (NO 3 - ) and ammonium ions is an important route of N acquisition. Although N import and assimilation are subject to multiple regulatory inputs, the extent to which ethylene signaling contributes to this regulation remains poorly understood. Here, our analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana ethylene signaling mutants advances that understanding. We show that the loss of CTR1 function ctr1-1 mutation confers resistance to the toxic effects of the NO 3 - analogue chlorate (ClO 3 - ), and reduces the activity of the nitrate reductase (NR) enzyme of NO 3 - assimilation. Our further analysis indicates that the lack of the downstream EIN2 component (conferred by novel ein2 mutations) suppresses the effect of ctr1-1, restoring ClO 3 - sensitivity and NR activity to normal. Collectively, our observations indicate an important role for ethylene signaling in regulating Arabidopsis thaliana NO 3 - metabolism. We conclude that ethylene signaling enables environmentally responsive coordination of plant growth and N metabolism., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

An efficient N-centered radical intramolecular cyclization reaction of alkenyl amides induced by visible light was described. In this process, an alkenyl amide underwent 5-exo / 6-endo cyclization to selectively yield two critical alkaloid structures, namely isoindolinones and isoquinolinones.

The plant aluminum (Al)-activated malate transporter ALMT1 mediates the efflux of malate to chelate the Al in acidic soils and underlies the plant Al resistance. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of Arabidopsis thaliana ALMT1 (AtALMT1) in the apo, malate-bound, and Al-bound states at neutral and/or acidic pH at up to 3.0 Å resolution. The AtALMT1 dimer assembles an anion channel and each subunit contains six transmembrane helices (TMs) and six cytosolic α-helices. Two pairs of Arg residues are located in the center of the channel pore and contribute to malate recognition. Al binds at the extracellular side of AtALMT1 and induces conformational changes of the TM1-2 loop and the TM5-6 loop, resulting in the opening of the extracellular gate. These structures, along with electrophysiological measurements, molecular dynamic simulations, and mutagenesis study in Arabidopsis, elucidate the structural basis for Al-activated malate transport by ALMT1., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, CAS.)

Background: To study the endoscopic trans-lateral molar (ETLM) approach to infratemporal fossa (ITF) lesions and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of this method., Methods: Four cases of ITF lesions were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical features, diagnosis and treatments, the operative process, and clinical applications of this surgical approach were discussed., Results: Postoperative pathologies were 2 pleomorphic adenomas, 1 schwannoma, and 1 inflammatory lesion. All patients had self-resolving cheek swelling and pharyngalgia in the short term, but 2 patients had numbness in the long term. There was no infection or bleeding in the postoperative period, and no difficulty in chewing after disease recovery. There was no tumor recurrence during the follow-up period., Conclusion: The ETLM approach is convenient, minimally invasive, and allows complete excision of benign ITF lesions, posterior to the lateral pterygoid muscle and mainly below the level of the hard palate. It is a simple and direct access to the ITF, but it is a narrow access because of the limitations of bones and soft tissues. Appropriate patient selection is mandatory for successful surgery.

We present the combined experimental and theoretical investigations of the optical properties of amorphous carbon. The reflection electron energy loss spectra (REELS) spectra of carbon were measured using a cylindrical mirror analyzer under ultrahigh vacuum conditions at primary electron energies of 750, 1000 and 1300 eV. The energy loss function and thereby the refractive index n and the extinction coefficient k were determined from these REELS spectra in a wide loss energy range of 2-200 eV by applying our reverse Monte Carlo method. The high accuracy of the obtained optical constants is justified with the ps- and f-sum rules. We found that our present optical constants of amorphous carbon fulfill the sum rules with the highest accuracy compared with the previously published data. Therefore, we highly recommend to replace the previous data with the present ones for practical applications. Moreover, we present the atomic scattering factors of amorphous carbon obtained from the dielectric function to predict its optical constants at a given density.

Charging effect frequently occurs when characterizing nonconductive materials using electrons as probes and/or signals and can impede the acquisition of useful information about the material under investigation. It is not adequate to investigate it merely by experiments, but theoretical investigations, for which the Monte Carlo method is a suitable tool, are also necessary. In this paper we review Monte Carlo simulations and selected experiments, intending to provide general insight into the charging effects induced by electron beam irradiation. We will introduce categories of the charging effect, the theoretical framework that is adopted in Monte Carlo modeling of the charging effect and present some typical simulation results. At last, with the knowledge on charging effect imparted by the above contents, we will discuss the measures that can be used for minimizing it., (© 2021 The Author(s). Published by National Institute for Materials Science in partnership with Taylor & Francis Group.)

Iron (Fe) storage in plant seeds is not only necessary for seedling establishment following germination but is also a major source of dietary Fe for humans and other animals. Accumulation of Fe in seeds is known to be low during early seed development. However, the underlying mechanism and biological significance remain elusive. Here, we show that reduced expression of Arabidopsis YABBY transcription factor INNER NO OUTER (INO) increases embryonic Fe accumulation, while transgenic overexpression of INO results in the opposite effect. INO is highly expressed during early seed development, and decreased INO expression increases the expression of NATURAL RESISTANCE-ASSOCIATED MACROPHAGE PROTEIN 1 (NRAMP1), which encodes a transporter that contributes to seed Fe loading. The relatively high embryonic Fe accumulation conferred by decreased INO expression is rescued by the nramp1 loss-of-function mutation. We further demonstrated that INO represses NRAMP1 expression by binding to NRAMP1-specific promoter region. Interestingly, we found that excessive Fe loading into developing seeds of ino mutants results in greater oxidative damage, leading to increased cell death and seed abortion, a phenotype that can be rescued by the nramp1 mutation. Taken together, these results indicate that INO plays an important role in safeguarding reproduction by reducing Fe loading into developing seeds by repressing NRAMP1 expression., (Copyright © 2021 The Author. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Phosphorus (P) is an indispensable macronutrient required for plant growth and development. Natural phosphate (Pi) reserves are finite, and a better understanding of Pi utilization by crops is therefore vital for worldwide food security. Ammonium has long been known to enhance Pi acquisition efficiency in agriculture; however, the molecular mechanisms coordinating Pi nutrition and ammonium remains unclear. Here, we reveal that ammonium is a novel initiator that stimulates the accumulation of a key regulatory protein, STOP1, in the nuclei of Arabidopsis root cells under Pi deficiency. We show that Pi deficiency promotes ammonium uptake mediated by AMT1 transporters and causes rapid acidification of the root surface. Rhizosphere acidification-triggered STOP1 accumulation activates the excretion of organic acids, which help to solubilize Pi from insoluble iron or calcium phosphates. Ammonium uptake by AMT1 transporters is downregulated by a CIPK23 protein kinase whose expression is directly modulated by STOP1 when ammonium reaches toxic levels. Taken together, we have identified a STOP1-centered regulatory network that links external ammonium with efficient Pi acquisition from insoluble phosphate sources. These findings provide a framework for developing possible strategies to improve crop production by enhancing the utilization of non-bioavailable nutrients in soil., (Copyright © 2021 The Author. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure-based electrodes have invoked tremendous research interest due to their intriguing properties and their capability to break the limitations of the restricted properties of single-material systems. Herein, based on first-principles approaches, we propose that the black phosphorene/blue phosphorene (BLK-P/BLE-P) vdW heterostructure can be a capable anode material for power-driving lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), as it exhibits a large theoretical capacity, together with a relatively strong binding strength compared with the individual BLK-P and BLE-P monolayers. Our calculation results show that the Li adatom prefers to intercalate into the interlayer of the BLK-P/BLE-P vdW heterostructure due to the synergistic interfacial effect, resulting in a high binding strength and a diffusivity comparable to the BLK-P and BLE-P monolayers. Subsequently, the theoretical specific capacity is found to be as high as 552.8 mA h g -1 , which can be attributed to the much higher storage capacity of Li adatoms in the BLK-P/BLE-P vdW heterostructure. Furthermore, electronic structure calculations reveal that a large amount of charge transfer assists in semiconductor to metallic transition upon lithiation, which would ensure good electrical conductivity. These simulations prove that the BLK-P/BLE-P heterostructure has great potential in LIBs and is essential for future battery design.

In transmission electron microscope (TEM), both the amplitude and the phase of electron beam change when electrons traverse a specimen. The amplitude is easily obtained by the square root of the intensity of a TEM image, while the phase affects defocused images. In order to obtain the phase map and verify the theoretical model of the interaction between electron beam and specimen, a lot of simulations have to be performed by researchers. In this work, we have simulated defocus images of a SiC nanowire in TEM with the method of electron optics. Mean inner potential and charge distribution on the nanowire have been considered in the simulation. Besides, due to electron scattering, coherence loss of the electron beam has been introduced. A dynamic process with Bayesian optimization was used in the simulation. With the infocus image as input and by adjusting fitting parameters, the defocus image is determined with a reasonable charge distribution. The calculated defocus images are in a good agreement with the experimental ones. Here, we present a complete solution and verification method for solving nanoscale charge distribution in TEM., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Japanese Society of Microscopy. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

To investigate the pollution characteristics and sources of atmospheric brown carbon (BrC) in Chongming Island, a background site of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in China, PM 2.5 samples collected from December 2018 to January 2019 were analyzed to determine their chemical compositions and optical properties. The results showed that the light absorption coefficient (Abs 365,M ) of BrC extracted by methanol at 365 nm was (5.39±3.33) M -1 ·m -1 , which was 1.3 times of the water extracted BrC. Both increased significantly with the increase of pH values, suggesting that less acidic conditions can enhance the light absorption ability of BrC. In winter, both Abs 365 and MAE 365 (mass absorption efficiency) were higher in the nighttime than in the daytime. A strong linear correlation observed between Abs 365 and levoglucosan ( R 2 =0.72) indicated that many light absorbing substances in Chongming Island were derived from biomass burning emissions. During the campaign, nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs) and PAHs accounted for (1.5±1.1) ng·m -3 and (8.3±4.7) ng·m -3 , respectively, contributing to 0.1% and 0.067% of the absorption of the total BrC at 365 nm, respectively. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis further showed that biomass and fossil fuel combustions were the main sources of BrC in Chongming Island in winter, accounting for 56% of the total BrC, followed by secondary formation, accounting for 24% of the total BrC, with road dust contributing only 6%.

Unlike most crops, in which soil acidity severely limits productivity, tea ( Camellia sinensis ) actually prefers acid soils (pH 4.0-5.5). Specifically, tea is very tolerant of acidity-promoted aluminum (Al) toxicity, a major factor that limits the yield of most other crops, and it even requires Al for optimum growth. Understanding tea Al tolerance and Al-stimulatory mechanisms could therefore be fundamental for the future development of crops adapted to acid soils. Here, we summarize the Al-tolerance mechanisms of tea plants, propose possible mechanistic explanations for the stimulation of tea growth by Al based on recent research, and put forward ideas for future crop breeding for acid soils., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Electron stopping power (SP) is of great importance in theoretical and applied research areas specifically for Monte Carlo simulation studies in many microanalysis and surface analysis techniques, radiation dosimetry, and the design of particle detectors. However, experimental data are available for a dozen elemental materials only. On the other hand, the Bethe analytical expression of the SP is applicable at high energies only whereas no generally accepted formula exists at lower energies. We employed ensemble machine learning (ML) methods with the available experimental database for the prediction of SPs of electrons with energies from 100 keV down to 1 eV, in elements over the entire periodic table. With a small training database for electron SPs, we applied various algorithms individually as well as their ensembles, which have the credibility to enhance the prediction accuracy in the case of a small training database. Based on the model's performance evaluation tests, we concluded that the stacked generalization is more accurate than the individual algorithms. Using this method, we were able to predict the electron SPs for 54 elements (in total) including 12 elements that were present in the training database as well as for 42 elements beyond the training database over a wide energy range (1 eV to 100 keV). Compared to other theoretical approaches, the ML predicted SPs show very good agreement with the available experimental data at all energies. Moreover, unlike other theoretical approaches, the ML model does not need dielectric function data and other physical parameters which involve complex calculations. Using our ML model, we have predicted SPs for a further 14 elements for which no theoretical SPs are available because of the lack of good dielectric function data.

We present the first theoretical recipe for the clear and individual separation of surface, bulk and Begrenzungs effect components in surface electron energy spectra. The procedure ends up with the spectral contributions originated from surface and bulk-Begrenzungs excitations by using a simple method for dealing with the mixed scatterings. As an example, the model is applied to the reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy spectrum of Si. The electron spectroscopy techniques can directly use the present calculation schema to identify the origin of the electron signals from a sample. Our model provides the possibility for the detailed and accurate quantitative analysis of REELS spectra.

This study mainly investigated the distribution characteristics and risk assessment of 14 antibiotics in typical marine aquaculture farms surrounding the Bohai Sea. The effects of various culture modes (outdoor pond culture, recirculating water culture, greenhouse pond culture, raft culture, cage culture and bottom sowing culture), and diverse cultured organism species such as fish (grouper, bass, pike and turbot), mollusk (oyster, scallop, conch and mussel) and sea cucumber on the distribution of antibiotics in different mariculture pond matrices (seawater, sediment/biofilm and organism) were studied. In addition, antibiotic pollution levels in various matrices (water, sediment, organism and feed) from different mariculture areas surrounding the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea were compared. The biofilm on the inner wall of greenhouse pond was more capable of accumulating antibiotics than the biofilm attached to the rope for raft culture and net for cage culture, and other culture sediments. The antibiotic concentration level in the culture matrices (water, sediment/biofilm and organism) was the highest under greenhouse pond culture mode, and that under the industrial recirculating water culture mode was the lowest. Antibiotic concentration in culture matrices of fish ponds was higher than that of sea cucumber ponds and mollusk ponds. The levels of antibiotics in water and sediment from marine aquaculture farms in Laizhou (Bohai Sea coast) were higher than those in Haiyang and Jimo (Yellow Sea coast). Enrofloxacin in turbot might cause considerable harm to human health, and the risk of antibiotics in other seafood could be ignored. Antibiotic ecological risks and resistance risks were generally low in water. Fluoroquinolones posed medium to high ecological risks in the natural receiving water around the mariculture farm. Trimethoprim and enrofloxacin showed relatively high antibiotic resistance risks in mariculture water and natural water, which might exert selective pressure on the bacterial community in the environment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest to this work., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background/aim: The viability of periodontal ligament cells on the root surface is a major factor that influences the healing of replanted teeth. A suitable storage medium is necessary to preserve avulsed teeth before replantation. Conditioned medium from placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSC-CM) contains a variety of growth factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PMSC-CM as a storage medium to maintain the cell viability of avulsed teeth., Material and Methods: Extracted premolars from healthy humans were randomly stored in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and PMSC-CM for 6, 12 and 24 hours, respectively, at room temperature, and then the ratio of apoptosis of the periodontal ligament (PDL) cells was identified by flow cytometry. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) were incubated with HBSS and PMSC-CM, respectively, for 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours in 5% CO 2 at 37°C. Then, the cell viability of PDLSCs was determined using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and a cell cycle assay was performed., Results: The apoptosis rate of PDL cells in PMSC-CM was significantly lower than that in HBSS at 24 hours (P < .001), while the two groups showed similar cell apoptosis rates at 6 and 12 hours (P > .05). The cell proliferation of PDLSCs treated with PMSC-CM significantly increased compared with the HBSS group (P < .05). The cell cycle assay revealed that the PDLSCs treated with HBSS were arrested at the G1 phase, while there was no difference between the PMSC-CM group and the control group (P > .05)., Conclusions: Compared with HBSS, PMSC-CM showed better inhibition of apoptosis of PDL cells and promoted the proliferation of PDLSCs. Thus, PMSC-CM could be a promising storage medium for avulsed teeth., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)