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Abstract Background Fusarium head blight (FHB), a devastating disease of wheat production, is predominantly elicited by Fusarium graminearum (Fg). The tetraploid Thinopyrum elongatum is a tertiary gene resource of common wheat that possesses high affinity and displays high resistance traits against multiple biotic and abiotic stress. We aim to employ and utilize the novel FHB resistance resources from the wild germplasm of common wheat for breeding. Results Durum wheat-tetraploid Th. elongatum amphiploid 8801 was hybridized with common wheat cultivars SM482 and SM51, and the F5 generation was generated. We conducted cytogenetically in situ hybridization (ISH) technologies to select and confirm a genetically stable 7E(7D) substitution line K17-1069-5, which showed FHB expansion resistance in both field and greenhouse infection experiments and displayed no significant disadvantage in agronomic traits compared to their common wheat parents in the field. The F2 segregation populations (K17-1069-5 × SM830) showed that the 7E chromosome conferred dominant FHB resistance with dosage effect. We developed 19 SSR molecular markers specific to chromosome 7E, which could be conducted for genetic mapping and large breeding populations marker-assisted selection (MAS) during selection procedures in the future. We isolated a novel Fhb7 allele from the tetraploid Th. elongatum chromosome 7E (Chr7E) using homology-based cloning, which was designated as TTE7E-Fhb7. Conclusions In summary, our study developed a novel wheat-tetraploid Thinopyrum elongatum 7E(7D) K17-1069-5 substitution line which contains stable FHB resistance.

Abstract Perinatal traits are influenced by fetal and maternal genomes. We investigate the performance of three strategies to detect loci in maternal and fetal genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of the same quantitative trait: (i) the traditional strategy of analysing maternal and fetal GWASs separately; (ii) a two-degree-of-freedom test which combines information from maternal and fetal GWASs; and (iii) a one-degree-of-freedom test where signals from maternal and fetal GWASs are meta-analysed together conditional on estimated sample overlap. We demonstrate that the optimal strategy depends on the extent of sample overlap, correlation between phenotypes, whether loci exhibit fetal and/or maternal effects, and whether these effects are directionally concordant. We apply our methods to summary statistics from a recent GWAS meta-analysis of birth weight. Both the two-degree-of-freedom and meta-analytic approaches increase the number of genetic loci for birth weight relative to separately analysing the scans. Our best strategy identifies an additional 62 loci compared to the most recently published meta-analysis of birth weight. We conclude that whilst the two-degree-of-freedom test may be useful for the analysis of certain perinatal phenotypes, for most phenotypes, a simple meta-analytic strategy is likely to perform best, particularly in situations where maternal and fetal GWASs only partially overlap.

Abstract Background Wheat is one of major sources of human cadmium (Cd) intake. Reducing the grain Cd concentrations in wheat is urgently required to ensure food security and human health. In this study, we performed a field experiment at Wenjiang experimental field of Sichuan Agricultural University (Chengdu, China) to reveal the effects of FeCl3 and Fe2(SO4)3 on reducing grain Cd concentrations in dwarf Polish wheat (Triticum polonicum L., 2n = 4x = 28, AABB). Results Soil application of FeCl3 and Fe2(SO4)3 (0.04 M Fe3+/m2) significantly reduced grain Cd concentration in DPW at maturity by 19.04% and 33.33%, respectively. They did not reduce Cd uptake or root-to-shoot Cd translocation, but increased Cd distribution in lower leaves, lower internodes, and glumes. Meanwhile, application of FeCl3 and Fe2(SO4)3 up-regulated the expression of TpNRAMP5, TpNRAMP2 and TpYSL15 in roots, and TpYSL15 and TpZIP3 in shoots; they also downregulated the expression of TpZIP1 and TpZIP3 in roots, and TpIRT1 and TpNRAMP5 in shoots. Conclusions The reduction in grain Cd concentration caused by application of FeCl3 and Fe2(SO4)3 was resulted from changes in shoot Cd distribution via regulating the expression of some metal transporter genes. Overall, this study reports the physiological pathways of soil applied Fe fertilizer on grain Cd concentration in wheat, suggests a strategy for reducing grain Cd concentration by altering shoot Cd distribution.

Abstract Background After a 920-day hiatus, COVID-19 resurged in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in August 2022. This study compares the characteristics of COVID-19 between high-altitude residents and newcomers, as well as between newcomers and lowlanders. Methods This multi-center cohort study conducted at the Third People’s Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region and Beijing University Shenzhen Hospital, included 520 high-altitude resident patients, 53 high-altitude newcomer patients, and 265 lowlander patients infected with the Omicron variant. Initially, we documented epidemiological, clinical, and treatment data across varying residency at admission. We compared the severity of COVID-19 and various laboratory indicators, including hemoglobin concentration and SpO2%, over a 14-day period from the date of the first positive nucleic acid test, as well as the differences in treatment methods and disease outcomes between highlanders and high-altitude newcomers. We also compared several characteristics of COVID-19 between high-altitude newcomers and lowlanders. Univariate analysis, multivariable logistic regression, and the generalized linear mixed model were utilized for the analysis. Results No fatalities were observed. The study found no significant differences in COVID-19 severity or in the physiological measures of hemoglobin concentration and SpO2% between high-altitude and lowland residents. Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences in the values or trends of hemoglobin and SpO2% between high-altitude residents and newcomers throughout the 14-day observation period. However, compared to age- and sex-matched lowlander patients (1:5 ratio), high-altitude newcomers exhibited higher heart rates, respiratory rates, and average hemoglobin concentrations, along with lower platelet counts. There were no significant differences in hospital stays between the two groups. Conclusions High-altitude residents and newcomer patients exhibit clinical similarities. However, the clinical characteristics of high-altitude newcomers and lowlander patients differ due to the impact of the high-altitude environment. These results highlight potential considerations for public health strategies in high-altitude regions such as Tibet.

Abstract Disulfidptosis represents a novel cell death mechanism triggered by disulfide stress, with potential implications for advancements in cancer treatments. Although emerging evidence highlights the critical regulatory roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathobiology of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), research into lncRNAs specifically associated with disulfidptosis in LUAD, termed disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DRLs), remains insufficiently explored. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-LUAD dataset, we implemented ten machine learning techniques, resulting in 101 distinct model configurations. To assess the predictive accuracy of our model, we employed both the concordance index (C-index) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. For a deeper understanding of the underlying biological pathways, we referred to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) for functional enrichment analysis. Moreover, we explored differences in the tumor microenvironment between high-risk and low-risk patient cohorts. Additionally, we thoroughly assessed the prognostic value of the DRLs signatures in predicting treatment outcomes. The Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival analysis demonstrated a significant difference in overall survival (OS) between the high-risk and low-risk cohorts (p

BackgroundCellular senescence (CS) is believed to be a major factor in the evolution of cancer. However, CS-related lncRNAs (CSRLs) involved in colon cancer regulation are not fully understood. Our goal was to create a novel CSRLs prognostic model for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy and exploring its potential molecular function in colon cancer.MethodsThe mRNA sequencing data and relevant clinical information of GDC TCGA Colon Cancer (TCGA-COAD) were obtained from UCSC Xena platform, and CS-associated genes was acquired from the CellAge website. Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify CSRLs. Then we used Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis and univariate Cox analysis to acquire prognostic CSRL. Next, we created a CSRLs prognostic model using LASSO and multivariate Cox analysis, and evaluated its prognostic power by Kaplan–Meier and ROC curve analysis. Besides, we explored the difference in tumor microenvironment, somatic mutation, immunotherapy, and drug sensitivity between high-risk and low-risk groups. Finally, we verified the functions of MYOSLID in cell experiments.ResultsThree CSRLs (AC025165.1, LINC02257 and MYOSLID) were identified as prognostic CSRLs. The prognostic model exhibited a powerful predictive ability for overall survival and clinicopathological features in colon cancer. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the proportion of immune cells and the expression of immunosuppressive point biomarkers between the different groups. The high-risk group benefited from the chemotherapy drugs, such as Teniposide and Mitoxantrone. Finally, cell proliferation and CS were suppressed after MYOSLID knockdown.ConclusionCSRLs are promising biomarkers to forecast survival and therapeutic responses in colon cancer patients. Furthermore, MYOSLID, one of 3-CSRLs in the prognostic model, could dramatically regulate the proliferation and CS of colon cancer.

Abstract Background Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, a renowned traditional Chinese orchid herb esteemed for its significant horticultural and medicinal value, thrives in adverse habitats and contends with various abiotic or biotic stresses. Acid invertases (AINV) are widely considered enzymes involved in regulating sucrose metabolism and have been revealed to participate in plant responses to environmental stress. Although members of AINV gene family have been identified and characterized in multiple plant genomes, detailed information regarding this gene family and its expression patterns remains unknown in D. officinale, despite their significance in polysaccharide biosynthesis. Results This study systematically analyzed the D. officinale genome and identified four DoAINV genes, which were classified into two subfamilies based on subcellular prediction and phylogenetic analysis. Comparison of gene structures and conserved motifs in DoAINV genes indicated a high-level conservation during their evolution history. The conserved amino acids and domains of DoAINV proteins were identified as pivotal for their functional roles. Additionally, cis-elements associated with responses to abiotic and biotic stress were found to be the most prevalent motif in all DoAINV genes, indicating their responsiveness to stress. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis of transcriptome data, validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), revealed distinct organ-specific expression patterns of DoAINV genes across various tissues and in response to abiotic stress. Examination of soluble sugar content and interaction networks provided insights into stress release and sucrose metabolism. Conclusions DoAINV genes are implicated in various activities including growth and development, stress response, and polysaccharide biosynthesis. These findings provide valuable insights into the AINV gene amily of D. officinale and will aid in further elucidating the functions of DoAINV genes.

Abstract Background Substance use behaviours (SUB) including smoking, alcohol consumption, and coffee intake are associated with many health outcomes. However, whether the health effects of SUB are causal remains controversial, especially for alcohol consumption and coffee intake. Methods In this study, we assess 11 commonly used Mendelian Randomization (MR) methods by simulation and apply them to investigate the causal relationship between 7 SUB traits and health outcomes. We also combine stratified regression, genetic correlation, and MR analyses to investigate the dosage-dependent effects. Results We show that smoking initiation has widespread risk effects on common diseases such as asthma, type 2 diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease. Alcohol consumption shows risk effects specifically on cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, and hypertensive diseases. We find evidence of dosage-dependent effects of coffee and tea intake on common diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis). We observe that the minor allele effect of rs4410790 (the top signal for tea intake level) is negative on heavy tea intake $$({\hat{b}}_{GWAS}=-0.091,s.e.=0.007,P=4.90\times {10}^{-35})$$ ( b ̂ G W A S = − 0.091 , s . e . = 0.007 , P = 4.90 × 10 − 35 ) but positive on moderate tea intake $$({\hat{b}}_{GWAS}=0.034,s.e.=0.006,P=3.40\times {10}^{-8})$$ ( b ̂ G W A S = 0.034 , s . e . = 0.006 , P = 3.40 × 10 − 8 ) , compared to the non-tea-drinkers. Conclusion Our study reveals the complexity of the health effects of SUB and informs design for future studies aiming to dissect the causal relationships between behavioural traits and complex diseases.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has emerged as a highly promising strategy for non-antibiotic treatment of infections due to its unique advantages in efficient bactericidal action and reduction of drug resistance. The natural photosensitizing properties of curcumin (Cur) are widely acknowledged; however, its limited bioavailability has impeded its practical application. In this study, we developed a nanomaterial called Cur@ZIF-8@BA by encapsulating Cur within ZIF-8 and modifying the surface with boric acid (BA). The Cur@ZIF-8@BA exhibits pH-responsive properties and enhances bacterial binding, thereby effectively promoting photodynamic therapy. Moreover, its antibacterial activity against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and A. baumannii is significantly increased in the presence of light compared to a dark environment. The mechanism behind this may be that BA increases the affinity of Cur@ZIF-8@BA towards bacteria, and making released Zn2+ and BA from the nanomaterial increase bacterial cell membrane permeability. This facilitates efficient delivery of Cur into bacterial cells, resulting in generation of abundant reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent bactericidal activity. In conclusion, our prepared Cur@ZIF-8@BA holds great promise as a photodynamically mediated antimicrobial strategy.

Abstract DNA methylation regulators (DMRs) play a key role in DNA methylation, thus mediating tumor occurrence, metastasis, and immunomodulation. However, the effects of DMRs on clinical outcomes and immunotherapy response remain unexplored in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, eight LUAD cohorts and one immunotherapeutic cohort of lung cancer were utilized. We constructed a DNA methylation regulators-related signature (DMRRS) using univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis. The DMRRS-defined low-risk group was preferentially associated with favorable prognosis, tumor-inhibiting microenvironment, more sensitivity to several targeted therapy drugs, and better immune response. Afterward, the prognostic value and predictive potential in immunotherapy response were validated. Collectively, our findings uncovered that the DMRRS was closely associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and could effectively predict the clinical outcome and immune response of LUAD patients.

This paper investigated the compositional changes of Rosa roxburghii Tratt. fruit vinegar during fermentation. By using Rosa roxburghii Tratt. as raw material and using the whole liquid fermentation technique, fruit vinegar was prepared by fermenting alcoholic and acetic acids simultaneously. The physicochemical properties of the fermentation process were dynamically monitored. Headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and the odor activity value (OAV) were utilized to analyze volatile flavor components. As fermentation proceeded, soluble solids, pH, total sugars, and reduced sugars decreased, while total acid and VC contents increased. From the original juice to the end of acetic acid fermentation, the total acid and VC contents ranged from 1.86 g/100 mL and 956.82 mg/100 mL to 6.79 g/100 mL and 1275.88 mg/100 mL. Oxalic acid, quinic acid, pyruvic acid, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and fumaric acid showed varying degrees of increasing (P

Abstract Despite the importance of Nitric Oxide (NO) as signaling molecule in both plant and animal development, the regulatory mechanisms downstream of NO remain largely unclear. Here, we show that NO is involved in Arabidopsis shoot stem cell control via modifying expression and activity of ARGONAUTE 4 (AGO4), a core component of the RNA-directed DNA Methylation (RdDM) pathway. Mutations in components of the RdDM pathway cause meristematic defects, and reduce responses of the stem cell system to NO signaling. Importantly, we find that the stem cell inducing WUSCHEL transcription factor directly interacts with AGO4 in a NO dependent manner, explaining how these two signaling systems may converge to modify DNA methylation patterns. Taken together, our results reveal that NO signaling plays an important role in controlling plant stem cell homeostasis via the regulation of de novo DNA methylation.

In the critical domain of wastewater treatment, the development of cost-effective, durable, and recyclable adsorbents with high adsorption capacities remains a significant challenge. This study introduces a novel magnetic bimetallic Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) adsorbent, MZIF-67-Co/Cu, doped with copper ions. The MZIF-67-Co/Cu adsorbent was successfully synthesized and structurally characterized, demonstrating remarkable selectivity for removing methyl orange (MO) from water. This high selectivity is attributed to the adsorbent’s high porosity and Lewis base properties at the coordinating metal ion center. The incorporation of Cu ions significantly enhances the porous architecture and increases the number of metal adsorption sites, leading to an impressive maximum MO adsorption capacity of 39.02 mg/g under optimized conditions (0.5 g/L adsorbent concentration, pH 3.0, 250 rpm agitation speed, adsorption time > 10 min). The adsorption kinetics closely follow the pseudo-second-order model, and the isotherm data fit well with the Langmuir model. The primary adsorption mechanisms involve electrostatic attraction and mesoporous interaction. This study highlights MZIF-67-Co/Cu as a highly efficient adsorbent with magnetic recovery capabilities, positioning it as a promising candidate for addressing critical issues in wastewater treatment.

In the past two decades, research in the field of chaotic synchronization has attracted extensive attention from scholars, and at the same time, more synchronization methods, such as chaotic master–slave synchronization, projection synchronization, sliding film synchronization, fractional-order synchronization and so on, have been proposed and applied to chaotic secure communication. In this paper, based on radial basis function neural network theory and the particle swarm optimisation algorithm, the RBFNN-PSO synchronisation method is proposed for the Sprott B chaotic system with external noise. The RBFNN controller is constructed, and its parameters are used as the particle swarm particle optimisation parameters, and the optimal values of the controller parameters are obtained by the PSO training method, which overcomes the influence of external noise and achieves the synchronisation of the master–slave system. Then, it is shown by numerical simulation and analysis that the scheme has a good performance against external noise. Because the Sprott B system has multiple chaotic attractors with richer dynamics, the synchronization system based on Sprott B chaos is applied to the image encryption system. In particular, the Zigzag disambiguation method for top corner rotation and RGB channel selection is proposed, and the master–slave chaotic system synchronisation sequences are diffused to the disambiguated data streams, respectively. Therefore, the encryption and decryption of image transmission are implemented and the numerical simulation results are given, the random distribution characteristics of encrypted images are analysed using histogram and Shannon entropy methods, and the final results achieve the expected results.

Island beaches, once mistakenly considered as 'ecological deserts', are actually unique ecosystems that support abundant macrofaunal communities. However, limited studies have examined the variations and determinants of macrofaunal communities across the intertidal zones on island beaches, which is crucial for shedding light on the underlying ecological processes and enhancing biodiversity conservation efforts. Here, we explored the variations in macrofaunal communities along sand physico-chemical gradient across four intertidal zones on nine representative beaches, within the largest land-bridge archipelago in eastern China. Our findings revealed that species richness, density, and Shannon-Wiener diversity of macrofaunal communities were notably higher in the lower intertidal zones, exhibiting a positive correlation with elevated levels of sand moisture (M), electrical conductivity (EC), available potassium (AK), and grain size (GS). Conversely, macrofaunal Simpson diversity displayed an inverse pattern, with heightened values observed in the vegetation zone. The Saprophagous, Predaceous, and Omnivorous groups of macrofaunal communities demonstrated an increase with higher levels of EC, AK, and M in the lower intertidal zones. Furthermore, Phytophagous group of macrofaunal communities tended to inhabit the vegetation zones characterized by elevated levels of sand total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and organic carbon (OC). Primarily, our findings indicate that sand nutrition, moisture, and salinity play pivotal roles in shaping the variations of macrofaunal communities on island beaches. These insights offer valuable perspectives into the holistic responses of macrofauna on island beaches to changes in sand physico-chemical properties, serving as a crucial theoretical foundation for the assessment, conservation, and restoration of island beaches.

Abstract Blue carbon is the carbon storage in vegetated coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass. It is gaining global attention as its role in climate change mitigation and local welfare growth. However, a global assessment on the long-term spatiotemporal sustainable development status of blue carbon has not been conducted, and the relations among blue carbon ecosystems, driving forces for climate change mitigation, and socioeconomic interventions for development capacity on a global scale are still unclear. Here, we constructed a blue carbon development index (BCDI), comprising three subsystems: driving force, resource endowment, and development capacity, to assess the sustainable development level of 136 coastal countries’ blue carbon over 24 consecutive years and explore the relationship among subsystems. We further propose a cooperation model to explore the feasibility of global blue carbon cooperation and quantify benefit allocation to specific countries. The results showed an upward trend in BCDI scores with variations in regional performance over the past two decades, and we found a positive correlation between development capacity and blue carbon resource endowment. Based on the scenario simulations of global cooperation, we found that coastal countries could improve the global average BCDI score, add 2.96 Mt of annual carbon sequestration, and generate $136.34 million in 2030 under Global Deep Cooperation scenario compared with the Business-As-Usual scenario.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of artificial Kandelia obovata forests in wave attenuation through physical model experiments conducted in a wave flume. The experiments meticulously replicated real-world hydrodynamic conditions and mangrove movement responses using the principles of gravitational and motion similarity, with a scaled 1:10 model of Kandelia obovata. Our approach included comparative experiments against a 1:100 gradient concrete slope to isolate the effects of seabed friction and flume wall reflections. The wave height was measured using strategically placed wave gauges. The findings indicated that the artificial Kandelia obovata forests significantly attenuated waves, with a decrease in the total attenuation capacity as the water depth increased from 2.75 m to 3.28 m under both regular and irregular waves. The elastic mangrove model with a canopy effect led to a 15% increase in wave attenuation over cylindrical models. Predictive models using multivariate nonlinear regression and back propagation neural networks showed that the latter provided a superior accuracy in estimating wave transmission coefficients

Abstract Botanical molluscicides for controlling the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata have attracted worldwide attention because of their cost and environmental friendliness. Aqueous extracts from discarded tobacco leaf (Nicotiana tobacum) were evaluated for molluscicidal activity against different-sized P. canaliculata under laboratory conditions. The results showed that over 90% of the snails died in 1 g/L tobacco extract within 4 days, and the survival of P. canaliculata was inversely proportional to the snail size, tobacco extract concentration and length of exposure time. Adult males were more susceptible to tobacco extract than females. The snails had few chances to feed or mate in 0.5 g/L tobacco extract, and reproduction was greatly limited in 0.2 g/L. The growth of juvenile snails was inhibited in 0.2 g/L tobacco extract, but adults were unaffected. The antioxidant capacity of P. canaliculata in response to tobacco extract can be size- and sex-dependent, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and acetylcholinesterase and the contents of glutathione and malondialdehyde were increased in adult males. These results suggest that discarded tobacco leaves can be useful as a molluscicide for controlling the invasive snail P. canaliculata based on its effects on survival, behaviour, food intake, growth performance and antioxidant capacity.

Introduction Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an important intervenable stage for the prevention of dementia. Hypertension is associated with impaired cognition, and when combined with MCI, it may lead to a poor prognosis. Digital computerised cognitive training (CCT) has recently become a potential instrument for improving cognition, but evidence for its efficacy remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a digital adaptive CCT intervention in older patients with hypertension and MCI.Methods and analysis The multicentre, double-blinded, randomised, actively -controlled clinical trial will recruit 200 older (≥60 years) patients with hypertension and MCI from 11 hospitals across China. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group (multidomain adaptative CCT) and active control group (non-adaptive cognitive training) for 12-week cognitive training for 30 min/day and 5 days/week. Those who have completed their 12-week training in the intervention group will be rerandomised into the continuation and discontinuation training groups. All participants will be followed up to 24 weeks. Neuropsychological assessments and structural and functional 7.0 T MRI will be obtained at baseline and at 12-week and 24-week follow-up. The primary outcome is the possible improvement of global cognitive function at 12 weeks, as measured by the Basic Cognitive Aptitude Tests. Secondary and exploratory endpoints include the major cognitive domain function improvement, self-efficacy, mental health, quality of life and MRI measurements of the brain.Ethics and dissemination The trial has been approved by the institutional review board of Beijing Anzhen Hospital and thereafter by all other participating centres. Trial findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.Trial registration number NCT05704270.

Tilapia skin peptides (TSP) possess a range of physiological activities. This study aimed to explore the effects of TSP on Dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy. In vitro, C2C12 myotube myotube diameter and expression levels of the muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases F-box only protein 32 (Atrogin-1) and muscle ring finger protein 1 (MuRF1) challenged with DEX were reversed by TSP. In vivo, DEX was injected subcutaneously to build muscle atrophy model mice. TSP enhanced grip strength, running distance, body lean muscle content, cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles of DEX-induced mice. Moreover, TSP inhibited the expression levels of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1. Mechanically, TSP improved DEX-induced muscle atrophy by regulating the Protein Kinase B α (AKT)/Forkhead box O3 protein (FOXO3a), Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) signaling pathway, and downstream factors such as nuclear respiratory factor (NRF)1/2 and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM).

Abstract Early monitoring and warning arrangements are effective ways to distinguish infectious agents and control the spread of epidemic diseases. Current testing technologies, which cannot achieve rapid detection in the field, have a risk of slowing down the response time to the disease. In addition, there is still no epidemic surveillance system, implementing prevention and control measures is slow and inefficient. Motivated by these clinical needs, a sample‐to‐answer genetic diagnosis platform based on light‐controlled capillary modified with a photocleavable linker is first developed, which could perform nucleic acid separation and release by light irradiation in less than 30 seconds. Then, on site polymerase chain reaction was performed in a handheld closed‐loop convective system. Test reports are available within 20 min. Because this method is portable, rapid, and easy to operate, it has great potential for point‐of‐care testing. Additionally, through multiple device networking, a real‐time artificial intelligence monitoring system for pathogens was developed on a cloud server. Through data reception, analysis, and visualization, the system can send early warning signals for disease control and prevention. Thus, anti‐epidemic measures can be implemented effectively, and deploying and running this system can improve the capabilities for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Abstract As a globally important staple crop, wheat seeds provide us with nutrients and proteins. The trend of healthy dietary has become popular recently, emphasizing the consumption of whole-grain wheat products and the dietary benefits. However, the dynamic changes in nutritional profiles of different wheat seed regions (i.e., the embryo, endosperm and outer layers) during developmental stages and the molecular regulation have not been well studied. Here, we provide this multi-omic resource of wheat seeds and describe the generation, technical assessment and preliminary analyses. This resource includes a time-series RNA-seq dataset of the embryo, endosperm and outer layers of wheat seeds and their corresponding metabolomic dataset, covering the middle and late stages of seed development. Our RNA-seq experiments profile the expression of 63,708 genes, while the metabolomic data includes the abundance of 984 metabolites. We believe that this was the first reported transcriptome and metabolome dataset of wheat seeds that helps understand the molecular regulation of the deposition of beneficial nutrients and hence improvements for nutritional and processing quality traits.

Carbon emission issues are becoming increasingly severe, and the carbon emissions in shrinking cities, primarily characterized by population loss, are often overlooked and insufficiently studied. This paper focuses on the carbon emissions from county-level administrative units in China’s three northeastern provinces from 2001 to 2017. The study scientifically identified shrinking cities and measured the differences in carbon emission characteristics between growing and shrinking cities using the Theil index. Ultimately, the paper constructs a panel spatial econometric model to analyze the factors influencing them and explore their spatial effects. (1) The total carbon emissions in the Three Northeastern Provinces exhibited an inverted U-shaped trend, increasing from 734.21 million tons in 2001 to 1731.73 million tons in 2017, with the Mann–Kendall trend test showing a significant increase; spatially, this manifests as a significant positive spatial autocorrelation. (2) The region has 138 shrinking cities, accounting for over 50%; regarding carbon emission characteristics, the Theil index has consistently remained above 0.18, indicating significant differences between the carbon emissions of growing and shrinking cities. (3) The panel spatial econometric model results show that the influencing factors of carbon emissions in shrinking cities have unique directions, intensities, and spatial effects. In shrinking cities, aside from localized GDP effects and per-capita GDP acting as a suppressant, the population size has a pronounced inhibitory effect on local and surrounding carbon emissions. The analysis reveals significant differences in the carbon emission patterns and mechanisms between growing and shrinking cities; based on these results, the paper proposes differentiated carbon control strategies.

The spatial–temporal distribution and evolution characteristics of carbon stock under the influence of land use changes are crucial to the scientific management of environmental resources and the optimization of land spatial layout. Taking the Xiamen–Zhangzhou–Quanzhou urban agglomeration in the southeastern coastal region of China as an example, based on seven land use types from 1990 to 2020, including cultivated land, woodland, and construction land, we quantitatively investigate the spatial–temporal patterns of carbon stock development and the spatial correlation of carbon stock distribution. Additionally, two scenarios for the development of urban and ecological priorities in 2060 are established to investigate the effects of land use changes on carbon stock. The results indicate that (1) the research area has formed a land use spatial pattern centered around urban construction in the eastern bay area, with the western forest area and coastal forest belt serving as ecological barriers. Carbon stock is influenced by land use type, and the distribution of total carbon stock exhibits a spatial aggregation phenomenon characterized by “low in the southeast, high in the north, and medium in the center”. (2) Distance of trunk and secondary roads, elevation, slope, watershed borders, population size, and gross domestic product (GDP) factors are the main drivers of the growth of land use types. The primary causes of the reduction in carbon stock are the widespread conversion of cultivated land, woodland, and grassland into construction land, as well as water and unused land. (3) In 2060, there will be a decrease of 41,712,443.35 Mg in the urban priority development scenario compared to 2020, and a decrease of 29,577,580.48 Mg in the ecological priority development scenario. The estimated carbon stock under the two scenarios varies by 12,134,862.88 Mg. The average carbon storage of Zhangpu County, Quangang County, and Jimei County is expected to rise by one level under the ecological protection scenario, indicating that the vast forest area can become a potential area to maintain carbon stock. It is crucial to encourage the coordinated development of peri-urban agroforestry and ecological barriers, as well as to establish a harmonious spatial pattern of land use and carbon stock at the scale of urban agglomerations.

The GaoFen6 (GF-6) satellite, equipped with a wide full-swath (WFV) sensor, offers high spatial resolution and extensive coverage, making it widely utilized in agricultural and forestry classification, land resource monitoring, and other fields. Accurate on-orbit radiometric calibration of GF-6/WFV is crucial for these quantitative applications. Currently, the absolute radiometric calibration of GF-6/WFV relies primarily on vicarious calibration conducted by the China Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application (CRESDA). However, annual vicarious calibration may not adequately capture the radiometric performance of GF-6/WFV due to performance degradation. Therefore, increasing the frequency of on-orbit radiometric calibration throughout the lifetime of GF-6/WFV is essential. This study proposes a method for conducting long-term cross-radiometric calibrations of GF-6/WFV by taking the multispectral imager (MSI) onboard the Sentinel-2 satellite as a reliable reference sensor and the sites from RadCalNet as reference ground targets. Firstly, we conducted 62 on-orbit cross-radiometric calibrations of GF-6/WFV since its launch by tracking with the Sentinel-2/MSI sensor after correcting the discrepancy spectrum and solar zenith angle. Then, validation of cross-radiometric calibration results against RadCalNet products indicated an average absolute relative error between 3.55% and 4.64%. Cross-validation with additional reference sensors, including Landsat-8/OLI and MODIS, confirmed the reliability of calibration, demonstrating relative differences from GF-6/WFV of less than 5%. Furthermore, the overall uncertainty of the cross-radiometric calibration was estimated to be from 4.08% to 4.89%. Finally, trend analysis of the time-series radiometric performance was also conducted and revealed an annual degradation rate ranging from 0.57% to 2.31%. This degradation affects surface reflectance retrieval, introducing a bias of approximately 0.0073 to 0.0084. Our findings highlight the operational effectiveness of the proposed method in achieving long-time-series on-orbit radiometric calibration and degradation monitoring of GF-6/WFV. The study also demonstrates that the radiometric performance of GF-6/WFV is relatively stable and suitable for further quantitative applications, especially for long-term monitoring applications.

Summary: Assessment of genomic conservation between humans and pigs at the functional level can improve the potential of pigs as a human biomedical model. To address this, we developed a deep learning-based approach to learn the genomic conservation at the functional level (DeepGCF) between species by integrating 386 and 374 functional profiles from humans and pigs, respectively. DeepGCF demonstrated better prediction performance compared with the previous method. In addition, the resulting DeepGCF score captures the functional conservation between humans and pigs by examining chromatin states, sequence ontologies, and regulatory variants. We identified a core set of genomic regions as functionally conserved that plays key roles in gene regulation and is enriched for the heritability of complex traits and diseases in humans. Our results highlight the importance of cross-species functional comparison in illustrating the genetic and evolutionary basis of complex phenotypes.

PurposeTo establish and validate a radiomics nomogram for predicting recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after esophagectomy with curative intent.Materials and methodsThe medical records of 155 patients who underwent surgical treatment for pathologically confirmed ESCC were collected. Patients were randomly divided into a training group (n=109) and a validation group (n=46) in a 7:3 ratio. ​Tumor regions are accurately segmented in computed tomography images of enrolled patients. Radiomic features were then extracted from the segmented tumors. We selected the features by Max-relevance and min-redundancy (mRMR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) methods. A radiomics signature was then built by logistic regression analysis. To improve predictive performance, a radiomics nomogram that incorporated the radiomics signature and independent clinical predictors was built. Model performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analyses (DCA).ResultsWe selected the five most relevant radiomics features to construct the radiomics signature. The radiomics model had general discrimination ability with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.79 in the training set that was verified by an AUC of 0.76 in the validation set. The radiomics nomogram consisted of the radiomics signature, and N stage showed excellent predictive performance in the training and validation sets with AUCs of 0.85 and 0.83, respectively. Furthermore, calibration curves and the DCA analysis demonstrated good fit and clinical utility of the radiomics nomogram.ConclusionWe successfully established and validated a prediction model that combined radiomics features and N stage, which can be used to predict four-year recurrence risk in patients with ESCC who undergo surgery.

Annona is a genus of family Annonaceae within the magnoliids and plays a crucial role in revealing the evolution of magnolias. Annona species provide important fruit resources. Here, we report a chromosome-level genome assembly of A. montana, an edible and ornamental fruit species. Integration with other genomes provides clear evidence that the magnoliids were sisters to eudicots, and the ASTRAL trees showed discordance in the phylogenetic position of magnoliids, which might be caused by incomplete lineage sorting (ILS). Whole genome duplication (WGD) analysis showed that the common ancestor of A. montana and Liriodendron chinense experienced a WGD event, and this WGD event occurred after the splitting of Magnoliales and Laurales. We identified the gene family expansions and contractions in Annonaceae. Based on the identification of MADS-box gene families, we inferred the pathway integrators of morphological regulation, the occurrence of florescence and the development of fruit in A. montana. In addition, we identified key sugar transporter genes and the key enzyme genes related to sugar accumulation in A. montana fruit. The gene function analysis indicated that starch and cell wall degradation might be the main reasons for the softening of A. montana fruit. Furthermore, aromatic alcohols were suggested be the main volatile aromatic compounds in A. montana fruit. Our results provide the genetic basis of fruit development, softening, aroma, and sugar accumulation in A. montana and the evolution and diversification of Annonaceae.

High reactivity and ease of ignition are the major obstacles for the application of Mg alloys in aerospace. Thus, the ignition mechanisms of Mg alloys should be investigated systematically, which can guide the ignition-proof alloy design. This article concludes the factors influencing the ignition resistance of Mg alloys from oxide film and substrate microstructure, and also the mechanisms of alloying elements improving the ignition resistance. The low strength is another reason restricting the development of Mg alloys. Therefore, at the last section, Mg alloys with the combination of high strength and good ignition-proof performance are summarized, including Mg-Al-Ca based alloys, SEN (Mg-Al-Zn-Ca-Y) alloys as well as Mg-Y and Mg-Gd based alloys. Besides, the shortages and the future focus of theses alloys are also reviewed. The aim of this article is to promote the understanding of oxidation and ignition mechanisms of Mg alloys and to provide reference for the development of Mg alloys with high strength and excellent ignition-proof performance at the same time.

Abstract Background Since viral metagenomic approach was applied to discover plant viruses for the first time in 2006, many plant viruses had been identified from cultivated and non-cultivated plants. These previous researches exposed that the viral communities (virome) of plants have still largely uncharacterized. Here, we investigated the virome in 161 species belonging to 38 plant orders found in a riverside ecosystem. Results We identified 245 distinct plant-associated virus genomes (88 DNA and 157 RNA viruses) belonging to 27 known viral families, orders, or unclassified virus groups. Some viral genomes were sufficiently divergent to comprise new species, genera, families, or even orders. Some groups of viruses were detected that currently are only known to infect organisms other than plants. It indicates a wider host range for members of these clades than previously recognized theoretically. We cannot rule out that some viruses could be from plant contaminating organisms, although some methods were taken to get rid of them as much as possible. The same viral species could be found in different plants and co-infections were common. Conclusions Our data describe a complex viral community within a single plant ecosystem and expand our understanding of plant-associated viral diversity and their possible host ranges.

The high-value-added substances in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) skin have not been fully utilized, and the demand for novel food-derived bioactive peptides is increasing. Here, the cytoprotective peptides in the tilapia skin enzymatic hydrolyzate were isolated and identified. In addition, novel peptides with potential high biological activity (APDPFRMY and NGGPDWAR) were screened by a computer virtual screening strategy for artificial synthesis, and the cytoprotective activity was verified by the oxidative stress-induced ovarian granulosa cell model. Meanwhile, molecular docking and western blot results showed that two novel cytoprotective peptides could interact with critical residues of the Kelch domain of Keap1 through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. Moreover, APDPFRMY and NGGPDWAR could partially occupy the binding sites of Nrf2 and Keap1, thus playing a role in protecting cells from oxidative damage. This study also provides a new idea for isolating and identifying food-derived bioactive peptides.

Partial root-zone drying (PRD) is an effective water-saving irrigation strategy that improves stress tolerance and facilitates efficient water use in several crops. It has long been considered that abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent drought resistance may be involved during partial root-zone drying. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying PRD-mediated stress tolerance remain unclear. It’s hypothesized that other mechanisms might contribute to PRD-mediated drought tolerance. Here, rice seedlings were used as a research model and the complex transcriptomic and metabolic reprogramming processes were revealed during PRD, with several key genes involved in osmotic stress tolerance identified by using a combination of physiological, transcriptome, and metabolome analyses. Our results demonstrated that PRD induces transcriptomic alteration mainly in the roots but not in the leaves and adjusts several amino-acid and phytohormone metabolic pathways to maintain the balance between growth and stress response compared to the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-treated roots. Integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome associated the co-expression modules with PRD-induced metabolic reprogramming. Several genes encoding the key transcription factors (TFs) were identified in these co-expression modules, highlighting several key TFs, including TCP19, WRI1a, ABF1, ABF2, DERF1, and TZF7, involved in nitrogen metabolism, lipid metabolism, ABA signaling, ethylene signaling, and stress regulation. Thus, our work presents the first evidence that molecular mechanisms other than ABA-mediated drought resistance are involved in PRD-mediated stress tolerance. Overall, our results provide new insights into PRD-mediated osmotic stress tolerance, clarify the molecular regulation induced by PRD, and identify genes useful for further improving water-use efficiency and/or stress tolerance in rice.

The wide development of hydrogels had been used in many filed due to the high water-containing and tough three-dimensional structure, however, the poor mechanical and multi-functional properties of hydrogel can be limited in its applications deeply. Herein, the dual responsive self-healing hydrogels with tough mechanical properties were manufactured by dual-physical cross-linking based on biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonate. Choosing the soft and hard segments to design the polymeric hydrogel not only can facilitate the dual-dynamic bonding interactions but also the resilient hydrogels possess robust and controllable mechanical strength (6.51 MPa). Furthermore, the results of swelling and stability tests of the materials indicated that the swelling ability of the biodegradable hydrogels can be regulated by the hydrophilic group, and the maximal swelling ratio in water and the equilibrium water content is 66% and 40%, respectively. It is worth mentioning that the tough hydrogels embrace dual-responsive high efficiency of self-healing ability, and the self-healing time is 2 h at 50 °C or 10 h under pH = 5, suggesting that the obtained hydrogels can respond to temperature and pH value to drive the fracture interface for fast self-healing, which will offer new opportunities for stimuli-responsive materials and wound healing.

Psathyrostachys huashanica, which grows exclusively in Huashan, China, is an important wild relative of common wheat that has many desirable traits relevant for wheat breeding. However, the poorly characterized interspecific phylogeny and genomic variations and the relative lack of species-specific molecular markers have limited the utility of P. huashanica as a genetic resource for enhancing wheat germplasm. In this study, we sequenced the P. huashanica transcriptome, resulting in 50,337,570 clean reads that were assembled into 65,617 unigenes, of which 38,428 (58.56%) matched at least one sequence in public databases. The phylogenetic analysis of P. huashanica, Triticeae species, and Poaceae species was conducted using 68 putative orthologous gene clusters. The data revealed the distant evolutionary relationship between P. huashanica and common wheat as well as the substantial diversity between the P. huashanica genome and the wheat D genome. By comparing the transcriptomes of P. huashanica and Chinese Spring, 750,759 candidate SNPs between P. huashanica Ns genes and their common wheat orthologs were identified. Among the 90 SNPs in the exon regions with different functional annotations, 58 (64.4%) were validated as Ns genome-specific SNPs in the common wheat background by KASP genotyping assays. Marker validation analyses indicated that six specific markers can discriminate between P. huashanica and the other wheat-related species. In addition, five markers are unique to P. huashanica, P. juncea, and Leymus species, which carry the Ns genome. The Ns genome-specific markers in a wheat background were also validated regarding their specificity and stability for detecting P. huashanica chromosomes in four wheat–P. huashanica addition lines. Four and eight SNP markers were detected in wheat–P. huashanica 2Ns and 7Ns addition lines, respectively, and one marker was specific to both wheat–P. huashanica 3Ns, 4Ns, and 7Ns addition lines. These markers developed using transcriptome data may be used to elucidate the genetic relationships among Psathyrostachys, Leymus, and other closely-related species. They may also facilitate precise introgressions and the high-throughput monitoring of P. huashanica exogenous chromosomes or segments in future crop breeding programs.

AIM: To investigate the clinical effect of posterior capsulotomy in diabetic retinopathy with silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery.METHODS: A retrospective analysis that collected clinical data of 83 cases(83 eyes)diagnosed as diabetic retinopathy and silicone oil filled eyes with cataract and treated in our hospitalfrom January 2019 to February 2020. They were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group consisted 41 eyes received silicone oil removal and posterior capsulotomy combined with cataract surgery; The rest 42 eyes were in control group, who received silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery. At 6mo after surgery, the best corrected visual acuity, posterior capsular opacification, and floaters were evaluated between the two groups to confirm the advantages of posterior capsulotomy in combined cataract surgery with silicone oil removal for diabetic retinopathy.RESULTS: At 6mo after surgery, the best corrected visual acuity in experimental group was better than control group(P0.05). CONCLUSION: Posterior capsulotomy is safe and reliable in the application of silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery for diabetic retinopathy, and can effectively avoid the occurrence of posterior capsular opacification.

Abstract Background Bats were identified as a natural reservoir of emerging and re-emerging infectious pathogens threatening human health and life. Methods This study collected 21 fecal samples of Hipposideros armiger in Mengla County of Xishuangbanna Prefecture Yunnan Province to combine one pool for viral metagenomic sequencing. Results Two nearly complete genomes of parechoviruses, BPeV11 and BPeV20, were sequenced. Genome analysis revealed that BPeV11 and BPeV20 follow a 3-3-4 genome layout: 5′ UTR-VP0-VP3-VP1-2A-2B-2C-3A-3B-3C-3D-3′ UTR. The prevalence of BPev11 and BPev20 by Nested-PCR showed that 1 of 21 fecal samples was positive. Based on amino acid identity comparison and phylogenetic analysis of P1, 2C, and 3D, BPeV11 and BPeV20 were closely related to but distinct from FPeVs. Conclusion It was probably proposed to be a novel species in the genus Parechovirus of the family Picornaviridae. The isolation of BPev11 and BPev20 from H. armiger in China is the first complete genome of parechovirus isolations from bat feces of the genus Hipposideros.

A controlled-release antibacterial active food packaging film was prepared from polylactic acid (PLA), poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL), MIL-68(Al), and thymol (THY) by electrospinning. The performance, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity of the MIL-68 (Al)/PLA/PCL nanofiber membrane loaded with THY were characterized, and the release behavior of THY from the nanofiber membrane was also explored. The addition of THY/MIL-68 (Al) could improve the water vapor barrier performance and UV resistance of the nanofiber membrane, while weakening the tensile strength and elongation at break. The load of MIL-68 (Al) could effectively improve the residence time of THY. Antioxidant experiments show that the nanofiber membrane inherits the antioxidative activity of THY, that only adding 4wt% of THY can improve the free radical scavenging ability, and that the quenching ability of DPPH free radicals can reach 50%. The in vitro antibacterial test showed that the nanofiber could effectively inhibit the growth of E. coli and S. aureus. The results indicated that THY/MIL-68 (Al)/PLA/PCL had a certain potential as a food active packaging, and MIL-68 (Al) had a strong controlled release ability for THY.

Abstract Background Wild birds may harbor and transmit viruses that are potentially pathogenic to humans, domestic animals, and other wildlife. Results Using the viral metagenomic approach, we investigated the virome of cloacal swab specimens collected from 3182 birds (the majority of them wild species) consisting of > 87 different species in 10 different orders within the Aves classes. The virus diversity in wild birds was higher than that in breeding birds. We acquired 707 viral genomes from 18 defined families and 4 unclassified virus groups, with 265 virus genomes sharing < 60% protein sequence identities with their best matches in GenBank comprising new virus families, genera, or species. RNA viruses containing the conserved RdRp domain with no phylogenetic affinity to currently defined virus families existed in different bird species. Genomes of the astrovirus, picornavirus, coronavirus, calicivirus, parvovirus, circovirus, retrovirus, and adenovirus families which include known avian pathogens were fully characterized. Putative cross-species transmissions were observed with viruses in wild birds showing > 95% amino acid sequence identity to previously reported viruses in domestic poultry. Genomic recombination was observed for some genomes showing discordant phylogenies based on structural and non-structural regions. Mapping the next-generation sequencing (NGS) data respectively against the 707 genomes revealed that these viruses showed distribution pattern differences among birds with different habitats (breeding or wild), orders, and sampling sites but no significant differences between birds with different behavioral features (migratory and resident). Conclusions The existence of a highly diverse virome highlights the challenges in elucidating the evolution, etiology, and ecology of viruses in wild birds. Video Abstract

Abstract Background Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng has long been used as a genetic resource for improving wheat cultivar because of its genes mediating the resistance to various diseases (stripe rust, leaf rust, take-all, and powdery mildew) as well as its desirable agronomic traits. However, a high-resolution fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) karyotype of P. huashanica remains unavailable. Results To develop chromosome-specific FISH markers for P. huashanica, repetitive sequences, including pSc119.2, pTa535, pTa713, pAs1, (AAC)5, (CTT)12, pSc200, pTa71A-2, and Oligo-44 were used for a FISH analysis. The results indicated that the combination of pSc200, pTa71A-2 and Oligo-44 probes can clearly identify all Ns genomic chromosomes in the two P. huashanica germplasms. The homoeologous relationships between individual P. huashanica chromosomes and common wheat chromosomes were clarified by FISH painting. Marker validation analyses revealed that the combination of pSc200, pTa71A-2, and Oligo-44 for a FISH analysis can distinguish the P. huashanica Ns-genome chromosomes from wheat chromosomes, as well as all chromosomes (except 4Ns) from the chromosomes of diploid wheat relatives carrying St, E, V, I, P and R genomes. Additionally, the probes were applicable for discriminating between the P. huashanica Ns-genome chromosomes in all homologous groups and the corresponding chromosomes in Psathyrostachys juncea and most Leymus species containing the Ns genome. Furthermore, six wheat–P. huashanica chromosome addition lines (i.e., 2Ns, 3Ns, 4Ns, 7Ns chromosomes and chromosomal segments) were characterized using the newly developed FISH markers. Thus, these probes can rapidly and precisely detect P. huashanica alien chromosomes in the wheat background. Conclusions The FISH karyotype established in this study lays a solid foundation for the efficient identification of P. huashanica chromosomes in wheat genetic improvement programs.

Kernel size, one of the traits that determine wheat yield, is controlled by multiple quantitative trait loci. Polish wheat (Triticum polonicum) has elongated and plump kernel and is a valuable material for breeding high-yielding wheat cultivars. However, genes or loci determining kernel length (KL) in Polish wheat are unknown. We identified and validated a major KL gene, KL-PW, at the P1 locus in Polish wheat. KL-PW is VRT-A2, which encodes a MIKC-type MADS-box protein (MADS55). An insertion/deletion mutation in intron 1 of VRT-A2PW led to an alternatively spliced transcript, VRT-A2PW2. Quantitative PCR analysis showed that VRT-A2PW was more highly expressed in developing seeds than was VRT-A2Ailanmai. Brassinosteroid (BR) sensitivity experiment and the expression of BR-related genes indicated that VRT-A2PW functions as a positive regulator of BR responses. VRT-A2PW significantly increased KL of wheat. These findings not only reveal the molecular basis of KL-PW in controlling KL, but also provide a valuable genetic resource for increasing kernel size in wheat.

Land surface temperature (LST) is a fundamental variable of environmental monitoring and surface equilibrium. Although the HJ-1B infrared scanner (IRS) has accumulated many observations, further application of HJ-1B/IRS is limited by the lack of LST products. This study refined the ERA5 atmospheric profile database, instead of the widely used traditional TIGR atmospheric profile database, and simulated the coefficients of the generalized single-channel (GSCs) algorithms to improve LST retrieval. GSCs can be divided into the GSCw and GSCwT algorithms, depending on whether the input is atmospheric water vapor content (WVC) or in situ near-surface air temperature and WVC. Land surface emissivity (LSE) was obtained from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global Emissivity Dataset (GED) and vegetation/snow cover products. Then, the retrieved LSTs were evaluated using the LSTs from the RTE algorithm, TIGRw/TIGRwT profiles, and in situ near-surface air temperature from the HiWATER experiment in China from 2012 to 2014. The bias (root mean square error (RMSE)) values are displayed as ERA5wT < RTE < ERA5w < TIGRwT < TIGRw. The accuracy of ERA5wT, with a bias (RMSE) of 0.02 K (2.30 K), is higher than that of RTE, with a bias (RMSE) of 0.74 K (2.47 K). The accuracy of RTE is preferable to that of ERA5w, with a bias (RMSE) of 0.89 K (2.48 K), followed by TIGRwT, with a bias (RMSE) of −1.18 K (2.50 K), and then, TIGRw, with a bias (RMSE) of 1.60 K (2.77 K). In summary, the accuracy of LST obtained by GSC from the refined ERA5 atmospheric profiles is higher than that obtained from the TIGR profiles. The accuracy of LST obtained by GSCwT is greater than that obtained by GSCw. The accuracy of LST obtained using in situ near-surface air temperature is higher than that obtained using ERA5 air temperature. The accuracy of LSEASTER is slightly better than that of LSEMOD21. The aforementioned conclusions can provide scientific support to generate HJ-1B/IRS LST products.

Coastal permeable groins have been used to protect beaches from erosion for centuries. However, the hydraulic functioning of permeable groins has not been fully understood and their design heavily depends on engineering experiences. In this study, numerical experiments were executed to investigate the effects of layout configurations of a permeable groin system on longshore currents. The non-hydrostatic SWASH (Simulating WAve till SHore) model was employed to carry out the numerical simulations. Two data sets obtained from physical laboratory experiments with different permeable groin layouts on different slopes are used to validate the accuracy of the model. Then, the longshore current reduction by the permeable groin system with varying configuration parameters (e.g., groin spacing, groin length) was numerically investigated under different environmental conditions (e.g., a slight or a moderate wave climate). From the calculation results of numerical experiments, it is indicated that permeable groins function efficiently to reduce the maximal longshore current velocity under the condition that the groin length ranges from 84% and 109% of the wave breaker zone width. The longshore current reduction rate monotonously decreases with the increase in groin spacing; permeable pile groin functions best to reduce longshore current with the minimal groin spacing-groin length ratio 1:1 among the range between 1:1 and 2:1. When the groin spacing–groin length ratios are 1:1 and 1.5:1, the longshore current reduction is not sensitive to the investigated wave conditions in this study. When the spatial ratio is 2:1, the permeable pile groin system functions worse under a moderate wave climate than under a slight wave climate, from the view of longshore current reduction.

A method for the determination of 15 sex hormones in shrimp meat by EMR solid phase extraction combined with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was established. The samples was extracted with 0.1 mol/L ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium solution and acetonitrile solution, purified by Captiva EMR SPE cartridge, separated by CAPCELLPAK C18 BB-H (3 µm, 2.1 mm×150 mm) column, and scanned by positive and negative ions of electrospray ion source. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) with multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for detection, and blank matrix matching external standard method was used for quantification. The positive ion mobile phase was methanol and 0.1% formic acid, and androgen and progesterone were detected. The negative ion mobile phase was acetonitrile and 0.01% ammonia aqueous solution to detect estrogen. The results showed that the 15 kinds of sex hormone residues in shrimp meat samples purified by EMR solid phase extraction had a good linear relationship in the concentration range of 1~50 μg/kg, and the correlation coefficients (r) were all greater than 0.99. The detection limits of the method were 0.0015~0.436 μg/kg, and the quantitative limits were 0.0051~1.453 μg/kg. The average recoveries were 85.31%~119.84%, and the relative standard deviations were 2.11%~9.86% (n=6). The method was rapid, simple, reproducible and sensitive, which was suitable for the detection of 15 kinds of sex hormone residues in shrimp meat.

PurposeLong-term survival benefit of anthracyclines for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer is clear. In the neoadjuvant treatment, compared with the monoclonal antibody such as trastuzumab and pertuzumab, the clinical benefit of pyrotinib, a new small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), as the main anti-HER2 strategy currently requires more research to determine. Our real-world study is the first prospective observational study in China to evaluate the efficacy and safety of epirubicin (E) and cyclophosphamide (C) with pyrotinib as anti-HER2 therapy in the neoadjuvant setting of patients with stage II-III HER2-positive breast cancer.MethodsFrom May 2019 to December 2021, 44 untreated patients with HER2-positive nonspecific invasive breast cancer who received 4 cycles of neoadjuvant EC with pyrotinib. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR) rate. Secondary endpoints included the overall clinical response, breast pathological complete response rate (bpCR), the rate of axillary lymph nodes pathological negativity and adverse events (AEs). Other objective indicators were the rate of surgical breast-conserving, the negative conversion ratios of tumor markers.ResultsThirty-seven (84.1%) of 44 patients completed this neoadjuvant therapy, and 35 (79.5%) had surgery and were included in the primary endpoint assessment. The objective response rate (ORR) of 37 patients was 97.3%. Two patients reached clinical complete response, 34 obtained clinical partial response, 1 sustained stable disease, and no one had progressive disease. Eleven (31.4%) of 35 patients who had surgery achieved bpCR and the rate of axillary lymph nodes pathological negativity was 61.3%. The tpCR rate was 28.6% (95% CI: 12.8-44.3%). Safety was evaluated in all 44 patients. Thirty-nine (88.6%) had diarrhea, and 2 developed grade 3 diarrhea. Four (9.1%) patients had grade 4 leukopenia. All grade 3-4 AEs could be improved after symptomatic treatment.ConclusionThe regimen of 4 cycles of EC combined with pyrotinib presented some feasibility in the neoadjuvant setting for HER2-positive breast cancer with manageable safety. New regimens with pyrotinib should be evaluated for higher pCR in future.Trial registrationchictr.org Identifier: ChiCTR1900026061.

Abstract Members of the family Inoviridae (inoviruses) are characterized by their unique filamentous morphology and infection cycle. The viral genome of inovirus is able to integrate into the host genome and continuously releases virions without lysing the host, establishing chronic infection. A large number of inoviruses have been obtained from microbial genomes and metagenomes recently, but putative novel inoviruses remaining to be identified. Here, using viral metagenomics, we identified four novel inoviruses from cloacal swab samples of wild and breeding birds. The circular genome of those four inoviruses are 6732 to 7709 nt in length with 51.4% to 56.5% GC content and encodes 9 to 13 open reading frames, respectively. The zonula occludens toxin gene implicated in the virulence of pathogenic host bacteria were identified in all four inoviruses and shared the highest amino acid sequences identity (

Abstract Background Rodents are widely distributed and are the natural reservoirs of a diverse group of zoonotic viruses. Thus, analyzing the viral diversity harbored by rodents could assist efforts to predict and reduce the risk of future emergence of zoonotic viral diseases. Rodents are commonly used in animal testing, particularly mice and rats. Experimental rats are important animal models, and a history of pathogenic infections in these animals will directly affect the animal trial results. The pathogenicity of Anellovirus (AV) remains poorly understood due to the lack of a suitable model cell line or animal to support the viral cycle. This study aimed to discover possible anelloviruses from the virome in feces of experimental rats by viral metagenomic technique. Methods Fecal samples were collected from 10 commercial SD rats and pooled into a sample pool and then subjected to libraries construction which was then sequenced on Illumina MiSeq platform. The sequenced reads were analyzed using viral metagenomic analysis pipeline and two novel anelloviruses (AVs) were identified from fecal sample of experimental rats. The prevalence of these two viruses was investigated by conventional PCR. Results The complete genomic sequence of these two AVs were determined and fully characterized, with strain name ratane153-zj1 and ratane153-zj2. The circular genomes of ratane153-zj1 and ratane153-zj2 are 2785 nt and 1930 nt in length, respectively, and both include three ORFs. Ratane153-zj1 closely clustered with members within the genus Wawtorquevirus and formed a separate branch based on the phylogenetic tree constructed over the amino acid sequence of ORF1 of the two AVs identified in this study and other related AVs. While the complete amino acid sequences of ORF1 of ratane153-zj2 (nt 335 to 1390) had the highest sequence identity with an unclassified AV (GenBank No. ATY37438) from Chinchilla lanigera, and they clustered with one AV (GenBank No. QYD02305) belonging to the genus Etatorquevirus from Lynx rufus. Conventional PCR with two sets of specific primers designed based on the two genomes, respectively, showed that they were detectable at a low frequency in cohorts of experimental rats. Conclusion Our study expanded the genome diversity of AVs and provided genetic background information of viruses existed in experimental rats.

Wheat is one of the most important food crops in the world and is considered one of the top targets in crop biotechnology. With the high-quality reference genomes of wheat and its relative species and the recent burst of genomic resources in Triticeae, demands to perform gene functional studies in wheat and genetic improvement have been rapidly increasing, requiring that production of transgenic wheat should become a routine technique. While established for more than 20 years, the particle bombardment-mediated wheat transformation has not become routine yet, with only a handful of labs being proficient in this technique. This could be due to, at least partly, the low transformation efficiency and the technical difficulties. Here, we describe the current version of this method through adaptation and optimization. We report the detailed protocol of producing transgenic wheat by the particle gun, including several critical steps, from the selection of appropriate explants (i.e., immature scutella), the preparation of DNA-coated gold particles, and several established strategies of tissue culture. More importantly, with over 20 years of experience in wheat transformation in our lab, we share the many technical details and recommendations and emphasize that the particle bombardment-mediated approach has fewer limitations in genotype dependency and vector construction when compared with the Agrobacterium-mediated methods. The particle bombardment-mediated method has been successful for over 30 wheat genotypes, from the tetraploid durum wheat to the hexaploid common wheat, from modern elite varieties to landraces. In conclusion, the particle bombardment-mediated wheat transformation has demonstrated its potential and wide applications, and the full set of protocol, experience, and successful reports in many wheat genotypes described here will further its impacts, making it a routine and robust technique in crop research labs worldwide.