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The double carbon target is a solemn commitment made by the Chinese government to the world, and emission reduction and sink increase in the agricultural production process is an important way to achieve the double carbon target. However, the current status of green production in Chinese medicine is not optimistic, which is not conducive to agricultural emission reduction on the one hand, and will inevitably restrict the long-term well-being of the traditional Chinese medicine industry in driving economic growth on the other. Based on a microdata survey of Eucommia farmers in Lueyang County, Shaanxi Province, this study empirically analyzed the effect of effective use of GI on farmers' adoption of carbon emission reduction technologies using the Propensity Score Matching method and explored the degree of adoption of each carbon emission reduction technology by farmers using the entropy weighting TOPSIS. The results show that the effective use of GI has a positive impact on farmers in terms of fertilizer and medicine savings, and no impact in terms of water and energy saving. And the ease of implementation of the emission reduction measures had a positive effect on the adoption by farmers.

Antibiotic resistance genes are usually tightly controlled by transcription factors and RNA regulatory elements including sRNAs, riboswitches, and attenuators, and their expression is activated to respond to antibiotic exposure. In previous work, we revealed that the rppA gene is regulated by attenuator LRR and two mistranslation products in Bacillus thuringiensis BMB171. However, its function and promoter regulation is still not precise. In this study, we demonstrated that the encoding product of the rppA gene acts as an ARE1 ABC-F protein and confers resistance to antibiotics virginiamycin M1 and lincomycin when overexpressed. Besides the reported attenuator LRR, the expression of the rppA gene is controlled by the sigma factor SigA and a global transcription factor CcpA. Consequently, its promoter activity is mainly maintained at the stationary phase of cell growth and inhibited in the presence of glucose. Our study revealed the function and regulation of the rppA gene in detail. KEY POINTS: • The RppA protein acts as an ARE1 ABC-F protein • The rppA gene confers resistance to antibiotics virginiamycin M1 and lincomycin when overexpressed • The expression of the rppA gene is regulated by the sigma factor SigA and the pleiotropic regulator CcpA.

A palladium/norbornene-cocatalyzed Catellani-type ortho-C–H-acylation/ipso-cyanation of iodoarenes is developed via a three-component approach using safe and low-toxic sodium carboxylates as the acyl sources and CuCN as the CN source, affording the desired products in yields of 50–94%. Without introducing a directing group on the substrate, a catalytic amount of norbornene and palladium can regioselectively activate the ortho-C–H bonds of iodoarenes. The reaction exhibits good functional group tolerance and works well on gram-scale. In addition, this transformation allows rapid and convenient access toward isoindolinones, 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds and ortho-aminated benzonitriles by manipulation of the cyano and carbonyl groups.

Background The quality and yield of Cashmere fibre are closely related to the differentiation and development of secondary hair follicles in the skin of Cashmere goats. The higher the density of secondary hair follicles, the higher the quality and yield of Cashmere from the fleece. Development of secondary hair follicles commences in the embryonic stage of life and is completed six months after birth. Preliminary experimental results from our laboratory showed that melatonin (MT) treatment of goat kids after their birth could increase the density of secondary hair follicles and, thus, improve the subsequent yield and quality of Cashmere. These changes in the secondary hair follicles resulted from increases in levels of antioxidant and expression of anti-apoptotic protein, and from a reduction in apoptosis. The present study was conducted to explore the molecular mechanism of MT-induced secondary hair follicle differentiation and development by using whole-genome analysis. Results MT had no adverse effect on the growth performance of Cashmere kids but significantly improved the character of the secondary hair follicles and the quality of Cashmere, and this dominant effect continued to the second year. Melatonin promotes the proliferation of secondary hair follicle cells at an early age. Secondary hair follicles in the MT group formation was earlier than in the control group in the second year. The genome-wide data results involved KEGG analysis of 1044 DEmRNAs, 91 DElncRNAs, 1054 DEcircRNAs, and 61 DEmiRNAs which revealed that the MAPK signaling pathway is involved in the development of secondary hair follicles, with key genes (FGF2, FGF21, FGFR3, MAPK3 (ERK1)) being up-regulated and expressed. We also found that the circMPP5 could combine with miR-211 and regulate the expression of MAPK3. Conclusions We conclude that MT achieves its effects by regulating the MAPK pathway through the circMPP5-miR-211-MAPK3 axis to induce the differentiation and proliferation of secondary hair follicle cells. In addition there is up-regulation of expression of the anti-apoptotic protein causing reduced apoptosis of hair follicle cells. Collectively, these events increase the numbers of secondary hair follicles, thus improving the production of Cashmere from these goats.

We investigate the statistical properties of multi-scale regression model based on detrending moving average (DMA). The performance of the multi-scale regression estimator based on DMA is evaluated by varying the length, distribution and structure for different position parameters. Using different position parameters for the detrending windows in simulation, we find that the variance of the estimated regression coefficients for position parameter [Formula: see text] is the smallest. By changing series length, distribution and structure, the estimated regression coefficients are stably near the theoretical values. The method is applied to analyze the dependence of inter-earthquakes time (IET) on inter-earthquakes distances (IED) between consecutive earthquakes in the California region. Results suggest that the cross-correlation between the IET and IED series is statistically significant. Scale-dependent statistic of estimated DMA multi-scale regression coefficient demonstrates significant dependence between IET and IED series.

Epidemiological research suggests that convulsions may have an intrauterine developmental origin related to the application of dexamethasone, an artificially synthesized glucocorticoid. Here, using a rat animal model of prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE) we confirm that PDE can cause susceptibility to convulsions in male offspring and explore the epigenetic programming mechanism underlying this effect related to intrauterine type 2 K

Exogenous melatonin (MT) has been used to promote the growth of secondary hair follicles and improve cashmere fiber quality, but the specific cellular-level mechanisms involved are unclear. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of MT on the development of secondary hair follicles and on cashmere fiber quality in cashmere goats. The results showed that MT improved secondary follicle numbers and function as well as enhanced cashmere fiber quality and yield. The MT-treated goat groups had high secondary-to-primary ratios (S:P) for hair follicles, greater in the elderly group (p < 0.05). Antioxidant capacities of secondary hair follicles improved fiber quality and yield in comparison with control groups (p < 0.05/0.01). Levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were lowered (p < 0.05/0.01) by MT. There was significant upregulation of antioxidant genes (for SOD-3; GPX-1; NFE2L2) and the protein of nuclear factor (Nrf2), and downregulation of the Keap1 protein. There were significant differences in the expression of genes for secretory senescence-associated phenotype (SASP) cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, MMP-9, MMP-27, CCL-21, CXCL-12, CXCL-14, TIMP-1,2,3) plus their protein of key transcription factors, nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1), in comparison with the controls. We concluded that MT could enhance antioxidant capacity and reduce ROS and RNS levels of secondary hair follicles through the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway in adult cashmere goats. Furthermore, MT reduced the expression of the SASP cytokines genes by inhibiting the protein of NFκB and AP-1 in the secondary hair follicles in older cashmere goats, thus delaying skin aging, improving follicle survival, and increasing the number of secondary hair follicles. Collectively, these effects of exogenous MT enhanced the quality and yield of cashmere fibers, especially at 5–7 years old.

Amoxicillin has been widely used to treat infectious diseases during pregnancy. Current studies suggest that amoxicillin exposure during pregnancy could lead to developmental disorders in the offspring and increase the incidence of long-term complications such as asthma and kidney damage in adulthood. However, the adverse effects of prenatal amoxicillin exposure (PAmE) including administration stage, doses and courses on fetal hippocampal neurodevelopment and its function in the offspring have not been elucidated. In this study, we intend to investigate the effects of PAmE on fetal hippocampal development and its possible mechanisms.Pregnant Kunming mice were given intragastric administration with amoxicillin at different administration stage, doses and courses, and GD (gestational day) 18 offspring hippocampus was collected for morphological and development-related functional assays, and the molecular mechanisms were explored.PAmE induced hippocampal hypoplasia in the offspring with suppressed hippocampal neuronal cell proliferation and impaired neuronal synaptic plasticity comparatively; hippocampal astrocyte and microglia were damaged to varying degrees. The developmental toxicity of PAmE in fetal mices varies by time, dose, and course of treatment. The most severe damage was observed in the late gestation, high dose, and multi-course dosing groups. The significant reduction either in SOX2, an essential gene in regulating neural progenitor cell proliferation, and reduction of genes related to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway may suggest that the key role of SOX2/Wnt/β-catenin pathway in impaired hippocampal development in the offspring due to PAmE.In this study, PAmE was found to be developmentally toxic to the hippocampus thus to induce developmental damage to various hippocampal cells; Even with current clinically safe doses, potential hippocampal damage to offspring may still present; This study provides a theoretical and experimental basis for guiding the rational usage of drugs during pregnancy and giving effectively assessment of the risk on fetal hippocampal developmental toxicity.

The value of virtual world and digital phenotyping has been demonstrated in several fields, and their applications in the field of surgery are worthy of attention and exploration. This viewpoint describes the necessity and approach to understanding the deeper potential of computer-assisted surgery through interaction and symbiosis between virtual and real spaces. We propose to embed digital twin technology into all aspects of computer-assisted surgery rather than just the surgical object and further apply it to the whole process from patient treatment to recovery. A more personalized, precise, and predictable surgery is our vision.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is used for insect pest control, and its larvicidal activity is primarily attributed to Cry toxins. Other factors participate in infection, and limited information is available regarding factors acting on the peritrophic matrix (PM). This study aimed to investigate the role of a Bt chitin-binding protein (CBPA) that had been previously shown to be expressed at pH 9 in vitro and could therefore be expressed in the alkaline gut of lepidopteron larvae. A ∆cbpA mutant was generated that was 10-fold less virulent than wild-type Bt HD73 towards Ostrinia furnacalis neonate larvae, indicating its important role in infection. Purified recombinant Escherichia coli CBPA was shown to have a chitin affinity, thus indicating a possible interaction with the chitin-rich PM. A translational GFP&ndash, CBPA fusion elucidated the localization of CBPA on the bacterial surface, and the transcriptional activity of the promoter PcbpA was immediately induced and confirmed at pH 9. Next, in order to connect surface expression and possible in vivo gut activity, last instar Galleria mellonella (Gm) larvae (not susceptible to Bt HD-73) were used as a model to follow CBPA in gut expression, bacterial transit, and PM adhesion. CBPA-GFP was quickly expressed in the Gm gut lumen, and more Bt HD73 strain bacteria adhered to the PM than those of the ∆cbpA mutant strain. Therefore, CBPA may help to retain the bacteria, via the PM binding, close to the gut surface and thus takes part in the early steps of Bt gut interactions.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is used for insect pest control, and its larvicidal activity is primarily attributed to Cry toxins. Other factors participate in infection, and limited information is available regarding factors acting on the peritrophic matrix (PM). This study aimed to investigate the role of a Bt chitin-binding protein (CBPA) that had been previously shown to be expressed at pH 9 in vitro and could therefore be expressed in the alkaline gut of lepidopteron larvae. A ∆cbpA mutant was generated that was 10-fold less virulent than wild-type Bt HD73 towards Ostrinia furnacalis neonate larvae, indicating its important role in infection. Purified recombinant Escherichia coli CBPA was shown to have a chitin affinity, thus indicating a possible interaction with the chitin-rich PM. A translational GFP–CBPA fusion elucidated the localization of CBPA on the bacterial surface, and the transcriptional activity of the promoter PcbpA was immediately induced and confirmed at pH 9. Next, in order to connect surface expression and possible in vivo gut activity, last instar Galleria mellonella (Gm) larvae (not susceptible to Bt HD-73) were used as a model to follow CBPA in gut expression, bacterial transit, and PM adhesion. CBPA-GFP was quickly expressed in the Gm gut lumen, and more Bt HD73 strain bacteria adhered to the PM than those of the ∆cbpA mutant strain. Therefore, CBPA may help to retain the bacteria, via the PM binding, close to the gut surface and thus takes part in the early steps of Bt gut interactions.

We investigate the cross-correlation relationships between temporal and spatial seismic data by employing detrended cross-correlation analysis (DCCA) and temporal evolution of detrended cross-correlation analysis (TDCCA). The mentioned data are the series of inter-earthquakes times (IET) and inter-earthquakes distances (IED) between consecutive earthquakes in California and Sumatra regions from 1990 to 2013. Through cross-correlation test, we find long-range cross-correlation between IET and IED. We find the DCCA cross-correlation coefficient ρDCCA between them is significantly positive with the change of scale. The TDCCA between two series demonstrates cross-correlations on different window size scales over time. Strong cross-correlation levels between IET and IED on different window sizes are observed for the time periods after the big earthquakes occurred, while there are weak or no cross-correlation before and after the periods.