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Abstract Background Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is a fascinating evolutionary event. Given that limited genes conferring the evolution of RNS in Leguminosae have been functionally validated, the genetic basis of the evolution of RNS remains largely unknown. Identifying the genes involved in the evolution of RNS will help to reveal the mystery. Results Here, we investigate the gene loss event during the evolution of RNS in Leguminosae through phylogenomic and synteny analyses in 48 species including 16 Leguminosae species. We reveal that loss of the Lateral suppressor gene, a member of the GRAS-domain protein family, is associated with the evolution of RNS in Leguminosae. Ectopic expression of the Lateral suppressor (Ls) gene from tomato and its homolog MONOCULM 1 (MOC1) and Os7 from rice in soybean and Medicago truncatula result in almost completely lost nodulation capability. Further investigation shows that Lateral suppressor protein, Ls, MOC1, and Os7 might function through an interaction with NODULATION SIGNALING PATHWAY 2 (NSP2) and CYCLOPS to repress the transcription of NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) to inhibit the nodulation in Leguminosae. Additionally, we find that the cathepsin H (CTSH), a conserved protein, could interact with Lateral suppressor protein, Ls, MOC1, and Os7 and affect the nodulation. Conclusions This study sheds light on uncovering the genetic basis of the evolution of RNS in Leguminosae and suggests that gene loss plays an essential role.

Abstract The Ideal Plant Architecture 1 (IPA1) transcription factor promotes rice yield and immunity through phosphorylation at its amino acid residue Ser163 as a switch. Although phosphorylated IPA1 mimic, IPA1(S163D), directly targets the promoter of immune response gene WRKY45, it cannot activate its expression. Here, we identified a co-activator of IPA1(S163D), a RING-finger E3 ligase IPA1 interactor 7 (IPI7), which fine-tunes the transcriptional activity of IPA1 to timely promote plant immunity and simultaneously maintain growth for yield. IPI7 interacts with IPA1 and promotes K29-polyubiquitination of IPA1 in vitro and in vivo. However, the stability of IPA1 protein is not affected by IPI7-mediated ubiquitination. The IPI7-promoted K29-polyubiquitination of IPA1 is induced by Magnaporthe oryzae infection and required for phosphorylated IPA1 to transactivate WRKY45 expression for immune response but not for plain IPA1 to transactivate DENSE AND ERECT PANICLES 1 (DEP1) expression for panicle development. IPI7 knockout impairs IPA1-mediated immunity but not yield. Our study reveals that plants utilize non-proteolytic K29-ubiquitination as a response to pathogen infection to fine-tune IPA1 transactivation activity for promoting immunity.

Abstract Background Thymocyte selection-associated HMG-BOX (TOX) belongs to a family of transcription factors containing a highly conserved region of the high mobility group box (HMG-Box). A growing body of research has shown that TOX is involved in the occurrence and development of tumors and promotes T-cell exhaustion. We assessed the role of TOX with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Pancancer Data. Methods TOX expression was examined with RNA-seq data from the TCGA and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. The genetic alteration status and protein level of TOX were analyzed using databases, including the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), GeneCards, and STRING. The prognostic significance was estimated with survival data from the TCGA. Moreover, R software was used for enrichment analysis of TOX. The relationship between TOX and immune cell infiltration was assessed with the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) 2.0 database and the “CIBERSORT” method. The correlation between TOX and immune checkpoints was further explored. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to further verify the difference in TOX expression between cancerous and paracancerous tissues, and cell viability was evaluated using a CCK-8 assay. Results In most cancer types in the TCGA cohort, differential TOX expression was observed. The genetic alteration status and protein level of TOX were examined, and the prognosis of cancers was associated with TOX expression. Moreover, TOX levels were closely related to different immune-related pathways, immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoints. Additionally, significant differences in TOX expression between several cancerous and paracancerous tissues were validated. Furthermore, TOX clearly impacted the viability of cancer cells. Conclusions TOX, a potential biomarker for cancer, may be involved in the regulation of the immune microenvironment and can be used for new targeted drugs.

Abstract The effective flow of electrons through bulk electrodes is crucial for achieving high-performance batteries, although the poor conductivity of homocyclic sulfur molecules results in high barriers against the passage of electrons through electrode structures. This phenomenon causes incomplete reactions and the formation of metastable products. To enhance the performance of the electrode, it is important to place substitutable electrification units to accelerate the cleavage of sulfur molecules and increase the selectivity of stable products during charging and discharging. Herein, we develop a single-atom-charging strategy to address the electron transport issues in bulk sulfur electrodes. The establishment of the synergistic interaction between the adsorption model and electronic transfer helps us achieve a high level of selectivity towards the desirable short-chain sodium polysulfides during the practical battery test. These finding indicates that the atomic manganese sites have an enhanced ability to capture and donate electrons. Additionally, the charge transfer process facilitates the rearrangement of sodium ions, thereby accelerating the kinetics of the sodium ions through the electrostatic force. These combined effects improve pathway selectivity and conversion to stable products during the redox process, leading to superior electrochemical performance for room temperature sodium-sulfur batteries.

Abstract Silicon carbide (SiC) polytypes are emerging for integrated nonlinear and quantum photonics due to their wide-bandgap energies, second-order optic nonlinearity and process compatibility with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technologies. Among polytypes, 3C-SiC is the only one epitaxially grown on wafer-scale silicon substrates. However, on-chip nonlinear and quantum light sources leveraging the second-order nonlinearity of 3C-SiC have not been reported to our knowledge. Here, we design and fabricate an elliptical microring on 3C-SiC. We demonstrate a nonlinear light source with a second-harmonic generation efficiency of $$17.4\pm 0.2 \% {W}^{-1}$$ 17.4 ± 0.2 % W − 1 and difference-frequency generation with a signal-idler bandwidth of 97 nm. We demonstrate a spontaneous parametric down-conversion source with a photon-pair generation rate of 4.8 MHz and a coincidence-to-accidental ratio of $$3361\pm 84$$ 3361 ± 84 . We measure a low heralded single-photon second-order coherence $${g}_{H}^{\left(2\right)}=0.0007$$ g H 2 = 0.0007 . We observe time-bin entanglement with a visibility of $$86.0\pm 2.4 \%$$ 86.0 ± 2.4 % using this source. Our work paves a way toward SiC-based on-chip nonlinear and quantum photonic circuits.

Ferroptosis represents a distinct form of cell death that is not associated with necrosis, autophagy, apoptosis, or pyroptosis. It is characterised by intracellular iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. The current literature indicates that a number of botanical drugs and isolated metabolites can modulate ferroptosis, thereby exerting inhibitory effects on lung cancer cells or animal models. The aim of this review is to elucidate the mechanisms through which botanical drugs and isolated metabolites regulate ferroptosis in the context of lung cancer, thereby providing potential insights into lung cancer treatment. It is crucial to highlight that these preclinical findings should not be interpreted as evidence that these treatments can be immediately translated into clinical applications. In the future, we will continue to study the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of these drugs, as well as evaluating their efficacy and safety in clinical trials, with the aim of providing new approaches to the development of new agents for the treatment of lung cancer.

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the risk factors of prognosis and hemorrhagic transformation after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with posterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (PC-AIS) caused by large vessel occlusion. We sought to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of poor prognosis and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) in patients with PC-AIS.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 81 patients with PC-AIS who underwent MT treatment. We collected clinical information from the patients to assessed sICH and prognosis based on CT results and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. Subsequently, they were followed up for 3 months, and their prognosis was assessed using the Modified Rankin Scale. We used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression to determine the factors affecting prognosis to construct a nomogram. The nomogram’s performance was assessed through receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, decision curve analysis, and clinical impact curves.ResultsAmong the 81 patients with PC-AIS, 33 had a good prognosis, 48 had a poor prognosis, 19 presented with sICH, and 62 did not present with sICH. The results of the LASSO regression indicated that variables, including HPT, baseline NIHSS score, peak SBP, SBP CV, SBP SD, peak SBP, DBP CV, HbA1c, and BG SD, were predictors of patient prognosis. Variables such as AF, peak SBP, and peak DBP predicted the risk of sICH. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that baseline NIHSS score (OR = 1.115, 95% CI 1.002–1.184), peak SBP (OR = 1.060, 95% CI 1.012–1.111), SBP CV (OR = 1.296, 95% CI 1.036–1.621) and HbA1c (OR = 3.139, 95% CI 1.491–6.609) were independent risk factors for prognosis. AF (OR = 6.823, 95% CI 1.606–28.993), peak SBP (OR = 1.058, 95% CI 1.013–1.105), and peak DBP (OR = 1.160, 95% CI 1.036–1.298) were associated with the risk of sICH. In the following step, nomograms were developed, demonstrating good discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability.ConclusionWe constructed nomograms to predict poor prognosis and risk of sICH in patients with PC-AIS undergoing MT. The model exhibited good discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this research was to explore the effects of ellagic acid (EA) on growth performance, meat quality, and metabolomics profile of broiler chickens. 240 healthy yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups (6 replicates/group and 10 broilers /replicate): 1) a standard diet (CON); 2) CON+0.01% EA; 3) CON+0.02% EA; 4) CON+0.04% EA. Compared with the CON group, dietary 0.02% EA increased linearly and quadratically the ADG and lowered F/G ratio from 29 to 56 d and from 1 to 56 d of age (P < 0.05). The EA groups had higher spleen index and showed linear and quadratic improve thymus index (P < 0.05). A total of 0.02% EA linearly and quadratically increased the leg muscle percentage and quadratically increased the breast muscle percentage (P < 0.05). Compared to the control diet, 0.02% EA decreased quadratically the L* and increased a* of breast muscle at 45 min postslaughter (P < 0.05), and quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) the b* and increased linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05) drip loss. Additionally, EA improved linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05) serum total protein concentration and reduced linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05) serum blood urea nitrogen concentration. A total of 0.02% EA quadratically increased catalase activity and decreased malondialdehyde concentration in breast muscle compared with the control diet (P < 0.05). 0.02% and 0.04% EA could linearly and quadratically increase (P < 0.05) the concentrations of histidine, leucine and essential amino acids (EAA), 0.02% EA could linearly and quadratically increase (P < 0.05) the concentrations of threonine, glutamate, and flavored amino acids in breast muscle. 0.02% EA linearly and quadratically improved the C20:3n6, C22:6n3, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations, and the ratio of PUFA to saturated fatty acids (SFA), but reduced the C16:0 and the SFA concentrations in breast muscle than the CON group (P < 0.05). The EA diet linearly increased (P = 0.035) and quadratically tended (P = 0.068) to regulate the C18:2n6c concentration of breast muscle. Metabolomics showed that alanine metabolism, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism were the most differentially abundant. These results showed that EA supported moderate positive effects on growth performance, meat quality, and metabolomics profile of broilers.

Chinese Baijiu is a famous fermented alcoholic beverage in China. Interactions between key microorganisms, i.e., Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, have recently been reported at specific temperatures. However, empirical evidence of their interactions at various temperatures during fermentation is lacking. The results of this study demonstrated that S. cerevisiae significantly suppressed the viability and lactic acid yield of L. plantarum when they were cocultured above 15 °C. On the other hand, L. plantarum had no pronounced effect on the growth and ethanol yield of S. cerevisiae in coculture systems. S. cerevisiae was the main reducing sugar consumer. Inhibition of lactic acid production was also observed when elevated cell density of L. plantarum was introduced into the coculture system. A proteomic analysis indicated that the enzymes involved in glycolysis, lactate dehydrogenase, and proteins related to phosphoribosyl diphosphate, ribosome, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis in L. plantarum were less abundant in the coculture system. Collectively, our data demonstrated the antagonistic effect of S. cerevisiae on L. plantarum and provided insights for effective process management in light-flavor Baijiu fermentation.

Many cities are looking to adopt nature-based solutions (NBS) in greenspace to manage urban flooding and provide diverse co-benefits. Yet little research exists to inform the planning and design of park NBS. This study investigated NBS adoption in 58 public parks across major U.S. cities, using a 2022 survey by the Trust for Public Lands and other secondary datasets. We developed a typology to conceptualize a wide range of park NBS into five high-level categories by size/capacity, location of the gray–green spectrum, and design objectives. We then employed this typology to explore how a park’s adopted NBS types may relate to its landscape and sociodemographic contexts. We found that the most used type of NBS in the studied parks was ECO (a typology we defined as conserving, restoring, or creating ecosystems to mitigate flooding through ecological processes and functions), while the least used NBS type was ENG (a typology we defined as imitating natural infiltration processes but having no living elements). Further, parks that adopted ECO had significantly higher percentages of greenspace in the surrounding, as well as higher flood risks. We also found notable—though not statistically significant—evidence of potential associations between the type of NBS implementation in a park and its nearby neighborhoods’ income level, poverty, and population racial and age compositions. Moreover, our findings indicated that park visitors were more privileged compared to residents living near a park. We concluded that park contextual factors deserve more explicit consideration in the planning and design of NBS and discussed key implications of this study for practice and future research around park NBS for urban flooding.

Abstract Molecular engineering of drug delivering platforms to provide collaborative biological effects with loaded drugs is of great medical significance. Herein, cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1)‐ and reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐targeting electrosprayed microspheres (MSs) are fabricated by loading with the CB1 agonist arachidonoyl 2′‐chloroethylamide (ACEA) and producing ROS in a photoresponsive manner. The synergistic anti‐tumor effects of ACEA and ROS released from the MSs are assessed. ACEA inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor signaling and altered tumor microenvironment (TME) by activating CB1 to induce tumor cell death. The MSs are composed of glycidyl methacrylate‐conjugated xanthan gum (XGMA) and Fe3+, which form dual molecular networks based on a Fe3+‐(COO−)3 network and a C═C addition reaction network. Interestingly, the Fe3+‐(COO−)3 network can be disassembled instantly under the conditions of lactate sodium and ultraviolet exposure, and the disassembly is accompanied by massive ROS production, which directly injures tumor cells. Meanwhile, the transition of dual networks to a single network boosts the ACEA release. Together, the activities of the ACEA and MSs promote immunogenic tumor cell death and create a tumor‐suppressive TME by increasing M1‐like tumor‐associated macrophages and CD8+ T cells. In summation, this study demonstrates strong prospects of improving anti‐tumor effects of drug delivering platforms through molecular design.

Abstract Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) is a highly recognized two‐dimensional semiconductor material known for its exceptional chemical and physical stability, environmental friendliness, and pollution‐free advantages. These remarkable properties have sparked extensive research in the field of energy storage. This review paper presents the latest advances in the utilization of g‐C3N4 in various energy storage technologies, including lithium‐ion batteries, lithium‐sulfur batteries, sodium‐ion batteries, potassium‐ion batteries, and supercapacitors. One of the key strengths of g‐C3N4 lies in its simple preparation process along with the ease of optimizing its material structure. It possesses abundant amino and Lewis basic groups, as well as a high density of nitrogen, enabling efficient charge transfer and electrolyte solution penetration. Moreover, the graphite‐like layered structure and the presence of large π bonds in g‐C3N4 contribute to its versatility in preparing multifunctional materials with different dimensions, element and group doping, and conjugated systems. These characteristics open up possibilities for expanding its application in energy storage devices. This article comprehensively reviews the research progress on g‐C3N4 in energy storage and highlights its potential for future applications in this field. By exploring the advantages and unique features of g‐C3N4, this paper provides valuable insights into harnessing the full potential of this material for energy storage applications.

Summary: Cultivating drought-tolerant tea varieties enhances both yield and quality of tea plants in northern China. However, the mechanisms underlying their drought tolerance remain largely unknown. Here we identified a key regulator called CsREV, which differentially regulates xylem patterns between leaves and stems, thereby conferring drought tolerance in tea plants. When drought occurs, upregulation of CsREV activates the CsVND7a-dependent xylem vessel differentiation. However, when drought persists, the vessel differentiation is hindered as CsVND7a is downregulated by CsTCP4a. This, combined with the CsREV-promoted secondary-cell-wall thickness of xylem vessel, leads to the enhanced curling of leaves, a characteristic closely associated with plant drought tolerance. Notably, this inhibitory effect of CsTCP4a on CsVND7a expression is absent in stems, allowing stem xylem vessels to continuously differentiate. Overall, the CsREV-CsTCP4-CsVND7 module is differentially utilized to shape the xylem patterns in leaves and stems, potentially balancing water transportation and utilization to improve tea plant drought tolerance.

BackgroundEarly studies have revealed antagonistic effects associated with stacking chemotherapy (CT) and endocrine therapy (ET), thereby conventional wisdom does not advocate the simultaneous combination of these two treatment modalities. Limited clinical studies exist on the combined use of neoadjuvant CT (NACT) and neoadjuvant ET (NET), and there are no reported instances of concurrent neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) using capecitabine and fulvestrant (FUL).Case presentationWe reported a 54-year-old woman who was diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) LABC at our hospital. After neoadjuvant treatment involving two distinct CT regimens did not lead to tumor regression. Consequently, the patient was transitioned to concurrent capecitabine and FUL therapy. This change resulted in favorable pathological remission without any significant adverse events during treatment.ConclusionsA novel approach involving concurrent neoadjuvant therapy with CT and endocrine therapy may offer a potentially effective treatment avenue for some cases with HR+ LABC.

Abstract Background Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common complications of diabetes and the main cause of non-traumatic amputation, with no ideal treatment. Multiple cell-derived exosomes have been reported to improve the progression of DPN. Blood therapy is thought to have a powerful repairing effect. However, whether it could also improve DPN remains unclear. Results In this study, we found that microRNA (miRNA) expression in plasma-derived exosomes of healthy rats (hplasma-exos) was significantly different from that of age-matched DPN rats. By injection of hplasma-exos into DPN rats, the mechanical sensitivity of DPN rats was decreased, the thermal sensitivity and motor ability were increased, and the nerve conduction speed was accelerated. Histological analysis showed myelin regeneration of the sciatic nerve, increased intraepidermal nerve fibers, distal local blood perfusion, and enhanced neuromuscular junction and muscle spindle innervation after hplasma-exos administration. Compared with plasma exosomes in DPN, miR-20b-3p was specifically enriched in exosomes of healthy plasma and was found to be re-upregulated in the sciatic nerve of DPN rats after hplasma-exos treatment. Moreover, miR-20b-3p agomir improved DPN symptoms to a level similar to hplasma-exos, both of which also alleviated autophagy impairment induced by high glucose in Schwann cells. Mechanistic studies found that miR-20b-3p targeted Stat3 and consequently reduced the amount of p-Stat3, which then negatively regulated autophagy processes and contributed to DPN improvement. Conclusions This study demonstrated that miRNA of plasma exosomes was different between DPN and age-matched healthy rats. MiR-20b-3p was enriched in hplasma-exos, and both of them could alleviated DPN symptoms. MiR-20b-3p regulated autophagy of Schwann cells in pathological states by targeting Stat3 and thereby inhibited the progression of DPN. Graphical Abstract

Dickeya dadantii is a common pathogen of bacterial soft rot on a wide range of plants, including several crops. In this study, we present the complete genome sequence of the D. dadantii type strain DSM18020T. The genome was assembled using PacBio technology, resulting in a 4,997,541 bp circular chromosome with a G+C content of 56.5%. Our sequence analyses predicted 4277 protein-encoding genes, including several associated with known bacterial virulence factors and secondary metabolites. Comparative genomics analysis between Dickeya revealed that the category of ‘metabolism’ is the most important in both the core and accessory genomes, while the category of ‘information storage and processing’ is the most dominant in unique genomes. These findings will not only help us to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of D. dadantii DSM18020T, but also provide us with useful information for new control strategies against this phytopathogen.

Abstract Understanding the genetic basis of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) domestication is crucial for further improving natural rubber production to meet its increasing demand worldwide. Here we provide a high-quality H. brasiliensis genome assembly (1.58 Gb, contig N50 of 11.21 megabases), present a map of genome variations by resequencing 335 accessions and reveal domestication-related molecular signals and a major domestication trait, the higher number of laticifer rings. We further show that HbPSK5, encoding the small-peptide hormone phytosulfokine (PSK), is a key domestication gene and closely correlated with the major domestication trait. The transcriptional activation of HbPSK5 by myelocytomatosis (MYC) members links PSK signaling to jasmonates in regulating the laticifer differentiation in rubber tree. Heterologous overexpression of HbPSK5 in Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) can increase rubber content by promoting laticifer formation. Our results provide an insight into target genes for improving rubber tree and accelerating the domestication of other rubber-producing plants.

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is a secreted glycoprotein that is produced by immune cells, including neutrophils and macrophages. It serves various functions such as transporting hydrophobic ligands across the cellular membrane, regulating immune responses, keeping iron balance, and fostering epithelial cell differentiation. LCN2 plays a crucial role in several physiological processes. LCN2 expression is upregulated in a variety of human diseases and cancers. High levels of LCN2 are specifically linked to breast cancer (BC) cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, immune regulation, chemotherapy resistance, and prognosis. As a result, LCN2 has gained attention as a potential therapeutic target for BC. This article offered an in-depth review of the advancement of LCN2 in the context of BC occurrence and development.

The purple sea urchin (Heliocidaris crassispina) is one of the main drivers of ecosystem dynamics, and its reproductive cycle plays an important role in population structure and size variability. In this study, we analyzed the population structure, gonadal developmental characteristics, reproductive cycle and other factors influencing wild purple sea urchins from December 2021 to November 2022 in Daya Bay, Guangdong, China. The results showed that purple sea urchins showed an allometric growth pattern, there were obvious seasonal variations in the population size, and fishing pressure reduced the sea urchin populations; two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation analyses showed negative correlations between month (M), test diameter (TD), weight (W) and gonadal index (GI) (P> 0.01), and a positive correlation between TD, weight (W), and GI (P

In this paper, we demonstrate a comprehensive study of NF3-based selective etching processes for inner spacer formation and for channel release, enabling stacked horizontal gate-all-around Si nanosheet transistor architectures. A cyclic etching process consisting of an oxidation treatment step and an etching step is proposed and used for SiGe selective etching. The cyclic etching process exhibits a slower etching rate and higher etching selectivity compared to the direct etching process. The cycle etching process consisting of Recipe 1, which has a SiGe etching rate of 0.98 nm/cycle, is used for the cavity etch. The process achieved good interlayer uniformity of cavity depth (cavity depth ≤ 5 ± 0.3 nm), while also obtaining a near-ideal rectangular SiGe etch front shape (inner spacer shape = 0.84) and little Si loss (0.44 nm@ each side). The cycle etching process consisting of Recipe 4 with extremely high etching selectivity is used for channel release. The process realizes the channel release of nanosheets with a multi-width from 30 nm to 80 nm with little Si loss. In addition, a selective isotropic etching process using NF3/O2/Ar gas mixture is used to etch back the SiN film. The impact of the O2/NF3 ratio on the etching selectivity of SiN to Si and the surface roughness of SiN after etching is investigated. With the introduction of O2 into NF3/Ar discharge, the selectivity increases sharply, but when the ratio of O2/NF3 is up to 1.0, the selectivity tends to a constant value and the surface roughness of SiN increases rapidly. The optimal parameter is O2/NF3 = 0.5, resulting in a selectivity of 5.4 and a roughness of 0.19 nm.

Starch-derived isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) is potentially used as prebiotics in infant formulas. Given that they are non-digestible carbohydrates rich in reducing substrates, it’s crucial to understand if they can interact with β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) to produce Maillard reaction products (MRPs) and how these MRPs might influence the nutritional properties of β-LG. In our investigation, we conjugated β-LG with IMO to generate MRPs. Using a spectrophotometer, we identified the intermediates and assessed browning. We also evaluated changes in free amino groups and structural alterations. The antioxidative activity of the resulting compounds was assessed using DPPH and the ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Our data revealed increased visible absorption and fluorescence intensity, suggesting the formation of intermediate and browning products. The content of free amino groups diminished by 33%, supporting the conjugation of IMO with β-LG. However, circular dichroism results indicated no significant alterations in the secondary structure of β-LG. Notably, the β-LG-IMO MRPs exhibited enhanced 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). The findings provide insights into the characteristics and antioxidant activities of the conjugates derived from IMO and dairy protein in infant formula.

The relationship between the thixotropic mechanism and the macroscopic thixotropic strength can be clarified by analyzing the changes in microstructure and pores in the loess thixotropic process. This approach is of significant importance for calculating the strength of compacted loess foundations. In the present study, a representative sample prepared from Xi’an loess was analyzed and eight resting ages were set. The micropore characteristics of the remolded loess and undisturbed loess at different resting ages were obtained using electron microscope observation and nuclear magnetic resonance testing. The results indicate that the thixotropy in the prepared loess samples is significant. It is also found that as the resting age grew, newly formed cements in the remolded loess continuously accumulated and filled in the microcracks between the aggregates. Consequently, the contact area of aggregates increased, thereby decreasing the width and length of the microcracks. The proportion of cementation pore and small microcracks gradually increased, while the proportion of large microcracks gradually decreased, indicating that thixotropy increased the cohesive force and friction force of soil structure at the mesoscale. This phenomenon also explains the increase of thixotropic strength at the macroscopic scale. The mesoscopic mechanism of loess thixotropic strength recovery is that the connection between soil particles is re-established after the break of the clay particle–water–charge system. Moreover, the elastic potential energy of soil particles generated by compression promoted the polymerization of clay particles dispersed in a pore water solution to produce flocculating aggregates during resting dissipation. The continuous consumption of clay particles expanded the processing time and flocs and continuously decreased the strength growth rate.

Abstract Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted extensive attention to be applied in large‐scale energy storage due to their low cost and abundant storage resources. Among cathode materials for SIBs, layered oxide cathodes are considered one of the most promising candidates for practical application owing to their high theoretical capacities, simple synthesis routes, and environmental friendliness. However, poor air stability, complicated interfacial reaction, and irreversible phase translation of layered oxide cathodes pose problems for the long‐term cycle as well as rate performance. In this review, the recent achievements and progress in surface engineering chemistry strategies to improve the electrochemical performance of SIBs have been summarized including mechanical mixing, in‐situ coating methods, and designing unique interfacial structures. Moreover, inspired by previous studies, we propose an innovative concept of interface conversion reaction with bulk penetration doping integration, which is expected to deal with both interfacial and intrinsic issues synchronously through heat treatment. It could not only eliminate residual sodium compounds on the surface and improve air stability but also suppress the dissolution and the migration of transition metal and the phase transformation. The insights that came up in this review can be considered as a guide for surface engineering on layered oxide cathode for SIBs.

To study the effects of light color on sea urchin (Tripneustes gratilla), blue light (B, λ450nm), yellow light (Y, λ585–590nm), red light (R, λ640nm), green light (G, λ510nm), white light (W, λ400–780nm), and darkness (H) groups were established in a recirculating seawater aquaculture system. Six different LED light color treatment groups with a photoperiod of 12 L:12 D were tested for 30 days to investigate the effects of different light colors on the feeding, growth, and enzyme activities of T. gratilla (142.45 ± 4.36 g). We found that using different LED light colors caused significantly different impacts on the feeding, growth, and enzyme activity of T. gratilla. Notably, the sea urchins in group B exhibited better growth, with a weight gain rate of 39.26%, while those in group R demonstrated poorer growth, with a weight gain rate of only 26%. The feeding status differed significantly (p < 0.05) between groups B and R, with group B consuming the highest daily intake (6.03 ± 1.69 g) and group R consuming the lowest (4.54 ± 1.26 g). Throughout the three phases, there was no significant change in the viability of the α-amylase (p > 0.05). Conversely, the pepsin viability significantly increased (p < 0.05) in group B. The lipase viability consistently remained at the lowest level, with no notable differences between group W and group B. In group R, both the α-amylase and pepsin viabilities remained lower, whereas the lipase viability was noticeably greater in each phase than in group B (p < 0.05). Among the antioxidant enzymes, group R exhibited a trend of initial increase followed by decreases in catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, particularly during the third stage (15–30 days), during which a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity was observed (p < 0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that blue light positively affects the growth, feeding, digestion, and antioxidant capacity of T. gratilla in comparison with those in other light environments, whereas red light had an inhibitory effect. Furthermore, T. gratilla is a benthic organism that lives on shallow sandy sea beds. Thus, as short wavelengths of blue and green light are more widely distributed on the seafloor, and long wavelengths of red light are more severely attenuated on the seafloor, shorter wavelengths of light promote the growth of bait organisms of sea urchins, which provide better habitats for T. gratilla.

In this study, we sought to characterize the effect of water vibration frequency stress on crimson snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus) survival to determine an optimal transportation speed. To achieve this, we used a transport tank (25 cm × 17 cm × 16 cm) to simulate the transport process. After 8 h at five different vibration frequencies (D1 = 75 rpm, D2 = 105 rpm, D3 = 135 rpm, D4 = 165 rpm, and D5 = 195 rpm), the pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the tanks decreased; ammonia nitrogen levels (NH4-N) and temperature (T) increased with increasing density; and significant changes in oxidative stress biomarkers, digestive enzymes, and ATPase levels were observed in crimson snapper fry. The enzyme activity increased and reached the maximum value at 195 rpm. The experimental results suggested that during the actual transport, when using transport tanks, the length of the transport time was less than 8 h, and setting the vibration frequency for transportation at 135 rpm was more appropriate, that is, a speed of 50 km/h for transporting crimson snapper fry.

Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in cancer biological processes. Nevertheless, the contributions and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain largely unexplored. Dysregulated circRNAs between cancerous tissues and matched adjacent normal tissues were identified by circRNA microarray in PDAC. The biological effect of hsa_circ_007367 both in vitro and in vivo was demonstrated by gain- and loss-of-function experiments. Further, dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays were performed to confirm the interaction among hsa_circ_007367, miR-6820-3p, and Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1). The expression of hsa_circ_007367 and YAP1 were detected by in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) using tissue microarray (TMA) in 128 PDAC samples. We first identified that a novel circRNA, hsa_circ_0007367, was markedly upregulated in PDAC tissues and cells. Functionally, in vivo and in vitro data indicated that hsa_circ_0007367 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of PDAC. Mechanistically, we confirmed that hsa_circ_0007367 could facilitate the expression of YAP1, a well-known oncogene, by sponging miR-6820-3p, which function as a tumor suppresser in PDAC cells. The results of ISH and IHC demonstrated that hsa_circ_0007367 and YAP1 were upregulated in PDAC tissues. Furthermore, clinical data showed that higher hsa_circ_0007367 expression was correlated with advanced histological grade and lymph node metastasis in PDAC patients. In conclusion, our findings reveal that hsa_circ_0007367 acts as an oncogene via modulating miR-6820-3p/YAP1 axis to promote the progression of PDAC, and suggest that hsa_circ_0007367 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of PDAC.

Abstract Chilling is a major abiotic stress harming rice development and productivity. The C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR (CBF)-dependent transcriptional regulatory pathway plays a central role in cold stress and acclimation in Arabidopsis. In rice, several genes have been reported in conferring chilling tolerance, however, the chilling signaling in rice remains largely unknown. Here, we report the chilling-induced OSMOTIC STRESS/ABA-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE 6 (OsSAPK6)-IDEAL PLANT ARCHITECTURE 1 (IPA1)-OsCBF3 signal pathway in rice. Under chilling stress, OsSAPK6 could phosphorylate IPA1 and increase its stability. In turn, IPA1 could directly bind to the GTAC motif on the OsCBF3 promoter to elevate its expression. Genetic evidence showed that OsSAPK6, IPA1 and OsCBF3 were all positive regulators of rice chilling tolerance. The function of OsSAPK6 in chilling tolerance depended on IPA1, and overexpression of OsCBF3 could rescue the chilling-sensitive phenotype of ipa1 loss-of-function mutant. Moreover, the natural gain-of-function allele ipa1-2D could simultaneously enhance seedling chilling tolerance and increase grain yield. Taken together, our results revealed a chilling-induced OsSAPK6-IPA1-OsCBF signal cascade in rice, which shed new lights on chilling stress-tolerant rice breeding.

BackgroundOpioid-free anesthesia (OFA) provides adequate analgesia and can reduce postoperative opioid consumption, but its efficacy in spontaneous ventilation video-assisted thoracic surgery (SV-VATS) has not been demonstrated. We aimed to investigate the hypothesis that OFA could provide the same perioperative pain control as opioid anesthesia (OA), maintain safe and stable respiration and hemodynamics during surgery, and improve postoperative recovery.MethodsSixty eligible patients (OFA group: n=30; OA group: n=30) treated between September 15, 2022, and December 15, 2022, at The First Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were included. They were randomized to receive standard balanced OFA with esketamine or OA with remifentanil combined with sufentanil. The primary outcome was the pain numeric rating score (NRS) at postoperative 24 h, and the secondary outcomes were intraoperative respiratory and hemodynamic data, opioid consumption, vasoactive drug dosage, and recovery in the post-anesthesia care unit and ward.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the postoperative pain scores and recovery quality between the two groups. The OFA group had a significantly lower dose of phenylephrine (P=0.001) and a lower incidence of hypotension (P=0.004) during surgery. The OFA group resumed spontaneous respiration faster (P

By the end of this century, a 50% increase in agricultural productivity is required to feed the world. Recent studies have demonstrated de novo domestication of wild plants as a new crop breeding strategy to meet future food challenges.

The reliability of the thyristor is directly related to the safe operation of the DC transmission system. A method for evaluating the state of thyristors based on kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) is proposed, which firstly considers the thyristor test data, operation records, maintenance history, appearance inspection information, states of other components and operating environment. A basic index system for evaluating the aging state of thyristor with 42 parameters is established. Next, a mathematical model was developed by Fisher Discriminant Analysis (FDA). The kernel function of the kernel principal components is then optimized by an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm. The improved KPCA is applied to extract key parameters from the base index system to obtain the reduced dimensional evaluation indicators. The obtained principal component factors are used to determine the weights of the fuzzy composite factors, which are applied for fuzzy evaluation of the thyristor. Finally, 20 thyristors are selected for experimental and theoretical calculations. The results show that the cumulative contribution of the first three principal component variables after dimensionality reduction reaches 93.76%, which is consistent with the state of the thyristor. Compared to the four existing evaluation methods, the results of the method proposed in this paper are more reasonable, which removes the influence of redundant indicators, reduces the amount of data, and provides a reference for the related research on thyristor state evaluation.

Understanding community members' flood risk perceptions is critical for developing new approaches to managing flood risks for climate resilience. “Risk as feelings” has informed research on how people perceive flood risks based on intuition and personal experiences, complementing experts' technical assessment. However, attention has been primarily on riverine and coastal flooding. We expand the “risk as feelings” concept to investigate community members' risk perceptions of urban pluvial flooding as well as perceived safety of novel vs. familiar nature-based solutions (NBS). For the novel practice, we focus on floodable sites that temporarily inundate urban open spaces under storm conditions. For the familiar practice, we focus on retention ponds that store excessive runoff under storm conditions. Data were collected through visualization-assisted surveys of residents from high and low flood hazard areas in three US cities (N = 884). We found that over half of respondents indicated some degree of worry about stormwater-related damage, and overall, respondents perceived floodable as less safe than retention ponds under storm conditions. Further, respondents who had more frequently experienced localized flooding near their homes were more worried about potential property damage caused by flooding. They also perceived floodable sites as less safe under storm conditions. However, more frequent experience of localized flooding was not associated with perceived safety of retention ponds under storm conditions. Some other contextual and socio-demographic factors (e.g., prior stormwater-related property damage, knowledge of and involvement in stormwater management issues, gender, age, race, and having children) also had notable effects on flood risk perception and perceived safety of NBS. We discuss the implications of these findings for urban flood risk management and NBS development.

Summary: We present a protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation and genome editing in wild allotetraploid rice Oryza alta. We detail steps to induce embryogenic calli from mature seeds and co-cultivate with Agrobacterium after infection. We further describe how to select transformed cells that proliferated from infected calli based on hygromycin resistance, resulting in regeneration of transformed plantlets with multiple edited alleles. Edited lines produced via this protocol can be used for gene functions studies and de novo domestication of O. alta.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Yu et al. (2021). : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Recently, a lot of research has been conducted on diagnosing neurological disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is the commonly used technique to assist in the diagnosis of ASD. In the past years, some conventional methods have been proposed to extract the low-order functional connectivity network features for ASD diagnosis, which ignore the complexity and global features of the brain network. Most deep learning-based methods generally have a large number of parameters that need to be adjusted during the learning process. To overcome the limitations mentioned above, we propose a novel deep-broad learning method for learning the higher-order brain functional connectivity network features to assist in ASD diagnosis. Specifically, we first construct the high-order functional connectivity network that describes global correlations of the brain regions based on hypergraph, and then we use the deep-broad learning method to extract the high-dimensional feature representations for brain networks sequentially. The evaluation of the proposed method is conducted on Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) dataset. The results show that our proposed method can achieve 71.8% accuracy on the multi-center dataset and 70.6% average accuracy on 17 single-center datasets, which are the best results compared with the state-of-the-art methods. Experimental results demonstrate that our method can describe the global features of the brain regions and get rich discriminative information for the classification task.

Axial piston pumps provide a number of benefits, including strong pressure resistance, high efficiency, high transmission power, a broad speed range, and a long lifespan. These characteristics have led to their widespread usage in naval applications, construction machines, and hydraulic machinery. On the other hand, axial piston pumps frequently display reduced operating speeds as well as instability because of their inherently nonlinear properties. In this study, a mathematical model of these changeable (variable) processes is developed using a mix of theoretical calculations and acquired data. An investigation of variable mechanism control in axial piston pumps is carried out centered on robust control methods, and the controller is constructed utilizing robust H∞ theory. In terms of resilience, control precision, and system reaction time, simulations show that the H controller surpasses the PID controller.

Drought stress poses severe threat to the development and even the survival status of plants. Plants utilize various methods responding to drought, among which the forming of more well-developed xylem in leaf vein in woody plants deserves our attention. Herein, we report a transcription factor CkREV from HD-ZIP III family in Caragana korshinskii, which possesses significant functions in drought response by regulating xylem vessel development in leaf vein. Research reveal that in C. korshinskii the expression level of CkREV located in xylem vessel and adjacent cells will increase as the level of drought intensifies, and can directly induce the expression of CkLAX3, CkVND6, CkVND7, and CkPAL4 by binding to their promoter regions. In Arabidopsis thaliana, CkREV senses changes in drought stress signals and bidirectionally regulates the expression of related genes to control auxin polar transport, vessel differentiation, and synthesis of cell wall deposits, thereby significantly enhancing plant drought tolerance. In conclusion, our findings offer a novel understanding of the regulation of CkREV, a determinant of leaf adaxial side, on the secondary development of xylem vessels in leaf vein to enhance stress tolerance in woody plants.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic transition represents the fundamental pathophysiological alteration in the vascular remodeling process during the initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have revealed that Icariside II (ICS-II), a flavonol glycoside derived from the traditional Chinese medicine Herba Epimedii, exhibited therapeutic effects in various cardiovascular diseases. However, the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of ICS-II regarding VSMC phenotypic transition were unknown. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of ICS-Ⅱ on vascular remodeling with a rat’s balloon injury model in vivo. The label-free proteomic analysis was further implemented to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) after ICS-II intervention. Gene ontology and the pathway enrichment analysis were performed based on DEPs. Moreover, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB)-induced primary rat VSMC was implemented to verify the restoration effects of ICS-II on the VSMC contractile phenotype. Results showed that ICS-II could effectively attenuate the vascular remodeling process, promote SMA-α protein expression, and inhibit OPN expression in vivo. The proteomic analysis identified 145 differentially expressed proteins after ICS-II intervention. Further, the bioinformatics analysis indicated that the focal adhesion signaling pathway was enriched in the ICS-II group. In vitro studies showed that ICS-II suppressed VSMC proliferation and migration, and promoted VSMC contractile phenotype by modulating the focal adhesion signaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that ICS-II attenuates the vascular remodeling process and restores the VSMC contractile phenotype by promoting the focal adhesion pathway.

Abstract Background Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is an acute, highly contagious and economically important zoonotic disease caused by the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). There is a need for effective and safe stable recombinant vaccine for the control of the disease. The human type 5 replication-defective adenovirus expression vector is a good way to construct recombinant vaccines. Results Three recombinant adenoviruses (rAd) were successfully constructed that expressed the VSV Indiana serotype glycoprotein (VSV-IN-G), VSV New Jersey serotype glycoprotein (VSV-NJ-G), and the G fusion protein (both serotypes of G [VSV-IN-G-NJ-G]) with potentiality to induce protective immunity. G proteins were successfully expressed with good immunogenicity. The rAds could induce the production of VSV antibodies in mice, and VSV neutralizing antibodies in goats, respectively. The neutralizing antibody titers could reach 1:32 in mice and 1:64 in goats. The rAds induced strong lymphocyte proliferation in mice and goats, which was significantly higher compared to the negative control groups. Conclusions The three rAds constructed in the study expressed VSV-G proteins and induced both humoral and cellular immune responses in mice and goats. These results lay the foundation for further studies on the use of rAds in vaccines expressing VSV-G.

Landscape management and planning is an important way to mitigate climate change. Previous studies have proved landscape pattern (composition and configuration) was correlated to thermal environment based on a single image data in time, but the static results were inconclusive and contradictory. In this study, a framework to investigate the dynamic relevance between landscape pattern change and near surface air temperature (NST) difference was constructed through the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) and geospatial methods including landscape metrics. The landscape pattern change of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration from 2000 to 2020 were examined and their impacts on NST were simulated. Results showed it was dominant that cropland, water and grass land urbanized in the landscape evolution process, which led BTH average NST rise by 0.05℃ and 0.177℃ in January and July, respectively. The dynamic relevance (DR) between landscape composition and configuration and NST of all land classifications over the two decades were investigated quantitatively. Results indicated the DR between the change of landscape pattern and NST in different periods was different and it was seasonal various. DR of composition metric was more significantly correlated than non-area related spatial configuration metrics. In this twenty years, the DR of urban land (UBL) was positive, and it was negative for cropland (CPL). The landscape pattern of water (WTR) was positively correlated with NST in winter and negatively in summer. The DR of green space was an opposite correlation with DR of WTR in winter and summer, due to the newly added green space was mainly transformed from WTR. The dynamic perspective of relevance based on WRF and landscape indicators can enhance the understanding the effects of landscape pattern on thermal environment and provide a methodological framework for evaluating the dynamic relationship of landscape indicators and thermal effects.

Resistant starch (RS), a healthy dietary fiber, is a particular type of starch that has attracted much research attention in recent years. RS has important roles in reducing glycemic index, postprandial blood glucose levels, and serum cholesterol levels, thereby improving and preventing many diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. The formation of RS is influenced by intrinsic properties of starch (e.g., starch granule structure, starch crystal structure, and amylose-to-amylopectin ratio) and non-starch components (e.g., proteins, lipids, and sugars), as well as storage and processing conditions. Recent studies have revealed that several starch-synthesis-related genes (SSRGs) are crucial for the formation of RS during seed development. Several transcription factors and mRNA splicing factors have been shown to affect the expression or splicing of SSRGs that regulate RS content, suggesting their potential roles in RS formation. This review focuses mainly on recent research progress on the genetic regulation of RS content and discusses the emerging genetic and molecular mechanisms of RS formation in rice.

Abstract Wound healing is a long‐term, multistage biological process that includes hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling and requires intelligent designs to provide comprehensive and convenient treatment. The complexity of wounds has led to a lack of adequate wound treatment materials, which must systematically regulate unique wound microenvironments. Hydrogels have significant advantages in wound treatment due to their ability to provide spatiotemporal control over the wound healing process. Self‐assembling peptide‐based hydrogels are particularly attractive due to their innate biocompatibility and biodegradability along with additional advantages including ligand‐receptor recognition, stimulus‐responsive self‐assembly, and the ability to mimic the extracellular matrix. The ability of peptide‐based materials to self‐assemble in response to the physiological environment, resulting in functionalized microscopic structures, makes them conducive to wound treatment. This review introduces several self‐assembling peptide‐based systems with various advantages and emphasizes recent advances in self‐assembling peptide‐based hydrogels that allow for precise control during different stages of wound healing. Moreover, the development of multifunctional self‐assembling peptide‐based hydrogels that can regulate and remodel the wound immune microenvironment in wound therapy with spatiotemporal control has also been summarized. Overall, this review sheds light on the future clinical and practical applications of self‐assembling peptide‐based hydrogels.

BackgroundThe mapping method represents a crucial factor affecting the rate of sentinel lymph node detection in breast cancer. We carried out this meta-analysis to assess the clinical utility of carbon nanoparticle suspensions (CNSs) in guiding sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for breast cancer patients.MethodsElectronic databases, which comprised the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang electronic database, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed, were explored to identify relevant studies from database inception to July 2021 that studied the detection rate of CNSs-guided SLNB. A meta-analysis was performed to generate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), a summary receiver operator characteristic curve (SROC), and a diagnostic odds ratio (DOR).ResultsA total of 33 publications that enrolled 2,171 patients were analyzed. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, and NLR were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91–0.95, I2 = 0.0%), 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98–0.99, I2 = 56.5%), 42.85 (95% CI: 29.73–61.77, I2 = 47.0%), and 0.09 (95% CI: 0.07–0.11, I2 = 0.0%), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the SROC curve was 0.98. There were no significant differences when analyzed based on the dose and site of CNS injection. There was significant publication bias among the included publications based on Deeks’ funnel plot [Slope (Bias) = −7.35, P = 0.00]. Nonetheless, the sensitivity analysis identified the results to be reliable and stable.ConclusionThis meta-analysis highlights the accuracy and feasibility of using CNSs for SLNB in patients with breast cancer. Clinically, the identification and predictive values of CNSs as an optimal tracer for SLNB remains undisputed.

Fruit firmness is an important target for breeders and a key determinant of shelf life for many fruits. Here the authors show that mutating tomato FIS1, a GA2-oxidase, increases the concentration of bioactive gibberellins, enhances cutin and wax biosynthesis and increases fruit firmness.

CRISPR-Cas12a offers a convenient tool for multiplex genome editing in rice. However, the CRISPR-Cas12a system displays variable editing efficiency across genomic loci, with marked influence by CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs). To improve the efficiency of the CRISPR-Cas12a system for multiplex genome editing, we identified various architectures and expression strategies for crRNAs. Transformation of binary vectors loaded with engineered CRISPR-Cas12a systems into rice calli and subsequent sequencing revealed that a modified tRNA-crRNA array not only efficiently achieved rice multiplex genome editing, but also successfully edited target sites that were not edited by the crRNA array. This improvement contributes to the application of the CRISPR-Cas12a system in plant genome editing, especially for genomic loci that have hitherto been difficult to edit.

Abstract The lack of methods to modulate intrinsic textures of carbon cathode has seriously hindered the revelation of in-depth relationship between inherent natures and capacitive behaviors, limiting the advancement of lithium ion capacitors (LICs). Here, an orientated-designed pore size distribution (range from 0.5 to 200 nm) and graphitization engineering strategy of carbon materials through regulating molar ratios of Zn/Co ions has been proposed, which provides an effective platform to deeply evaluate the capacitive behaviors of carbon cathode. Significantly, after the systematical analysis cooperating with experimental result and density functional theory calculation, it is uncovered that the size of solvated PF6 − ion is about 1.5 nm. Moreover, the capacitive behaviors of carbon cathode could be enhanced attributed to the controlled pore size of 1.5–3 nm. Triggered with synergistic effect of graphitization and appropriate pore size distribution, optimized carbon cathode (Zn90Co10-APC) displays excellent capacitive performances with a reversible specific capacity of ~ 50 mAh g−1 at a current density of 5 A g−1. Furthermore, the assembly pre-lithiated graphite (PLG)//Zn90Co10-APC LIC could deliver a large energy density of 108 Wh kg−1 and a high power density of 150,000 W kg−1 as well as excellent long-term ability with 10,000 cycles. This elaborate work might shed light on the intensive understanding of the improved capacitive behavior in LiPF6 electrolyte and provide a feasible principle for elaborate fabrication of carbon cathodes for LIC systems.

Various crystalline silicon carbide (SiC) polytypes are emerging as promising photonic materials due to their wide bandgap energies and nonlinear optical properties. However, their wafer forms cannot readily provide a refractive index contrast for optical confinement in the SiC layer, which makes it difficult to realize a SiC-based integrated photonic platform. In this paper, we demonstrate a 3C-SiC-on-insulator (3C-SiCoI)-based integrated photonic platform by transferring the epitaxial 3C-SiC layer from a silicon die to a borosilicate glass substrate using anodic bonding. By fine-tuning the fabrication process, we demonstrated nearly 100% area transferring die-to-wafer bonding. We fabricated waveguide-coupled microring resonators using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)-based dry etching and demonstrated a moderate loaded quality (Q) factor of 1.4 × 105. We experimentally excluded the existence of the photorefractive effect in this platform at sub-milliwatt on-chip input optical power levels. This 3C-SiCoI platform is promising for applications, including large-scale integration of linear, nonlinear and quantum photonics.

This is a project report to introduce the Comprehensive Sexuality Education Technical Guideline—Adaptation of Global Standards for Potential Use in China (First Edition) (hereafter referred to as the Guideline) as the first adaptation of the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education (ITGSE) in China. The project was supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from 2018 to 2022. The development process included rounds of participatory consultation, validation, and revisions led by the project team and a group of technical advisers from diverse backgrounds. The Guideline is developed to respond to the increasing demands of a technical tool integrating international standards and local context that can be used by all comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) stakeholders in China. While keeping the structure of the ITGSE, the Guideline made modifications and additions in light of the up-to-date Chinese policies, laws, and relevant national programs, as well as Chinese culture and social norms. It is expected that the Guideline could be widely acknowledged, distributed, and used to inform and support the future development of CSE in China.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic metabolic disease manifested in hepatic steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, etc., which affects over one-quarter of the population around the world. Since no effective therapeutic drugs are available to cope with this widespread epidemic, the functional research of genes with altered expression during NAFLD helps understand the pathogenesis of this disease and the development of new potential therapeutic targets for drugs. In the current work, we discovered via the analysis of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset that cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSAD) decreased significantly in NAFLD patients, which was also confirmed in multiple NAFLD mouse models (HFD-fed C57BL/6J, db/db and HFHFrHC-fed C57BL/6J mice). Next, CSAD’s function in the progression of NAFLD was explored using AAV-mediated liver-directed gene overexpression in an HFD-fed mouse model, where the overexpression of CSAD in the liver could alleviate NAFLD-associated pathologies, including body weight, liver/body weight ratio, hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol, and the degree of steatosis. Mechanically, we found that the overexpression of CSAD could increase the expression of some genes related to fatty acid β-oxidation (Acad1, Ppara, and Acox1). Furthermore, we also detected that CSAD could improve mitochondrial injury in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we proposed that the effect of CSAD on lipid accumulation might be independent of the taurine pathway. In conclusion, we demonstrated that CSAD is involved in the development of NAFLD as a protective factor, which suggested that CSAD has the potential to become a new target for drug discovery in NAFLD.

Objective: To explore the factors influencing the degree of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to provide evidence for its early diagnosis, prognostic evaluation and clinical intervention.Methods: This retrospective observational study included 72 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. All patients completed craniocerebral and spinal cord MRI (with or without Gd enhancement) and were evaluated for Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) scores before receiving treatment.Results: Among 72 patients with RRMS, 45 (62.5%) had an EDSS score ≤3; A total of 27 patients (37.5%) had an EDSS score >3 points. Univariate analysis showed that age, annual recurrence rate (ARR), drug use, albumin (ALB), triglycerides (TG), and total number of lesions in groups with EDSS score ≤3 were significantly different from those with an EDSS score > 3 points (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ALB, total number of lesions, and drug use were independent influencing factors of the degree of disability in patients with MS, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). An ROC curve was constructed using ALB and the total number of lesions. The AUC of ALB was 0.681, P < 0.05, and the best cut-off value was 44.2 g/L. Its sensitivity to predict the degree of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis was 85.2%, while its specificity was 51.1%. The AUC of the total number of lesions was 0.665 (P < 0.05) and the best cut-off value was 5.5. Its sensitivity to predict the degree of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis was 70.4%, while its specificity was 64.4%. The AUC of the combined ALB, total number of lesions, and drug use was 0.795 (P < 0.05), sensitivity was 77.8, and specificity was 73.3%. The optimal diagnostic cut-off value of the regression equation for the EDSS score of patients with multiple sclerosis was 0.420.Conclusion: Serum ALB, total number of lesions, and drug use in patients with multiple sclerosis were independent factors influencing the degree of disability. These findings provide clinical evidence for the prognostic evaluation and early intervention of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Due to reduced gibberellin sensitivity, modern rice cultivars are shorter than traditional varieties but produce more tillers and have higher yields. Here Liao et al. show that gibberellin contributes to decreased tiller number by degrading the MOC1 protein that suppresses bud outgrowth.