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The moisture content of seeds poses a significant challenge in their cryopreservation. Previous studies have shown that the hydrolysis of seed globulins can improve the freezing resistance of hydrated seeds. In this study, Brassica seeds were selected as the experimental material, and the effect of 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) on the freezing tolerance of hydrated Brassica seeds was investigated under the cooling rate of -1 ℃/min. The results showed that DTNB significantly improved the germination rate of Brassica seeds after rapid cooling. The initial temperature of ice crystal formation in seeds was delayed in DTNB treatment (control group vs. DTNB group: -14.78 ℃ vs. -16.43 ℃). Compared with the control, two different protein spots accumulated below 25 kDa; which were identified as 12 s storage globulins by mass spectrometry. The sulfhydryl group content, globulin, and its hydrolyzed polypeptide were significantly increased in the DTNB treatment. The non-enzymatic oxidants AsA and GSH increased by 1.26 times and 1.22 times, respectively, relative to the control. DTNB also promoted the expression of cold stress-responsive genes, including ICE1 and CBF. In conclusion, DTNB can improve the freezing tolerance of Brassica seeds after rapid cooling through molecular and physiological regulation.

To explore the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the physiology of Pyrrosia petiolosa as well as the synthesis and accumulation of chlorogenic acid (CGA), tissue culture seedlings of P. petiolosa were used as materials, and three concentration gradients of low nutrient (no fertilization: N0, P0, K0), normal fertilization (N: 0.20 g·kg-1, P: 0.15 g·kg-1, K: 0.15 g·kg-1) and high nutrient (N1: 0.40 g·kg-1, P1: 0.30 g·kg-1, K1: 0.30 g·kg-1) were set up. Seven treatments were set up to NPK, N0PK, N1PK, NP0K, NP1K, NPK0 and NPK1, and the resistance physiological indexes, CGA contents and key enzyme activities of P. petiolosa under different treatments were determined. The results were as follows: (1) Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers had significant effects on the resistance physiology of P. petiolosa. The activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) increased significantly under high nitrogen and low potassium treatments, but catalase (CAT) activities rose significantly under low and high treatments of three nutrients. (2) The contents of CGA in P. petiolosa was significantly affected by different nutrient levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The CGA level in normal fertilization was the highest, reaching 12.92 mg·g-1, while the CGA content in high potassium fertilization was the lowest, 7.79 mg·g-1. Potassium fertilizer had the most significant effect on CGA content. (3) The key enzyme activities of CGA synthesis were significantly different in different fertilization treatments. The content of CGA was positively correlated with the activities of quinate o-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HQT) and 4-coumaroyl coenzyme ligase (4CL), and negatively correlated with the activity of quinic acid shikimate o-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT). HQT, 4CL and HCT were the key factors leading to the difference of CGA content. The results of this study provide a theoretical reference for the artificial cultivation of P. petiolosa.

ObjectiveTo investigate the predictive value of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and systemic immune inflammation index (SII) for early recurrence after liver resection in patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 162 patients who underwent hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection between January 2013 and April 2016. The Youden index was utilized to calculate the optimal cut-off value. The Pearson Chi-square test was applied to analyze the relationship between inflammatory indexes and common clinical and pathological features. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-Rank test were implemented to compare the recurrence-free survival rate within 2 years of the population. The Cox regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for early postoperative recurrence.ResultsThe best cut-off values of SIRI, PLR, NLR and SII were 0.785, 86.421, 2.231 and 353.64, respectively. Tumor diameter, degree of tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, SIRI>0.785, PLR>86.421, NLR>2.231 and SII>353.64 were risk factors for early recurrence. Combining the above seven risk factors to construct a joint index, the AUC of the joint prediction model was 0.804. The areas under the ROC curves of SIRI, PLR, NLR, and SII were 0.659, 0.725, 0.680, and 0.723, respectively. There was no significant difference in the predictive ability between the single inflammatory index models, but the predictive performance of the joint prediction model was significantly higher than that of the single inflammatory index models. The patients with lower SIRI, PLR, NLR, SII and joint index value had longer recurrence-free survival within 2 years.ConclusionThe joint index CIP, constructed by combining preoperative SIRI, PLR, NLP and SII with pathological features, can better predict the early recurrence of HBV-related HCC patients after surgery, which is beneficial in identifying high-risk patients and assisting clinicians to make better clinical choices.

This study applied the Porter's alignment model to construct a localized two-dimensional framework based on Anderson's taxonomy. The research chose the third-grade primary school science textbooks from two representative presses in China and Japan, coded the textbooks and curriculum standards, calculated the alignment level between the textbooks of the two presses and their corresponding curriculum standards, and discussed the alignment level from the topic, cognitive demand, and emphasis. The results show that the B version in Japan is significantly aligned with the Japanese curriculum standard, but the A version in China does not have significant alignment with the Chinese curriculum standard. Besides, a common problem is that the ratios of life science in sample science textbooks both exceed the requirements of the curriculum standards, and the problems of exceeding the standard in cognitive demand and not highlighting the key points also need to be concerned. This study provides ideas and references for countries with similar educational situations to study the compilation of science textbooks and fills up the deficiency of the international comparison of the alignment between primary school science textbooks and curriculum standards by using the alignment model.

Background: Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a highly aggressive salivary gland malignancy with poor prognosis. The aim was to investigate the prognostic factors and survival outcomes in a cohort of SDC patients. Materials and methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of 61 SDC patients treated at the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital between January 2010 and December 2020. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model was used to analyze prognostic factors for cancer-specific mortality. Results: Of the 61 patients, the parotid gland was the most common primary site (70.5%). Lymph node and distant metastases were present in 35 (57.4%) and 23 (37.7%) patients, respectively. The 5-year and 3-year OS rates were 35.2% and59.7%. Multivariate analysis identified platelet count (HR 0.99, 95%CI 0.98–1.00, P = 0.011) and distant metastasis (HR 2.79, 95%CI 1.38–5.64, P = 0.004) as independent prognostic factors for OS. Lymph node metastasis (SHR = 2.18, 95%CI 1.05–4.52, P = 0.036), distant metastasis (SHR = 3.07, 95%CI 1.47–6.42, P = 0.003), and platelet count (SHR = 0.99, 95%CI 0.99–1.00, P = 0.041) were independent prognostic factors for cancer-specific mortality. Conclusions: Distant metastasis and thrombocytopenia are important predictors of poor overall survival in SDC patients. These findings underscore the potential significance of incorporating hematological parameters and metastatic status into clinical decision-making to optimize risk stratification and personalized treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Inducing natural resistance against pathogen infection in postharvest tomatoes is a sustainable strategy for reducing postharvest losses. The action model underlying the resistance enhancement of tomatoes induced by bacterial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) against Botrytis cinerea , however, have not been explored. Methods: In this study, RNA-seq, metabolomics and physiological analysis were used to evaluate global change of defense response induced by VOCs in tomatoes. Results: The application of VOCs inhibited the damage to tomatoes caused by B. cinerea. VOCs treatment had remarkable beneficial effects on the activities of the main defence-related enzymes, including chitinases, glucanases, peroxidases, ascorbate peroxidases, polyphenol oxidases, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyases. The expression of response genes involved in salicylic acid and jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signalling pathways was enhanced upon VOCs treatment. Metabolomics data demonstrated that VOC treatment triggered the accumulation of phenolic acids, including substrates in phenolic acid biosynthesis pathways, hydroxycinnamic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, and their derivatives. Transcriptomics analysis and qRT-PCR verification revealed that VOCs treatment significantly upregulates the expression of core genes related to phenolic acid biosynthesis, specifically in shikimate pathway (SlDAHPS , SlSDH , SlCS , and SlADT3) and phenylalanine metabolic pathway (SlPAL , Sl4CL , SlBAHD1 , SlCYP98A2 and SlCAP84A1). Discussion: Results confirmed that VOCs enhanced tomatoes postharvest resistance against B. cinerea by regulating defence enzyme activity, SA/JA signalling, and phenolic acid biosynthesis pathway. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which VOCs fumigation manages postharvest grey mould in tomatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illicium verum Hook. f. (star anise) is a highly important plant in terms of both its edible and medicinal properties and its economic value. The suitable habitat for star anise may undergo alterations in response to climate changes and human activities, which in turn might impact its quality. To ensure the future introduction and protection of star anise, it is crucial to analyze the impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of the species. The approach presented in this study integrates the MaxEnt model and chemical composition analysis to assess the potential distribution patterns of star anise in response to climate change and evaluate the impact of environmental variables on its quality. The results revealed that the soil pH, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, mean diurnal range, precipitation of the warmest quarter and annual precipitation were the main factors affecting the current distribution of I. verum. The current area of suitable habitat is approximately 17.6 × 104 km2, accounting for 74% of the total area of Guangxi Province. Under the future climate scenarios, the overall pattern of the potential distribution range shifted northwards, and the SSP3126 scenario showed the most significant increase in the area. By utilizing comprehensive 2D chromatography technologies, 111 volatile compounds present in the 61 batches of star anise were identified. Further analysis via chemometric methods revealed that the components β-bisabolene, caryophyllene, 4-methoxyphenylacetone, cis-β-farnesene, anethole and linalool could serve as potential markers for distinguishing the quality of star anise from different geographical origins. Finally, a stepwise regression model between chemical compositions and environmental variables was established, and based on this, a quality zoning map was subsequently plotted. This study provides valuable scientific insights for resource conservation, planting site selection and quality control for star anise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Callerya speciosa (Champ. ex Benth.) Schot is a significant leguminous plant valued for its edible tuberous roots, which are a plentiful source of isoflavonoids. Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) have been reported to regulate secondary metabolism in plants, especially flavonoid biosynthesis. However, the bHLH genes in C. speciosa have not yet been reported, and their regulatory role in isoflavonoid biosynthesis remains unexplored. Here, 146 CsbHLH genes were identified in the C. speciosa genome, classifying them into 23 subfamilies based on the gene structures and phylogenetic relationships. All the CsbHLH proteins contained both motifs 1 and 2, whereas motif 8 was only distributed in subgroup III (d + e). Collinearity analysis demonstrated that fragmental replications are the primary driver of CsbHLH evolution, with the majority of duplicated CsbHLH gene pairs experiencing selective pressure. Nine candidate CsbHLH genes were found to play a potential role in regulating isoflavonoid biosynthesis through a combination of gene-to-metabolite correlation analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Additionally, the cis-regulatory elements and response to MeJA of these nine genes were characterized and confirmed through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Among them, three CsbHLHs (CsbHLH9, CsbHLH89, and CsbHLH95) were selected for further investigation. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H), dual-luciferase (LUC) assays, bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays, and transient transformation demonstrated that CsbHLH9 acted as a transcriptional activator through its interaction with CsMYB36 and binding to the promoters of isoflavonoid biosynthesis genes in a MeJA-induced manner, such as CsIFR2, CsI3′H2, and CsCHS4, to promote isoflavonoid (calycosin, calycosin-7-o-glucoside, and formononetin) accumulation. Our results establish a basis for the functional analysis of bHLH genes and investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying isoflavonoid biosynthesis in C. speciosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a crucial high-performance material, nickel-based superalloys inevitably generate residual stresses during processing, manufacturing, and usage. The mechanical properties of nickel-based superalloys are significantly reduced by residual stress, which becomes one of the important factors restricting material reliability. The systematic analysis of residual stresses in nickel-based superalloys throughout the entire manufacturing and usage processes is insufficient. The residual stress generation factors, measurement methods, prediction models, and control methods in nickel-based superalloys in recent years are summarized in this paper. The current challenge and future development trends in the research process of nickel-based superalloy residual stress are also presented. A theoretical reference for further research on residual stresses in nickel-based superalloys can be provided in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are small vesicles containing proteins, nucleic acids, and biological lipids, which are responsible for intercellular communication. Studies have shown that exosomes can be utilized as effective drug delivery vehicles to accurately deliver therapeutic substances to target tissues, enhancing therapeutic effects and reducing side effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a class of stem cells widely used for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and immunotherapy. Exosomes derived from MSCs have special immunomodulatory functions, low immunogenicity, the ability to penetrate tumor tissues, and high yield, which are expected to be engineered into efficient drug delivery systems. Despite the promising promise of MSC-derived exosomes, exploring their optimal preparation methods, drug-loading modalities, and therapeutic potential remains challenging. Therefore, this article reviews the related characteristics, preparation methods, application, and potential risks of MSC-derived exosomes as drug delivery systems in order to find potential therapeutic breakthroughs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We assessed the potential prognostic significance of the preoperative systemic inflammation index, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio in patients who underwent surgical resection. Subjects and Methods: This retrospective study included 224 patients with clinicopathologically confirmed squamous carcinoma of the tongue who underwent surgery between August 2009 and December 2017. The optimal cut‐off values for the indices were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves. Correlations between the indices and clinicopathological variables were determined by Pearson chi‐square or Fisher exact tests. The Kaplan–Meier test was used to compare overall survival between groups (high and low values); the log‐rank or Breslow test was used to assess differences in survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyze predictive values of the indices as independent indicators of overall survival. Bilateral p values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Significant association was found between the indices and sex, tissue grade, tumor location, and lymph nodes metastases (p < 0.05). On Kaplan–Meier analysis, patients with lower values of the indices had longer overall survival (p < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models identified age, lymph node metastases, and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio as independent predictors of overall survival. Conclusion: The studied indices have potential prognostic significance in patients with squamous tongue cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]