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We consider the allocation of m balls (jobs) into n bins (servers). In the standard Two-Choice process, at each step t = 1, 2, . . ., m we first sample two randomly chosen bins, compare their two loads and then place a ball in the least loaded bin. It is well-known that for any m x n, this results in a gap (difference between the maximum and average load) of log2 logn + T(1) (with high probability). In this work, we consider Two-Choice in different settings with noisy load comparisons. One key setting involves an adaptive adversary whose power is limited by some threshold N. In each step, such adversary can determine the result of any load comparison between two bins whose loads differ by at most, while if the load difference is greater than, the comparison is correct. For this adversarial setting, we first prove that for anym x n the gap is O(1 + logn) with high probability. Then through a refined analysiswe prove that if x logn, then for anym x n the gap is O(1 log 1 ·log logn). For constant values of 1, this generalizes the heavily loaded analysis of [19, 61] for the Two-Choice process, and establishes that asymptotically the same gap bound holds even if load comparisons among "similarly loaded" bins are wrong. Finally, we complement these upper bounds with tight lower bounds, which establish an interesting phase transition on how the parameter 1 impacts the gap. The analysis also applies to settings with outdated and delayed information. For example, for the setting of [18] where balls are allocated in consecutive batches of size b = n, we present an improved and tight gap bound of T(log n log log n). This bound also extends for a range of values of b and applies to a relaxed setting where the reported load of a bin can be any load value from the last b steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

iSoLF is a coarse-grained (CG) model for lipid molecules with the implicit-solvent approximation used in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of biological membranes. Using the original iSoLF (iSoLFv1), MD simulations of lipid bilayers consisting of either POPC or DPPC and these bilayers, including membrane proteins, can be performed. Here, we improve the original model, explicitly treating the electrostatic interactions between different lipid molecules and adding CG particle types. As a result, the available lipid types increase to 30. To parameterize the potential functions of the new model, we performed all-atom MD simulations of each lipid at three different temperatures using the CHARMM36 force field and the modified TIP3P model. Then, we parameterized both the bonded and non-bonded interactions to fit the area per lipid and the membrane thickness of each lipid bilayer by using the multistate Boltzmann Inversion method. The final model reproduces the area per lipid and the membrane thickness of each lipid bilayer at the three temperatures. We also examined the applicability of the new model, iSoLFv2, to simulate the phase behaviors of mixtures of DOPC and DPPC at different concentrations. The simulation results with iSoLFv2 are consistent with those using Dry Martini and Martini 3, although iSoLFv2 requires much fewer computations. iSoLFv2 has been implemented in the GENESIS MD software and is publicly available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of compounds produced by hosts or symbionts for defence against antagonists has been identified in many organisms, including in fungus-farming termites (Macrotermitinae). The obligate mutualistic fungus Termitomyces plays a pivotal role in plant biomass decomposition and as the primary food source for these termites. Despite the isolation of various specialized metabolites from different Termitomyces species, our grasp of their natural product repertoire remains incomplete. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 39 Termitomyces genomes, representing 21 species associated with members of five termite host genera. We identified 754 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) coding for specialized metabolites and categorized 660 BGCs into 61 biosynthetic gene cluster families (GCFs) spanning five compound classes. Seven GCFs were shared by all 21 Termitomyces species and 21 GCFs were present in all genomes of subsets of species. Evolutionary constraint analyses on the 25 most abundant GCFs revealed distinctive evolutionary histories, signifying that millions of years of termite-fungus symbiosis have influenced diverse biosynthetic pathways. This study unveils a wealth of non-random and largely undiscovered chemical potential within Termitomyces and contributes to our understanding of the intricate evolutionary trajectories of biosynthetic gene clusters in the context of long-standing symbiosis. Systematic identification and comparison of biosynthetic gene clusters among Termitomyces species provides insight into their evolutionary history and potential functions of BGCs and the chemicals synthesized by these pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the design of angular velocity observer for rigid bodies using vector measurements directly. The main contributions of our observer compared with the classical estimation algorithms lie in that it does not need to reconstruct the attitude information from the measurements nor be implemented with velocity sensors. Meanwhile, it provides three‐degrees‐of‐freedom (3DOF) full state estimates. To avoid the unstable critical points for the attitude estimation errors on SO(3), the synergistic potential functions based hybrid method is adopted. Afterwards, an output feedback attitude tracking controller with a proportional‐derivative (PD) plus feedforward form is built based on the estimates from the observer, which can also be implemented using vector measurements directly. Rigorous analysis of the stability of the observer and the combined observer‐controller are presented in detail, with a separation property shown between the observer and the controller. Simulations are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed observer and the combined attitude tracking law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the existence and nonexistence of solutions of a system of inequalities Δ u + h 1 v p ≤ 0 in V , Δ v + h 2 u q ≤ 0 in V , where (V, E) is an infinite, connected, locally finite weighted graph, p > 1, q > 1, h1, h2 are positive potential functions and Δ is the standard graph Laplacian. We prove that, under some growth assumptions on weighted volume of balls and the existence of a suitable distance on the graph, any nonnegative solution of the above system must be trivial. We also give an application to the N-dimensional integer lattice graph ℤN and show the sharpness of the obtained result. In particular, our result is a natural extension of the recent result [Monticelli, D. D.—Punzo, F.—Somaglia, J.: Nonexistence results for semilinear elliptic equations on weighted graphs, arXiv:2306.03609, (2023)] from a single inequality to a system of inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the spacecraft formation control problem is investigated under the undirected tree communication topology subjected to connectivity preserving and collision avoidance constraint. To implement the connectivity preservation and collision prevention of initially connected spacecrafts without employing any potential functions, a novel appointed-time performance function is developed to impose restrictions on the relative orbit distance of the adjacent spacecrafts. Moreover, this function can also characterise the upper boundary of the convergence time and steady-state error explicitly. Then a reinforcement-learning-based relative orbit-attitude control scheme is proposed to propel the formation error to the vicinity of the origin. An actor-critic neural network architecture is utilised to online compensate the system uncertainties, in which the critic neural network is introduced to improve the approximate performance of the actor neural network for the unknown uncertainties by evaluating the consensus performance of the formation system. In addition, an auxiliary system is devised to cope with the input saturation constraint. By using the Lyapunov stability theory, the stability and convergence of the closed-loop system are analysed. Finally numerical simulations are conducted to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed formation control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for genetic variants that act as causative factors in human diseases by disrupting the normal splicing process has primarily focused on single nucleotide variants (SNVs). It is worth noting that insertions or deletions (indels) have also been sporadically reported as causative disease variants through their potential impact on the splicing process. In this study, to perform identification of indels inducing exon extension/shrinkage events, we used individual‐specific genomes and RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) data pertaining to the corresponding individuals and identified 12 exon extension/shrinkage events that were potentially induced by indels that disrupted authentic splice sites or created novel splice sites in 235 normal individuals. By evaluating the impact of these abnormal splicing events on the resulting transcripts, we found that five events led to the generation of premature termination codons (PTCs), including those occurring within genes associated with genetic disorders. Our analysis revealed that the potential functions of indels have been underexamined, and it is worth considering the possibility that indels may affect splice site usage, using RNA‐seq data to discover novel potentially disease‐associated mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the balanced allocations framework, there are \(m\) jobs (balls) to be allocated to \(n\) servers (bins). The goal is to minimize the gap, the difference between the maximum and the average load. In 2015, Peres, Talwar and Wieder used the hyperbolic cosine potential function to analyze the challenging case where \(m\gg n\) , for a large family of processes, including the \((1+\beta)\) -process and graphical balanced allocations. The key ingredient was to prove that the potential drops in every step, i.e., a drift inequality. In this work, we improve the drift inequality so that (i) it is asymptotically tight (leading to tighter gap bounds), (ii) it assumes weaker preconditions (thereby resolving an open problem regarding weighted graphical allocations), (iii) it applies not only to processes allocating to more than one bin in a single step but also (iv) to processes allocating a varying number of balls depending on the sampled bin. Our applications include the aforementioned large family of processes, and also several new processes and settings, including outdated information and memory. We hope that our techniques can be used to analyze further interesting settings and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT An analytical solution based on the infinite layer theory of Novak and Biot's consolidation equation is developed in this study to evaluate the impact of local debonding occurring at the pile–soil interface. The potential functions are employed to decouple the differential equations that govern the soil deformations, while the dynamic resistances of soil are determined from the boundary conditions at the pile–soil interface in accordance with computational theory for mixed boundary problems. The Adomian decomposition method is introduced to obtain the dynamic impedances of pile. The effects of local debonding on the dynamic resistances of soil are investigated by comparing the results from the present solution with available schemes based on perfect contact assumption. The influences of pile–soil modulus ratio, exciting frequency, soil permeability, and slenderness ratio of pile while considering local debonding were then examined. The numerical results indicate that the local debonding occurring at the pile–soil interface dramatically weakened the lateral dynamic impedances of pile, and this trend was particularly pronounced at high frequency and small modulus ratio. Additionally, the local debonding phenomenon also imposes limitations on the implementation of the equivalent single‐phase solution in practical engineering applications. The presented solution theoretically demonstrates the significant impact of local debonding on the dynamic response of piles embedded in saturated soil and may provide insight into determining parameter values in empirical equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from fetal primordial germ cells (PGCs) to spermatogonia (SPG) is critical for male germ cell development; however, the detailed transcriptomic dynamics and regulation underlying this transition remain poorly understood. Here by interrogating the comprehensive transcriptome atlas dataset of mouse male germ cells and gonadal cells development, we elucidated the regulatory networks underlying this transition. Our single‐cell transcriptome analysis revealed that the transition from PGCs to SPG was characterized by global hypertranscription. A total of 315 highly active regulators were identified to be potentially involved in this transition, among which a non‐transcription factor (TF) regulator TAGLN2 was validated to be essential for spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) maintenance and differentiation. Metabolism profiling analysis also revealed dynamic changes in metabolism‐related gene expression during PGC to SPG transition. Furthermore, we uncovered that intricate cell–cell communication exerted potential functions in the regulation of hypertranscription in germ cells by collaborating with stage‐specific active regulators. Collectively, our work extends the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying male germ cell development, offering insights into the recapitulation of germ cell generation in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal coloration serves a variety of visually related functions in nature (e.g. mate choice, aposematism and camouflage) but the pigments in integumentary tissues such as skin, scales and feathers may also serve functions unrelated to the visual environment (e.g. temperature regulation, detoxification and pollutant protection). Our understanding of the significance of the non‐visual functions of animal integumentary pigments, as well as how they interact with the visually related functions to shape animal visual systems, remains limited. Furthermore, due to their important roles in shaping species interactions and mediating interactions in the environment, animal colour traits are likely to be impacted by global change (e.g. increased temperatures, altered habitat quality and quantity, increased environmental stochasticity, pollutants and novel species assemblages). Considering the effects of global change on both visual and non‐visual functions is important for understanding whether the selection is acting directly on the pigment or on coloration. Since changing the trait distributions can then lead to changes in visual systems, we advocate for studies to consider all potential functions of integumentary pigments, both visual and non‐visual functions and their interaction. Towards this goal, we first highlight common functions of pigments with a focus on non‐visual functions across animal systems. Then we synthesize our current understanding of how global change can impact pigmentation and discuss factors that can modify the interactions between climate change and pigment function. Lastly, we discuss how changes in colour traits can impact visual systems and provide an example using amphibians and their responses to climate change as a model. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are widely distributed oxidoreductase enzymes that play important roles in plant growth, development, and responses to various stresses. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to identify and analyze the wheat GRX gene family and predict their properties and potential functions. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR expression analyses were used to investigate their regulatory functions under hormone treatment and fungal diseases. In this study, 86 GRX genes were identified in wheat and classified into CC-type, CGFS-type, and CPYC-type categories with no TaGRX located on chromosome 4B. The results show that TaGRXs regulate wheat transcriptional responses and have an integrative role in biotic and abiotic stress responses. TaGRXs are involved in wheat responses to Fusarium graminearum, Puccinia striiformis, and Erysiphe graminis diseases. TaGRX73-7D, TaGRX20-3A, and TaGRX29-3B play a negative regulatory role in E. graminis infection but a positive regulatory role in F. graminearum and P. striiformis infection. These TaGRXs play potential regulatory functions in wheat responses to the plant hormones and signaling molecules, including IAA, ABA, H2O2, and SA. The findings of this study lay the groundwork for further investigation of the functions of wheat GRX genes and their potential use as candidate genes for molecular breeding of stress-resistant wheat varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shaker potassium channel proteins are a class of voltage-gated ion channels responsible for K+ uptake and translocation, playing a crucial role in plant growth and salt tolerance. In this study, bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify the members within the Shaker gene family. Moreover, the expression patterns of rice Shaker(OsShaker) K+ channel genes were analyzed in different tissues and salt treatment by RT–qPCR. The results revealed that there were eight OsShaker K+ channel genes distributed on chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 in rice, and their promoters contained a variety of cis-regulatory elements, including hormone-responsive, light-responsive, and stress-responsive elements, etc. Most of the OsShaker K+ channel genes were expressed in all tissues of rice, but at different levels in different tissues. In addition, the expression of OsShaker K+ channel genes differed in the timing, organization and intensity of response to salt and chilling stress. In conclusion, our findings provide a reference for the understanding of OsShaker K+ channel genes, as well as their potential functions in response to salt and chilling stress in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alternative oxidase (AOX), a common terminal oxidase in the electron transfer chain (ETC) of plants, plays a crucial role in stress resilience and plant growth and development. Oat (Avena sativa), an important crop with high nutritional value, has not been comprehensively studied regarding the AsAOX gene family. Therefore, this study explored the responses and potential functions of the AsAOX gene family to various abiotic stresses and their potential evolutionary pathways. Additionally, we conducted a genome-wide analysis to explore the evolutionary conservation and divergence of AOX gene families among three Avena species (Avena sativa, Avena insularis, Avena longiglumis) and four Poaceae species (Avena sativa, Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum, and Brachypodium distachyon). We identified 12 AsAOX, 9 AiAOX, and 4 AlAOX gene family members. Phylogenetic, motif, domain, gene structure, and selective pressure analyses revealed that most AsAOXs, AiAOXs, and AlAOXs are evolutionarily conserved. We also identified 16 AsAOX segmental duplication pairs, suggesting that segmental duplication may have contributed to the expansion of the AsAOX gene family, potentially preserving these genes through subfunctionalization. Chromosome polyploidization, gene structural variations, and gene fragment recombination likely contributed to the evolution and expansion of the AsAOX gene family as well. Additionally, we hypothesize that AsAOX2 may have potential function in resisting wounding and heat stresses, while AsAOX4 could be specifically involved in mitigating wounding stress. AsAOX11 might contribute to resistance against chromium and waterlogging stresses. AsAOX8 may have potential fuction in mitigating ABA-mediated stress. AsAOX12 and AsAOX5 are most likely to have potential function in mitigating salt and drought stresses, respectively. This study elucidates the potential evolutionary pathways of the AsAOXs gene family, explores their responses and potential functions to various abiotic stresses, identifies potential candidate genes for future functional studies, and facilitates molecular breeding applications in A. sativa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Shapley value equals a player's contribution to the potential of a game. The potential is a most natural one-number summary of a game, which can be computed as the expected accumulated worth of a random partition of the players. This computation integrates the coalition formation of all players and readily extends to games with externalities. We investigate those potential functions for games with externalities that can be computed this way. It turns out that the potential that corresponds to the MPW solution introduced by Macho-Stadler et al. (2007 , J. Econ. Theory 135, 339–356) is unique in the following sense. It is obtained as the expected accumulated worth of a random partition, it generalizes the potential for games without externalities, and it induces a solution that satisfies the null player property even in the presence of externalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general solution technique for hygrothermo-electroelastic problems in bodies with D∞ symmetry is developed. The displacement and electric field are expressed in terms of their respective potential functions, and the hygrothermo-electroelastic field quantities are expressed in terms of elastic and piezoelastic potential functions, each of which satisfies a Laplace equation with respect to the appropriately transformed spatial coordinates, combined with the two hygrothermoelastic displacement potential functions. As an application of this technique, a theoretical analysis of an infinite cylinder subjected to distributions of moisture content, temperature, and stress was performed, and the significance of the hygrothermo-electroelastic analyses was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents different non-polynomial hybrid models in the framework of Carrera's Unified Formulation for the bending of a magneto-electric shell with variable radii of curvature. The shell's middle surface is graphed by a parametric surface. Differential Geometry is employed for evaluating the Lamé Parameters and Radius of Curvature. The mechanical displacements are modeled in the context of an equivalent single layer by sinusoidal, hyperbolic, and tangential models. The electrical and magnetic scalar potential functions are written by a polynomial thickness function in the framework of Layerwise theory. The shell panels are subjected to mechanical, electrical, and magnetic loads. The governing equations are obtained by the Principle of Virtual Displacement. The correspondent partial differential equations are discretized by Chebyshev-Gauss-Lobatto grid distribution and solved by the so-called Differential Quadrature Method. The classical Lagrange polynomial is employed as the basis function for the method. The stresses, electrical displacement, and magnetic induction are recovered by the three-dimensional (3D) equilibrium equations. A comparative analysis with 3D solutions provided in the literature is performed for a square plate and a doubly curved shallow shell panel and remarkable results are obtained. So, the validated models are further used to study shells with variable radii of curvature; specifically, for helicoid, ellipsoid, and catenoid panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non‐iterative stress‐displacement solution is proposed in this paper to investigate surrounding rock mass with multiple non‐circular deep tunnels. Compared with the Schwarz alternating method, the proposed method only spends one‐time matrix operation, showing considerable efficiency and accuracy of the matrix solution. First, a matrix solution is formulated to obtain the conformal mapping function for the non‐circular tunnel. Then, in consideration of multiple boundary conditions, the generalized complex variable theory and fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm are used to formulate a matrix solution of potential functions. The stress and displacement fields around multiple non‐circular tunnels can be further determined from the matrix solution. A series of numerical examples are conducted to verify the proposed method, perform the convergency study, and discuss the effects of tunnel geometries, distances, and arrangements. The convergency study shows that the more accurate conformal mapping function requires more sampling points in the FFT. In addition, the high stress zone would be amplified if the arrangement of multiple tunnels makes the high stress zone adjacent or overlapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel multi-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) connectivity preservation controller, suitable for scenarios with bounded actuation and limited communication range. According to the hierarchical control strategy, controllers are designed separately for the position and attitude subsystems. A distributed position controller is developed, integrating an indirect coupling control mechanism. The innovative mechanism associates each UAV with a virtual proxy, facilitating connections among adjacent UAVs through these proxies. This structuring assists in managing the actuator saturation constraints effectively. The artificial potential function is utilized to preserve network connectivity and fulfill coordination among all virtual proxies. Additionally, an attitude controller designed for finite-time convergence guarantees that the attitude subsystem adheres precisely to the attitude specified by the distributed position controller. Simulation results validate the efficacy of this distributed formation controller with connectivity preservation under bounded actuation conditions. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the distributed connectivity preservation controller with bounded actuation. • A connectivity preservation controller is designed by bounded potential functions. • An indirect coupling framework is employed to tackle input saturation. • The stability analysis of the connectivity preservation controller is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The availability of high‐throughput sequencing technologies increased our understanding of different genomes. However, the genomes of all living organisms still have many unidentified coding sequences. The increased number of missing small open reading frames (sORFs) is due to the length threshold used in most gene identification tools, which is true in the genic and, more importantly and surprisingly, in the intergenic regions. Scanning the cucumber genome intergenic regions revealed 420 723 sORF. We excluded 3850 sORF with similarities to annotated cucumber proteins. To propose the functionality of the remaining 416 873 sORF, we calculated their codon adaptation index (CAI). We found 398 937 novel sORF (nsORF) with CAI ≥ 0.7 that were further used for downstream analysis. Searching against the Rfam database revealed 109 nsORFs similar to multiple RNA families. Using SignalP‐5.0 and NLS, identified 11 592 signal peptides. Five predicted proteins interacting with Meloidogyne incognita and Powdery mildew proteins were selected using published transcriptome data of host‐pathogen interactions. Gene ontology enrichment interpreted the function of those proteins, illustrating that nsORFs' expression could contribute to the cucumber's response to biotic and abiotic stresses. This research highlights the importance of previously overlooked nsORFs in the cucumber genome and provides novel insights into their potential functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antennal sensilla play an important role in many behavioral activities of insects. The fungivorous beetle Triplax ainonia Lewis (Erotylidae) is an important pest which prefers to feed on Pleurotus mushrooms. In order to clarify the types, number, and distribution of the antennal sensilla of male and female T. ainonia, scanning electron microscopy was used. The results showed that there were five sensillum types on the antennae of adults male and female, including Böhm's bristles (BB), sensilla chaetica (three subtypes: SC 1, SC 2, and SC 3), sensilla basiconica (three subtypes: SB 1, SB 2, and SB 3), sensilla trichodea (ST), and sensilla styloconica (SS). Among all the sensilla, the number of SB 2 was the most abundant in both sexes. We found that there was no sexually dimorphic in the sensillum types, but there were differences in the number, lengths, and diameters of some sensilla between males and females. Based on the information of the morphology and distribution of the sensilla, the potential functions of the antennal sensilla of T. ainonia adults were discussed. The results of this study provide a basis for further study on the behavioral ecology and electrophysiology of the fungivore beetles of the Erotylidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although microbiota in prostatic tissues of patients with prostate cancer have been studied, results of different studies have been inconsistent. Different ethnicity of study subjects, different study designs, and potential contaminations during sample collection and experiments might have influenced microbiome results of prostatic tissues. In this study, we analyzed microbiota and their potential functions in benign and malignant tissues of prostate cancer considering possible contaminants and host variables. Materials and methods: A total of 118 tissue samples (59 benign tissues and 59 malignant tissues) obtained by robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy were analyzed and 64 negative controls (from sampling to sequencing processes) were included to reduce potential contaminants. Results: Alteration of the microbiome in prostate tissues was detected only in patients with diabetes. Furthermore, the influence of diabetes on microbiome was significant in malignant tissues. The microbiome in malignant tissues of patients with diabetes was influenced by pathologic stages. The relative abundance of Cutibacterium was reduced in the high pathologic group compared to that in the intermediate group. This reduction was related to microbial pathways increased in the high pathologic group. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that diabetes can influence the progression of prostate cancer with microbiome alteration in prostate tissues. Although further studies are necessary to confirm findings of this study, this study can help us understand tissue microbiome in prostate cancer and improve clinical therapy strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Seagrass-associated microbial communities play a crucial role in the growth and health of seagrasses. However, like seagrass meadows, seagrassassociated microbial communities are often affected by eutrophication. It remains unclear how eutrophication influences the composition and function of microbial communities associated with different parts of seagrass. Methods: We employed prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing combining microbial community structure analysis and co-occurrence network analysis to investigate variances in microbial community compositions, potential functions and complexities across sediment, seagrass leaves, and seawater within different eutrophic areas of two adjacent seagrass meadows on Hainan Island, China. Results: Our results indicated that microbial diversity on seagrass leaves was significantly lower than in sediment but significantly higher than in seawater. Both sediment and phyllosphere microbial diversity showed no significant difference between the highly eutrophic and less eutrophic sites in each lagoon. However, sediment microbial diversity was higher in the more eutrophic lagoon, while phyllosphere microbial diversity was higher in the less eutrophic lagoon. Heavy eutrophication increased the relative abundance of phyllosphere microorganisms potentially involved in anaerobic metabolic processes, while reducing those responsible for beneficial functions like denitrification. The main factor affecting microbial diversity was organic carbon in seawater and sediment, with high organic carbon levels leading to decreased microbial diversity. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed that heavy eutrophication notably reduced the complexity and internal connections of the phyllosphere microbial community in comparison to the sediment and seawater microbial communities. Furthermore, ternary analysis demonstrated that heavy eutrophication diminished the external connections of the phyllosphere microbial community with the sediment and seawater microbial communities. Conclusion: The pronounced decrease in biodiversity and complexity of the phyllosphere microbial community under eutrophic conditions can lead to greater microbial functional loss, exacerbating seagrass decline. This study emphasizes the significance of phyllosphere microbial communities compared to sediment microbial communities in the conservation and restoration of seagrass meadows under eutrophic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is on the rise, posing a significant public health challenge. Although gut microbiome dysbiosis has been implicated in the impairment of kidney functions, the existence of pathological subtypes-linked differences remains largely unknown. We aimed to characterize the intestinal microbiota in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), minimal change disease (MCD), and ischemic renal injury (IRI) in order to investigate the intricate relationship between intestinal microbiota and CKD across different subtypes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 94 patients with various pathological patterns of CKD and 54 healthy controls (HCs). The clinical parameters were collected, and stool samples were obtained from each participant. Gut microbial features were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing and taxon annotation to compare the HC, CKD, MN, IgAN, MCD, and IRI groups. Results: The CKD subjects exhibited significantly reduced alpha diversity, modified community structures, and disrupted microbial composition and potential functions compared to the control group. The opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella exhibited a significant enrichment in patients with CKD, whereas Akkermansia showed higher abundance in HCs. The study further revealed the presence of heterogeneity in intestinal microbial signatures across diverse CKD pathological types, including MN, IgAN, MCD, and IRI. The depression of the family Lachnospiraceae and the genus Bilophila was prominently observed exclusively in patients with MN, while suppressed Streptococcus was detected only in individuals with MCD, and a remarkable expansion of the genus Escherichia was uniquely found in cases of IRI. The study also encompassed the development of classifiers employing gut microbial diagnostic markers to accurately discriminate between distinct subtypes of CKD. Conclusions: The dysregulation of gut microbiome was strongly correlated with CKD, exhibiting further specificity towards distinct pathological patterns. Our study emphasizes the significance of considering disease subtypes when assessing the impact of intestinal microbiota on the development, diagnosis, and treatment of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We obtain a vanishing result for solutions of the inequality |$|\Delta u| \leq q_{1} |u| + q_{2} |\nabla u|$| that decay to zero along a very general warped cylindrical end of a Riemannian manifold. The appropriate decay condition at infinity on |$u$| is related to the behavior of the potential functions |$q_{1}$| and |$q_{2}$| and to the asymptotic geometry of the end. The main ingredient is a new Carleman estimate of independent interest. Geometric applications to conformal deformations and to minimal graphs are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applied to the ship DC microgrid in the face of pulse load disturbance is prone to make the SOFC voltage drop too large leading to the DC grid oscillation problem. In this paper, a stability criterion method for SOFC-Li battery DC system based on hybrid potential function is proposed. Firstly, a mathematical model of shipboard DC microgrid with SOFC-Li battery is established and the accuracy of the model is verified. Then, the stability criterion of the system based on the hybrid potential function under large disturbances is constructed. Subsequently, the effects of system stability under impulse load conditions were analysed under different parameters. Based on the constructed criterion, simulation verification of the stability boundary conditions of the SOFC system operating independently or jointly with a lithium battery system is carried out. The experimental results show that the proposed stability criterion and control strategy are effective in accurately predicting the system stability boundary. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in improving the stability of the system and provide a theoretical basis for further research on the dynamic characteristics of SOFC systems under complex load conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase (GABA-T) is a GABA-degrading enzyme that plays an essential role in regulating GABA levels and maintaining supplies of GABA. Although GABA in the mammalian brain was discovered 70 years ago, research on GABA and GABA-T has predominantly focused on the brain. Notwithstanding the high activity and expression of GABA-T in the liver, the exact functions of GABA-T in the liver remain unknown. This article reviews the up-to-date information on GABA-T in the liver. It presents recent findings on the role of liver GABA-T in food intake suppression and appetite regulation. Finally, the potential functions of liver GABA-T in other neurological diseases, natural GABA-T inhibitors, and future perspectives in this research area are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many invertebrates and vertebrates secrete mucus from their body surface, which plays a crucial role in protecting themselves from attacks by microorganism or predators. This study reports on the potential functions of mucus secreted from the body surface of larvae of the moth Phauda flammans (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Phaudidae). We tested whether the mucus could inhibit the growth of the fungus Beauveria bassiana PfBb (Bals.‐Criv.) Vuill. (Hypocreales) and attract and/or deter predators such as the crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and the predatory bug Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Our results showed that de‐ and rehydrated mucus concentrations of 0.5–1.0 mg mL−1 had an inhibitory effect on the conidial germination and colony growth of B. bassiana PfBb; however, P. flammans mucus did not significantly affect fungal sporulation. Raw mucus and mucus concentrations of 1.0–4.0 mg mL−1 attracted P. longicornis workers in a Y‐tube olfactometer, whereas the physical viscosity of raw mucus hindered their foraging for food in a laboratory test. The E. furcellata adults did not display a preference for the odour of P. flammans mucus. Therefore, P. flammans mucus may inhibit pathogenic microorganisms and attract or repel predators, but the mucus does not act as a complete deterrent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkyl‐primary‐ammonium‐based room‐temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) designed to exhibit specific reactivities allowing functions that cannot be achieved by other RTILs have recently emerged. The archetype of the reactive RTILs is n‐octylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (OA‐TFSI), which has promising functions as an additive for hole transport materials (HTMs) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs); the high reactivity of the OA cations on the perovskite surface allows spontaneous perovskite passivation via HTM deposition, effectively improving the photovoltaic (PV) performance. However, although the reactivity manipulation of the reactive RTILs is instrumental for exploiting their potential functions and exploring their application scope, methods for reactivity control have not been developed. Herein, it is proposed that the coaddition of a pyridine derivative (4‐tert‐butylpridine: TBP) can effectively manipulate the reactivity of OA‐TFSI by controlling the protonation between OA and the 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis‐(N,N‐di‐4‐methoxyphenylamino)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD) HTM. The TBP prevents OA deprotonation presumably via stabilization of the OA cation, thus retaining its ammonium form, which allows efficient spontaneous perovskite passivation, effectively enhancing the PV performance. This reveals the protonation preference in the OA‐TFSI system, which is opposite to that in conventional RTILs. This first proposal of a method in manipulating reactivity of the reactive RTILs will contribute to the development of materials science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal colouration may evolve due to its effects on predator avoidance, reproduction and thermoregulation, and is likely influenced by the organism's diel activity. The dung beetle species of the Phanaeini tribe (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) show a wide variety of times of activity and pre-copulatory behaviours. Here we tested the effect of time of activity on body coloration and sexual dichromatism of Phanaeini beetles using a quantitative spectrophotometric method in a phylogenetic framework. Considering the potential functions of dung beetle colouration, we expected to find brighter, more colourful animals with a higher degree of sexual dichromatism in diurnal than in non-diurnal species. We measured the reflectance spectrum (300–700 nm) and calculated the brightness and chroma in four body areas for each individual (588 individuals of 51 species). We analysed the data in a Bayesian phylogenetic approach. The analyses indicated that diurnal species have higher chroma and brightness than non-diurnal ones. Furthermore, we found an evident sexual dimorphism in the clypeus of diurnal species: males have a colourful clypeus, whereas females have a dark non-colourful one. The condition of low light and variable light in nocturnal and crepuscular species may not favour the bright and colourful patterns or may have caused its loss. The presence of dichromatism in clypeus may be related to communication between conspecifics and different reproductive behaviours in Phanaeini. Thus, we demonstrate that diurnal species evolved more colourful bodies than non-diurnal species and that diurnal species exhibit sexual dichromatism in the clypeus, suggesting a role for sexual selection in the evolution of clypeal colouration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a novel set of displacement temperature potential functions to solve the thermoelastodynamic problems in functionally graded transversely isotropic media subjected to thermal source. For this purpose, three-dimensional heat and wave equations are considered to obtain the displacement temperature equations of motion for functionally graded materials. In the present study, a systematic method is used to decouple the elasticity and heat equations. Hence one sixth-order differential equation and two second-order differential equations are obtained. Completeness of the solution is proved using a retarded logarithmic Newtonian potential function for functionally graded transversely isotropic domain. To verify the obtained solution, in a simpler case, potential functions are generated for homogeneous transversely isotropic media that coincide with respective equations. Presented potential functions can be used to solve the problems in various media like infinite and semi-infinite space, beams and columns, plates, shells, etc., with arbitrary boundary conditions and subjected to arbitrary mechanical and thermal loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

APETALA2 (AP2) belongs to transcription factor (TF) families, with crucial roles in regulating plant growth, development, and stress responses. In order to explore the characteristics of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) AP2s (BvAP2s) in response to drought stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA), genome-wide identification, and the phylogeny, gene structure and promoter precursor analysis of the BvAP2s were employed to predict their potential functions. It is shown that there are a total of 13 BvAP2 genes in the Beta vulgaris. Based on the primary amino acid sequence, the BvAP2s can be further subdivided into euAP2, euANT and basalANT. In addition, cis-acting element analysis showed that BvAP2s contained several abiotic stress-related elements, including those associated with ABA and drought stress. Roots are the first to perceive stress signals, and ABA-treated beetroot transcriptome and downstream gene prediction of BvAP2s revealed that BVRB_4g074790, BVRB_6g128480 and BVRB_7g179610 may play an important role involved in ABA signaling pathways during the stress response by regulating downstream GRAM genes, LEAs and U-boxes. Additionally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) further confirmed the downregulation of these three BvAP2s in response to ABA induction in sugar beet roots. These findings provide a basis for future utilization of BvAP2s in developing drought-tolerant Beta vulgaris varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of complex horizontal wells have been implemented in challenging gas reservoirs. Multilateral horizontal well technology can be used in multilayer gas reservoirs, facilitating the expansion of the gas drainage area and enhancing productivity. Accurate productivity calculations for multilateral wells in multilayer reservoirs are essential for effective reservoir development. However, there have been few studies in this area. This paper introduces a coupling model for calculating the gas–water two-phase productivity of multilateral wells in multilayer reservoirs, based on the principles of conformal transformation and superposition of potential functions. The accuracy of the model is validated by obtaining the distribution of flow along the horizontal wellbore through numerical simulation cases. The results from the field case and sensitivity analysis indicate that the pressure difference increases nonlinearly from the toe to the heel, and the productivity of multilateral wells decreases as the gas–water ratio increases. The method proposed in this paper is applicable for calculating the productivity of multilateral wells in multilayer reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a severe condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to identify hub genes potentially associated with AMI and assess their clinical utility in predicting AMI occurrence. Methods: Gene microarray data were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were conducted on samples from patients with AMI and control samples to identify modules significantly associated with AMI. GO and KEGG analyses were applied to investigate the potential functions of these hub genes. Lastly, the mendelian randomization (MR) method was applied to analyze the causal relationship between the hub gene TNF and AMI. Results: 285 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified through WCGNA and were clustered into 6 modules. The yellow module appeared most relevant to AMI. Further exploration through GO and KEGG pathway enrichment showed that key hub genes in the yellow module were linked to positive regulation of cytokine production, cytokine receptor binding, NF—kappa B signaling pathway, IL−17 signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway. The top 10 genes identified through Cytoscape software analysis were IL1B, TNF, TLR4, TLR2, FCGR3B, MMP9, CXCL8, TLR8, ICAM1, and JUK. Utilizing inverse variance weighting (IVW) analysis, we discovered a significant association between TNF and AMI risk, with an OR of 0.946 (95% CI = 0.911–0.984, p = 0.005). Conclusions: The result of this study indicated that TNF, TLR2, TLR4, IL1B and FCGR3B may be potential biodiagnostic markers for AMI. TNF can inhibit inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in AMI, exerting a protective role in the heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Necrostatin-1, a small molecular alkaloid, was identified as an inhibitor of necroptosis in 2005. Investigating the fundamental mechanism of Necrostatin-1 and its role in various diseases is of great significance for scientific and clinical research. Accumulating evidence suggests that Necrostatin-1 plays a crucial role in numerous neurological disorders. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential functions of Necrostatin-1 in various neurological disorders, offering valuable insights for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is an important crop used for food, feed, and fuel. Abiotic stress is an important factor affecting maize yield. The EPF/EPFL gene family encodes class-specific secretory proteins that play an important role in the response to abiotic stress in plants. In order to explore and utilize the EPF/EPFL family in maize, the family members were systematically identified, and their chromosomal localization, physicochemical properties, cis-acting element prediction in promoters, phylogenetic tree construction, and expression pattern analysis were carried out using bioinformatics techniques. A total of 18 ZmEPF/EPFL proteins were identified in maize, which are mostly alkaline and a small portion acidic. Subcellular localization results showed that ZmEPF6, ZmEPF12, and ZmEPFL2 are localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Analysis of cis-acting elements revealed that members of the ZmEPF/EPFL family contain regulatory elements such as light response, anoxic, low temperature, and hormone response regulatory elements. RT-qPCR results showed that these family members are indeed responding to cold stress and hormone treatments. These results of this study provide a theoretical basis for improving the abiotic stress resistance of maize in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pecan forests (Carya illinoinensis) are significant contributors to both food and oil production, and thrive in diverse soil environments, including coastal regions. However, the interplay between soil microbes and pecan forest health in coastal environments remains understudied. Therefore, we investigated soil bacterial and fungal diversity in coastal (Dafeng, DF) and inland (Guomei, GM) pecan plantations using high-throughput sequencing. The results revealed a higher microbial diversity in the DF plantation than in the GM plantation, significantly influenced by pH and edaphic factors. The dominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota and Bacteroidota in the DF plantation, and Acidobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobiota in the GM plantation. Bacillus, Nitrospira and UTCFX1 were significantly more abundant bacterial genera in DF soil, whereas Candidatus Udaeobacter, HSB_OF53-F07 and ADurbBin063-1 were more prevalent in GM soil. Basidiomycota dominated fungal sequences in the GM plantation, with a higher relative abundance of Ascomycota in the DF plantation. Significant differences in fungal genus composition were observed between plantations, with Scleroderma, Hebeloma, and Naucoria being more abundant in DF soil, and Clavulina, Russula, and Inocybe in GM soil. A functional analysis revealed greater carbohydrate metabolism potential in GM plantation bacteria and a higher ectomycorrhizal fungi abundance in DF soil. Significantly positive correlations were detected between certain bacterial and fungal genera and pH and total soluble salt content, suggesting their role in pecan adaptation to coastal environments and saline–alkali stress mitigation. These findings enhance our understanding of soil microbiomes in coastal pecan plantations, and are anticipated to foster ecologically sustainable agroforestry practices and contribute to coastal marshland ecosystem management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cells, signal transduction heavily relies on the intricate regulation of protein kinases, which provide the fundamental framework for modulating most signaling pathways. Dysregulation of kinase activity has been implicated in numerous pathological conditions, particularly in cancer. The druggable nature of most kinases positions them into a focal point during the process of drug development. However, a significant challenge persists, as the role and biological function of nearly one third of human kinases remains largely unknown. Within this diverse landscape, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) emerge as an intriguing molecular subgroup. In human, this kinase family encompasses 21 members, involved in several key biological processes. Remarkably, 13 of these CDKs belong to the category of understudied kinases, and only 5 having undergone broad investigation to date. This knowledge gap underscores the pressing need to delve into the study of these kinases, starting with a comprehensive review of the less-explored ones. Here, we will focus on the PCTAIRE subfamily of CDKs, which includes CDK16, CDK17, and CDK18, arguably among the most understudied CDKs members. To contextualize PCTAIREs within the spectrum of human pathophysiology, we conducted an exhaustive review of the existing literature and examined available databases. This approach resulted in an articulate depiction of these PCTAIREs, encompassing their expression patterns, 3D configurations, mechanisms of activation, and potential functions in normal tissues and in cancer. We propose that this effort offers the possibility of identifying promising areas of future research that extend from basic research to potential clinical and therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a representative genetic and economic trait, pigmentation has a strong impact on speciation and adaptation. However, information and reports on microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with pigmentation remain limited. The Midas cichlid fish, with three typical distinct stages of body color pattern, "black-gray-gold", is an ideal model system for investigating pigmentation traits. In this study, miRNA libraries from scale tissues with the attached epidermis of Midas cichlids at three distinct stages of color transformation, black (B), transition (T), and gold (G), were sequenced using Illumina sequencing technology. In total, 53 (B vs. G), 88 (B vs. T), and 57 (T vs. G) miRNAs were differentially expressed between the respective groups. Target genes of the identified miRNAs were predicted, and the results showed that multiple target genes were related to pigmentation and pigment–cell differentiation. The miRNA–mRNA regulatory network suggests that miR-183-x and miR-133-x were predicted to be involved in regulating morphological color changes in Midas cichlids. The results advance our understanding of potential functions of miRNAs in skin pigment differentiation and early skin color fading of fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a diffusion operator is investigated on a star graph with nonhomogeneous edges. First, the behaviors of sufficiently large eigenvalues are learned, and then the solution of the inverse problem is given to determine the potential functions and parameters of the boundary condition on the star graph with the help of a dense set of nodal points and to obtain a constructive solution to the inverse problems of this class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Altering plant carbon allocation from leaves to stems is key to improve biomass for forage, fuel, and renewable chemicals. The sorghum dry stalk (D) locus controls a quantitative trait for sugar accumulation, with enhanced carbon allocation in the stems of juicy green (dd) sorghum but reduced carbon allocation in that of dry white (DD) sorghum. However, it remains unclear whether altering sorghum sugar accumulation in stem affects below‐ground microbiome. Here we investigated sorghum rhizosphere soil microbiome in near isogenic lines with different magnitude of carbon allocations and accumulation in the stems. Results showed that enhanced carbon accumulation in stems of juicy green sorghum results in stronger selection in rhizosphere microbiome assembly. The rhizosphere soil microbial communities selected in juicy green sorghum tended to be fast‐growing microbial taxa which possessed potential functions that would promote higher potential capacity to use chemically labile carbon sources and potentially result in higher potential decomposition rates. We found the rhizosphere microbes selected by juicy green sorghum form weaker interactions than dry white sorghum. This is the first comprehensive study revealing how the different magnitude of carbon allocations to stems regulates microbial community assembly, microbial interaction, and microbial functions. This study indicates that future plant modification for bioenergy crops should also consider the impacts on belowground microbial community without compromising the sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Our study examined antennal structures in nine species of Vespinae wasps, providing insights into their morphology and sensilla diversity. Using SEM, we identified 19 sensilla types, including unique variations in pit organs and sensilla trichodea. The males of seven species exhibited tyloids. This research enhances our understanding of sensory systems in Hymenoptera, aiding taxonomy and evolutionary studies. This study investigates the distribution, morphology, and potential functions of antennal sensilla in various wasp species, including Dolichovespula flora, D. intermedia, Vespula structor, Vl. vulgaris, Provespa barthelemyi, Vespa bicolor, V. ducalis, V. mocsaryana, and V. velutina var. nigothorax. The study thoroughly analyzes the antennal structure of these species, representing all four genera of the yellow-jacket and hornet subfamily Vespinae. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the study identifies a total of nineteen types of sensilla, including sensilla trichodea (ST-I, ST-II, ST-III), sensilla campaniform (SCF-I, SCF-II, SCF-III), pit organs (SCO-I, SCO-II, and SA), sensilla placodea (SP-I, SP-II), sensilla chaetica (SCH-I, SCH-II), sensilla basiconica (SB-I, SB-II), sensilla agmon (SAG-I, SAG-II), and sensilla coelocapitular (SCA). Additionally, tyloids were observed in the males of seven species, except for Vl. structor and Vl. vulgaris. The study provides insights into these sensilla types' morphology, abundance, and distribution. It discusses the variations in sensilla morphology among different species and the presence of gender-specific sensilla. This study provides new data about the morphology and distribution patterns of sensilla and tyloid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores, for the first time, a 405 km long wall system located in eastern Mongolia: the "Mongolian Arc" consists of an earthen wall, a trench, and 34 structures. It is part of a much larger system of walls built between the 11th and 13th centuries a.d. The Mongolian Arc, despite its magnitude, has been largely overlooked in existing academic discourse. Our team collected remote sensing data of different types and conducted an archaeological field survey of the entire Mongolian Arc. The different datasets obtained in the lab and the field were analyzed using a geographic information system (GIS). These results were integrated with excerpts from relevant primary sources to provide a preliminary interpretation of the design and potential functions of the Mongolian Arc. Key areas of exploration include the idiosyncratic gaps along the wall, the spatial organization of the wall and structures, and their interrelationship with the adjacent landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important crops for humans. The homologs of ent-kaurene synthase (KS) in rice, which are responsible for the biosynthesis of gibberellins and various phytoalexins, are identified by their distinct biochemical functions. However, the KS-Like (KSL) family's potential functions related to hormone and abiotic stress in rice remain uncertain. Here, we identified the KSL family of 19 species by domain analysis and grouped 97 KSL family proteins into three categories. Collinearity analysis of KSLs among Poaceae indicated that the KSL gene may independently evolve and OsKSL1 and OsKSL4 likely play a significant role in the evolutionary process. Tissue expression analysis showed that two-thirds of OsKSLs were expressed in various tissues, whereas OsKSL3 and OsKSL5 were specifically expressed in the root and OsKSL4 in the leaf. Based on the fact that OsKSL2 participates in the biosynthesis of gibberellins and promoter analysis, we detected the gene expression profiles of OsKSLs under hormone treatments (GA, PAC, and ABA) and abiotic stresses (darkness and submergence). The qRT-PCR results demonstrated that OsKSL1, OsKSL3, and OsKSL4 responded to all of the treatments, meaning that these three genes can be candidate genes for abiotic stress. Our results provide new insights into the function of the KSL family in rice growth and resistance to abiotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial geothermal springs are physicochemically diverse and host abundant populations of Archaea. However, the diversity, functionality, and geological influences of these Archaea are not well understood. Here we explore the genomic diversity of Archaea in 152 metagenomes from 48 geothermal springs in Tengchong, China, collected from 2016 to 2021. Our dataset is comprised of 2949 archaeal metagenome-assembled genomes spanning 12 phyla and 392 newly identified species, which increases the known species diversity of Archaea by ~48.6%. The structures and potential functions of the archaeal communities are strongly influenced by temperature and pH, with high-temperature acidic and alkaline springs favoring archaeal abundance over Bacteria. Genome-resolved metagenomics and metatranscriptomics provide insights into the potential ecological niches of these Archaea and their potential roles in carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and hydrogen metabolism. Furthermore, our findings illustrate the interplay of competition and cooperation among Archaea in biogeochemical cycles, possibly arising from overlapping functional niches and metabolic handoffs. Taken together, our study expands the genomic diversity of Archaea inhabiting geothermal springs and provides a foundation for more incisive study of biogeochemical processes mediated by Archaea in geothermal ecosystems. Here, Qi et al. assembled ~3000 archaeal genomes from hot springs, capturing temporal dynamics and environmental diversity, and systematically explored functional niches and metabolic handoffs, shedding light on Archaea's role in biogeochemical cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudogenes are defined as "non-functional" copies of corresponding parent genes. The cognition of pseudogenes continues to be refreshed through accumulating and updating research findings. Previous studies have predominantly focused on mammals, but pseudogenes have received relatively less attention in the field of microbiology. Given the increasing recognition on the importance of pseudogenes, in this review, we focus on several aspects of microorganism pseudogenes, including their classification and characteristics, their generation and fate, their identification, their abundance and distribution, their impact on virulence, their ability to recombine with functional genes, the extent to which some pseudogenes are transcribed and translated, and the relationship between pseudogenes and viruses. By summarizing and organizing the latest research progress, this review will provide a comprehensive perspective and improved understanding on pseudogenes in microorganisms. Key points: • Concept, classification and characteristics, identification and databases, content, and distribution of microbial pseudogenes are presented. • How pseudogenization contribute to pathogen virulence is highlighted. • Pseudogenes with potential functions in microorganisms are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Natural killer (NK) cells are the prototype innate effector lymphocyte population that plays an important role in controlling viral infections and tumors. Studies demonstrating that NK cells form long‐lived memory populations, akin to those generated by adaptive immune cells, prompted a revaluation of the potential functions of NK cells. Recent data demonstrating that NK cells are recruited from the circulation into tissues where they form long‐lived memory‐like populations further emphasize that NK cells have properties that mirror those of adaptive immune cells. NK cells that localize in non‐lymphoid tissues are heterogeneous, and there is a growing appreciation that immune responses occurring within tissues are subject to tissue‐specific regulation. Here we discuss both the immune effector and immunoregulatory functions of NK cells, with a particular emphasis on the role of NK cells within non‐lymphoid tissues and how the tissue microenvironment shapes NK cell‐dependent outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae) has been extensively used for the biosynthesis of numerous secondary metabolites with significant applications in agriculture and food and medical industries, among others. However, the identification and functional prediction of metabolites through genome mining in A. oryzae are hindered by the complex regulatory mechanisms of secondary metabolite biosynthesis and the inactivity of most of the biosynthetic gene clusters involved. The global regulatory factors, pathway-specific regulatory factors, epigenetics, and environmental signals significantly impact the production of secondary metabolites, indicating that appropriate gene-level modulations are expected to promote the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in A. oryzae. This review mainly focuses on illuminating the molecular regulatory mechanisms for the activation of potentially unexpressed pathways, possibly revealing the effects of transcriptional, epigenetic, and environmental signal regulation. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, strategies can be developed to enhance the production and utilization of these metabolites, and potential functions can be fully exploited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Mycorrhizal fungi and microbial community play crucial roles in soil carbon (C) cycling within forest ecosystems. The various types of mycorrhizal fungi have distinct effects on the decomposition of soil organic C, primarily through their interactions with microbial members. However, there is currently a lack of understanding regarding the linkages between mycorrhizal types and microbial properties such as microbial keystone taxa and functions. Methods: In this study, we investigated the impact of converting ECM-dominated forests to AM-dominated forests on bacterial and fungal community composition, keystone taxa and potential functions by high -throughput sequencing. Results: The ECM fungal biomass in broadleaved forest soils showed a decrease of 45.07% compared to Masson pine forest soils. In contrast, the AM fungal biomass increased significantly by 25.57%. Our results demonstrated that the conversion from ECM- to AM-dominated forests enhanced soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and fungal diversity. There was no significant change in the microbial composition at the phylum level. Moreover, the conversion significantly altered the properties of microbial co-occurrence networks and the potential function of bacteria and fungi. Correlation analysis revealed close relationships between the relative abundance of microbial keystone taxa and microbial carbon degradation genes, as well as the biomass of mycorrhizal fungi. Conclusions: Our study suggested that the conversion of ECM- to AM-dominated forests altered microbial interaction, keystone taxa and function, which were significantly associated with changes in mycorrhizal fungal biomass and drove the increase in SOC content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]