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Abstract Background The commercial utilization of genetically modified soybeans has yielded substantial economic advantages. Nevertheless, the genetic drift towards wild soybeans is one of the main ecological risks that needs to be addressed. Previous experiments demonstrated the absence of fitness cost or florescence overlap in hybrid offspring resulting from the crossbreeding of transgenic soybean GTS40-3-2 and Zhengzhou wild soybeans. In this study, hybrid progeny was systematically crossed with wild soybeans to establish a backcross progeny system. This system was employed to evaluate the ecological risk associated with the backcross progeny of transgenic and wild soybeans. Results The findings indicated that the offspring from the backcross exhibited glyphosate tolerance. Furthermore, the expression of foreign proteins in the backcross offspring was notably lower than in the transgenic soybean, and there was no significant difference when compared to the hybrid progeny. Parameters such as germination rate, aboveground biomass, pods per plant, full seeds per plant, and 100-grain weight exhibited no significant differences between the negative and positive lines of the backcross progenies, and no fitness cost was identified in comparison to wild soybeans. These results underscore the potential for foreign genes to propagate within other wild soybeans, which requires continuous attention. Conclusions The widespread adoption of genetically modified soybeans has undeniably led to substantial economic gains. However, the research findings emphasize the critical importance of addressing the ecological risks posed by genetic drift towards wild soybeans. The backcross progeny system established in this study indicates that the potential for foreign gene dissemination to wild soybean populations warrants continued attention and mitigation strategies.

Wild soybeans retain many substances significantly reduced or lost in cultivars during domestication. This study utilized LC-MS to analyze metabolites in the seed coats and embryos of wild and cultivated soybeans. 866 and 815 metabolites were identified in the seed extracts of both soybean types, with 35 and 10 significantly differing metabolites in the seed coat and embryos, respectively. The upregulated metabolites in wild soybeans are linked to plant defense, stress responses, and nitrogen cycling. MALDI-MSI results further elucidated the distribution of these differential metabolites in the cotyledons, hypocotyls, and radicles. In addition to their role in physiological processes like growth and response to environmental stimuli, the prevalent terpenoids, lipids, and flavonoids present in wild soybeans exhibit beneficial bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and cardiovascular disease prevention properties. These findings underscore the potential of wild soybeans as a valuable resource for enhancing the nutritional and ecological adaptability of cultivated soybeans.

Hibernation, an evolved survival trait among animals, enables them to endure frigid temperatures and food scarcity during the winter months, and it is a widespread phenomenon observed in mammals. The gut microbiota, a crucial component of animal nutrition and health, exhibits particularly dynamic interactions in hibernating mammals. This manuscript comprehensively evaluates the impacts of fasting, hypothermia, and hypometabolism on the gut microbiota of hibernating mammals. It suggests that alterations in the gut microbiota may contribute significantly to the maintenance of energy metabolism and intestinal immune function during hibernation, mediated by their metabolites. By delving into these intricacies, we can gain a deeper understanding of how hibernating mammals adapt to their environments and the consequences of dietary modifications on the symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota and the host. Additionally, this knowledge can inform our comprehension of the protective mechanisms underlying long-term fasting in non-hibernating species, including humans, providing valuable insights into nutritional strategies and health maintenance.

Transgenic poplars have been used to control quarantine pests worldwide, such as the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea, FW). However, the studies on the resistance mechanism of FW to Cry toxins are limited. This study obtained an FW strain with 45-fold resistance to Cry1Ab toxin by continuous screening in the laboratory. The resistance to Cry1Ab was autosomally completely recessive, and it had approximately 40-fold cross-resistance to Cry1Ac but no cross-resistance to Cry2Ab toxin. Analysis of indoor population life tables for the resistant and susceptible strains found no significant difference in the net reproduction rate (R0) between the two strains. The resistant strain had an insignificantly longer larval development duration and a comparable pupation rate, pupal weight, emergence rate, eggs laidper female, and egg hatching rate compared to the susceptible strain. This indicated that there was no fitness cost for Cry1Ab resistance. Our study helps in evaluating the risk of resistance to Cry1Ab toxin and the mechanisms of resistance to Cry1Ab toxin in FW.

Abstract Background Crop-wild hybridization has generated great concerns since gene flow can be an avenue for transgene escape. However, a rather limited number of studies on risk assessment regarding the dispersion of transgenes from GM soybean to populations of its wild relatives have been previously conducted. Results The results of the 3-year experiment demonstrated that hybrids between GM soybeans and wild soybean had lower seed germination and higher seed productivity than GM soybean. Both of these features of hybrid (especially F2 and F3) were similar to those of wild soybean. Furthermore, the foreign protein was stably expressed in hybrid EPSPS positive plants; however, no difference was observed in agronomic measurements between hybrids that are glyphosate sensitive or resistant, homozygous or heterozygous for the transgene, indicating that the presence of the EPSPS transgene does not affect the vigor of hybrid. In contrast, hybridization between GM soybean and wild soybean may have more impact on hybrid growth and fecundity, this increase in biomass and yield confers a potential competition benefit to hybrids. Conclusions Gene flow from GM soybean to wild soybean has the potential to promote the adaptability of hybrids and may increase the possibility of dispersal of transgenes in wild soybean relatives.

Global warming has induced alterations in the grassland ecosystem, such as elevated temperatures and decreased precipitation, which disturb the equilibrium of these ecosystems and impact various physiological processes of grassland rodents, encompassing growth, development, and reproduction. As global warming intensifies, the repercussions of high-temperature stress on small mammals are garnering increased attention. Recently, research has highlighted that the composition and ratio of gut microbiota are not only shaped by environmental factors and the host itself but also reciprocally influence an array of physiological functions and energy metabolism in animals. In this research, we combined 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing with conventional physiological assessments, to elucidate the consequences of high-temperature stress on the gut microbiota structure and reproductive capacity of Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). The results were as follows: 1. The growth and development of male and female hamsters in the high-temperature group were delayed, with lower body weight and reduced food intake. 2. High temperature inhibits the development of reproductive organs in both female and male hamsters. 3. High temperature changes the composition and proportion of gut microbiota, reducing bacteria that promote reproduction, such as Pseudobutyricoccus, Ruminiclostridium-E, Sporofaciens, UMGS1071, and CAG_353. Consequently, our study elucidates the specific impacts of high-temperature stress on the gut microbiota dynamics and reproductive health of Siberian hamsters, thereby furnishing insights for managing rodent populations amidst global climatic shifts. It also offers a valuable framework for understanding seasonal variations in mammalian reproductive strategies, contributing to the broader discourse on conservation and adaptation under changing environmental conditions.

BackgroundRoot cutting caused by underground coal mining subsidence is among the leading causes of plant damage in western China. Detection of root cutting stress is of great importance in evaluating the degree of plant damage and changes in physiological conditions in underground coal mining disturbance conditions.MethodsThe present study assessed the use of chlorophyll fluorescence OJIP transient data to evaluate the disturbance characteristics of root cutting stress on leaf photosynthetic mechanisms in the typical shrub Artemisia ordosica Krasch. Different root cutting ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were established on the roots of A. ordosica in the field, and the OJIP transient and JIP parameters of the leaves were measured.ResultsThe overall OJIP curves and each OJIP step in leaves decreased as the root cutting ratio increased, but the impact was relatively small for root cutting ratios of less than 30%. Through the analysis of JIP parameters and the established energy pipeline model, it was found that the energy capture efficiency and electron transfer efficiency of photosystem II decreased as the root cutting ratio increased. Therefore, we also inferred that the threshold for the plant root cutting ratio at which leaf photosynthetic mechanisms begin to change is 30–50%.ConclusionThese results indicate that OJIP transient analysis can serve as a non-destructive, rapid technique for detecting plant root cutting stress in coal mining subsidence areas, which is of great value for non-destructive monitoring of plant root damage.

Accurate prediction of remaining useful life (RUL) is crucial to the safety and reliability of the lithium-ion battery management system (BMS). However, the performance of a lithium-ion battery deteriorates nonlinearly and is heavily affected by capacity-regeneration phenomena during practical usage, which makes battery RUL prediction challenging. In this paper, a rest-time-based regeneration-phenomena-detection module is proposed and incorporated into the Coulombic efficiency-based degradation model. The model is estimated with the particle filter method to deal with the nonlinear uncertainty during the degradation and regeneration process. The discrete regeneration-detection results should be reflected by the model state instead of the model parameters during the particle filter-estimation process. To decouple the model state and model parameters during the estimation process, a dual-particle filtering estimation framework is proposed to update the model parameters and model state, respectively. A kernel smoothing method is adopted to further smooth the evolution of the model parameters, and the regeneration effects are imposed on the model states during the updating. Our proposed model and the dual-estimation framework were verified with the NASA battery datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method is capable of modeling capacity-regeneration phenomena and provides a good RUL-prediction performance for lithium-ion batteries.

Aim: To determine natural compounds with inhibitory effects toward SARS-CoV-2 Mpro from Chinese herbal medicines. Materials & methods: ∼1200 natural compounds from 19 Chinese herbal medicines were collected. Computational methods including molecular docking, drug-likeness assessment, molecular dynamics simulation and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area analysis were combined to obtain potent inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Results: Top 20 compounds mainly originated from Ranunculus ternatus and Picrasma quassioides exhibited low binding free energies which below -9.0 kcal/mol. Compounds Japonicone G and Picrasidine T were obtained with favorable drug-likeness. Moreover, the complex of Japonicone G and Mpro had prominent stability. Conclusion: Natural compound Japonicone G is highly promising as a potent inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2 for further study.

The impacts of heavy metal pollution in arable soil on agricultural production, environmental health, and the wellbeing of urban and rural residents cannot be overlooked. It has become a significant bottleneck in achieving comprehensive rural revitalization. To accurately grasp the characteristics of heavy metal pollution in suburban cultivated soil, Tangwang Village (a suburb of Huainan City) was subjected to scrutiny. The contents of heavy metals (Hg, Cu, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Zn) in the topsoil of cultivated land in this area were detected, and their spatial distribution characteristics were analyzed using inverse distance spatial interpolation. (1) After conducting a comprehensive analysis and thorough examination of the PMF model sources, it was determined that Cu, Cd, and Zn exhibit a direct correlation with agricultural practices, collectively contributing to a cumulative percentage of 21.10%. Meanwhile, Cr is derived from a combination of sources, including both natural parent materials and human activities, accounting for a total proportion of 24.45%. Notably, lead emissions from automobile exhausts constitute a significant source, while arsenic is primarily associated with dispersed factories and their respective operations, contributing to respective proportions of 36.38% and 18.07%. It is evident that agricultural practices, transportation, and industrial activities are the main reasons for heavy metal pollution in arable soil. (2) The evaluation of geological accumulation indicators reveals that the level of soil arsenic accumulation pollution is mild to moderate (1.199). On the other hand, the cumulative pollution level of Cd, Hg, Cr, and Cu was relatively low (0.462→0.186), whereas the levels of Pb and Zn were below the threshold. (3) The assessment of the ecological risk index revealed that the predominant elements posing potential ecological risks in the investigated region were Hg, As, and Cd, with average Ei values of E(Hg) = 86.81, E(As) = 80.67, and E(Cd) = 67.83, respectively. (4) The human health risk assessment revealed significant differences in the single non-carcinogenic risk values of heavy metals generated by different exposure pathways, with oral ingestion > dermal contact > oral nasal inhalation. Children were more susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals compared to adults. Both As and Cr caused an increased risk of cancer in both children and adults, which is a matter of great concern. The results of this study contribute to a more accurate description of the sources of heavy metals in farmland soil. This study indicates that the application of PMF for soil source analysis yields clear results that can be further applied. This research also has potential policy significance as it can help to improve the sustainability of ecosystems by coordinating both environmental and human activities.

Coronavirus main protease (3CLpro), a special cysteine protease in coronavirus family, is highly desirable in the life cycle of coronavirus. Here, molecular docking, ADMET pharmacokinetic profiles and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were performed to develop specific 3CLpro inhibitor. The results showed that the 137 compounds originated from Chinese herbal have good binding affinity to 3CLpro. Among these, Cleomiscosin C, (+)-Norchelidonine, Protopine, Turkiyenine, Isochelidonine and Mallotucin A possessed prominent drug-likeness properties. Cleomiscosin C and Turkiyenine exhibited excellent pharmacokinetic profiles. Furthermore, the complex of Cleomiscosin C with SARS-CoV-2 main protease presented high stability. The findings in this work indicated that Cleomiscosin C is highly promising as a potential 3CLpro inhibitor, thus facilitating the development of effective drugs for COVID-19.

Abstract Studies have reported that >91.9% of non-syndromic tooth agenesis cases are caused by seven pathogenic genes. Objective To report novel heterozygous PAX9 variants in a Chinese family with non-syndromic oligodontia and summarize the reported genotype-phenotype relationship of PAX9 variants. Methodology We recruited 28 patients with non-syndromic oligodontia who were admitted to the Hospital of Stomatology Hebei Medical University (China) from 2018 to 2021. Peripheral blood was collected from the probands and their core family members for whole-exome sequencing (WES) and variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. Bioinformatics tools were used to predict the pathogenicity of the variants. SWISS-MODEL homology modeling was used to analyze the three-dimensional structural changes of variant proteins. We also analyzed the genotype-phenotype relationships of PAX9 variants. Results We identified novel compound heterozygous PAX9 variants (reference sequence NM_001372076.1) in a Chinese family with non-syndromic oligodontia: a new missense variant c.1010C>A (p.T337K) in exon 4 and a new frameshift variant c.330_331insGT (p.D113Afs*9) in exon 2, which was identified as the pathogenic variant in this family. This discovery expands the known variant spectrum of PAX9; then, we summarized the phenotypes of non-syndromic oligodontia with PAX9 variants. Conclusion We found that PAX9 variants commonly lead to loss of the second molars.

Background: Non-syndromic oligodontia is characterized by the absence of six or more permanent teeth, excluding third molars, and can have aesthetic, masticatory, and psychological consequences. Previous studies have shown that PAX9 is associated with autosomal dominant forms of oligodontia but the precise molecular mechanisms are still unknown.Methods: Whole-exome and Sanger sequencing were performed on a cohort of approximately 28 probands with NSO, for mutation analysis. Bioinformatic analysis was performed on the potential variants. Immunofluorescence assay, western blotting, and qPCR were used to explore the preliminary functional impact of the variant PAX9 proteins. We reviewed PAX9-related NSO articles in PubMed to analyze the genotype-phenotype correlations.Results: We identified three novel PAX9 variants in Chinese Han families: c.152G>T (p.Gly51Val), c.239delC (p.Thr82Profs*3), and c.409C>T (q.Gln137Ter). In addition, two previously reported missense variants were identified: c.140G>C (p.Arg47Pro) and c.146C>T (p.Ser49Leu) (reference sequence NM_006194.4). Structural modeling revealed that all missense variants were located in the highly conserved paired domain. The other variants led to premature termination of the protein, causing structural impairment of the PAX9 protein. Immunofluorescence assay showed abnormal subcellular localizations of the missense variants (R47P, S49L, and G51V). In human dental pulp stem cells, western blotting and qPCR showed decreased expression of PAX9 variants (c.140G>C, p.R47P, and c.152G>T, p.G51V) compared with the wild-type group at both the transcription and translation levels. A review of published papers identified 64 PAX9 variants related to NSO and found that the most dominant feature was the high incidence of missing upper second molars, first molars, second premolars, and lower second molars.Conclusion: Three novel PAX9 variants were identified in Chinese Han families with NSO. These results extend the variant spectrum of PAX9 and provide a foundation for genetic diagnosis and counseling.

Ovarian cancer is an aggressive tumor that remains to be the most lethal gynecological malignancy in women. Metabolic adaptation is an emerging hallmark of tumors. It is important to exploit metabolic vulnerabilities of tumors as promising strategies to develop more effective anti-tumor regimens. Tumor cells reprogram the metabolic pathways to meet the bioenergetic, biosynthetic, and mitigate oxidative stress required for tumor cell proliferation and survival. Oxidative phosphorylation has been found to be altered in ovarian cancer, and oxidative phosphorylation is proposed as a therapeutic target for management of ovarian cancer. Herein, we initially introduced the overview of oxidative phosphorylation in cancer. Furthermore, we discussed the role of oxidative phosphorylation and chemotherapeutic resistance of ovarian cancer. The role of oxidative phosphorylation in other components of tumor microenvironment of ovarian cancer has also been discussed.

Exogenous genes of transgenic crops are usually transferred to their wild-type relatives through pollen-mediated gene flow, which may change the ecological fitness and ability to invade wild populations, resulting in the weeding of wild plants and other unpredictable environmental impacts. In this study, the F1 generation of herbicide-resistant soybeans and wild soybeans was obtained by artificial pollination, F2 generation seeds were obtained by self-crossing, and the fitness of the parents and their F1 and F2 generations were tested. The foreign protein EPSPS was expressed normally in the hybrid between transgenic and wild soybeans; however, the protein expression was significantly lower than that in transgenic soybeans. The fitness of the F1 hybrid between transgenic and wild soybeans was significantly lower than that of its parent. Compared with those of the wild soybeans, the F2 generation soybeans improved in some fitness indices, while the emergence rate, pollen germination rate, and number of full seeds per pod, pods per plant, and full seeds per plant did not significantly differ. The aboveground biomass and 100-seed weight of the F2 generation were higher than those of wild soybeans. Fitness among the F2-negative plants, homozygous, and heterozygous positive plants did not significantly vary. Improved fitness and presence of foreign genes in the F2 soybean were not significantly correlated. As the F2 generation of transgenic and wild soybeans had no fitness cost and the flowering stage were overlapped, the foreign gene might still spread in the wild soybean population.

A 49-d feeding study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the genetically modified (GM) maize strain C0030.3.5 on Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) in terms of body performance and egg quality. Furthermore, the bodily fats of transgenic proteins in the Japanese quails were investigated. The results showed that the parameters body weight, hematology, serum chemistry, relative organ weight, and histopathological appearance were normal in male and female quails that consumed GM diets, and no differences could be attributed to the varying diets in regard to the laying performances or nutrient egg compositions between the groups. Furthermore, the transgenic Cry1Ab and EPSPS proteins were undetectable by Western blot in the blood, organ, fecal, and whole egg samples of quails fed a diet containing GM maize. The results obtained after 49 d suggested that consumption of C0030.3.5 transgenic feed did not adversely affect quail health or egg quality, and there was no evidence of transgenic protein translocation to the blood, tissues, feces, and eggs. Based on the different parameters assessed, C0030.3.5 transgenic maize is a safe food source for quails that does not differ in quality from non-GM maize.

As the only power source of pure electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries play an important role in vehicle powertrain systems. However, lithium-ion batteries have a significant reduction in capacity and power capability at low temperatures, which results in a greatly shortened driving range and poor acceleration of the vehicle. In this study, a rule-based battery external heating control strategy was developed to heat the battery during driving. An electrothermal film was affixed to the surface of each cell as an external heating material that was powered by the battery. An equivalent circuit model combined with a thermal model was established to simulate the electrical and thermal dynamics of the system with sufficiently high accuracy, and control rules were developed based on the model. The optimal solution was obtained by adopting the dynamic programming algorithm to optimize the trade-off between temperature rise and energy consumption and maximize the total driving range under different low temperature driving conditions. Simulation results on the experimentally validated model show that the vehicle with the proposed control algorithm increased the total driving range by 18.6% to 220% for different driving conditions at cold to extremely cold temperatures compared with the vehicle without external heating. Furthermore, the rule-based control showed a 1.1% to 4.4% improvement compared with the maximum (constant) power heating method.

ARID1A, which is often mutated in human endometrial cancer, is a component of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex. Here, the authors show that Arid1a mutations in the mouse endometrium and primary human endometrial epithelial cells cause widespread reprogramming of gene transcription and result in a loss of response to TGFβ.

The thermal dynamics of Li-ion batteries are very complicated, and the battery temperature is spatially distributed imbalanced from the battery interior to the surface. The thermal dynamics are commonly modeled by partial differential equations (PDEs); however, parameter identification for PDEs is difficult and time consuming. In this work, a Karhunen-Loeve Galerkin method is proposed to obtain a simple but effective low-order model for the distributed thermal dynamics of Li-ion batteries. The Karhunen-Loeve decomposition method is applied to capture the most representative spatial modes of the dynamics, while the Galerkin method is used to obtain the corresponding temporal modes. All the uncertain physical parameters in the temporal modes are identified by the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. The updated temporal modes synthesized with spatial modes can offer a fast estimation of the temperature distribution on the battery surface and thus has the potential to provide distributed temperature prediction for the battery management system. The proposed modeling scheme is tested on a 60Ah Li-ion battery cell, and the simulation result shows an excellent match in the temperature distribution and a faster computing speed than the rigorous physical model.

Abstract Background Causative variants in genes of the EDA/EDAR/NF‐κB pathway, such as EDA and EDARADD, have been widely identified in patients with non‐syndromic tooth agenesis (NSTA). However, few cases of NSTA are due to ectodysplasin‐A receptor (EDAR) variants. In this study, we investigated NSTA‐associated variants in Chinese families. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from the family members of 24 individuals with NSTA for DNA extraction. The coding region of the EDA gene of the 24 probands was amplified by PCR and sequenced to investigate new variants. Whole‐exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were then performed for probands without EDA variants detected by PCR. Results A novel missense variant EDAR c.338G>A (p.(Cys113Tyr)) was identified in one family. In addition, three known EDA variants (c.865C>T, c.866G>A, and c.1013C>T) were identified in three families. Genotype–phenotype correlation analysis of EDAR gene mutation showed that NSTA patients were most likely to lose the maxillary lateral incisors and the maxillary central incisors were the least affected. The phenotype of mutations at codon 289 of EDA in NSTA affected patients was characterized by lateral incisors loss, rarely affecting the maxillary first molars. Conclusion A novel EDAR missense variant c.338G>A (p.(Cys113Tyr)) was identified in a family with NSTA, extending the mutation spectrum of the EDAR gene. Genotype–phenotype correlation analyses of EDAR and EDA mutations could help to improve disease status prediction in NSTA families.

The failure of a chromium plating layer on the surface of a piston rod was analyzed, and an Ni-based alloy mixed with a niobium (Nb) composite coating was investigated by means of stereomicroscopy, metallographic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Vickers hardness testing, and wear testing. The results show that penetrating cracks were present in the chromium layer. Subsequently, the corrosion intensified, resulting in the bubbling, cracking, and peeling of the chromium layer. The cladding layer presented a structure morphology of planar crystalline at the bottom, dendritic at the middle, and equiaxial crystalline at the top. The solidification parameters, which were derived from simulation results, confirmed that the ratios between temperature gradient (G) and solidification speed (S) decreased, and the values of the cooling speeds increased from the bottom to the top of the cladding layer. With an increase in Nb content, the structure became gradually refined and uniformly dense. The cladding layer of the Ni-based alloy mixed with Nb was mainly composed of γ-Ni, Cr23C6, Cr7C3, NbC, and Ni3Nb. NbC could be formed in situ and presented itself in four forms: particles, dendrites, polyhedrals, and networks. The microhardness of the coating with 15% added Nb was enhanced to 400 HV0.2, and the wear resistance thereof was 11.14 times higher than the substrate. After the 15% Nb coating had aged for 16 h, the diffraction peak intensities of Cr23C6 and Cr7C3 significantly increased, and the volume fraction of granular NbC increased from 1.67% to 2.54%. The microhardness was enhanced to 580 HV0.2, and the wear resistance thereof was better than that of the chromium plating layer.

Currently, laser surface treatment (LST) is considered the most promising method available within the industry. It delivers precise control over surface topography, morphology, wettability, and chemistry, making the technique suitable for regulating the corrosion behavior of alloys. In this paper, femtosecond laser texturing with different parameters and atmosphere environments was adopted to clarify the effect of surface treatment on the corrosion resistance of selective laser melted (SLM-ed) 17-4PH stainless steel (SS) in a NaCl solution. The experimental results show that, after the heat treatment, the corrosion resistance of the laser-treated samples was enhanced. With the further laser treatment in an argon atmosphere, the oxidation of nanostructural surfaces was avoided. The Cr, Cu, and other alloying elements precipitated on the laser-ablated surface were beneficial to the formation of a passivation film, leading to an improved corrosion resistance performance.

With the huge demand for building underground spaces, deep foundation pits are becoming more and more common in underground construction. Due to the serious effects associated with accidents that occur in deep foundation pits, it is very important for underground construction safety management to be proactive, targeted, and effective. This research develops a conceptual framework adopting BIM and IoT to aid the identification and evaluation of hazards in deep foundation pit construction sites using an automated early warning system. Based on the accident analysis, the system framework of Safety Management System of Deep Foundation Pits (SMSoDFP) is proposed; it includes a function requirement, system modules, and information needs. Further, the implementation principles are studied; they cover hazardous areas, namely, visualization, personnel position monitoring, structural deformation monitoring, and automatic warning. Finally, a case study is used to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the system proposed. This research provides suggestions for on-site management and information integration of deep foundation pits, with a view to improving the safety management efficiency of construction sites and reducing accidents.

The environmental release and biosafety of transgenic Bt crops have attracted global attention. China has a large area of saline-alkali land, which is ideal for large-scale production of Bt transgenic rice. Therefore an understanding of the fitness of Bt transgenic rice in saline-alkaline soils and the ability to predict its long-term environmental effects are important for the future sustainable use of these crops. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the fitness of cry1Ab/c transgenic rice in both farmland and natural ecosystems. Transgenic cry1Ab/c rice Huahui1, for which a national biosafety certificate was obtained, was grown on normal farmland and saline-alkaline soils in a glass greenhouse. The expression pattern of exogenous Cry1Ab/c protein, and vegetative and reproductive fitness of rice were assessed. The expression of the exogenous Cry1Ab/c protein in the transgenic rice grown on saline-alkaline soil was lower than that in the strain grown on farmland soil. Under both the soil conditions, vegetative growth abilities, as evaluated by tiller number and biomass, and reproductive growth abilities, as measured by filled grain number and filled grain weight per plant, showed a significantly higher fitness cost for Huahui1 than that for the parental rice Minghui63 grown under the same soil conditions. In saline-alkaline soil, the fitness cost of Huahui1was moderately higher than that of Minghui63. Therefore, the ecological risk of cry1Ab/c transgenic rice is not expected to be higher than that of parental rice Minghui63 if the former escapes into natural saline-alkaline soil. The results of the present study provide a scientific basis to improve environmental safety assessment of the insect-resistant transgenic rice strain Huahui1 before commercialization.

In this paper, we develop a simple algorithm for obtaining the global solution to a small scale fixed-charge transportation problem (FCTP). The procedure itself is very quick. The proposed method solves FCTP by decomposing the problem into series of smaller sub-problems, which is novel and can be useful to researchers solving any size of the problem.

Foam concrete exhibits long stress plateau with increasing strain subjected to compression and absorbs a considerable amount of energy, making them promising for building and structure protection. In the present study, hexagonal concrete honeycombs are employed to approximately represent foam concrete, whose response and energy absorption subjected to dynamic in-plane compression are investigated with smooth particle hydrodynamics method. The response modes under low to high velocity crushing are numerically investigated, with which the critical velocity separating quasi-static response and progressive collapse mode is determined. Furthermore, the dynamic energy absorption capacity is examined and discussed.

Recent studies have demonstrated that ectodysplasin-A (EDA) mutations are associated with non-syndromic tooth agenesis. Indeed, we were the first to report three novel EDA mutations (A259E, R289C and R334H) in sporadic non-syndromic tooth agenesis. We studied the mechanism linking EDA mutations and non-syndromic tooth agenesis in human embryonic kidney 293T cells and mouse ameloblast-derived LS8 cells transfected with mutant isoforms of EDA. The receptor binding capability of the mutant EDA1 protein was impaired in comparison to wild-type EDA1. Although the non-syndromic tooth agenesis-causing EDA1 mutants possessed residual binding capability, the transcriptional activation of the receptor's downstream target, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), was compromised. We also analyzed the changes of selected genes in other signaling pathways, such as WNT and BMP, after EDA mutation. We found that non-syndromic tooth agenesis-causing EDA1 mutant proteins upregulate BMP4 (bone morphogenetic protein 4) mRNA expression and downregulate WNT10A and WNT10B (wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 10A and 10B) mRNA expression. Our results indicated that non-syndromic tooth agenesis causing EDA mutations (A259E, R289C and R334H) were loss-of-function, and suggested that EDA may regulate the expression of WNT10A, WNT10B and BMP4 via NF-κB during tooth development. The results from our study may help to understand the molecular mechanism linking specific EDA mutations with non-syndromic tooth agenesis.

Pseudomonas putida DLL-E4 can efficiently degrade para-nitrophenol and its intermediate metabolite hydroquinone. The regulation of para-nitrophenol degradation was studied, and PNP induced a global change in the transcriptome of P. putida DLL-E4. When grown on PNP, the wild-type strain exhibited significant downregulation of 2912 genes and upregulation of 845 genes, whereas 2927 genes were downregulated and 891 genes upregulated in a pnpR-deleted strain. Genes related to two non-coding RNAs (ins1 and ins2), para-nitrophenol metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the outer membrane porin OprB, glucose dehydrogenase Gcd, and carbon catabolite repression were significantly upregulated when cells were grown on para-nitrophenol plus glucose. pnpA, pnpR, pnpC1C2DECX1X2, and pnpR1 are key genes in para-nitrophenol degradation, whereas pnpAb and pnpC1bC2bDbEbCbX1bX2b have lost the ability to degrade para-nitrophenol. Multiple components including transcriptional regulators and other unknown factors regulate para-nitrophenol degradation, and the transcriptional regulation of para-nitrophenol degradation is complex. Glucose utilization was enhanced at early stages of para-nitrophenol supplementation. However, it was inhibited after the total consumption of para-nitrophenol. The addition of glucose led to a significant enhancement in para-nitrophenol degradation and up-regulation in the expression of genes involved in para-nitrophenol degradation and carbon catabolite repression (CCR). It seemed that para-nitrophenol degradation can be regulated by CCR, and relief of CCR might contribute to enhanced para-nitrophenol degradation. In brief, the regulation of para-nitrophenol degradation seems to be controlled by multiple factors and requires further study.

To explore the effects of neuronal Per-Arnt-Sim domain protein 4 (Npas4) on seizures in pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats, Npas4 expression was detected by double-label immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting in the brains of pilocarpine-induced epileptic model rats at 6 h, 24 h, 72 h, 7 d, 14 d, 30 d, and 60 d after status epilepticus. Npas4 was localized primarily in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm of neurons. The Npas4 protein levels increased in the acute phase of seizures (between 6 h and 72 h) and decreased in the chronic phases (between 7 d and 60 d) in the rat model. Npas4 expression was knocked down by specific siRNA interference. Then, the animals were treated with pilocarpine, and the effects on seizures were evaluated on the 7th day. The onset latencies of pilocarpine-induced seizures were decreased, while the seizure frequency, duration and attack rate increased in these rats. Our study indicates that Npas4 inhibits seizure attacks in pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) important for posttranscriptional gene expression are involved in the initiation and progression of human cancer. In this study, we reported that miR-26a was over-expressed in human EOC specimens and the expression level of extracellular miR-26a in plasma can distinguish patients from healthy controls in EOC. Ectopic expression of miR-26a in ovarian cancer (OC) cells increased cell proliferation and clonal formation. This growth promoting effect of OC cell growth was mediated by miR-26a inhibition of the posttranscription of ER-α. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-26a suppressed the tumor formation generated by injecting OC cells in nude mice. Our results suggest that aberrantly expressed miR-26a may contribute to OC development.

BACKGROUND: Elevated tropospheric ozone severely affects not only yield but also the morphology, structure and physiological functions of plants. Because of concerns regarding the potential environmental risk of transgenic crops, it is important to monitor changes in transgenic insect-resistant rice under the projected high tropospheric ozone before its commercial release. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using a free-air concentration enrichment (FACE) system, we investigated the changes in leaf morphology and leaf ultrastructure of two rice varieties grown in plastic pots, transgenic Bt Shanyou 63 (Bt-SY63, carrying a fusion gene of cry1Ab and cry1Ac) and its non-transgenic counterpart (SY63), in elevated O3 (E-O3) versus ambient O3 (A-O3) after 64-DAS (Days after seeding), 85-DAS and 102-DAS. Our results indicated that E-O3 had no significant effects on leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, stomatal length and stomatal density for both Bt-SY63 and SY63. E-O3 increased the leaf thickness of Bt-SY63, but decreased that of SY63. O3 stress caused early swelling of the thylakoids of chloroplasts, a significant increase in the proportion of total plastoglobule area in the entire cell area (PCAP) and a significant decrease in the proportion of total starch grain area in the entire cell area (SCAP), suggesting that E-O3 accelerated the leaf senescence of the two rice genotypes. Compared with SY63, E-O3 caused early swelling of the thylakoids of chloroplasts and more substantial breakdown of chloroplasts in Bt-SY63. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that the incorporation of cry1Ab/Ac into SY63 could induce unintentional changes in some parts of plant morphology and that O3 stress results in greater leaf damage to Bt-SY63 than to SY63, with the former coupled with higher O3 sensitivity in CCAP (the proportions of total chloroplast area in the entire cell area), PCAP and SCAP. This study provides valuable baseline information for the prospective commercial release of transgenic crops under the projected future climate.