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Lagerstroemia is a genus with a wide geographical range extending from Southeast Asia to Australia, and it plays a significant role in many aspects of urban life, including supporting ecosystems, beautifying cities, and affecting human health. To gain insights into the current state of Lagerstroemia research, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using 138 publications from the Web of Science core database between 2002 and 2022. The analysis involved co-occurrence analyses of authors’ affiliated institutions, a keyword co-occurrence analysis, and a timeline view of keywords. The results of the analysis revealed three stages of Lagerstroemia research: the initial stage (2002–04); the rapid growth stage (2005–13); and the in-depth stage (2014–present). Furthermore, 335 keywords from 10 clusters were identified, which indicated that genetic diversity, breeding, and landscape utilization were the three main research areas of Lagerstroemia. Collaboration among authors mainly occurred within major natural and cultivated regions, such as China and the United States. Based on the bibliometric evaluation, future research of Lagerstroemia should focus on areas such as whole-genome sequencing, male sterility problems, resistance, ornamental characteristics, and landscape utilization guidelines. The findings of this study provide an important reference for further studies and can guide the development, innovation, and application of Lagerstroemia.

As the third-largest maize-producing province in China and a typical arid and semi-arid region, quantitatively evaluating the carbon and nitrogen footprints of maize production and their dominant factors is of great significance in guiding the high-yield, low-carbon, and sustainable development of maize production in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This study quantitatively evaluated the interannual evolution characteristics of the carbon and nitrogen footprints in maize production and their dominant factors in Inner Mongolia from 2003 to 2022 based on statistical yearbook data and emission parameter models. The results showed that from 2003 to 2022, the maize planting area, yield, and total yield in Inner Mongolia all increased, with an average annual increase of 97 kg ha−1 in yield and 1.23 × 106 Mg in total yield. The carbon and nitrogen footprints of Inner Mongolia maize production over the past 20 years had overall decreasing trends, while the nitrogen fertilizer bias productivity, net ecosystem carbon balance, and sustainability index had increasing trends. Carbon footprint reduced by an average of 5.2 kg CO2 eq Mg−1 per year, and nitrogen footprint reduced by an average of 0.21 g N eq kg−1 per year. Currently, the transportation and production of fertilizer and field application of N fertilizer are the main controlling factors of GHG emissions from maize production. NO3−-N, NH4+-N leaching, and NH3 volatilization from field application of N fertilizer are the main sources of reactive N losses. The application of simplified processes, such as phased regulation of nitrogen and controlled-release fertilizers, as well as conservation tillage, have broad prospects for emission reduction in maize production in Inner Mongolia.

Leguminous green manure (LGM) has a reputation for improving crop productivity. However, little is known about the beneficial interactions with straw on crop yield and nutrient (N, P, K) use efficiency. Herein, a 9-year field experiment (from 2015 to 2023) containing three treatments—(1) chemical fertilizer as the control (CK), (2) NPK + straw return (Straw) and (3) NPK + straw return with LGM (Straw + LGM)—was conducted to investigate whether the combined application of LGM and straw can increase productivity and nutrient use efficiency in the wheat–maize–sunflower diversified cropping rotation. The results showed that in the third rotation (2021–2023), Straw + LGM significantly increased wheat yield by 10.2% and maize yield by 19.9% compared to CK. The total equivalent yield under Straw + LGM was the highest (26.09 Mg ha−1), exceeding Straw and CK treatments by 2.7% and 12.3%, respectively. For each 2 Mg ha−1 increase in straw returned to the field, sunflower yield increased by 0.2 Mg ha−1, whereas for each 1 Mg ha−1 increase in LGM yield from the previous crop, sunflower yield increased by 0.45 Mg ha−1. Compared to CK, the co-application of LGM and straw increased the N use efficiency of maize in the first and third rotation cycle by 70.6% and 55.8%, respectively, and the P use efficiency by 147.8% in the third rotation cycle. Moreover, Straw treatment led to an increase of net income from wheat and sunflower by 14.5% and 44.6%, while Straw + LGM increased the net income from maize by 15.8% in the third rotation cycle. Combining leguminous green manure with a diversified cropping rotation has greater potential to improve nutrient use efficiency, crop productivity and net income, which can be recommended as a sustainable agronomic practice in the Hetao District, Northwest China.

Magnolia figo (Lour.) DC. var. crassipes (Law) Figlar & Noot. is a captivating, purple-flowered plant of the Magnoliaceae family (Magnolia). It is a small tree or shrub up to 2 to 5 m in height. Indigenous to China, M. figo var. crassipes holds a significant position as a parental contributor in controlled crosses within the Magnoliaceae lineage. This acclaim arises from its strikingly deep-purple hue and the entrancing fragrance exuded by its blossoms. Magnolia figo is a native to the southern provinces of China. This evergreen shrub maintains a stature of 2 to 3 m and has garnered popularity for its aromatic blooms. Notably, both M. figo var. crassipes and M. figo exhibit considerable potential in terms of development and use as ornamental trees. Their intrinsic value finds expression in horticulture, garden design, and urban landscapes, as elaborated by Chai et al. (2018).

Power grid enterprises have a great number of projects in a high value. Their investment decisions need to be fully evaluated according to the project’s critical characteristics and it is necessary to realize the reasonable allocation of funds through optimization of investment packages. In this paper, the new internal and external situations and new requirements facing the development of power grid are considered to propose the new principle of index system establishment, i.e. “define characteristics macroscopically and define indexes microscopically”; adapt to the different policies, economies, safety conditions and strategies of different regions; establish an advanced, systematic and operable system of critical characteristics and indexes; and compile the calculation methods and steps to apply the index system for project evaluation. Finally, the calculation results of practical examples of power grid projects are referenced to prove the scientificity and accuracy of the index system and evaluation method and effectively support the investment decision of grid construction.

Zelkova schneideriana is a fast-growing tree species endemic to China. Recent surveys and reports have highlighted a continued decline in its natural populations; therefore, it is included in the Red List of Threatened Species by The International Union for Conservation of Nature. A new variety “HenTianGao” (H) has been developed with smaller plant height, slow growth, and lower branching points. In this study, we attempted to understand the differences in plant height of Z. schneideriana (J) and its dwarf variety H. We determined the endogenous hormone content in the annual grafted branches of both J and H. J exhibited higher gibberellic acid (GA)-19 and trans-Zeatin (tZ) levels, whereas H had higher levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) catabolite 2-oxindole-3-acetic acid (OxIAA), IAA-Glu conjugate, and jasmonic acid (JA) (and its conjugate JA-Ile). The transcriptome comparison showed differential regulation of 20,944 genes enriched in growth and development, signaling, and metabolism-related pathways. The results show that the differential phytohormone level (IAA, JA, tZ, and GA) was consistent with the expression of the genes associated with their biosynthesis. The differences in relative OxIAA, IAA-Glu, GA19, trans-Zeatin, JA, and JA-Ile levels were linked to changes in respective signaling-related genes. We also observed significant differences in the expression of cell size, number, proliferation, cell wall biosynthesis, and remodeling-related genes in J and H. The differences in relative endogenous hormone levels, expression of biosynthesis, and signaling genes provide a theoretical basis for understanding the plant height differences in Z. schneideriana.

Biomass syngas can be considered as a supplementary fuel to partially substitute coal, which is beneficial to CO2 emission reduction. For the case study, the influences of co-firing typical biomass syngas (gasification from palm, straw, and wood) with coal on the thermodynamic parameters of a 300 MW tangentially fired boiler are evaluated through a thermal calculation based on the principles of mass conservation, heat conservation, and heat transfer. The effects of boiler loads, biomass syngas species, and consumption rates are discussed. The results show that the introduction of biomass syngas weakens the radiative characteristics of the flame and reduces the furnace exit flue-gas temperature. As 3 × 104 m3 h−1 of wood syngas is introduced, the decrement of thermal efficiency reaches 0.4%, while that of the coal consumption rate is 5.1%. The retrofitting of the boiler was not necessary and the corrosion of the low-temperature heating surface did not appear. The CO2 annual emission reduction could achieve 0.001 to 0.095 million tons for palm syngas, 0.005 to 0.069 million tons for straw syngas, and 0.013 to 0.107 million tons for wood syngas with increasing biomass syngas consumption rates under the full load. Moreover, the main thermodynamic parameters changed more significantly under the low loads.

Biomass gasification technology is a clean and renewable energy utilization approach. Understanding the evolution of gasification product properties is crucial to achieving carbon neutrality goals. A fixed-bed reactor is employed for the biomass gasification with CO2 in this study. Various methodologies have been conducted to characterize the syngas, tar, and biochar produced from the electric gasification (EG) and microwave gasification (MG) of oak and corn stalk samples at different temperatures. When gasifying the same biomass at the same temperature, the syngas yield of MG is generally 3–7% higher than that of EG, and the difference increases with decreasing temperature. The biochar yield of MG is 3–6% higher than that of EG. EG produces more tar at 600–800 °C. The yield of syngas increases as the gasification temperature rises from 600 to 1000 °C, but that of tar and biochar falls. The syngas mainly comprises H2, CH4, CO, and CO2. MG produces 8–15% higher CO content and 2.5–3.5% higher H2 content than EG. This is due to different heating mechanisms. The net calorific value of syngas increases with temperature, reaching a maximum of 11.61 MJ m−3 at 1000 °C for syngas from corn stalk MG. When the temperature rises from 600 to 1000 °C, more primary tars are converted into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). At 900 °C, corn stalk biochar from MG has a maximum specific total pore volume (0.62 cm3 g−1), surface area (525.87 m2 g−1), and average pore diameter (4.18 nm). The intensities of the characteristic peaks of biochar functional groups decrease gradually. The heating method has little effect on the types of functional groups.

Abstract Objective Most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in China have some degree of liver cirrhosis. The effect of cirrhosis on the long-term prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of liver cirrhosis on the prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy. Methods Data from patients who underwent hepatectomy and had pathologically confirmed HCC were retrospectively collected. The patients’ clinical pathological data were recorded. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to eliminate the influence of potential confounding factors. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to calculate the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates, and Cox regression analysis was used to screen for independent risk factors affecting OS and RFS. Results A total of 1381 HCC patients who were initially treated with hepatectomy were included, including 797 patients with liver cirrhosis. The RFS and OS rates in the group with cirrhosis were significantly lower than those in the group without cirrhosis (after PSM, RFS: P 400, intraoperative blood loss, tumor diameter > 5 cm, satellite lesions, and large vessel invasion were independent risk factors for RFS, while albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), tumor diameter > 5 cm, satellite lesions, microvascular invasion, and macrovascular invasion were independent risk factors for OS. Conclusion HCC with liver cirrhosis has specific characteristics. Compared with patients without cirrhosis, patients with cirrhosis have worse long-term survival after surgery. In addition, the independent risk factors for RFS and OS are different between patients with cirrhosis and without cirrhosis; liver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor for the long-term prognosis of HCC patients, especially patients with BCLC stage 0-B disease after hepatectomy.

Yunnan Province is the major coffee cultivation region in China, and coffee beans produced in Yunnan account for approximately 99% of the total national coffee production. So far, the sensory properties of Yunnan coffee have not been subjected to descriptive analysis. Here, we selected 25 representative coffee bean samples that are produced in different cultivation areas of Yunnan and with different degrees of roasting. A total of 57 sensory descriptors have been associated with the samples, and a sensory wheel that summarizes the sensory characteristics was developed. In addition, to identify the major attributes associated with Yunnan coffee, principal component analysis was performed, and we also explored how the bean origin and degree of roasting are related to the overall sensory features of Yunnan coffee. Our results show that the growing area is an affecting factor on the aspects of “spices”, “roasted”, “sweet” and “chemical/stale”, whereas “mouthfeel” and “roasted”, and “sour/acid” levels can be influenced by the degree of roasting. The present sensory characterization may provide valuable information for future improvements of Yunnan's coffee agriculture.

Michelia crassipes is a great ornamental plant, the flowers of which have high economic value. In this study, we employed headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS–SPME) combined with gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS) for the first time to identify the volatile compounds emitted from different organs of M. crassipes flowers at different flowering stages. M. crassipes flower odor comprises 69 volatile compounds that are dominated by terpenes constituting 84% of collected volatiles. It was found that α-guaiene, β-caryophyllene and germacrene B had the highest relative amounts, while ethyl 3-methyl valerate, methyl benzoate and β-damascone had the highest odor activity values (OAVs). This contributed to the complex fruity, woody and floral aromas of M. crassipes. Total odor emission increased along the flower blooming, which was most abundant in the pistil followed by tepals and stamens. Paraffin sections of M. crassipes flower organs showed the highest density of oil secretory cells in the pistil at the full flowering stage, which was positively correlated with total odor release. The scent of the pistil and tepals was characterized by terpenes, whereas stamens was characterized by benzenoids. We suggest that the benzenoids in stamens might contribute to pollinator attraction in M. crassipes.

Butanol dehydrogenase (BDH) plays a significant role in the biosynthesis of butanol in bacteria by catalyzing butanal conversion to butanol at the expense of the NAD(P)H cofactor. BDH is an attractive enzyme for industrial application in butanol production; however, its molecular function remains largely uncharacterized. In this study, we found that Fusobacterium nucleatum YqdH (FnYqdH) converts aldehyde into alcohol by utilizing NAD(P)H, with broad substrate specificity toward aldehydes but not alcohols. An in vitro metal ion substitution experiment showed that FnYqdH has higher enzyme activity in the presence of Co2+. Crystal structures of FnYqdH, in its apo and complexed forms (with NAD and Co2+), were determined at 1.98 and 2.72 Å resolution, respectively. The crystal structure of apo- and cofactor-binding states of FnYqdH showed an open conformation between the nucleotide binding and catalytic domain. Key residues involved in the catalytic and cofactor-binding sites of FnYqdH were identified by mutagenesis and microscale thermophoresis assays. The structural conformation and preferred optimal metal ion of FnYqdH differed from that of TmBDH (homolog protein of FnYqdH). Overall, we proposed an alternative model for putative proton relay in FnYqdH, thereby providing better insight into the molecular function of BDH.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a lesion-associated obligate anaerobic pathogen of destructive periodontal disease; it is also implicated in the progression and severity of colorectal cancer. Four genes (FN0625, FN1055, FN1220, and FN1419) of F. nucleatum are involved in producing hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which plays an essential role against oxidative stress. The molecular functions of Fn1419 are known, but their mechanisms remain unclear. We determined the crystal structure of Fn1419 at 2.5 Å, showing the unique conformation of the PLP-binding site when compared with L-methionine γ-lyase (MGL) proteins. Inhibitor screening for Fn1419 with L-cysteine showed that two natural compounds, gallic acid and dihydromyricetin, selectively inhibit the H2S production of Fn1419. The chemicals of gallic acid, dihydromyricetin, and its analogs containing trihydroxybenzene, were potentially responsible for the enzyme-inhibiting activity on Fn1419. Molecular docking and mutational analyses suggested that Gly112, Pro159, Val337, and Arg373 are involved in gallic acid binding and positioned close to the substrate and pyridoxal-5′-phosphate-binding site. Gallic acid has little effect on the other H2S-producing enzymes (Fn1220 and Fn1055). Overall, we proposed a molecular mechanism underlying the action of Fn1419 from F. nucleatum and found a new lead compound for inhibitor development.

The macrophage checkpoint interaction CD47-SIRPα is an emerging target for cancer therapy, but clinical trials of monoclonal anti-CD47 show efficacy only in liquid tumors when combined with tumor-opsonizing IgG. Here, in challenging metastatic solid tumors, CD47 deletion shows no effect on tumor growth unless combined with otherwise ineffective tumor-opsonization, and we likewise show wild-type metastases are suppressed by SIRPα-blocked macrophages plus tumor-opsonization. Lung tumor nodules of syngeneic B16F10 melanoma cells with CD47 deletion show opsonization drives macrophage phagocytosis of B16F10s, consistent with growth versus phagocytosis calculus for exponential suppression of cancer. Wild-type CD47 levels on metastases in lungs of immunocompetent mice and on human metastases in livers of immunodeficient mice show that systemic injection of antibody-engineered macrophages also suppresses growth. Such in vivo functionality can be modulated by particle pre-loading of the macrophages. Thus, even though CD47-SIRPα disruption and tumor-opsonizing IgG are separately ineffective against established metastatic solid tumors, their combination in molecular and cellular therapies prolongs survival.

Published genome sequences can facilitate multiple genome sequencing studies of flower development, which can serve as the basis for later analysis of variation in flower phenotypes. To identify potential regulators related to flower morphology, we captured dynamic expression patterns under five different developmental stages of petunia flowers, a popular bedding plant, using transcriptome and miRNA sequencing. The significant transcription factor (TF) families, including MYB, MADS, and bHLH, were elucidated. MADS-box genes exhibited co-expression patterns with BBR-BPC, GATA, and Dof genes in different modules according to a weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Through miRNA sequencing, a total of 45 conserved and 26 novel miRNAs were identified. According to GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, the carbohydrate metabolic process, photosynthesis, and phenylalanine metabolism were significant at the transcriptomic level, while the response to hormone pathways was significantly enriched by DEmiR-targeted genes. Finally, an miRNA–RNA network was constructed, which suggested the possibility of novel miRNA-mediated regulation pathways being activated during flower development. Overall, the expression data in the present study provide novel insights into the developmental gene regulatory network facilitated by TFs, miRNA, and their target genes.

With the emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant bacterial pathogens, phage therapy and other alternative or additional therapeutic modalities are receiving resurgent attention. One of the major obstacles in developing effective phage therapies is the evolution of phage resistance in the bacterial host. When Pseudomonas aeruginosa was infected with a phage that uses O-antigen as receptor, phage resistances typically achieved through changing or loss of O-antigen structure. In this study, we showed that dsRNA phage phiYY uses core lipopolysaccharide as receptor and therefore efficiently kills the O-antigen deletion mutants. Furthermore, by phage training, we obtained PaoP5-m1, a derivative of dsDNA phage PaoP5, which is able to infect mutants with truncated O-antigen. We then generated a cocktail by mixing phiYY and PaoP5-m1 with additional three wide host range P. aeruginosa phages. The phage cocktail was effective against a diverse selection of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, and in the short-term constrained the appearance of the phage-resistant mutants that had beleaguered the effectiveness of single phage. Resistance to the 5-phage cocktail emerges after several days, and requires mutations in both wzy and migA Thus, this study provides an alternative strategy for designing phage cocktail and phage therapy.

Abstract Organic matter (OM) fractions and their removal potentials in various stages of anaerobic–anoxic–oxic (A2/O) process were identified and evaluated. Molecular weight (MW) distribution of organic matter by continuous filtration method was used to characterize OM in influent and treated effluent. The results showed the MW of each reaction pool distributed in a U shape and ranged with particle size >0.45 μm and molecular weight 0.45 μm, 10–30, 5–10, and

The ratio of expectation crossings of dielectric elastomer balloon excited by random pressure is analytically evaluated in this letter. The Mooney–Rivlin model is adopted to describe the constitutive relation while the random pressure is described by Gaussian white noise. Through a specific transformation, the stochastic differential equations for the total energy and phase are derived. With the application of the stochastic averaging, the system total energy is then approximated by a one-dimensional diffusion process. Solving the associated Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov (FPK) equation yields the stationary probability density of the system total energy. The ratio of expectation crossings is then derived based on the joint stationary probability density of stretch ratio and its ratio of change. The efficacy and accuracy of the proposed procedure are verified by comparing with the results from Monte Carlo simulation (MCS).

BackgroundEffects of extreme sleep duration on risk of mortality and cardiovascular outcomes remain controversial. We aimed to quantify the dose‐response relationships of sleep duration with risk of all‐cause mortality, total cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Methods and ResultsPubMed and Embase were systematically searched for prospective cohort studies published before December 1, 2016, that examined the associations between sleep duration and at least 1 of the 4 outcomes in generally healthy populations. U‐shaped associations were indicated between sleep duration and risk of all outcomes, with the lowest risk observed for ≈7‐hour sleep duration per day, which was varied little by sex. For all‐cause mortality, when sleep duration was 7 hours per day, the pooled RR was 1.13 (95% CI, 1.11–1.15) per 1‐hour increment. For total cardiovascular disease, the pooled RR was 1.06 (95% CI, 1.03–1.08) per 1‐hour reduction and 1.12 (95% CI, 1.08–1.16) per 1‐hour increment of sleep duration. For coronary heart disease, the pooled RR was 1.07 (95% CI, 1.03–1.12) per 1‐hour reduction and 1.05 (95% CI, 1.00–1.10) per 1‐hour increment of sleep duration. For stroke, the pooled RR was 1.05 (95% CI, 1.01–1.09) per 1‐hour reduction and 1.18 (95% CI, 1.14–1.21) per 1‐hour increment of sleep duration. ConclusionsOur findings indicate that both short and long sleep duration is associated with an increased risk of all‐cause mortality and cardiovascular events.

Bacillus possesses the peptide toxin Sporulation-Delaying Protein (SDP), which can kill cells within a biofilm to support continued growth, thereby delaying the onset of biofilm sporulation. The four-component transporter YknWXYZ acts as a major SDP efflux pump to protect cells against the endogenous SDP toxin, for which YknYZ is a non-canonical ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-type transporter. YknYZ consists of the following two components: (1) an individual protein (YknY) and (2) a respective permease (YknZ). To date, the crystal structure, molecular function, and mechanism of action of the integral membrane protein YknZ remain to be elucidated. In this study, to characterize the structural and biochemical roles of YknZ in the functional assembly of YknWXYZ, we predicted and overexpressed the YknZ extracellular domain. We determined the crystal structure of B. amyloliquefaciens YknZ at a resolution of 2.0 Å. The structure revealed that the YknZ extracellular region exhibits significant structural similarity with the MacB periplasmic domain, which is a non-canonical ABC-type transporter in the tripartite macrolide-specific efflux pump in Gram-negative bacteria. We also found that the YknZ extracellular domain can directly bind to an extracellular component of YknX. This structural and biochemical study provides insights into the assembly of YknWXYZ, which may be relevant to understanding cannibalistic peptide toxin resistance in Bacillus and controlling bacterial growth.

Chromium has long been known as an enhancer of insulin action. However, the role of chromium in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in humans remains controversial. The current study aimed to examine the associations of plasma chromium levels with T2DM and pre-diabetes mellitus (pre-DM). We conducted a case-control study involving 1471 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM, 682 individuals with newly diagnosed pre-DM, and 2290 individuals with normal glucose tolerance in a Chinese population from 2009 to 2014. Plasma chromium was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Plasma chromium levels were lower in the T2DM and pre-DM groups than in the control group (median: 3.68 μg/L, 3.61 μg/L, 3.97 μg/L, respectively, p < 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for T2DM across increasing quartiles of plasma chromium levels were 1 (referent), 0.67 (0.55–0.83), 0.64 (0.51–0.79), and 0.58 (0.46–0.73), respectively (p for trend