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Abstract Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a developmental process related to the regeneration of tissue-cultured plants, which serves as a useful technique for crop breeding and improvement. However, SE in cotton is difficult and elusive due to the lack of precise cellular level information on the reprogramming of gene expression patterns involved in somatic embryogenesis. Here, we investigate the spatial and single-cell expression profiles of key genes and the metabolic patterns of key metabolites by integrated single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics (ST), and spatial metabolomics (SM). To evaluate the results of these analyses, we functionally characterized the potential roles of two representative marker genes, AATP1 and DOX2, in the regulation of cotton somatic embryo development. A publicly available web-based resource database ( https://cotton.cricaas.com.cn/somaticembryo/ ) in this study provides convenience for future studies of the expression patterns of marker genes at specific developmental stages during the process of SE in cotton.

Abstract Cotton fibers are single cells that develop from the epidermal cells in the outer integument of developing seeds. The processes regulating fiber cell development have been extensively studied; however, the spatiotemporal transcriptome and metabolome profiles during the early stages of fiber development remain largely unknown. In this study, we profile the dynamics of transcriptome and metabolome during the early stages of cotton fiber cell development using a combination of spatial transcriptomic, single-cell transcriptomic, and spatial metabolomic analyses. We identify the key genes (e.g., DOX2, KCS19.4, BEE3, and HOS3.7) and metabolites (e.g., linoleic acid, spermine, spermidine, and α-linolenic acid) that may regulate the early development of fiber cells. Finally, knockdown and gain-of-function analyses identify the crucial role of GhBEE3/Gh_A09G062900 in cotton fiber initiation. We also construct a publicly accessible website ( https://cotton.cricaas.com.cn/ovule/ ) for visualization of the spatiotemporal gene expression in cotton, providing a reference dataset for further studies on cotton fiber development.

Abstract Salt bladders, specialized structures on the surface of quinoa leaves, secrete Na+ to mitigate the effects of the plant from abiotic stresses, particularly salt exposure. Understanding the development of these structures is crucial for elucidating quinoa’s salt tolerance mechanisms. In this study, we employed transmission electron microscopy to detail cellular differentiation across the developmental stages of quinoa salt bladders. To further explore the developmental trajectory and underlying molecular mechanisms, we conducted single-cell RNA sequencing on quinoa protoplasts derived from young leaves. This allowed us to construct a cellular atlas, identifying 13 distinct cell clusters. Through pseudotime analysis, we mapped the developmental pathways of salt bladders and identified regulatory factors involved in cell fate decisions. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, as well as experimental results, revealed the impacts of salt stress and the deprivation of sulfur and nitrogen on the development of quinoa salt bladders. Analysis of the transcription factor interaction network in pre-stalk cells (pre-SC), stalk cells (SC), and epidermal bladder cells (EBCs) indicated that TCP5, YAB5, NAC078, SCL8, GT-3B, and T1P17.40 play crucial roles in EBC development. Based on our findings, we developed an informative model elucidating salt bladder formation. This study provides a vital resource for mapping quinoa leaf cells and contributes to our understanding of its salt tolerance mechanisms.

Dietary parboiled rice (PR) has a low risk of disease, but little is known about the contribution of PR to the prevention of hyperlipidemia. The potential role and underlying mechanisms of PR in hyperlipidemia were evaluated in this study. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with a normal diet, high-fat diet (HFD) containing refined rice (HFDRR) or PR (HFDPR). It was found that PR intervention improved lipid accumulation in mice. Transcriptomic data analysis revealed that 27 genes were up-regulated (mostly involved in lipid breakdown) and 86 genes were down-regulated (mostly involved in inflammatory responses) in the HFDPR group compared to the HFDRR group. And 15 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), while protein interaction network showed that protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C (PTPRC) has a central role. The gut microbiota of mice was also altered after different dietary treatments, with higher ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, increased abundances of Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Christensenellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Rikenellaceae and Prevotellaceae, and decreased abundances of Lactobacillaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae and Actinobacteria in the HFDRR group. In addition, it was observed that PPAR signaling pathway may act as a bridge between DEGs and differential gut microbiota. These results suggested that PR can prevent hyperlipidemia by modulating liver genes and gut microbiota.

Societal Impact Statement Gossypol and its derivatives represent a class of toxic and immunosuppressive compounds that are naturally synthesized in cottonseed. These compounds pose several health hazards to humans and animals, such as heart and lung damage, breathing difficulties, and death in swine. In poultry, gossypol reduces egg production and slows growth. Studies have also shown that gossypol can indirectly harm humans and animals through the food chain. Although several physical and chemical approaches are adopted to reduce gossypol levels in cottonseed before food and feed processing, these techniques are expensive. Therefore, genetically regulating gossypol production in cotton could provide a cheaper alternative. Summary Cotton (Gossypium spp.), the most important fiber crop, is cultivated in over a hundred countries to provide raw materials for the growing textile industry. The seed obtained after delinting cotton is a rich source of protein with a vast potential for oil and feed production. Cottonseed oil production is estimated at 5.08 million metric tons and is expected to generate over 6.56 billion United States Dollars in revenue by 2029. The cake from defatted cottonseed is used as animal feed and food supplements. However, the contamination of gossypol in cottonseed limits its use. Gossypol ingestion impairs weight gain and causes anorexia, respiratory distress, and death under extreme exposure. This review highlights the significance of cottonseed oil and meal; the pharmacological uses and impact of gossypol; the chemistry, toxicity, and bioactivity of gossypol; and the physical and chemical methods used in gossypol removal during feed and food supplement processing. In addition, the biosynthetic pathway of gossypol and attempts to genetically transform some key regulators of this pathway to produce glandless cottonseed or reduce the gossypol levels in the seed are discussed.

PurposeThe objective of this study is to gain a more nuanced understanding of the specific impact of income inequality on the utilization of healthcare services for older adults. Additionally, the study aims to elucidate the moderating and mediating roles of public transfer income and psychological health in this context.MethodsA systematic examination of the impact of income inequality on healthcare utilization among older adults was conducted through field questionnaire surveys in six cities across three major geographical regions (West, Central, and East). The analysis employed baseline regression, as well as mediating and moderating effect tests.ResultsFirst, there is a negative relationship between income inequality and the use of therapeutic healthcare services (β1 = −0.484, P < 0.01) and preventive healthcare services (β2 = −0.576, P < 0.01) by older adults. This relationship is more pronounced in the low- and medium-income groups as well as in the western region. The mediating effect of psychological state is significant (β3 = −0.331, P < 0.05, β4 = −0.331, P < 0.05). Public transfer income plays a significant role in regulation. The moderating effect of public transfer income on therapeutic services was more significant in low-income groups (β5 = 0.821, P < 0.01). The moderating effect of public transfer income on preventive services was more significant in middle-income groups (β6 = 0.833, P < 0.01).ConclusionThe study clearly demonstrates a significant negative correlation between income inequality and the utilization of healthcare services by older adults. Furthermore, the study reveals that this relationship is particularly pronounced among older adults in low- and medium-income and Western regions. This detailed analysis of regional and income level heterogeneity is of particular value in this field of research. Secondly, this study attempts to integrate the two pivotal dimensions of public transfer income and psychological state for the first time, elucidating their moderating and mediating roles in this relationship. The findings indicate that public transfer income serves as a moderating factor, exerting a notable “reordering effect” on income inequality and resulting in a “deprivation effect.” Such factors may impede the utilization of medical services, potentially influencing the psychological state of older adults.

Background: Didymin is a dietary flavonoid derived from citrus fruits and has been shown to have extensive biological functions, especially anti-inflammatory effects, but its mechanism is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism of didymin that alleviates ulcerative colitis. Methods and Results: Our results indicated that didymin could alleviate the symptoms of ulcerative colitis, as it inhibited the expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Didymin also promoted the expressions of claudin-1 and zona occludens-1(ZO-1), which are closely related with restoring colon barrier function. Didymin also increased the abundance of Firmicutes and Verrucomicobiota, while decreasing the abundance of Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria. Meanwhile, didymin significantly altered the levels of metabolites related to arginine synthesis and metabolism, and lysine degradation in the colitis mice. Utilizing network pharmacology and molecular docking, our results showed that the metabolites L-ornithine and saccharin could interact with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). In this in vitro study, L-ornithine could reduce the expressions of transcription factors STAT3 and NF-κB, and it also inhibited the expressions of IL-6 and IL-1β in the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced in RAW264.7 cells, while saccharin had the opposite effect. Conclusions: Taken together, didymin can regulate gut microbiota and alter metabolite products, which can modulate STAT3 and NF-κB pathways and inhibit the expressions of inflammatory factors and inflammatory response in the DSS-induced colitis mice.

Excessive inflammatory reactions are the most important pathological injury factor in acute lung injury (ALI). Our recent study found that sialic acid had an anti-colitis effect. In this study, the effect of sialic acid (SA) on acute lung inflammation was investigated. A lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI animal model and LPS-stimulated HUVEC cell model were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of SA and study its molecular mechanisms. Compared with the LPS group, the lung index of the SA group decreased from 0.79 ± 0.05% to 0.58 ± 0.06% (LPS + 50 SA) and 0.62 ± 0.02% (LPS + 100 SA), with p < 0.01, suggesting that SA could improve the pulmonary edema of mice and alleviate LPS-induced lung injury. Transcriptome research identified 26 upregulated genes and 25 downregulated genes involved in the protection of SA against ALI. These genes are mainly related to the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Our study also proved that SA markedly downregulated the expression of inflammatory factors and blocked the JNK/p38/PPAR-γ/NF-κB pathway. Meanwhile, SA treatment also upregulated the expression of HO-1 and NQO1 in ALI mice. In vitro, SA obviously repressed the expressions of inflammatory cytokines and the JNK/p38-NF-κB/AP-1 pathway. SA also regulated the expression of oxidative stress-related genes through the Nrf2 pathway. Taken together, SA exhibits a protective role by modulating the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation pathways in ALI, and it may be a promising candidate for functional foods to prevent ALI.

Objective: To find the material basis of antioxidant activity of Sedum aizoon L. based on the study of spectrum-effect relationship, which provided a certain reference for its quality control. Method: The fringerprint of Sedum aizoon L. from different areas were established by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) and the similarity of the samples were evaluated. At the same time, the spectrum-effect relationship between HPLC-ECD fingerprint of Sedum aizoon L. and antioxidant activity was studied by partial least squares regression analysis and grey correlation analysis. Results: The HPLC-ECD fingerprint of Sedum aizoon L was established. The similarity of the samples was high and 17 common peaks were obtained. Among them, the 12 components were identified with the standard solution, including gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, tryptophan, methyl gallate, epigallocatechin, caffeic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, iriflophene, myricitrin, isoquercitrin, rosmarinic acid and quercitrin. The spectrum relationship showed that the variables important in projection (VIP) scores of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, rosmarinic acid and quercitrin were greater than 1. Among them, the grey correlation degree of gallic acid, rosmarinic acid and quercitrin was nearly 0.8. Furthermore, epigallocatechin gallate, myricitrin, isoquercitrin, rosmarinic acid and quercitrin had higher libdock score in molecular docking. Therefore, epigallocatechin gallate, myricitrin, isoquercitrin, rosmarinic acid and quercitrin were the primary components contributing to the antioxidant activity of Sedum aizoon L.. Conclusion: The basis of antioxidant activity of Sedum aizoon L. was determined by the study of spectrum effect relationship with chemometrics, which provides a certain scientific basis for the quality evaluation of Sedum aizoon L..

In order to study the spectrum-effect relationship between fingerprint and antioxidant activity of the leaves of Vitex negundo var. cannabifolia, the fingerprints of 18 batches of V. negundo var. cannabifolia leaves were established by high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD), and the cluster analysis of medicinal materials from different sources was performed simultaneously. The main phenolic compounds from V. negundo var. cannabifolia leaves were identified and determined. The contents of total phenolics and total flavonoids in V. negundo var. cannabifolia leaves were analyzed, and the antioxidant activities in vitro were evaluated by the methods of DPPH radical scavenging capacity, ABTS radical scavenging capacity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity and ferric ion reducing ability power. The spectrum-effect relationships of V. negundo var. cannabifolia leaves were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis, gray relational analysis and partial least square regression analysis. The results were as follows: (1) The fingerprints of V. negundo var. cannabifolia leaves were established with 21 common peaks and a total of 10 peaks were identified. The order of content was chlorogenic acid > isoorientin > luteoloside > isovitexin > isochlorogenic acid A > isochlorogenic acid C > protocatechuic acid > orientin > isochlorogenic acid B > neochlorogenic acid. The similarity among the samples from different producing areas was high, and the values were ranged from 0.816 to 0.983. (2) The results of the cluster analysis showed that the content of the compounds had a certain influence on the classification and the samples from different sources were divided into three categories, among which the samples from the south and the north were different. (3) The contents of total phenolics and total flavonoids in V. negundo var. cannabifolia leaves were 15.82 to 61.83 mg·g-1 and 27.85 to 157.65 mg·g-1, respectively, and the antioxidant activity of all samples from V. negundo var. cannabifolia leaves existed differences. (4) The spectrum-effect relationship indicated that the antioxidant activity of V. negundo var. cannabifolia leaves was the result of the synergistic effect of many compounds, and compounds such as peak 9 (isoorientin), peak 4 and peak 5 (chlorogenic acid) made the greatest contribution to the antioxidant activity of V. negundo var. cannabifolia leaves. V. negundo var. cannabifolia has good antioxidant activity, and the main activity indexes are isoorientin and chlorogenic acid. This study can provide a reference basis for the screening and quality control of antioxidant components in V. negundo var. cannabifolia.

Vitex negundo has strong antioxidant activity, but its primary antioxidant components are not clear. In this study, the antioxidant components were screened by offline two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection (2D-LC-ECD) and subsequently assessed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) identification, radical scavenging capacity, and molecular docking. Various fractions were isolated from Vitex negundo leaves, and 39 antioxidant components were screened and identified. All of the fractions containing the antioxidant components exhibited certain antioxidant activity. Correlation analysis revealed a strong correlation between the response of LC-ECD and the in vitro antioxidant activity of the fractions. Molecular docking demonstrated that components with high response to LC-ECD exhibited robust interaction with antioxidant-related target proteins. The main antioxidant components of Vitex negundo leaves were isoorientin, chlorogenic acid, agnuside, cynaroside, and scutellarin. The 2D-LC-ECD combined with LC-MS/MS was rapid and effective in screening the antioxidant components in Vitex negundo leaves and could also provide technical support for the discovery of antioxidant components with different polarities and contents in other medicinal and edible plants.

Abstract Through crosstalk, FLAGELLIN SENSITIVE 2 (FLS2) and RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOG D (RBOHD) are involved in regulating the homeostasis of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are linked to the metabolic response of plants toward both biotic and abiotic stress. In the present study, we examined the metabolome of Arabidopsis seedlings under drought and salt conditions to better understand the potential role of FLS2 and RBOHD‐dependent signaling in the regulation of abiotic stress response. We identified common metabolites and genes that are regulated by FLS2 and RBOHD, and are involved in the response to drought and salt stress. Under drought conditions, D‐aspartic acid and the expression of associated genes, such as ASPARAGINE SYNTHASE 2 (ASN2), increased in both fls2 and robed/f double mutants. The accumulation of amino acids, carbohydrates, and hormones, such as L‐proline, D‐ribose, and indoleacetaldehyde increased in both fls2 and rbohd/f double mutants under salt conditions, as did the expression of related genes, such as PROLINE IMINOPEPTIDASE, PHOSPHORIBOSYL PYROPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 5, and NITRILASE 3. Collectively, these results indicate that the FLS2‐RBOHD module regulates plant response to drought and salt stress through ROS signaling by adjusting the accumulation of metabolites and expression of genes related to metabolite synthesis.

The Seven Victories is one of the most influential works in Catholic literature from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The seven victories spiritual cultivation contained therein is the result of the localization of the practice of the Christian faith in the West. It is still a living tradition in the Christian religion and even in Western culture. Since the end of the Ming Dynasty, The Seven Victories has aroused significant repercussions in the ecclesiastical and academic worlds. Some scholars converted to Catholicism because of The Seven Victories and wrote preambles in response to it; some scholars wrote essays criticizing the ethical ideas of The Seven Victories; and some scholars were inspired by The Seven Victories to write about Confucian ideas of sin, the work of reform, and the liturgy of repentance. Together, these constitute the history of the reception of The Seven Victories in China. Through Confucian culture integration, Chinese Christian scholars have developed a localized interpretation of the seven victories spiritual cultivation, resulting in a localized Chinese spiritual cultivation of sin.

IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in China, the silent management (Lockdown) policy has caused severe sleep problems for university students. Long-term isolation may further deteriorate sleep quality, and it requires practical interventions. Today in mental and sleep health, interventions based on Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian ethics have been proven effective in reducing cognition and sleep disorders. However, such interventions also have limitations. They tend to focus on peace of mind or some technical means with the main direction of symptom improvement but neglect the mundane activities of daily life.MethodsWe conducted an innovative tranquil sitting intervention program based on the Chinese Confucian value of the “tranquility and reverence” method, integrating various intervention techniques traditionally recognized as effective for achieving more lasting mental health and sleep quality. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of a tranquil sitting intervention in improving sleep problems in isolated university students. Using a randomized control trial (RCT), the participants in the intervention program (n = 35) practiced the tranquil sitting intervention program for ten weeks. They had their PSQI scores measured at the pre-experimental, post-test, and 1-month follow-up time points and compared to the control group (n = 35).ResultsThe participants who received the tranquil sitting intervention had significantly better sleep quality than the control group, with moderate to large effect sizes in the middle and late stages. The instructor may challenge the intervention group at the beginning of the tranquil sitting technique. However, the improvement in sleep quality was significant after fully mastering the method.DiscussionThe intervention program in this study emphasized the importance of “tranquility” and showed the same sleep improvement as in other traditional interventions. In conclusion, this intervention is a feasible and promising new approach to improving sleep quality among youths.

AimsPrevious studies have proposed the estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) as a simple and cost-effective measure of arterial stiffness. Since arterial stiffness plays a role in the progression of silent lacunar infarct (SLI), our present work aims to evaluate the association between ePWV and the presence of SLI.MethodsThe present work was based on a cross-section study. Our study included 1,011 neurologically healthy Korean participants. The SLI was evaluated using brain magnetic resonance images (MRI). The ePWV was derived from a published equation using age and mean blood pressure (MBP). Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between ePWV and SLI. The linear relationship and robustness were evaluated using smooth curve fitting and subgroup analyses, respectively.ResultsThe prevalence of SLI was 11.87%. After fully adjusting for covariates, per 1 m/s increase of ePWV casted 31% additional risk for SLI (P = 0.009). When dividing the ePWV into quartiles, the top quartile had 4.01 times risk compared with the bottom quartile. The increasing trend across the quartiles was statistically significant (P for trend < 0.001). Consistently, smooth curve fitting revealed that the risk of SLI elevated linearly with the increase of ePWV. Finally, subgroup analysis suggested that the association was robust in several sub-populations divided by age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary artery occlusive disease (CAOD), hyperlipidemia, and statin medication (all P for interaction > 0.05).ConclusionThe current study revealed an independent and positive association between ePWV and the presence of SLI in a neurologically healthy Korean population.

LAMA2-related congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1A), the most commonly recognized type of congenital muscular dystrophies, is a severe neonatal onset muscle disease caused by recessive mutations in the LAMA2 gene. Here, we established an induced pluripotent stem cell line from a MDC1A patient carrying a frameshift deletion c.3367delA in LAMA2 gene. The iPSC line expressed pluripotency markers, retained normal karyotype, showed capability of differentiating into three germ layers. The iPSC line will help to further elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of LAMA2 mutation, and benefit treatment for congenital muscular dystrophies in the future.

Over the course of evolution, plants have developed plasticity to acclimate to environmental stresses such as drought and salt stress. These plant adaptation measures involve the activation of cascades of molecular networks involved in stress perception, signal transduction and the expression of stress related genes. Here, we investigated the role of the plasma membrane-localized transporter of auxin PINFORMED1 (PIN1) in the regulation of pavement cells (PCs) and guard cells (GCs) development under drought and salt stress conditions. The results showed that drought and salt stress treatment affected the development of PCs and GCs. Further analysis identified the different regulation mechanisms of PIN1 in regulating the developmental patterns of PCs and GCs under drought and salt stress conditions. Drought and salt stress also regulated the expression dynamics of PIN1 in pif1/3/4/5 quadruple mutants. Collectively, we revealed that PIN1 plays a crucial role in regulating plant epidermal cells development under drought and salt stress conditions, thus contributing to developmental rebustness and plasticity.

The natural environment of plants comprises a complex set of biotic and abiotic stresses, and plant responses to these stresses are complex as well. Plant proteomics approaches have significantly revealed dynamic changes in plant proteome responses to stress and developmental processes. Thus, we reviewed the recent advances in cotton proteomics research under changing environmental conditions, considering the progress and challenging factors. Finally, we highlight how single-cell proteomics is revolutionizing plant research at the proteomics level. We envision that future cotton proteomics research at the single-cell level will provide a more complete understanding of cotton’s response to stresses.

Due to today’s fast-paced lifestyle, most people are in a state of sub-health and face “unexplained fatigue”, which can seriously affect their health, work efficiency, and quality of life. Fatigue is also a common symptom of several serious diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer, etc. However, the contributing mechanisms are not clear, and there are currently no official recommendations for the treatment of fatigue. Some dietary polysaccharides are often used as health care supplements; these have been reported to have specific anti-fatigue effects, with minor side effects and rich pharmacological activities. Dietary polysaccharides can be activated during food processing or during gastrointestinal transit, exerting unique effects. This review aims to comprehensively summarize and evaluate the latest advances in the biological processes of exercise-induced fatigue, to understand dietary polysaccharides and their possible molecular mechanisms in alleviating exercise-induced fatigue, and to systematically elaborate the roles of gut microbiota and the gut-muscle axis in this process. From the perspective of the gut-muscle axis, investigating the relationship between polysaccharides and fatigue will enhance our understanding of fatigue and may lead to a significant breakthrough regarding the molecular mechanism of fatigue. This paper will provide new perspectives for further research into the use of polysaccharides in food science and food nutrition, which could help develop potential anti-fatigue agents and open up novel therapies for sub-health conditions.

Abstract Background lncRNA may be involved in the occurrence, metastasis, and chemical reaction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through various pathways associated with autophagy. Therefore, it is urgent to reveal more autophagy-related lncRNAs, explore these lncRNAs’ clinical significance, and find new targeted treatment strategies. Methods The corresponding data of HCC patients and autophagy genes were obtained from the TCGA database, and the human autophagy database respectively. Based on the co-expression and Cox regression analysis to construct prognostic prediction signature. Results Finally, a signature containing seven autophagy-related lncRNAs (PRRT3-AS1, RP11-479G22.8, RP11-73M18.8, LINC01138, CTD-2510F5.4, CTC-297N7.9, RP11-324I22.4) was constructed. Based on the risk score of signature, Overall survival (OS) curves show that the OS of high-risk patients is significantly lower than that of low-risk patients (P = 2.292e−10), and the prognostic prediction accuracy of risk score (AUC = 0.786) is significantly higher than that of ALBI (0.532), child_pugh (0.573), AFP (0.5751), and AJCC_stage (0.631). Moreover, multivariate Cox analysis and Nomogram of risk score are indicated that the 1-year and 3-year survival rates of patients are obviously accuracy by the combined analysis of the risk score, child_pugh, age, M_stage, and Grade (The AUC of 1- and 3-years are 0.87, and 0.855). Remarkably, the 7 autophagy-related lncRNAs may participate in Spliceosome, Cell cycle, RNA transport, DNA replication, and mRNA surveillance pathway and be related to the biological process of RNA splicing and mRNA splicing. Conclusion In conclusion, the 7 autophagy-related lncRNAs might be promising prognostic and therapeutic targets for HCC.

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is one of the most important cash crops worldwide. At present, new cotton varieties are mainly produced through conventional cross breeding, which is limited by available germplasm. Although the genome of cotton has been fully sequenced, research on the function of specific genes lags behind due to the lack of sufficient genetic material. Therefore, it is very important to create a cotton mutant library to create new, higher-quality varieties and identify genes associated with the regulation of key traits. Traditional mutagenic strategies, such as physical, chemical, and site-directed mutagenesis, are relatively costly, inefficient, and difficult to perform. In this study, we used a radiation mutation method based on linear electron acceleration to mutate cotton variety ‘TM-1’, for which a whole-genome sequence has previously been performed, to create a high throughput cotton mutant library. Abundant phenotypic variation was observed in the progeny population for three consecutive generations, including cotton fiber color variation, plant dwarfing, significant improvement of yield traits, and increased sensitivity to Verticillium wilt. These results show that radiation mutagenesis is an effective and feasible method to create plant mutant libraries.

With the advancement of marketization, China has achieved rapid economic growth and economic class differentiation. This research analyzes the data from China’s livelihood survey, divides the urban Chinese into five socio-economic classes, and tests their preferences and tendencies for income redistribution. It obtains the general attitude differences in subsidy policy and income inequality during COVID-19. Our conclusion are consistent with the existing literature to a great extent; that is, personal factors (self-interest and belief in fairness) play a crucial role in the attitude of Chinese citizens. In the analysis of situational factors, the results show that the higher the level of marketization, the people are more likely to have stronger negative emotions about subsidy or redistribution policies. Further analysis shows that people with the lowest income are susceptible to the fact that income inequality has become significant and show a strong willingness to support the government’s redistribution policy. In contrast, middle-class people tend to favor the government’s redistribution policy, although they will not benefit much from the redistribution policy. Therefore, they lack the motivation to support the government in vigorously implementing the subsidy policy. Significantly, high-income people are indifferent, as they lack such motivation even more. The difference in redistribution preferences between upper-class and lower-class groups signals polarization in Chinese society, especially income redistribution.

Abstract Objectives Inflammation plays an essential role in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Recent studies have recognized the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) as a useful index to indicate inflammation status and predict the prognosis of multiple diseases. However, the relationship between SIRI and AIS prognosis is unclear. Our study is aimed to investigate the association between SIRI and the prognosis of AIS. Methods Our study prospectively recruited 287 consecutive patients with first‐ever stroke within 72 h after stroke. Demographic and clinical information was collected at baseline. The functional prognosis was assessed 3 months after AIS using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). A poor outcome was defined as mRS > 2. SIRI was calculated as neutrophil × monocyte/lymphocyte count. Univariate and multivariate analyses were introduced to identify the association between SIRI and AIS prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic curve and reclassification analyses were used to evaluate the predictive value of SIRI for AIS prognosis. Results The patients with poor prognosis account for 27.5% of all participants. After fully adjusting for all covariates, each standard deviation increment of SIRI caused 58.9% additional risk for poor prognosis after AIS. When dividing SIRI into quartiles, the fourth quartile had a 6.152 times risk than the first quartile. Moreover, after adding SIRI into established clinical risk factors, AUC showed a significant improvement (0.829 vs. 0.790, p for comparison = .016). Consistently, category‐free net reclassification index (NRI, 0.761, 95% CI: 0.517–1.004, p

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory function of mogroside V (MGV) and its molecular mechanism, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model were used in the study. Results indicated that MGV (100 mg/kg/day) supplementation in diet improved the health status of mice. Western blot results showed that MGV inhibited the expression pro-inflammatory factors of colonic tissues. MGV significantly reduced the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, also inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs. MGV promoted the activation of AMPK and inhibition the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) and SC79 (Akt activator) reversed the alleviating effect of MGV on the expression pro-inflammatory factors via a hub molecule of mTOR, indicating that MGV inhibits LPS-stimulated inflammation by triggering the AMPK-PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Collectively, MGV can potentially be used in the treatments of ulcerative colitis, and it exerts anti-inflammatory effect via MAPK-NF-κB/AP-1 and AMPK-PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways in ulcerative colitis.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups are associated with various types of cancer; however, the molecular mechanisms by which mtDNA haplogroups affect primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not known. In this study, we carried out a case-control study on 388 HCC patients and 511 geographically matched asymptomatic control subjects in northern China. We found that mtDNA haplogroup N9a and its diagnostic SNP, m.16257C > A, negatively correlated with the incidence of HCC in northern China (odds ratio [OR] 0.290, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.123–0.685, p = 0.005), particularly in patients with infection of hepatitis B/C virus (HBV/HCV) (for haplogroup N9a: OR 0.213, 95% CI 0.077–0.590, p = 0.003; for m.16257C > A: OR 0.262, 95% CI 0.107–0.643, p = 0.003). However, mtDNA haplogroup N9a is not associated with clinical characteristics of HCC including serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and tumor size. In addition, cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cells with N9a haplogroup (N9a10a and N9a1) had transcriptome profiles distinct from those with non-N9a (B5, D4, and D5) haplogroups. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that metabolic activity varied significantly between N9a and non-N9a haplogroups. Moreover, cells with haplogroup N9a negatively correlated with cell division and multiple liver cancer pathways compared with non-N9a cells. Although it is still unclear how N9a affects the aforementioned GSEA pathways, our data suggest that mtDNA haplogroup N9a is negatively correlated with the incidence and progression of HCC in northern China. Keywords: mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA, haplogroup, mitochondrial SNP, mtSNP, hepatocellular carcinoma, cybrid, gene set enrichment analysis, GSEA

Jasmonic acid (JA) is regarded as an endogenous regulator which plays an important role in regulating plant growth, development and stress response. Using the seedlings of A. thaliana ecotype Col-0 (wild-type, WT), phospholipase Dδ (PLDδ) deficient mutant (pldδ), the G protein α subunit (GPA1) deficient mutant (gpa1-4), 9-Lipoxygenase (9-LOX) deficient mutants (lox1 and lox5) as materials, the effects of JA responding to osmotic stress and the functions of G protein and PLDδ in this response were investigated. The results showed that GPA1 involved in the regulation of JA to PLDδ under osmotic stress. Both GPA1 and PLDδ participated in the regulation of JA on the seed germination and osmotic tolerance. Exogenous MeJA reduced the EL and MDA in WT, but increased the EL and MDA in gpa1-4 and pldδ, indicating that GPA1 and PLDδ were involved in the protection of JA on the membrane. The genes expression levels, and the activities of PLDδ and LOX1 were significantly induced by osmotic stress. The LOX activity and JA content in pldδ seedings were lower obviously than those in WT, but were markedly increased and were higher than WT after applying phosphatidic acid (PA). These results demonstrated that JA responded to osmotic stress by regulating G protein and PLDδ in A. thaliana. PLDδ was located upstream of 9-LOX and involved in the JA biosynthesis.

Abstract The Dark‐target (DT) aerosol algorithm retrieves spectral Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and other aerosol properties from Moderate‐resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) reflectance observations. Over the ocean, the DT algorithm is known to contain scattering‐angle‐dependent biases in its retrievals of AOD, Angstrom Exponent (AE), and Fine Mode Fraction (FMF) for dust aerosols. Following a two‐step strategy to improve the DT retrieval of dust over ocean, for which the first step is to identify dusty pixels (reported in “Part 1”), in this “Part 2,” we report on construction of a new dust model lookup table (LUT) and the strategy for applying it within the existing DT algorithm. In particular, we evaluate different characterizations of dust optical properties from a variety of frameworks and databases, and compare them with the current DT retrieval assumptions. Substituting the standard operational LUT with a spheroid dust model with identified dusty pixels shows significant improvement when compared with collocated AERONET‐identified dusty pixels. Specifically, the application of the new dust model to dusty pixels reduces their AOD bias from 0.06 to 0.02 while improving the fraction of retrievals within expected error from 64% to 82%. At the same time, the overall bias in AE is reduced from 0.13 to 0.06, and the scattering‐angle‐dependent AE bias is largely eliminated. In testing on two full months of data (April and July), the new retrieval will reduce the monthly mean AOD by up to 0.1 and 0.2 in the north Atlantic and Arabian seas, respectively. The average AE and FMF are also reduced in these dust heavy regions.

Abstract To prepare for implementation of a new aerosol retrieval specifically designed for dust aerosol over ocean in the operational Dark‐Target (DT) algorithms for the Moderate‐resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) satellite sensors, we focus on the challenge of detecting dust. We first survey the literature on existing dust detection algorithms and then develop an innovative algorithm that combines near‐UV (deep blue), visible, and thermal infrared (TIR) wavelength spectral tests. The new detection algorithm is applied to Terra and Aqua MODIS granules and compared with other dust detection possibilities from existing MODIS products. Quantitative evaluation of the new dust detection algorithm is conducted using both a collocated AERONET‐MODIS data set and collocated Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO)‐MODIS data set. From comparison with both AERONET and CALIOP measurements, we estimate the new dust detection algorithm detects about 30% of weakly dusty pixels and more than 80% of heavily dusty pixels, with false detections in the range of 1–2%. The very low false detection rate is particularly noteworthy in comparison with existing literature. Compared with the dust flag currently available as part of the MODIS cloud mask product (MOD35/MYD35), and dust classification based on commonly used thresholds with aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Angstrom exponent (AE), the new dust detection algorithm finds more dusty pixels and fewer false detections.

The incidence of obesity has increased significantly on account of the alterations of living habits, especially changes in eating habits. In this study, we investigated the effect of octacosanol on lipid lowering and its molecular mechanism. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model was used in the study. Thirty C57BL/6J mice were divided into control, HFD, and HFD+Oct groups randomly, and every group included ten mice. The mice of HFD+Oct group were intragastrically administrated 100 mg/kg/day of octacosanol. After 10 weeks for treatment, our results indicated that octacosanol supplementation decreased the body, liver, and adipose tissues weight of HFD mice; levels of TC, TG, and LDL-c were reduced in the plasma of HFD mice; and level of HDL-c were increased. H&E staining indicated that octacosanol supplementation reduces the size of fat droplets of hepatic tissues and adipose cells comparing with the HFD group. Gene chip analysis found that octacosanol regulated 72 genes involved in lipid metabolism in the tissues of liver comparing to the HFD group. IPA pathway network analysis indicated that PPAR and AMPK may play a pivotal role in the lipid-lowering function of octacosanol. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot showed that the octacosanol supplementation caused change of expression levels of AMPK, PPARs, FASN, ACC, SREBP-1c, and SIRT1, which were closely related to lipid metabolism. Taken together, our results suggest that octacosanol supplementation exerts a lipid-decreasing effect in the HFD-fed mice through modulating the lipid metabolism-related signal pathway.

The Dark Target aerosol algorithm was developed to exploit the information content available from the observations of Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS), to better characterize the global aerosol system. The algorithm is based on measurements of the light scattered by aerosols toward a space-borne sensor against the backdrop of relatively dark Earth scenes, thus giving rise to the name “Dark Target”. Development required nearly a decade of research that included application of MODIS airborne simulators to provide test beds for proto-algorithms and analysis of existing data to form realistic assumptions to constrain surface reflectance and aerosol optical properties. This research in itself played a significant role in expanding our understanding of aerosol properties, even before Terra MODIS launch. Contributing to that understanding were the observations and retrievals of the growing Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) of sun-sky radiometers, which has walked hand-in-hand with MODIS and the development of other aerosol algorithms, providing validation of the satellite-retrieved products after launch. The MODIS Dark Target products prompted advances in Earth science and applications across subdisciplines such as climate, transport of aerosols, air quality, and data assimilation systems. Then, as the Terra and Aqua MODIS sensors aged, the challenge was to monitor the effects of calibration drifts on the aerosol products and to differentiate physical trends in the aerosol system from artefacts introduced by instrument characterization. Our intention is to continue to adapt and apply the well-vetted Dark Target algorithms to new instruments, including both polar-orbiting and geosynchronous sensors. The goal is to produce an uninterrupted time series of an aerosol climate data record that begins at the dawn of the 21st century and continues indefinitely into the future.

Zeolite SSZ-13 was synthesized by a traditional hydrothermal method, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The porous structure of the samples was determined from nitrogen uptake measurements at 77 K, and the surface properties were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The zeolite SSZ-13 had a type I isotherm with a uniform pore-size distribution and most pores were less than 1 nm. The Langmuir surface area was 703 m 2 /g. The adsorption of various gases on SSZ-13 was studied experimentally and a high selectivity for CO 2 over N 2 was achieved.

Catalytic oxidation is considered a viable method for reducing the sulphur level of transportation fuels and H 2 O 2 is usually used as the oxidant. For this reason, it is essential that any extraction operation must remove the oxidation product from the fuel. A new oxidation method is studied in the present work. Instead of H 2 O 2 , air was used as the oxidant and phosphotungstic acid (PW) was used as the catalyst; the latter was imbedded in the pore spaces of the mesoporous silica material SBA-15 to form a PW/SBA-15 composite. The oxidation reaction occurred in the pore spaces of the composite and the polar reaction products were immediately adsorbed there. As a consequence, there was no need for a subsequent exaction operation. Desulphurization experiments were carried out using a model fuel composed of n-octane and thiophene. The content of thiophene was reduced from 2000 ppmw to less than 1 ppmw at 50°C and ambient pressure. The saturated PW/SBA-15 composite was regenerated at 350°C by using a nitrogen flow for 4 h. Such conditions allowed the catalytic activity to be recovered.

Studies have been made of the removal of minor amounts of H 2 S from natural gas by activated carbon. The surface alkalinity of the carbon had a considerable effect on the H 2 S capacity, although this was not permanent. Thus, when the carbon surface became neutral, the H 2 S content remained constant after the initial cycles of the purification/regeneration operation. The presence of water in natural gas was found to be critical for the use of activated carbon as a means of sweetening natural gas. However, although it enhanced the H 2 S capacity of the carbon, it made regeneration of the latter very difficult.

Some problems arise with the characteristic curve proposed by the Dubinin–Polanyi potential theory when this is applied to supercritical adsorption although, as an alternative, the generalized isotherm is capable of well modelling isotherms for different temperatures. In this paper, the general applicability of the generalized isotherm is demonstrated by the experimental adsorption data for N 2 and CH 4 on activated carbon and silica gel. It has been shown that although the prerequisite of an energetically uniform surface is not essential, the surface concentration is limited to a range beyond which the general isotherm cannot be constructed.

Fathers play an important role in adolescents' development, which is significant for their development and influences their mental health, including feeling of loneliness. However, the effects and mechanisms of father-love absence on individual loneliness are not clear. Based on the social functionalist theory and the social needs theory, this study examines the influence of individual fatherlove absence on loneliness and its underlying mechanisms. A questionnaire survey was administered to 319 junior high school students and 1,476 high school students. The results showed that adolescents with father-love absence had higher levels of loneliness, and that father-love absence affected loneliness levels through mediating pathways of individual gratitude, peer relationships, and gratitude to peer relationships. This study not only confirms the negative effects of father-love absence on adolescents' loneliness, but also explains the mediate roles of individual gratitude and peer relationships. It enriches the theoretical system related to family education and has important theoretical and practical implications for further interventions on adolescents' mental health from the perspective of fatherless parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]