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Aims/Background Previous literature has indicated that sarcopenia is related to poor outcomes after radical resection for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its effect on the postoperative clinical outcomes of CRC remains controversial. This study aimed to elucidate the predictive value of sarcopenia for postoperative complications and survival in CRC patients. Methods This investigation retrospectively assessed the clinical data of 226 CRC patients who underwent radical resection at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the recommendations of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019, and patients were categorized into sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups. Multivariate and univariate analyses were employed to assess the risk factors for postoperative complications. The Kaplan-Meier method and survival curve were used to analyze postoperative survival time. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate risk factors affecting the prognosis of CRC patients. Results This investigation included 226 patients, of which 68 were diagnosed with sarcopenia. Furthermore, it was revealed that sarcopenia was linked with older age (p < 0.001), low body mass index (p < 0.001), high prevalence of diabetes (p = 0.002), high cystatin level (p = 0.017), and low 3rd lumbar spine (L3) planar skeletal muscle index (p < 0.001), but was not related to the tumour stage or the gender. Moreover, sarcopenia was also correlated with increased occurrence of all postoperative complications (p = 0.050). The results of the multivariate analysis indicated that sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications (odds ratio (OR): 7.154; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.261–22.633; p = 0.017). The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that sarcopenia patients had significantly lower 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) (48.5% vs 59.5%; log-rank p = 0.033) and 5-year overall survival (OS) (57.4% vs 77.2%; log-rank p < 0.001) rates. Sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for poor DFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.404; p = 0.016) and OS (HR = 1.290; p = 0.021). Conclusion In CRC patients undergoing radical surgery, sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. Sarcopenia may be a predictive factor for the prognosis and survival of CRC patients undergoing radical resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel current detection circuit based on RC parallel inductor lossless current-sense technology is proposed to overcome the low efficiency of high current conversion in traditional series resistance detection.The circuit can accurately detect the instantaneous-current and average-current of inductive current at the same time and improve the detection efficiency. The main circuit consists of three parts: high precision and low speed current detection with correction, fast current detection and feedback calibration circuit. The first part detects the average value of the current, and the fast current detection circuit is calibrated by feedback calibration circuit to accurately detect the instantaneous value of the current. The problem of current reflux is solved by negative current generating circuit.The circuit is designed by TSMC 180 nm 1P3M GEN2 process and simulated by Cadence software.The results show that this method can obtain the the average and instantaneous value of the inductive current while ensuring the detection of inductive current.

Reprograming of chromatin structures and changes in gene expression are critical for plant male gamete development, and epigenetic marks play an important role in these processes. Histone variant H3.3 is abundant in euchromatin and is largely associated with transcriptional activation. The precise function of H3.3 in gamete development remains unclear in plants. Here, we report that H3.3 is abundantly expressed in Arabidopsis anthers and its knockout mutant h3.3–1 is sterile due to male sterility. Transcriptome analysis of young inflorescence has identified 2348 genes downregulated in h3.3–1 mutant, among which 1087 target genes are directly bound by H3.3, especially at their 3ʹ ends. As a group, this set of H3.3 targets is enriched in the reproduction-associated processes including male gamete generation, pollen sperm cell differentiation and pollen tube growth. The function of H3.3 in male gamete development is dependent on the Anti-Silencing Factor 1A/1B (ASF1A/1B)-Histone regulator A (HIRA)-mediated pathway. Our results suggest that ASF1A/1B-HIRA-mediated H3.3 deposition at its direct targets for transcription activation forms the regulatory networks responsible for male gamete development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants cope with various recurring stress conditions that often induce DNA damage, ultimately affecting plant genome integrity, growth, and productivity. The CROWDED NUCLEI (CRWN) family comprises lamin-like proteins with multiple functions, such as regulating gene expression, genome organization, and DNA damage repair in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). However, the mechanisms and consequences of CRWNs in DNA damage repair are largely unknown. Here, we reveal that CRWNs maintain genome stability by forming repairing nuclear bodies at DNA double-strand breaks. We demonstrate that CRWN1 and CRWN2 physically associate with the DNA damage repair proteins RAD51D and SUPPRESSOR OF NPR1-1 Inducible 1 (SNI1) and act in the same genetic pathway to mediate this process. Moreover, CRWN1 and CRWN2 partially localize at γ-H2AX foci upon DNA damage. Notably, CRWN1 and CRWN2 undergo liquid–liquid phase separation to form highly dynamic droplet-like structures with RAD51D and SNI1 to promote the DNA damage response (DDR). Collectively, our data shed light on the function of plant lamin-like proteins in the DDR and maintenance of genome stability. CROWDED NUCLEI proteins associate with γ-H2AX foci and interact with SUPPRESSOR OF NPR1-1 INDUCIBLE 1 and RAD51D to ensure effective DNA damage repair and maintenance of genome stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Auxin is a critical phytohormone that is involved in the regulation of most plant growth and developmental responses. In particular, epigenetic mechanisms, like histone modifications and DNA methylation, were reported to affect auxin biosynthesis and transport. However, the involvement of other epigenetic factors, such as histone variant H2A.Z, in the auxin‐related developmental regulation remains unclear.We report that the histone variant H2A.Z knockdown mutant in Arabidopsis Col‐0 ecotype, h2a.z‐kd, has more lateral roots and weak gravitational responses related to auxin‐regulated growth performances. Further study revealed that auxin promotes the eviction of H2A.Z from the auxin‐responsive genes SMALL AUXIN‐UP RNAs (SAURs) to activate their transcriptions.We found that IAA promotes the transcription of H2A.Z genes through HOMEOBOX PROTEIN 22/25 (AtHB22/25) transcription factors which work as downstream targets of ARF7/19 in auxin signaling. Double mutant of hb22 hb25 showed similar lateral root and gravitropism phenotypes to h2a.z‐kd.Our results shed light on a reciprocal regulation hub through INOSITOL AUXOTROPHY 80‐mediated H2A.Z eviction and ARF7/19‐HB22/25‐mediated H2A.Z transcription to modulate the activation of SAURs and plant growth in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies are available on comprehensive impacts of straw retention and water regimes on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from rice-rice-fallow rotation systems. A field experiment with or without rice straw (5000 kg ha−1 each rice season) retention under two contrasting water regimes (1. continuous flooding; 2. rain-fed with exception flooding irrigation about 15 days after transplanting) was conducted in south China. N2O emission was monitored using the closed chamber method over the entire rice-rice-fallow rotation. The results demonstrate that there were significant differences in the responses of N2O emission to water regime, straw retention, and their interaction. N2O emission was negligible in the continuously flooded treatments, with annual N2O emission of 0.052 kg ha−1 with straw and − 0.008 kg ha−1 without straw, respectively. In contrast, substantial N2O fluxes were observed under rain-fed condition when water layer disappeared, with annual N2O emission of 0.969 kg ha−1 with straw and of 0.618 kg ha−1 without straw, respectively. About 50-60% of annual N2O emission occurred in fallow season under rain-fed treatments. The results indicate that rice straw retention has a potential to accelerate N2O emission depending on paddy water conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a long-term sloped land use experiment established in 1995 at Taoyuan Agro-ecosystem Research Station (111°26′ E, 28°55′ N) in China, soil samples were collected from three land use types, including cropland (CL), natural forest, and tea plantation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to determine the abundance and community composition of amoA-containing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA). The results indicate that land use type induced significant changes in soil potential nitrification rate and community composition, diversity, and abundance of AOB and AOA. Both AOB and AOA community compositions were generally similar between upper and lower slope positions (UP and LP), except within CL. The LP soils had significantly ( p < 0.05) higher diversity and abundance of both AOB and AOA than in the UP. Potential nitrification rate was significantly correlated ( p < 0.05) with diversity and abundance of AOA, but not with AOB. Among land use types, the NO and amoA-containing AOA runoff loss was greatest in CL. Nitrate-N runoff loss was significantly correlated ( p < 0.05) with the loss of AOA amoA copies in the runoff water. Furthermore, relationships between NO-N runoff loss and abundance of AOA but not of AOB at both slope positions were significantly correlated ( p < 0.05). These findings suggest that AOA are more important than AOB in nitrification and NO-N runoff loss in acidic soils across sloped land use types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in situ application of rice straw enhances CH4 emissions by a large margin. The ex situ application of rice straw in uplands, however, may mitigate total global warming potential (GWP) of CH4 and N2O emissions from paddy-upland coexisting systems. To evaluate the efficiency of this practice, two field trials were conducted in rice-rice-fallow and maize-rape cropping systems, respectively. Year-round measurements of CH4 and N2O emissions were conducted to evaluate the system-scaled GWP. The results showed that CH4 accounted for more than 98% of GWP in paddy. Straw removal from paddy decreased 44.7% (302.1 kg ha−1 yr−1) of CH4 emissions and 51.2% (0.31 kg ha−1 yr−1) of N2O emissions, thus decreased 44.8% (7693 kg CO2-eqv ha−1 yr−1) of annual GWP. N2O accounted for almost 100% of GWP in upland. Straw application in upland had insignificant effects on CH4 and N2O emissions, which increased GWP only by 91 kg CO2-eqv ha−1 yr−1. So, the transfer of straw from paddy to upland could decrease GWP by 7602 kg CO2-eqv ha−1 yr−1. Moreover, straw retention during late rice season contributed to 88.2% of annual GWP increment. It is recommended to transfer early rice straw to upland considering GWP mitigation, nutrient recycling and labor cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of parenteral glutamine (Gln) supplement immunonutrition versus conventional nutritional support on postoperative Clavien-Dindo classification complications and recovery, perioperative nutritional status, and immune, inflammation, and safety indicators in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC)., Patients and Methods: Clinical data were collected for a retrospective cohort study of 178 patients (58 and 120 patients in the observation and control groups, respectively) who underwent radical resection of CRC from January 2019 to December 2021. The incidence of postoperative complications was calculated. Postoperative recovery, nutritional indicators, inflammatory factors indicator, and the safety indicators before operation and at 1, 3, and 7 days after operation were compared. SPSS 29.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis., Results: The incidence of postoperative overall complications in the control group and the observation group was 22.50% (27/120) and 17.24% (10/58), respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P =0.42). The incidence of postoperative complications of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III in the control group and the observation group was 14.17% (17/120) and 3.45% (2/58), respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P =0.03). Secondary outcomes (first exhaust, defecation, and liquid diet intake times) were significantly recovered earlier in the observation group than those in the control group ( P <0.05), while the postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter( P =0.04). The perioperative nutritional status did not significantly differ between the groups before and after surgery( P >0.05), although significant differences were observed in several inflammatory and safety indicators( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Unlike conventional nutritional support, postoperative parenteral Gln supplementation reduced the incidence of postoperative Clavien-Dindo complications grade ≥III in patients with CRC while increasing intestinal and immune functions, decreasing inflammation, and reducing the length of hospital stay., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Huang et al.)

The in situ application of rice straw enhances CH 4 emissions by a large margin. The ex situ application of rice straw in uplands, however, may mitigate total global warming potential (GWP) of CH 4 and N 2 O emissions from paddy-upland coexisting systems. To evaluate the efficiency of this practice, two field trials were conducted in rice-rice-fallow and maize-rape cropping systems, respectively. Year-round measurements of CH 4 and N 2 O emissions were conducted to evaluate the system-scaled GWP. The results showed that CH 4 accounted for more than 98% of GWP in paddy. Straw removal from paddy decreased 44.7% (302.1 kg ha -1 yr -1 ) of CH 4 emissions and 51.2% (0.31 kg ha -1 yr -1 ) of N 2 O emissions, thus decreased 44.8% (7693 kg CO 2 -eqv ha -1 yr -1 ) of annual GWP. N 2 O accounted for almost 100% of GWP in upland. Straw application in upland had insignificant effects on CH 4 and N 2 O emissions, which increased GWP only by 91 kg CO 2 -eqv ha -1 yr -1 . So, the transfer of straw from paddy to upland could decrease GWP by 7602 kg CO 2 -eqv ha -1 yr -1 . Moreover, straw retention during late rice season contributed to 88.2% of annual GWP increment. It is recommended to transfer early rice straw to upland considering GWP mitigation, nutrient recycling and labor cost.