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Abstract Background Müllerian duct anomalies (MDAs) are congenital developmental disorders that present as a series of abnormalities within the reproductive tracts of females. Genetic factors are linked to MDAs and recent advancements in whole-exome sequencing (WES) provide innovative perspectives in this field. However, relevant mechanism has only been investigated in a restricted manner without clear elucidation of respective observations. Methods Our previous study reported that 2 of 12 patients with MDAs harbored the CHD1L variant c.348-1G>C. Subsequently, an additional 85 MDAs patients were recruited. Variants in CHD1L were screened through the in-house database of WES performed in the cohort and two cases were identified. One presented with partial septate uterus with left renal agenesis and the other with complete septate uterus, duplicated cervices and longitudinal vaginal septum. The pathogenicity of the discovered variants was further assessed by molecular dynamics simulation and various functional assays. Results Ultimately, two novel heterozygous CHD1L variants, including a missense variant c.956G>A (p.R319Q) and a nonsense variant c.1831C>T (p.R611*) were observed. The variants were absent in 100 controls. Altogether, the contribution yield of CHD1L to MDAs was calculated as 4.12% (4/97). All three variants were assessed as pathogenic through various functional analysis. The splice-site variant c.348-1G>C resulted in a 11 bp sequence skipping in exon 4 of CHD1L and led to nonsense mediated decay of its transcripts. Unlike WT CHD1L, the truncated R611* protein mislocalized to the cytoplasm, abolish the ability of CHD1L to promote cell migration and failed to interact with PARP1 owing to the loss of macro domain. The R319Q variant exhibited conformational disparities and showed abnormal protein recruitment behavior through laser microirradiation comparing with the WT CHD1L. All these variants impaired the CHD1L function in DNA damage repair, thus participating in MDAs. Conclusions The current study not only expands the mutational spectrum of CHD1L in MDAs but determines three variants as pathogenic according to ACMG guidelines with reliable functional evidence. Additionally, the impairment in DNA damage repair is an underlying mechanism involved in MDAs.

Although Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. is an edible and nutritious mushroom with significant selenium (Se)-enriched potential, its biological response to selenium stimuli remains unclear. This study explored the effect of selenium on mushroom growth and the global gene expression profiles of M. esculenta. While 5 µg mL−1selenite treatment slightly promoted mycelia growth and mushroom yield, 10 µg mL−1significantly inhibited growth. Based on comparative transcriptome analysis, samples treated with 5 µg mL−1 and 10 µg mL−1 of Se contained 16,061 (452 upregulated and 15,609 downregulated) and 14,155 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 800 upregulated and 13,355 downregulated), respectively. Moreover, DEGs were mainly enriched in the cell cycle, meiosis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, spliceosome, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathway, and mRNA surveillance pathway in both selenium-treated groups. Among these, MFS substrate transporter and aspartate aminotransferase genes potentially involved in Se metabolism and those linked to redox homeostasis were significantly upregulated, while genes involved in isoflavone biosynthesis and flavonoid metabolism were significantly downregulated. Gene expression levels increased alongside selenite treatment concentration, suggesting that high Se concentrations promoted M. esculenta detoxification. These results can be used to thoroughly explain the potential detoxification and Se enrichment processes in M. esculenta and edible fungi.

Abstract Endometriosis (EM) is one of the vanquished wonted causes of chronic pelvic sting in women and is closely associated with infertility. The long-term, complex, systemic, and post-treatment recurrence of EM wreaks havoc on women’s quality of life. Extensive metabolic reprogramming (aerobic glycolysis, glucose overweening intake, and high lactate production) and cancer-like changes have been found in EM, which bears striking similarities to tumorigenesis. The key glycolysis regulator PFKFB4 is overexpressed in EM. However, the mechanism of PFKFB4 in EM remains unknown. We found that PFKFB4 was upregulated and was closely related to the progression of EM. We identified focus PIM2 as a new pioneering adjoin protein of PFKFB4. Vigorous biochemical methods were used to confirm that PIM2 phosphorylated site Thr140 of PFKFB4. PIM2 also could enhance PFKFB4 protein expression through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Moreover, PIM2 expression was really corresponding prevalent with PFKFB4 in endometriosis in vivo. Importantly, phosphorylation of PFKFB4 on Thr140 by PIM2 promoted EM glycolysis and cell growth. Our study demonstrates that PIM2 mediates PFKFB4 Thr140 phosphorylation thus regulating glycolysis and EM progression. We illustrated a new mechanism that PIM2 simulated a central upstream partnership in the regulation of PFKFB4, and reveal a novel means of PIM2-PFKFB4 setting EM growth. Our research provided new theoretical support for further clarifying the reprogramming of EM glucose metabolism, and provided new clues for exploring non-contraceptive treatments for EM.

Abstract Background The relationship between climate and radial growth of trees exhibits spatial variation due to environmental changes. Therefore, elucidation of how the growth–climate responses of trees vary in space is essential for understanding forest growth dynamics to facilitate scientific management with the ongoing global climate warming. To explore the altitudinal and slope variations of these interactions, tree-ring width chronologies of Larix olgensis A. Henry were analyzed in the southern Lesser Khingan Mountains, Northeast China. Results The radial growth of L. olgensis exhibited significant 5- to 10-year periodic changes at three altitudes and two slopes, and the frequency change occurred mainly during the early growth stage and after 2000. The radial growth of L. olgensis was significantly negatively correlated with September precipitation only at low altitudes, but also with the mean temperature in July–August and the mean maximum temperature in June–August at high altitudes. The radial growth of L. olgensis at low and middle altitudes as well as on the sunny slope led to a higher demand for moisture, while temperature was the key limiting factor at high altitudes and on the shady slope. Conclusions The climate–radial growth relationship of L. olgensis exhibits altitudinal and slope variability. This study quantitatively describes the spatially varying growth–climate responses of L. olgensis in the southern Lesser Khingan Mountains, which provides basic data for the management of L. olgensis forests and the prediction of future climate impacts on forest ecosystems.

The Tibetan Plateau, induced by the India-Eurasian collision, has the highest average altitude in the world. During its uplift vertically, the Tibetan Plateau has been considered to expand laterally. However, there are several strong and almost non-deformable cratons on its periphery, such as the Tarim, North China craton, and South China block. The present landform features show that these cratons limit the expansion of the Tibetan Plateau. However, there is still much controversy over whether the deformation can be transmitted to periphery orogens or reactivate ancient orogens in the cratons. This study used numerical models to investigate the effect of rheological heterogeneities on the lithospheric deformation of the Tibetan Plateau and its neighbouring regions. The results show that the lateral heterogeneities of the lithosphere have an important influence on the deformation or strain partitioning. Generally, during the lateral expansion of the Tibetan Plateau, its peripheral cratons can transmit the deformation or high strain to neighbouring weak orogens. This case can be used to understand the Tian Shan orogen, which was reactivated by the India-Eurasian collision. However, when the orogens inside the cratons have high lithospheric strength, high strain is difficult to distribute on them and the expanding Tibetan Plateau is constrained by its peripheral cratons. These results can be used to explain the ancient orogens that are not strongly deformed, such as the Jiangnan orogen in the South China block. Because these orogens formed at the same time as the cratons and have relatively high lithospheric strength. In addition, the large lithospheric thickness difference and low crustal rheological contrast favor high strain rates localized on the lithosphere of the ancient orogen in the craton, such as the Trans-North China orogen in the North China craton.

Abstract Objective To explore the practicality and effectiveness of a flexible low-dose protocol in the fresh embryo transfer cycle: reducing the total amount of antagonist by increasing the interval between administrations of Cetrotide. Methods A total of 211 patients with normal ovarian reserve who accepted GnRH-ant protocol for IVF-ET were selected, and they were randomized to the flexible low-dose antagonist group (test group, n = 101) or the conventional dose antagonist group (control group, n = 110). The initial dose of Cetrotide in the test group was 0.25 mg every other day, and then the dose was adjusted to 0.25 mg every day based on the subsequent luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. The dosage of Cetrotide in the control group was 0.25 mg per day. The primary outcome was the clinical pregnancy rate. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of premature LH rise, total dosage of Cetrotide, number of oocytes retrieved, number of fertilized oocytes, number of high-quality embryos, biochemical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate. Results There was no significant difference in the general condition of the two groups. There was no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate (51.49% vs. 48.18%, p = 0.632) or the incidence of premature LH rise (18.81% vs. 15.45%, p = 0.584) between the two groups. However, the amount of Cetrotide used in the test group was significantly lower than that in the conventional dose antagonist group (1.13 ± 0.41 vs. 1.61 ± 0.59 mg, p

Abiotic stresses are wide-ranging environmental factors that adversely affect the yield and quality of tea plants (Camellia sinensis). As perennial woody economic plants, various environmental factors affect its growth and development. To survive under stress conditions, plants adapt to or withstand these adverse external environments by regulating their growth and morphological structure. Recently, there have been knowledges regarding the significant progress in the mechanisms of abiotic stresses (including cold and heat, drought, salt and heavy metal stresses) tolerance in tea plants. Many evidences suggest that several phytohormones are in response to various environmental stresses, and regulate plant stress adaptation. However, the regulatory mechanisms of plant abiotic stress responses and resistance remain unclear. In this review, we mainly summarize the studies on the adaptive physiological and molecular mechanisms of tea plants under abiotic stress, and discuss the direction for tea plant resistance and breeding strategies.

Summary: Endometriosis is a common chronic condition characterized by abnormal growth of the endometrium outside the uterus. Heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) is a significant regulator of the proteotoxic stress response and plays an essential role in developing endometriosis. However, the mechanisms regulating HSF1 protein stability in endometriosis remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that OTUB1 interacts with HSF1 and promotes HSF1 protein stability through deubiquitination. In addition, OTUB1 enhances glycolysis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of endometriosis cells, leading to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion of endometriosis cells. The progression of endometriosis is inhibited in an OTUB1-knockout mouse model. In summary, OTUB1 promotes the development of endometriosis by up-regulating HSF1. OTUB1/HSF1 axis may become a new therapeutic target for endometriosis.

The current individual tree competition indexes cannot provide information on the competitive pressure of trees in different directions. To quantitatively describe the magnitude of competitive pressure on trees in different directions, this study proposes a method to calculate the magnitude of competitive pressure in the east, west, south, and north directions based on the Hegyi competition index. The Hegyi competition index was assumed as a vector and it is decomposed in two vertical directions by attributing a weight in each direction. Under the condition that the Hegyi index is constant, the Hegyi index is allocated to the four directions. Correlation analysis between the Hegyi competition index components in the four directions of trees and the crown radius of the corresponding azimuth was carried out. The crown radius prediction model containing the Hegyi competition index component was established by using Generalized additive models (GAMs). The results show that the Hegyi competition index component was significantly negatively correlated with the crown radius in the corresponding direction, and the correlation coefficient with the crown radius in the corresponding direction was the largest compared with other directions. The crown radius in the four directions decreased with the increase of the Hegyi competition index component in the corresponding direction, indicating that the competition pressure on the crown in a specific direction inhibited the growth and extension of the crown in this direction. After adding the Hegyi competition index component, the fitting effect of crown radius models in different directions is greatly improved. In general, the Hegyi competition index component quantitatively expresses the competitive pressure of trees in different directions. The proposed method has particular significance for the study of tree crown morphology and provides a new idea for studying the competitive growth relationship of plants.

Photoperiod- and thermosensitive genic male sterility (PTGMS) rice is a vital germplasm resource consisting of two-line hybrid rice in which light and temperature strictly control their fertility changes. Variable environmental conditions present huge risks to the two-lines hybrid seed production. Explaining the regulatory mechanism of male fertility in rice PTGMS lines is an essential prerequisite to ensuring food security production. A group of near-isogenic lines (NILs) of a rice PTGMS line unique to this research group was used for this study. These lines have the same genetic background and regulate male fertility by responding to different temperature changes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 315 upregulated genes and 391 regulated genes regulated male fertility in response to temperature changes, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly characterized in enrichment analysis as having roles in the metabolic pathways of sugar, lipid and phenylpropanoid. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that a lack of starch accumulation in sterile pollen grains induced by high temperature, with an abnormal exine development and a lack of inner pollen grains. Defective processes for sporopollenin synthesis, sporopollenin transport and pollen wall formation in sterile anthers were verified using qPCR. Targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that most lipids (phospholipids, sphingolipids and fatty acids) and flavonoids (flavones and flavanones) were upregulated in fertile anthers and involved in pollen wall development and male fertility formation, while lignin G units and C-type lignin were the major contributors to pollen wall development. The coding genes for trehalose 6-phosphate phosphatase, beta-1,3-glucanase, phospholipase D and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase are considered essential regulators in the process of male fertility formation. In conclusion, our results indicated that the expression of critical genes and accumulation of metabolites in the metabolism of sugar, lipid, and phenylpropanoid are essential for male fertility formation. The results provide new insights for addressing the negative effects of environmental variation on two-line hybrid rice production.

Benincasa hispida Cogn. (B. hispida) is a popular vegetable in China, and studies have been reported on B. hispida polysaccharides (BPS) preparation. However, few studies have been reported on its physicochemical and skincare properties. In this study, we analyzed the physicochemical properties of BPS, free radical scavenging capability, moisturizing and antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Our results show that BPS was an inhomogeneous acidic polysaccharide that could scavenge a variety of free radicals. Also, BPS had a good moisturizing and antioxidant capability both in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, BPS could alter some key antioxidant enzyme activities and pro-inflammatory factor levels via activating the NRF2/HO-1 pathway, thereby preventing H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis of HDF-1 cells. Our results suggest that BPS exhibited favorable moisturizing and anti-aging properties and might be an attractive candidate for the development of anti-aging skincare products.

Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death different from apoptosis and necrosis, which can regulate the accumulation of lipid peroxidation through different pathways, ultimately leading to cell death. An increasing number of studies have revealed that the relationship between ferroptosis and cancer is extremely complex, which holds promise as a new treatment. In gynecological malignancies, ferroptosis has been found to have excellent antitumor activity, which can regulate the proliferation, metastasis and radiochemotherapy resistance. With the continuous progress of research, nanodrugs, gene therapy and other new therapeutic techniques for inducing ferroptosis have been proposed. However, the study of ferroptosis in gynecological malignancies is still in its infancy, and further research is needed to design safe and effective cancer therapies based on ferroptosis. This article reviews the mechanism of ferroptosis and the latest research progress and prospects in gynecological malignancies.

Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers., referred to as Morel, is a medicinal and edible homologous fungus, which contains many bioactive substances. In Morel, polysaccharides are the most abundant and have various bioactivities. In the present work, two novel polysaccharides, Se-MPS and MPS, were prepared and purified from selenium-enriched (Se-enriched) and common Morel mycelia, respectively, and their structural and immunomodulatory properties were evaluated. The results show that Se-enriched treatment significantly changed the polysaccharides’ chemical composition, molecular weight, and sugar chain configuration. In addition, the Se-enriched treatment also improved the polysaccharides’ fragmentation and thermal stability. Importantly, Se-enriched Morel polysaccharide (Se-MPS) could significantly enhance phagocytosis of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and, remarkably, activate their immune response via activating the TLR4-TRAF6-MAPKs-NF-κB cascade signaling pathway, finally exerting an immunomodulatory function. Based on these findings, selenium-enriched Morel polysaccharide appears to have more potential for development and utilization in functional foods or medicines than ordinary Morel polysaccharide.

Circular crack models with a constant rupture velocity struggle to effectively model both the amplitude and duration of first P-wave pulses generated by small magnitude seismic events. Assuming a constant rupture velocity is unphysical, necessitating a deceleration phase in the rupture velocity to uphold the causality of the healing process. Moreover, a comprehensive failure model might encompass an initial nucleation phase, typically characterized by an increase of the initial rupture velocity. Studies have demonstrated that quasi-dynamic circular crack models featuring variable rupture velocities can accurately model the shape of the observed first P-wave pulse. Based on these principles, an Empirical Green's function (EGF) approach was previously formulated to estimate the source parameters of small magnitude earthquakes, called MAIN. In addition to determine the source radius and stress drop, this method also enables the inference of the temporal evolution of rupture velocity. However, this method encounters difficulties when the noise-to-signal ratio in the recordings of smaller earthquakes used as EGF exceeds 5%, a common situation when employing regional-scale recordings of small-magnitude earthquakes as EGF. Through synthetic tests, we demonstrated that, in such instances, the problem of this technique is that the alignment between the onset of P waves of EGF and MAIN is not rightly recovered after the initial inversion step. Consequently, a novel inversion method has been developed to address this issue, enabling the identification of the optimal alignment of P-wave arrivals in EGF and MAIN across all stations. A Bayesian statistical approach is proposed to meticulously investigate the solutions of model parameters and their correlations. Using the new technique on a small magnitude earthquake (ML = 3.3) occurred in Central Italy enabled us to identify the most likely rupture models and examine the issue of correlation among model parameters. Application of Occam's Razor Principle suggests that, for the investigated event, a circular crack model should be favored over a heterogeneous rupture model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotransformation of selenite by microorganisms is an effective detoxification (in cases of dissimilatory reduction, e.g., to Se0) and assimilation process (when Se is assimilated by cells). However, the current knowledge of the molecular mechanism of selenite reduction remains limited. In this study, a selenite-resistant bacterium was isolated and identified as Proteus sp. YS02. Strain YS02 reduced 93.2% of 5.0 mM selenite to selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) within 24 h, and the produced SeNPs were spherical and localized intracellularly or extracellularly, with an average dimension of 140 ± 43 nm. The morphology and composition of the isolated and purified SeNPs were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR spectroscopy indicated the presence of proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids on the surface of the isolated SeNPs. Furthermore, the SeNPs showed excellent antimicrobial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Comparative transcriptome analysis was performed to elucidate the selenite reduction mechanism and biosynthesis of SeNPs. It is revealed that 197 genes were significantly upregulated, and 276 genes were significantly downregulated under selenite treatment. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that genes associated with ABC transporters, sulfur metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and pyruvate dehydrogenase were significantly enhanced, indicating selenite is reduced by sulfite reductase with PPP and pyruvate dehydrogenase supplying reducing equivalents and energy. This work suggests numerous genes are involved in the response to selenite stress, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of selenite bioreduction with the formation of SeNPs.

High-elevation and high-relief topography is the most prominent geomorphological features of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. This paper proposes that the interaction of the endogenic and exogenic forces jointly determines the formation of such high and steep landform. Eastward propagation of the Tibetan Plateau has been portioned by NW-striking, large-scaled sinistral strike-slip faults due to resistance of rigid Yangtze craton to the east of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The transpressional stress has emerged in eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and has resulted in several large-scale active faults. The transpressional behavior has changed the flowing direction of the rivers from NW-SE to nearly N-S. The transport capacity of these southward-flowing rivers decreases correspondingly. Since the late Cenozoic, intensive seismic events have occurred on the active faults of the eastern Tibetan Plateau which resulted in geohazards such as slope failures, landslides along these southward-flowing rivers. This resulted in the formation of a large number of dammed lakes in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. To a certain degree, these dammed lakes play an important role in lowering the upstream erosion rate and in accelerating downstream river incision which yields gravity unloading and uplift of the bedrock. The frequently and widely distributed damming events, therefore, forms an important supplementary factor with respect to the formation of high and steep landforms.

Edible fungi, commonly known as mushrooms, are precious medicinal and edible homologous gifts from nature to us. Because of their distinctive flavor and exceptional nutritional and medicinal value, they have been a frequent visitor to people’s dining tables and have become a hot star in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. Edible fungal polysaccharides (EFPs) are an essential nutrient for edible fungi to exert bioactivity. They have attracted much attention because of their antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antitumor, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic bioactivities. As a result, EFPs have demonstrated outstanding potential over the past few decades in various disciplines, including molecular biology, immunology, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical chemistry. However, the complexity of EFPs and the significant impact of mushroom variety and extraction techniques on their bioactivities prevents a complete investigation of their biological features. Therefore, the authors of this paper thoroughly reviewed the comparison of different extraction methods of EFPs and their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and glycosidic bond type and backbone structure of EFPs are described in detail. Moreover, the in vitro and in vivo bioactivities of EFPs extracted by different methods and their potential regulatory mechanisms are summarized. These provide a valuable reference for improving the extraction process of EFPs and their production and development in the pharmaceutical field.

Diverse signaling pathways regulated by phytohormones are essential for the adaptation of plants to adverse environments. Root endophytic bacteria can manipulate hormone-related pathways to benefit their host plants under stress conditions, but the mechanisms underlying endophyte-mediated plant stress adaptation remain poorly discerned. Herein, the acetic acid-producing endophytic bacteria Lysinibacillus fusiformis Cr33 greatly reduced cadmium (Cd) accumulation in tomato plants. L. fusiformis led to a marked increase in jasmonic acid (JA) content and down-regulation of iron (Fe) uptake-related genes in Cd-exposed roots. Accordantly, acetic acid treatment considerably increased the JA content and inhibited root uptake of Cd uptake. In addition, the Cr33-inoculated roots displayed the increased availability of cell wall and rhizospheric Fe. Inoculation with Cr33 notably reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and suppressed Fe uptake systems in the Cd-treated roots, thereby contributing to hampering Cd absorption. Similar results were also observed for Cd-treated tomato plants in the presence of exogenous JA or acetic acid. However, chemical inhibition of JA biosynthesis greatly weakened the endophyte-alleviated Cd toxicity in the plants. Collectively, our findings indicated that the endophytic bacteria L. fusiformis effectively prevented Cd uptake in plants via the activation of acetic acid-mediated JA signaling pathways.

In this paper, we derive a Reilly type formula for the diffusion-type op-eratorL·=1/Bdiv(A∇·) on weighted manifolds with boundary, whereAandBare two positive smooth functions on manifolds. As its applications, someinequalities of Poincar ́e type, Colesanti type, Minkowski type and Heintze-Karcher type are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morchella protein hydrolysate (MPH) and its glycosylated derivative (G-MPH) may possess the potential as natural antioxidants. However, knowledge about the protective effects of MPH and G-MPH on cellular oxidative damage is limited. This study evaluated whether MPH and G-MPH protected Caco-2 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative injury and explored the potential mechanisms of protection. The results showed that, under H2O2 stress, both MPH and G-MPH significantly increased cell viability, suppressed intracellular ROS and MDA production, increased cellular antioxidant capacity, and activated Nrf2 signaling pathway. More importantly, MPH and G-MPH significantly inhibited the H2O2-induced apoptosis via restoring the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and regulating the protein expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3. These data indicate that MPH and G-MPH can protect Caco-2 cells against oxidative injury by improving cellular antioxidant responses and inhibiting apoptosis. Therefore, MPH and G-MPH can have a broad application potential as promising ingredients of nutraceutical products or functional foods.

Tea polysaccharide (TPS) is the second most abundant ingredient in tea following tea polyphenols. As a complex polysaccharide, TPS has a complex chemical structure and a variety of bioactivities, such as anti-oxidation, hypoglycemia, hypolipidemic, immune regulation, and anti-tumor. Additionally, it shows excellent development and application prospects in food, cosmetics, and medical and health care products. However, numerous studies have shown that the bioactivity of TPS is closely related to its sources, processing methods, and extraction methods. Therefore, the authors of this paper reviewed the relevant recent research and conducted a comprehensive and systematic review of the extraction methods, physicochemical properties, and bioactivities of TPS to strengthen the understanding and exploration of the bioactivities of TPS. This review provides a reference for preparing and developing functional TPS products.

Parameter sensitivity analysis can determine the influence of the input parameters on the model output. Identification and calibration of critical parameters are the crucial points of the process model optimization. Based on the Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (EFAST) and the Morris method, this paper analyzes and compares the parameter sensitivity of the annual mean net primary productivity (NPP) of Larix olgensis Henry forests in Jilin Province simulated by the Lund–Potsdam–Jena dynamic global vegetation model (LPJ model) in 2009–2014 and 2000–2019, and deeply examines the sensitivity and influence of the two methods to each parameter and their respective influence on the model’s output. Moreover, it optimizes some selected parameters and re-simulates the NPP of Larix olgensis forests in Jilin Province from 2010 to 2019. The conclusions are the following: (1) For the LPJ model, the sensitive and non-influential parameters could be identified, which could guide the optimization order of the model and was valuable for model area applications. (2) The results of the two methods were similar but not identical. The sensitivity parameters were significantly correlated (p < 0.05); parameter krp was the most sensitive parameter, followed by parameters αm, αa and gm. These sensitive parameters were mainly found in the photosynthesis, water balance, and allometric growth modules. (3) The EFAST method had a higher precision than the Morris method, which could calculate quantitatively the contribution rate of each parameter to the variances of the model results; however, the Morris method involved fewer model running times and higher efficiency. (4) The mean relative error (MRE) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the simulated value of LPJ model after parameter optimization decreases. The optimized annual mean value of NPP from 2010 to 2019 was 580 g C m−2 a−1, with a mean annual growth rate of 2.13%, exhibiting a fluctuating growth trend. The MAE of the simulated value of LPJ model after parameter optimization decreases.

Plants can naturally interact with beneficial rhizobacteria to mediate defense responses against foliar pathogen infection. However, the mechanisms of rhizobacteria-mediated defense enhancement remain rarely clear. In this study, beneficial rhizobacterial strain Pseudomonas fluorescens DN16 greatly increased the resistance of cucumber plants against Botrytis cinerea infection. RNA-sequencing analyses showed that several polyamine-associated genes including a thermospermine (TSpm) synthase gene (CsACL5) and polyamine catabolic genes (CsPAO1, CsPAO5, and CsCuAO1) were notably induced by DN16. The associations of TSpm metabolic pathways with the DN16-mediated cucumber defense responses were further investigated. The inoculated plants exhibited the increased leaf TSpm levels compared with the controls. Accordantly, overexpression of CsACL5 in cucumber plants markedly increased leaf TSpm levels and enhanced defense against B. cinerea infection. The functions of TSpm catabolism in the DN16-mediated defense responses of cucumber plants to B. cinerea were further investigated by pharmacological approaches. Upon exposure to pathogen infection, the changes of leaf TSpm levels were positively related to the enhanced activities of polyamine catabolic enzymes including polyamine oxidases (PAOs) and copper amine oxidases (CuAOs), which paralleled the transcription of several defense-related genes such as pathogenesis-related protein 1 (CsPR1) and defensin-like protein 1 (CsDLP1). However, the inhibited activities of polyamine catabolic enzymes abolished the DN16-induced cucumber defense against B. cinerea infection. This was in line with the impaired expression of defense-related genes in the inoculated plants challenged by B. cinerea. Collectively, our findings unraveled a pivotal role of TSpm catabolism in the regulation of the rhizobacteria-primed defense states by mediating the immune responses in cucumber plants after B. cinerea infection.

Photoperiod and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (PTGMS) rice is an important resource for two line hybrid rice production. The SQUAMOSA–promoter binding, such as the (SPL) gene family, encode the plant specific transcription factors that regulate development and defense responses in plants. However, the reports about SPLs participating in male fertility regulation are limited. Here, we identified 19 OsSPL family members and investigated their involvement in the fertility regulation of the PTGMS rice lines, PA2364S and PA2864S, with different fertility transition temperatures. The results demonstrated that OsSPL2, OsSPL4, OsSPL16 and OsSPL17 affect male fertility in response to temperature changes through the MiR156-SPL module. WGCNA (weighted gene co-expression network analysis) revealed that CHI and APX1 were co-expressed with OsSPL17. Targeted metabolite and flavonoid biosynthetic gene expression analysis revealed that OsSPL17 regulates the expression of flavonoid biosynthesis genes CHI, and the up regulation of flavanones (eriodictvol and naringenin) and flavones (apigenin and luteolin) content contributed to plant fertility. Meanwhile, OsSPL17 negatively regulates APX1 to affect APX (ascorbate peroxidase) activity, thereby regulating ROS (reactive oxygen species) content in the tapetum, controlling the PCD (programmed cell death) process and regulating male fertility in rice. Overall, this report highlights the potential role of OsSPL for the regulation of male fertility in rice and provides a new insight for the further understanding of fertility molecular mechanisms in PTGMS rice.

Second generation Chinese fir plantation has occurred the problem of site deterioration, which is usually supposed to be solved by mixed plantation. Here, we determined the physicochemical properties of six soil layers in pure and three types of mixed Chinese fir plantation stands (admixed species: Michelia macclurei, Pinus massoniana, and Phyllostachys heterocycla) in southeast China. The Ph. heterocycla is a bamboo. The effects of plantation type and depth on soil properties and variations among different depths were analyzed by two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s test. Non-parametric Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to analyze the soil property differences between pure and mixed plantations. The soil organic matter and alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen of mixture of Chinese fir and Ph. heterocycla were significantly higher than those of other plantation types (p

Background High-density conditions are global issues that threaten the sustainable management of plantations throughout the world. Monocultures and untimely management practices have identically resulted in the simplex of community structures, decreases in biodiversity, and long-term productivity losses in plantations China. The most popular measure which is commonly used to address these issues is thinning, which potentially results in increases in the development of understory plants in plantations. However, there is limited information currently available regarding the community composition of understory vegetation and the associated environmental factors, which has limited the sustainable management of China’s fir plantation ecosystems. Method In the present study, a thinning experiment was implemented which included a control check (CK: no thinning), as well as low intensity thinning (LIT: 20%), moderate intensity thinning (MIT: 33%), and high intensity thinning (HIT: 50%) in Chinese fir plantations located in the Southeastern China. During the investigation process, the understory vegetation examined three years after thinning measures were completed, in order to analyze the impacts of different thinning intensities on the growth and community composition of the understory plants. At the same time, the associated environmental factors in the fir plantations were also investigated. Results The species richness, total coverage, and biomass of the understory vegetation were observed to be apparently increased with increasing thinning intensity. In addition, it was found that the thinning measures had prominently influenced the soil nutrients. The community compositions of the understory vegetation were significantly different among the four thinning intensity levels, especially between the CK and the HIT. Furthermore, the development of the understory vegetation was found to be significantly correlated with the soil nutrient contents, and the community compositions of the understory vegetation were prominently driven by the tree densities, slope positions, and soil nutrient contents.

Morchella protein hydrolysate (MPH) is produced from an edible and medicinal fungus, Morchella esculenta (L.), and exhibits antioxidant activity. In order to further improve the antioxidant activity of MPH, glycosylation of MPH was conducted by applying response surface methodology via the Maillard reaction (MR). Optimum glycosylation conditions were confirmed as: xylose/MPH mass ratio of 3.7:1, pH 11.80, and reaction time 60 min. The glycosylation of MPH under these optimized conditions was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro antioxidant activity tests showed that glycosylated MPH had significantly enhanced antioxidant activities compared to the native MPH, heat-treated MPH, or a MPH–xylose mixture. Collectively, these results indicate that glycosylation by the MR can improve the antioxidant activity of MPH, making it a novel source of natural antioxidants with excellent developmental prospects as a functional food.

Two-line hybrid rice systems represent a new technical approach to utilizing the advantages of rice hybrids. However, the mechanism underlying the male sterile-line fertility transition in rice remains unclear. Peiai 64S (PA64S) is a photoperiod- and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (PTGMS) line in which male sterility manifests at an average temperature above 23.5 °C under long-day (LD) conditions. Nongken 58S (NK58S) is a LD-sensitive genic male sterile (PGMS) rice that is sterile under LD conditions (above 13.75 h-day). In contrast, D52S is a short-day (SD)-PGMS line that manifests male sterility under SD conditions (below 13.5 h-day). In this study, we obtained fertile and sterile plants from all three lines and performed transcriptome analyses on the anthers of the plants. Gene ontology (GO) analysis suggested that the differentially expressed genes identified were significantly enriched in common terms involved in the response to jasmonic acid (JA) and in JA biosynthesis. On the basis of the biochemical and molecular validation of dynamic, tissue-specific changes in JA, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels, gibberellin (GA) levels, and JA biosynthetic enzyme activities and expression, we proposed that JA could play a pivotal role in viable pollen production through its initial upregulation, constant fluctuation and leaf-spikelet signaling under certain fertility-inducing conditions. Furthermore, we also sprayed methyl jasmonate (MEJA) and salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) on the plants, thereby achieving fertility reversal in the PGMS lines NK58S and D52S, with 12.91–63.53% pollen fertility changes. Through qPCR and enzyme activity analyses, we identified two key enzymes—allene oxide synthase (AOS) and allene oxide cyclase (AOC)—that were produced and upregulated by 20–500-fold in PGMS in response to spraying; the activities of these enzymes reversed pollen fertility by influencing the JA biosynthetic pathway. These results provide a new understanding of hormone interactions and networks in male-sterile rice based on the role of JA that will help us to better understand the potential regulatory mechanisms of fertility development in rice in the future.

Background Water storage is a significant physiological index of vegetation growth. However, information on water storage at the individual tree level and its relationship to climatic conditions and productivity is scarce. Methods We performed a comparative analysis of water storage using field measurements acquired three age classes of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and Korean larch (Larix olgensis). The distributions of water storage, water content ratio and dry mass were presented, and regression analyses were used to confirm the relationships of water storage and water content ratio to dry mass components, respectively. Results Our results indicated that water was mostly concentrated in the stem xylem, which aligned well with the distribution of dry mass in both conifer species. However, the water storage of the stem xylem was always higher in Chinese fir than in Korean larch. The average water content ratio of both conifer species decreased with age, but that of Chinese fir was always higher than that of Korean larch. There was a significant difference in the water storage proportion in the components of Chinese fir (P < 0.001) and Korean larch (P < 0.001). The effects of age class on the water storage of Chinese fir (P = 0.72) and Korean larch (P = 0.077) were not significant. Interestingly, significant positive linear correlations were found between fine root water and leaf water and mass in Chinese fir (P < 0.001, R2 ≥ 0.57) and Korean larch (P < 0.001, R2 ≥ 0.74). The slopes showing that the linear relationship between tree size and water content ratio of stem xylem were always steeper than that of other components for the two conifers. Conclusion Our study indicates the similar water related characteristics and their close relations to biomass accumulation and growth in both fast growing species at contrasting climates, illustrating the same coherent strategies of fast growing conifers in water utilization.

In the study presented in this paper, we built a nonlinear binary integer programming model of a flexible scheduling problem for the Department of Zhejiang Provincial Local Tax Services. One difference between our model and typical ones is that whereas in the latter the number of open windows within each working day is fixed, in our model it is not. We used a variety of integer programming software in an attempt to solve our scheduling model; however, unfortunately we could not find an optimal solution. Thus, we tested all the combinations of different numbers of employees to construct the optimal solution. When we tested our model in the tax office of Lishui City, China, the average waiting time of taxpayers was less than 15 min and the employees working hours were clearly reduced. Thus, a noteworthy improvement in the quality of the service is achieved by the model.

Intercropping, as a common worldwide cultivation pattern, provides opportunities for sustainable agriculture with fuller use of light, temperature and land resources and greater yield per unit of land. The intercropping impact on crop quality is a current focus. This study found that shading cultivation of purple-fleshed sweet potato can improve the storage root pigment accumulation by more than 20% to increase economic benefits. We performed gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis of storage roots of the anthocyanin-enriched cultivar Jihei-1 under 60% shading and nonshaded treatments. A total of 224 differential metabolites were identified, among which N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, 1-monopalmitin, 4-pyridoxic acid, dodecano, arbutin, tryptophan, citrulline and phenylalanine were significantly upregulated under shading with a more than 10-fold change. Furthermore, metabolic pathway enrichment maps were based on the biological processes and stratification level selected. These metabolites mainly influenced the pathways of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, the citrate cycle, organic acid biosynthesis and metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Through tissue-specific dynamic changes in amino acids, soluble sugars, starch and anthocyanins during storage root development, we proposed a variety-specific strategy of purple-fleshed sweet potato in response to prolonged deep shading, that is, utilizing and enhancing broad aboveground-tissue photosynthesis and transferring photosynthates into roots in advance, leading to a rapid increase in storage root anthocyanin synthesis. With comprehensive qPCR, western blot and enzyme activity analyses, we identified three key enzymes, CHS, ANS and 3GT, in purple-fleshed sweet potato storage roots in response to shading, which affect the root anthocyanin content by influencing the flavonoid metabolism pathway. This study provides a theoretical basis for revealing the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in crops and a guidance for high-quality sweet potato cultivation and nutritional improvement using shade facilities.

Increasing numbers of explanatory variables tend to result in information redundancy and “dimensional disaster” in the quantitative remote sensing of forest aboveground biomass (AGB). Feature selection of model factors is an effective method for improving the accuracy of AGB estimates. Machine learning algorithms are also widely used in AGB estimation, although little research has addressed the use of the categorical boosting algorithm (CatBoost) for AGB estimation. Both feature selection and regression for AGB estimation models are typically performed with the same machine learning algorithm, but there is no evidence to suggest that this is the best method. Therefore, the present study focuses on evaluating the performance of the CatBoost algorithm for AGB estimation and comparing the performance of different combinations of feature selection methods and machine learning algorithms. AGB estimation models of four forest types were developed based on Landsat OLI data using three feature selection methods (recursive feature elimination (RFE), variable selection using random forests (VSURF), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)) and three machine learning algorithms (random forest regression (RFR), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and categorical boosting (CatBoost)). Feature selection had a significant influence on AGB estimation. RFE preserved the most informative features for AGB estimation and was superior to VSURF and LASSO. In addition, CatBoost improved the accuracy of the AGB estimation models compared with RFR and XGBoost. AGB estimation models using RFE for feature selection and CatBoost as the regression algorithm achieved the highest accuracy, with root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 26.54 Mg/ha for coniferous forest, 24.67 Mg/ha for broad-leaved forest, 22.62 Mg/ha for mixed forests, and 25.77 Mg/ha for all forests. The combination of RFE and CatBoost had better performance than the VSURF–RFR combination in which random forests were used for both feature selection and regression, indicating that feature selection and regression performed by a single machine learning algorithm may not always ensure optimal AGB estimation. It is promising to extending the application of new machine learning algorithms and feature selection methods to improve the accuracy of AGB estimates.

A photoperiod- and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (PTGMS) line is the basic material for two-hybrid rice and is an important genetic breeding resource. Peiai64S (PA64S) is an important germplasm resource of PTGMS rice, and it has been applied to two-line hybrid rice systems in China. Pollen fertility in PA64S is regulated by the temperature and photoperiod, but the mechanism of the fertility transition is unclear. In this study, we obtained the male fertile plant PA64S(F) and the male sterile plant PA64S(S) by controlling different temperatures under long light conditions and used the male fertile and sterile plants to investigate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating male fertility in rice. We performed the small RNA library sequencing of anthers from PA64S(S) and PA64S(F). A total of 196 miRNAs were identified—166 known miRNAs among 27 miRNA families and 30 novel miRNAs. In the transcriptome analysis, the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed significant enrichment in the synthesis and metabolism of fatty acids and some secondary metabolism pathways such as fatty acid metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism. With a comprehensive analysis of miRNA, transcriptome, and degradome sequencing, we identified that 13 pairs of miRNA/target genes regulated male fertility in rice by responding to temperature change, among which the miR156, miR5488, and miR399 affect the male fertility of PA64S by influencing SPLs, the lignin synthesis of anther walls, and the flavonoid metabolism pathway. The results provide a new understanding of PTGMS rice, which will help us better understand the potential regulatory mechanisms of male sterility in the future.