The loading of Fe ions on N-doped carbon nanosheets to boost photocatalytic cascade for water disinfection

The pervasive presence of pathogenic bacteria in water environment poses a serious threat to public health. Here, a photocatalytic cascade was developed to reveal great water disinfection. Firstly, N-doped carbon nanosheets (N-CNSs) about 30-50 nm in size were synthesized by a hydrothermal strategy. It revealed wide-spectrum photocatalysis for H2O2 generation via a typical two-step single-electron process. A Fenton agent (Fe ion) was loaded, N-CNSs-Fe can in-situ convert photocatalytic H2O2 into ·OH with high oxidation potential. Moreover, its Fenton active is three times greater than pure Fe2+ owing to electron enrichment from N-CNSs to Fe for Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle. Further investigation displayed that Fe loading also could decrease bad gap and promote charge separation to boost photocatalysis. In addition, N-CNSs-Fe possesses positive surface potential to exhibit strong interaction with negative bacteria, facilitating the capture. Therefore, the nanocomposite can effectively inactivate E. coli with a lethality rate of 99.7 % under stimulated sunlight irradiation. In addition, it also was employed to treat a complex lake water sample, revealing great antibacterial (95.1 %) and dye-decolored (92.3 %) efficiency at the same time. With novel biocompatibility and antibacterial ability, N-CNSs-Fe possessed great potential for water disinfection.

Antagonistic activity and mechanism of Bacillus subtilis CG-6 suppression of root rot and growth promotion in Alfalfa

Root rot is a common disease, that severely affects the yield and quality of alfalfa. Biocontrol is widely used to control plant diseases caused by pathogenic fungi, however, biocontrol strains for alfalfa root rot are very limited. In this study, a Bacillus subtilis CG-6 strain with a significant biocontrol effect on alfalfa root rot was isolated. CG-6 secretes antibacterial enzymes and siderophore, phosphate solubilization and indoleacetic acid (IAA). The inhibition rate of strain CG-6 against Fusarium oxysporum was 87.33%, and it showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity. Inoculation with CG-6 significantly reduced the incidence of alfalfa root rot, the control effect of greenhouse cultivation reached 58.12%, and CG-6 treatment significantly increased alfalfa plant height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight. The treatment with CG-6 significantly increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and lipoxygenase) in alfalfa leaves by 15.52%-34.03%. Defensive enzymes (chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase) increased by 24.37% and 28.08%, respectively. The expression levels of regulatory enzyme genes (MsCAT, MsPOD, MsCu, Zn-SOD1, MsCu, Zn-SOD2, MsCu, Zn-SOD3, and MsLOX2) and systemic resistance genes (MsPR1, MsPDF1.2, and MsVSP2) increased by 0.50-2.85 fold, which were higher than those in the pathogen treatment group. Therefore, CG-6 could be used as a potential strain to develop biopesticides against alfalfa root rot.

A phase I study to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of PF-06939999 (PRMT5 inhibitor) in patients with selected advanced or metastatic tumors with high incidence of splicing factor gene mutations

BACKGROUND

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) methylates multiple substrates dysregulated in cancer, including spliceosome machinery components. PF-06939999 is a selective small-molecule PRMT5 inhibitor.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This phase I dose-escalation and -expansion trial (NCT03854227) enrolled patients with selected solid tumors. PF-06939999 was administered orally once or twice a day (q.d./b.i.d.) in 28-day cycles. The objectives were to evaluate PF-06939999 safety and tolerability to identify maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended part 2 dose (RP2D), and assess pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics [changes in plasma symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels], and antitumor activities.

RESULTS

In part 1 dose escalation, 28 patients received PF-06939999 (0.5 mg q.d. to 6 mg b.i.d.). Four of 24 (17%) patients reported dose-limiting toxicities: thrombocytopenia (n = 2, 6 mg b.i.d.), anemia (n = 1, 8 mg q.d.), and neutropenia (n = 1, 6 mg q.d.). PF-06939999 exposure increased with dose. Steady-state PK was achieved by day 15. Plasma SDMA was reduced at steady state (58%-88%). Modulation of plasma SDMA was dose dependent. No MTD was determined. In part 2 dose expansion, 26 patients received PF-06939999 6 mg q.d. (RP2D). Overall (part 1 + part 2), the most common grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events included anemia (28%), thrombocytopenia/platelet count decreased (22%), fatigue (6%), and neutropenia (4%). Three patients (6.8%) had confirmed partial response (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, n = 1; non-small-cell lung cancer, n = 2), and 19 (43.2%) had stable disease. No predictive biomarkers were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

PF-06939999 demonstrated a tolerable safety profile and objective clinical responses in a subset of patients, suggesting that PRMT5 is an interesting cancer target with clinical validation. However, no predictive biomarker was identified. The role of PRMT5 in cancer biology is complex and requires further preclinical, mechanistic investigation to identify predictive biomarkers for patient selection.

pH-Responsive Hyaluronic Acid Nanomicelles for Photodynamic /Chemodynamic Synergistic Therapy Trigger Immunogenicity and Oxygenation

Cancer metastasis and invasion are closely related to tumor cell immunosuppression and intracellular hypoxia. Activation of immunogenicity and intracellular oxygenation are effective strategies for cancer treatment. In this study, multifunctional nanomicelle hyaluronic acid and cinnamaldehyde is self-assembled into nanomicelles (HPCNPs) were constructed for immunotherapy and tumor cell oxygenation. The Schiff base was constructed of HPCNPs with pyropheophorbide a-Cu (PPa-Cu). HPCNPs are concentrated in tumor sites under the guidance of CD44 proteins, and under the stimulation of tumor environment (weakly acidic), the Schiff base is destroyed to release free PPa. HPCNPs with photodynamic therapeutic functions and chemokinetic therapeutic functions produce a large number of reactive oxygen species (1O2 and •OH) under exogenous (laser) and endogenous (H2O2) stimulations, causing cell damage, and then inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD). ICD markers (CRT and ATP) and immunoactivity markers (IL-2 and CD8) were characterized by immunofluorescence. Downregulation of Arg1 protein proved that the tumor microenvironment changed from immunosuppressive type (M2) to antitumor type (M1). The oxidation of glutathione by HPCNP cascades to amplify the concentration of reactive oxygen species. In situ oxygenation by HPCNPs based on a Fenton-like reaction improves the intracellular oxygen level. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that HPCNPs combined with an immune checkpoint blocker (α-PD-L1) effectively ablated primary tumors, effectively inhibited the growth of distal tumors, and increased the oxygen level in tumor cells.

Oxalic acid secretion alleviates saline-alkali stress in alfalfa by improving photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant activity

Saline-alkali stress significantly affects the growth and yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Organic acid secretion is crucial in alleviating abiotic stress-induced damage in plants. In this study, we evaluated the contents of the major organic acids secreted by the roots of tolerant (ZD) and sensitive (LYL) varieties of alfalfa under saline-alkali stress and investigated the effects of these organic acids on the growth, and physiological functions of alfalfa. Our results indicated that the oxalic acid (OA) content was the highest among the organic acids secreted from alfalfa roots under saline-alkali stress, and oxalic acid content was the most significantly different between the two varieties, ZD and LYL, compared to the contents of the other organic acids. Oxalic acid alleviated the inhibition of alfalfa growth caused by saline-alkali stress, improved photosynthetic characteristics, reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and content of osmoregulatory substances. Furthermore, oxalic acid resulted in significantly increased expression of genes involved in photosynthesis and antioxidant system in alfalfa under saline-alkali stress. This study revealed the effects of oxalic acid secreted by the root system on stress-related physiological processes, providing valuable insights into the functions of root secretions in plant saline-alkali resistance.

Comparative Analysis of Chloroplast Pan-Genomes and Transcriptomics Reveals Cold Adaptation in Medicago sativa

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a perennial forage legume that is widely distributed all over the world; therefore, it has an extremely complex genetic background. Though population structure and phylogenetic studies have been conducted on a large group of alfalfa nuclear genomes, information about the chloroplast genomes is still lacking. Chloroplast genomes are generally considered to be conservative and play an important role in population diversity analysis and species adaptation in plants. Here, 231 complete alfalfa chloroplast genomes were successfully assembled from 359 alfalfa resequencing data, on the basis of which the alfalfa chloroplast pan-genome was constructed. We investigated the genetic variations of the alfalfa chloroplast genome through comparative genomic, genetic diversity, phylogenetic, population genetic structure, and haplotype analysis. Meanwhile, the expression of alfalfa chloroplast genes under cold stress was explored through transcriptome analysis. As a result, chloroplast genomes of 231 alfalfa lack an IR region, and the size of the chloroplast genome ranges from 125,192 bp to 126,105 bp. Using population structure, haplotypes, and construction of a phylogenetic tree, it was found that alfalfa populations could be divided into four groups, and multiple highly variable regions were found in the alfalfa chloroplast genome. Transcriptome analysis showed that tRNA genes were significantly up-regulated in the cold-sensitive varieties, while rps7, rpl32, and ndhB were down-regulated, and the editing efficiency of ycf1, ycf2, and ndhF was decreased in the cold-tolerant varieties, which may be due to the fact that chloroplasts store nutrients through photosynthesis to resist cold. The huge number of genetic variants in this study provide powerful resources for molecular markers.

Metabolomic and physiological analysis of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in response to saline and alkaline stress

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a leguminous forage widely grown worldwide. Saline and alkaline stress can affect its development and yield. To elucidate the physiological mechanisms of alfalfa in response to saline and alkaline stress, we investigated the growth and physiological and metabolomic changes in alfalfa under saline (100 mM NaCl) and alkaline (100 mM Na2CO3, NaHCO3) stress. At the same Na+ concentration, alkaline stress caused more damage than that caused by saline stress. A total of 65 and 124 metabolites were identified in response to saline and alkaline stress, respectively. Determination of gene expression, enzyme activity, substance content, and KEGG enrichment analysis in key pathways revealed that alfalfa responded to saline stress primarily by osmoregulation and TCA cycle enhancement. Flavonoid synthesis, TCA cycle, glutamate anabolism, jasmonate synthesis, and cell wall component synthesis increased as responses to alkaline stress. This study provides important resources for breeding saline-alkaline-resistant alfalfa.

[Role of post-translational modification of basic leucine zipper transcription factors in response to abiotic stresses in plants]

Abiotic stresses substantially affect the growth and development of plants. Plants have evolved multiple strategies to cope with the environmental stresses, among which transcription factors play an important role in regulating the tolerance to abiotic stresses. Basic leucine zipper transcription factors (bZIP) are one of the largest gene families. The stability and activity of bZIP transcription factors could be regulated by different post-translational modifications (PTMs) in response to various intracellular or extracellular stresses. This paper introduces the structural feature and classification of bZIP transcription factors, followed by summarizing the PTMs of bZIP transcription factors, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification, in response to abiotic stresses. In addition, future perspectives were prospected, which may facilitate cultivating excellent stress-resistant crop varieties by regulating the PTMs of bZIP transcription factors.

GmABCG5, an ATP-binding cassette G transporter gene, is involved in the iron deficiency response in soybean

Iron deficiency is a major nutritional problem causing iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and yield reduction in soybean, one of the most important crops. The ATP-binding cassette G subfamily plays a crucial role in substance transportation in plants. In this study, we cloned the GmABCG5 gene from soybean and verified its role in Fe homeostasis. Analysis showed that GmABCG5 belongs to the ABCG subfamily and is subcellularly localized at the cell membrane. From high to low, GmABCG5 expression was found in the stem, root, and leaf of young soybean seedlings, and the order of expression was flower, pod, seed stem, root, and leaf in mature soybean plants. The GUS assay and qRT-PCR results showed that the GmABCG5 expression was significantly induced by iron deficiency in the leaf. We obtained the GmABCG5 overexpressed and inhibitory expressed soybean hairy root complexes. Overexpression of GmABCG5 promoted, and inhibition of GmABCG5 retarded the growth of soybean hairy roots, independent of nutrient iron conditions, confirming the growth-promotion function of GmABCG5. Iron deficiency has a negative effect on the growth of soybean complexes, which was more obvious in the GmABCG5 inhibition complexes. The chlorophyll content was increased in the GmABCG5 overexpression complexes and decreased in the GmABCG5 inhibition complexes. Iron deficiency treatment widened the gap in the chlorophyll contents. FCR activity was induced by iron deficiency and showed an extraordinary increase in the GmABCG5 overexpression complexes, accompanied by the greatest Fe accumulation. Antioxidant capacity was enhanced when GmABCG5 was overexpressed and reduced when GmABCG5 was inhibited under iron deficiency. These results showed that the response mechanism to iron deficiency is more actively mobilized in GmABCG5 overexpression seedlings. Our results indicated that GmABCG5 could improve the plant's tolerance to iron deficiency, suggesting that GmABCG5 might have the function of Fe mobilization, redistribution, and/or secretion of Fe substances in plants. The findings provide new insights into the ABCG subfamily genes in the regulation of iron homeostasis in plants.

Global landfill leachate characteristics: Occurrences and abundances of environmental contaminants and the microbiome

Landfill leachates are complex mixtures containing very high concentrations of biodegradable and recalcitrant toxic compounds. Understanding the major contaminant components and microbial community signatures in global landfill leachates is crucial for timely decision-making regarding contaminant management and treatment. Therefore, this study analyzed leachate data from 318 landfill sites primarily used for municipal solid waste disposal, focusing on their chemical and microbiological characteristics. The most prevalent and dominant components in landfill leachates are the chemical oxygen demand (COD, 3.7-75.9 × 103 mg/L) and NH4+ (0.03-0.81 × 104 mg/L), followed by salt species such as SO42- (0.03-5.25 × 103 mg/L), Cl- (3.2-7.8 × 103 mg/L), K+ (0.58-4.20 × 103 mg/L), Na+ (1.3-13.0 × 103 mg/L) and Ca2+ (2.35-230.23 × 103 mg/L), which exhibit significant fluctuations. Heavy metals and metalloids are widely distributed in most landfill leachates but at relatively low concentrations (<182.8 mg/L) compared to conventional parameters. Importantly, there is a distinct global variation in the occurrence of emerging environmental contaminants (ECs). Among these compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, 0.02-7.50 × 103 μg/L) of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), bisphenol A (BPA, 0.01-33.46 × 103 μg/L) belonged to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), together with di-ethyltoluamide (DEET, 1.0-1.0 × 103 μg/L) affiliated to pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are the most frequently detected in landfill leachates. Additionally, the microbial community compositions in most leachates are primarily dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Chloroflexi, and some of their abundances are correlated with the concentrations of NH4+, NO3-, Cl-, Na+ and Cr. Notably, the leading microbes driving advanced removal of inorganic nitrogen in the treatment systems are Candidatus Brocadia (anammox), denitrifying Thauera, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria Nitrospira, along with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira. The findings of this work provide a deeper insight into the leachate characteristics and the sustainable management of landfill leachates, especially presenting a snapshot of the global distribution of pollutants and also the microbiome.

Comprehensive Identification of the β-Amylase (BAM) Gene Family in Response to Cold Stress in White Clover

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is an allopolyploid plant and an excellent perennial legume forage. However, white clover is subjected to various stresses during its growth, with cold stress being one of the major limiting factors affecting its growth and development. Beta-amylase (BAM) is an important starch-hydrolyzing enzyme that plays a significant role in starch degradation and responses to environmental stress. In this study, 21 members of the BAM gene family were identified in the white clover genome. A phylogenetic analysis using BAMs from Arabidopsis divided TrBAMs into four groups based on sequence similarity. Through analysis of conserved motifs, gene duplication, synteny analysis, and cis-acting elements, a deeper understanding of the structure and evolution of TrBAMs in white clover was gained. Additionally, a gene regulatory network (GRN) containing TrBAMs was constructed; gene ontology (GO) annotation analysis revealed close interactions between TrBAMs and AMY (α-amylase) and DPE (4-alpha-glucanotransferase). To determine the function of TrBAMs under various tissues and stresses, RNA-seq datasets were analyzed, showing that most TrBAMs were significantly upregulated in response to biotic and abiotic stresses and the highest expression in leaves. These results were validated through qRT-PCR experiments, indicating their involvement in multiple gene regulatory pathways responding to cold stress. This study provides new insights into the structure, evolution, and function of the white clover BAM gene family, laying the foundation for further exploration of the functional mechanisms through which TrBAMs respond to cold stress.

Genome-wide analysis of the CDPK gene family and their important roles response to cold stress in white clover

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are an important class of calcium-sensitive response proteins that play an important regulatory role in response to abiotic stresses. To date, little is known about the CDPK genes in white clover. White clover is a high-quality forage grass with high protein content, but it is susceptible to cold stress. Therefore, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the CDPK gene family in white clover and identified 50 members of the CDPK genes. Phylogenetic analysis using CDPKs from the model plant Arabidopsis divided the TrCDPK genes into four groups based on their sequence similarities. Motif analysis showed that TrCDPKs within the same group had similar motif compositions. Gene duplication analysis revealed the evolution and expansion of TrCDPK genes in white clover. Meanwhile, a genetic regulatory network (GRN) containing TrCDPK genes was reconstructed, and gene ontology (GO) annotation analysis of these functional genes showed that they contribute to signal transduction, cellular response to stimuli, and biological regulation, all of which are important processes in response to abiotic stresses. To determine the function of TrCDPK genes, we analyzed the RNA-seq dataset and found that most TrCDPK genes were highly up-regulated under cold stress, particularly in the early stages of cold stress. These results were validated by qRT-PCR experiments, implying that TrCDPK genes are involved in various gene regulatory pathways in response to cold stress. Our study may help to further investigate the function of TrCDPK genes and their role in response to cold stress, which is important for understanding the molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance in white clover and improving its cold tolerance.

Bioinformatics and expression analysis of proline metabolism-related gene families in alfalfa under saline-alkali stress

Regulation of the proline metabolic pathway is essential for the accumulation of proline under abiotic stress and for the amelioration of plant stress resistance. Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR), ornithine transaminase (δ-OAT), proline dehydrogenase (PDH), pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH), and proline transporter (ProT) are the key enzymes in the proline metabolic pathway. However, the gene families responsible for proline metabolism have not yet been identified or reported in alfalfa. In this study, a total of 12 MsP5CSs, 4 MsP5CRs, 3 MsOATs, 6 MsPDHs, 2 MsP5CDHs, and 5 MsProTs were identified in the genome of alfalfa, and the members of the same subfamily had similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements revealed the presence of light-responsive, hormone-regulated, and stress-responsive elements in the promoter regions of alfalfa proline metabolism-related genes. Following treatment with saline-alkali, the expression of MsP5CSs, MsP5CRs, MsOATs, and MsProTs was significantly upregulated, whereas the expression of MsPDH1.1, MsPDH1.3, and MsP5CDH was significantly downregulated. The proline content and enzyme activity of P5CS gradually increased, whereas the enzyme activity of PDH gradually decreased as the duration of stress increased. Root growth rates decreased upon MsP5CS1a suppression (MsP5CS1a-RNAi) in the hairy roots of alfalfa compared to the empty vector line under saline-alkali stress. These results show that proline metabolism-related genes play an important role in the saline-alkali stress tolerance of alfalfa and provide a theoretical basis for further research on the functions of proline metabolism-related genes in alfalfa in response to saline-alkali stress.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of filamentation temperature-sensitive H (FtsH) genes and expression analysis in response to multiple stresses in Medicago truncatula

BACKGROUND

Filamentation temperature-sensitive H (FtsH) is an AAA+ ATP-dependent protease that plays a vital role in plant environmental adaption and tolerance. However, little is known about the function of the FtsH gene family in the most important legume model plant, Medicago truncatula.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To identify and investigate the potential stress adaptation roles of FtsH gene family in M. truncatula, we conducted a series of genome-wide characterization and expression analyses. Totally, twenty MtFtsH genes were identified, which were unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes and classified into six evolution groups based on their phylogenetic relationships, with each group containing similar structures and motifs. Furthermore, MtFtsH genes exhibited a high degree of collinearity and homology with leguminous plants such as alfalfa and soybean. Multiple cis-elements in the upstream region of MtFtsH genes were also identified that responded to light, abiotic stress, and phytohormones. Public RNA-seq data indicated that MtFtsH genes were induced under both salt and drought stresses, and our transcript expression analysis showed that MtFtsH genes of MtFtsH1, MtFtsH2, MtFtsH4, MtFtsH9, and MtFtsH10 were up-regulated after ABA, H2O2, PEG, and NaCl treatments. These results suggest that MtFtsH genes may play a critical role in drought and high salt stress responses and the adaption processes of plants.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a systematic analysis of FtsH gene family in M. truncatula, serving as a valuable molecular theoretical basis for future functional investigations. Our findings also extend the pool of potential candidate genes for the genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in legume crops.

AI's deep dive into complex pediatric inguinal hernia issues: a challenge to traditional guidelines?

OBJECTIVE

This study utilized ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence program based on large language models, to explore controversial issues in pediatric inguinal hernia surgery and compare its responses with the guidelines of the European Association of Pediatric Surgeons (EUPSA).

METHODS

Six contentious issues raised by EUPSA were submitted to ChatGPT 4.0 for analysis, for which two independent responses were generated for each issue. These generated answers were subsequently compared with systematic reviews and guidelines. To ensure content accuracy and reliability, a content analysis was conducted, and expert evaluations were solicited for validation. Content analysis evaluated the consistency or discrepancy between ChatGPT 4.0's responses and the guidelines. An expert scoring method assess the quality, reliability, and applicability of responses. The TF-IDF model tested the stability and consistency of the two responses.

RESULTS

The responses generated by ChatGPT 4.0 were mostly consistent with the guidelines. However, some differences and contradictions were noted. The average quality score was 3.33, reliability score was 2.75, and applicability score was 3.46 (out of 5). The average similarity between the two responses was 0.72 (out of 1), Content analysis and expert ratings yielded consistent conclusions, enhancing the credibility of our research.

CONCLUSION

ChatGPT can provide valuable responses to clinical questions, but it has limitations and requires further improvement. It is recommended to combine ChatGPT with other reliable data sources to improve clinical practice and decision-making.

Distribution and Pathogenicity of Fusarium Species Associated with Soybean Root Rot in Northeast China

Fusarium root rot is an increasingly severe problem in soybean cultivation. Although several Fusarium species have been reported to infect soybean roots in Heilongjiang province, their frequency and aggressiveness have not been systematically quantified in the region. This study aimed to investigate the diversity and distribution of Fusarium species that cause soybean root rot in Heilongjiang province over two years. A total of 485 isolates belonging to nine Fusarium species were identified, with F. oxysporum and F. solani being the most prevalent. Pot experiments were conducted to examine the relative aggressiveness of different Fusarium species on soybean roots, revealing that F. oxysporum and F. solani were the most aggressive pathogens, causing the most severe root rot symptoms. The study also assessed the susceptibility of different soybean cultivars to Fusarium root rot caused by F. oxysporum and F. solani. The results indicated that the soybean cultivar DN51 exhibited the most resistance to both pathogens, indicating that it may possess genetic traits that make it less susceptible to Fusarium root rot. These findings provide valuable insights into the diversity and distribution of Fusarium species that cause soybean root rot and could facilitate the development of effective management strategies for this disease.

Academic clinician frontline-worker wellbeing and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic experience: Were there gender differences?

Prior research suggests COVID-19 has amplified stress on Academic Clinician Frontline-Workers (ACFW). The aim of this paper is: (1) to better understand the experiences of ACFW during the COVID-19 pandemic including their mental-emotional wellbeing, academic productivity, clinical experiences, and (2) to examine any gender differences. A cross-sectional survey was administered to University of Minnesota/M Health Fairview systems' faculty February-June 2021. Of the 291 respondents, 156 were clinicians, with 91 (58 %) identifying as Frontline-Workers (ACFW). Faculty wellbeing was assessed using validated measures in addition to measures of productivity and sociodemographics. For example, ACFW reported a higher Work-Family Conflict (WFC) scores compared to non-ACFW (26.5 vs. 24.1, p = 0.057) but did not report higher Family-Work Conflict (FWC) scores (17.7 vs. 16.3, p = 0.302). Gender sub-analyses, revealed that women ACFW compared to men ACFW reported higher WFC scores (27.7 vs. 24.1, p = 0.021) and FWC (19.3 vs. 14.3, p = 0.004). Academically, ACFW reported submitting fewer grants and anticipated delays in promotion and tenure due to the COVID-19 (p = 0.035). Results suggest COVID-19 has exacerbated ACFW stress and gender inequities. Reports of anticipated delay in promotion for ACFW may pose a challenge for the long-term academic success of ACFW, especially women ACFW. In addition, women may experience higher FWC and WFC as compared to men. Schools of academic medicine should consider re-evaluating promotion/tenure processes and creating resources to support women ACFW as well as ACFW caregivers.

Multifunctional Tumor-Targeting Carbon Dots for Tumor Microenvironment Activated Ferroptosis and Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment

As an emerging cancer treatment strategy, ferroptosis is distinguished by the perturbation of lipid metabolism equilibrium and the accumulation of lipid peroxidation. However, the efficacy is consistently hindered by excessive GSH in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, this work designed and prepared multifunctional tumor-targeting carbon dots (FG-CDs@Cu) for ferroptosis and immunotherapy. Cu2+ in FG-CDs@Cu rapidly depletes high concentrations of GSH and inhibits glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression in an acidic TME. Meanwhile, the generated Cu+ produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) through Fenton-like reaction. Due to the high efficiency of ROS production and GSH depletion, ferroptosis mediated by oxidative stress is significantly enhanced by FG-CDs@Cu in vivo, which can induce immunogenic cell death and promote CD8+ T cell infiltration. Meanwhile, the generated O2 effectively improves the hypoxic environment of the cells and leads to the reduction of hypoxia factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression, which activates the transformation of tumor-promoting M2-type tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to tumor-inhibiting M1-type TAMs, further enhancing the immune response and ferroptosis. The in vivo tests suggested that FG-CDs@Cu could efficiently suppress tumor growth in the mouse model and did not cause obvious toxicity. The combination with antiprogrammed death-ligand 1 (αPD-L1) synergy immune therapy could effectively restrain the growth of distal tumors, suggesting the significant potential of FG-CDs@Cu in augmenting ferroptosis and immunotherapy for efficacious cancer treatment.

Identification of bladder cancer subtypes and predictive model for prognosis, immune features, and immunotherapy based on neutrophil extracellular trap-related genes

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of urinary system, and its morbidity and mortality are increasing rapidly. Although great advances have been made in medical technology in recent years, there is still a lack of effective prognostic and therapeutic methods for bladder cancer. NETs are reticulated DNA structures decorated with various protein substances released extracellularly by neutrophils stimulated by strong signals. Recently, it has been found that NETs are closely related to the growth, metastasis and drug resistance of many types of cancers. However, up to now, the research on the relationship between NETs and bladder cancer is still not enough. In this study, we aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of NRGs in bladder cancer tissues to evaluate the relationship between NRGs and prognosis prediction and sensitivity to therapy in patients with bladder cancer. We scored NRGs in each tissue by using ssGSEA, and selected gene sets that were significantly associated with NRGs scores by using the WCGNA algorithm. Based on the expression profiles of NRGs-related genes, NMF clustering analysis was performed to identify different BLCA molecular subtypes. For the differentially expressed genes between subtypes, we used univariate COX regression, LASSO regression and multivariate COX regression to further construct a hierarchical model of BLCA patients containing 10 genes. This model and the nomogram based on this model can accurately predict the prognosis of BLCA patients in multiple datasets. Besides, BLCA patients classified based on this model differ greatly in their sensitivity to immunotherapy and targeted therapies, which providing a reference for individualized treatment of patients with bladder cancer.

Vehicle State Joint Estimation Based on Lateral Stiffness

In this study, a vehicle state joint estimation method based on lateral stiffness was applied to estimate the running states of electric vehicles driven by rear-drive, in-wheel motors. Different from the estimation methods used in other research, the joint estimator designed in this study uses the least-squares (LS) algorithm to estimate the lateral stiffness of the front and rear axles of the vehicle, deploying the high-degree cubature Kalman filter algorithm to estimate the vehicle state. We establish a three-degree-of-freedom nonlinear vehicle model with longitudinal velocity, lateral velocity, and yaw rate, and the lateral stiffness of the front and rear axles as the principal parameters. For the low-speed running state of the vehicle, a linearized magic tire model with high fitting accuracy was used to calculate the lateral force of the entire vehicle. The LS algorithm with a forgetting factor was used to design a lateral stiffness estimator to assess the front-axle and rear-axle lateral stiffness of the entire vehicle. The generalized high-degree cubature Kalman filter (GHCKF) algorithm was used to design the vehicle state estimator and further improve the GHCKF algorithm. A vehicle state estimator, using the square root generalized high-degree cubature Kalman filter (SRGHCKF), was designed. Therefore, the joint estimator, comprising a lateral stiffness estimator and a vehicle state estimator, adopts the LS-GHCKF/SRGHCKF algorithm and enables the estimation of the lateral stiffness, the longitudinal velocity, the lateral velocity, and the yaw rate of the entire vehicle during the driving process. A double lane change and slalom simulation were performed to analyze the feasibility and accuracy of the joint estimation algorithm and verify the results of the LS-GHCKF algorithm and the LS-SRGHCKF algorithm. Further, a low-speed driving experiment was carried out for electric vehicles driven by rear in-wheel motors. The inertial navigation system (INS), the global positioning system (GPS), the real-time kinematic (RTK), and an angle sensor were used to collect real-time vehicle data. The results were compared to verify the feasibility of the joint estimator and the progressiveness of the algorithm. The experimental verification and simulation both show that the vehicle state joint estimator, designed based on the LS-GHCKF/SRGHCKF algorithm, can accurately estimate the real-time state of the vehicle. Additionally, the LS-SRGHCKF algorithm shows better effectiveness and robustness than the LS-GHCKF algorithm.

Phytotoxicity of nitrobenzene bioaccumulation in rice seedlings: Nitrobenzene inhibits growth, induces oxidative stress, and reduces photosynthetic pigment synthesis

Nitrobenzene (NB) has been used in numerous industrial and agricultural fields as an organic compound intermediate. NB has mutagenicity and acute toxicity, and is typically a toxic pollutant in industrial wastewater worldwide. To evaluate its phytotoxicity, we treated rice (Oryza sativa) with different concentrations of NB (0, 5, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L-1). NB inhibited growth indices of rice (shoot and root length, fresh shoot and root weight, and dry shoot and root weight) as NB treatment concentrations increased. High concentrations (>25 mg L-1) of NB significantly inhibited rice root and shoot growth; root growth was more susceptible to NB. NB treatment could damage the structure and reduce the activity of rice seedling roots. The result of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) indicated that the bioaccumulation of NB in rice seedlings had a dose-dependent effect on the growth inhibition. NB reduced the photosynthetic pigment content and the expression levels of chlorophyll synthesis genes. NB treatment increased active oxygen radicals, electrical conductivity, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, and soluble sugar contents. The expressions of antioxidant enzyme genes were induced by NB stress, and exhibited a phenomenon of initial increase followed by decrease. When the NB concentration was higher than 50 mg L-1, the gene expression levels decreased rapidly. This study provides insight into the association between exposure to NB and its phytotoxic effects on rice seedlings, and assesses the potential risk of NB bioaccumulation for crops that require a large amount of irrigation water.

Identification and Automated Delineation of Radioresistant Biological Tumor Volume in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Radiomics

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Widespread use of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has improved the tumor control rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, nearly 20% of the patients with local-advanced NPC would relapse after precise irradiation and 80% of the recurrent lesions occur within the high dose field, suggesting that there are radiation-resistant cancer cell subsets within the tumor. In this context, identification and contouring of radiation resistance region of NPC for dose escalation at primary IMRT could be advantageous. In this work, we proposed a two-step radiomics workflow to predict local relapse and the recurrent region of NPC before primary IMRT.

MATERIALS/METHODS

In this single-center, retrospective study, pre-treatment magnetic resonance (MR) sequences of T1-weighted imaging (T1-w) and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CET1-w) were collected from 800 patients of newly diagnosed and non-metastatic NPC between April 2009 and December 2015. The primary gross tumor volume (GTVp) of all patients and the actual recurrent lesion (GTVr) of patients who suffered from local recurrence were manually contoured for further analysis. A two-step complete radiomics workflow was designed to predict tumor recurrence and segment the region. First, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was utilized for radiomics features selection of GTVp and support vector machine (SVM) was adopted to predict the recurrence. If the model predicts a recurrence, then the workflow utilizes an improved 3D U-Net to segment the recurrent region. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) was used to evaluate the performance of tumor recurrence prediction, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was used to assess the consistence between the actual and predicted GTVr.

RESULTS

Of 800 NPC patients, 95 (11.9%) patients developed in-field local recurrence. For recurrence risk prediction, the SVM ensemble model (T1-w+CET1-w) was selected for further application with higher sensitivity. The average ROC-AUC, specificity, sensitivity of the SVM ensemble model in a 5-fold cross-validation and in the independent test set of 160 patients were 0.922, 0.922, 0.777 and 0.928, 0.915, 0.737, respectively. Moreover, for recurrent region segmentation, the multi-modality (T1-w+CET1-w) model was superior to the single-modality (T1-w or CET1-w) model. In an independent test set of 15 patients, the DSC, sensitivity and 95% Hausdorff Distance between actual and predicted GTVr was 0.549±0.176, 0.696±0.118 and 9.813±4.788 which was superior to 0.444±0.188, 0.497±0.218 and 12.047±5.361 of original 3D U-Net.

CONCLUSION

The proposed two-step radiomics workflow showed a good performance in predicting tumor recurrence of NPC. The predicted location of the recurrence lesion was all accurate, but there was still a certain difference between the volume of the automated delineated and actual GTVr, which needed to be further optimized to be used as biological tumor volume.

Automated Contouring of Cervical Lymph Nodes and Clinical Target Volumes for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on Deep Learning and Experience Constraints

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Application of artificial intelligence (AI) for automated contouring of tumor volumes and organs at risk (OARs) for radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) leads to improved contouring accuracy and efficiency. However, few studies have involved the automated contouring of gross tumor volume of cervical lymph nodes (GTVn) and clinical target volumes (CTVs). In this work, we proposed an AI automated contouring tool for GTVn and CTVs for radiotherapy of NPC on the plain scans of planning compute tomography (CT).

MATERIALS/METHODS

In this retrospective study, plain scan datasets of planning CT covering the nasopharynx and neck from 139 patients with NPC between March 2022 and December 2022 were collected and divided into training, validation, and testing cohorts of 95, 24, and 20 patients, respectively. Ground truth contours of primary gross tumor volume (GTVp), GTVn (divided into GTVn_L in left neck and GTVn_R in right neck), CTVs (including high risk CTV1 contains GTVp and low risk CTV2 contains GTVp and cervical nodal levels) and OARs were delineated and were defined by consensus of two experts. We first proposed a three-dimensional (3D) U-net using GTVp and OARs as experience constrains to guide the automated delineation of GTVn and CTVs. The average Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and average surface distance (ASD) were used to quantify the performance of the AI tool. Next, five prospective patients were enrolled for clinical evaluation of our AI tool. DSC between automated contours and radiation oncologist-revised contours and time consuming of the revision were record.

RESULTS

Clinical characteristics of 139 retrospective and 5 prospective patients are list in Table 1. In the independent testing set of 20 patients, our AI tool showed high performance in GTVn and CTVs contouring when compared with the ground truth contours. The mean DSC were 0.73 ± 0.07, 0.74 ± 0.05, 0.93 ± 0.03, and 0.88 ± 0.03, and the mean ASD were 1.01 ± 0.43 mm, 1.14 ± 0.61 mm, 0.51 ± 0.13 mm, 1.17 ± 0.43 mm for GTVn_L, GTVn_R, CTV1 and CTV2, respectively. In the five prospective patients, mean DSC were 0.74 ± 0.07, 0.74 ± 0.10, 0.95 ± 0.01 and 0.89 ± 0.04, respectively. The median time consuming for GTVn and CTVs revision was 2minutes and 10 seconds (range, 1 minutes to 3 minutes).

CONCLUSION

The proposed AI tool integrating clinical experience as constrains showed high accuracy for contouring GTVn and CTVs of NPC. With the assistance of AI contours, contouring efficiency could be probably increased, which is promising in online adaptive radiotherapy of NPC.

The axial and sagittal CT values of the 7th thoracic vertebrae in screening for osteoporosis and osteopenia

AIM

To evaluate the difference in computed tomography (CT) attenuation value of different planes of the 7th thoracic vertebra and investigate the efficacy of axial and sagittal vertebral CT measurements in predicting osteoporosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent routine chest CT and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) within 1 month were included in this retrospective study. The CT attenuation values of different planes were compared. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were used to analyse the difference of each plane in the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

RESULTS

The study included 1,338 patients (mean age of 61.9±11.9; 54% female). The CT attenuation values decreased successively in the normal group, osteopenia group, and osteoporosis group. The paired t-test results showed that the mid-axial measurements were greater than mid-sagittal measurements, with a mean difference of 9 HU, the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.8-10.1). For each one-unit reduction in mid-sagittal CT attenuation value, the risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis increased by 3.6%. To distinguish osteoporosis from non-osteoporosis (osteopenia + normal), the sensitivity was 90% and the specificity was 52.4% at the mid-sagittal threshold of 113.7 HU.

CONCLUSIONS

The CT attenuation values of mid-sagittal plane have higher diagnostic efficacy than axial planes in predicting osteoporosis. For patients with a sagittal CT attenuation value of <113.7 HU in the T7, further DXA examination is warranted.

Treatment of Central Nervous System Infection Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii with Intravenous and Intraventricular Colistin Sulfate: A Case Report and Literature Review

Purpose

Due to the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and poor penetration of many antimicrobial drugs across the blood-brain barrier following intravenous administration, treatment of central nervous system (CNS) infections is challenging, especially infections caused by carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO). Intraventricular (IVT) infusion of antimicrobial drugs could be a choice. This report aims to describe a patient with CNS infection caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) which was successfully treated with IVT combined with intravenous (IV) colistin sulfate.

Methods

A case of CNS infection caused by CRAB after a craniocerebral injury was presented. The patient was treated with IVT together with IV colistin sulfate. Moreover, literature on the regimens and safety of colistin sulfate were also reviewed and summarized.

Results

Intraventricular (50,000 U, qd/100,000 U, qd) combined with IV (500,000 U, q12h/500,000 U, q8h) colistin sulfate was given to the patient, and the CNS infection was successfully controlled. The patient was finally transferred back to a local hospital for rehabilitation treatment. No nephrotoxicity or neurotoxicity was observed during the therapy.

Conclusion

IV combined with IVT colistin sulfate is effective in the treatment of CNS infections caused by CRAB. IVT concomitant IV colistin sulfate might be a therapeutic option worth considering in the treatment of CNS infections caused by CRO.

Mercury intoxication disrupts tonic signaling in B cells, and may promote autoimmunity due to abnormal phosphorylation of STIM-1 and other autoimmunity risk associated phosphoproteins involved in BCR signaling

Epidemiological studies link exposure to mercury with autoimmune disease. Unfortunately, in spite of considerable effort, no generally accepted mechanistic understanding of how mercury functions with respect to the etiology of autoimmune disease is currently available. Nevertheless, autoimmune disease often arises because of defective B cell signaling. Because B cell signaling is dependent on phosphorylation cascades, in this report, we have focused on how mercury intoxication alters phosphorylation of B cell proteins in antigen-non stimulated (tonic) mouse (BALB/c) splenic B cells. Specifically, we utilized mass spectrometric techniques to conduct a comprehensive unbiased global analysis of the effect of inorganic mercury (Hg2+) on the entire B cell phosphoproteome. We found that the effects were pleotropic in the sense that large numbers of pathways were impacted. However, confirming our earlier work, we found that the B cell signaling pathway stood out from the rest, in that phosphoproteins which had sites which were affected by Hg2+, exhibited a much higher degree of connectivity, than components of other pathways. Further analysis showed that many of these BCR pathway proteins had been previously linked to autoimmune disease. Finally, dose response analysis of these BCR pathway proteins showed STIM1_S575, and NFAT2_S259 are the two most Hg2+ sensitive of these sites. Because STIM1_S575 controls the ability of STIM1 to regulate internal Ca2+, we speculate that STIM1 may be the initial point of disruption, where Hg2+ interferes with B cell signaling leading to systemic autoimmunity, with the molecular effects pleiotropically propagated throughout the cell by virtue of Ca2+ dysregulation.

Portable smartphone-integrated AuAg nanoclusters electrospun membranes for multivariate fluorescent sensing of Hg2+, Cu2+ and l-histidine in water and food samples

Detection of heavy metals have been pivotal due to their non-biodegradability and food chain accumulation. Herein, a multivariate ratiometric sensor was developed by in situ integrating AuAg nanoclusters (NCs) into electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous membranes (AuAg-ENM) for visual detection of Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺ and consecutive sensing of l-histidine (His), which was integrated into a smartphone platform for quantitative on-site detection. AuAg-ENM achieved multivariate detection of Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ by fluorescence quenching, and subsequent selective recovery of the Cu²⁺-quenched fluorescence by His, which distinguished Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ and fulfilled determination of His simultaneously. Notably, AuAg-ENM achieved selective monitoring of Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺ and His in water, food and serum samples with high accuracy comparable to ICP and HPLC tests. A logic gate circuit was devised to further explain and promote the application of AuAg-ENM detection by smartphone App. This portable AuAg-ENM provides a promising reference for fabricating intelligent visual sensors for multiple detection.

Alfalfa MsATG13 Confers Cold Stress Tolerance to Plants by Promoting Autophagy

Autophagy is a conserved cellular process that functions in the maintenance of physiological and metabolic balance. It has previously been demonstrated to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stress. Numerous autophagy-related genes (ATGs) that regulate abiotic stress have been identified, but there have been few functional studies showing how ATGs confer cold stress tolerance. The cold transcriptome data of the crown buds that experienced overwintering of the alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) showed that MsATG13 is upregulated in response to cold stress. In the present study, we found that MsATG13 transgenic tobacco enhanced cold tolerance compared to wild-type (WT) plants. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that transgenic tobacco overexpressing MsATG13 formed more autophagosomes than WT plants in response to cold stress conditions. The transgenic tobacco increased autophagy levels due to upregulation of other ATGs that were necessary for autophagosome production under cold stress conditions. MsATG13 transgenic tobacco also increased the proline contents and antioxidant enzyme activities, enhancing the antioxidant defense capabilities under cold stress conditions. Furthermore, MsATG13 overexpression decreased levels of superoxide anion radicals and hydrogen peroxide under cold stress conditions. These findings demonstrate the role of MsATG13 in enhancing plant cold tolerance through modulation of autophagy and antioxidant levels.

Isolation and Identification of a Phosphate-Solubilizing Pantoea dispersa with a Saline-Alkali Tolerance and Analysis of Its Growth-Promoting Effects on Silage Maize Under Saline-Alkali Field Conditions

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are microorganisms that can dissolve insoluble phosphorus (P) to accessible forms. This study aimed to screen saline-alkali-tolerant PSB and analyze its growth promoting properties, and evaluate its effects on the growth, quality, soil nutrient balance, and enzyme activities of silage maize in the field. We isolated six phosphate-solubilizing strains from rhizosphere soil of silage maize planted in saline-alkali land, and FC-1 with the best P-solubilizing effect was used for further study. The morphological, physiological and biochemical analysis, and 16S rDNA and housekeeping gene atpD sequencing were performed for identification. FC-1 was identified as Pantoea dispersa and had high P solubility. The phosphate solubility of FC-1 using four P sources ranged from 160.79 to 270.22 mg l-1. FC-1 produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and decreased the pH of the growth media by secreting organic acids, including citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, and acetic acid. The results of a field experiment indicated that FC-1 treatment increased the height, stem diameter, fresh weight, dry weight, starch content, crude protein content, and total P content of silage maize by 9.8, 9.2, 12.6, 11.7, 12.6, 18.3, and 17.4%, respectively. The nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and organic matter contents in the rhizosphere soil of silage maize increased by 29.8, 17.1, 17.9, and 25.3%, respectively; urease, catalase, sucrase, and alkaline phosphatase levels also increased by 24.7, 26.7, 24.0, and 19.5%, respectively. FC-1 promoted the growth of silage maize by improving nutrient metabolism and enzyme activities in saline-alkali soil and may be an effective alternative to fertilizers.

Genome-wide analysis of the WRKY genes and their important roles during cold stress in white clover

Background

White clover (Trifolium repens L) is a high-quality forage grass with a high protein content, but it is vulnerable to cold stress, which can negatively affect its growth and development. WRKY transcription factor is a family of plant transcription factors found mainly in higher plants and plays an important role in plant growth, development, and stress response. Although WRKY transcription factors have been studied extensively in other plants, it has been less studied in white clover.

Methods and Results

In the present research, we have performed a genome-wide analysis of the WRKY gene family of white clover, in total, there were 145 members of WRKY transcription factors identified in white clover. The characterization of the TrWRKY genes was detailed, including conserved motif analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and gene duplication analysis, which have provided a better understanding of the structure and evolution of the TrWRKY genes in white clover. Meanwhile, the genetic regulation network (GRN) containing TrWRKY genes was reconstructed, and Gene Ontology (GO) annotation analysis of these function genes showed they contributed to regulation of transcription process, response to wounding, and phosphorylay signal transduction system, all of which were important processes in response to abiotic stress. To determine the TrWRKY genes function under cold stress, the RNA-seq dataset was analyzed; most of TrWRKY genes were highly upregulated in response to cold stress, particularly in the early stages of cold stress. These results were validated by qRT-PCR experiment, implying they are involved in various gene regulation pathways in response to cold stress.

Conclusion

The results of this study provide insights that will be useful for further functional analyses of TrWRKY genes in response to biotic or abiotic stresses in white clover. These findings are likely to be useful for further research on the functions of TrWRKY genes and their role in response to cold stress, which is important to understand the molecular mechanism of cold tolerance in white clover and improve its cold tolerance.

Genome-wide identification of the myo-inositol oxygenase gene family in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and expression analysis under abiotic stress

Myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX), a pivotal enzyme in the myo-inositol oxygenation pathway, catalyzes the cleavage of myo-inositol to UDP-glucuronic acid and plays a major role in plant adaptation to abiotic stress factors. However, studies pertaining to the MIOX gene family in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are lacking. Therefore, this study characterized ten MsMIOX genes in the alfalfa genome. These genes were divisible into two classes distributed over three chromosomes and produced 12 pairs of fragment repeats and one pair of tandem repeats. Physicochemical properties, subcellular location, protein structure, conserved motifs, and gene structure pertinent to these MsMIOX genes were analyzed. Construction of a phylogenetic tree revealed that similar gene structures and conserved motifs were present in the same MsMIOX groups. Analysis of cis-acting elements revealed the presence of stress- and hormone-induced expression elements in the promoter regions of the MsMIOX genes. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that MsMIOX genes could be induced by various abiotic stress factors, such as salt, saline-alkali, drought, and cold. Under such conditions, MIOX activity in alfalfa was significantly increased. Heterologous MsMIOX2 expression in yeast enhanced salt, saline-alkali, drought, and cold tolerance. Overexpression of MsMIOX2 in the hairy roots of alfalfa decreased O₂^- and H₂O₂ content and enhanced the abiotic stress tolerance. This study offers comprehensive perspectives on the functional features of the MsMIOX family and provides a candidate gene for improving the abiotic stress tolerance of alfalfa.

Role of FoERG3 in Ergosterol Biosynthesis by Fusarium oxysporum and the Associated Regulation by Bacillus subtilis HSY21

Ergosterol is an important component of the fungal cell membrane and represents an effective target of chemical pesticides. However, the current understanding of ergosterol biosynthesis in the soybean root rot pathogen Fusarium oxysporum remains limited. In addition, the regular use of fungicides that inhibit ergosterol synthesis will seriously harm the ecological environment and human health. Bacillus subtilis is gradually replacing chemical control as a safe and effective biological agent; to investigate its effect on ergosterol synthesis of F. oxysporum, we verified the biological function of the FoERG3 gene of F. oxysporum by constructing knockout mutants. The results showed that knocking out FoERG3 blocked ergosterol biosynthesis, restricted mycelial growth, and increased the sensitivity to external stressors (NaCl, D-sorbitol, Congo Red, and H₂O₂). The increased permeability of the cell membrane promoted increased extracellular K⁺ levels and decreased mitochondrial cytochrome C contents. Treatment with suspension of B. subtilis HSY21 cells resulted in similar damage as observed when treating FoERG3-knockout F. oxysporum cells with ergosterol, which was characterised by deformity and swelling of the mycelium surface; increased membrane permeability; decreased pathogenicity to soybeans; and significantly decreased activities of cellulase, β-glucosidase, amylase, and pectin-methyl galactosylase. Notably, deleting FoERG3 resulted in a significant lag in the defense-response time of soybeans. Our results suggest that FoERG3 strongly influences the virulence of F. oxysporum and may be used as a potential antimicrobial target by B. subtilis HSY21 to inhibit ergosterol synthesis, which supports the use of B. subtilis as a biological control agent for protecting against F. oxysporum infection.

Overexpression of CcFALDH from spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) enhances the formaldehyde removing capacity of transgenic gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa)1

Formaldehyde can cause leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancer in humans, and is a major indoor air pollutant. In this study, to improve the ability of flowering plants to purify formaldehyde, we cloned the CcFALDH gene encoding formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH) from the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), which encodes 379 amino acids with the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) structural domain, and used it to transform the flowering plant gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa). The FALDH activity of transgenic gloxinia was 1.8-2.7 times that of wild-type (WT) with a considerable increase in formaldehyde stress tolerance. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD, POD, and CAT of transgenic gloxinia were 1.5-2.0 times those of the WT under formaldehyde stress; H₂O₂, O^2-, and MDA contents were markedly lower than those in WT. Liquid formaldehyde and gaseous formaldehyde were metabolized at 2.1-2.8 and 2.1-2.7 times higher rates in transgenic gloxinia than in WT. Our findings indicate that overexpression of CcFALDH can enhance the capacity of flowering plants to metabolize formaldehyde, which provides a new strategy to tackle the indoor formaldehyde pollution problem.

Deciphering the genetic basis of resistance to soybean cyst nematode combining IBD and association mapping

IBD analysis clarified the dynamics of chromosomal recombination during the ZP pedigree breeding process and identified ten genomic regions resistant to SCN race3 combining association mapping. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is one of the most devastating pathogens for soybean production worldwide. The cultivar Zhongpin03-5373 (ZP), derived from SCN-resistant progenitor parents, Peking, PI 437654 and Huipizhi Heidou, is an elite line with high resistance to SCN race3. In the current study, a pedigree variation map was generated for ZP and its ten progenitors using 3,025,264 high-quality SNPs identified from an average of 16.2 × re-sequencing for each genome. Through identity by decent (IBD) tracking, we showed the dynamic change of genome and detected important IBD fragments, which revealed the comprehensively artificial selection of important traits during ZP breeding process. A total of 2,353 IBD fragments related to SCN resistance including SCN-resistant genes rhg1, rhg4 and NSF_RAN07 were identified based on the resistant-related genetic paths. Moreover, 23 genomic regions underlying resistance to SCN race3 were identified by genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 481 re-sequenced cultivated soybeans. Ten common loci were found by both IBD tracking and GWAS analysis. Haplotype analysis of 16 potential candidate genes suggested a causative SNP (C/T, - 1065) located in the promoter of Glyma.08G096500 and encoding a predicted TIFY5b-related protein on chr8 was highly correlated with SCN race3 resistance. Our results more thoroughly elucidated the dynamics of genomic fragments during ZP pedigree breeding and the genetic basis of SCN resistance, which will provide useful information for gene cloning and the development of resistant soybean cultivars using a marker-assisted selection approach.

NIR-II driven photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide-supply on metallic copper-nickel selenide (Cu-Ni0.85Se) nanoparticle for synergistic therapy

Currently, finite intratumoral H₂O₂ content has restricted the efficacy of chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Here, Cu-Ni_0.85Se@PEG nanoparticles are constructed to display intracellular NIR-II photocatalytic H₂O₂ supplement. The formation mechanism is explored to discover that H₂O₂ generation is dominated by photo-excited electrons and dissolved O₂ via a typical sequential single-electron transfer process. Both density functional theory calculation and experimental data confirm its metallic feature that endows the great NIR-II absorption and photothermal conversion efficiency (59.6 %, 1064 nm). Furthermore, the photothermal-assisting consecutive interband and intraband transition in metallic catalyst contributes to the high redox capacity and efficient separation/transfer ability of photo-generated charges, boosting H₂O₂ production under 1064 nm laser irradiation. In addition, Cu-Ni_0.85Se@PEG possess mimic peroxidase and catalase activity, leading to in-situ H₂O₂ activation to produce ∙OH and O₂ for the enhanced CDT and hypoxia relief. What's more, the nanomaterials reveal novel biodegradation that is derived from oxidation from insolvable selenide into soluble selenate, resulting in elimination via feces and urine within 2 weeks. Synergistic CDT and photothermal therapy (PTT) further lead to great tumor inhibition and immune response for anti-tumor. The antitumor mechanism and the potential biological process also are investigated by high-throughput sequencing of expressed transcripts (RNAseq). The great treatment performance is responsible for the regulation of related oxidative stress and stimulus genes to induce organelle (mitochondrial) and membrane dysfunction. Besides, the synergistic therapy also can efficiently evoke immune response to further fight against tumor.

Overexpression of the autophagy-related gene SiATG8a from foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) in transgenic wheat confers tolerance to phosphorus starvation

In plants, autophagy plays an important role in regulating intracellular degradation and amino acid recycling in response to nutrient starvation, senescence, and other environmental stresses. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) shows strong resistance to various abiotic stresses; however, current understanding of the regulation network of abiotic stress resistance in foxtail millet remains limited. In this study, we aimed to determine the autophagy-related gene SiATG8a in foxtail millet. We found that SiATG8a was mainly expressed in the stem and was induced by low-phosphorus (LP) stress. Overexpression of SiATG8a in wheat (Triticum aestivum) significantly increased the grain yield and spike number per m² under LP treatment compared to those in the WT varieties S366 and S4056. There was no significant difference in the grain P content between SiATG8a-overexpressing wheat and WT wheat under normal phosphorus (NP) and LP treatments. However, the phosphorus (P) content in the roots, stems, and leaves of transgenic plants was significantly higher than that in WT plants under NP and LP conditions. Furthermore, the expression of P transporter genes, such as TaPHR1, TaPHR3, TaIPS1, and TaPT9, in SiATG8a-transgenic wheat was higher than that in WT under LP. Collectively, overexpression of SiATG8a increases the P content of roots, stems, and leaves of transgenic wheat under LP conditions by modulating the expression of P-related transporter gene, which may result in increased grain yield; thus, SiATG8a is a candidate gene for generating transgenic wheat with improved tolerance to LP stress in the field.

Overexpression of MYB-like transcription factor SiMYB30 from foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) confers tolerance to low nitrogen stress in transgenic rice

Nitrogen fertilizers significantly increase crop yield; however, the negative impact of excessive nitrogen use on the environment and soil requires urgent attention. Improving crop nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is crucial to increase yields and protect the environment. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.), a gramineous crop with significant tolerance to barren croplands, is an ideal model crop for studying abiotic stress resistance in gramineous crops. However, knowledge of the regulatory network for NUE in foxtail millet is fragmentary. Herein, we identified an R2R3-like MYB transcription factor in foxtail millet, SiMYB30, which belongs to MYB subfamily 17. The expression of SiMYB30 is responsive to low nitrogen (LN) concentration. Compared with wildtype Kitaake, seedlings of rice lines overexpressing SiMYB30 showed significantly increased shoot fresh and dry weights, plant height, and root area under LN treatment indoors. Consistently, overexpression of SiMYB30 in field experiments significantly increased grain and stem nitrogen contents, grain yield per plant, and stem weight in rice. Furthermore, qRT-PCR revealed that SiMYB30 effectively activated the expression of nitrogen uptake-related genes-OsNRT1, OsNRT1.1B, and OsNPF2.4-and nitrogen assimilation-related genes-OsGOGAT1, OsGOGAT2, and OsNIA2. Notably, SiMYB30 directly bound to the promoter of OsGOGAT2 and regulated its expression. These results highlight the novel and pivotal role of SiMYB30 in improving crop NUE.

[Correlation between gene polymorphisms of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors and their ligands and Graves' disease]

Objective: To explore the relationship between gene polymorphism of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and its ligand-specific human leukocyte antigen C (HLA-C) and Graves' disease (GD). Methods: Case-control study. A total of 118 unrelated GD patients (GD group) admitted to Shandong Provincial Hospital from January 2011 to December 2017 and 108 age-and sex-matched healthy controls (healthy control group) were included. The KIR genotype and its ligand HLA-C allele were detected by polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The distribution of KIR/HLA-C gene combination in GD patients and control population was analyzed to explore its association with the occurrence of GD. Results: In GD group, there were 29 males and 89 females, aged (38±14) years. In the healthy control group, there were 28 males and 80 females, aged (37±13) years. Compared with the healthy control group, the occurrence frequency of HLA-Cw01 was higher in GD group[36.4%(43/118) vs 18.5%(20/108), P=0.003], and the occurrence frequency of HLA-Cw03 and HLA-Cw06 was lower in GD group[11.9%(14/118) vs 39.8%(43/108), P<0.001; 9.3%(11/118) vs 18.5%(20/108), P=0.045]. The frequency of KIR2DL1/HLA-C2 gene combination in GD group was lower than that in control group [17.8%(21/118) vs 34.3%(37/108), P=0.005]. Logistic regression analysis showed that KIR2DL1/HLA-C2 gene combination was a protective factor for GD occurrence (OR=0.308, 95%CI: 0.126-0.752, P=0.010). Conclusions: The polymorphism of KIR/HLA-C gene is related to GD. The low expression of KIR2DL1/HLA-C2 in GD patients may be a protective factor for GD.

Correlational Analysis of the Physicochemical Indexes, Volatile Flavor Components, and Microbial Communities of High-Temperature Daqu in the Northern Region of China

Daqu is a microbial-rich baijiu fermentation starter. The high-temperature Daqu plays an essential role in the manufacturing of sauce-flavored baijiu. However, few studies have focused on three kinds of high-temperature Daqu (white, yellow, and black Daqu) in northern China. In this study, the physicochemical indexes, volatile flavor compounds, and microbial characteristics of the three different colors of high-temperature Daqu in northern China were comparatively analyzed to reveal their potential functions. White Daqu (WQ) exhibited the highest liquefying power and starch, and black Daqu (BQ) showed the highest saccharifying and esterifying powers. A total of 96 volatile components were identified in the three types of Daqu, and the contents of the volatile components of yellow Daqu (YQ) were the highest. The microbial community structure analysis showed that Bacillus and Byssochlamys were dominant in BQ, Kroppenstedtia and Thermoascus were dominant in WQ, and Virgibacillus and Thermomyces dominated the YQ. The RDA analysis revealed the correlation between the dominant microorganisms and different physicochemical indexes. The Spearman correlation analysis indicated that Oceanobacillus, Saccharopolyspora, Staphylococcus, Pseudogracilibacillus, Byssochlamys, and Thermomyces showed positive correlations with part of the majority of the key volatile flavor compounds. This work provides a scientific basis for the actual production of different colors of high-temperature Daqu in the northern region of China for sauce-flavored baijiu.

Establishment of a novel experimental system for studying the photoperiodic response of short-day dicots using soybean 'cotyledon-only plant' as material

Soybean is an important model crop for photoperiodic response studies in plants and contributes significantly to the study of plant development and physiology in the past century. Because soybean plant is much bigger in size and longer in life cycle than Arabidopsis, it needs much more space for growth and time for investigation, which significantly hamper the efficiency of research. In the current study, we tested the photoperiodic response of a distinctive artificially-made cotyledon-only plant (COP) using a photoperiod-sensitive soybean variety Zigongdongdou (ZGDD) and other varieties with diverse sensitivity to photoperiod. ZGDD COPs flowered 39.4 ± 2.5 d after emergence under short-day conditions but maintained vegetative growth under long-day and night break conditions, which is similar to the case in the intact ZGDD plants. The COPs of early-maturing and medium-maturing soybean varieties also grew and flowered normally under natural day-length conditions. At the molecular level, the key genes in the photoperiodic pathway such as E1, GmFT1a, GmFT2a, and GmFT5a in the COPs also showed the same photoperiod sensitivity as in the intact plants. In addition, a simpler material of COP with only one cotyledon and root was generated and found to be sensitive to photoperiod as well. Notably, the COPs are only one-fifth the height of intact plants and one-third the maximum diameter of the intact plants grown in chambers 30 d after emergence. Based on COPs, we established a novel experimental system characterized by an entire photoperiodic response and longer longevity of cotyledons in addition to small plant size, ensuring the consistency, reliability, and stability of plant materials. COPs have the potential to be a novel model material for studies of the developmental biology of soybean and other dicots.

A Pan-Transcriptome Analysis Indicates Efficient Downregulation of the FIB Genes Plays a Critical Role in the Response of Alfalfa to Cold Stress

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial forage legume that is widely distributed throughout the world, and cold stress is an important environmental factor limiting the growth and production of alfalfa in cold regions. However, little is known of the molecular mechanisms regarding cold tolerance in alfalfa. Here, we conducted physiological metabolism assays and pan-transcriptome sequencing on eight cultivars of alfalfa under cold stress conditions. The results of the RNA-seq analysis showed that the genes are "oxidoreductase activity" and "transcription regulator activity", suggesting that genes with such functions are more likely to play important roles in the response to cold stress by alfalfa. In addition, to identify specific gene modules and hub genes in response to alfalfa cold stress, we applied weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) analyses to the RNA-seq data. Our results indicate that the modules of genes that focus on the ATPase complex, ribosome biogenesis, are more likely to be involved in the alfalfa response to cold stress. It is important to note that we identified two fibronectin (FIB) genes as hub genes in alfalfa in response to cold stress and that they negatively regulate alfalfa response to chilling stress, and it is possible that dormant alfalfa is more effective at down-regulating FIB expression and therefore more resistant to cold stress.

Soybean genetic resources contributing to sustainable protein production

KEY MESSAGE

Genetic resources contributes to the sustainable protein production in soybean. Soybean is an important crop for food, oil, and forage and is the main source of edible vegetable oil and vegetable protein. It plays an important role in maintaining balanced dietary nutrients for human health. The soybean protein content is a quantitative trait mainly controlled by gene additive effects and is usually negatively correlated with agronomic traits such as the oil content and yield. The selection of soybean varieties with high protein content and high yield to secure sustainable protein production is one of the difficulties in soybean breeding. The abundant genetic variation of soybean germplasm resources is the basis for overcoming the obstacles in breeding for soybean varieties with high yield and high protein content. Soybean has been cultivated for more than 5000 years and has spread from China to other parts of the world. The rich genetic resources play an important role in promoting the sustainable production of soybean protein worldwide. In this paper, the origin and spread of soybean and the current status of soybean production are reviewed; the genetic characteristics of soybean protein and the distribution of resources are expounded based on phenotypes; the discovery of soybean seed protein-related genes as well as transcriptomic, metabolomic, and proteomic studies in soybean are elaborated; the creation and utilization of high-protein germplasm resources are introduced; and the prospect of high-protein soybean breeding is described.

Saline-alkali stress reduces soil bacterial community diversity and soil enzyme activities

Saline-alkalisation of the soil environment and microorganism is a global challenge. However, relevant studies on the effects of saline-alkali stress on soil bacterial communities are limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of saline-alkali stress on the carbon source metabolic utilisation of the microbial community, bacterial diversity, and composition in soil using Biolog Ecoplate and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Biolog Ecoplate results showed that saline-alkali stress decreased the metabolic activity and functional diversity, and changed the utilisation characteristics of carbon sources in soil microorganisms. Particularly, high level of saline-alkali stress significantly decreased the utilisation of carbohydrates and amino acids carbon sources. The results of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that high level of saline-alkali stress significantly reduced the diversity of soil bacterial communities. In addition, high level of saline-alkali stress significantly decreased the relative abundances of some key bacterial taxa, such as Gemmatimonas, Sphingomonas, and Bradyrhizobium. Furthermore, as saline-alkali content increased, the soil catalase, protease, urease, and sucrase activities also significantly decreased. Collectively, these results provide new insight for studies on the changes in the soil bacterial community and soil enzyme activity under saline-alkali stress.

Exploring the environmental properties and resource utilization of construction waste in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is a capital economic circle for the future. Promoting the coordinated development of its population, economy, resources and environment is a major national strategy. And as towns and cities continue to expand, the volume of construction waste is gradually expanding, posing a major challenge to the sustainable development of the construction industry. In order to solve this problem, this paper used portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to realize the on-site rapid monitoring of heavy metals in construction waste, and the correlation analysis result was R2 = 0.9908. The visualization of enrichment factor evaluation results was realized through ArcGIS. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is mainly polluted by heavy metal elements Cr, Zn, Pb and Hg, showing regional pollution characteristics, and the results of mercury morphology analysis show that all are inorganic mercury pollution, and methylmercury is not detected, and the cause can be traced to heavy industrial production in Tangshan City, which is consistent with industrial ecology. The results of leaching toxicity and cation anion analysis showed that the construction waste in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region had environmental risks to the surrounding surface water and groundwater. The resource treatment and disposal path were determined by means of XRD, ternary phase diagram and oxide composition analysis to avoid secondary pollution. This study explores the environmental properties and resource utilization pathways of construction waste in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, laying the foundation for research work on construction waste in the development of national urban agglomerations, effectively solving regional environmental pollution problems and promoting the sustainable development of the construction industry.

The Phylogenetic Significance of Fruit Structures in the Family Cornaceae of China and Related Taxa

The fruit morphological structures of the Cornaceae of China and related taxa were studied using the wax GMA semi-thin section method and other methods to identify characters useful in delimiting clades circumscribed in previous molecular phylogenetic studies. Maximum parsimony analyses of 27 fruit structural characters resulted in a generally poorly resolved strict consensus tree, yet one whose major clades matched those revealed previously. Cornaceae of China and related taxa are recognized in four significant clades with the following fruit structural features: (1) Helwingia, fruits lack trichome, the abdominal vascular bundles are close to the endocarp, and the endocarp sclereid is elongated; (2) Aucuba, single-cell lanceolate trichomes, pericarp without secretory structure; (3) Torricellia, polygon and elongated sclereids in the endocarp, pericarp without crystal and tannin; and (4) Cornus sensu lato, the trichome is T-shaped, the abdominal ventral bundle is absent, and the endocarp sclereid is nearly round. In Cornus sensu lato, this document supported that the cornelian cherries (CC, subg. Cornus) and the big-bracted dogwoods (BB, subg. Syncarpea) are sister groups. The dwarf dogwoods (DW, subg. Arctocrania) are sister to them, and the blue- or white-fruited dogwoods (BW, subg. Kraniopsis, subg. Yinquania, and subg. Mesomora) are the base of the Cornus sensu lato clade. The number of cell layers of endocarps and the types of crystals afford sound evidence for identifying their relationship. This study indicated that the fruit structures of Cornaceae might provide morphological and anatomical evidence for molecular phylogeny.