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The pyrabactin resistance (PYR)/PYR-like (PYL)/regulatory component of ABA receptor (RCAR) proteins are the core components in ABA signaling pathway. A salt and cold induced ABA receptor gene VsPYL5 from common vetch was identified in the present study. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing VsPYL5 had increased ABA sensitivity and higher levels of seed germination rate, survival rate, and the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F v /F m) than the wild type (WT) under salinity conditions. Lower levels of the temperature that leads to 50% electrolyte leakage (TEL 50) and higher levels of survival rate after freezing treatment were observed in transgenic lines compared with WT. The results indicated that VsPYL5 regulated salt and cold tolerance positively. Lower levels of Na+ and Na+/K+ ratio but higher levels of K+ and AKT1 , GORK , KAT1 , HKT1 and KUP4 transcripts were observed in transgenic lines compared with WT under salinity conditions. The results indicated that the increased salt tolerance in transgenic lines was associated with the altered Na+ and K+ levels as a result of improved expression of genes involved in Na+ and K+ homeostasis. Antioxidant enzyme activities and their encoding gene transcripts, proline concentration and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were increased after treatment with salinity or cold, with lower levels in transgenic lines compared with WT. It is suggested that VsPYL5 -regulated salt and cold tolerance was associated with the increased proline level and antioxidant defense capacity for maintenance of ROS as a result of improved the relevant gene expression under salinity and cold conditions. Overexpression of VsPYL5 led to increased salt and cold tolerance through improved expression of genes involved in Na+ and K+ homeostasis and ROS homeostasis and increased antioxidant defense capacity • Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing VsPYL5 had increased ABA sensitivity and enhanced salt and cold tolerance. • Transgenic lines had lower levels of Na+ but higher levels of K+ under salinity conditions. • Maintenance of ROS were associated with cold and salt tolerance in transgenic lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The electronic simulation of the from pressure stimuli to nociceptors was conducted. • A bionic sensory system has been developed to present tactile perception. • The piezoelectric film sensor serves as an electronic skin. • The NiAl-LDHs/gelatin heterojunction memristor emulates biological nociceptors. • The essential characteristics of nociceptors, including threshold, no adaptation, relaxation, and sensitization were demonstrated. The sensations of touch and pain are fundamental components of our daily existence, serving as conduits for providing crucial insights into our environment and ensuring the safeguarding of our health. To date, the exploration of artificial systems that combine pain and touch perception has remained very limited. Moreover, memristor based visualization of pain degree is rarely reported. The electronic simulation of the from pressure stimuli to nociceptors was conducted in this work. For this purpose, a bionic sensory system has been developed to present tactile perception. In this system, the piezoelectric film sensor serves as an electronic skin to mimic artificial mechanoreceptors for sensing external pressure stimulation and generating signals. Meanwhile, the Ni-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs)/gelatin heterojunction memristor emulates biological nociceptors to receive and process receptor signals, with luminous diode used as displays to indicate the degree of artificial contusion. The Ni-Al LDHs/gelatin heterojunction memristor demonstrates essential characteristics of nociceptors, including threshold, no adaptation, relaxation, and sensitization phenomena of allodynia and hyperalgesia. This biomimetic artificial tactile and pain perception system successfully simulates the perception threshold and sensitivity to pressure stimuli. The potential ability of humanoid robots could be demonstrated by utilizing the system as an artificial tactile alarm system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bionic features offered by memory device are being actively explored. However, two-terminal memristors exhibit variability and limited capacity due to their inherent single presynaptic input scheme. Compared with the two-terminal memristor, the memtransistor can realize the modulation of conductive channel through the synergistic effect of gate, which enables the multifunctional modulation. Here, based on Schottky barrier tuning at metal-semiconductor interfaces by means of ferroelectric domain switching, a programmable memtransistor with arithmetic calculating and logic function is realized. Memtransistor with drain and gate adjustable non-volatile memory function effectively simulates the plasticity of biological synapses. Moreover, four arithmetical operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are carried out by using the synaptic device. At the same time, the logic gate functions of "XOR" and "XNOR" were implemented based on ferroelectric memtransistor. This result will be helpful to further promote the development of memory computing for synaptic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A memory device based on MoS 2 -polyvinyl alcohol was fabricated. As a good dispersant, polyvinyl alcohol solution can disperse 2D layered materials more evenly in the solution. The 19 states of the device conductance are modulated step by step by direct current scanning, which makes it possible to perform the computing task in memory. Then, the presence of conductive filaments allows the resistance state of the memristor to be dynamically transformed, which is similar to some basic behavior of biological synapses. Further, a variety of conductivity states such as short-term potentiation, short term depression, long term potentiation and long-term depression behavior are modulated by applying voltage to simulate the basic behavior of biological synapses. Finally, the paired pulse facilitation, paired pulse depression, spiking timing dependent plasticity and spiking voltage dependent plasticity behaviors of biological synapses are simulated in memristor devices. [Display omitted] • A memory device based on MoS 2 and polyvinyl alcohol composite was fabricated. • The multi-states of the device conductance are modulated step by step. • The presence of conductive filaments allows the resistance state of the memristor to be dynamically transformed. • The basic behavior of biological synapses was simulated in memristor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boar fertility is a key determinant of the production efficiency of the whole pig breeding industry and boar sperm motility is the seminal parameter with the greatest impact on the fecundity of a sow. Exosomes are small, extracellular vesicles found in many body fluids. Seminal plasma exosomes, which are secreted by the epididymis, prostate, seminal vesicles, and testes, contain a large number of miRNAs, the types and levels of which can reflect the physiological state of source cells. It has been shown that the expression profile of seminal plasma exosomal miRNA differs between low-motility semen and normal semen. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between semen motility and exosomal miRNA profiles to obtain information that would allow to predict boar fertility, as well as contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms by which exosomal miRNAs regulate semen motility. Three high-motility (semen motility >90 %) and three low-motility (semen motility <80 %) semen samples were collected from Landrace and Yorkshire boars, respectively, and seminal plasma exosomes were extracted by ultracentrifugation. Exosome characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy, NTA, and Western blot. The expression profiles of exosomal miRNAs associated with semen motility in the two boar breeds were subsequently determined by small RNA sequencing. The results showed that 297 known miRNAs and 295 novel RNAs were co-expressed in the four groups. Notably, six miRNAs (ssc-miR-122–5p, ssc-miR-486, ssc-miR-451, ssc-miR-345–3p, ssc-miR-362, and ssc-miR-500–5p) were found to be differentially expressed in both boar breeds. Enrichment analysis of the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs showed that they were mainly involved in biological processes such as regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, regulation of gene expression, and intracellular signal transduction and signaling pathways such as the PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. The six differentially expressed miRNAs identified in this study have significant potential as noninvasive markers of boar semen motility. Meanwhile, the results of the enrichment analysis provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the regulation of semen motility. • Exosomal miRNAs related to sperm motility identified in Landrace and Yorkshire. • miRNA profiles in exosomes from distinct semen motility levels differed. • Higher miRNA expression in low motility group compared to high motility group. • Common detection of 6 miRNAs in the differential analysis of Landrace and Yorkshire. • The targets of DE miRNAs are involved in RNA transcription, gene regulation, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the efficacy and safety of low-level red light (LRL) in controlling myopia progression at 3 different powers: 0.37 mW, 0.60 mW, and 1.20 mW. Single-center, single-masked, randomized controlled trial. Two hundred children aged 6-15 with myopia of –0.50 diopter (D) or more and astigmatism of –2.50 D or less were enrolled from April to May 2022. Follow-up ended in December 2022. Participants were assigned randomly to 3 intervention groups and 1 control group (1:1:1:1). All participants wore single-vision spectacles. Moreover, the intervention group randomly received LRL at 3 different powers twice daily for 3 minutes per session, with a minimum 4-hour interval. Changes in spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AL), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were measured. After 6 months, SE progression was significantly lower in the 0.37-mW group (0.01 D; 95% confidence interval [CI], –0.12 to 0.15), 0.60-mW group (–0.05 D; 95% CI, –0.18 to 0.07), and 1.20-mW group (0.16 D; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.30) compared to the control group (–0.22 D; 95% CI, –0.50 to 0.30; adjusted P < 0.001 for all). AL changes in the 0.37-mW group (0.04 mm; 95% CI, –0.01 to 0.08), 0.60-mW group (0.00 mm; 95% CI, –0.05 to 0.05), and 1.20-mW group (–0.04 mm; 95% CI, –0.08 to 0.01) were significantly smaller than the control group (0.27 mm; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.33; adjusted P < 0.001 for all). Similarly, increases in SFCT were significantly greater in the 0.37-mW group (22.63 μm; 95% CI, 12.13 to 33.34 μm), 0.60-mW group (36.17 μm; 95% CI, 24.37 to 48.25 μm), and 1.20-mW group (42.59 μm; 95% CI, 23.43 to 66.24 μm) than the control group (–5.07 μm; 95% CI, –10.32 to –0.13 μm; adjusted P < 0.001 for all). No adverse events were observed. LRL effectively controlled myopia progression at 0.37 mW, 0.60 mW, and 1.20 mW. Further research is required. The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]