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Flattening filter-free (FFF)-based volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has been shown to be feasible and significantly improves treatment efficiency and lung protection for synchronous bilateral breast irradiation (SBBI). This research compared the commonly used VMAT field arrangements using FFF beams. Twenty-eight patients underwent SBBI were retrospectively enrolled to design irradiation plans using tangential arc VMAT (taVMAT), half arc VMAT (haVMAT), and large arc VMAT (laVMAT). Dosimetric and delivery parameters of all designed plans were recorded and compared. Comparable target volume coverage was observed for all field arrangements. taVMAT significantly reduced the dose to spinal cord and the volume covered by 5 Gy (V 5 Gy) and V 7 Gy of the lungs while decreasing the conformity index of the target volume. It also increased the volume covered by 105% of the prescription dose (V 105 %) and V 107 % of the target volume. haVMAT considerably decreased V 20 Gy and V 30 Gy of the lungs, mean dose (D mean) and V 30 Gy of the heart and the liver. It also notably reduced D mean and V 40 Gy of the left anterior descending coronary artery while increasing the beam-on time. laVMAT significantly reduced the mean treatment time (range, 113-117 seconds) compared with the other field arrangements. There were distinct differences in various dosimetric and delivery parameters for different field arrangements, highlighting the importance of selecting the appropriate field arrangement based on specific treatment goals and considerations. This study contributes valuable insights into the use of FFF-based VMAT techniques in SBBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The navigational risk assessment in the waters of offshore wind farms (OWFs) is difficult to be quantified due to multiple factors, to solve this problem, this paper proposes a method of ship navigational risk assessment in the waters of offshore wind farms based on multi-factor fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. First, six influence factors of navigational risk in OWFs waters are analyzed, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and expert evaluation table are applied to determine the weights of influence factors. Then the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation is carried out to construct the method of navigational risk assessment. Finally, a comprehensive fuzzy multi-factor method of ship navigational risk assessment in OWFs waters is developed. Taking the OWFs in Changle of Fujian Province as an experimental case study, the navigational risk before and after sailing route optimization are comprehensively evaluated, and the evaluation results show that the value of navigational risk decrease from 3.1731 to 2.0409 after the sailing route optimization. At the same time, we have proposed related navigational risk management strategies to reduce the risk of ships in the waters of wind farms based on the risk assessment results, which have important theoretical significance for the ship navigation safety supervision and management of ships in the OWFs waters and the optimization of ship sailing routes in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GhZAT family genes play an important role in cotton stress resistance. • 44 GhZAT genes were identified in G. hirsutum. • 16 GhZAT genes generally responded to NaCl and ABA stress. • GhZAT6 play an important role in salt resistance of cotton. High salt environments can induce stress in different plants. The genes containing the ZAT domain constitute a family that belongs to a branch of the C 2 H 2 family, which plays a vital role in responding to abiotic stresses. In this study, we identified 169 ZAT genes from seven plant species, including 44 ZAT genes from G. hirsutum. Phylogenetic tree analysis divided ZAT genes in six groups with conserved gene structure, protein motifs. Two C 2 H 2 domains and an EAR domain and even chromosomal distribution on At and Dt sub-genome chromosomes of G. hirsutum was observed. GhZAT6 was primarily expressed in the root tissue and responded to NaCl and ABA treatments. Subcellular localization found that GhZAT6 was located in the nucleus and demonstrated transactivation activity during a transactivation activity assay. Arabidopsis transgenic lines overexpressing the GhZAT6 gene showed salt tolerance and grew more vigorously than WT on MS medium supplemented with 100 mmol NaCl. Additionally, the silencing of the GhZAT6 gene in cotton plants showed more obvious leaf wilting than the control plants, which were subjected to 400 mmol NaCl treatment. Next, the expressions of GhAPX1 , GhFSD1 , GhFSD2 , and GhSOS3 were significantly lower in the GhZAT6- silenced plants treated with NaCl than the control. Based on these findings, GhZAT6 may be involved in the ABA pathway and mediate salt stress tolerance by regulating ROS-related gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokinin (CK) is an important plant hormone that promotes plant cell division and differentiation, and participates in salt response under osmotic stress. LOGs (LONELY GUY) are CK-activating enzymes involved in CK synthesis. The LOG gene family has not been comprehensively characterized in cotton. In this study we identified 151 LOG genes from nine plant species, including 28 LOG genes in Gossypium hirsutum. Phylogenetic analysis divided LOG genes into three groups. Exon/intron structures and protein motifs of GhLOG genes were highly conserved. Synteny analysis revealed that several gene loci were highly conserved between the A and D sub-genomes of G. hirsutum with purifying selection pressure during evolution. Expression profiles showed that most LOG genes were constitutively expressed in eight different tissues. Furthermore, LOG genes can be regulated by abiotic stresses and phytohormone treatments. Moreover, subcellular localization revealed that GhLOG3_At resides inside the cell membrane. Overexpression of GhLOG3 enhanced salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of GhLOG3_At in cotton enhanced sensitivity of plants to salt stress with increased H 2 O 2 contents and decreased chlorophyll and proline (PRO) activity. Our results suggested that GhLOG3_At induces salt stress tolerance in cotton, and provides a basis for the use of CK synthesis genes to regulate cotton growth and stress resistance. • This study identified 151 LOG genes, including 28 LOG genes in G. hirsutum. • Gene loci were highly conserved between the A and D sub-genomes of G. hirsutum. • LOG genes can be regulated by abiotic stresses and phytohormone treatments. • Overexpression of GhLOG3 enhanced salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. • VIGS of GhLOG3_At in cotton enhanced sensitivity of plants to salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is an important cash crop producing both fiber and oilseed, the yield and quality of which are severely affected by Verticillium wilt primarily caused by Verticillium dahliae infection. In this study, a cotton root expressed gene, GhPAS1, that encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor (TF), was significantly induced by Verticillium dahliae in cotton variety ZM24. Further investigation suggested that GhPAS1 may play a pivotal role in Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton, whereby the genetic attenuation of GhPAS1 resulted in a raised susceptibility to Verticillium dahliae ; and conversely, overexpression of GhPAS1 in ZM24 significantly ameliorated the infection symptoms. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the expression of numerous ethylene - responsive factors (ERFs) genes and genes involved in lignin biosynthesis and plant defense were upregulated in cotton plants overexpressing GhPAS1 in response to Verticillium dahlia infection. Moreover, using dual-luciferase assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, GhPAS1 was shown to specifically enhance the promoter activities of GhERF5 , GhERF14 , GhPER42 , GhPER64 , and GhRPS5 , among which GhERF14 and GhPER64 , are directly related to Verticillium wilt resistance. Overall, these findings demonstrate that GhPAS1 plays a vital role in conferring Verticillium wilt resistance by regulating specific members of ERFs , as well as the genes involved in lignin biosynthesis and plant defense, providing new insights into the underlying mechanism of Verticillium wilt resistance and devising novel breeding and biotechnological strategies to enhance disease resistance in cotton. • GhPAS1 participates in the early defense response of cotton to Verticillium wilt. • Silencing of GhPAS1 decreased cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt. • Overexpression of GhPAS1 improves resistance to Verticillium wilt in cotton. • GhPAS1 functions by regulating ERF , lignin biosynthetic and defense genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]