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Background: This study explores how personality traits and mindfulness facets interact to influence perceived stress, focusing on a Chinese adult sample. It aims to address gaps in understanding the combined effects of dispositional and mindfulness factors on stress., Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. In the quantitative phase, 637 Chinese adults completed surveys measuring personality traits, mindfulness (attention, acceptance), and perceived stress. Hierarchical multiple regression, moderation, and mediation analyses were conducted. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews with selected participants provided deeper insights into the quantitative findings., Results: Neuroticism ( β = 0.29, p < 0.001) and conscientiousness ( β = 0.15, p < 0.01) were positively associated with perceived stress, while mindfulness-acceptance ( β = -0.25, p < 0.001) was a significant negative predictor. Neuroticism and mindfulness-acceptance uniquely explained 8 and 6% of the variance in stress, respectively. Mindfulness-attention moderated the relationship between agreeableness and stress, amplifying agreeableness' stress-buffering effect in individuals with low mindfulness-attention. Mediation analysis revealed mindfulness-acceptance partially mediated the agreeableness-stress link. Qualitative interviews underscored the role of personality and mindfulness in shaping stress responses and coping mechanisms., Conclusion: The findings highlight mindfulness-acceptance as a critical factor in reducing stress, particularly in individuals with agreeable personalities. These results support the development of mindfulness-based interventions targeting acceptance to enhance stress resilience across diverse personality profiles., Competing Interests: The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Zhao.)

Flammulina filiformis is an important edible and medicinal mushroom widely cultivated in East Asia, with its quality and health strongly influenced by associated microbial communities. However, limited data exist on the bacterial communities associated with F. filiformis cultivation in Chinese farms. This study investigated bacterial communities associated with F. filiformis and its production environment using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and culture-dependent methods. A total of 42 samples were collected from farms in Jilin and Guizhou provinces, China, for microbial community profiling. The analysis revealed diverse bacterial phyla, including Proteobacteria , Firmicutes , Bacteroidetes , Actinobacteria , and Cyanobacteria . Genera such as Pseudomonas , Lactobacillus , Acinetobacter , Flavobacterium , and Phyllobacterium were identified, with notable regional variations in the relative abundance of Pseudomonas and Lactobacillus . Pathogenic species, including Pseudomonas tolaasii , Ewingella americana , Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , Pseudomonas sp., Lelliottia amnigena , and Janthinobacterium lividum , were identified through phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular analyses. Pathogenicity tests confirmed the disease-causing potential of P. tolaasii , E. americana , and J. lividum in F. filiformis . These findings highlight regional differences in bacterial community composition and emphasize the need for tailored management practices. This study contributes to safe, high-quality mushroom cultivation and provides insights into improved cultivation practices, including Mushroom Good Agricultural Practices (MGAP)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Liu, Cong, Sossah, Sheng and Li.)

Introduction: Psychological peer counselors play a crucial role in the mental health education of college students, especially in ethnic regions. The study zeroes in on developing a tool for selecting and assessing psychological peer counselors in ethnic-area colleges and universities, using Guizhou Province as a case study., Materials and Methods: Focusing on psychological peer counselors in ethnic-area higher education institutions, this study amalgamates open-ended questionnaire surveys, interviews, and literature analysis to construct a competency characteristics questionnaire. The questionnaire underwent pretesting with 450 psychological peer counselors in colleges and universities, involving entry analysis and exploratory factor analysis. Subsequently, it was administered formally to 570 psychological peer counselors for confirmatory factor analysis, coupled with internal consistency reliability tests at the empirical validity level. A subset of 230 psychological peer counselors was retested after three-month intervals. The Interpersonal Reaction Coefficient Scale (IRC-C) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) were employed for validity tests., Results: The questionnaire consists of 21 items across four factors-role identity, communication sensitivity, personal traits, and professional ethic-cumulatively explaining 66.26% of the variance. The validated factor analyses demonstrated a good model fit ( X 2 /df  = 2.67, SRMR  = 0.04, TLI/NNFI  = 0.93, CFI  = 0.94, RMSEA  = 0.05, AIC  = 21960.17, BIC  = 22261.10). The questionnaire's total and factor scores correlated positively with the total scores of the IRC-C/GSES ( r  = 0.18-0.64; all p  < 0.01). The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the total questionnaire and individual factors ranged from 0.73 to 0.95, retest reliability from 0.64 to 0.92, and split-half reliabilities from 0.71 to 0.94., Conclusion: The Competency Scale for Psychological Peer Counselors in Colleges of Ethnic Areas demonstrates robust reliability and validity, making it a reliable tool for future screening of psychological peer counselors in ethnic-area colleges and universities., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Guo, Chen, Liu, Jiang, Chen, Zhao, Peng, Jiang, Wang and Wang.)

Background: Neuropathic pain (NeP) presents considerable challenges in terms of effective management and significantly impacts the quality of life for affected patients. The current treatment options for NeP are limited, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Dahuang Fuzi Decoction (DF), a formula from traditional Chinese medicine, has shown potential in relieving pain symptoms associated with various types of NeP. However, the mechanisms through which DF exerts its effects remain largely unknown., Methods: In this study, we employed ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) to analyze the chemical composition of DF. A chronic sciatic nerve compression injury (CCI) rat mode was used to assess the analgesic efficacy of DF for NeP. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to identify the potential signaling pathways affected by DF., Results: DF treatment significantly increased the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) in CCI rats, indicating its analgesic effect. Network pharmacology analysis suggested that DF potentially modulated TNF-α and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways. Furthermore, DF treatment decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in spinal cord tissues of CCI rats, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect. Western blot analysis revealed that DF treatment reduced the expression of TNF-α, TNFR1, and phosphorylated forms of PI3K, AKT, IKKα/β, IKBα, and NF-κB in the spinal cord of CCI rats. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed significant reductions in TNF-α and TNFR1 expression, as well as in AKT and NF-κB phosphorylation within astrocytes following DF administration., Conclusion: Our findings characterize the chemical constituents of DF and elucidate its underlying mechanism for relieving NeP. The analgesic effect of DF involves the inhibition of TNF-α and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways, providing a potential therapeutic approach for NeP management., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Qu, Gong, He, Peng, Chen, Wang and Chen.)

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a key indicator of chicken meat quality and emerging studies have indicated that the gut microbiome plays a key role in animal fat deposition. However, the potential metabolic mechanism of gut microbiota affecting chicken IMF is still unclear. Fifty-one broiler chickens were collected to identify key cecal bacteria and serum metabolites related to chicken IMF and to explore possible metabolic mechanisms. The results showed that the IMF range of breast muscle of Guizhou local chicken was 1.65 to 4.59%. The complexity and stability of ecological network of cecal microbiota in low-IMF chickens were higher than those in high-IMF chickens. Cecal bacteria positively related to IMF were Alistipes , Synergistes and Subdoligranulum , and negatively related to IMF were Eubacterium&#95;brachy&#95; group, unclassified&#95;f&#95;Lachnospiraceae , unclassified&#95;f&#95;Coriobacteriaceae , GCA-900066575 , Faecalicoccus , and so on. Bile acids, phosphatidylethanolamine (Pe) 32:1 and other metabolites were enriched in sera of high-IMF chickens versus low-IMF chickens while riboflavin was enriched in sera of low-IMF chickens. Correlation analysis indicated that specific bacteria including Alistipes promote deposition of IMF in chickens via bile acids while the Eubacterium&#95;brachy group, and Coriobacteriaceae promoted formation of riboflavin, glufosinate, C10-dats (tentative), and cilastatin and were not conducive to the IMF deposition., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Long, Zhang, Wang and Wang.)

Pitaya ( Hylocereus undatus ; 2n=22) is an important fruit crop from the Cactaceae family, originally domesticated in Mexico and the USA, and is now widely cultivated for its nutritional benefits. It is characterized by its distinctive triangular-shaped stems and large, showy flowers, thriving in arid and semi-arid environments, particularly in hot, dry climates. However, systematic chromosomal studies, including chromosomal mapping of cytogenetic markers in pitaya, are limited, presenting challenges for its cytogenetic improvement. To address this issue, we designed oligo-barcodes specific to thirty-three chromosome regions based on the pitaya reference genome and applied them to both pitaya and cactus ( Selenicerus grandifloras ; 2n=22) for oligo-barcodes mapping, karyotyping, and chromosome identification. We utilized FISH technology, employing oligo, rDNA, and tandem repeat probes for chromosomal mapping, identification, and karyotyping of pitaya and related species. We successfully localized oligo-barcodes on eleven pairs of chromosomes in both pitaya and cactus, demonstrating the effectiveness of the synthesized oligo-barcodes. We used two ribosomal DNA (rDNA) probes (45S and 5S) and two tandem repeat probes (GTR11 and STR3) in pitaya (both diploid and tetraploid) and two other Cactaceae species ( S. grandifloras and Opuntia humifusa ; 2n=40) for chromosomal mapping. The analysis of rDNA distribution and CMA (Chromomycin A3) banding across different chromosomes in pitaya and cacti highlights the concept of conserved rDNA. This study provides fundamental insights into cytogenetic markers and their localization across different chromosomes in pitaya and other Cactaceae species., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Harun, Song, You, Liu, Wen, Fang, Cheng and Chen.)

Asparagus cochinchinensis is a medicinal plant in China, which has gained attention owing its protective effect in human health. However, there are seldom studies to systematically reveal the rhizosphere bacterial community of A. cochinchinensis . In this study, we employed metagenomics and culturomics to analyze the bacterial community composition and diversity in continuous rhizosphere soil of A. cochinchinensis . Meanwhile, we assessed the effect of soil physicochemical properties on the bacterial community. Results showed that the most abundant TAXA is a taxon belonging to the family Streptomycetaceae, the genus Mycobacterium and the species Oligotropha carboxidovorans . The bacterial communities across various areas were similar. Significant differences of exchangeable magnesium and available phosphorus level were observed between three groups. Furthermore, bacterial community structure correlated closely with soil physicochemical properties. Additionally, a total of 103 strains were isolated and identified, representing 28 species. Based on this study, the rhizosphere bacterial community of A. cochinchinensis might influence its growth and development. The rhizosphere strains were isolated and their function request further investigation. This study firstly revealed the bacterial community in the A. cochinchinensis rhizosphere soil, providing valuable references for its quality improvement in practical cultivation process., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yu, Yang, Zhang, Liu, Tang, Wang, Chen, Luo, Liu and Song.)

Background: Pseudostellaria heterophylla is used in traditional Chinese medicine, so ensuring an adequate supply of plant material with high levels of bioactive components is important., Methods: Using an optimized maximum entropy niche model and assays of bioactive components from cultivation samples, this study started from the plant's natural distribution area and estimated correlations of ecological factors with not only abundance of the plant but also abundance of polysaccharides and heterophyllin B. These correlations were combined with the spatial analysis function in ArcGIS to generate maps of the suitability of different habitats in China for cultivating P. heterophylla under current climate conditions and different models of climate change., Results: The following ecological factors emerged as particularly important for habitat suitability: precipitation of driest month and driest quarter, annual precipitation, annual mean temperature, temperature seasonality, and mean temperature of coldest quarter, contributing to a cumulative total of 87%. Under current climate conditions, optimum habitats of P. heterophylla were mainly distributed in the southwestern region (Guizhou) and eastern regions (Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu) of China, and only 0.197×10 6 km 2 of these areas were optimum habitat. In future climate change scenarios, the optimal habitat area of P. heterophylla exhibited an increase across different time periods under the SSP5-8.5 climate scenario. By the 2090s, distribution area of high heterophyllin B content under SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios will increase significantly, distribution area of high polysaccharide content had little change under all three climate scenarios (SSP 1-2.6, 2-4.5, 5-8.5). The center of mass of suitable habitat migrates southwestward under scenario SSP 1-2.6 and SSP 2-4.5, while it migrates northward under scenario SSP 5-8.5. Under the three climate scenarios, the center of mass of suitable habitat migrated consistently with that of high polysaccharide content but differed from that of high heterophyllin B content., Conclusion: These findings provide a crucial foundation for cultivating P. heterophylla with superior medicinal properties, developing adaptive management strategies to enhance conservation efforts, and ensuring sustainable utilization in the face of global climate change., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Li, Wu, Kang, Zhang, Zhang, Yang, Yuan, Zhou and Xiao.)

There is still potential room for improving the effectiveness of standard Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in preventing the onset of depression, achieving full remission, and preventing relapse or recurrence of depression. Standard CBT seems less effective in reducing depressive rumination, a key risk factor leading to the onset and persistence of depression. To improve treatment efficacy for depression, rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (RFCBT) was developed, which was modified from CBT and specifically targeted to manage rumination. This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of RFCBT by evaluating whether RFCBT could contribute to reducing depressive symptoms pre-post intervention. A literature search was conducted up to April 30, 2024, across four English-language databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase. The search terms employed were: (depress* OR mood OR affect OR rumination) AND ("Rumination Focused Cognitive behavio* Therapy" OR RFCBT). Among the initial 328 studies identified, 12 met the inclusion criteria, of which 10 were randomized controlled trials. Intervention characteristics and results were narratively synthesized to address the review aims. This review found preliminary evidence that the RFCBT could eliminate depressive symptoms post-intervention, and might prevent individuals from developing depression, alleviate depressive symptoms, and prevent relapse of depression, as well as reduce rumination. RFCBT could be promoted to treat depressive symptoms, especially for those with a high tendency toward rumination. However, more studies with rigorous designs are required to confirm its efficacy across different stages of depression. Future studies could compare RFCBT with other psychotherapies, dismantle the psychological therapies to identify their effective components, and explore which specific groups of people might benefit most from this intervention., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Li and Tang.)

Eucommia ulmoides , an important tree, faces serious threat to its growth from environmental stress, particularly climate change. Using plant microbes to enhance host adaptation to respond climate change challenges has been recognized as a viable and sustainable strategy. However, it is still unclear how the perennial tree microbiota varies across phenological stages and the links between respective changes in aboveground and belowground niches. Here, we sequenced 27 root and 27 leaf samples of E. ulmoides using 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing techniques. These samples were obtained from the three main phenological stages of leaves, including leaf growing, aging and decomposing stages. Results showed that the diversity, composition, and function of the leaf microbiota of E. ulmoides showed more obvious changes at three phenological time points compared to roots. Regarding alpha diversity, the root microbiota showed no difference across three sampling stages, while the leaf microbiota varied with sampling stages. Regarding beta diversity, the root microbiota clustered from different sampling stages, while the leaf microbiota exhibited distinct separation. Regarding composition and function, the dominant taxa and main functions of the root microbiota were the same in three sampling stages, while the leaf microbiota in the decomposing stage was obviously different from the remaining two stages. Additionally, taxa overlap and source-sink relationship existed between E. ulmoides microbiota. Specifically, the degree of overlap among root microbiota was higher than that of leaf microbiota in three sampling stages. The bidirectional source-sink relationship that existed between the root and leaf niches varied with sampling stage. During the leaf growing and aging stages, the proportion of microbial members migrating from roots to leaves was higher than the proportion of members migrating from leaves to roots. During the leaf decomposing stage, the migration characteristics of the fungal community between the root and leaf niches maintained the same as in the remaining two stages, but the proportion of bacterial members migrating from leaves to roots was significantly higher than that of members migrating from roots to leaves. Our findings provide crucial foundational information for utilizing E. ulmoides microbiota to benefit their host under climate change challenges., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Shao, Dong, Han and Zhang.)

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver is a medicinal plant of significant economic importance. Its cortex has been employed for centuries to alleviate various conditions such as lumbar pain, knee pain, and osteoporosis. Additionally, E. ulmoides possesses substantial industrial value. With the growing demand for this medicinal herb, ensuring its sustainable supply has become imperative. Climate change has caused habitat restrictions or migration of medicinal plants. Therefore, predicting the impact of climate change on the distribution of E. ulmoides is crucial for its conservation and sustainable use. This study evaluated the potential distribution of E. ulmoides across China under various climate change scenarios since the last interglacial period by modeling suitable areas based on 257 distribution records and 19 major environmental factors related to E. ulmoides . The model selection process initially identified the MaxEnt model as the most suitable. The optimized MaxEnt model, with RM = 2.0 and FC = LQHPT settings, generated the most precise predictions. Results indicate that the minimum temperature of the coldest month, annual mean temperature, and annual precipitation significantly affect the distribution of E. ulmoides . Under current environmental conditions, highly suitable areas for E. ulmoides are found in Southwest and Southeast China, with a total suitable habitat area of 23.12 × 10 4 km 2 . However, the range of suitable habitat has shifted due to global warming's negative impact. Under different climate scenarios, suitable areas for E. ulmoides have either increased or decreased, with expansions primarily in high-latitude regions. Future climate scenarios predict shifts in the centroid of suitable E. ulmoides habitat towards Yichang City in Hubei Province. The findings of this study support the development, artificial cultivation, and conservation of E. ulmoides resources., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Cao, Yuan, Shu, Gao, Wu, Xiao, Xu and Zhang.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the causal effect of immune cell phenotype on GBS using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach., Methods: This study used MR to investigate the causal relationship between 731 immune cell phenotypes and GBS. We used Inverse variance weighted, Weighted median, MR Egger, Simple mode, Weighted mode for MR analysis. We also used the Cochran Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, IVW regression and MR-PRESSO, leave-one-out analysis to assess the presence of horizontal pleiotropy, heterogeneity and stability, respectively., Results: Our study revealed a causal relationship between 33 immune cell phenotypes and GBS. Twenty immunophenotypes were observed to be associated with GBS as risk factors. For example, CD20 on IgD+ CD38dim in the B cell group (OR = 1.313, 95%CI:1.042-1.654, p  = 0.021), CD3 on CD4 Treg in Treg cell group (OR = 1.395, 95%CI:1.069-1.819, p  = 0.014), CD3 on TD CD8br in Maturation stages of T cell group (OR = 1.486, 95%CI:1.025-2.154, p  = 0.037), CD16 on CD14+ CD16+ monocyte in Monocyte group (OR = 1.285, 95%CI:1.018-1.621, p  = 0.035), CD33dim HLA DR+ CD11b + %CD33dim HLA DR+ in Myeloid cell group (OR = 1.262, 95%CI:1.020-1.561, p  = 0.032), HLA DR+ NK AC in TBNK cell group (OR = 1.568, 95%CI:1.100-2.237, p  = 0.013). Thirteen immune phenotypes are associated with GBS as protective factors. For example, CD19 on PB/PC in the B cell group (OR = 0.577, 95%CI:0.370-0.902, p  = 0.016), CD4 Treg AC in Treg cell group (OR = 0.727, 95%CI:0.538-0.983, p  = 0.038), CD11c + monocyte %monocyte in cDC group (OR = 0.704, 95%CI:0.514-0.966, p  = 0.030), CX3CR1 on CD14+ CD16- monocyte in Monocyte group (OR = 0.717, 95%CI:0.548-0.939, p  = 0.016), Mo MDSC AC in Myeloid cell group (OR = 0.763, 95%CI:0.619-0.939, p  = 0.011), CD45 on granulocyte in TBNK group (OR = 0.621, 95%CI:0.391-0.984, p  = 0.042)., Conclusion: The findings suggest that certain specific immune cell phenotypes, particularly B cell and Treg cell subpopulations, are causally associated with GBS, providing potential targets for the clinical treatment of GBS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Liu, Shao, Chen, Yang and Zhang.)

The microbiota, intensely intertwined with mammalian physiology, significantly impacts health, productivity, and reproductive functions. The normal microbiota interacts with the host through the following key mechanisms: acting as a protective barrier against pathogens, maintain mucosal barrier integrity, assisting in nutrient metabolism, and modulating of the immune response. Therefore, supporting growth and development of host, and providing protection against pathogens and toxic substances. The microbiota significantly influences brain development and behavior, as demonstrated by comprehensive findings from controlled laboratory experiments and human clinical studies. The prospects suggested that gut microbiome influence neurodevelopmental processes, modulate stress responses, and affect cognitive function through the gut-brain axis. Microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract of farm animals break down and ferment the ingested feed into nutrients, utilize to produce meat and milk. Among the beneficial by-products of gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are particularly noteworthy for their substantial role in disease prevention and the promotion of various productive aspects in mammals. The microbiota plays a pivotal role in the reproductive hormonal systems of mammals, boosting reproductive performance in both sexes and fostering the maternal-infant connection, thereby becoming a crucial factor in sustaining mammalian existence. The microbiota is a critical factor influencing reproductive success and production traits in mammals. A well-balanced microbiome improves nutrient absorption and metabolic efficiency, leading to better growth rates, increased milk production, and enhanced overall health. Additionally, it regulates key reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which are essential for successful conception and pregnancy. Understanding the role of gut microbiota offers valuable insights for optimizing breeding and improving production outcomes, contributing to advancements in agriculture and veterinary medicine. This study emphasizes the critical ecological roles of mammalian microbiota, highlighting their essential contributions to health, productivity, and reproductive success. By integrating human and veterinary perspectives, it demonstrates how microbial communities enhance immune function, metabolic processes, and hormonal regulation across species, offering insights that benefit both clinical and agricultural advancements., Competing Interests: MC was employed by Fisugarpeptide Biology Engineering Co. Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Khan, Nassar, Chang, Khan, Cheng, Wang and Xiang.)

Introduction: Heterostyly is a genetically controlled style polymorphism, that plays an important role in promoting outcrossing and improving reproductive fitness. Although distyly is often studied in plants of the Rubiaceae family, little attention has been paid to the reproductive strategies of distylous species in fragmented habitats. Here, We report for the first time the growth of Ophiorrhiza alatiflora , a type distylous species, in karst areas and evaluate its reciprocity between long styled morph and short one. We analyze the two distyly morph differences in the ancillary polymorphic of flowers and explore their reproductive strategy in fragmented habitats., Methods: In this study, we measured the floral characteristics of different morphs and performed differential secondary metabolite analysis on different morphs and tissue organs; Different pollination treatments were carried out to observe the fruit set, pollen germination, and pollen tube elongation of O. alatiflora ., Results and Discussion: Our research indicates that O. alatiflora is a typical distylous plant for the distyly has high reciprocity. Both morphs exhibit the highest fruit set of intermorph outcrossing; The pollen germination and pollen tube elongation experiments have also demonstrated that the affinity of pollen from intermorph outcrossing is highest, regardless of whether it is the long or short morph as the maternal parent; Meanwhile, O. alatiflora is an incompletely self-incompatible plant that exhibits a certain degree of self-pollination and intramorph outcrossing, which may be one of the important means to ensure sustainable reproduction in severely disturbed habitats. In the ancillary polymorphic of flowers, L-morphs flowers produce more pollen, and S-morph flowers produce more ovules to improve their male-female fitness and compensate for the asymmetry of pollen flow; Compared with S-morphs, L-morphs contain significantly higher levels of several kinds of terpenoids. S-morphs produce more flavonoids than L-morphs. The differences in secondary metabolites between L-morphs and S-morphs are mainly reflected in the different nutritional organs (including stems and leaves). Overall, our work has revealed the unique reproductive strategy of O. alatiflora in fragmented habitats based on the characteristics of distyly, verifying the hypothesis that the distyly of O. alatiflora promotes outcrossing and avoids male-female interference, improving male-female fitness and this is the first time in the Ophiorrhiza genus., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Li, Yao, Xu, Liu, Li, Tang, Yi, Wen, Wang and Tang.)

Effects of stress on obesity have been thoroughly studied in high-fat diet fed mice, but not in normal diet fed mice, which is important to clarify because even on a normal diet, some individuals will become obese under stress conditions. Here we compared mice that showed substantial weight gain or loss under chronic mild stress while on a normal diet; we compared the two groups in terms of cognitive function, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal signaling, neurogenesis and activation of microglia in hippocampus, gene expression and composition of the gut microbiome. Chronic mild stress induced diet-independent obesity in approximately 20% of animals, and it involved inflammatory responses in peripheral and central nervous system as well as hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal signaling and of microglia in the hippocampus, which were associated with cognitive deficits and impaired hippocampal neurogenesis. It significantly increased in relative abundance at the phylum level (Firmicutes), at the family level ( Prevotellaceae ucg - 001 and Lachnospiraceae NK4a136 ), at the genus level ( Dubosiella and Turicibacter ) for some enteric flora, while reducing the relative abundance at the family level ( Lactobacillaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae ), at the genus level ( Bacteroidota, Alistipes, Alloprevotella, Bifidobacterium and Desulfovibrio ) for some enteric flora. These results suggest that stress, independently of diet, can induce obesity and cognitive decline that involve dysfunctional gut microbiota. These insights imply that mitigation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal signaling and microglial activation as well as remodeling of gut microbiota may reverse stress-induced obesity and associated cognitive decline., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Liu, Zhao, He, Li, Xiao, Zhou, You and Zhang.)

Tobacco, a warm-season crop originating from the Americas, is highly susceptible to cold stress. The utilization of symbiotic fungi as a means to bolster crops' resilience against abiotic stresses has been proven to be a potent strategy. In this study, we investigated the effect of endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica on the cold resistance of tobacco. When exposed to cold stress, the colonization of P.indica in tobacco roots effectively stimulates the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). This, in turn, reduces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby mitigating oxidative damage. Additionally, P. indica elevates the levels of osmolytes, such as soluble sugars, proline, and soluble proteins, thus facilitating the restoration of osmotic balance. Under cold stress conditions, P. indica also induces the expression of cold-responsive genes. Furthermore, this fungus not only enhances photosynthesis in tobacco by stimulating the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, strengthening Rubisco activity, and elevating PSII efficiency, but also fortifies tobacco's nitrogen assimilation by inducing the expression of nitrate transporter gene and activating enzymes related to nitrogen assimilation. Consequently, this synergistic optimization of nitrogen and carbon assimilation provides a solid material and energetic foundation for tobacco plants to withstand cold stress. Our study demonstrates that a mycorrhizal association between P. indica and tobacco seedlings provides multifaceted protection to tobacco plants against low-temperature stress and offers a valuable insight into how P. indica enhances the cold tolerance of tobacco., Competing Interests: Author XL was employed by the company Guizhou Branch Company of China Tobacco Corporation. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Li, Wang, Yu, Gao, Zhu, Zhang, Li and Liu.)

Background: The gut microbiome has a significant impact on human wellness, contributing to the emergence and progression of a range of health issues including inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems, and psychiatric disorders. Notably, clinical observations have revealed that these illnesses can display differences in incidence and presentation between genders. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the composition of gut microbiota is associated with sex-specific differences and to elucidate the mechanism., Methods: 16S-rRNA-sequencing technology, hormone analysis, gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone treatment were employed to investigate the correlation between the gut microbiome and sex or sex hormones. Meanwhile, genes and proteins involved bile acid signaling pathway were analyzed both in the liver and ileum tissues., Results: The composition and diversity of the microbiota from the jejunum and feces and the level of sex hormones in the serum differed between the sexes in young and middle-aged Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. However, no similar phenomenon was found in geriatric rats. Interestingly, whether in young, middle-aged, or old rats, the composition of the microbiota and bacterial diversity differed between the jejunum and feces in rats. Gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone replacement also suggested that hormones, particularly testosterone (T), influenced the composition of the gut microbiota in rats. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein level of genes involved bile acid signaling pathway (specifically SHP , FXR , CYP7A1 , and ASBT ) exhibited gender-specific differences, and T may play a significant role in mediating the expression of this pathway., Conclusion: Sex-specific differences in the structure of the gut microbiota are mediated by T through the bile acid signaling pathway, pointing to potential targets for disease prevention and management techniques by indicating that sex differences and T levels may alter the composition of the gut microbiota via the bile acid signaling pathway., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Duan, Nie, Xie, Zhang, Zhu, Zhu, Chen, Xu, Zhang, Yang, Yu, Cai, Wang and Tian.)

Damping-off disease in chili ( Capsicum annum L.) cultivation is a significant global issue, severely affecting seeds, seedlings, and young plants, regardless of the location of cultivation, whether in greenhouses or open fields. Despite chili being a widely popular vegetable used in various cuisines globally, farmers face challenges in meeting the growing demand due to the extensive damage caused by this disease, ranging from 20 to 85%. The shelf life and quality of mature pods are also severely affected. Damping-off disease is mainly caused by soil-borne fungus from the Pythium species, with additional contributions from Phytophthora , Fusarium , and Rhizoctonia species. These pathogens' adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and resistance to synthetic fungicides make controlling damping-off on a commercial scale challenging. However, integrated disease management has shown promising results as a remedial approach. In this review, we discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. In this review, we broadly discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight the importance and efficacy of integrated disease management techniques, along with future prospects in unexplored areas, such as host-pathogen interaction and sustainable disease control measures. The information in this review aims to assist chili growers in understanding the epidemiology and management of damping-off in chili cultivation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Delai, Muhae-Ud-Din, Abid, Tian, Liu, Xiong, Ma and Ghorbani.)

Gibberellin 20-oxidases ( GA20oxs ) are multifunctional enzymes involved in regulating gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and controlling plant growth. We identified and characterized the GA20ox1 gene in a plant height mutant of Sophora davidii , referred to as SdGA20ox1 . This gene was expressed in root, stem, and leaf tissues of the adult S. davidii plant height mutant, with the highest expression observed in the stem. The expression of SdGA20ox1 was regulated by various exogenous hormones. Overexpression of SdGA20ox1 in Arabidopsis resulted in significant elongation of hypocotyl and root length in seedlings, earlier flowering, smaller leaves, reduced leaf chlorophyll content, lighter leaf color, a significant increase in adult plant height, and other phenotypes. Additionally, transgenic plants exhibited a substantial increase in biologically active endogenous GAs (GA1, GA3, and GA4) content, indicating that overexpression of SdGA20ox1 accelerates plant growth and development. Using a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screen, we identified two SdGA20ox1-interacting proteins: the ethylene receptor EIN4 (11430582) and the rbcS (11416005) protein. These interactions suggest a potential regulatory mechanism for S. davidii growth. Our findings provide new insights into the role of SdGA20ox1 and its interacting proteins in regulating the growth and development of S. davidii ., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhao, Xie, Huang, Long and Wang.)

Introduction: This study aimed to identify the pathogen responsible for leaf blight in Cyclocodon lancifolius , investigate its biological characteristics, and identify effective synthetic fungicides. Additionally, this study examined changes in physiological and biochemical indices of leaves following pathogen infection and screened biocontrol bacteria that inhibit the pathogen growth, providing a scientific basis for preventing and managing leaf blight in C. lancifolius ., Methods: Pathogens were isolated from the interface of healthy and infected leaf tissues and identified through morphological and molecular biological methods. Amplification and sequencing of three genomic DNA regions-internal transcribed spacer region, translation elongation factor 1-α, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of ribosomal DNA-were performed, followed by the construction of a phylogenetic tree. The biological characteristics of pathogens under various temperature and pH conditions and different nitrogen and carbon sources were analyzed using the mycelial growth rate method. The antifungal effects of 13 chemical agents were evaluated using the poisoned medium method and mycelial growth rate method. Changes in physiological and biochemical indicators post-infection were also assessed. An antagonistic experiment was conducted to screen for biocontrol bacteria., Results: A total of 29 potential pathogenic strains were isolated from infected leaf tissues, with Koch's Postulates confirming Stemphylium lycopersici as a key pathogen causing the disease. Growth analysis of S. lycopersici revealed optimal growth at 20°C and pH 6, with lactose or maltose serving as the most suitable carbon source and histidine as the preferred nitrogen source. Among the 13 synthetic fungicides tested, strain DHY4 exhibited the greatest sensitivity to 400  g/L flusilazole. Significant differences ( p   < 0.05) were observed in superoxide dismutase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, catalase, and malondialdehyde levels between treated and control groups 3  days post-inoculation. The biocontrol strain DYHS2, identified as a strain of Bacillus subtilis , demonstrated an inhibition rate of 51.80% against S. lycopersici in dual-culture experiments and showed a relative inhibition rate of 78.82% in detached leaf assays., Discussion: These findings provide valuable insights into the newly identified causal agent of leaf blight in C. lancifolius and its biological characteristics, underscoring the potential of B. subtilis DYHS2 and synthetic fungicides such as flusilazole as effective disease management strategies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yang, Dang, Chen, Xu, Dai and Sun.)

Walnut ( Juglans regia L.) is a widely grown nut plant worldwide, including in Guizhou Province, located in southwest China. The high quality and special taste make Guizhou walnuts, particularly those produced in Hezhang County, a "Chinese National Geographical Indication Product" that substantially contributes to the local economy and grower's income. In July 2022, a serious occurrence of leaf spot disease was observed in a walnut plantation area, Shuitang Town, Hezhang County, Guizhou Province, China (27°07'67″N, 104°64'61″E). The causal agent was identified as Didymella segeticola through morphological characterization and amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, beta-tubulin ( TUB ) gene, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( G3PD ) gene. Koch's postulates, including re-isolation and identification, were performed to confirm its pathogenicity on healthy leaves. To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. segeticola causing leaf spot on walnuts worldwide. Further, to determine its biological characteristics, which could be utilized for future disease management, the effects of temperature, light, and carbon and nitrogen resources on mycelial growth, conidia production, and conidia germination and the effects of humidity on conidia germination were studied. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth of representative strain D. segeticola C27 was 20°C. Increasing the light period significantly decreased conidia production and conidia germination. Maltose and beef extract were the best carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, for the pathogen. Conidia germination was enhanced at 90% humidity. In vitro screening of effective fungicides was conducted. Among the 20 screened fungicides, difenoconazole showed the best inhibition rate, with an EC 50 (concentration for 50% of the maximal effect) of 0.0007 μg/mL. Tetramycin also showed sufficient inhibitory effects against D. segeticola , with an EC 50 value of 0.0009 μg/mL. Our study provides new insights into the causal agent of walnut leaf spot in Guizhou, China, as well as the first pathogen characteristics and promising candidate fungicides for its management., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ao, Shi, Yang, Ouyang, Fan, Siddiqui, Wu, Lv, Deng and Chen.)

Accurately counting the number of sorghum seedlings from images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is useful for identifying sorghum varieties with high seedling emergence rates in breeding programs. The traditional method is manual counting, which is time-consuming and laborious. Recently, UAV have been widely used for crop growth monitoring because of their low cost, and their ability to collect high-resolution images and other data non-destructively. However, estimating the number of sorghum seedlings is challenging because of the complexity of field environments. The aim of this study was to test three models for counting sorghum seedlings rapidly and automatically from red-green-blue (RGB) images captured at different flight altitudes by a UAV. The three models were a machine learning approach (Support Vector Machines, SVM) and two deep learning approaches (YOLOv5 and YOLOv8). The robustness of the models was verified using RGB images collected at different heights. The R 2 values of the model outputs for images captured at heights of 15 m, 30 m, and 45 m were, respectively, (SVM: 0.67, 0.57, 0.51), (YOLOv5: 0.76, 0.57, 0.56), and (YOLOv8: 0.93, 0.90, 0.71). Therefore, the YOLOv8 model was most accurate in estimating the number of sorghum seedlings. The results indicate that UAV images combined with an appropriate model can be effective for large-scale counting of sorghum seedlings. This method will be a useful tool for sorghum phenotyping., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chen, Chen, Huang, Zhang, Chen, Cen, He, Zhao and Gao.)

Phytoremediation is a strategy for the amelioration of soil heavy metal contamination that aligns with ecological sustainability principles. Among the spectrum of phytoremediation candidates, woody plants are considered particularly adept for their substantial biomass, profound root systems, and non-participation in the food chain. This study used Eucalyptus camaldulensis -a tree species characterized for its high biomass and rapid growth rate-to assess its growth and metal uptake in mining tailings. The results were as follows: exposure to heavy metals reduced the E. camaldulensis uptake of potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca). Heavy metal stress negatively affected the biomass of E. camaldulensis . Lead (Pb) primarily accumulated in the roots, while cadmium (Cd) predominantly accumulated in the stems. The application of organic fertilizers bolstered the stress tolerance of E. camaldulensis , mitigating the adverse impacts of heavy metal stress. A synergistic effect occurred when organic fertilizers were combined with bacterial fertilizers. The plant's enrichment capacity for Cd and its tolerance to Pb was augmented through the concurrent application of bacterial and organic fertilizers. Collectively, the application of organic fertilizers improved the heavy metal tolerance of E. camaldulensis by enhancing the uptake of K, P, and Ca and elevating the content of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and gibberellin acid (GA) in roots. These findings provided nascent groundwork for breeding E. camaldulensis with enhanced heavy metal tolerance. Moreover, this proved the potentiality of E. camaldulensis for the management of heavy metal-contaminated tailings and offers a promising avenue for future environmental restoration., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ouyang, Chen, Yang, Zheng, Ye, Liu and Yang.)

Medicinal herbs have been increasingly used for therapeutic purposes against a diverse range of human diseases worldwide. However, inevitable contaminants, including mycotoxins, in medicinal herbs can cause serious problems for humans despite their health benefits. The increasing consumption of medicinal plants has made their use a public health problem due to the lack of effective surveillance of the use, efficacy, toxicity, and quality of these natural products. Radix Dipsaci is commonly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine and is susceptible to contamination with mycotoxins. Here, we evaluated the mycotoxins, mycobiota and toxigenic fungi in the traditional medicine Radix Dipsaci . A total of 28 out of 63 Radix Dipsaci sample batches (44.4%) were found to contain mycotoxins. Among the positive samples, the contamination levels of AFB 1 , AFG 1 , AFG 2 , and OTA in the positive samples ranged from 0.52 to 32.13 μg/kg, 5.14 to 20.05 μg/kg, 1.52 to 2.33 μg/kg, and 1.81 to 19.43 μg/kg respectively, while the concentrations of ZEN and T-2 were found to range from 2.85 to 6.33 μg/kg and from 2.03 to 2.53 μg/kg, respectively. More than 60% of the contaminated samples were combined with multiple mycotoxins. Fungal diversity and community were altered in the Radix Dipsaci contaminated with various mycotoxins. The abundance of Aspergillus and Fusarium increased in the Radix Dipsaci contaminated with aflatoxins (AFs) and ZEN. A total of 95 strains of potentially toxigenic fungi were isolated from the Radix Dipsaci samples contaminated with mycotoxins, predominantly comprising Aspergillus (73.7%), Fusarium (20.0%), and Penicillium (6.3%). Through morphological identification, molecular identification, mycotoxin synthase gene identification and toxin production verification, we confirmed that AFB 1 and AFG 1 primarily derive from Aspergillus flavus , OTA primarily derives from Aspergillus westerdijkiae , ZEN primarily derives from Fusarium oxysporum , and T-2 primarily derives from Fusarium graminearum in Radix Dipsaci . These data can facilitate our comprehension of prevalent toxigenic fungal species and contamination levels in Chinese herbal medicine, thereby aiding the establishment of effective strategies for prevention, control, and degradation to mitigate the presence of fungi and mycotoxins in Chinese herbal medicine., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Hu, Wang, Su, Yuan, Xiao, Guo, Wang, Kang, Zhang and Zhou.)

Introduction: The gut bacteria of insects play an important role in regulating their metabolism, immune system and metabolizing pesticides. Our previous results indicate that carvacrol has certain gastric toxic activity on Lymantria dispar larvae and affects their detoxification metabolism at the mRNA level. However, the impact of carvacrol on the gut bacteria of L. dispar larvae has been unclear., Methods: In this study, the 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to sequence and analyze the gut bacteria of the larvae which were exposed with sublethal concentration (0.297 mg/mL) and median lethal concentration (1.120 mg/mL), respectively., Results: A total of 10 phyla, 16 classes, 47 orders, 72 families, 103 genera, and 135 species were obtained by using a 97% similarity cutoff level. The dominant bacterial phyla in the gut of the L. dispar larvae are Firmicutes and Proteobacteria . The treatment with carvacrol can significantly affect the structure of gut bacteria in the larvae of the L. dispar . At both doses, carvacrol can shift the dominant gut bacteria of the larvae from Proteobacteria to Firmicutes . At the genus level, two doses of carvacrol can significantly enhance the relative abundance of probiotic Lactobacillus in the gut of L. dispar larvae ( p  ≤ 0.01). Additionally, significant differences were observed among the five bacterial genera Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia , Anoxybacillus , Pelomonas , Mesorhizobium ( p ≤ 0.05). The analysis of α -diversity and β -diversity indicates that the treatment with carvacrol at two doses significantly affect the bacterial richness and diversity in the larvae. However, the results of functional classification prediction (PICRUSt) indicate that carvacrol significantly down-regulate 7 functions, including Energy metabolism, Cell growth and death, and up-regulate 2 functions, including Carbohydrate metabolism and Membrane transport. The network analysis indicates that the correlation between gut bacteria also has been changed. In addition, the insecticidal activity results of carvacrol against L. dispar larvae with gut bacteria elimination showed that gut bacteria can reduce the insecticidal activity of carvacrol against L. dispar larvae., Discussion: This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the role of gut bacteria in detoxifying plant toxins and conferring pesticide resistance., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yang, Chen and Zhang.)

Introduction: Maize photosensitivity and the control of flowering not only are important for reproduction, but also play pivotal roles in the processes of domestication and environmental adaptation, especially involving the utilization strategy of tropical maize in high-latitude regions., Methods: In this study, we used a linkage mapping population and an inbred association panel with the photoperiod sensitivity index (PSI) phenotyped under different environments and performed transcriptome analysis of T32 and QR273 between long-day and short-day conditions., Results: The results showed that PSIs of days to tasseling (DTT), days to pollen shedding (DTP), and days to silking (DTS) indicated efficacious interactions with photoperiod sensitivity for maize latitude adaptation. A total of 48 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and 252 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) were detected using the linkage population and the inbred association panel. Thirteen candidate genes were identified by combining the genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach, linkage analysis, and transcriptome analysis, wherein five critical candidate genes, MYB163 , bif1 , burp8 , CADR3 , and Zm00001d050238 , were significantly associated with photoperiod sensitivity., Discussion: These results would provide much more abundant theoretical proofs to reveal the genetic basis of photoperiod sensitivity, which would be helpful to understand the genetic changes during domestication and improvement and contribute to reducing the barriers to use of tropical germplasm., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Jiang, Guo, Wang, Tu, Liu, Guo, Wang, Zhu, Lu, Chen and Wu.)

Environmental serious games aim to heighten players' awareness and comprehension of environmental issues, thus fostering pro-environmental decision-making. Research to date has affirmed these games' effectiveness in enhancing environmental knowledge and abilities, elevating consciousness regarding environmental matters, and promoting pro-environmental behavioral intentions and actions. Nonetheless, a detailed exploration into the precise mechanisms facilitating these impacts remains scarce. Leveraging theories of motivation, cognition, affect, and behavior, this paper outlines four hypothesized mechanisms of influence and introduces an Embodied-Enactive Cognition Model as a novel perspective. It suggests that future research should expand its inquiry into the multifaceted factors that influence pro-environmental decision-making, deepen the comprehension of the intrinsic mechanisms at play, pioneer novel research methodologies, and diversify the array of categories and contextual applications of environmental serious games., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chen, He, Chen and Zhang.)

Postharvest litchi is susceptible to browning that limits the development of litchi industry. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is an important bioactive molecule that can regulate many physiological processes. This study examined the effects of exogenous H 2 S on pericarp browning and related physiological mechanisms in postharvest litchi. The results exhibited that exogenous H 2 S treatment delayed the browning of litchi pericarp and reduced the damage to cell membrane integrity during storage. This treatment inhibited the energy losses of litchi fruit by increasing the activities of H + -ATPase, Ca 2+ - ATPase, cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and regulating the expression of energy metabolism-related genes, including LcAtpB , LcSnRK2 , LcAAC1 , LcAOX1 and LcUCP1 . In addition, H 2 S treatment increased the levels of fructose, glucose, sucrose, inositol, galactose and sorbose in litchi fruit, and promoted sucrose synthesis by regulating the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), sucrose synthase (SS), acid invertase (AI) and neutral invertase (NI). Based on the current findings, we suggest that exogenous H 2 S enhances the energy supply and antioxidant activity of litchi by modulating energy and sugar metabolism, thereby inhibiting fruit browning and senescence. These results indicated that H 2 S treatment is an effective approach to maintaining the quality of litchi fruit and extending its shelf life., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Gao, Zhao, Zhang, Nizamani, Li, Li, Gong, Wang and Hu.)

Background: Observational studies have suggested an association between gut microbiota and Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, the causal relationship remains unclear, and the role of blood metabolites in this association remains elusive., Purpose: To elucidate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and AD and to investigate whether blood metabolites serve as potential mediators., Materials and Methods: Univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) analysis was employed to assess the causal relationship between gut microbiota and AD, while multivariable MR (MVMR) was utilized to mitigate confounding factors. Subsequently, a two-step mediation MR approach was employed to explore the role of blood metabolites as potential mediators. We primarily utilized the inverse variance-weighted method to evaluate the causal relationship between exposure and outcome, and sensitivity analyses including Contamination mixture, Maximum-likelihood, Debiased inverse-variance weighted, MR-Egger, Bayesian Weighted Mendelian randomization, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier were conducted to address pleiotropy., Results: After adjustment for reverse causality and MVMR correction, class Actinobacteria (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06, p  = 0.006), family Lactobacillaceae (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.05, p  = 0.017), genus Lachnoclostridium (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.06, p  = 0.019), genus Ruminiclostridium9 (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94-1.00, p  = 0.027) and genus Ruminiclostridium6 (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, p  = 0.009) exhibited causal effects on AD. Moreover, 1-ribosyl-imidazoleacetate levels (-6.62%), Metabolonic lactone sulfate levels (2.90%), and Nonadecanoate (19:0) levels (-12.17%) mediated the total genetic predictive effects of class Actinobacteria on AD risk. Similarly, 2-stearoyl-GPE (18:0) levels (-9.87%), Octadecanedioylcarnitine (C18-DC) levels (4.44%), 1-(1-enyl-stearoyl)-2-oleoyl-GPE (p-18:0/18:1) levels (38.66%), and X-23639 levels (13.28%) respectively mediated the total genetic predictive effects of family Lactobacillaceae on AD risk. Furthermore, Hexadecanedioate (C16-DC) levels (5.45%) mediated the total genetic predictive effects of genus Ruminiclostridium 6 on AD risk; Indole-3-carboxylate levels (13.91%), X-13431 levels (7.08%), Alpha-ketoglutarate to succinate ratio (-13.91%), 3-phosphoglycerate to glycerate ratio (15.27%), and Succinate to proline ratio (-14.64%) respectively mediated the total genetic predictive effects of genus Ruminiclostridium 9 on AD risk., Conclusion: Our mediation MR analysis provides genetic evidence suggesting the potential mediating role of blood metabolites in the causal relationship between gut microbiota and AD. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate the role of blood metabolites in the specific mechanisms by which gut microbiota influence AD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chen, Jin, Chu, Zheng, Chen and Zhu.)

Investigating the quantity and spatiotemporal dynamics of metabolite release from plant roots is essential if we are to understand the ecological significance of root exudates in the rhizosphere; however, this is difficult to quantify. In the present study, we quantified in situ root exudation rates during three incubation periods (0-24, 24-48, and 48-72 h) and fine roots within four diameter ranges (<0.8, 0.8-1.0, 1.0-1.2, and 1.2-2.0 mm), and also measured nine morphological traits in the fine roots of Pinus massoniana . Higher root carbon (C) exudation rates were detected during the 0-24 h period. During the 0-24 h and 24-48 h periods, nitrogen (N) uptake rates were higher than N exudation rates, while during the 48-72 h period, N exudation rates exceeded uptake rates. As C exudation increased during 0-48h incubation period, the uptake of N tended to level out. We concluded that the 24-48 h incubation period was the most suitable for capturing root exudates from P. massoniana. The exudation of C from the roots was positively associated with root mass, length, surface area, volume, the number of root tips, and the root tissue density, when incubated for 0-24 h and 24-48 h. Furthermore, length-specific C exudation rates, along with N exudation and uptake rates, all increased as the diameter of the fine roots increased. The release of root exudates could be efficiently predicted by the fine root morphological traits, although the accuracy of prediction depended on the incubation period. Higher values for fine root morphological traits were generally indicative of higher nutrient requirements and tissue investment, as well as higher C exudation rates., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Cai, Zhao, He, Mao, Zhang, Zhang and Su.)

Introduction: Gut microbiota are associated with the health and performance of ruminant species, and they are affected by altitude, host genetics, and sex. However, there has been little research on comparing the fecal microbiota of indigenous small ruminants such as sheep and goats in Guizhou province, China. In the present study, we revealed the effect of altitude, genetics, and sex on fecal microbiota profiles and enterotypes in indigenous small ruminants of Guizhou province, China., Methods: Fecal samples were collected from Hei and Qianbei Ma goats and Weining sheep in the Chinese province of Guizhou. 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V3-V4 region was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Sequences were processed using QIIME2, and the qualified sequences were processed using the plugin DADA2 to generate amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). The statistical analysis was performed using R studio., Results: The fecal microbial profile was found to vary by herd (influenced by genetics/altitude) and sex. All samples were categorized into two enterotypes. The first enterotype is dominated by UCG-005 , and the second enterotype is dominated by the Christensenellaceae&#95;R-7&#95;group , which may be highly driven by the host's genetics (breed). The predicted functional profiles of the fecal microbiota were also assigned to two clusters that corresponded exactly to the enterotypes. Cluster 1 of the functional profiling was characterized by biosynthesis pathways, and cluster 2 was characterized by energy metabolism pathways., Discussion: Our findings may provide new insights into the fecal microbial community and enterotypes in small ruminants by herds, offering clues for understanding the mechanisms by which the fecal microbiota contribute to divergent host phenotypes in indigenous small ruminants in Guizhou., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Guo, Liu, Wang, Yu, Neves, Zhou and Chen.)

Objectives: This current study is based on a set of visual motion sensitivity tests, investigating the correlation between visual motion sensitivity and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), thereby furnishing a scientific rationale for preventing and controlling DR., Methods: This research was conducted by a combination of questionnaire collection and on-site investigation that involved 542 T2DM recruited from a community. The visual motion sensitivity determined the visual motion perception of the participants across three spatial frequencies (low, medium, and high) for both the first- and second-order contrast. The logistic regression model was adopted to investigate the relationship between visual motion sensitivity and DR prevalence. Besides, the Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing visual motion sensitivity and restricted cubic spline (RCS) functions to assess the dose-response relationship between visual motion sensitivity and glycated hemoglobin., Results: Among 542 subjects, there are 162 cases of DR, with a prevalence rate of 29.89%. After adjusting factors of age, gender, glycated hemoglobin, duration of diabetes, BMI, and hypertension, we found that the decline in first- and second-order high spatial frequency sensitivity increased the risk for DR [odds ratio (OR): 1.519 (1.065, 2.168), 1.249 (1.068, 1.460)]. The decline in perceptual ability of second-order low, medium, and high spatial frequency sensitivity is a risk factor for moderate to severe DR [OR: 1.556 (1.116, 2.168), 1.388 (1.066, 1.806), 1.476 (1.139, 1.912)]. The first-order and the second-order high spatial frequency sensitivity are significantly positively correlated with glycated hemoglobin ( r  = 0.105, p  = 0.015 and r  = 0.119, p  = 0.005, respectively)., Conclusion: Visual motion sensitivity especially for the second-order high spatial frequency stimuli emerges as a significant predictor of DR in T2DM, offering a sensitive diagnostic tool for early detection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Ying, Wang, Zhao, Pan, Zhan, Zhang, An, Liu, Hu and Zhang.)

Background: Constipation is affected by a number of risk variables, including cardiovascular disease and growth factors. However, the impacts of gut flora on constipation incidence has not been shown. This work, Single-Variable Mendelian Randomization (SVMR) was utilized to estimate the causal relationship between the Eubacterium genus or Rumphococcus , and constipation., Methods: Data for constipation, Eubacterium genus and Rumphococcus were taken from the Integrated Epidemiology Unit (IEU) open GWAS database. Including 218,792 constipation samples, and there were 16,380,466 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) for constipation. The ids of Eubacterium genus and Rumphococcus were sourced from MiBioGen database. The sample count for the Eubacterium genus was 17,380, with 656 SNPs. In addition, the sample size for Rumphococcus was 15,339, with 545 SNPs. The SVMR was performed to assess the risk of Eubacterium genus and Rumphococcus in constipation using weighted median, MR Egger, simple mode, inverse variance weighted (IVW), and weighted mode. Finally, we did a sensitivity analysis that included a heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and Leave-One-Out (LOO) test to examine the viability of the MR data., Results: The SVMR revealed that the Eubacterium genus and Rumphococcus were causally connected to constipation, with Rumphococcus ( P = 0.042, OR = 1.074) as a hazardous factor and Eubacterium genus ( P = 0.004, OR = 0.909) as a safety factor. Sensitivity tests then revealed the absence of variability between the constipation and the exposure factors ( Eubacterium genus and Rumphococcus ). Additionally, there were no other confounding factors and the examined SNPs could only influence constipation through the aforementioned exposure factors, respectively. As a result, the MR results were fairly robust., Conclusion: Our investigation verified the causal links between the Eubacterium genus or Rumphococcus , and constipation, with greater Rumphococcus expression increasing the likelihood of constipation and the opposite being true for the Eubacterium genus ., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Chen, He, Du and Yu.)

Introduction: With the rapid rise of the gig economy globally, its characteristics of promoting employment and facilitating autonomy have supported its rapid growth and development in China. While the flexibility of gig work offers more employment options and income sources for workers, it also caused many problems and uncertainties. Workplace well-being is an important psychological factor that indicates the psychological state of workers and significantly predicts their behavior at work. However, previous studies on the gig economy rarely analyze gig workers' workplace well-being, which is of great significance to improving their individual emotions, promoting their physical and mental health, and maintaining the sustainable development of the gig economy and society in general., Methods: This study draws on the cognitive-affective processing system framework to construct a moderated dual-mediator model to explore the dual influence mechanism of job autonomy on gig workers' workplace well-being. Based on the data of 442 digital gig workers who were mainly engaged in manual labor., Results: The survey results show that job autonomy positively affects employees' workplace well-being, and work alienation and positive emotion mediate this relationship. Perceived algorithmic control can moderate not only the influence of job autonomy on work alienation and positive emotion but also the indirect impact of job autonomy on workplace well-being through work alienation and positive emotion., Discussion: The finding of this research contributes to expand the comprehension of the relationship between gig-worker job autonomy and workplace wellbeing and this relationship's underlying mechanism, holding significant implications for management practice., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wan, Zhang, Wang and Zhang.)

Background: The gut microbiome plays a key role in the formation of livestock and poultry traits via serum metabolites, and empirical evidence has indicated these traits are sex-linked., Methods: We examined 106 chickens (54 male chickens and 52 female chickens) and analyzed cecal content samples and serum samples by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics, respectively., Results: The cecal microbiome of female chickens was more stable and more complex than that of the male chickens. Lactobacillus and Family XIII UCG-001 were enriched in male chickens, while Eubacterium&#95;nodatum&#95;group , Blautia , unclassified&#95;Anaerovoraceae, Romboutsia , Lachnoclostridium, and norank&#95;Muribaculaceae were enriched in female chickens. Thirty-seven differential metabolites were identified in positive mode and 13 in negative mode, showing sex differences. Sphingomyelin metabolites possessed the strongest association with cecal microbes, while 11β-hydroxytestosterone showed a negative correlation with Blautia ., Conclusion: These results support the role of sexual dimorphism of the cecal microbiome and metabolome and implicate specific gender factors associated with production performance in chickens., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yang, Zhang, Yu, Wang and Wang.)

The isolation and identification of plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria (PGPEB) from Achyranthes bidentata roots have profound theoretical and practical implications in ecological agriculture, particularly as bio-inoculants to address challenges associated with continuous monoculture. Our research revealed a significant increase in the abundance of these beneficial bacteria in A. bidentata rhizosphere soil under prolonged monoculture conditions, as shown by bioinformatics analysis. Subsequently, we isolated 563 strains of endophytic bacteria from A. bidentata roots. Functional characterization highlighted diverse plant growth-promoting traits among these bacteria, including the secretion of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) ranging from 68.01 to 73.25 mg/L, phosphorus and potassium solubilization capacities, and antagonistic activity against pathogenic fungi (21.54%-50.81%). Through 16S rDNA sequencing, we identified nine strains exhibiting biocontrol and growth-promoting potential. Introduction of a synthetic microbial consortium (SMC) in pot experiments significantly increased root biomass by 48.19% in A. bidentata and 27.01% in replanted Rehmannia glutinosa . These findings provide innovative insights and strategies for addressing continuous cropping challenges, highlighting the practical promise of PGPEB from A. bidentata in ecological agriculture to overcome replanting obstacles for non-host plants like R. glutinosa , thereby promoting robust growth in medicinal plants., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zeng, Liu, Zhang, Zhang, Li, Ji, Lan, Qin, Yang, Wang, Chen, Fang and Lin.)

In today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) work environments, mitigating employee burnout and turnover has become a critical concern. The enhancement of employee engagement stands out as a pivotal focus in corporate human resource management. Coaching leadership focuses on the encouragement and inspiration of employees, which can effectively stimulate the internal potential of employees, enhance work ability and enhance engagement. However, previous research on the relationship between coaching leadership style and employee engagement are limited, thus obscures the essential function in enterprise development and core competitiveness. The research collected 402 valid responses from MBA and EMBA students at the School of Business, and examines the effect of coaching leadership on employee engagement. Results indicate that coaching leadership significantly enhances multiple facets of employee engagement, including vigor, devotion, and absorption. Crucially, organizational self-esteem emerges as a mediating factor, while learning goal orientation strengthens the positive effects of coaching leadership. This research sheds light on the nuanced dynamics of effective leadership in contemporary workplaces, also it underscores the need for more nuanced, industry-specific analyses and broader exploration of moderating variables. Ultimately, the insights garnered hold profound implications for leadership training, human resource strategies, and performance metrics, emphasizing a more integrative and holistic approach to leadership and employee development in vocational contexts., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Tang, Shi, Liu, Liu and Yang.)

Introduction: Bacterial resistance presents a major challenge to both the ecological environment and human well-being, with persistence playing a key role. Multiple studies were recently undertaken to examine the factors influencing the formation of persisters and the underlying process, with a primary focus on Gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria). Enterococcus faecalis ( E. faecalis ) is capable of causing a variety of infectious diseases, but there have been few studies of E. faecalis persisters. Previous studies have shown that the sex pheromone cCF10 secreted by E. faecalis induces conjugative plasmid transfer. However, whether the pheromone cCF10 regulates the persistence of E. faecalis has not been investigated., Methods: As a result, we investigated the effect and potential molecular mechanism of pheromone cCF10 in regulating the formation of persisters in E. faecalis OG1RF using a persistent bacteria model., Results and Discussion: The metabolically active E. faecalis OG1RF reached a persistence state and temporarily tolerated lethal antibiotic concentrations after 8  h of levofloxacin hydrochloride (20 mg/mL) exposure, exhibiting a persistence rate of 0.109 %. During the growth of E. faecalis OG1RF, biofilm formation was a critical factor contributing to antibiotic persistence, whereas 10 ng/mL cCF10 blocked persister cell formation. Notably, cCF10 mediated the antibiotic persistence of E. faecalis OG1RF via regulating metabolic activity rather than suppressing biofilm formation. The addition of cCF10 stimulated the Opp system and entered bacterial cells, inhibiting (p)ppGpp accumulation, thus maintaining the metabolically active state of bacteria and reducing persister cell generation. These findings offer valuable insights into the formation, as well as the control mechanism of E. faecalis persisters., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Zhu, Yang, Fu, Yang, Lin, Wang, Shen, Wang, Sun and Qiu.)

Background: Ferroptosis, a newly proposed concept of programmed cell death, has garnered significant attention in research across different diseases in the last decade. Despite thorough citation analyses in neuroscience, there is a scarcity of information on ferroptosis research specifically related to neurodegenerative diseases., Method: The Web of Science Core Collection database retrieved relevant articles and reviews. Data on publications, countries, institutions, authors, journals, citations, and keywords in the included studies were systematically analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2019 and CiteSpace 6.2.R7 software., Result: A comprehensive analysis and visualization of 563 research papers on ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases from 2014 to 2023 revealed emerging research hotspots and trends. The number of annual publications in this field of study has displayed a pattern of stabilization in the early years of the decade, followed by a notable increase in the later years and peaking in 2023 with 196 publications. Regarding publication volume and total citations, notable research contributions were observed from countries, institutions, and authors in North America, Western Europe, and China. Current research endeavors primarily focus on understanding the intervention mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases through the ferroptosis pathway and exploring and identifying potential therapeutic targets., Conclusion: The study highlights key areas of interest and emerging trends in ferroptosis research on neurodegenerative diseases, offering valuable insights for further exploration and potential directions for diagnosing and treating such conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Liu, Feng, Shui, Wang, Yu, Liu and Tian.)

Introduction: Sodium pheophorbide a (SPA) is a natural plant-derived photosensitizer, with high photoactivated antifungal activity against some phytopathogenic fungi. However, its fungicidal effect on Diaporthe mahothocarpus , a novel pathogen that causes Camellia oleifera leaf spot blight, is unclear., Methods: In the present study, we explored its inhibitory effects on spore germination and mycelial growth of D. mahothocarpus . Then we determined its effects on the cell membrane, mycelial morphology, redox homeostasis, and cell death through bioassay. Finally, RNA-seq was used further to elucidate its mode of action at the transcriptional level., Results: We found that SPA effectively inhibited the growth of D. mahothocarpus , with half-maximal effective concentrations to inhibit mycelial growth and spore germination of 1.059 and 2.287 mg/mL, respectively. After 1.0 mg/mL SPA treatment, the conductivity and malondialdehyde content of D. mahothocarpus were significantly increased. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy indicated that SPA significantly affected the morphology and ultrastructure of D. mahothocarpus hyphae, revealing that SPA can destroy the mycelial morphology and cell structure, especially the cell membrane of D. mahothocarpus . Furthermore, transcriptome analysis revealed that SPA significantly suppressed the expression of genes involved in morphology, cell membrane permeability, and oxidative stress. Then, we also found that SPA significantly promoted the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in of D. mahothocarpus , while it decreased the content of reduced glutathione, inhibited the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and exacerbated DNA damage. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining also confirmed that 1.0 mg/mL SPA could significantly induce apoptosis and necrosis., Discussion: Generally, SPA can induce ROS-mediated oxidative stress and cell death, thus destroying the cell membrane and hyphal morphology, and ultimately inhibiting mycelial growth, which indicates that SPA has multiple modes of action, providing a scientific basis for the use of SPA as an alternative plant-derived photoactivated fungicide against C. oleifera leaf spot blight., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Shi, Yang, Zhang, Qin, Zhou and Chen.)

Tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP) is considered a crucial flavor component in Moutai-flavored liquor. Laceyeella sacchari FBKL4.010 ( L. sacchari ) is the dominant species found in Moutai-flavor Daqu, and this study aims to determine the mechanism by which L. sacchari produces TTMP during liquid fermentation of Moutai-flavor Daqu. The results of the liquid fermentation performance demonstrated a gradual increase in biomass over time, while there was a gradual decline in residual glucose content and pH value. Furthermore, analysis of volatile components revealed that liquid fermentation significantly enhanced the production of TTMP in Moutai-flavor Daqu, with the relative content of TTMP reaching 14.24 mg/L after 96 h of liquid fermentation. Additionally, to explore the synthesis mechanism of TTMP, we compared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of L. sacchari between 24 and 96 h using comparative transcriptomic techniques. The results indicated that DEGs involved in isoleucine, valine, and leucine biosynthesis pathway were upregulated, while those associated with isoleucine, valine, and leucine degradation pathway were downregulated, suggesting that the valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis pathway primarily contributes ammonia for TTMP synthesis. The findings of this study present an opportunity for further elucidating the production process of TTMP in Moutai-flavor Daqu during liquid fermentation., Competing Interests: JH, MN, and TJ were employed by Guizhou Anjiu Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Huang, Huang, Luo, Nie, Jiang, Ban and Li.)

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici ( Pst ), is a serious disease that affects wheat worldwide. There is a great need to develop cultivars with combinations of all-stage resistance (ASR) and adult-plant resistance (APR) genes for sustainable control of the disease. QYrsv.swust-1BL in the Italian durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum ssp. durum ) cultivar Svevo is effective against Pst races in China and Israel, and the gene has been previously mapped to the long arm of chromosome 1B. The gene is flanked by SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) markers IWB5732 and IWB4839 (0.75 cM). In the present study, we used high-density 660K SNP array genotyping and the phenotypes of 137 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) to fine map the QYrsv.swust-1BL locus within a 1.066 Mb region in durum wheat Svevo (RefSeq Rel. 1.0) on chromosome arm 1BL. The identified 1.066 Mb region overlaps with a previously described map of Yr29/QYr.ucw-1BL , a stripe rust APR gene. Twenty-five candidate genes for QYrsv.swut-1BL were identified through comparing polymorphic genes within the 1.066 Mb region in the resistant cultivar. SNP markers were selected and converted to Kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) markers. Five KASP markers based on SNP were validated in a F 2 and F 2:3 breeding population, providing further compelling evidence for the significant effects of QYrsv.swut-1BL . These markers should be useful in marker-assisted selection for incorporating Yr29/QYrsv.swust-1BL into new durum and common wheat cultivars for resistance to stripe rust., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhou, Jia, Luo, Li, Cai, Chen and Kang.)

Sweating is one of the most important processing methods of Chinese medicinal herbs. However, the high temperature and humidity environment required for sweating Chinese medicinal herbs makes it very easy for fungi to breed, especially toxigenic fungi. The mycotoxins produced by these fungi will then contaminate the Chinese medicinal herbs. In this study, we explored the changes in mycobiota, toxigenic fungi, and mycotoxins with and without sweating in Radix Dipsaci (RD), a typical representative of traditional Chinese medicine that requires processing through sweating. We also isolated and identified the toxigenic fungi from RD, whether they were subjected to sweating treatment or not, and examined their toxigenic genes and ability. The results showed that the detection rate of mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxins, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin) in RD with sweating was 36%, which was 2.25-fold higher than that in RD without sweating. We also detected T-2 toxin in the RD with sweating, whereas it was not found in the RD without sweating. The sweating process altered the fungal composition and increased the abundance of Fusarium and Aspergillus in RD. Aspergillus and Fusarium were the most frequently contaminating fungi in the RD. Morphological and molecular identification confirmed the presence of key toxigenic fungal strains in RD samples, including A. flavus, A. westerdijkiae, F. oxysporum and F. graminearum . These four fungi, respectively, carried AflR , PKS , Tri7 , and PKS14 , which were key genes for the biosynthesis of aflatoxins, ochratoxins, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin. The toxigenic ability of these four fungal strains was verified in different matrices. We also found that A. flavus , A. westerdijkiae , and F. oxysporum were isolated in RD both with sweating and without sweating, but their isolation frequency was significantly higher in the RD with sweating than in the RD without sweating. F. graminearum was not isolated from RD without sweating, but it was isolated from RD with sweating. These findings suggest that the sweating process promotes the expansion of toxigenic fungi and increases the risk of combined mycotoxin contamination in RD., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ge, Wang, Su, Yuan, Xiao, Hu, Kang, Guo, Zhou and Zhang.)

Purpose: This review aimed to assess the impact of different exercise dosages on cognitive function in individuals with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI)., Methods: Four electronic databases-Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library-were systematically searched from inception to 01 January 2024, focusing on the impact of exercise therapy on cognitive function in individuals with PSCI. Only randomized controlled trials meeting the criteria were included. The exercise therapy dose and adherence were evaluated following the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines, categorized into a high compliance group with ACSM recommendations and a low or uncertain compliance group. A random-effects model compared the effect of ACSM compliance on cognitive function in individuals with PSCI, with the effect size represented by the standardized mean difference (SMD) and a 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: In total, 18 studies meeting the criteria were included, with data from 1,742 participants. The findings suggested a beneficial effect of exercise on cognitive function in individuals with PSCI [SMD = 0.42, 95% CI (0.20, 0.65)]. Ten studies were categorized as the "high adherence group" and eight in the "low or uncertain adherence group" based on the ACSM recommendations. The subgroup analysis revealed that the SMD of the high compliance group was 0.46 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.82) ( p = 0.01), while the SMD of the low or uncertain compliance group was 0.38 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.70) ( p = 0.02)., Conclusion: Our study indicates the beneficial impact of exercise for patients with PSCI over no exercise. Furthermore, high adherence to the exercise dose recommended by ACSM guidelines demonstrated a more substantial improvement in cognitive function than low or uncertain adherence in patients with PSCI. Systematic Review Registration: https:// www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#myprospero, identifier CRD42023487915., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhao, Li, Xue, Li and Lu.)

Candida albicans ( C. albicans ), a microbe commonly isolated from Candida vaginitis patients with vaginal tract infections, transforms from yeast to hyphae and produces many toxins, adhesins, and invasins, as well as C. albicans biofilms resistant to antifungal antibiotic treatment. Effective agents against this pathogen are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been used to cure inflammation and infectious diseases. In this study, we isolated whole housefly larvae insect SVWC peptide 1 (WHIS1), a novel insect single von Willebrand factor C-domain protein (SVWC) peptide from whole housefly larvae. The expression pattern of WHIS1 showed a response to the stimulation of C. albicans . In contrast to other SVWC members, which function as antiviral peptides, interferon (IFN) analogs or pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs), which are the prokaryotically expressed MdWHIS1 protein, inhibit the growth of C. albicans . Eukaryotic heterologous expression of WHIS1 inhibited C. albicans invasion into A549 and HeLa cells. The heterologous expression of WHIS1 clearly inhibited hyphal formation both extracellularly and intracellularly. Furthermore, the mechanism of WHIS1 has demonstrated that it downregulates all key hyphal formation factors ( ALS1, ALS3, ALS5, ECE1, HWP1, HGC1, EFG1 , and ZAP1 ) both extracellularly and intracellularly. These data showed that heterologously expressed WHIS1 inhibits C. albicans invasion into epithelial cells by affecting hyphal formation and adhesion factor-related gene expression. These findings provide new potential drug candidates for treating C. albicans infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chen, Huang, Yao, Wu, Yang, Liu, Luo, Wei, Zhang, Liu and Wang.)

Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L .) is one of the most important forage crops in the world. Drought is recognized as a major challenge limiting alfalfa production and threatening food security. Although some literature reviews have been conducted in this area, bibliometric reviews based on large amounts of published data are still lacking. In this paper, a bibliometric analysis of alfalfa drought stress from 1998-2023 was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection database in order to assess global trends in alfalfa drought stress research and to provide new directions for future research. The results showed that the annual publication output maintained an increase in most years, with China and the United States contributing significantly to the field. Most of the journals published are specialized journals in botany, environmental science, soil science and crop science, as well as related agribusiness journals. "plant growth" and "yield" were the most frequently used keywords, reflecting the important purpose of research in this field. And two main research directions were identified: research on drought response mechanism of alfalfa and exploration of drought-resistant technology. In addition, physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of drought tolerance and high yield in alfalfa, transgenics, and microbial fertilizer research have been hot research topics in recent years and may continue in the future. The ultimate goal of this paper is to provide a foundational reference for future research on alfalfa's drought resistance and yield optimization mechanisms, thereby enhancing the crop's application in agricultural production., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhou, Li, Gao, Wang, Wang, Huang, Zhang, Zhao and Wang.)

Introduction: Acetyl-Coenzyme A Acyltransferase-1 ( ACAA1 ) is a peroxisomal acyltransferase involved in fatty acid metabolism. Current evidence does not precisely reveal the effect of the ACAA1 gene on pig growth performance., Methods: The present study assessed the mRNA expression levels of the ACAA1 gene in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney of 6-month-old Xiangsu pigs and in the longissimus dorsi muscle at different growth stages (newborn, 6 months and 12 months of age) using RT-qPCR. The relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ACAA1 gene and growth traits in 6-month-old and 12-month-old Xiangsu pigs was investigated on 184 healthy Xiangsu pigs using Sanger sequencing., Results: The ACAA1 gene was expressed in heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and longissimus dorsi muscle of 6-month-old pigs, with the highest level of expression in the liver. ACAA1 gene expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle decreased with age ( p < 0.01). In addition, four SNPs were identified in the ACAA1 gene, including exon g.48810 A>G (rs343060194), intron g.51546 T>C (rs319197012), exon g.55035 T>C (rs333279910), and exon g.55088 C>T (rs322138947). Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium ( p > 0.05) was found for the four SNPs, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis revealed a strong LD between g.55035 T>C (rs333279910) and g.55088 C>T (rs322138947) ( r 2 = 1.000). Association analysis showed that g.48810 A>G (rs343060194), g.51546 T>C (rs319197012), g.55035 T>C (rs333279910), and g.55088 C>T (rs322138947) varied in body weight, body length, body height, abdominal circumference, leg and hip circumference and living backfat thickness between 6-month-old and 12-month-old Xiangsu pigs., Conclusion: These findings strongly demonstrate that the ACAA1 gene can be exploited for marker-assisted selection to improve growth-related phenotypes in Xiangsu pigs and present new candidate genes for molecular pig breeding., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Xiao, Ruan, Huang, Dai, Xu and Xu.)

Background: Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a prevalent metabolic disorder whose development is associated with intestinal microbiota. Therefore, probiotics have emerged as a potential and safe approach for lowering uric acid (UA) levels. However, the underlying mechanisms of many effective probiotic strains remain unknown., Methods and Results: C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups: control and model groups. The model group received 12 weeks of potassium oxonate. Through 16s sequencing we found that HUA resulted in a significant decrease in the total diversity of all intestinal segments. When each intestinal segment was analyzed individually, the reduction in diversity was only significant in the cecum and colon sections. RDA analysis showed that lactobacilli in the rat colon exhibited a strong correlation with model group, suggesting that Lactobacillus may play an important role in HUA. Consequently, the preventive effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii YH1136 against HUA were investigated. C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: control, model and YH1136 groups. The results showed that administering Lactobacillus johnsonii YH1136 effectively reduced serum UA levels in vivo by inhibiting hepatic xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity and promoting renal ABCG2 transporter expression. Moreover, supplementation with Lactobacillus johnsonii YH1136 significantly ameliorated pathological damage in the kidney and liver, thereby reducing UA accumulation., Conclusion: Hyperuricemia is accompanied by an altered composition of multiple gut bacteria, of which Lactobacillus is a key genus. Lactobacillus johnsonii YH1136 may ameliorate renal involvement in HUA via the gut-kidney axis., Competing Interests: YC was employed by the Guangzhou Beneco Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Jiang, Xin, Sun, Zhao, Gan, Jiang, Gong, Li, Ma, Ni, Chen, Bai and Wang.)