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Insect pests and weeds are the two major biotic factors affecting crop yield in the modern agricultural system. In this study, a brown planthopper (BPH) resistance gene ( BPH9 ) and glufosinate tolerance gene ( bar ) were stacked into a single T-DNA cassette and transformed into an indica rice ( Oryza sativa L.) line H23. The present study employed a gene stacking process that combines more than one gene/trait into an individual transgenic plant to meet the increasing cropping demands under complex conditions. The transgenic rice H23 (H23R) co-expressing bar and BPH9 genes demonstrated both glufosinate tolerance and BPH resistance. We utilized transcriptome data to reveal the mechanism of BPH9 -mediated brown planthopper resistance and to analyze the impact of exogenous transgenic fragments on upstream and downstream genes at insertion sites. The evaluation of insect resistance and glufosinate tolerance confirmed H23R as an excellent double-resistant transgenic rice. These findings indicate that H23R can satisfy insect management and weed control in the modern rice agricultural system. However, a deregulation study will help with prospective commercial planting.

(1) Background: Rotavirus (RV) is the primary pathogen causing diarrhea in infants and young children. The G9-type is an emerging genotype; however, its isolation is challenging, and its immunogenicity to piglets is poorly understood. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and evaluate the immunogenicity of a PoRVA strain, RHeN2, obtained from the diarrhea samples of piglets from a pig farm in Henan Province, China. (2) Methods: Porcine rotavirus A (PoRVA) was isolated from diarrheal samples of piglets on a farm in Henan Province, China, through sequential passaging on MA-104 cells. Its immunogenicity and cross-neutralization potential were evaluated. Inactivated vaccines were prepared using two agents (formaldehyde and binary ethyleneimine, BEI) and administered intramuscularly to 28-day-old piglets. Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) served as the control. (3) Results: A PoRVA strain, G9P[23] type, was successfully isolated and named RHeN2. Full-genome Sanger sequencing revealed the genetic constellation of this strain as G9-P[23]-I5-R1-C1- M1-A8-N1-T1-E1-H1. In addition, the titers of neutralizing antibodies peaked at 45 days post-vaccination, and the immunogenicity of the BEI-inactivated group of vaccines was better than that of the formaldehyde-inactivated group. The RHeN2 (G9P[23]) strain demonstrated a strong cross-neutralization ability against the same G9P[23] and G4P[23] strains and a stronger cross-neutralizing ability against the P[23] strains than against the P[7] strains. (4) Conclusion: The newly isolated G9P[23] strain demonstrates favorable immunogenicity, holding potential as a G9-type vaccine candidate.

To investigate dynamic fracture characteristics and failure behavior of different sections of tunnel surrounding rock mass, six kinds of model tunnels were fabricated using green sandstone, and impact tests were performed using a split Hopkinson pressure bar system. The dynamic compressive strength and energy change behaviors of samples comprising different-shaped tunnels were assessed, and crack propagation paths were analyzed employing a digital image correlation method. Numerical calculations were carried out using the software LS-DYNA (v. 2021R1), and the dynamic stress concentration factors of different model tunnel samples were determined. The results of the research indicated that the shape of the tunnel affected the dynamic compressive strength. The elliptical tunnel had the smallest percentage of dissipated energy, and the three-centered circular tunnel had the largest percentage of dissipated energy. The maximum tensile stress concentration factor in the model tunnels consistently occurred at the top or bottom; so, the locations of initiation were most commonly at the bottoms and tops of the tunnels. Sample failure resulted from a combination of tensile and shear cracks, with the failure mode being primarily tensile-dominated. Finally, the inverted arch had an obvious alleviating action on the stress concentration phenomenon at the bottom of the three-centered circle.

The Mediator complex (MED) functions as a co-activator in plants, transmitting transcriptional signals to regulate gene expression, including responses to environmental stresses. While the MED gene family has been identified in several species, it has not yet been reported in cassava. In this study, we identified 32 members of the MeMED gene family in cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) distributed across 13 chromosomes. These genes were categorized into distinct Mediator subunits based on their similarity to Arabidopsis modules. Promoter analysis revealed the presence of various cis-regulatory elements, which likely play key roles in regulating plant growth, development, and stress responses. RNA-seq data showed tissue-specific expression patterns for the MeMED genes, with significant expression observed in leaves, roots, petioles, stems, friable embryogenic callus, and shoot apical meristems. Further RT-qPCR analysis under various abiotic stress conditions-including drought, exogenous hydrogen peroxide, cold, heat, and salt-demonstrated that 10 selected MeMED genes exhibited significant differential expression, indicating their potential functional involvement in stress adaptation. These findings offer insights into the biological roles of the MeMED gene family in cassava, with implications for improving stress tolerance in future breeding programs.

Nitrite is a significant toxic substance that causes acute toxicity in aquatic animals. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying nitrite tolerance remain largely unidentified. Here, we investigated the physiological and transcriptomic profiles of nitrite-sensitive and nitrite-tolerant families of the white shrimp Penaeus vannamei under nitrite stress. Exposure to a lethal concentration of nitrite for 72 h caused higher mortality, higher nitrite accumulation, and more severe physiological damage in both the hemolymph and hepatopancreas of nitrite-sensitive families than in nitrite-tolerant families. This damage manifested as hepatic tubular deformation, hepatocyte necrosis, decreased hemocyte counts, lowered phagocytic activity in hemocytes, elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and decreased AKP enzyme activity. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed an upregulation in protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in the nitrite-tolerant families, triggering apoptosis- and autophagy-related pathways in the hemocytes and hepatopancreas upon nitrite exposure. Additionally, TUNEL staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments revealed that the tolerant families may mitigate nitrite toxicity by modulating autophagy and apoptosis. Collectively, our results provide a valuable foundation for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying nitrite tolerance in shrimp, which could facilitate the targeted breeding of shrimp germplasm with enhanced nitrite tolerance in aquaculture.

Aging represents a complex biological phenomenon marked by the progressive deterioration of physiological functions over time, reduced resilience, and increased vulnerability to age-related diseases, ultimately culminating in mortality. Recent research has uncovered diverse molecular mechanisms through which metformin extends its benefits beyond glycemic control, presenting it as a promising intervention against aging. This review delves into the anti-aging properties of metformin, highlighting its role in mitochondrial energy modulation, activation of the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway, stimulation of autophagy, and mitigation of inflammation linked to cellular aging. Furthermore, we discuss its influence on epigenetic modifications that underpin genomic stability and cellular homeostasis. Metformin's potential in addressing age-associated disorders including metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases is also explored. The Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) trial aims to provide key evidence on its efficacy in delaying aging in humans. Despite these promising insights, significant challenges persist in gaining a more comprehensive understanding into its underlying mechanisms, determining optimal dosing strategies, and evaluating long-term safety in non-diabetic populations. Addressing these challenges is crucial to fully realizing metformin's potential as an anti-aging therapeutic.

The heterogeneity of breast tumors might reflect biological complexity and provide prediction clues for the sensitivity of treatment. This study aimed to construct a model based on tumor heterogeneity in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for predicting the pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). This retrospective study involved 217 patients with biopsy-confirmed invasive breast cancer who underwent MR before and after NAC. Patients were randomly divided into the training cohort and the validation cohort at a 1:1 ratio. MR images were processed by algorithms to quantify the heterogeneity of tumors. Models incorporating heterogeneity and clinical characteristics were constructed to predict pCR. The patterns of heterogeneity variation during NAC were classified into four categories abbreviated as the heterogeneity high-keep group (H_keep group), heterogeneity low-keep group (L_keep group), heterogeneity rising group, and decrease group. The average heterogeneity in patients achieving pCR was significantly lower than in those who did not ( p = 0.029). Lower heterogeneity was independently associated with pCR (OR, 0.401 [95%CI: 0.21, 0.76]; p = 0.007). The model combining heterogeneity and clinical characteristics demonstrated improved specificity (True Negative Rate 0.857 vs. 0.698) and accuracy (Accuracy 0.828 vs. 0.753) compared to the clinical model. Survival outcomes were best for the L_keep group and worst for the rising group (Log-rank p = 0.031). Patients with increased heterogeneity exhibited a higher risk of recurrence approaching two years post-surgery, particularly within the non-pCR population. The quantified heterogeneity of breast cancer in MRI offers a non-invasive method for predicting pCR to NAC and evaluating the implementation of precision medicine.

Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) is a key regulator in cellular signaling pathways because its dysregulation has been implicated in various pathological conditions, including cancers and developmental disorders. Despite its importance, the molecular basis of SHP2's regulatory mechanism remains poorly understood, hindering the development of effective targeted therapies. In this study, we utilized the high-specificity monobody Mb11 to investigate its interaction with the SHP2 phosphatase domain (PTP) using multiple replica molecular dynamics simulations. Our analyses elucidate the precise mechanisms through which Mb11 achieves selective recognition and stabilization of the SHP2-PTP domain, identifying key residues and interaction networks essential for its high binding specificity and regulatory dynamics. Furthermore, the study highlights the pivotal role of residue C459 in preserving the structural integrity and functional coherence of the complex, acting as a central node within the interaction network and underpinning its stability and efficiency. These findings have significantly advanced the understanding of the mechanisms underlying SHP2's involvement in disease-related signaling and pathology while simultaneously paving the way for the rational design of targeted inhibitors, offering significant implications for therapeutic strategies in SHP2-associated diseases and contributing to the broader scope of precision medicine.

Tea oil is an important high-quality edible oil derived from woody plants. Camellia oleifera is the largest and most widely planted oil-producing plant in the Camellia genus in China, and its seeds are the most important source for obtaining tea oil. In current research, improving the yield and quality of tea oil is the main goal of oil tea genetic breeding. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of genetic variation in an early crossing population of C. oleifera and identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes significantly associated with fruit traits, which can provide a basis for marker-assisted selection and gene editing for achieving trait improvement in the future. In this study, we selected a crossing population of approximately 40-year-old C. oleifera with a total of 330 samples. Then, ddRAD sequencing was used for SNP calling and population genetic analysis, and association analysis was performed on fruit traits measured repeatedly for two consecutive years. The research results indicate that over 8 million high-quality SNPs have been identified, but the vast majority of SNPs occur in intergenic regions. The nucleotide polymorphism of this population is at a low level, and Tajima's D values are mostly greater than 0, indicating that the change in this population was not suitable for the model of central evolution. The population structure analysis shows that the population has seven theoretical sources of genetic material and can be divided into seven groups, and the clustering analysis results support the population structure analysis results. Association analysis identified significant SNPs associated with genes related to the seed number of a single fruit and seed kernel oil content. Our findings provide a basis for molecular breeding and future genetic improvement of cultivated oil tea., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate a broad array of biological processes, including inflammation, lipid metabolism, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Among the diverse family of NRs, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), estrogen receptor (ER), liver X receptor (LXR), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), retinoid X receptor (RXR), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) have garnered significant attention for their roles in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). NRs influence the pathophysiology of AD through mechanisms such as modulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition, regulation of inflammatory pathways, and improvement of neuronal function. However, the dual role of NRs in AD progression, where some receptors may exacerbate the disease while others offer therapeutic potential, presents a critical challenge for their application in AD treatment. This review explores the functional diversity of NRs, highlighting their involvement in AD-related processes and discussing the therapeutic prospects of NR-targeting strategies. Furthermore, the key challenges, including the necessity for the precise identification of beneficial NRs, detailed structural analysis through molecular dynamics simulations, and further investigation of NR mechanisms in AD, such as tau pathology and autophagy, are also discussed. Collectively, continued research is essential to clarify the role of NRs in AD, ultimately facilitating their potential use in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of AD.

Low-temperature stress, including chilling and freezing injuries, significantly impacts plant growth in tropical and temperate regions. Plants respond to cold stress by activating mechanisms that enhance freezing tolerance, such as regulating photosynthesis, metabolism, and protein pathways and producing osmotic regulators and antioxidants. Membrane stability is crucial, with cold-resistant plants exhibiting higher lipid unsaturation to maintain fluidity and normal metabolism. Low temperatures disrupt reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, leading to oxidative damage, which is mitigated by antioxidant defenses. Hormonal regulation, involving ABA, auxin, gibberellins, and others, further supports cold adaptation. Plants also manage osmotic balance by accumulating osmotic regulators like proline and sugars. Through complex regulatory pathways, including the ICE1-CBF-COR cascade, plants optimize gene expression to survive cold stress, ensuring adaptability to freezing conditions. This study reviews the recent advancements in genetic engineering technologies aimed at enhancing the cold resistance of agricultural crops. The goal is to provide insights for further improving plant cold tolerance and developing new cold-tolerant varieties.

Wearable electronic devices have shown great application prospects in the fields of tactile sensing, electronic skin, and soft robots. However, the existing wearable electronic devices face limitations such as power supply challenges, lack of portability, and discomfort, which restrict their applications. The invention of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) with dual functions of energy harvesting and sensing provides an innovative solution to address these issues. This study prepared a highly stretchable conductive hydrogel using doped conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a strain sensor, demonstrating high sensitivity (GF = 4.31), an ultra-wide sensing range (0-1690%), ultra-fast response speed (0.15 s), excellent durability, and repeatability. A high-performance triboelectric nanogenerator was constructed using the hydrogel as an electrode, achieving an output performance of up to 192 V. Furthermore, the TENG fixed in the hands, wrists, legs, and feet of the human body can be used as a wearable electronic device to monitor human motion, which is conducive to promoting the development of triboelectric nanogenerators based on conductive hydrogels in strain sensors and self-powered wearable devices.

Background: Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is primarily recognized for its role in retinoid transport, but has recently been implicated in cancer progression and prognosis. However, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of RBP4's expression, prognostic significance, and functional associations across various cancers is lacking., Methods: We conducted a pan-cancer analysis of RBP4 using data from public databases. RBP4 expression levels were examined in 33 tumor types, and correlations with clinical outcomes, immune cell infiltration, DNA methylation, and gene mutations were assessed. Enrichment analyses of RBP4 and its co-expressed genes were performed to explore associated biological pathways. Additionally, in vitro experiments were conducted to assess the effects of RBP4 on cell migration and proliferation., Results: RBP4 showed differential expression between tumor and normal tissues, with downregulation in 21 cancer types and upregulation in 6. High expression levels of RBP4 were associated with poor overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free interval (PFI) in specific cancers, notably in BRCA, HNSC, and STAD, whereas it was a favorable prognostic factor in cancers such as KIRP and MESO. RBP4 expression was also associated with immune cell infiltration, particularly with CD4+ Th2 cells and immune checkpoint genes. DNA methylation analysis suggested that the methylation of RBP4 may play a role in its regulatory mechanisms across cancer types. Enrichment analyses revealed that RBP4 and its co-expressed genes are involved in metabolism-related pathways and immune regulation. Functional assays indicated that RBP4 knockdown promoted tumor cell migration and proliferation., Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of RBP4, identifying its prognostic potential and possible involvement in tumor immunity and metabolism. Our findings suggest that RBP4 could serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target in cancer, although further experimental studies are required to elucidate its precise mechanisms in specific cancer types.

In recent years, a kind of novel cellular concrete, fabricated by spherical saturated superabsorbent polymers, was developed. Its compressive behavior under high strain rate loadings has been studied by split Hopkinson pressure bar equipment in previous research, which revealed an obvious strain rate effect. It has been found by many researchers that the dynamic increase factor (DIF) of compressive strength for concrete-like materials measured by SHPB includes considerable structural effects, which cannot be considered as a genuine strain rate effect. Based on the extended Drucker-Prager model in Abaqus, this paper uses numerical SHPB tests to investigate structural effects in dynamic compression for this novel cellular concrete. It is found that the increment in compressive strength caused by lateral inertia confinement decreases from 5.9 MPa for a specimen with a porosity of 10% to 2 MPa for a specimen with a porosity of 40% at a strain rate level of 70/s, while the same decreasing trend was found at other strain rate levels of 100/s and 140/s. The lateral inertia confinement effect inside the cellular concrete specimen can be divided into the elastic development stage and plastic development stage, bounded by the moment dynamic stress equilibrium is achieved. The results obtained in this research can help to obtain a better understanding of the enhancement mechanism of the compressive strength of cellular concrete.

Background/Objectives: Waxy corn has a unique taste and flavor that a majority of consumers love, and the market application prospect is broad. Nitrogen plays an important role in the growth and development of waxy corn. Exploring the key genes that affect nitrogen absorption can lay a foundation for improving the quality of waxy corn. Methods: In this study, a total of 534 local waxy corn inbred lines were used to perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to mine the significant Quantitative Trait Nucleotides (QTNs) for nitrogen content of waxy corn at seedling stage in two different environments. The Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) nitrogen response co-expression network was also constructed to explore the differences of gene expression patterns and the co-expression relationship between transcription factors and functional genes to find candidate genes significantly associated with nitrogen uptake in waxy corn. Results: A total of 97 significant associations (LOD-value ≥ 3) were detected between SNPs and nitrate content traits under single and multi-environment conditions. Fifty-four candidate genes were identified around the significant SNPs in about a 20 Kb region. Combined with nitrogen response differential co-expression network analysis, 17 out of the 54 candidate genes were identified in the nitrogen response module, among which 4 main genes ( Zm00001d029012 , Zm00001d034035 , Zm00001d007890 , and Zm00001d045097 ) were repeatedly detected in multiple environments. Conclusions: This study jointly identified four stable and heritable candidate genes involved in the nitrogen metabolism process through GWAS and co-expression network analysis. The results of this study provide theoretical guidance for further elucidating the genetic mechanism of nitrogen efficiency in waxy corn and breeding new germplasm of waxy corn.

Orthosis-wearing compliance is crucial for achieving positive treatment outcomes in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), for whom 23 h of daily wear is typically prescribed. However, self-reported compliance is subjective and often based on patients' memory, leading to inaccuracies. While portable electronic devices have been developed to objectively monitor compliance, relying solely on temperature or force data can be insufficient. This study introduced a novel method that integrated both force and temperature data to estimate orthosis-wearing compliance. Twelve patients (eight females and four males) diagnosed with moderate AIS were included. Each patient was prescribed a thoracic-lumbar-sacral orthosis equipped with an integrated force and temperature sensor system. After one month of orthotic treatment, self-reported wear time averaged 17.8 ± 6.2 h/day, while the sensor indicated an average wear time of 13.3 ± 5.0 h/day. Most patients overestimated their compliance. Nighttime was the most common period for orthosis wear (6.1 h/day), whereas compliance during school hours (2.8 h/day) and after-school hours (3.7 h/day) was lower. The integration of force and temperature sensors provides a more comprehensive understanding of orthosis compliance. Future studies with larger samples and longer monitoring periods are needed to investigate the correlation between compliance and treatment outcomes.

Ustiloxins are a group of cyclopeptide mycotoxins produced by rice false smut pathogen Villosiclava virens (anamorph: Ustilaginoidea virens ) which seriously threaten the safety production of rice and the health of humans and livestock. Ustiloxin A, accounting for 60% of the total ustiloxins, is the main toxic component. Biotransformation, a process of modifying the functional groups of compounds by means of regio- or stereo-specific reactions catalyzed by the enzymes produced by organisms, has been considered as an efficient way to detoxify mycotoxins. In this study, the endophytic fungus Petriella setifera Nitaf10 was found to be able to detoxify ustiloxin A through biotransformation. Two transformed products were obtained by using the cell-free extract (CFE) containing intracellular enzymes of P. setifera Nitaf10. They were structurally characterized as novel ustiloxin analogs named ustiloxins A1 ( 1 ) and A2 ( 2 ) by analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS spectra as well as by comparison with known ustiloxins. The cytotoxic activity of ustiloxins A1 ( 1 ) and A2 ( 2 ) was much weaker than that of ustiloxin A. The biotransformation of ustiloxin A was found to proceed via oxidative deamination and decarboxylation and was possibly catalyzed by the intracellular amine oxidase and oxidative decarboxylase in the CFE. An appropriate bioconversion was achieved by incubating ustiloxin A with the CFE prepared in 0.5 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) for 24 to 48 h. The optimum initial pH values for the bioconversion of ustiloxin A were 7-9. Among eight metal ions (Co 2+ , Cu 2+ , Fe 3+ , Zn 2+ , Ba 2+ , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and Mn 2+ ) tested at 5 mmol/L, Cu 2+ , Fe 3+ and Zn 2+ totally inhibited the conversion of ustiloxin A. In conclusion, detoxification of ustiloxin A through oxidative deamination and decarboxylation is an efficient strategy.

Precise cooperative node localization is essential for the application of multifunctional integrated radio frequency (RF) sensor networks in military and civilian domains. Most geometric localization methods commonly rely on observation data from multiple receiving nodes or anchor points with known positions and synchronized clocks, producing complex system architectures and high construction costs. To address this, our paper proposes an effective single-station cooperative node localization technique, where the observation station only requires two antennas for operation. Leveraging prior knowledge of the geometry of surrounding structures, multiple virtual stations (VSs) are constructed by mining the spatiotemporal information contained in the multipath components (MPCs) to realize target positioning. The proposed method consists of two steps. In the first step, an unambiguous dual-antenna direction-finding algorithm is designed to extract the spatial information of MPCs and construct VSs, allowing a preliminary estimate of the source position (SP). In the second step, the path delays are extracted via matched filtering, while the spatiotemporal information is correlated based on the energy distribution for a more precise SP estimation. Simulations and experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm achieves high-precision single-station localization for a collaborative node, with positioning accuracy typically within 0.1 m.

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors play essential roles in multiple stress responses and have been identified and functionally characterized in many plant species. However, the bZIP family members in blueberry are unclear. In this study, we identified 102 VcbZIP genes in Vaccinium corymbosum . VcbZIPs were divided into 10 groups based on phylogenetic analysis, and each group shared similar motifs, domains, and gene structures. Predictions of cis-regulatory elements in the upstream sequences of VcbZIP genes indicated that VcbZIP proteins are likely involved in phytohormone signaling pathways and abiotic stress responses. Analyses of RNA deep sequencing data showed that 18, 13, and 7 VcbZIP genes were differentially expressed in response to salt, drought, and ABA stress, respectively, for the blueberry cultivar Northland. Ten VcbZIP genes responded to both salt and drought stress, indicating that salt and drought have unique and overlapping signals. Of these genes, VcbZIP1-3 are responsive to salt, drought, and abscisic acid treatments, and their encoded proteins may integrate salt, drought, and ABA signaling. Furthermore, VcbZIP1-3 from group A and VcbZIP83-84 and VcbZIP75 from group S exhibited high or low expression under salt or drought stress and might be important regulators for improving drought or salt tolerance. Pearson correlation analyses revealed that VcbZIP transcription factors may regulate stress-responsive genes to improve drought or salt tolerance in a functionally redundant manner. Our study provides a useful reference for functional analyses of VcbZIP genes and for improving salt and drought stress tolerance in blueberry.

Herein, a WO 3 @TCN photocatalyst was successfully synthesized using a self-assembly method, which demonstrated effectiveness in degrading organic dyestuffs and photocatalytic evolution of H 2 . The synergistic effect between WO 3 and TCN, along with the porous structure of TCN, facilitated the formation of a heterojunction that promoted the absorption of visible light, accelerated the interfacial charge transfer, and inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This led to excellent photocatalytic performance of 3%WO 3 @TCN in degrading TC and catalyzing H 2 evolution from water splitting under visible-light irradiation. After modulation, the optimal 3%WO 3 @TCN exhibited a maximal degradation rate constant that was twofold higher than that of TCN alone and showed continuous H 2 generation in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Mechanistic studies revealed that •O 2 - constituted the major active species for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. Experimental and DFT results verified the electronic transmission direction of WO 3 @TCN heterojunction. Overall, this study facilitates the structural design of green TCN-based heterojunction photocatalysts and expands the application of TCN in the diverse photocatalytic processes. Additionally, this study offers valuable insights into strategically employing acid regulation modulation to enhance the performance of carbon nitride-based photocatalysts by altering the topography of WO 3 @TCN composite material dramatically.

Aluminum and its alloys are widely used in the busbar structures of electrolytic aluminum production. However, they are prone to corrosion and wear damage during use, leading to a decline in current-transmission efficiency and potentially causing safety issues. To repair damaged aluminum busbars, this paper explores the feasibility of using cold spraying technology for surface restoration. Using 6063 aluminum alloy as the substrate, AlZn/nickel-plated graphite composite coatings were applied through cold spraying. The effects of different nickel-plated graphite contents on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of the coatings were studied. Annealing treatments (200 °C, 300 °C, 400 °C) were further used to improve the coating's density and performance. The results show that with an increase in the nickel-plated graphite content, the porosity of the coating gradually increases, while the coating's density and bond strength improve. Additionally, the annealing treatment significantly enhanced the uniformity and hardness of the coating. Moreover, the cold-sprayed coatings exhibited excellent corrosion resistance, especially in the annealed coatings, which showed superior microstructural stability and lower corrosion current density. This study provides a new technological approach for the repair of aluminum busbars and offers an in-depth discussion on the application of cold spraying technology in the surface restoration of aluminum-based composite materials.

Phlomoides rotata , a traditional medicinal plant, is commonly found on the Tibetan Plateau at altitudes of 3100-5200 m. Its primary active medicinal compounds, flavonoids and phenylethanol glycosides (PhGs), exhibit various pharmacological effects, including hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant activities. This study analyzed flavonoid and PhG metabolites in the roots of P. rotata collected from Henan County (HN), Guoluo County (GL), Yushu County (YS), and Chengduo County (CD) in Qinghai Province. A total of differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) including 38 flavonoids and 21 PhGs were identified. Six genes ( UFGT1 , CHS1 , COMT2 , C4H3 , C4H8 , and C4H5 ) and four enzymes (4CL, C4H, PPO, and ALDH) were found to play key roles in regulating flavonoid and PhG biosynthesis in P. rotata roots. With increasing altitude, the relative content of 15 metabolites, the expression of seven genes, and the activity of four enzymes associated with flavonoid and PhG metabolism increased. These findings enhance our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of flavonoid and PhG metabolism in P. rotata and provide insights into the potential pharmaceutical applications of its bioactive compounds.

Flowers, serving as the reproductive structures of angiosperms, perform an integral role in plant biology and are fundamental to understanding plant evolution and taxonomy. The growth and organogenesis of flowers are driven by numerous factors, such as external environmental conditions and internal physiological processes, resulting in diverse traits across species or even within the same species. Among these factors, genes play a central role, governing the entire developmental process. The regulation of floral genesis by these genes has become a significant focus of research. In the AE model of floral development, the five structural whorls (calyx, corolla, stamens, pistils, and ovules) are controlled by five groups of genes: A, B, C, D, and E. These genes interact to give rise to a complex control system that governs the floral organsgenesis. The activation or suppression of specific gene categories results in structural modifications to floral organs, with variations observed across different species. The present article examines the regulatory roles of key genes, including genes within the MADS-box and AP2/ERF gene clusters, such as AP1 , AP2 , AP3 , AG , STK , SHP , SEP , PI , and AGL6 , as well as other genes, like NAP , SPL , TGA , PAN , and WOX , in shaping floral organ genesis. In addition, it analyzes the molecular-level effects of these genes on floral organ formation. The findings offer a deeper understanding of the genetic governance of floral organ genesis across plant species.

With the rapid advancement of information technology, the data demands in transmission rates, processing speed, and storage capacity have been increasing significantly. However, silicon electro-optic modulators, characterized by their weak electro-optic effect, struggle to balance modulation efficiency and bandwidth. To overcome this limitation, we propose an electro-optic modulator based on an all-fiber micro-ring resonator and a p-Si/n-ITO heterojunction, achieving high modulation efficiency and large bandwidth. ITO is introduced in this design, which exhibits an ε-near-zero (ENZ) effect in the communication band. The real and imaginary parts of the refractive index of ITO undergo significant changes in response to variations in carrier concentration induced by the reverse bias voltage, thereby enabling efficient electro-optic modulation. Additionally, the design of the all-fiber micro-ring eliminates coupling losses associated with spatial optical-waveguide coupling, thereby resolving the high insertion loss of silicon waveguide modulators and the challenges of integrating MZI modulation structures. The results demonstrate that this modulator can achieve significant phase shifts at low voltages, with a modulation efficiency of up to 3.08 nm/V and a bandwidth reaching 82.04 GHz, indicating its potential for high-speed optical chip applications.

Background/objectives: The Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai originated in cold waters and is an economically important aquaculture shellfish in China. Our goal was to clarify the current status of the genetic structure of Pacific abalone in China., Methods: In this study, eighteen polymorphic EST-SSR loci were successfully developed based on the hemolymph transcriptome data of Pacific abalone, and thirteen highly polymorphic EST-SSR loci were selected for the genetic variation analysis of the six populations collected., Results: The results showed that the average number of observed alleles was 8.0769 (RC)-11.3848 (DQ) in each population. The number of observed alleles in the DQ, NH, and TJ populations was significantly higher than that in the RC population. The cultivated population outside the Changshan Islands has experienced a 22.79% reduction in allele diversity compared to the wild population of DQ. The pairwise F st values and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed significant population differentiation among all populations except DQ and NH populations, with RC and ZZ cultured populations exhibiting the largest population differentiation (F st = 0.1334). The phylogenetic tree and structural analysis divided the six populations into two groups (group 1: NH, DQ, and ZZ; group 2: DL, TJ, and RC), and there was no relationship between geographical distance and genetic distance., Conclusions: These results may reflect the large-scale culture from different populations in China and the exchange of juveniles between hatcheries. Different breeding conditions have led to a higher degree of genetic differentiation between the RC and ZZ populations. This study enables a better understanding of the genetic diversity and structure of current Pacific abalone populations.

The ionic conductance in a charged nanopore exhibits a power-law behavior in low salinity-as has been verified in many experiments (G0∝c0α)-which is governed by surface charges. The surface charge inside a nanopore determines the zeta potential and ion distributions, which have a significant impact on ion transport, especially in a single-digit nanopore with potential leakage. However, precisely measuring surface charge density in a single-digit nanopore remains a challenge. Here, we propose a methodology for exploring the power-law variation of ionic conductance, with potential leakage taken into account. We conducted experiments to measure the ionic current using silicon nitride nanopores and employed a continuous theory to explore the relationship between pore-bound concentration and surface charges. Considering that the influence of potential leakage on concentration follows a power-law relationship, we established a coefficient (α) to examine the controlling factors of potential leakage and modified the conductance model to obtain the ion mobility inside a nanopore.

Microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and protists, are key drivers in aquatic ecosystems, maintaining ecological balance and normal material circulation, playing vital roles in ecosystem functions and biogeochemical processes. To evaluate the environmental impact of different river crab polyculture practices, we set up two different river crab ( Eriocheir sinensis ) polyculture practices: one where river crabs were cultured with mandarin fish ( Siniperca chuatsi ), silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ), and freshwater fish stone moroko ( Pseudorasbora parva ), and another where river crabs were cultured just with mandarin fish and silver carp. These two polyculture practices were referred to as PC and MC, respectively. We analyzed the water bacterial, fungal, and protist communities in the PC and MC groups using 16S, ITS, and 18S ribosomal RNA high-throughput sequencing. We found that the PC group obviously increased the diversity of microbial communities and altered their composition. The bacterial community held the narrowest habitat niche and exhibited the weakest environmental adaption compared to fungal and protist communities. The PC group altered the co-occurrence networks of bacteria, fungi, and protist, leading to more complex and stable communities of fungi and protist. Furthermore, the PC group shifted the assembly mechanism of the bacterial community from being predominantly deterministic to predominantly stochastic processes, with relatively minor impacts on the fungal and protist communities. Environmental factors, especially dissolved oxygen (DO), were significantly associated with the communities of bacteria, fungi, and protists, with DO being the major contributor to changes in the microbial communities. Our results suggest that the polyculture of river crab with mandarin fish, silver carp, and stone moroko was an effective and viable attempt, and it was superior in terms of microbial community diversity and stability.

The src-homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) is a human cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase that plays a crucial role in cellular signal transduction. Aberrant activation and mutations of SHP2 are associated with tumor growth and immune suppression, thus making it a potential target for cancer therapy. Initially, researchers sought to develop inhibitors targeting SHP2's catalytic site (protein tyrosine phosphatase domain, PTP). Due to limitations such as conservativeness and poor membrane permeability, SHP2 was once considered a challenging drug target. Nevertheless, with the in-depth investigations into the conformational switch mechanism from SHP2's inactive to active state and the emergence of various SHP2 allosteric inhibitors, new hope has been brought to this target. In this study, we investigated the interaction models of various allosteric inhibitors with SHP2 using molecular dynamics simulations. Meanwhile, we explored the free energy landscape of SHP2 activation using enhanced sampling technique (meta-dynamics simulations), which provides insights into its conformational changes and activation mechanism. Furthermore, to biophysically interpret high-dimensional simulation trajectories, we employed interpretable machine learning methods, specifically extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) with Shapley additive explanations (SHAP), to comprehensively analyze the simulation data. This approach allowed us to identify and highlight key structural features driving SHP2 conformational dynamics and regulating the activity of the allosteric inhibitor. These studies not only enhance our understanding of SHP2's conformational switch mechanism but also offer crucial insights for designing potent allosteric SHP2 inhibitors and addressing drug resistance issues.

In this paper, a silicon carbide (SiC) phototransistor based on an open-base structure was fabricated and used as a radiation detector. In contrast to the exposed and thin sensitive region of traditional photo detectors, the sensitive region of the radiation detector was much thicker (30 μm), ensuring the high energy deposition of radiation particles. The response properties of the fabricated SiC npn radiation detector were characterized by high-energy X-ray illumination with a maximum X-ray photon energy of 30 keV. The SiC npn detector featured stable and clear response to the X-ray within 0.0766 Gy∙s -1 to 0.766 Gy∙s -1 below 300 V. Due to to the low leakage current of less than 1 nA and the fully depleted sensitive region, the bipolar-transistor-modeled SiC npn detector exhibited a clear common-emitter current gain of 5.85 at 200 V (under 0.383 Gy∙s -1 ), where the gain increased with bias voltage due to the Early effect and reached 7.55 at 300 V. In addition, the transient response of the SiC npn detector revealed a longer delay time than the SiC diode of the same size, which was associated with the larger effective capacitance of the npn structure. The npn detector with internal gain showed great potential in radiation detection.

The histone acetylation modification is a conservative post-translational epigenetic regulation in fungi. It includes acetylation and deacetylation at the lysine residues of histone, which are catalyzed by histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and deacetylase (HDAC), respectively. The histone acetylation modification plays crucial roles in fungal growth and development, environmental stress response, secondary metabolite (SM) biosynthesis, and pathogenicity. One of the most important roles is to regulate the gene expression that is responsible for SM biosynthesis in fungi. This mini-review summarized the regulation of histone acetylation modification by HATs and HDACs on the biosynthesis of SMs in fungi. In most cases, histone acetylation by HATs positively regulated the biosynthesis of fungal SMs, while HDACs had their negative regulations. Some HATs and HDACs were revealed to regulate fungal SM biosynthesis. Hda1 was found to be the most efficient regulator to affect the biosynthesis of SMs in fungi. The regulated fungal species were mainly from the genera of Aspergillus , Calcarisporium , Cladosporium , Fusarium , Monascus , Penicillium , and Pestalotiopsis . With the strategy of histone acetylation modification, the biosynthesis of some harmful SMs will be inhibited, while the production of useful bioactive SMs will be promoted in fungi. The subsequent research should focus on the study of regulatory mechanisms.

Real-time online monitoring of track deformation during railway construction is crucial for ensuring the safe operation of trains. However, existing monitoring technologies struggle to effectively monitor both static and dynamic events, often resulting in high false alarm rates. This paper presents a monitoring technology for track deformation during railway construction based on dynamic Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometry (Dy-BOTDR), which effectively meets requirements in the monitoring of both static and dynamic events of track deformation. Dy-BOTDR can provide a two-dimensional spatial-temporal distribution map of track strain changes to characterize various events for better monitoring accuracy and lower false alarm rates.

As global food security issues become increasingly severe, an important innovation in agricultural production patterns, namely integrated rice-fish farming, has been widely implemented around the world, especially in Asia. To assess the impact of integrated rice-crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii ) farming (IRCF) on agricultural ecosystems, we used Illumina high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze differences in diversity, composition, co-occurrence network, and assembly process of planktonic bacterial communities in paddy water between traditional rice farming (TRM) and IRCF. Environmental factors and planktonic bacterial communities were evaluated during the tillering, jointing, flowering, and grain-filling stages on August 24, September 5, September 24, and October 16, respectively. Our findings revealed that, throughout the entire cultivation period, IRCF had no notable impacts on bacterioplankton community diversity in paddy water, but it changed the composition and relative abundance of the dominant bacterioplankton. Specifically, IRCF promoted the Chloroflexota during the tillering stage but reduced its presence during the grain-filling stage. It also significantly decreased the Bacillota during the jointing stage while notably enhancing Actinomycetota during the flowering stage. Furthermore, IRCF markedly improved the robustness and negative/positive cohesion within bacterioplankton co-occurrence networks during jointing and grain-filling stages. IRCF altered the assembly processes shaping planktonic bacterial communities, promoting a greater dominance of stochastic processes during the tillering, jointing, and flowering stages and a diminished dominance during the grain-filling stage. IRCF dramatically changed aquatic environmental factors, particularly during the jointing stage, by substantially increasing the TN, ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate levels in paddy water. These nutrient levels were closely correlated with the dynamics of the planktonic bacterial communities. Our findings underscore the considerable potential of IRCF in enhancing the stability of bacterioplankton communities and promoting rice growth while also providing valuable data and theoretical insights into the microbiological ecological impacts of IRCF on the agroecosystem.

The brown planthopper (BPH; Nilaparvata lugens Stål) is the most significant insect pest compromising rice production globally. Phytohormones, which are small organic compounds produced by plants, play a crucial role in regulating plant growth and development. Nevertheless, extensive research has established that phytohormones are essential in modulating plant defense against BPH. Plants can achieve equilibrium between growth and defense by utilizing the intricate network of phytohormone signaling pathways to initiate optimal and efficient defensive responses to insects. In this review, we primarily address the roles of phytohormones in conferring resistance against BPH, with a focus on hormone cross-talk. We also discuss the potential value of integrating hormones with other agricultural practices to enhance plant defense and agricultural yield, which highlights the significance of novel approaches for environment-friendly insect pest management.

An efficient and convenient strategy has been successfully developed for the preparation of novel hydroxylated alkaloid derivatives (also called fused multicyclic iminosugars) from p -toluenesulfonylated sugars through a Pictet-Spengler-type mechanism. This method is highly stereoselective, does not require metal catalysts, and capable of conducting gram level reactions (with a 53% yield). Some of such iminosugars had an intermediate antiproliferative effect on HCT116 tumor cells.

Neopyropia yezoensis , a marine red algae species, has significant economic and ecological value. However, phosphorus (P) deficiency has emerged as a growing concern in many cultivation regions, negatively impacting its growth. To adapt to P deficiency, algae have evolved various strategies, including using dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) sources to sustain growth. Despite its prevalence as a form of DOP, the utilization mechanism of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) by N. yezoensis remains unclear. In this study, the physiological and transcriptional responses of N. yezoensis to P deficiency and G6P supplementation were examined. The results demonstrated that prolonged P deficiency significantly inhibited the growth of N. yezoensis and had a negative impact on physiological indicators such as photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant enzyme activity. However, G6P treatment gradually alleviated these adverse effects over time. Both P deficiency and G6P treatment were associated with increased expression of genes involved in signal transduction and P starvation responses while concurrently downregulating genes related to photosynthesis and antioxidant defenses. In contrast, the suppression of gene expression was less significant under G6P treatment. This study elucidates the adaptive strategies of N. yezoensis in response to P deficiency and clarifies the regulatory pathways involved in G6P utilization, providing novel insights into its P nutrient acquisition and metabolic regulation.

Autophagy is an important catabolic process to maintain cellular homeostasis and antagonize cellular stresses. The initiation and activation are two of the most important aspects of the autophagic process. This review focuses on mechanisms underlying autophagy initiation and activation and signaling pathways regulating the activation of autophagy found in recent years. These findings include autophagy initiation by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), autophagy initiation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, and the signaling pathways mediated by the ULK1 complex, the mTOR complex, the AMPK complex, and the PI3KC3 complex. Through the review, we attempt to present current research progress in autophagy regulation and forward our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathways of autophagy initiation and activation.

In the ongoing search for new vicinal diol natural products, four new (Migaones A-D, 1 - 4 ) and four known ( 5 - 8 ) vicinal diol sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the branches and leaves of Cinnamomum migao . Their structures were unequivocally determined by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses (HRESIMS, 1D, and 2D NMR), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism calculations, and comparison with existing literature data. All compounds isolated from C. migao possess vicinal diol structural units except compound 2 . The newly isolated compounds ( 1 - 4 ) were evaluated for their neuroprotective activity using the PC12 cell injury model induced by N -methyl-daspartate acid (NMDA) and compounds 1 - 2 showing moderate neuroprotective activity against NMDA-induced neurotoxicity. Furthermore, molecular docking studies indicated that the most active compound 2 binds to the active site of the NMDA receptor via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions.

Background: Ammonia, a ubiquitous contaminant in aquatic ecosystems, poses multifaceted threats to fish species at elevated concentrations. Methods: In order to investigate the toxic effects of chronic ammonia stress on the liver of juvenile Micropterus salmoides , the present experiment was conducted to investigate the differences in changes in liver tissue structure, enzyme activities, and metabolomes after 28 days of ammonia exposure (0, 4, 8, and 16 mg/L). Results: The findings revealed that ammonia exposure induced significant oxidative stress in the liver, manifesting in decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px, elevated levels of GSH, GST, and MDA, and heightened activities of immune enzymes LZM, ALP, and ACP. An increase in ammonia concentration exacerbated liver tissue damage. Metabolome analysis further unveiled perturbations in liver metabolites of Micropterus salmoides exposed to ammonia, with Ala-His emerging as a potentially pivotal functional substance under chronic stress. Specifically, the 4 mg/L group responded to ammonia toxicity by augmenting GSH and L-Carnosine levels, the 8 mg/L group detoxified via upregulation of L-Glutamine, and the 16 mg/L group mitigated toxicity through the urea synthesis pathway. Conclusions: This research offers preliminary insights into the toxicological responses of Micropterus salmoides under chronic ammonia stress. It is suggested that the duration of ammonia concentration exceeding 4 mg/L in high-density aquaculture should not exceed 7 days.

Graphene-supported flower-shaped platinum and palladium nanomaterials assisted by hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide have been successfully developed. Compared with the catalyst reduced by the redox reaction between metal precursors and graphene oxide, the flower-shaped catalyst obtained using reduction in active hydrogen atoms exhibits enhanced catalytic activity in alcohol electrocatalytic oxidation reactions. Repeated cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry tests both indicate that the prepared catalyst has excellent stability.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) refers to an RNA molecule longer than 200 nucleotides (nt) that plays a significant role in regulating essential molecular and biological processes. It is commonly found in animals, plants, and viruses, and is characterized by features such as epigenetic markers, developmental stage-specific expression, and tissue-specific expression. Research has shown that lncRNA participates in anatomical processes like plant progression, while also playing a crucial role in plant disease resistance and adaptation mechanisms. In this review, we provide a concise overview of the formation mechanism, structural characteristics, and databases related to lncRNA in recent years. We primarily discuss the biological roles of lncRNA in plant progression as well as its involvement in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Additionally, we examine the current challenges associated with lncRNA and explore its potential application in crop production and breeding. Studying plant lncRNAs is highly significant for multiple reasons: It reveals the regulatory mechanisms of plant growth and development, promotes agricultural production and food security, and drives research in plant genomics and epigenetics. Additionally, it facilitates ecological protection and biodiversity conservation.

The aim of the present study was to comprehensively analyze and identify the metabolites of different varieties of raw peanut, as well as provide a reference for the utilization of different varieties of peanuts. In this study, three varieties of peanuts, namely ZKH1H, ZKH13H, and CFD, were investigated via ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and widely targeted metabolomics methods based on tandem mass spectrometry (MS) and solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). In total, 417 nonvolatile and 55 volatile substances were detected. The nonvolatile substances were classified into the following 10 categories: organic acids and derivatives (28.9%); organic oxygen compounds (21.9%); lipids and lipid-like molecules (12.6%); organoheterocyclic compounds (9.9%); nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogues (9.4%); benzenoids (7.8%); phenylpropanoids and polyketides (6.1%); organic nitrogen compounds (2.7%); lignans, neolignans, and related compounds (0.5%); and alkaloids and their derivatives (0.3%). The volatile compounds (VOCs) were classified into the following eight categories: organic oxygen compounds (24.1%); organic cyclic compounds (20.4%); organic nitrogen compounds (13%); organic acids and their derivatives (13%); lipids and lipid-like molecules (11.2%); benzenoids (11.1%); hydrocarbons (3.7%); and homogeneous non-metallic compounds (3.7%). Differentially abundant metabolites among the different peanut varieties (ZKH13H vs. CFD, ZKH1H vs. CFD, and ZKH1H vs. ZKH13H) were investigated via multivariate statistical analyses, which identified 213, 204, and 157 nonvolatile differentially abundant metabolites, respectively, and 12, 11, and 10 volatile differentially abundant metabolites, respectively. KEGG metabolic pathway analyses of the differential non-VOCs revealed that the most significant metabolic pathways among ZKH13H vs. CFD, ZKH1H vs. CFD, and ZKH1H vs. ZKH13H were galactose metabolism, purine metabolism, and aminoacyl-tRNA, while the nitrogen metabolism pathway was identified as a significant metabolic pathway for the VOCs. The present findings provide a theoretical foundation for the development and utilization of these three peanut species, as well as for the breeding of new peanut varieties.

As a means of spread spectrum communication, frequency-hopping technology has good performance in anti-jamming, multiple-access, security, covert communications, and so on. In order to meet the needs of different frequency-hopping multiple-access (FHMA) communication scenarios, the research on frequency-hopping sequence (FHS) sets with a low-hit-zone (LHZ) is now becoming more and more crucial. In this paper, a general construction to obtain new families of LHZ-FHS sets is achieved via interleaving technique. Subsequently, based on two different shift sequences, two classes of LHZ-FHS sets with new flexible parameters not covered in the related literature are presented. The requirements for our new LHZ-FHS sets to obtain optimality or near-optimality with respect to the Peng-Fan-Lee bound are also introduced. Furthermore, as long as the base FHS set is fixed, the performances of new LHZ-FHS sets can be analyzed, such that the parameters of all appropriate shift sequences to obtain desired LHZ-FHS sets are also fixed.

In biological micromanipulation, cell penetration is a typical procedure that precedes cell injection or oocyte enucleation. During this procedure, cells usually undergo significant deformation, which leads to cell damage. In this paper, we focus on modeling and evaluating the cell penetration process to reduce cell deformation and stress, thereby reducing cell damage. Initially, a finite element model (FEM) is established to simulate the cell penetration process. The effectiveness of the model is then verified through visual detection and comparison of cell deformation with experimental data. Next, various mechanical responses are analyzed, considering the influence of parameters, such as the radius and shape of the injection micropipettes, material properties, and size of the cells. Finally, the relationship between the intracellular stress and the cell penetration depth of biological cells is obtained. The evaluation results will be applied to develop optimized operation plans, enhancing the efficiency and safety of the cell penetration process.

The silicon carbide (SiC) Schottky diode (SBD) detector in a SiC hybrid photomultiplier tube (HPMT) generates signals by receiving photocathode electrons with an energy of 10 keV. So, the performance of the SiC SBD under electron irradiation with an energy of 10 keV has an important significance for the application of the SiC-HPMT. However, studies on 10 keV radiation effects on the SiC SBDs were rarely reported. In this paper, the performance degradation of the SiC SBDs irradiated by 10 keV electrons at different fluences was investigated. After the irradiation, the forward current of the SiC SBDs increased, and the turn-on voltage decreased with the irradiation fluences until 1.6 × 10 16 cm -2 . According to the capacitance-voltage ( C-V ) curves, the effective doping concentration increased slightly after the irradiation, and an obvious discrepancy of C-V curves occurred below 5 V. Moreover, as a radiation detector, the peak position of the α-particles' amplitude spectrum changed slightly, and the energy resolution was also slightly reduced after the irradiation due to the high collection charge efficiency (CCE) still being larger than 99.5%. In addition, the time response of the SiC SBD to the 50 ns pulsed X-ray was almost not affected by the irradiation. The results indicated that the performance degradation of the SiC SBD irradiated at the fluence of 1.5 × 10 17 cm -2 would not result in a deterioration of the properties of the SiC-HPMT and showed an important significance for the supplement of the radiation resistance of the SiC SBD radiation detector.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) reinfection is prevalent among the population, posing a significant burden on prevention and control efforts. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of data from China's Disease Prevention and Control Information System's infectious disease surveillance system to identify the epidemiological characteristics, spatiotemporal clustering, and high-risk populations of HEV reinfection. From 2005 to 2023, HEV reinfection in Zhejiang Province exhibited a fluctuating trend, peaking in 2020, with a 3-5-year lag compared to the pattern of HEV incidence. The Cox model indicated that individuals aged 40-50 and females are at higher risk of reinfection. Spatial autocorrelation was observed in reinfection cases from 2011 to 2016, with high-high clustering areas concentrated in downtown Hangzhou. Additionally, spatiotemporal scanning revealed that the clustering of reinfection cases has shifted from Hangzhou to coastal areas in recent years. Our findings suggest that targeted prevention and control measures for HEV rein fection should be implemented based on the characteristics of high-risk populations and spatiotemporal clustering patterns.

Bivalve mollusks, comprising animals enclosed in two shell valves, are well-adapted to benthic life in many intertidal zones. Clams have evolved the buried lifestyle, which depends on their unique soft tissue structure and their wedge-shaped muscular foot and long extendible siphons. However, molecular mechanisms of adaptative phenotype evolution remain largely unknown. In the present study, we obtain the high-quality chromosome-level genome of Manila clam R. philippinarum , an economically important marine bivalve in many coastal areas. The genome is constructed by the Hi-C assisted assembly, which yields 19 chromosomes with a total of 1.17 Gb and BUSCO integrity of 92.23%. The de novo assembled genome has a contig N50 length of 307.7 kb and scaffold N50 of 59.5 Mb. Gene family expansion analysis reveals that a total of 24 single-copy gene families have undergone the significant expansion or contraction, including E3 ubiquitin ligase and dynein heavy chain. The significant expansion of transposable elements has been also identified, including long terminal repeats (LTR) and non-LTR retrotransposons. The comparative transcriptomics among different clam tissues reveals that extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors and neuroactive ligand receptors may play the important roles in tissue structural support and neurotransmission during their infaunal life. These findings of gene family expansion and tissue-specific expression may reflect the unique soft tissue structure of clams, suggesting the evolution of lineage-specific morphological novelties. The high-quality genome and transcriptome data of R. philippinarum will not only facilitate the genetic studies on clams but will also provide valuable information on morphological novelties in mollusks.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), a common childhood infection caused by enterovirus, poses a serious public health concern in China. We collected and analyzed epidemiological data on 62,133 HFMD cases in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, from 2013 to 2023. The average annual incidence was 76.12 per 100,000 person-years; 99.45% of cases were mild, while 0.55% were severe. Only one patient died. HFMD infections peaked annually in July. Children in kindergartens and scattered children accounted for 44.6% and 42.2% of cases, respectively. Real-time RT-PCR detection of enteroviruses in 5534 patient samples revealed 3780 positives, of which 25.1% were CVA16-positive. Positives were randomly sampled, yielding 240 VP1 sequences of CVA16. Phylogenetic tree results showed that all VP1 sequences belonged to the B1 sub-genogroup. However, the sub-genogroup prevalence varied over time: from 2013 to 2014 and 2019 to 2021, the predominant sub-genogroup was B1a, while it was B1b from 2015 to 2018. Further phylogenetic analyses showed substantial divergence between B1a branches in CVA16, suggesting possible turnover of the B1a sub-genogroup in CVA16 due to evolution. This study provides epidemiological data on HFMD in Shenyang, and provides a phylogenetic analysis of CVA16, offering a theoretical basis for preventing and controlling HFMD in Shenyang City.