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Flowering is an essential process in fruit trees. Flower number and timing have a substantial impact on the yield and maturity of fruit. Ethylene and gibberellin (GA) play vital roles in flowering, but the mechanism of coordinated regulation of flowering in woody plants by GA and ethylene is still unclear. In this study, a lemon (Citrus limon L. Burm) 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase gene (CiACS4) was overexpressed in Nicotiana tabacum and resulted in late flowering and increased flower number. Further transformation of citrus revealed that ethylene and starch content increased, and soluble sugar content decreased in 35S:CiACS4 lemon. Inhibition of CiACS4 in lemon resulted in effects opposite to that of 35S:CiACS4 in transgenic plants. Overexpression of the CiACS4-interacting protein ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR3 (CiERF3) in N. tabacum resulted in delayed flowering and more flowers. Further experiments revealed that the CiACS4–CiERF3 complex can bind the promoters of FLOWERING LOCUS T (CiFT) and GOLDEN2-LIKE (CiFE) and suppress their expression. Moreover, overexpression of CiFE in N. tabacum led to early flowering and decreased flowers, and ethylene, starch, and soluble sugar contents were opposite to those in 35S:CiACS4 transgenic plants. Interestingly, CiFE also bound the promoter of CiFT. Additionally, GA3 and 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACC) treatments delayed flowering in adult citrus, and treatment with GA and ethylene inhibitors increased flower number. ACC treatment also inhibited the expression of CiFT and CiFE. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of ethylene to regulate flower number and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather on citrus yield due to delayed flowering. ACC SYNTHASE4 and ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR3 form a complex to inhibit gibberellin biosynthesis and bind to the promoters of flowering-related genes to regulate flowering in citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the popular means of transportation—high-speed trains meet the increasing rate of pacemaker implantation year by year, the research on the magnetic field environment on the health of pacemaker wearers in the carriage becomes an urgent problem. In this work, models of an electric multiple unit carriage with a pantograph as well as passengers with pacemakers were built by using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The B , E in and J in of human heart and other tissues, and the induced voltage (Vin) at the pacemaker electrode were calculated under the pantograph operating condition, so as to assess the effect of its magnetic field on the health of pacemaker wearers. The results showed that B max in the carriage without passengers is 121.246 μT, occurs near the window. In the carriage, the B max, E in max and J in max of heart and body, Vin at the pacemaker electrode of the passenger next to the window are greater than that in the middle of the carriage. The B max, E in max and J in max of passengers' heart are 11.301μT, 1.613 mV/m and 139.030 μA/m2, respectively. The B max, E in max and J in max of passengers' body are 12.597μT, 0.788 mV/m and 75.299 μA/m2, respectively. The maximum value of Vin at the tip of the pacemaker electrode of the passengers' is 0.048 mV. The B max, E in max in all tissues of passengers are much smaller than the basic limits of electromagnetic exposure to the public set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation. Vin at the electrode tip of passengers' pacemakers are less than the perception sensitivity set by the International Organization for Standardization. This work illustrated that the magnetic field generated by the pantograph is within the recognized accepted limits for passengers with pacemakers, but we still recommended that passengers wearing pacemakers should stay as far away from windows as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Falls among older adults are a significant health problem globally. Studies of multicomponent fall prevention programs in randomized controlled trials demonstrate effectiveness in reducing falls; however, the translation of research into the community remains challenging. Although there is an increasing interest to understand the factors contributing to implementation barriers, the dynamic relationships between factors are less well examined. Furthermore, evidence on implementation barriers from Asia is lacking as most of these studies originate from the West. As such, this study aims to engage stakeholders in uncovering the factors that facilitate or inhibit implementing community-based fall prevention programs in Singapore, with a focus on the interrelationship between those factors. Research Design and Methods Health care professionals familiar with fall prevention programs were invited to discuss the enablers and challenges to the implementation. This effort was facilitated using a systems modeling methodology of Group Model Building (GMB) to share ideas and create a common conceptual model of the challenges. The GMB employs various engagement techniques to draw on the experiences and perceptions of all stakeholders involved. Results This process led to the development of a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD), a qualitative conceptual model of the dynamic relationships between the barriers and facilitators of implementing fall prevention programs. Results from the CLD show that implementation is influenced by two main drivers: health care provider factors that influenced referrals, and patient factors that influenced referral acceptance and long-term adherence. Key leverage points for potential interventions were identified as well. Discussion and Implications The overall recommendation emphasized closer coordination and collaboration across providers to ensure sustainable and effective community-based fall prevention programs. This has to be supported by a national effort, involving a multidisciplinary stakeholder advisory group. These findings generated would be promising to guide future approaches to fall prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary MitoFlex is a linux-based mitochondrial genome analysis toolkit, which provides a complete workflow of raw data filtering, de novo assembly, mitochondrial genome identification and annotation for animal High Throughput Sequencing data. The overall performance was compared between MitoFlex and its analogue MitoZ, in terms of protein-coding gene recovery, memory consumption and processing speed. Availabilityand implementation MitoFlex is available at https://github.com/Prunoideae/MitoFlex under GPLv3 license. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hematogenous dissemination of Talaromyces marneffei can result in multiorgan involvement (skin, lung, and reticuloendothelial system involvement); however, few studies have reported intestinal T marneffei infections. We investigated clinical features, management, and patient outcomes concerning Talaromyces -related intestinal infections. Methods Patients with Talaromycosis between August 2012 and April 2019 at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, China, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients presenting with intestinal Talaromycosis and endoscopy-confirmed diagnoses were investigated. We also undertook a systematic review of the relevant English and Chinese literature. Results Of 175 patients diagnosed with Talaromycosis , 33 presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, and 31 underwent stool cultures, 1 of which tested positive. Three patients had gastrointestinal symptoms and negative stool cultures, and endoscopic tissue biopsy confirmed a pathological diagnosis. A systematic review of 14 reports on human Talaromycosis identified an additional 16 patients. Fever, weight loss, and anemia were the most common symptoms, along with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools. Abdominal computed tomography showed intestinal wall edema and thickening and/or abdominal lymphadenopathy. Endoscopy showed erosion, hyperemia, edema, and multiple intestinal mucosal ulcers. Of the 19 patients, 16 received antifungal therapy, 14 of whom recovered and 2 died. Three patients received no therapy and died. Conclusions Gastrointestinal disseminated Talaromycosis is not rare and can affect the stomach, duodenum, and colon, and may involve the entire digestive tract. Colon is the most common site. Endoscopy is needed for patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms in T marneffei- infected endemic areas. Systemic application of effective antifungal therapy can improve the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we describe a new species for the genus Oregoniplana from the coast of China, representing the third species for the genus and the first record of this genus for Asia. The other species are known from Oregon, USA, and from South Africa. Specimens of the South African species, Oregoniplana pantherina , were recently rediscovered, forming the second record for the species, which provided the basis for a necessary re-description. Molecular data (18S rDNA and 28S rDNA) obtained for the new Chinese species facilitated determination of the position of the genus Oregoniplana in the phylogenetic tree of the marine triclads. We report molecular data also for species previously discovered in China, viz. Miroplana shenzhensis and Pentacoelum sinensis , thus enabling us to determine for the first time the phylogenetic position of the genus Miroplana. These new molecular data revealed that Pentacoleum sinensis occupies an unexpected position in the phylogenetic tree. Laboratory cultures of the new Chinese species provided information on food preferences and reproduction. Oregoniplana pantherina exhibits a peculiar kind of locomotion and an unusual resting position in which the animal has three points of contact on either side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant nitrate transporters were first identified and functionally characterized more than 20 years ago. They are encoded at least by four gene families, NRT1 (NPF), NRT2, CLC, and SLAC1/SLAH. In this review, we overview the functions of the nitrate transporters in relation to their potential use as targets for improving crop nitrogen use efficiency. These functions include their roles in root architecture and nutrient acquisition; vacuole nitrate and protein storage; nutrient allocation from source to sink; sensing both abiotic and biotic stresses; the ionic balance of nitrate with potassium, chloride and cellular pH; and the circadian clock-regulated carbon and nitrogen balance. We provide and discuss some examples of the use of nitrate transporter genes and their regulators in improving plant growth and development, nitrogen use efficiency, and resistance to some abiotic stresses. We propose several strategies for effectively using nitrate transporters to achieve higher crop yields and nitrogen use efficiency by using gene transformation or genome editing or molecular marker-assisted breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early detection and intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could potentially slow disease progress and minimize harm.Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of early intervention by a practice nurse-GP team on quality of life (QoL) and process of care in patients with newly diagnosed COPD, compared with usual care. Nurses and GPs in intervention practices were educated to develop and implement disease management plans for COPD.Methods: A 12-month, multicentre, pragmatic randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment was conducted. Participants were current and former smokers aged 40 to 85 years newly identified as having COPD on post-bronchodilator spirometry. The primary outcome was health-related QoL, assessed with the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Secondary outcome measures were other QoL measures, lung function, disease knowledge, smoking and immunization status, inhaler technique and health service use.Results: Of the 10 234 patients from 36 practices in Sydney invited to a case-finding appointment, 1641 (16%) attended and 287 (18%) were diagnosed with COPD. Nineteen practices (144 patients) were randomized to the intervention group and 17 practices (110 patients) to the control group. Only 15.3% (n = 22) patients in the intervention group saw the nurse for COPD care following case finding. There was no between-group difference in SGRQ score at follow-up (mean difference -0.21; P = 0.86). Influenza vaccination was higher in the intervention group (OR 2.31: P = 0.035), but there were no other significant between-group differences in outcomes.Conclusion: Intervention uptake was low and had no additional beneficial effect, over usual care, on participants' health-related QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the serial changes and correlations between readout-segmented technique with navigated phase correction diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI), R2*-MRI and 18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) CT performed before and during radiation therapy (RT) in patients with mucosal primary head and neck cancer. Methods: The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmean) from DWI (at b = 50 and 800 s mm-2), the mean R2* values derived from T2*-MRI, and PET metabolic parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesional glycolysis (TLG) were measured for the primary tumour. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate correlations between ADCmean, R2*, SUVmax, MTV and TLG. A paired t-test was performed to assess the MRI changes and the slope of serial MRI changes during RT. Results: Pre-treatment scans were performed in 28 patients and mid-treatment scans in 20 patients. No significant correlation was found between ADCmean and either R2* values or PET parameters. There were significant negative correlations of R2* values with pre-treatment PET parameters but not with mid-RT PET parameters: pre-SUVmax (p = 0.008), pre-MTV (p = 0.006) and pre-TLG (p = 0.008). A significant rise in ADCmean was found during the first half (p < 0.001) of RT but not in the second half (p = 0.215) of the treatment. There was an increase of the ADCmean values of 279.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 210-348] in the first half of the treatment (Weeks 0-3). However, during the second-half period of treatment, the mean ADC value (Weeks 3-6) was 24.0 and the 95% CI (-40 to 88) included zero. This suggests that there was no significant change in ADC values during the second half of the treatment. Conclusion: A significant negative correlation was found between pre-treatment R2*-MRI and PET parameters. DWI appeared to demonstrate potentially predictable changes during RT. Advances in knowledge: Understanding the correlation and changes that occur with time between potential imaging biomarkers may help us establish the most appropriate biomarkers to consider in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indole acetic acid (IAA) is an important regulator of adventitious rooting via the activation of complex signaling cascades. In animals, carbon monoxide (CO), mainly generated by heme oxygenases (HOs), is a significant modulator of inflammatory reactions, affecting cell proliferation and the production of growth factors. In this report, we show that treatment with the auxin transport inhibitor naphthylphthalamic acid prevented auxin-mediated induction of adventitious rooting and also decreased the activity of HO and its by-product CO content. The application of IAA, HO-1 activator/CO donor hematin, or CO aqueous solution was able to alleviate the IAA depletion-induced inhibition of adventitious root formation. Meanwhile, IAA or hematin treatment rapidly activated HO activity or HO-i protein expression, and CO content was also enhanced. The application of the HO-i-specific inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP[X) could inhibit the above IAA and hematin responses. CO aqueous solution treatment was able to ameliorate the ZnPPIX-induced inhibition of adventitious rooting. Molecular evidence further showed that ZnPPIX mimicked the effects of naphthylphthalamic acid on the inhibition of adventitious rooting, the down-regulation of one DnaJ-like gene (CSDNAJ-1), and two calcium-dependent protein kinase genes (CSCDPK1 and CSCDPK5). Application of CO aqueous solution not only dose-dependently blocked IAA depletion-induced inhibition of adventitious rooting but also enhanced endogenous CO content and up-regulated CSDNAJ-1 and CSCDPK1/5 transcripts. Together, we provided pharmacological, physiological, and molecular evidence that auxin rapidly activates HO activity and that the product of HO action, CO, then triggers the signal transduction events that lead to the auxin responses of adventitious root formation in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]