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Abstract [Objective] This study aims to examine the effects of container type and specification on the growth, blooming, and physiology of purple-leaf Lagerstroemia indica seedlings. The goal is to examine the optimal seedling container for the cultivation of purple-leaf L. indica seedlings and to provide basis for effective seedling breeding in containers. [Methods] Taking the excellent new variety ‘Ebony Embers’ of purple-leaf L. indica as research materials. Three type containers, black plastic nutrient cups (C1), white nonwoven beauty planting bags (C2), and black root-control containers (C3), with three specifications (diameter×height, cm) of 16×16 (D1), 21×21 (D2), and 25×25 (D3), were selected to set nine treatments. Seedlings under different treatments were measured for growth, flowering, and physiological indexes. [Results] (1) Different nursery containers had significant effects on the growth, flowering, and physiology of purple-leaf L. indica seedlings. The growth, root system, biomass, flowering period, flower diameter, inflorescence, soluble protein content, soluble sugar content, relative chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and other indexes in the same container type were increased with the increase in the specification of the containers. (2) Diameter growth, total root length, total root surface area, total root volume, number of root tips, aboveground dry mass, belowground dry mass, total dry mass, and flowering time were greatest in the C3D3 treatment, which was higher than the smallest C1D1 treatment by 817.12%, 108.12%, 94.60%, 75.66%, 144.14%, 135.67%, 228.45%, 164.65% and 34.48%, respectively. Seedling height growth, crown growth, leaf area, and inflorescence length and width were the highest in the C1D3 treatment, which was higher than the lowest C1D1 treatment by 116.05%, 81.39%, 114.95%, 70.44%, and 65.79%, respectively. Relative chlorophyll content and water use efficiency were the greatest in the C3D3 treatment, while soluble protein and soluble sugar content, net photosynthetic rate, and stomatal conductance were the highest in the C1D3 treatment. The intercellular CO2 concentration and water use efficiency did not differ significantly among the treatments. (3) The comprehensive analysis score for each index was as follows: C3D3>C1D3>C2D3 >C3D2>C2D2>C1D2>C2D1>C3D1>C1D1. [Conclusion] The black root-control container performs well in terms of diameter growth, root growth index, biomass, flowering time and diameter, relative chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate. The most suitable container for 2-year-old seedlings of purple- leaf L. indica is the black root-control container with a diameter of 25 cm and a height of 25 cm.

The application of metal additive manufacturing technology and products in the aviation field requires optimized structural design at macroscale and precise manufacture control at microscale. As one of the typical features of additive manufacture, microstructure inevitably affects the material performance. The research has shown that the uniformity, plasticity, and fatigue fracture characteristics of additive manufacturing materials are often inferior to traditional materials, while their strength, hardness, wear resistance, and some microscale properties are often better than traditional materials. The size effect in the micro/nano-scale and the heterogeneous characteristics of materials have a significant impact on metal materials with microstructures. Under different microstructures, materials can achieve a better balance between strength and ductility, which is also applicable to additively manufactured metals. Therefore, the process characteristics of additive manufacturing and the heterogeneities introduced by human design are both expected to significantly improve the comprehensive performance of metals, which have important guiding value for the application of metal additive manufacturing in the aviation field. However, since many of the mechanism of these phenomena are still unclear, the strength-ductility synergistic and antagonistic relationships with other properties of the materials are also worth further research.

In eukaryotes, RNA N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification and microRNA (miRNA)‐mediated RNA silencing represent two critical epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. The m6A methyltransferase complex (MTC) and the microprocessor complex both undergo liquid–liquid phase separation to form nuclear membraneless organelles. Although m6A methyltransferase has been shown to positively regulate miRNA biogenesis, a mechanism of reciprocal regulation between the MTC and the microprocessor complex has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the MTC and the microprocessor complex associate with each other through the METHYLTRANSFERASE B (MTB)–SERRATE (SE) interacting module. Knockdown of MTB impaired miRNA biogenesis by diminishing microprocessor complex binding to primary miRNAs (pri‐miRNAs) and their respective MIRNA loci. Additionally, loss of SE function led to disruptions in transcriptome‐wide m6A modification. Further biochemical assays and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) assay indicated that SE enhances the liquid–liquid phase separation and solubility of the MTC. Moreover, the MTC exhibited enhanced retention on chromatin and diminished binding to its RNA substrates in the se mutant background. Collectively, our results reveal the substantial regulatory interplay between RNA m6A modification and miRNA biogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal mining has caused significant soil nitrogen loss in mining areas, limiting reclamation and reuse in agriculture. This article studies the effects of organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, and the combined application of Pseudomonas fluorescens with the ability of nitrogen fixation on soil nitrogen accumulation and composition in the reclamation area of the Tunlan Coal Mine from 2016 to 2022 under the conditions of equal nitrogen application, providing a scientific basis for microbial fertilization and the rapid increase in nitrogen content in the reclaimed soil of mining areas. The results showed that as the reclamation time increased, the nitrogen content and the composition and structure of the soil treated with fertilization rapidly evolved toward normal farmland soil. The soil nitrogen content increased most rapidly in the presence of added P. fluorescens + organic fertilizer (MB). Compared to other treatments (inorganic fertilizer (CF), organic fertilizer (M), and P. fluorescens + inorganic fertilizer (CFB)), MB increased total nitrogen (TN) to normal farmland soil levels 1–3 years earlier. The comprehensive scores of MB and CFB on the two principal components increased by 1.58 and 0.79 compared to those of M and CF treatments, respectively. This indicates that the combination of P. fluorescens and organic fertilizer improves soil nitrogen accumulation more effectively than the combination of P. fluorescens and inorganic fertilizer. In addition, the application of P. fluorescens increases the content of unknown nitrogen (UN) in acid-hydrolysable nitrogen (AHN) and decreases the content of amino acid nitrogen (AAN) and ammonia nitrogen (AN). However, there was no significant effect on the content of ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) in soil-mineralized nitrogen (SMN). When combined with inorganic fertilizer, the contribution of SMN to TN increased by 14.78%, while when combined with organic fertilizer, the contribution of AHN to TN increased by 44.77%. In summary, the use of P. fluorescens is beneficial for nitrogen recovery in the reclaimed soil of coal-mining areas. The optimal fertilization method under the experimental conditions is the combination of P. fluorescens and organic fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two undescribed triterpenoid saponins (1 and 3) along with six known saponins (2 , 4 - 8) were isolated from the flower buds of Lonicera macranthoides by an LC-MS guided fractionation method. Natural products 1 , 3 , 5 and 7 are the monodesmosidic saponins of ambradiolic acid, 23-hydroxybetulinic acid, hederagenin and oleanolic acid, respectively, sharing the same single sugar chain at C-3 of each aglycone. Furthermore, compounds 2 , 4 , 6 and 8 are their bisdesmosidic saponins with a further identical sugar chain at C-28 of the aglycone. All structures were identified by interpretation of their spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 - 8 were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against the HeLa, HTC-116, B16 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. Results showed that all monodesmosidic saponins exhibited moderate activity with compound 7 showing the most pronounced cytotoxicity against the four human cancer cell lines, with IC 50 values of 1.9–13.5 μM. The preliminary structure-activity relationships of the natural products are also discussed. [Display omitted] • LC–MS guided isolation for saponins containing the same sugar chain was proposed and validated. • Two new and six known saponins (1 - 8) were isolated from the flowers of Lonicera macranthoides. • Their structures were elucidated by NMR and HR-ESI-MS experiments. • Saponin 7 exhibited appreciable cytotoxicity against the HeLa, HTC-116, B16 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically modified mRNA (modRNA) has proven to be a versatile tool for the treatment of various cancers and infectious diseases due to recent technological advancements. However, a safe and effective delivery system to overcome the complex extracellular and intracellular barriers is required in order to achieve higher therapeutic efficacy and broaden clinical applications. Here, we explored All-Fect and Leu-Fect C as novel transfection reagents derived from lipopolymers, which demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, efficient delivery capabilities, and a robust ability to escape the lysosomes. These properties directly increase mRNA stability by preventing mRNA degradation by nucleases and simultaneously promote efficient gene translation in vitro and in vivo. The modRNA delivered with lipopolymer vectors sustained effective transfection in mouse hearts following direct intramyocardial injection, as well as in major organs (liver and spleen) after systemic administration. No observable immune reactions or systemic toxicity were detected following the systemic administration of lipopolymer-mRNA complexes to additional solid organs. This study identified commercial reagents for the effective delivery of modRNA and may help facilitate the advancement of gene-based interventions involving the safe and effective delivery of nucleic acid drug substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to avoid the occurrence of serious casualties and secondary injuries caused by high-speed splashing concrete fragments, pendulum impact test research and numerical analysis were carried out for the first time on the civil air defense wall sprayed with 2-mm polyisocyanate-oxazodone (POZD) coatings at different positions. The results showed that spraying a 2-mm POZD coating on the civil air defense wall can significantly reduce the damage area of the wall, restrain the splashing of concrete fragments, ensure the integrity of the wall, and improve the impact resistance and airtightness of the civil air defense wall. The large-rupture-strain fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) pasted on the back significantly improved the bending stiffness and deformation capacity and reduced the residual displacement of the wall. The failure modes and failure characteristics of the wall obtained through the experiments in this paper provide the failure evaluation criteria for existing civil air defense walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can alleviate available phosphorus deficiency without causing environmental pollution, unlike chemical phosphate fertilizers. However, the phosphate solubilization mechanisms of PSB are still unclear. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the expression patterns of differential expressed genes (DEGs) of the phosphate-solubilizing bacterium W134 under the conditions of soluble phosphorus (group A), insoluble phosphorus (group B), and lacking phosphorus (group C). Nine DEGs in three different groups were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Then, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to detect the concentrations and composition of organic acids. Compared with group A, Gene Ontology (GO) annotation showed that the cluster of W134 DEGs in groups B and C were basically the same. Besides, the results of enrichment Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway indicated that genes in the Citrate cycle (TCA cycle) pathway closely related to organic acid production were significantly upregulated. The qRT-PCR results were almost consistent with the expression trends of the transcriptome data. The HPLC results showed that the formic acid, ascorbic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, and succinic acid concentrations were significantly increased in group B and C (p < 0.05), while the contents of lactic acid and malic acid were significantly increased in group B (p < 0.05). The above results provided further validation that the upregulated genes should be related to W134 secretion of organic acids. Our study revealed several potential candidate genes and tried to explain phosphate solubilization mechanisms. This provides a new insight for calcareous reclaimed soil, and it will reduce the need of chemical phosphate fertilizers to promote environmentally friendly agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we proposed an integrated analytical strategy for the rapid and comprehensive discovery of a specific class of secoiridoid glycosides from a Yao medicine, Jasminum pentaneurum Hand.‐Mazz. The strategy fully took advantage of the accuracy of ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadruple time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, and the efficiency of diagnostic ion filtering and neutral loss filtering. Twenty‐four secoiridoid glycosides, including three known ones and 21 unreported ones, were rapidly discovered and characterized based on the detail analysis of their mass spectrometry data. Particularly, 10‐syringicoyl‐ligustroside (18) was isolated under the guidance of mass spectrometry analysis. Its chemical structure was elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis, and absolute configuration was further elucidated by comparison of its experimental and electronic circular dichroism spectra. Furthermore, the mass spectrometry data of 18 was analyzed and the corresponding results indicated that its fragment pathway was fully consistent with the applied diagnostic ion filtering and neutral loss filtering rules, and thus the precision and efficiency of the integrated strategy were validated. The result demonstrated that the proposed integrated strategy could serve as a rapid, accurate, and comprehensive targeted components discovery method to effectively screen out those ingredients of interest from the complex herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese government has made huge efforts in improving people's spiritual and cultural life, but effects are far from satisfactory. The organization of masses' spontaneous sports activities is the basic countermeasure to improve this situation, for it can not only reduce the government economic investment, but also meet the needs of people's physical exercises. This paper takes five parks – Sunrise Park, Temple of Heaven Park, Beihai Park, Yu Yuantan Park and Purple Bamboo Park – in Beijing city as research objects, and makes the research on the current developing situations of the organization of masses' spontaneous sports activities. Based on BP neural network model, the paper makes analysis according to the masses' weekly exercises frequency and duration in the above-mentioned five parks. The results show that the organization of masses' spontaneous sports activities in Temple of Heaven Park and Beihai Park is going quite well, while the situation of Sunrise Park and Purple Bamboo Park is far from that good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impedance characteristics of radio frequency (RF) (13.56 and 27.12 MHz) and very high-frequency (60 MHz) magnetron discharges were investigated by the voltage–current probe technology. The discharge impedances $Z$ were found to decrease with the increase of discharge current at the frequency of 13.56 MHz, then change from a decreasing trend to an increasing trend at the frequency of 27.12 MHz, and further increase at the frequency of 60 MHz. This evolution was mainly related to the transition of the imaginary part $X$ from the capacitance to the reactance. Because of the low-electron density at the frequencies of 27.12 and 60 MHz and the enhanced electron Lorentz gyration at high voltages in the magnetron discharge, the electron inertia effect was enhanced. As a result, the plasma body reactance increased. The compensation of the plasma reactance to the sheath capacitance led to the transition of impedance $Z$. Therefore, for the 27.12- and 60-MHz magnetron discharges, the electron inertia had a significant influence on the discharge impedance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rigid-drainage pile, designed to accelerate the dissipation of excess pore water pressure around the pile, is a new type of pile that combines the bearing capacity of ordinary rigid piles and the draining capacity of gravel piles. Field tests of these new piles were performed for the first time at a construction site in the new campus of Jiangyin No. 1 High School. Numerous parameters were observed for the test piles in many trials, including the excess pore water pressures, horizontal soil pressures, and displacements. At the measuring position at 0.6 m from the pile center, the rigid-drainage pile dissipates 70% of the peak excess pore water pressure in 1000 s, whereas the ordinary pile requires nearly 4000 s to dissipate the identical amplitude. The field test results clearly demonstrate that the rigid-drainage pile can reduce the amplitude of the peak pressure caused by piling in the liquefiable layer, quickly dissipate the excess pore water pressure, reduce the loss of effective stress in the soil surrounding the pile, and maintain the foundation stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel processing technology for interlocking and joining three sheets of two copper foils and a perforated stainless steel sheet by laser shock forming is presented in this paper. In this forming process, two layers of ductile copper foils are positioned above a perforated stainless steel sheet, a shock pressure induced by pulsed laser is applied on the upper foil, both foils are indented downwards through the hole of the perforated sheet, and impact on the rigid bottom support, then spread radially to produce a double interlock, thus to join the three sheets together. Finite element analysis as well as practical experiments were conducted to verify the feasibility of making interlocks by laser shock forming. The numerical simulation reveals the deformation mechanism of interlocks based on the analysis of plastic flow and shape evolution during the process. These results point to the practicality of clinching and joining three sheets by laser induced plastic deformation, namely laser shock joining or laser shock clinching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion energy distributions (IEDs), electron energy distributions (EEDs) and other plasma parameters of magnetron sputtering discharges driven by 13.56, 27.12 and 60 MHz sources were investigated by a retarding field energy analyzer and Langmuir probe measurements. An increase in driving frequency leads to an increase in ion energy and the evolution of IEDs from a uni-modal distribution at the 13.56 MHz discharge toward a bi-modal distribution at 27.12 MHz, and a multi-modal distribution at the 60 MHz discharge. For IEDs near the target surface, this evolution is related to the ion acceleration and the charge transfer collisions between Ar atoms and Ar+ ions in the presheath, while for IEDs at the substrate, the evolution depends on the ratio of the ion transit time across the sheath to the radio frequency period. The increase in driving frequency also leads to the evolution of EED function from a Maxwellian type at the 13.56 MHz discharge toward a bi-Maxwellian type at the 27.12 MHz discharge and a Druyvesteyn-like type at the 60 MHz discharge due to the change in the generation and loss mechanisms of electrons. In addition, increasing the driving frequency can lead to a higher electron temperature and a lower electron density. Therefore, the driving frequency becomes an effective tool to control the plasma properties of magnetron sputtering discharges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective At present, there is no standard salvage treatment strategies for lung cancer. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacies and safeties of pemetrexed alone with pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin as salvage therapy in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma to provide evidences for combination therapy. Methods From January 2009 to February 2011, 83 patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma received pemetrexed alone (single agent arm, n=47) or pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin (combination arm, n=36) as salvage therapy. All 83 patients had performance status (PS) scores of 0-2. Results Eighty-one patients were included in the final analysis. The median progression-free survival (PFS) in the single agent arm was 3.6 months versus 4.1 months in the combination arm (P=0.268). The objective response rate (ORR) was 6.5% versus 20% (P=0.092), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 56.5% versus 65.7% (P=0.493), respectively. The response rates of the hematological and gastrointestinal toxicities in the single agent and combination arms were 33.9% versus 47.2% (P=0.460) and 21.2% versus 25.0% (P=0.213), respectively. Conclusion For salvage therapy, pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin is tolerable in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma patients with good PS scores. Compared with pemetrexed alone, pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin therapy showed higher response rate, but did not significantly prolong the PFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective At present, there is no standard salvage treatment strategies for lung cancer. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacies and safeties of pemetrexed alone with pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin as salvage therapy in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma to provide evidences for combination therapy. Methods From January 2009 to February 2011, 83 patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma received pemetrexed alone (single agent arm, n=47) or pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin (combination arm, n=36) as salvage therapy. All 83 patients had performance status (PS) scores of 0-2. Results Eighty-one patients were included in the final analysis. The median progression-free survival (PFS) in the single agent arm was 3.6 months versus 4.1 months in the combination arm (P=0.268). The objective response rate (ORR) was 6.5% versus 20% (P=0.092), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 56.5% versus 65.7% (P=0.493), respectively. The response rates of the hematological and gastrointestinal toxicities in the single agent and combination arms were 33.9% versus 47.2% (P=0.460) and 21.2% versus 25.0% (P=0.213), respectively. Conclusion For salvage therapy, pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin is tolerable in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma patients with good PS scores. Compared with pemetrexed alone, pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin therapy showed higher response rate, but did not significantly prolong the PFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonionic gemini surfactants HBA(EO)80 were synthesized and characterized by means of surface tension measurements. CMCs of two mixed system, nonionic gemini mixed with anionic gemini (HBA(EO)80/C11pPHCNa) and nonionic gemini mixed with anionic monomeric (HBA(EO)80/SL) and the effect of salt on the two mixed system were investigated. Freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the mixed aggregates' morphologies. The results show that large spherical aggregates were formed in the mixed solution, which trend to transfer into micelles with the increases of the salt concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of cationic surfactants of allyl alkyldimethylammonium bromide (AAnDB), where n=12, 16, 18, were synthesized, and the adsorption behavior of AAnDB at the air-water interface and the aggregation morphology in bulk solution were reported. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined by the drop volume technique and steady state fluorescence. The surface excess concentration of AAnDB surfactants was calculated from the surface tension versus log concentration curves by applying the Gibbs' adsorption isotherm. The values of surface area per molecule calculated by using Gibbs' equation were 2.9-1.4 nm2, indicating the relatively large size of the AAnDB surfactants. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements reveal that, at low surfactant concentration of allyl dodecyl dimethylammonium bromide (AA12DB) above CMC, vesicles can be spontaneously formed. However, with increasing surfactant concentration, vesicles tend to be transformed into rod-like micelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the vacuum sublimation freezing-drying and rheological techniques, the salt/alkali/surfactant effects on the solution properties and the aggregate conformations of the polymers, synthesized hydrophobically modified poly (acrylamide) (HMPAM), were investigated. The experimental methods included viscosity measurements, the photomicroscopy, scan electron microscopy, and the freeze fracture transmission electron microscopy. The variety of conformations of the ultramolecular aggregates, the hydrophobical region, and the spatial network structures resulted from the hydrophobical interaction were studied. Combined results confirmed that HMPAM could form several of interesting three-dimensional network structures either in distilled water or NaCl solution. The results have revealed the mechanism of the salt/alkali/surfactant effects on the peculiar rheological properties of the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inherited giant platelet syndromes are a heterogeneous group of rare bleeding disorders. In the current study, a patient was reported with prolonged bleeding time, thrombocytopenia and giant platelets. Both the patient's red and white cell counts were normal without morphological abnormalities. The electron microscopy of platelets showed abnormal large electron-dense granules in the cytoplasm with exocytosis being easily observed. Her fathers platelets had the same abnormalities. The expression of glycoprotein (GP)Ib, GPIIb and GPIIIa on the surface of the patient's platelets was normal, and her platelet aggregation in response to ADP and ristocetin was also normal. Immunogold probes combined to monoclonal antibodies against GPIIIa, P-selectin or CD63 could not identify any relationship between the aberrant structures and alpha granules or lysosomes of platelet. Serotonin level was normal in the platelets of the patient, indicating the electron opaque granules are not dense bodies. The morphological abnormalities of the platelets from the patient are clearly distinguishable from other hereditary giant platelet disorders. We propose that the abnormal large granules from the patient's platelets probably represent a novel inherited thrombocytopenic disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lagerstroemia indica is an important ornamental tree worldwide. The development of cultivars with colorful leaves and increased ornamental value represents one of the current main research topics. We investigated the anthocyanin profiles in two contrasting cultivars for leaf color phenotypes and explored the underlying molecular basis. Both cultivars display purple-red young leaves (Stage 1), and when the leaves mature (Stage 2), they turn green in HD (Lagerstroemia Dynamite) but remain unchanged in ZD (Lagerstroemia Ebony Embers). Seven different anthocyanins were detected, and globally, the leaves of ZD contained higher levels of anthocyanins than those of HD at the two stages with the most pronounced difference observed at Stage 2. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that in contrast to HD, ZD tends to keep a higher activity level of key genes involved in the flavonoid–anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways throughout the leaf developmental stages in order to maintain the synthesis, accumulation, and modification of anthocyanins. By applying gene co-expression analysis, we detected 19 key MYB regulators were co-expressed with the flavonoid–anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and were found strongly down-regulated in HD. This study lays the foundation for the artificial manipulation of the anthocyanin biosynthesis in order to create new L. indica cultivars with colorful leaves and increased ornamental value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]