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This study aimed to investigate the survival impact of the number of lymph nodes dissection (LND) in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical pathological data and survival of 407 ESCC patients who underwent esophagectomy after NCT between January 2015 and December 2016. The relationship between the number of LNDs and 5-year overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) was plotted by using restricted cubic spline analysis. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify prognostic factors of OS and DFS. We observed an obvious non-linear relationship between LND and the hazard ratios (HRs) for OS (P  = 0.0015) and DFS (P  < 0.001) of all the patients. In the multivariate analysis of OS and DFS, the number of LNDs (greater than 28 and less than 46) had a significant protective effect on survival (OS: HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42–0.88, P  = 0.007; DFS: HR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.36–0.70, P  < 0.001). For patients with nodal metastases, it was also an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR, 0.56, 95% CI, 0.35–0.90, P  = 0.017) and DFS (HR, 0.42, 95% CI, 0.28–0.65, P  < 0.001). Some degree of lymphadenectomy after NCT was beneficial in improving 5-year OS and DFS for ESCC patients with nodal metastases. For patients with nodal negativity, more extended lymphadenectomy did not improve patient survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectral‐based photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and leaf surface temperature (Tleaf) derived from thermal imaging are two indicative metrics of plant functioning. The relationship of PRI with radiation‐use efficiency (RUE) and Tleaf with leaf transpiration could be leveraged to monitor crop photosynthesis and water use from space. Yet, it is unclear how such relationships will change under future high carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]) and drought. Here we established an [CO2] enrichment experiment in which three wheat genotypes were grown at ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (550 ppm) [CO2] and exposed to well‐watered and drought conditions in two glasshouse rooms in two replicates. Leaf transpiration (Tr) and latent heat flux (LE) were derived to assess evaporative cooling, and RUE was calculated from assimilation and radiation measurements on several dates along the season. Simultaneous hyperspectral and thermal images were taken at ~ $\unicode{x0007E}$1.5 m from the plants to derive PRI and the temperature difference between the leaf and its surrounding air (∆ $\unicode{x02206}$Tleaf−air). We found significant PRI and RUE and ∆ $\unicode{x02206}$Tleaf−air and Tr correlations, with no significant differences among the genotypes. A PRI–RUE decoupling was observed under drought at ambient [CO2] but not at elevated [CO2], likely due to changes in photorespiration. For a LE range of 350 W m–2, the ΔTleaf−air range was ~ $\unicode{x0007E}$10°C at ambient [CO2] and only ~ $\unicode{x0007E}$4°C at elevated [CO2]. Thicker leaves in plants grown at elevated [CO2] suggest higher leaf water content and consequently more efficient thermoregulation at high [CO2] conditions. In general, Tleaf was maintained closer to the ambient temperature at elevated [CO2], even under drought. PRI, RUE, ΔTleaf−air, and Tr decreased linearly with canopy depth, displaying a single PRI‐RUE and ΔTleaf−air Tr model through the canopy layers. Our study shows the utility of these sensing metrics in detecting wheat responses to future environmental changes. Highlights: We found significant PRI‐RUE and ∆Tleaf‐air‐Tr correlations in wheat grown under eCO2 (550 ppm) while observing PRI‐RUE decoupling under drought and aCO2 (400 ppm). Leaf thermoregulation was more efficient under eCO2, suggesting potential future global energy balance changes in a world with a higher [CO2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica vegetables contain a multitude of bioactive compounds that prevent and suppress cancer and promote health. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may be essential in the production of these compounds; however, the relationship between specific microbes and the abundance of metabolites produced during cruciferous vegetable digestion are still unclear. We utilized an ex vivo human fecal incubation model with in vitro digested broccoli sprouts (Broc), Brussels sprouts (Brus), a combination of the two vegetables (Combo), or a negative control (NC) to investigate microbial metabolites of cruciferous vegetables. We conducted untargeted metabolomics on the fecal cultures by LC-MS/MS and completed 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We identified 72 microbial genera in our samples, 29 of which were significantly differentially abundant between treatment groups. A total of 4499 metabolomic features were found to be significantly different between treatment groups (q ≤ 0.05, fold change > 2). Chemical enrichment analysis revealed 45 classes of compounds to be significantly enriched by brassicas, including long-chain fatty acids, coumaric acids, and peptides. Multi-block PLS-DA and a filtering method were used to identify microbe–metabolite interactions. We identified 373 metabolites from brassica, which had strong relationships with microbes, such as members of the family Clostridiaceae and genus Intestinibacter, that may be microbially derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of a future rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) and drought will significantly impact wheat production and quality. Genotype phenology is likely to play an essential role in such an effect. Yet, its response to elevated [CO2] and drought has not been studied before. Here we conducted a temperature‐controlled glasshouse [CO2] enrichment experiment in which two wheat cultivars with differing maturity timings and life cycle lengths were grown under ambient (aCO2 approximately 400 μmol mol–1) and elevated (eCO2 approximately 550 μmol mol–1) [CO2]. The two cultivars, bred under dry and warm Mediterranean conditions, were well‐watered or exposed to drought at 40% pot holding capacity. We aimed to explore water × [CO2] × genotype interaction in terms of phenology, physiology, and agronomic trait response. Our results show that eCO2 had a significant effect on plants grown under drought. eCO2 boosted the booting stage of the late‐maturing genotype (cv. Ruta), thereby prolonging its booting‐to‐anthesis period by approximately 3 days (p < 0.05) while unaffecting the phenological timing of the early‐maturing genotype (cv. Zahir). The prolonged period resulted in a much higher carbon assimilation rate, particularly during pre‐anthesis (+87% for Ruta vs. +22% for Zahir under eCO2). Surprisingly, there was no eCO2 effect on transpiration rate and grain protein content in both cultivars and under both water conditions. The higher photosynthesis (and transpiration efficiency) of Ruta was not translated into higher aboveground biomass or grain yield, whereas both cultivars showed a similar increase of approximately 20% in these two traits at eCO2 under drought. Overall, Zahir, the cultivar that responded the least to eCO2, had a more efficient source‐to‐sink balance with a lower sink limitation than Ruta. The complex water × [CO2] × genotype interaction found in this study implies that future projections should account for multifactor interactive effects in modeling wheat response to future climate. Summary statement: Our glasshouse [CO2] enrichment experiment showed late‐maturing wheat genotype phenological and photosynthesis advantages over early‐maturing genotype, which were not translated into higher yields. The complex water × [CO2] × genotype interactions imply that multifactor interactive effects should be considered when modeling future wheat responses to drought and elevated [CO2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piano key weirs (PKWs) have been introduced in recent years as a hydraulically efficient and cost-effective type of spillway, and there are more than 30 PKWs under construction or already constructed globally. However, owing to the numerous geometric parameters and complex hydraulic characteristics of PKWs, the discharge capacity of a PKW is still difficult to estimate. To improve the overall understanding of the flow behavior in the vicinity of PKWs and to investigate the intrinsic link between the structural parameters and discharge capacity of PKWs, this study employs a combination of numerical simulations and physical model tests to investigate the hydraulic characteristics of PKW models (including flow regimes, water surface lines, streamlines, and flow velocities) under different water head conditions. Furthermore, based on the detailed flow field information provided by the numerical simulations, the internal mechanism for the discharge capacity of the PKW is revealed by analyzing the flow field under the weir crest and the distribution of turbulent kinetic energy near the PKW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]