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Abstract In the detection of multi‐component gas based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS), the problem of overlapping interference between the absorption lines of each gas is often encountered. For example, when detecting a gas mixture of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and thionyl fluoride (SOF2), the characteristic decomposition components of SF6, there is overlapping interference in the absorption lines of the two gases, which makes it difficult to detect the concentration of gases accurately. In view of this problem, a novel method based on support vector regression model used for TDLAS is proposed to detect two gases simultaneously. The detection results show that the correlation coefficients between the concentration of SO2 and SOF2 and the average value of the second harmonic peak reached 0.992 and 0.993. In addition, through model testing, different concentrations of SO2 and SOF2 gas mixture are simultaneously detected, and the resulting maximum errors for measuring SO2 and SOF2 concentrations are less than 7.13 × 10−5 and 0.26 × 10−2. The maximum errors of the measurement results in the verification test are not more than 6.4 × 10−3 and 4.6 × 10−2. Therefore, with assistance of the novel method, the detection of multiple gases by using a single laser is achieved.

Abstract Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis), pivotal in the study of photosynthesis, endosymbiosis, and chloroplast development, is also an industrial microalga for paramylon production. Despite its importance, E. gracilis genome exploration faces challenges due to its intricate nature. In this study, we achieved a chromosome-level de novo assembly (2.37 Gb) using Illumina, PacBio, Bionano, and Hi-C data. The assembly exhibited a contig N50 of 619 Kb and scaffold N50 of 1.12 Mb, indicating superior continuity. Approximately 99.83% of the genome was anchored to 46 chromosomes, revealing structural insights. Repetitive elements constituted 58.84% of the sequences. Functional annotations were assigned to 39,362 proteins, enhancing interpretative power. BUSCO analysis confirmed assembly completeness at 80.39%. This first high-quality E. gracilis genome offers insights for genetics and genomics studies, overcoming previous limitations. The impact extends to academic and industrial research, providing a foundational resource.

Abstract Hemibagrus guttatus, also named as spotted longbarbel catfish, is an economical fish in China. However, their gender cannot be easily distinguished from their appearance, which largely impedes their artificial breeding. Therefore, we provided two gap-free chromosome-level genomes of male and female spotted longbarbel catfish by combining wtdbg2, LR_Gapcloser and TGS-GapCloser assembly approaches with Hi-C data and accurate Pacbio HiFi long-reads. We assembled 30 chromosomes without any gap. Their genome sizes are approximately 749.1 Mb and 747.8 Mb of male and female individuals. The completeness results of BUSCO evaluation show about 94.2% and 95.0%, representing a high-level of completeness of both genomes. We also obtained 35,277 and 34,571 protein-coding gene sets from male and female individuals. Both available gap-free chromosome-level genomes of H. guttatus will provide excellent references for resequencing of male and female individuals to identify accurate markers for distinguishing gender of this fish.

Background: Ponatinib (Iclusig) is an oral tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL inhibitor for treating patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who are resistant to the therapies with other tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, adverse cardiovascular events caused by Ponatinib are a serious issue that affects patients' survival rates. Thus, it is necessary to search for candidate drugs to reduce the cardiovascular toxicity of Ponatinib. Purpose: To investigate the effects of Aspirin on Ponatinib-induced cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish. Methods: AB strain of wild type zebrafish (Danio rerio), Tg (cmlc2: GFP) transgenic zebrafish, and Tg (gata1: dsRed) transgenic zebrafish were used as in vivo models to assess survival, blood flow, cardiac morphology, and function. Thrombus formation was detected using O-dianisidine staining. The transcriptome of zebrafish larvae treated with Ponatinib was assessed using RNA sequencing. Results: Ponatinib not only reduced survival rate but also caused cardiovascular toxic events such as pericardial edema, abnormal heart structure, low heart rate, and thrombosis. In addition, whole-body transcriptome analysis showed that Ponatinib up-regulated the expression of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1). Compared with other antithrombotic drugs, a COX-1 inhibitor Aspirin more effectively reduced ponatinib-induced cardiovascular toxicity events and improved the survival rate of zebrafish larvae. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Aspirin exhibits the potential to reduce Ponatinib-induced cardiovascular toxicity.

The historical stockpile of chromium slag in China is large, and the hexavalent chromium in slag leachate is highly toxic and migratory. In order to investigate the migration and transformation pattern of Cr(Ⅵ) in groundwater under the combined effect of pollution source, site hydrogeological condition and hydrogeochemical process, a hexavalent chromium contaminated site was taken as an example in this study, the spatial distribution, hydrogeochemical characteristic, occurrence form and proportion of Cr(Ⅵ) in groundwater, and the main factors affecting migration and transformation of Cr(Ⅵ) are analyzed by sampling and testing groundwater samples, and the combination using of methods such as Kriging interpolation, factor analysis, hydrogeochemical calculation, Piper diagram and ion ratio. The results show that (1) the two aquifers below ground surface 40 m are polluted by Cr(Ⅵ), but the size and degree are different obviously. (2) The main forms of Cr(Ⅵ) in groundwater are \begin{document}${\mathrm{CrO}}_4^{2-} $\end{document} and \begin{document}${\mathrm{HCrO}}_4^- $\end{document}, \begin{document}${\mathrm{Cr}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7^{2-} $\end{document} content is extremely low, and the anions of samples with high Cr(Ⅵ) concentration are mainly \begin{document}${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^- $\end{document} and \begin{document}${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-} $\end{document}, the cations are mainly Na+ and Ca2+. (3) Precipitation leaching and seepage result in the leachate containing large amounts of Na+, \begin{document}${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2-} $\end{document} and Cr(Ⅵ) entering groundwater. The increasing pH, high concentrations of \begin{document}${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^- $\end{document} and dissolution of iron oxides under low oxidizing environment in groundwater can facilitate the migration of Cr(Ⅵ). Manganese oxides and organic matter are able to change Cr(Ⅵ) content through redox reaction. Evaporation also plays an important role on the enrichment of Cr(Ⅵ) in groundwater. The results of this research can provide strong support for risk management and post remediation of chromium slag contaminated sites.

Introduction: Mudskippers are a large group of amphibious fishes that have developed many morphological and physiological capacities to live on land. Genomics comparisons of chromosome-level genome assemblies of three representative mudskippers, Boleophthalmus pectinirostris (BP), Periophthalmus magnuspinnatus (PM) and P. modestus (PMO), may be able to provide novel insights into the water-to-land evolution and adaptation. Methods: Two chromosome-level genome assemblies for BP and PM were respectively sequenced by an integration of PacBio, Nanopore and Hi-C sequencing. A series of standard assembly and annotation pipelines were subsequently performed for both mudskippers. We also re-annotated the PMO genome, downloaded from NCBI, to obtain a redundancy-reduced annotation. Three-way comparative analyses of the three mudskipper genomes in a large scale were carried out to discover detailed genomic differences, such as different gene sizes, and potential chromosomal fission and fusion events. Comparisons of several representative gene families among the three amphibious mudskippers and some other teleosts were also performed to find some molecular clues for terrestrial adaptation. Results: We obtained two high-quality haplotype genome assemblies with 23 and 25 chromosomes for BP and PM respectively. We also found two specific chromosome fission events in PM. Ancestor chromosome analysis has discovered a common fusion event in mudskipper ancestor. This fusion was then retained in all the three mudskipper species. A loss of some SCPP (secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein) genes were identified in the three mudskipper genomes, which could lead to reduction of scales for a part-time terrestrial residence. The loss of aanat1a gene, encoding an important enzyme (arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase 1a, AANAT1a) for dopamine metabolism and melatonin biosynthesis, was confirmed in PM but not in PMO (as previously reported existence in BP), suggesting a better air vision of PM than both PMO and BP. Such a tiny variation within the genus Periophthalmus exemplifies to prove a step-by-step evolution for the mudskippers’ water-to-land adaptation. Conclusion: These high-quality mudskipper genome assemblies will become valuable genetic resources for in-depth discovery of genomic evolution for the terrestrial adaptation of amphibious fishes.

Abstract Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are usually considered as extreme environments with high pressure, high temperature, scarce food, and chemical toxicity, while many local inhabitants have evolved special adaptive mechanisms for residence in this representative ecosystem. In this study, we constructed a high-quality genome assembly for a novel deep-sea anemone species (Actinostola sp.) that was resident at a depth of 2,971 m in an Edmond vent along the central Indian Ocean ridge, with a total size of 424.3 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 383 kb. The assembled genome contained 265 Mb of repetitive sequences and 20,812 protein-coding genes. Taken together, our reference genome provides a valuable genetic resource for exploring the evolution and adaptive clues of this deep-sea anemone.

Asia arowana (Scleropages formosus) is an ornamental fish with high economic value, while its sex determination mechanism is still poorly understood. By far, no morphological evidence or molecular marker has been developed for effective distinguishment of genders, which poses a critical challenge to our captive breeding efforts. In this study, we sequenced gonadal transcriptomes of adult Asian arowanas and revealed differential expression profiling of sex-related genes. Based on the comparative transcriptomics analysis of testes (n = 3) and ovaries (n = 3), we identified a total of 8,872 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 18,490 differentially expressed transposable elements (TEs) between male and female individuals. Interestingly, the expression of TEs usually has been more significantly testis-biased than related coding genes. As expected, several genes related to females (such as foxl2 and cyp19a1a) are significantly transcribed in the ovary, and some genes related to male gonad development (such as dmrt1, gsdf and amh) are highly expressed in the testis. This sexual dimorphism is valuable for ascertaining the differential expression patterns of sex-related genes and enriching the genetic resources of this economically important species. These valuable genetic materials thereby provide instructive references for gender identification and one-to-one breeding practices so as to expand fish numbers for a rapid elevation of economic value.

Abstract Background The deep-sea snail Phymorhynchus buccinoides belongs to the genus Phymorhynchus (Neogastropoda: Raphitomidae), and it is a dominant specie in the cold seep habitat. As the environment of the cold seep is characterized by darkness, hypoxia and high concentrations of toxic substances such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), exploration of the diverse fauna living around cold seeps will help to uncover the adaptive mechanisms to this unique habitat. In the present study, a chromosome-level genome of P. buccinoides was constructed and a series of genomic and transcriptomic analyses were conducted to explore its molecular adaptation mechanisms to the cold seep environments. Results The assembled genome size of the P. buccinoides was approximately 2.1 Gb, which is larger than most of the reported snail genomes, possibly due to the high proportion of repetitive elements. About 92.0% of the assembled base pairs of contigs were anchored to 34 pseudo‐chromosomes with a scaffold N50 size of 60.0 Mb. Compared with relative specie in the shallow water, the glutamate regulative and related genes were expanded in P. buccinoides, which contributes to the acclimation to hypoxia and coldness. Besides, the relatively high mRNA expression levels of the olfactory/chemosensory genes in osphradium indicate that P. buccinoides might have evolved a highly developed and sensitive olfactory organ for its orientation and predation. Moreover, the genome and transcriptome analyses demonstrate that P. buccinoides has evolved a sulfite-tolerance mechanism by performing H2S detoxification. Many genes involved in H2S detoxification were highly expressed in ctenidium and hepatopancreas, suggesting that these tissues might be critical for H2S detoxification and sulfite tolerance. Conclusions In summary, our report of this chromosome-level deep-sea snail genome provides a comprehensive genomic basis for the understanding of the adaptation strategy of P. buccinoides to the extreme environment at the deep-sea cold seeps.

Abstract The green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis can synthesize high amounts of astaxanthin, which is a valuable antioxidant that has been utilized in human health, cosmetics, and aquaculture. To illustrate detailed molecular clues to astaxanthin yield, we performed PacBio HIFI along with Hi-C sequencing to construct an improved chromosome-level haplotypic genome assembly with 32 chromosomes and a genome size of 316.0 Mb. Its scaffold N50 (942.6 kb) and contig N50 (304.8 kb) have been upgraded remarkably from our previous genome draft, and a total of 32,416 protein-coding genes were predicted. We also established a high-evidence phylogenetic tree from seven representative algae species, with the main aim to calculate their divergence times and identify expanded/contracted gene families. We also characterized genome-wide localizations on chromosomes of some important genes such as five BKTs (encoding beta-carotene ketolases) that are putatively involved in astaxanthin production. In summary, we reported the first chromosome-scale map of H. pluvialis, which provides a valuable genetic resource for in-depth biomedical investigations on this momentous green alga and commercial astaxanthin bioproduction.

Abstract Due to potentially hostile behaviors and elusive habitats, moray eels (Muraenidae) as one group of apex predators in coral reefs all across the globe have not been well investigated. Here, we constructed a chromosome-level genome assembly for the representative Reeve’s moray eel (Gymnothorax reevesii). This haplotype genome assembly is 2.17 Gb in length, and 97.87% of the sequences are anchored into 21 chromosomes. It contains 56.34% repetitive sequences and 23,812 protein-coding genes, of which 96.77% are functionally annotated. This sequenced marine species in Anguilliformes makes a good complement to the genetic resource of eel genomes. It not only provides a genetic resource for in-depth studies of the Reeve’s moray eel, but also enables deep-going genomic comparisons among various eels.

This paper describes an electrochemical sensor based on a Cu-modified boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode for the detection of nitrate-contaminated water. The sensor utilizes the catalytic effect of copper on nitrate and the stability of the BDD electrode. By optimizing the electrolyte system, the linear detection range was expanded, allowing the sensor to detect highly concentrated nitrate samples up to 100 mg/L with a low detection limit of 0.065 mg/L. Additionally, the stability of the sensor was improved. The relative standard deviation of the current responses during 25 consecutive tests was only 1.03%. The wide detection range and high stability of the sensor makes it suitable for field applications and the on-site monitoring of nitrate-contaminated waters.

An electrochemical sensor based on a thin-layer flow cell and a boron-doped diamond (BDD) working electrode was fabricated for heavy metal ions determination using anodic stripping voltammetry. Furthermore, a fluidic automatic detection system was developed. With the wide potential window of the BDD electrode, Zn2+ with high negative stripping potential was detected by this system. Due to the thin-layer and fluidic structure of the sensor system, the electrodepositon efficiency for heavy metal ions were improved without using conventional stirring devices. With a short deposition time of 60 s, the system consumed only 0.75 mL reagent per test. A linear relationship for Zn2+ determination was displayed ranging from 10 μg/L to 150 μg/L with a sensitivity of 0.1218 μA·L·μg−1 and a detection limit of 2.1 μg/L. A high repeatability was indicated from the relative standard deviation of 1.60% for 30 repeated current responses of zinc solution. The system was applied to determine Zn2+ in real water samples by using the standard addition method with the recoveries ranging from 92% to 118%. The system was also used for the simultaneous detection of Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. The detection results indicate its potential application in on-site monitoring for mutiple heavy metal ions.

The online detection of partial discharge air decomposition components in switchgear is an effective means to monitor the running state of switchgear. Based on first principles, the adsorption and sensing properties of Pd, Co, Rh, Pt, and Au modified AlNNT for partial discharge air decomposition components in switchgear were studied, aiming to find materials with excellent sensitivity and selectivity. The adsorption energy, density of states, differential charge density, and molecular orbital theory were calculated, and the modification process and gas adsorption process were analyzed. The results show that AlNNT doped with Pd, Co, Rh, Pt, and Au has a good adsorption capacity for NO2 and NO. In addition, the doping of different metal atoms also shows other gas-sensitive properties to the gas molecules, which provides a feasible method to identify the decomposition components in the mixed characteristic decomposition gas.

This study investigated the grouped and individualized load-velocity profile (GLVP vs. ILVP) in Bulgarian split squat using Smith machine and free weight. Seventy five recreational male lifters completed two incremental loading tests of Bulgarian split squat. Mean velocity was measured by a linear-position transducer (GymAware). Linear regression equation was applied to construct the GLVP and ILVP. The agreement of predicted %1RM and measured %1RM was assessed by a combination of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV), standard error of measurement (SEM) and Bland-Altman analysis. Acceptable validity was defined as ICC > 0.75, CV ≤ 10% and p ≥ 0.05 (a paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test). A very high level of inverse load-velocity relationships were demonstrated in Bulgarian split squat (r = − 0.92) with free weights and a Smith machine. ILVP (ICC ≥ 0.98, CV ≤ 8.73%, p ≥ 0.56) was valid enough to predict the %1RM, but GLVP of both limbs revealed large CVs in free weights (CV: 15.4%,15.63%) and a Smith machine (CV: 11.24%, 12.25%). Cross-validation between the actual %1RM and predicted %1RM using free weights and a Smith machine ILVP was not acceptable (p ≤ 0.03, CV ≥ 14.07%). A very high level of inverse relationship were observed between %1RM and MV in Bulgarian split squat using free weights and a Smith machine, indicating individualized load velocity properties, and the ILVP showed high between-devices variability in both scenarios. Using velocity as a measure of loading intensity in Bulgarian split squat needs to consider the individualized load velocity properties, and difference between free weights and a Smith machine.

In addition to federated optimization, more current studies focus on incentive mechanism design problems for federated learning (FL), stimulating data owners to share their resources securely. Most existing works only considered data quantity but neglected other key factors like data quality and training time prediction. In combination with all the above factors, we proposed an online quality-aware incentive mechanism based on multi-dimensional reverse auction, QuoTa, for achieving fast FL. In particular, it first designs model quality detection to eliminate some malicious or dispensable devices based on their historical behaviors and marginal contributions. Due to the possible fluctuations of CPU frequency in realistic model training, it next predicts model training time based on the upper confidence bound algorithm. By combining the two modules, QuoTa incentivizes data owners with high data quality, high computing capability, and low cost to participate in the FL process. By rigorous theoretical proof and extensive experiments, we prove that QuoTa satisfies all desired economic properties and achieves higher model accuracy and less convergence time than the state-of-the-art work.

Abstract Background The establishment of non-invasive diagnostic method for multiple ovulation prediction is helpful to improve the efficiency of multiple ovulation. The blood hormones and metabolites would be suitable indexes for this subject. Methods In this study, 86 estrus ewes (65 of induced estrus (IE) and 21 of spontaneous estrus (SE)) were selected and the blood samples were collected at the day before follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) injection (1st) and before artificial insemination (2nd). The serum reproductive hormones ofFSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), 17β-Estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) were measured through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the untargeted metabolomics analysis was processed through LC–MS/MS. The embryos were collected after 6.5 days of artificial insemination. Results In total, 975 and 406 embryos were collected in IE and SE group, respectively. The analysis of reproductive hormones showed that concentrations of FSH, E2 and AMH were positive correlated with the embryo yield while concentrations of LH and P4 were negative correlated in both group at 1st detection. At 2nd detection, the trends of reproductive hormones were similar with 1st except P4, which was positive correlated with embryo yield. The metabolomics analysis showed that 1158 metabolites (721 in positive iron mode and 437 in negative iron mode) were detected and 617 were annotated. In 1st comparation of high and low embryonic yield populations, 56 and 53 differential metabolites were identified in IE and SE group, respectively. The phosphatidyl choline (PC) (19:0/20:5) and PC (18:2/18:3) were shared in two groups. In 2nd comparation, 48 and 49 differential metabolites were identified in IE and SE group, respectively. The PC (18:1/18:2) and pentadecanoic acid were shared. Most differential metabolites were significantly enriched in amino acid, fatty acid metabolism, digestive system secretion and ovarian steroidogenesis pathways. Conclusions This study showed that FSH, P4, AMH, the PC relevant metabolites and some anomic acids could be potential biomarkers for embryonic yield prediction in ovine multiple ovulation. The results would help to explain the relation between blood material and ovarian function and provide a theoretical basis for the multiple ovulation prediction.

Measurement(s) whole genome sequencing Technology Type(s) Illumina Sequencing • Oxford Nanopore Sequencing

The polarly localized BASL protein controls asymmetric cell division during stomatal lineage development in Arabidopsis. Here, the authors show that BASL polarization depends on PRAF/RLD proteins that interact with GNOM and suggest a role for endosomal trafficking in establishing polarity.

We report the first draft genome assembly for Prochilodus magdalenae, the leading representative species of the Prochilodontidae family in Colombia. This 1.2-Gb assembly, with a GC content of 42.0% and a repetitive content of around 31.0%, is in the range of previously reported characid species genomes. Annotation identified 34,725 nuclear genes, and BUSCO completeness value was 94.9%. Gene ontology and primary metabolic pathway annotations indicate similar gene profiles for P. magdalenae and the closest species with annotated genomes: blind cave fish (Astyanax mexicanus) and red piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri). A comparative analysis showed similar genome traits to other characid species. The fully sequenced and annotated mitochondrial genome reproduces the taxonomic classification of P. magdalenae and confirms the low mitochondrial genetic divergence inside the Prochilodus genus. Phylogenomic analysis, using nuclear single-copy orthologous genes, also confirmed the evolutionary position of the species. This genome assembly provides a high-resolution genetic resource for sustainable P. magdalenae management in Colombia and, as the first genome assembly for the Prochilodontidae family, will contribute to fish genomics throughout South America.

Individual cone snail (Conus sp.) contains thousands of bioactive peptides, but there are limited studies on its antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Here, we investigated AMPs along with AMP-derived genes in the representative Chinese tubular cone snail (C. betulinus) by integration of our previously published multi-omics (genomics, transcriptomics, and peptidomics) data. We identified a total of 466 putative AMP-derived genes from the genome, and most of them were annotated as histones. While at the mRNA level, only 77 AMP-derived genes were confirmed with transcriptomic evidence, among them Ubiquicidin, cgUbiquitin, Ap, and VK10 were the most abundant transcripts in the venom gland. In addition, 30 AMPs were further validated by peptidomics data. After in silico analysis including 3D modeling, 11 putative AMPs were chemically synthesized for an in vitro assessment, and eight peptides were proved with good antifungal activity. In summary, this work systematically characterized the AMP repertoire in C. betulinus. This valuable genetic resource provides a solid foundation for in-depth therapeutic applications and drug development.

The economically important Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) is a world-famous fast-swimming fish, but its genomic information is limited. Here, we performed whole genome sequencing and assembled a draft genome for Southern bluefin tuna, aiming to generate useful genetic data for comparative functional prediction. The final genome assembly is 806.54 Mb, with scaffold and contig N50 values of 3.31 Mb and 67.38 kb, respectively. Genome completeness was evaluated to be 95.8%. The assembled genome contained 23,403 protein-coding genes and 236.1 Mb of repeat sequences (accounting for 29.27% of the entire assembly). Comparative genomics analyses of this fast-swimming tuna revealed that it had more than twice as many hemoglobin genes (18) as other relatively slow-moving fishes (such as seahorse, sunfish, and tongue sole). These hemoglobin genes are mainly localized in two big clusters (termed as “MNˮ and “LAˮ respectively), which is consistent with other reported fishes. However, Thr39 of beta-hemoglobin in the MN cluster, conserved in other fishes, was mutated as cysteine in tunas including the Southern bluefin tuna. Since hemoglobins are reported to transport oxygen efficiently for aerobic respiration, our genomic data suggest that both high copy numbers of hemoglobin genes and an adjusted function of the beta-hemoglobin may support the fast-swimming activity of tunas. In summary, we produced a primary genome assembly and predicted hemoglobin-related roles for the fast-swimming Southern bluefin tuna.

Exercises can be categorized into either unilateral or bilateral movements. Despite the topic popularity, the answer to the question as to which (unilateral or bilateral) is superior for a certain athletic performance enhancement remains unclear. To compare the effect of unilateral and bilateral resistance training interventions on measures of athletic performance. Keywords related with unilateral, bilateral and performance were used to search in the Web of Science, PubMed databases, and Google Scholar and ResearchGate™ websites. 6365 articles were initially identified, 14 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis, with overall article quality being deemed moderate. The quantitative analysis comprised 392 subjects (aged: 16 to 26 years). Sub-group analysis showed that unilateral exercise resistance training resulted in a large effect in improving unilateral jump performance compared to bilateral training (ES = 0.89 [0.52, 1.26]). In contrast, bilateral exercise resistance training showed a small effect in improving bilateral strength compared to unilateral (ES = -0.43 [-0.71, -0.14]). Non-significant differences were found in improving unilateral strength (ES = 0.26 [-0.03, 0.55]), bilateral jump performance (ES = -0.04 [-0.31, 0.23]), change of direction (COD) (ES = 0.31 [-0.01, 0.63]) and speed (ES = -0.12 [-0.46, 0.21]) performance. Unilateral resistance training exercises should be chosen for improving unilateral jumping performance, and bilateral resistance training exercises should be chosen for improving bilateral strength performance.

Abstract Background Global climate oscillation, as a selection dynamic, is an ecologically important element resulting in global biodiversity. During the glacial geological periods, most organisms suffered detrimental selection pressures (such as food shortage and habitat loss) and went through population declines. However, during the mild interglacial periods, many species re-flourished. These temporal dynamics of effective population sizes (N e ) provide essential information for understanding and predicting evolutionary outcomes during historical and ongoing global climate changes. Results Using high-quality genome assemblies and corresponding sequencing data, we applied the Pairwise Sequentially Markovian Coalescent (PSMC) method to quantify N e changes of twelve representative teleost species from approximately 10 million years ago (mya) to 10 thousand years ago (kya). These results revealed multiple rounds of population contraction and expansion in most of the examined teleost species during the Neogene and the Quaternary periods. We observed that 83% (10/12) of the examined teleosts had experienced a drastic decline in N e before the last glacial period (LGP, 110–12 kya), slightly earlier than the reported pattern of N e changes in 38 avian species. In comparison with the peaks, almost all of the examined teleosts maintained long-term lower N e values during the last few million years. This is consistent with increasingly dramatic glaciation during this period. Conclusion In summary, these findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of the historical N e changes in teleosts. Results presented here could lead to the development of appropriate strategies to protect species in light of ongoing global climate changes.

Recently, the prevalence of hypertension has become a global challenge. Therefore, tremendous efforts have been made to identify and purify antihypertensive peptides (AHTPs) from food-derived proteins to aid the discovery of new hypotensive drugs with fewer side effects. In this study, we performed high-throughput prediction of AHTPs based on multi-omics data, providing an overview of AHTPs in the lined seahorse proteins and suggesting their potential application as bioactive agents to lower blood pressure. We identified 14,695 AHTP-derived genes in the lined seahorse, and most of them were supported by transcriptomic evidence, whereas only 495 genes were further detected by proteome sequencing. Among these predicted AHTP-derived genes, the longest titin had the most hits with 104 AHTPs, some of which were clustered in exon 158, 194, and 204. Another AHTP-rich group was in the collagen family, and four AHTP-rich collagens exhibited much higher transcription in the pouch than in other examined tissues, including brain, testis, and embryos. Additionally, antihypertensive triplets, comprised of the permutations of Gly, Pro, and Lys, prevailed in all collagen sequences due to the representative XaaYaaGly repeat units. In summary, our present findings provide a solid basis for understanding the abundance of various AHTPs in the lined seahorse as well as shed light on the development of antihypertensive products and drugs using seahorses as an important resource.

Abstract Background The rapid development of technology such as sensors and artificial intelligence in recent years enables monitoring frailty criteria to assess frailty early and accurately from a remote location such as a home. However, research shows technologies being abandoned or rejected by users due to a lack of compatibility and consumer involvement in selecting their assistive technology devices. This study aims to understand older adults’ perceptions and preferences of technologies that can potentially assess frailty at home. Methods This study collected qualitative data through focus group meetings with 15 participants ages 65 and older. Researchers asked participants questions to achieve the goal of understanding their attitudes on the technologies. These questions include (1) the concerns or barriers of installing and using the presented technology in daily life at home, (2) the reasons participants like or dislike a particular technology, (3) what makes a specific technology more acceptable, and (4) participants’ preferences in choosing technologies. Data were transcribed, coded and categorized, and finally synthesized to understand the attitudes towards presented technologies. Results Three focus group sessions were conducted with five participants in each session. In the findings, the attitudes and perspectives of participants on the technologies for assessing frailty were categorized into four themes: (A) general attitude towards using the technologies, (B) conditions for accepting certain technologies, (C) existing living habits or patterns related to using the technologies, and (D) constructive suggestions related to the technologies. Conclusions Participants generally had positive attitudes towards allowing the technologies to be installed and used at their homes. They would accept some technologies if used under certain conditions. However, questions and concerns remain, such as concerns about privacy, functionality, and aesthetics. The study also found that older adults’ living habits or patterns could affect the design and use of technology. Lastly, many valuable suggestions have been made by participants. These perspectives and insights can help improve the design and adoption of home-based frailty assessment technologies among older adults.

Abstract Background Although almost all extant spider species live in terrestrial environments, a few species live fully submerged in freshwater or seawater. The intertidal spiders (genus Desis) built silk nests within coral crevices can survive submerged in high tides. The diving bell spider, Argyroneta aquatica, resides in a similar dynamic environment but exclusively in freshwater. Given the pivotal role played by mitochondria in supplying most energy for physiological activity via oxidative phosphorylation and the environment, herein we sequenced the complete mitogenome of Desis jiaxiangi to investigate the adaptive evolution of the aquatic spider mitogenomes and the evolution of spiders. Results We assembled a complete mitogenome of the intertidal spider Desis jiaxiangi and performed comparative mitochondrial analyses of data set comprising of Desis jiaxiangi and other 45 previously published spider mitogenome sequences, including that of Argyroneta aquatica. We found a unique transposition of trnL2 and trnN genes in Desis jiaxiangi. Our robust phylogenetic topology clearly deciphered the evolutionary relationships between Desis jiaxiangi and Argyroneta aquatica as well as other spiders. We dated the divergence of Desis jiaxiangi and Argyroneta aquatica to the late Cretaceous at ~ 98 Ma. Our selection analyses detected a positive selection signal in the nd4 gene of the aquatic branch comprising both Desis jiaxiangi and Argyroneta aquatica. Surprisingly, Pirata subpiraticus, Hypochilus thorelli, and Argyroneta aquatica each had a higher Ka/Ks value in the 13 PCGs dataset among 46 taxa with complete mitogenomes, and these three species also showed positive selection signal in the nd6 gene. Conclusions Our finding of the unique transposition of trnL2 and trnN genes indicates that these genes may have experienced rearrangements in the history of intertidal spider evolution. The positive selection signals in the nd4 and nd6 genes might enable a better understanding of the spider metabolic adaptations in relation to different environments. Our construction of a novel mitogenome for the intertidal spider thus sheds light on the evolutionary history of spiders and their mitogenomes.

A highly sensitive and accurate dual-signal strategy is developed for trace Cu2+ detection based on the inner filter effect (IFE) between Tween 20-gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). Tween 20-AuNPs are utilized as colorimetric probes and excellent fluorescent absorbers. The fluorescence of CdSe/ZnS QDs can be quenched efficiently by Tween 20-AuNPs via IFE. In the presence of D-penicillamine, D-penicillamine induces the aggregation of Tween 20-AuNPs and the fluorescent recovery of CdSe/ZnS QDs at high ionic strength. Upon addition of Cu2+, D-penicillamine tends to selectively chelate with Cu2+ and then forms the mixed-valence complexes, which consequently inhibits the aggregation of Tween 20-AuNPs and the fluorescent recovery. The dual-signal method is used to quantitatively detect trace Cu2+, with low detection limits of 0.57 μg/L and 0.36 μg/L for colorimetry and fluorescence, respectively. In addition, the proposed method using a portable spectrometer is applied to the detection of Cu2+ in water. This sensitive, accurate and miniature sensing system has potential in environmental evaluations.

As a highly toxic heavy metal ion, mercury ion (Hg2+) pollution has caused serious harm to the environment and human health. In this paper, 4-mercaptopyridine (4-MPY) was selected as the sensing material and decorated on the surface of a gold electrode. Trace Hg2+ could be detected by both differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. The proposed sensor displayed a wide detection range from 0.01 μg/L to 500 μg/L with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.002 μg/L by EIS measurements. Combined with molecular simulations and electrochemical analyses, the chelating mechanism between Hg2+ and 4-MPY was explored. Through the analysis of binding energy (BE) values and stability constants, 4-MPY showed an excellent selectivity for Hg2+. In the presence of Hg2+, the coordination of Hg2+ with the pyridine nitrogen of 4-MPY was generated at the sensing region, which caused a change in the electrochemical activity of the electrode surface. Due to the strong specific binding capability, the proposed sensor featured excellent selectivity and an anti-interference capability. Furthermore, the practicality of the sensor for Hg2+ detection was validated with the samples of tap water and pond water, which demonstrated its potential application for on-site environmental detection.

Ammonia nitrogen is a common contaminant in water and its determination is important for environmental protection. In this paper, an electrochemical sensor based on an ultramicro interdigitated array electrode (UIAE) chip with optimized construction was fabricated with Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) technology and developed to realize the detection of ammonia nitrogen in water. The effects of spacing-to-width ratio and width of the working electrode on UIAE’s electrochemical characteristics and its ammonia nitrogen detection performance were studied by finite element simulation and experiment. The results demonstrated that the smaller the spacing-to-width ratio, the stronger generation–collection effect, and the smaller the electrode width, the stronger the edge effect, which led to an easier steady-state reach, a higher response current, and better ammonia nitrogen determination performance. The fabricated UIAE chip with optimized construction showed the linear detection range of 0.15 mg/L~2.0 mg/L (calculated as N), the sensitivity of 0.4181 μA·L·mg−1, and good anti-interference performance, as well as a long lifetime. UIAE based on bare Pt was successfully applied to ammonia nitrogen detection in water by optimizing structure, which might broaden the methods of ammonia nitrogen detection in water.

Abstract Although there are various Conus species with publicly available transcriptome and proteome data, no genome assembly has been reported yet. Here, using Chinese tubular cone snail (C. betulinus) as a representative, we sequenced and assembled the first Conus genome with original identification of 133 genome-widely distributed conopeptide genes. After integration of our genomics, transcriptomics, and peptidomics data in the same species, we established a primary genetic central dogma of diverse conopeptides, assuming a rough number ratio of ~1:1:1:10s for the total genes: transcripts: proteins: post-translationally modified peptides. This ratio may be special for this worm-hunting Conus species, due to the high diversity of various Conus genomes and the big number ranges of conopeptide genes, transcripts, and peptides in previous reports of diverse Conus species. Only a fraction (45.9%) of the identified conotopeptide genes from our achieved genome assembly are transcribed with transcriptomic evidence, and few genes individually correspond to multiple transcripts possibly due to intraspecies or mutation-based variances. Variable peptide processing at the proteomic level, generating a big diversity of venom conopeptides with alternative cleavage sites, post-translational modifications, and N-/C-terminal truncations, may explain how the 133 genes and ~123 transcripts can generate thousands of conopeptides in the venom of individual C. betulinus. We also predicted many conopeptides with high stereostructural similarities to the putative analgesic ω-MVIIA, addiction therapy AuIB and insecticide ImI, suggesting that our current genome assembly for C. betulinus is a valuable genetic resource for high-throughput prediction and development of potential pharmaceuticals.

As an important hormone, melatonin participates in endocrine regulation of diverse functions in vertebrates. Its biosynthesis is catalyzed by four cascaded enzymes, among them, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) is the most critical one. Although only single aanat gene has been identified in most groups of vertebrates, researchers including us have determined that fish have the most diverse of aanat genes (aanat1a, aanat1b, and aanat2), playing various potential roles such as seasonal migration, amphibious aerial vision, and cave or deep-sea adaptation. With the rapid development of genome and transcriptome sequencing, more and more putative sequences of fish aanat genes are going to be available. Related phylogeny and functional investigations will enrich our understanding of AANAT functions in various fish species.

Macrobrachium nipponense is an economically important prawn species and common in Chinese inland capture fisheries. During aquaculture, M. nipponense can survive under freshwater and low salinity conditions. The molecular mechanism underlying the response to salinity acclimation remains unclear in this species; thus, in this study, we used the Illumina RNA sequencing platform for transcriptome analyses of the gill and hepatopancreas tissues of M. nipponense exposed to salinity stress [0.4‰ (S0, control group), 6‰ (S6, low salinity group), and 12‰ (S12, high salinity group)]. Differentially expressed genes were identified, and several important salinity adaptation-related terms and signaling pathways were found to be enriched, such as “ion transport,” “oxidative phosphorylation,” and “glycometabolism.” Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated the participation of 12 key genes in osmotic pressure regulation in M. nipponense under acute salinity stress. Further, the role of carbonic anhydrase in response to salinity acclimation was investigated by subjecting the gill tissues of M. nipponense to in situ hybridization. Collectively, the results reported herein enhance our understanding of the mechanisms via which M. nipponense adapts to changes in salinity.

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been certified to be involved in the occurrence and growth of diverse cancers, including CRC. The purpose of the research was to explore the effects of lncRNA KCNQ1 overlapping transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) on proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis in CRC cells and its mechanism. Methods The levels of KCNQ1OT1 and miR-329-3p were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in CRC tissues and cells. The mRNA and protein levels of catenin delta-1 (CTNND1) were measured by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The targets of KCNQ1OT1 and miR-329-3p were predicted by online software and confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. The cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were examined using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), transwell, and apoptosis assay. The expression levels of CyclinD1, Bcl-2, MMP9, Cleaved-casp-3, and E-cadherin in SW480 and LS1034 cells were gauged by western blot analysis. Xenograft tumor model was structured to prove the biological role of KCNQ1OT1 of CRC in vivo. Results The levels of KCNQ1OT1 and CTNND1 were significantly increased in CRC tissues and cells. Knockdown of KCNQ1OT1 suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis in CRC cells. Conversely, CTNND1 overexpression reversed the impact of KCNQ1OT1 knockdown on CRC cells. Moreover, CTNND1 was verified as a direct target of miR-329-3p, and miR-329-3p could specially bind to KCNQ1OT1. Also, the down-regulation of KCNQ1OT1 triggered the CRC progress by up-regulating CTNND1 expression in CRC cells. Besides, KCNQ1OT1 knockdown inhibited CRC tumor growth through the miR-329-3p/CTNND1 axis in vivo. Conclusion Our results indicated that KCNQ1OT1 could positively regulate CTNND1 expression by sponging miR-329-3p, thereby boosting the progression of CRC. Our findings provided the underlying therapy targets for CRC.

Cone snail venoms have been considered a valuable treasure for international scientists and businessmen, mainly due to their pharmacological applications in development of marine drugs for treatment of various human diseases. To date, around 800 Conus species are recorded, and each of them produces over 1,000 venom peptides (termed as conopeptides or conotoxins). This reflects the high diversity and complexity of cone snails, although most of their venoms are still uncharacterized. Advanced multiomics (such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics) approaches have been recently developed to mine diverse Conus venom samples, with the main aim to predict and identify potentially interesting conopeptides in an efficient way. Some bioinformatics techniques have been applied to predict and design novel conopeptide sequences, related targets, and their binding modes. This review provides an overview of current knowledge on the high diversity of conopeptides and multiomics advances in high-throughput prediction of novel conopeptide sequences, as well as molecular modeling and design of potential drugs based on the predicted or validated interactions between these toxins and their molecular targets.

Most studies investigating mental fatigue (MF) in soccer utilized a computerized Stroop task to induce MF. However, the traditional key-pressing task has been challenged for its lack of ecological validity. The limited relevance to real-life soccer made it difficult to bridge the gap between the research and the applied setting. Therefore, a novel soccer-specific inducing task is in urgent need. This study compared a novel MF-inducing task in soccer with the Stroop task and investigated the impact of induced MF on cognitive and soccer-specific skill performance. A randomized, counterbalanced crossover design was employed. Fifteen well-trained male soccer players randomly participated in three MF-inducing tasks. Two of them were motor tasks consisting of 10 repeated interval Loughborough Soccer Passing Test (10xLSPT or LSPT) in clockwise passing order (10xC-LSPT) with each block starting every 2 min. The two tasks share the same movement pattern, but C-LSPT is considered to have lower cognitive demands. The third was the 20-min Stroop task (Stroop-20). MF was assessed immediately before and after each task by visual analog scale (VAS), the cognitive performance in a 3-min Stroop task, and the skill performance in one LSPT. Subjective MF increased similarly after 10xLSPT and Stroop-20 (+ 25.4 ± 10.3 vs. + 23.4 ± 10.8 AU, p = 0.607). The induced MF by 10xLSPT and Stroop-20 had no impact on cognitive performance and movement time but similarly affected in a significantly negative manner on penalty time (+ 5.9 ± 4.9 vs. + 5.4 ± 4.2 s, p = 0.748) and passing accuracy (–1.4 ± 1.5 vs. –1.0 ± 1.3, p = 0.465). Two motor tasks shared similar intensity, but 10xC-LSPT was inefficient to induce MF. The results showed that the 20-min repeated interval LSPT could induce a similar MF as the Stroop task. The induced MF had detrimental effects on soccer skill performance. The novel motor task is recommended for MF studies in soccer as an inducement task. Practitioners should be cautious about the prolonged cognitive-demanding skill section of the pre-match warm-up to avoid the negative effect of MF on the upcoming match. This motor task pattern could be followed as a supplementary training protocol.

Industrial emissions of volatile organic compounds are urgently addressed for their toxicity and carcinogenicity to humans. Developing efficient and eco-friendly reforming technology of volatile organic compounds is important but still a great challenge. A promising strategy is to generate hydrogen-rich gas for solid oxide fuel cells by autothermal reforming of VOCs. In this study, we found a more desirable commercial catalyst (NiO/K2O-γ-Al2O3) for the autothermal reforming of VOCs. The performance of autothermal reforming of toluene as a model compound over a NiO/K2O-γ-Al2O3 catalyst fitted well with the simulation results at the optimum operating conditions calculated based on a simulation using Aspen PlusV11.0 software. Furthermore, the axial temperature distribution of the catalyst bed was monitored during the reaction, which demonstrated that the reaction system was self-sustaining. Eventually, actual volatile organic compounds from the chemical factory (C9, C10, toluene, paraxylene, diesel, benzene, kerosene, raffinate oil) were completely reformed over NiO/K2O-γ-Al2O3. Reducing emissions of VOCs and generating hydrogen-rich gas as a fuel from the autothermal reforming of VOCs is a promising strategy.

An adult Sinocyclocheilus maitianheensis, a surface-dwelling golden-line barbel fish, was collected from Maitian river (Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China) for whole-genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation. We obtained a genome assembly of 1.7 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 1.4 Mb and a contig N50 of 24.7 kb. A total of 39,977 protein-coding genes were annotated. Based on a comparative phylogenetic analysis of five Sinocyclocheilus species and other five representative vertebrates with published genome sequences, we found that S. maitianheensis is close to Sinocyclocheilus anophthalmus (a cave-restricted species with similar locality). Moreover, the assembled genomes of S. maitianheensis and other four Sinocyclocheilus counterparts were used for a fourfold degenerative third-codon transversion (4dTv) analysis. The recent whole-genome duplication (WGD) event was therefore estimated to occur about 18.1 million years ago. Our results also revealed a decreased tendency of copy number in many important genes related to immunity and apoptosis in cave-restricted Sinocyclocheilus species. In summary, we report the first genome assembly of S. maitianheensis, which provides a valuable genetic resource for comparative studies on cavefish biology, species protection, and practical aquaculture of this potentially economical fish.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the validity and reliability of a phone app [named: change of direction (COD) timer] and stopwatches for the measurement of COD performance.Methods: Sixty-two youth basketball players (age: 15.9±1.4yrs., height: 178.8±11.0cm, and body mass: 70.0±14.1kg) performed six trials of 505 COD test (with the left side being the plant leg first, then the right side). The completion time was measured simultaneously via timing gates (with error correction processing algorithms), the phone app, and stopwatches.Results: There was an almost perfect correlation and agreement between timing gates and COD timer (r=0.978; SEE=0.035s; and LoA=−0.08~0.06s), but a lower correlation and agreement between timing gates and stopwatch (r=0.954; SEE=0.050s; and LoA=−0.17~0.04s) with statistical significance in completion time (ES=1.29, 95%CI: 1.15–1.43, p

Spiny head croaker (Collichthys lucidus), belonging to the family Sciaenidae, is a small economic fish with a main distribution in the coastal waters of Northwestern Pacific. Here, we constructed a nonredundant chromosome-level genome assembly of spiny head croaker and also made genome-wide investigations on genome evolution and gene families related to otolith development. A primary genome assembly of 811.23 Mb, with a contig N50 of 74.92 kb, was generated by a combination of 49.12-Gb Illumina clean reads and 35.24 Gb of PacBio long reads. Contigs of this draft assembly were further anchored into chromosomes by integration with additional 185.33-Gb Hi-C data, resulting in a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of 817.24 Mb, with an improved scaffold N50 of 26.58 Mb. Based on our phylogenetic analysis, we observed that C. lucidus is much closer to Larimichthys crocea than Miichthys miiuy. We also predicted that many gene families were significantly expanded (p-value

Melanin is the most prevalent pigment in animals. Its synthesis involves a series of functional genes. Particularly, teleosts have more copies of these genes related to the melanin synthesis than tetrapods. Despite the increasing number of available vertebrate genomes, a few systematically genomic studies were reported to identify and compare these core genes for the melanin synthesis. Here, we performed a comparative genomic analysis on several core genes, including tyrosinase genes (tyr, tyrp1, and tyrp2), premelanosome protein (pmel), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (mitf), and solute carrier family 24 member 5 (slc24a5), based on 90 representative vertebrate genomes. Gene number and mutation identification suggest that loss-of-function mutations in these core genes may interact to generate an albinism phenotype. We found nonsense mutations in tyrp1a and pmelb of an albino golden-line barbel fish, in pmelb of an albino deep-sea snailfish (Pseudoliparis swirei), in slc24a5 of cave-restricted Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus, cavefish population), and in mitf of a transparent icefish (Protosalanx hyalocranius). Convergent evolution may explain this phenomenon since nonsense mutations in these core genes for melanin synthesis have been identified across diverse albino fishes. These newly identified nonsense mutations and gene loss will provide molecular guidance for ornamental fish breeding, further enhancing our in-depth understanding of human skin coloration.

Hadal environments (depths below 6,000 m) are characterized by extremely high hydrostatic pressures, low temperatures, a scarce food supply, and little light. The evolutionary adaptations that allow vertebrates to survive in this extreme environment are poorly understood. Here, we constructed a high-quality reference genome for Yap hadal snailfish (YHS), which was captured at a depth of ~7,000 m in the Yap Trench. The final YHS genome assembly was 731.75 Mb, with a contig N50 of 0.75 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 1.26 Mb. We predicted 24,329 protein-coding genes in the YHS genome, and 24,265 of these genes were successfully functionally annotated. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that YHS diverged from a Mariana Trench snailfish approximately 0.92 million years ago. Many genes associated with DNA repair show evidence of positive selection and have expanded copy numbers in the YHS genome, possibly helping to maintain the integrity of DNA under increased hydrostatic pressure. The levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a potent protein stabilizer, are much higher in the muscles of YHS than in those of shallow-water fish. This difference is perhaps due to the five copies of the TMAO-generating enzyme flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 gene (fmo3) in the YHS genome and the abundance of trimethylamine (TMA)-generating bacteria in the YHS gut. Thus, the high TMAO content might help YHS adapt to high hydrostatic pressure by improving protein stability. Additionally, the evolutionary features of the YHS genes encoding sensory-related proteins are consistent with the scarce food supply and darkness in the hadal environments. These results clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of hadal organisms to the deep-sea environment and provide valuable genomic resources for in-depth investigations of hadal biology.

Early identification of frailty is crucial to prevent or reverse its progression but faces challenges due to frailty’s insidious onset. Monitoring behavioral changes in real life may offer opportunities for the early identification of frailty before clinical visits. This study presented a sensor-based system that used heterogeneous sensors and cloud technologies to monitor behavioral and physical signs of frailty from home settings. We aimed to validate the concurrent validity of the sensor measurements. The sensor system consisted of multiple types of ambient sensors, a smart speaker, and a smart weight scale. The selection of these sensors was based on behavioral and physical signs associated with frailty. Older adults’ perspectives were also included in the system design. The sensor system prototype was tested in a simulated home lab environment with nine young, healthy participants. Cohen’s Kappa and Bland–Altman Plot were used to evaluate the agreements between the sensor and ground truth measurements. Excellent concurrent validity was achieved for all sensors except for the smart weight scale. The bivariate correlation between the smart and traditional weight scales showed a strong, positive correlation between the two measurements (r = 0.942, n = 24, p < 0.001). Overall, this work showed that the Frailty Toolkit (FT) is reliable for monitoring physical and behavioral signs of frailty in home settings.

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is commonly used in gas insulated switchgears (GIS) as an insulating medium. When local overheating or partial discharge occurs in GIS, SF6 may be decomposed into various products including CO. In this paper, based on the photoacoustic (PA) effect of gas molecules, the infrared absorption line at 6380.318 cm−1 was chosen as the target line. An infrared laser with a center wavelength of 1567 nm was chosen as the light source, and a cantilever enhanced PA detector was used as the sensor; then, the experimental platform was constructed. The influence of the temperature and pressure on the infrared absorption coefficient of CO was analyzed. The relationship of the PA signal and the CO concentration under the background of SF6 and N2 were obtained. The results show that the temperature has a great influence on the CO absorption coefficient while the influence of pressure is negligible, and the temperature influential coefficient is about 5.0 × 10−6 cm−1/°C. The detection system has the highest signal-to-noise ratio when the frequency of the chopper is 40 Hz. Under N2 and SF6 background gases, there is a good linear relationship between CO concentration and pure PA signals. The minimum detection limit of CO in the background of N2 is 3.63 ppm, while it is 9.88 ppm in SF6. The different kinds of the background gases can influence the PA signals. The PA signals decrease with the increase of the temperature of the gas cell, and they also decrease with the increase of the pressure.

Stomata are specialized pores in the epidermis of the aerial parts of a plant, where stomatal guard cells close and open to regulate gas exchange with the atmosphere and restrict excessive water vapor from the plant. The production and patterning of the stomatal lineage cells in higher plants are influenced by the activities of the widely-used mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling components. The phenotype caused by the loss-of-function mutations suggested pivotal roles of the canonical MAPK pathway in the suppression of stomatal formation and regulation of stomatal patterning in Arabidopsis, whilst the cell type-specific manipulation of individual MAPK components revealed the existence of a positive impact on stomatal production. Among a large number of putative MAPK substrates in plants, the nuclear transcription factors SPEECHLESS (SPCH) and SCREAM (SCRM) are targets of MAPK 3 and 6 (MPK3/6) in the inhibition of stomatal formation. The polarity protein BREAKING OF ASYMMETRY IN THE STOMATAL LINEAGE (BASL) is phosphorylated by MPK3/6 for localization and function in driving divisional asymmetries. Here, by functionally characterizing three MAPK SUBSTRATES IN THE STOMATAL LINEAGE (MASS) proteins, we establish that they are plasma membrane-associated, positive regulators of stomatal production. MPK6 can phosphorylate the MASS proteins in vitro and mutating the putative substrate sites interferes the subcellular partition and function of MASS in planta. Our fine-scale domain analyses identify critical subdomains of MASS2 required for specific subcellular localization and biological function, respectively. Furthermore, our data indicate that the MASS proteins may directly interact with the MAPKK Kinase YODA (YDA) at the plasma membrane. Thus, the deeply conserved MASS proteins are tightly connected with MAPK signaling in Arabidopsis to fine-tune stomatal production and patterning, providing a functional divergence of the YDA-MPK3/6 cascade in the regulation of plant developmental processes.

Serotonin is important in vertebrates for its crucial roles in regulation of various physiological functions. Investigations on how the biosynthesizing enzymes mediate serotonin production and conversion during biological processes have been active in the past decades. However, a clear-cut picture of these enzymes in molecular evolution is very limited, particularly when the complexity is imaginable in fishes since teleosts had experienced additional whole genome duplication (WGD) event(s) than tetrapods. Since serotonin is the main intermediate product during melatonin biosynthesis from tryptophan, we therefore summarize an overview of recent discoveries about molecular evolution of the four melatonin biosynthesizing enzymes, especially the L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD) for serotonin production and aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) for serotonin conversion in vertebrates. Novel copies of these genes, possibly due to WGD, were discovered in fishes. Detailed sequence comparisons revealed various variant sites in these newly identified genes, suggesting functional changes from the conventional recognition of these enzymes. These interesting advances will benefit readers to obtain new insights into related genomic differences between mammals and fishes, with an emphasis on the potential specificity for AANAT in naturally cave-restricted and deep-sea fishes.

Trace mercury ion (Hg2+) detection is important for environmental monitoring and water safety. In this work, we study the electrochemical strategy to detect trace Hg2+ based on the preconcentration of temperature-controlled N-octylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate ([OPy][BF4]) dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction. The [OPy][BF4] selectively extracted Hg2+ from aqueous solution by the adsorption of unsaturated N in [OPy][BF4], which increased the concentration of Hg2+ and decreased that of other interference ions. It was noted that the adsorption of [OPy][BF4] to Hg2+ was weakened by aqueous solution. Hence, after extraction, precipitated [OPy][BF4] was diluted by a buffer solution comprising a mixture of water and acetonitrile to release Hg2+ and the single was detected by electrochemistry. Water is proposed to release Hg2+ adsorbed by [OPy][BF4], and the acetonitrile serves as a co-solvent in buffer solution. Sensitivity and anti-inference ability of sensors were improved using the proposed method and Hg2+ releasing procedure. The detection limit (S/N = 3) of the sensor is 0.0315 μg/L with a linear range from 0.1 to 1 μg/L. And the sensor exhibits good recovery with an range from 106 % to 118%, which has great potential for trace Hg2+ determination.