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Berberine acts via multiple pathways to alleviate fibrosis in various tissues and shows renoprotective effects. However, its role and underlying mechanisms in renal fibrosis remain unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of berberine against unilateral ureteric obstruction‐induced renal fibrosis. The results indicated that berberine treatment (50 mg/kg/day) markedly alleviated histopathological alterations, collagen deposition and inflammatory cell infiltration in kidney tissue and restored mouse renal function. Mechanistically, berberine intervention inhibited NOD‐like receptor family pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and the levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL‐1β in the kidneys of unilateral ureteric obstruction mice. In addition, berberine relieved unilateral ureteric obstruction‐induced renal injury by activating adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling and promoting fatty acid β‐oxidation. In vitro models showed that berberine treatment prevented the TGF‐β1‐induced profibrotic phenotype of hexokinase 2 (HK‐2) cells, characterized by loss of an epithelial phenotype (alpha smooth muscle actin [α‐SMA]) and acquisition of mesenchymal marker expression (E‐cadherin), by restoring abnormal fatty acid β‐oxidation and upregulating the expression of the fatty acid β‐oxidation related‐key enzymes or regulators (phosphorylated‐AMPK, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha [PPARα] and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A [CPT1A]). Collectively, berberine alleviated renal fibrosis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and protected tubular epithelial cells by reversing defective fatty acid β‐oxidation. Our findings might be exploited clinically to provide a potential novel therapeutic strategy for renal fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the "host-guest" combination has been conducted upon the utilization of dual industrial solid wastes, namely, spent FCC catalyst and red mud. The host of cancrinite zeolite was successfully synthesized under the optimum conditions of pre-treatment temperature of 500 °C for 4 h, spent FCC catalyst to NaOH of 0.8 (mass ratio), nitric acid to red mud of 5 (volume/mass), 140 °C for 12 h. The as-synthesized cancrinite sample had the maximum specific surface area of 251 m2/g, resulting in the relative leachability for Ni2+ (0.03%) and V2+ (0.38%) much better than that of spent FCC catalyst. The "host-guest" rule was discussed to reveal the mechanism for heavy metal ions stabilized into cancrinite zeolite. The feasibility (sources, synthesis methods, energy consumption and performance) of the present study was evaluated on a medium level by comparison with other literatures. Finally, the cost assessment of cancrinite zeolite was checked and the production cost was about 8 $/kg, decreasing the production price by at least 95% compared to commercial zeolites. Thus, the present study showed the feasibility and potential of solid wastes for stabilizing heavy metal ions, particularly in an advantage of the cost-effectiveness. [Display omitted] • Host-guest combination for cancrinite zeolite was achieved from dual solid wastes. • Stabilization efficiency directly related to cancrinite structural features. • Host-guest rule in cancrinite for heavy metal stabilization was suggested. • Feasibility and cost-effectivity of synthesized cancrinite zeolite were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are the important biomarker for cancer diagnosis and individualized treatment. However, due to the extreme rarity of CTCs (only 1–10 CTCs are found in every milliliter of peripheral blood) high sensitivity and selectivity are urgently needed for CTC detection. Here, a sandwich PEC cytosensor for the ultrasensitive detection of CTCs was developed using the photoactive material Au NP/-Fe2O3 and core-shell CdSe@CdS QD sensitizer. In the proposed protocol, the CdSe@CdS QD/Au NP/α-Fe2O3-sensitized structure with cascade band-edge levels could evidently promote the photoelectric conversion efficiency due to suitable light absorption and efficient electron-hole pair recombination inhibition. Additionally, a dendritic aptamer-DNA concatemer was constructed for highly efficient capture of MCF-7 cells carrying CdSe@CdS QDs, a sensitive material. The linear range of this proposed signal-on PEC sensing method was 300 cell mL−1 to 6 × 105 cell mL−1 with a detection limit of 3 cell mL−1, and it demonstrated an ultrasensitive response to CTCs. Furthermore, this PEC sensor enabled accurate detection of CTCs in serum samples. Hence, a promising strategy for CTC detection in clinical diagnosis was developed based on CdSe@CdS QD–sensitized Au NP/α-Fe2O3-based PEC cytosensor with dendritic aptamer-DNA concatemer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of digital technology in the healthcare industry is marked by ongoing difficulties with implementation and use. Slow progress has been made in unifying different healthcare systems, and much of the globe still lacks a fully integrated healthcare system. As a result, it is critical and advantageous for healthcare providers to comprehend the fundamental ideas of AI in order to design and deliver their own AI-powered technology. AI is commonly defined as the capacity of machines to mimic human cognitive functions. It can tackle jobs with equivalent or superior performance to humans by combining computer science, algorithms, machine learning, and data science. The healthcare system is a dynamic and evolving environment, and medical experts are constantly confronted with new issues, shifting duties, and frequent interruptions. Because of this variation, illness diagnosis frequently becomes a secondary concern for healthcare professionals. Furthermore, clinical interpretation of medical information is a cognitively demanding endeavor. This applies not just to seasoned experts, but also to individuals with varying or limited skills, such as young assistant doctors. In this paper, we proposed the comparative analysis of various state-of-the-art methods of deep learning for medical imaging diagnosis and evaluated various important characteristics. The methodology is to evaluate various important factors such as interpretability, visualization, semantic data, and quantification of logical relationships in medical data. Furthermore, the glaucoma diagnosis system is discussed in detail via qualitative and quantitative approaches. Finally, the applications and future prospects were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A facile co-precipitation method is used to prepare catalysts with particles confined in cheap MOF. After calcination, more catalytic active sites could be exposed, which greatly improves the performance of the catalyst. • Compared with other methods, the co-precipitation method is simple, low-cost, and can better control the metal loading. At the same time, the problem of easy agglomeration of Cu nanoparticles and easy phase separation of Cu and ZnO at high temperature could be alleviated greatly. • The as-prepared Cu/ZnO x /ZrO 2 catalyst shows much better performance for CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol than the commercialized catalyst and catalyst prepared by double solvents method. The ternary Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst is usually employed for producing methanol from syngas (CO/CO 2 /H 2) or from CO 2 hydrogenation in industry. However, this catalyst often suffers from the aggregation of Cu nanoparticles and the phase separation of Cu and ZnO. In this work, a highly efficient and stable catalyst (Cu/ZnO x /ZrO 2) for CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol is prepared via co-precipitation method with UiO-66 as structural template. Cu/Zn is effectively combined and encapsulated in the channels of UiO-66, which avoids the aggregation of metal particles. The ZrO 2 support derived from UiO-66 enhances the interaction between the support and Cu/Zn, and thus improves the catalytic performance significantly. This catalyst shows a high space–time yield of 216.7 g (MeOH) ·kg (cat) −1·h−1 at 260 °C, 4 MPa and GHSV = 12000 h−1. Furthermore, the catalyst shows good stability over a period of 50 h on stream. The performance of Cu/ZnO x /ZrO 2 is much better than that of commercial catalysts and most of catalysts previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling of microbial dissimilatory manganese (Mn) reduction and nitrogen transformation in anaerobic environment affects the fate of many elemental geochemical cycles. A strain of dissimilatory manganese reducing bacteria (DMRB) named Pantoea sp. MFG10 was isolated for simultaneous reduction of Mn(IV) oxides and NO 3 --N to explore the differential reduction mechanism. The post-reaction precipitates were investigated for researching potential persistent products. The strain MFG10 could achieve 99.86% NO 3 --N removal (1.176 mg L−1 h−1) and 20.97 mg L−1 (0.583 mg L−1 h−1) free Mn(II) yield within 12 and 36 h, respectively. The transient intermediate Mn(III) formed after the reduction of strain MFG10 was utilized in the denitrification process. The restricted Mn reduction behavior in the NO 3 --N and manganese oxide co-reduction system led to the formation of large amounts of Mn(III) by single electron transfer of Mn(IV). Mn(III) acts as electron donor and re-oxidized to constitute a dynamic manganese cycle pathway. Thus, the addition of manganese oxide significantly improved the denitrification efficiency and the fast electron flow formed an abundant Mn(III) secondary minerals on the surface of the manganese oxide. This work will help to understand the more subtle environmental and process-based manganese cycle and inspire new strategies to develop efficient manganese recycling processes for groundwater pollution control. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a single-frequency Faraday laser utilizing a 5-Torr-Ar-mixed 85Rb atomic filter as a frequency-selecting element, and lock it to 87Rb D 2 line via modulation transfer spectroscopy (MTS). The wavelength of the free-running Faraday laser fluctuated between 780.2457 and 780.2470 nm, which was limited within the ultra-narrow transmission bandwidth (700 MHz) of the atomic filter. When the Faraday laser was stabilized to 87Rb 52S 1/2 F = 2 → 52P 3/2 F′ = 3 hyperfine transition line, the output wavelength of the laser was approximately 780.24602 nm, and the fractional frequency Allan deviation measured by residual error signal arrived at 2.87 × 10−14 at 1 s, then reached 1.25 × 10−14 at 100 s. The laser system is easy to be locked to 87Rb D 2 line within the current range of laser diode (LD) from 75 to 140 mA, which has the potential to achieve a "turnkey" systems and is suitable for laser-pumped rubidium atomic clocks and laser-cooling experiments. • A single frequency Faraday laser locked to 87Rb 87Rb 52S 1/2 F = 2. → 52P 3/2 F′ = 3 hyperfine transition line is reported, for the best to our knowledge. • A85Rb atomic filter mixed with 5-Torr buffer gas Ar is investigated experimentally for the first time. • The wavelength of the free-running Faraday laser is corresponded to the 87Rb Doppler resonance absorption line. • The fractional frequency Allan deviation of frequency stability in frequency-locking operation is at 2.87 × 10−14 at 1 s by estimation of residual error signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical porous carbonized egg white (EW) is synthesized and used as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst. The typical EW that is carbonized at 650 °C (EW-650) possesses ultrahigh specific surface area of 1904 m2 g−1, large average pore diameter of 9.8 nm, high contents of doped heteroatoms (N, O and S), fairly high graphitization degree and dense defects, corresponding to dense active sites and excellent transportation of both mass and electrons. Therefore, the EW-650 shows higher activity than commercial Pt/C for ORR in both alkaline and acidic media even at higher mass loadings, with excellent cyclic stability. The effects of reaction temperature and electrolyte concentration on ORR activity are also studied. It is found that appropriate temperature and electrolyte concentration speed up ORR kinetics, ensure higher oxygen solubility and favor mass transportation. • Boiling, carbonization and activation of egg white form egg white carbon (EW). • The EW has hierarchical pores and high contents of heteroatoms and defects. • Higher ORR activities than Pt/C are got in both alkaline and acidic media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a tunable single-longitudinal-mode laser based on a wedged Nd:YVO4 gain medium and a YVO4 wave-plate. By taking advantage of the natural birefringence of YVO4 and adopting different cutting methods, a wedged Nd:YVO4 crystal acts as an ideal polarizer by the alignment sensitivity of the optical resonator, and a YVO4 crystal is used as a wave-plate by adjusting the temperature. A theoretical analysis of the single- longitudinal-mode operation of such a laser configuration is presented. The wavelength can be continuously tuned by the temperature at approximately 0.025 nm/°C, and the temperature tuning ranges of single-longitudinal-mode operation at pump powers of 1 W and 2 W are from 12 °C to 30 °C and from 11 °C to 26 °C, respectively. The maximum single-longitudinal-mode output power with linear polarization is 762 mW at a pump power of 2.2 W with a slope efficiency of 40%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract CO 2 photoreduction to hydrocarbons is an important process for solar energy. Herein, the reaction rate is massively pushed up by large Fresnel lens (diameter = 1 m) concentrating solar light technology. The maximum CH 4 yield rate reached 3157.2 μmol·g−1·h−1, C 2 H 4 rate to 511.6 μmol·g−1·h−1, C 2 H 6 to 1346.0 μmol·g−1·h−1, and the CO 2 conversion reached 3.94%. The total solar to chemical energy conversion efficiency got 0.15%. The results are considered from the intensification of reaction conditions such as light intensity, reaction temperature, and pressure of H 2 O and CO 2. The findings will be beneficial for the further discussion of CO 2 photoreduction basing upon the existed catalysts system, and decrease the research threshold in CO 2 photoreduction. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • CO 2 photoreduction is studied in a large concentrating light reactor. • It heightens hydrocarbons yield rate to thousands of μmol·g−1·h−1. • It enriches types of hydrocarbons to CH 4 , C 2 H 2 , C 2 H 4 and C 2 H 6. • The effect is considered to be from intensification of reaction condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single longitudinal mode laser in a wedge Nd:YVO 4 crystal with short absorption depth is reported. The influence of the wedge Nd:YVO 4 crystal on single longitudinal mode operation is analyzed. Two types of Nd:YVO 4 crystal with a wedge angle of 7 ° and 10 ° are utilized in a compact plane–concave resonator, respectively. By optimizing the cavity length, 518 mW and 343 mW of single-frequency output power at 1064 nm are obtained by pumping of 808 nm laser diode with an slope efficiency of 38.7% and 32.4% for 10 ° and 7 ° Nd:YVO 4 crystal, respectively. For 2 at. % Nd:YVO 4 laser, the experimental and theoretical multimode threshold with a wedge crystal are higher than the theoretical multimode threshold with traditional cube crystal. It has been demonstrated successfully larger wedge angle Nd:YVO 4 can enhance the performance of the single mode laser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aims of this study is to observe the levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitaminD (25OHD), parathyroid hormone and bone mineral density (BMD) in type 2 diabetes as well as to analyze the correlationship between 25OHD level and BMD. Methods: The subjects included 368 type 2 diabetic patients, ages ranged 40–79 years and 300 non-diabetic control subjects matched for age, gender and body mass index. The serum 25OHD concentration, parathyroid hormone level and BMDs value at lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck, total hip and total body were measured. The BMDs (g/cm2) was measured by LUNAR's DEXA dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: ①Compared with control subjects, the serum 25OHD level, BMDs at the femoral neck and total hip declined in type 2 diabetes[(45±17 vs. 36±12 nmol/L), (0.93±0.17 vs. 0.85±0.14 g/cm2), (0.93±0.14 vs. 0.87±0.15g/cm2) (all P<0.05)]; The parathyroid hormone level in type 2 diabetes was higher in type 2 diabetes than that in control subjects (8.5±4.2 vs. 5.6±3.9 pmol/L) (P<0.05). ②Compared with diabetes duration ≤10 years group, BMDs at the femoral neck and total hip decreased in diabetes duration >10years group [(0.88±0.11 vs. 0.81±0.15 g/cm2), (0.91±0.14 vs. 0.84±0.16 g/cm2)(All P<0.05)]; The parathyroid hormone level increased in diabetes duration >10years group than diabetes duration ≤10 years group (10.6±9.1 vs. 7.1±3.7 pmol/L) (P<0.05). ③ Compared with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≤8% group, 25OHD and BMDs at the femoral neck and total hip in HbA1c>8% group decreased [(40±15 vs. 32±13 nmol/l), (0.89±0.13 vs. 0.83±0.13 g/cm2), (0.95±0.13 vs. 0.83±0.16 g/cm2) (All P<0.05)] and the parathyroid hormone level increased (7.2±4.0 vs. 10.0±8.8 pmol/L) (P<0.05). ④The morbidity of diabetic osteoporosis and osteopenia (41.0%, 47.8%) were higher than those in control subjects (27.0%,33.3%) (X2 = 4.37 and 4.70, P = 0.04 and 0.03); Diabetes duration, HbA1c and parathyroid hormone levels were longer or higher in Diabetic osteoporosis group than those in normal BMD group and osteopenia group(All p<0.05). ⑤ Simple factor correlation analysis showed that the BMD at the femoral neck was negatively correlated with the age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, parathyroid hormone (rs = -0.18,-0.23,-0.18,-0.25), and positively correlated with 25OHD (rs = 0.23). Conclusions: Decreased BMDs and increased incidence of osteoporosis were observed in type 2 diabetic patients, which are closely related to the serum 25OHD level. These findings were more prominent at the femoral neck and total hip for patients with a longer diabetic history and poor glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dehydration-responsive element binding protein (DREB) family of transcription factors is associated with abiotic stress responses during plant growth and development. This study focussed on the subfamily member DREB1B, which was initially described as highly and specifically responsive to low temperature. However, here it is shown that DREB1B is not only involved in cold tolerance but also other abiotic stress tolerances, such as that of drought. To further understand the genetic improvement effects of the drought tolerance provided by RdreB1BI in transgenic strawberry, drought stress responses of transgenic plants were evaluated at the morphological, physiological, and transcriptional levels. Transactivation assays revealed that RdreB1BI could activate the FvPIP2;1 like 1 promoter. RdreB1BI transgenic plants showed enhanced drought tolerance on the basis of lower rates of electrolyte leakage (EL), higher relative water content (RWC), and less stomatal aperture as well as increased peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and less malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. The transgenic plants also accumulated higher levels of drought-related regulatory genes and functional gene transcripts, including those of PIP , NAC , RD22 , ABI , and NCED . Together, these results demonstrate that RdreB1BI plays an essential role in the regulation of the drought stress response. DREB1B transcription constitutes a useful strategy to exploit in transgenic plants for coping with abiotic stresses, at least cold and drought stresses. The approach may be helpful for genetic engineering horticultural plants to have increased environmental adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Mn redox cycle removed 94.67 % of E2 within 12 h (0.079 mg L−1h−1). • Interaction of reactive oxygen species and Mn(III) accelerated E2 removal. • Bioreactor showed 89.63% of NO 3 −-N and 97.57% of 17β-estradiol removal efficiency. • Community assembly enhanced the metabolic and physiological activity of bioreactor. • Different elemental cycles in the community were coupled with contaminant removal. The application of bio-manganese (Mn) redox cycling for continuous removal of contaminants provides promise for addressing coexisting contaminants in groundwater, however, the feasibility of constructing Mn redox cycling system (MCS) through community assembly remains to be elucidated. In this study, Mn-reducing strain MFG10 and Mn-oxidizing strain MFQ7 synergistically removed 94.67 % of 17β-estradiol (E2) within 12 h. Analysis of potential variations in Mn oxides suggested that MCS accelerated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Mn(III), which interacted to promote E2 removal. After continuous operation of the Mn ore-based immobilized bioreactor for 270 days, the experimental group (EG) achieved average removal efficiencies of 89.63 % and 97.57 % for NO 3 −-N and E2, respectively. High-throughput sequencing results revealed complex symbiotic relationships in EG. Community assembly significantly enhanced the metabolic and physiological activity of the bioreactor, which promoting the expression of core functions including nitrogen metabolism, Mn cycling and organic matter resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to quantify natural eating behavior of soft solid foods and identify a mechanical property of food that has the strongest influence on mastication in humans. Electromyography (EMG) of both masseter and suprahyoid muscles was performed to quantify the muscle effort required to naturally masticate five gellan gels. The gels were categorized into two groups; those with (1) similar fracture strain and three different fracture loads (F1 < F2 < F3), and (2) similar fracture load and three different fracture strains (S2 < F2 < E2). True stress of these gels was evaluated using video imaging during an instrumental compression test. EMG variables corresponding to masticatory effort increased with fracture load and with decreasing fracture strain under similar fracture loads of the gellan gels. Fracture load affected the natural eating behavior of the gels more than fracture strain. True stress, in particular true fracture stress, was a better indicator of mastication requirement than load. According to texture, human subjects changed their method of oral processing for the consumption of a small piece of gel from compression between the tongue and hard palate to mastication using the teeth. Once the method was chosen based on the mechanical properties under small deformation before fracture, muscle effort for oral processing highly correlated with true fracture stress but did not significantly correlate with modulus or fracture strain. Practical Applications The requirements for appropriate care food that can be consumed using compression by the tongue and hard palate without using the teeth have increased because the numbers of elderly people with poor mastication performance has increased in an aging society. The oral method changed from compression between the tongue and hard palate to mastication by the teeth with increasing true fracture stress of gels. Mastication effort quantified by electromyography highly correlated with the true fracture stress, but inferior correlation was observed with fracture load and no correlation with other mechanical properties, such as modulus and fracture strain. A simple compression test with video imaging can successfully measure the true stress of food samples. True fracture stress from the compression test was the best single parameter that explained the mastication effort during the natural eating behavior of soft gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of soft foods with similar fracture forces may be destroyed by compression between the tongue and palate or mastication during natural oral processing. Our objective was to identify the mechanical properties determining the oral strategy for the initial size reduction of soft gels. Three gellan gels with an equivalent fracture force and different fracture strains were evaluated by instrumental compression testing and sensory evaluation. In addition, a combination of a gellan gel and a sonagel, which has an apparent elastic modulus similar to that of the human tongue, was subjected to a compression test and ultrasound (US) elastography. The fracture profile of the gellan gel on the sonagel in the instrumental compression test corresponded to the oral strategy. The strain ratio of the gellan gel to the sonagel observed in US elastography had a high linear correlation with the reciprocal of the apparent elastic modulus of the gellan gel. The oral strategy of gels changes from tongue-palate compression to mastication with increasing apparent elastic modulus or decreasing the relative strain against the sonagel. The results reveal that the apparent elastic modulus influences the oral strategy for the natural consumption of gels although a threshold value was not clearly determined in conventional compression testing using hard materials. Practical Applications An appropriate care food that can be consumed using compression between the tongue and hard palate without chewing is increasingly required in an aging society. Instrumental methods are often used for texture characterization of such foods. Probes are usually made of metal or materials that are much stiffer than foods and completely dissimilar to the tongue. Ultrasound (US) elastography can detect the strain ratio between food gels and a sonagel, which is used as an artificial tongue in this study. We suggest that the strain ratio obtained from US elastography can be used to evaluate the deformation behavior of soft foods and a soft material whose mechanical characteristics are similar to those of the human tongue. As the strain ratio was highly correlated with the reciprocal of the apparent elastic modulus measured using conventional compression testing, the modulus was an important parameter for selecting the tongue compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of mouthful quantities and mechanical properties of gels on natural mastication behaviors using electromyography (EMG). Two types of hydrocolloid gels ( A and K ) with similar fracture loads but different moduli and fracture strains were served to eleven normal women in 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-g masses in a randomized order. EMG activities from both masseter muscles were recorded during natural mastication. Because of the similar fracture loads, the numbers of chews, total muscle activities, and entire oral processing times were similar for similar masses of both gel types. Prior to the first swallow, the more elastic K gel with a higher fracture strain required higher muscle activities than the brittle A gel, which had higher modulus. Majority of subjects had preferred sides of chewing, but all subjects with or without preferred sides used both masseters during the consumption of gels. Similar effects of masses and types of gels were observed in EMG activities of both sides of masseters. Contributions of the dominant side of chewing were diminished with increasing masses of gels, and the mass dependency on ratio of the dominant side was more pronounced with K gel. More repetitions of smaller masses required greater muscle activities and longer periods for the consumption of 24-g gel portions. Reduction in the masses with an increased number of repetitions necessitated slower eating and more mastication to consume the gel portions. These observations suggest that chewing using both sides is more effective and unconsciously reduces mastication times during the consumption of gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Immobilized carrier served prerequisites for cellulose degradation and Mn cycling. • Bioreactor achieved 96.34 and 95.37% removal efficiencies of NO 3 −-N and Cr(VI). • Symbiotic relationships among microorganisms were enhanced at C/N ratio of 1.0. • Community assembly structure relied on the balance of metabolism and carbon supply. • Different elemental cycles in the community were coupled with contaminant removal. When bioremediation is applied to Cr(VI) and NO 3 −-N contaminated groundwater, the lack of carbon sources and weak physiological activity dramatically affect the treatment efficacy. Hence, a bioreactor consisting of cellulose degradation-manganese (Mn) cycling bilayer carrier and two core strains was established. After 270 operating days, the experimental group (EG) achieved 96.34 and 95.37% of NO 3 −-N and Cr(VI) removal efficiency, respectively. When the C/N ratio was reduced to 1.0, cellulose-degrading strain CDZ9 produced significantly hydrolyzed cellulose from the corn cob substrate. Meanwhile, the balance between microbial metabolic activity and carbon supply was manipulated by the dissimilatory Mn-reducing strain MFG10. Dissolved organic matter response in EG provided evidence for enhanced carbon utilization and electron transfer processes. The syntrophic relationship between EG core strains significantly enhanced bioreactor metabolism and bioactivity. It drove the coupling of different elemental cycles with contaminant removal including carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, Mn cycle and Cr(VI) reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Strain MFG10 exhibits excellent denitrification and manganese reduction abilities. • MnO 2 promoted the metabolism and induced extracellular secretion by MFG10. • SMP composition changed to improve degradability and redox activity. • The EET process was enhanced by the trapping-solubilizing MnO 2 mechanism of EPS. • Tryptophan-like proteins and PS become potential electron donor precursors. In this study, the manganese (Mn) reduction-coupled denitrification strategy of dissimilatory Mn reducing bacteria was insightfully investigated. Different parameters (MnO 2 level, pH, and temperature) were optimized by kinetic fitting to improve denitrification and Mn reduction effects. The 300 mg L−1 MnO 2 addition achieved 98.72% NO 3 –-N removal in 12 h, which was 54.62% higher than blank group without MnO 2. Scale-up studies showed that the metabolic activity of the bacteria was effectively enhanced by the addition of MnO 2. Besides the deepening of humification in the system, tryptophan-like protein and polysaccharide as potential electron donor precursors revealed remarkable contributions to the extracellular secretion-dependent denitrification process of DMRB. The effect of EPS on Mn reduction depends mainly on the capture of MnO 2 by the LB-EPS layer versus its dissolution in the TB-EPS layer. Ultimately, the EPS possess a dual effect of accelerated denitrification and Mn reduction efficiency due to the enhanced EET process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound elastography as a simple and noninvasive method was used to evaluating the texture of gels. Three gellan gum gels with different mechanical characteristics and sonagel which has the similar elastic modulus to that of the human tongue were used. The combination of sonagel and gellan gels was lightly compressed and released cyclically with an ultrasound probe with 1-2 Hz. We obtained the strain for each cycle, and analyzed the results using the maximum values of strains. We found that the strain ratio between the gellan gel and the sonagel increased with the decrease of gellan gel fracture force. And also the oral strategy changes from teeth mastication to tongue-palate compression with the increase in the strain ratio. Strain obtained by ultrasound elastography is revealed as an important parameter that indicates the mechanical characteristics and even oral strategy of gels. Practical Applications Instrumental methods are often used for texture characterization. Normally, probes are made of metal or plastic materials that are much stiffer than foods and completely dissimilar to the tongue. As a noninvasive method, ultrasound tissue elasticity imaging has provided novel diagnostic information regarding tissue diseases. We suggest that ultrasound elastography can be used for food texture evaluation in the present study. It is possible to observe deformation behavior as the tongue-palate compression if the material whose mechanical characteristics is similar to the human tongue was used as an artificial tongue in the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early ripening in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is a crucial agronomic trait. The fruits of the grape line ‘Summer Black’ (SBBM), which contains a bud mutation, can be harvested approximately one week earlier than the ‘Summer Black’ (SBC)control. To investigate the molecular mechanism of the bud mutation related to early ripening, we detected genome-wide genetic variations based on re-sequencing. In total, 3,692,777 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 81,223 structure variations (SVs) in the SBC genome and 3,823,464 SNPs and 85,801 SVs in the SBBM genome were detected compared with the reference grape sequence. Of these, 635 SBC-specific genes and 665 SBBM-specific genes were screened. Ripening and colour-associated unigenes with non-synonymous mutations (NS), SVs or frame-shift mutations (F) were analysed. The results showed that 90 unigenes in SBC, 76 unigenes in SBBM and 13 genes that mapped to large fragment indels were filtered. The expression patterns of eight genes were confirmed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).The re-sequencing data showed that 635 SBC-specific genes and 665 SBBM-specific genes associated with early ripening were screened. Among these, NCED6 expression appears to be related to NCED1 and is involved in ABA biosynthesis in grape, which might play a role in the onset of anthocyanin accumulation. The SEP and ERF genes probably play roles in ethylene response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of water volume on flow properties of bolus (passage time and velocities) at the esophagus orifice using ultrasonic pulsed wave Doppler method. Five healthy males and five females were asked to consume 3, 6, 9 and 12 mL water in a single swallow. An ultrasound probe was placed against each subject's neck to observe the flow properties of bolus. The velocity spectra of the bolus at the esophagus orifice were analyzed. Our results revealed that velocity of bolus was easily affected by volume of water, and the passage time and velocities increased as the increase in volume. Practical Applications Ultrasonography, using a medical ultrasound instrument, is an effective method for observing bolus kinematics during swallowing. The velocity spectra of bolus can be visualized for different volume of water using the pulsed wave Doppler method. When a bolus of food is swallowed, aspiration that the bolus partly enters the trachea instead of the esophagus may occur. Water is known to show a high possibility of aspiration. This study revealed that reducing volume of water decreases the passage time and velocities of bolus at the esophageal entrance. Therefore, this technique can be used for designing the texture of food materials for people who experience aspiration or suffocation by food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hormones are closely associated with dormancy in deciduous fruit trees, and gibberellins (GAs) are known to be particularly important. In this study, we observed that GA4 treatment led to earlier bud break in Japanese apricot. To understand better the promoting effect of GA4 on the dormancy release of Japanese apricot flower buds, proteomic and transcriptomic approaches were used to analyse the mechanisms of dormancy release following GA4 treatment, based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and digital gene expression (DGE) profiling, respectively. More than 600 highly reproducible protein spots (P<0.05) were detected and, following GA4 treatment, 38 protein spots showed more than a 2-fold difference in expression, and 32 protein spots were confidently identified according to the databases. Compared with water treatment, many proteins that were associated with energy metabolism and oxidation–reduction showed significant changes after GA4 treatment, which might promote dormancy release. We observed that genes at the mRNA level associated with energy metabolism and oxidation–reduction also played an important role in this process. Analysis of the functions of the identified proteins and genes and the related metabolic pathways would provide a comprehensive proteomic and transcriptomic view of the coordination of dormancy release after GA4 treatment in Japanese apricot flower buds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs play critical roles in various biological and metabolic processes. The function of miRNAs has been widely studied in model plants such as Arabidopsis and rice. However, the number of identified miRNAs and related miRNA targets in peach (Prunus persica) is limited. To understand further the relationship between miRNAs and their target genes during tissue development in peach, a small RNA library and three degradome libraries were constructed from three tissues for deep sequencing. We identified 117 conserved miRNAs and 186 novel miRNA candidates in peach by deep sequencing and 19 conserved miRNAs and 13 novel miRNAs were further evaluated for their expression by RT-qPCR. The number of gene targets that were identified for 26 conserved miRNA families and 38 novel miRNA candidates, were 172 and 87, respectively. Some of the identified miRNA targets were abundantly represented as conserved miRNA targets in plant. However, some of them were first identified and showed important roles in peach development. Our study provides information concerning the regulatory network of miRNAs in peach and advances our understanding of miRNA functions during tissue development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of food bolus volume on tongue movement at the initiation of swallowing using ultrasonography. Four healthy women were asked to consume 3- and 6-mL spoon-served different food samples (hard gel, soft gel, sol and water) in one swallow each and in their natural manner of eating. An ultrasound probe was positioned under each person's chin to produce coronal images of the tongue. The up-down movement of the dorsal surface of the tongue was observed in the M-mode. The grooving depth for 6 mL of gels and water was greater than that for 3 mL. The duration of grooving for 6 mL of gels was longer than that for 3 mL. The velocity of descending and ascending grooving was not significantly different between the volumes for each food sample, and the velocity of descending grooving was greater than that of ascending grooving. Practical Applications Ultrasonography, using a medical ultrasound instrument, is an effective method for observing tongue movement during the oral phase of swallowing. The M-mode can visualize the kinematics of the dorsal surface of the tongue and bolus passing from the tongue to the pharynx at the initiation of swallowing. Different kinematics of tongue movement can be observed for different volumes of food bolus, mechanical properties and individuals. This technique can be used for designing the texture of food materials for the elderly and infants who experience aspiration or suffocation by food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the priming effect of news context on Chinese college students' brand attitudes. The first experiment examined the effects of domestic news topics and news negativity and found that exposure to positive Chinese product news led to lower attitude scores for Nike. The second experiment employed a news piece on China–U.S. trade relations and tested whether different news sources (the Chinese press, the U.S. press, and a combination of Chinese and U.S. press) had the same effect on Chinese brand attitudes. It located a significant effect of news source on Chinese attitudes toward Coca-Cola and Nike. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The accumulation of heavy metal on catalysts during petrochemical process produces deactivated catalysts that cannot be directly disposed in nature, due to the high toxicity. The elimination of the detrimental effect of heavy metal ions can be achieved by immobilizing these ions in the form of spinel structure, yet this requires high-temperature calcination. Herein, Ni2+ ions are stabilized and confined within the surface NiAl 2 O 4 on Al 2 O 3 through hydrothermal process and subsequent low-temperature thermal treatment. The formation of nickel aluminum layered double hydroxide (NiAl-LDH) as intermediate favors the generation of surface aluminate spinel at the temperature as low as 450 ​°C. The formation of surface spinel is beneficial to restricting the mobility of Ni2+ ions. The growth and immobilization mechanisms of the surface spinel structure were proposed, which contributes to alternative and promising route for the low-temperature approach of the retention of the heavy metal ions mobility. Heavy metal Ni2+ ions are stabilized and confined within the surface NiAl 2 O 4 on Al 2 O 3 through hydrothermal process and subsequent low-temperature thermal treatment. [Display omitted] • The stabilization of Ni2+ ions is achieved by the surface NiAl 2 O 4 on Al 2 O 3. • NiAl-LDH facilities the presence of surface NiAl 2 O 4 at 450 ​°C. • The process of low-temperature nickel stabilization is discussed. • The surface amount of NiAl 2 O 4 reaches equilibrium above 450 ​°C. • The confined sample exhibited superior immobilization behavior of Ni2+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As with other self-incompatible Prunus species, cultivars of Japanese apricot ( Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.) display the S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility system. In this study, S-genotypes of ten Japanese apricot cultivars native to China were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis using an efficient Prunus S-RNase primer pair, Pru-C2 and PCE-R. In addition, three new S-RNase genes ( S, S and S -RNase) and six new SFB genes ( PmSFB14, PmSFB18, PmSFB22, PmSFB24, PmSFB31 and PmSFB34) were identified and their sequences were characterized and deposited in the GenBank database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cervical auscultation method was applied to investigate sounds generated while swallowing various foods with different consistencies, including water, yogurt, and konjac jelly. Dynamic viscoelasticity, viscosity, and compression or penetration force of yogurt and konjac jelly were measured. The yogurt was fractured by the tongue while swallowing, whereas konjac jelly was not. Significant differences were detected in the durations of the swallowing sound component, generated by food bolus flow through the pharynx. The root mean square amplitude of the component that was attributed to the water flow was significantly higher than that for the flow of other food samples. No significant differences were detected in the duration of sound components appearing before and after the bolus flow or in the total duration among the food samples. Scattered or heterogeneous food bolus flow appeared to significantly reflect the duration of swallowing sounds, generated by the food flow. Practical Applications Nursing-care foods are in much demand in the expanding elderly society. Ease in swallowing is an important factor for such foods and it is strongly correlated to food texture. Our results indicated significant differences in the duration and amplitude of swallowing sounds, generated by food bolus flow through the pharynx. Because the swallowing sounds depend on the food texture, monitoring such sounds can aid in designing and evaluating the foods to ease swallowing. The method used in this study is noninvasive and cost effective and is therefore practical for use in the food industry. The dependence of the swallowing sounds on human subjects can be analyzed if the data from a greater number of subjects are gathered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Low-temperature stress is one of the major abiotic stresses in plants worldwide, and the dehydration responsive element binding protein (DREB) transcription factor induces expression of genes involved in environmental stress tolerance in plants. A proteomic approach based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and subsequent mass spectrometric identification was used to study the changes in the leaf proteome profiles of rd29A:RdreB1BI transgenic and non-transgenic strawberries exposed to low-temperature conditions. By comparing the proteomic profiles, we located 21 protein spots that were reproducibly up- or down-regulated by more than twofold between transgenic and non-transgenic strawberries. Eight identified proteins function in energy and metabolism, four in biosynthetic processes, four were stress and defense related, three spots were identified as cold-stress related expressed sequence tags (ESTs), and two were unknown proteins. The change patterns of low-temperature tolerance proteins, including photosynthetic proteins (RuBisCO large subunit and RuBisCO activase), cytoplasmic Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), late embryogenesis abundant protein 14-A (Lea14-A), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), and cold-stress related ESTs, were differentially regulated between non-transgenic and rd29A:RdreB1BI transgenic strawberries. They are likely important gene products in the regulatory network of the RdreB1BI gene. Consequently, this study provides the first characterization of the transgenic strawberry proteome and the predicted target proteins of the RdreB1BI gene by using proteomic approaches. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

MicroRNAs are a class of small, endogenous, non-coding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression at the transcriptional or the post-transcriptional level. Although a large number of miRNAs have been identified in many plant species, especially from model plants and crops, they remain largely unknown in peach. In this study, 110 potential miRNAs belonging to 37 families were identified using computational methods. A total of 43 potential targets were found for 21 families based on near-perfect or perfect complementarity between the plant miRNA and the target sequences. A majority of the targets were transcription factors which play important roles in peach development. qRT-PCR analysis of RNA samples prepared from different peach tissues for 25 miRNA families revealed that miRNAs were differentially expressed in different tissues. Furthermore, two target genes were experimentally verified by detection of the miRNA-mediated mRNA cleavage sites in peach using RNA ligase-mediated 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RLM-RACE). Finally, we studied the expression pattern of the two target genes in three different tissues of peach to further understand the mechanism of the interaction between miRNAs and their target genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confronted with scathing international criticism and mounting pressure, China has intensified its efforts over the years to improve its trademark protection regime. So where does China stand right now in terms of trademark protection? This article aims to answer this question by adopting a comparative framework based on international trademark treaties and U.S. trademark law. It examines the major provisions of the Chinese trademark law and reports a qualitative content analysis of court decisions on foreign trademark cases in Shanghai to investigate how the Chinese court interprets and enforces the law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Information on S-genotypes is essential for designing orchards of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.) and for hybridization. However, this information is lacking for most cultivars grown in China. Thus, in this work, the S-genotypes of 24 Japanese apricot cultivars native to China were identified by sequencing the PCR products obtained from allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR). Seventeen S-RNase alleles were amplified, ten of them for the first time. The new S-RNase alleles were submitted to GenBank and denoted them as S 17, S 18, S 19, S 20, S 21, S 22, S 23, S 24, S 25 and S 26. Furthermore, the S-genotypes of four Japanese apricot cultivars were confirmed by field-testing cross-pollination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article examines film policy in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the context of globalisation. The three markets face a similar set of challenges posed by globalisation, and they equally see the need to promote the local film industry through policy-making. The rhetoric of their film policies converges in embracing free-market ideas and a strong economic logic. However, their specific measures diverge when it comes to the extent and nature of government intervention, restraints posed upon foreign film businesses, vigour and objectives of government film censorship and emphasis given to the cultural imperative of film policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex-role stereotypes exist as a primary source of gender inequality in employment. This issue becomes even more salient in the social context of China, where the traditional view of female inferiority persists and the legal system provides inadequate protection of equal employment rights. Reporting a content analysis of Chinese recruitment advertisements, this article concludes that gender discrimination is practiced by Chinese employers in recruiting for white-collar positions. It also finds that female applicants are more likely to encounter other forms of discrimination such as age and physical appearance requirements as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The film cooling effectiveness on the surface of a high pressure turbine blade is measured using the pressure sensitive paint (PSP) technique. Four rows of axial laid-back, fan-shaped cooling holes are distributed on the pressure side while two such rows are provided on the suction side. The coolant is only injected to either the pressure side or suction side of the blade at five average blowing ratios ranging from 0.4 to 1.5. The presence of wakes due to upstream vanes is simulated by placing a periodic set of rods upstream of the test blade. Effect of the upstream wakes is recorded at four different phase locations with equal intervals along the pitch-wise direction. The freestream Mach numbers at cascade inlet and exit are 0.27 and 0.44, respectively. Results reveal that the tip leakage vortices and endwall vortices sweep the coolant film on the suction side to the midspan region. The film cooling effectiveness on the suction side is usually higher than that on the pressure side except the regions affected by the secondary vortices. The presence of upstream wakes results in lower film cooling effectiveness on the blade surface. The moderate blowing ratios (M =0.6 or M =0.9) give higher film cooling effectiveness immediately downstream of the film cooling holes. Further downstream of the holes, higher blowing ratios cover wider surface area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped graphite from tissue paper (N-ATG) is synthesized and used as symmetric supercapacitor electrode material. Electrochemical characterizations show that the N-ATG has an ultrahigh capacitance of 696 F g−1 (473 F cm−3) at 0.5 A g−1 and mass loading of 1 mg cm−2, in 6 mol L−1 KOH solution. The capacitance retention rate is 49.6% at 80 A g−1 from mass loading of 1 mg cm−2 to 20 mg cm−2. The energy densities of the N-ATG are 24.2 and 9.8 Wh kg−1 (i.e. 16.5 and 6.7 Wh L−1) at power densities of 320 and 39831 W kg−1 (i.e. 218 and 27085 W L−1), respectively, which rank the highest performances especially at high power densities among heteroatom-doped carbon electrodes. The N-ATG possesses ultrahigh specific surface area of 2327 m2 g−1, large average pore diameter of 10.3 nm, high contents of doped N (6.5 at.%), graphitized structure with 1–5 graphene layers and widened lattice distance, dense defects, and high packing density (0.68 g cm−3), which account for the excellent gravimetric and volumetric capacitances as well as the high rate capacity. • N-doped hierarchical porous graphite from tissue paper is obtained. • Pyrolysis, KOH activation and N doping of tissue paper lead to 1-5-layer graphene. • Ultrahigh surface area, dense defects and high packing density are obtained. • Ultrahigh gravimetric and volumetric capacitances and energy densities are got. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit aroma of Japanese apricot is distinct, and the specific volatile compounds are not clearly known during fruit development and during post‐harvest stage. This study therefore aimed to explore the volatile compounds present during these stages. The volatile compounds were analysed by headspace solid‐phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. OAV, PCA and electronic nose techniques were used to determine the characteristic aroma components. Enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA) was also applied to determine the activity of enzymes. The results showed that in the cultivars ‘Xiyeqing’ a total of 52 components that included 20 terpenes, 15 aldehydes, 9 esters, 3 ketones and 5 other substances were detected during fruit development and post‐harvest stage. While in the cultivar ‘Xiaoyezhugan’ a total of 49 components that included 25 terpenes, 7 aldehydes, 11 esters, 1 alcohol, 3 ketones and 2 other substances were also detected during fruit development and post‐harvest stage. We concluded that the characteristic volatile compounds of mature Japanese apricot fruit were (+)‐limonene, linalool, damascenone, β‐damascenone and nonanal, finding the basis for the fruity, floral and sweet aroma of the Japanese apricot fruit. Further analysis indicated that low temperature inhibited the synthesis of esters and terpenes, and dark conditions were more favourable to the synthesis of volatile compounds than light conditions. Short‐term storage of Japanese apricot fruit at room temperature and dark conditions was conducive for the maintenance of volatile compounds, and low‐temperature storage was the most destructive to the fruit volatile compounds. These findings form a theoretical foundation for exploring the specific volatile compound of Japanese apricot and helped to determine the optimal storage condition of post‐harvest stage for Japanese apricot fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China experienced an overwhelming COVID-19 pandemic from middle December 2022 to middle January 2023 after lifting the zero-COVID-19 policy on December 7, 2022. However, the infection rate was less studied. We aimed to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in children shortly after discontinuation of the zero-COVID-19 policy. Methods: From February 20 to April 10, 2023, we included 393 children aged 8 months to less than 3 years who did not receive COVID-19 vaccination and 114 children aged 3 to 6 years who received inactivated COVID-19 vaccines based on the convenience sampling in this cross-sectional study. IgG and IgM antibodies against nucleocapsid (N) and subunit 1 of spike (S1) of SARS-CoV-2 (anti-N/S1) were measured with commercial kits (Shenzhen YHLO Biotech, China). Results: Of the 393 unvaccinated children (1.5 ± 0.6 years; 52.2% boys), 369 (93.9%) were anti-N/S1 IgG positive. Of the 114 vaccinated children (5.3 ± 0.9 years; 48.2% boys), 112 (98.2%) were anti-N/S1 IgG positive. None of the unvaccinated or vaccinated children was anti-N/S1 IgM positive. The median IgG antibody titers in vaccinated children (344.91 AU/mL) were significantly higher than that in unvaccinated children (42.80 AU/mL) (P < 0.0001). The positive rates and titers of anti-N/S1 IgG had no significant difference between boys and girls respectively. Conclusion: Vast majority of children were infected with SARS-CoV-2 shortly after ending zero-COVID-19 policy in China. Whether these unvaccinated infected children should receive COVID-19 vaccine merits further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of multi-pistil flowers reduces the yield and quality in Japanese apricot (Prunus mume). However, the molecular mechanism underlying the formation of multi-pistil flowers remains unknown. In the current study, overexpression of PmKNAT2/6-a, a class I KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) member, in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) resulted in a multi-pistil phenotype. Analysis of the upstream regulators of PmKNAT2/6-a showed that AGAMOUS-like 24 (PmAGL24) could directly bind to the PmKNAT2/6-a promoter and regulate its expression. PmAGL24 also interacted with Like Heterochromatin Protein 1 (PmLHP1) to recruit lysine trimethylation at position 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) to regulate PmKNAT2/6-a expression, which is indirectly involved in multiple pistils formation in Japanese apricot flowers. Our study reveals that the PmAGL24 transcription factor, an upstream regulator of PmKNAT2/6-a, regulates PmKNAT2/6-a expression via direct and indirect pathways and is involved in the formation of multiple pistils in Japanese apricot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese apricot is an important subtropical deciduous fruit tree in China, widely distributed in different altitude areas. How does it adapt to the different temperature environments in these areas? In this study, we identified a low‐temperature transcription factor PmCBF03 on chromosome 7 through adaptive analysis of populations at different altitudes, which has an early termination single nucleotide polymorphism mutation. There were two different types of variation, PmCBF03A type in high‐altitude areas and PmCBF03T type in low‐altitude areas. PmCBF03A gene increased the survival rate, Fv/Fm values, antioxidant enzyme activity, and expression levels of antioxidant enzyme genes, and reducing electrolyte leakage and accumulation of reactive oxygen species in transgenic Arabidopsis under low temperature and freezing stress. Simultaneously, PmCBF03A gene promoted the dormancy of transgenic Arabidopsis seeds than wild‐type. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that PmCBF03A directly bound to the DRE/CRT element in the promoters of the PmCOR413, PmDAM6 and PmABI5 genes, promoting their transcription and enhanced the cold resistance and dormancy of the overexpressing PmCBF03A lines. While PmCBF03T gene is unable to bind to the promoters of PmDAM6 and PmABI5 genes, leading to early release of dormancy to adapt to the problem of insufficient chilling requirement in low‐altitude areas. Summary statement: The PmCBF03 allele variation is involved in regulating the low‐temperature adaptability of Japanese apricots at different altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron- and nitrogen-doped mesoporous hollow hemispherical graphite (NFe-HG) with average pore size of 12.3 nm, specific surface area of 1487 m2g-1 and 5.3% of N content is synthesized. The uneven carbon oxidation during microwave heating results in mesopores. The NFe-HG displays superior oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity with half wave potential (E 1/2) of 0.885 V in alkaline solution and comparable ORR activity (E 1/2 = 0.838 V) to commercial Pt/C in H 2 SO 4 solution. Due to the graphitization structure and trace residual iron, the NFe-HG performs high electrochemical stability. By comparing with spherical materials, the hemispherical structure of the NFe-HG shows the advantage of smaller volume with similar high specific surface. Image 1 • N doped hollow mesoporous hemispherical graphite with trace Fe is prepared. • Uneven microwave heating leads to mesopores in carbon. • The doping N contributes greatly to ORR performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributions of forest, ice and snow in the Hengduan Mountains of China have undergone significant changes due to ongoing climatic warming. To better understand the spatiotemporal pattern of temperature changes in the Hengduan Mountains, we used tree-ring cores collected from multiple individuals of Larix speciosa Cheng et Law at five sites to develop a regional chronology and to establish the relationship between tree-ring radial growth and warm-season (May–September) mean temperature. The regional chronology accounts for 46.1% of the observed variance in the warm season and was used to reconstruct regional temperature levels back to 1420. Four cool intervals (1490–1570, 1590–1660, 1700–1790, and 1800–1880) indicate that the Western Hengduan Mountains experienced the Little Ice Age, and the changes were synchronous with cooling on the Tibetan Plateau and in the Northern Hemisphere, demonstrating a well-defined Little Ice Age signal in the South Asian monsoon region. Air–sea interactions and solar activity affected the variability of the warm-season mean temperature variations on interannual or interdecadal scales. Our temperature reconstruction improves the understanding of multi-centennial climate change in the Western Hengduan Mountains and has implications for advancing high-resolution paleoclimate science in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Knotted1-like Homeobox gene is crucial for plant morphological development and growth. Physicochemical characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal localization, cis-acting elements, and tissue-specific expression patterns of the 11 PmKNOX genes found in the Japanese apricot genome in this study were examined. Proteins of 11 PmKNOX were soluble proteins with isoelectric points between 4.29 and 6.53, molecular masses between 15.732 and 44.011 kDa, and amino acid counts between 140 and 430. The identified PmKNOX gene family was split into three subfamilies by jointly constructing the phylogenetic tree of KNOX proteins in Japanese apricot and Arabidopsis thaliana. Combined outcomes of the analyzed conserved motifs and gene structures of the 11 PmKNOX genes from the same subfamily displayed comparable gene structure and motif patterns. The 11 PmKNOX members were distributed across six chromosomes, while two sets of PmKNOX genes were found to be collinear. Analysis of the 2000 bp promoter upstream of the coding region of the PmKNOX gene revealed that most PmKNOX genes might be involved in the physiological metabolism, growth and development processes of plants. The PmKNOX gene expression profile revealed that these genes were expressed at varying levels in different tissues, and most of them were linked to the meristems of leaf and flower buds, suggesting that PmKNOX may be involved in plants' apical meristems. In Arabidopsis thaliana, functional validation of PmKNAT2a and PmKNAT2b revealed that these two genes might be involved in regulating leaf and stem development. In addition to laying the groundwork for future research on the function of these genes, understanding the evolutionary relationships between members of the PmKNOX gene family provides opportunities for future breeding in Japanese apricots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to quantify gene expression depends on the stability of the reference genes used for data normalization. To date, systematic screening for reference genes in persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb) has never been reported. In this study, 13 candidate reference genes were cloned from 'Nantongxiaofangshi' using information available in the transcriptome database. Their expression stability was assessed by geNorm and NormFinder algorithms under abiotic stress and hormone stimulation. Our results showed that the most suitable reference genes across all samples were UBC and GAPDH, and not the commonly used persimmon reference gene ACT. In addition, UBC combined with RPII or TUA were found to be appropriate for the "abiotic stress" group and α-TUB combined with PP2A were found to be appropriate for the "hormone stimuli" group. For further validation, the transcript level of the DkDREB2C homologue under heat stress was studied with the selected genes (CYP, GAPDH, TUA, UBC, α-TUB, and EF1-α). The results suggested that it is necessary to choose appropriate reference genes according to the test materials or experimental conditions. Our study will be useful for future studies on gene expression in persimmon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although thunder god vine (Tripterygium wilfordii) has been widely used for treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), the pharmacological mechanisms underlying its effects are still unclear. This study investigated potential therapeutic targets and the pharmacological mechanism of T. wilfordii for the treatment of IMN based on network pharmacology. Active components of T. wilfordii were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. IMN-associated target genes were collected from the GeneCards, DisGeNET, and OMIM databases. VENNY 2.1 was used to identify the overlapping genes between active compounds of T. wilfordii and IMN target genes. The STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software were used to analyze interactions among overlapping genes. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of the targets were performed using Rx64 4.0.2 software, colorspace, stringi, DOSE, clusterProfiler, and enrichplot packages. A total of 153 compound-related genes and 1485 IMN-related genes were obtained, and 45 core genes that overlapped between both categories were identified. The protein–protein interaction network and MCODE results indicated that the targets TP53, MAPK8, MAPK14, STAT3, IFNG, ICAM1, IL4, TGFB1, PPARG, and MMP1 play important roles in the treatment of T. wilfordii on IMN. Enrichment analysis showed that the main pathways of targets were the AGE signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. This study revealed potential multi-component and multi-target mechanisms of T. wilfordii for the treatment of IMN based on network pharmacological, and provided a scientific basis for further experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chloroplast (cp) genomes are generally considered to be conservative and play an important role in population diversity analysis in plants, but the characteristics and diversity of the different germplasm populations in Japanese apricot are still not clear. Results: A total of 146 cp genomes from three groups of wild, domesticated, and bred accessions of Japanese apricot were sequenced in this study. The comparative genome analysis revealed that the 146 cp genomes were divided into 41 types, and ranged in size from 157,886 to 158,167 bp with a similar structure and composition to those of the genus Prunus. However, there were still minor differences in the cp genome that were mainly caused by the contraction and expansion of the IR region, and six types of SSR in which mono-nucleotide repeats were the most dominant type of repeats in the cp genome. The genes rpl33 and psbI, and intergenic regions of start-psbA, rps3-rpl22, and ccsA-ndhD, showed the highest nucleotide polymorphism in the whole cp genome. A total of 325 SNPs were detected in the 146 cp genomes, and more than 70% of the SNPs were in region of large single-copy (LSC). The SNPs and haplotypes in the cp genome indicated that the wild group had higher genetic diversity than the domesticated and bred groups. In addition, among wild populations, Southwest China, including Yunnan, Tibet, and Bijie of Guizhou, had the highest genetic diversity. The genetic relationship of Japanese apricot germplasm resources in different regions showed a degree of correlation with their geographical distribution. Conclusion: Comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes of 146 Japanese apricot resources was performed to analyze the used to explore the genetic relationship and genetic diversity among Japanese apricot resources with different geographical distributions, providing some reference for the origin and evolution of Japanese apricot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilling requirement, together with heat requirement, which has an impact on the climatic distribution of the genotypes of tree species, determines the flowering date. It also played an important role in the protected cultivation of fruit trees. In our study, we estimated chilling requirements for breaking of dormancy and heat requirements for flowering for 2 successive years in 69 Japanese apricot cultivars of Nanjing (China). The chilling requirements of those Japanese apricot cultivars ranged from 24 to 82 chill portions according to the dynamic model, and the heat requirements of those cultivars fluctuated between 691.9 and 2634.7 growing degree hours. The Japanese apricot cultivars were classified into three groups according to their chilling requirements: the low chilling requirement cultivars with less than 50 chill portions, the medium chilling requirement cultivar ranging from 50 to 70 chill portions, and the high chilling requirement cultivars with more than 70 chill portions. In our study, cultivars originated in Guangdong of China generally have a low chilling requirements, and originated in Zhejiang and Jiangsu of China have a high chilling requirements. Cultivars with lower or higher chilling requirement are not suitable for introduction of Nanjing due to their abnormal phenotype. We also observed that the heat requirement of Japanese apricot had no obvious relationship with their origins. The determination of chilling requirements of 69 Japanese apricot cultivars provided some basis for their rationalized introduction and distribution, and was also important in a breeding program. Those results also expanded our understanding of the temperature responses of flower bud in Japanese apricot during the dormancy progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study are to identify mechanical properties that dictate natural oral processing of soft solid foods and to quantify the effects of mouthful sizes. Two types of hydrocolloid gels with similar fracture loads but different elastic moduli and fracture strains were prepared using agar ( A ) or a mixture of konjac mannan, κ -carrageenan, and locust bean gum ( K ). Subsequently, 3, 6, 12, and 24 g mouthfuls of A and K gels were randomly served to subjects and the effects of mechanical properties and mouthful sizes were quantitatively analyzed within an individual. Electromyographic (EMG) activities of both masseter muscles and the suprahyoid muscle were recorded as jaw-closing and jaw-opening muscles, respectively. Total 33 EMG variables relating mastication and swallowing difficulties were classified into six groups by influences of gel types and mouthful sizes. Despite similar fracture loads, K gels with greater fracture strain and work required more mastication effort and less swallowing effort than A gels, which had higher elastic modulus. Doubling of mouthful sizes between 3 g and 24 g increased oral processing times and the numbers of chewing actions and swallows by 1.4 fold. These variables were approximately proportional to 0.7 of the power of the mouthful mass, and they can be predicted using this relation. Mastication effort exhibited lower dependence on sample mass than the three variables and durations and muscle activities per masseter muscle action did not vary significantly with mouthful sizes and gel types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.), a deciduous tree within the Rosaceae family, is esteemed for its medicinal and ornamental attributes. In Chinese tradition, the 'Lve' group of the Japanese apricot, including varieties like 'Lve' and 'Xiaolve', is commonly employed for medicinal purposes and tea production. This study endeavors to delineate the chemical distinctions among four Japanese apricot varieties. Quantitative analysis, utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), was conducted on 'Lve', 'Xiaolve', 'Qingfeng', and 'Touguhong'. The research explores the chemical components of different floral organs and stages within the 'Xiaolve' cultivar, correlating them with hydroxyl radical (·OH) and 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging rates. Results indicate significant variation in flower composition among the varieties. Notably, chlorogenic acid varies markedly, ranking highest in 'Xiaolve', followed by 'Touguhong', 'Lve' and 'Qingfeng', 'Qingfeng' exhibits elevated levels of hyperoside and quercetin. In the 'Xiaolve', stamens show heightened chlorogenic acid levels, while petals display increased flavonoids and catechins. Additionally, chemical components decrease with flowering stages. Correlations between chemical components in 'Xiaolve' and scavenging rates of OH and ABTS free radicals were observed. Molecular docking analysis reveals that chlorogenic acid binds to multiple antioxidant proteins, suggesting its dual role in scavenging free radicals and internal antioxidant activity. These findings form a theoretical foundation for exploring the medicinal potential of the 'Xiaolve', determining optimal harvest times, and unraveling underlying mechanisms. • Explored the differences in the chemical composition of different varieties of Japanese apricot. • The chemical composition of 'Xiaolve' blossom with it's antioxidant activity has strong correlation. • The best time to harvest Japanese apricot is the small bud stage. • The flavonoids contents of 'Xiaolve' cultivar are concentrated in the petals, pistils and stamens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]