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In light of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on organizations and company human resource policies, multiple changes have been made to employee work behaviors. This paper developed a concept model on career plateaus, job burnout, work engagement, and turnover intention and examined it through a non-random sampling survey of 285 employees at resorts in Macao. The results revealed that career plateaus positively impact job burnout and turnover intention, and job burnout positively impacts turnover intention. The study found that career plateau negatively impacts work engagement and positively impacts turnover intention, and work engagement negatively influences turnover intention. Job burnout and work engagement partially mediate the relationship between career plateau and turnover intention. Training negatively moderates career plateau toward work engagement, and job rotation moderates career plateau toward turnover intention. Accordingly, organizations should consider the impact on employees' careers when designing training and job rotation policies in response to the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant and non-plant species possess cryptochrome (CRY) photoreceptors to mediate blue light regulation of development or the circadian clock. The blue light-dependent homooligomerization of Arabidopsis CRY2 is a known early photoreaction necessary for its functions, but the photobiochemistry and function of light-dependent homooligomerization and heterooligomerization of cryptochromes, collectively referred to as CRY photooligomerization, have not been well established. Here, we show that photooligomerization is an evolutionarily conserved photoreaction characteristic of CRY photoreceptors in plants and some non-plant species. Our analyses of the kinetics of the forward and reverse reactions of photooligomerization of Arabidopsis CRY1 and CRY2 provide a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying the different photosensitivity and photoreactivity of these two closely related photoreceptors. We found that photooligomerization is necessary but not sufficient for the functions of CRY2, implying that CRY photooligomerization is presumably accompanied by additional function-empowering conformational changes. We further demonstrated that the CRY2–CRY1 heterooligomerization plays roles in regulating functions of Arabidopsis CRYs in vivo. Taken together, these results suggest that photooligomerization is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism determining the photosensitivity and photoreactivity of plant CRYs. Photooligomerization of Arabidopsis cryptochromes is fast, fluence rate dependent, and dark reversible, and the photosensitivity of photooligomerization determines the photoreactivity of crytochromes. Photooligomerization is also an evolutionarily conserved photoreaction characteristic of CRY photoreceptors in plants and some non-plant species. Moreover, photooligomerization is necessary but not sufficient for CRY2 functions, and CRY2–CRY1 heterooligomerization plays roles in regulating functions of Arabidopsis CRYs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining novel two-dimensional materials with traditional semiconductors to form heterostructures for photoelectric detection have attracted great attention due to their excellent photoelectric properties. In this study, we reported the formation of a heterostructure comprising of tin telluride (SnTe) and germanium (Ge) by a simple and efficient one-step magnetron sputtering technique. A photodetector was fabricated by sputtering a nanofilm of SnTe on to a pre-masked n-Ge substrate. J â€" V measurements obtained from the SnTe/n-Ge photodetector demonstrated diode and photovoltaic characteristics in the visible to near-infrared (NIR) band (i.e. 400â€"2050 nm). Under NIR illumination at 850 nm with an optical power density of 13.81 mW cmâˆ'2, the SnTe/n-Ge photodetector exhibited a small open-circuit voltage of 0.05 V. It also attained a high responsivity (R) and detectivity (D *) of 617.34 mA Wâˆ'1 (at bias voltage of âˆ'0.5 V) and 2.33 × 1011 cmHz1/2Wâˆ'1 (at zero bias), respectively. Therefore, SnTe nanofilm/n-Ge heterostructure is highly suitable for used as low-power broadband photodetector due to its excellent performances and simple device configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A popular food in China, soybean seeds and sprouts contained many biologically active substances which are beneficial to the human body, such as flavonoids. Northeast of China is the main producing area of soybean. The experimental materials came from the main soybean producing areas in Northeast China, this study compared flavonoids of two China cultivars of soybeans, Heinong52(HN52) and Heinong71(HN71). Here, we also considered the effects of germination on the chemical profile of flavonoids. Using a LC–ESI–MS/MS system, 114 differential flavonoid metabolites were identified. A total of 18 metabolites were significantly different between the two soybean varieties before germination, of which 14 were up-regulated and 4 were down-regulated. After germination, 33 significantly different metabolites were found in the two soybean sprouts, of which 19 were up-regulated and 14 were down-regulated. These experimental results revealed significant up-regulation of metabolites in soybean sprouts compared with soybean seeds, thus suggesting that soybean germination may increase content of flavonoid metabolites. There are six main pathways for the synthesis of flavonoids: isoflavonoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. Soybean seeds lack flavone and flavanol biosynthesis and develop the capacity for this biosynthetic pathway after germination as sprouts. Isoflavonoid biosynthesis is the most abundantly utilized pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the prevalent issue of thiram as a common pesticide residue on the surface of fruits and vegetables, our research team employed an acidic hydrated metal salt low co-fusion solvent to dissolve cellulose lysis slurry. Subsequently, a regenerated cellulose membrane (RCM) was successfully prepared via sol-gel method. Uniformly sized Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on RCM utilizing the continuous ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. The resulting Ag NPs/RCM flexible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates exhibited a minimum detection limit of 5 × 10−9 M for Rhodamine 6G (R6G), demonstrating good uniformity (RSD = 4.86 %) and reproducibility (RSD = 3.07 %). Moreover, the substrate displayed a remarkable sensitivity of 10−10 M toward thiram standard solution. Given its inherent flexibility, the substrate proves advantageous for the detection of three-dimensional environments such as fruit and vegetable surfaces, and its practicality has been confirmed in the detection of thiram residue on apples, tomatoes, pears, and other fruits and vegetables. • "Gel-like" RCM provide more efficient adhesion to collect target molecules. • RCM-based substrate materials are safer and more environmentally friendly. • "Gel-like" RCM is more conducive to the formation of high-density SERS "hot spots." • The method based on "wiping" sampling is more convenient. • The minimum detection concentration of thiram can reach 10−10 M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia bowleyana is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that is a source of nutritional supplements rich in salvianolic acid B and a potential experimental system for the exploration of salvianolic acid B biosynthesis in the Labiatae. Here, we report a high‐quality chromosome‐scale genome assembly of S. bowleyana covering 462.44 Mb, with a scaffold N50 value of 57.96 Mb and 44,044 annotated protein‐coding genes. Evolutionary analysis revealed an estimated divergence time between S. bowleyana and its close relative S. miltiorrhiza of ~3.94 million years. We also observed evidence of a whole‐genome duplication in the S. bowleyana genome. Transcriptome analysis showed that SbPAL1 (PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA‐LYASE1) is highly expressed in roots relative to stem and leaves, paralleling the location of salvianolic acid B accumulation. The laccase gene family in S. bowleyana outnumbered their counterparts in both S. miltiorrhiza and Arabidopsis thaliana, suggesting that the gene family has undergone expansion in S. bowleyana. Several laccase genes were also highly expressed in roots, where their encoded proteins may catalyze the oxidative reaction from rosmarinic acid to salvianolic acid B. These findings provide an invaluable genomic resource for understanding salvianolic acid B biosynthesis and its regulation, and will be useful for exploring the evolution of the Labiatae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fucoxanthin and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are high-value compounds that can be found in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Yet, the growth rate of this microalga is relatively low under photoautotrophic conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using spent yeast, the second-major by-product of the brewing industry, as a useful substrate for P. tricornutum cultivation. Different pretreatments, concentrations of spent yeast, and initial cell densities of P. tricornutum were investigated. After 12 days of cultivation in f/2 medium, P. tricornutum supplemented with 1.33 g L−1 preautoclaved spent yeast yielded 3.28 times more fucoxanthin (5.97 mg L−1) and 3.55 times more EPA (16.82 mg L−1) than P. tricornutum grown without the yeast (fucoxanthin 1.82 mg L−1, EPA 4.64 mg L−1). Nutrient analysis showed that the nitrogen and phosphorus released by the spent yeast were consumed over time. Overall, spent yeast effectively promoted the fucoxanthin and EPA yields of P. tricornutum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transglutaminase-catalyzed reactions can be used widely to modify the functional properties of food proteins, biopharmaceuticals and in tissue engineering. Transglutaminase-producing organisms obtained from natural screening have a low ability to produce enzymes, and the obtained enzyme generally has low activity and poor substrate specificity, which limit its industrial applications. Of 100 isolates collected from five air-dried soil samples, 20 exhibited the typical growth characteristics of Actinomycetes. Of these 20 isolates, S-1and S-2 resulted in 0.47 and 0.30 U/mL transglutaminase production, respectively. Based on phenotypic and the 16S rRNA gene-sequence data, the isolate S-1 was confirmed as Streptomyces mobaraensis. We produced Transetta (DE3)/PET-32(a)-YC2 mutants in Escherichia coli exhibiting improved MTGase activity and production from the screened microbial transglutaminase-producing strain by directed evolution of the MTGase gene using epPCR combined with construction and overexpression of the PET-32(a)-YC2. The activity of Transetta (DE3)/pET-32a-YC2 TGase (3.03 U/mL) in E. coli growth supernatant was 1.5 and 1.8-fold above that of the control Transetta (DE3)/pET-32a-MTGase strain (2.02 U/mL) and Transetta (DE3)/pET-32a strain (1.68 U/mL), respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the content of target protein and MTGase activity by the MTGase gene expression in Transetta (DE3)/pET-32a-YC2 (26.2% and 4.99 U/mL) were 2.07 and 1.65-fold greater than control through optimization of different parameters. These results suggest that directed evolution of the MTGase gene from Streptomyces mobaraensis can effectively enhance the MTGase activity and protein expression in E. coli. This method of enhanced expression of active MTGase in E. coli may be valuable for food and other industrial applications. Numerous studies suggest that transglutaminase-catalyzed reactions can be used widely to modify the functional properties of food proteins, biopharmaceuticals and in tissue engineering. Transglutaminase-producing organisms obtained from natural screening have a low ability to ferment and produce enzymes, and the obtained enzyme generally has low activity and poor substrate specificity, which limit its industrial applications. In this work, we screened the isolate S-1 was Streptomyces mobaraensis from five air-dried soil samples according to the phenotypic and the 16S rRNA gene-sequencing. We produced Transetta (DE3)/PET-32(a)-YC2 mutants exhibiting improved MTGase activity and production from the screened microbial transglutaminase-producing strain by directed evolution of the MTGase gene using epPCR combined with construction and overexpression of the PET-32(a)-YC2. The activity of Transetta (DE3)/pET-32a-YC2 TGase (3.03 U/mL) was 1.5-fold above that of the control Transetta (DE3)/pET-32a-MTGase strain (2.02 U/mL). To further improve the yield of transglutaminase for the higher transglutaminase-producing strain generated by directed evolution of the MTGase gene, we optimized the following fermentation conditions: IPTG concentration, temperature, time and speed. Under the optimized conditions, the content of target protein and MTGase activity by the MTGase gene expression in Transetta (DE3)/pET-32a-YC2 (26.2% and 4.99 U/mL) were 2.07 and 1.65-fold greater than control through optimization of different parameters. These results suggest that directed evolution of the MTGase gene from Streptomyces mobaraensis can effectively enhance the MTGase activity and protein expression in E. coli. This method of enhanced expression of active MTGase in E. coli may be valuable for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 system has been developed for 1–3 genome edits in S. cerevisiae. • High efficiencies of multi-gene disruptions obtained vary from 80% to 100%. • Combinatorial effect on ethanol level identified from multiple knockout were observed. • Ethanol productivity of the strain increased 1.41-fold compared to native strain. Abstract Despite the great progress in genome editing in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae , regulating the carbon flux to ethanol in the ethanol metabolic pathway to achieve high ethanol yield and productivity remains a challenge. Here, we developed an efficient strategy for single-step, high-efficiency, simultaneous multiple gene disruptions in S. cerevisiae based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Three genes, the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) 2 gene, the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) 1 gene, and the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALD) 4 gene, were disrupted singly and combinatorially with efficiency ranging from 80 to 100%. We applied our genome engineering tool to explore all possible single, double, and triple gene disruption combinations to search for strains with high ethanol production. This exploratory analysis identified strains with ethanol production at least 1.41-fold greater than that of the wild-type strain. Our study illustrates the applicability of this highly efficient multiplex genome engineering approach for genome editing and the regulation of metabolic flux in S. cerevisiae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol tolerance involves complex interactions of several genes in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome that encodes proteins that are the subunits of the SAGA (Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase) complex, particularly those that interact with the TATA-binding protein. Global transcription machinery engineering has been used to reprogram the transcription levels of multiple genes to change cellular phenotypes important for technological applications by altering key proteins by error-prone polymerase chain reaction (epPCR) mutations. In this study, we produced S. cerevisiae mutants from the wild-type wine yeast Y01 strain by directed evolution of the SPT8 (suppressor of ty insertions 8) gene using epPCR combined with construction and overexpression of the constructed pUPST mutant library for improved ethanol tolerance and production. We found that the mutant strains gave 8.9% higher ethanol tolerance and 10.8% higher ethanol production than the wild-type. The desired phenotype resulted from the combined effect of two separate mutations in SPT8, which caused serine to replace phenylalanine (Asn156His) and glycine to replace serine (Gly585Ser) in the encoded SPT8 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptochromes are blue light receptors that regulate various light responses in plants. Arabidopsis cryptochrome 1 ( CRY1) and cryptochrome 2 ( CRY2) mediate blue light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and long-day ( LD) promotion of floral initiation. It has been reported recently that two negative regulators of Arabidopsis cryptochromes, Blue light Inhibitors of Cryptochromes 1 and 2 ( BIC1 and BIC2), inhibit cryptochrome function by blocking blue light-dependent cryptochrome dimerization. However, it remained unclear how cryptochromes regulate the BIC gene activity. Here we show that cryptochromes mediate light activation of transcription of the BIC genes, by suppressing the activity of CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 ( COP1), resulting in activation of the transcription activator ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 ( HY5) that is associated with chromatins of the BIC promoters. These results demonstrate a CRY- BIC negative-feedback circuitry that regulates the activity of each other. Surprisingly, phytochromes also mediate light activation of BIC transcription, suggesting a novel photoreceptor co-action mechanism to sustain blue light sensitivity of plants under the broad spectra of solar radiation in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia is increasingly popular for its naturally occurring pharmacological properties, which is widely used in daily necessities and cosmetics. Understanding the genetic basis of M. alternifolia can also provide useful molecular information that can improve the potential for essential oil yield in breeding. Here, we first reported the genome of M. alternifolia at the chromosome level to anchor the 331.11 Mb sequences into 11 pseudochromosomes with a scaffold N50 of 31.72 Mb. Comparative genomic analysis showed that several genes from the M. alternifolia genome may have evolved toward more terpenoids metabolites by natural selection, including MaSE , MaSDR1 , MaKAO , MaGA20ox , MaISPF , MaDXS , MaHMGS , and MaIDI. Metabolomics data showed that sesquiterpenoids and monoterpenoids were the main categories of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the contents of most of which were significantly higher in leaves than in roots and stems, suggesting that they are important bioactive constituents of essential oils in the leaves of M. alternifolia. Coexpression and ceRNA network results indicated that the identified class of miR156 may affect the biosynthesis of terpenoids by regulating the expression of related genes. Integrated whole-transcriptome and metabolome analyses showed that the members of the CYP450 and terpene synthase (TPS) gene families exhibited a high correlation with terpenoids accumulation, which can be responsible for terpenoids biosynthesis via complex regulatory networks, including MaCYP76F14 , MaCYP76B10 , MaCYP76A26 , MaCYP82G1 , MaTPS2 , and MaTPS4. These results provide a good insight into the molecular mechanisms of terpenoids biosynthesis in M. alternifolia and will provide basic research and technical support for high yields of essential oils in crop molecular breeding. [Display omitted] • This is the first report of a chromosome-level genome o f Melaleuca alternifolia. • Terpenoids are important bioactive constituents of essential oils. • miR156 may play key role in the biosynthesis of terpenoids. • CYP450 and TPS exhibited a highly correlation with terpenoids accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe global water scarcity and record-high fossil oil price have greatly stimulated the research interests on new desalination technologies driven by renewable energy. To directly use the renewable energy of kinematic form such as wind energy at ambient temperature, a “super-gravity” vacuum flash (SGVF) process for seawater desalination or water purification is explored. The SGVF process consists of one or several “super-gravity” vacuum evaporator (SGVE) with the desalination unit in it, frictional heater (FH), vacuum pump if necessary, and other adjunctive facilities. In the SGVE, a “super-gravity” vacuum (SGV) region is created so that the seawater can distill in it at ambient temperature. A steam compressor is integrated on the top to compress the distilled primary steam, recycling its latent heat. Several heat exchange tubes are arranged in the SGV region to exchange heat between the seawater outside and the compressed steam inside, realizing the flash of seawater and condensation of compressed steam at the same time. The FH is used to preheat the seawater compensating the temperature difference between the sea and the air and the energy loss during heat transfer. Each key unit in the SGVF process is theoretically calculated and analyzed. Method to determine formation, distribution and volume of the SGV region is developed, and factor influences are discussed. Shaft power of FH is calculated combining the theoretical derivation and the numerical simulation together, and the results of two methods agree well. Main parameters of the integrated steam compressor are calculated to meet the process requirement. The heat transfer tubes are arranged and the flow path of each fluid is designed according to the shape characteristic of the SGV region. According to a calculation example of the whole process, it is proved that the SGVF process has potential in seawater desalination. For different applications and requirements, several SGVEs can be arranged in parallel to meet larger production rates and in series to obtain higher quality water product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This is the first report of a chromosome-level genome of Cyclocarya paliurus. • Whole-genome duplication event of Cyclocarya paliurus occurred at 3.22–4.86 Mya. • Metabolites accumulation has a strong correlation with genes expression. Cyclocarya paliurus is an endangered medicinal plant of the genus Cyclocarya within the family Juglandaceae, and its leaves have been widely used for the development of healthy tea and medicine with a variety of pharmacologically bioactive components. This is the first report of an ∼634.90 Mb chromosome-level haploid genome assembly of heterozygous autotetraploid C. paliurus (2n = 4x = 64 chromosomes) with 46,292 protein-coding genes. The phylogenetic tree showed that C. paliurus had a close relationship to J. sigillata , J. regia and C. illinoinensis and phylogenetically diverged from the common ancestor (Juglandales) approximately 24 million years ago (Mya). Comparative genome analysis indicated that only one recent WGD event before the autopolyploidization in C. paliurus was distinct from the juglandoid WGD event and occurred from 3.22 to 4.86 Mya. A total of 626 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and 6,138 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and mainly involved in steroid, flavonoid and polysaccharide biosynthesis in C. paliurus leaves at different stages. Metabolomics and transcriptomics data showed that most of the genes related to hypoglycemic metabolite biosynthesis in the 10M-YL and 10M-ML groups were significantly higher than those in the 10M-OL group, including CpHMGS , CpMVK , CpMVD , CpCMK , CpDXS , CpC4Hs , CpCHIs , CpF3Hs , CpF 3′5′ H , CpDFRs , CpANS , CpFK , CpmanA , CpmanB , CpRHM , and CpUXE. The results showed that these DEGs have a strong correlation with DAMs in hypoglycemic metabolite biosynthesis, including d -glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, 1-deoxy- d -xylulose-5′-phosphate, cinnamic acid, fructose, mannose-6-phosphate and UDP-glucose. These findings can help improve the understanding of the molecular mechanism of hypoglycemic metabolites in leaves with different maturities in C. paliurus and provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the development and utilization of C. paliurus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cane molasses was used for the lipid and carotenoids accumulation in R. toruloides. • The production of torularhodin from MT was 14.68-fold higher than those of the WT. • A high quality reference genome of R. toruloides M18 was produced. • Transcriptome revealed hub genes for lipid and carotenoids accumulation. Cane molasses is beneficial for lipid and carotenoid production in microalgae. We made a survey for the lipid and carotenoid production profile of R. toruloides M18 (MT) with various concentrations of molasses under nitrogen-deficited conditions. The production of α-linolenate and torularhodin from MT were 1.22– and 14.68-fold higher than those of the wild-type strain. We observed that molasses at concentrations of 35 g/L and 70 g/L represented a cheap and environmentally friendly strategy for producing lipids and carotenoids. Transcriptome and WGCNA analysis demonstrated that the genes relevant to the lipid and carotenoid production, including MYB , bHLH , Δ-4 desaturase, Δ-12 desaturase and FA2H , were significantly highly expressed. The results indicated that molasses could represent an inexpensive means for achieving high lipids and carotenoids production in R. toruloides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cane molasses was used for the lipid and carotenoids accumulation in R. toruloides. • The production of torularhodin from MT was 14.68-fold higher than those of the WT. • A high quality reference genome of R. toruloides M18 was produced. • Transcriptome revealed hub genes for lipid and carotenoids accumulation. Cane molasses is beneficial for lipid and carotenoid production in microalgae. We made a survey for the lipid and carotenoid production profile of R. toruloides M18 (MT) with various concentrations of molasses under nitrogen-deficited conditions. The production of α-linolenate and torularhodin from MT were 1.22– and 14.68-fold higher than those of the wild-type strain. We observed that molasses at concentrations of 35 g/L and 70 g/L represented a cheap and environmentally friendly strategy for producing lipids and carotenoids. Transcriptome and WGCNA analysis demonstrated that the genes relevant to the lipid and carotenoid production, including MYB , bHLH , Δ-4 desaturase, Δ-12 desaturase and FA2H , were significantly highly expressed. The results indicated that molasses could represent an inexpensive means for achieving high lipids and carotenoids production in R. toruloides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioethanol, as a form of renewable and clean energy, has become increasingly important to the energy supply. One major obstacle in ethanol production is developing a high-capacity system. Existing approaches for regulating the ethanol production pathway are relatively insufficient, with nonspecific genetic manipulation. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to disrupt the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) 2 gene via complete deletion of the gene and introduction of a frameshift mutation in the ADH2 locus. Sequencing demonstrated the accurate knockout of the target gene with 91.4% and near 100% targeting efficiency. We also utilized genome resequencing to validate the mutations in the ADH2 mutants targeted by various single-guide RNAs. This extensive analysis indicated the mutations in the CRISPR/Cas9-engineered strains were homozygous. We applied the engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains for bioethanol production. Results showed that the ethanol yield improved by up to 74.7% compared with the yield obtained using the native strain. This work illustrates the applicability of this highly efficient and specific genome engineering approach to promote the improvement of bioethanol production in S. cerevisiae via metabolic engineering. Importantly, this study is the first report of the disruption of a target gene, ADH2, in S. cerevisiae using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to improve bioethanol yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]