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Abstract Calcium (Ca) is an essential mineral nutrient and plays a crucial signaling role in all living organisms. Increasing Ca content in staple foods such as rice is vital for improving Ca nutrition of humans. Here we map a quantitative trait locus that controls Ca concentration in rice grains and identify the causal gene as GCSC1 (Grain Ca and Sr Concentrations 1), which encodes a chloroplast vesicle localized homo-oligomeric protein. GCSC1 exhibits Ca2+ transport activity in heterologous assays in yeast and Xenopus laevis oocytes and is involved in the efflux of Ca2+ from the chloroplast to the cytosol. Knockout of GCSC1 results in increased chloroplast Ca concentration, lower stomatal conductance in leaves and enhanced Ca allocation to grains. Natural variation in grain Ca concentration is attributed to the variable expression of GCSC1 resulting from its promoter sequence variation. Our study identifies a chloroplast localized heavy metal-associated domain containing protein that regulates chloroplast Ca2+ efflux and provides a way to biofortify Ca in rice to benefit human nutrition.

BackgroundThere are few studies on the correlation between energy availability (EA) and subclinical menstrual disorders (SMD) in female athletes. This study aims to explore the differences in EA between female athletes with eumenorrhea and those with SMD, and the correlation between EA and the occurrence of SMD.MethodsLuteal phase defect (LPD) and anovulation were defined as SMD. Fifty-six adult female college athletes with regular menstrual cycles and no clinical symptoms of menstrual disorders (MD) were selected as subjects. The EA of the subjects was monitored, and SMD were identified. The EA was compared between the two groups, and the correlation between EA and the occurrence of SMD was analyzed.ResultsNineteen subjects were identified as LPD, and 7 subjects were identified as anovulation. The occurrence of SMD was 46.4%. The EA of subjects with SMD was lower than that of subjects with eumenorrhea (t = 3.165, p = 0.003), and EA was negatively correlated with the occurrence of SMD (r = −0.396, p = 0.000).ConclusionThere were differences in EA between female college athletes with eumenorrhea and SMD. EA was negatively correlated with the occurrence of SMD.

Abstract The development of closed-loop recycling polymers that exhibit excellent performance is of great significance. Sulfur-rich polymers possessing excellent optical, thermal, and mechanical properties are promising candidates for chemical recycling but lack efficient synthetic strategies for achieving diverse structures. Herein, we report a universal synthetic strategy for producing polytrithiocarbonates, a class of sulfur-rich polymers, via the polycondensation of dithiols and dimethyl trithiocarbonate. This strategy has excellent compatibility with a wide range of monomers, including aliphatic, heteroatomic, and aromatic dithiols enabling the synthesis of polytrithiocarbonates with diverse structures. The present synthesis strategy offers a versatile platform for the construction of thermoplastics, elastomers, and vitrimers. Notably, these polytrithiocarbonates can be easily depolymerized via solvolysis into the corresponding monomers, which can be repolymerized to virgin polymers without changing the material properties.

The dynamic compaction method has been widely adopted in foundation treatment to densify the soil fillers. However, for the complexity of the impact behavior and soil mechanical properties, the theoretical research of dynamic compaction lags behind its practice for complex soil properties and stress paths. This paper presents a theoretical model applied to describe soil column plastic deformation under impact load. The relationship among stress increment, strain increment, and plastic wave velocity was derived from the aspect of propagation characteristics of stress waves in soil first. Combined with the Duncan-Chang Model, a one-dimensional theoretical model was established then. A numerical model was developed further to check the performance of the model. It showed that the deformation at the end of the soil column was mushroom-shaped. Both the axial and lateral deformation increased with the impact velocity. While some particles located at the side of the soil column end may splash under repeated impact. The theoretical deformations of the soil column were consistent with the experimental results both in the direction of axial and lateral.

Abstract Background Invasion and metastasis are the main causes of unfavourable prognosis in patients diagnosed with bladder cancer. The efficacy of immunotherapy in bladder cancer remains suboptimal due to the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. The novel protein family with sequence similarity 171B (FAM171B) has been identified, but its precise role and mechanism in bladder cancer remain unclear. Methods In this study, we conducted an analysis to investigate the associations between FAM171B expression and the prognosis and clinicopathological stage of bladder cancer. To this end, we utilized RNA sequencing data from the TCGA and GEO databases, as well as tumor tissue specimens obtained from our clinical centre. RNA sequencing analysis allowed us to examine the biological function of FAM171B at the transcriptional level in bladder cancer cells. Additionally, we used immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to identify the protein that interacts with FAM171B in bladder cancer cells. The effects of FAM171B on modulating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and vimentin-mediated tumor progression, as well as the underlying mechanisms, were clarified by phalloidin staining, immunofluorescence staining, ELISA, RNA immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry and a bladder cancer graft model. Results FAM171B expression exhibits strong positive correlation with poor survival outcomes and advanced clinicopathological stages in patients with bladder cancer. FAM171B significantly promoted bladder cancer growth and metastasis, accompanied by TAM accumulation in the microenvironment, in vivo and in vitro. Through studies of the molecular mechanism, we found that FAM171B contributes to tumor progression by stabilizing vimentin in the cytoplasm. Additionally, our research revealed that FAM171B enhances the splicing of CCL2 mRNA by interacting with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (HNRNPU), ultimately leading to increased recruitment and M2 polarization of TAMs. Conclusions In this study, we identified FAM171B as a potent factor that promotes the progression of bladder cancer. These findings establish a solid theoretical foundation for considering FAM171B as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for bladder cancer.

Abstract Objective Herein, we aimed at exploring the FAP expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) along with its clinical implication. Methods Using computational tools analysis of different freely accessible gene databases, the expression pattern, clinical importance, co-expressed genes, and signaling pathways of FAP in ccRCC were thoroughly investigated. FAP expression was examined in clinical ccRCC specimens through qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out using flow cytometry, CCK-8, wound-healing and Transwell assays, as well as xenograft tumor model, respectively. Results FAP levels were found to be significantly elevated in ccRCC based on bioinformatic data from public databases. Patients who exhibited higher expression levels of FAP had poorer prognoses, according to Kaplan–Meier analysis of survival data. In addition, diagnostic and prognostic value of FAP in ccRCC was figured out by ROC curve and prognostic nomogram model. In vitro study revealed that the over-expression FAP accelerated cell proliferation, migration as well as invasion, and suppressed cell apoptosis, but silencing of FAP had the opposite effect. FAP suppression reduced the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway's stimulation, whereas FAP up-regulation increased the stimulation of the pathway. Blocking the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway with the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 repressesed cancer-promoting effect of FAP. Additionally, we found that the downregulation of FAP was effective at slowing tumor progression in vivo. Conclusion It is possible that FAP could be a reliable biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of ccRCC because of its role in the ccRCC progression via triggering the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Abstract Background Gremlin-1 (GREM1) is a protein closely related to tumor growth, although its function in bladder cancer (BCa) is currently unknown. Our first objective was to study the GREM1 treatment potential in BCa. Methods BCa tissue samples were collected for the detection of GREM1 expression using Western blot analysis and Immunofluorescence staining. Association of GREM1 expression with clinicopathology and prognosis as detected by TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database. The functional investigation was tested by qRT-PCR, western blot analysis, CCK-8, cell apoptosis, wound healing, and transwell assays. The interaction between GREM1 and the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was assessed by Western blot analysis. Results GREM1 exhibited high expression in BCa tissues and was linked to poor prognosis. Stable knockdown of GREM1 significantly inhibited BCa cell (T24 and 5637) proliferation, apoptosis, migratory, invasive, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) abilities. GREM1 promotes the progression in BCa via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Conclusion Findings demonstrate that the progression-promoting effect of GREM1 in BCa, providing a novel biomarker for BCa-targeted therapy.

Heterodera filipjevi continues to be a major threat to wheat production worldwide. Rapid detection and quantification of cyst nematodes are essential for more effective control against this nematode disease. In the present study, a TaqMan-minor groove binder (TaqMan-MGB) probe-based fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was successfully developed and used for quantifying H. filipjevi from DNA extracts of soil. The primers and probe designed from the obtained RAPD-SCAR marker fragments of H. filipjevi showed high specificity to H. filipjevi using DNA from isolates-confirmed species of 23 Heterodera spp., 1 Globodera spp. and 3 Pratylenchus spp. The qPCR assay is highly sensitive and provides improved H. filipjevi detection sensitivity of as low as 4–3 single second-stage juvenile (J2) DNAs, 10–3 female DNAs, and 0.01 μg μL–1 genomic DNAs. A standard curve relating to the threshold cycle and log values of nematode numbers was generated and validated from artificially infested soils and was used to quantify H. filipjevi in naturally infested field soils. There was a high correlation between the H. filipjevi numbers estimated from 32 naturally infested field soils by both conventional methods and the numbers quantified using the qPCR assay. qPCR potentially provides a useful platform for the efficient detection and quantification of H. filipjevi directly from field soils and to quantify this species directly from DNA extracts of field soils.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most fatal cancers with a very poor prognosis. Here, we found that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA demethylase fat mass and obesity-related protein (FTO) promote the growth, migration and invasion of PC. FTO expression level is increased in human PC and is associated with poor prognosis of PC patients. Knockdown of FTO increases m6A methylation of TFPI-2 mRNA in PC cells, thereby increasing mRNA stability via the m6A reader YTHDF1, resulting in up-regulation of TFPI-2 expression, and inhibits PC proliferation, colony formation, sphere formation, migration and invasion in vitro, as well as tumour growth in vivo. Rescue assay further confirms that FTO facilitates cancer progression by reducing the expression of TFPI-2. Mechanistically, FTO promotes the progression of PC at least partially through reducing m6A/YTHDF1 mediated TFPI-2 mRNA stability. Our findings reveal that FTO, as an m6A demethylase, plays a critical role in promoting PC growth, migration and invasion, suggesting that FTO may be a potential therapeutic target for treating PC.

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) Heterodera glycines is considered as the major constraint to soybean production. GmSHMT08 at Rhg4 locus on chromosome 08, encoding a serine hydroxylmethyltransferase, is a major gene underlying resistance against H. glycines in Peking-type soybeans. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning this resistance is less well characterized, and whether GmSHMT08 could interact with proteins in H. glycines remains unclear. In this study, yeast two-hybrid screening was conducted using GmSHMT08 as a bait protein, and a fragment of a 70-kDa heat shock protein (HgHSP70) was screened from H. glycines that exhibited interaction with GmSHMT08. This interaction was verified by both GST pull-down and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. Our finding reveals HgHSP70 could be applied as a potential candidate gene for further exploring the mechanism on GmSHMT08-mediated resistance against SCN H. glycines.

The effects of the menstrual cycle and sex hormones on knee kinematics remain unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the menstrual cycle and serum sex hormone concentrations on knee kinematic parameters of the 90°cutting in female college soccer athletes. Three female college soccer teams (53 subjects) participated in the study. During the first menstrual cycle, a three-step method was used to exclude subjects with anovulatory and luteal phase–deficient (LPD) (12 subjects). The subjects’ menstrual cycle was divided into the menstrual phase, late-follicular phase, ovulatory phase, and mid-luteal phase (group 1, 2, 3, 4). In each phase of the second menstrual cycle, we used a portable motion analysis system to enter the teams and tested the sex hormones concentrations and knee kinematics parameters in three universities in turn. We found that subjects had a lower maximum knee valgus in group 4 compared with other groups. This meant that subjects had a lower biomechanical risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the mid-luteal phase. There was no significant correlation between serum estrogen, progesterone concentration, and knee kinematic parameters. This meant that sex hormones did not have a protective effect. Future studies need to incorporate more factors (such as neuromuscular control, etc.) to investigate.

Objective: fetal circulatory characteristics differ from those after birth; the right ventricle assumes more than 60% of the workload in the systemic circulation before birth. The right ventricle automated myocardial performance index (AM+MPI) is a simple, time-efficient, and stable assessment method used to evaluate overall cardiac function. This study aimed to apply the right ventricle AM+MPI technique to explore its role in normal mid-to-late pregnancy fetal cardiac function and compare the AM+MPI differences between diabetic and normal fetuses. Methods: A total of 150 pregnant women who visited the obstetric outpatient department at Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, from January 2022 to June 2022 were selected. We excluded 42 patients with comorbid conditions other than diabetes, fetal anomalies, and unclear last menstrual periods, resulting in 85 healthy pregnant patients and 17 diabetic pregnant patients. Using a Samsung WS80A color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic device, we measured the fetal right ventricle AM+MPI, isovolumic contraction time (ICT), isovolumic relaxation time (IRT), and ejection time (ET) in RMPI mode. We performed variability and correlation analyses within the normal group and compared these parameters with those of the diabetic group. Results: In the healthy pregnant group, there was no significant variability in the fetal MPI, ET, or ICT values among the groups (p > 0.05). However, the IRT was positively correlated with gestational age (p < 0.05), with a linear fit formula of IRT = 29.78 + 0.49 × gestational age (DW value 1.87; F = 32.25, p < 0.05), indicating that the IRT increases with gestational age. The right ventricle MPI in the diabetic group was significantly greater than that in the normal group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The right ventricle AM+MPI technique is simple, time-efficient, and stable and can objectively assess fetal right ventricle function, providing a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis of intrauterine cardiac function abnormalities. Additionally, there are significant differences in the right ventricle MPI between diabetic and normal fetuses, providing evidence for predicting fetal developmental issues and postnatal complications. The right ventricle AM+MPI holds promise as a new method for prenatal evaluation of fetal right heart function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) constitutes a highly common and lethal disease that impacts males globally. However, the specific molecular pathways responsible for its development are still unknown. Therefore, revealing the molecular regulators that contributed to the progression of PCa is pivotal for developing unique management strategies. Through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of multiple public gene databases, we thoroughly investigated COL10A1 expression level, clinical significance, co‐expressed genes and signalling pathways in PCa. COL10A1 and INHBA expression level was assessed in clinical PCa specimens using RT‐qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. A combination of experimental techniques, including CCK‐8 assay, colony formation, flow cytometry, Transwell, wound‐healing, immunoprecipitation assays and rescue study, was utilised to examine the fundamental molecular pathways of COL10A1's action across PCa. The COL10A1 expression was significantly elevated in PCa, and its upregulation has been connected with tumour aggressiveness and a weak predictive outcome in subjects. The current investigation revealed that regulation of COL10A1 expression, either by upregulation or downregulation, resulted in sequential augmentation or suppression of PCa cell progression, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, COL10A1 was manifested to directly interact with INHBA and facilitate PI3K and AKT phosphorylation pathways within PCa cells and mouse models. The results of our study offer new perspectives on the tumorigenic role of COL10A1 in PCa and its interactions with INHBA may play important roles in PCa progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

● Application of plant defense inducers against tea diseases. ● Application of natural enemies against insect pests. ● Application of Trifolium repens against weeds. The application and development of ‘green’ preventive technologies in tea plantations is an important means of ensuring tea quality and ecological safety. Ecological, agronomic and biological controls are the main preventive measures used in Guizhou Province. This paper summarizes the ‘green’ preventive technologies being applied in Guizhou tea plantations, including the use of plant defense inducers to regulate tea plant responses to pathogens, natural enemies to control pest species causing damage to shoots and Trifolium repens to control the main weed species. In addition, it summarizes the integrated ‘green’ preventive technologies being used in Guizhou and provides a foundation for the ecological maintenance of tea plantations.

Potassium (K), an important nutrient element, can improve the stress resistance/tolerance of crops. The application of K in resisting plant-parasitic nematodes shows that the K treatment can reduce the occurrence of nematode diseases and increase crop yield. However, data on K2SO4 induced rice resistance against the root-knot nematode Meloidogynegraminicola are still lacking. In this work, K2SO4 treatment reduced galls and nematodes in rice plants and delayed the development of nematodes. Rather than affecting the attractiveness of roots to nematodes and the morphological phenotype of giant cells at feeding sites, such an effect is achieved by rapidly priming hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation and increasing callose deposition. Meanwhile, galls and nematodes in rice roots were more in the potassium channel OsAKT1 and transporter OsHAK5 gene-deficient plants than in wild-type, while the K2SO4-induced resistance showed weaker in the defective plants. In addition, during the process of nematode infection, the expression of jasmonic acid (JA)/ethylene (ET)/brassinolide (BR) signaling pathway-related genes and pathogenesis-related (PR) genes OsPR1a/OsPR1b was up-regulated in rice after K2SO4 treatment. In conclusion, K2SO4 induced rice resistance against M. graminicola. The mechanism of inducing resistance was to prime the basal defense and required the participation of the K+ channel and transporter in rice. These laid a foundation for further study on the mechanism of rice defense against nematodes and the rational use of potassium fertilizer on improving rice resistance against nematodes in the field.