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Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium), especially its varieties, is the red petal yellowhorn (X. sorbifolium var. purpurea), an important tree species with great ornamental value, and its flower petals change color throughout the flowering period. In this study, we mainly focused on the mechanism of the petal color change with transcriptomics and metabolomics data. A phased chromosome-scale assembly of the red petal yellowhorn genome was generated using the PacBio high-fidelity reads, Illumina short reads, and Phase genomics Proximo Hi-C data. The final de novo assembly yielded 533.67 Mb with a contig N50 of 5.42 Mb, and 27 501 protein-coding genes were predicted. Notably, an alternate haplotig assembly was also obtained. Furthermore, a variation database for the alleles within the genome was constructed. Subsequently, the expression pattern of flower pigmentation-related genes and allelic expression imbalance events were investigated. Apart from 6 genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway regulated by the activation of 15 MYB-bHLH-WD40s, the increased expression of senescencerelated gene 1 (SRG1) and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (DIOX5) might also result in decreasing content of lutein and increasing abundance of (E/Z)-phytoene, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, and cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside. These changes in genes and metabolites were most likely related to the petal color change in red petal yellowhorn. This phased chromosome-scale genome assembly provides more accurate genomic information for future molecular breeding and facilitates allele function studies of the red petal yellowhorn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-55) can usually cause acute respiratory diseases. Unfortunately, there is no available specific antiviral drug. In the present study, 14 nucleotide analogs were screened for their anti -HAdV-55 activities in vitro. The results suggested that cidofovir could inhibit HAdV-55 infection in HEp-2 cells, providing strong evidence for further research on treating HAdV-55 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, strain D1 was screened from saline-alkali soil of grassland by the method of plate confrontation. The inhibition rates against Fusarium equiseti BS1, Fusarium oxysporum 28, Fusarium oxysporum 19 and Fusarium solami BF36 were 70.81%, 76.00%, 67.80% and 65.70% respectively. Strain D1 was identified as Streptomyces ciscaucasicus by observation of colony morphology, physiological and biochemical characteristics and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene. The results of antimicrobial spectrum showed that the strain had antagonistic effect against 9 kinds of plant pathogenic fungi. The control effect of the strain on alfalfa root rot was 52.8% and it could promote rooting. The results showed that the strain D1 had potential as a biological agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on biogenesis and diagnostic value of exosomes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are unclear. Topics include the plasma exosome level was higher in patients with NAFLD than that in healthy controls, and the damage-regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM) was identified as one of the genes related to exosome secretion in patients with NAFLD.

Herein, we designed a diversified sensing platform for D-penicillamine based on amino-functionalized Zrbased metal--organic frameworks (UiO-66-NH2 MOFs) and 3-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA)@Alizarin Red (ARS). The boronic acid group of 3-aminophenylboronic acid could react with Alizarin Red to form an APBA@ARS complex with a yellow fluorescence emission at 580 nm and ultraviolet absorption at 435 nm. APBA@ARS can greatly quench the fluorescence of UiO-66-NH2 MOFs at 450 nm via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). When copper ions were present in the reaction system of APBA and Alizarin Red, the copper ions could complex with Alizarin Red to prevent the generation of APBA@ARS, and the absorption of Cu@ARS at 530 nm occurred. Thus, the absorbance of APBA@ARS at 435 nm declined, restoring the fluorescence of UiO-66-NH2 MOFs. Nevertheless, when D-penicillamine and copper ions coexist in the APBA and Alizarin Red reaction system, the copper ions would complex with the sulfhydryl group of D-penicillamine and no longer hinder the generation of APBA@ARS, and the fluorescence of UiO-66-NH2 MOFs is quenched again. Meanwhile, the absorbance of APBA@ARS at 435 nm enhanced and the absorbance at 530 nm decreased. Thus, a fluorescence and colorimetric dual-signal sensing platform was constructed for D-penicillamine detection, which could detect D-penicillamine in the 1-20 μM and 2-50 μM ranges with the limit of detection (LOD) values of 0.46 μM and 1.38 μM, respectively. Furthermore, this sensing platform could also realize the intelligent RGB detection via mobile phones due to the obvious color change of the reaction system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In silicon photonic waveguides, the on-chip integration of high-performance nanomaterials is considerably important to enable the waveguide sensing function. Herein, the in situ self-assembly of the low refractive index (RI) metal-organic framework nanomaterial ZIF-8 with a large surface area and high porosity on the surface of a designated SiO2 waveguide for evanescent wave sensing is demonstrated. The surface morphology and transmission loss of the nano-functionalized waveguide are investigated. The specific design and fabrication of asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers (AMZIs) are performed based on the optical properties of ZIF-8. Such efforts in waveguide engineering result in an output interfering spectrum of nano-functionalized AMZI with an ultra-high extinction ratio (28.6 dB), low insertion loss (~13 dB) and suitable free spectral range (~30 nm). More significantly, the outstanding sensing features of ZIF-8 are successfully realized on the SiO2 waveguide chip. The results of ethanol detection show that the AMZI sensor has a large detection range (0 to 1000 ppm), high sensitivity (19 pm ppm-1 from 0 to 50 ppm or 41 pm ppm-1 from 600 to 1000 ppm) and low detection limit (1.6 ppm or 740 ppb). This combination of nanotechnology and optical waveguide technology is promising to push forward lab-on-waveguide technology for volatile organic compound (VOC) detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the possibility of whole-tree wood utilization of a native tree species in Northeast China (P. ussuriensis), this study investigated the air-dried wood density and fiber dimensions for each ring in the branch, stem, and root wood of the tree species. The results showed significant differences in wood densities and fiber dimensions among tree positions (p <0.05). The root had the highest average density (0.596 g/cm3), and branch had the lowest average density (0.506 g/cm3). The root and branch wood exhibited larger fibers than that of the stem wood. The root wood had the highest average fiber wall (6.038 μm). The fiber wall of branch wood appeared thinner than the stem wood, although the difference was not statistically significant. The radial pattern of wood density and fiber dimensions indicated that branches and roots did not have juvenile wood such as was found in the stems. The study concludes that the use of branch or root wood of P. ussuriensis would be favorable for papermaking or wood-based panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant) and VRSA (vancomycin-resistant), causes serious healthcare-associated infections, even sepsis and death. Here, we identified six novel cathelicidins (CATHPb1-6) from Python bivittatu, and CATHPb1 displayed the best in vitro pharmacological and toxicological profile. We further show that CATHPb1 exhibited evident protection in mice MRSA/VRSA infection models, given either 24 h before or 4 h after infection. The protection was all effective through different administration routes, but was blocked by in vivo depletion of monocyte/macrophages or neutrophils. CATHPb1 can rapidly and massively modulate macrophages/monocytes and neutrophils trafficking to the infection site, and potentiate their bactericidal functions. Meanwhile, CATHPb1 remarkably augmented neutrophil-mediated bacteria killing by facilitating neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation and preventing its degradation. Acting through MAPKs and NF-κB pathways, CATHPb1 selectively enhanced the levels of chemokines while reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines without undesirable toxicities. The much improved serum half-life and stabilities confer CATHPb1 an excellent prospect to become a novel therapeutic agent against multidrug-resistant staphylococcal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeonia ostii is a traditional medicinal plant popularly used in China. This study intended to evaluate the antioxidant properties and the chemical components of the flavonoid-rich extracts from the flowers of P. ostii. The results showed that the flavonoid-rich extracts from the flowers of P. ostii had strong scavenging capacities on 2,2′-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS), hydroxyls, superoxide anions, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Five flavonoids, dihydrokaempferol (1), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (2), apigenin-7-O-β-D-neohesperidoside (3), kaempferol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), and kaempferol- 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), were isolated from the flavonoid-rich extracts of the flowers of P. ostii. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that compounds 3 and 4 were abundant in the P. ostii flower and in flavonoid-rich extracts. The main components of the flower of P. ostii are flavonoids. The high antioxidant activity of the flavonoid-rich extracts may be attributed to the high content of flavonoids. The five isolated flavonoids were the primary antioxidant ingredients, and may play important roles in the strong antioxidant activities of this flower. Based on the obtained results, the flower of P. ostii could be a potential source of natural antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid combustion mode including flame propagation induced by spark ignition (SI) and auto-ignition could be an effective method to improve fuel economy and suppress engine knock simultaneously. An experimental research on controlled spark-assisted stratified compression ignition (SSCI) for this purpose was conducted in a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine with high compression ratio. At wide open throttle (WOT) and minimum spark advance for best torque (MBT) condition without turbocharging, direct injection was used toform desired stoichiometric stratified mixture while 20% cooled external exhaust gas recirculation (e-EGR) was sucked into the cylinder. The combustion characteristics of controlled SSCI show two-stage heat release, where the first stage is caused by SI and the second stage is due to moderate auto-ignition. Compared withengine knock, the second stage heat release of controlled SSCI shows smooth pressure curve without pressure oscillation. This is due to the low energy density mixture around the cylinder wall caused by cooled e-EGR. The stratified mixture could suppress knock. Fuel economy and combustion characteristics of the baseline and the controlled SSCI combustion were compared. The baseline GDI engine reaches a maximum of 8.9 bar brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) with brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of 291 gl(kWh), and the controlled SSCI combustion achieves a maximum of 8.3 bar BMEP with BSFC of 256 gl(kWh), improving the fuel economy over 12% while maintaining approximately the same power. The results show that controlled SSCI with Mo-stage heat releases is a potential combustion strategy to suppress engine knock while achieving high efficiency of the high compression ratio gasoline engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]