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Objectives To investigate the association between liver fibrosis score and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 897 hospitalized patients with T2DM were included in this study. Each patient completed DKD screening. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictive value of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NAFLD-FS) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) for the occurrence of DKD and risk for DKD progression, respectively. Results The prevalence of DKD and risk for its progression significantly increased with increasing NAFLD-FS risk category. DKD prevalence also increased with increasing FIB-4 risk category. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the "high-risk" NAFLD-FS had a significantly higher risk of DKD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–3.08) and risk for DKD progression (OR: 2.88, 95% CI: 1.23–6.78), and the "intermediate-risk" FIB-4 had a significantly higher risk of DKD (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.00–1.98). Subgroup analysis showed that the association between NAFLD-FS and FIB-4 and DKD was significant in the female subgroup, whereas the association between the "high-risk" NAFLD-FS and risk for DKD progression was significant in the male subgroup. Conclusions NAFLD-FS and FIB-4 are strongly associated with DKD and risk for DKD progression in patients with T2DM. Additionally, sexual dimorphism exists in this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Small RNAs play important roles in regulation of plant development and response to various stresses. Northern blot is an important technique in small RNA research. Isotope‐ and biotin‐ (or digoxigenin) labeled probes are frequently used in small RNA northern blot. However, isotope‐based probe is limited by strict environmental regulation and availability in many places in the world while biotin‐based probe is usually suffered from low sensitivity. In this study, we developed a T4 DNA polymerase‐based method for incorporation of a cluster of 33 biotin‐labeled C in small RNA probe (T4BC33 probe). T4BC33 probe reaches similar sensitivity as 32P‐labeled probe in dot blot and small RNA northern blot experiments. Addition of locked nucleic acids in T4BC33 probe further enhanced its sensitivity in detecting low‐abundance miRNAs. With newly developed northern blot method, expression of miR6027 and miR6149 family members was validated. Northern blot analysis also confirmed the successful application of virus‐based miRNA silencing in pepper, knocking down accumulation of Can‐miR6027a and Can‐miR6149L. Importantly, further analysis showed that knocking‐down Can‐miR6027a led to upregulation of a nucleotide binding‐leucine rich repeat domain protein coding gene (CaRLb1) and increased immunity against Phytophthora capsici in pepper leaves. Our study provided a highly sensitive and convenient method for sRNA research and identified new targets for genetic improvement of pepper immunity against P. capsici. Significance Statement: A highly sensitive and convenient method is developed for synthesis of biotin‐based probe and validated in small RNA northern blot. Can‐miR6027a is identified as a negative regulator of immunity against Phytophthora capsici in pepper using virus‐based miRNA silencing technology in conjunction with newly developed northern blot method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coflow jet (CFJ) technology, as a new type of integrated flow control technology, has shown potentials in lift enhancement and drag reduction, stall characteristics improvement. The history of the CFJ technology and the research situations at home and abroad is reviewed. The mechanism of CFJ technology’s abilities in lift enhancement and drag reduction is discussed, the theoretical values are also investigated. The research status and typical applications are analyzed. The key issues of this technology in aircraft design, such as aircraft integrated design method, design and analysis technology, component layout strategy and flight control system, are summarized.

SUMMARY: The potato's most devastating disease is late blight, which is caused by Phytophthora infestans. Whereas various resistance (R) genes are known, most are typically defeated by this fast‐evolving oomycete pathogen. However, the broad‐spectrum and durable R8 is a vital gene resource for potato resistance breeding. To support an educated deployment of R8, we embarked on a study on the corresponding avirulence gene Avr8. We overexpressed Avr8 by transient and stable transformation, and found that Avr8 promotes colonization of P. infestans in Nicotiana benthamiana and potato, respectively. A yeast‐two‐hybrid (Y2H) screen showed that AVR8 interacts with a desumoylating isopeptidase (StDeSI2) of potato. We overexpressed DeSI2 and found that DeSI2 positively regulates resistance to P. infestans, while silencing StDeSI2 downregulated the expression of a set of defense‐related genes. By using a specific proteasome inhibitor, we found that AVR8 destabilized StDeSI2 through the 26S proteasome and attenuated early PTI responses. Altogether, these results indicate that AVR8 manipulates desumoylation, which is a new strategy that adds to the plethora of mechanisms that Phytophthora exploits to modulate host immunity, and StDeSI2 provides a new target for durable resistance breeding against P. infestans in potato. Significance Statement: StDeSI2, identified as a key host target of AVR8 in potato, plays a positive role in regulating late blight resistance. The present research enriches our knowledge about a new strategy that P. infestans uses to control host defense, and StDeSI2 promises to provide a new target for potato breeding against late blight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northern margin of the North China Craton (NNCC) hosts Mesozoic gold deposits of significant economic importance. The metal sources of these gold systems have long been debated with mainly magmatic‐hydrothermal versus metamorphic fluid models. Mercury (Hg) isotopes, which undergo unique mass‐independent fractionation, can provide important insights into the source of metals in gold deposits due to the close association between Hg and Au in such systems. Here, we investigated the Hg isotopic composition of six gold deposits of the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age and potential source rocks in the NNCC. Variable ∆199Hg values were observed in bulk ore and pyrite samples (−0.28‰ to 0.34‰, n = 51) and coeval granites (−0.21‰ to 0.13‰; n = 25). The negative ∆199Hg values of bulk ore and pyrite samples mostly agree with that observed for metamorphic basement rocks (−0.37‰ to 0.11‰; n = 32). The positive ∆199Hg values of bulk ore and pyrite samples agree with those reported in marine sediments (0‰–0.3‰). So the data suggest binary mixing of ocean‐recycled Hg originated from the subducted oceanic slab, and terrestrial‐recycled Hg from the Precambrian basement in Mesozoic gold deposits. The contribution of Hg (and Au, by analogy) from both reservoirs varies depending on active continental arc versus intracontinental setting and is ultimately controlled by translithospheric heat flow driven by paleo‐Pacific plate subduction. Plain Language Summary: Photoreduction of Hg(II) on Earth's surface system leads to mass‐independent fractionation of Hg isotopes, resulting in positive and negative Δ199Hg values in marine and terrestrial systems, respectively. Here, we observe negative to positive Δ199Hg values in the Mesozoic gold deposits in the northern margin of the North China Craton. These results suggest binary mixing of ocean‐recycled Hg from the fluids released by subducting oceanic slab or the mantle metasomatized by these fluids, and terrestrial‐recycled Hg from the Precambrian basement in Mesozoic gold deposits. Paleo‐Pacific plate subduction and translithospheric heat flow may have played a key role in the metallogenic metal enrichment of the Mesozoic gold deposits in the northern margin of the North China Craton. Key Points: Mass‐independent fraction of Hg isotopes is observed in Mesozoic gold deposits in the northern margin of the North China CratonPositive Δ199Hg values in Mesozoic gold deposits suggest Hg was sourced from lithospheric mantle modified by oceanic subductionNegative Δ199Hg values in Mesozoic gold deposits suggest that Hg was sourced from the Precambrian basement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]