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Abstract Background Pruning is an important cultivation management option that has important effects on peach yield and quality. However, the effects of pruning on the overall genetic and metabolic changes in peach leaves and fruits are poorly understood. Results The transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of leaves and fruits from trees subjected to pruning and unpruning treatments were measured. A total of 20,633 genes and 622 metabolites were detected. Compared with those in the control, 1,127 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 77 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in leaves from pruned and unpruned trees (pdLvsupdL), whereas 423 DEGs and 29 DEMs were identified in fruits from the pairwise comparison pdFvsupdF. The content of three auxin analogues was upregulated in the leaves of pruned trees, the content of all flavonoids detected in the leaves decreased, and the expression of almost all genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway decreased. The phenolic acid and amino acid metabolites detected in fruits from pruned trees were downregulated, and all terpenoids were upregulated. The correlation analysis revealed that DEGs and DEMs in leaves were enriched in tryptophan metabolism, auxin signal transduction, and flavonoid biosynthesis. DEGs and DEMs in fruits were enriched in flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, as well as L-glutamic acid biosynthesis. Conclusions Pruning has different effects on the leaves and fruits of peach trees, affecting mainly the secondary metabolism and hormone signalling pathways in leaves and amino acid biosynthesis in fruits.

Brown seaweed polysaccharides (BSPs) are potential alternative sources of bioactive compounds. The food and pharmaceutical industries have a great interest in BSPs because of their various bioactivities, such as anticancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. Studies have demonstrated that the bioactivities of BSPs are significantly influenced by their structural characteristics and chemical constitution; but, their specific conformational relationships are complex and required further study. However, systematic reviews of the biological activities and mechanisms of action of BSPs are currently inadequate. Thus, this paper summarizes recent studies on the physicochemical and structural features, characterization methods, biological activities, and related action mechanisms of BSPs from different sources. Based on these findings, future prospects include the following three aspects. More advanced research techniques need to be developed to identify the exact main and branch structure of BSPs; in-depth studies of the detailed structure of BSPs are needed to elucidate the conformational relationships between polysaccharides and their activities, and clinical trials should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of BSPs in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. The information provided here aims to offer a theoretical foundation for further research on the structural properties, mechanism of action, and potential applications of BSPs in food and pharmaceutical industries as well as, to increase the economic value of BSPs and extend their application range.

Objective: To evaluate the T-lymphocyte subset distribution and the diagnostic and prognosis value of double-negative T (DNT) cells in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: This retrospective study compared the T-lymphocyte subsets and DNT of 114 patients with CRC with those of 107 healthy controls (HC). The diagnostic potential of DNT and T-lymphocyte subsets was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and prognostic values were evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier curve and the Cox regression model. Results: The percentages of CD8+ T cells and DNT cells, and value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), were remarkably higher in patients with CRC than in those with HC, but the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was decreased. Using ROC curve analysis, DNT cell percentage, CEA, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio all had good diagnostic efficacy, with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.865, 0.786 and 0.624, respectively. The combination of DNT cell percentage and CEA had an AUC of 0.905, which was significantly higher than that of any single biomarker (p

AbstractRosa ‘Limoncello’ finds applications in gardening and landscaping. In this study, we assembled and annotated the complete chloroplast genome of this variety for the first time. The length of its chloroplast genome was 156,493 bp, containing two short inverted repeat regions of 26,052 bp, each separated by a large single-copy region of 85,649 bp and a small single-copy region of 18,740 bp. The chloroplast DNA of R. ‘Limoncello’ consisted of 135 genes, including 90 protein-coding genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes, and 37 transfer RNA genes. On comparing the complete chloroplast sequence of R. ‘Limoncello’ with that of other Rosa species, R. ‘Limoncello’ was found to be closely related to Rosa cymosa. Thus, information on the chloroplast genome sequence of this rose variety can facilitate phylogenetic studies of the genus Rosa.

AbstractContext Luteolin can affect multiple biological functions, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune enhancement processes. Luteolin can inhibit inflammation of T2-high asthma, but its role in neutrophilic asthma has been insufficently studied.Objective This study determines the effect of luteolin on IL-36γ secretion-mediated MAPK pathway signalling in neutrophilic asthma.Materials and methods The asthma model was established by using ovalbumin/lipopolysaccharide (OVA/LPS). Female 6–8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were divided into control, asthma, luteolin (20 mg/kg) and asthma + luteolin (20 mg/kg) groups. To explore the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of luteolin in neutrophilic asthma, Beas-2B cells were treated with luteolin (20 µmol/L), LPS (100 ng/mL), recombinant human IL-36γ protein (rhIL-36γ; 100 ng/mL) or IL-36γ siRNA.Results IL-36γ secretion and MAPK/IL-1β signalling were significantly increased in the asthma mouse model compared with the control (p

The functionality of drainage systems in highway tunnels is of paramount importance for the structural safety and efficient operation of the tunnels. This study investigated the operation, management and maintenance of tunnels on Renxin Expressway and Yinghuai Expressway in Guangdong Province, and conducts tunnel disease statistics and analyzes the types of tunnel diseases under different geological bodies, and proposes prevention and control suggestions. The results showed that (1) water leakage at the linings and construction joints accounted for over 90% of all pathological conditions, (2) water samples collected from the sites had an alkaline pH level greater than 7, with 74% of samples exceeding 9, and (3) the dominant components of the crystalline substances collected from the sites were calcite and aragonite (CaCO3 crystals), accounting for 97% of the total. Based on the field investigation and data analysis, this paper presents many effective measures to control crystalline blockages for tunnels’ drainage systems.

A preliminary study was conducted of the chemical, structural properties and immunomodulatory activities of fucoidan isolated from Sargassum Zhangii (SZ). Sargassum Zhangii fucoidan (SZF) was determined to have a sulfate content of 19.74 ± 0.01% (w/w) and an average molecular weight of 111.28 kDa. SZF possessed a backbone structure of (1,4)-α-d-linked-galactose, (3,4)-α-l-fucose, (1,3)-α-d-linked-xylose, β-d-linked-mannose and a terminal (1,4)-α-d-linked-glucose. The main monosaccharide composition was determined as (w/w) 36.10% galactose, 20.13% fucose, 8.86% xylose, 7.36% glucose, 5.62% mannose, and 18.07% uronic acids, respectively. An immunostimulatory assay showed that SZF, compared to commercial fucoidans (Undaria pitnnaifida and Fucus vesiculosus sources), significantly elevated nitric oxide production via up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase at both gene and protein levels. These results suggest that SZ has the potential to be a source of fucoidan with enhanced properties that may act as a useful ingredient for functional foods, nutritional supplements, and immune enhancers.

From the viewpoint of abundance, economy, non-toxicity, and renewability, CO2 is the ideal C1 synthon in organic synthetic chemistry. Utilizing CO2 for chemical conversion to synthesize highly value-added fine chemicals is of great significance. Organic electrochemical synthesis that employs electrons as redox reagents to achieve selective oxidation or reduction has attracted much attention in the past decades. In this review, recent advances in the electrochemical carboxylations using CO2 from the perspective of organic synthesis will be summarized. We give an overview about the research progress of electrocarboxylation reactions according to the classification of substrates, such as alkenes, organic (pseudo)halides, aldehydes, ketones, and imines. The carbanions produced by cathodic reduction are important intermediates in the electrocarboxylation reactions using CO2.

Global climate change has been widely recognized as important factors that threaten biodiversity. Rhododendron species are not only famous woody ornamental plants worldwide but are also indispensable components in alpine and subalpine vegetation in southwest China. However, the geographical distribution ranges response of this broad taxonomic group to future climate change remains not be fully understood. Herein, we studied the impact of climate change on the distribution of Rhododendron species in China by predicting the changes in their suitable habitats, centroid, and species richness under three climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) in the 2090s. The species richness changes of Rhododendrons along altitude were also evaluated. In addition, we calculated the phylogenetic signals of distribution response to climate change. We found that the distribution responses of Rhododendron to climate change have weak phylogenetic signals. In the 2090s, the suitable habitats of about 87% of Rhododendron species will be reduced, 77% of Rhododendron species are manifested as northward migration. The high species richness of Rhododendrons tends to migrate to transboundary areas with high altitudes in China. Some Rhododendron species with no concern previously should be taken seriously for their high risk of habitat loss under climate change. Thus, the urgent protection of Rhododendron species under climate change need to be paid more attention than previous acknowledged. We recommend carrying out the reintroduction of endangered species in future suitable habitat, strengthening the protection of transboundary areas with high species richness, and focusing on species with few concerns previously.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like cytokine 1A (TL1A), a member of the TNF family, exists in the form of membrane-bound (mTL1A) and soluble protein (sTL1A). TL1A binding its only known functional receptor death domain receptor 3 (DR3) affects the transmission of various signals. This study first proposed that the TL1A/DR3 axis was significantly upregulated in patients and mice with both asthma and high TNF-a expression and in TNF-a-stimulated epithelial Beas-2B cells. Two independent approaches were used to demonstrate that the TL1A/DR3 axis of mice was strongly correlated with TNF-a in terms of exacerbating asthmatic epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT). First, high expression levels of EMT proteins (e.g., collagen I, fibronectin, N-cadherin, and vimentin) and TL1A/DR3 axis were observed when mice airways were stimulated by recombinant mouse TNF-a protein. Moreover, EMT protein and TL1A/DR3 axis expression synchronously decreased after mice with OVA-induced asthma were treated with infliximab by neutralizing TNF-a activity. Furthermore, the OVA-induced EMT of asthmatic mice was remarkably improved upon the deletion of the TL1A/DR3 axis by knocking out the TL1A gene. TL1A siRNA remarkably intervened EMT formation induced by TNF-a in the Beas-2B cells. In addition, EMT was induced by the addition of high concentrations of recombinant human sTL1A with the cell medium. The TL1A overexpression via pc-mTL1A in vitro remarkably increased the EMT formation induced by TNF-a. Overall, these findings indicate that the TL1A/DR3 axis may have a therapeutic role for asthmatic with high TNF-a level.

Abstract Background Electrospun (e-spun) nanofibers for wound dressing have attracted wide attention due to its large specific surface area, large porosity and breathability. Compared with solution electrospinning (e-spinning), melt e-spinning is more bio-friendly without toxic solvent participation, which provides the possibility of in situ e-spinning on wounds directly. However, previously reported melt e-spinning devices were usually bulky and cumbersome due to their necessary heating unit, and different components were separated to avoid electrostatic interference. Results In this article, we report on a self-powered hand-held melt e-spinning gun which can work without any external power supply (outdoors). The problem of electrostatic interference for this integrated device was solved by using a special high heat transfer insulation unit. The apparatus is easy and safe to operate by a single hand due to its small volume (24 × 6 × 13 cm3) and light weight (about 450 g). Some biodegradable polymers, for example, polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers were successful e-spun onto wounds directly by using this dressing gun. Conclusions PCL fibrous membrane has good biocompatibility and can be in situ electrospun to wound surface as a wound dressing by the portable melt e-spinning gun. Besides wound dressing, this hand-held melt e-spinning gun may be used in 3D printing and experimental teaching demonstration aids.

Hippeastrum is a genus of ornamental plants with large, brightly colored flowers. Due to the very high seed-setting rate of the hybridization of Hippeastrum, the large population of hybrid progeny and the existence of superparent inheritance, it is difficult to trace the origin of the varieties collected from the market during breeding. In this study, we analyzed the chloroplast genomes of Hippeastrum 'Milady', H. alberti, and H. reticulatum using the Illumina NovaSeq sequencing platform and generated full-length sequences of 158,067, 158,067, and 158,522 bp, respectively. All three genomes had the typical tetrad structure. The large single copy, small single copy, and inverted repeat regions of H. reticulatum were observed to be respectively 277, 138, and 20 bp longer than the corresponding regions of H. 'Milady' and H. alberti. The results of comparative analysis of simple sequence repeats (SSRs), Ka/Ks ratios, codon preferences, and complete sequences of chloroplasts of these three taxa and 14 other plant species were as follows. First, the chloroplast genomes of H. 'Milady', H. alberti, and H. reticulatum contain 209, 209, and 211 SSR sites, respectively, most of which (123, 123, and 122, respectively) are single nucleotide repeats. Second, leucine, arginine, and serine are the most frequently used amino acids in the three chloroplast genomes. Third, H. 'Milady', H. alberti, and H. reticulatum are more closely related to Lycoris and Narcissus than to Allium and Agapanthus. Our results will provide information on the study of origins or relatedness of native species, and the identification of cultivars.

Fucoidan is a sulfated algal polyanionic polysaccharide that possesses many biological activities. In this paper, a fucoidan (SHF) polysaccharide was extracted from Sargassum hemiphyllum collected in the South China Sea. The SHF, with a molecular weight of 1166.48 kDa (44.06%, w/w), consisted of glucose (32.68%, w/w), galactose (24.81%, w/w), fucose (20.75%, w/w), xylose (6.98%, w/w), mannose (2.76%, w/w), other neutral monosaccharides, and three uronic acids, including glucuronic acid (5.39%, w/w), mannuronic acid (1.76%, w/w), and guronuronic acid (1.76%, w/w). The SHF exhibited excellent immunostimulatory activity. An immunostimulating assay showed that SHF could significantly increase NO secretion in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells via upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels based on both gene expression and protein abundance. These results suggest that SHF isolated from Sargassum hemiphyllum has great potential to act as a health-boosting ingredient in the pharmaceutical and functional-food fields.

Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) is a transmembrane proteoglycan of heparin sulfate that can regulate various cell signal transduction pathways in the airway epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Airway epithelial cells and human bronchial fibroblasts are crucial in airway remodeling. However, the importance of SDC-1 in the remodeling of asthmatic airways has not been confirmed yet. The present study was the first to uncover SDC-1 overexpression in the airways of humans and mice with chronic asthma. This study also validated that an increase in SDC-1 expression was correlated with TGFβ1/Smad3-mediated airway remodeling in vivo and in vitro. A small interfering RNA targeting SDC-1 (SDC-1 siRNA) and homo-SDC-1 in pcDNA3.1 (pc-SDC-1) was designed to assess the effects of SDC-1 on TGFβ1/Smad3-mediated collagen I expression in Beas-2B (airway epithelial cells) and HLF-1 (fibroblasts) cells. Downregulation of the SDC-1 expression by SDC-1 siRNA remarkably attenuated TGFβ1-induced p-Smad3 levels and collagen I expression in Beas-2B and HLF-1 cells. In addition, SDC-1 overexpression with pc-SDC-1 enhanced TGFβ1-induced p-Smad3 level and collagen I expression in Beas-2B and HLF-1 cells. Furthermore, the levels of p-Smad3 and collagen I induced by TGFβ1 were slightly increased after the addition of the recombinant human SDC-1 protein to Beas-2B and HLF-1 cells. These findings in vitro were also confirmed in a mouse model. A short hairpin RNA targeting SDC-1 (SDC-1 shRNA) to interfere with SDC-1 expression considerably reduced the levels of p-Smad3 and remodeling protein (α-SMA, collagen I) in the airways induced by ovalbumin (OVA). Similarly, OVA-induced p-Smad3 and remodeling protein levels in airways increased after mice inhalation with the recombinant mouse SDC-1 protein. These results suggested that SDC-1 of airway epithelial cells and fibroblasts plays a key role in the development of airway remodeling in OVA-induced chronic asthma.

Camellia rhytidophylla is an endangered plant with economic value. Using Illumina sequencing, the chloroplast genome of C. rhytidophylla was sequenced and analyzed in this study. The complete chloroplast genome is 157,073 bp in length, which consisted of a pair of inverted repeat regions of 26,055 bp (IRa and IRb) separated by a large single-copy region (LSC) of 86,680 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,283 bp. The C. rhytidophylla chloroplast genome encodes 135 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 3 pseudogenes. Sequence comparison analysis with the chloroplast sequences of 28 other Camellia plants found that C. rhytidophylla had the closest relationship with C. szechuanensis. This study provides a theoretical basis for the analysis of the distant relationship of Camellia.

Camellia chuongtsoensis is an evergreen shrub with a single-petaled flower and golden yellow color. The complete chloroplast genome of C. chuongtsoensis was sequenced and analyzed in this study by Illumina sequencing. The chloroplast genome is 156,504 bp in length with a quadripartite structure containing a large single copy (LSC) region of 86,215 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,253 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions of 26,018 bp (IRa and IRb). The chloroplast genome of C. chuongtsoensis encodes 135 genes, comprising 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 3 pseudogenes.

Camellia fraterna belongs to the genus Camellia in the family Theaceae. We sequenced and analyzed the complete chloroplast genome of C. fraterna by Illumina sequencing in this study. The full length of the complete chloroplast genome is 156,902 bp, containing a pair of inverted repeat regions of 26,030 bp (IRa and IRb) separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 86,583 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,259 bp. The C. fraterna chloroplast genome encodes 135 genes, comprising 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes, and three pseudogenes. This study will be useful for further study on genetic diversity and molecular breeding.

The Hermiticity of physical observable is the fundamental axioms in quantum mechanics. However, it is found that several non-Hermitian Hamiltonian still have real eigenvalues, especially the parity-time symmetric system. The property of parity-time symmetry leads the system to various nontrivial physics with interesting counterintuitive features around the exceptional point. In this study, we investigate the dynamics of parity-time-anyonic Hamiltonian under the tunable exceptional points related to an arbitrary phase of the system. We show that the parity-time symmetry can be achieved in a quasi-parity-time-symmetric system. Also the phase dependence symmetry is discussed based on the simulated results.

As a new type of salt-tolerant rice, sea red rice contains more minerals, proteins, and lipid compounds, and, in particular, its by-product rice bran may be used to replace other commercial rice brans as the main source of ceramides (Cers). However, the extraction rate of Cers is generally low, and it is crucial to seek an efficient extraction method. This study optimized the ultrasonic-assisted extraction of Cers from sea red rice bran using response surface methodology (RSM) and obtained a Cers yield of 12.54% under optimal conditions involving an extraction temperature of 46 °C, an extraction time of 46 min, and a material–to-liquid ratio of 5 g/mL. The Cers content in sea red rice bran was preliminarily analyzed using thin-layer chromatography, and the Cers content was determined via UHPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS after purification and separation using silica column chromatography. Forty-six different types of Cers were identified in sea red rice bran, of which Cer 18:0/24:0 (2OH), Cer 18:0/26:0, Cer 18:0/26:0 (2OH), and Cer 18:0/24:0 accounted for 23.66%, 17.54%, 14.91%, and 11.96%. Most of the Cers structures were mainly composed of sphingadienine. A biological activity assay indicated that Cers extracted from sea red rice bran had significant antioxidant and anti-aging properties. These findings indicate that the extracted Cers show great potential for applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Background: The tumor microenvironment (TME) of human glioblastoma (GBM) exhibits considerable immune cell infiltration, and such cell types have been shown to be widely involved in the development of GBM. Here, weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed on publicly available datasets to identify immune-related molecules that may contribute to the progression of GBM and thus be exploited as potential therapeutic targets.Methods: WGCNA was used to identify highly correlated gene clusters in Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas glioma dataset. Immune-related genes in significant modules were subsequently validated in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Rembrandt databases, and impact on GBM development was examined in migration and vascular mimicry assays in vitro and in an orthotopic xenograft model (GL261 luciferase-GFP cells) in mice.Results: WGCNA yielded 14 significant modules, one of which (black) contained genes involved in immune response and extracellular matrix formation. The intersection of these genes with a GO immune-related gene set yielded 47 immune-related genes, five of which exhibited increased expression and association with worse prognosis in GBM. One of these genes, TREM1, was highly expressed in areas of pseudopalisading cells around necrosis and associated with other proteins induced in angiogenesis/hypoxia. In macrophages induced from THP1 cells, TREM1 expression levels were increased under hypoxic conditions and associated with markers of macrophage M2 polarization. TREM1 siRNA knockdown in induced macrophages reduced their ability to promote migration and vascular mimicry in GBM cells in vitro, and treatment of mice with LP-17 peptide, which blocks TREM1, inhibited growth of GL261 orthotopic xenografts. Finally, blocking the cytokine receptor for CSF1 in induced macrophages also impeded their potential to promote tumor migration and vascular mimicry in GBM cells.Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that TREM1 could be used as a novel immunotherapy target for glioma patients.

Chitosan/alginate nanoparticles (DG1-NPs and DG1/Cur-NPs) aiming to enhance the oral antithrombotic activity of clam heparinoid DG1 were prepared by ionotropic pre-gelation. The influence of parameters, such as the concentration of sodium alginate (SA), chitosan (CTS), CaCl2, clam heparinoid DG1, and curcumin (Cur), on the characteristics of the nanoparticles, were investigated. Results indicate that chitosan and alginate can be used as polymer matrices to encapsulate DG1, and nanoparticle characteristics depend on the preparation parameters. Nano-particles should be prepared using 0.6 mg/mL SA, 0.33 mg/mL CaCl2, 0.6 mg/mL CTS, 7.2 mg/mL DG1, and 0.24 mg/mL Cur under vigorous stirring to produce DG1-NPS and DG1/Cur-NPS with small size, high encapsulation efficiency, high loading capacity, and negative zeta potential from approximately −20 to 30 mV. Data from scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses showed no chemical reaction between DG1, Cur, and the polymers; only physical mixing. Moreover, the drug was loaded in the amorphous phase within the nanoparticle matrix. In the acute pulmonary embolism murine model, DG1-NPs enhanced the oral antithrombotic activity of DG1, but DG1/Cur-NPs did not exhibit higher antithrombotic activity than DG1-NPs. Therefore, the chitosan/alginate nanoparticles enhanced the oral antithrombotic activity of DG1, but curcumin did not further enhance this effect.

The first complete chloroplast genome of Costus viridis (Costaceae) was reported in the current study. The C. viridis genome was 168,966 bp in length and comprised a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 29,166 bp each, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 92,189 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,445 bp. It encoded 133 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes (79 PCG species), 38 tRNA genes (28 tRNA species), and eight rRNA genes (four rRNA species). The overall AT content was 63.75%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. viridis was closely related to species Costus osae within the genus Costus in family Costaceae.

Rapid temperature changes in mountain ecosystems pose a great threat to alpine plant species and communities. Rhododendron species, as the major component of alpine and sub-alpine vegetation, have been demonstrated to be sensitive to climate changes. Therefore, understanding how alpine Rhododendron species spread to new habitats and how their geographical distribution range shifts is crucial for predicting their response to global climate change and for facilitating species conservation and reintroduction. In this study, we applied MaxEnt modeling and integrated climate, topography, and soil variables in three periods under three climate change scenarios to predict the suitable habitat for four Rhododendron species in China. We measured the potential distribution change in each species using the change ratio and the direction of centroid shifts. The predicted results showed that (1) the threatened species R. protistum would have a maximum decrease of 85.84% in its distribution range in the 2070s under RCP 8.5, and R. rex subsp. rex as a threatened species would experience a distribution range expansion (6.62–43.10%) under all of the three climate change scenarios in the 2070s. (2) R. praestans would experience a reduction in its distribution range (7.82–28.34%) under all of the three climate change scenarios in the 2070s. (3) The four Rhododendron species would be moved to high latitudes in the north-westward direction as a whole in the future, especially the two threatened species R. protistum and R. rex subsp. rex. (4) Aside from climate variables, soil factors also exert an important influence on the distribution of Rhododendron species. This study revealed the species-specific response of Rhododendron species to climate change. The results can not only provide novel insights into conservation strategies of Rhododendron species, but also propose a valuable method for the habitat selection during the reintroduction of endangered species.

Abstract Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) is believed to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here we showed that Aβ25-35 rapidly caused activation of autophagy, subsequently leading to reduction of autophagy associated with cellular apoptosis. Further investigation revealed that the accumulation of β-arrestin 1 (ARRB1) caused by Aβ25-35 contributed to the induction of autophagic flux. The depletion of ARRB1 led to decreases in the expression of LC3B, Atg7, and Beclin-1, which are essential for the initiation of autophagy. ARRB1 depletion also reduced downstream ERK activity and promoted Aβ25-35-induced cell death. As with ARRB1, transient upregulation of ARRB2 by Aβ25-35 was observed after short treatment durations, whereas genetic reduction of ARRB2 caused a marked increase in the expression of the α7nAch receptor at the cell surface, which resulted in partial reversal of Aβ25-35-induced cell death. Although expression of both ARRB1 and ARRB2 was reduced in serum from patients with AD, the levels of ARRB1 were much lower than those of ARRB2 in AD. Thus, our findings indicate that ARRB1/2 play different roles in Aβ25-35 cytotoxicity, which may provide additional support for exploring the underlying molecular mechanism of AD.

Background: Coronary intervention therapy is the main treatment for uremic patients with coronary heart disease. The studies on whether dialysis reduces the efficacy of dual antiplatelet drugs are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dialysis on antiplatelet drugs in uremic patients with coronary heart disease. Methods: This study included 26 uremic patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2015 to May 2017. We examined their thromboelastography results before and after hemodialysis. Self-paired t-tests were employed to analyze changes in the inhibition rate of platelet aggregation. Results: The mean inhibition rates of arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation before and after hemodialysis were 82.56 ± 2.79% and 86.42 ± 3.32%, respectively (t= −1.278, P= 0.213). The mean inhibition rates of adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation before and after hemodialysis were 67.87 ± 5.10% and 61.94 ± 5.90%, respectively (t = 1.425, P= 0.167). There was no significant difference in the inhibition rates of platelet aggregation before or after hemodialysis. These results also applied to patients with different sensitivity to aspirin and clopidogrel. Conclusion: Dialysis did not affect the antiplatelet effects of aspirin and clopidogrel in uremic patients with coronary heart disease.

Celosia cristata is an important economic plant with ornamental, ecological, and medicinal functions. The complete chloroplast genome of C. cristata ‘Xiaguang’ was sequenced and analyzed in this study using Illumina and PacBio sequencing. The chloroplast genome is 153,472 bp in length with a quadripartite structure containing a pair of inverted repeat regions of 25,408 bp (IRa and IRb) separated by a large single-copy region (LSC) of 84,975 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 17,681 bp. The C. cristata ‘Xiaguang’ chloroplast genome encodes 117 genes, comprising 73 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The A + T content of the whole chloroplast genome is 63.3%, whereas the LSC, SSC, and IR region are 65.5%, 69.4%, and 57.4%, respectively.

Abstract Due to their superior optical and electronic properties and good stability, 2D organic–inorganic halide perovskites (OIHPs) exhibit strong potential for optoelectronic applications. However, the large band gap, short carrier lifetime, and high resistance hinder their practical performance. In this work, the band gap is successfully tuned, the carrier lifetime is prolonged, and the resistance of (C4H9NH3)2PbI4 (BA2PbI4) is reduced directly using high pressure. The band gap is decreased to less than 1 eV at 35.0 GPa, and the highest pressure is studied. The carrier lifetime at 9.9 GPa is 20 times longer than that at ambient conditions. Moreover, the resistance is reduced by four orders of magnitude at 34.0 GPa accompanying band gap narrowing. This work indicates that pressure plays an effective role in tuning the optical and electronic structures of BA2PbI4, and also provides a strategy to synthesize high‐performance OIHP materials.

Circadian clock system disorders can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation, but the molecular mechanism remains unknown. We used a Bombyx mori animal model of single Period gene (BmPer) expression to investigate this mechanism. A slow growing developmental cell model (Per-KD) was isolated from a B. mori ovarian cell line (BmN) by continuous knock down of BmPer expression. The effects of BmPer expression knockdown (Per-KD) on cell proliferation and apoptosis were opposite to those of m/hPer1 and m/hPer2 in mammals. The knockdown of BmPer expression led to cell cycle deceleration with shrinking of the BmN cell nucleus, and significant inhibition of nuclear DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. It also promoted autophagy via the lysosomal pathway, and accelerated apoptosis via the caspase pathway.

Spathiphyllum is a very important tropical plant used as a small, potted, ornamental plant in South China, with an annual output value of hundreds of millions of yuan. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete nucleotide sequence of the Spathiphyllum 'Parrish' chloroplast genome. The whole chloroplast genome is 168,493 bp in length, and includes a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (IRa and IRb, each 31,600 bp), separated by a small single-copy (SSC, 15,799 bp) region and a large single-copy (LSC, 89,494 bp) region. Our annotation revealed that the S. 'Parrish' chloroplast genome contained 132 genes, including 87 protein coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. In the repeat structure analysis, we detected 281 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) which included mononucleotides (223), dinucleotides (28), trinucleotides (12), tetranucleotides (11), pentanucleotides (6), and hexanucleotides (1), in the S. 'Parrish' chloroplast genome. In addition, we identified 50 long repeats, comprising 18 forward repeats, 13 reverse repeats, 17 palindromic repeats, and 2 complementary repeats. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and insertion/deletion (indel) analyses of the chloroplast genome of the S. 'Parrish' relative S. cannifolium revealed 962 SNPs in S. 'Parrish'. There were 158 indels (90 insertions and 68 deletions) in the S. 'Parrish' chloroplast genome relative to the S. cannifolium chloroplast genome. Phylogenetic analysis of five species found S. 'Parrish' to be more closely related to S. kochii than to S. cannifolium. This study identified the characteristics of the S. 'Parrish' chloroplast genome, which will facilitate species identification and phylogenetic analysis within the genus Spathiphyllum.

Background: The functional improvement following bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transplantation after stroke is directly related to the number of engrafted cells and neurogenesis in the injured brain. Here, we tried to evaluate whether 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (MCI-186), a free radical scavenger, might influence BMSCs migration to ischemic brain, which could promote neurogenesis and thereby enhance treatment effects after stroke. Methods: Rat transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established. Two separate MCAO groups were administered with either MCI-186 or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution to evaluate the expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in ischemic brain, and compared to that in sham group (n = 5/ group/time point[at 1, 3, and 7 days after operation]). The content of chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4, a main receptor of SDF-1) at 7 days after operation was also observed on cultured BMSCs. Another four MCAO groups were intravenously administered with either PBS, MCI-186, BMSCs (2 × 106), or a combination of MCI-186 and BMSCs (n = 10/group). 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and Nestin double-immunofluorescence staining was performed to identify the engrafted BMSCs and neuronal differentiation. Adhesive-removal test and foot-fault evaluation were used to test the neurological outcome. Results: MCI-186 upregulated the expression of SDF-1 in ischemic brain and CXCR4 content in BMSCs was enhanced after hypoxic stimulation. When MCAO rats were treated with either MCI-186, BMSCs, or a combination of MCI-186 and BMSCs, the neurologic function was obviously recovered as compared to PBS control group (P < 0.01 or 0.05, respectively). Combination therapy represented a further restoration, increased the number of BMSCs and Nestin+ cells in ischemic brain as compared with BMSCs monotherapy (P < 0.01). The number of engrafted-BMSCs was correlated with the density of neuronal cells in ischemic brain (r = 0.72 , P < 0.01) and the improvement of foot-fault (r = 0.70, P < 0.01). Conclusion: MCI-186 might promote BMSCs migration to the ischemic brain, amplify the neurogenesis, and improve the effects of cell therapy.

We reported and characterized the complete nucleotide sequence of the Spathiphyllum cannifolium chloroplast (cp) genome in this study. The circular molecule of the cp genome is 171,420 bp containing a pair of 31,460 bp IR regions, separated by a small single-copy region (SSC) of 16,331 bp and a large single-copy region (LSC) of 92,169 bp, respectively. A total of 132 genes were successfully annotated in the cp genome, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The G + C content of the whole cp genome is 35.62%, while the LSC, SSC, and IR region are 33.94, 28.02, and 40.05%, respectively.

Kaempferia galanga and Kaempferia elegans, which belong to the genus Kaempferia family Zingiberaceae, are used as valuable herbal medicine and ornamental plants, respectively. The chloroplast genomes have been used for molecular markers, species identification and phylogenetic studies. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequences of K. galanga and K. elegans are reported. Results show that the complete chloroplast genome of K. galanga is 163,811 bp long, having a quadripartite structure with large single copy (LSC) of 88,405 bp and a small single copy (SSC) of 15,812 bp separated by inverted repeats (IRs) of 29,797 bp. Similarly, the complete chloroplast genome of K. elegans is 163,555 bp long, having a quadripartite structure in which IRs of 29,773 bp length separates 88,020 bp of LSC and 15,989 bp of SSC. A total of 111 genes in K. galanga and 113 genes in K. elegans comprised 79 protein-coding genes and 4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, as well as 28 and 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes in K. galanga and K. elegans, respectively. The gene order, GC content and orientation of the two Kaempferia chloroplast genomes exhibited high similarity. The location and distribution of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and long repeat sequences were determined. Eight highly variable regions between the two Kaempferia species were identified and 643 mutation events, including 536 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 107 insertion/deletions (indels), were accurately located. Sequence divergences of the whole chloroplast genomes were calculated among related Zingiberaceae species. The phylogenetic analysis based on SNPs among eleven species strongly supported that K. galanga and K. elegans formed a cluster within Zingiberaceae. This study identified the unique characteristics of the entire K. galanga and K. elegans chloroplast genomes that contribute to our understanding of the chloroplast DNA evolution within Zingiberaceae species. It provides valuable information for phylogenetic analysis and species identification within genus Kaempferia.

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is mainly distributed in desert, and the molecular mechanisms of jojoba in response to abiotic stress still remain elusive. In this paper, we cloned and characterized a SOD gene from jojoba named as ScMnSOD, and introduced into Arabidopsis to investigate its functions of responding to drought stress. The transgenic Arabidopsis showed an improvement in drought tolerance. Moreover, under a water deficit condition, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was remarkably decreased in the transgenic lines compared to the WT. Furthermore, the ScMnSOD promoter was cloned to the 5′-upstream of GUS coding region in a binary vector, and introduced into Arabidopsis. And results showed that ScMnSOD expression can be induced by drought, salt, ABA, and low temperature. In conclusion, ScMnSOD plays an important role in drought tolerance which is, at least partially, attributed to its role in ROS detoxification.

Electroreductive ring-opening carboxylation of styrene carbonates with CO2 to achieve dicarboxylic acids and/or β-hydroxy acids has been developed via the selective cleavage of the C(sp³)-O bond in cyclic carbonates. The product selectivity is probably determined by the stability and reactivity of the key benzylic radical and carbanion intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]