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Seed germination is the complex adaptive trait of higher plants influenced by a large number of genes and environmental factors. Numerous studies have been performed to better understand how germination is controlled by various environmental factors and applied chemicals, such as cyanide. However, still very little is known about the molecular mechanisms of how extrinsic signals regulate seed germination. Our and previous studies found that non-lethal cyanide treatment promotes seed germination, but the regulatory mechanism is unclear. In this study, we found that a low concentration of cyanide pretreatment significantly enhanced the expression of endo-β-mannanase 5 (MAN5) gene in Arabidopsis thaliana, and the mutation of this gene impaired cyanide-mediated seed germination. In contrast, overexpression of MAN5 gene enhanced Arabidopsis seed germination ability under both normal and salt stress conditions. Further studies showed that the expression of the MAN5 gene was negatively regulated by ABA insensitive 5 (ABI5); In abi5 mutant seeds, the expression of the MAN5 gene was increased and the seed germination rate was accelerated. Additionally, cyanide pretreatment markedly reduced the gene expression of ABI5 in Arabidopsis seeds. Taken together, our data support the involvement of MAN5 as a key gene in cyanide-mediated seed germination and confirm the role of ABI5 as a critical negative factor involved in cyanide-regulated MAN5 gene expression.

BACKGROUND: This study developed and validated a viable model for the preoperative diagnosis of malignant distal gastric wall thickening based on dual-energy spectral computed tomography (DEsCT). METHODS: The imaging data of 208 patients who were diagnosed with distal gastric wall thickening using DEsCT were retrospectively collected and divided into a training cohort (n=151) and a testing cohort (n=57). The patient’s clinical data and pathological information were collated. The multivariable logistic regression model was built using 5 selected features, and subsequently, a 10-fold cross-validation was performed to identify the optimal model. A nomogram was established based on the training cohort. Finally, the diagnostic performance of the best model was compared to the existing conventional CT scheme through evaluating the discrimination ability in the testing cohort in terms of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration, and clinical usefulness. RESULTS: Stepwise regression analysis identified 5 candidate variables with the smallest Akaike information criteria (AIC), namely, the venous phase spectral curve [VP_ SC; odds ratio (OR) 8.419], focal enhancement (OR 3.741), arterial phase mixed (OR 1.030), tumor site (OR 0.573), and diphasic shape change (DP_shape change; OR 2.746). The best regression model with 10-fold cross-validation consisting of VP_SC and focal enhancement was built using the 5 candidate variables. The average area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the model from the 10-fold cross-validation was 0.803 (sensitivity of 69.2%, specificity of 94.1%, and accuracy of 74.8%). In the testing cohort, the DEsCT model identified using the regression model performed better (AUC 0.905, sensitivity 81.3%, specificity 85.4%, and accuracy 84.2%) than did the conventional CT scheme (AUC 0.852, sensitivity 80.0%, specificity 76.6%, and accuracy 77.2%). The nomogram based on the DEsCT model showed good calibration and provided a better net benefit for predicting malignancy of distal gastric wall thickening. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive assessment with the DEsCT-based model can be used to facilitate the individualized diagnosis of malignancy risk in patients presenting with distal gastric wall thickening.

Yong-Fang Li,1,* Qin-Yi Wang,1,* Lu-Lu Xu,2 Chun Yue,2 Li Hu,2 Na Ding,1 Yan-Yi Yang,2 Xiao-Li Qu,1 Zhi-Feng Sheng1,2 1National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Health Management Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2Health Management Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhi-Feng Sheng, Tel +86-13574806523, Email shengzhifeng@csu.edu.cnPurpose: Fragility fractures, the most serious complication of osteoporosis, affect life quality and increase medical expenses and economic burden. Strategies to identify populations with very low bone mineral density (T-scores

Additional file 1

Additional file 1: Supplement table 1. The arterial blood gas analysis in the 10 patients at admission.

Freshwater fish from the Putao and Myitkyina areas were collected in three ichthyofaunal surveys of the Mali Hka River and tributaries in and around Khakaborazi National Park and Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kachin State, from 2014-2016. Tor yingjiangensis Chen et Yang 2004, Tor qiaojiensis Wu et al. 1977, Garra qiaojiensis Wu et al. 1977, Garra bispinosa Zhang 2005, and Schizothorax oligolepis Huang 1985, originally described from the upper Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwaddy) River in China, are first reported herein as new records to Myanmar. Counts, measurements, descriptions, photographs, and distributions of the specimens of the five newly recorded species are provided.

The effect of application of biological organic fertilizer and biochar on the immobilized remediation of paddy soil contaminated by Cd and Pb was studied under the field experiment. The results showed that biological organic fertilizer and biochar increased the soil pH and soil nutrient contents, and reduced the soil available Cd and Pb concentrations significantly. The soil pH had significantly negative correla-tion with the soil available Cd and Pb contents. The application of biological organic fertilizer and biochar decreased Cd and Pb concentration in all parts of the rice plant, with Cd concentration in brown rice decrease by 22.00% and 18.34% and Pb decease in brown rice by 33.46% and 12.31%. The concentration of Cd and Pb in brown rice had significant positive correlation with the soil available Cd and Pb concentra-tions. It was observed that both biological organic fertilizer and biochar had a positive effect on the remediation of paddy soil contaminated by Cd and Pb.