Genome-Wide Association Studies on Chinese Wheat Cultivars Reveal a Novel Fusarium Crown Rot Resistance Quantitative Trait Locus on Chromosome 3BL.

Fusarium crown rot (FCR), primarily caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum, has emerged as a new threat to wheat production and quality in North China. Genetic enhancement of wheat resistance to FCR remains the most effective approach for disease control. In this study, we phenotyped 435 Chinese wheat cultivars through FCR inoculation at the seedling stage in a greenhouse. Our findings revealed that only approximately 10.8% of the wheat germplasms displayed moderate or high resistance to FCR. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) using high-density 660K SNP led to the discovery of a novel quantitative trait locus on the long arm of chromosome 3B, designated as Qfcr.hebau-3BL. A total of 12 significantly associated SNPs were closely clustered within a 1.05 Mb physical interval. SNP-based molecular markers were developed to facilitate the practical application of Qfcr.hebau-3BL. Among the five candidate FCR resistance genes within the Qfcr.hebau-3BL, we focused on TraesCS3B02G307700, which encodes a protein kinase, due to its expression pattern. Functional validation revealed two transcripts, TaSTK1.1 and TaSTK1.2, with opposing roles in plant resistance to fungal disease. These findings provide insights into the genetic basis of FCR resistance in wheat and offer valuable resources for breeding resistant varieties.

The effect of telemedicine on stoma-related complications in adults with enterostomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To assess the effect of telemedicine on stoma-related complications in adults with enterostomy, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of the telemedicine group compared to the usual group. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang and VIP databases from their inception up to October 2023. Two authors independently screened and extracted data from the included and excluded literature according to predetermined criteria. Data collected were subjected to meta-analysis using Review Manager 5.3 software. The final analysis included a total of 22 articles, encompassing 2237 patients (telemedicine group: 1125 patients, usual group: 1112 patients). The meta-analysis results demonstrated that, compared to the usual group, the telemedicine group significantly reduced the overall occurrence of stoma-related complications, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.22 (95% CI = 0.15-0.32, p < 0.00001). Furthermore, it resulted in a decrease in stoma complications (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.15-0.47, p < 0.00001) and peristomal complications (OR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.19-0.34, p < 0.00001). Therefore, the existing evidence suggests that the application of telemedicine can reduce the incidence of stoma and peristomal complications, making it a valuable clinical recommendation.

Parerythrobacter aestuarii sp. nov., Isolated from Seawater in the Tidal Region of Taizhou.

A yellow, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, and rod-shaped strain, designated as C18T, was isolated from seawater in the tidal region of Taizhou. Growth of strain C18T occurs at 20-45 °C, at pH 5.5-8.0 and with 1.0-8.0% (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain C18T shared sequence identities with the genera Erythrobacter (< 98.4%), Qipengyuania (< 98.0%), Altererythrobacter (< 96.4%), Parerythrobacter (< 96.2%), Aurantiacibacter (< 96.2%), Tsuneonella (< 96.0%), Pelagerythrobacter (< 96.0%), Alteriqipengyuania (< 95.9%), and Parapontixanthobacter (< 95.7%) type strains. While the phylogenomic tree based on single-copy orthologous clusters revealed that strain C18T was stably clustered into the genus Parerythrobacter. Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of strain C18T and Parerythrobacter type strains were 73.5-75.2% and 18.5-19.4%, respectively, which were lower than the species delineation thresholds. The sole respiratory quinones were identified as ubiquinone-10. The major fatty acids (> 10%) were C17:1ω6c and summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c). Polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid, an unidentified phospholipid, and an unidentified aminophospholipid. Based on the genetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic results, strain C18T is concluded to represent a novel species in the genus Parerythrobacter, for which the name Parerythrobacter aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is C18T (= KCTC 82594T = MCCC 1K05109T).

Twisting, untwisting, and retwisting of elastic Co-based nanohelices.

The reversible transformation of a nanohelix is one of the most exquisite and important phenomena in nature. However, nanomaterials usually fail to twist into helical crystals. Considering the irreversibility of the previously studied twisting forces, the reverse process (untwisting) is more difficult to achieve, let alone the retwisting of the untwisted crystalline nanohelices. Herein, we report a new reciprocal effect between molecular geometry and crystal structure which triggers a twisting-untwisting-retwisting cycle for tri-cobalt salicylate hydroxide hexahydrate. The twisting force stems from competition between the condensation reaction and stacking process, different from the previously reported twisting mechanisms. The resulting distinct nanohelices give rise to unusual structure elasticity, as reflected in the reversible change of crystal lattice parameters and the mutual transformation between the nanowires and nanohelices. This study proposes a fresh concept for designing reversible processes and brings a new perspective in crystallography.

Evaluation of the correlation between sleep quality and work engagement among nurses in Shanghai during the post-epidemic era.

AIM: To examine the status quo and influencing factors of sleep quality and work engagement of nurses participating in COVID-19 during the post-epidemic era and to study the relationship between them. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional survey and correlational and predictive logic to determine the association between sleep quality and work engagement among nurses in Shanghai during the post-epidemic era. METHODS: This design involved 1060 frontline nurses in Shanghai. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-9 scales were used for data collection. RESULTS: This study found that the sleep quality of frontline nurses was impaired and the nurses with poor sleep accounted for 48.20% during the post-epidemic era. The work engagement of frontline nurses was at the medium level. Factors affecting nurses' sleep quality were the number of nurse night shifts, family support and nurse health. The factors affecting the nurse work engagement were monthly income, profession title, family support and self-health status. There was a positive correlation between nurses' sleep quality and work engagement.

Active and Smart Terahertz Electro-Optic Modulator Based on VO2 Structure.

Modulating terahertz (THz) waves actively and smartly through an external field is highly desired in the development of THz spectroscopic devices. Here, we demonstrate an active and smart electro-optic THz modulator based on a strongly correlated electron oxide vanadium dioxide (VO2). With milliampere current excitation on the VO2 thin film, the transmission, reflection, absorption, and phase of THz waves can be modulated efficiently. In particular, the antireflection condition can be actively achieved and the modulation depth reaches 99.9%, accompanied by a 180° phase switching. Repeated and current scanning experiments confirm the high stability and multibit modulation of this electro-optic modulation. Most strikingly, by utilizing a feedback loop of "THz-electro-THz" geometry, a smart electro-optic THz control is realized. For instance, the antireflection condition can be stabilized precisely no matter what the initial condition is and how the external environment changes. The proposed electro-optic THz modulation method, taking advantage of strongly correlated electron material, opens up avenues for the realization of THz smart devices.

Phonon-Related Monochromatic THz Radiation and its Magneto-Modulation in 2D Ferromagnetic Cr2 Ge2 Te6.

Searching multiple types of terahertz (THz) irradiation source is crucial for the THz technology. In addition to the conventional fermionic cases, bosonic quasi-/particles also promise energy-efficient THz wave emission. Here, by utilizing a 2D ferromagnetic Cr2 Ge2 Te6 crystal, first a phonon-related magneto-tunable monochromatic THz irradiation source is demonstrated. With a low-photonic-energy broadband THz pump, a strong THz irradiation with frequency ≈0.9 THz and bandwidth ≈0.25 THz can be generated and its conversion efficiency could even reach 2.1% at 160 K. Moreover, it is intriguing to find that such monochromatic THz irradiation can be efficiently modulated by external magnetic field below 160 K. According to both experimental and theoretical analyses, the emergent THz irradiation is identified as the emission from the phonon-polariton and its temperature and magnetic field dependent behaviors confirm the large spin-lattice coupling in this 2D ferromagnetic crystal. These observations provide a new route for the creation of tunable monochromatic THz source which may have great practical interests in future applications in photonic and spintronic devices.

Use of TIME in treating a hard-to-heal localised scleroderma wound.

OBJECTIVE: Localised scleroderma is a rare disease and the wound is difficult to heal because of tissue fibrosis. We present the case of a patient with localised scleroderma treated using the TIME (tissue, infection or inflammation, moisture and edge of wound) clinical decision support tool (CDST) for wound management. This includes: assessment, bringing, control, decision and evaluation (the ABCDE approach). The patient was fully evaluated and multidisciplinary teams were involved in wound treatment. Complications of wound healing were controlled and treated, and the wound was continuously assessed until it healed. CONCLUSION: This method of wound management provides a sound theory for the evaluation and management of hard-to-heal wounds and is worthy of clinical application.

Photoinduced Broad-band Tunable Terahertz Absorber Based on a VO2 Thin Film.

The demand for terahertz (THz) communication and detection fuels continuous research for high performance of THz absorption materials. In addition to varying the materials and their structure passively, an alternative approach is to modulate a THz wave actively by tuning an external stimulus. Correlated oxides are ideal materials for this because the effects of a small external control parameter can be amplified by inner electronic correlations. Here, by utilizing an unpatterned strongly correlated electron oxide VO2 thin film, a photoinduced broad-band tunable THz absorber is realized first. The absorption, transmission, reflection, and phase of THz waves can all be actively controlled by an external pump laser above room temperature. By varying the laser fluence, the average broad-band absorption can be tuned from 18.9 to 74.7% and the average transmission can be tuned from 9.2 to 69.2%. Meanwhile, a broad-band antireflection is obtained at 5.6 mJ/cm2, and a π-phase shift of a reflected THz wave is achieved when the fluence increases greater than 5.7 mJ/cm2. Apart from other modulators, the photoexcitation-assisted dual-phase competition is identified as the origin of this active THz multifunctional modulation. Our work suggests that advantages of controllable phase separation in strongly correlated electron systems could provide viable routes in the creation of active optical components for THz waves.

Magnetic field tuning of spin resonance in TmFeO3 single crystal probed with THz transient.

TmFeO3, a canted antiferromagnet, has two intrinsic spin resonance modes in the terahertz (THz) frequency regime: quasi-ferromagnetic (q-FM) mode and quasi-antiferromagnetic (q-AFM) mode. Both the q-FM and q-AFM modes show strong magnetic field and temperature dependence. Hereby, by employing THz time-domain spectroscopy combined with external magnetic field and low temperature system, we systematically investigated the magnetic field induced frequency shift of q-FM and q-AFM modes as well as the temperature driven spin reorientation phase transition in TmFeO3 single crystal. In contrast to the isotropic temperature dependent two-mode, the magnetic field dependence of two-mode is strongly anisotropic: the magnetic field applied along c-axis (a-axis) can harden (soften) the spin resonance frequency of q-FM mode for Γ4 phase of TmFeO3, and the field applied along b-axis shows negligible frequency shift for the q-FM mode, with the q-AFM mode relatively stable. The present study provides solid evidence that the magnetic anisotropy in rare earth orthoferrite plays a dominant role in the q-FM mode and the occurrence of spin reorientation phase transition. With the magnetic anisotropic energy obtained from the temperature dependent q-FM and q-AFM mode frequencies, we can predict both magnetic field and temperature dependence of spin resonance in TmFeO3 single crystal via phenomenological analysis.

Indentation response in porcine brain under electric fields.

Electric fields in the environment can have profound effects on brain function and behavior. In clinical practice, some noninvasive/microinvasive therapies with electrical fields such as transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have emerged as powerful tools for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and neuromodulation. Nonetheless, currently, most studies focus on the mechanisms and effects of therapies and do not to address the mechanical properties of brain tissue under electric fields. Thus, the mechanical behavior of brain tissue, which plays an important role in modulating both brain form and brain function, should be given attention. The present study addresses this paucity by presenting, for the first time, the mechanical properties of brain tissue under various intensities of direct current electric field (0, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 V) using a custom-designed indentation device. Prior to brain indentation, validation tests were performed in different hydrogels to ensure that there was no interference in the electric fields from the indentation device. Subsequently, the load trace data obtained from the indentation-relaxation tests was fitted to both linear elastic and viscoelastic models to characterize the sensitivity of the mechanical behavior of the brain tissue to the electric fields. The brain tissue was found to be softened at a higher electric field level and less viscous, and substantially responded more quickly with an increase in electric field. The explanations for the above behaviors were further discussed based on the analysis of the resistance and thermal responses during the testing process. Understanding the effect of electric fields on brain tissue at the mechanical level can provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of some therapies, which may be beneficial to guide therapy protocols.

Novel instrument for characterizing comprehensive physical properties under multi-mechanical loads and multi-physical field coupling conditions.

Functional materials represented by ferromagnetics and ferroelectrics are widely used in advanced sensor and precision actuation due to their special characterization under coupling interactions of complex loads and external physical fields. However, the conventional devices for material characterization can only provide a limited type of loads and physical fields and cannot simulate the actual service conditions of materials. A multi-field coupling instrument for characterization has been designed and implemented to overcome this barrier and measure the comprehensive physical properties under complex service conditions. The testing forms include tension, compression, bending, torsion, and fatigue in mechanical loads, as well as different external physical fields, including electric, magnetic, and thermal fields. In order to offer a variety of information to reveal mechanical damage or deformation forms, a series of measurement methods at the microscale are integrated with the instrument including an indentation unit and in situ microimaging module. Finally, several coupling experiments which cover all the loading and measurement functions of the instrument have been implemented. The results illustrate the functions and characteristics of the instrument and then reveal the variety in mechanical and electromagnetic properties of the piezoelectric transducer ceramic, TbDyFe alloy, and carbon fiber reinforced polymer under coupling conditions.