Impact of Pediococcus pentosaceus YF01 on the exercise capacity of mice through the regulation of oxidative stress and alteration of gut microbiota.

Using treadmill training, this study replicated human exercise conditions and triggered exercise-induced fatigue in mice to examine the potential of Pediococcus pentosaceus YF01 in delaying this fatigue by regulating oxidative stress and its impact on the exercise capacity and gut microbiota of mice. The exercise capacity of mice was tested by conducting exhaustion tests, determining histopathological changes in mouse tissues, detecting the levels of serum biochemical markers, and evaluating the mRNA expression levels of relevant genes. YF01 prolonged the exhaustion time of mice, increased the serum levels of oxidative stress-related markers T-AOC, CAT, and GSH, as well as GLU and LA levels in the mice. YF01 decreased the levels of hepatic-related markers AST and ALT, as well as exercise-related markers LDH, BUN, UA, and CRE in the mice. YF01 upregulated the mRNA expression of MyHc I, SIRT1, and PGC in muscle tissues, as well as SOD1, SOD2, and CAT in both liver and muscle tissues. YF01 also downregulated the mRNA expression of MyHc IIa, MyHc IIb, and MyHc IIx in muscle tissues. Furthermore, YF01 increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae in the gut microbiota of mice. In conclusion, P. pentosaceus YF01 may affect the exercise capacity of mice by modulating oxidative stress levels, thereby offering novel ideas for developing of sports science and human health.

Performance-Enhanced Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers by PDMS Acoustic Lens Design.

This paper delves into enhancing the performance of ScAlN-based Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (PMUTs) through the implementation of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) acoustic lenses. The PMUT, encapsulated in PDMS, underwent thorough characterization through the utilization of an industry-standard hydrophone calibration instrument. The experimental results showed that the ScAlN-based PMUT with the PDMS lenses achieved an impressive sensitivity of -160 dB (re: 1 V/µPa), an improvement of more than 8 dB compared to the PMUT with an equivalent PDMS film. There was a noticeable improvement in the -3 dB main lobe width within the frequency response when comparing the PMUT with PDMS encapsulation, both with and without lenses. The successful fabrication of high-performance PDMS lenses proved instrumental in significantly boosting the sensitivity of the PMUT. Comprehensive performance evaluations underscored that the designed PMUT in this investigation surpassed its counterparts reported in the literature and commercially available transducers. This encouraging outcome emphasizes its substantial potential for commercial applications.

Tea green leafhopper infestations affect tea plant growth by altering the synthesis of brassinolide.

Tea green leafhoppers are insects widely distributed in major tea-growing areas. At present, less attention has been paid to the study on effect of tea green leafhopper infestation on tea growth phenotype. In this study, tea green leafhoppers were used to treat tea branches in laboratory and co-treated with brassinolide (BL), the highest bioactivity of brassinosteroids (BRs), in tea garden. The results showed that the expression of genes related to BRs synthesis was inhibited and BL content was reduced in tea shoots after infestation by tea green leafhoppers. In addition, area of each leaf position, length and diameter of internodes, and the biomass of the tender shoots of tea plant were decreased after infestation by tea green leafhoppers. The number of trichomes, leaf thickness, palisade tissue thickness and cuticle thickness of tea shoots were increased after tea green leafhoppers infestation. BL spraying could partially recover the phenotypic changes of tea branches caused by tea green leafhoppers infestation. Further studies showed that tea green leafhoppers infestation may regulate the expression of CsDWF4 (a key gene for BL synthesis) through transcription factors CsFP1 and CsTCP1a, which finally affect the BL content. Moreover, BL was applied to inhibit the tea green leafhoppers infestation on tea shoots. In conclusion, our study revealed the effect of plant hormone BL-mediated tea green leafhoppers infestation on the growth phenotype of tea plants.

The Circadian Clock Gene PHYTOCLOCK1 Mediates the Diurnal Emission of the Anti-Insect Volatile Benzyl Nitrile from Damaged Tea (Camellia sinensis) Plants.

Benzyl nitrile from tea plants attacked by various pests displays a diurnal pattern, which may be closely regulated by the endogenous circadian clock. However, the molecular mechanism by the circadian clock of tea plants that regulates the biosynthesis and release of volatiles remains unclear. In this study, the circadian clock gene CsPCL1 can activate both the expression of the benzyl nitrile biosynthesis-related gene CsCYP79 and the jasmonic acid signaling-related transcription factor CsMYC2 involved in upregulating CsCYP79 gene, thereby resulting in the accumulation and release of benzyl nitrile. Therefore, the anti-insect function of benzyl nitrile was explored in the laboratory. The application of slow-release beads of benzyl nitrile in tea plantations significantly reduced the number of tea geometrids and had positive effects on the yield of fresh tea leaves. These findings reveal the potential utility of herbivore-induced plant volatiles for the green control of pests in tea plantations.

Color gamut extension algorithm for various images based on laser display.

In pursuit of enhancing the display performance of gamut extension algorithms across diverse image types while minimizing image dependency, this study introduces a dynamic gamut extension algorithm. The algorithm is designed to extend the sRGB source gamut towards the wide gamut of a laser display. To evaluate its effectiveness, psychophysical experiments were conducted using four distinct image categories: complexions, scenery, objects, and color blocks and bars. The performance of the proposed algorithm was benchmarked against four established color gamut mapping algorithms. The comparative analysis revealed that our algorithm excels in handling wide color gamuts, outperforming the alternatives in terms of preference and the preservation of detail richness.

Dt1 inhibits SWEET-mediated sucrose transport to regulate photoperiod-dependent seed weight in soybean.

Soybean is a photoperiod-sensitive short-day crop whose reproductive period and yield are markedly affected by day-length changes. Seed weight is one of the key traits determining the soybean yield; however, the prominent genes that control the final seed weight of soybean and the mechanisms underlying the photoperiod's effect on this trait remain poorly understood. In this study, we identify SW19 as a major locus controlling soybean seed weight by QTL mapping and determine Dt1, an orthologous gene of Arabidopsis TFL1 that is known to govern the soybean growth habit, as the causal gene of the SW19 locus. We showed that Dt1 is highly expressed in developing seeds and regulates photoperiod-dependent seed weight in soybean. Further analyses revealed that the Dt1 protein physically interacts with the sucrose transporter GmSWEET10a to negatively regulate the import of sucrose from seed coat to the embryo, thus modulating seed weight under long days. However, Dt1 does not function in seed development under short days due to its very low expression. Importantly, we discovered a novel natural allelic variant of Dt1 (H4 haplotype) that decouples its pleiotropic effects on seed size and growth habit; i.e., this variant remains functional in seed development but fails to regulate the stem growth habit of soybean. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into how soybean seed development responds to photoperiod at different latitudes, offering an ideal genetic component for improving soybean's yield by manipulating its seed weight and growth habit.

A High-Resolution 3D Ultrasound Imaging System Oriented towards a Specific Application in Breast Cancer Detection Based on a 1 × 256 Ring Array.

This paper presents the design and development of a high-resolution 3D ultrasound imaging system based on a 1 × 256 piezoelectric ring array, achieving an accuracy of 0.1 mm in both ascending and descending modes. The system achieves an imaging spatial resolution of approximately 0.78 mm. A 256 × 32 cylindrical sensor array and a digital phantom of breast tissue were constructed using the k-Wave toolbox. The signal is acquired layer by layer using 3D acoustic time-domain simulation, resulting in the collection of data from each of the 32 layers. The 1 × 256 ring array moves on a vertical trajectory from the chest wall to the nipple at a constant speed. A data set was collected at intervals of 1.5 mm, resulting in a total of 32 data sets. Surface rendering and volume rendering algorithms were used to reconstruct 3D ultrasound images from the volume data obtained via simulation so that the smallest simulated reconstructed lesion had a diameter of 0.3 mm. The reconstructed three-dimensional image derived from the experimental data exhibits the contour of the breast model along with its internal mass. Reconstructable dimensions can be achieved up to approximately 0.78 mm. The feasibility of applying the system to 3D breast ultrasound imaging has been demonstrated, demonstrating its attributes of resolution, precision, and exceptional efficiency.

Biosynthetic Pathway and Bioactivity of Vanillin, a Highly Abundant Metabolite Distributed in the Root Cortex of Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis).

Volatiles are important for plant root stress resistance. The diseases in tea root are serious, causing major losses. The volatile composition in tea root and whether it can resist diseases remain unclear. In this study, the volatile composition in different tea tissues was revealed. The vanillin content was higher in the root (mainly in root cortex) than in aerial parts. The antifungal effects of vanillin on pathogenic fungi in tea root were equal to or greater than those of other metabolites. O-methyltransferase (CsOMT), a key enzyme in one of two biosynthetic pathways of vanillin, converted protocatechualdehyde to vanillin in vitro. Furthermore, its characteristics and kinetic parameters were studied. In Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts, the transiently expressed CsOMT was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. These findings have clarified the formation and bioactivities of volatiles in tea roots and provided a theoretical basis for understanding how tea plants resist root diseases.

Adsorption and desorption characteristics of flavonoids from white tea using macroporous adsorption resin.

White tea contains the highest flavonoids compared to other teas. While there have been numerous studies on the components of different tea varieties, research explicitly focusing on the flavonoid content of white tea remains scarce, making the need for a good flavonoid purification process for white tea even more important. This study compared the adsorption and desorption performance of five types of macroporous resins: D101, HP20, HPD500, DM301, and AB-8. Among the tested resins, AB-8 was selected based on its best adsorption and desorption performance to investigate the static adsorption kinetics and dynamic adsorption-desorption purification of white tea flavonoids. The optimal purification process was determined: adsorption temperature 25 °C, crude tea flavonoid extract pH 3, ethanol concentration 80 %, sample loading flow rate and eluent flow rate 1.5 BV/min, and eluent dosage 40 BV. The results indicated that the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Under the above purification conditions, the purity of the total flavonoids in the purified white tea flavonoid increased from approximately 17.69 to 46.23 %, achieving a 2.61-fold improvement, indicating good purification results. The purified white tea flavonoid can be further used for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

Artemisia argyi extract exerts antioxidant properties and extends the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster.

BACKGROUND: Chinese mugwort (Artemisia argyi) possesses extensive pharmacological activities associated with anti-tumour, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-ageing effects of A. argyi extract (AAE) on the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) ageing model by detecting antioxidant enzyme activities and the mRNA level of antioxidant genes. RESULTS: AAE could significantly lengthen the mean lifespan, 50% survival days, and maximum lifespan of D. melanogaster, especially when the amount of AAE added reached 6.68 mg mL-1, the mean lifespan of both female and male flies increased by 23.74% and 22.30%, respectively, indicating the effective life extension effect of AAE. At the same time, AAE could improve the climbing ability and tolerance to hydrogen peroxide in D. melanogaster. In addition, the addition of AAE effectively increased the activities of copper-zinc-containing superoxide dismutase, manganese-containing superoxide dismutase and catalase in D. melanogaster and reduced the contents of malondialdehyde. Moreover, when reared with diets containing AAE, the expression of antioxidant-related genes SOD1, SOD2 and CAT was up-regulated in D. melanogaster and down-regulated for MTH genes. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that AAE effectively enhances the antioxidant capacity of D. melanogaster and has potential applications as an antioxidant and anti-ageing agent in the nutraceutical industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development and Validation of Contrast-Enhanced CT-Based Deep Transfer Learning and Combined Clinical-Radiomics Model to Discriminate Thymomas and Thymic Cysts: A Multicenter Study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of deep transfer learning (DTL) and clinical-radiomics in differentiating thymoma from thymic cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and imaging data of 196 patients pathologically diagnosed with thymoma and thymic cysts were retrospectively collected from center 1. (training cohort: n = 137; internal validation cohort: n = 59). An independent external validation cohort comprised 68 thymoma and thymic cyst patients from center 2. Region of interest (ROI) delineation was performed on contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) images, and eight DTL models including Densenet 169, Mobilenet V2, Resnet 101, Resnet 18, Resnet 34, Resnet 50, Vgg 13, Vgg 16 were constructed. Radiomics features were extracted from the ROI on the CT images of thymoma and thymic cyst patients, and feature selection was performed using intra-observer correlation coefficient (ICC), Spearman correlation analysis, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression (LR) were used to select clinical-radiological features. Six machine learning classifiers, including LR, support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), were used to construct Radiomics and Clinico-radiologic models. The selected features from the Radiomics and Clinico-radiologic models were fused to build a Combined model. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of the models, respectively. The Delong test was used to compare the AUC between different models. K-means clustering was used to subdivide the lesions of thymomas or thymic cysts into subregions, and traditional radiomics methods were used to extract features and compare the ability of Radiomics and DTL models to reflect intratumoral heterogeneity using correlation analysis. RESULTS: The Densenet 169 based on DTL performed the best, with AUC of 0.933 (95% CI: 0.875-0.991) in the internal validation cohort and 0.962 (95% CI: 0.923-1.000) in the external validation cohort. The AdaBoost classifier achieved AUC of 0.965 (95% CI: 0.923-1.000) and 0.959 (95% CI: 0.919-1.000) in the internal and external validation cohorts, respectively, for the Radiomics model. The LightGBM classifier achieved AUC of 0.805 (95% CI: 0.690-0.920) and 0.839 (95% CI: 0.736-0.943) in the Clinico-radiologic model. The AUC of the Combined model in the internal and external validation cohorts was 0.933 (95% CI: 0.866-1.000) and 0.945 (95% CI: 0.897-0.994), respectively. The results of the Delong test showed that the Radiomics model, DTL model, and Combined model outperformed the Clinico-radiologic model in both internal and external validation cohorts (p-values were 0.002, 0.004, and 0.033 in the internal validation cohort, while in the external validation cohort, the p-values were 0.014, 0.006, and 0.015, respectively). But there was no statistical difference in performance among the three models (all p-values <0.05). Correlation analysis showed that radiomics performed better than DTL in quantifying intratumoral heterogeneity differences between thymoma and thymic cysts. CONCLUSION: The developed DTL model and the Combined model based on radiomics and clinical-radiologic features achieved excellent diagnostic performance in differentiating thymic cysts from thymoma. They can serve as potential tools to assist clinical decision-making, particularly when endoscopic biopsy carries a high risk.

Home-produced eggs: An important pathway of methylmercury exposure for residents in mercury mining areas, southwest China.

In light of the documented elevated concentrations of total mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in poultry originating from Hg-contaminated sites, a knowledge gap persists regarding the levels of Hg found in home-produced eggs (HPEs) and the associated dietary exposure risks in regions affected by Hg mining. To address this knowledge gap, a comprehensive investigation was undertaken with the primary objectives of ascertaining the concentrations of THg and MeHg in HPEs and evaluating the potential hazards associated with the consumption of eggs from the Wanshan Hg mining area in Southwest China. The results showed that THg concentrations in HPEs varied within a range of 10.5-809 ng/g (with a geometric mean (GM) of 64.1 ± 2.7 ng/g), whereas MeHg levels spanned from 1.3 to 291 ng/g (GM, 23.1 ± 3.4 ng/g). Remarkably, in half of all eggs, as well as those collected from regions significantly impacted by mining activities, THg concentrations exceeded the permissible maximum allowable value for fresh eggs (50 ng/g). Consumption of these eggs resulted in increased exposure risks associated with THg and MeHg, with GM values ranging from 0.024 to 0.17 µg/kg BW/day and 0.0089-0.066 µg/kg BW/day, respectively. Notably, the most substantial daily dosage was observed among children aged 2-3 years. The study found that consuming HPEs could result in a significant IQ reduction of 34.0 points for the whole mining area in a year. These findings highlight the potential exposure risk, particularly concerning MeHg, stemming from the consumption of local HPEs by residents in mining areas, thereby warranting serious consideration within the framework of Hg exposure risk assessment in mining locales.

Research on the color gamut volume and light efficiency in four-primary laser display systems.

The color gamut volume (CGV) and light efficiency of a four-primary display system were theoretically simulated with different wavelength configuration. Given the wavelengths of the blue and red primaries, we optimized the other two primary colors; the wavelength set with the largest CGV was chosen. The maximum CGV, 2.346 × 106, was obtained at (660, 530, 507, 465) nm. The maximum light efficiency was also determined. A trade-off between CGV and light efficiency should be made according to the requirement of the devices. This study provides guidance for the construction of a four-primary laser display system and the optimization of the CGV in multi-primary display systems.

Using high-diffraction-efficiency holographic optical elements in a full-color augmented reality display system.

Holographic optical elements (HOEs) play an important role in augmented reality (AR) systems. However, the fabrication of full-color HOEs is difficult and the diffraction efficiency is low. In this paper, we use the time-scheduled iterative exposure method to fabricate full-color HOEs with high diffraction efficiency. Through this method, a full-color HOE with an average diffraction efficiency of 73.4% was implemented in a single photopolymer, the highest rate yet reported. In addition, the AR system is simulated by the geometric optics method combining k-vector circle and ray tracing and structured by combining laser micro-drop and high diffraction efficiency HOEs. A good color blending effect was achieved in a full-color AR system by using the reconstruction wavelength consistent with the recording light. It can present clear holographic images in a full-color AR display system.

Performance evaluation of an AI-based preoperative planning software application for automatic selection of pedicle screws based on computed tomography images.

Introduction: Recent neurosurgical applications based on artificial intelligence (AI) have demonstrated its potential in surgical planning and anatomical measurement. We aimed to evaluate the performance of an AI planning software application on screw length/diameter selection and insertion accuracy in comparison with freehand surgery. Methods: A total of 45 patients with 208 pedicle screw placements on thoracolumbar segments were included in this analysis. The novel AI planning software was developed based on a deep learning model. AI-based pedicle screw placements were selected on the basis of preoperative computed tomography (CT) data, and freehand surgery screw placements were observed based on postoperative CT data. The performance of AI pedicle screw placements was evaluated on the components of screw length, diameter, and Gertzbein grade in comparison with the results achieved by freehand surgery. Results: Among 208 pedicle screw placements, the average screw length/diameters selected by the AI model and used in freehand surgery were 48.65 ± 5.99 mm/7.39 ± 0.42 mm and 44.78 ± 2.99 mm/6.1 ± 0.27 mm, respectively. Among AI screw placements, 85.1% were classified as Gertzbein Grade A (no cortical pedicle breach); among free-hand surgery placements, 64.9% were classified as Gertzbein Grade A. Conclusion: The novel AI planning software application could provide an accessible and safe pedicle screw placement strategy in comparison with traditional freehand pedicle screw placement strategies. The choices of pedicle screw dimensional parameters made by the model, including length and diameter, may provide potential inspiration for real clinical discretion.

Light induces an increasing release of benzyl nitrile against diurnal herbivore Ectropis grisescens Warren attack in tea (Camellia sinensis) plants.

Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are critical compounds that directly or indirectly regulate the tritrophic interactions among herbivores, natural enemies and plants. The synthesis and release of HIPVs are regulated by many biotic and abiotic factors. However, the mechanism by which multiple factors synergistically affect HIPVs release remains unclear. Tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is the object of this study because of its rich and varied volatile metabolites. In this study, benzyl nitrile was released from herbivore-attacked tea plants more in the daytime than at night, which was consistent with the feeding behaviour of tea geometrid (Ectropis grisescens Warren) larvae. The Y-tube olfactometer assay and insect resistance analysis revealed that benzyl nitrile can repel tea geometrid larvae and inhibit their growth. On the basis of enzyme activities in transiently transformed Nicotiana benthamiana plants, CsCYP79 was identified as a crucial regulator in the benzyl nitrile biosynthetic pathway. Light signalling-related transcription factor CsPIF1-like and the jasmonic acid (JA) signalling-related transcription factor CsMYC2 serve as the activator of CsCYP79 under light and damage conditions. Our study revealed that light (abiotic factor) and herbivore-induced damage (biotic stress) synergistically regulate the synthesis and release of benzyl nitrile to protect plants from diurnal herbivorous tea geometrid larvae.

Soluble polymer facilely self-grown in situ on conducting substrates at room temperature towards electrochromic applications.

Electrochromic polymer film preparation methods such as spin coating, spray coating, and electrochemical polymerization, are commonly used. At present, developing new film preparation technology is an important aspect in the field of electrochromics. Herein, a continuous in situ self-growing method based on the chemical reaction occurring on the surface of an ITO glass between a metal oxide and organic acid groups was successfully applied to prepare electrochromic polymer films at a mild room temperature. SEM, FT-IR spectroscopy, XPS, and XRD characterization methods were combined to reveal the process and mechanism of film formation. The following notable electrochromic properties were observed: switching time within 6 s, contrast reached 35%, and minimal decrease of stability after 600 cycles. Finally, the patterned films were obtained through the directional growth of polymers in solution. This study provides an effective strategy for designing and preparing electrochromic films by self-growing methods in future applications.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alleviates salt stress in Xanthoceras sorbifolium through improved osmotic tolerance, antioxidant activity, and photosynthesis.

Mycorrhizal inoculation was widely reported to alleviate the damage resulting from NaCl by various physiological ways. However, the symbiotic benefit under distant NaCl concentrations and the relationship among different responsive physiological processes were elusive. In this study, saline resistant plant Xanthoceras sorbifolium was selected as the experimental material and five concentrations of NaCl in the presence or absence of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) were conducted, in order to understand the differences and similarities on the photosynthesis, antioxidant activity, and osmotic adjustment between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants and non-arbuscular mycorrhizal (NM) plants. Under low salt stress, X. sorbifolium can adapt to salinity by accumulating osmotic adjustment substances, such as soluble protein and proline, increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activity, and glutathione (GSH). However, under high concentrations of NaCl [240 and 320 mM (mmol·L-1)], the resistant ability of the plants significantly decreased, as evidenced by the significant downregulation of photosynthetic capacity and biomass compared with the control plants in both AM and NM groups. This demonstrates that the regulatory capacity of X. sorbifolium was limiting, and it played a crucial role mainly under the conditions of 0-160 mM NaCl. After inoculation of AMF, the concentration of Na+ in roots was apparently lower than that of NM plants, while Gs (Stomatal conductance) and Ci (Intercellular CO2 concentration) increased, leading to increases in Pn (Net photosynthetic rate) as well. Moreover, under high salt stress, proline, soluble protein, GSH, and reduced ascorbic acid (ASA) in AM plants are higher in comparison with NM plants, revealing that mycorrhizal symbiotic benefits are more crucial against severe salinity toxicity. Meanwhile, X. sorbifolium itself has relatively high tolerance to salinity, and AMF inoculation can significantly increase the resistant ability against NaCl, whose function was more important under high concentrations.

A food poisoning caused by ST7 Staphylococcal aureus harboring sea gene in Hainan province, China.

ST7 Staphylococcus aureus is highly prevalent in humans, pigs, as well as food in China; however, staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) caused by this ST type has rarely been reported. On May 13, 2017, an SFP outbreak caused by ST7 S. aureus strains occurred in two campuses of a kindergarten in Hainan Province, China. We investigated the genomic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of ST7 SFP strains combined with the 91 ST7 food-borne strains from 12 provinces in China by performing whole-genome sequencing (WGS). There was clear phylogenetic clustering of seven SFP isolates. Six antibiotic genes including blaZ, ANT (4')-Ib, tetK, lnuA, norA, and lmrS were present in all SFP strains and also showed a higher prevalence rate in 91 food-borne strains. A multiple resistance plasmid pDC53285 was present in SFP strain DC53285. Among 27 enterotoxin genes, only sea and selx were found in all SFP strains. A ФSa3int prophage containing type A immune evasion cluster (sea, scn, sak, and chp) was identified in SFP strain. In conclusion, we concluded that this SFP event was caused by the contamination of cakes with ST7 S. aureus. This study indicated the potential risk of new emergencing ST7 clone for SFP.

Photoperiod controls plant seed size in a CONSTANS-dependent manner.

Photoperiodic plants perceive changes in day length as seasonal cues to orchestrate their vegetative and reproductive growth. Although it is known that the floral transition of photoperiod-sensitive plants is tightly controlled by day length, how photoperiod affects their post-flowering development remains to be clearly defined, as do the underlying mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that photoperiod plays a prominent role in seed development. We found that long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) plants produce larger seeds under LD and SD conditions, respectively; however, seed size remains unchanged when CONSTANS (CO), the central regulatory gene of the photoperiodic response pathway, is mutated in Arabidopsis and soybean. We further found that CO directly represses the transcription of AP2 (a known regulatory gene of seed development) under LD conditions in Arabidopsis and SD conditions in soybean, thereby controlling seed size in a photoperiod-dependent manner, and that these effects are exerted through regulation of the proliferation of seed coat epidermal cells. Collectively, our findings reveal that a crucial regulatory cascade involving CO-AP2 modulates photoperiod-mediated seed development in plants and provide new insights into how plants with different photoperiod response types perceive seasonal changes that enable them to optimize their reproductive growth.