Causal relationship between genetic-predicted uric acid and cervical cancer risk: evidence for nutritional intervention on cervical cancer prevention.

Introduction: The relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and cervical cancer is inconclusive. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between SUA levels and cervical cancer incidence, and to evaluate the potential role of nutritional interventions in cervical cancer prevention. Methods: We conducted a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using genetic instruments from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of individuals of predominantly European ancestry. Methods such as inversevariance weighted, weighted-median, weighted model, and MR-Egger were applied. Sensitivity tests, including leave-one-out, MR-PRESSO, and Cochran's Q test, assessed heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Results: Our findings revealed that a high SUA concentration significantly increased the risk of malignant cervical cancer: a 1 mg/mL increase in SUA was associated with a 71% higher risk (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.10-2.67; p = 0.018). Stratification by histological type showed a significant causal effect on cervical adenocarcinoma risk (OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.14-5.73; p = 0.023). However, no clear evidence was found for a causal effect of cervical cancer on SUA levels. Conclusion: This study identified a causal relationship between elevated SUA levels and the risk of malignant cervical cancer, particularly cervical adenocarcinoma. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of cervical carcinogenesis and suggest that managing SUA levels could be a potential strategy for cervical cancer prevention through dietary management.

NeIle, a Genetically Encoded Indicator for Branched-Chain Amino Acids Based on mNeonGreen Fluorescent Protein and LIVBP Protein.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) play an important role in the functioning of mammalian cells and the central nervous system. However, available genetically encoded indicators for BCAAs are based on Förster resonance energy transfer and have a limited dynamic range. We developed a single fluorescent protein-based sensor for BCAAs, called NeIle, which is composed of circularly permutated mNeonGreen protein inserted into the leucine-isoleucine-valine binding protein (LIVBP) from Escherichia coli bacteria. In solution, the NeIle indicator displayed a positive fluorescence response to adding isoleucine, leucine, and valin amino acids with high ΔF/F dynamic ranges of 27-, 19-, and 11-fold and the corresponding affinity values of 5.0, 2.9, and 75 mM, respectively. The spectral and biochemical properties of the NeIle indicator were characterized in solution. We characterized the brightness of the NeIle indicator in living mammalian cells, including cultured neurons. Using the NeIle indicator, we successfully visualized the dynamics of isoleucine transients in different organelles of mammalian cells. We obtained and analyzed the X-ray crystal structure of the NeIle indicator in an isoleucine-bound state. Structure-guided directed mutagenesis of the NeIle indicator revealed the basis of its fluorescence response and selectivity to isoleucine.

Chronic ankle instability: a cadaveric anatomical and 3D high-resolution MRI study for surgical reconstruction procedures.

OBJECTIVES: To quantitatively investigate the anatomy of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) for surgical reconstruction procedures in chronic ankle instability (CAI). METHODS: 3D MRI was performed on five fresh-frozen cadaveric ankles using six different spatial resolutions (0.3 × 0.3 × 0.3 mm3, 0.45 × 0.45 × 0.45 mm3, 0.6 × 0.6 × 0.6 mm3, 0.75 × 0.75 × 0.75 mm3, 0.9 × 0.9 × 0.9 mm3, 1.05 × 1.05 × 1.05 mm3). After comparing the MRI results with cadaver dissection, a resolution of 0.45 × 0.45 × 0.45 mm³ was selected for bilateral ankles MRI on 24 volunteers. Classification of the ATFL and four distances of surgically relevant bony landmarkers were analyzed (distance 1 and 3, the fibular origin of the ATFL and CFL to the tip of fibula, respectively; distance 2, the talar insertion of the ATFL to the bare zone of talus; distance 4, the calcaneal insertion of the CFL to the peroneal tubercle). RESULTS: In subjective evaluation, the interobserver ICC was 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94-0.97) between two readers. The spatial resolution of 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.3 mm3 and 0.45 × 0.45 × 0.45 mm3 received highest subjective score on average and demonstrated highest consistency with autopsy measurements in objective evaluation. Measurements on the 48 volunteer ankles, distance 1 in type I and II were 12.65 ± 2.08 mm, 13.43 ± 2.06 mm (superior-banded in Type II) and 7.69 ± 2.56 mm (inferior-banded in Type II) (means ± SD), respectively. Distance 2 in type I and II were 10.90 ± 2.24 mm, 11.07 ± 2.66 mm (superior-banded in Type II), and 18.44 ± 3.28 mm (inferior-banded in Type II), respectively. Distance 3 and 4 were 4.71 ± 1.04 mm and 14.35 ± 2.22 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the feasibility of quantifying the distances between bony landmarkers for surgical reconstruction surgery in CAI using high-resolution 3D MRI. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: High-resolution 3D MRI examination may have a guiding effect on the preoperative evaluation of chronic ankle instability patients. KEY POINTS: Spatial resolutions of 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.3 mm3 and 0.45 × 0.45 × 0.45 mm3 demonstrated highest consistency with autopsy measurements. The spatial resolution of 0.45 × 0.45 × 0.45 mm3 was conformed more to clinical needs. 3D MRI can assist surgeons in developing preoperative plans for chronic ankle instability.

Application of intraoperative abdominal aortic balloon occlusion for bleeding during cesarean section in pernicious placenta previa.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness and safety of abdominal active balloon closure during cesarean sections for patients with pernicious placenta previa (PPP). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 140 patients with PPP and placenta accreta who were hospitalized and gave birth at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2022 to December 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether intervention was applied. The intervention group [intraoperative abdominal aortic balloon occlusion (IAABO) group] included 118 patients who received prophylactic abdominal aortic balloon occlusion during cesarean section. The routine group, without balloon occlusion, consisted of 22 patients. RESULTS: Compared to the routine group, the IAABO group had significantly lower intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion volume, and hysterectomy rate (all P<0.05). Additionally, the IAABO group showed lower postoperative pain scores, shorter ambulation time, and higher patient satisfaction (all P<0.05). The neonatal intensive care unit admission rate and incidence of complications were also significantly lower in the IAABO group (both P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Abdominal aortic balloon closure during cesarean sections can reduce bleeding and the need for blood transfusions in cases of PPP, thereby lowering the hysterectomy rate and the incidence of related complications.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with variceal embolization reduces rebleeding risk for patients with portal pressure gradient over 12 mmHg: A long-term follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: The consensus on whether Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) should be combined with variceal embolization in the treatment of portal hypertension-induced bleeding has not yet been reached. This study aimed to compare the difference in rebleeding incidence between TIPS and TIPS combined with variceal embolization and to analyze the optimal population for variceal embolization. METHODS: Clinical data of 721 patients undergoing TIPS were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into two groups: TIPS alone (n = 155) and TIPS with embolization (TIPS+E, n = 251). Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves were used to analyze prognostic differences between the two groups, and subgroup analysis was conducted based on post-TIPS portal pressure gradient (PPG) exceeding 12 mmHg. RESULTS: After TIPS placement, the mean PPG significantly decreased for all patients. A total of 51 patients (12.6 %) experienced rebleeding, with 24 cases (15.9 %) in the TIPS group and 27 cases (10.6 %) in the TIPS+E group. There was no significant difference in cumulative rebleeding incidence between the TIPS+E and TIPS groups. In the subgroup with post-TIPS PPG greater than 12 mmHg, the cumulative rebleeding incidence was significantly lower in the TIPS+E group compared to the TIPS group (HR = 0.47, 95 %CI = 0.24-0.93, Log rank P = 0.026). No significant difference was found in patients with a post-TIPS PPG less than 12 mmHg. CONCLUSION: For patients with post-TIPS PPG exceeding 12 mmHg, simultaneous variceal embolization with TIPS placement significantly reduces the risk of rebleeding.

Enhancing brain image quality with 3D U-net for stripe removal in light sheet fluorescence microscopy.

Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (LSFM) is increasingly popular in neuroimaging for its ability to capture high-resolution 3D neural data. However, the presence of stripe noise significantly degrades image quality, particularly in complex 3D stripes with varying widths and brightness, posing challenges in neuroscience research. Existing stripe removal algorithms excel in suppressing noise and preserving details in 2D images with simple stripes but struggle with the complexity of 3D stripes. To address this, we propose a novel 3D U-net model for Stripe Removal in Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (USRL). This approach directly learns and removes stripes in 3D space across different scales, employing a dual-resolution strategy to effectively handle stripes of varying complexities. Additionally, we integrate a nonlinear mapping technique to normalize high dynamic range and unevenly distributed data before applying the stripe removal algorithm. We validate our method on diverse datasets, demonstrating substantial improvements in peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) compared to existing algorithms. Moreover, our algorithm exhibits robust performance when applied to real LSFM data. Through extensive validation experiments, both on test sets and real-world data, our approach outperforms traditional methods, affirming its effectiveness in enhancing image quality. Furthermore, the adaptability of our algorithm extends beyond LSFM applications to encompass other imaging modalities. This versatility underscores its potential to enhance image usability across various research disciplines.

Pt thin-film resistance thermo detectors with stable interfaces for potential integration in SiC high-temperature pressure sensors.

Due to the excellent mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties of third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide (SiC), pressure sensors utilizing this material might be able to operate in extreme environments with temperatures exceeding 300 °C. However, the significant output drift at elevated temperatures challenges the precision and stability of measurements. Real-time in situ temperature monitoring of the pressure sensor chip is highly important for the accurate compensation of the pressure sensor. In this study, we fabricate platinum (Pt) thin-film resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) on a SiC substrate by incorporating aluminum oxide (Al2O3) as the transition layer and utilizing aluminum nitride (AlN) grooves for alignment through microfabrication techniques. The composite layers strongly adhere to the substrate at temperatures reaching 950 °C, and the interface of the Al2O3/Pt bilayer remains stable at elevated temperatures of approximately 950 °C. This stability contributes to the excellent high-temperature electrical performance of the Pt RTD, enabling it to endure temperatures exceeding 850 °C with good linearity. These characteristics establish a basis for the future integration of Pt RTD in SiC pressure sensors. Furthermore, tests and analyses are conducted on the interfacial diffusion, surface morphological, microstructural, and electrical properties of the Pt films at various annealing temperatures. It can be inferred that the tensile stress and self-diffusion of Pt films lead to the formation of hillocks, ultimately reducing the electrical performance of the Pt thin-film RTD. To increase the upper temperature threshold, steps should be taken to prevent the agglomeration of Pt films.

Enhancing rural healthcare through internet-based remote collaborative outpatient services: A comprehensive evaluation in Changzhi, Shanxi Province.

BACKGROUND: The advancement of digital technology, particularly telemedicine, has become crucial in improving healthcare access in rural areas. By integrating cloud computing and mHealth technologies, Internet-based Collaborative Outpatient Clinics offer a promising solution to overcome the limitations of traditional healthcare delivery in underserved communities. METHODS: A trial was conducted in 4 counties of Changzhi City in Shanxi Province, China. The system extended to 495 rural communities and served over 5000 rural residents. Deep learning algorithms were employed to analyze medical data patterns to increase the accuracy of diagnoses and the quality of personalized treatment recommendations. RESULTS: After the implementation of the system, there was a significant improvement in the satisfaction levels of rural residents regarding medical services; the accuracy of medical consultations increased by 30%, and the convenience of medical access improved by 50%. There was also a notable enhancement in overall health management. Satisfaction rates among healthcare professionals and rural inhabitants were over 90% and 85%, respectively, indicating that the system has had a significant positive impact on the quality of health-care services. CONCLUSION: The study confirms the feasibility of implementing telemedicine services in rural areas and offers evidence and an operational framework for promoting innovative healthcare models on a large scale.

A tough Janus poly(vinyl alcohol)-based hydrogel for wound closure and anti postoperative adhesion.

Traditional adhesive hydrogels perform well in tissue adhesion but they fail to prevent postoperative tissue adhesion. To address this challenge, a biodegradable Janus adhesive hydrogel (J-AH) was designed and fabricated by the assembly of three different functional layers including anti-adhesive layer, reinforceable layer, and wet tissue adhesive layer. Each layer of J-AH serves a specific function: the top zwitterionic polymeric anti-adhesive layer shows superior resistance to cell/protein and tissue adhesion; the middle poly(vinyl alcohol)/tannic acid reinforceable matrix layer endows the hydrogel with good mechanical toughness of ∼2.700 MJ/m3; the bottom poly(acrylic acid)/polyethyleneimine adhesive layer imparts tough adhesion (∼382.93 J/m2 of interfacial toughness) to wet tissues. In the rat liver and femoral injury models, J-AH could firmly adhere to the bleeding tissues to seal the wounds and exhibit impressive hemostatic efficiency. Moreover, in the in vivo adhesion/anti-adhesion assay of J-AH between the defected cecum and peritoneal walls, the top anti-adhesive layer can effectively inhibit undesired postoperative abdominal adhesion and inflammatory reaction. Therefore, this research may present a new strategy for the design of advanced bio-absorbable Janus adhesive hydrogels with multi-functions including tissue adhesion, anti-postoperative adhesion and biodegradation. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Despite many adhesive hydrogels with tough tissue adhesion capability have been reported, their proclivity for undesired postoperative adhesion remains a serious problem. The postoperative adhesion may lead to major complications and even endanger the lives of patients. The injectable hydrogels can cover the irregular wound and suppress the formation of postoperative adhesion. However, due to the lack of adhesive properties with tissue, it is difficult for the hydrogels to maintain on the wound surface, resulting in poor anti-postoperative adhesion effect. Herein, we design a Janus adhesive hydrogel (J-AH). J-AH integrates together robust wet tissue adhesion and anti-postoperative adhesion. Therefore, this research may present a new strategy for the design of advanced bio-absorbable Janus adhesive hydrogels.

CDT1, transcriptionally regulated by E2F2, promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression.

CDT1, a gene that shows excessive expression in various malignancies, functions as a pivotal regulator of replication licensing. In this study, we observed a positive correlation in expression between CDT1 and E2F2 among patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Our findings substantiated that E2F2 directly interacted with the promoter region of CDT1, as confirmed by ChIP-qPCR assays, and depletion of E2F2 resulted in a downregulation of CDT1 expression in LUAD cell lines by gene interference technology. Furthermore, we identified an upregulation of CDT1 mRNA level in Chinese LUAD samples. Notably, in the loss-of-function assays, depletion of CDT1 in LUAD cell lines inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Concurrently, it promoted cell apoptosis and induced G0/G1 phase arrest using MTT, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays, reinforcing its role as an oncogene.Furthermore, enhanced tumor ablation was determined in a CDT1-downregulated LUAD tumor-bearing nude mouse model. Collectively, our results strongly suggest that E2F2 positively regulates CDT1 expression and actively participates in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma, thereby providing valuable insights into identifying novel therapeutic targets for LUAD treatment.

Nattokinase's Neuroprotective Mechanisms in Ischemic Stroke: Targeting Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Coagulation.

Aims: Nattokinase (NK), a potent serine endopeptidase, has exhibited a variety of pharmacological effects, including thrombolysis, anti-inflammation, and antioxidative stress. Building on previous research highlighting NK's promise in nerve regeneration, our study investigated whether NK exerted protective effects in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO)-induced cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and the underlying mechanisms. Results: The rats were administered NK (5000, 10000, 20000 FU/kg, i.g., 7 days before surgery, once daily). We showed that NK treatment dose dependently reduced the infarction volume and improved neurological symptoms, decreased the proinflammatory and coagulation cytokines levels, and attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the infarcted area of tMCAO rats. We also found that NK could exert neuroprotective effects in a variety of vitro models, including the microglia inflammation model and neuronal oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model. Notably, NK effectively countered OGD/R-induced neuron death, modulating diverse pathways, including autophagy, apoptosis, PARP-dependent death, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Furthermore, the neuroprotection of NK was blocked by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), a serine endopeptidase inhibitor. We revealed that heat-inactive NK was unable to protect against tMCAO injury and other vitro models, suggesting NK attenuated ischemic injury by its enzymatic activity. We conducted a proteomic analysis and found inflammation and coagulation were involved in the occurrence of tMCAO model and in the therapeutic effect of NK. Innovation and Conclusion: In conclusion, these data demonstrated that NK had multifaceted neuroprotection in ischemic brain injury, and the therapeutic effect of NK was related with serine endopeptidase activity.

Yushaniadezhui (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new bamboo species from Yunnan, China.

A new bamboo species, Yushaniadezhui, from Kunming, Yunnan, China is described and illustrated in this paper. The new species used to be misidentified as Y.polytricha. Based on careful comparison of morphological features and molecular phylogeny evidence, we confirmed its identity as a new member of the genus Yushania. Yushaniadezhui resembles Y.maculata, Y.polytricha and Y.weixiensis in several aspects, such as culm height and branch complement structure. However, the glabrous culm leaf sheaths and internodes, the absence of auricles and oral setae on most foliage leaves, except the one-year-old foliage leaves, the pubescence on the adaxial surface of the one-year-old foliage leaves and its limestone habitat preference can readily distinguish this new species from its related taxa. Moreover, we emphasise that individuals from various populations and molecular markers with different inheritance patterns for phylogeny reconstruction should be included in new species discovery, especially in plant groups with complex evolutionary histories.

Three-pressure prediction method of jointing well-seismic data in JT1 well area of Sichuan Basin in China.

With the high yield of many wells represented by Well JT1 in the Maokou Formation, has catalyzed a surge in exploration activities along the platform margin facies of the Maokou Formation in central Sichuan and further showed the significant exploration potential of the Maokou Formation in the northern slope. However, the fracture cave body of the Maokou Formation exhibits a high degree of development, strong longitudinal and horizontal heterogeneity, large formation pressure differences, and drilling events such as gas kicks and lost circulation occur frequently, which seriously affects the efficient implementation of drilling. Understanding the spatial distribution of the three-pressure in the formation can help better deal with and solve the above problems. Therefore, in order to help the safe, high-quality and rapid drilling of the Maokou Formation in the study area, and enhance the efficiency of oil and gas development, this paper explores the research on the prediction method of the three-pressure of jointing well-seismic data based on the geomechanical experimental data and the actual drilling data. In the process of prediction of pore pressure, this study found that the pore pressure and formation velocity in the study area have an exponential relationship. In order to enhance the applicability of the Filippone's method in the study area and improve the prediction accuracy of pore pressure, the linear relationship between pore pressure and formation velocity in the Filippone's method is modified to an exponential relationship, and a pore pressure prediction model suitable for the work area was established. Based on the Mohr-Coulomb criterion and Huang's model, the prediction models of collapse pressure and fracture pressure applicable to the study area were established, respectively. Then, the elastic parameters were obtained through pre-stack inversion, and the three-pressure bodies were calculated based on the elastic parameter bodies. The results indicate that: (1) The three-pressure prediction method of the jointing well-seismic data in this paper can predict the formation's longitudinal and transverse pressure anomaly zones in advance. (2) The Maokou Formation in the study area is characterized by abnormally high pressure, to balance the pressure of the high-ground formation, high-density drilling fluid is necessary. (3) The prediction results of three-pressure in this paper are highly consistent with the actual drilling engineering events, which verifies the reliability of the three-pressure prediction results presented in this study. The results of the study can provide a basis for decision-making in drilling geological design, such as the determination of drilling fluid density, the evaluation of borehole stability and other engineering problems that require support from three-pressure data.

Transcriptional regulation of transcription factor genes WRI1 and LAFL during Brassica napus seed development.

The WRINKLED1 (WRI1) and LAFL [LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and LEC2] transcription factors play essential roles in governing seed development and oil biosynthesis. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the transcriptional regulation of WRI1 and LAFL, we conducted genome-wide association studies for the expression profiles of WRI1 and LAFL in developing seeds at 20 and 40 days after flowering (DAF) using 302 rapeseed (Brassica napus) accessions. We identified a total of 237 expression quantitative trait nucleotides (eQTNs) and 51 expression QTN-by-environment interactions (eQEIs) associated with WRI1 and LAFL. Around these eQTNs and eQEIs, we pinpointed 41 and 8 candidate genes with known transcriptional regulations or protein interactions with their expression traits, respectively. Based on RNA-seq and ATAC-seq data, we employed the XGBoost and Basenji models which predicted 15 candidate genes potentially regulating the expression of WRI1 and LAFL. We further validated the predictions via tissue expression profile, haplotype analysis, and expression correlation analysis, and verified the transcriptional activation activity of BnaC03.MYB56 (R2R3-MYB transcription factor 56) on the expression of BnaA09.LEC1 by dual-luciferase reporter and yeast one-hybrid assays. BnaA10.AGL15 (AGAMOUS-LIKE 15), BnaC04.VAL1 (VIVIPAROUS1/ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3-LIKE 1), BnaC03.MYB56, and BnaA10.MYB56 were co-expressed with WRI1 and LAFL at 20 DAF in M35, a key module for seed development and oil biosynthesis. We further validated the positive regulation of MYB56 on seed oil accumulation using Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants. This study not only delivers a framework for future eQEI identification but also offers insights into the developmental regulation of seed oil accumulation.

Tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate and Tris (nonylphenyl) phosphite Promote Human Renal Cell Apoptosis through the ERK/CEPBA/Long Non-Coding RNA Cytoskeleton Regulator Axis.

Organophosphorus compounds (OPs) are widely used and have the potential to be harmful environmental toxicants to humans. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a crucial regulatory role in cytotoxicity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of OPs on the expression of lncRNAs in cells. The effects of the industrial OPs TNPP and TCPP on both CYTOR and cellular viability were examined in the following human renal cell lines: HEK293T and HK-2. Both TCPP and TNPP downregulated CYTOR expression, increased reactive oxygen species levels, and induced apoptosis; the upregulated expression of CYTOR resulted in a reduction in apoptosis. The results of the luciferase reporter assay and the knock-down assay indicate that CEBPA binds to the upstream promoter region of CYTOR and regulates its transcription. Furthermore, TCPP and TNPP were found to downregulate the phosphorylation of ERK in the signaling pathway that is upstream of CEBPA. These results indicate that TCPP and TNPP can decrease the level of CEBPA by reducing ERK phosphorylation; this leads to a decrease in CYTOR expression, which further promotes cellular reactive oxygen species and apoptosis. Therefore, the ERK/CEBPA/CYTOR axis is one of the pathways by which organophosphates produce cytotoxicity, leading to renal cell injury. This study presents evidence for both the abnormal expression of lncRNA that is caused by organophosphates and the regulatory function of lncRNA regarding downstream cellular viability.

Integrated morphological, physiological and transcriptomic analyses reveal the responses of Toona sinensis seedlings to low-nitrogen stress.

Nitrogen is one of the most essential elements for plant growth and development. In this study, the growth, physiology, and transcriptome of Toona sinensis (A. Juss) Roem seedlings were compared between low-nitrogen (LN) and normal-nitrogen (NN) conditions. These results indicate that LN stress adversely influences T. sinensis seedling growth. The activities of key enzymes related to nitrogen assimilation and phytohormone contents were altered by LN stress. A total of 2828 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots and 1547 in leaves were identified between the LN and NN treatments. A differential enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways indicated that nitrogen and sugar metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and ABC transporters, were strongly affected by LN stress. In summary, this research provides information for further understanding the response of T. sinensis to LN stress.

Phospholipase-mediated phosphate recycling during plant leaf senescence.

BACKGROUND: Phosphorus is a macronutrient necessary for plant growth and development and its availability and efficient use affect crop yields. Leaves are the largest tissue that uses phosphorus in plants, and membrane phospholipids are the main source of cellular phosphorus usage. RESULTS: Here we identify a key process for plant cellular phosphorus recycling mediated by membrane phospholipid hydrolysis during leaf senescence. Our results indicate that over 90% of lipid phosphorus, accounting for more than one-third of total cellular phosphorus, is recycled from senescent leaves before falling off the plants. Nonspecific phospholipase C4 (NPC4) and phospholipase Dζ2 (PLDζ2) are highly induced during leaf senescence, and knockouts of PLDζ2 and NPC4 decrease the loss of membrane phospholipids and delay leaf senescence. Conversely, overexpression of PLDζ2 and NPC4 accelerates the loss of phospholipids and leaf senescence, promoting phosphorus remobilization from senescent leaves to young tissues and plant growth. We also show that this phosphorus recycling process in senescent leaves mediated by membrane phospholipid hydrolysis is conserved in plants. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that PLDζ2- and NPC4-mediated membrane phospholipid hydrolysis promotes phosphorus remobilization from senescent leaves to growing tissues and that the phospholipid hydrolysis-mediated phosphorus recycling improves phosphorus use efficiency in plants.

Causal effect of COVID-19 on optic nerve and visual pathway disorders: genetic evidence of lung-brain axis.

Purpose: To investigate the potential causal association between COVID-19 exposure and optic nerve and visual pathway disorders through a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, and to provide empirical support for the lung-brain axis. Methods: This MR analysis utilized publicly accessible summary-level data from genome-wide association studies on COVID-19 (n=158,783) and optic nerve and visual pathway diseases (n=412,181), primarily involving individuals of European descent. The random-effect inverse-variance weighted estimation was applied as the main analytical approach, complemented by MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods. The heterogeneity and pleiotropy of the instrumental variables were assessed using Cochran's Q test, leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO, and funnel plot evaluations. Results: In the forward analysis, the inverse-variance weighted method identified a significant causal effect of COVID-19 on optic nerve and visual pathway disorders (odds ratio = 1.697, 95% confidence interval: 1.086-2.652, p = 0.020). Directionally consistent results were also observed with MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and weighted mode approaches. Conversely, the reverse analysis revealed no causal effects of optic nerve and visual pathway disorders on COVID-19 susceptibility. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that COVID-19 exposure may increase the risk of developing optic nerve and visual pathway disorders, supporting the lung-brain axis hypothesis. These results underscore the importance of vigilant monitoring of the visual system in patients recovering from COVID-19 and suggest potential avenues for future therapeutic strategies.

N-P covalent bond regulation of mesoporous carbon-based catalyst for lowered oxygen reduction overpotential and enhanced zinc-air battery performance.

Developing sustainable metal-free carbon-based electrocatalysts is essential for the deployment of metal-air batteries such as zinc-air batteries (ZABs), among which doping of heteroatoms has attracted tremendous interest over the past decade. However, the effect of the heteroatom covalent bonds in carbon matrix on catalysis was neglected in most studies. Here, an efficient metal-free oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst is demonstrated by the N-P bonds anchored carbon (termed N,P-C-1000). The N,P-C-1000 catalyst exhibits superior specific surface area of 1362 m2 g-1 and ORR activity with a half-wave potential of 0.83 V, close to that of 20 wt% Pt/C. Theoretical computations reveal that the p-band center for C-2p orbit in N,P-C-1000 has higher interaction strength with the intermediates, thus reducing the overall reaction energy barrier. The N,P-C-1000 assembled primary ZAB can attain a large peak power density of 121.9 mW cm-2 and a steady discharge platform of ∼1.20 V throughout 120 h. Besides, when served as the cathodic catalyst in a solid-state ZAB, the battery shows flexibility, conspicuous open circuit potential (1.423 V), and high peak power density (85.8 mW cm-2). Our findings offer a strategy to tune the intrinsic structure of carbon-based catalysts for improved electrocatalytic performance and shed light on future catalysts design for energy storage technologies beyond batteries.

Research on spatial carving method of glutenite reservoir based on opacity voxel imaging.

The glutenite reservoir in an exploration area in eastern China is well-developed and holds significant exploration potential as an important oil and gas alternative layer. However, due to the influence of sedimentary characteristics, the glutenite reservoir exhibits strong lateral heterogeneity, significant vertical thickness variations, and low accuracy in reservoir space characterization, which affects the reasonable and effective deployment of development wells. Seismic data contains the three-dimensional spatial characteristics of geological bodies, but how to design a suitable transfer function to extract the nonlinear relationship between seismic data and reservoirs is crucial. At present, the transfer functions are concentrated in low-dimensional or high-dimensional fixed mathematical models, which cannot accurately describe the nonlinear relationship between seismic data and complex reservoirs, resulting in low spatial description accuracy of complex reservoirs. In this regard, this paper first utilizes a fusion method based on probability kernel to fuse seismic attributes such as wave impedance, effective bandwidth, and composite envelope difference. This provide a more intuitive reflection of the distribution characteristics of glutenite reservoirs. Moreover, a hybrid nonlinear transfer function is established to transform the fused attribute cube into an opaque attribute cube. Finally, the illumination model and ray casting method are used to perform voxel imaging of the glutenite reservoirs, brighten the detailed characteristics of reservoir space, and then form a set of methods for ' brightening reservoirs and darkening non-reservoirs ', which improves the spatial engraving accuracy of glutenite reservoirs.