Bismuth oxide nanoflakes grown on defective microporous carbon endows high-efficient CO2 reduction at ampere level.

Carbon dioxide electroreduction is a green technology for artificial carbon sequestration, which is being delayed from industrialization due to the lack of efficient catalysts at high current conditions. Herein, the Bi2O3 nanoflakes were uniformly grown on a defective porous carbon (PC). This self-assembling Bi2O3/PC catalyst was applied to drive CO2 electroreduction at 1.0 A, 1.5 A and 2.0 A while the Faradaic efficiency of formate reaches 91.50 %, 86.30 % and 84.22 %, respectively. Density functional theory calculations revealed the intrinsic defect of carbon is able to give electron to Bi through O bridge, which increased the electron aggregation of Bi and lowered the generation energy barrier of *OCHO intermediate. Additionally, the unique 3D network of staggered Bi2O3 enhances the CO2 adsorption and favors the electron transportation. By integrating all above advantages into a solid electrolyte-type cell, we are able to produce pure formic acid in a rate of 15.48 mmol h-1 at ampere current.

MAX-DOAS observations of pollutant distribution and transboundary transport in typical regions of China.

Studying the spatiotemporal distribution and transboundary transport of aerosols, NO2, SO2, and HCHO in typical regions is crucial for understanding regional pollution causes. In a 2-year study using multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy in Qingdao, Shanghai, Xi'an, and Kunming, we investigated pollutant distribution and transport across Eastern China-Ocean, Tibetan Plateau-Central and Eastern China, and China-Southeast Asia interfaces. First, pollutant distribution was analyzed. Kunming, frequently clouded and misty, exhibited consistently high aerosol optical depth throughout the year. In Qingdao and Shanghai, NO2 and SO2, as well as SO2 in Xi'an, increased in winter. Elevated HCHO in summer in Shanghai and Xi'an, especially Xi'an, suggests potential ozone pollution issues. Subsequently, pollutant transportation across interfaces was studied. At the Eastern China-Ocean interface, the gas transport flux was the largest among other interfaces, with the outflux exceeding the influx, especially in winter and spring. The input of pollutants from the Tibetan Plateau to central-eastern China was larger than the output in winter and spring, with SO2 having the highest transport flux in winter. The pollution input from Southeast Asia to China significantly exceeded the output, with spring and winter inputs being 3.22 and 3.03 times the output, respectively. Lastly, the transportation characteristics of a pollution event at Kunming were studied. During this period, pollutants were transported from west to east, with the maximum SO2 transport flux at an altitude of 2.87 km equaling 27.74 µg/(m2·s). It is speculated that this pollution was caused by the transport from Southeast Asian countries to Kunming.

Proteome-scale recombinant standards and a robust high-speed search engine to advance cross-linking MS-based interactomics.

Advancing data analysis tools for proteome-wide cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) requires ground-truth standards that mimic biological complexity. Here we develop well-controlled XL-MS standards comprising hundreds of recombinant proteins that are systematically mixed for cross-linking. We use one standard dataset to guide the development of Scout, a search engine for XL-MS with MS-cleavable cross-linkers. Using other, independent standard datasets and published datasets, we benchmark the performance of Scout and existing XL-MS software. We find that Scout offers an excellent combination of speed, sensitivity and false discovery rate control. The results illustrate how our large recombinant standard can support the development of XL-MS analysis tools and evaluation of XL-MS results.

Therapeutic peptides in the treatment of digestive inflammation: Current advances and future prospects.

Digestive inflammation is a widespread global issue that significantly impacts quality of life. Recent advances have highlighted the unique potential of therapeutic peptides for treating this condition, owing to their specific bioactivity and high specificity. By specifically targeting key proteins involved in the pathological process and modulating biomolecular functions, therapeutic peptides offer a novel and promising approach to managing digestive inflammation. This review explores the development history, pharmacological characteristics, clinical applications, and regulatory mechanisms of therapeutic peptides in treating digestive inflammation. Additionally, the review addresses pharmacokinetics and quality control methods of therapeutic peptides, focusing on challenges such as low bioavailability, poor stability, and difficulties in delivery. The role of modern biotechnologies and nanotechnologies in overcoming these challenges is also examined. Finally, future directions for therapeutic peptides and their potential impact on clinical applications are discussed, with emphasis placed on their significant role in advancing medical and therapeutic practices.

Efficacy and Safety of Jiuxin Pill in the Treatment of Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris: A Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Clinical Trial.

Background: Stable angina pectoris (SAP), as a common type of coronary heart disease (CHD), is characterized by transient retrosternal squeezing pain or suffocation induced by exercise, mood swings, or other stress. Most patients with stable angina pectoris do not benefit from interventional therapy and medication, so optimizing treatment plans has important clinical significance. Jiuxin pill is a Chinese patent medicine developed by Huatuo Chinese Medicine Co. Ltd. (Bozhou, China) to relieve the symptoms of stable angina pectoris (SAP). However, there is a lack of evidence support from high-quality clinical studies. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial, 170 patients with SAP were recruited from 11 centers in China. The patients were randomized to either the treatment group (Jiuxin pill, 2 pills, bid) or the control group (Jiuxin pill simulant, 2 pills, bid) without changing the original conventional western medicine. The trial was set up with a run-in period of 7 days, a treatment period of 28 ± 2 days, and a follow-up period of 28 ± 2 days. Total exercise time (TED) in the treadmill test and Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores were set as the main efficacy outcomes, and the 1-minute heart rate recovery (HRR1), metabolic equivalents (METs), maximum ST segment depression, Borg perceived exertion after exercise, the average number of angina attacks per week, usage of nitroglycerin, drug withdrawal and reduction rate, information scoring of four diagnostic methods in traditional Chinese medicine and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events were set as the secondary efficacy outcomes. Adverse events were monitored throughout the trial. Discussion: In China, the use of Chinese patent medicine in the treatment of stable angina pectoris is more common. This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the Jiuxin pill in the treatment of patients with SAP, and the trial results provide high-quality research evidence for its clinical application. Trial Registration: This trial has been registered in the China Clinical Trial Registry on 11 June 2022 (Registration No.: ChiCTR2200060780, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=172352).

EmbB and EmbC regulate the sensitivity of Mycobacterium abscessus to echinomycin.

Treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) infections is very challenging due to its intrinsic resistance to most available drugs. Therefore, it is crucial to discover novel anti-Mab drugs. In this study, we explored an intrinsic resistance mechanism through which Mab resists echinomycin (ECH). ECH showed activity against Mab at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 µg/ml. A ΔembC strain in which the embC gene was knocked out showed hypersensitivity to ECH (MIC: 0.0078-0.0156 µg/ml). The MICs of ECH-resistant strains screened with reference to ΔembC ranged from 0.25 to 1 µg/ml. Mutations in EmbB, including D306A, D306N, R350G, V555I, and G581S, increased the Mab's resistance to ECH when overexpressed in ΔembC individually (MIC: 0.25-0.5 µg/ml). These EmbB mutants, edited using the CRISPR/Cpf1 system, showed heightened resistance to ECH (MIC: 0.25-0.5 µg/ml). The permeability of these Mab strains with edited genes and overexpression was reduced, as evidenced by an ethidium bromide accumulation assay, but it remained significantly higher than that of the parent Mab. In summary, our study demonstrates that ECH exerts potent anti-Mab activity and confirms that EmbB and EmbC are implicated in Mab's sensitivity to ECH. Mutation in EmbB may partially compensate for a loss of EmbC function.

Distinct Olfactory Bulb-Cortex Neural Circuits Coordinate Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease.

Cognitive dysfunction stands as a prevalent and consequential non-motor manifestation in Parkinson's disease (PD). Although dysfunction of the olfactory system has been recognized as an important predictor of cognitive decline, the exact mechanism by which aberrant olfactory circuits contribute to cognitive dysfunction in PD is unclear. Here, we provide the first evidence for abnormal functional connectivity across olfactory bulb (OB) and piriform cortex (PC) or entorhinal cortex (EC) by clinical fMRI, and dysfunction of neural coherence in the olfactory system in PD mice. Moreover, we discovered that 2 subpopulations of mitral/tufted (M/T) cells in OB projecting to anterior PC (aPC) and EC precisely mediated the process of cognitive memory respectively by neural coherence at specific frequencies in mice. In addition, the transcriptomic profiling analysis and functional genetic regulation analysis further revealed that biorientation defective 1 (Bod1) may play a pivotal role in encoding OBM/T-mediated cognitive function. We also verified that a new deep brain stimulation protocol in OB ameliorated the cognitive function of Bod1-deficient mice and PD mice. Together, aberrant coherent activity in the olfactory system can serve as a biomarker for assessing cognitive function and provide a candidate therapeutic target for the treatment of PD.

Causal Effects of Gut Microbiota and Metabolites on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Bidirectional Two Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiome and metabolites are intricately involved in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) pathogenesis, yet the precise causal relationships remain unclear due to confounding factors and reverse causation. This study employs bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) to clarify these connections. Methods: Summary data from publicly available Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) concerning the gut microbiome, metabolites, and COPD were compiled. The selection of genetic instrumental variables (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, or SNPs) for MR analysis was conducted meticulously, primarily utilizing the Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW) method, supplemented by MR-Egger regression and the Weighted Median (WM) approach. The evaluation of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy was performed using Cochran's Q test, the MR-Egger intercept test, and the MR-PRESSO global test. Sensitivity analyses, including leave-one-out tests, were conducted to verify the robustness of our results. And the mediation effect of gut microbiota-mediated changes in metabolites on the causal relationship with COPD was analyzed. Results: Our study identified nine significant gut microbiota taxa and thirteen known metabolites implicated in COPD pathogenesis. Moreover, associations between the onset of COPD and the abundance of five bacterial taxa, as well as the concentration of three known metabolites, were established. These findings consistently withstood sensitivity analyses, reinforcing their credibility. Additionally, our results revealed that gut microbiota contribute to the development of COPD by mediating changes in metabolites. Conclusion: Our bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization analysis has revealed reciprocal causal relationships between the abundance of gut microbiota and metabolite concentrations in the context of COPD. This research holds promise for identifying biomarkers for early COPD diagnosis and monitoring disease progression, thereby opening new pathways for prevention and treatment. Further investigation into the underlying mechanisms is essential to improve our understanding of COPD onset.

Chinese expert consensus on blood lipid management in patients with diabetes (2024 edition).

Diabetes is a significant independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), with dyslipidemia playing a critical role in the initiation and progression of ASCVD in diabetic patients. In China, the current prevalence of dyslipidemia in diabetes is high, but the control rate remains low. Therefore, to enhance lipid management in patients with diabetes, the Endocrinology and Metabolism Physician Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, in collaboration with the Experts' Committee of the National Society of Cardiometabolic Medicine, has convened experts to develop a consensus on the management of dyslipidemia in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The development of this consensus is informed by existing practices in lipid management among Chinese diabetic patients, incorporating contemporary evidence-based findings and guidelines from national and international sources. The consensus encompasses lipid profile characteristics, the current epidemiological status of dyslipidemia, ASCVD risk stratification, and lipid management procedures in diabetic patients. For the first time, both low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol have been recommended as primary targets for lipid intervention in diabetic patients. The consensus also includes a summary and recommendations for lipid management strategies in special diabetic populations, including children and adolescents, individuals aged 75 years and older, patients with chronic kidney disease, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, and those who are pregnant. This comprehensive consensus aims to improve cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic patients by contributing to the dissemination of key clinical advancements and guiding clinical practice.

The Causal Effects between Mood Swings and Gastrointestinal Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Numerous studies have examined the links between mental disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. However, few studies have investigated the link between mood swings and GI diseases. Given the impact of mood swings on various conditions and the growing comprehension of the gut-brain axis, this study aims to explore their causal relationship using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with mood swings were obtained from a recent study. SNPs associated with GI diseases were identified from the FinnGen project. We conducted two-sample bidirectional MR analyses using three methods, primarily the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method. Furthermore, we performed sensitivity analyses and false discovery rate (FDR) analysis to validate the accuracy and robustness of the results. Results: Bidirectional MR analysis revealed significant causal effects between mood swings and GI diseases according to the IVW method (odds ratio (OR): 1.213; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.118-1.316; P = 3.490e-6; P FDR = 8.730e-5). Mood swings were linked to an increased risk for 11 of 24 diseases, including five upper GI diseases (gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acute gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and functional dyspepsia), two lower GI diseases (diverticular disease of the intestine and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)) and four hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), chronic pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer). Inverse MR analysis showed no causal relationship between 24 GI diseases and mood swings. Conclusions: This comprehensive MR analysis suggests that genetically predicted mood swings may be a risk factor in the development of GI diseases. Interventions for mood swings may help to treat GI diseases.

Impact of chemical aging on pyrogenic carbon colloid facilitated transport and transformation of Cr (VI) in anoxic environments.

Frequent wildfires have accumulated the pyrogenic carbon (PyC) colloids in the environment, where they undergo environmental aging processes. The altered properties of aged PyC colloids may affect their ability to facilitate transformation and transport of contaminants in post-fire environments, posing unknown threats to ecological security. This study investigated the effect of chemical aging on the PyC colloid-facilitated transformation and transport of chromium (Cr) using batch experiments, column experiments, and transport model simulations. Results showed that aged PyC colloids exhibited weaker electron-donating capacity, and the reduction of Cr (VI) to Cr (III) decreased from 37.6 % to 13.5 % with the increasing aging time. Although PyC colloid transport increased with aging time, the PyC colloid-facilitated Cr (III) transport decreased because of the weakened reduction of Cr (VI). The transport of PyC colloid-facilitated Cr (III) was weaker at low pH. The reactive solute transport model well simulated the aged PyC colloid-facilitated transformation and transport of Cr (VI). Our findings highlight the significance of aging processes and environmentally relevant conditions in influencing the PyC colloid-facilitated transformation and transport of Cr, which is crucial for assessing risks of wildfire-driven Cr pollution and the potential of PyC for in-situ pollution control.

Assessment of diagnostic value of unilateral systematic biopsy combined with targeted biopsy in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer.

Objectives: This retrospective study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of targeted biopsy (TB) and unilateral systematic biopsy in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in 222 men with single magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System [PI-RADS] ≥ 3). Methods: Patients underwent multiparametric MRI and MRI/ultrasound fusion TB and 12-needle standard biopsy (SB) from September 2016 to June 2021. The study compared the diagnostic performance of TB + iSB (ipsilateral), TB + contralateral system biopsy (cSB) (contralateral), and TB alone for csPCa using the χ 2 test and analysis of variance. Results: Among 126 patients with csPCa (ISUP ≥ 2), detection rates for TB + iSB, TB + cSB, and TB were 100, 98.90, and 100% for lesions, respectively. TB + iSB showed the highest sensitivity and negative predictive value. No significant differences in accuracy were found between TB + iSB and the gold standard for type 3 lesions (P = 1). For types 4-5, detection accuracy was comparable across methods (P = 0.314, P = 0.314, P = 0.153). TB had the highest positive needle count rate, with TB + iSB being second for type 3 lesions (4.08% vs 6.57%, P = 0.127). Conclusion: TB + iSB improved csPCa detection rates and reduced biopsy numbers, making it a viable alternative to TB + SB for single MRI lesions.

Multi-contrast image super-resolution with deformable attention and neighborhood-based feature aggregation (DANCE): Applications in anatomic and metabolic MRI.

Multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflects information about human tissues from different perspectives and has wide clinical applications. By utilizing the auxiliary information from reference images (Refs) in the easy-to-obtain modality, multi-contrast MRI super-resolution (SR) methods can synthesize high-resolution (HR) images from their low-resolution (LR) counterparts in the hard-to-obtain modality. In this study, we systematically discussed the potential impacts caused by cross-modal misalignments between LRs and Refs and, based on this discussion, proposed a novel deep-learning-based method with Deformable Attention and Neighborhood-based feature aggregation to be Computationally Efficient (DANCE) and insensitive to misalignments. Our method has been evaluated in two public MRI datasets, i.e., IXI and FastMRI, and an in-house MR metabolic imaging dataset with amide proton transfer weighted (APTW) images. Experimental results reveal that our method consistently outperforms baselines in various scenarios, with significant superiority observed in the misaligned group of IXI dataset and the prospective study of the clinical dataset. The robustness study proves that our method is insensitive to misalignments, maintaining an average PSNR of 30.67 dB when faced with a maximum range of ±9°and ±9 pixels of rotation and translation on Refs. Given our method's desirable comprehensive performance, good robustness, and moderate computational complexity, it possesses substantial potential for clinical applications.

Synergistic Coordination Effect and Metal-Support Interaction Engineering of Single-Atom Mn-N2 Sites for Boosting Sensitive and Selective Dopamine Biosensing in Human Serum.

Coordination environment of metal atoms is core for designing high-performance single-atom catalysts (SACs), while metal-support interaction also has an important effect on structure-function relationship. Nevertheless, the interaction effect of metal-support is mostly ignored. Through synergistic regulation of coordination environment and metal-support interaction, Mn SAC with atom-dispersed Mn-N2 sites on dopamine (DA) support is synthesized for sensitive and selective DA oxidation based on theoretical calculations and experimental explorations. MnN2 presents the more optimal catalytic site for DA oxidation than other coordination conditions, enhancing sensitivity including a wide range, a low limit of detection, and particularly a very low catalytic potential. The construction of Mn-N2 active sites on DA carbon promotes the coupling between Mn metal atoms and DA support, decreasing work function, facilitating electron exchange, shortening response time, and boosting selectivity. Both the catalytic mechanism of Mn SAC toward DA and the relation construction of catalyst's structure and catalytic function are established.

Tissue-specific distribution and fatty acid content of PFAS in the northern Bohai Sea fish: Risk-benefit assessment of legacy PFAS and emerging alternatives.

This study aimed to examine the distribution of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 15 marine fish species from the northern Bohai Sea, investigate their sources of contamination, and evaluate the benefits-risks associated with the concurrent consumption of fish fatty acids and PFAS. The ∑PFAS concentrations in fish ranged from 9.38 to 262.92 ng·g-1 (dry weight). The highest PFAS levels were found in the viscera and gills, while the lowest levels were found in the muscles. Industrial effluents and sewage treatment plant discharges were the primary sources of PFAS contamination. The individual PFAS concentrations in fish were insignificantly correlated with their trophic levels (p > 0.05). However, the concentrations of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) or long-chain PFAS (C > 8) significantly increased with fish size (e.g., total length, weight) and lipid content (p < 0.001). The benefit-risk analysis suggests that HPFO-DA poses a higher health risk than perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in fish (p < 0.05). Long-term consumption of contaminated fish may significantly increase human serum PFOA concentration and kidney cancer risk (p < 0.05). Daily consumption of 5 g (wet weight) muscle from Ditrema temmincki and Konosirus punctatus is recommended to meet the requirements for fatty acid supplementation without posing health risks.

Control Patterning of Cyanobiphenyl Liquid Crystals for Electricity Applications.

Controlling molecular self-assembly from organic solution evaporation is an important strategy for developing many functional materials and systems. In this work, it is demonstrated that 4-octyloxy-4'-cyanobiphenyl (8OCB) liquid crystals can be patterned into well-oriented stripes with very high micrometer-scale precision using a sandwich system through a dewetting method. The preparation temperature, concentration, and surface energy are combined to control the morphology and orientation of 8OCB microstripe arrays assisted by silicon micropillars. Microstripes prepared below the isotropic temperature were uniform, well-ordered, and showed high electricity. In addition, 8OCB molecules have a strong tendency toward antiparallel alignment, nearly standing up on the substrate with long axes parallel to the microstripe. Also, we point out the mechanism for the self-assembly process of 8OCB on the air-liquid and liquid-solid surface.

Walking and scuba diving assisted amphibious exoskeleton robots: the designing of power assist control and myoelectricity based wearers' fatigue evaluation.

Exoskeleton robots have the potential to augment human motor capabilities. however, current control strategies often require task-specific control laws tailored for different scenarios, which limits the applicability of exoskeletons. In this study, we propose a control strategy for exoskeleton robots that is adaptable across various scenarios. We employ adaptive oscillators (AO) with feedback control to rapidly estimate the wearer's motion phase and subsequently provide torque assistance to the wearer's hip joint based on a TCN-LSTM model. During experiments, we collected surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals from the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and rectus muscles of seven groups of subjects performing treadmill walking and inclined treadmill exercises. We utilized the short-time Fourier transform to extract frequency characteristics of the signals and statistically analyzed the rate of frequency change in each muscle group under different strategies. The results indicate that when wearing the exoskeleton, the overall muscle frequency changes more slowly, suggesting that subjects can maintain activity for a longer duration before fatigue sets in. This control strategy effectively reduces the energetic cost of lower limb work for the wearer and enhances the exoskeleton's versatility in various applications.

Weakly supervised localization model for plant disease based on Siamese networks.

Problems: Plant diseases significantly impact crop growth and yield. The variability and unpredictability of symptoms postinfection increase the complexity of image-based disease detection methods, leading to a higher false alarm rate. Aim: To address this challenge, we have developed an efficient, weakly supervised agricultural disease localization model using Siamese neural networks. Methods: This model innovatively employs a Siamese network structure with a weight-sharing mechanism to effectively capture the visual differences in plants affected by diseases. Combined with our proprietary Agricultural Disease Precise Localization Class Activation Mapping algorithm (ADPL-CAM), the model can accurately identify areas affected by diseases, achieving effective localization of plant diseases. Results and conclusion: The results showed that ADPL-CAM performed the best on all network architectures. On ResNet50, ADPL-CAM's top-1 accuracy was 3.96% higher than GradCAM and 2.77% higher than SmoothCAM; the average Intersection over Union (IoU) is 27.09% higher than GradCAM and 19.63% higher than SmoothCAM. Under the SPDNet architecture, ADPL-CAM achieves a top-1 accuracy of 54.29% and an average IoU of 67.5%, outperforming other CAM methods in all metrics. It can accurately and promptly identify and locate diseased leaves in crops.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Arytera littoralis (Sapindoideae, Sapindaceae).

Arytera littoralis Blume 1847 is an evergreen small tree belonging to the Sapindaceae family. It is distributed in South China to SE Asia and the Solomon Islands. However, the chloroplast genome of A. littoralis has yet to be reported. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of Arytera littoralis was determined. The total genome size was 161,091 bp in length, consisting of two inverted repeats (IRs) (28,432 bp) separated by the large single-copy (LSC) (85,737 bp) and small single-copy (SSC) (18,490 bp) regions. The genome contained 133 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The GC content of the complete chloroplast genome was 37.8%. A maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree of A. littoralis and 13 related species from the family Sapindaceae indicated that A. littoralis was close to a clade composed of Sapindus, Nephelium, Litchi, and Dimocarpus. This study will offer essential genetic resources of A. littoralis and provide insights into the phylogeny and evolution of Sapindaceae.

UV-B irradiation promotes anthocyanin biosynthesis in the leaves of Lycium ruthenicum Murray.

Anthocyanins are the most valuable pigments in Lycium ruthenicum Murray (L. ruthenicum). Although ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation is a key environmental factor influencing anthocyanin biosynthesis in L. ruthenicum, the deep molecular mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we examined the changes in the total anthocyanin content and transcriptomic characteristics of L. ruthenicum leaves following UV-B irradiation treatment. The results showed a twofold increase in anthocyanin content in the leaves of L. ruthenicum after the treatment. The transcriptome analysis showed that the expression of 24 structural genes identified in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway was up-regulated. In particular, F3'H (Unigene0009145) and C4H (Unigene0046607) exhibit notable up-regulation, suggesting their potential roles in anthocyanin synthesis. Protein interaction network results revealed that MYB1 (Unigene0047706) had the highest connectivity, followed by bHLH (Unigene0014085). Additionally, UVR8 (Unigene0067978) and COP1 (Unigene0008780) were found to be highly involved in UV-B signal transduction. These findings provide new insights into the genetic and biochemical mechanisms that regulate anthocyanin production, and could guide agricultural practices to reduce environmental impacts and improve crop yield and quality.