Phytohormonal dynamics in the abscission zone of Korla fragrant pear during calyx abscission: a visual study.

Introduction: Phytohormones play a crucial role in regulating the abscission of plant organs and tissues. Methods: In this study, the ultrastructure of the sepals of Korla fragrant pears was observed using a transmission electron microscope, and high-performance liquid and gas chromatography were used to analyze the dynamic changes of phytohormones in the abscission zone during the calyx abscission process of Korla fragrant pears, and mass spectrometry imaging was applied to ascertain the spatial distribution of phytohormones. Results: The results revealed that the mitochondria in the abscission zone of the decalyx fruits were regularly distributed around the cell wall, and the chloroplasts were moderately present. In contrast, in the persistent calyx fruit, the corresponding parts of the abscission zone showed a scattered distribution of mitochondria within the cells, and there was a higher number of chloroplasts, which also contained starch granules inside. Mass spectrometry imaging revealed that ABA was enriched in the abscission zone of the decalyx fruit, and their ionic signal intensities were significantly stronger than those of the persistent calyx fruit. However, the ionic signal intensities of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Gibberellin A3 (GA3) of the persistent calyx fruit were significantly stronger than those in the abscission zone of the decalyx fruit and were concentrated in the persistent calyx fruit. 1-Aminocyclopropanecarboxylic Acid (ACC) did not show distinct regional distribution in both the decalyx and persistent calyx fruits. Furthermore, before the formation of the abscission zone, the levels of IAA, GA3, and zeatin (ZT) in the abscission zone of the decalyx fruits were significantly lower than those in the persistent calyx fruits by 37.9%, 57.7%, and 33.0%, respectively, while the levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene (ETH) were significantly higher by 21.9% and 25.0%, respectively. During the formation of the abscission zone, the levels of IAA, GA3, and ZT in the abscission zone of the decalyx fruits were significantly lower than those in the persistent calyx fruits by 41.7%, 71.7%, and 24.6%, respectively, while the levels of ABA and ETH were significantly higher by 15.2% and 80.0%, respectively. After the formation of the abscission zone, the levels of IAA and GA3 in the abscission zone of the decalyx fruits were lower than those in the persistent calyx fruits by 20.8% and 47.8%, respectively, while the levels of ABA and ETH were higher by 271.8% and 26.9%, respectively. In summary, during the calyx abscission process of Korla fragrant pears, IAA and GA3 in the abscission zone inhibited abscission, while ABA and ETH promoted calyx abscission. These research findings enrich the understanding of the regulatory mechanism of plant hormones on calyx abscission and provide a theoretical basis for the study of exogenous plant growth regulators for regulating calyx abscission in Korla fragrant pear.

DNA barcoding and cryptic diversity in fishes from the Ili River Valley in China, Xinjiang.

The Ili River Valley, located in the northwest of China, serves as a vital repository for fish genetic resources. Its extensive water network and diverse climate have given rise to a unique fish composition and endemic species. In this study, we collected the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from 660 fish specimens in the Ili River Valley. The effectiveness of DNA barcoding in identifying fish species in the area was assessed by examining genetic distances, constructing phylogenetic trees, and performing ABGD (Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery) analyses, among other methods. In total, 20 species were identified, including one unidentified species (Silurus sp.). Except for Silurus asotus and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (only one sample), the maximum intraspecific genetic distance among the remaining species was smaller than the minimum interspecific distance, which proves that the species exhibit obvious barcode gaps. In the Neighbor-Joining trees, 20 species formed separate monophyletic branches. According to ABGD analysis, 660 sequences were categorized into 19 Operational Taxonomic Units, with Silurus sp. and S. asotus grouped into a single OTU. The Silurus in this study exhibits shared haplotypes and significant genetic divergence, suggesting the potential presence of cryptic species. Furthermore, the nucleotide diversity across all species fell below the threshold level, indicating that the local fish population is gradually declining. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated the effectiveness of DNA barcoding in identifying fish species in the Ili River Valley, providing valuable data to support the conservation of local fish resources.

Association between alcohol consumption and incidence of dementia in current drinkers: linear and non-linear mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Previous conventional epidemiological studies found a J-shape relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia, but this result was subject to confounding biases and reverse causation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential linear or non-linear causal association between alcohol consumption and the incident risk of dementia in current drinkers. Methods: This study used data from the UK Biobank to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia risk. 313,958 White British current drinkers, who were free of dementia during 2006-2010, were followed up until 2021. Alcohol consumption was self-reported and calculated according to the National Health Service guideline. The primary outcome was all-cause dementia identified through hospital and mortality records. We used multivariable Cox models with restricted cubic splines for conventional analysis and both non-linear and linear Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses to assess causal relationships, employing a genetic score based on 95 SNPs identified from a meta-genome-wide association study of 941,280 people from Europe. Findings: 313,958 current drinkers consumed an average of 13.6 [IQR: 7.1-25.2] units/week alcohol (men averaged 20.2 [11.1-33.9] units/week and women 9.5 [5.3-16.7] units/week). During a mean follow-up of 13.2 years, 5394 (1.7%) developed dementia. Multivariable Cox model with restricted cubic spline functions identified a J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia risk, with the lowest risk at 12.2 units/week. The non-linear MR failed to identify a significant non-linear causal relationship (p = 0.45). Both individual-level (HR: 2.22 95%CI [1.06-4.66]) and summary-level (1.89 [1.53-2.32]) linear MR analyses indicated that higher genetically predicted alcohol consumption increased dementia risk. Interpretation: This study identified a positive linear causal relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia among current drinkers. The J-shaped association found in conventional epidemiological analysis was not supported by non-linear MR analyses. Our findings suggested that there was no safe level of alcohol consumption for dementia. Funding: The Shenzhen Science and Technology Program and the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals the molecular profiles of dynamic variation in Lilium brownii var. viridulum suffering from bulb rot.

Lilium brownii var. viridulum, known as Longya lily, is a well-known medicinal and edible plant in China. Bulb rot is a common disease in Longya lily cultivation that severely affects the yield and quality of lilies. According field investigations, we found that different Longya lily plants in the same field had different degrees of resistance to root rot. To find the reasons leading to the difference, we performed metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of Longya lily with different degrees of disease. The transcriptomic analyses showed that the number of differentially expressed genes increased in early and mid-stage infections (LYBH2 and LYBH3), while decreased in late-stage infection (LYBH4). A total of 2309 DEGs showed the same expression trend in diseased bulb compared healthy bulb (LYBH1). The transcription factors (TFs) analysis of DEGs showed that several common TFs, like WRKY, bHLH, AP2/ERF-ERF and MYB, were significantly activated in bulbs after decay. The metabolomic analyses showed that there were 794 differentially accumulated metabolites, and metabolites with significant changes in relative content largely were phenolic acids, followed by flavonoids and amino acids and derivatives. The combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolome indicated that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was crucial in Longya lily resistance to bulb rot. Therefore, we speculated that the different degree of resistance to bulb rot in Longya lily may be related to the transcript levels of gene and contents of metabolites in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. Overall, these results elucidate the molecular responses of Longya lily to bulb rot and lay a theoretical foundation for breeding resistant varieties.

Evaluation of Postoperative Discomfort After Strabismus Surgery Under General Anesthesia in Children: A Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose: Strabismus surgery is most commonly performed on children under general anesthesia. However, few studies have focused on the postoperative discomfort in children after strabismus surgery. This study aimed to evaluate postoperative discomfort and the associated risk factors in children who underwent strabismus surgery under general anesthesia. Patients and Methods: A single-center prospective observational study including 300 children who underwent strabismus surgery after general anesthesia was conducted. Patients' characteristics, preoperative anxiety, surgical and anesthesia data, discomfort within 24 hours after postanesthesia care unit were recorded. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative discomfort. Results: Approximately 51.33% of the children complained of at least one of the following types of postoperative discomfort: postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (23.00%), headache (4.33%), dizziness (20.33%) and emergence agitation (EA) (5.33%). Multivariate analysis indicated that history of motion sickness (P<0.001, odds ratio [OR]=3.72), and surgery in the dominant eye (P=0.010, OR=2.00) were independent predictors of postoperative discomfort; age was an independent predictor of EA (P<0.001, OR=0.36); prism diopter≥40 was an independent predictor of headache (P=0.005, OR=5.53); age (P=0.020, OR=1.12) and history of motion sickness (P=0.001, OR=2.80) were independent predictors of dizziness; history of motion sickness (P=0.001, OR=2.63) and surgery of inferior oblique anterior transposition (IOAT) (P=0.004, OR=3.10) were independent predictors of PONV. Conclusion: The most frequent postoperative symptoms in children after undergoing strabismus surgery under general anesthesia are PONV, dizziness, EA, and headache. Younger age, larger angle of strabismus, history of motion sickness, surgery on the dominant eye, and surgery of IOAT may be additional risk factors for postoperative discomfort.

The joint impact of PM2.5 constituents on the risk of cerebrovascular diseases hospitalization: A large community-based cohort study.

Air pollution poses significant health risks to urban areas, with limited focus on the chronic association of PM2.5 and its constituents on cerebrovascular diseases (CERs), especially regarding the joint associations. This study explores the individual and joint associations between PM2.5 constituents and CER hospitalization risks through a cohort analysis of 36,271 adults in the Pearl River Delta, South China, from 2015 to 2020. Cox proportional hazards regression and quantile-based g-computation models were used to quantify the individual and joint associations of annual mean concentrations of PM2.5 constituents with hospitalization for CERs. 1151 participants were hospitalized due to CERs during the five-year follow-up period. Joint associations analyses identified that one quartile increase in co-exposure may result in hazard ratios of 1.530 (1.441-1.623), 1.840 (1.710-1.980), and 1.609 (1.491-1.737) for CERs, total, and ischemic stroke hospitalization, respectively. The adverse effect was primarily driven by organic matter and chlorine. Men, those with a history of tobacco or alcohol use or with low residential greenness, were more susceptible to CERs hospitalization following PM2.5 constituents co-exposure. Upcoming strategies should focus on monitoring and regulating PM2.5 constituents, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and enhancing urban greenery.

Comparative Analysis of Chloroplast Genomes in Cephaleuros and Its Related Genus (Trentepohlia): Insights into Adaptive Evolution.

Cephaleuros species are well-known as plant pathogens that cause red rust or algae spot diseases in many economically cultivated plants that grow in shady and humid environments. Despite their prevalence, the adaptive evolution of these pathogens remains poorly understood. We sequenced and characterized three Cephaleuros (Cephaleuros lagerheimii, Cephaleuros diffusus, and Cephaleuros virescens) chloroplast genomes, and compared them with seven previously reported chloroplast genomes. The chloroplast sequences of C. lagerheimii, C. diffusus, and C. virescens were 480,613 bp, 383,846 bp, and 472,444 bp in length, respectively. These chloroplast genomes encoded 94 genes, including 27 tRNA genes, 3 rRNA genes, and 64 protein-coding genes. Comparative analysis uncovered that the variation in genome size was principally due to the length of intergenic spacer sequences, followed by introns. Furthermore, several highly variable regions (trnY-GTA, trnL-TAG, petA, psbT, trnD-GTC, trnL-TAA, ccsA, petG, psaA, psaB, rps11, rps2, and rps14) were identified. Codon bias analysis revealed that the codon usage pattern of Cephaleuros is predominantly shaped by natural selection. Additionally, six chloroplast protein-coding genes (atpF, chlN, psaA, psaB, psbA, and rbcL) were determined to be under positive selection, suggesting they may play a vital roles in the adaptation of Cephaleuros to low-light intensity habitats.

Mesoporous Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Effective for Combined Chemo/Photo Therapy Against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Introduction: Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, among which non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80% of all lung cancers. Chemotherapy, a mainstay modality for NSCLC, has demonstrated restricted effectiveness due to the emergence of chemo-resistance and systemic side effects. Studies have indicated that combining chemotherapy with phototherapy, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), can enhance efficacy of therapy. In this work, an aminated mesoporous graphene oxide (rPGO)-protoporphyrin IX (PPIX)-hyaluronic acid (HA)@Osimertinib (AZD) nanodrug delivery system (rPPH@AZD) was successfully developed for combined chemotherapy/phototherapy for NSCLC. Methods: A pH/hyaluronidase-responsive nanodrug delivery system (rPPH@AZD) was prepared using mesoporous graphene oxide. Its morphology, elemental composition, surface functional groups, optical properties, in vitro drug release ability, photothermal properties, reactive oxygen species production, cellular uptake and cell viability were evaluated. In addition, the in vivo therapeutic effect, biocompatibility, and imaging capabilities of rPPH@AZD were verified by a tumor-bearing mouse model. Results: Aminated mesoporous graphene oxide (rPGO) plays a role as a drug delivery vehicle owing to its large specific surface area and ease of surface functionalization. rPGO exhibits excellent photothermal conversion properties under laser irradiation, while PPIX acts as a photosensitizer to generate singlet oxygen. AZD acts as a small molecule targeted drug in chemotherapy. In essence, rPPH@AZD shows excellent photothermal and fluorescence imaging effects in tumor-bearing mice. More importantly, in vitro and in vivo results indicate that rPPH@AZD can achieve hyaluronidase/pH dual response as well as combined chemotherapy/PTT/PDT anti-NSCLC treatment. Conclusion: The newly prepared rPPH@AZD can serve as a promising pH/hyaluronidase-responsive nanodrug delivery system that integrates photothermal/fluorescence imaging and chemo/photo combined therapy for efficient therapy against NSCLC.

Whole-tumoral metabolic heterogeneity in 18F-FDG PET/CT is a novel prognostic marker for neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastoma (NB) is a highly heterogeneous tumor, and more than half of newly diagnosed NB are associated with extensive metastases. Accurately characterizing the heterogeneity of whole-body tumor lesions remains clinical challenge. This study aims to quantify whole-tumoral metabolic heterogeneity (WMH) derived from whole-body tumor lesions, and investigate the prognostic value of WMH in NB. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 95 newly diagnosed pediatric NB patients in our department. Traditional semi-quantitative PET/CT parameters including the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), the mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), the peak standardized uptake value (SUVpeak), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were measured. These PET/CT parameters were expressed as PSUVmax, PSUVmean, PSUVpeak, PMTV, PTLG for primary tumor, WSUVmax, WSUVmean, WSUVpeak, WMTV, WTLG for whole-body tumor lesions. The metabolic heterogeneity was quantified using the areas under the curve of the cumulative SUV-volume histogram index (AUC-CSH index). Intra-tumoral metabolic heterogeneity (IMH) and WMH were extracted from primary tumor and whole-body tumor lesions, respectively. The outcome endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Survival analysis was performed utilizing the univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. The optimal cut-off values for metabolic parameters were obtained by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). RESULTS: During follow up, 27 (28.4%) patients died, 21 (22.1%) patients relapsed and 47 (49.5%) patients remained progression-free survival, with a median follow-up of 35.0 months. In survival analysis, WMTV and WTLG were independent indicators of PFS, and WMH was an independent risk factor of PFS and OS. However, IMH only showed association with PFS and OS. In addition to metabolic parameters, the International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) was identified as an independent risk factor for PFS, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) served as an independent predictor of OS. CONCLUSION: WMH was an independent risk factor for PFS and OS, suggesting its potential as a novel prognostic marker for newly diagnosed NB patients.

GateView: A Multi-Omics Platform for Gene Feature Analysis of Virus Receptors within Human Normal Tissues and Tumors.

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that rely on cell surface receptor molecules to complete the first step of invading host cells. The experimental method for virus receptor screening is time-consuming, and receptor molecules have been identified for less than half of known viruses. This study collected known human viruses and their receptor molecules. Through bioinformatics analysis, common characteristics of virus receptor molecules (including sequence, expression, mutation, etc.) were obtained to study why these membrane proteins are more likely to become virus receptors. An in-depth analysis of the cataloged virus receptors revealed several noteworthy findings. Compared to other membrane proteins, human virus receptors generally exhibited higher expression levels and lower sequence conservation. These receptors were found in multiple tissues, with certain tissues and cell types displaying significantly higher expression levels. While most receptor molecules showed noticeable age-related variations in expression across different tissues, only a limited number of them exhibited gender-related differences in specific tissues. Interestingly, in contrast to normal tissues, virus receptors showed significant dysregulation in various types of tumors, particularly those associated with dsRNA and retrovirus receptors. Finally, GateView, a multi-omics platform, was established to analyze the gene features of virus receptors in human normal tissues and tumors. Serving as a valuable resource, it enables the exploration of common patterns among virus receptors and the investigation of virus tropism across different tissues, population preferences, virus pathogenicity, and oncolytic virus mechanisms.

CircZNF609 sponges miR-135b to up-regulate SEMA3A expression to alleviate ox-LDL-induced atherosclerosis.

The initiation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque caused by abnormal lipid metabolism is one of the main causes of atherosclerosis (AS). Lipid droplet accumulation has become a novel research pointcut for AS treatment in recent years. In AS patients, miR-135b level was up-regulated relative to the normal cases, which showed negative correlations with the levels of Semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A) and circZNF609, separately. The U937-derived macrophages were cultured with ox-LDL to establish AS models in vitro. After that, the lipid accumulation, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death were evaluated by ORO, ELISA, RT-qPCR, western blot, JC-1 and FCM assays respectively. Transfection of the circZNF609 expression vector notably declined lipid accumulation, attenuated inflammation, reduced mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibited cell death in ox-LDL-stimulated cells. The direct binding of miR-135b to circZNF609 in vitro was confirmed using RIP assay, and SEMA3A expression was up-regulated by circZNF609 overexpression. After manipulating the endogenous expressions of circZNF609, miR-135b and SEMA3A, the above damages in ox-LDL-stimulated cells were rescued by inhibition of miR-135b expression and overexpression of circZNF609 or SEMA3A. Besides, the AS mice model was built to demonstrate the excessive lipid accumulation, increasing inflammation and cell death in AS pathogenesis according to the results of HE staining, ELISA and IHC assays, while these damages were reversed after overexpression of circZNF609 or SEMA3A. In AS models, overexpressed circZNF609 prevents the AS progression through depleting miR-135b expression and subsequent up-regulation of SEMA3A expression to overwhelm lipid accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death.

Efficacy of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision to Prevent HIV Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men : A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies suggest that voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) may lower HIV risk among men who have sex with men (MSM). A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is needed to confirm this. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of VMMC in preventing incident HIV infection among MSM. DESIGN: An RCT with up to 12 months of follow-up. (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000039436). SETTING: 8 cities in China. PARTICIPANTS: Uncircumcised, HIV-seronegative men aged 18 to 49 years who self-reported predominantly practicing insertive anal intercourse and had 2 or more male sex partners in the past 6 months. INTERVENTION: VMMC. MEASUREMENTS: Rapid testing for HIV was done at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Behavioral questionnaires and other tests for sexually transmitted infections were done at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. The primary outcome was HIV seroconversion using an intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: The study enrolled 124 men in the intervention group and 123 in the control group, who contributed 120.7 and 123.1 person-years of observation, respectively. There were 0 seroconversions in the intervention group (0 infections [95% CI, 0.0 to 3.1 infections] per 100 person-years) and 5 seroconversions in the control group (4.1 infections [CI, 1.3 to 9.5 infections] per 100 person-years). The HIV hazard ratio was 0.09 (CI, 0.00 to 0.81; P = 0.029), and the HIV incidence was lower in the intervention group (log-rank P = 0.025). The incidence rates of syphilis, herpes simplex virus type 2, and penile human papillomavirus were not statistically significantly different between the 2 groups. There was no evidence of HIV risk compensation. LIMITATION: Few HIV seroconversions and limited follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Among MSM who predominantly practice insertive anal intercourse, VMMC is efficacious in preventing incident HIV infection; MSM should be included in VMMC guidelines. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: The National Science and Technology Major Project of China.

Experimental test and mechanism analysis of soil crust erosion resistance of rammed earth Great Wall in rainy season.

Rammed earth is a kind of cleaning material, widely used in all kinds of buildings in the world. The Great Wall of ancient China is a typical world cultural site built from rammed earth. The rammed earth Great Wall of Shanhaiguan is close to Bohai Bay, which has suffered from long-term erosion by rain, causing a series of problems such as soil loss, collapse and gully flushing. The protection materials of the rammed earth site have always puzzled scholars. However, during the rainy season, it was found that some of the walls at Xiaowan Gouge and Nantuzhuang Gouge in the Shanhaiguan Great Wall had unwashed traces, the soil surface of the walls was intact, and the anti-erosion ability of the walls was significantly higher than that of other places. In order to explore the reasons for its strong anti-erosion ability in the natural state of rammed earth wall, guide the protection of rammed earth Great Wall, and carry out different experimental tests to explore its anti-erosion reasons and internal mechanisms. Firstly, the characteristics of rammed soil were understood through the composition test of rammed soil, and the indoor and outdoor erosion test was carried out to determine that the anti-erosion reason was the protection of gray-green soil crust. The property and composition of soil crust were determined through the immersion test and genome sequencing. Finally, the protection mechanism of soil crust was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.

Selective anchoring of Pt NPs on covalent triazine-based frameworks via in situ derived bridging ligands for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

The efficient and stable production of hydrogen (H2) through Pt-containing photocatalysts remains a great challenge. Herein, we develop an effective strategy to selectively and uniformly anchor Pt NPs (∼1.2 nm) on a covalent triazine-based framework photocatalyst via in situ derived bridging ligands. Compared to Pt/CTF-1, the obtained Pt/AT-CTF-1 exhibits a considerable photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 562.9 µmol g-1 h-1 under visible light irradiation. Additionally, the strong interaction between the Pt NPs and in situ derived bridging ligands provides remarkable stability to Pt/AT-CTF-1. Experimental investigations and photo/chemical characterization reveal the synergy of the in situ derived bridging ligands in Pt/AT-CTF-1, which can selectively anchor the Pt NPs with homogeneous sizes and efficiently improve the transmission of charge carriers. This work provides a new perspective toward stabilizing ultrasmall nanoclusters and facilitating electron transfer in photocatalytic H2 evolution materials.

Controllable Pyridine N-Oxidation-Nucleophilic Dechlorination Process for Enhanced Dechlorination of Chloropyridines: The Cooperation of HCO4- and HO2.

Dechlorination of chloropyridines can eliminate their detrimental environmental effects. However, traditional dechlorination technology cannot efficiently break the C-Cl bond of chloropyridines, which is restricted by the uncontrollable nonselective species. Hence, we propose the carbonate species-activated hydrogen peroxide (carbonate species/H2O2) process wherein the selective oxidant (peroxymonocarbonate ion, HCO4-) and selective reductant (hydroperoxide anion, HO2-) controllably coexist by manipulation of reaction pH. Taking 2-chloropyridine (Cl-Py) as an example, HCO4- first induces Cl-Py into pyridine N-oxidation intermediates, which then suffer from the nucleophilic dechlorination by HO2-. The obtained dechlorination efficiencies in the carbonate species/H2O2 process (32.5-84.5%) based on the cooperation of HCO4- and HO2- are significantly higher than those in the HO2--mediated sodium hydroxide/hydrogen peroxide process (0-43.8%). Theoretical calculations confirm that pyridine N-oxidation of Cl-Py can effectively lower the energy barrier of the dechlorination process. Moreover, the carbonate species/H2O2 process exhibits superior anti-interference performance and low electric energy consumption. Furthermore, Cl-Py is completely detoxified via the carbonate species/H2O2 process. More importantly, the carbonate species/H2O2 process is applicable for efficient dehalogenation of halogenated pyridines and pyrazines. This work offers a simple and useful strategy to enhance the dehalogenation efficiency of halogenated organics and sheds new insights into the application of the carbonate species/H2O2 process in practical environmental remediation.

RMBase v3.0: decode the landscape, mechanisms and functions of RNA modifications.

Although over 170 chemical modifications have been identified, their prevalence, mechanism and function remain largely unknown. To enable integrated analysis of diverse RNA modification profiles, we have developed RMBase v3.0 (http://bioinformaticsscience.cn/rmbase/), a comprehensive platform consisting of eight modules. These modules facilitate the exploration of transcriptome-wide landscape, biogenesis, interactome and functions of RNA modifications. By mining thousands of epitranscriptome datasets with novel pipelines, the 'RNA Modifications' module reveals the map of 73 RNA modifications of 62 species. the 'Genes' module allows to retrieve RNA modification profiles and clusters by gene and transcript. The 'Mechanisms' module explores 23 382 enzyme-catalyzed or snoRNA-guided modified sites to elucidate their biogenesis mechanisms. The 'Co-localization' module systematically formulates potential correlations between 14 histone modifications and 6 RNA modifications in various cell-lines. The 'RMP' module investigates the differential expression profiles of 146 RNA-modifying proteins (RMPs) in 18 types of cancers. The 'Interactome' integrates the interactional relationships between 73 RNA modifications with RBP binding events, miRNA targets and SNPs. The 'Motif' illuminates the enriched motifs for 11 types of RNA modifications identified from epitranscriptome datasets. The 'Tools' introduces a novel web-based 'modGeneTool' for annotating modifications. Overall, RMBase v3.0 provides various resources and tools for studying RNA modifications.

ZmELF6-ZmPRR37 module regulates maize flowering and salt response.

The control of flowering time in maize is crucial for reproductive success and yield, and it can be influenced by environmental stresses. Using the approaches of Ac/Ds transposon and transposable element amplicon sequencing techniques, we identified a Ds insertion mutant in the ZmPRR37 gene. The Ds insertion showed a significant correlation with days to anthesis. Further research indicated that ZmPRR37-CR knockout mutants exhibited early flowering, whereas ZmPRR37-overexpression lines displayed delayed flowering compared to WT under long-day (LD) conditions. We demonstrated that ZmPRR37 repressed the expression of ZmNF-YC2 and ZmNF-YA3 to delay flowering. Association analysis revealed a significant correlation between flowering time and a SNP2071-C/T located upstream of ZmPRR37. The SNP2071-C/T impacted the binding capacity of ZmELF6 to the promoter of ZmPRR37. ZmELF6 also acted as a flowering suppressor in maize under LD conditions. Notably, our study unveiled that ZmPRR37 can enhance salt stress tolerance in maize by directly regulating the expression of ABA-responsive gene ZmDhn1. ZmDhn1 negatively regulated maize salt stress resistance. In summary, our findings proposed a novel pathway for regulating photoperiodic flowering and responding to salt stress based on ZmPRR37 in maize, providing novel insights into the integration of abiotic stress signals into floral pathways.

Multi-disciplinary cooperation for the micro-elimination of hepatitis C in China: a hospital-based experience.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of liver cancer and imposes an enormous social and economic burden. The blood-borne virus screening policy for preventing iatrogenic infections renders hospitals important for identifying individuals infected with hepatitis C. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the establishment of a multi-disciplinary cooperation model in medical institutions to leverage the screening results of patients with hepatitis C. Our objective is to ensure that patients receive timely and effective diagnosis and treatment, thereby enabling the elimination of hepatitis C by 2030. METHOD: A multi-disciplinary cooperation model was established in October 2021. This retrospective study was based on the establishment of antibody-positive and HCV RNA-positive patient databases. A Chi-square test was used to compare the HCV RNA confirmation rate in anti-HCV-positive patients, as well as the hepatitis C diagnosis rate and treatment rate in RNA-positive patients before and after the multi-disciplinary cooperation. A multivariable logistic regression was used to analyse the factors affecting the treatment of patients with hepatitis C. In addition, we examined changes in the level of hepatitis C knowledge among medical staff. RESULTS: After the implementation of the multi-disciplinary cooperation model, the RNA confirmation rate of hepatitis C antibody-positive patients increased from 36.426% to 88.737%, the diagnostic accuracy rate of RNA-positive patients increased from 67.456% to 98.113%, and the treatment rate of patients with hepatitis C increased from 12.426% to 58.491%. Significant improvements were observed among the clinicians regarding their ability to understand the characteristics of hepatitis C (93.711% vs. 58.861%), identify people at high risk (94.340% vs. 53.797%), manage patients with hepatitis C after diagnosis (88.679% vs. 67.089%), and effectively treat hepatitis C (84.277% vs. 51.899%). Multi-disciplinary cooperation in medical institutions was the most important factor for patients to undergo HCV treatment (odds ratio: 0.024, 95% confidence interval: 0.007-0.074). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the use of a multi-disciplinary cooperation model to utilise the results of HCV antibody screening fully in patients through further tracking, referral, and treatment may facilitate the detection and treatment of patients with hepatitis C and accelerate the elimination of HCV in China.

Dermoscopy for the Diagnosis of Creeping Hair Caused by Ingrowing Hair: A Case Report.

Creeping hair is a rare condition characterized by creeping eruption with a black line at the advancing end, mimicking cutaneous larva migrans. The condition is also referred to as cutaneous pili migrans, migrating hair, and embedded hair. A total of 52 cases have been reported since 1957 and most cases were published in English. Herein, we report a case in which creeping hair occurred in the iliac region and review the literature from 1957 to February 2021. A 35-year-old Chinese female presented with a black moving linear eruption that had migrated from the lower abdomen to the iliac region without causing any symptoms during a 3-year period. Cutaneous examination showed a 6.5-cm-long black linear lesion beneath the skin that was revealed to be a hair shaft. After removal of the hair, the eruption diminished and no recurrence occurred in 3 months of follow-up. The creeping hair that had migrated with its lower end forward was confirmed by observation under dematoscopy and light microscopy. A review of the literature revealed that creeping hair occurs most frequently in young and middle-aged patients and the reported cases are mainly from Asia. The top locations involve the foot. The causative hair includes head hair, beard, pubic hair, body hair, and one case of dog hair. A close-up examination and dermoscopic inspection are helpful for the diagnosis of creeping hair.

Changes in nitrogen metabolism of phosphorus-starved bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa: Implications for nutrient management.

The surplus of nitrogen plays a key role in the maintenance of cyanobacterial bloom when phosphorus has already been limited. However, the interplay between high nitrogen and low phosphorus conditions is not fully understood. Nitrogen metabolism is critical for the metabolism of cyanobacteria. Transcriptomic analysis in the present study suggested that nitrogen metabolism and ribosome biogenesis were the two most significantly changed pathways in long-term phosphorus-starved bloom-forming cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB-905. Notably, the primary glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase cycle, crucial for nitrogen metabolism, was significantly downregulated. Concurrently, nitrogen uptake showed a marked decrease due to reduced expression of nitrogen source transporters. The content of intracellular nitrogen reservoir phycocyanin also showed a drastic decrease upon phosphorus starvation. Our study demonstrated that long-term phosphorus-starved cells also suffered from nitrogen deficiency because of the reduction in nitrogen assimilation, which might be limited by the reduced ribosome biogenesis and the shortage of adenosine triphosphate. External nitrogen supply will not change the transcriptions of nitrogen metabolism-related genes significantly like that under phosphorus-rich conditions, but still help to maintain the survival of phosphorus-starved cells. The study deepens our understanding about the survival strategies of Microcystis cells under phosphorus starvation and the mutual dependence between nitrogen and phosphorus, which would provide valuable information for nutrient management in the eutrophicated water body.