Transcriptome dynamics of Gossypium purpurascens in response to abiotic stresses by Iso-seq and RNA-seq data.

Gossypium purpurascens is a member of the Malvaceae family, holds immense economic significance as a fiber crop worldwide. Abiotic stresses harm cotton crops, reduce yields, and cause economic losses. Generating high-quality reference genomes and large-scale transcriptomic datasets across diverse conditions can offer valuable insights into identifying preferred agronomic traits for crop breeding. The present research used leaf tissues to conduct PacBio Iso-seq and RNA-seq analysis. We carried out an in-depth analysis of DEGs using both correlations with cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Additionally, the study also involved the identification of both lncRNAs and CDS. We have prepared RNA-seq libraries from 75 RNA samples to study the effects of drought, salinity, alkali, and saline-alkali stress, as well as control conditions. A total of 454.06 Gigabytes of transcriptome data were effectively validated through the identification of differentially expressed genes and KEGG and GO analysis. Overwhelmingly, gene expression profiles and full-length transcripts from cotton tissues will aid in understanding the genetic mechanism of abiotic stress tolerance in G. purpurascens.

GhiPLATZ17 and GhiPLATZ22, zinc-dependent DNA-binding transcription factors, promote salt tolerance in upland cotton.

KEY MESSAGE: The utilization of transcriptome analysis, functional validation, VIGS, and DAB techniques have provided evidence that GhiPLATZ17 and GhiPLATZ22 play a pivotal role in improving the salt tolerance of upland cotton. PLATZ (Plant AT-rich sequences and zinc-binding proteins) are known to be key regulators in plant growth, development, and response to salt stress. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the PLATZ family in ten cotton species in response to salinity stress. Gossypium herbaceum boasts 25 distinct PLATZ genes, paralleled by 24 in G. raimondii, 25 in G. arboreum, 46 in G. hirsutum, 48 in G. barbadense, 43 in G. tomentosum, 67 in G. mustelinum, 60 in G. darwinii, 46 in G. ekmanianum, and a total of 53 PLATZ genes attributed to G. stephensii. The PLATZ gene family shed light on the hybridization and allopolyploidy events that occurred during the evolutionary history of allotetraploid cotton. Ka/Ks analysis suggested that the PLATZ gene family underwent intense purifying selection during cotton evolution. Analysis of synteny and gene collinearity revealed a complex pattern of segmental and dispersed duplication events to expand PLATZ genes in cotton. Cis-acting elements and gene expressions revealed that GhiPLATZ exhibited salt stress resistance. Transcriptome analysis, functional validation, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), and diaminobenzidine staining (DAB) demonstrated that GhiPLATZ17 and GhiPLATZ22 enhance salt tolerance in upland cotton. The study can potentially advance our understanding of identifying salt-resistant genes in cotton.

Identification and characterization of candidate genes for primary root length in Asiatic cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.).

KEY MESSAGE: One major gene controlling primary root length (PRL) in Gossypium arboreum is identified and this research provides a theoretical basis for root development for cotton. Primary root elongation is an essential process in plant root system structure. Here, we investigated the primary root length (PRL) of 215 diploid cotton (G. arboreum) accessions at 5, 8, 10, 15 days after sowing. A Genome-wide association study was performed for the PRL, resulting in 49 significant SNPs associated with 32 putative candidate genes. The SNP with the strongest signal (Chr07_8047530) could clearly distinguish the PRLs between accessions with two haplotypes. GamurG is the only gene that showed higher relative expression in the long PRL genotypes than the short PRL genotypes, which indicated it was the most likely candidate gene for regulating PRL. Moreover, the GamurG-silenced cotton seedlings showed a shorter PRL, while the GamurG-overexpressed Arabidopsis exhibited a significantly longer PRL. Our findings provide insight into the regulation mechanism of cotton root growth and will facilitate future breeding programs to optimize the root system structure in cotton.

Genomic loci associated with leaf abscission contribute to machine picking and environmental adaptability in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

INTRODUCTION: Defoliation by applying defoliants before machine picking is an important agricultural practice that enhances harvesting efficiency and leads to increased raw cotton purity. However, the fundamental characteristics of leaf abscission and the underlying genetic basis in cotton are not clearly understood. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to (1) reveal the phenotypic variations in cotton leaf abscission, (2) discover the whole-genome differentiation sweeps and genetic loci related to defoliation, (3) identify and verify the functions of key candidate genes associated with defoliation, and (4) explore the relationship between haplotype frequency of loci and environmental adaptability. METHODS: Four defoliation-related traits of 383 re-sequenced Gossypium hirsutum accessions were investigated in four environments. The genome-wide association study (GWAS), linkage disequilibrium (LD) interval genotyping and functional identification were conducted. Finally, the haplotype variation related to environmental adaptability and defoliation traits was revealed. RESULTS: Our findings revealed the fundamental phenotypic variations of defoliation traits in cotton. We showed that defoliant significantly increased the defoliation rate without incurring yield and fiber quality penalties. The strong correlations between defoliation traits and growth period traits were observed. A genome-wide association study of defoliation traits identified 174 significant SNPs. Two loci (RDR7 on A02 and RDR13 on A13) that significantly associated with the relative defoliation rate were described, and key candidate genes GhLRR and GhCYCD3;1, encoding a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family protein and D3-type cell cyclin 1 protein respectively, were functional verified by expression pattern analysis and gene silencing. We found that combining of two favorable haplotypes (HapRDR7 and HapRDR13) improved sensitivity to defoliant. The favorable haplotype frequency generally increased in high latitudes in China, enabling adaptation to the local environment. CONCLUSION: Our findings lay an important foundation for the potentially broad application of leveraging key genetic loci in breeding machine-pickable cotton.

Aluminum exposure impairs oocyte quality via subcellular structure disruption and DNA damage-related apoptosis in mice.

Aluminum (Al) can lead to an exposure of creature in varieties ways for its universality, and it could disturb normal physiological metabolism, with the damage to multisystem including reproduction. Since the oocyte quality is critical for female reproduction, we inspected the toxicity of Al on mouse oocyte maturation. We constructed in vitro exposure mouse model, and we found that 5 mmol/L Al had adverse effects on oocyte maturation by impairing organelle and cytoskeleton. Aberrant spindle and misaligned chromosomes which might be considered to be caused by elevated levels of acetylation, as well as abnormal distribution of actin dynamics could hinder normal meiosis of oocytes. Organelle dysfunction indicated that Al affected proteins synthesis, transport and digestion, which would further damage oocyte maturation. In order to explore the mechanism of Al toxicity, our further investigation demonstrated that Al caused mitochondrial dysfunction and imbalance calcium homeostasis, resulting in limited energy supply. Moreover, high level of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage and apoptosis caused by oxidative stress were also the manifestation of Al toxicity on oocytes. In conclusion, our study provided the evidence that Al exposure affected oocyte quality through its effects on spindle organization, actin dynamics, organelle function and the induction of DNA damage-related apoptosis with mouse model.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals the beneficial effects of salt priming on enhancing defense responses in upland cotton under successive salt stress.

Priming-mediated stress tolerance in plants stimulates defense mechanisms and enables plants to cope with future stresses. Seed priming has been proven effective for tolerance against abiotic stresses; however, underlying genetic mechanisms are still unknown. We aimed to assess upland cotton genotypes and their transcriptional behaviors under salt priming and successive induced salt stress. We pre-selected 16 genotypes based on previous studies and performed morpho-physiological characterization, from which we selected three genotypes, representing different tolerance levels, for transcriptomic analysis. We subjected these genotypes to four different treatments: salt priming (P0), salt priming with salinity dose at 3-true-leaf stage (PD), salinity dose at 3-true-leaf stage without salt priming (0D), and control (CK). Although the three genotypes displayed distinct expression patterns, we identified common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under PD enriched in pathways related to transferase activity, terpene synthase activity, lipid biosynthesis, and regulation of acquired resistance, indicating the beneficial role of salt priming in enhancing salt stress resistance. Moreover, the number of unique DEGs associated with G. hirsutum purpurascens was significantly higher compared to other genotypes. Coexpression network analysis identified 16 hub genes involved in cell wall biogenesis, glucan metabolic processes, and ribosomal RNA binding. Functional characterization of XTH6 (XYLOGLUCAN ENDOTRANSGLUCOSYLASE/HYDROLASE) using virus-induced gene silencing revealed that suppressing its expression improves plant growth under salt stress. Overall, findings provide insights into the regulation of candidate genes in response to salt stress and the beneficial effects of salt priming on enhancing defense responses in upland cotton.

Toxicity of the Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol on Early Cleavage of Mouse Embryos by Fluorescence Intensity Analysis.

Deoxynivalenol is a mycotoxin, produced by Fusarium from contaminated corn, wheat, and other grains, that induces multiple effects in humans and animals, including cytotoxic, genotoxic, immunotoxic, and carcinogenic effects. Recent studies show that deoxynivalenol also affects the reproductive system of mammals, including oocyte quality. However, the effects of deoxynivalenol on early embryonic development have not been reported. In this study, fluorescence intensity analysis was used to show that deoxynivalenol disrupted the first cleavage of the zygote. The high deoxynivalenol dose disturbed the movement of the pronucleus after fertilization, while the low deoxynivalenol dose caused aberrant spindle morphology during the metaphase of the first cleavage. Further analysis showed that the reactive oxygen species level increased in the deoxynivalenol-exposed two-cell embryos, indicating oxidative stress. Moreover, deoxynivalenol caused DNA damage in the embryos, as positive γH2A.X signals were detected in the nucleus. These events led to the early apoptosis of mouse embryos, which was confirmed by autophagy. Taken together, our study provides evidence for the toxicity of deoxynivalenol during early embryonic development in the mouse model.

Comprehensive Evaluation and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal the Salt Tolerance Mechanism in Semi-Wild Cotton (Gossypium purpurascens).

Elevated salinity significantly threatens cotton growth, particularly during the germination and seedling stages. The utilization of primitive species of Gossypium hirsutum, specifically Gossypium purpurascens, has the potential to facilitate the restoration of genetic diversity that has been depleted due to selective breeding in modern cultivars. This investigation evaluated 45 G. purpurascens varieties and a salt-tolerant cotton variety based on 34 morphological, physiological, and biochemical indicators and comprehensive salt tolerance index values. This study effectively identified a total of 19 salt-tolerant and two salt-resistant varieties. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing of a salt-tolerant genotype (Nayanmian-2; NY2) and a salt-sensitive genotype (Sanshagaopao-2; GP2) revealed 2776, 6680, 4660, and 4174 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under 0.5, 3, 12, and 24 h of salt stress. Gene ontology enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs exhibited significant enrichment in biological processes like metabolic (GO:0008152) and cellular (GO:0009987) processes. MAPK signaling, plant-pathogen interaction, starch and sucrose metabolism, plant hormone signaling, photosynthesis, and fatty acid metabolism were identified as key KEGG pathways involved in salinity stress. Among the DEGs, including NAC, MYB, WRKY, ERF, bHLH, and bZIP, transcription factors, receptor-like kinases, and carbohydrate-active enzymes were crucial in salinity tolerance. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) unveiled associations of salt-tolerant genotypes with flavonoid metabolism, carbon metabolism, and MAPK signaling pathways. Identifying nine hub genes (MYB4, MYB105, MYB36, bZIP19, bZIP43, FRS2 SMARCAL1, BBX21, F-box) across various intervals offered insights into the transcriptional regulation mechanism of salt tolerance in G. purpurascens. This study lays the groundwork for understanding the important pathways and gene networks in response to salt stress, thereby providing a foundation for enhancing salt tolerance in upland cotton.

Postoperative ecchymoma of eyelid after botulinum toxin injection for hemifacial spasm: a case report.

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a rare movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions on one side of the face. Compared to the high therapeutic effect, adverse effects of botulinum toxin treatment for HFS occurred rarely. However, managing HFS patients who are also taking antithrombotic drugs poses a challenge. Here, we present a case of postoperative ecchymoma of the eyelid following a botulinum toxin injection in a patient receiving daily vinpocetine and aspirin antiplatelet therapy. This case highlights the importance of considering the potential risks and formulating a treatment plan that maximizes benefit while minimizing complications in HFS patients undergoing botulinum toxin injections and taking antithrombotic medications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of postoperative ecchymoma of the eyelid following a botulinum toxin injection. Further research and additional case reports are needed to better understand the management strategies for this patient population.

Aflatoxin B1 impairs porcine oocyte quality via disturbing intracellular membrane system and ATP production.

Aflatoxin is the most common type of mycotoxins in contaminated corn, peanuts and rice, which affects the livestock and ultimately endangers human health. Aflatoxin is reported to have carcinogenicity, mutation, growth retardation, immunosuppression and reproductive toxicity. In present study we reported the causes for the declined porcine oocyte quality under aflatoxin exposure. We set up an in vitro exposure model and showed that aflatoxin B1 disturbed cumulus cell expansion and oocyte polar body extrusion. We found that aflatoxin B1 exposure disrupted ER distribution and elevated the expression of GRP78, indicating the occurrence of ER stress, and the increased calcium storage also confirmed this. Besides, the structure of cis-Golgi apparatus, another intracellular membrane system was also affected, showing with decreased GM130 expression. The oocytes under aflatoxin B1 exposure showed aberrant lysosome accumulation and higher LAMP2 expression, a marker for lysosome membrane protection, and this might be due to the aberrant mitochondria function with low ATP production and the increase of apoptosis, since we found that BAX expression increased, and ribosomal protein which is also an apoptosis-related factor RPS3 decreased. Taken together, our study revealed that aflatoxin B1 impairs intracellular membrane system ER, Golgi apparatus, lysosome and mitochondria function to affect porcine oocyte maturation quality.

Further Characterization of Multi-Organ DEARE and Protection by 16,16 Dimethyl Prostaglandin E2 in a Mouse Model of the Hematopoietic Acute Radiation Syndrome.

Survivors of acute radiation exposure suffer from the delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE), a chronic condition affecting multiple organs, including lung, kidney, heart, gastrointestinal tract, eyes, and brain, and often causing cancer. While effective medical countermeasures (MCM) for the hematopoietic-acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS) have been identified and approved by the FDA, development of MCM for DEARE has not yet been successful. We previously documented residual bone marrow damage (RBMD) and progressive renal and cardiovascular DEARE in murine survivors of H-ARS, and significant survival efficacy of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2) given as a radioprotectant or radiomitigator for H-ARS. We now describe additional DEARE (physiological and neural function, progressive fur graying, ocular inflammation, and malignancy) developing after sub-threshold doses in our H-ARS model, and detailed analysis of the effects of dmPGE2 administered before (PGE-pre) or after (PGE-post) lethal total-body irradiation (TBI) on these DEARE. Administration of PGE-pre normalized the twofold reduction of white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocytes seen in vehicle-treated survivors (Veh), and increased the number of bone marrow (BM) cells, splenocytes, thymocytes, and phenotypically defined hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) to levels equivalent to those in non-irradiated age-matched controls. PGE-pre significantly protected HPC colony formation ex vivo by >twofold, long term-HSC in vivo engraftment potential up to ninefold, and significantly blunted TBI-induced myeloid skewing. Secondary transplantation documented continued production of LT-HSC with normal lineage differentiation. PGE-pre reduced development of DEARE cardiovascular pathologies and renal damage; prevented coronary artery rarefication, blunted progressive loss of coronary artery endothelia, reduced inflammation and coronary early senescence, and blunted radiation-induced increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Ocular monocytes were significantly lower in PGE-pre mice, as was TBI-induced fur graying. Increased body weight and decreased frailty in male mice, and reduced incidence of thymic lymphoma were documented in PGE-pre mice. In assays measuring behavioral and cognitive functions, PGE-pre reduced anxiety in females, significantly blunted shock flinch response, and increased exploratory behavior in males. No effect of TBI was observed on memory in any group. PGE-post, despite significantly increasing 30-day survival in H-ARS and WBC and hematopoietic recovery, was not effective in reducing TBI-induced RBMD or any other DEARE. In summary, dmPGE2 administered as an H-ARS MCM before lethal TBI significantly increased 30-day survival and ameliorated RBMD and multi-organ and cognitive/behavioral DEARE to at least 12 months after TBI, whereas given after TBI, dmPGE2 enhances survival from H-ARS but has little impact on RBMD or other DEARE.

Transcriptome and proteome profiling revealed the key genes and pathways involved in the fiber quality formation in brown cotton.

Colored cotton is also called eco-cotton because of its natural color fiber. It is inferior in yield and quality than white cotton. The underlying regulatory genes involved in fiber quality and pigment synthesis are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the transcriptomic and proteomic changes during fiber development in a brown cotton cultivar (Z161) and a white cotton cultivar. The differential proteins with the same expression trend as genes were significantly and positively correlated with corresponding fold changes in expression. Enrichment analysis revealed that Z161, enriched in fiber elongation genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and many more genes (proteins) are up-regulated. Moreover, 164 glycosyltransferases genes, 15 MYB-bHLH-WD40 genes, and other transcription factors such as C2H2 (12), ERF (11), and NAC (7) were preferentially expressed in Z161. Weighted correlation network analysis identified fatty acid synthesis and energy metabolism as the principal metabolic pathways in both cotton genotypes during fiber development. Identified 15 hub genes will provide important insights for genetic manipulation of fiber quality and pigment deposition balance in brown cotton fibers.

Exploring the nano-wonders: unveiling the role of Nanoparticles in enhancing salinity and drought tolerance in plants.

Plants experience diverse abiotic stresses, encompassing low or high temperature, drought, water logging and salinity. The challenge of maintaining worldwide crop cultivation and food sustenance becomes particularly serious due to drought and salinity stress. Sustainable agriculture has significant promise with the use of nano-biotechnology. Nanoparticles (NPs) have evolved into remarkable assets to improve agricultural productivity under the robust climate alteration and increasing drought and salinity stress severity. Drought and salinity stress adversely impact plant development, and physiological and metabolic pathways, leading to disturbances in cell membranes, antioxidant activities, photosynthetic system, and nutrient uptake. NPs protect the membrane and photosynthetic apparatus, enhance photosynthetic efficiency, optimize hormone and phenolic levels, boost nutrient intake and antioxidant activities, and regulate gene expression, thereby strengthening plant's resilience to drought and salinity stress. In this paper, we explored the classification of NPs and their biological effects, nanoparticle absorption, plant toxicity, the relationship between NPs and genetic engineering, their molecular pathways, impact of NPs in salinity and drought stress tolerance because the effects of NPs vary with size, shape, structure, and concentration. We emphasized several areas of research that need to be addressed in future investigations. This comprehensive review will be a valuable resource for upcoming researchers who wish to embrace nanotechnology as an environmentally friendly approach for enhancing drought and salinity tolerance.

Divergent roles of PD-L1 in immune regulation during ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a type of pathological injury that commonly arises in various diseases. Various forms of immune response are involved in the process of I/R injury. As a member of the B7 costimulatory molecule family, programmed death 1-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an important target for immune regulation. Therefore, PD-L1 may be implicated in the regulation of I/R injury. This review briefly describes the immune response during I/R injury and how PD-L1 is involved in its regulation by focusing on findings from various I/R models. Despite the limited number of studies in this field of research, PD-L1 has shown sufficient potential as a clinical therapeutic target.

Age disparities in intestinal stem cell quantities: a possible explanation for preterm infant susceptibility to necrotizing enterocolitis.

PURPOSE: Preterm infants are more susceptible to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) than term Queryinfants. This may be due to a relative paucity of Lgr5+ or Bmi1+-expressing intestinal stem cells (ISCs) which are responsible for promoting intestinal recovery after injury. We hypothesized that the cellular markers of Lgr5+ and Bmi1+, which represent the two distinct ISC populations, would be lower in younger mice compared to older mice. In addition, we hypothesized that experimental NEC would result in a greater loss of Lgr5+ expression compared to Bmi1+ expression. METHODS: Transgenic mice with EGFP-labeled Lgr5 underwent euthanasia at 10 different time points from E15 to P56 (n = 8-11/group). Lgr5+-expressing ISCs were quantified by GFP ELISA and Bmi1+ was assessed by qPCR. In addition, Lgr5EGFP mice underwent experimental NEC via formula feeding and hypoxic and hypothermic stress. Additional portions of the intestine underwent immunostaining with anti-GFP or anti-Bmi1+ antibodies to confirm ELISA and PCR results. For statistical analysis, p < 0.05 was significant. RESULTS: Lgr5+ and Bmi1+expression was lowest in embryonal and early postnatal mice and increased with age in all segments of the intestine. Experimental NEC was associated with loss of Lgr5+-expressing ISCs but no significant change in Bmi1+ expression. CONCLUSION: Lgr5+ and Bmi1+ expression increase with age. Lgr5+-expressing ISCs are lower following experimental necrotizing enterocolitis while Bmi1+ expression remains relatively unchanged. Developing a targeted medical therapy to protect the low population of ISCs in preterm infants may promote tissue recovery and regeneration after injury from NEC.

Case report: FOXP1 syndrome caused by a de novo splicing variant (c.1652+5 G>A) of the FOXP1 gene.

FOXP1 syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by global developmental delay, intellectual disability, and language delay, with or without autistic features. Several splicing variants have been reported for this condition, but most of them lack functional evidence, and the actual effects of the sequence changes are still unknown. In this study, a de novo splicing variant (c.1652 + 5 G>A) of the FOXP1 gene was identified in a patient with global developmental delay, mild intellectual disability, speech delay, and autistic features. Assessed by TA-cloning, the variant promoted the skipping of exon 18 and a premature stop codon (p.Asn511*), resulting in a predicted truncated protein. This variant, that is lacking the forkhead-box DNA-binding domain and nuclear localization signal 2, may disrupt the protein function and thus cause FOXP1 syndrome-related symptoms. Our study extends the phenotypic and allelic spectra of the FOXP1 syndrome.

A hydrogen-sulfide derivative of mesalamine reduces the severity of intestinal and lung injury in necrotizing enterocolitis through endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a devastating disease that affects preterm infants. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors have been shown to reduce the severity of NEC, but the optimal compound has yet to be identified. We hypothesized that oral H2S-Mesalamine (ATB-429) would improve outcomes in experimental NEC, and its benefits would be dependent on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathways. NEC was induced in 5-day-old wild-type (WT) and eNOS knockout (eNOSKO) pups by formula feeding and stress. Four groups were studied in both WT and eNOSKO mice: 1) breastfed controls, 2) NEC, 3) NEC + 50 mg/kg mesalamine, and 4) NEC + 130 mg/kg ATB-429. Mesalamine and ATB-429 doses were equimolar. Pups were monitored for sickness scores and perfusion to the gut was measured by Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI). After euthanasia of the pups, intestine and lung were hematoxylin and eosin-stained and scored for injury in a blind fashion. TLR4 expression was quantified by Western blot and IL-6 expression by ELISA. P < 0.05 was significant. Both WT and eNOSKO breastfed controls underwent normal development and demonstrated milder intestinal and pulmonary injury compared with NEC groups. For the WT groups, ATB-429 significantly improved weight gain, reduced clinical sickness score, and improved perfusion compared with the NEC group. In addition, WT ATB-429 pups had a significantly milder intestinal and pulmonary histologic injury when compared with NEC. ATB-429 attenuated the increase in TLR4 and IL-6 expression in the intestine. When the experiment was repeated in eNOSKO pups, ATB-429 offered no benefit in weight gain, sickness scores, perfusion, intestinal injury, pulmonary injury, or decreasing intestinal inflammatory markers. An H2S derivative of mesalamine improves outcomes in experimental NEC. Protective effects appear to be mediated through eNOS. Further research is warranted to explore whether ATB-429 may be an effective oral therapy to combat NEC.

Differential seedling growth and tolerance indices reflect drought tolerance in cotton.

BACKGROUND: Cotton production is adversely effected by drought stress. It is exposed to drought stress at various critical growth stages grown under a water scarcity environment. Roots are the sensors of plants; they detect osmotic stress under drought stress and play an important role in plant drought tolerance mechanisms. The seedling stage is very sensitive to drought stress, and it needed to explore the methods and plant characteristics that contribute to drought tolerance in cotton. RESULTS: Initially, seedlings of 18 genotypes from three Gossypium species: G. hirsutum, G. barbadense, and G. arboreum, were evaluated for various seedling traits under control (NS) and drought stress (DS). Afterward, six genotypes, including two of each species, one tolerant and one susceptible, were identified based on the cumulative drought sensitivity response index (CDSRI). Finally, growth rates (GR) were examined for shoot and root growth parameters under control and DS in experimental hydroponic conditions. A significant variation of drought stress responses was observed across tested genotypes and species. CDSRI allowed here to identify the drought-sensitive and drought-resistant cultivar of each investigated species. Association among root and shoots growth traits disclosed influential effects of enduring the growth under DS. The traits including root length, volume, and root number were the best indicators with significantly higher differential responses in the tolerant genotypes. These root growth traits, coupled with the accumulation of photosynthates and proline, were also the key indicators of the resistance to drought stress. CONCLUSION: Tolerant genotypes have advanced growth rates and the capacity to cop with drought stress by encouraging characteristics, including root differential growth traits coupled with physiological traits such as chlorophyll and proline contents. Tolerant and elite genotypes of G. hirsutum were more tolerant of drought stress than obsolete genotypes of G. barbadense and G. arboreum. Identified genotypes have a strong genetic basis of drought tolerance, which can be used in cotton breeding programs.

A Low-Computing-Complexity Touch Signal Detection Method and Analog Front-End Circuits Based on Cross-Correlation Technology for Large-Size Touch Panel.

This paper proposes a low-computing-complexity touch signal detection method and analog front-end (AFE) circuits based on cross-correlation technology for large mutual capacitance touch screen panels (TSPs). To solve the traditional touch signal detection method problem of lots of invalid data being sampled and processed in a large-size TSP, the proposed method only samples and processes the signals around the touch points rather than full-screen data to decrease the computing complexity and analog-digital convertor (ADC) acquisition number. Compared with the traditional method, the proposed touch points search algorithm complexity decreases from MN to M + nN where M, N, and n are the number of RX channels, TX channels, and touch points, respectively. The maximum ADC acquisition number of the proposed method decreases from MN to 18n. Based on the proposed touch signal detection method, the AFE circuits are designed by a 0.11 µm process. The proposed dual cross-correlation AFE achieves detection of the weak touch signal submerged in the large display panel noise. The average channel area and power consumption are decreased to 0.015 mm2 and 0.227 mW, respectively. The maximum frame rate is 384.6 Hz with 10 touch points. The proposed cross-correlation AFE achieves a high frame rate while reducing the die area and power consumption.