The rice LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL enhances salt tolerance by regulating Na+/K+ homeostasis and ABA signalling.

The circadian clock plays multiple functions in the regulation of plant growth, development and response to various abiotic stress. Here, we showed that the core oscillator component late elongated hypocotyl (LHY) was involved in rice response to salt stress. The mutations of OsLHY gene led to reduced salt tolerance in rice. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that the OsLHY gene regulates the expression of genes related to ion homeostasis and the abscisic acid (ABA) signalling pathway, including genes encoded High-affinity K+ transporters (OsHKTs) and the stress-activated protein kinases (OsSAPKs). We demonstrated that OsLHY directly binds the promoters of OsHKT1;1, OsHKT1;4 and OsSAPK9 to regulate their expression. Moreover, the ossapk9 mutants exhibited salt tolerance under salt stress. Taken together, our findings revealed that OsLHY integrates ion homeostasis and the ABA pathway to regulate salt tolerance in rice, providing insights into our understanding of how the circadian clock controls rice response to salt stress.

Quantitative Ratiometric Biosensors Based on Fluorescent Ferrocene-Modified Histidine Dipeptide Nanoassemblies.

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) provide a ratiometric readout for quantitative assessment of the destination of internalized biomolecules. FP-inspired peptide nanostructures that can compete with FPs in their capacity are the most preferred building blocks for the synthesis of fluorescent soft matter. However, realizing a ratiometric emission from a single peptide fluorophore remains exclusive since multicolor emission is a rare property in peptide nanostructures. Here, we describe a bioinspired peptidyl platform for ratiometric intracellular quantitation by employing a single ferrocene-modified histidine dipeptide. The intensiometric ratio of green to blue fluorescence correlates linearly with the concentration of the peptide by three orders of magnitude. The ratiometric fluorescence of the peptide is an assembly-induced emission originating from hydrogen bonds and aromatic interactions. Additionally, modular design enables ferrocene-modified histidine dipeptides to use as a general platform for the construction of intricate peptides that retain the ratiometric fluorescent properties. The ratiometric peptide technique promises flexibility in the design of a wide spectrum of stoichiometric biosensors for quantitatively understanding the trafficking and subcellular fate of biomolecules.

Rethreading Design of Ratiometric roGFP2 Mimetic Peptide for Hydrogen Peroxide Sensing.

Reconstruction of the miniaturized peptide to mimic the tailored functions of protein has been attractive but challenging. Herein, initialized from the crystal structure of redox-sensitive green fluorescent protein-2 (roGFP2), we propose a practical approach to construct the roGFP2 mimetic peptide by rethreading the aromatic residues adjacent to the chromophore fragment. By fine-tuning the residues of peptides, a mini tetrapeptide (Cys-Phe-Phe-His) was designed, which can act as a hydrogen peroxide sensor using its ratiometric fluorescence. The roGFP2 mimetic tetrapeptide is biocompatible and photostable and has competitive fluorescent properties with roGFP2 by the virtue of its assembly induced emissions. We expand the ratiometric tetrapeptide for sensing hydrogen peroxide in acidic chambers. The results provide a promising approach for the artificial design of miniaturized peptides with the desired function.

Sediment and residual feed from aquaculture water bodies threaten aquatic environmental ecosystem: Interactions among algae, heavy metals, and nutrients.

The effect of sediment and residual fish feed on aquaculture water bodies has gained increasing attention to alleviate the eutrophication and heavy metals enrichment induced by aquaculture. Thus, this study intended to reveal the possible interactions among nutrients, heavy metals, and Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) in aquaculture water bodies containing fish feed and sediment. The analyses showed that consistent with the composition of heavy metals in fish feed, manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) accounted for the highest proportions (68-78%) of heavy metals in sediment. Meanwhile, sediment in the centre of aquaculture water bodies (S2) contained more heavy metals than those in the perimeter (S1), but the released concentrations and rates (Rrelease) of heavy metals from S1 were higher than those from S2. Moreover, the biomass, growth rate, specific growth rate, and nitrogen and carbon fixation rate of C. vulgaris increased with adding fish feed, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased. In addition, with C. vulgaris, influenced by the release process from sediment and the uptake by C. vulgaris, the concentration and Rrelease of Mn, Pb, Cu, Mn, Cr and Cd from sediments coexisting with fish feed in water first increased and then decreased in general. The C. vulgaris biomass was significantly negatively related to Mn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, and Cd and PO43-P (P < 0.05), which was caused by the uptake of C. vulgaris and indicated that C. vulgaris biomass is easily affected by these factors. Accordingly, the input of residual fish feed and sediment should be controlled.

A preoperative predictive model for stage IV endometriosis.

This was a retrospective study that evaluated a total of 280 patients who underwent surgery for complete removal of endometriosis to develop and validate the predictive model for stage IV endometriosis. The differences between stage I-III and stage IV endometriosis were performed by logistic regression. A model for the prediction of stage IV endometriosis was constructed, which was subsequently validated. The independent variables were visual analogue scale (VAS)≥4 [3.855, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.675-8.871, p = 0.002], painful nodularity on uterosacral ligaments (13.954, 95% CI: 1.658-117.423, p = 0.015), and bilateral endometriosis (5.933, 95% CI: 1.931-18.225, p = 0.002). The AUC of the model was 0.777, with a sensitivity of 71.9% and specificity of 76.3% for stage IV endometriosis. Therefore, a complete collection of patient information prior to surgery, asking about pain and VAS scores, careful completion of pelvic examinations, and application of imaging techniques are conducive to better diagnosis and prediction of advanced endometriosis.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Endometriosis, a chronic disease causing pain and infertility, is characterised by endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, which is often treated via surgery at present. Considering the risks of surgery, it is necessary to identify patients with stage IV endometriosis through non-invasive predictive models for adequate preparation for surgery. However, there is no reliable non-invasive predictive model now, despite utilisation of patient medical history, symptoms especially pain-related ones, pelvic examinations, laboratory examinations, and images in the preoperative diagnosis of endometriosis in the clinic.What do the results of this study add? A model developed based on three simple, accessible and non-invasive indicators displays good performance in predicting stage IV endometriosis.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? It is conducive to diagnosing and predicting advanced endometriosis before surgery, so as to reduce the difficulty and improve the safety of surgery.

Color-Tunable Fluorescent Hierarchical Nanoassemblies with Concentration-Encoded Emission.

Cephalopods possess a dynamic coloration behavior to change their iridescence due to the concentration-induced optical properties of chromatophores and hierarchical assembly of reflectin. However, cephalopods rarely have iridescence in the darkfield. It would be interesting to develop color-tunable fluorescent hierarchical nanoassemblies with concentration-encoded emission. Herein, to construct the bioavailable fluorophore with dynamic coloration properties, a histidine-rich peptide is designed, which can self-assemble into hierarchical nanoassemblies stabilized by hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interactions. The peptidyl nanoassemblies emit fluorescent iridescence, encompassing the blue to orange region due to the assembly-induced emission. The fluorescence of histidine-rich peptides is color-tunable and reversible, which can be dynamically controlled in a concentration-encoded mode. Due to the coloration ability of histidine-rich peptides, fluorescent polychromatic human cells are developed, highlighting its potential role as a fluorescent candidate for future applications such as bioimaging, implantable light-emitting diodes, and photochromic camouflage.

A new demethylase gene, OsDML4, is involved in high temperature-increased grain chalkiness in rice.

High temperature (HT) can affect the accumulation of seed storage materials and cause adverse effects on the yield and quality of rice. DNA methylation plays an important role in plant growth and development. Here, we identified a new demethylase gene OsDML4 and discovered its function in cytosine demethylation to affect endosperm formation. Loss of function of OsDML4 induced chalky endosperm only under HT and dramatically reduced the transcription and accumulation of glutelins and 16 kDa prolamin. The expression of two transcription factor genes RISBZ1 and RPBF was significantly decreased in the osdml4 mutants, which caused adverse effects on the formation of protein bodies (PBs) with greatly decreased PB-II number, and incomplete and abnormally shaped PB-IIs. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analysis of seeds at 15 d after pollination revealed much higher global methylation levels of CG, CHG, and CHH contexts in the osdml4 mutants compared with the wild type. Moreover, the RISBZ1 promoter was hypermethylated but the RPBF promoter was almost unchanged under HT. No significant difference was detected between the wild type and osdml4 mutants under normal temperature. Our study demonstrated a novel OsDML4-mediated DNA methylation involved in the formation of chalky endosperm only under HT and provided a new perspective in regulating endosperm development and the accumulation of seed storage proteins in rice.

SU(2)-in-SU(1,1) Nested Interferometer for High Sensitivity, Loss-Tolerant Quantum Metrology.

We present experimental and theoretical results on a new interferometer topology that nests a SU(2) interferometer, e.g., a Mach-Zehnder or Michelson interferometer, inside a SU(1,1) interferometer, i.e., a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with parametric amplifiers in place of beam splitters. This SU(2)-in-SU(1,1) nested interferometer (SISNI) simultaneously achieves a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), sensitivity beyond the standard quantum limit (SQL) and tolerance to photon losses external to the interferometer, e.g., in detectors. We implement a SISNI using parametric amplification by four-wave mixing (FWM) in Rb vapor and a laser-fed Mach-Zehnder SU(2) interferometer. We observe path-length sensitivity with SNR 2.2 dB beyond the SQL at power levels (and thus SNR) 2 orders of magnitude beyond those of previous loss-tolerant interferometers. We find experimentally the optimal FWM gains and find agreement with a minimal quantum noise model for the FWM process. The results suggest ways to boost the in-practice sensitivity of high-power interferometers, e.g., gravitational wave interferometers, and may enable high-sensitivity, quantum-enhanced interferometry at wavelengths for which efficient detectors are not available.

Chlorella vulgaris cultivation in simulated wastewater for the biomass production, nutrients removal and CO2 fixation simultaneously.

Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) was promising microalgae to simultaneously achieve biomass production, carbon dioxide (CO2) fixation, nutrients removal and proteins production especially under different conditions of CO2 gas and wastewaters. Results presented that maximal specific growth rate of C. vulgaris was 0.21-0.35 d-1 and 0.33-0.43 d-1 at 0.038% and 10% CO2 respectively, and corresponding maximal CO2 fixation rate was attended with 4.51-14.26 and 56.26-85.72 mg CO2·L-1·d-1. C. vulgaris showed good wastewater removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus at 10% CO2 with 96.12%-99.61% removal rates. Nitrogen fixation amount achieved 41.86 mg L-1 when the initial NH4Cl concentration was set at 60 mg L-1 at 10% CO2. Improved total protein (25.01-365.49 mg) and amino acids (24.56-196.44 mg) contents of C. vulgaris biomass was observed with the increasing of added CO2 and ammonium concentrations. Moreover, the developed kinetic function of C. vulgaris growth depends on both phosphorus quota and nitrogen quota with correlation coefficient (R2) ranged from 0.68 to 0.97. Computed maximal consumed nutrients concentrations (ΔCmax) based on Logistic function are positively related to initial NH4+-N concentrations, which indicated that adding ammonium could stimulate the utilization of both phosphorus and nitrogen.

Inhibition of Thioredoxin Reductase by Triosmium Carbonyl Clusters.

Tumor cells are characterized by increased reactive oxygen species production in parallel with an enhanced antioxidant system to avoid oxidative damage. The inhibition of antioxidant systems is an effective way to kill cancer cells, and the thioredoxin system or, more specifically, the cytosolic selenocysteine-containing enzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) has become an interesting target for cancer therapy. We show here that the known cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing osmium carbonyl cluster Os3(CO)10(NCCH3)2 (1) is a nonsubstrate inhibitor of mammalian TrxR, with an IC50 of 5.3 ± 0.9 µM. It inhibits TrxR selectively over the closely related glutathione reductase (GR) and in the presence of excess reduced glutathione (GSH). This inhibition has also been demonstrated in cell lysates, suggesting that TrxR inhibition is a potential apoptotic pathway for 1.

Signal Tracking Beyond the Time Resolution of an Atomic Sensor by Kalman Filtering.

We study causal waveform estimation (tracking) of time-varying signals in a paradigmatic atomic sensor, an alkali vapor monitored by Faraday rotation probing. We use Kalman filtering, which optimally tracks known linear Gaussian stochastic processes, to estimate stochastic input signals that we generate by optical pumping. Comparing the known input to the estimates, we confirm the accuracy of the atomic statistical model and the reliability of the Kalman filter, allowing recovery of waveform details far briefer than the sensor's intrinsic time resolution. With proper filter choice, we obtain similar benefits when tracking partially known and non-Gaussian signal processes, as are found in most practical sensing applications. The method evades the trade-off between sensitivity and time resolution in coherent sensing.

Rationally Designed Peptidyl Virus-Like Particles Enable Targeted Delivery of Genetic Cargo.

We report a strategy to construct peptidyl virus-like particles (pVLPs) by mimicking the human immunodeficiency virus and simian virus 40. We designed two viral peptides with cell/nucleus-targeting capabilities that can co-assemble in their active conformations into well-defined nanoparticles. The self-assembled nanoparticles can encapsulate the DNA of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat associated proteins 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) to form biodegradable pVLPs with excellent cell-targeting ability and biocompatibility. The pVLPs can penetrate the cellular membrane and deliver genetic cargos into the nucleus through the viral entry route. The results provide a promising pathway for engineering artificial viruses with desired functions.

Structural Insights into the High-efficiency Catalytic Mechanism of the Sterile α-Motif/Histidine-Aspartate Domain-containing Protein.

Sterile α-motif/histidine-aspartate domain-containing protein (SAMHD1), a homo-tetrameric GTP/dGTP-dependent dNTP triphosphohydrolase, catalyzes the conversion of dNTP into deoxynucleoside and triphosphate. As the only characterized dNTP triphosphohydrolase in human cells, SAMHD1 plays an important role in human innate immunity, autoimmunity, and cell cycle control. Previous biochemical studies and crystal structures have revealed that SAMHD1 interconverts between an inactive monomeric or dimeric form and a dGTP/GTP-induced active tetrameric form. Here, we describe a novel state of SAMHD1 (109-626 amino acids, SAMHD1C) that is characterized by a rapid initial hydrolysis rate. Interestingly, the crystal structure showed that this novel SAMHD1 tetramer contains only GTP and has structural features distinct from the GTP/dNTP-bound SAMHD1 tetramer. Our work thus reveals structural features of SAMHD1 that may represent one of its biological assembly states in cells. The biochemical and structural information generated by the present study not only provides an ordered pathway for the assembly and activation of SAMHD1 but also provides insights into the potential mechanisms of the high-efficiency catalytic activity of this enzyme family in vivo.

MIIP expression predicts outcomes of surgically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.

The migration and invasion inhibitory protein (MIIP) was shown to function as a tumor suppressor gene in gliomas by inhibiting tumor cell growth, migration, and invasion. However, its role and clinical significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have not been elucidated. We investigated the correlation of MIIP expression and clinical outcome in a group of surgically resected ESCCs. Tissue microarrays constructed of 253 surgically resected ESCC primary tumors and paired paracancerous normal esophageal epithelia were used for MIIP evaluation by immunohistochemistry. The clinical and prognostic significance of MIIP expression was analyzed statistically. The expression of MIIP expression in cancer tissues was increased significantly in comparison with the paired paracancerous normal epithelia (P < 0.001). And, MIIP expression was associated with ESCC cells' differentiation (P < 0.001). By Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with low MIIP expression exhibited significantly improved overall survival (OS, P = 0.039) and a tendency of improved disease-free survival (DFS, P = 0.086) than those with high MIIP expression. In addition, MIIP expression could distinguish OS or DFS of patients with tumors in stage T3-4 (P = 0.020, 0.028), N0 (P = 0.008, 0.032), and stage II (P = 0.004, 0.019), as well as at lower thoracic esophagus (P = 0.024, 0.090). Multivariate analysis showed that MIIP expression was an independent prognostic factor in ESCC OS and DFS. In conclusion, MIIP expressed higher in ESCCs than in paracancerous normal esophageal epithelia and was a positive, independent prognostic factor in resected ESCCs.

Structural insight into the assembly of human anti-HIV dynamin-like protein MxB/Mx2.

Interferon (IFN) is a key component of the innate immune response to exogenous pathogens. Interferon increases the mRNA levels of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in vivo, which is thought to account for its antiviral activity. Recent studies have indicated that human myxovirus resistance protein 2 (Mx2 or MxB), one of these ISGs, contributes to the inhibition of HIV-1 replication by interferon. MxB may bind to HIV-1 relatively late in the post-entry phase, and it leads to a reduced level of integrated viral DNA, thereby restricting HIV-1 infection. The N-terminal 91-aa domain of MxB and the assembly of MxB mediated by the Stalk domain have also been shown to be indispensible for MxB's anti-viral functions, but the mechanism involved has remained elusive. Here, we report the crystal structure (2.9Å) of the human MxB Stalk domain. MxB Stalk shows one dimer in the asymmetric unit. Each monomer contains a four-helix bundle. Interestingly, analyses of MxB dimer interfaces show that the majority of residues involved in the interface are not conserved between MxB and MxA, contributing to the building of a more stable MxB dimer. MxA and MxB Stalk domains share 46.7% sequence identity, and the structure of the MxA Stalk domain and the overall structure of MxB Stalk have a similar conformation. Our results indicate that although human Mx proteins share common structural characteristics, their dimerization strategies are unique, contributing to their unique contributions to viral restriction.

Maximum standardized uptake value on PET/CT in preoperative assessment of lymph node metastasis from thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The presence of lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor for patients with esophageal cancer. Accurate assessment of lymph nodes in thoracic esophageal carcinoma is essential for selecting appropriate treatment and forecasting disease progression. Positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) is becoming an important tool in the workup of esophageal carcinoma. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in assessing lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) prior to surgery. Fifty-nine surgical patients with pathologically confirmed thoracic ESCC were retrospectively studied. These patients underwent radical esophagectomy with pathologic evaluation of lymph nodes. They all had (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans in their preoperative staging procedures. None had a prior history of cancer. The pathologic status and PET/CT SUVmax of lymph nodes were collected to calculate the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and to determine the best cutoff value of the PET/CT SUVmax to distinguish benign from malignant lymph nodes. Lymph node data from 27 others were used for the validation. A total of 323 lymph nodes including 39 metastatic lymph nodes were evaluated in the training cohort, and 117 lymph nodes including 32 metastatic lymph nodes were evaluated in the validation cohort. The cutoff point of the SUVmax for lymph nodes was 4.1, as calculated by ROC curve (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 92%; accuracy, 90%). When this cutoff value was applied to the validation cohort, a sensitivity, a specificity, and an accuracy of 81%, 88%, and 86%, respectively, were obtained. These results suggest that the SUVmax of lymph nodes predicts malignancy. Indeed, when an SUVmax of 4.1 was used instead of 2.5, FDG-PET/CT was more accurate in assessing nodal metastasis.

A comparative study on the gel and structural characteristics of starch from three rice varieties when combined with Mesona chinensis polysaccharides.

Mesona chinensis polysaccharide (MCP) has excellent gel-forming characteristic, previous studies showed that MCP could affect the gelling and structural properties of rice starch, but the effect of MCP on rice starch from different types is not clarified. In this study, the effects of MCP on the pasting, rheological, and structural characteristics of glutinous rice starch (GRS), japonica rice starch (JRS), and indica rice starch (IRS) were investigated. The results showed that GRS-MCP has the best viscosity, its peak and final viscosities are higher than JRS-MCP and IRS-MCP. The gel network structure was enhanced by MCP in the order of IRS > JRS > GRS, which was reflected by greater elasticity, higher gel strength and hardness, and less free water in JRS-MCP and IRS-MCP. MCP also enhanced the ordered structure and thermal stability of the three starch gels, which is conducive to their application in the market. These findings provide new theoretical insights to produce rice starch-based foods.

Psychological interventions for depression in children and adolescents: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression has gradually become a common psychological disorder among children and adolescents. Depression in children and adolescents affects their physical and mental development. Psychotherapy is considered to be one of the main treatment options for depressed children and adolescents. However, our understanding of the global performance and progress of psychological interventions for depression in children and adolescents (PIDCA) research is limited. AIM: To identify collaborative research networks in this field and explore the current research status and hotspots through bibliometrics. METHODS: Articles and reviews related to PIDCA from January 2010 to April 2023 were identified from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The Charticulator website, CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were used to visualize the trends in publications and citations, the collaborative research networks (countries, institutions, and authors), and the current research status and hotspots. RESULTS: Until April 16, 2023, 1482 publications were identified. The number of documents published each year and citations had increased rapidly in this field. The United States had the highest productivity in this field. The most prolific institution was the University of London. Pim Cuijpers was the most prolific author. In the context of research related to PIDCA, both reference co-citation analysis and keywords co-occurrence analysis identified 10 research hotspots, including third-wave cognitive behavior therapy, short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy, family element in psychotherapy, modular treatment, mobile-health, emotion-regulation-based transdiagnostic intervention program, dementia risk in later life, predictors of the efficacy of psychological intervention, and risks of psychological intervention. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of PIDCA from 2010 to present. Psychological intervention characterized as psychological-process-focused, short, family-involved, modular, internet-based, emotion-regulation-based, and personalized may benefit more young people.

Effects of three different polysaccharides on the sol gel-behavior, rheological, and structural properties of tapioca starch.

The sol-gel behavior of tapioca starch (TS) plays a crucial role in the processing and quality control of flour-based products. However, natural tapioca starch has low gel strength and poor viscosity, which tremendously limits its application. To solve this problem, this study investigated the effects of κ-carrageenan (KC), konjac gum (KGM), and Mesona chinensis Benth polysaccharide (MCP) on the pasting behavior, rheological, and structural properties of tapioca starch. KC, KGM, and MCP significantly increased the viscosity of TS. With the exception of high-concentration KGM (0.5 %), all other blending systems showed decrease in setback. This may be attributed to the stronger effect of the high-concentration KC (0.5 %) and MCP (0.5 %) functional groups interacting with starch. KC, KGM, and MCP effectively improved the dynamic modulus (G' and G") of TS gel and were effective in increasing the gel strength and hardness of TS. The FT-IR analysis indicated that the short-range order of TS was mainly influenced by polysaccharides through non-covalent bonding interactions. Furthermore, it was confirmed that three polysaccharides could form dense structures by hydrogen bonding with TS. Similarly, more stable structure and pore size were observed in the microstructure diagram.