Reciprocal regulation of flower induction by ELF3α and ELF3ß generated via alternative promoter usage.

Flowering is critical for sexual reproduction and fruit production. Several pear (Pyrus sp.) varieties produce few flower buds, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. The circadian clock regulator EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3) serves as a scaffold protein in the evening complex that controls flowering. Here, we report that the absence of a 58-bp sequence in the 2nd intron of PbELF3 is genetically associated with the production of fewer flower buds in pear. From rapid amplification of cDNA ends sequencing results, we identified a short, previously unknown transcript from the PbELF3 locus, which we termed PbELF3ß, whose transcript level was significantly lower in pear cultivars that lacked the 58-bp region. The heterologous expression of PbELF3ß in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) accelerated flowering, whereas the heterologous expression of the full-length transcript PbELF3α caused late flowering. Notably, ELF3ß was functionally conserved in other plants. Deletion of the 2nd intron reduced AtELF3ß expression and caused delayed flowering time in Arabidopsis. AtELF3ß physically interacted with AtELF3α, disrupting the formation of the evening complex and consequently releasing its repression of flower induction genes such as GIGANTEA (GI). AtELF3ß had no effect in the absence of AtELF3α, supporting the idea that AtELF3ß promotes flower induction by blocking AtELF3α function. Our findings show that alternative promoter usage at the ELF3 locus allows plants to fine-tune flower induction.

Simultaneously enhancing toluene adsorption and regeneration process by hierarchical pore in activated coke: a combined experimental and adsorption kinetic modeling study.

Activated coke is a type of commonly used adsorbent for benzene series VOCs such as toluene, but traditional microporous activated coke usually faces the challenge of poor regeneration performance. Herein, based on self-made activated cokes with typical pore configuration, we found that adsorption and regeneration of toluene can be simultaneously enhanced by constructing hierarchical pore in activated coke. Correlations of pore configuration with toluene adsorption capacity and regeneration efficiency reveal that micropore contributes for strong toluene adsorption; meso-macropore provides mass transfer channel for toluene desorption and regeneration process. Hierarchical porous activated coke prepared from Zhundong subbituminous coal not only achieves the highest toluene adsorption capacity of 340.92 mg·g-1, but also can retain more than 90% of initial adsorption capacity after five adsorption-regeneration cycles. By contrast, micropore-dominant activated cokes can only retain 70% of initial adsorption capacity. Adsorption kinetic modelling on adsorption breakthrough curves shows that hierarchical porous activated coke prepared from Zhundong subbituminous coal exhibits high adsorption and diffusion rate constants of 14.39 and 33.45 min-1, respectively, much higher than those of micropore-dominant activated cokes. Due to the accelerated surface adsorption and diffusion processes induced by meso-macropore, toluene adsorption and regeneration behavior can be simultaneously improved. Results from this work validated the role of pore hierarchy in toluene adsorption-regeneration process, providing guidance for designing high-performance activated coke with synergistically improved toluene adsorption capacity and regeneration performance.

Linking artificial sweetener intake with kidney function: insights from NHANES 2003-2006 and findings from Mendelian randomization research.

Background: The current investigation examines the association between artificial sweetener (AS) consumption and the likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), along with its impact on kidney function. Methods: We utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003-2006 to conduct covariance analysis and weighted adjusted logistic regression, aiming to assess the association between artificial sweetener intake and CKD risk, as well as kidney function indicators. Subsequently, we employed Mendelian randomization methods to validate the causal relationship between the intake of artificial sweeteners, CKD risk, and kidney function indicators. Instrumental variable analysis using inverse-variance weighting and Robust adjusted profile score were the primary analytical methods employed. Results: A total of 20,470 participants were included in the study, with 1,257 participants ultimately included in the analysis. In all adjusted logistic regression models, no significant association was found between the intake of artificial sweeteners and CKD risk. Similarly, the summary odds ratios (OR) for each unit change in genetically predicted CKD risk were 2.14 (95% CI: 0.83, 5.21, p = 0.092), 1.41 (95% CI: 0.54, 3.63, p = 0.482), and 1.50 (95% CI: 0.50, 4.52, p = 0.468) for the impact of artificial sweeteners added to cereals, tea, and coffee, respectively. It was only observed that adding artificial sweeteners to coffee was associated with a modest reduction in urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: -0.108, -0.022, p = 0.003), the effect appeared to be relatively small and may not directly impact the individual level. Conclusion: Our study does not support a causal relationship between artificial sweetener intake and the risk of CKD. However, due to the limitations and potential confounding factors, these findings need to be further validated through larger sample sizes in observational studies and Mendelian randomization analyses.

Tough and Antifreezing MXene@Au Hydrogel for Low-Temperature Trimethylamine Gas Sensing.

Trimethylamine (TMA) is one of the important chemical indexes to judge the freshness of marine fish. It is necessary to develop a low temperature TMA sensor to help the monitoring and prediction of the quality of marine fish in cold chain. Herein, a flexible low temperature TMA gas sensor featuring antifreezing and superior mechanical properties was developed based on the Au nanoparticle-modified MXene (MXene@Au) composite. MXene@Au was synthesized and then polymerized with a hydrogel composed of acrylamide (AM), N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and EG, and the resultant MXene@Au hydrogel was found to exhibit excellent antifreezing performance even at extremely low temperature as well as high tensile strength, ultrastretchability, and toughness, which enabled an efficient gas sensing platform for TMA detection at low temperature. The TMA sensing properties of the flexible MXene@Au DN hydrogel sensor at 25 °C and a low temperature of 0 °C were studied, and a linear relationship between TMA sensitivity and concentration was built. The excellent sensing properties were maintained even under deformation. The application of the MXene@Au DN hydrogel sensor in detection of fish freshness at 0 °C was investigated. The result indicated the potential application of the flexible MXene@Au DN hydrogel gas sensor in dynamic quality monitoring and prediction of marine fish products during its transportation and storage in the cold chain.

MicroRNA profiling in Muc2 knockout mice of colitis-associated cancer model reveals epigenetic alterations during chronic colitis malignant transformation.

Our previous studies have demonstrated that genetic deletion of the Muc2 gene causes colorectal cancers in mice. The current study further showed that at the early stage (<3 months) the Muc2 knockout mice spontaneously developed chronic inflammation in colon and rectum, similar pathological features as human colitis; and at the late stage (>3 months) the mice exhibited colorectal cancer, including a unique phenotype of rectal prolapsed (rectal severe inflammation and adenocarcinoma). Thus, the age of 3 months might be the key point of the transition from chronic inflammation to cancer. To determine the mechanisms of the malignant transformation, we conducted miRNA array on the colonic epithelial cells from the 3-month Muc2-/- and +/+ mice. MicroRNA profiling showed differential expression of miRNAs (i.e. lower or higher expression enrichments) in Muc2-/- mice. 15 of them were validated by quantitative PCR. Based on relevance to cytokine and cancer, 4 miRNAs (miR-138, miR-145, miR-146a, and miR-150) were validate and were found significantly downregulated in human colitis and colorectal cancer tissues. The network of the targets of these miRNAs was characterized, and interestedly, miRNA-associated cytokines were significantly increased in Muc2-/-mice. This is the first to reveal the importance of aberrant expression of miRNAs in dynamically transformation from chronic colitis to colitis-associated cancer. These findings shed light on revealing the mechanisms of chronic colitis malignant transformation.