Ultrathin ferroic HfO2-ZrO2 superlattice gate stack for advanced transistors.

With the scaling of lateral dimensions in advanced transistors, an increased gate capacitance is desirable both to retain the control of the gate electrode over the channel and to reduce the operating voltage1. This led to a fundamental change in the gate stack in 2008, the incorporation of high-dielectric-constant HfO2 (ref. 2), which remains the material of choice to date. Here we report HfO2-ZrO2 superlattice heterostructures as a gate stack, stabilized with mixed ferroelectric-antiferroelectric order, directly integrated onto Si transistors, and scaled down to approximately 20 ångströms, the same gate oxide thickness required for high-performance transistors. The overall equivalent oxide thickness in metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors is equivalent to an effective SiO2 thickness of approximately 6.5 ångströms. Such a low effective oxide thickness and the resulting large capacitance cannot be achieved in conventional HfO2-based high-dielectric-constant gate stacks without scavenging the interfacial SiO2, which has adverse effects on the electron transport and gate leakage current3. Accordingly, our gate stacks, which do not require such scavenging, provide substantially lower leakage current and no mobility degradation. This work demonstrates that ultrathin ferroic HfO2-ZrO2 multilayers, stabilized with competing ferroelectric-antiferroelectric order in the two-nanometre-thickness regime, provide a path towards advanced gate oxide stacks in electronic devices beyond conventional HfO2-based high-dielectric-constant materials.

Publisher Correction: Enhanced ferroelectricity in ultrathin films grown directly on silicon.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Enhanced ferroelectricity in ultrathin films grown directly on silicon.

Ultrathin ferroelectric materials could potentially enable low-power perovskite ferroelectric tetragonality logic and nonvolatile memories1,2. As ferroelectric materials are made thinner, however, the ferroelectricity is usually suppressed. Size effects in ferroelectrics have been thoroughly investigated in perovskite oxides-the archetypal ferroelectric system3. Perovskites, however, have so far proved unsuitable for thickness scaling and integration with modern semiconductor processes4. Here we report ferroelectricity in ultrathin doped hafnium oxide (HfO2), a fluorite-structure oxide grown by atomic layer deposition on silicon. We demonstrate the persistence of inversion symmetry breaking and spontaneous, switchable polarization down to a thickness of one nanometre. Our results indicate not only the absence of a ferroelectric critical thickness but also enhanced polar distortions as film thickness is reduced, unlike in perovskite ferroelectrics. This approach to enhancing ferroelectricity in ultrathin layers could provide a route towards polarization-driven memories and ferroelectric-based advanced transistors. This work shifts the search for the fundamental limits of ferroelectricity to simpler transition-metal oxide systems-that is, from perovskite-derived complex oxides to fluorite-structure binary oxides-in which 'reverse' size effects counterintuitively stabilize polar symmetry in the ultrathin regime.

The paradigm of tax-reward and tax-punishment strategies in the advancement of public resource management dynamics.

In contemporary society, the effective utilization of public resources remains a subject of significant concern. A common issue arises from defectors seeking to obtain an excessive share of these resources for personal gain, potentially leading to resource depletion. To mitigate this tragedy and ensure sustainable development of resources, implementing mechanisms to either reward those who adhere to distribution rules or penalize those who do not, appears advantageous. We introduce two models: a tax-reward model and a tax-punishment model, to address this issue. Our analysis reveals that in the tax-reward model, the evolutionary trajectory of the system is influenced not only by the tax revenue collected but also by the natural growth rate of the resources. Conversely, the tax-punishment model exhibits distinct characteristics when compared with the tax-reward model, notably the potential for bistability. In such scenarios, the selection of initial conditions is critical, as it can determine the system's path. Furthermore, our study identifies instances where the system lacks stable points, exemplified by a limit cycle phenomenon, underscoring the complexity and dynamism inherent in managing public resources using these models.

Spin-Orbit Excitons in a Correlated Metal: Raman Scattering Study of Sr_{2}RhO_{4}.

Using Raman spectroscopy to study the correlated 4d-electron metal Sr_{2}RhO_{4}, we observe pronounced excitations at 220 meV and 240 meV with A_{1g} and B_{1g} symmetries, respectively. We identify them as transitions between the spin-orbit multiplets of the Rh ions, in close analogy to the spin-orbit excitons in the Mott insulators Sr_{2}IrO_{4} and α-RuCl_{3}. This observation provides direct evidence for the unquenched spin-orbit coupling in Sr_{2}RhO_{4}. A quantitative analysis of the data reveals that the tetragonal crystal field Δ in Sr_{2}RhO_{4} has a sign opposite to that in insulating Sr_{2}IrO_{4}, which enhances the planar xy orbital character of the effective J=1/2 wave function. This supports a metallic ground state, and suggests that c-axis compression of Sr_{2}RhO_{4} may transform it into a quasi-two-dimensional antiferromagnetic insulator.

Bone Tumor Suppression in Rabbits by Hyperthermia below the Clinical Safety Limit Using Aligned Magnetic Bone Cement.

Demonstrating highly efficient alternating current (AC) magnetic field heating of nanoparticles in physiological environments under clinically safe field parameters has remained a great challenge, hindering clinical applications of magnetic hyperthermia. In this work, exceptionally high loss power of magnetic bone cement under the clinical safety limit of AC field parameters, incorporating direct current field-aligned soft magnetic Zn0.3 Fe2.7 O4 nanoparticles with low concentration, is reported. Under an AC field of 4 kA m-1 at 430 kHz, the aligned bone cement with 0.2 wt% nanoparticles achieves a temperature increase of 30 °C in 180 s. This amounts to a specific loss power value of 327 W gmetal-1 and an intrinsic loss power of 47 nHm2 kg-1 , which is enhanced by 50-fold compared to randomly oriented samples. The high-performance magnetic bone cement allows for the demonstration of effective hyperthermia suppression of tumor growth in the bone marrow cavity of New Zealand White Rabbits subjected to rapid cooling due to blood circulation, and significant enhancement of survival rate.

Comparative transcriptome analysis uncovers cell wall reorganization and repressed cell division during cotton fiber initiation.

BACKGROUND: Tetraploid cotton plants serve as prime natural fiber source for the textile industry. Although various omics studies have revealed molecular basis for fiber development, a better understanding of transcriptional regulation mechanism regulating lint fiber initiation is necessary to meet global natural fiber demand. RESULTS: Here, we aimed to perform transcriptome sequencing to identify DEGs (differentially expressed genes) in ovules of the cotton variety Xu142 and its fibreless mutant Xu142fl during early lint fiber initiation period. Totally, 5516 DEGs including 1840 upregulated and 3676 downregulated were identified. GO enrichment analysis revealed that the downregulated DEGs were mainly associated with biological processes such as transcription related biosynthesis and metabolism, organic cyclic compound biosynthesis and metabolism, photosynthesis, and plant cell wall organization, with molecular functions involving transcription related binding, organic cyclic compound binding, and dioxygenase activity, while the upregulated DEGs were associated with DNA replication and phospholipid biosynthetic related processes. Among the 490 DEGs annotated as transcription factor genes, 86.5% were downregulated in the mutant including the Malvaceae-specific MMLs, expression patterns of which were confirmed during the central period of lint fiber initiation. Investigation of the 16 genes enriched in the cell wall organization revealed that 15 were EXPA coding genes. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our data indicate that lint fiber initiation is a complicated process involving cooperation of multiple transcription factor families, which might ultimately lead to the reorganization of the cell wall and terminated cell division of the differentiating fiber initials.

Maximizing Specific Loss Power for Magnetic Hyperthermia by Hard-Soft Mixed Ferrites.

Maximized specific loss power and intrinsic loss power approaching theoretical limits for alternating-current (AC) magnetic-field heating of nanoparticles are reported. This is achieved by engineering the effective magnetic anisotropy barrier of nanoparticles via alloying of hard and soft ferrites. 22 nm Co0.03 Mn0.28 Fe2.7 O4 /SiO2 nanoparticles reach a specific loss power value of 3417 W g-1metal at a field of 33 kA m-1 and 380 kHz. Biocompatible Zn0.3 Fe2.7 O4 /SiO2 nanoparticles achieve specific loss power of 500 W g-1metal and intrinsic loss power of 26.8 nHm2 kg-1 at field parameters of 7 kA m-1 and 380 kHz, below the clinical safety limit. Magnetic bone cement achieves heating adequate for bone tumor hyperthermia, incorporating an ultralow dosage of just 1 wt% of nanoparticles. In cellular hyperthermia experiments, these nanoparticles demonstrate high cell death rate at low field parameters. Zn0.3 Fe2.7 O4 /SiO2 nanoparticles show cell viabilities above 97% at concentrations up to 500 µg mL-1 within 48 h, suggesting toxicity lower than that of magnetite.

The GhmiR157a-GhSPL10 regulatory module controls initial cellular dedifferentiation and callus proliferation in cotton by modulating ethylene-mediated flavonoid biosynthesis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate many biological processes through inactivation of specific mRNA targets such as those encoding transcription factors. A delicate spatial/temporal balance between specific miRNAs and their targets is central to achieving the appropriate biological outcomes. Somatic embryogenesis in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), which goes through initial cellular dedifferentiation, callus proliferation, and somatic embryo development, is of great importance for both fundamental research and biotechnological applications. In this study, we characterize the function of the GhmiR157a-GhSPL10 miRNA-transcription factor module during somatic embryogenesis in cotton. We show that overexpression of GhSPL10, a target of GhmiR157a, increases free auxin and ethylene content and expression of associated signaling pathways, activates the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, and promotes initial cellular dedifferentiation and callus proliferation. Inhibition of expression of the flavonoid synthesis gene F3H in GhSPL10 overexpression lines (35S:rSPL10-7) blocked callus initiation, while exogenous application of several types of flavonol promoted callus proliferation, associated with cell cycle-related gene expression. Inhibition of ethylene synthesis by aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatment in the 35S:rSPL10-7 line severely inhibited callus initiation, while activation of ethylene signaling through 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylic acid treatment, EIN2 overexpression, or inhibition of the ethylene negative regulator CTR1 by RNA interference promoted flavonoid-related gene expression and flavonol accumulation. These results show that an up-regulation of ethylene signaling and the activation of flavonoid biosynthesis in GhSPL10 overexpression lines were associated with initial cellular dedifferentiation and callus proliferation. Our results demonstrate the importance of a GhmiR157a-GhSPL10 gene module in regulating somatic embryogenesis via hormonal and flavonoid pathways.

MicroRNA 157-targeted SPL genes regulate floral organ size and ovule production in cotton.

BACKGROUND: microRNAs (miRNAs) have been involved in regulation of diverse spectrum of plant development processes in many species. In cotton, few miRNAs have been well characterised in floral organ development. Floral organ, which should be finely tuned, is a crucial factor affecting the yield of cotton. Therefore, it is well worth revealing the function of miRNAs in regulation of floral organ development. Here, we report the role of miRNA156/157 in regulation of floral organ size in cotton. RESULTS: Over-expression of the GhmiRNA157 precursor in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) resulted in smaller floral organs, fewer ovules and decreased seed production due to suppression of cell proliferation and cell elongation. Five SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) genes were identified as targets of GhmiRNA157 using a RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA end approach, and the expression level of miR157-targeted GhSPLs decreased in the miR157 over-expression lines, indicating the presence of the miR157/SPL axis in cotton. Two MADS-box genes, orthologs of AtAGL6 and SITDR8, which are associated with floral organ development and reproductive production, were repressed in the miR157 over-expression lines. In addition, auxin-inducible genes were also down-regulated, and auxin signal visualized by a DR5::GUS reporter was attenuated in the miR157 over-expression lines. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the miR157/SPL axis controls floral organ growth and ovule production by regulating MADS-box genes and auxin signal transduction. The work further elucidates the mechanism of floral organ development and provides helpful molecular basis for improvement of cotton yield.

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of mass-selected silver and gold nitrosyl cation complexes.

The [M(NO)n](+) cation complexes (M = Au and Ag) are studied for exploring the coordination and bonding between nitric oxide and noble metal cations. These species are produced in a laser vaporization supersonic ion source and probed by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the NO stretching frequency region using a collinear tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The geometric and electronic structures of these complexes are determined by comparison of the distinctive experimental spectra with simulated spectra derived from density functional theory calculations. All of these noble metal nitrosyl cation complexes are characterized to have bent NO ligands serving as one-electron donors. The spectrum of [Au(NO)2Ar](+) is consistent with 2-fold coordination with a near linear N-Au-N arrangement for this ion. The [Au(NO)n](+) (n = 3-4) cations are determined to be a mixture of 2-fold coordinated form and 3- or 4-fold coordinated form. In contrast, the spectra of [Ag(NO)n](+) (n = 3-6) provide evidence for the completion of the first coordination shell at n = 5. The high [Au(NO)n](+) and [Ag(NO)n](+) (n ≥ 3 for Au, n ≥ 4 for Ag) complexes each involve one or more (NO)2 dimer ligands, as observed in the copper nitrosyl cation complexes, indicating that ligand-ligand coupling plays an important role in the structure and bonding of noble metal nitrosyl cation complexes.

GhTZF1 regulates drought stress responses and delays leaf senescence by inhibiting reactive oxygen species accumulation in transgenic Arabidopsis.

Redox homeostasis is important for plants to be able to maintain cellular metabolism, and disrupting cellular redox homeostasis will cause oxidative damage to cells and adversely affect plant growth. In this study, a cotton CCCH-type tandem zinc finger gene defined as GhTZF1, which was isolated from a cotton cell wall regeneration SSH library in our previous research, was characterized. GhTZF1 was predominantly expressed during early cell wall regeneration, and it was expressed in various vegetative and reproductive tissues. The expression of GhTZF1 was substantially up-regulated by a variety of abiotic stresses, such as PEG and salt. GhTZF1 also responds to methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and H2O2 treatment. Overexpression of GhTZF1 enhanced drought tolerance and delayed drought-induced leaf senescence in transgenic Arabidopsis. Subsequent experiments indicated that dark- and MeJA-induced leaf senescence was also attenuated in transgenic plants. The amount of H2O2 in transgenic plants was attenuated under both drought conditions and with MeJA-treatment. The activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase was higher in transgenic plants than in wild type plants under drought conditions. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that overexpression of GhTZF1 reduced the expression of oxidative-related senescence-associated genes (SAGs) under drought conditions. Overexpression of GhTZF1 also enhanced oxidative stress tolerance, which was determined by measuring the expression of a set of antioxidant genes and SAGs that were altered in transgenic plants during H2O2 treatment. Hence, we conclude that GhTZF1 may serve as a regulator in mediating drought stress tolerance and subsequent leaf senescence by modulating the reactive oxygen species homeostasis.

Flexible bonding between copper and nitric oxide: infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of copper nitrosyl cation complexes: [Cu(NO)n]+ (n = 1-5).

The infrared spectra of mass-selected mononuclear copper nitrosyl cation complexes [Cu(NO)n](+) with n = 1-5 and their argon tagged complexes are measured via infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the nitrosyl stretching frequency region in the gas phase. The experimental spectra provide distinctive patterns allowing the determination of the geometries and electronic structures of these complexes by comparison with the predicted spectra from density functional theory computations. The argon tagged [Cu(NO)2Ar2](+) and [Cu(NO)3Ar](+) complexes as well as the higher n = 4 and 5 complexes each involve a bidentate (NO)2 dimer ligand, suggesting that ligand-ligand coupling plays an important role in the bonding of these cation systems. The results also show that argon tagging has a strong influence on the geometric and electronic structures of the n = 2 and 3 complexes. The [Cu(NO)4](+) cation is the most intense peak in the mass spectrum, which is characterized to be the fully coordinated ion with a D2d structure involving two (NO)2 units but with only 14-valence electrons on Cu. The [Cu(NO)5](+) cation complex is determined to involve a [Cu(NO)4](+) core ion that is coordinated by an external NO ligand.

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of iron nitrosyl cation complexes: Fe(NO)n⁺ (n = 1-5).

Infrared spectra of mass-selected mononuclear iron nitrosyl cations Fe(NO)n(+) with n = 1-5 and their argon tagged complexes are measured via infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the nitrosyl stretching frequency region in the gas phase. The structures are established by comparison of the experimental spectra with the simulated spectra derived from density functional calculations. Two IR active bands were observed for the argon-tagged Fe(NO)2(+) and Fe(NO)3(+) complexes, consistent with theoretical predictions that these complexes have bent C(2v) and nonplanar C(3v) symmetry, respectively. The Fe(NO)4(+) complex was characterized to have a completed coordination sphere with 17 electrons containing a bent one-electron NO ligand and three three-electron NO ligands. The Fe(NO)5(+) complex was determined to involve a Fe(NO)4(+) core ion that is solvated by an external NO molecule.

Application of sequential (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans for concurrent chemoradiotherapy of non-surgical squamous cell esophageal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To explore the values of sequential (18)F-FDG PET/CT scanning in patients with non-surgical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with pathologically confirmed stage I-IV ESCC and who received definitive CCRT were prospectively enrolled into this trial. The (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed four times. The maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of each scanning were named as SUVmaxpet1, SUVmaxpet2, SUVmaxpet3, and SUVmaxpet4, respectively. The tumor volume with SUV greater than 40% of SUVmax was named as metabolic tumor volume (MTV). Follow-up investigation of patients was performed to record progression-free survival (PFS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival time (OS). RESULTS: The average value of MTV before treatment is 19.3 ml. The average value of SUVmax at four time points was 13.0 ± 7.4, 6.4 ± 3.2, 4.7 ± 1.9, and 3.4 ±1.8, respectively. Median follow-up time was 18.5 months (range 5-40). There was statistically significant difference in ΔR14 ((SUVmaxpet1- SUVmaxpet4) / SUVmaxpet1). Multivariate Cox regression survival analysis indicated that the MTV was an independent prognostic factor for PFS and RFS (HR = 1.13 and 1.14, respectively) before treatment. CONCLUSION: In CCRT of non-surgical ESCC, MTV before treatment could independently predict OS survival. SUVmaxpet2, SUVmaxpet3, and SUVmaxpet4 could predict RFS. Patients with reductions of SUVmaxpet4 less than 75% had a poor PFS, RFS, and OS.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a novel cotton CBL-interacting protein kinase gene (GhCIPK6) reveals its involvement in multiple abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic plants.

Plant CIPKs were specific Ser/Thr protein kinases, which were activated through interaction with calcineurin B-like protein (CBL) containing four EF hands for Ca(2+) binding. The CBL/CIPK complexes play an important role in signal transduction in biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as developmental processes. Here a Ser/Thr protein kinase gene (defined as GhCIPK6), which was isolated from RNA-Seq profile during cotton somatic embryogenesis in our previous research was characterized. The GhCIPK6 gene contains an ORF of 1296 bp that putatively encodes a polypeptide of 431 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 48.46 kDa and isoelectric point of 9.12. Sequence alignment analysis confirmed that GhCIPK6 has no intron, and it was homologous to AtCIPK6. Expression analysis of the GhCIPK6 suggested that they might function in diverse tissues, including styles and anthers but not fibers. In addition, expression of the GhCIPK6 gene was induced by salt, drought and ABA treatments. Overexpression of GhCIPK6 significantly enhances the tolerance to salt, drought and ABA stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis, indicating that GhCIPK6 acts as a positive regulator in response to salt and drought stress, and is supposed to be a potential candidate gene to improve stress tolerance by genetic manipulation in cotton and other crops.

Small RNA and degradome sequencing reveal complex miRNA regulation during cotton somatic embryogenesis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding ~21 nucleotide RNAs that regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in plants and animals. They play an important role in development, abiotic stress, and pathogen responses. miRNAs with their targets have been widely studied in model plants, but limited knowledge is available on the small RNA population of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)-an important economic crop, and global identification of related targets through degradome sequencing has not been developed previously. In this study, small RNAs and their targets were identified during cotton somatic embryogenesis (SE) through high-throughput small RNA and degradome sequencing, comparing seedling hypocotyl and embryogenic callus (EC) of G. hirsutum YZ1. A total of 36 known miRNA families were found to be differentially expressed, of which 19 miRNA families were represented by 29 precursors. Twenty-five novel miRNAs were identified. A total of 234 transcripts in EC and 322 transcripts in control (CK) were found to be the targets of 23 and 30 known miRNA families, respectively, and 16 transcripts were targeted by eight novel miRNAs. Interestingly, four trans-acting small interfering RNAs (tas3-siRNAs) were also found in degradome libraries, three of which perfectly matched their precursors. Several targets were further validated via RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of 5' cDNA ends (RLM 5'-RACE). The profiling of the miRNAs and their target genes provides new information on the miRNAs network during cotton SE.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of a CFRP Tendon-Wedge Assembly Loaded under Transverse Compressive Loading.

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) tendons have become a viable alternative to steel cables in cable roof structures owing to their high tensile strength, low weight, and resistance to corrosion. However, the effective anchoring of CFRP tendons is a challenge because of their poor transverse mechanical properties. Therefore, the mechanical properties of CFRP tendons and a tendon-wedge assembly under transverse compression were investigated by simulating the force environment of the CFRP tendon inside an integrated-wedge anchorage. The deformation of and local damage to CFRP tendons under transverse compression were explored using load-strain curves and full-field strain measured using digital image correlation. The experimental and numerical results show that large-diameter CFRP tendons with a length in the range of 90-110 mm had better cross-sectional deformation resistance and more stable transverse mechanical properties. Longer CFRP tendons with larger diameters have lower contact compressive stress and local maximal shear stress under the same transverse compressive load. Based on the analysis of the experimental and numerical results, we propose design suggestions for tendon size selection and integrated-wedge design details, such as the manufacturing materials of the wedge, the radius through the gap of the wedge, and the radial difference of the groove, to improve the anchoring properties and efficiency of the integrated-wedge anchorage.

Improving the Function of Meningeal Lymphatic Vessels to Promote Brain Edema Absorption after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Brain edema is the most common and fatal complication after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Meningeal lymphatic vessels (MLVs) are the conduits that transport cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and macromolecules to deep extracranial cervical lymph nodes (dCLNs). After TBI, the drainage function of MLVs can become impaired. However, the scenario in which the improvement of the function of MLVs can promote brain edema absorption after TBI has not been reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ketoprofen, 9-cis retinoic acid (RA) and vascular endothelial cell growth factor-C (VEGF-C), which promote the proliferation of peripheral lymphatic vessels, on the cerebellar medullary cistern injection of TBI rats, as well as their mechanism of action on brain edema after TBI. In the experiment, we found that ketoprofen, 9-cisRA, and VEGF-C can improve the function of MLVs, promote the extracranial drainage of CSF and the absorption of brain edema, weaken the neuroinflammatory response, reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, maintain the structural integrity of MLVs, and improve neurological function. In addition, ketoprofen, 9-cisRA, and VEGF-C upregulated the lymphatic-specific proteins VEGF receptor (VEGFR)3, PROX1, forkhead box protein C2 (FOXC2), and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE1). These results indicate that ketoprofen, 9-cisRA, and VEGF-C may maintain the integrity of the meningeal lymphatic wall and promote lymphatic proliferation by upregulating the expression of lymphatic vessel-specific proteins, improve meningeal lymphatic function after TBI, promote CSF drainage and brain edema absorption, reduce the immune response of the nervous system, and reduce ROS formation, thereby improving prognoses. These findings may provide new ideas for the treatment of brain edema after TBI.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of PYL family genes and functional characterization of GhPYL8D2 under drought stress in Gossypium hirsutum.

Cotton is a crucial economic crop, serving as a natural fiber source for the textile industry. However, drought stress poses a significant threat to cotton fiber quality and productivity worldwide. Pyrabactin Resistance 1-Like (PYL) proteins, as abscisic acid (ABA) receptors, play a crucial role in adverse stress responses, but knowledge about the PYLs in cotton remains limited. In our study, we identified 40 GhPYL genes in Gossypium hirsutum through a genome-wide analysis of the cotton genome database. Our analysis revealed that the PYL family formed three distinct subfamilies with typical family characteristics in G. hirsutum. Additionally, through quantitative expression analysis, including transcriptome dataset and qRT-PCR, we found that all GhPYLs were expressed in all tissues of G. hirsutum, and all GhPYLs were differentially expressed under drought stress. Among them, GhPYL4A1, GhPY5D1, GhPY8D2, and a member of the type 2C protein phosphatases clade A family in Gossypium hirsutum (GhPP2CA), GhHAI2D, showed significant differences in expression levels within 12 h after stress treatment. Our protein interaction analysis and BiFC demonstrated the complex regulatory network between GhPYL family proteins and GhPP2CA proteins. We also found that there is an interaction between GhPYL8D2 and GhHAI2D, and through drought treatment of transgenic cotton, we found that GhPYL8D2 played a vital role in the response of G. hirsutum to drought through stomatal control via co-regulation with GhHAI2D. Our findings provide useful insights into the regulation of GhPYL family genes that occur in response to abiotic stresses in cotton.