The plant ESCRT component FREE1 regulates peroxisome-mediated turnover of lipid droplets in germinating Arabidopsis seedlings.

Lipid droplets (LDs) stored during seed development are mobilized and provide essential energy and lipids to support seedling growth upon germination. Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are the main neutral lipids stored in LDs. The lipase SUGAR DEPENDENT 1 (SDP1), which hydrolyzes TAGs in Arabidopsis thaliana, is localized on peroxisomes and traffics to the LD surface through peroxisomal extension, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report a previously unknown function of a plant-unique endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) component FYVE DOMAIN PROTEIN REQUIRED FOR ENDOSOMAL SORTING 1 (FREE1) in regulating peroxisome/SDP1-mediated LD turnover in Arabidopsis. We showed that LD degradation was impaired in germinating free1 mutant; moreover, the tubulation of SDP1- or PEROXIN 11e (PEX11e)-marked peroxisomes and the migration of SDP1-positive peroxisomes to the LD surface were altered in the free1 mutant. Electron tomography analysis showed that peroxisomes failed to form tubules to engulf LDs in free1, unlike in the wild-type. FREE1 interacted directly with both PEX11e and SDP1, suggesting that these interactions may regulate peroxisomal extension and trafficking of the lipase SDP1 to LDs. Taken together, our results demonstrate a pivotal role for FREE1 in LD degradation in germinating seedlings via regulating peroxisomal tubulation and SDP1 targeting.

Plant ESCRT protein ALIX coordinates with retromer complex in regulating receptor-mediated sorting of soluble vacuolar proteins.

Vacuolar proteins play essential roles in plant physiology and development, but the factors and the machinery regulating their vesicle trafficking through the endomembrane compartments remain largely unknown. We and others have recently identified an evolutionarily conserved plant endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT)-associated protein apoptosis-linked gene-2 interacting protein X (ALIX), which plays canonical functions in the biogenesis of the multivesicular body/prevacuolar compartment (MVB/PVC) and in the sorting of ubiquitinated membrane proteins. In this study, we elucidate the roles and underlying mechanism of ALIX in regulating vacuolar transport of soluble proteins, beyond its conventional ESCRT function in eukaryotic cells. We show that ALIX colocalizes and physically interacts with the retromer core subunits Vps26 and Vps29 in planta. Moreover, double-mutant analysis reveals the genetic interaction of ALIX with Vps26 and Vps29 for regulating trafficking of soluble vacuolar proteins. Interestingly, depletion of ALIX perturbs membrane recruitment of Vps26 and Vps29 and alters the endosomal localization of vacuolar sorting receptors (VSRs). Taken together, ALIX functions as a unique retromer core subcomplex regulator by orchestrating receptor-mediated vacuolar sorting of soluble proteins.

The Saururus chinensis genome provides insights into the evolution of pollination strategies and herbaceousness in magnoliids.

Saururus chinensis, an herbaceous magnoliid without perianth, represents a clade of early-diverging angiosperms that have gone through woodiness-herbaceousness transition and pollination obstacles: the characteristic white leaves underneath inflorescence during flowering time are considered a substitute for perianth to attract insect pollinators. Here, using the newly sequenced S. chinensis genome, we revisited the phylogenetic position of magnoliids within mesangiosperms, and recovered a sister relationship for magnoliids and Chloranthales. By considering differentially expressed genes, we identified candidate genes that are involved in the morphogenesis of the white leaves in S. chinensis. Among those genes, we verified - in a transgenic experiment with Arabidopsis - that increasing the expression of the "pseudo-etiolation in light" gene (ScPEL) can inhibit the biosynthesis of chlorophyll. ScPEL is thus likely responsible for the switches between green and white leaves, suggesting that changes in gene expression may underlie the evolution of pollination strategies. Despite being an herbaceous plant, S. chinensis still has vascular cambium and maintains the potential for secondary growth as a woody plant, because the necessary machinery, i.e., the entire gene set involved in lignin biosynthesis, is well preserved. However, similar expression levels of two key genes (CCR and CAD) between the stem and other tissues in the lignin biosynthesis pathway are possibly associated with the herbaceous nature of S. chinensis. In conclusion, the S. chinensis genome provides valuable insights into the adaptive evolution of pollination in Saururaceae and reveals a possible mechanism for the evolution of herbaceousness in magnoliids.

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Flow Kinetic Energy by Four-Dimensional Blood Flow MRI in Nondialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased, and early cardiovascular disease risk. Changes in hemodynamics within the left ventricle (LV) respond to cardiac remodeling. The LV hemodynamics in nondialysis CKD patients are not clearly understood. PURPOSE: To use four-dimensional blood flow MRI (4D flow MRI) to explore changes in LV kinetic energy (KE) and the relationship between LV KE and LV remodeling in CKD patients. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: 98 predialysis CKD patients (Stage 3: n = 21, stage 4: n = 21, and stage 5: n = 56) and 16 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T/balanced steady-state free precession (SSFP) cine sequence, 4D flow MRI with a fast field echo sequence, T1 mapping with a modified Look-Locker SSFP sequence, and T2 mapping with a gradient recalled and spin echo sequence. ASSESSMENT: Demographic characteristics (age, sex, height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, aortic regurgitation, and mitral regurgitation) and laboratory data (eGFR, Creatinine, hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin saturation, potassium, and carbon dioxide bonding capacity) were extracted from patient records. Myocardial T1, T2, LV ejection fraction, end diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume, LV flow components (direct flow, delayed ejection, retained inflow, and residual volume) and KE parameters (peak systolic, systolic, diastolic, peak E-wave, peak A-wave, E/A ratio, and global) were assessed. The KE parameters were normalized to EDV (KEiEDV). Parameters were compared between disease stage in CKD patients, and between CKD patients and healthy controls. STATISTICAL TESTS: Differences in clinical and imaging parameters between groups were compared using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal Walls and Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Pearson or Spearman's correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analysis were used to compare the correlation between LV KE and other clinical and functional parameters. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, peak systolic (24.76 ± 5.40 µJ/mL vs. 31.86 ± 13.18 µJ/mL), systolic (11.62 ± 2.29 µJ/mL vs. 15.27 ± 5.10 µJ/mL), diastolic (7.95 ± 1.92 µJ/mL vs. 13.33 ± 5.15 µJ/mL), peak A-wave (15.95 ± 4.86 µJ/mL vs. 31.98 ± 14.51 µJ/mL), and global KEiEDV (9.40 ± 1.64 µJ/mL vs. 14.02 ± 4.14 µJ/mL) were significantly increased and the KEiEDV E/A ratio (1.16 ± 0.67 vs. 0.69 ± 0.53) was significantly decreased in CKD patients. As the CKD stage progressed, both diastolic KEiEDV (10.45 ± 4.30 µJ/mL vs. 12.28 ± 4.85 µJ/mL vs. 14.80 ± 5.06 µJ/mL) and peak E-wave KEiEDV (15.30 ± 7.06 µJ/mL vs. 14.69 ± 8.20 µJ/mL vs. 19.33 ± 8.29 µJ/mL) increased significantly. In multiple regression analysis, global KEiEDV (ß* = 0.505; ß* = 0.328), and proportion of direct flow (ß* = -0.376; ß* = -0.410) demonstrated an independent association with T1 and T2 times. DATA CONCLUSION: 4D flow MRI-derived LV KE parameters show altered LV adaptations in CKD patients and correlate independently with T1 and T2 mapping that may represent myocardial fibrosis and edema. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Improving the capturing ability of swirl-based microfluidic chip by introducing baffle wall.

Microfluidics technology is promising in developing microparticle manipulation technology due to its nondestructive control and notable adaptability. The manipulation of microparticle based on swirling stagnation point is one of the feasible microfluidics biotechnologies. Aiming to improve the regulation and control of microparticle, baffle wall is introduced into the 2-microchannel flow field. The theory of wall attachment jet is employed to elucidate the effect of baffle wall. Subsequently, finite volume method simulation is conducted by modeling the swirling flow region (SFR), and the swirling strength is calculated to characterize the SFR's particle-capturing ability. Experimental validation of the modeling and simulation methods is performed using a printed microfluidic chip, which has demonstrated exceptional reliability. Simulation results show that the baffle wall makes considerable influence on the SFR. Strikingly, a global range adjustment of stagnation point is realized when the baffle wall is configured with a convex shape, which has remarkably outperformed our previous work, where the stagnation point could only move within half range of the field. This work significantly contributes to advanced flow field structure and provides insight into better regulation of stagnation point as well as microparticles. These findings have potential applications in the analysis of the effect of bio/chemical substances on single cell.

Deficient gait function despite effect index of the Western Ontario and McMaster university osteoarthritis index score considered cured one year after bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: To clarify the value of gait analysis and its consistency with traditional scoring scales for the evaluation of knee joint function after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: This study included 25 patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) who underwent bilateral TKA, and 25 conditionally matched healthy individuals, categorised into the experimental and control groups, respectively. Patients in the experimental group underwent gait analysis and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) evaluation before and 1 year after TKA. Weight-bearing balance and walking stability were assessed using discrete trends of relevant gait indicators. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed on the gait and WOMAC score data of the experimental group before and after TKA. RESULTS: One year after TKA, patients' gait indices (except gait cycle) were significantly better than before surgery, but significantly worse than that of the control group (P < 0.01). The shape of patients' plantar pressure curves did not return to normal. Additionally, the discrete trend of related gait indicators reflecting weight-bearing balance and walking stability were smaller than before TKA, but still greater than that of the control group. The WOMAC scores of patients 1 year after TKA were significantly lower than those before TKA (P < 0.001), and the efficacy index was > 80%. The WOMAC scores and gait analysis results were significantly correlated before TKA (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gait analysis should be used in conjunction with scoring scales to assess joint functions.

Integrated efficient radiative transfer model named Dayu for simulating the imager measurements in cloudy atmospheres.

Rapid radiative transfer models are crucial to remote sensing and data assimilation. An integrated efficient radiative transfer model named Dayu, which is an updated version of the Efficient Radiative Transfer Model (ERTM) is developed to simulate the imager measurements in cloudy atmospheres. In Dayu model, the Optimized alternate Mapping Correlated K-Distribution model (OMCKD) which is predominant in dealing with the overlap of multiple gaseous lines is employed to efficiently calculate the gaseous absorption. The cloud and aerosol optical properties are pre-calculated and parameterized by the particle effective radius or length. Specifically, the ice crystal model is assumed as a solid hexagonal column, of which the parameters are determined based on massive aircraft observations. For the radiative transfer solver, the original 4-stream Discrete ordinate aDding Approximation (4-DDA) is extended to 2N-DDA (2N is the number of streams) which can calculate not only the azimuthally dependent radiance in the solar spectrum (including solar and infrared spectra overlap) but also the azimuthally averaged radiance in the thermal infrared spectrum through a unified adding method. Then the accuracy and efficiency of Dayu model are evaluated by comparing it with the benchmark model, i.e., Line-By-Line Radiative Transfer Model (LBLRTM) and DIScrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer (DISORT). Under the standard atmospheric profile, the maximum relative biases between Dayu model with 8-DDA / 16-DDA and the benchmark model (OMCKD with 64-stream DISORT) are 7.63% / 2.62% at solar channels but decreased to 2.66% / 1.39% at spectra-overlapping channel (3.7 µm). The computational efficiency of Dayu model with 8-DDA / 16-DDA is approximately three / two orders of magnitude higher than that of the benchmark model. At thermal infrared channels, the brightness temperature (BT) differences between Dayu model with 4-DDA and the benchmark model (LBLRTM with 64-stream DISORT) are bounded by 0.65K. Compared to the benchmark model, Dayu model with 4-DDA improves the computational efficiency by five orders of magnitude. In the application to the practical Typhoon Lekima case, the simulated reflectances and BTs by Dayu model have a high consistency with the imager measurements, demonstrating the superior performance of Dayu model in satellite simulation.

Parameterization of optical properties for liquid cloud droplets containing black carbon based on neural network.

This paper introduces a novel back propagation (BP) neural network method to accurately characterize optical properties of liquid cloud droplets, including black carbon. The model establishes relationships between black carbon volume fraction, wavelength, cloud effective radius, and optical properties. Evaluated on a test set, the value of the root mean square error (RMSE) of the asymmetry factor, extinction coefficient, single-scattering albedo, and the first 4 moments of the Legendre expansion of the phase function are less than 0.003, with the maximum mean relative error (MRE) reaching 0.2%, which are all better than the traditional method that only uses polynomials to fit the relationship between the effective radius and optical properties. Notably, the BP neural network significantly compresses the optical property database size by 37,800 times. Radiative transfer simulations indicate that mixing black carbon particles in water clouds reduces the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance and heats the atmosphere. However, if the volume fraction of black carbon is less than 10-6, the black carbon mixed in the water cloud has a tiny effect on the simulated TOA reflectance.

Split-Dose Administration Enhances Immune Responses Elicited by a mRNA/Lipid Nanoparticle Vaccine Expressing Respiratory Syncytial Virus F Protein.

mRNA vaccines have recently received significant attention due to their role in combating the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. As a platform, mRNA vaccines have been shown to elicit strong humoral and cellular immune responses with acceptable safety profiles for prophylactic use. Despite their potential, industrial challenges have limited realization of the vaccine platform on a global scale. Critical among these challenges are supply chain considerations, including mRNA production, cost of goods, and vaccine frozen-chain distribution. Here, we assess the delivery of lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA (mRNA/LNP) vaccines using a split-dose immunization regimen as an approach to develop mRNA dose-sparing vaccine regimens with potential to mitigate mRNA supply chain challenges. Our data demonstrate that immunization by a mRNA/LNP vaccine encoding respiratory syncytial virus pre-F (RSV pre-F) over a 9 day period elicits comparable or superior magnitude of antibodies when compared to traditional bolus immunization of the vaccine. The split-dose immunization regimens evaluated in our studies were designed to mimic reported drug or antigen release profiles from microneedle patches, highlighting the potential benefit of pairing mRNA vaccines with patch-based delivery technologies to enable sustained release and solid-state stabilization. Overall, our findings provide a proof of concept to support further investigations into the development of sustained delivery approaches for mRNA/LNP vaccines.

Microparticle Manipulation Performed on a Swirl-Based Microfluidic Chip Featured by Dual-Stagnation Points.

Stagnation-based microfluidics technology is promising for microparticle control due to its noncontact and low cost. However, the current research is still hindered by insufficient pose regulating ability and soft control. Based on our previous work on controlling single particles by generating a swirling flow region (SFR) with a stagnation point in the designed flow field, a new 3-microchannel structure is herein proposed for simultaneous control of two microparticles. It is addressed as the dual-stagnation model because there are two SFRs generated for particle capturing and manipulation. Simulation study is conducted to optimize the fluid field structure and explore the regulation of the two SFRs by adjusting velocities of microchannel inlets. Experiments are carried out on a 3D-printed microfluidic chip to validate the feasibility of the dual-stagnation model and the predicting capacity of the simulations. It is demonstrated that two SFRs with stagnation points are successfully formed in specific locations, indicating that two microparticles can be concurrently captured and controlled. Significantly, the results of simulation and experimental studies agree well with each other referring to flow streamlines and stagnation point regulation. During experiments, it is confirmed that microparticles with different shapes and varied sizes can be captured. Besides, the deviation between the positions of microparticles and the generated stagnation points is characterized to reveal the trapping stability of this microfluidic chip. This work contributes to an advanced flow field structure for swirl-based microfluidic chips and provides insights into soft contact and flexible manipulation of multiple microparticles for revealing the interaction between two bio-/chemical microparticles.

Predictive value of left atrial strain analysis in adverse clinical events in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a CMR study.

BACKGROUND: A subset of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) will experience adverse clinical events such as heart failure (HF), cardiovascular death, and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). Current risk stratification methods are imperfect and limit the identification of patients at high risk for HCM. This study aimed to evaluate the role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived left atrial strain parameters in the occurrence of adverse clinical events in patients with HCM. METHODS: Left atrial (LA) structural, functional, and strain parameters were evaluated in 99 patients with HCM and compared with 89 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched control subjects. LA strain parameters were derived from CMR two- and four-chamber cine images by a semiautomatic method. LA strain parameters include global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS). The LA GLS includes reservoir strain (GLS reservoir), conduit strain (GLS conduit), and booster strain (GLS booster). Three LA GLS strain rate (SR) parameters were derived: SR reservoir, SR conduit, and SR booster. The primary endpoint was set as a composite of adverse clinical events, including SCD, new-onset or worsening to hospitalized HF, new-onset AF, thromboembolic events, and fatal ventricular arrhythmias. RESULTS: LA GLS, GLS SR and GCS were impaired in HCM patients compared to control subjects (all p < 0.001). After a mean follow-up of 37.94 ± 23.69 months, 18 HCM patients reached the primary endpoint. LA GLS, GLS SR, and GCS were significantly lower in HCM patients with adverse clinical events than in those without adverse clinical events (all p < 0.05). In stepwise multiple Cox regression analysis, LV SV, LA diameter, pre-contraction LAV (LAV pre-ac), passive LA ejection fraction (EF), and LA GLS booster were all independent determinants of adverse clinical events. LA GLS booster ≤ 8.9% was the strongest determinant (HR = 8.9 [95%CI (1.951, 40.933)], p = 0.005). Finally, LA GLS booster provided predictive adverse clinical events value (AUC = 0.86 [95%CI 0.77-0.98]) that exceeded traditional outcome predictors. CONCLUSION: LA strain assessment, a measure of LA function, provides additional predictive information for established predictors of HCM patients. LA GLS booster was independently associated with adverse clinical events in patients with HCM.

Particle sorting method based on swirl induction.

Fluid-based methods for particle sorting demonstrate increasing appeal in many areas of biosciences due to their biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness. Herein, we construct a microfluidic sorting system based on a swirl microchip. The impact of microchannel velocity on the swirl stagnation point as well as particle movement is analyzed through simulation and experiment. Moreover, the quantitative mapping relationship between flow velocity and particle position distribution is established. With this foundation established, a particle sorting method based on swirl induction is proposed. Initially, the particle is captured by a swirl. Then, the Sorting Region into which the particle aims to enter is determined according to the sorting condition and particle characteristic. Subsequently, the velocities of the microchannels are adjusted to control the swirl, which will induce the particle to enter its corresponding Induction Region. Thereafter, the velocities are adjusted again to change the fluid field and drive the particle into a predetermined Sorting Region, hence the sorting is accomplished. We have extensively conducted experiments taking particle size or color as a sorting condition. An outstanding sorting success rate of 98.75% is achieved when dealing with particles within the size range of tens to hundreds of micrometers in radius, which certifies the effectiveness of the proposed sorting method. Compared to the existing sorting techniques, the proposed method offers greater flexibility. The adjustment of sorting conditions or particle parameters no longer requires complex chip redesign, because such sorting tasks can be successfully realized through simple microchannel velocities control.

Epidemiology of asthma exacerbation in children before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective study in Chengdu, China.

PURPOSE: To examine the numbers and characteristics of children affected by asthma exacerbation in Chengdu, China, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to inform efforts to manage childhood asthma in the post epidemic era. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from children admitted for asthma exacerbation to Chengdu Women and Children's Central Hospital between January 2017 and December 2022. Rates of hospitalization, ages of the affected children, comorbidities and infections, and relationships between hospitalization and seasonal or environmental factors were examined before and after the epidemic. RESULTS: Fewer children were hospitalized for asthma exacerbation, yet more hospitalized children had severe exacerbation after the epidemic than before. Rates of hospitalization varied considerably with time of year, and the timing of peak hospitalizations differed before and after the epidemic. Only before the epidemic, rates of hospitalization for asthma exacerbation were positively correlated with humidity. Infants made up a smaller proportion of hospitalized children after the epidemic than before, with preschool children accounting for most hospitalizations after the epidemic. The proportion of children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation who also had pneumonia was significantly smaller after the epidemic than before. Conversely, the proportion of children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation who also had allergic diseases was significantly greater after the epidemic than before. CONCLUSION: The epidemiology of asthma exacerbation in children changed after the epidemic. Future efforts to manage the condition in the paediatric population should focus on severe asthma exacerbation, prevention and management of allergic diseases, and the influence of meteorological and environmental factors.

Self-assembly of eugenol-loaded particles to regulate the adhesion of carriers on leaves for efficient foliar applications and ecotoxicological safety.

Currently, there is a pressing need to develop an agrochemical-loaded system that is both uncomplicated and efficient, thereby enhancing the adhesion of agrochemical to leaf surfaces and optimizing their insecticidal efficacy, while concurrently mitigating environmental risks. The flexible eugenol-loaded particles were synthesized via a one-step polyurethane self-assembly reaction, utilizing polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the soft segment and 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) as the hard segment. The increase in the length of the soft segment enhances the flexibility of the particles, thereby improving the contact area and adhesion with the foliar surface. When flexible particles are applied on the foliar surface, they can achieve satisfactory resistance to rainfall erosion. When the PEG molecular weight is 800, the residual concentration of eugenol can still reach 42.11% after 6 washes. The carrier protects the active ingredients and improves the resistance to ultraviolet irradiation. After 5 h of ultraviolet irradiation, the concentration of eugenol remained at 59.03% when PEG with a molecular weight of 200 was employed. Greenhouse experiments showed that the flexible transformation of particles greatly enhanced the application effect of spray on the foliar surface of particles. After undergoing three washes, the mortality of the particles can be enhanced by 5.4-8.4 times compared to that of emulsion concentrate (EC) sample. The enhancement of leaf retention performance reduces environmental risks caused by pesticide loss. Meanwhile, the controlled release of particles also reduces the acute toxicity to zebrafish. The toxicity selection pressure of the EUG@P800-Ps sample is 10.6 times that of the EC sample. In conclusion, the preparation process of the system is simple, and the flexible transformation is an effective strategy to improve the foliar application effect of spray and improve the environmental safety.

Skeleton-Based Fall Detection with Multiple Inertial Sensors Using Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Networks.

The application of wearable devices for fall detection has been the focus of much research over the past few years. One of the most common problems in established fall detection systems is the large number of false positives in the recognition schemes. In this paper, to make full use of the dependence between human joints and improve the accuracy and reliability of fall detection, a fall-recognition method based on the skeleton and spatial-temporal graph convolutional networks (ST-GCN) was proposed, using the human motion data of body joints acquired by inertial measurement units (IMUs). Firstly, the motion data of five inertial sensors were extracted from the UP-Fall dataset and a human skeleton model for fall detection was established through the natural connection relationship of body joints; after that, the ST-GCN-based fall-detection model was established to extract the motion features of human falls and the activities of daily living (ADLs) at the spatial and temporal scales for fall detection; then, the influence of two hyperparameters and window size on the algorithm performance was discussed; finally, the recognition results of ST-GCN were also compared with those of MLP, CNN, RNN, LSTM, TCN, TST, and MiniRocket. The experimental results showed that the ST-GCN fall-detection model outperformed the other seven algorithms in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. This study provides a new method for IMU-based fall detection, which has the reference significance for improving the accuracy and robustness of fall detection.

Application of Medical Image Navigation Technology in Minimally Invasive Puncture Robot.

Microneedle puncture is a standard minimally invasive treatment and surgical method, which is widely used in extracting blood, tissues, and their secretions for pathological examination, needle-puncture-directed drug therapy, local anaesthesia, microwave ablation needle therapy, radiotherapy, and other procedures. The use of robots for microneedle puncture has become a worldwide research hotspot, and medical imaging navigation technology plays an essential role in preoperative robotic puncture path planning, intraoperative assisted puncture, and surgical efficacy detection. This paper introduces medical imaging technology and minimally invasive puncture robots, reviews the current status of research on the application of medical imaging navigation technology in minimally invasive puncture robots, and points out its future development trends and challenges.

Genomic and Transcriptomic Insights into the Evolution and Divergence of MIKC-Type MADS-Box Genes in Carica papaya.

MIKC-type MADS-box genes, also known as type II genes, play a crucial role in regulating the formation of floral organs and reproductive development in plants. However, the genome-wide identification and characterization of type II genes as well as a transcriptomic survey of their potential roles in Carica papaya remain unresolved. Here, we identified and characterized 24 type II genes in the C. papaya genome, and investigated their evolutional scenario and potential roles with a widespread expression profile. The type II genes were divided into thirteen subclades, and gene loss events likely occurred in papaya, as evidenced by the contracted member size of most subclades. Gene duplication mainly contributed to MIKC-type gene formation in papaya, and the duplicated gene pairs displayed prevalent expression divergence, implying the evolutionary significance of gene duplication in shaping the diversity of type II genes in papaya. A large-scale transcriptome analysis of 152 samples indicated that different subclasses of these genes showed distinct expression patterns in various tissues, biotic stress response, and abiotic stress response, reflecting their divergent functions. The hub-network of male and female flowers and qRT-PCR suggested that TT16-3 and AGL8 participated in male flower development and seed germination. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the evolution and functions of MIKC-type genes in C. papaya.

Elm (Ulmus pumila L.) bark flour as a gluten substitute in gluten-free whole foxtail millet bread.

Elm bark (Ulmus pumila L.) flour is a nutritious and sustainable edible material for developing the macromolecular network in the food matrix. In this study, the effects of Elm bark flour and water addition on technological and sensory characteristics of gluten-free whole foxtail millet bread were investigated. Structural analysis methods such as SEM, X-ray diffraction, and FTIR were used to supplement the rheological properties and baking quality. Results showed that Elm bark flour improved gelatinization characteristics and rheological properties (tanδ < 1) of gluten-free dough. Moreover, the porous and network structure of gluten-free bread was observed by image analysis and further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction, endowing higher specific volume (1.98 ± 0.13 cm3/g), and a decrease hardness from 97.43 to 11.56 N. Additionally, with the incorporation of Elm bark flour-water combination, specific volume (2.15 ± 0.09 cm3/g) and hardness (6.83 ± 0.50 N) were further optimized. Combined with the results of rheological properties and bread structure, Elm bark flour at 15% ratio and water addition at 120% level exhibited the most potent improvement of gluten-free bread. These results might contribute to the potential utilization of Elm bark flour as the sustainable resource in gluten-free products. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05670-x.

Systematic prediction of autophagy-related proteins using Arabidopsis thaliana interactome data.

Autophagy is a self-degradative process that is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis by removing damaged cytoplasmic components and recycling nutrients. Such an evolutionary conserved proteolysis process is regulated by the autophagy-related (Atg) proteins. The incomplete understanding of plant autophagy proteome and the importance of a proteome-wide understanding of the autophagy pathway prompted us to predict Atg proteins and regulators in Arabidopsis. Here, we developed a systems-level algorithm to identify autophagy-related modules (ARMs) based on protein subcellular localization, protein-protein interactions, and known Atg proteins. This generates a detailed landscape of the autophagic modules in Arabidopsis. We found that the newly identified genes in each ARM tend to be upregulated and coexpressed during the senescence stage of Arabidopsis. We also demonstrated that the Golgi apparatus ARM, ARM13, functions in the autophagy process by module clustering and functional analysis. To verify the in silico analysis, the Atg candidates in ARM13 that are functionally similar to the core Atg proteins were selected for experimental validation. Interestingly, two of the previously uncharacterized proteins identified from the ARM analysis, AGD1 and Sec14, exhibited bona fide association with the autophagy protein complex in plant cells, which provides evidence for a cross-talk between intracellular pathways and autophagy. Thus, the computational framework has facilitated the identification and characterization of plant-specific autophagy-related proteins and novel autophagy proteins/regulators in higher eukaryotes.

Surface Adsorption-Mediated Ultrahigh Efficient Peptide Encapsulation with a Precise Ratiometric Control for Type 1 and 2 Diabetic Therapy.

A surface adsorption strategy is developed to enable the engineering of microcomposites featured with ultrahigh loading capacity and precise ratiometric control of co-encapsulated peptides. In this strategy, peptide molecules (insulin, exenatide, and bivalirudin) are formulated into nanoparticles and their surface is decorated with carrier polymers. This polymer layer blocks the phase transfer of peptide nanoparticles from oil to water and, consequently, realizes ultrahigh peptide loading degree (up to 78.9%). After surface decoration, all three nanoparticles are expected to exhibit the properties of adsorbed polymer materials, which enables the co-encapsulation of insulin, exenatide, and bivalirudin with a precise ratiometric control. After solidification of this adsorbed polymer layer, the release of peptides is synchronously prolonged. With the help of encapsulation, insulin achieves 8 days of glycemic control in type 1 diabetic rats with one single injection. The co-delivery of insulin and exenatide (1:1) efficiently controls the glycemic level in type 2 diabetic rats for 8 days. Weekly administration of insulin and exenatide co-encapsulated microcomposite effectively reduces the weight gain and glycosylated hemoglobin level in type 2 diabetic rats. The surface adsorption strategy sets a new paradigm to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacological performance of peptides, especially for the combination of peptides.