Differential neural mechanisms underlie cortical gating of visual spatial attention mediated by alpha-band oscillations.

Selective attention relies on neural mechanisms that facilitate processing of behaviorally relevant sensory information while suppressing irrelevant information, consistently linked to alpha-band oscillations in human M/EEG studies. We analyzed cortical alpha responses from intracranial electrodes implanted in eight epilepsy patients, who performed a visual spatial attention task. Electrocorticographic data revealed a spatiotemporal dissociation between attention-modulated alpha desynchronization, associated with the enhancement of sensory processing, and alpha synchronization, associated with the suppression of sensory processing, during the cue-target interval. Dorsal intraparietal areas contralateral to the attended hemifield primarily exhibited a delayed and sustained alpha desynchronization, while ventrolateral extrastriatal areas ipsilateral to the attended hemifield primarily exhibited an earlier and sustained alpha synchronization. Analyses of cross-frequency coupling between alpha phase and broadband high-frequency activity (HFA) further revealed cross-frequency interactions along the visual hierarchy contralateral to the attended locations. Directionality analyses indicate that alpha phase in early and extrastriatal visual areas modulated HFA power in downstream visual areas, thus potentially facilitating the feedforward processing of an upcoming, spatially predictable target. In contrast, in areas ipsilateral to the attended locations, HFA power modulated local alpha phase in early and extrastriatal visual areas, with suppressed interareal interactions, potentially attenuating the processing of distractors. Our findings reveal divergent alpha-mediated neural mechanisms underlying target enhancement and distractor suppression during the deployment of spatial attention, reflecting enhanced functional connectivity at attended locations, while suppressed functional connectivity at unattended locations. The collective dynamics of these alpha-mediated neural mechanisms play complementary roles in the efficient gating of sensory information.

AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 2 mediates repression of strawberry receptacle ripening via auxin-ABA interplay.

Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is a popular, economically important fruit. The ripening of the receptacle (pseudocarp), the main edible part, depends on endogenously produced abscisic acid (ABA) and is suppressed by the high level of auxin produced from achenes (true fruit) during early development. However, the mechanism whereby auxin regulates receptacle ripening through inhibiting ABA biosynthesis remains unclear. Here, we identified AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 2 (FaARF2), which showed decreased expression with reduced auxin content in the receptacle, leading to increased ABA levels and accelerated ripening. Dual-luciferase, yeast one-hybrid, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that FaARF2 could bind to the AuxRE element in the promoter of 9-CIS-EPOXYCAROT-ENOID DIOXYGENASE 1 (FaNCED1), a key ABA biosynthetic gene, to suppress its transcriptional activity. Transiently overexpressing FaARF2 in the receptacles decreased FaNCED1 expression and ABA levels, resulting in inhibition of receptacle ripening and of development of quality attributes, such as pigmentation, aroma, and sweetness. This inhibition caused by overexpressing FaARF2 was partially recovered by the injection of exogenous ABA; conversely, transient silencing of FaARF2 using RNA interference produced the opposite results. The negative targeting of FaNCED1 by FaARF2 is a key link between auxin-ABA interactions and regulation of strawberry ripening.

OsmiR319-OsPCF5 modulate resistance to brown planthopper in rice through association with MYB proteins.

BACKGROUND: The brown planthopper (BPH) is a kind of piercing-sucking insect specific to rice, with the damage tops the list of pathogens and insects in recent years. microRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal regulators of plant-environment interactions, while the mechanism underlying their function against insects is largely unknown. RESULTS: Here, we confirmed that OsmiR319, an ancient and conserved miRNA, negatively regulated resistance to BPHs, with overexpression of OsmiR319 susceptible to BPH, while suppression of OsmiR319 resistant to BPH in comparison with wild type. Meanwhile, we identified several targets of OsmiR319 that may mediate BPH resistance. Among them, OsPCF5 was the most obviously induced by BPH feeding, and over expression of OsPCF5 was resistance to BPH. In addition, various biochemical assays verified that OsPCF5 interacted with several MYB proteins, such as OsMYB22, OsMYB30, and OsMYB30C.Genetically, we revealed that both OsMYB22 and OsMYB30C positively regulated BPH resistance. Genetic interaction analyses confirmed that OsMYB22 and OsMYB30C both function in the same genetic pathway with OsmiR319b to mediate BPH resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, we revealed that OsPCF5 regulates BPH resistance via association with several MYB proteins downstream of OsmiR319, these MYB proteins might function as regulators of BPH resistance through regulating the phenylpropane synthesis.

Asymmetrically Coordinated Mn-S1N3 Configuration Induces Localized Electric Field-Driven Peroxymonosulfate Activation for Remarkably Efficient Generation of 1O2.

Singlet oxygen (1O2) species generated in peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes offer opportunities to overcome the low efficiency and secondary pollution limitations of existing AOPs, but efficient production of 1O2 via tuning the coordination environment of metal active sites remains challenging due to insufficient understanding of their catalytic mechanisms. Herein, an asymmetrical configuration characterized by a manganese single atom coordinated is established with one S atom and three N atoms (denoted as Mn-S1N3), which offer a strong local electric field to promote the cleavage of O─H and S─O bonds, serving as the crucial driver of its high 1O2 production. Strikingly, an enhanced the local electric field caused by the dynamic inter-transformation of the Mn coordination structure (Mn-S1N3 ↔ Mn-N3) can further downshift the 1O2 production energy barrier. Mn-S1N3 demonstrates 100% selective product 1O2 by activation of PMS at unprecedented utilization efficiency, and efficiently oxidize electron-rich pollutants. This work provides an atomic-level understanding of the catalytic selectivity and is expected to guide the design of smart 1O2-AOPs catalysts for more selective and efficient decontamination applications.

Near thermal noise limit, 5W single frequency fiber laser base on the ring cavity configuration.

In this study, we present an ultralow noise single-frequency fiber laser operating at 1550 nm, utilizing a traveling-wave ring cavity configuration. The frequency noise of the laser approaches the thermal noise limit, achieving a white noise level of 0.025 Hz2/Hz, resulting in an instantaneous linewidth of 0.08 Hz. After amplification, the output power reaches 4.94 W while maintaining the same low white noise level as the laser oscillator. The integration linewidths of the laser oscillator and amplifier are 221 Hz and 665 Hz, respectively, with both exhibiting relative intensity noises that approach the quantum shot noise limit. To the best of our knowledge, this work shows the lowest frequency noise combined with relatively high power for this type of ring cavity fiber laser.

Photochemical Transformation of Dissolved Organic Matter in Surface Water Augmented the Formation of Disinfection Byproducts.

Sunlight may lead to changes in disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation potentials of source water via transforming dissolved organic matter (DOM); however, the underlying mechanisms behind these changes remain unclear. This work systematically investigated the effect of photochemical transformation of DOM from reservoir water (DOMRe) and micropolluted river water (DOMRi) after 36 h of simulated sunlight irradiation (equivalent to one month under natural sunlight) on DBPs formation. Upon irradiation, high molecular weight (MW) and aromatic molecules tended to be mineralized or converted into low-MW and highly oxidized (O/C > 0.5) ones which might react with chlorine to generate high levels of DBPs, resulting in an elevation in the yields (µg DBP/mg C) of almost all the measured DBPs and the quantities of unknown DBPs in both DOM samples after chlorination. Additionally, DOMRi contained more aromatic molecules susceptible to photooxidation than DOMRe. Consequently, irradiated DOMRi exhibited a greater increase in the formation potentials of haloacetonitriles, halonitromethanes, and specific regulated DBPs, with nitrogenous DBPs being responsible for the overall rise in the calculated cytotoxicity following chlorination. This work emphasized the importance of a comprehensive removal of phototransformation products that may serve as DBPs precursors from source waters, especially from micropolluted source waters.

Theoretical insights into the intercalation mechanism of Li, Na, and Mg ions in a metallic BN/VS2 heterostructure.

Layered VS2 has been widely used as a battery anode material owing to its large specific surface area and controllable ion-transport channel. However, its semiconductor properties and poor cycling stability seriously limit its further applications. Herein, a two-dimensional BN/VS2 heterostructure (BVH) was constructed as an anode material for rechargeable metal-ion batteries (RMIBs). Demonstrated using first principles calculations, BVH exhibits a metallic property due to lattice stress between monolayer BN and VS2. BVH displays low ion diffusion energy barriers (0.13, 0.43, and 0.56 eV) and high theoretical capacities (447, 553.5, and 340.7 mA h g-1) for Li+, Na+, and Mg2+ storage. In BVH, the VS2 layer as the main redox center supports charge transfer, while the inactive BN layer enables high structural stability. This synergistic effect is expected to simultaneously achieve a high rate, high capacity, and long life. This design provides an important insight into developing new anode materials for RMIBs.

The effect of perioperative dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine is considered to have neuroprotective effects and may reduce postoperative delirium in both cardiac and major non-cardiac surgeries. Compared with non-cardiac surgery, the delirium incidence is extremely high after cardiac surgery, which could be caused by neuroinflammation induced by surgical stress and CPB. Thus, it is essential to explore the potential benefits of dexmedetomidine on the incidence of delirium in cardiac surgery under CPB. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials studying the effect of perioperative dexmedetomidine on the delirium incidence in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB were considered to be eligible. Data collection was conducted by two reviewers independently. The pre-specified outcome of interest is delirium incidence. RoB 2 was used to perform risk of bias assessment by two reviewers independently. The random effects model and Mantel-Haenszel statistical method were selected to pool effect sizes for each study. RESULTS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched from inception to June 28, 2023. Sixteen studies including 3381 participants were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. Perioperative dexmedetomidine reduced the incidence of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB compared with the other sedatives, placebo, or normal saline (RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.41-0.79; P = 0.0009; I2 = 61%). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative administration of dexmedetomidine could reduce the postoperative delirium occurrence in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. However, there is relatively significant heterogeneity among the studies. And the included studies comprise many early-stage small sample trials, which may lead to an overestimation of the beneficial effects. It is necessary to design the large-scale RCTs to further confirm the potential benefits of dexmedetomidine in cardiac surgery with CPB. REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023452410.

Perioperative oxygenation impairment related to type a aortic dissection.

Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is a life-threatening disease with high mortality and poor prognosis, usually treated by surgery. There are many complications in its perioperative period, one of which is oxygenation impairment (OI). As a common complication of TAAD, OI usually occurs throughout the perioperative period of TAAD and requires prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) and other supportive measures. The purpose of this article is to review the risk factors, mechanisms, and treatments of type A aortic dissection-related oxygenation impairment (TAAD-OI) so as to improve clinicians' knowledge about it. Among risk factors, elevated body mass index (BMI), prolonged extracorporeal circulation (ECC) duration, higher inflammatory cells and stored blood transfusion stand out. A reduced occurrence of TAAD-OI can be achieved by controlling these risk factors such as suppressing inflammatory response by drugs. As for its mechanism, it is currently believed that inflammatory signaling pathways play a major role in this process, including the HMGB1/RAGE signaling pathway, gut-lung axis and macrophage, which have been gradually explored and are expected to provide evidences revealing the specific mechanism of TAAD-OI. Numerous treatments have been investigated for TAAD-OI, such as nitric oxide (NO), continuous pulmonary perfusion/inflation, ulinastatin and sivelestat sodium, immunomodulation intervention and mechanical support. However, these measures are all aimed at postoperative TAAD-OI, and not all of the therapies have shown satisfactory effects. Treatments for preoperative TAAD-OI are not currently available because it is difficult to correct OI without correcting the dissection. Therefore, the best solution for preoperative TAAD-OI is to operate as soon as possible. At present, there is no specific method for clinical application, and it relies more on the experience of clinicians or learns from treatments of other diseases related to oxygenation disorders. More efforts should be made to understand its pathogenesis to better improve its treatments in the future.

DNA methylation controlling abscisic acid catabolism responds to light to mediate strawberry fruit ripening.

Phytohormones, epigenetic regulation and environmental factors regulate fruit ripening but their interplay during strawberry fruit ripening remains to be determined. In this study, bagged strawberry fruit exhibited delayed ripening compared with fruit grown in normal light, correlating with reduced abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation. Transcription of the key ABA catabolism gene, ABA 8'-hydroxylase FaCYP707A4, was induced in bagged fruit. With light exclusion whole genome DNA methylation levels were up-regulated, corresponding to a delayed ripening process, while DNA methylation levels in the promoter of FaCYP707A4 were suppressed, correlating with increases in transcript and decreased ABA content. Experiments indicated FaCRY1, a blue light receptor repressed in bagged fruit and FaAGO4, a key protein involved in RNA-directed DNA methylation, could bind to the promoter of FaCYP707A4. The interaction between FaCRY1 and FaAGO4, and an increased enrichment of FaAGO4 directed to the FaCYP707A4 promoter in fruit grown under light suggests FaCRY1 may influence FaAGO4 to modulate the DNA methylation status of the FaCYP707A4 promoter. Furthermore, transient overexpression of FaCRY1, or an increase in FaCRY1 transcription by blue light treatment, increases the methylation level of the FaCYP707A4 promoter, while transient RNA interference of FaCRY1 displayed opposite phenotypes. These findings reveal a mechanism by which DNA methylation influences ABA catabolism, and participates in light-mediated strawberry ripening.

Risk assessment and source identification of soil heavy metals: a case study of farmland soil along a river in the southeast of a mining area in Southwest China.

To investigate the heavy metals (HMs) contamination of surface farmland soil along the river in the southeast of a mining area in southwest China and identify the contamination sources, 54 topsoil samples were collected and the concentrations of seven elements (Zn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Hg, Cr, and Co) were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). The geo-accumulation index ([Formula: see text]) and comprehensive potential ecological risk index ([Formula: see text]) were used for analysis to determine the pollution degree of HMs and the risk level of the study area. Meanwhile, the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was combined with a variety of statistical methods to determine the sources of HMs. To explore the influence of the river flowing through the mining area on the concentrations of HMs in the farmland soil, 15 water samples were collected and the concentrations of the above seven elements were determined. The results showed that the concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Zn in soil all exceeded the risk screening value, and Pb in soil of some sampling sites exceeded control value of "Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Risk Control Standard".[Formula: see text] showed that Pb was heavily contaminated, while Cu and Zn were moderately contaminated. RI showed that the study area was at moderate risk. PMF and various statistical methods showed that the main source of HMs was the industrial source. In the short term, the river flowing through the mine has no significant influence on the concentration of HMs in the soil. The results provide a reference for the local government to control contamination and identify the sources of HMs.

Optimizing Prognostic Predictions in Liver Cancer with Machine Learning and Survival Analysis.

This study harnesses RNA sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas to unearth pivotal genetic markers linked to the progression of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), a major contributor to cancer-related deaths worldwide, characterized by a dire prognosis and limited treatment avenues. We employ advanced feature selection techniques, including sure independence screening (SIS) combined with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso), smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD), information gain (IG), and permutation variable importance (VIMP) methods, to effectively navigate the challenges posed by ultra-high-dimensional data. Through these methods, we identify critical genes like MED8 as significant markers for LIHC. These markers are further analyzed using advanced survival analysis models, including the Cox proportional hazards model, survival tree, and random survival forests. Our findings reveal that SIS-Lasso demonstrates strong predictive accuracy, particularly in combination with the Cox proportional hazards model. However, when coupled with the random survival forests method, the SIS-VIMP approach achieves the highest overall performance. This comprehensive approach not only enhances the prediction of LIHC outcomes but also provides valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the disease, thereby paving the way for personalized treatment strategies and advancing the field of cancer genomics.

Machine Learning-Based Risk Prediction of Discharge Status for Sepsis.

As a severe inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis presents complex challenges in predicting patient outcomes due to its unclear pathogenesis and the unstable discharge status of affected individuals. In this study, we develop a machine learning-based method for predicting the discharge status of sepsis patients, aiming to improve treatment decisions. To enhance the robustness of our analysis against outliers, we incorporate robust statistical methods, specifically the minimum covariance determinant technique. We utilize the random forest imputation method to effectively manage and impute missing data. For feature selection, we employ Lasso penalized logistic regression, which efficiently identifies significant predictors and reduces model complexity, setting the stage for the application of more complex predictive methods. Our predictive analysis incorporates multiple machine learning methods, including random forest, support vector machine, and XGBoost. We compare the prediction performance of these methods with Lasso penalized logistic regression to identify the most effective approach. Each method's performance is rigorously evaluated through ten iterations of 10-fold cross-validation to ensure robust and reliable results. Our comparative analysis reveals that XGBoost surpasses the other models, demonstrating its exceptional capability to navigate the complexities of sepsis data effectively.

High-fat/high-sucrose diet worsens metabolic outcomes and widespread hypersensitivity following early-life stress exposure in female mice.

Exposure to stress early in life has been associated with adult-onset comorbidities such as chronic pain, metabolic dysregulation, obesity, and inactivity. We have established an early-life stress model using neonatal maternal separation (NMS) in mice, which displays evidence of increased body weight and adiposity, widespread mechanical allodynia, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation in male mice. Early-life stress and consumption of a Western-style diet contribute to the development of obesity; however, relatively few preclinical studies have been performed in female rodents, which are known to be protected against diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction. In this study, we gave naïve and NMS female mice access to a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFS) diet beginning at 4 wk of age. Robust increases in body weight and fat were observed in HFS-fed NMS mice during the first 10 wk on the diet, driven partly by increased food intake. Female NMS mice on an HFS diet showed widespread mechanical hypersensitivity compared with either naïve mice on an HFS diet or NMS mice on a control diet. HFS diet-fed NMS mice also had impaired glucose tolerance and fasting hyperinsulinemia. Strikingly, female NMS mice on an HFS diet showed evidence of hepatic steatosis with increased triglyceride levels and altered glucocorticoid receptor levels and phosphorylation state. They also exhibited increased energy expenditure as observed via indirect calorimetry and expression of proinflammatory markers in perigonadal adipose. Altogether, our data suggest that early-life stress exposure increased the susceptibility of female mice to develop diet-induced metabolic dysfunction and pain-like behaviors.

Purinergic receptors mediate endothelial dysfunction and participate in atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular disease and involves damage to vascular endothelial cells (ECs) that results in endothelial dysfunction (ED). The vascular endothelium is the key to maintaining blood vessel health and homeostasis. ED is a complex pathological process involving inflammation, shear stress, vascular tone, adhesion of leukocytes to ECs, and platelet aggregation. The activation of P2X4, P2X7, and P2Y2 receptors regulates vascular tone in response to shear stress, while activation of the A2A, P2X4, P2X7, P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y6, and P2Y12 receptors promotes the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Finally, P2X1, P2Y1, and P2Y12 receptor activation regulates platelet activity. These purinergic receptors mediate ED and participate in atherosclerosis. In short, P2X4, P2X7, P2Y1, and P2Y12 receptors are potential therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis.

A two-dimensional VO2/VS2 heterostructure as a promising cathode material for rechargeable Mg batteries: a first principles study.

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) are considered as highly promising energy storage systems. However, the lack of cathode materials with fast Mg2+ diffusion kinetics and high energy density severely hinders the development of RMBs. Herein, a two-dimensional (2D) VO2/VS2 heterostructure as a RMB cathode material is proposed by introducing an O-V-O layer in VS2 to improve the discharge voltage and specific capacity while keeping the fast Mg2+ diffusion kinetics. Based on first principle calculations, the geometric structures, electronic characteristics of the VO2/VS2 heterostructure, and the adsorption properties and diffusion behaviors of Mg2+ in VO2/VS2 are systematically studied. The metallic properties of VO2/VS2 and a relatively low diffusion barrier of Mg2+ (0.6 eV) in VO2/VS2 enable a large potential in delivering high rate performance in actual RMBs. Compared with traditional VS2 materials (1.25 V), the average discharge platform of VO2/VS2 could be increased to 1.7 V. The theoretical capacities of the layered VS2 and VO2/VS2 are calculated as 233 and 301 mA h g-1, respectively. Thus, the VO2/VS2 heterostructure exhibits a high theoretical energy density of 511.7 W h kg-1, significantly surpassing that of VS2 (291.3 W h kg-1). This work provides important guidance for designing high-energy and high-rate 2D heterostructure cathode materials for RMBs and other multivalent ion batteries.

Distribution of cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents at different latitudes.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences and characteristics of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among children and adolescents in regions with different latitudes in China. METHODS: A total of 9892 children and adolescents aged 7-22 years were selected from seven administrative regions in China by the stratified cluster random sampling method. CRF was measured by performance on the 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) and estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max ). One-way ANOVA, one-way ANCOVA, and the Lambda Mu and Sigma methods were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Overall, the VO2max of children and adolescents at high latitudes was significantly lower than that of children at low and middle latitudes. The P10 , P50 , and P90 20mSRT values for children and adolescents of most age groups in high latitudes were less than those in low and middle latitudes. The 20mSRT-Z and VO2max -Z scores among children and adolescents aged 7-22 in high latitudes were lower than those in middle and low latitudes after adjusting for age, per capita gross domestic product (GDP), and per capita disposable income. CONCLUSION: In general, the CRF of children and adolescents at high latitudes was less than that at low and middle latitudes. Effective measures should be taken to improve CRF in children and adolescents at high latitudes.

Design and Properties of Natural Rosin-Based Phosphoester Functional Surfactants.

As an important forestry biomass resource, rosin has a wide range of applications in medicine, adhesives, surfactants and other fields. Using natural dehydroabietic acid as a raw material, dehydroabietic acid-based phosphorus monoester (DPM) and diester (DPD) surfactants were designed and synthesized. The chemical structures and self-assembly properties were characterized by FT-IR, NMR and TEM, and the effects of pH on critical micelle concentration, γCMC, emulsifying properties, foam properties and micelle morphology were studied. The results showed that the CMC, γCMC value and aggregate morphology had certain pH responsiveness. The γCMC value under acidic conditions was smaller than γCMC under alkaline conditions, and the foaming performance and foam stability under acidic conditions were better than those under alkaline conditions. TEM micelle morphology studies have shown that DPM and DPD surfactants can self-assemble into rod-shaped and spherical micelle morphologies with a pH change in an aqueous solution. At the same pH, the foaming and emulsification properties of DPD were better than those of DPM. The best foaming and emulsification ability of DPD were 11.8 mL and 175 s, respectively. At the same time, the foaming ability of DPD is also affected by pH. DPD has excellent foaming properties in acidic conditions, but these disappeared in neutral conditions.

OsmiR396/growth regulating factor modulate rice grain size through direct regulation of embryo-specific miR408.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising targets for crop improvement of complex agricultural traits. Coordinated activity between/among different miRNAs may fine-tune specific developmental processes in diverse organisms. Grain size is a main factor determining rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop yield, but the network of miRNAs influencing this trait remains uncharacterized. Here we show that sequestering OsmiR396 through target mimicry (MIM396) can substantially increase grain size in several japonica and indica rice subspecies and in plants with excessive tillers and a high panicle density. Thus, OsmiR396 has a major role related to the regulation of rice grain size. The grain shape of Growth Regulating Factor8 (OsGRF8)-overexpressing transgenic plants was most similar to that of MIM396 plants, suggesting OsGRF8 is a major mediator of OsmiR396 in grain size regulation. A miRNA microarray analysis revealed changes to the expression of many miRNAs, including OsmiR408, in the MIM396 plants. Analyses of gene expression patterns and functions indicated OsmiR408 is an embryo-specific miRNA that positively regulates grain size. Silencing OsmiR408 expression (miR408KO) using CRISPR technology resulted in small grains. Moreover, we revealed the direct regulatory effects of OsGRF8 on OsMIR408 expression. A genetic analysis further showed that the large-grain phenotype of MIM396 plants could be complemented by miR408KO. Also, several hormone signaling pathways might be involved in the OsmiR396/GRF-meditated grain size regulation. Our findings suggest that genetic regulatory networks comprising various miRNAs, such as OsmiR396 and OsmiR408, may be crucial for controlling rice grain size. Furthermore, the OsmiR396/GRF module may be important for breeding new high-yielding rice varieties.

Roles of age, sex, and weight status in the muscular fitness of Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents living at altitudes over 3600 m: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the role of age, sex, and weight status in the development of muscular fitness in a large sample of Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents aged 7-18 years living in areas over 3600 m. METHOD: A sample of 4673 Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were recruited from 21 schools in three cities (Lhasa, Naqu, and Anduo) of Tibet, China. Grip strength, standing long jump, 30-s sit-ups, and 50-m dash were conducted to determine muscular fitness. Independent sample t tests were conducted to compare muscular fitness between boys and girls for each age group. The changes in mean scores on each muscular fitness test were estimated. The influence of weight status on muscular strength level was also estimated using one-way ANOVA and LSD tests. We also compared the average muscular fitness between Chinese Tibetan and Chinese average level. RESULTS: The muscular fitness of Chinese Tibetan boys aged 7-18 years was higher than that of girls, with older children outperforming younger children. Among the Chinese Tibetan boys, those in the normal-weight group showed the best performance, whereas overweight group showed the best performance among the girls. The performance of Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents in standing long jump and 50-m dash was lower while that in sit-ups was higher than the performance of their Chinese counterparts. CONCLUSION: Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents have relatively strong abdominal strength, but lower limb strength, which needs to be improved. Age, sex, and weight status should be considered when designing interventions to improve muscular fitness.