Investigation of Solvent Effects on the Molecular Energy Storage and Optical Properties of Bicyclooctadiene/Tetracyclooctane Photoswitches.

In this paper, we investigate the effects of solvation on the solar energy storage properties of bicyclooctadiene/tetracyclooctane (BOD/TCO) photoswitches. The solvent effects on the thermochemical and optical properties are studied in cyclohexane, toluene, dichloromethane, ethanol, acetonitrile, and a vacuum using density functional theory and coupled cluster theory. Our results show that the energy storage capacity of the BOD/TCO system increases as the solvent polarity increases, and the change is more significant with an unsubstituted system. The energy storage capacity of the substituted system is not dependent on the polarity of the solvent. As the solvent polarity increases, the absorption peaks shift away from each other and the absorption intensities increase. Overall, the solvents improve the performance of the optical properties and the energy storage capacities of the BOD/TCO molecular solar thermal systems.

Perceived stress and influencing factors for the people at high risk to COVID-19 in centralized quarantine camps in Wenzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to assess stress levels and related factors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic among individuals in centralized quarantine camps in Wenzhou, China. METHODS: The survey was conducted using a questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, life events related to the COVID-19 and stressful situations, as well as Perceived Stress Scale-14. Participants included close contacts of patients with COVID-19 or at-risk individuals in quarantine camps. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze different factors affecting perceived stress. RESULTS: The prevalence of high stress among quarantine camp participants was 37.45%. Of the 881 respondents, 51.99% were concerned about the difficulty of controlling the epidemic, 46.20% were concerned about the health of themselves and their family members and 39.61% were concerned about not being able to leave their homes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the prevalence of stress among different groups for certain variables, including occupation, education level and knowledge of COVID-19 (all P < 0.05). Our study found that at-risk individuals and close contacts experienced high levels of stress in quarantine camps during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that centralized quarantine policies should be adapted and optimized to minimize negative psychological effects on quarantined individuals.

Pigment Diversity in Leaves of Caladium × hortulanum Birdsey and Transcriptomic and Metabolic Comparisons between Red and White Leaves.

Leaf color is a key ornamental characteristic of cultivated caladium (Caladium × hortulanum Birdsey), a plant with diverse leaf colors. However, the genetic improvement of leaf color in cultivated caladium is hindered by the limited understanding of leaf color diversity and regulation. In this study, the chlorophyll and anthocyanin content of 137 germplasm resources were measured to explore the diversity and mechanism of leaf color formation in cultivated caladium. Association analysis of EST-SSR markers and pigment traits was performed, as well as metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis of a red leaf variety and its white leaf mutant. We found significant differences in chlorophyll and anthocyanin content among different color groups of cultivated caladium, and identified three, eight, three, and seven EST-SSR loci significantly associated with chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll and total anthocyanins content, respectively. The results further revealed that the white leaf mutation was caused by the down-regulation of various anthocyanins (such as cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, and others). This change in concentration is likely due to the down-regulation of key genes (four PAL, four CHS, six CHI, eight F3H, one F3'H, one FLS, one LAR, four DFR, one ANS and two UFGT) involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Concurrently, the up-regulation of certain genes (one FLS and one LAR) that divert the anthocyanin precursors to other pathways was noted. Additionally, a significant change in the expression of numerous transcription factors (12 NAC, 12 bZIP, 23 ERF, 23 bHLH, 19 MYB_related, etc.) was observed. These results revealed the genetic and metabolic basis of leaf color diversity and change in cultivated caladium, and provided valuable information for molecular marker-assisted selection and breeding of leaf color in this ornamental plant.

Diversity, classification, and EST-SSR-based association analysis of caladium ornamental traits.

Caladium (Caladium × Hortulanum Birdsey) is a popular ornamental plant with a wide range of vibrant leaf color among Araceae. Even after years of breeding, creating new caladium leaf color variations is extremely difficult. Molecular marker-assisted selection is an effective approach for accelerating breeding, but few studies on the molecular markers associated with caladium traits have been performed. In the current study, 144 caladium accessions were used to examine 12 phenotypic characteristics. The coefficient of variation for four numerical characters ranged from 23.94% to 43.22%, and the Shannon-Wiener indexes for eight descriptive characters ranged from 0.13 to 1.52. Based on L*, a*, b*, C, h° values determined by a colorimeter and hierarchical cluster analysis, the leaf color can be divided into four groups: pale green, green, light pink, and red. Furthermore, 7708 new SSR loci were identified by transcriptome sequencing, and 26 SSR markers with high polymorphism and reproducibility were screened. Genetic structure, NJ clustering, and PCoA analysis revealed that 144 accessions could be divided into three clusters, with genetic structure being closely related to germplasm origin. An association analysis revealed that the SSR markers 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, and 1 were mainly associated with petiole color, main vein color, blade upperside glossiness, and C, b*, and L* of leaf color (p < 0.01). These findings will serve as a valuable reference for evaluating germplasm resources and caladium molecular marker-assisted breeding.

Integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis provides insights on the floral scent formation in Hydrangea arborescens.

Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens var. "Annabelle") flowers are composed of sweet aroma sepals rather than true petals and can change color. Floral volatiles plays important roles in plants, such as attracting pollinators, defending against herbivores, and signaling. However, the biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms underlying fragrance formation in H. arborescens during flower development remain unknown. In this study, a combination of metabolite profiling and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was employed to identify genes associated with floral scent biosynthesis mechanisms in "Annabelle" flowers at three developmental stages (F1, F2, and F3). The floral volatile data revealed that the "Annabelle" volatile profile includes a total of 33 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and VOCs were abundant during the F2 stage of flower development, followed by the F1 and F3 stages, respectively. Terpenoids and benzenoids/phenylpropanoids were abundant during the F2 and F1 stages, with the latter being the most abundant, whereas fatty acid derivatives and other compounds were found in large amounts during the F3 stage. According to ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer analysis, benzene and substituted derivatives, carboxylic acids and derivatives, and fatty acyls play a significant role in the floral metabolite profile. The transcriptome data revealed a total of 17,461 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 7585, 12,795, and 9044 DEGs discovered between the F2 and F1, F3 and F1, and F2 and F3 stages, respectively. Several terpenoids and benzenoids/phenylpropanoids biosynthesis-related DEGs were identified, and GRAS/bHLH/MYB/AP2/WRKY were more abundant among transcription factors. Finally, DEGs interlinked with VOCs compounds were determined using Cytoscape and k-means analysis. Our results pave the way for the discovery of new genes, critical data for future genetic studies, and a platform for the metabolic engineering of genes involved in the production of Hydrangea's signature floral fragrance.

Impacting factors and sources of perceived stress by home-quarantined residents in Shanghai during COVID-19 epidemic.

BACKGROUND: Home-quarantine is one of the most common measures implemented to prevent or minimize the transmission of COVID-19 among communities. This study assessed stress levels of the home-quarantined residents in Shanghai during a massive wave of COVID-19 epidemic this year, explored the stress sources perceived by the respondents, and analyzed the association between each of the sociodemographic factors and the stress level. METHODS: This online survey was launched during April 23 - 30, 2022, the early stage of a massive wave of COVID-19 in Shanghai, China. Participants were quarantined-residents negative for COVID-19. They were asked to list some situations that were their major concerns and perceived stressful, in addition to sociodemographic and COVID-19 related information. Moreover, they were asked to complete the Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) for the assessment of stress level. RESULTS: A total of 488 valid questionnaires were collected from 192 male and 296 female respondents. Overall, 207 persons (42.42%) presented high stress level (PSS-14 score ≥43). The top three concerns perceived stressful by respondents are "not allowed to go outdoors", "uncertain duration of the epidemic", and "lack of food supply". Fewer than 50% of the respondents perceived the other situations stressful. Higher proportions of young adults (≤ 29 years old), males, unemployed, singles, and those with low income (≤ 1999 yuan/month) perceived high stress compared to their counterparts, none of COVID-19 related factors is associated with the stress level, including location of residence, result of nucleic acid test, knowledge about COVID-19, whether vaccinated, and quarantine duration. CONCLUSION: Home-quarantine applied to people negative for COVID-19 led to a lot of major concerns that may be perceived stressful, whereas the virus-related factors did not show significant impact on mental health of the respondents.

Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis of Petal Anthocyanin Accumulation Mechanism in Gloriosa superba 'Rothschildiana' during Different Flower Development Stages.

Flower color is a key ornamental trait in plants. The petals of Gloriosa superba 'Rothschildiana' petals undergo a color transformation from yellow to red during their development, but the molecular mechanism of this process remains unexplored. This study examines the anthocyanin profiles and gene expression patterns of 'Rothschildiana' petals across four developmental stages: bud (S1), initial opening (S2), half opening (S3), and full opening stage (S4). A total of 59 anthocyanins were identified with significant increases in cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, and pelargonidin-3,5-O-diglucoside levels observed during petal maturation. Transcriptome analysis revealed 46 differentially expressed genes implicated in flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis. Additionally, three gene modules were found to be associated with anthocyanin accumulation throughout flower development. Expression levels of genes associated with auxin, abscisic acid, brassinosteroid signaling, and transcription factors such as NACs and WRKYs underwent significant changes and exhibited strong correlations with several flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthetic genes in these modules. These findings offer novel insights into the molecular underpinnings of flower color variation and lay the groundwork for the improvement of G. superba.

Phenotypic Variation in Flower Color and Morphology in the Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) F1 Hybrid Population and Their Association with EST-SSR Markers.

Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) is a widely cultivated ornamental plant. However, its genetic improvement is limited by the lack of genetic analysis and molecular markers for traits. In this study, we analyzed the phenotypic and genotypic variation of 140 F1 progeny from two gerbera varieties with different flower types and colors. We evaluated the flower's morphology, color, and pigment content of the F1 population and performed cluster principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis. The results showed that the main ornamental traits of the hybrid progeny varied greatly. The segregation ratios of single and double flowers and ligulate and split ray florets were both 1:1. The flower colors of the F1 progeny were mainly red and purple-red, similar to the male parent's color. Furthermore, we conducted a genetic analysis of the hybrid progeny using EST-SSR markers and performed association analysis with phenotypic traits. We identified 2, 2, 3, 1, and 2 loci to be associated with peduncle length (PL), ray floret length (RFL), and outer ray floret; the level of apex relative to the top of involucre (LAI); outer corolla lips (OCL); and the b* of ray floret color, respectively. Our results reveal the genetic patterns of important ornamental traits and provide a theoretical basis and practical tools for gerbera genetic breeding.

Light-Assisted Ullmann Coupling of Phenols and Aryl Halides: The Synergetic Effect Between Plasmonic Copper Nanoparticles and Carbon Nanotubes from Various Sources.

Utilizing light and plastic wastes as resources to turn the wasted phenols and hazardous aryl halides into value added chemicals seems to be an attractive idea for alleviating the energy crisis and environmental problems. In this work, plasmonic copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) were loaded onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from various sources including commercial CNTs and those derived from plastic wastes. Under visible-light irradiation, the catalyst could efficiently convert phenols and aryl halides to diaryl ethers. Similar with commercial CNTs, excellent activity is also achieved when utilizing CNTs derived from different kinds of plastic wastes as support for the system. Further investigation shows that the visible-light irradiation and light-excited plasmonic Cu NPs are necessary to inhibit the phenol degradation on CNTs and in turn promote the cross-coupling of phenol and aryl halides. Compared with metal oxides and other carbon materials, the excellent capability of CNTs to absorb light, to convert light to heat, and to adsorb both two reactants simultaneously are critical to enhance the activity of Cu NPs, achieving high yields of diaryl ethers. This study could provide a novel strategy for catalyst design and generate a more economically sustainable process.

Volatile organic compounds as mediators of plant communication and adaptation to climate change.

Plant volatile organic compounds are the most abundant and structurally diverse plant secondary metabolites. They play a key role in plant lifespan via direct and indirect plant defenses, attracting pollinators, and mediating various interactions between plants and their environment. The ecological diversity and context-dependence of plant-plant communication driven by volatiles are crucial elements that influence plant performance in different habitats. Plant volatiles are also valued for their multiple applications in food, flavor, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. In the current review, we summarize recent advances that have elucidated the functions of plant volatile organic compounds as mediators of plant interaction at community and individual levels, highlighting the complexities of plant receiver feedback to various signals and cues. This review emphasizes volatile terpenoids, the most abundant class of plant volatile organic compounds, highlighting their role in plant adaptability to global climate change and stress-response pathways that are integral to plant growth and survival. Finally, we identify research gaps and suggest future research directions.

Metabolome and transcriptome analysis of terpene synthase genes and their putative role in floral aroma production in Litchi chinensis.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are essential traits of flowers since they attract pollinators, aid in seed distribution, protect the plant from internal and external stimuli, and are involved in plant-plant and plant-environment interactions. Apart from their role in plants, VOCs are used in pharmaceuticals, fragrances, cosmetics, and flavorings. Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a popular fruit due to its enticing red appearance, exotic taste, and high nutritional qualities. Litchi flowers bloom as inflorescences primarily on the shoot terminals. There are three distinct flower types, two male and one female, all of which are produced on the same panicle and rely on insect pollination. Herein, we used a comprehensive metabolomic approach to examine the volatile profile of litchi fruit (green pericarp, yellow pericarp, and red pericarp) as well as male and female flowers (bud stage, half open and full bloom). From a quantitative examination of the volatiles in L. chinensis, a total of 19, 22, and 21 VOCs were discovered from female flowers, male flowers, and fruits, with the majority of them belonging to sesquiterpenes. Multivariate analysis revealed that the volatile profiles of fruits differ from those of male and female flowers. Three VOCs were unique to male flowers and ten to the fruit, while eight VOCs were shared by both male and female flowers and eleven by both male and female flowers and the fruit. Furthermore, for the first time, we identified and comprehensively studied the TERPENE SYNTHASE genes (TPS) using the litchi genome and transcriptome database, which revealed 38 TPS genes unevenly distributed across the 15 chromosomes. A phylogenetic study showed that LcTPS were grouped into TPS-b, TPS-c, TPS-e, TPS-f, and TPS-g subfamilies, with TPS-b having the most genes. The conserved motifs (RRX8 W, NSE/DTE, and DDXX D) were studied in LcTPSs, and significant variation between subfamilies was discovered. Furthermore, after integrating the metabolome and transcriptome datasets, several VOCs were shown to be development-specific and highly linked with distinct LcTPS genes, making them promising biomarkers. Interestingly, LcTPS17/20/23/24/31 were associated with monoterpene edges, while the rest were connected to sesquiterpene edges, indicating their probable participation in the aroma biosynthesis mechanism of certain compounds.

Genome-wide analysis of ARF transcription factors reveals HcARF5 expression profile associated with the biosynthesis of ß-ocimene synthase in Hedychium coronarium.

KEY MESSAGE: Herein, 37 ARF genes were identified and analyzed in Hedychium coronarium and HcARF5 showed a potential role in the regulation of HcTPS3. Auxin is an important plant hormone, implicated in various aspects of plant growth and development processes especially in the biosynthesis of various secondary metabolites. Auxin response factors (ARF) belong to the transcription factors (TFs) gene family and play a crucial role in transcriptional activation/repression of auxin-responsive genes by directly binding to their promoter region. Nevertheless, whether ARF genes are involved in the regulatory mechanism of volatile compounds in flowering plants is largely unknown. ß-ocimene is a key floral volatile compound synthesized by terpene synthase 3 (HcTPS3) in Hedychium coronarium. A comprehensive analysis of H. coronarium genome reveals 37 candidate ARF genes in the whole genome. Tissue-specific expression patterns of HcARFs family members were assessed using available transcriptome data. Among them, HcARF5 showed a higher expression level in flowers, and significantly correlated with the key structural ß-ocimene synthesis gene (HcTPS3). Furthermore, transcript levels of both genes were associated with the flower development. Under hormone treatments, the response of HcARF5 and HcTPS3, and the emission level of ß-ocimene contents were evaluated. Subcellular and transcriptional activity assay showed that HcARF5 localizes to the nucleus and possesses transcriptional activity. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase assays revealed that HcARF5 directly regulates the transcriptional activity of HcTPS3. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays showed that HcARF5 interacts with scent-related HcIAA4, HcIAA6, and HcMYB1 in vivo. Overall, these results indicate that HcARF5 is potentially involved in the regulation of ß-ocimene synthesis in H. coronarium.

Effectiveness of Functional Family Therapy in a Non-Western Context: Findings from a Randomized-Controlled Evaluation of Youth Offenders in Singapore.

This study is the first to evaluate Functional Family Therapy (FFT) in a non-Western culture. The effectiveness of FFT was examined in relation to three proximal outcomes relevant to youth offender rehabilitation: (i) mental well-being, (ii) family functioning, and (iii) probation completion. 120 youth probationers (Mage = 16.2, SD = 1.33) were randomly assigned to receive either standard probation services-Treatment-As-Usual (TAU; n = 57)-or FFT in addition to TAU (FFT; n = 63). Data on psychometric measures of mental well-being and family functioning were obtained at (i) preprogram, (ii) postprogram, and (iii) at the end of probation. Probation completion data were obtained from casefile records. Mean mental well-being scores of the FFT group improved from pre- to post-treatment, and gains were maintained at follow-up. However, there was a nonsignificant trend for the FFT group showing higher rates of reliable change and clinical recovery on the mental well-being scale. There were no group differences in family functioning scores over time. However, there was a significant trend for the FFT group showing higher rates of reliable change and clinical recovery on the family functioning scale. Probation completion rates were 88.9% and 70.2% for the FFT and TAU groups, respectively. Youth in the FFT group were significantly more likely to complete probation successfully. The results support FFT's effectiveness in Singaporean youth offenders. At a broader level, the study findings support the cross-cultural effectiveness of FFT in, and transportability to, a non-Western culture.

Este estudio es el primero en evaluar la Terapia Familiar Funcional (TFF) en una cultura no occidental. Se analizó la eficacia de la TFF en relación con tres resultados proximales relevantes para la rehabilitación de los delincuentes juveniles: (i) bienestar mental, (ii) funcionamiento familiar y (iii) término de la libertad condicional. Se distribuyeron aleatoriamente 120 jóvenes en libertad condicional (Edad Promedio = 16.2, Desviación Típica= 1.33) para recibir servicios de libertad condicional estándar-tratamiento habitual (TH; n = 57)-o TFF además del TH (TFF; n = 63). Se obtuvieron datos sobre las medidas psicométricas de bienestar mental y funcionamiento familiar en los siguientes momentos (i) antes del programa, (ii) después del programa y (iii) al final de la libertad condicional. Se obtuvieron datos del término de la libertad condicional de los expedientes judiciales. Los puntajes del bienestar mental promedio del grupo de TFF mejoraron desde antes a después del tratamiento, y se mantuvieron los avances en el seguimiento. Sin embargo, hubo una tendencia no significativa en el grupo de TFF que indicó índices más altos de cambio fiable y recuperación clínica en la escala de bienestar mental. No hubo diferencias entre los grupos en los puntajes de funcionamiento familiar en el transcurso del tiempo. Sin embargo, hubo una tendencia significativa en el grupo de TFF que indicó índices más altos de cambio fiable y recuperación clínica en la escala de funcionamiento familiar. Los índices de término de la libertad condicional fueron 88.9 % y 70.2 % en los grupos de TFF y de TH respectivamente. Los jóvenes del grupo de TFF fueron considerablemente más propensos a terminar la libertad condicional satisfactoriamente. Los resultados respaldan la eficacia de la TFF entre los delincuentes juveniles singapurenses. A nivel general, los resultados del estudio respaldan la eficacia intercultural de la TFF en una cultura no occidental y la transportabilidad hacia ella.

HS-SPME-GC-MS and Electronic Nose Reveal Differences in the Volatile Profiles of Hedychium Flowers.

Floral fragrance is one of the most important characteristics of ornamental plants and plays a pivotal role in plant lifespan such as pollinator attraction, pest repelling, and protection against abiotic and biotic stresses. However, the precise determination of floral fragrance is limited. In the present study, the floral volatile compounds of six Hedychium accessions exhibiting from faint to highly fragrant were comparatively analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Electronic nose (E-nose). A total of 42 volatile compounds were identified through GC-MS analysis, including monoterpenoids (18 compounds), sesquiterpenoids (12), benzenoids/phenylpropanoids (8), fatty acid derivatives (2), and others (2). In Hedychium coronarium 'ZS', H. forrestii 'Gaoling', H. 'Jin', H. 'Caixia', and H. 'Zhaoxia', monoterpenoids were abundant, while sesquiterpenoids were found in large quantities in H. coccineum 'KMH'. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) divided the 42 volatile compounds into four different groups (I, II, III, IV), and Spearman correlation analysis showed these compounds to have different degrees of correlation. The E-nose was able to group the different accessions in the principal component analysis (PCA) corresponding to scent intensity. Furthermore, the pattern-recognition findings confirmed that the E-nose data validated the GC-MS results. The partial least squares (PLS) analysis between floral volatile compounds and sensors suggested that specific sensors were highly sensitive to terpenoids. In short, the E-nose is proficient in discriminating Hedychium accessions of different volatile profiles in both quantitative and qualitative aspects, offering an accurate and rapid reference technique for future applications.

In Situ Measurements of Interactions between Switchable Surface-Active Colloid Particles Using Optical Tweezers.

Switchable surface-active colloid particles are critical to the preparation of switchable Pickering emulsions, which are widely involved in multitudinous fundamental and practical fields, such as biomedical, food products, and spinning cosmetics. The stability of switchable surface-active particles relies on the full understanding of interaction forces between individual colloid particles quantitatively. In this work, a dual-laser optical tweezers instrument was applied to measure the interaction forces between silica particles coated with a common cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) in water, and all of the measured forces can be well fitted with the theoretical model derived from the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. It was revealed that the minimum surface distance to engender the interaction forces between silica particles was closer progressively with the increase of CTAB concentrations, suggesting that the introduction of CTAB molecules in the solution thinned the electric double layer. In addition, the minimum surface distance between surface-inactive silica particles further decreased compared to surface-active states, although the ζ-potential has returned to the initial value of bare silica in pure water when the molecular ratio of 1:1 anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) was added into the solution to switch the surface-active silica particles to surface-inactive states. Our results provide a considerate methodology for quantifying the interaction forces and investigating the switchable behaviors of CTAB molecules from the adsorption to desorption at the particle-water interfaces, which provide vital foresights into the stabilization mechanism of switchable surface-active colloid particles and the further development of switchable Pickering emulsions.

Part mutual information for quantifying direct associations in networks.

Quantitatively identifying direct dependencies between variables is an important task in data analysis, in particular for reconstructing various types of networks and causal relations in science and engineering. One of the most widely used criteria is partial correlation, but it can only measure linearly direct association and miss nonlinear associations. However, based on conditional independence, conditional mutual information (CMI) is able to quantify nonlinearly direct relationships among variables from the observed data, superior to linear measures, but suffers from a serious problem of underestimation, in particular for those variables with tight associations in a network, which severely limits its applications. In this work, we propose a new concept, "partial independence," with a new measure, "part mutual information" (PMI), which not only can overcome the problem of CMI but also retains the quantification properties of both mutual information (MI) and CMI. Specifically, we first defined PMI to measure nonlinearly direct dependencies between variables and then derived its relations with MI and CMI. Finally, we used a number of simulated data as benchmark examples to numerically demonstrate PMI features and further real gene expression data from Escherichia coli and yeast to reconstruct gene regulatory networks, which all validated the advantages of PMI for accurately quantifying nonlinearly direct associations in networks.

Genome-Wide Analysis and Characterization of the Aux/IAA Family Genes Related to Floral Scent Formation in Hedychium coronarium.

Auxin plays a key role in different plant growth and development processes, including flower opening and development. The perception and signaling of auxin depend on the cooperative action of various components, among which auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) proteins play an imperative role. In a recent study, the entire Aux/IAA gene family was identified and comprehensively analyzed in Hedychium coronarium, a scented species used as an ornamental plant for cut flowers. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Aux/IAA gene family in H. coronarium is slightly contracted compared to Arabidopsis, with low levels of non-canonical proteins. Sequence analysis of promoters showed numerous cis-regulatory elements related to various phytohormones. HcIAA genes showed distinct expression patterns in different tissues and flower developmental stages, and some HcIAA genes showed significant responses to auxin and ethylene, indicating that Aux/IAAs may play an important role in linking hormone signaling pathways. Based on the expression profiles, HcIAA2, HcIAA4, HcIAA6 and HcIAA12, were selected as candidate genes and HcIAA2 and HcIAA4 were screened for further characterization. Downregulation of HcIAA2 and HcIAA4 by virus-induced gene silencing in H. coronarium flowers modified the total volatile compound content, suggesting that HcIAA2 and HcIAA4 play important roles in H. coronarium floral scent formation. The results presented here will provide insights into the putative roles of HcIAA genes and will assist the elucidation of their precise roles during floral scent formation.

Radiotherapy-Sensitized Tumor Photothermal Ablation Using γ-Polyglutamic Acid Nanogels Loaded with Polypyrrole.

Development of versatile nanoscale platforms for cancer diagnosis and therapy is of great importance for applications in translational medicine. In this work, we present the use of γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) nanogels (NGs) to load polypyrrole (PPy) for thermal/photoacoustic (PA) imaging and radiotherapy (RT)-sensitized tumor photothermal therapy (PTT). First, a double emulsion approach was used to prepare the cystamine dihydrochloride (Cys)-cross-linked γ-PGA NGs. Next, the cross-linked NGs served as a reactor to be filled with pyrrole monomers that were subjected to in situ oxidation polymerization in the existence of Fe(III) ions. The formed uniform PPy-loaded NGs having an average diameter of 38.9 ± 8.6 nm exhibited good water-dispersibility and colloid stability. The prominent near-infrared (NIR) absorbance feature due to the loaded PPy endowed the NGs with contrast enhancement in PA imaging. The hybrid NGs possessed excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (64.7%) and stability against laser irradiation, and could be adopted for PA imaging and PTT of cancerous cells and tumor xenografts. Importantly, we also explored the cooperative PTT and X-ray radiation-mediated RT for enhanced tumor therapy. We show that PTT of tumors can be more significantly sensitized by RT using the sequence of laser irradiation followed by X-ray radiation as compared to using the reverse sequence. Our study suggests a promising theranostic platform of hybrid NGs that may be potentially utilized for PA imaging and combination therapy of different types of tumors.

Facile Formation of Gold-Nanoparticle-Loaded γ-Polyglutamic Acid Nanogels for Tumor Computed Tomography Imaging.

The formation of gold nanoparticle (Au NP)-loaded γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) nanogels (NGs) for computed tomography (CT) imaging of tumors is reported. γ-PGA with carboxyl groups activated by 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl] carbodiimide hydrochloride is first emulsified to form NGs and then in situ chemically cross-linked with polyethylenimine (PEI)-entrapped Au NPs with partial polyethylene glycol (PEG) modification ([(Au0)200-PEI·NH2-mPEG]). The formed γ-PGA-[(Au0)200-PEI·NH2-mPEG] NGs with a size of 108.6 ± 19.1 nm display an X-ray attenuation property better than commercial iodinated small-molecular-contrast agents and can be uptaken by cancer cells more significantly than γ-PGA-stabilized single Au NPs at the same Au concentrations. These properties render the formed NGs with an ability to be used as an effective contrast agent for the CT imaging of cancer cells in vitro and a tumor model in vivo. The developed hybrid NGs may be promising for the CT imaging or theranostics of different biosystems.

A Platinum(II)-based Photosensitive Tripod as an Effective Photodynamic Anticancer Agent through DNA Damage.

Herein, two photosensitive platinum(II)-based tripods were designed and synthesized. Notably, complex 1 ({[Pt(dien)]3 L}(NO3 )6 , L=tri(4-pyridylphenyl)amine and dien=diethylenetriamine), which mainly accumulated in the cell nucleus, exhibited very low cytotoxicity in the absence of light irradiation, but displayed a remarkable increase in cytotoxicity upon visible light irradiation. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the tripod interacted with DNA in the nucleus, induced ROS generation upon light irradiation, and consequently elicited rapid DNA damage response; thereby triggering cancer cell apoptosis.