Zinc and methyl jasmonate improve sugar beet tolerance to high boron stress by enhanced leaf photochemical performance.

Nutrient imbalances, such as high boron (B) stress, occur within, as well as across, agricultural systems worldwide and have become an important abiotic factor that reduces soil fertility and inhibits plant growth. Sugar beet is a B-loving crop and is better suited to be grown in high B environments, but the methods and mechanisms regarding the enhancement of high-B stress tolerance traits are not clear. The main objective of this research was to elucidate the effects of the alone and/or combined foliar spraying of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the growth parameters, tolerance, and photochemical performance of sugar beet under high-B stress. Results demonstrated that the photosynthetic performance was inhibited under high-B stress, with a reduction of 11.33% in the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and an increase of 25.30% in the tolerance index. The application of ZnSO4, MeJA, and their combination enhanced sugar beet's adaptability to high-B stress, with an increase in Pn of 9.22%, 4.49%, and 2.85%, respectively, whereas the tolerance index was elevated by 15.33%, 8.21%, and 5.19%, respectively. All three ameliorative treatments resulted in increased photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and the photosynthetic performance index (PIABS) of PSII. Additionally, they enhanced the light energy absorption (ABS/RC) and trapping capacity (DIO/RC), reduced the thermal energy dissipation (TRO/RC), and facilitated the QA to QB transfer in the electron transport chain (ETC) of PSII, which collectively improved the photochemical performance. Therefore, spraying both ZnSO4 and MeJA can better alleviate high-B stress and promote the growth of sugar beet, but the combined spraying effect of ZnSO4 and MeJA is lower than that of individual spraying. This study provides a reference basis for enhancing the ability of sugar beet and other plants to tolerate high-B stress and for sugar beet cultivation in high B areas.

Biocontrol potential of Bacillus velezensis HG-8-2 against postharvest anthracnose on chili pepper caused by Colletotrichum scovillei.

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum scovillei is a significant disease of pepper, including in postharvest stage. Bacillus species represent a potential microbial resource for controlling postharvest plant diseases. Here, a strain HG-8-2 was obtained and identified as Bacillus velezensis through morphological, biochemical, physiological, and molecular analyses. The culture filtrate showed highly antifungal activity against C. scovillei both in vitro and on pepper fruit. Crude lipopeptide extracts, which had excellent stability, could effectively inhibit mycelial growth of C. scovillei with an EC50 value of 28.48 ± 1.45 µg mL-1 and inhibited conidial germination. Pretreatment with the extracts reduced the incidence and lesion size of postharvest anthracnose on pepper fruit. Analysis using propidium iodide staining, malondialdehyde content detection and scanning electron microscope observation suggested that the crude lipopeptide extracts harbored antifungal activity by damaging cell membranes and mycelial structures. The RNA-seq analysis conducted on C. scovillei samples treated with the extracts, as compared to untreated samples, revealed significant alterations in the expression of multiple genes involved in protein biosynthesis. Overall, these results demonstrated that B. velezensis HG-8-2 and its crude lipopeptide extracts exhibit highly antagonistic ability against C. scovillei, thereby offering an effective biological agent for the control of anthracnose in pepper fruit.

Endoplasmic reticulum-targeted delivery of celastrol and PD-L1 siRNA for reinforcing immunogenic cell death and potentiating cancer immunotherapy.

The prospect of employing chemoimmunotherapy targeted towards the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) presents an opportunity to amplify the synergistic effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In this study, we initially validated celastrol (CEL) as an inducer of immunogenic cell death (ICD) by promoting ER stress and autophagy in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Subsequently, an ER-targeted strategy was posited, involving the codelivery of CEL with PD-L1 small interfering RNAs (siRNA) using KDEL peptide-modified exosomes derived from milk (KME), to enhance chemoimmunotherapy outcomes. Our findings demonstrate the efficient transportation of KME to the ER via the Golgi-to-ER pathway. Compared to their non-targeting counterparts, KME exhibited a significant augmentation of the CEL-induced ICD effect. Additionally, it facilitated the release of danger signaling molecules (DAMPs), thereby stimulating the antigen-presenting function of dendritic cells and promoting the infiltration of T cells into the tumor. Concurrently, the ER-targeted delivery of PD-L1 siRNA resulted in the downregulation of both intracellular and membrane PD-L1 protein expression, consequently fostering the proliferation and activity of CD8+ T cells. Ultimately, the ER-targeted formulation exhibited enhanced anti-tumor efficacy and provoked anti-tumor immune responses against orthotopic colorectal tumors in vivo. Collectively, a robust ER-targeted delivery strategy provides an encouraging approach for achieving potent cancer chemoimmunotherapy.

Hierarchical bound states in heat transport.

Higher-order topological phases in non-Hermitian photonics revolutionize the understanding of wave propagation and modulation, which lead to hierarchical states in open systems. However, intrinsic insulating properties endorsed by the lattice symmetry of photonic crystals fundamentally confine the robust transport only at explicit system boundaries, letting alone the flexible reconfiguration in hierarchical states at arbitrary positions. Here, we report a dynamic topological platform for creating the reconfigurable hierarchical bound states in heat transport systems and observe the robust and nonlocalized higher-order states in both the real- and imaginary-valued bands. Our experiments showcase that the hierarchical features of zero-dimension corner and nontrivial edge modes occur at tailored positions within the system bulk states instead of the explicit system boundaries. Our findings uncover the mechanism of non-localized hierarchical non-trivial topological states and offer distinct paradigms for diffusive transport field management.

Causal effects of lipid-lowering drugs on inflammatory skin diseases: Evidence from drug target Mendelian randomisation.

Clinical research has revealed that inflammatory skin diseases are associated with dyslipidaemia. Modulating lipids is also a rising potential treatment option. However, there is heterogeneity in the existing evidence and a lack of large-scale clinical trials. Observational research is prone to bias, making it difficult to determine causality. This study aimed to evaluate the causal association between lipid-lowering drugs and inflammatory skin diseases. A drug target Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis was conducted. Genetic targets of lipid-lowering drugs, including proprotein convertase subtilis kexin 9 (PCSK9) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-assisted enzyme A reductase (HMGCR) inhibitor, were screened. Common inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis, allergic urticaria, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, systemic sclerosis and seborrhoeic dermatitis, were considered as outcomes. Gene-predicted inhibition of PCSK9 was causally associated with a decreased risk of psoriasis (ORIVW [95%CI] = 0.600 [0.474-0.761], p = 2.48 × 10-5) and atopic dermatitis (ORIVW [95%CI] = 0.781 [0.633-0.964], p = 2.17 × 10-2). Gene-predicted inhibition of HMGCR decreased the risk of seborrhoeic dermatitis (ORIVW [95%CI] = 0.407 [0.168-0.984], p = 4.61 × 10-2) but increased the risk of allergic urticaria (ORIVW [95%CI] = 3.421 [1.374-8.520], p = 8.24 × 10-3) and rosacea (ORIVW [95%CI] = 3.132 [1.260-7.786], p = 1.40 × 10-2). Among all causal associations, only PCSK9 inhibition demonstrated a robust causal effect on psoriasis after a more rigorous Bonferroni test (p < 4.17 × 10-3, which is 0.05/12). Modulating lipids via PCSK9 inhibition may offer potential therapeutic targets for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Given the potential cutaneous side effects associated with HMGCR inhibitors, PCSK9 inhibitors could be considered viable alternatives in lipid-lowering medication.

Consideration on immunotherapy of liver metastases of malignant tumors.

In this editorial, we comment on the article "Analysis of the impact of immunotherapy efficacy and safety in patients with gastric cancer and liver metastasis" by Liu et al that was published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. It has prompted us to think and summarize some thoughts on immunotherapy for malignant tumor liver metastasis. Immunotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of malignant tumors; however, the presence of liver metastases in advanced tumors may impact its efficacy. Although patients with liver metastases can still benefit from immunotherapy, multiple clinical studies have indicated that, compared to other sites of metastasis, liver metastases may diminish the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with liver metastases often fails to reach the ideal level, primarily due to the liver metastases exploiting the host's peripheral immune tolerance mechanisms to promote systemic CD8(+) T cell exhaustion, resulting in a systemic immune-tolerant environment. This article aims to summarize the reasons for the decreased efficacy of immunotherapy following liver metastasis in various malignant tumors and propose potential clinical strategies for management.

Mechanisms of mechanical force in periodontal homeostasis: a review.

Mechanical forces affect periodontal health through multiple mechanisms. Normally, mechanical forces can boost soft and hard tissue metabolism. However, excessive forces may damage the periodontium or result in irreversible inflammation, whereas absence of occlusion forces also leads to tissue atrophy and bone resorption. We systemically searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases and found certain mechanisms of mechanical forces on immune defence, extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism, specific proteins, bone metabolism, characteristic periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as these factors contribute to periodontal homeostasis. The immune defence functions change under forces; genes, signalling pathways and proteinases are altered under forces to regulate ECM metabolism; several specific proteins are separately discussed due to their important functions in mechanotransduction and tissue metabolism. Functions of osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts are activated to maintain bone homeostasis. Additionally, ncRNAs have the potential to influence gene expression and thereby, modify tissue metabolism. This review summarizes all these mechanisms of mechanical forces on periodontal homeostasis. Identifying the underlying causes, this review provides a new perspective of the mechanisms of force on periodontal health and guides for some new research directions of periodontal homeostasis.

Soil and stone terraces offset the negative impacts of sloping cultivation on soil microbial diversity and functioning by protecting soil carbon.

Cultivation of sloping land is a main cause for soil erosion. Conservation practices, such as soil and stone terraces, may reduce the impacts of erosion but their impacts on soil microbial diversity and functioning related to carbon (C) and nutrient metabolisms remain unclear. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of slope gradients (5°, 8°, 15°, 25°) and conservation practices (cultivated, uncultivated, soil terrace, and stone terrace) on bacterial and fungal diversities, metagenomic and metabolomic functioning associated with basic soil properties. Our results showed that steep slopes at 25° significantly decreased soil pH, silt percentage, and bacterial and fungal abundances, but that soil and stone terraces increased soil organic C (SOC), silt and clay contents, and fungal abundance compared to sloping cultivated lands. In addition, soil and stone terraces increased both bacterial and fungal alpha diversities, and relative abundances of Crenarchaeota, Nitrospirota, and Latescibacterota, but reduced the proportions of Actinobacteriota and Patescibacteria, thus shifting microbial beta diversities, which were significantly associated with increased SOC and silt content. For metagenomics, soil and stone terraces greatly increased the relative abundance of functional genes related to Respiration, Virulence, disease and defense, Stress response, and nitrogen and potassium metabolisms, such as Denitrification and Potassium homeostasis. For soil metabolomics, a total of 22 soil metabolites was enriched by soil and stone terraces, such as Lipids and lipid-like molecules (Arachidonic acid, Gamma-Linolenic acid, and Pentadecanoic acid), and Organoheterocyclic compounds (Adenine, Laudanosine, Methylpyrazine, and Nicotinic acid). To sum up, soil and stone terraces could reduce some of the negative impacts of steep slope cultivation on soil microbial diversity as well as their metagenomic and metabolomic functioning related to C and nutrient metabolism useful for soil health improvement, potentially bolstering the impact of sustainable practices in erosion hotspots around the world.

Blue emission-dominated NaYbF4@NaYF4:2%Ho@NaYF4 upconversion nanoparticles for detecting ascorbic acid.

The blue emission-dominated NaYbF4@NaYF4:2%Ho@NaYF4 (CSS) upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were designed to detect ascorbic acid (AA). The blue emission of CSS was increased, ∼34 and ∼8 times higher than that of NaYF4:2%Ho@NaYbF4@NaYF4 (CSS (I)) and NaYbF4@NaYF4:20%Yb,2%Ho@ NaYF4 (CSS (II)), respectively. The dominant blue emission of CSS might be attributed to three aspects: (1) the protected NaYbF4 core for high near-infrared absorption, (2) the spatial separation of Yb3+ and Ho3+ preventing back energy transfer, and (3) their inert shell inhibiting surface quenching. It is worth noting that the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) of the CSS (donor) to MnO2 nanosheets (acceptor) was developed to trace AA. The detection limit is 0.75 µM and the detection range is 0.5-100 µM. In summary, our work not only explored the blue emission mechanism of Ho3+, but also constructed a CSS/MnO2-based nanosensing platform for the rapid and sensitive detection of AA. The blue emission of Ho3+ has promising applications in the field of sensing and detection.

RCDdb: A manually curated database and analysis platform for regulated cell death.

Regulated cell death is a pivotal regulatory mechanism governing the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. A comprehensive understanding of RCD's regulatory mechanisms is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies against diseases associated with cell death, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, existing data repositories support limited types of cell death data and lack comprehensive annotation and analytical functionalities. Thus, establishing an extensive cell death database is an urgent imperative. To address this gap, we developed the Regulated Cell Death Database (RCDdb, chenyclab.com/RCDdb), the first comprehensively manually annotated database designed to support annotations and analytical capabilities across all RCD types. We compiled 3090 marker gene annotations associated with 15 RCD types from 2180 relevant articles. The RCDdb includes annotation data on these marker genes concerning diseases, drugs, pathways, proteins, and gene expressions. Furthermore, it provides 49 diverse visualization methods to present this information. More importantly, the RCDdb features three online analysis tools for identifying and analyzing RCD-related features within user-submitted data. Furthermore, the RCDdb offers a user-friendly interface for querying, browsing, analysis, and visualization of detailed information associated with each RCD category. This resource promises to significantly aid researchers in better understanding the mechanisms of cell death, thereby accelerating progress in research and therapeutic strategies aimed at combating RCD-related diseases.

Determination of leaf nitrogen content in apple and jujube by near-infrared spectroscopy.

The nitrogen content of apple leaves and jujube leaves is an important index to judge the growth and development of apple trees and jujube trees to a certain extent. The prediction performance of the two samples was compared between different models for leaf nitrogen content, respectively. The near-infrared absorption spectra of 287 apple leaf samples and 192 jujube leaf samples were collected. After eliminating the outliers by Mahalanobis distance method, the remaining spectral data were processed by six different preprocessing methods. BP neural network (BP), random forest regression (RF), least partial squares (PLS), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and support vector regression (SVR) were compared to establish prediction models of nitrogen content in apple leaves and jujube leaves. The results showed that the determination coefficient (R2), root mean square error (RMSE) and residual prediction deviation (RPD) of the models established by different combined pretreatment methods were compared among the five methods. Compared with the performance of the other four models, the modeling method of SG + SD + CARS + RF was suitable for the prediction of nitrogen content in apple leaves, and its modeling set R2 was 0.85408, RMSE was 0.082188, and RPD was 2.5864. The validation set R2 is 0.75527, RMSE is 0.099028, RPD is 2.1956. The modeling method of FD + CARS + PLS was suitable for the prediction of nitrogen content in jujube leaves. The modeling set R2 was 0.7954, RMSE was 0.14558, and RPD was 2.4264; the validation set R2 is 0.81348, RMSE is 0.089217, and RPD is 2.4552.In the prediction modeling of apple leaf nitrogen content in the characteristic band, the model quality of RF was better than the other four prediction models. The model quality of PLS in predictive modeling of nitrogen content of jujube leaves in characteristic bands is superior to the other four predictive models, These results provide a reference for the use of near-infrared spectroscopy to determine whether apple trees and jujube trees are deficient in nutrients.

Nitrogen-Doped Indium Oxide Electrochemical Sensor for Stable and Selective NO2 Detection.

Efficient gas sensors are critical for environmental monitoring and industrial safety. While metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors are cost-effective, they struggle with poor selectivity, high operating temperatures, and limited stability. Electrochemical sensors, though selective and energy-efficient, face high costs, and stability issues due to precious metal catalysts like platinum on carbon (Pt/C). Herein, a novel, cost-effective electrochemical sensor using nitrogen-doped indium oxide In2O3- xN2 x /3Vx /3 (0.01≤x≤0.14), synthesized with varying nitriding times is presented. The optimized In2O3 N-40 min sensor demonstrates a remarkable response current of 771 nA to 10 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at ambient temperature, with outstanding long-term stability (over 30 days) and rapid response/recovery times (5/16 s). Compared to Pt/C sensors, it shows 84% and 67% reductions in response and recovery times, respectively, and maintains 98% performance after a month, versus 68% for Pt/C. This cost-effective sensor presents a promising alternative for electrochemical gas sensing, eliminating the need for precious metal catalysts.

Single-Nucleus Landscape of Glial Cells and Neurons in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with a projected significant increase in incidence. Therefore, this study analyzed single-nucleus AD data to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical development and treatment of AD. We downloaded AD-related monocyte data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, annotated cells, compared cell abundance between groups, and investigated glial and neuronal cell biological processes and pathways through functional enrichment analysis. Furthermore, we constructed a global regulatory network for AD based on cell communication and ecological analyses. Our findings revealed increased abundance of Capping Protein Regulator And Myosin 1 linker 1 (CARMIL1)+ astrocytes (AST), Immunoglobulin Superfamily Member 21 (IGSF21)+ microglia (MIC), SRY-Box Transcription Factor 6 (SOX6)+ inhibitory neurons (InNeu), and laminin alpha-2 chain (LAMA2)+ oligodendrocytes (OLI) cell subgroups in tissues of patients with AD, while prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS)+ AST, Src Family Tyrosine Kinase (FYN)+ MIC, and Proteolipid Protein 1 (PLP1)+ InNeu subgroups specifically decreased. We found that the cell phenotype of patients with AD shifted from a simpler to a more complex state compared to the control group. Cell communication analysis revealed strong communication between MIC and NEU. Furthermore, AST, MIC, NEU, and OLI were involved in oxidative stress- and inflammation-related pathways, potentially contributing to disease development. This study provides a theoretical basis for further exploring the specific mechanisms underlying AD.

Association of weight loss strategies with all-cause and specific-cause mortality: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The health effects of different weight loss strategies vary greatly, and the relationship between weight loss strategies, especially the combination of multiple strategies, and death is still unclear. We aimed to examine the associations of various numbers and combinations of weight loss strategies with all-cause and specific-cause mortality and to further evaluate the associations of different total weight loss volumes with mortality. METHODS: Using data from NHANES (1999-2018) with 48,430 participants aged 20 and above, we collected fourteen self-reported weight loss strategies and identified five clusters using latent class analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between the amounts and clusters of weight loss strategies and mortality. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 9.1 years of 48,430 participants, 7,539 deaths were recorded (including 1,941 CVDs and 1,714 cancer). Participants who adopted 2, 3-4, and ≥ 5 weight loss strategies had a lower risk of all-cause mortality, with HRs of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.81 to 0.97), 0.89 (95% CI, 0.81 to 0.96) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.61 to 0.82). Regardless of weight loss or weight gain categories, there was a significant trend toward reduced mortality as the number of weight loss strategies increased (P trend < 0.05). Participants who adopted cluster-1 (four strategies), cluster-2 (five strategies) and cluster-3 (three strategies) had a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality, with HRs of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.60 to 0.84), 0.70 (95% CI, 0.55 to 0.89) and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.70 to 0.94). Among them, cluster-1 and cluster-2 are both characterized by eating less food, exercising, drinking plenty of water, lowering calories and eating less fat. Conversely, cluster-4 (five strategies) and cluster-5 (four strategies) had marginally significant effects, and they both had actual higher total energy intakes. Similar associations were observed for CVDs and cancer mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Employing two or more weight loss strategies was associated with a lower risk of death, even among those who gained weight. Eating less food, exercising, drinking plenty of water, lowering calories and eating less fat is a better combination of strategies. On this basis, limiting the actual intake of total energy is necessary.

Endogenous RBM4 prevents Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via downregulating the expression of PTBP1.

Aberrant gene expression in cardiomyocyte has been revealed to be the fundamental essence of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. However, the detailed mechanisms are not fully understood. The underlying regulators of gene expression involved in cardiac hypertrophy remain to be further identified. Here, we report that the RNA-binding protein RNA-binding motif protein 4 (RBM4) functions as an endogenic protector that is able to fight against cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro. Under pro-hypertrophic stimulation of angiotensin II (Ang II), the protein level of RBM4 in cardiomyocyte and myocardium is elevated. Knockdown of RBM4 can further aggravate cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, while over-expression of RBM4 represses cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Mechanistically, RBM4 is localized in the nucleus and down-regulates the expression of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1), which has been shown to aggravate cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In addition, we suggest that the up-regulation of RBM4 in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is caused by N6-methyladenosine (m6A). Ang II induces m6A methylation of RBM4 mRNA, which further enhances the YTH domain-containing family protein 1 (YTHDF1)-mediated translation of RBM4. Thus, our results reveal a novel pathway consisting of m6A, RBM4 and PTBP1, which is involved in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

A Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Young Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer Based on Competing Risk Model.

BACKGROUND: Young lung cancer is a rare subgroup accounting for 5% of lung cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the causes of death (COD) among lung cancer patients of different age groups and construct a nomogram to predict cancer-specific survival (CSS) in young patients with advanced stage. METHODS: Lung cancer patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and stratified into the young (18-45 years) and old (> 45 years) groups to compare their COD. Young patients diagnosed with advanced stage (IVa and IVb) from 2010 to 2015 were reselected and divided into training and validation cohorts (7:3). Independent prognostic factors were identified through the Fine-Gray's test and further integrated to the competing risk model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), consistency index (C-index), and calibration curve were applied for validation. RESULTS: The proportion of cancer-specific death (CSD) in young patients was higher than that in old patients with early-stage lung cancer (p < 0.001), while there was no difference in the advanced stage (p = 0.999). Through univariate and multivariate analysis, 10 variables were identified as independent prognostic factors for CSS. The AUC of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year prediction of CSS was 0.688, 0.706, and 0.791 in the training cohort and 0.747, 0.752, and 0.719 in the validation cohort. The calibration curves demonstrated great accuracy. The C-index of the competing risk model was 0.692 (95% CI: 0.636-0.747) in the young patient cohort. CONCLUSION: Young lung cancer is a distinct entity with a different spectrum of competing risk events. The construction of our nomogram can provide new insights into the management of young patients with lung cancer.

Paternal Preconception Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Risk of Congenital Heart Disease in Offspring.

Importance: Previous evidence suggests that maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during prepregnancy or pregnancy is associated with congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in offspring. However, the association of paternal HBV infection with CHDs is not well examined. Objective: To explore the association of paternal preconception HBV infection with CHDs in offspring. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used propensity score matching of data from the Chinese National Free Preconception Checkup Project (NFPCP) from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2018. Male participants whose wives were aged 20 to 49 years, were uninfected with HBV, and successfully conceived within 1 year after prepregnancy examination were enrolled. Data were analyzed from March 2023 to February 2024. Exposures: The primary exposure was paternal preconception HBV infection status, including uninfected, previous infection (both serum hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B envelope antigen negative), and new infection (serum hepatitis B surface antigen positive). Maternal HBV immune status was further classified as immune or susceptible. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was CHDs, which were collected from the birth defect registration card of the NFPCP. Logistic regression with robust error variances was used to estimate the association between paternal preconception HBV infection and CHDs in offspring. Results: A total of 6 675 540 couples participated in the NFPCP service. After matching husbands with and without preconception HBV infection in a 1:4 ratio, 3 047 924 couples (median age of husbands, 27 years [IQR, 25-30 years]) were included in this study. Of these couples, 0.025% had offspring with CHDs. Previous paternal HBV infection was independently associated with CHDs in offspring (adjusted relative risk [ARR], 1.40; 95% CI, 1.11-1.76) compared with no infection. Similar results were obtained in subgroup analyses according to maternal HBV immune status. Compared with couples with uninfected husbands and susceptible wives, the risk of CHDs in offspring among couples with previously HBV-infected husbands was similar in couples with wives with susceptible immune status (ARR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.10-2.03) and in those with wives with immunity (ARR, 1.49; 95%CI, 1.07-2.09). A significantly higher CHD risk in offspring was found among couples with newly infected husbands and immune wives (ARR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.05-1.82), but there was no difference in risk among those with newly infected husbands and susceptible wives (ARR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.72-1.36). No interactions were found between maternal immune status and paternal HBV infection. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study using propensity score matching, previous paternal preconception HBV infection was associated with CHD risk in offspring. The findings suggest that personalized reproductive guidance regarding HBV screening and staying free of HBV infection should be provided for both wives and husbands.

An Analysis of Capsaicin, Dihydrocapsaicin, Vitamin C and Flavones in Different Tissues during the Development of Ornamental Pepper.

As a fruit and vegetable crop, the ornamental pepper is not just highly ornamental but also rich in nutritional value. The quality of ornamental pepper fruits is given in their contents of capsaicin, vitamin C (VC), flavonoids and total phenols. The study concentrated on the accumulation of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in different tissues of 18 peppers during fruit growth and development. The results showed that the pericarp and placenta contained significantly higher levels of capsaicin than dihydrocapsaicin. Additionally, the placenta contained significantly higher levels of both capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin compared to the pericarp. The content of capsaicin was in the range of 0-6.7915 mg·g-1, the range of dihydrocapsaicin content was 0-5.329 mg·g-1. Interestingly, we found that the pericarp is rich in VC (5.4506 mg·g-1) and the placenta is high in flavonoids (4.8203 mg·g-1) and total phenols (119.63 mg·g-1). The capsaicin is the most important component using the correlation analysis and principal component analysis. The qPCR results substantiated that the expression of genes in the placenta was significantly higher than that in the pericarp and that the expression of genes in green ripening stage was higher than that in red ripening stage. This study could be utilized to select the best ripening stages and tissues to harvest peppers according to the use of the pepper and to the needs of producers. It not only provides a reference for quality improvement and processing for consumers and market but also provides a theoretical basis for high-quality pepper breeding.

Ruthenium Anchored Laser-Induced Graphene as Binder-Free and Free-Standing Electrode for Selective Electrosynthesis of Ammonia from Nitrate.

Developing effective electrocatalysts for the nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is a promising alternative to conventional industrial ammonia (NH3) synthesis. Herein, starting from a flexible laser-induced graphene (LIG) film with hierarchical and interconnected macroporous architecture, a binder-free and free-standing Ru-modified LIG electrode (Ru-LIG) is fabricated for electrocatalytic NO3RR via a facile electrodeposition method. The relationship between the laser-scribing parameters and the NO3RR performance of Ru-LIG electrodes is studied in-depth. At -0.59 VRHE, the Ru-LIG electrode exhibited the optimal and stable NO3RR performance (NH3 yield rate of 655.9 µg cm-2 h-1 with NH3 Faradaic efficiency of up to 93.7%) under a laser defocus setting of +2 mm and an applied laser power of 4.8 W, outperforming most of the reported NO3RR electrodes operated under similar conditions. The optimized laser-scribing parameters promoted the surface properties of LIG with increased graphitization degree and decreased charge-transfer resistance, leading to synergistically improved Ru electrodeposition with more exposed NO3RR active sites. This work not only provides a new insight to enhance the electrocatalytic NO3RR performance of LIG-based electrodes via the coordination with metal electrocatalysts as well as identification of the critical laser-scribing parameters but also will inspire the rational design of future advanced laser-induced electrocatalysts for NO3RR.

Oligolysine-based hydrogel dressing with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-adhesion activities for infected wound treatment.

Fabricating injectable hydrogel with multiple functions and effective promotion of wound repair has a great prospect in treatment of bacterial infected wounds. Herein, a pH/reactive oxygen species (ROS) dual responsive injectable hydrogel (PVBDL-gel) was constructed, the PVBDL-gel was cross-linked by dynamic Schiff base bonds and borate ester bonds between poly(vanillin acrylate-co-3 acrylamide phenylboronic acid-co-N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (P(VA-co-AAPBA-co-DMA)), oligolysines and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The anti-inflammatory drug, dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DEX), was encapsulated in this hydrogel. The hydrogel exhibited excellent degradability, stable rheology and suitable tissue adhesion, more importantly, which showing pH/ROS responsive ability and controllable releasing of DEX. In vitro and in vivo experiment results showed that the PVBDL-gel with good biocompatibility and efficient anti-infection ability can effectively eradicate 99.9 % of pathogenic bacteria within 3 h and promote the repair and regeneration of bacterial infection wounds. This novel multifunctional injectable hydrogel has great application in the field of bacterial infection wound repair.