First report of leaf spot disease caused by Pseudopithomyces chartarum on Lonicera caerulea L. in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) cultivation has gradually expanded in China but continues to be limited by challenges such as leaf spot disease. Between September 2022 and September 2023, a leaf spot disease was observed on approximately 30% of 'Lanjingling' blue honeysuckles grown in a 2.66 ha field (a total of about 11,000 plants) in Jiamusi city (130.47°E, 46.16°N), Heilongjiang Province, China. Affected plants displayed brown necrotic lesions on their leaves that gradually expanded in area until the leaves fell off the plant entirely. Small, 3 to 4 mm segments of infected tissue from 50 randomly selected leaves were surface sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 s and 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 3 min, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, dried on paper towels, and plated in 9 cm Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) (Yan et al. 2022). Five pathogens (LD-232, LD-233, LD-234, LD-235, and LD-236) were isolated on PDA and displayed a conidia morphology consistent with Pseudopithomyces spp. (Perelló et al. 2017). The fungal colonies on PDA were villiform, white, and whorled and had sparse aerial mycelium on the surface with black conidiomata. The conidia were obpyriform and dark brown, had 0 to 3 transverse and 0 to 1 longitudinal septa, and measured 9.00 to 15.30 µm × 5.70 to 9.30 µm in size (n = 50). Genomic DNA was extracted from a representative isolate, LD-232, for molecular verification and PCR amplification was performed with ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), LROR/LR7 (Carbone and Kohn 1999), and RPB2-5F2/RPB2-7CR (Liu et al. 1999) primers. Sequences of LD-232 ITS (OR835654), LSU (OR835652), and RPB2 (OR859769) revealed 99.8% (530/531 nt), 98.8% (639/647 nt), and 99.8% (1015/1017 nt) shared identity with Pseudopithomyces chartarum sequences (OP269600, OP237014, and MK434892), respectively (Wu et al. 2023). Bayesian inference (BI) was used to construct the phylogenies using Mr. Bayes v. 3.2.7 to confirm the identity of the isolates (Ariyawansa et al. 2015). Phylogenetic trees cannot be constructed based on the genes' concatenated sequences because selective strains do not have complete rDNA-ITS, LSU, and RPB2 sequences. Therefore, based on the morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, LD-232 was identified as P. chartarum (Perelló et al. 2017; Wu et al. 2023). A pathogenicity test was performed with six healthy, two-year-old 'Lanjingling' blue honeysuckle plants. Three plants were inoculated by spraying the LD-232 conidial suspension (1 × 106 spores/ml) or clean water as an experimental control condition (Wu et al. 2023; Yan et al. 2023). All plants were cultured in a greenhouse at 28℃ under a 12-h light/dark cycle, and each experiment was replicated three times. Typical leaf spot symptoms were observed on inoculated leaves after 10 days. The same pathogens were reisolated from infected leaves, displayed the same morphological and molecular traits, and were again identified as P. chartarum, confirming Koch's postulate. P. chartarum previously caused leaf spot disease on Tetrapanax papyrifer in China (Wu et al. 2023). To our knowledge, this is the first report of blue honeysuckle leaf spot caused by P. chartarum in China. Identification of P. chartarum as a disease agent on blue honeysuckle will help guide future management of leaf diseases for this economically important small fruit tree.

Efficacy and safety of orlistat in controlling the progression of prediabetes to diabetes: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the Orlistat on glucose levels and glucose tolerance in individuals with prediabetes, as well as assess its efficacy and safety in preventing the progression to diabetes. METHODS: For achieving the appropriate randomized controlled trials, we enrolled the public datas from the following electronic databases: The Cochrane library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, Wan-Fang, and China Biology Medicine disc. The article focused on the orlistat intervention of glucose tolerance and glycemic status in prediabetic patients. We restricted the publication time from the creation to May 2023. RESULTS: Six subjects were included in the study, with a total of 1076 participants (532 in the control group vs 544 in the experimental group). The results indicated that the orlistat can reduce the fasting blood glucose [relative risk (RR) = -2.18, 95% confidence intervals (CI) (-2.471, -1.886)], as well as the 2 hour postprandial blood glucose [RR = -1.497, 95% CI (-1.811, -1.183)]. Furthermore, it can prevent the impaired glucose tolerance patients to type 2 diabetes mellitus [RR = 0.605, 95% CI (0.462, 0.791)], and reversal the impaired glucose tolerance [RR = 2.092, 95% CI (1.249, 3.503)]. CONCLUSIONS: In prediabetic people, the orlistat can control weight, reduce the fasting blood glucose and the 2 hour postprandial blood glucose, and then delay the progression of diabetes. However, due to the quantitative restrictions, additional high-quality study needs to be conducted to improve the reliability of the results.

First report of leaf spot disease caused by Neopestalotiopsis rosae on Lonicera caerulea L. in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Recently, interest in cultivating blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) for horticulture and medicinal uses has grown (Sharma and Lee 2021). Between September 2022 and September 2023, a leaf spot disease (Fig. S1) was observed on approximately 20% of 'Lanjingling' blue honeysuckles grown in a 0.18 ha field in Qiqihar city (123.43°E, 47.92°N), Heilongjiang Province, China. Infected plants displayed black leaf spots that expanded to cover the entire leaf. Small, 3 to 4 mm segments of infected tissue were surface sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 s and 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 3 min, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, dried on paper towels, and plated in 9 cm Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) (Ma et al. 2023). To induce sporulation, nine purified cultures (Fig. S2) with similar culture characteristics were finally obtained from ten infected plants and they displayed a conidia morphology consistent with Neopestalotiopsis spp., no other fungi were isolated, and the isolation frequency was 90%. Conidiomata (Fig. S3) were brown to black and distributed in concentric rings with an average size of 261.98 (60.30-451.80) µm (n = 50). The conidia (Fig. S3) were fusoid and had four septa, straight to slightly curved, with an average size of 23.48 (13.50-30.30) × 5.42 (4.50-9.30) µm(n = 50), while basal and apical cells were hyaline and the three middle cells were brown with darker septa. PCR amplification was performed with ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EFl-728F/EF1-986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), and Btub2Fd/Btub4Rd (Glass and Donaldson 1995) primers from the genomic DNA of the LD-330. Sequences of ITS (PP033584), TEF (PP048757), and TUB (PP048758) revealed 99 to 100% (499/500, 255/255, and 481/486) shared identity with Neopestalotiopsis rosae sequences (NR145243, KM199524, and KM199430) (Rebollar-Alviter et al. 2020). Therefore, based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, LD-330 was identified as N. rosae. Six two-year-old healthy plants of the 'Lanjingling' cultivar were selected for a pathogenicity test (Yan et al. 2023). The leaves were surface disinfected with 75% alcohol and then wiped with sterilized water three times. Three plants were inoculated with 10 ml of LD-330 conidial suspension (1 × 106 spores/ml) or with sterile water as an experimental control, respectively. All plants were in closed plastic bag, incubated in a greenhouse at 28 ℃ and 75% relative humidity (RH) under a 12-h light/dark cycle, and each experiment was performed three times (Rebollar-Alviter et al. 2020). Typical leaf spot symptoms were observed on inoculated leaves after 14 days (Fig. S4), whereas no symptoms were detected on water-treated leaves. The same pathogen was reisolated from infected leaves, displayed the same morphological and molecular traits, and was again identified as N. rosae, confirming Koch's postulate. Neopestalotiopsis rosae was previously reported on pecan (Gao et al. 2022), causing black leaf spot disease in China. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a blue honeysuckle leaf spot caused by N. rosae in China and specifically in the Heilongjiang province which has the largest blue honeysuckle cultivation area in the country. Future research should be directed toward developing comprehensive management measures.

Olfactory deficit: a potential functional marker across the Alzheimer's disease continuum.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent form of dementia that affects an estimated 32 million individuals globally. Identifying early indicators is vital for screening at-risk populations and implementing timely interventions. At present, there is an urgent need for early and sensitive biomarkers to screen individuals at risk of AD. Among all sensory biomarkers, olfaction is currently one of the most promising indicators for AD. Olfactory dysfunction signifies a decline in the ability to detect, identify, or remember odors. Within the spectrum of AD, impairment in olfactory identification precedes detectable cognitive impairments, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and even the stage of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), by several years. Olfactory impairment is closely linked to the clinical symptoms and neuropathological biomarkers of AD, accompanied by significant structural and functional abnormalities in the brain. Olfactory behavior examination can subjectively evaluate the abilities of olfactory identification, threshold, and discrimination. Olfactory functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can provide a relatively objective assessment of olfactory capabilities, with the potential to become a promising tool for exploring the neural mechanisms of olfactory damage in AD. Here, we provide a timely review of recent literature on the characteristics, neuropathology, and examination of olfactory dysfunction in the AD continuum. We focus on the early changes in olfactory indicators detected by behavioral and fMRI assessments and discuss the potential of these techniques in MCI and preclinical AD. Despite the challenges and limitations of existing research, olfactory dysfunction has demonstrated its value in assessing neurodegenerative diseases and may serve as an early indicator of AD in the future.

Long-term isoflurane anesthesia induces cognitive deficits via AQP4 depolarization mediated blunted glymphatic inflammatory proteins clearance.

Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) refer to cognitive deterioration that occurs after surgery or anesthesia. Prolonged isoflurane exposure has potential neurotoxicity and induces PND, but the mechanism is unclear. The glymphatic system clears harmful metabolic waste from the brain. This study sought to unveil the functions of glymphatic system in PND and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. The PND mice model was established by long term isoflurane anesthesia. The glymphatic function was assessed by multiple in vitro and in vivo methods. An adeno-associated virus was used to overexpress AQP4 and TGN-020 was used to inhibit its function. This research revealed that the glymphatic system was impaired in PND mice and the blunted glymphatic transport was closely associated with the accumulation of inflammatory proteins in the hippocampus. Increasing AQP4 polarization could enhance glymphatic transport and suppresses neuroinflammation, thereby improve cognitive function in the PND model mice. However, a marked impaired glymphatic inflammatory proteins clearance and the more severe cognitive dysfunction were observed when decreasing AQP4 polarization. Therefore, long-term isoflurane anesthesia causes blunted glymphatic system by inducing AQP4 depolarization, enhanced the AQP4 polarization can alleviate the glymphatic system malfunction and reduce the neuroinflammatory response, which may be a potential treatment strategy for PND.

LiTFSI-Free Hole Transport Materials for Robust Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules with High Efficiencies.

Lithium bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonamide (LiTFSI) and oxygen-doped organic semiconductors have been frequently used to achieve record power conversion efficiencies of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, this conventional doping process is time-consuming and leads to poor device stability due to the incorporation of Li ions. Herein, aiming to accelerate the doping process and remove the Li ions, we report an alternative p-doping process by mixing a new small-molecule organic semiconductor, N2,N2,N7,N7-tetrakis (4-methoxyphenyl)-9-(4-(octyloxy) phenyl)-9H carbazole-2,7-diamine (labeled OH44) and its preoxidized form OH44+(TFSI-). With this method, a champion efficiency of 21.8% has been achieved for small-area PSCs, which is superior to the state-of-the-art EH44 and comparable with LiTFSI and oxygen-doped spiro-OMeTAD. Moreover, the stability of OH44-based PSCs is improved compared with those of EH44, maintaining more than 85% of its initial efficiency after aging in an ambient condition without encapsulation for 1000 h. In addition, we achieved efficiencies of 14.7 and 12.6% for the solar modules measured with a metal mask of 12.0 and 48.0 cm2, respectively, which demonstrated the scalability of this method.

Genistein is effective in inhibiting Orf virus infection in vitro by targeting viral RNA polymerase subunit RPO30 protein.

Orf virus (ORFV), a typical member of the genus Parapoxvirus, Poxvirus family, causes a contagious pustular dermatitis in sheep, goats, and humans. Poxviruses encode a multisubunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (vRNAP) that carries out viral gene expression in the host cytoplasm, which is a viral factor essential to poxvirus replication. Due to its vital role in viral life, vRNAP has emerged as one of the potential drug targets. In the present study, we investigated the antiviral effect of genistein against ORFV infection. We provided evidence that genistein exerted antiviral effect through blocking viral genome DNA transcription/replication and viral protein synthesis and reducing viral progeny, which were dosedependently decreased in genistein-treated cells. Furthermore, we identified that genistein interacted with the vRNAP RPO30 protein by CETSA, molecular modeling and Fluorescence quenching, a novel antiviral target for ORFV. By blocking vRNAP RPO30 protein using antibody against RPO30, we confirmed that the inhibitory effect exerted by genistein against ORFV infection is mediated through the interaction with RPO30. In conclusion, we demonstrate that genistein effectively inhibits ORFV transcription in host cells by targeting vRNAP RPO30, which might be a promising drug candidate against poxvirus infection.

Enhancement and Broadening of the Internal Electric Field of Hole-Transport-Layer-Free Perovskite Solar Cells by Quantum Dot Interface Modification.

Hole-transport-layer-free perovskite solar cells have attracted strong interest due to their simple structure and low cost, but charge recombination is serious. Built-in electric field engineering is an intrinsic driver to facilitate charge separation transport and improve the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. However, the enhancement of the built-in electric field strength is often accompanied by the narrowing of the space charge region, which becomes a key constraint to the performance improvement of the device. Here, we propose an effective regulation method, the component engineering of quantum dots, to enhance the strength of the built-in electric field and broaden the range of space charge. By using all inorganic CsPbBrxI3-x (x = 0, 1, 2, 3) quantum dot interface modification to passivate the defects of MAPbI3 perovskite films, the regulation law of quantum dot components on the work function of perovskite films was revealed, and the mechanism of their influence on the internal electric field intensity and space charge region distribution was further clarified, thereby fundamentally solving the serious problem of charge recombination. As directly observed by electron-beam-induced current (EBIC), the introduction of CsPbBr2I quantum dots can effectively enhance the interfacial electric field intensity, widening the space charge region from 160 to 430 nm. Moreover, the efficiency of the hole-free transport layer perovskite solar cells modified by CsPbBr2I quantum dots was also significantly enhanced by 1.5 times. This is an important guideline for electric field modulation and efficiency improvement within photovoltaic devices with other simplified structures.

Improved Fluorescence and Photoelectrical Properties of CsPbBr3 by Constructing Heterojunctions under Pressure.

All-inorganic cesium lead bromide quantum dots (CsPbBr3 -QD) compounds are potential candidates for optoelectronic devices, because of their excellent fluorescence luminescence and thermal stability. However, the many heterojunction interfaces and large band gap induce the low power conversion efficiency in the CsPbBr3 -QD heterojunction, limiting its practical applications. Hereby, in combination with the pressure regulation and TiO2 /CsPbBr3 -QD heterojunction, the interface interaction within the heterojunction can be enhanced and the band gap can be narrowed. The pressure-induced O─Ti─O bond softening and PbBr6 octahedron stiffening at the interface region significantly enhance the interface interactions that are favorable to the carrier transport. Compared with CsPbBr3 -QD, the atomic interaction between Pb and Br of TiO2 /CsPbBr3 -QD heterojunction can be dramatically enhanced at high pressures, leading to increased band gap narrowing rate by two times, which is useful to widen the absorption spectrum. The fluorescence intensity increases by two times. Compression increases the photocurrent and maintains it after the pressure is released, which is due to the enhanced interface interaction induced by the high pressure. The findings provide new opportunities to adjust the physical properties of perovskite heterogeneous structures, and have important applications in the field of new-generation photovoltaic devices.

Axonal injury mediated by neuronal p75NTR/TRAF6/JNK pathway contributes to cognitive impairment after repetitive mTBI.

Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI) is one of the leading causes of cognitive disorders. The impairment of axonal integrity induced by rmTBI is speculated to underlie the progression of cognitive dysfunction. However, few studies have uncovered the cellular mechanism regulating axonal impairment. In this study, we showed that after rmTBI, the activation of neuronal p75NTR signaling contributes to abnormal axonal morphology and impaired axonal transport, which further leads to cognitive dysfunction in mice. By neuron-specific knockdown of p75NTR or treatment with p75NTR inhibitor LM11A-31, we observed better recovery of axonal integrity and cognitive function after brain trauma. Further analysis revealed that p75NTR relies on its adaptor protein TRAF6 to activate downstream signaling via TAK1 and JNK. Overall, our results provide novel insight into the role of neuronal p75NTR in axonal injury and suggest that p75NTR may be a promising target for cognitive function recovery after rmTBI.

Bifunctional drug delivery system with carbonic anhydrase IX targeting and glutathione-responsivity driven by host-guest amphiphiles for effective tumor therapy.

It remains a critical issue to deliver anticancer drugs to tumor tissues and reducing the toxic effects on normal tissues. The drug delivery system (DDS) based on self-assembly provides a multi-functional way for drug delivery. In this work, a supramolecular host (L-CD) with targeting function based on a ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) backbone was synthesized with carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) overexpressed on tumor cells as a target, and the methotrexate prodrug (MTX-SS-Ad) modified by adamantane and disulfide bond was prepared to be used as the guest. The amphiphilic complex was prepared between L-CD and MTX-SS-Ad through host-guest interactions and could further self-assemble into supramolecular nanoparticles (SNPs) with active targeting and stimulus release functions. The interaction between host and guest was investigated by UV, NMR, IR, XRD and TGA. The characteristic of SNPs was observed by DLS and TEM. Throng the study of molecular docking, in vitro inhibition, cell uptake experiments, and western blotting, SNPs have showed CAIX inhibitory effects both inside and outside the cells. The in vitro release experiments indicated that SNPs can undergo disintegration and release drugs under acidic and GSH conditions. Moreover, SNP can effectively inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells without generating additional toxic side effects on normal cells. So, we provide a strategy of bifunctional drug delivery system with targeting and glutathione-responsivity for effective tumor therapy.

Boosting algicidal efficiency of Alteromonas sp. FDHY-CJ against Skeletonema costatum through fermentation optimization.

Algicidal bacteria exhibit promising potential against harmful algal blooms (HABs); however, their application has been limited due to their limited algicidal activity. This study demonstrates the enhanced algicidal activity of Alteromonas sp. FDHY-CJ bacteria against harmful Skeletonema costatum using a 5 L fermenter. Utilizing this refined framework increased the OD600 value and algal cell mortality by 6.50 and 2.88 times, respectively, compared to non-optimized culture cultivated in a flask using marine broth 2216E medium. The mechanism of action involves significant inhibition of algal photosynthetic efficiency with concurrent degradation of photosynthetic pigments. Relative to the non-optimized group, the optimized bacterial treatment led to a significant increase in H2O2 and MDA (malondialdehyde) by 19.54 and 4.22-fold, respectively, and resulted in membrane damage. The culture optimization procedure yielded effectual algicidal substances capable of considerably reducing the severity of S. costatum HABs through cell membrane disruption.

Pilot-Scale Fermentation of Pseudoalteromonas sp. Strain FDHY-MZ2: An Effective Strategy for Increasing Algicidal Activity.

The role of microorganisms in effectively terminating harmful algal blooms (HABs) is crucial for maintaining environmental stability. Recent studies have placed increased emphasis on bio-agents capable of inhibiting HABs. The bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain FDHY-MZ2 has exhibited impressive algicidal abilities against Karenia mikimotoi, a notorious global HAB-forming species. To augment this capability, cultures were progressively scaled from shake flask conditions to small-scale (5 L) and pilot-scale (50 L) fermentation. By employing a specifically tailored culture medium (2216E basal medium with 1.5% soluble starch and 0.5% peptone), under precise conditions (66 h, 20 °C, 450 rpm, 30 L/min ventilation, 3% seeding, and constant starch flow), a notable increase in algicidal bacterial biomass was observed; the bacterial dosage required to entirely wipe out K. mikimotoi within a day decreased from 1% to 0.025%. Compared to an unoptimized shake flask group, the optimized fermentation culture caused significant reductions in algal chlorophyll and protein levels (21.85% and 78.3%, respectively). Co-culturing induced increases in algal malondialdehyde and H2O2 by 5.98 and 5.38 times, respectively, leading to further disruption of algal photosynthesis. This study underscores the unexplored potential of systematically utilized microbial agents in mitigating HABs, providing a pathway for their wider application.

Multifactor analysis of the technique in total laparoscopic gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal gastric anastomosis is a common surgical technique used to treat patients with gastric cancer who undergo total gastrectomy. However, using simple anastomosis techniques alone may not meet the needs of patients in some cases and can lead to complications such as anastomotic stenosis and ulceration. In order to overcome these issues and improve patient prognosis, muscle flap reconstruction technique has emerged. Muscle flap reconstruction is a method of improving gastric-esophageal anastomosis by transplanting muscle tissue. By covering the anastomotic site with muscle tissue, it not only enhances the stability of the anastomosis site but also increases blood supply, promoting healing and recovery of the anastomosis. Therefore, the use of muscle flap reconstruction technique in esophageal gastric anastomosis during total gastrectomy for gastric cancer is increasingly widely applied. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of esophagogastric anastomosis using the muscle flap reconstruction technology in total abdominal gastrectomy for gastric cancer and perform follow-up experiments to understand the factors affecting patients' prognosis. METHODS: The study subjects were 60 patients with gastric cancer who were admitted to our hospital between October 2018 and January 2022. All patients underwent esophagogastric anastomosis using the double muscle flap reconstruction technology in total abdominal gastrectomy. Perioperative indicators were determined, and patients were followed up for 1 year. Furthermore, patient outcomes were observed within 1 year, followed by patient classification based on different outcomes. Moreover, clinicopathological parameters were observed and relevant factors affecting patient prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The operation time was 318 ± 43 min, the formation time of esophageal double muscle flap anastomosis was 110 ± 13 min, the number of lymph node dissections was 26 ± 6, the incision length was 3 ± 0.6 cm, intraoperative bleeding volume was 48 ± 15 mL, first anal exhaust time was 5.3 ± 1.8 d, first meal time was 6.0 ± 1.6 d, length of hospital stay was 11.8 ± 2.5, and treatment cost was 5.8 ± 0.7 thousand yuan. The patient experienced three postoperative complications: 2 cases of pulmonary infection and 1 case of respiratory discomfort. During 1-year follow-up, 50 patients survived and 10 died. Univariate analysis revealed that histological types, tumor size, tumor-node-metastasis staging, vascular invasion, and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were the main factors affecting the prognosis of surviving patients. Furthermore, Cox regression analysis revealed that postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were the main factors affecting patient prognosis. The survival time of the survival group was significantly higher than that of the death group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Esophagogastric anastomotic using muscle flap reconstruction exhibits good effects on patients who undergo total abdominal gastrectomy for cancer. Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the main factors affecting patient prognosis.

First report of Didymella glomerata causing leaf spot on Lonicera caerulea L. in Heilongjiang province, China.

China has the largest blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) cultivation area globally. In June 2022, leaf spots were observed on approximately 10% of blue honeysuckle (cv. 'Lanjingling') leaves in a 0.03-ha field in Harbin (127.66°E, 45.61°N), Heilongjiang Province, China. The leaves of the affected plants displayed chlorotic to tan dieback with a darker brown margin along the leaftip and leave margins. Cross-sectional segments of approximately 3 mm were cut from 50 typical infected plant leaves. Their surfaces were sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 s followed by 3 min in 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), rinsed three times with sterile water, and transferred to 9-cm Petri dishes containing 15 ml of sterile PDA growth medium. Five purified cultures with similar culture characteristics were finally obtained and their colonies were dark brown on the PDA plates. The pycnidia were subglobular and deep black and measured avg. 215.48 (135.30-331.20) µm × avg. 170.28 (99.90-282.90) µm (n = 50) (Chen et al., 2015; Huang et al., 2018). Conidia were single-celled, hyaline, and ellipsoidal and measured avg. 6.22 (5.40-7.20) µm × avg. 3.42 (2.70-3.90) µm (n = 50). For molecular verification, genomic DNA was extracted from a representative isolate, LD-75. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), the partial 28S large subunit rDNA (LSU), beta-tubulin (TUB), and actin (ACT) genes were amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4, RPB2f/RPB2r, LROR/LR7, TUB2Fd/TUB4Rd, and ACT512f/ACT783R, respectively (White et al. 1990; Carbone and Kohn, 1999; Staats et al., 2005; de Gruyter et al., 2009; Chen et al., 2015). BLAST results indicated that the genes of LD-75 (GenBank OP218870, OP264863, OQ561448, OQ597233, and OQ597232) shared 99%-100% identity with those of Didymella glomerata (OK485138, GU371781, EU754185, MZ073910, and MW963190, respectively). Therefore, based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, LD-75 was identified as D. glomerata. Six two-year-old healthy plants from the 'Lanjingling' cultivar were selected for a pathogenicity test. The leaves were surface disinfested with 75% ethanol and then wiped with sterilized water three times. All plants were cultured in a greenhouse at 28℃ under a 12-h light/dark cycle. Whole plants sprayed with conidial suspension of isolate LD-75 (106 spores/mL) (n = 3) displayed leaf spot symptoms after 14 d, while no symptoms were detected on whole plants sprayed with sterile water (n = 3). The same isolate, reisolated from infected leaves and with the same morphological and molecular traits, was also identified as D. glomerata, confirming Koch's postulate. The fungus was previously reported in Cornus officinalis in Nanyang City, China (Huang et al., 2018). To our knowledge, this is the first report of blue honeysuckle leaf spot caused by D. glomerata in China. Reducing blue honeysuckle production losses caused by leaf spots is crucial for growers, and we hope that researchers will develop efficient control strategies for managing this emerging plant disease.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and their underlying neural mechanisms evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging-based brain connectivity network analyses.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive brain modulation and rehabilitation technique used in patients with neuropsychiatric diseases. rTMS can structurally remodel or functionally induce activities of specific cortical regions and has developed to an important therapeutic method in such patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides brain data that can be used as an explanation tool for the neural mechanisms underlying rTMS effects; brain alterations related to different functions or structures may be reflected in changes in the interaction and influence of brain connections within intrinsic specific networks. In this review, we discuss the technical details of rTMS and the biological interpretation of brain networks identified with MRI analyses, comprehensively summarize the neurobiological effects in rTMS-modulated individuals, and elaborate on changes in the brain network in patients with various neuropsychiatric diseases receiving rehabilitation treatment with rTMS. We conclude that brain connectivity network analysis based on MRI can reflect alterations in functional and structural connectivity networks comprising adjacent and separated brain regions related to stimulation sites, thus reflecting the occurrence of intrinsic functional integration and neuroplasticity. Therefore, MRI is a valuable tool for understanding the neural mechanisms of rTMS and practically tailoring treatment plans for patients with neuropsychiatric diseases.

Grain Boundary Elimination via Recrystallization-Assisted Vapor Deposition for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules.

Vapor deposition is a promising technology for the mass production of perovskite solar cells. However, the efficiencies of solar cells and modules based on vapor-deposited perovskites are significantly lower than those fabricated using the solution method. Emerging evidence suggests that large defects are generated during vapor deposition owing to a specific top-down crystallization mechanism. Herein, a hybrid vapor deposition method combined with solvent-assisted recrystallization for fabricating high-quality large-area perovskite films with low defect densities is presented. It is demonstrated that an intermediate phase can be formed at the grain boundaries, which induces the secondary growth of small grains into large ones. Consequently, perovskite films with substantially reduced grain boundaries and defect densities are fabricated. Results of temperature-dependent charge-carrier dynamics show that the proposed method successfully suppresses all recombination reactions. Champion efficiencies of 21.9% for small-area (0.16 cm2 ) cells and 19.9% for large-area (10.0 cm2 ) solar modules under AM 1.5 G irradiation are achieved. Moreover, the modules exhibit high operational stability, i.e., they retain >92% of their initial efficiencies after 200 h of continuous operation.

Effect of hot-etching treatment duration on the shear bond strength of zirconia-to-resin cement.

The surface of zirconia was treated with hot-acid etching of different durations to improve its shear bond strength to resin. Zirconia discs were subjected to untreated, sand-blasting, and hot-etching treatments for 10, 30 and 60 min. The discs were bonded to the surface of bovine enamel specimens using RelyX Ultimate resin cement. The bonded specimens were divided into immediate and thermocyling aging groups according to whether they underwent thermal cycling. A universal mechanical testing machine was used to measure the shear bond strength of the specimens. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine the effect of hot-etching time on the shear bond strength. In the immediate and thermocyling aging groups, 60 min of hot-etching provided significantly higher shear bond strength than the other conditions (p<0.05).

New insights into the composition and diversity of endophytic bacteria in cultivated Huperzia serrata.

Endophytic bacteria play crucial roles in the growth and bioactive compound synthesis of host plants. In this study, the composition and diversity of endophytic bacteria in the roots, stems, and leaves from 3-year-old artificially cultivated Huperzia serrata were investigated using Illumina HiSeq sequencing technology. Total effective reads were assigned to 936 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), belonging to 12 phyla and 289 genera. A total of 28, 3, and 2 OTUs were exclusive to the roots, stems, and leaves, respectively. The bacterial richness and diversity in the roots were significantly lower than those in the leaves and stems. The dominant genera with significant distribution differences among these plant tissue samples were Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Sphingomonas, Acidibacter, Bradyrhizobium, Bryobacter, Methylocella, Nocardioides, Acidothermus, and Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium. Furthermore, the differences in the bacterial communities associated with these plant tissue samples were visualized using principal coordinate analysis and cluster pedigree diagrams. Linear discriminant analysis effect size explained statistically significant differences among the endophytic bacterial microbiota in these plant tissue samples. Overall, this study provides new insights into the diversity and distribution patterns of endophytic bacteria in the different tissues of H. serrata.

Correction: Selective CO2 reduction to HCOOH on a Pt/In2O3/g-C3N4 multifunctional visible-photocatalyst.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D0RA03959D.].