Research on Mechanism and Effect of Enhancing Gas Recovery by CO2 Huff-n-Puff in Shale Gas Reservoir.

The technology of CO2-enhanced gas recovery (CO2-EGR) plays a pivotal role in the CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) industry, which helps to achieve a win-win situation of economic benefit and environmental benefit for gas fields. Shale gas reservoirs, with their unique geological and surface engineering advantages, are one of the most promising options for CCUS implementation. Focusing on shale formations within the mid-deep blocks of the Sichuan Basin, this study conducted competitive adsorption experiments using multicomponent gases. Through physical simulations and single-well numerical modeling, factors such as injection volume, timing, shut-in time, and huff-n-puff rounds were examined for their impact on recovery. The results show that the higher the CO2 content in the injected medium, the more pronounced advantage in gas adsorption on shale surfaces. Optimal performance was achieved with a CO2 content in the injection medium of 80% to 100%, an injection volume of 0.2-0.3 PV, a shut-in time exceeding 6 h, and a relatively delayed injection timing. The recovery in the first round of huff-n-puff was increased by 24.2% to 47.8%, which gave a full play to the role of huff-n-puff and achieved favorable benefits. Based on the middle-deep geological parameters, a single-well numerical simulation was established, which demonstrates that single-well EUR (estimated ultimate recovery) can be increased by 14.2% to 19.8% compared to gas wells without CO2 injection. This study provides essential guidance for the enhanced recovery in shale gas reservoirs through CO2 huff-n-puff.

Artificial Intelligence for Early Detection of Pediatric Eye Diseases Using Mobile Photos.

IMPORTANCE: Identifying pediatric eye diseases at an early stage is a worldwide issue. Traditional screening procedures depend on hospitals and ophthalmologists, which are expensive and time-consuming. Using artificial intelligence (AI) to assess children's eye conditions from mobile photographs could facilitate convenient and early identification of eye disorders in a home setting. OBJECTIVE: To develop an AI model to identify myopia, strabismus, and ptosis using mobile photographs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, and included children who were diagnosed with myopia, strabismus, or ptosis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: A deep learning-based model was developed to identify myopia, strabismus, and ptosis. The performance of the model was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, the area under the curve (AUC), positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive values (NPV), positive likelihood ratios (P-LR), negative likelihood ratios (N-LR), and the F1-score. GradCAM++ was utilized to visually and analytically assess the impact of each region on the model. A sex subgroup analysis and an age subgroup analysis were performed to validate the model's generalizability. RESULTS: A total of 1419 images obtained from 476 patients (225 female [47.27%]; 299 [62.82%] aged between 6 and 12 years) were used to build the model. Among them, 946 monocular images were used to identify myopia and ptosis, and 473 binocular images were used to identify strabismus. The model demonstrated good sensitivity in detecting myopia (0.84 [95% CI, 0.82-0.87]), strabismus (0.73 [95% CI, 0.70-0.77]), and ptosis (0.85 [95% CI, 0.82-0.87]). The model showed comparable performance in identifying eye disorders in both female and male children during sex subgroup analysis. There were differences in identifying eye disorders among different age subgroups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional study, the AI model demonstrated strong performance in accurately identifying myopia, strabismus, and ptosis using only smartphone images. These results suggest that such a model could facilitate the early detection of pediatric eye diseases in a convenient manner at home.

Influencing factors for pediatric eye disorders and health related quality of life: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China.

Background: Myopia, strabismus, and ptosis are common pediatric eye diseases, which have a negative impact on children and adolescents in terms of visual function, mental health, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Therefore, this study focused on those pediatric eye diseases by analyzing their risk factors and HRQoL for the comprehensive management of myopia, strabismus, and ptosis. Methods: A total of 363 participants (2-18 years old) were included in this study for risk factors analysis of myopia, strabismus, and ptosis. We collected demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and eye care habits of these children and analyzed them by using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. In addition, we applied the Chinese version of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Version 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) to assess HRQoL in 256 children with strabismus and ptosis. Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were applied to evaluate potential influencing factors of HRQoL. Results: Of all the participants, 140 had myopia, 127 had strabismus, and 145 had ptosis. Based on the multivariable logistic regression analysis model, we found that the history of parental myopia and daily average near-distance eye usage time were risk factors for myopia, and increased body mass index (BMI) was identified as a risk factor for strabismus and ptosis. Individuals with ptosis possessed decreased HRQoL. The multivariable linear regression model suggested that daily average near-distance eye usage time, light intensity during visual tasks, and daily average sleep duration had potential influences on HRQoL. Conclusion: This is the first study to assess the risk factors and HRQoL of myopia, strabismus, and ptosis together. We identified risk factors for these common pediatric eye diseases to help doctors, parents, and teachers better manage them. Our study discovered that children with eye disorders exhibit a notably diminished HRQoL. Consequently, it emphasizes the necessity for increased social attention and mental health assistance for these children.

Association of vitamin D intake during pregnancy with small vulnerable newborns: a population-based cohort study.

Maternal vitamin D deficiency is common worldwide and has a significant impact on newborns. However, whether vitamin D intake during pregnancy is related to small vulnerable newborns (SVN) has not been confirmed. Thus, we sought to examine the relationship between maternal vitamin D intake, including vitamin D supplementation and dietary intake, and the risk of SVN. A total of 2980 Chinese mother-infant pairs were included in this study. Information on vitamin D supplementation and dietary intake was prospectively collected through face-to-face interviews. The outcomes assessed included low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), and SVN (having LBW, PTB, or SGA). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of vitamin D intake with different types of SVN, and a restricted cubic spline function was modeled to explore their dose-response associations. Compared to the lowest total vitamin D intake in the first trimester, the highest total vitamin D intake was associated with a 50.0% decrease in the SGA risk (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.96) and a 41.0% decrease in the SVN risk (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.95). Similar protective results were observed between vitamin D supplementation in the first trimester and SGA and SVN risks. Moreover, a significant L-shaped relationship was identified for total vitamin D intake, vitamin D supplementation, and dietary intake with the risk of different types of SVN. In conclusion, higher total vitamin D intake and supplementation in the first trimester were associated with a reduced risk of SGA and SVN.

Nicotinate-curcumin improves NASH by inhibiting the AKR1B10/ACCα-mediated triglyceride synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a prevalent chronic liver condition. However, the potential therapeutic benefits and underlying mechanism of nicotinate-curcumin (NC) in the treatment of NASH remain uncertain. METHODS: A rat model of NASH induced by a high-fat and high-fructose diet was treated with nicotinate-curcumin (NC, 20, 40 mg·kg- 1), curcumin (Cur, 40 mg·kg- 1) and metformin (Met, 50 mg·kg- 1) for a duration of 4 weeks. The interaction between NASH, Cur and Aldo-Keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) was filter and analyzed using network pharmacology. The interaction of Cur, NC and AKR1B10 was analyzed using molecular docking techniques, and the binding energy of Cur and NC with AKR1B10 was compared. HepG2 cells were induced by Ox-LDL (25 µg·ml- 1, 24 h) in high glucose medium. NC (20µM, 40µM), Cur (40µM) Met (150µM) and epalrestat (Epa, 75µM) were administered individually. The activities of ALT, AST, ALP and the levels of LDL, HDL, TG, TC and FFA in serum were quantified using a chemiluminescence assay. Based on the changes in the above indicators, score according to NAS standards. The activities of Acetyl-CoA and Malonyl-CoA were measured using an ELISA assay. And the expression and cellular localization of AKR1B10 and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCα) in HepG2 cells were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The results of the animal experiments demonstrated that NASH rat model induced by a high-fat and high-fructose diet exhibited pronounced dysfunction in liver function and lipid metabolism. Additionally, there was a significant increase in serum levels of FFA and TG, as well as elevated expression of AKR1B10 and ACCα, and heightened activity of Acetyl-CoA and Malonyl-CoA in liver tissue. The administration of NC showed to enhance liver function in rats with NASH, leading to reductions in ALT, AST and ALP levels, and decrease in blood lipid and significant inhibition of FFA and TG synthesis in the liver. Network pharmacological analysis identified AKR1B10 and ACCα as potential targets for NASH treatment. Molecular docking studies revealed that both Cur and NC are capable of binding to AKR1B10, with NC exhibiting a stronger binding energy to AKR1B10. Western blot analysis demonstrated an upregulation in the expression of AKR1B10 and ACCα in the liver tissue of NASH rats, accompanied by elevated Acetyl-CoA and Malonyl-CoA activity, and increased levels of FFA and TG. The results of the HepG2 cell experiments induced by Ox-LDL suggest that NC significantly inhibited the expression and co-localization of AKR1B10 and ACCα, while also reduced levels of TC and LDL-C and increased level of HDL-C. These effects are accompanied by a decrease in the activities of ACCα and Malonyl-CoA, and levels of FFA and TG. Furthermore, the impact of NC appears to be more pronounced compared to Cur. CONCLUSION: NC could effectively treat NASH and improve liver function and lipid metabolism disorder. The mechanism of NC is related to the inhibition of AKR1B10/ACCα pathway and FFA/TG synthesis of liver.

Near-Infrared Circularly Polarized Luminescent Physical Unclonable Functions.

Distinguished from traditional physical unclonable functions (PUFs), optical PUFs derive their encoded information from the optical properties of materials, offering distinct advantages, including solution processability, material versatility, and tunable luminescence performance. However, existing research on optical PUFs has predominantly centered on visible photoluminescence, while advanced optical PUFs based on higher-level covert light remain unexplored. In this study, we present optical PUFs based on the utilization of the covert light of near-infrared circularly polarized luminescence (NIR-CPL). This interesting property is achieved by incorporating Yb-doped metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (Yb-PeNCs) possessing NIR emission property into chiral imprinted photonic (CIP) films. By employing a solvent immersion method, we successfully integrated Yb-PeNCs into these CIP films, thereby creating an optically unclonable surface. The resulting NIR-CPL emission adds a layer of advanced security to the optical PUF systems. These findings underscore the potential of solution-processable chiral films to play a pivotal role in advancing the next generation of PUFs.

Gouqi-derived nanovesicles (GqDNVs) inhibited dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy associating with AMPK/SIRT1/PGC1α signaling pathway.

With the increasing trend of global aging, sarcopenia has become a significant public health issue. Goji berry, also known as "Gou qi zi" in China, is a traditional Chinese herb that can enhance the structure and function of muscles and bones. Otherwise, previous excellent publications illustrated that plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles can exert good bioactive functions in different aging or disease models. Thus, we issued the hypothesis that Gouqi-derived nanovesicles (GqDNVs) may also have the ability to improve skeletal muscle health, though the effect and its mechanism need to be explored. Hence, we have extracted GqDNVs from fresh berries of Lycium barbarum L. (goji) and found that the contents of GqDNVs are rich in saccharides and lipids. Based on the pathway annotations and predictions in non-targeted metabolome analysis, GqDNVs are tightly associated with the pathways in metabolism. In muscle atrophy model mice, intramuscular injection of GqDNVs improves the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps muscle, grip strength and the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC1α pathway expression. After separately inhibiting AMPK or PGC1α in C2C12 cells with dexamethasone administration, we have found that the activated AMPK plays the chief role in improving cell proliferation induced by GqDNVs. Furthermore, the energy-targeted metabolome analysis in the quadriceps muscle demonstrates that the GqDNVs up-regulate the metabolism of amino sugar and nucleotide sugar, autophagy and oxidative phosphorylation process, which indicates the activation of muscle regeneration. Besides, the Spearman rank analysis shows close associations between the quality and function of skeletal muscle, metabolites and expression levels of AMPK and SIRT1. In this study, we provide a new founding that GqDNVs can improve the quality and function of skeletal muscle accompanying the activated AMPK/SIRT1/PGC1α signaling pathway. Therefore, GqDNVs have the effect of anti-aging skeletal muscle as a potential adjuvant or complementary method or idea in future therapy and research.

Carsim-based simulation study on the performances of raised speed deceleration facilities under different profiles.

OBJECTIVE: Studying the optimal profile shape and size of deceleration facilities suitable for low-speed environment roads under different speed control intervals. METHODS: Simulation modeling of deceleration facilities with various profile shapes and sizes and for vehicles in different speed intervals was performed using the vehicle dynamics simulation software Carsim. The height jumped by a vehicle's wheels, the vertical force on the wheels, and the vertical acceleration of the vehicle were used as indicators of ride comfort and operational stability for the various deceleration facility profiles. RESULTS: stability and comfort were related to the contour of the deceleration facility. Vertical forces were positively related to vehicle jump height, but the jump heights of vehicles passing through deceleration mounds with different planes at the same speed were not significantly different with increasing height. When the vehicle is traveling slowly, the vertical impact force on the vehicle is not significantly related to the speed loss of the vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: Within the speed range of 20-60 km/h and profile heights of 3-10.5 cm, the effectiveness ratings of circular high width and parabolic were basically at level 2 and level 3, but the circular high width had a more stable jump height and was the best profile form, followed by sinusoidal and parabolic, then isosceles trapezoidal, and lastly conventional speed bumps.

Correlation Between HIF1-A Expression and Airway Remodeling in COPD.

Background: Airway remodeling is a significant pathological characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In recent years, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α), a member of the hypoxia-inducible factor protein family, has gained attention. However, the potential correlation between HIF-1α and COPD airway remodeling remains unclear. Objective: This study explored the expression patterns of HIF-1α in patients with COPD and its association with airway remodelling. This investigation aims to furnish novel insights for the clinical identification of prospective therapeutic targets for ameliorating COPD-related airway remodelling. Patients and Methods: A total of 88 subjects were included, consisting of 28 controls and 60 COPD patients. Various staining methods were employed to observe the pathological changes in airway tissues. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to detect the expression of HIF-1α and MMP9 (matrix metalloproteinase 9) in airway tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the concentration in serum of HIF-1α and MMP9. Computed tomography (CT) airway parameters were measured in all participants to assess airway remodeling. The relationship between serum HIF-1α and MMP9 concentrations and airway parameters was analyzed. Results: Staining of airway structures in COPD patients revealed significant pathological changes associated with airway remodelling, including mixed cilia and subepithelial fibrosis. The expression of HIF-1α and MMP9 was significantly higher in both human airway tissue and serum compared to controls. Chest CT scans exhibited typical imaging features of airway remodeling and increased airway parameters. Conclusion: The findings suggest a correlation between increased HIF-1α expression and COPD airway remodelling. This study provides novel evidence that HIF-1α may be a potential biomarker for airway remodelling in COPD patients.

Carfilzomib activates ER stress and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling to promote apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers in the world, which is frequently diagnosed at a late stage. HCC patients have a poor prognosis due to the lack of an efficacious therapeutic strategy. Approved drug repurposing is a way for accelerating drug discovery and can significantly reduce the cost of drug development. Carfilzomib (CFZ) is a second-generation proteasome inhibitor, which is highly efficacious against multiple myeloma and has been reported to possess potential antitumor activities against multiple cancers. However, the underlying mechanism of CFZ on HCC is still unclear. Here, we show that CFZ inhibits the proliferation of HCC cells through cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and suppresses the migration and invasion of HCC cells by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We also find that CFZ promotes reactive oxygen species production to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activate JNK/p38 MAPK signaling in HCC cells, thus inducing cell death in HCC cells. Moreover, CFZ significantly inhibits HCC cell growth in a xenograft mouse model. Collectively, our study elucidates that CFZ impairs mitochondrial function and activates ER stress and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling, thus inhibiting HCC cell and tumor growth. This indicates that CFZ has the potential as a therapeutic drug for HCC.

Power evolution prediction of bidirectional Raman amplified WDM system based on PINN.

We propose using physical-informed neural network (PINN) for power evolution prediction in bidirectional Raman amplified WDM systems with Rayleigh backscattering (RBS). Unlike models based on data-driven machine learning, PINN can be effectively trained without preparing a large amount of data in advance and can learn the potential rules of power evolution. Compared to previous applications of PINN in power prediction, our model considers bidirectional Raman pumping and RBS, which is more practical. We experimentally demonstrate power evolution prediction of 200 km bidirectional Raman amplified wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) system with 47 channels and 8 pumps using PINN. The maximum prediction error of PINN compared to experimental results is only 0.38 dB, demonstrating great potential for application in power evolution prediction. The power evolution predicted by PINN shows good agreement with the results simulated by traditional numerical method, but its efficiency is more suitable for establishing models and calculating noise, providing convenience for subsequent power configuration optimization.

Effect of Dietary Protein Intake from Different Sources on Maternal and Umbilical Cord Plasma Amino Acid Levels.

SCOPE: To assess the associations of dietary protein intake from different sources during pregnancy with maternal and umbilical cord plasma amino acid levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study includes 216 pregnant women and 39 newborns from the Tongji Birth Cohort in Wuhan, China. The study examines the levels of 21 amino acids in maternal and cord plasma samples using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. A significant positive relationship is observed between dietary protein intake from refined grains and maternal plasma cysteine levels. Dietary protein intake from dairy products is positively associated with maternal plasma levels of sulfur amino acid (mainly cystine), but negatively associated with maternal plasma levels of glutamic acid. In addition, the study observes that pre-pregnancy body mass index and parity may be potential determinants of maternal plasma amino acid levels, whereas a history of passive smoking during pregnancy is an important factor influencing cord plasma amino acid levels. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dietary protein intakes from specific sources during pregnancy may affect maternal plasma levels of amino acids.

Carboxylesterase-activated near-infrared fluorescence probe for highly sensitive imaging of liver tumors.

Carboxylesterases (CESs) are critical for metabolizing ester-containing biomolecules and are specifically important in liver metabolic disorders. The modulation of CESs is also an important issue in pharmacology and clinical applications. Herein, we present a near-infrared (NIR) CES fluorescent probe (NCES) based on the protection-deprotection of the hydroxyl group for monitoring CES levels in living systems. The NCES probe has good selectivity and sensitivity for CESs with a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.24 mU mL-1, which allows for tracing the fluctuation of cellular CES after treatment with anticancer drugs and under inflammation and apoptosis states. Furthermore, NCES can be successfully applied for guiding liver cancer surgery with high-contrast in vivo imaging and detecting clinical serum samples from liver cancer patients. This work showed that the NCES probe has great potential in drug development, imaging applications for medical diagnosis, and early-stage detection for clinical liver diseases.

De Novo Design of Near-Infrared Fluorescent Agents Activated by Peroxynitrite and Glutathione-Responsive Imaging for Diabetic Liver Disease.

Diabetes and its complications, such as diabetes liver disease, is a major problem puzzling people's health. The detection of redox states in its pathological process can effectively help us gain a deeper understanding of the disease. The pair of oxidation-reduction substances peroxynitrite (ONOO- ) and glutathione (GSH) is considered to be closely related to their occurrence and development. Thus, direct visualization of ONOO- and GSH in diabetes liver disease is critical to evaluate the disease at the molecular level. Herein, two activatable agents NTCF-ONOO- and NTCF-GSH are prepared for selectively detecting ONOO- and GSH through protection and deprotection strategies based on hydroxyl and amino groups of near-infrared fluorophore. Fluorescence imaging of exogenous and endogenous ONOO- and GSH changes in living cells and in vivo is observed. The ONOO- and GSH level in the diabetes liver disease cellular model are visualized and the possible redox imbalance mechanism related to the oxidized (NAD+ ) and reduced (NADH) nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides is explored in this process. Moreover, these probes can sensitively recognize ONOO- and GSH in the process of oxidative stress resulting from streptozotocin and streptozotocin/acetaminophen-induced complex diabetic liver disease in vivo. In addition, they can be applied for monitoring the clinical serum sample related with diabetic patients.

A Healthy, Low-Carbohydrate Diet During Pregnancy Is Associated With a Reduced Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

CONTEXT: Evidence on the associations of low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) during pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been limited and inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to prospectively evaluate the risk of GDM associated with the LCD considering the quality of macronutrients. METHODS: All participants were from a prospective cohort in Wuhan, China. The overall, healthy LCD (emphasizing low-quality carbohydrates, plant protein, and unsaturated fat), and unhealthy LCD (emphasizing high-quality carbohydrates, animal protein, and saturated fat) scores were calculated according to the percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates, protein, and fat. GDM was screened by a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks. Poisson regression models were used to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Of 2337 pregnant women, 257 (11.0%) were diagnosed with GDM. Overall LCD score was not associated with risk of GDM, but the healthy and unhealthy LCD scores were associated with the risk of GDM. The multivariable-adjusted RRs (95% CI) were 0.68 (0.49-0.94) and 1.52 (1.11-2.08) for healthy and unhealthy LCD scores comparing the highest with the lowest quartile. Substituting high-quality carbohydrates for low-quality carbohydrates and animal protein, and substituting unsaturated fat for saturated fat, were associated with a 13% to 29% lower risk of GDM. CONCLUSION: A healthy LCD during pregnancy characterized by high-quality carbohydrates, plant protein, and unsaturated fat was associated with a lower risk of GDM, whereas an unhealthy LCD consisting of low-quality carbohydrates, animal protein, and saturated fat was associated with a higher risk of GDM.

Liquid-crystalline circularly polarised TADF emitters for high-efficiency, solution-processable organic light-emitting diodes.

Achieving a high emission efficiency and a large luminescence asymmetry factor (glum) in a single molecule exhibiting circularly polarised thermally activated delayed fluorescence (CP-TADF) remains a formidable challenge. In this work, a proof-of-concept, liquid-crystalline CP-TADF molecule is proposed to realise high glum by taking advantage of the order inherent in liquid crystals. Employing a chiral dinaphthol-based CP-TADF molecule as the emissive unit, a pair of liquid-crystalline CP-TADF molecules (R/S-4) is synthesised via the introduction of six mesogenic moieties. The enantiomers show intense emission at about 520 nm which has clear TADF and liquid-crystalline characteristics. Both enantiomers display symmetrical electronic circular dichroism (CD) and circular polarisation luminescence (CPL) signals as thin films. Impressively, relatively large glum values of 0.11 are realised for the films. Solution-processed devices were fabricated using R/S-4 as the dopants, with the TADF molecule CzAcSF as the sensitiser. The OLEDs so prepared show a very high maximum external quantum efficiency of 21.2%, revealing a novel strategy for realising large glum values in CP-TADF.

Agronomic and Genetic Strategies to Enhance Selenium Accumulation in Crops and Their Influence on Quality.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of humans, animals, and certain plants. It is extensively present throughout the Earth's crust and is absorbed by crops in the form of selenates and selenite, eventually entering the food chain. Se biofortification is an agricultural process that employs agronomic and genetic strategies. Its goal is to enhance the mechanisms of crop uptake and the accumulation of exogenous Se, resulting in the production of crops enriched with Se. This process ultimately contributes to promoting human health. Agronomic strategies in Se biofortification aim to enhance the availability of exogenous Se in crops. Concurrently, genetic strategies focus on improving a crop's capacity to uptake, transport, and accumulate Se. Early research primarily concentrated on optimizing Se biofortification methods, improving Se fertilizer efficiency, and enhancing Se content in crops. In recent years, there has been a growing realization that Se can effectively enhance crop growth and increase crop yield, thereby contributing to alleviating food shortages. Additionally, Se has been found to promote the accumulation of macro-nutrients, antioxidants, and beneficial mineral elements in crops. The supplementation of Se biofortified foods is gradually emerging as an effective approach for promoting human dietary health and alleviating hidden hunger. Therefore, in this paper, we provide a comprehensive summary of the Se biofortification conducted over the past decade, mainly focusing on Se accumulation in crops and its impact on crop quality. We discuss various Se biofortification strategies, with an emphasis on the impact of Se fertilizer strategies on crop Se accumulation and their underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight Se's role in enhancing crop quality and offer perspective on Se biofortification in crop improvement, guiding future mechanistic explorations and applications of Se biofortification.

Influence of Gut Microbiota and its Metabolites on Progression of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become a prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide because of lifestyle and dietary changes. Gut microbiota and its metabolites have been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of MAFLD. Understanding of the function of gut microbiota and its metabolites in MAFLD may help to elucidate pathological mechanisms, identify diagnostic markers, and develop drugs or probiotics for the treatment of MAFLD. Here we review the pathogenesis of MAFLD by gut microbiota and its metabolites and discuss the feasibility of treating MAFLD from the perspective of gut microbes.

The improvement of agronomic performances in the cold weather conditions for perennial wheatgrass by crossing Thinopyrum intermedium with wheat-Th. intermedium partial amphiploids.

Thinopyrum intermedium (2n=6x=42, StStJrJrJvsJvs) is resistant or tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses, making it suitable for developing perennial crops and forage. Through five cycles of selection, we developed 24 perennial wheatgrass lines, designated 19HSC-Q and 20HSC-Z, by crossing wheat-Th. intermedium partial amphiploids with Th. intermedium. The cold resistance, morphological performance, chromosome composition, and yield components of these perennial lines were investigated from 2019 to 2022. Six lines of 19HSC-Q had higher 1,000-kernel weight, grains per spike, and tiller number than Th. intermedium, as well as surviving -30°C in winter. Lines 19HSC-Q14, 19HSC-Q18, and 19HSC-Q20 had the best performances for grain number per spike and 1,000-kernel weight. The 20HSC-Z lines, 20HSC-Z1, 20HSC-Z2, and 20HSC-Z3, were able to survive in the cold winter in Harbin and had been grown for two years. Sequential multicolor GISH analysis revealed that the Jvs subgenome of Th. intermedium were divided into two karyotypes, three pairs of type-I Jvs chromosomes and four pairs of type-II Jvs chromosomes. Both Th. intermedium and the 24 advanced perennial wheatgrass lines had similar chromosome compositions, but the translocations among subgenome chromosomes were detected in some lines with prominent agronomic traits, such as 19HSC-Q11, 19HSC-Q14, 19HSC-Q18, 19HSC-Q20, and the three 20HSC-Z lines. The chromosome aberrations were distinguished into two types: the large fragment translocation with St-Jr, Jvs-St, Jr-IIJvs, and Jvs-Jr and the small fragment introgression of Jr-St, St-IJvs, and Jvs-Jr. These chromosomal variations can be used to further analyze the relationship between the subgenomes and phenotypes of Th. intermedium. The results of this study provide valuable materials for the next selection cycle of cold-resistant perennial wheatgrass.