Urea reduces the sustainability of soil Cd immobilization by upregulating the expression of AmSTOP1 and AmMATE genes in edible amaranth roots.

After cadmium (Cd) immobilization remediation in contaminated farmland soil, which forms of nitrogen fertilizer should be implemented to keep its sustainability? Urea and nitrate were used to compare for their effects on the remobilization of stabilized Cd in the rhizosphere soil of edible amaranth at nitrogen concentrations of 60, 95, and 130 mg kg-1. The results showed that compared to nitrate nitrogen, the Cd content in shoots increased by 76.2%, 65.6%, and 148% after applying three different concentrations of urea, and the total remobilization amount of Cd also increased by 16.0%, 24.9%, and 14.0% respectively. Urea application promotes root secretion of citric acid, malic acid, pyruvate, and γ-aminobutyric acid, crucial in remobilizing stable Cd. The application of urea promoted the expression of genes involved in sucrose transport, glycolysis, the TCA cycle, amino acid secretion, citric acid efflux, and proton efflux. Arabidopsis heterologous expression and yeast one-hybrid assays identify critical roles of AmMATE42 and AmMATE43 in citric acid and fumaric acid efflux, with AmSTOP1 activating their transcription. Inhibition of SIZ1 expression in urea treatment reduce AmSTOP1 SUMOylation, leading to increased expression of AmMATE42 and AmMATE43 and enhanced organic acids efflux. Using edible amaranth as a model vegetable, we discovered that urea is not beneficial to preserving the sustainability of stabilized Cd during the reuse of remediated farmlands contaminated with Cd.

Mating-Induced Differential Expression in Genes Related to Reproduction and Immunity in Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Female Moths.

Mating promotes reproductive activity, which may impact immune performance. Paradoxically, mating frequently challenges females' immunity (e.g., infections). Therefore, studies of postmating resource allocation between reproduction and survival are likely to shed new light on life-history trade-off and sexual selection. Here, we used RNAseq to test whether and how mating affected mRNA expression in genes related to reproduction and immunity in Spodoptera litura female moths. Results show a divergent change in the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between reproduction and immunity: the immune response was largely downregulated shortly after mating (~6 h postmating), which has some recovery at 24 h postmating; reproductive response is trivial shortly after mating (~6 h postmating), but it largely upregulated at 24 h postmating (e.g., egg maturation related genes were highly upregulated). Considering the fact that most of the total DEGs downregulated from 0 to 6 h postmating (from 51/68 to 214/260) but most of the total DEGs upregulated at 24 h postmating (816/928), it is possible that trade-offs between reproduction and immunity occurred in mated females. For example, they may shut down immunity to favor sperm storage and save limited resources to support the increased energy required in reproduction (e.g., egg maturation and oviposition). Mating-induced infections should be trivial due to low polyandry in S. litura. A reduced immune defense may have no threat to S. litura survival but may benefit reproduction significantly. Furthermore, obvious expression changes were detected in genes related to hormone production, suggesting that endocrine changes could play important roles in postmating responses.

Inhibiting effect of low-molecular weight polyols on the physico-chemical and structural deteriorations of gluten protein during storage of fresh noodles.

In this study, the inhibiting effects of low-molecular weight polyols on the deterioration of gluten network and noodle texture were systematically investigated, based on dough rheological properties, and the macroscopic, structural and water status changes of gluten protein during storage of fresh noodles. Both glycerol and propylene glycol significantly restrained the decrease of GMP gel weight, LA-SRC value, hardness and springiness, and the increase of cooking loss. SEM showed that polyols retarded the collapse of gluten network, with still continuous gluten fibrils. The inner structure of polyol noodles was much less damaged after 2 days, with more uniform moisture distribution in MRI images. Potential dynamic depolymerization and repolymerization interactions were detected for protein components during processing and cooking, which might contribute to the textural changes. Low-molecular weight polyols inhibited the collapse of gluten network and deterioration of noodle texture although they showed no inhibiting effect on microbial growth.

[Case-control study on cancellous screw and compression bolt in the treatment of calcaneal fractures wih minimally invasive plate].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate percutaneous reduction by Kirschner pin and internal fixation with cancellous screw and plate through minimal incision at the lateral side of heel for the treatment of intra-articular displacement fracture of calcaneus. METHODS: From September 2009 to June 2012, 80 patients with close intra-articular displacement fractures of calcaneus were divided into treatment group and control group. There were 40 patients in the control group, including 21 males and 19 females, ranging in age from 23 to 64 years old, averaged (39.1 +/-11.7) years old; and the patients were treated with fixation by compress screws and plates of self-broken type. There were 40 patients in the treatment group, including 24 males and 16 females,ranging in age from 21 to 67 years old, averaged (39.6+/-14.3) years old;and the patients were treated with full thread cancellous screws and plates fixation. The fixation time,intra-operative blood loss and the number of injured medial plntar nerve were compared between the two groups. The Böhler angle, Gissane angle and the correction degree of calcaneal width were measured at 1 year after operation. The internal fixators were taken out after 1 year. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was used to evaluate therapeutic effects. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 9 to 32 months, with a mean of 16 months. There were shorter operation time, less injury, satisfactory postoperative Böhler angle and calcaneal width in treatment group compared with control group,which reduced the medial neurovascular injuries, and the plate was easily removed after fracture healing. CONCLUSION: Full thread cancellous screws and plate fixation for the treatment of calcaneal fractures could get same therapeutic effects as compress screws and plate of self-broken type fixation, and also has follow advantages: shortening the operation time, reducing blood loss, easily to be removed, avoiding the medial neurovascular damage, reducing the incidence of complications.