Heavy metal induced shifts in microbial community composition and interactions with dissolved organic matter in coastal sediments.

Heavy metals can impact the structure and function of coastal sediment. The dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool plays an important role in determining both the heavy metal toxicity and microbial community composition in coastal sediments. However, how heavy metals affect the interactions between microbial communities and DOM remains unclear. Here, we investigated the influence of heavy metals on the microbial community structure (including bacteria and archaea) and DOM composition in surface sediments of Beibu Gulf, China. Our results revealed firstly that chromium, zinc, cadmium, and lead were the heavy metals contributing to pollution in our studied area. Furthermore, the DOM chemical composition was distinctly different in the contaminated area from the uncontaminated area, characterized by a higher average O/C ratio and increased prevalence of carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAM) and highly unsaturated compounds (HUC). This indicates that DOM in the contaminated area was more recalcitrant compared to the uncontaminated area. Except for differences in archaeal diversity between the two areas, there were no significant variations observed in the structure of archaea and bacteria, as well as the diversity of bacteria, across the two areas. Nevertheless, our co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the B2M28 and Euryarchaeota, dominating bacterial and archaeal groups in the contaminated area were strongly related to CRAM. The network analysis also unveiled correlations between active bacteria and elevated proportions of nitrogen-containing DOM molecules. In contrast, the archaea-DOM network exhibited strong associations with nitrogen- and sulfur-containing molecules. Collectively, these findings suggest that heavy metals indeed influence the interaction between microbial communities and DOM, potentially affecting the accumulation of recalcitrant compounds in coastal sediments.

Photothermal-Responsive Lightweight Hydrogel Actuator Loaded with Polydopamine-Modified Hollow Glass Microspheres.

Aquatic actuators based on the light-to-work conversion are of paramount significance for the development of cutting-edge fields including robots, micromachines, and intelligent systems. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of near-infrared light-driven hydrogel actuators through loading with lightweight polydopamine-modified hollow glass microspheres (PDA-HGMPs) into responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels. These PDA-HGMPs can not only function as an excellent photothermal agent but also accelerate the swelling/desewlling of hydrogels due to their reconstruction for polymer gel skeleton, which speeds up the response rate of hydrogel actuators. The resulting hydrogel actuator shows controlled movements under light illumination, including complex self-propellant and floating/sinking motions. As the proof-of-concept demonstrations, a self-sensing robot is conceptualized by integrating the PDA-HGMP-containing hydrogel actuator with an ultrathin and miniature pressure sensor. Hopefully, this work can offer some important insights into the research of smart aquatic soft actuators, paving the way to the potential applications in emerging fields including micromachines and intelligent systems.

Advances in microRNA regulation of deep vein thrombosis through venous vascular endothelial cells (Review).

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a prevalent clinical venous thrombotic condition that often manifests independently or in conjunction with other ailments. Thrombi have the propensity to dislodge into the circulatory system, giving rise to complications such as pulmonary embolism, thereby posing a significant risk to the patient. Virchow proposed that blood stagnation, alterations in the vessel wall and hypercoagulation are primary factors contributing to the development of venous thrombosis. Vascular endothelial cells (VECs) constitute the initial barrier to the vascular wall and are a focal point of ongoing research. These cells exert diverse stimulatory effects on the bloodstream and secrete various regulatory factors that uphold the dynamic equilibrium between the coagulation and anticoagulation processes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a class of non­coding RNAs present in eukaryotes, characterized by significant genetic and evolutionary conservation and displaying high spatiotemporal expression specificity. Typically ranging from 20 to 25 bases in length, miRNAs can influence downstream gene transcription through RNA interference or by binding to specific mRNA sites. Consequently, advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms of miRNAs, including their functionalities, involve modulation of vascular­associated processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, secretion of inflammatory factors, migration, apoptosis and vascular remodeling regeneration. miRNAs play a substantial role in DVT formation via venous VECs. In the present review, the distinct functions of various miRNAs in endothelial cells are outlined and recent progress in comprehending their role in the pathogenesis and clinical application of DVT is elucidated.

Half-spectrum OFDM to quadruple the spectral efficiency of underwater wireless optical communication with digital power division multiplexing.

Improving the spectrum efficiency (SE) is an effective method to further enhance the data rate of bandwidth-limited underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) systems. Non-orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (NOFDM) with a compression factor of 0.5 can save half of the bandwidth without introducing any inter-carrier-interference (ICI) only if the total number of subcarriers is large enough, and we termed it as half-spectrum OFDM (HS-OFDM). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported work on a closed-form HS-OFDM signal in the discrete domain from the perspective of a correlation matrix. Due to the special mathematical property, no extra complex decoding algorithm is required at the HS-OFDM receiver, making it as simple as the conventional OFDM receiver. Compared with traditional OFDM, HS-OFDM can realize the same data rate, but with a larger signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) margin. To fully use the SNR resource of the communication system, we further propose a digital power division multiplexed HS-OFDM (DPDM-HS-OFDM) scheme to quadruple the SE of conventional OFDM for the bandwidth-starved UWOCs. The experimental results show that HS-OFDM can improve the receiver sensitivity by around 4 dB as opposed to conventional 4QAM-OFDM with the same data rate and SE. With the help of the DPDM-HS-OFDM scheme, the data rate of multi-user UWOC can reach up to 4.5 Gbps under the hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) limit of a bit error rate (BER) of 3.8×10-3. Although there is some performance degradation in comparison with single-user HS-OFDM, the BER performance of multi-user DPDM-HS-OFDM is still superior to that of conventional single-user 4QAM-OFDM. Both single-user HS-OFDM and multi-user DPDM-HS-OFDM successfully achieve 2 Gbps/75 m data transmission, indicating that the DPDM-HS-OFDM scheme is of great importance in bandwidth-limited UWOC systems and has guiding significance to underwater wireless optical multiple access.

Accessory gland protein regulates pairing process and oviposition in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes chinensis after swarming.

Swarming and pairing behaviors are significant to population dispersal of termites. Tandem running is a key process in pairing behavior of dealates to find a mate. Succinylation can lead to significant changes in protein structure and function, which is widely involved in metabolism and behavior regulation in many organisms. However, whether succinylation modification regulates termites' tandem running is currently unknown. In this research, we performed quantitative modified proteomics of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder before and after alate swarming. The succinylation levels of accessory gland protein (ACP) were significantly altered after alate swarming. We found that ACP is enriched in male accessory gland and female oocytes of termites. The acetylation and succinylation sites of ACP affected tandem running of dealates. The transcriptome and metabolome analyses of alates injected with ACP and its mutant proteins showed that ß-alanine metabolism pathway was the major downstream pathway of ACP. Silencing the significantly differentially expressed genes in the ß-alanine metabolic pathway (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, enoyl-CoA hydratase, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase, methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase) suppressed tandem running and altered oviposition of paired dealates. These findings demonstrate that protein translation modification is an important regulator of tandem running behavior of termites, which implies that the succinylation and acetylation modification sites of ACP could be potential targets for insecticide action. Our research offers a potential approach for developing novel dispersal inhibitors against social insect pests.

Design of a prodrug photocage for cancer cells detection and anticancer drug release.

Developing probes for simultaneous diagnosis and killing of cancer cells is crucial, yet challenging. This article presents the design and synthesis of a novel Rhodamine B fluorescence probe. The design strategy involves utilizing an anticancer drug (Melphalan) to bind with a fluorescent group (HRhod-OH), forming HRhod-MeL, which is non-fluorescent. However, when exposed to the high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of cancer cells, HRhod-MeL transforms into a red-emitting Photocage (Rhod-MeL), and selectively accumulates in the mitochondria of cancer cells, where, when activated with green light (556 nm), anti-cancer drugs released. The Photocage improve the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs and enables the precise diagnosis and killing of cancer cells. Therefore, the prepared Photocage can detect cancer cells and release anticancer drugs in situ, which provides a new method for the development of prodrugs.

Comparative effectiveness of ehealth self-management interventions for patients with heart failure: A Bayesian network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of electronic self-management support interventions in reducing all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, readmission rates, and HF-related readmission in heart failure patients. METHODS: Following the PRISMA-P guidelines and PRISMS taxonomy, we searched Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Embase for RCTs and trials of electronic health technologies for heart failure interventions. Develop support programs in advance for education, monitoring, reminders, or a combination of these to screen and categorize studies. The Cochrane ROB2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias. RESULTS: The monitoring interventions may improve all-cause mortality (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.93) and cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.93) compared to usual care. Reminder interventions were associated with significantly reducing readmission rates (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.94). Mixed interventions were most effective in reducing HF-related readmission rates (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.99). CONCLUSION: Electronic self-management interventions, particularly monitoring and reminders, can potentially improve outcomes of heart failure patients, including reducing all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and readmission rates. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The eHealth model and the combination of self-management are significant for long-term intervention in patients with HF to improve their quality of life and prognosis.

A near-IR ratiometric fluorescent probe for the precise tracking of senescence: a multidimensional sensing assay of biomarkers in cell senescence pathways.

Senescence is a complex physiological process that can be induced by a range of factors, and cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the major triggers. In order to learn and solve age-related diseases, tracking strategies through biomarkers, including senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal), with high sensitivity and accuracy, have been considered as a promising solution. However, endogenous ß-gal accumulation is not only associated with senescence but also with other physiological processes. Therefore, additional assays are needed to define cellular senescence further. In this work, a fancy fluorescent probe SA-HCy-1 for accurately monitoring senescence is developed, with SA-ß-gal and HClO as targets under high lysosomal pH conditions (pH > 6.0) specifically, on account of the role ß-gal commonly played as an ovarian cancer biomarker. Therefore, precise tracking of cellular senescence could be achieved in view of these three dimensions, with response in dual fluorescence channels providing a ratiometric sensing pattern. This elaborate strategy has been verified to be suitable for biological applications by skin photo-aging evaluation and cellular passage tracing, displaying a significantly improved sensitivity compared with the commercial X-gal kit measurement.

Comparative transcriptome analysis provides molecular insights into heterosis of waterlogging tolerance in Chrysanthemum indicum.

BACKGROUND: Heterosis breeding is one of the most important breeding methods for chrysanthemum. To date, the genetic mechanisms of heterosis for waterlogging tolerance in chrysanthemum are still unclear. This study aims to analyze the expression profiles and potential heterosis-related genes of two hybrid lines and their parents with extreme differences in waterlogging tolerance under control and waterlogging stress conditions by RNA-seq. RESULTS: A population of 140 F1 progeny derived from Chrysanthemum indicum (Nanchang) (waterlogging-tolerant) and Chrysanthemum indicum (Nanjing) (waterlogging-sensitive) was used to characterize the extent of genetic variation in terms of seven waterlogging tolerance-related traits across two years. Lines 98 and 95, respectively displaying positive and negative overdominance heterosis for the waterlogging tolerance traits together with their parents under control and waterlogging stress conditions, were used for RNA-seq. In consequence, the maximal number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) occurred in line 98. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed multiple stress-related biological processes for the common up-regulated genes. Line 98 had a significant increase in non-additive genes under waterlogging stress, with transgressive up-regulation and paternal-expression dominant patterns being the major gene expression profiles. Further, GO analysis identified 55 and 95 transgressive up-regulation genes that overlapped with the up-regulated genes shared by two parents in terms of responses to stress and stimulus, respectively. 6,640 genes in total displaying maternal-expression dominance patterns were observed in line 95. In addition, 16 key candidate genes, including SAP12, DOX1, and ERF017 which might be of significant importance for the formation of waterlogging tolerance heterosis in line 98, were highlighted. CONCLUSION: The current study provides a comprehensive overview of the root transcriptomes among F1 hybrids and their parents under waterlogging stress. These findings lay the foundation for further studies on molecular mechanisms underlying chrysanthemum heterosis on waterlogging tolerance.

Cross-species transmission and animal infection model of hepatitis E virus.

Zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging global public health concern, and understanding the dynamics of HEV transmission between animals and humans is crucial for public health. Animal models are critical to advancing the understanding of HEV pathogenesis, drug screening, vaccine development, and other related areas. Here, we provide an overview of recent studies investigating the cross-species transmission of HEV, and also delve into the current research and application of animal HEV infection models including non-human primates, rodents, pigs, and chickens, offering a comprehensive assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of each model. This review highlights the findings related to viral replication, shedding patterns, and immune response in these animal models, and discusses the implications for our understanding of HEV transmission to humans. These advancements in the field enhance our understanding of the biological traits and pathogenic mechanisms of HEV, offering robust support for the development of highly effective and targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

Adsorption and desorption behavior of Zn2+ in a flow-through electrosorption reactor.

As heavy metal industrial wastewater increases in volume and complexity, we need more efficient, cheaper, and renewable technologies to curb its environmental impact. Compared to advection electrosorption, through-flow electrosorption is a hotspot technique that makes more efficient use of the adsorption capacity of activated carbon fiber mats. A cascade flow-through electrosorption assembly based on activated carbon fiber was used to obtain the best adsorption of Zn2+ in water at a voltage of 2 V, pH value of 8, plate spacing of 3 mm, and temperature of 15°C. The process is more closely fitted to the secondary adsorption kinetic equation and the Langmuir equation. The adsorption capacity of the module decreases at a progressively slower rate with the number of cycles and will eventually retain 75% of its peak value with significant regenerability. The study of this module can provide technical support for treating heavy metal wastewater.

Enhanced Microwave Deicing Capacity of Cement Pavement with Carbon Fiber Screens.

The combination of an absorbing structure and a road is a promising strategy for road deicing using microwaves. In this study, cement mortar (CM) specimens containing a carbon fiber screen (CFS) were prepared to concentrate electromagnetic losses on a road surface. The effect of the size and depth of the CFS on the surface heating efficiency of the microwave was studied and optimized, and a microwave deicing experiment was conducted. The results indicated that the destructive interference produced by the CFS led to the effective surface heating of the CM/CFS specimens. The optimal surface heating rate was 0.83 °C/s when the spacing, depth, and width of the CFS were 5.22, 13.31, and 2.80 mm, respectively. The deicing time was shortened by 21.68% from 83 to 65 s, and the heating rate increased by 17.14% from 0.70 to 0.82 °C/s for the specimen with CFS-1, which was 15 mm depth. Our results demonstrate that CM/CFS composite structures can be effectively applied to increase the capacity and accelerate the development of the microwave deicing of roads.

Ganonorsterone A, a norsteroid from the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lingzhi.

Phytochemical investigation on the fruiting bodies of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lingzhi led to the isolation of a new norsteroid, namely ganonorsterone A (1), together with one known steroid, cyathisterol (2). The structure and absolute configuration of compound 1 were assigned by extensive analysis of MS, NMR data, and quantum-chemical calculations including electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and calculated 13C NMR-DP4+ analysis. Bioassay results showed that compound 1 displayed moderate inhibition on NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

ATX1 and HUB1/2 promote recruitment of the transcription elongation factor VIP2 to modulate the floral transition in Arabidopsis.

Histone 2B ubiquitination (H2Bub) and trimethylation of H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) are associated with transcription activation. However, the function of these modifications in transcription in plants remains largely unknown. Here, we report that coordination of H2Bub and H3K4me3 deposition with the binding of the RNA polymerase-associated factor VERNALIZATION INDEPENDENCE2 (VIP2) to FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) modulates flowering time in Arabidopsis. We found that RING domain protein HISTONE MONOUBIQUITINATION1 (HUB1) and HUB2 (we refer as HUB1/2), which are responsible for H2Bub, interact with ARABIDOPSIS TRITHORAX1 (ATX1), which is required for H3K4me3 deposition, to promote the transcription of FLC and repress the flowering time. The atx1-2 hub1-10 hub2-2 triple mutant in FRIGIDIA (FRI) background displayed early flowering like FRI hub1-10 hub2-2 and overexpression of ATX1 failed to rescue the early flowering phenotype of hub1-10 hub2-2. Mutations in HUB1 and HUB2 reduced the ATX1 enrichment at FLC, indicating that HUB1 and HUB2 are required for ATX1 recruitment and H3K4me3 deposition at FLC. We also found that the VIP2 directly binds to HUB1, HUB2, and ATX1 and that loss of VIP2 in FRI hub1-10 hub2-2 and FRI atx1-2 plants resulted in early flowering like that observed in FRI vip2-10. Loss of function of HUB2 and ATX1 impaired VIP2 enrichment at FLC, and reduced the transcription initiation and elongation of FLC. In addition, mutations in VIP2 reduced HUB1 and ATX1 enrichment and H2Bub and H3K4me3 levels at FLC. Together, our findings revealed that HUB1/2, ATX1, and VIP2 coordinately modulate H2Bub and H3K4me3 deposition, FLC transcription, and flowering time.

Characterizing CD8+ TEMRA Cells in CP/CPPS Patients: Insights from Targeted Single-Cell Transcriptomic and Functional Investigations.

Background: The specific involvement of the CD8+ T effector memory RA (TEMRA) subset in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) has largely not been explored in the literature. Methods: Targeted single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) profiles were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from two CP/CPPS patients and two healthy controls (HCs) in our recent study. Pseudotime series algorithms were used to reveal the differentiation trajectory, CellChat analysis was used to explore the communication between individual cells, and the SCENIC program was used to identify potential transcription factors (TFs). Based on the cosine similarity, clusters of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were considered to be further enriched in different pathways. To confirm the functional role of the critical clusters, flow cytometry was employed. Results: The results revealed the molecular landscape of these clusters, with TEMRA cells exhibiting pronounced cytokine-mediated signaling pathway enrichment. Pseudotime trajectory analysis further mapped the evolution from naïve T cells to that of TEMRA cells, elucidating the developmental pathways involved in the immune context. A significant finding from CellChat analysis was the differential expression of ligands and receptors, with CD8+ TEMRA cells showing enhanced signaling, particularly in the CP/CPPS context, compared to HCs. Flow cytometry confirmed these results, revealing a heightened proinflammatory cytokine profile in patients with chronic prostatitis-like symptoms (CP-LS), suggesting that TEMRA cells play a significant role in disease pathogenesis. TF profiling across the T-cell clusters identified key regulators of cellular identity, identifying novel therapeutic targets. Elevated TNF signaling activity in CD8+ TEMRA cells underscored the involvement of these cells in disease mechanisms. Conclusion: This study elucidates the pivotal role of the CD8+ TEMRA cell subset in CP/CPPS, which is characterized by increased TNF signaling and proinflammatory factor expression, highlighting potential biomarkers and opening new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Effect of MEP-oriented scalp acupuncture combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation on limb motor ability in patients with ischemic stroke hemiplegia. / MEPå®šä½ä¸‹å¤´é’ˆè”åˆç»é¢ ç£åˆºæ¿€å¯¹ç¼ºè¡€æ€§è„‘å’ä¸­åç˜«æ‚£è€ è‚¢ä½“è¿åŠ¨èƒ½åŠ›çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of motor evoked potential (MEP)-oriented scalp acupuncture combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on limb motor ability in patients with ischemic stroke hemiplegia. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with ischemic stroke hemiplegia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In addition to the medication treatment of internal medicine and comprehensive training of hemiplegic limbs, MEP-oriented scalp acupuncture combined with TMS was applied in the observation group, conventional scalp acupuncture at bilateral anterior oblique line of parietal and temporal regions combined with TMS was applied in the control group. The treatment was given once a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks totally in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and modified Barthel index (MBI) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the FMA and MBI scores were increased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.001), and the FMA and MBI scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the MAS scores of upper and lower limbs in the observation group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.001), the MAS score of lower limb in the control group was decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MEP-oriented scalp acupuncture combined with TMS can effectively improve the limb motor ability, daily living ability and limb spasticity in patients with ischemic stroke hemiplegia.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Aux/IAA Gene Family in Artemisia argyi: Identification, Phylogenetic Analysis, and Determination of Response to Various Phytohormones.

Artemisia argyi is a traditional herbal medicine plant, and its folium artemisia argyi is widely in demand due to moxibustion applications globally. The Auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA, or IAA) gene family has critical roles in the primary auxin-response process, with extensive involvement in plant development and stresses, controlling various essential traits of plants. However, the systematic investigation of the Aux/IAA gene family in A. argyi remains limited. In this study, a total of 61 Aux/IAA genes were comprehensively identified and characterized. Gene structural analysis indicated that 46 Aux/IAA proteins contain the four typical domains, and 15 Aux/IAA proteins belong to non-canonical IAA proteins. Collinear prediction and phylogenetic relationship analyses suggested that Aux/IAA proteins were grouped into 13 distinct categories, and most Aux/IAA genes might experience gene loss during the tandem duplication process. Promoter cis-element investigation indicated that Aux/IAA promoters contain a variety of plant hormone response and stress response cis-elements. Protein interaction prediction analysis demonstrated that AaIAA26/29/7/34 proteins are possibly core members of the Aux/IAA family interaction. Expression analysis in roots and leaves via RNA-seq data indicated that the expression of some AaIAAs exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns, and some AaIAAs were involved in the regulation of salt and saline-alkali stresses. In addition, RT-qPCR results indicated that AaIAA genes have differential responses to auxin, with complex response patterns in response to other hormones, indicating that Aux/IAA may play a role in connecting auxin and other hormone signaling pathways. Overall, these findings shed more light on AaIAA genes and offer critical foundational knowledge toward the elucidation of their function during plant growth, stress response, and hormone networking of Aux/IAA family genes in A. argyi.

Ultrasonic shear wave elastography predicts the quality of the residual tendon before the rotator cuff repair.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Effective evaluation of rotator cuff tear residual tendon quality is the key to surgical repair. However, until now, the evaluation of rotator cuff tissue by ultrasonic shear wave elasticity (SWE) has been controversial. This prospective study analyzed the association between preoperative SWE and arthroscopic residual tendon quality scores. METHODS: The shear wave velocity (SWV) of the deltoid muscle, the supraspinatus tendon, and the supraspinatus muscle were measured in full-thickness rotator cuff tear patients. Tendon quality was scored according to tear size, tendon margin, tendon thickness, and footprint coverage during arthroscopy. The arthroscopic scores were used as the gold standard, and the SWV ratio of tendon and muscle (supraspinatus tendon/deltoid and supraspinatus muscle/deltoid) were calculated and correlated with the arthroscopic scores. RESULT: Eighty-nine patients (129 shoulders) were enrolled, including 89 operation shoulders and 40 control shoulders. In the group of operation shoulders, both the SWV ratios of tendon (SWV-RT) and the SWV ratio of muscle (SWV-RM) were negatively correlated with arthroscopic scores (The correlation coefficient (R) ranged from -0.722 to -0.884 and -0.569 to -0.689). The SWV-RT and SWV-RM of the operation shoulders were significantly lower than that of the control shoulders (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SWE could be used to predict the quality of the residual tendon before the rotator cuff repair. SWV of the supraspinatus tendon and muscle was a useful parameter to predict the quality of the residual tendon. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Measuring the shear wave velocity of the supraspinatus tendon and muscle with SWE is useful for predicting the quality of the residual tendon which is one of the key factors for a successful rotator cuff repair. KEY POINTS: • Evaluating the quality of the residual tendon is important before surgery. • Elasticity measurements were negatively correlated with the arthroscopic score. • SWE is useful for predicting the quality of the residual tendon.

A self-amplifying loop of TP53INP1 and P53 drives oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation is a promising regenerative therapy; however, the survival rate of BMSCs after transplantation is low. Oxidative stress is one of the main reasons for the high apoptosis rate of BMSCs after transplantation, so there is an urgent need to explore the mechanism of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of BMSCs. Our previous transcriptome sequencing results suggested that the expression of P53-induced nuclear protein 1 (TP53INP1) and the tumor suppressor P53 (P53) was significantly upregulated during the process of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of BMSCs. The present study further revealed the role and mechanism of TP53INP1 and P53 in oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in BMSCs. Overexpression of TP53INP1 induced apoptosis of BMSCs, knockdown of TP53INP1 alleviated oxidative stress apoptosis of BMSCs. Under oxidative stress conditions, P53 is regulated by TP53INP1, while P53 can positively regulate the expression of TP53INP1, so the two form a positive feedback loop. To clarify the mechanism of feedback loop formation. We found that TP53INP1 inhibited the ubiquitination and degradation of P53 by increasing the phosphorylation level of P53, leading to the accumulation of P53 protein. P53 can act on the promoter of the TP53INP1 gene and increase the expression of TP53INP1 through transcriptional activation. This is the first report on a positive feedback loop formed by TP53INP1 and P53 under oxidative stress. The present study clarified the formation mechanism of the positive feedback loop. The TP53INP1-P53 positive feedback loop may serve as a potential target for inhibiting oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in BMSCs.

Multi-locus genome-wide association studies reveal the dynamic genetic architecture of flowering time in chrysanthemum.

KEY MESSAGE: The dynamic genetic architecture of flowering time in chrysanthemum was elucidated by GWAS. Thirty-six known genes and 14 candidate genes were identified around the stable QTNs and QEIs, among which ERF-1 was highlighted. Flowering time (FT) adaptation is one of the major breeding goals in chrysanthemum, a multipurpose ornamental plant. In order to reveal the dynamic genetic architecture of FT in chrysanthemum, phenotype investigation of ten FT-related traits was conducted on 169 entries in 2 environments. The broad-sense heritability of five non-conditional FT traits, i.e., budding (FBD), visible coloring (VC), early opening (EO), full-bloom (OF) and decay period (DP), ranged from 56.93 to 84.26%, which were higher than that of the five derived conditional FT traits (38.51-75.13%). The phenotypic variation coefficients of OF_EO and DP_OF were relatively large ranging from 30.59 to 36.17%. Based on 375,865 SNPs, the compressed variance component mixed linear model 3VmrMLM was applied for a multi-locus genome-wide association study (GWAS). As a result, 313 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) were identified for the non-conditional FT traits in single-environment analysis, while 119 QTNs and 67 QTN-by-environment interactions (QEIs) were identified in multi-environment analysis. As for the conditional traits, 343 QTNs were detected in single-environment analysis, and 119 QTNs and 83 QEIs were identified in multi- environment analysis. Among the genes around stable QTNs and QEIs, 36 were orthologs of known FT genes in Arabidopsis and other plants; 14 candidates were mined by combining the transcriptomics data and functional annotation, including ERF-1, ACA10, and FOP1. Furthermore, the haplotype analysis of ERF-1 revealed six elite accessions with extreme FBD. Our findings contribute to the understanding of dynamic genetic architecture of FT and provide valuable resources for future chrysanthemum molecular breeding programs.