[Association of CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms with the genetic susceptibility and prognosis of patients with Bladder urothelial carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphisms with the prognosis of patients with Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC). METHODS: From February 2019 to October 2020, 256 BUS patients treated at the Xinxiang Central Hospital were selected as the study group, whilst 250 healthy individuals were selected as the control group. Genotypes of rs5742909 (-318C/T), rs231775 (+49A/G) and rs4553808 (-1661A/G) were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The frequencies of genotypes and alleles of the CTLA-4 gene were compared between the two groups. All patients had undergone surgical treatment and were followed up for 3 years and divided into good prognosis group (n = 166) and poor prognosis group (n = 86) based on the status of disease. The distribution of alleles and genotypes were compared, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the association of genetic polymorphisms with the prognosis. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the gender, age, BMI, smoking history and alcohol use between the two groups (P > 0.05). The frequencies of GG genotype and G allele for the rs231775 (+49A/G) and rs4553808 (-1661A/G) loci were significantly higher in the study group compared with the control group (P < 0.05), whilst no statistical difference was found in the genotypic and allelic frequency for the rs5742909 locus between the two groups (P > 0.05). Among the 252 subjects who had completed follow-up, 86 had poor prognosis and 166 had good prognosis. The frequencies of GG genotype and G allele at the rs231775 (+49A/G) and rs4553808 (-1661A/G) loci were significantly lower in the good prognosis group compared with the poor prognosis group (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the survival time of patients with GG genotype for the rs231775 (+49A/G) and rs4553808 (-1661A/G) loci was significantly shorter than patients with AA or AG genotypes (Log Rank 2 = 13.654, 9.974, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The polymorphisms of the rs231775 and rs4553808 loci of the CTLA-4 gene are associated with genetic susceptibility and poor prognosis for BUC, and a higher GG genotypic frequency may increase the risk for infection and poor prognosis of the patients.

Transcriptome-metabolome reveals the molecular changes in meat production and quality in the hybrid populations of Sichuan white goose.

Hybrid breeding has proven to enhance meat quality and is extensively utilized in goose breeding. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of research investigating the molecular mechanisms that underlie the meat quality of hybrid geese. In this study, we employed the Sichuan White Goose as the maternal line for hybridization with the Zhedong White Goose and Tianfu Meat Goose P3 line. We assessed the growth and slaughter meat quality performance of 10-wk-old hybrid offspring in comparison to Sichuan white goose purebred offspring. The results indicate that hybrid geese have significantly improved performance in growth and slaughter meat quality. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the chest muscles of hybrid offspring through transcriptomics and metabolomics to unravel the effects of hybrid breeding on growth and meat quality. A total of 673 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 93 differentially expressed metabolites were identified. The joint analysis highlighted the significant enrichment of DEGs AMPD1, AMPD3, RRM2, ENTPD3, and the metabolite UMP in the nucleotide metabolism pathway. These findings underscore the crucial role of these genetic and metabolic factors in regulating muscle growth and meat quality in hybrid populations.

Multi-layered carbon accommodation of MnO2 enabling fast kinetics for highly stable zinc ion batteries.

Large-scale durable aqueous zinc ion batteries for stationary storage are realized by spray-coating conductive PEDOT(Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) wrapping MnO2/carbon microspheres hybrid cathode in this work. The porous carbon microspheres with multiple layers deriving from sucrose provide suitable accommodation for MnO2 active materials, exposing more redox active sites and enhancing the contact surface between electrolyte and active materials. As a result, MnO2/microspheres are adhered to the current collector by a conductive PEDOT coating without any binder. The ternary design retards the structural degradation during cycling and shortens the electron and ion transport path, rendering the full batteries high capacity and long cycle stability. The resulting batteries perform the capacity of 277, 227, 110, 85 and 50 mAh/g at 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 A/g, respectively. After 3000 cycles the initial capacity retains 86%, and 80% after 5000 cycles. GITT indicates PEDOT wrapping MnO2/microspheres cathode enables better ion intercalating kinetics than conventional MnO2. The work could represent a novel and significant step forward in the studies on the large-scale application of zinc ion batteries.

Hydrophobic Two-Dimensional Layered Superstructure of a Polyoxometalate Cluster as the Cathode Material for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries hold promise for sustainable energy storage, yet challenges in finding high-performance cathode materials persist. Polyoxovanadates (POVs) are emerging as potential candidates due to their structural diversity and robust redox activity. Despite their potential, issues like dissolution in electrolytes, structural degradation, and byproduct accumulation persist. This work introduces a POV-based hydrophobic two-dimensional (2D) layered superstructure that addresses these challenges. The hydrophobic nature minimizes POV dissolution, enhancing structural stability and inhibiting phase transitions during cycling. The 2D arrangement ensures a larger surface area and improved electronic conductivity, resulting in faster kinetics and higher specific capacity. The superstructure demonstrates improved cycle life and an increased operating voltage, marking a significant advancement in POV-based cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Clinical significance of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for detection of incidental pre-malignant and malignant colonic lesions: correlation with colonoscopic and histopathological results.

BACKGROUND: Incidental colorectal fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake, observed during positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans, attracts particular attention due to its potential to represent both benign and pre-malignant/malignant lesions. Early detection and excision of these lesions are crucial for preventing cancer development and reducing mortality. This research aims to evaluate the correlation between incidental colorectal FDG uptake on PET/CT with colonoscopic and histopathological results. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on data from all patients who underwent PET/CT between December 2019 and December 2023 in our hospital. The study included 79 patients with incidental colonic FDG uptake who underwent endoscopy. Patient characteristics, imaging parameters, and the corresponding colonoscopy and histopathological results were studied. A comparative analysis was performed among the findings from each of these modalities. The optimal cut-off value of SUVmax for 18F-FDG PET/CT diagnosis of premalignant and malignant lesions was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The area under the curve (AUC) of SUVmax and the combined parameters of SUVmax and colonic wall thickening (CWT) were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 79 patients with incidental colorectal FDG uptake, histopathology revealed malignancy in 22 (27.9%) patients and premalignant polyps in 22 (27.9%) patients. Compared to patients with benign lesions, patients with premalignant and malignant lesions were more likely to undergo a PET/CT scan for primary evaluation (p = 0.013), and more likely to have focal GIT uptake (p = 0.001) and CWT (p = 0.001). A ROC curve analysis was made and assesed a cut-off value of 7.66 SUVmax (sensitivity: 64.9% and specificity: 82.4%) to distinguish premalignant and malignant lesions from benign lesions. The AUCs of the SUVmax and the combined parameters of SUVmax and CWT were 0.758 and 0.832 respectively. CONCLUSION: For patients undergo PET/CT for primary evaluation, imaging features of colorectal focal FDG uptake and CWT were more closely associated with premalignant and malignant lesions. The SUVmax helps determine benign and premalignant/malignant lesions of the colorectum. Moreover, the combination of SUVmax and CWT parameters have higher accuracy in estimating premalignant and malignant lesions than SUVmax.

Ultrahigh Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy/Ag Flakes/MXene@Ag Composites Achieved by In Situ Sintering of Silver Nanoparticles.

The growing use of high-power and integrated electronic devices has created a need for thermal conductive adhesives (TCAs) with high thermal conductivity (TC) to manage heat dissipation at the interface. However, TCAs are often limited by contact thermal resistance at the interface between materials. In this study, we synthesized MXene@Ag composites through a direct in situ reduction process. The Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) generated by the reduction of the MXene interlayer and surface formed effective thermally conductive pathways with Ag flakes within an epoxy resin matrix. Various characterization analyses revealed that adding MXene@Ag composites at a concentration of 3 wt % resulted in a remarkable TC of 40.80 W/(m·K). This value is 8.77 times higher than that achieved with Ag flakes and 7.9 times higher than with MXene filler alone. The improved TC is attributed to the sintering of the in situ reduced Ag NPs during the curing process, which formed a connection between MXene (a highly conductive material) and the Ag flakes, thereby reducing contact thermal resistance. This reduction in contact thermal resistance significantly enhanced the TC of the thermal interface materials (TIMs). This study presents a novel approach for developing materials with exceptionally high TC, opening new possibilities for the design and fabrication of advanced thermal management systems.

Construction of a nomogram based on clinicopathologic features to predict the likelihood of No. 253 lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To explore the high-risk factors for rectal cancer No.253 lymph node metastasis (LNM) and to construct a risk nomogram for the individualized prediction of No.253 LNM. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 425 patients with rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic-assisted radical surgery. Independent risk factors for rectal cancer No.253 LNM was identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis, and a risk prediction nomogram was constructed based on the independent risk factors. In addition, the performance of the model was evaluated by discrimination, calibration, and clinical benefit. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that No.253 lymphadenectasis on CT (OR 10.697, P < 0.001), preoperative T4-stage (OR 4.431, P = 0.001), undifferentiation (OR 3.753, P = 0.004), and preoperative Ca199 level > 27 U/ml (OR 2.628, P = 0.037) were independent risk factors for No.253 LNM. A nomogram was constructed based on the above four factors. The calibration curve of the nomogram was closer to the ideal diagonal, indicating that the nomogram had a better fitting ability. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.865, which indicated that the nomogram had high discriminative ability. In addition, decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the model could show better clinical benefit when the threshold probability was between 1% and 50%. CONCLUSION: Preoperative No.253 lymphadenectasis on CT, preoperative T4-stage, undifferentiation, and elevated preoperative Ca199 level were found to be independent risk factors for the No.253 LNM. A predictive model based on these risk factors can help surgeons make rational clinical decisions.

Modulating the electronic structure of VS2via Ru decoration for an efficient pH-universal electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction.

High-efficiency water electrolysis over a broad pH range is desirable but challenging. Herein, Ru-decorated VS2 on carbon cloth (Ru-VS2/CC) has been in situ synthesized, which features the regulated electronic structure of VS2 by introducing Ru. It is remarkable that the optimal Ru-VS2/CC displays excellent electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity with overpotentials of 89 and 87 mV at -10 mA cm-2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH, respectively. Theoretical calculations and electrocatalytic measurements have demonstrated that introducing Ru induces an enhanced charge density around the Fermi level, facilitating charge transfer and speeding up the electrocatalytic HER kinetics. The Gibbs free energy of the hydrogen intermediate (ΔGH*) of Ru-VS2/CC (0.23 eV) is much closer to zero than that of pure VS2 (0.51 eV) and Ru (-0.37 eV), demonstrating an easier hydrogen adsorption and desorption process for Ru-VS2/CC. The more favorable ΔGH*, differential charge density and the d-band center endow Ru-VS2 with enhanced intrinsic electrocatalytic activity. This study presents a feasible strategy for enhancing electrocatalytic HER activity by the regulation of the electronic structure and the rational integration of dual active components.

Presynaptic density determined by SV2A PET is closely associated with postsynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 availability and independent of amyloid pathology in early cognitive impairment.

INTRODUCTION: Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is involved in regulating integrative brain function and synaptic transmission. Aberrant mGluR5 signaling and relevant synaptic failure play a key role in the pathophysiological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Ten cognitively impaired (CI) individuals and 10 healthy controls (HCs) underwent [18F]SynVesT-1 and [18F]PSS232 positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance to assess synaptic density and mGluR5 availability. The associations between mGluR5 availability and synaptic density were examined. A mediation analysis was performed to investigate the possible mediating effects of mGluR5 availability and synaptic loss on the relationship between amyloid deposition and cognition. RESULTS: CI patients exhibited lower mGluR5 availability and synaptic density in the medial temporal lobe than HCs. Regional synaptic density was closely associated with regional mGluR5 availability. mGluR5 availability and synaptic loss partially mediated the relationship between amyloid deposition and cognition. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions in mGluR5 availability and synaptic density exhibit similar spatial patterns in AD and are closely linked. HIGHLIGHTS: Cognitively impaired patients exhibited lower mGluR5 availability and synaptic density in the medial temporal lobe than HCs. Reductions in mGluR5 availability and synaptic density exhibit similar spatial patterns in AD. Regional synaptic density was closely associated with regional mGluR5 availability. mGluR5 availability and synaptic loss partially mediated the relationship between amyloid deposition and global cognition. With further research, modulating mGluR5 availability might be a potential therapeutic strategy for improving synaptic function in AD.

Chiral Transfer and Evolution in Cysteine Induced Cobalt Superstructures.

Chiral organic additives have unveiled the extraordinary capacity to form chiral inorganic superstructures, however, complex hierarchical structures have hindered the understanding of chiral transfer and growth mechanisms. This study introduces a simple hydrothermal synthesis method for constructing chiral cobalt superstructures with cysteine, demonstrating specific recognition of chiral molecules and outstanding electrocatalytic activity. The mild preparation conditions allow in situ tracking of chirality evolution in the chiral cobalt superstructure, offering unprecedented insights into the chiral transfer and amplification mechanism. The resulting superstructures exhibit a universal formation process applicable to other metal oxides, extending the understanding of chiral superstructure evolution. This work contributes not only to the fundamental understanding of chirality in self-assembled structures but also provides a versatile method for designing chiral inorganic nanomaterials with remarkable molecular recognition and electrocatalytic capabilities.

Chirality-enhanced 2D conductive polymer for flexible electronics and chiral sensing applications.

Chiral two-dimensional (2D) conductive polymers, encompassing chiral, 2D, flexible, and conductive properties, constitute a novel class of material that remains largely unexplored. The infusion of chirality into 2D conductive polymers taps into the unique characteristics associated with chirality, presenting opportunities to enhance or tailor the electronic, optical, and structural properties of materials for specific technological applications. In this study, we synthesized a chiral 2D PEDOT:PMo11V nanofilm through interfacial polymerization, effectively integrating a chiral monolayer, conductive polymer, and inorganic cluster. The inclusion of inorganic cluster serves to enhance the conductivity of the resulting chiral nanofilm. Furthermore, we demonstrated the chiral nanofilm as a capable electrochemical sensor for detecting drug enantiomers. The inherent flexibility of the chiral nanofilm also lays the groundwork for the development of chiral flexible/wearable devices.

Interfacial Interaction in NiFe LDH/NiS2/VS2 for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting.

A bifunctional electrocatalyst with high efficiency and low costs for overall water splitting is critical to achieving a green hydrogen economy and coping with the energy crisis. However, developing robust electrocatalysts still faces huge challenges, owing to unsatisfactory electron transfer and inherent activity. Herein, NiFe LDH/NiS2/VS2 heterojunctions have been designed as freestanding bifunctional electrocatalysts to split water, exhibiting enhanced electron transfer and abundant catalytic sites. The optimum NiFe LDH/NiS2/VS2 electrocatalyst exhibits a small overpotential of 380 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for overall water splitting and superior electrocatalytic performance in both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER/OER). Specifically, the electrocatalyst requires overpotentials of 76 and 286 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for HER and OER, respectively, in alkaline electrolytes, which originate from the synergistic interaction among the facilitated electron transfer and increasingly exposed active sites due to the modulation of interfaces and construction of heterojunctions.

Identification and Analysis of the MIR399 Gene Family in Grapevine Reveal Their Potential Functions in Abiotic Stress.

MiR399 plays an important role in plant growth and development. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the evolutionary characteristics of the MIR399 gene family in grapevine and investigate its role in stress response. To comprehensively investigate the functions of miR399 in grapevine, nine members of the Vvi-MIR399 family were identified based on the genome, using a miRBase database search, located on four chromosomes (Chr 2, Chr 10, Chr 15, and Chr 16). The lengths of the Vvi-miR399 precursor sequences ranged from 82 to 122 nt and they formed stable stem-loop structures, indicating that they could produce microRNAs (miRNAs). Furthermore, our results suggested that the 2 to 20 nt region of miR399 mature sequences were relatively conserved among family members. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Vvi-MIR399 members of dicots (Arabidopsis, tomato, and sweet orange) and monocots (rice and grapevine) could be divided into three clades, and most of the Vvi-MIR399s were closely related to sweet orange in dicots. Promoter analysis of Vvi-MIR399s showed that the majority of the predicted cis-elements were related to stress response. A total of 66.7% (6/9) of the Vvi-MIR399 promoters harbored drought, GA, and SA response elements, and 44.4% (4/9) of the Vvi-MIRR399 promoters also presented elements involved in ABA and MeJA response. The expression trend of Vvi-MIR399s was consistent in different tissues, with the lowest expression level in mature and young fruits and the highest expression level in stems and young leaves. However, nine Vvi-MIR399s and four target genes showed different expression patterns when exposed to low light, high light, heat, cold, drought, and salt stress. Interestingly, a putative target of Vvi-MIR399 targeted multiple genes; for example, seven Vvi-MIR399s simultaneously targeted VIT_213s0067g03280.1. Furthermore, overexpression of Vvi_MIR399e and Vvi_MIR399f in Arabidopsis enhanced tolerance to drought compared with wild-type (WT). In contrast, the survival rate of Vvi_MIR399d-overexpressed plants were zero after drought stress. In conclusion, Vvi-MIR399e and Vvi-MIR399f, which are related to drought tolerance in grapevine, provide candidate genes for future drought resistance breeding.

APOE ε4 is associated with decreased synaptic density in cognitively impaired participants.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to investigate the effect of apolipoprotein E4 (APOE) ε4 on synaptic density in cognitively impaired (CI) participants. METHODS: One hundred ten CI participants underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-florbetapir and synaptic density PET with 18F-SynVesT-1. We evaluated the influence of APOE ε4 allele on synaptic density and investigated the effects of ε4 genotype on the associations of synaptic density with Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers. The mediation effects of AD biomarkers on ε4-associated synaptic density loss were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with non-carriers, APOE ε4 allele carriers exhibited significant synaptic loss in the medial temporal lobe. Amyloid beta (Aß) and tau pathology mediated the effects of APOE ε4 on synaptic density to different extents. The associations between synaptic density and tau pathology were regulated by the APOE ε4 genotype. DISCUSSION: The APOE ε4 allele was associated with decreased synaptic density in CI individuals and may be driven by AD biomarkers.

Effect of lead-free glass on the current transmission method at the Ag/Si interface in crystalline silicon solar cells.

Environmental protection mandates have spurred the widespread adoption of lead-free glass in electronic material adhesion. Glass powder, crucial for solar silver paste, notably affects the ohmic contact at the Ag-Si interface of crystalline silicon solar cells. This study examines how TeO2 content influences the high-temperature flowability and wettability of lead-free Bi2O3-TeO2-based glass powder, alongside the interplay between the glass's thermal properties and interface contact. Additionally, it investigates the Bi2O3-TeO2 ratio's impact on current transmission through the interfacial glass layer. Experimental results show that the synthesized glass powder exhibits superior high-temperature flowability and wettability, with a low contact resistance of 1.5 mΩ cm2 in silver paste applications. This study also proposes an optimal approach for enhancing current transmission through the interfacial glass layer. Consequently, this glass powder is highly valuable for c-Si solar cell silver paste applications, offering novel insights into improving current transmission efficiency.

The associations between synaptic density and "A/T/N" biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease: An 18F-SynVesT-1 PET/MR study.

A newly developed SV2A radiotracer, 18F-SynVesT-1, was used in this study to investigate synaptic density and its association with Alzheimer's disease (AD) "A/T/N" biomarkers. The study included a cohort of 97 subjects, consisting of 64 patients with cognitive impairment (CI) and 33 individuals with normal cognition (CU). All subjects underwent 18F-SynVesT-1 PET/MR and 18F-florbetapir PET/CT scans. Additionally, a subgroup of individuals also underwent 18F-MK-6240, 18F-FDG PET/CT, plasma Aß42/Aß40 and p-tau181 tests. The differences in synaptic density between the groups and the correlations between synaptic density and AD "A/T/N" biomarkers were analyzed. The results showed that compared to the CU group, the CI with Aß+ (CI+) group exhibited the most pronounced synapse loss in the hippocampus, with some loss also observed in the neocortex. Furthermore, synaptic density in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus showed associations with AD biomarkers detected by both imaging and plasma tests in the CI group. The associations between synaptic density and FDG uptake and hippocampal volume were also observed in the CI+ group. In conclusion, the study demonstrated significant synaptic density loss, as measured by the promising tracer 18F-SynVesT-1, and its close correlation with "A/T/N" biomarkers in patients with both Alzheimer's clinical syndrome and pathological changes.

Effect of Silver Powder Microstructure on the Performance of Silver Powder and Front-Side Solar Silver Paste.

Silver powder, as the primary component of solar silver paste, significantly influences various aspects of the paste's performance, including printing, sintering, and conductivity. This study reveals that, beyond the shape and size of the silver powders, their microstructure is a critical factor influencing the performance of both silver powders and silver pastes in solar cell applications. The growth process leads to the formation of either polycrystalline aggregated silver powder or crystal growth silver powder. Analyzing the performance characteristics of these different microstructures provides guidance for selecting silver powders for silver pastes at different sintering temperatures. Polycrystalline aggregated silver powder exhibits higher sintering activity, with a sintering initiation temperature around 450 °C. The resulting silver paste, sintered at 750 °C, demonstrates a low sheet resistance of 2.92 mΩ/sq and high adhesion of 2.13 N. This silver powder is suitable for formulating silver pastes with lower sintering temperatures. The solar cell electrode grid lines have a high aspect ratio of 0.37, showing poor uniformity. However, due to the high sintering activity of the silver powder, the glass layer dissolves and deposits more silver, resulting in excellent conductivity, a low contact resistance of the silver electrode, a low series resistance of the solar cell of 1.23 mΩ, and a high photoelectric conversion efficiency of 23.16%. Crystal growth silver powder exhibits the highest tap density of 5.52 g/cm3. The corresponding silver paste shows improved densification upon sintering, especially at 840 °C, yielding a sheet resistance of 2.56 mΩ/sq and adhesion of 3.05 N. This silver powder is suitable for formulating silver pastes with higher sintering temperatures. The solar cell electrode grid lines are uniform with the highest aspect ratio of 0.40, resulting in a smaller shading area, a high fill factor of 81.59%, and a slightly higher photoelectric conversion efficiency of 23.17% compared to the polycrystalline aggregated silver powder.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is associated with neurodegeneration and amyloid deposition in Alzheimer's disease: A [18F]PSS232 PET/MRI study.

BACKGROUND: Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is involved in regulating integrative brain function and synaptic transmission. Aberrant mGluR5 signaling and relevant synaptic failure play a key role in the initial pathophysiological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study aims to investigate the association between mGluR5 availability and AD's biomarkers and cognitive function. METHODS: We examined 35 individuals with mGluR5 tracer [18F]PSS232 to assess mGluR5 availability, and with [18F]Florbetapir PET to assess global amyloid deposition, and [18F]FDG PET to assess glucose metabolism. The plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and p-tau181 levels in a subset of individuals were measured (n = 27). The difference in mGluR5 availability between the AD and normal control (NC) groups was explored. The associations of mGluR5 availability with amyloid deposition, glucose metabolism, gray matter volume (GMV), neuropsychological assessment scores, and plasma biomarkers were analyzed. RESULTS: The mGluR5 availability was significantly reduced in AD patients' hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus compared to NCs. Global amyloid deposition was positively associated with mGluR5 availability in the AD group and reversely associated in the NC group. The mGluR5 availability was positively correlated with regional glucose metabolism in the overall and stratified analyses. The availability of mGluR5 in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus demonstrated a strong relationship with the GMV of the medial temporal lobe, plasma p-tau181 or NfL levels, and global cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: [18F]PSS232 PET can quantify the changes of mGluR5 availability in the progression of AD. mGluR5 availability correlated not only with neuropathological biomarkers of AD but also with neurodegenerative biomarkers and cognitive performance. mGluR5 may be a novel neurodegenerative biomarker, and whether mGluR5 could be a potential therapeutic target for AD needs to be further studied.

A rapid and highly efficient sorghum transformation strategy using GRF4-GIF1/ternary vector system.

Sorghum is an important crop for food, forage, wine and biofuel production. To enhance its transformation efficiency without negative developmental by-effects, we investigated the impact of GRF4-GIF1 chimaera and GRF5 on sorghum transformation. Both GRF4-GIF1 and GRF5 effectively improved the transformation efficiency of sorghum and accelerated the transformation process of sorghum to less than 2 months which was not observed when using BBM-WUS. As agrobacterium  effectors increase the ability of T-DNA transfer into plant cells, we checked whether ternary vector system can additively enhance sorghum transformation. The combination of GRF4-GIF1 with helper plasmid pVS1-VIR2 achieved the highest transformation efficiency, reaching 38.28%, which is 7.71-fold of the original method. Compared with BBM-WUS, overexpressing GRF4-GIF1 caused no noticeable growth defects in sorghum. We further developed a sorghum CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tool based on this GRF4-GIF1/ternary vector system, which achieved an average gene mutation efficiency of 41.36%, and null mutants were created in the T0 generation.