On-Device Pressure-Tunable Moving Schottky Contacts.

Contact engineering enhances electronic device performance and functions but often involves costly, inconvenient fabrication and material replacement processes. We develop an in situ, reversible, full-device-scale approach to reconfigurable 2D van der Waals contacts. Ideal p-type Schottky contacts free from surface dangling bonds and Fermi-level pinning are constructed at structurally superlubric graphite-MoS2 interfaces. Pressure control is introduced, beyond a threshold of which tunneling across the contact can be activated and amplified at higher loads. Record-high figures of merits such an ideality factor nearing 1 and an off-state current of 10-11 A were reported. The concept of on-device moving contacts is demonstrated through a wearless Schottky generator, operating with an optimized overall efficiency of 50% in converting weak, random external stimuli into electricity. The device combines generator and pressure-sensor functions, achieving a high current density of 31 A/m2 and withstanding over 120,000 cycles, making it ideal for neuromorphic computing and mechanosensing applications.

QTL detection for grain shape and fine mapping of two novel locus qGL4 and qGL6 in rice.

Rice grain size and grain weight, which have a great influence on rice quality and yield, are complex quantitative traits that are mediated by grain length (GL), grain width (GW), length-to-width ratio (LWR), and grain thickness (GT). In this study, the BC1F2 and BC1F2:3 populations derived from a cross between two indica rice varieties, Guangzhan 63-4S (GZ63-4S) and Dodda, were used to locate quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to grain size. A total of 30 QTL associated with GL, GW and LWR were detected, of which six QTL were scanned repeatedly in both populations. Two QTL, qGL4 and qGL6, were selected for genetic effect validation and were subsequently fine mapped to 2.359 kb and 176 kb, respectively. LOC_Os04g52240 (known as OsKS2/OsKSL2), which encoding an ent-beyerene synthase and as the only gene found in 2.359 kb interval, was proposed to be the candidate for qGL4. Moreover, the grains of qGL4 homozygous mutant plants generated by the CRISPR-Cas9 system became shorter and wider. In addition, the qGL4 allele from GZ63-4S contributes to the increase of yield per plant. Our study not only laid the foundation for further functional study of qGL4 and map-based cloning of qGL6, but also provided genetic resources for the development of high yield and good quality rice varieties. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01502-8.

Construction of Lactones via Ligand-Enabled Ni-Catalyzed Alkene Hydroxylarylation/Lactonization.

Here, we report the preparation of lactones via Ni-catalyzed alkene hydroxylarylation and sequential intramolecular lactonization with O2 as a green oxidant and oxygen source. The bulky 1,3-diketone ligand is crucial by enabling Ni-catalyzed hydroxylarylation of alkenes, providing numerous phthalide and furanone derivatives with high efficiency under mild conditions. The synthetic value of this methodology was further demonstrated by the efficient synthesis of typhaphthalide and a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor.

The association between aspects of expressive suppression emotion regulation strategy and rumination traits: a network analysis approach.

Expressive suppression is an abnormal emotion regulation strategy, and its relationship with rumination traits is unclear. In this study with 395 participants in China (33.9% female, Mean age = 21.22, SD = 2.11), we estimated the association between expressive suppression and rumination traits, using the Rumination Response Scale (RRS) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) respectively. Considering there may be complex correlations between different behavioral symptoms of expressive suppression ("Keeping emotions to myself", "Inhibiting positive emotion responses", "Controlling emotions by not expressing them", "Inhibiting negative emotion responses") and different subtypes of rumination traits, this study employed a symptom-based network analysis method to uncover the differential association between rumination traits and expressive suppression, and the key symptoms linking the two. The study found the S3 node (Controlling emotions by not expressing them) had significant positive correlations with symptom rumination, brooding, and reflective pondering. Among the network, the S3 node acts as a bridge between two variables. This suggests that interventions targeting the S3 symptom may improve rumination traits. The present study was a cross-sectional study with limitations in revealing the causal relationships between expression suppression and rumination traits. Future studies could employ longitudinal tracing methods to explore the relationship between them.

Exploring the MRI and Clinical Features of P53-Mutated Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: To study the MRI features (based on LI-RADS) and clinical characteristics of P53-mutated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Patients and Methods: This study enrolled 344 patients with histopathologically confirmed HCC (P53-mutated group [n = 196], non-P53-mutated group [n = 148]). We retrospectively evaluated the preoperative MRI features, clinical and pathologic features of the lesions and assigned each lesion according to the LI-RADS. MRI findings, clinical features, and pathologic findings were compared using the Student's t test, χ2 test, and multivariable regression analysis. Results: Most HCC patients were categorized as LR-5. On multivariate analysis, the Edmondson-Steiner grade (odds ratio, 2.280; 95% CI: 1.268, 4.101; p = 0.006) and rim enhancement (odds ratio, 2.517; 95% CI: 1.095, 5.784; p = 0.030) were found to be independent variables associated with P53-mutated HCC. In the group of HCC lesions with the largest tumor diameter (LTD) greater than or equal to 10mm and less than or equal to 20mm, enhancing capsule was an independent predictor of P53-mutated HCC (odds ratio, 6.200; 95% CI: 1.116, 34.449; p = 0.037). Among the HCC lesions (20 mm ˂ LTD ≤ 50 mm), corona enhancement (odds ratio, 2.102; 95% CI: 1.022, 4.322; p = 0.043) and nodule-in-nodule architecture (odds ratio, 2.157; 95% CI: 1.033, 4.504; p = 0.041) were found to be independent risk factors for P53 mutation. Among the HCC lesions (50 mm ˂ LTD ≤ 100 mm), diameter (odds ratio, 1.035; 95% CI: 1.001, 1.069; p = 0.044) and AFP ≥ 400 (ng/mL) (odds ratio, 3.336; 95% CI: 1.052, 10.577; p = 0.041) were found to be independent variables associated with P53-mutated HCC. Conclusion: Poor differentiation and rim enhancement are potential predictive biomarkers for P53-mutated HCC, while HCCs of different diameters have different risk factors for predicting P53 mutations.

CsPHRs-CsJAZ3 incorporates phosphate signaling and jasmonate pathway to regulate catechin biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis.

Catechins constitute abundant metabolites in tea and have potential health benefits and high economic value. Intensive study has shown that the biosynthesis of tea catechins is regulated by environmental factors and hormonal signals. However, little is known about the coordination of phosphate (Pi) signaling and the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway on biosynthesis of tea catechins. We found that Pi deficiency caused changes in the content of catechins and modulated the expression levels of genes involved in catechin biosynthesis. Herein, we identified two transcription factors of phosphate signaling in tea, named CsPHR1 and CsPHR2, respectively. Both regulated catechin biosynthesis by activating the transcription of CsANR1 and CsMYB5c. We further demonstrated CsSPX1, a Pi pathway repressor, suppressing the activation by CsPHR1/2 of CsANR1 and CsMYB5c. JA, one of the endogenous plant hormones, has been reported to be involved in the regulation of secondary metabolism. Our work demonstrated that the JA signaling repressor CsJAZ3 negatively regulated catechin biosynthesis via physical interaction with CsPHR1 and CsPHR2. Thus, the CsPHRs-CsJAZ3 module bridges the nutrition and hormone signals, contributing to targeted cultivation of high-quality tea cultivars with high fertilizer efficiency.

Improving Rice Grain Quality Through Ecotype Breeding for Enhancing Food and Nutritional Security in Asia-Pacific Region.

Rice grain is widely consumed as a staple food, providing essential nutrition for households, particularly marginalized families. It plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, promoting human nutrition, supporting good health, and contributing to global food and nutritional security. Addressing the diverse quality demands of emerging diverse and climate-risked population dietary needs requires the development of a single variety of rice grain that can meet the various dietary and nutritional requirements. However, there is a lack of concrete definition for rice grain quality, making it challenging to cater to the different demands. The lack of sufficient genetic study and development in improving rice grain quality has resulted in widespread malnutrition, hidden hunger, and micronutrient deficiencies affecting a significant portion of the global population. Therefore, it is crucial to identify genetically evolved varieties with marked qualities that can help address these issues. Various factors account for the declining quality of rice grain and requires further study to improve their quality for healthier diets. We characterized rice grain quality using Lancastrians descriptor and a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic quality traits. Next, we examined various components of rice grain quality favored in the Asia-Pacific region. This includes preferences by different communities, rice industry stakeholders, and value chain actors. We also explored the biological aspects of rice grain quality in the region, as well as specific genetic improvements that have been made in these traits. Additionally, we evaluated the factors that can influence rice grain quality and discussed the future directions for ensuring food and nutritional security and meeting consumer demands for grain quality. We explored the diverse consumer bases and their varied preferences in Asian-Pacific countries including India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Korea, Myanmar and Japan. The quality preferences encompassed a range of factors, including rice head recovery, grain shape, uniform size before cooking, gelatinization, chalkiness, texture, amylose content, aroma, red-coloration of grain, soft and shine when cooked, unbroken when cooked, gelatinization, less water required for cooking, gelatinization temperature (less cooking time), aged rice, firm and dry when cooked (gel consistency), extreme white, soft when chewed, easy-to-cook rice (parboiled rice), vitamins, and minerals. These preferences were evaluated across high, low, and medium categories. A comprehensive analysis is provided on the enhancement of grain quality traits, including brown rice recovery, recovery rate of milled rice, head rice recovery, as well as morphological traits such as grain length, grain width, grain length-width ratio, and grain chalkiness. We also explored the characteristics of amylose, gel consistency, gelatinization temperature, viscosity, as well as the nutritional qualities of rice grains such as starch, protein, lipids, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and bio-fortification potential. The various factors that impact the quality of rice grains, including pre-harvest, post-harvest, and genotype considerations were explored. Additionally, we discussed the future direction and genetic strategies to effectively tackle these challenges. These qualitative characteristics represent the fundamental focus of regional and national breeding strategies employed by different countries to meet consumer preference. Given the significance of rice as a staple food in Asia-Pacific countries, it is primarily consumed domestically, with only a small portion being exported internationally. All the important attributes must be clearly defined within specific parameters. It is crucial for geneticists and breeders to develop a rice variety that can meet the diverse demands of consumers worldwide by incorporating multiple desirable traits. Thus, the goal of addressing global food and nutritional security, and human healthy can be achieved.

Molybdenum Disulfide Induced Phase Control Synthesis of Multi-dimensional Co3S4-MoS2 Heteronanostructures via Cation Exchange.

Phase control over cation exchange (CE) reactions has emerged as an important approach for the synthesis of nanomaterials (NMs). Although factors such as crystal structure and morphology have been studied for the phase engineering of CE reactions in NMs, there remains a lack of systematic investigation to reveal the impact factors in heterogeneous materials. Herein, we report a molybdenum disulfide induced phase control method for synthesizing multidimensional Co3S4-MoS2 heteronanostructures (HNs) via cation exchange. MoS2 in parent Cu1.94S-MoS2 HNs are proved to affect the thermodynamics and kinetics of CE reactions, and facilitate the formation of Co3S4-MoS2 HNs with controlled phase. This MoS2 induced phase control method can be extended to other parent HNs with multiple dimensions, which shows its universality. Further, theoretical calculations demonstrate that Co3S4 (111)/MoS2 (001) exhibits a higher adhesion work, providing further evidence that MoS2 enables phase control in the HNs CE reactions, inducing the generation of novel Co3S4-MoS2 HNs. As a proof-of-concept application, the obtained Co3S4-MoS2 heteronanoplates (HNPls) show remarkable performance in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) under alkaline media. This synthetic methodology provides a unique way to control the crystal structure and fills the gap in the study of heterogeneous materials on CE reaction over phase engineering.

Sestrin2 in POMC neurons modulates energy balance and obesity related metabolic disorders via mTOR signaling.

Sestrin2 is a highly conserved protein that can be induced under various stress conditions. Researches have revealed that the signaling pathway of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is essential in modulating both glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the precise involvement of Sestrin2 in the hypothalamus, particularly in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, in control of energy homeostasis remains uncertain. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional role of Sestrin2 in hypothalamic POMC neurons in regulation of energy balance, as well as revealing the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, cre-dependent AAV virus encoding or silencing Sestrin2 was injected into the hypothalamic ARC of pomc-cre transgenic mice. The results demonstrated that Sestrin2 overexpression in POMC neurons ameliorated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and increased energy expenditure. Conversely, Sestrin2 deficiency in POMC neurons predisposed mice to HFD induced obesity. Additionally, the thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue and lipolysis of inguinal white adipose tissue were both enhanced by the increased sympathetic nerve innervation in Sestrin2 overexpressed mice. Further exploration revealed that Sestrin2 overexpression inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway in hypothalamic POMC neurons, which may account for the alleviation of systematic metabolic disturbance induced by HFD in these mice. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Sestrin2 in POMC neurons plays a pivotal role in maintaining energy balance in a context of HFD-induced obesity by inhibiting the mTOR pathway, providing new insights into how hypothalamic neurons respond to nutritional signals to protect against obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction.

Eating Styles Profiles and Correlates in Chinese Postpartum Women: A Latent Profile Analysis.

Postpartum women present a high risk of disordered eating behaviors, but the heterogeneity between groups was not identified. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify eating styles profiles in postpartum women and explore the correlates based on demographic characteristics and psychosocial factors. Questionnaires were administered to 507 Chinese postpartum women. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify eating styles profiles. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the correlates of these profiles among postpartum women. The LPA identified three eating styles profiles: postpartum women with low emotional, external, and restrained eating (Profile 1, 6.9%); postpartum women with medium emotional, external, and restrained eating (Profile 2, 66.1%); and postpartum women with high emotional, external, and restrained eating (Profile 3, 27.0%). Compared to Profile 1, higher postpartum depression (PPD) and body mass index (BMI) were more likely to be associated with Profile 2 and Profile 3, whereas higher postpartum weight retention (PPWR) was more likely to be associated with Profile 1. Compared to Profile 2, higher PPD and BMI were more likely associated with Profile 3. Disordered eating behaviors in postpartum women with three eating styles were associated with BMI, PPD, and PPWR. This study can guide healthcare professionals in developing targeted interventions to improve maternal and child health globally.

Colloidal Synthesis of Cu3N Nanorods and Construction of Cu3N-Cu2O Heteronanostructures via Epitaxial Growth.

The synthesis of transition metal nitrides nanocrystals (TMNs NCs) has posed a significant challenge due to the limited reactivity of nitrogen sources at lower temperatures and the scarcity of available synthesis methods. In this study, we present a novel colloidal synthesis strategy for the fabrication of Cu3N nanorods (NRs). It is found that the trace oxygen (O2) plays an important role in the synthesis process. And a new mechanism for the formation of Cu3N is proposed. Subsequently, by employing secondary lateral epitaxial growth, the Cu3N-Cu2O heteronanostructures (HNs) can be prepared. The Cu3N NRs and Cu3N-Cu2O HNs were evaluated as precursor electrocatalysts for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). The Cu3N-Cu2O HNs demonstrate remarkable selectivity and stability with ethylene (C2H4) Faradaic efficiency (FE) up to 55.3%, surpassing that of Cu3N NRs. This study provides innovative insights into the reaction mechanism of colloidal synthesis of TMNs NCs and presents alternative options for designing cost-effective electrocatalysts to achieve carbon neutrality.

Fall Detection Method for Infrared Videos Based on Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network.

The timely detection of falls and alerting medical aid is critical for health monitoring in elderly individuals living alone. This paper mainly focuses on issues such as poor adaptability, privacy infringement, and low recognition accuracy associated with traditional visual sensor-based fall detection. We propose an infrared video-based fall detection method utilizing spatial-temporal graph convolutional networks (ST-GCNs) to address these challenges. Our method used fine-tuned AlphaPose to extract 2D human skeleton sequences from infrared videos. Subsequently, the skeleton data was represented in Cartesian and polar coordinates and processed through a two-stream ST-GCN to recognize fall behaviors promptly. To enhance the network's recognition capability for fall actions, we improved the adjacency matrix of graph convolutional units and introduced multi-scale temporal graph convolution units. To facilitate practical deployment, we optimized time window and network depth of the ST-GCN, striking a balance between model accuracy and speed. The experimental results on a proprietary infrared human action recognition dataset demonstrated that our proposed algorithm accurately identifies fall behaviors with the highest accuracy of 96%. Moreover, our algorithm performed robustly, identifying falls in both near-infrared and thermal-infrared videos.

miR-190 restores the innate immune homeostasis of Drosophila by directly inhibiting Tab2 in Imd pathway.

The Drosophila Imd pathways are well-known mechanisms involved in innate immunity responsible for Gram-negative (G-) bacterial infection. The intensity and durability of immunity need to be finely regulated to keep sufficient immune activation meanwhile avoid excessive immune response. In this study, we firstly demonstrated that miR-190 can downregulate the expression levels of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the Imd immune pathway after Escherichia coli infection using the miR-190 overexpression flies and the miR-190KO/+ flies. Secondly, miR-190 overexpression significantly reduces while miR-190 KO increases Drosophila survival rates upon lethal Enterobacter cloacae infection. Thirdly, we further demonstrated that miR-190 negatively regulates innate immune responses by directly targeting both RA/RB and RC isoforms of Tab2. In addition, the dynamic expression pattern of AMPs (Dpt, AttA, CecA1), miR-190 and Tab2 in the wild-type flies reveals that miR-190 play an important role in Drosophila immune homeostasis restoration at the late stage of E. coli infection. Collectively, our study reveals that miR-190 can downregulate the expression of AMPs by targeting Tab2 and promote immune homeostasis restoration in Drosophila Imd pathway. Our study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism of animal innate immune homeostasis.

Multi-faceted effects of NaCl on salt-tolerant microalgae Golenkinia sp. SDEC-16.

The salt-tolerant microalgae are extremely few and salt-tolerance mechanism is unclear, requiring urgent exploration of salt-tolerance mechanism of known microalgae. This study was first to reveal the salt-tolerance mechanism of Golenkinia sp. SDEC-16 by investigating the growth and metabolism under different salinities and high salinity long-term cultivation. SDEC-16 can survive under high salinity and resume normal growth after NaCl removal. Under long-term stress, SDEC-16 had higher lipid content and productivity than BG11. However, the suppressed Fv/Fm (58.4%) and Fv/F0 (84.0%) along with the increased reactive oxygen species (×6.6), and superoxide dismutase (×1.7) during the treatment revealed NaCl-induced photosynthetic inhibition and oxidative stress. RNA sequencing results showed inhibition of the photosynthetic system, and the enhancement of pathways such as nitrogen metabolism, energy metabolism, and lipid synthesis contributed to the good function of chloroplast, energy supply, and metabolic activity of SDEC-16. This study provides theoretical support for large-scale microalgal cultivation in seawater.

OsCOL5 suppresses heading through modulation of Ghd7 and Ehd2, enhancing rice yield.

KEY MESSAGE: OsCOL5, an ortholog of Arabidopsis COL5, is involved in photoperiodic flowering and enhances rice yield through modulation of Ghd7 and Ehd2 and interactions with OsELF3-1 and OsELF3-2. Heading date, also known as flowering time, plays a crucial role in determining the adaptability and yield potential of rice (Oryza sativa L.). CONSTANS (CO)-like is one of the most critical flowering-associated gene families, members of which are evolutionarily conserved. Here, we report the molecular functional characterization of OsCOL5, an ortholog of Arabidopsis COL5, which is involved in photoperiodic flowering and influences rice yield. Structural analysis revealed that OsCOL5 is a typical member of CO-like family, containing two B-box domains and one CCT domain. Rice plants overexpressing OsCOL5 showed delayed heading and increases in plant height, main spike number, total grain number per plant, and yield per plant under both long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions. Gene expression analysis indicated that OsCOL5 was primarily expressed in the leaves and stems with a diurnal rhythm expression pattern. RT-qPCR analysis of heading date genes showed that OsCOL5 suppressed flowering by up-regulating Ghd7 and down-regulating Ehd2, consequently reducing the expression of Ehd1, Hd3a, RFT1, OsMADS14, and OsMADS15. Yeast two-hybrid experiments showed direct interactions of OsCOL5 with OsELF3-1 and OsELF3-2. Further verification showed specific interactions between the zinc finger/B-box domain of OsCOL5 and the middle region of OsELF3-1 and OsELF3-2. Yeast one-hybrid assays revealed that OsCOL5 may bind to the CCACA motif. The results suggest that OsCOL5 functions as a floral repressor, playing a vital role in rice's photoperiodic flowering regulation. This gene shows potential in breeding programs aimed at improving rice yield by influencing the timing of flowering, which directly impacts crop productivity.

Edge-enhanced super microgenerator based on a two-dimensional Schottky junction.

Super microgenerator (SMG) refers to a generator that can efficiently convert extremely weak external stimuli into electrical energy and has a small size, high power density and long lifespan, offer ground-breaking solutions for powering wearable devices, wireless distributed sensors and implanted medical equipment. However, the friction and wear between the interfaces of ordinary microgenerator results in an extremely low lifespan. Here, we present a prototype of SMGs based on a 2D-2D (graphite-MoS2) Schottky contact in the state of structural superlubricity (no wear and nearly zero friction between two contacted solid surfaces). What is even more interesting is when the graphite flake is slid from the bulk to the edge of MoS2, the output current will enhance from 31 to 56 A m-2. Through the I-V curve measurement, we found that the conductive channel across the junction can be activated and further enhanced at the edge of MoS2compare to bulk, which provide the explanation for the above-mentioned edge enhancement of power generation. Above results provide the design principles of high-performance SMGs based on 2D-2D Schottky junctions.

Research hotspots and emerging trends of mesenchymal stem cells in cardiovascular diseases: a bibliometric-based visual analysis.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have important research value and broad application prospects in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, few bibliometric analyses on MSCs in cardiovascular diseases are available. This study aims to provide a thorough review of the cooperation and influence of countries, institutions, authors, and journals in the field of MSCs in cardiovascular diseases, with the provision of discoveries in the latest progress, evolution paths, frontier research hotspots, and future research trends in the regarding field. Methods: The articles related to MSCs in cardiovascular diseases were retrieved from the Web of Science. The bibliometric study was performed by CiteSpace and VOSviewer, and the knowledge map was generated based on data obtained from retrieved articles. Results: In our study, a total of 4,852 publications launched before August 31, 2023 were accessed through the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database via our searching strategy. Significant fluctuations in global publications were observed in the field of MSCs in CVDs. China emerged as the nation with the largest number of publications, yet a shortage of high-quality articles was noted. The interplay among countries, institutions, journals and authors is visually represented in the enclosed figures. Importantly, current research trends and hotspots are elucidated. Cluster analysis on references has highlighted the considerable interest in exosomes, extracellular vesicles, and microvesicles. Besides, keywords analysis revealed a strong emphasis on myocardial infarction, therapy, and transplantation. Treatment methods-related keywords were prominent, while keywords associated with extracellular vesicles gathered significant attention from the long-term perspective. Conclusion: MSCs in CVDs have become a topic of active research interest, showcasing its latent value and potential. By summarizing the latest progress, identifying the research hotspots, and discussing the future trends in the advancement of MSCs in CVDs, we aim to offer valuable insights for considering research prospects.

Natural variation of WBR7 confers rice high yield and quality by modulating sucrose supply in sink organs.

Grain chalkiness is an undesirable trait that negatively regulates grain yield and quality in rice. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying chalkiness is complex and remains unclear. We identified a positive regulator of white-belly rate (WBR). The WBR7 gene encodes sucrose synthase 3 (SUS3). A weak functional allele of WBR7 is beneficial in increasing grain yield and quality. During the domestication of indica rice, a functional G/A variation in the coding region of WBR7 resulted in an E541K amino acid substitution in the GT-4 glycosyltransferase domain, leading to a significant decrease in decomposition activity of WBR7A (allele in cultivar Jin23B) compared with WBR7G (allele in cultivar Beilu130). The NIL(J23B) and knockout line NIL(BL130)KO exhibited lower WBR7 decomposition activity than that of NIL(BL130) and NIL(J23B)COM, resulting in less sucrose decomposition and metabolism in the conducting organs. This caused more sucrose transportation to the endosperm, enhancing the synthesis of storage components in the endosperm and leading to decreased WBR. More sucrose was also transported to the anthers, providing sufficient substrate and energy supply for pollen maturation and germination, ultimately leading to an increase rate of seed setting and increased grain yield. Our findings elucidate a mechanism for enhancing rice yield and quality by modulating sucrose metabolism and allocation, and provides a valuable allele for improved rice quality.

A sensing label or gel loaded with an NIR emission fluorescence probe for ultra-fast detection of volatile amine and fish freshness.

A simple benzopyran-based fluorescence probe DCA-Apa detection of volatile amine has been synthesized. DCA-Apa can recognize volatile amines by dual channel mode (changing from blue to light yellow in sunlight, and from weak pink to orange under 365 nm) in pure water system. DCA-Apa has the advantages of ultra-fast response (∼6 s), NIR emission (655 nm), and a good fluorescence response for many amines. The sensing label or gel loaded with DCA-Apa was prepared by the dipping or mixing method using filter paper or gelatin as solid carriers, which can identify volatile amine vapor and monitor the freshness of salmon by colorimetric and fluorescent dual channels. When the color of the label changes to light yellow-green or the fluorescence of the label becomes orange fluorescence (365 nm UV lamp), it indicates that the fish has rotted. The two-channel method makes up for the deficiency of the single colorimetric method, and establishes a theoretical foundation for more precise assessment of fish freshness.

Recovery of nutrients from fish sludge to enhance the growth of microalga Chlorella sorokiniana CMBB276.

Intensive aquaculture production generates large amounts of sludge. This waste could be considered as a potential source of nutrients that can be recovered and utilized. Little attention has been paid to nutrient recovery from fish sludge. In this study, bioconversion of sludge was evaluated in lab scale under anaerobic (AN), facultative anaerobic (FA) and aerobic (AE) conditions. After 40 days of fermentation, AN recovered the highest values of dissolved total nitrogen (82.7 mg L-1), while AE showed the highest dissolved total phosphorus (11.8 mg L-1) and the highest reduction of total suspended solids (36.0 %). Microbial analysis showed that AN exhibited a distinct bacterial community than that of FA and AE. Furthermore, C. sorokiniana grown in AN effluents collected after 12 days of fermentation achieved the highest biomass production (1.96 g L-1). These results suggest that AN has the best potential to recover nutrients from sludge for production of C. sorokiniana.