De novo assembly of the complete mitochondrial genome of pepino (Solanum muricatum) using PacBio HiFi sequencing: insights into structure, phylogenetic implications, and RNA editing.

BACKGROUND: Solanum muricatum is an emerging horticultural fruit crop with rich nutritional and antioxidant properties. Although the chromosome-scale genome of this species has been sequenced, its mitochondrial genome sequence has not been reported to date. RESULTS: PacBio HiFi sequencing was used to assemble the circular mitogenome of S. muricatum, which was 433,466 bp in length. In total, 38 protein-coding, 19 tRNA, and 3 rRNA genes were annotated. The reticulate mitochondrial conformations with multiple junctions were verified by polymerase chain reaction, and codon usage, sequence repeats, and gene migration from chloroplast to mitochondrial genome were determined. A collinearity analysis of eight Solanum mitogenomes revealed high structural variability. Overall, 585 RNA editing sites in protein coding genes were identified based on RNA-seq data. Among them, mttB was the most frequently edited (52 times), followed by ccmB (46 times). A phylogenetic analysis based on the S. muricatum mitogenome and those of 39 other taxa (including 25 Solanaceae species) revealed the evolutionary and taxonomic status of S. muricatum. CONCLUSIONS: We provide the first report of the assembled and annotated S. muricatum mitogenome. This information will help to lay the groundwork for future research on the evolutionary biology of Solanaceae species. Furthermore, the results will assist the development of molecular breeding strategies for S. muricatum based on the most beneficial agronomic traits of this species.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Roots from a Wild Eggplant Species Solanum sisymbriifolium in Defense Response to Verticillium dahliae Inoculation.

Eggplant verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium spp., is a severe eggplant vascular disease. Solanum sisymbriifolium, a wild species of eggplant that is resistant to verticillium wilt, will be beneficial for genetically modifying eggplants. To better reveal the response of wild eggplant to verticillium wilt, proteomic analysis by iTRAQ technique was performed on roots of S. sisymbriifolium after exposure to Verticillium dahliae, and some selected proteins were also validated using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). After inoculation with V. dahliae, the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes and the malondialdehyde (MDA) and soluble protein (SP) of S. sisymbriifolium roots all exhibited an increase in activity or content compared with that of the mock-inoculated plants, especially at 12 and 24 h post-inoculation (hpi). A total of 4890 proteins (47.04% of the proteins were from S. tuberosum and 25.56% were from S. lycopersicum according to the species annotation) were identified through iTRAQ and LC-MS/MS analysis. A total of 369 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) (195 downregulated and 174 upregulated) were obtained by comparison of the control and treatment groups at 12 hpi, and 550 DEPs (466 downregulated and 84 upregulated) were obtained by comparison of the groups at 24 hpi. The most significant Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment terms at 12 hpi were regulation of translational initiation, oxidation-reduction, and single-organism metabolic process in the biological process group; cytoplasm and eukaryotic preinitiation complex in the cellular component group; and catalytic activity, oxidoreductase activity, and protein binding in the molecular function group. Small molecule metabolic, organophosphate metabolic, and coenzyme metabolic processes in the biological process group; the cytoplasm in the cellular component group; and catalytic activity and GTPase binding in the molecular function group were significant at 24 hpi. Then, KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis was performed, and 82 and 99 pathways (15 and 17, p-value < 0.05) were found to be enriched at 12 and 24 hpi, respectively. Selenocompound metabolism, ubiquinone, and other terpenoid-quinone biosyntheses, fatty acid biosynthesis, lysine biosynthesis, and the citrate cycle were the top five significant pathways at 12 hpi. Glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, linoleic acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and cyanoamino acid metabolism were the top five at 24 hpi. Some V. dahliae-resistance-related proteins, including phenylpropanoid-pathway-related proteins, stress and defense response proteins, plant-pathogen interaction pathway and pathogenesis-related proteins, cell wall organization and reinforcement-related proteins, phytohormones-signal-pathways-related proteins, and other defense-related proteins were identified. In conclusion, this is the first proteomic analysis of S. sisymbriifolium under V. dahliae stress.

The Facile and Efficient Fabrication of Rice Husk/poly (lactic acid) Foam Composites by Coordinated the Interface Combination and Bubble Hole Structure.

The possibility of agricultural-forestry waste (rice husks) and biodegradable plastics (poly(lactic acid)) being used to produce ecologically friendly foam composite was discussed in this work. The effects of different material parameters (the dosage of PLA-g-MAH, type and content of chemical foaming agent) on the microstructure and physical properties of composite were investigated. PLA-g-MAH promoted the chemical grafting between cellulose and PLA, and made the structure denser, thus improving the interface compatibility of the two phases and resulting in good thermal stability, high tensile strength (6.99 MPa) and bending strength (28.85 MPa) of composites. Furthermore, the properties of rice husk/PLA foam composite prepared by two kinds of foaming agents (endothermic and exothermic) were characterized. The addition of fiber limited the growth of pores, which provided better dimensional stability and narrower pore size distribution, made the interface of the composite bond tightly. And the bubble can prevent crack propagation and improve the mechanical properties of the composite. The bending strength and tensile strength of composite were 37.36 MPa and 25.32 MPa, which increased by 28.35 % and 23.27 %, respectively. Therefore, the composite prepared by using agricultural-forestry wastes and poly(lactic acid) possess acceptable mechanical properties, thermal stability and water resistance, expanding the scope of application.

Neutron powder diffraction study of the phase transitions in deuterated methylammonium lead iodide.

We report the results of a neutron powder diffraction study of the phase transitions in deuterated methylammonium lead iodide, with a focus on the system of orientational distortions of the framework of PbI6octahedra. The results are analysed in terms of symmetry-adapted lattice strains and normal mode distortions. The higher-temperature cubic-tetragonal phase transition at 327 K is weakly discontinuous and nearly tricritical. The variations of rotation angles and spontaneous strains with temperature are consistent with a standard Landau theory treatment. The lower-temperature transition to the orthorhombic phase at 165 K is discontinuous, with two systems of octahedral rotations and internal distortions that together can be described by 5 order parameters of different symmetry. In this paper we quantify the various symmetry-breaking distortions and their variation with temperature, together with their relationship to the spontaneous strains, within the formalism of Landau theory. A number of curious results in the low-temperature phase are identified, particularly regarding distortion amplitudes that decrease rather than increase with lowering temperature.

The Role of Arginine Metabolism in Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Early diagnosis and treatment do not prevent the high morbidity and poor prognosis of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Earlier studies have shown that ARG1 signaling is deregulated in TSCC. Here, we investigated the complexity of ARG1 metabolism in this cancer subsite to appreciate the therapeutic potential of this potential biological vulnerability. Various functional studies show that ARG1 overexpression in oral cancer cells inhibits cell proliferation and invasion compared with controls. Further, RNA-sequencing revealed numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and associated networks were dysregulated by ARG1 overexpression, including hypoxia-inducible factor (HIFα) signaling, the natural killer cell signaling pathway and interferon signaling. Our work provides a foundation for understanding the mechanism of action of disrupted arginine metabolism in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. This may impact the community for developing further therapeutic approaches.

Detailed in-furnace measurements with reburning of superfine pulverized coal in high CO2 concentration.

This paper presents detailed measurements of gaseous species during the reburning process with high CO2 concentration in a bench-scale furnace. Superfine pulverized coal, with the average particle size below or around 20 µm, is used as the reburning fuel. The data of flue gas concentration (NOx, HCN, NH3, CH4, O2, CO, CO2 etc.) is obtained in order to reveal the intrinsic connection between NOx emissions and other influential gaseous species at different positions of the furnace. The finding concludes that the advantage of superfine pulverized coal with regard to NO reduction is more efficient in homogeneous stage rather than heterogeneous stage. Meanwhile, the evolution of HCN and CH4 agrees well with each stage of NO reduction, which indicates that these gaseous species are favorable for NO abatement. Eventually, oxygen consumption rate for superfine pulverized coal is relatively faster, conducive to strengthen both homogeneous and heterogeneous NO reduction under CO2 reburning condition.

Special Characteristics and Synchronizations of Multi Hybrid-Order Chaotic Systems.

Based on advantages of integer and fractional chaotic systems, hybrid chaotic systems and their definitions and some fundamental concepts are proposed, such as hybrid degree (HD), the lowest order (LO) and the total dimension order (TDO). The preliminary properties of hybrid Lorenz systems and hybrid forms of some classic chaotic systems are studied. Then, the relations between HD, LO and TDO with different parameters is investigated in chaotic systems. To be specific, HD is associated with fractional order. It is a directional method to search LO and TDO in chaotic systems. Finally, based on the incommensurate fractional stability theory, we accomplish combination synchronization for three different hybrid order chaotic systems. The simulation results verify the effectiveness of the synchronization controller.

Application of a thermo-sensitive imprinted SERS substrate to the rapid trace detection of ofloxacin.

A novel composite (AgNPs-MIPs) was prepared by combining nano-silver particles with an ofloxacin (OFL) imprinted thermo-sensitive hydrogel. The thermo-sensitive optical properties of the composite were studied and it was used as a Raman substrate for the detection of ofloxacin. The results have shown that the position and intensity of the plasmon resonance absorption peak of the AgNPs-MIPs can be reversibly changed with the change of temperature, and the intensity of the ofloxacin Raman signal increases with the increase of temperature. Because the hydrogel combined Raman enhancement of silver nanoparticles, the selectivity of molecularly imprinted materials and the intelligent response of thermo-sensitive hydrogels, it can realize rapid, in situ, trace and selective detection of ofloxacin. Moreover, the detection limit can reach 10-10 mol L-1.

Density Functional Theory Investigation on the Catalytic Reduction of NO by CO on the Char Surface: the Effect of Iron.

The catalytic reduction of NO in the presence of CO was investigated by density functional theory calculations with consideration of the iron involved in char (Fe-adsorbed char). The quantitative information of reaction kinetics was also evaluated using canonical variational transition-state theory in the temperature range of 500-1800 K. The analysis of the associated adsorption energies indicates that the affinity of the carbon active site toward NO and CO is stronger than that at the Fe site, and the NO adsorption on the carbon site in the N-down mode is the most energetically favorable. Following the chemisorption step, the reactions proceed for N2O, N2, and CO2 desorption by different reduction mechanisms, depending on whether CO exists. The FeO group formed and transformed during the NO reduction is of significant importance for the whole catalytic process. The results show that the heterogeneous reduction of NO is promoted much more dramatically with the help of CO, which brings about a decrease in the activation energies accompanied by an increase in the reaction rate constants. The effectiveness of the Fe-adsorbed model derives from its prominent effect on NO-CO reaction and becomes more realistic than the original metal-free structure.

Density functional and experimental study of NO/O2 on zigzag char.

In this paper, quantum chemistry computation (density functional theory) of multi-air-staged combustion was investigated in combination with experiment. It was found that the presence of oxygen in the combustion environment has a great influence on the surface chemistry of coal char. In the reaction pathway, the ring-opening reaction happens first, and is followed by NO adsorption. Afterwards, the ring-closure reaction takes place, leaving the nitrogen atom trapped in the inner char molecule. This reaction route effectively inhibits NO formation and achieves the aim of controlling NO emissions. In the staged combustion experiments, the consumption of O2/NO was accompanied by an increase in the CO2 concentration. The quantum chemistry computation successfully interprets the recent experimental trends displayed in multi-air-staged combustion.

Preparation and Characterization of Bi2Ti2O7 Pyrochlore by Acetone Solvothermal Method.

In this study, we reported a novel synthesis route of Bi2Ti2O7 pyrochlore by acetone solvothermal method. The bismuth nitrate and tetrabutyl titanate were used as reactant, and acetone was used as solvent. XRD patterns showed that the pure Bi2Ti2O7 particles were synthesized when the molar ratio of Bi/Ti was between 0.4 and 0.8. The SEM showed that the Bi2Ti2O7 crystal was uniform spherical particles. The carboxylic acid produced in the reaction system may be the main factor of bismuth mineralization. Compared with TiO2, pure Bi2Ti2O7 photocatalyst exhibited superior photocatalytic activity for methyl orange (MO) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under simulated solar light. The possible formation mechanism was proposed.

Constructing Ecological Networks Based on Habitat Quality Assessment: A Case Study of Changzhou, China.

Fragmentation and reduced continuity of habitat patches threaten the environment and biodiversity. Recently, ecological networks are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers as they provide fundamental frameworks for environmental protection. This study suggests a set of procedures to construct an ecological network. First, we proposed a method to construct a landscape resistance surface based on the assessment of habitat quality. Second, to analyze the effect of the resistance surface on corridor simulations, we used three methods to construct resistance surfaces: (1) the method proposed in this paper, (2) the entropy coefficient method, and (3) the expert scoring method. Then, we integrated habitat patches and resistance surfaces to identify potential corridors using graph theory. These procedures were tested in Changzhou, China. Comparing the outputs of using different resistance surfaces demonstrated that: (1) different landscape resistance surfaces contribute to how corridors are identified, but only slightly affect the assessment of the importance of habitat patches and potential corridors; (2) the resistance surface, which is constructed based on habitat quality, is more applicable to corridor simulations; and (3) the assessment of the importance of habitat patches is fundamental for ecological network optimization in the conservation of critical habitat patches and corridors.