Potential risk assessment and occurrence characteristic of heavy metals based on artificial neural network model along the Yangtze River Estuary, China.

Pollution from heavy metals in estuaries poses potential risks to the aquatic environment and public health. The complexity of the estuarine water environment limits the accurate understanding of its pollution prediction. Field observations were conducted at seven sampling sites along the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) during summer, autumn, and winter 2021 to analyze the concentrations of seven heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn) in water and surface sediments. The order of heavy metal concentrations in water samples from highest to lowest was Zn > As > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd, while that in surface sediments samples was Zn > Cr > As > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cd. Human health risk assessment of the heavy metals in water samples indicated a chronic and carcinogenic risk associated with As. The risks of heavy metals in surface sediments were evaluated using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (RI). Among the seven heavy metals, As and Cd were highly polluted, with Cd being the main contributor to potential ecological risks. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to identify the sources of the different heavy metals, revealing that As originated primarily from anthropogenic emissions, while Cd was primarily from atmospheric deposition. To further analyze the influence of water quality indicators on heavy metal pollution, an artificial neural network (ANN) model was utilized. A modified model was proposed, incorporating biochemical parameters to predict the level of heavy metal pollution, achieving an accuracy of 95.1%. This accuracy was 22.5% higher than that of the traditional model and particularly effective in predicting the maximum 20% of values. Results in this paper highlight the pollution of As and Cd along the YRE, and the proposed model provides valuable information for estimating heavy metal pollution in estuarine water environments, facilitating pollution prevention efforts.

Identification of superior and rare haplotypes to optimize branch number in soybean.

KEY MESSAGE: Using the integrated approach in the present study, we identified eleven significant SNPs, seven stable QTLs and 20 candidate genes associated with branch number in soybean. Branch number is a key yield-related quantitative trait that directly affects the number of pods and seeds per soybean plant. In this study, an integrated approach with a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and haplotype and candidate gene analyses was used to determine the detailed genetic basis of branch number across a diverse set of soybean accessions. The GWAS revealed a total of eleven SNPs significantly associated with branch number across three environments using the five GWAS models. Based on the consistency of the SNP detection in multiple GWAS models and environments, seven genomic regions within the physical distance of ± 202.4 kb were delineated as stable QTLs. Of these QTLs, six QTLs were novel, viz., qBN7, qBN13, qBN16, qBN18, qBN19 and qBN20, whereas the remaining one, viz., qBN12, has been previously reported. Moreover, 11 haplotype blocks, viz., Hap4, Hap7, Hap12, Hap13A, Hap13B, Hap16, Hap17, Hap18, Hap19A, Hap19B and Hap20, were identified on nine different chromosomes. Haplotype allele number across the identified haplotype blocks varies from two to five, and different branch number phenotype is regulated by these alleles ranging from the lowest to highest through intermediate branching. Furthermore, 20 genes were identified underlying the genomic region of ± 202.4 kb of the identified SNPs as putative candidates; and six of them showed significant differential expression patterns among the soybean cultivars possessing contrasting branch number, which might be the potential candidates regulating branch number in soybean. The findings of this study can assist the soybean breeding programs for developing cultivars with desirable branch numbers.

MutL homolog 1 participates in interference-sensitive meiotic crossover formation in soybean.

MutL homolog 1 (MLH1), a member of the MutL-homolog family, is required for normal recombination in most organisms. However, its role in soybean (Glycine max) remains unclear to date. Here, we characterized the Glycine max female and male sterility 1 (Gmfms1) mutation that reduces pollen grain viability and increases embryo sac abortion in soybean. Map-based cloning revealed that the causal gene of Gmfms1 is Glycine max MutL homolog 1 (GmMLH1), and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout approach further validated that disruption of GmMLH1 confers the female-male sterility phenotype in soybean. Loss of GmMLH1 function disrupted bivalent formation, leading to univalent mis-segregation during meiosis and ultimately to female-male sterility. The Gmmlh1 mutant showed about a 78.16% decrease in meiotic crossover frequency compared to the wild type. The residual chiasmata followed a Poisson distribution, suggesting that interference-sensitive crossover formation was affected in the Gmmlh1 mutant. Furthermore, GmMLH1 could interact with GmMLH3A and GmMLH3B both in vivo and in vitro. Overall, our work demonstrates that GmMLH1 participates in interference-sensitive crossover formation in soybean, and provides additional information about the conserved functions of MLH1 across plant species.

Identification and functional analysis of circpdlim5a generated from pdlim5a gene splicing in the skeletal muscle of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with endogenous regulatory functions, including regulating skeletal muscle development. However, its role in the development of skeletal muscle in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is not clear. Therefore we screened a candidate circpdlim5a, which is derived from the gene pdlim5a, from the skeletal muscle transcriptome of Japanese flounder. We characterized circpdlim5a, which was more stable compared to the linear RNA pdlim5a. Distributional characterization of circpdlim5a showed that circpdlim5a was predominantly distributed in the nucleus and was highly expressed in the skeletal muscle of adult Japanese flounder (24 months). When we further studied the circpdlim5a function, we found that it inhibited the expression of proliferation and differentiation genes according to the over-expression experiment of circpdlim5a in myoblasts. We concluded that circpdlim5a may inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts and thereby inhibit skeletal muscle development in Japanese flounder. This experiment provides information for the study of circRNAs by identifying circpdlim5a and exploring its function, and offers clues for molecular breeding from an epigenetic perspective.

What role does GPR65 play in the progression of osteosarcoma? Its mechanism and clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: GPR65 is a pH-sensing G-protein-coupled receptor that acts as a key innate immune checkpoint in the human tumor microenvironment, inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors and inducing significant upregulation of tissue repair genes. However, the expression pattern and function of GPR65 in osteosarcoma (OS) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate and elucidate the role of GPR65 in the microenvironment, proliferation and migration of OS. METHODS: Retrospective RNA-seq data analysis was conducted in a cohort of 97 patients with OS data in the TAEGET database. In addition, single-cell sequencing data from six surgical specimens of human OS patients was used to analyze the molecular evolution process during OS genesis. Tissues chips and bioinformatics results were used to verify GPR65 expression level in OS. MTT, colony formation, EdU assay, wound healing, transwell assay and F-actin assay were utilized to analyze cell proliferation and invasion of OS cancer cells. RNA-seq was used to explore the potential mechanism of GPR65's role in OS. RESULTS: GPR65 expression was significantly low in OS, and subgroup analysis found that younger OS patients, OS patients in metastatic status, and overall survival and progression free survival OS patients had lower GPR65 expression. From ScRNA-seq data of GSE162454, we found the expression of GPR65 is significantly positively correlated with CD4 + T cells CD8 + T cells and OS related macrophage infiltration. Verification experiment found that silencing the expression of GPR65 in osteosarcoma cells U2OS and HOS could promote the proliferation and invasion process, RNA-seq results showed that the role of GPR65 in OS cells was related to immune system, metabolism and signal transduction. CONCLUSION: The low expression of GPR65 in OS leads to high metastasis rate and poor prognosis in OS patients. The suppression of immune escape and inhibition of proliferation may be a key pathway for GPR65 to participate in the progression of OS. The current study strengthens the role of GPR65 in OS development and provides a potential biomarker for the prognosis of OS patients.

Association between GSTP1 I105V polymorphisms and responses to GSTP1 inhibitor treatment: in silico and in vitro insights.

Glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) has gradually become a promising target for cancer prevention and treatment. However, subtle variations in GSTP1 can lead to the occurrence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The correlation between specific genotypes of GSTP1 and the clinical outcome of the disease has been extensively investigated, demonstrating a significant area of research in this field. However, their impact on the responses to GSTP1 inhibitor treatment remains to be elucidated. Among the various SNPs of GSTP1, I105V polymorphisms is the most widely studied. In this study, a silico model of GSTP1 I105V polymorphism was successfully established to predict the changes of binding model and binding affinity between GSTP1 I105(WT) or GSTP1 V105 and ethacrynic acid via molecular docking and molecular dynamics, and ultimately further evaluated for its anticancer effects. The result demonstrated that the binding capacity of ethacrynic acid decreases with the I105V mutation of GSTP1, indicating the changes in its anticancer activities. Cancer cells expressing GSTP1 V105 may exhibit greater tolerance to ethacrynic acid-induced toxicity compared to other genotypes. In summary, this study provides the first evidence that the GSTP1 I105V polymorphism may impact cancer cell sensitivity to its inhibitor through theoretical prediction. Furthermore, a comprehensive understanding of the correlation between GSTP1 I105V polymorphisms and responses to GSTP1 inhibitor treatment would offer valuable insights for future drug development targeting GSTP1 in cancer-related diseases.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Predictions of heavy metal concentrations by physiochemical water quality parameters in coastal areas of Yangtze river estuary.

Due to the degradation-resistant and strong toxicity, heavy metals pose a serious threat to the safety of water environment and aquatic ecology. Rapid acquisition and prediction of heavy metal concentrations are of paramount importance for water resource management and environmental preservation. In this study, heavy metal concentrations (Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd) and physicochemical parameters of water quality including Temperature (Temp), pH, Oxygen redox potential (ORP), Dissolved oxygen (DO), Electrical conductivity (EC), Electrical resistivity (RES), Total dissolved solids (TDS), Salinity (SAL), Cyanobacteria (BGA-PE), and turbidity (NTU) were measured at seven stations in the Yangtze river estuary. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Spearman correlation analysis were employed to analyze the main factors and sources of heavy metals. Results of PCA revealed that the main sources of Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cd were steel industry wastewater, domestic and industrial sewage, whereas shipping and vessel emissions were typically considered sources of Pb and Cu. Spearman correlation analysis identified Temp, pH, ORP, EC, RES, TDS, and SAL as the key physicochemical parameters of water quality, exhibiting the strongest correlation with heavy metal concentrations in sediment and water samples. Based on these results, multiple linear regression as well as non-linear models (SVM and RF) were constructed for predicting heavy metal concentrations. The results showed that the results of the nonlinear model were more suitable for predicting the concentrations of most heavy metals than the linear model, with average R values of the SVM test set and RF test set being 0.83 and 0.90. The RF model showed better applicability for simulating the concentration of heavy metals along the Yangtze river estuary. It was demonstrated that non-linear research methods provided efficient and accurate predictions of heavy metal concentrations in a simple and rapid manner, thereby offering decision-making support for watershed managers.

Process Optimization of Polishing Titanium Alloy Material with a Pulsating Air Jet.

Titanium alloy is a widely used metal material, which can be applied in fields such as healthcare, petroleum exploration, aerospace, etc. In this paper, a new method for polishing the titanium alloy by a pulsating air jet is proposed. Compared with traditional abrasive jet polishing, this method has the advantages of simple structure, low nozzle wear, and high polishing flexibility. The working principle and material removal mechanism of the pulsating air jet polishing (PAJP) are introduced. Combined with orthogonal experiments, range analysis and variance analysis were used to find out the influence degree of each process parameter on the PAJP of titanium alloy, and the optimal level of each parameter was found. Through the experiments, a prediction model of surface roughness was established by regression analysis, and the predicted value was compared with the measured value. The maximum relative error of the prediction model was 10.3%, and the minimum relative error was 1.1%. The average relative error was 6.2%.

Genetic variation in ZmWAX2 confers maize resistance to Fusarium verticillioides.

Fusarium verticillioides (F. verticillioides) is a widely distributed phytopathogen that incites multiple destructive diseases in maize, posing a grave threat to corn yields and quality worldwide. However, there are few reports of resistance genes to F. verticillioides. Here, we reveal that a combination of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) corresponding to ZmWAX2 gene associates with quantitative resistance variations to F. verticillioides in maize through a genome-wide association study. A lack of ZmWAX2 compromises maize resistance to F. verticillioides-caused seed rot, seedling blight and stalk rot by reducing cuticular wax deposition, while the transgenic plants overexpressing ZmWAX2 show significantly increased immunity to F. verticillioides. A natural occurrence of two 7-bp deletions within the promoter increases ZmWAX2 transcription, thus enhancing maize resistance to F. verticillioides. Upon Fusarium stalk rot, ZmWAX2 greatly promotes the yield and grain quality of maize. Our studies demonstrate that ZmWAX2 confers multiple disease resistances caused by F. verticillioides and can serve as an important gene target for the development of F. verticillioides-resistant maize varieties.

GmUFO1 Regulates Floral Organ Number and Shape in Soybean.

The UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS (UFO) gene is an essential regulatory factor of class B genes and plays a vital role in the process of inflorescence primordial and flower primordial development. The role of UFO genes in soybean was investigated to better understand the development of floral organs through gene cloning, expression analysis, and gene knockout. There are two copies of UFO genes in soybean and in situ hybridization, which have demonstrated similar expression patterns of the GmUFO1 and GmUFO2 genes in the flower primordium. The phenotypic observation of GmUFO1 knockout mutant lines (Gmufo1) showed an obvious alteration in the floral organ number and shape and mosaic organ formation. By contrast, GmUFO2 knockout mutant lines (Gmufo2) showed no obvious difference in the floral organs. However, the GmUFO1 and GmUFO2 double knockout lines (Gmufo1ufo2) showed more mosaic organs than the Gmufo1 lines, in addition to the alteration in the organ number and shape. Gene expression analysis also showed differences in the expression of major ABC function genes in the knockout lines. Based on the phenotypic and expression analysis, our results suggest the major role of GmUFO1 in the regulation of flower organ formation in soybeans and that GmUFO2 does not have any direct effect but might have an interaction role with GmUFO1 in the regulation of flower development. In conclusion, the present study identified UFO genes in soybean and improved our understanding of floral development, which could be useful for flower designs in hybrid soybean breeding.

Expression analysis and targets prediction of microRNAs in OGD/R treated astrocyte-derived exosomes by smallRNA sequencing.

Astrocytes activate and crosstalk with neurons influencing inflammatory responses following ischemic stroke. The distribution, abundance, and activity of microRNAs in astrocytes-derived exosomes after ischemic stroke remains largely unknown. In this study, exosomes were extracted from primary cultured mouse astrocytes via ultracentrifugation, and exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation/re­oxygenation injury to mimic experimental ischemic stroke. SmallRNAs from astrocyte-derived exosomes were sequenced, and differentially expressed microRNAs were randomly selected and verified by stem-loop real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We found that 176 microRNAs, including 148 known and 28 novel microRNAs, were differentially expressed in astrocyte-derived exosomes following oxygen glucose deprivation/re­oxygenation injury. In gene ontology enrichment, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analyses, and microRNA target gene prediction analyses, these alteration in microRNAs were associated to a broad spectrum of physiological functions including signaling transduction, neuroprotection and stress responses. Our findings warrant further investigating of these differentially expressed microRNAs in human diseases particularly ischemic stroke.

Squalene epoxidase promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development by activating STRAP transcription and TGF-ß/SMAD signalling.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Squalene epoxidase (SQLE) is a key enzyme involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, but growing evidence also reveals that SQLE is abnormally expressed in some types of malignant tumours, even though the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Bioinformatics analysis and RNA sequencing were applied to detect differentially expressed genes in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MTT, colony formation, AnnexinV-FITC/PI, EdU, wound healing, transwell, western blot, qRT-PCR, IHC, F-actin, RNA-sequencing, dual-luciferase reporters, and H&E staining were used to investigate the pharmacological effects and possible mechanisms of SQLE. KEY RESULTS: SQLE expression was specifically elevated in HCC, correlating with poor clinical outcomes. SQLE significantly promoted HCC growth, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing and functional experiments revealed that the protumourigenic effect of SQLE on HCC was closely related to the activation of TGF-ß/SMAD signalling, but the stimulatory effect of SQLE on TGF-ß/SMAD signalling and HCC development is critically dependent on STRAP. SQLE expression is well correlated with STRAP in HCC, and further, to amplify TGF-ß/SMAD signalling, SQLE even transcriptionally increased STRAP gene expression mediated by AP-2α. Finally, as a chemical inhibitor of SQLE, NB-598 markedly inhibited HCC cell growth and tumour development. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Taken together, SQLE serves as a novel oncogene in HCC development by activating TGF-ß/SMAD signalling. Targeting SQLE could be useful in drug development and therapy for HCC.

The influencing factors of participation in time banking volunteer service for older adults among university students in Nanjing, China.

Objective: This study aims to identify factors influencing university students' participation in time banking volunteer services for older adults and provides evidence to promote the involvement. Methods: Conducted in November 2022, we utilized a convenience sampling method to recruit students from the School of Aging Service and Management at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China. Data was collected through an online questionnaire focusing on various aspects related to time banking volunteer services for older adults. Factor analysis was employed to extract variables, and logistic regression was applied to identify key determinants. Results: A significant majority (82.67%) of participants expressed willingness to engage in volunteer services for older adults. Factor analysis uncovered six influential factors explaining 62.55% of the variance. Logistic regression highlighted four key determinants of students' willingness: value judgment (OR = 4.392, CI = 2.897-6.658), social support (OR = 1.262, CI = 0.938-1.975), social influence (OR = 1.777, CI = 1.598-3.799), and socioeconomic conditions (OR = 1.174, CI = 1.891-3.046). Conclusion: To foster sustainability and continuous time banking among university students majoring in aging service and management, a multifaceted support involving governmental, social, and university is recommended.

Interactive genetic color matching design of cultural and creative products considering color image and visual aesthetics.

To optimize the colors used in cultural and creative products, this paper proposes a color matching design method that considers the color image and visual aesthetics. First, 99 color samples are identified based on Chinese traditional colors, and user preferences for 30 image semantic terms are measured by the semantic differential method. This leads to six color image factors being extracted by factor analysis. Second, quantitative analysis of the color visual aesthetics is applied, and formulas for calculating the harmony, balance, and symmetry are derived. On this basis, an interactive genetic algorithm is developed to promote and optimize the color scheme of cultural and creative products, and a fitness function based on subjective image evaluation and objective visual aesthetics is constructed. The subjective image evaluation adopts interval numbers, and a grayscale approach is used to measure the uncertainty of the subjective evaluation. Through grayscale analysis of the interval fitness values, information reflecting the evolutionary distribution of the population is extracted, before adaptive crossover and mutation probabilities are applied to the evolutionary individuals. Finally, the proposed method is verified through the example of color matching design for a speaker box. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively assist industrial designers.

Soybean GmHY2a encodes a phytochromobilin synthase that regulates internode length and flowering time.

Plant height and flowering time are important agronomic traits that directly affect soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] adaptability and yield. Here, the Glycine max long internode 1 (Gmlin1) mutant was selected from an ethyl methyl sulfonate (EMS)-mutated Williams 82 population due to its long internodes and early flowering. Using bulked segregant analysis (BSA), the Gmlin1 locus was mapped to Glyma.02G304700, a homologue of the Arabidopsis HY2 gene, which encodes a phytochromobilin (PΦB) synthase involved in phytochrome chromophore synthesis. Mutation of GmHY2a results in failure of the de-etiolation response under both red and far-red light. The Gmlin1 mutant exhibits a constitutive shade avoidance response under normal light, and the mutations influence the auxin and gibberellin pathways to promote internode elongation. The Gmlin1 mutant also exhibits decreased photoperiod sensitivity. In addition, the soybean photoperiod repressor gene E1 is down-regulated in the Gmlin1 mutant, resulting in accelerated flowering. The nuclear import of phytochrome A (GmphyA) and GmphyB following light treatment is decreased in Gmlin1 protoplasts, indicating that the weak light response of the Gmlin1 mutant is caused by a decrease in functional phytochrome. Together, these results indicate that GmHY2a plays an important role in soybean phytochrome biosynthesis and provide insights into the adaptability of the soybean plant.

Study of Correlation between Intestinal Microbiota and Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome of Patients with Colon Cancer.

Objective: This research aims to study the material basis of the formation and specific bacteria of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome from the characteristics of the intestinal microbiota of patients with colon cancer (CC) before and after the operation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 84 patients with CC and 24 healthy controls. A total of 168 and 24 stool samples were collected from CC patients before and after the operation and healthy controls. DNA was extracted from 192 stool samples and then amplified using PCR. The V3-V4 high variable areas were analyzed by 16s rDNA sequencing. Results: The community diversity, in descending order, was the healthy control group and postoperative and preoperative groups of CC patients. The abundance of beneficial bacteria was postoperative group of CC patients > healthy control group > preoperative group of CC patients. Among the comparisons of the intestinal microbiota of preoperative groups of CC patients with different TCM syndromes, the community diversity in descending order was damp heat accumulation (DHA), spleen deficiency and dampness (SDD), spleen and kidney yang deficiency (SKYD), liver and kidney yin deficiency (LKYD), and deficiency of qi and blood (QBD), respectively. Specific microbiome analysis showed that the differences in the abundance of 42 taxons were statistically significant among the preoperative groups of CC patients with the five TCM syndromes and the healthy control group. While comparing the intestinal microbiota of postoperative groups with the five TCM syndromes, the community diversity in descending order is DHA, SDD, LKYD, SKYD, and QBD. Specific microbiome analysis showed that the differences in the abundance of 46 taxons were statistically significant among the postoperative groups of CC patients with the five TCM syndromes and the healthy control group. Streptococcus and Streptococcus mutans showed no statistical significance between the preoperative group and postoperative groups of CC with DHA syndrome (P > 0.05). Bacteroides at phylum and genus levels showed that there was no statistical significance between the preoperative group and the postoperative group of CC with SKYD syndrome (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Before and after surgery, with the deterioration of TCM syndrome: DHA ⟶ SDD ⟶ SKYD ⟶ LKYD ⟶ QBD, the number of beneficial bacteria in CC patients' intestines decreased while the number of pathogenic bacteria increased, and the community structure of intestinal microbiota tends to be unitized, indicating a serious intestinal microbiological disorder. After radical surgery and perioperative intervention, the intestinal microbiota diversity and community structure of postoperative CC patients were closer to those of healthy people than preoperative. However, they were still imbalanced. The intestinal microbiota of CC patients with different TCM syndromes differs significantly, which is important for understanding the pathogenesis of CC in TCM. The DHA and SKYD syndromes in CC patients before and after surgery showed significant differences in the microbial structure. Streptococcus and Streptococcus mutans were the specific species with a significant difference in CC patients with DHA syndrome, while bacteroides were the specific species in CC patients with SKYD syndrome.

Tungsten disulfide nanoflowers with multi-nanoenzyme activities for the treatment of acute liver injury.

In this study, polyvinyl pyrrolidone modified tungsten disulfide (WS2-PVP) nanoflower was synthesized using a simple and effective one-pot method. Owing to the surface polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) modification, WS2-PVP nanoflowers showed excellent colloidal stability in different circumstances, which can be well dispersed in water, saline, and cell culture medium. Meanwhile, the WS2-PVP nanoflowers have a good biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. Further studies confirmed that the WS2-PVP nanoflowers have the ability of simulating catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, WS2-PVP nanoflowers were used to treat reactive oxygen species-related diseases, which showed the cell protection effect and significantly improved the treatment results of acute liver injury on mice. We hope that our findings will facilitate the development of nanomaterials with multiple enzymatic mimicking properties and further clinical application of tungsten-based ROS scavengers in biomedical therapy and research.

Genetic Mapping of the Gmpgl3 Mutant Reveals the Function of GmTic110a in Soybean Chloroplast Development.

The generation of oxygen and organic matter in plants mainly depends on photosynthesis, which directly affects plant growth and development. The chloroplast is the main organelle in which photosynthesis occurs. In this study, a Glycine max pale green leaf 3-1 (Gmpgl3-1) mutant was isolated from the soybean mutagenized population. The Gmpgl3-1 mutant presented with decreased chlorophyll contents, reduced chloroplast stroma thylakoids, reduced yields, and decreased numbers of pods per plant. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) together with map-based cloning revealed a single-nucleotide non-synonymous mutation at the 341st nucleotide of the first exon of the chloroplast development-related GmTic110a gene. The phenotype of the knockout plants was the same as that of the mutant. The GmTic110a gene was highly expressed in the leaves at various developmental stages, and its protein was localized to the inner chloroplast membrane. Split luciferase complementation assays and coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments revealed that GmTic110a interacted with GmTic20, GmTic40a, and GmTic40b in tobacco leaves. These results indicated that the GmTic110a gene plays an important role in chloroplast development.

MicroRNAs in Methamphetamine-Induced Neurotoxicity and Addiction.

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse remains a significant public health concern globally owing to its strong addictive properties. Prolonged abuse of the drug causes irreversible damage to the central nervous system. To date, no efficient pharmacological interventions are available, primarily due to the unclear mechanisms underlying METH action in the brain. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to play critical roles in various cellular processes. The expression levels of some miRNAs are altered after METH administration, which may influence the transcription of target genes to regulate METH toxicity or addiction. This review summarizes the miRNAs in the context of METH use, discussing their role in the reward effect and neurotoxic sequelae. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in METH would be helpful for the development of new therapeutic strategies in reducing the harm of the drug.

[Development Status of Irreversible Electric Perforated Tumor Ablation Device].

This study firstly introduced the mechanism, benefits and applications of irreversible electroporation(IRE) for tumor ablation. In addition, this study also introduced the most advanced IRE systems cleared by FDA or CFDA and IRE research equipment. The clinically licensed IRE systems include the Nanoknife 3.0 of Angiodynamics, the DophiTM N3000's steep pulse therapy system of Sanoway, and compound steep pulse therapy equipment of Reeves Technology IRE research equipment include the BTX and Bio-Rad electroporation devices.