Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of GRAS gene family in Eucalyptus grandis.

BACKGROUND: The GRAS gene family is a class of plant-specific transcription factors with important roles in many biological processes, such as signal transduction, disease resistance and stress tolerance, plant growth and development. So far, no information available describes the functions of the GRAS genes in Eucalyptus grandis. RESULTS: A total of 82 GRAS genes were identified with amino acid lengths ranging from 267 to 817 aa, and most EgrGRAS genes had one exon. Members of the GRAS gene family of Eucalyptus grandis are divided into 9 subfamilies with different protein structures, while members of the same subfamily have similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Moreover, these EgrGRAS genes expanded primarily due to segmental duplication. In addition, cis-acting element analysis showed that this family of genes was involved involved in the signal transduction of various plant hormones, growth and development, and stress response. The qRT-PCR data indicated that 18 EgrGRAS genes significantly responded to hormonal and abiotic stresses. Among them, the expression of EgrGRAS13, EgrGRAS68 and EgrGRAS55 genes was significantly up-regulated during the treatment period, and it was hypothesised that members of the EgrGRAS family play an important role in stress tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the phylogenetic relationship, conserved domains, cis-elements and expression patterns of GRAS gene family of Eucalyptus grandis were analyzed, which filled the gap in the identification of GRAS gene family of Eucalyptus grandis and laid the foundation for analyzing the function of EgrGRAS gene in hormone and stress response.

Posttraumatic growth of medical staff during COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed unprecedented stress and challenges upon medical staff, potentially resulting in posttraumatic growth (PTG). This scoping review aims to synthesize the existing knowledge on PTG among medical staff during the pandemic by identifying its current status and potential influencing factors. The findings may provide a foundation for future research and interventions to enhance the medical staff's psychological resilience and well-being. METHODS: Literature was systematically searched on PTG among medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic from 01 January 2020 to 31 December 2022. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed), and Wanfang Data. Eligibility criteria included: (1) medical staff as research subjects; (2) a focus on "posttraumatic growth" or "alternative posttraumatic growth" related to the COVID-19 outbreak and pandemic; (3) discussion of the situation and influencing factors of PTG; and (4) study types, such as qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Two researchers independently selected and extracted study characteristics (study design, study population, region, measurement instruments, and primary outcomes) from the included literature. The data were synthesized qualitatively and descriptively. RESULTS: Thirty-six papers from 12 countries met the inclusion criteria. Moderate PTG levels were observed among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, with emphasis on "interpersonal relationships," "changes in life philosophy," and "growth in personal competence." Influencing factors included trauma exposure, sociodemographics, psychological characteristics (resilience and positive qualities), coping, and social support. CONCLUSIONS: This review discovered moderate PTG levels among medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, with critical areas in interpersonal relationships, life philosophy, and personal competence. The identified influencing factors can inform future research and interventions to enhance healthcare workers' psychological resilience and well-being.

Optimization and Application of the QuEChERS-UHPLC-QTOF-MS Method for the Determination of Broflanilide Residues in Agricultural Soils.

In this study, the separation conditions of UHPLC-QTOF-MS and the extraction conditions of QuEChERS were optimized. The analytical process for determining Broflanilide residues in different soil types was successfully established and applied to its adsorption, desorption, and leaching in soil. Broflanilide was extracted from soil with acetonitrile and purified using PSA and MgSO4. The modified UHPLC-QTOF-MS method was used for quantification. The average recovery of Broflanilide was between 87.7% and 94.38%, with the RSD lower than 7.6%. In the analysis of adsorption, desorption, and leaching quantities in four soil types, the RSD was less than 9.2%, showing good stability of the method, which can be applied to determine the residue of Broflanilide in different soils.

MXene-based photoacoustic transducer with a high-energy conversion efficiency.

The applications of two-dimensional transition metal carbide/nitride (MXene) in the fields of optoelectronics, sustainable energy, and sensors, among others, have been broadly investigated due to their special electrical, optical, and structural properties. In this Letter, MXene (Ti3C2Tx) has been firstly, to the best of our knowledge, adopted for the application of a photoacoustic transducer by taking advantage of the photothermal property. The efficiency of the photoacoustic transducer based on a sandwich structure of glass/MXene/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has been experimentally demonstrated to be 1.25 × 10-2 by converting laser pulses into ultrasonic waves, generating a high acoustic pressure of 15.7 MPa without additional acoustic focusing. That can be explained by the great light absorption and photothermal conversion of the Ti3C2Tx layer.

Measurement of the Acoustic Relaxation Absorption Spectrum of CO2 Using a Distributed Bragg Reflector Fiber Laser.

Reconstruction of the acoustic relaxation absorption curve is a powerful approach to ultrasonic gas sensing, but it requires knowledge of a series of ultrasonic absorptions at various frequencies around the effective relaxation frequency. An ultrasonic transducer is the most widely deployed sensor for ultrasonic wave propagation measurement and works only at a fixed frequency or in a specific environment like water, so a large number of ultrasonic transducers operating at various frequencies are required to recover an acoustic absorption curve with a relative large bandwidth, which cannot suit large-scale practical applications. This paper proposes a wideband ultrasonic sensor using a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) fiber laser for gas concentration detection through acoustic relaxation absorption curve reconstruction. With a relative wide and flat frequency response, the DBR fiber laser sensor measures and restores a full acoustic relaxation absorption spectrum of CO2 using a decompression gas chamber between 0.1 and 1 atm to accommodate the main molecular relaxation processes, and interrogates with a non-equilibrium Mach-Zehnder interferometer (NE-MZI) to gain a sound pressure sensitivity of -45.4 dB. The measurement error of the acoustic relaxation absorption spectrum is less than 1.32%.

Sensitivity Enhancement of 2D Material-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor with an Al-Ni Bimetallic Structure.

In this paper, a variety of 2D materials on the surface plasmon resonance sensor based on Al-Ni bimetallic layer are compared. Simulation results indicate that lateral position shift, which is calculated according to the real and imaginary parts of the refractive index of material, can be used as an effective parameter to optimize the sensitivity. By using the parameters for optimizing the SPR structures, the results show that the multiple layer models of Al(40 nm)-Ni(22 nm)-black phosphorus (BP)(1 L) and Al(40 nm)-Ni(22 nm)-blue phosphorus (BlueP)/WS2(1 L) exhibit average angular sensitivities of 507.0 °/RIU and 466 °/RIU in the refractive index range of 1.330-1.335, and maximum sensitivity of 542 °/RIU and 489 °/RIU at the refractive index of 1.333, respectively. We expect more applications can be explored based on the highly sensitive SPR sensor in different fields of optical sensing.

Modal interference discrepancy and its application to a modified fiber Mach-Zehnder Vernier interferometer.

In this paper, modal interference discrepancy in an all-fiber MZI is theoretically analyzed and experimentally verified. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that ambient refractive index (RI) response of core-cladding modal interference in an all-fiber MZI is blue-shift, while that of cladding-cladding modal interference is red-shift. Temperature response trends of the two kinds of modal interference are uniformly red-shift. The discrepancy is used to fabricate an improved Vernier sensor which is cascaded by two unit MZIs. One MZI is slightly core-offset fused to obtain core-cladding modal interference, and the other is obviously offset fused to get cladding-cladding modal interference. Ambient RI sensitivity of the cascaded sensor is improved with temperature cross-talk restrained. Ambient RI responses of the two unit MZIs are measured to be opposite, which are -54.009 nm/RIU (within RI range of 1.3362∼1.3811) for the slight and 142.581 nm/RIU for the obvious offset unit MZI. While, temperature response trends of them are consistent, which are 0.042 nm/°C for the slight and 0.025 nm/°C for the obvious offset unit MZI, respectively. For the cascaded Vernier sensor ambient RI sensitivity reaches -1788.160 nm/RIU, which is 33.1 and 12.5 folds improved over the two unit MZIs, respectively. Temperature sensitivity of the cascaded sensor is as low as 0.167 nm/°C and only causes a slight RI error of 9.339 × 10-5 RIU/°C. Due to the simple structure, ease of fabrication, and low temperature cross-talk, the modal interference discrepancy-based Vernier sensor is believed to have potential application prospects in biochemical sensing fields.

Refractive index sensitivity of Brillouin acoustic modes in single-mode subwavelength-diameter fibers.

The acousto-optic interaction is strongly modified and different in subwavelength confinement. Here, the optical propagation and acoustic propagation in a subwavelength-diameter fiber (SDF) have been investigated through adopting a two-layer fiber model of air-coated silica rod. Theoretical investigation indicates that SDF with a diameter below 1.2 µm supports the single mode of light propagation, and various Brillouin acoustic modes with well-spaced spectral distribution can be also excited. Due to the light propagation with the outer environment as the cladding layer, the surrounding medium will greatly affect Brillouin scattering of SDFs. Both the simulation and experiment results indicate a relatively good linear relationship between the Brillouin frequency shift of the lower acoustic modes and surrounding environmental refractive index (RI), and the higher RI sensitivity in finer SDFs can be obtained. In addition, hybrid acoustic waves have shown higher sensitivity and stability than surface acoustic modes. A RI sensitivity of about 5.1 GHz/RIU has been achieved in a 1.1 µm SDF, demonstrating its potential application in RI sensing.

Diosgenin alleviates hypercholesterolemia via SRB1/CES-1/CYP7A1/FXR pathway in high-fat diet-fed rats.

Phytosterol diosgenin (DG) exhibits cholesterol-lowering properties. Few studies focused on the underlying mechanism of DG attenuation of hypercholesterolemia by promoting cholesterol metabolism. To investigate the roles of SRB1/CES-1/CYP7A1/FXR pathways in accelerating cholesterol elimination and alleviating hypercholesterolemia, a rat model of hypercholesterolemia was induced by providing a high-fat diet (HFD). Experimental rat models were randomly divided into a normal control (Con) group, HFD group, low-dose DG (LDG) group (150 mg/kg/d), high-dose DG (HDG) group (300 mg/kg) and Simvastatin (Sim) group (4 mg/kg/d). Body weights, serum and hepatic lipid parameters of rats were tested. The expression levels of scavenger receptor class B type I (SRB1), carboxylesterase-1 (CES-1), cholesterol7α- hydroxylase (CYP7A1), and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) were determined. The results showed that DG reduced weight and lowered lipid levels in HFD-fed rats. Pathological morphology analyses revealed that DG notably improved hepatic steatosis and intestinal structure. Further studies showed the increased hepatic SRB1, CES-1, CYP7A1 and inhibited FXR-mediated signaling in DG-fed rats, which contributing to the decrease of hepatic cholesterol. DG also increased intestinal SRB1 and CES-1, inhibiting cholesterol absorption and promoting RCT. The expression levels of these receptors in the HDG group were higher than LDG and Sim groups. These data suggested that DG accelerated reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and enhanced cholesterol elimination via SRB1/CES-1/CYP7A1/FXR pathway, and DG might be a new candidate for the alleviation of hypercholesterolemia.

Simulations of photothermal effects and thermodynamics induced by optical resonance in a fiber metallic Fabry-Perot cavity.

Our simulations revealed that a highly localized optic-thermal transformation can lead to high temperatures in the fiber-based metallic Fabry-Perot cavity (FMFP) due to optical resonance. Both the transfer matrix method and finite difference time domain (FDTD) method are used for optical analysis of FMFP. Empirical formulas of maximum temperature were derived based on the superposition principle. Despite the fact that the derivation of the resonance condition for FMFP is usually discarded due to its complexity, we propose a simple resonance condition for a metallic Fabry-Perot cavity. In addition, suddenly tuning on the incident light will cause fast-decaying air pressure and velocity, which are also solved from nanosecond scale to equilibrium. This paper is useful for estimating the heat tolerance threshold of nanostructures on fiber end surfaces. Photothermal conversion in FMFP provides an excellent miniature heat source for applications that require high-efficiency photothermal conversion, and FMFP is particularly suitable for optofluidics.

Nanostructured ZnO/Ag Film Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering Method for Fast Response of Ammonia Gas Detection.

Possessing a large surface-to-volume ratio is significant to the sensitive gas detection of semiconductor nanostructures. Here, we propose a fast-response ammonia gas sensor based on porous nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) film, which is fabricated through physical vapor deposition and subsequent thermal annealing. In general, an extremely thin silver (Ag) layer (1, 3, 5 nm) and a 100 nm ZnO film are sequentially deposited on the SiO2/Si substrate by a magnetron sputtering method. The porous nanostructure of ZnO film is formed after thermal annealing contributed by the diffusion of Ag among ZnO crystal grains and the expansion of the ZnO film. Different thicknesses of the Ag layer help the formation of different sizes and quantities of hollows uniformly distributed in the ZnO film, which is demonstrated to hold superior gas sensing abilities than the compact ZnO film. The responses of the different porous ZnO films were also investigated in the ammonia concentration range of 10 to 300 ppm. Experimental results demonstrate that the ZnO/Ag(3 nm) sensor possesses a good electrical resistance variation of 85.74% after exposing the sample to 300 ppm ammonia gas for 310 s. Interestingly, a fast response of 61.18% in 60 s for 300 ppm ammonia gas has been achieved from the ZnO/Ag(5 nm) sensor, which costs only 6 s for the response increase to 10%. Therefore, this controllable, porous, nanostructured ZnO film maintaining a sensitive gas response, fabricated by the physical deposition approach, will be of great interest to the gas-sensing community.

Emerging Novel Metal Electrodes for Photovoltaic Applications.

Emerging novel metal electrodes not only serve as the collector of free charge carriers, but also function as light trapping designs in photovoltaics. As a potential alternative to commercial indium tin oxide, transparent electrodes composed of metal nanowire, metal mesh, and ultrathin metal film are intensively investigated and developed for achieving high optical transmittance and electrical conductivity. Moreover, light trapping designs via patterning of the back thick metal electrode into different nanostructures, which can deliver a considerable efficiency improvement of photovoltaic devices, contribute by the plasmon-enhanced light-mattering interactions. Therefore, here the recent works of metal-based transparent electrodes and patterned back electrodes in photovoltaics are reviewed, which may push the future development of this exciting field.

Tunable double resonance of silver nanodecahedron on the insulator/conductor film.

The generation of double resonance in a nanostructure, thus permitting the modulation of optical field at two frequencies simultaneously, offers new application opportunities for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface enhanced fluorescence (SEF). Here, we present a simple composite nanostructure of silver nanodecahedron (Ag ND)/silica spacer/gold film/glass substrate for achieving double resonance under the normal incidence of polarized light. The optical responses of the composite structure have been theoretically studied by varying the thickness of silica spacer layer from 5 nm to 35 nm for mediating the interaction between Ag ND and gold film. Results indicate that the extinction spectrum of the composite system is strongly dependent on the separation between Ag ND and gold film. The electric field and charge distribution during resonance have been investigated in order to obtain a detailed understanding on the coupling between these two objects. More importantly, due to the anisotropic geometry of Ag ND, double resonance with two plasmonic modes (dipole and gap modes) whose responses can be adjusted through varying the size of Ag ND and mediating its coupling with the gold film respectively, has been achieved in the composite structure under the excitation with polarization parallel to the Ag ND edge adjacent to the spacer surface. The knowledge gained through this work will benefit the development of applications based on local field enhancement.

Biochar-manure compost in conjunction with pyroligneous solution alleviated salt stress and improved leaf bioactivity of maize in a saline soil from central China: a 2-year field experiment.

BACKGROUND: Salinity is a major stress threatening crop production in dry lands. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to assess the potential of a biochar product to alleviate salt-stress to a maize crop in a saline soil. The soil was amended with a compost at 12 t ha(-1) of wheat straw biochar and poultry manure compost (BPC), and a diluted pyroligneous solution (PS) at 0.15 t ha(-1) (BPC-PS). Changes in soil salinity and plant performance, leaf bioactivity were examined in the first (BPC-PS1) and second (BPC-PS2) year following a single amendment. RESULTS: While soil salinity significantly decreased, there were large increases in leaf area index, plant performance, and maize grain yield, with a considerable decrease in leaf electrolyte leakage when grown in amendments. Maize leaf sap nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium increased while sodium and chloride decreased, leaf bioactivity related to osmotic stress was significantly improved following the treatments. These effects were generally greater in the second than in the first year. CONCLUSION: A combined amendment of crop straw biochar with manure compost plus pyroligneous solution could help combat salinity stress to maize and improve productivity in saline croplands in arid/semi-arid regions threatened increasingly by global climate change.

Plasmonic graded nano-disks as nano-optical conveyor belt.

We propose a plasmonic system consisting of nano-disks (NDs) with graded diameters for the realization of nano-optical conveyor belt. The system contains a couple of NDs with individual elements coded with different resonant wavelengths. By sequentially switching the wavelength and polarization of the excitation source, optically trapped target nano-particle can be transferred from one ND to another. The feasibility of such function is verified based on the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain technique and the Maxwell stress tensor method. Our design may provide an alternative way to construct nano-optical conveyor belt with which target molecules can be delivered between trapping sites, thus enabling many on-chip optofluidic applications.

Neuroprotective effects of Shenghui decoction via inhibition of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in an AlCl3-induced zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of Alzheimer's disease.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multi-factorial degenerative disease, and multi-targeted therapies targeting multiple pathogenic mechanisms should be explored. Shenghui decoction (SHD) is an ancient traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used clinically to alleviate AD. However, the precise mechanism of action of SHD as a therapeutic agent for AD remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the neuroprotective properties and potential mechanisms of action of SHD in mitigating AD-like symptoms induced by AlCl3 in a zebrafish model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Active components of SHD were detected using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Zebrafish were exposed to AlCl3 (200 µg/L) for 30 days to establish an AD zebrafish model. AlCl3-exposed zebrafish were treated with SHD or donepezil. Behavioral tests were used to assess learning and memory, locomotor activity, and AD-related anxiety and aggression in AlCl3-exposed zebrafish. Nissl staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to evaluate histological alterations in brain neurons. The concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α; interleukin-1ß, IL-1ß) were quantified using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Markers of oxidative stress and cholinergic activity (acetylcholinesterase, AChE) were detected using biochemical assays. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect the protein expression levels of Aß, p-tau, PSD-95, synaptophysin, TLR4, phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, p38, and JNK. RESULTS: Fifteen SHD compounds were identified by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. SHD improved AlCl3-induced dyskinesia, learning and memory impairment, anxiety-like behavior, and aggressive behavior in zebrafish. AlCl3-exposed zebrafish showed AD-like pathology, overexpression of Aß, hyperphosphorylated tau protein, marked neuronal damage, decreased expression of synaptic proteins, synaptophysin, and PSD-95, and impairment of synaptic structural plasticity. These effects were reversed by the SHD treatment. We also observed that SHD ameliorated oxidative stress and decreased AChE activity and inflammatory cytokine levels. These effects are similar to those observed for donepezil. Meanwhile, SHD could decrease the protein expression of TLR4 and inhibit phosphorylation of NF-κB, JNK, and p38 MAPK. These results demonstrate that SHD has the potential to exert neuroprotective effects, which may be partly mediated via inhibition of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed the therapeutic mechanism of SHD in mitigating AD progression and suggested that SHD is a potent neuroprotectant that contributes to the future development of TCM modernization and broader clinical applications.

Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms Affecting Fruit Aroma.

Aroma, an important quality characteristic of plant fruits, is produced by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mainly terpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, esters, ketones, and other secondary metabolites, in plant cells. There are significant differences in the VOC profile of various fruits. The main pathways involved in the synthesis of VOCs are the terpenoid, phenylalanine, and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways, which involve several key enzyme-encoding genes, transcription factors (TFs), and epigenetic factors. This paper reviews the main synthetic pathways of the main volatile components in fruit, summarizes studies on the regulation of aroma formation by key genes and TFs, summarizes the factors affecting the fruit aroma formation, describes relevant studies on the improvement of fruit flavor quality, and finally proposes potential challenges and prospects for future research directions. This study provides a theoretical basis for the further precise control of fruit aroma quality and variety improvement.

Effective Charge Collection of Electron Transport Layers for High-Performance Quantum Dot Infrared Solar Cells.

Infrared (IR) solar cells, capable of converting low-energy IR photons to electron-hole pairs, are promising optoelectronic devices by broadening the utilization range of the solar spectrum to the short-wavelength IR region. The emerging PbS colloidal quantum dot (QD) IR solar cells attract much attention due to their tunable band gaps in the IR region, potential multiple exciton generation, and facile solution processing. In PbS QD solar cells, ZnO is commonly utilized as an electron transport layer (ETL) to establish a depleted heterostructure with a QD photoactive layer. However, band gap shrinkage of large PbS QDs makes it necessary to tailor the behaviors of the ZnO ETL for efficient carrier extraction in the devices. Herein, the characteristics of ZnO ETL are efficiently and flexibly tailored to match the QD layer by handily adjusting the postannealing process of ZnO ETL. With a suitable temperature, the well-matched energy level alignment and suppressed trap states are simultaneously achieved in the ZnO ETL, effectively reducing the nonradiative recombination and accelerating the electron injection from the QD layer to ETL. As a consequence, a high-performance PbS QD photovoltaic device with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 10.09% and 1.37% is obtained under AM 1.5 and 1100 nm filtered solar illumination, demonstrating a simple and effective approach for achieving high-performance IR photoelectric devices.

Suppressing Charge Extraction Loss in Quantum Dot Infrared Photovoltaics by Optimizing the Charge Transport Layer.

Infrared solar cells (IRSCs), capable of converting low-energy infrared photons to electron-hole pairs, are promising infrared optoelectronic devices because of their extended utilization region of the solar to short-wavelength infrared region. For PbS QDs IRSCs, charge extraction loss, easily generated at the interfaces, has been one of the dominate obstacles impeding the improvement of device efficiencies due to too many trap states and mismatched energy levels between the photoactive layer and electron transport layer (ETL). Herein, an advanced ZnO ETL was developed to improve the extraction of photogenerated charges from the PbS QD photoactive layer to ETLs. The advanced ETL film exhibited effectively suppressed trap states and better-matched energy levels compared with the QD layer. As a consequence, high-performance PbS QD IRSCs with the highest infrared power conversion efficiencies of 1.26% under 1100 nm filtered solar illumination are achieved, suggesting an effective and facile route for enhancing the charge extraction in infrared photovoltaics.