Standard Area Diagrams for Pecan Leaf Scab: Effect of Rater Experience, Location, and Leaf Size on Reliability and Accuracy of Visual Estimates.

Assessments of the severity of scab (Venturia effusa), an economically significant disease of pecan, are critical for determining pecan cultivar susceptibility, disease epidemiology, and integrated disease management approaches. We developed a standard area diagram (SAD) set to aid in assessments of pecan leaflet scab. Leaflets with scab lesions were harvested and scanned using a flatbed scanner at 600 dpi, and Fiji (ImageJ) was used to determine the actual percent disease severity. The SADs had 10 leaflets ranging in severity from 0.2 to 48.9%. Forty "small" (1.34 to 7.43 cm2) and 40 "large" (7.67 to 25.9 cm2) leaflet images were randomized for rater assessments. The images were assessed twice by 36 raters, first without and then with the SADs as a guide. Data were subjected to analysis using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LCC, pc) to determine the accuracy of ratings and by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis to determine interrater reliability. The effects of rater experience, rater location, and leaflet size were also determined. The SADs significantly improved the agreement between raters and the actual values (LCC, pc = 0.70 and 0.84 without and with the SADs, respectively). The reliability of estimates was improved (ICC = 0.54 and 0.82 without and with the SADs, respectively). The effect of rater location on overall concordance was significant without and with the SADs based on an analysis of variance using a generalized linear model and lsmeans separation (P < 0.05). A generalized linear mixed model analysis revealed that there was a significant interaction between rater location, experience, and the use of the SADs, with some raters having greater improvement in generalized bias and concordance. Raters had a significantly better accuracy when rating "small" leaves (LCC, pc = 0.86) compared with "large" leaves (LCC, pc = 0.82) when using the SADs, highlighting the impact of psychophysics on field evaluations of plant disease severity. The proposed SADs will serve as an improved tool for performing pecan leaflet scab assessments by the pecan research community.

Association of change in air quality with hospital admission for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Guangdong, China: A province-wide ecological study.

AIMS: To assess possible effect of air quality improvements, we investigated the temporal change in hospital admissions for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) associated with pollutant concentrations. METHODS: We collected daily concentrations of particulate matter (i.e., PM2.5, PM10 and PMcoarse), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and admissions for AECOPD for 21 cities in Guangdong from 2013 to 2017. We examined the association of air pollution with AECOPD admissions using two-stage time-series analysis, and estimated the annual attributable fractions, numbers, and direct hospitalization costs of AECOPD admissions with principal component analysis. RESULTS: From 2013-2017, mean daily concentrations of SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 declined by nearly 40%, 30%, and 26% respectively. As the average daily 8 h O3 concentration increased considerably, the number of days exceeding WHO target (i.e.,100 µg/m³) increased from 103 in 2015-152 in 2017. For each interquartile range increase in pollutant concentration, the relative risks of AECOPD admission at lag 0-3 were 1.093 (95% CI 1.06-1.13) for PM2.5, 1.092 (95% CI 1.08-1.11) for O3, and 1.092 (95% CI 1.05-1.14) for SO2. Attributable fractions of AECOPD admission advanced by air pollution declined from 9.5% in 2013 to 4.9% in 2016, then increased to 6.0% in 2017. A similar declining trend was observed for direct AECOPD hospitalization costs. CONCLUSION: Declined attributable hospital admissions for AECOPD may be associated with the reduction in concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and SO2 in Guangdong, while O3 has emerged as an important risk factor. Summarizes the main finding of the work： Reduction in PM may result in declined attributable hospitalizations for AECOPD, while O3 has emerged as an important risk factor following an intervention.

Association of diurnal temperature range with daily hospitalization for exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases in 21 cities, China.

BACKGROUND: The association between diurnal temperature range (DTR) and hospitalization for exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) was rarely reported. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between DTR and daily hospital admissions for exacerbation of CRD and find out the potential effect of modifications on this association. METHOD: Data on daily hospitalization for exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and bronchiectasis and meteorology measures from 2013 through 2017 were obtained from 21 cities in South China. After controlling the effects of daily mean temperature, relative humidity (RH), particulate matter < 2.5 µm diameter (PM2.5) and other confounding factors, a standard generalized additive model (GAM) with a quasi-Poisson distribution was performed to evaluate the relationships between DTR and daily hospital admissions of CRD in a two-stage strategy. Subgroup analysis was performed to find potential modifications, including seasonality and population characteristics. RESULT: Elevated risk of hospitalization for exacerbation of CRD (RR = 1.09 [95%CI: 1.08 to 1.11]) was associated with the increase in DTR (the 75th percentile versus the 25th percentile of DTR at lag0-6). The effects of DTR on hospital admissions for CRD were strong at low DTR in the hot season and high DTR in the cold season. The RR (the 75th percentile versus the 25th percentile of DTR at lag0-6) of hospitalization was 1.11 (95%CI: 1.08 to 1.12) for exacerbations of COPD and 1.09 (95%CI: 1.05 to 1.13) for asthma. The adverse effect of DTR on hospitalization for bronchiectasis was only observed in female patients (RR = 1.06 [95%CI: 1.03 to 1.10]). CONCLUSION: Our study provided additional evidence for the association between DTR and daily hospitalization for exacerbation of CRD, and these associations are especially stronger in COPD patients and in the cold season than the hot season. Preventive measures to reduce the adverse impacts of DTR were needed for CRD patients.

Application of an improved proteomics method for abundant protein cleanup: molecular and genomic mechanisms study in plant defense.

High abundance proteins like ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) impose a consistent challenge for the whole proteome characterization using shot-gun proteomics. To address this challenge, we developed and evaluated Polyethyleneimine Assisted Rubisco Cleanup (PARC) as a new method by combining both abundant protein removal and fractionation. The new approach was applied to a plant insect interaction study to validate the platform and investigate mechanisms for plant defense against herbivorous insects. Our results indicated that PARC can effectively remove Rubisco, improve the protein identification, and discover almost three times more differentially regulated proteins. The significantly enhanced shot-gun proteomics performance was translated into in-depth proteomic and molecular mechanisms for plant insect interaction, where carbon re-distribution was used to play an essential role. Moreover, the transcriptomic validation also confirmed the reliability of PARC analysis. Finally, functional studies were carried out for two differentially regulated genes as revealed by PARC analysis. Insect resistance was induced by over-expressing either jacalin-like or cupin-like genes in rice. The results further highlighted that PARC can serve as an effective strategy for proteomics analysis and gene discovery.

The metallothionein gene, TaMT3, from Tamarix androssowii confers Cd2+ tolerance in tobacco.

Cadmium (Cd) is a nonessential microelement and low concentration Cd2+ has strong toxicity to plant growth. Plant metallothioneins, a class of low molecular, cystein(Cys)-rich and heavy-metal binding proteins, play an important role in both metal chaperoning and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with their large number of cysteine residues and therefore, protect plants from oxidative damage. In this study, a metallothionein gene, TaMT3, isolated from Tamarix androssowii was transformed into tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) through Agrobacterium-mediated leaf disc method, and correctly expressed under the control of 35S promoter. Under Cd2+ stress, the transgenic tobacco showed significant increases of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and chlorophyll concentration, but decreases of peroxidase (POD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation when compared to the non-transgenic tobacco. Vigorous growth of transgenic tobacco was observed at the early development stages, resulting in plant height and fresh weight were significantly larger than those of the non-transgenic tobacco under Cd2+ stress. These results demonstrated that the expression of the exogenous TaMT3 gene increased the ability of ROS cleaning-up, indicating a stronger tolerance to Cd2+ stress.

The rootstock genotype shapes the diversity of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) rhizosphere microbial community.

Pecans (Carya illinoinensis), one of the most valuable native North American nut crops, are commonly propagated through grafting to preserve the desired characteristics from parent trees. Since successful cultivation of pecan trees relies on the interplay among scion varieties, rootstocks, and soil conditions, this study investigated the microbial change to communities in the soils and roots of southern (87MX5-1.7) and northern (Peruque) rootstocks in a rootstock test orchard. Both grafted with the 'Pawnee' scion cultivar. Bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA and fungal ITS were amplified from both roots and rhizosphere soils of the two 10-year-grafted trees, then sequenced and annotated into trophic and nutrient-related groups to characterize the rhizosphere microbiota. The Peruque roots had a higher relative abundance of saprotroph fungi, while 87MX5-1.7 exhibited higher levels of symbiotroph fungi and nitrogen fixation-related bacteria. Among them, the presence of symbiotroph fungi, particularly ectomycorrhizal fungi, notably differed between these two rootstocks, with a significantly higher presence observed in the root of 87MX5-1.7 compared to Peruque. This variation likely leads to divergent pathways of nutrient translocation: Peruque was in favor of multiple fungi (Russula and Inocybe) to gain nutrition, while 87MX5-1.7 preferred a specific domain of fungi (Tuber) and nitrogen fixation-related bacteria (Bradyrhizobia) to form beneficial symbiosis. Moreover, the presence of pathogens suggested a potential risk of Fusarium patch and snow molds in 87MX5-1.7, while canker and black foot disease pose threats in Peruque. The findings of this study suggest that rootstocks from different origins shape rhizosphere microbes differently, potentially affecting nutrient uptake and nut yield. Exploring rootstock-microbe combinations could provide insights into optimizing scion growth and ultimately increasing nut yield. By understanding how different rootstock-microbe interactions influence pecan tree development, growers can strategically select combinations that promote beneficial symbiotic relationships, enhancing nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and overall tree vigor.

Phenotypic diversity and population structure of Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) collections reveals geographic patterns.

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is an economically important nut crop known for its genetic diversity and adaptability to various climates. Understanding the growth variability, phenological traits, and population structure of pecan populations is crucial for breeding programs and conservation. In this study, plant growth and phenological traits were evaluated over three consecutive seasons (2015-2017) for 550 genotypes from 26 provenances. Significant variations in plant height, stem diameter, and budbreak were observed among provenances, with Southern provenances exhibiting faster growth and earlier budbreak compared to Northern provenances. Population structure analysis using SNP markers revealed eight distinct subpopulations, reflecting genetic differentiation among provenances. Notably, Southern Mexico collections formed two separate clusters, while Western collections, such as 'Allen 3', 'Allen 4', and 'Riverside', were distinguished from others. 'Burkett' and 'Apache' were grouped together due to their shared maternal parentage. Principal component analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis further supported subpopulation differentiation. Genetic differentiation among the 26 populations was evident, with six clusters highly in agreement with the subpopulations identified by STRUCTURE and fastSTRUCTURE. Principal components analysis (PCA) revealed distinct groups, corresponding to subpopulations identified by genetic analysis. Discriminant analysis of PCA (DAPC) based on provenance origin further supported the genetic structure, with clear separation of provenances into distinct clusters. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic diversity and growth patterns of pecan populations. Understanding the genetic basis of phenological traits and population structure is essential for selecting superior cultivars adapted to diverse environments. The identified subpopulations can guide breeding efforts to develop resilient rootstocks and contribute to the sustainable management of pecan genetic resources. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of pecan genetic diversity and informs conservation and breeding strategies for the long-term viability of pecan cultivation.

Co-firing characteristic prediction of solid waste and coal for supercritical CO2 power cycle based on CFD simulation and machine learning algorithm.

The co-firing technology of combustible solid waste (CSW) and coal in the supercritical CO2 (S-CO2) circulating fluidized bed (CFB) can effectively deal with domestic waste, promote social and environmental benefits, improve the coal conversion rate, and reduce pollutant emission. This study focuses on the co-firing characteristics of CSW and coal under S-CO2 power cycle, and simulations are conducted by employing Multiphase Particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) method integrated with the comprehensive chemical reaction models in a 300 MW S-CO2 CFB boiler. Effects of operating parameters including fuel mixture proportion and first stage stoichiometry on the gas emission characteristics are further analyzed. Based on training and testing database based on the simulation results, a novel Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm and Bi-dictionary Long Short-Term Memory (IWOA-BiLSTM) algorithm model is established to predict CFB temperature, NOx emission concentration, and SO2 emission concentration, respectively. Results show that CO and SO2 decrease with the coal mass ratio of the fuel mixture increasing, while NOx increases. With the increase of first stage stoichiometry, CO increases, NOx declines, and the change of SO2 is not obvious. Compared with two other basic algorithm models, the prediction error of the proposed algorithm model for the three targets is minimal with the average relative error of 0.032 %, 0.231 %, and 0.157 %, respectively, which can meet the prediction requirements with acceptable accuracy.

Temperature Drift Compensation of Fiber Optic Gyroscopes Based on an Improved Method.

This study proposes an improved multi-scale permutation entropy complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (MPE-CEEMDAN) method based on adaptive Kalman filter (AKF) and grey wolf optimizer-least squares support vector machine (GWO-LSSVM). By establishing a temperature compensation model, the gyro temperature output signal is optimized and reconstructed, and a gyro output signal is obtained with better accuracy. Firstly, MPE-CEEMDAN is used to decompose the FOG output signal into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs); then, the IMFs signal is divided into mixed noise, temperature drift, and other noise according to different frequencies. Secondly, the AKF method is used to denoise the mixed noise. Thirdly, in order to denoise the temperature drift, the fiber gyroscope temperature compensation model is established based on GWO-LSSVM, and the signal without temperature drift is obtained. Finally, the processed mixed noise, the processed temperature drift, the processed other noise, and the signal-dominated IMFs are reconstructed to acquire the improved output signal. The experimental results show that, by using the improved method, the output of a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) ranging from -30 °C to 60 °C decreases, and the temperature drift dramatically declines. The factor of quantization noise (Q) reduces from 6.1269 × 10-3 to 1.0132 × 10-4, the factor of bias instability (B) reduces from 1.53 × 10-2 to 1 × 10-3, and the factor of random walk of angular velocity (N) reduces from 7.8034 × 10-4 to 7.2110 × 10-6. The improved algorithm can be adopted to denoise the output signal of the FOG with higher accuracy.

Influence of Geographical Orchard Location on the Microbiome from the Progeny of a Pecan Controlled Cross.

Carya&nbsp;illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch production has expanded beyond the native distribution as the genetic diversity of the species, in part, has allowed the trees to grow under broad geographic and climatic ranges. Research in other plant species has demonstrated that the phytobiome enhances their ability to survive and thrive in specific environments and, conversely, is influenced by the prevailing environment and plant genetics, among other factors. We sought to analyze the microbiota of pecan seedlings from the controlled cross 'Lakota' × 'Oaxaca' that were made in Georgia and Texas, respectively, to determine if the maternal geographical origin influences the microbiome of the resulting progeny. No significant differences in bacterial communities were observed between the seeds obtained from the two different states (p = 0.081). However, seed origin did induce significant differences in leaf fungal composition (p = 0.012). Results suggest that, in addition to some environmental, epigenetics, or host genetic components, ecological processes, such as dispersal mechanisms of the host, differentially impact the pecan microbiome, which may have ramifications for the health of trees grown in different environments. Future studies on the role of the microbiome in plant health and productivity will aid in the development of sustainable agriculture for improved food security.

Financial protection under the new rural cooperative medical schemes in China.

BACKGROUND: This study was the first of its kind to analyze the finance protection in New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme in China using a claim database analysis. METHODS: A claim database analysis of all hospitalizations reimbursed from the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme between January 2005 and December 2008 in Panyu district of Guangzhou covering 108,414 discharges was conducted to identify the difference in real reimbursement rate among 5 hospitalization cost categories by sex, age, and hospital type and to investigate the distributions of hospital-type choices among age and hospitalization cost categories. RESULTS: The share of total cost reimbursed was only 34% on average, and increased with age but decreased with higher hospitalization cost, undermining catastrophic coverage. Older people were more likely to be hospitalized at lower level hospitals with higher reimbursement rate. The mean cost per hospitalization and average length of stay increased whereas the real reimbursement rate decreased with hospital level among the top 4 diseases with the same ICD-10 diagnostic code (3-digit level) for each age group. CONCLUSIONS: Providing better protection against costly medical needs will require shifting the balance of objectives somewhat away from cost control toward more generous reimbursement, expanding the list of treatments that the insurance will cover, or some other policy to provide adequate care at lower cost facilities where more of the cost is now covered.

Characterization of expressed sequence tag-derived simple sequence repeat markers for Aspergillus flavus: emphasis on variability of isolates from the southern United States.

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed from Aspergillus flavus expressed sequence tag (EST) database to conduct an analysis of genetic relationships of Aspergillus isolates from numerous host species and geographical regions, but primarily from the United States. Twenty-nine primers were designed from 362 tri-nucleotide EST-SSR sequences. Eighteen polymorphic loci were used to genotype 96 Aspergillus species isolates. The number of alleles detected per locus ranged from 2 to 24 with a mean of 8.2 alleles. Haploid diversity ranged from 0.28 to 0.91. Genetic distance matrix was used to perform principal coordinates analysis (PCA) and to generate dendrograms using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). Two principal coordinates explained more than 75 % of the total variation among the isolates. One clade was identified for A. flavus isolates (n = 87) with the other Aspergillus species (n = 7) using PCA, but five distinct clusters were present when the others taxa were excluded from the analysis. Six groups were noted when the EST-SSR data were compared using UPGMA. However, the latter PCA or UPGMA comparison resulted in no direct associations with host species, geographical region or aflatoxin production. Furthermore, there was no direct correlation to visible morphological features such as sclerotial types. The isolates from Mississippi Delta region, which contained the largest percentage of isolates, did not show any unusual clustering except for isolates K32, K55, and 199. Further studies of these three isolates are warranted to evaluate their pathogenicity, aflatoxin production potential, additional gene sequences (e.g., RPB2), and morphological comparisons.

Improved VMD-ELM Algorithm for MEMS Gyroscope of Temperature Compensation Model Based on CNN-LSTM and PSO-SVM.

The micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope is a micro-mechanical gyroscope with low cost, small volume, and good reliability. The working principle of the MEMS gyroscope, which is achieved through Coriolis, is different from traditional gyroscopes. The MEMS gyroscope has been widely used in the fields of micro-inertia navigation systems, military, automotive, consumer electronics, mobile applications, robots, industrial, medical, and other fields in micro-inertia navigation systems because of its advantages of small volume, good performance, and low price. The material characteristics of the MEMS gyroscope is very significant for its data output, and the temperature determines its accuracy and limits its further application. In order to eliminate the effect of temperature, the MEMS gyroscope needs to be compensated to improve its accuracy. This study proposed an improved variational modal decomposition-extreme learning machine (VMD-ELM) algorithm based on convolutional neural networks-long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) and particle swarm optimization-support vector machines (PSO-SVM). By establishing a temperature compensation model, the gyro temperature output signal is optimized and reconstructed, and the gyro output signal with better accuracy is obtained. The VMD algorithm separates the gyro output signal and divides the gyro output signal into low-frequency signals, mid-frequency signals, and high-frequency signals according to the different signal frequencies. Once again, the PSO-SVM model is constructed by the mid-frequency temperature signal to find the temperature error. Finally, the signal is reconstructed through the ELM neural network algorithm, and then, the gyro output signal after noise is obtained. Experimental results show that, by using the improved method, the output of the MEMS gyroscope ranging from -40 to 60 °C reduced, and the temperature drift dramatically declined. For example, the factor of quantization noise (Q) reduced from 1.2419 × 10-4 to 1.0533 × 10-6, the factor of bias instability (B) reduced from 0.0087 to 1.8772 × 10-4, and the factor of random walk of angular velocity (N) reduced from 2.0978 × 10-5 to 1.4985 × 10-6. Furthermore, the output of the MEMS gyroscope ranging from 60 to -40 °C reduced. The factor of Q reduced from 2.9808 × 10-4 to 2.4430 × 10-6, the factor of B reduced from 0.0145 to 7.2426 × 10-4, and the factor of N reduced from 4.5072 × 10-5 to 1.0523 × 10-5. The improved algorithm can be adopted to denoise the output signal of the MEMS gyroscope to improve its accuracy.

Consumer Hedonic Ratings and Associated Sensory Characteristics and Emotional Responses to Fourteen Pecan Varieties Grown in Texas.

Pecan is one of the top five most widely consumed tree nuts, and pecan nut quality is a major factor for consideration in breeding better pecan cultivars for use by producers. However, the pecan industry faces a hurdle to evaluate its nutmeat taste, and there has so far been limited evaluation of consumer attitudes toward pecan nutmeat. This study aimed to investigate the consumer (n = 198) hedonic rating, diagnostic sensory attribute intensity, and emotional response for 14 pecan samples, consisting of native/seedling and improved varieties. The results showed all kernels received positive hedonic scores (>5, 9-point hedonic scale) for overall acceptance and the acceptability of size, interior color, typical-pecan flavor, and raw-nut flavor. The primary sensory attributes (intensities > 5.0, 0−10 line scale) were typical-pecan and raw-nut flavors, followed by buttery flavor, sweetness, and astringency. Kernel off-flavors were not perceived in general. For 20 emotion-associated terms, the intensity of the satiating effect was medium, while the energizing effect was lower. The major emotional responses were healthy, satisfied, and comfort, followed by calm, interested, premium, and relaxed. Kernel variety difference was significant (p ≤ 0.05) for all these measured variables. Consumer overall acceptance toward pecan kernels was driven by the acceptability of flavor and interior color, flavor intensities, no off-flavors, and positive emotional responses; kernel size was not an impactful factor. The six most preferred varieties were 86TX2-1.5, Pawnee, Barton, 1997-09-0012, 1991-01-0026, and Harris Super. This study is the first to use consumer input to assess nut quality and consumption preference and will be foundational to ongoing breeding programs to develop new pecan cultivars that will better meet consumer preferences and expectations, and therefore will be accepted by the processing industry and growers.

Genipin-crosslinked decellularized scaffold induces regeneration of defective rat kidneys.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to improve the performance of decellularized renal scaffolds by the genipin crosslinking method to facilitate the regeneration of tissues and cells and provide better conditions for the regeneration and repair of defective kidneys. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group, uncrosslinked scaffold group and genipin-crosslinked scaffold group. Hematoxylin eosin, Masson and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the histomorphological characteristics of the kidneys in each group. The preservation of the renal vascular structure in the three groups was observed by vascular casting. A collagenase degradation assay was used to detect the antidegradation ability of the kidney in the three groups. CCK8 assays were used to test the in vitro biocompatibility of the scaffolds. The lower 1/3 of the rat left kidney was excised, and the defect was filled with decellularized renal scaffolds to observe the effect of scaffold implantation on the regenerative ability of the defective kidney. Results: Histological images showed that the genipin-crosslinked scaffold did not destroy the structure of the scaffold, and the collagen fibers in the scaffold was more regular, and the outline of the glomerulus was clearer than uncrosslinked scaffold. The results of casting showed that the vascular structure of genipin-crosslinked scaffold was still intact. The anti-degradation ability test showed that the anti-degradation ability of genipin-crosslinked scaffold was significantly higher than that of the uncrosslinked scaffold. Cell culture experiments showed that the genipin-crosslinked scaffold had no cytotoxicity and promoted cell proliferation to some extent. In vivo scaffold transplantation experiments further demonstrated that the genipin-crosslinked scaffold had better anti-degradation and anti-inflammatory ability. Conclusion: Genipin-crosslinked rat kidney scaffold complemented kidney defects in rats can enhance scaffold-induced kidney regeneration and repair.

Comparative plastomes of Carya species provide new insights into the plastomes evolution and maternal phylogeny of the genus.

Carya, in the Juglandiodeae subfamily, is to a typical temperate-subtropical forest-tree genus for studying the phylogenetic evolution and intercontinental disjunction between eastern Asia (EA) and North America (NA). Species of the genus have high economic values worldwide for their high-quality wood and the rich healthy factors of their nuts. Although previous efforts based on multiple molecular markers or genome-wide SNPs supported the monophyly of Carya and its two EA and NA major subclades, the maternal phylogeny of Carya still need to be comprehensively evaluated. The variation of Carya plastome has never been thoroughly characterized. Here, we novelly present 19 newly generated plastomes of congeneric Carya species, including the recently rediscovered critically endangered C. poilanei. The overall assessment of plastomes revealed highly conservative in the general structures. Our results indicated that remarkable differences in several plastome features are highly consistent with the EA-NA disjunction and showed the relatively diverse matrilineal sources among EA Carya compared to NA Carya. The maternal phylogenies were conducted with different plastome regions and full-length plastome datasets from 30 plastomes, representing 26 species in six genera of Juglandoideae and Myrica rubra (as root). Six out of seven phylogenetic topologies strongly supported the previously reported relationships among genera of Juglandoideae and the two subclades of EA and NA Carya, but displayed significant incongruencies between species within the EA and NA subclades. The phylogenetic tree generated from full-length plastomes demonstrated the optimal topology and revealed significant geographical maternal relationships among Carya species, especially for EA Carya within overlapping distribution areas. The full-length plastome-based phylogenetic topology also strongly supported the taxonomic status of five controversial species as separate species of Carya. Historical and recent introgressive hybridization and plastid captures might contribute to plastome geographic patterns and inconsistencies between topologies built from different datasets, while incomplete lineage sorting could account for the discordance between maternal topology and the previous nuclear genome data-based phylogeny. Our findings highlight full-length plastomes as an ideal tool for exploring maternal relationships among the subclades of Carya, and potentially in other outcrossing perennial woody plants, for resolving plastome phylogenetic relationships.

Evidence for Seed Transmission of Xylella fastidiosa in Pecan (Carya illinoinensis).

Pecan bacterial leaf scorch, caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex, is an economically significant disease of pecan with known detrimental effects on the yield of susceptible cultivars. In this study, endosperm was harvested from developing pecan seeds, and direct qPCR and sequencing were used to detect and confirm the presence of X. fastidiosa. DNA was isolated from mature seeds originating from seven trees, revealing a positivity rate up to 90%, and transmission of X. fastidiosa from infected seed to the germinated seedlings was found to be over 80%. Further epidemiological analyses were performed to determine where X. fastidiosa localizes in mature seed and seedlings. The highest concentrations of X. fastidiosa DNA were found in the hilum and outer integument of the seeds and the petioles, respectively. High-, medium-, and low-density seeds were harvested to determine the impact of the bacterium on seed density and seedling growth rate. The growth rate of seedlings originating from low-density seeds was significantly reduced compared to the medium- and high-density seeds. Despite the increased growth and germination rates, the high-density seed group had a greater proportion of samples that tested positive for the presence of X. fastidiosa by qPCR. The results demonstrate the ability of X. fastidiosa to colonize developing seeds and be efficiently transmitted from well-developed seeds to germinated seedlings. Continued research is needed to understand the plant-microbe interactions involved in the colonization of pecan seeds by X. fastidiosa and to develop effective phytosanitary approaches to reduce the risks posed by seed transmission.

Thermal treatment using microwave irradiation for the phytosanitation of Xylella fastidiosa in pecan graftwood.

Pecan bacterial leaf scorch caused by Xylella fastidiosa is an emerging disease for the U.S. and international pecan industries and can be transmitted from scion to rootstock via grafting. With the expanse of global transportation and trade networks, phytosanitation is critical for reducing the spread of economically significant pathogens, such as X. fastidiosa. We developed and evaluated thermal treatments using microwave irradiation and microwave absorbers [sterile deionized water (dH2O) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs)] as novel disinfectant methods for remediating X. fastidiosa in pecan scions. Partial submergence of scions in dH2O or CNT dispersions resulted in the transport of microwave absorbers in the xylem tissue via transpiration but did not compromise plant health. The microwave absorbers effectively transferred heat to the scion wood to reach an average temperature range of 55-65°C. Microwave radiation exposure for 6 sec (3 sec for two iterations) of CNT- or dH2O-treated scions reduced the frequency of X. fastidiosa-positive in pecan scions without negatively affecting plant viability when compared to the control group (dH2O-treated with no microwave). The efficacy of the new thermal treatments based on microwave irradiation was comparable to the conventional hot-water treatment (HWT) method, in which scions were submerged in 46°C water for 30 min. Microwave irradiation can be employed to treat X. fastidiosa-infected scions where the conventional HWT treatment is not feasible. This study is the first report to demonstrate novel thermal treatment methods based on the microwave irradiation and microwave absorbers of dH2O and CNT as an application for the phytosanitation of xylem-inhabiting bacteria in graftwood.

Association of hospital admission for bronchiectasis with air pollution: A province-wide time-series study in southern China.

The relation of acute fluctuations of air pollution to hospital admission for bronchiectasis remained uncertain, and large-scale studies were needed. We collected daily concentrations of particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and daily hospitalizations for bronchiectasis for 21 cities across Guangdong Province from 2013 through 2017. We examined their association using two-stage time-series analysis. Our analysis was stratified by specific sub-diagnosis, sex and age group to assess potential effect modifications. Relative risks of hospitalization for bronchiectasis were 1.060 (95%CI 1.014-1.108) for PM10 at lag0-6, 1.067 (95%CI 1.020-1.116) for PM2.5 at lag0-6, 1.038 (95%CI 1.005-1.073) for PMcoarse at lag0-6, 1.058 (95%CI 1.015-1.103) for SO2 at lag0-4, 1.057 (95%CI 1.030-1.084) for NO2 at lag0 and 1.055 (95%CI 1.025-1.085) for CO at lag0-6 per interquartile range increase of air pollution. Specifically, acute fluctuations of air pollution might be a risk factor for bronchiectasis patients with lower respiratory infection but not with hemoptysis. Patients aged ≥65 years, and female patients appeared to be particularly susceptible to air pollution. Acute fluctuations of air pollution, particularly PM may increase the risk of hospital admission for bronchiectasis exacerbations, especially for the patients complicated with lower respiratory infection. This study strengthens the importance of reducing adverse impact on respiratory health of air pollution to protect vulnerable populations.

Four chromosome scale genomes and a pan-genome annotation to accelerate pecan tree breeding.

Genome-enabled biotechnologies have the potential to accelerate breeding efforts in long-lived perennial crop species. Despite the transformative potential of molecular tools in pecan and other outcrossing tree species, highly heterozygous genomes, significant presence-absence gene content variation, and histories of interspecific hybridization have constrained breeding efforts. To overcome these challenges, here, we present diploid genome assemblies and annotations of four outbred pecan genotypes, including a PacBio HiFi chromosome-scale assembly of both haplotypes of the 'Pawnee' cultivar. Comparative analysis and pan-genome integration reveal substantial and likely adaptive interspecific genomic introgressions, including an over-retained haplotype introgressed from bitternut hickory into pecan breeding pedigrees. Further, by leveraging our pan-genome presence-absence and functional annotation database among genomes and within the two outbred haplotypes of the 'Lakota' genome, we identify candidate genes for pest and pathogen resistance. Combined, these analyses and resources highlight significant progress towards functional and quantitative genomics in highly diverse and outbred crops.