High-density genetic map construction and QTL analysis of the first flower node in kenaf using RAD-seq.

Background: In kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) which is an important natural fiber crop, the first flower node is closely linked to fiber yield. However, the genetic mechanisms controlling the first flower node remain poorly understood.

Analysis of complication risk factors in preoperative computed tomography-guided hookwire location of pulmonary nodules.

Background: This study aimed to explore the efficacy of hookwire for computed tomography (CT)-guided pulmonary nodule (PN) localization before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) resection and determine the risk factors for localization-related complications.

Methods: We enrolled 193 patients who underwent preoperative CT-guided PN hookwire localization. The patients were categorized into groups A (103 patients had no complications) and B (90 patients had complications) according to CT and VATS.

Comparative Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis Provides New Insights Into the Mechanism of Protein Synthesis in Kenaf ( L.) Leaves.

Given the rising domestic demand and increasing global prices of corn and soybean, China is looking for alternatives for these imports to produce animal fodder. Kenaf ( L.) has great potential as a new forage source, due to abundant proteins, phenols and flavonoids in its leaves.

Erratum: Author Correction: Advancing COVID-19 diagnosis with privacy-preserving collaboration in artificial intelligence.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/s42256-021-00421-z.].

Advancing COVID-19 diagnosis with privacy-preserving collaboration in artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence provides a promising solution for streamlining COVID-19 diagnoses; however, concerns surrounding security and trustworthiness impede the collection of large-scale representative medical data, posing a considerable challenge for training a well-generalized model in clinical practices. To address this, we launch the Unified CT-COVID AI Diagnostic Initiative (UCADI), where the artificial intelligence (AI) model can be distributedly trained and independently executed at each host institution under a federated learning framework without data sharing. Here we show that our federated learning framework model considerably outperformed all of the local models (with a test sensitivity/specificity of 0.

Advancing COVID-19 Diagnosis with Privacy-Preserving Collaboration in Artificial Intelligence.

Artificial intelligence (AI) provides a promising substitution for streamlining COVID-19 diagnoses. However, concerns surrounding security and trustworthiness impede the collection of large-scale representative medical data, posing a considerable challenge for training a well-generalised model in clinical practices. To address this, we launch the Unified CT-COVID AI Diagnostic Initiative (UCADI), where the AI model can be distributedly trained and independently executed at each host institution under a federated learning framework (FL) without data sharing.

Polysaccharides, Total Phenolic, and Flavonoid Content from Different Kenaf ( L.) Genotypes and Their Antioxidants and Antibacterial Properties.

Kenaf ( L.) is a valuable plant with a potential health benefit because of its extensive bioactive compounds. Leaf extracts of 33 kenaf genotypes were investigated for their polysaccharide, total phenolic, and flavonoid content.

Genome-wide development of insertion-deletion (InDel) markers for Cannabis and its uses in genetic structure analysis of Chinese germplasm and sex-linked marker identification.

Background: Cannabis sativa L., a dioecious plant derived from China, demonstrates important medicinal properties and economic value worldwide. Cannabis properties have been usually harnessed depending on the sex of the plant.

Improved antibacterial activity of hemp fibre by covalent grafting of quaternary ammonium groups.

In this study, a novel antibacterial hemp fibre grafted with quaternary ammonium groups (HF-GTA), were prepared by alkalization, oxidation, amination and quaternization multistage reactions. The chemical structure and micromorphology of the fibre were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. The grafting and reaction mechanism proved to be successful, which indicated that the grafting reaction primarily occurred on the hydroxyl group of cellulose and hemicellulose in the hemp fibre, where it retained good fibrous morphology, thermal stability and hygroscopicity.

Genome-wide identification, expression, and sequence analysis of CONSTANS-like gene family in cannabis reveals a potential role in plant flowering time regulation.

Background: Cannabis, an important industrial crop, has a high sensitivity to photoperiods. The flowering time of cannabis is one of its important agronomic traits, and has a significant effect on its yield and quality. The CONSTANS-like (COL) gene plays a key role in the regulation of flowering in this plant.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Based on the Genome-Wide Development of Simple Sequence Repeat Markers.

has been used as a source of nutrition, medicine, and fiber. However, lack of genomic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers had limited the genetic research on species. In the present study, 92,409 motifs were identified, and 63,707 complementary SSR primer pairs were developed.

Preparation of polyacrylonitrile-based fibres with chelated Ag ions for antibacterial applications.

The need for an excellent antibacterial material that is sufficiently powerful to never develop bacterial resistance is urgent. In this study, a series of novel polyacrylonitrile-based fibres with chelated Ag ions (referred to as Ag-SH-PANF) were prepared by a two-step chemical modification process: grafting and chelating. The properties of the as-prepared Ag-SH-PANF were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Antidepressant-like effect of flaxseed in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress.

Introduction: Depression is a serious mental illness. However, a significant proportion of patients with depression fail to achieve remission with antidepressant therapies. This study was conducted to explore the antidepressant-like effect of flaxseed oil and flour in an animal model with depression-like behaviors induced by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS).

RNA-seq for comparative transcript profiling of kenaf under salinity stress.

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is an economically important global natural fiber crop. As a consequence of the increased demand for food crops and the reduction of available arable land, kenaf cultivation has increasingly shifted to saline and alkaline land.

Endoscopic Management of Early Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding After Minimally Invasive Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy is now accepted as a regular treatment modality for esophageal cancer. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common postoperative adverse event of esophagectomy. However, there are very few reports in the literature on endoscopic management of early upper GI bleeding after an esophagectomy.

Characterization of the Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) Global Transcriptome Using Illumina Paired-End Sequencing and Development of EST-SSR Markers.

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is an economically important natural fiber crop grown worldwide. However, only 20 expressed tag sequences (ESTs) for kenaf are available in public databases.

Effects of dietary supplementation of probiotic, Clostridium butyricum, on growth performance, immune response, intestinal barrier function, and digestive enzyme activity in broiler chickens challenged with Escherichia coli K88.

Background: Colibacillosis caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) results in economic losses in the poultry industry. Antibiotics are usually used to control colibacillosis, however, E.

Plasma and tissue free amino acid profiles and their concentration correlation in patients with lung cancer.

Variation of plasma free amino acids (PFAAs) is an essential feature of protein metabolic abnormalities in cancer patients. But there still little data about the cancer tissue free amino acid (TFAAs) profiles, including their patterns and correlations with PFAAs. To evaluate the variation in PFAAs and cancer TFAAs in patients with lung cancer, including their patterns and correlations, we investigated the concentrations of free amino acids in lung cancer tissues (n=27), paired lung paracarcinomous tissues (n=27) and plasma (n=27) using an automatic amino acid analyzer after pre-treatment.

Potential health risks of heavy metals in cultivated topsoil and grain, including correlations with human primary liver, lung and gastric cancer, in Anhui province, Eastern China.

Environmental exposure to heavy metals is a well-known risk factor for cancers. To evaluate potential health risks of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, As and Hg) and Se in cultivated topsoil and grains, we investigated the concentrations of Hg, As and Se using atomic fluorescence spectrometry and Cr, Cd and Pb using inductive coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-MS). We also analyzed human cancer tissues for heavy metals.

Pursestring stapled anastomotic technique for minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

We describe a pursestring stapled anastomotic technique for minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, in which a pursestring is hand sewn through the muscular layer of the intact esophagus by using one piece of 3-0 Prolene suture. The anvil of a circular stapler is inserted through an esophageal incision, 2 to 3 cm distal to the pursestring, and secured by the pursestring. The esophagus is transected, and the mucosa of the proximal stump is retained 5 mm longer than the adjacent muscular layer.

Response to weaning and dietary L-glutamine supplementation: metabolomic analysis in piglets by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A novel metabolomic method based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to determine the metabolites in the serum of piglets in response to weaning and dietary L-glutamine (Gln) supplementation. Thirty-six 21-d-old piglets were randomly assigned into three groups. One group continued to suckle from the sows (suckling group), whereas the other two groups were weaned and their diets were supplemented with 1% (w/w) Gln or isonitrogenous L-alanine, respectively, representing Gln group or control group.

XIAP is highly expressed in esophageal cancer and its downregulation by RNAi sensitizes esophageal carcinoma cell lines to chemotherapeutics.

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is the most potent member of the IAP gene family in terms of its ability to inhibit caspases and suppress apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the expression of XIAP in esophageal cancer tissues and cell lines, and found the elevated expression of XIAP in esophageal cancer tissues compared with normal tissues. Then we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) to block XIAP expression while evaluating the effect of XIAP siRNA on cell apoptosis, and the combined effects with Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, Fluorouracil and Etoposide in XIAP high expression ESCC cell line KYSE150 and EC9706.

Overexpression of Ets-like protein 1 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: To study the expression pattern of Ets-like protein 1 (Elk-1) in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to analyze its relationship with clinicopathologic parameters.

Methods: The expression of Elk-1 in fresh esophageal cancer tissues and their corresponding normal mucosae was detected immunohistochemically (IHC) by means of tissue microarray (TMA). Its correlation with clinical characteristics was evaluated and analyzed by univariate analysis.