Natural variation in ZmNRT2.5 modulates husk leaf width and promotes seed protein content in maize.

The husk leaf of maize (Zea mays) encases the ear as a modified leaf and plays pivotal roles in protecting the ear from pathogen infection, translocating nutrition for grains and warranting grain yield. However, the natural genetic basis for variation in husk leaf width remains largely unexplored. Here, we performed a genome-wide association study for maize husk leaf width and identified a 3-bp InDel (insertion/deletion) in the coding region of the nitrate transporter gene ZmNRT2.

Association of calf circumference with osteoporosis and hip fracture in middle-aged and older adults: a secondary analysis.

Background: Osteosarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome associated with an increased risk of frailty, falls, fractures, disability, and death. Calf circumference (CC) has been used as a simple and practical skeletal muscle marker to diagnose sarcopenia. This study aimed to explore the relationship of calf circumference and osteoporosis (OP) and hip fractures (HF) in middle-aged and older adults.

The host gene regulates HBV replication via HBV PRE-induced nuclear export.

The persistent global burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has prompted ongoing investigations into host determinants of viral control. In this study, we investigate the regulatory influence of the host gene cleavage stimulation factor subunit 2 (CSTF2) on HBV replication dynamics. We demonstrate differential CSTF2 expression across the spectrum of HBV infection phases, with upregulated expression noted during the immune-reactive and inactive carrier states compared with the immune-tolerant phase.

An efficient real-time signal processing method for satellite laser ranging.

In recent years, various real-time processing methods have been developed for Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) data. However, the recognition rate of the single-stage Graz filtering algorithm for high-orbit satellites is less than 1%, and traditional two-stage filtering algorithms, such as polynomial fitting and iterative filtering techniques, exhibit high false and missed detection rates. These issues compromise the accuracy of laser positioning and real-time adjustments during observations.

Association of blood cadmium and physical activity with mortality: A prospective cohort study.

Physical activity (PA) may be considered an alternative method to ameliorate the elevated mortality risks associated with cadmium exposure. In this prospective cohort study, a total of 20,253 participants (weighted mean age, 47.79 years), including 10,247 men (weighted prevalence: 50.

Nutritional supplementation during tuberculosis treatment to improve clinical symptoms: a double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized trial.

Undernutrition coexists with tuberculosis and is associated with adverse treatment outcomes. Nutrition packages have been incorporated into tuberculosis patient care in some regions but there are little data on its effectiveness. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a nutrition package on the treatment response and nutritional status of tuberculosis patients.

Improved Function After Anterior Controllable Antedisplacement and Fusion for Cervical Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) is an emerging surgical approach for treating cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (C-OPLL), yet there is limited data on its long-term efficacy and safety. The present study aimed to analyze the short- and long-term postoperative clinical and radiological outcomes and perioperative complications of ACAF for patients with C-OPLL.

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study, with the mean duration of follow-up of at least 24 months.

Comprehensive design of all-optical logic devices utilizing polarization holography.

Polarization holography has emerged as a promising method for manipulating the amplitude, phase, and polarization states of light waves. This study proposes what we believe to be a novel design method for various all-optical logic devices, including a complete set of all-optical Boolean logic gates and a polarization-controlled 1 × 4 optical switch, utilizing polarization holography. Through the angle multiplexing technique, specially designed polarization holograms are recorded in polarization-sensitive material, transforming it into all-optical Boolean logic gates and a polarization-controlled 1 × 4 optical switch.

A series of blue phosphorescent iridium complexes with thermally activated delayed fluorescence and efficiency roll-off properties.

Six iridium complexes were designed and studied using the DFT approach, (ppy)Ir(pic) (1), (fppy)Ir(pic) (2), (ppy)Ir(tmd) (3), (fppy)Ir(tmd) (4), (ppy)Ir(tpip) (5) and (fppy)Ir(tpip) (6). Here ppy denotes phenylpyridine, fppy denotes 2-(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl) pyridine, pic denotes benzoic acid, tmd denotes 5-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylhept-4-en-3-one and tpip denotes tetraphenylimido-diphosphinate. The geometries, absorptions, emissions, frontier molecular orbitals, and spin-orbit coupling (SOC) constants of the 6 complexes were evaluated.

The anti-tumor efficacy of a recombinant oncolytic herpes simplex virus mediated CRISPR/Cas9 delivery targeting in HPV16-positive cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer, often driven by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections such as HPV16 or HPV18, remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. HPV16, found in about 90% of cervical cancer patients, harbors key oncogenic related genes (E6, E7, E2, E5) and an upstream regulatory region (URR) that contribute to cancer progression. This study introduces a novel approach using a recombinant oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) named SONC103, armed with a CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system.

Effects of vegetarian diets on blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

High blood lipids, blood glucose, or blood pressure ("3Bs") are established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects of vegetarian diets on these parameters were inconsistent in previous meta-analyses. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with comprehensive subgroup analyses, quality assessment, and sensitivity analyses to confirm the effects of vegetarian diets on 3Bs.

An unpaired SAR-to-optical image translation method based on Schrödinger bridge network and multi-scale feature fusion.

SAR-to-optical (S2O) translation is able to covert SAR into optical images, which help the interpreter to extract information efficiently. In the absence of strictly matched datasets, it is difficult for existing methods to complete training on unpaired data with a minimum amount of data. By employing the recent Schrödinger bridge-based transformation framework, a multiscale axial residual module (MARM) based on the concept of multi-scale feature fusion has been proposed in this paper.

ZmKTF1 promotes salt tolerance by mediating RNA-directed DNA methylation in maize.

The epigenetic process of RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) regulates the expression of genes and transposons. However, little is known about the involvement of RdDM in the response of maize (Zea mays) to salt stress. Here, we isolated a salt-sensitive maize mutant and cloned the underlying gene, which encodes KOW DOMAIN-CONTAINING TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR1 (KTF1), an essential component of the RdDM pathway.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Adsorption of Bromocresol Green from Aqueous Solution Using Cucumber Straw Biochar.

Biochar prepared from crop straw is an economical method for adsorbing bromocresol green (BCG) from textile industrial wastewater. However, there is limited research on the adsorption mechanism of biochar for the removal of BCG. This study utilized cucumber straw as raw material to prepare biochar with good adsorption potential and characterized its physicochemical properties.

Study on the mechanism of echinacoside in preventing and treating hypoxic pulmonary hypertension based on proteomic analyses.

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH), a chronic condition affecting the cardiopulmonary system, has high mortality. Echinacoside (ECH) is a phenylethanoid glycoside, which is used to ameliorate pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary vasoconstriction in rats. Accordingly, we aimed to explore the mechanism of ECH in preventing and treating HPH.

Corrigendum: Regional disparities in the prevalence and correlated factors of myopia in children and adolescents in Gansu, China.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.