A premature termination codon mutation in the onion gene is associated with both glossy leaves and thrip resistance.

Plant epicuticular waxes (EW) play a critical role in defending against biotic and abiotic stresses. Notably, onions () present a distinctive case where the mutant with defect in leaf and stalk EW showed resistance to thrips compared with the wild type with integral EW. We identified a premature stop codon mutation in the gene, an ortholog of gene in that has been proved essential for the biosynthesis of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), in the onions with glossy leaf and stalks in our experiments.

The diagnostic accuracy of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in assessing the genetic status of embryos: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is widely used in assisted reproduction to assess the genetic status of embryos. However, increasing evidence suggests that the trophectoderm (TE) may not fully reflect the genetic status of the inner cell mass (ICM), raising controversy about the accuracy of TE biopsy. Research in recent years has focused on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) found in blastocoel fluid (BF) and spent culture medium (SCM), as these may contain genetic information from both the TE and ICM.

Thalamic microstructural alterations in cerebral small vessel disease with mild cognitive impairment: insights from diffusion kurtosis imaging.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate thalamic microstructural alterations in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and to examine the associations between DKI parameters and cognitive performance.

Methods: The study included 80 CSVD patients and 40 healthy controls (HC). Based on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, CSVD patients were divided into MCI (n = 40) and non-MCI (n = 40) groups.

Network pharmacology to unveil the blood components and mechanisms of Tongmai Yangxin Pills in treating elderly coronary heart disease.

Background: Tongmai Yangxin Pills (TMYXP) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine compound to treat coronary heart disease (CHD). Aging is a key immutable independent risk factor for CHD. Currently, there are few gene expression profiles of patients treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or TCM compound.

Association between carotid artery hemodynamics and neurovascular coupling in cerebral small vessel disease: an exploratory study.

Background: Recent studies have linked disrupted cerebral hemodynamics, including pulsatility index (PI) and wall shear stress (WSS), with neuroimaging features of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Cerebral neurovascular coupling (NVC) dysfunction is an important pathophysiological mechanism of CSVD. However, evidence linking the features of carotid artery hemodynamics to cerebral NVC is still lacking.

Long-Term Effect of Intelligent Virtual Reality First-Aid Training on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skill Proficiency.

Objectives: To explore the long-term effect of intelligent first-aid training based on virtual reality (VR) technology on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skill proficiency.

Methods: The convenience sampling method was used to select a total of 100 non-medical volunteers from Nanchang, China, and this cohort was randomized to either the VR training group (VR group) or the traditional simulation scenario training group (traditional group). Relevant data were collected for comparative analysis.

Dysbiosis and extraintestinal cancers.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in safeguarding host health and driving the progression of intestinal diseases. Despite recent advances in the remarkable correlation between dysbiosis and extraintestinal cancers, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. Pathogenic microbiota, along with their metabolites, can undermine the integrity of the gut barrier through inflammatory or metabolic pathways, leading to increased permeability and the translocation of pathogens.

Single-cell RNA sequencing of neonatal cortical astrocytes reveals versatile cell clusters during astrocyte-neuron conversion.

Background: Astrocytes are extensively utilized as starting cells for neuronal conversion. Our previous study discovered that a portion of primary cultured mouse neonatal cortical astrocytes can be directly converted into neurons after exposure to a neurogenic induction condition. Recent in vivo studies have demonstrated astrocyte heterogeneity in terms of their developmental origin, molecular profile, physiology, and functional outputs.

Enhancing Cd and Pb tolerance of Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) by regulating antioxidant defense system, macroelement uptake and microstructure.

Woody plants have received considerable attention for the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. This study aimed to investigate the changes in antioxidant enzyme activity, macroelement uptake and microstructure of the woody plant Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) for the phytoremediation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) co-contaminated soil based on dynamic sampling. The results show that black locust demonstrates strong tolerance in Cd and Pb co-contaminated soil.

Roles of C/EBPβ/AEP in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that increased activation of aspartic endopeptidases (AEPs) is a common symptom in neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). AEP cleaves amyloid precursor protein (APP), tau (microtubule-associated protein tau), α- synuclein (α-syn), SET (a 39-KDa phosphoprotein widely expressed in various tissues and localizes predominantly in the nucleus), and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), and promotes their aggregation, contributing to Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) pathogenesis. Abundant evidence supports the notion that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (C/EBPβ)/AEP may play an important role in NDDs.

Assessing Glenoid Defects in Anterior Shoulder Instability: Comparison of a Simple Linear Formula Method With Traditional Methods Using 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography.

Background: Anterior glenoid bone defects significantly influence surgical outcomes in shoulder instability cases. Various measurement methods based on 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) have been developed. Recently, the simple linear formula method, which establishes a correlation between glenoid height and width, has emerged as a promising technique.

Neurological mechanism-based analysis of the role and characteristics of physical activity in the improvement of depressive symptoms.

Depression is a common mental disorder characterized by a high prevalence and significant adverse effects, making the searching for effective interventions an urgent priority. In recent years, physical activity (PA) has increasingly been recognized as a standard adjunctive treatment for mental disorders owing to its low cost, easy application, and high efficiency. Epidemiological data shows positive preventive and therapeutic effects of PA on mental illnesses such as depression.

Gut microbial communities and transcriptional profiles of black soldier fly (Hermitia illucens) larvae fed on fermented sericulture waste.

Sericulture waste poses significant challenges to industrial and environmental safety. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) offer a promising solution for organic waste management by converting it into insect protein. This study aimed to develop a microbial fermented method for utilizing sericulture waste to feed BSFL and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Impact of white matter hyperintensity location on outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients: a lesion-symptom mapping study.

Background: Studies on the impact of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on function outcome have primarily concentrated on WMH volume, overlooking the potential significance of WMH location. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between WMH location and outcome in patients with their first-ever acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: Patients who underwent their first AIS between September 2021 and September 2022 were recruited.

Molecular characteristics, clonal transmission, and risk factors of among hospitalized patients in a tertiary hospital in Ningbo, China.

Background: Nosocomial transmission of infection (CDI) has been documented in Ningbo, China. However, data on molecular characteristics, clonal transmission, and risk factors of CDI in this region remain limited.

Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled hospitalized patients with diarrhea during September to November 2021.

Single-cell data revealed the regulatory mechanism of TNK cell heterogeneity in liver metastasis from gastric cancer.

Aim: The present work set out to classify cell subpopulations related to liver metastasis from gastric cancer (GC) and the mechanisms of their interactions with other immune cell subpopulations.

Background: GC is characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity and liver metastasis. Exploring the mechanism of liver metastasis of GC from the perspective of heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) might help improve the efficacy of GC treatment.

Autonomous Robot Task Execution in Flexible Manufacturing: Integrating PDDL and Behavior Trees in ARIAC 2023.

The Agile Robotics for Industrial Automation Competition (ARIAC) was established to advance flexible manufacturing, aiming to increase the agility of robotic assembly systems in unstructured and dynamic industrial environments. ARIAC 2023 introduced eight agility challenges involving faulty parts, flipped parts, faulty grippers, robot malfunctions, sensor blackouts, high-priority orders, insufficient parts, and human safety. Given the unpredictability of these scenarios, it is impractical to develop a specific strategy for each possible situation.

Benefits of Virtual Reality Training for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skill Acquisition and Maintenance.

Objectives: To investigate the benefits of virtual reality (VR) first-aid training in acquiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills.

Methods: A total of 100 non-medical professional volunteers from Nanchang were selected in March 2021 using the convenience sampling method. They were randomly divided into two groups: the VR training group (VR group) and the traditional simulation scenario training group (traditional group).

The Association Between FLAIR Vascular Hyperintensities and Outcomes in Patients with Border Zone Infarcts Treated with Medical Therapy May Vary with the Infarct Subtype.

Rationale And Objectives: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vessel hyperintensities (FVHs) reflect the haemodynamic state and may aid in predicting the prognosis of border zone (BZ) infarct patients. This study was to explore the relationship between FVHs and functional outcomes for different BZ infarct subtypes following medical therapy administration.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke were retrospectively enrolled and classified into internal BZ (IBZ) infarct, cortical BZ (CBZ) infarct and mixed-type infarct patients.

Fresh bamboo juice regulates the diversity of intestinal microflora in mice by promoting the function of ILC2 cells to mediate intestinal protection.

Background And Aim: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a growing global health concern, with current treatments facing challenges like drug dependence and side effects. Fresh bamboo juice (FBJ), known for its antimicrobial and potential immune-modulating properties, has shown promise as a natural therapeutic agent. The present study aimed to explore the protective effects of FBJ against colitis and further analyze the changes of gut microbiota composition, metabolite profiles, and underlying immune mechanisms.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore the treatment potential and molecular mechanism of Si-Miao decoction against gouty arthritis.

Gouty arthritis (GA) is a common metabolic rheumatological disease. Si-Miao decoction has therapeutic effects on GA. In our study, we investigated the mechanism of Si-Miao decoction against GA using network pharmacology and molecular docking analytical methods.