Rhizosphere microbiome regulation: Unlocking the potential for plant growth.

Rhizosphere microbial communities are essential for plant growth and health maintenance, but their recruitment and functions are affected by their interactions with host plants. Finding ways to use the interaction to achieve specific production purposes, so as to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, is an important research approach in the development of green agriculture. To demonstrate the importance of rhizosphere microbial communities and guide practical production applications, this review summarizes the outstanding performance of rhizosphere microbial communities in promoting plant growth and stress tolerance.

Curcumin targets CXCL16-mediated podocyte injury and lipid accumulation in diabetic kidney disease treatment.

Among the complications of diabetes, diabetic kidney disease (DKD) frequently emerges, typified by the detrimental effects on renal function, manifesting through inflammation, dysregulated lipid metabolism, and harm to podocytes. Existing research underscores the significance of the soluble form of C-X-C chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) within the context of renal impairments. However, whether CXCL16 is involved in the pathogenesis of DKD remains elusive.

N × N MMI performance improvement method by suppressing propagation constant errors.

We propose a method to improve the performance of N × N(N⩾3) multimode interference couplers (MMIs) by suppressing propagation constant errors through controlling excited guided modes and the width of MMI, without increasing their fabrication complexity. 5 × 5 MMIs were fabricated on a commercial 220-nm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform to verify the method. Measurement results show that insertion losses (ILs) and imbalances (Ims) are reduced from 2.

The performance of a new rapid interferon gamma release assay based on fluorescence immunochromatography for infection testing in village doctors in China.

The AIMTB rapid test assay is an emerging test, which adopted a fluorescence immunochromatographic assay to measure interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production following stimulation of effector memory T cells in whole blood by mycobacterial proteins. The aim of this article was to explore the ability of AIMTB rapid test assay in detecting (MTB) infection compared with the widely applied QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) test among rural doctors in China. In total, 511 participants were included in the survey.

Agreement between Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen-based skin test and interferon-gamma release assay in elderly individuals aged ≥65 years in China.

Objectives: To determine the agreement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) antigen-based skin test (TBST) with interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) in the elderly individuals aged ≥65 years beyond instruction for use in China.

Methods: Based on the baseline survey of a randomized controlled trial with the objective of exploring suitable regimens for tuberculosis(TB) preventive treatment, MTB infection was tested using TBST and IGRA in parallel in rural residents aged 50-70 years using a cross-sectional study design.

Results: A total of 21 219 participants with both TBST and IGRA results were included in this analysis.

Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Avulsion Fixation With a Knotless Suture Anchor: A Minimalistic Approach.

This technical note outlines a minimalist arthroscopic approach to anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture fixation using a bioabsorbable knotless suture anchor. This method represents a less invasive alternative to traditional techniques, catering specifically to fractures classified as Meyers and McKeever type II or III. The procedure is performed through standard anterolateral and anteromedial portals without the need for additional incisions or bone tunnel drilling, making it particularly suitable for children and adolescent patients with open physes.

Mefunidone alleviates silica-induced inflammation and fibrosis by inhibiting the TLR4-NF-κB/MAPK pathway and attenuating pyroptosis in murine macrophages.

Aims: Silicosis is the most common and severe type of pneumoconiosis, imposing a substantial disease burden and economic loss on patients and society. The pathogenesis and key targets of silicosis are not yet clear, and there are currently no effective treatments available. Therefore, we conducted research on mefunidone (MFD), a novel antifibrotic drug, to explore its efficacy and mechanism of action in murine silicosis.

Succinate promotes pulmonary fibrosis through GPR91 and predicts death in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is believed to be associated with a notable disruption of cellular energy metabolism. By detecting the changes of energy metabolites in the serum of patients with pulmonary fibrosis, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of energy metabolites in IPF, and further elucidated the mechanism of their involvement in pulmonary fibrosis. Through metabolomics research, it was discovered that the TCA cycle intermediates changed dramatically in IPF patients.

In Situ Integration of a Flame Retardant Quasisolid Gel Polymer Electrolyte with a Si-Based Anode for High-Energy Li-Ion Batteries.

Silicon (Si) stands out as a promising high-capacity anode material for high-energy Li-ion batteries. However, a drastic volume change of Si during cycling leads to the electrode structure collapse and interfacial stability degradation. Herein, a multifunctional quasisolid gel polymer electrolyte (QSGPE) is designed, which is synthesized through the in situ polymerization of methylene bis(acrylamide) with silica-nanoresin composed of nanosilica and a trifunctional cross-linker in cells, leading to the creation of a "breathing" three-dimensional elastic Li-ion conducting framework that seamlessly integrates an electrode, a binder, and an electrolyte.

Alfalfa Responses to Intensive Soil Compaction: Effects on Plant and Root Growth, Phytohormones and Internal Gene Expression.

The perennial legume alfalfa ( L.) is of high value in providing cheap and high-nutritive forages. Due to a lack of tillage during the production period, the soil in which alfalfa grows prunes to become compacted through highly mechanized agriculture.

Virome survey of the bat, Rhinolophus affinis, in Hainan Province, China.

Bats are important mammal reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. However, due to research limitations involving species, locations, pathogens, or sample types, the full diversity of viruses in bats remains to be discovered. We used next-generation sequencing technology to characterize the mammalian virome and analyze the phylogenetic evolution and diversity of mammalian viruses carried by bats from Haikou City and Tunchang County in Hainan Province, China.

Taraxasterol enhanced bladder cancer cells radiosensitivity via inhibiting the COX-2/PGE2/JAK2/STAT3/MMP pathway.

Purpose: Radiotherapy with bladder preservation is highly acceptable among patients bearing bladder cancer (BCa), but the occurrence of secondary tolerance (ARR) during treatment is one of the important reasons for the failure of clinical radiotherapy. COX-2 has been frequently reported to be highly expressed and associated with radio-resistance in various cancers. In this study, the feasibility of Taraxasterol (Tara) as a radiosensitizer was investigated, and the target effect of Tara on COX-2 and its underlying mechanism were explored.

Digitization method for a photonic analog-to-digital converter with phase-shifted optical quantization.

This Letter proposes a novel, to the best of our knowledge, matrix digitization method for a photonic analog-to-digital converter with phase-shifted optical quantization (PSOQ-ADC). This method overcomes the issues of excessive bit width of the output code and the generation of invalid codes encountered by the traditional direct digitization method. A PSOQ-ADC was fabricated on a lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) platform, and an experimental platform was built.

Cost-effectiveness of latent tuberculosis infection testing and treatment with 6-week regimen among key population in rural communities in China: a decision analysis study.

Purpose: Several model studies suggested the implementation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) testing and treatment could greatly reduce the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) and achieve the 2035 target of the "End TB" Strategy in China. The present study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of LTBI testing and TB preventive treatment among key population (≥ 50 years old) susceptible to TB at community level in China.

Methods: A Markov model was developed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of LTBI testing using interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) and subsequent treatment with 6-month daily isoniazid regimen (6H) (as a standard regimen for comparison) or 6-week twice-weekly rifapentine and isoniazid regimen (6-week HP) in a cohort of 10,000 adults with an average initial age of 50 years.

Harnessing cytokine-induced killer cells to accelerate diabetic wound healing: an approach to regulating post-traumatic inflammation.

Impaired immunohomeostasis in diabetic wounds prolongs inflammation and cytokine dysfunction, thus, delaying or preventing wound-surface healing. Extensive clinical studies have been conducted on cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells recently, as they can be easily proliferated using a straightforward, inexpensive protocol. Therefore, the function of CIK cells in regulating inflammatory environments has been drawing attention for clinical management.

CD8 T cell response in QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus testing was associated with tuberculosis recurrence: a 2-year prospective study.

Background: Recurrence posed an important challenge to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) control in China. The prospective study aimed to identify potential risk factors and to explore the value of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) in identifying at-risk individuals with treated prior PTB history.

Methods: All eligible individuals aged ≥18 years who had been diagnosed with PTB before 2016 in Zhongmu County, where with an average level of TB prevalence in China, were included and received baseline survey including chest radiography, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and QFT-Plus, then PTB recurrence was tracked through a 2-year follow-up.

Enhancement of carbon sink in the main marginal sea ice zone by cold season Arctic cyclones.

The Arctic Ocean, as a significant carbon sink, is attracting increased attention within the scientific community. This study focused on the main marginal sea ice zone, which has been the most sensitive to environmental changes in recent decades. Using data from reanalysis, models, and on-site observations, the changes in air-sea CO flux (FCO) were analyzed during the influence of Arctic cyclones (ACs) in 2021-2022.

ID2 Promotes Lineage Transition of Prostate Cancer through FGFR and JAK-STAT Signaling.

The use of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) has led to an increase in the proportion of AR-null prostate cancer, including neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) and double-negative prostate cancer (DNPC), but the mechanism underlying this lineage transition has not been elucidated. We found that ID2 expression was increased in AR-null prostate cancer. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that ID2 promotes PCa malignancy and can confer resistance to enzalutamide in PCa cells.

Impact of fine particulate matter on latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis in older adults: a population-based multicentre cohort study.

Evidence showed that air pollution was associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to study the impact of long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM) on the acquisition of LTBI and on the risk of subsequent active disease development among rural older adults from a multicentre cohort, which have not yet been investigated to date.

Pyroptosis-related signatures predict immune characteristics and prognosis in IPF.

The purpose of this work was to use integrated bioinformatics analysis to screen for pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) and possible immunological phenotypes linked to the development and course of IPF. Transcriptome sequencing datasets GSE70866, GSE47460 and GSE150910 were obtained from GEO database. From the GSE70866 database, 34 PRGs with differential expression were found in IPF as compared to healthy controls.

Regulation of telomerase towards tumor therapy.

Cancer is an aging-related disease, while aging plays an important role in the development process of tumor, thus the two are inextricably associated. Telomere attrition is one of the recognized hallmark events of senescence. Hence, targeting telomerase which could extends telomere sequences to treat tumors is widely favored.

Experimental demonstration of a dynamic range enhancement method for a phase-shifted PADC by using a modulo operation.

We propose what we believe to be a novel approach to enhance the dynamic range of a photonic analog-to-digital converter (PADC) without the need of additional custom-designed circuits or components. The method utilizes the unique characteristic of our previously reported multimode interference (MMI) coupler-based optical quantizer that exploits the periodicity of the optical phase to realize a modulo operation. Experiments were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method on our phase-shifted optical quantization ADC (PSOQ-ADC) chip.