Characterization and ecological risks of microplastics in urban road runoff.

Microplastics (MPs) deposited on urban roads are often flushed into water bodies via drainage systems without treatment, and MP concentrations in the initial road runoff may be particularly high. Yet, there is only a limited understanding of the characteristics, dynamics, and impacts of MPs in urban road runoff. In this study, stormwater and rainwater samples were collected from seven different locations in Hong Kong across 11 rainfall events between February 2021 and September 2022.

Effects of the combination of biochar and organic fertilizer on soil properties and agronomic attributes of soybean (Glycine max L.).

This research aimed to investigate the impacts of a combination of rice husk biochar and organic fertilizer on the physical and chemical properties of soil, the population of soil bacteria, the relative chlorophyll content of leaves, the development of soybean root nodules, and yield components under strongly acid soil conditions. A greenhouse and pot experiment was designed using a randomize complete block design with factorial 2 × 3 treatments and three replications. The experimental treatments comprised two rates of biochar (35 and 70 g/pot) and three rates of organic fertilizer (70, 105, and 140 g/pot).

Development of Rapid Detection Methods for f. sp. in Melon Seeds.

Melon ( L.) is a global commercial crop that is sensitive to seed-borne wilt infections caused by f. sp.

SIRT1-Mediated HMGB1 Deacetylation Suppresses Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Related to Blood-Brain Barrier Impairment After Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a neurovascular disease with recently increasing incidence. Aseptic inflammatory responses play an important role in the pathology of CVT. Recent studies report that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are major triggers of thrombosis and inflammation in stroke, but their effect on brain injury in CVT requires further validation.

Systemic immune inflammation index and peripheral blood carbon dioxide concentration at admission predict poor prognosis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Background: Recent studies have shown that systemic inflammation responses and hyperventilation are associated with poor outcomes in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the relationships between the systemic immune inflammation index (SII = platelet × neutrophil/lymphocyte) and peripheral blood CO concentration at admission with the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) at 6 months after discharge in patients with severe TBI.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data for 1266 patients with severe TBI at three large medical centers from January 2016 to December 2021, and recorded the GOS 6 months after discharge.

Brain functional activity of swallowing: A meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Swallowing is one of the most important activities in our life and serves the dual roles of nutritional intake and eating enjoyment.

Objective: The study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to investigate the brain activity of swallowing.

Methods: Studies of swallowing using functional magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed in PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP) and Wan Fang before 30 November 2021.

Rapid Detection of Using Insulated Isothermal PCR and a Rapid, Simple DNA Preparation Protocol.

We developed an insulated isothermal PCR (iiPCR) method for the efficient and rapid detection of (Fo), which is a fungus that infects various hosts and causes severe crop losses. The Fo iiPCR method was sensitive enough to detect up to 100 copies of standard DNA template and 10 fg of Fo genomic DNA. In addition, it could directly detect 1 pg of mycelium and 10 spores of Fo without DNA extraction.

Identification of Cyprodinil + Fludioxonil to Manage Soybean Red Crown Rot Using the Microplate-Based High-Throughput Screening and Pot Assay.

Red crown rot (RCR), caused by the soilborne fungus , is an emerging soybean disease in Taiwan, and fungicide screening is desired to identify effective management for . This study screened 11 fungicides, including azoxystrobin, boscalid, cyprodinil, cyprodinil + fludioxonil, difenoconazole, fluopyram, flutolanil, mancozeb, prochloraz, pyraclostrobin, and tebuconazole, for their inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth of 10 field isolates. Subsequently, a microplate-based high-throughput screening (MHTS) method was established to measure the fungicide sensitivity in a population composed of 80 isolates to three effective fungicides, cyprodinil + fludioxonil, fluopyram, and tebuconazole.

Metabolic Characteristics and M2 Macrophage Infiltrates in Invasive Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic differences between invasive and non-invasive nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs), determine the expression of an M2 macrophage marker in NFPAs, and analyze the effects of metabolic changes in invasive NFPAs on M2 macrophage infiltrates.

Methods: Tissue samples of NFPAs from patients who underwent transsphenoidal or craniotomy surgery from January 2021 to August 2021 were collected. NFPA tissues were analyzed based on a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry non-targeted metabolomics platform, and immunohistochemical staining for M2 macrophage marker CD206 was performed.

Novel Nomograms to Predict Delayed Hyponatremia After Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Adenoma.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a nomogram of clinical variables and magnetic resonance imaging scans to predict delayed hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma.

Methods: Patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma in Fuzong Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University between January 2012 and December 2020 were retrospectively investigated. Medical records, MRI findings, and laboratory examination results were recorded as candidate variable predictors of delayed hyponatremia.

First report of leaf brown blight caused by Neopestalotiopsis formicarum on jabuticaba in Taiwan.

Jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel) was originated from Brazil (Lorenzi 2000). The production of jabuticaba is growing globally as its value in the food and pharmaceutical industries (Benvenutti 2021).

Superoxide Initiates the Hyphal Differentiation to Microsclerotia Formation of .

The infection of often results in a grayish appearance with numerous survival structures, microsclerotia, on the plant surface. Past works have studied the development of fungal survival structures, sclerotia and microsclerotia, in the Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes. However, M.

Establishment of a Rat Model of Superior Sagittal-Sinus Occlusion via a Thread-Embolism Method.

The mechanisms contributing to the natural onset of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) are mostly unknown, and a variety of uncontrollable factors are involved in the course of the disease, resulting in great limitations in clinical research. Therefore, the establishment of stable CVST animal models that can standardize a variety of uncontrollable confounding factors have helped to circumvent shortcomings in clinical research. In recent decades, a variety of CVST animal models have been constructed, but the results based on these models have been inconsistent and incomplete.

Outcomes of Preinjury Use of Statins in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: No completely effective pharmacotherapies have been developed to improve the outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Given the reporting of cohort studies suggesting that preinjury statin use may reduce TBI-associated mortality, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of statin use in patients with TBI.

Methods: This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Whole-Genome Sequence Resource of , the Casual Pathogen of Soybean Red Crown Rot.

(anamorph: ) is a soilborne plant-pathogenic fungus with a broad host range, and it can cause red crown rot of soybean and Cylindrocladium black rot of peanut, which has become an emerging threat to crop production worldwide. Limited molecular studies have focused on and one of the possible difficulties is the lack of genomic resources. This study presents the first high quality and near-completed genome of , using the Oxford Nanopore GridION sequencing platform.

Molecular Detection Assays for Rapid Field-Detection of Rice Sheath Blight.

(Rs), a soil-borne fungal pathogen, can result in rice sheath blight (ShB), which causes yield loss. To prevent outbreaks of ShB and enhance the sustainability of rice production, it is critical to develop a rapid ShB detection method for specific, fast, and on-site disease management. In this study, a reagent for the rapid extraction of this pathogen was developed for on-site detection.

Degenerated Virulence and Irregular Development of f. sp. Induced by Successive Subculture.

Successive cultivation of fungi on artificial media has been reported to cause the sectorization, which leads to degeneration of developmental phenotype, and virulence. f. sp.

First report of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum fructicola on tea in Taiwan.

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) is a very popular beverage and cash crop that is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas.

Construction of Raman spectroscopic fingerprints for the detection of Fusarium wilt of banana in Taiwan.

Banana (Musa sp.) is cultivated worldwide and is one of the most popular fruits. The soil-borne fungal disease Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB), commonly known as Panama disease, is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.

Silver Nanoparticles on Nanoscale Silica Platelets (AgNP/NSP) and Nanoscale Silica Platelets (NSP) Inhibit the Development of f. sp. .

Nanotechnology has attracted much attention recently because of its agricultural applications. In this study, we analyzed the ability of two potential nanomaterials (NMs), nanoscale silica platelets (NSP) and silver nanoparticles on nanoscale silica platelets (AgNP/NSP), to control Fusarium wilt [caused by f. sp.

Development of a TaqMan Probe-Based Insulated Isothermal Polymerase Chain Reaction (iiPCR) Assay for Detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Race 4.

This study developed a novel and inexpensive detection method based on a TaqMan probe-based insulated isothermal polymerase chain reaction (iiPCR) method for the rapid detection of Panama disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) race 4, which is currently among the most serious fungal vascular diseases worldwide.

Modified primers for the identification of nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum isolates that have biological control potential against Fusarium wilt of cucumber in Taiwan.

Previous investigations demonstrated that Fusarium oxysporum (Fo), which is not pathogenic to cucumbers, could serve as a biological control agent for managing Fusarium wilt of cucumber caused by Fo f. sp. cucumerinum (Foc) in Taiwan.