MiR8523 negatively regulates the immunity of Plutella xylostella against entomopathogenic fungus Isaria cicadae by targeting PxSpz5.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella is a notorious pest and has developed serious resistance to insecticides. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have been developed as eco-friendly alternatives to insecticides. Insects rely on their immunity to defend against fungi.

Engineering broad-spectrum resistance to rice bacterial blight by editing the OsETR susceptible haplotype using CRISPR/Cas9.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the susceptible haplotype of OsETR, encoding an embryogenesis transmembrane protein, confers broad-spectrum resistance to bacterial leaf blight in a susceptible rice cultivar without yield penalty.

Deep learning-enhanced R-loop prediction provides mechanistic implications for repeat expansion diseases.

R-loops play diverse functional roles, but controversial genomic localization of R-loops have emerged from experimental approaches, posing significant challenges for R-loop research. The development and application of an accurate computational tool for studying human R-loops remains an unmet need. Here, we introduce DeepER, a deep learning-enhanced R-loop prediction tool.

The efficacy of orthokeratology lenses with smaller back optic zone diameter in myopia control. A meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine whether orthokeratology (OK) lenses with a smaller back optic zone diameter (BOZD) could exhibit stronger myopia control effects.

Method: A meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023408184). A comprehensive systematic database search was conducted, encompassing PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Ovid, CNKI and CBM, to identify relevant studies up to 25 March 2023.

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Prescription Determination for Orthokeratology Lens Fitting: From Algorithm to Clinical Practice.

Objectives: To explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist prescription determination for orthokeratology (OK) lenses.

Methods: Artificial intelligence algorithm development followed by a real-world trial. A total of 11,502 OK lenses fitting records collected from seven clinical environments covering major brands.

Pedigree genome data of an early-matured Geng/japonica glutinous rice mega variety Longgeng 57.

By using PacBio HiFi technology, we produced over 700 Gb of long-read sequencing (LRS) raw data; and by using Illumina paired-end whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing technology, we generated more than 70 Gb of short-read sequencing (SRS) data. With LRS data, we assembled one genome and then generate a set of annotation data for an early-matured Geng/japonica glutinous rice mega variety genome, Longgeng 57 (LG57), which carries multiple elite traits including good grain quality and wide adaptability. Together with the SRS data from three parents of LG57, pedigree genome variations were called for three representative types of genes.

The efficacy of a device-based approach to microorganism disinfection and protein removal for orthokeratology lenses in varied clinical circumstances.

Purpose: RigidCare is an electrolysis-based device that recently obtained approval from the US's FDA to sterilise microorganisms and remove proteins for orthokeratology (O-K) lenses. The study was conducted to investigate the device's performance in varied clinical circumstances.

Methods: Trial lenses and private lenses were employed by O-K lens wearers from five hospitals for an evaluation of disinfection and sterilisation and an assessment of protein removal, respectively.

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Resistance Loci for Bacterial Blight in a Collection of Asian Temperate Rice Germplasm.

Growing resistant rice cultivars is the most effective strategy to control bacterial blight (BB), a devastating disease caused by pv. (). Screening resistant germplasm and identifying resistance () genes are prerequisites for breeding resistant rice cultivars.

Biobased Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Acetylated Corn Straw.

Corn straw/epoxy resin composites (CS/ECs) and maleic anhydride acetylated CS/ECs (MA-CS/ECs) were prepared through dry mixing and high-temperature curing. Corn straw is a kind of abundant, eco-friendly, and low-cost biomass material. Unmodified and modified corn straws were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Ion-Electron Coupling Enables Ionic Thermoelectric Material with New Operation Mode and High Energy Density.

Ionic thermoelectrics (i-TE) possesses great potential in powering distributed electronics because it can generate thermopower up to tens of millivolts per Kelvin. However, as ions cannot enter external circuit, the utilization of i-TE is currently based on capacitive charge/discharge, which results in discontinuous working mode and low energy density. Here, we introduce an ion-electron thermoelectric synergistic (IETS) effect by utilizing an ion-electron conductor.

Preparation and Curing Mechanism of Modified Corn Straw by 3-Glycidyl Ether Oxypropyl Trimethoxysilane/Epoxy Resin Composites.

A modified corn straw (CS)/epoxy resin (EP) composite was prepared using bisphenol A EP (i.e., E-51) as matrix, 2-methylimidazole as curing agent, and CS modified by 3-glycidyl ether oxypropyl trimethoxysilane (KHCS) as filler.

Self-extracted corn-stalk cellulose/epoxy resin composites.

In order to make full use of crop waste stalk, corn-stalk cellulose (CSC) was extracted by acid-base method and used as modifier of epoxy resin (E51) to prepare the self-extracted corn-stalk cellulose/epoxy resin composites (CSCEC). Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), morphology analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM), the mechanical properties by electronic universal testing machine and impact testing machine were used for characterization and analysis. The experimental results showed that when the CSC content was 20 wt%, the impact strength of the composite was 2.

Multi-Ionic Hydrogel with Outstanding Heat-to-Electrical Performance for Low-Grade Heat Harvesting.

Ionic thermoelectric (i-TE) materials have attracted much attention due to their ability to generate ionic Seebeck coefficient of tens of millivolts per Kelvin. In this work, we demonstrate that the ionic thermopower can be enhanced by the introduction of multiple ions. The multi-ionic hydrogel possesses a record thermal-to-electrical energy conversion factor (TtoE factor) of 89.

Role of Ions in Hydrogels with an Ionic Seebeck Coefficient of 52.9 mV K.

Ionic thermoelectric (i-TE) material with mobile ions as charge carriers has the potential to generate large thermal voltages at low operating temperatures. This study highlights the role of ions in i-TE hydrogels employing a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymer matrix and a number of ion providers, e.g.

Extraction cellulose from corn-stalk taking advantage of pretreatment technology with immobilized enzyme.

In this paper, the corn-stalk cellulose (CSC) was extracted from the corn-stalk pretreated by the immobilized enzyme which was prepared using xylanase and laccase. The immobilization rate was strongly affected by such conditions as the carrier concentration and the carbodiimide (EDC) concentration. The structure of CSC was characterized by Fourier infrared (FTIR).

Patient-centred care and patient autonomy: doctors' views in Chinese hospitals.

Background: Patient-centred care and patient autonomy is one of the key factors to better quality of service provision, hence patient outcomes. It enables the development of patients' trusts which is an important element to a better doctor-patient relationship. Given the increasing number of patient disputes and conflicts between patients and doctors in Chinese public hospital, it is timely to ensure patient-centred care is fully and successfully implemented.

High-Efficiency Non-Fullerene Acceptors Developed by Machine Learning and Quantum Chemistry.

Y6 and its derivatives have greatly improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Further developing high-performance Y6 derivative acceptor materials through the relationship between the chemical structures and properties of these materials will help accelerate the development of OPV. Here, machine learning and quantum chemistry are used to understand the structure-property relationships and develop new OPV acceptor materials.

R-loopBase: a knowledgebase for genome-wide R-loop formation and regulation.

R-loops play versatile roles in many physiological and pathological processes, and are of great interest to scientists in multiple fields. However, controversy about their genomic localization and incomplete understanding of their regulatory network raise great challenges for R-loop research. Here, we present R-loopBase (https://rloopbase.

Reciprocal adaptation of rice and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae: cross-species 2D GWAS reveals the underlying genetics.

A 1D/2D genome-wide association study strategy was adopted to investigate the genetic systems underlying the reciprocal adaptation of rice (Oryza sativa) and its bacterial pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) using the whole-genome sequencing and large-scale phenotyping data of 701 rice accessions and 23 diverse Xoo strains. Forty-seven Xoo virulence-related genes and 318 rice quantitative resistance genes (QR-genes) mainly located in 41 genomic regions, and genome-wide interactions between the detected virulence-related genes and QR genes were identified, including well-known resistance genes/virulence genes plus many previously uncharacterized ones.

Diclofenac impairs the proliferation and glucose metabolism of triple-negative breast cancer cells by targeting the c-Myc pathway.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells obtain energy mainly through aerobic glycolysis, and their glycolytic rate is significantly higher compared with that of non-TNBC cells. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) is a transmembrane transporter necessary for the entry of glucose into tumor cells, hexokinase (HK) is a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, and both are targets of the transcription factor c-Myc. c-Myc can promote aerobic glycolysis by upregulating GLUT1 expression and enhancing HK activity.

Genome-Wide Association Study Dissects Resistance Loci against Bacterial Blight in a Diverse Rice Panel from the 3000 Rice Genomes Project.

Background: Bacterial blight (BB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the most devastating bacterial diseases of rice in temperate and tropical regions. Breeding and deployment of resistant cultivars carrying major resistance (R) genes has been the most effective approach for BB management.

Changes in gut microbiota composition and diversity associated with post-cholecystectomy diarrhea.

Background: Post-cholecystectomy diarrhea (PCD) frequently occurs in patients following gallbladder removal. PCD is part of the post-cholecystectomy (PC) syndrome, and is difficult to treat. After cholecystectomy, bile enters the duodenum directly, independent of the timing of meals.

Comparative proteomic analysis reveals novel insights into the interaction between rice and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

Background: Bacterial blight, which is caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is a devastating rice disease worldwide. Rice introgression line H471, derived from the recurrent parent Huang-Hua-Zhan (HHZ) and the donor parent PSBRC28, exhibits broad-spectrum resistance to Xoo, including to the highly virulent Xoo strain PXO99, whereas its parents are susceptible to PXO99.

Doctors in Chinese public hospitals: demonstration of their professional identities.

Background: An increase in the number of medical disputes and violence against doctors indicates a lack of trust in the medical profession by society in Chinese public hospitals. Empirical evidence confirms that one cause is the lack of professional identity demonstrated by doctors. Medical professionals are required to maintain high standards of competence and moral responsibility, and demonstrate qualities such as respect, compassion, integrity, responsiveness to needs, and commitment to sound ethical practice in order to maintain professional privilege.

Studies on the Oxidation Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of Two Nb-Modified HR3C Austenitic Steels under Pure Water Vapor at 650 °C.

The steam oxidation behavior of three heterogeneous HR3C alloys was investigated at 650 °C comparatively. After a long-term oxidation process for 1000 h, the results demonstrated that the commercial HR3C alloy already exhibited a high oxidation resistance. However, the spallation resistance of the oxide scale was low during the initial oxidation period.