Search Results (125)

Leaf morphology influences photosynthesis, transpiration, and, ultimately, crop yield. To elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying narrow leaves in Sorghum bicolor, we identified key DEGs (differentially expressed genes) influencing leaf morphology. The nal6 (the narrow-leaf mutant6) was obtained through 0.1% EMS (ethyl methane sulfonate) chemical mutagenesis of the WT (BTX623). Compared with the WT leaves, there were significant differences in leaf width and length at the flowering stage. A total of 1520 DEGs between the nal6 and WT were screened at the flowering stage based on the transcriptome analysis of sword leaves. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses revealed that DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways such as plant signal transduction, cytokinin biosynthesis, photosynthetic antenna proteins, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Further analysis indicated that four DEGs are involved in regulating auxin signaling transduction, thirteen DEGs are involved in regulating zeatin signal transduction, and two DEGs are involved in regulating zeatin biosynthesis. These genes are differentially expressed in nal6, directly affecting the signaling of auxin and zeatin and the biosynthesis of zeatin. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the molecular regulation of narrow leaves and breeding ideal plant types in Sorghum bicolor. Full article

Wheat bran (WB) is rich in bioactive compounds, but its incorporation into food products often negatively affects dough properties. The soluble components in WB, including polysaccharides, minerals, and proteins, exhibit significant variations across different bran layers and may dissolve and interact with flour components during food processing, affecting dough properties. This study aims to investigate the influence of aqueous extracts from different WB layers (aleurone layer, AL; non-aleurone layer, NAL) and their components on the functional properties of wheat starch and gluten. The results indicate that the AL-rich fraction yielded a higher extract content (30.6%) compared to the NAL-rich fraction (15.1%), attributable to the higher cellular content in the AL. Both the extracts and residues from AL and NAL significantly lowered the denaturation temperature of wheat gluten. The aqueous extracts reduced the storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli of wheat gluten, primarily attributed to the effect of polysaccharide components, whereas the protein and ash fractions elevated the G′ and G″ at suitable dosages. The extracts elevated the gelatinization temperature of starch, but reduced enthalpy (ΔH). Moreover, the pasting viscosity of starch with WB extract decreased due to the combined effects of protein and ash fractions. These findings provide insights into the roles of water extracts from different WB layers and their components in modulating wheat-based product quality. This study also offers a theoretical basis for optimizing WB utilization in foods, thus providing a theoretical foundation for promoting whole-wheat foods or foods containing WB. Full article

Background: This study examined the relationship between hearing device price and sound quality. Method: A novel consumer-centric metric of sound quality (“SoundScore”) was used to assess hearing devices’ audio performance. Each hearing device is tested with two fittings. The “Initial Fit” is designed to approximate the most likely fitting for an individual with a mild-to-moderate sloping sensorineural hearing loss. The “Tuned Fit” includes adjusting parameters optimized to hit prescriptive fitting targets (NAL NL2) on an acoustic manikin. Each fitting is evaluated across five dimensions. Both fittings are combined using a weighted average to create a single number from 0 to 5 representative of a device’s overall audio performance. Seventy-one hearing devices were tested. Results: A strong positive correlation was found between hearing device price and SoundScore. The average SoundScore increased dramatically as the price approached USD 1000, with marginal improvements beyond this point. SoundScore was consistently poor for devices under USD 500, highly variable between USD 500–1000, and consistently good over USD 1000. Conclusions: There is a strong but nonlinear relationship between hearing device price and sound quality. This information can aid consumers in making informed decisions while also assisting hearing healthcare professionals in providing comprehensive guidance to their patients. Full article

Crude oil and its derivates are among the most important environmental pollutants, where P. aeruginosa strains producing AlkB1 and AlkB2 alkane hydroxylases are often involved in their biodegradation. The aim of this study was to analyze antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants of a P. aeruginosa isolate cultured from a hydrocarbon-contaminated soil sample from Ogoniland, Nigeria, and to compare its characteristics with P. aeruginosa isolates cultured worldwide from hydrocarbon-contaminated environments or from clinical samples. Using the ResFinder reference database, a catB7 chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene, an ampC-type PDC β-lactamase gene, and an OXA-50 type β-lactamase gene were identified in all P. aeruginosa strains analyzed in this study. In some of these P. aeruginosa strains, loss-of-function mutations were detected in the regulatory genes mexR, nalC, or nalD, predicting an efflux-mediated acquired antibiotic-resistance mechanism. Several P. aeruginosa sequence types that were associated with oil-contaminated environments have also been cultured from human clinical samples worldwide, including sequence types ST532, ST267, ST244, and ST1503. Our findings also indicate that environmental P. aeruginosa may serve as the source of human infections, warranting further studies from a One Health perspective about the application of P. aeruginosa for the in situ bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. Full article

Apelin serves as the endogenous ligand for the APJ receptor and enhances cardiac contractility without significantly affecting potassium currents. However, its short in vivo half-life limits clinical application, prompting the development of metabolically stable APJ receptor agonists. This study employed the patch-clamp technique to investigate the effects of the C-terminally modified apelin-13-2Nal derivative (2Nal) on action potential dynamics, rapid sodium (I_Na), and transient potassium (I_TO) currents in rat cardiomyocytes. We discovered that 2Nal prolongs ventricular action potential duration by selectively blocking I_To. Dose-response analysis indicated that 2Nal acts as a partial antagonist of I_TO, achieving a maximum blockade of 47%, with an apparent EC50 of 0.3 nM, while not affecting I_Na. Our lab previously found that an imbalance between I_To and I_Na currents contributes to the development of cardiac arrhythmias in conditions like Brugada syndrome. Currently, few therapeutic options exist to safely address this imbalance, as sodium channel openers cannot restore it, and most I_To blockers are cardiotoxic. The selective blockade of I_To by 2Nal that we describe here helps restore the balance of electrical currents between I_To and I_Na. Our study presents a novel, safe partial antagonist of I_To that may help prevent arrhythmias associated with Brugada syndrome. Full article

The study of the genetic diversity and adaptation mechanisms of the Kazakh apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is essential for breeding programs and the conservation of plant genetic resources in arid environments. Despite this species’ ecological and agricultural significance, its chloroplast genome remains poorly studied due to its complex repetitive structure and secondary metabolites that hinder high-molecular-weight DNA (HMW-DNA) extraction and long-read sequencing. To address this gap, our study aims to develop and optimise sequencing protocols for P. armeniaca under arid conditions using Oxford Nanopore’s MinION technology. We successfully extracted HMW-DNA with 50–100 ng/μL concentrations and purity (A260/A280) between 1.8 and 2.0, ensuring high sequencing quality. A total of 10 GB of sequencing data was generated, comprising 155,046 reads, of which 74,733 (48.2%) had a Q-score ≥ 8. The average read length was 1679 bp, with a maximum of 31,144 bp. Chloroplast genome assembly resulted in 33,000 contigs with a total length of 1.1 Gb and a BUSCO completeness score of 97.3%. Functional annotation revealed key genes (nalC, AcrE, and mecC-type BlaZ) associated with stress tolerance and a substantial proportion (≈40%) of hypothetical proteins requiring further investigation. GC content analysis (40.25%) and GC skew data suggest the presence of specific regulatory elements linked to environmental adaptation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using third-generation sequencing technologies to analyse complex plant genomes and highlights the genetic resilience of P. armeniaca to extreme conditions. The findings provide a foundation for breeding programs to improve drought tolerance and conservation strategies to protect Kazakhstan’s unique arid ecosystems. Full article

Two new Cu(II) (CP1) and Co(II) (CP2) coordination polymers (CPs) with the triazole ligand 5-methyl-1-(pyridin-4-yl-methyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylate (L1) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by SCXRD (Single Crystal X-Ray Difraccion), PXRD (Power X-Ray Difracction), FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared), TG (Theermo Gravimetric), and electrochemical techniques. Both CPs were obtained at the water/n-butanol interface by reacting nitrate salts of each metal with the NaL1 ligand. SCXRD analysis revealed that CP1 (Coordination Polymer 1) and CP2 (Coordination Polymer 2) crystallize in the monoclinic space groups C2/c (No. 15) and P2₁/n (No. 14), respectively, forming 1D zigzag chain structures, which further lead to a 2D supramolecular network through O-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bond interactions, respectively. In CP1, the supramolecular structure is assembled by hydrogen bonds involving water molecules. In contrast, CP2 forms its supramolecular network mainly through hydrogen bonds between adjacent triazole ligand molecules. Hirshfeld surface analysis revealed that the most significant contributions to the crystal packing come from H⋯O/O⋯H, H⋯H, H⋯N/N⋯H, and H⋯C/C⋯H interactions. In addition, FT-IR provided information on the functional groups involved in the coordination, while the decomposition patterns of both CPs were evaluated by TGA. Electrochemical studies conducted in a saline environment showed that CP1 exhibits superior hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics compared to CP2, as evidenced by a higher exchange current density and a lower Tafel slope. Density functional theory calculations and experimental bandgap measurements provided a deeper understanding of the electronic properties influencing the electrochemical behavior. The results highlight the potential of CP1 as an efficient catalyst for HER under saline conditions. Full article

Objectives: To investigate the gain provided by self-fitting over-the-counter (SF-OTC) hearing aids compared to clinical NAL-NL2 targets, the differences between various FDA-approved SF-OTC devices, and potential changes in gain over time. Methods: Two experiments were conducted: (1) a cross-sectional comparison of six SF-OTC hearing aids (n = 43) and (2) a longitudinal evaluation of gain within five days of self-fitting and four additional time points (n = 15). Real-ear measurements (REMs) were used to measure gain. Results: SF-OTC hearing aid gain corresponded with 10 dB SPL but not 5 dB SPL criteria from NAL-NL2 targets. Differences between NAL-NL2 targets and gain did not differ significantly between devices. There were no significant changes in gain over time for any input level. Conclusions: SF-OTC hearing aids generally provide user-selected gain levels lower than clinical targets, particularly at higher frequencies. The gain remains stable over time, indicating limited user adjustment after initial fitting. OTC hearing aid manufacturers should consider implementing fitting algorithms that allow for gradual user acclimatization. Full article

Ceramic-coated polyolefin separator technology is considered a simple and effective method for the improvement of lithium-ion battery (LIB) safety. However, the characteristics of ceramic powder can adversely affect the surface structure and ion conductivity of the separators. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a ceramic powder that not only improves the thermal stability of the separators but also enhances ion conductivity. Herein, network spherical α-Al₂O₃ (N-Al₂O₃) with a multi-dimensional network pore structure was constructed. Furthermore, N-Al₂O₃ was applied as a coating to one side of polyethylene (PE) separators, resulting in N-Al₂O₃-PE separators that exhibit superior thermal stability and enhanced wettability with liquid electrolytes. Notably, the N-Al₂O₃-PE separators demonstrated exceptional ionic conductivity (0.632 mS cm⁻¹), attributed to the internal multi-dimensional network pore structures of N-Al₂O₃, which facilitated an interconnected and efficient “highway” for the transport of Li⁺ ions. As a consequence, LiCoO₂/Li half batteries equipped with these N-Al₂O₃-PE separators showcased remarkable rate and cycling performance. Particularly at high current densities, their discharge capacity and capacity retention rate significantly outperformed those of conventional PE separators. Full article

Background: Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are treated with a frontline platinum–etoposide combination with no standard second-line therapies. We explored a novel combination of nanoliposomal irinotecan (Nal-IRI), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and leucovorin (LV) in advanced refractory NECs and investigated the impact of UGT1A1*28 polymorphism on treatment outcomes and toxicity. Methods: We conducted an open-label, single-arm, multi-center Phase 2 trial in advanced NEC patients of gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) or unknown origin with progression or intolerance to first-line therapy. Eligible patients received nal-IRI 70 mg/m² and leucovorin 400 mg/m², followed by 5-FU 2400 mg/m² biweekly till disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed on blood/tissue samples at baseline and during treatment. Results: Eleven patients were enrolled, with nine evaluable for the primary endpoint. Seven were male, the median age was 66.7 years, and the median Ki-67 was 90%. We observed partial response in one patient, stable disease in six patients, and progressive disease in two patients. The median OS was 9.4 months (95% CI 2.9–29.3), and the median PFS was 4.4 months (95% CI 1.7–6.7). The most common adverse events were diarrhea (45%), nausea (45%), vomiting (45%), and fatigue (45%). The most common genetic mutations on NGS were TP53 (88.9%), CHEK2 (88.9%), and APC (33.3%). Patients with CHEK2 and APC mutation had longer PFS (p = 0.005 and p = 0.013, respectively). UGT1A1*28 polymorphism was not associated with OS, PFS, or toxicity. Conclusion: Nal-IRI with 5-FU/LV is a safe and effective treatment for refractory high-grade NECs of GEP or unknown origin. Future studies should explore novel combinations with Nal-IRI in high-grade NECs both in frontline and refractory settings. Full article

High-grade B-cell lymphoma with 11q aberration (HGBCL-11q) is a rare germi-nal centre lymphoma characterised by a typical gain/loss pattern on chromo-some 11q but without MYC translocation. It shares some features with Burkitt lymphoma (BL), HGBCLs and germinal centre-derived diffuse large B-cell lym-phoma, not otherwise specified (GCB-DLBCL-NOS). Since microRNA expression in HGBCL-11q remains unknown, we aimed to identify and compare the mi-croRNA expression profiles in HGBCL-11q, BL and in GCB-DLBCL-NOS. Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based microRNA profiling of HGBCL-11q (n = 6), BL (n = 8), and GCB-DLBCL-NOS without (n = 3) and with MYC rearrange-ment (MYC-R) (n = 7) was performed. We identified sets of 39, 64, and 49 mi-croRNAs differentiating HGBCL-11q from BL, and from GCB-DLBCL-NOS without MYC-R, respectively. The expression levels of miR-223-3p, miR-193b-3p, miR-29b-3p, and miR-146a-5p consistently differentiated HGBCL-11q from both BL, GCB-DLBCL-NOS without MYC-R. In addition, HGBCL-11q presented greater heterogeneity in microRNA expression than BL. The expression profile of MYC-regulated microRNAs differed in HGBCL-11q and in BL, while also clearly distinguishing HGBCL-11q and BL from GCB-DLBCL-NOS. The microRNA pro-file of HGBCL-11q differs from those of BL and GCB-DLBCL-NOS, exhibiting greater heterogeneity compared to BL. The microRNA profile further supports that HGBCL-11q is a distinct subtype of B-cell lymphoma. Full article

Low temperatures cause serious threat to rice seed emergence, which has become one of the main limiting factors in the production of direct seeding rice. It is of great importance to study the genes controlling low-temperature tolerance during seed germination and to mine the possible regulatory mechanism for developing new rice varieties with immense low-temperature germination ability. In the current research study, two types of mutants of nal11 and gasr9, derived from the WT (wild type) ZH11, were used for the analysis of low-temperature germinability. The results showed that the nal11 and gasr9 mutants displayed no significant difference in germination rate with ZH11 at room temperature, but the mutants showed significantly lower germination rates, germination potential and germination index, and slowed seedling growth in the simulated direct seeding experiments at low temperatures compared to ZH11. Additionally, the activity of POD, SOD, CAT, and anti-superoxide anion radial activity were significantly reduced, but the levels of MDA and H₂O₂ were significantly higher in the nal11 and gasr9 mutant seeds that were germinated at low temperatures compared to ZH11. Further analysis revealed that the levels of total active GA, especially GA4 and GA7, were significantly lower in the nal11 and gasr9 mutants than that in ZH11 during low-temperature germination. Based on qRT-PCR analysis, the expression levels of some GA synthesis-related genes were higher, whereas some were lower in the nal11 and gasr9 mutants than those in ZH11, however, the GA metabolism-related genes OsGA2ox8 and OsGA2ox10 and the GA signaling negative regulator gene SLR1 were significantly up-regulated in both nal11 and gasr9 mutants at several time points during low-temperature germination. This may explain the lower GA levels in the nal11 and gasr9 mutants. Furthermore, the interaction between the OsNAL11 and OsGASR9 proteins was confirmed by Y2H, LUC, and Co-IP assays. This study provides preliminary insights into the regulatory mechanism of the OsNAL11 and OsGASR9 genes, which control the low-temperature germination of rice seeds by affecting the GA pathway. Our study will provide the basis for further mining the molecular mechanisms of low-temperature germination in rice and valuable theoretical reference for breeding varieties with strong low-temperature germinability. Full article

Background: Salmonella is an important zoonotic pathogen, of which poultry products are important reservoirs. This study analyzed the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and characterization of Salmonella from broiler and laying hen sources in China. Methods: A total of 138 (12.27%) strains of Salmonella were isolated from 1125 samples from broiler slaughterhouses (20.66%, 44/213), broiler farms (18.21%, 55/302), and laying hen farms (6.39%, 39/610). Multiplex PCR was used to identify the serotypes. Antibiotic susceptibility testing to a set of 21 antibiotics was performed and all strains were screened by PCR for 24 selected antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In addition, 24 strains of Salmonella were screened out by whole-genome sequencing together with 65 released Salmonella genomes to evaluate phylogenetic characteristics, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and plasmid carriage percentages. Results: A total of 11 different serotypes were identified, with the dominance of S. Enteritidis (43/138, 31.16%), S. Newport (30/138, 21.74%), and S. Indiana (19/138, 13.77%). The results showed that S. Enteritidis (34.34%, 34/99) and S. Newport (51.28%, 20/39) were the dominant serotypes of isolates from broilers and laying hens, respectively. The 138 isolates showed the highest resistance to sulfisoxazole (SXZ, 100%), nalidixic acid (NAL, 54.35%), tetracycline (TET, 47.83%), streptomycin (STR, 39.86%), ampicillin (AMP, 39.13%), and chloramphenicol (CHL, 30.43%), while all the strains were sensitive to both tigacycline (TIG) and colistin (COL). A total of 45.65% (63/138) of the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, and most of them (61/63, 96.83%) were from broiler sources. The results of PCR assays revealed that 63.77% of the isolates were carrying the quinolone resistance gene qnrD, followed by gyrB (58.70%) and the trimethoprim resistance gene dfrA12 (52.17%). Moreover, a total of thirty-four ARGs, eighty-nine virulence genes, and eight plasmid replicons were detected in the twenty-four screened Salmonella strains, among which S. Indiana was detected to carry the most ARGs and the fewest plasmid replicons and virulence genes compared to the other serotypes. Conclusions: This study revealed a high percentage of multidrug-resistant Salmonella from poultry sources, stressing the importance of continuous monitoring of Salmonella serotypes and antimicrobial resistance in the poultry chain, and emergency strategies should be implemented to address this problem. Full article

Submergence stress challenges direct seeding in rice cultivation. In this study, we identified a heat shock protein, NAL11, with a DnaJ domain, which can regulate the length of rice coleoptiles under flooded conditions. Through bioinformatics analyses, we identified cis-regulatory elements in its promoter, making it responsive to abiotic stresses, such as hypoxia or anoxia. Expression of NAL11 was higher in the basal regions of shoots and coleoptiles during flooding. NAL11 knockout triggered the rapid accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) and reduction of Gibberellin (GA), stimulating rice coleoptile elongation and contributes to flooding stress management. In addition, NAL11 mutants were found to be more sensitive to ABA treatments. Such knockout lines exhibited enhanced cell elongation for coleoptile extension. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that NAL11 mediated the gluconeogenic pathway, essential for the energy needed in cell expansion. Furthermore, NAL11 mutants reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde under submerged stress, attributed to an improved antioxidant enzyme system compared to the wild-type. In conclusion, our findings underscore the pivotal role of NAL11 knockout in enhancing the tolerance of rice to submergence stress by elucidating its mechanisms. This insight offers a new strategy for improving resilience against flooding in rice cultivation. Full article