Search Results (837)

The commercialization of genetically modified (GM) maize and soybean is advancing, with strip intercropping emerging as a promising model to enhance crop yields and resource efficiency. However, the impact of this system on target pests remains unclear. To address this, we evaluated eight different planting patterns (four different monocultures and four different strip intercropping integrations) of insect-resistant GM maize (‘RF88’) and soybean (CAL16) events and their non-transgenic parental lines (Xianyu 335 maize and Tianlong No. 1 soybean) in the Huang-Huai-Hai planting area from 2023 to 2025. Our results identified Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera exigua as the dominant pests on maize and soybean, respectively. We found that the GM trait significantly reduced the population density and plant damage caused by these pests. Strip intercropping also provided significant suppression across both crop lines. Furthermore, the integration of strip intercropping and the GM trait resulted in the most effective pest control. This study provides valuable insights for the top-level design and industrial layout of GM crop commercialization and contributes to promoting its safe application and sustainable pest management. Full article

Sujiang pigs, a high-quality local Chinese breed, represent a valuable model for investigating muscle development and improving meat production through genetic selection. Skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) are essential regulators of muscle growth, with differentiation tightly controlled by specific genes and signaling pathways. In this study, MuSCs were isolated from the gastrocnemius muscle and subjected to mRNA sequencing during proliferation (GM) and differentiation stages (DM1, DM2, and DM4, collectively referred to as DM). A total of 2790 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 1551 upregulated and 1239 downregulated genes. Time-series analysis revealed 16 significant expression patterns. These DEGs were primarily associated with muscle development and differentiation and were enriched in Wnt, PI3K–Akt, JAK–STAT, p53, Hippo, and Apelin signaling pathways. Among them, phosphoribosyl transferase domain containing 1 (PRTFDC1) exhibited pronounced downregulation during differentiation. Functional validation demonstrated that PRTFDC1 overexpression promoted myotube formation and upregulated MYOD1, MYOG, and MYH1 expression, whereas knockdown significantly inhibited differentiation. Furthermore, PRTFDC1 enhanced phosphorylation of key proteins in the cGAS–STING signaling pathway. Collectively, this study elucidates the temporal transcriptional regulation of MuSC differentiation in Sujiang pigs and identifies PRTFDC1 as a novel regulatory factor, providing a molecular foundation for breeding strategies and meat quality improvement. Full article

Accurate prediction of the internal corrosion rate is crucial for the safety management and maintenance planning of oil and gas pipelines. However, this task is challenging due to the complex, multi-factor nature of corrosion and the scarcity of available inspection data. To address this, we propose a novel hybrid prediction model, GM-Markov-PSO, which integrates a gray prediction model with a Markov chain and a particle swarm optimization algorithm. A key innovation of our approach is the systematic incorporation of symmetry principles—observed in the spatial distribution of corrosion factors, the temporal evolution of the corrosion process, and the statistical fluctuations of monitoring data—to enhance model stability and accuracy. The proposed model effectively overcomes the limitations of individual components, providing superior handling of small-sample, non-linear datasets and demonstrating strong robustness against stochastic disturbances. In a case study, the GM-Markov-PSO model achieved prediction accuracy improvements ranging from 0.93% to 13.34%, with an average improvement of 4.51% over benchmark models, confirming its practical value for informing pipeline maintenance strategies. This work not only presents a reliable predictive tool but also enriches the application of symmetry theory in engineering forecasting by elucidating the inherent order within complex corrosion systems. Full article

Northern japonica rice holds a significant position in China’s food security. However, the traditional nitrogen fertilizer management model (nitrogen application rate > 225 kg/ha, base fertilizer proportion > 50%) has led to serious sustainability problems: the nitrogen utilization rate is only 25–30%, resulting in a large amount of fertilizer waste and economic losses. At the same time, it causes a decline in rice quality, manifested as a 15–20% increase in chalkiness and an 8–12% decrease in palatability value. It has also brought about environmental problems such as soil acidification and eutrophication of water bodies. As an important japonica rice production area, the Liaohe Plain has significant differences in the response of semi-upright and curved panicle varieties to nitrogen fertilizer. However, the agronomic physiological mechanism for the coordinated improvement of yield and quality of japonica rice with different panicle types is still unclear at present, which limits the sustainable development of rice production in this region. For this purpose, in this study, the typical semi-upright spike variety Shendao 47 and the curved spike variety Shendao 11 from the Liaohe Plain were used as materials, and five nitrogen fertilizer treatments were set up: N1, no nitrogen application; N2–N4, conventional nitrogen application rate of 165–225 kg/ha; and N5, and optimized nitrogen application rate of 195 kg/ha allocated in the proportion of 40% base fertilizer, 15% tillering fertilizer, 25% tillering fertilizer, 15% panicle fertilizer, and 5% grain fertilizer. The synergistic regulatory effect of nitrogen fertilizer management on yield and rice quality was systematically explored, and the key agronomic physiological mechanisms were analyzed. The research results show that: (1) The optimized nitrogen fertilizer treatment (N5) achieved a significant increase in yield while reducing the input of nitrogen fertilizer. The yields of Shendao 47 and Shendao 11 reached 10.71–11.82 t/ha and 9.50–10.62 t/ha, respectively, increasing by more than 35% compared with the treatment without nitrogen. (2) The N5 treatment simultaneously improved the processing quality (the whole polished rice rate increased by 4.11%) and the appearance quality (the chalkiness decreased by 63.8% to 77%). (3) The dry matter accumulation during the tillering stage (≥3.2 t/ha) and the net assimilation rate during the scion development stage (≥12 g/m²/d) were identified as key agronomic physiological indicators for regulating the yield-quality synergy. Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management ensures an adequate supply of photosynthetic products through the high photosynthetic rate of flag-holding leaves and the extended lifespan of functional leaves. The phased nitrogen application strategy of “40% base fertilizer + 25% tillering fertilizer + 15% panicle fertilizer + 5% grain fertilizer” proposed in this study provides a theoretical and practical basis for the sustainable development of japonica rice production in the Liaohe Plain. This plan has achieved the coordinated realization of multiple goals including resource conservation (reducing nitrogen by 13%), environmental protection (lowering the risk of nitrogen loss), food security guarantee (stable increase in yield), and quality improvement (enhancement of rice quality), effectively promoting the development of the northern japonica rice industry towards a green, efficient and sustainable direction. Develop in the right direction. Full article

Phytophthora root and stem rot is a destructive soybean disease worldwide, and thus improving soybean resistance to P. sojae is a major breeding target. However, the complex regulatory networks governing host defense remain unclear. Our previous study showed that GmWRKY40 positively regulates resistance of soybean to P. sojae. Here, to explore its molecular mechanism, we found that GmWRKY40 is induced by P. sojae in resistant cultivars and that the protein localizes in nucleus. RNA-seq and metabolomic analyses revealed that GmWRKY40 modulates the jasmonate (JA) signaling pathway. We then found that GmWRKY40 directly suppresses the key JA repressor GmJAZ1 by binding to the promoter. This leads to higher endogenous JA levels, and the overall state of enhanced resistance is also characterized by elevated SOD and POD antioxidant enzyme activity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GmWRKY40 interacts with GmWRKY36, a transcription factor identified as a negative regulator of P. sojae infection in this research. Taken together, our study delineates a novel regulatory module where GmWRKY40 enhances resistance to P. sojae through a dual mechanism: activating the JA pathway by repressing its suppressor GmJAZ1, and engaging in a potentially antagonistic interaction with the negative regulator GmWRKY36, ultimately enhancing soybean resistance to P. sojae. Full article

Increased levels of pro-vitamin A carotenoids in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots is a valuable contribution toward reducing widely spread vitamin A deficiency in vulnerable human populations worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate five yellow-fleshed cassava genotypes with higher β-carotene contents for fresh consumption in the Cauca River Valley and the Pacific regions of Colombia. Agronomic performance, productivity, and culinary quality were assessed across four locations. The results showed that two yellow-fleshed genotypes had adequate performance in the subregions. SM3677-74 was identified for the Cauca River Valley subregion, and GM3650-51 for the Pacific subregion. These genotypes showed competitive performance compared to the regional checks (often outperforming them) and showed good adaptability to the target environments. The excellent productivity and enhanced nutritional quality (>5 µg/g β-carotene and >11 µg/g total carotenes) of these genotypes make them suitable for potential for release as new varieties in those specific subregions. The experimental genotypes demonstrated acceptable quality for consumption, with low HCN content (less than 50 µg/g) and cooking time was <30 min. The successful adaptation and superiority of improved cassava genotypes ensure the future availability of carotenes-enhanced cassava varieties the Pacific and Andean Regions in Colombia. Full article

Falls are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence in older adults, often linked to deficits in lower-limb muscle function and gait mechanics. Eccentric exercise can improve muscular resilience, while aquatic walking offers a safe, supportive environment to retrain gait; however, little is known about how these modalities interact at the neuromuscular level. This study compared lower-limb muscle activation during gait on land and in water, before and after an acute bout of eccentric exercise, in healthy young adults. Surface electromyography was collected from the tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), vastus lateralis (VL), and biceps femoris (BF) during treadmill walking on land and at equivalent speeds in chest-deep water. Results showed that aquatic walking consistently altered activation patterns relative to land walking, with increased TA activity (28%, Cohen’s d = 0.69) and reduced GM activity (−27%, Cohen’s d = −0.48) during swing, reduced VL activity during stance (−20%, Cohen’s d = −0.43), increased VL activity during swing (46%, Cohen’s d = 0.72), and increased BF activity during stance (51%, Cohen’s d = 0.63). These changes produced distinct co-activation patterns between the shank and thigh. Eccentric exercise had limited effects overall but increased thigh co-activation during swing in land walking. Findings suggest that eccentric exercise can be safely combined with aquatic walking and highlight the potential of this multimodal approach for enhancing gait mechanics relevant to fall prevention. Full article

This paper presents a novel low-power, high-quality factor, and wide-tunable CMOS active inductor based on the gyrator-C configuration. The G_m-boosting technique is employed to reduce power consumption and noise while enhancing the transconductance. The inclusion of a feedback resistor further improves the quality factor. The designed active inductor operates up to 4.1 GHz, offers a wide inductance tuning range from 4.5 nH to 215 nH, consumes only 1.82 mW at 1.8 V supply, and occupies a compact area of 0.0006 mm². The input-referred current noise is as low as $27\mathrm{p}\mathrm{A}\sqrt{\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}}$. This study aims to provide an effective solution to the large area requirements of traditional passive inductors, while simultaneously improving key performance parameters with minimal compromise by introducing a novel active inductor design. The proposed design also exhibits superior performance in key specifications compared with existing active inductor implementations. For demonstration purposes, the active inductor is incorporated into a broadband RF amplifier, achieving near-ideal behavior across the 0.8–2.1 GHz. Corner and Monte Carlo analyses, along with temperature sweep and stability analyses, were carried out to validate the reliability and robustness of the proposed design. Results confirm the effectiveness of the G_m-boosted active inductor for high-performance RF applications, making it a promising candidate for 5G and beyond future wireless communication systems. Full article

Jumping exercises are widely applied in sport performance and conditioning due to their crucial role in enhancing neuromuscular function and lower-limb power. Acute effects related to contractile properties measured by tensiomyography (TMG) remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to examine the acute effects of two jump types—bilateral countermovement jumps (CMJs) and stiffness jumps (STs)—on the contractile properties of the vastus medialis (VM) and medial gastrocnemius (GM) muscles. Twenty-nine kinesiology students (fourteen males, fifteen females; age 19.4 ± 0.7 years) performed CMJ and ST protocols in a randomized order. Muscle contractile characteristics were measured before and immediately after each protocol and analyzed using a mixed-model repeated-measures ANOVA. Significant pre–post changes were found in both muscles. In the VM, contraction (Tc) and delay (Td) times decreased (p < 0.01), indicating faster responses, whereas relaxation time (Tr) increased and sustain time (Ts) decreased (p < 0.05), suggesting temporary fatigue. Maximal displacement (Dm) increased (p < 0.01), indicating reduced stiffness. In contrast, the GM showed greater responsiveness after stiffness jumps, characterized by shorter Tc and Td (p < 0.01), and reduced endurance after CMJs. These findings highlight muscle specific neuromuscular adaptations and provide practical insights for optimizing warm-up, training, and rehabilitation protocols through targeted jump selection. Full article

Soil salinization poses a significant threat to global agricultural productivity. Among crops, soybean (Glycine max), an important source of oil and protein, is more susceptible to salt stress compared to other major crops such as wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa). To better utilize saline land resources, understanding the mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in soybean is essential for developing new salt-tolerant soybean varieties that contribute to food security. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in soybean, with a focus on ion homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, oxidative balance restoration, structural adaptations, and transcriptional regulatory networks. Key findings highlight the critical roles of ion transporters—such as GmNHX1, GmSOS1, GmHKT1, and GmCLC1—in maintaining Na⁺/K⁺ and Cl⁻ balance; the accumulation of osmoprotectants like proline and LEA proteins to alleviate osmotic stress; and the activation of antioxidant systems—including SOD, CAT, and APX—to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, structural adaptations, such as salt gland-like features observed in wild soybean (Glycine soja), and transcriptional regulation via ABA-dependent and independent pathways (e.g., GmDREB, GmbZIP132, GmNAC) further enhance tolerance. Despite these advances, critical gaps remain regarding Cl⁻ transport mechanisms, rhizosphere microbial interactions, and the genetic basis of natural variation in salt tolerance. Future research should integrate genomic tools, omics-based breeding, genome editing techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9, microbial technologies, and traditional breeding methods to develop salt-tolerant soybean varieties, providing sustainable solutions for the utilization of saline–alkali soils and enhancing global food security. Full article

This study investigates the optimization of sol–silicate façade coatings modified with colloidal silica and a silane-based hydrophobizing additive to enhance hydrophobicity while maintaining a high water-vapor transmission rate (V). The effects of the binder ratio between potassium water glass (WG) and colloidal silica (CS), the type of colloidal silica (unmodified or epoxy-silanized), and the concentration of the hydrophobizing additive (HA) were systematically evaluated. Water-vapor transmission was determined according to EN ISO 7783, and surface wettability was measured before and after accelerated UV-A aging. Dynamic viscosity was monitored for two years to assess long-term storage stability. The optimized formulation contained 7 wt % potassium water glass, 15 wt % colloidal silica, and 1 wt % hydrophobizing additive. It exhibited stable viscosity over time (≈19,000 mPa·s after six months), high water-vapor transmission (V > 6700 g·m⁻²·d⁻¹, class V1), and an initial contact angle of 118°, which decreased only moderately after UV-A exposure. Coatings containing epoxy-silanized colloidal silica showed slightly lower transmission but still remained within the high V range suitable for vapor-open façade systems. The results confirm that balanced sol–silicate systems can combine durable hydrophobicity with long-term rheological and functional stability. Full article

Soil salinity is a serious abiotic stressor threatening global agriculture, currently affecting nearly 20% of irrigated land, with projections suggesting that almost 50% of cultivated areas may be impacted by 2050. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Silicon (Si) have been widely investigated for their individual roles in improving plant tolerance to salinity, yet their combined application—particularly using Si nanoparticles (SiNPs), remains underexplored. This review synthesizes current knowledge on PGPR, SiNPs, and their synergistic effects in mitigating salinity stress, with emphasis on physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. Special attention is given to Si-mediated regulation of stress-responsive genes (e.g., RD29B, DREB2b, RAB18, HKT1, WRKY TFs, CAT, POD) and PGPR-induced gene expression (e.g., GmST1, GmLAX3, NHX1, NRT2.2, GR), which are directly linked to ion homeostasis, osmolyte accumulation, and antioxidant activation. In addition, crop-specific case studies and emerging molecular insights are highlighted to demonstrate practical applications. Despite these promising findings, significant challenges remain, including the stability of nanoformulations, microbial compatibility, and the lack of field-scale validation under diverse agro-climatic conditions. This review highlights knowledge gaps and briefly outlines future directions for the integrated use of PGPR and SiNPs as sustainable strategies to enhance crop resilience under salinity stress. Full article

This review presents soybean responses to drought, heat, and salinity within a signal–transcript–chromatin framework. In this framework, calcium/reactive oxygen species and abscisic acid cues converge on abscisic acid-responsive element binding factor (ABF/AREB), dehydration-responsive element binding protein (DREB), NAC, and heat shock factor (HSF) families. These processes are modulated by locus-specific chromatin and non-coding RNA layers. Base-resolved methylomes reveal a high level of CG methylation in the gene body, strong CHG methylation in heterochromatin, and dynamic CHH ‘islands’ at the borders of transposable elements. CHH methylation increases over that of transposable elements during seed development, and GmDMEa editing is associated with seed size. Chromatin studies in soybean and model species implicate the reconfiguration of salt-responsive histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) in G. max and heat-linked H2A.Z dynamics at thermoresponsive promoters characterized in Arabidopsis and other plants, suggesting that a conserved chromatin layer likely operates in soybean. miR169–NF-YA, miR398–Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutases(CSD)/copper chaperone of CSD(CCS), miR393–transporter inhibitor response1/auxin signaling F-box (TIR1/AFB), and miR396–growth regulating factors (GRF) operate across leaves, roots, and nodules. Overexpression of lncRNA77580 enhances drought tolerance, but with context-dependent trade-offs under salinity. Single-nucleus and spatial atlases anchor these circuits in cell types and microenvironments relevant to stress and symbiosis. We present translational routes, sentinel epimarkers (bisulfite amplicons, CUT&Tag), haplotype-by-epigenotype prediction, and precise cis-regulatory editing to accelerate marker development, genomic prediction and the breeding of resilient soybean varieties with stable yields. Full article

Phytophthora root and stem infection by Phytophthora sojae is a global and devastating disease of soybeans. Selecting disease-resistant varieties is the most economical and effective measure for controlling this disease. Delving into the disease resistance and defense molecular mechanisms can lay a theoretical foundation for solving this problem. Here, we screened the soybean genome and identified 78 GmDof genes distributed on nineteen chromosomes. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that the majority of GmDof proteins were located in the cell nucleus. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these genes into nine subfamilies. Gene structure analysis showed that all GmDofs contained 0 to 2 introns, and most of them did not have introns. Motif and conserved domain analysis showed that all GmDofs contained a common motif (motif-1) and a typical conserved C₂-C₂ domain. The prediction of cis-acting elements in promoter regions revealed numerous cis-regulatory elements responsible for stress responses, plant growth and development, plant hormone responses, and light responses. RNA-seq and quantitative real-time PCR results showed that GmDof63 (Glyma.16G145000) was specifically expressed at high levels after P. sojae infection. GmDof63 was strongly induced by SA and ETH treatments. The soybean seedlings overexpressing GmDof63 displayed enhanced resistance to P. sojae infection compared with the wild-type soybean seedlings. Further experiments indicated that the expression levels of pathogenesis-related protein genes PR1a, PR4, PR5a, and PR10 were significantly up-regulated in GmDof63-overexpressing transgenic soybean seedlings. Taken together, these findings reveal the mechanism by which GmDof63 directly or indirectly regulates the expression of PR genes to modulate the soybean response to P. sojae infection. Full article

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines) is one of the major pathogens of soybean worldwide. We utilized the CHIP-Seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing) and RNA-Seq (RNA sequencing) data from the transgenic GmMYB29 strain (Glycine Max roots). We then performed enrichment analysis using KEGG and GO to identify potential candidate genes within the promoter-binding region. A targeted regulatory relationship between the GmMYB29 and GmPP2C-37like genes was further identified using the dual-luciferase Assay (Luciferase, LUC) and yeast one-hybrid Assay (Y1H). Hairy roots with target gene overexpression and gene-edited hairy roots were generated, and their resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) was evaluated. Meanwhile, the presence of reciprocal genes with GmPP2C-37like was determined by the yeast two-hybrid library screening method. The targeting relationship between GmMYB29 and GmPP2C-37like genes was further validated through the Y1H assay and LUC assay. Based on phenotypic assessments of SCN, transgenic soybean roots overexpressing GmPP2C-37like exhibited significantly enhanced resistance to SCN 3 compared to wild-type. Further analysis revealed that GmPP2C-37like collaborates with other regulatory factors to modulate soybean resistance against SCN. Yeast two-hybrid library (Y2H) screening identified 18 interacting proteins. These findings not only illuminate the functional role of GmPP2C-37like but also provide a foundation for dissecting its molecular network. Moreover, the results offer promising candidate genes for enhancing SCN resistance and optimizing soybean resilience through targeted genetic strategies. Full article