Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Histological characteristics, cell wall hydrolytic enzyme activity, and transcriptome analysis with seed shattering of Stylosanthes accessions

Stylosanthes spp. (stylo) are annual or perennial legume forages that are widely grown as forage and cover crops in tropical and subtropical regions. However, the seed yield of stylo is very low due to serious seed shattering. In the present study, we found that, although seed shattering was common among the stylo accessions, the shattering rates were genetically different. Therefore, we first synthesized the morphological, histological characteristic, physiochemical, and transcriptome analyses to determine the seed shattering mechanism in stylo. In general, the stylo germplasm with shorter lobules and thicker stems had a lower seed shattering rate and a higher seed weight. The seed and seed stalk joint is the abscission zone in stylo. Multiplex histology and hydrolytic enzyme activity analysis showed that the tearing of the abscission zone occurs due to the intense enzymatic degradation of polygalacturonase and cellulase in the seed shattering-susceptible accession TF0275. cDNA libraries from the abscission zone tissues of TF0041 and TF0275 at 14, 21, and 28 days after flowering were constructed and sequenced. A total of 47,606 unigenes were annotated and 18,606 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected, including 9,140 upregulated and 9,446 downregulated unigenes. Furthermore, the 26 candidate DEGs involved in lignin biosynthesis, cellulase synthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction were found at all three developmental stages. This study provides valuable insights for future mechanistic studies of seed shattering in stylo.
Gain time to adapt: How sorghum acquires tolerance to salinity

Salinity is a global environmental threat to agricultural production and food security around the world. To delineate salt-induced damage from adaption events we analysed a pair of sorghum genotypes which are contrasting in their response to salt stress with respect to physiological, cellular, metabolomic, and transcriptional responses. We find that the salt-tolerant genotype Della can delay the transfer of sodium from the root to the shoot, more swiftly deploy accumulation of proline and antioxidants in the leaves and transfer more sucrose to the root as compared to its susceptible counterpart Razinieh. Instead Razinieh shows metabolic indicators for a higher extent photorespiration under salt stress. Following sodium accumulation by a fluorescent dye in the different regions of the root, we find that Della can sequester sodium in the vacuoles of the distal elongation zone. The timing of the adaptive responses in Della leaves indicates a rapid systemic signal from the roots that is travelling faster than sodium itself. We arrive at a model where resistance and susceptibility are mainly a matter of temporal patterns in signalling.
Flavobacterium columnare ferric iron uptake systems are required for virulence

Flavobacterium columnare, which causes columnaris disease, is one of the costliest pathogens in the freshwater fish-farming industry. The virulence mechanisms of F. columnare are not well understood and current methods to control columnaris outbreaks are inadequate. Iron is an essential nutrient needed for metabolic processes and is often required for bacterial virulence. F. columnare produces siderophores that bind ferric iron for transport into the cell. The genes needed for siderophore production have been identified, but other components involved in F. columnare iron uptake have not been studied in detail. We identified the genes encoding the predicted secreted heme-binding protein HmuY, the outer membrane iron receptors FhuA, FhuE, and FecA, and components of an ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter predicted to transport ferric iron across the cytoplasmic membrane. Deletion mutants were constructed and examined for growth defects under iron-limited conditions and for virulence against zebrafish and rainbow trout. Mutants with deletions in genes encoding outer membrane receptors, and ABC transporter components exhibited growth defects under iron-limited conditions. Mutants lacking multiple outer membrane receptors, the ABC transporter, or HmuY retained virulence against zebrafish and rainbow trout mirroring that exhibited by the wild type. Some mutants predicted to be deficient in multiple steps of iron uptake exhibited decreased virulence. Survivors of exposure to such mutants were partially protected against later infection by wild-type F. columnare.
Research on Alzheimer's syndromes is critical to improve diagnosis, patient management and non-pharmacological treatments, but is under-pursued

COPYRIGHT © 2022 Abbate. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Research on Alzheimer’s syndromes is critical to improve diagnosis, patient management and non-pharmacological treatments, but is under-pursued
The risk of falls among the aging population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim This study aims to clarify the risk factors for falls to prevent severe consequences in older adults. Methods We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar databases using the terms “risk factors” OR “predicting factors” OR “predictor” AND “fall” OR “drop” to identify all relevant studies and compare their results. The study participants were divided into two groups, the “fall group” and the “control group”, and differences in demographic characteristics, lifestyles, and comorbidities were compared. Results We included 34 articles in the analysis and analyzed 22 factors. Older age, lower education level, polypharmacy, malnutrition, living alone, living in an urban area, smoking, and alcohol consumption increased the risk of falls in the aging population. Additionally, comorbidities such as cardiac disease, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, frailty, previous history of falls, depression, Parkinson's disease, and pain increased the risk of falls. Conclusion Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors can influence the risk of falls and should be taken into consideration.
Genetic architecture and selection of Anhui autochthonous pig population revealed by whole genome resequencing

The genetic resources among pigs in Anhui Province are diverse, but their value and potential have yet to be discovered. To illustrate the genetic diversity and population structure of the Anhui pigs population, we resequenced the genome of 150 pigs from six representative Anhui pigs populations and analyzed this data together with the sequencing data from 40 Asian wild boars and commercial pigs. Our results showed that Anhui pigs were divided into two distinct types based on ancestral descent: Wannan Spotted pig (WSP) and Wannan Black pig (WBP) origins from the same ancestor and the other four populations origins from another ancestor. We also identified several potential selective sweep regions associated with domestication characteristics among Anhui pigs, including reproduction-associated genes (CABS1, INSL6, MAP3K12, IGF1R, INSR, LIMK2, PATZ1, MAPK1), lipid- and meat-related genes (SNX19, MSTN, MC5R, PRKG1, CREBBP, ADCY9), and ear size genes (MSRB3 and SOX5). Therefore, these findings expand the catalogue and how these genetic differences among pigs and this newly generated data will be a valuable resource for future genetic studies and for improving genome-assisted breeding of pigs and other domesticated animals.
Fixed/Predefined-time synchronization of memristor-based complex-valued BAM neural networks for image protection

This paper investigates the fixed-time synchronization and the predefined-time synchronization of memristive complex-valued bidirectional associative memory neural networks (MCVBAMNNs) with leakage time-varying delay. First, the proposed neural networks are regarded as two dynamic real-valued systems. By designing a suitable feedback controller, combined with the Lyapunov method and inequality technology, a more accurate upper bound of stability time estimation is given. Then, a predefined-time stability theorem is proposed, which can easily establish a direct relationship between tuning gain and system stability time. Any predefined time can be set as controller parameters to ensure that the synchronization error converges within the predefined time. Finally, the developed chaotic MCVBAMNNs and predefined-time synchronization technology are applied to image encryption and decryption. The correctness of the theory and the security of the cryptographic system are verified by numerical simulation.
First-principles calculations of the optical response of single-layer and bilayer armchair graphene nanoribbons

Electronic and optical properties of single-layer and bilayer armchair graphene nanoribbons are investigated using a first-principles method. Increased nanoribbon width reduces the band gap and causes a red shift in photon absorption energy. The 3n + 2 family of nanoribbons has the smallest band gaps and lowest onset photon absorption energy among the three families considered due to high π-conjugation indicated by exciton wavefunctions. We also compare the bilayer α and β alignments of armchair graphene nanoribbons with their single-layer counterparts. The extra layer of graphene reduces the band gap and onset photon absorption energy, and the difference between the α alignment and the single-layer configuration is more significant than that of the β alignment and the single layer. Our calculations indicate that the optical properties of graphene nanoribbons depend on the details of atomic structures, including nanoribbon width, edge alignment and number of layers. These characteristics are expected to be important in the design of optoelectronic devices.
Comparative research of intestinal microbiota diversity and body mass regulation in Eothenomys miletus from different areas of Hengduan mountain regions

In order to investigate the effects of different areas on intestinal bacterial diversity and body mass regulation in Eothenomys miletus from Hengduan mountain regions, and to explore the community structure and diversity of intestinal microflora and their role in body mass regulation. E. miletus was collected from five areas including Deqin (DQ), Xianggelila (XGLL), Lijiang (LJ), Jianchuan (JC), and Dali (DL), we used 16S rRNA sequencing technology combined with physiological and morphological methods to study the intestinal microbiota diversity, abundance and community structure of the intestinal bacteria in winter, and to explore the influence of geographical factors, physiological indicators including food intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR), non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), neuropeptide Y (NPY), Agouti-Related Protein (AgRP), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcription peptide (CART), and morphological indicators including body mass, body length and other nine indicators on the intestinal microflora diversity in E. miletus. The results showed that there were significant differences in metabolic indexes such as RMR, NST, NPY, AgRP, and morphological indexes such as body length, tail length and ear length among the five regions. Bacterial community in intestinal tract of E. miletus mainly includes three phyla, of which Firmicutes is the dominant phyla, followed by Bacteroidetes and Tenericutes. At the genus level, the dominant bacterial genera were S24-7(UG), Clostridiales (UG), and Lachnospiraceae (UG), etc. α diversity of intestinal microorganisms in DL and JC were significantly different from that in the other three regions. Genera of intestinal microorganisms in DL and JC were also the most. Moreover, Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Treponema could affect energy metabolism in E. miletus, which were closely related to the environment in which they lived. All of these results indicated that different areas in Hengduan Mountain had certain effects on the structure of intestinal microbial community in E. miletus, which were responded positively to changes in food abundance and other environmental factors. Furthermore, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes play an important role in the body mass regulation in E. miletus.
The relationship between Type D personality with atherosclerotic plaque and cardiovascular events: The mediation effect of inflammation and kynurenine/tryptophan metabolism

Purpose Cardiovascular events and coronary plaque vulnerability are linked to Type D personality. However, the fundamental mechanism has not been clarified. Our study determined to illustrate whether inflammatory status in plasma, in combination with kynurenine pathway activity in Type D individuals, is associated with plaque vulnerability and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and methods The Type D personality of 177 CAD patients were evaluated. Plasma biomarkers of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6, and hs-CRP) were measured and pooled into standardized sumscores. Tryptophan and kynurenine metabolites were measured, and the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio (KTR) was calculated. Plaque vulnerability was measured in vivo by optical coherence tomography. All patients had a follow up of 2 years in which cardiovascular adverse events were recorded. Results Type D individuals exhibited elevated TNF-α (p = 0.007), IL-6 (p = 0.049), inflammation sumscores (p = 0.002), kynurenine (p = 0.008), and KTR (p = 0.005) than non-Type D group. The serial-multiple mediation showed that the Type D personality with a direct, favorable impact on plaque vulnerability, including thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (point estimate = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.09–1.53), macrophages (point estimate = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.05–1.51), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (point estimate = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.08–1.70). In addition, the standardized inflammation sumscores and KTR were mediators of the Type D personality associations with TCFA, macrophages and MACE. Conclusion These results demonstrated that the connection between Type D personality and poor cardiovascular outcomes in CAD patients can be mediated by pro-inflammatory biomarkers and KTR.
One-stage resection of intravascular leiomyomatosis involving the right heart chamber through a single laparotomy

Objectives This retrospective study aimed to summarize the feasibility and experience of utilizing a one-stage operation via single laparotomy to treat intracardiac leiomyomatosis (ICL). Materials and methods A retrospective study of 13 patients with ICL who underwent one-stage resections was conducted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2015 to December 2021. All patients had their tumors removed by single laparotomy and were divided into a short venotomy group (6 cases) and an extensive venotomy group (7 cases). We reviewed the patient characteristics, surgical procedures, postoperative pathology, and perioperative and follow-up outcomes of all patients. Results All patients underwent surgery for ICL resection using single laparotomy with a 100% success rate. Two patients had tumors distal to the right ventricle (RV), 2 patients had tumors that protruded into the RV in diastole and were confined to the right atrium (RA) in systole, and the other 9 patients had tumors confined to the RA that did not involve the tricuspid valve. The tumor was completely resected in 10 patients, yet 3 patients had a residual tumor. Six patients completed the surgery with short venotomy, 7 completed the surgery with extensive venotomy, and 9 underwent simultaneous total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexal resection. The mean operative time was 370.8 ± 111.0 min, and the mean blood loss was 992.3 ± 994.5 mL. Intraoperative blood loss was lower (483.3 ± 213.7 ml vs. 1429.2 ± 1208.0 ml; P = 0.020) and operative time was shorter (286.5 ± 71.9 min vs. 443.1 ± 84.4 min; P=0.004) in the short venotomy group than in the extensive venotomy group. At a mean follow-up of 26.3 ± 18.8 months, 1 patient had a local recurrence in the pelvis, and 1 patient died of pancreatic cancer, while the remaining patients had no recurrence during follow-up. Conclusion One-stage resection of ICL patients by means of a single laparotomy is feasible and effective.
OPTIMALITY CONDITIONS FOR EFFICIENT SOLUTION TO THE VECTOR EQUILIBRIUM PROBLEMS WITH CONSTRAINTS

In this paper, by using the generalization of Ljusternik theorem, the open mapping theorem of convex process, and the convex sets separation theorem, we give the necessary conditions for the efficient solution to the constrained vector equilibrium problems without requiring that the ordering cone in the objective space has a nonempty interior and without requiring that the the convexity conditions. By the assumption of the convexity, we give the sufficient conditions for the efficient solution. As applications, we give the necessary conditions and the sufficient conditions for efficient solution to the constrained vector variational inequalities and constrained vector optimization problems.
The cellular landscape of the normal kidney allograft: Main players balancing the alloimmune response

Despite recent advances made in short-term outcomes; minimal improvements have been observed in long-term kidney transplantation outcomes. Due to an imbalance between organ transplant availability and patient waiting list, expanding kidney allograft longevity is a critical need in the field. Prior studies have either focused on early ischemic and immunological conditions affecting kidney allografts (e.g., delayed graft function, acute rejection) or late stage chronic injury when interventions are no longer feasible. However, studies characterizing kidney allografts with normal function by its cellular distribution, cell-cell interactions, and associated molecular pathways are lacking. Herein, we used single nuclei RNA-sequencing to uncover the cellular landscape and transcriptome of the normal kidney allograft. We profiled 40,950 nuclei from seven human kidney biopsies (normal native, N = 3; normal allograft, N = 4); normal allograft protocol biopsies were collected ≥15-months post-transplant. A total of 17 distinct cell clusters were identified with proximal tubules (25.70 and 21.01%), distal tubules (15.22 and 18.20%), and endothelial cells (EC) (4.26 and 9.94%) constituting the major cell populations of normal native and normal allograft kidneys, respectively. A large proportion of cycling cells from normal native kidneys were in G1-phase (43.96%) whereas cells from normal allograft were predominantly in S-phase (32.69%). This result suggests that transcriptional differences between normal native and normal allograft biopsies are dependent on the new host environment, immunosuppression, and injury-affliction. In the normal allograft, EC-specific genes upregulated metabolism, the immune response, and cellular growth, emphasizing their role in maintaining homeostasis during the ongoing alloreactive stress response. Immune cells, including B (2.81%), macrophages (24.96%), monocytes (15.29%), natural killer (NK) (12.83%), neutrophils (8.44%), and T cells (14.41%, were increased in normal allografts despite lack of histological or clinical evidence of acute rejection. Phenotypic characterization of immune cell markers supported lymphocyte activation and proinflammatory cytokines signaling pathways (i.e., IL-15, IL-32). The activation of B, NK, and T cells reveals potential immune cells underlying subclinical inflammation and repair. These single nuclei analyses provide novel insights into kidney and immune cell associated signaling pathways that portray kidney grafts with normal allograft function beyond 2-years post-transplant, revealing a novel perspective in understanding long-term allograft graft survival.
The paternal genetic legacy of Hungarian-speaking Rétköz (Hungary) and Váh valley (Slovakia) populations

One hundred and six Rétköz and 48 Váh valley samples were collected from the contact zones of Hungarian-Slovakian territories and were genotyped for Y-chromosomal haplotypes and haplogroups. The results were compared with contemporary and archaic data from published sources. The genetic composition of the Rétköz population from Hungary and the Váh valley population from Slovakia indicates different histories. In the Rétköz population, the paternal lineages that were also found in the Hungarian Conquerors, such as R1a-Z93, N-M46, Q-M242, and R1b-L23, were better preserved. These haplogroups occurred in 10% of the population. The population of the Váh valley, however, is characterized by the complete absence of these haplogroups. Our study did not detect a genetic link between the Váh valley population and the Hungarian Conquerors; the genetic composition of the Váh valley population is similar to that of the surrounding Indo-European populations. The Hungarian Rétköz males shared common haplotypes with ancient Xiongnu, ancient Avar, Caucasian Avar, Abkhazian, Balkarian, and Circassian males within haplogroups R1a-Z93, N1c-M46, and R1b-L23, indicating a common genetic footprint. Another difference between the two studied Hungarian populations can be concluded from the Fst-based MDS plot. The Váh valley, in the western part of the Hungarian-Slovakian contact zone, is genetically closer to the Western Europeans. In contrast, Rétköz is in the eastern part of that zone and therefore closer to the Eastern Europeans.