bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aloe vera for prevention of radiation-induced dermatitis: A systematic review and cumulative analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Wang Tingting , Liao Jian , Zheng Liying , Zhou Yi , Jin Qianru , Wu Yanjing
Published: September 2022

Background: Aloe vera were frequently reported to reduce the risk of radiation-induced dermatitis (RID), but the quantitative results from all the relevant studies were not presently available. This study sought to conduct a cumulative analysis to better clarify the preventive effects of aloe vera in RID.

Methods: MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan Fang Database were utilized for identifying the eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) without language restrictions, up to March 2022. The pooled incidence of RID was conducted by the Relative risk (RR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) through the STATA software under a random-effects model. This systematic review and cumulative analysis were registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022335188).

Results: Fourteen RCTs met our predefined inclusion criteria, enrolling 1,572 participants (mean age: 46.5–56 years). The cumulative results revealed that patients pretreated with aloe vera were associated with a significantly lower risk of RID compared to those without aloe vera usage (RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67–0.88, p < 0.001; heterogeneity: I2 = 79.8%, p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the pooled incidence of Grade 2–4, Grade 2, and Grade 3 RID was also dramatically lower in the group of aloe vera as compared to the placebo group [RR = 0.44 (0.27, 0.74), 0.58 (0.36, 0.94), and 0.27 (0.12, 0.59) in Grade 2–4, Grade 2, and Grade 3, respectively]. However, in regard to Grade 4 RID, the combined RR indicated that the incidence of RID was comparable between aloe vera and the control group (RR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.02–1.01, p = 0.051; heterogeneity: I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.741). The sensitivity analyses showed that there was no substantial change in the new pooled RR after eliminating anyone of the included study.

Conclusion: The current cumulative analysis revealed that patients pretreated with aloe vera were less likely to suffer from RID than the controls without using aloe vera. Based on this finding, the prophylactic application of aloe vera might significantly reduce the incidence of RID, especially in Grade 2 and Grade 3 RID. Further large-sample multicenter RCTs are still warranted to confirm these findings and for better clinical application.
Ginsenoside CK, rather than Rb1, possesses potential chemopreventive activities in human gastric cancer via regulating PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signal pathway
Authors: Wan Yan , Liu Dong , Xia Jia , Xu Jin-Feng , Zhang Li , Yang Yu , Wu Jiao-Jiao , Ao Hui
Published: September 2022

Ginsenoside Rb1, a main component of ginseng, is often transformed into ginsenoside CK by intestinal flora to exert various pharmacological activity. However, it remains unclear whether ginsenoside CK is responsible for the anti-gastric cancer effect of ginsenoside Rb1 in vivo. In this study, network pharmacology was applied to predict the key signal pathways of ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside CK when treating gastric cancer. The anti-proliferative effects of ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside CK and the underlying mechanism in gastric cancer cells were explored by MTT, Hoechst3328 staining, ELISA, RT-qPCR and Western blotting. The results showed that PI3K-AKT/NF-κB signal pathway was the common important pathway of ginsenoside Rb1 and CK in the treatment of gastric cancer. The results of MTT assay showed that ginsenoside Rb1 could hardly inhibit the proliferation of HGC-27 cells, whereas ginsenoside CK could inhibit the proliferation of HGC-27 cells. Hoechst3328 staining showed that cells in the ginsenoside CK group were densely stained bright blue and nuclear fragmented, indicating that apoptosis occurred. ELISA results showed that ginsenoside CK could effectively downregulate the levels of cyclin CyclinB1 and CyclinD1, but ginsenoside Rb1 had no significant effect. Also, the results of Western blot and RT-qPCR showed that ginsenoside CK inhibited the expressions of anti-apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 and apoptosis-related pathway PI3K/AKT/NF-κB, and promoted the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins Bax and Caspase 3, whereas ginsenoside Rb1 exerted no effect. In short, ginsenoside Rb1 had no anti-gastric cancer cell activity in vitro, but ginsenoside CK could effectively inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in HGC-27 cells. The mechanism might relate to the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside CK on the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. These results suggest that ginsenoside CK might be the in vivo material basis for the anti-gastric cancer activity of ginsenosides.
Bergenin ameliorates cognitive deficits and neuropathological alterations in sodium azide-induced experimental dementia
Authors: Singla Rajeev K. , Dhonchak Konika , Sodhi Rupinder K. , Arockia Babu M. , Madan Jitender , Madaan Reecha , Kumar Suresh , Sharma Rohit , Shen Bairong
Published: September 2022

Background: Bergenin, 4-O-methyl gallic acid glucoside, is a bioactive compound found in the cortex of Mallotus japonicus (L.f.) Müll.Arg. along with many other natural resources including that from Bergenia species. The present study delineates the neuroprotective potential of bergenin through the modulation of PPAR-γ receptors.

Method: Dementia was induced in the Wistar rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of sodium azide (12.5 mg/kg for the first 5 days followed by 10 mg/kg for the next 9 days). The rats were then exposed to the Morris water maze test to assess the effect on cognitive abilities followed by a series of biochemical and histopathological evaluations.

Results: Sodium azide-treated rats exhibited a severe deterioration of memory as suggested by poor performance in the spatial learning task in addition to the enhancement of brain acetylcholinesterase potential, oxidative stress, inflammation, and amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation. Administration of bergenin to sodium azide-treated rats significantly recovered cognition and related biochemical variations. Further, co-administration of Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), a PPAR-γ antagonist with bergenin challenged its neuroprotective effects.

Conclusions: The findings of our study exhibit that the cognitive restoration potential of bergenin may be attributed to its modulatory effects against cholinesterase, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, as well as its neuroprotective actions, thus aligning it as a possible therapy for Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia. The study also fortifies the significance of PPAR-γ receptors in dementia.
Reflectivity enhancement of full color tri-layer electrowetting display with polymer cholesteric liquid crystal films
Authors: Zhang Beibei , Liao Xiaoling , Xie Lijuan , Tang Biao , Zhou Xin , Ye Huapeng , Yuan Dong
Published: September 2022

Electronic paper display has received increasing attention due to its outstanding properties of wide viewing angle, bistable state and lower energy consumption. Among various electronic paper display technologies, electrowetting e-paper (EWD) is the most promising as it can achieve full-color display by using stacked layers or RGB color filter. However, the EWD is faced with several challenges, including poor color brightness, low contrast ratio and small color gamut. To improve the performance of the EWD, we proposed a new configuration of EWD consisting of three independent PCLC reflection films based on the cholesteric liquid crystal materials. We designed and experimentally fabricated three types of reflection films, and then added the PCLC films to the tri-layered EWD device. We experimentally characterized the reflectivity and color gamut of the sample in the dark room. It is found that the experimental results and simulation results match with each other. It is demonstrated that with the PCLC films, the reflectivity is improved by 20%, while the color gamut is improved by 80%, which is sufficient for the daily display demand of E-paper. The proposed EWD device containing PCLC reflection films provide a new strategy to improve the brightness and color gamut of current EWD device, and is promising for realizing the full-color E-paper display.
Novel spatiotemporal processing tools for body-surface potential map signals for the prediction of catheter ablation outcome in persistent atrial fibrillation
Authors: McCann Anna , Luca Adrian , Pascale Patrizio , Pruvot Etienne , Vesin Jean-Marc
Published: September 2022

Background: Signal processing tools are required to efficiently analyze data collected in body-surface-potential map (BSPM) recordings. A limited number of such tools exist for studying persistent atrial fibrillation (persAF). We propose two novel, spatiotemporal indices for processing BSPM data and test their clinical applicability through a comparison with the recently proposed non-dipolar component index (NDI) for prediction of single-procedure catheter ablation (CA) success rate in persAF patients.

Methods: BSPM recordings were obtained with a 252-lead vest in 13 persAF patients (8 men, 63 ± 8 years, 11 ± 13 months sustained AF duration) before undergoing CA. Each recording was divided into seven 1-min segments of high signal quality. Spatiotemporal ventricular activity (VA) cancellation was applied to each segment to isolate atrial activity (AA). The two novel indices, called error-ratio, normalized root-mean-square error (ERNRMSE) and error-ratio, mean-absolute error (ERABSE), were calculated. These indices quantify the capacity of a subset of BSPM vest electrodes to accurately represent the AA, and AA dominant frequency (DF), respectively, on all BSPM electrodes over time, compared to the optimal principal component analysis (PCA) representation. The NDI, quantifying the fraction of energy retained after removal of the three largest PCs, was also calculated. The two novel indices and the NDI were statistically compared between patient groups based on single-procedure clinical CA outcome. Finally, their predictive power for univariate CA outcome classification was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis with cross-validation for a logistic regression classifier.

Results: Patient clinical outcomes were recorded 6 months following procedures, and those who had an arrhythmia recurrence at least 2 months post-CA were defined as having a negative outcome. Clinical outcome information was available for 11 patients, 6 with arrhythmia recurrence. Therefore, a total of 77 1-min AA-BSPM segments were available for analysis. Significant differences were found in the values of the novel indices and NDI between patients with arrhythmia recurrence post-ablation and those without. ROC analysis showed the best CA outcome predictive performance for ERNRMSE (AUC = 0.77 ± 0.08, sensitivity = 76.2%, specificity = 84.8%).

Conclusion: Significant association was found between the novel indices and CA success or failure. The novel index ERNRMSE additionally shows good predictive power for single-procedure CA outcome.
Identification of hub genes associated with acute kidney injury induced by renal ischemia–reperfusion injury in mice
Authors: He Sheng , He Lili , Yan Fangran , Li Junda , Liao Xiaoting , Ling Maoyao , Jing Ren , Pan Linghui
Published: September 2022

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe clinical syndrome, and ischemia–reperfusion injury is an important cause of acute kidney injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the related genes and pathways in the mouse model of acute kidney injury induced by ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI-AKI).

Method: Two public datasets (GSE39548 and GSE131288) originating from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were analyzed using the R software limma package, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genomes (KEGG) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed using the differentially expressed genes. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to investigate hub genes, and transcription factor (TF)–hub gene and miRNA–hub gene networks were constructed. Drugs and molecular compounds that could interact with hub genes were predicted using the DGIdb.

Result: A total of 323 common differentially expressed genes were identified in the renal ischemia–reperfusion injury group compared with the control group. Among these, 260 differentially expressed genes were upregulated and 66 differentially expressed genes were downregulated. Gene Ontology enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis results showed that these common differentially expressed genes were enriched in positive regulation of cytokine production, muscle tissue development, and other biological processes, indicating that they were involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), PI3K-Akt, TNF, apoptosis, and Epstein–Barr virus infection signaling pathways. Protein-protein interaction analysis showed 10 hub genes, namely, Jun, Stat3, MYC, Cdkn1a, Hif1a, FOS, Atf3, Mdm2, Egr1, and Ddit3. Using the STRUST database, starBase database, and DGIdb database, it was predicted that 34 transcription factors, 161 mi-RNAs, and 299 drugs or molecular compounds might interact with hub genes.

Conclusion: Our findings may provide novel potential biomarkers and insights into the pathogenesis of ischemia–reperfusion injury–acute kidney injury through a comprehensive analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus data, which may provide a reliable basis for early diagnosis and treatment of ischemia–reperfusion injury–acute kidney injury.
A meta-analysis of the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome and sleep disturbances risk
Authors: Wang Chaoyu , Huang Tao , Song Wu , Zhu Jinru , Liu Yanhong , Chen Xiaojuan , Sun Xishi , Wu Qinglan , Chen Huimin , Liao Huizhao , Lin Junyan , Ou Xudong , Zou Zhihong , Wang Zhiwei , Zheng Zhenzhen , Wu Kang , Chen Riken
Published: September 2022

Objective: A meta-analysis is used to explore the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the risk of Sleep disturbances.

Method: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases are searched by computer from their establishment to 1 May 2022. Review Manager 5.4 software is used for the meta-analysis.

Results: A total of nine articles are included, with 1,107 subjects. The results show that PCOS is positively associated with the risk of Sleep disturbances. Comparing with the “PCOS group” (experimental group) with the “NON-PCOS group” (control group), the incidence of Sleep disturbances is higher (OR = 11.24, 95% CI: 2.00–63.10, Z = 2.75, p = 0.006); the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores of the PCOS group is higher than that of the NON-PCOS group (MD = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.32–1.25, Z = 3.30, p = 0.001); the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores of the PCOS group is higher than that of the NON-PCOS group (MD = 2.49, 95% CI: 0.80–4.18, Z = 2.88, p = 0.004); Apnea hypopnea index (AHIs) in the PCOS group are higher than those in the NON-PCOS group (MD = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.07–4.28, Z = 3.27, p = 0.001); the sleep efficiency of the PCOS group is lower than that of the NON-PCOS group (MD = -5.16, 95% CI: 9.39–-0.93, Z = 2.39, p = 0.02); the sleep onset latency of the PCOS group is higher than that of the NON-PCOS group (MD = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.40–3.50, Z = 4.57, p < 0.001); and the Rapid Eyes Movement (REM) sleep in the PCOS group is higher than that in the NON-PCOS group (MD = 17.19, 95% CI: 11.62–55.76, Z = 6.05, p < 0.001). The studies included in each analysis have publication biases of different sizes. After subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis, the heterogeneity of each study in the meta-analysis is reduced, the bias is reduced accordingly, and the stability of the results can be maintained.

Conclusion: PCOS is positively associated with the risk of Sleep disturbances. In order to reduce such risk, attention should be paid to the role of PCOS management, and PCOS prevention and treatment should be actively carried out.
Hydration status during commercial saturation diving measured by bioimpedance and urine specific gravity
Authors: Wekre Stian Lande , Landsverk Halvor Dagssøn , Lautridou Jacky , Hjelde Astrid , Imbert Jean Pierre , Balestra Costantino , Eftedal Ingrid
Published: September 2022

Excessive fluid loss triggered by hyperbaric pressure, water immersion and hot water suits causes saturation divers to be at risk of dehydration. Dehydration is associated with reductions in mental and physical performance, resulting in less effective work and an increased risk of work-related accidents. In this study we examined the hydration status of 11 male divers over 19 days of a commercial saturation diving campaign to a working depth of 74 m, using two non-invasive methods: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and urine specific gravity (USG). Measurements were made daily before and after bell runs, and the BIA data was used to calculated total body water (TBW). We found that BIA and USG were weakly negatively correlated, probably reflecting differences in what they measure. TBW was significantly increased after bell runs for all divers, but more so for bellmen than for in-water divers. There were no progressing changes in TBW over the 19-day study period, indicating that the divers’ routines were sufficient for maintaining their hydration levels on short and long term.
Sex-specific comparison of clinical characteristics and prognosis in Crohn’s disease: A retrospective cohort study of 611 patients in China
Authors: Liu Zhaoshi , Bai Xiaoyin , Zhang Huimin , Wang Zheng , Yang Hong , Qian Jiaming
Published: September 2022

Background: Real-world data on the impact of sex on the disease progression and prognosis of Crohn’s disease (CD) from large-scale Chinese cohorts are lacking.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate sex disparities in the clinical characteristics of, disease progression behaviours of and surgery-related risk factors for CD.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study comprising 611 patients consecutively diagnosed with CD at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2000 to December 2020 was conducted. Multivariate Cox regression and survival analyses was performed to assess the risk factors for disease progression and CD-related surgery in sex subgroups.

Results: Male sex was an independent protective factor against multisystemic extraintestinal manifestations [EIMs] (HR: 0.52, p = 0.03) and a risk factor for intestinal perforation (HR: 1.85, p = 0.01). Male patients had longer EIM-free survival (p = 0.024) and shorter intestinal perforation-free survival (PFS) than females (p = 0.012). Of the 397 patients with the A2 classification, male patients had a higher risk of CD-related surgery (HR: 1.80, p = 0.028) and shorter surgery-free survival (SFS) than female patients (p = 0.04).

Conclusion: Sex disparities in disease progression and outcomes of CD were revealed in a single Chinese centre. Male sex was independently associated with worse disease progression and prognosis including multisystemic EIMs and perforation, which suggests the need for individualized management according to risk classification.
Sex and species differences in epithelial transport in rat and mouse kidneys: Modeling and analysis
Authors: Stadt Melissa Maria , Layton Anita T.
Published: September 2022

The goal of this study was to investigate the functional implications of sex and species differences in the pattern of transporters along nephrons in the rat and mouse kidney, as reported by Veiras et al. (J Am Soc Nephrol 28: 3504–3517, 2017). To do so, we developed the first sex-specific computational models of epithelial water and solute transport along the nephrons from male and female mouse kidneys, and conducted simulations along with our published rat models. These models account for the sex differences in the abundance of apical and basolateral transporters, glomerular filtration rate, and tubular dimensions. Model simulations predict that 73% and 57% of filtered Na+ is reabsorbed by the proximal tubules of male and female rat kidneys, respectively. Due to their smaller transport area and lower NHE3 activity, the proximal tubules in the mouse kidney reabsorb a significantly smaller fraction of the filtered Na+, at 53% in male and only 34% in female. The lower proximal fractional Na+ reabsorption in female kidneys of both rat and mouse is due primarily to their smaller transport area, lower Na+/H+ exchanger activity, and lower claudin-2 abundance, culminating in significantly larger fractional delivery of water and Na+ to the downstream nephron segments in female kidneys. Conversely, the female distal nephron exhibits a higher abundance of key Na+ transporters, including Na+-Cl− cotransporters in both species, epithelial Na+ channels for the female rat, and Na+-K+-Cl−cotransporters for the female mouse. The higher abundance of transporters accounts for the enhanced water and Na+ transport along the female rat and mouse distal nephrons, relative to the respective male, resulting in similar urine excretion between the sexes. Model simulations indicate that the sex and species differences in renal transporter patterns may partially explain the experimental observation that, in response to a saline load, the diuretic and natriuretic responses were more rapid in female rats than males, but no significant sex difference was found in mice. These computational models can serve as a valuable tool for analyzing findings from experimental studies conducted in rats and mice, especially those involving genetic modifications.
Cyromazine affects the ovarian germ cells of Drosophila via the ecdysone signaling pathway
Authors: Khalid Muhammad Zaryab , Sun Zhipeng , Zhang Jing , Zhang Shijie , Zhong Guohua
Published: September 2022

Cyromazine, an insect growth regulator, has been extensively used against the insect pests of livestock and households. Previously, it was observed that the continuous selection of cyromazine from the larval to the adult stage decreased the number of germline stem cells (GSCs) and cystoblasts (CBs) in the adult ovary. In addition, in this study, we observed that the number of primordial germ cells (PGCs) was also decreased in the larval ovary after treatment with cyromazine. However, the mechanism by which it affects the germ cells is yet to be explored. Consequently, to deeply investigate the effects of cyromazine on the germ cells, we performed tissue-specific RNA sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the ecdysone signaling pathway was significantly influenced under cyromazine stress. Based on that, we screened and selected 14 ecdysone signaling responsive genes and silenced their expression in the germ cells only. Results of that showed a considerable reduction in the number of germ cells. Furthermore, we mixed exogenous 20E with the cyromazine-containing diet to rescue the ecdysone signaling. Our results supported that the application of exogenous 20E significantly rescued the germ cells in the transgenic lines. Therefore, this implies that the cyromazine decreased the number of germ cells by affecting the ecdysone signaling pathway.
Co-composting of cattle manure with biochar and elemental sulphur and its effects on manure quality, plant biomass and microbiological characteristics of post-harvest soil
Authors: Holatko Jiri , Hammerschmiedt Tereza , Kintl Antonin , Mustafa Adnan , Naveed Muhammad , Baltazar Tivadar , Latal Oldrich , Skarpa Petr , Ryant Pavel , Brtnicky Martin
Published: September 2022

Improvement of manure by co-composting with other materials is beneficial to the quality of the amended soil. Therefore, the manure was supplied with either biochar, elemental sulphur or both prior to fermentation in 50 L barrels for a period of eight weeks. The manure products were subsequently analyzed and used as fertilizers in a short-term pot experiment with barley fodder (Hordeum vulgare L.). The experiment was carried out under controlled conditions in a growth chamber for 12 weeks. The sulphur-enriched manure showed the lowest manure pH and highest ammonium content. The co-fermentation of biochar and sulphur led to the highest sulphur content and an abundance of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in manure. The biochar+sulphur-enriched manure led to the highest dry aboveground plant biomass in the amended soil, whose value was 98% higher compared to the unamended control, 38% higher compared to the variant with biochar-enriched manure and 23% higher compared to the manure-amended variant. Amendment of the sulphur-enriched manure types led to the highest enzyme activities and soil respirations (basal, substrate-induced). This innovative approach to improve the quality of organic fertilizers utilizes treated agricultural waste (biochar) and a biotechnological residual product (elementary sulphur from biogas desulphurization) and hence contributes to the circular economy.
Stimulation of adventitious root formation by laser wounding in rose cuttings: A matter of energy and pattern
Authors: Morales-Orellana Raul Javier , Winkelmann Traud , Bettin Andreas , Rath Thomas
Published: September 2022

Adventitious root (AR) formation is the basis of vegetative propagation in rose, be it via stem cuttings or via stenting. During this process, wounding plays a pivotal role since cell reprogramming takes place at the tissue adjacent to the wound. We investigated the effects of wounding on AR formation on leafy single-node stem cuttings of the rose rootstock R. canina ‘Pfänder’ (codes R02-3 and R02-6) and the cut rose cultivar Rosa ‘Tan09283’ (Registration name ‘Beluga’). Laser wounding treatments were based on the assisted removal of tissue layers located in the bark. The positioning of wounding was studied based on two marking directions: along the cutting base (strip pattern) and around the cutting base (ring pattern). Additionally, the effects of external supply of indole-butyric acid (IBA 1 mg L-1) on rooting were analyzed. Results showed that in order to remove specific tissue layers, the calculation of the laser energy density (J cm-2) in terms of cutting diameter was necessary. Interestingly, the application of energy densities from 2.5 J cm-2 up to approximately 8.5 J cm-2 were sufficient to expose the tissue layers of epidermis up to regions of phloem. Regarding AR formation for R. canina ‘Pfänder’, characterized by a low rooting response, an increase in the rooting percentage was registered when the laser treatment eliminated the tissue up to phloem proximities. Analysis of the nodal position showed that bud location was a preferential place for AR formation independently of wounding treatment. In case of Rosa ‘Tan09283’, laser treatments did not reduce its high rooting capacity, but an apparent reduction in rooting quality due to an investment in tissue healing was observed when wounding reached deeper layers such as parenchyma and sclerenchyma. Results also showed a strong AR formation directly from wounded regions in case of Rosa ‘Tan09283’ specifically when the wound was located below the axillary bud. In conclusion, wounding by assisted-elimination of layers by laser can induce positive effects on AR formation of single-node stem cuttings of the rose if energy applied is able to expose phloem proximities, a longitudinal orientation, and relative position to the axillary bud are considered.
Using transcriptomic and metabolomic data to investigate the molecular mechanisms that determine protein and oil contents during seed development in soybean
Authors: Xu Wenjing , Wang Qiong , Zhang Wei , Zhang Hongmei , Liu Xiaoqing , Song Qingxin , Zhu Yuelin , Cui Xiaoyan , Chen Xin , Chen Huatao
Published: September 2022

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merri.] is one of the most valuable global crops. And vegetable soybean, as a special type of soybean, provides rich nutrition in people’s life. In order to investigate the gene expression networks and molecular regulatory mechanisms that regulate soybean seed oil and protein contents during seed development, we performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of soybean seeds during development in two soybean varieties that differ in protein and oil contents. We identified a total of 41,036 genes and 392 metabolites, of which 12,712 DEGs and 315 DAMs were identified. Analysis of KEGG enrichment demonstrated that DEGs were primarily enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glycerolipid metabolism, carbon metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, linoleic acid metabolism, and the biosynthesis of amino acids and secondary metabolites. K-means analysis divided the DEGs into 12 distinct clusters. We identified candidate gene sets that regulate the biosynthesis of protein and oil in soybean seeds, and present potential regulatory patterns that high seed-protein varieties may be more sensitive to desiccation, show earlier photomorphogenesis and delayed leaf senescence, and thus accumulate higher protein contents than high-oil varieties.
Integrating metabolite and transcriptome analysis revealed the different mechanisms of characteristic compound biosynthesis and transcriptional regulation in tea flowers
Authors: Tang Dingkun , Shen Yihua , Li Fangdong , Yue Rui , Duan Jianwei , Ye Zhili , Lin Ying , Zhou Wei , Yang Yilin , Chen Lixiao , Wang Hongyan , Zhao Jian , Li Penghui
Published: September 2022

The flowers of tea plants (Camellia sinensis), as well as tea leaves, contain abundant secondary metabolites and are big potential resources for the extraction of bioactive compounds or preparation of functional foods. However, little is known about the biosynthesis and transcriptional regulation mechanisms of those metabolites in tea flowers, such as terpenoid, flavonol, catechins, caffeine, and theanine. This study finely integrated target and nontarget metabolism analyses to explore the metabolic feature of developing tea flowers. Tea flowers accumulated more abundant terpenoid compounds than young leaves. The transcriptome data of developing flowers and leaves showed that a higher expression level of later genes of terpenoid biosynthesis pathway, such as Terpene synthases gene family, in tea flowers was the candidate reason of the more abundant terpenoid compounds than in tea leaves. Differently, even though flavonol and catechin profiling between tea flowers and leaves was similar, the gene family members of flavonoid biosynthesis were selectively expressed by tea flowers and tea leaves. Transcriptome and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the regulatory mechanism of flavonol biosynthesis was perhaps different between tea flowers and leaves. However, the regulatory mechanism of catechin biosynthesis was perhaps similar between tea flowers and leaves. This study not only provides a global vision of metabolism and transcriptome in tea flowers but also uncovered the different mechanisms of biosynthesis and transcriptional regulation of those important compounds.
Hydraulic constraints determine the distribution of heteromorphic leaves along plant vertical height
Authors: Yang Xiao-Dong , Anwar Elhamjan , Xu Yi-Lu , Zhou Jie , Sha Long-Bin , Gong Xue-Wei , Ali Arshad , Gao Yong-Chao , Liu Yanju , Ge Ping
Published: September 2022

As an interesting and important trait of some drought-tolerant species, heteromorphic leaves are distributed differentially along plant vertical heights. However, the underpinning mechanism for the formation of heteromorphic leaves remains unclear. We hypothesize that heteromorphic leaves are caused by the hydraulic constraints possibly due to the compensation of the changes in functional traits in response to water transport capacity or the reduction of ineffective water loss. In this study, differences in water transport capacity, morphological traits, anatomical structures, and cellular water relations among three typical types of heteromorphic leaves (i.e., lanceolate, ovate, and broad-ovate) of Populus euphratica Oliv. (a dominant species of desert riparian forest in Central and West Asia) and their relationships were analyzed in order to explore the forming mechanism of heteromorphic leaves. The results showed that the lanceolate, ovate, and broad-ovate leaves were growing in the lower, intermediate, and higher positions from the ground, respectively. Morphological traits, anatomical structures, cellular water relations, and water transport capacity significantly varied among the three types of heteromorphic leaves (P< 0.01). Drought stress in broad-ovate leaves was significantly higher than that in ovate and lanceolate leaves (P< 0.01). Water transport capacity has significant correlations with morphological traits, anatomical structures, and cellular water relations (R2 ≥ 0.30; P< 0.01). Our results indicated that heteromorphic leaves were used as an important adaptive strategy for P. euphratica to alleviate the increase of hydraulic constraints along vertical heights.
Investigating the role of bentonite clay with different soil amendments to minimize the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Solanum melongena L. under the irrigation of tannery wastewater
Authors: Khan Waqas ud Din , Wei Xiangying , Ali Hafiz Haider , Zulfiqar Faisal , Chen Jianjun , Iqbal Rashid , Zaheer Muhammad Saqlain , Ali Basharat , Ghafoor Sana , Rabiya Umm e. , Waqas Muhammad , Ghaffar Rabia , Soufan Walid , El Sabagh Ayman
Published: September 2022

Wastewater from tanneries is a major source of heavy metals in soil and plants when used for crop irrigation. The unavoidable toxicological effects of this contamination, however, can be minimized through two independent steps discussed in the present study. In the first step, a batch sorption experiment was conducted in which Cr was adsorbed through bentonite clay. For this purpose, DTPA extraction method was used to analyze Cr concentration in the soil after regular time intervals (0.5, 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10.5, 11.5, and 20.3 h) which reduced Cr concentration from 38.542 mgL–1for 30 min to 5.6597 mgL–1for 20.3 h, respectively, by applying 1% bentonite. An increase in the contact time efficiently allowed soil adsorbent to adsorb maximum Cr from soil samples. In the second step, a pot experiment was conducted with 10 different treatments to improve the physiological and biochemical parameters of theSolanum melongenaL. irrigated under tanneries’ wastewater stress. There were four replicates, and the crop was harvested after 30 days of germination. It was seen that the application of wastewater significantly (P <0.01) reduced growth ofSolanum melongenaL. by reducing root (77%) and shoot (63%) fresh weight when compared with CFOP (Ce-doped Fe2O3nanoparticles); chlorophyll a and b (fourfolds) were improved under CFOP application relative to control (CN). However, the deleterious effects of Cr (86%) and Pb (90%) were significantly decreased in shoot through CFOP application relative to CN. Moreover, oxidative damage induced by the tannery’s wastewater stress (P <0.01) was tolerated by applying different soil amendments. However, results were well pronounced with the application of CFOP which competitively decreased the concentrations of MDA (95%), H2O2(89%), and CMP (85%) by efficiently triggering the activities of antioxidant defense mechanisms such as APX (threefold), CAT (twofold), and phenolics (75%) in stem relative to CN. Consequently, all the applied amendments (BN, BT, FOP, and CFOP) have shown the ability to efficiently tolerate the tannery’s wastewater stress; results were more pronounced with the addition of CFOP and FOP+BT by improving physiological and biochemical parameters ofSolanum melongenaL. in an eco-friendly way.
Effect of flight velocity on droplet deposition and drift of combined pesticides sprayed using an unmanned aerial vehicle sprayer in a peach orchard
Authors: Li Longlong , Hu Zhihong , Liu Qingju , Yi Tongchuan , Han Ping , Zhang Ruirui , Pan Ligang
Published: September 2022

Extensive research has been conducted on plant protection unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) chemical application technology in recent years owing to its importance as a means of pest and disease control. UAV spraying in orchards faces the drawback of drift risk and can be hazardous to non-targeted crops, humans, and the environment. A detailed and systematic analysis must be performed to determine the uniformity and drift risk of plant UAV sprays. In this study, a peach orchard is sprayed with a plant-protection UAV at three different flight velocities and we evaluate the combined pesticide deposition performance of the canopy, ground loss, downwind ground drift, and airborne drift. Additionally, the droplet size and coverage rate in the canopy are calculated by using water-sensitive paper. The results demonstrate that there is significant difference in the droplet size at flight velocities of 1–3 m/s. The droplet size in the lower canopy is slightly smaller than those in the middle and upper parts. Increasing the flight velocity helps the pesticide droplets to spread and penetrate the canopy. However, it also causes a non-uniform pesticide deposition, reduced effective coverage ratio and effective density ratio. Among the three pesticides used in the experiment, imidacloprid exhibits the best deposition efficiency. The deposition amount and normalized deposition amount in the canopy were the highest at a flight velocity of 2 m/s, accompanied by a lower ground loss under the canopy. The highest near-field ground drift is observed at a velocity of 1 m/s, and the far-field airborne drift is highest at 3 m/s. Lastly, this study provides a reference for the commercial application of plant-protection UAVs.
Perspectives and potential applications of endophytic microorganisms in cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants
Authors: Tripathi Arpita , Pandey Praveen , Tripathi Shakti Nath , Kalra Alok
Published: September 2022

Ensuring food and nutritional security, it is crucial to use chemicals in agriculture to boost yields and protect the crops against biotic and abiotic perturbations. Conversely, excessive use of chemicals has led to many deleterious effects on the environment like pollution of soil, water, and air; loss of soil fertility; and development of pest resistance, and is now posing serious threats to biodiversity. Therefore, farming systems need to be upgraded towards the use of biological agents to retain agricultural and environmental sustainability. Plants exhibit a huge and varied niche for endophytic microorganisms inside theplanta, resulting in a closer association between them. Endophytic microorganisms play pivotal roles in plant physiological and morphological characteristics, including growth promotion, survival, and fitness. Their mechanism of action includes both direct and indirect, such as mineral phosphate solubilization, fixating nitrogen, synthesis of auxins, production of siderophore, and various phytohormones. Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) hold a crucial position worldwide for their valued essential oils and several phytopharmaceutically important bioactive compounds since ancient times; conversely, owing to the high demand for natural products, commercial cultivation of MAPs is on the upswing. Furthermore, the vulnerability to various pests and diseases enforces noteworthy production restraints that affect both crop yield and quality. Efforts have been made towards enhancing yields of plant crude drugs by improving crop varieties, cell cultures, transgenic plants, etc., but these are highly cost-demanding and time-consuming measures. Thus, it is essential to evolve efficient, eco-friendly, cost-effective simpler approaches for improvement in the yield and health of the plants. Harnessing endophytic microorganisms as biostimulants can be an effective and alternative step. This review summarizes the concept of endophytes, their multidimensional interaction inside the host plant, and the salient benefits associated with endophytic microorganisms in MAPs.
Achieving the dual goals of biomass production and soil rehabilitation with sown pasture on marginal cropland: Evidence from a multi-year field experiment in Northeast Inner Mongolia
Authors: Xu Lijun , Li Da , Wang Di , Ye Liming , Nie Yingying , Fang Huajun , Xue Wei , Bai Chunli , Van Ranst Eric
Published: September 2022

Grassland is the primary land use in China but has experienced severe degradation in recent decades due to overgrazing and conversion to agricultural production. Here, we conducted a field experiment in northeastern Inner Mongolia to test the effectiveness of sown pastures in lowering the grazing pressure on grasslands and raising the quality of marginal soils. Alfalfa and smooth bromegrass monocultures and mixture were sown in a marginal cropland field in Hulunber in June 2016. Biomass productivity, soil physicochemical, and biological properties were monitored annually from 2016 to 2020. The results showed that the marginal cropland soil responded consistently positively to sown pastures for major soil properties. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) increased by 48 and 21%, respectively, from 2016 to 2020 over the 0-60 cm soil depth range. Soil microbes responded proactively too. The soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) and N (SMBN) increased by 117 and 39%, respectively, during the period of 2016-2020. However, by the end of the experiment, the soil of a natural grassland field, which was included in the experiment as a control, led the sown pasture soil by 28% for SOC, 35% for TN, 66% for SMBC, and 96% for SMBN. Nevertheless, the natural grassland soil’s productive capacity was inferior to that of the sown pasture soil. The average aboveground biomass productivity of sown pastures was measured at 8.4 Mg ha-1 in 2020, compared to 5.0 Mg ha-1 for natural grassland, while the root biomass of sown pastures was averaged at 7.5 Mg ha-1, leading the natural grassland by 15%. Our analyses also showed that the sown pastures’ biomass productivity advantage had a much-neglected potential in natural grassland protection. If 50% of the available marginal cropland resources in Hulunber under the current environmental protection law were used for sown pastures, the livestock grazing pressure on the natural grasslands would decrease by a big margin of 38%. Overall, these results represent systematic empirical and analytical evidence of marginal cropland soil’s positive responses to sown pastures, which shows clearly that sown pasture is a valid measure both for soil rehabilitation and biomass production.
Characterization of B-box family genes and their expression profiles under abiotic stresses in the Melilotus albus
Authors: Nian Lili , Zhang Xiaoning , Liu Xingyu , Li Xiaodan , Liu Xuelu , Yang Yingbo , Haider Fasih Ullah , Zhu Xiaolin , Ma Biao , Mao Zixuan , Xue Zongyang
Published: September 2022

B-box (BBX) proteins are one of the zinc-finger transcription factor that plays a critical role in plant development, growth, and multiple stress responses. Although BBX genes have been reported in many model organisms, no comprehensive study has yet been conducted on the BBX genes in Melilotus albus, and the biological functions of this family remain unknown. In this study, a total of 20 BBX (MaBBX) genes were identified in M. albus and were phylogenetically divided into five clades. BBX members within the same clade showed similar conserved domain, suggesting similarity of potential biological function. Analysis of MaBBX conserved motifs showed that every subfamily contained two common motifs. Distribution mapping shows that BBX proteins are nonrandomly localized in eight chromosomes. The synteny showed that most homologous gene pairs of the MaBBX gene family were amplified by segmental replication, which meant segmental replication was the main way for the MaBBX gene family to evolve. Additionally, the cis-element analysis predicted light-responsive, various hormone and stress-related elements in the promoter regions of MaBBXs. Furthermore, the expression levels of all 20 MaBBX genes were detected by qRT-PCR under salt, cold, and dark stresses in M. albus. Moreover, it was observed that 16 genes had higher expression levels after 3 h of salt treatment, 10 genes were significantly upregulated after 3 h of cold treatment, and all genes were up regulated after 3 h of dark treatment, and then appeared to decline. In addition, it was also noticed that MaBBX13 may be an important candidate for improving tolerance to abiotic stress. The prediction of protein tertiary structure showed that the tertiary structures of members of the same subfamily of MaBBX proteins were highly similar. The hypothesis exhibited that most of the MaBBX proteins were predicted to be localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm and was validated by transient expression assays of MaBBX15 in tobacco leaf epidermal cells. This study provides useful information for further investigating and researching the regulatory mechanisms of BBX family genes in response to abiotic stresses in M. albus.
Civil society’s perception of forest ecosystem services. A case study in the Western Alps
Authors: Bruzzese Stefano , Blanc Simone , Merlino Valentina Maria , Massaglia Stefano , Brun Filippo
Published: September 2022

Forest Ecosystem Services (FES) are widely recognised by the society nowadays. However, no study in the literature has analysed a ranking of FES after the pandemic. This paper investigated civil society’s perception and knowledge toward these services; in addition, the presence of attitudinal or behavioural patterns regarding individual’s preference, was assessed. A choice experiment was conducted using the Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) method on a sample of 479 individuals intercepted in the Argentera Valley, in the Western Italian Alps. Results, showed a strong interest in biodiversity, aesthetic landscape quality and psychophysical health and a lower interest in provisioning services. Based on the individual preferences, civil society was clustered into five groups for FES, named “Hedonistic,” “Individualist with cultural and health interests,” “Sensitive to regulatory and utilitarian functions,” “Climate change sensitive” and “Livelihood and hedonistic wellbeing.” In general, there was a growing appreciation by civil society for the intangible services offered by the forest, driven by modern lifestyles and an interest in learning more about the provided services. Based on these elements, we believe that similar research should be extended to other mountain contexts to validate the results or to find new insights, and that it is now necessary to study how to involve civil society in decision-making processes of forest planning and management at a local level.