bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Icariside Ⅱ Attenuates Palmitic Acid-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction Through SRPK1-Akt-eNOS Signaling Pathway
Authors: Gu Yang-Yang , Tan Xiao-Hui , Song Wen-Peng , Song Wei-Dong , Yuan Yi-Ming , Xin Zhong-Cheng , Wang Jia-Dong , Fang Dong , Guan Rui-Li
Published: June 2022

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is commonly accompanied by a reduced capacity for nitric oxide (NO) production and decreased NO sensitivity, playing a central role in numerous vascular diseases. Saturated free fatty acids are known to reduce NO production and then induce endothelial dysfunction. Alternative splicing participates in the regulation of cellular and tissular homeostasis and is highly regulated by serine-arginine protein kinase (SRPK1). The role of SRPK1 in the biology of endothelial cells remains elusive. Icariside Ⅱ (ICA Ⅱ) has been reported to have protective effects on endothelial function. However, the specific molecular mechanisms are still unknown. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of SRPK1 in the biology of endothelial cells and the underlying mechanism of ICA Ⅱ on palmitic acid (PA) induced endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: Endothelial dysfunction was induced using PA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The expression and phosphorylation of related proteins in the SRPK1-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway were detected by Western Blot. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and Ki-67 immunofluorescence were used to estimate cell viability. Endothelial cell function was assessed by detecting NO production using DAF-FM DA. Interaction between ICA Ⅱ and SRPK1 was demonstrated by a biotinylated protein interaction pull-down assay.

Results: The expressions of eNOS, Akt, and SRPK1 were down-regulated in the endothelial dysfunction stimulated by PA. SRPK1 inhibitor SPHINX31 restrained endothelial cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, inhibition of SRPK1 using SPHINX31 and knockdown of SRPK1 by shRNA also showed a down-regulation of the proteins associated with the SRPK1-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway. Biotinylated protein interaction pull-down assay revealed that ICA Ⅱ could be directly bound with SRPK1. On the other hand, ICA Ⅱ could attenuate the PA-induced endothelial dysfunction and restore cell viability through the SRPK1-Akt-eNOS pathway.

Conclusions: ICA Ⅱ, bound with SRPK1, could attenuate the endothelial dysfunction induced by the PA in HUVECs via the SRPK1-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway.
Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Phenolic Compounds Isolated From Entada africana Guill. & Perr. Used in the Republic of Benin
Authors: Codo Toafode Nonvignon Murielle , Marquardt Peter , Ahyi Virgile , Fester Karin , Spiegler Verena , Vissiennon Cica
Published: June 2022

In West African medicine, Entada africana Guill. & Perr. from the family of Fabaceae is used to treat inflammatory conditions in the management of fractures, wounds, and sprains in the northern region of the Republic of Benin. The aim of the present study was to isolate and elucidate phenolic compounds from a hydroalcoholic leaf extract from E. africana and to identify compounds with anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Eleven compounds were purified from three fractions, which have shown strong to medium anti-inflammatory activity. The isolated compounds were characterized by HRESI-MS and NMR methods as gallic acid (1), ethyl gallate (2), 5,7-dihydroxychromen-4-one (3), 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavone (4), dihydrokaempferol-7-O-glucoside (5), catechin (6), quercetin-3-O-[β-apiosyl-(1‴→2″)-β-glucoside] (7), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (8), naringenin-7-O-glucoside (9), aromadendrin (10), and myricetin-3-O-glucoside (11). Nine of the major phenolic compounds were tested using TNF-α stimulated human keratinocytes (HaCaT) as skin inflammation model to identify molecules, which may explain the use of the plant leaves as an anti-inflammatory remedy by assessing the release of proinflammatory cytokines IL-8 and IL-6. The hydroacoholic leaf extract of E. africana exerted a medium inhibitory effect on the release of IL-8. 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavone, aromadendrin, dihydrokaempferol-7-O-glucoside and ethyl gallate demonstrated a strong to medium effect on the release of IL-6. For the release of IL-8, 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavone demonstrated a medium activity. This study provides for the first time a detailed screening of phenolic compounds occurring in the hydroethanolic leaf extract of E. africana. Additionally, it is shown that E. africana contains active compounds which may justify its traditional medicinal use as an anti-inflammatory remedy to treat inflammatory and pain-related skin conditions in the Republic of Benin.
Prominent Effects of Berbamine Hydrochloride on Alzheimer’s Disease Model Mice
Authors: Chen Chang-lan , Wang Hai-li , Qian Feng , Liu Mei-hua , Guo Xiao-xuan , Lv Jing , Huang Jia-hui , Zhang Nai-zhi , Xiang Zheng
Published: June 2022

Very few anti-Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drugs are clinically available at present due to the complex mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease. For the purpose of discovering potential anti-AD drugs in bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, the anti-AD function and the mechanism of the function of berbamine hydrochloride (BBMH) were studied. Three kinds of AD model mice, double transgenic APP/PS1 AD mice, Gal-Alu AD mice induced by the intraperitoneal injection of d-galactose combined with the intragastric administration of aluminum trichloride, and Alu AD-like mice induced by stereotactic brain injection of aluminum trichloride, were administered with BBMH for 40 days at a dosage of 280 mg/kg/d. The effects of BBMH on the learning and memory behavior of the AD mice were studied through the Morris water maze experiment, and the influences of BBMH on the pathological features of AD, including the deposition of Aβ, the lesions of pyramidal cells (neurons), and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, were studied by the immunohistochemical staining, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and silver staining of the brain tissues of the mice. The water maze experiment showed that BBMH could significantly improve the learning and memory abilities of three kinds of treated mice. Immunohistochemical staining showed that BBMH could significantly reduce the deposition of Aβ in the brain tissues of treated mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that BBMH could significantly alleviate the lesions of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal tissue of the mice. Silver staining showed that BBMH could significantly reduce the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the hippocampal tissue of the mice. These results indicated that BBMH has significant anti-AD effects and the potential as an anti-AD drug. Western blot analysis of the brain tissue of the mice showed that the expression level of calpain, a Ca2+-dependent proteolytic enzyme, was significantly inhibited and the expression level of SelK, a selenoprotein mainly expressed in immune cells, was significantly increased. It is speculated that the anti-AD effect of BBMH is related to the improvement of the phagocytosis of microglial cells in brain tissues and macrophages migrated into the brain as well as the regulation of calcium homeostasis and calcium-dependent proteases in the brain tissues of the mice.
Transport of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Polymer Solutions
Authors: Savorana Giovanni , Geisel Steffen , Cen Tianyu , Ling Yuya , Stocker Roman , Rusconi Roberto , Secchi Eleonora
Published: June 2022

Bacteria often live surrounded by polymer solutions, such as in animal respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts. In these systems, polymer solutions are often exposed to fluid flow, and their complex rheology can affect the transport of chemical compounds and microorganisms. Recent studies have focused on the effect of polymer solutions on the motility of bacteria in the absence of fluid flow. However, flow can be a game-changer on bacterial transport, as demonstrated by the depletion of motile bacteria from the low-shear regions and trapping in the high-shear regions in simple fluids, even for flows as simple as the Poiseuille one. Despite the relevance of polymer solutions in many bacterial habitats, the effect of their complex rheology on shear-induced trapping and bacterial transport in flow has remained unexplored. Using microfluidic experiments and numerical modeling, we studied how the shear rate and the rheological behavior of Newtonian and non-Newtonian polymer solutions affect the transport of motile, wild-type Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Poiseuille flow. Our results show that, in Newtonian solutions, an increase in viscosity reduces bacterial depletion in the low-shear regions at the microchannel center, due to a reduction in the bacterial swimming velocity. Conversely, in the non-Newtonian solution, we observed a depletion comparable to the buffer case, despite its zero-shear viscosity being two orders of magnitude higher. In both cases, bacterial swimming and polymer fluid rheology control the magnitude of bacterial depletion and its shear-rate dependence. Our observations underscore the importance of the rheological behavior of the carrier fluid in controlling bacterial transport, in particular, close to surfaces giving rise to velocity gradients, with potential consequences on surface colonization and biofilm formation in many naturally relevant microbial habitats.
Competing Gravitational and Viscous Effects in 3D Two-Phase Flow Investigated With a Table-Top Optical Scanner
Authors: Brodin Joachim Falck , Rikvold Per Arne , Moura Marcel , Toussaint Renaud , Måløy Knut Jørgen
Published: June 2022

We present experiments and theory describing the transition from viscosity-stabilized flow to gravitationally unstable fingering for two-phase flow in a cubic box, filled with a synthetic porous medium. Observation is made possible by the use of our newly developed table-top 3D scanner based on optical index matching and laser-induced fluorescence, which is described in detail. In the experiment, a more dense, more viscous fluid injected at a fixed flow rate from a point source at the top of the flow cell displaces a less viscous, less dense fluid. We observe a stable invasion zone near the inlet, which increases in size with increasing flow rates, and presents initially a close to hemispherical shape. At later times, the invasion front transits to an unstable mode and a fingering flow regime. The transition occurs at a predicted critical radius, Rc, corresponding to the zero of the combined viscous and gravitational pressure gradient.
Computational Analysis of Flow Structures in Turbulent Ventricular Blood Flow Associated With Mitral Valve Intervention
Authors: Kronborg Joel , Svelander Frida , Eriksson-Lidbrink Samuel , Lindström Ludvig , Homs-Pons Carme , Lucor Didier , Hoffman Johan
Published: June 2022

Cardiac disease and clinical intervention may both lead to an increased risk for thrombosis events due to a modified blood flow in the heart, and thereby a change in the mechanical stimuli of blood cells passing through the chambers of the heart. Specifically, the degree of platelet activation is influenced by the level and type of mechanical stresses in the blood flow. In this article we analyze the blood flow in the left ventricle of the heart through a computational model constructed from patient-specific data. The blood flow in the ventricle is modelled by the Navier-Stokes equations, and the flow through the mitral valve by a parameterized model which represents the projected opening of the valve. A finite element method is used to solve the equations, from which a simulation of the velocity and pressure of the blood flow is constructed. The intraventricular blood flow is complex, in particular in diastole when the inflow jet from the atrium breaks down into turbulent flow on a range of scales. A triple decomposition of the velocity gradient tensor is then used to distinguish between rigid body rotational flow, irrotational straining flow, and shear flow. The triple decomposition enables the separation of three fundamentally different flow structures, that each generates a distinct type of mechanical stimulus on the blood cells in the flow. We compare the results in a simulation where a mitral valve clip intervention is modelled, which leads to a significant modification of the intraventricular flow. Further, we perform a sensitivity study of the results with respect to the positioning of the clip. It was found that the shear in the simulation cases treated with clips increased more compared to the untreated case than the rotation and strain did. A decrease in valve opening area of 64% in one of the cases led to a 90% increase in rotation and strain, but a 150% increase in shear. The computational analysis opens up for improvements in models of shear-induced platelet activation, by offering an algorithm to distinguish shear from other modalities in intraventricular blood flow.
Optimal Fenestration of the Fontan Circulation
Authors: Ahmad Zan , Jin Lynn H. , Penny Daniel J. , Rusin Craig G. , Peskin Charles S. , Puelz Charles
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we develop a pulsatile compartmental model of the Fontan circulation and use it to explore the effects of a fenestration added to this physiology. A fenestration is a shunt between the systemic and pulmonary veins that is added either at the time of Fontan conversion or at a later time for the treatment of complications. This shunt increases cardiac output and decreases systemic venous pressure. However, these hemodynamic benefits are achieved at the expense of a decrease in the arterial oxygen saturation. The model developed in this paper incorporates fenestration size as a parameter and describes both blood flow and oxygen transport. It is calibrated to clinical data from Fontan patients, and we use it to study the impact of a fenestration on several hemodynamic variables, including systemic oxygen availability, effective oxygen availability, and systemic venous pressure. In certain scenarios corresponding to high-risk Fontan physiology, we demonstrate the existence of a range of fenestration sizes in which the systemic oxygen availability remains relatively constant while the systemic venous pressure decreases.
Two HCN4 Channels Play Functional Roles in the Zebrafish Heart
Authors: Liu Jiaying , Kasuya Go , Zempo Buntaro , Nakajo Koichi
Published: June 2022

The HCN4 channel is essential for heart rate regulation in vertebrates by generating pacemaker potentials in the sinoatrial node. HCN4 channel abnormality may cause bradycardia and sick sinus syndrome, making it an important target for clinical research and drug discovery. The zebrafish is a popular animal model for cardiovascular research. They are potentially suitable for studying inherited heart diseases, including cardiac arrhythmia. However, it has not been determined how similar the ion channels that underlie cardiac automaticity are in zebrafish and humans. In the case of HCN4, humans have one gene, whereas zebrafish have two ortholog genes (DrHCN4 and DrHCN4L; ‘Dr’ referring to Danio rerio). However, it is not known whether the two HCN4 channels have different physiological functions and roles in heart rate regulation. In this study, we characterized the biophysical properties of the two zebrafish HCN4 channels in Xenopus oocytes and compared them to those of the human HCN4 channel. We found that they showed different gating properties: DrHCN4L currents showed faster activation kinetics and a more positively shifted G-V curve than did DrHCN4 and human HCN4 currents. We made chimeric channels of DrHCN4 and DrHCN4L and found that cytoplasmic domains were determinants for the faster activation and the positively shifted G-V relationship in DrHCN4L. The use of a dominant-negative HCN4 mutant confirmed that DrHCN4 and DrHCN4L can form a heteromultimeric channel in Xenopus oocytes. Next, we confirmed that both are sensitive to common HCN channel inhibitors/blockers including Cs+, ivabradine, and ZD7288. These HCN inhibitors successfully lowered zebrafish heart rate during early embryonic stages. Finally, we knocked down the HCN4 genes using antisense morpholino and found that knocking down either or both of the HCN4 channels caused a temporal decrease in heart rate and tended to cause pericardial edema. These findings suggest that both DrHCN4 and DrHCN4L play a significant role in zebrafish heart rate regulation.
Wearable Electrocardiogram Quality Assessment Using Wavelet Scattering and LSTM
Authors: Liu Feifei , Xia Shengxiang , Wei Shoushui , Chen Lei , Ren Yonglian , Ren Xiaofei , Xu Zheng , Ai Sen , Liu Chengyu
Published: June 2022

As the fast development of wearable devices and Internet of things technologies, real-time monitoring of ECG signals is quite critical for cardiovascular diseases. However, dynamic ECG signals recorded in free-living conditions suffered from extremely serious noise pollution. Presently, most algorithms for ECG signal evaluation were designed to divide signals into acceptable and unacceptable. Such classifications were not enough for real-time cardiovascular disease monitoring. In the study, a wearable ECG quality database with 50,085 recordings was built, including A/B/C (or high quality/medium quality/low quality) three quality grades (A: high quality signals can be used for CVD detection; B: slight contaminated signals can be used for heart rate extracting; C: heavily polluted signals need to be abandoned). A new SQA classification method based on a three-layer wavelet scattering network and transfer learning LSTM was proposed in this study, which can extract more systematic and comprehensive characteristics by analyzing the signals thoroughly and deeply. Experimental results (mACC = 98.56%, mF1 = 98.55%, SeA = 97.90%, SeB = 98.16%, SeC = 99.60%, +PA = 98.52%, +PB = 97.60%, +PC = 99.54%, F1A = 98.20%, F1B = 97.90%, F1C = 99.60%) and real data validations proved that this proposed method showed the high accuracy, robustness, and computationally efficiency. It has the ability to evaluate the long-term dynamic ECG signal quality. It is advantageous to promoting cardiovascular disease monitoring by removing contaminating signals and selecting high-quality signal segments for further analysis.
Effect of Prone Positioning With Individualized Positive End-Expiratory Pressure in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Using Electrical Impedance Tomography
Authors: Mi Liangyu , Chi Yi , Yuan Siyi , He Huaiwu , Long Yun , Frerichs Inéz , Zhao Zhanqi
Published: June 2022

Background: Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) optimization during prone positioning remains under debate in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study aimed to investigate the effect of prone position on the optimal PEEP guided by electrical impedance tomography (EIT).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on nineteen ARDS patients in a single intensive care unit. All patients underwent PEEP titration guided by EIT in both supine and prone positions. EIT-derived parameters, including center of ventilation (CoV), regional ventilation delay (RVD), percentage of overdistension (OD) and collapse (CL) were calculated. Optimal PEEP was defined as the PEEP level with minimal sum of OD and CL. Patients were divided into two groups: 1) Lower Optimal PEEPPP (LOP), where optimal PEEP was lower in the prone than in the supine position, and 2) Not-Lower Optimal PEEPPP (NLOP), where optimal PEEP was not lower in the prone compared with the supine position.

Results: Eleven patients were classified as LOP (9 [8-9] vs. 12 [10-15] cmH2O; PEEP in prone vs. supine). In the NLOP group, optimal PEEP increased after prone positioning in four patients and remained unchanged in the other four patients. Patients in the LOP group had a significantly higher body mass index (26 [25-28] vs. 22 [17-25] kg/m2; p = 0.009) and lower ICU mortality (0/11 vs. 4/8; p = 0.018) compared with the NLOP group. Besides, PaO2/FiO2 increased significantly during prone positioning in the LOP group (238 [170-291] vs. 186 [141-195] mmHg; p = 0.042). CoV and RVD were also significantly improved during prone positioning in LOP group. No such effects were found in the NLOP group.

Conclusion: Broad variability in optimal PEEP between supine and prone position was observed in the studied ARDS patients. Not all patients showed decreased optimal PEEP during prone positioning. Patients with higher body mass index exhibited lower optimal PEEP in prone position, better oxygenation and ventilation homogeneity.
Effects of Lactate Administration on Mitochondrial Respiratory Function in Mouse Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Takahashi Kenya , Tamura Yuki , Kitaoka Yu , Matsunaga Yutaka , Hatta Hideo
Published: June 2022

Recent evidence has shown that mitochondrial respiratory function contributes to exercise performance and metabolic health. Given that lactate is considered a potential signaling molecule that induces mitochondrial adaptations, we tested the hypothesis that lactate would change mitochondrial respiratory function in skeletal muscle. Male ICR mice (8 weeks old) received intraperitoneal injection of PBS or sodium lactate (1 g/kg BW) 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Mitochondria were isolated from freshly excised gastrocnemius muscle using differential centrifugation and were used for all analyses. Lactate administration significantly enhanced pyruvate + malate- and glutamate + malate-induced (complex I-driven) state 3 (maximal/ATP synthesis-coupled) respiration, but not state 2 (basal/proton conductance) respiration. In contrast, lactate administration significantly decreased succinate + rotenone-induced (complex II-driven) state 3 and 2 respiration. No significant differences were observed in malate + octanoyl-l-carnitine-induced state 3 or 2 respiration. The enzymatic activity of complex I was tended to increase and those of complexes I + III and IV were significantly increased after lactate administration. No differences were observed in the activities of complexes II or II + III. Moreover, lactate administration increased the protein content of NDUFS4, a subunit of complex I, but not those of the other components. The present findings suggest that lactate alters mitochondrial respiratory function in skeletal muscle.
Interaction With Fungi Promotes the Accumulation of Specific Defense Molecules in Orchid Tubers and May Increase the Value of Tubers for Biotechnological and Medicinal Applications: The Case Study of Interaction Between Dactylorhiza sp. and Tulasnella calospora
Authors: Hampejsová Romana , Berka Miroslav , Berková Veronika , Jersáková Jana , Domkářová Jaroslava , von Rundstedt Friederike , Frary Anne , Saiz-Fernández Iñigo , Brzobohatý Břetislav , Černý Martin
Published: June 2022

Terrestrial orchids can form tubers, organs modified to store energy reserves. Tubers are an attractive source of nutrients, and salep, a flour made from dried orchid tubers, is the source of traditional beverages. Tubers also contain valuable secondary metabolites and are used in traditional medicine. The extensive harvest of wild orchids is endangering their populations in nature; however, orchids can be cultivated and tubers mass-produced. This work illustrates the importance of plant-fungus interaction in shaping the content of orchid tubers in vitro. Orchid plants of Dactylorhiza sp. grown in asymbiotic culture were inoculated with a fungal isolate from Tulasnella calospora group and, after 3 months of co-cultivation, tubers were analyzed. The fungus adopted the saprotrophic mode of life, but no visible differences in the morphology and biomass of the tubers were detected compared to the mock-treated plants. To elucidate the mechanisms protecting the tubers against fungal infestation, proteome, metabolome, and lipidome of tubers were analyzed. In total, 1,526, 174, and 108 proteins, metabolites, and lipids were quantified, respectively, providing a detailed snapshot of the molecular process underlying plant-microbe interaction. The observed changes at the molecular level showed that the tubers of inoculated plants accumulated significantly higher amounts of antifungal compounds, including phenolics, alkaloid Calystegine B2, and dihydrophenanthrenes. The promoted antimicrobial effects were validated by observing transient inhibition of Phytophthora cactorum growth. The integration of omics data highlighted the promotion of flavonoid biosynthesis, the increase in the formation of lipid droplets and associated production of oxylipins, and the accumulation of auxin in response to T. calospora. Taken together, these results provide the first insights into the molecular mechanisms of defense priming in orchid tubers and highlight the possible use of fungal interactors in biotechnology for the production of orchid secondary metabolites.
Genome-Wide Association Mapping Identifies Key Genomic Regions for Grain Zinc and Iron Biofortification in Bread Wheat
Authors: Juliana Philomin , Govindan Velu , Crespo-Herrera Leonardo , Mondal Suchismita , Huerta-Espino Julio , Shrestha Sandesh , Poland Jesse , Singh Ravi P.
Published: June 2022

Accelerating breeding efforts for developing biofortified bread wheat varieties necessitates understanding the genetic control of grain zinc concentration (GZnC) and grain iron concentration (GFeC). Hence, the major objective of this study was to perform genome-wide association mapping to identify consistently significant genotyping-by-sequencing markers associated with GZnC and GFeC using a large panel of 5,585 breeding lines from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. These lines were grown between 2018 and 2021 in an optimally irrigated environment at Obregon, Mexico, while some of them were also grown in a water-limiting drought-stressed environment and a space-limiting small plot environment and evaluated for GZnC and GFeC. The lines showed a large and continuous variation for GZnC ranging from 27 to 74.5 ppm and GFeC ranging from 27 to 53.4 ppm. We performed 742,113 marker-traits association tests in 73 datasets and identified 141 markers consistently associated with GZnC and GFeC in three or more datasets, which were located on all wheat chromosomes except 3A and 7D. Among them, 29 markers were associated with both GZnC and GFeC, indicating a shared genetic basis for these micronutrients and the possibility of simultaneously improving both. In addition, several significant GZnC and GFeC associated markers were common across the irrigated, water-limiting drought-stressed, and space-limiting small plots environments, thereby indicating the feasibility of indirect selection for these micronutrients in either of these environments. Moreover, the many significant markers identified had minor effects on GZnC and GFeC, suggesting a quantitative genetic control of these traits. Our findings provide important insights into the complex genetic basis of GZnC and GFeC in bread wheat while implying limited prospects for marker-assisted selection and the need for using genomic selection.
The INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION-LIKE6 Peptide Functions as a Positive Modulator of Leaf Senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Guo Cun , Li Xiaoxu , Zhang Zenglin , Wang Qi , Zhang Zhenbiao , Wen Lichao , Liu Cheng , Deng Zhichao , Chu Yumeng , Liu Tao , Guo Yongfeng
Published: June 2022

Leaf senescence is a highly coordinated process and has a significant impact on agriculture. Plant peptides are known to act as important cell-to-cell communication signals that are involved in multiple biological processes such as development and stress responses. However, very limited number of peptides has been reported to be associated with leaf senescence. Here, we report the characterization of the INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION-LIKE6 (IDL6) peptide as a regulator of leaf senescence. The expression of IDL6 was up-regulated in senescing leaves. Exogenous application of synthetic IDL6 peptides accelerated the process of leaf senescence. The idl6 mutant plants showed delayed natural leaf senescence as well as senescence included by darkness, indicating a regulatory role of IDL6 peptides in leaf senescence. The role of IDL6 as a positive regulator of leaf senescence was further supported by the results of overexpression analysis and complementation test. Transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of phytohormone-responsive genes in idl6 mutant plants. Further analysis indicated that altered expression of IDL6 led to changes in leaf senescence phenotypes induced by ABA and ethylene treatments. The results from this study suggest that the IDL6 peptide positively regulates leaf senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Genome-Wide Association Study With Growth-Related Traits and Secondary Metabolite Contents in Red- and White-Heart Chinese Fir
Authors: Cao Sen , Duan Hongjing , Sun Yuhan , Hu Ruiyang , Wu Bo , Lin Jun , Deng Wenjian , Li Yun , Zheng Huiquan
Published: June 2022

Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook] is an important evergreen coniferous tree species that is widely distributed in many southern provinces of China and has important economic value. The Chinese fir accounts for 1/4 and 1/3 of the total artificial forest area and stock volume, respectively. Red-heart Chinese fir is popular in the market because of its high density and red heartwood. The long-growth cycle hindered the breeding process of Chinese fir, while molecular marker-assisted breeding could accelerate it. However, Chinese fir, a perennial conifer species, has a large genome, which has not yet been published. In this study, the growth-related traits and secondary metabolite contents of red- and white-heart Chinese fir were measured and found to be different between them. There are extremely significant differences among growth-related traits (p < 0.001), but secondary metabolite contents have different correlations due to differences in chemical structure. Moreover, genotype effect analysis of the substantially correlated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed that most of the loci related to each growth-related traits were different from each other, indicating a type specificity of the genes regulated different growth-related traits. Furthermore, among the loci related to secondary metabolite contents, nine loci associated with multiple metabolite phenotypes such as Marker21022_4, Marker21022_172, Marker24559_31, Marker27425_37, Marker20748_85, Marker18841_115, Marker18841_198, Marker65846_146, and Marker21486_163, suggesting the presence of pleiotropic genes. This study identified the potential SNP markers associated with secondary metabolites in Chinese fir, thus setting the basis for molecular marker-assisted selection.
MdNAC4 Interacts With MdAPRR2 to Regulate Nitrogen Deficiency-Induced Leaf Senescence in Apple (Malus domestica)
Authors: Wen Binbin , Gong Xingyao , Tan Qiuping , Zhao Wenzhe , Chen Xiude , Li Dongmei , Li Ling , Xiao Wei
Published: June 2022

Nitrogen (N) is one of the important macronutrients in plants, and N deficiency induces leaf senescence. However, the molecular mechanism underlying how N deficiency affects leaf senescence is unclear. Here, we report an apple NAC TF, MdNAC4, that participates in N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. The senescence phenotype of apple leaves overexpressing MdNAC4 was enhanced after N deficiency. Consistently, the chlorophyll content of transgenic leaves was significantly lower than that in the WT control leaves, the expression of chlorophyll catabolism-related genes (MdNYC1, MdPAO, and MdSGR1) was significantly higher than that in the WT controls, and the expression of chlorophyll synthesis-related genes (MdHEMA, MdCHLI, and MdCHLM) was significantly lower than that in the WT control leaves. Furthermore, MdNAC4 was found to directly activate the transcription of the chlorophyll catabolism-related genes MdNYC1 and MdPAO. Additionally, MdNAC4 was proven to interact with MdAPRR2 proteins both in vitro and in vivo, and overexpression of MdAPRR2 seemed to delay N deficiency-induced leaf senescence. Correspondingly, the chlorophyll loss of MdAPRR2-overexpressing (MdAPRR2-OE) lines was significantly lower than in WT control plants. Although downregulated, the expression of the chlorophyll synthesis-related genes MdHEMA, MdCHLI, and MdCHLM in the transgenic plants was more than twice that in the WT control plants. Taken together, our results enrich the regulatory network of leaf senescence induced by N deficiency through the interaction between MdNAC4 and MdAPRR2.
Hyperspectral Technique Combined With Deep Learning Algorithm for Prediction of Phenotyping Traits in Lettuce
Authors: Yu Shuan , Fan Jiangchuan , Lu Xianju , Wen Weiliang , Shao Song , Guo Xinyu , Zhao Chunjiang
Published: June 2022

The currently available methods for evaluating most biochemical traits of plant phenotyping are destructive and have extremely low throughput. However, hyperspectral techniques can non-destructively obtain the spectral reflectance characteristics of plants, which can provide abundant biophysical and biochemical information. Therefore, plant spectra combined with machine learning algorithms can be used to predict plant phenotyping traits. However, the raw spectral reflectance characteristics contain noise and redundant information, thus can easily affect the robustness of the models developed via multivariate analysis methods. In this study, two end-to-end deep learning models were developed based on 2D convolutional neural networks (2DCNN) and fully connected neural networks (FCNN; Deep2D and DeepFC, respectively) to rapidly and non-destructively predict the phenotyping traits of lettuces from spectral reflectance. Three linear and two nonlinear multivariate analysis methods were used to develop models to weigh the performance of the deep learning models. The models based on multivariate analysis methods require a series of manual feature extractions, such as pretreatment and wavelength selection, while the proposed models can automatically extract the features in relation to phenotyping traits. A visible near-infrared hyperspectral camera was used to image lettuce plants growing in the field, and the spectra extracted from the images were used to train the network. The proposed models achieved good performance with a determination coefficient of prediction (Rp2) of 0.9030 and 0.8490 using Deep2D for soluble solids content and DeepFC for pH, respectively. The performance of the deep learning models was compared with five multivariate analysis method. The quantitative analysis showed that the deep learning models had higher Rp2 than all the multivariate analysis methods, indicating better performance. Also, wavelength selection and different pretreatment methods had different effects on different multivariate analysis methods, and the selection of appropriate multivariate analysis methods and pretreatment methods increased more time and computational cost. Unlike multivariate analysis methods, the proposed deep learning models did not require any pretreatment or dimensionality reduction and thus are more suitable for application in high-throughput plant phenotyping platforms. These results indicate that the deep learning models can better predict phenotyping traits of plants using spectral reflectance.
Recent Developments and Strategies for the Application of Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Apple Malus × domestica Borkh
Authors: Schröpfer Susan , Lempe Janne , Emeriewen Ofere Francis , Flachowsky Henryk
Published: June 2022

Genetic transformation has become an important tool in plant genome research over the last three decades. This applies not only to model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana but also increasingly to cultivated plants, where the establishment of transformation methods could still pose many problems. One of such plants is the apple (Malus spp.), the most important fruit of the temperate climate zone. Although the genetic transformation of apple using Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been possible since 1989, only a few research groups worldwide have successfully applied this technology, and efficiency remains poor. Nevertheless, there have been some developments, especially in recent years, which allowed for the expansion of the toolbox of breeders and breeding researchers. This review article attempts to summarize recent developments in the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation strategies of apple. In addition to the use of different tissues and media for transformation, agroinfiltration, as well as pre-transformation with a Baby boom transcription factor are notable successes that have improved transformation efficiency in apple. Further, we highlight targeted gene silencing applications. Besides the classical strategies of RNAi-based silencing by stable transformation with hairpin gene constructs, optimized protocols for virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and artificial micro RNAs (amiRNAs) have emerged as powerful technologies for silencing genes of interest. Success has also been achieved in establishing methods for targeted genome editing (GE). For example, it was recently possible for the first time to generate a homohistont GE line into which a biallelic mutation was specifically inserted in a target gene. In addition to these methods, which are primarily aimed at increasing transformation efficiency, improving the precision of genetic modification and reducing the time required, methods are also discussed in which genetically modified plants are used for breeding purposes. In particular, the current state of the rapid crop cycle breeding system and its applications will be presented.
Mining the Roles of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) SnRK Genes in Biotic and Abiotic Responses
Authors: Jiang Baihui , Liu Yike , Niu Hongli , He Yiqin , Ma Dongfang , Li Yan
Published: June 2022

Sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinases (SnRKs) play vital roles in plant growth and stress responses. However, little is known about the SnRK functions in wheat. In this study, 149 TaSnRKs (wheat SnRKs) were identified and were divided into three subfamilies. A combination of public transcriptome data and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed the distinct expression patterns of TaSnRKs under various abiotic and biotic stresses. TaSnRK2.4-B, a member of SnRK2s, has different expression patterns under polyethylene glycol (PEG), sodium chloride (NaCl) treatment, and high concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) application. Yeast two-hybrid assay indicated that TaSnRK2.4-B could interact with the SnRK2-interacting calcium sensor (SCS) in wheat and play a role in the ABA-dependent pathway. Moreover, TaSnRK2.4-B might be a negative regulator in wheat against pathogen infection. The present study provides valuable information for understanding the functions of the TaSnRK family and provides recommendations for future genetic improvement in wheat stress resistance.
Mitigating Ammonia and Greenhouse Gaseous Emission From Arable Land by Co-application of Zeolite and Biochar
Authors: Ali Awais , Ali Muhammad Fraz , Javed Talha , Abidi Syed Hussain , Syed Quratulain , Zulfiqar Usman , Alotaibi Saqer S. , Siuta Dorota , Adamski Robert , Wolny Paweł
Published: June 2022

The intensive use of chemical fertilizers in arable farming dramatically increased environmental pollution through anthropogenic ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gaseous emissions. Therefore, there is a need to develop improved fertilizer management practices that can reduce these losses. An experiment was conducted to assess the mitigating effects of sole or combined application of zeolite with biochar on gaseous emissions from arable land. For this purpose, zeolite (clinoptilolite) was mixed with different doses of biochar (produced from Dalbergia Sissoo wood chips) and applied along with the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (NPK @ 150, 100, and 60 kg ha–1, respectively) on arable land in years 2013–14 and 2014–15. Immediately after application, these were incorporated into the top 10 cm of the soil layer and wheat was sown. Treatments were as follows: C = control, Z = zeolite @ 5 t ha–1, B1Z = biochar @ 3 t ha–1 + zeolite @ 5 t ha–1, B2Z = biochar @ 6 t ha–1 + zeolite @ 5 t ha–1, and B3Z = biochar @ 9 t ha–1 + zeolite @ 5 t ha–1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The experimental plot size was 6 m × 4 m. Randomly, ten soil samples from each plot were taken at a depth of 0–15 cm and mixed to get a composite sample. All the samples were immediately stored in a freezer at −18°C until gaseous analysis in order to prevent N transformations. Each soil sample was analyzed for emission of NH3, CO2, and CH4 by using a selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometer (SIFT-MS). Co-application of zeolite and biochar reduced NH3 and CH4 emissions by an average of 87 and 58% compared to the control, respectively. However, CO2 emission was increased by 104% relative to the control. The NH3 emission was decreased by an average of 61, 78, 90, and 92% by Z, B1Z, B2Z, and B3Z treatments compared to the control. Similarly, the decrement in CH4 emission was 47, 54, 55, and 65%. In contrast, the increment in CO2 emission was 42, 110, and 160% for B1Z, B2Z, and B3Z, respectively, while interestingly, a reduction of 12% was observed in Z treatment. Besides, co-application of zeolite and biochar at the highest dose (B3Z) improved soil chemical properties such as soil EC, OM, total N, as well as available P and K relative to zeolite alone. It is concluded that the combined application of zeolite and biochar can mitigate NH3 and greenhouse emissions and improve soil chemical characteristics, thus enhancing the environmental worth of arable farming.
Can a Brief Interaction With Online, Digital Art Improve Wellbeing? A Comparative Study of the Impact of Online Art and Culture Presentations on Mood, State-Anxiety, Subjective Wellbeing, and Loneliness
Authors: Trupp MacKenzie D. , Bignardi Giacomo , Chana Kirren , Specker Eva , Pelowski Matthew
Published: June 2022

When experienced in-person, engagement with art has been associated—in a growing body of evidence—with positive outcomes in wellbeing and mental health. This represents an exciting new field for psychology, curation, and health interventions, suggesting a widely-accessible, cost-effective, and non-pharmaceutical means of regulating factors such as mood or anxiety. However, can similar impacts be found with online presentations? If so, this would open up positive outcomes to an even-wider population—a trend accelerating due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its promise, this question, and the underlying mechanisms of art interventions and impacts, has largely not been explored. Participants (N = 84) were asked to engage with one of two online exhibitions from Google Arts and Culture (a Monet painting or a similarly-formatted display of Japanese culinary traditions). With just 1–2 min exposure, both improved negative mood, state-anxiety, loneliness, and wellbeing. Stepdown analysis suggested the changes can be explained primarily via negative mood, while improvements in mood correlated with aesthetic appraisals and cognitive-emotional experience of the exhibition. However, no difference was found between exhibitions. We discuss the findings in terms of applications and targets for future research.
The Effects of Separate Facial Areas on Emotion Recognition in Different Adult Age Groups: A Laboratory and a Naturalistic Study
Authors: Faustmann Larissa L. , Eckhardt Lara , Hamann Pauline S. , Altgassen Mareike
Published: June 2022

The identification of facial expressions is critical for social interaction. The ability to recognize facial emotional expressions declines with age. These age effects have been associated with differential age-related looking patterns. The present research project set out to systematically test the role of specific facial areas for emotion recognition across the adult lifespan. Study 1 investigated the impact of displaying only separate facial areas versus the full face on emotion recognition in 62 younger (20–24 years) and 65 middle-aged adults (40–65 years). Study 2 examined if wearing face masks differentially compromises younger (18–33 years, N = 71) versus middle-aged to older adults’ (51–83 years, N = 73) ability to identify different emotional expressions. Results of Study 1 suggested no general decrease in emotion recognition across the lifespan; instead, age-related performance seems to depend on the specific emotion and presented face area. Similarly, Study 2 observed only deficits in the identification of angry, fearful, and neutral expressions in older adults, but no age-related differences with regards to happy, sad, and disgusted expressions. Overall, face masks reduced participants’ emotion recognition; however, there were no differential age effects. Results are discussed in light of current models of age-related changes in emotion recognition.
Revisiting Grammatical Complexity in L2 Writing via Exploratory Factor Analysis
Authors: Lan Ge , Li Xiaorui , Zhang Qiusi
Published: June 2022

Since the 1990s, grammatical complexity has received substantial research attention in applied linguistics (Bulté and Housen, 2014). The representation of grammatical complexity has expanded in L2 writing with the application of diverse measures in empirical studies in the recent three decades (1991–2020). In response to this situation, we found it important to revisit grammatical complexity, and an exploratory factor analysis was applied to explore latent dimensions (i.e., factors) of grammatical complexity in L2 writing. We analyzed Lu’s (2011) 14 grammatical complexity measures in the L2 corpus of the British Academic Written English Corpus. We then proposed a four-factor model with “clausal subordination,” “phrasal construction”, “global length unit” and “others.” The four factors generally align with the types of grammatical complexity proposed in Lu (2011), but differences on six measures are also found. Noteworthy points were discussed to interpret the reasons behind the differences. Research implications are provided to show further research directions.
Resourceful Event-Predictive Inference: The Nature of Cognitive Effort
Authors: Butz Martin V.
Published: June 2022

Pursuing a precise, focused train of thought requires cognitive effort. Even more effort is necessary when more alternatives need to be considered or when the imagined situation becomes more complex. Cognitive resources available to us limit the cognitive effort we can spend. In line with previous work, an information-theoretic, Bayesian brain approach to cognitive effort is pursued: to solve tasks in our environment, our brain needs to invest information, that is, negative entropy, to impose structure, or focus, away from a uniform structure or other task-incompatible, latent structures. To get a more complete formalization of cognitive effort, a resourceful event-predictive inference model (REPI) is introduced, which offers computational and algorithmic explanations about the latent structure of our generative models, the active inference dynamics that unfold within, and the cognitive effort required to steer the dynamics—to, for example, purposefully process sensory signals, decide on responses, and invoke their execution. REPI suggests that we invest cognitive resources to infer preparatory priors, activate responses, and anticipate action consequences. Due to our limited resources, though, the inference dynamics are prone to task-irrelevant distractions. For example, the task-irrelevant side of the imperative stimulus causes the Simon effect and, due to similar reasons, we fail to optimally switch between tasks. An actual model implementation simulates such task interactions and offers first estimates of the involved cognitive effort. The approach may be further studied and promises to offer deeper explanations about why we get quickly exhausted from multitasking, how we are influenced by irrelevant stimulus modalities, why we exhibit magnitude interference, and, during social interactions, why we often fail to take the perspective of others into account.