•At least 15 kinds of anthocyanins were identified three purple asparaguses.•Peonidin and cyanidin were the major anthocyanins in purple asparagus.•Anthocyanins accumulation in asparagus were ...light-dependent.•Thousands of different expressed genes were found in green and purple asparagus.•One APL-like gene were inhibited greatly in both green and light-treated asparagus.
Asparagus (A. officinalis L.) is a highly nutrition vegetable crop. Here, three purple asparagus cultivars, namely, Jing Zi-2, Purple Passion and Pacific Purple, and one green cultivar, namely, Jing Lv-1 were studied. At least 16 kinds of anthocyanins were identified in purple and green cultivars, and peonidin, cyanidin and their glycoside derivatives were found to be the major anthocyanins. Transcriptome data showed that most anthocyanin biosynthetic genes and at least 5 kinds of transcription factors were significantly differentially expressed significantly between the green and purple cultivars. Dark-treated experiments revealed that anthocyanins are not produced in the absence of light, and both the anthocyanin biosynthetic and regulatory genes were down-regulated greatly in the dark, implying that anthocyanins accumulation in asparagus is light-dependent. Overall, the results of this study provide useful information for understanding anthocyanin accumulation and the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis in asparagus.
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•Analysis of the battery electric vehicle (BEV) energy consumption distribution.•A simplified analytical BEV energy efficiency model to understand the driving pattern ...impact.•Parameter variation analysis of rolling coefficient, drag area, battery energy density and grid carbon intensity.•Evaluation of vehicle design optimization potentials.•Suggestions of appropriate BEV battery ranges in China.
To meet increasingly stringent emission legislation, electric vehicles are expected to offer promising sustainable mobility in the future. However, the driving range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is limited as compared with hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Additionally, the grid power supply in China is highly dependent on coal-based thermal power generation, which leads to high grid-carbon intensity and increased well-to-tank (WTT) emission for BEVs. Therefore, the tradeoff between electric vehicle driving range and environmental impact has become a critical problem in BEV development in China.
In this study, a BEV model is built and validated. The energy consumption and well-to-wheel (WTW) CO2 emission rates of different driving ranges and test cycles are simulated. To determine the impact of driving patterns on BEV energy consumption, the distribution of vehicle energy consumption is analyzed and an analytical model is proposed to generalize the energy consumption of BEVs in standardized driving cycles to real-world driving with only two statistical characteristics: the average and the variance of the speeds. It is found that BEVs have a great advantage in terms of energy saving only at driving cycles with low average speeds and frequent stops. While driving at highway speeds, the energy consumption of BEVs can be very high. With an understanding of driving pattern impact, parameter variation analysis of the BEV WTW CO2 emission rates for different driving ranges is simulated. Simulation results show that the rolling coefficient and battery energy density have a significant impact on driving range, followed by the drag area. However, grid-carbon intensity is more efficient for reducing WTW CO2 emissions. Currently, optimization of the rolling coefficient and drag area is the most viable option for increasing the battery range and decreasing the WTW CO2 emission rate.
Finally, to reduce the energy and environmental impact of BEVs in China, short driving ranges (<250km) and low driving speeds (<80km/h) are suggested for current BEVs, and optimization of the vehicle design and reduction of grid-carbon intensity are considered to be the most critical issues for the future application of BEVs.
Low-carbohydrate diets are associated with cardiovascular risk factors; however, the results of different studies are inconsistent.
The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the relationship ...between low-carbohydrate diets and cardiovascular risk factors.
Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Library) were searched from their inception to November 2018. We collected data from 12 randomized trials on low-carbohydrate diets including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and blood pressure levels, as well as weight as the endpoints. The average difference (MD) was used as the index to measure the effect of a low-carbohydrate diet on cardiovascular risk factors with a fixed-effects model or random-effects model. The analysis was further stratified by factors that might affect the results of the intervention.
From 1292 studies identified in the initial search results, 12 randomized studies were included in the final analysis, which showed that a low-carbohydrate diet was associated with a decrease in triglyceride levels of -0.15mmol/l (95% confidence interval -0.23 to -0.07). Low-carbohydrate diet interventions lasting less than 6 months were associated with a decrease of -0.23mmol/l (95% confidence interval -0.32 to -0.15), while those lasting 12-23 months were associated with a decrease of -0.17mmol/l (95% confidence interval -0.32 to -0.01). The change in the body weight in the observation groups was -1.58kg (95% confidence interval -1.58 to -0.75); with for less than 6 months of intervention,this change was -1.14 kg (95% confidence interval -1.65 to -0.63),and with for 6-11 months of intervention, this change was -1.73kg (95% confidence interval -2.7 to -0.76). The change in the systolic blood pressure of the observation group was -1.41mmHg (95% confidence interval-2.26 to -0.56); the change in diastolic blood pressure was -1.71mmHg (95% confidence interval-2.36 to -1.06); the change in plasma HDL-C levels was 0.1mmHg (95% confidence interval 0.08 to 0.12); and the change in serum total cholesterol was 0.13mmol/l (95% confidence interval 0.08 to 0.19). The plasma LDL-C level increased by 0.11mmol/l (95% confidence interval 0.02 to 0.19), and the fasting blood glucose level changed 0.03mmol/l (95% confidence interval -0.05 to 0.12),which was not significant.
This meta-analysis confirms that low-carbohydrate diets have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors but that the long-term effects on cardiovascular risk factors require further research.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Fruit ripening in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a complicated development process affected by both endogenous hormonal and genetic regulators and external signals. Although the role of NOR, a ...member of the NAC domain family, in mediating tomato fruit ripening has been established, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To explore further the role of NAC transcription factors in fruit ripening, we characterized a new tomato NAC domain protein, named SlNAC4, which shows high accumulation in sepal and at the onset of fruit ripening. Various stress treatments including wounding, NaCl, dehydration and low temperature significantly increased the expression of SlNAC4. Reduced expression of SlNAC4 by RNA interference (RNAi) in tomato resulted in delayed fruit ripening, suppressed Chl breakdown and decreased ethylene synthesis mediated mainly through reduced expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes of system-2, and reduced carotenoids by alteration of the carotenoid pathway flux. Transgenic tomato fruits also displayed significant down-regulation of multiple ripening-associated genes, indicating that SlNAC4 functions as a positive regulator of fruit ripening by affecting ethylene synthesis and carotenoid accumulation. Moreover, we also noted that SlNAC4 could not be induced by ethylene and may function upstream of the ripening regulator RIN and positively regulate its expression. Yeast two-hybrid assay further revealed that SlNAC4 could interact with both RIN and NOR protein. These results suggested that ethylene-dependent and -independent processes are regulated by SlNAC4 in the fruit ripening regulatory network.
Basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors perform as crucial regulators in ABA-mediated stress response in plants. Nevertheless, the functions for most bZIP family members in tomato ...remain to be deciphered.
Here we examined the functional characterization of SlbZIP1 under salt and drought stresses in tomato. Silencing of SlbZIP1 in tomato resulted in reduced expression of multiple ABA biosynthesis- and signal transduction-related genes in transgenic plants. In stress assays, SlbZIP1-RNAi transgenic plants exhibited reduced tolerance to salt and drought stresses compared with WT plants, as are evaluated by multiple physiological parameters associated with stress responses, such as decreased ABA, chlorophyll contents and CAT activity, and increased MDA content. In addition, RNA-seq analysis of transgenic plants revealed that the transcription levels of multiple genes encoding defense proteins related to responses to abiotic stress (e.g. endochitinase, peroxidases, and lipid transfer proteins) and biotic stress (e.g. pathogenesis-related proteins) were downregulated in SlbZIP1-RNAi plants, suggesting that SlbZIP1 plays a role in regulating the genes related to biotic and abiotic stress response.
Collectively, the data suggest that SlbZIP1 exerts an essential role in salt and drought stress tolerance through modulating an ABA-mediated pathway, and SlbZIP1 may hold potential applications in the engineering of salt- and drought-tolerant tomato cultivars.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Sweetpotato is an economically important crop, and it has various advantages over other crops in addressing global food security and climate change. Although substantial articles have been published ...on the research of various aspects of sweetpotato biology, there are no specific reports to systematically crystallize the research achievements. The current review takes the lead in conducting a keyword-centric spatiotemporal dimensional bibliometric analysis of articles on sweetpotato research using CiteSpace software to comprehensively clarify the development status, research hotspot, and development trend in the past 30 years (1993–2022). Quantitative analysis was carried out on the publishing countries, institutions, disciplines, and scholars to understand the basic status of sweetpotato research; then, visual analysis was conducted on high-frequency keywords, burst keywords, and keyword clustering; the evolution of major research hotspots and the development trend in different periods were summarized. Finally, the three main development stages—preliminary stage (1993–2005), rapid stage (2006–2013), and diversified mature stage (2014–2022)—were reviewed and analyzed in detail. Particularly, the development needs of sweetpotato production in improving breeding efficiency, enhancing stress tolerance, coordinating high yield with high quality and high resistance, and promoting demand were discussed, which will help to comprehensively understand the development dynamics of sweetpotato research from different aspects of biological exploration.
The interactions of tetracycline (TC) with nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) modified by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-K30) were investigated using batch experiments as a function of reactant ...concentration, pH, temperature, and competitive anions. Transmission electron micrographs (TEM), BET surface area and Zeta (ζ)-potential analyses indicated that the mean particle size was 10–40
nm with a surface area of 36.90
m
2/g, and a iso-electric point of PVP-NZVI was 7.2. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HR-XPS) of modified nanoscale zerovalent iron (PVP-NZVI) revealed that the iron nanoparticles likely have a core of zero-valent iron (Fe
0), while a shell is largely made of iron oxides. Degradation of TC was strongly dependent on pH and temperature. The presence of silicate and phosphate strongly inhibited the removal of TC, whereas acetate and sulfate only caused slight inhibition. LC–MS analysis of the treated solution showed that the degradation products from TC resulted from the removal of functional groups from the TC ring. The degradation products were detected both in the treated solution (initial pH of 3.0 and 6.5) and on the surface of PVP-NZVI after 4-h interaction, indicating that PVP-NZVI can adsorb both TC and its degradation products.
The increasing abundance of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the environment has increased susceptibility to acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). During PM2.5 exposure, excessive reactive oxygen ...species (ROS) production triggers a redox imbalance, which contributes to damage to organelles and disruption of homeostasis. At present, there are limited data on whether NOX4/Nrf2 redox imbalance increases susceptibility to acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), and the underlying mechanism is unclear. Therefore, the current study was aimed to evaluate the role of NOX4/Nrf2 redox balance on AECOPD induced by PM2.5-CS-exposure. Here, we report that PM2.5 exacerbates cytotoxicity by enhancing NOX4/Nrf2 redox imbalance-mediated mitophagy. First, exposure to a low-dose of PM2.5 (200 μg/ml) significantly exacerbated oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage by increasing the ROS overproduction, enhancing the excessive NOX4/Nrf2 redox imbalance, decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and enhancing the mitochondrial fragmentation that were caused by a low-dose of CSE (2.5%). Second, coexposure to PM2.5 and CSE (PM2.5-CSE) induced excessive mitophagy. Third, PM2.5 exacerbated CS-induced COPD, as shown by excessive inflammatory cell infiltration, inflammatory cytokine production and mucus hypersecretion, goblet cell hyperplasia, NOX4/Nrf2 redox imbalance, and mitophagy, these effects triggered excessive ROS production and mitochondrial damage in mice. Mechanistically, PM2.5-CS-induced excessive levels of mitophagy by triggering redox imbalance, leading to greater cytotoxicity and AECOPD; however, reestablishing the NOX4/Nrf2 redox balance via NOX4 blockade or mitochondria-specific ROS inhibitor treatment alleviated this cytotoxicity and ameliorated AECOPD. PM2.5 may exacerbate NOX4/Nrf2 redox imbalance and subsequently enhance mitophagy by increasing the ROS and mito-ROS levels, thereby increasing susceptibility to AECOPD.
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(Hook.f. & Thomson) H.Ohba is an alpine medicinal plant that can survive in extreme high altitude environments. However, its changes to extreme high altitude are not yet clear. In this study, the ...response of
to differences in altitude gradients was investigated through chemical, ICP-MS and metabolomic methods. A targeted study of
growing at three vertical altitudes revealed that the contents of seven elements Ca, Sr, B, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Cd, the phenolic components, the ascorbic acid, the ascorbic acid/dehydroascorbate ratio, and the antioxidant capacity were positively correlated with altitude, while the opposite was true for total ascorbic acid content. Furthermore, 1165 metabolites were identified: flavonoids (200), gallic acids (30), phenylpropanoids (237), amino acids (100), free fatty acids and glycerides (56), nucleotides (60), as well as other metabolites (482). The differential metabolite and biomarker analyses suggested that, with an increasing altitude: (1) the shikimic acid-phenylalanine-phenylpropanoids-flavonoids pathway was enhanced, with phenylpropanoids upregulating biomarkers much more than flavonoids; phenylpropanes and phenylmethanes upregulated, and phenylethanes downregulated; the upregulation of quercetin was especially significant in flavonoids; upregulation of condensed tannins and downregulation of hydrolyzed tannins; upregulation of shikimic acids and amino acids including phenylalanine. (2) significant upregulation of free fatty acids and downregulation of glycerides; and (3) upregulation of adenosine phosphates. Our findings provide new insights on the responses of
to extreme high altitude adversity.
Salinity, as a major environmental stressor, limits plant growth, development, and crop yield remarkably. However, plants evolve their own defense systems in response to salt stress. Recently, ...microRNA (miRNA) has been broadly studied and considered to be an important regulator of the plant salt-stress response at the post-transcription level. In this review, we have summarized the recent research progress on the identification, functional characterization, and regulatory mechanism of miRNA involved in salt stress, have discussed the emerging manipulation of miRNA to improve crop salt resistance, and have provided future direction for plant miRNA study under salt stress, suggesting that the salinity resistance of crops could be improved by the manipulation of microRNA.
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