Mineral elements required for plant growth and development must first be taken up by the roots from soil. Plants have developed an efficient uptake system for the radial transport of mineral elements ...from soil to central stele through the allocation of various transporters at different root cells. These transporters are regulated at transcriptional, translational and/or post-translational level to cope with the fluctuation of mineral elements in soil. In this insight, we describe an efficient uptake system for mineral elements formed by influx and efflux transporters, regulatory mechanisms and polarity of these transporters, and sensing and signal pathways, in response to spatial and temporal changes of mineral elements in soil. An understanding of the mineral element uptake system in different plant species, and its regulatory network, will contribute to high and safe crop production under varying environments.
Methylene blue (MB) in industrial wastewater is a potential threat to human health and environment and the removal of methylene blue attracts wide attention. In this study, corncob lignin was ...carbonized at 400 °C and cross-linked with chitosan in the presence of epichlorohydrin to prepare a composite (CS-BC), and the adsorption behavior was discussed by using MB as adsorbate. Its removal of methylene blue reached 99.96% with a maximum adsorption capacity of 499.8 mg/g, and the adsorption behavior was in accordance with the Langmuir model. The fitness of pseudo-second-order kinetic model conceded that chemisorption played a major role. Compared with unmodified biochar, the adsorption capacity of CS-BC was increased by ~2 times. CS-BC had good recyclability and was easy to separate from water, which maintained excellent absorption performance after 5 cycles. The excellent adsorption capacity and recycling performance of CS-BC provide a prospect way to eliminate methylene blue from industrial effluents.
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•Lignin waste released from bioethanol production was used as biochar feedstock.•Chitosan modified lignin-biochar composite was applied to remove methylene blue.•The possible adsorption mechanism of adsorbent composite was proposed.•The maximum adsorption capacity of adsorbent reached 499.8 mg/g.
Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) transporters represent a large family in plants, but their functions are poorly understood. Here, we report the function of a rice (Oryza sativa) MATE ...gene (Os03g0216700, OsFRDL1), the closest homolog of barley (Hordeum vulgare) HvAACT1 (aluminum Al-activated citrate transporter 1), in terms of metal stress (iron Fe deficiency and Al toxicity). This gene was mainly expressed in the roots and the expression level was not affected by either Fe deficiency or Al toxicity. Knockout of this gene resulted in leaf chlorosis, lower leaf Fe concentration, higher accumulation of zinc and manganese concentration in the leaves, and precipitation of Fe in the root's stele. The concentration of citrate and ferric iron in the xylem sap was lower in the knockout line compared to the wild-type rice. Heterologous expression of OsFRDL1 in Xenopus oocytes showed transport activity for citrate. Immunostaining showed that OsFRDL1 was localized at the pericycle cells of the roots. On the other hand, there was no difference in the Al-induced secretion of citrate from the roots between the knockout line and the wild-type rice. Taken together, our results indicate that OsFRDL1 is a citrate transporter localized at the pericycle cells, which is necessary for efficient translocation of Fe to the shoot as a Fe-citrate complex.
Visual impairment and interventions to preserve vision may impact dementia risk. Thus, we aimed to explore the associations of cataract and cataract surgery with the risk of dementia.
Prospective ...data from 300,823 individuals in the UK Biobank were used. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for associations, with healthy control subjects as a reference. The same method was used to explore the effects of surgery on dementia outcomes of patients with cataract. One-way analysis of variance was performed to examine the associations between cataract and brain morphometric measures.
After a mean follow-up of 8.4 years, 3226 individuals were diagnosed with dementia. The nonsurgical cataract group had increased risk of all-cause dementia (HR, 1.214; 95% CI, 1.012–1.456; p = .037) and Alzheimer’s disease (HR, 1.479; 95% CI, 1.105–1.981; p = .009). However, there was no difference in dementia risk between the cataract surgery group and the healthy control group. Cataract surgery was associated with decreased risk of all-cause dementia (HR, 0.632; 95% CI, 0.421–0.947; p = .026) and Alzheimer’s disease (HR, 0.399; 95% CI, 0.196–0.812; p = .011) compared with the nonsurgical group. Additionally, cataract was negatively associated with cortical volumes, aging-related subcortical volumes, and fractional anisotropy of white matter fibers.
Cataract patients who did not receive surgical treatment had an increased risk of dementia. However, cataract surgery could reverse the risk of dementia. Our findings on brain structures and pathways in patients with cataract also provided evidence for the mechanism. Reversible visual impairment, such as cataract, is a promising modifiable risk factor for dementia.
Summary Background Homoharringtonine-based induction regimens have been widely used in China for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. However, their efficacy has not been tested in a multicentre ...randomised controlled trial in a large population. We assessed the efficacy and safety of homoharringtonine-based induction treatment for management of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia. Methods This open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 study was done in 17 institutions in China between September, 2007, and July, 2011. Untreated patients aged 14–59 years with acute myeloid leukaemia were randomly assigned (by a computer-generated allocation schedule without stratification) to receive one of three induction regimens in a 1:1:1 ratio: homoharringtonine 2 mg/m2 per day on days 1–7, cytarabine 100 mg/m2 per day on days 1–7, and aclarubicin 20 mg/day on days 1–7 (HAA); homoharringtonine 2 mg/m2 per day on days 1–7, cytarabine 100 mg/m2 per day on days 1–7, and daunorubicin 40 mg/m2 per day on days 1–3 (HAD); or daunorubicin 40–45 mg/m2 per day on days 1–3 and cytarabine 100 mg/m2 per day on days 1–7 (DA). Patients in complete remission were offered two cycles of intermediate-dose cytarabine (2 g/m2 every 12 h on days 1–3). The primary endpoints were the proportion of patients who achieved complete remission after two cycles of induction treatment and event-free survival in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Register, number ChiCTR-TRC-06000054. Findings We enrolled 620 patients, of whom 609 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. 150 of 206 patients (73%) in the HAA group achieved complete remission versus 125 of 205 (61%) in the DA group (p=0·0108); 3-year event-free survival was 35·4% (95% CI 28·6–42·2) versus 23·1% (95% CI 17·4–29·3; p=0·0023). 133 of 198 patients (67%) in the HAD group had complete remission ( vs DA, p=0·20) and 3-year event-free survival was 32·7% (95% CI 26·1–39·5; vs DA, p=0·08). Adverse events were much the same in all groups, except that more patients in the HAA (12 of 206 5·8%) and HAD (13 of 198 6·6%) groups died within 30 days than in the DA group (two of 205 1%; p=0·0067 vs HAA; p=0·0030 vs HAD). Interpretation A regimen of homoharringtonine, cytarabine, and aclarubicin is a treatment option for young, newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. Funding Chinese National High Tech Programme, Key Special Research Foundation of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, National Nature Science Foundation of China, National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project.
Aims Silicon (Si) as a beneficial element can improve nutrient imbalance, but the molecular mechanism for this effect is poorly understood. The objective of this study is to examine the mechanism ...underlying Si-induced decrease of phosphorus (P) uptake in rice (Oryza sativa) at adequate/high P supply. Method A rice mutant (lsi1) defective in Si uptake and its wild type (cv. Oochikara) were used. The P uptake was compared in the presence and absence of Si and the expression of Pi transporter genes was quantified. Results Si addition in the nutrient solution significantly decreased shoot P concentration and uptake in the WT, but not in lsi1 mutant at two P levels, adequate (90 μM) and high (210 μM). Neither the root-to-shoot translocation of P nor the P distribution in different organs was altered by Si in both WT and lsi1. Heterogeneous expression of Lsi1 in Xenopus oocyte did not show transport activity for Pi. The expression of Pi transporter genes (OsPT1, 2 and 8) in the roots was hardly affected by Si in both WT and lsi1, but that of OsPT6 was down-regulated by Si in the WT roots, but not in the lsi1 roots. Furthermore, a split root experiment showed that Si accumulated in the shoots suppressed the expression of OsPT6. In rice grown in paddy field, lsi1 showed higher P concentration in the straw, husk and brown rice than the WT. Conclusion Si decreased P uptake through down-regulating the expression of P transporter gene, OsPT6 in rice and Si accumulated in the shoot is required for this down-regulation.
Background
The thalamus is a key node of deep gray matter and previous studies have demonstrated that it is involved in the modulation of cognition.
Purpose
To investigate the volume changes of the ...thalamus and its subregions and altered thalamus functional connectivity patterns in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Study Type
Prospective.
Population
Thirty‐three patients with MCI (PD‐MCI), 36 PD patients having no cognitive impairment (PD‐NCI), 21 healthy controls (HCs).
Sequence
3.0T MRI scanner; 3D T1‐weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled echo (3D T1‐FSPGR); resting‐state fMRI
Assessment
Voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) was performed to calculate the volume of the thalamus and its subregions. The left and right total thalamus were considered seeds and seed‐based functional connectivity (FC) was analyzed. Additionally, correlations between volumes and cognitive performance and between FC values and cognitive performance were examined separately.
Statistical Test
Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA); two‐sample t‐tests; partial correlation analysis.
Results
The volumes of the total thalamus (PD‐MCI vs. PD‐NCI vs. HCs: 18.39 ± 1.67 vs. 19.63 ± 1.79 vs. 19.47 ± 1.35) and its subregions were significantly reduced in PD‐MCI as compared to PD‐NCI (total thalamus: P = 0.002) and HCs (total thalamus: P = 0.012). Compared with PD‐NCI, PD‐MCI showed increased FC between the thalamus and bilateral middle cingulate cortex and left posterior cingulate cortex, and decreased FC between thalamus and the left superior occipital gyrus, left cuneus, left precuneus, and left middle occipital gyrus. Volumes of thalamus and the subregions, as well as the FC of thalamus with the identified regions, were significantly correlated (P < 0.05, FDR‐corrected) with neuropsychological scores in PD patients.
Data Conclusion
We noted volume loss and altered FC of thalamus in PD‐MCI patients, and these changes were correlated with global cognitive performance.
Level of Evidence
2
Technical Efficiency
Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:1207–1215.
Summary
With advanced sequencing technology, dozens of complex polyploid plant genomes have been characterized. However, for many polyploid species, their diploid ancestors are unknown or extinct, ...making it impossible to unravel the subgenomes and genome evolution directly.
We developed a novel subgenome‐phasing algorithm, SubPhaser, specifically designed for a neoallopolyploid or a homoploid hybrid. SubPhaser first searches for the subgenome‐specific sequence (k‐mer), then assigns homoeologous chromosomes into subgenomes, and further provides tools to annotate and investigate specific sequences.
SubPhaser works well on neoallopolyploids and homoploid hybrids containing subgenome‐specific sequences like wheat, but fails on autopolyploids lacking subgenome‐specific sequences like alfalfa, indicating that SubPhaser can phase neoallopolyploid/homoploid hybrids with high accuracy, sensitivity and performance.
This highly accurate, highly sensitive, ancestral data free chromosome phasing algorithm, SubPhaser, offers significant application value for subgenome phasing in neoallopolyploids and homoploid hybrids, and for the subsequent exploration of genome evolution and related genetic/epigenetic mechanisms.
High aluminum (Al) tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa) is controlled by a Cys2His2-type zinc finger transcription factor ART1 (Al resistance transcription factor 1). There are five close homologs of ...ART1 in the rice genome, but the role of these homologs is unknown.
We functionally characterized one of the ART1 homologs, ART2, in terms of tissue and spatial expression, subcellular localization, transcriptional activation activity, and phenotypic analysis of the knockout lines.
ART2 was localized to the nucleus and showed a transcriptional activation potential in yeast. ART2 was mainly expressed in the roots, but the expression level was much lower than that of ART1. The ART2 expression was rapidly induced by Al in the roots of the wild-type rice, but not in art1 mutant. Knockout of ART2 resulted in increased sensitivity to Al toxicity, but did not alter sensitivity to different pH values. Expression profile analysis by RNA-sequencing showed that ART2 was not involved in activation of genes regulated by ART1; however, four genes seems to be regulated by ART2, which are implicated in Al tolerance.
These results indicate that ART1 and ART2 regulate different pathways leading to Al tolerance, and ATR2 plays a supplementary role in Al tolerance in rice.
Site-testing is crucial for achieving the goal of scientific research and analysis of meteorological and optical observing conditions, one of the associated basic tasks. As one of three potential ...sites to host the 12-meter Large Optical/infrared Telescope (LOT), the Muztagh-ata site, which is located on the Pamir Plateau in Xinjiang, in west China, began its site-testing task in the spring of 2017. In this paper, we firstly start with an introduction to the site and then present a statistical analysis of the ground-level meteorological properties such as air temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction, recorded by an automatic weather station with standard meteorological sensors for a two-year duration. We also show the monitoring results of sky brightness during this period.
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