Grain size is an important component trait of grain yield, which is frequently threatened by abiotic stress. However, little is known about how grain yield and abiotic stress tolerance are regulated. ...Here, we characterize GSA1, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) regulating grain size and abiotic stress tolerance associated with metabolic flux redirection. GSA1 encodes a UDP-glucosyltransferase, which exhibits glucosyltransferase activity toward flavonoids and monolignols. GSA1 regulates grain size by modulating cell proliferation and expansion, which are regulated by flavonoid-mediated auxin levels and related gene expression. GSA1 is required for the redirection of metabolic flux from lignin biosynthesis to flavonoid biosynthesis under abiotic stress and the accumulation of flavonoid glycosides, which protect rice against abiotic stress. GSA1 overexpression results in larger grains and enhanced abiotic stress tolerance. Our findings provide insights into the regulation of grain size and abiotic stress tolerance associated with metabolic flux redirection and a potential means to improve crops.
Carbon electrode are a low‐cost and great potential strategy for stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the efficiency of carbon‐based PSCs lags far behind compared with that of ...state‐of‐the‐art PSCs. The poor interface contact between the carbon electrode and the underlying layer dominates the performance loss of the reported carbon‐based PSCs. In this respect, a sort of self‐adhesive macroporous carbon film is developed as counter electrode by a room‐temperature solvent‐exchange method. Via a simple press transfer technique, the carbon film can form excellent interface contact with the underlying hole transporting layer, remarkably beneficial to interface charge transfer. A power conversion efficiency of up to 19.2% is obtained for mesoporous‐structure PSCs, which is the best achieved for carbon‐based PSCs. Moreover, the device exhibits greatly improved long‐term stability. It retains over 95% of the initial efficiency after 1000 h storage under ambient atmosphere. Furthermore, after aging for 80 h under illumination and maximum power point in nitrogen atmosphere, the carbon‐based PSC retains over 94% of its initial performance.
A sort of macroporous carbon electrodes for perovskite solar cells is developed via solvent‐exchange process. The carbon electrode possesses excellent flexibility, compressibility, and self‐adhesion. It can form an extremely strong interface contact with hole transporting layer, notably beneficial to interface charge transfer. Consequentially, the macroporous carbon electrode affords gratifying device performance and durability.
In mammals, cytosolic sensors retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) activate multiple signaling cascades initiating IFN-α/β expression. IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) is ...required for the activation of IFN-β, which, in turn, primes the expression of most IFN-α genes by IFN-induced IRF7 through the STAT1 pathway. In fish, RIG-I overexpression inhibits virus infection by induction of IFN response; however, the subtle signaling cascade mechanism remains to be identified. In this study, we clone an ortholog of MITA, a recently identified adaptor responsible for RLR pathway, from crucian carp (Carassius auratus L.), and demonstrate its ability to suppress viral replication through IRF3/7-dependent IFN response. The pivotal signaling molecules of RLR pathway, including RIG-I, melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, laboratory of genetics and physiology 2, and TANK-binding kinase 1, are also cloned and characterized, confirming that the RLR-mediated IFN activation is conserved from fish to mammals. Further characterization of distinct IFN gene activation reveals that zebrafish IFN1 and IFN3 are induced by the MITA pathway but are dependent on distinct transcription factors. Whereas fish IFN genes cannot be classified into IFN-α or IFN-β, zebrafish IFN1 is primarily regulated by IRF3, thereby resembling that of IFN-β, and zebrafish IFN3 is regulated by IRF7, thereby resembling of those of IFN-αs. In contrast with mammalian IFN-α/β, zebrafish IFN1 and IFN3 are induced by the basally expressed IRF3 or IRF7, both of which are upregulated by IFN and virus infection. Collectively, these data suggest that IFN genes in fish and mammals have evolved independently to acquire a similar mechanism triggering their expression.
Heavy metal contamination is assumed to be a selection pressure on antibiotic resistance, but to our knowledge, evidence of the heavy metal-induced changes of antibiotic resistance is lacking on a ...long-term basis. Using quantitative PCR array and Illumina sequencing, we investigated the changes of a wide spectrum of soil antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) following 4–5 year nickel exposure (0–800 mg kg–1) in two long-term experimental sites. A total of 149 unique ARGs were detected, with multidrug and β-lactam resistance as the most prevailing ARG types. The frequencies and abundance of ARGs tended to increase along the gradient of increasing nickel concentrations, with the highest values recorded in the treatments amended with 400 mg nickel kg–1 soil. The abundance of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was significantly associated with ARGs, suggesting that nickel exposure might enhance the potential for horizontal transfer of ARGs. Network analysis demonstrated significant associations between ARGs and MGEs, with the integrase intI1 gene having the most frequent interactions with other co-occurring ARGs. The changes of ARGs were mainly driven by nickel bioavailability and MGEs as revealed by structural equation models. Taken together, long-term nickel exposure significantly increased the diversity, abundance, and horizontal transfer potential of soil ARGs.
The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and clinical associations of antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT) with thrombosis and pregnancy loss in Chinese patients with ...antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and seronegative APS (SNAPS).
One hundred and eighty six Chinese patients with APS (67 primary, 119 secondary), 48 with SNAPS, 176 disease controls (79 systemic lupus erythematosus SLE, 29 Sjogren's syndrome SS, 30 ankylosing spondylitis AS, 38 rheumatoid arthritis RA) and 90 healthy donors were examined. IgG and IgM aPS/PT, IgG/IgM/IgA anticardiolipin (aCL) and IgG/IgM/IgA anti-β2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) antibodies were tested by ELISA.
One hundred and sixty (86.0%) of APS patients were positive for at least one aPS/PT isotype. One hundred and thirty five (72.6%) were positive for IgG aPS/PT, 124/186 (66.7%) positive for IgM aPS/PT and 99 (53.2%) positive for both. Approximately half of the SNAPS patients were positive for IgG and/or IgM aPS/PT. Highly significant associations between IgG aPS/PT and venous thrombotic events (odds ratio OR=6.72) and IgG/IgM aPS/PT and pregnancy loss (OR=9.44) were found. Levels of IgM aPS/PT were significantly different in APS patients with thrombotic manifestations and those with fetal loss (p=0.014). The association between IgG/IgM aPS/PT and lupus anticoagulant (LAC) was highly significant (p<0.001). When both were positive, the OR for APS was 101.6. Notably, 91.95% (80/87) of LAC-positive specimens were positive for IgG and/or IgM aPS/PT, suggesting aPS/PT is an effective option when LAC testing is not available.
Anti-PS/PT antibody assays demonstrated high diagnostic performance for Chinese patients with APS, detected some APS patients negative for criteria markers and may serve as potential risk predictors for venous thrombosis and obstetric complications.
More than 210,000 medical workers have fought against the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hubei in China since December 2019. However, the prevalence of mental health problems in ...frontline medical staff after fighting COVID-19 is still unknown.
Medical workers in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei Province were invited to participate a cross-sectional and convenience sampling online survey, which assessed the prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A total of 1,091 responses (33% male and 67% female) were valid for statistical analysis. The prevalence was anxiety 53%, insomnia 79%, depression 56%, and PTSD 11%. Healthcare workers in Wuhan were more likely to face risks of anxiety (56% vs. 52%, P = 0.03) and PTSD (15% vs. 9%, P = 0.03) than those in other cities of Hubei. In terms of educational attainment, those with doctoral and masters' (D/M) degrees may experience more anxiety (median of 7.0, interquartile range (IQR) 2.0-8.5 vs. median 5.0 IQR 5.0-8.0, P = 0.02) and PTSD (median 26.0 IQR 19.5-33.0 vs. median 23.0 IQR 19.0-31.0, P = 0.04) than those with lower educational degrees.
The mental problems were an important issue for the healthcare workers after COVID-19. Thus, an early intervention on such mental problems is necessary for healthcare workers.
Low‐temperature solution‐processed SnO2 as a promising electron‐transport material for planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has attracted particular attention because of its outstanding properties ...such as high optical transparency or high electron mobility. However, low‐temperature sol–gel processes used in the synthesis are inevitably affected by the humidity of the atmosphere, which results in a wide distribution in the performance of the prepared PSCs owing to the inability to control crystallinity and defects. Herein, a highly crystalline SnO2 film is synthesized using a simple water bath post‐treatment, which can remove the surface residuals of SnCl4 on the SnO2 films, which is beneficial for the interface charge transport from the perovskite to the SnO2 electron‐transport layer. An improved performance of the PSCs can be easily obtained applying this treatment, giving rise to a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.17 %, much higher than that of the pristine SnO2‐based device (17.59 %). Most importantly, the reproducibility of the devices has been greatly improved, independent of the environmental humidity. Therefore, the enhanced crystallinity of SnO2 has shown promise for future commercial PSC applications: 5 cm×5 cm PSC modules have achieved a PCE of 16.16 %.
Bathing in water: Interfacial engineering greatly improves the reproducibility in the synthesis of planar perovskite solar cells, with a much smaller standard deviation compared to pristine devices. The power conversion efficiency is also greatly increased in comparison, independent of the environmental humidity (0–75 % relative humidity).
...misunderstandings and criticisms, even misinterpretations, and denigrations, have occurred. ...this paper introduces the three evolutionary phases of development of organ transplantation in China: ...the initial exploration phase, development and construction phase, and scientific standardization phase. Development and construction phase (2005–2015) Jie-Fu Huang, the former Vice Minister of the former Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China, pledged on behalf of the Chinese Government at a World Health Organization (WHO) high-level meeting on health for the West Pacific region in 2005 that China would vigorously promote reform in the organ transplantation system; develop voluntary, no-paid organ donation by its citizens; and gradually reduce and eventually stop using organs donated by executed prisoners. The former Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China reviewed and approved organ transplant hospitals according to the regulations in 2007, thereby reducing the number of transplant-qualified medical institutions from >600 to 164. The Xuanwu Hospital of the Capital Medical University was approved to set up the “Brain Injury Evaluation Quality Control Center,” which is responsible for training and certifying physicians and surgeons qualified to declare brain death.
Objectives
To assess the relative diagnostic utility of low- and standard-dose computed tomography (CT)–guided lung biopsy.
Methods
In this single-center, single-blind, prospective, randomized ...controlled trial, patients were enrolled between November 2016 and June 2017. Enrolled study participants were randomly selected to undergo either low- or standard-dose CT-guided lung biopsy. Diagnostic accuracy was the primary study endpoint, whereas technical success, radiation dose, and associated complications were secondary study endpoints.
Results
In total, 280 patients underwent study enrollment and randomization, with 271 (low-dose group, 135; standard-dose group, 136) receiving the assigned interventions. Both groups had a 100% technical success rate for CT-guided lung biopsy, and complication rates were similar between groups (
p
> 0.05). The mean dose-length product (36.0 ± 14.1 mGy cm vs. 361.8 ± 108.0 mGy cm,
p
< 0.001) and effective dose (0.5 ± 0.2 mSv vs. 5.1 ± 1.5 mSv,
p
< 0.001) were significantly reduced in the low-dose group participants. Sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic accuracy rates in the low-dose group were 91.8%, 100%, and 94.6%, respectively, whereas in the standard-dose group, the corresponding values were 89.6%, 100%, and 92.4%, respectively. These results indicated that diagnostic performance did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Using univariate and multivariate analyses, we found larger lesion size (
p
= 0.038) and procedure-related pneumothorax (
p
= 0.033) to both be independent predictors of diagnostic failure.
Conclusions
Our results demonstrate that low-dose CT-guided lung biopsy can yield comparable diagnostic accuracy to standard-dose CT guidance, while significantly reducing the radiation dose delivered to patients.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02971176
Key Points
•
Low-dose CT-guided lung biopsy is a safe and simple method for diagnosis of lung lesions.
•
Low-dose CT-guided lung biopsy can yield comparable diagnostic accuracy to standard-dose CT guidance.
•
Low-dose CT-guided lung biopsy can achieve a 90% reduction in radiation exposure when compared with standard-dose CT guidance.
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