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Submergence stress represents a major obstacle limiting the application of direct seeding in rice cultivation. Under flooding conditions, coleoptile elongation can function as an escape strategy that contributes to submergence tolerance during seed germination in rice; however, the underlying molecular bases have yet to be fully determined. Herein, we report that natural variation of rice coleoptile length subjected to submergence is determined by the glucosyltransferase encoding gene OsUGT75A . OsUGT75A regulates coleoptile length via decreasing free abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) levels by promoting glycosylation of these two phytohormones under submergence. Moreover, we find that OsUGT75A accelerates coleoptile length through mediating the interactions between JASMONATE ZIMDOMAIN (OsJAZ) and ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE (OsABI) proteins. Last, we reveal the origin of the haplotype that contributes to coleoptile length in response to submergence and transferring this haplotype to indica rice can enhance coleoptile length in submergence conditions. Thus, we propose that OsUGT75A is a useful target in breeding of rice varieties suitable for direct seeding cultivation. Elongated coleoptile contributes submergence tolerance during germination of direct seeded rice. Here, the authors show that natural variation of rice coleoptile length is determined by the glycosyltransferase encoding gene OsUGT75A by reducing free ABA and JA levels through glycosylation of these two phytohormones.

HighlightsThe eco-friendly shaddock peel-derived carbon aerogels were prepared by a freeze-drying method.Multiple functions such as thermal insulation, compression resistance and microwave absorption can be integrated into one material-carbon aerogel.Novel computer simulation technology strategy was selected to simulate significant radar cross-sectional reduction values under real far field condition..Eco-friendly electromagnetic wave absorbing materials with excellent thermal infrared stealth property, heat-insulating ability and compression resistance are highly attractive in practical applications. Meeting the aforesaid requirements simultaneously is a formidable challenge. Herein, ultra-light carbon aerogels were fabricated via fresh shaddock peel by facile freeze-drying method and calcination process, forming porous network architecture. With the heating platform temperature of 70 °C, the upper surface temperatures of the as-prepared carbon aerogel present a slow upward trend. The color of the sample surface in thermal infrared images is similar to that of the surroundings. With the maximum compressive stress of 2.435 kPa, the carbon aerogels can provide favorable endurance. The shaddock peel-based carbon aerogels possess the minimum reflection loss value (RLmin) of − 29.50 dB in X band. Meanwhile, the effective absorption bandwidth covers 5.80 GHz at a relatively thin thickness of only 1.7 mm. With the detection theta of 0°, the maximum radar cross-sectional (RCS) reduction values of 16.28 dB m2 can be achieved. Theoretical simulations of RCS have aroused extensive interest owing to their ingenious design and time-saving feature. This work paves the way for preparing multi-functional microwave absorbers derived from biomass raw materials under the guidance of RCS simulations.

Chromium is a harmful contaminant showing mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Therefore, detection of chromium requires the development of low-cost and high-sensitivity sensors. Herein, blue-fluorescent carbon quantum dots were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method from alkali-soluble Poria cocos polysaccharide, which is green source, cheap and easy to obtain, and has no pharmacological activity due to low water solubility. These carbon quantum dots exhibit good fluorescence stability, water solubility, anti-interference and low cytotoxicity, and can be specifically combined with the detection of Cr(VI) to form a non-fluorescent complex that causes fluorescence quenching, so they can be used as a label-free nanosensor. High-sensitivity detection of Cr(VI) was achieved through internal filtering and static quenching effects. The fluorescence quenching degree of carbon dots fluorescent probe showed a good linear relationship with Cr(VI) concentration in the range of 1–100 μM. The linear equation was F0/F = 0.9942 + 0.01472 [Cr(VI)] (R2 = 0.9922), and the detection limit can be as low as 0.25 μM (S/N = 3), which has been successfully applied to Cr(VI) detection in actual water samples herein. [Display omitted] •Carbon dots was synthesized from alkaloid-soluble Poria cocos polysaccharide, which used for Cr (VI) detection.•High sensitivity and selectivity detection of Cr(VI) based on internal filtering effect and static quenching mechanism.•The method analysis speed is quick, sensitive, raw materials for convenient, inexpensive.•The method has been applied to the determination of Cr(VI) in actual samples with satisfactory recovery.

In practical applications, products are usually exposed to multiple stress factors (including environmental stresses and operating stresses) simultaneously. However, existing work on accelerated degradation test mainly focuses on the case of a single stress factor. This motivates the need to develop a reliability assessment model for accelerated degradation test involving multiple stress factors. Therefore, this paper proposes a Wiener process-based accelerated degradation test model that simultaneously considers multiple stress factors, random effects and measurement errors. Then the explicit expression for the lifetime distribution under normal operating conditions of the proposed Wiener accelerated degradation test model is obtained, along with its approximate mean lifetime. In addition, the maximum likelihood estimates of model parameters are derived using the profile likelihood approach, and maximum likelihood estimates for some reliability metrics under normal operating conditions are also obtained. Besides, we construct confidence intervals for model parameters and some reliability metrics using the bias-corrected and accelerated percentile bootstrap method. Finally, the performance of the proposed method is demonstrated by extensive simulation studies, and a numerical example.

Oxidative stress is a central pathological process in neurodegenerative diseases, driving the need for neuroprotective agents capable of scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA) hold promise due to their antioxidant properties, but their biomedical application has been limited by challenges in achieving precise size control. We established a controllable synthesis of PDA by systematically optimizing the alkaline polymerization parameters, including pH, temperature, and reaction time. We also evaluated their antioxidant and neuroprotective efficacy. This approach yielded monodisperse, spherical PDA with a diameter of approximately 60 nm. The synthesized NPs exhibited potent ROS-scavenging capacity, effectively protected neuronal cells from oxidative stress, and promoted microglial polarization from a pro-inflammatory M1 to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Our study not only systematically establishes the technical parameters for the controlled preparation of PDA but also elucidates the dual mechanisms of antioxidant activity and immunomodulation. Those results demonstrate their potential as efficient neuroprotective nanotherapeutics, while providing a solid theoretical and experimental foundation for related drug development.

We find evidence that labor unions affect chief executive officer (CEO) compensation. First, we find that firms with strong unions pay their CEOs less. The negative effect is robust to various tests for endogeneity, including cross-sectional variations and a regression discontinuity design. Second, we find that CEO compensation is curbed before union contract negotiations, especially when the compensation is discretionary and the unions have a strong bargaining position. Third, we report that curbing CEO compensation mitigates the chance of a labor strike, thus providing a rationale for firms to pay CEOs less when facing strong unions.

Trametes hirsuta is able to secrete laccase isoenzymes including constitutive and inducible forms, and has potential application for bioremediation of environmental pollutants. Here, an inducible group B laccase from T. hirsuta MX2 was heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris, and its yield reached 2.59 U/mL after 5 days of methanol inducing culture. The optimal pH and temperature of recombinant laccase (rLac1) to 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) were 2.5 and 60 °C, respectively. Metal ions showed different effect on rLac1 which Mg2+, Cu2+, and K+ increased enzyme activity as their concentration increased, whereas Zn2+, Na+, and Fe2+ inhibited enzyme activity as their concentration increased. rLac1 showed good tolerance to organic solvents, and more than 42% of its initial activity remained in 10% organic solvents. Additionally, rLac1 exhibited a more efficient decolorization ability for remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) than for acid red 1 (AR1), crystal violet (CV), and neutral red (NR). Molecular docking results showed RBBR has a stronger binding affinity with laccase than other dyes by interacting with substrate binding cavity of enzyme. The results indicated rLac1 may be a potential candidate for dye removal from textile wastewater.

Objective Few effective treatments improve upper extremity (UE) function after stroke. Immersive virtual reality (imVR) is a novel and promising strategy for stroke UE recovery. We assessed the extent to which imVR-based UE rehabilitation can augment conventional treatment and explored changes in brain functional connectivity (FC) that were related to the rehabilitation. Methods An assessor-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was performed with 40 subjects randomly assigned to either imVR or Control group (1:1 allocation), each receiving rehabilitation 5 times per week for 3 weeks. Subjects in the imVR received both imVR and conventional rehabilitation, while those in the Control received conventional rehabilitation only. Our primary and secondary outcomes were the Fugl-Meyer assessment’s upper extremity subscale (FMA-UE) and the Barthel Index (BI), respectively. Both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were performed to assess the effectiveness of the trial. For both the FMA-UE/BI, a one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model was used, with the FMA-UE/BI at post-intervention or at follow-up, respectively, as the dependent variable, the two groups as the independent variable, baseline FMA-UE/BI, age, sex, site, time since onset, hypertension and diabetes as covariates. Results Both ITT and PP analyses demonstrated the effectiveness of imVR-based rehabilitation. The FMA-UE score was greater in the imVR compared with the Control at the post-intervention (mean difference: 9.1 (95% CI 1.6, 16.6); P  = 0.019) and follow-up (mean difference:11.5 (95% CI 1.9, 21.0); P  = 0.020). The results were consistent for BI scores. Moreover, brain FC analysis found that the motor function improvements were associated with a change in degree in ipsilesional premotor cortex and ipsilesional dorsolateral prefrontal cortex immediately following the intervention and in ipsilesional visual region and ipsilesional middle frontal gyrus after the 12-week follow-up. Conclusions ImVR-based rehabilitation is an effective tool that can improve the recovery of UE functional capabilities of subacute stroke patients when added to standard care. These improvements were associated with distinctive brain changes at two post-stroke timepoints. The study results will benefit future patients with stroke and provide evidence for a promising new method of stroke rehabilitation. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03086889.

Quantum-confined CsPbBr3 perovskites are promising blue emitters for ultra-high-definition displays, but their soft lattice caused by highly ionic nature has a limited stability. Here, we endow CsPbBr3 nanoplatelets (NPLs) with atomic crystal-like structural rigidity through proper surface engineering, by using strongly bound N-dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA). A stable, rigid crystal structure, as well as uniform, orderly-arranged surface of these NPLs is achieved by optimizing intermediate reaction stage, by switching from molecular clusters to mono-octahedra, while interaction with DBSA resulted in formation of a CsxO monolayer shell capping the NPL surface. As a result, both structural and optical stability of the CsPbBr3 NPLs is enhanced by strong covalent bonding of DBSA, which inhibits undesired phase transitions and decomposition of the perovskite phase potentially caused by ligand desorption. Moreover, rather small amount of DBSA ligands at the NPL surface results in a short inter-NPL spacing in their closely-packed films, which facilitates efficient charge injection and transport. Blue photoluminescence of the produced CsPbBr3 NPLs is bright (nearly unity emission quantum yield) and peaks at 457 nm with an extremely narrow bandwidth of 3.7 nm at 80 K, while the bandwidth of the electroluminescence (peaked at 460 nm) also reaches a record-narrow value of 15 nm at room temperature. This value corresponds to the CIE coordinates of (0.141, 0.062), which meets Rec. 2020 standards for ultra-high-definition displays.The chemical equilibrium is optimized using N-dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid for enhancing the crystal integrity and structural rigidity of CsPbBr3 perovskite nanoplatelets, resulting in their spectrally stable, bright and extremely narrow color-saturated blue emission.

The accumulation of lipids in microglia/macrophage-induced inflammation exacerbation represents a pivotal factor contributing to secondary injury following spinal cord injury (SCI). N-Lactoyl-Phenylalanine (L-P), a metabolic byproduct of exercise, exhibits the capacity to regulate carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and may serve as a potential regulator of lipid metabolism in microglia/macrophage. This study investigates the role of L-P in modulating lipid homeostasis in microglia/macrophage and its therapeutic implications for SCI recovery. By establishing a mouse model of SCI, we confirmed that L-P administration markedly altered lipid metabolism in microglia/macrophage. This metabolic reprogramming was mediated through the activation of the AMPK-PGC1α-PPARγ signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in regulating cellular energy metabolism and inflammatory responses. Our findings demonstrate that L-P treatment enhances the lipid metabolic capacity of microglia/macrophage, thereby attenuating neuroinflammation and promoting tissue repair after injury. Moreover, the polarization of microglia/macrophage shifts toward the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, providing substantial support for the regenerative process of the injured spinal cord. Functional analysis revealed that mice treated with L-P exhibited significantly improved motor function compared to the control group. Collectively, these results underscore the therapeutic potential of L-P in SCI and suggest its utility as a metabolic intervention strategy by modulating microglia/macrophage lipid metabolism to accelerate recovery. Graphical Abstract