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Mesoscale eddies occurring in the world’s oceans typically exist in pairs known as mesoscale dipole eddies or simply dipole eddies. Tropical cyclones (hereafter TCs) that move over the world’s oceans often encounter and interact with these dipole eddies. Through this interaction, TCs induce significant perturbations in the mesoscale eddies. However, the specific influences that the passage of a TC on a dipole eddy have not been addressed. In this paper, a case study of the dipole eddy’s response to the passage of a TC is conducted by using satellite observations and numerical simulation. The passage of a TC induces a long-duration response in the dipole eddy. First, the cyclonic ocean eddy component (COE) of the dipole is amplified, and the anticyclonic ocean eddy component (AOE) is weakened or even destroyed during the interaction. The amplification of the COE and weakening of the AOE primarily manifests as a change in their amplitudes and radii and as the adjustment of their vertical structure. The dipole eddy’s response to the interaction with a TC manifests as an upwelling anomaly and the injection of positive relative vorticity. Following the passage of the TC, the COE gradually stabilizes, and AOE slowly recovers after the disturbance energy from the interaction dissipates, which facilitates the reestablishment of the dipole eddy. The dipole reaches an equilibrium state through a quasi-geostrophic adjustment process. As a consequence, the overall effect of the interaction of the dipole with the TC leads to an asymmetric signature on the dipole eddy. The eddy–eddy interaction in a dipole may allow it to stabilize in a shorter time relative to that of a solitary eddy.

Chemical composition of secondary metabolites is of great importance for quality control of agricultural products. Black sesame seeds are significantly more expensive than white sesame seeds, because it is thought that black sesame seeds are more beneficial to human health than white sesame seeds. However, the differences in nutrient composition between black sesame seeds and white sesame seeds are still unknown. The current study examined the levels of different metabolites in black and white sesame seeds via the use of a novel metabolomics strategy. Using widely targeted metabolomics data, we obtained the structure and content of 557 metabolites, out of which 217 metabolites were identified, and discovered 30 metabolic pathways activated by the secondary metabolites in both black and white sesame seeds. Our results demonstrated that the main pathways that were differentially activated included: phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and riboflavin metabolism. More importantly, the biomarkers that were significantly different between black seeds and white sesame seeds are highly related to the functions recorded in traditional Chinese medicine. The results of this study may serve as a new theoretical reference for breeding experts to promote the genetic improvement of sesame seeds, and therefore the cultivation of higher quality sesame varieties.

This study systematically investigated the influence of slope effects on soil-pile interaction in integral abutment jointless bridges (IAJBs) under cyclic loading through pseudo-static cyclic tests. While existing studies on the soil-structure interaction in IAJBs had predominantly centered on level-ground conditions, the asymmetric constraint effects of sloped terrains remained inadequately investigated. To address this research limitation, three reinforced concrete piles—with varying ratios (b/d = 2.0, 0.0, −2.0) of the distance (b) from pile side relative to slope crest to the pile diameter ( d )—were embedded in layered clay-sand slopes and subjected to cyclic displacements. Key results indicated that decreasing the ratio (b/d) from 2.0 to -2.0 increased the maximum damage depth by 25% and expanded the crack distribution range by 50%. The lateral load and soil reaction of the pile in the slope-facing direction decreased by 29.1% and 28.9%, respectively, while backslope values remained stable. Both the equivalent viscous damping and stiffness in the slope-facing direction degraded by 12–32%. These findings clarified the asymmetric soil-pile interaction mechanisms induced by slope effects and provided critical references for optimizing pile embedment depth and seismic design of IAJBs in sloped terrains.

Rice fertility is critical for rice reproduction and is thus a focus of interest. Most studies have addressed male sterility and its relation to rice production. The mechanisms of regulation of embryogenesis and endosperm development are essential for rice reproduction, but remain largely unknown. Here, we report a functional analysis of the rice gene OsGCD1, which encodes a highly conserved homolog of Arabidopsis GCD1 (GAMETE CELLS DEFECTIVE1). OsGCD1 mutants were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and subjected to functional analysis. The homozygote mutants cannot be obtained, whereas heterozygotes showed altered phenotypes. In the majority of aborted seeds, the endosperm nucleus divided a limited number of times. The free nuclei were distributed only at the micropylar end of embryo sacs, and their oriented positioning was blocked. In addition, aleurone differentiation was interrupted. The embryo developed slowly, and pattern formation, particularly the dorsal-ventral pattern and symmetry establishment, of embryos was disturbed. Thus, the embryos showed various morphological and structural dysplasias. Our findings reveal that OsGCD1 is essential for rice fertility and is required for dorsalventral pattern formation and endosperm free nucleus positioning, suggesting a critical role in sexual reproduction of both monocotyledon and dicotyledon plants.

Objective To analyze the epidemic characteristics of common respiratory tract infection pathogens in children with respiratory tract infection, and provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of respiratory tract infection. Methods A retrospective collection of clinical data was conducted on 11,538 children with respiratory tract infections at Luoyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital from December 2022 to November 2023. The types of respiratory tract infections, including upper and lower respiratory tract infections , as well as five respiratory pathogens: influenza A virus (influenza A), influenza B virus (influenza B virus, adenovirus (ADV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infections, were analyzed and compared for different genders, ages, temperatures, and air quality in different months; And the changes of five pathogens in children with respiratory tract infections of different disease severity. Results From December 2022 to November 2023, a total of 11,538 children with respiratory infections were included in the analysis, including 6436 males and 5102 females, with an age of 4.92 ± 2.03 years. The proportion of upper respiratory tract infections is as high as 72.17%, and lower respiratory tract infections account for 27.83% . Among them, 2387 were positive for Flu A antigen, with a positive rate of 20.69%, 51 cases were positive for Flu B antigen, and the positive rate was 0.4%, 1296 cases were positive for adv antigen, with a positive rate of 11.23%, 868 cases were positive for RSV antigen, with a positive rate of 7.52%, 2481 cases were positive for MP IgM antibody or MP antigen, and the positive rate was 21.50%. Flu B in male children The infection rate of ADV and MP was higher than that of female children ( p  < 0.05); Among children in different age groups, the older the age, the older the Flu A The higher the infection rate of MP ( p  < 0.05), the higher the positive rate of RSV in children with younger age ( p  < 0.05). The positive rate of ADV in children aged 3–6 years and > 6 years was higher than that in children aged 0–3 years ( p  < 0.05); Flu A and MP are popular throughout the year, and the positive rate peaks during the period of temperature rise and air quality decline from February to March, and during the period of temperature drop and air quality index rise from August to November, The positive rate of RSV peaked after the turning point of temperature rise from March to April. The infection rate was higher during the period of sharp decline in air quality from March to May and sharp decline in temperature in November, The positive rate of ADV was higher at the turning point of temperature rise from February to March, and then the infection rate decreased. During the period of sharp temperature drop from August to November, the positive rate increased sharply, and the peak of infection occurred; As the disease worsens, The positive rates of Flu A, Flu B, RSV, MP and combined infection with more than two pathogens were all increased ( p  < 0.05). Conclusion After the new coronavirus epidemic in 2022, Flu A and MP have the highest infection rate of respiratory pathogens in children, showing a peak growth in general, with epidemic characteristics changing with environmental temperature, air quality and seasons. The main disease type is upper respiratory tract infection, MP and adv infections were mainly in male children, Flu A, MP and ADV infections are more common in older children, RSV infection was more common in younger children; Flu A, Flu B, RSV and MP infection and the co infection of more than two pathogens may more easily lead to the occurrence of severe pneumonia.

Analysis of the effect of the resolution and quality of terrain data, as the most sensitive input to 2D hydrodynamic modeling, has been one of the main research areas in flood modeling. However, previous studies have lacked discussion on (1) the limitations of the target area and the data source and (2) the underlying causes of simulation bias due to different resolutions. This study first discusses the performance of a high-resolution digital terrain model (DTM), acquired using a drone, for flood modeling in a mountainous riverine city; analyses the effect of the DTM resolution on the results using grid resolutions from 6 cm to 30 m; and then investigates the root causes of the effect based on topographic attributes. Xuanhan, a riverine city in the mountainous region of Southwestern China, was used as the study area. The Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) 2D model was used for all simulations, and the results generated using a 6 cm DTM acquired by drone were used as a benchmark. The results indicate that flood characteristic simulations exhibit noticeable stepwise changes as the DTM resolution varies. DTMs with a resolution better than 10 m are more effective with respect to capturing the terrain's undulating features in the study area, which is crucial for accurately modeling the inundation area. However, to accurately capture topographic features related to elevation differences, the resolution should preferably be better than 5 m, as this directly affects the accuracy of flood depth simulation. The analysis of topographic attributes provides theoretical support for determining the optimal resolution to meet simulation requirements.

Background The COVID-19 ( SARS-CoV-2 ) epidemic has posed a major challenge to global public health, especially in children. Some children may experience secondary infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which has attracted widespread attention. Studies have shown that eosinophils play an important role in respiratory tract infections and are involved in regulating immune responses and inflammatory processes. However, there is a lack of systematic research on the specific manifestations and mechanisms of eosinophils in secondary infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Objective This study aims to explore the characteristics of immune response in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, focusing on the changes in immune indicators such as eosinophils (EOS), immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT). Methods This study is a retrospective observational study, and a total of pediatric patients who were treated in our hospital from January 2023 to December 2023 were included. The study group included children who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection and further infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae , and the control group included children who were only infected with SARS-CoV-2 and had no other pathogens. The clinical data of the two groups of patients, including absolute eosinophil value, IgE quantification, IL-6, CRP and PCT levels, were collected and analyzed, and statistical comparisons were performed. Results A total of 134 children were included, including 79 in the study group and 55 in the control group. The absolute eosinophil value [0.17 (0.09, 0.31) vs. 0.09 (0.06, 0.23), P  < 0.01] and IgE level [59.28 (37.54, 256.88) vs. 22.00 (11.00, 113.10) P  < 0.01] of the children in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while IL-6 [16.81(4.72,31.86) vs. 9.5(3,57.3), P  = 0.602], CRP [2.82(1.10,6.13) vs. 1.94(0.50,8.94), P  = 0.528] and PCT[0.12(0.08,0.20) vs. 0.12(0.10,0.24), P  = 0.329] were no significant difference between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the absolute value of eosinophils and IgE were independent risk factors for secondary infection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusion This study shows that after SARS-CoV-2 infection, the increase in eosinophils and the increase in related immune indicators IgE may be closely related to secondary infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae . This study provides an important basis for understanding the immune response of children after SARS-CoV-2 infection and its related clinical management, suggesting that clinicians should closely monitor the eosinophil count and IgE level of children after SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially for children at risk of secondary infection, so as to take timely intervention measures to prevent secondary infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and improve the prognosis of children.

Chinese bayberry ( Morella rubra ) is a fruit tree economically important in China and accumulates abundant amounts of anthocyanins in fruit as it ripens. Owing to the fact that all anthocyanin containing fruit tissues in Chinese bayberry are edible and anthocyanins can provide various health benefits in human body, the mechanisms underpinning anthocyanin accumulation in this fruit are worthy of investigation. It has been known that in plants anthocyanins are synthesized in the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum and subsequently transported into the vacuole for storage, and glutathione S -transferases (GSTs) have been verified to be involved in this process. But the characterization and functionalization of the GST counterpart in Chinese bayberry is not available. The GST anthocyanin transporter MrGST1 was discovered to be related with anthocyanin accumulation in fruit from distinct developmental stages of “Biqi,” a staple cultivar that accumulates over 1 mg/g anthocyanins in ripe fruit. The expression of MrGST1 was well associated with anthocyanin accumulation either in fruit collected at six developmental stages or in ripe fruit from 12 cultivars. MrGST1 was found to be responsible for the transport of anthocyanins but not proanthocyanidins when the Arabidopsis tt19 mutant was functionally complemented. Transient ectopic expression of MrGST1 in combination with MrMYB1.1 and MrbHLH1 dramatically boosted pigmentation in Nicotiana tabacum leaves in contrast to MrMYB1.1 and MrbHLH1 . The promoter of MrGST1 comprised eight MYB binding sites (MBSs) according to cis -element analysis. Data from yeast one-hybrid assay and dual-luciferase tests demonstrated that MrMYB1.1 exerted considerable transactivation effect on the MrGST1 promoter by recognizing the MBS4, the fourth MBS from the ATG start site. Our results together provided molecular evidence for the contribution of MrGST1 in regulating anthocyanin accumulation in Chinese bayberry fruit.

Background Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has achieved remarkable success in hematologic malignancies but faces significant limitations in gastrointestinal tumors due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), a key enzyme in the TME, suppresses T cell efficacy by catalyzing tryptophan degradation to kynurenine (Kyn), leading to T cell exhaustion and reduced cytotoxicity. This study investigates the role of IDO1 inhibition in overcoming metabolic suppression by kynurenine and enhancing Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) CAR-T cell therapy in gastric and pancreatic adenocarcinoma models. Methods We evaluated the impact of genetic knockdown and pharmacological inhibition of IDO1 (using epacadostat) on CAR-T cell functionality, including cytokine production and exhaustion marker expression. The effects of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide preconditioning on IDO1 expression, CAR-T cell infiltration, and antitumor activity was also examined. In vivo tumor models of gastric and pancreatic adenocarcinomas were used to assess the efficacy of combining IDO1 inhibition with CLDN18.2-CAR-T therapy. Results IDO1 inhibition significantly enhanced CAR-T cell function by increasing cytokine production, reducing exhaustion markers by decreasing TOX expression and improving tumor cell lysis. Preconditioning with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide further suppressed IDO1 expression in the TME, facilitating enhanced CAR-T cell infiltration. In vivo studies demonstrated that combining IDO1 inhibition with CAR-T therapy led to robust tumor growth suppression and prolonged survival in gastric and pancreatic tumor models. Conclusions Targeting IDO1 represents a promising strategy to overcome immunosuppressive barriers in gastrointestinal cancers, improving the efficacy of CLDN18.2-CAR-T therapy. These findings highlight the potential for integrating IDO1 inhibition into CAR-T treatment regimens to address resistance in treatment-refractory cancers.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the main obstacle that limits the use of cisplatin in cancer treatment. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the most commonly used class of medications for gastrointestinal complications in cancer patients, have been reported to cause adverse renal events. However, the effect of PPIs on cisplatin‐induced AKI remains unclear. Herein, the effect and mechanism of lansoprazole (LPZ), one of the most frequently prescribed PPIs, on cisplatin‐induced AKI were investigated in vivo and in vitro. C57BL/6 mice received a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cisplatin (18 mg/kg) to induce AKI, and LPZ (12.5 or 25 mg/kg) was administered 2 hours prior to cisplatin administration and then once daily for another 2 days via i.p. injection. The results showed that LPZ significantly aggravated the tubular damage and further increased the elevated levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen induced by cisplatin. However, LPZ did not enhance cisplatin‐induced tubular apoptosis, as evidenced by a lack of significant change in mRNA and protein expression of Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio and TUNEL staining. Notably, LPZ increased the number of necrotic renal tubular cells compared to that by cisplatin treatment alone, which was further confirmed by the elevated necroptosis‐associated protein expression of RIPK1, p‐RIPK3 and p‐MLKL. Furthermore, LPZ deteriorated cisplatin‐induced inflammation, as revealed by the increased mRNA expression of pro‐inflammatory factors including, NLRP3, IL‐1β, TNF‐α and caspase 1, as well as neutrophil infiltration. Consistently, in in vitro study, LPZ increased HK‐2 cell death and enhanced inflammation, compared with cisplatin treatment alone. Collectively, our results demonstrate that LPZ aggravates cisplatin‐induced AKI, and necroptosis may be involved in the exacerbation of kidney damage.