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As a cell proliferation regulator involved in wide biological processes in plants, GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR (GIF) controls different tissues development. However, whether GIF participates in fruit development remains unclear. According to transcriptome data, we identified PbGIF1 was highly expressed during fruit development in cytokinins induced parthenocarpy pear. In the present study, the biofunction of PbGIF1 was initially verified. Overexpression of PbGIF1 promoted fruit size of transgenic tomato. The size of flesh fruit was not affected by cell expansion but the cell proliferation was promoted by overexpressing PbGIF1. The accelerated cell proliferation process was also observed in PbGIF1-overexpressed transgenic pear fruit calli. The transcriptional regulation of cytokinins on PbGIF1 was further confirmed by exogenous CPPU treatments in pear fruitlets. To investigate the underlying mechanism, the cytokinins-responded factor, PbRR1, was further focused on. The results of Yeast-one-hybrid assay suggested that PbRR1 can bind to the promoter sequence of PbGIF1. The transcriptional activation of PbRR1 on PbGIF1 was also confirmed by Dual-Luciferase assays. Taken together, the results showed that cytokinins control pear fruit development via the transcriptional activation of PbGIF1 by PbRR1.

‘Yunnan’ quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) is used as the dwarfing rootstock for pear (Pyrus spp.). Here, we reported that the sugar contents in mature ‘Zaosu’ pear fruit grafted on ‘Yunan’ quince (Z/Q) were higher than that in ‘Zaosu’ pear fruit grafted on ‘Duli’ (Pyrus betulifolia) (Z/D). To investigate the underlying mechanism, the leaf photosynthetic capacity and the leaf-to-fruit assimilate transport capacity were initially analyzed. The leaf photosynthetic capacity was similar between Z/Q and Z/D, but the assimilate transport capacity was greater for Z/Q than for Z/D. Sugar transporters mediate the distribution of assimilates; therefore, changes in PbSWEET transcriptional patterns were examined. PbSWEET6 was highly expressed in Z/Q fruit. Thus, the PbSWEET6 function related to assimilate transport was further verified. Sucrose and glucose contents increased in transgenic tomato fruit and pear fruit calli overexpressing PbSWEET6. Taken together, these results suggest that ‘Yunnan’ quince positively regulated fruit sugar contents by influencing the flow of PbSWEET6-involved assimilates in the scion.

  The development of efficient CO2 reduction technologies is crucial for mitigating climate change and advancing sustainable energy systems. In this study, the photothermal catalytic reduction of CO2 to methane (CH4) using boron‐doped Ni as a catalyst, focuses on enhancing product selectivity through reaction parameter optimization. Notably, addition of water vapor substantially improves both CH4 yield (195.85 mmol g·h−1) and selectivity (80.21%), representing a significant advancement over traditional approaches. Through integrated experimental characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the underlying mechanism involving competitive adsorption dynamics is elucidated between CO2 and H2O molecules on the boron‐doped Ni surface, along with their parallel dissociation pathways. DFT calculations also confirm that boron doping upshifts the Ni d‐band center, strengthening CO adsorption for subsequent hydrogenation. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) measurements indicated that the reverse water‐gas shift (RWGS) reaction on boron‐doped Ni proceeded primarily via a dissociation pathway. Furthermore, the introduction of H2O enables alternative CO2 reduction mechanisms through the carboxylate and bicarbonate pathways. This study demonstrates the significant potential of boron‐doped Ni catalysts for enhanced CO2 methanation and provides valuable mechanistic insights into how reaction parameters influence the photothermal CO2 reduction process. Boron‐doped nickel catalysts achieve exceptional photothermal CO2 methanation performance, reaching 195.85 mmol g−1 h−1 CH4 yield with 80.21% selectivity through optimized H2/H2O feeding. Boron doping modulates the Ni d‐band center, strengthening CO adsorption and facilitating subsequent hydrogenation. This work provides atomic‐level insights into photothermal catalytic mechanisms and pathway control for sustainable CO2 conversion.

IntroductionDegenerative lumbar spinal stenosis is a common cause of low back or leg pain and disability in the elderly population. Patients with spinal stenosis who fail to respond to conservative treatment often require surgical interventions. Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) with microscopic tubular technique (MT-TLIF) is a well-established procedure for lumbar spinal stenosis. Recently, a novel MIS technique, unilateral biportal endoscopic TLIF (UBE-TLIF), has been frequently performed to treat spinal stenosis. However, the efficacy and safety of using UBE-TLIF in this population have not been well examined.Methods and analysisA total of 96 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis will be randomly assigned to the UBE-TLIF group or the MT-TLIF group at a 1:1 ratio to receive UBE-TLIF or MT-TLIF treatment respectively. The primary outcome is the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score at 1 year after receiving the surgery. Secondary outcomes include the ODI scores at additional time points, Visual Analogue Scale score, 36-Item Short Form Survey questionnaire, EuroQol 5 Dimensions questionnaire, radiological measurements (disc height, lumbar lordosis angles and vertebral fusion rate) and general condition during hospitalisation.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol is approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. All participants of the study will be well informed and written informed consent will be requested. Findings from this trial will be published in peer-reviewed publications, specifically in orthopedic and spinal journals. The completion of this study will not only examine the use of UBE-TLIF in lumbar spinal stenosis but also provide helpful clinical references.Trial registration numberChiCTR2300069333.

Anchored slope with weak structural planes is a complex combination of rock mass and retaining structure, whose stability analysis is a necessary condition for road safety protection. To better understand the failure mechanism of anchored slope with weak structural planes under local overload, a series of physical model tests as well as corresponding numerical simulations have been conducted. Based on the test and numerical modeling results, the following conclusions are drawn: There is a serious stress concentration in the middle of the slope, which results in the failure of the slope surface in the shape of a bulge. Under the action of vertical stress, the anchored slope forms a wedge sliding zone along the weak structural plane. The overloading failure mode of the anchored slope with weak structural planes is collapse-upper extrusion-middle traction-lower, and the whole along the weak structural plane to the lower part of the wedge sliding failure. Overload changes the load bearing and deformation characteristics of anchored slope with weak structural planes. Additionally, the greatest stress occurs in the weak structural plane shear failure location, while the weak structural plane isolates the deformation and stress transfer. The axial force is distributed in the shape of “Z”, and the strength of the anchor cable in the middle and upper row should be appropriately strengthened.

The accurate delineation of mega-environments (MEs) and the rigorous evaluation of test locations are critical for optimizing regional variety trial schemes, particularly when addressing unbalanced datasets from multi-year, multi-location wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) trials. This study aimed at refining the regional wheat trial framework in the Huanghuai Winter Wheat Region (HWWR) of China using an integrated BLUP-GGE biplot approach, which combines best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) values with genotype main effect plus genotype-by-environment interaction (GGE) biplot analysis to account for temporal variability and experimental error. We systematically evaluated the BLUP-GGE biplot approach, focusing on its goodness of fit and its ability to resolve inter-location relationships. We further assessed test location representativeness, discriminating ability, and overall desirability via the BLUP-GGE biplot, and contrasted ME delineation outcomes between the traditional “which-won-where” polygon method and the test location clustering-based approach. The BLUP-GGE biplot explained 72.9% of total phenotypic variation, with all location vectors displaying positive correlations (maximum angle = 88.8°), confirming the ecological homogeneity of the target region and yielding robust evaluation results. Based on the ideal tester view, Puyang was identified as the most desirable location, followed by Zhumadian, Shangqiu, and Huixian, while Lianyungang and Suqian exhibited relatively poor comprehensive performance. MEs delineated by the “which-won-where” method showed strong inter-ME correlations and insufficient differentiation, whereas the location clustering-based method markedly enhanced inter-ME discrimination (maximum vector angle > 60°), stably partitioning the HWWR into three distinct MEs with clear cultivar–ME interaction patterns: ME1 (Lianyungang, Suqian, Fuyang, Suzhou, Guoyang, Huixian, Huai’an, Xinmaqiao, Huayin, and Yangling), ME2 (Luoyang, Xinxiang, Zhumadian, Shangqiu, Puyang, and Luohe), and ME3 (Baoji, Xuzhou, Yuanyang, Sheyang, and Xingyang). This study confirms the superiority of the BLUP-GGE biplot for analyzing unbalanced multi-year multi-environment trial data and validates a robust clustering strategy for ME delineation. The findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing wheat regional trial systems and facilitating precise cultivar deployment in the HWWR, and offer a reference for analogous studies on other crops or ecological regions.

Piwi proteins play a significant role in germ cell development and the silencing of transposons in animals by associating with small non-coding RNAs known as Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). While the Piwi gene has been well characterized in various insect species, the role of the Piwi (PxPiwi) gene in the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), a globally distributed pest of cruciferous crops, remains unclear. Expression analysis demonstrated the upregulation of PxPiwi in pupae and testes. Furthermore, we generated a PxPiwi-knockout mutant using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, which resulted in a significantly prolonged pupal stage and the failure of pupae to develop into adults. Additionally, the knockdown of PxPiwi, through RNA interference (RNAi), led to a substantial decrease in the oviposition and hatchability of P. xylostella. These findings indicate that PxPiwi is specifically expressed and essential for the development and reproduction of P. xylostella. This is the first report indicating the involvement of the Piwi gene in the development of lepidopteran insects, except for reproduction and germ cell development, which provides a foundation for future investigations into the functions of PxPiwi.

Molecular marker identification is a technique used to ensure fairness when submitting innovative crop varieties. Based on data from a collaborative experiment, our study appraised the reliability of the SNP molecular marker method applied simultaneously to China’s five major crops (wheat, rice, maize, cotton, and soybean) and proposed improved methods to (1) estimate detection uncertainty statistics and (2) graphically represent the detection results. We found that the detection method was quite reliable, as the average trueness rates for wheat, rice, cotton, soybean, and maize were 99.5%, 99.2%, 98.1%, 97.2%, and 96.2%, respectively, in sequence. The laboratory effect, genotype effect, and the effect of the interaction between the laboratory and the genotype all reached highly significant levels in the detection results, but their significance differed between crops. The proposed multi-genotype method confirmed the overestimation of the uncertainty statistics by up to 13% through the single-genotype method currently recommended in ISO 5725. The proposed Lab plus Lab by Genotype interaction (LLG) biplot provides a simple, intuitive, and efficient way to present, in two distinct and complementary biplot views, the trueness–precision of the detection results and the accuracy of the laboratories involved, respectively.

Leucocytozoon parasites infect many species of avian hosts, including domestic chicken, and can inflict heavy economic loss on the poultry industry. Two major species of Leucocytozoon parasites have been reported in China, L. sabrazesi and L. caulleryi, although L. sabrazesi appears to be more widespread than L. caulleryi in southern China. The traditional method for detecting Leucocytozoon infection is microscopic examination of blood smears for the presence of mature gametocytes in circulation, which may miss infections with low parasitemia (gametocytemia) or immature gametocytes. Here we developed a PCR-based method to monitor L. sabrazesi infections at seven sites in four provinces of China after testing two PCR primer pairs based on parasite mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase III (coxIII) genes. We compared the results of PCR detection with those of microscopic observation. As expected, the PCR assays were more sensitive than microscope examination in detecting L. sabrazesi infection and were able to detect parasite DNA after gametocytes disappeared in the blood stream. Using these methods, we investigated monthly dynamics of L. sabrazesi in chickens from a free-range farm in Xiamen, Fujian province of China, over one year. Our results showed that chickens were infected with L. sabrazesi year-round in southern China. Finally, we tested several compounds for potential treatment of Leucocytozoon infections, including primaquine, ketotifen, clomipramine hydrochloride, desipramine hydrochloride, sulfaquinoxaline, and pyrimethamine. Only primaquine had activity against L. sabrazesi gametocytes. Our results provide important information for controlling parasite transmission in southern China and disease management.

Leucocytozoon parasites infect a large number of avian hosts, including domestic chicken, and cause significant economical loss to the poultry industry. Although the transmission stages of the parasites were observed in avian blood cells more than a century ago, the specific host cell type(s) that the gametocytes infect remain uncertain. Because all the avian blood cells, including red blood cells (RBCs), are nucleated, and the developing parasites dramatically change the morphology of the infected host cells, it has been difficult to identify Leucocytozoon infected host cell(s). Here we use cell-type specific antibodies to investigate the identities of the host cells infected by Leucocytozoon sabrazesi gametocytes. Anti-RBC antibodies stained RBCs membrane strongly, but not the parasite-infected cells, ruling out the possibility of RBCs being the infected host cells. Antibodies recognizing various leukocytes including heterophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and macrophages did not stain the infected cells either. Antisera raised against a peptide of the parasite cytochrome B (CYTB) stained parasite-infected cells and some leukocytes, particularly cells with a single round nucleus as well as clear/pale cytoplasm suggestive of thrombocytes. Finally, a monoclonal antibody known to specifically bind chicken thrombocytes also stained the infected cells, confirming that L. sabrazesi gametocytes develop within chicken thrombocytes. The identification of L. sabrazesi infected host cell solves a long unresolved puzzle and provides important information for studying parasite invasion of host cells and for developing reagents to interrupt parasite transmission.