Explore the vast range of titles available.

The occurrence of whole-genome duplication or polyploidy may promote plant adaptability to harsh environments. Here, we clarify the evolutionary relationship of eight GhCIPK6 homologous genes in upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ). Gene expression and interaction analyses indicate that GhCIPK6 homologous genes show significant functional changes after polyploidy. Among these, GhCIPK6D1 and GhCIPK6D3 are significantly up-regulated by drought stress. Functional studies reveal that high GhCIPK6D1 expression promotes cotton drought sensitivity, while GhCIPK6D3 expression promotes drought tolerance, indicating clear functional differentiation. Genetic and biochemical analyses confirm the synergistic negative and positive regulation of cotton drought resistance through GhCBL1A1-GhCIPK6D1 and GhCBL2A1-GhCIPK6D3, respectively, to regulate stomatal movement by controlling the directional flow of K + in guard cells. These results reveal differentiated roles of GhCIPK6 homologous genes in response to drought stress in upland cotton following polyploidy. The work provides a different perspective for exploring the functionalization and subfunctionalization of duplicated genes in response to polyploidization. Functional differentiation of homologous genes are usually followed by polyploidization in plants, which may contribute to adaptation. Here, the authors report the negative and positive synergistic regulation of GhCBL1A1-GhCIPK6D1 and GhCBL2A1-GhCIPK6D3, respectively, on drought resistance in cotton.

To comprehensively understand the responses of carbohydrate metabolism and transport to different levels of nitrogen supply in growing shoot tips of crabapple ( Malus hupehensis Rehd), enzyme activities and related genes involved in the sugar metabolism pathway were investigated. The nitrogen and chlorophyll content of plants increased with increasing nitrogen supply. High nitrogen application increased the net photosynthesis rate and the growth rate of shoot tips but decreased the synthesis capability of sucrose and sorbitol in mature leaves. However, the shoot tips of plants under high-nitrogen treatment had higher contents of sucrose and sorbitol than did those under low-nitrogen treatment, while the activity of sucrose phosphate synthase and aldose-6-phosphate was increased and the transporters MdSOT and MdSUT were up-regulated. Moreover, the activities of enzymes involved in sucrose and hexose metabolism (including sucrose synthase, fructokinase, and hexokinase) were enhanced in the shoot tips of plants under high-nitrogen conditions, and the expression levels of MdSUSY3 and MdHK1 were significantly up-regulated. These findings indicate that a high nitrogen supply increases the metabolic capacity of assimilatory substances in shoot tips, accelerates the efficiency of sugar utilization and eventually leads to a rapid increase in the growth of shoot tips. Our results highlight that high nitrogen increases the capacity of sugar unloading and metabolic utilization in growing shoot tissues.

Self-powered photoelectrochemical-type (PEC) ultraviolet photodetectors (UV PDs) have been rapidly developed owing to their low-cost fabrication and good photodetection. However, achieving high-performance and self-powered PEC UV PDs based on an individual material is still challenging. Therefore, developing more wide bandgap semiconductors for high-performance PEC UV PDs is attractive. Here, we demonstrate that ZnAl-LDH is suitable for self-powered PEC UV PDs with high responsivity and excellent wavelength selectivity for the first time. The responsivity is 29.25 ​mA/W (254 ​nm irradiation) and the UV/visible rejection ratio is 1037, surpassing most PEC UV PDs. Furthermore, the PEC UV PDs have fast response, good stability, and underwater optical communication capability. This work offers more chances for the development of high-performance PEC UV PDs and demonstrates the potential application of ZnAl-LDH in underwater optoelectronic devices. [Display omitted]

Melatonin has been reported to play roles in regulating carbohydrate levels and plant growth. However, little is known about the exact mechanism by which melatonin regulates sugar levels and growth in plants. In this study, it was found that high levels of melatonin inhibited the growth of wild-type (WT) apple plants and induced significant accumulations of fructose, glucose, and sucrose in apple leaves, while expression was significantly downregulated. promoter transiently expressed in tobacco leaves further supported that the expression of could be inhibited by exogenous melatonin. After applying exogenous melatonin, the suppression of expression was significantly rescued in transgenic apples overexpressing via the 35S promoter. Fructose, glucose, and sucrose concentrations increased less as compared to WT apple plants. Wild-type plants showed a stunted phenotype 21 days after melatonin treatment, while -overexpressing plants exhibited slightly inhibited growth, indicating that the downregulated expression in response to melatonin was involved in melatonin-mediated growth inhibition. Taken together, these results demonstrate the involvement of in melatonin-induced sugar accumulation and growth inhibition. Our findings shed light on the roles played by in connecting melatonin action and plant growth.

The CD13 inhibitor ubenimex is used as an adjuvant drug with chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer due to its function as an immunoenhancer, but it has limitations in its cytotoxic efficacy. The proteasome inhibitor ixazomib is a landmark drug in the treatment of multiple myeloma with a high anti-cancer activity. Herein, we conjugated the pharmacophore of ubenimex and the boric acid of ixazomib to obtain a dual CD13 and proteasome inhibitor 7 (BC-05). BC-05 exhibited potent inhibitory activity on both human CD13 (IC50 = 0.13 μM) and the 20S proteasome (IC50 = 1.39 μM). Although BC-05 displayed lower anti-proliferative activity than that of ixazomib in vitro, an advantage was established in the in vivo anti-cancer efficacy and prolongation of survival time, which may be due to its anti-metastatic and immune-stimulating activity. A pharmacokinetic study revealed that BC-05 is a potentially orally active agent with an F% value of 24.9%. Moreover, BC-05 showed more favorable safety profiles than those of ixazomib in preliminary toxicity studies. Overall, the results indicate that BC-05 is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents the most prevalent chronic liver disorder globally. Due to its intricate pathogenesis and the current lack of efficacious pharmacological interventions, there is a pressing need to discover novel therapeutic targets and agents for MASLD treatment. Herein, it is found that histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11), a subtype of HDAC family, is markedly overexpressed in both in vitro and in vivo models of MASLD. Furthermore, the knockdown of HDAC11 is observed to mitigate lipid accumulation in hepatic cells. A highly selective HDAC11 inhibitor, B6, which exhibits favorable pharmacokinetic property and liver distribution, is further designed and synthesized. Integrating RNA‐seq data with in vivo and in vitro experiments, B6 is found to inhibit de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and promote fatty acid oxidation, thus mitigating hepatic lipid accumulation and pathological symptoms in MASLD mice. Further omics analysis and experiments reveal that B6 enhances the phosphorylation of AMPKα1 at Thr172 through the inhibition of HDAC11, consequently modulating DNL and fatty acid oxidation in the liver. In summary, this study identifies HDAC11 as a potential therapeutic target in MASLD and reports the discovery of a highly selective HDAC11 inhibitor with favorable drug‐like properties for the treatment of MASLD. A potent HDAC11‐specific inhibitor, B6, is identified using substrate‐mimic and bioisosteric replacement strategies. B6 demonstrates high oral bioavailability, extensive liver distribution, and a favorable safety profile. B6 effectively alleviates metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease by increasing the expression of LKB1 and enhancing the phosphorylation of AMPKα at Thr172, thereby reducing de novo lipogenesis and promoting fatty acid oxidation.

Vibrio vulnificus is a highly virulent Gram‐negative bacterium exhibiting extensive resistance to various antibiotics, presenting significant challenges for efficient and selective eradication. Recently, photosensitizer (PS)‐based photodynamic therapy has emerged as an effective strategy against bacteria and biofilms. However, traditional PS struggles to penetrate the unique membrane structure of Gram‐negative bacteria such as V. vulnificus, while avoiding traversal of the membrane barrier of eukaryotic cells. To address this issue, herein, a PS named BDTP with aggregation‐induced emission properties was developed. BDTP can specifically target the DNA of V. vulnificus, but integrate into the cell membrane, preventing damage to the contents in eukaryotic cells due to its hydrophilic/lipophilic “Y‐shaped” structural characteristics. In dark conditions, BDTP functions as an antibiotic, inhibiting bacterial proliferation. Upon white light stimulation, BDTP can induce phototoxic damage to the DNA of V. vulnificus and effectively inhibit/clear V. vulnificus biofilms. Additionally, the eukaryotic cell membrane barrier significantly reduces PS‐induced damage to its nucleic acids. This strategy significantly promotes the healing of infected wounds in V. vulnificus‐infected mice. Our work introduces the first PS targeting V. vulnificus‐associated infections, demonstrating efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Vibrio vulnificus is a highly pathogenic Gram‐negative bacterium with high mortality rates, causing rapid‐onset infections that can lead to extensive tissue necrosis and septicemia, with fatality rates up to 50%. Although photodynamic therapy is a promising non‐invasive, cost‐effective antibacterial treatment, its application to V. vulnificus remains underexplored. This work presented a photosensitizer named BDTP with aggregation‐induced emission properties. BDTP targets V. vulnificus DNA. Under white light, BDTP causes phototoxic DNA damage to V. vulnificus and disrupts biofilms, while minimizing harm to host cells due to the cell membrane barrier. In infected mice, BDTP accelerates wound healing, offering a potential new approach in photo‐based theranostics for V. vulnificus infection treatment.

Air–water flows at hydraulic structures are commonly observed and called white waters. The free-surface aeration is characterised by some intense exchanges of air and water leading to complex air–water structures including some clustering. The number and properties of clusters may provide some measure of the level of particle-turbulence and particle–particle interactions in the high-velocity air–water flows. Herein a re-analysis of air–water clusters was applied to a highly aerated free-surface flow data set (Chanson and Carosi, Exp Fluids 42:385–401, 2007 ). A two-dimensional cluster analysis was introduced combining a longitudinal clustering criterion based on near-wake effect and a side-by-side particle detection method. The results highlighted a significant number of clustered particles in the high-velocity free-surface flows. The number of bubble/droplet clusters per second and the percentage of clustered particles were significantly larger using the two-dimensional cluster analysis than those derived from earlier longitudinal detection techniques only. A number of large cluster structures were further detected. The results illustrated the complex interactions between entrained air and turbulent structures in skimming flow on a stepped spillway, and the cluster detection method may apply to other highly aerated free-surface flows.

Background Women with vanishing twin syndrome are associated with increased risks of adverse neonatal outcomes, such as preterm birth (PTB) and low birthweight (LBW), compared with those in singleton live births following single embryo transfer (SET) in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Methods Anonymized data on all cycles performed in China were obtained from the Reproductive Medicine Department at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, which had involved 127597 cycles following double embryos transfer (DET), including 54585 fresh embryos transfer (ET) cycles and 73012 frozen embryos transfer (FET) cycles. In addition, the obstetric outcomes, such as gestation age, PTB, small for gestation age (SGA), birthweight (BW), LBW, congenital malformation, pediatric admission and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission in the fresh ET and FET cycles, were analyzed. Moreover, logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust the confounders, including age of women, body weight index (BMI), value of AMH, infertile years, current cycle, antral follicles, cause of infertility, number of oocytes retrieved, endometrial thickness at the date of transplantation, number of high-quality embryos, and embryo stage. Results In the fresh ET cycles, the BW and gestational age in study group were lower than those in control group, which were (2962.4 ± 563.1vs. 3104.9 ± 498. 5, p  = 0.000) and (262.8 ± 8.4 vs. 268.9 ± 13.9, p  = 0.000), respectively. Relative to control group, the study group was linked with increased risks of PTB (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.45, 95% CI:1.98–3.03, adjusted p  = 0.000), LBW (aOR2.11, 95% CI:1.67–2.65, adjusted p  = 0.000), pediatric admission (aOR 2.55, 95% CI2.07–3.13, adjusted p  = 0.000), and NICU admission (aOR 1.98, 95% CI1.32–2.96, adjusted p  = 0.001), but there were no statistically significant differences in the risks of SGA (aOR 1.09, 95% CI0.82–1.45, adjusted p  = 0.960) and congenital malformation (aOR 0.94, 95% CI0.53–1.68, adjusted p  = 0.640) between the two groups. In the FET cycles, the gestational age and BW in study group were lower than those in control group, which were (263.0 ± 15.7vs. 273.0 ± 10.5, p  = 0.000) and (3099 ± 662.1vs. 3352 ± 671.5), respectively. The study group was associated with increased risks of PTB (aOR2. 45, 95% CI: 2.23–3.43, adjusted p  = 0.000), LBW (aOR 2.67, 95% CI: 2.13–3.34, adjusted p  = 0.000), pediatric admission (aOR2.62, 95% CI2.14–3.21, adjusted p  = 0.000), and NICU admission (aOR 2.22, 95% CI1.43, 3.46, adjusted p  = 0.001) compared with those in control group, but differences in the risks of SGA (aOR 0.98, 95% CI0.71–1.36, adjusted p  = 0.730) and congenital malformation (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.60,1.63, adjusted p  = 0.940) between the two groups were not statistically significant. Conclusions Our study finds that singleton live births with VTS have higher risks of LBW, PTB, pediatric admission and NICU admission than those without VTS in both the fresh and frozen cycles, even after adjusting for confounders. However, no increased risks of SGA or congenital malformation are observed in singleton live births in both the fresh and frozen ART cycles following DET.

A recent development in non-aqueous two-step (disperse and reactive) dyeing technology, minimizes water usage, eliminates the need for salt, and avoids the production of wastewater during the dyeing of polyester/cotton blend fabrics. However, an issue of color staining on cotton fibers during the disperse dyeing process has been observed. To address this issue, the mechanisms of dyeing polyester fibers and staining cotton components by disperse dyes in this process were investigated, using C.I. Disperse Red 177 as an example. It was observed that the adsorption isotherm of the disperse dye on cotton fibers resembled the Freundlich type. Moreover, as the temperature increased, the affinity between the dye and the cotton component decreased, thereby reducing the staining rate of disperse dyes on cotton fibers. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that 22% of disperse dyes absorbed by cotton components were hydrolyzed dyes, while 78% were original dyes. This was attributed to the greater interaction energy between the original dye and the cotton fiber compared to the hydrolyzed dye. The primary interaction between disperse dyes and cotton fibers was identified as dispersion forces. From investigating the uptake, staining and hydrolysis performance of disperse dyes, the study sheds light on the mechanism of color staining behavior of disperse dye on cotton fibers, demonstrating the potential of a one-bath two-step dyeing process in non-aqueous medium dyeing system.