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Euchresta japonica , a medicinal plant in Chinese herbal medicine, lacks comprehensive metabolite data to explain its health benefits despite its long-standing use. Here, widely targeted metabolome at six different tissues of E. japonica was investigated, identifying 2,140 metabolites, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, lipids, and alkaloids. Among them, 305 were annotated as key active ingredients, and 364 were active pharmaceutical ingredients for nine human disease-resistance, with 206 co-annotated. Metabolic profiles varied significantly across tissues, with medicinally active metabolites highly concentrated in lateral roots and inflorescences, indicating great medical potential. Notably, the lateral root, rather than the main root, was the primary source of root-derived bioactive metabolites. Additionally, KEGG analysis demonstrated that secondary metabolic pathways, especially “isoflavonoid biosynthesis” and “flavonoid biosynthesis” pathways, played important roles. Overall, lateral roots and inflorescences exhibit the strongest potential for disease treatment, particularly for chronic and multifactorial diseases. This study significantly advances our understanding of E. japonica ’s chemical composition and underscores its potential as a valuable resource for novel therapeutic applications, providing a strong foundation for further investigation into its pharmacological properties and drug development prospects.

Degradation coefficients for pollutants in water are important parameters that are significantly influenced by environmental conditions. In controlled experiments, the processes and trends of ammonia nitrogen (NH3–N) degradation in raw waters were studied under different flow conditions using a laboratory annular flume. Analysis of the observed change in NH3–N concentration with time under various flow conditions allowed calculation of a degradation efficiency (concentration change amount/initial concentration) which for NH3–N increased as the flow velocity increased. According to a first-order kinetic equation to fit the experimental data, the range of variation of the degradation coefficient of NH3–N at different flowrates was between 0.047 per day (0.01 m/s) and 0.203 per day (0.30 m/s). Dimensional analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the degradation coefficient and flow velocity (v), water depth (H), Froude number (Fr), and Reynolds number (Re), which was verified through field data collected in the Chishui River.

The heat tolerance of plants can be improved by using exogenous calcium chloride (CaCl2) to cope with temperature fluctuations. Since global climates continue to warm, it is important to further explore the way in which plants respond to heat stress with the use of CaCl2. We aimed to explore the effect of exogenous CaCl2 on the leaf microstructure, leaf epidermal ultrastructure, and chlorophyll a fluorescence of Rhododendron × pulchrum (R. × pulchrum) under heat stress. In the leaves of R. × pulchrum treated with exogenous CaCl2, compared to the control, the thickness of the epidermis, spongy tissues, and stomatal aperture increased, whereas the stomata density and ratio of closed/open stomata decreased. In the leaves of R. × pulchrum under heat stress conditions, compared to the control, the values of the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), the performance index on an absorption basis (PIABS), the quantum yield for the reduction of terminal electron acceptors on the acceptor side of PSI (φRo), and the energy absorbed per unit cross-section of a photosynthesizing object at the moment of achieving the fluorescence maximum (ABS/CSM) all decreased, whereas the quantum yield of the energy dissipation (φDo) increased significantly. However, these differences disappeared when R. × pulchrum was treated with exogenous CaCl2. This suggests that exogenous CaCl2 can improve the heat tolerance in R. × pulchrum by regulating the leaf anatomical structure and the behavior of epidermal cells and stomata in leaves, protecting the stability of photosystems I and II and improving the electron transfer from QA to QB. Our study could provide a theoretical basis for the breeding, further research, and utilization of Rhododendron in the context of global warming.

Due to extensive pollution and the relatively weak flow replacement in urban rivers, determining how to fully utilize the self-purification abilities of water bodies for water quality protection has been a complex and popular topic of research and social concern. Organic pollution is an important type of urban river pollution, and COD (chemical oxygen demand) is one of the key pollution factors. Currently, there is a lack of research on the relationship between COD degradation and the flow characteristics of urban rivers. In this paper, COD degradation experiments were conducted in an annular flume with Jinjiang River water at controlled flow velocities and the COD degradation coefficients under different hydraulic conditions were analyzed. A good correlation was observed between the degradation coefficient and hydraulic conditions. According to dimensional analysis, the relationship between the COD degradation coefficient and hydraulic conditions such as the flow velocity, water depth, Reynolds number (Re), and Froude number (Fr) was established as K COD = 86400 u h F r 0.8415 R e − 1.2719 + 0.258 . The COD degradation coefficients of the Chishui River in Guizhou Province ranged from 0.175–0.373 1/d based on this formula, and the field-measured values varied from 0.234–0.463 1/d. The error in the formula ranged from 5.4–25.3%. This study provides a scientific basis for the prediction of the COD degradation coefficients of urban rivers.

The heat tolerance of plants can be improved by using exogenous calcium chloride (CaCl[sub.2]) to cope with temperature fluctuations. Since global climates continue to warm, it is important to further explore the way in which plants respond to heat stress with the use of CaCl[sub.2]. We aimed to explore the effect of exogenous CaCl[sub.2] on the leaf microstructure, leaf epidermal ultrastructure, and chlorophyll a fluorescence of Rhododendron × pulchrum (R. × pulchrum) under heat stress. In the leaves of R. × pulchrum treated with exogenous CaCl[sub.2], compared to the control, the thickness of the epidermis, spongy tissues, and stomatal aperture increased, whereas the stomata density and ratio of closed/open stomata decreased. In the leaves of R. × pulchrum under heat stress conditions, compared to the control, the values of the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F[sub.v]/F[sub.m]), the performance index on an absorption basis (PI[sub.ABS]), the quantum yield for the reduction of terminal electron acceptors on the acceptor side of PSI (φ[sub.Ro]), and the energy absorbed per unit cross-section of a photosynthesizing object at the moment of achieving the fluorescence maximum (ABS/CS[sub.M]) all decreased, whereas the quantum yield of the energy dissipation (φ[sub.Do]) increased significantly. However, these differences disappeared when R. × pulchrum was treated with exogenous CaCl[sub.2]. This suggests that exogenous CaCl[sub.2] can improve the heat tolerance in R. × pulchrum by regulating the leaf anatomical structure and the behavior of epidermal cells and stomata in leaves, protecting the stability of photosystems I and II and improving the electron transfer from Q[sub.A] to Q[sub.B]. Our study could provide a theoretical basis for the breeding, further research, and utilization of Rhododendron in the context of global warming.

Based on three rounds of data extraction, we first construct complex network models to identify the cascade sizes of stopped projects and their distributions in SourceForge (March 2000 to February 2013). We then analyze and discover characteristics of these cascade sizes and their distributions: most cascade sizes are 1; two extreme sizes coexist; and the cascade sizes in each Period of SourceForge's peak phase exhibit a power-law distribution while lacking scale-free properties. Finally, we discuss the limitations of this study and their implications for Self-Organized Criticality theory.

Studies on influenza virus by Chinese Academy of Sciences（CAS）could be traced back as early as 2005 by the CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology（CASPMI）,who discovered that Qinghai-like Clade 2.2H5N1 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza virus（HPAIV）first caused severe outbreak in wild birds in Qinghai Lake（Liu et al.,2005）.

Introduction Sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) is known to be linked with an increased mortality of sepsis. Methods We designed this study to investigate whether there is heterogeneity in the clinical manifestations of SIC between cases with international normalized ratio (INR) as the dominant factor and those with platelet (PLT) as the dominant factor. In this survey, 1421 SIC patients admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital were enrolled. External verification was conducted using data from 4732 SIC patients in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. According to the difference of INR and PLT, SIC was divided into four subtypes: SIC-severe (PLT < 100 and INR > 1.4), SIC-INR (PLT ≥ 100 and INR > 1.4), SIC-PLT (PLT < 100 and INR ≤ 1.4), and SIC-mild (100 ≤ PLT < 150 and 1.2 < INR ≤ 1.4). Main results The incidence of SIC in sepsis patients was 48.70% (1421/2918). Compared with the SIC-INR group, the SIC-PLT group had shorter activated partial thromboplastin time, lower fibrinogen levels, lower lactate levels, and lower blood glucose levels ( P  < 0.05). Regarding liver function, compared to the SIC-INR group, the SIC-PLT group exhibited lower levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and alanine aminotransferase ( P  < 0.05). Concerning kidney function, the proportion of patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy support in the SIC-PLT group was lower than that in the SIC-INR group ( P  < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in SOFA total score between the SIC-INR group and the SIC-PLT group after deducting the coagulation system score. In terms of outcomes, there were no statistically differences in costs and mortality between the SIC-INR and the SIC-PLT group, but the SIC-PLT group had shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital stays after diagnosis of sepsis than the SIC-INR group ( P  < 0.05). Data from the MIMIC-IV database further corroborate there was heterogeneity between the SIC-INR group and the SIC-PLT group. The incidence rate of DVT in the SIC-PLT group was significantly lower than that in the SIC-INR group ( P  < 0.05). Conclusions SIC with PLT change as the dominant factor and SIC with INR change as the dominant factor exhibited significant heterogeneity. Key messages Sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC), a condition that can lead to DIC, is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate. The diagnosis of SIC relies on the international normalized ratio (INR), which is a measure of blood clotting time, and platelet count (PLT), in conjunction with the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA). Compared with SIC cases where INR changes are the dominant factor, those with PLT changes as the dominant factor exhibit milder liver and kidney impairment and require shorter durations of mechanical ventilation time and hospital stay after diagnosis. When studying SIC, it is important to note the heterogeneity of the aforementioned phenotypes.

Achieving increased grain productivity has long been the overriding focus of cereal breeding programs. The ideotype approach has been used to improve rice yield potential at the International Rice Research Institute and in China. However, the genetic basis of yield-related traits in rice remains unclear. Here, we show that a major quanti- tative trait locus, qNPT1, acts through the determination of a ＇new plant type＇ （NPT） architecture characterized by fewer tillers, sturdier culms and larger panicles, and it encodes a deubiquitinating enzyme with homology to human OTUB1. Downregulation of OsOTUB1 enhances meristematic activity, resulting in reduced tiller number, increased grain number, enhanced grain weight and a consequent increase in grain yield in rice. Unlike human OTUB1, Os- OTUB1 can cleave both K48- and K63-1inked polyubiquitin. OsOTUB1 interacts with the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating protein OsUBC13 and the squamosa promoter-binding protein-like transcription factor OsSPL14. OsOTUB1 and OsSPL14 share common target genes, and their physical interaction limits K63-1inked ubiquitination （K63Ub） of OsSPL14, which in turn promotes K48Ub-dependent proteasomal degradation of OsSPL14. Conversely, loss-of-func- tion of OsOTUB1 is correlated with the accumulation of high levels of OsSPL14, resulting in the NPT architecture. We also demonstrated that pyramiding of high-yielding npH and depl-1 alleles provides a new strategy for increasing rice yield potential above what is currently achievable.

The highly conserved polycomb group （PcG） proteins maintain heritable transcription repression of the genes essential for development from fly to mammals. However, sporadic reports imply a potential role of PcGs in positive regulation of gene transcription, although systematic investigation of such function and the underlying mechanism has rarely been reported. Here, we report a Pc-mediated, H3K27me3-dependent positive transcriptional regulation of Senseless （Sens）, a key transcription factor required for development. Mechanistic studies show that Pc regulates Sens expression by promoting H4K20mel at the Sens locus. Further bioinformatic analysis at genome-wide lev- el indicates that the existence of H4K20mel acts as a selective mark for positive transcriptional regulation by Pc/ H3K27me3. Both the intensities and specific patterns of Pc and H3K27me3 are important for the fates of target gene transcription. Moreover, binding of transcription factor Broad （Br）, which physically interacts with Pc and positively regulates the transcription of Sens, is observed in Pc＋H3K27me3＋H4K20mel＋ genes, but not in Pc＋H3K27me3＋H- 4K20mel- genes. Taken together, our study reveals that, coupling with the transcription factor Br, Pc positively regu- lates transcription of Pc＋H3K27me3＋H4K20mel＋ genes in developing Drosophila wing disc.