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Three culinary-medicinal fungi and mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus AS2796, Helvella lacunosa X1 and Fomitiporia yanbeiensis S. Guo & L. Zhou) were individually inoculated into different cereal grains (wheat, rice, oat, corn, millet, quinoa, buckwheat, soybean, pea and sorghum) and the antioxidant properties of fungus-fermented products after solid-state fermentation (SSF) (0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days; 25°C) were studied. The results showed that the total phenol contents (TPCs) of the fermented cereals varied with fermentation time and the starter organisms. According to the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, reducing power, ferrous ion chelating ability and superoxide anion radical scavenging ability of ethanolic extracts from the fungus-fermented products (35 days), it was shown that the antioxidant properties of all the products were significantly stronger than uninoculated grains. It revealed that SSF on cereal grains by dietary fungi is a biotechnological strategy, which may enhance the antioxidant properties of the substrate. The three medicinal mushroom and fungi-fermented products were relatively effective in the antioxidant properties assayed and might be potential antioxidants for application in food products.

Starch accounts for up to 90% of the dry weight of rice endosperm and is a key determinant of grain quality. Although starch biosynthesis enzymes have been comprehensively studied, transcriptional regulation of starch‐synthesis enzyme‐coding genes (SECGs) is largely unknown. In this study, we explored the role of a NAC transcription factor, OsNAC24, in regulating starch biosynthesis in rice. OsNAC24 is highly expressed in developing endosperm. The endosperm of osnac24 mutants is normal in appearance as is starch granule morphology, while total starch content, amylose content, chain length distribution of amylopectin and the physicochemical properties of the starch are changed. In addition, the expression of several SECGs was altered in osnac24 mutant plants. OsNAC24 is a transcriptional activator that targets the promoters of six SECGs; OsGBSSI , OsSBEI , OsAGPS2 , OsSSI , OsSSIIIa and OsSSIVb . Since both the mRNA and protein abundances of OsGBSSI and OsSBEI were decreased in the mutants, OsNAC24 functions to regulate starch synthesis mainly through OsGBSSI and OsSBEI. Furthermore, OsNAC24 binds to the newly identified motifs TTGACAA, AGAAGA and ACAAGA as well as the core NAC‐binding motif CACG. Another NAC family member, OsNAP, interacts with OsNAC24 and coactivates target gene expression. Loss‐of‐function of OsNAP led to altered expression in all tested SECGs and reduced the starch content. These results demonstrate that the OsNAC24‐OsNAP complex plays key roles in fine‐tuning starch synthesis in rice endosperm and further suggest that manipulating the OsNAC24‐OsNAP complex regulatory network could be a potential strategy for breeding rice cultivars with improved cooking and eating quality.

Therapeutic effects of MK‐2206 are largely limited due to the complexity of the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Here, we aimed to investigate whether and how circLASP1 is involved in the therapeutic effects of MK‐2206 on NPC. We showed circLASP1 was increased while miR‐625 was decreased in NPC tissues and cell lines. CircLASP1 silence strengthened the therapeutic effects of MK‐2206 via suppressing NPC cell proliferation and inducing autophagy and apoptosis in vitro. In mechanism analyses, we found that circLASP1 indirectly released AKT by directly binding to miR‐625 in NPC cells, and miR‐625 acted as a tumor suppressor in NPC and activated cell autophagy through inhibiting the AKT/mTOR pathway. Most importantly, knockdown of circLASP1 was revealed to enhance the therapeutic effects of MK‐2206 on NPC in vivo. Our results suggest that the circLASP1/miR‐625 axis is involved the therapeutic effects of MK‐2206 on NPC by regulating autophagy, proliferation, and apoptosis through the AKT/mTOR pathway. miR‐625 is involved in NPC tumorigenesis. MiR‐625 involves in NPC tumorigenesis.

Terpenoids are important compounds associated with the pest and herbivore resistance mechanisms of plants; consequently, it is essential to identify and explore terpene synthase ( TPS ) genes in maize. In the present study, we identified 31 TPS genes based on a pan-genome of 26 high-quality maize genomes containing 20 core genes (present in all 26 lines), seven dispensable genes (present in 2 to 23 lines), three near-core genes (present in 24 to 25 lines), and one private gene (present in only 1 line). Evaluation of ka/ks values of TPS in 26 varieties revealed that TPS25 was subjected to positive selection in some varieties. Six ZmTPS had ka/ks values less than 1, indicating that they were subjected to purifying selection. In 26 genomes, significant differences were observed in ZmTPS25 expression between genes affected by structural variation (SV) and those not affected by SV. In some varieties, SV altered the conserved structural domains resulting in a considerable number of atypical genes. The analysis of RNA-seq data of maize Ostrinia furnacalis feeding revealed 10 differentially expressed ZmTPS , 9 of which were core genes. However, many atypical genes for these responsive genes were identified in several genomes. These findings provide a novel resource for functional studies of ZmTPS .

Grain size and the endosperm starch content determine grain yield and quality in rice. Although these yield components have been intensively studied, their regulatory mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this study, we show that loss-of-function of OsNAC129 , a member of the NAC transcription factor gene family that has its highest expression in the immature seed, greatly increased grain length, grain weight, apparent amylose content (AAC), and plant height. Overexpression of OsNAC129 had the opposite effect, significantly decreasing grain width, grain weight, AAC, and plant height. Cytological observation of the outer epidermal cells of the lemma using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that increased grain length in the osnac129 mutant was due to increased cell length compared with wild-type (WT) plants. The expression of OsPGL1 and OsPGL2 , two positive grain-size regulators that control cell elongation, was consistently upregulated in osnac129 mutant plants but downregulated in OsNAC129 overexpression plants. Furthermore, we also found that several starch synthase-encoding genes, including OsGBSSI , were upregulated in the osnac129 mutant and downregulated in the overexpression plants compared with WT plants, implying a negative regulatory role for OsNAC129 both in grain size and starch biosynthesis. Additionally, we found that the expression of OsNAC129 was induced exclusively by abscisic acid (ABA) in seedlings, but OsNAC129 -overexpressing plants displayed reduced sensitivity to exogenous brassinolide (BR). Therefore, the results of our study demonstrate that OsNAC129 negatively regulates seed development and plant growth, and further suggest that OsNAC129 participates in the BR signaling pathway.

Rice is a major food crop that sustains approximately half of the world population. Recent worldwide improvements in the standard of living have increased the demand for high-quality rice. Accurate identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for rice grain quality traits will facilitate rice quality breeding and improvement. In the present study, we performed high-resolution QTL mapping for rice grain quality traits using a genotyping-by-sequencing approach. An F 2 population derived from a cross between an elite japonica variety, Koshihikari, and an indica variety, Nona Bokra, was used to construct a high-density genetic map. A total of 3,830 single nucleotide polymorphism markers were mapped to 12 linkage groups spanning a total length of 2,456.4 cM, with an average genetic distance of 0.82 cM. Seven grain quality traits—the percentage of whole grain, percentage of head rice, percentage of area of head rice, transparency, percentage of chalky rice, percentage of chalkiness area, and degree of chalkiness—of the F 2 population were investigated. In total, 15 QTLs with logarithm of the odds (LOD) scores >4 were identified, which mapped to chromosomes 6, 7, and 9. These loci include four QTLs for transparency, four for percentage of chalky rice, four for percentage of chalkiness area, and three for degree of chalkiness, accounting for 0.01%–61.64% of the total phenotypic variation. Of these QTLs, only one overlapped with previously reported QTLs, and the others were novel. By comparing the major QTL regions in the rice genome, several key candidate genes reported to play crucial roles in grain quality traits were identified. These findings will expedite the fine mapping of these QTLs and QTL pyramiding, which will facilitate the genetic improvement of rice grain quality.

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys as bio-implants have excellent biocompatibilities and osteogenic properties after modification of chemical composition and topography via various methods. The corrosion resistance of these modified materials is of great importance for changing oral system, while few researches have reported this point. Recently, oxidative corrosion induced by cellular metabolites has been well concerned. In this study, we explored the corrosion behaviors of four common materials (commercially pure Ti, cp-Ti; Sandblasting and acid etching-modified Ti, Ti-SLA; nanowires-modified Ti, Ti-NW; and zinc-containing nanowires-modified Ti, Ti-NW-Zn) with excellent biocompatibilities and osteogenic capacities under the macrophages induced-oxidizing microenvironment. The results showed that the materials immersed into a high oxidizing environment were more vulnerable to corrode. Meanwhile, different surfaces also showed various corrosion susceptibilities under oxidizing condition. Samples embed with zinc element exhibited more excellent corrosion resistance compared with other three surfaces exposure to excessive H 2 O 2 . Besides, we found that zinc-decorated Ti surfaces inhibited the adhesion and proliferation of macrophages on its surface and induced the M2 states of macrophages to better healing and tissue reconstruction. Most importantly, zinc-decorated Ti surfaces markedly increased the expressions of antioxidant enzyme relative genes in macrophages. It improved the oxidation microenvironment around the materials and further protected their properties. In summary, our results demonstrated that Ti-NW-Zn surfaces not only provided excellent corrosion resistance properties, but also inhibited the adhesion of macrophages. These aspects were necessary for maintaining osseointegration capacity and enhancing the corrosion resistance of Ti in numerous medical applications, particularly in dentistry.

Visual impairment has been recognized as a potential risk factor for depressive symptoms (DS) in diabetes patients, yet the role of visual function in predicting DS remains unexplored. This study aims to develop and validate a predictive model for DS risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in community health settings, incorporating a visual function index (VF14). We conducted a cross‐sectional study involving 542 T2DM patients from four community health centers in Guiyang. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions identified significant predictors, while 10 machine learning algorithms were employed to construct the predictive model. Model performance was assessed using such metrics as receiver operating characteristic curves, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, Brier score, C‐index, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis evaluated the score‐dependent risk profiles between the VF14 and DS. Key predictors included body mass index (BMI), self‐reported glycemic status, age‐related macular degeneration, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and VF14. Among the models, the gradient boosting machine exhibited the robust predictive performance, with an area under the curve of 0.73 and sensitivity of 0.72. The Shapley additive explanations analysis identified VF14, BMI, and HbA1c as the top risk factors. RCS analysis revealed a score‐dependent risk profile between VF14 and DS risk. This study introduces a clinically interpretable tool for early DS risk stratification in T2DM patients, offering potential for improved risk assessment and timely intervention in community health settings. Visual impairment has been associated with an increased risk of depression in patients with diabetes, yet no studies have explored the role of visual function as a predictor of depression. To develop and validate a predictive model for depression risk in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in community health settings, incorporating a visual function index. This cross‐sectional study collected data from 542 T2DM patients managed by four community health centers in Guiyang. Univariate logistic regression identified potential predictors, followed by multivariate logistic regression for feature selection. Ten machine learning algorithms were used to build the predictive model. Model performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, Brier score, C index, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). A restricted cubic spline (RCS) assessed the dose–response relationship between the visual function index (VF14) and depression. Five significant predictors were identified through logistic regression: body mass index (BMI), self‐reported glycemic status, macular degeneration, HbA1c, and VF14. Among 10 machine learning models, the Gradient Boosting Machine demonstrated the best predictive performance, with a validation set ROC of 0.73, sensitivity of 0.72, specificity of 0.68, accuracy of 0.69, F1 score of 0.58, Brier score of 0.18, and a C index of 0.73. The model exhibited strong calibration and the highest net benefit in the validation set. SHAP analysis identified VF14, BMI, and HbA1c as the top three risk factors. RCS analysis reveals that as VF14 increases from 3 to 14.5, the risk of depression rises correspondingly. By integrating routine community health check‐up metrics with a visual function index, this study developed a clinically interpretable predictive model for early depression risk in T2DM patients. The model will aid in early depression risk assessment and timely interventions in community health management.

Chemical defenses help insects resist pathogen infection. The volatile compositions, emission patterns, and external immune functions of the red palm weevil (RPW), a major invasive pest now established in numerous countries including the Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, Middle East, and parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, are largely unknown. In this study, we examined RPW larval volatiles, analyzing their emission patterns across developmental stages and under pathogen stress from feeding Metarhizium anisopliae. RPW larvae shared a number of volatile components across stages, but the emission dynamics were significantly different. These volatile chemicals were primarily alcohols, phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons, and styrene was the predominant volatile. Furthermore, pathogen stress induced distinct volatile profiles: phenylacetaldehyde unidirectionally decreased, whereas n-nonanol, 4-ethylguaiacol, 2-phenylethanol, hexanal, and benzophenone levels increased. Antimicrobial analysis showed that these upregulated compounds broadly inhibited fungal and bacterial growth. Therefore, our results illustrated the immune defense role of RPW larval volatiles and their potential bioactive compounds, including n-nonanol, 4-ethylguaiacol, 2-phenylethanol, hexanal, and benzophenone.

Titanium is widely used in implant materials, while excessive fluoride may have negative effects on the osseointegration between the titanium and osteoblasts. Although the underlying mechanisms are still not clear, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathways are thought to be involved. This study evaluated the role of Hippo/YAP and MAPK signaling pathway in osteoblast behaviors under excessive fluoride exposure in vitro and in vivo. Commercially pure Ti (cp-Ti) samples were exposed to fluoride (0, 0.1, and 1.0 mM NaF) for 7 days. Cell adhesion was observed using a laser scanning confocal microscope. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The expressions of osteoblast markers and key molecules in MAPK and YAP pathway were detected by Western blot. In vivo studies were evaluated by histology methods in C57/BL6 mice model. Our results showed that 1.0 mM NaF destroyed the passivation film on cp-Ti surface, which further inhibited the osteoblast adhesion and spreading. Meanwhile, compared to other groups, 1.0 mM NaF led to a remarkable reduction in cell viability (P < 0.05), as well as increased apoptosis (P < 0.05) and downregulation of osteogenesis protein expression (P < 0.05). MAPK and YAP signaling pathways were also activated under 1.0 mM NaF exposure, and JNK seemed to regulate YAP phosphorylation in response to NaF impacts on osteoblasts. In vivo fluorosis mouse model further indicated that 100 ppm NaF group (high fluoride group) increased bone resorption and inhibited the nuclear translocation of YAP. The osteoblast behaviors were negatively altered under excessive fluoride, and MAPK/JNK axis contributed to YAP signaling activation in regulating NaF-induced osteoblast behaviors.Key messages• Excessive fluoride inhibited osteoblast behaviors and bone formation.• YAP and MAPK signaling pathways were activated in osteoblasts under fluoride exposure.• Fluoride regulated osteoblast behaviors via the cross-talk between YAP and MAPK.