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Summary Plant height and branch number are essential components of rapeseed plant architecture and are directly correlated with its yield. Presently, improvement of plant architecture is a major challenge in rapeseed breeding. In this study, we first verified that the two rapeseed BnaMAX1 genes had redundant functions resembling those of Arabidopsis MAX1, which regulates plant height and axillary bud outgrowth. Therefore, we designed two sgRNAs to edit these BnaMAX1 homologs using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The T0 plants were edited very efficiently (56.30%–67.38%) at the BnaMAX1 target sites resulting in homozygous, heterozygous, bi‐allelic and chimeric mutations. Transmission tests revealed that the mutations were passed on to the T1 and T2 progeny. We also obtained transgene‐free lines created by the CRISPR/Cas9 editing, and no mutations were detected in potential off‐target sites. Notably, simultaneous knockout of all four BnaMAX1 alleles resulted in semi‐dwarf and increased branching phenotypes with more siliques, contributing to increased yield per plant relative to wild type. Therefore, these semi‐dwarf and increased branching characteristics have the potential to help construct a rapeseed ideotype. Significantly, the editing resources obtained in our study provide desirable germplasm for further breeding of high yield in rapeseed.

Seed weight is a complex trait controlled by polygenes, and its underlying regulatory mechanisms, especially those involving polyploidy crops, remain elusive. Brassica napus L., which is the second leading crop source of vegetable oil around the world, is an important tetraploid (4×) crop. Our results have generated three significant findings. ( i ) By combining the linkage and associated analysis, this study revealed the first (to our knowledge) quantitative trait locus (QTL) in rapeseed, which will provide insights for QTL cloning in polyploidy crops. ( ii ) The functional gene and marker could be useful in rapeseed breeding. ( iii ) We revealed a maternal regulatory pathway affecting seed weight that differs from the mechanisms described in previous reports. Seed weight (SW), which is one of the three major factors influencing grain yield, has been widely accepted as a complex trait that is controlled by polygenes, particularly in polyploid crops. Brassica napus L., which is the second leading crop source for vegetable oil around the world, is a tetraploid (4×) species. In the present study, we identified a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome A9 of rapeseed in which the genes for SW and silique length (SL) were colocated. By fine mapping and association analysis, we uncovered a 165-bp deletion in the auxin-response factor 18 ( ARF18 ) gene associated with increased SW and SL. ARF18 encodes an auxin-response factor and shows inhibitory activity on downstream auxin genes. This 55-aa deletion prevents ARF18 from forming homodimers, in turn resulting in the loss of binding activity. Furthermore, reciprocal crossing has shown that this QTL affects SW by maternal effects. Transcription analysis has shown that ARF18 regulates cell growth in the silique wall by acting via an auxin-response pathway. Together, our results suggest that ARF18 regulates silique wall development and determines SW via maternal regulation. In addition, our study reveals the first (to our knowledge) QTL in rapeseed and may provide insights into gene cloning involving polyploid crops.

Promoting the sustainable development of agriculture is the basis of reducing the poverty rate, ensuring food security, and promoting common prosperity. In order to explore the impact of industrial capital and commercial capital on the sustainable development of agriculture, this paper starts from the perspective of agriculture and conducts empirical tests based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China (except Tibet) from 2013 to 2022, using the fixed-effect model and spatial spillover effect model. The results included the following: (1) industrial capital and commercial capital can significantly promote the sustainable development of agriculture, and this conclusion was still valid after endogenous test and robustness test; (2) a heterogeneity test showed that industrial capital and commercial capital has a stronger role in promoting the sustainable development of agriculture in non-major grain producing areas, areas with high marketization level and central and western regions; (3) the test of the transmission mechanism showed that industrial capital and commercial capital can promote the sustainable development of agriculture by optimizing agricultural production conditions, improving rural environment and promoting farmers’ poverty reduction and common prosperity; (4) further research showed that industrial and commercial capital has a positive spillover effect on the sustainable development of agriculture in neighboring areas while promoting the sustainable development of agriculture in this region. Based on the above conclusions, this paper puts forward some countermeasures and suggestions, such as improving rural infrastructure construction, strengthening efforts to guide industrial and commercial capital to the countryside, and paying attention to the differentiation of industrial and commercial capital investment development.

Background Wild sugarcane Saccharum spontaneum plants vary in ploidy, which complicates the utilization of its germplasm in sugarcane breeding. Investigations on cold tolerance in relation to different ploidies in S. spontaneum may promote the exploitation of its germplasm and accelerate the improvement of sugarcane varieties. Results A hypoploid clone 12–23 (2n = 54) and hyperploid clone 15–28 (2n = 92) of S. spontaneum were analysed under cold stress from morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic perspectives. Compared with clone 15–28, clone 12–23 plants had lower plant height, leaf length, internode length, stem diameter, and leaf width; depressed stomata and prominent bristles and papillae; and thick leaves with higher bulliform cell groups and thicker adaxial epidermis. Compared with clone 15–28, clone 12–23 showed significantly lower electrical conductivity, significantly higher water content, soluble protein content, and superoxide dismutase activity, and significantly higher soluble sugar content and peroxidase activity. Under cold stress, the number of upregulated genes and downregulated genes of clone 12–23 was higher than clone 15–28, and many stress response genes and pathways were affected and enriched to varying degrees, particularly sugar and starch metabolic pathways and plant hormone signalling pathways. Under cold stress, the activity of 6-phosphate glucose trehalose synthase, trehalose phosphate phosphatase, and brassinosteroid-signalling kinase and the content of trehalose and brassinosteroids of clone 12–23 increased. Conclusions Compared with hyperploid clone 15–28, hypoploid clone 12–23 maintained a more robust osmotic adjustment system through sugar accumulation and hormonal regulation, which resulted in stronger cold tolerance.

Ischaemic bowel disease (ICBD) is a group of intestinal ischaemia syndromes caused by various aetiologies of reduced intestinal blood flow or vascular occlusion. ICBD can present as abdominal pain, bloody stool, and diarrhoea. This disease often occurs in middle-aged and elderly individuals with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The incidence of ischaemic bowel disease has been increasing for decades, and it is difficult to diagnose, resulting in rapid disease progression and a high mortality rate. Therefore, fully understanding this disease, improving the diagnosis rate of this disease, and finding appropriate treatment methods are urgently needed to improve the condition and prognosis of patients. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are accessible, have weak immunogenicity, and have various biological functions, such as angiogenesis, inflammation and immune regulation. Many studies have confirmed that cord blood stem cells can relieve ischaemia, and these cells have attracted tremendous amounts of attention in regenerative medicine in recent years. In this paper, we discuss the clinical characteristics of ICBD, analyse the characteristics of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (HUCB-MNCs), and use its to treat ischaemic bowel disease. Additionally, we compare the clinical manifestations and related indicators before and after treatment to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these methods.

To explore the correlation between community-acquired pressure injury (CAPI) and comorbidities in elderly patients with emergency admission. Patients aged 65 years or above were enrolled from multiple departments, such as Internal Medicine, Surgery, Geriatrics, and Intensive Care Unit of Wuhan Third Hospital, which is affiliated to Wuhan University, from January to December 2020. Comorbidity data were extracted using the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) from the hospital electronic medical record system, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated using these data. Participants were divided into two groups according to whether pressure injury was present at admission. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared using Student's -tests, Mann-Whitney -tests, and chi-square tests. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to explore the relationship between CAPI and the CCI. Smooth curve fitting was used to show the relationship between the CCI and CAPI. By drawing the receiver operating characteristic curve, the CCI was used to predict CAPI. A total of 5759 participants with an average age of 75.1 ± 7.6 were included in this population-based study. The prevalence of CAPI was 4.3%. In logistic regression analysis, there was a positive relationship between the CCI and CAPI after adjustment for sex, age, hypoproteinemia, and anemia (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.29-1.45, < 0.001, trend test < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.75, and the maximum value of the Youden index was 0.35, with a critical value of 5.5. The development of CAPI was positively correlated with the CCI. The risk of developing pressure injury increases with the number and severity of comorbidities. This study shows that the CCI has certain reference value in predicting CAPI.

Background Despite significant advancements in neonatal care, mid to late preterm infants (32–36 weeks’ gestation) remain at high risk for recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs). Current prevention strategies are limited by the absence of individualized risk assessment tools. This study aimed to identify critical perinatal risk factors and to develop a robust, clinically applicable prediction model for RRTI in this vulnerable population. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, enrolling 288 preterm infants born between April 2023 and April 2024. Comprehensive maternal, perinatal, and postnatal data were extracted from electronic medical records and supplemented by structured caregiver interviews. A multivariable logistic regression analysis using a stepwise selection method (entry criterion: P  < 0.05; exit criterion: P  > 0.10) was performed to determine independent predictors of RRTI. The derived model was externally validated in a temporally distinct cohort ( n  = 100) from the same center. Model performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. Results Seven independent predictors were retained in the final model: small-for-gestational-age (OR = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.41–11.61), intrauterine infection (OR = 4.22, 95% CI: 1.81–9.83), mechanical ventilation > 72 h (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.27–7.14), prolonged antibiotic use (> 30 days/year; OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.01–5.05), maternal passive smoking (OR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.19–7.14), history of RSV infection (OR = 5.61, 95% CI: 2.24–14.08), and vaginal delivery as a protective factor (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08–0.71). The prediction model demonstrated excellent discriminatory performance with an AUC of 0.935 in the training cohort and 0.927 in the validation cohort. Overall accuracy was 75.3% for the training set and 82.0% for the validation set. Conclusions This study presents a novel risk stratification tool that effectively identifies high-risk moderate-to-late preterm infants and facilitates targeted interventions, such as RSV prophylaxis and enhanced immune monitoring. This advancement enables tailored RSV immunoprophylaxis planning in low-resource Asian NICUs. Nonetheless, further multi-center validation studies are warranted to confirm the model’s generalizability and to refine its predictive accuracy for broader clinical application.

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of control of drainage volume through either elevating the drainage height or tilting the head down in a supine position for the management of cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CSFL) following posterior lumbar surgery. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted to review the data of patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery at a single hospital over a 4-year period from January 2020 to December 2023. Postoperative CSFL and complications were recorded. All patients with CSFL were managed with bed rest, a 20–30° head-down tilt position, or a drainage system elevated by 10 cm, along with subfascial drains, for a duration of 3 days. The clinical outcomes of drainage volume control were compared between the elevation of the drainage system and the head-down tilt position in the supine posture. Results The incidence of CSFL after lumbar surgeries was 1.2% (84 out of 7,284 cases). None of the CSFL patients experienced significant complications or required reoperation. When compared to the traditional Trendelenburg position, elevating the drainage height reduced the incidence of headache and dizziness, as well as shortened the time to ambulation, postoperative defecation time, and postoperative hospital stay, with statistically significant differences ( p  < 0.05). Conclusion Postoperative drainage volume control using the Trendelenburg position or elevation of the drainage height is both safe and effective for the management of CSFL. The method involving a 10 cm elevation of the drainage system appears to be an easier and more clinically acceptable approach for the nursing care of CSFL following posterior lumbar surgery.

Leaf-chewing insects are important pests that cause yield loss and reduce seed quality in soybeans ( Glycine max ). Breeding soybean varieties that are resistant to leaf-chewing insects can minimize the need for insecticide use and reduce yield loss. The marker gene for QTL-M, Glyma.07g110300 (LOC100775351) that encodes a UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) is the major determinant of resistance against leaf-chewing insects in soybean; it exhibits a loss of function in insect-resistant soybean germplasms. In this study, Agrobacterium -mediated transformation introduced the CRISPR/Cas9 expression vector into the soybean cultivar Tianlong No. 1 to generate Glyma.07g110300- gene mutants. We obtained two novel types of mutations, a 33-bp deletion and a single-bp insertion in the GmUGT coding region, which resulted in an enhanced resistance to Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura . Additionally, overexpressing GmUGT produced soybean varieties that were more sensitive to H . armigera and S. litura . Both mutant and overexpressing lines exhibited no obvious phenotypic changes. The difference in metabolites and gene expression suggested that GmUGT is involved in imparting resistance to leaf-chewing insects by altering the flavonoid content and expression patterns of genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis and defense. Furthermore, ectopic expression of the GmUGT gene in the ugt72b1 mutant of Arabidopsis substantially rescued the phenotype of H. armigera resistance in the atugt72b1 mutant. Our study presents a strategy for increasing resistance against leaf-chewing insects in soybean through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis of the UGT genes.

Macrophages have both anti-tumor and pro-tumor effects. Time delay is commonly observed in real systems, yet its impact on tumor-macrophage dynamics remains unclear. This paper develops a new tumor-macrophage model with time delay. The model describes the interactions between tumor cells (T), the classically activated macrophages (M1), the alternatively activated macrophages (M2), and the inactive macrophages (M0). The system's solution is computed, and equilibrium stability is analyzed. The existence of Hopf bifurcation is subsequently established. There exists bifurcating periodic solutions near the internal equilibrium, showing tumor cells and macrophages can coexist in the long term, as well as the potential for tumor relapse. Furthermore, the normal form and center manifold theorem are utilized to study the nature of Hopf bifurcation. Sensitivity analysis highlights the effect of parameters on tumor population dynamics. Numerical simulations validate the theory, elaborating the model can serve as a useful tool for tumor system analysis.