OstMAPKKK5, a truncated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5, positively regulates plant height and yield in rice

Rice(Oryza sativa L.)is a major food crop worldwide.Plant height and yield are important agronomic traits of rice.Several genes regulating plant height and/or yield have been cloned.However,the molecular mechanisms coordinating plant height and yield are not fully characterized.Here,we report a novel gene,OstMAPKKK5 that encodes a truncated variant of a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5(OsMAPKKK5)lacking an intact kinase domain.Transgenic plants overexpressing OstMAPKKK5 in indica cultivar 9311 showed increased plant height,grain length,grain width,1000-grain weight,grain number per main panicle,and yield.Real-time quantitative PCR showed that OstMAPKKK5 was widely expressed in various tissues and developmental stages.The increased plant height and yield were attributed to enlarged cell size.Overexpression of OstMAPKKK5 led to higher contents of various forms of endogenous gibberellin(GA),especially the most common active forms,GA1,GA3,GA4.We concluded that OstMAPKKK5 positively regulates plant height and yield in rice by affecting cell size,and that its underlying mechanism is based on increased endogenous GA content.

Developmental Status Quo and Trends of Low-carbon Agriculture

In order to reduce carbon emission in agricultural production,this paper has discussed the developmental trends of low-carbon agriculture in terms of developing precision agriculture,improving the efficiency of fertilizer utilization,scientific use of pesticides,water-saving irrigation,ecological control of pests and diseases,as well as energy conservation and emission reduction by agricultural machinery and other agricultural practices.

Bronchial Fistula: Rare Complication of Treatment with Anlotinib

Background and objective Anlotinib is a newly developed small molecule multiple receptor tyrosine kinase(RTK) inhibitor that was approved for the treatment of patients with lung cancer in China. We aim to report 3 cases of rare complication of anlotinib-bronchial fistula(BF) during the treatment of lung cancer patients and summarize the possible causes.Methods We collected three patients who developed BF due to anlotinib treatment, and conducted a search of Medline and Pub Med for medical literature published between 2018 and 2020 using the following search terms: "anlotinib," "lung cancer," and "fistula."Results Our literature search produced two case reports(three patients) which, in addition to our three patients. We collated the patients’ clinical characteristics including demographic information, cancer type, imaging features, treatment received, risk factors for anlotinib related BF, and treatment-related outcomes. The six patients shared some common characteristics: advanced age, male, concurrent infection symptoms, diabetes mellitus(DM), advanced squamous cell and small cell lung cancers, centrally located tumors, tumor measuring ≥5 cm in longest diameter, and newly formed tumor cavitation after multi-line treatment especially after receiving radiotherapy. Fistula types included broncho-pericardial fistula, broncho-pleural fistula, and esophagotracheobronchial fistula. Six patients all died within 6 months.Conclusion Although anlotinib is relatively safe, it is still necessary to pay attention to the occurrence of BF, a rare treatment side effect that threatens the quality of life and overall survival of patients. Anlotinib, therefore, requires selective use and close observation of high-risk patients.

A sequential continuous flow synthesis and purification process of calcium dibutyryladenosine cyclophosphate

Calcium dibutyryladenosine cyclophosphate is a widely used cardiovascular drug.The traditional batch synthesis process suffers from long reaction times,tedious operations,and unstable yields.Herein,a sequential continuous flow synthesis combined with a multistage in-line purification process of calcium dibutyryladenosine cyclophosphate was developed.The acylation reaction was completed in a continuous coil reactor at 160℃ in 20 min.And the high toxic solvent pyridine was replaced by acetonitrile.Furthermore,the multistage in-line purification process was integrated into the homemade 3D circular cyclone-type micromixer chip.Combining with the membrane phase separators,the residence time of the purification step was 30 s.The isolated yield of this sequential continuous process was 92%with 99%purity.

Two-step continuous flow process of sodium tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate using a 3D circular cyclone-type microreactor

A sustainable and practical process is presented for the direct synthesis of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate(STS).Our approach was inspired by the well-established and industrially applied batch synthetic route for STS production.We constructed a telescoped two-step continuous flow platform.This involved a continuous tanshinone IIA sulfonation and in-line salt formation.For the setup,we constructed a 3D circular cyclone-type microreactor using femtosecond laser micromachining.Compared to the 68%yield for 2 h in batch,the two-step continuous flow had an STS yield of 90%,achieved for a total residence time of<3.0 min under optimal conditions.The proposed continuous flow method vastly simplified the operation and improved procedural safety,while significantly reducing the required acid content and wastewater production.

Computational fluid dynamics simulation and experimental study on mixing performance of a three-dimensional circular cyclone-type microreactor

Microchannels enable the fast and efficient mixing of multiphase fluids.In this study, a millimeter-scale three-dimensional(3D) circular cyclone-type microreactor was designed for the mixing.The flow characteristics and mixing intensity were simulated by computational fluid dynamics simulations at a flow rate range of 12–96 m L/min using a water/ethyl acetate system.In the 3D variable-diameter structure,the microreactor induced paired opposite vortices and abruptly changed the local pressure to achieve a stable turbulent effect within the theoretical range of laminar flow.Tracer injection simulations indicated that sufficient mixing units successfully promote fluid dispersion.Diazo-coupling experiments showed a segregation index of X_S= 0.00,039 within a residence time of 9 s.Extraction experiments on the nbutanol/succinic acid/water system showed that the 3D circular cyclone-type microreactor achieved 100%extraction efficiency(E) in 4.25 s, and the overall volume mass transfer coefficient(K_La) reached 0.05–1.5s^(-1) in 12–96 m L/min.The isolated yield of the phase transfer alkylation and oxidation reactions in the 3D circular cyclone-type microreactor achieved 99% within 36 s, which was superior to the coil microreactor and batch reactor.

Characterization of size-resolved effective density of atmospheric particles in an urban atmosphere in Southern China

Effective density(ρ_(eff))is one of the most important physical properties of atmospheric particles,providing important references in exploring the emissions and aging processes of fresh particles.In this study,a combined system of differential mobility analyzer,centrifugal particle mass analyzer,and condensation particle counter was used to periodically measure theρ_(eff)of atmospheric particles in Shenzhen from Oct.2021 to Jan.2022.Results showed that theρ_(eff)of particles with various size presented a bimodal distribution,which could be divided into main density(ρ_(m),main peak,corresponding to relatively dense particles after aging)and sub density(ρ_(s),sub peak,corresponding to fresh particles).The occurrence frequencies ofρ_(s)of particles with diameters of 50 and 80 nm were less than 20%,but were as high as about 40%of that with diameters from 120 to 350 nm.Theρ_(m)showed increasing trend with the size of particles,whileρ_(s)decreased as the increasing of the size of particles.Theρ_(eff)on pollution day varied significantly with chemical compositions.The increasing of the proportion of sulfate could promote the increasing ofρ_(eff),while black carbon and organic matter caused opposite effects,which may be related to various factors,including the difference of the material density and morphology of various chemical components.Theρ_(eff)of 50,80 and 120 nm particles decreased considerably during the new particle formation event,indicating that organic condensation was an important contributor to new particle growth.

Auxin signaling module OsSK41-OsIAA10-OsARF regulates grain yield traits in rice

Auxin is an important phytohormone in plants, and auxin signaling pathways in rice play key roles in regulating its growth, development, and productivity. To investigate how rice grain yield traits are regulated by auxin signaling pathways and to facilitate their application in rice improvement, we validated the functional relationships among regulatory genes such as OsIAA10, OsSK41, and OsARF21 that are involved in one of the auxin(OsIAA10) signaling pathways. We assessed the phenotypic effects of these genes on several grain yield traits across two environments using knockout and/or overexpression transgenic lines.Based on the results, we constructed a model that showed how grain yield traits were regulated by OsIAA10 and OsTIR1, OsAFB2, and OsSK41 and OsmiR393 in the OsSK41-OsIAA10-OsARF module and by OsARF21 in the transcriptional regulation of downstream auxin response genes in the OsSK41-OsIAA10-OsARF module. The population genomic analyses revealed rich genetic diversity and the presence of major functional alleles at most of these loci in rice populations. The strong differentiation of many major alleles between Xian/indica and Geng/japonica subspecies and/or among modern varieties and landraces suggested that they contributed to improved productivity during evolution and breeding. We identified several important aspects associated with the genetic and molecular bases of rice grain and yield traits that were regulated by auxin signaling pathways.We also suggested rice auxin response factor(OsARF) activators as candidate target genes for improving specific target traits by overexpression and/or editing subspecies-specific alleles and by searching and pyramiding the ‘best' gene allelic combinations at multiple regulatory genes in auxin signaling pathways in rice breeding programs.

The kinase OsSK41/OsGSK5 negatively regulates amylose content in rice endosperm by affecting the interaction between OsEBP89 and OsBP5

Amylose content(AC) is the main factor determining the palatability, viscosity, transparency, and digestibility of rice(Oryza sativa)grains. AC in rice grains is mainly controlled by different alleles of the Waxy(Wx) gene. The AP2/EREBP transcription factor OsEBP89 interacts with the MYC-like protein OsBP5 to synergistically regulate the expression of Wx.Here, we determined that the GLYCOGEN SYNTHASE KINASE 5(OsGSK5, also named SHAGGY-like kinase 41 [OsSK41]) inhibits the transcriptional activation activity of OsEBP89 in rice grains during amylose biosynthesis. The loss of OsSK41 function enhanced Wx expression and increased AC in rice grains. By contrast, the loss of function of OsEBP89 reduced Wx expression and decreased AC in rice grains. OsSK41 interacts with OsEBP89 and phosphorylates four of its sites(Thr-28,Thr-30, Ser-238, and Thr-257), which makes OsEBP89 unstable and attenuates its interaction with OsBP5. Wx promoter activity was relatively weak when regulated by the phosphomimicvariantOsEBP89E–OsBP5but relatively strong when regulated by the nonphosphorylatable variant OsEBP89A–OsBP5.Therefore, OsSK41-mediated phosphorylation of OsEBP89 represents an additional layer of complexity in the regulation of amylose biosynthesis during rice grain development. In addition, our findings provide four possible sites for regulating rice grain AC via precise gene editing.

Solid-state molecular dynamics of a torsion-variable ammonium embedded in a deformable supramolecular framework

Accompanied by solid-state structural phase transitions,the switchable molecular dynamics(MD)and order-disorder transformation of(i-PrNHMe2)^(+)cation embedded in a deformable{[Ni(NCS)_(6)]^(4-)}_(∞)supramolecular framework are in-depth investigated by variable-temperature tests of single-crystal X-ray diffraction,dielectric measurement,and MD simulation.Interestingly,it is found that the confined swinging or flipping of the(i-PrNHMe_(2))^(+)cation as a whole is assisted by a synergistic change of its torsion angle.This research provides a helpful insight into the solid-state MD of moderate-sized quasi-spherical molecules/ions that feature a flexible inner core.

A phase II study on Mefatinib as first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer harboring uncommon EGFR mutations

Dear Editor,Uncommon mutations in exons 18-21 of the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)gene account for 10%–15%of all EGFR mutations when considered as a whole group[1,2].However,each variant confers heterogeneous clinical outcomes to different generations of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)with G719X,L861Q,and/or S768I showing adequate sensitivity to EGFR inhibition[1–3].Osimertinib,based on its superior survival outcomes,has become the preferred first-line treatment for patients diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)harboring common EGFR mutations[4];however,its efficacy in patients harboring G719X,S768I,and/or L861Q mutations was comparable or even inferior to Afatinib[5].Afatinib,a second-generation EGFR-TKI,has received approval for extended clinical indication in treating previously untreated patients with metastatic NSCLC harboring G719X,L861Q,and/or S768I based on the findings from the pooled analysis of three clinical trials(LUX-Lung 2/3/6)[2].The real-world clinical efficacy of Afatinib for treating this patient subset has been consistently demonstrated by two large retrospective studies[6,7].In China,chemotherapy remains a standard first-line treatment for this patient subset,with Afatinib available only as an off-label treatment option.

Development of an on-line measurement system for water-soluble organic matter in PM_(2.5) and its application in China

Water-soluble organic matter（WSOM） represents a critical fraction of fine particles（PM2.5）in the air, but its changing behaviors and formation mechanisms are not well understood yet, partly due to the lack of fast techniques for the ambient measurements. In this study,a novel system for the on-line measurement of water-soluble components in PM2.5, the particle-into-liquid sampler（PILS）–Nebulizer–aerosol chemical speciation monitor（ACSM）, was developed by combining a PILS, a nebulizer, and an ACSM. High time resolution concentrations of WSOM, sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, and chloride, as well as mass spectra, can be obtained with satisfied quality control results. The system was firstly applied in China for field measurement of WSOM. The mass spectrum of WSOM was found to resemble that of oxygenated organic aerosol, and WSOM agreed well with secondary inorganic ions. All evidence collected in the field campaign demonstrated that WSOM could be a good surrogate of secondary organic aerosol（SOA）. The PILS–Nebulizer–ACSM system can thus be a useful tool for intensive study of WSOM and SOA in PM2.5.

Characterization of particle number size distribution and new particle formation in Southern China

Knowledge of particle number size distribution（PND） and new particle formation（NPF）events in Southern China is essential for mitigation strategies related to submicron particles and their effects on regional air quality,haze,and human health.In this study,seven field measurement campaigns were conducted from December 2013 to May 2015 using a scanning mobility particle sizer（SMPS） at four sites in Southern China,including three urban sites and one background site.Particles were measured in the size range of15-515 nm,and the median particle number concentrations（PNCs） were found to vary in the range of 0.3× 10~4-2.2 × 10~4 cn^（-3） at the urban sites and were approximately 0.2 × 10~4 cm^（-3） at the background site.The peak diameters at the different sites varied largely from 22 to 102 nm.The PNCs in the Aitken mode（25-100 nm） at the urban sites were up to 10 times higher than they were at the background site,indicating large primary emissions from traffic at the urban sites.The diurnal variations of PNCs were significantly influenced by both rush hour traffic at the urban sites and NPF events.The frequencies of NPF events at the different sites were0%-30%,with the highest frequency occurring at an urban site during autumn.With higher SO_2 concentrations and higher ambient temperatures being necessary,NPF at the urban site was found to be more influenced by atmospheric oxidizing capability,while NPF at the background site was limited by the condensation sink.This study provides a unique dataset of particle number and size information in various environments in Southern China,which can help understand the sources,formation,and the climate forcing of aerosols in this quickly developing region,as well as help constrain and validate NPF modeling.

Chemical characterization and source apportionment of atmospheric submicron particles on the western coast of Taiwan Strait, China

Taiwan Strait is a special channel for subtropical East Asian Monsoon and its western coast is an important economic zone in China. In this study, a suburban site in the city of Xiamen on the western coast of Taiwan Strait was selected for fine aerosol study to improve the understanding of air pollution sources in this region. An Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer（HR-To F-AMS） and an Aethalometer were deployed to measure fine aerosol composition with a time resolution of 5 min from May 1to 18, 2015. The average mass concentration of PM1 was 46.2 ± 26.3 μg/m^3 for the entire campaign. Organics（28.3%）, sulfate（24.9%）, and nitrate（20.6%） were the major components in the fine particles, followed by ammonium, black carbon（BC）, and chloride. Evolution of nitrate concentration and size distribution indicated that local NOx emissions played a key role in high fine particle pollution in Xiamen. In addition, organic nitrate was found to account for 9.0%–13.8% of the total measured nitrate. Positive Matrix Factorization（PMF）conducted with high-resolution organic mass spectra dataset differentiated the organic aerosol into three components, including a hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol（HOA） and two oxygenated organic aerosols（SV-OOA and LV-OOA）, which on average accounted for 27.6%,28.8%, and 43.6% of the total organic mass, respectively. The relationship between the mass concentration of submicron particle species and wind further confirmed that all major fine particle species were influenced by both strong local emissions in the southeastern area of Xiamen and regional transport through the Taiwan Strait.