Genome-wide association study of seedling nitrogen-use efficiency-associated traits in common wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

Nitrogen(N)fertilizer application is essential for crop-plant growth and development.Identifying genetic loci associated with N-use efficiency(NUE)could increase wheat yields and reduce environmental pollution caused by overfertilization.We subjected a panel of 389 wheat accessions to N and chlorate(a nitrate analog)treatments to identify quantitative trait loci(QTL)controlling NUE-associated traits at the wheat seedling stage.Genotyping the panel with a 660K single-nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)array,we identified 397 SNPs associated with N-sensitivity index and chlorate inhibition rate.These SNPs were merged into 49 QTL,of which eight were multi-environment stable QTL and 27 were located near previously reported QTL.A set of 135 candidate genes near the 49 QTL included TaBOX(F-box family protein)and TaERF(ethylene-responsive transcription factor).A Tabox mutant was more sensitive to low-N stress than the wild-type plant.We developed two functional markers for Hap 1,the favorable allele of TaBOX.

Migratable Power System Transient Stability AssessmentMethod Based on Improved XGBoost

The data-driven transient stability assessment(TSA)of power systems can predict online real-time prediction by learning the temporal features before and after faults.However,the accuracy of the assessment is limited by the quality of the data and has weak transferability.Based on this,this paper proposes a method for TSA of power systems based on an improved extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)model.Firstly,the gradient detection method is employed to remove noise interference while maintaining the original time series trend.On this basis,a focal loss function is introduced to guide the training of theXGBoostmodel,enhancing the deep exploration of minority class samples to improve the accuracy of the model evaluation.Furthermore,to improve the generalization ability of the evaluation model,a transfer learning method based on model parameters and sample augmentation is proposed.The simulation analysis on the IEEE 39-bus system demonstrates that the proposed method,compared to the traditional machine learning-based transient stability assessment approach,achieves an average improvement of 2.16%in evaluation accuracy.Specifically,under scenarios involving changes in topology structure and operating conditions,the accuracy is enhanced by 3.65%and 3.11%,respectively.Moreover,the model updating efficiency is enhanced by 14–15 times,indicating the model’s transferable and adaptive capabilities across multiple scenarios.

High-precision measurement of low reflectivity specular object based on phase measuring deflectometry

Phase measuring deflectometry(PMD)is a robust,noncoherent technique for the characterization of specular surface.For measuring high specular reflectivity surface,PMD can deliver micron radian range local gradient.However,when the measured surface has low specular reflectivity,the accuracy of the measured gradient is low since the captured fringe pattern shows low signal to noise ratio.The phase error characteristics in PMD system when testing low reflectivity surfaces are analyzed.The analysis illustrates that the random phase error increases rapidly while the nonlinear error drops slowly with the decreasing of the tested surface reflectivity.In order to attain high precision measurement of low reflectivity specular surface,a robust error reduction method based on wavelet de-noising is proposed to reduce the phase error.This error reduction method is compared with several other normally used methods in both simulation and experiment work.The method based on the wavelet de-noising shows better performance when measuring the low reflectivity specular surface.

HPR1000： Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor with Active and Passive Safety

HPR1000 is an advanced nuclear power plant(NPP)with the significant feature of an active and passive safety design philosophy,developed by the China National Nuclear Corporation.On one hand,it is an evolutionary design based on proven technology of the existing pressurized water reactor NPP;on the other hand,it incorporates advanced design features including a 177-fuel-assembly core loaded with CF3 fuel assemblies,active and passive safety systems,comprehensive severe accident prevention and mitigation measures,enhanced protection against external events,and improved emergency response capability.Extensive verification experiments and tests have been performed for critical innovative improvements on passive systems,the reactor core,and the main equipment.The design of HPR1000fulfills the international utility requirements for advanced light water reactors and the latest nuclear safety requirements,and addresses the safety issues relevant to the Fukushima accident.Along with its outstanding safety and economy,HPR1000 provides an excellent and practicable solution for both domestic and international nuclear power markets.

Fighting age-related orthopedic diseases: focusing on ferroptosis

Ferroptosis, a unique type of cell death, is characterized by iron-dependent accumulation and lipid peroxidation. It is closely related to multiple biological processes, including iron metabolism, polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism, and the biosynthesis of compounds with antioxidant activities, including glutathione. In the past 10 years, increasing evidence has indicated a potentially strong relationship between ferroptosis and the onset and progression of age-related orthopedic diseases, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Therefore, in-depth knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis in age-related orthopedic diseases may help improve disease treatment and prevention. This review provides an overview of recent research on ferroptosis and its influences on bone and cartilage homeostasis. It begins with a brief overview of systemic iron metabolism and ferroptosis,particularly the potential mechanisms of ferroptosis. It presents a discussion on the role of ferroptosis in age-related orthopedic diseases, including promotion of bone loss and cartilage degradation and the inhibition of osteogenesis. Finally, it focuses on the future of targeting ferroptosis to treat age-related orthopedic diseases with the intention of inspiring further clinical research and the development of therapeutic strategies.

A Hybrid Biofuel and Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Bioenergy Harvesting

Various types of energy exist everywhere around us,and these energies can be harvested from multiple sources to power micro-/nanoelectronic system and even personal electronic products.In this work,we proposed a hybrid energy-harvesting system(HEHS)for potential in vivo applications.The HEHS consisted of a triboelectric nanogenerator and a glucose fuel cell for simultaneously harvesting biomechanical energy and biochemical energy in simulated body fluid.These two energy-harvesting units can work individually as a single power source or work simultaneously as an integrated system.This design strengthened the flexibility of harvesting multiple energies and enhanced corresponding electric output.Compared with any individual device,the integrated HEHS outputs a superimposed current and has a faster charging rate.Using the harvested energy,HEHS can power a calculator or a green light-emitting diode pattern.Considering the widely existed biomechanical energy and glucose molecules in the body,the developed HEHS can be a promising candidate for building in vivo self-powered healthcare monitoring system.

DIC imaging for identification of motor and sensory nerves

Identification of motor and sensory nerves is important in applications such as nerve injury repair.Conventional practice relies on time consuming staining methods for this purpose.Here,we use laser scanning infrared diferential interference contrast(IR-DIC)microscopy for label-free observation of the two types of nerve.Ventral and dorsal nerve roots of adult beagle dogs were collected and sections of different thicknesses were imaged with an IR-DIC microscope.Different texture patterns of the IR-DIC images of the motor and sensory nerve can be distinguished when the section thickness increases to 40 pm.This suggests that nerve fibers in motor and sensory nerves have different distribution patterns.The result hints a potential new way for more rapid identification of nerve type in peripheral nerve repair surgery.

Correction to:A Hybrid Biofuel and Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Bioenergy Harvesting

In the original publication,the authors’contribution is missing in the acknowledgment section.The correct acknowledgement is provided in this correction.Also,in Fig.4,the second(c)after figure(d)should be read as(e).In Fig.5(i),the Y-axis label“Current(μA)”should be read as“Voltage”.

OBSERVING NEURONAL ACTIVITIES WITH RANDOM ACCESS TWO-PHOTON MICROSCOPE

As a second messenger in signal transduction,calcium ion plays a very important role in neuronal information processing and integrating.Limited by the imaging technique,it is difficult to simultaneously perform deep tissue imaging and measure intracellular free calcium concentration([Ca^(2+)]i)in different compartments of neurons in brain slice noncollinearly.By means of random access two-photon microscopy,which provides high optical penetration into tissues and low photo damage,we successfully measured[Ca^(2+)]i of different parts of pyramidal neurons in neocortical layer V in rat brain slices with high spatial and temporal resolution.Combining the patch clamp technique,we stimulated the soma with depolarizing current and explored the dynamics of calcium in pyramidal neurons.

Tetraploid Induction and Cytology Identification of Clematis heracleifolia

[ Objective] This study aimed to induce the tetraploid of Clematis heracleifolia. [ Method ] Mixture of 0.2% colchicine solution and 1% agar were heated into a gel smeared on the apical meristem top bud of Clematis heracleifolia seedling to induce its tetraploid. The induction lasted for 24, 48 and 72 h respectively in three treatments to determine the best induction time. Finally, the morphological and cytological characteristics were identified and compared between the mutants and the controls. [Result] The variation rate was the highest, up to 80% when the induction time was 48 h. Compared with controls, the leaf of mutant was longer, wider and thicker, and the leaf index was smaller. The stomata size and density of lower leaf epidermis between the mutants and controls were significantly different. Chloroplast number in guard cells and chlorophyll content of mutants were all increased significantly compared with the controls through microscope observation of lower leaf epidermis and SPAD value. Chromosome number of most mutants was 32 （2n =4x）, while that of controls was 16 （2n =2x） by cytology observation of root tip cells. [ Conclusion] Tetraploid of Clematis heracleifolia was successfully obtained.

Tetraploid Induction and Identification of <i>Gossypium arboreum</i>

Gossypium arboreum (2n = 26, A2) is a diploid species with limited production in acreage com-pared with G. hirsutum and G. barbadense. However, its unique traits such as insect and disease resistance contribute an important germplasm to cotton breeding. So polyploid manipulation for G. arboreum is an effective approach of germplasm development. This research focused on tetraploid induction of G. arboreum by colchicine. Morphology and cytology identifications for obtained mutants were also conducted. The seedling growth and development of all mutants was more stunted than controls. According to preliminary morphological characteristics, mutant rates in different treatment were statistically estimated and the highest mutant rate was 42.31% under the treatment of 0.1% colchicine for 24 hours. The chromosome number of most mutants was 2n = 4x = 52, while the chromosome number of diploid controls was 2n = 2x = 26 by cytology observation of root tip cells. By microscope observation of low leaf epidermis, there were significant differences for stoma area between tetraploids and diploids. The meiosis behavior of the induced tetraploid was much more complex than that of the diploid. At diakinesis, some univalent, trivalent and polyvalent were also observed besides bivalent and quadrivalent. There were different kinds of polyad in tetraspore period of mutants. The dissociate chromosomes existed during metaphase I and II, the unbalance separation of chromosomes existed during anaphase I and II. As a result, tetraploid mutants of G. arboreum were identified and their desirable traits would be further evaluated to incorporate into next breeding program.

The Influence of PbI₂on Characteristic of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Thin Films

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite materials have attracted significant research efforts because of their outstanding properties. Meanwhile the crystallization of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite materials can significantly influence the films quality. Here, we research the influence of the characteristics of PbI2 thin film on final perovskite films and the mechanisms of film formation based on the two-step sequential deposition method. We found that the characteristics of PbI2 thin film, such as the grain size, the grain shape, the surface roughness and the film densification, have significant effects on the final perovskite films due to different film crystallization process. According to the analysis on the characteristics of the perovskite films obtained from different PbI2precursor, we suggested that the formation of perovskite film begins from the PbI2 crystals expanding when they are converted to MAPbI3 perovskite by migration of MA+ cations from the grain boundaries.

NRF2 in age-related musculoskeletal diseases:Role and treatment prospects

The NRF2 pathway is a metabolic-and redox-sensitive signaling axis in which the transcription factor controls the expression of a multitude of genes that enable cells to survive environmental stressors,such as oxidative stress,mainly by inducing the expression of cytopro-tective genes.Basal NRF2 levels are maintained under normal physiological conditions,but when exposed to oxidative stress,cells activate the NRF2 pathway,which is crucial for sup-porting cell survival.Recently,the NRF2 pathway has been found to have novel functions in metabolic regulation and interplay with other signaling pathways,offering novel insights into the treatment of various diseases.Numerous studies have shown that targeting its pathway can effectively investigate the development and progression of age-related musculoskeletal dis-eases,such as sarcopenia,osteoporosis,osteoarthritis,and intervertebral disc degeneration.Appropriate regulation of the NRF2 pathway flux holds promise as a means to improve muscu-loskeletal function,thereby providing a new avenue for drug treatment of age-related muscu-loskeletal diseases in clinical settings.The review summarized an overview of the relationship between NRF2 and cellular processes such as oxidative stress,apoptosis,inflammation,mito-chondrial dysfunction,ferroptosis,and autophagy,and explores the potential of targeted NRF2 regulation in the treatment of age-related musculoskeletal diseases.

Preoperative Acute Sleep Deprivation Causes Postoperative Pain Hypersensitivity and Abnormal Cerebral Function

Preoperative sleep loss can amplify post-operative mechanical hyperalgesia.However,the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown.In the current study,rats were randomly allocated to a control group and an acute sleep deprivation(ASD)group which experienced 6 h ASD before surgery.Then the variations in cerebral function and activity were investigated with multi-modal techniques,such as nuclear magnetic resonance,functional magnetic resonance imaging,c-Fos immunofluorescence,and electrophysiology.The results indicated that ASD induced hyperalgesia,and the metabolic kinetics were remarkably decreased in the striatum and midbrain.The functional connectivity(FC)between the nucleus accumbens(NAc,a subregion of the ventral striatum)and the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray(vLPAG)was significantly reduced,and the c-Fos expression in the NAc and the vLPAG was suppressed.Furthermore,the electrophysiological recordings demonstrated that both the neuronal activity in the NAc and the vLPAG,and the coherence of the NAc-vLPAG were suppressed in both resting and task states.This study showed that neuronal activity in the NAc and the vLPAG were weakened and the FC between the NAc and the vLPAG was also suppressed in rats with ASD-induced hyperalgesia.This study highlights the importance of preoperative sleep management for surgical patients.

Combining triboelectric nanogenerator with piezoelectric effect for optimizing Schottky barrier height modulation

Schottky-contacted sensors have been demonstrated to show high sensitivity and fast response time in various sensing systems.In order to improve their sensing performance,the Schottky barriers height(SBH)at the interface of semiconductor and metal electrode should be adjusted to appropriate range to avoid low output or low sensitivity,which was induced by excessively high or low SBH,respectively.In this work,a simple and effective SBH tuning method by triboelectric generator(TENG)is proposed,the SBH can be effectively lowered by voltage pulses generated by TENG and gradually recover over time after withdrawing the TENG.Through combining the TENG treatment with piezotronic effect,a synergistic effect on lowering SBH was achieved.The change of SBH is increased by 3.8 to 12.8 times,compared with dependent TENG treatment and piezotronic effect,respectively.Furthermore,the recovery time of the TENG-lowered SBH can be greatly shortened from 1.5 h to 40 s by piezotronic effect.This work demonstrated a flexible and feasible SBH tuning method,which can be used to effectively improve the sensitivity of Schottky-contact sensor and sensing system.Our study also shows great potential in broadening the application scenarios of Schottky-contacted electronic devices.

Changes of muscle oxygenation and blood lactate concentration of swimming athletes during graded incremental exercise

The sport performance of swimming athletes in three different levels including 5 national high-level swimming athletes, 5 ordinary swimming athletes and 5 college students was investigated by near-infrared spectroscopy （NIRS）. Four parameters of muscle oxygenation and blood lactate （BLa） concentration were simultaneously monitored during incremental exercise on the ergometer. It was found that inflection points of muscle oxygenation and BLa concentration were consistent with the human sport capacity. Moreover, inflection points of muscle oxygenation occurred earlier than those of BLa concentration in ordinary athletes and college students. It implies monitoring changes of muscle oxygenation is superior to BLa measurement under this condition, since BLa test has an unavoidable time lag. Significant correlation （r2 = 0.948; P〈0.05） was observed between inflection points of muscle oxygenation difference and inflection points of BLa concentration on workload. This relationship suggests changes of muscle oxygenation detected by NIRS is beneficial to the evaluation of athletes＇ physiologic function and training load. Considering that muscle oxygenation could be in-vivo and non-invasively mea- sured by NIRS, it may be a better indicator of exercise intensity than BLa measurement in the near future.

Photoinduced decatungstate-catalyzed direct coupling of cycloalkanes and cyclic aldimines

We first describe a photoinduced decatungstate-catalyzed direct coupling of cycloalkanes and cyclic aldimines.The desired products were generated in moderate to good yields with wide substrate scope under mild reaction conditions.The mechanistic study revealed a radical process.In addition,the usefulness of the reaction in organic synthesis was proved by the scale-up synthesis as well as the late-stage modification of drug-like molecules.

Iron homeostasis and ferroptosis in human diseases:mechanisms and therapeutic prospects

Iron,an essential mineral in the body,is involved in numerous physiological processes,making the maintenance of iron homeostasis crucial for overall health.Both iron overload and deficiency can cause various disorders and human diseases.Ferroptosis,a form of cell death dependent on iron,is characterized by the extensive peroxidation of lipids.Unlike other kinds of classical unprogrammed cell death,ferroptosis is primarily linked to disruptions in iron metabolism,lipid peroxidation,and antioxidant system imbalance.Ferroptosis is regulated through transcription,translation,and post-translational modifications,which affect cellular sensitivity to ferroptosis.Over the past decade or so,numerous diseases have been linked to ferroptosis as part of their etiology,including cancers,metabolic disorders,autoimmune diseases,central nervous system diseases,cardiovascular diseases,and musculoskeletal diseases.Ferroptosis-related proteins have become attractive targets for many major human diseases that are currently incurable,and some ferroptosis regulators have shown therapeutic effects in clinical trials although further validation of their clinical potential is needed.Therefore,in-depth analysis of ferroptosis and its potential molecular mechanisms in human diseases may offer additional strategies for clinical prevention and treatment.In this review,we discuss the physiological significance of iron homeostasis in the body,the potential contribution of ferroptosis to the etiology and development of human diseases,along with the evidence supporting targeting ferroptosis as a therapeutic approach.Importantly,we evaluate recent potential therapeutic targets and promising interventions,providing guidance for future targeted treatment therapies against human diseases.