Accumulation Patterns Research Articles

Zinc Accumulation Pattern in Native Cortaderia nitida in High Andes (Ecuador) and Potential for Zinc Phytoremediation in Soil

The aim of this work was to determine the content of heavy metals in soil and, for the first time, in wild Cortaderia nitida, and to discuss its potential as a metal phytoremediator plant. We sampled sediments (bulk and rhizosphere) and C. nitida (roots and shoots) in three nearby spots with different land uses (urban, industrialized and agricultural) along the Chibunga river basin (Ecuador). We analyzed the physico-chemical parameters in soil and heavy metal contents in soil and plants. The agricultural sediments showed the highest conductivity and redox potential, but the lowest pH. Among all the metals analyzed in soil and plants, we only found significant values of Zn and Fe. We observed clear differences in patterns of Zn distribution throughout soil and plants among the three areas sampled, thus suggesting that soil properties played an important role in Zn compartmentalization. Also, C. nitida demonstrated effective Zn translocation from roots to shoots, especially in farmlands (translocation factors between 1.64 and 2.51). Together with the results obtained for other Cortaderia species in metal-polluted areas, this study proposes C. nitida as a candidate to further study its metal phytoremediation potential and encourages this research in heavy metal-enriched soils.

Effect of silver nanoparticles foliar application on the nutritional properties of potato tubers

The aim of presented study was to test nutritional properties of potato tubers and silver ions accumulation pattern after foliar application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) during potato vegetation. Potato plants were sprayed with different concentration of Ag nanoparticles (0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg·dm−3) synthesized with incorporation with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and sodium citrate as stabilizing agent. The lowest amounts of silver ions were transported to the tubers after spraying with AgNPs synthesized with SDS, rather than with citrate. Nevertheless silver ions accumulation in tubers was negligible. SDS method of synthesis was more favourable in terms of nutritional properties of potato tubers. The highest tested concentration of AgNPs_SDS had a favourable effect on a variety of macro- and micronutrients, ascorbic acid and soluble sugars. In turn, lower concentrations of AgNPs_SDS increased the content of phenolic compounds and free radical scavenging efficiency of tubers. These correlations were also confirmed by Principal Component Analysis.

Genome-wide analysis of UDP-glycosyltransferase family in Citrus sinensis and characterization of a UGT gene encoding flavonoid 1–2 rhamnosyltransferase

UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) play a crucial role in the glycosylation of secondary metabolites in plants, which is of significant importance for growth and response to biotic or abiotic stress. Despite the wide identification of UGT family members in various species, limited information is available regarding this family in citrus. In this study, we identified 87 UGT genes from the Citrus sinensis genome and classified them into 14 groups. We characterized their gene structures and motif compositions, providing insights into the molecular basis underlying discrepant functions of UGT genes within each evolutionary branch. Tandem duplication events were found to be the main driving force behind UGT gene expansion. Additionally, we identified numerous cis-acting elements in the promoter region of UGT genes, including those responsive to light, growth factors, phytohormones, and stress conditions. Notably, light-responsive elements were found with a frequency of 100 %. We elucidated the expression pattern of UGTs during fruit development in Citrus aurantium using RNA-seq and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), revealing that 10 key UGT genes are closely associated with biosynthesis of bitter flavanone neohesperidosides (FNHs). Furthermore, we identified Ca1,2RhaT as a flavonoid 1–2 rhamnosyltransferase (1,2RhaT) involved in FNHs biosynthesis for the first time. Isolation and functional characterization of the gene Ca1,2RhaT from Citrus aurantium in vitro and in vivo indicated that Ca1,2RhaT encoded a citrus 1,2RhaT and possessed rhamnosyl transfer activities. This work provides comprehensive information on the UGT family while offering new insights into understanding molecular mechanisms regulating specific accumulation patterns of FNHs or non-bitter flavanone rutinosides (FRTs) in citrus.

Transactional pathways: Institutional possibilities for status and wealth under racial/caste capitalism

I introduce the concept of transactional pathways, coined by anthropologist Jane Guyer, to trace the institutional processes that contribute to uneven and unjust patterns of wealth and status distribution under systems of colonialism and racial/caste capitalism. Transactional pathways employ historical perspectives to reveal how divergent economic institutions and sources of valuation relate to social hierarchies. This approach links everyday economic transactions with patterns of wealth accumulation that are based not only on class, but intersectional social groups including race, caste, and/or ethnicity. Transactional pathways account for the fact that not only do different groups receive different amounts of valuable resources because of uneven distribution, but they have variable access to the symbolic power required to define which resources are deemed valuable in the first place and to monopolize them accordingly. The article briefly surveys foundational concepts from the economic anthropology literature before detailing transactional pathways. It introduces the case of attempted formalization of waste collection and recycling in Delhi, India, using the related concepts of thresholds and conversions to analyze key moments when wealth and status accumulation becomes especially possible in institutionally plural contexts.

AtML: An Arabidopsis thaliana root cell identity recognition tool for medicinal ingredient accumulation

Arabidopsis thaliana synthesizes various medicinal compounds, and serves as a model plant for medicinal plant research. Single-cell transcriptomics technologies are essential for understanding the developmental trajectory of plant roots, facilitating the analysis of synthesis and accumulation patterns of medicinal compounds in different cell subpopulations. Although methods for interpreting single-cell transcriptomics data are rapidly advancing in Arabidopsis, challenges remain in precisely annotating cell identity due to the lack of marker genes for certain cell types. In this work, we trained a machine learning system, AtML, using sequencing datasets from six cell subpopulations, comprising a total of 6000 cells, to predict Arabidopsis root cell stages and identify biomarkers through complete model interpretability. Performance testing using an external dataset revealed that AtML achieved 96.50% accuracy and 96.51% recall. Through the interpretability provided by AtML, our model identified 160 important marker genes, contributing to the understanding of cell type annotations. In conclusion, we trained AtML to efficiently identify Arabidopsis root cell stages, providing a new tool for elucidating the mechanisms of medicinal compound accumulation in Arabidopsis roots.

Possible sink of missing ocean plastic: Accumulation patterns in reef-building corals in the Gulf of Thailand

Individual coral polyps contain three distinct components—the surface mucus layer, tissue, and skeleton; each component may exhibit varying extent of microplastic (MP) accumulation and serve as a short- or long-term repository for these pollutants. However, the literature on MP accumulation in wild corals, particularly with respect to the different components, is limited. In this study, we investigated the adhesion and accumulation of MPs in four coral species, including both large (Lobophyllia sp. and Platygyra sinensis) and small (Pocillopora cf. damicornis and Porites lutea) polyp corals collected from Si Chang Island in the upper Gulf of Thailand. The results revealed that MP accumulation varied significantly among the four coral species and their components. Specifically, P. cf. damicornis exhibited the highest degree of accumulation (2.28 ± 0.34 particles g−1 w.w.) [Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) test, p < 0.05], particularly in their skeleton (52.63 %) and with a notable presence of high-density MPs (Fisher's extract test, p < 0.05). The most common MP morphotype was fragment, accounting for 75.29 % of the total MPs found in the coral. Notably, the majority of MPs were black, white, or blue, accounting for 36.20 %, 15.52 %, and 11.49 % of the samples, respectively. The predominant size range of MP particles was 101–200 μm. Nylon, polyacetylene, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the prevalent polymer types, accounting for 20.11 %, 14.37 %, and 9.77 % of the identified samples, respectively. In the large polyp corals, while MP shapes, colors, and sizes exhibited consistent patterns, remarkable differences were noted in the polymer types across the three components. The findings of this study improve the understanding of MP accumulation and its fate in coral reef ecosystems, underscoring the need for further investigation into MP-accumulation patterns in reef-building corals worldwide.

Carbohydrate accumulation patterns in mangrove and halophytic plant species under seasonal variation

This study investigates the impact of carbohydrate accumulation in mangrove and halophytic plants on their response to abiotic stress. Using soil analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy, key species (Sueda nudiflora, Aeluropus lagopoides, Avicennia marina) were examined for seasonal changes in sugar content (reducing sugars, total soluble sugars, starch). The elevated carbohydrate levels may serve as an indication of the plant’s ability to adapt to different environmental conditions throughout the year. This accumulation enables plants to adapt to variations in their environment, assuring their survival and functionality during periods of environmental fluctuation. Halophytic plants’ sugar content peaked during the monsoon, suggesting biotic adaptations. The mangrove Avicennia marina had year-round sugar levels. PCA and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis revealed sugar accumulation trends across species and seasons. Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis revealed correlations between soil characteristics and sugar content, suggesting plant-microbe interactions. K-means clustering and correlation analysis of FT-IR data revealed sugar composition and resource allocation trade-offs. These findings shed light on the role of carbohydrate metabolism in enabling coastal plants to endure stress. Gaining insight into these mechanisms can enhance sustainable agriculture in challenging environments and shed light on plant adaptations to evolving environmental conditions, especially biotic interactions.

Unpuzzling spatio-vertical and multi-media patterns of aniline accelerators/antioxidants in an urban estuary

Aniline accelerators and antioxidants (AAs) are high-production-volume industrial additives that have recently attracted emerging concern given their ubiquity in environmental compartments and the associated (eco)toxic effects. Nonetheless, available information on the multi-media behavior of AAs and their transformation products (TPs) remains scarce. Therefore, we determined the residues of twenty-four AA(TP)s in paired dissolved phases (i.e., filtered water), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment samples collected from the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE), a highly urbanized estuary in the East China. The median total concentrations of targeted compounds were 0.73 ng/g dw, 34.4 ng/L, and 39.6 ng/L in sediments, surface and bottom water, respectively. Diphenylamine (DPA) was the most abundant congener in SPM, while 1,3-diphenylguanidine (DPG) and dicyclohexylamine (DChA) dominated in the dissolved phases and sediments. Various anthropogenic emissions and (a)biotic degradation may collectively shape the matrix-specific accumulation patterns and spatial trends of these compounds across the YRE. However, the vertical patterns of AA(TP)s were obscure, probably due to the estuarine hydrodynamics and/or the modest sample size. The SPM fractions of AA(TP)s in water (Ф: 7.9–100%) and the sediment sorption coefficients (KOC: 0.01–6.56) both positively correlated with their hydrophobicity as indicated by the octanol-water partition coefficient (KOW). Moreover, risk quotients implied moderate to high aquatic toxicity posed by several AA(TP)s at certain YRE sites. The estimated total annual fluxes of our analytes transported via water and sediments towards the East China Sea were 5.90–365.5 tons and 4.23–1,100 kg, respectively. This work provides a systematic investigation of multi-media processes and ecological risks of AA(TP)s in a highly-urbanized estuary, contributing to holistic comprehension of these emerging contaminants in estuarine environments.

Depuration kinetics and accumulation of microplastics in tissues of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Microplastics (MPs) constitute the predominant plastic type in marine environments. Since they occupy the same size fraction of sediment particles and planktonic organisms they are potentially bioavailable to a broad scope of organisms, such as filter feeders, which are particularly vulnerable to MP ingestion. To understand the potential impact of MPs in filter feeders it is essential to clarify the uptake, accumulation patterns and elimination rates with time of MPs. The aim of this study was to determine the depuration dynamics and accumulation in tissues of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed during 24 h to different size polystyrene MPs (1 μm and 10 μm), and depurated for a maximum of 7 days (T = 24 h, T = 48 h and T = 7 d). Mussels were chemically digested with KOH 10% and filtered to quantify the number of MP ingested, and they were cryostat sliced for MP localization in tissues. Both MP sizes were quantified in all depuration times, but mussels accumulated significantly higher quantities of 10 μm MP throughout depuration compared to 1 μm MP. A significant decrease was observed after 7 d depuration in mussels exposed to 10 μm. Mussels removed the same amount of 1 and 10 μm MP after 7 days depuration. However, the depuration dynamics differed for each size-MPs and showed to be size-dependent. Most of both size MPs were eliminated in the first 24 h, but 1 μm MP showed to pass faster through the digestive tract than 10 μm MP. MPs of 1 μm and 10 μm were localized mainly in the lumen and a few in the epithelium of the digestive tract (stomach, intestine and digestive gland) during the depuration and in the gills after the exposure; as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The usage of chemical digestion and histological analysis as complementary techniques show to be suitable to infer the depuration dynamics of MPs in mussels.

Dynamic Brain Lipid Profiles Modulate Microglial Lipid Droplet Accumulation and Inflammation Under Ischemic Conditions in Mice.

Microglia are critically involved in post-stroke inflammation affecting neurological outcomes. Lipid droplet (LD) accumulation in microglia results in a dysfunctional and pro-inflammatory state in the aged brain and worsens the outcome of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the role of LD-rich microglia (LDRM) under stroke conditions is unknown. Using in vitro and in vivo stroke models, herein accumulation patterns of microglial LD and their corresponding microglial inflammatory signaling cascades are studied. Interactions between temporal and spatial dynamics of lipid profiles and microglial phenotypes in different post-stroke brain regions are found. Hence, microglia display enhanced levels of LD accumulation and elevated perilipin 2 (PLIN2) expression patterns when exposed to hypoxia or stroke. Such LDRM exhibit high levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β as well as a pro-inflammatory phenotype and differentially expressed lipid metabolism-related genes. These post-ischemic alterations result in distinct lipid profiles with spatial and temporal dynamics, especially with regard to cholesteryl ester and triacylglycerol levels, further exacerbating post-ischemic inflammation. The present study sheds new light on the dynamic changes of brain lipid profiles and aggregation patterns of LD in microglia exposed to ischemia, demonstrating a mutual mechanism between microglial phenotype and function, which contributes to progression of brain injury.

Metabolomics analysis of bioactive compositions of Michelia macclurei Dany and its antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities.

Michelia macclurei Dandy is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, but little is understood about the bioactive compositions and biological potential of its different parts, limiting their applications. This study aims to identify the bioactive compositions and analyze differences in accumulation patterns from different parts of Michelia macclurei (heartwood, sapwood, bark, root, leaf, and fruit) using metabolomics. It also seeks to explore their biological potential and analyze the relationship between the bioactive compositions and biological potential. A total of 63 volatile metabolites (VMs) were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in six parts, and the VMs in each part were dominated by sesquiterpenes and their derivatives (71.40-88.32%). Six parts of Michelia macclurei contained structurally diverse non-volatile metabolites (NVMs) with a total of 207 bioactive compounds, including 92 alkaloids, 30 flavonoids, 19 lignans, and 18 organic acids, utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the accumulation patterns of bioactive compositions differed significantly among the different parts, and the 25 VMs and 72 NVMs could be considered potential markers for distinguishing the different parts of Michelia macclurei. The excellent antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory capacity of extracts of all six parts was indicated by in vitro bioactivity assays. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the bioactive compositions in the six parts were significantly correlated with antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. This study offers helpful information on the distribution of bioactive compositions in different parts of Michelia macclurei and confirms the excellent antioxidant, and enzyme inhibitory potential of its extracts, which could provide scientific evidence for its potential applications in the pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics, and functional foods. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Morning resting hypothalamus-dorsal striatum connectivity predicts individual differences in diurnal sleepiness accumulation

While the significance of obtaining restful sleep at night and maintaining daytime alertness is well recognized for human performance and overall well-being, substantial variations exist in the development of sleepiness during diurnal waking periods. Despite the established roles of the hypothalamus and striatum in sleep-wake regulation, the specific contributions of this neural circuit in regulating individual sleep homeostasis remain elusive. This study utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and mathematical modeling to investigate the role of hypothalamus-striatum connectivity in subjective sleepiness variation in a cohort of 71 healthy adults under strictly controlled in-laboratory conditions. Mathematical modeling results revealed remarkable individual differences in subjective sleepiness accumulation patterns measured by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Brain imaging data demonstrated that morning hypothalamic connectivity to the dorsal striatum significantly predicts the individual accumulation of subjective sleepiness from morning to evening, while no such correlation was observed for the hypothalamus-ventral striatum connectivity. These findings underscore the distinct roles of hypothalamic connectivity to the dorsal and ventral striatum in individual sleep homeostasis, suggesting that hypothalamus-dorsal striatum circuit may be a promising target for interventions mitigating excessive sleepiness and promoting alertness.

The Effects of Land Use and Landform Transformation on the Vertical Distribution of Soil Nitrogen in Small Catchments

The diversity of land use and consolidation is fundamental to ensuring sustainable development. However, the impact of diverse land uses and consolidation on the well-known shallow accumulation pattern of soil nitrogen (N) remains unclear. This existence of this knowledge gap severely constrains the sustainable production of newly created farmland. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of land use and gully land transformation on the vertical distribution of soil N in agricultural and nature catchments. Methodologically, soil nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+) and total nitrogen (TN) were measured to a depth of 100 cm in the hillslope forestland, grassland and gully cropland areas of the treated (gully landform reshaping) and untreated (natural gully) catchments on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). The results indicated that soil N in the hillslope forestland and grassland exhibited a shallow accumulation pattern, while the vertical distribution of soil N in the gully cropland areas displayed a homogeneous, random or deep accumulation pattern. In the hillslope areas, vegetable cover was the dominant factor controlling N variation in the topsoil. In contrast, in the gully areas, the interaction of landform transformation and hydrology was the primary factor influencing the distribution of soil N. In the treated catchment, soil NO3− exhibited a significant deep accumulation pattern in the newly created farmland through gully landform reshaping. In the untreated catchment, soil NH4+ showed a significant deep accumulation pattern in the undisturbed natural gully. This study provides valuable insights into how land use and gully landform transformation affect the soil N profile. This information is crucial for the sustainable development and scientific management of valley agriculture at the catchment scale.

“It’s all just barley and figs!” Identifying patterns of plant waste accumulation in House 169, Elephantine Island, Egypt (1750–1650 bc) using machine learning

“It’s all just barley and figs!” Identifying patterns of plant waste accumulation in House 169, Elephantine Island, Egypt (1750–1650 bc) using machine learning

Excess Folic Acid Exposure Increases Uracil Misincorporation into DNA in a Tissue-Specific Manner in a Mouse Model of Reduced Methionine Synthase Expression

BackgroundFolate and vitamin B12 (B12) are cofactors in folate-mediated 1-carbon metabolism (FOCM), a metabolic network that supports synthesis of nucleotides (including thymidylate [dTMP]) and methionine. FOCM impairments such as a deficiency or imbalance of cofactors can perturb dTMP synthesis, causing uracil misincorporation into DNA. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine how reduced expression of the B12-dependent enzyme methionine synthase (MTR) and excess dietary folic acid interact to affect folate distribution and markers of genome stability in mouse tissues. MethodsHeterozygous Mtr knockout mice (Mtr+/–) model the FOCM-specific effects of B12 deficiency. Folate accumulation and vitamer distribution, genomic uracil concentrations, and phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX) immunostaining were measured in male Mtr+/+ and Mtr+/− mice weaned to either a folate-sufficient control (C) diet (2 mg/kg folic acid) or a high folic acid (HFA) diet (20 mg/kg folic acid) for 7 wk. ResultsExposure to the HFA diet led to tissue-specific patterns of folate accumulation, with plasma, colon, kidney, and skeletal muscle exhibiting increased folate concentrations compared with control. Liver total folate did not differ. Although unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) increased 10-fold in mouse plasma with HFA diet, UMFA accounted for <0.2% of total folate in liver and colon tissue. Exposure to HFA diet resulted in a shift in folate distribution in colon tissue with higher 5-methyl-THF and lower formyl-THF than in control mice. Mtr heterozygosity did not impact folate accumulation or distribution in any tissue. Mice on HFA diet exhibited higher uracil in genomic DNA and γH2AX foci in colon. Similar differences were not seen in liver. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that folic acid, even when consumed at high doses, does not meaningfully accumulate in mouse tissues, although high-dose folic acid shifts folate distribution and increases uracil accumulation in genomic DNA in colon tissue.

EBPVis: Visual Analytics of Economic Behavior Patterns in a Virtual Experimental Environment

AbstractExperimental economics is an important branch of economics to study human behaviours in a controlled laboratory setting or out in the field. Scientific experiments are conducted in experimental economics to collect what decisions people make in specific circumstances and verify economic theories. As a significant couple of variables in the virtual experimental environment, decisions and outcomes change with the subjective factors of participants and objective circumstances, making it a difficult task to capture human behaviour patterns and establish correlations to verify economic theories. In this paper, we present a visual analytics system, EBPVis, which enables economists to visually explore human behaviour patterns and faithfully verify economic theories, e.g. the vicious cycle of poverty and poverty trap. We utilize a Doc2Vec model to transform the economic behaviours of participants into a vectorized space according to their sequential decisions, where frequent sequences can be easily perceived and extracted to represent human behaviour patterns. To explore the correlation between decisions and outcomes, an Outcome View is designed to display the outcome variables for behaviour patterns. We also provide a Comparison View to support an efficient comparison between multiple behaviour patterns by revealing their differences in terms of decision combinations and time‐varying profits. Moreover, an Individual View is designed to illustrate the outcome accumulation and behaviour patterns of subjects. Case studies, expert feedback and user studies based on a real‐world dataset have demonstrated the effectiveness and practicability of EBPVis in the representation of economic behaviour patterns and certification of economic theories.

Quantifying Aspect‐Dependent Snowpack Response to High‐Elevation Wildfire in the Southern Rocky Mountains

AbstractIncreasing wildfire frequency and severity in high‐elevation seasonal snow zones presents a considerable water resource management challenge across the western United States (U.S.). Wildfires can affect snowpack accumulation and melt patterns, altering the quantity and timing of runoff. While prior research has shown that wildfire generally increases snow melt rates and advances snow disappearance dates, uncertainties remain regarding variations across complex terrain and the energy balance between burned and unburned areas. Utilizing paired in situ data sources within the 2020 Cameron Peak burn area on the Front Range of Colorado, U.S., during the 2021–2022 winter, we found no significant difference in peak snow water equivalent (SWE) magnitude between burned and unburned areas. However, the burned south aspect reached peak SWE 22 days earlier than burned north. During the ablation period, burned south melt rates were 71% faster than unburned south melt rates, whereas burned north melt rates were 94% faster than unburned north aspects. Snow disappeared 7–11 days earlier in burned areas than unburned areas. Net energy differences at the burned and unburned weather station sites were seasonally variable, the burned area snowpack lost more net energy during the winter, but gained more net energy during the spring. Increased incoming shortwave radiation at the burned site was 6x more impactful in altering the net shortwave radiation balance than the decline in surface albedo. These findings emphasize the need for post‐wildfire water resource planning that accounts for aspect‐dependent differences in energy and mass balance to accurately predict snowpack storage and runoff timing.

Studies on the characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons accumulation in lipids and the disturbance of lipid metabolism of Ruditapes philippinarum

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a class of persistent organic pollutants with strong lipophilicity, which readily accumulate within organisms and have the effect to induce disorders in lipid metabolism. The present study aimed to investigate the accumulation localization and pattern of PAHs in Ruditapes philippinarum, and to reveal the association between PAHs and lipids metabolism. The 21-day exposure experiment was conducted using a mixture of phenanthrene, chrysene, and benzo[a]pyrene (the proportion is 1:1:1) at concentrations of 0.4 μg/L, 2 μg/L, and 10 μg/L. The tissue distribution of PAHs indicated that the digestive gland was the primary site of PAHs accumulation. Meanwhile, fluorescence colocalization suggested that PAHs primarily accumulated within the lipid droplets of digestive gland cells. This study further determined the transcriptomic and lipidomic profiles of the digestive gland to analyze the key genes involved in disrupted lipid metabolism and the major lipids affected. Lipidomic analysis identified the key differential metabolites as triglycerides (TGs). Furthermore, TGs were upregulated in the digestive gland had a total carbon atom number of 50–64 and a total number of 3–9 double bonds in the acyl side chains. Biochemical analysis experiments and oil red O stained frozen sections confirmed that the content of TGs steadily increased in various tissues during the experiment, leading to an elevated digestive gland index. Changes of lipid metabolism associated genes expression level also indicated that the synthesis of lipid in digestive gland were up-regulated while the decomposition was down-regulated. This study is the first to demonstrate the cellular localization of PAHs accumulation in bivalves and confirms the pattern of variation in TGs, providing new insights into the mechanisms of PAHs bioaccumulation and lipid metabolism disruption.

The JA-to-ABA signaling relay promotes lignin deposition for wound healing in Arabidopsis

Plants are frequently exposed to herbivory and mechanical damage that result in wounding. Two fundamental strategies, regeneration and healing, are employed by plants upon wounding. How plants make different decisions and how wound healing is sustained until the damaged tissues recover are not fully understood. In this study, we found that local auxin accumulation patterns, determined by wounding modes, may activate different recovery programs in wounded tissues. Wounding triggers transient jasmonic acid (JA) signaling that promotes lignin deposition in the first few hours after wounding occurs. This early response is subsequently relayed to ABA signaling via MYC2. The induced JA signaling promotes ABA biosynthesis to maintain the expression of RAP2.6, a key factor for sustained lignin biosynthesis and the later wound-healing process. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into how plants heal from wounding and clarify the molecular mechanisms that underlie the prolonged healing process following wounding.

Natural gas accumulation conditions and exploration directions of Carboniferous clastic rocks in the northeastern margin of Junggar Basin, China

The Carboniferous strata in the northeastern Junggar Basin are an important exploration field for natural gas in the basin. However, volcanic rocks have long been the primary exploration target. In contrast, the exploration and research of clastic rocks associated with source formations have been largely overlooked, resulting in an insufficient understanding of the reservoir forming conditions and exploration potential of Carboniferous clastic rocks. Through the evaluation of Carboniferous source rocks, effective source stove characterization, clastic reservoir evaluation, oil and gas source correlation, and reservoir formation model construction in this region, three key findings have been made. First, the Carboniferous in the northeastern Junggar Basin has developed three sets of high-quality gas source rocks: the Dishuiquan Formation, the Songkalsu B Member, and the Shiqiantan Formation. These formations correspond to three hydrocarbon source centers: the Sannan–Dishuiquan Sag, the Wucaiwan Sag–Dajing area, and the Dongdao Haizi Sag–Baijiahai High. Second, the Carboniferous system in the northeast has developed multiple types of large-scale reservoirs, including sand conglomerates, sandstones, turbidites, dolomitic rocks, and shale. These reservoirs are generally characterized by low porosity to ultra-low porosity and low permeability to ultra-low permeability reservoirs. There is a dissolution pore development zone at depths of 2900–4500 m. Third, a comparison of oil and gas sources reveals that all three sets of gas source rocks contribute to the natural gas found in the northeast, with obvious characteristics of near-source reservoir formation. The Carboniferous clastic rocks host two types of natural gas reservoirs: unconventional and conventional near-source reservoirs. It is predicted that there is an orderly accumulation pattern of shale gas, tight sandstone gas, and conventional natural gas reservoirs. This study reveals that the Carboniferous clastic rock source and reservoir configuration in the northeastern Junggar Basin is highly favorable, and the natural gas reservoirs in source and near-source clastic rocks represent important exploration directions.