Combined Analysis Research Articles

Comparative transcriptome and metabolome profiles of the leaf and fruits of a Xianjinfeng litchi budding mutant and its mother plant.

Background: Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is an important sub-tropical fruit in the horticulture market in China. Breeding for improved fruit characteristics is needed for satisfying consumer demands. Budding is a sustainable method for its propagation. During our ongoing breeding program, we observed a litchi mutant with flat leaves and sharp fruit peel cracking in comparison to the curled leaves and blunt fruit peel cracking fruits of the mother plant. Methods: To understand the possible molecular pathways involved, we performed a combined metabolome and transcriptome analysis. Results: We identified 1,060 metabolites in litchi leaves and fruits, of which 106 and 101 were differentially accumulated between the leaves and fruits, respectively. The mutant leaves were richer in carbohydrates, nucleotides, and phenolic acids, while the mother plant was rich in most of the amino acids and derivatives, flavonoids, lipids and organic acids and derivatives, and vitamins. Contrastingly, mutant fruits had higher levels of amino acids and derivatives, carbohydrates and derivatives, and organic acids and derivatives. However, the mother plant's fruits contained higher levels of flavonoids, scopoletin, amines, some amino acids and derivatives, benzamidine, carbohydrates and derivatives, and some organic acids and derivatives. The number of differentially expressed genes was consistent with the metabolome profiles. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway-enriched gene expressions showed consistent profiles as of metabolome analysis. Conclusion: These results provide the groundwork for breeding litchi for fruit and leaf traits that are useful for its taste and yield.

In search of a consensual definition of organizational spirituality: A systematic literature review and validation with managers

BACKGROUND: The concept of spirituality is gaining popularity in the business world. However, its definition remains a topic of debate within the scientific community due to variations in scope and dimensions depending on the approach used. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to identify the fundamental properties necessary for comprehending Organizational Spirituality (OS). The primary objective is to propose a consensual definition of OS. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review to identify prior approaches that have touched upon the concept of OS. Subsequently, we performed a combinatorial analysis to identify varied levels of comprehension of spirituality in the workplace, and to provide an additional interpretation to the definition of OS by corroborating it with the perspectives of managers. RESULTS: We have identified two levels of spirituality in organizational contexts: the individual level and the organizational level. We thereafter suggested a consensual definition of OS which was confirmed by professionals’ testimonies. CONCLUSIONS: Research on the subject of OS is constrained by the insufficient conceptual development and divergent interpretations in current literature. Objective facts indicate that organizations cannot attain transcendence; however, their spirituality manifests in their vision, goals, and values.

Understanding genetic diversity in drought-adaptive hybrid parental lines in pearl millet.

Information on genetic diversity and population structure is helpful to strategize enhancing the genetic base of hybrid parental lines in breeding programs. The present study determined the population structure and genetic diversity of 109 pearl millet hybrid parental lines, known for their better adaptation and performance in drought-prone environments, using 16,472 single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers generated from GBS (genotyping-by-sequencing) platforms. The SNPs were distributed uniformly across the pearl millet genome and showed considerable genetic diversity (0.337), expected heterozygosity (0.334), and observed heterozygosity (0.031). Most of the pairs of lines (78.36%) had Identity-by-State (IBS) based genetic distances of more than 0.3, indicating a significant amount of genetic diversity among the parental lines. Bayesian model-based population stratification, neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis, and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) differentiated all hybrid parental lines into two clear-cut major groups, one each for seed parents (B-lines) and pollinators (R-lines). Majority of parental lines sharing common parentages were found grouped in the same cluster. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed 7% of the variation among subpopulations, and 93% of the variation was attributable to within sub-populations. Chromosome 3 had the highest number of LD regions. Genomic LD decay distance was 0.69 Mb and varied across the different chromosomes. Genetic diversity based on 11 agro-morphological and grain quality traits also suggested that the majority of the B- and R-lines were grouped into two major clusters with few overlaps. In addition, the combined analysis of phenotypic and genotypic data showed similarities in the population grouping patterns. The present study revealed the uniqueness of most of the inbred lines, which can be a valuable source of new alleles and help breeders to utilize these inbred lines for the development of hybrids in drought-prone environments.

Ecological and Genetic Landscapes of Global H12 Avian Influenza Viruses and Biological Characteristics of an H12N5 Virus Isolated from Wild Ducks in Eastern China

Wild migratory birds are considered the central reservoirs of avian influenza viruses. H12 viruses are one of the 16 hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes of avian influenza viruses and are rarely reported because they are infrequently detected in birds. Consequently, the ecological and genetic profiles of H12 viruses and their adaptation in domestic birds and mammals remain unclear. Here, we found that H12N5 viruses were predominant in the nine identified H12NX subtypes, with the HA (H12) and neuraminidase (NA) (N5) genes showing combination bias in the categorized analysis of subtype combinations (H12 and N1–N9; H1–H12, H14, H15, and N5). These identified H12N5 viruses were primarily detected in birds of Anatidae and Scolopacidae in North America, excluding their possible characterization as chicken or mammalian viruses. The H12N5 viruses were divided into the North American lineage and Eurasian lineage according to their genetic differences, including the HA and NA surface genes and internal genes, although reassortment was observed between the two lineages. We isolated an Eurasian-lineage H12N5 virus from wild ducks in Eastern China, which was one of the 12 identified H12 viruses in China. Infectivity studies indicated that the H12N5 virus is poorly adapted to domestic ducks and chickens, although viral shedding could be detected in both inoculated and contact birds. Additionally, the naturally isolated H12N5 virus did not achieve good replication in mice. These results indicate that the rare subtype of H12 viruses was mainly pooled in wild migratory birds and has an established phylogeography, with low risks of spillover into domestic birds and mammals.

Catalyst-Controlled Intermolecular Homobenzylic C(sp3)-H Amination for the Synthesis of β-Arylethylamines.

The combination of a tailored sulfamate with a C4-symmetrical rhodium(II) tetracarboxylate allows to uncover a selective intermolecular amination of unactivated homobenzylic C(sp3)-H bonds. The reaction has a broad scope (>30 examples) and proceeds with a high level of regioselectivity with homobenzylic/benzylic ratio of up to 35:1, thereby providing a direct access to β-arylethylamines that are of utmost interest in medicinal chemistry. Computational investigations evidenced a concerted mechanism, involving an asynchronous transition state. Based on a combined activation strain model and energy decomposition analysis, the regioselectivity of the reaction was found to rely mainly on the degree of orbital interaction between the [Rh2]-nitrene and the C-H bond. The latter is facilitated at the homobenzylic position due to the establishment of specific noncovalent interactions within the catalytic pocket.

Relationship between Prediction of Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio and Atrial Fibrillation in Perioperative Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) could be a convenient method to predict atrial fibrillation (AF) likelihood and, in turn, to determine the patients' postoperative trajectory. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic effect of pre-intervention PLR in predicting the occurrence of AF after surgery. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched for available papers published up to October 2023. The primary outcome was the odds ratio (OR) of numerical PLR in the model predicting AF occurrence. The random-effects model was used in all analyses. Results: Six studies were included. There were 1197 patients with AF and 1998 patients without AF. The combined analysis of all six studies showed that PLR was associated with AF after surgery (OR = 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00–1.01, p = 0.000; I2 = 43.4%, pheterogeneity = 0.116). Three studies examined PLR before coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and the meta-analysis showed that PLR was associated with AF after CABG (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02, p = 0.002; I2 = 0.0%, pheterogeneity = 0.894). The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were not robust. There was no obvious publication bias. Conclusions: Pre-intervention PLR was significantly associated with post-intervention AF in patients who underwent CABG or other surgeries. Elevated PLR is a risk factor for postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Humoral immunoprofiling identifies novel biomarkers and an immune suppressive autoantibody phenotype at the site of disease in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a heterogeneous cancer, with minimal response to therapeutic intervention and with 85% of cases diagnosed at an advanced stage due to lack of early symptoms, highlighting the importance of understanding PDAC immunology in greater detail. Here, we applied an immunoproteomic approach to investigate autoantibody responses against cancer-testis and tumor-associated antigens in PDAC using a high-throughput multiplexed protein microarray platform, comparing humoral immune responses in serum and at the site of disease in order to shed new light on immune responses in the tumor microenvironment. We simultaneously quantified serum or tissue IgG and IgA antibody isotypes and subclasses in a cohort of PDAC, disease control and healthy patients, observing inter alia that subclass utilization in tumor tissue samples was predominantly immune suppressive IgG4 and inflammatory IgA2, contrasting with predominant IgG3 and IgA1 subclass utilization in matched sera and implying local autoantibody production at the site of disease in an immune-tolerant environment. By comparison, serum autoantibody subclass profiling for the disease controls identified IgG4, IgG1, and IgA1 as the abundant subclasses. Combinatorial analysis of serum autoantibody responses identified panels of candidate biomarkers. The top IgG panel included ACVR2B, GAGE1, LEMD1, MAGEB1 and PAGE1 (sensitivity, specificity and AUC values of 0.933, 0.767 and 0.906). Conversely, the top IgA panel included AURKA, GAGE1, MAGEA10, PLEKHA5 and XAGE3aV1 (sensitivity, specificity, and AUC values of 1.000, 0.800, and 0.954). Assessment of antigen-specific serum autoantibody glycoforms revealed abundant sialylation on IgA in PDAC, consistent with an immune suppressive IgA response to disease.

A network-based drug prioritization and combination analysis for the MEK5/ERK5 pathway in breast cancer

BackgroundPrioritizing candidate drugs based on genome-wide expression data is an emerging approach in systems pharmacology due to its holistic perspective for preclinical drug evaluation. In the current study, a network-based approach was proposed and applied to prioritize plant polyphenols and identify potential drug combinations in breast cancer. We focused on MEK5/ERK5 signalling pathway genes, a recently identified potential drug target in cancer with roles spanning major carcinogenesis processes.ResultsBy constructing and identifying perturbed protein–protein interaction networks for luminal A breast cancer, plant polyphenols and drugs from transcriptome data, we first demonstrated their systemic effects on the MEK5/ERK5 signalling pathway. Subsequently, we applied a pathway-specific network pharmacology pipeline to prioritize plant polyphenols and potential drug combinations for use in breast cancer. Our analysis prioritized genistein among plant polyphenols. Drug combination simulations predicted several FDA-approved drugs in breast cancer with well-established pharmacology as candidates for target network synergistic combination with genistein. This study also highlights the concept of target network enhancer drugs, with drugs previously not well characterised in breast cancer being prioritized for use in the MEK5/ERK5 pathway in breast cancer.ConclusionThis study proposes a computational framework for drug prioritization and combination with the MEK5/ERK5 signaling pathway in breast cancer. The method is flexible and provides the scientific community with a robust method that can be applied to other complex diseases.

Mechanism of Peppermint Extract-Induced Delay of 'Packham's Triumph' Pear (Pyrus communis L.) Postharvest Ripening.

Postharvest ripening is correlated to the quality and shelf life of European pear fruit. In this study, the effects of peppermint extract on fruit phenotype, related physiological activities, and aroma components during postharvest ripening of the European pear variety 'Packham's Triumph' were examined. Fruit treated with 2.0 g L-1 peppermint extract for 12 h showed delayed softening by 4 d compared with that of the untreated control group. The peak values of ethylene and respiratory rate in fruit were reduced to a certain extent after peppermint extract treatment; however, the peppermint extract did not delay the occurrence of the respiratory climacteric peak. Peppermint extract treatment also did not significantly increase the content of the characteristic peppermint aroma in pear fruit. Further, widely targeted metabolome analysis revealed 298 significantly different metabolites, with flavonoids (40%) and lipid compounds (15%) accounting for the highest proportion on the first day after treatment. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway result showed significant enrichment in the metabolic pathways of biosynthesis of flavonoid, isoflavonoid, flavone and flavonol, linoleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism following peppermint extract treatment. The combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolome data showed significant enrichment in linoleic acid metabolism and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism on the first, third, and fifth days after peppermint extract treatment. This study indicates that peppermint extract mainly affects the pear fruit softening process in the early stage after treatment.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses elucidate the mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in the regulation of mulberry seed germination under salt stress

Seed propagation is the main method of mulberry expansion in China, an important economic forest species. However, seed germination is the most sensitive stage to various abiotic stresses, especially salinity stress. To reveal the molecular regulatory mechanism of mulberry seed germination under salt stress, flavonoid metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses were performed on mulberry seeds germinated under 50 and 100 mmol/L NaCl stress. Analysis of the flavonoid metabolome revealed that a total of 145 differential flavonoid metabolites (DFMs) were classified into 9 groups, 40 flavonols, 32 flavones, 16 chalcones and 14 flavanones. Among them, 61.4% (89) of the DFMs accumulated continuously with increasing salt concentration, reaching the highest level at a 100 mmol/L salt concentration; these DFMs included quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), kaempferol (3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxyflavone), quercetin-7-O-glucoside, taxifolin (dihydroquercetin) and apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone), indicating that these flavonoids may be key metabolites involved in the response to salt stress. Transcriptional analysis identified a total of 3055 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), most of which were enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941), phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (ko00940) and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (ko01110). Combined analysis of flavonoid metabolomic and transcriptomic data indicated that phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS), flavonol synthase (FLS), bifunctional dihydroflavonol 4-reductase/flavanone 4-reductase (DFR) and anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) were the key genes involved in flavonoid accumulation during mulberry seed germination under 50 and 100 mmol/L NaCl stress. In addition, three transcription factors, MYB, bHLH and NAC, were involved in the regulation of flavonoid accumulation under salt stress. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT‒PCR) validation showed that the expression levels of 11 DEGs, including 7 genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, under different salt concentrations were consistent with the transcriptomic data, and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) results showed that the expression levels of 6 key enzymes (proteins) involved in flavonoid synthesis were consistent with the accumulation of flavonoids. This study provides a new perspective for investigating the regulatory role of flavonoid biosynthesis in the regulation of mulberry seed germination under salt stress at different concentrations.

Integrative ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analysis associated with diabetic nephropathy and identification of novel targets for treatment by dapagliflozin.

Dapagliflozin (DAPA) are clinically effective in improving diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, whether and how chromatin accessibility changed by DN responds to DAPA treatment is unclear. Therefore, we performed ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, and weighted gene correlation network analysis to identify the chromatin accessibility, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, and the correlation between clinical phenotypes and mRNA expression using kidney from three mouse groups: db/m mice (Controls), db/db mice (case group), and those treated with DAPA (treatment group). RNA-Seq and ATAC-seq conjoint analysis revealed many overlapping pathways and networks suggesting that the transcriptional changes of DN and DAPA intervention largely occured dependently on chromatin remodeling. Specifically, the results showed that some key signal transduction pathways, such as immune dysfunction, glucolipid metabolism, oxidative stress and xenobiotic and endobiotic metabolism, were repeatedly enriched in the analysis of the RNA-seq data alone, as well as combined analysis with ATAC-seq data. Furthermore, we identified some candidate genes (UDP glucuronosyltransferase 1 family, Dock2, Tbc1d10c, etc.) and transcriptional regulators (KLF6 and GFI1) that might be associated with DN and DAPA restoration. These reversed genes and regulators confirmed that pathways related to immune response and metabolism pathways were critically involved in DN progression.

Combined analysis of the microbiome, metabolome and transcriptome of silkie chickens in response to avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC)

Avian colibacillosis is a bacterial disease caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) that results in great losses in the poultry industry every year. Individual Silkie chickens of the same breed that are given the same feed in the same feeding conditions have different levels of resistance or susceptibility to APEC. Differences in gut microbes, gut metabolites, and gene expression in the spleen of APEC-resistant and APEC-susceptible chickens were compared, and multiple omics associations were analyzed to explore the mechanism of resistance to APEC in Silkie chickens. Compared with those in the APEC-susceptible group, the APEC-resistant group showed significantly increased abundances of many gut microorganisms, including Bacillus, Thermoactinomyces, Arthrobacter, and Ureibacillus, which were positively correlated with norvaline, l-arginine, and valyl-glycine levels. Intestinal tryptophan, indole, and indole derivative-related differentially abundant metabolites played an active role in combatting APEC infection. In the spleen, “response to stimulus” was the most significantly enriched GO term, and “cytokine‒cytokine receptor interaction” was the most significantly enriched KEGG pathway. The arginine biosynthesis and PPAR signaling pathways were the KEGG pathways that were significantly enriched with differentially abundant metabolites and differentially expressed genes. This study provides new insight into the prevention and treatment of APEC infection in Silkie chickens and lays a foundation to study the mechanism of APEC infection in poultry.

RNA and protein biomarkers for detecting enhanced metabolic resistance to herbicides mesosulfuron-methyl and fenoxaprop-ethyl in black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides).

The evolution of non-target site resistance (NTSR) to herbicides leads to a significant reduction in herbicide control of agricultural weed species. Detecting NTSR in weed populations prior to herbicide treatment would provide valuable information for effective weed control. While not all NTSR mechanisms have been fully identified, enhanced metabolic resistance (EMR) is one of the better studied, conferring tolerance through increased herbicide detoxification. Confirming EMR towards specific herbicides conventionally involves detecting metabolites of the active herbicide molecule in planta, but this approach is time-consuming and requires access to well-equipped laboratories. In this study, we explored the potential of using molecular biomarkers to detect EMR before herbicide treatment in black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides). We tested the reliability of selected biomarkers to predict EMR and survival after herbicide treatments in both reference and 27 field-derived black-grass populations collected from sites across the UK. The combined analysis of the constitutive expression of biomarkers and metabolism studies confirmed three proteins, namely, AmGSTF1, AmGSTU2 and AmOPR1, as differential biomarkers of EMR toward the herbicides fenoxaprop-ethyl and mesosulfuron in black-grass. Our findings demonstrate that there is potential to use molecular biomarkers to detect EMR toward specific herbicides in black-grass without reference to metabolism analysis. However, biomarker development must include testing at both transcript and protein levels in order to be reliable indicators of resistance. This work is a first step towards more robust resistance biomarker development, which could be expanded into other herbicide chemistries for on-farm testing and monitoring EMR in uncharacterised black-grass populations. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

PbrWRKY62-PbrADC1 module involves in superficial scald development of Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.fruit via regulating putrescine biosynthesis

Putrescine plays a role in superficial scald development during the cold storage of pear fruit. However, the molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon has not been un-fully clarified until recently. In this study, a conjoint analysis of metabolites and gene expression profiles in the putrescine-metabolic pathway of P. bretschneideri Rehd. fruit followed by experimental validation revealed that PbrADC1, forming a homodimer in the chloroplast, was involved in putrescine biosynthesis and thus fruit chilling resistance. Additionally, the substrate-binding residue Cys546 in PbrADC1, whose activity was modified by H2O2, played a crucial role in arginine decarboxylation into agmatine. Through a combined analysis of the distribution of cis-acting elements in the PbrADC1 promoter as well as the expression profiles of related transcription factors (TFs), several TFs were identified as upstream regulators of PbrADC1 gene. Further investigation revealed that the nuclear PbrWRKY62 could directly bind to the W-box elements in the PbrADC1 promoter, activate its expression, enhance putrescine accumulation, and thus increase fruit chilling tolerance. In conclusion, our results suggest that the PbrWRKY62-PbrADC1 module is involved in the development of superficial scald in P. bretschneideri Rehd. fruit via regulating putrescine biosynthesis. Consequently, these findings could serve as valuable genetic resources for breeding scald-resistant pear fruit.Graphical

An Integrated Risk Assessment Methodology of In-Service Hydrogen Storage Tanks Based on Connection Coefficient Algorithms and Quintuple Subtraction Set Pair Potential

At present, there have been a number of hydrogen storage tank explosions in hydrogen filling stations, causing casualties and property losses, and having a bad social impact. This has made people realize that the risk assessment and preventive maintenance of hydrogen storage tanks are crucial. Therefore, this paper innovatively proposes a comprehensive risk assessment model based on connection coefficient algorithms and quintuple subtractive set pair potential. First of all, the constructed index system contains five aspects of corrosion factors, material factors, environmental factors, institutional factors and human factors. Secondly, a combined weighting analysis method based on FAHP and CRITIC is proposed to determine the weight of each indicator. The basic indicators influencing hydrogen storage tanks are analyzed via the quintuple subtraction set pair potential and full partial connection coefficient. Finally, the risk level and development trend of hydrogen storage tanks in hydrogen filling stations are determined by a combination of the three-category connection coefficient algorithms and the risk level eigenvalue method. The results of our case analysis show that the proposed risk assessment model can identify the main weak indicators affecting the safety of hydrogen storage tanks, including installation quality, misoperation and material quality. At the same time, it is found that the risk of high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks is at the basic safety level, and the development trend of safety conditions holds a critical value. The evaluation results can help establish targeted countermeasures for the prevention and maintenance of hydrogen storage tanks.

Dissemination of RT and Sputnik Content in European Digital Alternative News Environments: Mapping the Influence of Russian State-Backed Media Across Platforms, Topics, and Ideology

The study investigates the dissemination of news content from two Russian state-backed media outlets, RT and Sputnik, within digital alternative news environments in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. We investigate these media outlets as parts of a Russian “sharp power” strategy, aimed at establishing informational influence within Western news environments. The analysis includes over 3.4 million social media posts containing URLs to RT and Sputnik content, published between January 2019 and March 2022. Drawing on a combined network analytical and computational text analysis approach, we examine the dissemination of RT and Sputnik content across a range of social media platforms (Twitter/X, Facebook, Telegram, VKontakte, Gab, Instagram, Reddit, 4chan, and YouTube). In the Danish and Swedish environments, the dissemination of content into core domestic alternative news communities is limited, primarily taking place on Facebook and, to a lesser extent, on Twitter/X. Fringe platforms such as Telegram, Gab and VKontakte facilitate a wider spread of content within domestic alternative news environments in German-speaking environments, predominantly among right-wing digital clusters. Within German-speaking alternative news environments, the shared content from RT and Sputnik primarily addresses domestic issues, such as COVID-19 policies and vaccines. In contrast, Danish- and Swedish-speaking alternative news environments emphasize foreign policy matters, including the Russian–Ukraine War, WikiLeaks, and Western military actions. These findings contribute to research on foreign state-media operations in digital information environments by focusing on both content and sharing patterns.

Grain yield and its contributing traits in promising sweetcorn hybrids

AbstractThe augmentation of domestic sweetcorn (Zea mays L. saccharata) production in semiarid regions necessitates the development of new superior hybrids with high yield potential. This study aimed to identify the most influential characteristics contributing to sweetcorn grain yield in these regions. Nineteen promising sweetcorn hybrids and the commercial hybrid KSC403su as the control were examined using a randomized complete block design with three replications in a 2‐year study (2021–2022) at the Khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Institute Center (ARREO) in Mashhad, Iran. The combined analysis of variance revealed significant variances attributed to genotype (G) for all studied traits, while year (Y) and G × Y effects were significant for most characteristics. Phenotypic correlations indicated a highly significant association of grain yield with grain depth (r = 0.79, p < 0.01), kernel number per row (r = 0.75, p < 0.01), row number per ear (r = 0.63, p < 0.01), ear length (r = 0.58, p < 0.01), and ear diameter (r = 0.57, p < 0.01) traits. Path analysis results emphasized the critical role of traits such as grain depth, row number per ear, and ear length, showcasing a highly significant positive direct impact on grain yield and also a significantly positive association with grain yield. In this study, hybrids PSM3, PSM4, PSM9, PSM16, and PSM19 exhibited the highest values for grain yield and yield‐contributing traits, suggesting their potential for further research in multiple locations with varying environmental conditions before being recommended to farmers.

Empirical correlation of quantified hard carbon structural parameters with electrochemical properties for sodium-ion batteries using a combined WAXS and SANS analysis

This study highlights the advantages of using wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) methods to analyse turbostratic d-glucose-derived hard carbons (GDCs) over a wide range of length scales. It demonstrates the reasons for the superior performance of hard carbons (HCs) pyrolysed at 1100 °C compared to those pyrolysed at 700 °C, 1000 °C, or 1400 °C in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Twelve WAXS and thirteen SANS structural parameters were simultaneously determined for HCs. The investigation incorporates WAXS-derived interlayer spacing, a3, into the SANS analysis of HCs. The Ruland and Smarsly algorithm is emphasised over the commonly used Scherrer and Bragg equations. Thus, the collective analysis of nanostructure highlights the necessity for a revision in applying widely used characterisation techniques when dealing with disordered HCs. The study suggests that an a3 value of 0.373 nm best suits GDC-1100 as a SIB anode material. Comparing HCs prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures, GDC-1100 exhibits the most compatible parameters, resulting in the highest specific capacity value. The model-free SAS analysis indicates hierarchical structural changes at nanoscopic (SANS) and atomic (WAXS) scales simultaneously. The interplay between dynamic a3 and static parameters, such as the graphene layer extent La and the Ruland length, lR, favours plateau capacity, contributing to sodium ion storage. The study demonstrates the suitability of the WAXS/SANS toolbox for empirically correlating hard carbons' structural characteristics with the electrochemical performance of SIBs.

Multi-method combined analysis of urban flood risks and its influencing factors under low impact development

In previous studies, the mitigation of urban floods via low impact development (LID) has typically been expressed only in terms of runoff volume reduction. The impact of duration time and flow velocity on the flood risk has not been quantitatively analyzed. This paper takes the Beiyangyuan Campus of Tianjin University (national pilot sponge campus) as the study area. Based on the constructed SWMM and MIKE21 coupled model, the effects of LID on different flood characteristics are analyzed by setting LID removal scenarios. The results show that LID mainly mitigates urban floods by reducing the runoff volume, inundation area and risk area, and the reduction effect is approximately 15%–38%. The water depth, flow velocity and duration time are not sensitive to LID practices, and the reduction effect is basically below 10%. The flood risk and its influencing factors in the study area were analyzed using combined multi-methods based on water depth (WD), water depth & duration time (WD&DT), and hazard rating (HR). The results show that the central island with numerous LID practices has an almost undetected flood risk, and the high risk is mainly distributed in the northeast of the study area. Duration time is an important influencing factor on flood risk, and after adding consideration of duration time, the proportion of risk levels upgraded to moderate or high is more than 90%. Further analysis shows that insufficient drainage capacity of the pipe network leads to prolonged ponding, which is the primary cause of flood risk in the study area. Adding the consideration of flow velocity, the 27–36% low-risk area changes to moderate risk; multiple linear regression analysis shows that the contribution of flow velocity to the flood risk is minimal. The possibility of flow impact hazard in the study area is very low, and the cumulative frequency of water depth and flow velocity product (d·v) less than 0.04 m2/s is more than 98% in each scenario.

Effect of fire needle combined with traditional Chinese medicine on psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The mechanism of action of fire acupuncture and Chinese medicine in psoriasis is unclear. In this paper, the efficacy of the 2 therapies was compared through a comprehensive analysis of their recurrence rates for clinical reference. In this meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, CQVIP, and CBM data from the establishment of the databases to May 2023. The study proposed to use randomized controlled trial research methods, excluding published literature, unpublished literature, literature with incomplete or inadequate information, animal experiments, literature reviews and systematic studies. Data were processed using STATA 15.1 software. Our group previous study found that the clinical efficacy of the fire-acupuncture group was significantly improved compared to that of Chinese herbal medicine alone (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.13-1.27). Also, there were significant reductions in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score (SMD = -1.04,95% CI: -1.48 to -0.60), area of skin damage (SMD = -0.40,95% CI: -0.75 to -0.04), and pruritus (SMD = -1.04,95% CI: -1.32 to -0.76). Our previous study found that Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was significantly lower in the fire acupuncture group compared to herbal medicine alone (SMD = -1.61,95% CI: -3.08 to -0.15). The combined analysis found that the recurrence rate was significantly lower in the fire-acupuncture group compared to herbal medicine alone (RR = 0.21,95% CI:0.07-0.60). Fire needle can improve the efficacy of TCM in the treatment of psoriasis, including the area, severity and itching of skin lesions, and reduce the recurrence rate, which is worthy of clinical promotion.