PeerJ最新文献

Background: Coix lacryma-jobi L. is a vital medicinal and dual-purpose crop in Guizhou, requiring optimal cultivation conditions to preserve its therapeutic properties. Waterlogging stress significantly reduces its productivity, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Methods: We investigated the species' adaptive responses using controlled waterlogging experiments on potted plants. Morphological alterations and key growth parameters (culm diameter, plant height, dry biomass) were quantified. We performed transcriptomic profiling by RNA-Seq to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). To elucidate the functional implications of these DEGs, we conducted systematic enrichment analyses using the clusters of orthologous groups (COG), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. Expression patterns of candidate genes were validated using Quantitative Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).

Results: Flooded plants exhibited significant morphological changes, with key growth parameters decreasing by 14.4-21.8%. A pronounced adaptive response was a 76.6% increase in adventitious root formation. RNA-Seq revealed 207 DEGs (133 upregulated, 74 downregulated). Enrichment analyses indicated these DEGs were predominantly involved in photosynthetic processes, carbohydrate dynamics, and signaling pathways. qRT-PCR confirmed consistent expression patterns for six candidate genes associated with photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. These findings demonstrate that Coix lacryma-jobi L. activates coordinated molecular responses, including photosynthetic efficiency adjustment and metabolic pathway remodeling, to enhance waterlogging tolerance. This work identifies critical genetic components governing waterlogging adaptation, providing molecular markers for developing stress-tolerant cultivars through targeted breeding.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a common complication following spinal cord injury (SCI), significantly impairing patients' physical/mental health and quality of life. While activity-based exercise has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating SCI-NP in rodent models, the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. Specifically, it requires investigation whether exercise mediates its benefits through the following mechanisms: improving aberrant primary afferents and circuit inhibition in the lumbar dorsal horn after thoracic contusion SCI. In this study, we implemented an exercise training protocol in rats with incomplete thoracic SCI. We evaluated its effects on several factors, including mechanical withdrawal thresholds (MWTs), thermal withdrawal latencies (TWLs), and rate-dependent depression (RDD) of H-reflex. Additionally, we examined the changes in vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGluT1, specifically labeled in myelinated primary afferent terminals), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-labeled nociceptive unmyelinated primary afferents, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65+67 (GAD 65+67), and potassium-chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2). Our results showed that exercise training significantly improved MWTs and TWLs, enhanced the RDD of H-reflex, increased the synthesis of VGluT1, GAD 65+67, and KCC2 within the spinal dorsal horn, while reducing the CGRP-labeled nociceptive unmyelinated primary afferents. These findings indicate that exercise alleviates mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, which is paralleled by improvements in aberrant primary afferents, enhanced RDD of the H-reflex, and increased synthesis of GAD 65+67 and KCC2 in the lumbar dorsal horn following thoracic contusion SCI.

Litter is considered a major constraint that affects the sexual reproduction and regeneration of populations of Rhododendron seedlings. In this study, we analyzed the effects of litter accumulation and its allelopathy on the regeneration potential of four Rhododendron species, and investigated the impacts of different litter amounts and coverage methods on Rhododendron seed germination through indoor pot experiments. The results showed that low amounts of litter promoted the rate of emergence of seedlings, while high amounts of litter inhibited this process. The rate of emergence of Rhododendron reached its maximum value when the amount of litter was between 200 and 400 g/m² . The seeds of four species of Rhododendron began to germinate between days 7 and 8 of the experiment. The duration of germination for the four Rhododendron species ranged from 8 to 11 days. Extracts from different decomposition layers of litter had a "suppressive" effect or a "low promotion and high inhibition" effect on the germination rates of four species of Rhododendron. The litter extract inhibited the germination of Rhododendron decorum and Rhododendron delavayi at 2 mg/mL of extract, while it promoted the germination of Rhododendron irroratum and Rhododendron agastum seeds. Therefore, the presence of litter under Rhododendron shrubs in Northwest Guizhou Province, China, likely reduces the germination of the populations of Rhododendron and may limit their renewal through sexual reproduction. Thus, this study suggests that the presence of litter under Rhododendron shrubs in Northwest Guizhou Province may significantly limit their reproduction by seeds.

Background: Patients with depression have memory impairment. Exercise can improve memory in people with depression. This study employs a three-level meta-analysis to investigate the interventional effects of exercise on verbal and visual memory in patients with depression.

Methods: A systematic electronic search was conducted in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, China Biomedicine, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of exercise interventions on memory in individuals with depression, up to July 18, 2024. A three-level meta-analysis based on a random-effects model was performed using R. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool.

Results: A total of 16 studies were included in the analysis. The results indicated a statistically significant but small effect of exercise on verbal memory in patients with depression (g = 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.02-0.32], p = 0.03); however, the 95% prediction interval crossed zero, suggesting that the effect may not be consistent across different settings or future studies; however, the 95% prediction interval crossed zero, suggesting that the effect may not be consistent across different settings or future studies (g = 0.27, 95% CI [-0.00-0.54], p = 0.05). Exercise intensity significantly moderated the effect of exercise on verbal memory in patients with depression (F = 3.39, p = 0.04), whereas exercise type, session time, duration, age, and intervention content of the experimental group were not moderating factors (p > 0.05). Low-to-moderate intensity (g = 0.43, p < 0.01), duration ≤12 weeks (g = 0.27, p < 0.01), and session time ≤60 minutes (g = 0.18, p = 0.03) of mind-body exercise (g = 0.43, p < 0.01) were most likely to improve verbal memory in patients with depression. The level of evidence was "moderate".

Conclusions: Exercise may confer a small improvement in verbal memory among adults with depression, while no clear effect was observed for visual memory. However, further randomized controlled trials are needed to explore the impact of exercise on memory in patients with depression. Research plan was registered in international system evaluation platform PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/) (CRD42023473393).

The problem of toxic pollution of the environment by combustion products of explosives and rocket fuel is becoming increasingly important in the context of intensified military operations. In this study, the toxicity of TNT derivatives, hydrazine-based compounds, and nitroaromatic transformation products related to explosive and rocket fuel contamination was evaluated using the model organisms Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1758 and Opatrum sabulosum (Linnaeus, 1761). We chose hydrazine derivatives, nitroanilines, benzene and naphthalene-based nitro compounds that can persist in the ground, water and atmosphere after explosions or incomplete combustion of rocket fuel. Topical dispersion was used to evaluate exposure of specified doses on the surface of containers containing larvae and imagoes of T. molitor and imagoes of O. sabulosum, followed by lethality counts and LC₅₀ determination. The results indicate the high sensitivity of T. molitor larvae and imagoes and O. sabulosum imagoes to TNT derivatives, hydrazine compounds, and nitroaromatic contaminants commonly found in explosive-contaminated environments, which confirms the feasibility of introducing ecotoxicological monitoring of military-technological impact zones. The systematic toxicity assessment of these 29 explosive-related compounds provides essential baseline data for environmental risk modeling and ecotoxicological monitoring programs. The data obtained can be used for further modeling of environmental risk and development of bioindicator approaches to detect pollution as a result of military operations, for example, in Ukraine.

Purpose: This study investigated how playing experience influences joint kinetics and ball-release velocity during mid- and long-range jump shots. Wrist, elbow, shoulder and knee rate of torque development (RTD), peak power (P_peak), and angular impulse (AI) were quantified, along with vertical release velocity (VV) and horizontal release velocity (HV) at release.

Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 15 experienced and 15 novice male collegiate basketball players each performed three made jump shots from 4.8 m and 6.75 m. A 3-D motion-capture system synchronised with force plates provided the data used to compute RTD, P_peak, AI, VV and HV. Outcomes were compared with a two-way mixed ANOVA.

Results: Experienced players exhibited greater wrist AI (p < 0.001), elbow RTD (p = 0.002), P_peak (p = 0.045) and AI (p < 0.001), knee P_peak (p = 0.002) and VV (p < 0.001). Longer shooting distance increased shoulder P_peak (p = 0.036) and HV (p = 0.018).

Conclusions: Collectively, these results show that experience enhances joint kinetic output, providing the mechanical foundation for more efficient and dependable shooting. For novice players, emphasising wrist-endurance work, explosive-power training for the elbow and knee, and targeted drills to raise VV is recommended to improve overall on-court shooting performance.

Introduction: Alterations in the composition and structure of the soil microbial community exert a substantial impact on soil nutrient cycling and fertility. Implementing sustainable land use strategies involves a deeper comprehension of the dynamics of the soil microbial community under different fertilization approaches.

Methods: Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) method was employed to characterize soil microbial community abundance and structure under four fertilization treatments (no fertilizer (CK), 100% mineral fertilizer (NPK), 30% organic fertilizer + 70% mineral fertilizer (LOM), and 60% organic fertilizer + 40% mineral fertilizer (HOM)) in a Camellia oleifera plantation area in southern China.

Results: Fertilization application substantially increased the Camellia oleifera yields, with the highest increment observed under the HOM treatment. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen levels were significantly increased in LOM and HOM treatments as compared to CK. Total PLFAs absolute abundance in LOM and HOM treatments increased by 68.45% and 85.38%, respectively, compared to CK treatment. Furthermore, the absolute abundances of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, as well as total PLFAs, were markedly enhanced in HOM and LOM treatments but not in the NPK treatment relative to CK treatment. There was less distinction observed in the microbial community structure than in microbial abundance across four fertilization treatments. Soil nutrients were identified as the primary factor affecting soil microbial abundance and crop yield. These findings imply that the combined application of organic and mineral fertilization than employing solely mineral fertilization may be more effective in improving soil nutrient levels, regulating soil microbial community composition and increasing crop yield in a Camellia oleifera plantation.

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a major invasive pest threatening soybean production, and identifying resistant genotypes is essential for sustainable crop protection. This study evaluated 36 soybean genotypes for their resistance to S. frugiperda based on leaf damage intensity and frequency, resistance classification, morphophysiological traits, and yield components. The research was conducted under field conditions using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Armyworm damage was assessed at 36 and 41 days after planting (DAP), and all quantitative data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by the Scott-Knott test at a 5% significance level. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Significant variation was evident among genotypes, with attack intensity at 41 DAP ranging from 18.31 ± 10.64% to 61.20 ± 11.39%, and attack frequency from 33.38 ± 16.92% to 95.49 ± 5.35%. Based on mean intensity values, one genotype was categorized as strongly resistant (SR) (UB 2), four as resistant (R) (UBASK24, UBASK35, GBG, TGM), and a broader set as moderately resistant (MR), while highly susceptible (HS) genotypes included UBASK15, UBASK62, UBASK64, UBASK32, UBASK36, and UBASK14. Morphophysiological traits exhibited wide variation, including leaf trichome density (13.56-42.11 trichomes 0.25 cm^-2), plant height (38.42-78.67 cm), and flowering time (31-47 DAP), while yield traits identified TGM, UBASK35, UBASK24, and GBG as the highest-performing genotypes. Overall, UB 2, UBASK24, UBASK35, GBG, and TGM are promising parental candidates for breeding soybean resistance against S. frugiperda, integrating strong resistance expression with favorable agronomic performance.

Background: Tropomyosin 4 (TPM4) regulates neurite outgrowth and vascular pathology but its role as a biomarker for predicting outcomes in stroke patients is unclear. This study investigated the association between serum TPM4 levels and 1-year functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

Methods: AIS patients admitted within 24 h post-onset from the Chengdu Stroke Registry were included. Serum TPM4 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Poor functional outcomes were defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score >2 at 1 year after stroke onset. Multivariate logistic regression assessed TPM4's association with outcomes, with its predictive incremental value evaluated by discrimination, reclassification, and overall performance metrics.

Results: Among 181 patients (median age 66 years, 64.1% male), 59 (32.6%) experienced poor outcomes at 1 year, including 16 deaths (8.8%). Serum TPM4 levels on admission were negatively correlated with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (r = -0.185, p = 0.013). Adjusted for confounders, lower serum TPM4 levels were independently associated with 1-year poor functional outcomes (adjusted OR 0.045, 95% CI [0.005-0.393], p = 0.005). Serum TPM4 levels had acceptable discriminative ability for predicting poor outcomes (AUROC 0.706, 95% CI [0.621-0.791], p < 0.0001). Incorporating TPM4 into the basic model significantly improved the predictive power for poor functional outcomes (net reclassification index: 31.87%, p = 0.041; integrated discrimination improvement: 5.01%, p = 0.008; Brier score decreased from 0.16 to 0.15, p = 0.012).

Conclusions: Lower serum TPM4 levels on admission were independently associated with poor functional outcomes at 1 year in AIS patients, suggesting that TPM4 may serve as a potential biomarker for long-term outcomes and offer insights into its potential role in stroke pathophysiology. These findings need to be further verified in external cohorts.