Shaoguan University

Comprehensive Summary γ‐Lactam is one of the most prevalent heterocyclic building blocks in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical chemistry. However, the direct use of alkynamides as the synthon for the preparation of structurally diverse γ‐lactams has remained much underexplored so far. Herein, we presented the first palladium‐catalyzed intermolecular carboamidation of alkenes with alkynamides for constructing polyfunctionalized α‐methylene‐γ‐lactams under aerobic oxidative conditions. More importantly, this protocol features broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and good step‐ and atom‐economy. Remarkably, the synthetic value of this synthetic strategy is further demonstrated by applications in the gram‐scale synthesis and the late‐stage diversification of pharmaceuticals molecules.

Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to respond to the absorption and transport of external substances. Transcription factors (TFs) play pivotal roles in regulating the expression of genes involved in the transport of various substances in plants. However, how TFs coordinate the initiation of key transcriptional networks involved in cellular localization/transport in response to pesticide uptake and translocation in rice remains largely unclear. In this study, we report OsMADS55 (SVP‐group MADS‐box transcription factor 55), a membrane‐anchored TF that interacts with the thiamethoxam (THX) transporter OsATL15 at the plasma membrane (PM) and acts as a negative regulator. The OsMADS55 mutant enhances the uptake and translocation of THX, thereby improving brown planthopper control. Interestingly, we found that upon exposure to THX, OsMADS55 translocates from the PM to the nucleus, where it dissociates from OsATL15, thereby increasing the availability of OsATL15 at the membrane to facilitate THX uptake. Our results uncovered a mechanistic framework underlying the OsMADS55‐OsATL15 module that precisely controls the uptake and translocation of THX, providing insights for improved pest management and reduced dependence on pesticides.

The landslides susceptibility analysis is used to identify the susceptible area for landslides occurrence which utilized in geo-hazard analysis and managements. AI techniques are widely used by the practicing engineer to solve a whole range of hitherto intractable problems, so, providing accurate susceptibility mapping with advance AI methods and machine learning helps to reduce the land-sliding consequences which are one of the most important steps in urban and hazard managements in real world engineering application. The presented study used advanced random forests algorithm to provide the susceptibility maps of landslide hazard in Fars province in Iran. In this regard, a landslide inventory database is prepared based on totally 352 historical landslides and 5 main triggering factors (e.g., morphologic, geologic, climatologic, seismicity, and human-activity parameters). This database was used to prediction process by machine learning method that trained by 70% and validated by 30% of the main database. The model was analysed based on confusion matrix, loss function and validated via overall accuracy with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. The result shows that random forests algorithm reached the considerable overall accuracy (AUC = 0.944). Additional, by estimating the error rates concluded mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), and root-mean-square error (RMSE) on both testing and training sets; it’s appeared that the model was operated with remarkable accuracy (AUC > 0.9) that indicate the high- capability of the predictive model in landslides susceptibility assessment.

Elko is a spin-half fermion with a two-fold Wigner degeneracy and Klein–Gordon dynamics. In this paper, we show that in a spatially flat FLRW space-time, slow-roll inflation can be initiated by the homogeneous Elko fields. The inflaton is a composite scalar field obtained by contracting the spinor field with its dual. This is possible because the background evolution as described by the Friedmann equation is completely determined by the scalar field. This approach has the advantage that we do not need to specify the initial conditions for every component of the spinor fields. We derive the equation of motion for the inflaton and also show that this solution is an attractor. Finally, we examine the slow-roll parameters and the power-spectrum, showing that obtaining a behavior in agreement with observational requirements is hard to be obtained, unless one uses more complicated potentials, which may act a limitation of Elko inflation.

The relationship between muscle strength improvement and ischemic stroke outcome following endovascular therapy (EVT) for emergency treatment of patients has not been well studied. We developed the prognostic value of the change in muscle strength scores on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale within 24 hours of EVT as a predictor of EVT outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data from 142 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke who underwent EVT between August 2018 and February 2022 at a comprehensive stroke center. Early muscle strength improvement (EMSI) was defined as 3 levels of muscle strength improvement on the MRC scale or improvement to grade 4 or 5 of lower-limb muscle strength (LLMS) 24 ± 8 h after EVT. A favorable outcome was defined as a 3-months outcome of the modified Rankin scale (mRS) 0% to 2. 84.2% of EMSI patients had a favorable outcome, in comparison to only 21.2% of non-EMSI patients ( P < .001). Similarly, 47.1% of patients died at 3-months in the non-EMSI group, while a significantly lower mortality (8.8%) was observed in the EMSI group ( P < .001). LLMS 24 hours post-EVT was significantly associated with 90-day outcomes ( P < .001). Early muscle strength improvement in the emergency setting may be a useful predictor of a desired functional outcome in patients with large-vessel occlusion stroke following EVT.

This study used a non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) instrument to explore learner attention during interactions with AI chatbots. Compared with traditional self-reported surveys, EEG-based data offer a more direct and objective method for measuring cognitive engagement. To assess differences in attention levels before and after interacting with AI chatbots, the authors invited three Chinese college students to participate in this case study. The results indicated their attention levels increased during chatbot interactions, suggesting that personalized and interactive AI tools can help students stay focused. This case study contributes to the literature on observing cognitive engagement and offers educators a fresh strategy for improving students’ attention and academic performance.

This experiment aimed to study the effects of methionine (Met) on growth performance, intestinal structure and transport, Met metabolism, and target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway in golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). Fish (9.12 ± 0.03 g) were fed with six diets with 0.79%, 0.90%, 1.01%, 1.12%, 1.23%, and 1.34% DL-Met for 8 weeks. Our study showed that Met supplementation significantly increased fish growth, villus length, crypt depth, and the mRNA levels of intestinal amino acid transporters including asc-type amino acid transporter 1 (asc-1), sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter B (asct2), and cationic amino acid transporter1 (cat1) (p < 0.05). Liver histological analysis revealed that Met addition improved cell swelling, nuclear migration, and hepatic vacuolation. Appropriate Met supplementation significantly increased mRNA level of key genes (methionine adenosyl transferase [mat], cystathionine beta-synthase [cbs], cystathionine γ-lyase [cse], and cysteine dioxygenase [cdo]) involved in transmethylation, transsulfuration metabolism, and taurine synthesis pathways. The level of 1.12%–1.23%, 1.12%, and 1.23% Met significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of S-adenosyl methionine/target of rapamycin (samtor), regulatory-associated protein of TOR (raptor), and ribosomal protein s6 (s6), respectively. The protein levels of protein kinase B (AKT), TOR, p-TOR, S6K, p-S6K, and p-S6 increased firstly and then decreased with increasing dietary Met supplementation. In conclusion, Met supplementation may promote growth of golden pompano by improving intestinal structure and amino acid transport, increasing transmethylation and transsulfuration metabolism, and activating TOR signaling pathways through SAMTOR and AKT.

Sensor networks are often deployed outdoors and are more susceptible to various attacks. In order to protect communication between nodes, scholars have proposed key management schemes. The most popular among them is the key pre-distribution scheme. This scheme has the following contradiction: in order to improve security, the number of keys pre-distributed to nodes should be minimized as much as possible. However, as the number of pre-distribution keys decreases, the network may no longer be securely connected, resulting in wastage of nodes. In this paper, we propose a new key establishment method to address this issue. Analysis and simulation show that the proposed scheme can reduce the number of pre-distribution keys in the original schemes while ensuring secure network connectivity.

Copper ions (Cu²⁺), although essential for biological systems, pose substantial environmental and health risks at elevated concentrations. Therefore, the detection of Cu²⁺ in the environment is of great significance. In...

Chloroplast development is crucial for the growth and development of higher plants. In this study, we explored the role of a newly identified factor in this process by using the rice albino leaf 7 (al7) mutant, characterized by an albino phenotype and lethality after the three-leaf stage. Phenotypic analysis indicated that the al7 mutant exhibited a decreased chlorophyll content and impaired chloroplast development. Using the MutMap+ method, complementation tests, and CRISPR–Cas9 gene editing, we identified that a mutation in the OsAL7 gene is responsible for the lethal albino phenotype. OsAL7 encodes a chloroplast-localized protein featuring two elongation factor thermostable (EF-Ts) domains and is expressed ubiquitously across various rice tissues. Deletion of the EF-Ts domains led to defective chloroplast development and albino lethality in seedlings. Moreover, the expression levels of nuclear and plastid genes related to chloroplast development were substantially altered in the al7 mutant. In conclusion, our findings highlight the key role played by OsAL7 in the development of chloroplasts and survival of rice seedlings.

Background Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill), a vital source of edible oil and protein, ranks seventh in global agricultural production, yet its productivity is significantly hindered by potential toxic metal/liods (PTM) stress. Arsenic (As), a highly toxic soil contaminant, poses substantial risks to both plants and humans, even at trace concentrations, particularly in China. Results This research endeavor delves into the combined effect of arsenate (AsV), a common form of As in soil, and nano-selenium (nSe), on the transcriptional regulation of key genes and the modulation of signaling and metabolic cascades in young soybean seedlings. Our findings indicate that nSe mitigates AsV toxicity by modulating hormonal signaling cascades, particularly the phenylalanine and salicylic acid pathways, thereby augmenting antioxidant defenses and mitigating the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on soybean roots. Conclusion This study offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying metalloid tolerance in soybean, opening avenues for the development of strategies to bolster As resistance in contaminated soils. Nevertheless, further investigation is imperative to elucidate the intricate interplay of hormonal signaling in soybean roots during nSe supplementation under As stress conditions.

Arsenic (As)‐accumulating plants are used in monoculture or intercropping to remediate contaminated soils, but their As‐rich biomass poses environmental risks. Using this biomass as green manure is a promising strategy to improve soil health, crop yield, and microbial diversity. However, its effects on stress tolerance and As accumulation in brown rice remain poorly understood. This study investigates the impact of five green manures derived from monoculture or intercropping of As‐accumulating plants on brown rice physiology and soil microbial communities in As‐contaminated soil under crop rotations. The application of green manure significantly increased brown rice yield (25.42–39.53 g/plant) and alleviated physiological stress. Activities of oxidative stress‐related enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase) were reduced by 38.70%, 40.13%, and 37.30%, respectively, along with a 48.46% decrease in malondialdehyde content. Green manure also improved soil physicochemical properties, including pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and soil organic matter (SOM), while reducing available soil As concentration. These improvements were accompanied by enhanced soil enzyme activities (β‐glucosidase, protease, urease, and acid phosphatase) and distinct shifts in microbial community composition. Notably, the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi decreased, while Nitrospira, Sphingomonas, Acidibacter, Rokubacteriales, Pedomicrobium, Nocardioides, Saccharimonas, Terrimonas, Haliangium, and Flavobacterium increased. These taxa exhibited strong negative correlations with soil As concentrations and positive associations with pH, CEC, SOM, and soil enzyme activities. Green manure from postphytoremediation biomass improved brown rice stress resilience, yield, soil quality, and beneficial microbial populations. This approach offers a sustainable way to reduce As risks and boost productivity in crop rotation systems.

Eggplant production in China is significantly impacted by Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae, leading to substantial yield losses. This study was designed to investigate the potential of rhizobacterial species for the biocontrol of Verticillium wilt in eggplant. Among the 42 bacterial isolates tested, strain ARF4 demonstrated the strongest antagonistic effect by inhibiting V. dahliae growth by 84.49%, in addition to showing antifungal properties against four other plant pathogens. We found the strain ARF4 is closely related to Bacillus velezensis with high bootstrap values (100) through a phylogenetic tree based on 16S, rpoB, and gyrA gene sequences. The ARF4 produces important antifungal compounds such as chitinase, protease, β-glucosidase, and lipopeptide bacillomycin D, which contribute to its antifungal properties. The extracted lipopeptide of the ARF4 exhibited strong inhibition of conidial germination in V. dahliae. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that hyphae treated with the extracted lipopeptide exhibited considerable deformation. Transmission electron microscopy results revealed lysis of the cell walls and plasma membrane, a decreased inner cytoplasmic matrix and a number of mitochondria, and disintegration of internal organelles. Greenhouse trials demonstrated that eggplants treated with strain ARF4 experienced a significant disease severity reduction of 68.45%. This study offers B. velezensis ARF4 biological approach to Verticillium wilt control in eggplants as an alternative to chemical fungicides and contributes to sustainable agriculture practices.

Canine influenza virus (CIV) is a respiratory pathogen that causes fever, coughing, and sneezing in dogs and is continuously circulating in canine populations. Tetherin is an antiviral host restriction factor mediated by interferon, capable of inhibiting the release of enveloped viruses from infected cells. The antiviral mechanism of tetherin is mainly due to its unusual topology, which includes a short N-terminal cytoplasmic tail (CT), a transmembrane (TM) domain, a coiled-coil extra-cellular region (CC), and a C-terminal glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor (GPI). Previous studies have found that canine tetherin has the ability to limit the release of CIV, but its main antiviral domain remains unclear. In the present study, the potential CT, TM, CC, and GPI domains of canine tetherin were predicted through systemic bioinformatic analysis, and mutational variants of canine tetherin based on the four domains were constructed. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that the CT, TM, and CC domains are critical for the cell membrane localization of canine tetherin. The results of in vitro CIV infection experiments showed that the TM region is a critical functional domain of canine tetherin in limiting the replication of CIV. Our study will help better understand the antiviral activity of canine tetherin and the role of the structural domains of canine tetherin in inhibiting the replication of CIV.

Caragana intermedia is a perennial shrub species in the genus Caragana (Fabaceae), demonstrating remarkable stress resistance and adaptability. However, research on its somatic embryogenesis (SE) and genetic transformation techniques remains limited. In this study, we established an SE system by utilizing immature cotyledons isolated from young C. intermedia seeds. Our findings demonstrated that the immature cotyledons at 6–7 weeks after flowering (WAF) were the best explants for SE. The optimal embryo induction medium consisted of an MS basal medium supplemented with 5 mg/L α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 3 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), 30 g/L sucrose, 7 g/L agar, and 500 mg/L hydrolyzed casein. Cotyledon-stage embryos germinated on a half-strength MS medium, exhibiting a 34.36% germination rate. Based on the SE system, we developed a preliminary genetic transformation system using the RUBY reporter gene, which successfully generated transgenic calli and cotyledon-stage embryos. The establishment of the SE system is expected to shorten breeding cycles, facilitate propagation of superior cultivars, and support large-scale industrial applications in C. intermedia. Furthermore, the stable transformation system provides a platform for molecular breeding and gene function verification.

Cryptosporidium is a major cause of severe diarrhea. Although Cryptosporidium isolates exhibit significant differences in infectivity and virulence, the genetic determinants for these traits are not clear. In this study, we use classical genetics to cross two Cryptosporidium parvum isolates of different virulence and use bulk segregant analysis of whole-genome sequences from the progeny to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with Cryptosporidium infectivity and virulence. Of the 23 genes in three QTL, two have loss-of-function mutations in the low-virulence isolates, including the SKSR1 gene encoding a variant secretory protein. Deletion of the SKSR1 gene or expression of the frame-shifted sequence reduces the pathogenicity of the virulent isolate. SKSR1 is expressed in small granules and secreted into the parasite-host interface during invasion. These results demonstrate that SKSR1 is an important virulence factor in Cryptosporidium, and suggest that the extended SKSR protein family, encoded by clusters of subtelomeric genes, may contribute to pathogenesis.