Hydrochromic and piezochromic dual-responsive optical film derived from poloxamer and ethyl cellulose for visual fingerprints identification.

Developing new materials that could identify fingerprint using the naked eye and observe the level 3 microscopic details is challenging. Here, we designed a novel hydrochromic and piezochromic dual-responsive optical film, which achieved the visual transparency transition. The performances of hydrochromic and piezochromic responses from high transparency to opaque whiteness were attributed to the introduction of poloxamer. The hygroscopic swelling of the disordered micelles led to light scattering, causing the hydrochromic response. The piezochromic response may be ascribed to the microcracks in the fragments of poloxamer crystals, which changed the refractive index of light. The fascinating combination of hydrochromic and piezochromic response was effectively applied in fingerprint identification. Hydrochromic response accurately recognized sweat pores, and piezochromic response could gradually reveal the ridges and valleys according to the different color of imprinted fingerprints. The film could identify fake fingerprints based on the differences in sweat pores between fake fingerprints and living fingers. More importantly, the film could easily detected not only the clear ridges but also the detailed sweat pores using the naked eye, indicating that the film has profound research significance in fingerprint analysis and liveness fingerprint detection.

Hidden diversity and potential ecological function of phosphorus acquisition genes in widespread terrestrial bacteriophages.

Phosphorus (P) limitation of ecosystem processes is widespread in terrestrial habitats. While a few auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) in bacteriophages from aquatic habitats are reported to have the potential to enhance P-acquisition ability of their hosts, little is known about the diversity and potential ecological function of P-acquisition genes encoded by terrestrial bacteriophages. Here, we analyze 333 soil metagenomes from five terrestrial habitat types across China and identify 75 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) that encode 105 P-acquisition AMGs. These AMGs span 17 distinct functional genes involved in four primary processes of microbial P-acquisition. Among them, over 60% (11/17) have not been reported previously. We experimentally verify in-vitro enzymatic activities of two pyrophosphatases and one alkaline phosphatase encoded by P-acquisition vOTUs. Thirty-six percent of the 75 P-acquisition vOTUs are detectable in a published global topsoil metagenome dataset. Further analyses reveal that, under certain circumstances, the identified P-acquisition AMGs have a greater influence on soil P availability and are more dominant in soil metatranscriptomes than their corresponding bacterial genes. Overall, our results reinforce the necessity of incorporating viral contributions into biogeochemical P cycling.

A Ligand-Directed Spatial Regulation to Structural and Functional Tunability in Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogen-Functionalized Organic-Inorganic Nanoassemblies.

Aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen)-functionalized organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles (OINPs) are an emerging category of multifunctional nanomaterials with vast potential applications. The spatial arrangement and positioning of AIEgens and inorganic compounds in AIEgen-functionalized OINPs determine the structures, properties, and functionalities of the self-assembled nanomaterials. In this work, a facile and general emulsion self-assembly tactic for synthesizing well-defined AIEgen-functionalized OINPs is proposed by coassembling alkane chain-functionalized inorganic nanoparticles with hydrophobic organic AIEgens. As a proof of concept, the self-assembly and structural evolution of plasmonic-fluorescent hybrid nanoparticles (PFNPs) from concentric circle to core shell and then to Janus structures is demonstrated by using alkane chain-modified AuNPs and AIEgens as building blocks. The spatial position of AuNPs in the signal nanocomposite is controlled by varying the alkane ligand length and density on the AuNP surface. The mechanism behind the formation of various PFNP nanostructures is also elucidated through experiments and theoretical simulation. The obtained PFNPs with diverse structures exhibit spatially tunable optical and photothermal properties for advanced applications in multicolor and multimode immunolabeling and photothermal sterilization. This work presents an innovative synthetic approach of constructing AIEgen-functionalized OINPs with diverse structures, compositions, and functionalities, thereby championing the progressive development of these OINPs.

Incorporation of Decidual Stromal Cells Derived Exosomes in Sodium Alginate Hydrogel as an Innovative Therapeutic Strategy for Advancing Endometrial Regeneration and Reinstating Fertility.

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) stands as a prevalent medical condition characterized by endometrial fibrosis and scar tissue formation within the uterine cavity, resulting in infertility and, in severe cases, recurrent miscarriages. Cell therapy, especially with stem cells, offers an alternative to surgery, but concerns about uncontrolled differentiation and tumorigenicity limit its use. Exosomes, more stable and immunogenicity-reduced than parent cells, have emerged as a promising avenue for IUA treatment. In this study, a novel approach has been proposed wherein exosomes originating from decidual stromal cells (DSCs) are encapsulated within sodium alginate hydrogel (SAH) scaffolds to repair endometrial damage and restore fertility in a mouse IUA model. Current results demonstrate that in situ injection of DSC-derived exosomes (DSC-exos)/SAH into the uterine cavity has the capability to induce uterine angiogenesis, initiate mesenchymal-to-epithelial transformation (MET), facilitate collagen fiber remodeling and dissolution, promote endometrial regeneration, enhance endometrial receptivity, and contribute to the recovery of fertility. RNA sequencing and advanced bioinformatics analysis reveal miRNA enrichment in exosomes, potentially supporting endometrial repair. This finding elucidates how DSC-exos/SAH mechanistically fosters collagen ablation, endometrium regeneration, and fertility recovery, holding the potential to introduce a novel IUA treatment and offering invaluable insights into the realm of regenerative medicine.

Melatonin alleviates valproic acid-induced neural tube defects by modulating Src/PI3K/ERK signaling and oxidative stress.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) represent a developmental disorder of the nervous system that can lead to significant disability in children and impose substantial social burdens. Valproic acid (VPA), a widely prescribed first-line antiepileptic drug for epilepsy and various neurological conditions, has been associated with a 4-fold increase in the risk of NTDs when used during pregnancy. Consequently, urgent efforts are required to identify innovative prevention and treatment approaches for VPA-induced NTDs. Studies have demonstrated that the disruption in the delicate balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis is a crucial factor contributing to NTDs induced by VPA. Encouragingly, our current data reveal that melatonin (MT) significantly inhibits apoptosis while promoting the restoration of neuroepithelial cell proliferation impaired by VPA. Moreover, further investigations demonstrate that MT substantially reduces the incidence of neural tube malformations resulted from VPA exposure, primarily by suppressing apoptosis through the modulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. In addition, the Src/PI3K/ERK signaling pathway appears to play a pivotal role in VPA-induced NTDs, with significant inhibition observed in the affected samples. Notably, MT treatment successfully reinstates Src/PI3K/ERK signaling, thereby offering a potential underlying mechanism for the protective effects of MT against VPA-induced NTDs. In summary, our current study substantiates the considerable protective potential of MT in mitigating VPA-triggered NTDs, thereby offering valuable strategies for the clinical management of VPA-related birth defects.

Safe control of logical control networks with random impulses.

Under the framework of a hybrid-index model, this paper investigates safe control problems of state-dependent random impulsive logical control networks (RILCNs) on both finite and infinite horizons, respectively. By using the ξ-domain method and the constructed transition probability matrix, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the solvability of safe control problems have been established. Further, based on the technique of state-space partition, two algorithms are proposed to design feedback controllers such that RILCNs can achieve the goal of safe control. Finally, two examples are shared to demonstrate the main results.

Analysis and validation of diagnostic biomarkers and immune cell infiltration characteristics in pediatric sepsis by integrating bioinformatics and machine learning.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric sepsis is a complicated condition characterized by life-threatening organ failure resulting from a dysregulated host response to infection in children. It is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, and rapid detection and administration of antimicrobials have been emphasized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic biomarkers of pediatric sepsis and the function of immune cell infiltration in the development of this illness. METHODS: Three gene expression datasets were available from the Gene Expression Omnibus collection. First, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found with the use of the R program, and then gene set enrichment analysis was carried out. Subsequently, the DEGs were combined with the major module genes chosen using the weighted gene co-expression network. The hub genes were identified by the use of three machine-learning algorithms: random forest, support vector machine-recursive feature elimination, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. The receiver operating characteristic curve and nomogram model were used to verify the discrimination and efficacy of the hub genes. In addition, the inflammatory and immune status of pediatric sepsis was assessed using cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT). The relationship between the diagnostic markers and infiltrating immune cells was further studied. RESULTS: Overall, after overlapping key module genes and DEGs, we detected 402 overlapping genes. As pediatric sepsis diagnostic indicators, CYSTM1 (AUC = 0.988), MMP8 (AUC = 0.973), and CD177 (AUC = 0.986) were investigated and demonstrated statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) and diagnostic efficacy in the validation set. As indicated by the immune cell infiltration analysis, multiple immune cells may be involved in the development of pediatric sepsis. Additionally, all diagnostic characteristics may correlate with immune cells to varying degrees. CONCLUSIONS: The candidate hub genes (CD177, CYSTM1, and MMP8) were identified, and the nomogram was constructed for pediatric sepsis diagnosis. Our study could provide potential peripheral blood diagnostic candidate genes for pediatric sepsis patients.

Mechanochromic Self-Healing Materials with Good Stretchability, Shape Memory Behavior, Cyclability, and Reversibility Based on Multiple Hydrogen Bonds.

It is challenging to develop materials with room-temperature self-healing ability and mechanochromic response from mechanical stimuli to optical signals by a facile and simple preparation process. Herein, novel mechanochromic self-healing materials were designed by a simple synthesis procedure, balancing the mechanical properties, self-healing, stretchability, and mechanochromic response. Moreover, we designed and prepared the mechanochromic self-healing materials with different soft and hard segments by introducing multiple hydrogen bonds into the network, improving the mechanical properties and self-healing efficiency. In addition, the optimized sample exhibited good shape memory behavior (shape recovery ratio of 94.4%), self-healing properties (healed by pressing during stretching process), high tensile strength (17.6 MPa), superior stretchability (893%), fast mechanochromic response (strain of 272%), and great cyclic stretching-relaxing properties (higher than 10 times at strain of 300%). Above all, mechanochromic self-healing materials have promising potential in various fields, such as stress sensing, inkless writing, damage warning, deformation detection, and damage distribution.

A signature of immune-related genes correlating with clinical prognosis and immune microenvironment in sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Immune-related genes (IRGs) remain poorly understood in their function in the onset and progression of sepsis. METHODS: GSE65682 was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The IRGs associated with survival were screened for subsequent modeling using univariate Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator in the training cohort. Then, we assessed the reliability of the 7 IRGs signature's independent predictive value in the training and validation cohorts following the creation of a signature applying multivariable Cox regression analysis. After that, we utilized the E-MTAB-4451 external dataset in order to do an independent validation of the prognostic signature. Finally, the CIBERSORT algorithm and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was utilized to investigate and characterize the properties of the immune microenvironment. RESULTS: Based on 7 IRGs signature, patients could be separated into low-risk and high-risk groups. Patients in the low-risk group had a remarkably increased 28-day survival compared to those in the high-risk group (P < 0.001). In multivariable Cox regression analyses, the risk score calculated by this signature was an independent predictor of 28-day survival (P < 0.001). The signature's predictive ability was confirmed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with the area under the curve reaching 0.876 (95% confidence interval 0.793-0.946). Moreover, both the validation set and the external dataset demonstrated that the signature had strong clinical prediction performance. In addition, patients in the high-risk group were characterized by a decreased neutrophil count and by reduced inflammation-promoting function. CONCLUSION: We developed a 7 IRGs signature as a novel prognostic marker for predicting sepsis patients' 28-day survival, indicating possibilities for individualized reasonable resource distribution of intensive care unit.

CRISPR-Cas system manipulating nanoparticles signal transduction for cancer diagnosis.

Early diagnosis of cancer is important to improve the survival rate and relieve patient pain. Sensitive detection of cancer related biomarkers in body fluids is a critical approach for the early diagnosis of cancer. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated protein (CRISPR-Cas) system has emerged as a molecular manipulation technology because of its simple detection procedure, high base resolution, and isothermal signal amplification. Recently, various nanomaterials with unique optical and electrical characteristics have been introduced as the novel signal transducers to enhance the detection performance of CRISPR-Cas-based nanosensors. This review summarizes the working mechanisms of the CRISPR-Cas system for biosensing. It also enumerates the strategies of CRISPR-manipulated nanosensors based on various signal models for cancer diagnosis, including colorimetric, fluorescence, electrochemical, electrochemiluminescence, pressure, and other signals. Finally, the prospects and challenges of CRISPR-Cas-based nanosensors for cancer diagnostic are also discussed. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing.

Fast Response and Visual Transparency Switching Hydrochromic Film Based on the Rational Structure of Cellulose/Poloxamer Copolymers Design for Smart Window.

The authors are motivated to develop a series of hydrochromic copolymers with fast response, reversibility, repeatability, and visual transparency transition. The hydrochromic block copolymers are based on the rational ratio of hydrophilic segments of poloxamer block and hydrophobic segments of ethyl cellulose according to the preparation method of polyurethane. By tuning the ratio of hydrophilic segments or adding hygroscopic salts, the hydrochromic polymer is endowed with the ability to visualize the transparency in response to the relative humidity. Especially, the response time of the polymer is extremely shortened, up to 1 s for the optimized sample. Within the moisture stimulation, the hygroscopic swelling increases the film thickness, leading to a reversible transparency switching from a highly transparent state (82%) to an opaque white state (20.5%).

Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia and surgical site infections after liver resection.

BACKGROUND: In the overall surgical population, inadvertent perioperative hypothermia has been associated with an increased incidence of surgical site infection (SSI). However, recent clinical trials did not validate this notion. This study aimed to investigate the potential correlation between inadvertent perioperative hypothermia and SSIs following liver resection. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all consecutive patients who underwent liver resection between January 2019 and December 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Perioperative temperature managements were implemented for all patients included in the analysis. Estimated propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce the baseline imbalances between the normothermia and hypothermia groups. Before and after PSM, univariate analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation between hypothermia and SSI. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine whether hypothermia was an independent risk factor for postoperative transfusion and major complications. Subgroup analyses were performed for diabetes mellitus, age > 65 years, and major liver resection. RESULTS: Among 4000 patients, 2206 had hypothermia (55.2%), of which 150 developed SSI (6.8%). PSM yielded 1434 individuals in each group. After PSM, the hypothermia and normothermia groups demonstrated similar incidence rates of SSI (6.3% vs. 7.0%, P = 0.453), postoperative transfusion (13.3% vs. 13.7%, P = 0.743), and major complications (9.0% vs. 10.1%, P = 0.309). Univariate regression analysis revealed no significant effects of hypothermia on the incidence of SSI in the group with the highest hypothermia exposure [odds ratio (OR) = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84-1.87, P = 0.266], the group with moderate exposure (OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.65-1.53, P = 0.999), or the group with the lowest exposure (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.73-1.65, P = 0.628). The subgroup analysis revealed similar results. Regarding liver function, patients in the hypothermia group demonstrated lower γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (37 vs. 43 U/L, P = 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (69 vs. 72 U/L, P = 0.016). However, patients in the hypothermia group exhibited prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (29.2 vs. 28.6 s, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In our study of patients undergoing liver resection, we found no significant association between mild perioperative hypothermia and SSI. It might be due to the perioperative temperature managements, especially active warming measures, which limited the impact of perioperative hypothermia on the occurrence of SSI.

Macrophage ferroportin serves as a therapeutic target against bacteria-induced acute lung injury by promoting barrier restoration.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common lung disorder that involves severe inflammatory damage in the pulmonary barrier, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated that pulmonary macrophages originating from ARDS patients and mice caused by bacteria were characterized by increased expression of ferroportin (FPN). Specifically deleting FPN in myeloid cells conferred significant resistance to bacterial infection with improved survival by decreasing extracellular bacterial growth and preserving pulmonary barrier integrity in mice. Mechanistically, macrophage FPN deficiency not only limited the availability of iron to bacteria, but also promoted tissue restoration via growth factor amphiregulin, which is regulated by cellular iron-activated Yes-associated protein signaling. Furthermore, pharmacological treatment with C-Hep, the self-assembled N-terminally cholesterylated minihepcidin that functions in the degradation of macrophage FPN, protected against bacteria-induced lung injury. Therefore, therapeutic strategies targeting the hepcidin-FPN axis in macrophages may be promising for the clinical treatment of acute lung injury.

Identification and Safety Evaluation of Ochratoxin A Transformation Product in Rapeseed Oil Refining Process.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is an important mycotoxin detected in edible oil, and it can be effectively removed by classical edible oil refining processes. However, the fate of OTA in the refining process has not been reported. In this study, we systematically tracked the OTA changes during the oil refining process by fortifying 100 µg/kg OTA in crude rapeseed oil. Results showed that about 10.57%, 88.85%, and 0.58% of OTA were removed during the degumming, deacidification, and decolorization processes. Among them, 16.25% OTA was transferred to the byproducts, including 9.85% in degumming wastewater, 5.68% in soap stock, 0.14% in deacidification wastewater, and 0.58% in the decolorizer; 83.75% OTA was found to transform into the lactone ring opened OTA (OP-OTA) during the deacidification stage, which is attributed to the hydrolysis of the lactone ring of OTA in the alkali refining. The OP-OTA was verified to distribute in the soap stock, and small amounts of OP-OTA could be transferred to deacidified wastewater when the OTA pollution level reached 500 µg/kg in crude rapeseed oil. The OP-OTA exhibited strong toxicity, especially nephrotoxicity, as reflected by the cell viability assay and in silico toxicity. Therefore, the safety of the soap stock processing products from OTA-contaminated rapeseed deserves attention.

M13 bacteriophage as biometric component for orderly assembly of dynamic light scattering immunosensor.

The ordered assembly of nanostructure is an effective strategy used to manipulate the hydrodynamic diameter (DH) of nanoparticles. Herein, a versatile dynamic light scattering (DLS) immunosensing platform is presented to sensitively detect small molecules and biomacromolecules by using the M13 phage as the building module to order the assembly of gold nanoflowers and gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles, respectively. After the directional assembly of M13 phage, the DH of the probes was significantly increased due to its larger filamentous structure, thus improving the detection sensitivity of the DLS immunosensor. The designed M13 assembled DLS immunosensor with competitive and sandwich formats showed high sensitivities for ochratoxin A and alpha-fetoprotein in real corn and undiluted serum samples, with the detection limits of 1.37 and 57 pg/mL, respectively. These values are approximately 15.8 and 164.9 times lower than those of traditional phage-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Collectively, this work provides a promising strategy to manipulate the DH of nanoparticles by highly evolved biomaterials such as engineered M13 phages and opens upon a new direction for developing DLS immunosensors to detect various targets by the fusion expression of special peptide or nanobody on the pIII or pVIII protein of M13 phage.

Identification of Deoxynivalenol and Degradation Products during Maize Germ Oil Refining Process.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in germs and germ oil is posing a serious threat to food and feed security. However, the transformation pathway, the distribution of DON, and its degradation products in edible oil refining have not yet been reported in detail. In this work, we systematically explored the variation of DON in maize germ oil during refining and demonstrated that the DON in germ oil can be effectively removed by refining, during which a part of DON was transferred to the wastes, and another section of DON was degraded during degumming and alkali refining. Moreover, the DON degradation product was identified to be norDON B by using the ultraviolet absorption spectrum, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods, and the degradation product was found to be distributed in waste products during oil refining. This study provides a scientific basis and useful reference for the production of non-mycotoxins edible oil by traditional refining.

Ratiometric Monitoring of Biogenic Amines by a Simple Ammonia-Response Aiegen.

Herein, we developed a paper-based smart sensing chip for the real-time, visual, and non-destructive monitoring of food freshness using a ratiometric aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen (i.e., H+MQ, protonated 4-(triphenylamine)styryl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one) as pH sensitive indicators. Upon exposure to amine vapors, the deprotonation of H+MQ occurs and triggers its color change from blue to yellow, with the fluorescence redshift from blue to amaranth. Consequently, we successfully achieved the sensitive detection of ammonia vapors by recording the bimodal color and fluorescence changes. Given the high sensitivity of H+MQ to ammonia vapor, a paper-based smart sensor chip was prepared by depositing H+MQ on the commercial qualitative filter paper through a physical deposition strategy. After being placed inside the sealed containers, the developed H+MQ-loaded paper chip was applied to the real-time monitoring of biogenic amine contents according to its color difference and ratio fluorescence change. The detection results were further compared with those obtained by the high-performance liquid chromatography method, which verified the feasibility of the designed paper chip for the food spoilage degree evaluation. Briefly, this work indicates that the designed H+MQ-loaded paper chip could be a promising approach for improving food freshness monitoring.

Ginsenoside Rg1 improves Alzheimer's disease by regulating oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuroinflammation through Wnt/GSK-3ß/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that can cause cognitive impairment. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) has a significant neuroprotective effect on animals with memory impairment. However, the mechanism of how Rg1 mediates the Wnt signaling pathway and improves cognitive function by regulating oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuroinflammation is still unclear. In this study, the spatial memory ability of tree shrews was tested by Morris water maze, the expression levels of amyloid protein (Aß1-42), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (iba-1), nitrotyrosine (NT), and 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OHG) were detected by immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, the activity of catalase (CAT) and the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was, respectively, measured by the ammonium molybdate method and the 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid). Furthermore, the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was determined by the thiobarbituric acid test. Finally, the expression levels of Beta-secretase (BACE1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), BCL2-Associated X (Bax), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), caspase-anti-apoptotic factor Cleaved-caspase-3 (Caspase-3), microtubule-associated proteins 2 (MAP2), Neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN), as well as the phosphorylation of GSK-3ß and ß-catenin were detected by Western blot. This study implied that Rg1 reduced the phosphorylation of Tau protein, the deposition of Aß1-42, and the expression of BACE1. It also showed that Rg1 increased the antioxidant activity of SOD, CAT, GPx, and instead reduced the oxidation products of NT, 8-OHG, and MDA, as wells as the inflammatory factor interleukin-1 and iba-1. It further showed that Rg1 increased the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax and expression of neuronal markers MAP2 and NeuN, but instead reduced the expression of Caspase-3, GSK-3ß, and ß-catenin. In conclusion, by regulating the Wnt/GSK-3ß/ß-catenin signaling pathway, Rg1 of moderate and high dose could alleviate oxidative stress damage, improve neuroinflammation, protect neurons, finally improve the cognitive impairment of the AD tree shrew. This study provides theoretical basis for the Rg1 clinical application in AD.

Reset control for leader-following consensus of multi-agent systems.

This paper studies the leader-following consensus problem of linear multi-agent systems over directed communication graphs. This paper proposes a novel distributed reset proportional-integral consensus controller with guaranteed Zeno-freeness property. With the proposed reset consensus controller, the closed-loop system becomes a hybrid system consisting of the flow dynamics and jump dynamics. By adopting a novel Lyapunov function and the hybrid system analysis approach, it obtains the conditions under which consensus is achieved. It further shows that the proposed reset consensus controller helps to improve the transient performance. Finally, a numerical example is presented to illustrate the theoretical results and effectiveness.

FgSfl1 and Its Conserved PKA Phosphorylation Sites Are Important for Conidiation, Sexual Reproduction, and Pathogenesis in Fusarium graminearum.

The fungal plant pathogen, Fusarium graminearum, contains two genes, FgCPK1 and FgCPK2, encoding the catalytic subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A. FgCPK1 and FgCPK2 are responsible for most of the PKA activities and have overlapping functions in various cellular processes in F. graminearum. The cpk1 cpk2 double mutant was significantly reduced in growth, rarely produced conidia, and was non-pathogenic. In this study, we found that the cpk1 cpk2 double mutant was unstable and produced fast-growing spontaneous sectors that were defective in plant infection. All spontaneous suppressor strains had mutations in FgSFL1, a transcription factor gene orthologous to SFL1 in yeast. Thirteen suppressor strains had non-sense mutations at Q501, three suppressor strains had frameshift mutations at W198, and five suppressor strains had mutations in the HSF binding domain of FgSfl1. Only one suppressor strain had both a non-synonymous mutation at H225 and a non-sense mutation at R490. We generated the SFL1 deletion mutant and found that it produced less than 2% of conidia than that of the wild-type strain PH-1. The sfl1 mutant was significantly reduced in the number of perithecia on carrot agar plates at 7 days post-fertilization (dpf). When incubated for more than 12 days, ascospore cirrhi were observed on the sfl1 mutant perithecia. The infection ability of the sfl1 deletion mutant was also obviously defective. Furthermore, we found that in addition to the S223 and S559 phosphorylation sites, FgSFL1 had another predicted phosphorylation site: T452. Interestingly, the S223 phosphorylation site was responsible for sexual reproduction, and the T452 phosphorylation site was responsible for growth and sexual reproduction. Only the S559 phosphorylation site was found to play an important role in conidiation, sexual reproduction, and infection. Overall, our results indicate that FgSFL1 and its conserved PKA phosphorylation sites are important for vegetative growth, conidiation, sexual reproduction, and pathogenesis in F. graminearum.