Passion fruit HD-ZIP genes: Characterization, expression variance, and overexpression PeHB31 enhanced drought tolerance via lignin pathway.

The HD-ZIP (homeodomain-leucine zipper) genes hold significant importance in transcriptional regulation, especially in plant development and responses to abiotic stresses. However, a comprehensive study targeting HD-ZIP family members in passion fruit has been absent. In our current research, 34 HD-ZIP family members (PeHBs) were identified by bioinformatics analysis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that PeHBs exhibited distinct expression patterns when subjected to the four different abiotic stresses, and significant differential expression of PeHBs was also found among the three developmental stages of the fruit and between the purple and yellow genotype passion fruit leaves. An integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis further revealed that the HD-ZIP III class gene PeHB31 (homologous to ATHB8), was co-upexpressed with lignans in yellow fruit P. edulis (commonly used as a resistance rootstock) when compared to purple fruit P. edulis. The transformation of Arabidopsis and yeast with the PeHB31 gene showed an enhancement in their capacity to withstand drought conditions. Notably, the transgenic Arabidopsis plants exhibited an increase in lignin content within the vascular tissues of their stems. This research lays the groundwork for future studies on the control mechanisms of lignin biosynthesis by HD-ZIP genes (especially HD-ZIP classes III and I) involved in drought tolerance.

WRKY transcription factors in passion fruit analysis reveals key PeWRKYs involved in abiotic stress and flavonoid biosynthesis.

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are a superfamily of regulators involved in plant responses to pathogens and abiotic stress. Passion fruit is famous for its unique flavor and nutrient-rich juice, but its growth is limited by environmental factors and pathogens. In this study, 55 WRKY genes were identified from the Passiflora edulis genome. The structure and evolutionary characteristics of PeWRKYs were analyzed using a bioinformatics approach. PeWRKYs were classified into seven subgroups (I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IId, IIe, III) according to their homologs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Group IIa PeWRKY48 gene was highly up-regulated under cold stress by RNA expression analysis, and transgenic PeWRKY48 in yeast and Arabidopsis showed resistance exposure to cold, salt, and drought stress. Metabolome and transcriptome co-expression analysis of two different disease resistance genotypes of P. edulis identified PeWRKY30 as a key TF co-expressed with flavonoid accumulation in yellow fruit P. edulis, which may contribute to biotic or abiotic resistance. The qRT-PCR verified the expression of key genes in different tissues of P. edulis and in different species of Passiflora. This study provides a set of WRKY candidate genes that will facilitate the genetic improvement of disease and abiotic tolerance in passion fruit.

Comprehensive analysis of bZIP transcription factors in passion fruit.

The bZIP transcription factors are well-known transcriptional regulators that are essential for regulating resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. In this study, a total of 56 putative bZIP members were identified in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis). An integrative analysis was performed using bioinformatics. Transcriptome analysis revealed that most PebZIPs respond to drought, salt, cold and heat stress. By combining the transcriptome results of two different resistant genotypes, four representative members were finally selected for differential expression validation in different tissues and cultivars. Furthermore, transcriptome and metabolome association analysis revealed consistent expression trends of PeZIP20 and PeZIP21, with only one difference at 63aa, with different metabolites including flavonoids, lipids and amino acids. This work will contribute to further studies of the functions of bZIPs and their resistance properties, as well as to the development of novel germplasm.

Identification of the passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) MYB family in fruit development and abiotic stress, and functional analysis of PeMYB87 in abiotic stresses.

Environmental stresses are ubiquitous in agricultural cultivation, and they affect the healthy growth and development of edible tissues in passion fruit. The study of resistance mechanisms is important in understanding the adaptation and resistance of plants to environmental stresses. In this work, two differently resistant passion fruit varieties were selected, using the expression characteristics of the transcription factor MYB, to explore the resistance mechanism of the MYB gene under various environmental stresses. A total of 174 MYB family members were identified using high-quality passion fruit genomes: 98 2R-MYB, 5 3R-MYB, and 71 1R-MYB (MYB-relate). Their family information was systematically analyzed, including subcellular localization, physicochemical properties, phylogeny at the genomic level, promoter function, encoded proteins, and reciprocal regulation. In this study, bioinformatics and transcriptome sequencing were used to identify members of the PeMYB genes in passion fruit whole-genome data, and biological techniques, such as qPCR, gene clone, and transient transformation of yeast, were used to determine the function of the passion fruit MYB genes in abiotic stress tolerance. Transcriptomic data were obtained for differential expression characteristics of two resistant and susceptible varieties, three expression patterns during pulp development, and four induced expression patterns under abiotic stress conditions. We further focused on the resistance mechanism of PeMYB87 in environmental stress, and we selected 10 representative PeMYB genes for quantitative expression verification. Most of the genes were differentially induced by four abiotic stresses, among which PeMYB87 responded significantly to high-temperature-induced expression and overexpression of the PeMYB87 gene in the yeast system. The transgenic PeMYB87 in yeast showed different degrees of stress resistance under exposure to cold, high temperatures, drought, and salt stresses. These findings lay the foundation for further analysis of the biological functions of PeMYBs involved in stress resistance in passion fruit.

Characterization of the NAC Transcription Factor in Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis) and Functional Identification of PeNAC-19 in Cold Stress.

The NAC (NAM, ATAF and CUC) gene family plays an important role in plant development and abiotic stress response. However, up to now, the identification and research of the NAC (PeNAC) family members of passion fruit are still lacking. In this study, 25 PeNACs were identified from the passion fruit genome, and their functions under abiotic stress and at different fruit-ripening stages were analyzed. Furthermore, we analyzed the transcriptome sequencing results of PeNACs under four various abiotic stresses (drought, salt, cold and high temperature) and three different fruit-ripening stages, and verified the expression results of some genes by qRT-PCR. Additionally, tissue-specific analysis showed that most PeNACs were mainly expressed in flowers. In particular, PeNAC-19 was induced by four various abiotic stresses. At present, low temperatures have seriously endangered the development of passion fruit cultivation. Therefore, PeNAC-19 was transformed into tobacco, yeast and Arabidopsis to study their function of resisting low temperature. The results show that PeNAC-19 responded to cold stress significantly in tobacco and Arabidopsis, and could improve the low temperature tolerance of yeast. This study not only improved the understanding of the PeNAC gene family characteristics and evolution, but also provided new insights into the regulation of the PeNAC gene at different stages of fruit maturation and abiotic stresses.

Genome-Wide Association and Expression Analysis of the Lipoxygenase Gene Family in Passiflora edulis Revealing PeLOX4 Might Be Involved in Fruit Ripeness and Ester Formation.

Aroma is an important factor in fruit quality. Passiflora edulis (passion fruit) is popular among consumers because of its rich flavor and nutritional value. Esters are the main components of the volatile aroma of passion fruit. Lipoxygenase (LOX), as the first key enzyme upstream of esters, may play an important role in the formation of passion fruit aroma. In this study, a total of 12 passion fruit LOX (PeLOX) members were screened out based on the Passiflora edulis genome database, which were distributed unevenly on 6 chromosomes, all containing the highly conserved lipoxygenase domain and some containing the PLAT domain. The gene structure, evolutionary analysis and cis-acting elements of the family members were predicted in this study. Transcriptome analysis showed that 12 PeLOX genes had different degrees of response to different abiotic stresses (drought stress, salt stress, cold stress, and high temperature). PeLOX1, PeLOX2, PeLOX7, PeLOX11, and PeLOX12 responded significantly to various abiotic stresses, while PeLOX8 and PeLOX9 had little change in expression in all stresses. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in six tissues revealed that the 12 PeLOX genes exhibited tissue expression specificity, and the relative expression of most genes were particularly high in the roots, stems, and fruits. Focusing on passion fruit ripening and ester synthesis, the transcriptomic analysis showed that with the increase in fruit development and fruit maturity, the expression levels of PeLOX1, PeLOX9, PeLOX11, and PeLOX12 showed downregulated expression, while PeLOX2 and PeLOX4 showed upregulated expression. In particular, the upregulation trend of PeLOX4 was the most obvious, and the qRT-PCR results were consistent with the transcriptome result. Pearson correlation analysis showed that with the development and ripening of fruit, the expression level of PeLOX4, LOX enzyme activity and total ester content all showed an increasing trend, in particular during the period when the peel was red and shrank (from T2 to T3 stage), the esters' contents increased by 37.4 times; the highest expression levels were all in the T3 period. The results indicated that PeLOX4 may be a candidate gene involved in fruit ripeness and the formation of volatile aroma compounds, with the increase in fruit ripening, the expression level of PeLOX4 increased and the LOX enzyme activity increased accordingly, thereby promoting the synthesis of volatile esters in fruit pulp. Our discovery lays the foundation for the functional study of LOX in passion fruit.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analyses of the Aquaporin Gene Family in Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis), Revealing PeTIP3-2 to Be Involved in Drought Stress.

Aquaporins (AQPs) in plants can transport water and small molecules, and they play an important role in plant development and abiotic stress response. However, to date, a comprehensive study on AQP family members is lacking. In this study, 27 AQP genes were identified from the passion fruit genome and classified into four groups (NIP, PIP, TIP, SIP) on the basis of their phylogenetic relationships. The prediction of protein interactions indicated that the AQPs of passion fruit were mainly associated with AQP family members and boron protein family genes. Promoter cis-acting elements showed that most PeAQPs contain light response elements, hormone response elements, and abiotic stress response elements. According to collinear analysis, passion fruit is more closely related to Arabidopsis than rice. Furthermore, three different fruit ripening stages and different tissues were analyzed on the basis of the transcriptome sequencing results for passion fruit AQPs under drought, high-salt, cold and high-temperature stress, and the results were confirmed by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the PeAQPs were able to respond to different abiotic stresses, and some members could be induced by and expressed in response to multiple abiotic stresses at the same time. Among the three different fruit ripening stages, 15 AQPs had the highest expression levels in the first stage. AQPs are expressed in all tissues of the passion fruit. One of the passion fruit aquaporin genes, PeTIP3-2, which was induced by drought stress, was selected and transformed into Arabidopsis. The survival rate of transgenic plants under drought stress treatment is higher than that of wild-type plants. The results indicated that PeTIP3-2 was able to improve the drought resistance of plants. Our discovery lays the foundation for the functional study of AQPs in passion fruit.

The effectiveness of virtual reality for rehabilitation of Parkinson disease: an overview of systematic reviews with meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) of clinical trials have begun to investigate the effects of virtual reality (VR) in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The aim of this overview was to systematically summarize the current best evidence for the effectiveness of VR therapy for the rehabilitation of people with PD. METHODS: We searched SR-MAs based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for relevant literature in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases for systematic reviews from inception to December 5, 2020, and updated to January 26, 2022. The methodological quality of included SR-MAs was evaluated with the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), and the certainty of evidence for outcomes with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). We created an evidence map using a bubble plot format to represent the evidence base in 5 dimensions: effect size of VR therapy versus active intervention (AT), clinical outcome area, number of trials, statistical significance, and certainty of evidence. RESULTS: From a total of 585 reports, 12 reviews were identified, of which only one was rated moderate quality, three were rated low quality, and eight were rated critically low quality by AMSTAR 2. Compared with AT, VR therapy induced increased benefits on stride/step length, balance, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Compared with passive intervention (PT), VR therapy had greater effects on gait speed, stride/step length, balance, activities of daily living, and postural control in people with PD. Certainty of evidence varied from very low to moderate. CONCLUSIONS: We found the methodological quality of the reviews was poor, and certainty of the most evidence within them was low to very low. We were therefore unable to conclude with any confidence that, in people with PD, VR therapy is harmful or beneficial for gait, balance, motor function, quality of life, activities of daily living, cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and postural control. In the future, rigorous-designed, high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes are needed to further verify the effectiveness of VR therapy in the treatment of PD.

The effectiveness and safety of low-level laser therapy on breast cancer-related lymphedema: An overview and update of systematic reviews.

The objective of our overview of systematic reviews was to critically analyze the evidence from existing systematic reviews investigating the effectiveness and safety of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). In addition, an updated and comprehensive systematic review was conducted, which aimed to provide updated evidence about this topic. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness and safety of LLLT in patients with BCRL. The methodological quality for each of included systematic reviews or RCTs was assessed using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) tool or Cochrane risk of bias tool, respectively. The updated systematic review separately compared the effectiveness of LLLT to each of active or negative interventions. Data were pooled with random-effects models for each outcome per comparison. The evidence quality of outcomes was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) or GRADE-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (GRADE-CERQual) for quantitative studies and qualitative studies, respectively. Seven systematic reviews and ten RCTs met the eligibility criteria. Conflicting results regarding the effectiveness of LLLT were presented by the overview of systematic reviews. The AMSTAR 2 showed that the methodological quality of included systematic reviews was low or critically low quality due to one or more critical weaknesses. The GRADE and GRADE-CERQual showed that the evidence quality was low to very low for most outcomes. The updated systematic review showed that LLLT may offer additional benefits as compared to compression therapies (pneumatic compression or compression bandage), placebo laser, or no treatment for patients with BCRL. However, when compared to other types of active interventions, LLLT did not improve outcomes significantly. None of the treatment-related adverse event was reported. Many trials had a high or unclear risk of bias for two or more items, and our updated systematic review showed low quality of evidence per outcome using GRADE approach. Due to insufficient data and poor quality of evidence, there is uncertain to reach these conclusions that LLLT is superior to another active or negative intervention and is safe. More RCTs of high methodological quality, with large sample sizes and long-term follow-up, are needed to inform clinical guidelines and routine practice.

Whether cognitive behavioral therapy is effective for Alzheimer's disease: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by impaired memory and cognitive judgment. It is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly, and its high morbidity and mortality have also brought a significant social burden. So far, there is no method can completely cure Alzheimer's dementia, but there are many non-drug treatments that have been praised by people, especially the cognitive behavioral therapy proposed in recent years. The main purpose of this article is to evaluate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on the cognitive function improvement of patients with Alzheimer's dementia. METHODS: We did a network meta-analysis to identify both direct and indirect evidence in relevant studies. A systematic literature search will be performed in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE from inception to October 2020. We extracted the relevant information from these trials with a predefined data extraction sheet and assessed the risk of bias with the Cochrane risk of bias tool.The outcomes investigated were Mini-Mental State Examination and AD Assessment Scale-Cognitive section scores. We did a pair-wise meta-analysis using the fixed-effects model and then did a random-effects network meta-analysis within a Bayesian framework. The = the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews-2 scale, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses scale and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation were used to assess the quality and evidence grade of the literature. General characteristics of the eligible randomized controlled trials will be summarized and described. Meanwhile, The ADDIS software will be used to perform the network meta-analysis, and the result figures will be generated by STATA 15.0 software. RESULTS: Using the draft search strategy of databases and after screening,7 randomized controlled trials met the a priori criteria and were included. This network mate-analysis will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: Our study will provide evidence for cognitive behavioral intervention in AD patients. And provide recommendations and guidelines for the clinic. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: INPLASY2020110052.

Accommodating High Transformation Strains in Battery Electrodes via the Formation of Nanoscale Intermediate Phases: Operando Investigation of Olivine NaFePO4.

Virtually all intercalation compounds exhibit significant changes in unit cell volume as the working ion concentration varies. NaxFePO4 (0 < x < 1, NFP) olivine, of interest as a cathode for sodium-ion batteries, is a model for topotactic, high-strain systems as it exhibits one of the largest discontinuous volume changes (∼17% by volume) during its first-order transition between two otherwise isostructural phases. Using synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction (PXD) and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, we discover a new strain-accommodation mechanism wherein a third, amorphous phase forms to buffer the large lattice mismatch between primary phases. The amorphous phase has short-range order over ∼1nm domains that is characterized by a and b parameters matching one crystalline end-member phase and a c parameter matching the other, but is not detectable by powder diffraction alone. We suggest that this strain-accommodation mechanism may generally apply to systems with large transformation strains.

Engineering the Transformation Strain in LiMnyFe1-yPO4 Olivines for Ultrahigh Rate Battery Cathodes.

Alkali ion intercalation compounds used as battery electrodes often exhibit first-order phase transitions during electrochemical cycling, accompanied by significant transformation strains. Despite ∼30 years of research into the behavior of such compounds, the relationship between transformation strain and electrode performance, especially the rate at which working ions (e.g., Li) can be intercalated and deintercalated, is still absent. In this work, we use the LiMnyFe1-yPO4 system for a systematic study, and measure using operando synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction (SR-PXD) the dynamic strain behavior as a function of the Mn content (y) in powders of ∼50 nm average diameter. The dynamically produced strain deviates significantly from what is expected from the equilibrium phase diagrams and demonstrates metastability but nonetheless spans a wide range from 0 to 8 vol % with y. For the first time, we show that the discharge capacity at high C-rates (20-50C rate) varies in inverse proportion to the transformation strain, implying that engineering electrode materials for reduced strain can be used to maximize the power capability of batteries.

Identification of Li-Ion Battery SEI Compounds through (7)Li and (13)C Solid-State MAS NMR Spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry.

Solid-state (7)Li and (13)C MAS NMR spectra of cycled graphitic Li-ion anodes demonstrate SEI compound formation upon lithiation that is followed by changes in the SEI upon delithiation. Solid-state (13)C DPMAS NMR shows changes in peaks associated with organic solvent compounds (ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate, EC/DMC) upon electrochemical cycling due to the formation of and subsequent changes in the SEI compounds. Solid-state (13)C NMR spin-lattice (T1) relaxation time measurements of lithiated Li-ion anodes and reference poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) powders, along with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry results, indicate that large-molecular-weight polymers are formed in the SEI layers of the discharged anodes. MALDI-TOF MS and NMR spectroscopy results additionally indicate that delithiated anodes exhibit a larger number of SEI products than is found in lithiated anodes.

Improving the capacity of sodium ion battery using a virus-templated nanostructured composite cathode.

In this work we investigated an energy-efficient biotemplated route to synthesize nanostructured FePO4 for sodium-based batteries. Self-assembled M13 viruses and single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been used as a template to grow amorphous FePO4 nanoparticles at room temperature (the active composite is denoted as Bio-FePO4-CNT) to enhance the electronic conductivity of the active material. Preliminary tests demonstrate a discharge capacity as high as 166 mAh/g at C/10 rate, corresponding to composition Na0.9FePO4, which along with higher C-rate tests show this material to have the highest capacity and power performance reported for amorphous FePO4 electrodes to date.

[Comparative study on substituting hedyseri radix for astragali radix in serum containing yiqiyangxue prescription on aged mice spleen lymphocyte proliferation and anti-oxidant effect].

OBJECTIVE: By substituting Hedyseri Radix for Astragali Radix in Yiqiyangxue prescription, to compare the effects of both serum containing medicine on aged mice spleen lymphocyte proliferation and anti-oxidant effect. METHOD: After using the same dose of Hedyseri Radix to replace Astragali Radix in Yiqiyangxue prescription, the best concentration of serum containing medicine,the best incubation time and the effects of ConA-induced spleen lymphocyte proliferation were determined by MTY method. Use reagent kits to detect the activity of SOD, MDA and ROS levels in aged mice spleen lymphocytes and IL-2 level in culture supernatant fluid of spleen lymphocytes. RESULTS: Both serum containing medicine can enhance the proliferation of aged mice spleen lymphocytes. The best concentration of serum containing medicine was 40% and the incubation time was 72 h. The serum containing Yiqiyangxue of Hedyseri Radix prescription acted more effective than that of Astragali Radix on the enhancement of proliferation. Both serum containing medicine showed similar effects on increasing SOD activity, IL-2 level and decreasing MDA and ROS level. Moreover,serum of Hedyseri Radix was superior in the enhancement of proliferation, IL-2 and the reduction of ROS level. CONCLUSION: Both serum containing medicine of Hedyseri Radix and Astragali Radix generate the same effect of anti-aging and enhancement of proliferation.