DEK219 and HSF17 Collaboratively Regulate the Kernel Length in Maize.

The kernel length is a crucial determinant of maize (Zea mays L.) yield; however, only a limited number of genes regulating kernel length have been validated, thus leaving our understanding of the mechanisms governing kernel length incomplete. We previously identified a maize kernel mutant, defective kernel219 (dek219), which encodes the DICER-LIKE1 protein that is essential for miRNA biogenesis. The present study revealed that dek219 consistently exhibits a stable phenotype characterized by a reduced kernel length. Further analysis indicated that dek219 may reduce the kernel length by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in regulating kernel length. By employing miRNA-target gene prediction, expression analysis, and correlation analysis, we successfully identified nine transcription factors that potentially participate in the regulation of kernel length under the control of DEK219. Among them, the upregulation fold change of HEAT SHOCK TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR17 (HSF17) expression was the highest, and the difference was most significant. The results of transient expression analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) indicated that HSF17 can inhibit the expression of DEFECTIVE ENDOSPERM18 (DE18), a gene involved in regulating kernel length. Furthermore, the hsf17 mutant exhibited a significant increase in kernel length, suggesting that HSF17 functions as a negative regulator of kernel length. The results of this study provide crucial evidence for further elucidating the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying maize kernel length and also offer valuable genetic resources for breeding high-yielding maize varieties.

Insights into ZmWAKL in maize kernel development: genome-wide investigation and GA-mediated transcription.

BACKGROUND: The functional roles of the Wall Associated Kinase (WAK) and Wall Associated Kinase Like (WAKL) families in cellular expansion and developmental processes have been well-established. However, the molecular regulation of these kinases in maize development is limited due to the absence of comprehensive genome-wide studies. RESULTS: Through an in-depth analysis, we identified 58 maize WAKL genes, and classified them into three distinct phylogenetic clusters. Moreover, structural prediction analysis showed functional conservation among WAKLs across maize. Promoter analysis uncovered the existence of cis-acting elements associated with the transcriptional regulation of ZmWAKL genes by Gibberellic acid (GA). To further elucidate the role of WAKL genes in maize kernels, we focused on three highly expressed genes, viz ZmWAKL38, ZmWAKL42 and ZmWAKL52. Co-expression analyses revealed that their expression patterns exhibited a remarkable correlation with GA-responsive transcription factors (TF) TF5, TF6, and TF8, which displayed preferential expression in kernels. RT-qPCR analysis validated the upregulation of ZmWAKL38, ZmWAKL42, ZmWAKL52, TF5, TF6, and TF8 following GA treatment. Additionally, ZmWAKL52 showed significant increase of transcription in the present of TF8, with ZmWAKL52 localizing in both the plasma membrane and cell wall. TF5 positively regulated ZmWAKL38, while TF6 positively regulated ZmWAKL42. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the characterization and regulatory mechanisms of specific ZmWAKL genes involved in maize kernel development, offering prospects for their utilization in maize breeding programs.

Latent profile analysis of nurses' perceived professional benefits in China: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify profiles of nurses' perceived professional benefits as well as their predictors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was carried out online in China. METHODS: From 6 July to 27 July 2022, a total of 1309 registered nurses participated in the survey by convenient sampling. We collected the Nurses' Perceived Professional Benefits Questionnaire and demographic data. Using latent profile analysis (LPA), subgroups of nurses' perceived professional benefits were identified. Moreover, univariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to find the factors that were linked with the profiles. RESULTS: The survey was validly completed by 1309 nurses, with a 92.9% effective return rate. The findings of the LPA demonstrated three unique profiles: low-perceived professional benefits (11.8%), moderate-perceived professional benefits (57.1%) and high-perceived professional benefits (31.1%). There was a correlation between marital status, the number of night shifts per month and leadership role. CONCLUSIONS: According to our research, registered nurses have three unique professional benefit profiles. In order to sustain the nursing workforce, despite the fact that nurses get a high level of professional benefits, interventions are necessary to increase nurses' perception of their professional value.

Identification of Morphogenesis-Related NDR Kinase Signaling Network and Its Regulation on Cold Tolerance in Maize.

The MOR (Morphogenesis-related NDR kinase) signaling network, initially identified in yeast, exhibits evolutionary conservation across eukaryotes and plays indispensable roles in the normal growth and development of these organisms. However, the functional role of this network and its associated genes in maize (Zea mays) has remained elusive until now. In this study, we identified a total of 19 maize MOR signaling network genes, and subsequent co-expression analysis revealed that 12 of these genes exhibited stronger associations with each other, suggesting their potential collective regulation of maize growth and development. Further analysis revealed significant co-expression between genes involved in the MOR signaling network and several genes related to cold tolerance. All MOR signaling network genes exhibited significant co-expression with COLD1 (Chilling tolerance divergence1), a pivotal gene involved in the perception of cold stimuli, suggesting that COLD1 may directly transmit cold stress signals to MOR signaling network genes subsequent to the detection of a cold stimulus. The findings indicated that the MOR signaling network may play a crucial role in modulating cold tolerance in maize by establishing an intricate relationship with key cold tolerance genes, such as COLD1. Under low-temperature stress, the expression levels of certain MOR signaling network genes were influenced, with a significant up-regulation observed in Zm00001d010720 and a notable down-regulation observed in Zm00001d049496, indicating that cold stress regulated the MOR signaling network. We identified and analyzed a mutant of Zm00001d010720, which showed a higher sensitivity to cold stress, thereby implicating its involvement in the regulation of cold stress in maize. These findings suggested that the relevant components of the MOR signaling network are also conserved in maize and this signaling network plays a vital role in modulating the cold tolerance of maize. This study offered valuable genetic resources for enhancing the cold tolerance of maize.

Application of national early warning score in assessing postoperative illness severity in elderly patients with gastrointestinal illnesses.

BACKGROUND: Population aging is a social problem that is being faced in most countries. OBJECTIVE: To apply the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) for an early warning on the vital signs and consciousness of elderly patients who are hospitalized in the gastrointestinal surgical department and to provide a reference for early detection of changes in illness severity in elderly patients by studying the correlation between NEWS value and changes in illness severity. METHODS: We enrolled 528 elderly patients who were hospitalized in the gastrointestinal surgical department of a tertiary grade A hospital in Guizhou Province between June 2020 and May 2021, to analyze how NEWS max value correlates with illness severity and obtain the optimal NEWS cutoff value for both potentially critically ill and critically ill elderly patients using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in NEWS values between elderly patients with various illness severities (P< 0.05). NEWS values correlated positively with illness severity (r= 0.605, P< 0.001). Based on the ROC curve, early warning trigger values for NEWS to identify potentially critically ill, critically ill and terminally ill elderly patients were 6, 7 and 8, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) for potentially critically ill, critically ill and terminally ill elderly patients was 0.907, 0.921 and 0.939, respectively. NEWS performed better in detecting patient illness severity than Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) in AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and Youden's index, with statistically significant differences (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: An early warning on the vital signs and consciousness of hospitalized elderly patients using NEWS can facilitate advanced detection of changes in illness severity of elderly patients by medical staff and enable timely treatment, thus significantly lowering the risks of illness deterioration.

Investigation on epidermal structure and water migration of postharvest passion fruit during storage.

Passion fruit is a tropical fruit that has plenty of fruit fragrance. During storage, passion fruit quickly loses water, resulting in its poor quality. Researching the mechanism of water loss contributes to prolonging the storage time. In this study, passion fruit was stored at 7 or 25°C to analyze the relationship between epidermal structure and water migration. The epidermal wax and structure of passion fruit began to show signs of destruction from the middle stage (day 8) during storage. The mobility of free water was decreased at 7°C and increased at 25°C in passion fruit from the middle stage of storage (day 8). The migration rate of free water in passion fruit stored at 7°C was lower than that at 25°C. The mobility of immobile water was weaker in the late storage period but that of bound water changed barely. These results showed that the migration of free, immobile, and bound water had a connection with the epidermal structure. Incomplete epidermal structure promoted water loss in passion fruit, with the most pronounced loss of free water. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Maintaining the epidermal structure of passion fruit well can decrease the water loss ratio. Passion fruit stored at low temperatures could better sustain the integrity of epidermal wax and structure; it was able to change the water migration rate in the epidermis of passion fruit, which was conducive to maintaining the water content.

Outcomes of hospital-acquired pressure injuries and present-on-admission pressure injuries: A propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pressure injuries (PIs) continue to present significant challenges. In recent years, the number of patients with present-on-admission pressure injury (POA-PI) has increased, but researchers have devoted little attention to it, and little is known about its clinical outcome. AIMS: To compare the clinical outcomes of POA-PI and hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) patients. METHODS: In this study, hospitalized patients with pressure injuries were divided into two groups based on whether they acquired the injury in the hospital or already present at the time of their admission. The disease prognosis, duration of stay, and healthcare costs of patients with HAPI and POA-PI were evaluated using propensity score matching analysis (PSM), t-tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: The information on 1871 patients was retrieved from the electronic case system retroactively. A total of 305 pairs of patients were effectively matched between the two groups using propensity score matching (HAPI group = 305, POA-PI group = 305). There was no statistically significant difference at characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). The percentage of POA-PI group patients who were discharged from the hospital was greater than that of the HAPI group (P < 0.05). Conversely, the percentage of POA-PI group patients who died, ceased receiving treatment, or transferred to the hospital was lower than that of the HAPI group. Patients in the POA-PI group had shorter hospital stays than those in the HAPI group (P < 0.05). Patients in the POA-PI group had lower healthcare costs than those in the HAPI group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with POA-PI have superior clinical outcomes than patients with HAPI, but make up the overwhelming majority of hospitalized patients. It is imperative that future research focuses on the reduction of POA-PI and HAPI incidence and the identification of therapies that will enhance patient prevention for these conditions.

Epi-Brassinolide Regulates ZmC4 NADP-ME Expression through the Transcription Factors ZmbHLH157 and ZmNF-YC2.

Maize is a main food and feed crop with great production potential and high economic benefits. Improving its photosynthesis efficiency is crucial for increasing yield. Maize photosynthesis occurs mainly through the C4 pathway, and NADP-ME (NADP-malic enzyme) is a key enzyme in the photosynthetic carbon assimilation pathway of C4 plants. ZmC4-NADP-ME catalyzes the release of CO2 from oxaloacetate into the Calvin cycle in the maize bundle sheath. Brassinosteroid (BL) can improve photosynthesis; however, its molecular mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, transcriptome sequencing of maize seedlings treated with epi-brassinolide (EBL) showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in photosynthetic antenna proteins, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, and photosynthesis pathways. The DEGs of C4-NADP-ME and pyruvate phosphate dikinase in the C4 pathway were significantly enriched in EBL treatment. Co-expression analysis showed that the transcription level of ZmNF-YC2 and ZmbHLH157 transcription factors was increased under EBL treatment and moderately positively correlated with ZmC4-NADP-ME. Transient overexpression of protoplasts revealed that ZmNF-YC2 and ZmbHLH157 activate C4-NADP-ME promoters. Further experiments showed ZmNF-YC2 and ZmbHLH157 transcription factor binding sites on the -1616 bp and -1118 bp ZmC4 NADP-ME promoter. ZmNF-YC2 and ZmbHLH157 were screened as candidate transcription factors mediating brassinosteroid hormone regulation of the ZmC4 NADP-ME gene. The results provide a theoretical basis for improving maize yield using BR hormones.

Convergent evolution of immune receptors underpins distinct elicitin recognition in closely related Solanaceous plants.

Elicitins are a large family of secreted proteins in Phytophthora. Clade 1 elicitins were identified decades ago as potent elicitors of immune responses in Nicotiana species, but the mechanisms underlying elicitin recognition are largely unknown. Here we identified an elicitin receptor in Nicotiana benthamiana that we named REL for Responsive to ELicitins. REL is a receptor-like protein (RLP) with an extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain that mediates Phytophthora resistance by binding elicitins. Silencing or knocking out REL in N. benthamiana abolished elicitin-triggered cell death and immune responses. Domain deletion and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the island domain (ID) located within the LRR domain of REL is crucial for elicitin recognition. In addition, sequence polymorphism in the ID underpins the genetic diversity of REL homologs in various Nicotiana species in elicitin recognition and binding. Remarkably, REL is phylogenetically distant from the elicitin response (ELR) protein, an LRR-RLP that was previously identified in the wild potato species Solanum microdontum and REL and ELR differ in the way they bind and recognize elicitins. Our findings provide insights into the molecular basis of plant innate immunity and highlight a convergent evolution of immune receptors towards perceiving the same elicitor.

Arabinogalactan enhances Mycobacterium marinum virulence by suppressing host innate immune responses.

Arabinogalactan (AG) participates in forming the cell wall core of mycobacteria, a structure known as the mAGP complex. Few studies have reported the virulence of inartificial AG or its interaction with the host immune system. Using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference gene editing technology, conditional Mycobacterium marinum mutants were constructed with a low expression of embA or glfT2 (EmbA_KD or GlfT2_KD), which are separately involved in the biosynthesis of AG arabinose and galactose domains. High-performance gel permeation chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography assays confirmed that the EmbA_KD strain showed a remarkable decrease in AG content with fragmentary arabinose chains, and the GlfT2_KD strain displayed less reduction in content with cut-down galactose chains. Based on transmission and scanning electron microscopy observations, the cell walls of the two mutants were found to be dramatically thickened, and the boundaries of different layers were more distinct. Phenotypes including the over-secretion of extracellular substances and enhanced spreading motility with a concomitant decreased resistance to ethambutol appeared in the EmbA_KD strain. The EmbA_KD and GlfT2_KD strains displayed limited intracellular proliferation after infecting murine J774A.1 macrophages. The disease progression infected with the EmbA_KD or GlfT2_KD strain significantly slowed down in zebrafish/murine tail infection models as well. Through transcriptome profiling, macrophages infected by EmbA_KD/GlfT2_KD strains showed enhanced oxidative metabolism. The cell survival measured using the CCK8 assay of macrophages exposed to the EmbA_KD strain was upregulated and consistent with the pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes in terms of cell cycle/apoptosis. The overexpression of C/EBPß and the increasing secretion of proinflammatory cytokines were validated in the macrophages infected by the EmbA_KD mutant. In conclusion, the AG of Mycobacterium appears to restrain the host innate immune responses to enhance intracellular proliferation by interfering with oxidative metabolism and causing macrophage death. The arabinose chains of AG influence the Mycobacterium virulence and pathogenicity to a greater extent.

Pleiotropic ZmICE1 Is an Important Transcriptional Regulator of Maize Endosperm Starch Biosynthesis.

Starch, the major component of cereal grains, affects crop yield and quality and is widely used in food and industrial applications. The biosynthesis of maize starch is a complex process involving a series of functional enzymes. However, the sophisticated regulatory mechanisms of starch biosynthetic genes have not been fully elaborated. The basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are widely distributed in eukaryotes and participate in many physiological processes. In this study, 202 bHLH encoding genes were identified in the maize genome by Blast method. ZmICE1 gene, which belongs to the ICE subfamily of the bHLH family, was obtained and expressed mainly in maize filling endosperm and co-expressed with 14 starch biosynthesis genes. Based on the comparative analyses across different plant species, we revealed that the gene structures and protein domains of the ICE subfamily were conserved between monocots and dicots, suggesting their functional conservation feature. Yeast activation and subcellular localization assays suggested that ZmICE1 had transcriptional activation activity and localized in the nucleus. Yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed that ZmICE1 could directly bind to the promoters of ZmSSIIa and ZmGBSSI. Transient gene expression analysis in maize endosperm revealed that ZmICE1 positively regulated the expression of ZmSSIIa, but inhibited the expression of ZmGBSSI. Our results indicated that ZmICE1 could function as a regulator of maize starch biosynthesis.

The novel ZmTCP7 transcription factor targets AGPase-encoding gene ZmBt2 to regulate storage starch accumulation in maize.

The process of starch biosynthesis is a major developmental event that affects the final grain yield and quality in maize (Zea mays L.), and transcriptional regulation plays a key role in modulating the expression of the main players in the pathway. ZmBt2, which encodes the small subunits of AGPase, is a rate-controlling gene of the pathway; however, much remains unknown about its transcriptional regulation. Our earlier study identifies a short functional fragment of ZmBt2 promoter (394-bp), and further shows it contains multiple putative cis-acting regulatory elements, demonstrating that several transcription factors may govern ZmBt2 expression. Here, we identified a novel TCP transcription factor (TF), ZmTCP7, that interacted with the functional fragment of the ZmBt2 promoter in a yeast one hybrid screening system. We further showed that ZmTCP7 is a non-autonomous TF targeted to the nucleus and predominantly expressed in maize endosperm. Using promoter deletion analyzes by transient expression in maize endosperm protoplasts combined with electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we found that ZmTCP7 bound to GAACCCCAC elements on the ZmBt2 promoter to suppress its expression. Transgenic overexpression of ZmTCP7 in maize caused a significant repression of ZmBt2 transcription by ~77.58%, resulting in a 21.51% decrease in AGPase activity and a 9.58% reduction in the endosperm starch content of transgenic maize. Moreover, the expressions of ZmBt1, ZmSSI, ZmSSIIa, and ZmSSIIIa were increased, while those of ZmSh2 and ZmSSIV reduced significantly in the endosperm of the transgenic maize. Overall, this study shows that ZmTCP7 functions as a transcriptional repressor of ZmBt2 and a negative regulator of endosperm starch accumulation, providing new insights into the regulatory networks that govern ZmBt2 expression and starch biosynthesis pathway in maize.

Microbe-derived non-necrotic glycoside hydrolase family 12 proteins act as immunogenic signatures triggering plant defenses.

Plant pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are sentinels at the cell surface sensing microbial invasion and activating innate immune responses. During infection, certain microbial apoplastic effectors can be recognized by plant PRRs, culminating in immune responses accompanied by cell death. However, the intricated relationships between the activation of immune responses and cell death are unclear. Here, we studied the glycoside hydrolase family 12 (GH12) protein, Ps109281, secreted by Phytophthora sojae into the plant apoplast during infection. Ps109281 exhibits xyloglucanase activity, and promotes P. sojae infection in a manner dependent on the enzyme activity. Ps109281 is recognized by the membrane-localized receptor-like protein RXEG1 and triggers immune responses in various plant species. Unlike other characterized GH12 members, Ps109281 fails to trigger cell death in plants. The loss of cell death induction activity is closely linked to a sequence polymorphism at the N-terminus. This sequence polymorphism does not affect the in planta interaction of Ps109281 with the recognition receptor RXEG1, indicating that cell death and immune response activation are determined using different regions of the GH12 proteins. Such GH12 protein also exists in other Phytophthora and fungal pathogens. Taken together, these results unravel the evolution of effector sequences underpinning different immune outputs.

Comparative Study of Starch Phosphorylase Genes and Encoded Proteins in Various Monocots and Dicots with Emphasis on Maize.

Starch phosphorylase (PHO) is a multimeric enzyme with two distinct isoforms: plastidial starch phosphorylase (PHO1) and cytosolic starch phosphorylase (PHO2). PHO1 specifically resides in the plastid, while PHO2 is found in the cytosol. Both play a critical role in the synthesis and degradation of starch. This study aimed to report the detailed structure, function, and evolution of genes encoding PHO1 and PHO2 and their protein ligand-binding sites in eight monocots and four dicots. "True" orthologs of PHO1 and PHO2 of Oryza sativa were identified, and the structure of the enzyme at the protein level was studied. The genes controlling PHO2 were found to be more conserved than those controlling PHO1; the variations were mainly due to the variable sequence and length of introns. Cis-regulatory elements in the promoter region of both genes were identified, and the expression pattern was analyzed. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction indicated that PHO2 was expressed in all tissues with a uniform pattern of transcripts, and the expression pattern of PHO1 indicates that it probably contributes to the starch biosynthesis during seed development in Zea mays. Under abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, PHO1 was found to be downregulated in Arabidopsis and Hordeum vulgare. However, we found that ABA could up-regulate the expression of both PHO1 and PHO2 within 12 h in Zea mays. In all monocots and dicots, the 3D structures were highly similar, and the ligand-binding sites were common yet fluctuating in the position of aa residues.

Dietary Supplement Use during Pregnancy: Perceptions versus Reality.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence, associated factors and perceptions of dietary supplement use among pregnant Chinese women. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data about prevalence, purchase channels, perceptions, and related factors of dietary supplement use from 572 pregnant women, through a face-to-face survey, using a self-designed questionnaire. Of the respondents, 94.8% used at least one dietary supplement, whereas 29.8% used more than four supplements in the previous month. The majority of the pregnant women were highly educated (81.2% had a bachelor's degree or above) and had the perception that dietary supplements could prevent and improve (89.2%), or treat, nutrition-related diseases (78.7%). Multivariate analysis showed that pregnant women who had used multiple (more than four) supplements were more likely to have a larger gestational age, received fertility treatment, more prenatal visits, and hypothyroidism during pregnancy. Furthermore, pregnant women not only purchased dietary supplements through hospitals (72.6%) and pharmacies (45.1%), but overseas Daigou or online purchases (31.8%) were also a major channel of purchase. A high prevalence of dietary supplement use during pregnancy was observed, with extensive and repeated consumption of nutrients. Pregnant women's craze for dietary supplements calls for more comprehensive guidelines in China.

Association between Free Sugars Intake and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness among Chinese Adolescents.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and explore the association between free sugars intake and EDS. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 1517 middle school students (808 boys and 707 girls) aged 12~14 years were recruited. The study was conducted in Changsha city, China. Adolescents completed an online questionnaire, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), sleep characteristics, a 12-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and other self-reported information. The ESS score ≥ ten was defined as EDS. The anthropometric indices, including height, weight, and waist circumference, were measured and recorded by uniformly trained assistants. Statistical analyses included the Chi-square test and binary logistic regression model. The mean ESS score and free sugars consumption were 6.8 ± 3.9 points and 53.1 ± 44.7 g/d, respectively. The prevalence of EDS among adolescents was 22.5%, and more girls than boys had EDS (26.1% vs. 19.4%, p < 0.05). An exceeded free sugars intake was positively associated with EDS, with the adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) with its 95% Confident Interval (95% CI) of 1.366 (1.060~1.761, p < 0.05). EDS and excessive consumption of free sugars are commonly found among Chinese adolescents. Further studies are needed to confirm whether free sugars restriction can be meaningful to improve daytime drowsiness in those with EDS.

The Association between Free Sugars Consumption and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: A Cross-Sectional Study among Chinese Adolescents.

There is a lack of evidence to show prevalence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and the association between LPR and dietary factors. Adolescents consume the most amount of free sugars among the Chinese population. We conducted this study to investigate the prevalence of LPR in Chinese adolescents and explore the association between free sugars consumption and LPR. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1517 middle school students in Hunan, China. An online questionnaire was applied to collect data on the condition of LPR, consumption of free sugars and other self-reported covariates. Height, weight and waist circumference were collected by anthropometric measurements. Logistic regression was applied to assess the association between LPR and free sugars consumption. The mean and standard deviation of free sugars consumption was 53.14 ± 44.75 (g/d). The prevalence of LPR was 8.11%. A positive association was observed between LPR and higher free sugars consumption after adjusted multiple covariates, with adjusted odds ratio (95% confident interval) of 1.656 (1.125-2.438). The prevalence of LPR among Chinese adolescents was high. Further analytic studies with strict design are required to test the association between LPR and free sugar consumption. Systematic strategies and policies should to be developed to reduce the intake of free sugars in order to prevent LPR.

Genome-wide identification of ZmSnRK2 genes and functional analysis of ZmSnRK2.10 in ABA signaling pathway in maize (Zea mays L).

BACKGROUND: Phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is involved in the regulation of a wide range of biological processes. In Arabidopsis, it has been well-known that SnRK2s are the central components of the ABA signaling pathway that control the balance between plant growth and stress response, but the functions of ZmSnRK2 in maize are rarely reported. Therefore, the study of ZmSnRK2 is of great importance to understand the ABA signaling pathways in maize. RESULTS: In this study, 14 ZmSnRK2 genes were identified in the latest version of maize genome database. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ZmSnRK2s are divided into three subclasses based on their diversity of C-terminal domains. The exon-intron structures, phylogenetic, synteny and collinearity analysis indicated that SnRK2s, especially the subclass III of SnRK2, are evolutionally conserved in maize, rice and Arabidopsis. Subcellular localization showed that ZmSnRK2 proteins are localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. The RNA-Seq datasets and qRT-PCR analysis showed that ZmSnRK2 genes exhibit spatial and temporal expression patterns during the growth and development of different maize tissues, and the transcript levels of some ZmSnRK2 genes in kernel are significantly induced by ABA and sucrose treatment. In addition, we found that ZmSnRK2.10, which belongs to subclass III, is highly expressed in kernel and activated by ABA. Overexpression of ZmSnRK2.10 partially rescued the ABA-insensitive phenotype of snrk2.2/2.3 double and snrk2.2/2.3/2.6 triple mutants and led to delaying plant flowering in Arabidopsis. CONCLUSION: The SnRK2 gene family exhibits a high evolutionary conservation and has expanded with whole-genome duplication events in plants. The ZmSnRK2s expanded in maize with whole-genome and segmental duplication, not tandem duplication. The expression pattern analysis of ZmSnRK2s in maize offers important information to study their functions. Study of the functions of ZmSnRK.10 in Arabidopsis suggests that the ABA-dependent members of SnRK2s are evolutionarily conserved in plants. Our study elucidated the structure and evolution of SnRK2 genes in plants and provided a basis for the functional study of ZmSnRK2s protein in maize.

The Relationship between Restrained Eating, Body Image, and Dietary Intake among University Students in China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aims to explore the association between restrained eating, body image, and dietary intake among Chinese college students. This cross-sectional study included 1301 college students at two universities in Hunan Province. Electronic questionnaires were used to collect information including students' demographic characteristics, restrained eating, perception of body weight, body satisfaction, and dietary intake. Anthropometric measurements were collected to calculate body mass index (BMI). The prevalence of high restrained eating was 52.8%. Students who were dissatisfied with their bodies or overestimated their body weight showed a higher tendency toward high restrained eating (p < 0.05). Students with high restrained eating tended to eat fruits and eggs more frequently, while the frequency of eating domestic animals and poultry, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fast food were the opposite. Moreover, high restrained eating was a risk factor for low dietary diversity (odds ratio (OR) = 1.384, 95% confidence interval: 1.002~1.912). The high incidence of restrained eating among Chinese college students and its energy-restricted diets that may lead to possible health implications require attention. Further studies are needed to investigate the characteristics of college students' restrained eating to tailor appropriate interventions for forming positive body images and promoting healthy eating behaviors, thus, improving dietary quality.

Can Mixed Strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Reduce Eczema in Infants under Three Years of Age? A Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: Whether early supplementation of probiotics to improve intestinal flora can effectively prevent eczema remains a controversial issue. We aimed to investigate the effect of a mixed strain of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium on eczema in infants under three years old at present; (2) Methods: We searched the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, as well as National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WeiPu (VIP), and WanFang Data (WanFang) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of probiotics in the prevention of eczema in infants without language restriction. The main outcome was eczema incidence, while adverse events during the intervention constituted the secondary outcome. The random-/fixed-effects model was utilized to calculate the combined relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The methodological quality of the study was evaluated using the Cochrane "bias risk" tool. According to the initial intervention time, subgroup analysis was carried out, follow-up time, family history, etc.; (3) Results: Nine articles were selected (2093 infants). The Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium mixed strain could prevent eczema in infants under three years of age compared to the placebo (RR = 0.60; I2 = 67%; p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that the mixture of two probiotic strains had preventive effects on both infants with positive (RR = 0.53; I2 = 52%; p < 0.001) and negative (RR = 0.69; I2 = 62%; p = 0.02) family history; The follow-up time for ≤12 months (RR = 0.65; I2 = 12%; p = 0.01) and 12-24 months (RR = 0.60; I2 = 79%; p = 0.003), daily dose of probiotics ≤ 1 × 109 and > 1 × 109 colony forming units all can be effective (p < 0.01); Compared with the intervention of infants alone (RR = 0.63; I2 = 63%; p = 0.29), the effect of probiotics mixture at the beginning of pregnancy was more significant (RR = 0.59; I2 = 71%; p < 0.001); Except for the mixture of Lactobacillus rhamnosusGG (LGG) and Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) (p = 0.18), other subgroups of intervention group can play a preventive effect (p < 0.05); (4) Conclusions: The mixed strain of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium can effectively reduce the incidence of eczema in infants under three years old. However, further research is needed to fully understand the exact mechanism of their effect on infant eczema.