OsCRLK2, a Receptor-Like Kinase Identified by QTL Analysis, is Involved in the Regulation of Rice Quality.

The quality of rice (Oryza sativa L) is determined by a combination of appearance, flavor, aroma, texture, storage characteristics, and nutritional composition. Rice quality directly influences acceptance by consumers and commercial value. The genetic mechanism underlying rice quality is highly complex, and is influenced by genotype, environment, and chemical factors such as starch type, protein content, and amino acid composition. Minor variations in these chemical components may lead to substantial differences in rice quality. Among these components, starch is the most crucial and influential factor in determining rice quality. In this study, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with eight physicochemical properties related to the rapid viscosity analysis (RVA) profile were identified using a high-density sequence map constructed using recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Fifty-nine QTLs were identified across three environments, among which qGT6.4 was a novel locus co-located across all three environments. By integrating RNA-seq data, we identified the differentially expressed candidate gene OsCRLK2 within the qGT6.4 interval. osclrk2 mutants exhibited decreased gelatinization temperature (GT), apparent amylose content (AAC) and viscosity, and increased chalkiness. Furthermore, osclrk2 mutants exhibited downregulated expression of the majority of starch biosynthesis-related genes compared to wild type (WT) plants. In summary, OsCRLK2, which encodes a receptor-like protein kinase, appears to consistently influence rice quality across different environments. This discovery provides a new genetic resource for use in the molecular breeding of rice cultivars with improved quality.

Revealing the Influence of Electron Migration Inside Polymer Electrolyte on Li+ Transport and Interphase Reconfiguration for Li Metal Batteries.

The development of highly producible and interfacial compatible in situ polymerized electrolytes for solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) have been plagued by insufficient transport kinetics and uncontrollable dendrite propagation. Herein, we seek to explore a rationally designed nanofiber architecture to balance all the criteria of SSLMBs, in which La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-δ (LSC) enriched with high valence-state Co species and oxygen vacancies is developed as electronically conductive nanofillers embedded within ZnO/Zn3N2-functionalized polyimide (Zn-PI) nanofiber framework for the first time, to establish Li+ transport highways for poly vinylene carbonate (PVC) electrolyte and eliminate nonuniform Li deposits. Revealed by characterization and theoretical calculation under electric field, the positive-negative electrical dipole layer in LSC derived from electron migration between Co and O atoms aids in accelerating Li+ diffusion kinetics through densified electric field around filler particle, featuring a remarkable ionic conductivity of 1.50 mS cm-1 at 25 °C and a high Li+ transference number of 0.91 without the risk of electron leakage. Integrating with the preferential sacrifice of ZnO/Zn3N2 on PI nanofiber upon immediate detection of dendritic Li, which takes part in reconfiguring hierarchical SEI chemistry dominated by LixNy/Li-Zn alloy inner layer and LiF outer layer, SSLMBs are further endowed with prolonged cycling lifespan and exceptional rate capability.

The connectome-based prediction of trust propensity in older adults: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

A recent neuropsychoeconomic model of trust propensity argues that an individual uses economic (executive functions) and social (social cognition) rationality strategies to transform the risk of treachery (affect) into positive expectations of reciprocity, promoting trust in another person. Previous studies have shown that the trust of older adults is associated with affect and social cognition. However, little is known about the intrinsic functional connectivity correlated with trust propensity or whether trust propensity is associated with executive functions in older adults. In this study, we examined the association between trust propensity (measured by a one-shot trust game [TG]), social preference (measured by a one-shot dictator game), and executive functions (measured by a battery of neuropsychological tests). We also performed connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) and computational lesion analysis to identify the key large-scale resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) underlying the prediction of trust propensity. Our behavioral results showed a lower trust propensity in older adults in our study than in younger adults in a previous meta-analysis. Furthermore, trust propensity was associated with social preference, but there was no significant relationship between trust propensity and executive functions. The neuroimaging results showed that the cingulo-opercular network (CON) and the default mode network (DMN), rather than the frontoparietal network (FPN), significantly contributed to the prediction of trust propensity in older adults. Our findings suggest that older adults rely less on economic rationality (executive functions, associated with FPN) in trust games. Rather, they are likely to depend more on social rationality (social cognition, associated with social preference and DMN) to resolve the risk of treachery (affect, associated with CON) in trust dilemmas. This study contributes to a better understanding of the neural underpinnings of older adults' trust propensity.

Age-related intrinsic functional connectivity underlying emotion utilization.

Previous studies investigated the age-related positivity effect in terms of emotion perception and management, whereas little is known about whether the positivity effect is shown in emotion utilization (EU). If yes, the EU-related intrinsic functional connectivity and its age-associated alterations remain to be elucidated. In this study, we collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 62 healthy older adults and 72 undergraduates as well as their self-ratings of EU. By using the connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) method, we constructed a predictive model of the positive relationship between EU self-ratings and resting-state functional connectivity. Lesion simulation analyses revealed that the medial-frontal network, default mode network, frontoparietal network, and subcortical regions played key roles in the EU-related CPM. Older subjects showed significantly higher EU self-ratings than undergraduates, which was associated with strengthened connectivity between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral frontal poles, and between the left frontal pole and thalamus. A mediation analysis indicated that the age-related EU network mediated the age effect on EU self-ratings. Our findings extend previous research on the age-related "positivity effect" to the EU domain, suggesting that the positivity effect on the self-evaluation of EU is probably associated with emotion knowledge which accumulates with age.

Analysis of 4 imaging features in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this was to analyze 4 chest CT imaging features of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Shenzhen, China so as to improve the diagnosis of COVID-19. METHODS: Chest CT of 34 patients with COVID-19 confirmed by the nucleic acid test (NAT) were retrospectively analyzed. Analyses were performed to investigate the pathological basis of four imaging features("feather sign","dandelion sign","pomegranate sign", and "rime sign") and to summarize the follow-up results. RESULTS: There were 22 patients (65.2%) with typical "feather sign"and 18 (52.9%) with "dandelion sign", while few patients had "pomegranate sign" and "rime sign". The "feather sign" and "dandelion sign" were composed of stripe or round ground-glass opacity (GGO), thickened blood vessels, and small-thickened interlobular septa. The "pomegranate sign" was characterized as follows: the increased range of GGO, the significant thickening of the interlobular septum, complicated with a small amount of punctate alveolar hemorrhage. The "rime sign" was characterized by numerous alveolar edemas. Microscopically, the wall thickening, small vascular proliferation, luminal stenosis, and occlusion, accompanied by interstitial infiltration of inflammatory cells, as well as numerous pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and partial hyaline degeneration were observed. Repeated chest CT revealed the mediastinal lymphadenectasis in one patient. Re-examination of the NAT showed another positive anal swab in two patients. CONCLUSION: "Feather sign" and "dandelion sign" were typical chest CT features in patients withCOVID-19; "pomegranate sign" was an atypical feature, and "rime sign" was a severe feature. In clinical work, accurate identification of various chest CT signs can help to improve the diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19 and reduce the misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis rate.