Unlocking Mixed-Metal Oxides Active Centers via Acidity Regulation for K&SO2 Poisoning Resistance: Self-Detoxification Mechanism of Zeolite-Confined deNOx Catalysts.

Selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) with ammonia (NH3-SCR) is an efficient NOx reduction strategy, while the denitrification (deNOx) catalysts suffer from serious deactivation due to the coexistence of multiple poisoning substances, such as alkali metal (e.g., K), SO2, etc., in industrial flue gases. It is essential to understand the interaction among various poisons and their effects on the deNOx process. Herein, the ZSM-5 zeolite-confined MnSmOx mixed (MnSmOx@ZSM-5) catalyst exhibited better deNOx performance after the poisoning of K, SO2, and/or K&SO2 than the MnSmOx and MnSmOx/ZSM-5 catalysts, the deNOx activity of which at high temperature (H-T) increased significantly (>90% NOx conversion in the range of 220-480 °C). It has been demonstrated that K would occupy both redox and acidic sites, which severely reduced the reactivity of MnSmOx/ZSM-5 catalysts. The most important, K element is preferentially deposited at -OH on the surface of ZSM-5 carrier due to the electrostatic attraction (-O-K). As for the K&SO2 poisoning catalyst, SO2 preferred to be combined with the surface-deposited K (-O-K-SO2ads) according to XPS and density functional theory (DFT) results, the poisoned active sites by K would be released. The K migration behavior was induced by SO2 over K-poisoned MnSmOx@ZSM-5 catalysts, and the balance of surface redox and acidic site was regulated, like a synergistic promoter, which led to K-poisoning buffering and activity recovery. This work contributes to the understanding of the self-detoxification interaction between alkali metals (e.g., K) and SO2 on deNOx catalysts and provides a novel strategy for the adaptive use of one poisoning substance to counter another for practical NOx reduction.

Assessing health risks from bioaccessible PM2.5-bound toxic metals in Nanchang metro: Implications for metro workers and emissions control.

High concentrations of PM2.5 with enriched levels of metallic constituents could significantly affect the health and comfort of metro employees. To avoid overestimating the exposure risks, we investigated the bioaccessibility of toxic metals (TMs) bound in PM2.5 from the Nanchang metro using Gamble's solution method, and qualitatively analyzed the impact of valence state and various sources on the bioaccessibility of TMs bound to PM2.5. The results showed that the bioaccessibility of the studied TMs ranged from 2.1% to 88.1%, with As, Ba, Co and Pb being the most bioaccessible and V, Fe and Cr being the less bioaccessible. The bioaccessibility of TMs in our subway PM2.5 samples varied based on their valence and species, showing higher valence states associated with increased bioaccessibility. Vehicle traffic, secondary aerosols and wheel/rail sources were found to be significantly and positively associated with the bioaccessibility of several TMs, implying a severe potential risk from these three sources. Although both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with total TMs were found to be high, only As and Cr(VI) posed a considerable carcinogenic risk to metro workers based on the bioaccessible fractions and were therefore priority pollutants. In addition, potential carcinogenic risk was found to be more severe in platform than that in ticket counter. The results indicate that considerable efforts are required to control and manage PM2.5 and the associated TMs in the Nanchang subway, particularly from traffic, wheel/rail and secondary sources, to protect the health of metro staff and the public.

Leafhopper salivary carboxylesterase suppresses JA-Ile synthesis to facilitate initial arbovirus transmission in rice phloem.

Plant jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) is a major defense signal against insect feeding, but whether or how insect salivary effectors suppress JA-Ile synthesis and thus facilitate viral transmission in the plant phloem remains elusive. Insect carboxylesterases (CarEs) are the third major family of detoxification enzymes. Here, we identify a new leafhopper CarE, CarE10, that is specifically expressed in salivary glands and is secreted into the rice phloem as a saliva component. Leafhopper CarE10 directly binds to rice jasmonate resistant 1 (JAR1) and promotes its degradation by the proteasome system. Moreover, the direct association of CarE10 with JAR1 clearly impairs JAR1 enzyme activity for conversion of JA to JA-Ile in an in vitro JA-Ile synthesis system. A devastating rice reovirus activates and promotes the co-secretion of virions and CarE10 via virus-induced vesicles into the saliva-storing salivary cavities of the leafhopper vector and ultimately into the rice phloem to establish initial infection. Furthermore, a virus-mediated increase in CarE10 secretion or overexpression of CarE10 in transgenic rice plants causes reduced levels of JAR1 and thus suppresses JA-Ile synthesis, promoting host attractiveness to insect vectors and facilitating initial viral transmission. Our findings provide insight into how the insect salivary protein CarE10 suppresses host JA-Ile synthesis to promote initial virus transmission in the rice phloem.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Ammodendron bifolium (Fabaceae), an endangered desert shrub from China.

Ammodendron bifolium, a rare deciduous shrub, is the only species of Ammodendron (Fabaceae) in China, which distributes in Huocheng county, Xinjiang. This study employed high-throughput sequencing technology to assemble the complete chloroplast genome sequence of A. bifolium. The entire length of chloroplast genome is 154,426 bp. It comprises 128 genes, which include 85 protein-coding genes, 35 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The A. bifolium chloroplast genome has a GC content of 36.41%. Phylogenetic analysis strongly supported that A. bifolium is sister to the members of the Sophora genus. This study will provide the genetic information data for further phylogenetic studies of Ammodendron.

Botrytis cinerea type II inhibitor of apoptosis BcBIR1 enhances the biocontrol capacity of Coniothyrium minitans.

Apoptosis-like programmed cell death is associated with fungal development, ageing, pathogenicity and stress responses. Here, to explore the potential of Botrytis cinerea type II inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) BcBIR1 in elevating the biocontrol efficacy of Coniothyrium minitans, the BcBIR1 gene was heterologously expressed in C. minitans. Results indicated that the strains expressing BcBIR1 had higher rates of conidiation, mycelial growth and biomass growth than the wild-type strain. Moreover, BcBIR1 was found to inhibit apoptosis, indicating its role as an IAP in C. minitans. Under various abiotic stresses, the growth rates of BcBIR1-expressing strains were significantly higher than that of the wild-type strain. Moreover, the conidial survival rate of the BcBIR1-expressing strains treated with ultraviolet irradiation was enhanced. In antifungal activity assay, the culture filtrates of BcBIR1-expressing strains displayed a stronger inhibitory effect on B. cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum than the wild-type strain. The study also found that BcBIR1 expression increased the mycoparasitism against the sclerotia, but not the hyphae of S. sclerotiorum. Taken together, these results suggest that BcBIR1 enhances vegetative growth, conidiation, anti-apoptosis activity, abiotic stress resistance, antifungal activity and mycoparasitism in C. minitans. As an IAP, BcBIR1 may improve the control capacity of C. minitans against S. sclerotiorum.

Decoupled responses of above- and below-ground beta-diversity to nitrogen enrichment in a typical steppe.

Increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition affects biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems. However, we do not know whether the effects of N on above-ground plant ß-diversity are coupled with changes occurring in the soil seed bank. We conducted a long-term N-addition experiment in a typical steppe and found that above-ground ß-diversity increased and then decreased with increasing N addition, whereas below-ground ß-diversity decreased linearly. This suggests decoupled dynamics of plant communities and their soil seed bank under N enrichment. Species substitution determined above- and below-ground ß-diversity change via an increasing role of deterministic processes with N addition. These effects were mostly driven by differential responses of the above-ground vegetation and the soil seed bank ß-diversities to N-induced changes in environmental heterogeneity, increased soil inorganic N concentrations and soil acidification. Our findings highlight the importance of considering above- and below-ground processes simultaneously for effectively conserving grassland ecosystems under N enrichment.

Multiple domestications of Asian rice.

The origin of domesticated Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) has been controversial for more than half a century. The debates have focused on two leading hypotheses: a single domestication event in China or multiple domestication events in geographically separate areas. These two hypotheses differ in their predicted history of genes/alleles selected during domestication. Here we amassed a dataset of 1,578 resequenced genomes, including an expanded sample of wild rice from throughout its geographic range. We identified 993 selected genes that generated phylogenetic trees on which japonica and indica formed a monophyletic group, suggesting that the domestication alleles of these genes originated only once in either japonica or indica. Importantly, the domestication alleles of most selected genes (~80%) stemmed from wild rice in China, but the domestication alleles of a substantial minority of selected genes (~20%) originated from wild rice in South and Southeast Asia, demonstrating separate domestication events of Asian rice.

Single cobalt atoms anchored on Ti3C2Tx with dual reaction sites for efficient adsorption-degradation of antibiotic resistance genes.

The assimilation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) by pathogenic bacteria poses a severe threat to public health. Here, we reported a dual-reaction-site-modified CoSA/Ti3C2Tx (single cobalt atoms immobilized on Ti3C2Tx MXene) for effectively deactivating extracellular ARGs via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. The enhanced removal of ARGs was attributed to the synergistic effect of adsorption (Ti sites) and degradation (Co-O3 sites). The Ti sites on CoSA/Ti3C2Tx nanosheets bound with PO43- on the phosphate skeletons of ARGs via Ti-O-P coordination interactions, achieving excellent adsorption capacity (10.21 × 1010 copies mg-1) for tetA, and the Co-O3 sites activated PMS into surface-bond hydroxyl radicals (•OHsurface), which can quickly attack the backbones and bases of the adsorbed ARGs, resulting in the efficient in situ degradation of ARGs into inactive small molecular organics and NO3. This dual-reaction-site Fenton-like system exhibited ultrahigh extracellular ARG degradation rate (k > 0.9 min-1) and showed the potential for practical wastewater treatment in a membrane filtration process, which provided insights for extracellular ARG removal via catalysts design.

Fiscal decentralization, local government environmental protection preference, and regional green innovation efficiency: evidence from China.

Green technological innovation has gained in importance in regional policy making towards gaining competitive advantage and sustainable development. This paper used the data envelopment analysis method to calculate regional green innovation efficiency in China, and empirically tested the effect of fiscal decentralization through Tobit model. The regression results show that the local governments with higher fiscal autonomy would prefer to strengthen environmental protection; thus, the regional green innovation efficiency was improved. After the guidance of relevant national development strategies, these effects became more apparent. Our research provided theoretical support and practical guidance for promoting regional led green innovation, improving environmental quality, achieving carbon neutrality, and promoting the high-quality and sustainable development.

Effect of renal denervation on cardiac remodelling and function in rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) mimicking obstructive sleep apnea elicits divergent outcomes in the cardiovascular systems. The effect of renal denervation (RDN) on the heart during CIH remains unclear. We aimed to explore the effect of RDN on cardiac remodelling in rats exposed to CIH and to discuss the underlying mechanisms. Adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, control+RDN, CIH (CIH exposure for 6 weeks, nadir of 5%-7% to peak of 21% O2, 20 cycles/h, 8 h/day) and CIH+ RDN group. Echocardiography, cardiac fibrosis, left ventricle (LV) expressions of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway and inflammatory factors were tested at the end of the study. Cardiac structural remodelling and dysfunction were induced by CIH and attenuated by RDN. Myocardial fibrosis was more severe in the CIH group than in the control group and improved in the CIH + RDN group. Sympathetic activity reflected by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression and noradrenaline were significantly elevated after CIH but blunted by RDN. CIH downregulated LV protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1, which was activated by RDN. The downstream of Nrf2/HO-1, such as NQO1 and SOD expression, elevated following RDN. RDN also decreased the mRNA expression of IL-1ß and IL-6. Notably, control+RDN did not affect cardiac remodelling and Nrf2/HO-1 compared with the control. Taken together, we found that RDN exerted cardio-protective effects in a rat model of CIH involving Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inflammation.

Sacubitril/valsartan mitigated intermittent hypoxia related intestinal microbiota alteration and aortic injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of sacubitril valsartan sodium (SVS) on chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH) related gut microbiome composition alteration and aortic injury. METHODS: Experiments were performed using SD rats, which were divided into three groups: control, IH, and SVS group. O2 concentration was decreased to 7-8% at nadir approximately every 3 min in IH group (8 h per day for 6 weeks) or was left unchanged in control group. Rats in SVS group were orally gavaged with SVS at the dosage of 30 mg/kg/day (2 weeks after chronic IH exposure). At week 6, fecal and aortic samples were harvested for 16 s rDNA analysis and histological analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Principal coordinate analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis indicated that the bacterial community was altered by chronic IH exposure, while SVS treatment restored the intestinal microbial communities. Further analysis showed that IH decreased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Prevotella, while rats treated with SVS was enriched with Firmicutes, Bacilli, Prevotellaceae, and Lactobacillus, which was similar to control rats. Immunohistochemical staining showed that SVS prevented the upregulation of transforming growth factor-ß1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the aorta. CONCLUSION: SVS prevented aortic adverse response to IH, possibly through modulating intestinal microbiota.

Ubiquitinated PCNA Drives USP1 Synthetic Lethality in Cancer.

CRISPR Cas9-based screening is a powerful approach for identifying and characterizing novel drug targets. Here, we elucidate the synthetic lethal mechanism of deubiquitinating enzyme USP1 in cancers with underlying DNA damage vulnerabilities, specifically BRCA1/2 mutant tumors and a subset of BRCA1/2 wild-type (WT) tumors. In sensitive cells, pharmacologic inhibition of USP1 leads to decreased DNA synthesis concomitant with S-phase-specific DNA damage. Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens identify RAD18 and UBE2K, which promote PCNA mono- and polyubiquitination respectively, as mediators of USP1 dependency. The accumulation of mono- and polyubiquitinated PCNA following USP1 inhibition is associated with reduced PCNA protein levels. Ectopic expression of WT or ubiquitin-dead K164R PCNA reverses USP1 inhibitor sensitivity. Our results show, for the first time, that USP1 dependency hinges on the aberrant processing of mono- and polyubiquitinated PCNA. Moreover, this mechanism of USP1 dependency extends beyond BRCA1/2 mutant tumors to selected BRCA1/2 WT cancer cell lines enriched in ovarian and lung lineages. We further show PARP and USP1 inhibition are strongly synergistic in BRCA1/2 mutant tumors. We postulate USP1 dependency unveils a previously uncharacterized vulnerability linked to posttranslational modifications of PCNA. Taken together, USP1 inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for BRCA1/2 mutant tumors and a subset of BRCA1/2 WT tumors.

Divergent response and adaptation of specific leaf area to environmental change at different spatio-temporal scales jointly improve plant survival.

Specific leaf area (SLA) is one of the most important plant functional traits. It integrates multiple functions and reflects strategies of plants to obtain resources. How plants employ different strategies (e.g., through SLA) to respond to dynamic environmental conditions remains poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the spatial variation in SLA and its divergent adaptation through the lens of biogeographic patterns, evolutionary history, and short-term responses. SLA data for 5424 plant species from 76 natural communities in China were systematically measured and integrated with meta-analysis of field experiments (i.e., global warming, drought, and nitrogen addition). The mean value of SLA across all species was 21.8 m2  kg-1 , ranging from 0.9 to 110.2 m2  kg-1 . SLA differed among different ecosystems, temperature zones, vegetation types, and functional groups. Phylogeny had a weak effect on SLA, but plant species evolved toward higher SLA. Furthermore, SLA responded nonlinearly to environmental change. Unexpectedly, radiation was one of the main factors determining the spatial variation in SLA on a large scale. Conversely, short-term manipulative experiments showed that SLA increased with increased resource availability and tended to stabilize with treatment duration. However, different species exhibited varying response patterns. Overall, variation in long-term adaptation of SLA to environmental gradients and its short-term response to resource pulses jointly improve plant adaptability to a changing environment. Overall SLA-environment relationships should be emphasized as a multidimensional strategy for elucidating environmental change in future research.

Gut microbiota in hypertensive patients with versus without obstructive sleep apnea.

We investigated the alteration of gut microbiota and the associated metabolic risks in hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) comorbidity. Fecal and blood samples were collected from 52 hypertensive patients, who were divided into three groups: A (controls, apnea-hypopnea index[AHI] < 5, n = 15), B (mild OSA, 5 < AHI < 20, n = 17), and C (moderate-to-severe OSA, AHI > 20, n = 20). The composition of the gut microbiota was studied through 16s RNA sequencing of variable regions 3-4. Analysis of the results revealed that group C had a significant higher concentration of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and IL-1ß compared with group A. The Shannon index showed that bacterial biodiversity was lower in OSA patients. At the phylum level, the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) was significantly higher in group C than in groups A and B. At the genus level, the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)-producing bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides and Prevotella) was lower while the number of inflammation-related bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus) was increased in patients with OSA. We found that the IL-1ß level was negatively correlated with Bacteroidetes. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was .672 for F/B ratio in determining hypertensive patients with OSA. In patients with hypertension, OSA was associated with worse gut dysbiosis, as evidenced by decreased levels of short-chain fatty acids-producing bacteria and increased number of inflammation-related bacteria. The differences in gut microbiota discriminate hypertensive patients with OSA from those without and may result in an enhanced inflammatory response and increase the risk of metabolic diseases.

Comparative evolutionary history of two closely related desert plant, Convolvulus tragacanthoide and Convolvulus gortschakovii (Convolvulaceae) from northwest China.

Desert ecosystems are one of the most fragile ecosystems on Earth. The study of the effects of paleoclimatic and geological changes on genetic diversity, genetic structure, and species differentiation of desert plants is not only helpful in understanding the strategies of adaptation of plants to arid habitats, but can also provide reference for the protection and restoration of vegetation in desert ecosystem. Northwest China is an important part of arid regions in the northern hemisphere. Convolvulus tragacanthoides and Convolvulus gortschakovii are closely related and have similar morphology. Through our field investigation, we found that the annual precipitation of the two species distribution areas is significantly different. Thus, C. tragacanthoides and C. gortschakovii provide an ideal comparative template to investigate the evolutionary processes of closely related species, which have adapted to different niches in response to changes in paleogeography and paleoclimate in northwest China. In this study, we employed phylogeographical approaches (two cpDNA spacers: rpl14-rpl36 and trnT-trnY) and species distribution models to trace the demographic history of C. tragacanthoides and C. gortschakovii, two common subshrubs and small shrubs in northwest China. The results showed the following: (1) Populations of C. tragacanthoides in northwest China were divided into three groups: Tianshan Mountains-Ili Valley, west Yin Mountains-Helan Mountains-Qinglian Mountains, and Qinling Mountains-east Yin Mountains. There was a strong correlation between the distribution of haplotypes and the floristic subkingdom. The three groups corresponded to the Eurasian forest subkingdom, Asian desert flora subkingdom, and Sino-Japanese floristic regions, respectively. Thus, environmental differences among different flora may lead to the genetic differentiation of C. tragacanthoides in China. (2) The west Yin Mountains-Helan Mountains-Qinglian Mountains, and Qinling Mountains-east Yin Mountains were thought to form the ancestral distribution range of C. tragacanthoides. (3) C. tragacanthoides and C. gortschakovii adopted different strategies to cope with the Pleistocene glacial cycle. Convolvulus tragacanthoides contracted to the south during the glacial period and expanded to the north during the interglacial period; and there was no obvious north-south expansion or contraction of C. gortschakovii during the glacial cycle. (4) The interspecific variation of C. tragacanthoides and C. gortschakovii was related to the orogeny in northwest China caused by the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau during Miocene. (5) The 200 mm precipitation line formed the dividing line between the niches occupied by C. tragacanthoides and C. gortschakovii, respectively. In this study, from the perspective of precipitation, the impact of the formation of the summer monsoon limit line on species divergence and speciation is reported, which provides a new perspective for studying the response mechanism of species to the formation of the summer monsoon line, and also provides a clue for predicting how desert plants respond to future environmental changes.

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This study aimed to examine the responses of persistent soil seed bank to future precipitation reduction of global climate change in the forest-steppe ecotone of Hulunbuir. Samples of soil seed bank were collected from 0-10 cm soil layer along a precipitation gradient. We examined the density, species composition, diversity of seed bank and their relationship with vegetation. Structural equation model was used to explore the direct impact of annual precipitation on soil seed bank and the indirect impact through vegetation, soil nitrogen, soil phosphorus, and soil pH. The results showed that seed bank density and species richness were negatively correlated with annual precipitation. The species diversity of soil seed banks in grasslands was higher than that in forests. The similarity between soil seed bank and vegetation was generally low. The results of structural equation model showed that the effects of annual precipitation on seed bank density and species richness were negative, with the standard path coefficients of -0.051 and -0.122, respectively. The direct effect of annual precipitation on seed bank density and species richness were positive. Precipitation had indirect and positive effect on seed bank density and species richness through soil nitrogen, a significantly indirect negative effect on seed bank species richness through soil pH and soil available phosphorus, and a significantly indirect negative effect on seed bank density through soil pH. The reduction of precipitation under furture climate change might alter the hedging strategies of plants. The persistent soil seed bank in the forest-steppeecotone had a potential buffering effect against future precipitation reduction.

Manipulation of single cells via a Stereo Acoustic Streaming Tunnel (SteAST).

At the single-cell level, cellular parameters, gene expression and cellular function are assayed on an individual but not population-average basis. Essential to observing and analyzing the heterogeneity and behavior of these cells/clusters is the ability to prepare and manipulate individuals. Here, we demonstrate a versatile microsystem, a stereo acoustic streaming tunnel, which is triggered by ultrahigh-frequency bulk acoustic waves and highly confined by a microchannel. We thoroughly analyze the generation and features of stereo acoustic streaming to develop a virtual tunnel for observation, pretreatment and analysis of cells for different single-cell applications. 3D reconstruction, dissociation of clusters, selective trapping/release, in situ analysis and pairing of single cells with barcode gel beads were demonstrated. To further verify the reliability and robustness of this technology in complex biosamples, the separation of circulating tumor cells from undiluted blood based on properties of both physics and immunity was achieved. With the rich selection of handling modes, the platform has the potential to be a full-process microsystem, from pretreatment to analysis, and used in numerous fields, such as in vitro diagnosis, high-throughput single-cell sequencing and drug development.

Seed Traits Research Is on the Rise: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1991-2020.

Seed traits (ST) influence seedling establishment, population dynamics, community composition and ecosystem function and reflect the adaptability of plants and the environmental conditions they experienced. There has been a historical and global accumulation of studies on ST, but with few pertaining to visual and quantitative analyses. To understand the trends in the field of ST research in the past 30 years, we conducted a bibliometric analysis based on the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCI-E) database. The analysis provided annual publications, time trends for keywords, the most productive journals, authors, institutions and countries, and a comprehensive overview of the ST field. Our results showed that in the past 30 years, the number of publications in ST research has increased at an average annual growth rate of 9.1%, while the average number of citations per paper per year showed a rapid increase-slow increase-decrease trend. Keyword analysis showed that "germination" was the most popular research section. Crop Science ranked first among the top journals and Theoretical and Applied Genetics had greater influence in this area and more citations than other journals. The 10 most productive institutions were mostly located in the United States, China and Australia. Furthermore, the three countries also had the largest number of publications and citations. Our analysis showed that the research interests in ST have evolved from genetics and agricultural science to ecological research over the last thirty years; as more fields embrace ST research, there are opportunities for international and interdisciplinary collaborations, cooperative institutions and new advances in the field.

The Relationship Between Atrial Fibrillation and Intestinal Flora With Its Metabolites.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by high morbidity and disability rate. The incidence of AF has rapidly increased due to increased aging population, causing a serious burden on society and patients. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the prevention and treatment of AF. Several studies have assessed the occurrence, development mechanism, and intervention measures of AF. The human gut has several non-pathogenic microorganisms forming the gut flora. The human gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the construction and operation of the metabolic system and immune system. Emerging clinical studies and basic experiments have confirmed that intestinal flora and its metabolites have a role in some metabolic disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases. Moreover, the gut microbiota has a role in cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension and heart failure. However, the relationship between AF and gut microbiota is unclear. This review summarizes the relevant literature on the relationship between AF and intestinal flora with its metabolites, including Trimethylamine N-Oxide, short-chain fatty acids, lipopolysaccharide and bile acids. Therefore, this review may enhance further development of related research.

The Angiosperm Stem Hemiparasitic Genus Cassytha (Lauraceae) and Its Host Interactions: A Review.

Cassytha, also known as laurel dodder or love vine, is a stem hemiparasite of the Lauraceae family. It has long been used for medicinal purposes in many countries and has increasingly influenced agricultural and natural ecosystems by its effects on a wide range of host species. Previous studies have focused on the taxonomy and evolutionary position of different Cassytha, with the pan-tropical species Cassytha filiformis being the most widely studied. However, Cassytha-host interactions have never been reviewed, which is an essential issue related to the understanding of mechanisms underlying plant hemiparasitic and the assessment of benefits and damage caused by aerial parasitic plants. This review explores the parasitic habits, worldwide distribution, and host range of Cassytha, and examines its impacts on the biology of host plants and the overall influence of environmental changes on Cassytha-host associations. We also comment on areas of future research directions that require to better understanding Cassytha-host interactions. It appeared that some traits, such as flowering phenology, facilitated Cassytha's widespread distribution and successful parasitism and that Cassytha preferred woody species rather than herbaceous species as a host, and preferred species from certain families as hosts, such as Fabaceae and Myrtaceae. Cassytha often decreased biomass and impacted the physiology of host species and global environmental changes seemed to intensify the negative impacts of Cassytha on their hosts. Cassytha was not only a noxious weed, but can also function as a biocontrol agent to mitigate alien plant invasion.