Transcriptome and co-expression network revealed molecular mechanism underlying selenium response of foxtail millet (Setaria italica).

Introduction: Selenium-enriched foxtail millet (Setaria italica) represents a functional cereal with significant health benefits for humans. This study endeavors to examine the impact of foliar application of sodium selenite (Na2SeO4) on foxtail millet, specifically focusing on selenium (Se) accumulation and transportation within various plant tissues. Methods: To unravel the molecular mechanisms governing selenium accumulation and transportation in foxtail millet, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of selenium content and transcriptome responses in foxtail millet spikelets across different days (3, 5, 7, and 12) under Na2SeO4 treatment (200 µmol/L). Results: Foxtail millet subjected to selenium fertilizer exhibited significantly elevated selenium levels in each tissue compared to the untreated control. Selenate was observed to be transported and accumulated sequentially in the leaf, stem, and spikes. Transcriptome analysis unveiled a substantial upregulation in the transcription levels of genes associated with selenium metabolism and transport, including sulfate, phosphate, and nitrate transporters, ABC transporters, antioxidants, phytohormone signaling, and transcription factors. These genes demonstrated intricate interactions, both synergistic and antagonistic, forming a complex network that regulated selenate transport mechanisms. Gene co-expression network analysis highlighted three transcription factors in the tan module and three transporters in the turquoise module that significantly correlated with selenium accumulation and transportation. Expression of sulfate transporters (SiSULTR1.2b and SiSULTR3.1a), phosphate transporter (PHT1.3), nitrate transporter 1 (NRT1.1B), glutathione S-transferase genes (GSTs), and ABC transporter (ABCC13) increased with SeO4 2- accumulation. Transcription factors MYB, WRKY, and bHLH were also identified as players in selenium accumulation. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary insights into the mechanisms of selenium accumulation and transportation in foxtail millet. The findings hold theoretical significance for the cultivation of selenium-enriched foxtail millet.

Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of the ABI5 gene family in foxtail millet (Setaria italica).

BACKGROUND: ABA Insensitive 5 (ABI5) is a basic leucine zipper transcription factor that crucially influences plant growth, development, and stress response. However, there is minimal research on the ABI5 family in foxtail millet. RESULTS: In this study, 16 ABI5 genes were identified in foxtail millet, and their sequence composition, gene structures, cis-acting elements, chromosome positions, and gene replication events were analyzed. To more thoroughly evaluate the developmental mechanisms of the SiABI5 family during evolution, we selected three dicotyledons (S. lycopersicum, A. thaliana, F. tataricum) and three (Z. mays, O. sativa, S. bicolor) specific representative monocotyledons associated with foxtail millet for comparative homology mapping. The results showed that foxtail millet ABI5 genes had the best homology with maize. A promoter sequence analysis showed that the SiABI5s contain numerous cis-acting elements related to hormone and stress responses, indicating that the regulation of SiABI5 expression was complex. The expression responses of 16 genes in different tissues, seed germination, and ear development were analyzed. A total of six representative genes were targeted from five subfamilies to characterize their gene expression responses to four different abiotic stresses. Overexpression of SiABI5.12 confers tolerance to osmotic stress in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana, which demonstrated the function of SiABI5 responded to abiotic stress. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our research results comprehensively characterized the SiABI5 family and can provide a valuable reference for demonstrating the role of SiABI5s in regulating abiotic stress responses in foxtail millet.

The relationships among job immersion, psychological capital, and life quality in nursing staffs (a STROBE-compliant article).

Nursing services is a high stress job. To improve the life quality of nursing staffs, we explored the relationships among psychological capital, job immersion, and life quality in nursing staffs, and verified that the psychological capital plays an intermediary role between the job immersion and life quality in nursing staffs.General data questionnaire, job immersion scale, psychological capital scale, and life quality scale were performed in nursing staffs who were from 6 third-class hospitals including 2 hospitals in Jinzhou city, 2 hospitals in Chaoyang city, and 2 hospitals in Huludao city. The relationships among psychological capital, job immersion, and life quality, and psychological capital as an intermediary role between the job immersion and life quality were analyzed using SPSS20.0 and AMOS19.0 softwares.In these nursing staffs, the total scores of the job immersion, psychological capital, and life quality were 47.45 ±â€Š9.41, 65.63 ±â€Š10.35, and 72.35 ±â€Š11.24, respectively. The psychological capital was positively correlated with the job immersion (r = 0.452, P < 0.001), the job immersion was positively correlated with the life quality (r = 0.344, P < 0.001) and the psychological capital was positively correlated with the life quality (r = 0.314, P < 0.001). Structural equation models showed that the job immersion could indirectly influence the life quality through the psychological capital. The mediating effect of psychological capital was 0.156 which accounted for 33.19% of the total effects.The psychological capital should be improved, and the psychological capital combined with the job immersion together improves the life quality of nursing staffs.

Efficient Hydrogen Generation From Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride in Seawater Catalyzed by Polyoxometalate Supported on Activated Carbon.

Phosphotungstic acid (HPW) as a polyoxometalate was selected as the active component of the catalyst. The activated carbon supported different percentage of HPW catalysts were prepared by impregnation and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the HPW retained the original Keggin structure after being supported on activated carbon, the specific surface of the HPW/C was much bigger than that of pure HPW. The catalytic performance of HPW/C in the hydrogen generation reaction by hydrolysis of sodium borohydride in seawater and in deionized water were studied. 2.5 wt.% HPW/C showed the fastest hydrolysis reaction rate and the biggest volume of hydrogen generated. As for hydrolysis of sodium borohydride, catalytic effect of HPW/C was better in seawater than in distilled water. HPW dispersed on activated carbon is a real promising catalytic system for the development of hydrogen generation by hydrolysis of NaBH4 in seawater.

Facile Fabrication of Biochar from Palm Kernel Shell Waste and its Novel Application to Magnesium-Based Materials for Hydrogen Storage.

In this investigation, an easily-operated and cost-effective method is utilized to synthesize biochar in ambient air, and the prepared biochar is used in a novel manner as a milling aid for fabricating Mg-biochar composites for hydrogen storage. X-ray diffractometry reveals that increasing the content of palm kernel shell biochar (PKSBC) from 5 wt.% to 20 wt.% enhances the hydrogen absorption performance by increasing the conversion of Mg into MgH2 from 83% to 93%. A 40 °C reduction in decomposition temperature of MgH2 is recorded from differential scanning calorimetry curves when the content of PKSBC is increased to 20 wt.%. Magnesium is milled and hydrided under the same experimental conditions and used as a reference material. It is proposed that these property enhancements can be attributed to the fact that PKSBC acts as an anti-sticking agent for elemental Mg powders, helping in the achievement of a more dispersed composite with reduced Mg particle size due to its layered-like carbon structure.

MgH2/CuxO Hydrogen Storage Composite with Defect-Rich Surfaces for Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation.

Thermal conversion of CO2 to value-added chemicals is challenging due to the extreme inertness of the CO2 molecule and the low selectivity of products. We reported a defect-rich MgH2/CuxO hydrogen storage composite from mechanochemical ball-milling for the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to lower olefins. The defect-rich MgH2/CuxO hydrogen storage composite achieves a C2=-C4= selectivity of 54.8% and a CO2 conversion of 20.7% at 350 °C under a low H2/CO2 ratio of 1:5, which increases the efficiency of H2 utilization by offering lattice H- species for hydrogenation. Density functional theory calculations show that the defective structure of MgH2/CuxO can promote CO2 molecule adsorption and activation, while the electronic structure of MgH2 is beneficial for offering lattice H- for CO2 molecule hydrogenation. The lattice H- can combine the C site of CO2 molecule to promote the formation of Mg formate, which can be further hydrogenated to lower olefins under a low H- concentration. This work for CO2 conversion by a defect-rich MgH2/CuxO hydrogen storage composite can inspire the catalysts design for the hydrogenation of CO2 to lower olefins.

[Feasibility investigation of hydrogen instead of helium as carrier gas in the determination of five organophosphorus pesticides by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry].

Helium is almost the only choosable carrier gas used in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A mixed standard solution of five organophosphorus pesticides was analyzed by using GC-MS, and hydrogen or helium as carrier gas, so as to study the feasibility of hydrogen instead of helium as carrier gas for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides. Combining a mass spectrum database built by ourselves, the results were deconvolved and identified by Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution & Identification System (AMDIS32), a software belonging to the workstation of the instrument. Then, the statistical software, IBM SPSS Statistics 19.0 was used for the clustering analysis of the data. The results indicated that when hydrogen was used as carrier gas, the peaks of the pesticides detected were slightly earlier than those when helium used as carrier gas, but the resolutions of the chromatographic peaks were lower, and the fraction good indices (Frac. Good) were lower, too. When hydrogen was used as carrier gas, the signals of the pesticides were unstable, the measuring accuracies of the pesticides were reduced too, and even more, some compounds were undetectable. Therefore, considering the measuring accuracy, the signal stability, and the safety, etc., hydrogen should be cautiously used as carrier gas in the determination of organophosphorus pesticides by GC-MS.

Precipitation of calcite induced by Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

Calcite with laminate structure was successfully prepared by culturing Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 with different concentrations of calcium chloride (CaCl2) in BG11 media. S. PCC6803 was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), laser confocal scanning microscope (LCSM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The effects of Ca²âº concentrations and pH values on calcification were investigated and the micro morphs of the CaCO3 crystals were observed by means of SEM. These results showed that CaCO3 crystals could be more easily formed with increasing the concentration of CaCl2 in S. PCC6803 culture solution. S. PCC6803 could largely bind calcium ions, most of which were present in extracellular polymeric substances and on the cell wall. Inside the cells there were a lot of circular areas rich in calcium ions without the crystallization of calcium. Some cells produced a thicker gelatinous sheath outside of the translucent organic thin layer. And the cells inside also produced major changes that the original chloroplasts were almost transformed into starch grains whose sizes were from 0.5 to 1 µm with relatively uniform in sizes. At the same time the cell sizes significantly reduced to only about 8-9 µm almost changing to half of its original diameters. The calcite crystals with a highly preferred orientation induced by S. PCC6803 were observed with X-ray diffraction (XRD). A critical implication was that S. PCC6803 could induce bio-calcification and then mediate the further growth of CaCO3 crystals in the biological system.