Towards a Treatment for Leukodystrophy Using Cell-Based Interception and Precision Medicine.

Cell-based interception and precision medicine is a novel approach aimed at improving healthcare through the early detection and treatment of diseased cells. Here, we describe our recent progress towards developing cell-based interception and precision medicine to detect, understand, and advance the development of novel therapeutic approaches through a single-cell omics and drug screening platform, as part of a multi-laboratory collaborative effort, for a group of neurodegenerative disorders named leukodystrophies. Our strategy aims at the identification of diseased cells as early as possible to intercept progression of the disease prior to severe clinical impairment and irreversible tissue damage.

Investigation of canopy interception characteristics in slope protection grasses: A laboratory experiment.

Canopy interception significantly affects hydrological processes such as infiltration, runoff and evapotranspiration. Research on grass canopy interception remains limited, and the experimental methods employed differ substantially. To thoroughly investigate the canopy interception characteristics of grass and clarify the methodological differences, five commonly utilized slope protection grass species in temperate regions were cultivated in a laboratory setting, and their canopy interception characteristics were experimentally investigated using the water-balance method (WBM), the water-wiping method (WWM) and the water-immersion method (WIM), respectively. The results showed that the WBM is more accurate for measuring canopy interception in grass, whereas both the WWM and the WIM underestimate grass canopy interception capacity. The canopy interception capacity measured by the WBM was 1.61-2.09 times higher than that of the WWM and 1.93-3.47 times higher than that of the WIM. Grey correlation analysis of the eight evaluated factors indicated that leaf area is the most influential factor affecting canopy interception in grass, followed by rainfall amount, dry mass, rainfall intensity, canopy projection area, leaf contact angle, fresh weight, and average height. There is a negative power function relationship between the interception ratio and the rainfall amount. With increasing rainfall intensity, the canopy interception capacity initially increases and then decreases, peaking at rainfall intensities of 15 to 20 mm/h. Leaf contact angle is a key quantifiable parameter that explains the differences in canopy interception among different grass species, and the canopy interception per unit leaf area decreases as the leaf contact angle increases. This study demonstrates that the WBM provides the most accurate measurements of grass canopy interception compared to the WWM and WIM, and highlights the leaf contact angle as a key factor in explaining interspecies differences. These findings could enhance the understanding of grass canopy interception and guide the selection of experimental methods.

Canopy and understory nitrogen additions differently affect soil microbial residual carbon in a temperate forest.

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition in forests can affect soil microbial growth and turnover directly through increasing N availability and indirectly through altering plant-derived carbon (C) availability for microbes. This impacts microbial residues (i.e., amino sugars), a major component of soil organic carbon (SOC). Previous studies in forests have so far focused on the impact of understory N addition on microbes and microbial residues, but the effect of N deposition through plant canopy, the major pathway of N deposition in nature, has not been explicitly explored. In this study, we investigated whether and how the quantities (25 and 50 kg N ha-1 year-1) and modes (canopy and understory) of N addition affect soil microbial residues in a temperate broadleaf forest under 10-year N additions. Our results showed that N addition enhanced the concentrations of soil amino sugars and microbial residual C (MRC) but not their relative contributions to SOC, and this effect on amino sugars and MRC was closely related to the quantities and modes of N addition. In the topsoil, high-N addition significantly increased the concentrations of amino sugars and MRC, regardless of the N addition mode. In the subsoil, only canopy N addition positively affected amino sugars and MRC, implying that the indirect pathway via plants plays a more important role. Neither canopy nor understory N addition significantly affected soil microbial biomass (as represented by phospholipid fatty acids), community composition and activity, suggesting that enhanced microbial residues under N deposition likely stem from increased microbial turnover. These findings indicate that understory N addition may underestimate the impact of N deposition on microbial residues and SOC, highlighting that the processes of canopy N uptake and plant-derived C availability to microbes should be taken into consideration when predicting the impact of N deposition on the C sequestration in temperate forests.

Optimal Planting Density Increases the Seed Yield by Improving Biomass Accumulation and Regulating the Canopy Structure in Rapeseed.

Planting density is an important factor affecting plant growth and yield formation in rapeseed. However, the understanding of the mechanism underlying the impact of planting density on biomass, canopy, and ultimate seed yield remains limited. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of planting density on seed yield, yield components, biomass accumulation and partitioning, and canopy structure. Five planting density levels were set as D1 (2.4 × 105 plants ha-1), D2 (3.6 × 105 plants ha-1), D3 (5.4 × 105 plants ha-1), D4 (6.0 × 105 plants ha-1), and D5 (7.2 × 105 plants ha-1). The results showed that with planting density increasing from D1 to D3, the seed yield, number of pods in population, and 1000-seed weight increased, while seedling survival rate, yield per plant, number of pods per plant, and number of seeds per plant decreased. When planting density increased to D4 and D5, seed yield dramatically decreased due to a decreased number of seeds per pod and 1000-seed weight. Increasing planting density from D1 to D3 increased biomass accumulation in all organs. D3 produced the highest biomass partitioning in seeds. In addition, D2 and D3 treatments had a high level of pod area index (5.3-5.8), which caused an approximately 93% of the light to be intercepted. The distribution of light in D2 and D3 was more evenly spread, with the upper and lower parts of the canopy displaying a distribution ratio of roughly 7:3. Therefore, D2 and D3 produced the highest seed yields. In conclusion, D2 and D3 are recommended in rapeseed production due to their role in improving biomass accumulation and partitioning and canopy structure.

Can I catch this ball and do I know if I can? Characterizing the affordance of interceptability for oneself.

In this study, we aimed to characterize the affordance of interceptability for oneself using a manual lateral interception paradigm. We asked a two-fold research question: (1) What makes a virtual ball interceptable or not? (2) How reliably can individuals perceive this affordance for oneself? We hypothesized that a spatiotemporal boundary would determine the interceptability of a ball, and that individuals would be able to perceive this boundary and make accurate perceptual judgments regarding their own interceptability. To test our hypotheses, we administered a manual lateral interception task to 15 subjects. They were first trained on the task, which was followed by two experimental sessions: action and judging. In the former, participants were instructed to intercept as many virtual balls as possible using a hand-held slider to control an on-screen paddle. In the latter session, while making interceptions, participants were instructed to call "no" as soon as they perceived a ball to be uninterceptable. Using generalized linear modeling on the data, we found a handful of factors that best characterized the affordance of interceptability. As hypothesized, distance to be covered and ball flight time shaped the boundary between interceptable and uninterceptable balls. Surprisingly, the angle of approach of the ball also co-determined interceptability. Altogether, these variables characterized the actualized interceptability. Secondly, participants accurately perceived their own ability to intercept balls on over 75% of trials, thus supporting our hypothesis on perceived interceptability. Analyses revealed that participants considered this action boundary while making their perceptual judgments. Our results imply that the perceiving and actualizing of interceptability are characterized by a combination of the same set of variables.

Ecohydrological assessment of the water balance of the world's highest elevation tropical forest (Polylepis).

Polylepis trees grow at elevations above the continuous tree line (3000-5000 m a.s.l.) across the Andes. They tolerate extreme environmental conditions, making them sensitive bioindicators of global climate change. Therefore, investigating their ecohydrological role is key to understanding how the water cycle of Andean headwaters could be affected by predicted changes in environmental conditions, as well as ongoing Polylepis reforestation initiatives in the region. We estimate, for the first time, the annual water balance of a mature Polylepis forest (Polylepis reticulata) catchment (3780 m a.s.l.) located in the south Ecuadorian páramo using a unique set of field ecohydrological measurements including gross rainfall, throughfall, streamflow, and xylem sap flow in combination with the characterization of forest and soil features. We also compare the forest water balance with that of a tussock grass (Calamagrostis intermedia) catchment, the dominant páramo vegetation. Annual gross rainfall during the study period (April 2019-March 2020) was 1290.6 mm yr-1. Throughfall in the Polylepis forest represented 61.2 % of annual gross rainfall. Streamflow was the main component of the water balance of the forested site (59.6 %), while its change in soil water storage was negligible (<1 %). Forest evapotranspiration was 54.0 %, with evaporation from canopy interception (38.8 %) more than twice as high as transpiration (15.1 %). The error in the annual water balance of the Polylepis catchment was small (<15 %), providing confidence in the measurements and assumptions used to estimate its components. In comparison, streamflow and evapotranspiration at the grassland site accounted for 63.7 and 36.0 % of the water balance, respectively. Although evapotranspiration was larger in the forest catchment, its water yield was only marginally reduced (<4 %) in relation to the grassland catchment. The substantially higher soil organic matter content in the forest site (47.6 %) compared to the grassland site (31.8 %) suggests that even though Polylepis forests do not impair the hydrological function of high-Andean catchments, their presence contributes to carbon storage in the litter layer of the forest and the underlying soil. These findings provide key insights into the vegetation-water­carbon nexus in high Andean ecosystems, which can serve as a basis for future ecohydrological studies and improved management of páramo natural resources considering changes in land use and global climate.

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To provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the high-yield and high-efficiency production of wheat, we examined the effects of different tillage patterns on wheat grain yield of Jimai 22 and the physiological mechanisms in an experiment with three treatments: 14 years in rotary tillage (R), minimal and no tillage (S), and minimal and no tillage with a 2-year subsoiling interval (SS). We assessed the light interception by wheat plant canopy, the distribution of photosynthate transport, and grain yield for the three cultivation modes. The results showed that leaf area index was significantly higher for SS treatment than the other treatments at 14-28 days after anthesis. The interception rate and amount of photosynthetically active radiation in the upper and middle layers of wheat canopy were significantly higher for SS treatment than R and S treatments at 21 days after anthesis. The contribution rate of grain assimilation and the distribution proportion of 13C assimilated in grain, and the maximum and average filling rates, were the highest under SS treatment. The 1000-kernel weight for SS treatment increased by 8.7% and 9.6%, and the grain yield increased by 14.2% and 19.4% compared with R and S treatments, respectively. SS treatment significantly improved light energy utilization by wheat canopy, promoted the accumulation and transport of dry matter, increased the grain-filling rate, increased grain weight, which together contributed to the highest grain yield. Therefore, SS was the optimal tillage pattern under the conditions of this experiment.

Impact of lymph node retrieval on prognosis in elderly and non-elderly patients with T3-4/N+ rectal cancer following neoadjuvant therapy: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The optimal number of lymph nodes to be resected in patients with rectal cancer who undergo radical surgery after neoadjuvant therapy remains controversial. This study evaluated the prognostic variances between elderly and non-elderly patients and determined the ideal number of lymph nodes to be removed in these patients. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) datasets were used to gather information on 7894 patients diagnosed with stage T3-4/N+ rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant therapy from 2010 to 2019. Of these patients, 2787 were elderly and 5107 were non-elderly. A total of 152 patients from the Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University were used for external validation. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were evaluated to determine the optimal quantity of lymph nodes for surgical resection. RESULTS: The study found significant differences in OS and CSS between elderly and non-elderly patients, both before and after adjustment for confounders (P < 0.001). The removal of 14 lymph nodes may be considered a benchmark for patients with stage T3-4/N+ rectal cancer who undergo radical surgery following neoadjuvant therapy, as this number provides a more accurate foundation for the personalized treatment of rectal cancer. External data validated the differences in OS and CSS and supported the 14 lymph nodes as a new benchmark in these patients. CONCLUSION: For patients with T3-4/N+ stage rectal cancer who undergo radical surgery following neoadjuvant therapy, the removal of 14 lymph nodes serves as a cutoff point that distinctly separates patients with a favorable prognosis from those with an unfavorable one.

Effects of diffuse light on the gross ecosystem primary productivity of a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropland in northern China.

Diffuse light is produced by clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere. Exploring the effects of diffuse light on ecosystem productivity is important for understanding the terrestrial carbon (CO2) cycle. Here, 2 years of gross ecosystem primary productivity (GEP) from a (winter) wheat cropland in China was assessed using eddy covariance technology to explore the effects of diffuse photosynthetic active radiance (PAR) on wheat GEP. Wheat GEP increased significantly and positively along with diffuse PAR. In addition, wheat GEP was significantly affected by total PAR, air temperature, and vapor press deficit in different diffuse PAR fraction (fDIF) change stages. Because significant autocorrelations existed among the controlling factors, a path analysis was used to quantify the effects of diffuse light on GEP. Diffuse PAR was the primary and secondary importance factors affecting GEP with direct path coefficients of 0.54 and 0.48, respectively, in different fDIF change stages. A multilayer canopy model revealed that the middle and lower canopy levels intercepted more light when diffuse PAR increased. This resulted in the photosynthetic enhancement of middle and lower canopy levels, which contributed approximately 65% and 35%, respectively, to the increase in photosynthesis for the entire canopy (~ 30.5%). Overall, our study provided new evidence regarding the importance of diffuse light for CO2 uptake in agroecosystems, which is important for predicting the responses of ecosystem CO2 budgets to future climate-related light changes.

Highly weathered mineral soils have highest transfer risk of radiocaesium contamination after a nuclear accident: A global soil-plant study.

Accidental release of radiocaesium (137Cs) from nuclear power plants may result in long-term contamination of environmental and food production systems. Assessment of food chain contamination with 137Cs relies on 137Cs soil-to-plant transfer data and models mainly available for regions affected by the Chornobyl and Fukushima accidents. Similar data and models are lacking for other regions. Such information is needed given the global expansion of nuclear energy. We collected 38 soils worldwide of contrasting parent materials and weathering stages. The soils were spiked with 137Cs and sown with ryegrass in greenhouse conditions. The 137Cs grass-soil concentration ratio varied four orders of magnitude among soils. It was highest in Ferralsols due to the low 137Cs interception potential of kaolinite clay and the low exchangeable potassium in these soils. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the high plant uptake of 137Cs in tropical soils. The most recent 137Cs transfer model, mainly calibrated to temperate soils dominated by weathered micas, poorly predicts the underlying processes in tropical soils but, due to compensatory effect, still reasonably well predicts 137Cs bioavailability across all soils (R2 = 0.8 on a log-log scale).

Light competition drives species replacement during secondary tropical forest succession.

Light competition is thought to drive successional shifts in species dominance in closed vegetations, but few studies have assessed this for species-rich and vertically structured tropical forests. We analyzed how light competition drives species replacement during succession, and how cross-species variation in light competition strategies is determined by underlying species traits. To do so, we used chronosequence approach in which we compared 14 Mexican tropical secondary rainforest stands that differ in age (8-32 year-old). For each tree, height and stem diameter were monitored for 2 years to calculate relative biomass growth rate (RGR, the aboveground biomass gain per unit aboveground tree biomass per year). For each stand, 3D light profiles were measured to estimate individuals' light interception to calculate light interception efficiency (LIE, intercepted light per unit biomass per year) and light use efficiency (LUE, biomass growth per intercepted light). Throughout succession, species with higher RGR attained higher changes in species dominance and thus increased their dominance over time. Both light competition strategies (LIE and LUE) increased RGR. In early succession, a high LIE and its associated traits (large crown leaf mass and low wood density) are more important for RGR. During succession, forest structure builds up, leading to lower understory light levels. In later succession, a high LUE and its associated traits (high wood density and leaf mass per area) become more important for RGR. Therefore, successional changes in relative importance of light competition strategies drive shifts in species dominance during tropical rainforest succession.

Corrigendum: Sensor-based precision nutrient and irrigation management enhances the physiological performance, water productivity, and yield of soybean under system of crop intensification.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1282217.].

Treatment of psoriasis with different classes of biologics reduces the likelihood of peripheral and axial psoriatic arthritis development.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential role of biological treatment for psoriasis (PsO) in reducing the likelihood of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), through a detailed analysis that considered the different historical phases in the PsA management, the different biologics classes, and the different patterns of articular involvement. METHODS: A monocentric cohort of 1023 PsO patients underwent a rheumatologic assessment in which clinical and therapeutic data were recorded. Chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression analysis (adjusted for the main PsA risk factors) were performed to compare the likelihood of PsA development in different treatment groups. RESULTS: The PsA prevalence in PsO patients treated at least once with biologics was significantly lower than in patients never treated with biologics (8.9% vs 26.1%, p< 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a significantly (p< 0.01) lower likelihood of PsA development in biologic-treated patients was confirmed in the whole cohort (adjOR 0.228), as well as in the subgroups of patients with PsO onset after 2005 (adjOR 0.264) and after 2014 (adjOR 0.179). Separately analysing the different biologics classes, both the TNF (adjOR 0.206), IL-17 (adjOR 0.051) and IL-23 or 12/23 (adjOR 0.167) inhibitors were significantly (p< 0.01) associated with a lower likelihood of PsA development. Finally, patients treated with biologics had a significantly (p< 0.04) lower prevalence of both pure peripheral PsA (adjOR 0.182) and peripheral PsA with axial involvement (adjOR 0.115). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides meaningful and concordant evidence supporting the significant role of different classes of biologics in reducing the likelihood of peripheral and axial PsA development.

Challenges in IBD Research 2024: Preclinical Human IBD Mechanisms.

Preclinical human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mechanisms is one of 5 focus areas of the Challenges in IBD Research 2024 document, which also includes environmental triggers, novel technologies, precision medicine, and pragmatic clinical research. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of current gaps in inflammatory bowel diseases research that relate to preclinical research and deliver actionable approaches to address them with a focus on how these gaps can lead to advancements in IBD interception, remission, and restoration. The document is the result of multidisciplinary input from scientists, clinicians, patients, and funders and represents a valuable resource for patient-centric research prioritization. This preclinical human IBD mechanisms section identifies major research gaps whose investigation will elucidate pathways and mechanisms that can be targeted to address unmet medical needs in IBD. Research gaps were identified in the following areas: genetics, risk alleles, and epigenetics; the microbiome; cell states and interactions; barrier function; IBD complications (specifically fibrosis and stricturing); and extraintestinal manifestations. To address these gaps, we share specific opportunities for investigation for basic and translational scientists and identify priority actions.

To address the unmet medical needs of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and move toward cures, preclinical human-relevant research must center on mechanistic questions pertinent to patients with IBD in the 3 areas of disease interception, remission, and restoration.

Dynamic plant spacing in tomato results in high yields while mitigating the reduction in fruit quality associated with high planting densities.

High planting densities achieve high light interception and harvestable yield per area but at the expense of product quality. This study aimed to maintain high light interception without negative impacts on fruit quality. Dwarf tomato was grown at four densities in a climate-controlled room-at two constant densities (high and low) and two dynamic spacing treatments (maintaining 90% and 75% ground coverage by decreasing planting density in 3-4 steps)-resulting in ~100, 19, 54, and 41 plants/m2 averaged over 100 days of cultivation, respectively. Constant high density resulted in the highest light use efficiency (LUE; 7.7 g fruit fresh weight per mol photons incident on the canopy) and the highest harvestable fruit yield (11.1 kg/m2) but the lowest fruit size and quality. Constant low density resulted in the lowest LUE and yield (2.3 g/mol and 3.2 kg/m2, respectively), but higher fruit size and quality than high density. Compared to low density, maintaining 90% ground coverage increased yield (9.1 kg/m2) and LUE (6.4 g/mol). Maintaining 75% ground coverage resulted in a 7.2 kg/m2 yield and 5.1 g/mol LUE. Both dynamic spacing treatments attained the same or slightly reduced fruit quality compared to low density. Total plant weight per m2 increased with planting density and saturated at a constant high density. Assimilate shortage at the plant level and flower abortion lowered harvestable fruit yield per plant, sweetness, and acidity under constant high density. Harvestable fruit yield per plant was the highest under dynamic spacing and low density. Under constant high density, morphological responses to lower light availability per plant-i.e., higher specific leaf area, internode elongation, and increased slenderness-coincided with the improved whole-plant LUE (g plant dry weight per mol photons). We conclude that a constant high planting density results in the highest harvestable fruit yield per area, but with reduced fruit quality. Dynamic spacing during cultivation produces the same fruit quality as constant low density, but with more than double the harvestable yield per area.

Time-to-go based three-dimensional multi-missile spatio-temporal cooperative guidance law: A novel approach for maneuvering target interception.

This research presents a novel approach called 'Time-to-target-based multi-missile spatio-temporal cooperative guidance' This approach enables the simultaneous guidance of multiple missiles, allowing them to intercept a maneuvering target from different terminal intercept angles to maximize damage. The article introduces a finite-time optimal cooperative guidance technique to reduce the load on missile engines in the line-of-sight (LOS) direction. It proposes a time-varying sliding mode guidance scheme, which is parameterized by the remaining flight time, for both longitudinal and lateral LOS directions. The scheme helps prevent excessive initial acceleration in the longitudinal and lateral LOS directions while ensuring intercept angle constraints. The time-varying cooperative guidance law proposed in this study enables the simultaneous interception of a maneuvering target with different terminal intercept angles at the moment of terminal intercept. The numerical simulation results indicate that the multi-missile spatio-temporal cooperative guidance method is effective, superior, and robust. The method enables multiple missiles to achieve the minimum acceptable intercept distance at different terminal intercept angles while optimizing fuel in the LOS direction.

Benefits and Harms of Interception and Early Detection of Cancer.

Strategies for early detection and interception of cancer are based on 2 synergistic elements: proactive search for asymptomatic cancer, precancer, or cancer predisposition and proactive disruption of cancer evolution. Benefits and harms of both these elements will vary widely depending on the screened populations, the types of cancers targeted, the detection modalities, and the health care delivery approaches following diagnosis. This article attempts to identify common elements that can inform the evaluation of alternative strategies across many of these scenarios.

Environmental Controls on Evapotranspiration and Its Components in a Qinghai Spruce Forest in the Qilian Mountains.

Qinghai spruce forests, found in the Qilian mountains, are a typical type of water conservation forest and play an important role in regulating the regional water balance and quantifying the changes and controlling factors for evapotranspiration (ET) and its components, namely, transpiration (T), evaporation (Es) and canopy interceptions (Ei), of the Qinghai spruce, which may provide rich information for improving water resource management. In this study, we partitioned ET based on the assumption that total ET equals the sum of T, Es and Ei, and then we analyzed the environmental controls on ET, T and Es. The results show that, during the main growing seasons of the Qinghai spruce (from May to September) in the Qilian mountains, the total ET values were 353.7 and 325.1 mm in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The monthly dynamics in the daily variations in T/ET and Es/ET showed that T/ET increased until July and gradually decreased afterwards, while Es/ET showed opposite trends and was mainly controlled by the amount of precipitation. Among all the ET components, T always occupied the largest part, while the contribution of Es to ET was minimal. Meanwhile, Ei must be considered when partitioning ET, as it accounts for a certain percentage (greater than one-third) of the total ET values. Combining Pearson's correlation analysis and the boosted regression trees method, we concluded that net radiation (Rn), soil temperature (Ts) and soil water content (SWC) were the main controlling factors for ET. T was mainly determined by the radiation and soil hydrothermic factors (Rn, photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and TS30), while Es was mostly controlled by the vapor pressure deficit (VPD), atmospheric precipitation (Pa), throughfall (Pt) and air temperature (Ta). Our study may provide further theoretical support to improve our understanding of the responses of ET and its components to surrounding environments.

The 37TrillionCells initiative for improving global healthcare via cell-based interception and precision medicine: focus on neurodegenerative diseases.

One of the main burdens in the treatment of diseases is imputable to the delay between the appearance of molecular dysfunctions in the first affected disease cells and their presence in sufficient number for detection in specific tissues or organs. This delay obviously plays in favor of disease progression to an extent that makes efficient treatments difficult, as they arrive too late. The development of a novel medical strategy, termed cell-based interception and precision medicine, seeks to identify dysfunctional cells early, when tissue damages are not apparent and symptoms not yet present, and develop therapies to treat diseases early. Central to this strategy is the use of single-cell technologies that allow detection of molecular changes in cells at the time of phenotypical bifurcation from health to disease. In this article we describe a general procedure to support such an approach applied to neurodegenerative disorders. This procedure combines four components directed towards highly complementary objectives: 1) a high-performance single-cell proteomics (SCP) method (Detect), 2) the development of disease experimental cell models and predictive computational models of cell trajectories (Understand), 3) the discovery of specific targets and personalized therapies (Cure), and 4) the creation of a community of collaborating laboratories to accelerate the development of this novel medical paradigm (Collaborate). A global initiative named 37TrillionCells (37TC) was launched to advance the development of cell-based interception and precision medicine.

Higher Seed Rates Enlarge Effects of Wide-Belt Sowing on Canopy Radiation Capture, Distribution, and Use Efficiency in Winter Wheat.

The optimized winter wheat sowing method comprising wide-belt sowing (WBS) can improve the ears number and biomass to increase the grain yield, compared with conventional narrow-drill sowing (NDS). The seed rate and the interaction between the sowing method and seed rate also affect yield formation. However, the effects of the sowing method and seed rate, as well as their interaction on biomass production, particularly the interception of solar radiation (ISR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE), are unclear. A field experiment was conducted for two seasons in southern Shanxi province, China, using a split-plot design with sowing method as the main plot (WBS and NDS) and seed rate as the sub-plot (100-700 m-2). Our results showed that while WBS had a significant and positive effect, increasing the yield by 4.7-15.4%, the mechanism differed between seed rates. Yield increase by WBS was mainly attributed to the increase in total biomass resulting from both the promoted pre- and post-anthesis biomass production, except that only the increase in post-anthesis biomass mattered at the lowest seed rate (100 m-2). The higher biomass was attributed to the increased ISR before anthesis. After anthesis, the increased ISR contributed mainly to the increased biomass at low seed rates (100 and 200 m-2). In contrast, the increased RUE, resulting from the enhanced radiation distribution within canopy and LAI, contributed to the higher post-anthesis biomass at medium and high seed rates (400 to 700 m-2). The greatest increases in total biomass, pre-anthesis ISR, and post-anthesis RUE by WBS were all achieved at 500 seed m-2, thereby obtaining the highest yield. In summary, WBS enhanced grain yield by increasing ISR before anthesis and improving RUE after anthesis, and adopting relatively higher seed rates (400-500 m-2) was necessary for maximizing the positive effect of WBS, and thus the higher wheat yield.