PDF gene family in four Cucurbitaceae species: genome-wide identification, classification and expression in response to biotic stress.

Background: Plant defensins (PDF) represent a crucial superfamily of innate immune proteins that exhibit antifungal and antibacterial activities, significantly contributing to biotic stress. Despite being significant horticultural and economic crops, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of Cucurbitaceae plant defensin genes (CuPDF) remains unreported.

Results: In this study, 19 CuPDF family members homologous to Arabidopsis PDF were predicted in four Cucurbitaceae and validated based on the presence of conserved PDF-related domains.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid impairs spermatogenesis via the liver-gut microbiota-testis axis: a central role of chenodeoxycholic acid metabolism.

Introduction: Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as a global contaminant is ubiquitously presented in the environmental media and human body. The association between PFOS exposure and reduced male fertility has been recently discovered. However, the relevant mechanism remains unexplored.

User preference modeling for movie recommendations based on deep learning.

Current movie recommendation systems often struggle to capture complex user preferences and dynamics, primarily relying on content-based or collaborative filtering techniques. This research introduces a novel deep learning-powered method to enhance movie recommendation models, addressing the limitations of existing systems. By analyzing user behavior records and utilizing movie content elements, our method guarantees the greatest degree of customisation.

A study on factors influencing digital sports participation among Chinese secondary school students based on explainable machine learning.

This study utilized data from 4,925 Hong Kong students in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to investigate factors influencing secondary school students' use of digital devices for sports participation and their threshold effects. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in 16 variables including gender. Multilevel logistic regression identified five significant influencing factors (p < 0.

MXene-Reinforced Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Protective Layer Enables Dendrite-Free and Ultra-Durable Zinc Metal Anodes.

Zn metal is considered a promising anode for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to its high capacity and cost-effectiveness. However, dendrite growth, corrosion, and hydrogen evolution occurring on the Zn surface pose significant challenges to achieving stable and reliable AZIBs. Herein, a robust organic-inorganic protective layer, comprising organic zinc alginate (ZA) and inorganic TiCT MXene, is fabricated on the Zn anode surface via a simple blade-coating approach.

Zn and Cl Coregulated MXene Catalyst Enhances Li-CO Battery Reversibility.

MXenes are promising cathodes for Li-CO batteries owing to their high electrical conductivity and efficient CO activation function. However, the effects of adsorption and electronic structures of MXene on the full life cycle of Li-CO batteries have been rarely investigated. Here, we employ a coregulation approach to enhance the adsorption-decomposition of lithium carbonate (LiCO) by introducing Zn and Cl surface groups onto the TiC MXene (Zn-TiCCl) catalyst.

Cytokinin-related genes regulate cucumber fruit pedicel length.

Pedicel length is a crucial agronomic trait of cucumbers. Fruit deformation can occur When the pedicel is too long or too short. Moreover, an appropriate pedicel length is advantageous for mechanized harvesting.

Perturbation of IP3R-dependent endoplasmic reticulum calcium homeostasis by PPARδ-activated metabolic stress leads to mouse spermatocyte apoptosis: A direct mechanism for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid-induced spermatogenic disorders.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as an archetypal representative of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is ubiquitously distributed in the environment and extensively detected in human bodies. Although accumulating evidence is suggestive of the deleterious effects of PFOS on male reproduction, the direct toxicity of PFOS towards spermatogenic cells and the relevant mechanisms remain poorly understood. The aims of the present study were to explore the direct effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of PFOS on spermatogenesis.

TERT transcription and translocation into mitochondria regulate benzo[a]pyrene/BPDE-induced senescence and mitochondrial damage in mouse spermatocytes.

Telomere and mitochondria may be the targets of Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) -induced male reproductive damage, and further elucidation of the toxic molecular mechanisms is necessary. In this study, we used in vivo and in vitro exposure models to explore the molecular mechanisms of TERT regulation in BaP-induced telomere and mitochondrial damage in spermatocytes. The results showed that the treatment of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), the active metabolite of BaP, caused telomere dysfunction in mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cells, resulting in S-phase arrest and increased senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP).

PPARα/ACOX1 as a novel target for hepatic lipid metabolism disorders induced by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: An integrated approach.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and ubiquitous environmental contaminants with well-documented hepatotoxicity. However, the mechanistic linkage between PFAS exposure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains largely elusive.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore PFAS-to-NAFLD link and the relevant molecular mechanisms.

Sperm telomere length is associated with sperm nuclear DNA integrity and mitochondrial DNA abnormalities among healthy male college students in Chongqing, China.

Study Question: Is sperm telomere length (STL) associated with sperm nuclear DNA damage and mitochondrial DNA abnormalities?

Summary Answer: Sperm telomere length is related to sperm nuclear DNA integrity and mitochondrial DNA abnormalities in healthy young college students.

What Is Known Already: Many studies have revealed the correlations between sperm genetic alterations in both the nucleus and mitochondria and sperm functionality, however, the possible associations between the telomere, an important component of chromosome, and conventional indicators of mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA changes have not been investigated.

Study Design, Size, Duration: A prospective cohort study, Male Reproductive Health in Chongqing College Students (MARHCS), was conducted from June 2013 to June 2015.

regulates fruit shape via mediating cell division direction and cell expansion in cucumber.

Fruit shape and size are important appearance and yield traits in cucumber, but the underlying genes and their regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we identified a mutant with spherical fruits from an Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized library, named the mutant. Compared with the cylindrical fruit shape in 32X (wild type), the fruit shape in was round due to reduced fruit length and increased fruit diameter.

A recessive gene Cmpmr2F confers powdery mildew resistance in melon (Cucumis melo L.).

Identified a recessive gene (Cmpmr2F) associated with resistance to infection by the powdery mildew causing agent Podosphaera xanthii race 2F. Powdery mildew (PM) is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of melon, which significantly reduces the crop yield and quality. Multiple studies are being performed for in-depth genetic understandings of PM-susceptibility or -resistance mechanisms in melon plants, but the holistic knowledge of the precise genetic basis of PM-resistance is unexplored.

Benzo[a]pyrene inhibits testosterone biosynthesis via NDUFA10-mediated mitochondrial compromise in mouse Leydig cells: Integrating experimental and in silico toxicological approaches.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a representative of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is ubiquitously spread in the environment and showing deleterious impacts on male steroidogenesis, including testosterone synthesis disorder. However, the precise mechanisms involved in B[a]P-induced steroidogenesis perturbation remains obscure. In the present study, we integrated in vivo tests, transcriptome profiling, in vitro assays, and conjoint in silico toxicological approaches to delineate the detailed mechanisms.

Natural Polysaccharide Strengthened Hydrogel Electrolyte and Biopolymer Derived Carbon for Durable Aqueous Zinc Ion Storage.

Aqueous zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs) represent one of the current research subjects because of their flame retardancy, ease of manufacturing, and exceptional roundtrip efficiency. With the evolution into real useful energy storage cells, the bottleneck factors of the corrosion and dendrite growth problems must be properly resolved for largely boosting their cycling life and energy efficiency. Herein, a natural polysaccharide strengthened hydrogel electrolyte (denoted as PAAm/agar/Zn(CFSO)) was engineered by designing an asymmetric dual network of covalently cross-linked polyacrylamide (denoted as PAAm) and physically cross-linked loose polysaccharide (e.

Analysis by transcriptomics and metabolomics for the proliferation inhibition and dysfunction through redox imbalance-mediated DNA damage response and ferroptosis in male reproduction of mice and TM4 Sertoli cells exposed to PM.

Sertoli cells play a pivotal role in the complex spermatogenesis process. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PM on Sertoli cells using the TM4 cell line and a real time whole-body PM exposure mouse model, and further explore the underlying mechanisms through the application of metabolomics and transcriptomics. The results in vivo and in vitro showed that PM reduced Sertoli cells number in seminiferous tubules and inhibited cell proliferation.

Color-changing fluorescent DNA probe containing solvatochromic Dansyl-nucleoside surrogate for sensing local variation of DNA duplex.

A novel Dansyl-nucleoside surrogate (Dns) based on (±)-trans-4-(hydroxymethyl) piperidin-3-ol was designed and synthesized. The Dns exhibited excellent solvatochromic properties. About 90 nm of red-shift accompanied color change from green to orange could be achieved with an increase of solvent polarity.

CmPMRl and CmPMrs are responsible for resistance to powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera xanthii race 1 in Melon.

Two genes for resistance to Podosphaera xanthii race 1 in melon were identified on chromosomes 10 and 12 of the Cucumis melo cultivar MR-1. Cucumis melo L. is an economically important crop, the production of which is threatened by the prevalence of melon powdery mildew (PM) infections.

A safe and robust dual-network hydrogel electrolyte coupled with multi-heteroatom doped carbon nanosheets for flexible quasi-solid-state zinc ion hybrid supercapacitors.

Aqueous zinc ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs) are receiving increasing research interest because of their superiority in safety, economy, and high water compatibility. However, the corrosion problems coupled with dendrite growth in an aqueous system severely limit the potential use of zinc storage systems with long service life. To delicately address the above obstacles, a κ-carrageenan/polyacrylamide/Zn(CFSO) hydrogel electrolyte (denoted as κ-CG/PAAm/Zn(CFSO)) with an ionically and covalently double crosslinked network was constructed, which possesses a high ionic conductivity of 2.

Phosphate-modified Co-Ni phosphide heterostructure formed by interfacial and electronic tuning for boosted faradaic properties.

Rational structural and compositional modulation endows electrode materials with unique physicochemical characteristics due to their adjustable electronic properties. Herein, a phosphate-modified hierarchical nanoarray consisting of a heterojunction with a well-aligned cobalt phosphide nanowire core and nickel phosphide nanosheet shell on flexible carbon cloth (denoted as CoP@NiP-CC) is engineered. The phosphate-modulated heterogeneous phosphide with a tuned electronic structure, additional heterojunction interfaces, and high degree of covalency in the chemical bonds accelerates the reaction kinetics and enhances the energy storage performance.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of the (Jacq.) Swartz. (Cucurbitaceae).

(Jacq.) Swartz is an important vegetable with both food and medicinal values. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of has been reported in this study.

Complete sequence of mitochondrial genome of L.

L. is one of the most important fruit-type vegetables in the world. This genome is divided into a main loop and two small loops.

Comparative analysis of nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genomes of watermelon and melon provides evidence of gene transfer.

During plant evolution, there is genetic communication between organelle and nuclear genomes. A comparative analysis was performed on the organelle and nuclear genomes of the watermelon and melon. In the watermelon, chloroplast-derived sequences accounted for 7.