A rapid removal of Phaeocystis globosa from seawater by peroxymonosulfate enhanced cellulose nanocrystals coagulation

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are recognized as promising bio-based flocculants for controlling harmful algal blooms (HABs). Due to the charge shielding effect in seawater and the strong mobility of algae cells, CNC can't effectively remove Phaeocystis globosa from seawater. To solve this problem, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was used to enhance the coagulation of CNC for rapidly removal of P. globosa. The results showed that 91.7% of Chl-a, 95.2% of OD680, and 97.2% of turbidity of P. globosa were reduced within 3 h with the use of 200 mg L-1 of CNC and 20 mg L-1 of PMS. The removal of P. globosa was consisted of inactivation and flocculation. Notably, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrums and quenching experiments revealed that the inactivation of P. globosa was dominated by PMS oxidation and 1O2. Subsequently, CNC entrained inactivated algal cells to settle to the bottom to achieve efficient removal of P. globosa. The content of total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) decreased significantly, indicating that a low emission risk of algal cell effluent was produced in the CNC-PMS system. In view of the excellent performance on P. globosa removal, we believe that the CNC-PMS system has great potential for HABs treatments.

Nanocellulose-based hydrogels for drug delivery

Hydrogels, as a class of three-dimensional (3D) polymer networks, are important candidates for drug delivery owing to their high porosity and hydrophilicity. Generally, clinical applications put forward various requirements for drug delivery systems (DDSs), such as low toxic side effects, high biocompatibility, targeting, controllable release, and high drug loading. In recent years, nanocellulose, including cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), has emerged as a promising material for hydrogel-based DDSs. This is due to its high surface area, abundant surface hydroxyl groups that can be easily chemically modified for multifunctionalization, natural origin leading to high biocompatibility and degradability, etc. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the preparation methods for hydrogels based on CNCs/CNFs for use in drug delivery systems, including physical crosslinking and chemical crosslinking. Additionally, various carrier forms such as hydrogel particles, hydrogel films, injectable hydrogels, and sprayable hydrogels are discussed. Key drug delivery parameters including loading and release efficiency as well as responses to different stimuli are also examined in detail. Finally, in view of the subdivision of drug delivery, the opportunities and challenges of nano cellulose based hydrogels were proposed from the perspective of application, and the potential research directions were pointed out.

MG1 interacts with a protease inhibitor and confers resistance to rice root-knot nematode

The rice root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) is one of the most destructive pests threatening rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in Asia; however, no rice resistance genes have been cloned. Here, we demonstrate that M. GRAMINICOLA-RESISTANCE GENE 1 (MG1), an R gene highly expressed at the site of nematode invasion, determines resistance against the nematode in several rice varieties. Introgressing MG1 into susceptible varieties increases resistance comparable to resistant varieties, for which the leucine-rich repeat domain is critical for recognizing root-knot nematode invasion. We also report transcriptome and cytological changes that are correlated with a rapid and robust response during the incompatible interaction that occurs in resistant rice upon nematode invasion. Furthermore, we identified a putative protease inhibitor that directly interacts with MG1 during MG1-mediated resistance. Our findings provide insight into the molecular basis of nematode resistance as well as valuable resources for developing rice varieties with improved nematode resistance.

Genome editing of a rice CDP-DAG synthase confers multipathogen resistance

The discovery and application of genome editing introduced a new era of plant breeding by giving researchers efficient tools for the precise engineering of crop genomes1. Here we demonstrate the power of genome editing for engineering broad-spectrum disease resistance in rice (Oryza sativa). We first isolated a lesion mimic mutant (LMM) from a mutagenized rice population. We then demonstrated that a 29-base-pair deletion in a gene we named RESISTANCE TO BLAST1 (RBL1) caused broad-spectrum disease resistance and showed that this mutation caused an approximately 20-fold reduction in yield. RBL1 encodes a cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol synthase that is required for phospholipid biosynthesis2. Mutation of RBL1 results in reduced levels of phosphatidylinositol and its derivative phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2). In rice, PtdIns(4,5)P2 is enriched in cellular structures that are specifically associated with effector secretion and fungal infection, suggesting that it has a role as a disease-susceptibility factor3. By using targeted genome editing, we obtained an allele of RBL1, named RBL1Δ12, which confers broad-spectrum disease resistance but does not decrease yield in a model rice variety, as assessed in small-scale field trials. Our study has demonstrated the benefits of editing an LMM gene, a strategy relevant to diverse LMM genes and crops.

Spray-Drying Hydrophobic Cellulose Nanocrystal Coatings with Degradable Biocide Release for Marine Antifouling

With increasing awareness about the ecological environment, increased attention has been paid to the application of eco-friendly materials in the field of marine antifouling. In this work, a novel coating having good mechanical strength and static marine antifouling characteristics was fabricated using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as the skeleton material, with in situ growth of SiO₂ as the basic superhydrophobic material and introducing hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and 4-bromo2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile (Econea) into the coating. Due to the high strength and rod structure of CNCs, the coating maintained super-hydrophobicity after 50 cycles of abrasion tests. Moreover, the addition of CTAB during the synthesis of SiO₂ led to the hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate at the micellar interface. Econea was fully mixed with SiO₂ nanoparticles, thus slowing down the rate of release of Econea. Meanwhile, the adhesion between the coating and the substrate reached 1.9 MPa, which can meet the application requirements for marine environments. The bioassay using bacteria (Escherichia coli) and diatoms (Nitzschia closterium) showed that the rate of inhibition of the coating on bacteria and diatoms could reach 99 and 90%, respectively, after immersion in artificial seawater for 28 days. This research provides a facile and promising fabricating solution of an eco-friendly CNC-based coating having strong antifouling characteristics suitable for marine environments.

Evaluating the effect of phenolic compounds as hydrogen acceptors when ruminal methanogenesis is inhibited in vitro – Part 2. Dairy goats

Most mitigation strategies to reduce enteric methane (CH₄) production in the rumen induce an excess of rumen dihydrogen (H₂) that is expelled and consequently not redirected to the synthesis of metabolites that can be utilised by the ruminant. We hypothesised that phenolic compounds can be potential H₂ acceptors when added to the diet, as they can be degraded to compounds that may be beneficial for the animal, using part of the H₂ available when ruminal methanogenesis is inhibited. We performed four in vitro incubation experiments using rumen inoculum from Murciano-Granadina adult goats: Experiment 1 examined the inhibitory potential of Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT) at different concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% of the substrate on a DM basis) in 24 h incubations; Experiment 2 investigated the effect of a wide range of phenolic compounds (phenol, catechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone, pyrogallol, phloroglucinol, gallic acid and formic acid) at different doses (0, 2, 4, and 6 mM) on rumen fermentation for 24 h; Experiment 3 evaluated the combined effect of each phenolic compound at 6 mM with AT at 2% DM in sequential batch cultures for 5 days; and Experiment 4 examined the dose-response effect of phloroglucinol at different concentrations (0, 6, 16, 26 and 36 mM) combined with AT in sequential batch cultures for 5 days. Results from Experiment 1 confirmed that AT at 2% DM substantially inhibited CH₄ production while significantly increasing H₂ accumulation and decreasing the acetate:propionate ratio. Results from Experiment 2 showed that phenolic compounds did not negatively affect rumen fermentation at any dose. In Experiment 3, each phenolic compound at 6 mM combined with AT at 2% DM inhibited CH₄ production. Phloroglucinol numerically decreased H₂ accumulation and significantly increased total gas production (TGP), volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and the acetate:propionate ratio. In Experiment 4, phloroglucinol at increasing doses supplemented with AT at 2% DM significantly decreased H₂ accumulation and the abundances of archaea, protozoa and fungi abundances, and increased TGP, total VFA production and the acetate:propionate ratio in a dose-dependent way. In conclusion, combined treatment with AT and phloroglucinol was successful to mitigate CH₄ production while preventing the accumulation of H₂, leading to an increase in acetate and total VFA production and therefore an improvement in rumen fermentation in goats.

Evaluating the effect of phenolic compounds as hydrogen acceptors when ruminal methanogenesis is inhibited in vitro – Part 1. Dairy cows

Some antimethanogenic feed additives for ruminants promote rumen dihydrogen (H₂) accumulation potentially affecting the optimal fermentation of diets. We hypothesised that combining an H₂ acceptor with a methanogenesis inhibitor can decrease rumen H₂ build-up and improve the production of metabolites that can be useful for the host ruminant. We performed three in vitro incubation experiments using rumen fluid from lactating Holstein cows: Experiment 1 examined the effect of phenolic compounds (phenol, catechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone, pyrogallol, phloroglucinol, and gallic acid) at 0, 2, 4, and 6 mM on ruminal fermentation for 24 h; Experiment 2 examined the combined effect of each phenolic compound from Experiment 1 at 6 mM with two different methanogenesis inhibitors (Asparagopsis taxiformis or 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES)) for 24 h incubation; Experiment 3 examined the effect of a selected phenolic compound, phloroglucinol, with or without BES over a longer term using sequential incubations for seven days. Results from Experiment 1 showed that phenolic compounds, independently of the dose, did not negatively affect rumen fermentation, whereas results from Experiment 2 showed that phenolic compounds did not decrease H₂ accumulation or modify CH₄ production when methanogenesis was decreased by up to 75% by inhibitors. In Experiment 3, after three sequential incubations, phloroglucinol combined with BES decreased H₂ accumulation by 72% and further inhibited CH₄ production, compared to BES alone. Interestingly, supplementation with phloroglucinol (alone or in combination with the CH₄ inhibitor) decreased CH₄ production by 99% and the abundance of methanogenic archaea, with just a nominal increase in H₂ accumulation. Supplementation of phloroglucinol also increased total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetate, butyrate, and total gas production, and decreased ammonia concentration. This study indicates that some phenolic compounds, particularly phloroglucinol, which are naturally found in plants, could improve VFA production, decrease H₂ accumulation and synergistically decrease CH₄ production in the presence of antimethanogenic compounds.

Single-cell profiling of the microenvironment in decidual tissue from women with missed abortions

OBJECTIVE

To define the decidual microenvironment in euploid and aneuploid missed abortions and elective termination of pregnancies.

DESIGN

Prospective, multicenter, observational study.

SETTING

Tertiary hospital and descriptive analysis of transcriptomic data.

PATIENT(S)

A total of 34 patients experienced abortions, including 6 women who underwent elective terminations of pregnancy of unplanned pregnancies and 28 cases with missed abortions. All patients underwent their operations from Sep, 2021 to Sep, 2022.

INTERVENTION(S)

All women underwent villous copy number variation sequencing. Meanwhile, single-cell RNA sequencing were performed in the decidual tissues of 16 women, and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed in the decidual tissues of 18 women.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to explore the changes in the microenvironment of decidual tissues in abortions.

RESULT(S)

Single-cell RNA sequencing indicated that the microenvironment of the decidual tissue of the missed-abortion group was altered, and that the stromal cells (SCs), natural killer cells, macrophages, and epithelial cells all reflected functional imbalances compared with the elective terminations of pregnancy group. We also noted a correlation between the proportion of senescent SCs and chromosomal abnormalities in missed-abortion embryos. The proportion of senescent decidual SCs in the decidual tissue of missed-abortion patients with common chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus was higher, and this was not conducive to fetal growth and was closely related to missed abortion. In addition, we ascertained that the strength of the HLA-KIR interaction between NK1 and NK2 subsets and non-senescent stromal cell subsets in the missed abortion decidual tissues was weakened, potentially playing a role in the occurrence of missed abortion.

CONCLUSION(S)

The decidualization of SCs in the missed-abortion decidual tissues was impaired, the clearance of senescent SCs by NK cells was weakened, the killing toxicity of non-senescent SCs was enhanced, macrophages were insufficiently resident at the maternal-fetal interface, and epithelial cell differentiation was unbalanced-all creating a maternal microenvironment that was not conducive to fetal growth. We posit that interfering with the expression of dysregulated genes in the missed-abortion decidual tissues and reversing the maternal microenvironment might constitute an effective means toward improving the clinical outcome of missed abortions. Intriguingly, we observed a correlation between stromal cell senescence and embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. Thus, we hypothesize that the DIO2 marker of senescent SCs can be used as a risk indicator for the occurrence of missed miscarriages with chromosomal abnormalities of the embryos, and that it can be applied to guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment of recurrent abortion.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04425317.

Anisotropic cellulose nanocrystalline sponge sheets with ultrahigh water fluxes and oil/water selectivity

Oily sewage caused by oil spill accidents has become a severe problem in the last decades. Hence, two-dimensional sheet-like filter materials for oil/water separation have received widespread attention. Porous sponge materials were developed using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as raw materials. They are environmentally friendly and easy to prepare, with high flux and separation efficiency. The 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid cross-linked anisotropic cellulose nanocrystalline sponge sheet (B-CNC) exhibited ultrahigh water fluxes driven by gravity alone, depending on the aligned structure of channels and the rigidity of CNCs. Meanwhile, the sponge gained superhydrophilic/underwater superhydrophobic wettability with an underwater oil contact angle of up to 165.7° due to its ordered micro/nanoscale structure. B-CNC sheets displayed high oil/water selectivity without additional material doping or chemical modification. For oil/water mixtures, high separation fluxes of approximately 100,000 L·m^-2·h^-1 and separation efficiencies of up to 99.99 % were obtained. For a Tween 80-stabilized toluene-in-water emulsion, the flux reached >50,000 L·m^-2·h^-1, and the separation efficiency was above 99.7 %. B-CNC sponge sheets showed significantly higher fluxes and separation efficiencies than other bio-based two-dimensional materials. This research provides a facile and straightforward fabrication method of environmental-friendly B-CNC sponges for rapid, selective oil/water separation.

[Exploring the treatment of sepsis-associated acute lung injury with Liangge Powder via ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT pathways: based on network pharmacology and whole animal experimentation]

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Liangge Powder against sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) . Methods: From April to December 2021, the key components of Liangge Powder and its targets against sepsis-induced ALI were analyzed by network pharmacology, and to enrich for relevant signaling pathways. A total of 90 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to sham-operated group, sepsis-induced ALI model group (model group), Liangge Powder low, medium and high dose group, ten rats in the sham-operated group and 20 rats in each of the remaining four groups. Sepsis-induced ALI model was established by cecal ligation and puncture. Sham-operated group: gavage with 2 ml saline and no surgical treatment. Model group: surgery was performed and 2 ml saline was gavaged. Liangge Powder low, medium and high dose groups: surgery and gavage of Liangge Powder 3.9, 7.8 and 15.6 g/kg, respectively. To measure the wet/dry mass ratio of rats lung tissue and evaluate the permeability of alveolar capillary barrier. Lung tissue were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histomorphological analysis. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL) -6 and IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relative protein expression levels of p-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), p-protein kinase B (AKT), and p-ertracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) were detected via Western blot analysis. Results: Network pharmacology analysis indicated that 177 active compounds of Liangge Powder were selected. A total of 88 potential targets of Liangge Powder on sepsis-induced ALI were identified. 354 GO terms of Liangge Powder on sepsis-induced ALI and 108 pathways were identified using GO and KEGG analysis. PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was recognized to play an important role for Liangge Powder against sepsis-induced ALI. Compared with the sham-operated group, the lung tissue wet/dry weight ratio of rats in the model group (6.35±0.95) was increased (P<0.001). HE staining showed the destruction of normal structure of lung tissue. The levels of IL-6 [ (392.36±66.83) pg/ml], IL-1β [ (137.11±26.83) pg/ml] and TNF-α [ (238.34±59.36) pg/ml] were increased in the BALF (P<0.001, =0.001, <0.001), and the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-ERK1/2 proteins (1.04±0.15, 0.51±0.04, 2.31±0.41) were increased in lung tissue (P=0.002, 0.003, 0.005). The lung histopathological changes were reduced in each dose group of Liangge Powder compared with the model group. Compared with the model group, the wet/dry weight ratio of lung tissue (4.29±1.26) was reduced in the Liangge Powder medium dose group (P=0.019). TNF-α level [ (147.85±39.05) pg/ml] was reduced (P=0.022), and the relative protein expression levels of p-PI3K (0.37±0.18) and p-ERK1/2 (1.36±0.07) were reduced (P=0.008, 0.017). The wet/dry weight ratio of lung tissue (4.16±0.66) was reduced in the high-dose group (P=0.003). Levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α[ (187.98±53.28) pg/ml, (92.45±25.39) pg/ml, (129.77±55.94) pg/ml] were reduced (P=0.001, 0.027, 0.018), and relative protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-ERK1/2 (0.65±0.05, 0.31±0.08, 1.30±0.12) were reduced (P=0.013, 0.018, 0.015) . Conclusion: Liangge Powder has therapeutic effects in rats with sepsis-induced ALI, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT pathway activation in lung tissue.

Efficient removal of Phaeocystis globosa from seawater with the persulfate activation by arbutin-modified cellulose nanocrystals

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) from seawater have a severe threat to human health, aquaculture, and coastal nuclear power safety. Thus, it is highly desirable to explore environmentally friendly, efficient, and economic methods for controlling HABs. Herein, the arbutin-modified cellulose nanocrystals (AT-CNC) activated persulfate (PS), as a novel heterogeneous Fenton-like process, was proposed to remove Phaeocystis globosa (P. globosa) from seawater. The AT-CNC was synthesized via the surface modification of AT on CNC. The effects of AT dosage, CNC dosage, and PS dosage on the removal performance of P. globosa were investigated. With the addition of 530 mg/L AT-CNC (6 wt% AT/CNC of AT loading) and 120 mg/L PS, the removal percentage of chlorophyll a (R_c), optical density at 680 nm (R_o) and turbidity (R_t) reached 97.7%, 91.9% and 85.2% at 24 h. According to electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra and radical quenching tests, the predominant free radicals inactivating P. globosa were hydroxyl radicals (^•OH). Additionally, the flocculation of the inactivated algae cells by AT-CNC was also critical for removing P. globosa. Moreover, a positive environmental impact was achieved in the AT-CNC-PS system due to the reduction of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon contents. Based on the excellent removal performance for P. globosa, we believe that the AT-CNC activated persulfate is a promising option for HABs control.

Back-to-Back Comparison of Third-Generation Sequencing and Next-Generation Sequencing in Carrier Screening of Thalassemia

CONTEXT.—

Recently, new technologies, such as next-generation sequencing and third-generation sequencing, have been used in carrier screening of thalassemia. However, there is no direct comparison between the 2 methods in carrier screening of thalassemia.

OBJECTIVE.—

To compare the clinical performance of third-generation sequencing with next-generation sequencing in carrier screening of thalassemia.

DESIGN.—

Next-generation sequencing and third-generation sequencing were simultaneously conducted for 1122 individuals in Hainan Province.

RESULTS.—

Among 1122 genetic results, 1105 (98.48%) were concordant and 17 (1.52%) were discordant between the 2 methods. Among the 17 discordant results, 4 were common thalassemia variants, 9 were rare thalassemia variants, and 4 were variations with unknown pathogenicity. Sanger sequencing and polymerase chain reaction for discordant samples confirmed all the results of third-generation sequencing. Among the 685 individuals with common and rare thalassemia variants detected by third-generation sequencing, 512 (74.74%) were carriers of α-thalassemia, 110 (16.06%) were carriers of β-thalassemia, and 63 (9.20%) had coinheritance of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia. Three thalassemia variants were reported for the first time in Hainan Province, including -THAI, -α2.4, and ααααanti3.7. Eleven variants with potential pathogenicity were identified in 36 patients with positive hemoglobin test results. Among 52 individuals with negative hemoglobin test results, 17 were identified with thalassemia variants. In total, third-generation sequencing and next-generation sequencing correctly detected 763 and 746 individuals with variants, respectively. Third-generation sequencing yielded a 2.28% (17 of 746) increment compared with next-generation sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS.—

Third-generation sequencing was demonstrated to be a more accurate and reliable approach in carrier screening of thalassemia compared with next-generation sequencing.

[Role of preoperative ultrasound-guided inferior parathyroid gland localization and new classification to assist intraoperative search and protection of parathyroid glands]

Objective: To investigate the role and significance of ultrasound-guided inferior parathyroid gland (IPTG) localization in searching and protecting parathyroid glands before thyroid surgery. Methods: A randomized controlled trial study was conducted. A total of 306 patients (433 cases of lateral parathyroidectomy) who underwent primary thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection in Beijing Tongren Hosipital from March to October 2021 were enrolled. In order to locate IPTG more quickly and effectively, new IPTG classification and the definition of quadrant position were carried out. The patients were divided into the study group (n=228) and the control group (n=205). The study group underwent ultrasound-guided IPTG examination before operation and measured the distance between the IPTG and the lower pole of the thyroid and the midline of the trachea. During the operation, the IPTG was found and protected depending on the localization. The control group did not use any auxiliary preoperative positioning method. The distribution ratio of IPTG and the coincidence rate between intraoperative validation and ultrasound localization were calculated. Results: There were 306 patients enrolled in the final analysis (95 males and 211 females), with a median age of 41 years old (18-70). Type Ⅱ and Ⅲ IPTG accounted for 77.2% (176/228) of the total cases. The total coincidence rate ranged from 72.8% to 79.4% in different IPTG groups. Type Ⅲ and quadrant 2 IPTG had the highest coincidence rate [92.4% (73/79) and 92.9% (79/85), respectively]. The study group had better in situ retention rate [82.0% (187/228) vs 73.2% (150/205), χ²=4.896, P=0.027] and less implantation rate [8.8% (20/228) vs 16.1% (33/205), χ²=5.393, P=0.020] than those of the control group. The in situ retention rate were better in type Ⅲ IPTG group, compared with those of the control group [94.9% (74/78) vs 77.4% (48/62), χ²=7.898, P=0.005]. There was no permanent hypoparathyroidism in two groups and the temporary hypoparathyroidism rate was 32.0% (24/75) and 34.6% (18/52), respectively (χ²=0.095, P=0.758). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided IPTG localization examination has important implications for searching and protecting IPTG during operation, which can significantly increase in situ retention rate of IPTG and decrease the implantation rate.

Recognition of Underwater Materials of Bionic and Natural Fishes Based on Blue-Green Light Reflection

Thanks to the advantages of low disturbance, good concealment and high mobility, bionic fishes have been developed by many countries as equipment for underwater observation and data collection. However, differentiating between true and bionic fishes has become a challenging task. Commonly used acoustic and optical technologies have difficulty in differentiating bionic fishes from real ones due to their high similarity in shape, size, and camouflage ability. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a novel idea for bionic fish recognition based on blue-green light reflection, which is a powerful observation technique for underwater object detection. Blue-green light has good penetration under water and thus can be used as a signal carrier to recognize bionic fishes of different surface materials. Three types of surface materials representing bionic fishes, namely titanium alloy, carbon fiber, and nylon, are investigated in this paper. We collected 1620 groups of blue-green light reflection data of these three kinds of materials and for two real fishes. Following this, three machine learning algorithms were utilized for recognition among them. The recognition accuracy can reach up to about 92.22%, which demonstrates the satisfactory performance of our method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to investigate bionic fish recognition from the perspective of surface material difference using blue-green light reflection.

The Perspective of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Rice Domestication and Breeding

In nature, symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi contributes to sustainable acquisition of phosphorus and other elements in over 80% of plant species; improving interactions with AM symbionts may mitigate some of the environmental problems associated with fertilizer application in grain crops such as rice. Recent developments of high-throughput genome sequencing projects of thousands of rice cultivars and the discovery of the molecular mechanisms underlying AM symbiosis suggest that interactions with AM fungi might have been an overlooked critical trait in rice domestication and breeding. In this review, we discuss genetic variation in the ability of rice to form AM symbioses and how this might have affected rice domestication. Finally, we discuss potential applications of AM symbiosis in rice breeding for more sustainable agriculture.