Generalist taxa shape fungal community structure in cropping ecosystems

Fungi regulate nutrient cycling, decomposition, symbiosis, and pathogenicity in cropland soils. However, the relative importance of generalist and specialist taxa in structuring soil fungal community remains largely unresolved. We hypothesized that generalist fungi, which are adaptable to various environmental conditions, could potentially dominate the community and become the basis for fungal coexisting networks in cropping systems. In this study, we identified the generalist and habitat specialist fungi in cropland soils across a 2,200 kms environmental gradient, including three bioclimatic regions (subtropical, warm temperate, and temperate). A few fungal taxa in our database were classified as generalist taxa (~1%). These generalists accounted for >35% of the relative abundance of all fungal populations, and most of them are Ascomycota and potentially pathotrophic. Compared to the specialist taxa (5–17% of all phylotypes in three regions), generalists had a higher degree of connectivity and were often identified as hub within the network. Structural equation modeling provided further evidence that after accounting for spatial and climatic/ edaphic factors, generalists had larger contributions to the fungal coexistence pattern than habitat specialists. Taken together, our study provided evidence that generalist taxa are crucial components for fungal community structure. The knowledge of generalists can provide important implication for understanding the ecological preference of fungal groups in cropland systems

Analysis of Aroma Components of Red Jujube from Different Origins Based on HS-SPME-GC-MS and Chemometrics

To compare the volatile flavor characteristics of red jujube from different origins, volatile aroma components of jujube fruit from five origins (Xinzheng, Lingbao, Yulin, Hotan and Dezhou) were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The results showed that a total of 51 compounds were identified, among which the most volatile compounds were contained in Xinjiang Hotan jujube. Combined with multivariate statistical analysis, the differences in the overall volatile flavor substances of red jujube from different origins could be well distinguished. Under the conditions of satisfying the variable importance in projection>1 and P<0.05, 13 differential characteristic aroma substances, including methyl caproate, methyl decanoate, hexanal, and benzaldehyde, were screened out from red jujube samples, which imparted unique almond, sweet, and fruity flavors to red jujube. The results of this study clarify the chemical substance basis of the aroma quality of red jujube from different origins, provide a new idea for the origin tracing study of red jujube, and further provide a scientific basis for the rational processing and utilization of jujube fruit resources

Using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to Improve Romantic Relationships Can Be a Promising Approach

The romantic relationship refers to the specific relationship in which partners are dependent upon each other to obtain satisfactory outcomes and facilitate the pursuit of their most important needs and goals. Satisfying romantic relationships is a strong predictor of better psychological well-being, better physical health, and longer life expectancy. However, romantic relationships are not all smooth-sailing and lovers are often confronted with a variety of unavoidable issues that constantly challenge the stability of their romantic relationships. Dissatisfying romantic relationships are harmful and even destructive. Dyads of lovers engage in a variety of efforts to protect and maintain their romantic relationships based on qualitative research methods including theories- and psychological consultation-based approaches. Unfortunately, those existing approaches do not seem to effectively improve romantic relationships. Thus, it is necessary to seek an efficient approach regulating dyads of lovers in romantic relationships simultaneously. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with advantages over existing approaches satisfies this purpose. We discuss the practicability of tACS in detail, as well as why and how tACS can be utilized to improve romantic relationships. In summary, this review firstly introduced the concept of romantic relationship and the necessity of enhancing it. Then, it discussed methods to improve romantic relationships including some existing approaches. This review next discussed the practicability of using tACS to improve romantic relationships. Finally, it shone a spotlight on potential future directions for researches aiming to improve romantic relationships

The serum soluble scavenger with 5 domains levels: A novel biomarker for individuals with heart failure

Background: We aimed to explore the relationship between the serum Soluble Scavenger with 5 Domains (SSC5D) levels and heart failure (HF).Methods and Results: We retrospectively enrolled 276 patients diagnosed with HF or normal during hospitalization in Shanghai General Hospital between September 2020 and December 2021. Previously published RNA sequencing data were re-analyzed to confirm the expression profile of SSC5D in failing and non-failing human and mouse heart tissues. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used to quantify Ssc5d mRNA levels in murine heart tissue after myocardial infarction and transverse aortic constriction surgery. To understand the HF-induced secreted proteins profile, 1,755 secreted proteins were investigated using human dilated cardiomyopathy RNA-seq data, and the results indicated that SSC5D levels were significantly elevated in failing hearts compared to the non-failing. Using single-cell RNA sequencing data, we demonstrated that Ssc5d is predominantly expressed in cardiac fibroblasts. In a murine model of myocardial infarction or transverse aortic constriction, Ssc5d mRNA levels were markedly increased compared with those in the sham group. Similarly, serum SSC5D levels were considerably elevated in the HF group compared with the control group [15,789.35 (10,745.32–23,110.65) pg/mL, 95% CI (16,263.01–19,655.43) vs. 8,938.72 (6,154.97–12,778.81) pg/mL, 95% CI (9,337.50–11,142.93); p &lt; 0.0001]. Moreover, serum SSC5D levels were positively correlated with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (R = 0.4, p = 7.9e-12) and inversely correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (R = −0.46, p = 9.8e-16).Conclusion: We concluded that SSC5D was a specific response to HF. Serum SSC5D may function as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with HF

Apolygus lucorum genome provides insights into omnivorousness and mesophyll feeding.

peer reviewedApolygus lucorum (Miridae) is an omnivorous pest that occurs worldwide and is notorious for the serious damage it causes to various crops and substantial economic losses. Although some studies have examined the biological characteristics of the mirid bug, no reference genome is available in Miridae, limiting in-depth studies of this pest. Here, we present a chromosome-scale reference genome of A. lucorum, the first sequenced Miridae species. The assembled genome size was 1.02 Gb with a contig N50 of 785 kb. With Hi-C scaffolding, 1,016 Mb contig sequences were clustered, ordered and assembled into 17 large scaffolds with scaffold N50 length 68 Mb, each corresponding to a natural chromosome. Numerous transposable elements occur in this genome and contribute to the large genome size. Expansions of genes associated with omnivorousness and mesophyll feeding such as those related to digestion, chemosensory perception, and detoxification were observed in A. lucorum, suggesting that gene expansion contributed to its strong environmental adaptability and severe harm to crops. We clarified that a salivary enzyme polygalacturonase is unique in mirid bugs and has significantly expanded in A. lucorum, which may contribute to leaf damage from this pest. The reference genome of A. lucorum not only facilitates biological studies of Hemiptera as well as an understanding of the damage mechanism of mesophyll feeding, but also provides a basis on which to develop efficient control technologies for mirid bugs

Wheat Rhizosphere Metagenome Reveals Newfound Potential Soil Zn-Mobilizing Bacteria Contributing to Cultivars’ Variation in Grain Zn Concentration

An effective solution to global human zinc (Zn) deficiency is Zn biofortification of staple food crops, which has been hindered by the low available Zn in calcareous soils worldwide. Many culturable soil microbes have been reported to increase Zn availability in the laboratory, while the status of these microbes in fields and whether there are unculturable Zn-mobilizing microbes remain unexplored. Here, we use the culture-independent metagenomic sequencing to investigate the rhizosphere microbiome of three high-Zn (HZn) and three low-Zn (LZn) wheat cultivars in a field experiment with calcareous soils. The average grain Zn concentration of HZn was higher than the Zn biofortification target 40 mg kg–1, while that of LZn was lower than 40 mg kg–1. Metagenomic sequencing and analysis showed large microbiome difference between wheat rhizosphere and bulk soil but small difference between HZn and LZn. Most of the rhizosphere-enriched microbes in HZn and LZn were in common, including many of the previously reported soil Zn-mobilizing microbes. Notably, 30 of the 32 rhizosphere-enriched species exhibiting different abundances between HZn and LZn possess the functional genes involved in soil Zn mobilization, especially the synthesis and exudation of organic acids and siderophores. Most of the abundant potential Zn-mobilizing species were positively correlated with grain Zn concentration and formed a module with strong interspecies relations in the co-occurrence network of abundant rhizosphere-enriched microbes. The potential Zn-mobilizing species, especially Massilia and Pseudomonas, may contribute to the cultivars’ variation in grain Zn concentration, and they deserve further investigation in future studies on Zn biofortification

FirmHunter: State-Aware and Introspection-Driven Grey-Box Fuzzing towards IoT Firmware

IoT devices are exponentially increasing in all aspects of our lives. Via the web interfaces of IoT devices, attackers can control IoT devices by exploiting their vulnerabilities. In order to guarantee IoT security, testing these IoT devices to detect vulnerabilities is very important. In this work, we present FirmHunter, an automated state-aware and introspection-driven grey-box fuzzer towards Linux-based firmware images on the basis of emulation. It employs a message-state queue to overcome the dependency problem in test cases. Furthermore, it implements a scheduler collecting execution information from system introspection to drive fuzzing towards more interesting test cases, which speeds up vulnerability discovery. We evaluate FirmHunter by emulating and fuzzing eight firmware images including seven routers and one IP camera with a state-of-the-art IoT fuzzer FirmFuzz and a web application scanner ZAP. Our evaluation results show that (1) the message-state queue enables FirmHunter to parse the dependencies in test cases and find real-world vulnerabilities that other fuzzers cannot detect; (2) our scheduler accelerates the discovery of vulnerabilities by an average of 42%; and (3) FirmHunter is able to find unknown vulnerabilities

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles have contrasting effects on the temporal dynamics of sulfonamide and β-lactam resistance genes in soils amended with antibiotics

Nanoparticles (NPs) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), as emerging environmental contaminants, have been reported to be accumulated in the soil environment. The use of NPs have raised increasing concerns about their environmental impacts, but the combined effect of NPs and antibiotics on ARGs remains less understood. Here, we established laboratory microcosms to explore the impacts of different concentrations of SiO _2 NPs on β -lactam and sulfonamide resistance genes in soils amended with β -lactam or sulfonamide. Illumina sequencing and quantitative PCR revealed that the addition of NPs increased the bacterial community diversity but had no significant effects on the bacterial abundance. Moreover, NPs and sulfonamide jointly increased the abundances of sulfonamide resistance genes, while the exposure of NPs and β -lactam decreased β -lactam resistance genes. The detected ARGs were associated closely with two mobile genetic elements (MGEs, the tnp A and int I1 genes), indicating that MGEs may contribute to the dissemination of ARGs. Correlation analysis indicated the shifts in potential bacterial hosts and the frequency of horizontal gene transfer were important factors explaining the patterns of ARGs. Furthermore, structural equation models indicated that NPs exposure decreased the abundances of β -lactam resistance genes by driving changes in bacterial community and MGEs, whereas the increased abundances of sulfonamide resistance genes were mainly associated with the bacterial community, diversity and MGEs mediated by NPs and antibiotics. These results suggested that the combined effects of NPs and antibiotics on soil bacterial resistance were different due to the types of antibiotics