Corrigendum of Zhao et al. (2020): a revised infrageneric classification of Lepisorus (Polypodiaceae)

Here, we publish Lepisorus sect. Paragramma (Blume) C.F. Zhao, R. Wei & X.C. Zhang as a combinatio nova to replace the section name in Zhao et al. (2020), which was published as a status nova and turned out to be an invalid name, because we cited an incorrect basionym. A revised infrageneric classification of Lepisorus also is proposed.     

SOCS2 Balances Metabolic and Restorative Requirements during Liver Regeneration

After significant injury, the liver must maintain homeostasis during the regenerative process. We hypothesized the existence of mechanisms to limit hepatocyte proliferation after injury to maintain metabolic and synthetic function. A screen for candidates revealed suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2), an inhibitor of growth hormone (GH) signaling, was strongly induced after partial hepatectomy. Using genetic deletion and administration of various factors we investigated the role of SOCS2 during liver regeneration. SOCS2 preserves liver function by restraining the first round of hepatocyte proliferation after partial hepatectomy by preventing increases in growth hormone receptor (GHR) via ubiquitination, suppressing GH pathway activity. At later times, SOCS2 enhances hepatocyte proliferation by modulating a decrease in serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) that allows GH release from the pituitary. SOCS2, therefore, plays a dual role in modulating the rate of hepatocyte proliferation. In particular, this is the first demonstration of an endogenous mechanism to limit hepatocyte proliferation after injury.     

Screening of significant biomarkers related with prognosis of liver cancer by lncRNA-associated ceRNAs analysis

This study aimed to identify significant biomarkers related to the prognosis of liver cancer using long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-associated competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) analysis. Differentially expressed mRNA and lncRNAs between liver cancer and paracancerous tissues were screened, and the functions of these mRNAs were predicted by gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses. A ceRNA network consisting of differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs was constructed. LncRNA FENDRR and lncRNA HAND2-AS1 were hub nodes in the ceRNA network. A risk score assessment model consisting of eight genes (PDE2A, ESR1, FBLN5, ALDH8A1, AKR1D1, EHHADH, ADRA1A, and GNE) associated with prognosis were developed. Multivariate Cox regression suggested that both pathologic_T and risk group could be regarded as independent prognostic factors. Furthermore, a nomogram model consisting of pathologic_T and risk group showed a good prediction ability for predicting the survival rate of liver cancer patients. The nomogram model consisting of pathologic_T and a risk score assessment model could be regarded as an independent factor for predicting prognosis of liver cancer.     

Mapping QTLs and meta-QTLs for two inflorescence architecture traits in multiple maize populations under different watering environments

Drought significantly affects the architectural development of maize inflorescence, which leads to massive losses in grain yield. However, the genetic mechanism for traits involved in inflorescence architecture in different watering environments, remains poorly understood in maize. In this study, 19 QTLs for tassel primary branch number (TBN) and ear number per plant (EN) were detected in 2 F_2:3 populations under both well-watered and water-stressed environments by single environment mapping with composite interval mapping (CIM); 11/19 QTLs were detected under water-stressed environments. Moreover, 21 QTLs were identified in the 2 F_2:3 populations by joint analysis of all environments with a mixed linear model based on composite interval mapping (MCIM), 11 QTLs were involved in QTL × environment interactions, seven epistatic interactions were identified with additive by additive/dominance effects. Remarkably, 12 stable QTLs (sQTLs) were simultaneously detected by single environment mapping with CIM and joint analysis through MCIM, which were concentrated in ten bins across the chromosomes: 1.05_1.07, 1.08_1.10, 2.01_2.04, 3.01, 4.06, 4.09, 5.06_5.07, 6.05, 7.00, and 7.04 regions. Twenty meta-QTLs (mQTLs) were detected across 19 populations under 51 watering environments using a meta-analysis, and 34 candidate genes were predicted in corresponding mQTLs regions to be involved in the regulation of inflorescence development and drought resistance. Therefore, these results provide valuable information for finding quantitative trait genes and to reveal the genetic mechanisms responsible for TBN and EN under different watering environments. Furthermore, alleles for TBN and EN provide useful targets for marker-assisted selection to generate high-yielding maize varieties.     

Production of Bio-Energy from Pig Manure: A Focus on the Dynamics Change of Four Parameters under Sunlight-Dark Conditions

This study investigated the effect of sunlight-dark conditions on volatile fatty acids (VFAs), total ammonium nitrogen (TAN), total alkalinity (TA) and pH during pig manure (PM) digestion and then the subsequent influence on biogas yield of PM. PM₁ and PM₂ were performed in a transparent reactor and a non-transparent reactor, respectively. Two sets of experiments were conducted with a temperature of 35.0±2.0 °C and a total solid concentration of 8.0% to the digestion material. The dynamic change of the four parameters in response to sunlight-dark conditions resulted in variations of the physiological properties in the digester and affected the cumulative biogas production (CBP). PM₁ obtained higher CBP (15020.0 mL) with a more stable pH and a lower TAN concentration (1414.5 mg/L) compared to PM₂ (2675.0 mL and 1670.0 mg/L, respectively). The direct path coefficients and indirect path coefficients between the four parameters and CBP were also analyzed.     

Simplified Aeroelastic Model for Fluid Structure Interaction between Microcantilever Sensors and Fluid Surroundings

Fluid-structural coupling occurs when microcantilever sensors vibrate in a fluid. Due to the complexity of the mechanical characteristics of microcantilevers and lack of high-precision microscopic mechanical testing instruments, effective methods for studying the fluid-structural coupling of microcantilevers are lacking, especially for non-rectangular microcantilevers. Here, we report fluid-structure interactions (FSI) of the cable-membrane structure via a macroscopic study. The simplified aeroelastic model was introduced into the microscopic field to establish a fluid-structure coupling vibration model for microcantilever sensors. We used the finite element method to solve the coupled FSI system. Based on the simplified aeroelastic model, simulation analysis of the effects of the air environment on the vibration of the commonly used rectangular microcantilever was also performed. The obtained results are consistent with the literature. The proposed model can also be applied to the auxiliary design of rectangular and non-rectangular sensors used in fluid environments.