Agriculture, the strategic cornerstone of national long-term stability, is undergoing a fundamental shift from resource-dependent to technology-driven, driven by global food security and ecological conservation needs. Traditional agriculture can no longer sustain the growing food demand. Scientific and technological advancements are fundamental guarantees for ensuring food supply security and are the primary driver for future agricultural development. This special issue compiles the latest research advancements from diverse experts, covering fields such as microbe-driven green agriculture, pesticide technology innovation, intelligent agricultural machinery, smart manufacturing, and molecular design breeding fundamentals. It aims to inspire researchers to explore cutting-edge directions in future agriculture, promote interdisciplinary collaboration and technological integration, and thereby drive innovative breakthroughs and industrial transformation in agricultural modernization.
Agriculture/methods* ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics* ; Food Supply ; Biotechnology ; Pesticides

Small RNAs (sRNAs), the key components of RNA interference (RNAi) or RNA silencing, can mediate cell-autonomous gene silencing and function as signaling molecules across species. Microbe-induced gene silencing (MIGS), which is based on interspecies RNAi, is an effective approach for controlling fungal diseases in crops. The enolase gene VdEno is essential for the growth and development of the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae, which causes cotton Verticillium wilt. In this study, we engineered Trichoderma harzianum (Th) to express the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting VdEno. The engineered strain Th-VdEnoi successfully generated VdEno-specific small interfering RNA (siVdEno). We further confirmed that Th-VdEnoi effectively induced VdEno silencing at the translational level. The results of crop protection assays revealed that the cotton plants co-inoculated with V. dahliae (strain V592) and Th-VdEnoi presented significantly reduced disease severity and lower fungal biomass in their roots than the control plants inoculated with V. dahliae alone or with V. dahliae and Th-GFPi (a control strain expressing GFP-targeting dsRNA). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that VdEno is an effective target for controlling cotton Verticillium wilt and confirm that MIGS is a promising strategy for managing soil-borne fungal pathogens in crops. MIGS provides strong technical support for reducing the application of conventional chemical pesticides, developing eco-friendly biopesticides, and facilitating the sustainable development of agriculture.
Gossypium/microbiology* ; Plant Diseases/prevention & control* ; Gene Silencing ; Ascomycota/genetics* ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Double-Stranded/genetics* ; Hypocreales/genetics* ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics* ; Verticillium/genetics* ; Fungal Proteins/genetics*

Objective To establish a machine learning radiomics model that can accurately predict MRI enhancement patterns of glioma based on T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery(T2-FLAIR)images for optimizing the workflow of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)examinations of glioma patients.Methods We retrospectively collected preoperative MR T2-FLAIR images from 385 patients with pathologically confirmed glioma,who were divided into enhancing and non-enhancing groups according to the enhancement pattern.Predictive radiomics models were established using Gaussian Process,Linear Regression,Linear Regression-Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator,Support Vector Machine,Linear Discriminant Analysis or Naive Bayes as the classifiers in the training cohort(n=201)and tested both in the internal(n=85)and external validation cohorts(n=99).The receiver-operating characteristic curve was used to assess the predictive performance of the models.Results The predictive model constructed based on 15 radiomics features using Gaussian Process as the classifier had the best predictive performance in both the training cohort and the internal validation cohort,with areas under the curve(AUC)of 0.88(95%CI:0.81-0.94)and 0.80(95%CI:0.71-0.88),respectively.In the external validation cohort,the model showed an AUC of 0.81(95%CI:0.71-0.90)with sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 0.98,0.61,0.76 and 0.96,respectively.Conclusion The T2-FLAIR-based machine learning radiomics model can accurately predict the enhancement pattern of gliomas on MRI.

Objective To establish a machine learning radiomics model that can accurately predict MRI enhancement patterns of glioma based on T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery(T2-FLAIR)images for optimizing the workflow of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)examinations of glioma patients.Methods We retrospectively collected preoperative MR T2-FLAIR images from 385 patients with pathologically confirmed glioma,who were divided into enhancing and non-enhancing groups according to the enhancement pattern.Predictive radiomics models were established using Gaussian Process,Linear Regression,Linear Regression-Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator,Support Vector Machine,Linear Discriminant Analysis or Naive Bayes as the classifiers in the training cohort(n=201)and tested both in the internal(n=85)and external validation cohorts(n=99).The receiver-operating characteristic curve was used to assess the predictive performance of the models.Results The predictive model constructed based on 15 radiomics features using Gaussian Process as the classifier had the best predictive performance in both the training cohort and the internal validation cohort,with areas under the curve(AUC)of 0.88(95%CI:0.81-0.94)and 0.80(95%CI:0.71-0.88),respectively.In the external validation cohort,the model showed an AUC of 0.81(95%CI:0.71-0.90)with sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 0.98,0.61,0.76 and 0.96,respectively.Conclusion The T2-FLAIR-based machine learning radiomics model can accurately predict the enhancement pattern of gliomas on MRI.

Humans ; Adult ; Serum Albumin, Human ; Consensus ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Thoracic Surgery

Objective    To evaluate the safety and efficacy of mitral valve surgery and cryoablation in elderly patients with mitral valve disease and persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation. Methods    From May 2014 to July 2018, 144 patients with mitral valve diseases combined with persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command were selected. Among them, there were 69 patients in a non-elderly group (<60 years) including 18 males and 51 females aged 52.07±5.56 years, and 75 patients in an elderly group (≥60 years) including 32 males and 43 females aged 65.23±4.29 years. A propensity-score matching (PSM) study was conducted to eliminate confounding factors. Both groups underwent mitral valve surgery and cryoablation at the same time. A 2-year follow-up was conducted after discharge from the hospital, and the perioperative and postoperative efficacy indexes were compared between the two groups. Results    After PSM analysis, there were 56 patients in each group. The sinus rhythm conversion rate of the two groups at each follow-up time point was above 85%, and the cardiac function was graded asⅠorⅡ, which was significantly improved compared with that before the surgery, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Among the perioperative indicators of the two groups, the elderly group had more coronary artery bypass graft surgeries and longer postoperative ICU stay time compared with the non-elderly group (P<0.05), and the differences in other indicators were not statistically different (P>0.05). Conclusion    The mitral valve surgery and cryoablation in elderly patients with mitral valve diseases combined with persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation are safe, and the short-term outcome is satisfactory.

Antrodia cinnamomea is extensively used as a traditional medicine to prevention and treatment of liver cancer. However, its comprehensive chemical fingerprint is uncertain, and the mechanisms, especially the potential therapeutic target for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear. Using UPLC‒Q-TOF/MS, 139 chemical components were identified in A. cinnamomea dropping pills (ACDPs). Based on these chemical components, network pharmacology demonstrated that the targets of active components were significantly enriched in the pathways in cancer, which were closely related with cell proliferation regulation. Next, HCC data was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and DisGeNET were analyzed by bioinformatics, and 79 biomarkers were obtained. Furtherly, nine targets of ACDP active components were revealed, and they were significantly enriched in PI3K/AKT and cell cycle signaling pathways. The affinity between these targets and their corresponding active ingredients was predicted by molecular docking. Finally, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that ACDPs could reduce the activity of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and downregulate the expression of cell cycle-related proteins, contributing to the decreased growth of liver cancer. Altogether, PI3K/AKT-cell cycle appears as the significant central node in anti-liver cancer of A. Cinnamomea.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether CaN-NFAT3 pathway mediates the protective effects of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 2 in high glucose-treated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. METHODS: The ventricular myocytes were isolated from the heart of neonatal (within 3 days) SD rats by enzyme digestion and cultured in the presence of 5-Brdu. After reaching confluence, the cultured ventricular myocytes were identified using immunofluorescence assay for -SA protein. The cells were then cultured in either normal (5 mmol/L) or high glucose (30 mmol/L) medium in the presence of ALDH2 agonist Alda-1, ALDH 2 inhibitor Daidzin, or Alda-1 and NFAT3 inhibitor (11R-VIVIT). Fluorescent probe and ELISA were used to detect intracellular Ca concentration and CaN content, respectively; ALDH2, CaN and NFAT3 protein expressions in the cells were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with cells cultured in normal glucose, the cells exposed to high glucose showed a significantly decreased expression of ALDH2 protein ( < 0.05) and increased expressions of CaN ( < 0.05) and NFAT3 proteins with also increased intracellular CaN and Ca concentrations ( < 0.01). Alda-1 treatment significantly lowered Ca concentration ( < 0.05), intracellular CaN content ( < 0.01), and CaN and NFAT3 protein expressions ( < 0.05), and increased ALDH2 protein expression ( < 0.05) in high glucose- exposed cells; Daidzin treatment significantly increased Ca concentration ( < 0.01) and intracellular CaN content ( < 0.05) in the exposed cells. Compared with Alda-1 alone, treatment of the high glucose-exposed cells with both Alda-1 and 11R-VIVIT did not produce significant changes in the expression of ALDH2 protein (>0.05) but significantly reduced the expression of NFAT3 protein ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Mitochondrial ALDH2 protects neonatal rat cardiomyocytes against high glucose-induced injury possibly by negatively regulating Ca-CaN-NFAT3 signaling pathway.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Benzamides ; pharmacology ; Benzodioxoles ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Mitochondria, Heart ; enzymology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Fungal diseases are the main threat to crop yield and quality, often leading to huge economic losses. Chemical fungicides are almost useless to soil-borne and vascular fungal pathogens. The most effective way is crop resistance breeding by using resistance genes. Yet, for plants lacking resistance resources, new approaches are urgently needed for crop protection. Recently, host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) is developed based on the well-known RNA interference, and already effective against viruses and pests. However, it is challenging to validate HIGS in soil-borne fungal pathogens due to uncharacterized and complicated infection processes. Recently, we have made great progresses in revealing the infection structure of Verticillium dahliae, a soil-borne and vascular fungal pathogen that leads to verticillium wilt disease to many crops, including cotton plants. Moreover, we demonstrate that cotton exports endogenous microRNAs to inhibit virulence gene expression in V. dahliae. The most exciting achievement is the successful application of HIGS in cotton plants that confer resistance to V. dahliae. All these results reveal a promising potential for applying HIGS against a wide range of soil-borne fungi.

The 21-24 nucleotides small RNA that generated from double strands RNA can trigger two types of epigenetic gene silencing in plants. One is Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS), characterized by cleavage of homologous mRNA in cytoplasm. Transcriptional Gene Silencing (TGS) is another one, in which transcription inhibition is obtained through small RNA-directed DNA methylation of homologous promoter region. Here we summarized the relationship and differences between PTGS and TGS, the current achievement in the study of RNA silencing spreading, as well as the discrepancy of exogenous and endogenous gene silencing, and discussed the underlying reasons in the end.
DNA Methylation ; genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; physiology ; Genome, Plant ; genetics ; Plant Immunity ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Plant ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; genetics