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Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (IFABP; FABP2) and liver fatty acid-binding protein (LFABP; FABP1) are small intracellular lipid-binding proteins. Deficiency of either of these proteins in mice leads to differential changes in intestinal lipid transport and metabolism, and to markedly divergent changes in whole-body energy homeostasis. The gut microbiota has been reported to play a pivotal role in metabolic process in the host and can be affected by host genetic factors. Here, we examined the phenotypes of wild-type (WT), LFABP−/−, and IFABP−/− mice before and after high-fat diet (HFD) feeding and applied 16S rRNA gene V4 sequencing to explore guild-level changes in the gut microbiota and their associations with the phenotypes. The results show that, compared with WT and IFABP−/− mice, LFABP−/− mice gained more weight, had longer intestinal transit time, less fecal output, and more guilds containing bacteria associated with obesity, such as members in family Desulfovibrionaceae. By contrast, IFABP−/− mice gained the least weight, had the shortest intestinal transit time, the most fecal output, and the highest abundance of potentially beneficial guilds such as those including members from Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. Twelve out of the eighteen genotype-related bacterial guilds were associated with body weight. Interestingly, compared with WT mice, the levels of short-chain fatty acids in feces were significantly higher in LFABP−/− and IFABP−/− mice under both diets. Collectively, these studies show that the ablation of LFABP or IFABP induced marked changes in the gut microbiota, and these were associated with HFD-induced phenotypic changes in these mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet and salivary proteins influence the composition of the oral microbiome, and recent data suggest that TAS2R38 bitter taste genetics may also play a role. We investigated the effects of daily exposure to a cranberry polyphenol oral rinse on taste perception, salivary proteins, and oral microbiota. 6-n-Propylthiouracil (PROP) super-tasters (ST, n = 10) and non-tasters (NT, n = 10) rinsed with 30 mL of 0.75 g/L cranberry polyphenol extract (CPE) in spring water, twice daily for 11 days while consuming their habitual diets. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the NT oral microbiome composition was different than that of STs at baseline (p = 0.012) but not after the intervention (p = 0.525). Principal coordinates analysis using unweighted UniFrac distance showed that CPE modified microbiome composition in NTs (p = 0.023) but not in STs (p = 0.096). The intervention also altered specific salivary protein levels (α-amylase, MUC-5B, and selected S-type Cystatins) with no changes in sensory perception. Correlation networks between oral microbiota, salivary proteins, and sensory ratings showed that the ST microbiome had a more complex relationship with salivary proteins, particularly proline-rich proteins, than that in NTs. These findings show that CPE modulated the oral microbiome of NTs to be similar to that of STs, which could have implications for oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally recognized as mental illnesses, eating disorders are increasingly appreciated to be biologically-driven. There is a growing body of literature that implicates a role of the gut microbiota in the etiology and progression of these conditions. Gut bacteria may act on the gut-brain axis to alter appetite control and brain function as part of the genesis of eating disorders. As the illnesses progress, extreme feeding patterns and psychological stress potentially feed back to the gut ecosystem that can further compromise physiological, cognitive, and social functioning. Given the established causality between dysbiosis and metabolic diseases, an altered gut microbial profile is likely to play a role in the co-morbidities of eating disorders with altered immune function, short-chain fatty acid production, and the gut barrier being the key mechanistic links. Understanding the role of the gut ecosystem in the pathophysiology of eating disorders will provide critical insights into improving current treatments and developing novel microbiome-based interventions that will benefit patients with eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a deadly disease characterized by chronic inflammation and excessive collagen accumulation in the lung. Myofibroblasts are the primary collagen-producing cells in pulmonary fibrosis. Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) can affect gene expression, and some, such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), are US FDA approved for cancer treatment. In this study, we investigated SAHA's effects on the expression of collagen III alpha 1 (COL3A1) in primary human IPF fibroblasts and in a murine model of pulmonary fibrosis. We observed that increased COL3A1 expression in IPF fibroblasts can be substantially reduced by SAHA treatment at the level of transcription as detected by RT-PCR; collagen III protein level was also reduced, as detected by Western blots and immunofluorescence. The deacetylation inhibitor effect of SAHA was verified by observing higher acetylation levels of both histone H3 and H4 in treated IPF cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments demonstrated that the reduced expression of COL3A1 by SAHA is with increased association of the repressive chromatin marker, H3K27Me3, and decreased association of the active chromatin marker, H3K9Ac. In our murine model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, the SAHA treated group demonstrated significantly less collagen III, as detected by immunohistochemistry. Our data indicate that the HDACi SAHA alters the chromatin associated with COL3A1, resulting in its decreased expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a worldwide prevalent metabolic disorder defined by high blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance (IR) and impaired insulin secretion. Understanding the mechanism of insulin action is of great importance to the continuing development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of T2D. Disturbances of gut microbiota have been widely found in T2D patients and contribute to the development of IR. In the present article, we reviewed the pathological role of gut microbial metabolites including gaseous products, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) products, aromatic amino acids (AAAs) products, bile acids (BA) products, choline products and bacterial toxins in regulating insulin sensitivity in T2D. Following that, we summarized probiotics-based therapeutic strategy for the treatment of T2D with a focus on modulating gut microbiota in both animal and human studies. These results indicate that gut-microbial metabolites are involved in the pathogenesis of T2D and supplementation of probiotics could be beneficial to alleviate IR in T2D via modulation of gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green tea extracts and tea catechins have been shown to prevent or alleviate diabetes. The present study tests the hypothesis that green tea leaves in powder form (GTP), which also contain fiber and other water non-extractable materials, are more effective than the corresponding green tea extracts (GTE) in impeding the development of diabetes in db/db mice. Female db/db mice were treated with a diet containing 1% of GTE, 2% of GTE, 2% of GTP (with the same catechin content as 1% GTE) or 1% GTP. The 1% GTE group had lower food intake, water consumption, body weight and fasting blood glucose levels than the control group, while 2% GTP did not have any significant effect. Dietary 1% GTE also preserved β-cell insulin secretion. However, 1% GTP increased food intake, water consumption and blood glucose levels. Microbiome analysis with 16S rRNA gene V4 sequencing showed that the gut microbiota was modified by GTE and GTP, and a few bacterial guilds were associated with blood glucose levels. In the Random Forest regression model, the leading predictor of metabolic outcome was food consumption, followed by changes in some bacterial guilds. The results illustrate the importance of food consumption and gut microbiota in affecting the progression of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (DHF) is a naturally occurring flavonoid that has been reported to protect against a variety of pathologies. Chronic administration of DHF prevents high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in female, but not male, mice. However, the mechanisms underlying this sexual dimorphism have not been elucidated. We have discovered that oral DHF supplementation significantly attenuates fat mass, hepatic lipid accumulation, and adipose tissue inflammation in female mice. In contrast, male mice were not protected from adiposity, and had a paradoxical worsening of hepatic lipid accumulation and adipose tissue inflammation upon DHF supplementation. Consistent with these sexually dimorphic effects on body weight and metabolic health, 7,8-DHF induced early and stable remodeling of the female intestinal microbiome. DHF supplementation significantly increased gut microbial diversity, and suppressed potentially detrimental bacteria, particularly Desulfovibrionaceae, which are pro-inflammatory and positively associated with obesity and inflammation. Changes in the female gut microbiome preceded alterations in body weights, and in silico analyses indicated that these early microbial changes were highly predictive of subsequent weight gain in female mice. While some alterations in the intestinal microbiome were also observed in male DHF-supplemented mice, these changes were distinct from those in females and, importantly, were not predictive of subsequent body weight changes in male animals. The temporality of microbial changes preceding alterations in body weight in female mice suggests a role for the gut microbiome in mediating the sexually dimorphic effects of DHF on body weight. Given the significant clinical interest in this flavonoid across a wide range of pathologies, further elucidation of these sexually dimorphic effects will aid the development of effective clinical therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main challenge for a positive long-term outcome in lung transplantation is the lack of early detection for chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). With advancements in technology, an increasing number of studies demonstrate that cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in body fluids could be used as a marker for disease diagnosis, prognosis or monitoring response to treatment. A previous report from this journal found the joint assessment of cfDNA and CXCL10 from brochoalveolar lavage (BAL) could determine the subphenotypes of CLAD and predict lung transplant survival. This is an exciting attempt in monitoring the progress for lung transplant recipients. More studies and better understanding of cfDNA are needed to develop an accessible and reliable biomarker to monitor the progress of CLAD to improve the long-term survival for lung transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early treatment may prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in individuals who are at high risk. Lifestyle interventions and the hypoglycemic drug metformin have been shown to reduce T2DM incidence. The effectiveness of such interventions may be enhanced by targeting environmental factors such as the intestinal microbiota, which has been proven to predict the response to lifestyle interventions and play a part in mediating the glucose-lowering effects of metformin. Shifts in the intestinal microbiota "towards a more balanced state" may promote glucose homeostasis by regulating short-chain fatty acids' production. This study aimed to investigate the safety and effect of a multi-strain probiotic on glycemic, inflammatory, and permeability markers in adults with prediabetes and early T2DM and to assess whether the probiotic can enhance metformin's effect on glycaemia. A randomised controlled pilot study was conducted in 60 adults with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and with prediabetes or T2DM (within the previous 12 months). The participants were randomised to a multi-strain probiotic (L. plantarum, L. bulgaricus, L. gasseri, B. breve, B. animalis sbsp. lactis, B. bifidum, S. thermophilus, and S. boulardii) or placebo for 12 weeks. Analyses of the primary outcome (fasting plasma glucose) and secondary outcomes, including, but not limited to, circulating lipopolysaccharide, zonulin, and short chain fatty acids and a metagenomic analysis of the fecal microbiome were performed at baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention. The results showed no significant differences in the primary and secondary outcome measures between the probiotic and placebo group. An analysis of a subgroup of participants taking metformin showed a decrease in fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, insulin resistance, and zonulin; an increase in plasma butyrate concentrations; and an enrichment of microbial butyrate-producing pathways in the probiotic group but not in the placebo group. Probiotics may act as an adjunctive to metformin by increasing the production of butyrate, which may consequently enhance glucose management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors play essential roles in multiple stress responses and have been identified and functionally characterized in many plant species. However, the bZIP family members in blueberry are unclear. In this study, we identified 102 VcbZIP genes in Vaccinium corymbosum . VcbZIPs were divided into 10 groups based on phylogenetic analysis, and each group shared similar motifs, domains, and gene structures. Predictions of cis-regulatory elements in the upstream sequences of VcbZIP genes indicated that VcbZIP proteins are likely involved in phytohormone signaling pathways and abiotic stress responses. Analyses of RNA deep sequencing data showed that 18, 13, and 7 VcbZIP genes were differentially expressed in response to salt, drought, and ABA stress, respectively, for the blueberry cultivar Northland. Ten VcbZIP genes responded to both salt and drought stress, indicating that salt and drought have unique and overlapping signals. Of these genes, VcbZIP1-3 are responsive to salt, drought, and abscisic acid treatments, and their encoded proteins may integrate salt, drought, and ABA signaling. Furthermore, VcbZIP1-3 from group A and VcbZIP83-84 and VcbZIP75 from group S exhibited high or low expression under salt or drought stress and might be important regulators for improving drought or salt tolerance. Pearson correlation analyses revealed that VcbZIP transcription factors may regulate stress-responsive genes to improve drought or salt tolerance in a functionally redundant manner. Our study provides a useful reference for functional analyses of VcbZIP genes and for improving salt and drought stress tolerance in blueberry.

Daytime radiative cooling, based on selective infrared emissions through atmospheric transparency windows to outer space and the reflection of solar irradiance, is a zero-energy and environmentally friendly cooling technology. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) electrospun membranes have both selective mid-infrared emissions and effective sunlight reflection, inducing excellent daytime radiative cooling performance. However, PEO is highly water soluble, which makes electrospun PEO membranes unable to cope with rainy conditions when used for outdoor daytime radiative cooling. Herein, we report an in situ UV-crosslinking strategy for preparing PEO electrospun membranes with water resistance for the application of daytime radiative cooling. Acrylate-terminated PEO was synthesized and mixed together with cross-linking agents and photoinitiators to prepare the electrospinning solution. During electrospinning, the nanofibers were irradiated with UV light to initiate the cross-linking. For a membrane with a thickness of 200 μm, the average solar reflectance was 89.6%, and the infrared emissivity (8-13 μm) was 96.3%. Although slight swelling happens to the cross-linked membrane once it comes into contact with water, the fibrous morphology shows no obvious change when prolonging the water soaking time, indicating excellent water resistance. The outdoor cooling performance test results showed that compared to the average temperature of the air in the test box, the average temperature drop in the membrane before and after water soaking was 13.8 °C and 11.5 °C, respectively. Crosslinked PEO-based electrospun membranes with both water resistance and radiative cooling performance may have real applications for outdoor daytime radiative cooling.

Puerarin, a flavonoid compound present in the roots of radix puerariae , contributes to the development of tissues such as bone and nerve, but its role in skeletal muscle regeneration remains unclear. In this study, we employed C2C12 myoblasts and barium chloride (BaCl 2 )-based muscle injury models to investigate the effects of puerarin on myogenesis. Our study showed that puerarin stimulated the migration and differentiation of myoblasts in vitro. For the mechanism study, we found that puerarin's influence on cell migration was associated with the activation of FAK signaling; additionally, puerarin induced myoblast differentiation by upregulating the PI3K/AKT pathway. We also found that puerarin treatment could improve muscle regeneration following muscle injury. Taken together, our data indicate that puerarin facilitated myogenesis by promoting migration and differentiation, which suggests puerarin as a new candidate drug for the treatment of muscle loss diseases.

Paper-based cultural relics experience aging and deterioration during their long-term preservation, which poses a serious threat to their lifetime. The development of conservation materials with high compatibility and low intervention has been expected to extend the lifetime of paper artifacts. As a new type of biological macromolecule, nanocellulose has been extensively utilized in paper conservation, attributed to its excellent paper compatibility, high optical transparency, outstanding mechanical strength, and large specific surface area with abundant hydroxyl groups. This review systematically summarizes the latest development of three kinds of nanocellulose (cellulose nanofibril, cellulose nanocrystal, and bacterial nanocellulose) and their composites used for the multifunctional conservation of paper relics. Owing to the strong hydrogen bond interactions between hydroxyls of nanocellulose and paper fibers, nanocellulose can effectively consolidate paper without adding adhesives. The composite of nanocellulose with other functional materials greatly expands its application scope, and the superior performance has been emphasized in paper deacidification, consolidation, antimicrobial effect, antioxidation, UV resistance, self-cleaning, promotion of printing property, reduction in air permeability, and flame retardancy. The application characteristics and future prospects of nanocellulose composites are highlighted in the conservation of paper-based cultural relics.

Epidemiological studies prove that type II diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance (IR), may be caused by fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). However, underlying mechanisms whereby PM2.5, particularly during short-term exposure, induces liver dysfunction leading to IR remains poorly understood. In the present study, HepG2 cells and the BALB/c mouse model were used to explore how PM2.5 affects insulin sensitivity. The effects of subacute PM2.5 exposure on glucose metabolism were examined using commercial kits. Oxidative stress and inflammation were detected by fluorescent staining and RT-qPCR. The phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT was examined by Western blot. Subacute PM2.5 exposure induced IR, as reflected by increased glucose levels in cell supernatants, elevated insulin levels, and the impaired intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test in mice. PM2.5 induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased reactive oxygen species, cytochrome P450 2E1, and malondialdehyde, along with reduced superoxide dismutase 1/2 and silent information regulator 1. IL-6 and TNF-α were found to be upregulated using RT-qPCR. Western blot showed that PM2.5 inhibited the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, indicated by the decreased phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT in HepG2 cells. Additionally, H&E staining showed only mild hepatic injury in mice liver. These results firmly suggest that subacute PM2.5 exposure induces insulin resistance through oxidative stress, inflammation, and the inhibition of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Background/Objectives: Abiotic stresses impose significant constraints on crop growth, development, and yield. However, the comprehensive characterization of the maize ( Zea mays ) lipoxygenase ( LOX ) gene family under stress conditions remains limited. LOXs play vital roles in plant stress responses by mediating lipid oxidation and signaling pathways. Methods: In this study, 13 ZmLOX genes were identified in maize and characterized to explore their functions under abiotic stresses. Results: Phylogenetics revealed that ZmLOX genes share evolutionary origins with LOX genes in Arabidopsis and rice. Promoter analysis identified cis -acting elements associated with growth, light response, hormone signaling, and stress response, indicating their diverse biological roles. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that ZmLOX genes are involved in jasmonic acid metabolism, lipid signaling, and photosynthetic processes, while protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis positioned ZmLOX proteins as central hubs in stress-related regulatory networks. Differential expression and qRT-PCR analyses revealed stress-specific (including heat, drought, salt, and cold) expression patterns, with ZmLOX2 and ZmLOX13 showing key roles in drought and cold tolerance, respectively. Conclusions: These findings provide new insights into the regulatory functions of ZmLOX genes, offering potential targets for enhancing maize resilience to abiotic stresses and improving agricultural productivity.

Despite the widespread use of COVID-19 vaccines, there is still a global need to find effective therapeutics to deal with the variants of SARS-CoV-2. Moslae herba (MH) is a herbal medicine credited with antiviral effects. This study aims to investigate the antiviral effects and the underlying mechanism of aqueous extract of Moslae herba (AEMH) for treating SARS-CoV-2. The in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of AEMH was evaluated using cell viability and viral load. Component analysis was performed by HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS. The connection between COVID-19 and AEMH was constructed by integrating network pharmacology and transcriptome profiles to seek the core targets. The components with antiviral activities were analyzed by molecular docking and in vitro pharmacological verification. AEMH exerted anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects by inhibiting viral replication and reducing cell death caused by infection (IC 50 is 170 μg/mL for omicron strain). A total of 27 components were identified from AEMH. Through matching 119 intersection targets of 'disease and drug' with 1082 differentially expressed genes of COVID-19 patients, nine genes were screened. Of the nine, the PNP and TPI1 were identified as core targets as AEMH treatment significantly regulated the mRNA expression level of the two genes on infected cells. Three components, caffeic acid, luteolin, and rosmarinic acid, displayed antiviral activities in verification. Molecular docking also demonstrated they could form stable bonds with the core targets. This study explored the antiviral activity and possible mechanism of AEMH for treating SARS-CoV-2, which could provide basic data and reference for the clinical application of MH.

A series of novel triazone derivatives containing aldehyde hydrazone or ketone hydrazone moieties were designed, synthesized and their biological activities were investigated against Aphis craccivora , Culex pipiens pallens , Helicoverpa armigera , Ostrinia nubilalis , Mythimna separata and 14 Kinds of fungi. Most of the aldehyde hydrazone exhibited excellent insecticidal activities against A. craccivora . In particular, the aphicidal activities of compounds 3t (35%) and 3w (30%) were equivalent to pymetrozine (30%) at 5 mg/kg. The aphicidal activities of derivatives 3p , 3u , 3y , 5g , 5i , 5l , 5q and 5u against C. pipiens pallens were higher than that of pymetrozine. Compound 3u (100%) exhibited good larvicidal activities against C. pipiens pallens at 0.25 mg/kg. Most derivatives exhibited broad-spectrum fungicidal activities against 14 kinds of plant fungi at 50 mg/kg. Thirty-nine compounds exhibited a more than 50% inhibition rate against Physalospora piricola . Compounds 3h , 3t and 3w were expected to be the leading structure for the development of new triazone insecticides agents.

The incorporation of reinforcing fillers into natural rubber latex (NR) to achieve superior elasticity and mechanical properties has been widely applied across various fields. However, the tendency of reinforcing fillers to agglomerate within NR limits their potential applications. In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-silica (SiO 2 )/NR composites were prepared using a solution blending method, aiming to enhance the performance of NR composites through the synergistic effects of dual-component fillers. The mechanical properties, dispersion behavior, and Payne effect of three types of composites-SiO 2 /NR (SNR), MWCNT/NR (MNR), and MWCNT-SiO 2 /NR (MSNR)-were investigated. In addition, the mean square displacement (MSD), fractional free volume (FFV), and binding energy of the three composites were simulated using molecular dynamics (MD) models. The results showed that the addition of a two-component filler increased the tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus of NR composites by 56.4%, 72.41%, and 34.44%, respectively. The Payne effect of MSNR was reduced by 4.5% compared to MNR and SNR. In addition, the MD simulation results showed that the MSD and FFV of MSNR were reduced by 21% and 17.44%, respectively, and the binding energy was increased by 69 times, which was in agreement with the experimental results. The underlying mechanisms between the dual-component fillers were elucidated through dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), a rubber process analyzer (RPA), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study provides an effective reference for broadening the application fields of NR.

The influence of Mg doping in α-Al 2 O 3 crystals is investigated in this article by first-principles calculations and formation energies, density of states, and computed absorption spectra. Three models related to Mg 2+ substituting for Al 3+ doping structures were constructed, as well as spinel structure models with varying aluminum-magnesium ratios. The formation energy calculations confirmed the rationality of the Mg Al V O model, which means that Mg substitutional doping incorporating oxygen vacancies is most likely to form in crystals. The combined action of magnesium and oxygen vacancies introduced new defect energy levels in the bandgap. The calculated absorption spectra of the Mg Al V O and Mg-rich spinel structures exhibited various color centers. The experimental absorption spectra and thermoluminescence characteristics of α-Al 2 O 3 :Mg and alumina-magnesium (Al-Mg) spinel crystal samples were tested. The thermoluminescence peak of the Al-Mg spinel was significantly stronger than that of the α-Al 2 O 3 :Mg crystal. The consistency between the model-calculated absorption spectra and the experimental results confirmed the theoretical predictions. Based on the experimental and computational results, the influence of Mg 2+ substitutional doping in α-Al 2 O 3 and the impact of the locally Mg-rich spinel on the optical and radiation performance of α-Al 2 O 3 :Mg crystals are elucidated.

The Huanghuai winter wheat region, China's primary wheat-producing area, predominantly cultivates white-grained wheat. Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) significantly impacts yield and quality, making the breeding of PHS-resistant varieties crucial for ensuring China's wheat production security. This study evaluated the PHS rate of 344 white-grained wheat varieties over two consecutive growing seasons (2022/2023 and 2023/2024). Furthermore, it analyzed the effects of allelic variations and their combinations in six genes (Tamyb10, TaDFR, TaMKK3-A, TaGASR34, Tasdr, and TaMFT) on PHS resistance. Results revealed average PHS rates of 66.1% and 64.4% for the two growing seasons, with coefficients of variation of 39.1% and 40.2%, respectively, and a narrow-sense heritability of 0.72. These findings indicate substantial genetic variation and relatively high genetic stability within the tested materials. Among the six molecular markers examined, the superior haplotype GS34-7Bb exhibited the lowest average PHS rate (41.9%) over two growing seasons, demonstrating the strongest PHS resistance. Analysis of different haplotype combinations identified two advantageous genotypes for PHS resistance in white-grained wheat: TaMKK3-Ab + GS34-7Bb + Tasdr-2Aa + TaMFT-A1b (average PHS rate: 20.8%) and TaMKK3-Ab + GS34-7Bb + Tasdr-2Ab + TaMFT-A1b (average PHS rate: 34.2%). Notably, the distribution frequency of superior haplotypes of PHS-related genes and these two advantageous haplotype combinations showed varying degrees of decline over time.

Using male sterile (MS) lines instead of normal inbred maternal lines in hybrid seed production can increase the yield and quality with lower production costs. Therefore, developing a new MS germplasm is essential for maize hybrid seed production in the future. Here, we reported a male sterility gene ms*-N125 , cloned from a newly found MS mutant ms*-N125 . This mutant has an underdeveloped tassel that showed impaired glumes and shriveled anthers without pollen grains. The MS locus of ms*-N125 was mapped precisely to a 112-kb-interval on the chromosome 5. This interval contains only three candidate genes, Zm958 , Zm959 , and Zm960 . Sequencing results showed that only candidate Zm960 harbored a 548-bp transposable element (TE) in its 9th exon, and the two other candidate genes were found to have no genetic variations between the mutant and wild type (WT). Thus, Zm960 is the only candidate gene for male sterility of the mutant ms*-N125 . In addition, we screened another recessive MS mutant, ms*-P884 , which exhibited similar male sterility phenotypes to ms*-N125 . Sequencing Zm960 in ms*-P884 showed a 600-bp TE located in its 2nd exon. Zm960 encodes an ATP-binding cassette in the G subfamily of ABC (ABCG) transporters, ZmABCG2a , with both mutants which harbored an Ac/Ds -like transposon in each. To verify the function of ZmABCG2a for male sterility further, we found an ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutant, zmabcg2a* , which displayed male sterility and tassel phenotypes highly similar to ms*-N125 and ms*-P884 , confirming that ZmABCG2a must be the gene for male sterility in maize. In addition, the results of lipid metabolome analysis of ms*-N125 young tassels showed that the total lipid content of the mutant was significantly lower than that of the WT, with 15 subclasses of lipids, including PE (phosphatidylethanolamine), PC (phosphatidylcholine), DG (digalactosyldiacylglycerols), and MGDG (monogalactosyldiacylglycerol) which were significantly down-regulated in the ms*-N125 mutant versus its wild type. In summary, we identified alternate mutations of the ZmABCG2a gene, which may be a potential germplasm for hybrid seed production in maize.

Current stress sensors for microsystems face integration challenges and complex signal decoding. This paper proposes a real-time uniaxially sensitive stress sensor. It is obtained by simple combinations of bar resistors using their sensitivity differences in different axes. With the aid of a Wheatstone bridge, the sensor can measure the uniaxial stress magnitude by simple calibration of the stress against the output voltage and detect the bidirectional stress magnitude and direction in a micro-zone by simple rotation. The theoretical sensitivity obtained from simulation is 0.087 mV/V·MPa when the X-bridge is stressed in the X-direction under 1 V of excitation, and the test sensitivity of the X-bridge prepared in this paper is 0.1 mV/V·MPa. The design is structurally and procedurally simple, exhibits better temperature stability, and reduces interface requirements, making it suitable for the health monitoring of multi-chip microsystem chips.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal role in regulating gene expression and are critically involved in the progression of malignant brain tumors, including glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, and meningioma. These lncRNAs interact with microRNAs (miRNAs), proteins, and DNA, influencing key processes such as cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. This review highlights the multifaceted impact of lncRNA dysregulation on tumor progression and underscores their potential as therapeutic targets to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. The insights provided offer new directions for advancing basic research and clinical applications in malignant brain tumors.

The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has exerted considerable impact on global health. To prepare for rapidly mutating viruses and for the forthcoming pandemic, effective therapies targeting the critical stages of the viral life cycle need to be developed. Viruses are dependent on the interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral Spike (S) protein (S-RBD) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor to efficiently establish infection and the following replicate. Targeting this interaction provides a promising strategy to inhibit the entry process of the virus, which in turn has both preventive and therapeutic effects. In this study, we developed a robust and straightforward assay based on the Yeast-Two Hybrid system (Y2H) for identifying inhibitors targeting the S-RBD-ACE2 interaction of SARS-CoV-2. Through high-throughput screening, two compounds were identified as potential entry inhibitors. Among them, IMB-1C was superior in terms of pseudovirus entry inhibition and toxicity. It could bind to both ACE2 and S-RBD and induce conformational change in the S-RBD+ACE2 complex. This is the first study to verify the feasibility of utilizing the Y2H system to discover potent SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors targeting the receptor recognition stage. This approach may also be applied in the discovery of other virus receptor recognition inhibitors.

The design of efficient advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in the presence of bicarbonate has long attracted considerable attention in the field of environmental catalysis. In this study, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) as one of the most abundant substances in actual water, was introduced to a NaClO/Ru(III) system to enhance the removal of acid orange 7(AO7). NaHCO 3 could significantly improve the removal efficiency of the Ru(III)/NaClO process in HCO 3 - at a pH range of 6.9-10.0. Ru(V)=O was identified as a dominant reactive species involved in the degradation of pollutants in the NaHCO 3 /NaClO/Ru(III) system. HCO 3 - interacts with Ru(III) to generate Ru(III)-HCO 3 - , which enhances the activation performance of Ru(III) under neutral or alkaline conditions. The removal of AO7 was significantly enhanced with increasing NaHCO 3 concentration, and the rate constant increased more than 2-fold to 4-fold as NaHCO 3 concentrations increased from 0 to 100 mM at pH 6.9 and 8.5. This study proposed a novel strategy to enhance the Ru(III)/NaClO process with environmentally friendly inorganic ligands and highlights its potential applications in the removal of pollutants.

(1) Background: In recent years, the increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens in pig farms has begun to pose a severe threat to animal welfare and, by extension, public health. In this study, we aimed to explore the biological characteristics and genomic features of bacteriophages that are capable of lysing porcine multidrug-resistant E. coli , which was isolated from sewage. In doing so, we provided a reference for phage therapies that can be used to treat multidrug-resistant strains. (2) Method: Using the multidrug-resistant E. coli isolate sq-1 as the host bacterium, bacteriophages were isolated and purified from fecal samples using a double-layer agar plate method. The morphology was observed using a transmission electron microscope, and its host range, optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI), one-step growth curve, thermal stability, acid-base tolerance, and in vitro antibacterial ability were tested. Genomic features were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing. (3) Results: A lytic phage named vB_EcoS_Psq-1 (abbreviated as Psq-1) was successfully isolated. Electron microscopy revealed that Psq-1 belongs to the family of long-tailed phages, possessing clear and transparent plaques of approximately 1 mm in diameter. Psq-1 only lyses the host bacterium and does not affect other E. coli strains or other species of bacteria. The optimal MOI for phage Psq-1 was 0.1, with a latent period of 25 min, an exponential growth period of 25 min, and a lysis yield of 44.21 PFU/cell. Its activity remains stable at temperatures between 40 °C and 60 °C and from pH 4.0 to pH 13.0. Psq-1 exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on E. coli in liquid culture medium. The nucleic acid type of phage Psq-1 was dsDNA, with a total genome length of 44,183 bp and a GC content of 52.16%. No known resistance, lysogenic, or virulence-related genes were detected. The whole genome contains 55 open reading frames (ORFs). (4) Conclusions: This study isolated a bacteriophage that is capable of lysing multidrug-resistant E. coli . Characterized by a narrow E. coli lysis range, a long latent period, limited lytic ability, and stable biological properties, this bacteriophage can serve as a reference isolate for E. coli phages and can provide biological materials and data to support research on bacteriophages that are effective against multidrug-resistant porcine E. coli .

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe genetic muscle disease occurring due to mutations of the dystrophin gene. There is no cure for DMD. Using a dystrophin -/- utrophin -/- (DKO-Hom) mouse model, we investigated the PGE2/EP2 pathway in the pathogenesis of dystrophic muscle and its potential as a therapeutic target. We found that Ep2, Ep4, Cox-2, 15-Pgdh mRNA, and PGE2 were significantly increased in DKO-Hom mice compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The EP2 and EP4 receptors were mainly expressed in CD68 + macrophages and were significantly increased in the muscle tissues of both dystrophin -/- (mdx) and DKO-Hom mice compared to WT mice. Osteogenic and osteoclastogenic gene expression in skeletal muscle also increased in DKO-Hom mice, which correlates with severe muscle heterotopic ossification (HO). Treatment of DKO-Hom mice with the EP2 antagonist PF04418948 for 2 weeks increased body weight and reduced HO and muscle pathology by decreasing both total macrophages (CD68 + ) and senescent macrophages (CD68 + P21 + ), while increasing endothelial cells (CD31 + ). PF04418948 also increased bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), the trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) of the tibia trabecular bone, and the cortical bone thickness of both the femur and tibia without affecting spine trabecular bone microarchitecture. In summary, our results indicate that targeting EP2 improves muscle pathology and improves bone mass in DKO mice.

Inertial microfluidics, as an efficient method for the manipulation of micro-/nanoparticles, has garnered significant attention due to its advantages of high throughput, structural simplicity, no need for external fields, and sheathless operation. Common structures include straight channels, contraction-expansion array (CEA) channels, spiral channels, and serpentine channels. In this study, we developed a CEA channel embedded with hook-shaped microstructures to modify the characteristics of vortices. Through experimental studies, we investigated the particles' migration mechanisms within the proposed structure. The findings indicated that, in comparison to conventional rectangular microstructures, the particles within the hook-shaped microstructured CEA channels experienced a more pronounced influence from inertial lift forces. Moreover, the magnitude of the second flow within the novel configuration was directly proportional to the channel width, the length of the expansion segment, and the embedding depth of the microstructure. The innovative structure was subsequently employed for particle trapping, focusing, and separation. The experimental outcomes revealed focusing efficiency of up to 99.1% and sorting efficiency of up to 97%. This research holds the potential to enhance the foundational theory of Dean flows and broaden the application spectrum of inertial contraction-expansion microfluidic chips.

Cold stress strongly hinders plant growth and development. However, the molecular and physiological adaptive mechanisms of cold stress tolerance in plants are not well understood. Plants adopt several morpho-physiological changes to withstand cold stress. Plants have evolved various strategies to cope with cold stress. These strategies included changes in cellular membranes and chloroplast structure, regulating cold signals related to phytohormones and plant growth regulators (ABA, JA, GA, IAA, SA, BR, ET, CTK, and MET), reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein kinases, and inorganic ions. This review summarizes the mechanisms of how plants respond to cold stress, covering four main signal transduction pathways, including the abscisic acid (ABA) signal transduction pathway, Ca 2+ signal transduction pathway, ROS signal transduction pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/MPK) cascade pathway. Some transcription factors, such as AP2/ERF, MYB, WRKY, NAC, and bZIP, not only act as calmodulin-binding proteins during cold perception but can also play important roles in the downstream chilling-signaling pathway. This review also highlights the analysis of those transcription factors such as bHLH, especially bHLH-type transcription factors ICE, and discusses their functions as phytohormone-responsive elements binding proteins in the promoter region under cold stress. In addition, a theoretical framework outlining plant responses to cold stress tolerance has been proposed. This theory aims to guide future research directions and inform agricultural production practices, ultimately enhancing crop resilience to cold stress.

Flexible, wearable, piezoresistive sensors have significant potential for applications in wearable electronics and electronic skin fields due to their simple structure and durability. Highly sensitive, flexible, piezoresistive sensors with the ability to monitor laryngeal articulatory vibration supply a new, more comfortable and versatile way to aid communication for people with speech disorders. Here, we present a piezoresistive sensor with a novel microstructure that combines insulating and conductive properties. The microstructure has insulating polystyrene (PS) microspheres sandwiched between a graphene oxide (GO) film and a metallic nanocopper-graphene oxide (n-Cu/GO) film. The piezoresistive performance of the sensor can be modulated by controlling the size of the PS microspheres and doping degree of the copper nanoparticles. The sensor demonstrates a high sensitivity of 232.5 kPa -1 in a low-pressure range of 0 to 0.2 kPa, with a fast response of 45 ms and a recovery time of 36 ms, while also exhibiting excellent stability. The piezoresistive performance converts subtle laryngeal articulatory vibration into a stable, regular electrical signal; in addition, there is excellent real-time monitoring capability of human joint movements. This work provides a new idea for the development of wearable electronic devices, healthcare, and other fields.

The human transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2), essential for SARS-CoV-2 entry, is a key antiviral target. Here, we computationally profiled the TMPRSS2-binding affinities of 15 antiviral compounds. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the docked complexes revealed that three compounds exited the substrate-binding cavity (SBC), suggesting noncompetitive inhibition. Of the remaining compounds, five charged ones exhibited reduced binding stability due to competing electrostatic interactions and increased solvent exposure, while seven neutral compounds showed stronger binding affinity driven by van der Waals (vdW) interactions compensating for unfavorable electrostatic effects (including electrostatic interactions and desolvation penalties). Positive and negative hotspot residues were identified as uncharged and charged, respectively, both lining the SBC. Despite forming diverse interactions with compounds, the burial of positive hotspots led to strong vdW interactions that overcompensated for unfavorable electrostatic effects, whereas negative hotspots incurred high desolvation penalties, negating any favorable contributions. Charged residues at the SBC's outer rim can reduce binding affinity significantly when forming hydrogen bonds or salt bridges. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing vdW interactions with uncharged residues and minimizing the unfavorable electrostatic effects of charged residues, providing valuable insights for designing effective TMPRSS2 inhibitors.

Under the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality target background, efficient collaborative scheduling between distribution networks and multi-microgrids is of great significance for enhancing renewable energy accommodation and ensuring stable system operation. Therefore, this paper proposes a collaborative optimization method for the operation of distribution networks and multi-microgrids with shared energy storage based on a multi-body game. The method is modeled and solved in two stages. In the first stage, a multi-objective optimization configuration model for shared energy storage among multi-microgrids is established, with optimization objectives balancing the randomness of renewable energy fluctuations and the economics of each microgrid undertaking shared energy storage. The charging and discharging interactive power of energy storage and each microgrid at various time periods are obtained and passed to the second stage. In the second stage, with the distribution network as the leader and shared energy storage and multi-microgrids as followers, a game optimization model with one leader and 2 followers is established. The model is solved based on an outer-layer genetic algorithm nested with an inner-layer solver to determine the electricity purchase and sale prices among the distribution network, multi-microgrids, and shared energy storage at various time periods, thereby minimizing operational costs. Finally, based on the power interaction of microgrids to measure their contributions, an improved Shapley value cost allocation method is proposed, effectively achieving a balanced distribution of benefits among the distribution network, shared energy storage, and multi-microgrids, thereby improving overall operational revenue. Meanwhile, a new method for calculating the shared energy storage capacity and the upper limit of charging and discharging power based on a game framework was proposed, which can save 37.23% of the power upper limit and 44.89% of the capacity upper limit, effectively saving the power upper limit and capacity upper limit.

Allergic rhinitis affects millions globally, causing significant discomfort and reducing the quality of life. This study investigates the metabolic alterations in murine mast cells (MC/9) under allergic rhinitis conditions induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, employing UHPLC-QTOF-MS-based untargeted and targeted metabolomics. The analysis identified 44 significantly regulated metabolites, including histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and ceramides. Key metabolic pathways such as arachidonic acid, histidine, and sphingolipid metabolisms were notably modulated. The study further examined the therapeutic effects of triprolidine and zileuton, demonstrating their capacity to reverse LPS-induced metabolic shifts. Triprolidine primarily modulated histidine and sphingolipid metabolism, while zileuton targeted arachidonic acid and sphingolipid metabolism. These findings underscore the utility of metabolomics analysis in elucidating the complex biochemical pathways involved in allergic rhinitis and highlight the potential of metabolomics for evaluating therapeutic interventions. This study enhances our understanding of mast cell metabolism in allergic responses and provides a robust model for assessing the efficacy of anti-allergic agents, paving the way for more effective treatments.

We show that the theory of quantum statistical mechanics is a special model in the framework of the quantum probability theory developed by mathematicians, by extending the characteristic function in the classical probability theory to the quantum probability theory. As dynamical variables of a quantum system must respect certain commutation relations, we take the group generated by a Lie algebra constructed with these commutation relations as the bridge, so that the classical characteristic function defined in a Euclidean space is transformed to a normalized, non-negative definite function defined in this group. Indeed, on the quantum side, this group-theoretical characteristic function is equivalent to the density matrix; hence, it can be adopted to represent the state of a quantum ensemble. It is also found that this new representation may have significant advantages in applications. As two examples, we show its effectiveness and convenience in solving the quantum-optical master equation for a harmonic oscillator coupled with its thermal environment, and in simulating the quantum cat map, a paradigmatic model for quantum chaos. Other related issues are reviewed and discussed as well.

The rapid detection of petroleum hydrocarbons and organic pesticides is an important prerequisite for precise soil management. It is also a guarantee for soil quality, environmental safety, and human health. However, the current rapid detection methods are prone to sample matrix interference, complex development processes, short lifespan, and low detection accuracy. Moreover, they face difficulties in achieving simultaneous detection of petroleum hydrocarbons and organic pesticides. In this paper, we developed an electronic nose system for the simultaneous detection of petroleum hydrocarbons and organic pesticides in soil based on gas technology, which includes a sampling module and recognition model. The developed sampling module can simultaneously acquire the odor signals of petroleum hydrocarbons and organic pesticides in soil. The established recognition model can quickly distinguish between healthy soil, soil contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons, and soil contaminated by organic pesticides. It can also achieve specific recognition of pesticide types and petroleum types. The performance of the developed electronic nose system was verified for real soil, petroleum products, and organic pesticides. The experiment shows that the developed electronic nose system has an accuracy of 100% for three tasks: soil conditions identification, pesticide types identification, and petroleum types identification.

Gastrodia elata Blume is a well-known medicinal and edible plant in China, celebrated for its extensive history in traditional medicine and functional food applications. Among its key bioactive components, polysaccharides have drawn significant attention from researchers in the fields of health food and medicine due to their potential health benefits. Recent studies have revealed various biological activities associated with G. elata polysaccharides, including antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-aging, immune regulation, and neuroprotective properties. However, a comprehensive overview of these polysaccharides remains elusive. Specifically, relationship between the structure and activity of G. elata polysaccharides, along with the mechanisms through which various types exert their biological effects, has yet to be fully elucidated. This knowledge gap may impede the further development and utilization of G. elata polysaccharides in medicine, health products, food, and cosmetics. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in extraction, separation, purification, biological activities, and applications of G. elata polysaccharides. Additionally, it delves into structure-activity relationships and pharmacological mechanisms of these polysaccharides, giving support for future research to enhance their application in medicine, food, health products, and cosmetics.

Echinoderms, a diverse group of marine invertebrates including starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers, have been recognized as prolific sources of structurally diverse natural products. In the past five years, remarkable progress has been made in the isolation, structural elucidation, and pharmacological assessment of these bioactive compounds. These metabolites, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, steroids, and peptides, demonstrate potent bioactivities such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial effects, providing valuable insights and scaffolds for drug discovery. This review highlights the structural diversity and biological activities of natural products derived from echinoderms over the last five years, with a particular focus on their structure-activity relationships and therapeutic potential. It also outlines the prospects and challenges for future research, aiming to stimulate further exploration in marine drug discovery.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent malignant tumor, ranking fifth in terms of fatality with poor prognosis and a low survival rate. Rhoifolin (ROF), a flavonoid constituent, has previously been shown to suppress the proliferation of breast and pancreatic cancer cells. However, its inhibitory effect on HCC has remained unexplored. Objectives: Exploring the potent inhibitory activities and underlying mechanisms of ROF on HCC cells. Methods: The suppressive effect of ROF on HCC cells were assessed via CCK8 assay, apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis and xenograft tumor mouse model. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were applied to analyze the underlying mechanisms of ROF on HCC cells. Results: Firstly, the IC 50 values of ROF in HepG2 and HuH7 cells were 373.9 and 288.7 µg/mL at 24 h and 208.9 and 218.0 µg/mL at 48 h, respectively. Moreover, the apoptosis rates of HepG2 and HuH7 cells increased from 6.63% and 6.59% to 17.61% and 21.83% at 24 h and increased from 6.63% and 6.59% to 30.04% and 37.90% at 48 h, respectively. Additionally, ROF induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase in HCC cells. Furthermore, ROF suppressed the tumor growth of HCC cells in vivo without obvious toxicity. Mechanically, ROF facilitated apoptosis by upregulating the expression of PIDD1, CASP8, CASP9, BID, BAX, BIM, and BAK1 in HCC cells. Conclusions: ROF significantly restrains the growth of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, which could be an effective supplement for HCC therapy.

Malic acid is the major organic acid in loquat fruit, contributing to the sourness of fruit and affecting fruit flavor. However, the transcriptional regulation of malic acid in loquat is not well understood. Here, we discovered a MADS-box transcription factor (TF), EjAGL18, that regulated malic acid accumulation in loquat. EjAGL18 is a nucleus-localized TF without transcriptional activity. The expression of EjAGL18 increased during fruit ripening, opposite to the accumulation pattern of malic acid in loquat. The transient overexpression of EjAGL18 in loquat fruit downregulated malic acid accumulation and the transcriptional level of the tonoplast dicarboxylate transporter EjtDT1 . Conversely, silencing EjAGL18 in loquat fruit upregulated the malic acid content and EjtDT1 expression level. Dual-luciferase assays and yeast one-hybrid experiments further confirmed that EjAGL18 could bind to the promoter of EjtDT1 and repress its transcriptions. Furthermore, the transient overexpression of EjtDT1 in loquat fruit increased the malic acid content. These results revealed that EjAGL18 negatively regulates malic acid content by repressing EjtDT1 in loquat. This study broadens the understanding of the MADS-box TF's regulatory mechanisms in malic acid and provides new insights into fruit flavor improvement in loquat.

The overprescription of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture has accelerated the development and spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which severely limits the arsenal available to clinicians for treating bacterial infections. This work discovered a new class of heteroarylcyanovinyl quinazolones and quinazolone pyridiniums to surmount the increasingly severe bacterial resistance. Bioactive assays manifested that the highly active compound 19a exhibited strong inhibition against MRSA and Escherichia coli with extremely low MICs of 0.5 μg/mL, being eightfold more active than that of norfloxacin (MICs = 4 μg/mL). The highly active 19a with rapid bactericidal properties displayed imperceptible resistance development trends, negligible hemolytic toxicity, and effective biofilm inhibitory effects. Preliminary explorations on antibacterial mechanisms revealed that compound 19a could cause membrane damage, embed in intracellular DNA to hinder bacterial DNA replication, and induce metabolic dysfunction. Surprisingly, active 19a was found to trigger the conformational change in PBP2a of MRSA to open the active site, which might account for its high inhibition against MRSA. In addition, the little effect of molecule 19a on the production of reactive oxygen species indicated that bacterial death was not caused by oxidative stress. The above comprehensive analyses highlighted the large potential of quinazolone pyridiniums as multitargeting broad-spectrum antibacterial agents.

Due to advances in big data technology, deep learning, and knowledge engineering, biological sequence visualization has been extensively explored. In the post-genome era, biological sequence visualization enables the visual representation of both structured and unstructured biological sequence data. However, a universal visualization method for all types of sequences has not been reported. Biological sequence data are rapidly expanding exponentially and the acquisition, extraction, fusion, and inference of knowledge from biological sequences are critical supporting technologies for visualization research. These areas are important and require in-depth exploration. This paper elaborates on a comprehensive overview of visualization methods for DNA sequences from four different perspectives-two-dimensional, three-dimensional, four-dimensional, and dynamic visualization approaches-and discusses the strengths and limitations of each method in detail. Furthermore, this paper proposes two potential future research directions for biological sequence visualization in response to the challenges of inefficient graphical feature extraction and knowledge association network generation in existing methods. The first direction is the construction of knowledge graphs for biological sequence big data, and the second direction is the cross-modal visualization of biological sequences using machine learning methods. This review is anticipated to provide valuable insights and contributions to computational biology, bioinformatics, genomic computing, genetic breeding, evolutionary analysis, and other related disciplines in the fields of biology, medicine, chemistry, statistics, and computing. It has an important reference value in biological sequence recommendation systems and knowledge question answering systems.

Butyrate supplementation has gained considerable attention for its potential benefits in livestock, particularly concerning intestinal health and growth performance. This review synthesizes recent research on the diverse roles of butyrate, across various livestock species. As a short-chain fatty acid, butyrate is known for enhancing intestinal development, improving immune function, and modulating microbial diversity. Studies indicate that butyrate supports gut barrier integrity, reduces inflammation, and optimizes feed efficiency, especially during the critical weaning and post-weaning periods in calves, piglets, and lambs. Supplementation with butyrate in livestock has been shown to increase average daily gain (ADG), improve gut microbiota balance, promote growth, enhance gut health, boost antioxidant capacity, and reduce diarrhea. Additionally, butyrate plays a role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression through histone acetylation, influencing tissue development and immune modulation. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have been demonstrated across various species, positioning butyrate as a potential therapeutic agent in animal nutrition. This review suggests that optimizing butyrate supplementation strategies to meet the specific needs of each species may yield additional benefits, establishing butyrate as an important dietary additive for enhancing growth performance and health in livestock.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal glycerol monolaurate complex (GML) and antibiotic (acetylisovaleryltylosin tartrate, ATLL) supplementation during late gestation and lactation on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of piglets. In total, 64 pregnant sows were randomly divided into control, antibiotic, 0.1% GML, and 0.2% GML groups. The GML shortened their delivery interval and farrowing duration. The ATLL increased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in sows and piglets and enhanced glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in piglets, while reducing the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level in sows. The GML tended to increase milk protein in the colostrum and decreased the TNF-α of sows at lactation. Meanwhile, 0.2% GML increased the serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity and interleukin-6 level in weaned piglets and decreased the TNF-α level in sows and weaned piglets. Furthermore, ATLL decreased the microbial diversity of sows, and GML tended to increase the microbial diversity of sows and piglets. The ATLL group had an increased relative abundance of Bacteroidota in weaned piglets. The GML decreased the relative abundance of Peptostreptococcales-Tissierellales, Proteobacteria, and the harmful bacteria Romboutsia in sows. Compared with the ATLL group, the 0.2% GML reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroidota in weaned piglets. Interestingly, both ATLL and GML supplementation decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacteria Peptostreptococcaceae in sows. Correlation analysis also found positive effects of ATLL and GML in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant aspects. In conclusion, GML enhanced reproductive and growth performance by improving antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status and maintaining intestinal flora balance, making it a promising alternative to ATLL in future applications.

This study systematically investigated the effect of organic solvent addition on the detection signal intensity of 15 organic pesticides in water using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The analysis of chromatographic peak area ratios in ultrapure water (UPW) versus 30% methanol (MeOH)-UPW showed that the adsorption effects (AEs, mainly from injection vials with weaker polarity) were the main factor influencing the detection intensity of the organic pesticides. The AEs varied with pesticide type and concentration, especially for those with high logK ow values and longer retention times, such as malathion, triadimefon, prometryn, S-metolachlor, diazinon, and profenofos. Significant differences were observed in the ability of five organic solvents (MeOH, dimethyl sulfoxide, isopropanol, acetonitrile, and acetone) to reduce AEs, with MeOH being the most effective. Optimal solvent ratios were determined to minimize AEs in aqueous solutions. Additionally, plastic injection vials caused greater AEs than glass injection vials, but the addition of organic solvents increased the detection intensity of the analytes for vials of both materials. Density functional theory calculations of the binding energies between pesticides (diazinon, malathion, and S-metolachlor) and vial materials further confirmed the effect of AE on the detection intensity of the analytes. This study showed that the addition of MeOH to real water samples effectively reduced or eliminated the effects of AEs, achieving a good linearity of calibration curves (0.05/0.1-5 μg/L, R 2 = 0.9853-0.9998), high sensitivity (LOD = 5-32 ng/L), precision (RSD = 1.4-14.5%), and accuracy (average recoveries = 80.6-121.8%). These results provide technical and methodological support for mitigating the effects of AEs on pesticide detection in water using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

To investigate the water damage at the interface between emulsified asphalt and aggregate under the action of external water infiltration, firstly, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was used as an emulsifier to prepare emulsified asphalt in the laboratory, and its basic properties were tested. Then, based on molecular dynamics, an emulsified asphalt-aggregate interface model with different water contents was constructed to calculate the adhesion work of the emulsified asphalt-aggregate interface. The results show that the simulated values of emulsified asphalt density, cohesive energy density, and solubility are in good agreement with the experimental values. Under the same water content, the adhesion force between asphalt and three oxides (CaO, Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 ) is arranged in the following order: CaO > Al 2 O 3 > SiO 2 . The bonding performance of an alkaline aggregate to asphalt is better than that of an acid aggregate. The van der Waals force plays a major role in the adhesion performance of an emulsified asphalt mixture, and electrostatic force plays a secondary role. Under the action of external force, the macroscopic failure mode of the emulsified asphalt-aggregate is as follows: the alkaline oxide-emulsified asphalt system is cohesive failure; the acid and neutral oxide-emulsified asphalt system is adhesive failure; the enrichment of water molecules at the interface is the main factor causing water damage.

Phthalocyanine-sensitized TiO 2 significantly enhances photocatalytic performance, but the method of phthalocyanine immobilization also plays a crucial role in its performance. In order to investigate the effect of the binding strategy of phthalocyanine and TiO 2 on photocatalytic performance, a dual-pathway study has been conducted. On the one hand, zinc-tetra ( N -carbonylacrylic) aminephthalocyanine (Pc) was directly grafted onto the surface of Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @TiO 2 (FST). On the other hand, Pc was immobilized on a silane coupling agent ((3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane) grafted onto the surface of the FST. Through photocatalytic experiments on the two types of composite materials synthesized, the results showed that the photocatalyst obtained by directly sensitizing Pc (FSTP) exhibited better performance on rhodamine B(RhB) removal than did the other photocatalyst using the silane coupling agent (FSTAP). Further mechanistic studies showed that directly sensitized FSTP exhibited more efficient photogenerated electron-hole pair separation, whereas FSTAP linked by a silane coupling agent created an additional transport distance that might greatly affect the photogenerated electron transport. Therefore, the dual-pathway research in this work provides new guidance for efficiently constructing phthalocyanine-sensitized TiO 2 photocatalysts.

This study presents a comparative analysis of the influence of Ce-Gd and Gd-Y additions on the microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and electrochemical behavior of extruded Mg-3Zn-Mn-Ca alloy rods. Despite the frequent incorporation of Gd, Y, and Ce as alloying elements in magnesium alloys, the systematic examination of their combined effects on Mg-Zn alloys has been limited. Our findings reveal that both Gd-Ce and Gd-Y additions significantly enhance the mechanical properties of Mg-3Zn-Mn-Ca alloy, although through differing mechanisms. Specifically, the Mg-3Zn-1Mn-0.5Ca-1Gd-0.5Ce(ZMXE3101(GdCe)) alloy exhibited a yield strength of 304.5 MPa and an elongation of 15%, achieved through dynamic recrystallization and enhanced basal texture. The grain refinement and texture strengthening resulting from the coarse second-phase particles formed by Ce-Gd played a significant role in increasing the yield strength. In contrast, the Mg-3Zn-1Mn-0.5Ca-1Gd-0.5Y (ZMXE3101(GdY)) alloy demonstrated a yield strength of 305 MPa and an elongation of 20%. The finer grains and elongated unrecrystallized grains formed by Gd-Y contributed to the elevation in yield strength. While the ductility of this alloy was slightly lower than that of Mg-3Zn-Mn-Ca without rare earth additions, it still exhibited commendable overall mechanical properties. The electrochemical test results indicate that the addition of both Gd-Ce and Gd-Y enhances the corrosion current density of Mg-3Zn-Mn-Ca alloy, attributable to the generation of numerous rare earth phase particles that function as cathodes. Compared to the ZMXE3101(GdY) alloy, ZMXE3101(GdCe) exhibits a higher equilibrium potential and significantly lower corrosion current density. This is due to the formation of a protective film during the corrosion process by Gd-Ce.

More than 70% of cancer patients receive radiotherapy during their treatment, with consequent various side effects on normal cells due to high ionizing radiation doses despite tumor shrinkage. To date, many radioprotectors and radiosensitizers have been investigated in preclinical studies, but their use has been hampered by the high toxicity to normal cells or poor tumor radiosensitization effects. Genistein is a naturally occurring isoflavone found in soy products. It selectively sensitizes tumor cells to radiation while protecting normal cells from radiation-induced damage, thus improving the efficacy of radiotherapy and consequent therapeutic outcomes while reducing adverse effects. Genistein protects normal cells by its potent antioxidant effect that reduces oxidative stress and mitigates radiation-induced apoptosis and inflammation. Conversely, genistein increases the radiosensitivity of tumor cells through specific mechanisms such as the inhibition of DNA repair, the arrest of the cell cycle in the G 2 /M phase, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the modulation of apoptosis. These effects increase the cytotoxicity of radiation. Preclinical studies demonstrated genistein efficacy in various cancer models, such as breast, prostate, and lung cancer. Despite limited clinical studies, the existing evidence supports the potential of genistein in improving the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy. Future research should focus on dosage optimization and administration, the exploration of combination therapies, and long-term clinical trials to establish genistein benefits in clinical settings. Hence, the unique ability of genistein to improve the radiosensitivity of tumor cells while protecting normal cells could be a promising strategy to improve the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy.