Haplotype-resolved genome and multi-omics landscape reveal an epigenetic regulation of citric acid accumulation in lemon.

Lemon (Citrus limon L.), an economically important Citrus species, produces high levels of citric acid. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying citric acid accumulation in lemon fruit are poorly understood.

Beyond traditional classrooms: CALL as a catalyst for autonomous EAL learning.

As technology reshapes language education, Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) offers new pathways for fostering learner autonomy and enhancing English proficiency. This study investigated the impact of CALL tools on English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners' autonomy in China, exploring how these tools support both independent vocabulary acquisition and classroom engagement. A sample of 100 undergraduate students participated in an 8-week intervention, with the experimental group using CALL tools (Anki, Quizlet, Kahoot!, and ChatGPT) and the control group following traditional textbook-based instruction.

Immunoevasion strategies for African swine fever virus: Modulation of antigen presentation pathways.

African swine fever virus (ASFV), a highly lethal pathogen, poses a catastrophic threat to global pork production. While some commercial vaccines exist, their availability remains regional limitations. This review investigates the mechanistic interplay between ASFV and antigen-presenting cells (APCs), with a particular focus on viral evasion strategies that disrupt antigen presentation pathways.

Global and regional temporal changes in cross-country inequalities of site-specific osteoarthritis burden, 1990-2021.

Objective: This study examined the global and regional temporal changes in cross-country inequalities of site-specific osteoarthritis (OA) burden from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: Age-standardized years lived with disability rate for site-specific OA across 204 countries/territories were obtained from the Global Burden of Diseases Study (GBD) 2021. The slope index of inequality (SII) and the concentration index (CCI) were calculated to quantify the absolute and relative cross-country inequalities.

Associations of metabolic status with all-cause mortality among individuals with osteoarthritis: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) often experience significant changes in their metabolic status and have a higher risk of mortality compared to the general population. However, no study has quantified the metabolic status of OA patients. Moreover, the association between metabolic status and risk of mortality among OA patients remains unclear.

Global, regional, and national disease burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis without extensive drug resistance, 1990-2021: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Objective: Utilizing Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD 2021) data, this study aims to illustrate trends and spatiotemporal patterns of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden from 1990 to 2021, and explore their potential mechanisms.

Methods: This research extracted core indicators including incidence, mortality, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), with their age-standardized rate (ASR). Joinpoint regression, age-period-cohort analysis, inequality analysis, and frontier analysis were applied to describe the temporal and spatial trends of the disease burden.

The effectiveness of the TikTok flipped classroom method on students' academic performance in folk art course.

This study investigates the effectiveness of the TikTok flipped classroom method on students' academic performance in a Folk Art course through an empirical research design. The study procedure involved a pre-test examination of 102 first-year Fine Arts students at a Chinese vocational college, where two classes were selected based on their college entrance art exam scores to ensure comparable academic backgrounds. The teaching intervention, spanning eight weeks during the second semester of the 2023-2024 academic year, contrasted an experimental class employing the TikTok flipped classroom method with a control class utilizing traditional teaching methods.

Low-Dose Methotrexate for the Treatment of Inflammatory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: A recent study reported that methotrexate may reduce joint pain in patients with inflammatory hand osteoarthritis (OA). However, it remains unknown whether methotrexate has similar effects on inflammatory knee OA.

Objective: To examine whether methotrexate has symptom-relieving and disease-modifying effects for participants with knee OA and effusion-synovitis.

The effects of caffeine and adenosine on the microbiome and lipidome of the scalp.

Hair loss is a complex multifactorial process. The mechanisms by which caffeine and adenosine act against hair loss have been extensively researched, but little is known about their effects on the microbiome and lipidome of the scalp. Hair loss may be associated with the status of scalp microbiota and lipids.

Therapeutic potential of celastrol in bacterial infections: Current research advancements and future perspectives.

Drug-resistant bacterial infections and their associated inflammatory diseases constitute a deadly threat to global health. Celastrol is one of the main effective components extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.F (TWHF).

Genome-wide identification and expression profiles of NAC transcription factors in Poncirus trifoliata reveal their potential roles in cold tolerance.

Background: Citrus, a globally vital economic crop, faces severe challenges due to extreme climatic conditions and diseases/pests attack. Poncirus trifoliata is closely related to citrus and shows unique cold tolerance, making it a crucial material for unraveling genes involved in cold tolerance. NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC2) transcription factors play important roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses.

Examining the beliefs of non-native English-speaking teachers and EFL students about WCF in enhancing writing skills.

While there has been extensive research on the effectiveness of teacher-written feedback, there is a limited number of studies that have explored the perspectives of feedback practitioners. Specifically, there is a lack of research examining teachers' beliefs about teacher-written feedback, especially when comparing the beliefs of learners from intermediate level. Therefore, there is still a significant amount of knowledge that needs to be acquired on teachers' perceptions of written corrective feedback (WCF) in relation to learners with diverse first languages (L1).

Electronic Structure Origins of Distinct Hydrogenation Activities Observed for Linear and Bent Bimetallic μ-Nitrides.

Hydrogenation of metal nitrides is of particular interest due to the direct relevance to Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis. Notably, for all bi- and multi-nuclear bridging nitrides reported thus far, only those featuring bent M─N─M cores can react with dihydrogen (H) and related H-derived species, while the vast majority of linear M─N─M congeners cannot. Herein, we present a detailed electronic-structure study of prototypical bimetallic bent μ-nitrides [Cp*Fe(μ-SEt)(μ-N)FeCp*][PF] (1, Cp* = η-CMe) and [Cp*Co(μ-SAd)(μ-N)CoCp*] (3, Ad = adamantyl) and linear μ-nitride [(TPP)Fe(μ-N)Fe(TPP)][PF] (2, TPP = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphinato), as well as μ-imide [Cp*Co(μ-SAd)(μ-NH)CoCp*][BPh] (4), using various spectroscopic techniques, in particular, N solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, coupled with density functional theory calculations.

Combination of skin sympathetic nerve activity and urine biomarkers in improving diagnostic accuracy for urge urinary incontinence.

Urge urinary incontinence (UUI) poses diagnostic challenges due to subjective assessments and limited biomarkers. This study aims to enhance accuracy by integrating skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) with urine biomarkers. A prospective analysis included 36 UUI and 36 non-UUI participants.

Synthesis, bioactivity, and molecular docking studies: novel arylpiperazine derivatives as potential new-resistant AR antagonists.

The majority of patients with androgen-dependent prostate cancer (PCa) develop resistance to hormone therapy after approximately 18-24 months of androgen deprivation therapy treatment. During this process, PCa cells progressively lose their sensitivity to androgens and evolve into castration-resistant prostate cancer leading to uncontrolled tumor growth and ultimately the failure of endocrine therapy. To develop potential anti-prostate cancer agents, in this study, we identified a novel ether-type arylpiperazine derivative as a potent androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, uncovering a series of effective antiproliferative compounds.

Recent Progress in Silver-Ion-Selective Fluorescence Chemical Sensors.

Heavy metal ions easily accumulate in the human body through the food chain, and their binding with sulfur-containing proteins, enzymes, and various metabolites can affect the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. The development of sensors for detecting Ag and other metal ions provides an economically efficient means of protecting the environment and human health. This review focused on the latest developments in fluorescent and colorimetric organic small-molecule sensors for identifying Ag.

The burden and trends of depressive disorders in adolescent and young adults aged 15-29 in China, 1990-2021 and its prediction to 2030: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: Depressive disorders (DDs) are the leading causes of disability among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in China. This study estimated the trends of DDs burden among AYAs in China over the last 32 years, and further predicted to 2030.

Methods: Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, age-standardized incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) rates were used to describe the DDs burden among AYAs (aged 15-29 years) in China.

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Induce Exhaustion-Like CD8 T Cells during JEV Infection.

Japanese encephalitis (JE), caused by Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease and a leading cause of viral encephalitis worldwide. While JEV has the ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the precise mechanisms by which it inhibits the immune response prior to penetrating the BBB remain unclear, presenting obstacles in the development of efficacious therapeutic interventions. This study investigated the impact of JEV on CD8 T cell responses, with a particular focus on the dysfunction of CD8 T cells during JEV infection.

1.6 µm tunable and switchable single-frequency erbium-doped fiber laser.

We present a tunable and switchable single-frequency (SF) erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) operating at 1.6 µm. For the first time, a multichannel Sagnac filter, a "θ" sub cavity, and a saturable absorber (SA) have been combined to achieve SF operation of single- and dual-wavelength tunability as well as single-dual-triple-wavelength switching.

Solanapyrone analogues from endophytic Nigrospora sphaerica MZW-A associated with the endangered conifer Pinus wangii.

Eight previously undescribed solanapyrone analogues, sphasolanapyrones A-H (1-8), together with four structurally related known compounds (9-12) were obtained from the solid fermentation of Nigrospora sphaerica MZW-A, an endophytic fungus isolated from the fresh branches of the endangered conifer Pinus wangii. This study represents the first investigation on the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungus associated with this precious plant. The structures and absolute configurations of compounds 1-8 were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations.