Decoding coal-induced pulmonary endothelial injury using single-cell omics.

Pulmonary endothelial injury is a critical factor in the pathogenesis and progression of coal pneumoconiosis. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this injury remain poorly understood. To address this, we established a coal pneumoconiosis mouse model by chronic intranasal coal dust exposure over 9 months.

Bromine-Functionalized Covalent Organic Frameworks Enhancing the Desorption Efficiency and Enabling Preconcentration of Brominated Pollutants for Mass Spectrometry Detection.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) exhibit exceptional adsorption capacity but suffer from challenging desorption. In this study, a bromine-functionalized magnetic COF composite (FeO@COF-Br) was synthesized via bromodimethylsulfonium bromide-mediated bromination of imine-linked COF on FeO nanospheres (FeO@COF), where the COF framework was constructed by 1,3,5-tris(4-formylphenyl)benzene and 2,6-diamino-3,5-diethynylpyridine. Compared with pristine FeO@COF, FeO@COF-Br enhanced desorption efficiencies for brominated contaminants by about 30% while maintaining adsorption capacity.

Effects of Interspecific Competition on Habitat Shifts of (Temminck et Schlegel, 1846) and (Houttuyn, 1782) in the Northwest Pacific.

As economically important sympatric species in the Northwest Pacific, the Japanese sardine () and Chub mackerel () exhibit significant biological interactions. Understanding the impact of interspecies competition on their habitat dynamics can provide crucial insights for the sustainable development and management of these interconnected species resources. This study utilizes fisheries data of and from the Northwest Pacific, collected from June to November between 2017 and 2020.

Designing a mesoporous cascade reactor for enhanced enzymatic performance.

Designing biomimetic catalytic systems with enhanced activity, stability, and reusability remains a grand challenge in the field of biocatalysis. Here, we report a hierarchical and modular strategy for constructing robust biocatalytic cascade reactors by spatially organizing dual enzymes, -amino acid oxidase (DAAO) and cytochrome c (Cyt c), within defect-engineered covalent organic frameworks (COFs), followed by surface encapsulation with a polydopamine (PDA) shell to mimic cellular compartmentalization. The defective COFs provide highly tunable pore architectures and versatile surface functionalities, enabling site-specific enzyme immobilization via both physical infiltration and covalent conjugation.

Endogenous fine-mapping and prioritization of functional regulatory elements in complex genetic loci.

Most genetic loci linked to polygenic traits are in non-coding regions, with complex regulation and linkage disequilibrium (LD), complicating causal variant and gene prioritization. We used multiplexed single-cell CRISPR interference and activation perturbations to investigate cis-regulatory element (CRE) and gene expression relationships within tight LD in the endogenous chromatin context. We demonstrated the prevalence of multiple causality in perfect LD (pLD) for independent expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and uncovered fine-grained genetic effects on gene expression within pLD, which are difficult to decipher using traditional eQTL fine-mapping or existing computational methods.

Climate change poses risks to water retention and carbon sequestration capacity in the source area of the Yangtze River.

The source area of the Yangtze River (SAYR), part of the Tibetan Plateau, is an ecologically fragile alpine region sensitive to climate change. Current research has predominantly examined hydrological and ecological responses as isolated systems, failing to address the coupled mechanisms through which permafrost degradation mediates water-carbon interactions‌. In this study, we used a fully coupled eco-hydrological model that integrates permafrost processes, along with multi-source remote sensing data, experimental monitoring, and machine learning, to quantify the water retention and carbon sequestration capacity over the past 20 years.

Integrated Cytotoxicity and Metabolomics Analysis Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Responses to Co-Exposure of T-2 and HT-2 Toxins.

T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin are commonly found in agricultural products and animal feed, posing serious effects to both humans and animals. This study employed combination index (CI) modeling and metabolomics to assess the combined cytotoxic effects of T-2 and HT-2 on four porcine cell types: intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2), porcine Leydig cells (PLCs), porcine ear fibroblasts (PEFs), and porcine hepatocytes (PHs). Cell viability assays revealed a dose-dependent reduction in viability across all cell lines, with relative sensitivities in the order: IPEC-J2 > PLCs > PEFs > PHs.

A "Space-for-Time" Strategy Based on Single-Cell Dual-Isotope ICP-MS Analysis Enabling High-Throughput and Sensitive Quantification of miRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells for Therapeutic Assessment.

miRNAs regulate cancer progression and serve as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets in chemotherapy and gene therapy. Current analytical platforms lack the capacity to concurrently satisfy single-cell resolution and target specificity while maintaining high-throughput performance and cost-effectiveness. This limitation underscores the critical demand for innovative precision detection technologies.

Patient willingness to pay and preference for cervical cancer treatments among middle- and low-income populations in Xinjiang.

Background: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health issue in underdeveloped regions like Xinjiang, Western China, where health literacy is low and economic disparities are prominent. While previous studies have focused on preventive measures, there is limited research on the willingness to pay (WTP) for cervical cancer treatments. This study aimed to assess patient preferences and WTP from patient perspective for quality of life improvement, unadjusted life-year extension, and targeted and immunotherapy drugs among cervical cancer patients in Xinjiang.

The influence of mixed solvents on the morphology of ε-CL-20 crystal.

Context: CL-20 (especially the ε-crystal form) is a high-energy density explosive, but the preparation of centimeter-sized ε-CL-20 crystals is complex, which limits the study of its properties and mechanisms. Since crystal morphology can significantly affect the performance and sensitivity of energetic materials, this study combines MD simulation and experimental techniques to study and examine the differences in ε-CL-20 crystal habit as well as the interplay between the principal growing crystal planes of ε-CL-20 and the mixed solvent molecules. The findings reveal that according to the AE model, ε-CL-20 consists of (0 1 1), (1 1 0), (1 0 -1), (1 1 -1), (0 0 2), (0 2 1), and (1 0 1) seven independent surfaces under vacuum, and the (0 1 1) surface is the most important growth surface.

Operational efficiency and clinical safety of laser positioning-assisted CT-guided lung nodule biopsy: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: CT-guided percutaneous lung nodule biopsy (CLNB) is a critical diagnostic tool for pulmonary lesions, yet traditional methods are limited by operator-dependent variability and higher complication risks. The dual-laser beam design of the laser positioning (LP) device, utilizing real-time trajectory correction, holds potential to improve puncture accuracy and reduce human error, but its clinical value in CLNB remains to be systematically validated.

Background: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the advanced puncture efficacy and clinical safety of the LP device during CLNB.

The associations between pancreatic fat infiltration and its combination with the triglyceride glucose index and the risk of coronary calcification: A multicenter study.

Introduction: Intrapancreatic fat deposition is related to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the association between intrapancreatic fat deposition and coronary artery disease has not been well studied. In this study, we investigated the associations between intrapancreatic fat deposition alone or in combination with triglyceride glucose index (TYG) and the risk of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in a general population.

Comparative Analysis of Padua and Caprini Scores in Predicting Venous Thromboembolism Risk Among Nonagenarians: A Cross-Sectional Study From Rugao.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the predictive performance of Padua and Caprini scores for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment in individuals aged ≥ 90 years.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 511 nonagenarians in Rugao, China. Participants underwent comprehensive clinical assessments including both Padua and Caprini risk scoring.

Gene duplication and clustering underlie the conservation and diversification of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis in plants.

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), comprising ~2500 compounds with pharmacological significance, are well-studied in Ranunculales but poorly understood in Magnoliids, an early-diverging angiosperm group. This study characterizes key enzymes in Houttuynia cordata-including 6-OMT, NMT, CYP80B, and 4'OMT-that form BIA backbones and uncovers a CYP80G-mediated phenol coupling reaction in isoboldine biosynthesis. Functional analysis reveals conservation of BIA backbone formation genes between Magnoliids and Ranunculales, with evidence of gene duplication and neofunctionalization in H.

Discovery of Antioxidant Peptide Against Keap1 From Silkworm Protein Based on In Silico Study and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity Detection.

Nrf2-Keap1 is an important defense system against oxidative stress damage and enhances the body's antioxidant capacity. Targeting the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway and activating Nrf2 has become an effective strategy for treating oxidative stress and related diseases. In this study, virtual digestion, ADMET prediction, and molecular docking were used to screen antioxidant peptide from silkworm pupa protein.

Nanotentacle-Armed Flexible Affinity Interface Enables Streamlined Capture, Labeling, and Release of Circulating Tumor Cells.

Liquid biopsy based on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is regarded as a promising approach for cancer diagnosis, therapeutic evaluation, and metastasis monitoring. However, conventional CTC identification processes after CTC isolation are labor-intensive and can lead to CTC inactivation. Here, we present a nanotentacle-armed flexible affinity interface (NataFace) designed for the capture, release, and labeling of CTCs.

Pathogenic mechanisms and molecular features of a novel UL2 gene-deficient duck enteritis virus endemic to China.

Duck enteritis virus (DEV) was identified as the etiological agent responsible for an outbreak of morbidity and mortality in adult ducks on a farm in Jiangsu, China. Diagnostic approaches confirmed that the outbreak was caused by the highly pathogenic DEV-JS2024 isolate. The clinical progression of the disease, characterized by lethargy, anorexia, ocular discharge, and high mortality, was accompanied by extensive hemorrhagic lesions in critical organs such as the liver, spleen, lungs, and bursa of Fabricius, consistent with known signs of DEV infection.

High-dynamic-range 3D shape measurement: the original and inverted fringe projection method combined with the K-means clustering exposure time estimation algorithm.

It is a challenge for fringe projection profilometry to reconstruct the three-dimensional (3D) shape of highly reflective objects due to the saturation of the captured images. In the multiple exposure method (MEM), exposure time is not predetermined, which requires numerous adjustments to achieve a wide range of intensity fringe sequences. This results in low measurement efficiency.

Unprecedented large-scale aquifer recovery through human intervention.

Groundwater depletion is a critical global challenge, particularly in intensively cultivated drylands, with few documented cases of successful recovery. Here, we report a striking reversal of long-term groundwater decline in the North China Plain, one of the world's most severely depleted aquifers. Based on a comprehensive analysis of groundwater levels from over 2000 monitoring wells spanning the past two decades, we show that groundwater levels have risen at an average rate of ~0.

Retinal Neurovascular Signatures in Parkinson's Disease.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate retinal neurovascular signatures in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using multimodal neurovascular imaging.

Methods: Fifteen patients with clinically diagnosed PD and eighteen age-matched healthy controls (HC) controls were recruited. Retinal blood flow (RBF) was measured using a retinal function imager.

Microliter-scale ethanol confinement array with biofluidic triggered release for dual-enhanced precision chemotherapy.

Ethanol is a low-cost, water-insoluble solubilizer for chemotherapeutics and a tumor ablator in various clinical settings. Three-dimensional (3D) precise control over the flow path of liquid formulations during treatment is crucial for accurate lesion dosing, minimizing damage to adjacent tissues, and reducing systemic inflammation. Herein, we created a microliter cavity structure within an ethanol-resistant, water-dissolvable microneedle array sealed with an adhesive, denoted as APE-PCMN.

Deciphering gene-smoking interactions in age-related macular degeneration through cross-biobank genomic integration.

Introduction: This study aims to identify genetic loci associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and assess the interaction between genetic susceptibility and smoking history.

Methods: A meta-analysis of discovery genome-wide association studies (GWASs), involving a total of 42542 AMD patients and 920322 controls from four large-scale European cohorts, was conducted using METAL, a software tool commonly used for meta-analysis of GWAS. A polygenic risk score (PRS) was derived from the meta-analysis results for 331281 UK Biobank participants.

The association between remnant cholesterol and the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fracture in older adults.

Background: Serum lipid levels have been shown to influence bone mineral density. Additionally, a limited number of studies have suggested that remnant cholesterol (RC) may be linked to the risk of osteoporosis. However, the relationship between RC and fracture risk remains unclear.

Dual-response fluorescent carbon dots for Ag and Hg detection study in actual samples and biological systems.

It is important to be capable of achieving highly selective detection of Ag and Hg because their excessive concentrations may pose a serious threat to human health and lead to a variety of diseases. Herein, a new type of orange fluorescent carbon dot with an emission wavelength of 590 nm was synthesized by a hydrothermal method using 1,2,4-triaminobenzene dihydrochloride and ethylenediamine as raw materials. The synthesized orange carbon dots have high affinity for Hg and Ag ions, which can be selectively detected by fluorescence quenching with the detection limits of 0.