Functional differentiation of industrial hemp rhizosphere microbiome along environmental gradients.

The southwestern, central, and northeastern regions of China are the primary cultivation areas for industrial hemp. Microorganisms within the soil-root continuum play a crucial role in plant health. However, the mechanisms by which these microbial communities respond to environmental gradients remain unclear.

Explainable machine learning reveals climate warming increases risk of algal blooms in lakes and reservoirs.

In recent decades, China has exerted significant efforts to diminish the influx of exogenous nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) into lakes and reservoirs (L&Rs) in an attempt to control algal blooms (ABs). However, climate change has undermined the effectiveness of these measures. Therefore, distinguishing the contributions of climate change and nutrients is crucial for developing effective ABs management strategies, but remains challenging.

The impact of aberrant lipid metabolism on the immune microenvironment of gastric cancer: a mini review.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with limited responses to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies in most patients. Increasing evidence indicates that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) plays a crucial role in immunotherapy outcomes. Among various metabolic abnormalities in the TIME, dysregulated lipid metabolism has emerged as a critical determinant of immune cell fate, differentiation, and function.

SP3 and DEP1 Orchestrate Panicle Architecture by Jointly Regulating APO2 Expression in Rice.

Panicle architecture is largely determined by meristem activity. This previous study shows that DNA binding with one finger (Dof) transcription factor Short Panicle 3 (SP3) regulates panicle architecture. However, the molecular mechanisms of SP3 controlling panicle architecture remain largely unknown.

Facile Synthesis of Diversified Biisoquinoline-Containing Polymers by Multicomponent C─H Activation/Annulation Polymerizations.

Biisoquinoline scaffolds with unique photophysical properties and latent axial chirality have received considerable attention in medical chemistry, asymmetric catalysis, and materials science. However, limited by the large synthetic difficulties, functional biisoquinoline-containing polymers (BCPs) have rarely been reported. Furthermore, the construction of optically active BCPs via asymmetric catalytic polymerization have not been achieved so far.

Mechanically Active Hydrogel for Healing Intestinal Fistulas through the YAP-Mediated Mechanosensitization of Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Intestinal fistula is a serious condition characterized by abnormal connections between the intestine and surrounding tissues. Despite advances in comprehensive management of intestinal fistulas, patients often need to undergo definitive surgery and face life-threatening complications due to ineffective closure measures. Herein, a mechanically active hydrogel (GNGP) that actively constricts intestinal fistulas in response to body temperature is presented.

Natural Variation of a Specific NLR Gene RGA4L Confers Strong Chilling Tolerance in Rice.

Low temperature limits rice geographical distribution. However, japonica rice, characterised by its chilling tolerance, can be planted in high-altitude and temperate regions, and the molecular mechanisms underlying this adaptation remain partially understood. Here, we identified a novel major chilling-tolerant QTL, qCSS12, through map-based cloning using a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) previously developed from a cross between the chilling-tolerant japonica rice Koshihikari and the indica rice Nona Bokra.

Revealing the nervous system requirements of Alzheimer's disease risk genes in .

Most Alzheimer's disease (AD) susceptibility genes have poorly understood roles in the central nervous system (CNS). To address this gap, we systematically characterized 100 conserved candidate AD risk genes using a cross-species strategy in the fruit fly, . Genes were prioritized based primarily on human functional genomic evidence.

Clinical Characterization, Risk Factors, and Mortality in Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Hypervirulent Intra-Abdominal Infections.

Background: The outbreak of the highly lethal Carbapenem-resistant (CR-hvKP) strain is increasingly prevalent. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, molecular characteristics, and mortality rate in intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) caused by CR-hvKP in a tertiary hospital, providing scientific evidence for clinical treatment to reduce mortality and improve patient prognosis.

Methods: The study included 160 patients who developed CRKP IAIs from June 2023 to December 2024.

LAZY5 acts in an LAZY1-independent pathway to regulate rice tiller angle.

Tiller angle is a key agronomic trait that influences plant architecture and thus grain yield by optimizing rice planting density. Although great progress has been made in understanding the LAZY1-dependent pathway mediating rice tiller angle, the genetic regulatory network of rice tiller angle remains to be elucidated. Here, we identified a new tiller angle gene LAZY5 (LA5) that encodes a member of the ATP binding cassette transporter G subfamily (ABCG) transporter.

Identifying rubber-related genes through developing a sense/antisense RNA expression mutant library of Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin.

Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin (TKS) is a promising alternative crop source for producing high-quality natural rubber (NR) and has become an ideal model plant for studying NR biosynthesis, regulation mechanisms, and production. So far, only a very limited number of functional genes related to NR biosynthesis have been identified in TKS. To achieve a systematic identification of its novel functional genes, we developed a mutant system denoted sense/antisense RNA expression (SARE) and have generated more than 8,000 transgenic TKS plants.

Enhanced plasma ammonia synthesis using a La(Ti,W)O catalyst with Ti-W dual-metal sites.

The development of green and mild-distributed plasma ammonia synthesis methods is critical for addressing renewable energy challenges. However, catalyst development remains challenging due to complex plasma-catalyst interactions. Herein, a simple metal doping strategy was employed to design dual-metal active sites, aimed at utilizing the unique d-σ and d-π orbitals of Ti and W to "pull" the nitrogen molecule from both sides and activate the adsorbed nitrogen molecules.

[Advances in Animal Modeling in the Study of Bone-Vascular Axis Comorbidities].

Osteoporosis and cardiovascular calcification, two major age-related chronic diseases that China is confronting today, pose serious threats to public health. Previous studies have reported overlapping connections in the pathological processes and molecular mechanisms of these two diseases, particularly concerning inflammation, oxidative stress, and dysregulation of mineral metabolism, and that these two diseases tend to share common pathogenic factors. However, research exploring the comorbidity mechanisms of the two diseases remains limited in both depth and scope, largely due to the lack of widely accepted comorbidity animal models.

Predicting trajectories of the north star ambulatory assessment total score in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) is a widely used functional endpoint in drug development for ambulatory patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Accurately predicting NSAA total score trajectories is important for designing randomized trials for novel therapies in DMD and for contextualizing outcomes, especially over longer-term follow-up (>18 months) when placebo-controlled studies are infeasible. We developed a prognostic model for NSAA total score trajectories over at most 5 years of follow-up for patients with DMD aged 4 to <16 years who were initially ambulatory and receiving corticosteroids but no other disease-modifying therapies.

The dual role of type I interferons in bacterial infections: from immune defense to pathogenesis.

Type I interferons (IFNs) are crucial components of the human immune system, playing a key role in regulating immune activity. Existing literature has characterized their antiviral and proviral roles in viral contexts. Type I IFNs also exhibit a dual role in bacterial infections, functioning as defenders or disruptors or both based on factors including but not limited to such things as the bacterial species, infection stage, host immune status, and the route and site of infection.

Accuracy of static-guided endodontics for access cavity preparation with pulp canal obliteration: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Locating calcified canals in teeth with pulp canal obliteration remains particularly challenging. The absence of data from randomized controlled trials conducted in vivo has been a critical gap. The objective of this study was to comprehensively assess the accuracy of static-guided endodontics in addressing the challenges of pulp canal obliteration through a randomized controlled clinical trial, as well as pain during treatment and clinical outcomes.

Huashi Jiedu Decoction Enhances 5-Fluorouracil Efficacy in Gastric Cancer via miRNA-21-3p/p53 Pathway.

Purpose: To explore the mechanism of Huashi Jiedu Decoction (HJD) synergizing with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) in gastric cancer (GC) therapy.

Methods: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and genes involved in HJD-mediated GC treatment were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry, network pharmacology, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and molecular docking. The effects of HJD on 5-Fu sensitivity in BGC-823 cells were evaluated with 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and Western blotting.

A universal strategy for bridging Prussian blue analogues and sodium layered oxide cathodes: direct fast conversion, dynamic structural evolution, and sodium storage mechanisms.

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) are widely recognized as one of the most promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, many unqualified PBAs with unsatisfactory electrochemical performance are difficult to dispose of and pose a risk of environmental contamination. Additionally, the production process of layered oxides, another popular cathode material for SIBs, requires prolonged high-temperature sintering, resulting in significant energy consumption.

DNA metabarcode analyses reveal similarities and differences in plant microbiomes of industrial hemp and medicinal in China.

Endophytic bacteria within plant tissues play crucial roles in plant health, stress tolerance, and contribute to the metabolite diversity of host plants. L. is an economically significant plant, with industrial hemp (IH) and medicinal (MC) being the two main cultivars.

Root microbiota regulates tiller number in rice.

Rice tillering is an important agronomic trait regulated by plant genetic and environmental factors. However, the role and mechanism of the root microbiota in modulating rice tillering have not been explored. Here, we examined the root microbiota composition and tiller numbers of 182 genome-sequenced rice varieties grown under field conditions and uncovered a significant correlation between root microbiota composition and rice tiller number.

Insights from natural rubber biosynthesis evolution for pathway engineering.

Natural rubber (NR), valued for its elasticity and impact resistance, is essential for numerous industrial and medical applications, with global demand continuously rising. While approximately 2500 plant species from more than 40 families can produce rubber, the majority is sourced from Hevea brasiliensis grown in tropical regions. Alternative rubber-producing plants, such as Parthenium argentatum and Taraxacum kok-saghyz, offer enhanced environmental adaptability and species diversity, making them promising candidates for rubber production.

AI-assisted evidence screening method for systematic reviews in environmental research: integrating ChatGPT with domain knowledge.

Systematic reviews (SRs) in environmental science is challenging due to diverse methodologies, terminologies, and study designs across disciplines. A major limitation is that inconsistent application of eligibility criteria in evidence-screening affects the reproducibility and transparency of SRs. To explore the potential role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in applying eligibility criteria, we developed and evaluated an AI-assisted evidence-screening framework using a case study SR on the relationship between stream fecal coliform concentrations and land use and land cover (LULC).

Computational and functional prioritization identifies genes that rescue behavior and reduce tau protein in fly and human cell models of Alzheimer disease.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in Alzheimer disease (AD) have uncovered over 70 loci significantly associated with AD risk, but identifying the true causal gene(s) at these loci requires systematic functional validation that is rarely performed due to limitations of time and cost. Here, we integrate transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) with colocalization analysis, fine-mapping, and additional annotation of AD GWAS variants to identify 123 genes at known and suggestive AD risk loci. A comparison with human AD brain transcriptome data confirmed that many of these candidate genes are dysregulated in human AD and correlate with neuropathology.