Mechanistic insights into the dual anti-COVID-19 and anti-inflammatory actions of Zhengqi tablets.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Zhengqi Tablets (ZQP), derived from the "Huoxiang Zhengqi Powder" in the Song dynasty's "Taiping Huimin Ju Fang", have been endorsed by the Expert Consensus on Traditional Chinese Medcine Diagnosis and Treatment of New Coronavirus Infection in Shanghai (Spring Edition, 2022).

Aim Of The Study: The precise mechanisms underlying the efficacy of ZQP remain incompletely elucidated. To address this gap, we utilized a comprehensive approach integrating computer-aided virtual screening and biological validation to identify the active monomer within ZQP responsible for its anti-coronavirus properties.

Integrating Soil Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Functional Prediction to Assess Land-Use Impacts in a Cold-Region Wetland Ecosystem.

This study investigated the effects of land-use change and wetland restoration on soil microbial community diversity, structure, and function in a cold-region wetland ecosystem. Soil samples from six land-use types were analyzed for key physicochemical and biochemical properties, including soil water content, pH, total nitrogen, soil organic carbon (SOC), and enzymatic activities. Significant differences in carbon and nitrogen availability were observed, with restored wetland soils showing higher SOC and moisture levels, while agricultural soils exhibited elevated nitrate concentrations.

Machine-Learning-Guided Design of Nanostructured Metal Oxide Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: From Material Discovery to Performance Optimization.

The rational design of photoanode materials is pivotal for advancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting toward sustainable hydrogen production. This review highlights recent progress in the machine learning (ML)-assisted development of nanostructured metal oxide photoanodes, focusing on bridging materials discovery and device-level performance optimization. We first delineate the fundamental physicochemical criteria for efficient photoanodes, including suitable band alignment, visible-light absorption, charge carrier mobility, and electrochemical stability.

Mechanisms of Soil Microbial Community Adaptation in Cold-Region Wetlands Under Retrogressive Succession.

Retrogressive succession alters soil conditions and microbial community dynamics in cold-region wetlands, yet its ecological implications remain understudied. This study explored the structure and function of soil microbial communities across three successional stages: swamp (SP), swamped meadow (SM), and meadow (MW). High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified 2852 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), with 1682 shared among all stages (58.

Polyphyllin I Inhibits the Metastasis of Cervical Cancer Through the Regulation of the β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer and cause of cancer-related mortality among women globally. It exhibits a recurrence/metastasis rate of approximately 30% and a dismal 5-year survival of only 17% in metastatic cases. Despite significant advancements in surgical techniques, chemoradiotherapy, and targeted therapies, effective treatment options for metastatic cervical cancer remain limited.

Structural and Functional Characteristics of Soil Microbial Communities in Forest-Wetland Ecotones: A Case Study of the Lesser Khingan Mountains.

Soil microorganisms play an essential role in vegetation succession, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem restoration. This study investigates the responses of soil microbial communities to ecological transitions from forest to wetland in the Lesser Khingan Mountains, including mixed forest, conifer forest, wetland edge, and natural wetland. The results indicated that natural wetland soils were weakly acidic and contained significantly higher organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus compared to other soils.

Impacts of Land Use on Soil Nitrogen-Cycling Microbial Communities: Insights from Community Structure, Functional Gene Abundance, and Network Complexity.

This study investigates the effects of different land-use types (forest, arable land, and wetland) on key soil properties, microbial communities, and nitrogen cycling in the Lesser Khingan Mountains. The results revealed that forest (FL) and wetland (WL) soils had significantly higher soil organic matter (SOM) content compared with arable land (AL), with total phosphorus (TP) being highest in FL and available nitrogen (AN) significantly higher in WL. In terms of enzyme activity, AL and WL showed reduced activities of ammonia monooxygenase (AMO), β-D-glucosidase (β-G), and β-cellobiosidase (CBH), while exhibiting increased N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity, highlighting the impact of land use on nitrogen dynamics.

Study of intelligent home environment system based on big data and improved k-means algorithm.

The Embedded operating system based on STC12C5A MCU is designed to facilitate real-time monitoring and control of the home environment, in order to solve some problems such as low acquisition frequency, poor real-time performance, lack of feedback and adaptation. The Kalman filter and improved k-means algorithm are used to analyze the big data which is processed by BP neural network, and then the most comfortable living environment parameters can be obtained. The independent monitoring mechanism and feedback adjustment are designed to achieve efficient collaboration and stable operation of system hardware and software.

Impact of Biochar on Nitrogen-Cycling Functional Genes: A Comparative Study in Mollisol and Alkaline Soils.

Biochar has gained considerable attention as a sustainable soil amendment due to its potential to enhance soil fertility and mitigate nitrogen (N) losses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar application on the abundance of key N-cycling genes in Mollisol and alkaline soils, focusing on nitrification (AOA, AOB, and ) and denitrification (, , and ) processes. The experiment was conducted using soybean rhizosphere soil.

Stochastic Processes Dominate the Assembly of Soil Bacterial Communities of Land Use Patterns in Lesser Khingan Mountains, Northeast China.

To meet the demands of a growing population, natural wetlands are being converted to arable land, significantly impacting soil biodiversity. This study investigated the effects of land use changes on bacterial communities in wetland, arable land, and forest soils in the Lesser Khingan Mountains using Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA sequencing. Soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were measured using standard methods, while microbial diversity was assessed through sequencing analysis.

Discovery of 1-(Phenylsulfonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline Derivative as Orally Bioavailable and Safe RORγt Inverse Agonists for Potential Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) is a key regulator of Th17 cells, associated with autoimmune diseases, making it a significant drug target. Herein, we designed and synthesized 1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives, improving upon GSK2981278 to enhance bioavailability. Of which, exhibited superior bioavailability (F = 48.

Nitrogen regulates the synthesis of hydrophobic amino acids to improve protein structural and gel properties in common buckwheat.

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer impacts the grain quality of common buckwheat, but the effects and regulatory mechanisms of N on various protein parameters of buckwheat are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the particle morphology, structural and gel properties, and regulation mechanism of buckwheat protein under four N levels. The bulk density, surface hydrophobicity, particle size, and thermal properties of the buckwheat protein were maximized through the optimal N application (180 kg N/ha), further enhancing the thermal stability of the protein.

Effects of mulching types on the yield and water utilization by broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum): Results of a study in the Loess Plateau, China.

Mulching practices have been widely adopted to improve rainfed crop productivity. However, the major resources including water, heat, and light that influenced the yield of broomcorn millet in different dryland regions have rarely been explored. A three-season field experiment with three mulching practices i.

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of chemical constituents and and systematic evaluation of the pharmacological effects of Tibetan medicine Zhixue Zhentong capsules.

Zhixue Zhentong capsules (ZXZTCs) are a Tibetan medicine preparation solely composed of (Benth.) Kudo. is the only species of the genus (family Lamiaceae) that has medicinal constituents derived from the grass or root and rhizome.

Design, synthesis, and analgesia evaluation of novel Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) agonists modified from Cannabidiol (CBD).

Pain-relief is a long-term research hotspot with huge demand in clinical treatment. The analgesics currently used have several side effects, such as being addictive and causing gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, new drugs and targets in analgesic field are both desirable.

The evolutionary dynamics history of canine distemper virus through analysis of the hemagglutinin gene during 1930-2020.

Unlabelled: Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a lethal viral disease of carnivores which is considered to be a serious threat to domestic and wild species. Despite the widespread use of vaccines, CDV still occurs in vaccinated animals and current vaccines does not guarantee complete protection. In this study, a total of 286 hemagglutinin (H) gene sequences of the virus isolated in 25 countries during 90 years (1930-2020) were analyzed by Bayesian maximum likelihood analysis to estimate the population dynamics.

Challenges for the development of mutant isocitrate dehydrogenases 1 inhibitors to treat glioma.

Glioma is one of the most common types of brain tumors, and its high recurrence and mortality rates threaten human health. In 2008, the frequent isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations in glioma were reported, which brought a new strategy in the treatment of this challenging disease. In this perspective, we first discuss the possible gliomagenesis after IDH1 mutations (mIDH1).

6-Shogaol as a Novel Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibitor Induces Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Apoptosis in HeLa Cells.

Inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a crucial strategy for the discovery of antineoplastic drugs. 6-Shogaol (6-S), a primary bioactive compound in ginger, has high anticancer activity. However, its potential mechanism of action has not been thoroughly investigated.

Nitrogenous Fertilizer Levels Affect the Physicochemical Properties of Sorghum Starch.

Nitrogen is a key factor affecting sorghum growth and grain quality. This experiment was designed to investigate the physicochemical properties of sorghum starch in four sorghum varieties (Liaoza 10, Liaoza 19, Jinza 31, and Jinza 34) under four nitrogen levels: 0 kg/ha urea (N1), 300 kg/ha urea as base fertilizer (N2), 300 kg/ha urea as topdressing at the jointing stage (N3), and 450 kg/ha urea as topdressing at the jointing stage (N4). The results showed that grain size and amylose content increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer level, peaking at N3.

Efficient methane production from waste activated sludge and Fenton-like pretreated rice straw in an integrated bio-electrochemical system.

Integrated microbial electrolysis cell-anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) systems have demonstrated potential advantages for methane production in the presence of small amounts of residual inhibitors. In this study, a series of tests were conducted to analyse the acidification and methanogenesis performance of pretreated rice straw (RS) in anaerobic digestion (AD) and MEC-AD systems after the addition of Fenton-like reagents. The results indicated that the short-chain acids (SCFAs) accumulations reached 2284.

An efficient strategy for digging protein-protein interactions for rational drug design - A case study with HIF-1α/VHL.

The ubiquitination of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is mediated by interacting with the von Hippel-Lindau protein (VHL), and is associated with cancer, chronic anemia, and ischemia. VHL, an E3 ligase, has been reported to degrade HIF-1 for decades, however, there are few successful inhibitors currently. Poor understanding of the binding pocket and a lack of in-depth exploration of the interactions between two proteins are the main reasons.