Carbon Dot Integrated Cellulose-Based Green-Fluorescent Aerogel for Detection and Removal of Copper Ions in Water.

Industrial pollution caused by Cu(II) ions remains one of the most critical environmental challenges worldwide. A novel green-fluorescent aerogel has been successfully developed for simultaneous sensing and adsorption of Cu(II) through the cross-linking of carboxymethyl nanocellulose and carbon dots (C dots) using epichlorohydrin as a linker. The C dots were synthesized by heating glucose and aspartate mixed solutions at 150 °C.

Evolutionary and environmental determinants of heat tolerance and acclimation capacity in herpetofauna.

Exploring heat tolerance and acclimation capacity can provide an effective approach to evaluating species' sensitivity to extremely high temperatures due to climate warming. Despite some work on amphibian and reptile thermophysiological adaptation, related questions remain. We reviewed the literature to provide a synthesis of worldwide data on heat tolerance and to determine the relative importance of common evolutionary and environmental thermal variation in amphibians and reptiles in shaping species' heat tolerance and acclimation capacity.

Environmental and evolutionary factors jointly shape life-history trait diversity of terrestrial vertebrates across China.

Life-history traits represent evolutionary adaptations that mediate responses to external environments. Analyzing variation in these traits provides valuable insights into macroecological processes and supports the development of effective conservation and restoration strategies. However, large-scale biogeographic patterns in life-history trait diversity among terrestrial vertebrates remain insufficiently characterized, and the processes shaping these patterns are not well understood.

Intraspecific Variations in Ecomorphological Functional Traits of Montane Stream-Dwelling Frogs Were Driven by Their Microhabitat Conditions.

Understanding how habitat conditions drive morphological adaptations in animals is critical in ecology, yet amphibian studies remain limited. This study investigated intraspecific variation in ecomorphological traits of three montane stream-dwelling frogs (, , and ) across elevation gradients in Tianping Mountain, China. Using morphological measurements and environmental variables collected from ten transects, we analyzed functional traits related to feeding and locomotion and assessed their associations with microhabitat variables.

Autoimmunity and hyperactivation of immune responses by HAE-FLS2 chimera.

Plants employ cell surface receptors to perceive extracellular signals and initiate appropriate cellular responses, thereby regulating diverse physiological processes. The well-characterized leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLK) type receptor FLAGELLIN-SENSITIVE 2 (FLS2) functions as a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that specifically detects bacterial flagellin, activating downstream responses including MAPK signaling and ROS burst. Here, we report that engineered expression of a chimeric receptor combining the N-terminal extracellular and transmembrane domains of HAE with the cytosolic kinase domain of FLS2 (HAE-FLS2) leads to excessive activation of plant immune responses, as evidenced by dwarfism, enhanced flg22-induced ROS burst and MAPK activation, and upregulated expression of defense-related genes in transgenic plants.

Deciphering Mitochondria: Unveiling Their Roles in Mechanosensing and Mechanotransduction.

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that are responsible for essential cellular functions such as calcium regulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, metabolism, and apoptosis initiation. Mitochondrial dysfunctions are associated with a variety of pathologies, and the onset and progression of disease are accompanied by alterations in extracellular biochemical and mechanical signals. Recent studies have demonstrated that physicochemical cues, especially mechanical cues, exert pivotal roles in the organization of mitochondrial network and their metabolic functions.

Analysis of preoperative and postoperative depression and anxiety in patients with calcaneal fractures.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the preoperative and postoperative psychological health status of patients with calcaneal fractures, and to explore the impact of preoperative psychological health status on the prognosis of surgical treatment for calcaneal fracture patients.

Methods: This study included 67 patients with calcaneal fractures who underwent surgical treatment in the Foot and Ankle Surgery Department of Honghui Hospital in Xi'an from November 2019 to September 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of preoperative anxiety/depression symptoms, with patients exhibiting preoperative anxiety/depression symptoms assigned to Group A and those without such symptoms assigned to Group B.

Integrating climate change and fine-scale habitat suitability to assess amphibian range shift in Mount Emei, China.

Background: Habitat range shifts driven by climate change threaten global biodiversity, with impacts likely to be most pronounced at mountainous regions. As key consumers, amphibians play critical roles in mountainous ecosystems by contributing to nutrient cycling, soil aeration through burrowing activities, and aquatic bioturbation. However, they are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to limited mobility and strong dependence on ambient temperature.

Unraveling the effect of ultrasound-assisted alkali treatment on β-lactoglobulin-flavonoids covalent complex system formation and its potential for lipophilic bioactive compounds delivery.

The limited water solubility and poor bioavailability of curcumin (Cur) and lycopene (Lyc) significantly restrict their use in food-related applications. Therefore, the development of various delivery systems to enhance Cur/Lyc solubility and bioavailability is essential. This study focuses on the formation of covalent complex of β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) with six flavonoids (apigenin (API), luteolin (LUT), myricetin (MY), apigenin-7-O-glucoside (AGL), luteolin-7-glucoside (LGL), and myricitrine (MYR)) by ultrasound-assisted alkali treatment and construction of functional delivery system.

Dietary cholesterol impairs cognition via gut microbiota-derived deoxycholic acid in obese mice.

Dietary cholesterol is often found in a high-fat diet (HFD) and excessive intake is harmful to cognitive function. The gut microbiome constitutes an environmental factor influenced by diet, which regulates cognitive function via the gut-brain axis. The present study explored the role of dietary cholesterol in HFD-induced cognitive impairment and the participation of the gut microbiota and metabolites.

Fine-scale analysis of the cumulative and time-lagged effects of drought on vegetation in the Ili River Basin, Central Asia.

Under intensifying climate change, drought impacts on vegetation have become increasingly complex. Although the Ili River Basin is highly sensitive to drought, the underlying mechanisms of drought-vegetation interactions remain insufficiently understood. This study quantifies the cumulative, time-lagged, and dominant effects of drought on vegetation gross primary productivity (GPP) at the daily scale, and investigates their variations across land use types, wetness gradients, and seasons.

Extracellular Matrix Signaling Cues: Biological Functions, Diseases, and Therapeutic Targets.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic, three-dimensional network that provides structural support and regulates key biological processes, including cell adhesion, migration, differentiation, and signal transduction. Its mechanical properties, such as stiffness, topology, and viscoelasticity, are crucial in normal and pathological conditions, influencing cell behavior through mechanotransduction pathways. Dysregulation of ECM is linked to various diseases, making a thorough understanding of its composition and properties essential.

Isolation and characterization of the virulent porcine epidemic diarrhea virus strain CHGS20 in China.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is the etiological agent of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), which threatens the swine industry worldwide. Although commercial PEDV vaccines are available, the disease continues to plague the swine industry in China. Therefore, isolating PEDV from clinical samples is beneficial for conducting molecular epidemiological investigations, developing effective vaccines and diagnostic methods, and investigating pathogenic mechanisms.

Global, regional, and national burden of renal anemia, 1990 to 2019 and prediction to 2050.

Background And Hypothesis: CKD is one of the most prevalent non-communicable health concerns worldwide, and anemia is a premier common complication of CKD. However, the analysis of its prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs), and trends in the population on a global scale is lacking. Our study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of burden of anemia associated to CKD from 1990 to 2019 and predictions to 2050.

Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of the U-Box Gene Family in Cucumber ().

Plant U-box (PUB) E3 ubiquitin ligases have undergone significant expansion compared to their fungal and animal counterparts. These E3 ligases play critical roles in diverse biological processes, including responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, systematic identification of genes in cucumber ( L.

Clinical significance and immune microenvironment association of cuproptosis-related genes in pan-cancer.

Recent studies highlight the important roles of cuproptosis in cancer cells. However, the roles of the cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in different cancers are still not fully understood. Comprehensive analysis was performed using open-source bioinformatic platforms to disclose the expression profiles, prognostic significance, genomic and epigenetic characteristics, immune microenvironment, and drug sensitivity of CRGs including FDX1, LIAS, LIPT1, DLD, DLAT, PDHA1, PDHB, SLC31A1, MTF1, GLS, CDKN2A, HSPA4 and ATP7B.

Mechanical training drives structural remodeling of zwitterionic hydrogels.

A long-standing limitation in developing functional soft materials with muscle-like properties is the challenge of achieving self-arranged structures. This study developed an anisotropic dual-network (DN) hydrogel a training-induced strategy using zwitterionic-based composite materials. This bottom-up structural formation mechanism primarily relies on the asymmetric response of zwitterionic rigid and flexible chains to external mechanical stimuli, as well as the long-term memory effect of short chains in the rigid network from mechanical training.

Dynamics of mitochondrial DNA copy number regulation in relation to gastric cancer survival.

Purpose: To investigate the causal effects of gene expression levels associated with mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) on cancer survival outcomes.

Methods: We performed two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to evaluate the causal relationship between mtDNA-CN in peripheral blood and overall survival period of different cancer types. Additionally, colocalization analyses were performed to identify genes whose expression correlates with mtDNA-CN.

An organoid co-culture model for probing systemic anti-tumor immunity in lung cancer.

Deciphering interactions between tumor micro- and systemic immune macroenvironments is essential for developing more effective cancer diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. Here, we established a gel-liquid interface (GLI) co-culture model of lung cancer organoids (LCOs) and paired peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), featuring enhanced interactions between immune cells and tumor organoids for optimized simulation of in vivo systemic anti-tumor immunity. By constructing a cohort of lung cancer patients, we demonstrated that the responses of GLI models under αPD1 treatment reflected the immunotherapy outcomes of the corresponding patients precisely.

Clinical evaluation of computer-aided design and three-dimensional printing for completely edentulous mandibular custom tray fabrication: assessing clinician satisfaction.

This study evaluates prosthodontists' satisfaction and efficiency of custom tray fabrication methods in completely edentulous mandibular jaw patients. A digital workflow was established, incorporating 3D scanning for preliminary impressions, CAD for designing border extensions and ensuring uniform 3D space, and 3D printing for tray fabrication. Three methods were compared: CAD/3D printing, light-cured resin, and impression compound trimming.

Relationship of Mogibacterium in the gut microbiota with early-stage lung cancer.

Aims: To investigate gut microbiota abundance and diversity in early-stage lung cancer patients.

Methods And Results: Patients with benign lung nodules or early-stage lung cancer and healthy individuals were consecutively recruited. Inflammatory factors in venous blood were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Unraveling in-kernel starch multiscale structure and nutritional profiles of thermal remodeling whole grain black tartary buckwheat.

Thermal treatments can improve the processing suitability and nutritional utilization of cereals. In this study, the effects of three thermal treatments, namely heat fluidization, microwave, and baking, on the physical, nutritional, and structural properties of whole grain black Tartary buckwheat (BTB), as well as the multiscale structures and digestive characteristics of in-kernel starches, were evaluated. Thermal treatments induced grain expansion, surface cracking, and porous internal structures, with heat fluidization causing the most significant reduction (32.

In vivo FAP-CAR macrophages enhance chemotherapy and immunotherapy against pancreatic cancer by removing the fibrosis barrier.

Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) derive limited benefits from chemotherapy or immunotherapy, with a five-year survival rate still below 10 %. The key therapeutic challenge is the dense fibrosis barrier driven by activated cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their secreted collagen, which impedes drug penetration and characterizes PDAC as an immune-desert tumor. To address this challenge, we developed in vivo chimeric antigen receptor macrophages (FAP-CAR-M) targeting fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP), the marker of activated CAFs, to enhance chemo and immunotherapy against PDAC by removing the fibrosis barrier using mannose-modified mRNA-LNP (MLNP).

The gut-liver axis plays a limited role in mediating the liver's heat susceptibility of Chinese giant salamander.

The Chinese giant salamander (CGS, Andrias davidianus), a flagship amphibian species, is highly vulnerable to high temperatures, posing a significant threat under future climate change. Previous research linked this susceptibility to liver energy deficiency, accompanied by shifts in gut microbiota and reduced food conversion rates, raising questions about the role of the gut-liver axis in mediating heat sensitivity. This study investigated the responses of Chinese giant salamander larvae to a temperature gradient (10-30 °C), assessing physiological changes alongside histological, gut metagenomic, and tissue transcriptomic analyses.