From garlic proteins to bioactive peptides: A computer-aided screening for saltiness-enhancers and angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors with mechanistic and kinetic analysis.

This study aimed to explore the potential of garlic proteins for producing multifunctional salty peptides. Three novel salty peptides (SNDPGR, SASDPNF, and ASTCMAR) were identified through simulated hydrolysis and in silico screening. Sensory evaluation and electronic tongue analysis confirmed their potent saltiness, with dose-dependent salt-enhancing effects further validated by the electronic tongue.

A new W.T.Wang & P.K.Hsiao (Ranunculaceae) species from Guizhou, China.

A new species of from Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it resembles , , , , , , and . However, it differs from these seven species by its creeping stolons, 3-5-foliolate leaflets with scalloped or suborbicular shape, and an inflorescence consisting of a single flower.

Preventive and therapeutic effects of magnesium sulfate on nikethamide-induced seizures: Implications for COVID-19 treatment.

Background: Nikethamide, a respiratory stimulant, is used to treat hypoxemia caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but it carries a risk of convulsions. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO), a seizure inhibitor, might serve as a rescue agent against nikethamide-induced seizures.

Aim: To investigate the therapeutic effect of MgSO on nikethamide -induced seizures in COVID-19 patients through animal experiments, providing experimental support for the clinical application of MgSO in preventing and treating seizures caused by nikethamide.

The osteosarcoma immune microenvironment in progression: PLEK as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Introduction: Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone tumor with high metastatic potential and poor long-term survival. The tumor immune microenvironment and metabolic reprogramming are increasingly recognized as key drivers of OS progression, yet the molecular links between these systems remain unclear. This study aimed to identify immune-metabolic biomarkers in OS, focusing on pleckstrin (PLEK) as a potential regulatory hub.

Magnetically actuated multimaterial fiberbot for precise minimally invasive knee laser surgery.

Conventional methods, such as open and arthroscopy-assisted surgery, still encounter challenges in terms of tool flexibility when addressing knee diseases in patients. Robotics has enhanced the precision and efficiency of numerous surgical procedures. However, there is still a lack of minimally invasive surgical tools capable of flexibly resecting knee lesions.

Virome characteristics of small mammals and their associated environments in pastoral areas on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), known for its rich biodiversity and unique ecological niche, harbors numerous endemic species and serves as a reservoir for both established human pathogens and numerous poorly characterized pathogens. Despite certain advances, virological research on small mammals in this region is still limited. In this study, we investigated the diversity and evolution of viral communities in plateau voles, plateau pikas, and their associated environmental samples collected near pastoral settlements on the QTP.

Urinary elementomic analysis indicates aluminum as a potential urinary biomarker of sarcopenia in the older adults.

Sarcopenia is characterized by aging-related progressive loss of muscle mass and function; however, the specific and sensitive biomarkers are still limited. Biometals and trace elements provide a potential connection linking the environment and lifestyle to pathological processes of sarcopenia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between urinary trace elements levels and the presence of sarcopenia.

Viral metagenomics reveals parvovirus dark matter of herbivorous wildlife from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Background: As one of the birthplaces of modern biodiversity, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is home to a rich variety of unique animal groups. Herbivorous wildlife constitutes a vital component of the plateau's ecosystems, yet current research on parvoviruses in these species remains limited. With the development of viral metagenomics and next-generation sequencing technology, more and more novel viruses have been detected.

An Insect-Scale Flapping-Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle Inspired by Tumblers Capable of Uncontrolled Self-Stabilizing Flying.

As an emerging frontier in biomimetic intelligent microsystems, insect-scale flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles (FWMAVs) demonstrate significant application potential due to their exceptional maneuverability and stealth capabilities. This study proposes a novel mechanical self-stabilization architecture validated through systematic engineering design to address the critical challenge of balancing dynamic instability with payload constraints in stable flight control. By integrating a piezoelectric direct-drive actuator to streamline transmission mechanisms with the optimized V-wing configuration, we developed a V-wing FWMAV prototype weighing 204 mg (wingspan: 68 mm) that demonstrates 41.

Calcium lignosulfonate-modified soil-rock mixture: Research on mechanical properties and microscale mechanisms.

The remodeling of soil-rock mixtures (S-RM) in open-pit mining slopes is critical for ensuring dump slope stability and promoting efficient resource recovery. This study investigates the modification of S-RM using calcium lignosulphonate (CLS) to enhance its engineering properties. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS), shear strength, and permeability tests were performed to quantitatively evaluate the effects of modification.

Manganese exposure: a study on apoptosis and Ferroptosis in mouse Leydig and Sertoli cells.

Manganese (Mn), a vital trace element for biological functions, has raised health concerns due to potential toxicity. Excessive Mn impairs male reproduction by reducing testosterone, inducing oxidative stress, and disrupting spermatogenesis. However, its mechanisms targeting Leydig and Sertoli cells remain unclear.

Optimization and field application of an eco-friendly molasses-based dust suppressant for open-pit coal mine haul roads.

To overcome the limitations of conventional water-based dust suppression in arid, high-temperature open-pit coal mine haul roads, this study developed an innovative molasses-based dust suppressant with enhanced water retention and consolidation capabilities. The formulation leverages molasses-a sugar industry byproduct with inherent anti-evaporation properties-as its core component, supplemented with surfactant (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, SDBS), humectant (glycerol), and hygroscopic (calcium chloride, CaCl₂) additives. Employing response surface methodology (RSM), the optimal composition was determined to be: 31.

Synergistic effects of NF-κB1 and inflammatory pathway polymorphisms on hypertension and dyslipidemia susceptibility in type 2 diabetes.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients exhibit a heightened susceptibility to concurrent hypertension (HTN) and dyslipidemia (DYS), conditions that reciprocally exacerbate cardiovascular risks. This study investigated the association between NF-κB1 polymorphism, related inflammatory mediators, and the predisposition to hypertension and dyslipidemia in T2DM patients, along with their correlations with biochemical parameters.

Methods: Genotyping of 452 T2DM patients was performed using SNP-scan high-throughput technology.

OsCDPK24 and OsCDPK28 phosphorylate heat shock factor OsHSFA4d to orchestrate abiotic and biotic stress responses in rice.

Global warming impacts crop production and increases crop disease. It is commonly known that heat stress (HS) caused by extreme high temperature induces HS responses but suppresses disease resistance in plants. However, the molecular basis of this trade-off remains largely unknown.

U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase OsPUB41 represses rice blast resistance by promoting degradation of OsPALs.

Plant U-box (PUB) proteins, the smallest E3 ubiquitin ligase subfamily, play key roles in plant growth, development, and responses to biotic/abiotic stresses. However, their functions in rice immunity remain largely unexplored. Here, we identified Oryza sativa plant U-box 41 (OsPUB41) as a blast-induced PUB gene via transcriptome analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection.

Bacterial Membrane Vesicles as Heteroantigen Reservoirs for Potentiated Colorectal Cancer Immunotherapy.

Cancer immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), often has limited efficacy due to inadequate neoantigen exposure. Although neoantigen vaccines can enhance immune sensitization, their clinical application is hindered by high identification costs and tumor heterogeneity. Alternatively, heteroantigen presentation by cancer cells offers a promising strategy to improve immunotherapy.

Alcohol consumption may not be a risk factor for sarcopenia in the older adults.

The relationship between drinking and sarcopenia remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of alcohol drinking with sarcopenia in the older adults. A prospective study with 5244 Chinese community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years was performed.

Dyrk1b as a potential biomarker for sarcopenia in older adults.

Background: Sarcopenia is characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and function due to aging. Dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase 1b (Dyrk1b) plays a key role in muscle differentiation by regulating transcription, cell cycle progression, and cell survival. However, the relationship between Dyrk1b levels and sarcopenia is unclear.

Metagenomic analysis reveals the diversity of the vaginal virome and its association with vaginitis.

Introduction: The human vaginal virome is an essential yet understudied component of the vaginal microbiome. Its diversity and potential contributions to health and disease, particularly vaginitis, remain poorly understood.

Methods: We conducted metagenomic sequencing on 24 pooled vaginal swab libraries collected from 267 women, including both healthy individuals and those diagnosed with vaginitis.

OsEPSPS Balances Disease Resistance and Plant Growth.

The balance between the antagonistic traits, such as plant growth and disease resistance, is crucial for developing elite crop varieties. While the roles of plant hormones in this balance are well established, the regulatory function of secondary metabolites remains largely unexplored. Here, we report that 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (OsEPSPS), a key enzyme in the shikimate pathway, regulates both plant growth and disease resistance.

Association of Loneliness and Social Isolation with Ischemic Heart Disease: A Bidirectional and Network Mendelian Randomization Study.

Objective: Observational studies have shown inconsistent associations of loneliness or social isolation (SI) with ischemic heart disease (IHD), with unknown mediators.

Methods: Using data from genome-wide association studies of predominantly European ancestry, we performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to estimate causal effects of loneliness ( = 487,647) and SI traits on IHD ( = 184,305). SI traits included whether individuals lived alone, participated in various types of social activities, and how often they had contact with friends or family ( = 459,830 to 461,369).

Rheological and tribological properties of skimmed milk gels: The impact of fish collagen peptides-polysaccharides complexes during acidification.

Collagen peptides (CP) are widely utilized in dairy products for stabilization, gelation, and fat replacement. However, the mechanism of CP-polysaccharides complexes on the rheology and lubrication properties of skimmed yogurt remains underexplored. This study investigated effects of 0.

Characterization and Engineering of Multifunctional Glycosyltransferase HtUGT73EW3 for the Highly Efficient Synthesis of Flavonoid Mono/di--glycosides.

Glycosylation modification is an effective way to improve the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of flavonoids. In this study, a multifunctional flavonoid glycosyltransferase HtUGT73EW3 was identified from . HtUGT73EW3 exhibited multisite selectivity for 3-, 6-, 7-, 2'-, 3'-, and 4'-OH of flavonoids and showed potent 3/3'-, 3/4'-, and 7/4'-di--glycosylation activity.

Restoration of IFN-γ-Producing MAIT Cell Correlates to Beneficial Allergen Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis Patients.

Background: Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT) are emerging as important regulators at mucosal surfaces. While these cells have been linked to a Th1-biased immune response and support for B cells, their roles in allergic diseases characterised by type 2 inflammation remain elusive. The study seeks to characterise MAIT cells in house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic rhinitis (AR) and subsequent allergen immunotherapy (AIT), aiming to elucidate their clinical significance in AR and potential to enhance AIT effectiveness.