Ecology and BehaviorDeveloping spectral indices and models for monitoring rice planthoppers (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) with hyperspectral data and machine learning.

Insect pests pose a significant threat to crop health including yield and quality, making population monitoring essential for effective pest management. Reflectance spectroscopy is a powerful tool for assessing crop health. Spectral characteristics of crops are closely linked to pest damage, yet it has not been widely used in pest monitoring.

Size-dependent desolvation of hydrophobic nanoparticles in aqueous osmolytes.

The salting effect of osmolytes on the hydrophobic association and solvation of proteins has been extensively studied over several decades. However, the effect of the solute size and the underlying mechanisms are poorly documented. In this study, the effects of urea and trimethylamine--oxide (TMAO) on the pairwise interactions of hydrophobic carbon nanoparticles (NPs) with different sizes have been studied using molecular dynamics simulations.

Identification of a Novel Rice Chromosomal Translocation Line that Could Cause the Heterozygote Semi-Sterility and be Overcome by Genomic Duplication.

Interspecific and intersubspecific hybrid rice have demonstrated substantial heterosis and increased yield potential, yet they are frequently restricted by complex hybrid sterility (HS). Gene regulation has primarily been used to explain the genetic mechanism of HS; however, it is still unclear how cryptic chromosomal structural hybridity results in heterozygote semi-sterility at the molecular level. This study identified a T-DNA-mediated heterozygous mutant mfss (male and female semi-sterility) in rice, of which the self-pollinated progeny would produce heterozygous semi-sterile mutant plants and homozygous fertile mutant plants, mm, with homozygous in inserted T-DNA.

Wood-Inspired Dynamic Covalent Cross-Linking Network for Ultrahigh Adhesion Strength, Desired Weather Resistance, and Closed-Loop Recycling Adhesives.

The problems of strength-toughness trade-off and stability-switchability conflict make it a huge challenge to integrate exceptional adhesion and desired recycling performances into a single system. Inspired by wood cellulose molecular chain structure, a parallel-ordered dynamic boronic esters cross-linking network is presented by using 4-dimethylaminopyridine as a countercation stabilizing the boron center to induce boric acid to form ionic spiroborate linkage with linear hydroxyl-decorated epoxy polymer. The ionic spiroborate polymer network has a high cross-linking degree to contribute to structural stability and adhesion strength.

Efficacy and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery protocol on liver transplantation: A meta-analysis.

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), a multidisciplinary and multimodal perioperative care protocol, has been widely used in several surgical fields. However, the effect of this care protocol on liver transplant recipients with end-stage liver disease remains unclear.

Aim: To compare the clinical outcomes of the ERAS protocol and standard care (SC) for liver transplant recipients with end-stage liver disease.

A BCMA-mRNA vaccine is a promising therapeutic for multiple myeloma.

Cancer vaccines are emerging as promising therapies to not only prevent cancer but to treat cancer. Here, we developed a therapeutic vaccine for multiple myeloma (MM) using BCMA protein as a target. Given the remarkable efficacy of COVID 19 mRNA vaccines, we first packaged sequence- and base- optimized BCMA mRNA into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) using next-generation ionizable lipid enhancing their accumulation in the spleen.

Study on rice mesocotyl elongation: germplasm mining, genetic mechanism and breeding prospect.

The elongation of the rice mesocotyl is a crucial determinant influencing seedling emergence and early vigor in dry-direct seeding rice, offering significant theoretical and practical implications for direct-seeding research. Mesocotyl elongation is a complex process that involves the regulation of genetic factors, plant hormones, signaling molecules, and environmental influences. These factors interact and jointly determine the elongation of the mesoderm.

Development of a chimeric monoclonal antibody as a potential diagnostic reference in PR3-ANCA detection.

Background: The quantification of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) against proteinase 3 (PR3) is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). However, a standardized and widely available quantitative reference material for PR3-ANCA detection remains lacking.

Objective: This study aims to develop and evaluate the properties of a novel chimeric human-mouse PR3 monoclonal antibody as a potential quantitative reference for PR3-ANCA detection using various in vitro diagnostic methods.

Observation of the effect of intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with microwave diathermy on tumor marker levels and prognosis in cervical cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) combined with microwave diathermy (MWD) on tumor marker levels and prognosis in patients with cervical cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 121 cervical cancer patients admitted to our hospital from April 2021 to April 2023. Among them, 59 patients received IMRT alone (IMRT group), while 62 patients received IMRT combined with MWD treatment (combination group).

Biophysical basis of tight junction barrier modulation by a pan-claudin-binding molecule.

Claudins are a 27-member family of membrane proteins that form and fortify specialized cell contacts in endothelium and epithelium called tight junctions. Tight junctions restrict paracellular transport through tissues by forming molecular barriers between cells. Claudin-binding molecules thus hold promise for modulating tight junction permeability to deliver drugs or as therapeutics to treat tight junction-linked disease.

Compensation for motion-coupled error in a superconducting gravity gradiometer.

The superconducting gravity gradiometer (SGG) is composed of a pair of separated accelerometers, the outputs of which are differenced to yield the gravity gradient. Due to misalignment between the sensitive axes of the accelerometer and imperfect balance between its parameters, the motion of the platform is coupled to the gradiometer output. The motion of the platform is more violent in an aviation environment than in the laboratory by four to six orders of magnitude, and the motion-coupled error emerges as the dominant factor, limiting the resolution of the gradiometer.

Deciphering the Physical Binding Mechanism of Enzyme-Photosensitizer Facilitates Catalysis-Augmented Photodynamic Therapy.

Enzyme-photosensitizer (PS) conjugates hold great promise for clinical treatment of cancer and infectious diseases via catalysis-augmented photodynamic therapy (PDT). Compared to covalent coupling, physical binding utilizing noncovalent interactions provides a simple and nondestructive strategy to combine PS with enzymes. However, the mechanism of enzyme-PS physical combination remains largely unknown, and physically bonded enzyme-PS conjugates are rarely reported.

Development and validation of a nomogram for in-stent restenosis within 2 years in patients after iliac or femoral artery stent placement.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for in-stent restenosis (ISR) within 2 years after iliac or femoral artery stent placement.

Methods: Clinical data of 237 patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and receiving iliac or femoral artery stent placement for the first time in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2015 to December 2022 were analyzed. Patients were randomized into training and validation set (7:3).

Environmental Charge-Mediated Nanopiezocatalysis for Sonodynamic Therapy.

Piezocatalysis garners growing attention in sonodynamic therapy (SDT). However, its mechanism remains controversial due to the prominent but conflicting theories of energy band and piezoelectric effect. The former just focuses on the role of carriers, while the latter emphasizes only the contribution of screening charges.

Eco-friendly fabrication of durable antibacterial silk fabric via transglutaminase-catalyzed covalent immobilization of protamine.

The immobilization of antibacterial peptides (APs) onto silk material substrates remains challenging due to the scarcity of green, low-cost, and efficient methods for covalent bonding between these two proteins. The present work proposed a novel strategy for covalently grafting APs onto silk fiber surfaces for antibacterial purposes. Firstly, silk fiber surfaces were grafted with glutamine (Gln) through a cure-induced esterification reaction, the AP protamine (PM) was then covalently grafted via transglutaminase (TGase)-catalyzed cross-linking onto the fiber surfaces.

Risks of biodegradable films: The time-lagged release of phthalic acid esters and organophosphates esters under realistic agricultural environments.

Agricultural plastic films, while boosting crop productivity, may pose significant environmental risks due to additive release during crack degradation. Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs), widely used as plasticizers and flame retardants respectively, represent two additive categories of the greatest environmental concern due to their persistence and endocrine-disrupting properties. This study systematically investigated the dynamic release of PAEs and OPEs from polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/polylactic acid (PBAT/PLA)-based films under four simulated agricultural conditions: Natural conditions (NC), UV irradiation (UV), high temperature (HT), and flooding (FC).

Microfluidic-Encapsulated Phase Change Fibers with Graphene Coating for Passive Thermal Management.

This paper introduces a novel method for encapsulating phase change materials (PCM) into non-toxic, flexible fibers using microfluidic techniques, enhances with graphene coating to passive thermal management. The phase change fibers feature a uniform core-shell structure with a lightweight porous yet dense shell that prevents PCM leakage. The dimensions of the fibers and the ratio of PCM to the shell material can be precisely controlled as required.

Atoh8 expression inhibition promoted osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs and inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and rat bone defect models.

Stem cell-based bone tissue engineering offers a promising approach for treating oral and cranio-maxillofacial bone defects. This study investigated the role of Atoh8, a key regulator in various cells, in the osteogenic potential of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). ADSCs transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Atoh8 were evaluated for proliferation, migration, adhesion, and osteogenic capacity.

Food nutrition and facultative endosymbiont modulate dietary breadth of a polyphagous aphid.

While host plants and endosymbionts have been implicated in influencing dietary breadth in polyphagous herbivores, the underlying mechanism remains vague. In this study, we focused on the food nutrition and nutrition provision of endosymbionts to elucidate the determination of dietary breadth in a polyphagous aphid Aphis gossypii. Our findings demonstrated that high sugar and riboflavin presence in food decreased aphid fitness, while Arsenophonus infections improved aphid performance.

Deep learning in assisting dermatologists in classifying basal cell carcinoma from seborrheic keratosis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of deep learning model in assisting dermatologists in classifying basal cell carcinoma (BCC) from seborrheic keratosis (SK). The goal was to assess whether AI-assisted diagnostics could improve accuracy, reduce misdiagnoses, and potentially enhance clinical outcomes.

Methods: This prospective study included 707 patients with histopathologically confirmed BCC or SK as an internal dataset (validation cohort), along with 5572 patients from the ISIC public dataset as an external dataset (split into training and test cohort).

MORE FLORET1 Interacts with C-type Replication Protein A Complex and Regulates Male Meiosis in Rice.

Meiosis plays a pivotal role in plant reproduction, which is also crucial for enhancing genetic diversity. Although the impact of MOF1 on floral organ development and its negative regulation of the key tapetal gene PKS2 have been established, the specific function of MOF1 in male meiotic process remains elusive. In this study, we identified two mutant lines of MOF1 in Nipponbare background.

Tailoring Self-Organized Growth of Biomimetic Inorganic-Organic Multilayers with a Permeable Microcompartment.

Organisms such as marine glass sponges, molluscan animals, crustaceans, and mammals develop inorganic-organic multilayers in ambient conditions. This structural motif of inorganic-organic multilayers has a central function in reconciling strength and toughness, nacre being a well-studied example. Although biomimetic multilayers have been successfully processed through particle assembly and multistep deposition, the development of a self-organized approach to transforming molecular subunits into this macroscopic architecture remains a challenging task.

Histone deacetylase 6 inhibition attenuates pathological cardiac hypertrophy by promoting autophagy through MAP1LC3B ubiquitination.

Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive response of the heart to pathological stimuli that may lead to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) participates in the progression of multiple cardiovascular diseases, including chronic hypertension, ischemic stroke, and acute cardiac injury. A delicate balance of autophagy regulates heart homeostasis, whereas dysregulated autophagy is involved in myocardial hypertrophy.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Promote Nodulation and N Fixation in Soybean by Specific Root Exudates.

Legume plants commonly associate with both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and rhizobia and thus enhance the acquisition of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) nutrition. Inoculation with AM fungi can promote nodulation and N fixation of legume plants; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, root exudates collected from AM-colonised soybean plants showed greater accumulation of the specific flavonoids (daidzein and genistein) and phenolic acids (benzoic acid and p-Hydroxybenzoic acid), and significantly promoted nodulation.

Balancing LncRNA H19 and miR-675 Bioconversion as a Key Regulator of Embryonic Myogenesis Under Maternal Obesity.

Background: Maternal obesity (MO) impairs fetal skeletal muscle development, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. The regulatory roles of lncRNA H19 and its first exon derived microRNA675 (miR675) in prenatal muscle development remain to be examined. H19/Igf2 are in the same imprinting cluster with H19 expressed from the maternal allele while Igf2 expresses paternally.