Natural variation in CHELATASE SUBUNIT I-A increases grain weight and enhances wheat yield.

Grain weight is a major determinant of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and is controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs) derived from natural variations. Here, we report the cloning of a major yield QTL in bread wheat that functions in the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway.

Area-scalable film preparation and blue excitonic photoluminescence of organic-inorganic hybrid 2D semiconductor AgSePh (Ph = CH).

Organic-inorganic hybrid silver benzeneselenolate (AgSePh, Ph = CH) has been actively studied in recent years as a rejuvenated 2D layered multi-quantum well (multi-QW) semiconductor, whose monolayer is a single QW that bears a 2D semiconducting [SeAgSe] polymeric network sandwiched between two layers of organic phenyl rings through Se-C bond linkages. We report here the area-scalable preparation of AgSePh thin films and their multi-QW-derived optically controlled excitonic properties. The well-known silver mirror reaction enables us to prepare area-tunable silver films, which are then converted to high-quality polycrystalline AgSePh thin films with lateral sizes ranging from 2 cm × 2 cm to 10 cm × 10 cm by reacting with PhSe vapor an ethanol-assisted thermal evaporation process.

The health evaluation and research on obstacle factors of water ecosystems in Dongying City based on the DPSIR model.

The escalating impacts of global climate change and anthropogenic activities have exerted mounting pressures on urban aquatic ecosystems. This study employs Dongying City as a representative case study, where a comprehensive evaluation index system was constructed based on the Driving forces-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses framework. The system incorporates 27 critical indicators, including population growth rate, gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, and agricultural fertilizer application intensity, to assess aquatic ecosystem health status.

Injectable ROS homeostasis protective hydrogel inhibiting microglial ferroptosis through the Nrf2/Slc7a11/Gpx4 to alleviate neuropathic pain and promote spinal cord injury repair.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induced neuropathic pain (NP) remains a major clinical challenge due to persistent neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. We developed an injectable methacrylated and thiolated gelatin hydrogel loaded with quercetin (MSQ) to synergistically scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibit microglial ferroptosis for NP alleviation and neural repair. The MSQ hydrogel exhibited rapid photocrosslinking, sustained quercetin release, and robust ROS scavenging via thiol groups and quercetin, maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis.

Association between proximity to a lead releasing facility and cognition in diverse cohorts.

Background: While lead exposure is associated with poorer cognitive performance in children, the association with late life cognition in diverse cohorts is unknown.

Method: In two adult cohorts (Kaiser Health Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE, n=1,638), Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR, n=741)), we assessed residential proximity to lead releasing facilities, measured through the Toxics Release Inventory, for associations with domain-specific cognition, measured using the Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment Scales, two years later. Linear regression models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity (KHANDLE only), income, education, marital status, smoking status, and alcohol consumption.

Genome-wide association study of pre-harvest sprouting resistance and grain color in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Background: Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a serious problem in wheat production globally. Grain color (GC) has a notable impact on PHS resistance, red grains typically show higher resistance compared to white grains. To understand the genetic factors influencing PHS and GC, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted on a natural population of 235 wheat cultivars using a 90 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays.

Quercetin targets the Ccl4-Ccr5 axis to relieve neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) severely disrupts the central nervous system, with neuropathic pain (NP) emerging as a prevalent and challenging complication, affecting approximately two-thirds of affected individuals. This study aims to explore the immune landscape and potential drug therapeutic targets associated with NP post-SCI using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing. We identified 1050 differentially expressed genes enriched in cytokine interactions and inflammatory pathways, including key pain-related genes like Itgb2, Ccr5, Fcrg3, and Adora3, through weighted gene co-expression network analysis and immune infiltration analysis.

Identification of a stable genetic locus and candidate genes for Fusarium head blight resistance on wheat chromosome 3BL.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating wheat disease worldwide. Identifying novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and resistance-associated genes is critical for breeding resistant cultivars. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive genetic analysis of FHB resistance in a diverse panel of 240 wheat accessions phenotyped over three years.

Dissecting Causal Relationships Between Gut Microbiota, Immunocyte Phenotype, and Migraine: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Migraines impose a substantial economic and societal burden, yet their underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. While observational studies suggest associations between gut microbiota dysbiosis, immunophenotypic alterations, and migraine risk, causal evidence is lacking. This study leverages Mendelian Randomization to investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and migraine while exploring the mediating role of immune traits in this association.

Targeting copper homeostasis: -derived OMVs co-deliver siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy.

Cuproptosis, a recently identified form of regulated cell death triggered by excess intracellular copper, has emerged as a promising cytotoxic strategy for cancer therapy. However, the therapeutic efficacy of copper ionophores such as elesclomol (ES) is often hindered by cellular copper homeostasis mechanisms that limit copper influx and cuproptosis induction. To address this challenge, we developed a nanoagent utilizing outer membrane vesicle (OMV) derived from () for co-delivery of antioxidant 1 copper chaperone ()-targeting siRNA and ES (siAtox1/ES@OMV) to tumors.

Microclimate-driven strategies for thermally comfortable university open spaces in cold regions of China.

University open spaces are predominantly utilized by students, with outdoor thermal comfort on campus significantly enhancing their physical and mental well-being. This study investigates the thermal perceptions (sensation, comfort, and acceptability) of students at a university in Xi'an, China, employing meteorological measurements, questionnaires, and activity logs. The Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) was utilized to establish a thermal baseline.

Effect of nitrogen application rate on the production of weak-gluten wheat in rice stubble system.

Weak-gluten wheat production prioritizes reduced grain protein content and wet gluten content as quality targets, creating a yield-quality trade-off under nitrogen (N) fertilization. We conducted a two-year field experiment in the rice stubble wheat system of the middle Yangtze River basin to evaluate the effects of six N application rates (0, 45, 90, 135, 180, and 225 kg·hm) on four wheat cultivars (Chuanmai 104, Mianmai 367, Shumai 1671, and Xikemai 8). The results showed that compared to annual variations and cultivar differences, N application exerted stronger influence on spike number per unit area (SA), kernels per spike (KS), SPAD value of penultimate leaf, nitrogen partial factor productivity (PFP), protein content, and wet gluten content.

Iturin and fengycin lipopeptides inhibit pathogenic Fusarium by targeting multiple components of the cell membrane and their regulative effects in wheat.

Biocontrol microorganisms and their derived metabolites with antagonistic activity represent promising alternatives to chemical fungicides in managing plant pathogens. The lipopeptides (LPs) iturin and fengycin derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens S76-3 exhibit highly inhibitory effects against pathogenic fungi, especially Fusarium graminearum (Fg), the primary pathogen causing Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereals. However, the specific target of iturin and fengycin in Fg and the underlying mechanism of antagonistic activity remain unclear.

Zonated Copper-Driven Breast Cancer Progression Countered by a Copper-Depleting Nanoagent for Immune and Metabolic Reprogramming.

While studies of various carcinomas have reported aberrant metal metabolism, much remains unknown regarding their spatial accumulation and regulatory impacts in tumors. Here, elevated copper levels are detected in breast cancer tumors from patients and animal models, specifically exhibiting a zonate spatial pattern. Spatially resolved multiomics analyses reveal that copper zonation drives a tumor metabolic preference for oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) over glycolysis and promotes tumor metastatic and immune-desert phenotypes.

Unraveling the potential of bioengineered microbiome-based strategies to enhance cancer immunotherapy.

The human microbiome plays a pivotal role in the field of cancer immunotherapy. The microbial communities that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the bacterial populations within tumors, have been identified as key modulators of therapeutic outcomes, affecting immune responses and reprogramming the tumor microenvironment. Advances in synthetic biology have made it possible to reprogram and engineer these microorganisms to improve antitumor activity, enhance T-cell function, and enable targeted delivery of therapies to neoplasms.

Epigenetic Regulation of Cellular Senescence in Gastrointestinal Cancer.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, encompassing malignancies of the digestive tract, are significant contributors to global cancer morbidity and mortality. Despite advancements in molecular insights and therapeutic approaches, the prognosis remains dismal because of persistent treatment resistance and metastasis. Cellular senescence, a permanent halt in the cell cycle due to various stressors, plays dual roles in tumor suppression and promotion.

Household energy transition and its crucial role in saving infant lives in developing countries.

This study estimates the impact of reducing household solid fuel dependence on the infant mortality rate (IMR) in developing countries, where traditional solid fuels such as firewood and coal are widely used. Utilizing panel data from 76 developing countries over the period 1990 to 2020, our findings indicate that IMR drops substantially as household reliance on solid fuels decreases. A 1% reduction in per capita solid fuel consumption is linked to an average 0.

TaSnRK3.23B, a CBL-interacting protein kinase of wheat, confers drought stress tolerance by promoting ROS scavenging in Arabidopsis.

Background: Sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinases (SnRKs) have been implicated in plant growth and stress responses. Although SnRK3.23 is known to be involved in drought stress, the underlying mechanism of resistance differs between Arabidopsis and rice, and little is known about its function in wheat.

Genome Insights and Identification of Sex Determination Region and Sex Markers in .

Background: , a member of the Sciaenidae family, is widely distributed across the sea areas near China, Japan, Australia, and South Africa. The aim of this study is to provide a high-quality genome with new technology and to understand the sex determination mechanism of this species.

Methods: We generated a high-quality chromosome-level genome for using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing technologies.

Genome-Wide Characterization of Fructose 1,6-Bisphosphate Aldolase Genes and Expression Profile Reveals Their Regulatory Role in Abiotic Stress in Cucumber.

The fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase () gene family exists in higher plants, with the genes of this family playing significant roles in plant growth and development, as well as response to abiotic stresses. However, systematic reports on the gene family and its functions in cucumber are lacking. In this study, we identified five cucumber genes, named -, that are distributed randomly across chromosomes.

TaSPL6B, a member of the Squamosa promoter binding protein-like family, regulates shoot branching and florescence in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Background: Squamosa promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) proteins are essential to plant growth and development as plant-specific transcription factors. However, the functions of SPL proteins in wheat need to be further explored.

Results: We cloned and characterized TaSPL6B of wheat in this study.

Steric Hindrance Engineering to Modulate the Closed Pores Formation of Polymer-Derived Hard Carbon for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.

The closed pores play a critical role in improving the sodium storage capacity of hard carbon (HC) anode, however, their formation mechanism as well as the efficient modulation strategy at molecular level in the polymer-derived HCs is still lacking. In this work, the steric hindrance effect has been proposed to create closed pores in the polymer-derived HCs for the first time through grafting the aromatic rings within and between the main chains in the precursor. The experimental data and theoretical calculation demonstrate that steric-hindrance effect from the aromatic ring side group can increase backbone rigidity and the internal free volumes in the polymer precursor, which can prevent the over graphitization and facilitate the formation of closed pores during the carbonization process.

Raspberry Ketone Prevents LPS-Induced Depression-Like Behaviors in Mice by Inhibiting TLR-4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway via the Gut-Brain Axis.

Scope: Depression, a prevalent mental disorder, has significantly impacted the lives of 350 million people, yet it holds promise for amelioration through food-derived phenolics. Raspberries, renowned globally for their delectable flavor, harbor a phenolic compound known as raspberry ketone (RK). However, the impact of RK on depressive symptoms remains ambiguous.

Carbohydrate metabolism and cytology of S-type cytoplasmic male sterility in wheat.

Introduction: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is an important tool for hybrid heterosis utilization. However, the underlying mechanisms still need to be discovered. An adequate supply of nutrients is necessary for anther development; pollen abortion would occur if the metabolism of carbohydrates were hampered.

Ultrasonic-antisolvent two-step assembly of carboxymethylated corn fiber gum-coated zein particles for enhanced curcumin delivery.

Zein particles (ZPs) have garnered considerable interest in delivery system construction for its capacity to encapsulate hydrophobic substances. Nonetheless, the instability of ZPs is an obstacle to application. Coating carboxymethylated corn fiber gum (CMCFG) which is a modified polysaccharide molecule enriched with anionic groups on the surface of ZPs is expected to overcome this limitation.