Functional characterization of two Caspase-1 transcripts that associated with ASC and NLRC3 in apoptosis and inflammatory response in large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea.

As a member of the inflammatory caspases, Caspase-1 can increase the host inflammatory response against pathogen invasion and also function dominantly in apoptosis. In this study, we cloned and obtained two transcripts of Caspase-1 in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), namely Lc-Caspase-1_tv1 and Lc-Caspase-1_tv2. The ORF of Lc-Caspase-1_tv1 is 1,239 bp, whereas Lc-Caspase-1_tv2 is 1,167 bp in length, encoding a protein of 412 and 388 aa, and both of which contains a CARD and a CASc domain.

Anthropogenic forcing drives centennial-scale phytoplankton productivity dynamics in the East China Sea revealed by biomarker records.

Anthropogenic climate warming and coastal eutrophication have restructured phytoplankton communities in the East China Sea; however, the centennial-scale dynamics of phytoplankton remain poorly understood. By systematically integrating 33 sediment cores, we reconcile the variations of primary productivity during the last century. The results revealed increased primary productivity during the past century, while the phytoplankton groups showed divergent eco-regional responses: river-dominated estuaries have partially mitigated the dominance of dinoflagellates (1980s) via Changjiang nitrate loading, while potential hypoxic regions shifted earlier (1960s) under thermal forcing and silicate concentration.

Model-based refinement of metal water quality criteria: Advances in biotic ligand model, multiple linear regression, and toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic approaches.

Water quality criteria (WQC) for metals rely heavily on species sensitivity distribution (SSD) models to quantify the variability of biological responses and define concentrations that safeguard aquatic communities. However, traditional SSD approaches often neglect two critical dimensions: site-specific modulation of metal bioavailability and the time-dependent nature of toxic effects. In response, several model-based refinements, including Biotic Ligand Model (BLM), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), and Toxicokinetic-Toxicodynamic (TK-TD) frameworks, have been developed to enhance the ecological relevance and predictive reliability of WQC.

Hospital waste management in Germany and the European Union during the Industry 5.0 era for carbon neutrality by 2050: A critical review.

Hospital waste management (HWM) is critical to advancing environmental sustainability, particularly as Germany and the European Union (EU) pursue carbon neutrality by 2050. This review examines the potential of Industry 5.0 technologies to transform waste management through intelligent, human-centric systems.

Simultaneous determination of phosphate and nitrite at nanomolar to micromolar concentrations in seawater using a syringe pump-based automated analyzer coupled with a long pathlength capillary flow cell.

Phosphate and nitrite, two essential nutrients in marine ecosystems, exhibit dynamic concentration distributions due to complex biogeochemical processes. Accurate quantification of these nutrients requires analytical methods with both high sensitivity and a broad dynamic range. Here, we present an automated syringe pump-based analyzer coupled with a long pathlength liquid waveguide capillary cell (LWCC), incorporating a robust automated dilution program, for simultaneous determination of phosphate and nitrite in seawater across nanomolar and micromolar concentrations.

Magnetic field-enhanced in-tube solid-phase microextraction on-line hyphenated with chromatography for the simultaneous determination of heavy metal ions.

Developing on-line hyphenated technique for the sensitive and accurate monitoring of heavy metal ions (HMs) is significant and interesting. In this connection, magnetic field-enhanced in-tube solid phase microextraction technique (ME/IT-SPME) was on-line hyphenated with HPLC system for the simultaneously quantitative analysis of Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in various environmental samples. To enhance the ultraviolet sensitivity, the studied HMs were reacted with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate (DDTC) to form HMs/DDTC complexes.

Land availability and policy commitments limit global climate mitigation from forestation.

Forestation (afforestation and reforestation) could mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon within biomass and soils. However, global mitigation from forestation remains uncertain owing to varying estimates of carbon sequestration rates (notably in soil) and land availability. In this study, we developed global maps of soil carbon change that reveal carbon gains and losses with forestation, primarily in the topsoil.

A cis-natural antisense RNA regulates alternative polyadenylation of SlSPX5 under Pi starvation in tomato.

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) generates transcript diversity by producing mRNA isoforms with distinct 3' ends. Despite the critical roles that APA plays in various biological processes, the mechanisms regulating APA in response to stresses have remained poorly understood in plants. Here, we perform comprehensive analysis of APA in tomato, and focus on a phosphate (Pi)- regulated APA gene SlSPX5, encoding a putative Pi sensor protein.

Phosphomolybdenum blue-based diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and digital imaging for measurement of dissolved reactive phosphorus in surface sediment porewater.

Current methods for determining dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in sediment porewater mainly rely on analysis, which can be labor-intensive and introduces errors due to changes in the concentration and morphology during sampling and transportation. Therefore, there is a clear need for measurement methods for DRP in sediment porewater. In this study, a novel analytical method was developed by combining diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) and digital imaging techniques, based on the classic phosphomolybdenum blue (PMB) method.

Autophagy and glycolysis synergistically mediate Cd²⁺ transport to enhance Cd tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Cadmium (Cd), as a widely investigated heavy metal, demonstrates severe toxicity to plant growth and development. However, the roles of energy metabolism, and protein degradation caused by autophagy in plant Cd tolerance remain poorly characterized. This study reveals that Cd-exposure simultaneously affects both the glycolytic and autophagic in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Transport of PFAS in the Presence of Ocean Currents: Implying the Dominance of External Inputs in the Taiwan Strait.

The impact of ocean dynamic processes under seasonal variations on the occurrence and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in marginal seas needs more attention. Here, we investigated the distribution of 33 PFAS in surface and vertical profiles of the Taiwan Strait (TWS) during summer and autumn. The results indicated that PFAS mainly originated from exogenous inputs via seasonal currents, and industrial emissions could be their potential sources.

Harnessing a Genetically Engineered Self-Assembling Protein Biosorbent for Efficient and Selective Rare Earth Element Recovery.

The global demand for rare earth elements (REEs) has surged due to their critical role in high-tech and clean energy applications. However, conventional extraction from mineral ores is resource-intensive and environmentally harmful. Recovering REEs from low-grade secondary resources offers a sustainable alternative but remains a significant challenge.

Effects of phosphorus supply levels on the growth and nutrient utilization of lamb hybrid saplings.

Introduction: Phosphorus is vital for plant growth but is often limited in subtropical acidic soils, restricting forest productivity. , a key timber and resin species in China, shows varied shoot-sprouting characteristics and nutrient use under different phosphorus levels. Understanding its response to fertilization is crucial for optimizing plantation management and growth.

Evaluating the Impact of Near-Natural Restoration Strategies on the Ecological Restoration of Landslide-Affected Areas Across Different Time Periods.

Landslides are a common geological hazard in mountainous areas, causing significant damage to ecosystems and production activities. Near-natural ecological restoration is considered an effective strategy for post-landslide recovery. To investigate the impact of near-natural restoration strategies on the recovery of plant communities and soil in landslide-affected areas, we selected landslide plots in Lantian County at 1, 6, and 11 years post-landslide as study sites, surveyed plots undergoing near-natural restoration and adjacent undisturbed control plots (CK), and collected and analyzed data on plant communities and soil properties.

In Situ isotope tracing for metal bioaccumulation in open waters: Implications for interpreting biomonitoring data and safe seafood aquaculture.

Understanding the toxicokinetics of metal bioaccumulation in natural environmental conditions is crucial for translating biomonitoring data into accurate environmental risk assessments. However, the lack of effective in situ tracing techniques has limited our ability to effectively assess and predict metal bioaccumulation within the environment. We developed a novel isotope tracing approach that combines laboratory isotope-labeling with field transplantation of organisms.

Observations and potential source regions of HFC-152a in southeastern China.

Under the global HFCs reduction framework of the Kigali Amendment (KA) to the Montreal Protocol (MP), although HFC-152a is widely used as an ozone-friendly alternative in fields such as refrigeration and foam blowing agents, its production volume has gradually increased in recent years, prompting regulatory attention. In this study, we conducted a continuous daily in-situ observation of HFC-152a at a remote site in southeastern China from May 2023 to May 2024. HFC-152a exhibits seasonal variations in mixing ratios and enhancements, with summer values being lower than in other seasons.

Polyadenylation Complex CFII Recognizes Downstream Cis-element for Pre-mRNA Polyadenylation Through Interaction with an RNA-Binding Protein in Arabidopsis.

Alternative polyadenylation of pre-mRNA generates mRNAs with alternative 3' ends, thereby increasing the complexity of the transcriptome and proteome. This process is carried out by pre-mRNA 3' end processing complexes, with the specificity and site selection of polyadenylation primarily defined by the interaction between these complexes and conserved pre-mRNA cis-elements. However, the cis-element recognized by the polyadenylation CFII complex and the downstream cis-element of the poly(A) site remain unknown.

Aquaculture types drive variability in mangrove soil carbon-nitrogen stocks and OC sources via dredging wastewater.

Wastewater discharge from coastal aquaculture into mangroves constitutes a globally widespread environmental challenge. The ecological impact of aquaculture wastewater discharge on mangroves remains to be elucidated. This study investigated the effects of dredging wastewater discharged from different aquaculture ponds, including shrimp ponds, fish-crab ponds, and razor clam ponds, on carbon and nitrogen storage in mangrove soils.

Gut microbiota mitigate the reproductive toxicity of silver nanoparticles through thiamine-derived metabolites.

The environmental and health risks of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have driven the development of numerous engineering strategies to reduce the likelihood of exposure. Nonetheless, AgNP exposure is often inevitable, prompting a search for effective detoxification strategies at the organism level. Given the critical role of the gut microbiota in host health, we test its ability to mitigate the adverse effects of AgNPs by introducing various bacterial strains into the Caenorhabditis elegans gut and then comparing the nematode's response with that of germ-free nematodes.

Vegetation, salinity, and tides drive nitrogen cycling in Mangrove plastispheres.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants in mangrove ecosystems, with significant implications for microbial communities and nitrogen (N) cycling. However, the ecological processes shaping MP-associated microbial assemblages across environmental gradients remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted in situ and microcosm experiments to investigate microbial community composition and N-cycling gene abundance on three MP types-polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-across salinity gradients (0-30 ppt) and under simulated tidal fluctuations over 35 days.

Refining Marine Metal Biomonitoring through Insights into Allometry in Green Mussels.

Size-dependent variability in metal accumulation complicates the use of bivalves as biomonitors, potentially leading to inaccurate contamination assessments. While some biomonitoring programs attempt to account for size-related variability, existing methods may pose practical challenges. This study investigates how size influences metal accumulation in Perna viridis and explores the underlying toxicokinetic mechanisms using an improved double stable isotope method.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) using Hi-C technology: Genomic analysis and profiling of DNA methylation for epigenetic study.

The marine medaka, Oryzias melastigma, has been widely used as a vital model organism for marine ecotoxicology and genetic or epigenetic studies. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly using Hi-C technology, integrated with PacBio long-read and Illumina short-read sequence data from previous studies. The assembled genome has 24 chromosomes and unanchored contigs with a total length of 873 Mb and an N50 of 35.

Diversity and interdomain networks of bacterial, pico-protist and nano-protist communities in a marine ranching.

Microbes of diverse sizes and classifications collaborate to mediate a variety of biogeochemical processes. Although seasonal fluctuations in environmental variables generally influence microbial community dynamics, our comprehension of interdomain microbial co-occurrence patterns remains incomplete. Here, we analyzed high-throughput sequencing datasets of bacteria, pico-protists (0.

Are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exhibiting higher chronic ecological risks? Exploring water quality criteria for ibuprofen in China.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen (IBU), one of the most consumed drugs in the world, is frequently detected in freshwater and seawater. Low doses of IBU are also toxic to aquatic organisms, including endocrine disrupting toxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, but limited research on water quality criteria (WQC) for IBU hinders its ecological risk assessment. This study aimed to derive freshwater and seawater WQC for IBU in China through the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method.

Enhancing Conservation Efforts in the Qinling Mountains Through Phenotypic Trait Diversity Optimization.

The establishment of conservation areas is considered one of the most effective approaches to address biodiversity loss with limited resources. Identifying hotspots of plant diversity and conservation gaps has played a crucial role in optimizing conservation areas. Utilizing diverse types of research data can effectively enhance the recognition of hotspots and conservation gaps.