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Forage-grain ratoon rice (FG-RR) systems, integrating grain and forage production, promise a sustainable approach to enhance food security and livestock development in marginal regions where ratoon rice (T-RR) is traditionally cultivated. Here, we quantified zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in ratoon crop grains from 23 rice varieties at four mowing stages (heading, milk-ripening, dry-ripening, and full maturity) of the main crop. Early mowing at the milk-ripening stage significantly reduced As levels (16.59-46.83 %) and increased Zn (0.61-18.21 %) and Cu (6.81-55.44 %) concentrations, improving nutritional quality. However, Cd levels were elevated (2.10-262.66 %) in FG-RR compared with T-RR. Notably, the impact of mowing stages on the metal concentrations was greater than that of rice varieties. These findings suggest that mowing at the milk-ripening stage enhances the safety and sustainability of FG-RR systems, ensuring improved nutrition and reduced As-related heavy health risks., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Infections caused by root-knot nematodes (RKNs) significantly impair vegetable growth and crop yield, posing a severe threat to global food security. Our previous study indicated that fungal-derived 2-furoic acid was a promising lead compound for the exploitation of eco-friendly nematicides. However, the exact molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we observed behavioral changes in the nematodes following treatment with 100 μg/mL of 2-furoic acid. Subsequently, transcriptomics and metabolomics were combined to identify changes in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs). Transcriptome analysis revealed 199 up-regulated and 109 down-regulated DEGs. Metabolomics analysis indicated that 140 metabolites (72 up-regulated and 68 down-regulated) exhibited significant differences. Notably, the integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis identified a total of 72 DEGs and 54 DEMs annotated across 51 pathways, including lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Intriguingly, 14 out of the 51 pathways were simultaneously annotated to the downregulated calmodulin gene (cam). RNA interference (RNAi) results demonstrated that the down-regulated cam, a potential drug target for controlling RKNs, significantly reduced the motility, infectivity, and pathogenicity of M. incognita. Our results provide insights into the molecular basis of 2-furoic acid against M. incognita and offer a valuable theoretical foundation for the design of eco-friendly nematicides., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The marine microalga Emiliania huxleyi is widely distributed in the surface oceans and is prone to infection by coccolithoviruses that can terminate its blooms. However, little is known about how global change factors like solar UV radiation (UVR) and ocean warming affect the host-virus interaction. We grew the microalga at 2 temperature levels with or without the virus in the presence or absence of UVR and investigated the physiological and transcriptional responses. We showed that viral infection noticeably reduced photosynthesis and growth of the alga but was less harmful to its physiology under conditions where UVR influenced viral DNA expression. In the virus-infected cells, the combination of UVR and warming (+4°C) led to a 13-fold increase in photosynthetic carbon fixation rate, with warming alone contributing a change of about 5-7-fold. This was attributed to upregulated expression of genes related to carboxylation and light-harvesting proteins under the influence of UVR, and to warming-reduced infectivity. In the absence of UVR, viral infection downregulated the metabolic pathways of photosynthesis and fatty acid degradation. Our results suggest that solar UV exposure in a warming ocean can reduce the severity of viral attack on this ecologically important microalga, potentially prolonging its blooms., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The post-transcriptional regulation of epigenetic modification is a hot topic in skeletal muscle development research. Both m6A modifications and miRNAs have been well-established as crucial regulators in skeletal muscle development. However, the interacting regulatory mechanisms between m6A modifications and miRNAs in skeletal muscle development remain unclear. In this study, miRNA sequencing analysis of goat primary myoblasts (GPMs) pre- and post-differentiation revealed that miR-503-5p was upregulated during myogenic differentiation, and its precursor was identified to contain m6A modification sites. Combined analysis of RIP, qRT-PCR and mRNA stability assay showed that Ythdf2 could recognize and bind the m6A site on pre-miR-503-5p, thereby facilitating the maturation of pre-miR-503-5p in an m6A-dependent manner. Moreover, the overexpression of miR-503-5p significantly inhibits the proliferation of GPMs, promotes myogenic differentiation, and enhances mitochondrial biogenesis while activating the mTOR pathway. However, the suppression of mTOR activity can effectively counteract the accelerated myogenic differentiation induced by miR-503-5p overexpression. Collectively, our results indicate that Ythdf2-dependent m6A modification facilitates the maturation of pre-miR-503-5p, thereby promoting skeletal muscle differentiation through the activation of the mTOR pathway. These insights lay a valuable foundation for further investigation into the complexities of skeletal muscle development and the potential implications of epigenetic regulation in this process., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) demonstrates a significantly high prevalence among swine populations. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with high affinity for conserved epitopes of PRRSV can facilitate the development of a broad-spectrum detection method for this virus. This study identified two PRRSV-specific mAbs, designated 2B1 and 2C6, which recognized two conformation-dependent epitopes through indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western blot analysis. Further investigation via immunoprecipitation and eukaryotic expression studies confirmed that both mAbs specifically target the Nucleocapsid (N) protein of PRRSV. Importantly, these two epitopes exhibit high conservation across PRRSV isolates, including DV, CH-1a, HuN4, NADC30-like strains, NADC34-like strains and VR2332. The mAb 2C6 was effectively blocked by sera from pigs positive for PRRSV-1 and PRRSV-2. Consequently, a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (b-ELISA) based on 2C6 was developed to detect anti-PRRSV antibodies, achieving enhanced sensitivity and specificity. The results obtained using this method demonstrated a higher concordance rate compared to those derived from commercial kit. Additionally, a total of 451 animals from various provinces in China were sampled, revealing an overall IgG antibody seropositivity against PRRSV of 77.38 % (349/451), with nursery pigs at 33.48 % (151), growing pigs at 15.96 % (72), fattening pigs at 39.69 % (179) and sows at 10.86 % (49). Collectively, the established b-ELISA represents an optimal method for large-scale serological investigations into PRRSV antibodies within farming operations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All the authors of the manuscript have read and agreed to its content. There is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Food synthetic biology is garnering increasing attention for its potential to generate bioactive components. His-tag is one of the most popular tags used in food synthetic biology. Herein, His-tag, His-tagged proteins, and His-tagged peptides were adopted as the model targets, and a commonly used biosensor was developed to monitor His-tagged food biomolecules, using split aptamers as specific recognition probes and nanozyme as the transduction element. A strategy to generate high-affinity split aptamers was proposed, obtaining a pair of split aptamers for His-tag (K d  = 132 nM). AuNPs-mannan oligosaccharide nanozyme was fabricated and combined with the split aptamers to develop the biosensor. The functional mechanism of the probes and the nanozyme was revealed. The biosensor demonstrated good sensitivity, selectivity, and practicability when analyzing synthetic His-tagged proteins and peptides in real-world samples, with a limit of detection of 12.44 nM. The strategies provide robust reference for developing analytical methods for synthetic biomolecules., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: The authors declare that the content related to the generation of aptamer probes has been authorized by China Patent No. ZL202210658986.6. Apart from this, there are no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Skeletal stem cells (SSCs) maintain the skeletal system via pluripotency and differentiation capacity. However, it remains largely unknown how these cells precisely regulate their function to maintain skeletal organization. Here, we delineate the RNA m 6 A modification landscape across skeletal cell populations in the mouse epiphysis. Our findings show that m 6 A modifications are prevalent in skeletal stem cell and progenitor populations and play critical roles in cell fate determination. Genetic deletion of Mettl3, the core catalytic subunit of the m 6 A-methyltransferase complex, in murine skeletal stem and progenitors impaired bone development, leading to shortened limbs, disrupted growth plate zonation, and decreased bone mass. Moreover, Mettl3 deficiency induced quiescence exit in SSCs, together with compromised self-renewal capacity and differentiation potential. Mechanistically, Mettl3-mediated m 6 A modification reduced mRNA stability of the Cul2-RING E3 ligase complex subunit Fem1b, which subsequently stabilizes Gli1 protein, a key transcription factor of Hedgehog pathway for maintaining SSC identity and function. Thus, we present a comprehensive RNA m 6 A modification landscape of skeletal cell hierarchy and uncover the essential function of epitranscriptomically-regulated proteostasis in maintaining SSCs quiescence and potency., Competing Interests: Disclosure and competing interests statement. The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

With the increasing global energy demand and the worsening issue of energy shortages, the energy crisis has become a significant challenge worldwide. Meanwhile, the disposal of medical and agricultural waste is also becoming an increasingly critical issue. Medical waste, such as protective clothing, contains hazardous substances that, if improperly managed, pose threats to the environment and public health. Traditional disposal methods, such as incineration and landfilling, not only consume high amounts of energy but also make it difficult to recover energy and materials from the waste. To address these problems, this study proposes a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution, aiming to convert hazardous medical waste into valuable fuel products such as CH 4 , H 2 , and CO through pyrolysis technology. In this regard, the study conducted a series of simulation experiments to analyze the pyrolysis of medical protective clothing (MPC), cow dung (CD), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and corn straw (CS) under different temperature and mixing conditions. The results show that the pyrolysis of MPC alone predominantly produces char (accounting for around 50%). Co-pyrolysis of LDPE and MPC enhances the product yield. For example, at a pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C, co-pyrolysis of LDPE and MPC increases the methane (CH 4 ) yield by 12% compared to the pyrolysis of MPC alone. Additionally, a life cycle assessment and a techno-economic evaluation were conducted from an application perspective. The results indicate that the project is economically feasible with net profits achievable in the second year of operation and has no harmful environmental impacts. Converting medical waste, agricultural waste, and other types of waste into biofuels holds the potential for being green, economical, and sustainable. This approach not only reduces reliance on traditional energy sources but also contributes to achieving carbon neutrality and promoting green development goals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is notorious for its complex virulence system and rapid adaptive drug resistance. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and genotype distribution of virulence genes in multidrug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is possible to better understand the genetic characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and carry out effective treatment and prevention measures., Methods: The genes phzS, aprA, plcH, toxA, pilA and exoU were detected amongst 184 clinical strains, whose cytotoxicity and biofilm formation ability were evaluated as well. Phenotypic screening for drug susceptibility was conducted by standard antimicrobial susceptibility test and interpreted according to standards established by CLSI., Results: A total of 94 multidrug-sensitive and 90 multidrug-resistant isolates were included in this study. Statistically significant relationship was observed in the frequency of the toxA (p = 0.002) and plcH (p = 0.001) genes between multidrug-resistant and multidrug-sensitive strains. Moreover, thirteen genotypes were observed in multidrug-sensitive strains, and seven of them were included in multidrug-resistant groups. There was statistically significant correlation found between the presence of genotype IV (p = 0.001) and genotype VII (p = 0.001) in two subgroups. Additionally, It was found that genotype III isolates exhibited most obvious cytotoxicity, and multidrug-resistant isolates of genotype III showed the most significant cytotoxicity. Moreover, the strains of strong biofilm-formation accounted for a relatively high proportion in genotype III and VI groups., Conclusion: These virulence genes could form abundant genotype varieties, whose overall number is greater in multi-sensitive strains. In addition, particular genotypes were characteristically distributed and exhibited different cytotoxicity and biofilm-formation abilities., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The ethic statement was approved by the Ethics Committee at Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (B2022-044R) (Approved on 25 February 2022), and informed consent was acquired for clinical and biological information. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Halogenation is commonly utilized in medicinal chemistry for the improvement of drug leads. Flavin-dependent halogenases (FDHs) are ubiquitous across all domains of life, yet iterative FDHs are rare in the biosynthesis of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Herein, we characterize a novel iterative FDH, ChlH, which orchestrates nonsequential chlorination of two specific Trp within the core peptide of a lasso precursor containing three Trp. Biochemical and computational studies enable the characterization of ChlH, which employs unique protein-peptide interactions (PPIs) between its distinct N- and C-terminal motifs and a crucial recognition sequence (RS-II) downstream of RS-I in the leader peptide. Previous studies have demonstrated the indispensability of RS-I for lasso peptide biosynthesis, while RS-II was considered to be replaceable. Furthermore, we find that the core peptide substantially contributes to the PPI. Bioinformatic analysis reveals the prevalence of homologous FDHs in the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) of various RiPP classes. Heterologous expression of the chl BGC yields non-, mono-, and dichlorinated lasso peptides, with chlorination, particularly dichlorination, enhancing their antibacterial activity. This study expands the FDH activity spectrum to include iterative catalysis on ribosomal peptides and underscores the significance of RS-II in tailoring enzymes for the combinatorial biosynthesis of lasso peptides.

Superlubricity, a lubricating state in which the coefficient of friction (COF) is smaller than 0.01, has been achieved at the macroscale in a variety of aqueous solutions and oils, as well as two-dimensional (2D) and carbon materials; nevertheless, it has been rarely realized with polymer composites. In the present work, macroscale superlubricity was achieved with a polymer composite on the basis of the microcapsule technique, which is an effective self-lubricating method for composites by releasing lubricants on demand. Solid submicrometer capsules were used as the basic units of the matrix of a polymer composite, and oil-containing microcapsules were used as lubrication fillers. On the basis of this material design strategy, robust superlubricity with a COF of 0.003-0.009 was achieved in a wide temperature range (0-200 °C) under atmospheric conditions, and it could be kept for a sliding distance of over 500 m. It has been found that the trace oil released from the microcapsules at the sliding interface favored the formation of a hydrodynamic film and a boundary tribo-film with an ultralow shear strength. This work provided a novel method to achieve superlubricity with polymer composites and potentially expanded the engineering application of superlubricity.

Excessive accumulations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and M1 macrophages are closely associated with the complex pathogenesis of spinal cord injury (SCI). Thus, therapeutics that synergistically exert the elimination of ROS and repolarization of pro-inflammation macrophages are gaining increasing notice. We developed a prussian blue-based nanoflower (KPBF) with near-infrared (NIR) photothermal and antioxidant properties. The KPBF's biofunctions were similar to those of other antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase and superoxide dismutase, which are capable of reducing ROS. With NIR irradiation, KPBF efficiently heated the injured spinal cord lesion. By modifying the CKLVFFAED peptide, KPBF remarkably penetrated through the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) into the local lesion. Moreover, KPBF repolarized M1 macrophages and alleviated neuroinflammation in SCI mice. Overall, KPBF presented a universal nanotherapeutic system with immunoregulation and antioxidant activities for acute SCI recovery.

Two-dimensional (2D) material-based p-channel field-effect transistors (FETs) are key elements for the realization of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. WSe 2 , as the primary material for p-channel FETs, is suffering from intrinsic atomic defects and extrinsic defects during metal deposition, making it difficult to form high-quality metal-semiconductor contact interfaces. This leaves significant space for improvement in the performance of p-channel FETs. In this work, we propose an effective defect optimization strategy, focusing on the contact interface. The trifluoromethyl thianthrenium triflate (TTT) molecule treatment on WSe 2 increases the hole density, induces the defect passivation, and enhances the hole transport efficiency. The high work-function semimetal TiS 2 effectively prevents damage caused by metal deposition and facilitates efficient hole transport. The optimized WSe 2 -CF 3 -TiS 2 FET achieves a high hole mobility of ∼147 cm 2 /V·s and demonstrates excellent stability at 200 °C.

Abiotic photochemistry and microbial degradation are the two main removal processes of marine dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, the combined and repeated effects of irradiation and biodegradation on DOM remains poorly resolved due to their complex interactions. To disentangle the effects of abiotic photochemistry from photobiology, we alternately exposed coastal DOM to repeated exposures to simulated solar radiation and then to microbial communities in darkness. Our results demonstrated selective impacts on the DOM pool by photochemical and microbial degradation. Photodegradation resulted in the loss of fluorescent (both protein- and humic-like), the enrichment of aliphatic and nitrogen-containing compounds, and an increase in microbial diversity. However, biodegradation drove changes in key molecules (significantly altered) and enhanced the contribution of alicyclic compounds and aromatic compounds containing carboxyl/ester functional groups. Network analysis implicated the irradiation adapted (i.e., Methylophagaceae) microbes in DOM transformations involving the gain and loss of methyl groups, while the non-irradiation adapted (i.e., Alteromonadaceae) microbes appeared to alter DOM composition by the gain and loss of oxygen atoms. Our findings distinguish the selective contributions of irradiation and biodegradation processes and point to the complex interactions between photochemical and biological processes that jointly shape the DOM pool., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is an irreversible pathological condition resulting from the gradual accumulation of nephrotoxic substances. The application of the "Kidney Toxicity" theory in CKD treatment holds significant research potential and promising clinical prospects. We established a murine model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and administered the traditional Chinese medicine prescription Suyin detoxification prescription (SDP). The efficacy of SDP was assessed by comparing the expression levels of Klotho, NF-κB, pNF-κB, VEGF, α-SMA, pERK1/2, and ERK1/2 proteins with those in the Sham operation group using immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and Western Blot techniques. The study revealed a significant reduction in the expression of Klotho and VEGF proteins during the progression of renal fibrosis in mice, while there was a marked increase in the levels of pNF-κB, α-SMA, and pERK1/2 proteins, demonstrating statistical significance (p < 0.05). In UUO mice treated with a high dose of SDP, these proteins exhibited an opposite expression trend compared to that observed in pure operated model mice, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Subsequently, we investigated the relationship between Klotho protein and the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Knockdown of Klotho protein in HUVECs confirmed its potential as a target for SDP's renal protective effects in vivo by regulating ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins to some extent. The renoprotective effect of SDP is mediated through modulation of Klotho protein expression in renal tissues, thereby influencing the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway and ameliorating the inflammatory processes associated with renal fibrosis. The present study has significantly contributed to the advancement and refinement of the pathogenesis of "Kidney Toxicity" as well as the therapeutic approach of "Kidney Detoxification"., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standards. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The entire experimental procedure was performed according to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Ministry of Science and Technology, China, 2006). The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of the Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Approval Document No.: 2023 DW-016-01)., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

We employed synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) to assess the slope stability of a high-altitude landfill in Sangri County, Shannan, Tibet. To address the unique climatic conditions of high-altitude regions, the InSAR deformation monitoring model was enhanced to mitigate the effects of temperature and rainfall. The accuracy of InSAR monitoring in high-elevation slopes was validated by comparison with GNSS RTK measurements. Both Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (D-InSAR) and Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) techniques were applied to monitor and evaluate slope deformation at the landfill site. The findings indicate that the average error between the improved InSAR model and GNSS measurements is 0.28 mm, with no statistically significant difference. The maximum slope displacement exceeds 20 mm when rainfall exceeds 300 mm, reaching the blue warning threshold. From 2018 to 2022, the deformation rate of the high-altitude landfill ranged from 0 to - 9.00 mm/a, classified as slip category VII. Significant deformation was observed during the rainy season, while the slope remained stable during dry periods, suggesting that rainfall is a primary trigger for slope deformation. A certain hysteresis effect in the deformation response to rainfall was also identified. The results demonstrate that InSAR technology offers comprehensive and dynamic monitoring capabilities for high-altitude slopes and serves as an effective tool for slope stability management in challenging environments., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Dong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Autophagy is a fundamental cellular activity involved in the renewal of cellular components, occurring primarily in cells subjected to physiological remodeling or pathological stimuli. The occurrence of autophagy is closely related to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and ER stress (ERS) occurs when ER homeostasis is disrupted. The current study aimed to analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ERS on autophagy in goat endometrial epithelial cells (gEECs). We found that rapamycin (an autophagy inducer) induced autophagy and ERS in a time-dependent manner in gEECs which was accompanied by significantly increased expression of the autophagy-related genes ATG5, the LC3II/LC3I and ERS-related genes GRP78, IRE1, ATF6, and XBP1s. PI3K and AKT protein phosphorylation was significantly reduced during gEECs autophagy. Interestingly, TG (ERS activator) significantly inhibited the expression of ATG5 and the LC3II/LC3I and significantly promoted expression of SQSTM1, whereas the ERS inhibitor 4-PBA showed the opposite results. Surprisingly, XBP1s knockdown inhibited the effects of TG. Furthermore, XBP1s overexpression significantly inhibited autophagy whereas XBP1s knockdown increased ATG5 expression and the LC3II/LC3I and decreased SQSTM1 expression in gEECs. Specifically, XBP1s overexpression significantly promoted PI3K and AKT protein phosphorylation while treatment with LY294002 (PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor) significantly reversed the effect. Similarly, PI3K/AKT pathway activation was significantly inhibited following XBP1s knockdown whereas treatment with SC79 (PI3K/AKT pathway activator) showed the opposite results. Taken together, our data suggest that interactions between ERS and autophagy exist in gEECs. XBP1s, the key effector of ERS, inhibits autophagy in gEECs by promoting the PI3K/AKT pathway in gEECs. These results may contribute to the treatment and prevention of uterine diseases., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Human health is seriously threatened by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) due to the lack of effective treatment. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of mefloquine (MEF) together with multiple drugs against 96 clinical CRE isolates including 94 Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producers or Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs)-producers and 2 colistin antibiotic resistance enzyme MCR-1-producers., Methods: Using the broth microdilution method, MICs of MEF in combination with multiple antimicrobial agents, including colistin (COL), imipenem, aztreonam-avibactam (ATM-AVI), ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) for 96 CRE isolates were determined. Time-kill assays were implemented for 3 colistin-resistant (COL-R) isolates to analyze in vitro synergistic impacts of COL combined with MEF., Results: MEF alone showed little antibacterial activity with MICs greater than 128 µg/mL for all the 96 clinical CRE isolates. The addition of MEF (32 µg/mL) increased the sensitivity of almost all strains (98.9%, 95/96) to COL, reducing the MICs range of COL from ≤ 0.0625->8 µg/mL to ≤ 0.004-0.5 µg/mL. In particular, we observed that COL-MEF combination therapy had a significant effect on COL-R isolates, reducing their MICs from resistance to susceptibility. Moreover, the MIC 50 and MIC 90 of imipenem were both reduced by 2-fold in almost all strains with the addition of MEF (32 µg/mL), and in single MBL-producers, the MIC 50 (from 16 to 4 µg/mL) and MIC 90 (from 128 to 32 µg/mL) were both reduced by 4-fold. In addition, the MIC 50 and MIC 90 values of 96 CRE isolates of CAZ-AVI and ATM-AVI did not decrease significantly after combined with MEF (32 µg/mL). For the time-kill assays of 3 COL-R isolates, COL or MEF alone had almost no killing effect, however, when MEF was combined with COL, the isolates were completely killed within 4 h, and NDM-5-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae did not regenerate within 24 h., Conclusions: According to our study, COL-MEF may offer a potential alternative for treating CRE infections, especially COL-R Gram-negative bacterial infections., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Authors had sought consent from the individual to publish the data in a journal article. Consent for publication: All authors contributed to the formation of this paper’s important intellectual content and reviewed and approved the final text for publication. Competing interests: The authors declared no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

A study was conducted to evaluate the three-dimensional clinostat simulated microgravity effect on mouse models, focusing on the central nervous system. Eighteen mice were divided into three groups: control, survival box, and clinostat + survival box. Behavioral tests, femur micro-CT, brain transcriptomics, serum metabolomics, and fecal microbiomics were performed. Results showed decreased activity, altered gait, enhanced fear memory, bone loss, immune/endocrine changes in brain transcriptome, and altered metabolic pathways in serum and gut microbiota in clinostat-treated mice. The model closely mimics spaceflight-induced transcriptome changes, suggesting its value in studying microgravity-related neurological alterations and highlighting the need for attention to emotional changes in space., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

The sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)-induced ferrihydrite transformation is an important cause for arsenic (As) contamination in the aquifer near mining area. Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) is widespread and has the potential of regulating As fate directly or indirectly. However, the influence of CaCO 3 on ferrihydrite transformation and the associated As mobilization/redistribution in SRB-containing environments remains unclear. Therefore, in this research, batch experiments coupled with a series geochemical, spectroscopic, and microscopic technologies were conducted collectively to address the research gap above. The results suggested that under low CaCO 3 loading conditions, the reductive transformation of ferrihydrite to Fe-S minerals resulted in a significant release of adsorbed As into the solution and As(V) reduction to more mobile and toxic As(III). Inside the cell of SRB, there existed S and As zone (no Fe), where As(V) might be reduced by S 2- without interference of Fe(III). Although the high CaCO 3 loadings exerted little effect on Fe(III) reduction, they promoted ferrihydrite transformation into dufrenite and vivianite, which sequestered As effectively via structural incorporation process, retarding As mobilization. Besides, the coprecipitation of As with dufrenite and vivianite enhanced the stability of solid phase As. Overall, the high CaCO 3 loadings altered the mineralogical transformation of ferrihydrite and the associated As biogeochemistry significantly in SRB-containing environments. Regulating ferrihydrite transformation and the associated As fate via CaCO 3 addition is an effective approach for mitigation of As mobilization in the aquifer near mining area., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Snakes are widely farmed in China for medicinal purposes and as pets worldwide. Acanthamoeba spp., Blastocystis spp., and Cyclospora spp. are significant zoonotic pathogens frequently discovered in various animals, causing diseases with global public health implications. However, their prevalence and zoonotic potential in snakes remain poorly understood. In this study, 812 snake faecal samples were collected across 28 China provinces. The partial small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assess evolutionary relationships and genetic characterization. Detection rates for Acanthamoeba spp., Blastocystis spp., and Cyclospora spp. were 6.40 %, 3.33 %, and 2.71 %, respectively. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that Cyclospora isolates were closely related to those found in humans and cattle. Subtyping for Blastocystis species identified two zoonotic subtypes (ST4, ST6) and four host-specific subtypes (ST10, ST15, ST21, ST42). Multiple Acanthamoeba genotypes were detected, including T4, T11, and T13. Furthermore, species, age, and living conditions are key risk factors. This study provides valuable insights into these infections in snakes and underscores the need for proper hygiene and One Health measures to reduce zoonotic transmission and environmental contamination., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can be treated as a simple indicator of patients' immune status by representing the state of the systemic inflammatory response. Immunotherapy now is the accepted second-line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC). However, the significance of NLR in patients with R/M NPC undergoing treatment with PD-L1 (programmed cell death-ligand 1) inhibitors is still uncertain., Methods: We analyzed the relationship between baseline NLR with 153 patients' efficacy and survival from a multicenter, prospective, Phase 2 study. We employed restricted cubic spline plots to get the nonlinear relationship between NLR and progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS). We identified the ideal cut-off value through the analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve). We used Logistic regression, Cox regression, Log-rank test, and Kaplan-Meier method to analyze the association between NLR and patients' disease control rate (DCR) and PFS or OS., Results: The ideal threshold value for NLR was 2.826. NLR was identified as a significant independent predictor of DCR (OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05-0.48, p = 0.001), indicating that a higher NLR is associated with worse DCR. NLR (AUC = 0.634) showed superior predictive capability for DCR in comparison to lymphocytes (AUC = 0.602) and neutrophils (AUC = 0.593). High NLR values were risk factors both for poor PFS (HR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.58-4.06, p < 0.001) and OS (HR = 3.89, 95% CI = 2.09-7.24, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Elevated NLR is strongly associated with lower response to treatment and reduced survival rates in patients with R/M NPC being treated with PD-L1 inhibitors. Patients with high NLR values have poor efficacy and survival., (© 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Organic fertilizer can help replenish fertility in cropland and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, with biochar is an important soil conditioner. Under the premise of chemical fertilizer reduction, whether the application of biochar and organic fertilizer affect the yield and nutrient absorption and utilization of wheat? In this experiment, 7 treatments were set up in a randomized field trial with each treatment repeated three times: (1) CK1: no fertilizer; (2) CK2: 100% inorganic fertilizer; (3) T1: recommended amount of biochar with 100% inorganic fertilizer; (4) T2: recommended amount of organic fertilizer with 80% inorganic fertilizer; (5) T3: recommended amount of organic fertilizer and biochar with 80% inorganic fertilizer; (6) T4: recommended amount of organic fertilizer with 60% inorganic fertilizer; and (7) T5: recommended amount of organic fertilizer and biochar with 60% inorganic fertilizer. The results of this study showed that biochar combined with organic fertilizer can reduce the amount of chemical fertilizer by 40%~20% while ensuring wheat yield. Combining the input and output, 80% inorganic fertilizer with biochar and organic fertilizer (T3) was recommended. Under this fertilization scheme, the wheat yield was 37.32% higher than that of 100% chemical fertilizer (CK2), and the photosynthetic capacity was 54.97% higher at seedling stage. At the tillering stage, the root nitrogen content of T3 was significantly higher than that of T2, T4 and T5, which was 21.44%, 54.63% and 60.16%, respectively. The nitrogen content of T3 was significantly higher than that of other treatments at maturity, and the nitrogen content of T3 was 4.38% higher than that of CK2. At heading stage, the nitrogen allocated to T3 leaves was 4.71% higher than CK2. Overall, the results of this study showed that the combination of biochar and organic fertilizer could effectively reduce the application of chemical fertilizer. The recommended fertilizer regimen was 80% inorganic fertilizer with biochar and organic fertilizer, under this scheme, wheat had stronger photosynthetic capacity and better nutrient absorption and distribution mechanism., Competing Interests: Declarations. The wheat seed collection and the trial conducted in this study were in no violation of any legislation, including the IUCN Policy Statement on Research Involving Species at Risk of Extinction and the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The wheat seeds in this research were provied by professor Longchang Wang, Southwest university. The collection was permitted by the local government of the aforementioned sites. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Bone-related diseases impact a large portion of the global population and, due to their high disability rates and limited treatment options, pose significant medical and economic challenges. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into multiple cell types and offer strong regenerative potential, making them promising for treating various diseases. However, issues with the immune response and cell survival limit the effectiveness of cell transplantation. This has led to increased interest in cell-free stem cell therapy, particularly the use of exosomes, which is the most studied form of this approach. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that contain proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids and play a key role in cell communication and material exchange. Pyroptosis, a form of cell death involved in innate immunity, is also associated with many diseases. Studies have shown that MSC-derived exosomes have therapeutic potential for treating a range of conditions by regulating inflammation and pyroptosis. This study explored the role of MSC-derived exosomes in modulating pyroptosis to improve the treatment of bone-related diseases., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Root-knot nematodes pose a significant threat to crop growth and yield, thereby impacting global food security. Here, the sea-derived Aspergillus luchuensis hy-6 was identified as a producer of 3-furoic acid by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Low doses of 3-furoic acid, an acidic compound with strong nematicidal activity, can reduce the motility, lifespan, and egg hatchability of nematodes in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, 3-furoic acid was found to affect the chemotaxis of Meloidogyne incognita toward cucumber by decreasing the root's attractive activity to the nematodes. Metabolomic analyses indicated that the functional abnormalities in lipid metabolism may represent a critical molecular mechanism underlying severe metabolic dysfunction. Importantly, a significant enhancement in control efficacy was achieved through a simple structural modification, particularly with pent-4-en-1-yl furan-3-carboxylate (A1), which was superior to that of 3-furoic acid. These findings validated the potential of 3-furoic acid as a promising lead in the development of eco-friendly nematicides.

Switching electric polarization by external stimuli constitutes a technical foundation for various applications. Here, we reported the observation of polarization-switching behavior in an oxo-bridged mixed-valence complex [Fe 3 O(piv) 6 (py) 3 ] (piv = pivalate, py = pyridine). Detailed variable-temperature Mössbauer spectral analyses unambiguously confirm the occurrence of an electron localization-delocalization transition between two inequivalent Fe sites. Given that the compound crystallizes in a polar space group, the change in the molecular dipole moments leads to a pyroelectric effect observed during this transition, indicating thermally induced polarization switching behavior. As the complex exhibits asymmetry in the valence-active sites and antiferromagnetic interaction between them, the possibility of magnetoelectric coupling in this compound is also discussed on the basis of the recent prediction of polarization switching through modulating the degree of electron delocalization by magnetic fields in the mixed-valence systems.

Sulforaphane (SFN), a natural compound found in cruciferous vegetables, possesses well-documented antitumor properties. However, the precise functions and mechanisms of SFN in cancer suppression remain poorly understood. Here we provide evidence to demonstrate that SFN exerts more pronounced antitumor effects in immunocompetent mice compared to immunodeficient mice, suggesting the involvement of the host immune system in SFN-mediated tumor suppression. Furthermore, we reveal that SFN primarily acts through CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to enhance antitumor immunity by blocking the IFN-γ-mediated induction of PD-L1, a critical immune checkpoint receptor expressed in cancer cells. Importantly, our findings indicate that the suppression of PD-L1 expression by SFN is independent of the NRF2 protein stabilization pathway. Instead, SFN inhibits IFN-γ-mediated activation of STAT1, a key transcription factor involved in PD-L1 induction. Mechanistically, SFN covalently modifies specific cysteine residues (C155 and C174) on STAT1, resulting in the inhibition of its transcriptional activity. Notably, SFN-mediated downregulation of PD-L1 contributes to its antitumor immune effects, as demonstrated by enhanced anti-CTLA-4-mediated cytotoxicity. These findings indicate that SFN's antitumor effect extends beyond its direct cytotoxic properties, as it also actively engages the host immune system. This underscores SFN's immense potential as an immune-modulating agent in cancer therapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that this research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. All authors read and approved the final manuscript., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

As one of the most precise timekeeping instruments ever developed, the optical clock will be used as the measuring equipment for the next generation of second definition. The demand for the miniaturization of optical clocks is progressively urgent. In this paper, a multi-channel radio frequency (RF) module with a 20% volume of the commercial module is designed and implemented for the transportable 40 Ca + ion optical clock. Based on the double-crystal oscillator interlocking technique, a 1 GHz low-phase noise reference source is developed for direct digital synthesis. Through the simulation and optimization of the signal link design, the frequency range of the low phase-noise RF signal can reach 0-400 MHz with a 4 μHz resolution. Through two-stage power amplifying with different kinds of filters, it can achieve an output power of up to +33 dBm (2 W) at 100 MHz with a 25 dB phase noise lower than the commercial module at 1 Hz, and its third harmonic suppression ratio has been reduced by more than 20 dB at the frequency point of 300 MHz. This multi-channel RF module is used for the power stability and timing control test of a 729 nm clock laser to meet the requirements of the transportable 40 Ca + optical clock. Additionally, this module can also be applied to other quantum systems such as the quantum absolute gravimeter, quantum gyroscopes, and quantum computers.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process whereby epithelial cells are transformed into cells with a mesenchymal phenotype. The transcription factor, X-box binding protein 1 splicing variant (XBP1s) is a key regulator of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response (ERS); but the function of XBP1s in the endometritis-induced EMT process remains unclear. Here we found that uterine tissues from goats with endometritis exhibited an EMT phenotype, with a significant decrease in the epithelial cell polarity marker E-cadherin and a significant increase in the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin. We also found that sustained LPS treatment induced EMT in goat endometrial epithelial cells (gEECs), along with ERS and XBP1s overexpression. XBP1s KO significantly inhibited LPS-induced EMT and migration in gEECs, while XBP1s overexpression showed the opposite result. CUT & Tag experiments performed on XBP1s revealed that MAP3K2 was a downstream target gene for XBP1s regulation. We also found that expression of MAP3K2 was positively correlated with XBP1s expression in uterine tissues of goats with endometritis and in gEECs. Assays for dual luciferase reporter and molecular docking indicated that XBP1s protein regulated the transcription of MAP3K2 by modulating promoter activity. The knockdown of MAP3K2 expression significantly inhibited the migration and EMT of gEECs. XBP1s and MAP3K2 significantly promoted phosphorylation of p38 and ERK, activating the MAPK/ERK pathway. Treatment with the MAPK/ERK inhibitor, PD98059, reversed the effects of XBP1s and MAP3K2 overexpression on LPS-induced EMT. The MAPK/ERK activator, DHC, reversed the effects of XBP1s KO and MAP3K2 KD on EMT., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Experiments and surgical procedures were performed according to protocols approved by the Northwest A&F University Animal Care and Experimental Ethics Committee. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Ten undescribed sesquiterpenoids were isolated from Chloranthus japonicus Sieb., including (4R,5S,6R,8R,10R)-4-hydroxy-6-O-β-d-glucosyleudesman-7(11)-en-8,12-olide (1), (1R,4R,5R,8S,10R)-1,4-dihydroxy-15-(2-methylbutyryloxy)eudesman-7(11)-en-8,12-olide (2),(1R,4S,5R,8S,10R)-1,4-dihydroxy-15-(2-methylbutyryloxy)eudesman-7(11)-en-8,12-olide (3), (1R,3S,4R,5S,8S,9S,10S)-8,9-epoxy-15-hydroxylindenran-7(11)-en-8,12-olide (4), (1R,3S,4R,5S,8S,9S,10S)-8,9,15-trihydroxylindenran-7(11)-en-8,12-olide (5), (1R,3S,4R,5S,6R,8S,10S)-6-acetoxyl-4-hydroxy-15-O-β-d-glucosyllindenran-7(11)-en-8,12-olide (6), (1R,3S,4R,5S,6R,8S,10S)-15-hydroxy-4-O-β-d-glucosyllindenran-7(11),8(9)-dien-8,12-olide (7), japonilides A-C (8-10), along with 19 known compounds. Compounds 8-10 are rare 5,6-seco-germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, and only one of this type sesquiterpenoid has been reported to be isolated from C. anhuiensis. 9-Ketocurzerene (27) was first reported from a natural source. The structures and absolute configurations of the compounds were elucidated through a combination of spectroscopic data interpretation, quantum-chemical calculation, DP4+ probability analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 8, 12, 16 and 22 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on NO production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC 50 values of 22.99 ± 2.71, 24.34 ± 1.36, 23.69 ± 2.83, and 21.23 ± 1.34 μmol/L, respectively. Western blotting studies demonstrated that compound 8 inhibited the expression of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, which act as key mediators in the inflammatory response., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a prevalent extracranial malignant neuroendocrine tumor in children, originating from the sympathetic nervous system. This study aims to investigate new therapeutic targets for NB. The differentially expressed genes were screened by analyzing the GSE35133 and GSE90689 datasets. Hub genes were identified by constructing a protein-protein interaction network. The diagnostic value of the hub genes was assessed through the analysis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the expression, prognosis, and immune infiltration of IFI27 in pan-cancer were analyzed on the online website Sangerbox. The hub gene expression levels were validated by performing real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The functions of IFI27 in NB were investigated by Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, wound healing, and Transwell assays. Six candidate genes (IFI27, TNFSF10, IFI44, DDX58, HIST1H1C, and HIST1H1E) were identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers for NB. The expression levels of IFI27, TNFSF10, IFI44, and DDX58 were significantly decreased, while HIST1H1C and HIST1H1E were elevated. Notably, IFI27 displayed correlations with prognosis and immune infiltration in multiple tumors. In vitro, functional assays demonstrated that the knockdown of IFI27 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of U251 cells. Conversely, in SK-N-AS cells, IFI27 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. IFI27 was lowly expressed in NB and participated in the progression of NB, which provides a new insight into the pathogenic mechanism and novel therapeutic strategy for NB., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Actinidia eriantha polysaccharide (AEPS), an active component of the Chinese herbal medicine Radix Actinidia chinensis, has anticancer effects. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of AEPS in gastric cancer through in vivo, in vitro, and in silico analyses. In our gastric cancer xenograft mouse model, AEPS effectively reduced tumor volume and weight. In the human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS, AEPS inhibited migration and invasion without affecting proliferation; this result was validated in a fluorescent-labeled lung metastasis mouse model. Mass cytometry revealed that AEPS enhanced macrophage proportions in gastric cancer tissues. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a strong increase in PD-1-regulated M2 macrophage proportions in patients with gastric cancer, shortening their survival time and worsening their prognosis. In the coculture system of interleukin-4-induced human monocytic leukemia cells and AGS cells, AEPS treatment downregulated PD-1/PD-L1 and M2 macrophage-related marker expression but promoted TAM polarization toward the M1 phenotype. These findings facilitated the elucidation of the mechanism underlying the treatment effects of AEPS against gastric cancer. Finally, AEPS-PD-1 antibody combination therapy further enhanced the anticancer effects of AEPS in vivo, suggesting its potential as a basis to develop novel therapeutics for gastric cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that there are no financial/personal interests or beliefs that may affect their objectivity and that there are no potential competing interests., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The incorporation of sulfur atoms into polymer backbones for the synthesis of sulfur-containing polymers, such as aliphatic polysulfones, not only enhances degradability but also imparts many distinctive properties to these materials. Traditional synthetic methods encounter substantial challenges in achieving sequence-controlled aliphatic polysulfones with high molecular weights (MW), which significantly limits their applications. We report a novel approach for synthesizing aliphatic polysulfones using the strategy of sulfonyl radical-mediated group transfer radical polymerization (GTRP). This protocol employs a practical SO 2 -free pathway and produces a series of ABC sequence-defined high-MW polymers (up to 199.2 kg/mol). The resultant aliphatic polysulfone exhibits remarkable full-degradability at ambient temperature under strong basic conditions, and offers optical properties - including refractive index and Abbe number - comparable to those of commercially utilized polycarbonate. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to corroborate the non-desulfonylative Smiles rearrangement mechanism implicated in the GTRP process., (© 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

In coal mining, coal rock fracturing damage and leakage pose significant challenges. To study the relationship between piezoelectric signals and seepage characteristics during uniaxial compression, and to achieve leakage monitoring based on piezoelectric signals, a coal rock fracturing damage and leakage monitoring experiment was carried out using coal from the Zhaogu Mine in Henan Province. The wavelet packet energy was introduced to investigate the piezoelectric characteristics. The results indicate the relative variation in wavelet packet energy server as a damage index during the uniaxial compression of coal, correlating closely with permeability changes. The wavelet packet energy at the end of the elastic deformation stage was 0.26 V 2 , similar to the pre-compression value of 0.29 V 2 . Therefore, the overall damage in the compression and elastic deformation stages was approximately 0. Permeability values remained stable, fluctuating from 0.26 × 10 -16 m 2 to 0.11 × 10 -16  m 2 . In the plastic deformation stage, wavelet packet energy decreased while the damage index and permeability rose. Prior to peak stress, wavelet packet energy and damage index plateaued, signaling a precursor to a sudden increase in permeability. Post-peak stress, a marked decline in wavelet packet energy and an increase in the damage index and permeability were observed. This study offers a method for monitoring coal rock leakage, contributing valuable insights for efficient coalbed methane extraction and timely safety alerts., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

The rise of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae coharboring KPC-2 and NDM-1 poses a significant public health threat. KPC-2-NDM-1- Citrobacter freundii is rarely reported in clinical settings. In this study, we report the largest cohort of eight KPC-2-NDM-1- C. freundii isolated from children with urinary tract infections. Comprehensive characterization, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, plasmid conjugation, whole-genome sequencing, and comparative genomics, was conducted for these clinical strains. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated that all strains were resistant to meropenem [minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) ≥ 8 µg/mL] and imipenem (MICs > 8 µg/mL). Genotyping and comparative genomics analyses identified the eight KPC-2-NDM-1- C. freundii belonging to ST523, exhibiting a close relationship characterized by 45 single nucleotide polymorphisms. Whole-genome sequencing and plasmid analysis confirmed the presence of bla KPC-2 and bla NDM-1 on an IncR plasmid named pC275-2 with 46,050 bp. The bla NDM-1 was integrated within the bla NDM-1 related region, which includes ΔIS Aba125 , bla NDM-1 , ble-MBL , trpF , dsbD , and IS CR1 , while the bla KPC-2 gene was located on a novel non-Tn 4401 genetic element. The bla KPC-2 genetic architectures containing bla KPC-2 differed from classical structures, underscoring the ongoing evolution of these genetic elements.IMPORTANCEOur study described the largest cohort to date of eight ST523 KPC-2-NDM-1- C. freundii isolated from children with urinary tract infections. The cooccurrence of KPC-2, a serine β -lactamases, and NDM-1, a metallo-β-lactamase on an IncR plasmid pC275-2 from a clinical carbapenem-resistant C . freundii . The conserved insertion structure mediated the bla NDM-1 , and the propagation of bla KPC-2 gene with a new genetic background using IncR plasmid in clinical settings promotes the emergence of superbugs necessitating vigilant monitoring. Our research detected that ST523 KPC-2- NDM-1- C. freundii were disseminated in a children's hospital. The potential spread of an IncR plasmid within the hospital raises concerns about the pandemic potential of this clone that produces two carbapenemases: KPC-2 and NDM-1. Further investigations will be necessary to control and prevent the spread of KPC-2-NDM-1- C. freundii s., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Mild malformation of cortical development with oligodendroglial hyperplasia in epilepsy (MOGHE) is a new histopathological entity identified in the surgically resected brain tissue of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Somatic variants in SLC35A2 have been increasingly identified in MOGHE brain resections. SLC35A2 protein transports uridine 5'-diphosphogalactose (UDP-Gal) into the Golgi lumen, playing a crucial role in the process of N-glycosylation. Currently, research on the pathogenic mechanism of SLC35A2 variants in MOGHE is limited. Here we conducted genetic testing on brain samples and paired blood samples from 28 pediatric patients pathologically diagnosed with MOGHE. We performed an in-depth functional analysis of somatic variants identified in SLC35A2, integrating glycan labeling and intact glycopeptide profiling to assess N-glycosylation defects. With whole-exome sequencing and validation with ultra-deep amplicon sequencing, we identified 101 potentially pathogenic somatic variants (PPSVs) across 87 genes. Nine PPSVs in SLC35A2 were found in 10 samples. The 9 identified variants of SLC35A2, characterized by various mutation types (4 frameshift, 3 missense and 2 nonsense variants), were all confirmed to be loss-of-function via altered glycan chains. Intact glycopeptide analysis at the cellular level indicated an increase in truncated N-glycan glycoforms. Analysis of brain tissue revealed N-glycosylated proteins and glycosites modified with agalactosylated glycoforms, and glycoproteins bearing agalactosylated N-glycans were significantly enriched in cell adhesion and axon guidance-related pathways. Additionally, chemoenzymatic glycan labeling in lesions demonstrated N-glycan damage of heterotopic neurons, suggesting a potential diagnostic approach for MOGHE. Our findings provide a comprehensive somatic landscape of MOGHE and a rich resource of somatic SLC35A2 variant-related glycoform and glycoprotein abnormalities, thereby unveiling valuable insights into compromised N-glycosylation and MOGHE formation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury (PIRI) is a major cause of fatality post-lung transplantation. Though some long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been studied in acute lung injury (ALI), their effects on PIRI remain undefined. The present study aims to explore the underlying mechanism of small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) in PIRI., Methods: PIR mouse and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) cell models were established. Exosomes were extracted from human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). Functional and rescue experiments were conducted in OGD/R-exposed HPMECs, OGD/R-exposed pulmonary alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECs), and I/R model mice. The relationships among SNHG16, miR-372-3p/miR-373-3p, and MTCH2 were also verified using dual luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down and RIP assay., Results: SNHG16 was downregulated in OGD/R-exposed HPMECs, and SNHG16 overexpression accelerated proliferation, angiogenesis, and ameliorated mitochondrial respiration in OGD/R-exposed HPMECs. HPMEC-derived exosomal SNHG16 suppressed OGD/R-induced type II AEC injury. SNHG16 ameliorated lung injury in PIR mice. Mechanistically, SNHG16 targeted and negatively regulated miR-372-3p and miR-373-3p expression, and MTCH2, a target gene of miR-372-3p/miR-373-3p. SNHG16 was found to upregulate MTCH2 expression not only in a miR-372-3p and miR-373-3p-dependent manner but also suppress ubiquitination induced MTCH2 degradation., Conclusions: Our findings revealed that SNHG16 overexpression suppressed OGD/R-induced HPMEC apoptosis by promoting Warburg effect, and HPMEC-derived exosomal SNHG16 alleviated PIRI through the miR-372-3p/miR-373-3p/MTCH2 axis, suggesting that SNHG16 as a therapeutic target for PIRI., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The interconversion between singlet and triplet spin states of photogenerated radical pairs is a genuine quantum process, which can be harnessed to coherently manipulate the recombination products through a magnetic field. This control is central to such diverse fields as molecular optoelectronics, quantum sensing, quantum biology and spin chemistry, but its effect is typically fairly weak in pure molecular systems. Here we introduce hybrid radical pairs constructed from semiconductor quantum dots and organic molecules. The large g-factor difference enables us to directly observe the radical-pair spin quantum beats usually hidden in previous studies, which are further accelerated by the strong exchange coupling of radical pairs enabled by the quantum confinement of quantum dots. The rapid quantum beats enable the efficient and coherent control of charge recombination dynamics at room temperature, with the modulation level of the yield of spin-triplet products reaching 400%., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Given the limited availability of resources in nature, sexual attractiveness may trade off with immunocompetence, as the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) posits. In invertebrates, a direct link between trade-offs through hormonal/molecular effectors in sexual signals and immunity has not been found so far. Here, we assessed how variation in sexual signals affected parasite infection in two sex pheromone selected lines of the moth Chloridea virescens: an attractive line with a low ratio of 16:Ald/Z11-16:Ald and an unattractive line with a high ratio. When infecting these lines with an apicomplexan parasite, we found that the attractive Low line was significantly more susceptible to the parasite infection than the unattractive High line. Since the ratio difference between these two lines is determined by a delta-11-desturase, we hypothesized that this desaturase may have a dual role, i.e., in the quality of the sexual signal as well as an involvement in immune response, comparable to testosterone in vertebrates. However, when we used CRISPR/cas9 to knockout delta-11-desturase in the attractive Low line, we found that the pheromonal phenotype did change to that of the High line, but the infection susceptibility did not. Notably, when checking the genomic location of delta-11-desaturase in the C. virescens, we found that mucin is adjacent to delta-11-desaturase. When comparing the mucin sequences in both lines, we found four nonsynonymous SNPs in the coding sequence, as well as intronic variation between the two lines. These differences suggest that genetic hitchhiking may explain the variation in susceptibility to parasitic infection., (© 2024 The Authors. Insect Science published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

The long exciton diffusion length (L D ) plays an important role in promoting exciton dissociation, suppressing charge recombination, and improving the charge transport process, thereby improving the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs), especially in thick-film OSCs. However, the limited L D hinders further improvement in device performance as the film thickness increases. Here, an organic-metal platinum complex, namely TTz-Pt, is synthesized and served as a solid additive into the D18-Cl:L8-BO system. The addition of TTz-Pt enhanced the crystallinity of blends, reduced energy disorder, and trap density, and decreased non-radiative recombination and exciton binding energy, which is conducive to prolonging the L D in the TTz-Pt-treated film, thereby facilitating the exciton dissociation and charge transport process along with inhibiting the charge recombination. Consequently, the TTz-Pt-treated D18:L8-BO:IDIC device (100 nm) exhibits a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.12% (certified as 19.54%), one of the highest PCEs reported for OSCs to date. Remarkably, a record-breaking PCE of 18.84% is yielded for the active layer thickness of 300 nm. Furthermore, the TTz-Pt exhibits superior universality in improving the performance of OSCs. This work provides a simple and universal approach to extending L D by introducing an organic-metal platinum complex as a solid additive to achieve highly efficient thick-film OSCs., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Surface display technology has garnered significant attention for preparing efficient whole cell catalysts, while reported carrier proteins still cannot meet the demand to display various passenger domains, especially for those with high molecular weight. This study demonstrates that the autotransporter of esterase Est7 (E7AT) from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia played a decisive role in its efficient surface display. Guided by the original signal peptide, the surface display ratio of Est7 was determined as 89.67 % with the total enzymatic activity of 16.67 U/mL, which was much higher than 4.60 U/mL and 5.70 U/mL for the signal peptides derived from pectolase B (pelB) and cholera toxin B (ctxB), respectively. Then, the E7AT unit was successfully developed to surface display proteins with varying molecular weight from 19.3 kDa to 117.9 kDa, showing a more effective autodisplay ability than adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA-I), ice nucleation proteins (InaK and InaP), and outer membrane proteins (lipoprotein/ompA, MltA-interacting protein A, and yiaT) systems. Additionally, a galactosidase (GAL) displayed by E7AT was employed to hydrolyze lactose, achieving a promising hydrolysis rate of 31.63 % in 2 h. The displayed GAL retained 63.24 % and 41.41 % activity in third and sixth batch, respectively, indicating the considerable potential of E7AT in developing efficient whole cell catalysts., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF-MS) method was developed to analyze 25 traditional phthalate esters (PAEs) and 19 novel alternatives in indoor dust samples. PAEs are ubiquitous in indoor environments because they are widely used as plasticizers in a variety of consumer products, and potential health concerns have prompted the need for effective monitoring methods. In this study, dust samples were collected from various indoor settings in a university campus, including classrooms, cafeterias, laboratories, and dormitories, and were subsequently ultrasonically extracted with hexane-dichloromethane (1∶1, v/v) solution for 30 min. This method was chosen to maximize PAE recovery while minimizing potential interference from other compounds present in the dust matrix. Compounds were separated on a Rix-5MS column (30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm) as the first dimension, with a Rix-17Sil column (1.39 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm) serving as the second dimension. The following temperature program was used: 60 ℃ for 1 min, then increasing to 220 ℃ at 20 ℃/min, followed by a further increase to 290 ℃ at 5 ℃/min, with the final temperature held for 8 min; this program was optimized to afford maximum target-compound resolution and sensitivity. The developed method rapidly, accurately, and sensitively detected the target PAEs and their alternatives under the optimal conditions, which included a carrier-gas flow rate of 1.4 mL/min, a modulation period of 4 s, and an injection-port temperature of 250 ℃. The 44 target compounds exhibited highly linear calibration curves across a content range of 1-500 μg/g, with all correlation coefficients exceeding 0.99. The limits of detection (LODs) of the method were determined to lie between 0.57 and 13.0 ng/g, which reflects the high sensitivity of the developed approach. At spiked levels of 1, 10, and 50 μg/g, the recoveries of the analyzed compounds varied from 72.8% to 125%, with relative standard deviations ranging from 1.29% to 14.8% ( n =3), which indicates that the method is highly precise and reliable. The developed method was used to analyze PAEs and their alternatives in 40 indoor dust samples, which revealed total contents of between 2.07 and 354 μg/g in dust samples. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) emerged as the most frequently detected compound, with contents ranging from "not detected" (nd) to 158 μg/g. The novel alternative, bis(2-ethylhexy) terephthalate (DEHTH), was also detected, with levels ranging from nd to 117 μg/g. Notably, significant differences in the compositions and contents of the PAEs and their alternatives were observed across various indoor environments, which suggests that diverse sources and exposure pathways exist for these compounds, highlighting the necessity for ongoing PAE monitoring and risk assessment in various indoor settings. In conclusion, the developed GC×GC-TOF-MS method provides a powerful tool for comprehensively analyzing PAEs and their alternatives in indoor dust; it is well-suited for the routine monitoring of these compounds owing to its simplicity, rapidity, and robustness. These findings provide valuable insight for future research into the sources and health implications of PAEs in indoor environments, and ultimately support risk assessment and regulatory efforts.

Up to an estimated 10% of women experience miscarriage in their lifetimes. Embryonic aneuploidy is a leading cause for miscarriage, infertility and congenital defects. Here we identify variants of ELL3, a gene encoding a transcription elongation factor, in couples who experienced consecutive early miscarriages due to embryonic aneuploidy. Maternal ELL3 knockout leads to mouse oocyte aneuploidy, subfertility and miscellaneous embryonic defects. Mechanistically, we find that ELL3 localizes to the spindle during meiosis, and that ELL3 depletion in both mouse and human oocytes increases the incidence of meiotic spindle abnormality. ELL3 coordinates with TPX2 to ensure the proper function of the microtubule motor KIF11. Live imaging analysis shows that ELL3 is paramount for promoting spindle assembly and driving chromosome movement. Together, our findings implicate maternal ELL3 deficiency in causing oocyte aneuploidy and early miscarriage., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Tetanus, a severe illness caused by Clostridium tetani, entails symptoms such as muscle spasms and tissue necrosis due to the production of tetanus toxin and hemolysin, posing a grave risk to life. Plasma exchange is infrequently used in tetanus treatment due to limited reported cases, guidelines, the relative rarity of tetanus cases, the high cost and technical complexity of the treatment, and the need to carefully balance risks and benefits. In this case study, a 57-year-old male with a recent foot injury presented with classical tetanus symptoms, including lockjaw, neck stiffness, and lower limb hypertonicity. Upon admission, his condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to cardiac arrest. Following successful resuscitation, he was admitted to the ICU. The patient underwent plasma exchange due to persistent symptoms, ultimately showing partial functional recovery and being discharged for rehabilitation. Clinical evidence supports plasma exchange's ability to eliminate macromolecules, autoantibodies, immune complexes, cytokines, and inflammatory mediators from the body. Despite its uncommon use in tetanus infections, our patient's treatment with plasma exchange facilitated toxin removal and alleviated persistent symptoms. This case contributes to expanding our understanding and offers a novel therapeutic option for severe tetanus cases., Competing Interests: Declarations of interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimize traffic demand underlines the importance of effective travel demand management. Previous studies have explored budget-based and aggregated incentive programs, which diminish a heavy financial burden on governments and tend to be limited in contributing to effective behavior change in practice due to budget issues. This study proposes a personal carbon trading travel incentive (PCTTI) mechanism, to encourage private car commuters using low-carbon travel routes. The revenue obtained from the sale of carbon emission reductions, resulting from changes in commuter routes, serves as a partial budget for the incentives under PCTTI. To determine the optimal incentives, we developed an incentive scheme optimization model based on a bi-level programing model. Numerical analysis reveals the substantial potential of PCTTI to reduce carbon emissions and travel costs in the road traffic system, but also highlights the sensitivity of these results to the carbon trading price and the commuters' value of time. Specifically, the effectiveness of PCTTI diminishes when the carbon price drops below $6.494 per ton or when commuters' value of time exceeds $3.99 per hour. These results indicate that the PCTTI mechanism offers a scalable and economically sustainable approach to enhance travel demand management and achieve environmental benefits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have achieved substantial progress in their applications; however, their ionic crystal character and low formation energy result in poor structural stability and limited morphological tunability. In particular, high relative humidity (RH) commonly causes severe MHP degradation, which poses a major obstacle to long-term device operation. Herein, high RH-induced growth of anisotropic MHP structures on glass surfaces is reported under 25 °C and atmospheric conditions on a basis of glass corrosion by moisture. Nanowires (NWs) with tunable length and composition are obtained under 85% RH air, and water molecule-induced facet engineering of perovskite is established for anisotropic growth. Importantly, single-mode photonic lasing in these MHP NWs with thickness at sub-100-nm scale (down to 75 nm ∼ 1/7 lasing wavelength) is achieved via both one-photon and multiphoton pumping. These nanowire lasers exhibited high quality factor (>3000), high degree of polarization (≈0.9), and excellent stability under laser irradiation. The work not only presents a distinctive technique for the growth of MHPs but also endows MHP NWs with new opportunities for nonlinear optics, strong light-matter interactions, and active photonic integrated devices., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

A visible-near infrared (VIS-NIR) projected multispectral imaging (Proj-MSI) system consisting of an MSI subsystem and a compact projector for intraoperative breast tumor margin assessment was developed. MSI with an average spectral resolution of 24 nm was realized through sequential illumination of 26 sets of VIS-NIR light-emitting diodes and synchronized single NIR-sensitive camera image capture. Rapid (~1 min) tumor margin delineation revealed significantly (p < 0.01, Student's t-test) reduced reflectivity associated with breast tumor. Speeded-up robust features algorithm-based field of view calibration allowed the MSI identified tumor margins to be projected directly onto the breast-conserving surgery (BCS) surgical cavity with a projection error of < 1 mm. Besides, the projected tumor margin boundaries were outlined using Indian ink to simulate breast tumor removal, demonstrating the potential of the Proj-MSI system developed for intraoperative tumor margin assessment during BCS., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)