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The epitranscriptomic mark N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common type of messenger RNA (mRNA) post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotes. With the discovery of the demethylase FTO (FAT MASS AND OBESITYASSOCIATED PROTEIN) in Homo Sapiens, this modification has been proven to be dynamically reversible. With technological advances, research on m6A modification in plants also rapidly developed. m6A modification is widely distributed in plants, which is usually enriched near the stop codons and 3'-UTRs, and has conserved modification sequences. The related proteins of m6A modification mainly consist of three components: methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and reading proteins (readers). m6A modification mainly regulates the growth and development of plants by modulating the RNA metabolic processes and playing an important role in their responses to environmental signals. In this review, we briefly outline the development of m6A modification detection techniques; comparatively analyze the distribution characteristics of m6A in plants; summarize the methyltransferases, demethylases, and binding proteins related to m6A; elaborate on how m6A modification functions in plant growth, development, and response to environmental signals; and provide a summary and outlook on the research of m6A in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cryopreservation and transplantation of ovarian tissue underscore its paramount importance in safeguarding reproductive capacity and ameliorating reproductive disorders. However, challenges persist in ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation (OTC-T), including the risk of tissue damage and dysfunction. Consequently, there has been a compelling exploration into the realm of nanoregulators to refine and enhance these procedures. This review embarks on a meticulous examination of the intricate anatomical structure of the ovary and its microenvironment, thereby establishing a robust groundwork for the development of nanomodulators. It systematically categorizes nanoregulators and delves deeply into their functions and mechanisms, meticulously tailored for optimizing ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation. Furthermore, the review imparts valuable insights into the practical applications and obstacles encountered in clinical settings associated with OTC-T. Moreover, the review advocates for the utilization of microbially derived nanomodulators as a potent therapeutic intervention in ovarian tissue cryopreservation. The progression of these approaches holds the promise of seamlessly integrating nanoregulators into OTC-T practices, thereby heralding a new era of expansive applications and auspicious prospects in this pivotal domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol under atmospheric oxygen is a sustainable route for the synthesis of benzaldehyde. The development of low-cost metal catalysts is a challenging research topic. Herein, supported vanadia catalysts on carbon nitride were prepared using vanadyl acetylacetonate as a precursor through a wet-impregnation method. The synthesized VO/eg-C3N4 were characterized by N2 adsorption–desorption, TG, XRD, FT-IR, XPS, UV–Vis, SEM, and O2-TPD. The eg-C3N4 material could disperse the vanadia species, and the distributions of vanadium cations (V5+/V4+) were largely dependent on the preparation temperature. In the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol under atmospheric oxygen, the catalysts showed moderate catalytic activity. Under identical reaction conditions, the activity of VO/eg-C3N4 was higher than vanadia catalysts supported on SBA-15 and CNTs materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to identify the key criteria for distinguishing sub-disciplines in management sciences and evaluate their application in national and international science classifications. Documents from 16 different countries and areas were studied semantically. Triangulation was used to study 16 sub-discipline classifications and survey expert opinions among 31 representatives of management sciences from Poland and China to achieve the paper’s purpose. Based on the results, the classifications use various criteria for categorising sub-disciplines, with the key criteria being (1) resources, (2) activity areas, (3) management concepts and methods, and (4) types of organisations. Meanwhile, the extent of their use is well in line with the expectations of the management sciences community representatives participating in the survey. The paper proposes a theoretical framework of 13 distinguishing criteria and characterises 16 classifications of sub-disciplines in management science from different countries. The theoretical considerations provide a good insight into the logic of creating a classification of sub-disciplines. They also provide a better description and understanding of the role of research specialisations in building the identity, organisation, and development of the management sciences community. The results align with a discussion on improving the classifications of management sciences’ sub-disciplines. They are essential in identifying future and promising research specialisations within management sciences. They are helpful in the process of reviewing and/or placing particular research issues or problems in specific sub-disciplines of management sciences.

We investigate the effective diffusion of a tracer immersed in an active particle bath consisting of self-propelled particles. Utilising the Dean's method developed for the equilibrium bath and extending it to the nonequilibrium situation, we derive a generalized Langevin equation (GLE) for the tracer particle. The complex interactions between the tracer and bath particles are shown as a memory kernel term and two colored noise terms. To obtain the effective diffusivity of the tracer, we use path integral technique to calculate all necessary correlation functions. Calculations show the effective diffusion decreases with the persistent time of active force, and has rich behavior with the number density of bath particles, depending on different activities. All theoretical results regarding the dependence of such diffusivity on bath parameters have been confirmed by direct computer simulation.

Objective To investigate the application of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in oral mucosal pemphigoid and provide a clinical reference. Methods One case of glucocorticoids combined with MMF in the treatment of oral mucosal pemphigoid was reported, and the clinical application of MMF in oral mucosa-related bullous diseases was discussed. Results One patient with a clinical diagnosis of “oral mucosal pemphigoid” was treated with methylprednisolone (36 mg, qd, morning dose) or combined hydroxychloroquine sulfate (0.1 g/time, bid) and thalidomide capsules (50 mg, qd, bedtime) and other drugs. The patient’s disease was slowly controlled but prone to recurrence. The treatment regimen was immediately adjusted, i.e., methylprednisolone (36 mg, qd, morning dose) was combined with MMF (0.5 g/time, bid) for 2 weeks, which resulted in ideal lesion healing control. After 8 weeks of methylprednisolone combined with MMF, the dose of methylprednisolone was gradually reduced to 12 mg, qd, and MMF was reduced to 0.5 g, qd, the patient’s symptoms improved significantly, and no obvious lesions were found in the mouth. The dose was then reduced and maintained according to the principle of pemphigoid treatment. Methylprednisolone (8 mg, qd, morning dose) and MMF (0.5 g, qd) have been used for 6 months of maintenance treatment, and they are still being followed up. As yet, the patient’s condition is stable without obvious lesions and new blisters, and no obvious side effects have been observed. A review of the literature shows that MMF is widely used in the field of dermatology to treat a variety of immune diseases, such as connective tissue diseases and autoimmune blistering diseases. According to the reports of adverse reactions to MMF, digestive system reactions are the most common adverse reactions; therefore, patients with active gastrointestinal diseases should be treated with caution, followed by bone marrow suppression, and it is recommended to monitor liver function and blood routine in patients using MMF. The safety and efficacy of MMF for treating pemphigoid involving the skin have been reported in the literature, but oral mucosal doctors still lack experience for treating mucous membrane pemphigoid. Conclusions As a new immunosuppressant, MMF has high safety and no obvious side effects and can be considered as a combination adjuvant drug for patients with severe clinical disease and refractory oral mucosal pemphigoid.

The epitranscriptomic mark N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common type of messenger RNA (mRNA) post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotes. With the discovery of the demethylase FTO (FAT MASS AND OBESITY-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN) in Homo Sapiens, this modification has been proven to be dynamically reversible. With technological advances, research on m6A modification in plants also rapidly developed. m6A modification is widely distributed in plants, which is usually enriched near the stop codons and 3′-UTRs, and has conserved modification sequences. The related proteins of m6A modification mainly consist of three components: methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and reading proteins (readers). m6A modification mainly regulates the growth and development of plants by modulating the RNA metabolic processes and playing an important role in their responses to environmental signals. In this review, we briefly outline the development of m6A modification detection techniques; comparatively analyze the distribution characteristics of m6A in plants; summarize the methyltransferases, demethylases, and binding proteins related to m6A; elaborate on how m6A modification functions in plant growth, development, and response to environmental signals; and provide a summary and outlook on the research of m6A in plants.

Entamoeba species infect humans and non-human primates, raising concerns associated with potential zoonotic transmission. Therefore, the prevalence of human Entamoeba infections is crucial for its management in areas, where macaques exhibit high infection rates. Previously, we demonstrated prevalent E. nuttalli infections in rhesus macaques in Kathmandu, Nepal. In this study, we surveyed Entamoeba infection among 185 schoolchildren from two schools visited by wild rhesus macaques to assess the risk of transmission. PCR-based screening for Entamoeba species identified E. coli in 13 % and E. dispar in 0.5 % of the human stool samples. However, E. nuttalli and E. chattoni infections, prevalent in macaques, were not detected in human samples. This suggests that Entamoeba spp. are not transmitted through macaques in the school environment. We surveyed the rhesus macaques living in the temple near schools as well as the rhesus and Assam macaques inhabiting Shivapri Nagarjun National Park, Kathmandu. Among the 49 macaque stool samples, E. chattoni, E. coli, E. nuttalli, and E. dispar were detected in 92 %, 86 %, 41 %, and 18 % of the samples, respectively. Notably, E. dispar infections in macaques were mostly prevalent in the temple. A sample isolated from Nagarujun showed an identical genotype at two tRNA-linked short tandem repeat loci to that of E. dispar isolated from humans, suggesting potential transmission from humans to macaques. Genotypic analysis of cultured E. nuttalli strains obtained from the macaques colonizing three locations demonstrated that the geographical distance rather than differences in macaque species played a crucial role in the genetic diversity of the parasites. The phylogenetic tree of E. nuttalli strains, including the previously isolated strains, reflected the geographical distribution of the isolation sites. This study sheds light on the intricate dynamics of Entamoeba transmission and genetic diversity in macaques and humans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Entamoeba nuttalli is genetically the closest to Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of human amebiasis, and its natural host is Macaca species. A unique E. nuttalli specific surface protein (PTORS) containing 42 repeats of octapeptide was identified by comparative genomic analysis of Entamoeba species. We aimed to elucidate the function of this protein. When trophozoites from various E. nuttalli strains were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry using a PTORS-specific monoclonal antibody, only a limited proportion of trophozoites were stained, indicating that the protein was not commonly expressed in all E. nuttalli trophozoite. The proportion of trophozoites expressing PTORS increased after passage in hamster livers, suggesting that the protein functions in the virulence of trophozoites in the liver tissue. Single-cell analysis revealed that in the cluster including trophozoites with PTORS gene expression, genes of virulence-related proteins were also upregulated. Trophozoites of E. histolytica transfected with PTORS showed enhanced adherence and subsequent phagocytic activity towards human Jurkat cells, independent of the lectin. E. histolytica trophozoites expressing PTORS formed larger liver abscesses in hamsters. These results demonstrate that PTORS is a novel virulence factor in Entamoeba species., 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 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of amebiasis, with clinical outcomes ranging from asymptomatic infections to severe invasive diseases. The innate immune system, particularly macrophages, is of paramount importance in resisting the invasion of host tissues and organs by the trophozoites of E. histolytica . Parasite-derived pathogenic factors, such as lectins, play a pivotal role in the promotion of macrophage polarization phenotypes that have undergone alteration. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms by which E. histolytica modulates immune polarization remain largely unknown. The current study focused on the immunomodulatory effects of the Igl-C fragment of E. histolytica Gal/GalNAc lectin on macrophage polarization. These results demonstrated that Igl-C could induce the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, and other cytokines, activating a mixed M1/M2 polarization state. M1 polarization of macrophages occurs in the early stages and gradually transitions to M2 polarization in the later stages, which may contribute to the persistence of the infection. Igl-C induces the macrophage M1 phenotype and causes the release of immune effector molecules, including iNOS and cytokines, by activating the NF-κB p65 and JAK-STAT1 transcription factor signaling pathways. Furthermore, Igl-C supports the macrophage M2 phenotype via JAK-STAT3 and IL-4-STAT6 pathways, which activate arginase expression in later stages, contributing to the tissue regeneration and persistence of the parasite. The involvement of distinct signaling pathways in mediating this response highlights the complex interplay between the parasite and the host immune system. These findings enhance our understanding of the Igl-C-mediated pathogenic mechanisms during E. histolytica infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Dong, Zhang, Li, Zhang, Cheng and Feng.)

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) stand as the foremost global cause of mortality, prompting a growing interest in using the potential of immune cells for heart injury treatment. This study aims to assess the causal association between immune cells and CVDs., Methods: A total of 731 immune cells were derived from a previously published genome-wide association study (GWAS), which included approximately 22 million genetic variants among 3,757 individuals of Sardinian ancestry. Genetic associations with atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and stroke were extracted from large-scale GWAS. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to assess the causal association between immune cells and CVDs. Replication MR analysis based on FinnGen dataset and meta-analysis are sequentially conducted to validate causal relationships., Results: Collectively, genetically predicted 4 immune cell traits were associated with AF and 5 immune cell traits were associated with stroke. Increased levels of IgD- CD38dim absolute count were associated with a higher susceptibility to AF, while increased expression of CD14+ CD16+ monocytes, CD62L on CD62L+ myeloid dendritic cells, and CD16 on CD14- CD16+ monocytes were linked to a decreased susceptibility to AF. Additionally, an elevated susceptibility to stroke was linked to an increase in the percentage of CD39+ resting Tregs and heightened CD27 expression on IgD- CD38+ cells. Conversely, a decreased susceptibility to stroke was associated with increased CD40 expression on monocytes, particularly on CD14+ CD16+ and CD14+ CD16- monocytes, with the latter two showing the most compelling evidence., Conclusion: This study identified several immune cell traits that have a causal relationship with CVDs, thus confirming that immune cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of these diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Cheng, Feng, Jiang, Ren, Chen, Zhi and Li.)