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Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD), lack of effective treatment, accounts for high mortality of sepsis. Mitochondrion-targeted antioxidant peptide SS31 has been revealed to be responsible for certain cardiovascular disease by ameliorating oxidative stress injury. But whether it protects a septic heart remains little known. This study sought to prove that SS31 was capable of improving sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction dramatically. C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS), exposed to systemic inflammation. Thirty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: sham group, LPS group (5 mg/kg), SS31 group (5 mg/kg), and SS31 + LPS group (treatment group). Heart tissues were harvested for pathological examination at the indicated time points. H9C2 cell were treated with LPS with or without the presence of SS31 (10 μM) at 37 °C to assess the effect on cardiomyocytes at the indicated time points. SS31 restored myocardial morphological damage and suppressed inflammatory response as evidenced by significantly decreasing the mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in vitro and in vivo. In addition, myocardial energy deficiency secondary to sepsis was remarkedly ameliorated by SS31. Furthermore, we found that SS-31 normalized the activity of malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in vitro and in vivo, and maintained mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as well. And western blot was applied to measure the expressions of p-p38MAPK, p-JNK1/2, p-ERK, p62, and NF-κB p65; the results illuminated that the cardioprotective effect of SS31 was partly linked to NF-κB. In conclusion, SS31 therapy effectively protected the heart against LPS-induced cardiac damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both neurosyphilis and diplopia are widely known medical terms. Nevertheless, low clinical awareness by the physician and the often-overlooked presentation of diplopia, make the combination of neurosyphilis and diplopia rarely observed. In this article, we report 2 neurosyphilitic patients presenting with diplopia and review 8 additional case reports of neurosyphilis with diplopia, with a total of 10 cases to be analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is challenging to obtain global minima for practical economic dispatch (ED) problem with heavy constraints. Traditional PSO is easy to fall into local optimum when it is applied to solve the ED problem; therefore, in this paper, an efficient self-adaptive chaos and Kalman filter-based particle swarm optimization algorithm (SCKF-PSO) is proposed to solve economic dispatch (ED) problem while considering minimizing the cost with various equality and inequality constraints. The algorithm adopts both the learning mechanism of PSO and the estimation strategy of Kalman filter to update the position of the particle, which can improve the convergence performance. Moreover, a novel self-adaptive chaotic strategy is utilized to increase the diversity of the population. The feasibility of SCKF-PSO algorithm is illustrated by testing on several benchmark functions and three different ED problems in power systems. The simulation results show that compared with previous approaches reported in the literature, the proposed SCKF-PSO can obtain higher quality solutions with stability and efficiency in the ED problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract ： Well-dispersed graphene oxide sheets were successfully incorporated into a superabsorbent resin through in situ graft polymerization of acrylic acid on carboxymethyl cellulose backbone in the presence of graphene oxide as filler. The structure and properties of the resultant superabsorbent resin were studied in detail by means of a variety of characterization methods. The influence of the feed ratio of starting materials (such as GO, initiator, cross-linker, the ratio of CMC to AA and the neutralized degree of AA) and pH values on water absorbency and retention ability was extensively determined and discussed. The obtained results showed that the introduction of graphene oxide had no obvious influence on the inherent structure of the superabsorbent resin but changed the surface morphology significantly. Importantly, the hybrid superabsorbent resin showed an enhanced thermal stability and remarkably improved swelling ratio as well as water-retention ability comparing with that of the pure superabsorbent resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new chemodosimeter based on dicyanomethylene-4H-chromene chromophore (probe 1) was developed as a ratiometric fluorescent probe in near-infrared range for F with good selectivity in acetonitrile. Probe 1 could be used to directly visualize F by the naked eye and showed more than 621-fold fluorescence enhancement at 715 nm upon reaction with F upon excitation at 625 nm. The recognition of probe 1 to fluoride was featured by F-induced red-shifts of both absorption (185 nm) and fluorescence peaks (132 nm) based on internal charge transfer (ICT) in acetonitrile. The desilylation reaction of 1 by F was proposed for its dual absorption and emission ratiometric detection of fluoride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bromate (BrO 3 − ) is a carcinogenic disinfection by-product of drinking water. The conventional electrochemical reduction of BrO 3 − generally occured at the cathode. In this study, we investigated the reduction process of BrO 3 − via electrochemically induced pitting corrosion of titanium (Ti) anode in a two-compartment electrolytic cell. Ti electrode was oxidized to produce reactive Ti ions, e.g., Ti 2+ and Ti 3+ , led by electrochemically induced pitting corrosion. These multivalent Ti species effectively reduced BrO 3 − to Br − . The pitting potential ( E Pit ) of Ti electrode was 1501 mV (SHE) at pH 7.0. However, the product analysis showed that the amount of reduced BrO 3 − was not in accordance with that of generated Br − , and a 19.8% loss of bromine mass should contribute to the formation of solid by-products. With the presence of coexisting anions (Cl − , NO 3 − , and SO 4 2− ), BrO 3 − at initial concentration of 100 μg/L also could be reduced to below the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 μg/L, as well as the Cl − and NO 3 − were reduced simultaneously. BrO 3 − reduction by electrochemically induced corrosion of Ti electrode is feasible, but its practical application is limited by the high energy costs and unwanted Ti dissolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biothiols play an important role in cell protein metabolism and signal transduction, especially Hcy was considered as a new risk factor closely related to many diseases. However, there remain some limitations in selectively detecting Hcy due to its structural similarity to Cys. It is urgent for us to develop a novel indicator to study the pathological process of Hcy. Herein, we constructed a new fluorescent probe TCF-SBD composed of tricyanofuran fluorophore and SBD reaction site for detecting Hcy. The probe TCF-SBD exhibited a strong yellow emission response to Hcy in an "off-on" manner, and showed good selectivity for Hcy over Cys and GSH. The sensing mechanism was confirmed by HPLC, NMR titration and DFT studies. The probe was sensitive to the detection of Hcy with LOD low to 0.23 μM. The powerful probe TCF-SBD succeeded in real-time and selectively visualizing Hcy in living cells. [Display omitted] • Fluorescence probe based on substitution-rearrangement process was synthesized for selective detection of Hcy. • The probe displayed high selective and sensitive for Hcy (detection limit is 0.23 μM). • The probe was applied for fluorescence imaging of exogenous Hcy in living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) based fluorescent probe (compound 1) containing a dansyl unit as a donor and rhodamine 101 as an acceptor was developed to detect Fe3+ from other transition metal ions through ratiometric sensing in organic-aqueous solutions. Fe3+ induced a ring-opening reaction of the spirolactam rhodamine moiety of 1 resulting in the formation of a fluorescent derivative that can serve as the FRET acceptor. Ratiometric sensing of Fe3+ was accomplished by plotting the fluorescence intensity ratio at 605nm and 515 nm versus ferric ion concentration. The probe displayed a linear response to Fe3+ in the range of 5.5–25μM with a detection limit of 0.64μM. A 1:1 stoichiometry for the 1–Fe3+ complex was formed with an association constant of 1.74×104 M−1. The probe also exhibited a large Stokes shift (225nm) which can eliminate backscattering effects of excitation light. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An important issue in photocatalysis is the light required to carry out the catalytic reaction, so maintaining photocatalytic reaction activity in the dark has been the ultimate target of expanding photocatalytic technology. Herein, we report a photocatalyst g-C 3 N 4 /SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu2+,Dy3+ through a strategy that couples the energy-storing and light-releasing properties of long afterglow materials and the light-absorbing properties of photocatalytic materials. g-C 3 N 4 /SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu2+,Dy3+ is able to effectively degrade methyl orange in water under visible light using molecular oxygen in the air, but it maintains significant methyl orange degradation activity after the light is turned off, as if SAO acts as a built-in light source in it. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism is investigated by active species capture experiments, which shows that superoxide radicals (•O 2 −), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), holes (h+), and singlet oxygen (1O 2) generate during the photocatalytic process. Among them, •O 2 − is the relatively predominantly acting reactive species. This study exemplifies the design of a continuously working photocatalyst with conceptual value for light storage, which provides ideas for practical energy and environmental system applications. [Display omitted] • A photocatalyst g-C 3 N 4 /SAO can be prepared via the simple calcination. • g-C 3 N 4 /SAO is able to effectively degrade methyl orange in water under visible light using molecular oxygen in the air. • Continuous water purification under light and dark conditions is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathological mechanism of corneal injuries mediated by alkali burns are associated with Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3 protein (NLRP3)-related corneal sterile inflammation. Whether the executive protein gasdermin D (GSDMD) of pyroptosis mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome is present in alkali-induced corneal lesions remains unclear. Dexamethasone (Dex) is a commonly used drug for ocular surface diseases that can maintain corneal transparency and anti-inflammatory effects by topical administration. Here, we presented evidence that the effect of Dex on the pyroptosis-related caspase-1/GSDMD pathway in corneal alkali burns (CABs). We assessed the clinical manifestations and histological characteristics of the placebo group, 0.05% Dex group, 0.1% Dex group on day 3 or day 7 postburn and the control group (healthy corneas). The expression of factors (including NLRP3, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N termini, pro-interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-1β, pro-IL-18 and IL-18) involved in the pyroptosis related caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway was demonstrated by molecular experiments in CAB. Alkali burns can upregulate the originally relatively dim expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, pro-IL-1β, pro-IL-18, IL-1β and IL-18 in the healthy corneal epithelium and stroma. However, Dex can reverse the enhanced expression at the two timepoints. Corneal sterile inflammation can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome through the innate immune response mechanism and then activate the pyroptosis-related caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway. In addition, Dex can inhibit pyroptosis through this pathway. • Pyroptosis in the pathological mechanism of alkali-burned corneas is proposed. • Topical application of dexamethasone can not only effectively maintain corneal transparency but also inhibit corneal neovascularization in the early-stage therapy of corneal alkali burns. • Dexamethasone can suppress the pyroptosis-associated caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway in corneal alkali burns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A UGB scheme is proposed in which the ecological constraints are incorporated into a CA-Markov model. • Quantifies ecological resources and urban development in a complex environment. • The model and planning method can be applied to other ecologically fragile cities. Urban growth boundaries (UGBs) are seen as an effective tool to control urban sprawl and promote sustainable urban development. Existing methodologies related to urban boundary delineation focus mainly on increasing land intensification and compact urban development. However, it is not sufficient to focus on optimal urban development, especially in China. The delineation of UGBs should not only take into account the heterogeneity of regional natural resources but also further reconcile urban–ecological conflict. Therefore, this paper proposes a new framework for delineating UGBs in an ecologically sustainable manner. This study first uses the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) and ecological sensitivity as a basis for ecological constraints (EC). Both the background state of the regional ecology and ecological stress from human activities are considered to be constraints on urban sprawl. These ecological constraints are then combined with a CA-Markov model to simulate future urban development. The framework is applied to the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, an ecologically fragile region in China, where UGB delineation can be used not only to reconcile ecological and land-use planning conflict but also to ensure sustainable resource development in individual zoning districts. The results suggest that a plan that only considers urban development may have a negative impact on the conservation of natural resources and ecological sustainability. The delineation of UGBs based on the proposed EC-CA-Markov model will thus help guide sustainable urban development. The conceptual and methodological advances in this study are applicable to other ecologically fragile cities and can help in the delineation of UGBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced cathode materials are developed to tackle the challenges of the polysulfide shuttle effect and slow sulfur redox kinetics in Li-S batteries. A particularly effective strategy is the creation of nanostructured sulfur-host, which boast high levels of conductivity and catalytic activity. Here, a series of ultrathin cobalt-zinc bimetallic MOFs with varying ratios are synthesized on rGO via a one-pot hydrothermal process. Furthermore, graphene's high specific surface area enhances electrical conductivity and structural integrity, thereby promoting the growth of 2D MOFs and synergistically optimizing sulfur contact and conversion kinetics. The Co x Zn 1-x -MOF/rGO has a disordered structure, resulting from the fine-tuned ratio of cobalt to zinc in the bimetallic centers, generates active sites and modulates the electronic properties, thereby enhancing LiPSs adsorption and catalysis serve as sulfur hosts. Among the composites, the Co 0.75 Zn 0.25 -MOF/rGO demonstrated exceptional LiPSs adsorption and catalytic activity, resulting in a high capacity of 649.69 mA h g -1 after the 250th cycle with an E/S ratio of 12.56 µL mg -1 at 0.2 C. This work deepens the insights into the controlled design of defective MOFs, modulating their structure-activity correlations, and is expected to facilitate the integration of ultrathin defective MOFs with carbonaceous composites, thereby advancing the development of Li-S batteries., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Heading date of rice (Oryza sativa) is a key factor determining rice production and regional adaptability. We analysed the molecular mechanism of OsPIL15, encoding phytochrome-interacting factor-like protein, in delaying rice heading date. Overexpression of OsPIL15 delayed rice heading date by upregulating Hd1 and inhibiting Hd3a and RFT1 expression. OsLF, encoding one rice heading repressor, was found to be the putative candidate regulated by OsPIL15 through a chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing assay and a transcriptome sequencing assay. OsPIL15 could directly bind to the OsLF promoter and activated its expression. Knocking-out OsLF in OsPIL15-overexpressing lines resulted in flowering 2-3 days earlier, partially rescuing the delayed phenotype. This indicates that overexpression of OsPIL15 overexpression delays heading date partially through OsLF. Protein-protein interaction assay of OsPIL15 or OsPIL15-∆APB (OsPIL15 lacking the active phytochrome B [phyB]-binding [APB] motif) with PHYB showed that the APB motif was required for the interaction between OsPIL15 and PHYB. Furthermore, overexpression of either OsPIL15-∆APB in the wild type or OsPIL15 in the phyB mutant did not delay rice heading date under natural long-day conditions, suggesting that phyB influences OsPIL15-mediated delay in rice heading date., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The frequent and irrational use of antibiotics by humans has led to the escalating rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with a high rate of morbidity-mortality worldwide, which poses a challenge to the development of effective treatments. A large number of host defense peptides from different organisms have gained interest due to their broad antibacterial spectrum, rapid action, and low target resistance, implying that these natural sources might be a new alternative to antimicrobial drugs. As important effectors of prey capture, defense against other animal attacks, and competitor deterrence, scorpion venoms have been developed as important candidate sources for modern drug development. With the rapid progress of bioanalytical and high throughput sequencing techniques, more and more scorpion-venom-derived peptides, including disulfide-bridged peptides (DBPs) and non-disulfide-bridged peptides (NDBPs), have been recently identified as having massive pharmacological activities in channelopathies, pathogen infections, and cancer treatments. In this review, we summarize the molecular diversity and corresponding structural classification of scorpion venom peptides with antibacterial, antifungal, and/or antiparasitic activity. We also aim to improve the understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which scorpion-venom-derived peptides exert these antimicrobial functions, and finally highlight their key aspects and prospects for antimicrobial therapeutic or pharmaceutical application.

IkappaB kinase beta (IKKβ) is a key member of IκB kinases and functions importantly in interferon (IFN) signaling. Phosphorylation and ubiquitination are involved in the activation of IKKβ. A20 is a de-ubiquitin enzyme and functions as a suppressor in inflammation signaling, which has been reported to be phosphorylated and activated by IKKβ. However, the role and relationship of IKKβ and A20 in teleost remains unclear. In this study, IKKβ (bcIKKβ) and A20 (bcA20) of black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) have been cloned and characterized. Overexpressed bcIKKβ in EPC cells showed strong anti-viral ability by activating both NF-κB and IFN signaling. EPC cells stable expressing bcIKKβ presented improved anti-viral activity as well. The interaction between bcA20 and bcIKKβ was identified, and overexpression of bcA20 was able to suppress bcIKKβ-mediated activation of NF-κB and IFN signaling. Meanwhile, knock-down of A20 increased host the antiviral ability of host cells. Importantly, it has been identified that bcA20 was able to remove K27-linked ubiquitination and decrease the phosphorylation of bcIKKβ. Thus, our data conclude that bcA20 suppresses the anti-viral activity of bcIKKβ and removes its K27-linked ubiquitination, which presents a new mechanism of IKKβ regulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study aims to explore the clinical effect of psychotherapy based on five-element theory in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in improving the mental states of patients with post-stroke depression (PSD), to provide reference and guidance for clinical treatment., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 163 PSD cases treated in The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China from January 2022 to January 2023. The patients treated with conventional treatment were included in the control group (n = 84), and patients receiving psychotherapy based on five-element theory in TCM and conventional treatment were classified as the observation group (n = 79). The anxiety levels, depression levels, TCM syndrome scores and sleep quality were compared in both groups. The enumeration data were tested by χ2 test. Kolmogorov-Smirnov method tested whether the measurement data met normal distribution, and those did not meet normal distribution were tested by Mann-Whitney method. The difference was statistically significant at p < 0.05., Results: After 4-week and 8-week treatments, the observation group had significantly lower scores of Hamilton Anxiety Scale (z = -4.562, -6.765; p < 0.001), Hamilton Depression Scale (z = -7.588, -8.023; p < 0.001), TCM syndrome (z = -7.138, -10.946; p < 0.001), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (z = -6.819, -8.240; p < 0.001) than the control group., Conclusion: Psychotherapy based on five-element theory in TCM is beneficial to patients with PSD and can bring a certain clinical reference value.

The present study aimed to investigate the variations in the nutritional composition, antioxidant capacity, and metabolite profile of lilies subjected to different drying treatments, including vacuum freeze drying (VFD), hot air drying (HAD), vacuum drying (VD), and infrared drying (ID). The results show that VFD provided better preservation of the original coloration and displayed the highest levels of total amino acid content, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and polysaccharide and alkaloid content. Our results reveal that VFD treatment can be employed to obtain high-quality lilies with desirable appearance characteristics and nutrient compositions. Metabolomics analysis identified a total of 464 metabolites from various dried lilies. Differential metabolite screening found 150 differential metabolites across all pairwise comparisons. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) indicated that lilies subjected to VFD treatment exhibited a higher abundance of steroids, saponin, flavonoids, and phenolic glycoside, whereas those subjected to HAD, VD, or ID treatments showed relatively elevated levels of specific amino acids or derivatives. This study elucidates the significant impact of various drying treatments on the quality and metabolic profile of lilies, thereby providing valuable insights for enhancing the nutritional quality of processed lilies.

Solid electrolyte materials with high structural stability and excellent proton conductivity (σ) have long been a popular and challenging research topic in the fuel cell field. This problem can be addressed because of the crystalline metal-organic frameworks' (MOFs') high structural stability, adjustable framework composition, and dense H-bonded networks. Herein, one highly stable Sr(II) MOF, {[Sr(H 2 tmidc) 2 (H 2 O) 3 ]·4H 2 O} n ( 1 ) (H 3 tmidc = 2-(1H-tetrazolium-1-methylene)-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) was successfully fabricated, which was structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electrochemically examined by the AC impedance determination. The results demonstrated that the σ of the compound manifested a positive dependence on temperature and humidity, and the optimal proton conductivity is as high as 1.22 × 10 -2 S/cm under 100 °C and 98% relative humidity, which is at the forefront of reported MOFs with ultrahigh σ. The analysis of the proton conduction mechanism reveals that numerous tetrazolium groups, carboxyl groups, coordination, and crystallization water molecules in the framework are responsible for the high efficiency of proton transport. This work offers a fresh perspective on how to create novel crystalline proton conductive materials.

Background: Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Sprengel) are favored by consumers because of its delicious taste and unique fragrance. Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae) is a main pest that severely harms Chinese chives and other Liliaceae's production. Climate change may change the future distribution of B. odoriphaga in China. In this study, the CLIMEX was employed to project the potential distribution of B. odoriphaga in China, based on China's historical climate data (1987-2016) and forecast climate data (2021-2100)., Results: Bradysia odoriphaga distributed mainly between 19.8° N-48.3° N and 74.8° E-134.3° E, accounting for 73.25% of the total mainland area of China under historical climate conditions. Among them, the favorable and highly favorable habitats accounted for 30.64% of the total potential distribution. Under future climate conditions, B. odoriphaga will be distributed mainly between 19.8° N-49.3° N and 73.8° E-134.3° E, accounting for 84.89% of China's total mainland area. Among them, the favorable and highly favorable habitats will account for 35.23% of the total potential distribution, indicating an increase in the degree of fitness. Areas with relatively appropriate temperature and humidity will be more suitable for the survival of B. odoriphaga. Temperature was a more important determinant of the climatic suitability of the pest B. odoriphaga than humidity. Host plants (Liliaceae) availability also had impact on climate suitability in some regions., Conclusions: These projected potential distributions will provide supportive information for monitoring and early forecasting of pest outbreaks, and to reduce future economic and ecological losses. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Pitaya is a well-known fruit widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical tropical regions, and is characterized by its flesh colour into red, white, and yellow pitaya. Red pitaya has dark red flesh and is the preferred choice among consumers due to its superior taste compared to other varieties. Red pitaya has been known to cause diarrhoea, and studies have reported that pitaya does this by drawing moisture into the intestines, resulting in defecation. However, the exact mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, mass spectrometry was employed to identify small molecular compounds in red pitaya powder, and a loperamide hydrochloride-induced early constipation mouse model was used to assess the efficacy of red pitaya. 16S rDNA and non-targeted metabolomics techniques were used to systematically reveal the regulatory characteristics of the intestinal flora and to identify the intestinal metabolites associated with constipation. The results showed that 44 novel small molecular compounds were identified from red pitaya powder, including a variety of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Pathological results showed that administration of red pitaya powder at a high dose (1000 mg kg -1 ) significantly ameliorated the abnormal expansion of intestinal goblet cells observed in the early stages of constipation. In addition, early constipation increased metabolites such as serotonin and 5-hydroxytryptophol, which were normalized following the ingestion of red pitaya powder. Furthermore, Erysipelatoclostridium , Parasutterella , and other abnormal gut microbiota associated with early constipation returned to healthy levels after the ingestion of red pitaya powder. Finally, significant correlations were observed between the expression of 33 different serum metabolites and the abundance of eight kinds of intestinal flora. Consequently, red pitaya holds potential as a safe food supplement for the prevention or amelioration of early-stage constipation.

Introduction: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection results in a serious disease, posing a huge economic threat to the global swine industry. The transient receptor potential mucolipin proteins (TRPMLs) have been shown to be strongly associated with virus infection and other physiological processes in humans, but their tissue distribution and responses to PRRSV in pigs remain unknown., Material and Methods: Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analysis was undertaken to determine the optimal primer for TRPML expression detection and for quantifying that expression individually in different pig tissue samples. Meat Animal Research Center 145 (MARC-145) monkey kidney cells and the TRPML-specific activator mucolipin synthetic agonist 1 (ML-SA1) were used to reveal the relationship between TRPML and PRRSV-2 infection., Results: The best primers for each TRPML gene used in a fluorescence-based quantitative method were identified and TRPML1 was found to be highly expressed in the kidneys and liver of pigs, while TRPML2 and TRPML3 were observed to be primarily expressed in the kidney and spleen tissues. The expression of TRPML2 was upregulated with the rise in PRRSV-2 infection titre but not the expression of TRPML1 or TRPML3, and ML-SA1 inhibited PRRSV-2 in a dose-dependent manner., Conclusion: Our research revealed the gene expression of TRPMLs in pigs and identified that TRPML channels may act as key host factors against PRRSV infection, which could lead to new targets for the prevention and treatment of pig infectious diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article., (© 2024 Zhiqiang Xia et al., published by Sciendo.)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder characterized by motor and gastrointestinal dysfunctions. Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytoalexin known for its health-promoting benefits. However, little is known about its potential in treating PD by modulating the microbial gut-brain axis, and its clinical application has been limited due to poor water solubility, rapid metabolism, and limited systemic bioavailability. Our study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of RHSD, a resveratrol-cyclodextrin inclusion complex, in treating PD through the gut-brain axis in human SNCA-transgenic (A53T) mice PD models. Building on our previous study, we prepared RHSD and compared its efficacy with uncoated resveratrol for PD treatment. The study results demonstrated that RHSD exhibited several advantages in improving motor function, alleviating cognitive impairment, restoring intestinal barrier function, and inhibiting neuropathy. Subsequently, a series of analyses, including fecal microbiota metagenomic sequencing, non-target metabolic assays, host transcriptome sequencing, and integrative analysis were performed to reveal the potential therapeutic pathways of RHSD in A53T mice. The metagenomic sequencing results indicated a significant increase in the levels of Lactobacillus murinus , Lactobacillus reuteri , Enterorhabduscaecimuris , Lactobacillus taiwanensis , and Lactobacillus animals following RHSD administration. Furthermore, metabolomics profiling showed that the levels of gut microbiome metabolites were reversed after RHSD treatment, and differential metabolites were significantly correlated with motor function and intestinal function in PD mice. The integrated analysis of microbial metabolites and host transcriptomics suggested that abnormal amino acid metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in the PD model were associated with the diffusion of abnormal metabolites. This study illustrates the profound impact of RHSD administration on rectifying gut microbiota dysbiosis and improving the A53T mouse model. Notably, we observed significant alterations in the proliferation and metabolism of multiple probiotic strains of Lactobacillus. Furthermore, our research supports the hypothesis that microbiota-related metabolites may regulate the transcription of host genes, including dopamine receptors and calcium stabilization. Consequently, our findings underscore the potential of RHSD as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of PD through the modulation of several signaling pathways within the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Background: Mammary carcinoma, a pervasive and potentially lethal affliction, is conjectured to be profoundly influenced by physical exercise, both in prophylaxis and therapeutic contexts. This study endeavors to explore the repercussions of exercise training on the progression of mammary carcinoma, particularly the mechanisms by which the amalgamation of an exercise regimen and doxorubicin induces tumor cell apoptosis., Methods: Female BALB/c mice were categorized into four distinct groups: A sedentary group (SED), an exercise group (Ex), a doxorubicin group (Dox, 5 mg/kg), and a combined treatment group (Dox + Ex). The exercise training lasted for 21 days and included aerobic rotarod exercise and resistance training. The impact of exercise training on tumor growth, immune cell proportions, inflammatory factor levels, and cell apoptosis pathway was assessed., Results: Exercise training significantly curtailed tumor growth in a mouse model of breast cancer. Both the Ex and Dox groups exhibited significant reductions in tumor volume and weight (p < 0.01) in comparison to the SED group, while the Dox + Ex group had a significantly lower tumor volume and weight than the Dox group (p < 0.01). Exercise training also significantly increased the proportion of NK and T cells in various parts of the body and tumor tissue, while decreasing tumor blood vessels density. Exercise training also increased IL-6 and IL-15 levels in the blood and altered the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in tumor tissue, with the combined treatment group showing even more significant changes., Conclusions: Physical training improves the effectiveness of doxorubicin in treating breast cancer by activating cytotoxic immune cells, releasing tumor suppressor factors, and initiating mt-apoptosis, all while mitigating the adverse effects of chemotherapy., (© 2024 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A new species, Schizosthetus baixuelii sp. nov., is described based on females from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. A key to the known species of the genus is presented.

In mammals, right open reading frame kinase 3 (RIOK3) is related with cancer development and immune regulation. To explore the role of teleost RIOK3 in the antiviral innate immunity, the homolog of RIOK3 (bcRIOK3) from black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) has been cloned and characterized in this study. Sequence analysis revealed that bcRIOK3 is conserved in vertebrates. The transcription of bcRIOK3 varied in host cells in response to the stimulation of spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), poly (I:C), and LPS. Immunoblotting (IB) and immunofluorescence (IF) assays identified bcRIOK3 as a cytoplasmic protein with a molecular weight of ∼60 kDa. It was interesting that bcRIOK3 knockdown led to the decreased basal mRNA levels of IFNa, IFNb and Viperin; however, triggered obviously higher mRNA levels of the above genes after viral infection and enhanced host resistance to SVCV. Like its mammalian counterpart, bcRIOK3 overexpression in EPC cells showed a significant inhibitory effect on black carp MDA5 (bcMDA5)-mediated transcription of interferon promoters and antiviral activity. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescent assays identified the association between bcRIOK3 and bcMDA5. Further analysis revealed that bcRIOK3 enhanced the K48-linked ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation of bcMDA5, and it weakened the oligomerization of bcMDA5 under poly (I:C) stimulation. In summary, our data conclude that RIOK3 dampens MDA5-mediated IFN signaling by promoting its degradation in black carp, which provide new insights into the regulation of IFN signaling in teleost., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The transient receptor potential mucolipin (TRPML) subfamily in mammalian has three members, namely TRPML1, TRPML2, and TRPML3, who play key roles in regulating intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis, endosomal pH, membrane trafficking and autophagy. Previous studies had shown that three TRPMLs are closely related to the occurrence of pathogen invasion and immune regulation in some immune tissues or cells, but the relationship between TRPMLs expression and pathogen invasion in lung tissue or cell remains elusive. Here, we investigated the expression distribution of three TRPML channels in mouse different tissues by qRT-PCR, and then found that all three TRPMLs were highly expressed in the mouse lung tissue, as well as mouse spleen and kidney tissues. The expression of TRPML1 or TRPML3 in all three mouse tissues had a significant down-regulation after the treatment of Salmonella or LPS, but TRPML2 expression showed a remarkable increase. Consistently, TRPML1 or TRPML3 but not TRPML2 in A549 cells also displayed a decreased expression induced by LPS stimulation, which shared a similar regulation pattern in the mouse lung tissue. Furthermore, the treatment of the TRPML1 or TRPML3 specific activator induced a dose-dependent up-regulation of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα, suggesting that TRPML1 and TRPML3 are likely to play an important role in immune and inflammatory regulation. Together, our study identified the gene expression of TRPMLs induced by pathogen stimulation in vivo and in vitro, which may provide novel targets for innate immunity or pathogen regulation., 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 © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 to value-added chemicals is known to be a promising approach for CO 2 conversion. The design and preparation of ideal photocatalysts for CO 2 conversion are of pivotal significance for the sustainable development of the whole society. In this work, we integrated two functional organic linkers to prepare a novel metal organic framework (MOF) photocatalyst {[Co(9,10-bis(4-pyridyl)anthracene) 0.5 (bpda)]·4DMF} (Co-MOF). The existence of anthryl and amino groups leads to a wide range of visible light absorption and efficient separation of photogenerated electrons. To extend the lifetime of photogenerated electrons in the photocatalytic system, we modified Co-MOF particles onto g-C 3 N 4 . As expected, Co-MOF/g-C 3 N 4 composites exhibited an ultrahigh selectivity (more than 97%) in the photocatalytic process, and the highest CO production rate (1824 μmol/g/h) was 7.1 and 27.2 times of Co-MOFs and g-C 3 N 4 , respectively. What's more, we also discussed the reaction mechanism of the Co-MOF/g-C 3 N 4 photocatalytic CO 2 reduction, and this work paves the pathway for designing photocatalysts with ideal CO 2 reduction performance.

Conventional photocatalysts generate numerous active species-primarily hydroxyl radicals (•OH)-under solar light excitation to exert photocatalytic activity for especially antibacterial effects. However, the light dependence limits their competitiveness against other antimicrobial materials since they do not work at night. Herein, a P-g-C 3 N 4 /Sr 2 MgSi 2 O 7 :Eu 2+ ,Dy 3+ (P-g-C 3 N 4 /SMSO) composite day-night photocatalyst is synthesized, using a model methyl orange (MO) substrate, and the impacts of trace P doping and the SMSO composite on the activity of the photocatalyst in MO degradation is investigated; Its antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus on ceramic surfaces is further examined. The morphology, structure, and composition of the photocatalyst are characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR, and UV-vis DRS. Finally, the photocatalytic mechanism is elucidated through active species capture experiments and ESR testing. P doping and the SMSO heterojunction structure reduce the width of the forbidden band of g-C 3 N 4 and broaden its visible-light-response range. Moreover, SMSO acts as a light source to realize long-lasting photocatalytic performance of the composite, even in the dark. The photocatalytic process produces •O 2 - , 1 O 2 , and h + active species, with •O 2 - and 1 O 2 playing the dominant role-instead of •OH as previously thought., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We compared ultracentrifugation, sucrose gradient centrifugation, improved ultracentrifugation, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation in the extraction of plasma exosomes from human umbilical cord blood, aiming at screening out a stable and efficient method. The morphology, structure, and size of exosomes were observed based on transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Total protein content of exosomes was determined by bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay, and the expression of exosome markers CD63 and HSP70 and exosome negative marker GM130 (Golgi marker) by Western blotting. Results showed that sucrose gradient centrifugation was more stable and yielded exosomes of uniform particle size compared with ultracentrifugation which had been considered as the "gold standard" for exosome extraction. However, sucrose gradient centrifugation had the limitations of complex operation and time-intensiveness. The improved ultracentrifugation featured ease of implementation and the extracted exosomes were of high purity. PEG precipitation extracted the most exosomes in a shorter timeframe, but the purity of the exosomes was low. In conclusion, all the four methods can separate exosomes from human umbilical cord blood plasma, but they are different in operation time, product purity, and product content. Therefore, the method for extracting plasma exosomes from human umbilical cord blood should be selected based on the experimental purpose and specific requirements.

The predatory mite Lasioseius japonicus Ehara is a newly recorded species in China that has been shown to have great potential as a biological control agent. The species is a soil-dwelling mite that is known to prey on various pests including economically important mites, fungus gnats and other terricolous arthropods. Considering that temperature is one of the most important factors affecting the population dynamics of arthropods, the development, survival and reproduction of L. japonicus were evaluated under indoor conditions at seven temperatures: 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34 and 37 °C, at 75% relative humidity and L0:D24 h photoperiod. The mites were fed on the cereal mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and the data were analyzed using the two-sex life table. The results demonstrated that L. japonicus could complete their development and reproduce at temperatures between 19 and 34 °C, but were unsuccessful at 37 °C. Increasing temperature shortened the development time of the pre-adult stage and the average generation time (T). The life table parameters indicated that at temperatures from 22 to 31 °C the development rate and reproduction of L. japonicus were highest: at 22, 25, 28 and 31 °C the net reproduction rate (R 0 ) was 55.5, 61.6, 61.2 and 59.0, respectively, and the average fecundity rate (F) was 81.7, 88.0, 102.0 and 86.8, respectively. The maximum values of intrinsic population growth rate (r) (0.341) and finite rate of increase (λ) (1.407) occurred at 31 °C., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

This study provides the first description of the male of Proparholaspulus ishikawai Liang Hu, 1993, on the basis of specimens from the south of China. The leg chaetotaxy of Proparholaspulus is described for the first time. A key for all recognisable species of Proparholaspulus is provided.

Background: The associations between vitamin D and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and clinical outcomes are controversial. The efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in COVID-19 is also not clear., Methods: We identified relevant cohort studies that assessed the relationship between vitamin D, COVID-19 infection and associated death and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported vitamin D supplementation on the outcomes in patients with COVID-19 by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, and medRxiv databases up to June 5th, 2021. Evidence quality levels and recommendations were assessed using the GRADE system., Results: Eleven cohort studies with 536,105 patients and two RCTs were identified. Vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml) or insufficiency (< 30 ng/ml) was not associated with an significant increased risk of COVID-19 infection (OR for < 20 ng/ml: 1.61, 95% CI: 0.92-2.80, I2 = 92%) or in-hospital death (OR for < 20 ng/ml: 2.18, 95% CI: 0.91-5.26, I2 = 72%; OR for < 30 ng/ml: 3.07, 95% CI: 0.64-14.78, I2 = 66%). Each 10 ng/ml increase in serum vitamin D was not associated with a significant decreased risk of COVID-19 infection (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.79-1.08, I2 = 98%) or death (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.40-1.06, I2 = 79%). The overall quality of evidence (GRADE) for COVID-19 infection and associated death was very low. Vitamin D supplements did not significantly decrease death (OR: 0.57, I2 = 64%) or ICU admission (OR: 0.14, I2 = 90%) in patients with COVID-19. The level of evidence as qualified using GRADE was low., Conclusions: Current evidence suggested that vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency was not significantly linked to susceptibility to COVID-19 infection or its associated death. Vitamin D supplements did not significantly improve clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. The overall GRADE evidence quality was low, we suggest that vitamin D supplementation was not recommended for patients with COVID-19., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Ample studies have reported the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the prognosis of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, but the results remain inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a dose-response meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between BMI and all-cause mortality in this population. A systematic search was performed in the PubMed and Embase databases through April 2019 for studies that reported the impact of BMI on all-cause mortality in patients after cardiac surgery. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Non-linear associations were explored with restricted cubic spline models. Forty-one studies with a total of 54,300 cases/1,774,387 patients were included. The pooled RR for all-cause mortality was 0.93 (95% CI 0.89-0.97) for every 5-unit increment in BMI, indicating that higher BMI did not increase the risk of all-cause mortality in patients after cardiac surgery. A U-shaped association with the nadir of risk at a BMI of 25-27.5 kg/m 2 was observed, as well as a higher mortality risk for the underweight and the extremely obese patients. The subgroup analysis revealed that this phenomenon remained regardless of mean age, surgery type, geographic location and number of cases. Overall, for patients after cardiac surgery, a slightly higher BMI may be instrumental in survival, whereas underweight and extreme obesity is associated with a worse prognosis., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The oribatid mite genus Epidamaeus Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1957 from China is reviewed, and a list and key to all known species from China are provided. A new species, Epidamaeus conjungenussp. n. is identified, and its morphological descriptions and illustrations are also given. The distinct characteristics of Epidamaeus conjungenussp. n. is the coterminous ridge connected to the base of the notogastral setae. Pseudanal setae undulating attenuate, the proximal half with obvious, thorn-like barbs, the distal half smooth.