Functional Diversity Explains Ecosystem Carbon Storage in Subtropical Forests.

Carbon storage in subtropical forests results from multiple interacting factors, including biodiversity attributes-such as species diversity, functional traits, functional diversity, and stand structural diversity-and environmental conditions like climate, topography, and soil characteristics. Biodiversity typically influences forest carbon through two primary mechanisms: niche complementarity (complementary utilization of resources among species) and selection effects (dominance of species with specific functional traits). However, the relative importance of these mechanisms in involving subtropical forest carbon storage under varying environmental conditions remains unclear.

Insights into Hydration Kinetics of Cement Pastes Evaluated by Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: Effects of Super-Absorbent Polymer as Internal Curing Agent and Calcium Oxide as Expansive Agent.

Understanding the hydration kinetics of cement paste is essential for adjusting the early-age performance of concrete. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) has emerged as an innovative technique to evaluate cement hydration progress by analyzing the evolution of transverse relaxation time () signals. This study provides insights into the influence of a super-absorbent polymer (SAP) as an internal curing agent and calcium oxide (CaO) as an expansive agent (EA) on LF-NMR spectroscopy of cement paste for the first time.

Design of an Advanced Composite Surface for Low Ice Adhesion: Integrating Active and Passive Anti-/Deicing Strategies to Disrupt Icing Interfaces.

Icing presents substantial economic challenges and endangers equipment safety. Contemporary anti-icing research emphasizes the integration of active and passive technologies, with a particular focus on mitigating ice adhesion for more efficient anti-icing and deicing solutions. In this study, a multilayer composite antideicing surface is developed, integrating energy storage, photo-/electro-thermal functionalities, and superslippery properties.

Targeting GDF15 to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in glioblastoma through tumor microenvironment-responsive CRISPR-Cas9 nanoparticles.

Despite the outstanding clinical success of immunotherapy, its therapeutic efficacy in glioblastoma (GBM) is still limited. To identify critical regulators of GBM immunity, we constructed a mouse single-guide RNA (sgRNA) library corresponding to all disease-related immune genes, and performed an in vivo CRISPR knockout (KO) screen in syngeneic GBM mouse models. We demonstrated that the deletion of GDF15 in GBM cells ameliorated the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and enhanced the antitumor efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response.

Cuprous-Sulfide-Nanoplate-Catalyzed Click Chemistry for In Situ Construction of Covalent Organic Polymer Heterostructures for Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction and Removal of U(VI).

In this study, a core-shell heterostructure of cuprous sulfide (CuS) nanoplates and covalent organic polymers (COPs) (CuS@COP) was constructed in situ by a CuS-catalyzed azide-alkyne reaction for efficient reduction and rapid removal of U(VI) from uranium mine wastewater. The simple in situ synthesis of heterojunctions through click chemistry reactions can create a tight bond at the interface and evade the laborious process of conventional composites. The different Fermi energy levels of CuS and COP induce the formation of a built-in electric field within the core-shell heterojunction, and the photogenerated charge transfer from the COP to CuS nanoplate results in a substantial boost in the efficiency of the photocatalytic reduction of U(VI).

Overexpression of a pathway-specific transcriptional factor CicD leads to the discovery of new phytotoxins in .

A NRPKS gene cluster in was activated by overexpression of the pathway-specific transcriptional factor CicD. Large-scale fermentation and chemical investigation of the engineered strain A1145/cicD led to the discovery of two new isoindolone-amino acid adducts, isoleucylcichorine (1) and leucylcichorine (2), along with three known derivatives. The structures of the new compounds were clearly determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations.

Synergistic strategies for glioblastoma treatment: CRISPR-based multigene editing combined with immune checkpoint blockade.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a primary brain tumor known for its high levels of aggressiveness and resistance to current treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. As a result, there is a pressing need for innovative therapeutic approaches to combat GBM. Thus, we have developed an engineered multifunctional extracellular vesicle (EV) delivery system that offers an "all-in-one" strategy for GBM therapy.

Related studies on measuring the normal values of optic nerve sheath diameter in healthy Chinese adults based on CT scans.

To measure the normal reference value of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and its correlation with eyeball transverse diameter (ETD), age and sex in Chinese adults by CT. The data of healthy adults who underwent head scan in Baotou Central Hospital from March 2022 to May 2023 were retrospectively collected. The ETD of both eyes and the ONSD (ONSD3mm, ONSD10mm) at 3 mm and 10 mm behind the eyeball were measured, and the relationship between ONSD and age, sex and ETD was analyzed by linear regression.

Effect of Eurotium cristatum fermentation on chemical composition and hypoglycemic and sedative activities of Anji Baicha (Camellia sinensis).

Anji Baicha (Camellia sinensis), one of the top 10 teas in China, possesses old leaves rich in bioactive ingredients yet is frequently discarded due to inferior taste. This study evaluated the effects of fermentation with Eurotium cristatum, a probiotic known to enhance bioactivity, on the primary nutrients and on the hypoglycemic and sedative properties of old leaves of Anji Baicha. Results indicated a considerable reduction in free amino acids and tea polyphenols post-fermentation.

Stability and superconductivity of hexagonal prism-structured polyhydrides XMgH (X = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) under moderate pressure.

The ultra-high pressure required to maintain hydride superconductors currently limits their further development and practical application, making it urgent to explore stable high-temperature hydride superconductors that can operate at moderate pressures. Here, we conducted an extensive search for various structures with the chemical formula XMgH (X = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) and ultimately identified a hexagonal prism hydrogen structure belonging to the space group 2/. Then, we investigated the stability and superconductivity of these structures.

Identification of characteristic flavor compounds in steamed and baked Hu sheep mutton.

The advancement in heat treatment technology has spurred the innovation of various smart cooking appliances, including the steam roaster. Consequently, the technique of synchronized steaming and baking has emerged as a novel form of thermal processing. Therefore, the effects of baking, steaming, steaming-baking heating modes on the flavor of Hu sheep mutton were evaluated.

Individuals' Food Preferences can be Influenced by the Music Styles: An ERP Study.

Studies have shown that a cross-modal association between listening to music and eating. This study aims to explore the influence of music style on individuals' food preferences and provide evidence for understanding multi-sensory research. Twenty-seven participants participated in the experiment which consisted of two parts.

The GlnE protein of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 plays a crucial role in the nodulation process of the legume host Sesbania rostrata.

The GlnE enzyme, functioning as an adenylyltransferase/adenylyl-removing enzyme, plays a crucial role in reversible adenylylation of glutamine synthetase (GS), which in turn regulates bacterial nitrogen assimilation. Genomic analysis of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 revealed an open reading frame encoding a GlnE protein, whose function in the free-living and symbiotic states remains to be elucidated. A glnE deletion mutant retained high GS activity even under nitrogen-rich conditions.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of the Fucoidan from Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.

Fucoidan from Apostichopus japonicus (Aj-FUC) has shown anti-inflammatory activity, whereas its mechanism was not explicated. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential and mechanism of the fucoidan from green and purple A. japonicus (G-FUC and P-FUC) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.

Advances in the relationship of immune checkpoint inhibitors and DNA damage repair.

Cancer immunotherapy, alongside surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, has emerged as a key treatment modality. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a promising immunotherapy that plays a critical role in the management of various solid tumors. However, the limited efficacy of ICI monotherapy and the development of primary or secondary resistance to combination therapy remain a challenge.

Volume and Distribution of Early Knee Effusion After TKA with a PEEK-Based Knee Prosthesis: Correlation with Changes in Serum Inflammation Marker Levels, Knee Functional Score, and Range of Motion.

Background: Early knee effusion is a common phenomenon after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), with potential clinical implications. Unlike traditional alloy knee prostheses, the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) knee system has radiographic transparency on magnetic resonance (MR) scans, which allows analysis of prosthetic knee effusion. We aimed to identify the distribution and volume of knee effusion after TKA with the PEEK prosthesis with use of MR imaging and to analyze whether dynamic changes in effusion were correlated with serum inflammatory marker changes and knee function recovery.

Polystyrene Nanomicroplastics Aggravate Ammonia-Induced Neurotoxic Effects in Zebrafish Embryos.

The highly hazardous chemical ammonia has been proven to be absorbed by nanoparticles, thereby exerting highly toxic effects on aquatic organisms. As a ubiquitous pollutant in aquatic environments, polystyrene nanomicroplastics (PSNPs) have shown strong adsorption capacity due to their large surface area. Therefore, the potential joint effects of ammonia and PSNPs need to be clarified.

Enhanced healing of MRSA-infected wounds with okara cellulose nanocrystals-based temperature-sensitive cationic hydrogel: Development and characterization.

The development of functional hydrogel dressings with robust mechanical properties has posed a significant challenge in expediting the healing process of MRSA-infected wounds. To address this, a composite hydrogel, comprising carboxylated soybean cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM), dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDADMAC), and kaolin (CN/P-K) was synthesized. CNCs served to stabilize the interpenetrating polymer networks of PNIPAM and PDADMAC through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, respectively, while the kaolin interlayer improved the material toughness.

A comprehensive map of DNA-segment copy number variation in 491 genomes of common wheat uncovers genes associated with multiple agronomic traits.

DNA-segment copy number variations (DSCNVs), such as deletions and duplications, are important sources of genomic structural variation. However, the types and sizes of DSCNVs, as well as their genome-wide distribution and potential functions, are poorly understood in wheat. Here, we identified 198 985 DSCNVs by investigating 491 genomes of common wheat and found that they account for 20% of the entire genome.

Bioactive milk-derived nutrient MFG-E8 ameliorates skeletal muscle atrophy induced by mitochondria damage in aging rats via activating the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.

Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of muscle and fiber number and decreased regenerative capacity with increased abundance of reactive oxygen species levels and electron transport chain abnormalities. The aim of this study was to investigate the antisarcopenia effect of MFG-E8 in alleviating skeletal muscle dysfunction induced by D-galactose, and reveal the mechanism promoting myoblast cell proliferation and mediating the cell cycle. This in vivo experiment showed that MFG-E8 can improve the antioxidant status and increase soleus muscle mass (35.

Association between vertebral bone quality score and residual back pain following percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Background: Residual back pain (RBP) is one of the complications following percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in older people with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). The vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to evaluate bone quality. The objective of this study aimed to explore the potential relationship between the VBQ score and RBP after PVP.

Differential thresholds of net ecosystem productivity in karst and non-karst regions for identifying their potential carbon sinks areas.

Within ecosystems, habitat influences structure, and structure determines function, forming a habitat-structure-function framework (HSFF). Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) is a key indicator for assessing regional or global carbon dynamics. However, the response thresholds of NEP to habitat and structural factors, along with management strategies based on these thresholds, remain under-explored.

Ferrocene-Functionalized Atomically Precise Metal Clusters Exhibit Synergistically Enhanced Performance for CO Electroreduction.

The integration of organometallic compounds with metal nanoparticles can, in principle, generate hybrid nanocatalysts endowed with augmented functionality, presenting substantial promise for catalytic applications. Herein, we synthesize an atomically precise metal cluster (AgCu) catalyst integrated with alkynylferrocene molecules (AgCu-Fc). This hybrid catalyst design facilitates a continuous electron transfer channel via an ethynyl bridge and establishes a distinctive local chemical environment, resulting in remarkably enhanced catalytic activity in CO electroreduction.

Automatic jawbone structure segmentation on dental CBCT images via deep learning.

Objectives: This study developed and evaluated a two-stage deep learning-based system for automatic segmentation of mandibular cortical bone, mandibular cancellous bone, maxillary cortical bone and maxillary cancellous bone on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

Materials And Methods: A dataset containing 155 CBCT scans acquired with different parameters was obtained. A two-stage deep learning-based system was developed for automatically segmenting jawbone structures.