Records of anthropogenic plutonium isotopes in wind-blown sand deposits: Tracing global fallout in northern China's semi-arid dune fields.

This study investigates plutonium (Pu) isotopes preserved in nebkhas--aeolian dunes formed by shrubs intercepting wind-blown sands to reconstruct environmental changes in the semi-arid Mu Us dune field, northern China. Analysis results of two nebkha profiles reveal that the Pu/Pu atom ratios consistently approximate 0.18, indicating a dominant source from global fallout, with no significant local contributions from the Lop Nor or Semipalatinsk nuclear tests or the Chernobyl accident.

Reduction of intestinal RIPK1 ameliorates HFD-induced metabolic disorders in female mice.

In modern society, excessive nutrient intake from food is a major factor contributing to the development of a series of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Further investigation of the mechanisms underlying nutrient absorption in the intestine will help to better understand and develop preventive or therapeutic strategies. In this study, using receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 () intestine-specific heterozygous knockout mice ( ) and high-fat diet (HFD)-feeding mouse model, we report that HFD-induced shift in the transcriptional profile of the ileum toward that of the jejunum, characterized by increased expression of jejunal feature genes in the ileum, are attenuated in female mice, but not in males.

Association between gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in children with obesity.

The gut microbiome and its metabolites may be important role in regulating the pathogenesis of obesity. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolome in obese children. This case-control study recruited children aged 7‒14 years and divided them into a normal group (NG) and an obese group (OG) based on their body mass index.

MAIT cell plasticity enables functional adaptation that drives antibacterial immune protection.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are known for their rapid effector functions and antibacterial immune protection. Here, we define the plasticity of interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-producing MAIT1 and interleukin-17A (IL-17A)-producing MAIT17 cell subsets in vivo. Whereas T-bet MAIT1 cells remained stable in all experimental settings, after adoptive transfer or acute or infection, RORγt MAIT17 cells could undergo phenotypic and functional conversion into both RORγtT-bet MAIT1/17 and RORγtT-bet MAIT1 cells.

Toward the Rational Design of an OsM Center for Methane Activation: Gas-Phase Result-Derived Neural Network Model.

Gas-phase reactions of [OsB] ( = 1-4) with methane at ambient temperature have been studied by using quadrupole-ion trap mass spectrometry combined with quantum chemical calculations. The [OsB] ( = 1-4) cluster ions can undergo dehydrogenation reactions with methane. Comprehensive analysis of the [OsB]/CH ( = 1-4) system with Os-complexes ([OsC] ( = 1-3) and [OsO] ( = 1-3)) shows that the large polarity of the cluster and the high sum of the pair energies between Os and the ligand in the ETS-NOCV combine to promote the ability of the cluster to activate methane.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Chinese version of the Trauma Resiliency Scale (tRS-18).

Background: Trauma is a prevalent issue in public health, where individuals who experience physical injuries are also at risk of compromised mental health. Psychological resilience is considered a positive indicator that can predict the prognosis of trauma patients throughout their traumatic experiences. Currently, there is a lack of tools in China for measuring the psychological resilience of trauma patients.

Expression and diagnostic value of abnormal prothrombin and osteopontin in hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis.

Objective: To investigate the expression levels of prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) and osteopontin (OPN) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis, and to evaluate their potential as markers for cirrhosis severity.

Methods: This retrospective study included 84 patients with HCC and cirrhosis treated at the Liver Disease Center of the 904th Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023, forming the cirrhosis group. Fifty healthy individuals undergoing routine physical examinations during the same period comprised the control group.

Vγ9Vδ2 T cells recognize butyrophilin 2A1 and 3A1 heteromers.

Butyrophilin (BTN) molecules are emerging as key regulators of T cell immunity; however, how they trigger cell-mediated responses is poorly understood. Here, the crystal structure of a gamma-delta T cell antigen receptor (γδTCR) in complex with BTN2A1 revealed that BTN2A1 engages the side of the γδTCR, leaving the apical TCR surface bioavailable. We reveal that a second γδTCR ligand co-engages γδTCR via binding to this accessible apical surface in a BTN3A1-dependent manner.

CD4 T cells display a spectrum of recall dynamics during re-infection with malaria parasites.

Children in malaria-endemic regions can experience repeated Plasmodium infections over short periods of time. Effects of re-infection on multiple co-existing CD4 T cell subsets remain unresolved. Here, we examine antigen-experienced CD4 T cells during re-infection in mice, using scRNA-seq/TCR-seq and spatial transcriptomics.

Plasmodium infection induces phenotypic, clonal, and spatial diversity among differentiating CD4 T cells.

Naive CD4 T cells must differentiate in order to orchestrate immunity to Plasmodium, yet understanding of their emerging phenotypes, clonality, spatial distributions, and cellular interactions remains incomplete. Here, we observe that splenic polyclonal CD4 T cells differentiate toward T helper 1 (Th1) and T follicular helper (Tfh)-like states and exhibit rarer phenotypes not elicited among T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic counterparts. TCR clones present at higher frequencies exhibit Th1 skewing, suggesting that variation in major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) interaction influences proliferation and Th1 differentiation.

Gut microbiome and serum amino acid metabolome alterations in autism spectrum disorder.

Gut microbiota and their metabolic products might play important roles in regulating the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to characterize gut microbiota and serum amino acid metabolome profiles in children with ASD. A non-randomized controlled study was carried out to analyze the alterations in the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites in patients with ASD (n = 30) compared with neurotypical controls (NC) (n = 30) by metagenomic sequencing to define the gut microbiota community and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis to characterize the metabolite profiles.

Enhancement of the organic acid content and antioxidant capacity of yellow whey through fermentation with Lacticaseibacillus casei YQ336.

Fermentation is considered an effective tool for improving the functional characteristics of food. In this study, Lacticaseibacillus casei YQ336 was used to ferment yellow whey, and physical and chemical analysis was performed to identify the changes in the nutritional components and antioxidant activity of the fermented yellow whey. Non-targeted metabolomics was used to study the transformation of small molecular substances in the fermented yellow whey.

Intestinal SURF4 is essential for apolipoprotein transport and lipoprotein secretion.

Objective: Lipoprotein assembly and secretion in the small intestine are critical for dietary fat absorption. Surfeit locus protein 4 (SURF4) serves as a cargo receptor, facilitating the cellular transport of multiple proteins and mediating hepatic lipid secretion in vivo. However, its involvement in intestinal lipid secretion is not fully understood.

Bupleurum exerts antiarrhythmic effects by inhibiting L-type calcium channels in mouse ventricular myocytes.

Background: Bupleurum (Bup), is a traditional effective medicine to treat colds and fevers in clinics. Multiple studies have demonstrated that Bup exhibites various biological activities, including cardioprotective effects, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antipyretic, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects, etc. Currently, the effects of Bup on cardiac electrophysiology have not been reported yet.

Fermentation improves antioxidant capacity and γ-aminobutyric acid content of Ganmai Dazao Decoction by lactic acid bacteria.

Introduction: Ganmai Dazao Decoction is a traditional Chinese recipe, and is composed of licorice, floating wheat, and jujube.

Methods: Effects of lactic acid bacteria fermentation on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and γ-aminobutyric acid of Ganmai Dazao Decoction were studied. The changes of small and medium molecules in Ganmai Dazao Decoction before and after fermentation were determined by LC-MS non-targeted metabolomics.

On the performance of the M-C (M = Fe, Ru, Os) unit toward methane activation.

Gas-phase reactions of [MC] (M = Os and Ru) with methane at ambient temperature have been studied by using quadrupole-ion trap (Q-IT) mass spectrometry combined with quantum chemical calculations. Theoretical calculations reveal the influence of electronic signatures and that it is the energy gap of the associated frontier molecular orbitals that dominates the ability of the cluster in the initial HC-H bond breaking. By extension, a theoretical consideration upon changing the ligand from carbide to carbyne and eventually to carbene reveals that the reactivities of the M-complex (M = Os, Ru and Fe) are determined by the energy gap of the involved orbitals.

Naringin exerts antiarrhythmic effects by inhibiting channel currents in mouse cardiomyocytes.

Introduction: Naringin, a flavonoid extracted from citrus plants, has a variety of biological effects. Studies have shown that increasing the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods can reduce the incidence of cardiac arrhythmia. Naringin has been reported to have beneficial cardiovascular effects and thus can be used to prevent cardiovascular diseases, but the electrophysiological mechanism through which it prevents arrhythmias has not been elucidated.

Methane Activation by [OsC]: Implications for Catalyst Design.

Gas-phase reactions of [OsC] with methane at ambient temperature have been studied by using quadrupole-ion trap mass spectrometry combined with quantum chemical calculations. The comparison of [OsC] with the product clusters revealed significant changes in cluster reactivity. In particular, with different ligands, the cluster may produce multiple products or, alternatively, just a single product.

Expansion of MAIT cells in the combined absence of NKT and γδ-T cells.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and γδT cells are collectively referred to as 'unconventional T cells' due to their recognition of non-peptide antigens and restriction to MHC-I-like molecules. However, the factors controlling their widely variable frequencies between individuals and organs are poorly understood. We demonstrated that MAIT cells are increased in NKT or γδT cell-deficient mice and highly expand in mice lacking both cell types.

Do your friends stress you out? A field study of the spread of stress through a community network.

In this study, we seek to understand how stress changes in dynamic social systems. Where prior work on the interpersonal transmission of stress focused on pairs of individuals and small groups, we adopt a network perspective to investigate how the distribution of stress in an individual's social environment influences their stress appraisal process. We conducted a 6-month longitudinal study of 315 early to midcareer adults in professional master's programs as they encountered the stress of everyday academic life.

The effect of fine service on customer loyalty in rural homestays: The mediating role of customer emotion.

Rural homestay is an important driver for developing rural tourism, which still grows against the wind in the post-epidemic era of the COVID-19 virus and shows unique attributes that are different from those of the traditional hospitality industry. Based on the five-dimensional model of fine service theory, this study introduces culture as a unique dimension to construct a six-dimensional model of rural homestay fine service and explores the influencing mechanism of rural homestay fine service on customer loyalty. This study successively used expert interviews and questionnaires to develop the structural equation model through SPSS 26.

Chitosan-based thermal insulation compressible foam enhanced with high performance of piezoelectric generation and sensing.

A series of chitosan (CS)-konjac glucomannan (KGM) foams with excellent thermal insulation property has been prepared using a directional freezing method, which exhibit high strain recovery, excellent piezoelectric generation and sensing properties. Layered lamellar or honeycomb morphologies in CS-KGM foams attributes a low thermal conductivity coefficient of ca. 0.