A small RNA effector conserved in herbivore insects suppresses host plant defense by cross-kingdom gene silencing.

Herbivore insects deploy salivary effectors to manipulate the defense of their host plants. However, it remains unclear whether small RNAs from insects function as effectors in regulating plant-insect interactions. Here, we report that a microRNA (miR29-b) found in the saliva of phloem-feeding whitefly (Bemisa tabaci) can transfer into the host plant phloem during feeding and fine-tune the defense response of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

Adhesive polyelectrolyte coating on PLGA particles prolongs drug retention to vessel lesion.

Restenosis, the re-narrowing of blood vessels after drug-coated balloons (DCBs), remains a major clinical issue. While rapamycin is the current clinical option for preventing restenosis due to its effectiveness and low toxicity, its delivery is limited by poor tissue absorption and rapid clearance, leading to suboptimal drug retention. Here, we developed the adhesive-polyelectrolyte-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) particles using in-situ UV-triggered polymerization, encapsulating rapamycin.

[Biomechanical study of load-bearing stability of Pilon fracture fixed with external fixator].

Objective: To explore weight-bearing stability of Pilon fracture fixed by external fixator.

Methods: Six ankle bone models (right side) and 4 pairs (8 ankle cadaver specimens) were selected. Pilon fracture model was prepared by using the preset osteotomy line based on Ruedi Allgower Pilon fracture type.

[Mechanism of Yuzhi Zhixue Granules in treating polycystic ovary syndrome in rats].

This study aims to explore the therapeutic effect of Yuzhi Zhixue Granules on polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) in rats and explain the underlying mechanism by metabolomics. Rats were randomized into normal, model, low-, medium-, and high-dose(0.5, 1.

A Novel Frequency-Selective Surface-Enhanced Composite Honeycomb Absorber with Excellent Microwave Absorption.

Multifunctional structures with excellent wave-absorbing and load-bearing properties have attracted much attention in recent years. Unlike other wave-absorbing materials, honeycomb wave-absorbing materials have appealing radar absorption and mechanical properties. However, the existing honeycomb wave-absorbing materials have problems such as narrow absorption band and poor compression resistance.

An active shrinkage and antioxidative hydrogel with biomimetic mechanics functions modulates inflammation and fibrosis to promote skin regeneration.

Achieving scar-free skin regeneration in clinical settings presents significant challenges. Key issues such as the imbalance in macrophage phenotype transition, delayed re-epithelialization, and excessive proliferation and differentiation of fibroblasts hinder wound healing and lead to fibrotic repair. To these, we developed an active shrinkage and antioxidative hydrogel with biomimetic mechanical functions (P&G@LMs) to reshape the healing microenvironment and effectively promote skin regeneration.

Transitioning towards dynamic, nature-based crop defenses.

The Anthropocene is posing extraordinary challenges for global agriculture. Agri-food production is increasingly impacted by concurrent biotic and abiotic stressors, climate-triggered pests or diseases, (pesticide) resistance breakdown and the unrelenting appearance of invasive biota. Farmers have relied upon simple, addon constitutive crop defenses and synthetic pesticides for decades, but those tools prove ever more defunct.

Associations of chronic liver disease and liver cancer with glyphosate and its metabolites in Thailand.

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine], a systemic herbicide, is used globally (825 million kg/year) in 750+ formulations. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A), but epidemiological studies have been lacking for its association with liver cancer and chronic liver disease. We analyzed urine specimens from 591 patients with newly diagnosed liver cancer, chronic liver disease (CLD), and healthy individuals from five different medical centers between 2011 to 2016 in Thailand.

Thermophilic anaerobic ethane oxidation coupled with selenate and selenite reduction.

Anaerobic microorganisms are critical in regulating ethane in geothermal environments, where selenate and selenite are common contaminants. Although coupling ethane oxidation with selenate reduction has been demonstrated as feasible, such processes remain poorly explored in geothermal environments. This study addressed this gap by successfully enriching thermophilic anaerobic cultures capable of coupling ethane oxidation with selenate/selenite reduction, achieving selenate and selenite removal rate of 2.

The SA-WRKY70-PR-Callose Axis Mediates Plant Defense Against Whitefly Eggs.

The molecular mechanisms of plant responses to phytophagous insect eggs are poorly understood, despite their importance in insect-plant interactions. This study investigates the plant defense mechanisms triggered by the eggs of whitefly , a globally significant agricultural pest. A transcriptome comparison of tobacco plants with and without eggs revealed that whitefly eggs may activate the response of defense-related genes, including those involved in the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway.

HC-HA/PTX3 from Human Amniotic Membrane Induced Differential Gene Expressions in DRG Neurons: Insights into the Modulation of Pain.

The biologics derived from human amniotic membranes (AMs) demonstrate potential pain-inhibitory effects in clinical settings. However, the molecular basis underlying this therapeutic effect remains elusive. HC-HA/PTX3 is a unique water-soluble regenerative matrix that is purified from human AMs.

Effect of acupuncture on quality of life in atrial fibrillation: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the prevalent cardiac arrhythmia and can significantly impair the quality of life (QoL). Although catheter ablation (CA) is an established treatment for AF,post-procedural complications or perceived inadequate control of AF may diminish the QoL for some patients, potentially even to levels lower than pre-procedure. Preliminary findings from our previous pilot trial indicate that acupuncture may positively influence QoL in AF patients post-CA.

The analgesic effect of continuous adductor canal block combined with popliteal plexus block for total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to confirm the hypothesis that continuous ACB (CACB) combined with a popliteal plexus block (PPB) can improve posterior knee pain, reduce nalbuphine consumption, and shorten the length of hospital stay. Patients who underwent TKA were allocated to the CACB + sham block (SHAM) or CACB + PPB groups. The primary outcome was the maximum pain score originating from the posterior knee within 4 h after TKA.

The effects of Baduanjin on fine motor skills in mild and moderate Parkinson's disease: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Fine motor impairment is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), which reduces patients' quality of life. There are few suitable targeted treatments. We conducted a clinical trial to determine whether Baduanjin Qigong exercise would increase fine motor skills in PD patients.

Viral proteins resolve the virus-vector conundrum during hemipteran-mediated transmission by subverting salicylic acid signaling pathway.

Hemipteran insects transmit viruses when infesting plants, during which vectors activate salicylic acid (SA)-regulated antiviral defenses. How vector-borne plant viruses circumvent these antiviral defenses is largely unexplored. During co-infections of begomoviruses and betasatellites in plants, betasatellite-encoded βC1 proteins interfere with SA signaling and reduce the activation of antiviral resistance.

Clinical significance of upregulated Rho GTPase activating protein 12 causing resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health challenge with high incidence and poor survival rates in China. Systemic therapies, particularly tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), are the first-line treatment for advanced HCC, but resistance is common. The Rho GTPase family member Rho GTPase activating protein 12 (ARHGAP12), which regulates cell adhesion and invasion, is a potential therapeutic target for overcoming TKI resistance in HCC.

Multi-particle quantum walks on 3D integrated photonic chip.

Quantum walks provide a speed-up in computational power for various quantum algorithms and serve as inspiration for the construction of complex graph representations. Many pioneering works have been dedicated to expanding the experimental state space and the complexity of graphs. However, these experiments are mostly limited to small experimental scale, which do not reach a many-body level and fail to reflect the multi-particle quantum interference effects among non-adjacent modes.

Probing multi-mobility edges in quasiperiodic mosaic lattices.

The mobility edge (ME) is a crucial concept in understanding localization physics, marking the critical transition between extended and localized states in the energy spectrum. Anderson localization scaling theory predicts the absence of ME in lower dimensional systems. Hence, the search for exact MEs, particularly for single particles in lower dimensions, has recently garnered significant interest in both theoretical and experimental studies, resulting in notable progress.