RNA interference-mediated silencing of GNBP2 reduces the immunity of stored pest Tribolium castaneum against bacteria.

Gram-negative bacteria binding proteins (GNBPs) are involved in regulating the immune response of insects. The information on functions and mechanisms of insect GNBPs in innate immunity will contribute to biological control of pests. Tribolium castaneum is a serious, world-wide pest damaging stored food and feed products.

Mechanisms of oxidative stress-induced sperm dysfunction.

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in male infertility by impairing sperm function through various molecular mechanisms. This review explores the impact of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) on spermatozoa, particularly focusing on lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, and protein oxidation. Lipid peroxidation damages sperm membranes, reducing fluidity and motility.

Biomimetic Pyramid Structure Film for Enhancing Building Radiative Cooling.

Radiative cooling has emerged as a promising technique for reducing energy consumption in building thermal management due to its passive cooling property and no external energy requirement. Despite significant advances, scalable production of artificial photonic radiators with periodic structures, environmental stability, high radiative cooling performance, and economic applicability is still challenging in most state-of-the-art radiative coolers. Rational structure and materials design are essential to promote daytime sunlight reflectance while maintaining a high emissivity within the atmospheric window (8-13 µm).

Putative Transformation Mechanism of γ-l-Glutamyl-S-Allyl-l-Cysteine during the Processing of Black Garlic.

γ-l-Glutamyl-S-allyl-l-cysteine (GSAC) is renowned for its flavor-modifying effects and beneficial biological activities. However, the level of GSAC decreases significantly during the processing of black garlic, and the pathways and degradation products resulting from this decline remain unclear. To investigate the potential transformation mechanisms of GSAC in black garlic, simulation systems for thermal decomposition, Maillard reactions, and enzymatic hydrolysis were established.

Effects of forest age and stand density on the growth, soil moisture content, and soil carbon content of Populus simoni plantations in the sandy area of western Liaoning, Northeast China.

Poplar (Populus simoni) plantations are crucial in the sandy regions of western Liaoning, serving key roles in wind protection, sand stabilization, soil moisture regulation, and carbon sequestration. However, challenges such as suboptimal stand quality and limited ecological benefits persist. This study aims to elucidate the growth dynamics of poplar plantations and their impact on soil moisture content and soil carbon content in this region.

Establishment and application of a one-step multiplex real-time PCR assay for detection of A, B, and C subtypes of avian metapneumovirus.

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) represents a significant threat to the poultry industry, exhibiting a high degree of genetic diversity. Of these, the aMPV types A (aMPV-A), B (aMPV-B) and C (aMPV-C) are frequently detected in Chinese waterfowl and live poultry markets. Therefore, the rapid and accurate identification of these subtypes is of paramount importance in order to halt the spread of the disease.

The Arabidopsis RING-Type E3 Ligase TEAR4 Controls Seed Germination by Targeting RGA for Degradation.

Light and DELLA proteins are central factors controlling seed germination which is critical for seed plant survival and agricultural production. However, the mechanisms underlying DELLA degradation under different light conditions during seed germination remain to be clarified. Here, it is reported that TIE1-ASSOCIATED RING-TYPE E3 LIGASE4 (TEAR4) and other TEARs redundantly promote DELLA degradation to positively regulate seed germination in Arabidopsis.

Catalytic Intermolecular Asymmetric [2π + 2σ] Cycloadditions of Bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes: Practical Synthesis of Enantioenriched Highly Substituted Bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes.

The high percentage of sp-hybridized carbons and the presence of chiral carbon centers could contribute to increased molecular complexity, enhancing the likelihood of clinical success of drug candidates. Three-dimensional (3D) bridged motifs have recently garnered significant interest in medicinal chemistry. Bicyclo[2.

Queen Bee Larva, an Edible By-Product of Royal Jelly, Alleviate D-Galactose-Induced Aging in Mouse by Regulating Gut Microbiota Structure and Amino Acid Metabolism.

Queen bee larva (QBL), as a by-product of royal jelly, is a kind of protein-rich edible insect. However, the development and utilization of QBL have been very limited for an extended period, resulting in considerable economic waste. Notably, QBL has substantial potential for anti-aging treatments; however, systematic studies have been scarce.

Electrically Generated Exciton Polaritons with Spin On-Demand.

Generation and manipulation of exciton polaritons with controllable spin could deeply impact spintronic applications, quantum simulations, and quantum information processing, but is inherently challenging due to the charge neutrality of the polariton and the device complexity it requires. Here, electrical generation of spin-polarized exciton polaritons in a monolithic dielectric perovskite metasurface embedded in a light-emitting transistor is demonstrated. A finely tailored interplay of in- and out-of-plane symmetry breaking of the metasurface allows to lift the spin degeneracy through the polaritonic Rashba effect, yielding high spin purity with normalized Stokes parameter of S ≈ 0.

Mortality risk associated with MASLD, MASLD type and different cardiometabolic risk factors in IBD patients: A long-term prospective cohort study.

Purpose: To examine the mortality risk associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), MASLD type, lean/non-lean MASLD and different cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) based on a long-term prospective cohort.

Methods: Prevalent IBD patients at baseline who were free of alcoholic liver disease, cancer and hepatitis B/C virus seropositive were included (N=4622). MASLD, MASLD type [pure MASLD, MASLD with increased alcohol intake (MetALD)], lean/non-lean MASLD and CMRFs at baseline were defined according to the latest criteria proposed by AASLD and EASL.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals S100A8/A9 neutrophils-induced endothelial cell death and lymphocyte infiltration after ischemic stroke.

Stroke is a major global cause of death and disability, with ischemic stroke being the most common type. The disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a key factor in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke, allowing immune cells to infiltrate and worsening neuroinflammation. This study uses single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to examine the transcriptional changes in neutrophils, endothelial cells, and T cells during ischemic stroke.

Nature of metal-support interaction for metal catalysts on oxide supports.

The metal-support interaction is one of the most important pillars in heterogeneous catalysis, but developing a fundamental theory has been challenging because of the intricate interfaces. Based on experimental ‎data, interpretable machine learning, theoretical derivation, and first-principles simulations, we established a ‎general theory of metal-oxide interactions grounded in ‎metal-metal and metal-oxygen interactions. The theory applies to metal nanoparticles and atoms on oxide supports and oxide films on metal supports.

Insight into Antiviral Activity of Ag/TiO Nanocomposites Against Influenza H1N1 Virus and Its Antiviral Mechanism.

Purpose: Synthesis and characterization of silver (Ag)/titanium dioxide (TiO) nanocomposite (ATA) to investigate its antiviral activity against the H1N1 influenza virus and antiviral mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: A water-dispersible ATA was prepared by a photocatalytic reduction process from AgNO and TiO. The characterization of ATA was performed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

The complex role of immune cells in antigen presentation and regulation of T-cell responses in hepatocellular carcinoma: progress, challenges, and future directions.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent form of liver cancer that poses significant challenges regarding morbidity and mortality rates. In the context of HCC, immune cells play a vital role, especially concerning the presentation of antigens. This review explores the intricate interactions among immune cells within HCC, focusing on their functions in antigen presentation and the modulation of T-cell responses.

Association between metabolic syndrome and benign prostatic hyperplasia: The underlying molecular connection.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), has been recently regarded as a metabolic disease. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of metabolic disarrangements, including insulin resistance, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, and it has been established that these components of MetS are important contributing factors exacerbating the degree of prostatic enlargement and bladder outlet obstruction among patients with BPH. Clinical and experimental studies demonstrated that many molecules, such as insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), androgen and estrogen, and adipokines, are involved in the overlapping pathogenesis of BPH and MetS, indicating that clinicians might be able to simultaneously alleviate or cure two diseases by choosing appropriate medications.

Isolation and characterization of a novel S-gene mutation porcine deltacoronavirus with high pathogenicity from diarrhea piglet in Zhejiang Province, China, 2022.

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a coronavirus that causes diarrhea in suckling piglets and has the potential for cross-species transmission. Monitoring PDCoV evolution and identifying potential vaccine candidates are crucial due to its high mutation rates in pig populations. In this study, a Chinese PDCoV strain named ZD2022 was successfully isolated from diarrhea piglets in Zhejiang province, followed by genetic evolutionary analysis, assessment of S proteins' biological functions, in vitro cellular adaptation analysis and pathogenicity evaluation.

Multifaceted roles of TCP transcription factors in fate determination.

Fate determination is indispensable for the accurate shaping and specialization of plant organs, a process critical to the structural and functional diversity in plant kingdom. The TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) family of transcription factors has been recognized for its significant contributions to plant organogenesis and morphogenesis. Recent research has shed light on the pivotal roles that TCPs play in fate determination.

Phytic acid-induced durable fire-proof and hydrophobic complex coating for versatile cotton fabrics.

To address the current development requirements for multifunctional cotton fabrics, a phytic acid-induced flame-retardant hydrophobic coating containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and silicon (Si) was grafted on the surface of cotton fabrics using a facile step-by-step immersion method. The limiting oxygen index value improved to 31.2 %, decreasing to 26.

The Effects of Different Thiol-Containing Compounds on the Degradation of Sulforaphene.

Sulforaphene (4-methylsufinyl-3-butenyl isothiocyanate, SFE), produced by myrosinase hydrolysis of glucoraphenin (4-methylsulfinyl-3-butenyl glucosinolate) found in radish seeds, is strongly associated with cancer prevention. In this study, we investigated the stability of SFE (purity above 98%) under various thiol-containing compounds at 25 °C, such as sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), glutathione (GSH), and cysteine (Cys). We observed that the degradation of SFE was closely related to the presence and dissociation capacity of thiol-containing compounds in the solution, particularly the thiol group.

Nanotechnology-based approaches for antibacterial therapy.

The technique of antimicrobial therapy action is to stop or slow the growth of bacteria that can kill people, animals, and crops. The most widely used antibacterial agents are antibiotics. Even though these antimicrobial medications are quite effective, there are still certain barriers or challenges in using them effectively.