Safflower CtFT genes orchestrating flowering time and flavonoid biosynthesis.

Background: Safflower thrives in dry environments but faces difficulties with flowering in wet and rainy summers. Flavonoids play a role in flower development and can potentially alleviate these challenges. Furthermore, the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) family of phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) genes play a crucial role in the photoperiodic flowering pathway.

KLF6 silencing attenuates MCAO-induced brain injury and cognitive dysfunction via targeting ferroptosis and activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Introduction: The incidence of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) is complex which seriously threatens the life safety of patients. Neither its prevention nor its treatment has been successful so far. Proteins that bind to DNA and belong to the C2/H2 zinc finger family are known as Krüppel-like factors (KLFs).

Effect of Bisphenol F on Reproductive Function in F1 Generation Male Mice and its Potential Mechanisms.

Bisphenol F (BPF) is an environmental endocrine disruptor capable of crossing the placental barrier and affecting the growth and development of offspring. Despite its potential impact, systematic research about effects of BPF on the reproductive function of male offspring remains limited. In this study, pregnant female mice were exposed to BPF at doses of 40, 400, and 4000 μg/kg during gestation and lactation, respectively, to evaluate its impact on testicular damage, testosterone levels, and spermatogenesis of male offspring (F1 generation), and further explore the mechanisms using transcriptomics.

Probing Methylmercury Photodegradation by Different Fractions of Natural Organic Matter in Water: Degradation Kinetics and Mercury Isotope Fractionation Characteristics.

Recent advancements in mercury (Hg) isotopic fractionation research have evolved from conceptual demonstrations to practical applications. However, few studies have focused on revealing fractionation fingerprinting for aqueous methylmercury (MeHg) photodegradation due to its sensitivity to natural organic matter (NOM). Here, the impact of NOM fractions with varying chemical properties on MeHg photodegradation kinetics and Hg isotope fractionation characteristics was investigated.

Napabucasin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles trigger anti-HCC immune responses by metabolic reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages.

Background: JAK/STAT3 is one of the critical signaling pathways involved in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). BBI608 (Napabucasin), as a novel small molecule inhibitor of STAT3, has shown previously excellent anti-HCC effects in vitro and in mouse models. However, low bioavailability, high cytotoxicity and other shortcomings limit its clinical application.

A new near-infrared fluorescence probe for highly selective and sensitive detection and imaging of Butyrylcholinesterase in Alzheimer's disease mice.

Butylcholinesterase (BChE) is a key enzyme in living system, closely related to liver and neurological diseases. It is very challenge to develop near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence probe methods for highly selective and sensitive detection of BChE in vivo. Based on the differences in active sites and spatial pockets between acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and BChE, a new NIR BChE-responsive fluorescence probe Probe-BChE (λ/λ = 600 nm/676 nm) was designed and synthesized by introducing dimethyl carbamate group as recognizing moiety to a NIR fluorophore hemicyanine skeleton.

Hypothesis on the outflow of optic nerve cerebrospinal fluid in spaceflight associated neuro ocular syndrome.

Spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) has been well documented in astronauts. However, its pathogenesis is not fully understood. New findings indicate the impaired outflow of the optic nerve cerebrospinal fluid may participate or contribute to some changes in SANS.

Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: a study of CT, MRI, PET/CT multimodal imaging features and their correlations with pathology.

Purpose: Exploring the computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT Multimodal Imaging Characteristics of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT) to enhance the diagnostic proficiency of this condition.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data and multimodal imaging manifestations (CT, MRI, FDG-PET/CT) of eight cases of DSRCT. These findings were systematically compared with pathological results to succinctly summarize imaging features and elucidate their associations with both clinical and pathological characteristics.

De novo assembly of a near-complete genome of aquatic vegetable Zizania latifolia in the Yangtze River Basin.

The cultivated Zizania latifolia, an aquatic vegetable prevalent in the Yangtze River Basin, represents a unique plant-fungus complex whose domestication is associated with host-parasite co-evolution. In this study, we present a high-quality, chromosome-scale genome assembly of cultivated Z. latifolia.

Biodiversity and distribution of zoobenthos in the ecological water replenishment area of the Yellow River estuary coastal wetland revealed by eDNA metabarcoding.

The coastal wetland of the Yellow River Estuary, one of China's largest wetlands, is essential for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. Ecological water replenishment, a typical wetland restoration measure in the Yellow River Delta, has significantly impacted the habitat of zoobenthos, which are critical indicators of ecosystem health and water quality. However, the community characteristics of zoobenthos in this coastal wetland are poorly understood.

Thermodynamic Perturbation Theory for Charged Branched Polymers.

Classical density functional theory (DFT) provides a versatile framework to study the polymers with complex topological structure. Generally, a classical DFT describes the excess Helmholtz free energy of nonbonded chain connectivity due to excluded-volume effects and electrostatic correlations using the first-order thermodynamic perturbation theory (referred to as DFT-TPT1). Beyond first-order perturbation, the second-order TPT (TPT2) captures not only the correlations between neighboring monomers but also the interactions within three consecutive monomers, playing a crucial role in describing the polymer topology.

Enhancing emerging pollutant removal mediated by root iron plaques: Integrated abiotic and biotic effects.

As a contact interface among plants, microbes, and the liquid phase, root iron plaque (IP) occupies a crucial ecological niche on the root surface in constructed wetlands. However, research on the integrated work mechanisms of the various processes mediated by root IP in removing emerging pollutants is limited. This study analyzed four IP-mediated pathways in plant hydroponic systems, categorizing them into abiotic (adsorption and ·OH oxidation) and biotic (plant uptake and microbial degradation) effects.

Mitigating neurodegenerative diseases: the protective influence of baicalin and baicalein through neuroinflammation regulation.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) represent a category of serious illnesses characterized by the progressive deterioration of neuronal structure and function. The exploration of natural compounds as potential therapeutic agents has gained increasing attention in recent years owing to their wide range of pharmacological activities and minimal side effects. Baicalin (BAI) and baicalein (BE), polyphenolic flavonoids, derived from the root of , evidently show potential in treating NDDs.

Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in L.

Tiger nut ( L.) is recognized for its high oil and oleic acid content in underground tubers. However, the molecular mechanisms governing growth, development, and fatty acid accumulation in these tubers are not well understood.

Molecular Basis of Lipid Metabolism in L.

Lipids are the basic biological molecules in plants, serving as glycerolipids for cell membranes and triacylglycerols as an energy source. Fatty acids are the major components of plant lipids. Both lipids and fatty acids significantly influence rice quality.

Influence of Work-Life Balance on Mental Health Among Nurses: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital and Job Satisfaction.

Background: Nurses constitute the backbone of the healthcare sector, often confronting elevated levels of work-related stress and emotional demands that can profoundly impact their mental well-being. Mental health is critical to nursing practice as it directly influences job performance, patient care quality, and workforce sustainability. This study examines the effects of work-life balance on the mental health of nurses in Pakistan while examining the intermediary effects of psychological capital and job satisfaction.

An Electrochemical Oxidation and Intercalation Strategy for Iodide Removal Using LDHs.

Radioactive iodide harms the ecosystem and human health, necessitating its immobilization to mitigate aquatic iodine pollution. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), a family of 2D clays with intercalated anions and controllable interlayer structures, are technologically and economically viable adsorbents to eliminate various anion pollutants. However, LDHs exhibit an extremely low affinity toward iodide species.

Global, regional and national temporal trends in Parkinson's disease incidence, disability-adjusted life year rates in middle-aged and older adults: a cross-national inequality analysis and Bayesian age-period-cohort analysis based on the global burden of disease 2021.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) ranks as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder; however, its epidemiological characteristics among middle-aged and older adults at global, regional, and national levels remain inadequately documented.

Methods: This study assessed temporal trends in PD among middle-aged and older adults by extracting incidence rates, disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates, and corresponding age-specific rates (ASRs) from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database spanning 1990 to 2021. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was employed to analyze trends over the past 30 years.

Direct development of microalgae-bacterial granular sludge system by seeding pre-made microalgae-dewatered sludge granules: Performance and mechanism analysis.

Microalgae-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) process has great potential in achieving carbon neutrality and energy neutrality, but rapidly cultivating MBGS remains challenging. To address this challenge, this study proposes a new strategy to develop MBGS systems using pre-made granules from microalgae and dewatered sludge. The results indicate that using pre-made microalgae-dewatered sludge granules (M-DSG) as inoculants can directly develop MBGS system, with M-DSG maintaining a relatively stable granular structure, and ultimately achieving pollutant removal efficiencies of 94.

Cretaceous coastal mountain building and potential impacts on climate change in East Asia.

Crustal thickness and elevation variations control mountain building and climate change at convergent margins. As an archetypal Andean-type convergent margin, eastern Asia preserves voluminous magmas ideal for quantifying these processes and their impacts on climate. Here, we use Sr/Y and Ce/Y proxies to show that the crust experienced alternating thickening and thinning during the Late Mesozoic.

Analysis of the lymph node metastasis distribution in patients with invasive resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The current standard for the surgical management of lung cancer involves anatomic lung resection combined with systemic lymph node dissection/sampling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of pathological lymph nodes in invasive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), explore the occurrence in lymph node metastasis (LNM), and provide recommendations for optimal lymph node resection/sampling in lung cancer operation.

Methods: There were 1,678 patients with NSCLC who underwent lobectomy between 2018 and 2021 at the Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province were reviewed retrospectively.

Integrated network pharmacology and brain metabolomics to analyze the mechanism of Dihuang Yinzi intervention in Alzheimer's disease.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that has become one of the most important diseases threatening global public health security. Dihuang Yinzi (DHYZ) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used for the treatment of AD and has significant therapeutic effects, but its specific mechanism of action is still unclear.The aim of the study is to investigate the specific mechanism of DHYZ in treating AD based on brain metabolomics and network pharmacology.

Genetic loss of Uchl1 leads to female infertility by affecting oocyte quality and follicular development.

Research Question: Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme specifically highly expressed in the brain and gonads. Inhibition of UCHL1 hydrolase activity impairs oocyte maturation. Uchl1 knockout mice exhibit reproductive dysfunction, but the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear.

Scale effects of supplementary nature reserves on biodiversity conservation in China's southern hilly region.

The Southern Hilly Region (SHR) of China plays a critical role in maintaining national ecological security and supporting global biodiversity. However, intensified human activities, such as urbanization and excessive land exploitation, have led to significant ecological degradation, posing threats to both local and global biodiversity. The current nature reserve system in SHR no longer meets the demands for local biodiversity conservation.