3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde Attenuates Allergic Contact Dermatitis by Generating CD4Foxp3 T cells.

Background/aim: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in inflammatory responses by regulating the activity of various immune cells. M2 macrophages induced by IL-10 and TGF-β exhibit anti-inflammatory functions and induce Treg differentiation. Although the beneficial effects of 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (BDB) on various diseases have been widely reported, the mechanisms, through which it alleviates allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) via Tregs and macrophages, are not well understood.

Soybean mitogen-activated protein kinase GmMPK6 enhances drought tolerance.

Soybeans are a critical crop that provides both protein and oil. In response to environmental stresses, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MPKs) play a key role in transmitting stress signals to the nucleus to initiate stress-responsive actions. Drought stress reduces plant development and productivity but the specific MPK responsible for drought stress responses has not been previously identified.

From the depths of the Java Trench: genomic analysis of Priestia flexa JT4 reveals bioprospecting and lycopene production potential.

Background: The marine environment boasts distinctive physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. While numerous studies have delved into the microbial ecology and biological potential of the marine environment, exploration of genetically encoded, deep-sea sourced secondary metabolites remains scarce. This study endeavors to investigate marine bioproducts derived from deep-sea water samples at a depth of 1,000 m in the Java Trench, Indonesia, utilizing both culture-dependent and whole-genome sequencing methods.

EXPOSURE TO THE POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL MIXTURE AROCLOR 1254 ELICITS NEUROLOGICAL AND CARDIAC DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS IN EARLY LIFE STAGE ZEBRAFISH (Danio rerio).

The goal of this study was to compare the bioaccumulation of the PCB mixture Aroclor 1254 in zebrafish to cardiac and neurologic outcomes. The establishment of effect concentrations (ECs) for cardiac and neurotoxic effects of PCBs in early life stage fish is challenging due to a lack of measured PCB concentrations in test media (e.g.

Speciation and Aqueous Dissolution of Macronutrients in Fire Ash: Variation across Ecosystems and the Effects on Nutrient Cycling.

This study investigated the speciation and aqueous dissolution of macronutrients in fire ash from diverse ecosystems and speciation of ash and smoke from laboratory burning, exploring the variations and their causes. The speciation of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) in fire ash from five globally distributed ecosystems was characterized by using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and sequential fractionation. Aqueous dissolution of the macronutrients was measured by batch experiments at acidic and alkaline pHs.

Worldwide comparison of carbon stocks and fluxes between native and non-native forests.

Climate change is one of the main challenges that human societies are currently facing. Given that forests represent major natural carbon sinks in terrestrial ecosystems, administrations worldwide are launching broad-scale programs to promote forests, including stands of non-native trees. Yet, non-native trees may have profound impacts on the functions and services of forest ecosystems, including the carbon cycle, as they may differ widely from native trees in structural and functional characteristics.

The costs and benefits of a dynamic host microbiome.

All species host a rich community of microbes. This microbiome is dynamic, and displays seasonal, daily, and even hourly changes, but also needs to be resilient to fulfill important roles for the host. In evolutionary ecology, the focus of microbiome dynamism has been on how it can facilitate host adaptation to novel environments.

Characterization of plastic ingestion in urban gull chicks and its implications for their use as pollution sentinels in coastal cities.

The increase of plastic pollution represents a significant ecological threat, particularly in human-impacted environments. However, the effects of plastic ingestion by urban wildlife are less understood. This study investigates the presence of microplastic (MPs; plastic <5 mm in size) and macroplastics (MaPs, plastic >5 mm in size) in yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) chicks inhabiting the urban marine ecosystem of Barcelona (northeastern Spain).

Lipid metabolism during seed germination of Pistacia chinensis and its response to gibberellic acid.

Lipid metabolism may play a critical role in fueling seed germination, but the knowledge of lipid metabolism during germination is still ambiguous. Here, we hypothesize that gibberellic acid (GA) promotes germination by means of enhancing lipid mobilization in Chinese pistachio (Pistacia chinensis Bunge), a species belonging to Anacardiaceae with high oil content in its seeds. A multi-omics approach has been applied to measure lipid mobilization during seed germination, and to identify the key regulators involved in GA-mediated lipid metabolism.

Intrinsic and environmental drivers of pairwise cohesion in wild Canis social groups.

Animals within social groups respond to costs and benefits of sociality by adjusting the proportion of time they spend in close proximity to other individuals in the group (cohesion). Variation in cohesion between individuals, in turn, shapes important group-level processes such as subgroup formation and fission-fusion dynamics. Although critical to animal sociality, a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing cohesion remains a gap in our knowledge of cooperative behavior in animals.

A New Species of the Genus Tropidophorus Duméril, Bibron, 1839 (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from China-Vietnam Border Region in Southeastern Yunnan Province, China.

Based on morphological and genetic data, we describe a new species of Tropidophorus from the tropical karst landscape in southeastern Yunnan Province, China, close to the Vietnam border. Phylogenetically, the new species forms a clade with T. baviensis, T.

Physoschistura longibulla, a new loach (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from Irrawaddy basin in central Myanmar.

Physoschistura longibulla, a new species and the first species of the revised genus Physoschistura from Pyin Oo Lwin of Irrawaddy basin, can be distinguished from other congeners by the combination of following characters: posterior chamber of air bladder well developed, connecting anterior with a long and thin tube, long and oval; dorsal fin with 81/2 branched rays, its origin slightly anterior to pelvic-fin base vertically; lateral line complete and straight, with 93-102 pores; pectoral fin with 8-9 branched rays, reaching 1/2 to 2/3 of distance to pelvic-fin base; suborbital flap absent in male; axillary pelvic lobe present; caudal fin with 9 + 8 branched rays.

Extended Descriptions and Revised Diagnoses of Three Recently Described, Little-Known Mountain Dragons (Reptilia: Agamidae: Diploderma) from the Yalong River Valley in Southwest China.

Mountain Dragons of the genus Diploderma has experienced rapid taxonomic change in the recent years. The fast rate of taxonomic changes often leads to insufficient data for newly described species on their morphological variation, especially regarding sexual dimorphism, as well as the missing information on their natural history and conservation status. Limited time for taxonomic works may also result in misidentification of "new species".

Experimental ingestion of microplastics in three common Antarctic benthic species.

Microplastics (MP) have spread to every corner of the globe, reaching remote areas like Antarctica. Recent studies detected MP in marine environments, including biota. Benthic organisms suffer negative effects upon MP ingestion, leading to impacts on their populations.

An Investigation of the Effect of the Traditional Naxi Herbal Formula Against Liver Cancer Through Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Experiments.

: The formula Chong-Lou-Yao-Fang (CLYF) is an herbal medicinal formulation developed by the indigenous Naxi people for treating liver cancer. This study was to reveal the biological activity, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of CLYF for cancer treatment. : Network pharmacology, microarray data analysis, survival analysis, and molecular docking were employed to predict potential compounds, targets, and pathways for the treatment of liver cancer.

Conflict between cattle ranching and the conservation of jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) in the Amazon arc of deforestation.

Livestock predation constitutes the primary source of conflict between humans and large carnivores. Moreover, human factors, such as attitudes and emotions, can affect people's tolerance towards carnivores, exacerbating the conflict. Such conflicts often lead to retaliatory killing of carnivores, which not only poses significant threats to species conservation but also to ecosystem functioning and services.

Phylogeny, Diversification, and Biogeography of (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) Reveals Multiple Cross-Drainage Dispersals in Southeast Asia.

, a kind of small- to medium-sized fish, is widely distributed from southern Eurasia to central Africa. As one of the most diverse genera of Cyprinidae, investigating the phylogeny and biogeography of remains challenging. In this study, we combined sequences of samples collected from Myanmar with sequences downloaded from GenBank to investigate the phylogeny, diversification, and biogeography of on a global scale, with an emphasis on Southeast Asia.

New record of Carnidae (Diptera) from Taiwan and potential challenges in DNA barcode amplification due to pseudogene.

Background: The genus Nitzsch, 1818 comprises small ectoparasites that feed on the blood of juvenile avians. They are characterised by dealated adults with setose abdominal intersegmental membranes. Maa, 1968 was previously recorded in Malaysia and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, parasitising two owl species: (Horsfield, 1821) and (Cassin, 1852).

Phylogeography of reveals the evolutionary patterns of a Cenozoic relict tree around the Sichuan Basin.

Environmental factors such as mountain tectonic movements and monsoons can enhance genetic differentiation by hindering inter- and intra-specific gene flow. However, the phylogeographic breaks detected within species may differ depending on the different molecular markers used, and biological traits may be a major confounding factor. is a vulnerable relict species distributed throughout the Sichuan Basin.

Microbial Life in Playa-Lake Sediments: Adapted Structure, Plastic Function to Extreme Water Activity Variations.

Saline shallow lakes in arid and semi-arid regions frequently undergo drying episodes, leading to significant variations in salinity and water availability. Research on the impacts of salinity and drought on the structure and function of biofilms in hypersaline shallow lakes is limited. This study aimed to understand the potential changes of biofilms in playa-lake sediments during the drying process.

Macroclimatic Convergence and Habitat Specialisation Shape the Mediterranean Seed Germination Syndrome.

Ecological theory predicts that plant reproductive phenology in the Mediterranean regions is shaped by evolutionary processes driven by strong seasonality in precipitation-evaporation patterns. Thus, it can be expected that seed germination phenology has adapted to maximise recruitment during the season of highest water availability. Cold-cued and slow germination (i.

Ionizing radiation has negligible effects on the age, telomere length and corticosterone levels of Chornobyl tree frogs.

The accident that occurred at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (Ukraine, 1986) contaminated a large extension of territory after the deposition of radioactive material. It is still under debate whether the chronic exposure to the radiation levels currently present in the area has long-term effects on organisms, such as decreases in longevity. Here, we investigate whether current levels of radiation in Chornobyl negatively impact the age of the Eastern tree frog .

Assessment of Changes in the Composition and Distribution of Large and Medium-Sized Mammals in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China.

Given the vulnerability of large and medium-sized mammal communities to climate change and human disturbances, understanding the spatial-temporal dynamics of these communities is essential for effective conservation planning. However, in many biodiversity hotspots, precise biological community assessments are insufficient. From 2012 to 2022, we deployed 784 camera traps in eight nature reserves (including sub-reserves) and one State Forest Farm (SFF, less strictly protected than a reserve) to study the composition and distribution of large and medium-sized mammals in tropical Xishuangbanna.