Effects of Low-Severity Fire on the Composition and Stability of Soil Organic Carbon in Permafrost Peatlands (Northeast China).

Climate change and human activity are increasing the frequency of wildfires in peatlands and threatening permafrost peatland carbon pools. In Northeast China, low-severity prescribed fires are conducted annually on permafrost peatlands to reduce the risk of wildfires. These fires typically do not burn surface peat but lead to the loss of surface vegetation and introduction of pyrogenic carbon.

Beyond Metaplasia: Unraveling the Complex Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis and Its Implications for Gastric Cancer Risk.

Autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by immune-mediated destruction of gastric parietal cells, leading to oxyntic atrophy, achlorhydria, and hypergastrinemia. While AIG was historically linked to gastric adenocarcinoma and type I neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), recent evidence suggests the risk of adenocarcinoma in AIG is lower than previously believed, particularly in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-negative patients.

The value of ultrasound measured rectus femoris thickness, cross-sectional area and shear wave velocity in assessment of muscle in postmenopausal women with osteosarcopenia.

Objectives: To evaluate the value of ultrasound (US) and shear wave velocity (SWV) to assess muscle in postmenopausal women with osteosarcopenia (OSP).

Methods: This study included 145 postmenopausal women, comprising 115 osteopenia/osteoporosis participants without sarcopenia (OP alone) and 30 OSP participants. All received the evaluation of bone mineral density (BMD), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), handgrip strength, calf circumference, 6-meter walking speed, and 5-time chair stand test.

Evaluation of the biocontrol potential of Episyrphus balteatus (Diptera: Syrphidae) on wheat aphids in northern China.

Marmalada hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus De Geer (Diptera: Syrphidae), is a cosmopolitan fly species providing pest control and pollination services. As wheat aphids cause significant losses to global wheat production, a systematic evaluation of the predatory potential and biocontrol service functions of E. balteatus in wheat ecosystems was undertaken.

The TRIM-NHL RNA-binding protein MEI-P26 modulates the size of Drosophila Type I neuroblast lineages.

The Drosophila TRIM-NHL RNA-binding protein (RBP), MEI-P26, has previously been shown to suppress tumor formation in the germline. Here we show that, in the Drosophila larval central brain, cell-type specific expression of MEI-P26 plays a vital role in regulating neural development. MEI-P26 and another TRIM-NHL RBP, Brain tumor (BRAT), have distinct expression patterns in Type I neuroblast (NB) lineages: While both proteins are expressed in NBs, BRAT is expressed in ganglion mother cells (GMCs) but not neurons whereas MEI-P26 is expressed in neurons but not GMCs.

Chemopreventive role of β-caryophyllene in DMBA-induced skin cancer: Modulation of apoptotic pathways and PI3K/Akt signaling in Swiss albino mice.

Background: The skin, with its robust structural integrity and advanced immune defense system, serves as a critical protective barrier against environmental toxins and carcinogenic compounds. Despite this, it remains vulnerable to the harmful effects of certain hazardous agents.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the chemopreventive potential of β-caryophyllene (BCP) in mitigating 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced skin carcinogenesis, focusing on the modulation of apoptosis and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Impact of vitamin D supplementation on symptom severity and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A meta-analysis.

Background: Vitamin D supplementation could offer irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients significant improvements in terms of symptom severity and overall quality of life (QoL). Yet, the potential benefits and risks associated with vitamin D supplementation still require additional investigation.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on IBS using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Assessing the efficacy of psychological interventions in enhancing the quality of life of patients diagnosed with cancer and psychiatric disorders: An umbrella analysis.

Background: Psychosocial interventions encompass psychotherapy and psychological education that explicitly target psychosocial adaptation. These interventions have been shown to have a substantial positive effect on reducing anxiety and depression, as well as improving overall quality of life (QoL). Nevertheless, there is still no consensus concerning the therapeutic effectiveness of these interventions.

Heterole-Fused [20]- and [22]Smaragdyrins and Fused-Heterole-Bridged [20]- and [22]Smaragdyrin Dimers.

In order to examine the effects of the fused heterole on the electronic properties of aromatic and antiaromatic smaragdyrins, 2,3-thiophene- and 2,3-indole-fused [20]smaragdyrins were synthesized by Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and subsequent oxidative fusion reaction, and were reduced with NaBH4 to the corresponding [22]smaragdyrins. Fused-thiophene- and fused-pyrrole-bridged [20]- and [22]smaragdyrin dimers were also synthesized in the similar manner. The installed fused heteroles mitigate the paratropic ring current of the [20]smaragdyrin but exert only minor effects on the diatropic ring current of the [22]smaragdyrin.

Electron Microscopy Reveals Inhomogeneous Adsorption of Iodine and Concurrent Defect Formation in a Metal-Organic Framework.

Adsorption behaviors are typically examined through adsorption isotherms, which measure the average adsorption amount as a function of partial pressure or time. However, this method is incapable of identifying inhomogeneities across the adsorbent, which may occur in the presence of strong intermolecular interactions of the adsorbate. In this study, we visualize the adsorption of molecular iodine (I) in the metal-organic framework material MFM-300(Sc) using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM).

Photoredox-Mediated Immunotherapy Utilizing Rhenium(I) Photocatalysts with Electron Donor-Acceptor-Donor Configuration.

The hypoxic environment of solid tumors significantly diminishes the therapeutic efficacy of oxygen-dependent photodynamic therapy. Developing efficient photosensitizers that operate photoredox catalysis presents a promising strategy to overcome this challenge. Herein, we report the rational design of two rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes ( and ) with electron donor-acceptor-donor configuration.

Halogen Engineering and Solvent-Induced Strategies Regulate Structural Transitions and Luminescence Switching of Hybrid Copper(I) Halides.

Copper-based halides have attracted significant attention due to their unique photophysical properties and diverse coordination configurations. However, enhancing water stability and modulating structural transitions in cuprous halide materials remain challenging. In this work, we successfully synthesized three copper(I) halides, (CHP)CuBr (L1, [CHP] = hexyltriphenylphosphonium), (CHP)CuBr (L2), and (CHP)CuI (L3), via solvent volatilization, demonstrating exceptional water stability even after 27 days of submersion.

Diffusive topology preserving manifold distances for single-cell data analysis.

Manifold learning techniques have emerged as crucial tools for uncovering latent patterns in high-dimensional single-cell data. However, most existing dimensionality reduction methods primarily rely on 2D visualization, which can distort true data relationships and fail to extract reliable biological information. Here, we present DTNE (diffusive topology neighbor embedding), a dimensionality reduction framework that faithfully approximates manifold distance to enhance cellular relationships and dynamics.

The ligninolytic catalytic network reveals the importance of auxiliary enzymes in lignin biocatalysts.

Lignin degradation by biocatalysts is a key strategy to develop a plant-based sustainable carbon economy and thus alleviate global climate change. This process involves synergy between ligninases and auxiliary enzymes. However, auxiliary enzymes within secretomes, which are composed of thousands of enzymes, remain enigmatic, although several ligninolytic enzymes have been well characterized.

Variants in the SOX9 transactivation middle domain induce axial skeleton dysplasia and scoliosis.

SOX9 is a crucial transcriptional regulator of cartilage development and homeostasis. Dysregulation of is associated with a wide spectrum of skeletal disorders, including campomelic dysplasia, acampomelic campomelic dysplasia, and scoliosis. Yet how variants contribute to the spectrum of axial skeletal disorders is not well understood.

Heterogeneous and multiple conformational transition pathways between pseudoknots of the SARS-CoV-2 frameshift element.

Frameshifting is an essential mechanism employed by many viruses including coronaviruses to produce viral proteins from a compact RNA genome. It is facilitated by specific RNA folds in the frameshift element (FSE), which has emerged as an important therapeutic target. For SARS-CoV-2, a specific 3-stem pseudoknot has been identified to stimulate frameshifting.

A tough soft-hard interface in the human knee joint driven by multiscale toughening mechanisms.

Joining heterogeneous materials in engineered structures remains a significant challenge due to stress concentration at interfaces, which often leads to unexpected failures. Investigating the complex, multiscale-graded structures found in animal tissue provides valuable insights that can help address this challenge. The human meniscus root-bone interface is an exemplary model, renowned for its exceptional fatigue resistance, toughness, and interfacial adhesion properties throughout its lifespan.

Extracellular vesicle-associated miR-ERIA exerts the anti-angiogenic effect of macrophages in diabetic wound healing.

Many cell types are involved in the regulation of cutaneous wound healing in diabetes. Clarifying the mechanism of cell-cell interactions is important for identifying therapeutic targets for diabetic cutaneous ulcers. The function of vascular endothelial cells in the cutaneous microenvironment is critical, and a decrease in their biological function leads directly to refractory wound healing.

Homeobox C4 transcription factor promotes adipose tissue thermogenesis.

The homeobox (HOX) family has shown potential in adipose development and function, yet the specific HOX proteins fueling adipose thermogenesis remain elusive. In this study, we uncovered the novel function of HOXC4 in stimulating adipose thermogenesis. Our bioinformatic analysis indicated an enrichment of Hoxc4 co-expressed genes in metabolic pathways and linked HOXC4 polymorphisms to metabolic parameters, suggesting its involvement in metabolic regulation.

ERBB4 selectively amplifies TGF-β pro-metastatic responses.

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is well known to play paradoxical roles in tumorigenesis as it has both growth-inhibitory and pro-metastatic effects. However, the underlying mechanisms of how TGF-β drives the opposing responses remain largely unknown. Here, we report that ERBB4, a member of the ERBB receptor tyrosine kinase family, specifically promotes TGF-β's metastatic response but not its anti-growth response.

Determinants of Human Corneal Mechanical Wave Dispersion for In Vivo Optical Coherence Elastography.

Purpose: To characterize frequency-dependent wave speed dispersion in the human cornea using microliter air-pulse optical coherence elastography (OCE), and to evaluate the applicability of Lamb wave theory for determining corneal elastic modulus using high-frequency symmetric (S0) and anti-symmetric (A0) guided waves in cornea.

Methods: Wave speed dispersion analysis for transient (0.5 ms) microliter air-pulse stimulation was performed in four rabbit eyes ex vivo and compared to air-coupled ultrasound excitation.

Unraveling Mechanisms of Genetic Risks in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Diseases: A Pathway to Precision Medicine.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing global health problem, affecting ∼1 billion people. This condition is well established to have a heritable component with strong familial clustering. With the extraordinary breakthroughs in genetic research techniques coupled with their application to large-scale biobanks, the field of genetics in MASLD has expanded rapidly.

Association of Biomarkers Such as CA, TP, TES and ALP With Osteoarthritis Risk: A Mendelian Randomized Study.

Objective: Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease caused by a variety of risk factors, and it has been found that many biochemical markers are abnormal in peripheral blood and urine of patients with OA. The aim of this study was to elucidate the causal relationship between biomarkers associated with these processes and OA using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Method: The inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach to MR was primarily used to explore causal associations between exposures and outcomes using publicly available genetic variants from large genome-wide association studies (GWAS).