Characteristics of Phages and Their Interactions With Hosts in Anaerobic Reactors.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic wastes relies on the interaction and cooperation of various microorganisms. Phages are crucial components of the microbial community in AD systems, but their diversity and interactions with the prokaryotic populations are still inadequately comprehended. In this study, 2121 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) were recovered from 12 anaerobic fatty acid-fed reactors.

Molecular Engineering of Amino Acid Crystals with Enhanced Piezoelectric Performance for Biodegradable Sensors.

Amino acid crystals have emerged as promising piezoelectric materials for biodegradable and biocompatible sensors; however, their relatively low piezoelectric coefficients constrain practical applications. Here, we introduce a fluoro-substitution strategy to overcome this limitation and enhance the piezoelectric performance of amino acid crystals. Specifically, we substituted hydrogen atoms on the aromatic rings of L-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, and N-Cbz-L-phenylalanine with fluorine, resulting in significantly elevated piezoelectric coefficients.

AsGAD1 cloned from creeping bentgrass modulates cadmium tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana by remodelling membrane lipids and cadmium uptake, transport and chelation.

The gene GAD1 encodes a glutamate decarboxylase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme for the biosynthesis of endogenous γ-aminobutyrate acid (GABA), but a potential role of GAD1 in regulating cadmium (Cd) tolerance needs to be further elucidated in plants. The objective of this study was to investigate Cd tolerance of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) and transgenic yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing AsGAD1. The Cd-tolerant creeping bentgrass cultivar LOFTSL-93 accumulated more endogenous GABA in relation to a significant upregulation of AsGAD1 in leaf and root than the Cd-sensitive W66569 in response to Cd stress.

Impact of time in tight range on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort study.

Aims: Currently, there is a lack of evidence regarding time in tight range (TITR) and long-term adverse outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association between TITR and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 6061 patients with type 2 diabetes were prospectively recruited in a single centre.

Epigenetic Modifications in HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the main pathogen for HCC development. HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) forms extra-host chromatin-like minichromosomes in the nucleus of hepatocytes with host histones, non-histones, HBV X protein (HBx) and HBV core protein (HBc).

Identification and Validation of a m6A-Related Long Noncoding RNA Prognostic Model in Colorectal Cancer.

Accumulating research indicates that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays a pivotal role in colorectal cancer (CRC). Hence, investigating the m6A-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) significantly improves therapeutic strategies and prognostic assessments. This study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic model based on m6A-related lncRNAs to improve the prediction of clinical outcomes and identify potential immunological mechanisms in CRC.

Deciphering the biosynthetic pathway of triterpene saponins in Prunella vulgaris.

The traditional Chinese medicinal plant Prunella vulgaris contains numerous triterpene saponin metabolites, notably ursolic and oleanolic acid saponins, which have significant pharmacological values. Despite their importance, the genes responsible for synthesizing these triterpene saponins in P. vulgaris remain unidentified.

Integrated physiological, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal potential mechanisms of potato tuber dormancy release.

Regulating potato tuber dormancy is crucial for crop productivity and food security. We conducted the first comprehensive physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic investigations of two varieties of long and short dormant potato tubers in order to clarify the mechanisms of dormancy release. In the current study, three different dormant stages of UGT (ungerminated tubers), MGT (minimally germinated tubers), and GT (germinated tubers) were obtained by treatment with the germination promoter gibberellin A and the germination inhibitor chlorpropham.

Assessment of cold resistance in tobacco varieties using JIP-test parameters and seedling growth.

Cold stress (CS) is a significant natural hazard, and distinguishing between plant cold resistance and sensitivity is critical for cultivar breeding and the development of germplasm resources. This study used 205 tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) varieties from around the world to investigate the changes in the chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP) transients, JIP-test parameters, and seedling growth caused by seven days of CS (5°C) treatment.

Accelerometer-measured physical activity timing with incident dementia.

Introduction: Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is linked to lower dementia risk, though the optimal timing remains unclear.

Methods: Using accelerometer-measured MVPA data from 90,329 dementia-free UK Biobank participants with at least 2 years of follow-up, we assessed associations between MVPA patterns (morning, afternoon, evening, mixed, inactive) and dementia risk via multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: Compared to the inactive group, participants with a tendency of morning MVPA had a lower risk of all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.

Unravelling OsPHT2;1 function in Chloroplast Phosphorus Homeostasis and Photosynthetic Efficiency under Low Phosphorus Stress in Rice.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a critical factor limiting crop productivity, primarily due to its detrimental effects on photosynthesis and dry matter accumulation. In this study, we investigate the role of the rice gene OsPHT2;1 in mediating chloroplast P homeostasis and its subsequent impact on photosynthetic function under low P conditions. Stomatal conductance is typically positively correlated with net photosynthetic rates; however, P deficiency disrupts this relationship, leading to reduced stomatal opening and diminished photosynthetic efficiency.

Identifying Primary Sites of Spinal Metastases: Expert-Derived Features vs. ResNet50 Model Using Nonenhanced MRI.

Background: The spinal column is a frequent site for metastases, affecting over 30% of solid tumor patients. Identifying the primary tumor is essential for guiding clinical decisions but often requires resource-intensive diagnostics.

Purpose: To develop and validate artificial intelligence (AI) models using noncontrast MRI to identify primary sites of spinal metastases, aiming to enhance diagnostic efficiency.

HOTAIR expression as a biomarker in glioblastoma multiforme: a comprehensive meta-analysis of current evidence.

Purpose: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor. This meta-analysis investigates the association between HOTAIR expression levels and GBM.

Methods: We searched the literature for studies on HOTAIR expression in GBM patients.

Micra Leadless and Transvenous Pacemaker: A Single-Center Comparative Study of QRS Wave Duration Resulting From Different Pacing Sites.

Objective: To compare the paced QRS duration on different sites in age-, gender-, and indication-matched patients implanted with Micra leadless pacemakers and conventional transvenous pacemakers (TV-PM).

Method: A total of 82 patients from Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, were enrolled, including two groups of 41 patients matched according to gender, age, and pacemaker indications, who underwent Micra and TV-PM implantations, respectively. The baseline data of the patients, the pacing site described using three- and nine-partition methods, and the paced QRS duration on 12-lead electrocardiogram were then analyzed.

A Novel Technique of "Drag-Drill" for Retrograde Chronic Total Occlusion Revascularization in Heavily Calcified Tortuous Lesions: A Case Report.

We report the case of a 73-year-old male with a history of recurrent coronary interventions who presented with progressive angina and was diagnosed with a chronic total occlusion (CTO) of a heavily calcified and tortuous right coronary artery (RCA). Standard antegrade and retrograde techniques were attempted but failed due to the complexity of the lesion. A novel "Drag-Drill" technique was employed, utilizing a retrogradely externalized RG3 guidewire as a rotational atherectomy wire, enabling successful rotational atherectomy and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Integrated Genomics Reveal Potential Resistance Mechanisms of PANoptosis-Associated Genes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is marked by the proliferation of abnormal myeloid progenitor cells in the bone marrow and blood, leading to low cure rates despite new drug approvals from 2017 to 2018. Current therapies often fail due to the emergence of drug resistance mechanisms, such as those involving anti-apoptotic pathways and immune evasion, highlighting an urgent need for novel approaches to overcome these limitations. Programmed cell death (PCD) is crucial for tissue homeostasis, with PANoptosis-a form of PCD integrating pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis-recently identified.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy in Monozygotic Twins-A Case Report.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is the classic phenotype of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. ARVC in twins have been reported rarely. Herein, we report an unusual case of young monozygotic twins with early disease onset presenting different course of disease progression and clinical manifestations.

Patients With Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability and Small Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus Obtain Good Postoperative Results: A Minimum 10-Year Follow-up With Radiographic Evidence.

Background: Few studies reported the long-term clinical outcomes and joint degeneration of patients with chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) and small osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) following simultaneous open modified Broström-Gould (MBG) surgery and arthroscopic bone marrow stimulation (BMS). The purpose of this study was to study the long-term results of patients after BMS and BMG surgery, and to further evaluate the potential effect of OLT size on postoperative results.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 110 CLAI patients were divided into 57 patients with OLTs (including 24 patients having combined small osteochondral lesions of the tibial plafond) receiving simultaneous BMS and MBG surgeries (BMS+MBG group), and 53 patients without OLTs receiving isolated open MBG surgery (MBG group).

Merging halogen atom transfer, ring-expansion and oxidation by electron-rich arenediazonium salts: modular assembly of cyclohexenone derivatives.

As fundamental structural scaffolds in numerous natural products and pharmaceutical molecules, the construction of cyclohexenone architectures has remained a pivotal focus in organic chemistry. However, established strategies to synthesize cyclohexenone derivatives Dowd-Beckwith ring-expansion reaction invariably involve the use of transition metals and photoirradiation. Herein, we present a novel transition-metal- and photoirradiation-free pathway to access such structures from α-iodomethyl β-keto esters with electron-rich arenediazonium salts as inexpensive radical initiators and oxidants under mild reaction conditions.

Oyster powder supplementation enhances immune function in mice partly through modulating the gut microbiota and arginine metabolism.

Oysters are well-known for their health benefits such as immuno-modulatory functions. The intestinal microbiome serves as a key mediator between diet and immune regulation. This study aimed to investigate whether oyster consumption could alleviate cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppression by promoting intestinal homeostasis.

Forensic Assessment of Kinship, Genomic Ancestry, and Natural History of an Iconic Tiger of Harlem-New York City.

In the fall of 2003, a two-year-old tiger named Ming, weighing some four hundred pounds, was discovered living in an apartment in Harlem, New York. Ming's rescue by NYPD was witnessed, recalled, and venerated by scores of neighbors. The tiger's history and ancestry stimulated considerable media interest, investigative sleuthing, and forensic genomic analyses.

Association of rapid eye movement sleep latency with multimodal biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Sleep disturbances are associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), but the relationship between sleep architecture, particularly rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and AD/ADRD biomarkers remains unclear.

Methods: We enrolled 128 adults (64 with Alzheimer's disease, 41 with mild cognitive impairment [MCI], and 23 with normal cognition [NC]), mean age 70.8 ± 9.

Aberrant Structural-Functional Coupling of Large-scale Brain Networks in Older Women with Subthreshold Depression.

Objectives: Subthreshold depression (SD) is common in the older population, more so in females than males, and can lead to serious physical and mental ill-health. However, the underlying neurobiology remains unclear. This study used multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the topological organization and coupling of the structural and functional brain networks in older women with SD.

Fam170a deficiency causes male infertility by impairing histone-to-protamine exchange during mouse spermiogenesis.

Chromatin remodeling, which involves the histone-to-protamine exchange process during spermiogenesis, is crucial for sperm nuclear condensation and male fertility. However, the key regulators and underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this process remain largely unexplored. In this study, we discovered that deficiency in the family with sequence similarity 170 member A (Fam170a) led to abnormal sperm nuclear morphology and male infertility in mice, mirroring the observation of very low Fam170a transcription levels in sperm of infertile men with teratozoospermia.

Methyl-dependent auto-regulation of the DNA N6-adenine methyltransferase AMT1 in the unicellular eukaryote Tetrahymena thermophila.

DNA N6-methyladenine (6mA) is a potential epigenetic mark involved in gene transcription in eukaryotes, yet the regulatory mechanism governing its methyltransferase (MTase) activity remains obscure. Here, we exploited the 6mA MTase AMT1 to elucidate its auto-regulation in the unicellular eukaryote Tetrahymena thermophila. The detailed endogenous localization of AMT1 in vegetative and sexual stages revealed a correlation between the 6mA reestablishment in the new MAC and the occurrence of zygotically expressed AMT1.