A Novel RAGE Modulator Induces Soluble RAGE to Reduce BACE1 Expression in Alzheimer's Disease.

β-secretase (BACE1) is instrumental in amyloid-β (Aβ) production, with overexpression noted in Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology. The interaction of Aβ with the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) facilitates cerebral uptake of Aβ and exacerbates its neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation, further augmenting BACE1 expression. Given the limitations of previous BACE1 inhibition efforts, the study explores reducing BACE1 expression to mitigate AD pathology.

Rapid and accurate multi-phenotype imputation for millions of individuals.

Deep phenotyping can enhance the power of genetic analysis, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), but the occurrence of missing phenotypes compromises the potential of such resources. Although many phenotypic imputation methods have been developed, the accurate imputation of millions of individuals remains challenging. In the present study, we have developed a multi-phenotype imputation method based on mixed fast random forest (PIXANT) by leveraging efficient machine learning (ML)-based algorithms.

Comparative species delimitation of a biological conservation icon.

The United States Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 set a precedent for biodiversity conservation across the globe. A key requirement of protections afforded by the ESA is the accurate delimitation of imperiled species. We present a comparative reference-based taxonomic approach to species delimitation that integrates genomic and morphological data for objectively assessing the distinctiveness of species targeted for protection by governmental agencies.

Fine-Tuning Genetic Circuits via Host Context and RBS Modulation.

The choice of organism to host a genetic circuit, the chassis, is often defaulted to model organisms due to their amenability. The chassis-design space has therefore remained underexplored as an engineering variable. In this work, we explored the design space of a genetic toggle switch through variations in nine ribosome binding site compositions and three host contexts, creating 27 circuit variants.

Land Use Change Consistently Reduces α- But Not β- and γ-Diversity of Bees.

Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α-diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e.

The Intricate Interplay: Microbial Metabolites and the Gut-Liver-Brain Axis in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by the depletion of dopaminergic neurons. Recent studies highlight the gut-liver-brain (GLB) axis and its role in PD pathogenesis. The GLB axis forms a dynamic network facilitating bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and central nervous system.

The anthelmintic activity of the white wormwood (Artemisia herba Alba) against Haemonchus contortus in beef cattle.

The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of white wormwood on helminthes in beef cattle production. Water extracts of white wormwood of different levels of phytotoxicity were used to treat female adult H. contortus over 8 h under controlled laboratory conditions.

A modeling study to define guidelines for antigen screening in schools and workplaces to mitigate COVID-19 outbreaks.

Background: In-person interaction offers invaluable benefits to people. To guarantee safe in-person activities during a COVID-19 outbreak, effective identification of infectious individuals is essential. In this study, we aim to analyze the impact of screening with antigen tests in schools and workplaces on identifying COVID-19 infections.

Microwave-induced degradation of Congo red dye in the presence of 2D TiCT MXene as a catalyst.

In this research, the degradation of Congo red (CR) dye, as an organic pollutant in water, was investigated using microwave-induced reaction technology. This technology requires a microwave-absorbing catalyst and the 2D TiCT MXene was synthesized for that purpose. The synthesized catalyst was characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, BET, and XPS techniques.

Chitosan nanoencapsulation of Turbinaria triquetra metabolites in the management of podocyturia in nephrotoxic rats.

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic drug, which exhibits undesirable side effects. Chitosan nanoparticles are promising for drug delivery. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the brown alga Turbinaria triquetra ethyl acetate fraction and polysaccharides, either loaded on chitosan nanoparticles or free, against podocyturia and cisplatin nephrotoxicity in rats.

Aromatic compounds and organic acids identified from Ganoderma formosanum exhibit synergistic anti-melanogenic effects.

This study reveals the anti-tyrosinase activity of Ganoderma formosanum extracts, pinpointing compounds including gluconic acid, mesalamine, L-pyroglutamic acid, esculetin, 5-hydroxyindole, and salicylic acid, as effective melanin production inhibitors in melanoma cells and zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, multiple molecular docking simulations provided insights into interactions between the identified compounds and tyrosinase, increasing binding affinity up to -16.36 kcal/mol.

De novo transcriptome assembly and discovery of drought-responsive genes in white spruce (Picea glauca).

Forests face an escalating threat from the increasing frequency of extreme drought events driven by climate change. To address this challenge, it is crucial to understand how widely distributed species of economic or ecological importance may respond to drought stress. In this study, we examined the transcriptome of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) to identify key genes and metabolic pathways involved in the species' response to water stress.

Effects of prolonged oxytetracycline supplementation on freshwater stinging catfish (): a multi-biomarker approach.

Background: Aquaculture systems that sporadically depend on antibiotics can contribute to the development of adverse effects on the fish, microbial flora and the environment. This study sought to investigate the impacts of extended oxytetracycline supplementation on the freshwater stinging catfish through a multi-biomarker approach.

Methods: A total of 300 (20 ± 0.

Putative past, present, and future spatial distributions of deep-sea coral and sponge microbiomes revealed by predictive models.

Knowledge of spatial distribution patterns of biodiversity is key to evaluate and ensure ocean integrity and resilience. Especially for the deep ocean, where in situ monitoring requires sophisticated instruments and considerable financial investments, modeling approaches are crucial to move from scattered data points to predictive continuous maps. Those modeling approaches are commonly run on the macrobial level, but spatio-temporal predictions of host-associated microbiomes are not being targeted.

The influence of ammonia-N and salinity levels on oxidative stress markers, hepatic enzymes, and acid phosphatase activity in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The point of our study was to examine the interaction of ammonia-N poisoning and salinity on serum enzymes and oxidative stress factors of blood and liver in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The 50% lethal concentration (LC) in 96 h was 0.86 mg/L of ammonia-N.

Effect of partial and total replacement of fishmeal by soybean meal in feed on growth and gut performance of Penaeus vannamei.

This study evaluated the growth and gut performance of shrimp fed three isonitrogenous diets (37% crude protein) with varying inclusions of fish meal (FM) and soybean meal (SBM): F1 (27.5% FM), F2 (10% FM + 23.5% SBM), and F3 (38% SBM).

Annual migrations, vertical habitat use and fidelity of Atlantic bluefin tuna tracked from waters off the United Kingdom.

Understanding the spatial ecology of commercially exploited species is vital for their conservation. Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, ABT) are increasingly observed in northeast Atlantic waters, yet knowledge of these individuals' spatial ecology remains limited. We investigate the horizontal and vertical habitat use of ABT (158 to 241 cm curved fork length; CFL) tracked from waters off the United Kingdom (UK) using pop-up satellite archival tags (n = 63).

Natural and anthropogenic factors controlling organic carbon storage in riverine wetlands along South Korea's four rivers.

This study explores carbon sequestration in South Korea's riverine wetlands, focusing on the four major rivers: Han, Yeongsan, Geum, and Nakdong. Field data from the Yeongsan River wetland, including 3D topography surveys, grainsize analyses, and loss-on-ignition measurements, were used to assess carbon stocks and their environmental drivers. The Yeongsan River was selected as a representative site due to its geomorphological, hydrological, and climatic similarities with the other three major rivers, which influence sediment transport and carbon dynamics.

The anticancer activity of fucoidan coated selenium nanoparticles and curcumin nanoparticles against colorectal cancer lines.

Cancers still globally endanger millions of people yearly; the incidences/mortalities of colorectal cancers are particularly increasing. The natural nanoparticles (NPs) and marine biopolymers were anticipated to provide effectual safe significances for managing cancers. The transformation of curcumin to nano-curcumin (NCur) was conducted with gum Arabic.

Impact of selenium supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activity and liver gene expression in juvenile pangasius catfish (Pangasius pangasius).

This study examined the effect of dietary selenium (Se) fortification on growth efficiency, antioxidant status, and liver gene expression in juvenile pangasius catfish. Sodium selenite was incorporated into a basal diet at incremental levels of 0-2.0 mg Se/kg.

CsMPDB 1.0: An interactive web application for visualizing and exploring the microRNAs and phasiRNAs of tea plant (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis 'Shuchazao').

The microRNAs and phasiRNAs of plant are small non-coding RNAs with important functions through regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. However, identifying miRNAs, phasiRNAs and their target genes from numerous sequencing raw data requires multiple software and command-line operations, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive for non-model plants. Therefore, we present CsMPDB (miRNAs and phasiRNAs database of Camellia sinensis), an interactive web application with multiple analysis modules developed to visualize and explore miRNA and phasiRNA in tea plants based on 259 sRNA-seq samples and 24 degradome-seq samples in NCBI.

A 280 bp SINE insertion within the pig PLA2G16 could potentially modify gene expression through integration with its transcript.

In our previous study, we identified a Short Interspersed Nuclear Element Retrotransposon Insertion Polymorphism (SINE-RIP) within the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the Phospholipase A2 Group XVI (PLA2G16) gene, which is essential in lipid metabolism. In this study, we confirmed the presence of this 280 bp SINE insertion and examined its distribution across ten distinct pig breeds using PCR and sequencing. Subsequently, RT-PCR was employed to determine its potential for co-transcription.

Potential Health Risks from Heavy Metal in Green Mussels (Perna Viridis) From the Southeastern Part of the Bay of Bengal.

The Southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal is increasingly threatened by heavy metal pollution, posing significant risks to both aquatic life and human health. In this context, the contamination levels of six heavy metals-Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), and Iron (Fe)-were assessed in the soft tissues of Green mussels (Perna viridis) from five key sites: Matamuhuri, Moheshkhali, Bakhkhali, Naf, and St. Martin.