Environmental Factors Influencing Species Richness Expression in Grasslands of the Colombian Orinoquia.

The relationships between environmental characteristics and species richness in the grasslands of the Colombian Orinoquia are presented and analyzed using an ordinal logistic regression model. Ordinal and scale covariates were included, and their bivariate significance was assessed using Spearman's rho and Kendall's Tau-b. The covariates that showed statistical significance with the weighted richness thresholds (WRT) and defined the model were the soil depth and the soil moisture regime, both of which had positive correlations.

ZmSPL12 Enhances Root Penetration and Elongation in Maize Under Compacted Soil Conditions by Responding to Ethylene Signaling.

Soil compaction poses a significant challenge in modern agriculture, as it constrains root development and hinders crop growth. The increasing evidence indicated that various phytohormones collaborate in distinct root zones to regulate root growth in compacted soils. However, the study of root development in maize under such conditions has been relatively limited.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Key Pathways and Genes Involved in Lodging Resistance of Upland Cotton.

Lodging resistance is one of the most important traits of machine-picked cotton. Lodging directly affects the cotton yield, quality and mechanical harvesting effect. However, there are only a few reports on the lodging resistance of cotton.

Superellipse Equation Describing the Geometries of Tree Rings.

Our previous study using 41 tree rings of one Mill. disc indicated that the superellipse equation can accurately fit its tree-ring shape. This study further used the superellipse equation (xan+yβn=1 ) to model the geometries of 1090 tree rings of discs collected from five sites in Denmark.

Trends in Heavy Metal Pollution in Agricultural Land Soils of Tropical Islands in China (2000-2024): A Case Study on Hainan Island.

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils has garnered increasing attention, yet research on the spatiotemporal trends of heavy metal pollution in tropical regions with multiple annual crop harvests remains limited. This study examines data from 41 studies published between 2000 and 2024, including 206 records from 4122 sampling points on Hainan Island in China, to investigate the spatial distribution and temporal trends of heavy metal pollution. The results reveal that the average concentrations of Cd, Pb, As, Cr, and Hg in surface soil samples from agricultural lands on Hainan Island are 0.

Exposure to Cadmium and Other Trace Elements Among Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: A limited number of studies have investigated the role of environmental chemicals in the etiology of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We performed a cross-sectional study of the association between exposure to selected trace elements and the biomarkers of cognitive decline.

Methods: During 2019-2021, we recruited 128 newly diagnosed patients with MCI from two Neurology Clinics in Northern Italy, i.

Network Toxicology and Molecular Docking Analysis of Tetracycline-Induced Acute Pancreatitis: Unveiling Core Mechanisms and Targets.

Acute pancreatitis (AP), induced by tetracycline, a widely used antibiotic, poses significant clinical and toxicological challenges, yet its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to promote drug toxicology strategies for the effective investigation of the putative toxicity and potential molecular mechanisms of antibiotic drugs through the study of tetracycline in AP. Using the SwissTargetPrediction, SEA Search, Super-PRED, GeneCards, Drugbank, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), we identified 259 potential targets associated with tetracycline exposure and AP.

Integrative Analysis of Pharmacology and Transcriptomics Predicts Resveratrol Will Ameliorate Microplastics-Induced Lung Damage by Targeting Ccl2 and Esr1.

Background: Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous on earth, posing a growing threat to human health. Previous studies have shown that the lung is a primary organ for MPs exposure. Resveratrol (RES) is a common dietary polyphenol that exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Determinants of Indoor NO and PM Concentration in Senior Housing with Gas Stoves.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO) and particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM) are air pollutants that impact health, especially among vulnerable populations with respiratory disease. This study identifies factors influencing indoor NO and PM in low-income households of older adults with asthma who use gas stoves in Lowell, Massachusetts.

A Mechanism of Reducing Methane Production During Sewage Sludge Composting by Adding Urea.

The study of the effect of the mechanism of urea addition to sewage sludge and sawdust-composting substrates on methane production is still limited. In the present study, the systematic investigation of the effect of urea addition (0.18, 0.

Assessment of Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Plasma-Treated Perfluorooctanesulfonate Containing Water Using In Vitro Bioassays.

The contamination of ground and surface waters with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is of major concern due to their potential adverse effects on human health. The carbon-fluorine bond makes these compounds extremely stable and hardly degradable by natural processes. Therefore, methods for PFAS removal from water are desperately needed.

Synergistic Effects of Unmodified Tea Leaves and Tea Biochar Application on Remediation of Cr-Contaminated Soil.

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination in soil presents significant risks due to its high toxicity to both the environment and human health. Renewable, low-cost natural materials offer promising solutions for Cr(VI) reduction and soil remediation. However, the effects of unmodified tea leaves and tea-derived biochar on chromium-contaminated soils remain inadequately understood.

Circ_0000284 Is Involved in Arsenite-Induced Hepatic Insulin Resistance Through Blocking the Plasma Membrane Translocation of GLUT4 in Hepatocytes via IGF2BP2/PPAR-γ.

Arsenic exposure can induce liver insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes (DM), but the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the regulation of the onset of diabetes, especially in the progression of IR. This study aimed to investigate the role of circRNAs in arsenic-induced hepatic IR and its underlying mechanism.

Influence and Mechanism of Solid-Phase Particle Factors on Oil-Solid Separation of Oily Sludge Treated by Flotation Method.

The solid phase composition in oily sludge (OS) is a key factor affecting the oil-solid separation of OS. In this paper, the effects and mechanisms of solid-phase particle factors on the oil content of residue phase were investigated in order to improve the oil-solid separation efficiency. Flotation experiments were carried out on single-size sand and mixed-size sand OS consisting of three particle sizes at room temperature without adding flotation reagents.

PM Exposure Induces Glomerular Hyperfiltration in Mice in a Gender-Dependent Manner.

As one of the most common air pollutants, fine particulate matter (PM) increases the risk of diseases in various systems, including the urinary system. In the present study, we exposed male and female C57BL/6J mice to PM for 8 weeks. Examination of renal function indices, including creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), and urinary microalbumin, indicated that the kidneys of female mice, not male mice, underwent early renal injury, exhibiting glomerular hyperfiltration.

Folic Acid Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Postpartum Weight Retention in Rats, Which Is Associated with a Reduction in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Hepatic Lipogenesis.

Background: Proactively preventing postpartum weight retention (PPWR) is one of the effective intervention strategies to reduce the occurrence of obesity in women. Population studies have shown that serum folate levels are closely related to body weight. The regulation of folic acid on lipid metabolism has been fully confirmed in both in vivo and in vitro studies.

Maternal Gut Microbiome-Mediated Epigenetic Modifications in Cognitive Development and Impairments: A New Frontier for Therapeutic Innovation.

Cognitive impairment in various mental illnesses, particularly neuropsychiatric disorders, has adverse functional and clinical consequences. While genetic mutations and epigenetic dysregulations of several genes during embryonic and adult periods are linked to cognitive impairment in mental disorders, the composition and diversity of resident bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract-shaped by environmental factors-also influence the brain epigenome, affecting behavior and cognitive functions. Accordingly, many recent studies have provided evidence that human gut microbiota may offer a potential avenue for improving cognitive deficits.

Heterogeneity in Health Outcomes in the Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities-2.0 Multilevel Intervention in a Community-Randomized Trial: An Exploratory Study of Moderators.

Background/objectives: Multilevel interventions have demonstrated efficacy in improving obesity and other related health outcomes. However, heterogeneity in individual responses indicates the need to identify the factors associated with responses and non-responses to multilevel interventions. The objective of this report is to identify the potential sources of heterogeneity through the exploration of the moderation effects of participant characteristics (sociodemographic and baseline physical/mental health) in the Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities-2.

Lutein Maintains Bone Mass In Vitro and In Vivo Against Disuse-Induced Bone Loss in Hindlimb-Unloaded Mice.

Background: Lutein, a carotenoid, exhibits various biological activities such as maintaining the health of the eye, skin, heart, and bone. Recently, we found that lutein has dual roles in suppressing bone resorption and promoting bone formation. In this study, we examined the effects of lutein in a disuse-induced osteoporosis model using hindlimb-unloaded (HLU) mice.

Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Pandemic in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance-Experience of Hong Kong, China.

The world has gone through the COVID-19 pandemic and has now returned to normalcy. We reviewed the strategies and public health actions conducted in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic, and reflected on the lessons learned, which are potentially useful in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We recommended extending wastewater surveillance for AMR, apart from SARS-CoV2.

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes and Clonal Relationships of Duck-Derived in Shandong Province, China in 2023.

is a major threat to both human and animal health. However, the diversity and antibiotic resistance of animal-derived and their association with human infections remain largely unexplored. In this study, strains were isolated, identified, and sequenced from dead embryos and cloacal swab samples obtained from 278 large-scale duck farms in 11 cities in Shandong Province.

Newcastle Disease Virus-Vectored African Swine Fever Virus Antigen Cocktail Delays the Onset of ASFV-SY18 but Is Not Protective.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease threatening the global pig industry. Currently, only two gene-deleted live attenuated vaccines are approved, exclusively in Vietnam, and their long-term effectiveness and safety are unproven, prompting the need for safer alternatives. This study assessed a cocktail of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) antigens delivered via a recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus (rNDV) vector against the genotype II ASFV-SY18.

Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Phage Therapy in Ameliorating ETEC-Induced Diarrhea in Mice Models.

Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) is a major pathogen causing diarrhea in humans and animals, with increasing antimicrobial resistance posing a growing challenge in recent years. Lytic bacteriophages (phages) offer a targeted and environmentally sustainable approach to combating bacterial infections, particularly in eliminating drug-resistant strains. In this study, ETEC strains were utilized as indicators, and a stable, high-efficiency phage, designated vB_EcoM_JE01 (JE01), was isolated from pig farm manure.

Wild-Mouse-Derived Gut Microbiome Transplantation in Laboratory Mice Partly Alleviates House-Dust-Mite-Induced Allergic Airway Inflammation.

Laboratory mice are instrumental for preclinical research but there are serious concerns that the use of a clean standardized environment for specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice results in poor bench-to-bedside translation due to their immature immune system. The aim of the present study was to test the importance of the gut microbiota in wild vs. SPF mice for evaluating host immune responses in a house-dust-mite-induced allergic airway inflammation model without the influence of pathogens.

Low Reproductivity of Giant Pandas May Be Associated with Increased Vaginal .

The poor reproductive capacity of giant pandas significantly hinders the development of captive populations, with 80.88% of adult individuals being unable to successfully become pregnant and deliver offspring. The disturbance of vaginal microbiota has been proven to potentially lead to miscarriage, abortion, and stillbirth in mammals.