Corner's Rules and Their Linkages With Twig Functions and Tree Productivity in Simple- and Compound-Leaved Tree Species.

Corner's rules are well known in describing inter-specific scaling relationships for plant organ size-related traits, from species with thick terminal stems, large leaves, and sparsely branched twigs to species with opposite traits; however, the implications of organ size on physiological functions and growth performance of trees remain unclear. Moreover, whether Corner's rules spectra differ between tree species with simple and compound leaves is not known. Here, we measured key twig morphological traits, physiological characteristics, and radial growth rates of 27 simple- and 6 compound-leaved tree species in a common garden in Northeast China.

Breaking the Ice: Hofmeister Effect-Inspired Hydrogen Bond Network Reconstruction in Hydrogel Electrolytes for High-Performance Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Gel electrolytes have emerged as a promising solution for enhancing the performance of zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), particularly in flexible devices. However, they face challenges such as low-temperature inefficiency, constrained ionic conductivity, and poor mechanical strength. To address these issues, this study presents a novel PAMCD gel electrolyte with tunable freezing point and mechanical properties for ZIBs, blending the high ionic conductivity of polyacrylamide with the anion interaction capability of β-cyclodextrin.

Hyperspectral Metachip-Based 3D Spatial Map for Cancer Cell Screening and Quantification.

In this paper, compact terahertz (THz) metachips for hyperspectral screening and quantitative evaluation of human cancer cells is reported. This pixelated resonant metachips feature the resonance channel from 1 and 3 THz frequency with a record-high quality factor (up to 230). Through the interactions of various cancer cells of different concentrations, high-dimensional spectral signatures are obtained, which are further transformed into a spatial map for labelling and quantification purposes.

Enhancing human ACE2 expression in mouse models to improve COVID-19 research.

Mice are one of the most common biological models for laboratory use. However, wild-type mice are not susceptible to COVID-19 infection due to the low affinity of mouse ACE2, the entry protein for SARS-CoV-2. Although mice with human ACE2 (hACE2) driven by Ace2 promoter reflect its tissue specificity, these animals exhibit low ACE2 expression, potentially limiting their fidelity in mimicking COVID-19 manifestations and their utility in viral studies.

Machine learning-enabled virtual screening indicates the anti-tuberculosis activity of aldoxorubicin and quarfloxin with verification by molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and biological evaluations.

Drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a significant challenge in the control and treatment of tuberculosis, making efforts to combat the spread of this global health burden more difficult. To accelerate anti-tuberculosis drug discovery, repurposing clinically approved or investigational drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis by computational methods has become an attractive strategy. In this study, we developed a virtual screening workflow that combines multiple machine learning and deep learning models, and 11 576 compounds extracted from the DrugBank database were screened against Mtb.

The iPhylo suite: an interactive platform for building and annotating biological and chemical taxonomic trees.

Accurate and rapid taxonomic classifications are essential for systematically exploring organisms and metabolites in diverse environments. Many tools have been developed for biological taxonomic trees, but limitations apply, and a streamlined method for constructing chemical taxonomic trees is notably absent. We present the iPhylo suite (https://www.

Phase 3 Study of Talazoparib Plus Enzalutamide Versus Placebo Plus Enzalutamide as First-Line Treatment in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: TALAPRO-2 Japanese Subgroup Analysis.

Background: In TALAPRO-2, the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor talazoparib plus the androgen receptor-signaling inhibitor enzalutamide improved radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) versus placebo plus enzalutamide (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.51-0.

Youth With Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders Have More Sleep Disturbances. A School-Based Study.

Background: There is a bidirectional relationship between sleep and pain disturbances. Sleep disturbances increase the risk for chronic pain, while chronic pain can interfere with sleep. Hence, we assessed the subjective sleep characteristics of youth with functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) compared to healthy youth and examined associations with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Robust Autism Spectrum Disorder-Related Spatial Covariance Gray Matter Pattern Revealed With a Large-Scale Multi-Center Dataset.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder and its underlying neuroanatomical mechanisms still remain unclear. The scaled subprofile model of principal component analysis (SSM-PCA) is a data-driven multivariate technique for capturing stable disease-related spatial covariance pattern. Here, SSM-PCA is innovatively applied to obtain robust ASD-related gray matter volume pattern associated with clinical symptoms.

Mitigating saturation effects in rice nitrogen estimation using Dualex measurements and machine learning.

Nitrogen is essential for rice growth and yield formation, but traditional methods for assessing nitrogen status are often labor-intensive and unreliable at high nitrogen levels due to saturation effects. This study evaluates the effectiveness of flavonoid content (Flav) and the Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI), measured using a Dualex sensor and combined with machine learning models, for precise nitrogen status estimation in rice. Field experiments involving 15 rice varieties under varying nitrogen application levels collected Dualex measurements of chlorophyll (Chl), Flav, and NBI from the top five leaves at key growth stages.

Anti-invasion activities of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria isolates against serovar Typhimurium.

Background And Objectives: The most common cause of severe foodborne salmonellosis is Typhimurium. Its interaction with intestinal epithelial cells is little known. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were recognized as a prominent probiotic gastrointestinal microbiota of humans and animals that confer health-promoting and protective effects.

Proteomics-Based Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Levels Are Associated With Incident Heart Failure Risk.

Background: Higher soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels are associated with adverse outcomes in chronic heart failure (HF).

Objectives: The authors assessed the association between proteomics-based suPAR levels and incident HF risk in the general population.

Methods: In 40,418 UK Biobank participants without HF or coronary artery disease at enrollment, the association between Olink-based suPAR levels measured as relative protein expression levels and incident all-cause, ischemic, and nonischemic HF was analyzed by competing-risk regression, while accounting for all-cause death as a competing risk.

Insights into the biology and insecticide susceptibility of the secondary malaria vector Anopheles parensis in an area with long-term use of insecticide-treated nets in northwestern Tanzania.

Background: The Anopheles funestus group includes at least 11 sibling species, with Anopheles funestus Giles being the most studied and significant malaria vector. Other species, like Anopheles parensis, are understudied despite their potential role in transmission. This article provides insights into the biology and insecticide susceptibility of An.

The plasma metabolome of juvenile idiopathic arthritis varies according to subtype and underlying inflammatory status.

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is challenging to classify and effectively monitor due to the lack of disease- and subtype-specific biomarkers. A robust molecular signature that tracks with specific JIA features over time is urgently required, and targeted plasma metabolomics may reveal such a signature. The primary aim of this study was to characterise the differences in the plasma metabolome between JIA patients and non-JIA controls and identify specific markers of JIA subtype.

Intensified conditioning containing decitabine versus standard myeloablative conditioning for adult patients with KMT2A-rearranged leukemia: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is recommended for patients with KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2A-r) leukemia whereas relapse remains high. We aimed to determine whether intensified conditioning containing decitabine (Dec) could reduce relapse compared with standard myeloablative conditioning in adult patients with KMT2A-r leukemia.

Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective study at seven institutions in China.

Evaluation of an assistive exosuit for alleviating neck and shoulder muscle fatigue during prolonged flexed neck posture.

Introduction: Neck pain affects 203 million people globally and is prevalent in various settings due to factors like poor posture, lack of exercise, and occupational hazards. Therefore, addressing ergonomic issues with solutions like a wearable robotic device is crucial. This research presents a novel assistive exosuit, characterized by its slim and lightweight structure and intuitive control without the use of hands, designed to mitigate muscle fatigue in the neck and shoulders during prolonged flexed neck posture.

Assessing feasibility and acceptability of increasing access to sexual and reproductive health and rights through pharmacy outlets and community health volunteers: lessons from pilot study in Kenya.

Background: Both unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion are major public health problems in Kenya. The World Health Organization recommends the use of medication abortion to stop unwanted pregnancies. However, the extent of provision and uptake of medication abortion through private pharmacies in Kenya is not well known.

Transcriptional landscape and predictive potential of long noncoding RNAs in peritoneal recurrence of gastric cancer.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in gastric cancer (GC) progression and metastasis. However, research comprehensively exploring tissue-derived lncRNAs for predicting peritoneal recurrence in patients with GC remains limited. This study aims to investigate the transcriptional landscape of lncRNAs in GC with peritoneal metastasis (PM) and to develop an integrated lncRNA-based score to predict peritoneal recurrence in patients with GC after radical gastrectomy.

Screening and identification of vascular endothelial cell targeting peptide in gastric cancer through novel integrated in vitro and in vivo strategy.

Purpose: Antiangiogenesis therapy has become a hot field in cancer research. Given that tumor blood vessels often express specific markers related to angiogenesis, the study of these heterogeneous molecules in different tumor vessels holds promise for advancing anti-angiogenic therapy. Previously using phage display technology, we identified a targeting peptide named GX1 homing to gastric cancer vessels for the first time.

Brain development using a multicomponent intravenous lipid emulsion in preterm infants.

Background: Intravenous lipid emulsions are an essential component of nutritional support for very preterm infants. Many neonatal intensive care units have transitioned from traditional soybean oil-only to fish oil-containing multicomponent lipid emulsions, but the neurodevelopmental implications have not been well-explored. The primary aim of this study was to assess extrauterine third trimester brain growth in very preterm infants supported with soybean oil-only compared to fish-oil containing multicomponent lipid emulsions; white matter development and neurobehavioral regulation at term were also investigated.

Enhancement of alfalfa growth resistance by arbuscular mycorrhiza and earthworm in molybdenum-contaminated soils: From the perspective of soil nutrient turnover.

Molybdenum (Mo) acts as a crucial nutrient for plant development, yet excessive soil exposure can cause detrimental effects. Molybdenosis symptoms remain subtle in many plants, largely due to the safeguarding functions of soil organisms, the fundamental biological mechanisms lack clarity. In this study, we explored the potential mechanisms for amending Mo-exposed soils with soil microbe-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and soil fauna, specifically earthworms, to enhance model plant-alfalfa growth resistance through soil nutrient turnover perspectives.

Somatic symptom disorder and the role of epistemic trust, personality functioning and child abuse: Results from a population-based representative German sample.

Background: A growing body of evidence explored symptom burden of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and its complex etiology involving psychosocial aspects. Child abuse has been linked to numerous psychopathologies including somatic symptoms as well as impaired personality functioning and disruptions in epistemic trust. This work aims to investigate personality functioning and epistemic trust in the association between child abuse and somatic symptom burden.

Effect of insertion of intein to Cryptococcus amylolentus, a nonpathogenic fungus closely related to causative agents of cryptococcosis.

Inteins are mobile elements within a host protein, with flanking exteins. Autocleavage of intein results in the fusion of exteins, leading to activation of protein. The presence of intein is species dependent.