Search Results (297)

Managing endangered wildlife in pre-release or semi-wild training programs requires an understanding of how animals balance strict energetic constraints against environmental health risks. We investigated the behavioral and spatial coping mechanisms of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) during semi-wild adaptation training exposed to intense seasonal tick (Ixodes ovatus) parasitism. Integrating high-resolution 3D-GPS telemetry, fine-scale microhabitat architecture mapping, and longitudinal daily tick counts, we evaluated the relative efficacy of behavioral hypoactivity versus microhabitat selection using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). During the high-risk summer season, individuals exhibited pronounced baseline behavioral suppression. However, GEE models revealed that fine-scale microhabitat selection—rather than localized movement reduction—was the primary determinant of parasite avoidance. Actively shifting to higher-elevation microhabitats with minimal leaf litter and dense bamboo coverage significantly minimized daily tick burdens. Conversely, remaining sedentary within low-elevation, thick-litter zones yielded the highest predicted parasite loads. These findings demonstrate that physical stillness alone is insufficient to mitigate ectoparasite exposure without access to structural habitat refugia. For conservation and reintroduction programs, providing structurally complex, topographically heterogeneous enclosures is essential. Ensuring access to natural altitudinal gradients empowers managed herbivores to autonomously regulate parasitological risks, thereby enhancing pre-release animal welfare and health. Full article

Phase separation-induced bilayer construction offers a one-step strategy to reduce the moisture susceptibility of polysaccharide edible films, yet the spatial distribution mechanism of the hydrophobic phase remains unclear. Herein, agar/maltodextrin (AM) films incorporated with five distinct waxes (soy wax, paraffin wax, beeswax, candelilla wax, and carnauba wax) were fabricated to investigate how the intrinsic melting behaviors of lipids regulate phase separation, microstructural evolution, and film properties. ATR-FTIR analysis indicated that the upward migration and aggregation of waxes weakened the molecular interactions within the upper AM matrix. SEM and AFM observations confirmed that the formation of a wax-enriched surface layer is strongly dependent on the relationship between the wax melting point and the film-drying temperature. The AM-candelilla wax (AM-CW) film exhibited the most distinct phase separation, forming a pseudo-bilayer structure that yielded the lowest water vapor permeability (3.82 × 10⁻¹³ g·m⁻¹·s⁻¹·Pa⁻¹). Conversely, carnauba wax (CRW), possessing a melting point higher than the drying temperature, underwent premature crystallization before the matrix fully dried. This hindered full stratification and resulted in a random wax distribution within the AM network, compromising the moisture barrier. Furthermore, DSC, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy showed that higher wax melting temperatures induced greater crystalline ordering. This highly ordered structure provided the AM-CRW film with the highest tensile strength (22.57 MPa) and Young’s modulus (867.99 MPa), but at the expense of a significantly reduced elongation at break (3.59%). These findings demonstrate that matching lipid melting properties with processing temperatures is critical for tailoring phase separation and optimizing the barrier performance of biopolymer-based food packaging. Full article

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether regulation of the Panx1/P2X7R/NLRP3 signaling axis in spinal microglia alleviates bone cancer pain. Methods: An in vivo bone cancer pain model was established by inoculating osteolytic tumor cells into the femoral medullary cavity of C3He/J mice. Nociceptive behaviors were evaluated using paw withdrawal mechanical thresholds and spontaneous flinch counts. The expression levels of Panx1, P2X7R, and the NLRP3 in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH) were examined. Analgesic effects of intrathecally administered ¹⁰Panx, BBG, and MCC950 were evaluated, and the intracellular localization of Panx1 was determined using immunofluorescence. In Panx1-knockdown BV2 cells, ATP-induced activation of the P2X7R-Panx1 pathway, IL-1β and IL-18 production, and ROS accumulation were assessed. Results: Tumor inoculation induced mechanical allodynia and increased spontaneous flinches. Moreover, Panx1, P2X7R, and NLRP3 were upregulated in the mouse SDH, accompanied by increased levels of caspase1, IL-1β, and IL-18. Intrathecal administration of ¹⁰Panx, BBG, and MCC950 significantly alleviated bone cancer pain related behaviors in mice. Panx1 was predominantly localized in activated microglia of the SDH following tumor inoculation. In ATP-stimulated BV2 cells, Panx1 knockdown markedly attenuated P2X7R and NLRP3 expression, reduced IL-1β and IL-18 production, and diminished intracellular ROS accumulation. Conclusions: Tumor cell inoculation promotes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhances nociceptive transmission by activating the Panx1/P2X7R/NLRP3 signaling axis in the spinal microglia, thereby contributing to the development of bone cancer pain. Targeting the Panx1/P2X7R/NLRP3 signaling axis may therefore represent a promising therapeutic strategy for treating bone cancer pain. Full article

As aquaculture production becomes increasingly quality-oriented, understanding how culture systems affect the nutritional characteristics of edible fish muscle is important for evaluating aquaculture products. In this study, growth performance, muscle amino acid and fatty acid composition, metabolomic profiles and intestinal microbiota were compared between largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) reared in a rice-field culture system (MR) and a conventional pond system (MP). Overall growth performance was comparable between the two systems, although MR fish exhibited a higher condition factor. Total hydrolyzed amino acid contents were comparable between the groups, whereas differences in several free amino acids suggested distinct potential taste-related characteristics of the edible muscle. MP fish contained higher amounts of total fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, n-3 PUFA, EPA and DHA, whereas MR fish exhibited a higher n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio. Muscle metabolomic profiles also differed between the two systems, particularly for metabolites associated with amino acid, purine and lipid metabolism. In addition, MR and MP fish exhibited distinct intestinal microbial communities, with higher microbial richness in MR fish and different dominant bacterial taxa between the systems. Overall, the rice-field culture system represents a promising ecological alternative for largemouth bass production because it maintained growth performance comparable to pond culture while producing a distinct edible-muscle nutritional profile, including a higher n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio. Pond-cultured fish, however, contained higher absolute amounts of several nutritionally important fatty acids, including n-3 PUFA, EPA and DHA. The distinct intestinal microbial communities observed between the systems further indicate different gut ecological responses to the two culture environments. Full article

Altitude and soil depth were associated with vegetation, soil properties, and microbial communities in alpine ecosystems, yet a comprehensive understanding of how these gradients shape soil microbial and physicochemical characteristics on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau remains limited. Along altitudinal gradients (low, mid, and high) and soil depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–30 cm), we systematically investigated vegetation traits, soil physicochemical properties, microbial community composition, functional pathways, and co-occurrence networks. Aboveground biomass, community-weighted height, and soil pH declined with altitude. Soil pH and ammonium nitrogen were significantly associated with bacterial community variation in the RDA analyses. Surface and deeper soil layers differed in bacterial taxonomic composition and predicted functional potentials. Co-occurrence network properties also varied across altitude and soil-depth groups. These findings describe spatial associations among vegetation, soil conditions, and bacterial community patterns during the sampling period. This study improves our understanding of how interacting environmental structure soil microbial communities and influence ecosystem functioning in alpine ecosystems. Full article

Hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia are major contributors to the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2) exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects while regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the precise role and molecular mechanisms of NRF2 in hepatic cholesterol metabolism remain incompletely understood. Approach and Results: ApoE-knockout (ApoE-KO) mice were crossed with hepatocyte-specific Nrf2-knockout (Nrf2(H)-KO) mice to explore how NRF2 modulated cholesterol metabolism and the progression of atherosclerosis in vivo. Atherosclerotic lesion areas in Nrf2(H)-KO;ApoE-KO mice were significantly reduced compared with control counterparts (Nrf2-LoxP;ApoE-KO). Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in plasma of Nrf2(H)-KO;ApoE-KO mice were significantly decreased, consistent with atherosclerotic phenotypes. Furthermore, hepatic triglyceride levels and cholesterol contents were increased in Nrf2(H)-KO;ApoE-KO mice. The hepatic transcriptomic analysis highlighted lipid metabolism pathway alterations in Nrf2(H)-KO;ApoE-KO mice, and carboxylesterase 1 (Ces1s) and lipocalin gene family member major urinary proteins (Mups) clusters markedly reduced expression in Nrf2(H)-KO;ApoE-KO livers. Liver proteomics analysis corroborated the transcriptomic findings. The current findings suggest that NRF2-modulated CES1s and MUPs may regulate cholesterol metabolism in the ApoE-KO model. Conclusions: Hepatocyte-specific Nrf2 deficiency significantly reduced plasma cholesterol levels, thereby attenuating atherosclerotic plaque formation and progression in the ApoE-KO background. This study established NRF2 in hepatocytes as a potential therapeutic target for controlling hypercholesterolemia and preventing atherosclerosis development. Full article

Leonurus japonicus is a vital herb known for its blood-activating and menstruation-regulating properties, with stachydrine being a crucial secondary metabolite contributing to these effects. Enhancing the accumulation of active ingredients is a key concern in cultivation. This study utilized a hydroponic experiment with varying inorganic nitrogen (N) concentrations (supplied as Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O and KNO₃) as nutrient substrates, demonstrating that exogenous nitrogen input significantly increased biomass and promoted stachyridine synthesis in L. japonicus over an extended incubation period. Analysis of key intermediates in the stachydrine synthesis pathway suggests that exogenous nitrogen enhanced the amino acid synthesis pathway in primary metabolism, promoting glycolysis and accumulating tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle substances, namely, pyruvate and α-ketoglutarate. This, in turn, enhanced the production of stachydrine precursors—glutamic acid and ornithine. Nitrogen’s involvement redirected the amino acid synthesis pathway more towards the alkaloid synthesis pathway. The study confirmed the essential role of nitrogen in promoting the quality formation of L. japonicus and provided initial evidence for the mechanism behind stachydrine formation, offering theoretical and practical insights for improving L. japonicus cultivation technology. Full article

The discharge of chromium-containing wastewater into natural aquatic systems poses a substantial risk to both ecosystem integrity and human health. In this study, a pyrite-amended Leersia hexandra Swartz (L. hexandra) constructed wetland was established to investigate the mechanisms underlying pyrite-mediated regulation of wetland processes. In normal conditions, the presence of L. hexandra enhanced the removal of NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, TN, and TP, with the maximum removal efficiencies increased by up to 35.4%, 17.8%, 9.5%, and 25%, respectively, compared with the constructed wetland without L. hexandra. Although Cr(VI) led to a general decline in removal efficiencies, appreciable removal of NH₄⁺-N, TN, TP, and COD was still sustained. Notably, under Cr(VI) stress, pyrite amendment improved the removal of NH₄⁺-N and COD, with maximum removal efficiencies reaching 99% and 87.5%, respectively, and achieving optimal overall efficiency. Moreover, physiological and biochemical assessments indicated that L. hexandra exhibited superior performance in the pyrite-amended system compared with the unamended control following Cr(VI) exposure, with the peak SOD activity decreased by 27.6%, peak POD activity decreased by 21.9%, peak CAT activity increased by 29.6%, and peak MDA content decreased by 29.4%, suggesting that pyrite mitigated Cr(VI) stress. Given the pivotal role of microbial assemblages in nutrient transformation, shifts in microbial community structure were further analyzed after pyrite addition, revealing discernible alterations. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that pyrite incorporation into L. hexandra constructed wetlands enhances the removal of specific nitrogen species under Cr(VI) stress, while its promotive effect on phosphorus removal remains comparatively limited. Full article

River-health assessment in small rural watersheds requires the integration of multiple environmental indicators, yet correlated variables may be repeatedly represented when they are weighted independently. This study evaluated the ecological health of the Yuejiang River in Dongpo District, Meishan City, Sichuan Province, for 2011, 2018, and 2024 using a principal component analysis (PCA)–entropy weighting framework. Fourteen effective indicators represented riparian habitat, climate–hydrology, water environment, human disturbance, and water quality. Water-quality data for 2011 and 2018 were treated as monitored regional background conditions, whereas continuous reach-scale observations were unavailable for 2024 and scenario-constrained regional background inputs were therefore used. PCA retained four components that explained 95.94% of the total variance, and the resulting combined weights were used to calculate the River Health Index (RHI). Mean RHI values increased from 0.290 in 2011 to 0.578 in 2018 and 0.634 in 2024. In 2024, 83.92% of the mapped assessment area was classified as Good and 16.08% as Moderate. High PCA loadings and combined weights are interpreted as statistical contributions within the assessment framework, rather than as evidence of direct ecological causation. The results support temporal comparison and identification of relatively weak reaches, while the 2024 findings should be interpreted as conditional on the adopted water-quality background scenario. Full article

Background: Young children are at high risk of influenza and its complications, yet evidence on the real-world effectiveness of egg-based inactivated influenza vaccines in children aged 6–59 months remains limited during antigenically drifted seasons. Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using linked immunization and influenza surveillance records from 4 August 2025 to 8 February 2026. Vaccinated and unvaccinated children aged 6–59 months were matched 1:1 using propensity scores based on demographic characteristics, routine and non-routine vaccination history, prior seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), and prior influenza infection. For vaccinated children, the index date was defined as the date of the last SIV received during the study period; matched unvaccinated children were assigned the corresponding index date. Follow-up began 14 days later and continued until influenza onset or 8 February 2026. Adjusted vaccine effectiveness (aVE) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Sensitivity analyses included a negative control outcome analysis using varicella infection, a multivariable logistic regression analysis with influenza infection as the outcome, and a time-dependent exposure Cox regression analysis in the full eligible cohort. Results: A total of 26,444 children were included in the final cohort (13,239 vaccinated and 13,205 unvaccinated). Influenza incidence rates were 28.70 and 40.21 per 100 person-years in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, respectively. The aVE was 28.82% (95% CI: 23.07–34.14%). aVE was generally consistent across most subgroups, but was lower in children vaccinated in the previous season than in those without prior-season vaccination (20.41% vs. 34.28%; p for interaction = 0.016). Sensitivity analyses yielded comparable VE estimates. Conclusions: Egg-based inactivated influenza vaccination conferred moderate real-world protection against influenza in children aged 6–59 months during the 2025/26 season. Continued monitoring of vaccine effectiveness is needed to inform vaccination strategies in young children. Full article

This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of protein changes and their relationship with physicochemical properties during the quality deterioration of refrigerated Northern Pike (Esox lucius). We employed tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics, combined with physicochemical indicators, including surface hydrophobicity, carbonyl content, sulfhydryl content, and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), to systematically analyze protein alterations during cold storage. The results showed that with prolonged cold storage, the surface hydrophobicity, carbonyl content, and MFI of Northern Pike samples exhibited an increasing trend, whereas the sulfhydryl content decreased. Proteomic analysis identified a total of 563 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between fresh and cold-stored states, of which 293 were upregulated and 270 were downregulated. Furthermore, by integrating COG/KOG functional classification, subcellular localization, and GO enrichment analysis, the functional characteristics of the DEPs and their potential involvement in biological processes were systematically characterized. Correlation analysis revealed that six DEPs were significantly correlated with the changes in physicochemical indices of Northern Pike during cold storage, namely fructose-bisphosphate aldolase encoded by ALDOA, Nesh-SH3 domain-target protein, keratin, neurofilament heavy polypeptide, serine/arginine repetitive matrix protein 2-like, and asymmetrical bis(5′-nucleosidyl) tetraphosphatase. By integrating analyses of differentially abundant proteins and protein oxidation, this study suggests potential molecular mechanisms potentially responsible for quality loss in northern pike under chilled storage, offering a theoretical foundation for its preservation and quality assessment. Full article

In this paper, a quasi-vertical GaN-based trench gate MOSFETs treated with F-plasma is proposed. The F-plasma-treated devices exhibit a breakdown voltage (V_br) increased from 170 V to 275 V compared to the untreated devices. TCAD simulations reveal that F-plasma treatment significantly reduces the peak electric field of the device, lowering the peak electric field from 18.7 MV/cm to 4.08 MV/cm (at a drain voltage of 900 V). For the F-plasma-treated device with a 4 μm gate trench dimension, the maximum saturation current is 2258.2 A/cm², and the specific on-resistance (R_on,sp) is 7.2 mΩ·cm². Stress testing results show that both the treated and untreated devices have their threshold voltage affected by interface charges and traps, with no additional impact of the F-plasma treatment on the threshold voltage stability of the device. Full article

Salinity is an important environmental factor affecting the physiological homeostasis of freshwater fish, yet the underlying mechanisms in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) gills remain unclear. Therefore, grass carp were exposed to different salinity levels for 60 days, and gill responses were evaluated using histopathological, ion regulatory, antioxidant, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses. Histological observations showed that high salinity (8 g/L) caused marked structural damage to the gill lamellae. Specifically, Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentrations and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity significantly decreased, while K⁺ concentration and Ca²⁺-ATPase activity increased, revealing disrupted ion homeostasis. Salinity exposure also led to decreased antioxidant enzyme activities. Integrated omics analysis further demonstrated that a total of 2447 differentially expressed genes and 268 differentially expressed metabolites were identified, with significant enrichment in pathways related to biosynthesis of amino acids, arachidonic acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, PPAR signaling, and calcium signaling. Notably, the PPAR and calcium signaling pathways showed positive enrichment under salinity stress, suggesting their potential involvement in the regulation of lipid metabolism, energy allocation, and cellular stress responses. Our findings indicated amino acid biosynthesis and arachidonic acid metabolism as key pathways involved in the adaptation of grass carp gills to salinity stress. Overall, chronic salinity exposure caused structural alterations, disrupted ion regulation, altered antioxidant status, and marked transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in grass carp gills, offering new insight into salinity adaptation in freshwater fish. Full article

Long-term crop rotation can improve soil function and crop performance, but it remains unclear whether rotation history can simultaneously alleviate drought-induced oxidative injury in spring wheat leaves and roots. To address this gap, we used a long-term field rotation experiment established in 2016 in the western foothills of the Greater Khingan Mountains. Four cropping systems were selected: spring wheat–potato rotation (R1), spring wheat–potato–rape rotation (R2), spring wheat–rape rotation (R3), and continuous spring wheat cropping (C1). In 2022, wheat occurred naturally in all rotation sequences, and all plots were planted with the same spring wheat cultivar (‘Longmai 36’) to enable comparison among different rotation histories. Drought stress was imposed from late jointing, and at anthesis, ROS-related levels, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and proline (Pro), as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), were determined in the flag leaves and roots of spring wheat under normal-water (NC) and drought-stress (HC) conditions. Under drought stress, rotation significantly increased yield (R1 and R2 by 73.3% and 77.7% vs. C1, respectively, partly reflecting the low C1 baseline associated with continuous cropping) and reduced drought-induced accumulation of ROS-related levels and MDA, along with excessive antioxidant and osmotic responses. R1 better protected leaves, while R2 optimized root osmotic regulation. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant drought × rotation interactions for most leaf traits (p < 0.01) but not for root ROS-related levels, SOD, or POD, indicating organ-specific regulation. R1 and R2 show strong drought resilience potential, warranting multi-year, multi-site validation. Full article

Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) causes a fatal and immune-mediated disease in cats with limited treatment options. Natural products offer promising antiviral candidates, but animal-derived peptides remain underexplored. Here, we identified PI-8, a Periplaneta americana (P. americana)-derived peptide with validated binding to ISG15, and evaluated its anti-FIPV effect and mechanism. PI-8 showed low cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ > 40 μM) and inhibited FIPV replication with an IC₅₀ of 12.9 μM, acting primarily at the post-entry stage. PI-8 significantly upregulated IFNA1, IFNB, ISG15, and MX1 in infected CRFK cells. In FIPV-infected cats, PI-8 reduced RNA levels in blood, saliva, and anal swabs, and lowered tissue viral burden in liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and intestine. It also alleviated gross and histopathological lesions and decreased inflammatory cytokine expression. These findings suggest that PI-8 is an P. americana-derived peptide with dual anti-FIPV and immunomodulatory activity associated with an IFN-ISG15-related antiviral response. PI-8 represents a potential host-directed therapeutic candidate for FIPV infection. Full article