Search Results (93)

Sunflower is one of the four most important oilseed crops in the world, and its edible oil is of high nutritional quality. However, the molecular regulatory mechanism of oil accumulation in sunflowers is still unclear. In this study, we selected two inbred lines with significant differences in oleic acid content and similar agronomic traits: the high oleic acid content (82.5%) inbred line 227 and the low oleic acid content (30.8%) inbred line 228. Sunflower seeds were selected for transcriptome experiments at 10, 20, and 30 days after full bloom (DAFB). There were 21, 225, and 632 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified at the three times, respectively. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that DEGs from two sunflower cultivars at three stages were significantly enriched in the activities of omega-6 fatty acid desaturase and glucosyltransferase. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis found that at 10, 20, and 30 DAFB, DEGs were significantly enriched in the unsaturated fatty acid synthesis pathway, glutathione metabolism pathway, and pyruvate metabolism pathway. Through mapping analysis of GO in the KEGG pathway, it was found that the omega-6 fatty acid desaturase gene FAD6/FAD2, diacylglyceroyltransferase gene DGAT, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase gene GPAT, and long-chain acyl-CoA synthase gene LACS may play important roles in regulating sunflower oleic acid content. Our research provides candidate genes and a research basis for breeding high oleic sunflowers. Full article

Despite growing interest in integrating Lean Construction (LC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to advance sustainability in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, research remains fragmented and lacks a unified implementation framework. This study bridges this gap by conducting a systematic literature review (2010–2024) of 96 journal articles to (1) analyze research trends in BIM-LC integration; (2) evaluate its benefits for sustainable built environments; and (3) identify barriers to adoption. A key contribution is the development of a novel four-dimensional BIM-LC integration framework, encompassing information integration, supply chain management, waste management, and life cycle management, which synergizes LC principles with BIM’s technical capabilities to reduce waste, enhance resource efficiency, and support carbon neutrality goals. The findings reveal that while BIM-LC integration significantly improves construction productivity and reduces environmental impacts, technical challenges in data interoperability and fragmented lifecycle management persist. Actionable solutions are further proposed, including semantic model standardization, AI-driven supply chain resilience, and circular economy integration. This framework provides both scholars and practitioners with a roadmap to advance BIM-LC adoption for sustainable construction. Full article

Immunocompromise is a growing health concern, and food-derived immunomodulators are expected to serve as a valuable supplement to traditional drug therapies. Ovalbumin peptide (OP) was employed as a stabilizer to prepare OP–selenium nanoparticles (OP-SeNPs), which showed immunomodulatory effects in vitro; however, the effects and underlying mechanisms in vivo were not yet fully understood. This study investigated the immunomodulatory activity of OP-SeNPs in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressed mice on immune organs, molecules, and cells, with the underlying mechanism explored by transcriptomic and proteomic studies. The results demonstrated that OP-SeNPs alleviated tissue damage in the spleen and thymus, improved the immunosuppressive state by promoting the secretion of cytokines (IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-6), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM, and sIgA), and promoting the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes. PI3K-Akt, Rap1, p53, PPAR, and Hippo signaling pathways formed an important regulatory network that synergistically influenced immune modulation. OP-SeNPs are potential food-derived immunomodulators, setting the stage for deep exploration of the mechanisms driving their immunomodulatory effects. Full article

Symbiotic bacteria play a pivotal role in the biology and ecology of herbivorous insects, affecting host growth and adaptation. However, the effects of host identity on the symbiotic microbiota of gall-inducing insects remain less explored. In this study, we utilized high-throughput sequencing to investigate the effects of different oak hosts on the structure and diversity of the symbiotic microbial community in the asexual larvae of the gall-inducing wasp Trichagalma acutissimae. Host plant species significantly altered the alpha and beta diversity of symbiotic microbiota of T. acutissimae. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria was the predominant microflora in both groups, with significantly higher abundance in larvae parasitizing Quercus acutissima than in those parasitizing Q. variabilis. Pseudomonas, which has been identified as responsible for tannin decomposition, was the most dominant genus in T. acutissimae larvae infesting both hosts. LEfSe analysis revealed substantial differences in the symbiotic microbial communities between the two hosts while also highlighting some commonalities. Functional prediction analysis indicated no significant difference in the functional roles of symbiotic bacteria between larvae infesting the two hosts. These findings suggest that the symbiotic microbiome of T. acutissimae larvae is influenced by host plant species, yet different microbial compositions may perform similar functions, implying the potential role of symbiotic microbiota in the adaptation to high-tannin oak leaves. This research enhances our understanding of the symbiotic relationship between forest pests and their associated microbes. Full article

Salt stress presents a major environmental constraint to global agricultural productivity and crop yield stability. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most extensively cultivated Solanaceae crops worldwide, and the characterization of its germplasm for salt tolerance is essential to develop breeding programs to target its abiotic stress resilience. In this study, 200 mmol/L NaCl was identified as the initial screening concentration for the discrimination of salt tolerance levels in eggplant seedlings. Salt tolerance indices derived from 13 descriptors, including the plant height, stem diameter, and leaf number, were used to evaluate 165 germplasm resources (108 inbred lines and 57 commercial cultivars). These 165 germplasms were grouped into five groups, and six highly tolerant and eight highly sensitive germplasms were identified. Importantly, a stepwise multiple linear regression model incorporating the root surface area, leaf number, leaf water content, malondialdehyde content, and stem water content achieved 90.02% predictive accuracy, establishing a high-throughput screening protocol for germplasm selection. This systematic approach provides methodological advancements for precision breeding and identifies key physiological and morphological markers for salt tolerance improvement in eggplant. Full article

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex psychiatric illness, with synaptic plasticity playing a key role in its pathology. Our study aims to investigate the molecular basis of MDD by analyzing synaptic plasticity-related gene expression at the single-cell level. Utilizing a published snRNA-seq dataset (GSE144136), we identified Excitatory.neurons_1 as the cell cluster most associated with MDD and synaptic plasticity through cell clustering, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and pseudotime analysis. Integrating the bulk RNA-seq data (GSE38206), we identified CASKIN1 and CSTB as hub genes via differential expression analysis and machine learning methods. Further exploration of the relevant mechanisms was performed via cell–cell communication and ligand-receptor interaction analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and the construction of molecular regulatory networks, highlighting miR-21-5p as a key biomarker. We propose that elevated miR-21-5p in MDD downregulates CASKIN1 in Excitatory.neurons_1 cells, resulting in decreased neural connectivity and altered synaptic plasticity. As our analyzed snRNA-seq dataset consists solely of male samples, these findings may be male-specific. Our findings shed light on potential mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity in MDD, offering novel insights into the disorder’s cellular and molecular dynamics. Full article

Bed-separation water hazards are a common and very harmful mining disaster in the mining areas of western China in recent years, which seriously threatens the safe mining of rich and thick coal seam resources in the West. The Yonglong mining area has become a high-risk area for bed-separation water hazards due to its particularly thick coal seams and strong water-rich overlying strata. In view of this, this paper investigates the development height of a water-flowing fractured zone in the fully mechanized caving mining of an ultra-thick coal seam in the Yonglong mining area, the evolution law of the bed separation of overlying strata, and the process of water inrush from a bed separation. Based on the measured water-flowing fractured zone height data of the Yonglong mining area and several surrounding mines, a water-flowing fractured zone height prediction formula suitable for the geological conditions of the Yonglong mining area was fitted. By using discrete element numerical simulation and laboratory similarity simulation, the evolution law of overlying strata separation under the conditions of fully mechanized caving mining in the study area was analyzed, and the space was summarized into “four zones, three arches, and five zones”. Through the stress-seepage coupling simulation of the water inrush process of the roof separation in the fully mechanized caving mining of an ultra-thick coal seam, the migration, accumulation, and sudden inrush of water in the aquifer in overlying strata under the influence of mining were analyzed, and the variation in the pore water pressure in the process of water inrush during coal seam mining separation was summarized. The pore water pressure in the overlying strata showed a trend of first decreasing, then increasing, and, finally, stabilizing. Combined with the height, water inrush volume, and water-rich zoning characteristics of the water-flowing fractured zone of the 1012007 working face of the Yuanzigou Coal Mine, the danger of water inrush from the overlying strata separation of the working face was evaluated. It is believed that it has the conditions for the formation of water accumulation and separation, and the risk of water inrush is high. Prevention and control measures need to be taken on site to ensure mining safety. The research results have important guiding significance for the assessment and prevention of water inrush hazards in overlying strata during fully mechanized longwall top-coal caving of ultra-thick coal seams with similar geological conditions worldwide. Full article

Numerous studies have explored the cooling and energy-saving effects of vegetation and reflective materials under extreme heat conditions in urban residential areas. However, few have explored the synergistic effects of vegetation and albedo, particularly in low-rise, high-density residential areas. Therefore, this study selected six typical low-rise, high-density residential areas in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, based on the neighborhood characteristics. This study investigated the cooling effects and energy-saving potential of vegetation and cooling materials through the development of five simulation scenarios. These included original conditions, the application of highly reflective cooling materials, increased vegetation cover, the removal of vegetation cover, and a comprehensive strategy combining cooling materials with enhanced vegetation. These scenarios were analyzed using ENVI-met and DesignBuilder to evaluate their impact on the microclimate and building energy consumption. The results reveal the following: (1) Cooling materials can lower air temperatures by 1.9 °C, saving 10.37% in energy consumption during the summer, demonstrating a greater efficiency in reducing air temperature and energy use. (2) Vegetation slightly reduces daytime air temperatures but hampers nighttime cooling in dense low-rise areas, increasing energy demand. Shrubs or grass are preferable to tall trees. (3) Cooling materials had a stronger correlation with energy consumption reduction compared to vegetation. Hence, combining cooling materials with strategically placed vegetation and controlling vegetation size maximized cooling and energy-saving benefits. This study provides valuable insights for urban planners and designers, offering guidance for improving urban microclimates, reducing building energy use, and achieving carbon neutrality goals. Full article

Owing to lifestyle changes since COVID-19, new needs for various usages and spatial experiences of open spaces have become apparent. Suburban parks and green spaces are thought to be suitable uses. This study used structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect effects of diverse usages and experiences on the desirability of three proposed park plans for a major park in City A, near Tokyo, based on questionnaire survey data. The findings highlight the importance of “Nature, Passive, and Healing” usage, including nature experiences and small-group activities. “Nature, Passive, and Healing” is negatively affected by “Gathering and Active” but positively by “Multifunctional and Borderless”. A potential for significant improvement in park desirability was also found by linking “Nature, Passive, and Healing” to “Multifunctional and Borderless”. For those aged 60 and older, the indirect effect of “Multifunctional and Borderless” via “Nature, Passive, and Healing” was large and significant, whereas its direct effect was not. “Multifunctional and Borderless” park usage was also been proven to have the greatest impact on female users, whereas, for males, “Nature, Passive, and Healing” had the largest impact. These results emphasize the importance of designs that balance diverse usages and ensure appropriate distancing to meet new needs. Full article

This paper uses a perspective of life cycle ecological emergy and carbon footprint to quantitatively verify the sustainable status of building systems; it also employs a neural network model to predict and analyze their long-term ecological and carbon footprint effects. The research results show that the stages of building material production and building operation play a major role in the emergy and carbon emissions of the entire building system, and their changes show an inverse trend. As the building system operates, the greater the system loss and consumption, the environmental load rate (ELR) will gradually increase, and the sustainability parameter (ESI) will also gradually decrease. The integration of energy storage modules significantly improves the sustainability of the building system. When calculated over five time periods (5 years, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, and 50 years), the overall carbon emission reduction rates after adding the energy storage module are 39.4%, 33.6%, 39.2%, 42.5%, and 38.8% respectively, demonstrating that the energy storage module has a significant positive effect on the sustainability of the building system. This study reveals the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the building system throughout its entire life cycle, providing a scientific basis for optimizing building design. Full article

Iron stress adversely impacts plants’ growth and development. Transcription factors (TFs) receive stress signals and modulate plant tolerance by influencing the expression of related functional genes. In the present study, we investigated the role of an apple bHLH transcription factor MxbHLH30 in the tolerance to iron stresses. The expression of MxbHLH30 was induced significantly by low-iron and high-iron treatments and MxbHLH30-overexpressed Arabidopsis plants displayed iron-stress-tolerant phenotypes. A determination of physiological and biochemical indexes associated with abiotic stress responses showed that overexpression of MxbHLH30 increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) in Arabidopsis plants treated with iron stress, and decreased the contents of H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA), which contribute to reduce cell membrane lipid peroxidation. Meanwhile, the accumulation of proline in transgenic plant cells increased, regulating cell osmotic pressure. Furthermore, quantitative expression analysis indicated that overexpression of MxbHLH30 improved the expression levels of positive functional genes’ responses to iron stress, improving plant resistance. Interestingly, MxbHLH30 may have the ability to balance the homeostasis of iron and other metal ions for the iron homeostasis of Arabidopsis cell under low-iron environments. This research demonstrates that MxbHLH30 is a key regulator of cell iron homeostasis in Arabidopsis plants under iron deficiency, providing new knowledge for plant resistance regulation. Full article

In this study, we investigated the changes in the communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and their driving factors across eight vegetation succession stages in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China, original natural wetland (NW), wetland edge (EW), shrub-invaded wetland (IW), shrub-dominated wetland (DW), young-Betula forest (YB), mature-Betula forest (MB), Populus and Betula mixed forest (PB), and conifer forest (CF), using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. As this research has revealed, significant differences exist in soil physicochemical indicators, including moisture content (MC), pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), total phosphorus (TP), and available phosphorus (AP). As vegetation succession progresses, the diversity and structure of AMF communities also undergo changes, with the Simpson diversity index being highest in coniferous forests (CF) and the Abundance-based Coverage Estimator (ACE) and Chao1 indices being elevated in shrub-dominated wetlands (PB). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis reveals distinct differences in AMF communities across various succession stages. Furthermore, stacked bar charts indicate that the genus Glomus dominates in most wetland and forest succession stages but is nearly absent in CF, where it is replaced by the genus Paraglomus. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) demonstrates that SOC has a more significant impact on AMF communities during the EW stage of succession, while AP and TP exert greater influence during the CF stage as well as the MB and YB stages. AN, on the other hand, plays a more prominent role in shaping AMF communities during the IW and NW stages. PICRUSt2 predictions reveal that enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase and L-aminoadipate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase are most abundant in YB, whereas pathways like 4-amino-2-methyl-5-diphosphomethylpyrimidine biosynthesis are most enriched in IW. These findings uncover the close interplay between soil physicochemical properties and AMF community dynamics, aiming to deepen our understanding of the relationships among soil physicochemical properties, AMF community changes, and succession dynamics in wetland and forest ecosystems. Full article

Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is critical for early embryo development and is meticulously regulated by epigenetic modifications. H3K4me3 is a transcription-permissive histone mark preferentially found at promoters, but its distribution across genome features remains incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the genome-wide enrichment of H3K4me3 during early embryo development and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in both sheep and mice. We discovered that broad H3K4me3 domains were present in MII stage oocytes and were progressively diminished, while promoter H3K4me3 enrichment was increased and correlated with gene upregulation during ZGA in sheep. Additionally, we reported the dynamic distribution of H3K4me3 at the transposable elements (TEs) during early embryo development in both sheep and mice. Specifically, the H3K4me3 distribution of LINE1 and ERVL, two subsets of TEs, was associated with their expression during early embryo development in sheep. Furthermore, H3K4me3 enrichment in TEs was greatly increased during ZGA following Kdm5b knockdown, and the distribution of RNA polymerase II (Pol2) in TEs was also markedly increased in Kdm5b knockout ESCs in mice. These findings suggest that H3K4me3 plays important roles in regulating TE expression through interaction with RNA Pol2, providing valuable insights into the regulation of ZGA initiation and cell fate determination by H3K4me3. Full article

Antibiotics are widely used to prevent healthy animals from getting diseases in livestock industries. Such practice has greatly contributed to the increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens in animals and in the environment, which poses severe health threats to humans. This study aims to investigate consumers’ purchase intention towards meat produced without preventive antibiotic use, and to identify key factors influencing this purchase intention. An online survey of 1123 participants was conducted in China. Descriptive statistical analysis, correlation, and regression analysis were conducted. The results suggested that consumers had a negative attitude towards preventive antibiotic use in food animals and a strong purchase intention towards meat produced without it. The key drivers of this purchase intention included health consciousness, trust in responsible antibiotic use in farming, objective knowledge about antibiotics used in food animals, subjective knowledge about preventive antibiotic use, concerns over antibiotic residues, and attitude towards preventive antibiotic use. These findings can provide deep insights for policymakers and livestock industries who seek to promote responsible antibiotic use and develop effective communication strategies with consumers. Full article

With the construction of smart cities advancing, research on big data and smart cities has become crucial for sustainable development. This study seeks to fill gaps in the literature and elucidate the significance of big data and smart city research, offering a comprehensive analysis that aims to foster academic understanding, promote urban development, and drive technological innovation. Using bibliometric methods and Citespace software (6.2.R3), this study comprehensively examines the research landscape from 2015 to 2023, aiming to understand its dynamics. Under the guidance of the United Nations, global research on big data and smart cities is progressing. Using the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection as the data source, an exhaustive visual analysis was conducted, revealing various aspects, including the literature output, journal distribution, geographic study trends, research themes, and collaborative networks of scholars and institutions. This study reveals a downward trend despite research growth from 2015 to 2020, focusing on digital technology, smart city innovations, energy management and environmental applications, data security, and sustainable development. However, biases persist towards technology, information silos, homogenised research, and short-sighted strategies. Research should prioritise effectiveness, applications, diverse fields, and interdisciplinary collaboration to advance smart cities comprehensively. In the post-COVID-19 era, using big data to optimise city management is key to fostering intelligent, green, and humane cities and to exploring efficient mechanisms to address urban development challenges in the new era. Full article