Search Results (4,195)

The increasing agricultural and industrial use of rare earth elements (REEs) has raised growing concerns about their environmental accumulation and ecotoxicity, yet the molecular and epigenetic basis underlying their dose-dependent effects on crops remains poorly understood. In this study, soybean plants were foliar treated with Cerium (Ce) at 0, 5, 10, and 50 mg·L⁻¹. Growth, elemental uptake, genome wide DNA methylation, and gene expression were analyzed using ICP-MS, WGBS, and qRT-PCR. Low dose Ce (5 mg·L⁻¹) showed a hormetic effect, promoting growth and grain quality, whereas high dose Ce (50 mg·L⁻¹) markedly inhibited growth. Foliar absorbed Ce was poorly translocated to roots and seeds, thus reducing food chain contamination risk. Ce significantly altered methylation levels of CG, CHG, and CHH contexts in soybean leaves. Low Ce increased CG methylation, while high Ce decreased CHH methylation. Differentially methylated genes (Low-dose Ce induced 52 hypermethylated DMGs and 23 hypomethylated DMGs, while high-dose Ce induced 76 hypomethylated DMGs and 17 hypermethylated DMGs) were enriched in oxidation–reduction, DNA repair, and cell cycle pathways. qRT-PCR confirmed that Ce mediated toxic responses and growth by regulating methylation related enzymes, oxidative detoxification, and DNA repair genes. This study provides novel genome-wide bisulfite sequencing evidence linking foliar Ce exposure to context-specific DNA methylation reprogramming in a major legume crop. These results demonstrate that the dose-dependent phytotoxicity of Ce in soybean is associated with context-specific changes in genome-wide DNA methylation, supporting the safety evaluation and rational agricultural application of rare earth elements. Full article

Crude glycerin (CG) is an energy-dense ingredient capable of partially or fully replacing corn in high-concentrate diets for ruminants. Its rapid ruminal absorption, favorable fermentative profile, and absence of lactic acid production may support safer adaptation to intensive feeding systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing corn with CG (300 g/kg DM) on growth performance, feeding behavior, rumen morphometry, and proteomic responses of ruminal papillae in feedlot lambs. Sixty-five Santa Inês × Dorper lambs were assigned to either a control diet or a diet containing CG and were evaluated during pre-adaptation, adaptation, and finishing phases. Replacing corn with CG slightly reduced average daily gain (p = 0.02), without affecting final body weight, dry matter intake, or carcass yield (p > 0.05). Lambs fed CG exhibited lower subcutaneous fat thickness (p = 0.04) and reduced neutral detergent fiber intake during feeding behavior assessments (p < 0.05). Rumen papillae showed higher mitotic index and greater epithelial activity throughout the feedlot period, regardless of treatment. Proteomic analysis revealed upregulation of proteins involved in epithelial integrity (Claudin-1, Occludin) and mitochondrial energy metabolism (ATP synthase β, glycerol kinase) in CG-fed lambs, alongside downregulation of proteins related to oxidative stress and inflammation (HSP70, Annexin A1, SOD1, Peroxiredoxin-6). These findings demonstrate that CG promotes beneficial molecular adaptations in the ruminal epithelium without compromising carcass traits, supporting its use as a safe, functional, and sustainable alternative to corn in lamb finishing systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pregnancy is associated with increased renal secretory clearance of drugs mediated by organic anion transporters (OATs) and organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2). Circulating concentrations of pregnancy-related hormones (PRHs) increase with gestational age, providing a plausible mechanism for renal OAT and OCT2 regulation. Methods: Using primary human proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs), we quantified the effects of PRHs, at trimester-specific concentrations, on the mRNA expression of renal drug transporters (apical and basal) and metabolizing enzymes (DMETs), as well as endocytic receptors. PTECs from three female, premenopausal donors were cultured in an optimized Transwell system that maintains measurable OAT activity. PTECs were then exposed for 72 h to trimester-matched PRH cocktails at physiologic (1×) or supraphysiologic (10×) concentrations, with medium replaced every 24 h. DMET and endocytic receptor mRNA were quantified by RT-qPCR, and uptake activities of OAT1/2/3, OCT2, OAT4, and OCTN1 were measured with selective substrates or substrate–inhibitor pairs. Results: At 1× PRHs, renal DMET and endocytic receptor mRNA expression was unchanged across trimester-related PRH concentration except for consistent downregulation of PEPT2. Uptake activity for all measured transporters was unchanged. At 10× PRHs, selective changes in mRNA expression of transporters were observed (e.g., induction of OAT1), but these changes did not translate into changes in activity. Conclusions: Our data argue against PRHs as the main driver of the increase in OAT-mediated drug secretion during pregnancy. Alternative mechanisms (e.g., flow-dependent mechanotransduction and untested hormones [e.g., prolactin, hCG]) should be evaluated to explain gestation-dependent changes in renal secretory clearance of drugs. Full article

Background: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is considered a transitional state between normal aging and dementia, often without visible abnormalities on standard brain magnetic resonance (MR) images. The aim of the study was to analyze both microstructural and functional brain abnormalities using advanced MR techniques. Methods: The study included 27 patients with aMCI and an age-matched control group (CG) of 25 healthy subjects. All MR studies were performed on a 3T MR scanner (Philips, Ingenia) with a 32-channel head and neck coil using volumetric 3D T1 sequences, followed by a resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) sequence. Volumetric analysis was performed using the Destrieux atlas to assess potential structural differences between groups. Seed-to-voxel functional connectivity analyses were conducted using the bilateral hippocampi and both anterior and posterior divisions of the parahippocampal gyri as seed regions. Results: Compared to healthy controls, reduced cortical thickness was observed in aMCI subjects in the temporal regions, frontal and orbitofrontal areas, limbic areas, parietal and sensorimotor cortices, as well as occipito-temporal regions. Additionally, significantly increased functional connectivity was observed between bilateral medial temporal lobe (MTL) regions and the right thalamus. Conclusions: Cortical thinning in various brain regions along with the increased functional connectivity between the MTL regions and the right thalamus may reflect potential compensatory mechanisms in response to initial subtle degenerative changes, emphasizing the importance of using both functional and structural imaging to detect early changes in aMCI patients. Full article

Corporate tax avoidance has become a major governance and fiscal sustainability concern, particularly in developing economies where corporate tax revenues constitute a critical source of public financing. While prior research suggests that board gender diversity (BGD) enhances ethical oversight and monitoring, its effectiveness in constraining aggressive tax planning may depend on firms’ informational and technological environments. This study examines whether artificial intelligence (AI) capability strengthens the governance role of BGD in reducing corporate tax avoidance. Using a balanced panel of 1586 non-financial firms from developing economies over the period 2009–2023, the analysis employs firm FE models and dynamic two-step System GMM estimations to address unobserved heterogeneity, endogeneity, and the persistence of corporate tax behavior. The results indicate that BGD is positively associated with effective tax rates, implying lower levels of corporate tax avoidance. Furthermore, AI capability—measured using a lagged specification—significantly strengthens this relationship, suggesting that firms with higher AI adoption exhibit a stronger governance effect of gender-diverse boards on tax compliance. Additional robustness tests—including alternative tax avoidance measures, alternative BGD specifications, heterogeneity analysis, and selection-bias corrections using Heckman, propensity score matching (PSM), and instrumental variable (2SLS) approaches—confirm the stability of the findings. Overall, the results highlight the complementary role of technological capability and board diversity in strengthening corporate governance (CG) and fiscal discipline in developing economies. Full article

Coal gasification slag (CGS) is rich in Si-Al-Ca components and thus has potential for ceramic utilization, but associated heavy metals may pose environmental risks. In this study, CGS from Yili (Xinjiang, China) was used as the major raw material (80 wt%), with clay and waste glass as additives, to prepare ceramsite by firing green pellets (8–12 mm) at 1000–1200 °C. The phase evolution, microstructure, and heavy-metal migration were characterized, and the leaching safety was evaluated. Increasing temperature leads to progressive quartz consumption, enrichment of feldspar-type crystalline phases, and liquid-phase sintering, which together enhance densification. The apparent density and single-particle compressive strength exhibit an “increase-then-decrease” trend with temperature and reach maxima at 1150 °C, where the compressive strength is 15.38 MPa. Heavy-metal behavior is element-specific: As and Zn show stronger volatilization, whereas Mn, Ba, Ni, and Cu are largely retained in the solid phase; Cr shows intermediate, temperature-dependent volatilization. After firing at ≥1150 °C, the leached concentrations of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Ba under the sulfuric acid–nitric acid test (HJ/T 299-2007) are below the Class III limits of the Chinese Groundwater Quality Standard (GB/T 14848-2017). Considering phase/structure evolution, mechanical performance, and short-term heavy-metal leaching, 1150 °C is identified as the preferred firing temperature in this work. Full article

Background: Brucellosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease characterized by highly variable clinical manifestations that may mimic systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. In Europe, where the incidence of brucellosis is relatively low, limited clinical awareness may contribute to delayed diagnosis and inappropriate management. In addition to zoonotic transmission, Brucella species are a well-recognized cause of laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) among microbiology laboratory personnel. Methods: We report a case of laboratory-acquired Brucella abortus infection in a young woman presenting with undulant fever, arthralgia, systemic inflammation, elevated ferritin levels, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity. Microbiological confirmation was achieved through serological testing (ELISA), repeat blood cultures, species-specific quantitative PCR, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) followed by core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). Results: Initial laboratory evaluation revealed elevated C-reactive protein, mildly increased ferritin levels (146 ng/mL), abnormal liver enzyme levels, and rising ANA titers (from 1:160 to 1:320), raising suspicion of a systemic autoimmune disorder and prompting consideration of corticosteroid therapy. Although the initial blood culture was negative, subsequent molecular diagnostics and repeat cultures confirmed B. abortus infection. Epidemiological investigation suggested a possible occupational exposure in a diagnostic microbiology laboratory, consistent with a laboratory-acquired infection. Genomic analysis classified the isolate as sequence type 1 (ST1) and demonstrated zero allelic differences compared with the ST1 reference strain. Targeted antimicrobial therapy resulted in complete clinical recovery, supporting an infection-triggered immune response rather than primary autoimmunity. Conclusions: Acute brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of febrile syndromes accompanied by autoimmune-like laboratory abnormalities, even in low-incidence regions. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by laboratory-acquired brucellosis and underscores the importance of early microbiological investigation and strict biosafety awareness in laboratory settings. Full article

(1) Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by gait and postural impairments. Recently, physical activity has emerged as a key strategy in PD management. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative technology-assisted rehabilitation program in improving gait and reducing fall risk in older adults with PD. (2) Methods: Fifty-eight patients were randomly assigned to three groups: conventional rehabilitation (CG), or conventional therapy combined with technology-assisted rehabilitation using Tymo (TG) or Walker View (WG). The intervention consisted of 10 sessions over 5 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and at 6-month follow-up (FW). Outcomes included gait and balance performance, fear of falling, quality of life, activities of daily living, and physical function. (3) Results: The CG showed no significant improvements, with a decline in Barthel Index from T1 to FW. The WG demonstrated significant improvement in POMA Gait scores, while the TG improved both POMA Total and Balance scores at T1. Post-treatment, TG and WG outperformed CG in POMA outcomes; however, these differences were lost at follow-up. (4) Conclusions: Technology-assisted rehabilitation can improve gait and balance in older adults with PD, although sustained or repeated interventions may be necessary to maintain long-term benefits. Full article

The DNA methyltransferases inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5AzC), clinically used to treat hematopoietic malignancies, can elevate genomic mutational burden, raising safety concerns. To define the epigenetic specificity and mutagenic consequences of 5AzC, we performed multi-omics analyses in Neurospora crassa. Our data showed that 5AzC caused a non-selective, genome-wide reduction in both 5-methylcytosine (5mC; ~50% decrease) and the heterochromatin mark H3K9me3 (~65% decrease), indicating broad off-target demethylation that may transiently benefit therapy yet compromise genome stability. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed a ~290-fold increase in mutation rate under 5AzC, with a pronounced C->G transversion bias, a spectrum typically associated with higher functional burden. Strikingly, 5AzC-induced mutations were enriched in H3K9me3-marked domains, particularly pericentromeric regions characterized by low 5mC but high H3K9me3. Genetic analyses showed that the loss of DNA methyltransferase DIM-2 reduced 5AzC-induced mutations by ~64%, while individual or combined knockout of the histone methyltransferase DIM-5 with DIM-2 led to an 85% reduction. Thus, mutagenesis was markedly amplified by DIM-2 and DIM-5, with DIM-2 activity dependent on DIM-5. Collectively, DIM-2 and DIM-5 accounted for nearly all A/T-site and ~80% of G/C-site mutations. These results reveal that 5AzC drives genome-wide loss of 5mC and H3K9me3, with mutagenesis preferentially targeting H3K9me3-enriched regions via DIM-2 and DIM-5. This work clarifies a mechanistic basis for 5AzC-associated genomic risk and highlights strategies for next-generation epigenetic therapies that preserve heterochromatin integrity while minimizing mutational load. Full article

Leaching carbon residue (LCR) is a carbonaceous solid waste generated during the hydrometallurgical recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries. Although its high graphite content offers substantial potential for resource recovery, the residual heavy metals and fluorides present in LCR pose considerable environmental risks. Currently, LCR has not garnered sufficient attention within the industry, and the lack of recycling technologies suitable for large-scale disposal results in resource wastage and environmental pollution. To address these challenges, this study proposes an innovative strategy based on the concept of multi-field synergistic enhancement. The proposed approach involves recovering and regenerating graphite (RG) from LCR via low-temperature molten salt roasting assisted by high-pressure and mechanical activation. A combination of advanced characterization techniques was employed to compare the physicochemical properties of RG and commercial graphite (CG) and to systematically evaluate the technical feasibility of using regenerated graphite as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The results demonstrate that, under optimized molten salt roasting and aqueous leaching conditions, the carbon content of RG reaches 99.94 wt%, indicating the efficient removal of non-carbon impurities from the graphite matrix. Compared to CG, RG retains a typical layered structure; however, a lower carbon content (99.94 wt%) and poorer structural order (I_D/I_G = 0.30) are observed. In terms of electrochemical performance, RG delivers a discharge specific capacity of 394.64 mAh/g during the first cycle and exhibits excellent cycling stability, with a capacity retention of 86.50% after 100 cycles. This electrochemical performance is comparable to that of commercial graphite. The proposed multi-field-assisted low-temperature molten salt roasting technique enables the efficient recovery of high-value graphite resources from LCR, establishing a full-lifecycle recycling strategy tailored for lithium-ion battery applications. Full article

The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is a nationally protected species in China, and its respiratory behavior serves as a key indicator of its physiological state, health status, and biological rhythm. However, research on intelligent monitoring of its respiratory behavior remains limited due to several challenges, including the species’ nocturnal habits, resulting in low image contrast and poor quality in dark environments; extremely subtle breathing movements; and high-cost manual annotation, leading to a scarcity of high-quality annotated visual data. These factors severely constrain the application of deep learning techniques in this field. To support research on respiratory behavior monitoring in the Chinese giant salamander, this study constructs and releases the CGS-BR dataset, which is the first vision-based dataset dedicated specifically to respiratory behavior detection in this species. The dataset was collected under controlled simulated breeding conditions and consists of 1732 images extracted from 215 high-definition video clips. Following a standardized procedure, each complete respiratory cycle is manually annotated into four stages: head-up, diving, exhalation, and inhalation. To validate the effectiveness of this dataset, this study selects YOLOv8n as the baseline model, which balances detection accuracy, speed, and parameter count, enabling efficient giant salamander respiratory detection under limited resources. By comparing it with several representative models, we provide a reliable evaluation of the dataset’s applicability. CGS-BR aims to provide fundamental data support for research on respiratory monitoring in the Chinese giant salamander, laying the foundation for subsequent applications in conservation management, captive breeding, health monitoring, and early disease warning. Full article

To compare hurdle-resisted sprint training (EGH), sled-resisted training (EGS), and hurdles-only training (CG) on performance and kinematics using a smallest-effect-size-of-interest (SESOI) framework, fifteen U18 female hurdlers (16.3 ± 1.3 years) were randomized to EGH, EGS, or CG (n = 5 each) for a 7-week intervention (7 microcycles). EGH used individualized resistance (10% velocity decrement), while EGS used fixed ~13% body-mass resistance. Outcomes included 30 m hurdle time (30 mH), Technique Index, and exploratory kinematics. Primary analysis used baseline-adjusted robust ANCOVA with permutation and linear mixed models (LMM) as sensitivity checks. A smallest-effect-size-of-interest (SESOI) of −0.066 s (~1.2%) was pre-specified. Adjusted ANCOVA favored EGH over CG (−0.19 s; 95% CI [−0.45, 0.06]; p = 0.11). The point estimate exceeded the SESOI, though the CI captured both meaningful and trivial effects. Sensitivity analyses maintained this directional pattern, but LMM estimates varied in magnitude, suggesting model dependence. The EGH–EGS contrast was smaller and uncertain (−0.15 s; p = 0.10). Exploratory baseline-adjusted kinematic contrasts showed no clear differences at the first hurdle, but highlighted nominal differences in the EGH group at the second hurdle (greater take-off distance, p = 0.030) and third hurdle (shorter flight and landing times, p < 0.05), which should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating. In this preliminary trial, the data are compatible with a range of effects from negligible to practically meaningful for hurdle-resisted sprint training relative to both control and sled-resisted conditions. All estimates are accompanied by wide compatibility intervals, precluding confirmatory conclusions. These findings establish protocol feasibility, provide estimation-based preliminary evidence with openly available individual-level data, and motivate adequately powered multi-center replication trials. Full article

Coal gangue (CG) ranks among China’s most significant industrial solid by-products. In response to China’s carbon neutrality commitments and the growing emphasis on resource recycling, finding effective ways to valorize CG has emerged as a pressing concern. Based on the mineral composition and chemical composition characteristics of CG, this study systematically investigated the enhancement effects of three alkali activators (Na₂SiO₃, NaOH, and Ca(OH)₂) on the cementitious properties of CG. Through different dosage and compressive strength tests, the efficiency ranking of the three activators was determined as follows: Na₂SiO₃ > Ca(OH)₂ > NaOH. A 10% Na₂SiO₃ dosage combined with 28-day curing was identified as the optimal condition for achieving sufficient reaction and structural densification. Under these conditions, the compressive strength of CG cementitious material reached 6.4 MPa, representing an increase of 190.9% compared to the blank group (2.2 MPa), significantly superior to Ca(OH)₂ (69.55%) and NaOH (62.27%). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses revealed that alkali activators function primarily by disrupting the crystalline framework of CG, promoting the cross-linking polymerization of silicon–aluminum monomers to generate dense cementitious products, thereby improving material performance. The Na₂SiO₃ is attributed to its “dual activation effect”, providing OH⁻ to create an alkaline environment while supplying reactive silicate ions (SiO₃²⁻) to accelerate N-A-S-H gel and C-A-S-H gel formation. These findings offer guidance for optimizing CG-based cementitious formulations for formula optimization and large-scale utilization of CG cementitious materials. Full article

Given the rapid mutation and high transmissibility of coronaviruses, especially SARS-CoV-2, comparative genomic studies are crucial for understanding viral evolution, transmission dynamics, and therapeutic development. In prior work, we analyzed and compared the spectral distribution patterns of various k-mer subsets across 920 genome sequences, spanning from primates to prokaryotes. This revealed an evolutionary mechanism in genome sequences, indicating the presence of both CG and TA-specific selection modes. In the present study, we further investigate the specific selection modes in coronavirus genomic sequences by examining the intrinsic distribution rules of 32 XYi 6-mer subset spectra. Our results show that coronavirus genomes exhibit only the CG-specific selection mode, with no evidence of TA-specific selection. Using the CG-specific selection mode, we identified CG1 6-mers as the fundamental subset underlying coronavirus genome evolution. To validate the CG1 subset, we constructed phylogenetic relationships for a set of coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 variant genomes. Comparative analysis confirmed that the resulting phylogenetic relationships align more closely with established knowledge. This study thus provides a theoretical framework for inferring phylogenetic relationships at the whole-genome level. Full article

This paper presents a comparative evaluation of a wave union (WU) time-to-digital converter (TDC) implemented on two Microchip flash-based field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs): the radiation-tolerant RTG4 (RT4G150-1CG) and the low-power SmartFusion2 (M2S150TS-1FCG1152). Both implementations use an identical VHDL architecture consisting of parallel tapped delay lines (TDLs) each with a WU pattern generator, edge-coded logic encoding, and real-time statistical bin width calibration. Single-shot precision (SSP), defined as the standard deviation of consecutive period measurements derived from calibrated timestamps, is evaluated across four independent input channels. Measurements are performed at five input frequencies (1, 2, 10, 20, and 40 MHz) and six ambient temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 60 °C. At a low input frequency, the RTG4 implementation achieves a mean SSP of 6.97 ps, while IGLOO2 yields 10.12 ps under identical conditions. As the input frequency increases, the SSP of both platforms decreases and converges to approximately 4.5 ps. However, at elevated temperatures, both devices experience observable degradation in SSP. To quantify thermal robustness, a thermal sensitivity coefficient (TSC) is introduced, defined as the rate of SSP variation with temperature. The results show that the same WU TDC core implemented on a space-graded FPGA exhibits improved thermal stability and reduced channel-to-channel variance compared to its equivalent on a commercial platform. Full article