Search Results (39,200)

Marbling, or intramuscular fat (IMF), is a primary determinant of high-quality beef, defining key sensory attributes and nutritional value. Yunling (YL) cattle, an indigenous breed from Yunnan, China, are renowned for their superior marbling, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study employed an integrated transcriptomic, lipidomic, and amino acid metabolomic approach to systematically compare the multi-omics profiles of the longissimus dorsi muscle among YL, Angus (AGS), and Simmental (XMTE) cattle. Transcriptome analysis identified 2053 and 2156 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in XMTE vs. YL and AGS vs. YL, respectively. These DEGs were primarily enriched in the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as oxidative phosphorylation. Lipidomic analysis revealed a distinct lipid profile in YL cattle, identifying 27 characteristic lipid molecules (e.g., SM(d20:0/24:1), DG(16:0/18:1(11Z)/0:0)) compared to XMTE and 17 differential lipids compared to AGS. The amino acid metabolome showed that Beta-Alanine and L-Aspartic acid levels in YL were 42.6% and 54.8% lower than in XMTE, respectively (p < 0.01), and levels of several functional amino acids were significantly reduced compared to AGS. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) constructed a gene-metabolite network, identifying key modules strongly correlated with lipid and amino acid metabolism (|r| > 0.6). Within these modules, energy metabolism-related genes such as NDUFB1, COX7C, and IDH3B, along with signal transduction genes including ITGB3, PDGFRA, and FN1, were found to synergistically regulate marbling formation in YL cattle. This study systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying both marbling formation and the nutritional characteristics of meat in Yunling cattle. This provides a theoretical foundation for genetic improvement and offers potential molecular targets to enhance both marbling and overall meat quality in other indigenous cattle breeds worldwide. Full article

Phytoplankton are key indicators of water quality and low-cost tools for freshwater monitoring, yet their diversity and ecological drivers remain poorly documented in the Tropical Andes. This study provides the first national-scale, multi-ecosystem assessment of net phytoplanktonic communities (including microalgae and cyanobacteria), across Ecuador, integrating physicochemical, multivariate, and geospatial analyses. Eighteen lakes and rivers from three biogeographic regions and a wide altitudinal gradient were surveyed, yielding 129 taxa, 77 identified at species level, the most comprehensive checklist reported to date for Ecuador. Community structure showed a clear lentic–lotic differentiation driven by hydrodynamic contrasts, while the absence of distance–decay patterns indicated high dispersal and environmental filtering pattern rather than spatial structuring. Anthropogenic pressure acted as a secondary gradient: pristine high-Andean lakes were dominated by desmids and diatoms, whereas agricultural and urban basins showed chlorophyte and potentially toxic cyanobacterial assemblages. Palmer’s Index detected organic pollution but underestimated eutrophication in endorheic, geochemically enriched lakes. Land-use effects presented strong basin-scale signals in lakes but weak correlations in rivers due to overriding hydromorphological constraints. These findings establish a robust spatial baseline for freshwater bioassessment in the Andes, demonstrating the value of phytoplankton as effective, low-cost indicators readily applicable to national water-quality assessment programs. Full article

Aluminum chloride (AlCl₃), a widely used inorganic polymeric coagulant in everyday products and industrial materials, has been associated with male reproductive toxicity, though its molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. To investigate the complex molecular mechanisms underlying GC-1spg cells’ responses to AlCl₃ exposure, transcriptome and small RNA (sRNA) sequencing analyses were performed. Transcriptome sequencing identified 1168 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), while sRNA sequencing detected 65 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs). An mRNA–miRNA regulatory network was established, and functional enrichment analysis showed that its target genes were significantly associated with multiple signaling pathways, particularly the p53 pathway. Further validation via Western blot and Hoechst 33342 staining assays confirmed that GC-1spg cells underwent apoptosis upon AlCl₃ exposure via the p53 signaling pathway. Among the identified DEMs, mmu-miR-503-5p was found to enhance GC-1spg cells’ tolerance to AlCl₃-induced stress. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter assays and RT-qPCR confirmed that mmu-miR-503-5p directly binds to the Islr gene, which plays a role in modulating GC-1spg cell tolerance to AlCl₃-induced stress. These findings provide critical insights into the molecular mechanisms governing GC-1spg cells’ responses to AlCl₃ exposure. Full article

Dendrobium officinale (DO) is a traditional medicinal and edible plant whose polysaccharides help modulate gastrointestinal and metabolic functions. Fresh DO is commonly processed into “Fengdou” to prolong shelf life, but the effects of this processing on polysaccharide structure and bioactivity remain unclear. In this study, polysaccharides from fresh DO (FDOP) and Fengdou (DDOP) were isolated, purified, and comparatively characterized. Based on structural analyses, FDOP and DDOP have similar functional groups and O-acetylated pyranosyl structures in both polysaccharides, which are identified as mannose–glucose heteropolysaccharides. However, FDOP was characterized by a higher mannose-to-glucose ratio (79.77:19.57) and molecular weight (187.1 kDa), as well as a more structurally diversified →4-linked backbone. In contrast, DDOP contained more glucose (68.74:30.94) and exhibited a lower molecular weight (125.1 kDa) and simplified backbone. In zebrafish models, both polysaccharides were found to alleviate loperamide-induced constipation and reduce lipid accumulation. DDOP showed stronger constipation-relieving activity, whereas FDOP exerted more pronounced hypolipidaemic effects, which can be ascribed to the higher molecular weight, mannose enrichment, and more complex backbone structure. These findings provide a structural basis and theoretical support for developing DO-derived polysaccharides as functional food ingredients targeting constipation and dyslipidaemia. Full article

Background: Plasma fibrinogen (FIB) levels exhibit a significant elevation during the acute phase of ischemic stroke (IS), and their dynamic fluctuations serve as important biomarkers for stroke onset, disease progression, and long-term prognosis. Tong-Qiao-Huo-Xue Decoction (TQHXD) is highly effective in treating blood stasis syndromes affecting the head and face. Nevertheless, the association between TQHXD and FIB in the underlying mechanism of treating IS warrants further investigation. Methods: Proteomics analysis predicted the potential therapeutic targets of TQHXD for IS. An in vivo model of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion (MCAO/R) was created in mice. To explore the interaction between FIB and NLRP3, as well as to verify the particular healing outcomes of TQHXD. Results: An increased blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability was observed after MCAO/R, accompanied by substantial accumulation of FIB in the brain. In vivo experiments demonstrated that FIB triggered the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia. Proteomic analysis revealed a significant increase in FIB levels following model induction, which were markedly reduced after treatment with TQHXD; KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these changes were primarily associated with the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Laser speckle contrast imaging showed that TQHXD treatment significantly improved cerebral blood flow and attenuated brain injury in mice. Fluorescence imaging, ELISA, and Western blotting results collectively demonstrated that TQHXD effectively reduced FIB accumulation and suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation. MD and pull-down experiments further demonstrated a strong interaction strength between FIB and NLRP3. Conclusions: FIB accumulates in the ischemic penumbra following CIRI, while TQHXD can effectively down-regulate FIB expression and inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation to mitigate CIRI. These findings provide a novel theoretical foundation and treatment direction for stroke management in clinical settings. Full article

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression and play important roles in plant development and reproduction. Liriodendron chinense, a representative woody species of Magnoliaceae, produces a large quantity of pollen but exhibits low natural seed set. Despite numerous studies on factors influencing its low seed production, the molecular mechanisms underlying this reproductive limitation remain poorly understood. Here, we performed small RNA sequencing and transcriptome analyses across five tissues of L. chinense, including leaf, calyx, petal, pistil, and pollen. Genome-wide identification yielded 688 miRNAs, comprising both conserved and species-specific members. Expression-based clustering revealed that miRNAs are organized into distinct, tissue-associated modules rather than being uniformly expressed across organs. Among these, a pollen-enriched miRNA module was clearly separated from those associated with leaves and other floral tissues. By integrating sRNA-seq and RNA-seq data, we identified miRNA–target pairs displaying anticorrelated expression patterns, providing expression-level support for miRNA mediated regulation. In pollen, two complementary regulatory modes were observed: low-abundance miRNAs associated with highly expressed target genes, and highly expressed miRNAs associated with repressed targets. The predicted targets of pollen-associated miRNAs were enriched in biological processes central to pollen development, including signal transduction, polarity establishment, vesicle trafficking, and cell wall biogenesis. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive, tissue-resolved view of miRNA expression and pollen-associated miRNA–target relationships in L. chinense, offering candidate regulatory modules for future functional studies of pollen development. Full article

The corrosion behavior and passive-film stability of a β-TiZrNbTa (β-TZNT) alloy were investigated in artificial seawater (ASW), focusing on the effects of pH, temperature, immersion time, fluoride ion concentration, and potential scan rate. In addition to electrochemical methods such as open-circuit potential (OCP), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed for surface characterization. The establishment of a stable and efficient passive layer enriched in Zr-, Nb-, and Ta-oxides was responsible for the β-TZNT alloy’s superior corrosion resistance in fluoride-free ASW when compared to commercially pure titanium. Reduced passive-film resistance resulted from corrosion kinetics being greatly accelerated by decreasing the pH and increasing the temperature. The presence of fluoride ions strongly affected the passivity of the alloy due to the chemical dissolution of TiO₂ through the formation of soluble fluoride complexes, resulting in an increase in the corrosion current densities by more than one order of magnitude. A bilayer passive structure with a compact inner barrier layer and a porous outer layer was identified by EIS analysis. The stability of this structure gradually decreased with increasing fluoride concentration and acidity. Over time, passive-film degradation was dominant in fluoride-free seawater, whereas prolonged exposure in fluoride-containing media promoted partial re-passivation. Overall, these results highlight the potential and limitations of the β-TZNT alloy for marine and offshore applications by offering new mechanistic insights into the synergistic effects of fluoride ions and environmental factors on corrosion performance. Full article

Amidst rapid urbanization, fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has emerged as a critical environmental challenge in China, posing substantial health risks due to its complex composition and diverse sources. This study provides a seasonally resolved analysis of PM_2.5 composition and multi-faceted toxicity in Hefei, a major Chinese manufacturing center. PM_2.5 samples collected across four seasons were chemically characterized for water-soluble ions, carbonaceous components, metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and derivatives. Their toxicological effects were evaluated through oxidative potential (OP), cytotoxicity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. The results reveal significant seasonal variations in PM_2.5 concentration and composition. Winter exhibited the highest PM_2.5 levels (68.31 ± 17.12 μg/m³), with enrichment of secondary inorganic aerosols (SIAs), toxic metals (Pb, Cd, As), and high-molecular-weight PAHs. Spring showed elevated crustal elements (Al, Fe, Mn), while summer had the lowest pollutant concentrations. Toxicity assays reflected the following patterns: winter PM_2.5 demonstrated the highest OP (0.1423 ± 0.0368 nmol DTT/min/μg), strongest cytotoxicity (51.85% cell viability), and greatest ROS induction (2.28-fold increase). Statistical analyses identified distinct toxicity drivers: OP was associated with SIA (NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺) and redox-active metals (Cu, Zn); cytotoxicity correlated with toxic metals and PAHs; whereas ROS showed weaker compositional correlations. This integrated “composition–toxicity” assessment reveals that the elevated health risk in winter stems from a synergistic mix of secondary aerosols and combustion-derived toxicants, urging a shift toward component-specific, risk-based air quality management strategies. Full article

A study on the sources, bioconcentration, and translocation of heavy metals in Haloxylon ammodendron in the Eastern Junggar Coalfield, Xinjiang, China, was conducted and evaluated. The quantities of Pb, Cd, and Cr were 1.2, 22.5, and 1.9 times higher than the baseline values of Xinjiang soils, respectively. The mean concentrations of these heavy metals in the rhizosphere soil of Haloxylon ammodendron were 48.81, 17.74, 93.25, 3.32, 29.05, and 26.95 mg/kg. The exceedance rates for Cd, Cr, and Pb in bare soil were 100%, 99.03%, and 75.73%, respectively, indicating significant accumulation of heavy metals, with Cd demonstrating the highest enrichment degree. Most sampling sites showed moderate pollution according to the Pollution Load Index (PLI). Meanwhile, the Pollution Index (PN) indicated elevated pollution levels at all the sampling sites, with Cr identified as the first contaminant. The absolute principal component score–multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model revealed three principal sources of heavy metal pollutants in soil: 44.2% from natural processes and mining activities, 22.7% from industrial coal combustion and sewage, and 33.1% of undetermined origins. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) and translocation factors (TFs) revealed Haloxylon ammodendron to have clear accumulation and translocation abilities with respect to these heavy metals. The fuzzy membership function showed that the overall assessment score for Haloxylon ammodendron was 9.1325, indicating the substantial remediation potential of Haloxylon ammodendron for heavy metal pollutants, especially for Cd. Furthermore, Haloxylon ammodendron demonstrated substantial Pb and Cr accumulation and remediation ability. Haloxylon ammodendron exhibited remarkable heavy metal accumulation and translocation abilities, making it a suitable tool for phytoremediation in the study area. The findings of this study will prove useful in promoting and implementing sustainable mining practices and safeguarding regional ecological security and may contribute to advancing local ecological conservation and social economic development. Full article

Background: Advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with existing treatments hampered by drug resistance. This underscores the urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets. The role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors in LUAD remains unclear, and this study aimed to investigate their expression profiles, prognostic significance, and the antitumor potential of Euphorbia Factor L2 (EFL2). Methods: Bioinformatics analyses were performed to evaluate NPY receptors in LUAD. Lentivirus-mediated stable neuropeptide Y receptor 5 (NPY5R) knockdown, functional assays including CCK-8, flow cytometry, and scratch assay, PRESTO-Tango, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and qPCR were employed to validate the antitumor effects of EFL2 and the functional role of NPY5R. Results: High expression of NPY5R correlated with poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration in LUAD. EFL2 targeted NPY5R, inhibiting A549 cell proliferation and migration while inducing apoptosis. NPY5R knockdown further enhanced these antitumor effects, and the combination of NPY5R knockdown and EFL2 treatment synergistically enriched extracellular matrix (ECM), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Four potential molecular targets were identified. Conclusions: NPY5R is a promising therapeutic target for LUAD. While no clinical drugs targeting NPY5R are currently available, preclinical evidence supports its potential for anticancer drug development. EFL2 exerts antitumor effects via targeting NPY5R, offering useful guidance for developing novel LUAD therapies. Full article

Small heat shock proteins (HSP20s) are known to function as molecular chaperones that bind to denatured proteins under high-temperature stress and assist in their conformational recovery, thereby contributing to plant thermotolerance. In the present study, three HSP20 genes—PcHSP12.8, PcHSP12.9, and PcHSP13.4—were identified in the transcriptome of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua. Bioinformatics analysis indicated their phylogenetic relationships, conserved domains, and potential tertiary structures. RT-qPCR analysis revealed up-regulation of all three genes in response to heat stress. Subcellular localization studies further suggested that PcHSP12.8, PcHSP12.9, and PcHSP13.4 are predominantly localized in the nucleus. Heterologous expression of these genes in a heat-sensitive yeast mutant appeared to improve cell survival under heat stress relative to the control strain. In Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing these genes, moderate improvements in germination rate, root elongation, and stress survival were observed compared to wild-type plants under heat stress. Transgenic lines also showed a tendency toward reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation, as reflected by decreased 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) staining, together with increased activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), as well as higher chlorophyll retention under thermal stress. Taken together, these findings imply that the three PcHSP20 genes could be involved in thermotolerance in P. cyrtonema. Full article

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive tumor with limited therapeutic options. Zika virus (ZIKV) has demonstrated activity against GBM; however, the cellular pathways behind this interaction remain unclear. We systematically reviewed open-access primary studies assessing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GBM models infected with wild-type or engineered ZIKV using transcriptomic approaches (inclusion criteria); reviews, restricted-access studies, commentaries, preprints, abstracts, and articles lacking data or not meeting these conditions were excluded (PROSPERO CRD420251077092). We performed a pathway analysis of reported DEGs. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched up to 5 March 2025; 139 records were identified and 5 met the eligibility criteria. Risk of bias was evaluated using an adapted ToxRTool for in vitro experiments and the SYRCLE RoB tool for in vivo models. Altogether, 4360 genes were reported as upregulated and 2072 as downregulated; 12 genes (DNAJB9, SESN2, PMAIP1, PPP1R15A, KLF4, ATF3, IFNB1, IFNL1, ANKRD33B, ZC3HAV1, OASL, and CCL5) were consistently upregulated, none were consistently downregulated. Pathway analysis of the studies providing complete DEG lists identified 23 commonly enriched pathways mostly related to interferon signaling. These findings may help guide future research in this field; nevertheless, methodological heterogeneity limits comparability, reinforcing the need for standardized protocols. Funding: ITpS, CNPq, and FAPEMIG. Full article

Hydraulic supports, being the pivotal equipment in coal mining face operations, exhibit complex installation procedure knowledge that impedes efficient knowledge extraction and utilization, thereby hindering the provision of scientifically grounded installation guidance and ultimately affecting equipment installation efficiency. This study proposes the development of a domain-specific large-scale model utilizing named entity recognition (NER) for knowledge extraction to enhance the efficiency of hydraulic shield installation. Initially, a few-shot data augmentation method is introduced to enrich hydraulic shield assembly process data, thereby providing a robust dataset for fine-tuning the large language model (LLM). Subsequently, Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) fine-tuning techniques are leveraged to optimize large-scale model adaptation. Comparative analysis of the model’s performance post-fine-tuning was conducted using multiple evaluation metrics, revealing that the fine-tuned Deepseek-R1-7b-Distill model exhibited the most superior performance indicators. Ultimately, the fine-tuned Deepseek-R1-7b-Distill model was selected as the domain-specific LLM for NER in hydraulic support installation processes. The experimental results demonstrate that the entity recognition F1 score across all entity types reached 0.8887, validating the efficacy of the methodology. This provides technical support for enhancing the installation efficiency of hydraulic supports. Full article

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, underscoring the need to elucidate molecular mechanisms that regulate tumor cell state and behavior. Leucine zipper–like post-translational regulator 1 (LZTR1) regulates RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, yet LZTR1-dependent transcriptional alterations in HCC cells remain poorly defined. To address this gap and determine how LZTR1 loss reshapes signaling, transcriptional programs, and cellular phenotypes, we established a LZTR1 knockout (KO) Hep3B model and combined pathway profiling with transcriptomic and functional analyses. Immunoblotting revealed increased phosphorylation across the RAF–MEK–ERK–RSK cascade in LZTR1 KO cells. Transcriptome-wide RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) identified differentially expressed genes, and selected findings were validated by qRT-PCR. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene set was enriched in control cells. At the protein level, LZTR1 loss remodeled EMT-associated markers in a hybrid epithelial–mesenchymal pattern consistent with epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). Vimentin was suppressed at transcript and protein levels. Functionally, LZTR1 KO cells exhibited impaired wound closure and reduced transwell migration and invasion. Collectively, these findings define an EMP-related molecular and phenotypic state associated with LZTR1 deficiency in Hep3B cells, providing insight into how LZTR1 loss reshapes tumor cell behavior in HCC. Full article

In this study, the plasticizing effect of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) on polylactic acid (PLA) films mixed with sumac extract (SE) was investigated. DES (ChCl-Lev), consisting of choline chloride (ChCl) and levunic acid (Lev), was used. Chemical analysis confirmed the synthesis of ChCl–Lev and demonstrated the effective integration of the ChCl–Lev and SE system into PLA films. Incorporation of ChCl–Lev into the film led to an approximately 76% increase in elongation at break. This increase continued at approximately 49% in the film with 1% SE (SE1_ChCl-Lev10) additive. Antioxidant activity increased with SE content, reaching ABTS and DPPH scavenging activities of 96% and 83% at 1% SE (SE1_ChCl-Lev10) and 98% and 91% at 10% SE (SE10_ChCl-Lev10). Furthermore, antibacterial activity increased significantly as SE concentration increased; the film containing 10% SE showed strong inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus at a rate of 96.95 ± 0.32, while the inhibition rate against Escherichia coli also increased to 26.68 ± 2.89, whereas no antibacterial activity was observed in pure PLA. Considering these findings, it is anticipated that films produced using an innovative strategy could be a potential candidate for packaging, active food contact materials, and biomedical applications. Full article