Search Results (9,369)

The Arabidopsis thaliana Heat Shock Protein-Related (AtHSPR) gene participates in plant growth and abiotic stress tolerance, while its role in biotic stress resistance remains unclear. Here, we report that the athspr mutant is sensitive to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000, whereas over-expression of AtHSPR enhances the defense of Arabidopsis against the pathogen. AtHSPR expression was induced by treatment with Pst DC3000, flg22, or salicylic acid (SA). Transcriptome analysis showed that mutation of AtHSPR changed the expression patterns of genes associated with defense response, oxidation–reduction, and SA responses, as well as transcription factors. The biochemical evidence revealed that AtHSPR interacted with Thimet Oligopeptidase 1 (TOP1), which modulated the SA-mediated immune response. Co-expression of AtHSPR and TOP1 showed that the TOP1 protein, normally located in the chloroplasts, gathered around the nucleus in response to a pathogen. After pathogen treatment, dynamic tubular projections (stromules) were present, extending from the chloroplasts toward the nucleus, and TOP1 was observed in the nucleus, together with AtHSPR. The top1athspr double mutant had lower SA levels and was more sensitive to pathogens than the top1 and athspr single mutants. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the interaction between AtHSPR and TOP1 plays a positive role in SA-mediated plant resistance against Pst DC3000. Full article

Urban areas increasingly face summer overheating, highlighting the need for passive cooling strategies. Extensive green roofs offer cooling potential, but the individual roles of vegetation and irrigation remain insufficiently quantified. This study addresses this gap through a controlled field experiment using a 2 × 2 factorial design combining vegetated and non-vegetated surfaces with irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. Surface and waterproofing membrane temperatures were monitored during dry conditions and a three-day irrigation period and compared with a meteorologically similar reference day. A factor-based decomposition approach was applied to quantify the contributions of vegetation, irrigation, and their interaction. Results show that vegetation alone provides limited cooling under dry conditions, while irrigation acts as the dominant cooling factor by increasing substrate moisture and thermal capacity. The combined application achieved the most effective performance, reducing the 90th-percentile waterproofing membrane temperature (T_M,90) by 8.51 °C relative to the non-vegetated, non-irrigated reference configuration. The proposed framework supports performance-based design of green roofs under summer heat stress. Full article

In this study, hexagonal titanium dioxide nanotubes (hTNTs) fabricated by sonoelectrochemical anodization were thermally modified in air to investigate the influence of annealing temperature and heating/cooling rate on phase evolution, structural stability and electrochemical behavior. The samples were annealed at 450 °C, 550 °C, and 650 °C for 2 h using heating/cooling rates of 6 °C/min, 10 °C/min, and 20 °C/min. The hexagonal nanotubular morphology remained preserved after thermal treatment. However, increasing annealing temperature and heating/cooling rate promoted crack formation due to the thermally induced stress relaxation and phase transformation. The anatase content increased with increasing heating/cooling rate, indicating kinetically limited anatase-to-rutile transformation, whereas annealing at 650 °C promoted partial rutile formation. Electrochemical studies demonstrated that annealing temperature and heating/cooling rate affected the electrochemical behavior of hTNTs through different mechanisms. Increasing annealing temperature promoted structural ordering and partial anatase-to-rutile transformation, leading to reduced current response and enhanced electrochemical stability. In contrast, heating/cooling rate significantly affected impedance behavior and diffusion-related processes, indicating changes in charge transfer kinetics and ion transport within the nanotubular oxide layer. The results demonstrate that thermal treatment kinetics play an important role in controlling the phase composition and electrochemical behavior of hTNTs, providing insight into the thermal optimization of hexagonal TiO₂ nanotubes for advanced functional applications. Full article

Non-thermal millimeter-wave (MMW) irradiation represents a promising non-invasive strategy for cancer therapy, yet its effects in physiologically relevant 3D systems remain poorly defined. Here, we evaluated the biological impact of MMW exposure in 3D non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) spheroids (NCI-H1299, A549) and normal WI-38 fibroblasts under active cooling to suppress bulk heating. We demonstrate that cellular responses are governed primarily by power density (PD), irradiation geometry, and genotype-dependent susceptibility. High-PD pyramidal horn (PH) irradiation (~4.9 mW/cm²) induced rapid apoptosis, metabolic collapse, and near-complete loss of clonogenic survival, whereas lower-PD waveguide (WG) irradiation (~0.6 mW/cm²) produced depth-limited, cumulative cytotoxicity. Surviving cancer cells exhibited robust senescence-associated growth arrest, particularly in p53-deficient NCI-H1299 cells, indicating a dual apoptotic–senescent anti-proliferative response. In contrast, WI-38 fibroblasts showed minimal apoptosis and only transient stress-associated senescence, confirming selective tumor vulnerability. Mechanistic modeling suggests that MMW energy couples to glycan-rich membrane domains, generating localized electromagnetic hotspots that trigger calcium influx, mitochondrial dysfunction, and depth-dependent apoptosis. These findings establish a mechanistic basis for selective, non-thermal MMW-induced cytotoxicity in 3D NSCLC models and support further preclinical development of MMW-based therapeutic strategies. Full article

Male reproductive health has experienced an unprecedented decline over the past five decades, characterized by substantial reductions in sperm count and testosterone levels. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence on the global decline in sperm count and testosterone levels, examining epidemiological trends, underlying mechanisms, environmental drivers, and clinical implications. Sperm concentration declined by 51.6% globally between 1973 and 2018, with an accelerating trajectory post-2000 (from 1.16% to 2.64% per year). Concurrently, multiple independent studies document an age-independent secular decline in testosterone, averaging 1–2% per year across diverse populations. The etiology is multifactorial, involving endocrine-disrupting chemicals (bisphenol A, phthalates, pesticides, dioxins), lifestyle factors (obesity, sedentary behavior, smoking, heat exposure), and disruption of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. At the cellular level, mechanisms include Sertoli and Leydig cell dysfunction, oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, and sperm DNA fragmentation. Integrated clinical management combining lifestyle optimization, antioxidant therapy, and targeted endocrine interventions is essential. Prevention through environmental policy and public health initiatives represents the most promising long-term strategy. Full article

Defective seed filling, which manifests as seed wrinkling, severely impairs the yield and commercial quality of soybean crops. Soybean varieties independently developed in Heilongjiang Province exhibit distinct phenotypic variations in seed wrinkling across diverse ecological planting regions, whereas the molecular and physiological mechanisms driving such differences remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, two soybean genotypes with divergent heat resistance, namely, the heat-sensitive cultivar HH43 and the heat-tolerant cultivar HN76, were planted in three distinct ecological sites for comparative analysis. Statistical results indicated that ecological conditions serve as the predominant factor regulating seed-wrinkling variation, with high temperatures occurring during the seed-filling stage identified as the key abiotic stress trigger. Excessively high ambient temperatures triggered abnormal sucrose accumulation in the pod husks of heat-vulnerable HH43, disrupting the coupling relationship between sucrose metabolism and energy supply and thereby restricting starch biosynthesis in developing seeds. Transcriptome profiling combined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) further demonstrated that heat stress significantly suppressed the expression of energy transport-related genes and induced the dysregulated expression of starch synthesis-associated genes in susceptible soybean plants, and these transcriptional alterations were further verified via qRT-PCR assays. Collectively, short-term extreme high temperatures interrupt the carbon transport and allocation process from pod husks to seeds in heat-sensitive soybean cultivars. By contrast, heat-tolerant genotypes can sustain a stable physiological metabolism and molecular regulatory networks to effectively cope with high-temperature stress during the seed-filling period. Full article

Taiwan’s subtropical climate poses substantial heat stress challenges to poultry production. This study compared four red-feathered rooster lines (n = 10 per line, BB homozygous HSP70 genotype)—three commercially bred lines (F, T, K) selected for maximum body weight, and one native trial line (TLRI-09) developed through marker-assisted selection targeting the HSP70 BB genotype—during a one-hour acute heat challenge at 42 °C. A pre-specified statistical decision tree was applied: normality was assessed by the Shapiro–Wilk test for each group’s change score (Δ = post − pre); one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD was used when all groups were normally distributed; Kruskal–Wallis with Dunn’s post hoc test (Bonferroni correction) was used otherwise. Within-group pre-to-post changes were assessed by paired t-test. TLRI-09 showed a substantially lower body weight (909 ± 102 g vs. 2039–2226 g) and zero mortality, whereas each commercial line experienced one death (10%). Cloacal temperatures in F, T, and K groups exceeded the thermometer’s upper limit (>44 °C) within one hour; TLRI-09 reached only 42.8 ± 0.1 °C. Respiratory rate increment was highest in TLRI-09 (Δ = 82.0 ± 8.4 breaths/min) and differed significantly among lines (p < 0.001). Plasma T₃ change differed among lines (p = 0.006); post hoc analysis identified a significant K vs. T contrast only (p = 0.019). These results indicate that, despite sharing the same HSP70 genotype, breeding objective is an important determinant of acute thermal resilience—an observation that warrants further validation under chronic and commercial production conditions. Full article

Globally, Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is known as the most effective biological control agent due to its ability to parasitize insect pest eggs. However, identifying an appropriate host is vital for Trichogramma to prosper. Therefore, this study delves into the complex role of semiochemicals in shaping the host-seeking behavior of Trichogramma parasitoids, with a particular focus on their responses to both plant-derived and host-derived cues. The mechanism of semiochemical reception in Trichogramma wasps relies on a highly specialized, sensitive olfactory and gustatory system to locate host eggs and mates. Semiochemicals, which mediate ecological interactions, have been identified as pivotal in influencing the parasitic efficiency of Trichogramma species. Trichogramma’s host-seeking behavior is influenced not solely by ovipositional cues but also by the intrinsic physical attributes of Lepidopteran hosts, such as the scales on the wings and abdomen, which emit semiochemicals capable of eliciting positive chemotactic responses, thereby guiding parasitoids toward optimal sites for oviposition. Furthermore, the interplay between insect-derived and plant-derived chemical cues exhibits a synergistic effect, collectively enhancing the chemotactic attraction of Trichogramma, thereby fine-tuning its host-seeking behavior with greater precision and specificity. This study further underscores Trichogramma’s innate behavioral ability to discriminate between host eggs of varying developmental stages, facilitating the precise identification and selection of the most suitable host for parasitization. Age and experience both make Trichogramma more selective of hosts, but younger parasitoids may take a broader approach to host selection due to their greater life expectancy. Furthermore, the removal of these cues affects their host localization and learning abilities. Associative learning enables Trichogramma to exhibit flexible behaviors, providing them with a selective advantage; allows them to explore various hosts; and reduces environmental uncertainty. Plant structure, host density, and host age are the key factors that significantly influence the foraging and parasitism of Trichogramma. The searching speed of this parasitoid is significantly influenced by temperature. Heat stress increases VOC emissions in plants such as potato via stomatal opening, reducing herbivore attraction and enhancing parasitoid recruitment. Furthermore, air pollution, including CO₂, O₃, and NOx, impairs parasitoid efficiency by disrupting volatile-mediated host location and reducing biological control performance. Trichogramma wasps are generally effective biological control agents, but their success depends on the species used, target pest, crop, release density, and field conditions. Overall, species such as T. ostriniae, T. japonicum, and T. leucaniae show the strongest performance in several crops by increasing parasitism, reducing pest damage, and improving yield. This study highlights the successful integration of semiochemical cues in pest management programs and the effective utilization of Trichogramma in conjunction with entomopathogenic bacteria to control Lepidopteran pests. This approach contributes to the development of more effective pest management strategies, thereby promoting agricultural sustainability. Full article

Low temperature is a major environmental factor influencing the reproductive performance of crustaceans, particularly during gonadal development. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the phenotypic, physiological, and molecular responses of crustaceans to cold stress, with a focus on its regulatory effects on gonadal development. Available evidence indicates that low temperature generally delays gonadal maturation, reduces the gonadosomatic index, impairs oocyte development and yolk deposition, and suppresses spawning. Mechanistically, cold stress induces energy limitation and triggers a growth–reproduction trade-off, in which resources are preferentially allocated to survival and somatic maintenance rather than reproductive investment. This process is closely associated with lipid metabolism remodeling, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered ATP-dependent energy sensing. At the molecular level, several pathways and regulatory factors are involved, including PI3K–Akt–FoxO, AMPK/mTOR, heat shock proteins, vitellogenin and its receptor, cell cycle regulators, antioxidant defense systems, and neuroendocrine mediators such as MIH, MOIH, and ecdysteroids. Emerging evidence also suggests potential roles for epigenetic regulation and species- or population-specific adaptation in shaping reproductive responses to low temperatures. Overall, this review provides an integrated framework for understanding how cold stress modulates crustacean gonadal development and highlights key directions for future studies and aquaculture applications. However, a comprehensive framework integrating energy metabolism, neuroendocrine signaling, and molecular pathways to explain reproductive suppression under cold stress is currently lacking. Full article

The automotive panoramic roof exhibits a large-size and thin-wall geometry, with a length-to-thickness ratio approaching the thousand level. This geometric feature makes its forming quality highly sensitive to forming conditions. During the glass molding process, variations in temperature evolution, loading, and cooling parameters may lead to residual stress accumulation and springback deformation, thereby affecting dimensional accuracy and final forming quality. In this study, a full-process finite element model was established and combined with an L16(4^5) orthogonal design to investigate the effects of five key process parameters—heating temperature, holding time, quenching air velocity, quenching air pressure, and quenching time—on the mean residual stress and mean springback displacement in the glass molding process (GMP). The results showed that, within the given parameter ranges, heating temperature, holding time, and quenching time had relatively pronounced effects on the mean residual stress; the mean residual stress was relatively low when the heating temperature was 680 °C, the holding time was 3 s, and the quenching time was 12 s. Heating temperature, quenching air velocity, and quenching time had relatively pronounced effects on the mean springback displacement; the mean springback displacement was relatively low when the heating temperature was 677.5 °C, the quenching air velocity was 13 m/s, and the quenching time was 10 s. Based on the orthogonal analysis, regression models for the mean residual stress and mean springback displacement were further developed, and parameter combinations were screened using the NSGA-III method. Experimental validation showed that the relative error of the mean residual stress was controlled within 15%, indicating that the established model could, to some extent, capture the relationship between process parameters and forming quality indicators, thereby providing guidance for precision forming and process optimization of large-scale thin-walled automotive panoramic roofs. Full article

As the core molecular chaperones of the cellular stress response, the heat shock protein (HSP) family has gained extensive attention for its role in the occurrence, development, and target organ damage of hypertension. This review aimed to comprehensively summarize the research progress of the HSP family in the field of hypertension, and to analyze its key roles in the pathogenesis of hypertension, including its regulatory effects on key pathological processes such as endothelial dysfunction, proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. It also summarized the potential value of HSPs as biomarkers in the early diagnosis, condition monitoring, and prognostic evaluation of hypertension. Moreover, it discussed in depth the efficacy and safety of intervention strategies targeting HSPs, including the regulation of HSPs by gene editing, the targeted effects of small-molecule inhibitors, and the modulatory effects of natural products. We need to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration mechanisms, accelerate the transformation of basic research results into clinical applications, carry out large-scale clinical trials, and develop specific modulators in the future, so as to ultimately provide solid scientific theoretical support and a practical clinical basis for the precise prevention and treatment of hypertension. The findings of this review not only provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of hypertension but also lay a theoretical foundation for the development of HSP-based biomarkers and targeted therapeutic strategies. Full article

Heat stress occurs when total environmental and metabolic heat production is greater than an animal’s ability to dissipate that heat. Heat stress negatively impacts feeder cattle performance and welfare. Limited research has been conducted to determine if feeding cattle in the evening, thereby shifting their metabolic heat production to a cooler period of the day, can help mitigate heat stress. This pen-level randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of evening feeding (PM; feedings at 2000, 2300, and 0200 h; n = 24 pens) versus morning feeding (AM; feedings at 0500, 0800, and 1200 h; n = 24 pens) on terminally sorted steer performance in a commercial feedyard in the Pacific Northwest. Data collection included feed delivery, water consumption, health events, open mouth breathing prevalence, and carcass traits. Linear and generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to determine potential differences between treatment group and temperature-humidity index (THI; <80 versus ≥80). Only 14% of the total study days had a THI ≥ 80, indicating little to no heat stress impacts. There were no differences found between PM and AM for any outcome (p < 0.05). Regardless of treatment group, water consumption tended (p = 0.07) to increase, and open mouth breathing significantly (p < 0.05) increased on days with THI ≥ 80. Further research is warranted to assess evening feeding as a heat stress mitigation strategy in a feedyard setting. Full article

Background/Objectives: Tordylium trachycarpum Boiss. (Apiaceae) is traditionally used in Kurdish ethnomedicine for the management of gastrointestinal disorders; however, its pharmacological efficacy and safety profile remain insufficiently investigated. This study evaluated, for the first time, the gastroprotective activity and associated antioxidant, inflammatory, and apoptotic responses of the methanolic extract of T. trachycarpum using an ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in Sprague–Dawley rats. Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, coumarins, and glycosides. Acute oral toxicity testing demonstrated no signs of toxicity at doses up to 5 g/kg. Gastric ulceration was induced by absolute ethanol, and animals were pretreated with the extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) or omeprazole (20 mg/kg). Results: The extract significantly decreased the gastric lesion area from 258.50 ± 6.38 mm² in the ulcer control group to 143.70 ± 0.76 mm² and 115.50 ± 0.76 mm², corresponding to ulcer inhibition rates of 44.41% and 55.31%. Additionally, the extract increased mucus production, maintained mucosal structure, and raised stomach pH. Biochemical analysis showed a significant increase in antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] and a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating attenuation of oxidative stress. In addition, the extract modulated pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10). Blood-based ELISA analysis demonstrated increased expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and reduced Bax levels, suggesting anti-apoptotic activity. Conclusions: These findings indicate that T. trachycarpum exerts significant gastroprotective activity through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, supporting its traditional use and highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic candidate for the management of gastric ulcers. Full article

This study evaluates regulated deficit irrigation (IR) and post-harvest dehydration (DH) as complementary strategies to mitigate extreme thermal stress on the red grape variety Avgoustiatis during the hot 2024 vintage. Analysis of the berries reveals that while IR significantly expanded vine productivity to 2.75 kg/vine compared to 1.32 kg/vine recorded in control vines (CO), it successfully maintained berry weight (240 g). Conversely, DH induced controlled water loss, reducing berry weight to 93 g and concentrating must sugars to 27.3 ^°Brix, relative to the 23.2 ^°Brix observed in IR. Crucially, both IR and DH prevented the thermal degradation of total acidity (6.73 g/L and 7.25 g/L respectively) which caused by heat stress in CO samples (6.21 g/L). In the finished wines, both practices increased colour intensity by lowering anthocyanin extractability. However, chemical profiling clearly differentiated the treatments with DH maximized skin tannins (164.7 mg/L), yielding highly structured, astringent wines characterized by plum aromas driven by elevated nerol content (492.91 μg/L). Conversely, IR wines presented a more complex volatile profile, boosting fruity and floral notes. In conclusion, as irrigation becomes increasingly restricted by water scarcity under climate change, post-harvest dehydration offers an effective alternative for producing premium, structurally dense red wines. Full article

Cigarette smoke is a major inducer of oxidative stress, promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and contributing to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Heated tobacco products (HTP) and e-cigarettes are promoted as reduced-risk alternatives; however, their impact on cellular redox regulation remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of conventional cigarette smoke extract (CSE), HTP, and e-cigarette extracts on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) permeability mediated by aquaporins (peroxiporins) and on the activity of key antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) in ATII-like cells. Eight aquaporins were detected at the mRNA level, and seven were confirmed at the protein level. CSE markedly inhibited H₂O₂ permeability across plasma, mitochondrial, and nuclear membranes. HTP extract impaired H₂O₂ transport across the plasma membrane and nuclear envelope, while mitochondrial permeability was preserved. Both CSE and HTP extract reduced superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. In contrast, e-cigarette extract exerted minimal effects on membrane H₂O₂ permeability and selectively decreased superoxide dismutase activity. Overall, our findings identify a graded pattern of oxidative toxicity (CSE > HTP > e-cigarette) and highlight peroxiporins as critical regulators of intracellular redox homeostasis. Although less harmful than cigarettes, alternative nicotine delivery systems are not biologically inert. Full article