Search Results (1,730)

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in paddy soils represents a major risk to global food security and human health because Cd can readily enter the food chain through rice consumption. Therefore, clarification of the key processes and mechanisms by which agronomic practices regulate Cd accumulation in rice is essential. Based on integrated two-year pot and field experiments, we showed that different nitrogen fertilizer formulations, including nitrate-N (N), ammonium-N (A), and urea (U), had distinct effects on Cd accumulation and grain yield in rice. The N treatment reduced Cd concentrations in brown rice by 25.29% to 70% in the pot experiment and by 4.25% to 89.97% in the field experiment but decreased grain yield by 5% to 25%. By contrast, the A treatment increased Cd concentrations in brown rice by 17.86% to 58.62%, while maintaining or slightly increasing grain yield (−3% to +5%), and the U treatment showed intermediate responses. These responses were mainly associated with nitrogen-induced shifts in rhizosphere chemistry, especially changes in soil Cd availability linked to pH and exchangeable H⁺, although unmeasured redox-related processes may have also contributed under flooded conditions. Further analyses of internal Cd distribution and translocation, together with exploratory random forest modeling, suggested that Cd transport efficiency at key stem internodes and Cd redistribution from the panicle to the grain were important regulatory nodes associated with Cd concentrations in brown rice. These regulatory nodes were markedly affected by fertilizer formulation. Overall, our results describe a continuous pathway from rhizosphere Cd availability to internal transport and partitioning, through which nitrogen fertilizer formulations regulate Cd accumulation in rice. This study aimed to clarify how different nitrogen fertilizer formulations regulate the trade-off between grain yield and Cd accumulation in rice, based on the hypothesis that these formulations differentially modify rhizosphere chemistry and Cd bioavailability, that specific stem nodes contribute to control of grain Cd accumulation, and that the main regulatory processes differ between pot and field systems. This study provides s a scientific basis for developing practical nitrogen-management strategies to support safe rice production in Cd-contaminated paddy fields. Full article

The Sanchakou tremolite jade deposit in Qinghai Province represents a significant contact-metasomatic jade resource. Unlike typical contact-metasomatic (D-type) deposits—commonly associated with intermediate-to-acidic intrusions and magnesian carbonate protoliths—the Sanchakou deposit is genetically linked to a relatively SiO₂-poor gabbro intrusion and dolomite. This atypical geological setting raises fundamental questions concerning the sources of ore-forming components and the nature of metasomatic processes involved. To address these questions, this study integrates petrographic observations, whole-rock major- and trace-element geochemistry, and Sr isotopic analyses of tremolite jade, host dolomite wallrocks, gabbro, and their hydrothermally altered counterparts to constrain the origins of Ca, Mg, and Si and to reconstruct the metasomatic evolution of the system. Our results reveal a multi-sourced contribution to ore formation: Ca is derived exclusively from dolomite; >98% of Si originates from an external crustal fluid; and Mg is supplied predominantly (77%) from dolomite, with the remaining 23% sourced from altered gabbro. Strontium isotopic data further confirm the involvement of a gabbro-derived fluid characterized by elevated ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios but low Sr concentrations. A well-defined, continuous metasomatic sequence—comprising silicification → diopsidization → tremolitization → nephritization—is clearly documented. The deposit formed in a post-collisional extensional tectonic setting, driven by heat-induced double metasomatism. This study clarifies the provenance and evolutionary pathways of ore-forming materials in this atypical contact-metasomatic system and provides a genetic framework for analogous jade deposits associated with mafic intrusions. Full article

Streptococcus salivarius-derived extracellular vesicles (SsEVs) have emerged as important mediators of host–microbe communication, but their role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. In this study, SsEVs were isolated and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis, and their uptake by CAL-27 cells was confirmed by fluorescence imaging. Functional assays demonstrated that SsEVs inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CAL-27 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. RNA sequencing revealed substantial transcriptional reprogramming following SsEV treatment, with enrichment analyses indicating the suppression of pathways associated with cell adhesion, extracellular matrix remodeling, lipid metabolism, and particularly Notch signaling. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set nariant analysis (GSVA) consistently identified Notch signaling as significantly downregulated. Further validation showed that SsEVs markedly decreased the expression of JAG1, NOTCH1, and HEYL at both the mRNA and protein levels. In a CAL-27 xenograft model, SsEV treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth and reduced JAGGED1, NOTCH1, and HEYL expression in tumor tissues, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that SsEVs suppress OSCC progression both in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the JAG1–NOTCH1–HEYL signaling axis, suggesting that microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles may represent a promising therapeutic approach for OSCC. Full article

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are essential steroidal phytohormones that regulate plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses. Recent studies have demonstrated the important roles of BRs in enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, temperature extremes, heavy metal toxicity, and oxidative stress, as well as biotic stresses caused by pathogens and herbivores. This review summarizes current advances in BR biosynthesis, metabolism, transport, and signaling pathways, focusing on key components that mediate stress adaptation. We discuss the physiological and molecular mechanisms through which BRs improve stress tolerance, including regulation of antioxidant defense, ion homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, and stress-responsive gene expression. Particular attention is given to the extensive cross talk between BRs and other phytohormones, such as abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene, auxin, and gibberellins, which enables plants to balance growth and defense under adverse conditions. Furthermore, we highlighted the potential applications of BRs in crop improvement through exogenous treatments, genetic engineering, and genome-editing approaches. However, the effectiveness of BR-based strategies is highly dependent on crop species, developmental stage, stress type, BR concentration, application method, and environmental conditions. In addition, excessive BR accumulation or application may result in undesirable growth responses, and further multi-location field validation is required before widespread agricultural implementation. Finally, we discuss emerging research trends, current knowledge gaps, and future perspectives for exploring BR signaling to develop climate-resilient crops. Overall, BRs represent promising targets for improving crop stress resilience; however, optimizing BR-mediated strategies and validating their long-term performance under diverse field conditions will be essential for their successful application in sustainable agriculture. Full article

The Hwange Mining Area, located in the Mid-Zambezi Karoo Basin in northwestern Zimbabwe, is a major centre for coal mining, processing, and thermal power generation. This study evaluates the ecological and public health risks associated with these activities by characterising radionuclide (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K) activity concentrations in coal and surrounding soils using Hyper-Pure Germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. Samples were collected from four locations, as follows: Hwange Colliery Company (underground and open-cast mines), Zambezi Gas open-cast operations, residential areas, and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) thermal power station. Radionuclide concentrations were measured using Hyper-Pure Germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. Mean activity concentrations in coal were low at both mining sites (Hwange Colliery: ²²⁶Ra 16 ± 5.3 Bq/kg), ²³²Th 14 ± 5.7 Bq/kg), (⁴⁰K 51 ± 8.8 Bq/kg) and Zambezi Gas (²²⁶Ra 9.80 ± 2.3 Bq/kg), ²³²Th (11 ± 3.3 Bq/kg), ⁴⁰K (43 ± 26 Bq/kg), well below UNSCEAR world coal averages. In contrast, soils from residential areas): ²²⁶Ra (36 ± 15 Bq/kg), ²³²Th (36 ± 12 Bq/kg) and ⁴⁰K (220 ± 80 Bq/kg), and the ZPC power station (²²⁶Ra 47 ± 8.6 Bq/kg, ²³²Th (42 ± 10 Bq/kg), and ⁴⁰K 230 ± 92 Bq/kg, showed markedly elevated concentrations, consistent with the accumulation of coal-combustion by-products such as fly ash. Radiological hazard indices remained within internationally accepted limits at all sites, as follows: radium equivalent (Raeq) ranged from 29 ± 6.7 Bq/kg (Zambezi Gas) to 120 ± 18 Bq/kg (ZPC), well below the 370 Bq/kg safety ceiling, while external and internal hazard indices (H_ex, H_in) remained below unity throughout, peaking at 0.32 and 0.46, respectively, at ZPC. Annual effective dose equivalents (AEDE) ranged from 16 ± 3.8 to 69 ± 10 μSv/year, the latter (ZPC) representing approximately 7% of the ICRP public dose limit of 1 mSv/year. Excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values ranged from 5.56 × 10⁻⁵ (Zambezi Gas) to 2.42 × 10⁻⁴ (ZPC), remaining below the global average outdoor reference of 0.29 × 10⁻³ but reaching approximately 83% of this reference at ZPC and 71% in residential areas. These findings indicate that, while coal mining activities in Hwange contribute minimally to environmental radioactivity, coal combustion at the ZPC thermal power station is the dominant driver of elevated radionuclide concentrations and radiological indices in the surrounding environment, with residential soils reflecting the same enrichment pathway. Although no immediate radiological hazard was identified at any location, the comparatively higher indices at ZPC and in nearby residential areas underscore the need for continuous environmental monitoring, strengthened regulatory control, and targeted radiation protection strategies to safeguard workers and nearby communities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Structural inequalities in access to healthcare persist even within systems that have achieved near-universal coverage, reflecting the enduring influence of social determinants of health on service utilization. This study examines horizontal inequity in rehabilitation and specialist care in Türkiye and investigates whether access inequality mediates the well-documented income–depression gradient. Methods: Analyzing the nationally representative 2022 Türkiye Health Survey (adults aged ≥15; N = 22,742), we employed Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to construct people-centered, multidimensional bodily burden profiles, and assessed need-adjusted access using survey-weighted logistic regression, Erreygers-corrected concentration-index decomposition, Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA), and restricted cubic splines, with measurement-invariance and classification-uncertainty sensitivity analyses. Statistical mediation was examined with natural-effect models and E-value sensitivity analysis. Results: Although the system demonstrated responsiveness to need—78.8% of the highest-burden profile accessed specialist services—only 13.7% of this same group reached dedicated physiotherapy or rehabilitation, revealing a profound structural bottleneck in care coordination for marginalized populations with the greatest functional impairment. A persistent pro-rich gradient was confirmed by an Erreygers-corrected concentration index of 0.058 (95% CI 0.043–0.072), driven additively by income and education. Access did not mediate the income–depression pathway (natural indirect effect OR 1.001, 95% CI 1.0003–1.002). Conclusions: The mental health burden of low income operates through pathways that equitable healthcare access alone cannot address. These findings call for macroeconomic and people-centered health system reforms—including direct physiotherapy access, transportation subsidies, and social protection interventions—to advance health equity in rehabilitation utilization. Full article

Heart failure management remains a critical clinical challenge. While modern neurohormonal therapies have significantly improved survival, standard clinical assessments often fail to capture the full complexity of underlying structural disease progression. To comprehensively synthesize the established literature regarding the biological and prognostic roles of NT-proBNP, soluble ST2 (sST2), and Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and, subsequently, to propose a hypothesis-generating multimarker framework for HF risk stratification. A narrative review of the literature (2006–2026) was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The synthesis focused on the clinical utility, phenotypic specificities, and methodological limitations of evaluating NT-proBNP, sST2, and Gal-3 concentrations. Evidence from the literature confirms that while NT-proBNP remains the gold standard for acute hemodynamic assessment. sST2 and Gal-3 provide complementary insights into active biomechanical strain and interstitial fibrotic remodeling; however, prospective randomized clinical trials demonstrating that sST2- or Gal-3-guided management improves clinical outcomes remain lacking. Based on these established findings, we propose an investigational four-step multimarker framework spanning from acute diagnosis to dynamic outpatient monitoring. This framework hypothesizes that integrating these pathways can better identify high-risk phenotypes that remain undetected by natriuretic peptides alone. The synergistic application of NT-proBNP, sST2, and Gal-3 offers a deeper pathophysiological evaluation of HF. However, our proposed biomarker-guided framework represents a set of testable research hypotheses. It requires prospective randomized validation before integration into routine clinical protocols for therapeutic titration. Full article

Global antibiotic consumption continues to rise across pediatric and adult populations, while the genotoxic consequences of host eukaryotic exposure remain less systematically characterized than the parallel problem of antimicrobial resistance. Several lines of evidence, from molecular cytogenetics, redox biology, and systems toxicology, now permit a more mechanistically resolved synthesis of antibiotic-induced genome stress than was previously possible, although a substantial fraction of this evidence is preclinical and warrants cautious clinical extrapolation. This narrative review evaluates the molecular mechanisms, cytogenetic biomarkers, and translational implications of antibiotic-induced genotoxicity, with a primary focus on six clinically prominent classes (fluoroquinolones, nitroimidazoles, aminoglycosides, macrolides, β-lactams, and tetracyclines) and a brief extension to glycopeptides and glycylcyclines. We organize the evidence around three convergent mechanistic axes rather than around individual drugs. Accumulating evidence supports three intersecting off-target axes: (i) eukaryotic topoisomerase II interference, principally documented for fluoroquinolones; (ii) mitochondrial dysfunction, reflecting the evolutionary kinship between the mitoribosome and bacterial ribosomes; and (iii) inflammation-coupled redox stress, often amplified by microbiome perturbation. These pathways converge on a common spectrum of DNA lesions—including double-strand breaks, oxidatively modified bases, replication-fork stalling, and chromosomal mis-segregation) detected by complementary assays (CBMN-Cyt, comet, γH2AX, and oxidative and mitochondrial biomarkers). Pediatric, pregnant, geriatric, and oncology populations may represent biologically distinct susceptibility strata, although direct human evidence for several of these inferences remains limited. Causal inference is constrained by infection as a confounder, frequent use of supratherapeutic in vitro concentrations, reliance on immortalized cell lines that may not recapitulate primary-cell repair capacity, inter-laboratory variability across cytogenetic assays, and a marked scarcity of pediatric and pregnancy biomonitoring data. Most existing positive signals derive from preclinical models; clinically validated long-term outcomes, particularly carcinogenic endpoints, remain inconsistently demonstrated for most antibiotic classes outside metronidazole. Antibiotic-induced genotoxicity appears to be a measurable and mechanistically tractable dimension of drug safety, though its clinical magnitude in real-world exposure scenarios requires further investigation. Integrating multi-omics, microphysiological systems, single-cell genotoxicology, and AI-assisted prediction may improve risk resolution, particularly in vulnerable populations. We argue that antimicrobial stewardship discussions should consider host genome integrity alongside resistance, while remaining mindful that the mechanistic case currently outpaces clinical-endpoint validation. Full article

Post-fire plantations play a crucial role in recovering carbon stocks, yet how carbon is partitioned among vegetation, litter, and soil pools during stand growth dynamics remains insufficiently resolved for Quercus acutissima plantations. Forest ecosystems play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. This study quantified carbon-storage allocation and identified stand characteristics and soil factors associated with carbon recovery in fire-affected Q. acutissima plantations. Using a chronosequence design, we compared five stand-age classes (4, 10, 25, 45, and 50 years) on Huangfu Mountain, China, and measured carbon stocks in tree organs, understory vegetation, litter, and the 0–30 cm soil layer. Ecosystem carbon stock increased from 31.64 t ha⁻¹ in 4-year-old stands to 230.66 t ha⁻¹ in 50-year-old stands, representing a 629% increase. Soil was the dominant carbon pool, with 0–30 cm soil carbon rising from 25.32 to 126.56 t ha⁻¹ (a 400% increase). The contribution of soil carbon to total ecosystem storage declined from approximately 80% in 4-year-old stands to 55% in 50-year-old stands, indicating a shift in allocation toward vegetation biomass over time. Carbon accumulation was primarily concentrated in the 0–10 cm layer. Tree basal area was significantly associated with ecosystem carbon stocks, identified as a key structural factor linked to carbon accumulation through potential direct and indirect pathways involving light availability and soil carbon. Soil organic matter and nitrogen were also positively correlated with carbon accumulation. These findings suggest that stand development and topsoil carbon formation are closely linked to post-fire carbon recovery processes. Future management measures should optimize stand density, maintain soil fertility, and protect surface carbon to enhance long-term carbon sequestration. Full article

Oxidative stress is a major constraint limiting animal health and productive performance by disrupting redox homeostasis, mitochondrial function, intestinal integrity, and mineral metabolism. Agronomic biofortification of forage with essential trace minerals represents a promising nutritional strategy; however, its physiological and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of dietary zinc–iron (Zn–Fe) biofortified alfalfa on oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, mineral transport, mitochondrial bioenergetics, intestinal barrier integrity, inflammatory responses, tissue mineral deposition, and growth performance in guinea pigs. Forty-eight male guinea pigs were allocated to six experimental groups according to dietary treatment (control, Zn-biofortified alfalfa, or Zn–Fe biofortified alfalfa) and oxidative stress status. Oxidative biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities, inflammatory mediators, mineral concentrations, targeted RT–qPCR, mitochondrial function, intestinal histomorphology, and multivariate physiological analyses were performed. Zn–Fe biofortified alfalfa markedly reduced reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, advanced oxidation protein products, and the oxidative stress index while significantly increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity, and the glutathione redox ratio. Targeted gene-expression analysis demonstrated coordinated upregulation of intestinal mineral transporters (ZIP4, DMT1, and MT1), activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, increased expression of mitochondrial regulatory genes, and suppression of inflammatory mediators. These molecular responses were accompanied by improved ATP production, mitochondrial membrane potential, respiratory-chain activity, preservation of intestinal villus architecture, enhanced expression of tight-junction proteins, increased tissue Zn and Fe deposition, superior feed efficiency, and greater body weight gain. Integrated physiological analyses consistently identified the Zn–Fe biofortified treatment as the highest-performing physiological phenotype, indicating coordinated adaptation across multiple biological systems. These findings demonstrate that Zn–Fe biofortified alfalfa enhances oxidative stress resilience through simultaneous regulation of mineral transport, antioxidant defense, mitochondrial bioenergetics, intestinal barrier integrity, and systemic physiological performance. Agronomic biofortification of forage therefore represents a promising nutritional strategy for improving animal health, mineral utilization, and productive efficiency under oxidative stress. Full article

Background/Objectives: Azole resistance in fungal pathogens is a growing clinical and environmental concern. However, short-term cellular responses during the first hours of azole exposure remain insufficiently characterised, particularly in filamentous fungi. This study used Neurospora crassa as a genetically tractable model to investigate early cellular responses to azole stress. Methods: Exponentially growing mycelia were exposed to conidium-derived MIC₈₀ reference concentrations of fluconazole, voriconazole, ravuconazole, and ketoconazole. Early responses were assessed by monitoring radial growth, intracellular glycerol, H₂DCF-DA microscopy, antioxidant enzyme activities, Calcofluor White staining, and RT-qPCR analysis of genes associated with osmoregulation, sterol homeostasis, oxidative stress, and cell-wall remodelling. Results: Azole exposure was associated with reduced net post-transfer radial growth and rapid treatment- and time-dependent changes in intracellular glycerol. Induction of hog1 together with treatment-dependent changes in gpd1 and glycerol accumulation was consistent with an early osmoregulatory response. Sterol-homeostasis genes showed selective feedback regulation, and several cell-wall-remodelling genes underwent treatment-dependent transcriptional changes. Qualitative H₂DCF-DA microscopy showed limited oxidant-associated fluorescence during azole challenge. Catalase activity remained close to control levels, whereas representative SOD-activity experiments showed larger fold changes after voriconazole and ravuconazole exposure. Representative Calcofluor White micrographs showed irregular septation and localised regions of enhanced cell-wall-associated staining. Conclusions: Neurospora crassa shows multiple concurrent early responses to azole stress involving osmotic adjustment, sterol-pathway feedback, antioxidant responses, and cell-wall remodelling. These findings provide a framework for future studies examining how such stress responses contribute to recovery, tolerance, or longer-term adaptation. Full article

Strict monitoring of methane (CH₄) during underground coal mining is necessary, as the lower explosive limit (LEL) is 5 vol% in air. A conventional tin oxide (SnO₂)-based metal–oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensor has an operating temperature of 200–400 °C, which requires a prohibitive power demand and entails the risk of ignition within an intrinsically safe environment. The decoration of SnO₂ nanoarchitectures with palladium has been demonstrated to achieve room temperature (RT) detection of CH₄ due to the chemical sensitisation spillover mechanism and electronic sensitisation by Schottky barrier modulation. Moreover, palladisation of SnO₂ nanowires (NWs) is likely to be an effective route for achieving a more efficient detection of CH₄ aerosol at RT or near RT. The purpose of this mini-review is to provide a critical synthesis of advances that have been reported between 2020 and 2026. Because no published study to date has directly demonstrated room-temperature CH₄ detection using pure Pd-decorated SnO₂ nanowires, performance data from mechanistically analogous systems—namely H₂-sensing Pd–SnO₂ nanowires and CH₄-sensing non-nanowire Pd–SnO₂ nanostructures—are included in this review and are explicitly labelled as such throughout. This absence of direct RT CH₄ NW data constitutes the primary research gap motivating this review. The performance of Pd-containing SnO₂ nanostructures reported in the literature spans response values of 17.6 (300 ppm CH₄, 2.5 mol% Pd–SnO₂ nanoporous, 340 °C) to 21.3 (3000 ppm CH₄, bimetallic Pt–Pd–SnO₂ mesoporous, 400 °C), representing a 3–10× improvement over bare SnO₂ (response: 2–10 in the same concentration range). These benchmarks were obtained at elevated temperatures (340–400 °C); no equivalent room-temperature CH₄ detection data for Pd–SnO₂ nanowires currently exists in the published literature. Reported response times range from 3 to 9 s at elevated temperature (340–400 °C) to 74–78 s for room-temperature visible-light-activated systems, where photocatalytic oxygen activation is the rate-limiting step. The 30 s MSHA alarm threshold is met by elevated-temperature systems but remains a challenge for RT configurations. The LODs were 175.9 ppb (bimetallic PdxPt/SnO₂ mesoporous system). Two hybrid composites containing rGO exhibited an extended capability for RT operation. Bimetallic PdPt decoration and ML-augmented sensor arrays are identified as the most promising near-term pathways to bridge the selectivity and stability gaps for certified mining deployment. Full article

Global warming poses an escalating threat to crop yield and quality, particularly for thermosensitive medicinal-edible plants such as goji berry (Lycium barbarum). Although salicylic acid (SA) is recognized for enhancing plant thermotolerance, its effects on fruit productivity and quality under summer high temperatures remain inadequately quantified. This study investigated the physiological, metabolic, and transcriptomic responses of field-grown Ningqi No. 7 (N7) goji berry to exogenous SA application under summer heat stress. SA treatment significantly increased fruit yield by 22%, while reducing leaf defoliation rate by 32%. Metabolite profiling revealed that SA elevated total soluble sugar content by 30% and flavonoid concentration by 14% but decreased total organic acid content by 16%. Transcriptomic analysis identified SA-induced differential expression of genes involved in sugar metabolism (phosphofructokinase), secondary biosynthesis (flavonoid and alkaloid related pathways), and stress responses (HSPs, E3 ubiquitin ligases, SRK2). These results demonstrate that exogenous SA enhances goji berry productivity and improves fruit taste (via increased sugar/organic acid ratio) and functional quality under summer high temperatures. Consequently, SA application thus represents a promising and cost-effective strategy for climate-resilient goji berry cultivation. Full article

Aquaculture effluent commonly contains suspended solids, inorganic nitrogen, reactive phosphate and algal biomass, creating a need for low-input ecological treatment approaches. This study assessed endpoint water-quality and bacterial-community responses to Bellamya stocking density in aquaculture effluent. A no-snail control (CON) and four stocking-density treatments (LD, MD, MHD and HD) were established with three independent tank replicates per treatment. Suspended solids (SS), NH₄⁺-N, NO₂⁻-N, NO₃⁻-N, PO₄³⁻-P and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) were quantified, and bacterial communities were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3–V4 region. At the 60-day endpoint, all Bellamya-stocked treatments had lower NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N concentrations than the control, and MHD and HD also had lower PO₄³⁻-P and Chl-a. SS showed a nonsignificant downward tendency, whereas NO₂⁻-N showed a nonsignificant upward tendency. Bray–Curtis NMDS visualized treatment-associated separation, and PERMANOVA detected significant differences among treatments (R² = 0.62, p = 0.001; stress = 0.0822). However, PERMDISP was also significant (F_4,10 = 4.99, p = 0.001), indicating heterogeneous within-treatment dispersion and requiring cautious interpretation of the PERMANOVA result. Representative genera showed distinct treatment-associated abundance patterns, and 46 of 90 genus–environment associations remained significant after Benjamini–Hochberg correction. Predicted KEGG Level 3 pathways varied numerically among treatments, but none remained significant after false-discovery-rate correction. These findings indicate that Bellamya stocking may provide a low-input ecological component of aquaculture-effluent management, while the microbiome results should be interpreted as community-level associations and predicted functional trends rather than evidence of microbial causality or pathway activation. Full article

Heavy metals (HMs) and rare earth elements (REEs) increasingly co-occur in environmental waste streams and soils, yet their comparative neurotoxic mechanisms and sublethal effects on invertebrate decomposers remain poorly understood. This study used black soldier fly larvae (BSFL, Hermetia illucens) to perform a comparative behavioral and transcriptomic assessment of 23 HMs and 16 REEs across two acute exposure concentrations. High-throughput video tracking and phenomic analysis showed HMs produced broader disruption than REEs, with low-concentration HMs inducing locomotor suppression, thigmotaxis, reduced fractal dimension and entropy, progressing to severe motor inhibition and rigid low-entropy states. In contrast, REEs showed a biphasic profile, shifting from selective locomotor suppression with preserved organization at low concentrations to hyperactive, fragmented, high-entropy movement with increased thigmotaxis at high concentrations. PCA and hierarchical clustering integrated endpoints into four neurobehavioral fingerprints segregating metal class and concentration, with partial overlap of high-concentration REEs with HMs along a shared high-toxicity axis. Transcriptomic profiling showed that cobalt as a representative HM activated DNA damage and cell-cycle pathways, perturbed energy signaling, and suppressed neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, whereas samarium as a representative REE downregulated xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, glutathione metabolism, and synaptic vesicle cycling. These findings demonstrate distinct concentration-dependent neurotoxic modes of action for HMs and REEs and establish BSFL behavioral phenomics integrated with transcriptomics as a mechanistically informative platform for ecological risk assessment in contaminated waste systems. Full article