Search Results (4,643)

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), is a major infectious disease that poses a severe threat to the global swine industry. To investigate the role of miRNAs in the infection and susceptibility of PRRSV, four miRNA libraries were constructed and sequenced from PRRSV-infected and mock-infected of Tibetan pigs and Large White pigs at 7 days post-infection. A novel miRNA, miR-novel-80, was differentially expressed between PRRSV-infected and mock-infected porcine alveolar macrophages from 2 pig breeds. Importantly, the over-expression of miR-novel-80 inhibited the replication of a PRRSV-1 strain and multiple lineages (L1, L5, and L8) of PRRSV-2 strains in a dose-dependent manner. Bioinformatic predictions and experimental validation demonstrated that miR-novel-80 restricts viral replication through a dual antiviral mechanism. Directly, it targets the PRRSV nsp1-coding region within the ORF1a to suppress viral proliferation. Indirectly, miR-novel-80 specifically down-regulates the expression of host factor CXXC finger protein 4 (CXXC4). This reduction relieves the suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which in turn activates NF-κB-dependent innate immune responses to further inhibit PRRSV infection. Collectively, this study investigates the biological characteristics of miR-novel-80 and unveils its underlying molecular mechanisms in restricting PRRSV infection in vitro. However, its biological function and anti-PRRSV therapeutic effect in vivo need further investigation. Full article

The Wnt gene family encodes highly conserved signaling molecules involved in vertebrate development, tissue homeostasis, and cell fate regulation. However, the evolutionary characteristics and potential biological functions of Wnt genes in the domestic donkey (Equus asinus) remain poorly understood. In this study, we performed the first genome-wide identification and comprehensive characterization of the donkey Wnt gene family. A total of 19 Wnt genes were identified, consistent with the conserved Wnt repertoire reported in other mammalian species. Phylogenetic and synteny analyses revealed strong evolutionary conservation of Wnt genes among mammals, particularly between donkey and horse, indicating conserved orthologous relationships within the genus Equus. Structural analyses showed that all donkey Wnt proteins contained the conserved cysteine-rich domain (CRD), whereas sequence variation was mainly concentrated in the N- and C-terminal regions. Transcriptomic analysis across 13 adult tissues revealed tissue-biased expression patterns, with Wnt3, Wnt5a, and Wnt4 showing relatively higher expression in the testis, epididymis, and skin, respectively, suggesting their potential involvement in reproductive regulation and tissue homeostasis. PPI network and GO enrichment analyses indicated potential associations between donkey Wnt proteins and conserved regulators involved in developmental processes, cell fate regulation, and Wnt signaling pathways. Integration of expression profiles with predicted interaction networks further suggested tissue-associated regulatory patterns among Wnt pathway components. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive resource for understanding the genomic organization, evolutionary conservation, and expression diversity of the donkey Wnt gene family, and offers insights into potential Wnt-mediated regulatory mechanisms in donkey biology. Full article

Wearable technologies are reshaping women’s health by extending observation beyond episodic clinical encounters into daily life. Across the reproductive lifespan, they can capture physiological, behavioral, symptom, and functional trajectories that are often missed in routine care. Yet more data do not automatically translate into better care. Clinical value depends on whether multimodal signals can be modeled and interpreted in relation to reproductive biology, temporal change, and meaningful clinical or functional endpoints. In this perspective, we examine how women’s health wearables can move beyond consumer tracking toward validated digital phenotyping across menstruation, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause. We propose a four-layer framework spanning data capture, physiological domain mapping, computational phenotyping, and actionable translation. We then apply this framework across key reproductive life stages. Menstrual health and fertility applications illustrate the shift from calendar-based prediction toward physiological, metabolic, and hormone-aware monitoring. Pregnancy and postpartum applications highlight the need for safety-focused validation, maternal–infant risk awareness, and clinician-governed escalation pathways. Menopause and midlife health represent underdeveloped areas where longitudinal digital phenotyping may better capture vasomotor, sleep, mood, fatigue, and functional symptoms. Across these domains, we identify key barriers to translation, including limited hormone-linked validation, inconsistent evidence standards, underrepresentation of diverse populations, privacy risks, algorithmic bias, and weak workflow integration. By organizing wearable-derived signals across reproductive life stages and identifying major translational barriers, this perspective provides a roadmap toward biologically grounded, equitable, and clinically actionable digital phenotyping for women’s health. Full article

Early embryonic loss remains a major limitation to reproductive efficiency in dairy cows, with approximately 30–40% of embryonic mortality occurring within 21 days after artificial insemination (AI), ultimately reducing conception rates and economic profitability in dairy production. Increasing evidence suggests that reproductive tract microorganisms may contribute to pregnancy establishment; however, their functions during early gestation in dairy cows remains poorly understood. In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to characterize vaginal microbiota profiles in multiparous Holstein dairy cows at 7.5 and 21 days after AI, with comparisons performed between pregnant and non-pregnant cows. Significant differences in microbial community structure were observed between pregnancy states. At 7.5 days post-AI, distinct differences in microbial composition were detected at the phylum level, with Bacillota, Bacteroidota, and Pseudomonadota identified as dominant phyla. The relative abundance of Bacillota was higher in pregnant cows, whereas Pseudomonadota was enriched in non-pregnant cows. At the genus level, Ureaplasma was significantly increased in pregnant cows, while Streptococcus and Actinobacillus were significantly enriched in non-pregnant cows. By 21 days after AI, beta diversity analysis revealed a highly significant separation in microbial community structure between pregnant and non-pregnant cows (p < 0.01). Volcano plot and LEfSe analyses further identified representative microbial taxa associated with pregnancy status. Notably, inflammatory-associated genera, including Streptococcus and Actinobacillus, were predominantly enriched in non-pregnant cows, whereas pregnancy-associated taxa, including Ureaplasma and Bifidobacterium, were enriched in pregnant cows. Collectively, early alterations in the vaginal microbiota after AI were closely associated with pregnancy outcomes. These findings provide insight into the microbial associations related to early pregnancy outcomes and may facilitate the identification of potential microbial biomarkers for predicting pregnancy success in dairy cows. Full article

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age, often associated with metabolic issues, causing infertility. Although it is common, the cause of PCOS remains unknown, and early diagnosis is challenging. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, play a significant role in PCOS development, and have emerged as biomarkers for reproductive and metabolic disorders. However, research on miRNA signatures in the Indian population is limited. This pilot exploratory study aims to compare the candidate differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs) in serum samples from individuals with and without PCOS using high-throughput miRNA sequencing. Methods: In the study, patients with PCOS and age-matched controls were included; small RNAs were isolated from their serum, libraries were prepared, and the libraries were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis, including miRBase annotation, differential expression analysis, target prediction, GO/KEGG enrichment, and hub gene network analysis, was performed. Results: A total of 967 miRNAs were identified, with seven showing differential expression (log2FC > 1, p < 0.05). Among these, six miRNAs of hsa-miR-219a-2-3p, hsa-mir-384, hsa-miR-149-5p, hsa-miR-3182, hsa-miR-3960, and hsa-miR-4508 were upregulated, whereas hsa-mir-139 was downregulated. Functional enrichment and hub gene analyses identified key targets, including TP53, FOXO1, HIF1A, and HDAC1, that are crucial to the cell cycle, insulin signaling, and hypoxia. Conclusions: These preliminary findings identify candidate serum miRNA signatures in Indian women that may be associated with PCOS’s reproductive and metabolic issues. These pilot study results suggest potential miRNAs and their target pathway links with PCOS that need validation in larger cohorts for diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Full article

Microplastics are increasingly recognized as prevalent contaminants in freshwater ecosystems, where they interact with a wide range of co-occurring pollutants, including heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and persistent organic pollutants. Evidence indicates that microplastics can act as vectors, enhancing pollutant mobility and facilitating trophic transfer, while also modulating toxicity through synergistic or antagonistic effects. Ecotoxicological studies reveal adverse impacts on aquatic organisms, ranging from physiological stress and impaired reproduction to altered community dynamics, with implications for ecosystem functioning and human health. Despite growing knowledge, significant gaps remain in understanding long-term environmental behavior, standardized methodologies, and risk assessment frameworks. This review synthesizes current findings on microplastic–pollutant interactions in freshwater systems, highlights emerging ecotoxicological risks, and identifies critical research needs to inform effective management and policy interventions. Full article

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) continues to be a significant challenge in reproductive medicine, particularly in women for whom standard examinations do not reveal a conclusive underlying reason. There is growing evidence that several instances may result from nuanced alterations in the endometrial milieu, particularly with decidualization and maternal–fetal immune tolerance. In recent years, vitamin D has gained recognition for its significance in early pregnancy, serving not only as a regulator of calcium metabolism but also as an active contributor to endometrial and immunological functions. The human endometrium exhibits the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the enzyme CYP27B1, facilitating the local activation and signaling of vitamin D inside the uterine milieu. Experimental investigations have shown that vitamin D influences many processes critical for effective implantation and placentation, including stromal cell differentiation, cytokine equilibrium, trophoblast invasion, oxidative stress responses, and immune cell communication. Aberrant vitamin D signaling has been associated with heightened inflammatory activity, impaired decidual transformation, altered uterine natural killer cell functionality, and alteration of the Treg/Th17 equilibrium, all of which have been implicated in recurrent pregnancy loss. Concurrently, there is an increasing emphasis on the association between vitamin D and mitochondrial function as well as oxidative stress in decidual and endometrial cells. Interruption of these pathways may influence implantation and early embryonic development by impacting cellular metabolism and immunological control at the maternal–fetal interface. The clinical interest in vitamin D supplementation for women experiencing repeated reproductive failure is increasing; nevertheless, the existing results are conflicting, mostly due to the predominance of research focusing on circulating vitamin D levels rather than localized tissue-specific processes. Our review encapsulates new findings about the function of vitamin D in endometrial biology and reproductive immune regulation, emphasizing its involvement in decidualization, inflammatory signaling, oxidative stress, and maternal–fetal immunological tolerance in recurrent pregnancy loss. The potential ramifications for assisted reproduction and forthcoming tailored therapy techniques are also examined. Full article

Co-infection between influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important public health concern, since influenza can increase susceptibility to secondary bacterial invasion and enhance bacterial transmission. We develop and analyze a compartmental model of influenza–pneumococcal co-infection with eleven epidemiological compartments, incorporating imperfect vaccination, quarantine, and a three-stage pneumococcal progression from colonization to invasive disease. We establish the positivity and boundedness of solutions, determine the equilibria, and derive, via the next-generation matrix method, the sub-model reproduction numbers $R_0^I$ and $R_0^P$ together with the composite threshold $R_0=max\{R_0^I,R_0^P\}$. Each single infection undergoes a forward bifurcation: the disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable when the corresponding reproduction number is below unity, and a unique endemic equilibrium—globally asymptotically stable in the pneumococcal sub-model, established by a Goh–Volterra Lyapunov function—emerges above it. When both thresholds exceed unity, the two infections compete for the shared susceptible pool and undergo competitive exclusion: one infection persists while the other, together with the co-infected class, is eliminated. We show that the outcome is governed not by the disease-free reproduction numbers but by the invasion reproduction numbers evaluated at the single-infection boundary equilibria, so that even equal disease-free thresholds do not yield coexistence. Numerical simulations confirm the analytical results and quantify the effect of quarantine and vaccination, providing a framework for assessing control of interacting respiratory infections. Full article

Diabetes mellitus (DM) induces significant endocrine disruption and oxidative stress (OS) within the testes, resulting in impaired spermatogenesis, increased sperm abnormalities, and compromised reproductive function. This study aimed to evaluate the combined protective effects of Semaglutide (SEM) combined with Carica papaya (papaya) juice against type 2 diabetes-induced testicular damage in rats. Forty adult male albino rats were divided into four experimental groups: a control group, a Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic group, a diabetic group treated with SEM (0.3 mg/kg), and a diabetic group treated with SEM (0.3 mg/kg) in combination with 10% papaya juice, administered for eight weeks. Statistically significant superiority over SEM alone was observed for selected endpoints; the findings primarily support the potential of papaya as a dose-sparing adjunct rather than demonstrating uniformly enhanced efficacy. They significantly improved systemic metabolic parameters, as evidenced by reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels and restoration of the lipid profile. Importantly, it also attenuated diabetes-induced testicular injury, as demonstrated by improved reproductive hormone levels, enhanced sperm parameters, restoration of antioxidant defenses, modulation of inflammatory and apoptotic signaling, and marked histopathological recovery of seminiferous tubular architecture. Antioxidant markers revealed a notable reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), along with significant increases in reduced glutathione, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, a marked modulation of key pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic mediators was observed, including forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), microRNA-155 (miR-155), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B cell subunit 1 (NF-κB1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), caspase-3 (CASP3), and BCL2-Associated X Apoptosis Regulator (Bax), while a significant upregulation of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), microRNA-34c (miR-34c), and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) was also detected. Histopathological assessments confirmed the restoration of normal testicular architecture in the treated groups. These findings indicate that the combination strategy may have the potential to achieve dose savings while maintaining efficacy comparable to the standard-dose SEM, through the enhancement of the antioxidant defenses, modulation of inflammation, and apoptosis, specifically via the modulation of the miR-34c/miR-155 and SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling. Full article

Maintaining a stable STEM learning trajectory over an extended duration is a rare achievement. This conceptual paper uses the E³ Framework as an analytical lens to propose that stability is not a default state but a functional achievement of the entire system comprising Resources (E1), Regulation (E2), and Time (E3). We focus specifically on the “social fabric” through which these ecological domains may become functionally interconnected. We then use the online mentoring program CyberMentor as an illustrative case to show how the five functions postulated in the E³ Framework (social robustness, social regulatory realignment, social reproductive renewal of resources, social informational persistence, and social environmental fit) may contribute to trajectory stability. Our conceptual analysis suggests that a strong social fabric may contribute to the stability of STEM learning trajectories by helping ensure that no student has to “STEM alone.” Full article

Computer virus propagation (CVP) models translate malware movement in a network into analyzable dynamical systems. Two features are especially important for modern networks: infected hosts may remain latent before a damaging burst, and infection efficiency is usually saturated by limited contacts, filtering, isolation, or response resources. This article develops a two-dimensional Caputo fractional susceptible–latent–bursting–susceptible (SLBS) CVP model in which the susceptible–latent and susceptible–bursting channels have different Holling type-II incidence functions. The fractional derivative represents memory effects in the propagation process, while the two incidence functions allow the latent and bursting stages to have separate transmission strengths and saturation levels. Non-negativity, boundedness, and well-posedness are established. The system is then used to derive the basic reproduction number, classify all endemic equilibria, and obtain local asymptotic stability criteria for the virus-free, latency-free burst-endemic, and latency–burst coexistence equilibria. Numerical simulations based on an Adams predictor–corrector scheme illustrate the theoretical thresholds and suggest global convergence in representative parameter regions. The results provide a stage-sensitive modeling tool for analyzing and designing targeted defense policies against computer virus outbreaks. Full article

Steroid Receptor Coactivators (SRCs) are members of the p160 nuclear receptor coactivator family and play essential roles in regulating transcription, development, metabolism, reproduction, and disease. However, their evolutionary origin and diversification remain poorly understood. Here, we employed a comprehensive comparative genomics approach to investigate the evolution of SRC-1, SRC-2, and SRC-3 across the domains of life. Evaluation of domain-based screening approaches showed that the NCBI Batch Web CD-Search Tool clearly distinguished domains among the three SRC family members. Genome-wide analyses identified 298 canonical SRC proteins in vertebrates, revealing distinct taxonomic distributions among the three paralogs. Comparative analyses of LXXLL motifs suggested both conserved and paralog-specific patterns associated with functional diversification. Analysis of more than 20,000 proteins, including over 4000 SRC-associated domain-containing proteins, revealed a widespread distribution of SRC-associated domains across diverse taxa. These findings support the hypothesis that pre-existing protein modules distributed across diverse taxa may have contributed to the assembly of canonical vertebrate SRC proteins through progressive domain acquisition and recombination. Phylogenetic analyses showed that SRC-1, SRC-2, and SRC-3 form distinct monophyletic clades, consistent with diversification through ancient gene duplication. Overall, these findings provide a comparative genomic framework for investigating the origin, structural evolution, and functional diversification of vertebrate SRC proteins while generating testable hypotheses regarding their evolutionary history. Full article

Most of the publications on Anisakis simplex (Rudolphi, 1809) focus upon systematic aspects and zoonotic risk but there is lack of detailed information on infection and cellular immune response of the gonads. The current investigation detected whether gonadal infection by A. simplex affects reproductive development and how Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus (L.), responds immunologically. Thirty-four specimens out of 62 S. scombrus (55%) individuals had the larvae on or in the gonads, and live and calcified dead larvae often co-occurred. Nematode larvae were found in both mature and immature gonads. The intensity of infection varied from 1 to 31 nematodes per gonad (5.68 ± 5.53, mean ± standard deviation). In ovaries that harboured the nematode (inside the organ and in the mesenteries around it), in close vicinity to the larvae, mast cells (MCs), rodlet cells (RCs), macrophages, and macrophage aggregates (MAs) occurred. Fewer of the above cells were observed in the mesenteries of parasitized testes. In the gonads of infected fish, within the granulomas that surrounded the calcified and live larvae, putative epithelioid cells, fibroblasts, MCs, MAs and collagen fibres were present. The absence of a correlation between the intensity of infection and the host gonadosomatic index in female and male gonads might indicate that A. simplex larvae do not affect the production of gametes and gonad development in Atlantic mackerel. Our results suggest that localized encapsulation represents an effective tolerance strategy allowing parasite persistence while preserving host reproductive function. Full article

As urban renewal progresses, transforming old industrial plants into sports service complexes has become a prevalent strategy to revitalize urban stock space. To evaluate the actual performance of this spatial reproduction from the users’ perspective, this study analyzes 3702 consumer reviews from five typical Chinese sports service complexes using an interdisciplinary text-mining framework. We employ the LDA topic model to extract core dimensions of consumer concern and utilize the DistilBERT model for fine-grained, sentence-level sentiment computation. The results reveal that consumer attention spans five key topics: venue services, cultural business districts, sports training, industrial integration, and heritage utilization. Critically, the sentiment analysis uncovers a structural paradox: while topics associated with cultural and heritage utilization trigger highly positive emotions and strong place identity, core functional modules like sports training and venue services generate substantial negative feedback. This disparity highlights a profound friction between rigid historical industrial architectural structures and the flexible demands of modern servicescapes, reflecting a clear path dependency in spatial transformation. Based on these theoretical and empirical findings, we propose targeted optimization strategies, including the structural reconstruction of training services and the flexible upgrading of basic venue facilities, to transition these complexes from initial physical construction toward long-term, service-oriented operation. Full article

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex metabolic disorder that includes central fat accumulation and insulin resistance, abnormal lipid levels, high blood pressure, and ongoing mild inflammation as its main symptoms. The global rise in metabolic syndrome parallels the increasing prevalence of male infertility, suggesting a potential association between metabolic health and reproductive function. Male fertility suffers from obesity, which represents a major element of metabolic syndrome because it disrupts hormonal balance, raises scrotal temperatures, and causes oxidative damage and HPG axis malfunction. Excess body fat functions as an endocrine system that induces the body to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, which include tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, and various other inflammatory substances that result in ongoing body-wide inflammation. The state of inflammation leads to damaged spermatogenesis, which results in lower testosterone production and impaired semen quality that includes changes in sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity. The combination of insulin resistance and metabolic disturbances that occur in MetS leads to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which harms male reproductive abilities in testicular tissue. Recent research shows that adipokines and endocrine disruptors, together with epigenetic modifications, function as mediators that establish the connection between metabolic syndrome and male infertility. The development of targeted therapeutic strategies and lifestyle interventions requires researchers to study how obesity and chronic inflammation interact with each other to create reproductive dysfunction. This review defines the pathophysiological mechanisms that connect metabolic syndrome to male infertility by focusing on how obesity-related inflammation affects male reproductive health. Full article