Search Results (705)

6G low-power and lossy network (6G LLN) is a kind of distributed network designed for IoT and edge computing scenarios of the sixth-generation mobile communication technology. Its routing technologies should fully consider characteristics of green and low carbon, constrained nodes, lossy links, etc. This paper proposes an improved routing protocol for low-power and lossy networks (I-RPL) to better suit the characteristics of 6G LLN and meet its application requirements. I-RPL has designed new context-aware routing metrics, which include the residual energy indicator, buffer utilization ratio, ETX, delay, and hop count to meet multi-dimensional network QoS requirements. The candidate parent and its preferred parent’s residual energy indicator and buffer utilization ratio are calculated recursively to reduce the effect of upstream parents. ETX and delay calculating methods are improved to ensure a better performance. Moreover, I-RPL has optimized the network construction process to improve energy and protocol efficiency. I-RPL has designed scientific multiple routing metrics evaluation theories (Lagrangian multiplier theories), proposed new rank computing and optimal route selecting mechanisms to simplify protocol, and optimized broadcast suppression and network reliability. Finally, theoretical analysis and experiment results show that the average end-to-end delay of I-RPL is 13% lower than that of RPL; the average alive node number increased 11% and so on. So, I-RPL can be applied well to the 6G LLN and is superior to RPL and its improvements. Full article

The immunological factor of sterility, specifically the abnormal count and activity of uterine NK (uNK) cells, may represent one of the potential contributors affecting specific subgroups of sterile couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatment (ART). Therefore, the primary purpose of the present paper was to assess uNK cell count. A total of 387 endometrial biopsies from patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) were analyzed to identify abnormalities in uNK cell count, using immunohistopathological evaluation. ANOVA analysis revealed a strong association with factor 0.161 with p-value < 0.01, indicating that higher uNK cell count is associated with the presence of clusters (multicellular aggregates of uNK cells). These results suggest that the formation of clusters and the spatial distribution of uNK cells are significant factors in the context of the aforementioned clinical questions. However, the actual translational potential to clinical practice has not yet been established due to several challenges, namely: 1. the constantly changing definitions and diagnostic criteria for RIF and RPL, 2. varying sampling approaches for uNK cells, and 3. the historical lack of clear differentiation between uterine and peripheral NK cells. When all these issues are resolved, the observed tendency of uNK cells to form clusters will need to be a central focus of future investigations addressing RIF and RPL, thus improving ART outcomes. Full article

Desmodesmus spinosus (Chodat) E.Hegewald is a common freshwater green microalgae widely distributed in various aquatic environments. Owing to its pollution tolerance and rapid growth characteristics, it is often used in bioremediation and biofuel studies. Here, we report the draft chloroplast (cp) genome of this species here for the first time to facilitate its genomic features and phylogenetic position in Scenedesmaceae. The whole chloroplast genome was 167, 203 base pairs in length, with 104 annotated genes, including 69 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNAs, and 6 rRNAs. The introns identified among them were: rbcL, psaA, and petD, each containing 1 intron; atpB with 2 introns; and psbA with 3 introns. A total of 106 SSRs with 16 motif classes, 50 dispersed repeats, and 17 long tandem repeats were identified in this genome. A total of 221 RNA-editing sites were distributed across 46 protein-coding genes in this genome. In IR boundaries, the position of genes was found to be remarkable in differentiating species, such as trnH and ycf1 at JLB and JSA, cemA, psbC, and rpl22 at JS, and cemA, psbC and rrs at JSB. Notably, psbA-rps11, psbH-psbK, and trnR-ACG-psbM were highly variable regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a sister relationship between D. spinosus and D. abundans. Chloroplast genomic data and findings from phylogenetic studies of D. spinosus could provide useful information and shed light on in-depth studies on the evolution pattern of the understudied species, as well as that of Scenedesmaceae. Full article

Brown algae (Phaeophyceae) play vital ecological roles in marine ecosystems and are important models for studying organelle genome evolution. Despite their significance, mitogenome data for many taxa remain limited. In this study, we present the complete mitogenome sequence of Dictyota coriacea, a representative brown alga from the family Dictyotaceae (Phaeophyceae). The circular mitogenome of D. coriacea is 31,573 bp in length and encodes 62 genes, including 35 protein-coding genes (PCGs; including uncharacterized open reading frame (orf109)), 25 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs. The overall gene content and arrangement are largely conserved and consistent with other Dictyotaceae species. However, minor but notable genomic variations were observed, such as gene overlaps, variation in gene lengths, and differences in tRNA gene copy numbers, and the absence of rpl31. All PCGs use standard start and stop codons, with most initiating with ATG and terminating with TAA, TAG, or TGA. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed D. coriacea’s close relationship with D. dichotoma, Dictyopteris divaricata, and Dictyotopsis propagulifera, supporting its taxonomic placement. This study’s findings improve our understanding of algae evolution and provide useful genetic markers for future research on evolutionary relationships and species classification within this group of algae. Full article

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and recurrent implantation failure (RIF) are significant challenges in reproductive medicine. For both, embryonic aneuploidy is the leading etiological factor. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) via trophectoderm biopsy is the current standard for embryo selection. However, it is limited by its invasiveness, potential for embryo damage, and diagnostic errors due to mosaicism. Rationale/Objectives: This review critically evaluates the emerging role of noninvasive PGT (niPGT). NiPGT analyzes cell-free DNA from spent blastocyst culture media, thus, it is a potential alternative for managing RPL and RIF. Hence, the primary objective is to determine whether current evidence supports niPGT as a reliable replacement for conventional biopsy-based PGT-A in these high-risk populations. Outcomes: The analysis reveals that niPGT offers significant theoretical advantages. These include complete non-invasiveness, enhanced embryo preservation, and high patient acceptability. However, its clinical application is hampered by substantial limitations. Key amongst them is the inconsistent and often suboptimal diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 70–85%, specificity 88–92%) compared to biopsy. Other significant factors include the high rates of amplification failure (10–50%), vulnerability to maternal DNA contamination, as well as low DNA yield. Crucially, there is a definitive lack of robust, prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) data demonstrating improved live birth rates or reduced miscarriage rates specifically in RPL and RIF cohorts. As such, niPGT is not yet ready to be a standalone clinical adoption in RPL and RIF cases. However, it may serve as a valuable adjunct for rescue scenarios following biopsy failure or for ethical reasons. Wider Implications: The integration of niPGT with artificial intelligence, time-lapse imaging, and multi-omics profiling underlies a promising future. However, its transition from a predominantly research tool to a clinical standard necessitates various critical undertakings. These include rigorous multicenter RCTs, standardizing international protocol, and tailoring validation for the RPL and RIF subgroups. This review highlights the need for cautious optimism, positing that evidence-based integration, rather than premature adoption, is essential to realizing niPGT’s full potential without compromising patient care in these complex fertility scenarios. Full article

Hygrophila polysperma is a type of amphibious plant that originates from Acanthaceae. Here, we report its first complete chloroplast (cp) genome. The complete cp genome is 146,675 bp in length with 38.3% of GC content. There are 130 genes including 86 protein coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes in this genome. Simple short sequence (SSR) analysis found 30 SSRs, 24 of which are located in a large single-copy region. Nucleotide diversity identified six most divergent sequences (trns-GCU, psaA-pafI, psaI-pafII, ycf2, rpl32, and ycf1) among 3 close-related species, H. polysperma, H. ringens, and Asteracantha longifolia. A phylogenetic tree among H. polysperma and another 30 related species was constructed based on the common coding sequence of the cp genome and showed that H. polysperma is most closely related to H. ringens (both belong to subtribe Hygrophilinae) and, together, they form a clade that is sister to A. longifolia. This study provides a basis for systemic and evolution studies as well as the development of molecular markers for species identification and genetic breeding. Full article

The investigation and comparison of chloroplast genomes facilitate our deeper elucidation of the evolutionary dynamics and phylogenetics of plant species, particularly non-model plants. Opisthopappus is a genus of Asteraceae that is endemic to the Taihang Mountains in China, which includes Opisthopappus taihangensis and Opisthopappus longilobus. Although certain chloroplast genomic data are available, the comprehensive evolutionary relationships of chloroplast genomes in this genus are not yet fully understood. In this study, the assembled O. taihangensis chloroplast genomes exhibited a quadripartite structure with 131 genes, encompassing 86 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes. The basic phylogenetic relationships of 275 Asteraceae species were consistent with preceding studies. Opisthopappus with Ajania and Chrysanthemum were gathered together in Trib. Anthemideae. However, O. taihangensis and O. longilobus were not clustered into a group. Six and eight variable hotspots were detected in Opisthopappus and Asteraceae respectively. A total of 18 optimal codons were identified in two species. Differentiation in codon usage patterns was primarily influenced by natural selection between O. taihangensis and O. longilobus. Thereinto, GCU (Ala) was specific to O. taihangensis, while ACU (Thr) was to O. longilobus. Most of the codons preferentially ended with A/U, with only two genes (rpl16 and matK) being subjected to positive selection in Opisthopappus. Under salt stress, 25 editing sites were detected in O. longilobus, and 34 editing sites were found in O. taihangensis. All editing sites were C to U transitions. Distinct editing events occurred in the two species. During the evolution of chloroplast genomes, the genes that undergo positive selection may help two Opisthopappus species to adapt the harsh cliff environment of the Taihang Mountains and ensure their normal growth and development. In response to stress, O. taihangensis and O. longilobus tended to utilize different codons and initiate unique RNA editing events. These will facilitate further work on taxonomy, phylogenetics, and adaptive evolution of Opisthopappus, even Anthemideae or Asteraceae. Full article

Feedlots rely on corn-based total mixed rations (TMR) to finish yaks. However, corn is markedly deficient in lysine and, therefore, we hypothesized that feedlot yaks supplemented with rumen-protected lysine (RPLys) would improve performance. To test this hypothesis, twelve 2.5-year-old male yaks (122 ± 5.3 kg) were selected, and divided into a control (CON) and RPLys-supplemented (RPL) group. All yaks were provided with a pelleted diet that consisted of 25.0% corn stalk, 31.6% corn grain, and 24.0% corn by-products; while RPL yaks were supplemented with 37.0 g/d RPLys. Dry matter intake was not affected (p = 0.671) by RPLys supplementation, but the average daily gain was greater (p < 0.05; 1.46 vs. 1.25 kg/d) and the feed-to-gain ratio was lesser (p < 0.01; 3.39 vs. 3.90) in RPL than CON yaks. Serum urea nitrogen concentration and aspartate aminotransferase were greater (p < 0.05) in the CON than the RPL group. However, plasma lysine concentration was greater (p < 0.05), while threonine tended to be greater (p = 0.065) in RPL than CON yaks. Rumen ammonia-N concentration was lesser (p < 0.05) in RPL than CON yaks, but pH and volatile fatty acids concentration did not differ (p > 0.10) between groups. The relative abundances of the ruminal bacterial phyla of Firmicutes and Elusimicrobiota were greater (p < 0.05), whereas of the phylum Bacteroidota and genus Butyrivibrio were lesser (p < 0.05) in RPL than CON yaks. In general, the rumen microbiota was altered toward more abundant N utilization taxa in RPLys-supplemented yaks. RPLys-supplemented yaks had elevated plasma lysine and improved feed conversion ratio, providing the first evidence that bypass lysine improves the growth performance of yaks on corn-based diets in feedlots. Full article

The grassland caterpillar Gynaephora qinghaiensis (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) is a dominant pest species in the alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau. Elucidating changes in key gene expression patterns will provide molecular insights into the adaptive evolutionary mechanisms of insects. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is currently the predominant analytical methodology for assessing gene expression levels. However, variability among samples can compromise result reliability. Thus, selecting stably expressed reference genes for target gene normalization under diverse scenarios is critical. To date, suitable reference genes for G. qinghaiensis under varying experimental conditions have remained unidentified. In this study, the transcriptome data of G. qinghaiensis were obtained using the RNA-seq technique, and 13 candidate reference genes were selected. Four independent algorithms—ΔCt, geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper—as well as a comprehensive online platform, RefFinder, were employed to evaluate the stability under six experimental conditions (tissues, developmental stages, sexes, temperatures, starvation, and insecticide treatments). Our findings identified the following optimal reference gene combinations for each experimental condition: RPS18, RPS15, and RPL19 for tissue samples; RPL19, RPS15, and RPL17 across developmental stages; RPS18 and RPS15 for different sexes; RPS8 and EF1-α under varying temperature conditions; RPL17 and RPL15 during starvation; and RPL19 and RPL17 following insecticide treatments. To validate the feasibility of the reference genes, we examined the expression of the target gene HSP60 in different tissues and under different temperatures. Our results established essential reference standards for qRT-PCR with G. qinghaiensis samples, laying the foundation for precise gene expression quantification in the future. Full article

The security of Internet of Things (IoT)–Low-Power and Lossy Networks (LLNs) is crucial for their widespread adoption in various applications. The standard routing protocol for IoT-LLNs, IPv6 Routing Protocol over Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL), is susceptible to insider attacks, such as the version number attack (VNA), decreased rank attack (DRA), and increased rank attack (IRA). These attacks can significantly impact network performance and resource consumption. To address these security concerns, we propose the IbiboRPLChain Solution, a secure blockchain-based authentication method for RPL nodes. The proposed solution introduces an additional blockchain layer to the RPL architecture, enabling secure authentication of communication links between the routing layer and the sensor layer. The IbiboRPLChain Solution utilises smart contracts to trigger immediate authentication upon detecting routing attacks initiated by malicious nodes in an IoT-LLN environment. The evaluation of the proposed solution demonstrates its superior performance in mitigating insider attacks and enhancing IoT-LLN security compared to existing methods. The proposed solution effectively mitigates insider attacks by employing blockchain technology to authenticate communication links between routing and sensor nodes. This prevents malicious nodes from manipulating routing information and disrupting network operations. Additionally, the solution enhances IoT-LLN security by utilising smart contracts to trigger immediate authentication upon detecting suspicious activity, ensuring prompt action against potential threats. The findings of this research have significant implications for the development and deployment of secure IoT-LLNs. Full article

Argynnis hyperbius (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), as an important environmental indicator species, has shown a gradual decline in its species richness amid intensifying climate change and increasing environmental pressures. Screening for optimal reference genes is fundamental to studying their physiological and adaptive changes using RT-qPCR technology. In this study, 10 commonly used reference genes (ACT, α-TUB, AK, GAPDH, EF1α, BTF3, RPS3, RPL10, RPL32, and RPL27) were selected, and their expression stability under different developmental stages, genders, and temperature treatments was evaluated using the RefFinder website. The results indicated that selecting a pair of reference genes could achieve the most reliable normalization analysis under all experimental conditions. Specifically, AK and EF1α were the most stably expressed reference genes across different developmental stages; ACT and RPL32 showed the most stable expression in different adult sexes; and EF1α and RPL27 exhibited stable expression under different temperature treatments. Additionally, this study used EF1α and RPL32, the most stable reference genes from all results, to normalize and analyze the relative transcription levels of HSP90 under different temperatures, revealing significant differences between the 4 °C group and both the 26 °C and 37 °C groups. The findings of this study will significantly improve the reliability of RT-qPCR detection and lay a foundation for in-depth research on the gene expression, physiology, and biochemical mechanisms of A. hyperbius. Full article

Spatial representation is a core element of spatial cognition in orienteering, but the visual-spatial neural modulation mechanisms underlying spatial representations with differently oriented maps have not yet been systematically elucidated. This study recruited 67 orienteering athletes as participants and employed a single-factor (map orientation: normal vs. rotated) between-subjects experimental design. Eye-tracking and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) techniques were used simultaneously to collect behavioral, eye movement, and brain activity data, investigating the effects of map orientation on visual attention and brain activity characteristics during terrain symbol representation processing in orienteering athletes. The results revealed that compared to the normal orientation, the rotated orientation led to significantly decreased task accuracy, significantly prolonged reaction times, and significantly increased saccade amplitude and pupil diameter. Brain activation analysis showed that the rotated orientation elicited significantly higher activation levels in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-DLPFC), bilateral parietal lobe cortex (L-PL, R-PL), right temporal lobe (R-TL), and visual cortex (VC) compared to the normal orientation, along with enhanced functional connectivity. Correlation analysis revealed that under normal map orientation, accuracy was positively correlated with both saccade amplitude and pupil diameter; accuracy was positively correlated with activation in the R-DLPFC; saccade amplitude was positively correlated with activation in the R-DLPFC and R-PL; and pupil diameter was positively correlated with activation in the R-DLPFC. Under rotated map orientation, accuracy was positively correlated with saccade amplitude and pupil diameter, and pupil diameter was positively correlated with activation in both the L-PL and R-PL. The results indicate that map orientation significantly influences the visual search patterns and neural activity characteristics of orienteering athletes, impacting task performance through the coupling mode of visual-neural activity. Full article

Clinopodium is a morphologically highly diverse and taxonomically intricate genus. Molecular studies have demonstrated high divergence within the genus, and there is no consensus on the taxonomic treatment of some groups classified as Clinopodium. The current phylogenetic understanding of the genus relies almost exclusively on the analysis of the trnK and trnL-trnF sequences. In Clinopodium s.s., there is no phylogenetic backbone based on nuclear sequences. Therefore, in this study, we included a larger number of plastid and nuclear markers to better understand the diversification of natural populations of the genus Clinopodium from the Balkans. We encompassed the wild-growing taxa from former genera that have now been integrated into Clinopodium: Calamintha, Acinos, and section Pseudomelissa from the genus Micromeria. The markers that displayed the highest informativeness in the in silico analysis were selected. Four nuclear loci (ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, ITS2, ETS) and seven plastid loci (rps16-trnK^UUU, rpl32-trnL^UAG, rps15-ycf1, psbA-trnH^GUG, rps16-trnQ^UUG, petN-psbM, psbK-trnS^UGA) were used to analyse the phylogenetic relationships between the Balkan species and subspecies currently classified into Clinopodium. Phylogenetic reconstructions showed the divergence of the two lineages with different diversification patterns. Nuclear markers have shown that the three groups within the clade Clinopodium s.s. have evolved separately, which is consistent with earlier phenetic systems. Full article

In the Campania region of southern Italy, a formerly undescribed witches’-broom disease of cultivated strawberry characterized by symptoms similar to those of strawberry witches’-broom and multiplier diseases occurring in North America, has been observed. Strawberry witches’-broom and multiplier diseases are not known to occur in Europe. To elucidate the etiology of the new strawberry disease occurring in southern Italy and to determine the taxonomic position of the presumable causal agent, field observations and PCR assays using universal and group-specific phytoplasma primers followed by multigene sequence analysis were carried out. All of the symptomatic strawberry plants examined tested phytoplasma positive with universal primers and primers specific to the elm yellows (EY) phytoplasma group or 16SrV group. The percentage of diseased plants in the fields was about 30%. Data obtained from sequence and phylogenetic and virtual RFLP analyses of PCR-amplified rDNA (16S rDNA and 16S/23S rDNA spacer region), rpsV (rpl22) and rpsC (rps3), map, imp and groEL gene sequences, showed that the diseased strawberry plants harbored phytoplasma strains which were identical or nearly identical to each other and to strains of the rubus stunt (RuS) agent ‘Ca. Phytoplasma rubi’, a member of the 16SrV group, subgroup 16SrV-E. The 16S rDNA sequence similarity among the strawberry-infecting phytoplasma strains ranged from 99.1 to 99.9%. These strains shared the same range of 16S rDNA sequence similarity with RuS phytoplasma strains including the reference strain RUS of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma rubi’. This is the first report on the occurrence of RuS phytoplasma in naturally affected strawberry plants. Full article

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) form a “bidirectional vicious cycle” through the gut–brain axis: psychological and emotional abnormalities can induce intestinal inflammation, while intestinal inflammation can in turn exacerbate mental health disorders. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death that is driven by lipid peroxidation. Although this process has been molecularly defined in recent years, its role in the context of IBD and MDD remains insufficiently investigated. This study investigates the molecular roles of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in both conditions and explores potential therapeutic strategies targeting these genes. Methods: We first identified differentially expressed FRGs (DE-FRGs) by comparing normal and disease samples. Subsequently, we screened for DE-FRGs in both IBD and MDD and named them Co-DEGs. Correlation analyses of these co-FRGs were performed, including comparisons between disease and control groups, as well as associations between Co-DEGs and immune cell infiltrations. Four distinct machine learning algorithms were employed to identify the core Co-DEGs associated with both IBD and MDD. Moreover, analyses of drug sensitivity, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to predict potential therapeutic agents for both conditions. Finally, single-cell sequencing analysis was also performed. Results: We identified 29 Co-DEGs in both IBD and MDD. Machine learning analysis identified RPL8 as a key common biomarker exhibiting a consistent expression trend in both diseases. A predictive approach integrating molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that LE135, a compound targeting RPL8, is the most promising therapeutic candidate. Conclusions: These discoveries enhance the understanding of the shared and distinct regulatory mechanisms of FRGs in gut–brain axis disorders. We have pinpointed key biomarkers and predicted potential therapeutic agents that may offer dual-targeting strategies for both IBD and MDD. Full article