Search Results (1,473)

Pseudomonas plecoglossicida causes bacterial hemorrhagic ascites in ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis), a lethal disease characterized by abdominal distension with hemorrhagic ascites, multifocal organ hemorrhages, and histopathologically evident hepatocellular necrosis and inflammatory infiltration. The lack of effective treatments exacerbates mass mortalities, posing a significant threat to aquaculture. Given the severe pathogenesis of P. plecoglossicida infection—which involves bacterial colonization, tissue necrosis, and host immune dysregulation—effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Through a screen of traditional Chinese medicine monomers, we identified harmine, an indole alkaloid derived from Peganum harmala seeds, as a potent agent against this pathogen. In vivo, harmine exhibited direct bactericidal activity by disrupting membrane integrity, as evidenced by increasing membrane permeability, and inhibiting biofilm formation. In an ayu infection model, harmine significantly increased host survival, reduced tissue bacterial load, and enhanced innate immunity by augmenting monocyte/macrophage phagocytosis and bactericidal capacity while suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine release and apoptosis. Mechanistically, the Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability assay was used to identify the molecular target of harmine, followed by functional validation through PRDX6−knockdown experiments. Harmine exhibited direct bactericidal activity by disrupting membrane integrity and inhibiting biofilm formation. In the ayu infection model, harmine significantly increased host survival, reduced tissue bacteria1 load, and enhanced innate immunity by augmenting monocyte/macrophage system and bactericidal capacity while suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine release and apoptosis, the latter likely through modulation of PRDX6−mediated oxidative stress and downstream caspase signaling. Mechanistically, DARTS revealed that harmine binds to peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6), a multifunctional enzyme possessing peroxidase, phospholipase A₂, and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase activities. This binding liberates TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), facilitating its mitochondrial translocation and association with the ECSIT signaling integrator complex, thereby amplifying mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) production and potentiating macrophage-mediated bacterial killing. These findings establish harmine as a promising therapeutic candidate for controlling P. plecoglossicida infections and underscore the value of host-directed immunomodulation derived from natural products in aquaculture medicine. Full article

A quartz crystal microbalance-based biosensor for the specific detection of the first transgenic common bean (L.) cultivar (BRS FC401 RMD) with resistance to Bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) was developed. The immobilization chemistry relies on the strong bond between the thiolated probe and the gold electrode surface. The probe sequence is internal to a region of the BGMV rep gene that was introduced into the common bean genome. The sensor’s analytical performance was determined using synthetic oligonucleotides. Real samples of transgenic and wild-type bean seeds were also tested. Sample pretreatment consisted only of enzymatic fragmentation, followed by a thermal denaturation step combined with blocking oligonucleotides. Different biosensor regeneration approaches were studied. Immobilization showed good reproducibility (CV% of 5.8%). The biosensor proved specific for both synthetic oligonucleotides and non-amplified genomic DNA. A linear detection range of 0–1.4 ng/µL was observed, with a detection limit of 0.18 ng/µL. Three sequential detections were performed without loss of surface activity. The results demonstrate the biosensor’s potential for direct, real-time, label-free detection of DNA samples for field screening of transgenic common bean cultivars. Full article

Nonlinear state estimation in electric power systems remains challenging under mixed-measurement conditions due to the coexistence of legacy SCADA and PMU data with markedly different reliability levels, the sensitivity of classical Gauss–Newton-type methods to heterogeneous noise and numerical conditioning, and the increasing complexity of large-scale grids. To address these issues, this paper proposes ST-ResGAT, a spatio-temporal residual graph attention framework for nonlinear state estimation under heterogeneous sensing conditions. The proposed method models the problem on an augmented heterogeneous factor graph, employs a reliability-aware heterogeneous graph attention mechanism with residual propagation to adaptively fuse measurements of different quality, and further refines the graph-based estimates through a lightweight LSTM post-processing module that exploits short-term temporal continuity. All datasets are generated using pandapower on the IEEE 30-bus, IEEE 118-bus, and IEEE 1354-bus benchmark systems to ensure full reproducibility of the experimental pipeline. Experimental results show that the proposed method consistently achieves lower estimation errors than WLS, DNN, GAT, and PINN baselines across all three systems, while also exhibiting more compact node-level error distributions and stronger spatial consistency. Multi-seed ablation studies further indicate that residual propagation, reliability-aware attention, and temporal refinement play complementary roles across different system scales. Robustness experiments additionally show that, under random measurement exclusion as well as bias, Gaussian, and mixed corrupted-measurement settings, ST-ResGAT exhibits smooth and progressive degradation, including on the newly added large-scale IEEE 1354-bus benchmark. These results suggest that the proposed framework is a promising direction for data-driven state estimation under controlled mixed-measurement benchmark conditions. Full article

Weed control in rice remains a critical challenge in direct-seeded rice cultivation. This study combined field and laboratory experiments to compare the efficacy of nine herbicide combinations against weeds in dryland rice fields and to evaluate their impact on rice economic traits. A model was constructed using principal component analysis for comprehensive evaluation, aiming to identify optimal herbicide combinations for direct-seeded rice under shallow drip irrigation in Hinggan League. The results indicate that pendimethalin provides better pre-emergence control compared to oxadiargyl and pretilachlor. The combination of florpyrauxifen-benzyl + benzobicyclon provided optimal weed control efficacy and rice economic performance when applied as a foliar treatment. Forty-five days after application, weed control efficacy against Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. and Amaranthus retroflexus L. was 72% and 85%, respectively, with fresh weight reduction of 63%. Theoretical yield reached 4285.48 kg·ha⁻¹. At rice harvest, no herbicide residues were detected in rice straw or grains across all treatments, confirming the safety of the applied treatment for rice. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate the comprehensive scores of each treatment, with pendimethalin + florpyrauxifen-benzyl + benzobicyclon achieving the highest score of 0.65. The study indicates that the combination of pendimethalin as a pre-emergence and florpyrauxifen-benzyl + benzobicyclon offers significant advantages in weed control efficacy and rice growth, achieving the highest comprehensive evaluation score. This combination holds important application value for weed control and grain yield assurance in direct-seeded rice fields. Full article

Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) plays an important ecological role in Mesoamerican forests as a browser and seed disperser, earning it the nickname of “gardener of the forest”. However, knowledge of its diet composition remains scattered. We reviewed and analysed the available literature on the composition of Baird’s tapir diet throughout its geographic distribution, compiling data from 27 studies. Baird’s tapir was found to consume 515 plant taxa belonging to 410 genera and 123 families. Five types of dietary components have been identified: fibre (stems), leaves, fruit, bark, and flowers. The influence of seasonality on the tapir diet is unclear due to the underestimation of some components, notably fruits. We identified limitations in the techniques used to determine diet components and study designs. Future research should focus on developing techniques to improve the quantification of dietary components. Additionally, the direct and indirect effects of the Baird’s tapir’s diet and plant consumption on ecosystem dynamics should be investigated to clearly understand the functional role of this species. Full article

Food by-products have gained importance as valuable sources of bioactive compounds and structural lipids, with potential applications in food packaging. These residues, such as fruit peels, seeds, and fish skin, contain polymers and natural compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, and phospholipids, which possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties highly relevant for food preservation. However, the direct incorporation of these compounds is limited by their sensitivity to environmental factors such as light, oxygen, and pH. Liposomal encapsulation has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these challenges, providing protection, controlled release, and increased bioavailability of both hydrophilic and lipophilic bioactives. The formulation of liposomes using lipids recovered from food industry by-products introduces an additional sustainability component, in line with the principles of the circular economy. Combining liposomes with other advanced preservation technologies, such as edible coatings and films, electrospinning fibers, and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes, is a promising alternative for extending the shelf-life and safety of food products, as well as for the development of functional foods. This review discusses the latest advances in liposome formulations with food by-products and their combination with other technologies to enhance their effectiveness in food preservation. Full article

Insufficient tensile strength, low abrasion resistance, and inadequate consistency in the fresh state led to fractures and decreased the durability of the concrete. Tensile stress resistance is the most challenging, resulting in the formation of microcracks that propagate to a macrolevel. Nanomaterials, with dimensions ranging from 0.1 to 100 nanometers, represent an innovative class of materials that can enhance the mechanical properties of concrete through the nano-core effect. These materials play significant roles in the formation of calcium–silicate–hydrate (C-S-H) gels, contribute to seeding effects, and augment cement hydration reactions. Given the above, the addition of nanomaterials makes concrete exhibit exceptional mechanical strength and improved durability performance. The primary objective of this review is to identify the potential nanomaterials suitable for the development of high-performance concrete. This article reviews the literature on the effects of nanoparticles, such as nano-calcium carbonates (NCCs), iron oxide (NI), nano-aluminum oxide (NA), graphene oxide (GO), nano-silica (NS), and nano-titanium oxide (NT) on the fresh and hardened properties of the material. The study identifies a promising nanomaterial for enhancing concrete, highlights research gaps, and suggests future research directions for its optimal application in future concrete constructions. Full article

Two-line hybrid rice breeding relies on photoperiod-/thermosensitive genic male sterile (P/TGMS) lines with reliable fertility transition across different environments. The fertility of japonica P/TGMS lines is intricately regulated by photoperiod and temperature, making it more challenging to breed japonica sterile lines with stable sterility than indica sterile lines. This complexity is one of the primary reasons the breeding and promotion of two-line japonica hybrid rice has lagged behind that of indica hybrid rice. Here, we report on Yun1032S, a novel japonica P/TGMS line bred in the low-latitude plateau. It was bred by crossing Peiai 64S, the famous P/TGMS line with the largest application area in China, with Yungengyou 1, a plateau japonica variety noted for its excellent cold tolerance and disease resistance. Yun1032S exhibited stable sterility and female-parent traits favorable for two-line seed production. The elite combination YLY7706 (Yunliangyou7706), derived from a cross between Yun1032S and Yungenghui7501, showed a stable and competitive yield and strong disease resistance in the 2022–2023 Yunnan provincial regional trials. To analyze the genetic basis of phenotypes, we performed whole-genome resequencing and functional loci analysis of the parents and found that they carry a great number of superior alleles, which account for their yield and disease-resistant performance. To assess the breeding value of Yun1032S, we analyzed heterosis of a new batch of combinations derived from Yun1032S and identified a new combination, Jian3, with greater yield potential than YLY7706. These findings not only enhance the breeding of japonica P/TGMS lines but also provide direction for future pairing of two-line hybrid combination breeding. The study presents innovative concepts that further integrate genomics with traditional breeding techniques. Ultimately, Yun1032S marks a significant milestone in japonica P/TGMS line breeding technology, opening new avenues for the development of the two-line system. Full article

Insomnia is increasingly recognized as a manifestation of multisystem dysregulation characterized by sustained physiological hyperarousal. This review situates insomnia within a framework of reciprocal disturbances across neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and autonomic pathways. It examines the potential roles of cannabidiol (CBD), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) derived from hemp seed oil (HSO), and lignans from black sesame oil (BSO) as modulators of upstream biological processes relevant to sleep regulation. Rather than acting as direct hypnotics, these compounds are considered for their capacity to influence convergent mechanisms involved in sleep–wake stability. Preclinical evidence suggests that CBD modulates endocannabinoid and serotonergic signaling, potentially contributing to the regulation of physiological processes associated with hyperarousal. Concurrently, HSO-derived fatty acids support mitochondrial function and lipid-mediated resolution. Sesame lignans further contribute through antioxidant properties linked to redox balance, neurometabolic stability, and modulation of neural excitability. However, the current evidence base is predominantly preclinical, and definitive conclusions regarding therapeutic efficacy or optimal dosing in humans remain limited. Future research should prioritize integrative clinical studies that link these specific biological modulations to standardized sleep outcomes to determine their real-world applicability. Nevertheless, the pathways discussed align with biological domains consistently implicated in established insomnia phenotypes. This review integrates these compounds within a shared hyperarousal framework to highlight convergent upstream mechanisms that extend beyond their individual effects. Full article

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by the misfolding of proteins generated in the exon 3 region of the prion protein gene (PRNP). Recent investigations using protein misfolding cyclic amplification assays indicated that some canids displayed a low susceptibility to TSE due to a specific nonsynonymous substitution (human: N159D/E; canid: N163D/E; alignment herein: N302D/E) in the prion protein that may confer protection against prion seeding activity and propagation. To examine the molecular evolution underlying this observation, we determined the mammalian taxonomic distribution of the N159D/E substitution in 882 PRNP sequences representing 26 Orders, 132 families, and 686 species. Two families each in Carnivora (Canidae and Mustelidae) and Chiroptera (Mormoopidae and Vespertilionidae), and one family each in Artiodactyla (Moschidae) and Rodentia (Erethrizontidae), possessed N159D/E that has been reported to confer resistance to TSEs. Although no direct evidence linked a pattern of resistance (phylogenetic relatedness, geographic location, etc.) in these diverse species, it may be that coevolutionary pressures led 53 of the examined 686 species (1 domestic species, 52 wild species) to possess N159D/E. Therefore, the presence of N159D/E may not be the only factor in determining sensitivity to prion diseases; consequently, a more detailed investigation into the 53 species, such as knockout experiments, is warranted. Full article

Precise control over the physicochemical and biological properties of colloidal particles is essential for the rational design of functional soft materials. In this work, we report a simple and scalable strategy for generating modular dendron particles (MDPs) through the self-assembly of fully characterized small-molecule Bis-MPA dendrons that act as programmable molecular building blocks for colloidal particle formation. By systematically varying three structural domains—the inner functionality, methylene spacer length, and outer connector—we achieve tunable formation of MDPs ranging from nano- to microscale dimensions. Upon solvent evaporation under mild drying conditions, pre-assembled MDPs act as structure-directing seeds that guide the emergence of hierarchical surface morphologies with spiky, scaly, or spherical protrusions, depending on dendron architecture. Importantly, these assemblies exhibit good biocompatibility toward non-tumoral bronchial epithelial (NL-20) cells while displaying selective cytotoxicity toward Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells, demonstrating that dendron molecular architecture alone can govern particle size, morphology, and biological response without external drug loading. Collectively, these findings highlight modular Bis-MPA dendrons as versatile building blocks for directing particle size, morphology, and biological response through controlled self-assembly and evaporation-driven structuring. Full article

Range limits are often hypothesized to arise from reduced reproductive success at distributional margins, yet direct tests integrating pollination and post-pollination processes remain uncommon. Whether reproductive failure constrains the distylous Gelsemium sempervirens at its western range edge in eastern Texas was investigated by quantifying flowering phenology, floral visitation, pollinator effectiveness, and seed fate over two flowering seasons. Flowering timing differed markedly between years due to freeze events, but flowering effort and morph synchrony remained high. Although multiple floral visitors were recorded, fruit set was overwhelmingly associated with the southeastern blueberry bee (Habropoda laboriosa), which dominated visitation and remained active throughout the flowering period. No evidence of autonomous self-pollination or breakdown of functional distyly was detected. Seed set in unattacked fruits was high and comparable to values reported from central-range populations. In contrast, post-pollination seed loss due to cryptic fruit herbivory substantially reduced seed survival, though herbivory patterns did not differ qualitatively from those documented elsewhere in the species’ range. Together, these results indicate that reproductive failure does not explain the abrupt western range limit of G. sempervirens and instead suggest that ecological transitions associated with the forest–prairie ecotone, rather than pollination or early seed development, may play a more important role in shaping the species’ distribution. Full article

Secondary salinization in mulched drip-irrigated cotton fields of arid oasis–desert transition zones in Xinjiang imposes coupled root-zone constraints, including salt-induced aggregate structural degradation and ionic stress. However, field evidence remains limited on whether integrating a structure-oriented soil conditioner with humic acid can generate stable improvements across growing seasons. A two-year field experiment with a randomized block design (three replicates) was conducted to evaluate four treatments: control (CK), polyacrylamide (PAM, 30 kg ha⁻¹), humic acid (HA, 450 kg ha⁻¹), and PAM + HA. Soil physical and chemical properties and aggregate-size distribution were determined after harvest, while enzyme activities and root traits were assessed at the flowering–boll stage. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and random forest (RF) analysis were used to explore soil–root–yield linkages and identify key soil predictors associated with yield variation. Treatment effects were most evident in the 0–20 cm layer, with PAM + HA showing the greatest overall improvement. In the topsoil, PAM + HA lowered soil pH from 8.35 to 7.88 in 2024 (p < 0.05), increased soil organic carbon (SOC) to 4.29 g kg⁻¹ in 2025 (p < 0.01), and increased NO₃⁻–N to 25.51 and 30.27 mg kg⁻¹ in 2024 and 2025, respectively (both p < 0.05). PAM + HA also enhanced cellulase activity from 6.17 to 16.85 mg glucose g⁻¹ 72 h⁻¹ in 2024 and increased seed cotton yield to 6683.69 and 5996.89 kg ha⁻¹ in 2024 and 2025, with a 51.0% yield increase over CK in 2024. SEM showed that root development had the strongest direct positive effect on yield (β = 0.79, R² = 0.63; goodness of fit (GOF) = 0.74), while random forest identified alkaline phosphatase, cellulase, and NO₃⁻–N as the main yield predictors (out-of-bag R² (OOB R²) = 0.672, p = 0.01). This study elucidated the effects of the combined application of a structure-oriented soil conditioner and humic acid on the root-zone environment of mulched drip-irrigated cotton fields in arid regions, providing a theoretical basis for the coordinated regulation of soil structural improvement and nutrient activation in saline–sodic cotton fields. Full article

Vertical transmission of plant pathogenic viruses is an important component of viral persistence, survival, and spread in agricultural production systems. This type of transmission is of considerable economic significance as it can cause major crop losses by serving as the initial focus of infection for future epidemics. Vertical transmission occurs when a virus is passed on to offspring either by direct invasion of the developing seed embryo from infected mother plants or through infected pollen grains after fertilization. We have recently demonstrated via high-throughput sequencing that mature seeds of the agriculturally important forage crop alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are associated with a broad range of viruses, some of which could potentially spread over long distances via seed. With the exception of the alfalfa mosaic virus, little is currently known about viral transmission through alfalfa pollen and its subsequent impact on the disease epidemiology of the crop. The objective of this study was to screen pollen from diverse alfalfa genotypes for pathogenic viruses and assess their risk of transmission. The pollen was collected from alfalfa genotypes selected for fungal disease resistance and agronomic performance in the USDA ARS pre-breeding program in Prosser, WA. Full article

Synthetic dyes discharged from the textile and dyeing industry present a significant environmental and health hazard due to their inherent toxicity, environmental persistence, and potential carcinogenicity. Microbial degradation has garnered significant interest as a cost-effective and eco-friendly strategy for dye wastewater treatment in recent years. The study systematically evaluated the decolorization performance, degradation pathways, and detoxification effects of three bacterial strains, including Rhodopseudomonas palustris gh32, Bacillus cereus HL7, and Bacillus safensis X64, on the dye indigo carmine (IC) and three azo dyes: reactive black 5 (RB5), direct black G (DBG), and direct blue 15 (DB15). The degradation mechanisms were elucidated through UV-Vis spectroscopy, UPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS analysis, and enzyme activity assays. Molecular docking simulations were employed to investigate the interactions between key redox enzymes (such as laccase, tyrosinase, and azoreductase) and the dye molecules. The results demonstrated that the strain-specific enzymatic systems effectively disrupted the dye structures. Significant detoxification effects were further confirmed through a series of bio toxicity assays involving Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, plant seeds, and erythrocytes. The addition of Fe³⁺, sodium citrate, or yeast extract significantly enhanced both the decolorization efficiency and enzyme activity. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the bacterial dye degradation process at the mechanistic level, highlighting the potential of customized bacterial systems for eco-friendly dye wastewater treatment. It offers theoretical support for elucidating the mechanisms of bacterial dye degradation and advancing bioremediation technologies. Full article