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Stone and pome fruit trees play a significant role in fruit production and consumption in China. As an economic fruit tree variety in Shaanxi Province, the cultivation area of Malus ‘Jinxiu’ has been gradually expanding. Brown rot, caused by several species of the genus Monilinia, can result in flower blight and fruit rot, leading to serious economic losses. In September 2025, brown rot symptoms were observed on Malus ‘Jinxiu’ fruits in orchards in Shaanxi Province, China. A total of 90 isolates recovered from symptomatic fruits were identified based on morphological characteristics, pathogenicity, and multi-locus sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA (rDNA-ITS), β-tubulin gene (tub2), and laccase genes (lcc2). The results showed that the causal agent of Malus ‘Jinxiu’ brown rot in Shaanxi Province is Monilinia yunnanensis. Furthermore, upon artificial inoculation, M. yunnanensis isolates from both Malus ‘Jinxiu’ and ‘Fuji’ apple hosts can cross-infect and cause brown rot symptoms. At the same time, a M. yunnanensis isolate from Malus ‘Jinxiu’ showed similar virulence on five other local cultivated apple varieties. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. yunnanensis infecting Malus ‘Jinxiu’. This study provides a basis for developing field diagnosis and integrated control measures for brown rot disease of Malus ‘Jinxiu’ in Shaanxi Province, China. Full article

Triazole-containing poly(ester amide)s were synthesized by a one-pot Cu(I)-catalyzed click step-growth polymerization using adipate-based dipropargyl esters and in situ generated diazide monomers derived from aliphatic diamines. Two polymers differing in the length of the polymethylene segment of the diamine unit (six and ten methylene groups) were obtained with yields close to 50% and molecular weights typical of step-growth polymerizations. FTIR and NMR analyses confirmed the formation of the expected polymer structures incorporating 1,2,3-triazole rings. Despite the complexity of the repeat unit, both polymers were semicrystalline and exhibited high glass transition and melting temperatures, reflecting strong intermolecular interactions associated with amide and triazole groups. Thermal stability and processability were strongly dependent on the diamine spacer length, with the longer polymethylene segment allowing melt processing without significant degradation. The polymers displayed good in vitro cytocompatibility and were suitable for the preparation of stable nanoparticles with narrow size distributions and negative zeta potentials around −30 mV. Degradation studies revealed low hydrolytic and enzymatic degradability under physiological conditions, in contrast to previously reported polyester analogues. These results highlight the potential of triazole-based poly(ester amide)s as biocompatible materials with potential interest for biomedical applications. Full article

Marine-derived fungi are important reservoirs of bioactive secondary metabolites, yet the diversity of fungal producers of mycophenolic acid (MPA) remains incompletely explored. In this study, 304 fungal strains were isolated from marine sediments collected from three coastal regions of Vietnam and screened for MPA production using thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and LC-MS confirmation. Twenty-five isolates (8.22%) were identified as MPA producers and were preliminarily assigned to the fungal genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium, with two isolates remaining unidentified, based on morphological characteristics. Strain MBLC9-138 was selected for detailed characterization because it represented a non-Penicillium MPA-producing isolate assigned to Cladosporium. Morphological observations and multilocus sequence analyses based on internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), actin gene (ACT), and beta-tubulin gene (TUB/TUB2) supported its identification as Cladosporium sp. MBLC9-138. HPLC analysis showed that this strain produced 463.25 mg/L MPA after 5 days of cultivation in NaCl-supplemented potato dextrose broth, while the maximum yield reached 632.03 ± 2.39 mg/L at 168 ± 12 h during the late exponential to early stationary phase. The purified MPA extract inhibited Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591, with MIC values of 16, 32, and 64 µg/mL, respectively. These findings identify Cladosporium sp. MBLC9-138 as a previously underreported marine fungal source of MPA, expand the known taxonomic range of MPA-producing fungi, and support further strain optimization, metabolite purification, and antibacterial characterization. Full article

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), is among the most destructive invasive pests of date palms worldwide. In this study, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) markers were analyzed in parallel to comparatively assess genetic diversity and haplotype variation in R. ferrugineus populations from Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia. Sequencing success rates reached 96.5% and 93.0% for COI and ITS, respectively. COI sequences exhibited very low nucleotide divergence among Qassim specimens (0.0–0.0077), indicating a highly conserved mitochondrial background and close phylogenetic similarity (p-distance = 0.0–0.0078) with an Egyptian reference haplotype (GU581319) and the reference R. ferrugineus mitochondrion (KT428893). In contrast, ITS analyses revealed substantially greater nuclear variation, identifying multiple haplotype groups with divergence levels of 10–19%. Haplotype diversity was higher in ITS (Hd = 0.876 ± 0.041) than in COI (Hd = 0.663 ± 0.068), while nucleotide diversity in ITS (π = 0.0387 ± 0.0013) was 36.9-fold greater than in COI (π = 0.00105 ± 0.00025; Z = 27.66, p < 0.001). Phylogenetic reconstruction showed greater population structuring in ITS than in COI. Integrated mitochondrial and nuclear markers improve genetic resolution and species identification in R. ferrugineus. Full article

Background/Objectives: The clinical application of the potent antitumor alkaloid camptothecin is severely limited by its high systemic toxicity, poor solubility, and rapid inactivation. This study aimed to design, synthesize, and evaluate a novel series of camptothecin–lipid conjugates where natural steroids and triterpenoids serve as lipophilic carriers to enhance cellular penetration and mitigate cardiotoxicity. Herein, we implemented an endogenous targeting strategy by conjugating camptothecin with natural steroids and triterpenoids, which serve as biomimetic lipophilic vectors to achieve tumor-selective intracellular delivery. Methods: Eleven novel camptothecin-based hybrids linked via succinic acid or ethylene glycol spacers were synthesized and characterized. Their in vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated against eight cancer cell lines of varied embryologic origin (Jurkat, HCT 116, A549, HL60, K562, HeLa, HEK293, and Fibroblasts). Cell cycle distribution, apoptosis induction, and topoisomerase I inhibitory activity were assessed using flow cytometry and enzyme assays. In silico pharmacokinetic profiling, including P-glycoprotein interaction and cardiotoxicity mitigation, was substantiated via ADME algorithms. Results: Among the series, compounds 12 (cholestanol conjugate) and 26 (betulin derivative) emerged as the primary lead candidates based on an optimal composite of submicromolar cytotoxicity, exceptional tumor selectivity indices (up to 7.0 for 12), and active topoisomerase I inhibition. Compounds 11–14 generally shared prominent S-phase cell cycle arrest, while the lead hybrids 12 and 26 successfully combined high apoptotic triggering with favorable in silico ADME safety profiling, including eliminated cardiotoxicity for the structural analogs. Conclusions: The integration of steroidal and triterpenoid pharmacophores via strategic spacers provides a reliable foundation for developing targeted, low-toxicity camptothecin–lipid conjugates with optimized safety profiles for cancer therapy. Full article

Global trade faces increasing biosecurity threats from pests like mealybugs and plant viruses, yet conventional detection methods are usually time-consuming and lab-dependent, creating an urgent need for an efficient portable platform. This study developed a microfluidic chip-based assay to simultaneously identify two mealybug species (Planococcus minor and Dysmicoccus neobrevipes) and Orthotospovirus tomatomaculae (tomato spot wilt virus, TSWV). Species-specific primers targeting conserved genetic regions (28S rRNA, internal transcribed spacer ITS, and nucleocapsid protein gene) were designed. The assay achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 10³ copies/µL (based on plasmids) and 2.30 × 10⁻³ ng/µL (based on real samples) for P. minor, 10⁴ copies/µL and 1.16 × 10⁻² ng/µL for D. neobrevipes, and 10³ copies/µL and 2.07 × 10⁻² ng/µL for TSWV, with no cross-reactivity against non-target species and good producibility both intrassay and interassay. Parallel detection was also successful with complex nucleic acid mixtures. The clinical specificity and sensitivity was 100% and 92.31%. Integrated with isothermal amplification and microfluidic pattern, the quadruple-sector chip enables on-site screening of a maximum of eight samples within 30–60 min. This rapid, sensitive, and portable tool overcomes limitations of conventional phytosanitary methods, supporting real-time customs monitoring and risk-based biosecurity measures. Full article

Canker is a destructive fungal disease that adversely affects plant growth, triggering leaf drop, branch dieback and even plant death. For the blueberry industry, fungal canker reduces blueberry yield and quality. In this study, diseased branches of the ‘Bluegold’ blueberry cultivar collected from open-field plantations in Jilin Province, China, were used to isolate and identify the pathogen, characterize its biological properties, and investigate the physiological and metabolomic responses of blueberry shoots to pathogen infection. Based on morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, the pathogen was preliminarily identified as Diaporthe eres. Biological characterization showed that the optimal temperature and pH for mycelial growth of the isolate were 25 °C and 6, respectively, while light conditions had no significant effect on fungal growth. Pathogenicity results demonstrated that infection by the isolate significantly induced the accumulation of superoxide anions (O₂^.−) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in blueberry new shoots, which led to lipid peroxidation and subsequently resulted in significant increases in malondialdehyde content and relative electrical conductivity. Concurrently, the plant’s antioxidant enzyme system was disrupted, and the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase remained significantly elevated throughout the infection period, while catalase activity exhibited an initial increase followed by a gradual decline. Metabolomic analysis identified 541 differentially accumulated metabolites, with key metabolites including ferulic acid, quercetin and kaempferol showing marked abundance changes. These were primarily enriched in pathways closely associated with plant resistance, such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis. Combined analysis of physiological and metabolomic data showed that reactive oxygen species accumulation and antioxidant enzyme responses were accompanied by significant enrichment of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid metabolism, indicating coordinated antioxidant regulation and secondary metabolic reprogramming in blueberry shoots following pathogen infection. Overall, this study preliminarily identified a D. eres isolate associated with blueberry canker in Jilin Province, and systematically characterized the physiological and metabolic responses of blueberry to pathogen infection, providing a theoretical basis for understanding blueberry—Diaporthe interactions and for developing effective disease management strategies. Full article

Floral yeasts are generally recognized to exhibit high metabolic activities. We isolated 437 yeast strains from 45 flower samples collected from different plants in the Beijing Olympic Forest Park, a unique urban ecosystem harboring diverse plants, which facilitated a thorough survey of floral yeast diversity. Based on a sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rRNA) and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), these strains were assigned to 69 species, with Filobasidium magnum, Starmerella bombicola, Teunia globosa, Aureobasidium pini, and Kwoniella ovata being the dominant taxa. Ten representative strains were characterized comprehensively and identified as two novel genera and four novel species. Integrating the molecular data, genome information, and phenotypic/physiological traits, the ten novel yeast strains were described as six novel yeast taxa, including two novel species of two novel genera, Fanglaniella lipolytica gen. nov. sp. nov., Polychromogenomyces tardus gen. nov. sp. nov., and four novel species as Pseudotremella jasmini sp. nov., Teunia pruni sp. nov., Kurtzmanomyces yulaniae sp. nov., and Trigonosporomyces otomorphus sp. nov. Furthermore, qualitative profiling of the lipolytic activity across all six novel taxa was conducted using Tween 20 and Tween 80 plate culture assays, and the lipolytic functional genes were subsequently predicted. Our findings highlighted the high diversity of flower-inhabitant yeast strains and the potential lipolytic activity of floral yeasts. Full article

Galloping of overhead transmission lines threatens grid safety and requires non-contact measurement methods that can quantify three-dimensional (3D) motion from field video. This paper proposes a deep-vision and binocular-collaboration framework for dynamic conductor displacement measurement. The framework combines three components that are matched to the physical structure of transmission lines: adaptive image enhancement using Retinex illumination decomposition and Wiener blind deconvolution; a structure-prior dual-branch extraction module that uses an improved YOLOv11 keypoint branch for spacer-equipped sections and an improved U-Net branch with Dynamic Snake Convolution (DSC) and Strip Pooling for bare conductors; and stereo reconstruction with Kalman-filter-based temporal association for continuous trajectory estimation. Compared with the original submission, the revised manuscript further clarifies the real-video data acquisition, annotation procedure, camera synchronization, calibration workflow, training/testing independence, and runtime measurement protocol. Additional validation on a public real power-line image dataset is also reported. The proposed method achieves a Z-axis Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 24.5 mm for spacer sections in the controlled binocular field test, a dominant-frequency relative error below 3.5%, and 32 FPS on edge hardware when preprocessing, visual extraction, stereo projection, and temporal filtering are included. On the supplementary public power-line dataset, the segmentation branch obtains a Dice coefficient of 0.9039 and an IoU of 0.8395. These results indicate that the proposed framework reduces the depth-scale limitation of monocular vision and provides a practical quantitative tool for field galloping monitoring. Full article

Phyllanthus emblica is valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties, yet the genomic divergence between localized and widespread cultivars remains poorly understood. We investigated the genomes of two individuals from the endemic cultivar ‘Hongguang’ (HG), propagated via regional grafting, and the commercially widespread ‘Dongkeng’ (DK), known for its superior protein content. Using whole-genome sequencing, we reconstructed phylogenies from two nuclear markers, profiled genome-wide variations, assembled chloroplast genomes, and verified relative plastid copy numbers via real-time quantitative PCRs (qPCRs). Nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and phytochrome C (PHYC) phylogenies confirmed both samples belonged to the P. emblica lineage, while revealing a distinct genetic identity for the HG individual. Genome-wide variant profiling of the two individuals identified KEGG enrichment in plant hormone signaling pathways; DK variants mapped to the canonical auxin axis, while HG variants were annotated to reversible protein phosphorylation. Comparative chloroplast genomics demonstrated shared maternal inheritance and shared mutations in key photosynthetic genes (psaB, petA, and the ndh cluster) between the two genomes, though qPCR validation revealed a higher relative chloroplast DNA copy number in the DK sample. Despite the two-individual limitation, these findings revealed preliminary genomic variations, offering candidate molecular markers for future population studies and marker-assisted breeding. Full article

Background: Rare fungal infections may represent under-recognized causes of healthcare-associated sepsis, particularly when caused by emerging or difficult-to-identify pathogens. We aimed to characterize Candida viswanathii isolates recovered in the setting of panel-negative candidemia and to assess the contribution of an integrated diagnostic workflow. Methods: We investigated seven C. viswanathii isolates overall, including three recovered at our institution from blood, urine, and bronchoalveolar lavage of a NICU patient, as well as four bloodstream isolates from a second pediatric center included for comparison. Isolates were analyzed by culture and microscopy, three MALDI-TOF MS platforms, internal transcribed spacer sequencing, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and antifungal susceptibility testing. Results: C. viswanathii was repeatedly recovered from blood, urine and bronchoalveolar lavage, while the FilmArray BCID2 panel remained negative. All MALDI-TOF MS systems with updated databases correctly identified the yeast at the species level; identification was confirmed by sequencing. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed clustering of clinical isolates and clearly separated C. viswanathii from related Candida species. All isolates exhibited low MICs to echinocandins and amphotericin B as well as moderately elevated fluconazole MICs (2–4 mg/L). Conclusion: This study supports the use of explicit diagnostic algorithms for rare fungal pathogens in yeast-positive, syndromic panel-negative blood cultures. In this setting, updated MALDI-TOF MS libraries and FTIR spectroscopy may provide useful adjunctive support for the recognition and phenotypic discrimination of atypical yeasts within an integrated laboratory workflow. Full article

Accurate junction temperature ($T_j$) sensing is essential for the reliability of silicon carbide (SiC) power modules in electric vehicles. Nonetheless, the physical separation and consequent thermal signal delay between sensing elements and chips pose significant challenges to precise junction temperature monitoring. To solve this issue, an embedded temperature sensing structure integrated into the designed double-sided cooling (DSC) SiC power module is proposed, which leverages 3D vertical interconnects to enhance temperature observability. The customized design of a copper spacer serves as the primary heat dissipation path and electrical connection between the upper and lower chips in the same location. A compact thermal resistance network and 3D finite-element simulations are developed to reveal the vertical thermal coupling between the spacers and the chips, enabling accurate junction temperature estimation from spacer temperature. The proposed concept is experimentally validated on a fabricated prototype using embedded K-type thermocouples and an IR camera under power cycling conditions. The measured temperature differences between the copper spacers and the junction temperature are maintained within approximately 0.5–2 °C under the tested operating range. This approach provides a potential application in real-time condition monitoring and thermal management in high-power-density electric drives. Full article

Biochar can improve soil physicochemical properties and microbial habitats; however, its application rate-dependent effects in maize fields of the black soil region remain insufficiently understood under field conditions. A three-year field experiment was conducted in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang Province, China, from 2023 to 2025, with four biochar application rates: 0 (W0), 10 (W1), 20 (W2), and 40 t ha⁻¹ (W3). Soil physicochemical properties, bacterial communities based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and fungal communities based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing were analyzed to assess changes in soil fertility and microbial community composition and their relationships with environmental factors. Biochar application significantly increased soil organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available potassium, and pH. Although W3 produced the greatest nutrient enhancement, W2 exhibited a more balanced overall response across the measured soil fertility and microbial community indicators. Sequencing depth was adequate for all samples, and bacterial alpha diversity was comparatively well maintained under W2 and W3. Fungal alpha diversity exhibited pronounced interannual variation and increased under W3 in 2025. Year accounted for a greater proportion of variation in microbial community structure than did biochar treatment; however, both treatment and the year × treatment interaction also had significant effects. Among the measured soil fertility and microbial community indicators, W2 produced a comparatively balanced overall response, whereas W3 exerted stronger selective effects on microbial communities. Because crop yield, economic feasibility, labile carbon fractions, and long-term ecological outcomes were not assessed, an agronomically optimal biochar application rate cannot yet be determined. Full article

Macrofungal resources are abundant in Northeast China, but those from Shenyang and its surrounding areas remain insufficiently investigated. In this study, morphological and phylogenetic analyses were carried out on specimens collected from the vicinity of Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Phylogenetic trees were inferred using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods based on sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU). Three new species, Descolea laevis (Bolbitiaceae), Leucocoprinus shenyangensis (Agaricaceae), and Tephrocybe umbonata (Lyophyllaceae), are described herein. Descolea laevis is characterized by pale yellow to light yellow basidiomata, a nearly smooth pileus surface, clavate to narrowly clavate cheilocystidia, fusiform to clavate pleurocystidia, and amygdaliform to limoniform, verrucose basidiospores. Leucocoprinus shenyangensis is distinguished by white to yellowish-white basidiomata, a pileus covered with light grey squamules, narrowly clavate to subcylindrical cheilocystidia, a hymenidermal pileipellis, and amygdaliform to limoniform basidiospores. Tephrocybe umbonata is characterized by orange-white to greyish-orange basidiomata, a pileus with a blunt umbo, a smooth or slightly finely fibrillose pileus surface, lageniform pleurocystidia with slightly acute apices, and amygdaliform to limoniform basidiospores. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations of microscopic structures, and phylogenetic evidence for the three new species are provided. The diagnostic characteristics separating the new taxa from their closely related species are also discussed. Full article

A simplified design framework for narrowband terahertz thermal emitters based on a resonant Salisbury-type structure is investigated numerically. The structure consists of a metallic backreflector, a dielectric spacer, and a thin resonant layer with a Lorentz-type dielectric response. Using the transfer matrix method, we show that matching the intrinsic resonance of the resonant layer with an interference resonance of the Salisbury structure enables selective enhancement of a single emissivity peak without requiring time-consuming full-wave optimization at the initial design stage. The influence of spacer thickness, refractive index, and resonance strength on the spectral response is analysed, providing simple guidelines for tuning the emission frequency and suppressing parasitic peaks. A realistic implementation based on a graphene metamaterial layer on a silicon spacer is also investigated using finite-element simulations to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed design concept. The obtained emissivity and thermal emission spectra show that the approach can be used for the efficient design of spectrally selective terahertz thermal emitters in the 10–40 THz range. Full article