Search Results (23,003)

Anoplophora chinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is an invasive, economically important, quarantined wood-boring pest whose long-life cycle complicates laboratory rearing and management. This study investigated the combined effects of artificial diet, chilling duration, and temperature on pupation cues. Adults collected from the wild were allowed to oviposit, and newly hatched larvae were reared on a prepared artificial diet. Larval weight was recorded biweekly to assess growth and mortality. At 12 weeks of age, larvae were subjected to cold treatments at 5 °C or 10 °C for 9, 12, 14, 16, or 19 weeks, then returned to warm rearing conditions to monitor pupation. Additional chilling cycles were applied when necessary. Pupation percents increased with chilling duration, reaching 55% after 16 weeks at 10 °C compared with 16.7% after 12 weeks and none after 9 weeks. Developmental durations were 34.43, 55.93, and 88.65 weeks for larvae experiencing one, two, and three chilling cycles, respectively. Adults body weight was consistently lower than that of field-collected individuals for both males and females. These findings confirm that chilling is essential for pupation cues and demonstrate that both duration and temperature strongly influence pupation success. Importantly, the combination of artificial diet with optimized chilling regimes enhances pupation rates, providing a practical foundation for mass-rearing protocols of A. chinensis to support future research and management programs. Full article

Adaptive learning systems increasingly rely on multimodal affective computing, yet many pipelines remain difficult to audit and pedagogically justify. We introduce NAILF (Neuro-Adaptive Artificial Intelligent Learning Flow) and formalise IPA 2.0 as an interpretable continuous index integrating affective valence/intensity with attentional activation into a traceable intermediate signal for neuro-adaptive decision-making. Validation follows a two-level strategy. Study A performs a structured simulation over the full emotion–attention space (108 configurations), demonstrating numerical stability and coherent monotonic behaviour under controlled parameterisation. Study B evaluates external validity on the DIPSEER in-the-wild classroom dataset using subject-wise temporal calibration (lag/windowing/smoothing), hold-out evaluation, and explicit anti-leakage auditing. Across evaluable subjects (n = 172), Fisher-z aggregation shows a small but significant association between IPA 2.0 and an external engagement criterion (r_global = 0.166, 95% CI [0.017, 0.308]). A heterogeneous strong-signal subset (n = 25, r_eval ≥ 0.50) supports personalised calibration as a core design principle. We discuss practical implications: IPA 2.0 is not a sole predictor, but an auditable signal that can gate, rank, and explain adaptive interventions under real-world noise and label–signal asynchrony. Full article

Viroids are a serious threat to plant health due to their broad host range, high infectivity, and latent infections. Europe’s heterogeneous climate, ecology, and agriculture make it a key setting for viroid research. Despite numerous country- and host-specific reports, a continental synthesis has been lacking. In this study, we systematically collected all available official records of plant viroids in Europe from 1972 to 2025. A total of 255 documents were analyzed, encompassing 35 countries of the European continent and 118 host plant species, classified by host use (cultivated, ornamental, wild) and growth habit. Nucleotide sequences of the most common European viroids were retrieved from the NCBI database to assess genetic diversity and recombination. Europe hosts 32 of the 45 recognized viroid species worldwide (~71%), representing all eight genera. Southern Europe emerged as the main hotspot (~70% of reports), largely associated with Mediterranean climates and intensive cultivation of woody crops. Cultivated plants were the dominant hosts across all regions, while ornamentals were particularly important in Northern and Western Europe. Population genetic analyses revealed heterogeneous patterns, quasispecies dynamics, and recombination, shaped by host and geography. This is the first integrated overview of viroids across Europe, highlighting the importance of surveillance, sequencing, and genomic research. Full article

Astrocytomas are among the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system, arising from astrocytic glial cells and encompassing a wide spectrum of histopathological grades and clinical behaviors. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by chronic immune dysregulation, neuroinflammation, and increased susceptibility to both opportunistic infections and malignancies. The management of astrocytomas in patients living with HIV presents unique clinical challenges but should, whenever feasible, follow standard neuro-oncological principles. We report the case of a 34-year-old man with well-controlled HIV infection who presented in February 2025 with progressive neurological symptoms. Brain imaging revealed a left temporo-insular lesion, and the diagnosis was confirmed by neuronavigation-guided biopsy performed on 31 March 2025. Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation established the diagnosis of an isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild-type astrocytoma, central nervous system (CNS) World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2, according to the 2021 classification of central nervous system tumors. Full article

Orchids exhibit remarkable diversity in terms of form, color, and fragrance, and are highly valued for their ornamental potential. In the Brazilian Cerrado, several native epiphytic species, including Cattleya cernua (Lindl.), are increasingly threatened by habitat loss and uncontrolled wild harvesting, leading to significant genetic erosion. In this context, conservation strategies and the development of optimized in vitro culture protocols are essential for preserving these species. This study optimized in vitro growth and established an acclimatization protocol for C. cernua by evaluating the effects of salt and sucrose concentrations, plant flour supplementation, and substrate types and fertilizer levels on acclimatization performance. Results indicated that the MS medium at 25% supplemented with 10 g L⁻¹ sucrose promoted the greatest shoot growth, number of leaves, and pseudobulb formation. The addition of cashew nut flour at 10 g L⁻¹ significantly enhanced both shoot and root development, increasing leaf and root numbers compared to other treatments. Data showed that coconut fiber, even without fertilization, supported high survival rates and robust plant growth. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the in vitro growth of Cattleya cernua is most effectively achieved using MS medium at 25% strength supplemented with 10 g L⁻¹ sucrose and 10 g L⁻¹ cashew flour, followed by acclimatization in coconut fiber without additional fertilization. This protocol represents an efficient, sustainable strategy for propagating and conserving this native Cerrado orchid species. Full article

Carotenoid-based coloration significantly influences the ornamental appeal and market value of aquatic species. This study identifies the genetic basis of yellow body coloration in the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), a commercially important aquaculture species in China. Through a genome-wide association study (GWAS), we identified a 10 bp deletion (bco1l-Δ10) in the bco1l gene, a critical enzyme in carotenoid metabolism. This deletion, located in exon 10, causes a frameshift mutation and premature stop codon, resulting in loss of the enzymatic function essential for carotenoid cleavage. Sanger sequencing confirmed that all yellow juveniles were homozygous for the deletion, while none of the wild-type juveniles harbored this mutation. Functional assays demonstrated that the recombinant Bco1l-Δ10 protein failed to catalyze β-carotene cleavage, validating the genetic association with the yellow phenotype. The bco1l-Δ10 mutation was detected only in a limited number of juvenile individuals, indicating it is a rare occurrence in the population. Our findings provide a valuable genetic marker for marker-assisted selection (MAS) to enhance yellow pigmentation in aquaculture breeding programs, offering a potential strategy to improve the market value of L. crocea. Full article

The Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) is a globally significant plant pathogenic bacterium. Given the lack of effective chemical controls, phage therapy has emerged as a promising biocontrol alternative. While combining phages with antibiotics can counteract phage resistance, RSSC may still evolve concurrent resistance to both agents. However, the fitness consequences and underlying mechanisms of such resistance remain unclear. In this study, a novel RSSC phage was isolated to experimentally investigate the trade-offs between resistance and virulence in evolved strains. Compared to the wild-type, phage-resistant, antibiotic-resistant, and dual-resistant mutants showed no significant differences in growth rate, exopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide production. However, their motility, soil survival, and biofilm formation were significantly impaired, with the most severe decline observed in the dual-resistant mutants. Furthermore, phage-resistant strains exhibited enhanced antibiotic resistance, while antibiotic-resistant strains displayed cross-resistance. The antibiotic resistance gene bla_OXA-249 was upregulated only in antibiotic-resistant strains. In phage-resistant bacteria, the abortive infection system was activated. A reduction in bacterial cell numbers post-infection indicated that phage resistance limits phage propagation via a “suicidal” mechanism. These findings reveal that resistance evolution in RSSC carries substantial fitness costs and highlight phage steering as a novel strategy for designing phage agents. Full article

Low-temperature stress is a major factor limiting the development of the chrysanthemum industry. Chrysanthemum indicum L., wild germplasm with strong cold tolerance within the genus, is an ideal material for mining cold resistance genes. Through preliminary transcriptome analysis of C. indicum under low-temperature stress (PRJNA1391062), we found that multiple R2R3-MYB family members were significantly differentially expressed (|log₂FC| ≥ 1, p < 0.05), suggesting that this family may play important roles in cold stress responses. Within the C. indicum genome, we identified 63 R2R3-MYB members (CiMYBs) through HMMER and BLAST searches combined with domain validation. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into 19 subgroups, with most key nodes supported by bootstrap values > 80%. Promoter cis-element analysis revealed enrichment of elements related to light responsiveness, hormone signaling, and stress responses, including 41 low-temperature responsive elements distributed across 28 genes and 32 drought-induced MYB-binding sites present in 23 genes. Synteny analysis identified 13 duplicated gene pairs within the C. indicum genome and 41 collinear gene pairs between C. indicum and Arabidopsis thaliana L. Transcriptome data under low-temperature stress showed that 22 of the 63 CiMYB members were differentially expressed under 4 °C acclimation and −4 °C freezing stress, and they could be classified into three response patterns: acute stress-responsive (rapid upregulation upon initial stress), acclimation-induced (significant activation after 4 °C acclimation), and freezing-suppressed (downregulation after −4 °C freezing). Six differentially expressed genes were randomly selected for RT-qPCR validation, and the results showed consistent trends with the transcriptome data. This study provides a comprehensive identification of R2R3-MYB family members in C. indicum and reveals their expression divergence under low-temperature stress, offering candidate gene resources for deciphering the cold adaptation mechanisms of C. indicum and breeding new cold-resistant chrysanthemum cultivars. Full article

Seed dispersal by humans plays an important role in determining vegetation structure. The seeds of Asian plantain (Plantago asiatica L.) form adhesive mucilage upon hydration, facilitating their attachment to shoes and subsequent dispersal via epizoochory. We investigated the efficacy of this mechanism under various urban environmental conditions. After trampling wild P. asiatica stands, the number of seeds attached to shoe soles was counted. The remaining seeds were then counted after walking at designated distances (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 m). The following results were obtained: (1) The retention rate after walking 1000 m varied by shoe type (slip-on (kakkusu) work shoes, 15.4%; leather shoes, 3.4%; rubber boots, 2.7%; running shoes, 13.5%; and sandals, 12.4%). (2) Within the first 50 m of walking, on average more than half of the attached seeds fell off under all investigated conditions. Significantly fewer seeds remained after walking 50 m on asphalt (30.9% of the initial seeds) than on grass (48.2%), whereas after walking 1000 m, similar proportions (15.4% on asphalt and 15.7% on grass) remained on the work shoes. These results indicate that human-mediated short- and long-distance dispersal of mucilaginous seeds of this species is effective in diverse urban environments. Full article

Schizothorax wangchiachii, as a cold-water fish, is a predominant or common species in high-altitude areas with large population sizes. It is among the main edible economic fish species in the production area. We used genotype sequencing (GBS) technology to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of 10 wild populations in the Jinsha River and Yalong River basins of the upper Yangtze River. A total of 724,858 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in these 10 wild populations. The population genetic diversity was low; however, the degree of genetic differentiation was not significant. The populations from the Jinsha River and Yalong River could not be clustered separately on the basis of the SNPs. The Panzhihua (PZH) and Wudongde (WDD) populations from the Jinsha River exhibited gene flow with the Yajiang (YJ) population from the Yalong River, and a secondary pulse of gene flow subsequently connected the PZH and WDD populations to the upper-Jinsha population Suwalong (SWL). The demographic history of S. wangchiachii, reflected in its effective population size (N_e), has been influenced by the uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). Furthermore, the identified SNPs are functionally associated with key cellular processes, environmental adaptation, and metabolism. These findings provide critical genomic insights that can inform conservation strategies and support the sustainable utilization of wild S. wangchiachii resources. Full article

The increasing global population and progressive soil salinization threaten future food security and sustainable agriculture. Halophytes, as salt-tolerant plants adapted to saline environments, represent promising alternative crops and valuable sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds. This review presents a structured synthesis of selected halophytes, with emphasis on wild species of ethnobotanical relevance. The nutritional value of halophytes is discussed with respect to proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, minerals, and vitamins, together with their diverse profiles regarding bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, terpenes and terpenoids (including carotenoids), alkaloids, saponins and chlorophylls. In addition, the biological activities and available clinical evidence of halophyte-derived compounds are summarized, with Lobularia maritima presented as a representative example. By organizing nutritional and phytochemical data according to compound classes, this review provides a perspective largely absent from previous studies and highlights the potential of halophytes as innovative ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as outlining future research challenges and prospects. Full article

Drought and salt stresses severely impair plant growth and development worldwide. DEHYDRATION-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING proteins (DREBs), as a subfamily of the AP2/ERF transcription factor superfamily, play critical regulatory roles in plant biological processes including growth and development, as well as the adaptive response to various abiotic stresses. Based on the transcriptome data analysis of Medicago truncatula under saline-alkali stress previously conducted in our laboratory, a gene responsive to saline-alkali stress, Medtr3g110205, was identified, and its homologous gene in Arabidopsis thaliana, AtERF41 (AT5G11590), was obtained via BLAST (version BLAST+ 2.17.0.). The mutant erf41 was used to explore its biological functions in response to drought and salt stresses. The results showed that under salt and drought stress conditions, the seed germination rate, and growth status of the erf41 mutant were all better than those of the wild type. Further determination of physiological and biochemical indicators revealed that the leaf contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and proline (Pro) in the leaves of the mutant plants were significantly higher than those in the wild type, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly decreased. In conclusion, the AtERF41 gene negatively regulates salt and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana, providing a potential target for the genetic improvement of crop stress tolerance. This study not only deepens our understanding of the role of DREB transcription factors in plant stress response but also provides a theoretical basis for improving crop stress tolerance using genetic engineering technology in the future. Full article

Complement and pathogenic antibodies act independently and together to mediate the pathology of many autoimmune diseases. To address these drivers of disease, we generated a monoclonal antibody (mAb), CSL305, that binds and inhibits both complement and the neonatal Fc (fragment crystallizable) receptor FcRn. The fragment antigen binding (Fab) portion of CSL305 was engineered to bind both human C2 (huC2) zymogen and the active fragment huC2b to inhibit the classical and lectin complement pathways in vitro, and C3b deposition on primary lung endothelial cells using a 3-dimensional microvascular model system. Engineering of a triple amino acid mutation (“YPY” motif) into the Fc region of CSL305 increased its affinity to FcRn at both acidic and neutral pH, allowing it to also act as a potent FcRn antagonist. Intracellular trafficking experiments demonstrated that CSL305, but not the wild-type (WT) mAb lacking the YPY motif, was able to block immunoglobulin G (IgG) recycling in vitro. The generation of a high resolution 2.6Å crystal structure of CSL305 Fab region bound to huC2b showed that the epitope lies directly over the huC2b catalytic triad, providing evidence of its complement mechanism of action as a neutralising mAb. Early pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) studies using CSL305 in cynomolgus monkeys demonstrated both complement inhibition and FcRn antagonism in vivo, with reductions in complement classical pathway activity and endogenous IgG observed following single intravenous (IV) administration. CSL305 thus represents a dual-functional mAb as a potential therapeutic candidate. Full article

The rare edible and medicinal mushroom Floccularia luteovirens faces challenges from limited wild resources and low triterpenoid yield in submerged fermentation. To address this, we systematically optimized the fermentation medium using one-factor-at-a-time experiments combined with Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Wheat flour, peptone, and KH₂PO₄ were identified as the optimal carbon, nitrogen, and inorganic salt sources, respectively. Subsequently, we developed and validated distinct, highly predictive mathematical models for intracellular (R² = 0.9989) and extracellular (R² = 0.9984) triterpenoid production. This yielded two optimized media: one designed to maximize intracellular accumulation (29.71 g/L wheat flour, 2.03 g/L peptone, 1.02 g/L KH₂PO₄), achieving a yield of 18.83 mg/g, and another tailored for high extracellular secretion (30.28 g/L wheat flour, 2.08 g/L peptone, 1.05 g/L KH₂PO₄), achieving a titer of 0.63 g/L. The experimental results for both targets closely matched the model predictions. Thus, this study not only significantly enhanced overall triterpenoid production but also delineated nutrient-specific strategies for targeting different product locales. The findings provide a reliable technical and theoretical foundation for the scalable and sustainable production of these bioactive compounds. Full article

Na,K-ATPase (NKA) is expressed as two isoforms in mouse sperm: the testis-specific Na,K-ATPase α4 (NKAα4) and the somatic Na,K-ATPase α1 (NKAα1). Currently, the role that NKAα4 and NKAα1 play in the sperm acrosome reaction (AR) is unknown, and is the subject of our investigation. We studied the following: (1) the differential sensitivity of NKAα4 and NKAα1 to inhibition by ouabain; (2) the effects of deleting NKAα4 in mice (using NKAα4-KO mouse). In sperm from wild type (WT) mice, inhibiting NKAα4 with a low concentration of ouabain reduced AR. Inhibiting NKAα1 with a higher ouabain concentration further reduced AR, indicating that both NKA isoforms are necessary for AR. Surprisingly, sperm from NKAα4-KO mice exhibited an abnormally high AR. This was not due to a lack of acrosome development during sperm differentiation, but rather from premature release of the acrosome after they were isolated from the epididymis. When WT and NKAα4-KO sperm were exposed to media with or without Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺, or with the ionophores nigericin, valinomycin, and A23187, they displayed abnormal AR, indicating that NKAα4-KO sperm are unable to control intracellular Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ levels. NKAα4 directly maintains intracellular Na⁺ and K⁺ and indirectly influences Ca²⁺ levels. This provides the necessary ion environment for full development of sperm AR. Along with NKAα4, NKAα1 also contributes to sperm AR. Full article