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Inflammatory response plays a pivotal role in myocardial injury and post-infarction remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Mechanical unloading (UL) of the left ventricle (LV) has been proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy to preserve cardiac function; however, its effects on myocardial inflammation remain incompletely understood. We employed a rat model of partial UL using heterotopic heart-lung transplantation following AMI. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to evaluate transcriptomic changes, with a specific focus on inflammatory pathways in the non-infarcted remote area. Immune cell abundance was estimated using deconvolution analysis (QUANTISEQ). Quantitative PCR was performed to analyze some inflammatory cytokines, and macrophage polarization was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. AMI significantly impaired cardiac function, which was mitigated by UL. RNA-seq analysis revealed marked activation of inflammatory pathways and identified several hub genes involved in cytokine signaling following AMI, while these transcriptional changes were not significantly altered in UL groups after AMI. Immune cell profiling demonstrated an increase in M2 macrophages after AMI, while UL preserved M2 macrophage levels. Histological analysis further supported UL's modulatory effect on macrophage polarization. Pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL1β were upregulated after AMI but showed attenuation with UL. Partial UL potentially attenuates cardiac functional deterioration after AMI while exerting substantial effects on inflammatory gene expression and macrophage polarization. These findings suggest that the cardioprotective effects of UL may be correlated with the modulation of inflammatory pathways in the remote area after AMI.

Percutaneous ventricular assist devices are utilized in cases of cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of LV unloading in AMI remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the impact of LV unloading on cardiac function, heart failure markers, and protein degradation (autophagy and ubiquitin–proteasome system: UPS) post AMI in rats. Nine-week-old male Lewis rats were randomized into non-AMI, AMI, non-AMI with LV unloading, and AMI with LV unloading groups. LV unloading was achieved through heterotopic heart–lung transplantation. Rats were euthanized 2 and 14 days after the procedure. Cardiac functional assessment was performed using Langendorff heart perfusion. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were conducted using the LV myocardium. The rate pressure product was comparable between the non-AMI with LV unloading group and the AMI with LV unloading at 14 days. The atrial natriuretic factor tended to be suppressed by LV unloading. LV unloading had reducing effects on the expressions of p62, selectively degraded during autophagy, both 2 and 14 days after AMI. There was no effect on the parameters for the UPS. LV unloading has a mitigating effect on the deterioration of cardiac function following AMI. Autophagy, which was suppressed by AMI, was ameliorated by LV unloading.

Photosynthesis of wheat and maize declined when grown with NH 4 + as a nitrogen (N) source at ambient CO 2 concentration compared to those grown with a mixture of NO 3 – and NH 4 + , or NO 3 – as the sole N source. Interestingly, these N nutritional physiological responses changed when the atmospheric CO 2 concentration increases. We studied the photosynthetic responses of wheat and maize growing with various N forms at three levels of growth CO 2 levels. Hydroponic experiments were carried out using a C 3 plant (wheat, Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chuanmai 58) and a C 4 plant (maize, Zea mays L. cv. Zhongdan 808) given three types of N nutrition: sole NO 3 – (NN), sole NH 4 + (AN) and a mixture of both NO 3 – and NH 4 + (Mix-N). The test plants were grown using custom-built chambers where a continuous and desired atmospheric CO 2 ( C a ) concentration could be maintained: 280 μmol mol –1 (representing the pre-Industrial Revolution CO 2 concentration of the 18th century), 400 μmol mol –1 (present level) and 550 μmol mol –1 (representing the anticipated futuristic concentration in 2050). Under AN, the decrease in net photosynthetic rate ( P n ) was attributed to a reduction in the maximum RuBP-regeneration rate, which then caused reductions in the maximum Rubisco-carboxylation rates for both species. Decreases in electron transport rate, reduction of electron flux to the photosynthetic carbon [ Je(PCR) ] and electron flux for photorespiratory carbon oxidation [ Je(PCO) ] were also observed under AN for both species. However, the intercellular ( C i ) and chloroplast ( C c ) CO 2 concentration increased with increasing atmospheric CO 2 in C 3 wheat but not in C 4 maize, leading to a higher Je(PCR)/ Je(PCO) ratio. Interestingly, the reduction of P n under AN was relieved in wheat through higher CO 2 levels, but that was not the case in maize. In conclusion, elevating atmospheric CO 2 concentration increased C i and C c in wheat, but not in maize, with enhanced electron fluxes towards photosynthesis, rather than photorespiration, thereby relieving the inhibition of photosynthesis under AN. Our results contributed to a better understanding of NH 4 + involvement in N nutrition of crops growing under different levels of CO 2 .

Fe-Ni-based alloys have attracted attention due to their potential for applications such as transmission line de-icing, where the core requirements include a Curie temperature near the freezing point and sufficient saturation magnetization. Accordingly, this study designed an Fe-29Ni-2Cr-1.5Mn (at.%) alloy with a Curie temperature around the freezing point, aiming to investigate the correlation between microstructural evolution and magnetic properties after cold rolling and annealing. The alloy was cold-rolled by 65% and subsequently annealed at 873 K for 0 to 60 min. The study reveals systematic evolutions in the alloy’s microstructure and magnetic properties. During the initial annealing stage, recovery substructures predominantly formed within the deformed grains, accompanied by a reduction in dislocation density and lattice constant. In the later annealing stage, the recrystallized fraction increased, although complete recrystallization was not achieved. Texture analysis indicates that the intensity of the Cube texture strengthened from 0.48 to 1.13. Correspondingly, the saturation magnetization and Curie temperature increased by approximately 9.76% and 10.25%, respectively, in the early annealing period, and then stabilized thereafter. The early-stage improvement in properties is likely related to stress relief and lattice distortion relaxation during the recovery stage. The calculated magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant of this alloy at 273 K is K1 = 126 ± 18 J/m3, indicating that the direction is its easy magnetization axis. This study provides insights into optimizing the magnetic properties of this alloy through controlled annealing.

Calcium overload drives neuronal cell death, but its mechanisms remain unclear. Previous studies in Drosophila implicated tousled-like kinase (TLK) in this process. Here, we investigated TLK2, the mammalian homolog, in calcium overload-induced neuronal death. We found that calcium overload enhances TLK2 expression, multimerization, and phosphorylation, increasing its kinase activity. Inhibiting TLK2 via RNA interference or a small-molecule inhibitor reduced neuronal death, while TLK2 overexpression triggered nuclear envelope (NE) rupture, nuclear enlargement, multinucleation, and cell cycle reentry markers. A protein complex involving TLK2, dynein light chain LC8, and myosin IIA was linked to NE disruption. In mouse models of glaucoma, TLK2 contributed to retinal ganglion cell degeneration, connecting calcium overload to neurodegeneration. We propose “CaToptosis” (Calcium-induced Tousled-like kinase-mediated cell death) as a distinct neuronal death pathway. Programmed cell death is a crucial process in biology and medicine. Here, authors identify that calcium overload enhances TLK2 activity, causing nuclear envelope rupture and neuronal death via a complex with LC8 and myosin IIA.

Limited population-based studies discuss the association between fat mass index (FMI) and the risk of liver diseases. This investigation utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the linkage between the FMI and liver conditions, specifically steatosis and fibrosis. The study leveraged data from NHANES’s 2017–2018 cross-sectional study, employing an oversampling technique to deal with sample imbalance. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were identified by vibration-controlled transient elastography. Receiver operating curve was used to assess the relationship of anthropometric indicators, e.g., the FMI, body mass index (BMI), weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI), percentage of body fat (BF%), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI), with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. In this study, which included 2260 participants, multivariate logistic regression models, stratified analyses, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and sharp regression discontinuity analyses were utilized. The results indicated that the WHR and the FMI achieved the highest area under the curve for identifying hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, respectively (0.720 and 0.726). Notably, the FMI presented the highest adjusted odds ratio for both hepatic steatosis (6.40 [4.91–8.38], p  = 2.34e−42) and fibrosis (6.06 [5.00, 7.37], p  = 5.88e−74). Additionally, potential interaction effects were observed between the FMI and variables such as the family income-to-poverty ratio, smoking status, and hypertension, all of which correlated with the presence of liver fibrosis ( p for interaction < 0.05). The RCS models further confirmed a significant positive correlation of the FMI with the controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness measurements. Overall, the findings underscore the strong link between the FMI and liver conditions, proposing the FMI as a potential straightforward marker for identifying liver diseases.

Spartina alterniflora invasion has posed severe ecological threats to coastal wetlands. Deep tillage is considered an effective physical method for ecological restoration in such wetlands; however, its effects on sediment nitrogen transformation processes remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the impacts of deep tillage on soil physicochemical properties and key nitrogen transformation pathways, including nitrification, denitrification, anammox, and DNRA, across different soil depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–50, and 50–100 cm) in Spartina alterniflora-invaded coastal wetlands. Deep tillage significantly restructured the distribution of soil moisture (p < 0.05), pH (p > 0.05), electrical conductivity (p < 0.05), and nutrients, promoting NO3−-N accumulation in deeper layers while reducing NH4+-N concentrations in surface soils (p < 0.05). It markedly enhanced denitrification and DNRA rates (p < 0.05), suppressed surface nitrification (p < 0.05), and altered the vertical distribution of anammox activity. Correlation analysis revealed that NH4+-N and NO3−-N concentrations were the primary drivers of nitrogen transformation, with pH and electrical conductivity playing secondary roles. Overall, deep tillage stimulated nitrogen removal processes and affected net ammonium changes. These findings reveal that deep tillage can stimulate nitrogen removal processes by alleviating soil compaction and altering nitrogen transformation pathways, thus supporting biogeochemical recovery mechanisms after deep tillage. These insights provide scientific guidance for the ecological restoration of Spartina alterniflora-invaded coastal wetlands.

Microplastic pollution threatens coastal wetland ecosystems, yet its impacts on the dominant plant species and soil properties remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of four microplastic types (PP, PE, PS, PET) at three concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, 1% w/w) on Scirpus mariqueter, a keystone species in the coastal wetlands of China, and the associated soil physicochemical properties. In a controlled pot experiment, microplastics significantly altered the plant biomass, vegetative traits, and reproductive strategies, with type-specific and concentration-dependent responses. PET and PE strongly suppressed the belowground and total biomass (p < 0.05), with reductions in the belowground biomass of 42.87% and 44.13%, respectively, at a 0.1% concentration. PP promoted seed production, particularly increasing the seed number by 25.23% at a 0.1% concentration (p < 0.05). The soil NH4+-N, moisture, and EC were key mediators, with NH4+-N declines linked to biomass reductions via nitrogen limitation. The Spearman correlations confirmed strong associations between the plant traits and soil properties, particularly nitrogen forms. These findings reveal that microplastics disrupt wetland plant performance and soil environments, potentially impairing carbon sequestration and ecosystem stability. Our study underscores the urgent need for microplastic risk assessments in coastal wetlands and highlights soil–microbe–plant interactions as critical mechanisms for future investigation.

Cistanche species, known as Rou Cong-Rong in Chinese, are an endangered wild species and are mainly distributed in the arid lands and warm deserts of northwestern China. Within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Herba Cistanche is applied as a tonic and/or in a formula for chronic renal disease, impotence, female infertility, morbid leucorrhea, profuse metrorrhagia, and senile constipation. The chemical constituents of Herba Cistanche mainly consist of volatile oils, non-volatile phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs), iridoids, lignans, alditols, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. There have been an increasing number of studies focusing on its bio-activities, including antioxidation, neuroprotection, and antiaging. The objective of this review is to introduce this herb to the world. Its taxonomy, distribution, and corresponding biological functions and molecular mechanisms are addressed in this review.

Trichoderma species are widely recognised as biocontrol agents, yet the transcriptional mechanisms underlying their antagonism against foliar pathogens remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified 32 bZIP genes in Trichoderma harzianum Tha739 and demonstrated that bZIP63.5 exhibited the strongest upregulation under Alternaria alternata metabolite stress. Overexpression and knockdown strains of bZIP63.5 were constructed, and phenotypic assays revealed that bZIP63.5 significantly enhanced the antifungal activity of T. harzianum through direct confrontation, volatile organic compound production, and secreted metabolites. Using yeast one‐hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we identified that bZIP63.5 binds to known cis‐acting elements (TGTCACA, TGTCA, GTGA, TGAC) as well as a novel motif (TACGGAC). Yeast two‐hybrid screening further revealed that bZIP63.5 interacts with multiple proteins, including histone H4 and heat shock protein HSP70, suggesting its involvement in chromatin regulation and stress response. Transcriptome analysis of the bZIP63.5 overexpression strain showed that it directly upregulates a set of zinc‐finger transcription factors, which in turn activate downstream detoxification genes (ABC transporters, cytochrome P450s) and defence‐related enzymes (glycosyl hydrolases, peroxidases). ChIP‐PCR confirmed the direct binding of bZIP63.5 to the promoters of these zinc‐finger TFs. Functional validation through overexpression and knockout of three core zinc‐finger TFs (Zn2CyS6ZF56.5, C2H2ZF36.8, C2H2ZF40.8) demonstrated their essential roles in enhancing the biocontrol efficacy of T. harzianum against A. alternata. This study elucidates a hierarchical transcriptional network centered on bZIP63.5 that coordinates detoxification and defence responses in T. harzianum, providing novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of fungal biocontrol and potential targets for improving disease management in forestry systems. The bZIP63.5 transcription factor, activated by Alternaria alternata stress, directly upregulates zinc‐finger transcription factors (Zn2CyS6 and C2H2 types), which in turn enhance the expression of downstream detoxification and defence‐related genes, collectively improving the biocontrol efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum.