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Mobile and wearable devices have enabled numerous applications, including activity tracking, wellness monitoring, and human–computer interaction, that measure and improve our daily lives. Many of these applications are made possible by leveraging the rich collection of low-power sensors found in many mobile and wearable devices to perform human activity recognition (HAR). Recently, deep learning has greatly pushed the boundaries of HAR on mobile and wearable devices. This paper systematically categorizes and summarizes existing work that introduces deep learning methods for wearables-based HAR and provides a comprehensive analysis of the current advancements, developing trends, and major challenges. We also present cutting-edge frontiers and future directions for deep learning-based HAR.

In recent years, the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia (NRA) has garnered significant research attention. However, the complex multi-step proton–electron transfer process often results in various by-products, limiting NH3 production. Therefore, designing and developing highly active and selective electrocatalysts for efficient NRA is crucial. This study proposes a method to construct Cu/Cu2O nanosheet arrays with heterogeneous interfaces and oxygen vacancies on copper foam surfaces through electrochemical reduction. The interface coupling between Cu and Cu2O significantly optimizes the catalyst’s surface electronic structure, providing sufficient active sites. In addition, the presence of oxygen vacancies in Cu/Cu2O can optimize the adsorption kinetics of intermediates in the NRA process and effectively inhibit the formation of by-products. The results show that Cu/CuO2 nanosheet arrays are superior NRA catalysts, achieving a Faradaic efficiency of up to 91.1%, a nitrate conversion of 96.25%, and an NH3 yield rate of 6.11 mg h−1 cm−2.

Investigating cell morphology changes after perturbations using high-throughput image-based profiling is increasingly important for phenotypic drug discovery, including predicting mechanisms of action (MOA) and compound bioactivity. The vast space of chemical and genetic perturbations makes it impractical to explore all possibilities using conventional methods. Here we propose MorphDiff, a transcriptome-guided latent diffusion model that simulates high-fidelity cell morphological responses to perturbations. We demonstrate MorphDiff’s effectiveness on three large-scale datasets, including two drug perturbation and one genetic perturbation dataset, covering thousands of perturbations. Extensive benchmarking shows MorphDiff accurately predicts cell morphological changes under unseen perturbations. Additionally, MorphDiff enhances MOA retrieval, achieving an accuracy comparable to ground-truth morphology and outperforming baseline methods by 16.9% and 8.0%, respectively. This work highlights MorphDiff’s potential to accelerate phenotypic screening and improve MOA identification, making it a powerful tool in drug discovery. Wang, Fan, Guo, and colleagues present MorphDiff, a transcriptome-guided latent diffusion model that accurately predicts cell morphological responses to perturbations, enhancing MOA identification and phenotypic drug discovery.

Background Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) transporter proteins are present in all organisms. Although the functions of some MATE gene family members have been studied in plants, few studies have investigated the gene expansion patterns, functional divergence, or the effects of positive selection. Results Forty-five MATE genes from rice and 56 from Arabidopsis were identified and grouped into four subfamilies. MATE family genes have similar exon-intron structures in rice and Arabidopsis; MATE gene structures are conserved in each subfamily but differ among subfamilies. In both species, the MATE gene family has expanded mainly through tandem and segmental duplications. A transcriptome atlas showed considerable differences in expression among the genes, in terms of transcript abundance and expression patterns under normal growth conditions, indicating wide functional divergence in this family. In both rice and Arabidopsis, the MATE genes showed consistent functional divergence trends, with highly significant Type-I divergence in each subfamily, while Type-II divergence mainly occurred in subfamily III. The Type-II coefficients between rice subfamilies I/III, II/III, and IV/III were all significantly greater than zero, while only the Type-II coefficient between Arabidopsis IV/III subfamilies was significantly greater than zero. A site-specific model analysis indicated that MATE genes have relatively conserved evolutionary trends. A branch-site model suggested that the extent of positive selection on each subfamily of rice and Arabidopsis was different: subfamily II of Arabidopsis showed higher positive selection than other subfamilies, whereas in rice, positive selection was highest in subfamily III. In addition, the analyses identified 18 rice sites and 7 Arabidopsis sites that were responsible for positive selection and for Type-I and Type-II functional divergence; there were no common sites between rice and Arabidopsis. Five coevolving amino acid sites were identified in rice and three in Arabidopsis; these sites might have important roles in maintaining local structural stability and protein functional domains. Conclusions We demonstrate that the MATE gene family expanded through tandem and segmental duplication in both rice and Arabidopsis. Overall, the results of our analyses contribute to improved understanding of the molecular evolution and functions of the MATE gene family in plants.

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the main flavor constituents of different pig breeds, which have positive effects on the quality evaluation of pork. This study aimed to clarify the effects of lipid oxidation on characteristic VOCs in different breeds of pigs. The fatty acid composition and antioxidant characteristics of the Ningxiang (NX) pig, Rongchang (RC) pig, Duroc × Wujin (DW) pig, and Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) pig were determined. The VOCs from these four pig breeds were analyzed by gas chromatography–ion migration spectrometry (GC-IMS) and solid-phase micro-extraction–gas chromatography–olfactory mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-O-MS). A total of 49 volatile compounds were identified by GC-IMS, whereas GC-O-MS detected 97 volatile components, including aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, acids, and esters. Among these, aldehydes and alcohols were the predominant categories. The results showed that RC breed pork had the highest fatty acid content, whereas NX breed pork exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Among the VOCs from these four pig breeds, tridecanal showed a strong positive correlation with antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and vitamin E, which was mainly reflected in NX. Furthermore, the key VOCs across the different pig breeds were mainly related to unsaturated fatty acids, such as C20:3n6, C18:1n9c, and C18:2n6c. In conclusion, the antioxidant characteristics of NX pigs are closely associated with their unique volatile flavor profile, while the characteristic flavor compounds across different pig breeds are primarily influenced by the composition and oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids.

Apple scab poses a significant threat to wild apple orchards in the Ili region of Xinjiang, yet the pathogen responsible and its disease dynamics remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify the causal agent of apple scab in wild apples and elucidate its disease development pattern to support effective monitoring and control strategies. Field surveys were conducted regularly from 2023 to 2025 in fixed plots and sample trees of Malus sieversii. A total of 29 isolates were obtained from diseased fruits collected in Xinyuan and Huocheng counties using tissue isolation and single-spore purification. Pathogenicity was confirmed via Koch’s postulates, and the pathogen was identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Scab symptoms first appeared on leaves in late April (during leaf expansion, disease index 0.34) and on fruits in early June (during fruit enlargement, disease index 0.57). The disease index peaked in late August (47.24 on leaves; 22.51 on fruits), followed by fruit drop at month-end and leaf abscission in late September. The pathogen overwintered mainly in remaining or fallen diseased leaves (isolation rate 17.71%), serving as the primary source of initial infection in the following growing season. The pathogen causing apple scab in Xinjiang wild apple orchards was identified as Venturia inaequalis. Overwintered infected leaves were confirmed as the key primary inoculum source. These findings clarify the taxonomic identity of the pathogen and its epidemic pattern, providing a theoretical basis for disease management.

Background The formation and domestication of ornamental traits are influenced by various aspects, such as the recognition of esthetic values and cultural traditions. Camellia japonica is widely appreciated and domesticated around the world mainly due to its rich variations in ornamental traits. Ornamental camellias have a diverse range of resources, including different bud variations from Camellia spp. as well as inter- and intra- specific hybridization. Despite research on the formation of ornamental traits, a basic understanding of their genetics and genomics is still lacking. Results Here, we report the chromosomal-level reference genome of C. japonica through combining multiple DNA-sequencing technologies and obtain a high-density genetic linkage map of 4255 markers by sequencing 98 interspecific F 1 hybrids between C. japonica and C. chekiangoleosa . We identify two whole-genome duplication events in C. japonica : one is a shared ancient γ event, and the other is revealed to be specific to genus Camellia . Based on the micro-collinearity analysis, we find large-scale segmental duplication of chromosome 8, resulting to two copies of the AGAMOUS loci, which may play a key role in the domestication of floral shapes. To explore the regulatory mechanisms of seasonal flowering, we have analyzed year-round gene expression patterns of C. japonica and C. azalea —a sister plant of continuous flowering that has been widely used for cross breeding. Through comparative analyses of gene co-expression networks and annual gene expression patterns, we show that annual expression rhythms of some important regulators of seasonal growth and development, including GIGANTEA and CONSTANS of the photoperiod pathway, have been disrupted in C. azalea . Furthermore, we reveal that the distinctive expression patterns of FLOWERING LOCUS T can be correlated with the seasonal activities of flowering and flushing. We demonstrate that the regulatory module involved in GIGANTEA , CONSTANS , and FLOWERING LOCUS T is central to achieve seasonality. Conclusions Through the genomic and comparative genomics characterizations of ornamental Camellia spp., we propose that duplication of chromosomal segments as well as the establishment of gene expression patterns has played a key role in the formation of ornamental traits (e.g., flower shape, flowering time). This work provides a valuable genomic platform for understanding the molecular basis of ornamental traits.

A limited supply and price shortages of fishmeal with the expansion of aquaculture make it necessary to seek alternative protein sources. Soybean meal (SM) has been the widely preferred replacer for fishmeal in fish diets. Nevertheless, this substitution, especially when given at high doses, potentially shows adverse impact on fish intestinal health. This study aimed to investigate the effect of replacing fishmeal with SM on intestinal health in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). A 56-day feeding trial was conducted with 450 juvenile fish (initial weight: 6.32 ± 0.01 g) randomly allocated to five diets with graded SM replacement: 0% (FM), 12% (SM12), 24% (SM24), 36% (SM36), and 48% (SM48). The results demonstrated that concentrations of glucose, total triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased, whereas total protein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol contents, and lysozyme activity decreased in serum with increasing dietary SM levels. Meanwhile, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity significantly decreased at replacement levels exceeding 24%, accompanied by elevated malondialdehyde concentration (p < 0.05). Compared with the FM group, the SM24, SM36, and SM48 groups showed significantly reduced VH and increased lamina propria width (p < 0.05). Increasing dietary SM levels upregulated expression of genes related to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) (chop, perk, and grp78), inflammation (tnf-α and il-6), and apoptosis (bax, casp3, casp6, and casp9), while downregulated anti-inflammatory cytokines (il-10 and tgf-β1) and tight junction-related genes (zo-1, zo-2, claudin-5, ocln, muc-13, and muc-15) in the intestine (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the abundances of intestinal microbiota at both the phylum and genus levels among the FM, SM24, and SM36 groups (p < 0.05), but the clusters and microbiota composition of the SM24 group were more similar to those of the FM group. In conclusion, replacing 24% of fishmeal with SM induced intestinal dysfunction through evoking ERS, inflammation, barrier disruption, and microbial dysbiosis in olive flounder.

Elimination of autoreactive developing B cells is an important mechanism to prevent autoantibody production. However, how B cell receptor (BCR) signaling triggers apoptosis of immature B cells remains poorly understood.We show that BCR stimulation up-regulates the expression of the lysosomal-associated transmembrane protein 5 (LAPTM5), which in turn triggers apoptosis of immature B cells through two pathways. LAPTM5 causes BCR internalization, resulting in decreased phosphorylation of SYK and ERK. In addition, LAPTM5 targets the E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 for lysosomal degradation, resulting in the accumulation of its substrate PTEN. Elevated PTEN levels suppress AKT phosphorylation, leading to increased FOXO1 expression and up-regulation of the cell cycle inhibitor p27Kip1 and the proapoptotic molecule BIM. In vivo, LAPTM5 is involved in the elimination of autoreactive B cells and its deficiency exacerbates autoantibody production. Our results reveal a previously unidentified mechanism that contributes to immature B cell apoptosis and B cell tolerance.

Background Auxins play key roles in the phytohormone network. Early auxin response genes in the AUX/IAA, SAUR, and GH3 families show functional redundancy, which makes it very difficult to study the functions of individual genes based on gene knockout analysis or transgenic technology. As an alternative, chemical genetics provides a powerful approach that can be used to address questions relating to plant hormones. Results By screening a small-molecule chemical library of compounds that can induce abnormal seedling and vein development, we identified and characterized a piperazine compound 1-[(4-bromophenoxy) acetyl]-4-[(4-fluorophenyl) sulfonyl] piperazine (ASP). The Arabidopsis DR5::GFP line was used to assess if the effects mentioned were correlated with the auxin response, and we accordingly verified that ASP altered the auxin-related pathway. Subsequently, we examined the regulatory roles of ASP in hypocotyl and root development, auxin distribution, and changes in gene expression. Following ASP treatment, we detected hypocotyl elongation concomitant with enhanced cell elongation. Furthermore, seedlings showed retarded primary root growth, reduced gravitropism and increased root hair development. These phenotypes were associated with an increased induction of DR5::GUS expression in the root/stem transition zone and root tips. Auxin-related mutants including tir1–1 , aux1–7 and axr2–1 showed phenotypes with different root-development pattern from that of the wild type (Col-0), and were insensitive to ASP. Confocal images of propidium iodide (PI)-stained root tip cells showed no detectable damage by ASP. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analyses of two other genes, namely, Ethylene Response Factor ( ERF115 ) and Mediator 18 ( MED18 ), which are related to cell regeneration and damage, indicated that the ASP inhibitory effect on root growth was not attributable to toxicity. RT-qPCR analysis provided further evidence that ASP induced the expression of early auxin-response-related genes. Conclusions ASP altered the auxin response pathway and regulated Arabidopsis growth and development. These results provide a basis for dissecting specific molecular components involved in auxin-regulated developmental processes and offer new opportunities to discover novel molecular players involved in the auxin response.