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In this study, we documented the impact of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) on the various morpho-physiological changes by root irrigation in tobacco plants in the matrix media, as well as the uptake and accumulation of the NPs over a range of concentrations (50–250 μg/mL). Our results showed that the seed germination rate was not affected following exposure to MgONPs for 5 days. Enhanced plant growth together with increased peroxidase activity (39.63 U mg−1 protein in the 250 μg/mL MgONPs treatment, 36.63 U mg−1 protein in the control), superoxide dismutase activity (30.15 U mg−1 protein compared to 26.95 U mg−1 protein in the control), and chlorophyll content (the chlorophyll a and b contents in 0 and 250 μg/mL of MgONPs were 0.21, 0.12 μg/g to 1.21, 0.67 μg/g, respectively) were observed after 30 days of MgONP treatment. However, the malondialdehyde, protein, and relative water contents did not differ significantly, indicating that the NPs in the test concentrations had no phytotoxicity and even promoted plant growth. Scanning electron microscopy and paraffin section observations indicated that the MgONPs did not affect the plant tissue structures and cells. In addition, an elevated Mg content was detected in the plant tissues exposed to MgONPs, suggesting that the Mg was taken up by the tobacco roots and translocated to the shoots and leaves, which were probably the most important tools to cause an increase in the chlorophyll content and stimulate growth. In particular, compared with the controls, a substantially higher Mg content was observed in the leaves (12.93 mg/g in the MgONPs treatment, 9.30 mg/g in the control) exposed to 250 μg/mL MgONPs, especially in the lower and middle leaves. This result confirmed that the contents of plant Mg-element in the old leaves were increased by MgONPs. In summary, this study investigated increased Mg uptake and growth stimulation, as well as the induction of various positive morpho-physiological changes to tobacco plants when exposed to MgONPs. Results elucidate the promotional impact of the NPs on plant health and their implications for agricultural safety and security.

Ralstonia solanacearum is a major plant pathogen causing bacterial wilt, whose unpredictable onset hinders timely detection and effective control. Here, we report the design, preparation and field use of a dual pH-responsive multifunctional double network (DN) hydrogel for the efficient and sustainable control of bacterial wilt. The primary network of carboxylated agarose chelates Zn 2+ and loosens under acidic conditions (pH ≤ 5) to release a pesticide (zhongshengmycin) and Zn 2+ , while the secondary L-phenylalanine (Phe)/ Zn 2+ network disassembles to provide additional bioactive components (Phe and Zn 2+ ). This dual-triggered release achieves a combined antibacterial effect, enhances plant growth, and activates plant disease resistance pathways. A simple root application protects plants for up to 14 days, and field experiments demonstrate disease control for up to 30 days, significantly preserving tomato yield. Here, we present a sustainable, effective system for managing bacterial wilt and highlight the potential of smart hydrogels in crop protection. Bacterial wilts unpredictable onset makes control difficult. Here, the authors report on a dual pH-responsive hydrogel system which releases antimicrobial agents and plant immune elicitors, L-phenylalanine and zinc, in acidic soils to enable control of bacterial wilt.

This paper presents a modal analysis conducted under seabed dynamic pressure conditions. The polyethylene (PE) pipeline was approximated as a thin-walled long cylindrical shell. The impact of pressure on the pipeline structure was considered, the study investigated the circumferential dynamic characteristics. The natural characteristics of the structure were solved using the energy method. To validate the model, an experimental testing system was established to measure the natural frequencies of the polyethylene (PE) pipeline, capturing the first three natural frequencies and mode shapes of the structure. Additionally, we conduct a simulation analysis in COMSOL. The results showed that the discrepancies among the experimental, theoretical, and simulation results were within 6%, confirming the accuracy of the model. Building on this foundation, the simulation considered the impact of fluid-structure interaction on the natural frequencies of the cylindrical shell. Subsequently, the effects of pipe radius, pipe thickness, pipe length, variations in external load, and dimensionless parameters on the modal characteristics of the structure were further investigated. The comparison of simulation and theoretical results showed errors within 5%, further validating the reliability of the simulation outcomes.

China is transitioning its industrial structure from labor-and resource-intensive industries that previously contributed significantly to the country's GDP growth to technology-intensive industries emphasizing a highly-skilled workforce and sustainability to achieve high-quality economic growth. This paper examines the impact of the RMB exchange rate on high-quality economic growth through theoretical modeling and empirical analysis and discusses the variable of overseas education to explore the mechanism of how the RMB exchange rate and overseas education jointly impact high-quality economic growth. The research sample includes the National Bureau of Statistics data on education from 1995 to 2015, the Bank for International Settlements(BIS) data on the RMB exchange rate, and the added value of China's high-quality economic growth estimated based on the national economy data. An empirical analysis of theoretical expectations was conducted, finding that RMB appreciation could make a positive contribution to China's high-quality economic growth; RMB exchange rate fluctuations would impact the relative cost of overseas education and overseas returnees could have a positive impact on domestic resource utilization efficiency and domestic capacity to make sci-tech innovations, thereby injecting vitality to high-quality economic growth. This study focuses on both the RMB exchange rate and the population studying abroad, providing additional observation dimensions to existing research.

This study proposes a buried PE gas pipeline positioning method based on the elliptical method of an acoustic signal analysis. The cross-correlation time delay positioning technology is combined with the elliptical equation, forming an effective mechanism for pipeline depth positioning. First, a dual-tree complex wavelet transform is employed to denoise the collected signals, enhancing the quality and accuracy of the data. Subsequently, the cross-correlation function is utilized to extract the delay times between the signals. The obtained delay times are then substituted into the elliptical equation to calculate the depth of the buried PE pipeline. Based on this theoretical framework, a simulation model is established in COMSOL, and positioning simulation analyses are conducted under three different conditions: pipeline depth, relative sensor positions, and distances between sensors and excitation points. The simulation results indicate that a clear correlation exists between the signal delay time and the pipeline position, with simulation errors controlled within 5%, thus validating the theoretical feasibility of the method. To further assess the effectiveness of this approach, an experimental testing system is constructed. The experimental study was carried out under four different conditions: pipeline burial depth, relative sensor positions, distances between sensors and excitation points, and excitation frequencies. The experimental results demonstrate that these factors significantly affect the pipeline depth positioning. The comparison results show that the method has a high accuracy in depth positioning, with experimental errors controlled within 10%. This study proves that accurate positioning of pipeline depth could be achieved by substituting signal delay times into the elliptical equation, thereby validating the method’s feasibility in practical applications. The proposed method effectively addressed the shortcomings of existing pipeline depth positioning technologies, providing important theoretical support and a practical reference for future pipeline positioning research.

This study presents a location method for buried polyethylene (PE) pipelines based on the double-tree complex wavelet cross-correlation delay. Initially, the dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT) is applied to denoise the acquired signal, followed by extracting the delay time through the cross-correlation function to locate the buried pipeline. A simulation model is established to analyze the peak values of the time-domain signals in both asymmetric and symmetric sensor layouts using COMSOL, determining the relationship between the signal time differences and pipeline positions. Then, an experimental test system is set up, and experiments are carried out under the conditions of asymmetric and symmetrical sensors and different excitation points. The results indicate that the maximum error is 4.6% for asymmetric arrangements and less than 1% for symmetric arrangements. In practical applications, the pipeline’s position can be inferred from the delay time, with higher accuracy observed as the excitation point approaches the sensor. This method addresses the limitations of existing pipeline locating techniques and provides a foundation for the development of pipeline positioning technology.

Asparagine synthetase B (AS-B) is essential for nitrogen metabolism, but its broader physiological functions remain poorly understood. Here we show that the evolutionarily conserved Nicotiana benthamiana NbAS-B confers expression-dependent antiviral resistance and promotes plant growth. Multi-omics analyses indicate that NbAS-B-mediated antiviral immunity relies on glutamate-induced activation of Ca²⁺ signaling through the receptor GLR3.3, whereas its growth-promoting effect results from photosynthetic reprogramming. Building on these insights, we develop polyglutamate-loaded chitosan nanogels (PGANPs) to artificially manipulate this pathway. These nanogels efficiently enter plant tissues and enable sustained in situ release of glutamate, thereby mimicking and amplifying NbAS-B signaling outputs. PGANPs provide long-lasting systemic antiviral immunity while concurrently enhancing plant growth, without incurring metabolic costs. Our work identifies NbAS-B as a dual-function regulator linking metabolic status to immune activation and establishes PGANPs as an eco-friendly, controllable, and durable nanobiotechnology for managing viral diseases in crops. Controlling plant metabolism to improve growth and disease resistance has huge potential. Here, the authors find a conserved pathway which promotes antiviral resistance and promotes plant growth and develop polyglutamate-loaded chitosan nanogels to manipulate this pathway.

MYC typically drives the growth of prostate cancer (PCa) cells, but its role in the PCa tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function and regulatory mechanisms of MYC in the TIME of PCa. Firstly, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis demonstrated that the proportion of CD8 + T cells in PCa samples was significantly lower than that in paracancerous samples, whereas the proportion of M2 was opposite. Additionally, the expression levels of MYC and SIRPα were upregulated in PCa cells and macrophages, showing a gradual increase with cellular differentiation. Subsequently, MYC was shown to potentially induce M2 polarization and decrease the proportion of CD8 + T cells, an effect that may be mediated by the CD47-SIRPα interaction, as confirmed by western blotting, transwell, colony-formation, EdU, immunoprecipitation (ChIP), co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and flow cytometry assays. Furthermore, polarized M2 can further facilitate the proliferation and migration of PCa cells. Finally, multiplex immunofluorescence confirmed a high infiltration level of M2 macrophages in PCa tissues, whereas CD8 + T cell infiltration was conversely low. These findings may reveal a mechanism for immune evasion in PCa, highlighting the potential for developing MYC-targeted therapeutics to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint therapy in PCa.

Background Although androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapies have shown notable clinical efficacy in prostate cancer (PCa), the emergence of drug resistance remains a critical factor driving the clinical prognosis in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Aberrant tumor lipid metabolism not only fulfills the energetic and biosynthetic requirements of rapidly proliferating cancer cells but also contributes to the development of therapeutic resistance. Methods We examined SOX8 expression in enzalutamide resistance (EnzR) cell lines and validated its association with tumor progression and clinical outcome. The malignant phenotypes related to EnzR were assessed in vitro using PCa cell lines with stable SOX8 overexpression or knockdown. Tumor xenografts were subsequently generated by inoculating the corresponding cell lines into nude mice. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we conducted RNA-seq, CUT&Tag, non-targeted metabolomics, and a series of molecular and biochemical assays. Results SOX8 expression was elevated in EnzR prostate cancer cell lines and positively correlated with poor patient prognosis. Reduced SOX8 expression enhanced cellular sensitivity to enzalutamide, whereas elevated SOX8 expression decreased drug responsiveness. Chromatin immunoprecipitations (ChIP) assays revealed that AR was enriched at the SOX8 promoter region and transcriptionally repressed SOX8. In vivo, stable SOX8 knockdown markedly suppressed tumor growth in nude mouse xenografts. Mechanistically, SOX8 promotes the EnzR by reprograming lipid metabolism and we identified carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2), a key enzyme in lipid metabolism, as a novel downstream target of SOX8. SOX8-driven lipid metabolic reprogramming promoted enzalutamide resistance through the SOX8/CPT2 axis. Conclusions High SOX8 expression promotes EnzR in PCa, suggesting SOX8 as a potential therapeutic target. Our findings demonstrate that SOX8 drives EnzR by activating the SOX8/CPT2 axis, thereby inducing lipid metabolic reprogramming in PCa cells.

Asparagine synthetase (AS) is a key enzyme in plant nitrogen metabolic network. Beyond its canonical role as a major nitrogen transport and storage molecule, asparagine also serves critical functions in plant immunity and tolerance to environmental stresses. This review systematically summarizes the characteristics of the core AS-mediated asparagine biosynthesis pathway and two other minor pathways in plants. It details the distribution of the AS gene family, protein structure, and evolutionary classification. The mechanisms governing AS expression are analyzed, revealing tissue-specific patterns and precise regulation by nitrogen availability, abiotic stresses, and exogenous hormones, mediated through an interactive network of cis-acting elements and transcription factors. Furthermore, the biological functions of AS are multifaceted: it influences plant biomass and nitrogen use efficiency by regulating nitrogen uptake, transport, and recycling during growth and development; it contributes to abiotic stress tolerance by synthesizing asparagine to maintain cellular osmotic balance and scavenge reactive oxygen species; and it indirectly enhances antibacterial and antiviral capacity by activating the SA signaling pathway and modulating programmed cell death. Current knowledge gaps remain regarding the crosstalk between AS-mediated signaling pathways, the upstream transcriptional regulatory network, and the balance between nitrogen utilization and disease resistance in crop breeding. Future research aimed at addressing these questions will provide a theoretical foundation and molecular targets for improving crop nitrogen use efficiency and breeding resistant cultivars.