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The endosymbiont Wolbachia can both benefit host nutrition and manipulate host reproduction to its own advantage. However, the mechanisms of its nutritional benefits remain unclear. We show that Wolbachia enhances ovarian development in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus by boosting energy production. Wolbachia -infected females have increased fecundity, accelerated ovarian development, and prolonged oviposition. Enhanced activity of mitochondrial complex I is linked to increased ATP production and the expression of energy metabolism-related genes. We further identify that Wolbachia -synthesized riboflavin is crucial for ATP production and ovarian development. A riboflavin transporter, slc52a3a , positively correlates with Wolbachia density and is required for normal ovarian maturation. Our findings demonstrate that Wolbachia -produced riboflavin drives energy production and accelerates ovarian maturation, thus improving host fecundity. This research reveals insights into symbiont-host metabolic interactions and underscores the role of nutrient delivery in symbiosis. Wolbachia affects host reproduction and nutrition, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study suggests Wolbachia enhances ovarian development in Laodelphax striatellus via riboflavin synthesis, driving ATP production and ovarian maturation.

RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are multi-faceted proteins that interact with transcripts in various RNA driven processes and functions. However, in situ covalent capture techniques for screening authentic RNA substrates of RBPs remain challenging in terms of reproducibility, specificity, and sensitivity. Here, we developed CuCLIP-seq ( Cu AAC- C ross l inking and I mmuno p recipitation Seq uencing), an alternative in situ covalent capture sequencing method which utilizes CuAAC reaction to crosslink RBP-RNA between azido groups of RBPs and ethynyl groups of RNA molecules, followed by streptavidin-mediated enrichment of RNA substrates and high-throughput sequencing. We demonstrate the reliability of CuCLIP-seq by identifying substrate RNAs of several RBPs, including PTBP1, ADAR2, SRSF2, HNRNPA1, and PINX1, especially for capturing low-abundance targets. Additionally, this approach is authenticated by specifically resolving the alternative splicing transcripts targeted by PTBP1 and RNA targets by PINX1. Thus, this technique offers a sensitive and specific approach for detecting RBP substrates with high reproducibility, potential scalability, and wide applicability. Capturing RNA-protein interactions is vital for understanding cellular regulation but remains technically challenging. Here, the authors develop CuCLIP-seq, a sensitive, chemical-crosslinking method that accurately identifies diverse RNA substrates, including low-abundance targets.

Bacterial infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant strains, remain a significant global public health challenge. The growing resistance to traditional antibiotics highlights the urgent need for novel antibacterial strategies. Herein, we successfully synthesized three types of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (tBuCz-CDs, HAH-CDs, and EC-CDs) via hydrothermal method using tert-butyl carbazate, hydroxyacetic acid hydrazide, and ethyl carbazate as precursors. tBuCz-CDs, HAH-CDs, and EC-CDs exhibited potent antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 100, 100, and 150 µg/mL, respectively. Their antibacterial effect on MRSA was comparable to that of the widely used antibiotic vancomycin hydrochloride, as shown by the zone of inhibition assay. Furthermore, the carbon dots exhibited low cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity showing their excellent biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. They also significantly promoted wound healing compared to untreated controls. Notably, the serial passaging of MRSA exposed to these carbon dots did not result in the bacterial resistance. Mechanistic studies revealed that the carbon dots exerted antibacterial effects through multiple mechanisms, including the disruption of bacterial membranes, inhibition and eradication of biofilm formation, generation of reactive oxygen species, and DNA damage. This work highlights the potential of nitrogen-doped CDs as a promising material for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections and underscores their potential for further biomedical development.

Endosymbionts can profoundly affect the nutrition, immunity, development, and reproduction of insect hosts, but the effects of multiple endosymbiont infections on microbiota and the interaction of these effects with insect host fitness are not well known. By establishing S. furcifera lines with different endosymbiont infection status, we found that Cardinium and the combined Cardinium + Wolbachia infections differentially reduced bacterial diversity as well as changing bacterial community structure and affecting metabolism, which may connect to negative fitness effects of the endosymbionts on their host. Endosymbionts can strongly affect bacterial microbiota in pests. The white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera , a notorious pest in rice, is usually co-infected with Cardinium and Wolbachia , but the effects of these endosymbionts together or individually on the host microbiome and fecundity are unclear. Here, we established three S. furcifera lines ( Cardinium and Wolbachia double-infected, Cardinium single-infected, and both-uninfected lines) backcrossed to a common nuclear background and found that single and double infections reduced bacterial diversity and changed bacterial community structure across nymph and adult stages and across adult tissues. The endosymbionts differed in densities between adults and nymphs as well as across adult tissues, with the distribution of Cardinium affected by Wolbachia . Both the single infection and particularly the double infection reduced host fecundity. Lines also differed in levels of metabolites, some of which may influence fecundity (e.g., arginine biosynthesis and nicotinamide metabolism). Cardinium in the single-infected line upregulated metabolic levels, while Wolbachia in the double-infected line appeared to mainly downregulate them. Association analysis pointed to possible connections between various bacteria and differential metabolites. These results reveal that Cardinium by itself and in combination with Wolbachia affect bacterial microbiota and levels of metabolites, with likely effects on host fecundity. Many of the effects of these metabolically limited endosymbionts that are dependent on the hosts may be exerted through manipulation of the microbiome. IMPORTANCE Endosymbionts can profoundly affect the nutrition, immunity, development, and reproduction of insect hosts, but the effects of multiple endosymbiont infections on microbiota and the interaction of these effects with insect host fitness are not well known. By establishing S. furcifera lines with different endosymbiont infection status, we found that Cardinium and the combined Cardinium + Wolbachia infections differentially reduced bacterial diversity as well as changing bacterial community structure and affecting metabolism, which may connect to negative fitness effects of the endosymbionts on their host. These results established the connections between reduced bacterial diversity, decreased fecundity and metabolic responses in S. furcifera .

The effects of the fluorinated monomer with an ethynyl group on the electro-optical properties of polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals (PSBPLCs) were investigated in different polymer systems. In rigid polymer systems, the Kerr constant can be increased by about 27.6%, while keeping a microsecond response time. In soft polymer systems, hysteresis decreased by about 45.5% and residual birefringence can be reduced from 1.85% to 0.6%. The above phenomena exhibited dual functions of affecting the anchoring energy and the viscosity of the system simultaneously. The results provide a potential value for the ethynyl-containing monomers in PSBPLC systems.

Purpose Real-world evidence (RWE) plays an increasingly important role in complementing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in lung cancer research. This study aims to map the knowledge structure, identify research trends, and highlight future directions of real-world studies (RWS) in lung cancer through bibliometric analysis. Methods We retrieved publications on RWS in lung cancer from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) spanning 2009 to 2024. Bibliometric analyses were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the R package Bibliometrix to examine publication trends, collaborative networks, co-citation patterns, and keyword bursts. Results A total of 2,137 articles were included. Annual publications increased markedly after 2017, accounting for 97.52% of the total. China contributed the most publications ( n  = 660), while the USA exhibited the highest centrality in international collaboration. Keyword burst detection identified “combination therapy,” “KRAS mutation,” and “deep learning” as the most current research frontiers. Conclusions This analysis underscores the pivotal role of RWE in complementing RCTs and validating therapeutic strategies in oncology. Current frontiers include combination therapy, KRAS mutations, and deep learning, indicating a shift toward precision oncology and advanced data analytics.

Rice planthoppers, including brown (Nilaparvata lugens), small brown (Laodelphax striatellus), and white-backed (Sogatella furcifera) planthoppers, are major agricultural pests in China and severely affect rice production and food security. The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia is commonly found in these insects, where it regulates reproduction through mechanisms such as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and increased fertility. In this review, we discuss the strain-specific effects of Wolbachia: wLug (in N. lugens, < 50% infection) increases fecundity without CI; wStri (in L. striatellus, 99% infection) induces complete CI and enhances reproduction; and wSfur (in S. furcifera, 90% infection) shows weak or no CI with minimal fecundity effects. Additionally, while wStri can induce CI in N. lugens, its intensity is reduced, suggesting that both the symbiont and the host influence CI strength. The wStri genome contains three copies of the CI factors cifA-cifB, which belong to a newly identified group of genes of unknown function. In L. striatellus, the host protein cytoplasmic aminopeptidase-like protein (CAL) is associated with CI lethality, whereas the NADH quinone oxidoreductase subunit A8 (NDUFA8) may play a role in CI \"rescue\". Furthermore, Wolbachia enhances rice planthopper reproduction through B vitamin synthesis, the upregulation of vitellogenin (Vg), and the promotion of germ cell division, significantly increasing egg production. These findings shed light on complex Wolbachia-planthopper interactions and their potential for pest control.

Aim： Congo red, a secondary diazo dye, is usually used as an indicator for the presence of amyloid fibrils. Recent studies show that congo red exerts neuroprotective effects in a variety of models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, its pharmacological profile remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of congo red on ACh-induced Ca2＋ oscillations in mouse pancreatic acinar cells in vitro. Methods： Acutely dissociated pancreatic acinar cells of mice were prepared. A U-tube drug application system was used to deliver drugs into the bath. Intracellular Ca2＋. oscillations were monitored by whole-cell recording of Ca2＋-activated Cl- currents and by using confocal Ca2＋ imaging. For intracellular drug application, the drug was added in pipette solution and diffused into cell after the whole- cell configuration was established. Results： Bath application of ACh （10 nmol/L） induced typical Ca2＋ oscillations in dissociated pancreatic acinar cells. Addition of congo red （1, 10, 100 pmol/L） dose-dependently enhanced Ach-induced Ca2＋ oscillations, but congo red alone did not induce any detectable response. Furthermore, this enhancement depended on the concentrations of ACh： congo red markedly enhanced the Ca2＋ oscillations induced by ACh （10-30 nmol/L）, but did not alter the Ca2＋ oscillations induced by ACh （100-10000 nmol/L）. Congo red also enhanced the Ca2＋ oscillations induced by bath application of IP3 （30 μmol/L）. Intracellular application of congo red failed to alter ACh-induced Ca2＋ oscillations. Conclusion： Congo red significantly modulates intracellular Ca2＋ signaling in pancreatic acinar cells, and this pharmacological effect should be fully considered when developing congo red as a novel therapeutic drug.

Ground fissure hazards frequently emerge in Hebei Plain, which damage roads, dams, buildings and farmland. The paper reviews and analyses current state of knowledge and research into ground fissure and geological environment in Hebei Plain. It is shown that the level of research and investigation is in some aspects insufficient. Knowledge is lacking in the use of corresponding geological concept models for specific ground fissures, three-dimensional numerical simulations of ground fissures caused by pumping through soil with pre-existing fractures, numerical simulations of ground fissures caused by dislocation in intersection faults, and the failure criterion and the constitutive relationship of rock and soil. Furthermore, we put forward geological concept models for ground fissure formation following the dislocation of a buried intersection fault, over-exploitation of groundwater and its compound origin mechanisms in order to provide scientific evidence for the quantitative analysis.

Background： Avascular necrosis of femoral head （AVNFH） typically presents in the young adults and progresses quickly without proper treatments. However, the optimum treatments for early stage of AVNFH are still controversial. This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of multiple small-diameter drilling decompression combined with hip arthroscopy for early AVNFH compared to drilling alone. Methods： This is a nonrandomized retrospective case series study. Between April 2006 and November 2010, 60 patients （98 hips） with early stage AVNFH participated in this study. The patients underwent multiple small-diameter drilling decompression combined with hip arthroscopy in 26 cases/43 hips （Group A） or drilling decompression alone in 34 cases/55 hips （Group B）. Patients were followed up at 6, 12, and 24 weeks, and every 6 months thereafter. Radiographs were taken at every follow-up, Harris scores were recorded at the last follow-up, the paired t-test was used to compare the postoperative Harris scores. Surgery effective rate of the two groups was compared using the Chi-square test. Results： All patients were followed up for an average of 57.6 months （range： 17-108 months）. Pain relief and improvement of hip function were assessed in all patients at 6 months after the surgery. At the last follow-up, Group A had better outcome with mean Harris＇ scores improved from 68.23 ± 11.37 to 82.07 ± 2.92 （t = -7.21, P = 0.001） than Group B with mean Harris＇ scores improved from 69.46 ± 9.71 to 75.79± 4.13 （t = -9.47, P = 0.037） （significantly different： t = -2.54, P = 0.017）. The total surgery effective rate was also significantly different between Groups A and B （86.0% vs. 74.5%; Z2 = 3.69, P = 0.02）. Conclusion： For early stage of AVNFH, multiple small-diameter drilling decompression combined with hip arthroscopy is more effective than drilling decompression alone.