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Soil pH is a key factor that controls soil nutrient availability, soil microbial activities, and crop growth and development. However, studies on the soil pH variations of cultivated lands in different horizons at the regional scale remain limited. In this work, 348 soil samples were collected from three soil horizons (A, B, and C) at 120 sites over the hilly region of Chongqing, southwestern China. Six topographic indicators, four climate parameters, and parent material were considered. Classification and regression trees (CARTs) were applied to investigate the relationships between soil pH and the variables in the A, B, and C horizons. Model performances were evaluated by root mean square error (RMSE), relative root mean square error (RRMSE), and coefficient of determination (R2). Results showed that soil pH increased obviously from the A to C horizons. Soil pH was predicted well by the forcing factors with the CART models in all horizons. RMSE, RRMSE, and R2 varied between 0.37 and 0.435, between 5.93 and 7.23%, and between 0.71 and 0.80, respectively. The relative importance of the studied variables to soil pH differed with the horizons. Annual temperature range (ATR), terrain wetness index (TWI), and Melton ruggedness number were critical factors that controlled soil pH variability in the A horizon. Parent material, precipitation of warmest quarter (PWQ), ATR, and TWI were important variables in the B horizon. Parent material, PWQ, ATR, and precipitation were key factors in the C horizon. The results are expected to provide valuable information for designing appropriate measurements for agricultural practices and preventing soil acidification.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer with poor prognosis and low five-year survival rate. A strong and effective CD4+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity was associated with better survival and low recurrence rate in HCC, but the regulatory mechanism that controls CD4+ T cell cytotoxicity in HCC patients is not fully examined. Given that IL-10-expressing B cells could suppress the inflammation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, T helper 1 (Th1) cells and Th17 cells, while promoting regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation, we examined the role of IL-10-expressing B cells in HBV-related HCC patients. We found that compared to healthy controls, HCC patients exhibited significantly higher frequencies of IL-10-expressing B cells, which were negatively correlated with the frequencies of granzyme A, granzyme B, and perforin expressing CD4+ T cells. Surface molecule Tim-1 was preferentially expressed on IL-10-expressing B cells. Therefore, we separated total B cells into Tim-1+ and Tim-1- B cells. CD4+ T cells incubated with Tim-1+ B cells exhibited significantly reduced levels of granzyme A, granzyme B and perforin expression, compared to the CD4+ T cells incubated with Tim-1- B cells. Antagonizing IL-10 in culture rescued CD4+ T cell cytotoxicity. Compared to that in peripheral blood, the level of IL-10-expressing B cells were further upregulated in resected tumor, while the level of CD4+ cytotoxic T cells was downregulated. The negative correlations between IL-10-expressing B cells and CD4+ cytotoxic T cells were also observed in tumor-infiltrating cells. Together, our data revealed an additional antitumor mechanism mediated by IL-10-expressing B cells.

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host systemic inflammatory and immune response to infection. Over decades, advanced understanding of host–microorganism interaction has gradually unmasked the genuine nature of sepsis, guiding toward new definition and novel therapeutic approaches. Diverse clinical manifestations and outcomes among infectious patients have suggested the heterogeneity of immunopathology, while systemic inflammatory responses and deteriorating organ function observed in critically ill patients imply the extensively hyperactivated cascades by the host defense system. From focusing on microorganism pathogenicity, research interests have turned toward the molecular basis of host responses. Though progress has been made regarding recognition and management of clinical sepsis, incidence and mortality rate remain high. Furthermore, clinical trials of therapeutics have failed to obtain promising results. As far as we know, there was no systematic review addressing sepsis-related molecular signaling pathways and intervention therapy in literature. Increasing studies have succeeded to confirm novel functions of involved signaling pathways and comment on efficacy of intervention therapies amid sepsis. However, few of these studies attempt to elucidate the underlining mechanism in progression of sepsis, while other failed to integrate preliminary findings and describe in a broader view. This review focuses on the important signaling pathways, potential molecular mechanism, and pathway-associated therapy in sepsis. Host-derived molecules interacting with activated cells possess pivotal role for sepsis pathogenesis by dynamic regulation of signaling pathways. Cross-talk and functions of these molecules are also discussed in detail. Lastly, potential novel therapeutic strategies precisely targeting on signaling pathways and molecules are mentioned.

Magnetic induction hyperthermia (MIH), is a technique that has developed rapidly in recent years in the field of tumor thermotherapy. It implants a magnetic heating medium (millimeter-sized heat seeds, micron-sized magnetic particles and nanometer-sized magnetic fluids, etc.) inside the tumor. The material heats up under the induction of an external alternating magnetic field (100–500 kHz), which causes a high temperature zone to rapidly form in the local biological tissues and induces apoptosis in tumor cells. Magnetic induction hyperthermia has the advantages of high safety, strong targeting, repeatable treatment, and the size of the incision during treatment is negligible compared to surgical resection, and is currently used in clinical treatment. However, the millimeter-scale heat seed heating that is typically used in treatments can result in uneven temperatures within the tissue. Common MIH heating devices are bulky and complex in design, and are not easy for medical staff to get their hands on, which are issues that limit the diffusion of MIH. In this view, this paper will discuss the basic theoretical research on MIH and the progress of MIH-related technologies, with a focus on the latest research and development results and research hotspots of nanoscale ferromagnetic media and magnetic heat therapy devices, as well as the validation results and therapeutic efficacy of the new MIH technology on animal experiments and clinical trials. In this paper, it is found that induction heating using magnetic nanoparticles improves the uniformity of the temperature field, and the magneto-thermal properties of nanoscale ferromagnetic materials are significantly improved. The heating device was miniaturized to simplify the operation steps, while the focusing of the magnetic field was locally enhanced. However, there are fewer studies on the biotoxicity aspects of nanomedicines, and the localized alternating magnetic field uniformity used for heating and the safety of the alternating magnetic field after irradiation of the human body have not been sufficiently discussed. Ultimately, the purpose of this paper is to advance research related to magnetic induction thermotherapy that can be applied in clinical treatment.

Green nanotechnology is an emerging field of science that focuses on the production of nanoparticles by living cells through biological pathways. This topic plays an extremely imperative responsibility in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, nuclear energy, fuel and energy, electronics, and bioengineering. Biological processes by green synthesis tools are more suitable to develop nanoparticles ranging from 1 to 100 nm compared to other related methods, owing to their safety, eco-friendliness, non-toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. In particular, the metal nanoparticles are synthesized by top-down and bottom-up approaches through various techniques like physical, chemical, and biological methods. Their characterization is very vital and the confirmation of nanoparticle traits is done by various instrumentation analyses such as UV–Vis spectrophotometry (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), annular dark-field imaging (HAADF), and intracranial pressure (ICP). In this review, we provide especially information on green synthesized metal nanoparticles, which are helpful to improve biomedical and environmental applications. In particular, the methods and conditions of plant-based synthesis, characterization techniques, and applications of green silver, gold, iron, selenium, and copper nanoparticles are overviewed.

DNA test is broadly used in diagnosis of crop disease and identification of genetic modified organism (GMO) in agriculture. However, rapid, low-cost, user-friendly, and field-deployable DNA test method is still limit. Recently, the RNA programmable nuclease of CRISPR/Cas is engineered as a new nucleic acid detection platform, but their application in plant remains to explore. In this study, we evaluated the Cas12a-based DNA detection for crop disease diagnosis and GMO test. A total of 14 crRNAs were designed to target two Magnaporthe oryzae genes and a synthetic Cry1C gene which encodes Bacillus thuringiensis δ -endotoxin and has been used to develop transgenic rice cultivar (Bt-rice) in China. Using a fluorescent reporter, targeted genes were easily detected by LbCas12a after recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) for all crRNAs, despite that the signal strength varied 2–3-folds between different crRNAs. We further combined the filter paper-based DNA extraction and lateral flow assay (LFA) with RPA-Cas12a for DNA detection. This optimized Cas12a diagnostics method is carried at body temperature and does not require extra instrument except filter paper and LFA strip. Our data show that rice blast pathogen and Bt-rice were efficiently identified from leaf disc samples using this optimized DNA test method with highly active crRNAs. Moreover, LbCas12a exhibited variable nuclease activities on different targets; therefore, highly active crRNA is critical for successful DNA test using Cas12a and LFA. Owing to its simplicity, efficiency, and low-cost, DNA test using CRISPR/Cas12a would be easily applied in field for crop disease diagnosis and GMO administration.

Using multi‐satellite observations, the cloud dynamic and microphysical characteristics were revealed during the rapid intensification (RI) of super‐typhoon Nanmadol (2022). As the storm intensifies, the eyewall contracts, the upper‐level divergence strengthens, and the cirrus cloud increases, leading to stronger upper‐level radial outflow and the vertical updraft. Meanwhile, it is found that there exists a dynamically attractive area in the outer rainbands, where particles grow effectively and form “a small amount of large particles” around 300 km from the eye. A theory of cloud dynamics‐microphysics interaction, called “tunnel theory,” is further proposed to explain the generation, accumulation, and concentrated downflow of large particles in the outer rainbands during RI. Results suggest the unique feature of particle distribution in the outer rainbands could be a potential indicator for RI. Plain Language Summary The rapid intensification (RI) of tropical cyclones (TCs) becomes more frequent in recent years, but the TC RI forecasts still remain challenging. Better understanding of the physical processes associated with RI of TCs would essentially improve its forecasting capability. The cloud dynamical and microphysical processes, especially their interactions that respond to RI are not well explored. In this study, the cloud macro and micro characteristics associated with RI of a super‐typhoon Nanmadol (2022) over the western Pacific are investigated using multiple satellites observations. The storm underwent RI during 15–16 September 2022, and it has wreaked havoc on Japan's most cities as it moved across the Japanese island afterward with a track length of about 1,120 km. It is found inside Nanmadol as well as other typhoons that a few large particles tend to occur in the outer rainbands during RI, due to the interaction of cloud dynamical and microphysical processes. Such unique feature of particle distribution in the outer rainbands could be a potential indicator for RI, and should also be paid attention to in model forecasting of typhoon precipitation. Key Points First satellite‐based observational study on the interaction of cloud dynamics and microphysics during typhoon rapid intensification (RI) The eyewall contracts, the upper‐level divergence strengthens, and the convection column increases, providing kinetic energy for typhoon RI A “tunnel theory” is proposed for the generation, accumulation, and downflow of large particles in the outer rainbands during typhoon RI

Genomics-based neoantigen discovery can be enhanced by proteomic evidence, but there remains a lack of consensus on the performance of different quality control methods for variant peptide identification in proteogenomics. We propose to use the difference between accurately predicted and observed retention times for each peptide as a metric to evaluate different quality control methods. To this end, we develop AutoRT, a deep learning algorithm with high accuracy in retention time prediction. Analysis of three cancer data sets with a total of 287 tumor samples using different quality control strategies results in substantially different numbers of identified variant peptides and putative neoantigens. Our systematic evaluation, using the proposed retention time metric, provides insights and practical guidance on the selection of quality control strategies. We implement the recommended strategy in a computational workflow named NeoFlow to support proteogenomics-based neoantigen prioritization, enabling more sensitive discovery of putative neoantigens. Identifying mutation-derived neoantigens by proteogenomics requires robust strategies for quality control. Here, the authors propose peptide retention time as an evaluation metric for proteogenomics quality control methods, and develop a deep learning algorithm for accurate retention time prediction.

Amyloid β protein (Aβ) is the main component of neuritic plaques in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and its accumulation has been considered as the molecular driver of Alzheimer’s pathogenesis and progression. Aβ has been the prime target for the development of AD therapy. However, the repeated failures of Aβ-targeted clinical trials have cast considerable doubt on the amyloid cascade hypothesis and whether the development of Alzheimer’s drug has followed the correct course. However, the recent successes of Aβ targeted trials have assuaged those doubts. In this review, we discussed the evolution of the amyloid cascade hypothesis over the last 30 years and summarized its application in Alzheimer’s diagnosis and modification. In particular, we extensively discussed the pitfalls, promises and important unanswered questions regarding the current anti-Aβ therapy, as well as strategies for further study and development of more feasible Aβ-targeted approaches in the optimization of AD prevention and treatment.

Biological variability poses significant challenges in the development of effective therapeutics, particularly when it comes to drug solubility and bioavailability. Poor solubility across varying physiological conditions often leads to reduced absorption and inconsistent therapeutic outcomes. This review examines how nanotechnology, especially through the use of nanomaterials and magnetic nanoparticles, offers innovative solutions to enhance drug solubility and bioavailability. This comprehensive review focuses on recent advancements and approaches in nanotechnology. We highlight both the successes and remaining challenges in this field, emphasizing the role of continued innovation. Future research should prioritize developing universal therapeutic solutions, conducting interdisciplinary research, and leveraging personalized nanomedicine to address biological variability.