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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224822.].

Imbalances in bone formation and resorption cause osteoporosis. Mounting evidence supports that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) implicates in this process. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a plant-derived small molecular TrkB agonist, mimics the functions of BDNF. We show that both BDNF and 7,8-DHF promoted the proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells. These effects might be attributed to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as the expression of cyclin D1, phosphorylated-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (p-GSK3β), β-catenin, Runx2, Osterix, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) was all significantly up-regulated. Knockdown of β-catenin restrained the up-regulation of Runx2 and Osterix stimulated by 7,8-DHF. In particular, blocking TrkB by its specific inhibitor K252a suppressed 7,8-DHF-induced osteoblastic proliferation, differentiation, and expression of osteoblastogenic genes. Moreover, BDNF and 7,8-DHF repressed osteoclastic differentiation of RAW264.7 cells. The transcription factor c-fos and osteoclastic genes such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP-9), Adamts5 were inhibited by 7,8-DHF. More importantly, 7,8-DHF attenuated bone loss, improved trabecular microarchitecture, tibial biomechanical properties, and bone biochemical indexes in an ovariectomy (OVX) rat model. The current work highlights the dual regulatory effects that 7,8-DHF exerts on bone remodeling.

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have been widely investigated because of their unique photoluminescence properties. However, the applications of AuNCs are limited by their poor stability and relatively low fluorescence. In the present work, we developed nanocomposites (L-Cys-AuNCs@ZIF-8) with high fluorescence and stability, which were constructed by encapsulating the water-dispersible L-Cys-AuNCs into a ZIF-8 via Zn2+-triggered growth strategy without high temperature and pressure. The maximum emission wavelength of the L-Cys-AuNCs@ZIF-8 composite was at 868 nm, and the fluorescence intensity of L-Cys-AuNCs@ZIF-8 was nearly nine-fold compared with L-Cys-AuNCs without the ZIF-8 package. The mechanism investigation by fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that L-Cys-AuNCs@ZIF-8 impeded ligand rotation, induced energy dissipation, and diminished the self-quenching effect, attributing to the spatial distribution of L-Cys-AuNCs. Based on the high fluorescence efficiency of L-Cys-AuNCs@ZIF-8, a “signal off” detective platform was proposed with copper ions as a model analyte, achieving a sensitive detection limit of Cu2+ at 16.7 nM. The quenching mechanism was confirmed, showing that the structure of the L-Cys-AuNCs@ZIF-8 nanocomposites was collapsed by the addition of Cu2+. Attributing to the strong adsorption ability between copper ions and pyridyl nitrogen, the as-prepared L-Cys-AuNCs@ZIF-8 was shown to accumulate Cu2+, and the Zn2+ in ZIF-8 was replaced by Cu2+.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive decline strongly associated with impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN). Mounting evidence suggests that this impairment results from both the intrinsic dysfunction of neural stem cells (NSCs)—such as transcriptional alterations in quiescent states—and extrinsic niche disruptions, including the dysregulation of the Reelin signaling pathway and heightened neuroinflammation. Notably, AHN deficits may precede classical amyloid-β and Tau pathology, supporting their potential as early biomarkers of disease progression. In this review, we synthesize recent advances in therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring AHN, encompassing pharmacological agents, natural products, and non-pharmacological interventions such as environmental enrichment and dietary modulation. Emerging approaches—including BDNF-targeted nanocarriers, NSC-derived extracellular vesicles, and multimodal lifestyle interventions—highlight the translational promise of enhancing neurogenesis in models of familial AD. We further propose the Neurogenesis Impairment Index (NII)—a novel composite metric that quantifies hippocampal neurogenic capacity relative to amyloid burden, while adjusting for demographic and cognitive variables. By integrating neurogenic potential, cognitive performance, and pathological load, NII provides a framework for stratifying disease severity and guiding personalized therapeutic approaches. Despite ongoing challenges—such as interspecies differences in neurogenesis rates and the limitations of stem cell-based therapies—this integrative perspective offers a promising avenue to bridge mechanistic insights with clinical innovation in the development of next-generation AD treatments.

Signals from the pre-T cell receptor and Notch coordinately instruct [beta]-selection of CD4.sup.--CD8.sup.--double negative (DN) thymocytes to generate [alpha][beta] T cells in the thymus. However, how these signals ensure a high-fidelity proteome and safeguard the clonal diversification of the pre-selection TCR repertoire given the considerable translational activity imposed by [beta]-selection is largely unknown. Here, we identify the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) machinery as a critical proteostasis checkpoint during [beta]-selection. Expression of the SEL1L-HRD1 complex, the most conserved branch of ERAD, is directly regulated by the transcriptional activity of the Notch intracellular domain. Deletion of Sel1l impaired DN3 to DN4 thymocyte transition and severely impaired mouse [alpha][beta] T cell development. Mechanistically, Sel1l deficiency induced unresolved ER stress that triggered thymocyte apoptosis through the PERK pathway. Accordingly, genetically inactivating PERK rescued T cell development from Sel1l-deficient thymocytes. In contrast, IRE1[alpha]/XBP1 pathway was induced as a compensatory adaptation to alleviate Sel1l-deficiency-induced ER stress. Dual loss of Sel1l and Xbp1 markedly exacerbated the thymic defect. Our study reveals a critical developmental signal controlled proteostasis mechanism that enforces T cell development to ensure a healthy adaptive immunity.

Kudzu, scientifically known as Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Maesen & S.M.Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep (P. lobata), is a perennial vine belonging to the family Leguminosae. Puerarin, a unique constituent and primary active ingredient of this genus, exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. This study started with several practical questions: Why is the root the main medicinal part? Why is it not peeled for medicinal purposes? Why is the harvest period usually from December to February? Although the puerarin biosynthesis pathway has been investigated, the stage at which the 8-C glycosylation reaction occurs remains controversial. In this study, metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses were performed on P. lobata organs and tissues, including leaves, young stems, mature stems, tuberous cortices, and cortex-excised tubers of roots. Two modules containing genes associated with puerarin biosynthesis were identified by WGCNA. The final selection of important candidate UDP-glucosyltransferases (UGTs) that may be involved in the puerarin biosynthesis pathway included two 8-C-GTs, three 7-O-GTs, and key transcription factors. On this basis, the regulatory network of puerarin biosynthesis was constructed and laid the foundation for the cultivation of high-quality medicinal kudzu with high puerarin content.

Background: Zingiber Mill., a morphologically diverse herbaceous perennial genus of Zingiberaceae, is distributed mainly in tropical to warm-temperate Asia. In China, species of Zingiber have crucial medicinal, edible, and horticultural values; however, their phylogenetic relationships remain unclear. Methods: To address this issue, the complete plastomes of the 29 Zingiber accessions were assembled and characterized. Comparative plastome analysis and phylogenetic analysis were conducted to develop genomic resources and elucidate the intraspecific phylogeny of Zingiber. Results: The newly reported plastomes ranged from 161,495 to 163,880 bp in length with highly conserved structure. Results of comparative analysis suggested that IR expansions/contractions and changes of repeats were the main reasons that influenced the genome size of the Zingiber plastome. A large number of SSRs and six highly variable regions (rpl20, clpP, ycf1, petA-psbJ, rbcL-accD, and rpl32-trnL) have been identified, which could serve as potential DNA markers for future population genetics or phylogeographic studies on this genus. The well-resolved plastome phylogeny suggested that Zingiber could be divided into three clades, corresponding to sect. Pleuranthesis (sect. Zingiber + sect. Dymczewiczia) and sect. Cryptanthium. Conclusions: Overall, this study provided a robust phylogeny of Zingiber plants in China, and the newly reported plastome data and plastome-derived markers will be of great significance for the accurate identification, protection, and agricultural management of Zingiber resources in the future.

Studies show that the long-term operation of a rubber mixer results in wear at the end face of the mixer. End face wear increases the gap between the mixing chamber and the end face, resulting in leakage and a reduction in the mixing performance, affecting the final product’s quality. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the wear of the metal face during the mixing process. The present study added aramid fibers to a rubber compound using a mechanical blender to obtain a composite material. Then, the influence of the aramid fibers on the metal friction and wear of the end face of the mixer was analyzed. This article introduces the concept of the wear ratio and explores the friction and wear of metals from the perspective of formulation technology for the first time. With the addition of aramid fibers, the proportion of abrasive wear of rubber on metal decreased, and the proportion of corrosive wear increased during the mixing process; however, when the addition of aramid fibers exceeded 3 phr, the balance of abrasive wear of rubber on metal increased and the proportion of corrosive wear decreased. It was found that aramid fibers have the property of friction reduction, which reduces the wear of the rubber blend on the metal. When the amount of aramid fibers added was 3 phr, the amount of abrasion of the rubber compound on the metal was the lowest.

Quantum correlations represent one of the most characteristic traits of quantum mechanics [...]

Calorific value is one of the most important properties of coal. Machine learning (ML) can be used in the prediction of calorific value to reduce experimental costs. China is one of the world’s largest coal production countries and coal occupies an important position in its national energy structure. However, ML models with a large database for the overall regions of China are still missing. Based on the extensive coal gasification practices in East China University of Science and Technology, we have built ML models with a large database for overall regions of China. An AutoML model was proposed and achieved a minimum MSE of 1.021. SHAP method was used to increase the model interpretability, and model validity was proved with literature data and additional in-house experiments. The model adaptability was discussed based on the databases of China and USA, showing that geography-specific ML models are essential. This study integrated a large coal database and AutoML method for accurate calorific value prediction and could offer key tools for Chinese coal industry.