Bacterial and fungal keystone taxa play different roles in maintaining community resistance and driving soil organic carbon dynamics in response to Solidago Canadensis invasion.

The invasion of alien plants has significant implications for vegetation structure and diversity, which could lead to changes in the carbon (C) input from vegetation and change the transformation and decomposition processes of C, thereby altering the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) within ecosystems. Whether alien plant invasion increases the SOC stock and changes SOC fractions consistently within regional scales, and the underlying mechanisms driving these SOC dynamics remain poorly understood. This study investigated SOC dynamics by comparing the plots that suffered invasion and non-invasion of Solidago Canadensis across five ecological function areas in Anhui Province, China, considering climate, edaphic factors, vegetation, and soil microbes. The results demonstrated that the impact of S. Canadensis invasion on SOC storage was not consistent at each site in the 0-20 cm soil layer, as indicated by the range of SOC content (5.94-12.45 g kg-1) observed at non-invaded plots. Stable SOC exhibited similar response patterns with SOC to plant invasion, whereas labile SOC did not. In addition, bacterial and fungal communities were shifted in structure at each site by plant invasion. Bacterial communities exhibited greater resistance to S. Canadensis invasion than did fungal communities, as evidenced by three aspects of the resistance indices-community resistance, phylogenetic conservation, and network complexity. The mechanisms driving SOC dynamics under S. Canadensis invasion were explored using structural equation models. This revealed that fungal keystone taxa responsible for community resistance controlled stable SOC fractions. In contrast, bacterial keystone taxa had the opposite effect on labile and stable SOC. Climatic and edaphic factors were also involved in the labile and stable SOC dynamics. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the dynamics of SOC under S. Canadensis invasion on a regional scale.

A Study on the Mechanisms and Performance of a Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Nanogenerator Based on the Triboelectric Effect.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a versatile polymer, is extensively used across many industries, such as chemicals, food, healthcare, textiles, and packaging. However, research on applying PVA to triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) remains limited. Consequently, we chose PVA as the primary material to explore its contact electrification mechanisms at the molecular level, alongside materials like Polyethylene (PE), Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Our findings show that PVA has the highest band gap, with the smallest band gap occurring between the HOMO of PVA and the LUMO of PTFE. During molecular contact, electron transfer primarily occurs in the outermost layers of the molecules, influenced by the functional groups of the polymers. The presence of fluorine atoms enhances the electron transfer between PVA and PTFE to maximum levels. Experimental validation confirmed that PVA and PTFE contact yields the highest triboelectric performance: VOC of 128 V, ISC of 2.83 µA, QSC of 82 nC, and an output power of 384 µW. Moreover, P-TENG, made of PVA and PTFE, was successfully applied in self-powered smart devices and monitored human respiration and bodily movements effectively. These findings offer valuable insights into using PVA in triboelectric nanogenerator technologies.

Multi-Attribute Triboelectric Materials and Innovative Applications Via TENGs.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) as an avant-garde technology that transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy, offering a new direction for green energy and sustainable development. By means of high-efficiency TENGs, conventional materials as new triboelectric materials have exhibited multi-attribute characteristics, achieving innovative applications in the field of micro-nano energy harvesting and self-powered sensing. The progress of TENGs technology with the triboelectric materials is complementary and mutually promoting. On the one hand, one of the cruxes of TENGs lies in the triboelectric materials, which have a decisive impact on their performance. On the other hand, as the research and application of TENGs continue to deepen, higher demands are placed on triboelectric materials, which in turn promotes the advancement of the entire material system as well as the fields of materials science and physics. This work aims to delve into the characteristics, types, preferred choices, and modification treatments of triboelectric materials on the performances of TENGs, hoping to provide guidance and insights for future research and applications.

The Microbiome Protocols eBook initiative: Building a bridge to microbiome research.

The Microbiome Protocols eBook (MPB) serves as a crucial bridge, filling gaps in microbiome protocols for both wet experiments and data analysis. The first edition, launched in 2020, featured 152 meticulously curated protocols, garnering widespread acclaim. We now extend a sincere invitation to researchers to participate in the upcoming 2nd version of MPB, contributing their valuable protocols to advance microbiome research.

Microglial forkhead box O3a deficiency attenuates LPS-induced neuro-inflammation and depressive-like behaviour through regulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Depression is closely linked with microglial activation and neuro-inflammation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) plays an important role in M2 activation of microglia. Forkhead box (FOX) O3a has been implicated in the regulation of mood-relevant behaviour. However, little is known about the inflammatory mechanisms of in the microglia of the brain. Here, we have investigated the role of microglial FOXO3a/PPAR-γ in the development of depression. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The effect of FOXO3a on microglia inflammation was analysed in vitro and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behaviours in vivo. ChIP-seq and Dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the interaction between FOXO3a and PPAR-γ. Behavioural changes were measured, while inflammatory cytokines, microglial phenotype and morphological properties were determined by ELISA, qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunostaining. KEY RESULTS: Overexpression of FOXO3a significantly attenuated expression of PPAR-γ and enhanced the microglial polarization towards the M1 phenotype, while knockdown of FOXO3a had the opposite effect. FOXO3a binds to the promoters of PPAR-γ and decreases its transcription activity. Importantly, deacetylation and activation of FOXO3a regulate LPS-induced neuro-inflammation by inhibiting the expression of PPAR-γ in microglia cells, supporting the antidepressant potential of histone deacetylase inhibitors. Microglial FOXO3a deficiency in mice alleviated LPS-induced neuro-inflammation and depression-like behaviours but failed to reduce anxiety behaviour, whereas pharmacological inhibition of PPAR-γ by GW9662 restored LPS-induced microglial activation and depressive-like behaviours in microglial FOXO3a-deficient mice. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: FOXO3a/PPAR-γ axis plays an important role in microglial activation and depression, identifying a new therapeutic avenue for the treatment of major depression.

Risk factors for cerebral edema following aneurysm clipping in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors that contribute to the development of cerebral edema after aneurysm clipping in individuals with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). METHODS: A total of 232 patients with aSAH caused by rupture and treated with aneurysm clipping were included in the retrospective analysis of clinical data. Postoperatively, the participants were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of cerebral edema: a complication group (n=33) and a non-complication group (n=199).A comparison was made between the overall data of the 2 groups. RESULTS: In the complication group, there were higher proportions of patients experiencing recurrent bleeding, aneurysm in the posterior circulation, Fisher grade III-IV, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade II, Hunt-Hess grade III-IV, concomitant hypertension, duration from onset to operation ≥12 h, and concomitant hematoma compared to the non-complication group (p<0.05). Cerebral edema after aneurysm clipping was associated with several risk factors including repeated bleeding, aneurysm in the back of the brain, Fisher grade III-IV, WFNS grade II, Hunt-Hess grade III-IV, simultaneous high blood pressure and hematoma, and a duration of at least 12 hours from the start of symptoms to the surgical procedure (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with aSAH, the risk of cerebral edema after aneurysm clipping is increased by recurrent bleeding, aneurysm in the posterior circulation, Fisher grade III-IV, WFNS grade II, Hunt-Hess grade III-IV, concomitant hypertension and hematoma, and duration of ≥12 h from onset to operation.

Deep Learning Model Coupling Wearable Bioelectric and Mechanical Sensors for Refined Muscle Strength Assessment.

Muscle strength (MS) is related to our neural and muscle systems, essential for clinical diagnosis and rehabilitation evaluation. Although emerging wearable technology seems promising for MS assessment, problems still exist, including inaccuracy, spatiotemporal differences, and analyzing methods. In this study, we propose a wearable device consisting of myoelectric and strain sensors, synchronously acquiring surface electromyography and mechanical signals at the same spot during muscle activities, and then employ a deep learning model based on temporal convolutional network (TCN) + Transformer (Tcnformer), achieving accurate grading and prediction of MS. Moreover, by combining with deep clustering, named Tcnformer deep cluster (TDC), we further obtain a 25-level classification for MS assessment, refining the conventional 5 levels. Quantification and validation showcase a patient's postoperative recovery from level 3.2 to level 3.6 in the first few days after surgery. We anticipate that this system will importantly advance precise MS assessment, potentially improving relevant clinical diagnosis and rehabilitation outcomes.

A Patient With Giant Meningioma With Intracranial and Extracranial Communication.

Atypical meningiomas, classified as World Health Organization (WHO) grade-2 tumors, are characterized by varied and unpredictable clinical behavior. Here, we report the case of an 80-year-old woman with a large meningioma displaying communication both intracranially and extracranially. The histopathological diagnosis confirmed a WHO grade-2 atypical meningioma. After complete surgical resection, the patient experienced a significant improvement in symptoms, with no evidence of recurrence on follow-up imaging. This case highlights the significance of understanding giant intracranial and extracranial communication meningiomas, shedding light on the favorable prognosis associated with WHO grade-2 atypical meningiomas after complete surgical resection.

Long noncoding RNA UNC5B-AS1 suppresses cell proliferation by sponging miR-24-3p in glioblastoma multiforme.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary CNS tumor, characterized by high mortality and heterogeneity. However, the related lncRNA signatures and their target microRNA (miRNA) for GBM are still mostly unknown. Therefore, it is critical that we discover lncRNA markers in GBM and their biological activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GBM-related RNA-seq data were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The "edger" R package was used for differently expressed lncRNAs (DELs) identification. Then, we forecasted prospective miRNAs that might bind to lncRNAs by Cytoscape software. Survival analysis of those miRNAs was examined by the starBase database, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the miRNAs' target genes was conducted by the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) database and R software. Moreover, the proliferative ability of unc-5 netrin receptor B antisense RNA 1 (UNC5B-AS1) cells was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) analysis. Mechanistically, the regulatory interaction between UNC5B-AS1 and miRNA in GBM biological processes was studied using CCK-8 analysis. RESULTS: Our results indicated that overexpression of UNC5B-AS1 has been shown to suppress GBM cell growth. Mechanistically, miR-24-3p in GBM was able to alleviate the anti-oncogenic effects of UNC5B-AS1 on cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: The discovery of the novel UNC5B-AS1-miR-24-3p network suggests possible lncRNA and miRNA roles in the development of GBM, which may have significant ramifications for the analysis of clinical prognosis and the development of GBM medications.

Multistrand Twisted Triboelectric Kevlar Yarns for Harvesting High Impact Energy, Body Injury Location and Levels Evaluation.

Developing ultrahigh-strength fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerators for harvesting high-impact energy and sensing biomechanical signals is still a great challenge. Here, the constraints are addressed by design of a multistrand twisted triboelectric Kevlar (MTTK) yarn using conductive and non-conductive Kevlar fibers. Manufactured using a multistrand twisting process, the MTTK yarn offers superior tensile strength (372 MPa), compared to current triboelectric yarns. In addition, a self-powered impact sensing fabric patch (SP-ISFP) comprising signal acquisition, processing, communication circuit, and MTTK yarns is integrated. The SP-ISFP features withstanding impact (4 GPa) and a sensitivity and response time under the high impact condition (59.68 V GPa-1; 0.4 s). Furthermore, a multi-channel smart bulletproof vest is developed by the array of 36 SP-ISFPs, enabling the reconstruction of impact mapping and assessment of body injury location and levels by real-time data acquisition. Their potential to reduce body injuries, professional security, and construct a multi-point personal vital signs dynamic monitoring platform holds great promise.

Microglial FoxO3a deficiency ameliorates ferroptosis-induced brain injury of intracerebral haemorrhage via regulating autophagy and heme oxygenase-1.

Microglial HO-1 regulates iron metabolism in the brain. Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) shares features of ferroptosis and necroptosis; hemin is an oxidized product of haemoglobin from lysed red blood cells, leading to secondary injury. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms attributable to secondary injury by hemin or ICH. In this study, we first show that FoxO3a was highly co-located with neurons and microglia but not astrocytes area of ICH model mice. Hemin activated FoxO3a/ATG-mediated autophagy and HO-1 signalling resulting in ferroptosis in vitro and in a mice model of brain haemorrhage. Accordingly, autophagy inhibitor Baf-A1 or HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP protected against hemin-induced ferroptosis. Hemin promoted ferroptosis of neuronal cells via FoxO3a/ATG-mediated autophagy and HO-1 signalling pathway. Knock-down of FoxO3a inhibited autophagy and prevented hemin-induced ferroptosis dependent of HO-1 signalling. We first showed that hemin stimulated microglial FoxO3a/HO-1 expression and enhanced the microglial polarisation towards the M1 phenotype, while knockdown of microglial FoxO3a inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine production in microglia. Furthermore, the microglia activation in the striatum showed significant along with a high expression level of FoxO3a in the ICH mice. We found that conditional knockout of FoxO3a in microglia in mice alleviated neurological deficits and microglia activation as well as ferroptosis-induced striatum injury in the autologous blood-induced ICH model. We demonstrate, for the first time, that FoxO3a/ATG-mediated autophagy and HO-1 play an important role in microglial activation and ferroptosis-induced striatum injury of ICH, identifying a new therapeutic avenue for the treatment of ICH.

High-Durability Stacked Disc-Type Rolling Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Environmental Monitoring Around Charging Buoys of Unmanned Ships.

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) as a means of energy harvesting can effectively harvest ocean wave energy, but the energy conversion efficiency and stability of the device during long-term operations are still problems that must be solved for TENGs. Decreasing the frictional resistance between two triboelectric material surfaces is one of the critical approaches for improving the device efficiency and durability. In this work, a novel stacked disc-type rolling triboelectric nanogenerator (SDR-TENG) is designed and fabricated for low-frequency water wave energy harvesting. After 860 000 working cycles, the electrical output attenuation of the SDR-TENG basic unit is less than 5%, showing excellent device durability. Under the simulated water wave conditions, the SDR-TENG with four rolling TENG units can produce an output current of 84.4 µA and an output power of 7.6 mW, corresponding to an effective power density of 16.8 W m-3. This work not only proposes a strategy to effectively enhance the durability of the devices, but also provides a feasible solution for monitoring the surrounding environment of the charging buoys of unmanned ships.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Can Inhibit the Allocation of Microplastics from Crop Roots to Aboveground Edible Parts.

Microplastics are emerging pollutants that threaten soil health and food safety. Recently, there has been increasing interest in understanding the behavior of these particles in the rhizosphere, specifically regarding the potential uptake of microplastics into crops. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widespread soil fungi, forming symbiotic associations with most terrestrial plants. Therefore, it is essential to investigate if AM fungi could protect crops from microplastics in soil. Here, we grew vegetables (Lactuca sativa) inoculated with/without the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis at various levels of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) soil pollution (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4%, mass ratio of the pollutant to soil). Our findings revealed that the proportion of transport of PMMA from roots to shoots decreased significantly in mycorrhizal crops. This reduction occurred because some PMMA particles were immobilized by AM vesicles and intraradical fungal hyphae. However, AM symbiosis did not substantially reduce the uptake of microplastics by crops from soil. Mycorrhizal fungi might enhance the resistance of crops to microplastics through transforming the chemical properties of microplastics, reducing their complexation to crop components, and promoting crop phosphorus nutrition at high microplastic addition levels. Our study is the first report to achieve rapid quantification of microplastics in mycorrhizal crops using microscale combustion calorimetry, demonstrating that AM fungi have the ability to immobilize microplastics. The study allows a deeper insight into microplastic behavior in AM-associated crops and supports the potential application of AM fungi in crop cultivation under microplastic contamination.

Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal specific phenolic and flavonoid accumulation in licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) induced by arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis under drought stress.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can strengthen plant defense against abiotic stress, such as drought, through multiple mechanisms; however, the specialized chemical defenses induced by AM symbiosis are largely unknown. In a pot experiment, licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) inoculated with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis Schenck & Smith were grown under well-watered or water deficit conditions. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were combined to investigate licorice root specialized metabolism induced by AM symbiosis under drought stress. Results showed that mycorrhizal plants had few dead leaves, less biomass reduction, and less differentially expressed genes and metabolite features in response to drought compared with nonmycorrhizal plants. Transcriptomic and metabolomic data revealed that mycorrhizal roots generally accumulated lignin regardless of the water regime; however, the expression of genes involved in lignin biosynthesis was significantly downregulated by drought stress in mycorrhizal plants. By contrast, AM inoculation significantly decreased specialized metabolites accumulation, including phenolics and flavonoids under well-watered conditions, whereas these decreases turned to be nonsignificant under drought stress. Moreover, these specific phenolics and flavonoids showed significant drought-induced accumulation pattern in mycorrhizal roots. These results highlight that accumulation of specific root phenolics and flavonoids may support the drought tolerance of mycorrhizal plants.

Deciphering the impacts of chromium contamination on soil bacterial communities: A comparative analysis across various soil types.

Addressing the widespread concern of chromium (Cr) pollution, this study investigated its impacts on bacterial communities across eight soil types, alongside the potential Cr transformation-related genes. Utilizing real-time PCR, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gene prediction, we revealed shifts in bacterial community structure and function at three Cr exposure levels. Our results showed that the bacterial abundance in all eight soil types was influenced by Cr to varying extents, with yellow‒brown soil being the most sensitive. The bacterial community composition of different soil types exhibited diverse responses to Cr, with only the relative abundance of Proteobacteria decreasing with increasing Cr concentration across all soil types. Beta diversity analysis revealed that while Cr concentration impacted the assembly process of bacterial communities to a certain extent, the influence on the compositional structure of bacterial communities was primarily driven by soil type rather than Cr concentration. The study also identified biomarkers for each soil type under three Cr levels, offering a basis for monitoring changes in Cr pollution. By predicting crucial functional genes related to Cr transformation, it was observed that the relative abundance of chrA (chromate transporter) in yellow‒brown soil significantly exceeded that in all other soil types, suggesting its potential for Cr adaptation. The study also revealed correlations among soil physicochemical properties, Cr concentration, and these functional genes, providing a foundation for future research aimed at more precise functional analysis and the development of effective soil remediation strategies.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alter Arsenic Translocation Characteristics of Iris tectorum Maxim.

Arsenic (As) pollution in wetlands, mainly as As(III) and As(V), has threatened wetland plant growth. It has been well documented that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can alleviate As stress in terrestrial plants. However, whether AM fungi can protect natural wetland plants from As stress remains largely unknown. Therefore, three hydroponic experiments were conducted in which Iris tectorum Maxim. (I. tectorum) plants were exposed to As(III) or As(V) stresses, to investigate the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation on As uptake, efflux, and accumulation. The results suggested that short-term kinetics of As influx in I. tectorum followed the Michaelis-Menten function. Mycorrhizal inoculation decreased the maximum uptake rate (Vmax) and Michaelis constant (Km) of plants for As(III) influx, while yielding no significant difference in As(V) influx. Generally, mycorrhizal plants released more As into environments after 72 h efflux, especially under As(V) exposure. Moreover, mycorrhizal plants exhibited potential higher As accumulation capacity, probably due to more active As reduction, which was one of the mechanisms through which AM fungi mitigate As phytotoxicity. Our study has revealed the role of aerobic microorganism AM fungi in regulating As translocation in wetland plants and supports the involvement of AM fungi in alleviating plant As stress in anaerobic wetlands.

Integrative application of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for enhanced chromium resistance in Medicago sativa.

Soil chromium (Cr) contamination has become an environmental problem of global concern. However, the joint effects of combined utilization of biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal inoculum, which are considered as two promising remediation strategies of soil heavy metal pollutions, on plant Cr resistance are still poorly understood. In this study, a two-factor pot experiment was conducted to investigate how biochar and AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis regulate Medicago sativa growth, physiological trait, nutrient and Cr uptake, relevant gene expressions, soil properties, and Cr speciation, independently or synergistically. The results showed that biochar notably decreased AM colonization, while biochar and AM fungus could simultaneously increase plant dry biomass. The greatest growth promotion was observed in mycorrhizal shoots at the highest biochar level (50 g kg-1 soil) by 91 times. Both biochar application and AM fungal inoculation enhanced plant photosynthesis and P nutrition, but the promoting effects of AM fungus on them were significantly greater than that of biochar. In addition, the combined application of biochar and AM fungus dramatically reduced shoot and root Cr concentrations by up to 92 % and 78 %, respectively, compared to the non-amended treatment. Meanwhile, down-regulated expressions were observed for metal chelating-related genes. Furthermore, Cr translocation from roots to shoots was reduced by both two soil amendments. Transcriptional levels of genes involved in reactive oxygen species and proline metabolisms were also regulated by biochar application and AM fungal colonization, leading to alleviation of Cr phytotoxicity. Furthermore, AM fungal inoculation slightly elevated soil pH but decreased plant-available soil P, which was, by contrast, lifted by biochar addition. The combined application reduced soil acid-extractable Cr concentration by 40 %. This study provides new insights into comprehensively understanding of the mechanisms of biochar and AM fungi combination on improving plant Cr tolerance.

Physicochemical properties of environmental media can affect the adsorption of arsenic (As) by microplastics.

Microplastics are emerging pollutants that can adsorb heavy metals and threaten human health through food chain. Recently, there has been increasing interest in understanding the adsorption behavior of heavy metals by microplastics in farmland soil. In particular, arsenic (As), as a carcinogen, has the potential to be adsorbed by soil microplastics. However, the mechanisms and controlling factors of As adsorption by microplastics in farmland soil under natural conditions are still unknown. Here, microplastics and As were respectively added to farmland soils with different physicochemical properties from twelve provinces of China for adsorption experiment. We performed surface analysis of microplastics, quantified As accumulation through quasi-first-order kinetic equation and developed regression models to screen the factors controlling As adsorption. The results showed that the adsorption of As by soil microplastics was a chemical process accompanied by the loss of electrons from oxygen-containing functional groups. Soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) was the main factor controlling the adsorption rate, while soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and CEC mainly influenced the equilibrium adsorption capacity. This is the first report on microplastic-As adsorption in natural soil, which allows deeper insights into risk assessment, prediction and control of microplastic-As pollution in agricultural soil.