Thiophene-based styrene derivative improves colitis symptoms in DSS-induced BALB/C mice through AhR-mediated gut barrier function and inflammatory responses.

Global hierarchical meta-analysis of microplastic-induced changes in the soil nitrogen cycle.

Stream macroinvertebrate responses vary with region, land use and management practice type.

Functional dynamics of fish assemblages in a tropical estuary during different phases of El Niño‒Southern Oscillation.

Global analysis on a nonlinear diffusion system with fear effect, protection zone and Ivlev functional response

Brain stimulation prevents neural downregulation and optimizes learning.

The impact of human shields in autonomous and non-autonomous prey–predator models with modified Cosner functional response

Synergistic Effects of Sinomenine Hydrochloride and Low-Dose Donepezil on Cognitive Decline: Combined Modulation of Cholinergic Function and Nrf2-Mediated Antioxidant Response

BACKGROUND Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment for end-stage knee joint disease, but postoperative functional recovery outcomes vary significantly among patients. In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on the influence of psychological factors on surgical outcomes, yet studies on the impact of preoperative anxiety on functional recovery after TKA remain relatively limited. AIM To investigate the effects of preoperative anxiety levels on functional recovery outcomes following TKA, providing a more comprehensive treatment strategy for clinical practice. METHODS A retrospective cohort study design was employed to collect clinical data from 186 patients who underwent TKA at a tertiary hospital between January 2020 and December 2023. Patients were divided into a study group (86 cases) and a control group (100 cases) based on preoperative anxiety status. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale were used to assess patients’ mental status. Postoperative rehabilitation time, joint function scores, complication rates, and other indicators were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine independent risk factors affecting functional recovery. RESULTS Compared to the control group, the study group showed significantly longer postoperative hospital stays [(14.3 ± 3.7) days vs (10.6 ± 2.4) days, P < 0.01], lower knee function scores at 3 months postoperatively [(68.2 ± 8.5) vs (79.9 ± 7.3), P < 0.05], and higher complication rates (32.3% vs 17.2%, P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified high preoperative anxiety levels [odds ratio (OR) = 2.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.82-3.36], chronic stress (OR = 1.94, 95%CI: 1.43-2.65), and lack of social support (OR = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.21-2.54) as independent risk factors affecting postoperative functional recovery. Analysis of neuroendocrine and immune indicators revealed elevated stress hormone levels and abnormal expression of inflammatory factors in the study group, which may represent important mechanisms through which anxiety affects postoperative rehabilitation. CONCLUSION Preoperative anxiety is a significant factor influencing functional recovery following TKA. It interferes with the rehabilitation process through multiple pathways, including impacts on patients' self-care behaviors, sleep quality, endocrine function, and immune responses.

Quantitative CT assessment of structural and functional response to omalizumab in severe allergic asthma: a prospective real-world study.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD) but its neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. A mechanistic understanding requires precise characterization of functional responses to various stimulation conditions within the same individual. Here we use 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible DBS and precision imaging to collect extensive data from 14 patients with PD who received DBS. Across five timepoints spanning 1 year, each patient underwent 11.7 hours of functional MRI (fMRI) under seven stimulation conditions (30-172 min per session), 2.2 hours of structural MRI (26 min per session), 1.3 hours of diffusion-weighted MRI (16 min per session) and neurological assessments. Imaging data were also collected from 27 healthy participants. DBS normalizes connectivity in the somatocognitive action network and evokes differential responses in two distinct neurocircuits: the primary motor and globus pallidus circuits. Target cortical functional connectivity predicts clinical outcomes. This densely sampled dataset provides reliable, individually specific functional measures and is shared with the community to accelerate research into DBS mechanisms and improve personalized treatment strategies.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) arises from dysregulated interactions between nutrient delivery, adipose tissue lipid handling and liver lipid metabolism, which collectively coalesce to drive inflammatory signalling leading to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and fibrosis. Recent clinical success of incretin- and glucagon-based therapies in both diabetes and obesity has intensified interest into how these hormonal pathways modify liver disease progression. In this review, we integrate preclinical and clinical data to examine how glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon engage key pathogenic nodes, including the gut-liver and adipose-liver axes, hepatic lipid synthesis and oxidation, mitochondrial function and nonparenchymal inflammatory responses. GLP-1-based therapies consistently improve steatosis and steatohepatitis through reductions in nutrient flux to the liver, improved adipose tissue insulin sensitivity and weight-independent anti-inflammatory effects, despite limited direct action in hepatocytes. GIP signalling appears to modulate adipose tissue lipid handling and expandability, thereby limiting fatty acid spillover to the liver, although its role in hepatic inflammation remains incompletely defined. In contrast, glucagon receptor activation directly targets hepatocytes to enhance oxidative metabolism and reduce hepatocellular stress. Across studies, improvements in fibrosis appear secondary to sustained reductions in metabolic and inflammatory injury suggesting the addition of anti-fibrotic combination therapies may exert further benefits. Looking ahead, a key challenge will be defining how these hormonal pathways interact within distinct metabolic states and how this greater mechanistic understanding can be leveraged to rationally combine therapies and expand the proportion of patients who respond across the MASLD spectrum.

Increasing evidence for enhanced cognitive flexibility following early-life caregiving unpredictability indicates that developmental adaptations can occur during early sensitive periods of infant development. However, existing research does not clarify the timing of the developmental window during which unpredictability can shape cognitive outcomes. This study tested the developmental uniqueness of early life versus adolescence to ask whether adaptations can also occur related to unpredictability that occurs in adolescence. Using a longitudinal design that uncouples these developmental periods in a sample enriched for early caregiving unpredictability (N = 197, 105 female, Mage = 9.53 years at Visit 1), cognitive flexibility was assessed across two separate visits, along with two other dimensions of executive function (response inhibition and attentional control). As has been previously observed with early unpredictability, unpredictable caregiving in adolescence was associated with improvements in cognitive flexibility independently from early unpredictability. Findings suggest that adaptations are not limited to early life; they may also occur in adolescence, thereby extending the window of human developmental adaptability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

This paper investigates a discrete-time modified Leslie-Gower prey-predator model featuring the Beddington-DeAngelis functional response. The primary aim is to delve into the intricate dynamics of this model. Initially, we assess the existence and local stability of the model’s fixed points. Subsequently, we employ bifurcation theory and the normal form theorem to scrutinize the bifurcation behaviors of the model. Our research uncovers several co-dimension two bifurcations, such as 1:2 resonance, 1:3 resonance, and 1:4 resonance. Numerical simulations are performed to support the theoretical findings.

Taxonomic classification alone fails to capture the ecological and functional diversity of vaginal microbiomes, particularly those dominated by Gardnerella species. Using the expanded VIRGO2 gene catalog, we developed the vaginal inference of subspecies and typing algorithm (VISTA), a novel ortholog-based framework that defined metagenomic subspecies and 25 metagenomic community state types (mgCSTs), including six distinct Gardnerella-dominated profiles. The mgCSTs exhibit marked differences in species composition, functional gene content, transcriptional activity, and host immune responses. These findings reveal that Gardnerella predominance does not uniformly equate to dysbiosis and underscore the importance of functional context in shaping host-microbiome interactions. VISTA provides scalable classifiers and an interactive application to support mechanistic studies of vaginal microbiome function and its implications for reproductive health.IMPORTANCEThe vaginal microbiome plays a central role in reproductive and gynecologic health, yet its functional diversity and ecological organization remain poorly understood. Traditional 16S rRNA approaches provide only a partial view of this complexity, overlooking the strain-level variation that often determines microbial behavior and host outcomes. By applying metagenomic sequencing and scalable computational modeling, we developed the vaginal inference of subspecies and typing algorithm, a framework that defines gene-based subspecies and community state types across diverse populations. These classifications reveal new insights into the genomic and ecological foundations of vaginal community structure and offer a standardized resource for comparative and translational microbiome research. This work establishes the foundation for functionally informed diagnostics and precision interventions targeting women's reproductive health.

Predatory mites transitioning from mass-rearing to field release undergo critical prey switching from rearing hosts to target pests. Understanding temporal adaptation of predatory capacity postswitching is essential for biological control optimization. This study examines how prey switching duration affects predatory performance in Neoseiulus bicaudus Wainstein (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) following from Tyrophagus putrescentiae Schrank (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) to Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov et Nikolskii (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae). The predatory adaptation of female N. bicaudus was assessed during 0 to 7 days postprey switching through integrated approaches: Y-tube olfactometry quantified olfactory responses to T. turkestani, predatory choice tests evaluated feeding preference shifts, Holling type II functional response modeling analyzed predation capacity changes, and field releases on soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. validated biological control efficacy against T. turkestani. Prey switching enhanced N. bicaudus adaptation to T. turkestani. Olfactory preference increased steadily, with significant shifts by Day 3, peaking at 73.33% by Day 6. Feeding preference shifted from avoidance (D = -0.39, D: prey selectivity index) to strong attraction (D = 0.94), stabilizing >0.9 after Day 4. Though functional response remained Holling Type II, key parameters optimized at Day 4: minimal handling time (Th = 0.04 days), daily maximum predation (1/Th = 26.25), and predation capacity (a/Th = 21.18, where a is attack rate). Field validation showed that the suppressive effect of N. bicaudus (which had experienced prey-switching) on T. turkestani could be enhanced by up to 73.44%. Neoseiulus bicaudus progressively enhances olfactory preference, feeding preference, and predatory capacity toward target prey following prey switching. Implementing this preadaptive strategy significantly improves the mite's field control efficacy against spider mites.

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K): Mechanisms and pharmacological significance in metabolic diseases.

A vaccine that prevents Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections (SA-SSTIs) would have a major impact on public health. A two-part randomized study began with a phase 1, first-in-human, dose-escalation that tested the safety of the five-antigen S. aureus vaccine (SA5Ag), half or full antigen doses, unadjuvanted or with AS01E adjuvant, in 32 healthy volunteers aged 18-50 years. In the phase 2, proof-of-principle part, 194 participants aged 18-64 years with recent SA-SSTI were administered two full doses of AS01E-adjuvanted SA5Ag (SA5Ag-Adj) or placebo, 2 months apart, and followed for 12 months. Vaccine safety (primary objective), vaccine efficacy (VE; secondary/tertiary objectives), and immunogenicity (tertiary objectives) were evaluated. Following a positive safety evaluation in phase 1, participants were enrolled into phase 2 until predefined futility criteria were met at the interim efficacy analysis. Twelve months post-dose 2, SA5Ag-Adj showed no efficacy in preventing recurrent SA-SSTIs (VE: -38.1% [95% confidence interval -245.8, 40.9]), despite inducing robust functional immune responses against three (CP5, CP8, Hla) of the five vaccine antigens. Solicited local adverse events (AEs) were more frequent in the SA5Ag-Adj versus placebo group but were mostly mild or moderate in intensity. Frequencies of medically-attended AEs and serious AEs were similar across groups. In participants with recent history of SA-SSTI, SA5Ag-Adj vaccine had an acceptable safety profile, induced robust functional immune responses against CP5, CP8, and Hla antigens, but did not reduce the rate of recurrent SA-SSTIs at 12 months from last dose. NCT04420221.

Endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact sites (ER-PM CS) are central hubs that coordinate lipid metabolism, membrane remodelling, calcium signalling and stress responses in plant cells. This review summarizes current knowledge on the molecular architecture and functions of ER-PM CS, with emphasis on the three tether families (synaptotagmins/SYTs, multiple-C2-domain and transmembrane region proteins/MCTPs, and VAMP-associated protein 27/VAP27 proteins) and the lipid-transfer proteins (SMP-domain proteins and oxysterol-binding protein-related/ORPs) described to date. SYTs and MCTPs use C2 domains to read PM phosphoinositides and Ca2+ signals to dynamically modulate tethering, while VAP27s scaffold multimeric complexes via MSP-FFAT interactions and link the ER to the cytoskeleton. Lipid transfer at ER-PM CS sustain the phosphatidylinositol (PI) cycle and prevents accumulation of cone-shaped lipids such as diacylglycerol (DAG) at the PM. In plants, SYT1/SYT3 form a module with diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) to clear DAG from the PM and to channel DAG into metabolism. ORP family members function as PI/PS (and sterol) exchangers and integrate contact-site lipid exchange with signalling and autophagy. ER-PM CS also intersect with endocytosis, autophagosome biogenesis, plasmodesmata function and unfolded protein response signalling, underlining their multi-functional roles in cellular homeostasis and stress adaptation.

Edge formation through moderate retention forestry creates transitional zones that shape environmental gradients and influence arthropod behavior. We examined fine-scale movement dynamics of ground-dwelling arthropods, quantified as orientation-specific activity along and across hard forest edges, in temperate lowland forests of Central Europe. The study focused on buffer-zone stands transitioning toward oak dominance. Drift-fence pitfall traps were placed across retention clearcuts, ecotones, and forest interiors, between April and October 2023. In total, 8643 individuals from 188 species were recorded and classified into five functional groups: predators, herbivores, omnivores, saproxylics, and detritivores. Arthropod activity varied among habitats, with along-edge orientation consistently exceeding across-edge orientation. This pattern is consistent with microclimatic gradients and behavioral orientation cues. Seasonal trends included elevated detritivore activity in the "along" orientation within ecotones during spring, suggesting corridor-like use of transitional habitats, and reduced across-orientation activity of omnivores in forest interiors during summer, consistent with seasonal changes in habitat use. Saproxylics were most active in the "along" orientation within forest interiors during autumn, reflecting their specialization for canopy-closed forests. Ordination analysis and species-level response models identified distinct movement dynamics among functional groups. Detritivores oriented along edges, whereas omnivores were associated with across-oriented activity, particularly outside ecotones. These findings highlight forest edge structure as a key ecological boundary shaping orientation-specific arthropod activity and provide a functional context for interpreting behavioral responses to edge environments. Incorporating functional group responses into retention forestry can support the development of more connected and resilient forest landscapes.