Oats are valuable for global food and forage security due to their excellent nutrition and polyploidy. Cultivated oats (Avena sativa L.) are categorized into hulled and naked types based on lemma morphology, and naked oats possess superior processing and nutritional quality. Here, we decipher the genetic architecture of 666 globally collected oat accessions via population structure, genetic diversity and gene flow analyses, revealing genetic admixture and lineage differentiation driven by geographic isolation and divergent selection. Population evolutionary analyses indicate that Chinese naked oat landraces diverge from the Central and Eastern Eurasian hulled oats 6124 generations ago and undergo secondary domestication in North China under strong artificial selection. Multi-environment phenotyping of 19 traits from 2010 to 2021 reveals that hulled oats outperform in grain size and yield, while naked oats have higher crude protein (+25.5%) and crude fat (+16.9%). Genome-wide scans identify 883 directional selection genes related to nutrient metabolism, whereas balancing selection on carbon metabolism genes restricts yield potential. Furthermore, integrated GWAS identify three favorable haplotypes associated with favorable agronomic and quality traits, providing key genetic resources for oat molecular breeding.
The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a long-lived mammal with resistance to cancer and hypoxia, suggesting the evolution of robust proteostasis networks. The ribosome, central for protein synthesis, is key to cellular stress responses and has an unusual feature: the 28S rRNA split; however, the details of its organization remain unknown. Here, we present high-resolution cryo-EM structures of the naked mole-rat 80S ribosome in four states of the elongation cycle. The structures reveal a conserved overall architecture and rRNA modification landscape compared to other mammals, and provide an atomic-level view of the distinct break in the 28S rRNA. This cleavage event, located in the D6 expansion segment, is structurally stabilized by a network of interactions with surrounding ribosomal proteins, maintaining the integrity of the large subunit. Our comparative analysis revealed that this compensatory network preserves a canonical architecture that is nearly indistinguishable from intact mouse and human ribosomes. These findings resolve the structural basis of this distinct cleavage, showing that it is a stable, integrated feature whose function is likely linked to more subtle regulatory mechanisms, rather than inducing major structural rearrangements.
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and platelets might be collected simultaneously during liquid biopsy; however, their interaction in the form of platelet-covered CTCs (pcCTCs) remains only partially understood. In this study, we aimed to detect and characterize pcCTCs using single-cell data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to compare their transcriptomic profiles with naked CTCs and platelets. We analyzed 22 samples (10 from breast cancer patients and 12 from ovarian cancer patients) and 7 controls (3 non-malignant samples and 4 healthy donors) to identify candidate CTCs and pcCTCs. We identified 12 candidate CTCs: 5 naked CTCs and 7 pcCTCs in 5 patients in total. We next examined genes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, extracellular matrix organization, and platelet activation, signaling, and aggregation. These pathways were found to be upregulated in pcCTCs exhibiting the highest platelet-associated signal. We computed scores for epithelial and mesenchymal CTC phenotypes, platelet-related signatures, and gene sets associated with ovarian and breast cancer CTCs. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that platelet cloaking significantly influences genes connected with CTCs survival in the bloodstream and metastatic progression.
Despite the success of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, they still face challenges with high costs, complex manufacturing, off-target biodistribution, and systemic reactogenicity stemming from their inflammatory carriers: lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). While "naked" RNA delivery could in principle solve these issues, studies have suggested that it is infeasible due to rapid degradation by RNases and poor cellular entry, thereby necessitating formulations that enhance intracellular delivery and RNA stability. Now, we challenge this paradigm by showing that a simple and inexpensive (<$1), lighter-derived electroporator with microneedle electrodes (Piezopen) can augment gene expression and immunogenicity to naked mRNA leading to comparable responses to LNPs at low doses. We achieve robust responses in the absence of systemic inflammation and reactogenicity using skin-targeted delivery, administer diverse construct types (i.e., mRNA, self-amplifying RNA (saRNA), circular RNA (circRNA)), and demonstrate cross-species validation in live human skin to derisk subsequent clinical application. Our results introduce Piezopen as an inexpensive, well-tolerated, and efficacious alternative to LNPs for mRNA vaccine delivery, designed to facilitate routine vaccinations and pandemic response.
A new probe, Rh-Ph-Rh, featuring two rhodamine groups attached to a phenyl ring, was developed. This hybrid compound serves multiple purposes: it turns on with a strong fluorescent signal in the presence of aluminum ions (Al3+) and can detect them at concentrations as low as 358 nM. When both Al3+ and cyanide ions (CN⁻) are present, fluorescence is quenched, enabling sensitive detection of CN¯ (619 nM). Beyond sensing, Rh-Ph-Rh can act as a molecular "memory" unit and displays notable electrical properties. Practical applications include rapid detection of Al3+ and CN⁻ ions using filter paper strips and smartphone-based RGB colorimetric analysis. In biological assays using MCF-7 cancer cells, Rh-Ph-Rh exhibited anticancer effects that increased with higher doses (IC50 = 31.357 µg/mL), enabling fluorescence-based imaging of aluminum ions within cells. Tests in live Daphnia magna (water fleas) confirmed that a visible green glow could selectively identify Al3+. Taken together, these results suggest that Rh-Ph-Rh could be a valuable tool for environmental monitoring, biological imaging, and cancer treatment and diagnosis.
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Gymnocypris przewalskii is an endemic migratory fish in the high-altitude, saline-alkaline Lake Qinghai. This study investigated whether L-serine (Ser) acts as a chemical cue guiding its migration. Water analysis revealed significantly higher concentrations of Ser in migratory rivers than in the lake, where phenylalanine (Phe) dominated. In behavioral experiments, G. przewalskii exhibited a significant preference for Ser-enriched water during the daytime (10:00, 15:00, 18:00), spending 63% to 74% of the time in the Ser chamber, while their preference for Ser diminished at night (21:00), where the time spent in the Ser chamber was only 34%. Additionally, G. przewalskii showed significantly lower instantaneous swimming speeds and reduced turning frequencies in the Ser-enriched water compared to the control group, indicating a more stable behavioral pattern. Furthermore, continuous monitoring revealed that the migration frequency of G. przewalskii during the daytime was significantly higher than at night, suggesting that light conditions may interact with chemical cues to regulate their migratory behavior. This study provides evidence of significant differences in the amino acid composition between the lake water and the migratory rivers of Lake Qinghai, as well as G. przewalskii's preference for Ser in the migratory rivers. It also highlights the distinct diel rhythmicity in their migratory behavior, offering valuable scientific insights for understanding the adaptive mechanisms of saline-alkaline fish species. These findings also have important implications for the conservation of the Lake Qinghai ecosystem.
Egg quality and nutritional composition may vary among thermotolerant chicken genotypes reared under hot-climate conditions, with potential implications for nutritional value and climate-resilient poultry production. This study compared egg morphometric traits, amino acid composition, yolk fatty acid profile, and mineral content in Fayoumi, Naked Neck, and Frizzled laying hens maintained under the same general feeding and management conditions during the summer period. Naked Neck hens produced the heaviest eggs (55.29 ± 4.11 g) compared with Frizzled (50.18 ± 3.71 g) and Fayoumi hens (48.92 ± 3.85 g), and also showed the highest albumen height (5.81 ± 0.14 mm) and Haugh unit (83.39 ± 1.55). Total protein content ranged from 12.80 ± 0.60 to 13.28 ± 0.11 g/100 g edible portion, whereas individual amino acids displayed clearer variation among genotypes. Fayoumi eggs showed the highest methionine concentration (320.40 ± 20.10 mg/100 g dry matter), Naked Neck eggs the highest leucine level (636.27 ± 82.93 mg/100 g dry matter), and Frizzled eggs the highest histidine content (211.55 ± 6.98 mg/100 g dry matter). Yolk lipid composition also differed among groups: Fayoumi eggs had the highest total lipid (8.92% ± 0.64%) and PUFA proportions (19.10% ± 0.95%), Naked Neck eggs showed the highest MUFA (49.61% ± 1.55%) and total ω3 contents (3.62% ± 0.16%), including the highest DHA level (1.26% ± 0.05%), whereas Frizzled eggs exhibited the lowest ω6/ω3 ratio (3.76 ± 1.48). Mineral composition was more conserved, with sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium remaining comparable across genotypes, whereas iron content differed significantly and was highest in Naked Neck eggs (1.30 ± 0.19 mg/egg) compared with Fayoumi (1.24 ± 0.15 mg/egg) and Frizzled eggs (1.10 ± 0.08 mg/egg). The three genotypes exhibited distinct compositional profiles in the egg matrix, involving morphometric traits, amino acid distribution, lipid fractions, and iron deposition under the present experimental conditions.
This study presents a colorimetric sensor for the rapid visual detection of highly toxic cyanide ions (CN-) utilizing poly-(TCDA) assemblies and poly-(TCDA)/Zn2+/ZnO nanocomposites. The pristine polydiacetylene (PDA) and nanocomposites exhibit a distinct naked-eye observable color transition from a non-fluorescent blue phase to a highly fluorescent red phase upon exposure to CN-. The incorporation of 0.5 wt % ZnO into the nanocomposites yielded optimal sensing performance, demonstrating a more rapid colorimetric response than pure PDA or nanocomposites with higher ZnO concentrations. The color change was visible to the naked eye when the RSC exceeded 50%, with a limit of detection for cyanide of 0.6 mM. The spectroscopic and structural characterizations reveal that CN- intercalates into the PDA crystal, interacting with the carboxylate headgroups and inducing conformational changes in both the conjugated polymer backbone and the alkyl side chains. Furthermore, the fabrication of poly-(TCDA)-based hydrogel beads, particularly those with 0% and 0.5% ZnO, was successfully demonstrated as a practical platform for effective naked-eye CN- detection.
To observe the effects of fire needling with "stomach disease prescription" on inflammatory factors and intestinal flora in rats with gastric ulcer (GU) of spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, and to explore the possible mechanism of fire needling with "stomach disease prescription" in treating GU of spleen-stomach deficiency-cold. Ten out of 34 SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly selected as the blank group, and the remaining 24 rats were used to establish a GU model of spleen-stomach deficiency-cold by the combined method of "4 ℃ vinegar+absolute ethanol". Twenty successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into a model group and a fire needle group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the fire needle group received rapid fire-needle puncture at the acupoints of "stomach disease prescription" ("Zhongwan" [CV12], bilateral "Neiguan" [PC6], and "Zusanli" [ST36]), without needle retention, once every other day, with 5 treatments as one course, for a total of 3 courses. General conditions and body weight of rats in each group were compared. Gastric tissue morphology was observed by naked eye and HE staining, and the gastric mucosal injury index was calculated. ELISA was used to detect serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in rats. 16S rDNA sequencing was used to analyze the structure and composition of intestinal flora. (1) Macroscopic and pathological findings: Compared with the blank group, the rats in the model group showed typical deficiency-cold symptoms, such as mental fatigue and withered hair, and body weight was decreased (P<0.01); spot-like hemorrhagic lesions were observed on the gastric mucosa by naked eye, and HE staining showed gastric mucosal epithelial defects with extensive inflammatory cell infiltration; the gastric mucosal injury index was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the general condition of rats in the fire needle group improved and body weight was increased (P<0.01); only a small number of petechiae were observed on the gastric mucosa by naked eye, and HE staining showed orderly arrangement of gastric mucosal epithelial cells with reduced inflammatory cell infiltration; the gastric mucosal injury index was decreased (P<0.01). (2) Inflammatory regulation: Compared with the blank group, serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the model group were increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the fire needle group were decreased (P<0.01). (3) Flora regulation: Compared with the blank group, the Chao1 index, Shannon index, and Simpson index (1-D) of intestinal flora in the model group were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi was decreased (P<0.05), while the relative abundance of Firmicutes was increased (P<0.05); the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio increased, and pathways related to xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism, specific types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine and metabolic diseases, and others were relatively enriched. Compared with the model group, the Chao1 index, Shannon index, and Simpson index (1-D) of intestinal flora in the fire needle group were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi was increased (P<0.05), while the relative abundance of Firmicutes was decreased (P<0.05); the F/B ratio decreased, and pathways related to cardiovascular diseases, nucleotide metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and the excretory system were enriched. Fire needling with "stomach disease prescription" may intervene in GU of spleen-stomach deficiency-cold by inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors, correcting metabolic disorders, and restoring the balance of intestinal flora. 目的：观察火针“胃病方”对脾胃虚寒型胃溃疡（GU）大鼠炎性因子及肠道菌群的影响，探究火针“胃病方”治疗脾胃虚寒型GU的可能作用机制。 方法：从34只SPF级雄性SD大鼠中随机选取10只作为空白组，剩余24只大鼠采用“4 ℃食醋+无水乙醇”复合法构建脾胃虚寒型GU模型。将造模成功的20只大鼠随机分为模型组和火针组，每组10只。火针组采用火针速刺“胃病方”腧穴（“中脘”、双侧内关”“足三里”），不留针，隔日1次，5次为一疗程，共干预3个疗程。比较各组大鼠一般情况、体质量；通过肉眼及HE染色观察大鼠胃组织形态，并计算胃黏膜损伤指数；ELISA法检测大鼠血清白细胞介素（IL）-6、IL-1β、肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α含量；采用16S rDNA测序分析肠道菌群结构及组成。 结果：①宏观与病理：与空白组比较，模型组大鼠出现精神萎靡、毛发枯槁等典型虚寒证候，体质量降低（P<0.01）；胃黏膜肉眼见斑点状出血灶，HE染色示胃黏膜上皮缺损伴大量炎性细胞浸润；胃黏膜损伤指数升高（P<0.01）。与模型组比较，火针组大鼠一般情况改善、体质量升高(P<0.01)；胃黏膜肉眼仅见少量点状瘀斑，HE染色示胃黏膜上皮细胞排列整齐伴炎性细胞浸润减轻；胃黏膜损伤指数降低（P<0.01）。②炎症调控：与空白组比较，模型组大鼠血清IL-6、IL-1β、TNF-α含量升高（P<0.01）；与模型组比较，火针组大鼠血清IL-6、IL-1β、TNF-α含量降低（P<0.01）。③菌群调节：与空白组比较，模型组大鼠肠道菌群Chao1指数、Shannon指数和Simpson指数（1-D）降低（P<0.01，P<0.05），拟杆菌门、变形菌门、绿弯菌门相对丰度降低（P<0.05），厚壁菌门相对丰度升高（P<0.05），厚壁菌门/拟杆菌门比值（F/B）升高，在外源物质生物降解与代谢、特定类型癌症、心血管疾病、内分泌与代谢疾病等通路相对富集；与模型组比较，火针组大鼠肠道菌群Chao1指数、Shannon指数和Simpson指数（1-D）升高（P<0.05，P<0.01），拟杆菌门、变形菌门、绿弯菌门相对丰度升高（P<0.05），厚壁菌门相对丰度降低（P<0.05），F/B降低，在心血管疾病、核苷酸代谢、氨基酸代谢、能量代谢和排泄系统等通路富集。 结论：火针“胃病方”干预脾胃虚寒型GU可能是通过抑制炎性因子释放、纠正代谢紊乱、恢复肠道菌群平衡实现的。.
Rapid and accurate assessment of senescence in aging marginal donor livers is critically important for liver transplantation, yet remains analytically challenging in clinical practice. Herein, we report CyC, a liver-targeted triple-modal molecular probe that integrates naked-eye colorimetric sensing with near-infrared fluorescence/photoacoustic (NIRF/PA) imaging for rapid evaluation of hepatic senescence. Upon activation by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (β-Gal), CyC produces a turn-on NIRF/PA response accompanied by a distinct blue-to-green color change visible to the naked eye. The probe exhibits high sensitivity and specificity for β-Gal, efficient liver enrichment, and strong signal contrast in senescent cells and aged mouse liver tissues. When applied to small fragments of clinical human liver samples via simple ex vivo immersion, CyC readily detects β-Gal activity. This platform integrates molecular imaging with visual sensing, offering a practical tool for rapid senescence assessment in aging marginal donor liver evaluation. By enabling immediate, instrument-free visual feedback alongside quantitative imaging, CyC has the potential to streamline intraoperative decision-making, reduce unnecessary graft discard, and ultimately expand the safe use of marginal donor livers in transplantation.
Eusociality is exceptionally rare in mammals, and its proximate mechanisms remain poorly understood. Naked mole-rats provide a striking example, with reproduction restricted to a single queen, while all other females remain infertile1. Here we identify a chemical signal in queens that can regulate this reproductive hierarchy. Isopropyl myristate is a low-volatility ester that is enriched in queens and nearly absent from non-breeding animals. Isopropyl myristate is detected by peripheral and central olfactory neurons and elicits avoidance in high-ranking animals. Exposure alters levels of prolactin and progesterone in non-breeders to suppress reproduction. Daily addition of isopropyl myristate to a queenless colony prevented queen succession, whereas withdrawal triggered aggression and reproductive competition. Isopropyl myristate was also detected in breeding females of several Fukomys mole-rat species, but reaches higher levels in naked mole-rats, paralleling their extreme reproductive skew. These findings reveal a chemical cue that can mediate reproductive suppression in a mammal, linking insect and mammalian eusociality.
A paper-based fluorometric sensor based on L-cysteine modified CdTe quantum dots (L-Cys-CdTe QDs) was developed for simple, cost-effective, and on-site detection of copper(II) ions (Cu(II)). The sensing platform was integrated with a smartphone-based colorimetric application, enabling automated sample filtration, pretreatment, and sequential fluorometric detection of Cu(II) concentrations. The L-Cys-CdTe QDs were pre-deposited onto designated triplicate sensing zones patterned on a paper substrate. In the presence of Cu(II), a color change occurs due to the quenching of L-Cys-CdTe QDs, transitioning from yellow to colorless. This change could be easily observed under UV-black light with the naked eye and quantitatively analyzed using a smartphone camera coupled with a colorimetric application. The sensor exhibited a detection range of 0.005-7.5 ppm for water samples and 0.025-7.5 ppm for synthetic urine samples. The limits of detection (LOD) were 0.005 ppm and 0.025 ppm by the naked eye and 0.003 ppm and 0.016 ppm using smartphone analysis for water and synthetic urine, respectively. The proposed platform was successfully applied to environmental water samples and synthetic urine as a model biological matrix, and the results showed good agreement with those obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) (t-test, p = 0.89). This developed sensor provides a promising tool for on-site monitoring of Cu(II) ions.
Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV), is a widely distributed infection with significant mortality. Diagnosis in resource-limited settings remains challenging. For rapid and convenient diagnosis, we developed a portable rapid diagnosis method that combines Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a technology with immunochromatographic test strips. The SFTSV RNA was amplified by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). The homologous target sequence and single stranded DNA (ssDNA) reporter gene were cleaved by CRISPR/Cas12a in parallel, and ssDNA probes labeled with FAM fluorescein and biotin were captured by an immunochromatographic strip. Finally, the signal on the immunochromatographic strips became visible to the naked eye. Based on CRISPR/Cas12a, a rapid SFTSV detection method was developed, featuring simplicity, rapidity, low cost, and ease of use. The method was applied for the nucleic acid detection of SFTSV in 40 clinical serum samples and compared with RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The new method showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity with a detection agreement rate of 100%. The minimum detection limit of the method was 2.5 copies/μL, and no cross-reactivity with nucleic acids from other common pathogens was observed. Detection can be completed within 80 min, and results are observable with the naked eye. For the analysis of clinical samples, the method exhibits good detection performance and thus provides an attractive option for the nucleic acid detection of SFTSV in point-of-care and resource-limited medical settings.
In this study, a highly sensitive fluorescence temperature sensing strategy accompanied by color change, based on thermal population and non-radiative transition, has been developed. To enhance the temperature sensitivity in high-temperature regions and to observe significant color changes with the naked eye, the fluorescence spectrum based on thermal population and non-radiative transition has been discussed and designed. The co-doped YVO4:Tm3+/Er3+ luminescent material was prepared by the high-temperature solid-phase method. Utilizing the strong absorption of ultraviolet (UV) by the V-O charge transfer band, the material was excited with 310 nm UV light. A significant color change from blue to blue-green and finally to green was achieved in the luminescent material within the temperature range of 450 K. The two fluorescence intensity ratios (FIR) were analyzed. In the high-temperature region, the FIR from the non-thermal coupling levels 1G4 and 2H11/2 satisfy the Boltzmann distribution. The relative sensitivity (Sr) reached its maximum at 593 K, with a maximum value of 1.74% K- 1. Temperature uncertainty was analyzed, and CIE chromaticity coordinates were obtained for various temperatures. This strategy increased the sensitivity by 8.5 times at 593 K compared to the thermal coupling level temperature measurement strategy. A color transition recognizable by the naked eye was achieved within the 450 K range, demonstrating thermal anti-behavior, providing a reference for enhancing relative sensitivity in high-temperature regions.
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-based pesticides are emerging as highly specific and environmentally sustainable crop protection agents. However, their environmental fate remains poorly characterized due to the lack of standardized analytical methods. Here, we developed a quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) workflow for quantifying naked and chitosan-formulated dsRNA in laboratory preparations and agricultural soils. Using a 297-bp dsRNA targeting Leptinotarsa decemlineata actin (dsACTIN), we assessed nuclease treatment, chitosan formulation, and matrix-matched calibration across three soils differing in pH. Nuclease treatment improved assay specificity, achieving a detection limit of 8 × 10-8 ng/L, whereas chitosan formulation decreased analytical sensitivity. Rapid adsorption of dsRNA to soil particles underscored the importance of recovering both soluble and particle-bound fractions. Matrix-matched calibration enabled quantification to 10-3 ng dsRNA/g soil. Repeated applications revealed rapid dissipation of naked dsRNA but enhanced persistence of chitosan-formulated dsRNA. Overall, this study provides a framework for environmental monitoring and risk assessment of dsRNA pesticides.
In view of the widespread application of norfloxacin (NOR) and the potential environmental and health risks posed by its residues, a visual approach for the portable yet efficient detection of NOR was presented by using red-light covalent organic frameworks (COFs) based on benzothiadiazole (BTD) as the linkage center. The aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect of BTD-COFs could be suppressed effectively by precisely designing another monomer's structure to enhance the fluorescence of BTD-COFs. Leveraging the red fluorescence of BTD-COFs and the intrinsic blue emission of NOR, ratiometric fluorescence sensors were constructed, achieving visual detection of NOR. Among these BTD-COFs, the COFBTD-TP can enrich NOR well owing to its appropriate pores and numerous hydroxyl groups, showing best performance for NOR detection with a detection limit of 0.012 μM and a linear range of 0.036-18.08 μM. More importantly, it displayed a distinct and vivid multicolor fluorescence change from red to pink, purple, and finally blue under UV light during NOR detection, enabling visual discrimination by the naked eye. When combined with a smartphone APP, the sensor enabled portable and visual monitoring NOR, exhibiting a detection limit of 0.45 μM and a linear range of 1.35 μM to 30.1 μM. This study not only provides new ideas for designing COFs with red-light emission but also showcases their broad potential applications in environmental monitoring and food safety detection.