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Phosphorus modulates starch granule development and metabolic partitioning in wheat grain: Insights from SGAP proteomics and nutrition and processing quality.

This study investigates how phosphorus (P) levels are associated with carbon-nitrogen metabolism in wheat grains. Optimal P application (105 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) was associated with enhanced pericarp-endosperm coordination, increased carbon allocation to the endosperm, and early B‑type starch granule formation. Starch granule‑associated protein (SGAP) proteomics showed that optimal P upregulated cytoskeletal and starch‑synthesis proteins bound to starch granules in the endosperm, while reducing storage protein degradation‑related SGAPs in the pericarp. These metabolic adjustments were correlated with increased grain‑filling intensity and duration, and were associated with the highest theoretical grain weight (50.70 mg). Furthermore, optimal P was associated with enrichment of amino acid biosynthesis pathways and with higher levels of essential amino acids (e.g., lysine and threonine by 17.0--26.8%) and an improved essential amino acid profile without altering total protein content. In contrast, excessive P (210 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) was associated with disrupted inter‑tissue coordination but did not simply impair grain filling; instead, HP corresponded to a unique developmental program: it was linked to an early burst of C‑type starch granules (0∼5 µm) at 7 DPA, yet by maturity achieved the highest proportion of large A‑type granules (56.8%) and the highest total starch content (63.5%), together with elevated endosperm phosphorus at 14 DPA and enrichment of spliceosome‑related pathways. HP also showed higher levels of several functional amino acids (glutamate, cysteine, histidine, proline) compared to P0. However, HP was associated with a higher gliadin/globulin ratio and did not improve grain yield. These findings suggest that phosphorus supply is associated with grain quality through tissue‑specific metabolic reprogramming, and that precision management-rather than maximized application-warrants consideration for optimizing both yield and processing quality.

Triticum

Quantitative Outcomes for Shared Assessment and Management in Forensic Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Despite leading models of mental health care encouraging user involvement, users in forensic mental health (FMH) report poor involvement given the difficulty in reconciling shared approaches with risk-averse and legally mandated settings. While previous research has demonstrated qualitative benefits to shared approaches in FMH and has led to a proliferation of self-rated assessment tools, there remains to quantify agreement on self-rated tools and to clarify the impact of shared approaches on care. This meta-analysis examines (1) the correlation between clinician and user ratings, (2) the predictive validity of self-ratings for violence, and (3) the effects of shared risk management on violence and restriction in FMH. Five databases were searched from inception to April 2024, selecting for adult FMH inpatients, shared risk assessment, needs assessment or violence management as interventions, and quantitative outcomes (correlation, agreement, predictive validity, and effect on violence or restriction rates). Fifteen quantitative evaluations were retained. One of three planned meta-analyses could be conducted, with seven records providing paired clinician-user t-tests. Eleven more records provided clinical recommendations on operationalizing shared approaches. Random-effects meta-analysis showed a significant and large paired standard difference of .95 (95% CI = [.49,1.42]) across tools, with significant differences in DUNDRUM-3, DUNDRUM-4, and CANFOR sub-models. While acknowledging between-study heterogeneity, results substantiate quantitative differences where clinicians generally rate more needs and lesser progress than users across tools, showing that self-ratings can and should be used to broach collaborative discussions on needs and progress during FMH treatment. There remains an evidence gap for quantitative benefits in care outcomes and a need to standardize agreement measures for future comparisons and clinical sub-group analyses.

Humans

A streamlined workflow for high throughput metaproteomic analysis of the rumen microbiome.

Metaproteomics can provide direct functional insights into complex microbial communities, yet its application in rumen research remains limited due to labor-intensive and low-throughput sample preparation workflows before the MS analysis. This work aimed to develop and characterize a streamlined, high throughput metaproteomic workflow optimized for rumen samples. Key steps, including microbial cell extraction, cell lysis, protein digestion, and LC-MS/MS acquisition, were systematically assessed and optimized to reduce hands-on time while maintaining deep proteome coverage. The optimized workflow integrates a minimized cell extraction protocol using 0.5 g starting material and in-solution tryptic digestion. Application of the final workflow to 72 samples from in vitro fermentation revealed that biological variability between inocula dominated technical variability, which remained moderate (median CV of 21-24% across batches). Overall, the optimized workflow supports robust taxonomic and functional characterization of the rumen microbiome with improved scalability. These advances provide a foundation for applying metaproteomics to larger experimental designs, including nutritional trials and cohort studies, thereby enabling broader functional interrogation of rumen microbial ecosystems. SIGNIFICANCE: This study addresses current limitations in the application of metaproteomics to rumen microbiome research by developing a streamlined and scalable sample preparation workflow. By optimizing key steps and reducing sample input while maintaining reproducibility and proteome coverage, this work enables more efficient processing of larger sample sets. These advances support the broader use of metaproteomics in rumen studies and facilitate functional investigations relevant to animal nutrition and sustainable livestock production.

Animals

Exploratory proteomic and metabolomic profiling of pleural effusions identifies histone H4 and alanine as promising complementary markers for pleural tuberculosis.

The diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis (Pl-TB) remains challenging. Histopathological analysis and pathogen detection in pleural biopsies are informative but limited. We investigated differentially expressed proteins and metabolites in pleural effusions from patients with Pl-TB, malignancies, and other pathologies. A proteomic analysis of pooled pleural effusions identified 45 proteins exclusively detected or upregulated in Pl-TB samples, many linked to infectious processes. Conversely, 18 proteins were uniquely found or upregulated in malignant pleural effusions, mainly associated with detoxification and hemostasis. To validate these findings, we employed targeted proteomics in individual samples. Eight proteins were validated: S100-A9, histone H4, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2, fibrinogen beta chain, ficolin-3, immunoglobulin heavy constant alpha 1, sulfhydryl oxidase 1, and histidine-rich glycoprotein. Additionally, NMR-based metabolomics identified 13 metabolites with differential abundance between Pl-TB and non-TB samples. Notably, N-acetyl-glycoprotein and the branched-chain amino acids, alanine and lysine differed between groups. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses revealed distinct molecular profiles between Pl-TB and non-TB patients, despite intra-group variability. To address this, we applied classification models. Histone H4 and alanine consistently emerged as discriminative features. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the molecular landscape of Pl-TB. The combined quantification of proteins and metabolites may improve differential diagnosis, although should be further validated in larger, independent cohorts before clinical application.

Humans

Development of the zebrafish foveal analogue: a quantitative atlas of high-acuity zone growth and retinal regionalisation.

The vertebrate retina contains specialised regions for high-acuity vision, exemplified by the human fovea and its zebrafish analogue, the high-acuity zone (HAZ). Despite the widespread use of zebrafish to model retinal disease, a stage-resolved quantitative reference describing normal eye, photoreceptor layer (PRL) and lens growth has been lacking. Here, we apply contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to construct the first three-dimensional micro-CT normative atlas of wild-type zebrafish eye development across five larval stages [3, 5, 7, 10 and 18 days post-fertilisation (dpf)], mapping circumferential PRL thickness, eye and lens morphology, and compartment growth rates. Regional PRL thickening within the temporo-ventral region of the expected HAZ emerged by 5 dpf and was sustained by a localised redistribution of growth, persisting and extending towards the optic nerve through 18 dpf. The PRL, lens and eye grew through four phases, alternating between disproportionate PRL expansion and coordinated growth, while the eye remodelled from a nasal-dominant to a temporo-ventral-dominant form. This regional specialisation was protracted relative to gross ocular growth and could proceed independently of it, paralleling the extended postnatal maturation of the human fovea. This atlas provides a quantitative baseline for distinguishing disease-induced changes from normal variation, supporting zebrafish models of foveal hypoplasia and related disorders.

Animals

Diversification of yeast proteins as an approach for the development of sustainable food systems.

Despite growing trend in sustainable protein sources, yeast proteins have mainly been explored as a source of bioactive peptides using a monospecies and general protein approach. The contribution of highly abundant protein fractions in the yeast proteome to peptide formation remains insufficiently investigated, limiting a comprehensive understanding of yeast proteins as optimized peptide sources. The current review presents a systematic analysis of yeast proteins as emerging protein sources and evaluates the suitability of high-abundance proteins as bioactive peptide precursors by in silico techniques. Moreover, brewery by-product and single-cell yeast protein approaches are compared in terms of composition and techno-functionality whereas peptide formation mechanisms (in situ and ex situ) and regulatory aspects for food applications are also addressed. Cytoplasmic metabolic proteins, particularly glycolytic enzymes (GAPDH), are identified as highly abundant fractions of the yeast proteome. Proteins associated with cell and organelle membranes also contribute substantially based on cellular localization. These findings imply that such proteins may act as key precursors of yeast-derived bioactive peptides. In silico hydrolysis with Alcalase suggests a tendency toward the generation of short-chain peptides (3-11/14 aa), which may support biological activity. Moreover, peptide profiles appear to vary across yeast species, highlighting the role of species diversity in peptide generation. While single-cell yeast protein allows more controlled production than brewery by-products, nucleic acid content in both may limit applications. Overall, yeast proteins appear to be metabolically adaptable and species-diverse sources for various biological peptides.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The composition of the periostracum in the razor clam Sinonovacula constricta and the mantle's response to sulfide.

The razor clam Sinonovacula constricta inhabits sulfide-rich intertidal sediments and exhibits remarkable tolerance to this toxicant, yet the role of its periostracum in sulfide adaptation remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the composition and structure of the periostracum proteins, and the response of the mantle to sulfide stress. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the periostracum is approximately 10 μm thick and contains 1.43 wt% sulfur, and proteomic analysis further confirmed the presence of organic sulfur (Cys/Met-rich proteins), suggesting its involvement in sulfur deposition. Using LC-MS/MS, we identified 77 high-confidence proteins from the periostracum, which were classified into six functional categories: enzymes, framework proteins, immune-related proteins, calcium ion-related proteins, other proteins, and proteins with unknown functions. Phylogenetic analyses of representative proteins revealed bivalve-specific evolutionary patterns, with several proteins exclusively present in Bivalvia, such as Unknown protein 2 and 7, which possess signal peptides and low-complexity domains. For the sulfide exposure experiment, razor clams were subjected to three Na2S concentrations (0, 10, and 100 μM). qPCR analysis showed that, compared with the control group, Chitin-binding protein 3 and Tyrosinase were significantly upregulated in the mantle, peaking in the 100 μM group at 48 h (5677.84-fold and 157.20-fold, respectively), whereas Collagen and Cadherin 3 were generally suppressed. This study represents one of the most comprehensive proteomic profiles of the razor clam periostracum and highlights the mantle's potential role in sulfide tolerance, offering insights for sulfur-tolerant aquaculture breeding and bioremediation applications.

Animals

Proteomic insights into the immunomodulatory effects of Ca/Sr co-doped sol-gel coatings for titanium implants.

Ionic functionalization of biomaterial coatings has emerged as a powerful strategy to regulate early host responses at the implant interface. However, how combined Ca/Sr incorporation governs the adsorbed proteome and downstream immune signaling remains poorly understood. This study analyses, employing in vitro tests and proteomics, the effect of adding Sr and Ca to Si-based coatings designed to bioactivate Ti implants. Hybrid Si-based coatings were synthesized by the sol-gel route with a fixed Ca content (0.5 wt%) and increasing Sr contents (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 wt%), and their physicochemical properties, ion release kinetics, and hydrolytic stability were characterized. The coatings remained highly crosslinked despite Ca/Sr incorporation, whereas the highest Sr content increased hydrolytic degradation to around 70% after 56 days. Proteomic analysis identified 183 adsorbed proteins, of which 56 were differentially adsorbed on Ca/Sr-coatings, mainly associated with immune and coagulation pathways. In vitro, RAW 264.7 showed increased gene expression of TNF-α and TGF-β; with an enhanced TNF-α secretion by the addition of Ca and Sr. In parallel, MC3T3-E1 indicated that Ca/Sr-coatings were not cytotoxic and did not impair cell proliferation. However, ALP activity was reduced in the co-doped groups, indicating that the immunomodulatory effects induced by Ca/Sr incorporation were not accompanied by enhanced early osteogenic differentiation. The Ca/Sr combination induced alterations in the adsorption of immune-related proteins, which correlated with the in vitro findings. The deeper insight into how Ca/Sr mixtures modulate protein adsorption on biomaterial surfaces may be key to understanding the immunomodulatory capacity of these bioactive cations.

Animals

Inactivation of Aspergillus flavus spores by dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma: Kinetics, physiological properties and proteomic analysis.

A. flavus, as a pathogen, poses a grave threat to both human and livestock health, significantly influencing agricultural production as well. This study aimed to investigate the inactivation effect and mechanism of dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma (DBD-CP) on A. flavus spores. The results exhibited that DBD-CP effectively inactivated A. flavus spores by the Weibull + Tail model. Furthermore, the physiological and proteomic analysis revealed that DBD-CP destructed cell wall and membrane integrity, causing cellular protein leakage and increasing membrane penetration of ROS generated from DBD-CP. Although intracellular ROS was excessively accumulated, the protein levels and activities of SOD and CAT were decreased, indicating that intracellular redox homeostasis was disrupted by DBD-CP. Subsequently, DBD-CP treatment induced cellular protein oxidation and changed protein structures, resulting in unstable protein structures. Meanwhile, protein synthesis and degradation in A. flavus spores were disturbed by inhibiting ribosome biogenesis, initiation process and NEDD8-mediated UPS, which did not compensate for the loss of protein caused by oxidative damage and leakage, leading to A. flavus spore inactivation. Besides, DBD-CP could attenuate A. flavus virulence by downregulating hydrolytic enzymes and CFEM-related proteins. This study provides novel insight into the inactivation mechanism of DBD-CP against A. flavus spores, which establishes a basis for the application of DBD-CP in controlling pathogenic fungi contamination in grains and crops, promoting the development of DBD-CP in food and agricultural decontamination.

Spores, Fungal

Adaptive proteomic remodeling and eNOS upregulation in luminal endothelium and perivascular adipose tissue of patent saphenous vein grafts after CABG.

OBJECTIVE: Long-term patency of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) remains a significant challenge in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The biological factors underlying successful human grafts are poorly understood. We aimed to characterize the structural and molecular features associated with successful graft function. METHODS: Patent and occluded SVG and internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts were obtained from explanted hearts of CABG patients undergoing heart transplantation for end-stage heart failure not attributable to graft failure, along with freshly harvested ITA and SVG controls. Samples underwent histomorphological analysis, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) proteomics. RESULTS: Patent ITA (ITA-P) showed minimal intimal hyperplasia with medial reinforcement, whereas patent SVGs (SVG-P) had organized, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA)-positive myofibroblast-rich neointima. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was markedly upregulated in patent grafts at two sites-the luminal endothelium and adventitial microvessels within perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT)-and lost at both sites in occluded SVG (SVG-O). Adventitial CD31-positive microvessels were significantly increased in patent grafts. Proteomically, ITA-P and SVG-P shared a largely common adaptive proteome enriched in translation, RNA processing, and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, with shared upstream activation of NR4A3, EGFR, and STAT1, and conduit-specific signatures (IGF-1/RUNX2 in ITA-P; RETN/SRC/PTGES in SVG-P). PTGES was strongly expressed in the adventitia of SVG-P. CONCLUSIONS: Patent arterial and venous bypass grafts exhibited a shared adaptive phenotype characterized by dual-site upregulation of eNOS in both the luminal endothelium and the perivascular microvessels/PVAT. In SVG-P, PTGES was co-upregulated alongside eNOS, indicating a mechanistic link between the proteomic and IHC findings. These findings highlight the perivascular compartment as a site of adaptive, eNOS-associated changes in patent vein grafts.

Humans

Quantitative assessment of the fingerprint evidential value using machine learning.

Fingerprints as physical evidence have long supported criminal investigation and adjudication. In practice, however, fingerprint identification relies mainly on examiners' experience. Furthermore, expert opinions tend to be categorical, even though the opinions with the same conclusion could differ substantially in evidential strength. To quantitatively assess fingerprint evidential value, this study proposes a machine learning-based framework as an interpretable decision-support tool. A lightweight residual one-dimensional convolutional neural network was constructed, incorporating channel recalibration and a similarity-driven attention mechanism to learn adaptive contribution weights for different matched minutiae (minutiae for short). Controlled experiments revealed that the predicted evidential value increased with the number of minutiae and was significantly influenced by the quality of minutiae. With 10 minutiae, the mean predicted scores were 4.49, 7.00, and 9.09 for blurred, moderately blurred, and clear minutiae, respectively. Multiple regression analysis indicated that replacing a pair of blurred minutiae with a pair of clear minutiae increased the score by 0.492, whereas replacing it with a pair of moderately blurred minutiae increased the score by only 0.216. By mapping predicted scores to graded levels of evidential strength, the framework contributes to a paradigm shift from categorical expert opinions to graded ones, helping courts evaluate fingerprint evidence more scientifically.

Humans

Combining neuromelanin-sensitive MRI and quantitative susceptibility mapping for enhanced diagnosis and differentiation of parkinson's disease: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Loss of dopaminergic neurones and iron deposition in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) are two major pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). Such changes can be visualised by advanced techniques including neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI) and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). This systematic review investigates the diagnostic performance and methodological development of the integrated use of NM-MRI and QSM in PD. METHODS: The systematic search was performed in four databases (Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science) according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines until July 2026. Bias was assessed using QUADAS-2 and certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS: Seventeen studies with 2228 participants were included. Combined NM-MRI and QSM consistently showed reduced neuromelanin volume/contrast and increased iron deposition in the SNpc of PD patients compared to healthy controls. Multimodal integration yielded a significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy (AUC values 0.86-0.99), and was able to successfully differentiate PD. Recent methodological advances included simultaneous acquisition sequences (e.g. MTC-GRE, STAGE, setMag) and AI-driven automated segmentation, which led to significantly reduced scan times and improved reproducibility. CONCLUSION: The combination of NM-MRI and QSM has a synergistic effect and provides powerful complementary biomarkers for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of PD.

Humans

Construction of precision clinical-proteomics risk model based on machine learning for predicting heart failure in type II diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Heart failure (HF) is a severe complication in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but current risk stratification scores have limited predictive accuracy. We aimed to develop novel prediction tools integrating clinical variables with proteomics to improve risk stratification of hospitalization for HF in T2DM. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we included 2111 UK Biobank participants with T2DM but no prior HF, and profiled 2920 proteins to predict 10-year incident HF hospitalization. Participants were randomly divided into training (70%), tuning (10%), and validation (20%) sets.Three prediction models were developed: a Clinical model based on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, medication use, and laboratory indices; a Protein model based on 40 proteins selected by the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM); and the Clinical OMics and Protein ASSessment for Heart Failure (COMPASS-HF) model, which integrated both clinical variables and the LGBM-selected proteins. Models were evaluated for area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. During follow-up, 168 participants (7.96%) developed incident HF. The COMPASS-HF model showed better discrimination than the Clinical model, with an AUC of 0.897 (95% CI: 0.850-0.945) versus 0.790 (95% CI: 0.723-0.856). It also demonstrated higher sensitivity (0.882; 95% CI: 0.725-0.967) and consistent performance in subgroups. COMPASS-HF effectively stratified risk of hospitalization for HF, with cumulative incidence rates of 31.9% in the high-risk group and 1.2% in the low-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: By combining clinical and proteomic variables, we developed a high-performance HF prediction model for T2DM, enabling precise risk stratification and informing early intervention strategies.

Humans

Unveiling the molecular basis of gonadal development: Multi-omics uncovers sex-related genes and steroid pathways in Sinonovacula constricta.

The razor clam Sinonovacula constricta is an economically important cultured mollusk in China, but the molecular mechanism of its gonadal development and sexual differentiation remains unclear. This study integrated gonadal transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analysis to identify key sex-related molecules. Transcriptome analysis identified 2795 DELs and 6497 DEGs between sexes, including the sex-related genes Fem-1b, Fem-1c, GUCY1B2 and FAT4, as well as a regulatory network of 39 lncRNA-mRNA pairs involving Tektin-4, Ropporin-1, Histone H1, and FoxN4. Proteomic analysis revealed 3217 DEPs: Tektin family members, Ropporin-1 and Tssk proteins were upregulated in the testis, while histone H1 and FAT4 were upregulated in the ovary. Metabolomic analysis detected 409 DEMs, with uridine identified as a potential sex differential marker (upregulated in the ovary), and 23 gonadal development-related DEMs showed sex-specific upregulation. Integrative transcriptome-proteome analysis identified 1543 co-expressed DEGs/DEPs enriched in nucleosome assembly, oxidative phosphorylation, and carbon metabolism, including key sex-related genes AKAP14, Tektin/Tssk families, Histone H1, and FAT4. Transcriptome-metabolome integration identified 32 shared KEGG pathways (e.g., biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, pyrimidine metabolism), while proteome-metabolome integration revealed 5 (positive ion) and 6 (negative ion) co-enriched pathways, with alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation being functionally relevant to gonadal development. Collectively, these results reveal the molecular basis of gonadal development, highlight critical sex-related genes and steroid metabolic pathways, and provide valuable resources for future reproduction and breeding in S. constricta.

Animals

Comprehensive multi-post-translational modifications profiling reveals age-associated remodeling in skeletal muscle.

Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is a major hallmark of aging. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) play essential roles in regulating protein activity and cellular homeostasis; however, how multiple PTMs are remodeled during skeletal muscle aging remains incompletely characterized. Here, we performed comprehensive multi-layered proteomic profiling of skeletal muscle from young (3-month-old) and aged (24-month-old) mice, systematically quantifying the global proteome together with five major PTMs: acetylation, phosphorylation, N-glycosylation, O-glycosylation, and ubiquitination. In total, we identified 5 337 proteins and mapped thousands of PTM sites, generating an integrated atlas of age-associated proteomic and PTM remodeling in skeletal muscle. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed distinct modification-specific patterns: acetylation and phosphorylation were predominantly associated with metabolic and mitochondrial-related pathways; N-glycosylation was enriched in immune- and secretory pathway-related processes; O-glycosylation was associated with muscle contraction-related pathways; and ubiquitination was preferentially linked to cytoskeletal organization in muscle cells. Correlation analyses further uncovered diverse association patterns among different PTMs across protein- and modification-level datasets. Phosphorylation and ubiquitination exhibited consistent positive associations, whereas acetylation and ubiquitination showed both inverse and concordant co-variation patterns across subsets of proteins. Phosphorylation and O-glycosylation displayed heterogeneous association patterns across different proteins, and acetylation and phosphorylation demonstrated positive correlations with distinct age-associated directional changes across protein subsets. Together, these results provide a comprehensive, multi-dimensional view of age-associated remodeling of the skeletal muscle proteome and multiple PTM layers, offering a valuable resource for understanding molecular alterations accompanying muscle aging and sarcopenia.

Animals

A STORM-based protocol for nanoscale imaging and quantitative analysis of protein-associated and phospholipid-associated structures in natural rubber.

Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) enables nanoscale mapping of molecular components beyond the diffraction limit; however, its reproducible implementation in hydrophobic polymer matrices remains challenging because fluorescence-labeling specificity, fluorophore photoswitching, three-dimensional localization, chromatic registration, and quantitative image analysis must be carefully controlled. This protocol presents a standardized experimental workflow for dual-color labeling, astigmatism-based three-dimensional STORM acquisition, and quantitative analysis of protein-associated and phospholipid-associated structures in natural rubber (NR). The workflow covers sample pretreatment, Cy5 NHS ester labeling of protein-associated primary amines, DiI labeling of phospholipid-rich domains, STORM imaging-buffer preparation, three-dimensional single-molecule localization, dual-channel registration, generation of standardized xy projections, aggregate-size analysis, and projected lateral spatial correlation assessment. Reproducibility is supported by defined acquisition and localization criteria, three independent sample preparations with at least five fields of view analyzed per condition, and unlabeled, single-color, dye-only matrix, and processing-associated Cy5 controls. Mean lateral localization precisions of 11.8 ± 2.3 nm for Cy5 and 13.5 ± 2.9 nm for DiI were obtained, while two-dimensional Fourier ring correlation analysis of the xy projections yielded effective lateral image resolutions of approximately 25 and 28 nm, respectively. Image-based particle segmentation and localization-coordinate-based density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) were applied to standardized xy projections as complementary quantitative approaches. Application of the protocol to untreated, centrifuged, and protease-treated NR samples demonstrated treatment-associated changes in the detected abundance and projected size distributions of protein- and phospholipid-associated aggregates, together with a non-monotonic change in their projected lateral spatial correlation. These observations describe alterations in nanoscale organization but do not, by themselves, establish stable protein-phospholipid complex formation. Unlike previous studies that primarily demonstrated the feasibility of STORM imaging in rubber materials, the principal contribution of this work is an end-to-end, step-by-step protocol incorporating defined controls, three-dimensional localization, image-quality metrics, chromatic-registration procedures, and complementary quantitative-analysis pipelines for non-expert users. The workflow may be adaptable to other hydrophobic polymers and soft-material systems after appropriate optimization and validation.

Rubber

A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies of Depression and Loneliness in Black Women with Hypertension in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension disproportionately affects Black women with subsequent complications that can extend beyond physical health. Notably, there is a significant relationship between hypertension, depression, and loneliness, with hypertensive Black women more likely to exhibit symptoms of depression. Since loneliness and social isolation are predictors of depression, recognizing and addressing these interconnected health concerns could improve patient outcomes and quality of life. This systematic review presents a synthesis of findings on depression screening practices, depression symptoms, and loneliness in quantitative studies of Black women with hypertension in the United States. METHODS: Using the EbscoHost platform, a comprehensive literature search for studies measuring depression and loneliness in Black women with hypertension was conducted. The following databases were selected: Medline Complete, CINAHL Complete, APA PsychArticles, and PsychINFO. RESULTS: Twenty-three articles were included; 16 focused on depression, and these studies highlighted a significant burden of depression in this demographic compared to their counterparts. Five studies reported loneliness and its relation to depression and hypertension. Loneliness and social isolation, as independent risk factors, exacerbated symptoms of depression and contributed to the onset and progression of hypertension. Two prior reviews corroborated these findings. Studies have emphasized the role of trust in clinical interactions and the importance of appropriate therapeutic interventions. DISCUSSION: Black women with hypertension are at a heightened risk for symptoms of depression, compounded by feelings of loneliness. Loneliness and depression are linked to physiological stress, contributing to hypertension. These problems are underrecognized and undertreated across populations, and this lack of recognition and treatment contributes to health inequity.

Humans

Three-dimensional source apportionment and quantitative characterization of horizontal and vertical transport fluxes of O3 and its precursors in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China.

Persistent surface ozone (O3) pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region is driven by coupled precursor emissions and multi-scale transport, yet its altitude-dependent transport and source contributions remain insufficiently quantified. Here we integrated the Weather Research and Forecasting and the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions with the Ozone Source Apportionment Technology and a quantitative transport-flux framework to characterize three-dimensional source apportionment and horizontal/vertical fluxes of O3, Volatile Organic Compounds‌ (VOCs), and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) across dynamic meteorological scenarios. Simulations showed that VOCs and NOx were dominated by local emissions near the surface (73.61 %-82.18 %), whereas surface O3 was primarily controlled by regional transport, with local contributions of only 11.01 %-13.75 %. Notably, the transport dominance further strengthened with altitude, exceeding 93 % at 1.8 km. Industrial and transportation emissions together contributed more than 75 % of precursor emissions and account for approximately 80 % of O3 formation, while favorable/unfavorable meteorological years modulated long-range transport efficiency and the vertical distribution of contributions. Horizontal flux analysis highlighted three major pathways (Northwest-Southeast, Southeast-Northwest, and Southwest-Northeast), with Shijiazhuang serving as a critical pollutant "sink" across altitude layers. Vertical fluxes revealed an altitude transition near 600 m: net downward transport dominated below 600 m, whereas enhanced summer convection promoted upward transport above 600 m. These results support altitude-dependent, scenario-specific strategies for coordinated regional O3 mitigation in the BTH region.

Ozone