To survive climate change and habitat loss, plants must rely on phenotypic changes in response to the environment, local adaptation, or migration. Understanding the drivers of intraspecific variation is critical to anticipate how plant species will respond to climate change and to inform conservation decisions. Here we explored the extent of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity in Heteromeles arbutifolia, toyon, a species endemic to the California Floristic Province.

This study investigates the role of social capital within the university context in retaining working students. It specifically examines the effects of university social capital factors-such as teacher-student relationships, peer networks, and support services-on the dropout intentions of working students, emphasizing the mediating role of employability trust. Using a sample of 1902 working students from the Eurostudent VII survey, this study employed factor analysis techniques and structural equation modeling to derive its findings. The results indicated that university social capital significantly reduces dropout intentions among working students. Strong teacher-student relationships, satisfaction with support services, robust peer networks, and high employability trust positively influence this social capital. There is a statistically significant negative association between teacher-student relationships, peer networks, employability trust, and dropout intentions. Furthermore, the findings reveal that without enhancing students' employability trust, the effectiveness of support services might be limited. These findings not only contribute to the discourse on student retention and the development of university social capital but also provide practical insights for higher education strategies aimed at supporting working students.

Weight concern is a barrier to smoking cessation. We examined the impact of weight concern on post-cessation weight gain, abstinence and program engagement.

While living organ donor follow-up is mandated for 2 years in the USA, formal guidance on recovering associated costs of follow-up care is lacking. In this review, we discuss current billing practices of transplant programs for living kidney donor follow-up, and propose future directions for managing follow-up costs and supporting cost neutrality in donor care.

The importance of Fbxo22 in carcinogenesis has been highly documented. Here, we discussed downstream regulatory factors of Fbxo22 in TNBC. RNA-sequencing was conducted for identifying differentially expressed genes, followed by construction of a regulatory network. Expression patterns of Fbxo22/KDM5A in TNBC were determined by their correlation with the prognosis analyzed. Then, regulation mechanisms between Fbxo22 and KDM5A as well as between KDM5A and H3K4me3 were assayed. After silencing and overexpression experiments, the significance of Fbxo22 in repressing tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo was explored. Fbxo22 was poorly expressed, while KDM5A was highly expressed in TNBC. Patients with elevated Fbxo22, decreased KDM5A, or higher p16 had long overall survival. Fbxo22 reduced the levels of KDM5A by ubiquitination. KDM5A promoted histone H3K4me3 demethylation to downregulate p16 expression. Fbxo22 reduced KDM5A expression to enhance p16, thus inducing DNA damage as well as reducing tumorigenesis and metastasis in TNBC. Our study validated FBXO22 as a tumor suppressor in TNBC through ubiquitination of KDM5A and regulation of p16.

Application of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AMSCs)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in skin wound healing has been documented. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of AMSCs-derived EVs in skin wound healing through delivery of microRNA-10b (miR-10b). HaCaT cells were treated with HO to establish the skin wound cell models. Next, the binding affinity between miR-194, PEA15, and CDK6 was identified. Additionally, EVs were isolated from the culture medium of AMSC sheets, followed by incubation with HO-treated HaCaT cells to detect cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis using gain- or loss-of-function experiments. Lastly, the mice skin wound models were also established to assess skin wound healing ability. miR-10b was down-regulated in the skin trauma models and enriched in the EVs of AMSC sheets. Moreover, miR-10b derived from EVs targeted PEA15 to promote CDK6 expression, thereby stimulating the proliferation and migration of HO-damaged HaCaT cells but inhibiting apoptosis. In vivo experiments further ascertained the therapeutic functionality of AMSC sheets-derived EVs-miR-10b. In summary, AMSC sheets-derived EVs carrying miR-10b promoted CDK6 expression to intensify skin wound healing by regulating PEA15.

Cell transplantation has been an appealing way to improve the recovery of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions following spinal cord injury (SCI). Herein, we sought to elucidate the function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) sheet in the progression of SCI and its underlying mechanism. BMSCs were extracted from bone marrow of femur and tibia collected from C57BL/6 mice, and the BMSC sheet was prepared when cells grew to 100% confluence after approximately 14 days. Exosomes (Exos) derived from BMSCs were isolated and characterized. The expression of NGF in the isolated Exos and neural stem cells (NSCs) was quantified. NSCs were co-cultured with Exos derived from the BMSC sheet that was treated with overexpressed NGF (oe-NGF) (Exos-oe-NGF). NSC differentiation, axonal regeneration and locomotor function were detected in vitro and in vivo. The BMSC sheet was successfully prepared and exerted a promoting effect on NSC differentiation into neuronal cells and axonal regeneration after SCI by releasing Exos. Co-culture data showed that NGF was highly expressed in the BMSC sheet-loaded Exos and facilitated neuronal differentiation of NSCs and axonal regeneration. In vivo experimental results unveiled that transplantation of BMSC sheet-loaded Exos-oe-NGF into SCI mice displayed enhanced functional recovery. Collectively, Exo-oe-NGF loaded on the BMSC sheet can accelerate NSC differentiation, axonal regeneration and SCI repair, therefore offering us with a potential therapeutic target for treating SCI.

To provide standardized guidance for transplant programs to maximize financial reimbursement related to living donor care, and to minimize financial consequences of evaluation, surgical and follow-up care to living donor candidates and donors.