Progress and Prospects in Breeding Research on Key Aromatic Species of the Lamiaceae Family

Aromatic herbs of the family Lamiaceae are mainly represented by several economically important genera in the subfamily Nepetoideae, including Mentha, Ocimum, Origanum, Rosmarinus, Thymus, Lavandula, and Perilla. These plants originated mainly in the Mediterranean region, Southwest Asia, and tropical America, and are now widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. This paper systematically reviews the global history of breeding within this taxonomic group of, key aromatic genera of Lamiaceae synthesizes the patterns of its utilization and dissemination, and divides its development and evolution into four key phases: The first phase is the pre-breeding stage (before 1000 BCE), driven primarily by basic human survival needs, during which wild resources were utilized directly without the development of artificial cultivation or directed selection; The second stage is the early introduction and preliminary domestication stage (1000–500 BCE), during which the expansion of ancient trade facilitated the cross-regional dissemination of species, and the domestication of germplasm began through simple phenotypic selection under artificial cultivation; The third phase is the conventional breeding stage, from 500 BCE to the late 20th century, which was driven by increasing commercial demand. During this period, clonal selection, phenotypic selection, and hybridization were gradually developed and widely applied, enabling the stable retention of desirable traits and the formation of diverse regionally distinctive local germplasm. The fourth phase is the modern molecular breeding stage, from the 21st century to the present, which has developed alongside scientific and technological advances. This stage includes molecular breeding strategies based on genome sequencing, identification of genes associated with essential oil biosynthesis and stress tolerance, and marker-assisted selection. However, despite significant progress in the breeding of these key aromatic plant genera of Lamiaceae, the commercialization process still faces multiple bottlenecks: low genetic conversion efficiency in most species, scarcity of genomic resources for niche groups, lengthy traditional breeding cycles, and the lack of a comprehensive germplasm evaluation system, as well as the fragmentation of phenotype-genotype association databases. Future research priorities include: (1) establishing a globally standardized database of Lamiaceae aromatic germplasm resources; (2) integrating multi-omics approaches, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics, to elucidate the genetic regulatory networks underlying essential oil biosynthesis and stress resistance; and (3) optimizing gene-editing and genetic transformation protocols for both major and underutilized aromatic Lamiaceae species. This review provides a historical and theoretical framework for the genetic improvement, germplasm utilization, and industrial development of key aromatic genera of Lamiaceae.

Levelized Cost of Storage Analysis of Subsea Isobaric Hydrogen Storage

Floating offshore wind-based green hydrogen production has emerged as a viable alternative to conventional electricity generation and transmission. Large scale, long duration offshore hydrogen storage is a critical component. A subsea isobaric hydrogen storage concept is proposed in this study. A detailed levelized cost of storage (LCOS) analysis is conducted from the perspective of life cycle assessment for the first time. The findings yield several new insights and provide recommendations for optimizing the techno-economic performance of subsea isobaric hydrogen storage technology. Transportation and installation costs are significant contributors to overall expenses. In the benchmark scenario with a 200-m water depth and a weekly cycling rate, the calculated LCOS is 0.52 USD/kg H₂, which is substantially lower than that of conventional pressurized container storage with the value of 1.33 USD/kg H₂. And the LCOS decreases with the increasing water depth. The LCOS is 0.14 USD/kg H₂ when the water depth is 800 m. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the LCOS is primarily influenced by the hydrogen storage accumulator, while the impact of the wind farm is marginal. The LCOS demonstrates high sensitivity to water depth of storage, storage volume per hydrogen accumulator, and the lifetime of hydrogen accumulators. These results provide valuable guidance for the design and deployment of cost-effective subsea isobaric hydrogen storage systems.

Immobilization Strategies of Cyclodextrins on Ferrimagnetic Nanoparticles for Dye Water Remediation: A Review

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the synthesis, use, and advantages of cyclodextrin-derivatized ferrimagnetic nanoparticles for the removal of textile dyes from natural waters. Dyes make their way into natural water systems and affect ecosystems and human health. Water soluble natural cyclodextrins (CD) are able to include dyes into their hydrophobic cavities. To extract the pollutant from water, the host molecules need to be tethered to insoluble supports, such as magnetic nanoparticles, making possible the extraction of the pollutant from the water using a simple magnet. Thus, after washing treatment, the pollutant is extracted, and the support is regenerated for a new remediation cycle. We report herein the synthetic strategies to immobilize β-cyclodextrin onto magnetic nanoparticles MNP@CD using weak to strong bindings, and the analytical methods used to characterize and monitor their effectiveness. Hydroxyl groups present on the CD scaffold can chelate iron cores by coprecipitation, solvothermal reaction, polymerization, carboxylic acid coordination, and silica bonding. An assessment of various dye adsorption capacities of MNP@CD is reported, spanning a range of 3 orders of magnitude, from 2.38 to 2780 mg of dye/g. The recyclability of the magnetic nanoparticles, with excellent removal rates of 90% after a few cycles, is also discussed.

Powder-Based Additive Manufacturing of Ti₂AlNb Alloys: A Review of Processes, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

Ti₂AlNb alloy, a new generation of low-density titanium aluminide intermetallic compound, possesses excellent high-temperature strength, creep resistance, and moderate density, making it a promising candidate for high-temperature aerospace structural components. Powder-based additive manufacturing technology provides an effective approach for fabricating high-performance Ti₂AlNb components, featuring high design freedom, efficient forming, and a controllable microstructure. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of powder-based additive manufacturing of Ti₂AlNb alloys, focusing on three mainstream powder-based processes, including Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Selective Electron Beam Melting (SEBM), and Direct Laser Deposition (DLD). The regulation effect of the extreme non-equilibrium thermal cycle during powder-based additive manufacturing on the alloy microstructure is analyzed, and the correlation between process parameters and mechanical properties of components is summarized. Meanwhile, the key challenges in this field are identified, such as the difficulty in completely eliminating typical forming defects, insufficient precision of microstructure regulation, and a lack of theoretical guidance for process optimization. Finally, combined with technological development trends, future research directions are prospected from the aspects of defect control, microstructure, and mechanical property regulation, as well as engineering application.

Kv1.5 Inhibition in Atrial Fibrillation: Molecular Mechanisms, Translational Challenges, and Implications for Equitable Rhythm Control

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and a growing source of cardiovascular morbidity, stroke, heart failure, and death. Current pharmacologic rhythm-control strategies rely predominantly on antiarrhythmic agents with significant ventricular proarrhythmia risk and systemic toxicity, limiting their use in medically complex and underserved patient populations. The Kv1.5 channel, encoded by KCNA5, generates the atrial-selective ultrarapid delayed rectifier current (I_Kur) and has long been considered a promising target for safer rhythm control. This review focuses on the molecular biology of Kv1.5, including its regulation by auxiliary Kvβ1.2 subunits, redox signaling, oxidative stress, and extra-atrial vascular roles, and examines the preclinical and clinical evidence for Kv1.5-targeted therapy. We analyzed why selective I_Kur inhibitors, including XEN-D0103 and MK-0448, have failed to translate into effective antiarrhythmic therapy, with particular attention to the role of atrial electrical remodeling and reduced I_Kur density in established AF. We also review the limitations of existing class III and class Ic antiarrhythmic agents and discuss how genetic variation in KCNA5 across ethnic populations may inform more precise and equitable approaches to rhythm control. Together, these findings highlight the promise of Kv1.5 as an atrial-selective target and the major barriers limiting its clinical translation in AF.

Electrospun Scaffolds for Spinal Cord Injury Repair: Mechanisms, Strategies, and Advances

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating and irreversible damage to the central nervous system that can result in permanent disability or even death. Electrospinning technology, as a specialized fiber preparation method, possesses unique advantages such as high porosity, adjustable pore size, and an extremely high surface area-to-volume ratio. Despite the widespread attention this technology has garnered for its potential application in the treatment of SCI, there is still a lack of comprehensive and up-to-date reviews in the existing literature, and specific clinical treatment guidelines are also scarce. As a result, researchers and clinicians lack targeted guidance for practical implementation. To address this gap, the present article systematically summarizes the mechanisms by which electrospun scaffolds facilitate SCI repair and their current therapeutic applications. First, this review provides an in-depth analysis of the five core mechanisms underlying electrospinning therapy for SCI, including extracellular matrix (ECM) mimicry, axonal-extension guidance, multimodal signal regulation, drug loading and sustained release, and physical support and protection. Next, this review examines how key electrospinning parameters (fiber diameter, alignment, surface chemistry, biodegradation rate, and nanomorphology) influence these therapeutic mechanisms. Finally, this review explores the state-of-the-art applications of electrospun scaffolds in SCI treatment, including purely structural conduits, biochemical functionalization (drug loading and controlled release, immunomodulation and anti-inflammation, and coaxial electrospinning), and multi-component composite materials (hydrogel–electrospun hybrids, cell- and growth-factor co-delivery systems, and cell electrospinning).

Striking Surge in Lung Cancer Incidence in Children of Early Life

Lung cancer ranks first in mortality and the third in total cancer cases diagnosed in the US. The epidemiological trends may vary among different age groups, while the dynamics of risk factors evolve as well. We aim to carefully characterize trends of lung cancer among different age groups in the past two decades, by accessing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) datasets from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and to delineate possible root causes. The SEER datasets were obtained from NCI. Data on environmental risk factors were acquired from the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Geological Survey. The tobacco consumption data were sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends were examined statistically with the Mann-Kendall algorithm. The incidence rate of lung cancer in the <15 age group has been rising in the past two decades, most strikingly among infants in the 0 age group (at birth to less than 1 year old). These findings were unique for lung cancer. The usage of e-Cigarettes among pregnant women increased, while the potential influence of other known risk factors was on the decline. A shrinkage of the infant population and a higher rate of pregnancy loss were observed during the same timespan. A striking rise in lung cancer incidence among infants has been identified that is opposite to the declining trend in the overall population, which might be related to increased e-Cigarette use in pregnant women. Urgent further investigation is warranted to safeguard the newborn population from being continuously affected potentially by lung cancer.

Driftless Area Streams in Karstic Agricultural Watersheds: Best Management Practices, Biotic Integrity, and Environmental Stressors

To protect streams in agricultural watersheds, best management practices (BMPs) are implemented to reduce or prevent contaminated runoff from reaching surface waters. Over the course of three growing seasons (2000–2002), this study assessed physical, chemical, and biological indicators of water quality at 13 total stream sites in two agricultural watersheds (Garvin Brook, Whitewater River) in southeastern Minnesota USA, where BMPs have been used for over 50 years prior to the study period. Some sites in both watersheds exhibited impaired water quality due to high turbidities, high levels of total suspended solids (TSS) and fecal coliform bacteria, and low fish and benthic macroinvertebrate biotic integrities. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling of water quality indicators and principal components analysis of fish and invertebrate communities highlighted varying degrees of differences between watersheds. On average, Garvin watershed sites exhibited better water quality during 2000–2002 than sites in the Whitewater watershed, likely because more headwater reaches were surveyed in Garvin Brook. A fish community index biotic integrity (IBI) was significantly negatively correlated with turbidities, TSS, and fecal coliform bacteria levels, but the benthic macroinvertebrate community IBI was not correlated to any water quality indicator or to the fish IBI. More recent studies in these watersheds and current impaired waters listings continue to indicate significant and ongoing water quality issues, so continued water quality monitoring is needed in these two watersheds to highlight and prioritize problematic subwatersheds for future conservation efforts to reduce or prevent agriculture-related runoff from reaching the stream networks.

Utility of Ambulatory Non-Invasive Rhythm Monitoring in Pregnant Patients with Palpitations and Structurally Normal Hearts

Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring (ACM) is often used to evaluate pregnant patients with palpitations without structural heart disease; however, the diagnostic yield is not well defined. This single-center retrospective cohort study included pregnant patients without structural heart disease evaluated in a tertiary care cardio-obstetrics clinic between June 2023 and June 2024. The primary outcome was the detection of a clinically significant arrhythmia. Secondary outcomes included symptom–rhythm correlation and adverse maternal cardiac, obstetric, and fetal outcomes. Out of 124 patients identified, 49 (40%) completed ACM. Two patients had symptomatic clinically significant arrhythmias detected on ACM, including non-sustained ventricular tachycardia that did not alter management (n = 1), and symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) resulting in medical therapy (n = 1). Palpitations occurred during monitoring in 35 of the 49 remaining monitored patients; of those, symptoms correlated with non-significant arrhythmias (premature atrial and ventricular contractions) in 11 (31%). No adverse cardiac events occurred in the remaining patients. Obstetric and fetal outcomes did not differ between monitored and unmonitored patients. In this small single center study, ACM in pregnant patients without structural heart disease has a low diagnostic yield. These findings could be used in shared decision-making for pregnant patients being evaluated for palpitations.

Foreword to the Commemorative Issue Honoring Professor David Ollis