iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114850
Wenjiao Tai , Junkui Shang , Peiqi Zhao , Wei Li , Tianjin Shen , Xiaoling Zhong , Yuhua Zou , Bo Chen , Chun-Li Zhang
{"title":"In vivo reprogramming of NG2 glia improves bladder function after spinal cord injury","authors":"Wenjiao Tai , Junkui Shang , Peiqi Zhao , Wei Li , Tianjin Shen , Xiaoling Zhong , Yuhua Zou , Bo Chen , Chun-Li Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114850","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114850","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neurogenic bladder is a debilitating consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI), with limited treatments that restore voluntary voiding. Although <em>in vivo</em> glial reprogramming has been achieved in the injured spinal cord, its effect on bladder function remains unclear. Here, we show that SOX2-mediated reprogramming of NG2 glia enhances bladder function in a clinically relevant mouse model of contusive SCI. The reprogramming process induces new neurons, attenuates scarring, and significantly improves urinary performance, as assessed by voiding assays and conscious cystometry. Functional recovery correlates positively with neurogenesis and inversely with scarring. These findings reveal that <em>in vivo</em> glial reprogramming promotes autonomic circuit repair and provides a regenerative strategy for treating neurogenic bladder after SCI.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 3","pages":"Article 114850"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20Epub Date: 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114672
Hongfei Meng , Feiteng Wang , Shuangshuang Liu , Xiang Jin , Mengwei Xu , Jianxin Mu
{"title":"From observation to protection a bibliometric analysis of aerosol-glacier interactions","authors":"Hongfei Meng , Feiteng Wang , Shuangshuang Liu , Xiang Jin , Mengwei Xu , Jianxin Mu","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114672","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114672","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Remote sensing has become a central approach for investigating interactions between atmospheric aerosols and glacier change under climate warming. Here, we apply bibliometric and science-mapping methods to systematically analyze global research on remote sensing of aerosol-glacier interactions from 1995 to 2024. Based on 523 publications, we identify rapid growth since 2013 and reveal a tripolar collaboration structure linking North America, Europe, and Asia. Thematic analyses show a clear evolution from early observational and retrieval studies toward process-oriented research emphasizing black carbon deposition, snow-ice energy balance, and regional glacier mass balance. Journal dual-map overlays and cluster dependency analysis further demonstrate that the field is supported by Earth sciences, physics-chemistry, and computational systems, with aerosol type and scientific assessment serving as key foundational clusters. Overall, this study outlines the knowledge structure and evolution of aerosol-glacier research, supporting interdisciplinary monitoring and protection strategies in a changing climate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 3","pages":"Article 114672"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114880
Jiao Chen , Xingwei Chen , Huaxia Yao , Weifang Ruan , Feng Lin , Haijun Deng , Xiaocheng Li
{"title":"A framework to evaluate the applicability of ET products in the southeastern coastal basins of China","authors":"Jiao Chen , Xingwei Chen , Huaxia Yao , Weifang Ruan , Feng Lin , Haijun Deng , Xiaocheng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114880","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114880","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for watershed eco-environmental research and applicability of ET products in southeastern coastal basins of China needs to be evaluated. We proposed an improved evaluation framework for basin applicability of ET products. Based on assessing the overall rationality and correcting ET products using water balance method, the temporal dynamics of corrected products ET (ET<sub>C</sub>) were assessed by dual-variable calibrated SWAT model. Application of this framework in three basins in southeastern coastal China showed that three corrected products ET were consistent in magnitude, but differed markedly in inter-annual and intra-annual variability. Compared with SWAT-ET, ET<sub>C_SSEBOP</sub> exhibited a better performance in temporal dynamics, followed by ET<sub>C_FLDAS</sub>, and ET<sub>C_MOD16A2</sub> was the worst. The simulation performance of products on forestland ET was a potential influencing factor to these differences. The proposed assessment framework for ET products provided a more holistic assessment of their applicability, yielding more reliable results.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 3","pages":"Article 114880"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20Epub Date: 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114870
Lihong Liu , Siyao Ha , Hui Chen , MingQing Li , Zhiling Li
{"title":"PPARγ activation rescues oxidative stress-induced embryonic arrest by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling via GSK3β upregulation","authors":"Lihong Liu , Siyao Ha , Hui Chen , MingQing Li , Zhiling Li","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114870","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114870","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) during assisted reproductive technology (ART) impairs embryonic development, yet the intrinsic molecular mechanisms remain inadequately understood. Through transcriptomic profiling (Drug-seq) of oxidatively stressed mouse embryos, we identified peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) as a critical regulator whose essential upregulation during zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is suppressed. Functional studies demonstrated that the pharmacological activation of PPARγ via the agonist GW1929 robustly rescued developmental arrest by scavenging ROS, restoring mitochondrial function, and maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that PPARγ activation transcriptionally upregulates GSK3β, which in turn suppresses oxidative stress-induced aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Our findings establish PPARγ as a central guardian of embryonic redox and metabolic homeostasis, and propose PPARγ agonism as a potential strategy to improve ART outcomes by counteracting oxidative injury.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 3","pages":"Article 114870"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114886
Max Vanatta , Brian Sergi , Wesley Cole , Paul Denholm , Trieu Mai
{"title":"The past, present, and future of peaking thermal power plants in the United States","authors":"Max Vanatta , Brian Sergi , Wesley Cole , Paul Denholm , Trieu Mai","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Today’s power systems rely on “peaker plants” to reliably serve load during peak demand periods. In this study we consider the present competitiveness of different peaking options, how much and what kinds of plants have provided U.S. peaking capacity, and potential future peaking fleet compositions. We explore how capital intensity impacts the breakeven capacity factor between two potential resources: combustion turbines (CTs) and combined cycle plants (CCs). CTs outcompete CCs below 12%–17% annual capacity factor at today’s prices, but can shift with changes to fuel or start costs. Historically, gas CTs and petroleum steam plants most closely fit the role of peakers. Peaking capacity could grow from approximately 280 GW today to 460–770 GW in 2050 composed of a wider range of resources. We conclude by discussing implications of this shift, with a focus on the potential planning considerations for shifting to a greater utilization of CCs for peaking needs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 3","pages":"Article 114886"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20eCollection Date: 2026-04-17DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115418
Xiao-Xia Huang, Ai-Ling Yang, Bin Kang, Ke-Jian He, Xiao-Han Mei, Wen-Xian Hu, Hung-Du Lin
{"title":"Functional diversity of fish in the Yuan-Red River: Role of species turnover and trait shifts.","authors":"Xiao-Xia Huang, Ai-Ling Yang, Bin Kang, Ke-Jian He, Xiao-Han Mei, Wen-Xian Hu, Hung-Du Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.115418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.115418","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding how environmental change and species introductions shape functional diversity is essential for conserving freshwater biodiversity. This study examines these drivers in the upper Yuan-Red River Basin over three decades (1990-2020). Using morphological traits from fish specimens, we applied generalized least squares models, hypervolume analysis, and variation partitioning to assess trait variation, functional space reorganization, and contributions of native versus non-native species. Functional space overlap between periods was only 20.6% for natives, while non-natives expanded rapidly, increasing overlap with natives from minimal to 40% by the 2020s. Locomotion traits associated with precipitation and non-native richness; feeding and habitat traits with dams, non-native richness, and water quality. Diversity indices remained stable and climatically driven, despite underlying trait restructuring. Conservation should prioritize maintaining natural flow regimes.</p>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 4","pages":"115418"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13087787/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147721426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114765
Anan Li , Shijiang Wang , Fan Li , Xu Xiong , Ning Liu , Xinsheng Xie , Geliang Yao , Zhili Liu , Meiying Yan , Feng Yang
{"title":"PCMTD1-127aa suppresses osteosarcoma progression by competitively binding to USP10 to promote c-MYC degradation","authors":"Anan Li , Shijiang Wang , Fan Li , Xu Xiong , Ning Liu , Xinsheng Xie , Geliang Yao , Zhili Liu , Meiying Yan , Feng Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114765","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114765","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly malignant tumor prone to distant metastasis and is associated with a poor prognosis. To date, therapeutic outcomes for this disease remain unsatisfactory. In this study, we found that circPCMTD1 encodes a 127-amino acid protein, termed PCMTD1-127aa in OS. The expression of PCMTD1-127aa was significantly lower in OS tissues than in normal paratumoral tissues. Clinical data analysis revealed that low expression of PCMTD1-127aa was associated with poor OS prognosis. Functionally, overexpression of PCMTD1-127aa not only inhibited the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells but also suppressed glycolysis in these cells. Mechanistically, PCMTD1-127aa competitively bound to the F1 (1–100) domain of USP10, thereby counteracting the USP10-mediated deubiquitination of c-MYC and subsequently promoting c-MYC degradation. We further identified that amino acid 148 of c-MYC plays a critical role in ubiquitination-mediated degradation. Our findings reveal the PCMTD1-127aa/USP10/c-MYC axis may be a promising therapeutic target for OS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 3","pages":"Article 114765"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114873
Jiajia Liu , Charles Davis
{"title":"Art as a source of historical biodiversity data","authors":"Jiajia Liu , Charles Davis","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114873","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114873","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Art has long reflected humanity’s relationship with the natural world and is increasingly recognized as a valuable source of data for reconstructing past biodiversity. Here, we synthesize evidence from prehistoric cave art, historical illustrations, and literary arts to document how artworks can be used to inform our understanding of extinct species, historical population dynamics, distributional shifts, and temporal changes in species’ traits. We also explore how artworks composed of biological materials such as feathers, bones, and wood can offer insights into species interactions with humans. Although artworks present unique opportunities for biodiversity research, there are limitations and challenges associated with interpreting the biodiversity data we derive from them. We advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration among art historians, archaeologists and biodiversity scientists to unlock the full potential of art in biodiversity science.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 3","pages":"Article 114873"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114882
Clarissa Anna Pisanò , Maria Laura Santino , Alice Russotto , Gilberto Fisone
{"title":"Identification of DARPP-32 as a novel sleep regulator in physiological conditions and experimental Parkinsonism","authors":"Clarissa Anna Pisanò , Maria Laura Santino , Alice Russotto , Gilberto Fisone","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114882","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114882","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sleep disorders are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and respond poorly to current pharmacological treatments, partly due to limited understanding of their underlying mechanisms. Using polysomnographic recordings, we investigated the role of dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein 32 kDa (DARPP-32) in sleep-wake regulation and PD-related sleep dysfunction. In naive mice, the selective ablation of DARPP-32 in striatal projection neurons (SPN) co-expressing dopamine D2 and adenosine A2A receptors reduced NREM sleep during the active phase of the circadian cycle, whereas its deletion in dopamine D1 receptor-expressing SPN increased NREM sleep stability during the inactive phase. In a mouse model of PD, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a common non-motor symptom in PD, was abolished by DARPP-32 deletion in D2R/A2AR-expressing SPN but not in D1R-expressing SPN, which also failed to improve sleep fragmentation. Together, these findings identify DARPP-32 as a key regulator of sleep-wake function and a cell-specific target for alleviating PD-related EDS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 3","pages":"Article 114882"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
iSciencePub Date : 2026-03-20Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114889
Huabo Wang , Jie Lu , Colin Henchy , Steven J. Mullett , Adam C. Richert , Eric S. Goetzman , Ahmet Toksoz , Leonardo Hale , Brandon B. Wang , Nelli Mnatsakanyan , Edward V. Prochownik
{"title":"Reversible dissociation of mitochondrial Complex V balances anabolic and energy-generating needs in cancer","authors":"Huabo Wang , Jie Lu , Colin Henchy , Steven J. Mullett , Adam C. Richert , Eric S. Goetzman , Ahmet Toksoz , Leonardo Hale , Brandon B. Wang , Nelli Mnatsakanyan , Edward V. Prochownik","doi":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114889","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.isci.2026.114889","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cancer cell metabolic re-programming provides the additional energy and anabolic precursors necessary to sustain unregulated proliferation. This is partially mediated by the Warburg effect, which generates ATP while oxidizing glucose to a subset of these anabolites. Concurrently, mitochondrial mass and ATP generation via oxidative phosphorylation decline in most tumors. This raises the question of how increased glycolysis-derived anabolites can be balanced with those supplied by the TCA cycle. Using primary murine liver cancers and their derivative cell lines, we show that this can be explained by the dissociation of mitochondrial Complex V (CV or ATP synthase) into its component and functionally independent F<sub>o</sub> and F<sub>1</sub> domains. This occurs as a result of marked declines in MT-ATP6, a CV subunit that stabilizes F<sub>o</sub>-F<sub>1</sub> assembly. Serving as a proton pore, free F<sub>o</sub> maintains a normal mitochondrial membrane potential without generating ATP, thus allowing the TCA cycle, electron transport chain, and anaplerotic reactions to function at high levels. Concurrently, free F<sub>1</sub> functions in reverse as an ATPase to limit excess ATP accumulation. The uncoupling of TCA-cycle-derived anabolic substrate production from membrane hyperpolarization and ATP overproduction by a smaller population of highly efficient mitochondria allows TCA-cycle-generated anabolic precursors to match those generated via glycolysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":342,"journal":{"name":"iScience","volume":"29 3","pages":"Article 114889"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}