bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness Study of a Cultural Adaptation of Cognitive‐Behavioural Therapy‐Based Application for Depressive Symptoms in College Students: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Lin Yueh‐Hsiu , Wu Chia‐Yi , Gau Bih‐Shya , Lin Cheng‐Han , Ho Hsiu‐Yu , Lou Meei‐Fang
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Studies on mental health applications among college students lack empirical evidence regarding mobile application usage's intensity, duration and frequency.

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT)‐based mobile application in ameliorating depressive symptoms among college students.

Methods

A randomised controlled trial was conducted at three universities. Undergraduates aged ≥ 20 years with self‐reported depressive symptoms were recruited and randomly assigned to the control and intervention groups. The outcomes include changes in depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, help‐seeking attitudes and emotional self‐awareness at 4 (T1), 8 (T2) and 12 (T3) weeks. An intention‐to‐treat analysis was conducted.

Results

Of the 91 participants, 46 in the intervention group exhibited a significant decline in depressive symptoms at T1 and lower patterns of symptom changes at T2 and T3. No significant differences were observed in the other outcomes; however, higher help‐seeking attitude, emotional self‐awareness and lower suicidal ideation after T0 were observed for those who used the application for 12 weeks.

Discussion

The advantages of a brief application‐based intervention to promote college students' psychological health are outlined.

Implications

School nursing managers could use the application to improve the college mental health systems and support collegial teacher–student relationships.

Recommendations

Further studies should enhance application usage to manage depressive symptoms.

Trial Registration

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the National Taiwan University Hospital (No. 202108098RINB, Date of approval: Oct 27, 2021) and the National Institutes of Health (No. NCT05188950).
Are alarm symptoms of the Rome IV criteria enough to rule out organic pathology?
Authors: Gürcan Kaya Neslihan , Öztürk Hakan
Published: December 2024

Background

The Rome IV criteria offer symptom‐based recommendations for diagnosing functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGID) in children and adolescents without esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of Rome IV criteria for ruling out organic disease in patients with and without alarm symptoms.

Methods

Retrospective research was conducted on children and adolescents who had dyspepsia and underwent EGD. The patients were categorized into groups according to the Rome IV criteria, based on the presence or absence of alarm signs. The esophagogastroduodenoscopy findings in these groups were then compared and classified as either altered or normal.

Results

Seventy‐seven of 124 cases (62%) had altered EGD findings, and 97.2% (75/77) of altered EGD patients had histopathological findings. In the study population, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was 46.7%. Seventy‐four of 124 cases (59.7%) had no alarm symptoms and were diagnosed with FGID according to Rome IV criteria. Thirty‐six (48%) of these patients had altered EGD, and five of these patients had duodenal ulcers. Patients without alarm symptoms were compared based on altered versus normal EGD findings. Helicobacter pylori was significantly more abundant in the altered EGD group. Fifty (40.3%) of 124 patients had one or more alarm symptoms and 41 of 50 (82%) cases with alarm symptoms had altered EGD. When patients with altered and normal EGD findings were compared, alarm symptoms, H. pylori, and histopathological findings were higher in the altered EGD group.

Conclusion

The Rome IV criteria are effective for alarm‐symptom‐positive patients. However, in patients lacking alarm symptoms, the Rome IV criteria are insufficient to rule out organic causes.
Early eosinophilia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with chronic graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Uemura Suguru , Kishimoto Kenji , Fujikawa Tomoko , Nakamura Sayaka , Kozaki Aiko , Saito Atsuro , Ishida Toshiaki , Mori Takeshi , Hasegawa Daiichiro , Kosaka Yoshiyuki
Published: December 2024

Background

This study aimed to evaluate whether an early elevation of absolute eosinophil count after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) was associated with the development of chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (cGVHD) in children and adolescents.

Methods

A total of 165 consecutive patients who received allo‐HSCT were included in the study. Patients who had previously received allo‐HSCT, relapsed or died before Day 100, and did not achieve engraftment, were excluded. Eosinophilia was defined as an eosinophil count exceeding 500/μL in peripheral blood within 60 days of stem cell infusion.

Results

Eosinophilia was observed in 67 patients (40.6%). There were no significant differences in disease type, graft source, donor type, conditioning regimen, and GVHD prophylaxis and treatment between the patients with or without eosinophilia. The 3‐year cumulative incidence rate of cGVHD in the entire cohort was 39.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 32.2–47.4). Patients with eosinophilia had a higher 3‐year cumulative incidence rate of cGVHD compared to those without eosinophilia (49.1% vs. 32.7%, p = 0.007). Cox proportional hazards model analysis revealed that eosinophilia was associated with an increased risk of cGVHD (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.16–3.85, p = 0.014).

Conclusions

Early eosinophilia after allo‐HSCT may serve as a predictor for the development of cGVHD in children and adolescents.
Metabolic‐Engineering Approach to Enhance Vanillin and Phenolic Compounds in Ocimum Sanctum (CIM‐Angana) via VpVAN Overexpression
Authors: Husain Zakir , Khan Sana , Sarfraz Aqib , Iqbal Zafar , Chandran Ashish , Khatoon Kahkashan , Parween Gazala , Deeba Farah , Afroz Shama , Khan Feroz , Ch Ratnasekhar , Rahman Laiq ur
Published: December 2024

Transgenic Ocimum sanctum plants were engineered to produce vanillin by overexpressing the VpVAN gene using Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. Positive transformants developed shoots within 4–5 weeks and were transferred to a root induction medium and four independent transformants with no observed adverse effects were kept for anlysis. Quantitative RT‐PCR indicated significantly higher VpVAN expression in transgenic lines AG_3 and AG_1, impacting the phenylpropanoid pathway and phenolic compound accumulation. Molecular docking studies indicated ferulic acid's higher binding affinity to vanillin synthase than eugenol. LC–MS/MS analysis revealed a marked increase in vanillin production in transgenic lines compared to wild type, with AG_3 exhibiting the highest vanillin content (1.98 ± 0.0047 mg/g extract) and AG_1 following (1.49 ± 0.0047 mg/g extract). AG_3 also showed elevated levels of benzoic acid, 4‐hydroxy benzyl alcohol, and ferulic acid. This study highlights the potential of metabolic engineering in O. sanctum for enhanced vanillin production, suggesting pathways for large‐scale production of natural vanillin and other valuable compounds in transgenic plants.
Modern Plant Breeding for Achieving Global Food Security
Authors: Fiaz Sajid , Uzair Muhammad , Zhang Baohong
Published: December 2024

Modern plant breeding technologies have played a central role in addressing global food security challenges. These technologies, including next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and multi‐omics analysis, genome‐wide association analysis (GWAS), genome editing and transgenics, machine learning, and speed breeding, have been improving crop yield and quality as well as crop adaptability under climate change conditions, such as tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Furthermore, identification, searching, assessment, and combining desirable integrated (morphological, physiological, and biochemical) attributes have been achieved with greater accuracy, efficiency, time, and cost‐effectiveness, all of which are essential to meeting global food demands. These advancements hold promises for increasing food security in the face of population growth and climate change, ensuring a more resilient and sustainable food production system. Therefore, this topical collection was developed to feature the latest developments in modern plant breeding approaches to understand and improve plant attributes essential for ensuring sustainable crop production.
Así en la tierra como en el cielo. Aproximación preliminar a la trayectoria del apostolado social de la Compañía de Jesús en Colombia
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, González González Fernán
Published: December 2024

¿Cómo encarnar el mensaje del Evangelio en los profundos cambios de la Iglesia universal y colombiana, el mundo y nuestra nación en los más de cien años de existencia de la Provincia Colombiana de la Compañía de Jesús? El presente libro, Así en la tierra como en el cielo, pretende responder a este interrogante, presentando cómo algunos jesuitas interpretaron los signos de esos tiempos para realizar la consigna jesuita de “ser fieles a la tierra” desde las concepciones de la Iglesia y sociedad vigentes. En este relato, desfilan los pioneros del apostolado social, como el padre José María Campoamor con su proyecto de crear un barrio de Dios en Villa Javier, el padre Félix Restrepo con su utópica Cristilandia y el intento del padre Jesús María Fernández de hacer realidad el derecho primario del destino común de los bienes de la tierra. Estos esfuerzos serían continuados por los padres Vicente Andrade y Francisco Javier Mejía en la organización sindical y cooperativa y por los esfuerzos investigativos y educativos del Centro de Investigación y Acción Social (CIAS ), transformado en el actual Centro de Investigación y Educación Popular (CINEP), que afrontaría los desafíos de los turbulentos años sesenta y setenta. Más recientemente, se resaltan también el Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio, dirigido por el padre Francisco de Roux, frente a la profundización de las violencias y la búsqueda de la paz; la lucha por los derechos humanos del padre Javier Giraldo; las investigaciones sobre las dinámicas de la violencia del CINEP y el trabajo con la población desplazada del Servicio Jesuita de Refugiados.
Autonomous Freight Takes to the Rail, Road, Sea, and Air
Authors: Tom Gibson
Published: December 2024

Driverless cars are already on the road. Now, a parallel trend is now on the rise, bringing autonomy to freight transportation. Engineers are launching companies that utilize driverless trucks, trains, boats, and drones to ship and deliver goods. While these modes of autonomous transit may not be as provocative as an air taxi, they are already improving supply chains.
Effects of alpha-cypermethrin and difenoconazole on survival, growth and biomarkers in European green toad tadpoles (Bufotes viridis, Laurenti 1768)
Authors: Bekić Bruno , Žagar Anamarija , Simčič Tatjana , Hackenberger Kutuzović Branimir , Jovanović Glavaš Olga
Published: December 2024

In recent decades, the decline of amphibian populations has become more pronounced and accelerated, with one of the contributing factors being the excessive use of pesticides. Alpha-cypermethrin, an insecticide, and difenoconazole, a fungicide, are widely employed pesticides globally. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the acute impact of these two pesticides on amphibians, we used European green toad (Bufotes viridis) tadpoles as our model organisms. We assessed mortality and mass as apical endpoints, and examined physiological biomarkers including electron transport system (ETS) activity, catalase activity, and carbonyl protein content. Tadpoles were exposed to varying concentrations of the two pesticides for 48 hours (0.2-10 µg/L for alpha-cypermethrin; 10-100 µg/L for difenoconazole). Our results indicate that the exposure of tadpoles to these pesticides significantly affected their physiology. Mortality was observed exclusively in tadpoles treated with difenoconazole (LC50 = 100.832 µg/L), while a decrease in mass occurred in tadpoles exposed to both pesticides. No significant differences across treatments were found for total ETS activity, catalase activity, or the presence of protein carbonyls. In conclusion, our findings suggest that alpha-cypermethrin at environmentally relevant concentrations poses a risk to European green toad tadpoles, while the effects of difenoconazole are become patent at higher concentrations than those recorded in natural aquatic environments.
The three-dimensional genome drives the evolution of asymmetric gene duplicates via enhancer capture-divergence
Authors: Lee UnJin , Arsala Deanna , Xia Shengqian , Li Cong , Ali Mujahid , Svetec Nicolas , Langer Christopher B. , Sobreira Débora R. , Eres Ittai , Sosa Dylan , Chen Jianhai , Zhang Li , Reilly Patrick , Guzzetta Alexander , Emerson J.J. , Andolfatto Peter , Zhou Qi , Zhao Li , Long Manyuan
Published: December 2024

Previous evolutionary models of duplicate gene evolution have overlooked the pivotal role of genome architecture. Here, we show that proximity-based regulatory recruitment by distally duplicated genes is an efficient mechanism for modulating tissue-specific production of preexisting proteins. By leveraging genomic asymmetries, we performed a coexpression analysis on
Drosophila melanogaster
tissue data to show the generality of enhancer capture-divergence (ECD) as a significant evolutionary driver of asymmetric, distally duplicated genes. We use the recently evolved gene
HP6
/
Umbrea
as an example of the ECD process. By assaying genome-wide chromosomal conformations in multiple
Drosophila
species, we show that
HP6/Umbrea
was inserted near a preexisting, long-distance three-dimensional genomic interaction. We then use this data to identify a newly found enhancer (
FLEE1
), buried within the coding region of the highly conserved, essential gene
MFS18
, that likely neofunctionalized
HP6/Umbrea
. Last, we demonstrate ancestral transcriptional coregulation of
HP6/Umbrea
’s future insertion site, illustrating how enhancer capture provides a highly evolvable, one-step solution to Ohno’s dilemma.
The nucleocapsid architecture and structural atlas of the prototype baculovirus define the hallmarks of a new viral realm
Authors: Johnstone Bronte A. , Hardy Joshua M. , Ha Jungmin , Butkovic Anamarija , Koszalka Paulina , Accurso Cathy , Venugopal Hariprasad , de Marco Alex , Krupovic Mart , Coulibaly Fasséli
Published: December 2024

Baculovirus is the most studied insect virus owing to a broad ecological distribution and ease of engineering for biotechnological applications. However, its structure and evolutionary place in the virosphere remain enigmatic. Using cryo–electron microscopy, we show that the nucleocapsid forms a covalently cross-linked helical tube protecting a highly compacted 134-kilobase pair DNA genome. The ends of the tube are sealed by the base and cap substructures, which share a 126-subunit hub but differ in components that promote actin tail–mediated propulsion and nuclear entry of the nucleocapsid, respectively. Unexpectedly, sensitive searches for hidden evolutionary links show that the morphogenetic machinery and conserved oral infectivity factors originated within the lineage of baculo-like viruses (class
Naldaviricetes
). The unique viral architecture and structural atlas of hallmark proteins firmly place these viruses into a separate new realm, the highest taxonomy rank, and provide a structural framework to expand their use as sustainable bioinsecticides and biomedical tools.
Deep representation learning of protein-protein interaction networks for enhanced pattern discovery
Authors: Yan Rui , Islam Md Tauhidul , Xing Lei
Published: December 2024

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, where nodes represent proteins and edges depict myriad interactions among them, are fundamental to understanding the dynamics within biological systems. Despite their pivotal role in modern biology, reliably discerning patterns from these intertwined networks remains a substantial challenge. The essence of the challenge lies in holistically characterizing the relationships of each node with others in the network and effectively using this information for accurate pattern discovery. In this work, we introduce a self-supervised network embedding framework termed discriminative network embedding (DNE). Unlike conventional methods that primarily focus on direct or limited-order node proximity, DNE characterizes a node both locally and globally by harnessing the contrast between representations from neighboring and distant nodes. Our experimental results demonstrate DNE’s superior performance over existing techniques across various critical network analyses, including PPI inference and the identification of protein functional modules. DNE emerges as a robust strategy for node representation in PPI networks, offering promising avenues for diverse biomedical applications.
Designing microplastic-binding peptides with a variational quantum circuit–based hybrid quantum-classical approach
Authors: Vendrell Raul Conchello , Ajagekar Akshay , Bergman Michael T. , Hall Carol K. , You Fengqi
Published: December 2024

De novo peptide design exhibits great potential in materials engineering, particularly for the use of plastic-binding peptides to help remediate microplastic pollution. There are no known peptide binders for many plastics—a gap that can be filled with de novo design. Current computational methods for peptide design exhibit limitations in sampling and scaling that could be addressed with quantum computing. Hybrid quantum-classical methods can leverage complementary strengths of near-term quantum algorithms and classical techniques for complex tasks like peptide design. This work introduces a hybrid quantum-classical generative framework for designing plastic-binding peptides combining variational quantum circuits with a variational autoencoder network. We demonstrate the framework’s effectiveness in generating peptide candidates, evaluate its efficiency for property-oriented design, and validate the candidates with molecular dynamics simulations. This quantum computing–based approach could accelerate the development of biomolecular tools for environmental and biomedical applications while advancing the study of biomolecular systems through quantum technologies.
Hydroalkylation of unactivated olefins with C(sp
3
)─H compounds enabled by NiH-catalyzed radical relay
Authors: Shi Jiang-Ling , Wang Youcheng , Han Yufeng , Chen Jinqi , Pu Xiaolan , Xia Ying
Published: December 2024

The hydroalkylation reaction of olefins with alkanes is a highly desirable synthetic transformation toward the construction of C(sp
3
)─C(sp
3
) bonds. However, such transformation has proven to be challenging for unactivated olefins, particularly when the substrates lack directing groups or acidic C(sp
3
)─H bonds. Here, we address this challenge by merging NiH-catalyzed radical relay strategy with a HAT (hydrogen atom transfer) process. In this catalytic system, a nucleophilic alkyl radical is generated from a C(sp
3
)─H compound in the presence of a HAT promotor, which couples with an alkyl metallic intermediate generated from the olefin substrate with a NiH catalyst to form the C(sp
3
)─C(sp
3
) bond. Starting from easily available materials, the reaction not only demonstrates wide functional group compatibility but also provides hydroalkylation products with regiodivergence and excellent enantioselectivity through effective catalyst control under mild conditions.
Dextromethorphan inhibits collagen and collagen-like cargo secretion to ameliorate lung fibrosis
Authors: Khan Muzamil M. , Galea George , Jung Juan , Zukowska Joanna , Lauer David , Tuechler Nadine , Halavatyi Aliaksandr , Tischer Christian , Haberkant Per , Stein Frank , Jung Ferris , Landry Jonathan J. M. , Khan Arif M. , Oorschot Viola , Becher Isabelle , Neumann Beate , Muley Thomas , Winter Hauke , Duerr Julia , Mall Marcus A , Grassi Alessandro , de la Cueva Ernesto , Benes Vladimir , Gote-Schniering Janine , Savitski Mikhail , Pepperkok Rainer
Published: December 2024

Excessive deposition of fibrillar collagen in the interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) of human lung tissue causes fibrosis, which can ultimately lead to organ failure. Despite our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease, no cure for pulmonary fibrosis has yet been found. We screened a drug library and found that dextromethorphan (DXM), a cough expectorant, reduced the amount of excess fibrillar collagen deposited in the ECM in cultured primary human lung fibroblasts, a bleomycin mouse model, and a cultured human precision-cut lung slice model of lung fibrosis. The reduced extracellular fibrillar collagen upon DXM treatment was due to reversible trafficking inhibition of collagen type I (COL1) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in TANGO1- and HSP47-positive structures. Mass spectrometric analysis showed that DXM promoted hyperhydroxylation of proline and lysine residues on various collagens (COL1, COL3, COL4, COL5, COL7, and COL12) and latent transforming growth factor–β–binding protein (LTBP1 and LTBP2) peptides, coinciding with their secretion block. Additionally, proteome profiling of DXM-treated cells showed increased thermal stability of prolyl-hydroxylases P3H2, P3H3, P3H4, P4HA1, and P4HA2, suggesting a change in their activity. Transcriptome analysis of profibrotic stimulated primary human lung fibroblasts and human ex vivo lung slices after DXM treatment showed activation of an antifibrotic program through regulation of multiple pathways, including the MMP-ADAMTS axis, WNT signaling, and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation. Together, these data obtained from in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models of lung fibrogenesis show that DXM has the potential to limit fibrosis through inhibition of COL1 membrane trafficking in the ER.
Modeling craniopharyngioma for drug screening reveals a neuronal mechanism for tumor growth
Authors: Li Si , Li Wei , Miao Yuqi , Gao Meixi , Jia Yanfei , Chen Zhenhua , Chen Xi , Pan Taotao , Zhang Shuangfeng , Xing Zhifang , Han Shuping , Sun Xue-Lian , Wei Xiaochan , Liu Zhiming , Zhou Wentao , Wu Wentao , Liu Fangzheng , Han Lei , Zhu Hongmei , Ye Hongying , Liu Longqi , Li Yinqing , Zhang Peng , Gong Jian , Tian Yongji , Ai Youwei , Cao Peng , Wu Di , Qi Xiangbing , Gui Songbai , Wu Qing-Feng
Published: December 2024

Tumors occurring along the hypothalamus-pituitary axis receive axonal projection from neuroendocrine neurons, but it remains unclear whether neuroendocrine neuronal activity drives tumor expansion. Craniopharyngioma is a common suprasellar tumor with a propensity for invading the hypothalamus, leading to devastating endocrine and metabolic disorders. Here, we developed two autochthonous animal models that faithfully recapitulate the molecular pathology, clinical manifestations, and transcriptomic profiles of papillary craniopharyngioma. Using high-throughput drug screening, we identified 74 compounds with potent antitumor efficacy. The administration of (
S
)-amlodipine besylate achieved tumor regression in vivo, potentially by abrogating calcium transients and neuron-to-tumor chemical transmission. Chemogenetic manipulation of neuroendocrine neuronal activity bidirectionally regulated tumor cell growth in our mouse model, suggesting that craniopharyngioma hijacks hypothalamic neurons to promote tumor progression. These findings deepen our understanding of suprasellar tumor biology and offer promising avenues for clinical exploration of effective chemotherapies.
The pharmacological basis for nonpeptide agonism of the GLP-1 receptor by orforglipron
Authors: Sloop Kyle W. , Cox Amy L. , Wainscott David B. , White Alex , Droz Brian A. , Stutsman Cynthia , Showalter Aaron D. , Suter Todd M. , Dunbar James D. , Snider Brandy M. , O’Farrell Libbey S. , Hewitt Natalie , Ruble J. Craig , Padgett Leah R. , Woerly Eric M. , Peterson Jeffrey A. , Coskun Tamer , Liu Zhaomin , Coutant David E. , Ai Minrong , Emmerson Paul J. , Sangwung Panjamaporn , Willard Francis S.
Published: December 2024

Orally bioavailable, synthetic nonpeptide agonists (NPAs) of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) may offer an effective, scalable pharmacotherapy to address the metabolic disease epidemic. One of the first molecules in the emerging class of GLP-1R NPAs is orforglipron, which is in clinical development for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. Here, we characterized the pharmacological properties of orforglipron in comparison with peptide-based GLP-1R agonists and other NPAs. Competition binding experiments using either [
125
I]GLP-1(7-36)NH
2
or [
3
H]orforglipron indicated that orforglipron is a high-affinity [inhibition constant (
K
i
) = 1 nM], selective ligand of the human GLP-1R. Signal transduction assays showed that orforglipron has low intrinsic efficacy for effector activation and negligible β-arrestin recruitment. To evaluate GLP-1R engagement in vivo, mice expressing the human GLP-1R were administered orforglipron and subjected to a glucose tolerance test. Predicted receptor occupancy was calculated using the receptor
K
i
value of orforglipron and its unbound concentration in vivo that reduces hyperglycemia. These experiments revealed that low GLP-1R occupancy by orforglipron is sufficient to yield a full biological response. Moreover, in a model where CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing was used to sensitize the rat GLP-1R (

Glp1r
S33W

) to GLP-1R NPAs, target engagement by orforglipron in the pancreas and brain was consistent with peptide-based GLP-1R agonists. Diet-induced obesity in

Glp1r
S33W

rats enabled studies showing weight loss in animals orally administered orforglipron versus subcutaneous injection of GLP-1R agonist semaglutide. Furthermore, crossover studies indicated oral orforglipron can sustain efficacy initiated by parenteral semaglutide. The pharmacological properties of orforglipron may inform targeting of other peptide receptors with NPAs.
Soil microbiome interventions for carbon sequestration and climate mitigation
Authors: Beattie Gwyn A. , Edlund Anna , Esiobu Nwadiuto , Gilbert Jack , Nicolaisen Mette Haubjerg , Jansson Janet K. , Jensen Paul , Keiluweit Marco , Lennon Jay T. , Martiny Jennifer , Minnis Vanessa R. , Newman Dianne , Peixoto Raquel , Schadt Christopher , van der Meer Jan Roelof
Published: December 2024

Mitigating climate change in soil ecosystems involves complex plant and microbial processes regulating carbon pools and flows. Here, we advocate for the use of soil microbiome interventions to help increase soil carbon stocks and curb greenhouse gas emissions from managed soils. Direct interventions include the introduction of microbial strains, consortia, phage, and soil transplants, whereas indirect interventions include managing soil conditions or additives to modulate community composition or its activities. Approaches to increase soil carbon stocks using microbially catalyzed processes include increasing carbon inputs from plants, promoting soil organic matter (SOM) formation, and reducing SOM turnover and production of diverse greenhouse gases. Marginal or degraded soils may provide the greatest opportunities for enhancing global soil carbon stocks. Among the many knowledge gaps in this field, crucial gaps include the processes influencing the transformation of plant-derived soil carbon inputs into SOM and the identity of the microbes and microbial activities impacting this transformation. As a critical step forward, we encourage broadening the current widespread screening of potentially beneficial soil microorganisms to encompass functions relevant to stimulating soil carbon stocks. Moreover, in developing these interventions, we must consider the potential ecological ramifications and uncertainties, such as incurred by the widespread introduction of homogenous inoculants and consortia, and the need for site-specificity given the extreme variation among soil habitats. Incentivization and implementation at large spatial scales could effectively harness increases in soil carbon stocks, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Effect of Endophytic Bacteria Bacillus subtilis 26D and Bacillus velezensis M66 on Resistance of Potato Plants to the Causative Agent of Early Blight Alternaria solani
Authors: Sorokan A. V. , Gabdrakhmanova V. F. , Mardanshin I. S. , Maksimov I. V.
Published: December 2024

The effect of Bacillus velezensis M66 and Bacillus subtilis 26D bacteria on the resistance of potato plants to the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria solani (the causative agent of early blight) was studied. The accumulation of viable bacterial cells of these strains in the internal tissues of the potato stem, roots, and tubers over a long period of time was demonstrated for the first time. A significant reduction in the area affected by the early blight on leaves inoculated with plant endophytes, as well as inhibition of the pathogen growth under the action of bacterial strains, was detected, which can be explained by the synthesis of lipopeptide antibiotics (the genes responsible for the synthesis of which were found by the PCR method) and proteolytic enzymes (the activity of which was demonstrated in vitro). The formation of plant resistance under the influence of inoculation with B. subtilis 26D and B. velezensis M66 was accompanied by an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the first hours after plant infection with A. solani spores and by a decrease in this index at the late stages of pathogenesis due to an increase in the activity of catalase and peroxidases. Limitation of the fungus spread was accompanied by an increase in the activity of proteinase inhibitors in plants, which probably decreased the negative effect of proteolytic enzymes of the necrotrophic pathogen A. solani. It can be assumed that the inoculation of plants with bacterial cells of the B. velezensis M66 strain contributed to the formation of resistance of potato plants to the early blight by efficient priming of the phytoimmune potential, which is comparable to the B. subtilis 26D strain (successfully used in the field conditions), an active component of the Fitosporin-M biopreparation.
Peroxidase of Trametes hirsuta LE-BIN 072: Purification, Characteristics, and Application for Dye Decolorization
Authors: Savinova O. S. , Fedorova T. V.
Published: December 2024

Lignin peroxidase (LiP9) from the basidiomycete Trametes hirsuta LE-BIN 072, an effective lignin destructor, was purified to a homogeneous state (with an RZ purity index of 1.8) and characterized for the first time. The molecular weight of LiP9 was 43 kDa and its pI was 3.2. The enzyme showed the highest activity at pH 2.5 and 35°C when veratryl alcohol was used as a substrate. The analysis of the substrate specificity showed that LiP9 oxidized phenol derivatives much faster than those of benzoic and cinnamic acids with the same substituents in the benzene ring. The highest specific activity of the enzyme was observed for catechol oxidation. The ability of LiP9 to decolorize recalcitrant dyes (reactive black 5, congo red, remazol brilliant blue R, phenol red, indigo carmine, and bromocresol green) was assessed. The highest decolorization efficiency was shown for indigo carmine (in the presence of veratryl alcohol) and bromocresol green (directly) up to 80 and 60%, respectively, in 1 hour.
Right ventricular dysfunction in preclinical models of type I and type II diabetes
Authors: Polson Sydney M. , Thornburg Joshua P. , McNair Benjamin D. , Cook Christian Z. , Straight Elizabeth A. , Fontana Kevin C. , Hoopes Caleb R. , Nair Sreejayan , Bruns Danielle R.
Published: December 2024

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a growing clinical entity and major health burden characterized by comorbid diabetes mellitus and heart failure. DCM has been commonly associated with impaired function of the left ventricle (LV); however, DCM likely also occurs in the right ventricle (RV) which has distinct physiology and pathophysiology from the LV. RV dysfunction is the strongest determinant of mortality in several clinical contexts yet remains poorly studied in diabetes. We investigated RV-specific pathophysiology using two models of diabetes—a well-characterized type 2 diabetes (T2DM) model of high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) in the mouse and a large animal model of type I diabetes in domestic pigs rendered diabetic with STZ. RV global and systolic function deteriorated with diabetes, alongside hypertrophic and fibrotic remodeling. We report evidence of impaired RV insulin sensitivity, dysregulated RV metabolic gene expression, and impaired mitochondrial dynamics. Importantly, while some of these outcomes were similar to those widely reported in the LV, others were not, such as unchanged antioxidant gene expression and regulators of fatty acid uptake. Importantly, these RV-specific changes occurred in both male and female T2DM mice, together emphasizing the importance of distinguishing the RV from the LV when studying DCM and begging the consideration of RV-specific therapies.
Food Systems Innovation to Nurture Equity and Resilience Globally (Food SINERGY): insights from the Food SINERGY network
Authors: Deaconu Ana , Batal Malek , Calderón Claudia Irene , Caron Patrick , McNally Jessica , Frison Emile , Mercille Geneviève , Riva Mylène , Brisbois Ben
Published: December 2024

The international collaboration network Food Systems Innovation to Nurture Equity and Resilience Globally (Food SINERGY) unites food system experts concerned with the confluence of environmental, geopolitical, economic, and public health stressors that weaken food systems and increase inequalities. In March 2023, Food SINERGY participants from universities, research institutes, food policy advocacy groups, Indigenous networks, farmers’ associations, consumer organizations, social enterprises, and non-governmental organizations from around the world met in Mont Orford, Québec, for a forum to revisit food system structures across local-to-global scales and to identify key junctures for transformation. This article summarizes the network's discussions in the context of the existing literature. Key knowledge contributions include the importance of diversification throughout the food system for cultivating resilience; the value of food sovereignty in promoting equity across scales; the reconciliation between food sovereignty and equitable trade; the need for consonance between policy environments at different scales to enable positive societal actions; the pioneering role of food system innovations that challenge conventional political and economic structures, with emphasis on agroecology; and the need for critical self-reflection around knowledge production and knowledge use to better serve equitable food systems. These discussion outcomes provide insights for actors seeking to transform food systems in support of equity and resilience.
Sustainable Distributed Scheduling Problem
Authors: Saraeian Shideh
Published: December 2024

Many strategies have been devised to facilitate scheduling determinations per the dynamic production landscape. Also, the repercussions of environmental degradation intensify, and the focus on sustainable production methodologies has acquired substantial recognition. In addition, production managers are required to carefully determine the suitable schedule for each machine, considering environmental criteria. In such cases, another challenge in the manufacturing system alongside the minimization of job completion time which is important is reducing the environmental parameters impacts. Hence, this study focuses on addressing the challenge of distributed scheduling problems within the context of sustainable production. For energy-efficient factory selection, in this research, support vector machine (SVM) algorithm and improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) have been used. In this case, first, factories with the least amount of pollution, waste, and energy consumption were selected. Second, the composition of intelligent algorithms such as gravitational search algorithm (GSA) and genetic algorithm (GA) was used to propose an appropriate distributed jobs scheduling in selected distributed factories. The simulation results show that this intelligent scheduling of distributed sustainable factories has significant potential to minimize environmental parameters inside production cycle optimization.
A single exposure to prolonged flexor carpi radialis muscle vibration increases sensorimotor cortical areas activity
Authors: Pfenninger Clara , Fabre Marie , Zeghoudi Narimane , Adham Ahmed , Benoit Charles-Etienne , Lapole Thomas
Published: December 2024

Prolonged local vibration (LV) is thought to promote brain plasticity, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we used electroencephalography in healthy subjects and found increased activity in primary motor, primary somatosensory, and posterior parietal areas after a single exposure to LV. This may be due to LV-induced Ia afferents inputs projecting onto cortical areas through proprioceptive pathways, and likely triggering brain plasticity.
Criptoactivos. Su auge y desarrollo desde la perspectiva interdisciplinaria de la Contabilidad
Authors: Torres Zapata Isabel , Hidalgo Arias Rodolfo
Published: December 2024

Los criptoactivos son una forma de operación en los mercados locales y globales rodeado de escepticismo y, a la vez, una confianza poco comprendida. Este ensayo es un análisis de los criptoactivos, de acuerdo con la Perspectiva Interdisciplinaria de la Contabilidad, reuniendo estudios y cuestionamientos en torno al tema. Este enfoque plantea tres aspectos relevantes de analizar, la relevancia práctica, la relevancia teórica y la relevancia ética. Respecto de la relevancia práctica, en este ensayo se desarrolla una descripción histórica del dinero como una forma de comprender de manera amplia como llegamos a la situación actual en torno a los criptoactivos. Posteriormente en la relevancia teórica, se describe a través del funcionamiento de los criptoactivos, de manera de identificar su adecuada clasificación desde la contabilidad y sus normas, para finalizar con una descripción de las consecuencias sociales y la responsabilidad en torno a su operación como la relevancia ética. De acuerdo a este análisis, aún cuando exiten situaciones negativas en torno a los criptoactivos, como son fraudes y malas prácticas, estas monedas digitales llegaron para quedarse, por lo que es imprescindible hoy en día conocerlas y manejar su operación, como un aporte al conocimiento y su adecuada gestión y la responsabilidad para con los stakeholders de acuerdo a nuestro rol profesional en la sociedad.
Table 2 from Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Detects Incidence, Onset, and Heterogeneity of Radiation-Induced Hypoxia Modification in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Dubec Michael J. , Price James , Berks Michael , Gaffney John , Little Ross A. , Porta Nuria , Sridharan Nivetha , Datta Anubhav , McHugh Damien J. , Hague Christina J. , Cheung Susan , Manoharan Prakash , van Herk Marcel , Choudhury Ananya , Matthews Julian C. , Parker Geoff J.M. , Buckley David L. , Harrington Kevin J. , McPartlin Andrew , O’Connor James P.B.
Published: December 2024

Pretreatment repeatability data for 21 lesions from 12 patients acquired at two pretreatment BL timepoints (BL0 and BL1).
Supplementary Figure S6 from Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Detects Incidence, Onset, and Heterogeneity of Radiation-Induced Hypoxia Modification in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Dubec Michael J. , Price James , Berks Michael , Gaffney John , Little Ross A. , Porta Nuria , Sridharan Nivetha , Datta Anubhav , McHugh Damien J. , Hague Christina J. , Cheung Susan , Manoharan Prakash , van Herk Marcel , Choudhury Ananya , Matthews Julian C. , Parker Geoff J.M. , Buckley David L. , Harrington Kevin J. , McPartlin Andrew , O’Connor James P.B.
Published: December 2024

Supplementary Figure S6. Histograms of baseline OE-MRI biomarker results.
Figure 1 from Oxygen-Enhanced MRI Detects Incidence, Onset, and Heterogeneity of Radiation-Induced Hypoxia Modification in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Dubec Michael J. , Price James , Berks Michael , Gaffney John , Little Ross A. , Porta Nuria , Sridharan Nivetha , Datta Anubhav , McHugh Damien J. , Hague Christina J. , Cheung Susan , Manoharan Prakash , van Herk Marcel , Choudhury Ananya , Matthews Julian C. , Parker Geoff J.M. , Buckley David L. , Harrington Kevin J. , McPartlin Andrew , O’Connor James P.B.
Published: December 2024

Treatment-induced changes in OE-MRI–derived biomarkers. A, Example hypoxia maps for a large metastatic lymph node (patient 7) obtained at two BL timepoints (BL0 and BL1) and W2 and W4 of radiation treatment. Corresponding ΔR1 maps are provided in Supplementary Fig. S7A–S7C. B, Bar charts plot the relative sizes of HVMRI along with NVMRI and nonperfused volume for this patient. Note: The combination of HVMRI, NVMRI, and nonperfused volume equate to the WTV. C, Patient cohort assessment of treatment effects illustrated as plots of standard error of the mean (SEM) for (top left to bottom right) HVMRI, NVMRI, nonperfused volume, WTV, HFMRI, and ΔR1.
Plasma transcriptome profile associated with CKD progression
Authors: Srivastava Anvesha , Maienschein-Cline Mark , Amdur Richard L. , Susztak Katalin , Kopp Jeffrey Burnett , Cao Haiming , Shankaranarayanan Divya , Abdalla Yoosif , Pabalan Ana , Gombert Michael , Raj Dominic
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Understanding the molecular signals associated with the progression of kidney disease is vital for risk stratification and targeted treatment. Recent advances in RNA-sequencing technique has enabled us to characterize extracellular transcriptome profiles for precision diagnostics.
Method: We evaluated the plasma mRNA profile of participants exhibiting slow (n=119) and fast (n=119) decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) among the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) in a nested case control study. The two groups were matched for age, sex, race, baseline eGFR, proteinuria and diabetes status. The next generation sequencing data was analyzed using edgeR to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was done to identify the associated pathways. We also compared the top plasma DEGs with gene expression in microdissected human CKD kidney.
Results: We identified fragments from ~28,000 annotated genes, of which 783 transcripts exhibited differential expression between slow and fast CKD progressors. Among 629 protein coding genes, 469 were overexpressed in slow progressors, while 157 showed increased expression in fast progressors. Expression of GLI2, CUX1, NOTCH1 and LRP1 transcripts were amplified in slow progressors. Pathway analysis linked these differentially expressed genes to WNT/β-catenin signaling, IL-12 signaling and production in macrophages, Netrin-1 Signaling and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition pathways. Many of the plasma differentially expressed genes were also upregulated in microdissected human CKD kidney.
Conclusion: Warranting further validation, circulating levels of aberrantly expressed transcripts hold potential to be used as biomarkers for fast CKD progression.
Analysis of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Impact and Mechanism on Broncho-Pulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: Lu Ling , Liu Ye-Dan , Liu Dong-Yun , Jin Rong , Qu Zheng-Hai
Published: December 2024

Objective:Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells is an important mechanism for the onset and development of broncho-pulmonary dysplasia (BPD).The role of FGF-2 in BPD is currently unclear. The aim of our study is to investigate the expression of FGF-2 in lung tissue of BPD mice, to further clarify the effect of FGF-2 on EMT in alveolar epithelial cells and to actively search for possible signaling pathways. Methods: The BPD model was induced by exposure to hyperoxia. Lung tissue samples were collected and Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to determine the modelling effect. Quantitative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry were used to detect FGF-2 expression in BPD mice. To further investigate the effect of FGF-2 supplementation and deficiency on EMT in alveolar epithelial cells, A549 cells were cryopreserved, resuspended, cultured and passaged. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) was used to induce EMT. FGF-2 small interfering RNA fragments were synthesised and screened. Fbroblast growth factor receptor1 (FGFR1) expression was inhibited by BGJ398.  (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H tetrazolium) (MTS) assay was used to detect the effect of FGF-2 and Infigratinib (BGJ398) on cell proliferation. We used qRT-PCR and Western blot to detect the expression of epithelial cell markers, mesenchymal cell markers and EMT-related signaling pathway proteins. Results: Our results showed that the successful established hyperoxia mice model were characteristic by BPD. Hyperoxia decreased FGF-2 on day 4, upregulated FGF-2 on day 21, which resulted in EMT. In vitro, we found that FGF-2 alone increased the expression of mesenchymal markers, decreased the expression of epithelial markers and activated Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), Small mother against decapentaplegic (Smad), mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways. FGF-2 could not reverse but synergistically promote TGF-β1-induced EMT of alveolar epithelial cells. Silencing FGF-2 increased the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin, inhibited the PI3K/AKT, Smad, and P38 signaling pathways activated by TGF-β1, but activated ERK signaling. FGF-2 receptor inhibitor BGJ398 reversed TGF-β1-induced EMT, decreased the expression of FGFR1, and inhibited ERK signaling pathway activation. Conclusions: FGF2 was closely associated with EMT in BPD mice. Both high and low levels of FGF2 promoted EMT in A549. The FGF-2 receptor inhibitor BGJ398 reversed TGF-β1-induced EMT in A549 by inhibiting the FGFR1/P-ERK signaling pathway.