bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the association between fasting insulin, erythrocytosis and HbA1c through Mendelian randomization and observational analyses
Authors: Nguyen Anthony , Khafagy Rana , Hashemy Habiba , Kuo Kevin H. M. , Roshandel Delnaz , Paterson Andrew D. , Dash Satya
Published: March 2023

Background

Insulin resistance (IR) with associated compensatory hyperinsulinemia (HI) are early abnormalities in the etiology of prediabetes (preT2D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). IR and HI also associate with increased erythrocytosis. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is commonly used to diagnose and monitor preT2D and T2D, but can be influenced by erythrocytosis independent of glycemia.

Methods

We undertook bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) in individuals of European ancestry to investigate potential causal associations between increased fasting insulin adjusted for BMI (FI), erythrocytosis and its non-glycemic impact on HbA1c. We investigated the association between the triglyceride-glucose index (TGI), a surrogate measure of IR and HI, and glycation gap (difference between measured HbA1c and predicted HbA1c derived from linear regression of fasting glucose) in people with normoglycemia and preT2D.

Results

Inverse variance weighted MR (IVWMR) suggested that increased FI increases hemoglobin (Hb, b=0.54 ± 0.09, p=2.7 x 10-10), red cell count (RCC, b=0.54 ± 0.12, p=5.38x10-6) and reticulocyte (RETIC, b=0.70 ± 0.15, p=2.18x10-6). Multivariable MR indicated that increased FI did not impact HbA1c (b=0.23 ± 0.16, p=0.162) but reduced HbA1c after adjustment for T2D (b=0.31 ± 0.13, p=0.016). Increased Hb (b=0.03 ± 0.01, p=0.02), RCC (b=0.02 ± 0.01, p=0.04) and RETIC (b=0.03 ± 0.01, p=0.002) might modestly increase FI. In the observational cohort, increased TGI associated with decreased glycation gap, (i.e., measured HbA1c was lower than expected based on fasting glucose, (b=-0.09 ± 0.009, p<0.0001)) in people with preT2D but not in those with normoglycemia (b=0.02 ± 0.007, p<0.0001).

Conclusions

MR suggests increased FI increases erythrocytosis and might potentially decrease HbA1c by non-glycemic effects. Increased TGI, a surrogate measure of increased FI, associates with lower-than-expected HbA1c in people with preT2D. These findings merit confirmatory studies to evaluate their clinical significance.
Phase-field study of the effect of stress field and fission rate on intragranular Xe bubble evolution in U3Si2 nuclear fuel
Authors: Ma Cong , Liu Caiyan , Zhao Min , Xin Tianyuan , Wu Lu , Pan Rongjian , Qin Jiantao , Zhang Jing
Published: March 2023

Due to the superior thermal conductivity and high uranium density, U3Si2 is an excellent candidate for conventional UO2 nuclear fuel and shows great potential application in accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) assembly of light water reactors (LWRs). Currently, the behavior of Xe bubbles with internal or applied stress is rarely investigated, restricting further understanding of swelling in U3Si2. The mesoscopic phase-field method has been developed in this work to study the spatial and temporal Xe bubble evolution in U3Si2. The results show that the bubble density and its average size increase as the fission rate increases. Applied stress accelerates the nucleation and growth of gas bubbles, reshaping the bubbles’ morphology from spherical in a stress-free state into elongated along the applied direction in a stressed state. The gas bubbles in a local dislocation stress field nucleate preferentially at stress-concentrated sites and spread over the whole system in succession, and the bubble coarsening is controlled by the stress overlap of the dislocation pair. The results show a practical phase-field method for Xe bubble evolution study in U3Si2, which can be expanded into swelling behavior investigation in other fuels and lay a solid foundation for the development of ATF assembly.
Electric vehicle navigation and cluster dispatch for reliable low-carbon traffic–Power systems
Authors: Wang Shunqi , Xiang Yue , Chen Lin , Sun Zhou , Hu Shangjian , Guo Mingyang , Hu Haifeng , Tong Jun , Huang Yifan , Chen Liang , Liu Junyong
Published: March 2023

Large-scale integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into the city system for charging will affect the operation of both traffic and distribution networks. An electric vehicle navigation and cluster dispatch model is proposed for improving the overall charging efficiency of EVs on the transportation network and increasing the voltage level of the distribution network. First, a simplified model of vehicles and traffic road network is established, and a cell transmission model (CTM) is used to simulate the real traffic network. The traffic system takes into account charging EVs, discharging EVs, and other vehicles, and traffic congestion is considered. Then, a coupled model of the traffic–power system is built for the orderly charging of electric vehicles upon arrival at a charging station. The model considers the coupling of the two systems on a time scale, and the charging/discharging power at each charging station node is controlled. The validity of the model is verified in a coupled system of 357 cell traffic network and modified IEEE33 nodes. The results show that the proposed model can ensure good guarantee of the distribution network voltage reliability and reveal the scheduling process of the traffic network. The proposed model also provides a reference for planning of charging stations in the distribution network.
Influence of foliar traits, watershed physiography, and nutrient subsidies on stream water quality in the upper midwestern United States
Authors: Singh Aditya , Townsend Philip A.
Published: March 2023

The relationship between nutrient cycling and water quality in mixed-use ecosystems is driven by interactions among biotic and abiotic processes. However, the underlying processes cannot always be directly observed or modeled at broad spatial scales. Numerous empirical studies have employed land use patterns, variations in watershed physiography or disturbance regimes to characterize nutrient export from mixed-use watersheds, but simultaneously disentangling the effects of such factors remains challenging and few models directly incorporate vegetation biochemistry. Here we use structural equation models (SEMs) to assess the relative influence of foliar chemical traits (derived from imaging spectroscopy), watershed physiography, and human land use on the water quality (summer baseflow nitrate-N and soluble reactive phosphorus concentration) in watersheds across the Upper Midwestern United States. We use an SEM to link water quality (stream nitrate-nitrogen and dissolved phosphorus) to foliar retention (AVIRIS-Classic derived foliar traits related to recalcitrance), watershed retention (wetland proportion, MODIS Tasseled Cap Wetness), runoff (agricultural and urban land use), and watershed leakiness (AVIRIS-Classic foliar nitrogen, nitrogen deposition). The SEMs confirmed that variables associated with foliar retention derived from imaging spectroscopy are negatively related to watershed leakiness (standardized path coefficient = −0.892) and positively to watershed retention (standardized path coefficient = 0.705), with features related to watershed retention and runoff exerting the strongest controls on water quality (standardized path coefficients of −0.270 and 0.331 respectively). Comparing forested and agricultural watersheds, we found significantly increased importance of foliar retention to watershed leakiness in forests compared to agriculture (standardized coefficients of −1.004 and −0.764 respectively), with measures of watershed retention more important to runoff and water quality in agricultural watersheds. The results illustrate the capacity of imaging spectroscopy to provide measures of foliar traits that influence nutrient cycling in watersheds. Ultimately, the results may help focus development and restoration policies towards building more resilient landscapes that take into consideration associations among functional traits of vegetation, physiography and climate.
The impact of digital economy on environmental quality: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Zhi , Ding Ziqi , Geng Yuewen , Pan Liting , Wang Cang
Published: March 2023

With the rapid development of new generation of information technology and the continuous deterioration of ecological environment, the environmental effect of digital economy has begun to receive attention. Based on panel data from 30 provinces in China during the period of 2014–2020, this study investigates the impact and mechanisms of digital economy on environmental quality using the fixed effect model and moderating effect model. The results show that the digital economy can significantly inhibit environmental pollution. The inhibitory effect of digital economy shows obvious regional heterogeneity, which is the strongest in the west, followed by the east, and the weakest in the center. The economic development level and income distribution inequality play positive and negative roles in regulating the negative linkage between digital economy and environmental pollution, respectively. The government should implement a differentiated strategy to promote the comprehensive development of digital economy and maximize its environmental effects, accelerate the integrated development of urban and rural economies through inclusive growth, and optimize the moderating effect of economic development level and income distribution inequality.
Identification of LTBP2 gene polymorphisms and their association with thoracolumbar vertebrae number, body size, and carcass traits in Dezhou donkeys
Authors: Liu Ziwen , Wang Tianqi , Shi Xiaoyuan , Wang Xinrui , Ren Wei , Huang Bingjian , Wang Changfa
Published: March 2023

The number of thoracolumbar vertebrae in Dezhou donkeys varies from 22 to 24 and is associated with body size and carcass traits. In mammals, the latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 2 (LTBP2) has been found to have some functions in the development of thoracolumbar vertebrae. The relationship between LTBP2 and TLN (the number of thoracolumbar vertebrae) of Dezhou donkeys is yet to be reported. The purposes of this study are as follows: 1) to quantify the effect of thoracolumbar vertebrae number variation of Dezhou donkeys on body size and carcass trait; 2) to study the distribution of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the LTBP2 gene of Dezhou donkeys; and 3) to explore whether these SNVs can be used as candidate sites to study the mechanism of Dezhou donkey muti-thoracolumbar vertebrae development. The TLN, body size, and carcass traits of 392 individuals from a Dezhou donkey breed were recorded. All animals were sequenced for LTBP2 using GBTS liquid chip and 16 SNVs were used for further analysis. We then analyzed the relationship between these SNVs with TLN, body size, and carcass traits. The results showed that: 1) c.5547 + 860 C > T, c.5251 + 281 A > C, c.3769 + 40 C > T, and c.2782 + 3975 A > G were complete genetic linkages and significantly associated with thoracic vertebrae number (TN) (p < 0.05) (wild-type homozygotes had more TN than heterozygotes); 2) c.1381 + 768 T > G and c.1381 + 763 G > T were significantly associated with lumber vertebrae number (LN) (p < 0.05); 3) c.1003 + 704 C > T, c.1003 + 651 C > T, c.1003 + 626 A > G, and c.812 + 22526 T > G were significantly associated with chest circumference (CHC), front carcass weight (CWF), after carcass weight (CWA), and carcass weight (CW) (p < 0.05) (wild-type homozygotes were larger than other genotypes in CHC, CWF, CWA, and CW); and 4) the effect of variation is not consistent in c.565 + 11921 A > G, c.565 + 6840 A > G, c.565 + 3453 C > T, and c.494 + 5808 C > T. These results provide useful information that the polymorphism of LTBP2 is significantly associated with TLN, body size, and carcass traits in Dezhou donkeys, which can serve as a molecule marker to improve donkey production performance.
Genetic analysis and prenatal diagnosis of short-rib thoracic dysplasia 3 with or without polydactyly caused by compound heterozygous variants of DYNC2H1 gene in four Chinese families
Authors: Fang Yuying , Li Shuo , Yu Dongyi
Published: March 2023

Background: To describe the genetic variation of dynein cytoplasmic 2 heavy chain 1 (DYNC2H1) gene in four Chinese families affected with short-rib thoracic dysplasia 3 with or without polydactyly (SRTD3), and to provide evidence for accurate prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Methods: The detailed clinical prenatal sonographic features of four fetuses with SRTD3 were carried out. Trio-whole exome sequencing (WES) and proband-WES sequencing was applied to filtrated causative variants in four families. The causative variants of each family were validated in by Sanger sequencing. Bioinformation analysis was applied to predict the harmfulness of these mutations and perform the protein-protein interaction network and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. A vitro minigene splicing assay was conducted to assess the influence of the splice site variant.

Results: Typical characterization of the four fetuses included short long bones, short ribs, narrow chest, hand and foot posture abnormalities, femur short in diameter and slightly bowing, cardiac abnormalities, and so on. Moreover, eight compound heterozygous variants of DYNC2H1 (NM_001080463.2): c.3842A>C (p.Tyr1281Ser) and c.8833-1G>A, c.8617A>G (p.Met2873Val) and c.7053_7054del (p.Cys2351Ter), c.5984C>T (p.Ala1995Val) and c.10219C>T (p.Arg3407Ter), c.5256del (p.Ala1753GlnfsTer13) and c.9737C>T (p.Thr3246Ile), were identified. Among which, c.10219C>T (p.Arg3407Terp), c.5984C>T (p.Ala1995Val) and c.9737C>T (p.Thr3246Ile) were reported in ClinVar databases, and c.8617A>G (p.Met2873Val), c.10219C>T (p.Arg3407Ter), c.5984C>T (p.Ala1995Val) were found in HGMD databases. Four variants (c.3842A>C (p.Tyr1281Ser), c.8833-1G>A, c.7053_7054del (p.Cys2351Ter) and c.5256del (p.Ala1753GlnfsTer13) were first reported as novel mutations. According to the ACMG guidelines, c.8617A>G (p.Met2873Val), c.7053_7054del (p.Cys2351Ter), c.5984C>T (p.Ala1995Val), c.10219C>T (p.Arg3407Ter) and c.5256del (p.Ala1753GlnfsTer13) were rated as pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants, others variants were predicted to be variants of uncertain significance mutations. The minigene assay results indicated that c.8833-1G>A caused the skipping over exon 56, resulting in exon 56 loss.

Conclusion: In our study, we analyzed the genetic mutations in four fetuses with SRTD3 by whole exome sequencing and identified pathogenic variants causing SRTD3. Our results expand the mutation spectrum of DYNC2H1 in SRTD3, which is helpful for the accurate prenatal diagnosis of SRTD3 fetuses and provide useful strategies for genetic counseling.
Characterization of Brazilian spring wheat germplasm and its potential for increasing wheat genetic diversity in Canada
Authors: Rosa Silvia Barcellos , Humphreys Gavin , Langille Linda , Voldeng Harvey , Henriquez Maria Antonia , Burt Andrew James , Randhawa Harpinder Singh , Fetch Tom , Hiebert Colin W. , Blackwell Barbara , Zegeye Taye , Cummiskey Allan , Fortier Eric , Scheeren Pedro Luiz , Turra Camila , McCallum Brent
Published: March 2023

In the present era of climate instability, Canadian wheat production has been frequently affected by abiotic stresses and by dynamic populations of pathogens and pests that are more virulent and aggressive over time. Genetic diversity is fundamental to guarantee sustainable and improved wheat production. In the past, the genetics of Brazilian cultivars, such as Frontana, have been studied by Canadian researchers and consequently, Brazilian germplasm has been used to breed Canadian wheat cultivars. The objective of this study was to characterize a collection of Brazilian germplasm under Canadian growing conditions, including the reaction of the Brazilian germplasm to Canadian isolates/pathogens and to predict the presence of certain genes in an effort to increase genetic diversity, improve genetic gain and resilience of Canadian wheat. Over 100 Brazilian hard red spring wheat cultivars released from 1986 to 2016 were evaluated for their agronomic performance in eastern Canada. Some cultivars showed good adaptability, with several cultivars being superior or statistically equal to the highest yielding Canadian checks. Several Brazilian cultivars had excellent resistance to leaf rust, even though only a few of these tested positive for the presence of either Lr34 or Lr16, two of the most common resistance genes in Canadian wheat. Resistance for stem rust, stripe rust and powdery mildew was variable among the Brazilian cultivars. However, many Brazilian cultivars had high levels of resistance to Canadian and African - Ug99 strains of stem rust. Many Brazilian cultivars had good Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance, which appears to be derived from Frontana. In contrast FHB resistance in Canadian wheat is largely based on the Chinese variety, Sumai-3. The Brazilian germplasm is a valuable source of semi-dwarf (Rht) genes, and 75% of the Brazilian collection possessed Rht-B1b. Many cultivars in the Brazilian collection were found to be genetically distinct from Canadian wheat, making them a valuable resource to increase the disease resistance and genetic variability in Canada and elsewhere.
Immune responses of different COVID-19 vaccination strategies by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing data from multiple tissues using machine learning methods
Authors: Li Hao , Ma Qinglan , Ren Jingxin , Guo Wei , Feng Kaiyan , Li Zhandong , Huang Tao , Cai Yu-Dong
Published: March 2023

Multiple types of COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be highly effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and in reducing post-infection symptoms. Almost all of these vaccines induce systemic immune responses, but differences in immune responses induced by different vaccination regimens are evident. This study aimed to reveal the differences in immune gene expression levels of different target cells under different vaccine strategies after SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters. A machine learning based process was designed to analyze single-cell transcriptomic data of different cell types from the blood, lung, and nasal mucosa of hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2, including B and T cells from the blood and nasal cavity, macrophages from the lung and nasal cavity, alveolar epithelial and lung endothelial cells. The cohort was divided into five groups: non-vaccinated (control), 2*adenovirus (two doses of adenovirus vaccine), 2*attenuated (two doses of attenuated virus vaccine), 2*mRNA (two doses of mRNA vaccine), and mRNA/attenuated (primed by mRNA vaccine, boosted by attenuated vaccine). All genes were ranked using five signature ranking methods (LASSO, LightGBM, Monte Carlo feature selection, mRMR, and permutation feature importance). Some key genes that contributed to the analysis of immune changes, such as RPS23, DDX5, PFN1 in immune cells, and IRF9 and MX1 in tissue cells, were screened. Afterward, the five feature sorting lists were fed into the feature incremental selection framework, which contained two classification algorithms (decision tree [DT] and random forest [RF]), to construct optimal classifiers and generate quantitative rules. Results showed that random forest classifiers could provide relative higher performance than decision tree classifiers, whereas the DT classifiers provided quantitative rules that indicated special gene expression levels under different vaccine strategies. These findings may help us to develop better protective vaccination programs and new vaccines.
Cholesterol sulfate limits neutrophil recruitment and gut inflammation during mucosal injury
Authors: Morino Kenji , Kunimura Kazufumi , Sugiura Yuki , Izumi Yoshihiro , Matsubara Keisuke , Akiyoshi Sayaka , Maeda Rae , Hirotani Kenichiro , Sakata Daiji , Mizuno Seiya , Takahashi Satoru , Bamba Takeshi , Uruno Takehito , Fukui Yoshinori
Published: March 2023

During mucosal injury, intestinal immune cells play a crucial role in eliminating invading bacteria. However, as the excessive accumulation of immune cells promotes inflammation and delays tissue repair, it is essential to identify the mechanism that limits the infiltration of immune cells to the mucosal-luminal interface. Cholesterol sulfate (CS) is the lipid product of the sulfotransferase SULT2B1 and suppresses immune reactions by inhibiting DOCK2-mediated Rac activation. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the physiological role of CS in the intestinal tract. We found that, in the small intestine and colon, CS is predominantly produced in the epithelial cells close to the lumen. While dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis was exacerbated in Sult2b1-deficient mice with increased prevalence of neutrophils, the elimination of either neutrophils or intestinal bacteria in Sult2b1-deficient mice attenuated disease development. Similar results were obtained when the Dock2 was genetically deleted in Sult2b1-deficient mice. In addition, we also show that indomethacin-induced ulcer formation in the small intestine was exacerbated in Sult2b1-deficient mice and was ameliorated by CS administration. Thus, our results uncover that CS acts on inflammatory neutrophils, and prevents excessive gut inflammation by inhibiting the Rac activator DOCK2. The administration of CS may be a novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced ulcers.
Histone acetylation-related IncRNA: Potential biomarkers for predicting prognosis and immune response in lung adenocarcinoma, and distinguishing hot and cold tumours
Authors: Li Rumeng , Qiu Tingting , Zhou Qiangqiang , He Fajian , Jie Chen , Zheng Xinyu , Lu Zeguang , Wu Qiuji , Xie Conghua
Published: March 2023

Background

Histone acetylation-related lncRNAs (HARlncRNAs) play significant roles in various cancers, but their impact on lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. This study aimed to develop a new HARlncRNA-based prognostic model for LUAD and to explore its potential biological mechanisms.

Methods

We identified 77 histone acetylation genes based on previous studies. HARlncRNAs related to prognosis were screened by co-expression, univariate and multivariate analyses, and least absolute shrinkage selection operator regression (LASSO). Afterward, a prognostic model was established based on the screened HARlncRNAs. We analysed the relationship between the model and immune cell infiltration characteristics, immune checkpoint molecule expression, drug sensitivity, and tumour mutational burden (TMB). Finally, the entire sample was divided into three clusters to further distinguish between hot and cold tumours.

Results

A seven-HARlncRNA-based prognostic model was established for LUAD. The area under the curve (AUC) of the risk score was the highest among all the analysed prognostic factors, indicating the accuracy and robustness of the model. The patients in the high-risk group were predicted to be more sensitive to chemotherapeutic, targeted, and immunotherapeutic drugs. It was worth noting that clusters could effectively identify hot and cold tumours. In our study, clusters 1 and 3 were considered hot tumours that were more sensitive to immunotherapy drugs.

Conclusion

We developed a risk-scoring model based on seven prognostic HARlncRNAs that promises to be a new tool for evaluating the prognosis and efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with LUAD.
Impact of chronic alcohol exposure on conventional and regulatory murine T cell subsets
Authors: Paterson Cameron W. , Gutierrez Melissa B. , Coopersmith Craig M. , Ford Mandy L.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Chronic alcohol use poses significant negative consequences to public health and, among its many biologic effects, is associated with significant T cell dysregulation within the adaptive immune system that has yet to be fully characterized. Novel, automated strategies for high dimensional flow cytometric analysis of the immune system are rapidly improving researchers’ ability to detect and characterize rare cell types.

Methods

Using a murine model of chronic alcohol ingestion in conjunction with viSNE and CITRUS analysis tools, we performed a machine-driven, exploratory analysis comparing rare splenic subpopulations within the conventional CD4+, regulatory CD4+ and CD8+ T cell compartments between alcohol- and water-fed animals.

Results

While there were no differences in the absolute numbers of bulk CD3+ T cells, bulk CD4+ T cells, bulk CD8+ T cells, Foxp3- CD4+ conventional T cells (Tconv) or Foxp3+ CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg), we identified populations of naïve Helios+ CD4+Tconv and naïve CD103+ CD8+ splenic T cells that were decreased in chronically alcohol exposed mice versus water-fed controls. In addition, we identified increased CD69+ Treg and decreased CD103+ effector regulatory T cell (eTreg) subsets in conjunction with increased frequency of a population that may represent a transitional phenotype between central regulatory T cell (cTreg) and eTreg.

Discussion

These data provide further resolution into the character of decreased naïve T cell populations known to be present in alcohol exposed mice, as well as describe alterations in effector regulatory T cell phenotypes associated with the pathogenesis of chronic alcohol-induced immune dysfunction.
Molecular epidemiology of continued Plasmodium falciparum disease transmission after an outbreak in Ecuador
Authors: Ruybal-Pesántez Shazia , Sáenz Fabián E. , Deed Samantha L. , Johnson Erik K. , Larremore Daniel B. , Vera-Arias Claudia A. , Tiedje Kathryn E. , Day Karen P.
Published: March 2023

To better understand the factors underlying the continued incidence of clinical episodes of falciparum malaria in E-2025 countries targeting elimination, we characterized the molecular epidemiology ofPlasmodium falciparumdisease transmission after a clonal outbreak in Ecuador. Here we study disease transmission by documenting the diversity and population structure of the major variant surface antigen of the blood stages ofP. falciparumencoded by thevarmultigene family. We used a high-resolution genotyping method, “varcoding”, involving targeted amplicon sequencing to fingerprint the DBLα encoding region ofvargenes to describe both antigenicvardiversity andvarrepertoire similarity or relatedness in parasite isolates from clinical cases. We identified nine geneticvarcodes in 58P. falciparumisolates causing clinical disease in 2013-2015. Network analyses revealed that four of thevarcodes were highly related to the outbreakvarcode, with identification of possible diversification of the outbreak parasites by recombination as seen in three of thosevarcodes. The majority of clinical cases in Ecuador were associated with parasites with highly related or recombinantvarcodes to the outbreak clone and due to local transmission rather than recent importation of parasites from other endemic countries. Sharing of types in Ecuadorianvarcodes to those sampled in South Americanvarcodes reflects historical parasite importation of somevarcodes, especially from Colombia and Peru. Our findings highlight the translational application ofvarcoding for outbreak surveillance in epidemic/unstable malaria transmission, such as in E-2025 countries, and point to the need for surveillance of local reservoirs of infection in Ecuador to achieve the malaria elimination goal by 2025.
Effect of Mytilus coruscus selective filtration on phytoplankton assemblages
Authors: Jiang Tao , Pan Huizhu , Steeves Laura , Jiang Zengjie , Filgueira Ramón , Strand Øivind , Strohmeier Tore , Cranford Peter J. , Cui Zhengguo
Published: March 2023

The feeding selectivity of bivalves can play an important role in shaping the structure of phytoplankton communities of natural waters. This could be particularly true in waters with intensive bivalves farming, like Sungo Bay, Northern China. Understanding the role of bivalve feeding behavior is important for assessing how the dense cultivation of bivalves may affect phytoplankton community composition and food web structure in farm areas. In this study, we investigated the feeding selectivity of blue mussel Mytilus coruscus on natural phytoplankton assemblages in Sungo Bay using both optical microscopy and HPLC-pigment analysis. Results showed that cryptophytes dominated the phytoplankton community and made up 66.1% of the total phytoplankton abundance. A comparison of phytoplankton composition between natural and filtered seawater showed that M. coruscus preferred cryptophytes and dinoflagellates than Chaetoceros spp. and Skeletonema spp. Cryptophytes were not detected in gut contents by microscopic observation, while their marker pigment alloxanthin was present, suggesting they were also consumed by M. coruscus and can be readily digested. This highlights the shortcomings of microscopic methods and the significance of HPLC-pigment analysis in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of feeding selectivity of bivalves. The proportions of Chaetoceros spp. and Skeletonema spp. in gut contents were significantly lower than their proportions in the seawater, and contrastingly, the proportions of Cocconeis spp. and Pinnularia spp. showed opposite patterns. The marker pigments prasinoxanthin and zeaxanthin were detected in the gut of M. coruscus indicating that picophytoplankton (e.g., prasinophytes and Synechococcus) are also food sources for this bivalve. This information furthers our understanding of bivalve aquaculture and environment interactions.
Identification of marine oil spill pollution using hyperspectral combined with thermal infrared remote sensing
Authors: Yang Junfang , Hu Yabin , Zhang Jie , Ma Yi , Li Zhongwei , Jiang Zongchen
Published: March 2023

The types of marine oil spill pollution are closely related to source tracing and pollution disposal, which is an important basis for oil spill pollution punishment. The types of marine oil spill pollution generally include different types of oil products as well as crude oil and its emulsions in different states. This paper designed and implemented two outdoor oil spill simulation experiments, obtained the hyperspectral and thermal infrared remote sensing data of different oil spill pollution types, constructed a hyperspectral recognition algorithm of oil spill pollution type based on classical machine learning, ensemble learning and deep learning models, and explored to improve the identification ability of hyperspectral oil spill pollution type by adding thermal infrared features. The research shows that hyperspectral combined with thermal infrared remote sensing can effectively improve the recognition accuracy of different oils, but thermal infrared remote sensing cannot be used to distinguish crude oil and high concentration water-in-oil emulsion. On this basis, the recognition ability of hyperspectral combined with thermal infrared for different oil film thicknesses is also discussed. The combination of hyperspectral and thermal infrared remote sensing can provide important technical support for emergency response to maritime emergencies and oil spill monitoring business of relevant departments.
Vulnerability assessment of coastal tourist attractions to oil spill stress based on a pressure-state-response framework: A case study of the Bohai Sea, China
Authors: Wang Yebao , Du Peipei , Liu Baijing , Chen Chuntao
Published: March 2023

The protection of coastal tourist attractions under oil spill stress requires a more detailed vulnerability assessment approach. In this study, an assessment model for estimating the vulnerability of coastal tourist attractions to oil spills along the Bohai Sea’s coastlines was developed, natural environmental and socioeconomic data were collected, and a geographic information system (GIS) was used. As many as 26 factors were selected for the vulnerability analysis of typical tourist destinations in the littoral area. All of the factors were grouped into different categories according to a pressure-state-response (PSR) framework (pressure parameters, state parameters, and response parameters), and a different rank of importance was assigned to each factor via the analytical hierarchy process. The comprehensive analysis results were calculated and visualized using GIS. The results show that the state and response together strongly affected the vulnerability of the various coastal tourist attractions, while the pressure had less effect on the vulnerability. There were obvious spatial variations among the different coastal tourist destinations. Overall, the coastal tourist attractions surrounding the Bohai Sea were characterized by a high oil spill pressure, high sensitivity, low emergency response capabilities, and high vulnerability. This study provides a reference for vulnerability assessment of tourist destinations under oil spill stress, provides a scientific decision-making basis for the protection of coastal tourist destinations, and is conducive to promoting the healthy development of the coastal tourism industry.
Estimating global artisanal fishing fleet responses in an era of rapid climate and economic change
Authors: Tidd Alex N. , Caballero Vasquez , Ojea Elena , Watson Reg A. , García Molinos Jorge
Published: March 2023

There is an urgent need to assess the extent to which the global fishing enterprise can be sustainable in the face of climate change. Artisanal fishing plays a crucial role in sustaining livelihoods and meeting food security demands in coastal countries. Yet, the ability of the artisanal sector to do so not only depends on the economic efficiency of the fleets, but also on the changing productivity and distribution of target species under rapid climate change in the oceans. These impacts are already leading to sudden declines, long-term collapses in production, or increases in the price of fish products, which can further exacerbate excess levels of fishing capacity. We examined historical changes (1950-2014) in technical efficiency within the global artisanal fishing fleets in relation to sea surface temperature anomalies, market prices by taxonomic group, and fuel costs. We show that temperature anomalies affected countries differently; while some have enhanced production from an increase in the resource distribution, which alter the structure of the ecosystem, others have had to adapt to the negative impacts of seawater warming. In addition, efficiency decreases are also related to rises in global marine fish price, whereby more labour and capital are attracted into the fishery, which in turn can lead to an excess in fleet capacity. Our results contribute to the understanding of how the effects of climate-induced change in the oceans could potentially affect the efficiency of artisanal fishing fleets.
Co-regulation of Sox9 and TGFβ1 transcription factors in mesenchymal stem cells regenerated the intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Khalid Shumaila , Ekram Sobia , Ramzan Faiza , Salim Asmat , Khan Irfan
Published: March 2023

Background

Intervertebral disc (IVD) shows aging and degenerative changes earlier than any other body connective tissue. Its repair and regeneration provide a considerable challenge in regenerative medicine due to its high degree of infrastructure and mechanical complexity. Mesenchymal stem cells, due to their tissue resurfacing potential, represent many explanatory pathways to regenerate a tissue breakdown.

Methods

This study was undertaken to evaluate the co-regulation of Sox9 and TGFβ1 in differentiating human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSC) into chondrocytes. The combinatorial impact of Sox9 and TGFβ1 on hUC-MSCs was examined in vitro by gene expression and immunocytochemical staining. In in vivo, an animal model of IVD degeneration was established under a fluoroscopic guided system through needle puncture of the caudal disc. Normal and transfected MSCs were transplanted. Oxidative stress, pain, and inflammatory markers were evaluated by qPCR. Disc height index (DHI), water content, and gag content were analyzed. Histological examinations were performed to evaluate the degree of regeneration.

Results

hUC-MSC transfected with Sox9+TGFβ1 showed a noticeable morphological appearance of a chondrocyte, and highly expressed chondrogenic markers (aggrecan, Sox9, TGFβ1, TGFβ2, and type II collagens) after transfection. Histological observation demonstrated that cartilage regeneration, extracellular matrix synthesis, and collagen remodeling were significant upon staining with H&E, Alcian blue, and Masson's trichrome stain on day 14. Additionally, oxidative stress, pain, and inflammatory markers were positively downregulated in the animals transplanted with Sox9 and TGFβ1 transfected MSCs.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that the combinatorial effect of Sox9 and TGFβ1 substantially accelerates the chondrogenesis in hUC-MSCs. Cartilage regeneration and matrix synthesis were significantly enhanced. Therefore, a synergistic effect of Sox9 and TGFβ1 could be an immense therapeutic combination in the tissue engineering of cartilaginous joint bio-prostheses and a novel candidate for cartilage stabilization.
Conserved longitudinal alterations of anti-S-protein IgG subclasses in disease progression in initial ancestral Wuhan and vaccine breakthrough Delta infections
Authors: Goh Yun Shan , Fong Siew-Wai , Hor Pei Xiang , Amrun Siti Naqiah , Lee Cheryl Yi-Pin , Young Barnaby Edward , Chia Po Ying , Tambyah Paul A. , Kalimuddin Shirin , Pada Surinder , Tan Seow-Yen , Sun Louisa Jin , Chen Mark I-Cheng , Leo Yee-Sin , Lye David C. , Ng Lisa F. P. , Renia Laurent
Published: March 2023

Introduction

COVID-19 has a wide disease spectrum ranging from asymptomatic to severe. While humoral immune responses are critical in preventing infection, the immune mechanisms leading to severe disease, and the identification of biomarkers of disease progression and/or resolution of the infection remains to be determined.

Methods

Plasma samples were obtained from infections during the initial wave of ancestral wildtype SARS-CoV-2 and from vaccine breakthrough infections during the wave of Delta variant, up to six months post infection. The spike-specific antibody profiles were compared across different severity groups and timepoints.

Results

We found an association between spike-specific IgM, IgA and IgG and disease severity in unvaccinated infected individuals. In addition to strong IgG1 and IgG3 response, patients with severe disease develop a robust IgG2 and IgG4 response. A comparison of the ratio of IgG1 and IgG3 to IgG2 and IgG4 showed that disease progression is associated with a smaller ratio in both the initial wave of WT and the vaccine breakthrough Delta infections. Time-course analysis revealed that smaller (IgG1 and IgG3)/(IgG2 and IgG4) ratio is associated with disease progression, while the reverse associates with clinical recovery.

Discussion

While each IgG subclass is associated with disease severity, the balance within the four IgG subclasses may affect disease outcome. Acute disease progression or infection resolution is associated with a specific immunological phenotype that is conserved in both the initial wave of WT and the vaccine breakthrough Delta infections.
Development of a reproducible small intestinal microbiota model and its integration into the SHIME®-system, a dynamic in vitro gut model
Authors: Deyaert Stef , Moens Frédéric , Pirovano Walter , van den Bogert Bartholomeus , Klaassens Eline Suzanne , Marzorati Massimo , Van de Wiele Tom , Kleerebezem Michiel , Van den Abbeele Pieter
Published: March 2023

The human gastrointestinal tract consists of different regions, each characterized by a distinct physiology, anatomy, and microbial community. While the colonic microbiota has received a lot of attention in recent research projects, little is known about the small intestinal microbiota and its interactions with ingested compounds, primarily due to the inaccessibility of this region in vivo. This study therefore aimed to develop and validate a dynamic, long-term simulation of the ileal microbiota using the SHIME®-technology. Essential parameters were identified and optimized from a screening experiment testing different inoculation strategies, nutritional media, and environmental parameters over an 18-day period. Subjecting a synthetic bacterial consortium to the selected conditions resulted in a stable microbiota that was representative in terms of abundance [8.81 ± 0.12 log (cells/ml)], composition and function. Indeed, the observed community mainly consisted of the genera Streptococcus, Veillonella, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium (qPCR and 16S rRNA gene targeted Illumina sequencing), while nutrient administration boosted lactate production followed by cross-feeding interactions towards acetate and propionate. Furthermore, similarly as in vivo, bile salts were only partially deconjugated and only marginally converted into secondary bile salts. After confirming reproducibility of the small intestinal microbiota model, it was integrated into the established M-SHIME® where it further increased the compositional relevance of the colonic community. This long-term in vitro model provides a representative simulation of the ileal bacterial community, facilitating research of the ileum microbiota dynamics and activity when, for example, supplemented with microbial or diet components. Furthermore, integration of this present in vitro simulation increases the biological relevance of the current M-SHIME® technology.
Structural and immunological basis of cross-reactivity between dengue and Zika infections: Implications in serosurveillance in endemic regions
Authors: Gaspar-Castillo Carlos , Rodríguez Mario H. , Ortiz-Navarrete Vianney , Alpuche-Aranda Celia M. , Martinez-Barnetche Jesus
Published: March 2023

Dengue and Zika are arthropod-borne viral diseases present in more than 100 countries around the world. In the past decade, Zika emerged causing widespread outbreaks in new regions, where dengue has been endemic-epidemic for a long period. The wide and extensive dissemination of the mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti, and Ae. albopictus, favor the co-existence of both infections in the same regions. Together with an important proportion of asymptomatic infections, similar clinical manifestations, and a short time window for acute infection confirmatory tests, it is difficult to differentially estimate both dengue and Zika incidence and prevalence. DENV and ZIKV flavivirus share high structural similarity, inducing a cross-reactive immune response that leads to false positives in serological tests particularly in secondary infections. This results in overestimation of recent Zika outbreaks seroprevalence in dengue endemic regions. In this review, we address the biological basis underlying DENV and ZIKV structural homology; the structural and cellular basis of immunological cross reactivity; and the resulting difficulties in measuring dengue and Zika seroprevalence. Finally, we offer a perspective about the need for more research to improve serological tests performance.
Updated taxonomy of Chinese Cantharellus subgenera Afrocantharellus and Magni (Hydnaceae, Cantharellales): Three new taxa and amended descriptions of one previous species
Authors: Zhang Yu-Zhuo , Qin Hua-Zhi , Chen Zuo-Hong , Lin Wen-Fei , Liang Zhi-Qun , Jiang Shuai , Zeng Nian-Kai
Published: March 2023

Cantharellus, one of the main genera of Hydnaceae (Cantharellales), is both ecologically and economically important. Although many studies have focused on this genus in China, the taxonomy should be further updated. In the present study, Cantharellus subgenera Afrocantharellus and Magni were investigated based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analyses with new collections from China. Five phylogenetic species were recognized among the studied collections, three of which were described as new: C. bellus, C. cineraceus, and C. laevigatus; one was previously described taxon: C. hygrophoroides; and the remaining species was not defined due to the paucity of the materials. Among the four described species, both C. bellus and C. laevigatus are members of subgen. Magni, whereas C. cineraceus and C. hygrophoroides belong to subgen. Afrocantharellus.
Non-native Brachiaria humidicola with biological nitrification inhibition capacity stimulates in situ grassland N2O emissions
Authors: Xie Lu , Liu Deyan , Chen Zengming , Niu Yuhui , Meng Lei , Ding Weixin
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Brachiaria humidicola, a tropical grass, could release root exudates with biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) capacity and reduce soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from grasslands. However, evidence of the reduction effect in situ in tropical grasslands in China is lacking.

Methods

To evaluate the potential effects of B. humidicola on soil N2O emissions, a 2-year (2015–2017) field experiment was established in a Latosol and included eight treatments, consisting of two pastures, non-native B. humidicola and a native grass, Eremochloa ophiuroide, with four nitrogen (N) application rates. The annual urea application rates were 0, 150, 300, and 450 kg N ha−1.

Results

The average 2-year E. ophiuroides biomass with and without N fertilization were 9.07–11.45 and 7.34 t ha−1, respectively, and corresponding values for B. humidicola increased to 31.97–39.07 and 29.54 t ha−1, respectively. The N-use efficiencies under E. ophiuroide and B. humidicola cultivation were 9.3–12.0 and 35.5–39.4%, respectively. Annual N2O emissions in the E. ophiuroides and B. humidicola fields were 1.37 and 2.83 kg N2O-N ha−1, respectively, under no N fertilization, and 1.54–3.46 and 4.30–7.19 kg N2O-N ha−1, respectively, under N fertilization.

Discussions

According to the results, B. humidicola cultivation increased soil N2O emissions, especially under N fertilization. This is because B. humidicola exhibited the more effective stimulation effect on N2O production via denitrification primarily due to increased soil organic carbon and exudates than the inhibition effect on N2O production via autotrophic nitrification. Annual yield-scaled N2O emissions in the B. humidicola treatment were 93.02–183.12 mg N2O-N kg−1 biomass, which were significantly lower than those in the E. ophiuroides treatment. Overall, our results suggest that cultivation of the non-native grass, B. humidicola with BNI capacity, increased soil N2O emissions, while decreasing yield-scaled N2O emissions, when compared with native grass cultivation.
Effect of Alcaligenes sp. on corrosion behavior of X65 steel in simulated offshore oilfield-produced water
Authors: Shi Peiyu , Du Min , Wang Jian
Published: March 2023

In this paper, the effect of Alcaligenes sp. on the corrosion process of X65 steel was investigated by using non-targeted metabolomics techniques for comprehensive characterization of metabolites, combined with surface analysis techniques and electrochemical testing. The results showed that the organic acids produced by Alcaligenes sp. accelerated the corrosion process of X65 steel in the early stage, and the presence of Alcaligenes sp. promoted the deposition of stable corrosion products and minerals in the middle and late stages. In addition, proteoglycans and corrosion inhibiting substances were enriched on the metal surface, which enhanced the stability of the film. The combined effect of multiple factors makes the mixed film of biofilm and corrosion products more dense and complete, which effectively inhibits the corrosion of X65 steel.