bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Integration of Metagenomics and Chemical Physical Techniques Biodecoded the Buried Traces of the Biodeteriogens of Parchment Purple Spots
Authors: Perini Nicoletta , Mercuri Fulvio , Orlanducci Silvia , Thaller Maria Cristina , Migliore Luciana
Published: December 2020

Ancient parchments record an immense part of our cultural heritage, having been used as the main written support material for centuries. Parchment easily undergoes biodeterioration, whose main signs are the so-called purple spots, which often lead to detachment of the superficial written layer. Up to recent years, several studies have been analyzing damaged parchments from different world’s archives, trying to trace back the culprit of the purple spots. However, standard cultivation and early molecular techniques have been demonstrated to be unsuccessful, leading the parchment damage issue remaining unsolved for many years. Nowadays, some studies have explored the parchment biodeterioration dynamics by adopting a multidisciplinary approach combining standard microbiological methods with high-throughput molecular, chemical and physical techniques. This approach allowed an unprecedented level of knowledge on the complex dynamics of parchment biodeterioration. This mini review discusses the application of the combination of basic and high-throughput techniques to study historical parchments, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of this approach. In particular, it focuses on how metagenomics has been paramount for the unequivocal identification of the microbial main actors of parchment biodeterioration and their dynamics, but also on how metagenomics may suffer the distortion inflict by the historical perspective on the analysis of ancient specimens. As a whole, this mini review aims to describe the scenario of information on parchment biodeterioration obtained so far by using the integration of metagenomic with recent chemical (Raman spectroscopy) and physical (Light Transmission Analysis) approaches, which might have key implications in the preservation of many ancient documents.
Extracellular Production, Characterization, and Engineering of a Polyextremotolerant Subtilisin-Like Protease From Feather-Degrading Thermoactinomyces vulgaris Strain CDF
Authors: Ding Yidi , Yang Yong , Ren Yuxia , Xia Jingying , Liu Feng , Li Yu , Tang Xiao-Feng , Tang Bing
Published: December 2020

Here, the gene encoding a subtilisin-like protease (protease Als) was cloned from Thermoactinomyces vulgaris strain CDF and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme was released into the culture medium of E. coli as a mature form (mAls). Purified mAls displayed optimal activity at 60–70°C and pH 10.0 using azo-casein as the substrate, and showed a half-life of 13.8 h at 70°C. Moreover, the activity of thermostable mAls was comparable to or higher than those of mesophilic subtilisin Carlsberg and proteinase K at low temperatures (10–30°C). Protease Als was also stable in several organic solvents and showed high compatibility with commercial laundry detergents. Notably, mAls exhibited approximately 100% of its activity at 3 M NaCl, and showed enhanced thermostability with the increase of NaCl concentration up to 3 M. Protease Als possesses an excess of solvent-accessible acidic amino acid residues, which may account for the high halotolerance of the enzyme. Compared with homologous protease C2 from the same strain, protease Als exhibits substantially lower activity toward insoluble keratin substrates but efficiently hydrolyzes soluble keratin released from chicken feathers. Additionally, direct substitution of the substrate-binding site of protease Als with that of protease C2 improves its activity against insoluble keratin substrates. By virtue of its polyextremotolerant attribute and kerationolytic capacity, protease Als may find broad applications in various industries such as laundry detergents, food processing, non-aqueous biocatalysis, and feather processing.
Synaptic Loss in Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanistic Insights Provided by Two-Photon in vivo Imaging of Transgenic Mouse Models
Authors: Subramanian Jaichandar , Savage Julie C. , Tremblay Marie-Ève
Published: December 2020

Synapse loss is the strongest correlate for cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. The mechanisms underlying synapse loss have been extensively investigated using mouse models expressing genes with human familial Alzheimer's disease mutations. In this review, we summarize how multiphoton in vivo imaging has improved our understanding of synapse loss mechanisms associated with excessive amyloid in the living animal brain. We also discuss evidence obtained from these imaging studies for the role of cell-intrinsic calcium dyshomeostasis and cell-extrinsic activities of microglia, which are the immune cells of the brain, in mediating synapse loss.
Case Report: Early-Onset Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia in Patient With Retrotransposed Full-Length Transcript of Matrin-3 Variant 5
Authors: Castro Madelyn , Venkateswaran Nisha , Peters Samuel T. , Deyle David R. , Bower Matthew , Koob Michael D. , Boeve Bradley F. , Vossel Keith
Published: December 2020

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) rarely occurs in individuals under the age of 30, and genetic causes of early-onset FTD are largely unknown. The current report follows a 27 year-old patient with no significant past medical history presenting with two years of progressive changes in behavior, rushed speech, verbal aggression, and social withdrawal. MRI and FDG-PET imaging of the brain revealed changes maximally in the frontal and temporal lobes, which along with the clinical features, are consistent with behavioral variant FTD. Next generation sequencing of a panel of 28 genes associated with dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) initially revealed a duplication of exon 15 inMatrin-3(MATR3). Whole genome sequencing determined that this genetic anomaly was, in fact, a sequence corresponding with full-lengthMATR3variant 5 inserted into chromosome 12, indicating retrotransposition from a messenger RNA intermediate. To our knowledge, this is a novel mutation ofMATR3, as the majority of mutations inMATR3linked to FTD-ALS are point mutations. Genomic DNA analysis revealed that this mutation is also present in one unaffected first-degree relative and one unaffected second-degree relative. This suggests that the mutation is either a disease-causing mutation with incomplete penetrance, which has been observed in heritable FTD, or a benign variant. Retrotransposons are not often implicated in neurodegenerative diseases; thus, it is crucial to clarify the potential role of thisMATR3variant 5 retrotransposition in early-onset FTD.
Combining Gamma With Alpha and Beta Power Modulation for Enhanced Cortical Mapping in Patients With Focal Epilepsy
Authors: Archila-Meléndez Mario E. , Valente Giancarlo , Gommer Erik D. , Correia João M. , ten Oever Sanne , Peters Judith C. , Reithler Joel , Hendriks Marc P. H. , Cornejo Ochoa William , Schijns Olaf E. M. G. , Dings Jim T. A. , Hilkman Danny M. W. , Rouhl Rob P. W. , Jansma Bernadette M. , van Kranen-Mastenbroek Vivianne H. J. M. , Roberts Mark J.
Published: December 2020

About one third of patients with epilepsy have seizures refractory to the medical treatment. Electrical stimulation mapping (ESM) is the gold standard for the identification of “eloquent” areas prior to resection of epileptogenic tissue. However, it is time-consuming and may cause undesired side effects. Broadband gamma activity (55–200 Hz) recorded with extraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) during cognitive tasks may be an alternative to ESM but until now has not proven of definitive clinical value. Considering their role in cognition, the alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (15–25 Hz) bands could further improve the identification of eloquent cortex. We compared gamma, alpha and beta activity, and their combinations for the identification of eloquent cortical areas defined by ESM. Ten patients with intractable focal epilepsy (age: 35.9 ± 9.1 years, range: 22–48, 8 females, 9 right handed) participated in a delayed-match-to-sample task, where syllable sounds were compared to visually presented letters. We used a generalized linear model (GLM) approach to find the optimal weighting of each band for predicting ESM-defined categories and estimated the diagnostic ability by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Gamma activity increased more in eloquent than in non-eloquent areas, whereas alpha and beta power decreased more in eloquent areas. Diagnostic ability of each band was close to 0.7 for all bands but depended on multiple factors including the time period of the cognitive task, the location of the electrodes and the patient’s degree of attention to the stimulus. We show that diagnostic ability can be increased by 3–5% by combining gamma and alpha and by 7.5–11% when gamma and beta were combined. We then show how ECoG power modulation from cognitive testing can be used to map the probability of eloquence in individual patients and how this probability map can be used in clinical settings to optimize ESM planning. We conclude that the combination of gamma and beta power modulation during cognitive testing can contribute to the identification of eloquent areas prior to ESM in patients with refractory focal epilepsy.
Subjective Sleep Quality in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Elderly and Its Possible Relationship With Plasma Amyloid-β
Authors: Liu Yajing , Chen Lushi , Huang Shuyun , Zhang Chengguo , Lv Zeping , Luo Jiali , Shang Pan , Wang Yukai , Xie Haiqun
Published: December 2020

Study objectives

To investigate the extent to which sleep quality associated with plasma Aβ levels in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) elderly.

Methods

A total of 172 cognitively normal (NC) elderly and 133 aMCI elderly were included in this study. For the evaluation of sleep quality, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used. Levels of plasma Aβ were determined by the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Multivariable linear regression analysis was applied to evaluate associations between sleep quality and plasma Aβ levels after adjusting potential confounders.

Results

Compared to NC subjects, participants with aMCI had a higher global PSQI score (8.72 ± 3.87 vs. 7.10 ± 3.07, p < 0.001). The global PSQI score was positively associated with plasma Aβ42 level in the aMCI group (β = 0.063, 95% CI 0.001–0.125, and p = 0.049) but not in the NC group (p > 0.05). Additionally, a higher global PSQI score was associated with a higher plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio in both NC (β = 0.010, 95% CI 0.003–0.016, and p = 0.003) and aMCI groups (β = 0.012, 95% CI 0.005–0.018, and p < 0.001). The association between global PSQI score and plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio was stronger in individuals with aMCI relative to the NC subjects (β = 0.076 vs. 0.030, p for interaction = 0.023).

Conclusion

Poor sleep quality was associated with plasma Aβ42 and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, with a stronger effect among individuals with aMCI. A better understanding of the role of sleep in plasma Aβ levels in aMCI patients could lead to effective sleep-based intervention against the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Welters Marij J. P. , Santegoets Saskia J. , van der Burg Sjoerd H.
Published: December 2020

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) develops as a consequence of several mutations in the tumor suppressor pathways or after a progressive infection with high risk human papillomavirus (HPV). The dismal side effects of the current standard of care and the clear involvement of the immune system has led to a surge in clinical trials that aim to reinforce the tumor-specific immune response as a new treatment option. In this review, we have focused on the most recent literature to discuss the new findings and insights on the role of different immune cells in the context of OPSCC and its etiology. We then applied this knowledge to describe potential biomarkers and analyzed the rationale and outcomes of earlier and ongoing immunotherapy trials. Finally, we describe new developments that are still at the preclinical phase and provide an outlook on what the near future may bring, now that several new and exciting techniques to study the immune system at the single cell level are being exploited.
Piceatannol Attenuates Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats by Modulation of Nrf2/HO-1/NFκB Axis
Authors: Eid Basma G. , Abdel-Naim Ashraf B.
Published: December 2020

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a serious illness affecting middle-aged and elderly male patients. It is a complication of several diseases including metabolic syndrome. BPH has been associated with inflammation and increased oxidative stress in prostatic tissues. Piceatannol (PIC) is an active natural polyhydroxylated stilbene found in many plants. It has profound anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant activities. However, it suffers relatively poor pharmacokinetic properties. Nanoformulation is an acknowledged approach to improve PIC bioavailability. The goal was to evaluate the ability of PIC in preventing testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats. PIC was prepared in a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS). Animals were placed into seven groups: 1) control (vehicle), 2) PIC SNEDDS (20 mg/kg), 3) testosterone (3 mg/kg), 4) testosterone + PIC SNEDDS (5 mg/kg), 5) testosterone + PIC (10 mg/kg), 6) testosterone + PIC SNEDDS (20 mg/kg) and 7) testosterone + finasteride (5 mg/kg). Testosterone was injected SC while PIC SNEDDS and finasteride were given orally. All treatments were given once daily, 5 days/week for four consecutive weeks. PIC administration ameliorated increased prostate weights and indices in addition to histopathological alterations. Further it inhibited accumulation of lipid peroxidation, depletion of glutathione (GSH) and exhaustion of catalase (CAT). PIC SNEDDS exhibited anti-proliferative activities as demonstrated by the inhibition of cyclin D1 protein expression and Bcl2 mRNA expression in addition to enhancement of Bax mRNA expression and caspase-3 content. Immunohistochemically, PIC SNEDDS protected against the testosterone-induced increased expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and also offered protection against the decline in Nrf2 expression. Further, a significant enhancement of Nfe212 and Homx1 mRNA expression was detected in PIC SNEDDS-treated animals in comparison to the testosterone group. Conclusively, PIC prepared in SNEDDS protects against experimentally induced BPH via modulation of, at least partly, Nrf2/HO-1/NFκB axis.
Projection Neuron Axon Collaterals in the Dorsal Horn: Placing a New Player in Spinal Cord Pain Processing
Authors: Browne Tyler J. , Hughes David I. , Dayas Christopher V. , Callister Robert J. , Graham Brett A.
Published: December 2020

The pain experience depends on the relay of nociceptive signals from the spinal cord dorsal horn to higher brain centers. This function is ultimately achieved by the output of a small population of highly specialized neurons called projection neurons (PNs). Like output neurons in other central nervous system (CNS) regions, PNs are invested with a substantial axon collateral system that ramifies extensively within local circuits. These axon collaterals are widely distributed within and between spinal cord segments. Anatomical data on PN axon collaterals have existed since the time of Cajal, however, their function in spinal pain signaling remains unclear and is absent from current models of spinal pain processing. Despite these omissions, some insight on the potential role of PN axon collaterals can be drawn from axon collateral systems of principal or output neurons in other CNS regions, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, olfactory cortex, and ventral horn of the spinal cord. The connectivity and actions of axon collaterals in these systems have been well-defined and used to confirm crucial roles in memory, fear, olfaction, and movement control, respectively. We review this information here and propose a framework for characterizing PN axon collateral function in the dorsal horn. We highlight that experimental approaches traditionally used to delineate axon collateral function in other CNS regions are not easily applied to PNs because of their scarcity relative to spinal interneurons (INs), and the lack of cellular organization in the dorsal horn. Finally, we emphasize how the rapid development of techniques such as viral expression of optogenetic or chemogenetic probes can overcome these challenges and allow characterization of PN axon collateral function. Obtaining detailed information of this type is a necessary first step for incorporation of PN collateral system function into models of spinal sensory processing.
The Role of Orai1 in Regulating Sarcoplasmic Calcium Release, Mitochondrial Morphology and Function in Myostatin Deficient Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Sztretye Mónika , Singlár Zoltán , Balogh Norbert , Kis Gréta , Szentesi Péter , Angyal Ágnes , Balatoni Ildikó , Csernoch László , Dienes Beatrix
Published: December 2020

In mice a naturally occurring 12-bp deletion in the myostatin gene is considered responsible for the compact phenotype (MstnCmpt–dl1Abc, Cmpt) labeled by a tremendous increase in body weight along with signs of muscle weakness, easier fatigability, decreased Orai1 expression and store operated calcium entry (SOCE). Here, on the one hand, Cmpt fibers were reconstructed with venus-Orai1 but this failed to restore SOCE. On the other hand, the endogenous Orai1 was silenced in fibers from wild type C57Bl6 mice which resulted in ∼70% of Orai1 being silenced in whole muscle homogenates as confirmed by Western blot, accompanied by an inhibitory effect on the voltage dependence of SR calcium release that manifested in a slight shift toward more positive potential values. This maneuver completely hampered SOCE. Our observations are consistent with the idea that Orai1 channels are present in distinct pools responsible for either a rapid refilling of the SR terminal cisternae connected to each voltage-activated calcium transient, or a slow SOCE associated with an overall depletion of calcium in the SR lumen. Furthermore, when Cmpt cells were loaded with the mitochondrial membrane potential sensitive dye TMRE, fiber segments with depolarized mitochondria were identified covering on average 26.5 ± 1.5% of the fiber area. These defective areas were located around the neuromuscular junction and displayed significantly smaller calcium transients. The ultrastructural analysis of the Cmpt fibers revealed changes in the mitochondrial morphology. In addition, the mitochondrial calcium uptake during repetitive stimulation was higher in the Cmpt fibers. Our results favor the idea that reduced function and/or expression of SOCE partners (in this study Orai1) and mitochondrial defects could play an important role in muscle weakness and degeneration associated with certain pathologies, perhaps including loss of function of the neuromuscular junction and aging.
The Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Utilizes Specific UDP-Glycosyltransferases to Inactivate Maize Defensive Benzoxazinoids
Authors: Israni Bhawana , Wouters Felipe C. , Luck Katrin , Seibel Elena , Ahn Seung-Joon , Paetz Christian , Reinert Maximilian , Vogel Heiko , Erb Matthias , Heckel David G. , Gershenzon Jonathan , Vassão Daniel Giddings
Published: December 2020

The relationship between plants and insects is continuously evolving, and many insects rely on biochemical strategies to mitigate the effects of toxic chemicals in their food plants, allowing them to feed on well-defended plants.Spodoptera frugiperda, the fall armyworm (FAW), accepts a number of plants as hosts, and has particular success on plants of the Poaceae family such as maize, despite their benzoxazinoid (BXD) defenses. BXDs stored as inert glucosides are converted into toxic aglucones by plant glucosidases upon herbivory. DIMBOA, the main BXD aglucone released by maize leaves, can be stereoselectively re-glucosylated by UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) in the insect gut, rendering it non-toxic. Here, we identify UGTs involved in BXD detoxification by FAW larvae and examine how RNAi-mediated manipulation of the larval glucosylation capacity toward the major maize BXD, DIMBOA, affects larval growth. Our findings highlight the involvement of members of two major UGT families, UGT33 and UGT40, in the glycosylation of BXDs. Most of the BXD excretion in the frass occurs in the form of glucosylated products. Furthermore, the DIMBOA-associated activity was enriched in the gut tissue, with a single conserved UGT33 enzyme (SfUGT33F28) being dedicated to DIMBOA re-glucosylation in the FAW gut. The knock-down of its encoding gene reduces larval performance in a strain-specific manner. This study thus reveals that a single UGT enzyme is responsible for detoxification of the major maize-defensive BXD in this pest insect.
Oxalate Carbonate Pathway—Conversion and Fixation of Soil Carbon—A Potential Scenario for Sustainability
Authors: Syed Shameer , Buddolla Viswanath , Lian Bin
Published: December 2020

It is still an important aspect of global climate research to explore a low-cost method that can effectively reduce the increase of CO2 concentration in the global atmosphere. Oxalotrophic bacterial communities exist in agricultural or forest soil with ubiquitous oxalate as the only carbon and energy source. When soil oxalate is oxidized and degraded, carbonate is formed along with it. This process is called the oxalate carbonate pathway (OCP), which can increase soil inorganic carbon sink and soil organic matter content. This soil carbon sink is a natural CO2 trapping system and an important alternative if it is properly managed for artificial sequestration/storage. As the main driver of OCP, the oxalate degrading bacteria are affected by many factors during the oxalate conversion process. Understanding this process and the synergy of oxalogenic plants, saprophytic decomposers, and oxalotrophic bacteria in agricultural or forest soil is critical to exploiting this natural carbon capture process. This article aims to provide a broader perspective of OCP in CO2 sequestration, biomineralization, and elemental cycling.
Work Engagement in the Context of Confucian Culture: A Case of Chinese Civil Servants
Authors: Lyu Xiaojun
Published: December 2020

Although work engagement as a positive organizational behavior has gained considerable achievements in recent years, there is still a lack of content research based on certain culture, job, and group characteristics. This study conducts a grounded theory research on work engagement by coding and analyzing the interview files from public servants working in the government located in Eastern China. The result shows a five-dimension construct of work engagement, which includes loyalty to the work, commitment to the working relationships, positive emotion, initiative action, and priority for mixed roles. Additionally, the current study also constructs a theoretical model which discovers the dynamic variables motivating the process of work engagement and the influence of Confucianism.
Parental Cognitions About Sleep Problems in Infants: A Systematic Review
Authors: Knappe Susanne , Pfarr Anna-Lisa , Petzoldt Johanna , Härtling Samia , Martini Julia
Published: December 2020

Introduction:Parental cognitions may directly and indirectly contribute to infant sleep outcomes. This review provides a systematic up-to-date overview of the associations between parental cognitions and infant sleep problems with special emphasis on temporal relationships and the content of parental cognitions.

Methods:A systematic literature research in PubMed and Web of Science Core Collection sensu Liberati and PRISMA guidelines was carried out in March 2020 using the search terms (parent*AND infant*AND sleep*problem*), including studies with correlational or control group designs investigating associations between parental cognitions and sleep problems in children aged 1–6 years.

Results:Twenty-three studies (published from 1985 to 2016) met inclusion criteria, of which 14 reported group differences or associations between parental sleep-related cognitions and child sleep outcomes. Nine papers additionally reported on the role of general parental child-related cognitions not directly pertaining to sleep. Findings from longitudinal studies suggest that parental cognitions often preceded child sleep problems. Cognitions pertaining to difficulties with limit-setting were especially prevalent in parents of poor sleepers and were positively associated with both subjective and objective measures of child sleep outcomes.

Conclusions:Parental cognitions appear to play a pivotal role for the development and maintenance of sleep problems in young children, arguing that parents' attitudes and beliefs regarding child sleep inadvertently prompts parental behavior toward adverse sleep in offspring. Associations are however based on maternal reports and small to moderate effect sizes. Thus, additional parental factors such as mental health or self-efficacy, as well as additional offspring factors including temperamental dispositions and regulatory abilities, require consideration in further studies.
Racial Disparities in Triple Negative Breast Cancer: A Review of the Role of Biologic and Non-biologic Factors
Authors: Prakash Om , Hossain Fokhrul , Danos Denise , Lassak Adam , Scribner Richard , Miele Lucio
Published: December 2020

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that lacks expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2). TNBC constitutes about 15–30 percent of all diagnosed invasive breast cancer cases in the United States. African-American (AA) women have high prevalence of TNBC with worse clinical outcomes than European-American (EA) women. The contributing factors underlying racial disparities have been divided into two major categories based on whether they are related to lifestyle (non-biologic) or unrelated to lifestyle (biologic). Our objective in the present review article was to understand the potential interactions by which these risk factors intersect to drive the initiation and development of the disparities resulting in the aggressive TNBC subtypes in AA women more likely than in EA women. To reach our goal, we conducted literature searches using MEDLINE/PubMed to identify relevant articles published from 2005 to 2019 addressing breast cancer disparities primarily among AA and EA women in the United States. We found that disparities in TNBC may be attributed to racial differences in biological factors, such as tumor heterogeneity, population genetics, somatic genomic mutations, and increased expression of genes in AA breast tumors which have direct link to breast cancer. In addition, a large number of non-biologic factors, including socioeconomic deprivation adversities associated with poverty, social stress, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of healthcare access and pattern of reproductive factors, can promote comorbid diseases such as obesity and diabetes which may adversely contribute to the aggression of TNBC biology in AA women. Further, the biological risk factors directly linked to TNBC in AA women may potentially interact with non-biologic factors to promote a higher prevalence of TNBC, more aggressive biology, and poor survival. The relative contributions of the biologic and non-biologic factors and their potential interactions is essential to our understanding of disproportionately high burden and poor survival rates of AA women with TNBC.
Impacts of Short-Term Antibiotic Withdrawal and Long-Term Judicious Antibiotic Use on Resistance Gene Abundance and Cecal Microbiota Composition on Commercial Broiler Chicken Farms in Québec
Authors: Turcotte Catherine , Thibodeau Alexandre , Quessy Sylvain , Topp Edward , Beauchamp Guy , Fravalo Philippe , Archambault Marie , Gaucher Marie-Lou
Published: December 2020

The ever-increasing problem of antibiotic resistance makes routine use of antibiotics in animal production no longer considered as a reasonable and viable practice. The Chicken Farmers of Canada have developed and are implementing an Antimicrobial Use Reduction Strategy, which has the ultimate goal of eliminating the preventive use of medically important antibiotics in broiler chicken and turkey production. However, very little is known about the real overall impact of an antibiotic use reduction strategy in complex ecosystems, such as the bird intestine or the commercial broiler chicken farm. The main objectives of the present study were to compare the abundance of antibiotic resistance-encoding genes, characterize the intestinal microbiota composition, and evaluate the presence of Clostridium perfringens, in six commercial poultry farms adopting short-term antibiotic withdrawal and long-term judicious use strategy. Implementing an antibiotic-free program over a 15-months period did not reduce the abundance of many antibiotic resistance-encoding genes, whereas the judicious use of antibiotics over 6 years was found effective. The short-term antibiotic withdrawal and the long-term judicious use strategy altered the intestinal microbiota composition, with the Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae families being negatively impacted. These findings are in agreement with the lower production performance and with the increased C. perfringens populations observed for farms phasing out the use of antibiotics. Adopting a conventional rearing program on commercial broiler chicken farms selected for specific antibiotic resistance-encoding genes in many barns. This study highlights the potential impacts of different rearing programs in poultry production and will help guide future policies in order to reduce the use of antibiotics while maintaining production performance.
Infectious Diseases and Wildlife Conservation Medicine: The Case of the Canine Distemper in European Wolf Population
Authors: Di Francesco Cristina E. , Smoglica Camilla , Angelucci Simone
Published: December 2020

Canine distemper is a contagious infectious disease, caused by canine distemper virus (CDV) belonging to Morbillivirus genus, Paramyxoviridae family, representing a serious threat for domestic and wild carnivores [...]
Efficacy of Broilers as a Method of Face Fly (Musca autumnalis De Geer) Larva Control for Organic Dairy Production
Authors: Phillips Hannah N. , Moon Roger D. , Sorge Ulrike S. , Heins Bradley J.
Published: December 2020

The objective of this study was to evaluate Freedom-Ranger broiler chickens as a method to control face fly (Musca autumnalis De Geer) larvae in cow dung pats on pasture. Ninety-nine pats in three replicates were inoculated with first-instar larvae and exposed to one of four treatment conditions for 3 to 4 days: (1) an environment-controlled greenhouse (GH); (2) pasture without broilers (NEG); (3) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a low density of 2.5 m2 of outdoor area per broiler (LOW); and (4) pasture with 25 broilers stocked at a high density of 0.5 m2 of outdoor area per broiler (HIGH). Broiler behaviors and weather conditions were recorded twice daily. Survival rates of larvae (mean, 95% CI) were similar for pats in the NEG (4.4%, 2–9%), LOW (5.6%, 3–11%), and HIGH (3.2%, 2–7%) groups, and was greatest for larvae reared in the GH (54.4%, 36–72%) group compared to all other groups. The proportion of broilers observed pasture ranging was 14.0% (6–28%) but was negatively related to solar radiation. Broilers were never observed foraging in pats. Results indicate that use of broilers may not be an effective method for controlling larvae of dung pat breeding flies.
Changes in the Secretion of Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines and Acute-Phase Proteins in the Uterus after Artificial Insemination in the Mare
Authors: Wojtysiak Katarzyna , Ryszka Wojciech , Stefaniak Tadeusz , Król Jarosław , Kozdrowski Roland
Published: December 2020

The objective of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), interleukin-10 (IL-10), serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) in uterine lavage fluid before and after artificial insemination (AI). Based on ultrasound examination, mares were divided into: Group 1 (n = 9), no fluid was detected in the uterus during estrus and 7 h after AI; Group 2 (n = 8), no fluid was detected in the uterus during estrus but 7 h after AI fluid was detected in the uterus; Group 3 (n = 8), fluid was detected in the uterus during estrus and also 7 h after AI. In all groups of mares, a significant increase in polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and a significant increase in IL-1RA and SAA were recorded 7 h after AI. The obtained results show that, regardless of the status of the mare before AI, the endometrial response characterized by PMN influx, and SAA, Hp, IL-1RA and IL-10 production, is similar. The presence of intrauterine fluid during estrus is not connected with PMN influx but can impact uterine IL-1RA production at this time.
Effects of Long-Term Supplementation with Brown Seaweeds and Polyphenols in Rabbit on Meat Quality Parameters
Authors: Rossi Raffaella , Vizzarri Francesco , Ratti Sabrina , Palazzo Marisa , Casamassima Donato , Corino Carlo
Published: December 2020

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of dam and offspring dietary supplementation with a natural feed additive on the growth performance and meat quality parameters of growing rabbits. The growing rabbits are selected from lactating does receiving a control diet (C) or diets supplemented with 0.3% (SP1) and 0.6% (SP2) of feed additive containing brown seaweeds (Laminaria spp.) and plant extracts. In the postweaning phase, the growing rabbits remained in the treatment group defined by their does and the trial lasted 42 days. The average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were improved in the rabbit fed 0.6% of the natural feed additive. The cholesterol content tended to be lower in Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle and decrease in Semimembranosus (SM) muscle (in SP2 −41.36% than controls). The α tocopherol and retinol content were enhanced in both muscles of rabbit fed the natural mixture (SP1 and SP2 groups). An improvement of sensory attributes of texture was observed in both muscles from rabbit fed natural mixture. In conclusion, long term supplementation of both lactating does and offspring with the high dosage of brown seaweed and plant polyphenols improves growth performance and enhances meat nutritional and sensory parameters.
The Native Ant Lasius niger Can Limit the Access to Resources of the Invasive Argentine Ant
Authors: Cordonnier Marion , Blight Olivier , Angulo Elena , Courchamp Franck
Published: December 2020

Within ant communities, the biotic resistance of native species against invasive ones is expected to be rare, because invasive species are often highly dominant competitors. The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile (Mayr)) often demonstrated numerical dominance against its opponents, increased aggressiveness, and ability to quickly recruit to food. The present study aimed to assess the behavioral mechanisms involved in the interspecific competition between L. humile, facing either an invasive species (Lasius neglectus Van Loon, Boomsma and Andrásfalvy) or a native dominant species (Lasius niger (Linnaeus)). The resource exploitation by the Argentine ant was investigated during one-hour competitive interactions using 10 dead Drosophila flies as prey. When facing La. niger, L. humile exploratory behavior was strongly inhibited, it brought very few prey resources, and killed few opponents. Conversely, La. neglectus had a low impact on L. humile. Contrarily to expectations, the invasive La. neglectus lacked the ability to hinder L. humile resource exploitation, whereas the native La. niger did. These results suggest that La. niger could impact invasive populations of L. humile by interference competition, perhaps better so than some invasive species. While L. humile has become invasive in Southern Europe, the invasion process could be slowed down in the northern latitudes by such native dominant species.
Monitoring of Selected CBRN Threats in the Air in Industrial Areas with the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Rabajczyk Anna , Zboina Jacek , Zielecka Maria , Fellner Radosław
Published: December 2020

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) play an increasingly important role in various areas of life, including in terms of protection and security. As a result of fires, volcanic eruptions, or other emergencies, huge amounts of toxic gases, dust, and other substances are emitted into the environment, which, together with high temperature, often leads to serious environmental contamination. Based on the available literature and patent databases, an analysis of the available UAVs models was carried out in terms of their applicability in air contaminated conditions in industrial areas, in the event of emergencies, such as fire, chemical contamination. The possibilities of using the devices were analyzed in terms of weather conditions, construction, and used materials in CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) threat situations. It was found that, thanks to the use of appropriate sensors, cameras, and software of UAVs integrated with a given system, it is possible to obtain information on air quality at a given moment, which is very important for the safety of people and the environment. However, several elements, including the possibility of use in acidification conditions, requires refinement to changing crisis conditions.
Quantifying the Independent Influences of Land Cover and Humidity on Microscale Urban Air Temperature Variation in Hot Summer: Methods of Path Analysis and Genetic SVR
Authors: Shi Weifang , Wang Nan , Xin Aixuan , Liu Linglan , Hou Jiaqi , Zhang Yirui
Published: December 2020

Mitigating high air temperatures and heat waves is vital for decreasing air pollution and protecting public health. To improve understanding of microscale urban air temperature variation, this paper performed measurements of air temperature and relative humidity in a field of Wuhan City in the afternoon of hot summer days, and used path analysis and genetic support vector regression (SVR) to quantify the independent influences of land cover and humidity on air temperature variation. The path analysis shows that most effect of the land cover is mediated through relative humidity difference, more than four times as much as the direct effect, and that the direct effect of relative humidity difference is nearly six times that of land cover, even larger than the total effect of the land cover. The SVR simulation illustrates that land cover and relative humidity independently contribute 16.3% and 83.7%, on average, to the rise of the air temperature over the land without vegetation in the study site. An alternative strategy of increasing the humidity artificially is proposed to reduce high air temperatures in urban areas. The study would provide scientific support for the regulation of the microclimate and the mitigation of the high air temperature in urban areas.
Atmospheric Mercury Deposition in Macedonia from 2002 to 2015 Determined Using the Moss Biomonitoring Technique
Authors: Stafilov Trajče , Barandovski Lambe , Šajn Robert , Bačeva Andonovska Katerina
Published: December 2020

The moss biomonitoring technique was used in 2002, 2005, 2010 and 2015 in a potentially toxic elements study (PTEs) in Macedonia. For that purpose, more than 70 moss samples from two dominant species (Hypnum cupressiforme and Homalothecium lutescens) were collected during the summers of the mentioned years. Total digestion of the samples was done using a microwave digestion system, whilst mercury was analyzed by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV–AAS). The content of mercury ranged from 0.018 mg/kg to 0.26 mg/kg in 2002, from 0.010 mg/kg to 0.42 mg/kg in 2005, from 0.010 mg/kg to 0.60 mg/kg in 2010 and from 0.020 mg/kg to 0.25 mg/kg in 2015. Analysis of the median values shows the increase of the content in the period 2002–2010 and a slight reduction of the air pollution with Hg in the period 2010–2015. Mercury distribution maps show that sites with increased concentrations of mercury in moss are likely impacted by anthropogenic pollution. The results were compared to similar studies done during the same years in neighboring countries and in Norway—which is a pristine area and serves as a reference, and it was concluded that mercury air pollution in Macedonia is significant primarily in industrialized regions.
Mitophagy: A New Player in Stem Cell Biology
Authors: Cairns George , Thumiah-Mootoo Madhavee , Burelle Yan , Khacho Mireille
Published: December 2020

The fundamental importance of functional mitochondria in the survival of most eukaryotic cells, through regulation of bioenergetics, cell death, calcium dynamics and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, is undisputed. However, with new avenues of research in stem cell biology these organelles have now emerged as signaling entities, actively involved in many aspects of stem cell functions, including self-renewal, commitment and differentiation. With this recent knowledge, it becomes evident that regulatory pathways that would ensure the maintenance of mitochondria with state-specific characteristics and the selective removal of organelles with sub-optimal functions must play a pivotal role in stem cells. As such, mitophagy, as an essential mitochondrial quality control mechanism, is beginning to gain appreciation within the stem cell field. Here we review and discuss recent advances in our knowledge pertaining to the roles of mitophagy in stem cell functions and the potential contributions of this specific quality control process on to the progression of aging and diseases.
Computerized Eye-Tracking Training Improves the Saccadic Eye Movements of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Lee Tsz , Yeung Michael , Sze Sophia , Chan Agnes
Published: December 2020

Abnormal saccadic eye movements, such as longer anti-saccade latency and lower pro-saccade accuracy, are common in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of computerized eye-tracking training on improving saccadic eye movements in children with ADHD. Eighteen children with ADHD (mean age = 8.8 years, 10 males) were recruited and assigned to either the experimental (n = 9) or control group (n = 9). The experimental group underwent an accumulated 240 min of eye-tracking training within two weeks, whereas the control group engaged in web game playing for the same amount of time. Saccadic performances were assessed using the anti- and pro-saccade tasks before and after training. Compared to the baseline, only the children who underwent the eye-tracking training showed significant improvements in saccade latency and accuracy in the anti- and pro-saccade tasks, respectively. In contrast, the control group exhibited no significant changes. These preliminary findings support the use of eye-tracking training as a safe non-pharmacological intervention for improving the saccadic eye movements of children with ADHD.
Distant Organ Damage in Acute Brain Injury
Authors: Rachfalska Natalia , Putowski Zbigniew , Krzych Łukasz
Published: December 2020

Acute brain injuries pose a great threat to global health, having significant impact on mortality and disability. Patients with acute brain injury may develop distant organ failure, even if no systemic diseases or infection is present. The severity of non-neurologic organs’ dysfunction depends on the extremity of the insult to the brain. In this comprehensive review we sought to describe the organ-related consequences of acute brain injuries. The clinician should always be aware of the interplay between central nervous system and non-neurological organs, that is constantly present. Cerebral injury is not only a brain disease, but also affects the body as whole, and thus requires holistic therapeutical approach.
An Amplified Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Gene Cluster in Prostate Cancer: Emerging Roles in Lipid Metabolism and Metastasis
Authors: Liu Rong-Zong , Godbout Roseline
Published: December 2020

Treatment for early stage and localized prostate cancer (PCa) is highly effective. Patient survival, however, drops dramatically upon metastasis due to drug resistance and cancer recurrence. The molecular mechanisms underlying PCa metastasis are complex and remain unclear. It is therefore crucial to decipher the key genetic alterations and relevant molecular pathways driving PCa metastatic progression so that predictive biomarkers and precise therapeutic targets can be developed. Through PCa cohort analysis, we found that a fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) gene cluster (containing five FABP family members) is preferentially amplified and overexpressed in metastatic PCa. All five FABP genes reside on chromosome 8 at 8q21.13, a chromosomal region frequently amplified in PCa. There is emerging evidence that these FABPs promote metastasis through distinct biological actions and molecular pathways. In this review, we discuss how these FABPs may serve as drivers/promoters for PCa metastatic transformation using patient cohort analysis combined with a review of the literature.
Changes in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment during Disease Progression in Patients with Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Westergaard Marie Christine Wulff , Milne Katy , Pedersen Magnus , Hasselager Thomas , Olsen Lars Rønn , Anglesio Michael S. , Borch Troels Holz , Kennedy Mia , Briggs Gillian , Ledoux Stacey , Kreuzinger Caroline , Decken Isabel von der , Donia Marco , Castillo-Tong Dan Cacsire , Nelson Brad H. , Svane Inge Marie
Published: December 2020

Anti-PD1/PDL1 therapy has proven efficacious against many cancers but only reached modest objective response rates against recurrent ovarian cancer. A deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) may reveal other immunosuppressive mechanisms that warrant investigation as immunotherapeutic targets for this challenging disease. Matched primary and recurrent tumors from patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) were analyzed by multicolor immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence for the presence of T cells, B cells, macrophages, and for the expression of immunosuppressive and HLA molecules. Cancer- and immune-related gene expression was assessed by NanoString analysis. Recurrent tumors showed increased infiltration by immune cells, displayed higher expression of PDL1, IDO, and HLA molecules, and contained more stromal tissue. NanoString analysis demonstrated increased expression of gene signatures related to chemokines and T cell functions in recurrent tumors. The ovarian tumors showed high gene expression of LAG3 and HAVCR2 (TIM3) and enhanced levels of TIGIT and CTLA4 in recurrent tumors compared to primary tumors. The majority of HGSC developed into a more inflamed phenotype during progression from primary to recurrent disease, including indications of adaptive immune resistance. This suggests that recurrent tumors may be particularly sensitive to inhibition of adaptive immune resistance mechanisms.