bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring antibiotic resistance mechanisms in Mycobacterium abscessus for enhanced therapeutic approaches
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Quang , Heo Bo Eun , Jeon Seunghyeon , Ash Anwesha , Lee Heehyun , Moon Cheol , Jang Jichan
Published: February 2024

Mycobacterium abscessus, a leading cause of severe lung infections in immunocompromised individuals, poses significant challenges for current therapeutic strategies due to resistance mechanisms. Therefore, understanding the intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance of M. abscessus is crucial for effective treatment. This review highlights the mechanisms employed by M. abscessus to sustain antibiotic resistance, encompassing not only conventional drugs but also newly discovered drug candidates. This comprehensive analysis aims to identify novel entities capable of overcoming the notorious resistance exhibited by M. abscessus, providing insights for the development of more effective therapeutic interventions.
Function and therapeutic prospects of next-generation probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila in infectious diseases
Authors: Li Lifeng , Li Mingchao , Chen Yihua , Yu Zengyuan , Cheng Ping , Yu Zhidan , Cheng Weyland , Zhang Wancun , Wang Zhaobao , Gao Xueyan , Sun Huiqing , Wang Xiaolei
Published: February 2024

Akkermansia muciniphila is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human gut, making up 3–5% of the human microbiome. A. muciniphila is a promising next-generation probiotic with clinical application prospects. Emerging studies have reported various beneficial effects of A. muciniphila including anti-cancer, delaying aging, reducing inflammation, improving immune function, regulating nervous system function, whereas knowledge on its roles and mechanism in infectious disease is currently unclear. In this review, we summarized the basic characteristics, genome and phenotype diversity, the influence of A. muciniphila and its derived components on infectious diseases, such as sepsis, virus infection, enteric infection, periodontitis and foodborne pathogen induced infections. We also provided updates on mechanisms how A. muciniphila protects intestinal barrier integrity and modulate host immune response. In summary, we believe that A. muciniphila is a promising therapeutic probiotic that may be applied for the treatment of a variety of infectious diseases.
Transcriptomic and metabolic analysis unveils the mechanism behind leaf color development in Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes
Authors: Tian Xiaoming , Xiang Guangfeng , Lv Hao , Zhu Lu , Peng Jing , Li Gaofei , Mou Cun
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Leaf coloration in Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes results from the interplay of various pigments undergoing complex catalytic reactions.

Methods: We aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of pigment biosynthesis affecting leaf color transition in D. cercidifolius var. longipes by analyzing variations in pigment accumulation and levels of gene expression.

Results: We identified 468, 577, and 215 differential metabolites in green leaves (GL), gradual-color-changing leaves (GCCL), and red leaves (RL), respectively, with 94 metabolites shared across all comparisons. Metabolite accumulation patterns were similar among GL, GCCL, and RL, with flavonoids being the main differential metabolites. Delphinidin, malvidin, and petunidin derivatives were mostly accumulated in GCCL, whereas cyanidin, pelargonidin, and peonidin derivatives accumulated in RL. Transcriptome sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed genes. The expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway genes was associated with anthocyanin accumulation patterns.

Discussion: Our findings reveal that the content of delphinidin, malvidin, petunidin, and carotenoids collectively determines the gradual transition of leaf color from green in spring and summer to green, purple, and orange-yellow in early autumn, whereas the content of cyanidin, peonidin, pelargonidin, and carotenoids together causes the autumnal transition to red or orange-red colors as leaves of D. cercidifolius var. longipes age.
Increased IgA-mediated responses to the gut paracellular pathway and blood–brain barrier proteins predict delirium due to hip fracture in older adults
Authors: Thisayakorn Paul , Thipakorn Yanin , Tantavisut Saran , Sirivichayakul Sunee , Vojdani Aristo , Maes Michael
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Delirium is accompanied by immune response system activation, which may, in theory, cause a breakdown of the gut barrier and blood–brain barrier (BBB). Some results suggest that the BBB is compromised in delirium, but there is no data regarding the gut barrier. This study investigates whether delirium is associated with impaired BBB and gut barriers in elderly adults undergoing hip fracture surgery.

Methods

We recruited 59 older adults and measured peak Delirium Rating Scale (DRS) scores 2–3 days after surgery, and assessed plasma IgG/IgA levels (using ELISA techniques) for zonulin, occludin, claudin-6, β-catenin, actin (indicating damage to the gut paracellular pathway), claudin-5 and S100B (reflecting BBB damage), bacterial cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), LPS-binding protein (LBP), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Helicobacter pylori.

Results

Results from univariate analyses showed that delirium is linked to increased IgA responses to all the self-epitopes and antigens listed above, except for LPS. Part of the variance (between 45–48.3%) in the peak DRS score measured 2–3 days post-surgery was explained by independent effects of IgA directed to LPS and LBP (or bacterial CDT), baseline DRS scores, and previous mild stroke. Increased IgA reactivity to the paracellular pathway and BBB proteins and bacterial antigens is significantly associated with the activation of M1 macrophage, T helper-1, and 17 cytokine profiles.

Conclusion

Heightened bacterial translocation, disruption of the tight and adherens junctions of the gut and BBB barriers, elevated CDT and LPS load in the bloodstream, and aberrations in cell–cell interactions may be risk factors for delirium.
Comparing data-driven physiological denoising approaches for resting-state fMRI: implications for the study of aging
Authors: Golestani Ali M. , Chen J. Jean
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Physiological nuisance contributions by cardiac and respiratory signals have a significant impact on resting-state fMRI data quality. As these physiological signals are often not recorded, data-driven denoising methods are commonly used to estimate and remove physiological noise from fMRI data. To investigate the efficacy of these denoising methods, one of the first steps is to accurately capture the cardiac and respiratory signals, which requires acquiring fMRI data with high temporal resolution.

Methods

In this study, we used such high-temporal resolution fMRI data to evaluate the effectiveness of several data-driven denoising methods, including global-signal regression (GSR), white matter and cerebrospinal fluid regression (WM-CSF), anatomical (aCompCor) and temporal CompCor (tCompCor), ICA-AROMA. Our analysis focused on the consequence of changes in low-frequency, cardiac and respiratory signal power, as well as age-related differences in terms of functional connectivity (fcMRI).

Results

Our results confirm that the ICA-AROMA and GSR removed the most physiological noise but also more low-frequency signals. These methods are also associated with substantially lower age-related fcMRI differences. On the other hand, aCompCor and tCompCor appear to be better at removing high-frequency physiological signals but not low-frequency signal power. These methods are also associated with relatively higher age-related fcMRI differences, whether driven by neuronal signal or residual artifact. These results were reproduced in data downsampled to represent conventional fMRI sampling frequency. Lastly, methods differ in performance depending on the age group.

Discussion

While this study cautions direct comparisons of fcMRI results based on different denoising methods in the study of aging, it also enhances the understanding of different denoising methods in broader fcMRI applications.
Genetic landscape of breast cancer subtypes following radiation therapy: insights from comprehensive profiling
Authors: Wang Fang , Wang Weiyan , Wang Minglei , Chen Dawei
Published: February 2024

Background

In breast cancer, in the era of precision cancer therapy, different patterns of genetic mutations dictate different treatments options. However, it is not clear whether the genetic profiling of breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery is related to the adverse reactions caused by radiotherapy.

Methods

We collected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue samples from 54 breast cancer patients treated with radiation after breast-conserving surgery and identified comprehensive molecular information in hundreds of cancer-associated genes by FoundationOne CDx (F1CDx), a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based assay.

Results

Among our cohort of 54 breast cancer patients, we found high-frequency mutations in cancer-related genes such as TP53 (56%), RAD21 (39%), PIK3CA (35%), ERBB2 (24%), and MYC (22%). Strikingly, we detected that the WNT pathway appears to be a signaling pathway with specific high-frequency mutations in the HER2 subtype. We also compared the mutation frequencies of the two groups of patients with and without cutaneous radiation injury (CRI) after radiotherapy and found that the mutation frequencies of two genes, FGFR1 and KLHL6, were significantly higher in patients with CRI : No subgroup than in those with CRI : Yes.

Conclusion

Different breast cancer subtypes have their own type-specific mutation patterns. FGFR1 and KLHL6 mutations are protective factors for radiation-induced skin toxicity in breast cancer patients.
Prevalence and clinical significance of potential drug-drug interactions among lung transplant patients
Authors: Zhang Jiali , Ma Danyi , Chen Meng , Hu Yanting , Chen Xveying , Chen Jingyu , Huang Man , Dai Haibin
Published: February 2024

Background: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are a major but preventable cause of adverse drug reactions. There is insufficient information regarding DDIs in lung transplant recipients.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of potential DDIs (pDDIs) in intensive care unit (ICU) lung transplant recipients, identify the real DDIs and the most frequently implicated medications in this vulnerable population, and determine the risk factors associated with pDDIs.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included lung transplant recipients from January 2018 to December 2021. Pertinent information was retrieved from medical records. All prescribed medications were screened for pDDIs using the Lexicomp® drug interaction software. According to this interaction software, pDDIs were classified as C, D, or X (C = monitor therapy, D = consider therapy modification, X = avoid combination). The Drug Interaction Probability Scale was used to determine the causation of DDIs. All statistical analysis was performed in SPSS version 26.0.

Results: 114 patients were qualified for pDDI analysis, and total pDDIs were 4051. The most common type of pDDIs was category C (3323; 82.0%), followed by D (653; 16.1%) and X (75; 1.9%). Voriconazole and posaconazole were the antifungal medicine with the most genuine DDIs. Mean tacrolimus concentration/dose (Tac C/D) before or after co-therapy was considerably lower than the Tac C/D during voriconazole or posaconazole co-therapy (p < 0.001, p = 0.027). Real DDIs caused adverse drug events (ADEs) in 20 patients. Multivariable logistic regression analyses found the number of drugs per patient (OR, 1.095; 95% CI, 1.048–1.145; p < 0.001) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE Ⅱ) score (OR, 1.097; 95% CI, 1.021–1.179; p = 0.012) as independent risk factors predicting category X pDDIs.

Conclusion: This study revealed a high incidence of both potential and real DDIs in ICU lung transplant recipients. Immunosuppressive drugs administered with azole had a high risk of causing clinically significant interactions. The number of co-administered drugs and APACHE Ⅱ score were associated with an increased risk of category × drug interactions. Close monitoring of clinical and laboratory parameters is essential for ensuring successful lung transplantation and preventing adverse drug events associated with DDIs.
Emerging role of antidiabetic drugs in cardiorenal protection
Authors: Fu Wen-Jia , Huo Jin-Ling , Mao Zi-Hui , Pan Shao-Kang , Liu Dong-Wei , Liu Zhang-Suo , Wu Peng , Gao Zhong-Xiuzi
Published: February 2024

The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has led to widespread multi-system damage, especially in cardiovascular and renal functions, heightening morbidity and mortality. Emerging antidiabetic drugs sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) have demonstrated efficacy in preserving cardiac and renal function, both in type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. To understand the exact impact of these drugs on cardiorenal protection and underlying mechanisms, we conducted a comprehensive review of recent large-scale clinical trials and basic research focusing on SGLT2i, GLP-1RAs, and DPP-4i. Accumulating evidence highlights the diverse mechanisms including glucose-dependent and independent pathways, and revealing their potential cardiorenal protection in diabetic and non-diabetic cardiorenal disease. This review provides critical insights into the cardiorenal protective effects of SGLT2i, GLP-1RAs, and DPP-4i and underscores the importance of these medications in mitigating the progression of cardiovascular and renal complications, and their broader clinical implications beyond glycemic management.
Key candidate genes for male sterility in peppers unveiled via transcriptomic and proteomic analyses
Authors: Yang Shimei , Luo Xirong , Jin Jing , Guo Ya , Zhang Lincheng , Li Jing , Tong Shuoqiu , Luo Yin , Li Tangyan , Chen Xiaocui , Wu Yongjun , Qin Cheng
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to enhance the use of male sterility in pepper to select superior hybrid generations. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of fertile line 1933A and nucleic male sterility line 1933B of Capsicum annuum L. were performed to identify male sterility-related proteins and genes. The phylogenetic tree, physical and chemical characteristics, gene structure characteristics, collinearity and expression characteristics of candidate genes were analyzed. The study identified 2,357 differentially expressed genes, of which 1,145 and 229 were enriched in the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases, respectively. A total of 7,628 quantifiable proteins were identified and 29 important proteins and genes were identified. It is worth noting that the existence of CaPRX genes has been found in both proteomics and transcriptomics, and 3 CaPRX genes have been identified through association analysis. A total of 66 CaPRX genes have been identified at the genome level, which are divided into 13 subfamilies, all containing typical CaPRX gene conformal domains. It is unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes (including the virtual chromosome Chr00). Salt stress and co-expression analysis show that male sterility genes are expressed to varying degrees, and multiple transcription factors are co-expressed with CaPRXs, suggesting that they are involved in the induction of pepper salt stress. The study findings provide a theoretical foundation for genetic breeding by identifying genes, metabolic pathways, and molecular mechanisms involved in male sterility in pepper.
Bacillus-based biocontrol beyond chemical control in central Africa: the challenge of turning myth into reality
Authors: Nihorimbere Gaspard , Korangi Alleluya Virginie , Nimbeshaho François , Nihorimbere Venant , Legrève Anne , Ongena Marc
Published: February 2024

Agricultural productivity in the Great Lakes Countries of Central Africa, including Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is affected by a wide range of diseases and pests which are mainly controlled by chemical pesticides. However, more than 30% of the pesticides used in the region are banned in European Union due to their high toxicity. Globally available safe and eco-friendly biological alternatives to chemicals are virtually non-existent in the region. Bacillus PGPR-based biocontrol products are the most dominant in the market and have proven their efficacy in controlling major plant diseases reported in the region. With this review, we present the current situation of disease and pest management and urge the need to utilize Bacillus-based control as a possible sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. A repertoire of strains from the Bacillus subtilis group that have shown great potential to antagonize local pathogens is provided, and efforts to promote their use, as well as the search for indigenous and more adapted Bacillus strains to local agro-ecological conditions, should be undertaken to make sustainable agriculture a reality in the region.
Who counts as diverse? The strategic broadening and narrowing of diversity
Authors: Zhang Junming , Kirby Teri A.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

A large majority of US organizations profess a commitment to diversity, but their definitions of diversity can vary greatly. While previous research demonstrates a shift in diversity definitions to include fewer protected demographic groups and more non-demographic characteristics, the present research examines whether this shift might be a motivated process among dominant group members related to anti-egalitarian and colorblind belief systems.

Methods

Using quantitative and qualitative methods, we explored potential underlying ideologies that may be associated with White Americans’ shifting definitions of diversity. White Americans (N = 498) were asked how they define diversity, as well as who should be included in a range of diversity initiatives.

Results

White participants’ higher anti-egalitarian belief was associated with stronger colorblind ideology endorsement, which was then associated with shifting their definition of diversity to include fewer disadvantaged demographic groups, more advantaged demographic groups, and non-demographic groups, as well as employing a colorblind inclusion rhetoric.

Discussion

Instead of only “broadening” diversity to include more characteristics than diversity’s original focus, White Americans higher in anti-egalitarian and colorblind motives exhibited a simultaneous “narrowing” of diversity to include fewer protected demographic characteristics. Taken together, these findings have implications for dominant group members’ definition of diversity and the subtle ways in which colorblind ideology may be enacted.
An investigation of the associations between stigma, self-compassion, and pain outcomes during treatment based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for chronic pain
Authors: Anderson Madeleine , McCracken Lance M. , Scott Whitney
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Stigma adversely affects people with chronic pain. The qualities within self-compassion may be particularly useful for buffering the impact of stigma on people with pain. In the context of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based (ACT) treatment for chronic pain, this study investigated the association between changes in stigma and self-compassion and pain outcomes, and the potential moderating role of self-compassion on the association between stigma and pain outcomes.

Materials and methods

Five-hundred and nineteen patients completed standardized self-report questionnaires of stigma, self-compassion, psychological flexibility, pain intensity and interference, work and social adjustment, and depression symptoms at the start of an interdisciplinary ACT-based treatment for chronic pain. The same measures were completed at post-treatment (n = 431).

Results

The results indicated that key pain outcomes and self-compassion significantly improved during treatment, but stigma did not. Changes in stigma and self-compassion were significantly negatively correlated and changes in these variables were associated with improvements in treatment outcomes. There were significant main effects of stigma and self-compassion for many of the pre- and post-treatment regression models when psychological flexibility was not controlled for, but self-compassion did not moderate the association between stigma and pain outcomes. Stigma remained significant when psychological flexibility variables were controlled for, while self-compassion did not.

Discussion

The findings add to our conceptual understanding of the inter-relationships between stigma, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility and can contribute to treatment advancements to optimally target these variables.
Body shaming and internalized weight bias as potential precursors of eating disorders in adolescents
Authors: Cerolini Silvia , Vacca Mariacarolina , Zegretti Anna , Zagaria Andrea , Lombardo Caterina
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Body shaming (BS) is a growing phenomenon within the school context, especially among adolescents. Recently, it has been described as an unrepeated act in which a person expresses unsolicited, mostly negative comments about an individual’s body. The targeted person perceives these comments as negative, offensive or body shame-inducing. Empirical evidence also suggests that body weight is the most common reason that youths are teased and bullied. Indeed, weight stigma, described as bias or discriminatory behaviors, attitudes, feelings, and thinking about individuals, because of their weight, can lead to weight-based discrimination and victimization. Preliminary evidence suggests that BS and weight stigma have negative effects on psychological health both in the short and long term. In the delicate stage of adolescence development and pubertal maturation, BS experiences can be highly prevalent and it can lead to adverse outcomes such as eating disorders (ED). However, prevalence data in the Italian context are still lacking.

Methods

The study aims to estimate weight-related BS perceived by different sources (i.e., peers and family members) and their associations with public and internalized weight bias, body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction, and ED symptoms. A sample of 919 high school students (Mage = 15.97, SD = 1.58; 57.1% boys) completed a battery of self-report questionnaires assessing these variables.

Results

One in four students reported experiences of weight-related BS by peers or family members. A total of 37% reported having at least one BS experience in a lifetime. Higher scores of ED symptoms, body dissatisfaction, and weight bias were reported by adolescents who experienced BS, especially females. Among overweight participants, results showed that internalized weight bias partially mediated the relationship between BS by family members and ED symptoms and fully mediated the relationship between BS by peers and ED symptoms, after controlling for age, sex and BMI.

Discussion

These findings, despite their cross-sectional nature, add an important contribution to the creation of quantitative empirical evidence on the phenomenon of BS. Its role in explaining eating disorders, both alone and with the mediation of internalized weight stigma has been first proved and needs to be confirmed by longitudinal results.
Valuable interaction with cognitive remediation and optimal antipsychotics for recovery in schizophrenia (VICTORY-S): study protocol for an interventional, open-label, randomized comparison of combined treatment with cognitive remediation and lurasidone or paliperidone
Authors: Kubota Ryotaro , Ikezawa Satoru , Oi Hideki , Oba Mari S , Izumi Shoki , Tsuno Ryoko , Adachi Leona , Miwa Mako , Toya Shunji , Nishizato Yohei , Haga Daisuke , Iwane Tatsuro , Nakagome Kazuyuki
Published: February 2024

Background

Cognitive impairment, a core feature of schizophrenia, is associated with poor outcomes. Pharmacotherapy and psychosocial treatment, when used alone, have inadequate effect sizes for cognitive impairment, leading to recent interest in combination interventions. A previous study examined the additive effect of cognitive remediation on lurasidone in patients with schizophrenia, which was negative. Although improvement in cognitive function was suggested for lurasidone, it was inconclusive because there was no antipsychotic control in the study. To clarify whether lurasidone has a meaningful impact on cognitive function in combination with cognitive remediation, we use paliperidone as a control antipsychotic in this study. We hypothesize that combination with lurasidone will improve cognitive and social function to a greater extent than paliperidone.

Methods

The valuable interaction with cognitive remediation and optimal antipsychotics for recovery in schizophrenia study is a multicenter, interventional, open-label, rater-blind, randomized comparison study, comparing the effect of lurasidone plus cognitive remediation with that of paliperidone plus cognitive remediation in patients with schizophrenia. The Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR) is used for cognitive remediation. Eligible patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive lurasidone or paliperidone combined with NEAR (6 weeks antipsychotic alone followed by 24 weeks combination antipsychotic plus NEAR). The primary endpoint is the change from baseline in the tablet-based Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia composite T-score at the end of the NEAR combination treatment period. Secondary endpoints will include change from baseline in social function, schizophrenia symptoms, and quality of life at the end of the NEAR combination treatment period. Furthermore, change from baseline to the end of the pharmacotherapy period and change from the end of the pharmacotherapy period to the end of the NEAR combination treatment period will be assessed for all endpoints. Safety will also be evaluated.

Discussion

Achievement of adequate cognitive function is central to supporting social function, which is a key treatment goal for patients with schizophrenia. We think this study will fill in the gaps of the previous study and provide useful information regarding treatment decisions for patients with schizophrenia.

Clinical trial registration

Japan Registry of Clinical Trials ID, jRCTs031200338.
Unlocking the Wonders in the Grand Library of Open Science
Authors: Debad Susan J. , Apweiler Rolf
Published: February 2024

In a world where scientists often guard their research like hidden treasures, open science is a new and exciting concept. Rather than keeping experiments and results secret, open science encourages the wide sharing of scientific knowledge, to speed up research and improve human lives. Imagine a grand library where scientists unlock their safes and deposit their valuable information where everyone can access it! The power of open science was clearly seen during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is central to important scientific collaborations like the Human Cell Atlas project, which aims to map all the cells in the human body. By embracing open science, we unlock a world where knowledge is freely accessible, collaboration thrives, and scientific discoveries are accelerated, leading to a brighter future for everyone.
Multi-process driven unusually large equatorial perturbation electric fields during the April 2023 geomagnetic storm
Authors: Fejer Bela G. , Laranja Sophia R. , Condor Percy
Published: February 2024

The low latitude ionosphere and thermosphere are strongly disturbed during and shortly after geomagnetic storms. We use novel Jicamarca radar measurements, ACE satellite solar wind, and SuperMAG geomagnetic field observations to study the electrodynamic response of the equatorial ionosphere to the 23, 24 April 2023 geomagnetic storm. We also compare our data with results from previous experimental and modeling studies of equatorial storm-time electrodynamics. We show, for the first time, unusually large equatorial vertical and zonal plasma drift (zonal and meridional electric field) perturbations driven simultaneously by multi storm-time electric field mechanisms during both the storm main and recovery phases. These include daytime undershielding and overshielding prompt penetration electric fields driven by solar wind electric fields and dynamic pressure changes, substorms, as well as disturbance dynamo electric fields, which are not well reproduced by current empirical models. Our nighttime measurements, over an extended period of large and slowly decreasing southward IMF Bz, show very large, substorm-driven, vertical and zonal drift fluctuations superposed on large undershield driven upward and westward drifts up to about 01 LT, and the occurrence of equatorial spread F irregularities with very strong spatial and temporal structuring. These nighttime observations cannot be explained by present models of equatorial storm-time electrodynamics.
Comparing dry farming of tomatoes across varieties and soil management history
Authors: Gill Alison R. , Rainey Coleman , Socolar Yvonne , Gil-Santos Yordi , Bowles Timothy M.
Published: February 2024

Farmers faced with increasingly limited access to freshwater for irrigation are utilizing dry farming techniques to produce fruit, vegetable, and grain crops. Defined as crop production during a dry season using little or no irrigation, dry farming relies on water stored in the soil and requires specialized soil management, healthy soil biology, and careful selection of crop varieties. We investigated these three factors in a dry-farmed tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) field trial with three indeterminate varieties (Early Girl, Momotaro, and Zapotec) and two determinate genotypes (76R andrmc), the latter serving as a model system for studying the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. While five prior years of contrasting surface tillage practices changed soil properties, they did not affect marketable tomato yields or quality, nor affect plant physiology, including plant water use efficiency [intrinsic (WUEi) and long-term (δ13C)], gas exchange, stem water potential (Ψstem), and leaf relative water content (RWC). Early Girl produced a greater number of fruits and fewer non-marketable fruits than Momotaro and Zapotec. Although AM fungi root colonization was very low for both wildtype mycorrhizal genotype 76R and its reduced mycorrhizal mutantrmc, it differed significantly depending on genotype and tillage treatment. 76R produced slightly greater marketable fruit, but physiological responses did not differ significantly between genotypes. This study does not provide field-based evidence that soil chemical and biological changes resulting from no-till influence dry-farmed tomato productivity, while genotype had a clear impact on tomato yield and quality. Field-scale tillage experiments may better capture soil physical changes that affect water availability, especially at depth, and should be examined.
Improved characterization and translation of NK cells for canine immunotherapy
Authors: Razmara Aryana M. , Gingrich Alicia A. , Toedebusch Christine M. , Rebhun Robert B. , Murphy William J. , Kent Michael S. , Canter Robert J.
Published: February 2024

The field of cancer immunology has seen a meteoric rise in interest and application due to the discovery of immunotherapies that target immune cells, often leading to dramatic anti-tumor effects. However, successful cellular immunotherapy for solid tumors remains a challenge, and the application of immunotherapy to dogs with naturally occurring cancers has emerged as a high yield large animal model to bridge the bench-to-bedside challenges of immunotherapies, including those based on natural killer (NK) cells. Here, we review recent developments in the characterization and understanding of canine NK cells, a critical springboard for future translational NK immunotherapy research. The characterization of canine NK cells is exceptionally pertinent given the ongoing challenges in defining them and contextualizing their similarities and differences compared to human and murine NK cells compounded by the limited availability of validated canine specific reagents. Additionally, we summarize the current landscape of the clinical and translational literature employing strategies to capitalize on endogenous and exogenous NK cell immunotherapy in canine cancer patients. The insights regarding efficacy and immune correlates from these trials provide a solid foundation to design and test novel combinational therapies to enhance NK cell activity with the added benefit of motivating comparative work to translate these findings to human cancers with extensive similarities to their canine counterparts. The compilation of knowledge from basic canine NK phenotype and function to applications in first-in-dog clinical trials will support the canine cancer model and enhance translational work to improve cancer outcomes for both dogs and humans.
The protective role of phlorizin against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute orchitis in mice associated with changes in gut microbiota composition
Authors: Guo Qing , Li Tian-Feng , Huang Jiang , Li Jing-Chun , Zhang Ze-Cai , Qu Yong-Li
Published: February 2024

Objective

Orchitis is a common reproductive disease of male animals, which has serious implications to human and animal reproduction. Additionally, phlorizin (PHN), a common polyphenol in apples and strawberries, has a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-aging activities. We aimed to determine the protective effects and potential mechanisms of PHN in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute orchitis in mice.

Method

After 21 days of PHN pretreatment, mice were injected with LPS to induce testicular inflammation, and then the changes of testicular tissue structure, expression of inflammatory factors, testosterone level, expression of testosterone-related genes, adhesion gene and protein expression were detected, and the structural changes in the intestinal flora after PHN treatment were further detected by 16SRNA.

Result

Our results demonstrated that PHN treatment reduced LPS-induced testicular injury and body and testicular weight losses. The mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines-related genes and antioxidant enzyme activity were also decreased and elevated, respectively, by PHN administration; however, PHN treatment also reduced the LPS-induced decrease in testosterone levels in the testes. Additionally, further studies found that PHN increased the expression of marker proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin associated with the blood testosterone barrier compared with that in LPS treatment groups. To further examine the potential mechanisms of the protective effect of PHN on LPS-induced testicular injury, we compared the differences of gut microbiota compositions between the 100 mg/kg PHN treatment group and the control group using 16SRNA. Metagenomic analyses indicated that the abundances of Bacteroidetes, Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillaceae, uncultured bacterium f Muribaculaceae, and Lactobacillus in the PHN treatment group improved, while potential microbes that can induce intestinal diseases, including Verrucomicrobia, Epsilonbacteraeota, Akkermansiaceae, and Akkermansia decreased in the PHN treatment group.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that PHN pretreatment might alleviate orchitis by altering the composition of gut microflora, which may provide a reference for reducing the occurrence of acute orchitis in male animals.
Extracellular vesicles as modulators of glioblastoma progression and tumor microenvironment
Authors: Dai Jie , Jiang Yong , Hu Haoyue , Zhang Shuang , Chen Yue
Published: February 2024

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor with extremely poor prognosis in adults. Routine treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy; however, these may lead to rapid relapse and development of therapy-resistant tumor. Glioblastoma cells are known to communicate with macrophages, microglia, endothelial cells, astrocytes, and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to promote tumor preservation. It was recently demonstrated that Glioblastoma-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in bidirectional intercellular communication in the TME. Apart from promoting glioblastoma cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, EVs and their cargos (primarily proteins and miRNAs) can act as biomarkers for tumor diagnosis and prognosis. Furthermore, they can be used as therapeutic tools. In this review, the mechanisms of Glioblastoma-EVs biogenesis and intercellular communication with TME have been summarized. Moreover, there is discussion surrounding EVs as novel diagnostic structures and therapeutic tools for glioblastoma. Finally, unclear questions that require future investigation have been reviewed.
A Heterogeneity-Aware Car-Following Model: Based on the XGBoost Method
Authors: Zhu Kefei , Yang Xu , Zhang Yanbo , Liang Mengkun , Wu Jun
Published: February 2024

With the rising popularity of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), there is an increasing demand for more human-like car-following performance. In this paper, we consider the role of heterogeneity in car-following behavior within car-following modeling. We incorporate car-following heterogeneity factors into the model features. We employ the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) method to build the car-following model. The results show that our model achieves optimal performance with a mean squared error of 0.002181, surpassing the model that disregards heterogeneity factors. Furthermore, utilizing model importance analysis, we determined that the cumulative importance score of heterogeneity factors in the model is 0.7262. The results demonstrate the significant impact of heterogeneity factors on car-following behavior prediction and highlight the importance of incorporating heterogeneity factors into car-following models.
An FPT Algorithm for Directed Co-Graph Edge Deletion
Authors: Li Wenjun , Yang Xueying , Xu Chao , Yang Yongjie
Published: February 2024

In the directed co-graph edge-deletion problem, we are given a directed graph and an integer k, and the question is whether we can delete, at most, k edges so that the resulting graph is a directed co-graph. In this paper, we make two minor contributions. Firstly, we show that the problem is NP-hard. Then, we show that directed co-graphs are fully characterized by eight forbidden structures, each having, at most, six edges. Based on the symmetry properties and several refined observations, we develop a branching algorithm with a running time of O(2.733k), which is significantly more efficient compared to the brute-force algorithm, which has a running time of O(6k).
An Attention-Based Method for the Minimum Vertex Cover Problem on Complex Networks
Authors: Lazzarinetti Giorgio , Dondi Riccardo , Manzoni Sara , Zoppis Italo
Published: February 2024

Solving combinatorial problems on complex networks represents a primary issue which, on a large scale, requires the use of heuristics and approximate algorithms. Recently, neural methods have been proposed in this context to find feasible solutions for relevant computational problems over graphs. However, such methods have some drawbacks: (1) they use the same neural architecture for different combinatorial problems without introducing customizations that reflects the specificity of each problem; (2) they only use a nodes local information to compute the solution; (3) they do not take advantage of common heuristics or exact algorithms. Following this interest, in this research we address these three main points by designing a customized attention-based mechanism that uses both local and global information from the adjacency matrix to find approximate solutions for the Minimum Vertex Cover Problem. We evaluate our proposal with respect to a fast two-factor approximation algorithm and a widely adopted state-of-the-art heuristic both on synthetically generated instances and on benchmark graphs with different scales. Experimental results demonstrate that, on the one hand, the proposed methodology is able to outperform both the two-factor approximation algorithm and the heuristic on the test datasets, scaling even better than the heuristic with harder instances and, on the other hand, is able to provide a representation of the nodes which reflects the combinatorial structure of the problem.
Force Tracking Control Method for Robotic Ultrasound Scanning System under Soft Uncertain Environment
Authors: Jiang Jinlei , Luo Jingjing , Wang Hongbo , Tang Xiuhong , Nian Fan , Qi Lizhe
Published: February 2024

Robotic ultrasound scanning has excellent potential to reduce physician workload, obtain higher-quality imaging, and reduce costs. However, the traditional admittance control strategy for robotics cannot meet the high-precision force control requirements for robots, which are critical for improving image quality and ensuring patient safety. In this study, an integral adaptive admittance control strategy is proposed for contact force control between an ultrasound probe and human skin to enhance the accuracy of force tracking. First, a robotic ultrasound scanning system is proposed, and the system’s overall workflow is introduced. Second, an adaptive admittance control strategy is designed to estimate the uncertain environmental information online, and the estimated parameters are used to modify the reference trajectory. On the basis of ensuring the stability of the system, an integral controller is then introduced to improve the steady-state response. Subsequently, the stability of the proposed strategy is analysed. In addition, a gravity compensation process is proposed to obtain the actual contact force. Finally, through a simulation analysis, the effectiveness of the strategy is discussed. Simultaneously, a series of experiments are carried out on the robotic ultrasound scanning system, and the results show that the strategy can successfully maintain a constant contact force under soft uncertain environments, which effectively improves the efficiency of scanning.
Improving the Efficiency of the Drive of the Test Bench of Rotary Hydraulic Machines
Authors: Rybak Alexander , Meskhi Besarion , Rudoy Dmitry , Olshevskaya Anastasiya , Serdyukova Yuliya , Teplyakova Svetlana , Pelipenko Alexey
Published: February 2024

Volumetric hydraulic drive systems are quite widespread in many industrial sectors. To determine the degree of reliability of hydraulic machines, it is necessary to conduct resource tests. The main requirement for such tests is the compliance of the load level with the operating mode of the hydraulic machine. Analysis of existing methods of creating such a load showed a significant drawback of bench tests—the lack of useful work. Therefore, a number of authors suggest the use of stands with a regenerative drive system. One peculiarity of the work of such stands is the possibility of returning part of the spent energy back to the test system. However, such systems are insufficiently studied and have significant drawbacks. The purpose of this work is to increase the efficiency of the regenerative drive system of the test bench of volumetric hydraulic machines of rotational action by improving the theory and methodology of its calculation and design. This article describes the principle of operation of the circuit of the regenerative drive of the test bench of rotary hydraulic machines. A model of the elastic-dissipative state of the sections of the elements of the hydro-mechanical drive system of the stand is also proposed, which allows for the calculation of the structural and energy parameters of the regenerative hydro-mechanical system. The main structural and functional parameters affecting the operational performance of the system as a whole are also identified. A “test efficiency coefficient” is proposed, which allows for evaluation of the energy efficiency of the test process.
Effects of Defoliation at Different Fertility Stages on Material Accumulation, Physiological Indices and Yield of Cotton
Authors: Li Wenjun , Wu Bingrong , Hu Bao , Wan Yanan , Wang Jichuan , Jia Mengmeng
Published: February 2024

In recent years, severe hailstorms have caused damage to cotton leaves and stalks. In order to identify the effects of cotton leaf damage on its dry matter accumulation, protective enzyme activity and yield in different periods, in this experiment, different intensities of hail were simulated by manual leaf cutting. In this study, the effects of leaf damage on dry matter accumulation, chlorophyll fluorescence, POD (peroxidase), SOD (superoxide dismutase) and MDA levels (malondialdehyde), and yield of cotton were studied in field experiments at three stages (bud, full bud and flower boll stages) and in sub-plots with different artificial defoliation intensities (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). Removing the leaf sources had differently sized effects on the “sink” at each stage, and these are ordered as follows: flowering and boll stage > full bud stage > pregnancy stage. The greater the intensity of leaf removal, the greater the impact on the “sink”. Among them, after removing 50% of the leaves at the full bud stage, the total dry matter of the cotton plant increased by 12.46% compared to that of the control, and the boll formation rate per plant increased by 14.99%, resulting in overcompensation. Mo, Vj and φDo all showed a tendency to decrease and then increase with the increase in defoliation intensity at different periods of the treatment, and the lowest values of Mo, Vj and φDo, and the largest values of φpo, ψo and φEo were found in the 50% defoliation treatment at the gestational bud stage. The values of ψo and φEo were at the maximum in the 25% defoliation treatment at the full bud stage. The values of Mo and Vj in the different defoliation treatments at the bolling stage showed a tendency to increase and then decrease with the increase in defoliation intensity, with the highest values in the 25% treatment and the smallest values of φpo, ψo and φEo in the 25% defoliation treatment. The POD enzyme activity level was elevated in the defoliation treatments at the three different periods, and the highest value was observed in the 50% defoliation group at the full bud and boll stages, which is a reflection of supercompensation. The SOD enzyme activity level tended to increase with the intensity of defoliation, and defoliation at the gestational and full bud stages first enhanced and then weakened the stress on the cotton plants. The differences between treatments decreased after 12 weeks. The stress of defoliation on cotton plants was weakened at the boll stage. With the increase in defoliation intensity, the content of MDA showed a gradual increasing trend. The cotton MDA content was higher than that of the other treatments at 75% defoliation at both the post-fertilized bud and full bud stage.