bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Hemangioblast-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Islet Engraftment in a Minimal Islet Mass Transplantation Model in Mice
Authors: Bertera Suzanne , Knoll Michael F. , Knoll Carmela , Hara Hidetaka , Kimbrel Erin A. , Kouris Nickolas A. , Lanza Robert , Philips Brett E. , Garciafigueroa Yesica , Giannoukakis Nick , Cooper David K. C. , Trucco Massimo , Bottino Rita
Published: April 2021

Islet transplantation can restore glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes. Using this procedure, the early stages of engraftment are often crucial to long-term islet function, and outcomes are not always successful. Numerous studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) facilitate islet graft function. However, experimental data can be inconsistent due to variables associated with MSC generation (including donor characteristics and tissue source), thus, demonstrating the need for a well-characterized and uniform cell product before translation to the clinic. Unlike bone marrow- or adipose tissue-derived MSCs, human embryonic stem cell-derived-MSCs (hESC-MSCs) offer an unlimited source of stable and highly-characterized cells that are easily scalable. Here, we studied the effects of human hemangioblast-derived mesenchymal cells (HMCs), (i.e., MSCs differentiated from hESCs using a hemangioblast intermediate), on islet cell transplantation using a minimal islet mass model. The co-transplantation of the HMCs allowed a mass of islets that was insufficient to correct diabetes on its own to restore glycemic control in all recipients. Our in vitro studies help to elucidate the mechanisms including reduction of cytokine stress by which the HMCs support islet graft protection in vivo. Derivation, stability, and scalability of the HMC source may offer unique advantages for clinical applications, including fewer islets needed for successful islet transplantation.
New Genotype of Yersinia pestis Found in Live Rodents in Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Shi Liyuan , Qin Jingliang , Zheng Hongyuan , Guo Ying , Zhang Haipeng , Zhong Youhong , Yang Chao , Dong Shanshan , Yang Fengyi , Wu Yarong , Zhao Guangyu , Song Yajun , Yang Ruifu , Wang Peng , Cui Yujun
Published: April 2021

Yunnan Province, China is thought to be the original source of biovar Orientalis of Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the third plague pandemic that has spread globally since the end of the 19th century. Although encompassing a large area of natural plague foci, Y. pestis strains have rarely been found in live rodents during surveillance in Yunnan, and most isolates are from rodent corpses and their fleas. In 2017, 10 Y. pestis strains were isolated from seven live rodents and three fleas in Heqing County of Yunnan. These strains were supposed to have low virulence to local rodents Eothenomys miletus and Apodemus chevrieri because the rodents were healthy and no dead animals were found in surrounding areas, as had occurred in previous epizootic disease. We performed microscopic and biochemical examinations of the isolates, and compared their whole-genome sequences and transcriptome with those of 10 high virulence Y. pestis strains that were isolated from nine rodents and one parasitic flea in adjacent city (Lijiang). We analyzed the phenotypic, genomic, and transcriptomic characteristics of live rodent isolates. The isolates formed a previously undefined monophyletic branch of Y. pestis that was named 1.IN5. Six SNPs, two indels, and one copy number variation were detected between live rodent isolates and the high virulence neighbors. No obvious functional consequence of these variations was found according to the known annotation information. Among genes which expression differential in the live rodent isolates compared to their high virulent neighbors, we found five iron transfer related ones that were significant up-regulated (| log2 (FC) | > 1, p.adjust < 0.05), indicating these genes may be related to the low-virulence phenotype. The novel genotype of Y. pestis reported here provides further insights into the evolution and spread of plague as well as clues that may help to decipher the virulence mechanism of this notorious pathogen.
Bacteriocins: An Overview of Antimicrobial, Toxicity, and Biosafety Assessment by in vivo Models
Authors: Benítez-Chao Diego Francisco , León-Buitimea Angel , Lerma-Escalera Jordy Alexis , Morones-Ramírez José Rubén
Published: April 2021

The world is facing a significant increase in infections caused by drug-resistant infectious agents. In response, various strategies have been recently explored to treat them, including the development of bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are a group of antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria, capable of controlling clinically relevant susceptible and drug-resistant bacteria. Bacteriocins have been studied to be able to modify and improve their physicochemical properties, pharmacological effects, and biosafety. This manuscript focuses on the research being developed on the biosafety of bacteriocins, which is a topic that has not been addressed extensively in previous reviews. This work discusses the studies that have tested the effect of bacteriocins against pathogens and assess their toxicity usingin vivomodels, including murine and other alternative animal models. Thus, this work concludes the urgency to increase and advance thein vivomodels that both assess the efficacy of bacteriocins as antimicrobial agents and evaluate possible toxicity and side effects, which are key factors to determine their success as potential therapeutic agents in the fight against infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms.
Enhanced Recombinant Protein Production Under Special Environmental Stress
Authors: Chen Xinyi , Li Chun , Liu Hu
Published: April 2021

Regardless of bacteria or eukaryotic microorganism hosts, improving their ability to express heterologous proteins is always a goal worthy of elaborate study. In addition to traditional methods including intracellular synthesis process regulation and extracellular environment optimization, some special or extreme conditions can also be employed to create an enhancing effect on heterologous protein production. In this review, we summarize some extreme environmental factors used for the improvement of heterologous protein expression, including low temperature, hypoxia, microgravity and high osmolality. The applications of these strategies are elaborated with examples of well-documented studies. We also demonstrated the confirmed or hypothetical mechanisms of environment stress affecting the host behaviors. In addition, multi-omics techniques driving the stress-responsive research for construction of efficient microbial cell factories are also prospected at the end.
Comparative Genomics Supports That Brazilian Bioethanol Saccharomyces cerevisiae Comprise a Unified Group of Domesticated Strains Related to Cachaça Spirit Yeasts
Authors: Jacobus Ana Paula , Stephens Timothy G. , Youssef Pierre , González-Pech Raul , Ciccotosto-Camp Michael M. , Dougan Katherine E. , Chen Yibi , Basso Luiz Carlos , Frazzon Jeverson , Chan Cheong Xin , Gross Jeferson
Published: April 2021

Ethanol production from sugarcane is a key renewable fuel industry in Brazil. Major drivers of this alcoholic fermentation areSaccharomyces cerevisiaestrains that originally were contaminants to the system and yet prevail in the industrial process. Here we present newly sequenced genomes (using Illumina short-read and PacBio long-read data) of two monosporic isolates (H3 and H4) of theS. cerevisiaePE-2, a predominant bioethanol strain in Brazil. The assembled genomes of H3 and H4, together with 42 draft genomes of sugarcane-fermenting (fuel ethanol plus cachaça) strains, were compared against those of the reference S288C and diverseS. cerevisiae. All genomes of bioethanol yeasts have amplifiedSNO2(3)/SNZ2(3)gene clusters for vitamin B1/B6 biosynthesis, and display ubiquitous presence of a particular family ofSAM-dependent methyl transferases, rare inS. cerevisiae. Widespread amplifications of quinone oxidoreductasesYCR102C/YLR460C/YNL134C, and the structural or punctual variations among aquaporins and components of the iron homeostasis system, likely represent adaptations to industrial fermentation. Interesting is the pervasive presence among the bioethanol/cachaça strains of a five-gene cluster (Region B) that is a known phylogenetic signature of European wine yeasts. Combining genomes of H3, H4, and 195 yeast strains, we comprehensively assessed whole-genome phylogeny of these taxa using an alignment-free approach. The 197-genome phylogeny substantiates that bioethanol yeasts are monophyletic and closely related to the cachaça and wine strains. Our results support the hypothesis that biofuel-producing yeasts in Brazil may have been co-opted from a pool of yeasts that were pre-adapted to alcoholic fermentation of sugarcane for the distillation of cachaça spirit, which historically is a much older industry than the large-scale fuel ethanol production.
Reductive Cytochrome P450 Reactions and Their Potential Role in Bioremediation
Authors: Behrendorff James B. Y. H.
Published: April 2021

Cytochrome P450 enzymes, or P450s, are haem monooxygenases renowned for their ability to insert one atom from molecular oxygen into an exceptionally broad range of substrates while reducing the other atom to water. However, some substrates including many organohalide and nitro compounds present little or no opportunity for oxidation. Under hypoxic conditions P450s can perform reductive reactions, contributing electrons to drive reductive elimination reactions. P450s can catalyse dehalogenation and denitration of a range of environmentally persistent pollutants including halogenated hydrocarbons and nitroamine explosives. P450-mediated reductive dehalogenations were first discovered in the context of human pharmacology but have since been observed in a variety of organisms. Additionally, P450-mediated reductive denitration of synthetic explosives has been discovered in bacteria that inhabit contaminated soils. This review will examine the distribution of P450-mediated reductive dehalogenations and denitrations in nature and discuss synthetic biology approaches to developing P450-based reagents for bioremediation.
Studies on Syngas Fermentation With Clostridium carboxidivorans in Stirred-Tank Reactors With Defined Gas Impurities
Authors: Rückel Anton , Hannemann Jens , Maierhofer Carolin , Fuchs Alexander , Weuster-Botz Dirk
Published: April 2021

Syngas fermentation processes with acetogenic bacteria like Clostridium carboxidivorans have been proven to be a promising approach for the conversion of CO-rich waste gases into short- and medium-chain alcohols. The challenge of synthesis gas impurities, on the other hand, has always been a major concern for establishing an industrial-scale process, since some of the trace components in waste gases, such as NH3, H2S, and NOx, can have inhibiting or even toxic effects on microbial growth and product formation. Thus, this study aims to identify the effects of the main trace impurities in syngas from gasification of biogenic residues by the supply of defined concentrations of trace impurities to the cultivation medium. Autotrophic gas fermentation studies were performed with C. carboxidivorans in batch-operated fully-controlled stirred-tank bioreactors with continuous gas supply (80% CO and 20% CO2). The syngas components NH3 and H2S had a positive effect on both growth and alcohol formation (ethanol, 1-butanol, and 1-hexanol). The maximum biomass concentration was increased by more than 50%, and the maximum ethanol concentration was more than doubled with 5.0 g L−1 NH4Cl or 1.0 g L−1 H2S provided by the addition of 2.2 g L−1 thioacetamide. The addition of the nitrogen oxide species nitrate and nitrite, on the other hand, reduced biomass growth as well as alcohol concentrations. Already, the supply of 0.1 g L−1 NaNO3 resulted in reduced growth and 25% reduction of the maximum ethanol concentration. The production of the longer chain alcohols 1-butanol and 1-hexanol was reduced as well. All NaNO2 concentrations tested showed a strong toxic effect on the metabolism of C. carboxidivorans, and neither CO consumption nor product formation was observed after addition. As a consequence, NOx components in syngas from the gasification of biogenic residues should be reduced by the gasification process and/or selectively removed from the syngas after gasification.
Administration Timing and Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients With COVID-19 and Elevated IL-6
Authors: Li Pan , Lu Zhengmao , Li Qiang , Wang Zhenmeng , Guo Yan , Cai Chen , Wang Shengyun , Liu Peng , Su Xiaoping , Huang Yi , Dong Yuchao , Qiu Wenjuan , Ling Yueming , Yarmus Lonny , Luo Fengming , Zeng Li , Bai Chong , Zhang Wei
Published: April 2021

Background

Tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 receptor antibody, has previously been used for treating patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but there is a lack of data regarding the administration timing of TCZ.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the timing and efficacy of TCZ in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

Methods

Laboratory-confirmed patients with COVID-19 with an elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) level (>10 pg/ml) were offered TCZ intravenously for compassionate use. Clinical characteristics, laboratory tests, and chest imaging before and after the administration of TCZ were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

A total of 58 consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria and with no compliance to the exclusion criteria were included. Of these 58 patients, 39 patients received TCZ treatment, and 19 patients who declined TCZ treatment were used as the control cohort. In the TCZ-treatment group, 6 patients (15.4%) were in mild condition, 16 (41.0%) were in severe condition, and 17 (43.6%) were in critical condition. After TCZ treatment, the condition of 27 patients (69.2%) improved and 12 (30.8%) died. Compared with the improvement group, patients in the death group had higher baseline levels of IL-6 (P = 0.0191) and procalcitonin (PCT) (P = 0.0003) and lower lymphocyte percentage (LYM) (P = 0.0059). Patients receiving TCZ treatment had better prognoses than those without TCZ treatment (P = 0.0273). Furthermore, patients with a baseline IL-6 level of ≥100 pg/ml in the TCZ-treatment group had poorer clinical outcomes than those with an IL-6 level of <100 pg/ml (P = 0.0051).

Conclusion

The administration of TCZ in an early stage of cytokine storm (IL-6 level < 100 pg/ml) may effectively improve the clinical prognosis of patients with COVID-19 by blocking the IL-6 signal pathway.
Characterization of Developmental Changes in Spontaneous Electrical Activity of Medial Superior Olivary Neurons Before Hearing Onset With a Combination of Injectable and Volatile Anesthesia
Authors: Di Guilmi Mariano Nicolás , Rodríguez-Contreras Adrián
Published: April 2021

In this work the impact of two widely used anesthetics on the electrical activity of auditory brainstem neurons was studied during postnatal development. Spontaneous electrical activity in neonate rats of either sex was analyzed through a ventral craniotomy in mechanically ventilated pups to carry out patch clamp and multi-electrode electrophysiology recordings in the medial region of the superior olivary complex (SOC) between birth (postnatal day 0, P0) and P12. Recordings were obtained in pups anesthetized with the injectable mix of ketamine/xylazine (K/X mix), with the volatile anesthetic isoflurane (ISO), or in pups anesthetized with K/X mix that were also exposed to ISO. The results of patch clamp recordings demonstrate for the first time that olivary and periolivary neurons in the medial region of the SOC fire bursts of action potentials. The results of multielectrode recordings suggest that the firing pattern of single units recorded in K/X mix is similar to that recorded in ISO anesthetized rat pups. Taken together, the results of this study provide a framework to use injectable and volatile anesthetics for future studies to obtain functional information on the activity of medial superior olivary neurons in vivo.
Bridging the Translational Divide in Pain Research: Biological, Psychological and Social Considerations
Authors: Cho Chulmin , Deol Harashdeep K. , Martin Loren J.
Published: April 2021

A gap exists between translating basic science research into effective pain therapies in humans. While preclinical pain research has primarily used animal models to understand biological processes, a lesser focus has been toward using animal models to fully consider other components of the pain experience, such as psychological and social influences. Herein, we provide an overview of translational studies within pain research by breaking them down into purely biological, psychological and social influences using a framework derived from the biopsychosocial model. We draw from a wide landscape of studies to illustrate that the pain experience is highly intricate, and every attempt must be made to address its multiple components and interactors to aid in fully understanding its complexity. We highlight our work where we have developed animal models to assess the cognitive and social effects on pain modulation while conducting parallel experiments in people that provide proof-of-importance for human pain modulation. In some instances, human pain research has sparked the development of novel animal models, with these animal models used to better understand the complexity of phenomena considered to be uniquely human such as placebo responses and empathy.
Effect of Different Ratios of Yinchen and Gancao Decoction on ANIT-Treated Cholestatic Liver Injury in Mice and Its Potential Underlying Mechanism
Authors: Su Huizong , Wang Qian , Li Yue , Jin Jingyi , Tan Bo , Yan Dongming , Zou Bin , Song Guochao , Weng Fengyi , Qiu Furong
Published: April 2021

Cholestasis is a pathological state that leads to serious liver disease; however, therapeutic options remain limited. Yinchen and Gancao are often used in combination at different ratios in traditional Chinese formulae for the treatment of jaundice and cholestasis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of decoctions containing different ratios of Yinchen and Gancao (YGD) on alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanate (ANIT)-treated intrahepatic cholestasis (IC) in mice, and further explored the underlying mechanism. Treatment with 0:4 and 1:4 YGD significantly reduced plasma total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities; decreased unconjugated and conjugated bile acid levels; and improved hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory cells recruitment to hepatic sinusoids. Moreover, the expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), C-C ligand 2 (CCL2), and C-X-C ligand 2 (CXCL2) in the liver were significantly reduced. However, treatment with 4:1 and 4:0 YGD increased plasma TBA, TBIL, AST, ALT, and ALP activities and aggravated liver cell injury and inflammation. Moreover, the mRNA expression of the bile salt export pump (BSEP) in the liver was significantly increased in mice treated with 4:0 YGD. The present study demonstrates that YGD containing a high proportion of Gancao, which inhibits the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and reduces the inflammatory response, had protective effects against ANIT-treated IC in mice. However, YGD containing a high proportion of Yinchen aggravated the ANIT-treated IC in mice, which may be related to upregulation of BSEP and boosting bile acid regurgitation from damage cholangiocytes to liver in ANIT-treated IC mice.
The Behavior and Postnatal Development in Infant and Juvenile Rats After Ultrasound-Induced Chronic Prenatal Stress
Authors: Abramova Olga , Ushakova Valeria , Zorkina Yana , Zubkov Eugene , Storozheva Zinaida , Morozova Anna , Chekhonin Vladimir
Published: April 2021

Fetal development is susceptible to environmental factors. One such factor is exposure to stress during pregnancy. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic prenatal stress (PS) on the development and behavior of rat offspring during infancy and juvenile ages. Existing approaches to modeling prenatal stress on animals do not correlate with the main type of stress in pregnant women, namely psychological stress. We used a new stress paradigm in the experiment, namely, stress induced by exposure to variable frequency ultrasound (US), which acted on pregnant Wistar rats on gestational days 1–21. This type of stress in rodents can be comparable to psychological stress in humans. We assessed physical development, reflex maturation, motor ability development, anxious behavior, response to social novelty, and social play behavior in male and female offspring. Additionally, we investigated maternal behavior and the effect of neonatal handling (NH) on behavior. Prenatal stress did not affect postnatal developmental characteristics in rat pups, but prenatally stressed rats had higher body weight in early and adult age than controls. Prenatal exposure to a stressor increased anxiety in the open-field test (OF), changed social preferences in the social novelty test (SN), and impaired social play behavior in males. Neonatal handling reduced anxiety and restored social behavior, but evoked hyperactive behavior in rat pups. Maternal behavior did not change. Our study demonstrated for the first time that exposure to variable frequency ultrasound during pregnancy influences offspring development and impairs behavior, correlating with the effects of other types of stress during pregnancy in rodents. This supports the idea of using this exposure to model prenatal stress.
CTP Synthase 2 From Arabidopsis thaliana Is Required for Complete Embryo Development
Authors: Hickl Daniel , Scheuring David , Möhlmann Torsten
Published: April 2021

Pyrimidinede novosynthesis is an essential pathway in all organisms. The final and rate-limiting step in the synthesis of the nucleotide cytidine triphosphate (CTP) is catalyzed by CTP synthase (CTPS), andArabidopsisharbors five isoforms. Single mutant lines defective in each one of the four isoforms do not show apparent phenotypical alterations in comparison to wild-type plants. However,Arabidopsislines that contain T-DNA insertions in theCTPS2gene were unable to produce homozygous offspring. Here, we show thatCTPS2exhibits a distinct expression pattern throughout embryo development, and loss-of-function mutants are embryo lethal, as siliques from+/ctps2plants contained nearly 25% aborted seeds. This phenotype was rescued by complementation withCTPS2under control of its endogenous promoter. CTPS2::GFP lines revealed expression only in the tip of columella cells in embryo root tips of the heart and later stages. Furthermore,CTPS2expression in mature roots, most pronounced in the columella cells, shoots, and vasculature tissue of young seedlings, was observed. Filial generations of+/ctps2plants did not germinate properly, even under external cytidine supply. During embryo development, theCTPS2expression pattern resembled the established auxin reporter DR5::GFP. Indeed, the cloned promoter region we used in this study possesses a repeat of an auxin response element, and auxin supply increasedCTPS2expression in a cell-type-specific manner. Thus, we conclude that CTPS2 is essential for CTP supply in developing embryos, and loss-of-function mutants inCTPS2are embryo lethal.
Adaptive Esports for People With Spinal Cord Injury: New Frontiers for Inclusion in Mainstream Sports Performance
Authors: Tabacof Laura , Dewil Sophie , Herrera Joseph E. , Cortes Mar , Putrino David
Published: April 2021

Introduction: People with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) are at risk of feeling socially disconnected. Competitive esports present an opportunity for people with SCI to remotely engage in a community. The aim of this study is to discuss barriers to esports participation for people with SCI, present adaptive solutions to these problems, and analyze self-reported changes in social connection.

Materials and Methods: We presented a descriptive data collected in the process of a quality improvement initiative at Mount Sinai Hospital. In 2019, seven individuals with cervical SCI and quadriplegia participated in a special interest group on esports. Group scores were then analyzed for evidence of between subjects variability using a single sample t-test. A Pearson's correlation was conducted to determine the relationship between social connectedness and demographic data.

Results: All players experienced functional limitations as a result of their injury but managed to design personalized gaming setups with adaptive equipment that allowed them to successfully compete in esports. All players reported a positive change in perceived social connectedness (p < 0.001) after participating in the special interest group. Score on Social Connectedness Scale negatively correlated with Time since injury (years).

Discussion: It is feasible to create adaptive gaming setups that can be used by people with differing degrees and severity of SCI in a competitive esports environment. Technology and adaptive competitive esports have a potential to improve social connectedness and inclusion in people with quadriplegia. Further research on efficacy and effectiveness of these inclusive environments and their effects on quality of life, activity, and participation is warranted.
School Violence and Teacher Professional Engagement: A Cross-National Study
Authors: Yang Youcai , Qin Lixia , Ning Ling
Published: April 2021

School violence research has mainly focused on the impact on students. Very few studies, even fewer from a cross-cultural perspective, have examined the relationships between school violence and teacher professional engagement, and the role played by teacher self-efficacy and school climate related factors. The present study utilizes a SEM research methodology to analyze the 2013 TALIS data. The purpose is to understand and compare the relationships in four different cultural contexts; the U.S., England, South Korea, and Mexico. Results indicate, on average, that the significant and negative impacts of school violence on teacher professional engagement are partly mediated by teacher self-efficacy. The negativity of school violence is significantly alleviated by enhancing participation among school stakeholders and improving teacher–student relationships. The relationships among the factors apply across all four cultural systems, though, the effects of factors and variables vary to a degree. The paper also discusses other relevant issues and differences as well as their implications.
Rebound and Spillovers: Prosumers in Transition
Authors: Dütschke Elisabeth , Galvin Ray , Brunzema Iska
Published: April 2021

Generating energy by renewable sources like wind, sun or water has led to the emergence of “clean” energy that is generally available at low cost to the environment and is generated from seemingly unbounded resources. Many countries have implemented schemes to support the diffusion of renewable energies. The diffusion of micro-generation technologies like roof-top photovoltaics is one of the success stories within the energy transition and has been significantly driven—at least in countries such as Germany—by households. As these households usually not only generate energy but also consume it they are often called “prosumers.” How does it influence the energy behavior of households if they become prosumers? Are these behavioral changes in line with further goals of the energy transition, e.g., reducing demand? What shapes individual behaviors of prosumers? The paper introduces a conceptual framework based on the existing literature on rebound and spillover effects. It systematizes possible behavioral consequences as well as mechanisms behind them. This framework is then used to code and analyze data from 48 in-depth interviews with prosumer households. These interviews reveal a broad variety of behavioral responses which have their roots in economic conditions and their evaluation by the prosumers, psychological mechanisms like central guiding principles and a clear conscience as well as sociotechnical context and legislative frameworks.
Losing the Home Field Advantage When Playing Behind Closed Doors During COVID-19: Change or Chance?
Authors: Hill Yannick , Van Yperen Nico W.
Published: April 2021

Due to restrictions against the COVID-19 pandemic, spectators were not allowed to attend soccer matches at the end of the 2019/2020 season. Previous studies suggest that the absence of a home crowd changes the home field advantage in terms of match outcomes, offensive performance, and referee decisions. However, because of the small sample sizes, these changes may be random rather than meaningful. To test this, we created 1,000,000 randomized samples from the previous four seasons with the exact same number of matches played behind closed doors in Europe’s four most elite soccer leagues at the end of the 2019/2020 season. We found that across countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, and England), performance indices and referee decisions (except red cards) indeed changed to the detriment of the home team beyond the level of chance. However, this overall pattern could be ascribed to specific countries. Most importantly, the proportion of points won by the home teams declined significantly only in Germany, which was accompanied by a meaningful increase in (1) the proportion of goals scored by the away teams and (2) the proportion of yellow cards given to the home teams. We conclude that the home field advantage may indeed be lost when spectators are absent. However, in future studies, more detailed behavioral analyses are needed to determine the robustness and the behavioral determinants of this phenomenon across leagues and countries.
Higher Levels of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines Are Associated With Higher Levels of Glutamate in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Depressed Adolescents
Authors: Ho Tiffany C. , Teresi Giana I. , Segarra Jillian R. , Ojha Amar , Walker Johanna C. , Gu Meng , Spielman Daniel M. , Sacchet Matthew D. , Jiang Fei , Rosenberg-Hasson Yael , Maecker Holden , Gotlib Ian H.
Published: April 2021

Animal models of stress and related conditions, including depression, have shown that elevated peripheral levels of inflammatory cytokines have downstream consequences on glutamate (Glu) in the brain. Although studies in human adults with depression have reported evidence of higher inflammation but lower Glu in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the extent to which peripheral inflammation contributes to glutamatergic abnormalities in adolescents with depression is not well-understood. It is also unclear whether antioxidants, such as ascorbate (Asc), may buffer against the effects of inflammation on Glu metabolism. Fifty-five depressed adolescents were recruited in the present cross-sectional study and provided blood samples, from which we assayed pro-inflammatory cytokines, and underwent a short-TE proton magnetic spectroscopy scan at 3T, from which we estimated Glu and Asc in the dorsal ACC. In the 31 adolescents with usable cytokine and Glu data, we found that IL-6 was significantly positively associated with dorsal ACC Glu (β = 0.466 ± 0.199, p = 0.029). Of the 16 participants who had usable Asc data, we found that at higher levels of dorsal ACC Asc, there was a negative association between IL-6 and Glu (interaction effect: β = −0.906 ± 0.433, p = 0.034). Importantly, these results remained significant when controlling for age, gender, percentage of gray matter in the dorsal ACC voxel, BMI, and medication (antidepressant and anti-inflammatory) usage. While preliminary, our results underscore the importance of examining both immune and neural contributors to depression and highlight the potential role of anti-inflammatory compounds in mitigating the adverse effects of inflammation (e.g., glutamatergic neuroexcitotoxicity). Future studies that experimentally manipulate levels of inflammation, and of ascorbate, and that characterize these effects on cortical glutamate concentrations and subsequent behavior in animals and in humans are needed.
Cooking Up Knowledge From Big Data Using Data Science
Authors: Rau Andrea
Published: April 2021

Data collected in very large quantities are called big data, and big data has changed the way we think about and answer questions in many different fields, like weather forecasting and biology. With all this information available, we need computers to help us store, process, analyze, and understand it. Data science combines tools from fields like statistics, mathematics, and computer science to find interesting patterns in big data. Data scientists write step-by-step instructions called algorithms to teach computers how to learn from data. To help computers understand these instructions, algorithms must be translated from the original question asked by a data scientist into a programming language—and the results must be translated back, so that humans can understand them. That means that data scientists are data detectives, programmers, and translators all in one!
Novel Vaccine Technologies in Veterinary Medicine: A Herald to Human Medicine Vaccines
Authors: Aida Virginia , Pliasas Vasilis C. , Neasham Peter J. , North J. Fletcher , McWhorter Kirklin L. , Glover Sheniqua R. , Kyriakis Constantinos S.
Published: April 2021

The success of inactivated and live-attenuated vaccines has enhanced livestock productivity, promoted food security, and attenuated the morbidity and mortality of several human, animal, and zoonotic diseases. However, these traditional vaccine technologies are not without fault. The efficacy of inactivated vaccines can be suboptimal with particular pathogens and safety concerns arise with live-attenuated vaccines. Additionally, the rate of emerging infectious diseases continues to increase and with that the need to quickly deploy new vaccines. Unfortunately, first generation vaccines are not conducive to such urgencies. Within the last three decades, veterinary medicine has spearheaded the advancement in novel vaccine development to circumvent several of the flaws associated with classical vaccines. These third generation vaccines, including DNA, RNA and recombinant viral-vector vaccines, induce both humoral and cellular immune response, are economically manufactured, safe to use, and can be utilized to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals. The present article offers a review of commercially available novel vaccine technologies currently utilized in companion animal, food animal, and wildlife disease control.
Pea Breeding Lines Adapted to Autumn Sowings in Broomrape Prone Mediterranean Environments
Authors: Rubiales Diego , Osuna-Caballero Salvador , González-Bernal María J. , Cobos María J. , Flores Fernando
Published: April 2021

In Mediterranean environments, with mild winters and dry summers, peas are planted in autumn or early winter to profit from winter rain and to avoid terminal drought and high summer temperatures. The root parasitic weed broomrape (Orobanche crenata) appears as a major limiting factor under these conditions. To address such specific growing conditions and associated constraints, targeted breeding is needed. We present here recent achievements in the development of pea lines arising from a wide hybridization program incorporating resistance to broomrape and to powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) from landraces and wild relatives. Their adaption to autumn sowings under Mediterranean rain fed conditions, and their agronomic performance and resistance to prevailing diseases is compared with those of check cultivars in a multi-environment field test with nine trials performed over three seasons. HA-GGE biplots were a powerful tool for comparison among accessions in terms of performance and stability for each trait assessed. Like this, breeding lines NS22, NS34, NS8, NS39, NS35, NS21 and NS83 over-yielded all check cultivars. Grain yield was strongly affected by broomrape infection, with little influence of powdery mildew and ascochyta blight. All breeding lines studied showed high to moderate resistance to broomrape, whereas all check cultivars were severely infected. Broomrape infection was not correlated with days to flowering, whereas powdery mildew infection was favored by long cycles. Broomrape infection was enhanced by mild winter temperatures before flowering and spring rain, whereas high spring temperatures hampered broomrape development.
Factors That Influence Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils as Well as Their Representation in Simulation Models: A Review
Authors: Wang Cong , Amon Barbara , Schulz Karsten , Mehdi Bano
Published: April 2021

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a long-lived greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Emissions of N2O mainly stem from agricultural soils. This review highlights the principal factors from peer-reviewed literature affecting N2O emissions from agricultural soils, by grouping the factors into three categories: environmental, management and measurement. Within these categories, each impact factor is explained in detail and its influence on N2O emissions from the soil is summarized. It is also shown how each impact factor influences other impact factors. Process-based simulation models used for estimating N2O emissions are reviewed regarding their ability to consider the impact factors in simulating N2O. The model strengths and weaknesses in simulating N2O emissions from managed soils are summarized. Finally, three selected process-based simulation models (Daily Century (DAYCENT), DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC), and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)) are discussed that are widely used to simulate N2O emissions from cropping systems. Their ability to simulate N2O emissions is evaluated by describing the model components that are relevant to N2O processes and their representation in the model.
The Reaction of Cellulolytic and Potentially Cellulolytic Spore-Forming Bacteria to Various Types of Crop Management and Farmyard Manure Fertilization in Bulk Soil
Authors: Dobrzyński Jakub , Wierzchowski Paweł Stanisław , Stępień Wojciech , Górska Ewa Beata
Published: April 2021

The ecology of cellulolytic bacteria in bulk soil is still relatively unknown. There is still only a handful of papers on the abundance and diversity of this group of bacteria. Our study aimed to determine the impact of various crop management systems and farmyard manure (FYM) fertilization on the abundance of cellulolytic and potentially cellulolytic spore-forming bacteria (SCB). The study site was a nearly 100-year-old fertilization experiment, one of the oldest still active field trials in Europe. The highest contents of total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) were recorded in both five-year rotations. The abundances of SCB and potential SCB were evaluated using classical microbiological methods, the most probable number (MPN), and 16S rRNA Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The highest MPN of SCB was recorded in soil with arbitrary rotation without legumes (ARP) fertilized with FYM (382 colony-forming units (CFU) mL−1). As a result of the bioinformatic analysis, the highest values of the Shannon–Wiener index and the largest number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found in ARP-FYM, while the lowest in ARP treatment without FYM fertilization. In all treatments, those dominant at the order level were: Brevibacillales (13.1–43.4%), Paenibacillales (5.3–36.9%), Bacillales (4.0–0.9%). Brevibacillaceae (13.1–43.4%), Paenibacillaceae (8.2–36.9%), and Clostridiaceae (5.4–11.9%) dominated at the family level in all tested samples. Aneurinibacillaceae and Hungateiclostridiaceae families increased their overall share in FYM fertilization treatments. The results of our research show that the impact of crop management types on SCB was negligible while the actual factor shaping SCB community was the use of FYM fertilization.
Crithmum maritimum L.: First Results on Phenological Development and Biomass Production in Mediterranean Areas
Authors: Zenobi Stefano , Fiorentini Marco , Zitti Silvia , Aquilanti Lucia , Foligni Roberta , Mannozzi Cinzia , Mozzon Massimo , Orsini Roberto
Published: April 2021

In Mediterranean cropping systems, it is important to utilise marginal lands for the cultivation of native food crops. Previous research on Crithmum maritimum L., a species native to southern Europe, has focused on its alimentary and chemical parameters. The aim of the present study was to identify the effects of irrigation and fertigation systems on C. maritimum in Mediterranean cropping systems. We planted C. maritimum seeds in an organic farm in Italy, and we carried out three experiments (fertigation, irrigation, and control) with three replications each. We evaluated plant phenological development and biomass production. We found that these treatments significantly influenced plant phenology and biomass parameters. Even with low irrigation and fertigation, this species showed a significant difference in the Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, CHemischeIndustrie (BBCH) phase at harvest: in fact, there were 39 and 35 leaves on the main stem in the irrigation and fertigation treatments, respectively, while there were 29 leaves on the main stem in the rainfed unfertilised control. Biomass production also showed the same significant difference: 1.8 and 2.0 t ha−1 of total dry biomass in the irrigation and fertigation treatments, respectively, and 1.2 t ha−1 of total dry biomass in the rainfed unfertilised control. In conclusion, we recommend the use of C. maritimum for food production in Mediterranean organic cropping systems.
Genetic Diversity and Population Genetic Structure of a Guzerá (Bos indicus) Meta-Population
Authors: Peixoto Maria Gabriela C. D. , Carvalho Maria Raquel S. , Egito Andrea A. , Steinberg Raphael S. , Bruneli Frank Ângelo T. , Machado Marco Antônio , Santos Fernanda C. , Rosse Izinara C. , Fonseca Pablo Augusto S.
Published: April 2021

The Brazilian Guzerá population originated from a few founders introduced from India. These animals adapted well to the harsh environments in Brazil, were selected for beef, milk, or dual-purpose (beef and milk), and were extensively used to produce crossbred animals. Here, the impact of these historical events with regard to the population structure and genetic diversity in a Guzerá meta-population was evaluated. DNA samples of 744 animals (one dairy, nine dual-purpose, and five beef herds) were genotyped for 21 microsatellite loci. Ho, He, PIC, Fis, Fit, and Fst estimates were obtained considering either farms or lineages as subpopulations. Mean Ho (0.73) and PIC (0.75) suggest that genetic diversity was efficiently conserved. Fit, Fis and Fst values (95% CI) pointed to a low fixation index, and large genetic diversity: Fit (Farms = 0.021–0.100; lineages = 0.021–0.100), Fis (Farms = –0.007–0.076; lineages = −0.014–0.070), and Fst (Farms = 0.0237–0.032; lineages = 0.029–0.038). The dual-purpose herds/selection lines are the most uniform subpopulation, while the beef one preserved larger amounts of genetic diversity among herds. In addition, the dairy herd showed to be genetically distant from other herds. Taken together, these results suggest that this Guzerá meta-population has high genetic diversity, a low degree of population subdivision, and a low inbreeding level.
Assessing the Potential of Diverse Forage Mixtures to Reduce Enteric Methane Emissions In Vitro
Authors: Loza Cecilia , Verma Supriya , Wolffram Siegfried , Susenbeth Andreas , Blank Ralf , Taube Friedhelm , Loges Ralf , Hasler Mario , Kluß Christof , Malisch Carsten Stefan
Published: April 2021

Methane emissions from ruminants are a major contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, eight different forage species were combined in binary mixtures with Lolium perenne in increasing proportions, in vitro, to determine their methane reduction potential in ruminants. Species were sampled in two consecutive years where possible. The aims were: a) to determine if mixtures with specific forages, particularly those rich in plant specialized metabolites (PSM), can reduce methane emissions compared to ryegrass monocultures, b) to identify whether there is a linear-dose effect relationship in methane emissions from the legume or herb addition, and c) whether these effects are maintained across sampling years. Results showed that all dicot species studied, including the non-tannin-containing species, reduced methane production. The tannin-rich species, Sanguisorba minor and Lotus pedunculatus, showed the greatest methane reduction potential of up to 33%. Due to concomitant reductions in the forage digestibility, Cichorium intybus yielded the lowest methane emissions per digestible forage unit. Contrary to total gas production, methane production was less predictable, with a tendency for the lowest methane production being obtained with a 67.5% share of the legume or herb partner species. Thus, linear increments in the partner species share did not result in linear changes in methane concentration. The methane reduction potential differed across sampling years, but the species ranking in methane concentration was stable.
Analgesia for Sheep in Commercial Production: Where to Next?
Authors: Small Alison , Fisher Andrew David , Lee Caroline , Colditz Ian
Published: April 2021

Increasing societal and customer pressure to provide animals with ‘a life worth living’ continues to apply pressure on livestock production industries to alleviate pain associated with husbandry practices, injury and illness. Over the past 15–20 years, there has been considerable research effort to understand and develop mitigation strategies for painful husbandry procedures in sheep, leading to the successful launch of analgesic approaches specific to sheep in a number of countries. However, even with multi-modal approaches to analgesia, using both local anaesthetic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), pain is not obliterated, and the challenge of pain mitigation and phasing out of painful husbandry practices remains. It is timely to review and reflect on progress to date in order to strategically focus on the most important challenges, and the avenues which offer the greatest potential to be incorporated into industry practice in a process of continuous improvement. A structured, systematic literature search was carried out, incorporating peer-reviewed scientific literature in the period 2000–2019. An enormous volume of research is underway, testament to the fact that we have not solved the pain and analgesia challenge for any species, including our own. This review has highlighted a number of potential areas for further research.