bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oscillation mode analysis for multi-mode coupling power systems with high renewables penetration using improved blind source separation
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Lyu Xiangyu , Li Dexin , Zhang Haifeng , Wang Lixin
Published: January 2023

The extensive application of power electronic equipment and the increasing penetration of renewable energy generation gradually strengthen the nonlinear and modal-coupling characteristics of electromechanical oscillation of modern power systems. In this study, a data-driven method based on improved blind source separation (IBSS) combined with sparse component analysis (SCA) is proposed to extract electromechanical mode (oscillation frequency, damping ratio and mode shape) from synchrophasor measurements. First, short time Fourier transform is used to convert the modal-coupling oscillation signal to sparse domain, then, on the basis of time-frequency point clustering characteristics of source signals, the mixture matrix A is estimated by frequency energy peak point algorithm, and L1 norm is utilized to separate each mode from mixture matrix A. Finally, the Hilbert identification algorithm is applied to extract the oscillation parameters. The performance of the proposed IBSS method for the mode extraction is verified using the test signal, the simulation signal, and the measured data.
Prediction of flash flood susceptibility using integrating analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and frequency ratio (FR) algorithms
Authors: Majeed Muhammad , Lu Linlin , Anwar Muhammad Mushahid , Tariq Aqil , Qin Shujing , El-Hefnawy Mohamed E. , El-Sharnouby Mohamed , Li Qingting , Alasmari Abdulrahman
Published: January 2023

The landscape of Pakistan is vulnerable to flood and periodically affected by floods of different magnitudes. The aim of this study was aimed to assess the flash flood susceptibility of district Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan using geospatial model and Frequency Ratio and Analytical Hierarchy Process. Also, the study considered eight most influential flood-causing parameters are Digital Elevation Model, slop, distance from the river, drainage density, Land use/Land cover, geology, soil resistivity (soil consisting of different rocks and soil formation) and rainfall deviation. The rainfall data was collected from weather stations in the vicinity of the study area. Estimated weight was allotted to each flood-inducing factors with the help of AHP and FR. Through the use of the overlay analysis, each of the factors were brought together, and the value of drainage density was awarded the maximum possible score. According to the study several areas of the region based on the parameters have been classified in flood zones viz, very high risk, high risk, moderate risk, low risk, and very low risk. In the light of the results obtained, 4% of the study area that accounts for 86.25 km2 is at high risk of flood. The areas like Bagham, Sohawa, Domeli, Turkai, Jogi Tillas, Chang Wala, Dandot Khewra were located at the very high elevation. Whereas Potha, Samothi, Chaklana, Bagrian, Tilla Jogian, Nandna, Rawal high-risk zones and have been damaged badly in the flood history of the area. This study is the first of its kind conducted on the Jhelum District and provides guidelines for disaster management authorities and response agencies, infrastructure planners, watershed management, and climatologists.
How to drive corporate responsible innovation? A dual perspective from internal and external drivers of environmental protection enterprises
Authors: Li Yi , Jiang Lu , Yang Peilin
Published: January 2023

Responsible innovation has been widely concerned by the public sector and actively explored by scholars for its great role in supporting eco-innovation and sustainable development. However, as the main body of innovation, enterprises have not been fully recognized. Moreover, the research on the driving factors of responsible innovation is mostly the direct influence of a single factor, lacking the overall consideration of the internal and external environment. To bridge this research gap, this study, by deeply interviewing 13 entrepreneurs in environmental protection enterprises, clarified the concept of corporate responsible innovation and its four-dimensional framework (inclusion, anticipation, reflexivity, responsiveness), and then proposed the MPN-MSE driving factor model of corporate responsible innovation from the internal and external perspectives. The external factors include market pressure (M), policy pressure (P), and normative pressure (N), while the internal factors include responsible innovation motivation (M), responsible innovation system (S), and responsible innovation elements (E). The research findings provide an important theoretical contribution to the research of corporate responsible innovation.
Multiple evaluations, risk assessment, and source identification of heavy metals in surface water and sediment of the Golmud River, northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Cai Na , Li Leiming , Zhu Haixia , Chen Liang , Li Shanping , Meng Fanwei , Zhang Xiying
Published: January 2023

The water quality of the Golmud River is essential for environmental preservation and economic growth of Golmud city and Qarhan Salt Lake in China. Thirty-four samples of surface water and sediment from seventeen places in the Golmud River and thirty-two dustfall samples in the Qaidam Basin were collected. The concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) were measured; water quality, risk assessment, and multiple source analysis were applied. Concentrations of HMs in water were Zn > Cu > Ni > As > Pb > Cd > Hg, and in sediment were Ni > Zn > Pb > As > Cu > Cd > Hg. In water, the Nemerow pollution index (NP) values indicated that most of the sampling points seemly were seriously polluted; other water quality assessment results suggested no pollution. In sediment, the concentrations of 27% HMs exceeded the background values of soil in Qinghai; 48% exceeded the Earth crust background values, which were As, Hg, and Cd. The single factor index method (Pi), geological accumulation index (Igeo), and contamination factor (CF) revealed that As pollution is serious, followed by Hg and Cd; the pollution load index (PLI) and modified pollution index (mCd) values indicated that 64% and 57% of samples were polluted. NP values are shown serious pollution. The ecological risk results demonstrated a low risk in water and a medium risk in sediment. The average total hazard quotient values in sediment and water for adults and children revealed low non-carcinogenic risks. Carcinogenic risk indicated Ni in water and sediment, and As in sediment may be involved in cancer risk. Multivariate statistics showed that the HMs mainly came from nature, and human activities will also impact them. The upper continental crust values indicated that As and Hg have high background values. The saline dust storm was one of the essential sources of HMs, especially Hg. Various provenances constituted the material cycling of HMs in the surface environment.
Risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil surrounding a typical pharmaceutical manufacturing complex
Authors: Su Qu , Zhang Xiaofang , Zhang Yao , Sun Gang , Li Zheyong , Xiang Luojing , Cai Junxiong
Published: January 2023

The identification and effective control of pollution sources is essential because heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil is associated with food safety and public health. Industrial wastewater, waste gas, and residues generated from pharmaceutical manufacturing are important sources of heavy metal pollutants in soil, but the research of their risk for surrounding agricultural soil is inadequate. In this study, the typical pharmaceutical manufacturing complex and its surrounding farmland in Hubei Province, China was employed to systematically and comprehensively assess its environmental risk and source apportionment. The results revealed the potential risk of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) from pharmaceutical production for farmland soil around, and among these heavy metals, As and Cd were observed to have the higher pollution level. The accumulated Cd and As had contribution to a series of risks, including comprehensive pollution risk, geo-accumulation risk, potential ecological risk, and the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) source analysis combining with the geographic distribution of heavy metal surrounding pharmaceutical manufacturing confirmed that there were three main heavy metal pollution sources, including pharmaceutical wastewater, traffic, and agricultural chemicals, which had the 52.37%, 16.49%, and 31.14% contributions to the surrounding agricultural soil. The present study provided systematic strategies of environment risk assessment and source apportionment, and can be referred for casual analysis and prevention strategies for farmland soil surrounding pharmaceutical manufacturing complex.
Whole genome sequencing of Clarireedia aff. paspali reveals potential pathogenesis factors in Clarireedia species, causal agents of dollar spot in turfgrass
Authors: Bahri Bochra Amina , Parvathaneni Rajiv Krishna , Spratling Willis Turner , Saxena Harshita , Sapkota Suraj , Raymer Paul L. , Martinez-Espinoza Alfredo D.
Published: January 2023

Dollar spot is one of the most damaging diseases in turfgrass, reducing its quality and playability. Two species, Clarireedia monteithiana and C. jacksonii (formerly Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) have been reported so far in the United States To study the Clarireedia genome, two isolates H2 and H3, sampled from seashore paspalum in Hawaii in 2019 were sequenced via Illumina paired-end sequencing by synthesis technology and PacBio SMRT sequencing. Both isolates were identified as C. aff. paspali, a novel species in the United States Using short and long reads, C. aff. paspali H3 contained 193 contigs with 48.6 Mbp and presented the most completed assembly and annotation among Clarireedia species. Out of the 13,428 protein models from AUGUSTUS, 349 cytoplasmic effectors and 13 apoplastic effectors were identified by EffectorP. To further decipher Clarireedia pathogenicity, C. aff. paspali genomes (H2 and H3), as well as available C. jacksonii (LWC-10 and HRI11), C. monteithiana (DRR09 and RB-19) genomes were screened for fifty-four pathogenesis determinants, previously identified in S. sclerotiorum. Seventeen orthologs of pathogenicity genes have been identified in Clarireedia species involved in oxalic acid production (pac1, nox1), mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade (pka1, smk3, ste12), appressorium formation (caf1, pks13, ams2, rgb1, rhs1) and glycolytic pathway (gpd). Within these genes, 366 species-specific SNPs were recorded between Clarireedia species; twenty-eight were non-synonymous and non-conservative. The predicted protein structure of six of these genes showed superimposition of the models among Clarireedia spp. The genomic variations revealed here could potentially lead to differences in pathogenesis and other physiological functions among Clarireedia species.
Molecular breeding of barley for quality traits and resilience to climate change
Authors: Meng Geng , Rasmussen Søren K. , Christensen Cecilie S. L. , Fan Weiyao , Torp Anna Maria
Published: January 2023

Barley grains are a rich source of compounds, such as resistant starch, beta-glucans and anthocyanins, that can be explored in order to develop various products to support human health, while lignocellulose in straw can be optimised for feed in husbandry, bioconversion into bioethanol or as a starting material for new compounds. Existing natural variations of these compounds can be used to breed improved cultivars or integrated with a large number of mutant lines. The technical demands can be in opposition depending on barley’s end use as feed or food or as a source of biofuel. For example beta-glucans are beneficial in human diets but can lead to issues in brewing and poultry feed. Barley breeders have taken action to integrate new technologies, such as induced mutations, transgenics, marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, site-directed mutagenesis and lastly machine learning, in order to improve quality traits. Although only a limited number of cultivars with new quality traits have so far reached the market, research has provided valuable knowledge and inspiration for future design and a combination of methodologies to achieve the desired traits. The changes in climate is expected to affect the quality of the harvested grain and it is already a challenge to mitigate the unpredictable seasonal and annual variations in temperature and precipitation under elevated [CO2] by breeding. This paper presents the mutants and encoded proteins, with a particular focus on anthocyanins and lignocellulose, that have been identified and characterised in detail and can provide inspiration for continued breeding to achieve desired grain and straw qualities.
The challenges of Plasmodium vivax human malaria infection models for vaccine development
Authors: Roobsoong Wanlapa , Yadava Anjali , Draper Simon J. , Minassian Angela M. , Sattabongkot Jetsumon
Published: January 2023

Controlled Human Malaria Infection models (CHMI) have been critical to advancing new vaccines for malaria. Stringent and safe preparation of a challenge agent is key to the success of any CHMI. Difficulty producing the Plasmodium vivax parasite in vitro has limited production of qualified parasites for CHMI as well as the functional assays required to screen and down-select candidate vaccines for this globally distributed parasite. This and other challenges to P. vivax CHMI (PvCHMI), including scientific, logistical, and ethical obstacles, are common to P. vivax research conducted in both non-endemic and endemic countries, with additional hurdles unique to each. The challenges of using CHMI for P. vivax vaccine development and evaluation, lessons learned from previous and ongoing clinical trials, and the way forward to effectively perform PvCHMI to support vaccine development, are discussed.
Ruxolitinib does not completely abrogate the functional capabilities of TLR4/9 ligand-activated NK cells
Authors: Mestre-Durán Carmen , Martín-Cortázar Carla , García-Solís Blanca , Pernas Alicia , Pertíñez Lidia , Galán Víctor , Sisinni Luisa , Clares-Villa Laura , Navarro-Zapata Alfonso , Al-Akioui Karima , Escudero Adela , Ferreras Cristina , Pérez-Martínez Antonio
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes from the innate immune system part of the first defense barrier against infected and transformed cells, representing 5%-15% of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The cytotoxic capacity of NK cells is controlled by a balance between inhibitory and activating NK receptors expressed on their surface, which recognize and interact with the ligands on stressed cells. The cytokines involved in NK cell activation, proliferation, survival, and cytotoxicity are signaled mainly through the Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (JAK/STAT) pathway. NK cells are also activated in response to pathogens through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) expressed on their surface. Ruxolitinib is a specific JAK1/2 inhibitor approved for treating myelofibrosis and for steroid-refractory acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (SR-GvHD).

Methods

Purified NK cells from healthy donors were stimulated with two TOLL-like receptor ligands, LPS and CpG, in the presence of different concentrations of Ruxolitinib.

Results

This study showed the effects of ruxolitinib on TLR4 and TLR9 ligand-activated NK cells from healthy donors. Ruxolitinib did not completely inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation and had a moderate effect on NK cell cytokine activation via the TLR pathway. Only the highest doses of ruxolitinib led to a decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α, interferon-γ, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β. The cytotoxic capacity of stimulated NK cells versus K562, SEM, and MV-4-11 cell lines was reduced by increasing doses of ruxolitinib, but it was not completely abolished and we observed no major changes in degranulation capacity. Phenotypic changes were observed in activated NK cells in the presence of ruxolitinib. In a small cohort of pediatric patients treated with ruxolitinib for SR-GvHD, we observed no decrease in NK cell counts; however, further prospective studies with larger cohorts are necessary to confirm this finding.

Discussion

In summary, our results showed that the functional capabilities and phenotype of NK cells activated through TLR4/9 agonists were not completely abolished by the inhibition of the JAK-STAT pathway by ruxolitinib.
Paradoxical phenomena of bullous pemphigoid induced and treated by identical biologics
Authors: Zhang Jie , Wang Si-Hang , Zuo Ya-Gang
Published: January 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of biologics-induced bullous pemphigoid (BP) and the therapeutic effects of those agents for BP, exploring the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Elsevier for studies involving pemphigoid patients treated with or induced by identical biologics published in English from January 2009 to April 2022.

Results

Seventeen cases of drug-induced BP associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (aTNF)-α therapies, one with interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors, and seven with IL-12/IL-23 or IL-23 inhibitors were enrolled. Time to cutaneous toxicity varied among different types of agents, and the characteristics of clinical examinations were similar to idiopathic BP. Discontinuation of the culprit drugs and initiation of topical or systemic corticosteroids were adequate in most cases. Several monoclonal antibodies above have also been reported for the treatment of refractory or recurrent BP, especially concurrent with psoriasis.

Conclusion

Biologics for immune-related diseases, including TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-12/IL-23 or IL-23 inhibitors, can both induce and treat BP, which might be associated with a helper T cells Th1/Th2 imbalance, complicated inflammatory networks, and a specific individual microenvironment, suggestive of a new perspective on the therapeutic algorithms of BP. There have been numerous reports about biologics inducing or treating BP. We have taken note of this phenomenon and focused on biologics with both pathogenetic and therapeutic effects on BP. Our review summarized the clinical characteristics of associated cases, trying to figure out the underlying mechanisms of this paradoxical phenomenon and to provide an integrated perspective and new therapeutic alternatives for BP.
A novel mRNA vaccine, SYS6006, against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Xu Ke , Lei Wenwen , Kang Bin , Yang Hanyu , Wang Yajuan , Lu Yanli , Lv Lu , Sun Yufei , Zhang Jing , Wang Xiaolin , Yang Mengjie , Dan Mo , Wu Guizhen
Published: January 2023

The development of vaccines that can efficiently prevent the infection of SARS-CoV-2 is necessary to fight the COVID-19 epidemic. mRNA vaccine has been proven to induce strong humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Here, we studied the immunogenicity and protection efficacy of a novel mRNA vaccine SYS6006. High expression of mRNA molecules in 293T cells was detected. The initial and boost immunization with a 21-day interval was determined as an optimal strategy for SYS6006. Two rounds of immunization with SYS6006 were able to induce the neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type (WT) strain, and Delta and Omicron BA.2 variants in mice or non-human primates (NHPs). A3rd round of vaccination could further enhance the titers of neutralization against Delta and Omicron variants. In vitro ELISpot assay showed that SYS6006 could induce memory B cell and T cell immunities specifically against SARS-CoV-2 in mice. FACS analysis indicated that SYS6006 successfully induced SARS-CoV-2-specific activation of T follicular helper cell (Tfh) and Th1 cell, and did not induce CD4+Th2 response in NHPs. SYS6006 vaccine could significantly reduce the viral RNA loads and prevent lung lesions in Delta variant infected hACE2 transgenic mice. Therefore, SYS6006 could provide significant immune protection against SARS-CoV-2.
The making of multivalent gamma delta TCR anti-CD3 bispecific T cell engagers
Authors: van Diest Eline , Nicolasen Mara J. T. , Kramer Lovro , Zheng Jiali , Hernández-López Patricia , Beringer Dennis X. , Kuball Jürgen
Published: January 2023

Introduction

We have recently developed a novel T cell engager concept by utilizing γ9δ2TCR as tumor targeting domain, named gamma delta TCR anti-CD3 bispecific molecule (GAB), targeting the phosphoantigen-dependent orchestration of BTN2A1 and BTN3A1 at the surface of cancer cells. GABs are made by the fusion of the ectodomains of a γδTCR to an anti-CD3 single chain variable fragment (scFv) (γδECTO-αCD3), here we explore alternative designs with the aim to enhance GAB effectivity.

Methods

The first alternative design was made by linking the variable domains of the γ and δ chain to an anti-CD3 scFv (γδVAR-αCD3). The second alternative design was multimerizing γδVAR-αCD3 proteins to increase the tumor binding valency. Both designs were expressed and purified and the potency to target tumor cells by T cells of the alternative designs was compared to γδECTO-αCD3, in T cell activation and cytotoxicity assays.

Results and discussion

The γδVAR-αCD3 proteins were poorly expressed, and while the addition of stabilizing mutations based on finding for αβ single chain formats increased expression, generation of meaningful amounts of γδVAR-αCD3 protein was not possible. As an alternative strategy, we explored the natural properties of the original GAB design (γδECTO-αCD3), and observed the spontaneous formation of γδECTO-αCD3-monomers and -dimers during expression. We successfully enhanced the fraction of γδECTO-αCD3-dimers by shortening the linker length between the heavy and light chain in the anti-CD3 scFv, though this also decreased protein yield by 50%. Finally, we formally demonstrated with purified γδECTO-αCD3-dimers and -monomers, that γδECTO-αCD3-dimers are superior in function when compared to similar concentrations of monomers, and do not induce T cell activation without simultaneous tumor engagement. In conclusion, a γδECTO-αCD3-dimer based GAB design has great potential, though protein production needs to be further optimized before preclinical and clinical testing.
Cardiac involvement in a patient with B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a history of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and CAR T-cell therapy: A case report
Authors: Cao Yigeng , Liu Yadan , Zhang Rongli , Zhai Weihua , Ma Qiaoling , Wei Jialin , Yang Donglin , Pang Aiming , He Yi , Chen Xin , Jiang Erlie , Feng Sizhou , Han Mingzhe
Published: January 2023

Cardiac involvement in hematological malignancies is uncommon, with only a few cases reported to date, and it often leads to a poor prognosis. Here, we report a case of a 42-year-old woman with a history of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/acute lymphoblastic leukemia in whom cardiac mass and myocardial infiltration were detected. Prior to this presentation, massive pericardial effusion had occurred 6 months after CAR T-cell therapy, which was improved via ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis. We observed elevated cytokine levels and increased copy number of CAR DNA in both pericardial effusion and serum. Upon detecting cardiac mass and myocardial infiltration, the patient was administered tocilizumab (a humanized monoclonal antibody against IL-6 receptor), which controlled the serum cytokine levels, and reduced intensity chemotherapy, including vindesine, cyclophosphamide, and prednisolone. However, the patient finally died of multiple organ failure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the development of a cardiac mass and occurrence of myocardial infiltration after allo-HSCT and CAR T-cell therapy. This report may provide supporting data for the early diagnosis and immediate treatment of patients with cardiac involvement.
A high interferon gamma signature of CD8+ T cells predicts response to neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy in gastric cancer
Authors: Li Sen , Li Ke , Tian Fei , Li Hongle , Xia Qingxin , Li Tiepeng , Dong Bing , Li Danyang , Yu Juan , Zhang Junli , Wang Li , Zhang Chengjuan , Xu Shuning , Zhao Yuzhou , Liu Ying
Published: January 2023

Background

While the tumor microenvironment (TME) affects immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) efficacy, ICB also reshapes the characteristics of TME. Thus far, studies have focused on the TME evolution during neoadjuvant or adjuvant ICB therapy in gastric cancer (GC). However, the interaction between TME characteristics and neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy remains to be elucidated.

Methods

We performed single-cell RNA sequencing on ten GC specimens pre- and post-neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus mFOLFOX6 to determine the impact of the TME on the efficacy of the combination therapy and the remodeling of TME by the therapy.

Results

A high baseline interferon gamma (IFN-γ) signature in CD8+ T cells predicts better responses to the combination therapy. We also observed that the IFN-γ signature significantly decreased in multiple cell types, and the exhausted signature of CD8+ T cells was significantly suppressed during the neoadjuvant therapy.

Conclusions

Our data reveal interactions between the TME and neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy in GC. Importantly, it also highlights the signature of CD8+ T cells in predicting response to the combination therapy in GC.
Neuroinflammation and brain–peripheral interaction in ischemic stroke: A narrative review
Authors: Cheng Wenjing , Zhao Qing , Li Chengzhen , Xu Yunzhi
Published: January 2023

Excessive immune activation within the lesion site can be observed after stroke onset. Such neuroinflammation within the brain parenchyma represents the innate immune response, as well as the result of the additional interactions between peripheral and resident immune cells. Accumulative studies have illustrated that the pathological process of ischemic stroke is associated with resident and peripheral immunity. The infiltration of peripheral immune cells within the brain parenchyma implicitly contributes to secondary brain injuries. Therefore, better understanding of the roles of resident and peripheral immune reactions toward ischemic insult is necessary. In this review, we summarized the interaction between peripheral and resident immunity on systemic immunity and the clinical outcomes after stroke onset and also discussed various potential immunotherapeutic strategies.
Effects of LED spectrum on circadian rhythmic expression of clock genes and Aanat2 in the brain of juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
Authors: Ma He , Liu Songtao , Wei Pingping , Fei Fan , Ren Jilong , Dai Mingyun , Ma Zhen , Liu Ying
Published: January 2023

The circadian rhythm is a physiological phenomenon that occurs in various organisms with a cycle of about 24 hours. Light is one of the important environmental factors affecting biological rhythm. To clarify whether a shift in light spectrum can influence the circadian expression in fish brain, a total of 175 European seabasses [body weight: 32.5 ± 0.71) g; body length: (13.78 ± 0.35) cm] were exposed to white light (WL), red light (RL), yellow light (YL), green light (GL) or blue light (BL). After 50 days of exposure, circadian expressions of four core clock genes (Clock, Bmal1, Per2, Cry1) and Aanat2 gene in brain were examined. The results showed that the temporal expression patterns of positive clock gens (Clock and Bmal1) showed increases during the scotophase and decreases during the photophase, with peaks near the middle of the darkness. Clock gene expression showed a stable circadian rhythm (R2 = 0.578-0.824, P=0.000- 0.027) in all light groups while Bmal1 showed circadian rhythm in WL, GL and RL, not in BL and YL. Daily expression patterns of the negative clock genes oscillated in the opposite phase from the positive clock genes, showing increasing mRNA levels during the light, decreases during the dark, and peaks near the shift from night to day, except Per2 in RL and Cry1 in BL. Compared with WL, the acrophases of Clock and Bmal1 were delayed under all light treatments (BL: + 3.7h, +6.73h; RL: +2.4h,+1.35h; YL: + 4.94h, 2.00h; GL: +0.05, +0.16h). Cry1 showed advanced acrophase under all light treatments (BL: -10.74 h, GL: -3.81 h, RL: -3.93 h, YL: -7.56 h) but Per2 showed delayed acrophase in all light treatments (GL: +0.86 h, RL: +10.35 h, YL: +9.62 h), except in BL (-0.43 h). The acrophase of Aanat2 was advanced by all monochromatic light, the Aanat2 level was significantly increased in RL compared with other light treatment. Therefore, the results indicate that RL may regulate the expression of Aanat2 gene by affecting the expression of clock gene in fish brain. Spectrum can affect the biological clock system of fish, and unreasonable spectrum may disturb the rhythm of gene expression of biological clock of fish. Under the irradiation of light spectrum, some clock genes still maintain obvious circadian oscillation, while the rhythm of some clock genes is not obvious and may be destroyed. Our findings suggest a primary role of light spectrum information to the fish brain circadian system.
Effect of the Grijalva-Usumacinta system on the circulation adjacent to the eastern shelf of Yucatan
Authors: Soto-Mardones Luis , Parés-Sierra Alejando , Ticse de la Torre K. Elsy , Flores-Morales Ana Laura
Published: January 2023

Turbidity is a good indicator to determine the quality of the water; it is a measure of the number of particles in suspension in the water. Using ocean color data, we analyzed the seasonal variability of turbidity in front of the Campeche Bank and part of the confluence zone of the coastal currents coming from the Tamaulipas-Veracruz and Campeche platforms [94°W-87.6°W and 18°N-24°N]. The extended platform has several river discharges that are strongly influenced by winds and the loop current coming from the Strait of Yucatan. 2003-2020 was analyzed using satellite images (reflectance, Chlorophyll, sea surface temperature, and altimetry), reanalyzed winds and discharges from the grijalva-usumacinta river system. We used seasonal climatologies, Hovmoller diagrams, and Orthogonal and Complex Empirical Functions to describe the data. In addition, through the “Coastal and Regional Ocean Community model-CROCO) the surface fields of Salinity and velocity were incorporated into the analysis. The results indicated that the seasonal turbidity and its intensification in autumn and winter on the western side of the Campeche platform are due mainly to the contribution of intense flows from the Grijalva-Usumacinta which is further dynamically mix in autumn by the southwest winds, the cyclonic gyres, and the return currents. In spring-summer, the same forcing persists; however, the turbidity decreases due to the ineffectiveness of the intense zonal winds to produce Ekman transport.
Vat polymerization-based 3D printing of nanocomposites: A mini review
Authors: Li Yuewei , Wang Wanyue , Wu Fuhang , Kankala Ranjith Kumar
Published: January 2023

Vat polymerization, the earliest and most established 3D printing technology, offers abundant advantages of high-precision fabrication and rapid printing speed, among others. This technology is often applied to fabricated objects with complex and delicate structures, which are of specific interest in numerous fields. However, it suffers from poor mechanical properties of the resultant printed parts due to layer-by-layer manufacturing patterns and the absence of functionality, restricting the broader application of printed objects. Integrating nanomaterials with vat polymerization-based 3D printing endows the creation of products with enhanced properties and unprecedented functional adjunction with flexible designs. Giving a brief description of 3D printing technology, this review illustrates the principles and characteristics of vat polymerization technology. In this mini-review, we emphasize recent advances in nanocomposite fabricated using vat polymerization, predominantly focusing on creating nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical, thermal properties, and electrical conductivity. Finally, we summarize the article with the challenges being faced and future perspectives of nanocomposites fabricated from vat polymerization.
Caloric restriction delays age-related muscle atrophy by inhibiting 11β−HSD1 to promote the differentiation of muscle stem cells
Authors: Lv Shan , Shen Qianjin , Li Hengzhen , Chen Qun , Xie Wenqing , Li Yusheng , Wang Xiaodong , Ding Guoxian
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Calorie restriction (CR) is an important direction for the delay of sarcopenia in elderly individuals. However, the specific mechanisms of CR against aging are still unclear.

Methods

In this study, we used a CR model of elderly mice with muscle-specific 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) knockout mice and 11β-HSD1 overexpression mice to confirm that CR can delay muscle aging by inhibiting 11β-HSD1 which can transform inactive GC(cortisone) into active GC(cortisol). The ability of self-proliferation and differentiation into muscle fibers of these mouse muscle stem cells (MuSCs) was observed in vitro. Additionally, the mitochondrial function and mitochondrial ATP production capacity of MuSCs were measured by mitochondrial oxygen consumption.

Results

It was found that the 11β-HSD1 expression level was increased in age-related muscle atrophy. Overexpression of 11β-HSD1 led to muscle atrophy in young mice, and 11β-HSD1 knockout rescued age-related muscle atrophy. Moreover, CR in aged mice reduced the local effective concentration of glucocorticoid (GC) through 11β-HSD1, thereby promoting the mitochondrial function and differentiation ability of MuSCs.

Conclusions

Together, our findings highlight promising sarcopenia protection with 40% CR in older ages. Furthermore, we speculated that targeting an 11β-HSD1-dependent metabolic pathway may represent a novel strategy for developing therapeutics against age-related muscle atrophy.
Non-invasive techniques to access in vivo the skin microcirculation in patients
Authors: Bottino Daniel Alexandre , Bouskela Eliete
Published: January 2023

The microcirculation is composed of blood vessels with mean internal diameter smaller than 100 μm. This structure is responsible for survival of cells and in the last 50 years its study has become increasingly interesting because it often participates in the pathophysiology of several diseases or can determine better or worse prognosis for them. Due to the growing importance of knowing more about the microcirculation, several techniques have been developed and now it is possible to study its structure or function. In the last 25 years, the cutaneous microcirculation has emerged as an accessible and representative portion of generalized vascular bed allowing the examination of mechanisms of microcirculatory function and dysfunction. This mini review presents several techniques used for non-invasive access to skin microcirculation, such as Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy, Orthogonal Polarization Spectral Imaging, Sidestream Dark Field Imaging, Incident Dark field Illumination, Laser Doppler Flowmetry, and Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging applied. The techniques presented will describe which types of variables (structural or functional) can be evaluated, their limitations and potential uses.
The association of periodontal diseases and Sjogren’s syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Bo , Pang Xuefei , Guan Jiazhong , Liu Xu , Li Xiting , Wang Yan , Chen Zhuofan , Cheng Bin
Published: January 2023

Background

The relationship between periodontal diseases and Sjogren’s syndrome were found inconsistent in current studies. Our objective is to clarify the relationship between periodontal diseases and Sjogren’s syndrome.

Methods

A systematic review was performed and reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Electronic databases (EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, from inceptions until 24 November 2021) were searched. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) were applied to evaluate the quality of studies. Quality assessment of the certainty of evidence was performed based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. When the output is the ratio, Odds ratio (OR) of periodontal diseases with Sjogren’s syndrome were calculated. When the output is the mean, weighted mean difference (WMD) of periodontal diseases with Sjogren’s syndrome was calculated. We conducted meta-analysis and estimated the pool sensitivity. Begg’s test was used to test the possibility of publication bias. We also carried out meta-regression to clarify the source of heterogeneity (I2 > 50%). Finally, we performed a trial sequential analysis (TSA) to identify the false positive or false negative outcomes that might occur during repeated updates.

Results

21 studies were included in this systematic review, with a total of 11435 subjects. Meta-analysis of 5 studies showed that there is a positive correlation between periodontitis and Sjogren’s syndrome (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.43–3.17; 5 studies, 6927 participants; low certainty of evidence). Meta-analysis of 16 studies showed that the periodontal condition of patients with Sjogren’s syndrome was worse compared with the control group, and the scores of clinical periodontal parameters were relatively high.

Conclusion

Sjogren’s syndrome patients seem to be more likely to be diagnosed with periodontal diseases. However, our results should be interpreted with caution considering the high heterogeneity.

Systematic review registration

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42021261322].
Characterization, antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities of green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Phragmanthera austroarabica A. G. Mill and J. A. Nyberg extract
Authors: Khodeer Dina M. , Nasr Ali M. , Swidan Shady A. , Shabayek Sarah , Khinkar Roaa M. , Aldurdunji Mohammed M. , Ramadan Maryam A. , Badr Jihan M.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that exhibited great expansion all over the world. It is becoming an epidemic disease adding a major burden to the health care system, particularly in developing countries.

Methods

The plant under investigation in the current studyPhragmanthera austroarabicaA. G. Mill and J. A. Nyberg is traditionally used in Saudi Arabia for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The methanolic extract (200 mg/kg) of the plant and pure gallic acid (40 mg/kg), a major metabolite of the plant, as well as their silver nanoparticle formulae (AgNPs) were evaluated for their antidiabetic activity.

Results and Discussion

The results showed a decrease in body fat, obesity, an improvement in lipid profiles, normalization of hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia, and an improvement in liver tissue structure and function. However, the results obtained from AgNPs for both extract and the pure gallic acid were better in most measured parameters. Additionally, the activity of both the crude extract of the plant and its AgNPs were evaluated against a number of gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Although the activity of the crude extract ranged from moderate to weak or even non-active, the AgNPs of the plant extract clearly enhanced the antimicrobial activity. AgNPs of the extract demonstrated remarkable activity, especially against the Gram-negative pathogensProteus vulgaris(MIC 2.5 μg/ml) andPseudomonas aeruginosa(MIC 5 μg/ml). Furthermore, a promising antimicrobial activity was shown against the Gram-positive pathogenStreptococcus mutants(MIC 1.25 μg/ml).
Effect of Echinacea on gut microbiota of immunosuppressed ducks
Authors: Lin Renzhao , Zhi Chanping , Su Yalin , Chen Jiaxin , Gao Debao , Li Sihan , Shi Dayou
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Immunosuppression puts animals in a susceptible state and disrupts the balance of intestinal flora, which can increase the risk of disease and cause serious harm to the farm. Echinacea can exert its immunomodulatory effect in various ways, but its influence on intestinal flora is unclear.

Methods

Therefore, we investigated the effect of Echinacea extract (EE) on gut microbiota in immunosuppressed ducks by 16s-RNA sequencing in this experiment.

Results

The results showed that EE significantly improved the weight gain of immunosuppressed ducks (p<0.001). It also increased the immune organ index (p<0.01) and upregulated the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ (p<0.05) as well as IL-2 in the serum. The lesions of the bursa were evident compared to the spleen and thymus. After treatment in the EE group, the lymphocyte count of the bursa returned to healthy levels and the lesions were significantly improved. The diversity analysis showed that neither of the alpha-diversity indices showed a significant difference (p>0.05). However, the EE group had a trend closer to the healthy group compared to the M group. β-diversity analysis revealed a high degree of sample separation between the healthy and immunosuppressed groups. The sequencing result showed a significantly higher relative abundance of Prevotella and Prevotella_UCG_001 in the dexamethasone-treated group, which could be potential biomarkers of dexamethasone-induced immunosuppression. EE increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Alistipes and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Megamonas, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The results showed that Echinacea extract improves the development of immunosuppressed ducks and modulates intestinal immune function by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacterial genera in the intestine.
Biological control agents colonize litchi fruit during storage and stimulate physiological responses to delay pericarp browning
Authors: Zheng Li , Huang Shilian , Huang Jiehao , Deng Yizhen , Wu Zhenxian , Jiang Zide , Yu Guohui
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Litchi is an economically important fruit in subtropical countries, but pericarp browning can limit its shelf life outside of controlled storage conditions. Effective and sustainable biological control strategies are needed to protect fruit against postharvest browning.

Results and Discussion

In this study, we show that the four bacterial strains Bacillus licheniformis HS10, B. amyloliquefaciens LI24 and PP19, and Exiguobacterium acetylicum SI17 can delay fruit browning in both laboratory trials (LTs) and field plus laboratory trials (FLTs). Strains HS10, LI24, PP19 and SI17 showed 47.74%, 35.39%, 33.58% and 32.53% browning-inhibitory efficacy respectively at 180 h in LT. Litchi sarcocarp interior sourced isolate SI17 showed 74.05% inhibit-brown efficacy at 216 h in FLTs, performing better in FLT than in LT. Furthermore, strains PP19 and SI17 colonized the fruit pericarp and increased total phenolic and anthocyanin contents but decreased peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity. This is the first report of E. acetylicum (SI17) and B. licheniformis (HS10) strains acting as biological control agents (BCAs) to delay postharvest browning in litchi fruit. We conclude that PP19 and SI17 are promising BCAs against fruit browning, and their application could be effective for prolonging the shelf life of harvested litchi fruit.
Challenges in predicting stabilizing variations: An exploration
Authors: Benevenuta Silvia , Birolo Giovanni , Sanavia Tiziana , Capriotti Emidio , Fariselli Piero
Published: January 2023

An open challenge of computational and experimental biology is understanding the impact of non-synonymous DNA variations on protein function and, subsequently, human health. The effects of these variants on protein stability can be measured as the difference in the free energy of unfolding (ΔΔG) between the mutated structure of the protein and its wild-type form. Throughout the years, bioinformaticians have developed a wide variety of tools and approaches to predict the ΔΔG. Although the performance of these tools is highly variable, overall they are less accurate in predicting ΔΔG stabilizing variations rather than the destabilizing ones. Here, we analyze the possible reasons for this difference by focusing on the relationship between experimentally-measured ΔΔG and seven protein properties on three widely-used datasets (S2648, VariBench, Ssym) and a recently introduced one (S669). These properties include protein structural information, different physical properties and statistical potentials. We found that two highly used input features, i.e., hydrophobicity and the Blosum62 substitution matrix, show a performance close to random choice when trying to separate stabilizing variants from either neutral or destabilizing ones. We then speculate that, since destabilizing variations are the most abundant class in the available datasets, the overall performance of the methods is higher when including features that improve the prediction for the destabilizing variants at the expense of the stabilizing ones. These findings highlight the need of designing predictive methods able to exploit also input features highly correlated with the stabilizing variants. New tools should also be tested on a not-artificially balanced dataset, reporting the performance on all the three classes (i.e., stabilizing, neutral and destabilizing variants) and not only the overall results.
Cross-species high-resolution transcriptome profiling suggests biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ulcerative colitis
Authors: Yarani Reza , Palasca Oana , Doncheva Nadezhda T. , Anthon Christian , Pilecki Bartosz , Svane Cecilie A. S. , Mirza Aashiq H. , Litman Thomas , Holmskov Uffe , Bang-Berthelsen Claus H. , Vilien Mogens , Jensen Lars J. , Gorodkin Jan , Pociot Flemming
Published: January 2023

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disorder with unknown etiology, and animal models play an essential role in studying its molecular pathophysiology. Here, we aim to identify common conserved pathological UC-related gene expression signatures between humans and mice that can be used as treatment targets and/or biomarker candidates.

Methods: To identify differentially regulated protein-coding genes and non-coding RNAs, we sequenced total RNA from the colon and blood of the most widely used dextran sodium sulfate Ulcerative colitis mouse. By combining this with public human Ulcerative colitis data, we investigated conserved gene expression signatures and pathways/biological processes through which these genes may contribute to disease development/progression.

Results: Cross-species integration of human and mouse Ulcerative colitis data resulted in the identification of 1442 genes that were significantly differentially regulated in the same direction in the colon and 157 in blood. Of these, 51 genes showed consistent differential regulation in the colon and blood. Less known genes with importance in disease pathogenesis, including SPI1, FPR2, TYROBP, CKAP4, MCEMP1, ADGRG3, SLC11A1, and SELPLG, were identified through network centrality ranking and validated in independent human and mouse cohorts.

Conclusion: The identified Ulcerative colitis conserved transcriptional signatures aid in the disease phenotyping and future treatment decisions, drug discovery, and clinical trial design.