bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detailed phenotypic and functional characterization of CMV-associated adaptive NK cells in rhesus macaques
Authors: Hasan Mohammad Zahidul , Höltermann Charlotte , Petersen Beatrix , Schrod Annette , Mätz-Rensing Kerstin , Kaul Artur , Salinas Gabriela , Dressel Ralf , Walter Lutz
Published: November 2022

Previous research on adaptive NK cells in rhesus macaques suffered from the lack of specific antibodies to differentiate between inhibitory CD94/NKG2A and stimulatory CD94/NKG2C heterodimeric receptors. Recently we reported an expansion of NKG2C receptor-encoding genes in rhesus macaques, but their expression and functional role on primary NK cells remained unknown due to this deficit. Thus, we established monoclonal antibodies 4A8 and 7B1 which show identical specificities and bind to both NKG2C-1 and NKG2C-2 but neither react with NKG2C-3 nor NKG2A on transfected cells. Using a combination of 4A8 and Z199 antibodies in multicolor flow cytometry we detected broad expression (4-73%) of NKG2C-1 and/or NKG2C-2 (NKG2C-1/2) on primary NK cells in rhesus macaques from our breeding colony. Stratifying our data to CMV-positive and CMV-negative animals, we noticed a higher proportion (23-73%) of primary NK cells expressing NKG2C-1/2 in CMV+ as compared to CMV- macaques (4-5%). These NKG2C-1/2-positive NK cells in CMV+ macaques are characterized by lower expression of IL12RB2, ZBTB16, SH2D1B, but not FCER1G, as well as high expression of IFNG, indicating that antibody 4A8 detects CMV-associated adaptive NK cells. Single cell RNA seq data of 4A8-positive NK cells from a rhCMV-positive macaque demonstrated that a high proportion of these adaptive NK cells transcribe in addition to NKG2C-1 and NKG2C-2 also NKG2C-3, but interestingly NKG2A as well. Remarkably, in comparison to NKG2A, NKG2C-1 and in particular NKG2C-2 bind Mamu-E with higher avidity. Primary NK cells exposed to Mamu-E-expressing target cells displayed strong degranulation as well as IFN-gamma expression of 4A8+ adaptive NK cells from rhCMV+ animals. Thus, despite co-expression of inhibitory and stimulatory CD94/NKG2 receptors the higher number of different stimulatory NKG2C receptors and their higher binding avidity to Mamu-E outreach inhibitory signaling via NKG2A. These data demonstrate the evolutionary conservation of the CMV-driven development of NKG2C-positive adaptive NK cells with particular molecular signatures in primates and with changes in gene copy numbers and ligand-binding strength of NKG2C isotypes. Thus, rhesus macaques represent a suitable and valuable nonhuman primate animal model to study the CMV-NKG2C liaison in vivo.
Human amniotic fluid derived extracellular vesicles attenuate T cell immune response
Authors: del Rivero Tania , Milberg Julian , Bennett Cassie , Mitrani Maria Ines , Bellio Michael A.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Extracellular vesicles isolated from human amniotic fluid (AF-EVs) have previously been found to modulate inflammation and macrophage infiltration in a mouse model. However, the effects of acellular amniotic fluid (acAF) or AF-EVs on the T-Cell immune response have not been explored.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the effects of acAF and AF-EVs on the T cell immune response in an in vitro cell culture model. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) to induce the immune response and were subsequently treated with either serum-free media (vehicle), acAF, or concentrated AF-EVs.

Results

Both acAF and AF-EV treatment suppressed PHA-induced T cell proliferation and PHA-induced T cell activation; however, treatment with concentrated AF-EVs had a greater effect. Additionally, both acAF and AF-EVs reduced PBMC pro-inflammatory cytokine release. AF-EVs were found to be taken up by both CD4+ and CD8+ effector T cell subsets.

Conclusion

Overall, this data demonstrates that AF-EVs have a robust immunomodulatory effect on T cells and suggests AF-EVs could be used as an immunotherapeutic tool.
Using geostatistical analysis for simultaneous estimation of isoscapes and ontogenetic shifts in isotope ratios of highly migratory marine fish
Authors: Matsubayashi Jun , Kimura Katsuya , Ohkouchi Naohiko , Ogawa Nanako O. , Ishikawa Naoto F. , Chikaraishi Yoshito , Tsuda Yuichi , Minami Hiroshi
Published: November 2022

Tracking migration of highly migratory marine fish using isotope analysis (iso-logging) has become a promising tool in recent years. However, application of this method is often hampered by the lack of essential information such as spatial variations in isotope ratios across habitats (isoscapes) and ontogenetic shifts of isotope ratios of target animals. Here, we test the utility of geostatistical analysis to generate isoscapes of δ13C and δ15N in the western Pacific and estimate the ontogenetic shifts in δ13C and δ15N values of a target species. We first measured δ13C and δ15N in the white muscle of juvenile (n = 210) and adult (n = 884) skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis sampled across the northwest Pacific. Next we fitted a geostatistical model to account for the observed spatial variations in δ13C and δ15N of skipjack by fork length and other environmental variables with spatial random effects. We then used the best-fit models to predict the isoscapes of δ13C and δ15N in 2021. Furthermore, we measured δ15N of amino acids (δ15NAAs) of skipjack (n = 5) to determine whether the observed spatial variation of isotope ratios resulted from baseline shifts or differences in trophic position. The geostatistical model reasonably estimated both isoscapes and ontogenetic shifts from isotope ratios of skipjack, and the isoscapes showed that δ13C and δ15N can clearly distinguish the latitudinal migration of skipjack in the western Pacific. The δ15NAAs supported the results of the geostatistical model, that is, observed variations in skipjack δ15N were largely derived from a baseline shift rather than regional differences in trophic position. Thus, we showed that geostatistical analysis can provide essential basic information required for iso-logging without compound-specific isotope analysis.
Prevalence and factors associated with visual impairment in middle-aged and older Chinese population
Authors: Ye Hanyuan , Zeng Yun , Xiao Hongxia , Yu Jing , Liu Yun , Zhang Shuang , Zhang Bingjie
Published: November 2022

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of visual impairment and to identify the factors associated with it in China.

Methods

Data for this cross-sectional study were retrieved from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) for a total of 16,480 subjects who completed the questionnaire between June 2011 and March 2012. The prevalence of visual impairment was estimated considering the complex survey design and response rate. Associated factors were identified using the weighted logistic regression analysis.

Results

The overall prevalence of visual impairment among middle-aged and older Chinese adults was 6.22%. Regionally, Qinghai and Gansu provinces showed the highest prevalence of visual impairment, whereas Shanghai showed the lowest prevalence of visual impairment in China. Older age (OR = 1.888; 95% CI: 1.537–2.467) was correlated with a higher likelihood of visual impairment, whereas a non-alcohol intake (OR = 0.072; 95% CI: 0.018–0.246) was correlated with a lower likelihood of visual impairment. Hypertension (OR = 1.299; 95% CI: 1.189–1.467), diabetes (OR = 2.000; 95% CI: 1.163–3.765), lung diseases (OR = 1.795; 95% CI: 1.067–3.019), liver diseases (OR = 1.270; 95% CI: 1.221–2.876), stroke (OR = 1.135; 95% CI: 1.107–3.528), and heart disease (OR = 1.350; 95% CI: 1.104–1.708) were significantly associated with visual impairment.

Conclusion

Geographical variations in the prevalence of visual impairment in China were defined, indicating that such variations do exist in China. Age, alcohol intake, hypertension, diabetes, lung diseases, liver diseases, stroke, and heart disease were factors associated with visual impairment.
Influence of salinity on the diversity and composition of carbohydrate metabolism, nitrogen and sulfur cycling genes in lake surface sediments
Authors: Liu Qing , Yang Jian , Wang Beichen , Liu Wen , Hua Zhengshuang , Jiang Hongchen
Published: November 2022

Exploring functional gene composition is essential for understanding the biogeochemical functions of lakes. However, little is known about the diversity and composition of biogeochemical cycling genes and their influencing factors in saline lakes. In this study, metagenomic analysis was employed to characterize the diversity and composition of microbial functions predicted from genes involved in carbohydrate metabolisms, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles in 17 surface sediments of Qinghai-Tibetan lakes with salinity ranging from 0.7 to 31.5 g L−1. The results showed that relative abundances of carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZy), nitrogen, and sulfur cycling genes were 92.7–116.5, 15.1–18.7, 50.8–63.9 per 1,000 amino acid coding reads, respectively. The Shannon diversity indices of CAZy and sulfur cycling genes decreased with increasing salinity, whereas nitrogen cycling gene diversity showed an opposite trend. Relative abundances of many CAZy (i.e., carbohydrate-binding module and carbohydrate esterase), nitrogen (i.e., anammox and organic degradation and synthesis) and sulfur (i.e., dissimilatory sulfur reduction and oxidation, link between inorganic and organic sulfur transformation, sulfur disproportionation and reduction) cycling gene categories decreased with increasing salinity, whereas some CAZy (i.e., auxiliary activity), nitrogen (i.e., denitrification) and sulfur (i.e., assimilatory sulfate reduction and sulfur oxidation) gene categories showed an increasing trend. The compositions of CAZy, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling genes in the studied lake sediments were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by environmental factors such as salinity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, with salinity having the greatest influence. Together, our results suggest that salinity may regulate the biogeochemical functions of carbohydrate metabolisms, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles in lakes through changing the diversity and composition of microbial functional genes. This finding has great implications for understanding the impact of environmental change on microbial functions in lacustrine ecosystems.
Investigation the global effect of rare earth gadolinium on the budding Saccharomyces cerevisiae by genome-scale screening
Authors: Cao Yuhang , Zhang Caiyun , Fang Yu , Liu Yumeng , Lyu Kexin , Ding Jian , Wang Xue
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The rare earth gadolinium (Gd) is widely used in industry and medicine, which has been treated as an emerging pollutant in environment. The increasing pollution of Gd has potential hazards to living organisms. Thus it is essential to investigate the toxicity and action mechanism of Gd in biological system.

Methods

In this study, the global effect and activation mechanism of Gd on yeast were investigated by genome-scale screening.

Results and discussion

Our results show that 45 gene deletion strains are sensitive to Gd and 10 gene deletion strains are Gd resistant from the diploid gene deletion strain library of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The result of localization analysis shows that most of these genes are involved in cell metabolism, cell cycle, transcription, translation, protein synthesis, protein folding, and cell transport. The result of functional analysis shows that four genes (CNB1, CRZ1, VCX1, and GDT1) are involved in the calcium signaling pathway, and four genes (PHO84, PHO86, PHO2, and PHO4) are involved in phosphorus metabolism. For Gd3+ has the similar ion radius with Ca2+ and easily binds to the phosphate radical, it affects Ca2+ signaling pathway and phosphorus metabolism. The genes ARF1, ARL1, ARL3, SYS1, COG5, COG6, YPT6, VPS9, SSO2, MRL1, AKL1, and TRS85 participate in vesicle transport and protein sorting. Thus, Gd accumulation affects the function of proteins related to vesicle transport, which may result in the failure of Gd transport out of cells. In addition, the intracellular Gd content in the 45 sensitive deletion strains is higher than that in the wild type yeast under Gd stress. It suggests that the sensitivity of yeast deletion strains is related to the excessive intracellular Gd accumulation.
New insights into immunomodulatory properties of lactic acid bacteria fermented herbal medicines
Authors: Zhu Hongru , Guo Lidong , Yu Dan , Du Xiaowei
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought more attention to the immune system, the body’s defense against infectious diseases. The immunomodulatory ability of traditional herbal medicine has been confirmed through clinical trial research, and has obvious advantages over prescription drugs due to its high number of potential targets and low toxicity. The active compounds of herbal drugs primarily include polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, and phenolics and can be modified to produce new active compounds after lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation. LAB, primary source of probiotics, can produce additional immunomodulatory metabolites such as exopolysaccharides, short-chain fatty acids, and bacteriocins. Moreover, several compounds from herbal medicines can promote the growth and production of LAB-based immune active metabolites. Thus, LAB-mediated fermentation of herbal medicines has become a novel strategy for regulating human immune responses. The current review discusses the immunomodulatory properties and active compounds of LAB fermented herbal drugs, the interaction between LAB and herbal medicines, and changes in immunoregulatory components that occur during fermentation. This study also discusses the mechanisms by which LAB-fermented herbal medicines regulate the immune response, including activation of the innate or adaptive immune system and the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis.
The copper transporter CTR1 and cisplatin accumulation at the single-cell level by LA-ICP-TOFMS
Authors: Schoeberl Anna , Gutmann Michael , Theiner Sarah , Corte-Rodríguez Mario , Braun Gabriel , Vician Petra , Berger Walter , Koellensperger Gunda
Published: November 2022

More than a decade ago, studies on cellular cisplatin accumulation via active membrane transport established the role of the high affinity copper uptake protein 1 (CTR1) as a main uptake route besides passive diffusion. In this work, CTR1 expression, cisplatin accumulation and intracellular copper concentration was assessed for single cells revisiting the case of CTR1 in the context of acquired cisplatin resistance. The single-cell workflow designed for in vitro experiments enabled quantitative imaging at resolutions down to 1 µm by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-TOFMS). Cisplatin-sensitive ovarian carcinoma cells A2780 as compared to the cisplatin-resistant subline A2780cis were investigated. Intracellular cisplatin and copper levels were absolutely quantified for thousands of individual cells, while for CTR1, relative differences of total CTR1 versus plasma membrane-bound CTR1 were determined. A markedly decreased intracellular cisplatin concentration accompanied by reduced copper concentrations was observed for single A2780cis cells, along with a distinctly reduced (total) CTR1 level as compared to the parental cell model. Interestingly, a significantly different proportion of plasma membrane-bound versus total CTR1 in untreated A2780 as compared to A2780cis cells was observed. This proportion changed in both models upon cisplatin exposure. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between total and plasma membrane-bound CTR1 expression and cisplatin accumulation at the single-cell level in both A2780 and A2780cis cells. Thus, our study recapitulates the crosstalk of copper homeostasis and cisplatin uptake, and also indicates a complex interplay between subcellular CTR1 localization and cellular cisplatin accumulation as a driver for acquired resistance development.
A perspective on Drosophila genetics and its insight into human neurodegenerative disease
Authors: Bonini Nancy M.
Published: November 2022

Drosophila has been long appreciated as a classic genetic system for its ability to define gene function in vivo. Within the last several decades, the fly has also emerged as a premiere system for modeling and defining mechanisms of human disease by expressing dominant human disease genes and analyzing the effects. Here I discuss key aspects of this latter approach that first intrigued me to focus my laboratory research on this idea. Differences between the loss-of-function vs. the gain-of-function approach are raised—and the insight of these approaches for appreciating mechanisms that contribute to human neurodegenerative disease. The application of modifier genetics, which is a prominent goal of models of human disease, has implications for how specific genes or pathways intersect with the dominant disease-associated mechanisms. Models of human disease will continue to reveal unanticipated insight into fundamental cellular processes—insight that might be harder to glean from classical genetic methodologies vs modifier genetics of disease.
Cystatin C predicts cognitive decline in multiple system atrophy: A 1-year prospective cohort study
Authors: Zhang Lingyu , Li Ruicen , Hou Yanbing , Cao Bei , Wei Qianqian , Ou Ruwei , Liu Kuncheng , Lin Junyu , Yang Tianmi , Xiao Yi , Huang Wenxia , Shang Huifang
Published: November 2022

Background

Accumulating evidence has suggested that cystatin C is associated with cognitive impairment in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. However, the association between cystatin C and cognitive decline in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) remains largely unknown.

Objectives

The objective was to determine whether cystatin C was independently associated with cognitive decline in patients with early-stage MSA.

Methods

Patients with MSA underwent evaluation at baseline and the 1-year follow-up. Cognitive function was evaluated with Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). Changes in the MoCA score and the absolute MoCA score at the 1-year assessment were considered the main cognitive outcome. The cystatin C concentrations in patients with MSA and age, sex, and body mass index matched-healthy controls (HCs) were measured. A multiple linear regression model was used to test the association between cystatin C and cognitive decline.

Results

A total of 117 patients with MSA and 416 HCs were enrolled in the study. The cystatin C levels were significantly higher in patients with MSA than in HCs (p < 0.001). Cystatin C levels were negatively correlated with MoCA score at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Multiple linear regression model adjusted for potential confounders showed that baseline cystatin C levels were significantly associated with the MoCA score (p = 0.004) or change in the MoCA score (p = 0.008) at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that cystatin C may serve as a potential biomarker of cognitive decline in patients with early-stage MSA.
Does folic acid supplementation have a positive effect on improving memory? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Akhgarjand Camellia , Ebrahimi Mousavi Sara , Kalantar Zahra , Bagheri Amir , Imani Hossein , Rezvani Hamid , Ghorbi Mahmoud Dehghani , Vahabi Zahra
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of folic acid supplementation on memory status due to various heterogeneity, dosage, duration, and cognitive function assessments were inconclusive. Therefore, we have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of folic acid supplementation on memory in RCTs.

Method

Comprehensive computerized systematic searches were conducted throughout Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar from inception until February 2022 to investigate the effect of folic acid supplementation memory levels in RCTs. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were used to estimate the overall effect size using random-effects meta-analyses.

Results

The overall results of nine trials with 641 participants, revealed that folic acid supplementation did not significantly change memory score compared to placebo (SMD: 0.12; 95% CI: −0.17, 0.40, p = 0.418; I2 = 62.6%). However, subgroup analyses showed that supplementation with folic acid had favorable effects on memory levels considering the following conditions: (1) doses lower than 1 mg/day, (2) treatment lasting more than 6 months, (3) conducted in eastern countries, and (4) in participants equal to or older than 70 years old. The dose-response analysis suggested a significant favorable effect on memory status at doses of 6–11 mg/d and a significant decline at doses of 17–20 mg/d.

Discussion

Although we did not find a significant effect of folic acid supplementation on memory, there were some suggestions of beneficial effects in the subgroup analyses.
Mathematical processing of trading strategy based on long short-term memory neural network model
Authors: Wang Han-Yang , Li An-Qi , Tie Chao-Chen , Wang Chao-Jun , Xu Yun-Hua
Published: November 2022

At present, gold and bitcoin have become mainstream assets in market transactions. Due to the volatility of gold and bitcoin prices, we can buy and sell assets like gold and bitcoin the same way we buy and sell stocks. The research goal of this article is to develop an optimal trading strategy that maximizes our post-trade returns. By studying the relationship between the two, on the one hand, it supplements and enriches the theoretical research on the rate of return of gold and Bitcoin, on the other hand, it provides a certain reference for investors to construct investment strategies. The research on the cointegration relationship between them has important practical significance. At the same time, it has important practical significance for the research on the cointegration relationship between bitcoin and gold.
Ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. (ASTERACEAE)
Authors: Gazim Zilda Cristiani , Valle Juliana Silveira , Carvalho dos Santos Isabela , Rahal Isabelle Luiz , Silva Gabriela Catuzo Canonico , Lopes Ana Daniela , Ruiz Suelen Pereira , Faria Maria Graciela Iecher , Piau Junior Ranulfo , Gonçalves Daniela Dib
Published: November 2022

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Lamiaceae) (Asteraceae) is found in South America, mainly in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Folk medicine is used as a sedative, hypotensive, bronchodilator, cardiovascular disorders, anti-flu, and also in skin wounds. Considered the main source of green propolis, which increases the pharmacological interest in this species. It is also known as a “benefactor” plant facilitating the development of other plant species around it, being indicated for the recovery of degraded areas. This species has been studied for decades in order to isolate and identify the active principles present in the aerial parts (leaves and flowers) and roots. The present study consists of a review of the scientific literature addressing the ethnobotanical, ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, pharmacological and potential cytotoxic effects of the B. dracunculifolia species. In this survey, we sought to investigate issues related to the botanical and geographic description of the species, the ethnobotanical uses, as well as the phytochemical studies of the essential oil, extracts and green propolis obtained from the aerial parts and roots of B. dracunculifolia. Using high precision analytical tools, numerous compounds have already been isolated and identified from leaves and flowers such as the flavonoids: naringenin, acacetin, dihydrokaempferol, isosakuranetin and kaempferide; phenolic acids: p-coumaric, dihydrocoumaric, ferulic (E)-cinnamic, hydroxycinnamic, gallic, caffeic, and several caffeoylquinic acids derivatives; phenolic acids prenylated: artepillin C, baccharin, drupanin; the glycosides dracuculifosides and the pentacyclic triterpenoids: Baccharis oxide and friedelanol. The predominant class in the essential oil of leaves and flowers are terpenoids comprising oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, highlighting the compounds nerolidol, spathulenol, germacrene D and bicyclogermacrene. These compounds give the species high antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, analgesic, immunomodulatory and antiparasitic potential, making this species a promising herbal medicine. In vitro toxicity assays with B. dracunculifolia extract showed low or no cytotoxicity. However, in vivo analyses with high doses of the aqueous extract resulted in genotoxic effects, which leads us to conclude that the toxicity of this plant is dose-dependent.
Aqueous extract of Artemisia capillaris improves non-alcoholic fatty liver and obesity in mice induced by high-fat diet
Authors: Liang Meng , Huo Mohan , Guo Yi , Zhang Yuyi , Xiao Xiao , Xv Jianwen , Fang Lixue , Li Tianqi , Wang Huan , Dong Siyu , Jiang Xiaowen , Yu Wenhui
Published: November 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases and is a nutritional metabolic disease. Artemisia capillaris (AC) is the above-ground dried part of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. or Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit., a natural medicinal plant with pharmacological effects of heat-clearing and biliary-promoting. In order to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Artemisia capillaris on NAFLD and obesity, experiments were conducted using aqueous extracts of Artemisia capillaris (WAC) to intervene in NAFLD models in vivo and in vitro. In vivo experiments were performed using HFD-fed (high fat diet) C57BL/6 mice to induce NAFLD model, and in vitro experiments were performed using oleic acid to induce HepG2 cells to construct NAFLD cell model. H.E. staining and oil red O staining of liver tissue were used to observe hepatocytes. Blood biochemistry analyzer was used to detect serum lipid levels in mice. The drug targets and mechanism of action of AC to improve NAFLD were investigated by western blotting, qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence. The results showed that C57BL/6 mice fed HFD continuously for 16 weeks met the criteria for NAFLD in terms of lipid index and hepatocyte fat accumulation. WAC was able to reverse the elevation of serum lipid levels induced by high-fat diet in mice. WAC promoted the phosphorylation levels of PI3K/AKT and AMPK in liver and HepG2 cells of NAFLD mice, inhibited SREBP-1c expression, reduced TG and lipogenesis, and decreased lipid accumulation. In summary, WAC extract activates PI3K/AKT pathway, reduces SREBP-1c protein expression by promoting AMPK phosphorylation, and decreases fatty acid synthesis and TG content in hepatocytes. AC can be used as a potential health herb to improve NAFLD and obesity.
Cinobufagin alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by regulating autophagy through activation of the p53/mTOR pathway
Authors: Wang Cheng , Mei Xianghuang , Wu Yanrong , Yang Yuting , Zeng Zhenguo
Published: November 2022

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe clinical disorder characterized by dysregulated inflammatory responses, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Cinobufagin, a primary component isolated from cinobufotalin, exerts strong anticancer effects. However, there are few reports on its role in ALI, and it is unclear whether cinobufagin affects lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of cinobufagin on LPS-induced ALI and to assess its potential mechanism of action. The results showed that cinobufagin alleviated lung histopathological changes and protected the permeability of lung tissues in LPS-induced ALI. In addition, cinobufagin effectively suppressed inflammatory responses through the induction of autophagy in LPS-induced ALI cells and in a mouse model. Moreover, cinobufagin enhanced autophagy through the p53/mTOR pathway in LPS-induced ALI. Herein, it was reported for the first time that cinobufagin inhibited the inflammatory response of LPS-induced ALI, which laid the foundation for further understanding and development of cinobufagin as a potential new drug for ALI.
Muscle metabolic stress determines cancer cachexia severity in mice
Authors: Alves Christiano , Goodyear Laurie , Brum Patricia
Published: November 2022

Objectives: To determine the metabolic effects of cancer-conditioned media on myotube metabolism and to understand whether the variability of these effects is associated with cancer cachexia progression.

Materials and methods: We established single-cell clones from murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells and generated conditioned media from each clonal line. Differentiated primary mouse myotubes were incubated with conditioned media derived from each individual clonal cell line. After initial analysis, we selected a specific LLC clonal cell line that failed to induce metabolic stress in myotubes for further investigation in vitro and in vivo.

Results: Short-term incubation with conditioned media from 10/34 LLC clonal cells failed to affect oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in myotubes. Incubation with parental LLC-conditioned media decreased protein content and changed the expression of key regulators of muscle function in myotubes, but the incubation of conditioned media from a selected clone that failed to affect OCR in myotubes also did not affect protein content and expression of muscle regulators. Mice injected with parental LLC cells had a significantly reduced body mass and muscle wasting compared to the mice injected with cells derived from this selected LLC clone.

Conclusion: Factors secreted by LLC cells induce metabolic stress in primary myotubes and induce cancer cachexia in mice. However, a selected clonal LLC cell line that failed to induce metabolic stress in myotubes also promoted weaker catabolism in mice. These novel findings establish that early disruption of muscle oxidative metabolism is associated with cancer cachexia progression.
County-scale crop yield prediction by integrating crop simulation with machine learning models
Authors: Sajid Saiara Samira , Shahhosseini Mohsen , Huber Isaiah , Hu Guiping , Archontoulis Sotirios V.
Published: November 2022

Crop yield prediction is of great importance for decision making, yet it remains an ongoing scientific challenge. Interactions among different genetic, environmental, and management factors and uncertainty in input values are making crop yield prediction complex. Building upon a previous work in which we coupled crop modeling with machine learning (ML) models to predict maize yields for three US Corn Belt states, here, we expand the concept to the entire US Corn Belt (12 states). More specifically, we built five new ML models and their ensemble models, considering the scenarios with and without crop modeling variables. Additional input values in our models are soil, weather, management, and historical yield data. A unique aspect of our work is the spatial analysis to investigate causes for low or high model prediction errors. Our results indicated that the prediction accuracy increases by coupling crop modeling with machine learning. The ensemble model overperformed the individual ML models, having a relative root mean square error (RRMSE) of about 9% for the test years (2018, 2019, and 2020), which is comparable to previous studies. In addition, analysis of the sources of error revealed that counties and crop reporting districts with low cropland ratios have high RRMSE. Furthermore, we found that soil input data and extreme weather events were responsible for high errors in some regions. The proposed models can be deployed for large-scale prediction at the county level and, contingent upon data availability, can be utilized for field level prediction.
Allelopathy and its application as a weed management tool: A review
Authors: Khamare Yuvraj , Chen Jianjun , Marble Stephen Christopher
Published: November 2022

Weeds are a serious threat to crop production as they interfere with the crop growth and development and result in significant crop losses. Weeds actually cause yield loss higher than any other pest in crop production. As a result, synthetic herbicides have been widely used for weed management. Heavy usage of synthetic herbicides, however, has resulted in public concerns over the impact of herbicides on human health and the environment. Due to various environmental and health issues associated with synthetic herbicides, researchers have been exploring alternative environmentally friendly means of controlling weed. Among them, incorporating allelopathy as a tool in an integrated weed management plan could meaningfully bring down herbicide application. Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon of chemical interaction between plants, and this phenomenon has great potential to be used as an effective and environmentally friendly tool for weed management in field crops. In field crops, allelopathy can be applied through intercropping, crop rotation, cover crops, mulching and allelopathic water extracts to manage weeds. Accumulating evidence indicates that some plant species possess potent allelochemicals that have great potential to be the ecofriendly natural herbicides. This review is intended to provide an overview of several allelopathic species that release some form of the potent allelochemical with the potential of being used in conventional or organic agriculture. Further, the review also highlights potential ways allelopathy could be utilized in conventional or organic agriculture and identify future research needs and prospects. It is anticipated that the phenomenon of allelopathy will be further explored as a weed management tool, and it can be a part of a sustainable, ecological, and integrated weed management system.
Regulation of salt tolerance in the roots of Zea mays by L-histidine through transcriptome analysis
Authors: Ji Hongfei , Yang Guoping , Zhang Xiu , Zhong Qiumei , Qi Yuxi , Wu Kaihua , Shen Tingting
Published: November 2022

Soil salinization is an important worldwide environmental problem and the main reason to reduce agricultural productivity. Recent findings suggested that histidine is a crucial residue that influences the ROS reduction and improves the plants’ tolerance to salt stress. Herein, we conducted experiments to understand the underlying regulatory effects of histidine on maize root system under salt stress (100 mM NaCl solution system). Several antioxidant enzymes were determined. The related expressed genes (DEGs) with its pathways were observed by Transcriptome technologies. The results of the present study confirmed that histidine can ameliorate the adverse effects of salt stress on maize root growth. When the maize roots exposed to 100 mM NaCl were treated with histidine, the accumulation of superoxide anion radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde, and the content of nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen were significantly reduced; while the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase were significantly increased. Transcriptome analysis revealed that a total of 454 (65 up-regulated and 389 down-regulated) and 348 (293 up-regulated and 55 down-regulated) DEGs were observed when the roots under salt stress were treated with histidine for 12 h and 24 h, respectively. The pathways analysis of those DEGs showed that a small number of down-regulated genes were enriched in phytohormone signaling and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis at 12 h after histidine treatment, and the DEGs involved in the phytohormone signaling, glycolysis, and nitrogen metabolism were significantly enriched at 24 h after treatment. These results of gene expression and enzyme activities suggested that histidine can improve the salt tolerance of maize roots by enriching some DEGs involved in plant hormone signal transduction, glycolysis, and nitrogen metabolism pathways.
Metabolic profiling on the analysis of different parts of Schisandra chinensis based on UPLC-QTOF-MS with comparative bioactivity assays
Authors: Liu Jiushi , Mu Xinlu , Liang Jinmei , Zhang Jianuo , Qiang Tingyan , Li Hongbo , Li Bin , Liu Haitao , Zhang Bengang
Published: November 2022

The Schisandra chinensis is an important edible plant, and previous phytochemical research focused on the S. chinensis fruit (SF) due to its long history as traditional Chinese medicine. Schisandra chinensis fruit was used as an astringent tonic to astringe the lungs and the kidneys, replenish energy, promote the production of body fluids, tonify the kidney, and induce sedation. The components of S. chinensis, such as its stems (SS), leaves (SL), and roots (SR), have drawn little attention regarding their metabolites and bioactivities. In this study, a strategy of combining a chemical database with the Progenesis QI informatics platform was applied to characterize the metabolites. A total of 332 compounds were tentatively identified, including lignans, triterpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, and other compound classes. Heatmap and principal component analysis (PCA) showed remarkable differences in different parts of the plants. By multiple orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analyses (OPLS-DA), 76 compounds were identified as potential marker compounds that differentiate these different plant parts. Based on the variable influence on the projection score from OPLS-DA, the active substances including gomisin D, schisandrol B, schisantherin C, kadsuranin, and kadlongilactone F supported the fact that the biological activity of the roots was higher than that of the fruit. These substances can be used as marker compounds in the plant roots, which likely contribute to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The plant roots could be a new medicinal source that exhibits better activity than that of traditional medicinal parts, which makes them worth exploring.
Measuring Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language learners’ resilience: Development and validation of the foreign language learning resilience scale
Authors: Guo Nianyu , Li Rui
Published: November 2022

Despite the growing body of research on the factors of resilience in diverse fields, there is still a dearth of particular attention on foreign language learning resilience. To fill the gap, this study seeks to develop the foreign language learning resilience scale (FLLRS) to measure its psychometric scale reliability and validity in Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language contexts. Valid data were collected from 313 Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language college students who voluntarily participated in the survey. The FLLRS was validated based on a series of reliability (e.g., item analysis, split-half reliability and internal consistency) and validity (e.g., construct validity, convergent validity and discriminant validity) tests. Results suggested that the 19-item FLLRS presented three factors: ego resilience, metacognitive resilience and social resilience. Besides, all the three factors contributed high effects to foreign language learning resilience. Among the three factors, metacognitive resilience was found to have the highest path coefficient, followed by social resilience, with ego resilience having the lowest. The validated scale could advance knowledge in the field of second language acquisition regarding how learners’ individual differences, emotional factors and the contextual antecedents may affect foreign language learning resilience.
Influencing factors and mechanism of tourists’ pro-environmental behavior – Empirical analysis of the CAC-MOA integration model
Authors: Tang Haiyan , Ma Yong , Ren Jie
Published: November 2022

Tourism has been perceived as an environmentally friendly industry for a long term, but the negative impact of tourist irresponsible behavior on the environment cannot be ignored. Tourists’ pro-environmental behavior is crucial to the destination’s sustainable development. Taking stimulus-organism-response theory as a framework, this study explores the factors and mechanisms influencing tourists’ pro-environmental behaviors by integrating cognitive-affective-conative (CAC) theory and motivation-opportunity-ability (MOA) theory. Through the PLS-SEM analysis with 548 questionnaires, the driving mechanism of tourists’ pro-environmental behavior was deeply explored. The results indicate that tourists’ environmental knowledge, participation motivation, and opportunity have significant positive effects on pro-environmental behavior, but the role of participation ability on tourists’ pro-environmental behavior is not confirmed. Tourists have significant environmental self-identity and environmental commitment, and these affections actively promote tourists’ pro-environmental behavior. Except for the participation ability, the other three factors, respectively, influence tourists’ environmental behavior through the mediating effects of environmental self-identity and environmental commitment. Given the limited literature integrating CAC and MOA theories within research on tourists’ pro-environmental behavior, these findings provide new perspectives for future research. This research enriches the literature on the factors influencing tourist pro-environmental behavior and also provides practical guidance for promoting tourists’ pro-environmental behavior.
A stabilizing factor?–Video gaming among elite athletes during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Breckwoldt Tabea , Fröhlich Stefan , Iff Samuel , Bitar Raoul , Spörri Jörg , Scherr Johannes , Seifritz Erich , Quednow Boris B. , Claussen Malte Christian
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Little is known about the extent of video gaming among elite athletes, specifically under stressful conditions like those induced by the current COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intensity and extent of video gaming in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the usual daily routine of many athletes was disrupted.

Methods

Overall, 203 elite athletes from Switzerland who participated in Olympic sports or in “International Olympic Committee”—approved disciplines were interviewed using an online questionnaire. They were questioned on their video game consumption during the first Swiss lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as on their athletic performance and economic circumstances. Additionally, mental and physical health were assessed by standardized questionnaires. From this questionnaire data, predictors of gaming time were evaluated using multivariable analysis.

Results

Before the lockdown, 21% of the participating athletes played video games regularly. The average playing time was 15.8 h per month within the gamer group. During the first lockdown, 29% of athletes reported gaming regularly, and within the gamer group the average gaming time increased significantly, by 164%. The mental health burden showed significant differences between gamers and non-gamers regarding existential fears during the lockdown, the ability to cope with governmental measures due to COVID-19 and total sleeping time. However, there was no statistical difference in respect to standardized scales for depressive symptoms, sleep behavior, and anxiety. Higher video gaming time during the lockdown was significantly associated with male gender and previous gaming before the COVID-19 lockdown.

Conclusion

Video gaming time increased significantly during the first lockdown. Whether video gaming among elite athletes hereby functions as an effective coping behavior remains to be shown and requires more research.
Laboratory-based surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in regions of Kenya: An assessment of capacities, practices, and barriers by means of multi-facility survey
Authors: Moirongo Rehema Moraa , Aglanu Leslie Mawuli , Lamshöft Maike , Adero Brian Omondi , Yator Solomon , Anyona Stephen , May Jürgen , Lorenz Eva , Eibach Daniel
Published: November 2022

Background

Adequate laboratory capacity is critical in the implementation of coherent surveillance for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We describe capacities and deficiencies in laboratory infrastructure and AMR surveillance practices among health facilities in Kenya to support progress toward broader sustainable laboratory-based AMR surveillance.

Methods

A convenience sample of health facilities from both public and private sectors across the country were selected. Information was obtained cross-sectionally between 5th October and 8th December 2020 through online surveys of laboratory managers. The assessment covered quality assurance, management and dissemination of AMR data, material and equipment, staffing, microbiology competency, biosafety and certification. A scoring scheme was developed for the evaluation and interpreted as (80% and above) facility is adequate (60–79%) requires some strengthening and (<60%) needing significant strengthening. Average scores were compared across facilities in public and private sectors, rural and urban settings, as well as national, county, and community levels.

Results

Among the participating facilities (n = 219), the majority (n = 135, 61.6%) did not offer bacterial culture testing, 47 (21.5%) offered culture services only and 37 (16.9%) performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). The major gaps identified among AST facilities were poor access to laboratory information management technology (LIMT) (score: 45.9%) and low uptake of external quality assessment (EQA) programs for cultures (score 67.7%). Access to laboratory technology was more than two-fold higher in facilities in urban (58.6%) relative to rural (25.0%) areas. Whilst laboratories that lacked culture services were found to have significant infrastructural gaps (average score 59.4%), facilities that performed cultures only (average score: 83.6%) and AST (average score: 82.9%) recorded significantly high scores that were very similar across areas assessed. Lack of equipment was identified as the leading challenge to the implementation of susceptibility testing among 46.8% of laboratories.

Conclusions

We identified key gaps in laboratory information management technology, external quality assurance and material and equipment among the surveyed health facilities in Kenya. Our findings suggest that by investing in equipment, facilities performing cultures can be successfully upgraded to provide additional antimicrobial susceptibility testing, presenting a chance for a major leap toward improved AMR diagnostics and surveillance in the country.