bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single Cell Raman Spectroscopy Deuterium Isotope Probing for Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test of Elizabethkingia spp.
Authors: Yuan Shuying , Chen Yanwen , Lin Kaicheng , Zou Lin , Lu Xinrong , He Na , Liu Ruijie , Zhang Shaoxing , Shen Danfeng , Song Zhenju , Tong Chaoyang , Song Yizhi , Zhang Wenhong , Chen Li , Sun Guiqin
Published: May 2022

Nosocomial infection by multi-drug resistance Elizabethkingia spp. is an emerging concern with severe clinical consequences, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and infants. Efficient control of this infection requires quick and reliable methods to determine the appropriate drugs for treatment. In this study, a total of 31 Elizabethkingia spp., including two standard strains (ATCC 13253 and FMS-007) and 29 clinical isolates obtained from hospitals in China were subjected to single cell Raman spectroscopy analysis coupled with deuterium probing (single cell Raman-DIP). The results demonstrated that single cell Raman-DIP could determine antimicrobial susceptibility of Elizabethkingia spp. in 4 h, only one third of the time required by standard broth microdilution method. The method could be integrated into current clinical protocol for sepsis and halve the report time. The study also confirmed that minocycline and levofloxacin are the first-line antimicrobials for Elizabethkingia spp. infection.
The Global Regulator CcpA of Listeria monocytogenes Confers Sensitivity to Antimicrobial Fatty Acids
Authors: Thomasen Rikke S. S. , Jespersen Magnus Ganer , Jørgensen Katrine , dos Santos Patricia T. , Sternkopf Lillebæk Eva M. , Skov Marianne N. , Kemp Michael , Kallipolitis Birgitte H.
Published: May 2022

Free fatty acids (FFAs) are known to exhibit antimicrobial and anti-virulent properties against bacterial pathogens. Specific FFAs, such as lauric acid (LA; C12:0), exert both effects against the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes: at low levels, LA acts to inhibit the activity of the virulence regulator PrfA, whereas at higher levels, LA inhibits bacterial growth. Deletion of prfA is known to promote tolerance toward antimicrobial FFAs, suggesting that the response of L. monocytogenes to anti-virulent and antimicrobial FFAs could be linked. In this study, we explored the response of L. monocytogenes toward antimicrobial FFAs holding an anti-virulence activity by isolating strains that can grow at high concentrations of LA. We found that LA-tolerant isolates carry mutations in the gene encoding the global regulator CcpA. Importantly, we discovered that mutation or deletion of ccpA protect L. monocytogenes against the antimicrobial activity of FFAs, whereas the ccpA mutants remain sensitive toward FFA’s PrfA inhibitory effect. A regulatory link involving CcpA, connecting the response toward the antimicrobial and anti-virulence activities of FFAs, is therefore unlikely. To further study how deletion of ccpA promotes FFA tolerance, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of the response to LA. Our data indicated that the FFA-tolerant phenotype of the ∆ccpA strain is not induced upon LA exposure but appears to be an inherent phenotypic trait of the ccpA deletion mutation. Interestingly, we found that the bacterial surface of L. monocytogenes becomes more hydrophilic upon deletion of ccpA, and we demonstrate that CcpA plays a role in the response of L. monocytogenes to other stress conditions, including low pH and antibiotics. Altogether, our study revealed that regulatory activities of CcpA lead to an increased hydrophobicity of the bacterial surface, which may confer sensitivity of L. monocytogenes against the antimicrobial activity of FFAs. Notably, CcpA is not involved in responding to the PrfA inhibitory effect of FFAs, showing that FFA-tolerant strains can still be targeted by the anti-virulent activity of FFAs.
Exercise Modifies the Transcriptional Regulatory Features of Monocytes in Alzheimer’s Patients: A Multi-Omics Integration Analysis Based on Single Cell Technology
Authors: Chen Yisheng , Sun Yaying , Luo Zhiwen , Chen Xiangjun , Wang Yi , Qi Beijie , Lin Jinrong , Lin Wei-Wei , Sun Chenyu , Zhou Yifan , Huang Jiebin , Xu Yuzhen , Chen Jiwu , Chen Shiyi
Published: May 2022

Monocytes have been reported to be important mediators of the protective effect of exercise against the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aims explored the mechanism by which monocytes achieve this. Using single cell transcriptome analysis, results showed that CD14 + and CD16 + monocytes interacted with other cells in the circulating blood. TNF, CCR1, APP, and AREG, the key ligand-receptor-related genes, were found to be differentially expressed between exercise-treated and AD patients. The SCENIC analysis was performed to identify individual clusters of the key transcription factors (TFs). Nine clusters (M1-M9) were obtained from the co-expression network. Among the identified TFs, MAFB, HES4, and FOSL1 were found to be differentially expressed in AD. Moreover, the M4 cluster to which MAFB, HES4, and FOSL1 belonged was defined as the signature cluster for AD phenotype. Differential analysis by bulkRNA-seq revealed that the expression of TNF, CCR1, and APP were all upregulated after exercise (p < 0.05). And ATF3, MAFB, HES4, and KLF4 that were identified in M4 clusters may be the TFs that regulate TNF, CCR1, and APP in exercise prescription. After that, APP, CCR1, TNF, ATF3, KLF4, HES4, and MAFB formed a regulatory network in the ERADMT gene set, and all of them were mechanistically linked. The ERADMT gene set has been found to be a potential risk marker for the development of AD and can be used as an indicator of compliance to exercise therapy in AD patients. Using single-cell integration analysis, a network of exercise-regulating TFs in monocytes was constructed for AD disease. The constructed network reveals the mechanism by which exercise regulated monocytes to confer therapeutic benefits against AD and its complications. However, this study, as a bioinformatic research, requires further experimental validation.
The Influence of Social Isolation on Social Orientation, Sociability, Social Novelty Preference, and Hippocampal Parvalbumin-Expressing Interneurons in Peripubertal Rats – Understanding the Importance of Meeting Social Needs in Adolescence
Authors: Potrebić Milica , Pavković Željko , Puškaš Nela , Pešić Vesna
Published: May 2022

The fulfillment of belonging needs underlies a variety of behaviors. In order to understand how social needs unmet during maturation shape everyday life, we examined social motivation and cognition in peripubertal rats, as a rodent model of adolescence, subjected to social isolation (SI) during early and early-to-mid adolescence. The behavioral correlates of social orientation (social space preference), sociability (preference for social over non-social novelty), and social novelty preference (SNP) were examined in group-housed (GH) and single-housed (SH) rats in a 3-chamber test. The response to social odors was examined to gain insights into the developmental role of social odors in motivated social behavior. Differentiation between appetitive (number of visits/approaches) and consummatory (exploratory time) aspects of motivated social behavior was done to determine which facet of social motivation characterizes maturation when social needs are met and which aspect dominates when social needs are unsatisfied. The SI-sensitive parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PVI) in the hippocampus were examined using immunohistochemistry. The main findings are the following: (1) in GH rats, the preference for social space is not evident regardless of animals’ age, while sociability becomes apparent in mid-adolescence strictly through consummatory behavior, along with complete SNP (appetitive, consummatory); (2) SH promotes staying in a social chamber/space regardless of animals’ age and produces an appetitive preference for it only in early-adolescent animals; (3) SH promotes sociability (appetitive, consummatory) regardless of the animals’ age and prevents the SNP; (4) the preference for a social odor is displayed in all the groups through consummatory behavior, while appetitive behavior is evident only in SH rats; (5) the response to social odors does not commensurate directly to the response to conspecifics; (6) SH does not influence PVI in the hippocampus, except in the case of early-adolescence when a transient decrease in the dentate gyrus is observed. These results accentuate the developmental complexity of social motivation and cognition, and the power of SI in adolescence to infringe social maturation at different functional levels, promoting appetitive behavior toward peers overall but harming the interest for social novelty. The findings emphasize the importance of the fulfillment of basic social needs in the navigation through the social world.
MicroRNA-Based Diagnosis and Therapeutics for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Authors: Zhai Weijie , Zhao Meng , Zhang Guimei , Wang Zicheng , Wei Chunxiao , Sun Li
Published: May 2022

Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is a neurodegenerative disease that is recognized as the second leading cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD). The underlying pathological mechanism of VCID include crebromicrovascular dysfunction, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, neuroinflammation, capillary rarefaction, and microhemorrhages, etc. Despite the high incidence of VCID, no effective therapies are currently available for preventing or delaying its progression. Recently, pathophysiological microRNAs (miRNAs) in VCID have shown promise as novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Studies have revealed that miRNAs can regulate the function of the BBB, affect apoptosis and oxidative stress (OS) in the central nervous system, and modulate neuroinflammation and neurodifferentiation. Thus, this review summarizes recent findings on VCID and miRNAs, focusing on their correlation and contribution to the development of VCID pathology.
Proteomic Alterations and Novel Markers of Neurotoxic Reactive Astrocytes in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Models
Authors: Labib David , Wang Zhen , Prakash Priya , Zimmer Matthew , Smith Matthew D. , Frazel Paul W. , Barbar Lilianne , Sapar Maria L. , Calabresi Peter A. , Peng Junmin , Liddelow Shane A. , Fossati Valentina
Published: May 2022

Astrocytes respond to injury, infection, and inflammation in the central nervous system by acquiring reactive states in which they may become dysfunctional and contribute to disease pathology. A sub-state of reactive astrocytes induced by proinflammatory factors TNF, IL-1α, and C1q (“TIC”) has been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases as a source of neurotoxicity. Here, we used an established human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) model to investigate the surface marker profile and proteome of TIC-induced reactive astrocytes. We propose VCAM1, BST2, ICOSL, HLA-E, PD-L1, and PDPN as putative, novel markers of this reactive sub-state. We found that several of these markers colocalize with GFAP+ cells in post-mortem samples from people with Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, our whole-cells proteomic analysis of TIC-induced reactive astrocytes identified proteins and related pathways primarily linked to potential engagement with peripheral immune cells. Taken together, our findings will serve as new tools to purify reactive astrocyte subtypes and to further explore their involvement in immune responses associated with injury and disease.
Beneficial Effects of a Low-Glycemic Diet on Serum Metabolites and Gut Microbiota in Obese Women With Prevotella and Bacteriodes Enterotypes: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Hur Haeng Jeon , Wu Xuangao , Yang Hye Jeong , Kim Min Jung , Lee Kyun-Hee , Hong Moonju , Park Sunmin , Kim Myung-Sunny
Published: May 2022

Generalized healthy eating patterns may not benefit everyone due to different genetics and enterotypes. We aimed to compare the effects of a low-glycemic diet representing the Korean traditional balanced diet (Low-GID) and westernized diet as a control diet (CD) on anthropometry, serum metabolites, and fecal bacteria in a randomized clinical trial according to enterotypes. We recruited 52 obese women aged 30–50 years, and they consumed Low-GID and CD meals for 1 month, with a 1-month washout period, in a crossover randomized clinical trial. The Low-GID was mainly composed of whole grains with fish, vegetables, seaweeds, and perilla oil, whereas CD contained refined rice, bread, noodles, meats, and processed foods. Serum lipid profiles, metabolomics, serum short-chain fatty acids, and fecal bacteria were analyzed. The important variables influenced by Low-GID and CD were determined by SHAP value in the XGBoost algorithm according to Bacteroides (ET-B) and Prevotella (ET-P). Low-GID and CD interventions did not change the enterotypes, but they modified serum metabolites and some fecal bacterial species differently according to enterotypes. The 10-fold cross-validation of the XGBoost classifier in the ET-P and ET-B clusters was 0.91 ± 0.04 and 0.8 ± 0.07, respectively. In the ET-P cluster, serum L-homocysteine, glutamate, leucine concentrations, and muscle mass were higher in the CD group than in the Low-GID group, whereas serum 3-hydroxybutyric acid concentration was significantly higher in the Low-GID group than in the CD group (p < 0.05). In fecal bacteria, Gemmiger formicilis, Collinsella aerofaciens, and Escherichia coli were higher in the CD group than in the Low-GID group. In the ET-B cohort, serum tryptophan and total cholesterol concentrations were higher in the CD group than in the Low-GID group, whereas serum glutathione and 3-hydroxybutyric acid concentrations were significantly higher in the Low-GID group than in the CD group (p < 0.05). However, Bifidobacterium longum was higher in CD than Low-GID in the ET-B cluster, but serum butyric acid levels were higher in the Low-GID than in the CD group. In conclusion, Low-GID can be recommended in obese women with both ET-P and ET-B enterotypes, although its efficacy was more effective in ET-P.

Clinical Trial Registration

[https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/17398], identifier [KCT0005340].
Evaluation of Different Standard Amino Acids to Enhance the Biomass, Lipid, Fatty Acid, and γ-Linolenic Acid Production in Rhizomucor pusillus and Mucor circinelloides
Authors: Mohamed Hassan , Awad Mohamed F. , Shah Aabid Manzoor , Nazir Yusuf , Naz Tahira , Hassane Abdallah , Nosheen Shaista , Song Yuanda
Published: May 2022

In this study, 18 standard amino acids were tested as a single nitrogen source on biomass, total lipid, total fatty acid (TFA) production, and yield of γ-linolenic acid (GLA) in Rhizomucor pusillus AUMC 11616.A and Mucor circinelloides AUMC 6696.A isolated from unusual habitats. Grown for 4 days at 28°C, shaking at 150 rpm, the maximum fungal biomass for AUMC 6696.A was 14.6 ± 0.2 g/L with arginine and 13.68 ± 0.1 g/L with asparagine, when these amino acids were used as single nitrogen sources, while AUMC 11616.A maximum biomass was 10.73 ± 0.8 g/L with glycine and 9.44 ± 0.6 g/L with valine. These were significantly higher than the ammonium nitrate control (p < 0.05). The highest levels of TFA were achieved with glycine for AUMC 11616.A, 26.2 ± 0.8% w/w of cell dry weight, and glutamic acid for AUMC 6696.A, 23.1 ± 1.3%. The highest GLA yield was seen with proline for AUMC 11616.A, 13.4 ± 0.6% w/w of TFA, and tryptophan for AUMC 6696.A, 12.8 ± 0.3%, which were 38% and 25% higher than the ammonium tartrate control. The effects of environmental factors such as temperature, pH, fermentation time, and agitation speed on biomass, total lipids, TFA, and GLA concentration of the target strains have also been investigated. Our results demonstrated that nitrogen assimilation through amino acid metabolism, as well as the use of glucose as a carbon source and abiotic factors, are integral to increasing the oleaginicity of tested strains. Few studies have addressed the role of amino acids in fermentation media, and this study sheds light on R. pusillus and M. circinelloides as promising candidates for the potential applications of amino acids as nitrogen sources in the production of lipids.
Gut Microbiome Was Highly Related to the Regulation of Metabolism in Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients
Authors: Wang Sheng , Chen Huachun , Yang Huizhen , Zhou Kejin , Bai Fan , Wu Xiaoyu , Xu Hanwen
Published: May 2022

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most predominant subtypes of lung cancer. The gut microbiome plays a vital role in the pathophysiological processes of various diseases, including cancers.

Methods

In the study, 100 individuals were enrolled. In total 75 stool and blood samples were analyzed with 16s-rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics (30 from healthy individuals (H); 45 from LUAD patients). In addition, 25 stool samples were analyzed with metagenomics (10 from H; 15 from LUAD). The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LefSe) and logistic regression analysis were applied to identify biomarkers’ taxa and develop a diagnostic model. The diagnostic power of the model was estimated with the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) by comparing the area under the ROC (AUC). The correlation between biomarker’s taxa and metabolites was calculated using the Spearman analysis.

Results

The α and β diversity demonstrated the composition and structure of the gut microbiome in LUAD patients were different from those in healthy people. The top three abundance of genera were Bacteroides (25.06%), Faecalibacterium (11.00%), and Prevotella (5.94%). The LefSe and logistic regression analysis identified three biomarker taxa (Bacteroides, Pseudomonas, and Ruminococcus gnavus group) and constructed a diagnostic model. The AUCs of the diagnostic model in 16s-rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomics were 0.852 and 0.841, respectively. A total of 102 plasma metabolites were highly related to those three biomarkers’ taxa. Seven metabolic pathways were enriched by 102 plasma metabolites, including the Pentose phosphate pathway, Glutathione metabolism.

Conclusions

In LUAD patients, the gut microbiome profile has significantly changed. We used three biomarkers taxa to develop a diagnostic model, which was accurate and suitable for the diagnosis of LUAD. Gut microbes, especially those three biomarkers’ taxa, may participate in regulating metabolism-related pathways in LUAD patients, such as the pentose phosphate pathway and glutathione metabolism.
Missed Opportunities: Healthcare Encounters Prior to Sudden Unexpected Infant Death
Authors: Salada Katherine O. , Badke Colleen M.
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is the leading cause of death in children 28 days to 1 year of age. The study aim was to identify opportunities for healthcare professionals to provide families with education on sleep and prevention of SUID.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review of SUID infants over 10 years (12/2010–12/2020). The study included patients 0–12 months who presented to single institution with SUID (including asphyxia, suffocation, and SIDS). Baseline descriptive characteristics, sleep patterns (location, position, co-sleeping, presence of pillows/blankets), and prior healthcare encounters (type, duration, frequency, timing) were described.

Results

Thirty-five infants met inclusion criteria. Twenty-three percent of families routinely practiced unsafe sleep, while 63% practiced unsafe sleep at the time of SUID. All unsafe sleep behaviors increased during the SUID event compared to routine, including inappropriate location (60%), co-sleeping (46%), and inappropriate position (37%) at the time of SUID. There were 54 total healthcare encounters (mean 1.5 per patient +/− 2.1) prior to SUID. Primary care physicians (57%) and NICU (29%) were the most frequent prior healthcare encounters, however visits spanned multiple specialties. Twenty-six percent had a healthcare encounter within 7 days of their death.

Discussion

We demonstrated the frequency and variability in healthcare encounters among SUID infants prior to their death. Majority of infants had prior healthcare encounters, with 26% seen by healthcare professionals within 7 days of their death. These results highlight the important role healthcare professionals across all specialties have the potential to play in educating families about safe sleep and SUID.
Dihydroarteannuin Ameliorates Collagen-Induced Arthritis Via Inhibiting B Cell Activation by Activating the FcγRIIb/Lyn/SHP-1 Pathway
Authors: Hu Congqi , Wu Danbin , Yu Jiahui , Xu Jia , Liu Lijuan , Zhang Mingying , Jiao Wei , Chen Guangxing
Published: May 2022

Background: Dihydroarteannuin (DHA), which is extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua L, exhibits potent immunosuppressive activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Strong evidence indicates that B cells act as an essential factor in the pathogenesis of RA, but research on the immunosuppressive function of DHA in regulating B cells is limited.

Objective: To investigate the modulatory effects of DHA on joint destruction, proinflammatory cytokine production, activation, apoptosis and proliferation of B cells and to explore the possible associated mechanism in RA treatment.

Methods: Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model was established. Weight and joint oedema were record weekly, and joint damage was detected by micro-CT scan. Human Burkitt B lymphoma cells lacking endogenous Fc gamma receptor b (FcγRIIb) gene were transfected with a 232Thr loss-of-function mutant to construct a mutant cell model ST486. The proliferation of ST486 cells was assessed with Cell Counting Kit-8. Apoptosis and activation were tested by flow cytometry. The effects of DHA on the activation of FcγRIIb, protein tyrosine kinases (Lyn), and SH2-containing tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) signaling pathways were determined by western blotting.

Results: In comparison to model group, bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) and bone mineral density (BMD) were increased, whereas joint oedema was decreased in both of the DHA and MTX group. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were decreased after treatment with DHA. In addition, DHA treatment promoted the apoptosis, inhibited the activation and proliferation of ST486 cells. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of FcγRIIb, SHP-1, and Lyn were increased after treatment with DHA. Moreover, the expression of phosphorylated CD19 was also inhibited by DHA.

Conclusion: We provide the first evidence that DHA may alleviate collagen-induced arthritis by activating the FcγRIIb/Lyn/SHP-1 signaling pathway in B cell, indicating that DHA is a novel and valuable candidate for RA therapy.
Research Progress of RNA Methylation Modification in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Liang Weizheng , Yi Hongyang , Mao Chenyu , Meng Qingxue , Wu Xueliang , Li Shanliang , Xue Jun
Published: May 2022

Accumulating evidence indicates that RNA methylation, as the most common modification of mRNA, is of great significance in tumor progression and metastasis. Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system that seriously affects the health of middle-aged and elderly people. Although there have been many studies on the biological mechanism of the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer, there are still major deficiencies in the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer. With the deep study of RNA methylation, it was found that RNA modification is highly related to colorectal cancer tumorigenesis, development and prognosis. Here, we will highlight various RNA chemical modifications including N6-methyladenosine, 5-methylcytosine, N1-methyladenosine, 7-methylguanine, pseudouridine and their modification enzymes followed by summarizing their functions in colorectal cancer.
Principles and Protocols For Post-Cryopreservation Quality Evaluation of Stem Cells in Novel Biomedicine
Authors: Xie Jingxian , Ekpo Marlene Davis , Xiao Jian , Zhao Hongbin , Bai Xiaoyong , Liang Yijie , Zhao Guang , Liu Dong , Tan Songwen
Published: May 2022

Stem cell therapy is a thriving topic of interest among researchers and clinicians due to evidence of its effectiveness and promising therapeutic advantage in numerous disease conditions as presented by novel biomedical research. However, extensive clinical application of stem cells is limited by its storage and transportation. The emergence of cryopreservation technology has made it possible for living organs, tissues, cells and even living organisms to survive for a long time at deep low temperatures. During the cryopreservation process, stem cell preparations are subject to three major damages: osmotic damage, mechanical damage, and peroxidative damage. Therefore, Assessing the effectiveness and safety of stem cells following cryopreservation is fundamental to the quality control of stem cell preparations. This article presents the important biosafety and quality control parameters to be assessed during the manufacturing of clinical grade stem cell products, highlights the significance of preventing cryodamage. and provides a reference for protocols in the quality control of stem cell preparations.
Frontiers in the Interaction of Chemically Reactive Species From Gaseous Plasma With Hydrophobic Polymers
Authors: Zaplotnik Rok , Mozetič Miran
Published: May 2022

Surface functionalization of polymers by chemically reactive oxygen is a standard technique for increasing the surface energy of polymers. The technique, however, usually does not provide the desired surface finish of many polymers, including highly hydrophobic polymers like those rich in fluorine. The disappointing results are due to an incomplete understanding of the interaction between the plasma species and polymers on the atomic scale. The current state is presented, and recent advances in both theoretical and experimental descriptions of the surface mechanisms are illustrated. The scientific community faces challenges in both plasma characterization, separation of specific reactants, and detailed study of the interaction on the atomic scale. The effects of vacuum-ultraviolet radiation and its synergy with neutral reactive plasma particles are often neglected, but recent articles represent a pathway to the appropriate design of the experimental systems, which will enable systematic measurements of the evolution of surface functional groups versus the fluence of selected plasma species.
Low-Frequency Dual-Band Sound Absorption by Ultrathin Planar Wall Embedded With Multiple-Cavity Resonators
Authors: Xu Yu-wei , Guan Yi-jun , Yin Jia-li , Ge Yong , Sun Hong-xiang , Yuan Shou-qi , Liu Xiao-jun
Published: May 2022

We report the numerical and experimental realization of a type of ultrathin planar wall with low-frequency dual-band sound absorption. The proposed planar wall is constructed by a periodic subwavelength unit cell (with a thickness of λ/19) which consists of two different multiple-cavity resonators embedded into a plate structure with a groove. The sound absorption of the wall exists in two working bands (IandII) below 600 Hz which are created by two different mechanisms. In addition to the band I created by a conventional resonance coupling of the two multiple-cavity resonators, it is worth noting that the band II is realized by a mutual resonance coupling between the resonators and groove structure. The fractional bandwidths of the bands I and II can reach about 34.1 and 10.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the application of the proposed ultrathin planar wall in the design of a barrier-free anechoic room with omnidirectional low-frequency dual-band sound absorption is further discussed in detail. The proposed planar wall has the advantages of ultrathin planar structure and omnidirectional low-frequency dual-band sound absorption, which provides diverse routes to design advanced sound-absorption structures in noise control and architectural acoustics.
Scattering Cancellation Coating Composed of Periodical Subwavelength Structures
Authors: Kan Weiwei , Tian Cong , Chen Yikai
Published: May 2022

We propose to cancel the scattered wave using two layers of periodical subwavelength structures by coating the scattering object with the designed composite material. As a demonstration, it is possible to obtain such scattering cancellation effect for a fiber optical nanoprobe, and fabricate the coating layers by simply etching cylinders or doping elements in silicon/SOI wafer. The required quasistatic parameters of the coating material are homogeneous and isotropic. The simulation results show that the 632.8 nm TE polarized light travels through the coated fiber optical nanoprobe with the wavefront undisturbed, and serve as evidence of the effectiveness of the designed invisibility coating. The proposed scattering cancellation scheme could be useful in non-invasive probing applications at visible and near-infrared wavelengths.
Individual Watershed Areas in Sickle Cell Anemia: An Arterial Spin Labeling Study
Authors: Stotesbury Hanne , Hales Patrick W. , Hood Anna M. , Koelbel Melanie , Kawadler Jamie M. , Saunders Dawn E. , Sahota Sati , Rees David C. , Wilkey Olu , Layton Mark , Pelidis Maria , Inusa Baba P. D. , Howard Jo , Chakravorty Subarna , Clark Chris A. , Kirkham Fenella J.
Published: May 2022

Previous studies have pointed to a role for regional cerebral hemodynamic stress in neurological complications in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA), with watershed regions identified as particularly at risk of ischemic tissue injury. Using single- and multi-inflow time (TI) arterial spin labeling sequences (ASL) in 94 patients with SCA and 42 controls, the present study sought to investigate cerebral blood flow (CBF) and bolus arrival times (BAT) across gray matter, white matter with early arrival times, and in individual watershed areas (iWSAs). In iWSAs, associations between hemodynamic parameters, lesion burden, white matter integrity, and general cognitive performance were also explored. In patients, increases in CBF and reductions in BAT were observed in association with reduced arterial oxygen content across gray matter and white matter with early arrival times using both sequences (all p < 0.001, d = −1.55–−2.21). Across iWSAs, there was a discrepancy between sequences, with estimates based on the single-TI sequence indicating higher CBF in association with reduced arterial oxygen content in SCA patients, and estimates based on the multi-TI sequence indicating no significant between-group differences or associations with arterial oxygen content. Lesion burden was similar between white matter with early arrival times and iWSAs in both patients and controls, and using both sequences, only trend-level associations between iWSA CBF and iWSA lesion burden were observed in patients. Further, using the multi-TI sequence in patients, increased iWSA CBF was associated with reduced iWSA microstructural tissue integrity and slower processing speed. Taken together, the results highlight the need for researchers to consider BAT when estimating CBF using single-TI sequences. Moreover, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of multi-TI ASL for objective delineation of iWSAs and for detection of regional hemodynamic stress that is associated with reduced microstructural tissue integrity and slower processing speed. This technique may hold promise for future studies and treatment trials.
Uncoupling Aluminum Toxicity From Aluminum Signals in the STOP1 Pathway
Authors: Le Poder Léa , Mercier Caroline , Février Laureline , Duong Nathalie , David Pascale , Pluchon Sylvain , Nussaume Laurent , Desnos Thierry
Published: May 2022

Aluminum (Al) is a major limiting factor for crop production on acidic soils, inhibiting root growth and plant development. At acidic pH (pH < 5.5), Al3+ ions are the main form of Al present in the media. Al3+ ions have an increased solubility at pH < 5.5 and result in plant toxicity. At higher pH, the free Al3+ fraction decreases in the media, but whether plants can detect Al at these pHs remain unknown. To cope with Al stress, the SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY1 (STOP1) transcription factor induces AL-ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER1 (ALMT1), a malate-exuding transporter as a strategy to chelate the toxic ions in the rhizosphere. Here, we uncoupled the Al signalling pathway that controls STOP1 from Al toxicity using wild type (WT) and two stop1 mutants carrying the pALMT1:GUS construct with an agar powder naturally containing low amounts of phosphate, iron (Fe), and Al. We combined gene expression [real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and the pALMT1:GUS reporter], confocal microscopy (pSTOP1:GFP-STOP1 reporter), and root growth measurement to assess the effects of Al and Fe on the STOP1-ALMT1 pathway in roots. Our results show that Al triggers STOP1 signaling at a concentration as little as 2 μM and can be detected at a pH above 6.0. We observed that at pH 5.7, 20 μM AlCl3 induces ALMT1 in WT but does not inhibit root growth in stop1 Al-hypersensitive mutants. Increasing AlCl3 concentration (>50 μM) at pH 5.7 results in the inhibition of the stop1 mutants primary root. Using the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-STOP1 and ALMT1 reporters, we show that the Al signal pathway can be uncoupled from the Al toxicity on the root. Furthermore, we observe that Al strengthens the Fe-mediated inhibition of primary root growth in WT, suggesting an interaction between Fe and Al on the STOP1-ALMT1 pathway.
Intraspecific Variation for Leaf Physiological and Root Morphological Adaptation to Drought Stress in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
Authors: Prince Silvas , Anower Md Rokebul , Motes Christy M. , Hernandez Timothy D. , Liao Fuqi , Putman Laura , Mattson Rob , Seethepalli Anand , Shah Kushendra , Komp Michael , Mehta Perdeep , York Larry M. , Young Carolyn , Monteros Maria J.
Published: May 2022

Drought stress reduces crop biomass yield and the profitability of rainfed agricultural systems. Evaluation of populations or accessions adapted to diverse geographical and agro-climatic environments sheds light on beneficial plant responses to enhance and optimize yield in resource-limited environments. This study used the morphological and physiological characteristics of leaves and roots from two different alfalfa subspecies during progressive drought stress imposed on controlled and field conditions. Two different soils (Experiments 1 and 2) imposed water stress at different stress intensities and crop stages in the controlled environment. Algorithm-based image analysis of leaves and root systems revealed key morphological and physiological traits associated with biomass yield under stress. The Medicago sativa subspecies (ssp.) sativa population, PI478573, had smaller leaves and maintained higher chlorophyll content (CC), leaf water potential, and osmotic potential under water stress. In contrast, M. sativa ssp. varia, PI502521, had larger leaves, a robust root system, and more biomass yield. In the field study, an unmanned aerial vehicle survey revealed PI502521 to have a higher normalized difference vegetation index (vegetation cover and plant health characteristics) throughout the cropping season, whereas PI478573 values were low during the hot summer and yielded low biomass in both irrigated and rainfed treatments. RhizoVision Explorer image analysis of excavated roots revealed a smaller diameter and a narrow root angle as target traits to increase alfalfa biomass yield irrespective of water availability. Root architectural traits such as network area, solidity, volume, surface area, and maximum radius exhibited significant variation at the genotype level only under limited water availability. Different drought-adaptive strategies identified across subspecies populations will benefit the plant under varying levels of water limitation and facilitate the development of alfalfa cultivars suitable across a broad range of growing conditions. The alleles from both subspecies will enable the development of drought-tolerant alfalfa with enhanced productivity under limited water availability.
Overhauling the Effect of Surface Sterilization on Analysis of Endophytes in Tea Plants
Authors: Yu Yueer , Chen Zimeng , Xie Hengtong , Feng Xiaoxiao , Wang Yuefei , Xu Ping
Published: May 2022

Increasing evidence shows that plant Endophytes play a crucial role in the fitness and productivity of hosts. Surface sterilization is an indispensable process before high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and tissue separation of plant endophytes, but its potential impact on the composition and diversity of endophytes has rarely been investigated. In the present work, the influence of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) on the diversity of endophytic bacteria and fungi in leaves and stems of tea plants was investigated. We found that the diversity of bacterial endophytes was significantly affected by the concentration of NaClO as well as the pretreatment time. Pretreatment with 0.5% NaClO for 8 min and 2.0% NaClO for 3 min were suitable for the tea plant leaves and stems, respectively, but the effects of NaClO on the diversity of fungal endophytes were limited according to the results from HTS. Regardless of NaClO sterilization, most of the endophytes in tissues, such as the dominant taxa, could not be Isolated by using the regular culture-dependent approaches. Collectively, our results demonstrated that the pretreatment with NaClO should be modified to precisely understand the diversity of endophytes from different tissues of tea plants and also indicate that more attention should be paid to establish specific culture-dependent protocols for the isolation of plant endophytes.
Rhizoctonia solani Kühn Pathophysiology: Status and Prospects of Sheath Blight Disease Management in Rice
Authors: Senapati Manoranjan , Tiwari Ajit , Sharma Neha , Chandra Priya , Bashyal Bishnu Maya , Ellur Ranjith Kumar , Bhowmick Prolay Kumar , Bollinedi Haritha , Vinod K. K. , Singh Ashok Kumar , Krishnan S. Gopala
Published: May 2022

Sheath blight caused by necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kühn is one of the most serious diseases of rice. Use of high yielding semi dwarf cultivars with dense planting and high dose of nitrogenous fertilizers accentuates the incidence of sheath blight in rice. Its diverse host range and ability to remain dormant under unfavorable conditions make the pathogen more difficult to manage. As there are no sources of complete resistance, management through chemical control has been the most adopted method for sheath blight management. In this review, we provide an up-to-date comprehensive description of host-pathogen interactions, various control measures such as cultural, chemical, and biological as well as utilizing host plant resistance. The section on utilizing host plant resistance includes identification of resistant sources, mapping QTLs and their validation, identification of candidate gene(s) and their introgression through marker-assisted selection. Advances and prospects of sheath blight management through biotechnological approaches such as overexpression of genes and gene silencing for transgenic development against R. solani are also discussed.
It’s Time for a Change: The Role of Gibberellin in Root Meristem Development
Authors: Shtin Margaryta , Dello Ioio Raffaele , Del Bianco Marta
Published: May 2022

One of the most amazing characteristics of plants is their ability to grow and adapt their development to environmental changes. This fascinating feature is possible thanks to the activity of meristems, tissues that contain lasting self-renewal stem cells. Because of its simple and symmetric structure, the root meristem emerged as a potent system to uncover the developmental mechanisms behind the development of the meristems. The root meristem is formed during embryogenesis and sustains root growth for all the plant’s lifetime. In the last decade, gibberellins have emerged as a key regulator for root meristem development. This phytohormone functions as a molecular clock for root development. This mini review discusses the latest advances in understanding the role of gibberellin in root development and highlights the central role of this hormone as developmental timer.
Exploring Machine Learning Algorithms to Unveil Genomic Regions Associated With Resistance to Southern Root-Knot Nematode in Soybeans
Authors: Canella Vieira Caio , Zhou Jing , Usovsky Mariola , Vuong Tri , Howland Amanda D. , Lee Dongho , Li Zenglu , Zhou Jianfeng , Shannon Grover , Nguyen Henry T. , Chen Pengyin
Published: May 2022

Southern root-knot nematode [SRKN, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofold & White) Chitwood] is a plant-parasitic nematode challenging to control due to its short life cycle, a wide range of hosts, and limited management options, of which genetic resistance is the main option to efficiently control the damage caused by SRKN. To date, a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapped on chromosome (Chr.) 10 plays an essential role in resistance to SRKN in soybean varieties. The confidence of discovered trait-loci associations by traditional methods is often limited by the assumptions of individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) always acting independently as well as the phenotype following a Gaussian distribution. Therefore, the objective of this study was to conduct machine learning (ML)-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) utilizing Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms to unveil novel regions of the soybean genome associated with resistance to SRKN. A total of 717 breeding lines derived from 330 unique bi-parental populations were genotyped with the Illumina Infinium BARCSoySNP6K BeadChip and phenotyped for SRKN resistance in a greenhouse. A GWAS pipeline involving a supervised feature dimension reduction based on Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) and SNP detection based on classification accuracy was proposed. Minor effect SNPs were detected by the proposed ML-GWAS methodology but not identified using Bayesian-information and linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway (BLINK), Fixed and Random Model Circulating Probability Unification (FarmCPU), and Enriched Compressed Mixed Linear Model (ECMLM) models. Besides the genomic region on Chr. 10 that can explain most of SRKN resistance variance, additional minor effects SNPs were also identified on Chrs. 10 and 11. The findings in this study demonstrated that overfitting in GWAS may lead to lower prediction accuracy, and the detection of significant SNPs based on classification accuracy limited false-positive associations. The expansion of the basis of the genetic resistance to SRKN can potentially reduce the selection pressure over the major QTL on Chr. 10 and achieve higher levels of resistance.
Incidence Rates of Root Rot in Sweetpotato Caused by Cultivation Soil and Soil Microorganisms During Storage Periods
Authors: Kim Sujung , Kim Tae Hwa , Chung Mi-Nam , Lee YeongHoon , Lee Im Been , Lee HyeongUn , Park Won
Published: May 2022

Sweetpotatoes require a storage period for year-round use and improved sweetness by starch degradation. However, long-term storage can cause root rot, and a large amount of sweetpotatoes can be discarded. Root rot is typically caused by pathogenic soil-borne Fusarium spp., and the development of root rot induced by the characteristics of cultivating soil in stored sweetpotato has not yet been identified. In this study, the effect of Fusarium spp. and microbial community in the cultivated soil on the root rot of sweetpotatoes was to be elucidated. Wounded sweetpotato were treated in soil cultures inoculated with F. solani or F. oxysporum for 2 days, and showed symptoms of root rot after 2 months of storage. The three study fields (Naju, Yeongam A, and B) were subjected to the same curing and storage treatments after harvest, and the incidence of root rot was 1.7- to 1.8-fold different after 3 months of storage. Across the three fields, concentrations of Fusarium spp. and of microbial communities differed according to the cultivation soil and period. In particular, Naju, which had the lowest incidence of root rot, had the lowest concentration of Fusarium spp. before harvest, and the smallest change in diversity of the microbial community during the cultivation period. However, tuberous roots harvested from the fields showed no significant differences in antioxidant activity or lesion size with the treatment of 106 conidia/ml F. solani. By solidifying the importance of cultivating soil and related microorganisms in the advancement of root rot of sweetpotato, our results may aid in preventing the decrease in the yield of cultivated sweetpotatoes through root rot control.
The Influence of New Ventures' Work Environment and Innovation Behaviors on Corporate Performance
Authors: Xiang Yonghui , Wang Weiwei
Published: May 2022

The purpose of the study is to improve the business performance of new ventures. The influence of working environment and innovation behavior on business performance based on personality psychology is studied. First, the relevant theories of new ventures are introduced, and then the structural equation model is displayed. Second, the conceptual model is constructed in response to the two influencing factors of new ventures. Finally, the influencing factors of new venture performance are extracted according to the conceptual model, and a questionnaire is designed. Statistical Product and Service Solutions software is used to analyze the questionnaire data. The results show that the proportion of new enterprise developers is from 8 to 16%, and the number of employees is <150 people. The establishment time of the surveyed enterprises is from 3 to 7 years, and the proportion of the enterprises whose establishment time is <3 years is 30.79%. Management means policies, exploratory innovation, and applicability innovation have different effects on the business performance of new ventures. Among them, the management means of managers have the greatest impact on business performance, accounting for 32.57%, followed by the applicability innovation behavior of employees, accounting for 29.47%; the exploratory innovation behavior of employees takes up 26.47%. The policy environment in the industry where the enterprise is located has the smallest impact on business performance. The results of the hypotheses show that exploratory innovation and applicability innovation do not influence each other; working environment and innovation behavior have a great influence on the performance of enterprises; the most influential factor is the management means of managers. This study provides a reference for new ventures to improve their performance based on the working environment and innovation behavior.
Do Immature Defense Mechanisms Mediate the Relationship Between Shame, Guilt, and Psychopathological Symptoms?
Authors: Cavalera Cesare , Andreani Paolo , Baumgartner Oliver , Oasi Osmano
Published: May 2022

When shame and guilt emotional experiences related to stressful events remain unresolved, they can be related to psychological impairment and recursive thoughts. The present study aims to explore the association between state shame and state guilt related to past stressful experiences and psychopathological symptoms and evaluating a mediation role by immature defenses. A total of 90 participants (48.9% female; mean age 23.66) were considered in the present study to (a) investigate correlations between state guilt and shame scores related to personal stressful events and psychopathological symptoms related to global severity index; (b) assess whether state guilt and shame scores related to personal stressful events are positively correlated with immature defenses; (c) test whether immature defenses mediates the relationship between, respectively, state shame and state guilt with psychopathological symptoms. Significant correlations between state shame, state guilt, psychopathological symptoms, and immature defenses were found. Higher activations on immature defenses partially mediated the relationship between psychopathological symptoms and state shame and state guilt, respectively. Past experiences related to shame and guilt should be targeted by specific treatments that could help stop recursive maladaptive thoughts and empower more adaptive defensive strategies.