bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the states and dynamics of mangrove forests in land cover transitions of The Gambia using a Fourier transformation of Landsat and MODIS time series in Google Earth Engine
Authors: Liman Harou Issoufou , Inyele Julliet , Minang Peter , Duguma Lalisa
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Mangroves are resilient forests of transitional zones between land, ocean and freshwater for they are tolerant to salinity. In The Gambia, mangrove forests are found along the coast of Atlantic Ocean and River Gambia where they support the livelihoods of millions through multiple ecosystems services. Despite their importance in The Gambia, consistent country-wide information on their coverage, dynamics and change hotspots are lacking. Thus far, it remains unclear whether the coverage of mangroves has decreased or increased over the last few decades. Often, the existing estimates vary strongly across sources and the methodologies in the available literature are not always reproducible. This study attempts to fill these gaps by providing up-to-date spatial information on mangrove forests in The Gambia.

Methods

To provide a reproducible workflow and a comprehensive assessment, we used continuous time series of freely available data to study the extent and dynamics of mangrove forests in The Gambia. To construct gap-free image time series, we used statistical models to describe land surface phenology based on monthly composites derived from Landsat and MODIS land surface reflectance acquired between 2000 and 2020. We used 1212 Landsat and 407 MODIS tiles spread across multiple spectral indices along with a calibrated set of training and validation data to train and validate a random forest classifier for accurate land cover classifications.

Results and discussion

The overall accuracy and Kappa statistics of the classifications range between 0.96 and 0.98. Our findings suggest a net increase of 4,000 ha in mangrove forests over the last 2 decades, corresponding to an annual rate of 200 ha. The net increase is largely due to strong policy making which results in participative forest resource management through the national forest action plan. The net increase in mangrove forests should not mask the substantial degradation in some places across the country. We estimated a total loss of nearly 5,670 ha, most of which appears to have taken place during the last decade in favor of wetlands. The Gambian mangroves are amongst the most promising green business in Gulf of Guinea, deserving an integrated governance - policy framework that address the key requirements for ecological sustainability.
ChIP-seq profiling of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 in an invasive insect, Bactroceradorsalis
Authors: Zhao Yan , Hu Juntao , Wu Jiajiao , Li Zhihong
Published: February 2023

Introduction: While it has been suggested that histone modifications can facilitate animal responses to rapidly changing environments, few studies have profiled whole-genome histone modification patterns in invasive species, leaving the regulatory landscape of histone modifications in invasive species unclear.

Methods: Here, we screen genome-wide patterns of two important histone modifications, trimethylated Histone H3 Lysine 4 (H3K4me3) and trimethylated Histone H3 Lysine 27 (H3K27me3), in adult thorax muscles of a notorious invasive pest, the Oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq).

Results: We identified promoters featured by the occupancy of H3K4me3, H3K27me3 or bivalent histone modifications that were respectively annotated with unique genes key to muscle development and structure maintenance. In addition, we found H3K27me3 occupied the entire body of genes, where the average enrichment was almost constant. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that H3K4me3 is associated with active gene transcription, and H3K27me3 is mostly associated with transcriptional repression. Importantly, we identified genes and putative motifs modified by distinct histone modification patterns that may possibly regulate flight activity.

Discussion: These findings provide the first evidence of histone modification signature in B. dorsalis, and will be useful for future studies of epigenetic signature in other invasive insect species.
Considerations in designing trauma-focused interventions for displaced Afghan women
Authors: Ramos Amaya Alexandra
Published: February 2023

In light of the 2021 United States military withdrawal from Afghanistan, as well as the humanitarian crises of mass displacement and subsequent health system strain that have ensued, practitioners worldwide will need to develop a more nuanced understanding of the adverse life experiences that women from Afghanistan frequently endorse. As they bear a disproportionate impact of constraints within Afghan society, and as patriarchal systems affect most of their life domains, women from Afghanistan may present with high levels of baseline trauma upon resettlement, and health systems may seek to attenuate this distress; However, the nature of these traumatogenic events may shape women's receptivity to psychosocial interventions, particularly those which are at least partially rooted in Western modalities. In the absence of sufficient literature on evidence-based interventions for this population, a diversity of ethnographic and clinical literature is synthesized, including literature on interventions alleged to be compatible with Afghan norms. As it will be essential to support Afghan women's mental health following social reorganization on a massive scale, considerations arising from the interdisciplinary literature are offered so that they may inform the development of structured, trauma-focused interventions and so that the health systems with which they interface may be better prepared to serve them.
Ninety-six–hour starved peripheral blood mononuclear cell supernatant inhibited LA7 breast cancer stem cells induced tumor via reduction in angiogenesis and alternations in Gch1 and Spr expressions
Authors: Mehri Maryam , Gheitasi Reza , Pourbagher Roghayeh , Ranaee Mohammad , Nayeri Kosar , Rahimi Seyed Mostafa , Khorasani Hamid Reza , Hossein-Nattaj Hadi , Sabour Davood , Akhavan-Niaki Haleh , Fattahi Sadegh , Kalali Behnam , Mostafazadeh Amrollah
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The microenvironment of solid tumors such as breast cancer is heterogeneous and complex, containing different types of cell, namely, cancer stem cells and immune cells. We previously reported the immunoregulatory behavior of the human immune cell in a solid tumor microenvironment-like culture under serum starvation stress for 96 h. Here, we examined the effect of this culture-derived solution on breast cancer development in rats.

Method

Ninety-six–hour starved PBMCs supernatant (96 h-SPS) was collected after culturing human PBMCs for 96 h under serum starvation condition. Breast cancer stem cells, LA7 cell line, was used for in vitro study by analyzing gene expression status and performing cytotoxicity, proliferation, scratch wound healing assays, followed by in vivo tumor induction in three groups of mature female Sprague Dawley rats. Animals were treated with 96 h-SPS or RPMI and normal saline as control, n = 6 for each group. After biochemical analysis of iron, lactate, and pH levels in the dissected tumors, Ki67 antigen expression, angiogenesis, and necrosis evaluation were carried out. Metabolic-related gene expression was assessed using RT-qPCR. Moreover, 96 h-SPS composition was discovered by Nano-LC-ESI-MS/MS.

Results

96 h-SPS solution reduced the LA7 cell viability, proliferation, and migration and Gch1 and Spr genes expression in vitro (p< 0.05), whereas stemness gene Oct4 was upregulated (p< 0.01). The intracellular lactate was significantly decreased in the 96 h-SPS treated group (p = 0.007). In this group, Gch1 and Spr were significantly downregulated (p< 0.05), whereas the Sox2 and Oct4 expression was not changed significantly. The number of vessels and mitosis (Ki67+ cells) in the 96 h-SPS–treated group was significantly reduced (p = 0.024). The increased rate of necrosis in this group was statistically significant (p = 0.04). Last, proteomics analysis revealed candidate effectors’ components of 96 h-SPS solution.

Conclusion

96 h-SPS solution may help to prevent cancer stem cell mediated tumor development. This phenomenon could be mediated through direct cytotoxic effects, inhibition of cell proliferation and migration in association with reduction in Gch1 and Spr genes expression, angiogenesis and mitosis rate, and necrosis augmentation. The preliminary data obtained from the present study need to be investigated on a larger scale and can be used as a pilot for further studies on the biology of cancer development.
The NLRP1 inflammasome in skin diseases
Authors: Burian Marc , Schmidt Morna F. , Yazdi Amir S.
Published: February 2023

Healthy human skin is constantly exposed to sterile and microbial agents. The skin immune system plays an important role in immune surveillance between tolerance and immune activation. This is mainly mediated by neutrophils, macrophages and most importantly lymphocytes. Keratinocytes, which form the outer skin barrier (epidermis) are also critical for cutaneous homeostasis. Being a non-professional immune cell, recognition of danger signals in keratinocytes is mediated by innate immune receptors (pattern recognition receptors, PRR). While Toll-like receptors are located on the cell membrane or the endosomes, nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing gene family receptors (NLR) are intracellular PRRs. Some of these, once activated, trigger the formation of inflammasomes. Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes and serve as platforms that mediate the release of innate cytokines after successful recognition, thereby attracting immune cells. Moreover, they mediate the pro-inflammatory cell death pyroptosis. Best characterized is the NLRP3 inflammasome. The function of inflammasomes differs significantly between different cell types (keratinocytes versus immune cells) and between different species (human versus mouse). In recent years, great progress has been made in deciphering the activation mechanisms. Dysregulation of inflammasomes can lead to diseases with varying degrees of severity. Here we focus on the structure, function, and associated pathologies of the NLRP1 inflammasome, which is the most relevant inflammasome in keratinocytes.
The effect of sodium thiosulfate on immune cell metabolism during porcine hemorrhage and resuscitation
Authors: Wolfschmitt Eva-Maria , Hogg Melanie , Vogt Josef Albert , Zink Fabian , Wachter Ulrich , Hezel Felix , Zhang Xiaomin , Hoffmann Andrea , Gröger Michael , Hartmann Clair , Gässler Holger , Datzmann Thomas , Merz Tamara , Hellmann Andreas , Kranz Christine , Calzia Enrico , Radermacher Peter , Messerer David Alexander Christian
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3), an H2S releasing agent, was shown to be organ-protective in experimental hemorrhage. Systemic inflammation activates immune cells, which in turn show cell type-specific metabolic plasticity with modifications of mitochondrial respiratory activity. Since H2S can dose-dependently stimulate or inhibit mitochondrial respiration, we investigated the effect of Na2S2O3 on immune cell metabolism in a blinded, randomized, controlled, long-term, porcine model of hemorrhage and resuscitation. For this purpose, we developed a Bayesian sampling-based model for 13C isotope metabolic flux analysis (MFA) utilizing 1,2-13C2-labeled glucose, 13C6-labeled glucose, and 13C5-labeled glutamine tracers.

Methods

After 3 h of hemorrhage, anesthetized and surgically instrumented swine underwent resuscitation up to a maximum of 68 h. At 2 h of shock, animals randomly received vehicle or Na2S2O3 (25 mg/kg/h for 2 h, thereafter 100 mg/kg/h until 24 h after shock). At three time points (prior to shock, 24 h post shock and 64 h post shock) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and granulocytes were isolated from whole blood, and cells were investigated regarding mitochondrial oxygen consumption (high resolution respirometry), reactive oxygen species production (electron spin resonance) and fluxes within the metabolic network (stable isotope-based MFA).

Results

PBMCs showed significantly higher mitochondrial O2 uptake and lower O2•− production in comparison to granulocytes. We found that in response to Na2S2O3 administration, PBMCs but not granulocytes had an increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption combined with a transient reduction of the citrate synthase flux and an increase of acetyl-CoA channeled into other compartments, e.g., for lipid biogenesis.

Conclusion

In a porcine model of hemorrhage and resuscitation, Na2S2O3 administration led to increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption combined with stimulation of lipid biogenesis in PBMCs. In contrast, granulocytes remained unaffected. Granulocytes, on the other hand, remained unaffected. O2•− concentration in whole blood remained constant during shock and resuscitation, indicating a sufficient anti-oxidative capacity. Overall, our MFA model seems to be is a promising approach for investigating immunometabolism; especially when combined with complementary methods.
Interleukin-3 protects against viral pneumonia in sepsis by enhancing plasmacytoid dendritic cell recruitment into the lungs and T cell priming
Authors: Bénard Alan , Hansen Frederik J. , Uhle Florian , Klösch Bettina , Czubayko Franziska , Mittelstädt Anke , Jacobsen Anne , David Paul , Podolska Malgorzata J. , Anthuber Anna , Swierzy Izabela , Schaack Dominik , Mühl-Zürbes Petra , Steinkasserer Alexander , Weyand Michael , Weigand Markus A. , Brenner Thorsten , Krautz Christian , Grützmann Robert , Weber Georg F.
Published: February 2023

Rationale

Sepsis, a global health burden, is often complicated by viral infections leading to increased long-term morbidity and mortality. Interleukin-3 (IL-3) has been identified as an important mediator amplifying acute inflammation in sepsis; however, its function in the host response to viral infections during sepsis remains elusive.

Objectives

To investigate the role of IL-3 during viral pneumonia in sepsis.

Methods

We included septic patients from two different cohorts and used in vitro and in vivo assays. The obtained data were substantiated using a second model (SARS-CoV-2 infections).

Measurements and main results

Low plasma IL-3 levels were associated with increased herpes simplex virus (HSV) airway infections in septic patients, resulting in reduced overall survival. Likewise, Il-3-deficient septic mice were more susceptible to pulmonary HSV-1 infection and exhibited higher pulmonary inflammation than control mice. Mechanistically, IL-3 increases innate antiviral immunity by promoting the recruitment of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) into the airways and by enhancing pDC-mediated T cell activation upon viral stimulation. Interestingly, the ability of IL-3 to improve adaptive immunity was confirmed in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Conclusion

Our study identifies IL-3 as a predictive disease marker for viral reactivation in sepsis and reveals that IL-3 improves antiviral immunity by enhancing the recruitment and the function of pDCs.
NLRP6 deficiency expands a novel CD103+ B cell population that confers immune tolerance in NOD mice
Authors: Pearson James A. , Peng Jian , Huang Juan , Yu Xiaoqing , Tai Ningwen , Hu Youjia , Sha Sha , Flavell Richard A. , Zhao Hongyu , Wong F. Susan , Wen Li
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Gut microbiota have been linked to modulating susceptibility to Type 1 diabetes; however, there are many ways in which the microbiota interact with host cells, including through microbial ligand binding to intracellular inflammasomes (large multi-subunit proteins) to initiate immune responses. NLRP6, a microbe-recognizing inflammasome protein, is highly expressed by intestinal epithelial cells and can alter susceptibility to cancer, obesity and Crohn’s disease; however, the role of NLRP6 in modulating susceptibility to autoimmune diabetes, was previously unknown.

Methods

We generated NLRP6-deficient Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice to study the effect of NLRP6-deficiency on the immune cells and susceptibility to Type 1 diabetes development.

Results

NLRP6-deficient mice exhibited an expansion of CD103+ B cells and were protected from type 1 diabetes. Moreover, NLRP6-deficient CD103+ B cells express regulatory markers, secreted higher concentrations of IL-10 and TGFb1 cytokines and suppressed diabetogenic T cell proliferation, compared to NLRP6-sufficient CD103+ B cells. Microarray analysis of NLRP6-sufficient and -deficient CD103+ B cells identified 79 significantly different genes including genes regulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tretinoin, IL-10 and TGFb, which was confirmed in vitro following LPS stimulation. Furthermore, microbiota from NLRP6-deficient mice induced CD103+ B cells in colonized NLRP6-sufficient germ-free mice; however, the long-term maintenance of the CD103+ B cells required the absence of NLRP6 in the hosts, or continued exposure to microbiota from NLRP6-deficient mice.

Discussion

Together, our data indicate that NLRP6 deficiency promotes expansion and maintenance of a novel TGF -dependent CD103+ Breg population. Thus, targeting NLRP6 therapeutically may prove clinically useful.
Efficacy of acupuncture in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on gut microbiota: Study protocol for a randomized sham-controlled trial
Authors: Kong Xiehe , Ma Zhao , Tang Ran , Wang Xuejun , Wei Kai , Yang Guang , Yang Yanting , Zhao Yue , Zhang Dan , Xie Chen , Wang Gang , Ma Xiaopeng
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Acupuncture is used as an adjuvant therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but available evidence for efficacy is limited so far. Growing studies suggest that resident gut microbiota contributes to the development and progression of AD. Meanwhile, acupuncture is reported to treat gastrointestinal and neurodegenerative disorders via the gut-brain axis. Therefore, our aim is to confirm the adjunctive therapeutic effects of acupuncture for AD, and explore the relationship between clinical efficacy and shifts of gut microbiota.

Methods and analysis

This is a randomized, participant-masked, sham-controlled trial. One hundred and sixty participants with mild AD will be randomly assigned (1:1) to either active acupuncture or non-penetrating sham acupuncture (three times weekly for 14 weeks) added to donepezil treatment (5 mg per day for 28 weeks). The primary efficacy outcome is the change from baseline to week 28 in the Alzheimer’s disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog12). Secondary efficacy outcomes include other assessments of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Alzheimer’s disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Gut microbiota will be measured using 16S rRNA tag sequencing.

Discussion

This rigorous trial will provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture as adjunctive treatment for mild AD, and identify the possible mechanisms of acupuncture from gut microbiota.

Clinical Trial Registration

[https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05078944], ClinicalTrials.gov [NCT05078944]. Registered 15 October 2021
A bibliometric analysis of the theme trends and knowledge structures of pulmonary embolism from 2017 to 2021
Authors: Fan Jingjing , Xu Xiaoman , Zhao Li
Published: February 2023

Background

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a popular area of research in the field of respiratory medicine. We performed a bibliometric analysis based on PubMed database to characterize the distribution pattern of literature and knowledge structures related to PE.

Methods

Literature pertaining to PE from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021, was retrieved from the PubMed database. Bibliographic information was generated using the Bibliographic Item Co-Occurrence Matrix Builder (BICOMB). The visualization matrix was established using gCLUTO software. Strategic diagram analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 9 software. Social network analysis (SNA) was generated using Ucinet6.0 and NetDraw 2.084 software.

Results

Out of all the retrieved MeSH terms and subheadings, 52 MeSH terms/MeSH subheadings with a high frequency were found, and hot subjects were sorted into 6 clusters. The strategy diagram showed that the epidemiology, etiology, and drug therapy of PE were well advanced. In contrast, studies on diagnostic imaging, pathology, and complications of PE were still immature and offered potential research space. Social network analysis showed that marginal topics such as surgical treatment of pulmonary hypertension, prevention and control of postoperative complications, and metabolism and analysis of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products were emerging research hotspots.

Conclusion

Objective analysis of the research developments in the field of PE can provide intuitive knowledge structure for researchers and clinicians. Analysis of the research hotspots related to PE is helpful for researchers and clinicians by highlighting future research directions.
The spatial patterns of diversity and their relationships with environments in rhizosphere microorganisms and host plants differ along elevational gradients
Authors: Xu Shijia , Yuan Yan , Song Pengfei , Cui Mufeng , Zhao Rensheng , Song Xiaoyang , Cao Min , Zhang Yazhou , Yang Jie
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Identifying spatial patterns of biodiversity along elevational gradients provides a unified framework for understanding these patterns and predicting ecological responses to climate change. Moreover, microorganisms and plants are closely interconnected (e.g., via the rhizosphere) and thus may share spatial patterns of diversity and show similar relationships with environments.

Methods

This study compared diversity patterns and relationships with environments in host plants and rhizosphere microorganisms (including various functional groups) along elevational gradients across three climatic zones.

Results

We found that above-and belowground diversity decreased monotonically or showed a hump-shaped or U-shaped pattern along elevation gradients. However, the diversity patterns of plants, bacteria, and fungi varied depending on the taxon and climatic zone. Temperature and humidity strongly contribute to above-and belowground diversity patterns and community composition along elevational gradients. Nonetheless, soil factors might be important regulators of diversity patterns and the community composition of plants and microorganisms along these gradients. Structural equation modeling revealed that environmental factors had a stronger direct effect on rhizosphere microbial diversity than host plant diversity.

Discussion

In sum, spatial patterns of diversity and their relationships with environments in rhizosphere microorganisms and their host plants differed at the regional scale. Different functional groups (e.g., pathogen, mycorrhiza and nitrifier) of soil microorganisms may have divergent elevational patterns and environmental responses. These data improve our understanding of elevational diversity patterns, and provide new insights into the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem management, especially under climate change.
Macrolactin A mediated biocontrol of Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani infestation on Amaranthus hypochondriacus by Bacillus subtilis BS-58
Authors: Pandey Chitra , Prabha Deepti , Negi Yogesh Kumar , Maheshwari Dinesh Kumar , Dheeman Shrivardhan , Gupta Monika
Published: February 2023

Plant diseases are one of the main hurdles for successful crop production and sustainable agriculture development world-wide. Though several chemical measures are available to manage crop diseases, many of them have serious side effects on humans, animals and the environment. Therefore, the use of such chemicals must be limited by using effective and eco-friendly alternatives. In view of the same, we found a Bacillus subtilis BS-58 as a good antagonist towards the two most devastating phytopathogens, i.e., Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani. Both the pathogens attack several agricultural crops (including amaranth) and induce a variety of infections in them. The findings of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in this study suggested that B. subtilis BS-58 could inhibit the growth of both the pathogenic fungi by various means such as perforation, cell wall lysis, and cytoplasmic disintegration in the fungal hyphae. Thin-layer chromatography, LC–MS and FT-IR data revealed the antifungal metabolite to be macrolactin A with a molecular weight of 402 Da. Presence of the mln gene in the bacterial genome further endorsed that the antifungal metabolite produced by BS-58 was macrolactin A. Pot trial conducted in the present study showed that seed treatment by BS-58 effectively reduced seedling mortality (54.00 and 43.76%) in amaranth, when grown in pathogen infested soil (F. oxysporum and R. solani, respectively), when compared to their respective negative controls. Data also revealed that the disease suppression ability of BS-58 was almost equivalent to the recommended fungicide, carbendazim. SEM analysis of roots of the seedlings recovered from pathogenic attack substantiated the hyphal disintegration by BS-58 and prevention of amaranth crop. The findings of this study conclude that macrolactin A produced by B. subtilis BS-58 is responsible for the inhibition of both the phytopathogens and the suppression of the diseases caused by them. Being native and target specific, such strains under suitable conditions, may result in ample production of antibiotic and better suppression of the disease.
Current evidence and clinical relevance of drug-microbiota interactions in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Becker Heike E. F. , Demers Karlijn , Derijks Luc J. J. , Jonkers Daisy M. A. E. , Penders John
Published: February 2023

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing-remitting disease. An adverse immune reaction toward the intestinal microbiota is involved in the pathophysiology and microbial perturbations are associated with IBD in general and with flares specifically. Although medical drugs are the cornerstone of current treatment, responses vary widely between patients and drugs. The intestinal microbiota can metabolize medical drugs, which may influence IBD drug (non-)response and side effects. Conversely, several drugs can impact the intestinal microbiota and thereby host effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current evidence on bidirectional interactions between the microbiota and relevant IBD drugs (pharmacomicrobiomics).

Methods

Electronic literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane databases to identify relevant publications. Studies reporting on microbiota composition and/or drug metabolism were included.

Results

The intestinal microbiota can both enzymatically activate IBD pro-drugs (e.g., in case of thiopurines), but also inactivate certain drugs (e.g., mesalazine by acetylation via N-acetyltransferase 1 and infliximab via IgG-degrading enzymes). Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, thiopurines, calcineurin inhibitors, anti-tumor necrosis factor biologicals and tofacitinib were all reported to alter the intestinal microbiota composition, including changes in microbial diversity and/or relative abundances of various microbial taxa.

Conclusion

Various lines of evidence have shown the ability of the intestinal microbiota to interfere with IBD drugs and vice versa. These interactions can influence treatment response, but well-designed clinical studies and combined in vivo and ex vivo models are needed to achieve consistent findings and evaluate clinical relevance.
Soil bacterial communities associated with multi-nutrient cycling under long-term warming in the alpine meadow
Authors: Zhou Xiaorong , Chen Xianke , Qi Xiangning , Zeng Yiyuan , Guo Xiaowei , Zhuang Guoqiang , Ma Anzhou
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The functions of terrestrial ecosystems are mainly maintained by bacteria, as a key component of microorganisms, which actively participate in the nutrient cycling of ecosystems. Currently, there are few studies have been carried out on the bacteria contributing to the soil multi-nutrient cycling in responding to climate warming, which hampers our obtainment of a comprehensive understanding of the ecological function of ecosystems as a whole.

Methods

In this study, the main bacteria taxa contributing to the soil multi-nutrient cycling under the long-term warming in an alpine meadow was determined based onphysichemical properties measurement and high-throughput sequencing, and the potential reasons that warming altered the main bacteria contributing to the soil multi-nutrient cycling were further analyzed.

Results

The results confirmed that the bacterial β-diversity was crucial to the soil multi-nutrient cycling. Furthermore, Gemmatimonadetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria were the main contributors to the soil multi-nutrient cycling, and played pivotal roles as keystone nodes and biomarkers throughout the entire soil profile. This suggested that warming altered and shifted the main bacteria contributing to the soil multi-nutrient cycling toward keystone taxa.

Discussion

Meanwhile, their relative abundance was higher, which could make them have the advantage of seizing resources in the face of environmental pressures. In summary, the results demonstrated the crucial role of keystone bacteria in the multi-nutrient cycling under the climate warming in the alpine meadow. This has important implications for understanding and exploring the multi-nutrient cycling of alpine ecosystems under the global climate warming.
A magnesium transporter is involved in the cesium ion resistance of the high-concentration cesium ion-resistant bacterium Microbacterium sp. TS-1
Authors: Ishida Yoshiki , Koretsune Takahiro , Ishiuchi Eri , Teshima Miyu , Ito Masahiro
Published: February 2023

Cesium ion (Cs+) resistance has been reported in bacteria but is poorly understood as reports on Cs+-resistant bacteria have been limited. We previously reported a novel Cs+/H+ antiporter CshA implicated in Cs+-resistance in Microbacterium sp. TS-1. The present study used the same screening method to isolate novel Cs+-sensitive mutants and their revertants from TS-1. A comparative mutation site analysis using whole-genome sequencing revealed that MTS1_03028 encodes the Mg2+ transporter MgtE and is a candidate Cs+ resistance-related gene. We performed a bioinformatic analysis of MTS1_03028 and complementation experiments on Cs+ resistance in the TS-1 MTS1_03028 mutants Mut5 and Mut7 as well as Escherichia coli expressing MTS1_03028 in the presence of Mg2+. We established the role of MgtE in Cs+ resistance through a functional analysis of TS-1. Enhancing Mg2+ transport by expression of MTS_03028 conferred increased Cs+ resistance. When this strain was exposed to Cs+ concentrations exceeding 200 mM, CshA consistently lowered the intracellular Cs+ concentration. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to clarify the mechanism of Cs+ resistance in certain bacteria. The study findings offer important insights into the mechanism of bacterial resistance to excess Cs+ in the environment, suggesting the potential for bioremediation in high Cs-contaminated areas.
Ligand-based pharmacophore modeling and QSAR approach to identify potential dengue protease inhibitors
Authors: Poola Anushka A. , Prabhu Prithvi S. , Murthy T. P. Krishna , Murahari Manikanta , Krishna Swati , Samantaray Mahesh , Ramaswamy Amutha
Published: February 2023

The viral disease dengue is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito and is commonly seen to occur in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is a growing public health concern. To date, other than supportive treatments, there are no specific antiviral treatments to combat the infection. Therefore, finding potential compounds that have antiviral activity against the dengue virus is essential. The NS2B-NS3 dengue protease plays a vital role in the replication and viral assembly. If the functioning of this protease were to be obstructed then viral replication would be halted. As a result, this NS2B-NS3 proves to be a promising target in the process of anti-viral drug design. Through this study, we aim to provide suggestions for compounds that may serve as potent inhibitors of the dengue NS2B-NS3 protein. Here, a ligand-based pharmacophore model was generated and the ZINC database was screened through ZINCPharmer to identify molecules with similar features. 2D QSAR model was developed and validated using reported 4-Benzyloxy Phenyl Glycine derivatives and was utilized to predict the IC50 values of unknown compounds. Further, the study is extended to molecular docking to investigate interactions at the active pocket of the target protein. ZINC36596404 and ZINC22973642 showed a predicted pIC50 of 6.477 and 7.872, respectively. They also showed excellent binding with NS3 protease as is evident from their binding energy of −8.3and −8.1 kcal/mol, respectively. ADMET predictionsofcompounds have shown high drug-likeness. Finally, the molecular dynamic simulations integrated with MM-PBSA binding energy calculations confirmedboth identified ZINC compounds as potential hit moleculeswith good stability.
Analysis of gene expression profiles in Alzheimer’s disease patients with different lifespan: A bioinformatics study focusing on the disease heterogeneity
Authors: Zhang Ji , Li Xiaojia , Xiao Jun , Xiang Yang , Ye Fang
Published: February 2023

Objective

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as the most frequent neurodegenerative disease is featured by gradual decline of cognition and social function in the elderly. However, there have been few studies focusing on AD heterogeneity which exists both genetically and clinically, leading to the difficulties of AD researches. As one major kind of clinical heterogeneity, the lifespan of AD patients varies significantly. Aiming to investigate the potential driving factors, the current research identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between longer-lived AD patients and shorter-lived ones via bioinformatics analyses.

Methods

Qualified datasets of gene expression profiles were identified in National Center of Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus (NCBI-GEO). The data of the temporal lobes of patients above 60 years old were used. Two groups were divided according to the lifespan: the group ≥85 years old and the group <85 years old. Then GEO2R online software and R package of Robust Rank Aggregation (RRA) were used to screen DEGs. Bioinformatic tools were adopted to identify possible pathways and construct protein–protein interaction network.

Result

Sixty-seven AD cases from four qualified datasets (GSE28146, GSE5281, GSE48350, and GSE36980) were included in this study. 740 DEGs were identified with 361 upregulated and 379 downregulated when compared longer-lived AD patients with shorter-lived ones. These DEGs were primarily involved in the pathways directly or indirectly associated with the regulation of neuroinflammation and cancer pathogenesis, as shown by pathway enrichment analysis. Among the DEGs, the top 15 hub genes were identified from the PPI network. Notably, the same bioinformatic procedures were conducted in 62 non-AD individuals (serving as controls of AD patients in the four included studies) with distinctly different findings from AD patients, indicating different regulatory mechanisms of lifespan between non-AD controls and AD, reconfirming the necessity of the present study.

Conclusion

These results shed some lights on lifespan-related regulatory mechanisms in AD patients, which also indicated that AD heterogeneity should be more taken into account in future investigations.
Scoping review of disease-modifying effect of drugs in experimental epilepsy
Authors: Ots Heather D. , Anderson Taylor , Sherrerd-Smith William , DelBianco John , Rasic Gordana , Chuprin Anthony , Toor Zeeshan , Fitch Elizabeth , Ahuja Kripa , Reid Faith , Musto Alberto E.
Published: February 2023

Objective

Epilepsy affects ~50 million people worldwide causing significant medical, financial, and sociologic concerns for affected patients and their families. To date, treatment of epilepsy is primarily symptomatic management because few effective preventative or disease-modifying interventions exist. However, recent research has identified neurobiological mechanisms of epileptogenesis, providing new pharmacologic targets to investigate. The current scientific evidence remains scattered across multiple studies using different model and experimental designs. The review compiles different models of anti-epileptogenic investigation and highlights specific compounds with potential epileptogenesis-modifying experimental drugs. It provides a platform for standardization of future epilepsy research to allow a more robust compound analysis of compounds with potential for epilepsy prevention.

Methods

PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science were searched from 2007 to 2021. Studies with murine models of epileptogenesis and explicitly detailed experimental procedures were included in the scoping review. In total, 51 articles were selected from 14,983 and then grouped by five core variables: (1) seizure frequency, (2) seizure severity, (3) spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS), (4) seizure duration, and (5) mossy fiber sprouting (MFS). The variables were differentiated based on experimental models including methods of seizure induction, treatment schedule and timeline of data collection. Data was categorized by the five core variables and analyzed by converting original treatment values to units of percent of its respective control.

Results

Discrepancies in current epileptogenesis models significantly complicate inter-study comparison of potential anti-epileptogenic interventions. With our analysis, many compounds showed a potential to reduce epileptogenic characteristics defined by the five core variables. WIN55,212-2, aspirin, rapamycin, 1400W, and LEV + BQ788 were identified compounds with the potential of effective anti-epileptic properties.

Significance

Our review highlights the need for consistent methodology in epilepsy research and provides a novel approach for future research. Inconsistent experimental designs hinder study comparison, slowing the progression of treatments for epilepsy. If the research community can optimize and standardize parameters such as methods of seizure induction, administration schedule, sampling time, and aniMal models, more robust meta-analysis and collaborative research would follow. Additionally, some compounds such as rapamycin, WIN 55,212-2, aspirin, 1400W, and LEV + BQ788 showed anti-epileptogenic modulation across multiple variables. We believe they warrant further study both individually and synergistically.
Falls caused by balance disorders in the elderly with multiple systems involved: Pathogenic mechanisms and treatment strategies
Authors: Xing Liwei , Bao Yi , Wang Binyang , Shi Mingqin , Wei Yuanyuan , Huang Xiaoyi , Dai Youwu , Shi Hongling , Gai Xuesong , Luo Qiu , Yin Yong , Qin Dongdong
Published: February 2023

Falls are the main contributor to both fatal and nonfatal injuries in elderly individuals as well as significant sources of morbidity and mortality, which are mostly induced by impaired balance control. The ability to keep balance is a remarkably complex process that allows for rapid and precise changes to prevent falls with multiple systems involved, such as musculoskeletal system, the central nervous system and sensory system. However, the exact pathogenesis of falls caused by balance disorders in the elderly has eluded researchers to date. In consideration of aging phenomenon aggravation and fall risks in the elderly, there is an urgent need to explore the pathogenesis and treatments of falls caused by balance disorders in the elderly. The present review discusses the epidemiology of falls in the elderly, potential pathogenic mechanisms underlying multiple systems involved in falls caused by balance disorders, including musculoskeletal system, the central nervous system and sensory system. Meanwhile, some common treatment strategies, such as physical exercise, new equipment based on artificial intelligence, pharmacologic treatments and fall prevention education are also reviewed. To fully understand the pathogenesis and treatment of falls caused by balance disorders, a need remains for future large-scale multi-center randomized controlled trials and in-depth mechanism studies.
Nitrous oxide-induced neurotoxicity: Clinical characteristics and impacts on overall neurological impairments
Authors: Gao Hui , Wang Ruihan , Zeng Yan , Qin Linyuan , Cai Hanlin , Zhou Dong , Chen Qin
Published: February 2023

Objective

The reports of the recreational use of nitrous oxide (N2O) and its related neuropathy are increasing. However, it is unclear whether specific clinical characteristics are associated with the overall neurological impairments among these individuals.

Methods

We retrospectively included 20 hospitalized patients with N2O-related neurological complaints between January 2016 and March 2021 at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Detailed demographic, clinical features, lab tests, and imaging data were collected. A functional disability rating score (FDRS) was calculated to determine the degree of neurological impairment. The relationships between the aforementioned factors and the FDRS sum score were explored.

Results

These individuals were aged between 16 and 30 years (mean ± SD: 21.90 ± 4.06). At admission, unsteady gait (95%, nineteen of twenty), weakness (95%, nineteen of twenty), and limb paresthesia (70%, fourteen of twenty) were the most common symptoms; decreased deep tendon reflexes (100%, nineteen of nineteen), reduced muscle strength (95%, nineteen of twenty), and impaired coordination (95%, nineteen of twenty) were frequently found. The FDRS sum scores ranged from 3 to 12. Among all the factors, admission from the emergency room (p = 0.033), decreased hemoglobin (p = 0.004) (without previous VitB12 supplements), decreased red blood cell (RBC) count (p = 0.004) (without previous VitB12 supplements), and increased mean corpuscular volume (p = 0.036) (with previous VitB12 supplements) positively correlated with the FDRS sum score.

Conclusion

Nitrous oxide (N2O) could lead to severe neurological impairments among users. Abnormal RBC indicators at admission may be associated with a worse clinical presentation and need further attention. Population education about the consequences of N2O consumption and control measures concerning access to N2O should be further emphasized.
Macular vessel density in the superficial plexus is not associated to cerebrospinal fluid core biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease in individuals with mild cognitive impairment: The NORFACE cohort
Authors: Marquié Marta , García-Sánchez Ainhoa , Alarcón-Martín Emilio , Martínez Joan , Castilla-Martí Miguel , Castilla-Martí Luis , Orellana Adelina , Montrreal Laura , de Rojas Itziar , García-González Pablo , Puerta Raquel , Olivé Clàudia , Cano Amanda , Hernández Isabel , Rosende-Roca Maitée , Vargas Liliana , Tartari Juan Pablo , Esteban-De Antonio Ester , Bojaryn Urszula , Ricciardi Mario , Ariton Diana M. , Pytel Vanesa , Alegret Montserrat , Ortega Gemma , Espinosa Ana , Pérez-Cordón Alba , Sanabria Ángela , Muñoz Nathalia , Lleonart Núria , Aguilera Núria , Tárraga Lluís , Valero Sergi , Ruiz Agustín , Boada Mercè
Published: February 2023

Background

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a novel method in the dementia field that allows the detection of retinal vascular changes. The comparison of OCT-A measures with established Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related biomarkers is essential to validate the former as a marker of cerebrovascular impairment in the AD continuum. We aimed to investigate the association of macular vessel density (VD) in the superficial plexus quantified by OCT-A with the AT(N) classification based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ1-42, p181-tau and t-tau measurements in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Materials and methods

Clinical, demographic, ophthalmological, OCT-A and CSF core biomarkers for AD data from the Neuro-ophthalmology Research at Fundació ACE (NORFACE) project were analyzed. Differences in macular VD in four quadrants (superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal) among three AT(N) groups [Normal, Alzheimer and Suspected non-Alzheimer pathology (SNAP)] were assessed in a multivariate regression model, adjusted for age, APOE ε4 status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and smoking habit, using the Normal AT(N) group as the reference category.

Results

The study cohort comprised 144 MCI participants: 66 Normal AT(N), 45 Alzheimer AT(N) and 33 SNAP AT(N). Regression analysis showed no significant association of the AT(N) groups with any of the regional macular VD measures (all, p > 0.16). The interaction between sex and AT(N) groups had no effect on differentiating VD. Lastly, CSF Aβ1-42, p181-tau and t-tau measures were not correlated to VD (all r < 0.13; p > 0.13).

Discussion

Our study showed that macular VD measures were not associated with the AT(N) classification based on CSF biomarkers in patients with MCI, and did not differ between AD and other underlying causes of cognitive decline in our cohort.
Presynaptic spike-driven plasticity based on eligibility trace for on-chip learning system
Authors: Gao Tian , Deng Bin , Wang Jiang , Yi Guosheng
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Recurrent spiking neural network (RSNN) performs excellently in spatio-temporal learning with backpropagation through time (BPTT) algorithm. But the requirement of computation and memory in BPTT makes it hard to realize an on-chip learning system based on RSNN. In this paper, we aim to realize a high-efficient RSNN learning system on field programmable gate array (FPGA).

Methods

A presynaptic spike-driven plasticity architecture based on eligibility trace is implemented to reduce the resource consumption. The RSNN with leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) and adaptive LIF (ALIF) models is implemented on FPGA based on presynaptic spike-driven architecture. In this architecture, the eligibility trace gated by a learning signal is used to optimize synaptic weights without unfolding the network through time. When a presynaptic spike occurs, the eligibility trace is calculated based on its latest timestamp and drives synapses to update their weights. Only the latest timestamps of presynaptic spikes are required to be stored in buffers to calculate eligibility traces.

Results

We show the implementation of this architecture on FPGA and test it with two experiments. With the presynaptic spike-driven architecture, the resource consumptions, including look-up tables (LUTs) and registers, and dynamic power consumption of synaptic modules in the on-chip learning system are greatly reduced. The experiment results and compilation results show that the buffer size of the on-chip learning system is reduced and the RSNNs implemented on FPGA exhibit high efficiency in resources and energy while accurately solving tasks.

Discussion

This study provides a solution to the problem of data congestion in the buffer of large-scale learning systems.